#it'll have a whole playlist throughout the story

[ananimemuse]

After months of reading Levihan fanfics, I think I finally found a spark of inspiration for a whole 80's AU Levihan fanfic. I'll get to working on it asap!

[photogirl894]

🥳Photogirl894's "Sun and Rain" Fanfic Three Year Celebration!!🥳

As of today, it has now been THREE whole years since I started writing and posting "Sun and Rain", my Bad Batch fanfic and love story between Hunter and my OC, Kimber!

Crazy how time flies when you're having fun, right?? 😆

I've added a bit more to my story since last year and I'm insanely happy with how it's progressing! This year, the story continued on through events of season one of the Bad Batch (a little slower than I had hoped for, but progress is progress) and there was lots of angst, but also lots of good moments. We're officially halfway through season one! With the show ending this year, it got my thoughts turning more to how Kimber's story would go throughout season three and I think a lot of you will like what I have planned in the future. There's still a lot more to come and at least we know that there's gonna officially be a happy ending 🥰 (Though, I would've had that happen no matter what, but now, I don't have to break canon to get it!)

A huge thank you to everyone on my taglist as well as those who are currently reading my fic! I've gained a few more loyal readers and it makes me so happy! Your guys love, support, comments and messages are what keep me going! 😊

@the-sad-batch , @nimata-beroya , @intrepidmare , @legolkenxbi , @tech-aficionado ,

@ladykatakuri , @d1n0-dan , @sammi9498 , @darthzero22 , @scarlettrose9901 ,

@thebadbatchscyare , @chxpsi , @ilikemymendarkandfictional , @4pplecider , @locitapurplepink ,

@l-lend , @nekotaetae , @eternalwaffle , @merkitty49 , @avathebestx ,

@idoubleswearimawriter , @techs-stitches , @fantasyproductions , @totallyunidentified and @dreamsandrosies

To celebrate the three year anniversary of "Sun and Rain", I would absolutely love to talk about the story with my readers again like I did the last couple years, especially since I've gained a few new readers in that time and I honestly think it's a lot of fun! 😊 I want to know some things you guys like about it so far and I'm curious if anyone has questions for me about it, so once again, I have a list of things anyone can send to me in my ask box: things you can tell me from your own perspective or things you can ask me personally! (For those who may be reading and aren't caught up all the way yet, there most likely will be spoilers, so you've officially been warned 😅)

Tell me...

1. Your favorite moment

2. Your favorite line(s)

3. Your favorite relationship

4. Your favorite chapter

5. What scene/line made you laugh the most?

6. What scene/line made you smile the most?

7. What scene/line made you cry/angry the most?

8. A song recommendation for my "Sun and Rain" playlist that you think fits Kimber or her relationships with other characters and I'll give it a listen

9. What you'd like to see later on in the story (and maybe I'll tell you if it'll happen)

10. Your theories for "Sun and Rain" and where it's going to go

Ask me...

1. Anything you want to know about my OC, Kimber (within reason) or my Koriena Force girls (Lex, Kida and Irys. Any questions about Rina will be directed to @l-lend since she belongs to her)

2. What was my inspiration for (insert scene/chapter)?

3. What was my inspiration for (insert certain line/paragraph)?

4. What chapter am I most proud of?

5. What certain lines am I most proud of?

6. What was my favorite moment(s) to write?

7. What was my least favorite moment(s) to write?

8. For a hint of upcoming chapters/events and how Kimber's role might change certain things (if you want to know about particular upcoming events from the show, please specify)

9. For a sneak peek into future scenes I already have written (though it's mostly dialogue and I only have a couple, so I can only do this a certain number of times)

10. Anything else you want to know from me about "Sun and Rain" or my experience writing it thus far

I look forward to talking about this with all of you! And stay tuned for another fun surprise later today! 🥰 I love you all so much!!

[dxncingwithastrxnger]

Lightning [18+] (Dark!Toxic!Mafia!Bucky Barnes x Mafia!Fem!Reader)

A/N: Soooo, I’ve been kind of obsessed with mafia!Bucky recently and then I got inspired when this song came on the other day and so now, we have this little gem. I know that I usually write male!readers, but I was more feeling a fem!reader for this one, so I decided to mix it up a little bit. I’m super excited to write this story and get it out for you guys, I honestly think it's one of my favorites. Also, for my usual readers, if you guys really want a male!reader version of this, let me know, and I can get it written out at some point!!

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Female!Reader

Summary: You needed to get away from him. But everytime, without fail, he just kept pulling you back in. You hated him. You hated everything about him. So why couldn’t you just stay away from him?

Song Inspiration: youtube.com/watch?v=4RoAwu4TjBk

If you really enjoy the concept/idea of this story, then take a look at this pov playlist I made?: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qry_dJFjyPQ&t=2912s

Tags: Smut, dark themes, slight violence (a slap or two), toxic relationship, kinda dark!Bucky Barnes, Bucky is kinda manipulative, little bit of dub-con at first, hickeys, biting, p in v, fingering, marking kink, over possessive Bucky Barnes, jealous Bucky Barnes, office sex, controlling Bucky Barnes, degradation, cursing

Word Count: 2,533

Not beta'd, all mistakes are my own.

The doors to the office were pulled closed behind you as you walked in, and you looked forward with narrowed eyes. There he was, in all of his dark, seductive glory. He had a smug look on his face as he watched me walk forward and stop in front of his desk.

You rolled your eyes. "What do you want?" You ask him, already done with this whole interaction.

He raises an eyebrow at you. "Oh? Is that really how you speak to your boss?" He had the audacity to look at you with mock offense. You glared at him and crossed your arms over your chest, staying silent.

He grinned at you, finding some kind of amusement in all of this. "Oh, c'mon, doll, don't be like that." He said and you scoffed.

"I'm not your doll." There was a time when the pet name made you weak in the knees, but by now you knew better.

At that, his expression hardened and became more serious, the look in his eyes one that you knew all too well. "Ah, yes, you're not my doll, you're Sam's. Correct?" He asked you and you chuckled humorlessly.

"Seriously? That's what this is about?" He really just couldn't help himself, could he?

"What? I mean, that's why you're being so pushy, isn't it? You want to get back to your beloved Sam as soon as possible, right?" He's standing now, walking around his desk to be on the same side as you. You watch him, your arms dropping back down to your sides as he stops right in front of you.

"He's not my beloved. Sam's just a friend. But even if it was more than that, at least I know that he would treat me better than you do." You bite back at him, despite knowing it'll only make things worse. The bastard needed to hear it at some point anyways.

He met your eyes with a glare of his own, leaning forward until his face is only an inch away from yours. "Or, maybe you're just a whore." He uttered out.

Your hand came up of its own accord, palm out, and whipped across the side of his face. The sound of your hand meeting his cheek echoed throughout the room as you looked at him furiously. His head straightened as he rubbed the sting away from his skin, his eyes narrowed and his expression dark and unreadable.

You tried not to let it get to you, but a shiver ran down your spine at what an expression like that on his face usually meant. He wouldnt ever lay his hands on you...would he? You chewed on your bottom lip. "Bucky..." You hoped the fear in your voice wasn't as obvious to him as it was to you.

"What?" He asks sharply. "Now you wanna try and play nice? I don't think you understand how this game works, (Y/N)." He reached down towards your right wrist and you flinched away from him on instinct.

He tilted his head, as if studying you, before making another grab for your wrist, holding it tightly in his grip. "And I think it's about time you were taught another lesson to remind you how things work around here."

As he said that, he placed his other hand on your waist and started sliding it down but you smacked his hand away. You tried to get your other hand out of his grip and but he only tightened his hold. You tried to bring your hand to his cheek again, anything to get him off of you, but he grabbed hold of that wrist, too. He pulled your body flush against his and then turned the two of you until you were leaning against the edge of his desk.

"Bucky, let me go!" You struggled in his grip again.

He tsked at you. "No, (Y/N/N), you know how this works, don't you? We've been here before." He moves one of your arms so that he's holding both of your wrists in his left hand, then continues his trail down your body from before. His hand slid all the way down to your knee before pushing up under the fabric of your dress.

"Mmm, Sam's just a friend, that's what you said?" He raises an eyebrow at you in question, waiting for an answer.

"Yes, Bucky, he's just a friend. That's all, nothing else." You answered him honestly, hoping he'd believe you for once.

He shook his head as his hand grazed the inside of your thigh, making you suck in a breath. "I don't think this is something that you wear to go see a friend unless you were hoping for something more than that."

"Bucky, please-" His hand was still slowly traveling up and you knew where it was headed.

"Ssshhhhh, it's okay, sweetheart." He said in a tone of mock affection, perfectly matched with the smirk on his face.

You whimpered as his thumb ran down the front of your embarrassingly wet panties. He leaned forward and sucked harshly on the side of your jaw. "See, babydoll? Your body knows how this goes, even if your mind still needs some reminding."

He rubbed at your clit, watching you intently. Your eyelids fluttered as you squirmed in his grip. "Bucky..." You breathed. You wanted to tell him to stop but then he was pushing your panties aside and pushing one of his fingers deep into you.

"Hmm? What was that, baby?" He asked mockingly. He knew what he was doing to you. He moved his finger in you, letting go of your wrists. He had you right where he wanted you, and he knew you weren't going anywhere now.

He pushed a second finger into you, leaning down and sucking and nipping at the side of your neck. "Buck, s-stop."  You told him, placing your hands on his shoulders as his fingers curled inside of you.

He bit down harshly on your skin, making you gasp. He sucked at the bite before pulling back to look at you. He picked up the speed of his fingers inside of you as he spoke. "Are you sure about that, sweetheart? Cause I don't think that's what you actually want." He grabbed hold of your chin, tilting your head back. His eyes raked over you. Your wide eyes, your parted lips, your heaving chest, your spread legs.

"God, you're already so wet." He pushes a third finger into you, making your eyes shut as a moan falls from your lips.

He leans forward, lips brushing over yours as he looks into your eyes. "Tell me you want me." He says. The tone of his voice had a strange sense of urgency in it, like he needed to hear you actually say that you wanted him. 

He started rubbing your clit with his thumb as he fingered you faster. The coil in your stomach was tightening and you knew you were getting closer. "Tell me, doll, now." He said.

You let your head fall forward to press your forehead against his. "I want you, Bucky. I need you. Please." You moan again, moving your hips in time with his fingers. He groans softly and presses his lips all the way against yours, kissing you greedily. You wrap your arms around his neck, tangling your hands in his hair and kissing him back just as greedily. Despite how much you hated him, it was true. You needed him. You always needed him. And he knew it.

You nipped at his bottom lip as you tugged on his hair, trying to pull him even closer to you if that was even possible. "Look at you." He cooed mockingly as he pulled away from you slightly, adding a third finger. "So desperate to cum just on my fingers."

You whined out a complaint at his words as he pressed down on your clit harder. He moved down and sucked on the spot just behind your earlobe, nipping at the skin there. "Do it, sweetheart. Show me how much you need me. Make a mess all over my hand, doll."

With that, he bit down on the side of your neck and you clutched onto his shoulders as you came. "Fuck!" You cried out, eyes fluttering.

He pulled his fingers out of you once you came down, licking them clean before leaning forward and claiming your mouth once more, letting you taste yourself on his tongue. He lifted your hips slightly as he pushed your dress up farther, gathering it along your torso. You reach forward and unbuckle his pants as your lips stayed perfectly latched to his, tasting each other.

You pulled his cock free and ran your hand down his shaft, causing him to let out a moan against your lips. He pulls back just slightly, sucking on your bottom lip. "I need to be in you, baby. Need to feel you around me. Right now." He rasps.

"Then do it. Take me." You wrap your legs around his waist, pulling your middles all the way together. You grind against him, unbuttoning the first few buttons of his shirt to pull it away from his shoulder just enough for you to lean forward and return one of the bites he had already given you.

"Fuck," He groaned, arms wrapping around you as he turns his head slightly to kiss the side of your head, pushing inside of you.

You couldn't help the small moment of happiness that swelled in you at the small gesture, that little head kiss. It brought you back to earlier days, when those small shows of affection werent so rare and surprising. It was times like these that you couldn't help but think maybe your love for him wasnt completely doomed after all, though a small part of you still laughed at the thought. But you pushed that part of you away. You wanted to enjoy this. Be wrapped up in him and what he made you feel and maybe, just maybe, things wouldnt be so bad this time.

You held onto him tightly as his thrusts picked up a steady rhythm. "Shit, Bucky." You moaned out in his ear.

"Fuck, I needed you, too, doll. Missed you so much. Couldn't stand seeing you with Sam like that." He grunted out, thrusting harder at the mention of Sam, as if fucking you harder would completely erase Sam's existence. His head was pressing into your shoulder, his lips grazing your skin every few thrusts.

You pushed your hands up under his shirt, needing to feel more of his skin on yours. You dragged your nails along his back, causing him to let out a small hiss. "Just a friend, baby. That's all he is to me. Could never take me away from you." You groan out, hips moving in time with his, the both of you pushing each other higher and higher.

"That's right," He panted. "Couldn't ever touch you like this. Could never make you feel this good. You're mine, only mine." He growled, punctuating his words with a rough squeeze of your hip.

You moan more, digging your nails into his skin with one hand and bringing the other hand up to hold his face, bringing his forehead against yours as you look into his eyes, breathing heavy. "I'm all yours, Bucky. Always yours." And you mean it.

Even when you want nothing to do with him, you still only ever have eyes for him and him alone. No one else ever caught your interest, whether he was around or not. Not Sam, not Steve, not Tony, not Clint. Not even Natasha, though she'd offered to show you the, "soft, needed touch of a woman's hands" plenty of times.

His eyes fluttered shut and his thrusts become faster and more erratic, as if your words were all that was needed to bring him right over the edge. You arched into him, wrapping your arms around his shoulders and burying your face in his hair as you chanted out his name in between pants.

"C'mon baby, cum with me. Need to feel you cum with me." His forehead pressed to your neck, sucking and nipping marks along your collarbone.

"O-oh shit, I'm-" Your mouth fell open in a silent praise, toes curling as he thrust deep into you one last time before he was cumming deep within your walls, groaning out your name. You clenched around him, milking him for all of it as you came with him. Both of you were shuttering, and he was holding onto you so tightly it was as if he thought you would disappear if he let go even a little bit. But you didn't complain. You wouldn't rather be anywhere else.

You held into him with the same tight grip. If anyone should be worried about the other slipping away, it would be you. Usually, this was when he was pulling away and ending this moment, turning you away again for the next few hours before he found you again in the dark, everyone asleep, to hold you. Like it had to be a secret that he slept with you at night, even though it never was.

But this time was different. This time the two of you stayed there, holding each other that way, until both of you were breathing even again and the room was completely silent. Your fingers ran through his hair and along his shoulders gently, repeating the process every few minutes. His face was nuzzled into the crook of your neck and his fingers drew light patterns on your back.

Suddenly he pulls his head up to look at you. The look in his eyes causes your breath to catch in your throat. His eyes are locked with yours, burning into you with such intensity. And right there, there was such a fierce amount of love in the look he gave you that you thought maybe you were imagining it. But no matter how many times you blinked, it was still all there, not changing or lessening a single bit.

"Bucky..." You breathed softly.

He brought one of his hands up and placed it on your cheek softly, thumb rubbing under your eye gently. "I love you, (Y/N)."

You practically sobbed, pressing your forehead to his, placing your hand over his. "I love you, too, Bucky. I love you so much." When was the last time you had heard him say it? You couldn't even remember. But hearing it now had brought on a whole new set of emotions that had you overwhelmed.

As you looked at him, for a moment you could’ve sworn you saw a flash of panic and fear in those grey-blue eyes of his. But it was gone before you could even register it was there. You shook it away, putting it to the back of your mind for a later time. You wanted to just enjoy this moment with him.

You bury your face in his shoulder to hide the tears welling in your eyes. Maybe there really was hope for the two of you after all.

A/N: Tada!! How was it?? This is honestly coming put way later than I wanted it to, but you know, life happens. But I hope that it was worth the wait!! Let me know what y'all think, I'm actually pretty proud of this, to be honest. All feedback is appreciated and welcome!! Thank you for reading, guys. 💜 Would y’all be interested if I extended this and made it into a series?? I have some ideas floating around for a continuation if you guys want it, just let me know what you think about it, please!!

Lightning Taglist:

@koressecretidentity || @buckysangrylittlething​

[asktheisle]

5 (and only FIVE!) songs that make you think of Nat (for the blog anniversary thing)

[Sighs, gently pushing away the playlist of 500+ songs-]

I will do my best to pick 5 that encompass things that also "revolve" so to speak around the happenings on the blog, but this is by far not the end all-be all of song choices gjdfh

(with links and explanations, the post is gonna get long so it'll be under a read more from this point on-)

Hijos del Cañaveral-Residente

Me Vieron Cruzar-Calle 13

This song also encapsulates the entire blog, also being the one song to push me into making this worldbuild and general storyline in the first place.

This one gives me the feel of like, Oscar spending all the time in Nat's youth telling them stories about the island and what he remembered which was a stark contrast to their living situation in Unova. Just this tiny kid becoming enamored about an island where the rain is sweet and you don't lose your way because of the glowing creatures at night, and spending so much time on the beaches that the seasalt is your perfume. If this song were to exist within the world the blog is in, it'd definitely be one of those songs that carry over throughout Nat's whole life and one they catch themselves singing or humming quietly without trying. It just captures everything that Nat is and loves about the island.

Mado Kara Mieru-Christopher Tin

Lo and behold another Residente/Calle 13 song, to the surprise of anyone in frequent contact with me gdjh

The whole song in general is just a very strong Nat energy to me especially with all the themes of winning and losing, of doing things that seem impossible, of failing and falling but getting back up just as strongly. The instrumentation is "soft" so to speak and acoustic which is one of several soundscapes I associate with Nat, and it just comes together into this hopeful feeling of continuing the good fight no matter what.

Never Look Away-Vienna Teng

I go absolutely bonkers with this song and how it relates to Nat's past, especially with certain individuals and how they all tie together. For the longest I would associate the spring section ("radiant greenery") with the things that happen with Quetzal in Nat's past. That same middle voice singing about how much life is left to live and not knowing how many days are left is just something that really sits with Nat too-not sure how much time is left to make something worthwhile and paving the way to give the island a future that it was robbed of.

LET ALONE the instrumentation, me associating Nat forever with percussion and some other individuals with the brass and winds-the percussion being the backbone and the connecting piece throughout the entire thing, starting off subtle and sectioned but remaining ever present before the crescendo into the end where it's thunderous yet still keeping time. Forever the heartbeat that connects others whether they like it or not heheh.

This one feels like a "lighter" version of Muse's Undisclosed Desires (which is also on the main playlist I have for Nat), basically Nat's helpful nature of wanting to see people grow into their best selves and willing to give anyone a chance no matter who they are or what they may have done. There's just this feeling of being welcome with a bit of a mischief streak while being entirely sincere all the same, a musical equivalent of tugging someone along into a dance to get them to crack a smile and have a little fun even if for a few moments.

Footprints on the Sand-Prince of Egypt Original Broadway Cast

I found this one a few months ago but MAN is it fitting. If this blog were a musical, this would be Nat's "I want" song. This overarching theme of being in the shadows of glory and already feeling that you won't make a dent in the world like those before you did, and just the fleetingness of everything like sand prints or clouds passing overhead is just PERFECT. And with Moses going on to sing about not wanting fame or glory but to just leave things better, but already resigning to the idea that it's not his place to stand out like that encapsulates Nat entirely in that they also don't think they'll make much a difference in this life-but it's worth the try anyway.

[zealynstan]

Unlabeled Interview Final Part

Isabelle: And speaking of touring, like we're saying before, someone said in here, "I wish it didn't cost so much for you to share your music and voices." We could not agree more.

Zealyn: Oh yeah.

Isabelle: Wouldn't you say?

Zealyn: Absolutely. Yeah. Oh, there's so much we would be doing if it didn't cost so much, I mean yeah, I would have a music video for every single song well done, super well done.

Isabelle: Yeah.

Zealyn: Amazing live videos. I would have- I would be on tour all the time. I, oh my gosh, there's just so many things.

Isabelle: Yeah. We would probably- I'd probably be on tour all the time if touring didn't cost us so much money.

Zealyn: Yeah! Another thing that lots of people don't know is lots of the big artists, if you want to go on tour with them, we have to buy on to it. Umm...

Isabelle: Yeah.

Zealyn: And so recently, I just got an offer to buy on to this really awesome tour. I just couldn't do it. But yeah, just- everything is a pretty penny and so-

Isabelle: Everything's a pretty penny.

Zealyn: But you know hopefully, one day and I believe it will happen one day, our music will take off and we'll finally be able to make money like good money doing music and it'll come full circle at some point. So-

Isabelle: It will. It always does. I was listening to Tyler Perry on Supersoul Conversations this morning on my drive home.

Zealyn: Nice.

Isabelle: And like, same situation. I think nobody starts at the top and I think we forget that "Oh, we see all these people at the top." And it's just discouraging until you hear their stories and you realize, "Wow, they had no money either." He was talking about putting all this money into his first play and how he thought 1200 people are gonna show up. And it was at the 14th Street Playhouse in Atlanta, which I grew up in Atlanta so I know where that was. 30 people showed up.

Zealyn: Aww.

Isabelle: So he lost his car, he didn't have rent or anything and that was like, it sucked to hear that but wow, it's inspiring. And I hope that-

Zealyn: You see where he's come from.

Isabelle: Yeah. You see everything he's gone through and that we're doing the same thing and there's nothing different about it.

Zealyn: Yeah.

Isabelle: Other than not stopping, everytime we get a "no". And that's why this podcast for me is important because I don't know how many of you are watching and I know there's dancers on here and there's singers and aspiring everything but I just hope that you realize that like there's really nothing you umm... that's gonna come easily.

Zealyn: Right.

Isabelle: All the hard things are so much better when you get them.

Zealyn: Yeah. Absolutely.

Isabelle: What is your- what's an insecurity of yours that you are fighting umm... like in your day-to-day or music or just personally? That's like a big question but-

Zealyn: Well, yeah, I mean- I don't- I think that one thing that I do that I- everyone does but I do especially is umm... living in LA for 5 years now, been able to meet a lot of incredible awesome musicians and songwriters and just so many awesome people and a lot of them are doing really good. And like actually though, it's not just "social media" really good but like they're genuinely doing so well and blowing up and always busy and I think an insecurity of mine is like, comparing myself to other people. Is that right?

Isabelle: Yeah.

Zealyn: So um... I always- I'll at least have one bad night a week where I'm just get sunk into that "Aww man! That person's doing so much better than me." and that- and it's a good thing! I'm so happy for my friends like, "Wow, she got that?" "She got that?"

Isabelle: You're not alone.

Zealyn: Yeah!

Isabelle: Everybody feels that way in life.

Zealyn: And that's why- but I think that's something that I struggle with, it's just not- I just need to stop comparing myself. Everyone's started from somewhere, everyone's path is different like it's okay if it's taking longer or, whatever.

Isabelle: Yeah, yeah. I know, but that's umm... it's really great that you said when you're really honest. Because when I look at you, I don't see that you are insecure about that at all because you're so like, in your own lane to me. But it goes to show that we are all the same in that way.

Zealyn: Yeah. Totally.

Isabelle: Those insecurities never go away no matter- even if you were probably a little more successful, you'd probably see the best above you.

Zealyn: People were doing even better right *laughs* for sure.

Isabelle: Umm... Tammy asked about social media handles, so we're just gonna plug this in real quick.

Zealyn: Oh!

Isabelle: So she's @zealyn on Instagram, and @zealynmusic on Facebook.

Zealyn: It's Z-E-A-L- Oh there it is, you can see it. Aww, wow!

Isabelle: Z-E-A-L-Y-N.

Zealyn: You're so well prepared!

Isabelle: I know, it's just me, it's all me, I don't want anyone helping me out. Umm... and then, do her a favor and go if you guys have Apple Music, Spotify, go follow her. It's the same spelling and just like actually click the follow button and like put all her songs on your playlists and actually listen to them. Don't put them on a playlist because I said so, but actually listen because all those little things help us kind of get our music heard and everything like that.

Zealyn: Totally. Yeah.

Isabelle: Umm... I had a question for you- Oh, somebody asked... I'm trying to get through comments- Hailey asked, "What's LA like?" *laughs* That's such a loaded question.

Zealyn: It is. Well, I don't know, yeah. So, I love LA, first of all, I'll start there.

Isabelle: Yeah.

Zealyn: There's nowhere else I'd rather live. I genuinely love this city, it is motivating, pushes you to do better, everyone is going hard like everyone's pushing themselves to be better than they were the day before. So that's the good thing about it. The bad thing about it is that everyone's pushing them-! *Both laugh* Everyone's doing so well, everyone is hustling and I think that's when you also get stuck in a trap of, "Wow, they're going out every week to shows and networking and I only go out once a week. Oh boy, maybe I should be networking more or-" you know, there's just- every stupid little detail, it gets in your head and umm... yeah.

Isabelle: Just don't- I don't wanna discourage everyone for coming out here but if you're gonna come out here, just know that you will be very lucky if you have instant success. I hope that you do, I really do hope that everyone can do that.

Zealyn: Yeah.

Isabelle: But if you don't have instant success, you definitely have to look deeper into the other wonderful positive things happening that may not be exactly what you asked for or wanted but those are the things that you hold onto in order to stay out here because a lot of people don't last in LA because they think, "I'll give it a year and things would go well!" It sometimes happens but a lot of times it doesn't.

Zealyn: Yeah.

Isabelle: And then it's discouraging and you're like, "Well, I'm just gonna go home." but you know, don't do that like wherever you go or if you go away to college or umm... you go to a new city like give it time. Even when I went to college and I went away from the first time, it was the hardest thing ever. I called my mother everyday like, "WHY'D YOU SENT ME AWAY? Why'd you sent me here?" and then, I was so fulfilled and happy. Ultimately, that's what made me such an independent person. And moving to LA too, there were days when I first moved to LA... I was alone, I had a couple friends from college that were here, I went through such bad depression. It's the type of depression where you wake up in the morning, and you don't have anything you need to do, or that needs your attention. And you slept for like 11 hours, and you still- you wake up like exhausted, and you napped throughout the day not because you're tired, it's literally just you're so depressed because you're numb, you don't know what to do.

Zealyn: Yeah.

Isabelle: And guess what? Those things past, and they move away and the positive things come back and they slip in and then you're gonna slip back out of it. Right?

Zealyn: Yeah. And LA really is one of those places that you can't come to L- you can't visit LA for two weeks and expect to see LA and get a sense of the city in two weeks. It's impossible. It takes- LA is massive okay? I think people always think of LA like Downtown LA, like just the little downtown area, n-no. LA is huge, you can drive a whole hour and a half and still be in LA. So, it really truly takes like.... to me, it took a year. For me, it took a whole year to understand like, where everything is, where do I actually want to live, and it takes so long. Umm...

Isabelle: Yeah. It takes so long. I just feel settled now. I've been in here like 5-

Zealyn: I think I truly felt settled like- like I wanna live here forever after 3 years like it literally took 3 years. And I think at that point I was like, "I'm never leaving. I wanna stay as long as I can." Yeah.

Isabelle: I love it here too. So Gina just asked, "Are you going to Nashville?" I would love for you to answer that and tell us the cities you'll be touring in.

Zealyn: Absolutely.

Isabelle: If you remember them all.

Zealyn: Yes! I'll try.

Isabelle: Okay.

Zealyn: Uhh yes. I will be in Nashville, that show actually is announced already, tickets are at zealyn.co

Isabelle: Yeah, all the seats(?) are there.

Zealyn: Yeah, umm... But I mean, I could list them off, yeah. There's actually- I don't know, yeah so it's Minneapolis, Chicago, Indianapolis, Nashville, Atlanta; Beverly, Massachusetts which is my hometown, New York, DC, Philly, Pittsburgh... so that's all everything on the East Coast. West Coast is still like completely being figured out.

Isabelle: Okay yeah. Yeah, it takes time.

Zealyn: It looks like Seattle, Portland, Redding, San Francisco, LA, San Diego.

Isabelle: Uhh, can I open for you now? *both started laughing*

Zealyn: The West Coast one? Oh my goodness.

Isabelle: That's amazing!

Zealyn: Yeah that one's still like- we don't have the venues locked in or anyth- or the dates or anything.

Isabelle: Okay.

Zealyn: But it's August-ish.

Isabelle: August-ish, okay.

Zealyn: Yeah.

Isabelle: Well, if you wanna hear all the dates, go to zealyn.co, that's just "co" not ".com", just "co". And all the dates are up there, all the info about her. She's- like I said, an incredible artist.

Zealyn: Thank you.

Isabelle: Go listen to her music and just support her and I'm really glad that you asked all these questions, I'll be answering all these questions when we're done.

Zealyn: Yeah. Such awesome fans! There's so many questions coming in.

Isabelle: Yeah, they're pretty incredible, I'm lucky I am so lucky that you all show up every week or every other week.

Zealyn: Yeah, that's amazing.

Isabelle: But, Unlabeled the podcast, episode 5, will be uhh... 2 weeks, April 7th, check it out. This podcast you're listening to right now will be up on Tuesday and yeah. Zealyn, thank you for coming, go follow her at Zealyn on Instagram and uhh-

Zealyn: Thanks for having me. You're the best.

Isabelle: You're welcome. I'm honored. I love you, thanks for being here.

Zealyn: Me too. Thanks.

Isabelle: Adios, everybody! *both waved at the camera*

Zealyn: Oh, did it end already? Bye!