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colossalsummer · 4 years ago

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KOTLC book one READ ALONG part 2 of 5

I read the first Keeper of the Lost Cities book and annotated every page. Here are the highlights. (Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3/ Part 4/ Part 5)

Chapter 11

Tiergan: “I’ll see you Tuesday.” This is a weird thing to focus on, but… they have a seven day week like we do?

Soooo okay okay okay why are they giving her a top-level education gratis? Do they plan to use her once she graduates? Nothing in life is free.

Sophie: “What am I supposed to tell my family? They’re not going to let me disappear every day with no explanation.” Alden: “About that, Sophie. You and I need to have a talk.” OH-HO the truth come out

The sorrow in his eyes made her feel like she’d swallowed something slimy. Clearly, it wasn’t going to be a pleasant conversation. Ah—so this is a kidnapping. Cool.

Her registry pendant, Della explained. Everyone had to wear one, so they could be easily found. Oh so a collar. I’ll be ditching that come time for the revolution

Sophie: “But… why does anyone work, then—if they already have money?” Della: “What else would we do with our time?” Sophie: “I don’t know. Something fun?” Della: “Work is fun.” Spoken like somebody who’s never worked retail on Black Friday. Some work is dangerous and boring. Who’s doing that stuff?

Chapter 12

Alden: “Now that the Council knows you exist, they’ve ordered that you move here. Effective immediately.” Oh, I see. A kidnapping.

She didn’t belong in the human world, and she was tired of pretending she did. It feels a little messed up for all these elves to keep insisting that she doesn’t belong with humans. She probably won’t feel like she totally belongs with elves, either, and then she won’t feel like she fits in anywhere. Y’all gonna give this child a complex.

Sophie: “You’re going to kill me off?” Alden: “As far as your family and the rest of the humans are concerned… yes.” IT IS A KIDNAPPING

Chapter 13

Sophie: “I drugged my family.” Fitz: “You did the right thing.” Sophie: “It doesn’t feel like the right thing.” HELLO *looking around fandom* ARE WE ALL SEEING THIS??

To be honest I don’t have a lot of notes for this chapter because it was just so heartbreaking and distressing. Like I have one note at the end of the chapter and all it says is “oof”

Someone protect this child

Chapter 14

Alden: “Fitz can help you get settled in here while we’re gone.” Sophie: “Here? I’ll be living here?” Sweetie, Fitz can’t be your step-brother ’cause then there won’t be a love triangle

Elwin: “Whoa, that is some serious damage. It’s not permanent… And it’s not your fault. Toxic food, toxic water, toxic air.” Fluoride, smallpox vaccinations, 5G…

Elwin: “Now, try not to let this worry you, but your body needs a major detox. We’ll start with these.” …My essential oils

Chapter 15

Alden: They run an animal preserve at Havenfield, so they always have all kinds of exciting things going on.” COOOL

“We’ve even had to collect endangered species—gorillas, lions, mammoths—” YES THANK YOU SHANNON

“Grady and Edaline train the animals to be vegetarians by feeding them gnomish produce; that way they won’t hunt one another once they’re moved to the Sanctuary.” mmm good luck obligate carnivores

“Another roar interrupted their conversation. Whatever it was sounded like it wasn’t happy about its new diet plan.” It is dying slowly because it can’t produce its own taurine but OK

Hopefully elf veggies are different than earth veggies. That’s just what I’m going to keep telling myself.

The path lead to a wide meadow, where gnomes were using thick ropes to lasso what looked like a giant lizard covered in neon green feathers. UNNH YES I DON’T DESERVE THIS

Also no wonder nobility work for fun, they got gnomes out here doin’ the dangerous jobs

I’m not going to bore you with my breakdown of this dinosaur reconstruction but as a person who worked in a museum as a paleontology educator these bits are the most exciting parts of the book for me. I rate this tyrannosaur 6/10 for scientific accuracy and 10/10 for handsomeness. Shannon Messenger gets 20/10 for popularizing feathered theropods.

…she couldn’t decide if he reminded her more of James Bond or Robin Hood—which felt wrong. He was so unlike her chubby, balding dad she wasn’t sure how to relate. Sophie, meet your new, hotter dad.

Chapter 16

At Sophie’s nod she conjured up a bowl of orange glop and a spoon. Why do elves eat so much goo? This whole time it’s been nothing but goo

Della: “Our world is ‘talent-based’.” AH-HA

Sophie: “Seems kind of unfair.” Yeah, who decides which talents matter and which don’t?

“Get ready to add the amarallitine, Dex.” Oh, I’ve heard of YOU

Grady: “I wouldn’t be surprised if he pushes for you to get transferred to Exillium—and let’s just say it’s somewhere you don’t want to go.” Oh, so there are BAD schools… it all comes together…

So if Edaline and Juline are sisters, is Dex like Sophie’s foster cousin?

Chapter 17

Dex: “The Leapmaster 500. You’re lucky. My parents aren’t nobility, so they’re only authorized to have the 250—it’s missing tons of cool places.” Like bad Netflix. I don’t love that this society limits where poor people can go.

Dame Alina: “First and foremost, whoever put the reekrod in my desk over the weekend will—It’s not funny!” *the camera slowly zooms in on Dex*

A spotlight focused on Sophie. Well, first day ruined. Only took fifteen minutes.

Her name hissed around the room like a viper’s nest. “Ssssssophie.”

Stina: “You left it open, idiot. I guess remembering to close doors is too hard for the son of a bad match to remember.” Ah wonderful, eugenics. I love elf school

Chapter 18

“Mastering all the elements is one of the steps toward entering the nobility.” Everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked

“Dude.” Is this a human-obsessed thing or is there straight-up an elvish word for dude

Sophie: “What exactly is a ‘bad match’?” Marella: “A couple that was ruled genetically incompatible. Usually that means their kids will be inferior.” THERE ARE SCREENINGS??

Sophie: “What’s Exillium?” Marella: “The school where they send the hopeless cases.” Yep I want to go there

Chapter 19

Telepaths were in high demand. Once she’d proven trustworthy, she’d receive assignments from the Council. OH OKAY so they send her to wizard school and when she graduates they don’t miss a beat, just scoop her on up and enlist her

If a prodigy hadn’t manifested by Level Four, they might be expelled—and even if they stayed at Foxfire, they couldn’t take the elite levels, which meant they’d never be nobility. Most ended up working class.

But once again it didn’t escape her notice that Grady avoided telling her what his special ability was. It couldn’t be something bad. Could it? The man has dinosaurs so if he was going to do something bad I feel like he’d have done it already

Chapter 20

Sophie: “Prentice?” Marella: “Yeah. He was this supertalented Telepath, but he got exiled like twelve years ago.” Oh as old as I am hm how interesting go onnn…

Lady Galvin: “Don’t you know anything about alchemy?” FFFF that’s why I’m HERE you old BAG

Lady Galvin: “Dame Alina probably thinks this is funny, forcing me to teach such basic serums. Well, I won’t have it.” You know, you aren’t getting paid, you can quit. I don’t mind.

“I’m Keefe.” Will this bad boy help us lead the resistance?

Keefe: “Did you do any damage?” Sophie: “Only her cape.” Keefe: “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Do you have any idea how epic that is?” I really like this lil anarchist.

Keefe: “Destroyed Galvin’s cape.” Elwin: “Wish I could’ve seen that!” I’m recruiting this man for the rebellion. Keefe and Elwin get sorted in the Chaotic Good pile for the day of reckoning.

Stay tuned for Part 3.

#kotlc #keeper of the lost cities #read along #part two #kotlc funny #kotlc memes #kotlc sophie #kotlc alden #kotlc dex #kotlc keefe #kotlc book 1 #keeper 1 #shannon messenger #kotlc read along with me #tw: eugenics #kotlc spoilers #kotlc tiergan

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vinspiration-book · 5 years ago

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Son of Palaven, Daughter of Earth Playlist

Based on the story by miceenscene

Story Here

Spotify Playlist Here

Playlist Status: Synced up to ch. 47

This wonderful piece of fanfiction inspired me to create a soundtrack for it. Here is a track listing and some thoughts about each piece. I try to pick thematic tracks for each story beat, while still retaining a rhythm between each song.

1. The Arranged Marriage - Gavin Luke

An instrumental piece by film composer Gavin Luke is the overture. Anxious and urgent, it depicts a quiet, unhappy uncertainty that is nevertheless peppered by bright chords. Combined with the name, it sets the tone for Shepard and Garrus’ unwilling journey into matrimony.

2. I Still Taste Fire - Stephanie Mabey

“I woke up with ashes in my mouth”

Shepard’s beginning theme. A dark and driving song of regret and grit. Shepard feels that she, Flaming Death, has personally lost the war and didn’t even get to see the ending. The line “Thought I'd always remember what it felt like / To want you / But it's all kind of hazy now / Almost like I burned it down” normally refers to a lover, but in Shepard’s case, the “you” is an end to the war that she thought she wanted. Now that the price of peace is her freedom, it's a bitter thing to swallow.

3. This Means War - Marianas Trench

“I hate to admit it but I miss the war”

Garrus’ beginning theme. Whereas Shepard’s song was all seriousness and loss, Garrus can never quite be 100% sass-free. So we get this jocular tune about having to play nice with someone even though you’d rather be fighting them.

4. Can’t Be Tamed - Miley Cyrus

“If you try to hold me back I might explode”

The wedding: Shepard’s view. Deep in enemy territory, forced to participate in a ritual meant to demean her and her species, Shepard is nevertheless putting on a fierce display, just like the brash attitude of this number. The irony of the song is that the singer keeps repeating over and over how she can’t be tamed; almost as if no one believes her? Also includes the line “I'm like a puzzle / But all of my pieces are jagged” which has a double meaning that ties in to the story: as Garrus says much, much later both literally and metaphorically, “[A puzzle] is the best thing you could have gotten me”.

5. Love Runs Out - OneRepublic

“I'll be doin' this, if you ever doubt, / 'Til the love runs out”

The wedding: Garrus’ view. Is this a romantic song, or a resigned one? Or is it duplicitous? Garrus may be a bad turian, but he’s still obedient to the Hierarchy, even if it’s only going through the motions and hoping for an escape. The driving punch of the bass notes echoes this sentiment in a song that could be read as either loving commitment or bitter commitment. It contains a lot of fire imagery too, especially the singer being someone to help someone else start a fire… perfect for being tied to Flaming Death. The song also mentions an (arch?)angel and the strong influence of the singer’s mother, both of which are important to the story.

6. Poker Face - Lady Gaga

“Russian Roulette is not the same without a gun”

Spying: Shepard’s view. So Shepard and Garrus only ever play a board game in this story rather than poker, but come on. It’s Poker Face. It’s the best song ever about selfishly conning your partner to further your own high-stakes goals.

7. Fraud - Jonathan Coulton

“Sharp teeth test your skin / Too late, you let an angel in”

Spying: Garrus’ view. This song takes a more meditative approach to being disingenuous, but just about every verse is packed with imagery that pairs perfectly with the story, from unwanted houseguests, to painting, fighting, and losing. The refrain is even about an angel with fangs!

8. Didn’t Know You - Karmin

“Like a bird of prey / Out of nowhere you came / Do you always get your way?"

The reports: Shepard’s view. An angry song about being the victim of deception and invasive tactics. The singer talks especially about upending their entire life (setting “dreams ablaze”--fire imagery again) for the sake of someone who turned out to be a liar that controls their every move. Turians are sometimes referred to as “birds” as a pejorative in Mass Effect, making the repeated line fit even more.

9. Can’t Go to Hell - Sin Shake Sin

“This romance with ignorance has left us behind”

The reports: Garrus’ view. Unlike Shepard’s reaction to finding the reports--which is very much about personal betrayal--Garrus’ reaction is a more public outcry about the situation going FUBAR. One of the central tenets in ME canon about Shepard and Garrus’ relationship (to the point that even the characters themselves talk about it in these terms) is that he willingly follows her into hell every single time. This makes the bitter anger of the chorus (“We can’t go to hell if we’re already there”) especially poignant. The second verse evokes Shepard and Garrus’ situation closely too, mentioning being “blind by design” and stating “...history keeps getting paid to change its mind”, which is the purpose of the arranged marriage in the first place.

10. Home - Machine Gun Kelly & X Ambassadors

“Now tell me, how did all my dreams turn to nightmares?”

Shepard and Garrus: no extraction. A rare male/female duet of frustration and longing for respite that neatly applies to the protagonists’ mindsets. Both Anderson and the Hierarchy have turned away their soldiers, leaving them in this untenable situation. Though they arrived at it differently--and aren’t commiserating at this point--Shepard and Garrus are feeling the same thing now: They must continue to live together, but there’s no way this life can bring them any happiness or rest.

11. Hide and Seek - Imogen Heap

“Speak no feeling, no, I don't believe you”

Shepard is broken, and so is Garrus, a little. This haunting acapella song (delivered in dual-toned overdub kind of like how a turian speaks, interestingly) was famously used by a TV drama for an overly dramatic murder scene, and then used again by Saturday Night Live to spoof that scene. But Hide and Seek is technically about a divorce… and how a former home now becomes unrecognizably empty as the former couple moves out and apart. Although they can’t separate, this is essentially what has happened to Shepard and Garrus. Shepard tries to “live” as little as possible in the house while still being confined to it. Garrus tries to escape to work.

12. Rumble - Hi Fashion

“He said, she said / You better mind your space”

The alley brawl. A complete turnaround from the previous song, this abrupt battle anthem (sung by dual tones again, and with a notable mention of a man and a woman both throwing the punches) is both high-energy, but also a slower tempo than you’d expect. The effect is that of measured, precise violence rather than a chaotic frenzy; perfect for trained soldiers giving a beatdown. Canon Shepard gets ribbed for being an awful dancer--outside of the battlefield, at least, giving an ironic twist to the dance imagery in the lyrics. But this is technically the first time in the story that Shepard and Garrus are in sync: their first metaphorical dance together.

13. Hammer to Fall - Queen

“Tow the line and play their game / Yeah, let the anesthetic cover it all”

Medigel. This story's version of Shepard loves Queen, and this song provides the title for the story’s later chapters, so it had to be on the soundtrack of course. A disillusioned anthem to soldiers who are asked to fight wars for reasons someone else decided, it describes Shepard and Garrus’ situation perfectly--their lives have been ruined because of Fedorian’s unjust war. Even though this is a small snippet of background to the story, it’s nevertheless a critical turning point, when Garrus realizes just how badly Shepard has been wronged… and that he himself contributed to it.

14. Karma - Marina

“So vicious, this cycle / When you live in sweet denial”

The apology: Shepard’s view. Garrus apologies to Shepard, but she doesn’t know how to take it. She’s skeptical, and with good reason. Although this song is talking about a great deal of betrayal, the tone is less angry--or even melancholy--than weary and aloof. The singer has made what peace she can with the situation, and is just waiting to see how everything plays out, rather than actively wishing harm on someone. Karma is usually about an equal return of bad experiences, but Shepard is too defeated at this point to really care about that. Garrus’ distress at his actions is actually better karma than if he himself were to be betrayed.

15. I Won’t Let You Down - OK Go

“Maybe all you need is someone to trust”

The apology: Garrus’ view. Garrus is a man of action, and this upbeat track wastes no time in sorrow, instead attempting to reach out to the wounded party with a direct promise of support. The lyrics talk about people who have every right to be distrustful, even using battle imagery (“no flag to fly”, “strap that armor tighter on”)... but rather than trying to get past their defenses, the singer encourages the downtrodden to fight harder--together. A very Garrus point of view.

16. Rumors - Lindsay Logan

"You're probably gonna write what you didn't see”

The interview. Ah, Khalisah. A pretty straightforward song about paparazzi doing what paparazzi do, sung by the aggrieved celebrity.

17. One Shot - Rob Thomas

"We get one chance to make this kickstart”

Bottle shooting at the valley. While Shepard and Garrus fire a lot of rounds during this little date, it's the final shot that's the most important. Garrus' previous actions since their fight have been peace offerings, but this is his first actual gift to Shepard. He gives Shepard his crown just to see her smile. Essentially, his first romantic gesture is literally “one shot”. The sentiment pairs perfectly with this energetic tune about starting something rare and good.

18. Souvenir - Johnnyswim

“It's those little things that I hold dear”

Terra Goods. At this point, Shepard and Garrus are starting to do things to really support each other in little ways and in big ways, culminating in Garrus creating a whole souvenir trading company just to make Shepard happy. This song, a duet that alternates between jaunty and staid, talks about a couple that had a brief good time, then separated due to some unnamed conflict. Now they both think fondly of their time together, making souvenirs of the memories. Both singers individually wish for another chance, while not realizing the other person does too.

19. DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love - Usher, Pitbull

“I think I remember those eyes”

Clubbing with Solana. This throbbing dance tune is simple enough that even Shepard could probably keep to the beat. Seeing Shepard (attempting to) dance is one of the first moments where Garrus is physically attracted to her.

20. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

“Easy come, easy go / Little high, little low”

The walk back. Shepard sings this most famous Queen song as she stumbles home under Garrus’ watchful eye. It describes a murderer with a guilty conscience, which Shepard is somewhat. She’s killed a lot of turians, but now they are people to her instead of monsters. Shepard probably isn’t thinking about that, though… it’s just a fun song to sing when you’re drunk. Or anytime.

21. Livin’ in the Sunlight, Lovin’ in the Moonlight - The Good Johnsons

“I’m right here to stay”

Splashing in the fountain. This whimsical cover of an old song is just silly enough for Shepard’s drunken water foray. Although it’s been building for a bit, it takes hard liquor for Shepard to admit she might be happy on Palaven. But there’s a slight undercurrent of the singer not believing their own message. The line “I’m as free as any daughter” is especially ironic in this context.

22. Mom - Meghan Trainor

“Ain’t nobody got a mom like mine”

Visiting with Galena. Shepard’s relationship with Garrus’ mother is one of my favorite parts of the story, and it’s one of the things that cements Shepard’s feeling that she may just belong here. It’s also significant that even though Shepard is starting to love Garrus, she can only express love towards his mother at first. In a way, loving Galena teaches Shepard how to love Garrus. Hence why this story beat gets its own song.

23. With A Little Help From My Friends - The Beatles

“Are you sad because you're on your own?”

The care package. Finally, Shepard finds out that Earth hasn’t completely abandoned her. This song especially talks about isolation when your lover is not there, and how friends can help you through it. When Garrus isn’t there, Shepard is almost totally alone on the planet, so learning her squad still supports her is a huge relief.

24. Tongues - Joywave, KOPPS

“Tell me all the things I've missed”

Ashley. This furtive song is about returning to where you are from, only to find out you are now a stranger to them. While Shepard’s argument with Ashley is a little more circumspect than that, the gist is that Shepard learns that even though she now has this lifeline back to Earth, she’s not welcomed like she was before… which is just what she has been fearing since her interview with Khalisah.

25. Unbreakable - Jamie Scott

“I won't let you fall down now”

Garrus comforts Shepard and comes to a realization. This song of gentle encouragement talks about a woman who has lost everything, and the man who wants to love her regardless. It’s emotive and warm and seems to capture just what Garrus is thinking as Shepard cries in his arms.

26. War Paint - Fletcher

“I write the colors on my face”

The dress shop. Keslia describes the Gala being a battle, and Shepard’s dress being her armor. This song of self-empowerment uses loads of battle imagery and works in tandem with the previous one… Shepard’s been wounded emotionally but she’s still fighting. Turians’ face markings have important meaning for family and home. But for humans, the same sort of marks are called war paint and are used by warriors to represent ferocity and power. Shepard turns an outfit that could just make her into the ornament that the turians want and turns it into a symbol of her survival.

27. Ballroom Blitz - Tia Carrere

“She could kill you with a wink of her eye”

The Gala, part 1. A fun cover of an energetic song talking about a crazy party fight. Between the turian generals and Cyntha, Shepard and Garrus really do have a battle on their hands. While nothing violent actually happens, they have each other’s backs throughout the event, even standing up solo versus their partner’s enemies.

28. Blue Dress - Benjamin Franklin Leftwich

“I should love you better than that”

The Gala, part 2. Shepard asks Garrus if her presence is harming his career, but he doesn’t reply. This song is meant to be the answer he doesn’t say. It’s an apology from a man whose work/travel has prevented him from participating in a relationship like he should. Interestingly, in ME canon, it’s the opposite: the Shadow Broker notes that Garrus’ attachment to Shepard prevents him from being a better commander. The line “But still my only weakness / Is you baby in that blue dress” fits nicely with the story, but funnily enough also with canon… as blue is the color of the Alliance uniforms that canon Shepard typically wears.

29. Vie En Rose - Pomplamoose

“It’s only him for me / and me for him, for life”

Dancing in the driveway. This version of Shepard speaks French, so this slow, lilting, classic French love song is what I imagine coming out of the car stereo when Garrus teaches Shepard to dance. Ok, so it’s probably more likely a turian song playing in this scene, but still. I especially like the stanza that says “He speaks words of love to me / They are everyday words / And they do something to me” because unlike canon, where Shepard and Garrus’ bond is forged in battle, in this AU it’s built from all the little everyday things they say and do for each other.

30. Bad Liar - Selena Gomez

“If you're the art, I'll be the brush”

Painting. Shepard and Garrus made that “100%” promise, but when it comes to feelings, they don’t exactly follow through. This breathy song is about admitting--at least to yourself--that you were denying your emotions, and that your love interest seems to be as well. Not that Shepard is clued in enough to realize Garrus feels the same way, but putting together the easel with Garrus also helped Shepard put together why she’s reacting to him the way she is. Once again, they are in sync without realizing it, the dorks. This song also contains numerous lines that fit the story nicely, such as talking about living arrangements, the battle of Troy (and isn’t that just the funniest view of Shepard’s infiltration of Palaven), and “feelings on fire”.

31. Anne of Green Gables - The Charlottetown Festival

“Anne of Green Gables, sweet and strange, / stay as you are today.”

Reading to Galena. Oh, boy, here we go. Get those tissues ready, it’s coming soon. This simple song from the Anne of Green Gables musical doesn’t say much, but it has a sorrowful timbre that speaks of heartache to come.

32. I Think I Love You - The Partridge Family

“Do you think I have a case? Let me ask you to your face”

Happy Anniversary! In canon and most fanon, Garrus is slick as oil until comes to telling Shepard how he feels, and then he gets adorably pitiful and nervous. While at this point in the story, Garrus himself is probably not ready to call it “love”, this anxiety-ridden song still captures that fragile state of mind. Sadly, Garrus gets interrupted before he makes it as far as the singer does in his confession.

33. Galena - Kerri Sherwood

Galena’s passing. Did you know there are a lot of songs called “Galena”? But though I searched and searched--and quite a few of them were sad songs--none of them had the right words. Because there aren’t any right words for this, are there? And so, a solemn, sad instrumental piece describes Galena’s last day.

34. In My Arms - Plumb

“All I can do is hold you tight”

Garrus’ breakdown. This song is from a mother who wants to protect her child from the harshness of the world. But Garrus’ mother is gone, so Shepard has to sing it instead. Growing up is hard, and the very last and hardest part of growing up for most people is losing your parents. As a side note, the song starts by mentioning blue eyes--one of Garrus’ most notable features.

35. Calling All Angels - Jane Siberry, k.d. lang

"Don’t leave me alone"

The Vigil, part 1. A song imploring various spirits and saints to help guide you through a trying time. On Palaven, where they ask the Spirits’ help for everything, this would probably be especially appropriate. Granted, this song gets used in A LOT of soundtracks, but that’s because it’s so perfect for when you’ve lost someone. More than just loss, this song also says that you know life will go on... but those first steps afterwards are the hardest. It’s like the MVP of movie funeral songs, and Galena deserves the best, dammit.

36. Hope Will Lead Us On - Barlow Girl

"Become the flame / That shows us the way"

The Vigil, part 2. Shepard steps up wonderfully for the Vakarian family and helps them heal. This song, sung almost from a sort of battle commander’s perspective, mixes strong, driving beats with inspiring statements… while still having an underlying piano refrain that is haunting and forlorn. It doesn’t try to move past the pain, but rather keeps it as a foundation for a new beginning.

37. That’s How You Know - Amy Adams, from “Enchanted”

"It's not enough to take the one you love for granted"

Operation Two Turtle Doves. Shepard’s getting ready to meddle with Solana’s love life. So we have a cute song from a cute movie on that very topic. I wish the pronouns were correct for a wlw relationship like in the story, but what can ya do. The line “Don’t treat her like a mind reader” made me laugh, because… Keslia literally is one, being an asari and all.

38. Can’t Help Falling In Love - Elvis Prestley

"Shall I stay?"

Kissing in the study. One of my favorite parts of the story… a tired kiss that’s all about love and comfort rather than passion. When Shepard and Garrus are both drained emotionally and physically from the Vigil, all that’s left is a quiet gravity that draws them together. There are many versions of this song, but Elvis’ gentle crooning rendition is all about slow movements and tender questions.

39. Love Of My Life - Queen

“You don’t know what it means to me”

Singing to babies. Shepard’s still singing Queen, so here is her next solo. This is such a heartwarming scene, plus we get a bit of sibling slapstick for a laugh. The funny part is that even though Shepard is the one singing this song to the babies, the lyrics are really describing what Garrus is feeling in this scene. It works as a cute lullaby, in the way that lullabies often are kind of dark for some reason.

40. Heaven Is A Place On Earth - Belinda Carlisle

"When I feel alone, I reach for you / And you bring me home"

Going to Earth. There Garrus goes again with the grand gestures. Not just anybody can say they gave their partner the world. As much as this Shepard likes Queen, I bet she also likes other 80’s classics like Belinda Carlisle. This song represents Shepard’s response to Garrus’ gift.

41. Girl On Fire - Alicia Keys

“Everybody stands, as she goes by / Cause they can see the flame that's in her eyes”

Arriving at Earth. This song is meant to be from Garrus’ perspective, seeing Shepard in her natural habitat, and is particularly inspired by the story’s description of Shepard being “swallowed by sunlight” as she leaves the ship...which would make her look like she was on fire. It’s a song of admiration and wonder over the power of this one woman who stands out from everyone else. P.S. Did anyone else imagine the spaceship was the Normandy, even though it wasn’t? I did.

42. Wannabe - Spice Girls

“If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends”

The Squad. Ok, so this song is not serious at all, but Shepard’s squad are a bunch of goofballs anyway. Although at this point Shepard probably wouldn’t tell Garrus goodbye if he bugged her like the song mentions, she does state that it means a lot to her that Garrus makes friends with her group.

43. Where Everybody Knows Your Name - Gary Portnoy

I initially added this song for Hudson’s, as it’s the theme song from the sitcom Cheers, which is all about this type of bar. HOWEVER, there are verses in the full song that you never hear in the tv show, including one that’s a bit of toxic masculinity bordering on transphobia. So, this song can just go in the trash where it belongs.

43. Home - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

“Home is wherever I’m with you”

The broken nose. Shepard’s gotten another reminder that she doesn’t quite belong on Earth anymore… but that ends up being okay, because Garrus is her home now. This fun duet talks about how even if you travel and have a variety of experiences, you can find that the person you shared it with is what’s really important. This is in direct contrast to the song of the same name earlier in the playlist, which talked about needing Home to be an actual place. In the middle of the song is a spoken-word section about the man realizing he’s in love with the woman only when she gets injured… which is so Shepard and Garrus it’s funny. I thought for a long time that the woman’s name in the song was “Jane,” which would have made an even better fit, but it turns out it’s “Jade”. Ah well.

44. Soft Kitty, Warm Kitty - Chris & Pui

“Purr, purr, purr”

Mr. Biscuits. A children’s lullaby about cats napping and purring. The main verse mentions London, which is just a coincidence as a significant location for canon Shepard & Garrus. But really I just wanted a song that Shepard could tease Garrus with.

45. I Want To Break Free - Queen

“I've fallen in love for the first time / And this time I know it's for real”

Operation I Want To Break Free. Another of Shepard’s Queen-inspired choices that of course had to be on the soundtrack. This rock anthem has several elements that apply to the story, including falling in love in a strange circumstance, and trying to escape from an oppressive situation. The song is not necessarily addressed to the singer’s lover though, so the “you” referenced is more likely the outside oppressor. As Shepard is planning this operation without Garrus’ help, it would make sense that this not song is speaking to him directly.

46. Aurora Borealis - Bohnes

“I saw with my own eyes something beautiful”

Seton Lake: Garrus’ view. This location actually exists in real life and is worth googling an image of! This breathy ballad is an ode to love that is as sublime and ineffable as the northern lights. With lyrics that talk about stellar phenomena and our place in the universe, it’s especially poignant for lovers from different planets. The line about “a beautiful coincidence that causes love” also fits pretty well, since the arranged marriage turning to love was all unplanned. There’s also a line, “the world inside your eyes is more than black and white to me,” and one of Garrus’ most famous lines in canon is about how he’s unsure how to operate outside of black and white morality… but as it turns out, when it’s Shepard, he’s okay with it.

47. I Choose You - Sara Bareilles

“I believe in something again”

The Mark. While this chapter is explicit, it’s also really charming, humorous, and emotional. So this light and breezy song about choice and beginnings fits well as Shepard’s perspective. This story is largely about Shepard having her autonomy taken from her, with the course of her entire life decided by others. But when she is finally in a position to do something about it--and when Garrus even offers her an out--she chooses him. The song mentions outside influences trying to convince the singer that her love is impossible or wrong, which is again something that Shepard has had to deal with. But Shepard now willingly accepts the mark from Garrus that she once rejected… As the song says, the mark is a visible symbol that will “Tell the world that we finally got it all right”. The line “I will become yours and you will become mine” sounds like a wedding vow, which seems especially appropriate.

[TO BE CONTINUED]

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mtvswatches · 6 years ago

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Crazy Ex Girlfriend 4x17 I’m In Love

Click here for previous recaps!

Stray thoughts

1) So… they’re doing a big reveal where Rebecca will tell who she has chosen right in front of everyone they know? Now I’m kind of hoping she chooses herself (although please please let her be with Greg!) because if she is about to choose one of the guys then she’ll be breaking the other two’s hearts in a very uncalled for manner…

2) Oh, Tim, what’s going on with your life, dude? First, the vibrator song, and now he’s happy not to be spending Valentine’s day with his wife…?

3) Dream ghost!!! Because Rebecca, in true Rebecca fashion, had another poop attack and fell asleep on the toilet… Dream Ghost is going to tell her about her future. Will we get to see what Rebecca thinks her life will be like if she chooses each of the three men in her life?

4) Oh!!! This is her future!!!

5) That was a cheap trick, show. You got me. Because she’s now imagining her future with Nathaniel and Josh…

…and she’s not entirely happy in any of them.

5) Oh, god, I knew going into this I’d be an emotional wreck but I wasn’t expecting to be crying by minute 6. There’s just something about watching Rebecca shouting in her own face, demanding to know why she’s not happy. I think I know the answer. I think she just has to choose herself, I think the title of this episode is about Rebecca finally choosing to love herself first and foremost, and above all.

6) And she got the answer, straight from the horse’s mouth…

REBECCA: Tell me. Huh? Tell me why you're so sad. Why aren't you happy with Greg? Huh? I mean, what's wrong with him?

REBECCA 2: There's nothing wrong with Greg. Or Nathaniel or Josh. They're all wonderful.

REBECCA: Okay, then why am I not happy, with any of them? Don't… don't I love them?

REBECCA: You do love them. The problem is, you don't know who you are.

7) Is working at that firm the best fit for Paula if she can’t take the cases she wants to take?

8) Hmmmm.

JOSH: I just want to be in love. Get married, have babies. I'm ready now. She has to pick me.

This really sounds like Rebecca could be replaceable. He’s not talking about wanting or imagining all of these things with her, he just wants them.

9) George has great plans for his future. He’s growing a ponytail. Nathaniel, on the other hand, seems to have nothing going for him except the possibility of Rebecca choosing him. I kind of wish they had brought up the fact that he was bored with his job before the finale?

10) I love them. I’m gonna miss them so much.

11) I loved this!

There had been some references to how Rebecca creates the musical numbers in her mind but never had we seen if the other characters were aware of what she does or how they react to it. it was a small moment, but it felt like a huge pay-off for four seasons of storytelling in the form of musical comedy.

12) This medley ruined me…

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I was a sobbing mess all throughout, I was crying and trying to sing along, and each song brought up so many memories and feelings. I knew I wasn’t emotionally ready for this episode, but damn, I really wasn’t ready.

But thankfully, I also laughed…

13) OMG TIME JUMP!!! And we can tell thanks to George’s lustrous ponytail!!

So her big decision has nothing to do with choosing one of the guys? But what happened on Valentine’s day a year ago?! And everyone’s there except for Nathaniel, Josh, and Greg, or so it seems...

14) Good for you, Valencia!

15) April adopted Hebecca, and she and Darryl are having a baby!

16) Was… Rebecca… masturbating in the hot tub?

I wouldn’t put it past her, and we know Hector is already very acquainted with how much she enjoys self-gratification, but this would be going too far, even for her…

But… let me say that as much as I love the joke, I can help but feel that Heather was underused even in the finale.

17) I did really enjoy the whole back-and-forth between White Josh and Rebecca. She had no idea what had been going on in his life – two massive fires, apparently – and he admitted to never quite liking her, which is absolutely true.

18) Now, this is what earns a “Respect” as a response…

PAULA: The thing is, is, uh and I say this with so much affection, um, either we do this, or I quit.

BOSS: What?

PAULA: I love this job. But I am not gonna walk around with a hole in my heart because there are people out there who need me and I'm sitting up here on my ass in a fancy suit. I have to be true to who I am inside. So. Thanks. I loved it here. Bye.

BOSS: Paula, wait. Let's talk.

19) Nooo. It can’t be him. It has to mean something else…

Which brings us to another person. The person I care about very much. And he's really the reason I'm here. Josh Chan.

I really hope it only means that he’s the one who gave her the courage to find out who she is or something, or I’ll be pissed off.

20) OH THANK GOD! It wasn’t him.

21) $80 dollars a month, Rebecca? I guess she still continues to be terrible with money.

22) Josh has a girlfriend. I hope he doesn’t mess it up this time.

23) And it’s Nathaniel’s turn now…

NATHANIEL: You don't, you don't have to explain. You only get one life. And you got to live that the way you want. I think everyone deserves that.

I’m really proud of Nathaniel. He truly came such a long way, and even if they are not together, his love for Rebecca had such a wonderful impact on him – he became a better version of himself because of it. I was absolutely floored by how mature and understanding he was, I wanted to hug him so badly.

And he quit his job and he got a job at the ZOO! TALK ABOUT A DREAM COME TRUE!

24) it’s fUCKING GREG’S MOMENT AND I’M NOT READY FOR THIS.

25) What a wonderful moment!

PAULA: What are you doing?

REBECCA: Uh, sorry, nothing, nothing.

PAULA: No, that's not nothing. That's You're staring off into space, like you do. You do that a lot. What's happening when you do that?

REBECCA: I don't want to tell you. It's weird.

PAULA: Oh, come on, any weirder than the many, many weird things you and I have done since we met?

REBECCA: I've just… I don't know I've never told anybody, except for the Dream Ghost and Dr. Phil.

PAULA: What?

REBECCA: What the hell? Okay. When I stare off into space, I'm imagining myself in a musical number. That's how I sometimes see big moments in my life, as musical numbers. And because I do that, so does the show. And by show, I mean the very popular BPD workbook acronym, "Simply Having Omniscient Wishes.” So, yeah, I see myself in these songs.

26) Paula is suggesting that Rebecca should write down the songs that she creates in her mind and that’s what I’ve been saying all along!!!

27) Oh my god, here come the waterworks again…

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What an amazing reprise and what a great way to bookend the story! I’m crying but I swear these are happy tears! It’s been such a long time since Paula and Rebecca stood holding each other’s hands outside a party and singing about how Rebecca should go after Josh. And here they are, still holding each other up through thick and thin and being each other’s person. It’s such an amazing moment for so many reasons. I can’t help but be in awe at such a wonderful portrayal of female friendship. It’s amazing that the person that helped Rebecca figured out what she wanted to do was Paula. It wasn’t Josh or Nathaniel or Greg. It wasn’t her therapist or her mother. It was her best friend, the person that’s seen her at her best and her worst and has accepted for the wonderful, weird, chaotic mess that she is. This scene also conveys a much more important and impactful message – that all you need is, well, you. It’s all right inside you. You just have to be ready to find yourself.

28) Oh, the wonderful, wonderful callback!

29) And her break-up with Greg did not feel like a break-up at all. She was basically telling him that she couldn’t be with him right then. And even though he said he wouldn’t wait, he’s still single… I swear to god, I’ve been dreaming of a Settle for Me reprise, and if they deliver one I’ll probably die.

30) It was so fun to see Rebecca working hard and learning how to sing and play instruments and write lyrics. But this part was what really got to me…

REBECCA: I came to this town to find love, and I did. I love every person in this room. Each and every one of you.

I’m so happy she finally realized that! That’s what I’ve been saying all along. She’d always been so worried about finding one person or one thing that would make her truly happy, and there were so many people and so many things that did it for her and she just couldn’t see it.

31) Oh, wow…

32) What a wonderful ending to a wonderful series! It truly was everything that I had hoped for and more. I really wanted the end of the show to be about Rebecca, self-love, and self-awareness, and the show delivered that in such a beautiful and moving way. I know I’ll cry every single time I listen to that medley! I was kind of concerned about the heavy emphasis on the rom-com aspect of the show in the last few episodes, but I’m really glad that was put on the back burner and it was left kind of open-ended – although I’m positive wherever she is, she’ll end up with Greg. This weird, wonderful show has meant a lot to me, and I can’t wait to revisit this story. I’m glad Rachel and Alina got to tell their story the way they envisioned it, and I think it was a terrific idea to end the story sort of media res – just when Rebecca was about to start a new chapter of her life.

I’m too emotional right now to properly convey exactly how much this show means to me and how impactful and groundbreaking I thought it was for many different reasons, but I’m certain the legacy of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend will live on, and I truly can’t wait to see what the wonderfully talented people behind it have in store for us in the future. I know it will be wicked good.

Goodbye, Rebecca. Goodbye, West Covina. It’s been a wonderful journey!

32) Hope you enjoyed my recap, and, as usual, if you’ve got this far, thank you for reading! If you enjoy my recaps and my blog, please consider supporting it on ko-fi.Thanks!

#Crazy Ex Girlfriend #CEG #Rebecca Bunch #Rachel Bloom #Paula Proctor #Greg Serrano #Josh Chan #Nathaniel Plimpton III #CEG recap #CEG 4x17 #mine

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osmw1 · 6 years ago

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Dimension Wave Chapter 24 — Preparing for Action

We took it rather easy afterwards. Obviously, we still had to make sure we were ready for the raid in three days.

First, I rendezvoused with Shouko and the others and shared with them everything I had learned so far. From Alto, I learned where the location for the raid will be. From Romina, everyone got a new set of weapons. Romina also introduced to us someone who’s an armorsmith and we all got new armor too. Maybe because our mats were from the ocean, we received a lot of blue-colored armor. The mats from birds made our armor nice and fluffy too. Then, we investigated the special map. We’ve learned everything that we can from others, but now it’s time for us to see it with our own eyes. So, the four of us set off to do some scouting.

The location was somewhere between the First and the Second. There used to be a huge wall blocking this area off, but now there’s a path that cut through it. The Dimension Wave must’ve had something to do with it. Looking at the map from a distance, we could see the fissure clearly. But right now, there wasn’t a single monster here, making it easy for us to learn the layout of the area. It was mostly flat albeit with a few hills scattered about. There were three paths with two mountains in between each of them. They all seemed to converge towards the tear in the sky. My guess is that during the raid, the monsters would come from the three paths. It wouldn’t be surprising if players had to push down each path as well.

There are other reasons to have a special map for the raid as well. Firstly, there’s a special chat for the particular instance. Normally, you can only talk to people within screaming distance, aside from the chat function. But in here, party leaders can communicate with other leaders. That’s probably why people in both the First and the Second are trying to find people to form parties of 10.

In any case, there are a lot of people waiting to join in on the raid. An incredible number of weapons, armors, and items are being traded every day in the two cities. Alto and Romina seem to be caught up in the frenzy too. I can’t thank them enough for giving me the time and telling me all that they know.

Even though we don’t know exactly how many people are planning to join, I can almost assure that it’ll be chaotic. Some of the frontliners were talking about tactics and strategies, but I doubt they’d work very well with the sheer number of people in the fray. The map itself is pretty wide open though. That’s all we could glean from the current situation.

I also included my sisters in on my gutting weapon secret but sold the information to Alto and Romina. With that, day two is over.

“It’s the third day today, but there ain’t much going on, eh?”

After we got ourselves all ready for the fight, we came to the map. There was a blanket of snow on the ground, contrasting the red skies up above. The black fissure in the sky didn’t change at all though. Today marks one month since the game has begun, but there was nothing to show of it yet…

“… maybe there’s something somewhere else.” “Mayhaps there is more than what meets the eyes.” “That is certainly possible, but surely, there would be others who have noticed by now.” “I mean, Dimension Wave is literally the name of the game. It can’t possibly be a single-player story quest…”

We kept a careful eye at the fissure for hours, but we began to slowly relax. I’m not about to force everybody to be alert at all times, but we really didn’t know whether anything would happen or not. It’s not just us either. There were 12, 13 other parties around us doing the same. There were some people asleep, so maybe they’ve been here for quite a while. Roz mentioned that they’ll have someone on guard at all times too. Some people are really serious about this game.

“Lemme check our stats again.” “Okay, sure.”

I’ve opened everybody’s statuses and equipment screens countless times today. Doesn’t hurt to check my own status, skills, and items again.

Name/ Kizuna†Exceed Race/ Spirit Energy/ 92,360 Mana/ 7,800 Serin/ 46,780

Skills/ Energy Production X, Mana Production VII, Fishing Mastery IV, Gutting Mastery IV, Cleaver III, Speed Gutting III, Naval Combat IV, Transmutation I

I gained quite a lot of Energy in the past week thanks to everyone’s help. The monsters at sea were pretty strong, so it was good farming. It was rough without Naval Combat, but it got a lot better with it. Even Shouko said she felt a lot more confident fighting on a boat. I’m glad she got used to it, but hopefully it won’t affect our land-based battles. There’s a surprising number of tricky bits to naval combat though. Well, not that it matters right now since Dimension Wave is over land.

Oh, and right now, I have the least Energy out of the three Spirits in our party while Yamikage has the most. Her Drain is getting more powerful and efficient so I’m not going to complain, but she uses nothing but Drain. It’s no surprise she has the most Energy out of us. With Shouko being a former frontliner, she knows how to make the most of her Energy. Honestly, it seems like I’m gaining the least out of everyone. Well, even if I had a lot, I’m still using gutting weapons, so I wouldn’t deal too much damage anyway.

Since everybody got new weapons, I’ll be using my Cetus Longsword exclusively. Maybe because it’s a custom item, it’s still extremely powerful. All the other gutting weapons are like knives and such, so my longsword is the largest of the class. It should be good for a raid like Dimension Wave.

“It’s probably gonna start sometime today, so go get anything you guys are missing. “… I’ve gone already.” “Aye, and I thrice!” “Unbelievable, Yamikage.”

We’re still the same as we were. Shouko is always so well-prepared, she hasn’t left once. It’s impressive how organized she is. Maybe I have too much in my inventory though…

“Just to double-check with you guys, but with such a large raid, we’ll probably lose each other in the crowd. If that happens, just fend for yourself, alright?” “Aye, aye.”

Still nothing so far though. There’s a lot of people waiting for it to start though. Nobody knows exactly how difficult it’ll be, but with this many people, surely, we’ll clear it. Having triple-checked everything, I shifted my gaze towards the fissure again. Yep. Same old. I couldn’t help but let out a yawn.

“Kizuna, don’t let your guard down.” “But nothing’s happening.” “That may be true, but something might happen at any time.” “You really don’t change, do ya? Oh, that reminds me…”

I might have encountered by her former party the other day. Their team comp and equipment were definitely good, but something about them rubbed me the wrong way. In my mind, Shouko was definitely in the right and those self-righteous bastards were in the wrong. I don’t get how they ever hit it off in the first place. They seemed like they would be annoying from the start.

“Is something the matter?” “No, I was just thinking about you and your former party, Shouko.” “Oh, them…” “Judging by what you had to say, they don’t seem like decent people.” “Well, they were not so disagreeable in the beginning.” “That right?”

Not that I was super surprised, but I didn’t really expect it. They seemed like just a bunch of punks.

“I believe they changed when they were labeled as frontliners.” “… no offense to you, but that happens all too often.” “None taken. I found that I had to remind them to be more careful with each passing day…” “And they found you nagging.” “Yes. In the end… well, I left their party because of that.”

And now, they must be feel like they’re on top of the world. I’ve gotta learn from their mistakes. Even when I get better in terms stats and money, I’ll be sure to be better as a person as well. If I somehow make someone feel like they have to quit… that would be awful.

“Then, in that case, if I ever stray from my path, tell me, okay?” “I believe that you have always done things for others so far. I wouldn’t worry, Kizuna.” “Hearing that makes me happy, but I’m human too and to human is to err.” “… I understand. From now on, I’ll be sure to correct you.”

And now, I regret it just a little. Maybe I had been a bit too eager there. But Shouko really is a saint… Hmm?

“… huh?”

Something happened ahead of us. The tear—or rather, the dimensional fissure shone with blinding light. Shouko was already alert and vigilant. It’s finally here. Looks like we were on the mark about it happening today.

“Wha—?!”

The party ahead of us shrieked. Immediately, a cloud of dust kicked up beside them. Following that, a bunch of undead skeletons by the name of Dimensional Skeleton animated in front of us.

“… that’s a whole lot of them.

That was all we could see—

Skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton, skeleton.

A skeleton spawned with each cloud of dust and after, other monsters spawned as well. This is definitely a raid battle.

“Kizuna, fall back! The three of us will defend you.” “Sure! Huh? Why?” “… you’re the leader. Call for reinforcements.” “Hey, since when was I the leader?!”

Oh? Yamikage… is already casting Drain. Drain is a medium-range spell, so it made sense. But does it work against the undead? Oh, well.

“Gotcha. I’ll keep you guys updated! Don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone!” “Understood!” “‘kay.”

As the two of them responded, I fell back and selected the chat option from my menu.

contents: /prologue/ /ch001/ /ch002/ /ch003/ /ch004/ /ch005/ /ch006/ /ch007/ /ch008/ /ch009/ /ch010/ /ch011/ /ch012/ /ch013/ /ch014/ /ch015/ /ch016/ /ch017/ /ch018/ /ch019/ /ch020/ /ch021/ /ch022/ /ch023/ /ch024/ /next/

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