#i tried to use the stuff i have going for L&E in the newest version of that

[dredshirtroberts]

"tagged" by @storm-and-starlight by virtue of wanting to join in, to find the words "sky", "brown", and "scatter" in my WIPs.

Going to be going through three of my WIPs that actually have prose in them currently: a fic that had the serial numbers filed off early on because it's Nothing Like The Source Material (file name: Clan of the Cave Wolf, actual title TBD), and a fic that got started because a winter prompt from Dec 2020 got away from me (fic name: This Could Be Home).

Sky

Clan of the Cave Wolf: "Rune wasn’t sure how long he’d been out when his eyes opened to the sky above him, a large, horrifying wolf-man looming over with an inscrutable expression, quietly watching the surroundings."

This Could Be Home: "Mieczyk nodded, glancing up at the grey sky that was beginning to go dark despite the early hour. "

Brown

Clan of the Cave Wolf: "Long dark hair that shifted to deep green in the sunlight, then back to cool brown in the shade, was tossed over one shoulder flippantly, “I think that one shall make my children very happy indeed.”"

Scatter

Does not appear in any of the WIPs so far.

My brain has decided to FAIL ME UTTERLY and forget exactly which of my mutuals and friends write and would thus have Word WIPs to draw from, so if you'd like to play, your words are:

cast, wait, and sunbeam

[lunanight2012]

A Whole New World Prelude Pt 1

Here is the first part of A Whole New World Series! Enjoy!

My first Harry Hook x reader fic!

Key:

{Y/N} = Your Name

{L/N} = Last Name

{E/C} = Eye color

{H/C} = Hair Color

{H/L} = Hair Length

{S/C} = Skin Color

So I'm falling, but you're probably wondering how I got here…. Well.

{Flashback}

I was just walking down the street. You see I don't have many friends, and my family basically tossed me out of their lives when I started High School this year. But that's besides the point. It was a nice Saturday Morning and I was heading to the store to get some groceries and well I went from walking to falling.

{End Flashback}

Wait is that an ocean? Nononononono I can't swim!

"Help!!!!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

I curled up into a ball as I hit the water. I tried screaming for help again but I was slowly seeing darkness. Last thing I saw was a person.

(3rd person pov)

Harry Hook, feared pirate of the Isle, was stunned to watch a girl fall out of the sky, screaming, and into the water. But when he didn't see her come up, he tossed off his hat, hook, and coat and dove in after her.

A pirate had to know how to swim.

He caught the girl before she could meet Davy Jones, or even meet one of Tick Tock's kids. Wrapping his arm around her waist he pulled her up to the surface and swam to the shore.

He laid her on the beach, listening to her chest before he began a bit of cpr.

(1st person pov)

I woke up, coughing up water and sitting up straight, before bending over to get rid of the excess water in my lungs. 

"Well Lass, glad ta see ya alive." A Scottish male voice stated.

I blinked and opened my eyes, looking up to see who I can assume is my savior. Oh my is he hot!

"......" I couldn't even talk, stunned by how freaking pretty this dude was, ocean blue eyes, staring at me expectingly.

"Well Lass, it be time for ya to come with me." He stated, helping me up and dragging me towards a pirate ship. Was this real? 

He brought me on board and I watched as the crew circled me. I noticed the guy change, putting on a pirate hat and jacket, and grabbing a hook. Is he a younger version of Captain Hook?

"So Harry. You tellin me she just fell out of the sky?" A female voice stated, causing me to turn around.

A girl decked out in pirate gear and barnacles… is she related to Davy Jones? And his name is Harry?

"Aye! She just fell from the sky." Harry explained.

I raised my hand just enough to have the girl and Harry look at me questioningly.

"Hi. Um, a few things. Firstly my name is {y/n, l/n}. Secondly, where am I? And lastly, who are you guys?" I asked.

The two looked at each other and laughed.

"You really don't know? Well to answer yer questions. This is the Isle. And I'm Uma, Daughter of Ursula, this is Harry Hook son of Captain Hook, and the one to yer right is Gil, son of Gaston." Uma explained.

I covered my mouth as I laughed. "Someone slept with Ursula?? And Hook???? And Gaston???" I fell to the floor laughing my ass off.

Harry stomped over to me, grabbing my {h/l} {h/c}.

"Owww!!" 

"Shut yer trap! Ye have no idea what our parents are like!" As Harry screams at you, you notice the scars on his right wrist and his neck. 

"I'm sorry. I didn't have the best life growing up either." I explained as Harry released my hair.

"Yea well yer stuck with us now." Harry stated walking back to Uma.

"Looks like yer apart of my crew now. So get to scrubbin!" Uma exclaimed, a mop and bucket being thrown at me. 

I frowned as the crew walked away, going back to their things. I frowned but began to mop. This was going to be a long day.

~20 minutes later~ 

I wiped the sweat off my forehead as I finished mopping. A hat was slapped on my head.

"Yer comin with me, {y/n}." Harry stated, looking a bit pissed, probably still at me.

"Where are we going?" I asked, fixing the small pirate's hat that was put on my head.

"Ta rob some places. Duh!" Harry exclaimed, grabbing my wrist and dragging me off the ship and through a tube.

"B-but why?" I questioned, trying to free my wrist.

"We're pirates, and this is the Isle, where all the Villains are locked up! Nice people don't survive. Oh…" we were stopped by a purple-haired girl. She wore a purple and green outfit. Huh, whose kid is she?

"Hook… oh who's the new girl? I don't recognize her…" the girl spat, her eyes...glowing?

"Well she's the newest member of Uma's gang. Not that it matters to you. What are ye doin on Uma's turf?" Harry asked, holding up his hook at the girl.

She didn't even flinch. "Well, you're cutting off the girl's blood flow ya dumb pirate." 

Harry loosened his grip on my wrist. I took a step behind Harry, not trusting this girl. Harry seemed to take a protective stance.

"It's a little rude. My mother is going to hear about this. You’re hiding her, I know it, my mother won’t like this!" The girl exclaimed, sticking her gum on Harry's hook and walking away.

Harry cursed under his breath as he took the gum off his hook. I slowly came out from behind him.

"Who was she?" I asked looking up at Harry.

"That bitch was Maleficent's daughter." Harry spat, clearly pissed at her.

I shivered, Maleficent was one of my worst feared villain movies. "I've always been scared of Maleficent as a child." I muttered.

Harry lifted an eyebrow. "That's another thing I need to ask ye, how do ye know our parents?" Harry asked me as he threw the gum onto the side of a building.

I frowned and looked at the cloudy sky. "Well growing up your parents were in stories for me. The good guys always defeating the villains. Personally, I enjoyed the Neverland stories. But I was a bit confused by Hook. He was obsessed with a child and had hatred for peter pan. Though Peter Pan was definitely not my favorite, I actually liked Smee." I rambled on.

Harry chuckled. "Smee is great. His two little runts look up to me, They call me Uncle Harry." 

I giggled at the thought. "Smee's kids call you Uncle? That's so sweet!" I smiled as we walked through the Isle. 

My smile vanished as I noticed the poor living conditions of the Isle. "Wow."

Harry lifted an eyebrow. "Aye the conditions on the Isle are horrible. But what do yeh expect? Auradon gets all the glitz and glam and we get all their scraps." Harry explained, a cold indifference to his voice. 

I shivered at that, Harry sounded so...used to it, no one should live like this, especially kids. I was surprised by this fact. Why were these people living like this? Why weren't they given real food? So many questions I wanted to ask but not yet.

"Here we are at our first stop." Harry announced. 

I looked up to see that we were apparently at Lady Tremaine's Curl Up and Dye shop. Huh guess Lady Tremaine ended up on the Isle too.

Harry grabbed my wrist and dragged me inside the shop. A girl was inside sweeping up hair, wearing headphones.

Harry frowned and tapped his hook on the counter catching the girl's attention. Oh my, she's quite young, I believe she's 4 years younger than us. Wow. We're only 9th graders…

My heart just broke. This was horrible. But I did question whose daughter she was. Was she Drizella's or Anastasia's daughter? Oh what's going on?

"Hand it over ya runt!" Harry exclaimed.

The girl sighed and walked behind the counter, opening the register and giving the money to Harry. 

"Thank ye, come on {y/n}." Harry stated grabbing my wrist, and leading me out of the salon.

Heading to our next stand I asked Harry a question. "Harry, who was that girl you stole from?" 

"That girl? Oh you mean the little bright-eyed runt? That was Dizzy, Drizzilla's daughter." Harry explained before he flashed a dangerous smirk at the stand tender who paled and shakily handed harry a basket of eggs

"Ok, that's good to know." I stated as we continued, now carrying the basket of eggs, after harry handed it to me. I watched Harry collect items and money from multiple stands.

"So what is all this for?" I inquired as harry counted a roll of papers and gold coins "payment, for Uma's protection" Harry said, nodding to the person manning the fruit stall, and continuing to another with vegetables.

I frowned at this. Why do they need Uma's protection? That was something I was going to learn very quickly.

"This is our turf Hook! Go back to Shrimpy!" Maleficent's daughter exclaimed. 

I hid behind Harry once more. Yes I was terrified of this purple-haired girl. That's when another female voice spoke up.

"Come on Mal. We need to get going! Jay and Carlos are waiting for us." The girl stated, causing Mal to grumble a bit before I heard her stomping off. 

A few seconds passed before I stepped out from behind Harry. "So can I ask why Mal hates you so much?" I asked tentatively.

"Mal is a bitch. She pulled a prank on Uma when we were young and gave her the nickname Shrimpy. Don't call 'er that though, she will not be happy." Harry explained as we turned and headed back towards the docks.

But this time instead of heading through the tube tunnel, we turned and headed towards Ursula's Chip Shop. Huh I guess it's a British fish and fry shop. Cool. 

Walking inside, the first thing I noticed was the smell of fish. To be expected I guess. Oh it looks like the crew is getting ready.

"We're back!" Harry called out, setting the stuff he held onto the bartop table. 

He motioned for me to do the same with the basket I was holding. I carefully sat the basket on the table, and the blonde one, I believe Uma said his name was Gil, He is definitely built like Gaston, reached for the egg basket as soon as it touched the table.

"Gil. Those are for the shop!" Uma exclaimed before he could take one.

Gil pouted a bit but stepped aside so Uma could examine the haul. She counted the number of eggs in the basket, seeming happy with the number she moved to the money. Counting the money she smirked.

"Good job everyone. But now it's time for school. So everyone get goin!" Uma shouted and the whole crew wrestled around getting their stuff together. 

Harry just yawned  and chatted with Uma. I on the other hand sat at a table and watched everything going on. I have a feeling I won't be returning home anytime soon. Not that anyone will miss me. I didn't own much. I didn't have any friends. And I didn't have any pets. So yea. I think I'm ok living here.

"{Y/N}!!! Get a movin! We're sneakin ya into school!" Harry exclaimed with a smirk.

Shit.

[onestowatch]

Huron John Invites You to Experience the Trauma-Exorcism of ‘cartoon therapy’ [Q&A]

Photo: Chase Denton

In the world of up-and-coming artists, few names generate as much excitement as Huron John. Last year the indie pop prodigy invited listeners into his technicolor world with his debut LP Apocalypse Wow, and this week sees him returning once more with his long-awaited sophomore project, cartoon therapy.

In 2020, Huron John’s debut Apocalypse Wow was met with widespread acclaim with critics praising everything from its production and forward-thinking narrative, to Huron John’s whimsically crafted tracks. Both albums are written, engineered, and produced in their entirety by the Chicago native, but while the former is an explosive display of left-field kaleidoscopic narratives and youthful romance, the latter takes a much more introspective approach to its storytelling.

cartoon therapy sheds Huron John’s youthful exuberance for something that is much more complex, and at times even vulnerable. Tracks like “Arthur” are just as concerned with the euphoria of new romance as they are with the anxiety of growing old and being insecure in the skin that you’re in. Despite its more pensive thematic register, cartoon therapy is a must-listen. The record is filled with 10 high-energy indie pop anthems that will transport your weekly rotation to another world before you can even say “meep.”

Prior to the release of cartoon therapy, I was fortunate enough to pick Huron John’s brain about his newest record. We discussed the past year, his favorite piece of hardware, and everything in-between.

Ones To Watch: It’s been a minute since we last got a full-length project from you. Your debut album, 2020’s Apocalypse Wow, focused on themes of disillusionment and dystopia, which was probably appropriate given how insane last year was. On your newest project cartoon therapy, what themes did you try to focus on?

Huron John: This new album is all about healing. It’s super symbolic to me personally in the sense of, like, I’ve been going through some very dark shit, and finally getting this project out kind of lets me see a light at the end of the tunnel in a way. The album is about accepting the individuality of your own journey, and understanding that life is beautiful even through all of the things that bog us down. It’s about answering questions but not being afraid to pose new ones. The album is truly like a really volatile version of therapy… it’s like 10 fucking tracks back-to-back-to-back with like no space in between (laughs). It’s supposed to be just a whirlwind of getting out what is inside so you can move forward. This thing is like a trauma-exorcism but you’re on the dancefloor or on a bike. 

How do you feel cartoon therapy extends the world you built on Apocalypse Wow? Did you always anticipate the story going this way, or did things change throughout the creative process?

It’s a second half of the “story” of Apocalypse Wow, it completes this like double album-style package. My favorite album of all time is a double album with a loose concept based on the progression from the moment you wake up to the moment you fall asleep. From Apocalypse Wow to cartoon therapy it’s this concept about a character—who is lowkey based on myself but shhhh (laughs)—who saves the planet from aliens. Then, in CT, he basically befriends the aliens enough so that they give him a time machine. He goes on this crazy-ass adventure throughout time-and-space visiting all the fucked up moments from his life and like gaining peace with them I guess. The connection kind of unraveled as I made the stuff, I suppose. I just wanted it to be a very clear bookend on the introductory chapter of my discography. 

Which track on cartoon therapy was the biggest challenge to make and why? What track are you most proud of?

A track called “Cosmic Opera (Death Is Not The End).” Basically, I had a whole other song called “We’ll Come Out On Top,” it was actually the first beat I made for the record. It’s this really slow, psychedelic like Some Rap Songs style hip-hop shit. My hard drive broke so I lost the original beat, tried for about three weeks to remake it, but it just didn’t work. In the process, a whole new beat “(Cosmic Opera)” was born. I got COVID, strep throat, and a whole bunch of other shit that caused me to have to re-record the vocals like three times. 

How was the creation of cartoon therapy and its creative process different from your last record?

It was beyond fucked. An absolute shit-show. Apocalypse Wow was extremely over-planned (musically), and the process was like so long to make that record. This one I wanted to try a much more rapid-fire like lightning-in-a-bottle approach and make the full album in like three months. That goal was the death of me (laughs). In a nutshell, I made like 15 beats for the whole thing, wrote all the lyrics, recorded all the vocals, then realized I had a faulty microphone so I had to re-record the entire album. It was a nightmare. Then, when I had like four songs left to record, I got COVID, then I lost my voice due to COVID after I recovered, then I found out I had strep throat. A whole bunch of other shit happened but it was the like “I AM FINISHING THIS FUCKING ALBUM IF IT KILLS ME” type shit. Very crazy process. 

It seems like the release of cartoon therapy had a much greater emphasis on visuals than Apocalypse Wow. Was this intentional? 

Oh yeah. It was supposed to really drive home this narrative world, and just expand the whole world of this character Andy—one that spans between the two albums. Two records with a very visual universe, so that was definitely the goal of the whole thing.

How has your understanding of your music and your place in the music industry changed since the release of Apocalypse Wow? How are you feeling about things now?

I honestly don’t know. My relationship with music has changed immensely since I created this record, to rolling it out, to now. I have realized a lot of things that I want to take part in, and a lot of things that I do not. My goal is to get this work in the hands of as many people as I can, specifically physical vinyl copies of the music. This record truly taught me that the sole purpose of life is to impact as many people that you can with creative work. To make their lives better. To comfort people and soundtrack their memories. To play an integral part in their lives as your favorite artists do in yours. Impacting people like that doesn’t happen through sexy selfies on the internet. Does that make sense?

What do you want listeners to take away from cartoon therapy?

It’s okay to feel the way you’re feeling right now. Your thoughts are your thoughts and no one can ever take that away from you. No matter what those thoughts are. Life is your movie and you are the main character. Allow your adventure to surprise you.

Every track on the record was produced, written, and engineered by you, which is something that not many artists can claim. As your career grows, do you think you’ll be looking to collaborate more with your peers? And if so, who are some artists you’d love to hop in the studio with?

Yes… I am just starting to experiment with a lot of artists and producers. It is fun. I plan on doing one of those producer albums where it’s just like a million artists hopping on my project. I definitely feel like these first two albums really hammered home the personal and intimate kind of “one-man show” aspect of my music. Now, it’s time to try some other stuff. I want to work with King Krule. 

From your MicroKorg Analog Modeling Synth to your laptop, what’s a piece of hardware you couldn’t live without?

I just bought a real TR-707 drum machine from the ’80s and that thing is my baby!

 What rare interest do you have in something that gets you geeked out? 

I really like traditional Indian music. Also, I have developed an interest in the shortwave analog radio community. 

What’s your plan for the rest of 2021? Is there anything fans can look forward to as summer starts to roll around? 

Yes. I will be releasing the Apocalypse Wow/cartoon therapy double album on vinyl within the next couple of weeks. The inside gatefold is a playable board game, and both discs are colored/see-through. I have a 65-page book that is releasing around that time as well. Full of photos, articles, interviews, and other shit. It will be sweet. I’m also putting out a “deluxe edition” album type of thing in the next couple of weeks. Then, I really want to begin a hibernation-style era of music-making and experimentation.

We’ll be looking forward to that! Finally, who are your ones to watch?

death’s dynamic shroud.wmv, The Frost Children, and  t e l e p a t h テレパシー能力者.

Listen to cartoon therapy below:

[mechagalaxy]

Mycroft Holmes - Inteview with Brian Leslie King

Squad Wars 3320 Mycroft Holmes #710713 with Brian Leslie King #309012

..1103hrs ZULU, Grid 60781-19925 -Squad forming up point (2 hours, 57 minutes to go).. Hail of shouts, metal bashing metal and a few swears as final-final checks are completed. A few pilots control their mechanics work while others are just happy to not be close enough to be involved and let the mechanics get on with their duties. Slightly away from the din a single pilot lounges on the foot unit of his old but by the looks of it, newly up-gunned Red Ant using its frame as a shield to the glaring sun. Hey, HEY HEYA! Long time no see -how'd you get permission to this place old buddy?! News pass?! Heh heh, a word in the right ear and a few credits in the left pocket is my guess BUT hey! You're here just before the 'off' so shoot, I got some time.. get a nice picky of me ay' -ah, it's for my family.

ANN: Hey, the camera can only do so much. Squad Wars. What do you think of it? A nice diversion or needs to be the new normal?

Brian: Squad Wars, it's a nice diversion and really should happen more often and not regularly to keep people off-balance, especially now as we are about commence our own Squad Raids into Unification space (AT LAST!)

ANN: Why do you say that?

B: ..AT LAST?! Why? Because I'm sick of these guys coming over here and blowing up our stuff -time for their stuff to get wrecked for a change.. uhhh, the 1st bit -ok, variety my old friend, you can't drink Root Beer Moats all your entire life without a little change now and then -say Malt Scotch or Wood Alcohol, whatever floats your boat.

ANN: Who are you fighting with this time out? Division?

B: Brotherhood/Dragons -Squad GAMMA, Division 6 under short-term contract. Last week I was with The HF helping sorting out a few bits and bobs and pitched out of my clan to let another, closer level trooper in to improve the average for them -decided not to 'sit out' and tried my luck on Free Agents, got picked up by Squad DELTA and transferred here. A good, solid bunch here and learning new shh… stuff to boot! Old dog-new tricks kinda feeling, hopefully a Silver or Gold feeling really (wink, wink).

ANN: Did round one go as expected for you?

B:Yeah, well everybody pitched in and followed our assignments and our glorious (and smart!) Leader, German and we gave the ol' Bunnies a not embarrassing loss. What do predict for the next two?

ANN: predict for the next two?

B: Our next squad/target is the Star League so we hopefully will do the same to them and round 3?! Naturally a surprise but there are 2 strong contenders which I will not have to mention to you or the fight-fans.

ANN: The missions into Unification are yielding some extra Hatoraides and the Unification version of Stimpacks called Revivers. Have you been collecting any and if so, are you using or hoarding?

B: Oh the Unification stuff, I'm most definitely hoarding that shh… um, those thingies! Once we're over there on their turf I want as much combat-stims as batteries and bullets to use on them where they’ll do the best.

ANN: Other new items recently available were two Chroniode Enhanced equipment items, the Ghost Focus cockpit and the Flux Herald engine. Did you pick them up before they were sold out? What do you think of them and what mecha do you think they would be best used on?

B: Matey-potatey did I ever -I hovered them up and proceeded to attach them where they would be most useful.. did I say Assault Class 100T?! Yeah I did.

ANN: A new 100 ton is the Slate. It will take a while to get them ready to go for the higher divisions, but have you purchased any? What is your initial assessment of its capabilities?

B: I'm greedy, a couple of senior HF officers (no names of course) said they'd come out and looked good for a crystal mech so I went out and bought two! Though not an equal to niode one, it's a helluva a lot cheaper to level up and with niode equipment should give a good account for itself -resources are pretty tough to come by in vast amounts, if you're not HOUSEHOLD unit or the mega-rich. So salvage we're pulling off with from Unification space is a godsend to some indeed.

ANN: The Boys are Back! Looks like another showdown between the Prince of Flowers and the (previously assumed dead) Prince of Iron. This time over a mecha booster. Which way are you leaning, boost the Freon or the Gigus, and why?

B: Heh heh -siblings and their rivalries ay'. Hmmm, troubling because I've got a soft spot for both! If squeezed I'd probably bank on the Gigus, for an 80T it should be way faster and dodgy like me (hah) but it probably end up the Freon which is not a loss in anyone's book. Go little freezy-guy.

ANN: Speaking of the Prince of Iron, any thoughts on his sudden return? And in a position of power within the Shogunate?

B: Did I say rivalries a-la Shogunate styles?! Man the stuff they've being doing their 'landed gentry' for the past 1000 years makes for much soap opera bloodbaths and a tidy salvage/sums earned by the mercenary clans.. ahem, just quietly.

ANN: What do you think of the newest Circuit format?

B: Not a great fan of the current system tho I understand the prizes of course, the incentive. I did ok a few months ago in the circuits -solid Bronze winner and regular Gold/Silver too but it will take time for it to balance out and as I'm not interested in jumping up the levels to compete due to resource restrictions. I'll just have settle for a bum-deal or just get out I suppose.

ANN: Also, Crystals are now salvaged from regular battles, and occasionally from mini-boss fights. Good addition or unnecessary, and why do you think that?

B: For the above reasons the occasional windfall is most welcome, I'll not deny that so in that respect, long may that continue.

ANN: Any other questions or comments?

B:No, not at the moment. Thinking on Round 3 and then OUR raid into the Unification Domain. Ah.. got an angry chirping from me Red Ant. Let me jump down while listen to my headset. Hmmm Ok sorry, looks like my time is done for this 'view. Movement orders you know the drills so shoot straight, keep ducking and weaving and mind the screaming -they just die like that! (hah) Hope to catch you up post-SW for more than a few social beverages and the story -naturally.

  l��0P�e