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mirrorforevers · 4 years ago

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any human friend • graham coxon/reader

i know its been a while but at last its here! thank u so much for the prompt anon, hope u didn’t give up on me n i hope u guys enjoy it jkhkdjd loved writing this fic so much

word count: 2.873 pairing: graham/fem!reader

It’s a Saturday. Usually, you always have plans with your friends after your concerts, but for different reasons they all canceled that day's meeting. Life was tough for artists on the rise. The week had been exhausting enough that you wouldn't give up drinking to forget about your problems. When you arrive at the pub, you don’t recognize any familiar face, and, somewhat disappointed, you sit next to a man with graying hair who is very concentrated on his phone.

A bummer of a night for such a talkative girl.

“One pint of lager and a packet of crisps, please.” You order, mindlessly tapping on the table to the beat of a random rhythm. You kept stealing sideways glances at the man sitting by your side.

“Can’t believe she did this.” The man mutters, still very concentrated on whatever he was watching or reading. You, for a split second, thought he was judging your very basic order for some reason but then noticed he just thought out loud, and you joke: “What’s wrong with my order, mate?”

This takes him out of his trance as he awkwardly and quickly apologizes, and while you calm him down you notice he’s one of the artists that shared the stage with you on The Nightingale earlier that day. He was absolutely incredible - you wanted to tell him how much you enjoyed his music but didn’t get the chance. Well, apparently now’s the time. “Wait, I saw you playing today.” is what you say, mid sentence, a little starstruck even though, just like you, he wasn’t famous. You were at the same page in a matter of stardom, actually. He blushes and smiles, and after he takes a long sip of his drink, he asks: “And did you like it?”

“A lot!” You answer a little too excitedly, containing yourself so you don’t scare him away. Music was always a topic that excited you to the point of making you tremble sometimes. “Um, you’re an awesome songwriter. I played in The Nightingale today too, I don’t know if you were already there when I played. My name's Y/N, by the way. You’re Graham, right?”

“I actually arrived when you were at the stage. And yes, I-I'm Graham, nice to meet you, Y/N.” he chuckles, giving you his entire attention after he shakes your hand. Turns out you’ve found a company on this lonely Saturday night. “You’re an awesome singer, I’m quite honored to hear that you enjoyed my show.”

It was now your turn to blush, and you playfully motion as if dismissing his comment. “You were something else. ‘In The Morning’? I think that was the name of the first song?” He nods, basking on the attention his work has gotten from a fellow artist, and you continue: “Your playing alone somehow sounded like 3 different guitars on that one. Don’t Believe Anything I Say was a favorite of mine too, what an earworm.”

“You remember the names.” He notes, genuinely surprised and… happy. “Your voice blew me away too. You… you were stellar.”

God knows how hard it is to make a name for yourself. Actually, to make people just pay attention to what you’re doing when you aren’t a commercially successful musician is really tough. You know how you feel when you’re complimented in that sense, and you’re shocked that Graham’s artistry has been ignored all this time. He truly deserves the praise, and you want to give it to him.

“Thank you, you’re too kind. I mean, how could I not remember the names of your songs? They’re fantastic. For how long you’ve been playing?” Your order arrives, and you eat your crisps while he talks about the role music has had in his life. His reveal that it’s just a hobby to him surprises you.

“And what do you do for a living?”

“I paint. I’m a visual artist.” He steals some of your chips. “I enjoy it just as much as I like to play, but only painting is putting money in my pocket. What about you?”

“I actually work at a bank, but I’m trying to make music my main job. Do you plan on changing careers in the future, or…?”

“Oh, no. I’m too old to be a rockstar.” He ruffles his hair, timidly. There was something about this man. He’s quirky and seemingly distrait at his absurd musical talent, you almost feel offended at what he says about himself.

He also has super broad shoulders and his arms are somehow really strong and his lips inviting but you push these thoughts to the back of your mind. He’s a total stranger, after all. An adorable and extremely talented stranger, but still a stranger.

“What the hell are you talking about? You’re awesome, bloody hell, I became a fan of yours just from that gig and music’s just a hobby to you. I imagine you’re bloody Da Vinci when painting.”

“I’m really not all that, I swear.” He laughs. "Something I found curious was that you only stuck to covers. Why is that?"

“Oh. You noticed.” You answer, a little embarrassed. “I’m still not that confident in my own material. I write songs, but… let’s say I trust my music taste way more for now.” He nods in understanding. “But before you lecture me though,” he chuckles at your energy as you continue ranting. “I know how important it is for me to sing my own songs, I’m just building up courage to do it. I still think they’re stupid.”

“The only way to find out is to play them. People make all sorts of faces. It’s like a thermometer.”

“It’s true.” You down some of your pint in hopes it gives you more stuff to talk about. “Which of my songs you liked the most?”

“Well, they’re not your songs,” he jokes, and you share a laugh.

“Shush. Go on,”

“But I quite enjoyed your rendition of that Fiona Apple song and Wild Time. Also your cover of Band on The Run was really great. Not everyone nails that one.”

“Thank you. Those were my favorites too.”

“But I’m looking forward to seeing you again with your own material. Blend them with the others, depending on who you were influenced by, they’ll fit right in.”

“You’re right. Thanks for the words of wisdom, Graham.”

“No problem.” He pauses for an instant. “You’re a regular here, aren’t you?”

“Yes. I’m here with my friends every Saturday night, but they all cancelled on me last minute. Some of them went to see me play, at least.”

“Huh. That’s rare enough. You were lucky.”

“I know. Did... anyone you know... come to see you?” You know what you were trying to ask him, and he knew too.

“Um… Someone used to.”

“What happened?”

“We weren’t exactly right for each other.” he smiled wistfully. “Did someone other than your friends… see you?”

“Not really, no.”

A comfortable silence hangs between you two, as both of you share some shy smiles. A song by The Smiths starts playing in the background, and that’s enough to get the gear of a nice talk running once again. You really liked this man. Gradually, he talks more about himself, and also learns so much about you in the span of a few hours.

As you feel more comfortable and used to his presence, you allow the back of your hand to brush against his a few times as you pick up your food. You give no indication you noticed the weight of his gaze, and you feel the butterflies fluttering on your belly. After eating and having a few more drinks, you were out on the sidewalk.

There's nothing you loved more than the aftermath of afternoon storms. The earthy scent that permeates the city's dusk while its lights are reflecting off the wet asphalt, the mysterious aura that hovers over every street is something that really speaks to your senses, in a way. You also loved how those lights now reflected in Graham’s eyes. He offers to walk you home - after you tell him where you live he agrees it’s indeed not very far. Those who walk past you might think you’ve been friends for years.

As he walks you up to your door, you feel he’s reluctant to say goodbye. And so are you.

And the inevitable question escapes from your lips.

“Will I see you again?”

“I… I hope so.” He answers, somewhat relieved you asked. “Whenever you feel like it. And… whenever you’re free, of course.”

“I’d love to. Actually… Graham, if you can, of… of course, I-I want you to stay tonight.”

He blinks, as if the invite went completely over his head. You giggle, and make your intent more clear. “Gosh, don’t make me repeat myself. I want you to come inside.”

“Inside, yes,” he blushes, his eyes shining. He reacts like a flustered, yet excited, teenager. “Of course. I want to stay too, then.”

You were definitely not expecting to bring someone home tonight, so your flat is a cozy mess you try to conceal as coyly as you can. You show him to the couch, and after handing him another beer, you go to the kitchen to fiddle with your temperamental oven to try and get it to warm up enough to cook a frozen pizza. While you wait for it to cook, you stand in the balcony, watching him from afar still wondering about the courage you mustered to bring him home.

His eyes met yours, and there it was, that cute, easy smile of his again. He sighs, as if silently asking what was going to happen next. And you answer. “I barely ate anything today because I was so nervous I was finally playing on The Nightingale. I know we ate already but I’m still hungry, sorry for being anticlimactic.”

“Don’t worry.” He looks around, a little nervous. I guess that’s a first for him too, you think. “Cute place.”

“I recently moved so there’s still a lot to unpack, but I haven’t had the time.”

Small talk ensues, and after you finally eat what you need, you share the couch with him - in a somewhat of a bold move, but just to show how comfortable you feel around him, you place your head over his shoulder. His arms fall over yours.

“Thanks for not letting me spend my Saturday night alone.” You murmur, positioning yourself so your face is closer and facing his. He tends to speak with his brown eyes - which are now cast on your mouth. He answers by very calmly slipping his hands below your ears, making you shiver, and pulling you to a tender kiss.

Then he says, “Thank you for having me.”

He kisses you fully now as you arch into him. His hands are now inside of your coat, teasing to take it off, but before they explore your skin further than your sides, he asks if they can, if you’re comfortable with going all the way. You nod, positively impatient. After a few more heated moments of kisses, you now find yourself on your back, with just your bra and jeans on, his weight on top of you as his lips travel down your jawline and your neck. His fingers run tantalizingly through the hem of your high-waisted jeans. “Planning on taking that off any time soon?” he whispers.

“I was afraid you might think I was going too fast if I went any further, actually,” you giggle. “Do the honors.”

“My pleasure.”

After he takes it off you, he pulls you closer to him, your bare skin against his still very clothed one, and you wrap your legs around his waist, once again trying to be as near and physically intimate with him as possible. He seemed to want that too, slowly rocking his hips against yours, groaning softly. “Please get rid of those too,” You whine, voice slightly breathy, tugging lightly at his striped shirt. Your wish is his command.

Now that he’s shirtless, if he was already an eyeful to you before, you absolutely can’t take your eyes off his body now. He’s surprisingly fit for his age, though that wasn’t something you were particularly meticulous about. You were aching for him, painfully wet, and your anticipation was almost tangible in the air you shared - he detected it, apparently, and you hear the slightest waver in his voice when he adjusts himself to slowly begin stroking you over your underwear. “Tell me if I’m going too hard.” The softness of his voice made you shiver. You nodded, not intending to tell him anything of the sort as you pressed yourself harder into the soft pads of his fingers, gradually picking up speed. In a few more moments, you were worked up enough to nearly panting.

You pull your panties to the side and guide his hand to your heat directly. His other hand lifts your chin. “You want to see my face while you touch me, right?” you asked, voice smokey. He huffed gently, eyes darting away, a light blush spreading on his cheeks while your breath starts to falter. You don’t know what does it, exactly – the slow and deliberate circling on your clit, the lingering over skin that makes you whimper your pleasure, or the gentle flick of a finger over the small bead of nerve endings, but suddenly everything is blurry starbursts and your body is spasming with the intensity of your orgasm.

You let out a sound that’s hallway between a whimper and a sigh as reality blurs back into your consciousness. As you come down from your high, you try to say something but your voice doesn’t seem to be working quite yet, so instead you shut your eyes and let out a long breath. That had been intense. You wonder what Graham has in store for you next.

His finger then enters you without warning and your hips buck involuntarily into the penetration. You clench around him, gnawing at your bottom lip as he eased his finger in and out of you. You closed your eyes and shuddered at how good it felt. He pushed two in deep and crooked his fingers. You felt a flush of new heat radiate from your middle. “Don’t stop,” you whispered, shakily, and sank into it.

“I don’t intend to.” He coos as he presses the pads of his fingers against the walls of your pussy. Involuntarily, you made this needy guttural sound you’d never heard from yourself before. You wanted to ask what he was doing to you. While it felt good, it was different. There was a new kind of tension now. It wasn’t like your first climax. This was hot and urgent and taut like a fist clenching. You writhed on the couch and mewled for something.

Feeling you were close once again, he abruptly stops his movements - that fucker! - to your clear dissatisfaction - and rids himself of the rest of his clothes. His size intimidates you a bit, but you were determined to make it work. Once his hips are adjusted to meet yours once again and he puts on protection, after a few more kisses and a few more hard breaths, he is inside you, hands not leaving your clit this time as the eager hips of both of you started to settle into a cohesive pace.

"So fucking tight," he breathes. Your fingers dig into his skin as he's getting faster and more urgent with every thrust. His breathing is ragged and his eyes are half closed, and you tilt your face up and kiss him sloppily. There is no possibility for precision. Your bodies are rocking back and forth together too quickly for that. He grabs your ass, drinking in the moans he pulls out of you. "Come on my cock, baby, touch yourself for me," He murmurs into your ear, teeth grazing the lobe. Your attempt at a reply is cut off by another moan, pleasure overriding your senses.

He isn’t going to last very long, not if he keeps fucking you like his sole purpose is tearing you apart. And neither will you, as one of your hands goes to your clit and moves in sync with his hard thrusts. You want to tell him that you're about to come, but you can’t, you can barely form coherent thoughts, let alone coherent phrases, so you tighten the hand that’s gripping his arm tight and you press a bruising kiss to his lips while you clench around him, hoping it’s enough. Seconds after, judging by the way his breath falters and his pace becomes slightly more mechanical before it slows down and stops, you guess that has done it for him too. You stay some long minutes in that position after you're both done, completely spent.

He pulls out of you after he gives your forehead a small kiss. "That was amazing." He smiles, voice still a little breathy. "You're incredible in every way."

"So are you, and I didn't even know about that talent of yours."

"Got some more time for me to show you the rest of them?"

"Definitely."

#graham coxon #graham coxon x reader #britpop #smut #imagine #reader insert #blur #blur band #graham x reader

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residentraccoon · 3 years ago

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Fave 2021 national finals songs

Since I don't have anything better to do with my life at the moment I decided to ramble about stuff. Okay, here are my thoughts about my fave songs from the national finals of 2021, in no particular order!

Norsk Melodi Grand Prix

• Monument was my absolute favourite and I still can't believe to this day that it didn't win :( Keiino are fking fantastic and they killed the stage (though I kind of preffered the black outfits from the 1st heat over the final ones, they suited the song's athmosphere better). I cried real tears when I saw they lost, for real. Heartbreak 💔

• Hero was such a nice throwback to 80s music style, the staging was also really neat. Would love to see Raylee come back next year in the selection, she has a cool stage presence

• Okay but Vi er Norge was a banger and I'm still listening to this one, a real shame it didn't even qualify nor win the 2nd chance round. As you already knew before, I have a weakness for violins because yes. The performance was so energetic and fun, should have def qualified. Underrated.

• Ut av mørket/Fallen angel was really good too. I wanted it to be kept in norwegian for esc but oh well. The stage show was just a tad messy but memorable.

• I can't escape was something I'd hear from Roxen ngl, the style matches her perfectly, even her cursive singing, everything. Either way I loved this one too, this song feels like a hug.

• Pages was so magical, I'm glad we got another joik song, sadly this didn't qualify 😥

• World on fire was kind of generic but puts me in a good mood everytime I listen to it, it's really catchy.

• Let loose is so g r o o v y and cool, it was my fave from the 1st heat when I got to listen to the songs. I'm lowkey happy it advanced to the final instead of Elevate, I'm sorry but I saw everyone praising that one in youtube comments, I never saw the hype, it was too regular and plain for me.

• Own yourself was so cute and funky, loved how it showed her ethnic background a lil with that disco sound.

• Witch woods...ehhh...While it's funny and unique, I think it's suited more for a witch Disney musical than Eurovision. But I like it anyway.

• Faith Bloody Faith oh yes I needed a rock song in this nf. Relieved it won the 2nd chance. Oh and I just realized, the superfinalists in mgp were literally the ones from the 1st heat. Crazy huh?

• Nordlyset is something I'd listen to near a fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate in hands watching the snow fall in my cottage located in a forest far away from civillization. So soothing and beautiful <3

• Eyes wide open was epic just like his 2020 viking schlager song (i prefer his 2020 song over this one but that's another story)

Melodifestivalen

• Little tot was amazing but def not as good as Bulletproof. It's still catchy asf and one of my favs from this selection.

• Dandi Dansa aka a banger, again another catchy song.

• Every minute sounds like a summer hit, it's awesome. It's also the spawner of all those haha eric on a kitchen tile memes I've seen around during that time.

• The world and especially Sweden wasn't ready for the masterpiece called Rena Rama Ding Dong. They should tone down their preference for safe pop songs and choose meme worthy songs like this one in the future tbh. They didn't even qualify, Sweden = coward.

• One Touch is a fun club track, I can see this as a summer hit as well. But her stage show...go girl give us nothing

• In the middle, once again The Mamas delivered.

• And finally Voices, which its nf staging was superior to the esc one. We are so sorry Tusse 😔

Festivali i Këngës

• Zjarri Im a total banger, it wasn't even in the top 5 ffs Era Rusi queen.

• Njësoj has such a nice party vibe, should have qualified.

• Haven't paid any attention to Karma until it won, then I said hey this isn't so bad, it's traditional and ethnic, I can actually see Albania in the final with this.

Dora

• Rijeka was the only one I thought it will win by a landslide and I was surprised it didn't. The staging was a bit too over the top, though

• Tick Tock grew on me after it won and quickly became one of my faves of this year's esc. I'm still sad it didn't qualify 😔

• She's like a dream is super uplifting and also sounds like an 80s song.

• Colors is something I heard a million times before but for some reason I'm jamming to this? Also I heard she's blind, is it true?

Eesti Laul

• Took me a while to have a fave from this nf but after some listens Magus Melanhoolia stole my heart 🧡 it's so different from the others and the staging looked so proffesional.

• Lost in a dance had me d a n c i n, I noticed we had a lot of 80s throwbacks in this nf season, this included. The live was so dissapointing though 😔

• Not so keen on 6 at first but now I absolutely love it, she has such a nice style and the song's athmosphere is so magical.

• Time was amazing, surprised it came 2nd!

• I actually liked The lucky one lmao, I found it much better than his previous entry.

• Heaven's not that far tonight was the party 80s bop we didn't knew we needed

Dansk Melodi Grand Prix

• Probably my biggest letdown of this nf season but I actually managed to like Står lige her, digging the electro 80s (again) sound

• I also liked Øve os på hinanden as well, this one really feels like a legit 80s track rather than a throwback.

• Silver Bullet was interesting as well, it was the early frontrunner when the songs first came out from what I remember.

Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu

• I love you is so wacky and catchy, and in finnish! I'd hear this as a soundtrack in an old video game.

• Dark Side was the definite winner ever since I heard it, and they even got a top 10 finish for Finland for the first time in years! Couldn't be more proud 😭

• Hurt was also one of my favs, Aksel needs to come back to esc, maybe in 2022 methinks 🤔

• Wait what is Laura Põldvere, an estonian singer tm doing in finnish nf? While I liked Play, I knew it wasn't strong enough to win, and she even came last. Do you get any flashbacks from another estonian entry with the same name that came last? 👀

C'est vous qui decidez

• Voila was the clear winner and that's about it, she deserved the win, it's just too beautiful for this world 😭

• Alleluia was an interesting sound of afrobeat, too bad their chances were killed because of messy staging :(

• Amour fou was so catchy and I loved the horse head thing lmao

Pabandom iš naujo

• Discoteque all day any day. The Roop world domination 💛

• Where'd you wanna go is so calming. I listen to this when I'm stressed and it works wonders, this was really beautiful.

• Open is so unique and soothing, a total contrast from her 2014 entry.

• Never fall for you again is a total earworm, even now as I'm writing this...even if I haven't listened to it since February.

Sanremo

• Zitti e Buoni was my instant fave, it simply stood out from the others by a lot.

Festival da Canção

• Por um triz is a beautiful ballad, was my fave.

• Saudade was the early favourite, reminds me of Telemoveis with its weird but artsy style.

Israel NF

• ...I really only liked Set me free tbh.

• La la love had a good potential but I can't not cringe at the corona reference like...ugh. Such a fun party song killed by one lyric, such a shame.

Russia's NF

• Just Russian Woman was the only one who deserved to win.

Spain's NF

• Yeah, they were both good but I liked Voy a Quedarme more.

#txt #oh my god oKAY this is a long post af #eurovision

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writersblock2point0 · 6 years ago

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The Jester: Volturi Imagine

This is just a little idea I had for an OC, however the person is unnamed(as I haven’t picked one and I don’t know how much I would write for them, so I haven’t named them) and can be read as a reader insert.

Trigger: Description of dismembering bodies, vampires?

The Volturi don’t just sit in their castle all day. The one night they choose to go to a show, they meet someone...strange.

It started with the second song in the first act. Demetri sat in the large, comical circus tent in the middle, in the very back on the top bleachers. Alec sat to his right, Jane between her brother and Felix. A few other guards who had been permitted to attend were seated in in the same row. The masters were seated before them, Caius next to Athenodora as she watched the show with a soft smile. It seemed Caius’ mood had lifted when seeing the pleasure his wife and mate took in the show. Aro and Sulpicia sat together, her hand on his arm, their skin not touching so Aro would not be distracted by her thoughts as they focused on the theatrics. Marcus sat tall, eyes hooded as they always were, however the never blinking stare told Demetri he was interested to say the least.

Demetri was interested, for other reasons however. The tent was full of buzzing humans; all eager to see the performances of these talented...humans. The tent had been set up only a week ago, and there were fliers going about the medium sized city just neighboring Volterra. Fliers had apparently reached the neighboring cities and small towns. Aro had heard of it, and said it would be a delight to see the arts of today. It seemed there would be a number of performances of different movies; both popular disney numbers and the regular muscular numbers. This alone didn’t irk the tracker, no, what did however, was the fact that he could not sense a single tenor of any of the actors in the performances.

As a young, delightful young woman sang her number, her smile bright and eyes lively, he could not sense any indication that she was there. It crossed his mind that perhaps a human could have a potential gift in deceiving his abilities, however it wasn’t until he took notice that each and every one of the performers didn’t have a tenor.

As the number ended, and the crowd erupted into applause; his Masters and guardmembers included, that he placed his hand on Aro’s shoulder. His master startled for a moment, eyes blinking as if he broke from a trance. Turning, Aro reguarded the look of urgency in his trackers eyes. A hand was offered, and as Aro took it, his eyes seemed to light up in even more wonder. His attention was quickly on the next number, his hand still locked around Demetri’s as the tracker looked at the new performers. Again, no tenors.

Whoever these...people were, they were not there.

A tall, slim figure walks out, looking much like a skeleton. It was a sight familiar to Demetri, as the slow music begins to play.

“There are few who’d deny at what I do I am the best,

For my talents are renowned far and wide,”

They stand alone on the stage, gripping the attention of everyone in the tent.

“When it comes to surprises in the moonlit night

I excel without ever even trying

With the slightest little effort of my ghostlike charms

I have seen grown men give out a shriek!”

The light changes, a red shade falling over their face as they make a monstrous snarl and pretend to lunge at a group of humans, effective in making a few of them squeal.

“With the wave of my hand, and a well-placed moan

I have swept the very bravest off their feet!”

A soft sigh falls from the performers lips,

“Yet year after year, it's the same routine

And I grow so weary of the sound of screams

And I, Jack, the Pumpkin King

Have grown so tired of the same old thing,”

The song was so soft, and sad. It was as if the performer was actually experiencing these things, if it had not been for the lack of a tenor, then Demetri would have wholeheartedly believed this person was going through heartache.

“I’m a master of fright! And a demon of light!” The skeleton teases the crowd, smug and posh about himself. It reminded Demetri of the way Aro got when he got dramatic around other covens, putting on a show of sorts for them.

“And I’ll scare you right our of your pants.

To a guy in Kentucky, I’m Mister Unlucky

And I’m known throughout England and France.” The performer boasts once more before throwing a smirk at them. It seems they’ve been spotted. It made Demetri uneasy, knowing that whatever this thing was, knew who they were and what they were, while it remained hidden.

“And since I am dead, I can take off my head!”

The humans gasped as it popped it’s head off, holding it out as if to say, ‘ta da’.

“To recite Shakespearean quotations!” The head sang before being popped back into place.

“No animal nor man can scream like I can!

With the fury of my recitations!”

Demetri watches as the skeleton sings, hands to it’s chest in mock sorrow, as the being begins to slowly walk forward.

“Oh, there’s an empty place in my bones

That calls out for something unknown

The fame and praise come year after year

Does nothing for these empty tears…” As the voice fades, the figure does as well, as if it were just a hologram. Perhaps that was all it was, however something about it all bothered Demetri to no end. Glancing at his Master, he could see the same complex look upon Aro’s face. Things were definitely interesting.

I sat on the stage, the costume I wore much like the common Jester. I looked up as the lights illuminated me, a smile gracing my lips. I opened my mouth, singing the words, the music rumbling through the tent as ‘The Bells of Notre Dame’ flowed from my chest. As I narrated the song, the scene played out around me, a young gypsy woman with a bundle, Frollo chasing her on his horse, the hooves kicking up dirt as he went. I let my eyes fall over the crowd as the Archdeacon and Frollo spoke. My eyes darkened as I smelled them, the perfect little meals. They would do nicely. I snapped back to reality, moving the song along as to not disrupt the illusion.

I basked in the applause, before looking up at the right moment. I locked eyes with them before their scents wafted my way. I was surprised, as I was not aware that vampires would be here, of all places. Perhaps they were looking for food as well. Oh well, perhaps this is their territory. I do not know. I flashed a grin, allowing my eyes to shine red as recognition of what I was fell over the one in the middle.

I gave a mockingly low bow, never breaking eye contact before I clapped my hands, my disguise back to normal.

“Ladies and Gentleman!” I called, grinning from ear to ear. “Good evening,” I drawled, voice growing lower as I tried to keep my excitement from breaking my concentration. “I would like to announce that there are a few…” I bounced my head in a dramatic pause as I rolled my eyes, teasing the crowd, “Altercations.” I placed my hands together, my mask making it seem as if I was surveying the crowd for a split second as I took another look at the vampires directly in front of me, seated in the far back. They wore similar clothing, with reflecting necklaces that bestowed a very familiar V. I smirked, what a lovely surprise. “You have all come on a...very special occasion.” I speak, voice bellowing from the stage, eyes on the Volturi.

I clap my hands, instantly music starts off slow before building. I wondered how long it would take for them to realise my power.

Voices sang, seeming from speakers that were invisible, and I instantly threw myself into the role of a jester.

“Fools!” I call, laughing as I address the crowd. I do a little cartwheel, landing before a human woman, who jumps in surprise before laughing with her friends.

“Once a year we throw a party here in town!’ I smirk at her, holding out my hand and she takes it after I wiggle my fingers.

“Once a year we turn all Paris upside down!” I spin her around, booping her nose lightly before pushing her back into her seat, her laughter ringing in my ears. Villagers dance and sing around me, throwing the party as I went along with the crowd.

“Ev’ry man’s a king and ev’ry king’s a clown,” I smirk, bounding up to the stage and standing in the middle. “Once again it’s Topsy Turvy Day!”

“It’s the day the devil in us gets released

It’s the day we mock the prig and shock the priest

Ev’rything is topsy turvy at the Feast of Fools!”

I sing, imitating ‘monsters’ and doing jolly flips and acting as stupid as ever. The music changes, and I stand alone on the stage, voice growing softer as I easy the crowd in.

“Come one! Come all! Hurry, hurry, here’s your chance, see the myst’ry and romance!” I ignore the villagers that pull the innocent little meals from their seats, unseen by all in the tent.

“Come one! Come all! See the finest girl in France! Make an entrance to entrance! Dance, la Esmeralda! Dance!” I call, throwing myself down and poof in a cloud of red smoke. Esmeralda catches the eyes of everyone, her beauty rivalling many vampires and goddesses alike. Too bad she wasn’t real. I smirk, slipping away from the crowd, going to the back of the tent, were I saw the few illusions entertaining the people I chose.

“Ah, my dears,” I call, smiling at them all as they turn and look at me in amazement. “It’s such a blessing to see you all.” I put a little more tweaking to the illusions around them, catching them each in a daze as I make quick work of the four people I chose as dinner. I wipe my mouth, turning back to the stage and enter, seeing Esmeralda had done her job. I smirk, tilting my head as she finishes with a wink to the Volturi kings.

I smirk. Let’s get this show on the road.

After the show, I was satisfied. Well beyond that in fact. I stood with my tricks, all bowing as if they were real, receiving the encore they all deserved. Of course, the four little souls that went missing, went unnoticed. Their bodies were in the back, waiting to be disposed of properly. I would later, when everything was set up and everyone had left.

My tricks lined up, shaking hands and giving autographs to those who wished it. I stood in the back, watching from the shadows as I kept my power up, giving each illusion a life and character of their own.

I watched as the Volturi passed through, one in particular taking time to shake hands of each trick. He must be Aro. I’ve heard of him. The one that can see everything with only a single touch, skin to skin of course, however the gift wouldn’t work. I suppose that would have been one mistake I made, if I cared. He would not see anything, as those actors weren’t real. They were fake, physical manifestations of my imagination. They held no heartbeats, needed no breath, yet they could speak on their own and each had different personalities. Qualities I gave them of course.

I waited until everyone left, before each actor dissipated in the air like dust. I walk around the corner, a small skip to my step as I begin to pull limbs from the bodies, making them easier to place in bags and move. Once all set, and I made sure everyone had left from the clearing I set the tent up, I walk out, turning to look at it before snapping my fingers and watching in satisfaction as it dissipated as well.

I turn, ready to make my way to a new town and do it all over again, however the sight of a coven stopped me. I take note of the Volturi, Aro standing in front of them. He had a fascinated smile upon his lips, almost to a point it looked manic more than anything.

“Can I help you?” I smile, charming as ever, as if I did not have a bag of body parts thrown over my shoulder.

“Such a wonder,” He says, gazing at me. “I didn’t even notice they ever fake.”

I grin crookedly, shrugging my shoulders, “I’m sure you would have seen it eventually. After all, not a lot gets by you.”

He giggles, “Who are you dear?”

I drop the bag, letting it hit the ground with a wet slap. I walk to him, head held high as I hold out my hand, wiggling my fingers as a smirk falls over my face, eyes gleaming like rubies in the moonlight.

“Come and find out.”

#Volturi Imagine #Demetri #Aro #Alec #Jane #Felix #Caius #Imagine #fanfiction #jesters #vampires #twilight #twilight imagine #oc #kinda #no name so it don't really matter #Volturi x reader #Volturi x OC

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harjii · 6 years ago

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2018 Music | My Faves

This is a bit delayed but @genjitsu-no-yume reminded me to create a list of my favourite music in 2018. I’ve split this list into 3 sections; favourite songs, favourite albums and throwback discoveries because I am constantly discovering music releases months (sometimes years) after they’ve been released OTL.

By no means is this a list of what I think was the best. This is simply a list of the music I discovered which I loved and none of it is in any particular order. There’s constantly so much being released and all of it is so wonderful, how to possibly pick between it all?!

Anyway, without further ado, here’s a list of my favourite music in 2018!

Favourite Songs Released in 2018

Tell Me - Infinite

Till Sunrise (feat JW of Nell) - Kim Sunggyu

The Chance of Love - DBSK (TVXQ)

Crossing A Line - Mike Shinoda

Caste of the Nine - A9

Who We Are - FAKY

Get It - PRISTIN V

Forever and a Day (Lean On Me) - WANNA ONE

Dear My Friend (Feat. Washio Reina from E-Girls / Flower) - MACO

Warrior (Feat. John Cooper) - Ledger

HELP ME - NU’EST W

Heroine - Sunmi

Sleeping Beauty - Epik High x Sekai no Owari

Shoot Met - DAY6

Sober (feat Ummet Ozcan) - HYO

F E E L S - Safetysuit

Almost Love - Sabrina Carpenter

Growing Pains - Alessia Cara

Fakeshow - Da-iCE

If It’s Okay With You - Nam Woohyun

La Fiesta - THE RAMPAGE from EXILE TRIBE

Woman - BoA

Fake Divine - HYDE

Love Bomb - fromis_9

Upside Down - BIGFLO

Black Heart - UNB

Tempo - EXO

Pretty Sin (Oh! My Mistake) - APRIL

Hope Torture - NELL

Spring Breeze - WANNA ONE

Favourite Albums Released in 2018

1. Post Traumatic - Mike Shinoda

Having been a Linkin Park fan since I was 13, Chester’s passing hit me really, really hard. Every Linkin Park fan can relate to the heart break felt but when Mike started releasing music, it became therapy for us all. The album dropped half way through 2018 and by then, he’d already released a fair number of the tracks as E.P.’s beforehand. Even though we’d heard many of the songs by this point, listening to the album as a whole was so much more emotional and so moving. Mike’s emotive lyrics, the strife he went through after losing someone so close to him is a pain we all felt we could connect to. Truly, I’m so thankful to him for releasing this album. I replayed it so much for weeks and weeks and the more I listened to it, the more I felt myself healing. The music is incredible; as always Mike has his own unique touch when it comes to creating music and the lyrics really tell a story of grief, sorrow, heartbreak, anger but most of all, hope. It’s this hope that we’re left hanging on to by the time the album ends and if that isn’t the perfect way to end an album, I don’t know what is.

Favourite tracks: Over Again / About You (feat. blackbear) / Crossing A Line / Hold It Together / Make it Up As I Go (feat. K.Flay) / Running From My Shadow (feat. grandson)

2. DON’T MESS UP MY TEMPO - EXO

Honestly, I was too immersed in NU’EST to give EXO a second thought as both groups debuted at the same time but I’d always known of EXO and always had a distant appreciation of their talents. However, when they started releasing teasers for their comeback my EXO-L friend started sharing her excitement with me. I went with it, intrigued to hear what they’d release. The moment I watched the MV for ‘Tempo’, I was instantly sold. I was so sold that I couldn’t stop re-watching the MV for days and days, to the point that I was trying to find signal in the Bermuda triangle that is the staff room at work just to stream it during lunch breaks! Safe to say, I fell pretty hard. Then I listened to the whole album and I was blown away. My only question was-why hadn’t I listened to them properly in the first place? Every song on this album is a mature progression for the group and their harmonies are just unyielding. I honestly can not praise this album enough. Mostly I’m just so thankful that it exists because it got me into EXO’s music properly, after long last!

Favourite tracks: Tempo / Ooh La La La / With You / 24/7 / Bad Dream / Oasis

3. WHO, YOU - NU’EST W

Picking a favourite album by my boys was difficult because they released 2 stellar mini albums in 2018, however I had to go with ‘WHO, YOU’ in the end because my goodness was every track blindingly fantastic. In fact I’d go as far as to say that every song on this album could be released as a promo track and every song would chart well. NU’EST W did a brilliant job in the composition and tone of this album. It’s somewhat moody whilst also incorporating EDM which just blends so effortlessly. I really can’t fault any song on this album. And don’t even get me started on the title track; ‘Dejavu’ was a masterpiece! Prior to release NU’EST W had stated that the title track would include Latin tones since that was quite a big musical trend throughout 2018. As expected, they incorporated the Latin tones so subtly that it created such a infectious and trendy song. Also that bass in the chorus-bridge is so funky! Just amazing. NU’EST W’s musical development in 2018 was such a marvel and this album really proved that.

Favourite tracks: Signal / Dejavu

4. WARNING - Sunmi

As a Wonderful, naturally I was excited every time Sunmi released anything. However seeing just how her popularity soared after ‘Gashina’ was released filled me with so much inexplicable joy because yes, this is what she deserved; RECOGNITION. This woman has only ever worked hard to challenge herself and grow as an artist and ‘WARNING’ is certainly proof of that growth. Comparing the musical tone of ‘WARNING’ to her first mini album ‘Full Moon’ you can really hear the stark difference in styling both musically and vocally. Sunmi has always had a unique set of vocals but in her ‘Full Moon’ mini album, they were masked greatly by the production I felt. But having more musical control after leaving JYPent, Sunmi has proved release after release what a capable song-writer she is and how she can work with the production team to create an album that not only appeals to the large majority but is true to her artistry. This entire album is testament to her talents and to know that she snatched so many music awards for it fills me with nothing but pride. Every award and achievement with this album was well deserved.

Favourite tracks: Siren / Curve / Gashina / Heroine

5. The Pains of Growing - Alessia Cara

I’ve been a fan of Alessia’s music from the moment I heard ‘Scars to Your Beautiful’, introduced to me by my sister. That was one of the rare times where she had shared music I actually loved! Ever since then, I’ve patiently waited for Alessia to release some new music, so the moment ‘Growing Pains’ was released as a single, I was instantly hooked. I replayed the song so many times in one day I lost count. I just knew that her new album would be equally if not better than her first album. She certainly matured in her lyric writing and musicality because ‘The Pains of Growing’ is such a fantastic conceptual album. The trials and tribulations of transitioning into an adult can really be trying but Alessia took all those experiences we all go through and placed them in song. Listening to the songs on this album just makes me remember those difficult times yet at the same time, there’s a fondness in the crazy and ridiculous emotions and moments which took place. That is what this album does; it takes you back to those times if you’re already grown. But for those who are growing still, it’s something you can find comfort in and relate to.

Favourite tracks: Growing Pains / I Don’t Want To / Trust My Lonely / Nintendo Game

Throwback Discoveries

1. EVOLution - Sabrina Carpenter

I didn’t mean to completely fall helplessly in love with Sabrina Carpenter’s music especially since I just looked her music up after binge watching ‘Girl Meets World’, but that’s exactly what happened. In fact I listened to her music non-stop for so long, my sister got fed up of constantly listening to Sabrina (she should’ve been thanking me really //rolls eyes). Her first album ‘Eyes Wide Open’ was such a sweet and soft album, I really enjoyed it a lot but her second album ‘EVOLution’ really was a level up in her styling both musically and physically. It’s very experimental and you can tell that Sabrina was still finding her feet and figuring out what kind of music she wanted to release, but I always love the journey. The albums which portray the journey, the experimenting, I always end up loving them the most and this album is exactly that. Lyrically, I really love what Sabrina did on ‘Thumbs’; singing about society and humanity the way she did was brave and I couldn’t help but love her even more after hearing this song. Every song on this album holds its own and is such a fantastic testament to Sabrina’s progression as an artist.

Favourite tracks: On Purpose / Thumbs / Run and Hide / Mirage / Don’t Want It Back / Shadows

2. Holiday Night - Girls’ Generation

Work became quite stressful for me last Spring and for a whole week, I found that ‘Holiday’ by Girls’ Generation kept popping into my head. The odd thing about this was that I’d only heard the song a handful of times and I’d never listened to the album-so then why was it in my head? How? I put it down to the fact that I actually needed a holiday, ironically (I really did though //sobs). In the end, I decided to look the album up and give it a listen. So I did. And then I listened to it some more. And before I knew it, I was just listening to it on repeat for weeks. Honestly, I’d never gotten in Girls’ Generation properly (aside from absolutely loving their Japanese album ‘Girls and Peace’); I’d just casually listened to them over the years so I was quite taken aback by just how much I loved this album. It just made me feel so happy and made me feel so good, especially after long tiring days at work. This then propelled me to look into their discography a little more...that is until I got a little sidetracked...

Favourite tracks: Holiday / Only One / One Last Time / Sweet Talk / Love Is Bitter

3. The Voice - Taeyeon

So whilst listening to more Girls’ Generation, I thought, “Oh yes, solo work!” And I don’t know why, I went with Taeyeon’s solo work first. That’s basically where I got completely sidetracked and completely forgot to check the other members because W O W! Taeyeon has some amazing pipes!! I had watched her MV for ‘I (feat. Verbal Jint)’ years ago but just not taken to it as much; after re-watching it, I then watched the MV for her song ‘Make Me Love You’ and that’s where I fell for her music. It’s such a simple song melodically but the way Taeyeon’s vocals build throughout the song from one octave to another, gaining more and more strength and confidence just fits the meaning of the song so perfectly. I was so blown away when I heard this song that I needed more. I downloaded her album in the end and gave it a proper listen. Every song had me hooked but the song which got me the most was ‘Time Lapse’. When I saw that Kim Jongwan from Nell had written the lyrics and helped with the composition I just knew I’d love this because I love Nell, and I did love this! SO MUCH! But it wasn’t just the song structure and melody, but Taeyeon’s voice is so vulnerable in this song. When she hits that high note towards the ends of the song, it gives me goosebumps every time. Honestly, it left me breathless. No wonder her first full album was entitled ‘The Voice’ because really, Taeyeon’s voice is exceptionally. To add to it, she covered Nell’s ‘Time Spent Walking Through Memories’ which was an additional bonus track on the physical album and what a cover it is-WHAT A COVER! I’ve nothing but so much love for Taeyeon’s talent, truly.

Favourite tracks: Make Me Love You / Fine / Cover Up / Time Lapse / When I Was Young / Live in Color / Fire / Time Spent Walking Through Memories (Nell Cover)

4. Tree - SEKAI NO OWARI

What I love doing at conventions is picking up random album, just to discover something new and exciting. Although in this case, I knew about SEKAI NO OWARI already and I absolutely loved their song ‘Death Disco’ and their collab with Epik High, however beyond that? I knew very little of their music. I came across the limited edition of this album at a convention and thought, “Wow, I know this is rare so I should just get it. Yup.” Plus it was a great opportunity to expose myself to more of their music, so why not? I do think music is about timing because if past me had heard this album, I don’t think I’d have appreciated it half as much as I appreciated listening to it in 2018. SEKAI NO OWARI’s musicality is just so unique; I’ve never heard anything else like it! The more I listened to this album, the more I found myself in a trance just repeating it. I’m a big fantasy lover so when listening to this album, I realised it was like listening to something from another world, something mythical and sometimes ethereal but mostly just-unusual, in a good way. It’s very difficult to explain the way SEKAI NO OWARI’s music sounds but if you know it, you know what I mean. If you don’t know it, you should go check them out.

Favourite tracks: Snow / Magic / Fantasy / Mermaid Rhapsody / Pierrot / Death Disco / Dragon Night

5. The War - EXO

Having finally given into EXO, I basically spent all of November and December listening to their entire discography. ALL OF IT. The hilarious thing is that my first impression of ‘The War’ was, “I’m not entirely sure what I feel about this album”. Then I re-listened to it more and more...and more...and more, until i realised the entire album had grown on me at an alarming rate. In fact, the point at which i realised just how much I loved this album was when I was trying to create a playlist of my favourite EXO songs and I put 7 out of 9 songs on this album in that playlist. What’s even funnier is that I liked ‘Forever’ and ‘Diamond’ the least when i first heard them, but after listening to the album so much, they became two of my favourite songs! This doesn’t happen often, where I end up liking an album I didn’t like much to begin with so much but this album really knocked me for twenty! I could probably write reams and reams for every single track on this album but what I will say is that this album really shows just how much EXO grew musically since their first album ‘XOXO’. I really feel like you can hear EXO coming into their own on this album like-they sound comfortable with the music they’re singing, as if this is what they’ve wanted to create for so long. They exude so much confidence vocally on this album that you can’t help but fall for every single track. At least that’s what I found!

Favourite tracks: Basically the entire album. Don’t even ask me to pick!

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theproofinthisong · 5 years ago

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fine line review

oh my goooood i just finished listening to the album and i NEED to express my thoughts:

golden: didn’t know what to expect with this one but it’s?? so beautiful?? harry was so right saying it was a driving song it makes you want to go to california and watch the sunset from the car?? also the sun theme is so poetic and beautiful the way he uses it to talk about louis, his beloved?? the melody is quite simple but it’s so effective and these little da da da sounds the choir make in the background...heavenly. this part reminds me of another song but i can’t remember which one. what i love about this one is that it’s first time i’ve listened the lyrics seemed a quite sad (but riddled with hope still) and now the second time the meaning changed totally?? like it’s witchcraft how much the meaning can change once you look at the lyrics closely?? i know harry was talking about adore you when speaking about that feeling of bliss when you first meet the love of your life and fall completely but this is also what golden is about?? like being afraid but diving deep into it knowing this is right. i’m emo. in terms of vocals, it isn’t as BOOM as in other songs (in the sense that he’s not belting, using falsetto or a very low intonation that differs from his usual tone) but i love it!!! it’s very calm and peaceful and dreamy.

watermelon sugar: miss watermelon sugar is still as iconic as the first day she came out. it’s such a wonderful tune. my impressions on this song will never change and i will listen to it for another 30 times round without even hesitating. it just feels very summery and sensual and sexy without being too explicit (even though there is nothing wrong with being super explicit...see medicine). the chorus is just super catchy. the lyrics are so nice and i love the melody. very old pop and i’m a slut for this genre. also i know this has been HUGELY talked about before but i need to say it again. the way he’s saying belly!! the softness of the breathe me in/breathe me out parts!! the last watermelon sugar i don’t know why i’m obsessed it JUST SLAPS

adore you: oh darling. a treasure. 8 days ago, first time i’ve heard it, it took me by surprise because i wasn’t expecting that sound...but six seconds in and i was SOLD and already cherishing her with all of my heart. this song is JUST PERFECT. it’s probably the song that is the closest to 1D mixed with HS1 in terms of sound, like it’s super modern but at the same time has these very old school vibes i’m in LOVE WITH?? this is such a sweet joyful sappy song about his soulmate and i :’) also the rainbow paradise line i haven’t recovered from bitches. i will never. this is such a certain and blatant declaration of love i wanna die!! i feel acknowledged as a romantic bitch who lives for this kind of grand gestures. thanks harry. also during some parts he sounds like old harry (i mean harry from 1d days) and then 2019 harry takes over and it makes me CRY

lights up: the first single and song from the era will always a soft soft in my heart. i listened to the track so many fucking times the words are tattooed onto my brain. this song was just so needed and so important. it’s so deep and means everything to me really. all of us wanted a song from him about identity and self discovery and lights up was the gift he gave us. never in my life i would have have dreamed of this song and it happened for real. i’m just so grateful. his voice in this is just so soft and delicate and so fitting for the song like it DEMANDS that tenderness and sweetness. also the choir gives me chills, like when they scream SHINE i just feel overwhelmed it’s!!! fuck!! i could write an essay about lights up because this song is just it. it makes you feel seen and understood and i just feel so lucky harry was able to share something as intimate as this.

cherry: lmaoooo. this one will be a skipper sorry. it’s far from being a bad piece because harry’s voice is always amazing but i can’t get over the voicemail. when the news came out i was just so appealed and angry but know i’m just cackling?? i’m french and what is this slander?? THE COUCOU AT THE BEGINNING IS RIDICULOUS!! and the ending sounds so rehearsed there is literally nothing naturel about it. thank god we hear harry’s laugh in it. I JUST KNOW it was added because there is no way he would have laughed irl at one of her jokes lol. lyrically you can see some parts were put there to make an allusion to the stunt (the accent & friends part, the gallery...) but others are just about louis?? like him being jealous of course it’s about the hubby. his voice is still beautiful but the melody doesn’t speak to me (and i would have telled you if it was the case) being objective, it’s the weakest one out of the album.

falling: OH MY FUCKING GOOOOD. i wanna say it’s my favorite song but i feel like it would diminish the love i have for the others but god...this song is breathtaking and out of this world. in terms of lyrics it’s the best HANDS DOWN. like period. fuck this song just BROKE ME. all that ache and heartbreak you get what he’s talking about when he said to zane lowe he hit rock bottom then. fucking hell. it just hurts knowing he hated himself that much like i can’t even fathom it. and his voice bloody hell?? i never heard him sing like that!!! it’s just so desperate and full of hurt and the high notes? please annihilate me. when i heard it i would at first sight i would be my favorite out of fine line. it was just so obvious. that kind of magic doesn’t happen a lot...like. i can’t pinpoint what part hurts me the most because the whole song is TORTURTING ME. when we’ll hear live i will be bawling for the rest of my life. i’m already am. my god it’s just so raw and honest no other artist can make me feel like that. you are experiencing the hurt with him it’s??? i have no words. and please this song makes no fucking sense if you don’t link to his relationship to louis like?? the i’m well aware i write too many songs about you?? hello??? i’m glad he doesn’t feel like that anymore because it hurts. it’s crazy how this song can pull you back to ancient memories and you just forget about the world. oh my god.

to be so lonely: i almost fell out of my chair (or bed, rather) because this song did not fit at all what i was expecting but it’s?? gold??? i was so sure it was going to be a full angsty ballad but it’s so catchy and it has those beatles vibe? like PLEASE. king of defying expectations. it’s so english. and it’s so smart because when the melody and rythm makes you think it’s gonna be corny (in the best sense of the word) but it’s kinda passive agressive? AND ALSO THE SWEARING. DON’T, STYLES. UR MY SON. i’m kidding. him hearing him say arrogant son of a bitch is THE PINNACLE of my life. also am i the only one that feels like if you change the beat a little and accelerate it on don’t call me baby ever again it would sound a bit like never enough? loved the throwback nonetheless. it isn’t a favorite yet but it’s already growing on me.

she: bloody fucking hell. first this song is timeless. it feels like it came straight (gay!!!) from the seventies. i had eagles vibes first listen but some said pink floyd and it’s SO TRUE. there are tons of rock influences in it but it’s so harry and manages to still be super unique?? just incredible. the writing of the song is the smartest out of HS2. it reminds me of woman (not in the way i was expecting...i had one supposition it was going to be about being envious of a woman while dumb people are tricked by the title) so much not in melody or lyrics at all but in the sense that it has a double (triple...and more) meanings. once again stupid hets think it’s about singing about the ideal girl when really it’s...on another plane of existence. like jesus. bitch i was right!!! it’s either a song on gender identity (harry singing about his feminine side that he was ashamed of for so long and tried to hide) or the closet and my god, the whole thing is just so clever. A MASTERMIND. and the switch from the third person to the third KEATS you’ve been beaten. what a writer. it has thousands of interpretations this is just a trip. holy shit. the whole song carries so much guilt and repression and wishing be free of those feelings it’s?? i’m speechless. it’s so complex and intense. and fuck the guitar solo outro IS HISTORIC. in decades it will be praised as a masterpiece by all. i just know it. mitch you’re a genius. it gives just so much resonance and impact to the piece and it already had everything... i’m in heaven. or in hell. don’t know.

sunflower vol 6; cutest and weirdest song on earth and it’s A FAVE. it’s so colorful and nothing like he ever did before i’m living for it. it’s SAPPY AS FUCK and we stan sunflower in this house. also the part where he’s singing about wanting to kiss his lover kinda sounds like a lullaby and an alphabet song mixed together it’s ADORABLE!!! it’s such a being young and in love track i’m giggling!! it’s so precious!!! very poppy and gives you joy for days!! also super summery!! i wanna dance and twirl to it!! AND THE ENDING IS SO FUCKING LEGENDARY. BIG HIGH ON CRACK ENERGY. BITCH. it’s so uncanny like is he imitating a bird? calling someone?? trying to sound 5? i don’t know but it’s endearing. just so lovely.

canyon moon: another one i was expecting to be slow and it wasn’t. very country. thanks kacey for the input!! also him putting “jenny” in that sound is he trying to be adopted by dixie chicks and dolly parton? I LOVE that he’s trying new things with this track like country is such a hard genre to tackle and he nailed it. AND OH MY GOD THE LYRICS. it makes so emotional he’s literally creating a safe place for him and his darling?? could you be more in love?? this song belongs to the gays. san junipero without the angsty feelings. we deserved that. also he really mentioned the two weeks rule i’m weak. THIS IS INFURIATING.

treat people with kindness: the group part just sounds like a sitcom from the 80s. i’m dying. he really did that. and he named it like that :’) ALSO A GAY ANTHEM I CAN’T WAIT TO SCREAM THOSE LYRICS. big end of the days vibe. it’s just so healing and reassuring. it’s so empowering and i love the contrast between the very catchy happy bits (the high notes and the part where he kinda talks at the end reminded so much of mika which is a huge compliment as far as i’m concerned!!!) and that part where he’s singing very slow and soft you can see it’s very personal with him gaining confidence thanks to us during hslot <3 i’m dying this is such an exceptional gesture to like dedicate this to your fans? it’s so universal while being about his own journey (just like home..i’m sobbing) and that is like the mark of great music. also the instrumental is godsent.

fine line: i can see why it’s his favorite and why it is ending the album and giving it its name. i said falling was my fave but honestly fine line might be it too? the only difference is that i didn’t fall in love instantly, it takes time to escalate (it’s very similar to sott in that sense) beginning softly and almost whispered (also the high tone?? i almost didn’t recognized harry but at the same time it’s just 100% percent him but HE NEVER SANG in THAT TONE i’m!!! my jaw is dropping all the way to mars) like you can see it BUILDING to something superior and never made before... it’s a moment, it’s an experience, it just suspends time. like when music can do that for you...it’s infinite stuck in a few minutes. the two last minutes are purely angelic and the most beautiful thing i’ve ever heard. it has very few lines and words but the one there are so meaningful. when the song ended i just stayed a bit in silence without moving i could not believed what i just witnessed. and the album ending with we’ll be alright...it’s so fucking special. and that word doesn’t even give it justice.

fucK. this album is just...i’m trying to find words but how can you. when you make an album as ambitious and as outstanding as HS1 it’s hard to go back to the studio and find a way to equate it (i’m not saying top it because both can’t even be compared...) but he somehow did it?? i had no doubt but holy shit it’s unreal. it’s crazy because fine line is so different from the first one while being as rock and pop but there is a level of maturity and vulnerability that feels just so? different?? i can’t seem to find the right expression but i’m am purely in awe. i dk how harry finds a way to exceed my expectations every time like... it’s?? i’m sorry i’m just so moved and... it just means everything.

two years and a half after and the feeling is the same. an album changing me and my life at first listen and 48 minutes that felt like a lifetime and a second at the same time.

#fine line #my posts

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marraroma1994 · 7 years ago

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MISSING YOU ~ A Daragon Fanfic ~ alternate ending of MOTTE in Manila

So APPLERS, Im an attendee of Motte in Manila and just like you, I cant move on. Every damn time that I open all my SNS, Youtube Etc. I always search for MOTTEinMNL’s Daragon moments. Daragon is everything so I decided to make a fanfiction of what we want to happen when GD kneels in front of Dara. So guys, hope you enjoy and share it to your co-appler. Please bare with me on this. First timer and maybe I’m not a very good english speaker/writer so there are some slight grammatical error.

Credits to the owner of the photo

The concert was almost over and the dancers all bow down in front of the concert-goers but Jiyong on the other hand kneels and faces Dara. They are all aware of what Jiyong has planned beforehand and he talked to them days before Motte in Manila when he decided to bring his concern to YG. He wants Dara to be his special guest and he wants not just one song. He insisted that Dara should be with him until the encore and YG can’t turn down his only request.

“So guys, I just wanna take this moment to thank you all for coming to my concert tonight.” Jiyong said, still facing Dara.

“We all knew that this is the first time in 8 years that I and Noona are sharing the same stage, so actually it’s a very special day to me and I’m just too happy that she didn’t decline my invitation”

Jiyong didn’t take his eyes off her. His mind was full of all the memories that they have shared together. All the laughter’s and tears. She have been by his side since God knows how long. He can’t remember any moment that Dara ever leave him specially the times when he is down and suffering thru a lot. He knows that he misses her a lot. He tries to be formal throughout the concert proper but he can’t hide how happy he is to be reunited with her once again. They were so close until that one time when he is drinking after a broke up and drunk dial Dara.

”Yoboseyo? Yah Noona!!! Where are you? I’m here in front of your house. Just came from the bar just a few blocks from your house and I decided to visit you.”

”Jiyong-shi? Wae? Okay I’m gonna open the door wait for me”

It’s almost 3AM in the morning. Dara opened the door and saw Jiyong drunk dead. She can’t stand the smell of the alcohol coming from Jiyongs mouth but still manage to get him to sit on the sofa. She almost stumbled because Jiyong was to heavy to carry. She immediately get a hot compress from the kitchen and get some extra shirt from her closet. Jiyong always visits Dara whenever he is not busy and Dara has no other schedules. They usually up for a movie night or just a cooking session once in a while. That’s why Jiyong left some of his shirts on Dara’s house so that he can change everytime he comes over.

“Jiyongie I hate your smell.” She gives him his shirt.

“You should be home by now. I’m aware that you have a MV shoot tomorrow for Bigbang’s comeback album” Dara said while letting Jiyong change his shirt.

“My Noona is so cute! Noona. Why are you like that? You’re so kind. You always take care of me.” Jiyong said while attempting to hug Dara from behind but Dara refused.

“Jiyongie what are you doing! Can you please sober up”

“Noona. I just wanted to be loved and to love. Isn't that a simple thing. But then I always end up being rejected and heartbroken.”

“Is it hard for someone like me to find true love?”

There was a complete silence. Jiyong and Dara was just staring at each other for it feels like eternity until Dara broke the silence.

“No. They just don’t know you better. Maybe they can’t see you as you. Or they can’t stand your angst. They don’t like your attitude. Or you’re getting into their nerves too much that they just want you out of their life. That’s it. You can’t please everyone”

Jiyong was blank for a moment.

“But how about you? You can stand me. You accept my flaws. You haven’t leave me even if I’m a total jerk. I know I fucked up a lot but you’re still here. You still cares for me.”

Dara was flustered for a few seconds. She looks at Jiyongs teary eyes. She then answers in a low tone

“Because… I’m not her. I’m not them. I see you as you. I don’t see you as G-Dragon but Kwon Jiyong. Mistakes make you as a human and I admire you for that.”

Jiyong was caught surprised of what Dara said. He didn’t know that after all those years, Dara didn’t see him as a loser. He always thought that Dara was disappointed in him in everything because she always scold him everytime. She didn’t praise him very often and she always looks irritated whenever Jiyong do some crazy things. That’s why Jiyong on the other hand haven’t attempted to make their friendship glow into something more eventho everyone says that they look good together. He knew that Dara is too good for him. It breaks his heart seeing Dara being admired by every guy that he knows but he can’t do anything about it. He’s aware that he doesn’t have the right and so he spend most of his time to flirt and date random girls that caught his eyes. But at the end of the day he knows very well who he wants to spend his lifetime with. He was just afraid to admit it to himself. Behind his G-Dragon personality is the soft-hearted Jiyong that conceals his true feelings.

Jiyong looks at Dara’s eyes with so much emotion. He doesn’t know what he really wants that moment. He can’t decipher his heart and mind. Maybe he’s too drunk to think straight or maybe sobering up will make this even worse. All he wants now is to held this girl in front of her. He knows that when he lets her go, He’s gonna regret it for the rest of his life and before she knows it, his lips locks into hers with so much passion. Their eyes were filled with tears. Hearts pounding faster until she can’t see anything. She feels like she’s on a hazy euphoria. Their hearts can’t contain every emotion that they feel right now. The warmth of their lips is overwhelming but at the same time it causes a sudden pain in their heart. They don’t know what will happened after this. Nothing is quite clear at this moment but one thing is for sure, the emotion that are present right now is mutual.

After that night, they become awkward with each other not to mention their busy schedules. Bigbang’s comeback and MADE Tour was fast approaching, and Dara’s solo projects too. They barely see each other. They seem to avoid the presence of each other everytime they were in the same place. Every person around them notices it but they choose to keep that to themselves. Days, Months and Years past until everyone forgot it, or maybe not? Until the day that Yang Hyun Suk ask Dara to come to his office for a meeting.

“Dara-shi. Have a seat first. I have something to discuss to you.”

“So Jiyong request you to guest on his concert in the Philippines this coming September 1. As we all know, you're very familiar in there and fans love you dearly. And maybe you can feature his concert and behind the scenes in one of your episodes in your Dara TV. Please think about it.”

Dara was quiet for a moment. She’s thinking about why all of the sudden after a long time would Jiyong wants her to be in his concert. After what happened to them, she thinks that it’s too weird to perform next to him but being professional as she is, she then agreed.

“Just sign this letter of request from GD so he knows that you are coming.”

As Jiyong was kneeling in front of her, the crowd went crazy. They are all chanting “DARAGON”, his dancers adds the spice and throws confetti on them. Dara was quite amazed and shocked. She cant hear what he’s saying because of the loud cheering from everyone. Her face turns red and she doesn’t know what to do. To escape the awkward moment, she decided to crack a Filipino punch line to everyone

“Ginalingan eh! May nanalo na. Uwian na. Uwi na ako!”

As she was about to exit the stage, Jiyong caught her hand and stop her from going.

“Noona. Where are you going? Please stay. I have something to tell you.”

Jiyong signals his band to start the music and his dancers immediately exits the stage leaving the two of them alone, still holding her hand. The crowds chant become more louder but she couldn’t barely hear them, all she hears was her own heart pounding. Up to this moment she doesn’t know what Jiyong was up to.

The song “Untitled 2014” starts to play in the background. Jiyong sings with his whole heart while looking straight into her eyes. His hands didn’t let go of her as he starts singing.

Naege doraogiga

Eoryeopgo himdeun geol ara

Ije deoneun sangcheobatgiga

Duryeopgo silheun geol ara

Nega tteona beorin geunaredo

Mojin mallo neol ulligo

Dwidora seoseo huhoehae mianhae

Jebal dan han beonirado

Neoreul bol su issdamyeon

Nae modeun geol da ilheodo gwaenchanha

Kkumeseorado neoreul manna

Dasi saranghagireul

Uri idaero

Neoege yongseobatgi boda

Jukneun ge deo swiulji molla

I noraereul bulleobojiman

Nae jinsimi daheulji molla

Nega haengbokhagireul barae

Geu heunhan geojismaldo moshago

Doraogiman gidohae mianhae

Jebal dan han beonirado

Neoreul bol su issdamyeon

Nae modeun geol da ilheodo gwaenchanha

Kkumeseorado neoreul manna

Dasi saranghagireul

Uri idaero

Ijeneun kkeutiraneun majimagiraneun

Neoui geu mameul nan mideul su eopseo

I can’t let go cuz you never know

Naegen neo gateun neoegen na gateun

Geureon sarangeun du beon dasineun eopseo

Nobody knows

What you mean to me

You’re always mine

Jebal dan han beonirado

Neoreul bol su issdamyeon

Nae modeun geol da ilheodo gwaenchanha

Kkumeseorado neoreul manna

Dasi saranghagireul

Jigeum i sigani jinagago

Da ijeul su issdamyeon

Geu gieokdo haengbokhaessdeon chueokdo

Ani daeum saengedo neoreul manna

Dasi saranghagireul

Yejeon geudaero

At the end of the song, Jiyong kneels again in front of her.

“Noona. Ahjumma. Yeppeun Yeoja. I know that I’ve been a fool for a long time. I know that I don’t deserve your attention even. But please, listen to me for atleast.

Dara was stunned of what’s happening. The crowd are the loudest at this point. They are all cheering “DARAGON”. The YG crews, bands and dancers are all smiling at her. She didn’t know if this is real or its just a dream. She hoping that someone wake her up if its not but a very big part of her wants it to be real.

“From this moment, I don’t want to call you Noona anymore. So please bear with me on that. Not that I’m being disrespectful to you, My Ahjumma.” Jiyong teases.

“I have wasted so much time and I don’t want to do the same mistake again. I should have told you before that you’re the most beautiful girl in my eyes, inside and out. I shouldn’t have waste every single time proving that to you. If I could just lend you my eyes to you right now so you can see for yourself how special you are to me.”

Dara can’t say anything. Her heart was exploding with too much happiness. She knows that this man in front of her is her biggest heartbreak but he’s is the only one who can fix it too. Jiyong flashes his gummy smile to her as he continue.

“Uhm. Jagi..” and the crowd loses it totally.

“Jagi. Have I told you before that you are my strength? Youre always here for me. You didn’t gave up on me after all that Ive done. Every pieces of you fits on me and Im in my best when Im with you. You are my inspiration. I know that Im not the very best choice for you. Im aware that you have so many guys around that admire you and dying just to be with you right now. But this Kwon Jiyong right here has an advantage. I can sing and dance if you want to. I can act. I’m a total package you know!”

Jiyong was shy all of the sudden as the crowd teases and laughs at what he said.

“I can be your stuff toy. You can cry on me. You can share your happiness with me in an extra level. And I’m willing to give everything just to see you smile”

“Jagi-ya, I don’t know what to say anymore. But as you know, Ill be leaving next year for my enlistment. So I want to ask you something.”

Dara’s heart was pounding too fast that she almost fainted at that moment. She’s too overwhelmed of the revelations.

“Jagiya, I have loved you from the start. Im just too afraid to be rejected by you. That’s why I keep our friendship just to be close to you as always. I don’t want to lose you that’s why I remain to be your friend because I believe that relationships our bound to end at some point but not friendship. I try to fall inlove with other girls so I can move on with my feelings for you but it’s too hard. And now Im not holding back anymore. Ill take this risk before I enter the military. I want my own son or daughter waiting for me as I go home. I want you to wait for me at the end of my military service holding our baby. I want to spend the rest of my eternity with the woman I truly loved”

“Dara-shi, will you marry this Kwon Jiyong?”

#daragon #fanfic #nyongdal #motteinmanila #dara #gd #gdragon #kwonjiyong #missing you #sandara park #motteinmnl #motte in manila #fluff #bigbang imagine #bigbang scenario

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vivalatoons · 7 years ago

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My Talk: Wander Over Yonder

If you’re ever need some help, look for an orange, furry person and his best friend who’s a Zbornak. I’m talking about the great cartoon, Wander Over Yonder. We celebrate the show’s 4 year anniversary with a reflection of Wander Yonder Over. Doodley doot da doot doot, whoo!

Originally, this was supposed to be posted on June 27th on the one year anniversary of “The End of the Galaxy”. Something happened, and it didn’t post. I was upset, because it was lost forever. Thanks to @peepsqueak she has My Talk from her email. She noticed me about it, and I thank her a lot for saving me from doing this all over again. That’s the story. Again thank you to @peepsqueak, and let’s get into this reflection.

It was 2013 when I saw a commercial of this orange person wanting to give this skeleton a sandwich. The skeleton man was getting furious at him. A new show titled, “Wander Over Yonder” was coming to Disney Channel.

August 16, 2013 The Picnic premiere. The episode starts with Lord Hater and Emperor Awesome battling to get a wish from a visiting celestial being during the aligning of the planets that happens once every millennium. Wander is also there to watch the aligning of the planets, which makes Hater angry. Hater can’t achieve his goal on getting his wish, when Wander offers him a sandwich and taking photos. Hater realized that the planets are almost aligning, and rushes to ask the visiting celestial being a wish. Before he says what he wanted, Wander comes over to take more photos. Angry at Wander, he wished Wander would leave him alone for 5 seconds. The celestial being granted that wish, and everyone isn’t happy. The being leaves, and Wander continues to take more photos of Lord Hater and Commander Peepers. They would fall down, Sylvia would leave the restroom and asked Wander what she’d miss, Wander has photos he took that shows what has happened, ending the episode. I really liked what I saw in this show. I laughed, the characters were great, and the story was simple but fun to watch. From there, I decided to watch more of Wander Over Yonder. It’s worth knowing that Wander Over Yonder would broadcast to Disney XD starting with episode 15.

Plot. The plot is simple to follow. Wander, who’s an optimistic being, and his Zbornak steed, Sylvia travel the galaxy to help anyone in need. While they help others or having fun, they always followed by Lord Hater, Commander Peepers, and his army of Watchdogs. They would help bring an egg back to its nest, delivering a box, bring a baby back to their parents, return a sock, give everyone a gift, and do more good deeds in the galaxy.

Characters. Wander and Sylvia are the good guys who help those in need. Lord Hater wants to be the greatest villain in the galaxy, but gets distracted from chasing Wander. Commander Peepers is Hater’s right hand man eyeball in command. These four are the main characters of this show. There’s a lot of recurring characters, like the Watchdogs, Emperor Awesome, and other villains and creatures that need help.

Season 2. This season would shift from silly to a bit serious. Season 2 would introduce a new villain to the show, Lord Dominator. Dominator is more of a villain than Hater is. Dominator likes to destroy planets than conquer them. Under all that armor, Dominator is an alien woman who likes to bully everyone in the galaxy. Wander and Sylvia still continue to help people, but have to deal with Lord Hater and Lord Dominator along the way. This season shows how Wander and Hater make breakfast, Sylvia collecting all of Wander’s personalities, an epic battle with the villains, Hater having a rock and roll concert, an cartoon in a cartoon, a musical special, Wander and Sylvia traveling in the past and future, and more stuff like that. Just as I was excited about how this season was amazing, I saw something I never wanted to see.

March 5, 2016. Craig McCracken announced that Wander Over Yonder isn’t coming back for a 3rd season. The reason Disney didn’t give the show a 3rd season was because they felt that 80 episodes of Wander Over Yonder were enough. I doubt this claim, because I think Disney cancelled it because of ratings. Craig also stated it wasn’t ratings. Then, I was lost. Why would Disney XD cancel a show with such upbeat tone and puts a smile on your face? This news did drop hard on me. Knowing the show was over made me mad and I would say “I hate this network, they made the biggest mistake of their life.” My anger wasn’t going to do anything. I got over it slowly, but I still continue to watch the new episodes. As I was smiling and laughing at what I saw, deep down I knew the end was coming.

The final episode. I was in Ohio, visiting family over the summer. I was in my grandparents’ home. It was a typical day until it was time. I went to the TV room, turn on the TV, and loudly sing the theme song. As the episode was playing, I was screaming, fangirling, laughing, crying, and cheering. I was feeling a lot of emotions. I absolutely love the finale. The finale was outstanding and had a perfect sendoff also the ending animatic had a twist, and I’m not talking about it because I’ll get mad.

Animation. If there’s one word to describe the animation, it’s bright. I truly admire the animation style. Everything from background, characters, ships, etc has such a nice palette of colors. It grabs my eyeballs, and I can’t stop looking at the screen. The animators in this show has such great talent.

Voice acting. Another great group of talent in the show. Jack McBrayer voiced Wander, April Winchell voiced Sylvia, Keith Ferguson voiced Lord Hater, and Tom Kenny voiced Commander Peepers. Lord Dominator was voiced by Noël Wells and Fred Tatasciore when Dominator is in armor. Wander Over Yonder had some great guest stars on their show. They include Aziz Ansari, James Marsden, Edie McClurg, G Hannelius, Will Arnett, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Jon Hamm, Eddie Deezen, Alex Hirsch, Jason Ritter, Kristen Schaal, and more. Every character in Wander Over Yonder has amazing person voicing them.

#SaveWOY. This started as a petition from Change, created by Gemma Cummins. She runs @peepsqueak and continues to help get Wander Over Yonder a 3rd season. The petition was to encourage Disney to make Wander Over Yonder season 3 happen. People would sign up for it, and the campaign got stronger. Now, every 27th of the month we post things to make Wander Over Yonder trend. There’s also Operation F.O.R.C.E, where fans around the world help Lord Hater conquer the Earth by taking photos of places with the Hater flag. Fans still want a 3rd season, they’re not going to stop until Wander gets the ending they deserve. Link is here to sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/walt-disney-encourage-disney-to-make-wander-over-yonder-season-3

Craig McCracken. A man who deserves a lot of praise for being in the animation world. Craig has created The Powerpuff Girls (1996), Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, and Wander Over Yonder. I love how he tells stories, his animation style, and the message he put in his shows. @crackmccraigen is such a treasure in the animation world. I love him and he’s the one of the greatest cartoonist in history.

Wander Over Yonder as a way to think positive. It’s no shock that Wander is full of optimism. This show is full of that. No matter what happens, Wander always look on the bright sides of a problem. I mention this, because we need Wander Over Yonder in the world. As current news can be depressing and horrible, we need A LOT of positive thinking and optimism in our lives. What I love about the show is that fans say the show helped them in their lives. No doubt it has made a life a bit easier. I would have depressing periods where I kinda feel numb. I would turn on Wander Over Yonder, and it makes me feel a little happier. It does help me pull me out of those dark times. This part of Wander Over Yonder has a great impact of fans and people. For a cartoon to help people with their lives, that is incredible.

Wander Over Yonder is one of the greatest things that Craig McCracken has created. It has clever humor, creative storytelling, and amazing animation to look at. I highly recommend this show for anyone who wants some positivity in their life. It’s so interesting how Craig created Wander and he represents optimism, happiness, and just a bouncing ball of joy. I do hope Wander does get a season 3. I continue to spread the word about this show. I think if anyone needs to smile or be cheer up, Wander is the key. This show is an underrated gem that everyone needs in their lives. Everything about this show has a huge smile on my face. At the end of the day, I always live by WWWD. What would Wander do? This orange, furry spoon would do anything to help anyone in need, cheer someone up, or play his banjo.

#savewoy #my talk #long post #wander over yonder

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oratorealis · 7 years ago

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Dimepiece :: Mary Pinkoski

Why poetry?

because i have not yet burnt the skeleton bare/because the match struck willingly/because the flame/because the flood/

because i have not yet licked the bone dry/because the urgency came from within me/because the thirst/because the satiation/

because i have not yet worried the knot free/because the gnawing is not yet outside of me/because the anxious/because the calm/

because i have not yet dissected the heart clean/because there are still life-making things i know nothing of/because the thump/because the living

because i have not yet told the story whole/because the barren has not yet been filled/because of the loss/because of the divining

because i have not yet journeyed far enough with the stranger /because my body does not yet fully understand/because you/because all of us

because why not poetry?

What are you working on right now?

I have read that the perfectly pruned olive tree is one with enough spaces in between its branches for a sparrow to fly through without hitting its wings. So that is what is I am working on right now: becoming less bramble bush and more olive tree. I am trying to find the moments of quiet and contemplation that allow me to become a place that might house a sparrow, but also one that offers a path through. I guess I am also trying to become the sparrow. The sparrow that pauses long enough to sing a song important enough to the wind before flying back into world. There must, I think, be some undiscovered beauty in being both the sparrow and the olive tree. Once I find it, perhaps I too will be there for the offering.

What is your routine for writing? Do you have one?

1. Find a space that will allow me to suspend my disbelief in my ability for longer than 1.5 hours 2. Close the curtain to the outside world for a moment 3. Chew the pencil (aka bite the hook, aka open the laptop) 4. Remember what brought me to this moment 5. Ask of myself what Anne Waldman asks of outriders, though I am not an outrider: “How much backwards from your own death do you write?” 6. Dive head first into Rich’s wreck 7. Somehow get your being spiritually to the place of Harjo’s Kitchen Table 8. Round up Oliver’s Wild Geese 9. Light a candle, Write into it 10. Wait patiently until a shore upon which to land safely appears 11. Land on it 12. Twist the knob 13. Open the door 14. Let the ghosts out

What is the best advice you’ve received as a poet?

“Be gentle with yourself.” – Jack McCarthy

Why do you live where you do?

I Come Home

In spite of all the magic and the adventure I come home I come home so I can remember the way the sun Never quits on us here I learn to meditate to its rising in the morning And settle with its fall in the evening I come home to brush heavy with the promise of Saskatoon berries And the hardy comfort of rosehips I come home to a river valley that grows green Until it doesn’t And then I watch it shake itself empty of yellow and orange I come home to a white paper, blank slate landscape Threatening to blind my eyes with its cold snowy glare Still it makes me want to write a story across this cityscape I come home to shovels and snowflakes To radio advertisements of winter escapes I come home to collaboration and creativity To this city’s song bridges that reach from bank to bank Joining our verses and our choruses in diverse melody I come home to potholes and pavement To fields of fire, dancing flames of wheat To the last days of a garden Watching the earth close itself up for hibernation I come home to roots and sprouts To sink my feet and my fingers deep into the soil Until I know again where I am from I come home to ground myself To remind myself of the stories that have made me who I am To acknowledge the sagas of the ones that have made us who we are I come home to recognition and honour I come home to meeting place river banks Water lapping my arrival, Moving in the same spirit of welcoming that it has moved for centuries I come to history and harvest I come home to the wanting and pleading To the challenges and the turmoil I come home to hurt and also to healing I come home to learn how compassion can sit in the Body of a city, in its people I come home ready to recognize pain and strength I come home to endurance and survival I come home to learning To sharing I come home to teach and be taught I come home to tenacity To my heart thick with the desire to make a difference in this city I come home to understand that we in this city are not much different than the endurance of the sun I come home to remember we are a city that does not quit on itself I come home to watch us rise in each morning And to see how we give praise for each of us, For this place, For our role in it I come how to know once again How to give a praise that lights up this home every day

Where is the wildest place poetry has taken you?

To myself. It is both a welcoming and a returning every time.

What artists most inspire you, and why?

I am inspired by the ones who don’t just hold narratives between their teeth and only let us see it when they open their mouths. No, I am inspired by the ones who embody narratives in all ways. The midnight suns and the dark dawns. The creative and the clever. And most of all, they are by the grace of the universe, the ones who have held me and mentored me and guided me through my own poetic journey. I am proud to call them inspirations, but I am honoured to call them my friends. Lighting up this prairie girl’s heart, they are: Sheri-D Wilson, Regie Cabico, Jack McCarthy, Brendan McLeod, CR Avery, Evalyn Parry, Tanya Davis, Eva Foote (who forms the other half of my poetry-music project called The Low Down Self-Esteems), and Thomas Trofimuk.

(With fangirl shout-outs – don’t be judging on any of these - to Dolly Parton, Marina Abramovic, Sandra Bullock, and Julia Child).

I spend a lot of my life immersed deeply within an academic pool and while I know that we don’t often view academics as artists, I think we should begin to. I know that within the academy we can find those lighthouse people that Joan Didion speaks about, who provide these harbours of creativity. They stand aside, but a part of, because they make space for new ways of thinking, for beautiful ways to name how we make meaning of the world, and they articulate the very living we do in profound ways. I think there is an artistry in that. I would be negligent to not mention that I am inspired by these academics and the work they do/have done: Dr. Sara Carpenter, Dr. Jean Clandinin, Dr. Tammy Iftody, Dr. TL Cowan, Dr. Dia da Costa, and, of course without fail: Mr. Myles Horton.

What was the last book you finished reading?

Claudia Rankine - Don’t Let Me Be Lonely The Long Haul – Myles Horton

What has been one of your favourite moments on stage?

One of my most memorable moments was participating in the Underground Indies at the CFSW in Montreal. I somehow squeaked into the final three accompanied by the much more deserving Andre Prefontaine and Sabrina Benaim and, as the venue demanded we leave because they were closing, we performed our poems packed into a back alley. There was something magical about that, despite the fact that I tried to escape and go to bed.

I would be remiss to let this question go by without mentioning that I was also blessed to perform with Jack McCarthy at one of his final shows. I will forever hold on to that day as an inexplicable moment of grace that continues to smooth me around the rough times.

What would you like to be doing five years from now?

Making a fantastic loaf of bread and serving a wonderful soup. Tending a garden. Keeping myself open to world so that I might continue to do the hard work. Doing the hard work. With those who’ve chosen to work with me.

Mary Pinkoski, 5th Poet Laureate of the City of Edmonton (2013-2015), is an internationally recognized poet. She has performed on stages across North American and at the 2015 Winter Lights Festival in Reykjavik, Iceland. Her work has appeared in multiple anthologies. She is the 2011 Canadian National Spoken Word Champion and a winner of the 2008 CBC National Poetry Face-off. In 2015, Mary was recognized as an Edmonton Top 40 Under 40 and also awarded a University of Alberta Alumni Horizon Award for her poetry work in the Edmonton community, in particular for facilitating poetry workshops and her creation of the City of Edmonton’s Youth Poet Laureate role which she continues to help coordinate.

[Photo: Curtis Trent]

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