#imperfect concert day 3

[rowoon-updates]

220123 Rowoon at Imperfect Concert Day 3‬‬‬‬‬ © noowor do not edit, crop, or remove the watermark

[cherri-balms]

♡﹕𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓, 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓! — CH.1 — Normal Girl

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A/N ﹕Chapter 1 is finally out!! I apologize if this took a little while, I have an idea for an Alastor fic brewing and if all things go well, the prologue/pilot chapter will be the next thing I post!

As always if you would like to be added to the taglist, shoot me a DM and ill get back to you asap!! <3

This chapter is primarily exposition and fluff, so there are no content warnings for this chapter aside from a brief description of making oneself vomit.

𝐄 × 𝐌/𝐅 × 𝟓.𝟐𝐤 × 𝐎𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 × 𝐀𝐎𝟑

♡﹕Bring-your-reader to work day as one of the most famous idols in hell! Or, what it's really like working as one of the most famous idols in hell under the thumb of the VEES.

6:00 PM

Your alarm begins your morning with its typical assault to the ears and dragging  you out of what was once a beautiful slumber, for a while your subconscious was even able to create a darling little wonderland blend of hell and personal heaven, but all good dreams had to come to an end at sometime soon.

Sitting up, you begin your typical morning work routine of getting dressed, brushing your teeth and whatever other morning activities that needed to be done. Surrounding you are dozens of printed posters and scrolls of yourself watching you get changed, most of which being limited edition merchandise from your concerts, and almost all of them had in bold letters “MONΛRCH” somewhere on the prints. After your meeting with Vox that day, he insisted that if you were going to work with the brand of the Vees that you were to take on a stage name to said brand. Before you could go through your mental filing cabinet to find something that would fit, Vox informed you that he had already picked your name from the moment you walked in: Monarch. It took a second for you to realize, but the patterns currently adorning your body with the resemblance of a monarch butterfly made it click. Plus, you did like how powerful the name sounded.

The last step of your routine was always to consult yourself a sprint checkup on your voice synthesizer and then perform some finetuning. Your current synthesizer is nowhere close to your first one, hell the damn thing originally couldn't even get wet, nor was it surgically bolted into your neck, though the two still shared similar parts in case the need for a quick repair arose.

… Aaaand of course speak of the fallen angel, that said scenario was precisely why you keep a constant eye on the quality of your synthesizer, because the screw connecting your voice bank and vocal chords was chipped. Sure, it was minute but even the smallest imperfection could lead to rust and infection that you just couldn’t afford.

The bottom half of your dresser vanity would appear to be nothing but a foundational box with a front facing panel and some regal metalsmith carvings  if not for the card-slot keyhole poking out the right side. You keep the key hidden on your person at all times, while the contents inside hold no value in money or power you’re sure the reactions to what could be construed to be a stalkerish shrine to your boss would be the end of your reputation.

And his too you guess but you’re the cute one here.

Lifting your pointer finger to the back of your neck, using the slight dent of your nail to nudge out a tiny rectangular panel of your synthesizer. Or, it would be rectangular if not for the carefully cut notches on one of the sides.

You slip the key into the slot as far as it will reach, bypassing all 4 clicks then rewarding you with a 5th at ths decompressing tightness of the spring lock hinge. The once stiff panel now slides open, though not exactly with grace with it getting friction jammed against the frame caused by lack of use.

Not quite having time to spare getting distracted by your keepsakes you reach to the glass case to the left containing your prototype voice bank collar displayed like a diamond atop a blue silk pillow. You’re absolutely certain if  Vox discovered you still held the beta technology he would gag like you were saving a meal that's gone bad. Absolutely adorable, knowing if you’d present it to any sinner in hell it’d be easy to convince them it was state of the art, brand new.

One screw acquired and you’re out of there, locking everything the way it was before, box, vanity, bedroom door, apartment door. The commute to the VHQ could barely even be considered a walk, actually, most of the housing within a 3 mile radius of their building was ultimately owned by the Vees reserved for employees. Smart way to both keep their people in line and control exactly who’s around at all times, gotta give them credit when credit is due.

The dredging silence over the span of two months had you in an urge to claw beneath your skin to tear out the stabbing anticipation that seemed to grow within. Should that evolve into a spiral well of anxiety you'd been worried the business plan sealed in ink turned into a ghost, but you were informed before your leave that Rome wasn’t going to be built in a day so you were left with nothing to do but respect his unspoken wishes.

When the hour struck and you received the details for the date and time of your next meeting in a bare bones text, you wish you could say it put your short term torture to a close, but the years worth of screaming in static was finally going to be over. You couldn’t make time move any faster, only make yourself move faster to prepare for your next encounter with the overlord that could now be considered your master.

“Monarch! Good, right on time, Now come sit.” Your overlord spins around the chair to your direction, beckoning you his way. You silently do as you’re told sitting legs pressed together handbag in your lap, before you even had a chance to touch the zipper for your tablet he waves your hands away.

“Nuh-uh, you don’t need to bother yourself with that anymore. I’m sure you know why I called you?” By the way his smirk stretched across the screen while his left hand reached below his desk you’d nearly assume he was just as excited as you for this day. You feel your eyelids pull back and you swore your eyes reflected twice as much light than when you first sat down if you could catch a glimpse of yourself.

The device presented to you in his hands looked identical to its future self if not for the fresher coat of polish it bore. You must confess you weren’t too sure what you were envisioning for this gadget to come out looking like, actually you realized you were never imagining something metaphysical at all, the technological cure to your aid came in the mental form of an intangible concept closer to a myth. But what was before your eyes was.. actually pretty underwhelming.

It looked like nothing but a steel box speaker attached to a collar with a dial, bare and simple. You caught a peek at something poking out on the other side behind it, but it didn’t catch your interest long enough to retain the observation. You weren’t aware enough to try and hide your confusion but you may have done a better job than you thought at not letting it show since he didn’t react until you cocked your chin to the side.

“Well what are we waiting for! Let’s get this show on the road and try it out, yeah? Turn around.” You were practically standing and turned before he could even finish the command. Sharp blue needles brush over your cheeks and under strands of hair lifting them behind your ears. You make the sound of the buckles on the collar before it’s veiled over your vision and behind your neck. “Fair warning, this will definitely be painful!”

Mayhaps you should’ve taken a bigger note on what you saw behind the box earlier, because you instantly got to discover what it was as spear headed clamps bury dormant in your throat through your neck so sharp it could pierce bone. Pain didn’t even begin to describe what you were feeling, it was like your brain tossed you back in time to repeat your lungs combusting to ash and your body soon reacted like you were suffering such fate again, causing you to start jumping and swatting out of the arms of your savior as if he were your next next killer.

“AAAAAAHH-aaahhhh?” Was that y- there’s no way. 

You tested again in case this was another instance of your psyche filling in the gaps of a voice once more.

“aaahhhhhh~AAAHH~~” You weren’t dreaming. What you were asking from him from the start felt like asking the impossible but the result you were given far exceeded any daydream you conjured to cope with your situation, but not only had the overlord given you a brand new voice by some miracle, the voice he gave you was the same you had in life, the same smooth melody you forgot you could produce.

You turned around to face him, this time with tears blurring your view. Not an ounce of anger from your embarrassing attack his way earlier, only intrigue in your reaction to the gift. For the first time in years, you could speak and say anything in the world you wanted and now your mind was white noise. All you could do was bow your head in gratitude, though you aren’t sure if he was expecting that just based on the noise he made after.

“Hey- woah, no need for that now, not that I’m necessarily complaining,” You raise your head and you aren’t surprised by the shadow of ego stretching his grin across the screen. “I did some investigating into your mortal life to find samples of your work to make sure your voice would be nothing short of yours! Getting hands on anything in the overworld is a royal pain in the ass, though. I hope you keep that in mind.” 

Was he jesting? You were going to keep every bolt and circuit in mind for the rest of your afterlife. Perhaps it was the adrenaline, or the subtle new feeling of electrical surges flowing down the rivers of your veins, but just standing still with the amount of energy pumping in your body currently had you revived into a frankenstein marionette. 

You suppose a start could be a proper thank you, but when you attempted to mouth the words the frequency in which the simple “thank you, sir” stitched themselves together didn’t carry harmoniously, more like a broken collage of vocal pitches. Your hand cuts off your lips with a flare of pink to your cheeks, the oncoming cackling from your new boss turns that shade into deep red.

“Hahaha! I was wondering when you were gonna find that part out!” The laughter settles to a halt and he lifts a finger to wipe away a pixelated tear that doesn’t actually budge. “This model is just a beta voice bank and synthesizer, speaking will take some getting used to and once I get enough data from your use of it in the following weeks, I can begin working on improvements. I have a manual in my drawer containing the details for maintenance but for now, I have some people you need to meet.”

You were nodding your head along but you had to admit, you were not following completely. True you were unfamiliar with the recent spike in tech, but you didn’t think you were this poorly informed. You make a mental note of this as something you should start fixing asap if you were going to continue your career this way. Meanwhile, outside your thoughts, your boss is leading you to the front elevator.

Before you could prepare for a silent and awkward ride down, the TV filter breaks it again. “Oh, and can you stop with the whole “sir” talk, it’s a painfully stuffy-outdated form of addressing authority. Just address me as Vox, and everyone will know I’m your boss.” The elevator bell rings signaling the stopping floor. Your vision is brought to what looks like a madhouse production with women bustling in every direction skewing fabric across the space. It didn’t take long to put two and two together that this was some kind of clothing production, but seeing a fashion lineup in what you thought was a tech company put you in uncanny valley.

“No! No! No! Fucking disgraceful- what the hell is this shit Shae? Did you get sick all up on our silk or are you actually using vermillion and oli- VERMILLION AND FUCKING OLIVE SHAE DID YOU LEARN COLOR COORDINATION FROM THE COLOR BLIND?!” Alright that definitely drew your attention. The voice sounded like a female Gordon Ramsay for fashion instead of cooking, so it wasn’t difficult to assume she was the one in charge.

“Velvette! You’re as bitter as ever before.” The woman turns over, you had to admit her namesake fit well with her appearance and instantly the aesthetic made sense. Something about that cute white swirl she has in her hair reminded you of a sweet cheesecake frosting you could've devoured her on sight.

“Vox fuckin’ piss off mind you can’t you see I’m in the middle of somethi- who the fuck is this” Velvette squints in your direction like your appearance sucked away the rest of her eyesight. Seconds go by, and then a few more without a word being exchanged, only the next electrical surge from the nervous gulp of saliva reminding you that things didn’t have to be this way anymore.

You introduce yourself unashamed of the robotic slurred speech pattern and the face she makes could only be described as bewilderment.

“I- what in satan’s name was tha-”

“She’s mute, Velvette. Sweetheart this is the cornerstone of my little “Monarch” project I informed you of, and I actually came here to discuss that with you.”

“Wait a second the star of your new network is a mute bimbo- Vox did your motherboard circuits go fucking smooth?!” Self control was a virtue you’d mastered since life one, through thumb-tacks in your heels to schmoozing slimy pigs with deep pockets, the poker face would remain sewn to your cheeks. But here, you could feel the slightest twitch anytime this woman spoke. You couldn't give a damn how powerful she thought she was, the kinds of implications she was making towards Vox only made you want to shove bars of soap down her throat until it cleans the filth coating her mouth.

There was no fucking way you were ever going to tolerate that cunt.

The frosted blast of studio AC and diamond perfume became your standard morning welcome when clocking into work, upon so being greeted by the models and seamstresses on the floor of your first stop with your typical “good mornings” and “how are yous”. One of the newer interns approaches with multiple cardboard cup holder trays of coffee, and it didn’t take very long to find the cup with your favorite order, even if it weren’t for the bold lettering of your stage name on the outside.

You finish up your typical greetings making your way over to the dressing rooms where the rest of your stagemates are already gathered looking at the schedule. First on the docket was choreography training, no surprise since your instrumentalists were nowhere to be found, and then after lunch iss… oh wonderful! Outfit fitting! Which meant the whole afternoon with just you and Velvette.

This was going to be a perfect day, wasn’t it?

Speak of the devil and she shall not only appar, she’ll kick the front door down like it cheated on anniversary night and throw what was- probably a brand new Goeccia hand purse in the face of whomever was closest.

“EACH ONE OF YOU BETTER BE FUCKING CLOCKED AND AT YOUR POST IN THE NEXT MINUTE OR YOU’RE ALL SEWING THE ANGELIC!!KILLS LINE BY TONIGHT EVEN IF YOUR FUCKING FINGERS ARE WORN TO NUBS ARE WE CLEAR?! Now where the ever loving fuck is- There she is!!”

“Velvette!!”

The two of you run and embrace in the middle of the room like you had just returned from the great war and reuniting with your long lost lover at the end of a shitty romcom. This display, was one that also became a tradition between the two of you at the start of the work day, one you weren’t ignorant to the handful that still felt the need to eyeroll or squint.

Okay so,, your seeded disdain for Velvette was one you admittedly locked away in the vault of embarrassing memories to reap its head around only when trying to get a good night's sleep. You initially had spent the first month or so practicing every torture method known to man on the images your eyes sent you because of how she talked down to Vox like a dog, this was… before you found out she was an overlord too and suddenly the context of the relationship they shared made sense. A bitter part of the pride that landed you where you are today still wanted to leech onto any grain of malice toward her, eventually turning into a humiliating envy and possessiveness over Vox’s attention. In that span of time you made no effort to get to know Velvette or care about her work, even while she was making the outfits you wore on stage for you and she somewhat mutually felt the same about you. 

Luckily for the two of you, there was a third much more obnoxious V that was too perfect of low hanging fruit in the art if feminine hazing for you both to latch onto and find common ground on.

“I think this new hair style might be my new favorite! Locs look good on you~” Compared to how you felt the first time speaking with the prototype that sat in your vanity, the newer model of your synthesizer had a way more diverse voice bank and finetuning that made speaking feel and sound much more natural. Even with the mounds of progress from your prototype to present day, it was still obviously unnatural and robotic. These became factors that slowly mattered less as your gratitude increased, and you were content that not everyone was going to see it that way.

“See? I fucking told that nasty bed bug upstairs that I’d eat butterfly locs but what the fuck would he know when I can read my damn future in his forhead,” Velvette went a total of two minutes of the conversation before she pulled her phone out to check her instagram feed, a new accomplishment. You were proud. “Just so you’re aware by the way, Verosika Mayday announced  the release date of her Paint it Pink album like 35 minutes ago and people are already bringing your name into it. You got a lot to deliver with this upcoming tour.”

Lucifer bless Velvette for having the brain cells to keep up with surfing the modern social media tides you continuously wipe out on with every attempt. You could stomach social media enough for your job, but Velvette made sure to get you a top notch social media advisor to handle your accounts to make it seem like you were more active than you were. True as it was that your vocal synthesizer brought a new flair to the world of music; especially in the rise of electronica, techno and pop where your new voice couldn’t compare to any other sinner in the genres, this factor has also lead to a cluster headache of… Let’s just say controversy. Old fashioned demons in particular were the bane of everything you deemed holy just because how fucking annoying they were making their periodic hangups your god damn problem.

Before you could properly offer your gratitude your attention is taken by an obnoxious thump and “A-hem!” in the direction of the dressing room. Turning you can see the green lop bunny ears of your costar and you can assume she’s trying to tell you to move your ass. Drama was the last thing you had energy for so you blow a kiss goodbye to Velvette and made two shakes of a lamb's tail into the dressing rooms.

Today you didn’t need to worry about outfit planning, just something comfortable that you don’t mind sweating in for the better part of the day. A simple pair of running shorts, tank top and loafers should work more than fine for today, hopefully as long as Valentino didn’t decide to sit on today’s choreography exercises…

It wasn’t exactly the norm for dance practices for the remaining member of the V trifecta to sit in and give his shit commentary- kind critiques on your movements and appearances. If it were up to you or any of your coworkers, Valentino wouldn’t be anywhere near your production but alas, contractual standards came first. One of the stipulations upon starting your career as Monarch was your introduction to the Vee network and the ongoing partnership the three overlords held to upkeep their power within hell. Long and short, this meant that with each contract the Vees delt the other two business partner would also have to reap some sort of benefit; typically monetary gain.

In your case, Velvette easily got her reward by using your team as breathing mannequins to advertise her fashion line, not to mention she would ultimately be credited in every comment of the flashy costumes you wore at concerts and venues. Valentino’s side had free royalties to your music to play in his clubs and this usually came along with him having a say in the dances that go with the song. Every fucking time it was a Valentino session you all knew you were in for a long day of overtime, muscle pain, and playing sexual harassment bingo.

Two knocks on the door put your thoughts to a screeching halt.

“Monarch dear, are you descent~” Ah, it was your favorite voice in all of hell~ you run to the door with a skip in each step like a puppy listening for dangling keys outside the front door.

“Never~”

“Are you dressed?”

“Yes!”

“There’s the answer we’re looking for,” You welcome him inside with a pleasant “come in” and Vox follows as such. You maintain a safe distance and subtly restrain yourself by clasping your hands behind your back but you weren’t going to deny, days like today the tightrope beneath your feet of professionalism and your heartache was especially loose. You’re certain the love you felt for the man who saved your spirit was last year's news to everyone in the building, actually your “inappropriate devotion” has been the source of countless catfights among your bandmates.

“Monarch love! Horrific morning isn’t it~” You could listen to him talk all day, and when he approaches you and clasps a hand over your cheek leaning into the touch feels like second nature.

“Every day in the studio is a horrific morning, but I know that’s not what you came to talk to lil’ ol me about, isn’t it?”

“Why, you hurt me! Can’t I just start my morning visiting a beautiful painted lady?” You blink in a moment of silence until he finishes. True you loved soaking in his flattery, but not in feigned procrastination. “Valentino and I spoke this morning, or rather he threw a tantrum because I didn’t tell him I put Pomp and Circumstance on your schedule today..” 

Aaand there it is, of course you get to not only work with STI Patient-0, but he was already off to a shit mood to start the day. If the scales of fortune decide to tip your way at all during today you hope this tips in your favor, given the… technique you developed to avoid interacting with him as much as possible.

When you lift your head to meet your reflection, you have to tilt your head a bit higher than you remembered last, and your arms were now coiled around his waist. Oh, it seems matter won over mind again. The hand that once danced feathers over your cheek now caress massages in your scalp. Scandalous, sure. But there was nothing wrong with comforting a friend after a rough morning, right?

“Come, everyone else is already in the studio. Sorry I couldn’t start your day with anything pleasant, I hate being the reason you have a frown. So,” Your vision cuts into frames of bright white and a following zap, once, then twice again. In what feels like an instant Vox disappears and reappears within the electricity, but the second time he holds a brown fast food bag and a bright green M.

“OH MY GOD I LOVE MAMMONALDS! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOUUU!!!” Stars of reflected light build in your eyes when you saw the bag. Reading the receipt taped to the front you can already tell the breakfast order is your favorite even down to your specific requests that made the receipt  go down past the bag but you knew the employees wouldn’t even dare try and get Vox’s order wrong. 

“Take a minute to eat and come to the studio, I didn’t get you a drink because I knew you were going to get coffee so I’ll get you a milkshake after choreography, kay?” You nod your head while already pulling out your side of hashbrowns and chowing down like a hamster nibbling a sunflower seed.

It was a sight so cute Vox wanted nothing but to squeeze you so tight your eyes pop out of your skull.

But there was no time to waste. Vox vanishes with a flicker of the lights and bolts yet again, and you take a couple last chews before you’re sure hes gone.

Standing up you make way to the connected bathroom to your dressing room and open the toilet seat. Immediately you shove two fingers into your throat and probe the back until it triggers your gag reflex enough to regurgitate every last bite you took. The slime of cheap grease and burn of overused salt always made you restrain a gag without fail anytime fast food was given to you, but god Vox just would not stop ordering that shit for you. Perhaps there was a chance you sold your “love” for Mammonalds a little too hard the first handful of times he’d gifted it to you; actually, you probably wouldn’t be in this situation at all if you just refused his offer to hand feed you a fry earlier on in your contract, and by all means you wanted to, but your body’s impulse had won that that day.

Tossing out the remaining food out of the bathroom window to the dumpster in the alley below you and flushing and cleaning any remnants of bile, you give yourself one last tidy up and make way to the next place you’re needed: the dance studio.

By some unholy miracle when you stepped out of the elevator, you weren’t met with condensed red smoke to the ceiling and a moth throwing a drink at your head. Drink or a bullet, whichever he thought would please him more.

“Fucking christ all mighty, the “Princess of the Hour!” finally arrives.” As expected, everyone had already gathered long before you while you were caught up with Velvette and Vox, the first one to greet you being the same moody green bunny from earlier, rolling her eyes and doing little jazz hands mid sentence to hammer in her sarcasm.

“Good morning to you too, Tea!! I’m glad you’re feeling well~” You made a decision to go on the dismissive today, Tea in particular always seemed to be in sour moods when it came to you being as chummy as you were with the Vees for a mere contracted soul. At the end of the day you couldn’t give less a shit about that twats petty jealousy issues if she only had the decency to keep it to damn self instead of making it your problem, and your problem at work nonetheless.

“Oh shut the fuck up Tea we aren’t in the mood for this today,” The lanky azure colored salamander man gently flicked Tea on the back of the head with a roll of the eyes and a vertical reptile blink. Out of all the members of your little group, Sirius was the closest thing you had to a voice of reason and it made him the most tolerable out of the bunch. In the corner too engrossed in their own conversations to even pay mind to any of you were two harpy girls, sisters actually. Black Marlia on the left and White Russian on the right, both of them added a much needed flare to your concerts and were the only two who could go airborne long enough to perform choreography above the stage, you liked to think they were valuable assets even if you could count the amount of times either has spoken to you on one hand.

“I hear we have to deal with Valentino’s bullshit today…” Sirius attempts to continue the conversation as the five of you start properly getting into position for when said moth comes in, it would look as if you’d all been wagging your tails for his arrival this whole time.

“You are the third to remind me of his existence today, if that number goes up I might have to fly away and leave you hanging~”

“Oh and here I thought you’d be ecstatic to be commanded by one of your masters for the better part of today.”

“Not the one who immediately calculated my ass and chest size in his head as an introduction.”

“Was he right though-”

“EVERYONE SHUT THE FUCK UP RIGHT NOW!” And just like that, any hope of this being a well off- or even standard Valentino work day just died on arrival. You all do exactly what he says and don’t utter a peep until he says bark. Throughout the early hours of the rehearsal, it was evident that he wanted to be here the least out of any of you which was something that as much as he made your skin crawl, you had to respect. No one likes work already but you could understand how the brand you had was so softcore in comparison to what he was used to, the whole choreograph just looked like a bunch of pillows flopping around on stage to him.

Your understanding should not be confused with sympathy however, simply put knowing how your bosses think is rule #1 when it comes to maintaining a proper work/life balance, and in this case it would be minimizing the amount of halts and rechoreographing out of nitpicks. So, while your brand was one that strayed away from deviance and sex to keep the illusion of ownership, being a bit more risqué than your typical sets here and there wasn’t a crime and would give Val more to look at even if only teasingly.

“No! No! NO THIS IS ALL FUCKING WRONG!!” Yeah who the fuck were you kidding, if you all weren’t having an orgy this jack off was never going to be pleased.

“Did you all learn how to dance in a fucking church?! Are you all such angel cunt lickers that you can’t handle presenting any TNA is that it?!”

Yeah… This was going to be a long work day…

TAGLIST﹕@hurtworld401 @feral-ratatattat-king

[cherrygirlystuff]

Welcome to Messy Mornings: A Chronicle of the Chaotic, Carefree Lifestyle of the Indie Sleaze Scene

Hey babe! 🌸 If you’ve ever woken up with yesterday’s eyeliner still smudged under your eyes, your hair in a perfectly imperfect mess, and the vibe of last night’s music still echoing in your head, then you’re in the right place. Welcome to Messy Mornings, where we celebrate the beautifully chaotic and effortlessly cool lifestyle that defined the indie sleaze scene. This isn’t about being polished or perfect – it’s about embracing the wild, carefree energy that made the indie sleaze era so unforgettable. So, grab your coffee (or let’s be real, your morning-after drink of choice), and let’s dive into the messy, magical world of indie mornings! 🎧✨

The Chaotic Charm of Indie Sleaze Mornings 🌟

Let’s be honest – mornings during the indie sleaze era weren’t about green juices and yoga mats. They were more like stumbling out of bed, throwing on whatever clothes were on the floor, and somehow managing to look effortlessly cool despite the chaos. The indie sleaze lifestyle was all about embracing that “I just rolled out of bed” look – because, honestly, you probably did. And guess what? That’s what made it so iconic.

1. The Art of the Perfectly Imperfect Morning 🕶️

Indie sleaze mornings were anything but ordinary. Maybe you were crashing on a friend’s couch after a night out, or maybe you woke up with the sun streaming through your bedroom window, surrounded by vinyl records and band posters. The key to capturing that indie vibe? Don’t overthink it. Messy hair, smudged eyeliner, and yesterday’s outfit are all part of the charm. It’s about capturing the moment – the vibe – rather than worrying about looking picture-perfect.

2. The Morning After: A Photo Series 📸

If you’re looking for some visual inspo, Messy Mornings has got you covered with a curated photo series that captures the essence of those chaotic indie mornings. Think candid shots of tangled bed sheets, half-empty coffee cups, and sun-drenched rooms filled with the remnants of the night before. These images aren’t staged or filtered – they’re raw, real, and totally unfiltered, just like the indie sleaze scene itself. Whether it’s a Polaroid snapped at sunrise or a grainy digital photo that captures the morning light just right, these photos are all about telling the story of the morning after.

Morning Routines: The Indie Sleaze Way 🌅

Forget about strict schedules and to-do lists – the indie sleaze morning routine was all about going with the flow and embracing whatever the day threw your way. Here’s a little glimpse into what a typical indie sleaze morning might have looked like:

1. Wake Up Whenever 🌞

There’s no alarm clock here – you wake up when your body (or the sunlight streaming through the curtains) tells you to. Whether it’s 7 AM or noon, it doesn’t really matter. The vibe is all about taking your time and easing into the day.

2. Coffee, Please (But Make It Strong) ☕

The first order of business? Coffee. Strong, black, and preferably served in a chipped mug that’s seen better days. This isn’t about fancy lattes or frappuccinos – it’s about the kind of coffee that gets you going after a long night out. Bonus points if you’re drinking it while listening to last night’s playlist on repeat.

3. Throw on Yesterday’s Clothes (Or Something Close) 👗

Forget about planning your outfit – just grab whatever’s on the floor or hanging on the back of a chair. Mismatched? Perfect. Wrinkled? Even better. The indie sleaze aesthetic is all about looking like you didn’t try too hard, even if you secretly did. Add some chunky boots or sneakers, and you’re good to go.

4. Playlist on Repeat 🎧

Music is the soundtrack to your life, so naturally, it��s playing in the background as you get ready. Whether it’s The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, or a grungy mixtape you made last night, the right tunes set the tone for your day. Bonus points if you’re still humming a song from the concert or party you went to the night before.

Aesthetic Inspo: Capturing the Messy Morning Vibe 🖼️

If you’re looking to channel that indie sleaze morning vibe into your own life, here’s some aesthetic inspo to get you started:

1. Polaroids and Disposable Cameras 📷

Capture those unfiltered morning moments with a Polaroid camera or a disposable one. The beauty of these photos is in their imperfections – the overexposure, the grain, the unexpected moments that only a film camera can capture. Stick them on your wall or tuck them into a journal for the ultimate indie sleaze photo album.

2. Vintage Decor Vibes 🕯️

Your space should feel as effortlessly cool as you do. Think mismatched furniture, vintage band posters, string lights, and a record player spinning in the corner. Add a few plants that may or may not need watering, and you’ve got the perfect indie sleaze morning setting.

3. The Playlist You Need 🎶

No indie sleaze morning is complete without the right playlist. Curate a mix of your favorite indie tracks, throw in some lo-fi beats, and don’t forget those nostalgic hits that take you back to the mid-2000s. It’s all about setting the mood and getting lost in the music as you go about your day.

Final Thoughts, Gorgeous: Embrace the Chaos, Live the Vibe 🌟

So, there you have it – a peek into the chaotic, carefree world of Messy Mornings, where the indie sleaze aesthetic is alive and well. Whether you’re reminiscing about your wild nights and lazy mornings or just looking to channel that vibe into your everyday life, remember: it’s all about embracing the mess, living in the moment, and not worrying too much about the details.

In the world of indie sleaze, perfection is overrated. It’s the imperfections, the spontaneity, and the unexpected moments that make life so much more interesting. So next time you wake up with your hair a mess and your eyeliner smudged, don’t stress – just grab your coffee, throw on some tunes, and let the day unfold however it wants to.

Ready to embrace the messy morning vibes? Let’s chat in the comments about your favorite indie sleaze moments, morning routines, and everything else that makes this chaotic, carefree lifestyle so irresistible! 💕

[mysandwichgiver]

OPINION

Our democracy is much more frail than Biden

by Will Bunch | Columnist

Published July 2, 2024, 12:04 p.m. ET

Do newspaper columnists know that democracy’s closer to death than Biden?

One of the first things they teach doctors in medical school is the imperfect but necessary art of triage, the technique used on a battlefield or during some other mass-casualty event to determine who is most gravely wounded and who needs immediate attention during a crisis when the system is overwhelmed, and clear-headed thinking will save lives.

Clearly, this is not something that is taught in journalism school.

Over the course of a remarkable weekend, I saw the best minds of my boomer generation destroyed by madness — newspaper columnists and other big shots convinced they were cosplayers in a real-world episode of The West Wing, saving America by giving chief of staff Leo McGarry the best words to convince an ailing President Bartlet that it’s time to step down.

The soft clacking of these keyboard commandos turned into a stampede as the nation’s pundits, its editorial-page poobahs, mega-rich but anonymous donors, and Democratic horse whisperers competed to outdo each other on The Daily Rip or in “the paper of record,” or wherever they thought the actual frail president, Joe Biden, might be paying attention.

Dropping names — Whitmer! Shapiro! Warnock! — like a groupie backstage at a heavy-metal concert, floating wildly implausible scenarios, stretching so hard for historical analogies that several probably blew out a hamstring, America’s pundit class managed to achieve a level of groupthink that surpassed the brainwashers of The Manchurian Candidate. All argued that for the good of the country he loves, Biden — hoarse, barely audible, and visibly confused a few times during Thursday’s Atlanta presidential debate — must immediately end his candidacy.

Meanwhile, in the actual America that less resembles The West Wing than the disaster flick Don’t Look Up, two comets simultaneously bore down on America in the hours leading up to its 248th — and possibly last — birthday as a democratic republic.

First, there is Donald Trump — desperate to avoid his sentencing for his 34 felony convictions, firing off racist insults about “Black jobs” and “bad Palestinians,” and carrying around a 900-page blueprint for American dictatorship called Project 2025 — streaking into the cosmic void of our troubled republic.

Meanwhile, don’t look up but a thoroughly corrupt and compromised Supreme Court is blazing a second trail toward American autocracy. In a flurry of body punches over the last several days, the nation’s highest court gutted the federal government’s ability to regulate fat-cat corporate polluters or stock swindlers, but said poor folks who sleep outside because there’s nowhere else to go can be arrested. Then, with a fierce right hook, it issued a 6-3 partisan ruling that will help Trump — who appointed three of them — evade justice while placing all future presidents above the law.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, one of the three liberal naysayers, read her blistering minority opinion from the bench Monday morning, arguing that the court’s finding that a president performing official acts can be immune from criminal prosecution “effectively creates a law-free zone around the president, upsetting the status quo that has existed since the founding.” She ended with the words, “with fear for our democracy, I dissent.”

I wish Justice Sotomayor had the bandwidth and the energy to work a second shift as editorial page editor at one of our major newspapers.

At Time magazine (yes, it still exists), the cover of its new issue contained just one word, “Panic” — not at the prospect of an American dictator with the seeming power to have the military assassinate his enemies, but at Biden’s health. At the New York Times (yes, it still exists), an editorial board that considered it pointless, or whatever, to call for Trump to leave the race after those 34 felony convictions — as well as the civil rape and financial fraud verdicts and the two impeachments and three other pending indictments — made its grand pronouncement that it’s Biden who must go. Other papers jumped on the bandwagon, including the swing state Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which in the 1950s and ‘60s won Pulitzers for its courage in taking on Southern racists before deciding instead to appeal to their grandchildren.

And look, I’m not going to argue that Biden’s health is not an issue. His debate performance was troubling, but I also think those of us determined not to see Donald Trump become president again should take a deep breath — even if that’s not the clickbait headline that many are eager to write. Biden needs to do more to assure the public about his energy level, and we also need to see the polls. Any decision should be based on the paramount thing — the thing that should be getting 72-point headlines: stopping dictatorship. As Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote Monday in her dissent, this is a “five-alarm fire that threatens to consume democratic self-governance.”

The power of Monday’s dissents by Jackson and Sotomayor form quite the contrast with the speculative flights of fancy about a brokered convention in Chicago, which, it’s worth noting, have largely come from white male boomer types. Many Black and brown and female voices, on the other hand, are urging Biden to stay as the only realistic hope — warts and all — of beating Trump in November. Maybe people who in one way or another know the horror of being treated as a second-class citizen understand the risk of dictatorship in a way that white dudes who’ve always been OK do not.

Most journalists want to be seen as savvy (or not naïve, essentially the same thing) and influential. Many editorial writers and columnists are still hurting from the fact that Trump was elected in 2016 with zero major print endorsements. They think calling for Trump to drop out would make them look foolish now that the Republican Party has devolved into a dangerous cult. But a demand for Biden to drop out might actually happen — so that’s savvy, right?

Except maybe the dangerous cult is the more important crisis, especially when it carries a printed guide to dictatorship and holds six justices in its back pocket. To focus on the actual threat we are facing, I wish America’s top pundits would spend less time watching reruns of The West Wing and maybe pick up a copy of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.

The reality of what’s happening in July 2024 — that an authoritarian-minded president, with help from a politicized and unethical Supreme Court, is on track to lead a nation where all power is being vested in him, his MAGA movement, and the corporate polluters — is THE story, and Biden’s health is a subplot in that drama. The current president is walking slowly, but it’s the American Experiment that’s on a ventilator. Journalists aren’t doing their job: performing basic triage and focusing on the sickest patient in the room. With fear for our democracy, I dissent.

[infisonicosm-moved]

JOSHKISZKAS FIC RECAP

I saw someone else do this and thought it was a brilliant idea! Since we’re half way the year, I want to look back at all the fics I have reblogged each month and share them again with all my followers.

Fics are separated by the month I read them in! I underestimated just how much I’ve read these past six months. Every one of these writers should be proud of themselves and I encourage you all to read their works!

JANUARY

* In A Past Life

Pairing: Sam Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: 450 — Category: Fluff

Summary: Sam discovers a TikTok trend and wants to show y/n

* Call The Hunters pt.6

Pairing: Danny Wagner X F!OC — Word Count: 3.8k+ — Category: Violence/Gore/Angst

Summary: The adventures or Danny and Yelena continue

* Headcanon Blurb

Pairing: GVF X Reader — Word Count: n/a — Category: Fluff

Summary: Confessing you have a crush on them and their reactions

* Josh Blurb #14

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: n/a — Category: Fluff

Summary: Josh and you have the same love language- physical touch

* Fluff Alphabet (Josh Kiszka)

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: n/a — Category: Fluff

Summary: Every letter of the alphabet associated with something fluffy about Josh

* Sam Blurb

Pairing: Sam Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: n/a — Category: Fluff

Summary: Cuddling with Sam leads to your first kiss

* Baby Of Mine

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: n/a — Category: Fluff/Comfort

Summary: You’re struggling with breastfeeding and Josh helps

* J’s Lullaby

Pairing: Jake Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: n/a — Category: Fluff

Summary: Jake asks you to sing him to sleep

* Headcanon Blurb

Pairing: GVF X Reader — Word Count: n/a — Category: Fluff

Summary: They’re clingy

* Josh Blurb #22

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: n/a — Category: Fluff

Summary: Josh finds you looking at your stretch marks and he makes you feel loved and good about yourself despite not having confidence

* Sweet Creature

Pairing: Danny Wagner X Reader — Word Count: 500 — Category: Hurt/Comfort

Summary: BF!Danny comforts you after a hard day

* Let Down

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: 1.6k — Category: Hurt/Comfort

Summary: Josh gets a little upset over the events of their final concert of the year

FEBRUARY

* Maybe One More Day

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: 4.9k+ — Category: Fluff/18+*

Summary: Josh has been your best friend for years, and a short beach vacation with the group is about to take a turn

* Just Ours, Tonight

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: 7.4k+ — Category: Fluff/18+*

Summary: He’s your best friend, but that may be about to change (pt.2 of Maybe One More Day)

* Nothing Could Compare

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: 7k+ — Category: Fluff/18+*

Summary: Trying something new can be intimidating, but love finds a way (pt.3 of Maybe One More Day)

* Babbler

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: 1.6k — Category: Fluff

Summary: Your baby says their first word

* Need Some Healing

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: 1.7k — Category: Fluff/Hurt/Comfort

Summary: After a busy weekend, Josh needs a little extra bit of attention and relaxation

* Songbird

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: 2.4k+ — Category: Fluff/Comfort

Summary: Josh is nervous about performing, you reassure him it’s going to be okay

* Uncharted Territory

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: 16.9k+ — Category: Fluff/Angst/18+*

Summary: Becoming Josh’s assistant isn’t what you thought it would be

* Uncharted Territory II

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: 7.8k+ — Category: Fluff/Angst/18+*

Summary: Becoming Josh’s assistant isn’t what you thought it would be (pt.2 of Uncharted Territory)

* All I’ve Ever Wanted

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: 1.8k — Category: Angst/Fluff/18+*

Summary: Josh is hesitant to make things official until he fears he’s going to lose you

* Imperfect Moments(Masterlist)

Pairing: Jake Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: n/a — Category: Fluff/Angst/Slow Burn/18+*

Summary: You’re in love with your best friend. His twin brother hates you. Or does he?

* Something New

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: 3.8k — Category: Fluff/18+*

Summary: Something blue, something borrowed, and something new

* The Perfect Gift

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: n/a — Category: Fluff/Comfort

Summary: Josh is stubborn and his ear hurts. You make it better

* Velvet

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: 883 — Category: Fluff

Summary: You help Josh get ready for one of his shows

* Something About You

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: 15.5k — Category: Fluff/18+*

Summary: Drawn to you from the moment you met, consumed by you before your first date, he would do anything for you. There’s just something about you

* Josh Blurb

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: n/a — Category: Fluff/Comfort

Summary: You had a stressful day at work and Josh takes care of you with lots of cuddles and loving

MARCH

* Jake Blurb

Pairing: Jake Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: n/a — Category: Angst/Comfort

Summary: Jake misses you while on tour

* Surprise, Surprise

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: n/a — Category: Fluff

Summary: Telling Josh you’re pregnant

* Slow Dance

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: n/a — Category: Fluff/Comfort

Summary: Dancing with Josh to help him feel better

* Sun To Me: Little Love

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X F!OC — Word Count: 6.3k — Category: Fluff/Comfort

Summary: The adventures of Callie and Josh continue

* Josh Blurb

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: n/a — Category: Hurt/Comfort

Summary: Josh hurts himself going to hard with the tambourine, you fix him up

* Sleepy Time

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: n/a — Category: Fluff

Summary: Josh successfully gets your little girl to sleep

* Stage Fright

Pairing: Josh X Jake X Sam X Danny — Word Count: n/a — Category: Fluff/Comfort

Summary: All 4 of them are nervous to perform MTM

* Sloppy

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: 1.3k — Category: PWP/18+*

Summary: Josh titty fucks you

APRIL

* Painted Up

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader— Word Count: 2.8k — Category: Fluff

Summary: Josh decides to experiment with stage makeup, which leads to more than a couple surprising things

* Tequila

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader— Word Count: 2.8k — Category: Fluff/18+*

Summary: Josh finally gets to titty fuck you after fantasizing about it for so long

* The One Where They Did A Farmers Market

Pairing: Josh X Jake X Sam X Danny— Word Count: 1.1k+ — Category: Fluff/Comedy

Summary: All 4 of them have separate booths at a Farmers Market

* Bathing in the Light

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: 813 — Category: Fluff

Summary: A short little drabble about Josh admiring his newly wed wife as she sleeps blissfully next to him

* Stretch

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: 900 — Category: Fluff/Comfort/18+*

Summary: Josh comforts you when you have negative thoughts about your body

* Bliss

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: 900 — Category: Fluff

Summary: Josh changes your baby’s diaper. It’s adorable

MAY

* Sunshine On My Shoulders

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: 11k — Category: Fluff/Angst/18+*

Summary: Who doesn't love a good friends to lovers trope with some spice in the mix?

* Miss You

Pairing: Jake Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: n/a — Category: Smut/18+*

Summary: Vamp!Jake fucks

* Josh Blurb

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: n/a — Category: Smut/18+*

Summary: Josh eats you out while you try to read a book

* Danny Blurb

Pairing: Danny Wagner X Reader — Word Count: n/a — Category: Fluff

Summary: Dad!Danny getting home from tour

* Little Bird

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: 1.6k — Category: Fluff/Comfort

Summary: Josh finds himself getting insecure and emotional late at night with your daughter

* All Of The Time I Love You

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: 856 — Category: Fluff

Summary: Josh sings to you and dances with you in the kitchen

* Dance For Me

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: 5k — Category: Smut/18+*

Summary: Josh finds your old stripper heels in the back of your closet and requests a dance

* Care

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: 1k — Category: Fluff

Summary: After a long day, josh helps you relax

* Deja Vu

Pairing: Jake Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: 7.7k — Category: Fluff/Angst/Smut/18+*

Summary: Between a span of nearly two years, you and jake would have occasional hookups every time he was back in town after touring. but once he abruptly stopped shooting you texts and seeing you, you figured you two were done for, and you despised ever spending time on him. so, once you see him in your local bar after six months, you're caught off guard with anger, but remembrance of how much you missed him, and how you truly feel about him

* Some Gifts Aren’t Meant To Be Shared

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: 7.7k — Category: Smut/18+*

Summary: It’s Josh’s birthday and you treat him to a special morning, or try to at least

* Pick Yourself Up pt.1

Pairing: Jake X Josh X Sam X Danny — Word Count: 4.7k — Category: Hurt/Comfort/Angst

Summary: After years of trying to make his dream of being a musician a reality, jake continues to fall short. on the brink of giving up, can his passion alone keep him afloat, or will he need help from others?

* Jake Blurb

Pairing: Jake Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: n/a — Category: Angst/Comfort

Summary: Trying to help relieve Jake of some stress goes wrong

JUNE

* Nap Time

Pairing: Josh Kiszka X Reader — Word Count: n/a — Category: Fluff/Angst

Summary: Josh is moody and needs a nap

[leasstories]

Letter two:

TW: Depiction of grief, after Eddie’s death, bittersweet

Letter 1 - Letter 3

April 23rd,1986

Dear Eds,

I’m sorry for not writing to you yesterday. It was a really hard day. I wasn’t capable of getting out of bed. I’m missing you so much it hurts. Dinner with Wayne went well. We ate and then he suggested that we watch a movie. We watched one of those movies you ate. It was a rom-com and if you were there you would have screamed at us to turn off the TV.

I’m not gonna lie to you like I did to Wayne but watching it was hard. Watching people stupidly in love when my lover isn’t here anymore hurts so bad. The little sheep were supposed to come play DnD at my place yesterday but I called them, giving the excuse that I was sick. Your little genius didn’t believe me though. I heard him bang at my door and screaming at me to open the door. I feel bad about but I didn’t... I didn’t let him in.

He started acting more like you since you are gone. The kid is even trying to grow his hair to be like “his hero” as he put it. You’d be proud of him, and of his campaigns. You were right, he really is a genius.

Also, I forgot to tell you but a few days ago Judas Priest released a new album. It’s entitled Turbo. As soon as I can get out again, I’ll go buy the tape. I’ll write a review for you as soon as it’s done.

Also, when I got home from Wayne’s, I finally painted your van as I promised I would. No imperfections anymore.

I don’t have a lot to tell you as I stayed home all day yesterday. I really miss you Eds... I feel so empty without you. I selfishly wish you were the one drying my tears. I wish you were here, holding me at night, when the sobs wrack my body. Before I thought that I couldn’t bear to see you hurt, but now I realize that I’d rather see you hurt than not see you at all. When the earthquake happened and you were nowhere to be found, I didn’t imagine one second that I would never see you again. Eddie Munson, you were both the best and worse thing that ever happened to me.

I still have no news from UCLA. The community college accepted me but I declined. How am I supposed to leave town without you? All I’m left with are the memories, the places we both liked. Besides, I feel like leaving Hawkins without you would be a betrayal. I really can’t do it alone Eds. I need you... I really need you right now...

Is it my fault? Should I have been looking for you more? What could have I done not to lose you? I lost the will to live. The song I relate to the most at the moment is Fade to Black in Metallica’s Ride the Lightning album.

Also, I thought you should know that we postponed Corroded Coffin’s concert at the Hideout as I wasn’t feeling well yesterday. It’s going to be on Tuesday, April 28th. I wish you could be here too, strumming Sweetheart by my side.

Sorry, I had to put the pen down, Steve Harrington (Can you believe it?) came to check on me. I lied to him and said I was fine but I don’t think he believed me. He insisted that he’d stop by later tonight but I don’t think I’ll open the door to him. I don’t want to see anyone else than you Eddie. Anyways, I love you endlessly.

Yours, always

- Your lover

Taglist: @abellmunsonmovie

[deprivedmusicaljunkie]

#8 - better love

counting down the days to my concert with my top ten favorite songs!

10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1

when our truth is burned from history by those who figured justice in fond memory, witness me like fire weeping from a cedar tree, know that my love would burn with me we’ll live eternally

this song is criminally slept on, even in the fandom. the story of tarzan really adds another layer to this—that the song is coming from the perspective of someone who has witnessed all the brutalities of man and nature but is still comforted by their lover. it’s also definitely a reassurance to the other person: any imperfection in the world amounts to nothing in comparison to the goodness of our love. i wish he would perform this live…

[glossdebut]

BTS are only human - they're not perfect. We can still love them but we don't have to love everything that they do. I respect your decision to feel the way that you do. You are absolutely entitled and well within your rights to do so.

I know they've collabbed with problematic artists. I know other Kpop artists that have collabbed with problematic artists (I'm looking at you svt with DJ Khaled). I detest HYBE's money grabbing wallet hungry capitalistic tendencies. Their ticketing practices are SHIT. 2 - 3 months from ticket sales to actual concert?? Come the fuck ON. Even Stray Kids released tickets in November for a June show. Give us a bit of lead time and don't create this mad shark feeding frenzy where we're clambering over each other for an opportunity to see our faves. I get that the demand is there, but don't abuse it...

Sorry, I'm digressing. But you get my point. We love them. We do, there's no question. But we can dislike things about them, their company, their collaborating artists - even some of their work can rub us the wrong way. But that's okay. Because they're human and they're imperfect.

100% agree with everything said here

the svt and dj khaled collab is part of the reason (along with being an army for 8 years now) that i can't just hop to another group and call it a day. it's everywhere!!!!

i get why people are so protective over bts and hesitant to call out their shitty behavior. they've been through a lot in their career, and we don't want them to feel like we're turning against them

but they're grown men. shareholders of the company that they built from the ground up. and they have so much power at this point that i think it's irresponsible to just sit back and let them do things that go against everything they claim to stand for

as of right now i'm not going anywhere. i'm going to continue to love bts, and for me, loving them doesn't mean blindly accepting everything they do. loving them means confronting them and refusing to let them get lazy just bc they're on top of the world

[omori-runaway-au]

How It Began.... (Part 3/End)

Eventually, everyone made it to the concert hall, patiently waiting for Mari and Sunny to go on stage.

In the backstage, Mari and Sunny were getting ready, with Erika whispering, "Just give me a sign that you need me to intervene. Okay?" Her siblings nodded quietly, leaning against the very tall teenager as she hugged them.

Once Erika left, Mari looked over at Sunny. She noticed how emotionally detached he was from her. How red his fingers were…and tears began to form in her eyes.

Why couldn't she have noticed on her own…?

All this time, her brother had been struggling….

And she was completely unaware of it….

"Sunny…?" Mari called out, receiving a small glance from her brother. "Can we talk? Please?" The boy looked at his sister, before eventually nodding, sitting with her.

"I'm sorry…for never noticing what you were going through." She said quietly, lowering her head. "I swear to you, I never meant to hurt you. But I did…and I'm so sorry for that…."

She then cupped Sunny's cheek, taking in a shaky breath, "But I promise you. I will try to do better. For Erika. For YOU. For all three of us." "Okay? …I love you so much, sunshine." She added, tears beginning to run down her face.

….

….

Something in Sunny's heart cracked…and he immediately hugged Mari tightly, quietly crying in his sister's shoulder. "I'm sorry…!" He whispered.

Mari nodded, sighing in relief, "I know…."

"I should've told you…!"

"It's okay…."

"I love you…!"

"I love you too, baby brother…."

Unbeknownst to the two siblings, Erika was just outside the room, a warm smile on her face.

Things would get better.

For them.

....

....

Erika could tell that there was some dissatisfaction from her siblings. Not because it was imperfect…but because they didn't have fun with it.

It seemed that their friends also noticed it, judging by their attempts to reassure the siblings.

Once everyone went home, she made sure the siblings were brought to the safety of their shared bedroom, before going down and meeting with her parents in the living room.

"Sunny broke his violin." Her father said, clearly disappointed. The albino teen narrowed her eyes, "Watch what you say next."

Silence fell on the three, before Erika explained. "Your daughter and son were obviously frustrated and stressed out by the recital practice." "Sunny broke the violin as a result of that stress." She added.

"They need a break from your "expectations". An ACTUAL and honest rest from you thinking what's best for them." The albino teen added. "They need a chance to be themselves. Not your "model" children."

Her parents looked at her, as if shocked that she didn't trust them enough to raise their children. Eventually though, her father sighed, "Alright. We'll give them a period of rest."

"We'll give them a chance to be themselves…." He added quickly.

Erika didn't believe a single word, of course, being a victim of her parents' neglect. But right now, it was not worth arguing about this. She's tired….

Without a word, she headed upstairs to her siblings' shared room, promptly sleeping with them in the sleeping bag she prepared earlier.

….

….

It was going to be a long fall and winter….

Erika could already tell.

//This is the end…of the beginning. Next, you will be reading the consequences of this day.

[matilda-jugs]

💕Positivity prime time! Share five things you love about yourself, four things you're excited about, OR three people you care deeply about and why. Pass this along to someone whose posts make you smile💕

Things i love about myself

1. My ability to love

2. My style

3. My love for harry styles

4. The ability for me to care about little things

5. My hair

4 things I’m excited about

1. Cigarettes after sex concert Friday

2. Spending time with my best friend

3. Becoming a vet assistant

4. Waiting for us to heal

3 people I care about and why

1. My best friend Mia, she’s always been there for me and supported me even when I’m in the wrong she believes I’m in the right. I feel loved by her even when she doesn’t show it much I know I mean something to her.

2. My sister, she’s been there for me for every little and big thing and has comforted me when no one else could or wanted to. I feel cared by her and she comforts me more than anyone could physically.

3. My first love, he just knew me. He read my mind. Everything about him is so special and I worship and look up to him a lot. He got through so many things and it makes me admire him as a person. If anyone told me I was just like him, I think I’d cry happy tears. He was the most perfect man. Everything makes him perfect even his imperfections it’s still so absolutely perfect, it’s ridiculous. He’s such a shy, confident person and he doesn’t even know it and it makes him even better. He was the first person who I fell in love with and ultimately the last person; I don’t regret knowing him and i don’t regret anything i ever did with him because i know to this day he is the man I’m gonna marry, it’s gonna be a hard and difficult journey but I’m willing to go through hard times to be with him forever; to call him mine forever. I love you my angel. 23.

[fourseasonsfigs]

Building Block Figs - Beautiful Fight Scene in the Middle of the Lake (Part 2)

Following up on yesterday's long post, today I am finally showing off the actual assembled pics of these figs!

You may have also noticed I have renamed these two posts, to be the actual (very long) MTL name from the original sales listing. I think of this scene as the "Bedema Lake" scene from the original fan fig that was sold with this name. A sharp eyed friend of mine told me today that the MTL for "Bedema Lake" is less likely to refer to an actual location, and more likely a clever reference to the Word of Honor Concert. 贝德玛, which Google renders as "Bedema" is Bèi dé mǎ, the Chinese transliteration for Bioderma, the French micellar water makeup remover (which is in my cabinet right at this moment, actually, it's great stuff!). One of the MCs during the concert made a joke about the lake scene being a "makeup remover lake" because it took off Zhou Zishu's mask. Here I was thinking all this time it was the actual name of the lake! I had to laugh. I have learned a lot writing this blog, let me tell you.

Anyway!

Now that the whole set was assembled, I played around with the different poses with the figs, from the original pose listed in the instructions sheet:

(note, the MTL here for the title is "Bamboo Raft Play in the Middle of the Lake" which is also very descriptive and 100% accurate).

Here's my finished rendition:

Oops, I see I should have scootched A-Xu one row forward. Well, that's ok, because I took him off to place him in a different pose, which is beautifully showed off in this gorgeous sales pic:

This is super nice. One day I aspire to have nice fig photos like this!

I actually like this pose a lot, I see why they picked it. It's not exactly accurate to the show, but it really shows them off to their best detail.

Last pose is this one, which is from Episode 6:

I like this one a lot - the original Bedema Lake fig was this exact pose. Here's my rendition:

I feel like there's not quite enough real estate on the raft for this pose, and unfortunately you don't get both cute faces at once like on pose number 2.

Well, let's go ahead and spin around the fig so you can get all angles here. I took pics mostly in pose number 2 for this, since that's the pose I'm going to end up keeping them in for the display.

Like always, the camera zooms in like a laser for any imperfections, which can't be seen with the naked eye (or at least my aging eyes). So I can definitely see where I didn't press down the blocks together tightly enough!

I love all the motion modeling on this - the flying hair and robes are great.

Yes, I think I'm definitely going to try to rework the raft in brown and black, and throw in more of the leftover transparent bricks.

Lao Wen is very easy to pose since he's balancing on his one foot. The bricks are really great to keeping the figs securely on the base - they certainly have that over the normal PVC/resin figs!

I think they did a spectacular job on the hair all the way around, including the hair ornaments. Lao Wen's hairpin and A-Xu's hairband were rendered very nicely. I will note that their hair was super fiddly to assemble - lots and lots of little tiny pieces, many just hanging on by one connection. The number of times I pressed down on the fig in areas to squeeze the bricks together, and a piece of hair go flying off ... well, it doesn't bear repeating! There was some colorful language also flying around, I will say.

When I re-do the raft I'm also going to cover up the yellowy-beige base with more blue bricks so it looks more like water and less like water on a beach.

Note the little fig ears. Those were actually pretty easy to make!

The hobo goatee just makes me laugh! Just amazing.

And we're back around. The way they did the robes in 3-D fig form is also really excellent - the pants don't quite show up like this in the actual show,as they are hidden by the robes most of the time, but the way they are showing the motion of the figures here is quite inspired.

Alright, we're switching back to the original configuration where they are facing each other for the rest of the pics:

You can really see more of the hair detail here. There's a bit of light streaming in from my window that makes A-Xu's hair look lighter than Lao Wen's, but they're the exact same bricks.

Kind of a three-quarters angle, here, so you can see more of A-Xu's guan.

A little bit of the bottom's up view - it's a bit hard with the base to see all the detail. I'll have to remember for the other sets to take pics of the figs off the base.

Here's a size comparison to a very typical sized "regular" fig:

I put him on the raft so you could get the best comparison for the fig height. So, larger than a regular fig, but not tremendously so.

My conclusions after assembling this first set:

One: This was indeed an excellent project to do when recovering from surgery. I could sit without moving very much, put my headphones in and listen to music, and use some but not all of my brain. With the rest of my mind not preoccupied with counting bricks or puzzling out directions, I could just let my mind process through any number of things, or reminisce as the hours went by. It was very peaceful (except for when pieces went flying or I realized I had set a brick down in the wrong place several steps prior!), and some nice quiet time to myself. Normally I'm doing a ton of things all at once (or trying to, anyway!) and hustle and bustling all around between work and travel and the household and the fandom, so this was indeed a nice break.

Two: It really was a ton of fun. A big chunk of the time when I was assembling the figs I had no idea what I was doing or what piece of the fig I was actually working on, so to see it slowly unfold under my fingers was pretty cool. It was surprisingly rewarding, and indeed just plain fun to see the moment when I was like, oh there you are! I particularly had fun with the little details of their costumes, like their belts or their necklines, and I really enjoyed putting the little wispies on Wen Kexing's hair and the bangs on A-Xu.

Three: For the limited color palette and the limited brick sizes, I think they rendered these figs beautifully, with a lot of attention to detail. I would definitely have liked to have had more show-specific colors, but that would have been beyond the scope (and budget) of a small shop. It continues to be a good lesson for me to work through - not to be so picky about the details, and to be less pedantic about accuracy. A great reminder that what is important is having fun and enjoying each creative interpretation of the show, not about the exact shade of say, Lao Wen's robes.

Four: I am in fact entirely charmed and delighted with these fig sets, and despite my sore and aching fingers from snapping together endless rows of bricks, I moved directly into the next set.

Come back tomorrow for set two - Basking in the Sun!

OR, read the coda to this, posted later: Coda to Beautiful Fight Scene in the Middle of the Lake

Material: Plastic building bricks

Fig Count: 502

Scene Count: 33

Rating: Fighting? More like dancing in the middle of the lake!

[link to the Master Post Index]

[rowoon-updates]

220123 SF9 Rowoon at Imperfect Concert Day 3‬‬‬‬‬ © noowor do not edit, crop, or remove the watermark

[lovelyhan]

henloo kai ! what are your top 5 favorite seventeen bside tracks ? hdjahfjs

( love your writing so so much i think i reread both the doting on you series installments and the it’s complicated series installments atleast four times now HELP . will be waiting patiently and with much love for jeonghan's installment 🫰)

THIS IS SUCH A TOUGH ONE??? why must you make me choose 😞😞😞😞 but FINE...but i'm gonna list my top 10 bc i just can't decide on 5 WHJSJSJA:

to you — it's such a heartfelt song,, the way the members sing it in concerts makes me want to cry each time 🥹 to you by svt is like waiting for us by stray kids to me and that's saying a lot.....

imperfect love — ok one thing you should know abt me is that i'm the biggest attacca enjoyer on this app. imperfect love gives such hopeful vibes after a rough start and it makes me feel a lot better abt bad days whenever i listen to it

kidult — dokyeom. that's the explanation.

shadow — there's so many things abt shadow that i loved so much.... mingyu and wonwoo's intro, cheol's husky voice in his verse, dino's rap in the end 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 i'd go into detail but we all know what happens when we all let kai ramble too much (i present a 100 slide powerpoint on how shadow is the best fts bside)

trauma — i think this is probably in my top 20 most played spotify songs of all time and it's mostly bc of mingyu's raspy voice in the chorus 🤓

snap shoot — i did NOT know this was a bside for a few months 😭 i was so convinced it was the title but ANYWAYS WHO DOESN'T LOVE SNAPSHOOT???

hug — seventeen has a fuckton of comfort songs but HUG ☹️☹️☹️☹️ it always feels like i'm getting an actual hug from all 13 of them SIGHHH

20 — it's like a track from a coming of age movie i fucking love it so much ㅠㅠ the way this was one of their earliest songs makes me so sentimental bc i can't fucking believe i missed out on 7 years' worth of seventeen !!!!

chilli — a super nice song to just groove to <3 wonwoo's and vernon's diction in this makes my head spin so much ASHJSJSJSJX

light a flame — i think this is pretty self-explanatory... 🤭

SORRY FOR BEINN ANNOYING I WILL NEVER SHUT UP AB THE SVT DISCOGRAPHY AJDJDS

but also ☹️☹️☹️ i'm so glad you like my writing !!! the series i've worked on so far are so near and dear to me because i really love telling stories featuring different love interests that are interconnected somewhat! it's a little tiring, but all the more fulfilling once readers manage to connect the dots y'know?

jeonghan's part for it's complicated is definitely...a lot 😭 i'm not gonna give anything away to avoid building expectations but i really hope you guys will like it hehe

[cherrygirlystuff]

How Early 2000s Fashion is Fueling the Indie Sleaze Revival – Get Ready to Be Layered in Nostalgia!

Hey, babe! 🌸 So, have you noticed how the early 2000s are totally making a comeback? It’s like someone hit rewind on our favorite fashion moments from that era, and honestly, I’m living for it! The vibe? Indie Sleaze – and it’s all about bringing back those edgy, glam, and slightly chaotic looks that defined the coolest scenes from the turn of the millennium. Let’s dive into how the Y2K fashion revival is fueling this Indie Sleaze resurgence, and how you can totally rock these vibes in your own way. Get ready to be layered in nostalgia! 🎧✨

What Even Is Indie Sleaze? 🌟

Okay, before we get into the fashion deets, let’s talk about what Indie Sleaze actually is. Picture this: It’s the early 2000s, and you’re at a dimly lit, underground concert or an afterparty that feels like it might never end. The air is thick with the sound of guitars, the smell of hairspray, and the energy of a crowd that’s just as cool as they are chaotic. The style? Messy yet glamorous, with a “don’t care” attitude that’s somehow still perfectly put together. That, my dear, is Indie Sleaze.

This aesthetic is all about blending high and low fashion, mixing vintage finds with designer pieces, and embracing a look that’s effortlessly undone. It’s grunge meets glam, with a dash of nostalgia for those Myspace days when everyone was a little bit emo and a whole lot of cool.

Early 2000s Fashion – The Roots of Indie Sleaze 👖

Now, let’s talk about how the early 2000s are fueling this revival. Back in the day, fashion was all about low-rise jeans, chunky belts, mini skirts, layered tank tops, and more eyeliner than you knew what to do with. It was a time when your outfit wasn’t complete without a pair of scuffed-up Converse or boots and a vintage band tee you snagged from a thrift store.

We’re seeing all those iconic elements making a major comeback, but with a modern twist. Here’s how:

1. Low-Rise Jeans & Mini Skirts – The Return of the Rebel Fit 💥

Remember when low-rise jeans were the thing? Well, they’re back, and they’re bringing mini skirts with them. This time around, it’s all about that perfectly imperfect fit – think low-rise flares paired with a cropped graphic tee, or a mini skirt worn with a slouchy sweater. It’s casual, it’s cool, and it’s got that “I just threw this on” vibe that screams Indie Sleaze.

2. Layered Tank Tops & Chunky Belts – Double the Trouble 👚

Layering is everything in Indie Sleaze, and the early 2000s gave us the blueprint. Layered tank tops in contrasting colors, paired with chunky belts slung low on the hips, create a look that’s equal parts playful and edgy. Throw in some fishnets or torn tights, and you’ve got a look that’s ready for a night out (or just a day of feeling like the coolest person in the room).

3. Vintage Band Tees & Thrifted Gems – The Heart of Indie Sleaze 🎸

Vintage band tees are a must-have for any Indie Sleaze outfit. The more worn-in, the better. These tees are the ultimate throwback to those days when you’d scour thrift stores for the perfect one-of-a-kind find. Pair them with anything – jeans, skirts, even over a slip dress – and you’ve got a look that’s as effortlessly cool as it is nostalgic.

4. Messy Hair & Smoky Eyes – The Ultimate Indie Sleaze Beauty Look 🖤

Indie Sleaze isn’t just about the clothes – it’s about the whole vibe, and that includes beauty. We’re talking about messy, undone hair that looks like you just rolled out of bed (but in the most fabulous way possible) and smoky eyes that are smudged just right. It’s all about looking like you’ve been up all night dancing to your favorite indie band – and honestly, who wouldn’t want to channel that energy?

Why We’re All Here for This Revival 🎶

So, why is Indie Sleaze making a comeback now? Honestly, I think it’s because we’re all craving a little bit of that carefree, rebellious spirit that defined the early 2000s. It was a time when fashion was all about self-expression, when mixing high and low was the norm, and when everything felt just a little bit grungy – in the best way possible.

With everything going on in the world, there’s something comforting about tapping into that nostalgic energy. It’s like revisiting a simpler time when all you needed was a good pair of jeans, a band tee, and some eyeliner to feel like you could take on the world.

How to Rock Indie Sleaze in 2024 – Your Style Guide 🕶️

Ready to bring a little Indie Sleaze into your wardrobe? Here’s how to make it work:

1. Mix and Match: Don’t be afraid to combine pieces that seem like they shouldn’t go together. Layer a fancy top over a vintage band tee, or pair a mini skirt with a baggy hoodie. The more unexpected, the better.

2. Go for the Grunge Glam: Channel that grungy yet glamorous energy by adding a little edge to your look. Think fishnet tights, chunky boots, and plenty of silver jewelry.

3. Keep It Messy: When it comes to hair and makeup, remember that less is more – as in, the less effort it looks like you put in, the better. Smudged eyeliner and bedhead are your best friends.

4. Embrace the Nostalgia: Don’t shy away from those early 2000s staples – low-rise jeans, layered tanks, chunky belts, and all the band tees you can find. It’s all about bringing that era back with a fresh, modern twist.

Final Thoughts, Babe: Get Ready to Sleaze It Up 💋

So, there you have it – the lowdown on how early 2000s fashion is fueling the Indie Sleaze revival. It’s all about embracing that perfectly imperfect vibe, mixing old with new, and layering your looks with a healthy dose of nostalgia. Whether you’re going full-on Indie Sleaze or just adding a few elements here and there, it’s time to have fun with your fashion and let your rebellious spirit shine.

What do you think, babe? Are you ready to embrace the Indie Sleaze revival, or is Y2K fashion better left in the past? Let’s chat in the comments – I’m dying to know how you’re going to style this look! 💕

[arkham-assassin]

Hi... wow. It's been a really long time.

I'm alive and well. This year has been really, really, REALLY hard, in almost all fronts... relationships, house issues (foundation AND roof work in one year, lucky us), work AND personal life

Uhhh Idk if anyone is still around who knew me back when I was active here; if you are, maybe this will be a shock, maybe not

I was diagnosed with autism at the end of August

I first suspected in April... I had to wait that long to get tested just because my preferred office was so busy... so I had that weighing over my head all summer while I planned my first-ever comic con for work... and had to take intermittent medical leave so I was only going in 3 days a week...

I burnt out. Bad. I'm still feeling the effects. Most days are okay. Others I find myself clawing my way to doing the barest minimum.

But the diagnosis itself? Relieving. Freeing. Explained so much. I'm medicated and working with a therapist specializing in late-diagnosed neurodivergence, who is trauma- and polyamory-informed.

I have an additional romantic partner now. I've known him my whole life. Husband knows and enthusiastically consents. We've both done a lot of work on ourselves and our marriage to make it work. I'm so, so proud of him. I feel so lucky to have two men who love me and take care of me - differently, but in ways that I need.

Last week I started my stomach tattoo for scar coverup. Last year I had started a concert sleeve on my right shoulder. I see beauty in my physical appearance now where I only saw imperfection.

I have never felt more connected to myself. Alive. In love. Loved, and BELIEVING 100% wholeheartedly that I AM loved and with my people. My chosen family.

There is a reason I am the way I am - open to going against the grain and living outside societal norms. Drawn to fandom and the occult, tarot, tattoos, kink. Intense interests (Eminem, Batman Forever, Kingdom Hearts, horses). Intense emotions, which I'm working on managing. Feeling like I'm a robot. Not programmed like other people. Anxious and awkward and missing social cues and terrified above all else of being misunderstood. Needing Loops at work, needing Beats and sunglasses to go shopping. Why I hate the holidays - sensory and social overload leading to more meltdowns.

None of this means there's anything wrong with me. My whole life I was led to believe that. It was a lie.

The truth is: now I have all the information about myself that had previously been missing. That information is leading me to deeper understanding of myself. I can take care of myself better. I can communicate my needs better. My trauma care is being informed by the autism care and vice versa. It's all connected and I see the whole picture now.

The truth is: I am whole, enough, just as I am, with the people I'm with. I don't know for sure who I am without the double mask of trauma and autism -

But I think, who I am with my boys, my people, is who she is. And I'm falling in love with her, too, at 33 years old.

Take care <3

[mirror-shards-broken]

it's unfair really. our parents have the most triggering arguement on monday, so the imperfect girl (the alter that's been around the longest that we're aware of) fronts, crying and traumatized to tell our mom something that i only vaguely remember as we need to be separate from our parents (abusers) in order to heal. after a whole day of dermatillomania triggers. and then we had to physically fight our dad at night. tuesday was decent, but stressful, what with having to talk to someone about a job opportunity and then having therapy. wednesday we fail the driving behind-the-wheel test, which is a further obstacle on our path to freedom from our family, triggering some self-destructive impulses, which we resist by making vent poetry instead. thursday we get our hair ruined by the stylist who does things wrong despite being shown what we wanted and even i, the alter most closely identified with the body, couldn't recognize myself. and today plans with 2 of our 3 fps change to them no longer staying the night after a concert we're going to, and while they have completely valid reasons, every moment with them is precious to us, so it hurts so fucking much.