#jazz was the music i was truly in love with playing on the trumpet. most of the songs band class had us play never spoke to me like jazz

[yardsards]

cat-limba and uku-snail-e are Friends. btw.

also look what came in the mail yesterday!

so far i learned "memory" from undertale and half of "haggstrom" from minecraft

[7grandmel]

Todays rip: 16/05/2024

Kass' Theme

Season 4 Episode 1 Featured on: SECOND WIND ~ SiIvaGunner: King for Another Day Tournament Original Soundtrack VOL. 2

Ripped by wolfman1405 feat. Buta Big Band

Requested by sabybeal! (Request Form)

Now, Wolfman1405 is certainly not a new name to be featured here on this blog. Be it with Sunday Morning, Theme of HoBART, and most recently Haltmanna feat. Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20, I've spilled many words on just how excellent of a contributor the guy is, how distinct his jazzy sound, sultry voice, and love for music truly is amidst the channel's sea of contributors. Yet through all of those posts and more, I'm somehow yet to write a post about Wolfman1405's most distinct trait - the rips involving his own full-on Jazz ensemble, the Buta Big Band. With Kass' Theme, it felt as if the group was finally able to show their full potential on the big stage - a no-nonsense, non-shitpost cover of a beautiful piece of Nintendo music.

I briefly mentioned back on Sunday Morning that contestants like Adam Levine never really felt destined for the big leagues - the idea that some contestants just *felt* like they wouldn't be able to make it to the top. The contestants of this rip, Nintendo Power, felt pretty similar to me - as good as their setlist was, it wasn't all too different from the type of music SiIvaGunner usually uploads, that being primarily Nintendo-focused. But their presence did of course feel very welcome althesame - it gave the team ample room to show just how far they could PUSH that Nintendo-centric focus the channel already had with genuine all-cylinders effort put in. That was, as I've ruminated on many times, a huge part of what made KFAD so incredible: it was, to put it in the corniest way possible, SiIvaGunner's Avengers moment, of so many rippers from the channel's history coming together to give it their absolute all for this one event. Frequent rippers, infrequent rippers, old legends like Triple-Q and guest contributors like GaMetal on Ink That or DM DOKURO on September. And in the middle of all this sat Wolfman1405 - contributing a half dozen rips to the event, with Kass' Theme in particular showing perhaps the full power he possesses.

It helps, of course, that Kass' Theme is one we all have collectively swooned for since the release of Breath of the Wild in 2017. Hell, later in that very same year, during Season 2, SiIvaGunner themselves contributed a full-on Fusion Collab in the titular Kass' Theme Fusion Collab - a listen that, fittingly enough, begins with Wolfman1405's very own piano playing. Kass' Theme, two years later, then truly feels like a full circle moment, and above all else like a huge flex from the part of the Buta Big Band. It's Kass' Theme, sure, but filled with personality around every corner, evident from the word go as the ensemble leads into the titular song with a snippet from the main The Legend of Zelda theme completely seamlessly, borderline mandela-effecting me into believing that it had always been a remix of said theme all along. Kass' Theme isn't a very long piece of music, but the rip journeys through so many different takes and rhythms to the tune in its runtime - a trumpet-lead at one section, the full band in another, a section broken up by drum beats, and what I believe to be a trombone solo halfway through it all. As a former trombone player (Mel fun fact of the day!) I can't help but admire it, both on principle alone but also for just how well it manages to fit this new take on the song.

There's layers to dissect at every turn with Kass' Theme, and even as it turns almost entirely into freestyle toward the arrangement's end, it never loses the soul of what it's adapting - and, of course, never stops sounding fantastic. It's that sheer quality that makes Wolfman1405's rips stand as tall as they do, that touch for finesse born from such a good understanding of music - and, perhaps most obviously ad most importantly, a love of the SiIvaGunner channel. It all reminds me of rips like Because I Love You - there's no bit, no punchline, no irony, naught but the love of genuinely good music, to be expressed as earnestly as possible with an audience of fans who are damn near bound to accept that sincerity with open arms. Kass' Theme is an absolute slam dunk for the Buta Big Band, and one of the MANY reasons I love Wolfman1405's contributions to SiIvaGunner - and hey, if you're interested in his work outside of the channel, may I recommend his two independantly-produced singles, Distance and Atlanta?

[theclearblue]

MORE QUESTIONS because more fun

feel free to skip any you dont wanna answer btw

Has there ever been a media that you really liked, but then went downhill, but you see a lot of potential in/would wanna rethink it/rewrite it yourself?

Favourite instrument sound in music?

What's the last song you heard/song stuck in your head right now?

Do you like video/board games, if so do you have a favourite? What's the oldest one you remember playing?

Media I really liked that went downhill?

So many lmao. I would say Voltron and Game of Thrones tv show are the two big ones for me. Voltron especially hurt cause I was there since the beginning pretty much and was SUCH a big fan of the first few seasons, I think I could easily rewrite some of those later seasons to be better. Also on the lower key side but Attack on T/itan as well. Like most of it is fine I don't mind the ending like a lot of people do, but season 4 truly presents the most clumsy and poorly executed historical allegories I have ever seen in my life with the Eldians in Marley. I wouldn't say I dislike the series entirely bc of it but it definitely soured my feelings towards it and I end up not talking abt it really at all even though at one point I was really obsessed lol.

Fave Instrument sound in music?

I do have a soft spot for trumpet bc that's what I played for a long time <3 But a good French Horn or a clarinet specifically for jazz is sooooo great too.

Last song you heard/stuck in your head?

Been listening to the Wicked soundtrack again so been listening to a lot of What Is This Feeling (happy pride to those two lesbians fr) and For Good as well

Do you like video/board games/favorite/oldest one u remember playing?

LOVE video and board games! I don't really talk about it much here but it is my other big hobby/obsession lol. Fave video game is probably Hollow Knight or Hades or Super Mario Galaxy or the entire Zelda series really (by amount of hours though I've played over 1400 hours of Overwatch 💀). Fave card/board game would be Love Letter/Betrayal at House on the Hill. Oldest board game I remember is probably Sorry lol and oldest video game is probably Mario Kart Double Dash on the GameCube <3

[the-arteest]

I MADE A RISE AU

the silly tortles

so!! in this au Yoshi was a famous musician rather than a movie star!! he passed his love for music onto his children, and is much more appreciative of all forms of art than in canon.(though he still thinks music is the best and most legitimate cough cough)

close ups of the boys!

Donnie(any pronouns)

i'm so sorry for the low quality aurgkuetg but! Donnie plays the piano! he is still very into tech, but their stuff and look is based a bit more on a piano because that's what the famous Hamato Yoshi played! wow!! but she truly wishes to play the drums because autism(/j please don't harass me)!!

next boy!

Mikey(any pronouns)

Mikey plays the (heavily modified) flute! While they love the instrument, it's just not enough for him. She needs the big guns! the bari sax!! did i mention all of them are very into jazz??

next boy!

Leo(he/him)

he's such a creature

anyways, Leo plays the trumpet! yes he's totally the asshole trumpet stereotype and i love/hate him for it. he loves the trumpet, but the music doesn't hit him in the feels, give him the jazz vibes! ignore his vanilla design ayuktghatg

next boy!

Raph(he/she/just Raph[ael])

i love her so much he is my life

yes those are little eyelashes!! alligator snapping turtles have little eyelash thingies and i love them for it<3

Raph plays the tuba, but the trombone is where his heart lies, she live laugh loves trombones

more details!

Splinter, while being a bit more accepting of who they are and how they express themselves, is still a bit stubborn. he won't let them all switch instruments until they master the ones they have. unfortunately, they inherited his stubbornness and refuse to practice their instruments until they're allowed to play the ones they want to play. this is a terrible stand-off and the boys partially lose anyways

they eventually find some strange vibey instruments(similar to the ones they already have) in Draxum's lab and take them home to mess with, and they find out the instruments are mystical! THAT'S RIGHT BABEY THEY'RE FUCKING BARDS WOOHOOOOO

eventually they learn to harness the

magic

and can make their funky instruments on their own! (they can still technically make the stuff they do in canon but they don't know anything but basic self-defense and would die with a weapon in their hands)

also the funky doodles

hope you love them as much as i do!!

[themosleyreview]

The Mosley Review: Babylon

Its been a while since we've had a truly chaotic and whimsical film. A film that doesn't play it safe and goes for the insanity right off the bat. What we really haven't had in a long time is a period film about the massive transitions, hardships and dangers of Hollywood. Its become a niche genre in film that isn't explored as much since the entertainment genre has evolved so much. This film explores the classic period of cinema in the 1920's when silent films were king and the music, fashion, alcohol, opioids and depravity were at its highest peaks. Just the first 20 minutes alone was like a serious fever dream of debauchery, style and fun that was out of this world. They called it the roaring 20's for a reason and this film excels at showing why the era earned its title. Aside from the parties and drugs on tap, you got a fast look at the quick pace of the birth of a star, the growth of a business man, a musician striving for greatness while facing a challenge that is still prevalent today and then a fading of a star. Its so multi-layered and dizzying to explore but in this 3 hour epic, there was plenty of time spent to explore the dark underbelly of the industry and actual character development.

Margot Robbie was absolutely stunning and insanely energetic as rising starlet Nellie LaRoy. The moment she crashes on to the screen she commands the focus. You see LaRoy's meteric climb to fame as she quickly shows off her talents and then the eventual and disturbingly fast cocaine fueled decline. It's a cautionary tale as old as time, but she somehow finds a way to bring out the empathy of the character. Diego Calva was awesome as the film assistant Manny Torres and his journey was something to really focus on as you see the story truly through his eyes from the ground floor. The emotional turmoil the man goes through as he worked so hard to survive not only the assistant life, but also his navigation of the studio system was inspiring and terrifyingly stressful. His chemistry with LaRoy was the heart of the film and yet lacked a lot of logic towards the last half of the film. Anyone else would've stepped away from the chaos, but man did he really hang in there. Brad Pitt was excellent as the arrogant, decadant and never sober movie star Jack Conrad. Pitt truly delivers a strong look at the life of a rock star actor who's earned his status in the industry and yet has never really given up the party life. He is effected the most once the industry begins to shift away from silent films to talkies and to see his reactions was refreshing and classic. Jean Smart was elegant and fun as the journalist Elinor St. John. She may have been around for the debauchery, but she knew what was coming and had a realistic outlook on the world. Li Jun Li was outstanding as the cabaret singer and titles designer Lady Fay Zhu. She was so smooth in her scenes and even though she was not in it for too long, she represented that sexuality and control that Hollywood at the time was not ready for. Jovan Adepo was great as the sensational jazz trumpet player Sidney Palmer. His rise to fame was fun to watch and subtle in execution. I loved how he handled himself as essentially a session musician that got recognized for his talent. The obvious level of racism of Hollywood is explored in this film in one of the most degrading scenes I've ever seen and yet it still happens today, but in digital form. Sidney never forgets his roots and he was truly one of my favorite characters. Tobey Maguire was absolutely weird and terrifying as the truly messed up mob boss James McKay. He was very welcoming, but man his eyes were filled with evil and he takes you into the darkness in the most disturbing scenes of the film.

The score by Justin Hurwitz was pure brilliance. It was fun, energetic, chaotic and captured the tone and speed of the film's nonstop pace. Even with its infectious energy coursing through the veins of the film, there were enough moments where it highlighted heart of the film. The cinematography was outstanding and showcased the epic parties and landscapes of the many locations in Los Angeles. Even though the film was a 3 hour epic, I didn't feel the length of the film because of the fast pacing at not many have mastered that technique. There were moments that I think could've been trimmed a bit here and there, but overall I loved the film history lesson. The old saying of life immitading art and art immitading life was on full display in the last 30 minutes of the film and that I enjoyed. This was not only a energetic celebratory look at cinema history, but also a cautionary tale and reminder of how fast your life can change in the entertainment world for the best or the worst. Let me know what you thought of the film or my review in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

[danses-with-dogmeat]

What Instruments would the Companions play?

Fallout 4 -- 

Cait: Uilleann Pipes (or Elbow Bagpipes) 

     - Okay, it's not just because it’s an Irish instrument (I mean, I'd be lying if I said that wasn't part of it), but also it's the way the unique pipes are played. The player is seated with the instrument strapped to their waist and dominant hand, using their opposite elbow to control the flow of air in the bag (rather than blowing into it like with normal bagpipes). It's a complicated instrument that requires an immense amount of physical control and discipline to play, which meshes well with Cait's physicality and athleticism. She's had the instrument as long as she can remember, finding it lying around in her childhood home. She managed to grab it before her parents sold her, and though it does sometimes remind her of them, all of the hours she spent learning to play it practically forces her to hold onto the instrument. She is wildly adept at playing it, and will sometimes do so in front of Sole, as long as they keep quiet about this ability of hers.  

Curie: Violin

     - A delicate instrument that requires dexterity and control, Curie would love the challenges that playing the violin would present. She found the string instrument in the depths of the vault before she became a synth, but held onto it thinking one day she would find someone who could make it sound beautiful. When she made the change to her synth body, she was incredibly excited to finally be able to play it, and though it took a while, she managed to become quite skilled. As a medical professional, she already has incredible coordination, so not only does the violin provide a creative outlet for Curie, but also it allows her to practice her control, since she still is getting used to just having the two hands, and all of her fingers. Once well-practiced, she loves to play softly to recovering patients in her ward. 

Danse: Baritone

     - When he first found the large horn, he didn’t really know what to think of it, he certainly didn’t consider playing it. However, once Sole explained it to him and told him how the instrument is played, he decided to pick it up one day when he was alone. He might have a hard time at first, since learning to play a new instrument can be especially frustrating for someone as hard on themselves as Danse is, but once he gets the hang of it, he's a big fan of the rich, loud sound it creates. He still rarely plays in front of anyone else (Sole and Haylen being the only exceptions), but he likes to practice in the little amount of downtime that he does have. Plus he enjoys caring for it by constantly cleaning and polishing the different pieces of the larger brass instrument. 

Deacon: Kazoo 

     - It started out as a joke, he found a little metal kazoo, discovered the manner in which to play it, and decided to have a field day with Carrington back at HQ. Later though, after practicing a number of the most obnoxious songs he could find, he found he was quite good at it and quickly he grew fond of the plucky little instrument. Now he carries it around with him almost everywhere, telling everyone that he plays it ironically, but deep down he knows that he truly enjoys it. 

Hancock: Saxophone 

     - Hancock has quite the reputation of being good with his lips and hands, and his adept ability to play the saxophone would only support this. He's had a lot of time to perfect his playing and will sometimes go up on stage with Magnolia to the delight of nearly everyone in Goodneighbor. He loves the instrument's smooth, jazzy sound and always revels in showing off his skills with a good solo.

MacCready: Harmonica 

     - An easy instrument to carry with you on the road, MacCready picked it up in his travels and messed with it whenever he knew the sound wouldn't endanger him. After a couple years, he became quite skilled with the wind instrument and would play it both for Lucy and Duncan as often as he could. He always keeps it with him, almost as a crutch at this point, even if he can't find the right place to play it, just having it with him reminds him of his travels with his son and his late wife. 

Nick: Piano 

     - Always the classic gentleman type, it's no surprise that the old detective knows how to manipulate piano keys in such a way that he seems to transport you back in time to a dark and hazy pre-war bar. The old Nick is where the original skill came from, but the synth's fingers are much more nimble than the human Nick's were. He enjoys playing whenever he can find a piano; however, be warned, if it isn't tuned, you can bet your ass he'll do his best to rectify that, which could take a couple hours at best, and a few days at worst.

Piper: Tambourine 

     - The percussion instrument was a gift from her father, so she's held onto it since she was young and always takes extra care in looking after her tambourine (she considers it the most important item she owns, after her printing press of course.) Besides the fact it was a gift from a loved one, she likes the instrument because of its simplicity and the way she can easily come up with and control her own rhythm. She fondly remembers many an evening prattling away at the tambourine while her and Nat danced the night away in a rare moment of true childish fun. Sometimes Nat will pick up the instrument while Piper is busy at the typewriter and try to create a beat to her sister's typing. 

Preston: Banjo

     - Does this one need an explanation? Preston just gives me mad banjo vibes. Imagine the joy he feels sitting around a campfire, striking up a tune that everyone knows, encouraging all the people around him to join in on the song. He tells himself that he does it for the benefit of those around him, to distract them from their troubles and the cruelty of the wasteland, but the truth is, he does it just as much to distract himself. It makes him happy to see others happy around him, and if the banjo provides a way to do that, then Preston will do his best to stay practiced in as many feel-good songs as he can.

X6-88: Upright/Double Bass 

     - This instrument is an absolute beast, coming in at about 6 feet tall and weighing about 45 lbs, but X6 would welcome the challenge of playing such an instrument; his own height and the large size of his hands providing a distinct advantage in learning how to play the bass properly. Not being of the faint of heart, X6 practices until his playing ability is nearly flawless, reveling in the deep, rich sound that emanates from his intimidating instrument. He prefers to read music and follow chord structure rather than improvise when he is playing, and he works to try and perfect every technique that he can, ranging from using a bow (arco), to striking with his fingers (pizzicato), to slapping the strings against the fingerboard. 

Fallout 3 -- 

Butch: Clarinet 

     - The poor 14 year-old was horrified when he was handed the old reed instrument when inducted into the vault 101 school band. But as Butch grew older, and his playing abilities increased, he realized he could make some pretty cool sounds with this thing. Jazz was always one of his favourite genres of music, and the clarinet allowed him to play along to many of his favourite songs. He doesn't bring the instrument with him while traveling, but he will play it when at home and sometimes will be bold enough to play for audiences at bars. 

Charon: Bass Guitar

     - He had never touched a bass before coming across one while traveling with Lone, but as soon as he picked it up, he found he had an affinity for it. Charon was patient with himself as he learned how to play, his scarred fingers both a blessing and a curse. Though it was sometimes difficult to get the chords right, he didn't have to worry about bloody fingers from long hours practicing plucking the rough strings. He comes up with a few bass lines on his own, then tries replicating songs that he hears. Charon actually really enjoys the creative outlet, and it's the perfect activity to focus on when Lone is gone. 

Clover: Flute

     - Clover treasures her flute, as the instrument was a gift from Eulogy that only reinforces the idea that she's his favourite. After all, he never gave Crimson a flute, or any other instrument for that matter. She finds it difficult at first, as she works to master her finger position and airflow, and occasionally she gets frustrated to the point of being completely unable to play; but once she gets the basics down, Clover uses the little woodwind instrument as a way to distract herself from her jealousy and tends to play it as aggressively as one can play a flute when Eulogy insists on spending time alone with Crimson. Otherwise, she will sometimes play it with Eulogy as her only audience member, but her favourite is when she can sit on her own and play the flute for herself, it makes her happy and it let's her see how far she's come since she was first gifted the instrument. When she begins traveling with Lone, she holds onto the flute and continues to play it for her own benefit, and of course, she wouldn’t be opposed to playing for Lone, if they were to ask...

Cross: Trumpet

     - She discovered the small brass instrument in her travels to pre-war military locations, and was interested in the history of the horn in regards to the old U.S. military. When she first picked it up, she wasn't a huge fan of the brash noise that comes from it, but as she grew more adept at playing it, she found she liked the sound. Cross takes inspiration from the bugle music that was played before the war, and replicates it for the members of the brotherhood of steel. 

Fawkes: Bongos 

     - He's been a fan of percussion ever since he was locked in isolation in the vault. Throughout his time there, he would often find different surfaces to drum his hands on to pass the time. Lone began noticing this little habit of his, and when they surprised him with a pair of bongo drums, Fawkes was elated. He plays them as often as he can, but usually waits until they are at home, after all, he couldn't risk losing or damaging them out in the wastes. But it's his favorite way to relax and unwind after Lone and him return from the hostile wasteland to the security of their home. He did once bring them to Underworld to play for the residents there, but he was anxious about harming the instrument the whole way there and the whole way home. 

Jericho: Maracas

     - Jericho wouldn't have the patience to sit down and learn a complex musical instrument, so maracas are a good fit for him. He found a single one when he and Lone were traveling and didn't think much of it, but thought it was interesting enough to hold onto. Once Lone explained what they believed it was, Jericho began to experiment with the instrument when he was alone (he couldn't risk Lone seeing him acting like such an idiot, with this glorified baby rattle.) But once he discovered another one, he decided he liked the sound of them together. Even though the maracas are all mismatched, he keeps any that he can find and tries them all paired with one another. He still tries to keep it on the down low, but every once in a while he'll know that Lone is listening in, he'll utter some rude comment, but continue playing as though Lone weren't there. 

Fallout New Vegas -- 

Arcade: Ukulele 

     - Arcade doesn't know how it happened, how he found the little guitar-like instrument, honestly, it was left in his tent at the fort, and he doesn't know where it came from. For the longest time, he just left it where it sat near his bed, unsure what to do with it, but after a couple weeks passed, he felt like he had to do something with it. So he started to pluck at the nylon strings, and he couldn't keep from uttering a small yelp of surprise at the sweet sound of the instrument. He doesn't play often, and he still needs to practice, but when he's alone, Arcade loves to strum the strings and come up with little tunes that end up getting way too stuck in his head. 

Boone: Cajón

     - The little, wooden, box-shaped drum is a practical instrument that isn't complicated to play and is easy to transport, making it a nice fit for the 1st recon sniper. Boone has had restless hands for as long as he can remember, and the problem has only gotten worse since the incident at bitter springs, so originally, when he found the cajón and brought it back to his room at the NCR barracks, he would tap at the different sides just as a little habit. However, when he discovered the way each side differed in pitch, he found he could manipulate the tapping of his hands in such a way to create some interesting beats. He brought it with him when he left the NCR and keeps it at his place in Novac to play with whenever he's there. Now it's not only an entertaining pastime, but it's ended up being very therapeutic for him. 

Cass: Acoustic Guitar

     - As a caravaner, you tend to pick up some of the habits of other caravan members that you meet in your travels. Originally, Cass found the guitar and made the decision to sell it, but that was before the guard of another caravan sat himself down by the fire one night, grabbing the instrument from beside Cass's pack, and began to play. When he first picked up the guitar, Cass was ready to deck him for touching one of her wares, but after hearing him play it, she couldn't help but ask him to teach her. She tends to bring the instrument with her when she can, but usually she'll keep it in a safe place so she can practice in her down time. 

Raul: Flamenco/Spanish Guitar 

     - Raul's nimble fingers are good for more than just making repairs, despite their ghoulified appearance, they still possess the muscle memory of when he learned to play the Flamenco guitar before the bombs fell. His family down in Mexico really appreciated the importance of music, and Raul still believes that it helped him get through some of the toughest times after the bombs fell. He makes it a priority to find guitar strings for when his end up breaking, and he tries to keep his original guitar in pristine condition. He doesn't play too often, but when he does, Six can hardly believe the skill in which he plucks the strings of the pre-war instrument.

Veronica: Drums

     - Every time Veronica was sent out on recon, she would keep her eyes peeled for another drum or symbol to add to the developing set she had hidden away at Helios One. It started with a simple snare, then a symbol she had found, and when she discovered a bass drum, she hid it outside the building before she was assigned guard duty, and she snuck the large drum down to her set. She loves the outlet that playing the drums provides, and though she sometimes worries someone will hear her, the risk is worth the thrill of going all out when she takes a seat in front of her drum set. After the events at Helios One that eventually led to her leaving the brotherhood facility, she makes plans to one day return to retrieve the instrument she left hidden away.

[ally-127]

my request... joshua angst where there's an argument on ur anniversary n you can decide whether to make it a happy or sad ending!! thx ally :-)

lisianthus

pairing: husband!joshua x reader word count: 1.6k warnings: reference to sex, slightly suggestive material music: ‘lose’ by niki a/n: okay like this is more fluff than angst,, im sorry- my mind literally blanked out when i was trying to think of what they could argue about. but enjoy this romantic af, poetic(?) piece that i also enjoyed writing ngl. thanks for requesting @chocosvt , i hope u liked it...luv u the most <3

“come on kiddos, it’s time for bed!”

you ushered your seven and three-year-old into their shared bedroom, your lips stretched wide into a grin at their playful giggles.

“goodnight, mum,” your daughter, seven, hummed as you tucked her into bed while your younger son climbed clumsily into his beside.

you dropped a kiss on her forehead and turned to your cheeky son, who still had that smile of his. you give him a huge smooch on the cheek. “goodnight, you.”

with both children wrapped up in their sheets comfortably, you flicked off the light switch and closed the door quietly behind you.

a sigh couldn’t help but escape your lips as you shuffled your way back into your room to finish up some work, but before you did, a certain glow caught your attention.

the kitchen was dark all around when you entered, lit scented candles dotted around the table and the only light source in the room.

the flames danced in the breezy air of your apartment, lighting up not only the bouquet of lisianthus on the table but your husband, joshua, who sat on one of the chairs, staring wistfully at the flowers. a glass of wine sat solitarily in front of him, the stain on the rim a sign that he had already started to drink without you.

the beat of your heart was now apparent as ounces of dread slowly settled into the pit of your stomach.

you forgot.

“are we not important anymore?” he began, taking the glass in between his fingers.

“what do you mean?” you remained standing, feeling as if the soles of your feet had been embedded into the hardwood of the floor.

“did it completely slip your mind, or am i now the least of your concerns?” continuous rhetorical questions, or rather, questions of accusations, escaped his beautiful mouth.

you could kiss it a thousand times and still, your need for them to be on your skin would never be satiated.

“jihyun and—“

“do not bring our kids into this,” joshua was painfully serene, like the calm before the storm; the storm in which you could see in the depths of his eyes. “you forgot we’ve been married for ten years.”

you cursed under your breath.

how did you forget?

bringing the subject of work into the argument was pointless now, it only seemed like an excuse.

“josh—“

“i was waiting all day,” he finally shifted his almond-shaped eyes to you. “for you to run into my arms, to kiss me, hell, even to just smile at me. but no, you didn’t even look at me once.”

joshua, on a break from being a performer, occupied himself with taking care of the children and the apartment. he had plenty of time on his hands, his heart full with a sincere wish to spend it with the people he loved most in the whole universe.

you, a full-time working mother, had recently just been promoted in your company. with new responsibility came heavy workload and a brand new project dumped into your control. it was overwhelming, and it blinded a tremendous amount of aspects in your life, including your husband himself.

you realised you didn’t even meet joshua’s eyes as he got them ready for school this morning, while he adjusted their jackets and shouldered their little backpacks to carry it for them, knowing fully what date it was.

you simply kissed your daughter and son goodbye before you took half a litre of coffee with you out the door without uttering a single word of goodbye to your lover.

now, as you stared at him from where you stood, you could feel the effects of neglecting him for the longest time hurling back to you like a tidal wave.

there was no trace of a smile, of the crinkle of his eyes, of the lines that would form at the ends of his eyes that deepened over time and with age.

the expression that stared back at you was foreign, stoic.

there‘s a saying: you don’t know what you have until it’s gone.

you knew it wasn’t gone, but the absence of his smile made your heart sink into the bottomless pit of your regret. it was a horrifying feeling.

suddenly, you wanted to do all the things he said you didn’t, smile at him, run into his arms, kiss him.

“i’m sorry,” you almost lost the capability of speaking, your voice small as you gathered enough courage to take more steps towards him. “i really am. i’m such a fool.”

he stood up, his height casting a dim shadow over you. the plastic of the wrapper crunched in his hands when he extended his arm, offering the bouquet of your favourite flowers in your favourite colour to you. joshua could never forget that.

you took them with shaky hands, eyes looking everywhere but into the abyss of his caramel eyes.

“you are not a fool, my love,” he engulfed you in his strong arms, a familiar place, a place you missed often and could call home. a place you almost forgot was your home. “you are my wife,” he kissed away the single tear of remorse that escaped the duct in the corner of your eyes. “my beautiful, strong wife.”

your head on his chest, your fingers fisted in the material of his shirt, you held on to each other for what seemed like the first time in a long time. his woody scent had the effect of waves crashing against the beach and echoes of seagulls in the distance—it calmed you immensely.

everything about joshua calmed you.

it felt like you could remain in his arms forevermore, until the morning sun rose and the lisianthus wilted in the grip of your hands.

“i love you,” you told him, quietly, setting the bouquet aside to sink into his touch.

these were the words he wanted and needed to hear the most, to reassure himself that you did still love him the way he loved you, to make sure that work had not completely overtaken your senses.

“i love you too.”

fingers rubbing your back in soothing strokes, joshua kissed your temple, then the tip of your nose. to reach your lips he had to angle his head in the slightest, long eyelashes fluttering as he reached his destination.

a hum of satisfaction escaped your lips, conjoined with his, knowing fully that you didn’t deserve it yet you savoured every minute. your arms were secure around his neck, not a millimetre of space to be seen between your torso and his.

as joshua pulled away to gasp for air, he reached into his pocket for his phone, tapping away at the screen. half a second later, music began to play from the speakers he had installed on the corners of the ceiling.

your husband enjoyed music, thrived in it. it was his natural element, his escape from everything and life itself.

“dance with me, darling,” he whispered as louis armstrong blew the first few notes of his trumpet, a light melody that entranced your step into aligning with your lover’s, barefoot in the kitchen, head on his shoulder.

“remember in college,” you pondered, reminiscing the iridescent days of your youth. “when we would dance around the communal kitchen in the refrigerator light?”

“when i snuck out of the dorms to visit you half-past two in the morning?” the smile on his face reminded you of how much you truly longed for it, like a breath of fresh air after being suffocated for so long.

he grinned at you like you were back in the heart of a bustling city, of seoul, the thrill of the unexpected running through your veins like a drug. you found an impossible love, forcing the rebellion, suppressed deep enough in yourself until you forgot about it, to resurface again as you met him.

you had never felt as daring as you did when you first saw him.

“we lost so much sleep,” the airy sound of your chuckle urged joshua to tug you closer, dancer feet still in time with the rhythm of jazz buzzing in the background.

“first college, then jihyun,” the way in which your daughter’s name left his lips made the knot in your heart twist, your entire being captivated by his voice.

he twirled you around, stars—no, the entire galaxy—sparkling in those brown eyes as you spun to meet him once more.

“and jiyoung,” the sound of your youngest son’s name elicited a permanent smile from your husband, perfect teeth peeking through.

“i don’t regret a single second of it,” he said, mellifluous in tone, filled with content.

“i don’t either,” sometimes, the possibility of being in love for so long was a question to you that you could not answer.

magic doesn’t exist, but it did then, in that night, surrounded by wicks, aglow in passion, organic scent of lemongrass wafting in the air.

jazz-driven steps, hungry gazes and the brush of his fingers under your sweater made you wonder if you were back in the era of your faded youth. it was as if you were reliving each night of delirium once again, of heated sex in the darkness of your compact bedroom, of muted grunts and the slapping of skin that reverberated off the chipped walls.

joshua lifted the sweater up your head, up your arms. the music, transitioning ever so timely from armstrong to the weeknd, your eyes widening and your hips swaying ever so slightly to the bass. his grin twisted into a smirk, eyes narrowing in desire and the previous storm behind them calming into a wave of dirty intentions.

“take the week off for me, love,” kisses were peppered down your neck to your collarbone as he whispered each word into your skin.

you promised him you would, and you did.

[agentnico]

Top 10 Best Movies of 2020

2020 - what a year, eh? What a jolly, cheerful and happy year it has been, with hardly any problems and a general peaceful and prosperous time for the ever progressive people of Earth! I’m kidding, let’s get real, what the hell was 2020 all about?! What a way to begin the decade! At least we got some movies, emphasis on ‘some’ as most of them got delayed due to cinema closures. In any case, there were still some little gems that gave us some form of limited escapism in these hardship times, and here they are, my favourite films of 2020...

Honourable mentions: An American Pickle, Emma, Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe

10) COLOR OUT OF SPACE - “Milk the Alpacas!” With call-backs to 80′s John Carpenter horror films, with an added flair of Nicolas Cage and alpacas (you heard me), we are slowly plunged into a hellish landscapes of madness, deformity and desolation. So, ya know, a typical Saturday night watch with the kids!

Full review: https://agentnico.tumblr.com/post/611042880586481664/colour-out-of-space-2020-review

9) UNHINGED - “I don’t think you really know what a bad day is. But you’re going to find out.” In any other year, this thing wouldn’t make the list. In 2020, a B-movie action film with a road-raging Russell Crowe is exactly the kind of entertainment I’m after! This by no means a great film, but with all the cheesy one liners and obvious foreshadowing, with Russell chewing up the scenery like it’s nobody’s business, you’re guaranteed to not be bored.

Full review: https://agentnico.tumblr.com/post/625701541861523456/unhinged-2020-review

8) MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM - “I’ve got my time coming to me.” When it comes to the year’s best performance, hands down its Chadwick Boseman as the trumpet player in this film, providing us with with a role with such heart and soul (appropriately for the jazz subject), who at first comes off as this self-obsessed selfish arrogant snob who only cares about achieving his own stardom, but then as his layers are unpacked, we discover that underneath this façade is a man filled with such sadness and rage, having endured much profound trauma in his past, and it’s all brought to life so powerfully by Boseman’s dedicated performance. This role alone proves what a truly talented actor we’ve lost this year. Wakanda forever!

Full review: https://agentnico.tumblr.com/post/637939894686285824/ma-raineys-black-bottom-2020-review

7) THE DEVIL ALL THE TIME - "I ain’t gonna take the blame for no bastard child!” Robert Pattinson plays a high pitched voiced priest that is a pervert. Somehow I’m sold!

Full review: https://agentnico.tumblr.com/post/629773151704858624/the-devil-all-the-time-2020-review

6) BILL & TED FACE THE MUSIC - “Be excellent to one another, and party on dudes!!” Any other year, this film would have passed the public’s eye without much of an impression and would have vanished into oblivion. In 2020 though, where so much negativity has been imposed upon us all, the simplistic absurdist debauchery of Bill and Ted is exactly what was needed to lighten everyone’s mood. Excellent!!

Full review: https://agentnico.tumblr.com/post/627980138875912192/bill-ted-face-the-music-2020-review

5) DA 5 BLOODS - “We won't let nobody use our rage against us. We control our rage.” Director Spike Lee is in the house, this time lighting up another joint and taking us on an adventure to find some treasure, whilst also providing commentary on the hardships of the Vietnam war and the PTSD that it caused to its survivors. Great cast, powerful message and a Black Panther to seal the deal!

Full review: https://agentnico.tumblr.com/post/620819114989076480/da-5-bloods-2020-review

4) THE GENTLEMEN - “There’s only one rule in this jungle! When the lion is hungry, he eats.” This is such a cool film! Like, that’s the best way to put it: so cool!! Simply a bunch of cool geezers acting all cool and mighty spilling Guy Ritchie’s cool dialogue whilst appearing super cool. Did I mention this film is cool?! So cool!!

Full review: https://agentnico.tumblr.com/post/190289146259/the-gentlemen-2020-review

3) SOUL - “Your life is so sad and pathetic and you’re working hard to get back to it. I mean, why? This I gotta see!” Dang it, Pixar, you’ve done it again!! In this case, it’s the movie’s earnest and profound message of learning to enjoy the little things that makes it so touching to the, ahem, soul. It may not seem like it right now, but we shall all be okay. Everything will be okay. Stay safe everyone.

Full review: https://agentnico.tumblr.com/post/638668902755336192/soul-2020-review

2) THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 - “We're not going to jail because of what we did. We're going to jail because of who we are!” This courtroom drama is an eye-opener of the reality of American dream and politics, and is a must-watch, even though it’s a bit late now to fix such a broken system. I’m sure many Americans may see this film as unpatriotic, but reality is actually not far from what this film is saying. It speaks the truth. The Aaron Sorkin truth! Then again, as heard many times before: “YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!”

Full review: https://agentnico.tumblr.com/post/632238115847913473/the-trial-of-the-chicago-7-2020-review

1) EUROVISION SONG CONTEST: THE STORY OF FIRE SAGA - “Play Ja Ja Ding Dong!!” Look, I’m not even ashamed to say it, I absolutely loved this movie! It may not be the pinnacle of modern day filmmaking, but it brought so much zany fun and cheesiness that was a breath of fresh air this year. With a scene stealing performance from Dan Stevens as a campy Russian pop singer, and filled with cheesy original pop songs such as “Lion of Love”, “Double Trouble” and “Husavik”, this is THE feel-good movie of the year. I also have a special sentimental place in my heart for this flick since I told my girlfriend for the first time that I loved her after watching this movie. What can I say, I’m a hopeless romantic! I follow up a Will Ferrell with an “I love you”. This one’s for you, my lovely! 

Full review: https://agentnico.tumblr.com/post/622342894264664064/eurovision-song-contest-the-story-of-fire-saga

With that we close the book of 2020, and open up the cover of 2021. Oh boy, here we go again!...

[halequeenjas]

Love Bites || Jasmine & Savannah

TIMING: Current PARTIES: @savannah-lim & @halequeenjas SUMMARY: Jasmine and Savannah go out for a night on the town and to pick up some hot musicians. Things don’t quite go as planned. 

Considering she was hanging out and making a new friend, Jasmine decided it was high time she tried out a new venue. She’d never been to the jazz night at this club before, but a change of pace seemed nice. Plus, this place was a little closer to Beatrice’s so less time spent in a likely sketchy uber. She hardly doubted Savannah would mind much either way. She walked up to the entrance and was tentatively impressed with the establishment. The music pouring out sounded good and the place had a sort of speakeasy vibe that she could get down with. She saw Savannah approaching and waved eagerly. “Hey,” she greeted with a bright smile, “So this isn’t my usual haunt, but it looks promising. Here’s to hoping the musicians look as good as they sound.” 

Regan had said she needed to get out and meet people, and reluctant as Savannah was to take advice from someone who had just quit their job and vanished like a hermit into the woods, she realised Regan was right. She didn’t have the excuse of recently discovering she was fae. She just had her work, and White Crest wasn’t the sort of mystery she could solve alone. “You look lovely,” she greeted with a smile. “I think this is the first time I’ve put on a dress in weeks.” She followed Jasmine inside where a hostess led them to their table and left them with a drinks menu. One of the acts was already performing, so Savannah took a moment to check them out. “That one’s married,” she observed, seeing his ring flash under the lights as he played his sax. 

 By nature, Jasmine had always been a social person. In a crowd was where she thrived and she always enjoyed being the life of the party or a night on the town. Making a new friend was always welcome. She lit up with a megawatt smile and said, “Thanks, this is one of my favorite dresses.” Red and Dior had always suited her well. “You look pretty great yourself though I do say we need an excuse for you to wear dresses more often.” Which more likely than not meant more girls’ nights which she was always here for. She looked over the performers and her eyes looked them over. She hadn’t even noticed the ring. No wonder Savannah was in the FBI. “Good eye,” she said with a tilt of her head and a tone that indicated she was impressed, “We’re not here to be home wreckers. I’m sure there are enough attractive single people here for us to flirt with.” Her eyes fell on a trumpet player who noticeably had no ring and swayed with the music in a way that was entrancing to say the least. “Dibs on the trumpet player,” she nudged with a smirk before she asked, “Any wine preferences? Figured we could share a couple of bottles.” 

 Savannah couldn’t help her flirtation as she gave Jasmine a small wink. “Well, I’m sure we can find someone who can’t wait to get your favorite dress off you.” In another life, she might have been that person, but her gaydar really wasn’t picking anything up. Jasmine only ever talked about men. “If we find me an attractive person to go on dates with, I might have an excuse to change out of the business suits,” she snickered, situating herself and looking through the drinks menu. “I was married once. I’d have gone crazy if anyone tried to put the moves on my wife. Not because I didn’t trust her. Just because it’s disrespectful.” The harmless flirting was one thing, but flirting with intent, knowing someone was in a committed relationship was something else entirely. “I’m easy,” she said, in reference to the choice of wine rather than her pants. “But if you’re having the trumpet player, I’m claiming the cellist,” she joked. She appeared to be in her late thirties or early forties and Savannah was a little more hopeful about her preferences. 

 Jasmine chose to ignore the wink. It wouldn’t be the first or last time a woman was a bit flirtatious with her. “That’s never the problem. It’s always more of a finding someone I’d actually let take my favorite dress off,” she joked with a small laugh. She’d been told by too many men that her standards were too high and that she’d never find better than them. She also knew they were all wrong. “I formally request to be the one helping pick out the dresses. It’s one of my areas of expertise.” She glanced over at the bartender to indicate they were ready to order as she agreed with Savannah, “Can’t say I’ve been married, but you are right it’s disrespectful. Plus, anyone that would cheat on their significant other is hardly worthwhile.” Once the bartender came over, she gave him a winning smile and ordered a bottle of mulled wine for them to share. It was a cold night and something about the spices made it feel warm. “If it makes no difference to you I figure ‘tis the season and all.” Her eyes fell on the cellist and responded, “She’s all yours. Not really my type anyway.” The set ended as they got their bottle of wine and she gave Savannah a devious grin. “I think that just might be our cue.” 

 “Standards are important,” Savannah said. She wasn’t too picky when it came to one night stands, but a real relationship was far more elusive. She rarely found anyone who truly interested her, and she doubted most people would be too happy with her fascination with murder and the macbre. “My wife would never have cheated on me. Nor I on her. It was just… complicated.” Savannah drank the wine, watching as the set ended, returning Jasmine’s grin. She waved over the cellist and sax player as they left the stage and started mingling at the bar. “Hey,” she said. “Care to join us?” 

 “You’d be surprised how many people don’t realize that,” Jasmine said as she thought over the partners of some of her high school friends. She’d never understood dating someone who didn’t appreciate who their significant other was as a person or bothered to treat them with basic respect, but she couldn’t just make people have more self-respect. She sipped her wine and nodded as Savannah spoke. “Sometimes things just don’t work out and that’s okay.” She wasn’t about to press into the details there when they were about to take a go at flirting with some of the musicians. Thinking about ex-lovers wasn’t exactly a fun time no matter what way you sliced it. She gave the saxophone player a wink as Savannah invited them over. Jas had never been one for subtle. If she wanted something, she went after it. He seemed intrigued and the pair walked over to join them. “That was a great set,” Jasmine said as they sat down with them. “Which I’m sure you knew. Anyway, I’m Jasmine and this is my friend Savannah. We couldn’t help but notice you’re both talented and beautiful people. It seemed only right we should meet.” Her eyes lingered on the sax player who introduced himself as Jean as he smoothly responded, “It takes beautiful to know beautiful.” And boy was he right. 

 Savannah nodded appreciatively. Jasmine seemed to understand that sometimes relationships just didn't work, and thankfully, she didn't seem interested in going into detail or rehashing it. She'd rather move onto something else anyway, and right now, that something else consisted of an attractive cellist who hopefully, unlike everyone else attractive in this town, was single. "Nice to meet you," she said to Jean. He had a hint of a French accent and somehow made the cheesy introductory remark work. "How about you?" she asked the cellist. 

"Lucille," the other woman said, extending her hand to Savannah's and holding onto it a moment too long. "Glad you enjoyed the set. The next guy's are really good too. You'll like them." 

"I'm sure I will," Savannah said. "Your hands are a little chilly. Should we get you a drink to help you warm up?" she asked, smiling, because apparently, the French didn't get to have a monopoly on cheesy. 

 Jasmine was pleased with how considerably well this was going. Maybe checking out this new joint had been one of her better ideas. Which was saying a lot considering she was filled with great ideas. Jean and Lucille seemed eager to join them and at Savannah’s suggestion, she got the bartender’s attention with a small wave. “Two more glasses, please,” she said brightly before turning to them, “I hope you like Pinot Noir. If not, we could always get a bottle of something else.”  

She watched as Jean eyed the bottle of wine with a seemingly approving look. “You clearly have good taste,” he stated. Expensive was left unsaid though it was true all the same. “It only seems right that a fine woman should have a fine wine.” It was cheesy, but the way his dark eyes looked her over like she was the most enticing thing he’d ever seen cancelled it out. Savannah and Lucille seemed to be hitting it off, too. With drinks poured all around, Jean suggested, “You know, we have a nice VIP lounge in back.” 

 Savannah was happy to take Jean’s direction on the drinks. She was far more interested in getting to know the two people who’d just joined them for drinks. She quirked an eyebrow at the mention of a VIP lounge. “Oh, that’s very flattering.” The waiter returned with two more glasses and a fresh bottle of wine, but Lucille held up her hand.

“Could you actually take it into the back for us, please?” she said, her voice sugar sweet, but something deviously charming lingering in her gaze. Something Savannah was all too keen to dissect. 

“I think that’s a great idea,” Savannah said, looking to Jasmine. “Shall we?”

 Given the musicians were both attractive, talented, and seemed to have a fair amount of class, they easily agreed to hanging out in the VIP lounge. There was nothing Jasmine loved more than a good VIP section and this spot delivered. The couches that lined the area were a tasteful black, but comfortable and plush… and surprisingly clean. Always a plus. The lighting was dim and the red of the walls gave it a sort of prohibition era vibe that she could get down with. Maybe it wasn’t quite Speakeasy, but she found she enjoyed it all the same.  

The group had chattered on for a bit and the flirtation seemed to be natural between both pairs. Chemistry was definitely there and the time seemed to be moving quickly. She set her own wine glass down as Jean took her hand. She swore she saw a flash of red in his eyes momentarily, but wrote it off as part of the lighting. That was until he placed a kiss on her wrist and she felt something knick it. “Ow,” she said, attempting to draw her arm away from him but his grip on her wrist tightened. Now, the red eyes were definitely not something she could write off as given the glow and sinister look they were delivering now. “Uhm, Savannah,” she said uneasily, not daring to take her eyes off Jean as she fumbled her free arm back for her bag. 

 Savannah could be incredibly awkward, but she could also be endearing and charming. Fortunately, the latter was winning out tonight and Lucille seemed interested. They talk, drank, flirted, and right when she thought maybe she'd be able to actually invite this woman back to her house for some privacy, she heard Jasmine yelp.

"Jas?" she answered, turning to look at the others, and then she saw the glowing red eyes and the hungry expression. "Hey!" She grabbed some pepper spray. "Back off, buddy."

Lucille also jumped up, eyes widening with a gasp. "Jean! Have you gone mad?! Where are your manners?" She waved Savannah's pepper spray holding arm away. "That won't be necessary." 

But Savannah wasn’t convinced and still kept it upright, finger on the trigger. “Get him off her then!” 

 Jasmine still fumbled trying to fish through her purse for one of the iron rods she kept in there, but Jean’s grip only seemed to pull her closer. The smile on his face was daunting to say the least and she noticed just how sharp his teeth were and she noticed a bit of the blood from her wrist on one of them. Great, she finally hits on a hot jazz musician and he just happens to be a hungry vampire. 

Savannah had pepper spray raised up and ready to go, but somehow she doubted that would slow a vampire down. Lucille was saying something about manners that caught Jean’s attention and he pouted, “But Lucille, I’m hungry now.” Before she knew it, he was sinking his teeth back into her wrist to turn her into his dinner. Or a light snack. She didn’t really know. Either way, she shrieked and defensively slammed the heel of her Louboutin into his foot hoping to give new meaning to the whole red bottoms thing. 

The action seemed to distract him enough for him to release his grip on her and she quickly fumbled to grab an iron bar from her purse. Her hands gripped around it and she looked at Jean with a glare. “Come any closer and I will whack you in the face with this thing.” Not the worst threat, but she definitely didn’t have a stake on her. She glanced over at Savannah who was still ready to wield her pepper spray and noticed Lucille’s eyes. “Savannah, watch out!” 

 Savannah stared on in awe at the madness unfolding before her eyes. Lucille had seemed disappointed in this manner of behavior, but not surprised. She had known what he was, probably because she was one and the same. At Jasmine’s warning, Savannah turned, eyes widening at the creature that now had its sights turned on her. 

“Sorry, love,” Lucille said. “He’s not usually like this, but you’ve seen too much now.” Savannah’s heart was in her throat, threatening to force its way out, and as the vampire lunged at her, she sprayed almost the entirety of the bottle into Lucille’s face, causing a scream and a long enough hesitation for the two of them to begin to flee. 

“Let’s go!” She grabbed Jasmine’s free hand, still holding up the spray and firing it into the air behind them as the two of them fumbled through the door and out into the hallway. She could hear the grunts and growls behind them. There was a large heavy box of sound equipment by the door, and Savannah shoved it in front so it would prevent them from being chased for a few moments. She followed the exit signs on the wall. They needed to get the hell out of here.

 Not surprisingly, Jean cared little for Jasmine’s warning. After all, her frame didn’t look like it could wield all that much damage, but as he leaned toward her again, she gave him a good whack in the head with the iron rod. At the same time, she heard Savannah releasing the contents of the pepper spray directly onto Lucille. The pair of musicians were stunned momentarily and she was quick to run off with Savannah. 

Much to her relief, Savannah had managed to block off the hallway so they could get away. Running in heels was less than ideal, but adrenaline worked wonders. She could hardly even feel her feet as they bolted out of the bar. She kept running up the block until she saw a few officers outside of one of the bars. No one would try anything in front of an on duty cop, right? 

She let out an exhausted breath and mumbled, “Holy crap.” While she wasn’t sure how much Savannah knew, she was able to act quickly in the face of supernatural danger. So she cautiously asked, “So… did you know what Lucille and Jean were?” 

 Had they truly cared to track them down, Savannah didn’t doubt that the vampires would have caught up to them, but now that they were in a crowded place, it wasn’t worth the effort, which was fortunate for them. She recalled Carrington’s concern for her a few nights ago when she’d ended up in Teeth. Had this encounter happened first, she might have been a little more cautious about going in, and certainly what had unfolded once she was there. 

“Me?” she asked, sucking at the air to attempt to catch her breath. “No, no, I didn’t know. I thought you were the expert.” Jasmine might not have said as much, but Savannah had read between the lines. Jasmine was savvy and smart. She knew the secrets of this town. “I just wanted a nice night with a hot musician,” she sighed. 

 Initially, her question had come out rushed and Jasmine found she was still trying to catch her breath. Despite her regular cardio there was something about sprinting in heels was definitely enough to leave her winded. That and the face a vampire tried to turn her into a snack didn’t help. That was decidedly not the kind of snack Jasmine wanted to be. She leaned against the brick wall of another bar and kept her arm close to her. “That’s not what I meant,” she said as she shook her head, “It was my idea to come here anyway. I just know-- you seemed hesitant about the idea of haunted houses before.” 

This was a risk, but given what they just experienced, she couldn’t not tell Savannah the truth behind their encounter. It was a matter of safety which was slightly more important than her reputation. She sighed. “Those were vampires. Hence the red glowing eyes and the trying to eat us. Not really my expertise, but I know some about them. If you don’t think I’m totally crazy, I do know a vampire free bar not far from here.” 

“Oh.” Savannah had just about caught her breath now. She was sure she looked a mess, and she’d used the last of her pepper spray. “I… knew that, but only after they bit you.” She pulled a compact out of her purse, examining herself in it to make sure she didn’t look too worse for wear. Her hair needed some attention, and her clothes needed straightening a little, but she was intact. Self consciously, she favored her inner thigh where Carrington had fed from her during their encounter a few nights earlier. “I think we have a lot to talk about.” She nodded to the bar behind them. “Is this one safe? I don’t think we’re done drinking yet.”

[dragonshoard]

Don’t Leave Me (With a Smile) Chapter 1

Charlastor 1920s AU AO3 Link

Summary: New Orleans, 1926. Charlie Magne was the daughter of old money. From the city to the stock market her family had their hands in every pot. In her parent’s ideal world, she was to marry into a wealthy family for connections and continue her mother’s work with the city’s richest, but Charlie never wanted that. Her father was a reasonable man, she could make him see things her way... maybe (though her time was ticking).  

Alistair was a coincidence, a happy happenstance. And her way out. She shouldn’t have been surprised when she fell in love with him. Before, it had been enough to know that he had loved her. 

(If you could call the dark, twisted thing in his chest love)

i’m sorry for any typos ahh

--x--x--x--x--

From the glittering skyline to the bustling streets, New Orleans was truly the place to be if you were anybody. Jazz was the city’s lifeblood and the nightlife was flooded with the clarinets and trumpets playing in tune, drawing in people from miles away. 

Men and women dressed to the nines walked the streets, laughing and sometimes dancing their way to their destinations whether it be to another club or the coffee shop still open down the block. 

Similarly, a small group consisting of one man and two women, just at the start of adulthood, barely squeezed their way past the door of a small cafe into the winter air, clutching onto their hats and fur coats respectively. 

“I don’t know why we don’t do this more often!” The blonde with a brilliantly powdered face smiled through the cold, viciously happy to be surrounded by friends and free of the demands of her parents, however temporary it may have been. 

Her clothing was, perhaps, slightly too conservative to have someone call her a “flapper”, but was well within the style. She was fitted in a gorgeous black dress with golden accents and embroidery in a geometric pattern that shimmered in the streetlight. It covered her arms with sheer golden lace and came up to cover her collar bone. The signature sequin tassels swayed at the cut off just below her knees. Covering it was a beige fur coat that screamed wealth. 

Perhaps she was a bit sheltered, but it had yet to cause any issues. Well, besides the teasing from her friends that ranged from funny to rather ruthless at times. 

“You want me to answer that or ya wanna keep walking, Charlie?” The laugh that followed was loud enough to turn heads. 

The young man in question was visibly taller than most people, in general. He was roughly a head taller than his companions. White hairs artfully laced through his slicked back brown hair despite his obvious youth. His eyes were a warm brown, complementing the slightly tanned skin. 

“I know I don’t get out a lot, but things are changin’, Angel! Daddy’s been getting more clients downtown, so he doesn’t come home as much as he used to… Mama’s been really busy too but she’s also willing to give me some leeway…” The girl directed her beaming smile at him as she hurried along down the sidewalk, nearly running into a pole when she turned back around. 

“Careful! You don’t need a bump on the head to ruin your night! And, honestly, do we have to call you that Martin?” 

‘Angel’ gave her a sharp smile, looking every bit the shark that many had claimed him to be. Charlie was, of course, aware but chose to redirect the two of them to other topics. Even if it meant drawing attention back to herself. 

“I’m fine, Vaggie! You worry too much!” Charlie smiled down brightly at the dark haired woman who had pulled her away from what may have resulted in a very tedious evening. Vaggie had sun-kissed skin with dark eyes that looked nearly black in the low lighting. She had been her first (and at times her only) friend that her father had approved of. 

“Says the one who tried to slip in past the broads that you know you couldn’t have fit a quarter in between the three they were so close together.” Angel smiled even wider, before looking over to the side and waving at a group of people across the street.

Charlie’s smile dimmed to a more mute, yet still appropriately impish, grin before she tucked into Vaggie’s side. “It’s just - I’m so excited! Can you blame me?” 

The answer differed from the faces her two friends made at her. One entirely endearing while the other was more… over it, for lack of better words. Charlie frowned a bit, mostly for show. 

She tried to justify herself. “Lights, crowds of dancers, and all the latest music.” She popped up, almost twirling in place. “It’s just so glamorous, and Daddy has been home for days now, and you know how he is,” she drawled, smirking almost innocently up at the tall “Angel”.  

When “Lucifer” (as many of his business partners had taken to calling him) was home, he preferred older tunes that practically put Charlie to sleep. She could barely find moments where she could put in her records or turn on the radio to listen in without her Daddy hollering for her to turn that trash off. 

Charlie’s father was a charming and charismatic man, when he wanted to be. He treated his daughter as if she was the most precious object in the entire universe. The amount of photos stuffed in nearly ten photo albums from ages zero to three showed the dedication he had towards his little girl. 

And perhaps that was the reason it had become a problem, especially as of lately. The only good thing that came out of the attention these days was that it extended the time she spent in the house and not out finding a husband. Even now, he was hesitant about giving her away and having her no longer in his sights (perhaps that was why he was looking so meticulously, to find someone that may easily fit under his thumb). 

“If you ask me, your pops has got a few screws loose up in his noggin. I mean, come on, you’re twenty-one! Practically an old maid, and he hasn’t even let you go out on a date!” He laughed, hand casually hooking her away from Vaggie and into his side, squashing her into his fashionably striped suit. 

They were nearing the club, the music growing audibly louder from the sidewalk. 

“I’ve been on dates before!” 

“Honey, being chaperoned by Daddy dearest who makes it a point to play with the steak knife ain’t exactly what I would call a date.” He flipped his hair up, tilting his head down so Charlie could see the near mocking grin painted across his features. 

“Lay off her, Angel. I don’t see anyone coming to ask to date you.” Vaggie put a protective hand on Charlie’s shoulder and practically yanked her away from him. 

“Aw come on; don’t be such a tart, I didn’t mean any harm by it! I’m just saying that’s it’s not natural. She should be goin’ out! Having the time of her life! Not sitting home all day doin’ whatever her ‘daddy’ wants her doin’,” he made a derisive hand motion, rolling his eyes.

A sly grin took over and Charlie knew exactly what he was going to say. 

“If you’d just let me introduce you to some of my friends - “ 

“You mean some of your family, Matra - “ 

“Shhush!” He nearly jumped over them to cover both of their mouths, regardless of the fact that Charlie wasn’t even saying anything to begin with. It drew a few lingering eyes to their party. “You want me to get ganked? You can’t say that type of shit in these parts.” 

Vaggie didn’t look particularly apologetic and simply shrugged him off, opting to pull Charlie along with her. She gave him a smug look as they stepped up to doors that barely seemed to contain the music inside. 

“‘K, but seriously toots. I got a cousin that goes by Arlo. He’s a bit of a sap, but he’d treat you right.” 

“None of you would get Daddy’s money if he didn’t approve, and I’m not so sure he’d be happy getting involved with your family.” 

New Orleans wasn’t as bad as, say, Chicago or New York when it came to gang or mafioso violence, but it wasn’t the cleanest either. A politician had been mysteriously “removed” when he’d attempted to go after one of the organized crime rings. 

Angel pouted at that, “Come on, you’ve known me for ages! You think I’d set you up just for the money?” 

They both looked at him with the most unimpressed face they could individually pull. Charlie was the first to let up and laughed as she waited for the entryway to clear. 

A man smoking against the wall gave Charlie a second glance, confused but with a look of vague recognition crossing his features. He opened his mouth, likely to ask if they’d met before, only to be cut off by the tall mafioso whose eyes felt like daggers going into his skin. 

The man quickly turned away and Angel seemed to do a one-eighty, once again smiling at his friends as they were finally able to push open the doors. 

“Welcome to the Lodge! It’s been open for a few years but they added a few ah features that made it more popular over the last couple months.” 

Charlie’s eyes seemed to glimmer as she took in the large space, absentmindedly taking off her coat and hanging it to the side. The Lodge was absolutely luxurious, from the wallpaper to the nearly reflective wood flooring. The band was booming, but not loud enough to drown out the laughter and chatter that was a testament to the hall’s popularity.  

“Oh my - “ Charlie was practically hopping in place, excitement practically vibrating off of her. 

“Hey! Careful, lets not get separated, okay?” Vaggie, being the voice of reason and caution, was quick to hook elbows with Charlie, the only thing that had kept the girl from shooting off into the crowd. 

“Aw, come on, there’s a ton of people here! Not to mention the bulls in literally every corner.” Angel discreetly let his eyes wander around the room as he leaned against a pillar. 

If anyone were to pay close attention, they would notice the men in unremarkable suits lingering near the bar and every little hideyhole you could think of. It made Charlie shift, unsure of how to feel about the knowledge and and slightly concerned. If any of them were in her father’s pockets she was so dead. She ducked her head at the thought, almost attempting to hide via Vaggie despite their height difference. 

“Speaking of the ‘bulls’, should we be concerned,” Vaggie questioned. “I’d rather not get arrested or hauled away in a cab tonight.” 

“Don’t worry about it! They’re the reason the club gets to keep their juice.” Angel was quick to get distracted by a handsome fellow on the other side of the club. “I hate to cut this gaggle short, but I got some tail to catch, if you get my drift. See ya ladies later!” And with that he was off in the other direction. 

Vaggie was thoroughly unimpressed and neither of them looked surprised. Charlie couldn’t help but shake her head. It was a common trick he pulled after they’d all been to a few places; always looking for a guy to end the night with. Charlie admired his boldness; however, couldn’t imagine herself dating so many men, much less having sex with them. 

And it wasn’t like she was there for any of that nonsense to begin with. She was there to dance.

“Come on, Vaggie!” 

The look of sheer panic on her friends face was telling, but it didn’t stop Charlie from dragging her to the packed dance floor. Charlie knew that her dancing was a bit intense for her friend’s (most people, really) liking, which is why she usually ended up dancing solo, but it didn’t mean that she couldn’t make them try for a while before they wore out. 

Charlie tapped her slight heels to the dance floor, tuning into the beat and began shimmying sideways until her hip bumped Vaggie’s. Her glittering smile almost effortlessly brought her friend out of the doom and gloom the thought of dancing with Charlie had put Vaggie in. There was some exasperation, but it was mostly fond. Charlie would take what she got.  

Giggling, she did a small spin. Her feet followed the basic steps of the Charleston to warm up, surprisingly considerate of her reluctant dance partner. Charlie gave Vaggie a mischievous smile that Vaggie had come to know as the turning of the tide against her favor. 

Heart pounding already as Charlie began to speed up, smiling so wide that her face was beginning to hurt: one foot to the side, back and forward. The music seemed louder like this, as if it had drowned out everything else: from the slight static of the stereo someone seemed to be playing in the background to the dancers who seemed to have begun to back away. 

So engrossed in her own movements, she didn’t notice when Vaggie tapped out, unwilling to try and compete with her. And even had she been paying attention, she wouldn’t have noticed that she had caught someone’s eye in a unique way. 

A man, who had taken the invitation for a night on the town by a fellow colleague and had been regretting it deeply, was watching her with the hungriest gaze anyone on that side of New Orleans had ever seen. A tall man with slicked back dark brown hair in a fairly tailored pinstripe suit with a burgundy tie to match similarly colored dress pants. His eyes looked nearly red in a certain light, pulling the look together flawlessly. 

A few years ago, no one would have noticed him, but these days he was too public for at least a few people to recognize the voice of the Alistair Trahan. 

He watched as she pulled up her dress every now and then to perform a kick or jump. His grin grew in glee as she practically leaped across the dance floor, feigning falling a few times only to skip and tap away unscathed. The grace in her movements was uncanny. 

She teetered in between stages of nearly falling and stability so often, he wondered how she hadn’t become dizzy from the whiplash. Perhaps it was the danger that bid her to prefer the dance style (or maybe she just enjoyed it). 

Her energy was something he had rarely seen before. What made it even more energizing was how she never stopped smiling no matter how her dress clung from the sweat that must have been pouring off her in waves or how those heels must have been a pain to dance in. 

She caught his gaze for a split second and those eyes. Dark and piercing as they were compared to his own dreadful gaze. He imagined what it would be like to have those eyes on him and only him. 

He raised a hand to his face, surprising himself when he noticed how flushed he was. He was brought back to reality when he noticed that the band had stopped playing. She was practically glowing as she panted, looking victorious in her stance (and a part of him imagined it as a form of armor, and he wondered what she would look like bound in steel). 

It would be a pleasure to pull apart that cheerful manner and see what was underneath it; see if she was just as golden inside as she was out. 

His mood dimmed slightly (though his smile didn’t show it) when he noticed that another woman had tucked herself into the personified sunshine’s side. 

It seemed there were obstacles that needed to be removed.

[quarantinemusiccalendar]

Day 208: Claudio Monteverdi - Teatro d'Amore (L'Arpeggiata | C. Pluhar)

It’s quite well known in my friends circle, that when it comes to classical music, I am a sucker for old music. Meaning Renaissance and Baroque. Motets, madrigals, complex pieces for choirs of 8-16 voices and such. Renaissance music can sometimes feel a bit too calculated, too predictable, a little stale. But back then it was not uncommon to use mathematical principles when composing music. And then came Baroque as a gust of fresh air and the music suddenly felt wilder, more free and carried more emotions: affection, anger, fear, sorrow and even love and lust. At the center of this huge stylistic shift is Claudio Monteverdi. Claudio Zuan Antonio Monteverdi (1567- 1643), son of an apothecary from Cremona in northern Italy (belonged to Spanish Empire at that point), composer and in later life also a priest, spent most of his life employed as a court musician and choirmaster by Duke of the nearby Mantua and later by the Venician Republic as the maestro di cappella at the basilica of San Marco. Having started his career within the established renaissance musical forms and then incorporated new musical ideas from other musicians and composers (rejection of polyphonic style), he then developed his style even further by the groundbreaking basso continuo technique (bassline and a chord progression) and truly landed music in Baroque. And although he played a part in developing the new style, he was not the only composer responsible for making that leap into that new Baroque style. But he certainly is the most visible of this generation of north Italian musical pioneers of his generation. Just purely due to the fact that his music reached the furthest. In both geographical sense as well as in time. His is the ultimate bridge between Renaissance and Baroque.

As for his work, he composed both sacral and secular music. He wrote a huge variety of music for masses and other sacred occasions, but also 10 operas which were a completely new emerging genre at that time. Unfortunately only 3 of them survived ( L'Orfeo, Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria,  L'incoronazione di Poppea), from 2 other ones we only have fragments and for further 4 we have only the libretto. He is not the founder of Italian Opera, as he is sometimes called, that title belongs to Jacopo Peri, but the new genre was indeed popularized and spread through Europe by Monteverdi’s works. His other secular works included 8 series of madrigals.

Christina Pluhar, a soloist and continuo player originally from Graz, Austria, found a deep passion for old music during her studies. In 2000 she founded the Arpeggiata ensemble. They are based in Paris and their particular focus is on Italian music of the 17th century. They are known for daring instrumental improvisations, exploiting rich textures created by the blending a variety of plucked instruments, and a vocal style strongly influenced by traditional music. Pluhar’s arrangements are driven more by the emotions and feel of each piece rather then the precise instrumentation directed by the score. On this album, Pluhar and her ensemble focus on Monteverdi and his secular compositions. It’s a showcase of the early use of ostinato and walking bass. And since these principles are also heavily used on jazz, this whole album does have a distinctive “classic meets jazz“ quality about it. It’s playful and lush. In the words of Charlote Gardener: “The technical perfection, and the easy informality with each other and the music, with which these pieces are performed, makes for a captivating listen. It's back to those ostinato and walking basses, though, for the disc's trump card. A walking bass is a bass line that moves step by step, and it is an ostinato bass if repeated over and over; they are often associated with jazz musicians, an example being the opening repeated downward bass line of Nina Simone's My Baby Just Cares For Me. Monteverdi, Christina Pluhar points out, actually invented such things as early as 1607. Here, on the tracks featuring a walking bass, the musicians have injected a swing (or, as Pluhar puts it, a 'scherzo musicale') that has turned these pieces into an extraordinary fusion of Baroque and Jazz. The first track on which it appears, Ohime ch'io cado, feels as though Miles Davis has swapped his trumpet for a Baroque cornett and time-travelled back with his band for a jamming session with Monteverdi.  Meld Philippe Jarroussky's sweet countertenor into the mix (who is also letting his hair down), and you've got something that is very special, and very surprising. A Must Listen.” (1)

From the five tracks I have selected, two are taken from Monteverdi’s operas:   L’Orfeo (Orpheus) and L’ incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppaea). Ballo is a madrigal from Monteverdi’s Eighth Book of Madrigals, which was titled Madrigali guerrieri et amorosi (“Madrigals of Love and War”). It was was published in 1638, four years before the composer’s death. The Ballo was originally written for the 1608 wedding of Francesco Gonzaga, son and heir apparent of the Duke of Mantua, and Margaret of Savoy, but it remained unpublished until 1638. Zefiro Torna is a madrigal for 2 tenors and a basso continuo celebrating the return of spring. The lyrics are adapted from a poem written by Ottavio Rinuccini and describe the Greek god Zephyrus who brings spring to the mountains and valleys, filling them with sunlight, blossoming fields, and joy. Chiome d'oro, bel thesoro is a madrigal for 2 sopranos, 2 violins and lute/harpsichord from Monteverdi’s Seventh Book of Madrigals (published 1619).

Happy Sunday, relax and enjoy.

Album highlights: - L’Orfeo, Act 5: Sinfonie & Moresca (SV 318), Arr. Pluhar - Chiome d'oro, bel thesoro (SV 143) - L’ incoronazione di Poppea, Act 3: Pur Ti Miro (SV 308) - Ballo (Book of Madrigals 8, SV 154b) - Zefiro Torna (SV 251), Arr. Pluhar Playlist: https://spoti.fi/37EGELb

Links and references: - Claudio Monteverdi - Wikipedia - Transition from Renaissance to Baroque in instrumental music - Wikipedia - (1) C. Gardener (2009) Claudio Monteverdi: Teatro d'Amore. Review. BBC. - S. Childed (19 September 2019) Zefiro Torna: famous madrigal by Monteverdi lauds the west wind that brings spring. MusicTales.

[itskateak]

It’s Been a Long, Long Time

(Bucky Barnes x Fem!OC)

Summary: Stark’s charity events were always a hit, but Bucky never really liked attending any event anyways. Live music changed the atmosphere and he was surprised to find Velika singing a familiar tune. Well, he couldn’t leave her high and dry without a dance, could he?

Warnings: Mentions of past trauma, nightmares, things that go along with PTSD, blood mentions, and tooth-rotting fluff

Word Count: 3,802 (dang)

A/N: If you didn’t see me yelling about my laptop shutting down mid-writing this the first time...now you know. Thank you, Windows for updating a day before I had scheduled you. Haha :) 

———————————————————————

Bucky leaned against the bar, half-listening to what Steve was saying. The glass in his right hand was half full with some kind of smooth alcohol that Natasha had poured for him earlier in the evening, insisting that he try it. It wasn’t bad, but he wasn’t partial to it. He preferred something that burned the back of his throat when he was done. He nodded slowly along to the story Steve was still rambling on about, gaze somewhere trained on the floor.

Music drifted over the low chatter from a live band Tony Stark had hired. The musicians played jazz, blues, and swing like they were directly from that era. But it wasn’t all classic music. They took modern music as well and turned them into classic and vintage songs. He was quite impressed by the musicians and whoever had arranged the music. The main vocalist sounded like he was taken directly from the 30s and Bucky wondered for a moment if he was. It wasn’t like it was impossible with everything that he’d seen.

“Are you even listening to me, Buck?” Steve lightly shoved his shoulder to gain his attention. Though his tone said he was a little irritated, his expression was amused and his eyes were alight with fondness. 

“Of course.” He lied, giving his best friend an unconvincing smile before he cracked a real one at Steve’s arched eyebrow. “I blanked for a minute. Parties aren’t my thing and I’m starting to, well...you know.” Starting to feel anxious and out of place.

“If you need to step out and get some air, you can. Don’t let me keep you here.” He gave Bucky’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze and a soft smile. Steve Rogers, always so kind and caring and conscientious of his needs. He was patient and so selfless. Sometimes it made him want to punch Steve in the face. 

“I’m okay for now.” Bucky nodded and looked back over the crowd of celebrities and his teammates. 

Tony was somewhere out there, talking to a celebrity or rich person trying to swindle more money out of there for the charity. Sam and Rhodey were probably knee-deep in women, trying to one-up each other with getting-out-of-proportion stories. Wanda and Vision were probably on the terrace getting air. Natasha and Bruce had tucked themselves away in a corner to get away from the crowd. And Clint and his wife were somewhere in the conglomeration.

Everyone was mingling, but Bucky was by the bar, hiding. If people wanted to speak to him for some reason, they could find him. But he couldn’t promise to hold a decent conversation. Socialization was not his thing anymore. Not since his run-ins and dealings with Hydra. 

“Have you seen Velika, yet?” Steve asked, glancing over the crowd. “I thought I caught a glimpse of her earlier, but I couldn’t be sure.”

Velika Dante King was one of their team members that joined after the Accords were signed and the chaos with Thanos had been taken care of. According to her, SHIELD and Fury had been after her for years, trying to get her to join the Avengers. She refused for a long time, insisting she didn’t want to be back in the line of duty. As an ex-guardian angel (who worked in the Palace of Light as a guard. Boring job, she’d said), she’d seen enough action for many lifetimes. Not to mention her years as a bounty hunter later turned hitman for the Silver City She had gotten out and had been living a fairly peaceful life. Eventually, she caved and joined the team.

Velika and Bucky got along fine, understanding each other without words. She’d lived a long time, being an immortal and all, and had been one of many people to sit down and catch him up on things he’d missed. She got him in a way he didn’t expect, even with his past and the things he’d done. She didn’t care, having spilled her fair share of blood in ways that would make even the most experienced assassins nauseous. She got what it was like to wake up at night from nightmares and the inability to sleep because of them. She got jumping at loud noises and having bad days and everything that came along with being the way they are.

Velika was always there when he really needed her.

“No, I haven’t seen her. I suspect she’s up near the stage. Told me that she hasn’t seen her brother in months and Stark hired his group.” Bucky responded, taking another sip of his too smooth drink. Why was he even still drinking it? Natasha wasn’t anywhere near them and he was planning to finish it to not be rude to her.

“I heard Wanda and Nat talking about the dress she’d decided to wear. From the way they were talking, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s got company.” Steve said, setting his own glass down on the bar top. He had a suggestive glint in his eye which was paired with a raised brow. With all the time Bucky spent with the woman, Steve had decided that there was something more than friendly between them. Ever since he’d found them asleep on the couch together, his head in her lap, Steve had been relentless. It had been a month so far, and he had yet to let up.

Bucky rolled his eyes and shoved his shoulder. “If that bugs you, punk, then you go find her.” He teased, ignoring the twisting in his stomach at the thought of some high-class, snobby man flirting with her. He had begun to feel things for her that were in the territory of more than friends but he was never going to admit that to Steve nor himself. Before Steve could make comment on it, a familiar voice came over the speakers.

“Evening, everyone! Thank you for coming this evening and donating to the charity. We’re very happy to say that we’ve more than met our goal, but don’t let that discourage you from donating more. Relief for those still being affected by The Snap is very important and all of us on the Avengers team have made our own contributions.” Velika had taken her brother’s place at the mic and addressed the crowd with a smile. “I am very proud of my brother, Dakota-”

Indignant muttering (Bucky couldn’t hear it well from where he was, but it sounded like something along the lines of: “You know I hate that name.”) interrupted her from her brother beside her and she laughed, waving the white-haired man off. He crossed his arms and pretended to be mad before he broke out in a truly radiant smile.

“I am very proud of my brother, Dakota King, and his group, The Devil Tones, for their success. These very talented musicians agreed to help me with a special project for some very special teammates of mine. I promised Tony Stark, our generous host, that I would sing something if he paid me a thousand dollars.” The guests laughed as she beamed. “Obviously, since I’m up here, he paid me. Which I then turned around and donated to the charity because I’m not a selfish twit. Stark.” She fake coughed to badly conceal his name.

“Not fair, Velika! I will dock your paycheck!” Tony yelled from somewhere in the crowd, though his voice was full of amusement.

“This song is a lovely post World War Two tune that tells of a wonderful homecoming. My brother arranged a beautiful rendition featuring himself on trumpet and Anthony Grey on saxophone. So, to our resident fossils on the Avengers team...wherever you are....” Velika scanned the crowd with her unnaturally blue eyes and spotted the pair at the bar. She waved to them and grinned. “We dedicate this to you. I hope you enjoy.”

Bucky spared a glance at Steve. So, she’d prepared a song for them. He had never heard her sing, knowing that she had trouble with crowds and being in front of an audience. It was admirable that she had stepped out of her comfort zone to bring them a gift. 

Velika conducted a measure before cueing the band in. 

Immediately, Bucky recognized the song and a smile involuntarily crept up on his face. It’s Been a Long, Long Time was a classic post-war song. He had never listened to it before he had been shipped off to the frontlines. And after Hydra had gotten a hold of him, he hadn’t had the opportunity to listen to it. Steve had played it for him when catching him up on everything he’d missed. It was one of his absolute favorites and Bucky had learned to appreciate it. 

The band was phenomenal together. Everything was balanced so that moving lines were heard overtop the rest. The strings were (thankfully) in tune and the drums didn’t feel like they were clashing with the rest of it. The trumpet player, King (as he apparently liked to be referred to by last name rather than first) sounded exactly like the recording, and Bucky was almost convinced that he had been the one to play it in Steve’s record. The tone was so clear and warm and the sound enveloped the entire room without ever being too much.

People started to slow dance with each other, the sentimental message of homecoming drawing them together. Tony found Pepper and drew her close. Vision and Wanda took the floor together. Clint grabbed his wife’s hand and urged her out with a smile. Sam and Rhodey chose one of the women in their audience to sweep off their feet. 

“I’m going to go find Sharon before someone steals her away. Can’t pass up an opportunity to dance.” Steve clapped a hand on Bucky’s shoulder before disappearing into the crowd to find the woman. 

Alone, Bucky watched Velika perform with fascination. She had such an air of charisma that anyone who didn’t know about her aversion to performing would think she was most comfortable on stage. She had a beautiful voice, he realized. It was smooth with a hint of smokiness to it, like a good whiskey. 

“Kiss me once, then kiss me twice, then kiss me once again. It’s been a long, long time. Haven’t felt this way, my dear, since can’t remember when. It’s been a long, long time.” Velika swayed side to side, a smile on her face. Her platinum blonde hair was curled loosely and hung over her shoulders and back like a veil. She looked everything in the world like she had just walked out of a speakeasy during Prohibition.

Bucky downed the rest of his drink, pushing the glass towards the bartender and nodding to say he was finished with it. He shoved his hands in his pockets, tilting his head as the performance went on. It really was a nice gift, and the arrangement was done wonderfully. If he closed his eyes, he could almost imagine being back in a club before the war. Even if the song was post-war.

Steve was right, though. The dress she had worn was beautiful. It fit her perfectly, showing off her body in all the right places. It was a deep blue that offset her light eyes and hair. The floor-length mermaid gown had sheer sleeves with lace decorations that wound up her arms like vines. He wouldn’t be surprised if she’s been fending off men all evening. He fought a sneer at the thought.

“It’s been a long, long time.” 

The saxophone player began his solo as she backed away to give him the spotlight. If anyone had any doubts that Anthony Grey loved what he did, they just needed to watch him. Each note he played was like a bit of his soul, and if it were liquid, it would be pooling at his feet and flooding the floor. Something about a good saxophone solo healed the soul. His tone was rich and clear but had the trademark raspiness of a jazz sax player.

Velika swayed along to the beat in the background, not detracting from the attention, but holding Bucky’s regardless. The lights made her appear like she was glowing. If she had stepped down from the stage, he surely would’ve asked her to dance. But she claimed she had two left feet and therefore would’ve likely turned him down.

The song ended faster than he expected or wanted and he applauded the performance. King hugged his sister and said something to her that made her throw her head back and laugh. Damn, Bucky thought. Under the spotlights, that had been gorgeous. 

Velika approached the mic. “Thank you! I hope you all enjoyed that. I’ll hand the microphone back over to my brother and let you get back to your evening.” And with that, she backed away to leave the stage.

“Thank you, Vel. After that touching song, why don’t we pick things back up?” King said before the band struck up with a swing version of I Wanna Be Like You, which Bucky remembered was originally made famous by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. It was a group Velika had introduced him and Steve to as they played similar music to their era. 

King had much more charisma onstage than his sister. He moved with the music and had a presence that reminded Bucky of Cab Calloway. He watched him, amused and amazed, as he wasn’t aware the male body could move that way. He swung his hips side to side in such a fluid motion that he almost expected him to be made of liquid.

“Are you checking my brother out?” The teasing lilt of Velika’s voice drew his attention and he found her standing beside him, a broad smile on her face.

“Mm, not my type.” Bucky teased back, turning to her. “That was incredible, by the way.” Up close, she was far prettier than he expected. Whoever had done her makeup (as she had confessed she had no idea what to do earlier that week) had done it perfectly to suit her features and bring out her eyes. He knew there were challenges when it came to doing makeup on monolids. A girl back in the day had complained about it to her friends one time and he happened to overhear it. 

“Thank you.” She ducked her head sheepishly and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “I spent so many hours trying making sure I did it some justice instead of butchering it horribly.”

“You did it more than justice, Vel. How’s your evening going?” Bucky felt his nerves and out of placeness return, not realizing that they had been washed away during her performance.

“It’s good. Though, I was regretting my choice of attire earlier. I kept fending of guys and their compliments and flirting. Ugh.” She rolled her eyes in annoyance but still had a smile on her face. “I’m feeling a little anxious now that the performance is done and my adrenaline has worn off.”

“I don’t s’pose you’d mind if I steal you away for some air, then? I’ve been feeling closed in, too.” Bucky straightened up. “The roof should be open.”

“Shall we then?” Velika offered her arm up to him and he looped his through. Together, they headed for the elevator.

———————————————————————

“Oh, God. I regret wearing these shoes.” Velika used Bucky’s arm to keep her balance as she slipped her heels off. She ditched them by the elevator doors. “My knees hurt.”

“Why did you wear them, then?” Bucky asked, shaking his head slightly in amusement.

“Because I’m short, Barnes, and I’d trip over my dress if I didn’t!” She lightly socked his bicep, causing him to laugh. She wandered to the railing, staring out over the city.

Bucky joined her, the light breeze ruffling the ends of his hair. It was quiet up here, as the party was four or five floors down and the levels muffled the music until it was just a whisper. The city lights were different from the stage lights and lit up Velika’s eyes like stars. 

“Did you find some dame to dance with?” Velika asked, shifting her hair over one shoulder. She quirked a brow with a smirk, having put on a heavy New York accent to badly imitate a young Bucky. He playfully shoved her shoulder.

“I would’ve asked you, but you were busy providing the music.” He admitted with a smile.

“Well, you know I have two left feet. I wouldn’t want to step on your foot, hon’.” Velika turned around and leaned her back on the railing. “I do kind of wish I’d gotten to dance, though.”

“Miss King, would you do me the great honors of joining me for a dance?” Bucky made a show of extending his hand to her, putting on his best posh accent to make her laugh.

“Here? Now?”

“Well, I can’t leave my best girl without a dance.” He leaned forward a little more, urging her to take his hand. She did with a smile and pulled him away from the railing to a more open part of the roof.

“I’m your best girl now, huh? Don’t let Nat hear you say that.” Velika swung their hands a little.

“I couldn’t care less about what Nat thinks.” Bucky rested his metal hand on her lower back, clutching her other hand tightly. Her hand settled on his upper arm. He was about to take the first step before he realized they were missing something. “Are we going to awkwardly sway or is there some music you’re gonna magically put on?”

“Give me your phone, you dork.” She giggled and began navigating through it once he’d passed it to her. “Do I have to do everything?” 

“I will throw you off this roof, Miss King,” Bucky responded. Despite it being a threat, he was trying to conceal laughter.

“Is there a specific song you’d like me to play?” She asked after shoving his shoulder again.

Bucky considered it, thinking of all the songs he’d heard that would be good to dance to. He only wanted to slow dance, as that would minimize the risk of injury from his two-left-footed partner. At least she wasn’t wearing the heels, so it wouldn’t hurt him. “Ella Fitzgerald and Bing Crosby. Dream a Little Dream of Me.” He finally said.

“Oh, good choice.” Velika turned the volume up on the song and tucked it into the pocket on his chest, resting it against the folded handkerchief. She took up his hand and settled her hand on his bicep again.

Bucky gently laid his metal hand on her lower back again and began to sway from side to side. The tempo was perfect for a relaxed dance. There was no one to impress. No one to watch (other than FRIDAY through the cameras) and no one to point out that they were far closer to each other than was really necessary for a simple dance like this. 

Velika stepped on his shoe and broke into giggles. “Glad I took my heels off?”

“I’ve been hurt worse.” He let go of her hand and brushed a strand of hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear. “How is someone as graceful as you so bad at dancing?”

“I’m a fighter, not a dancer! They never taught me to dance, jerk.” She lightly slapped his chest. “My brother’s the dancer.”

Bucky slowly spun her under her arm before pulling her back in. She looked beautiful that way, smiling at him over her shoulder in the light of the city. 

Velika raised a brow as her hand slid down to his elbow rather than his bicep. “You’re staring.”

“Sorry, can’t help it.” Bucky chuckled. “You’re beautiful. Used to seeing you all strapped in and ready to fight. Can’t blame me if I just want to take it in.”

Velika shook her head but smiled nonetheless. He seemed to be getting her to smile a lot tonight, but that wasn’t a bad thing. He adored her smile, even with the fact the left side didn’t rise as much as the right. She leaned her head on his chest, eyes closing. 

Bucky wrapped his left arm completely around her waist, pulling her closer. Something felt right about this, and all feelings of being out of place and on edge left. He was sure she could hear his heartbeat steadily increasing. He never would have imagined that the woman he met a year ago, jaded and untrusting, would be in his arms, dancing with him on the roof. 

It felt peaceful, domestic. For once, Bucky felt like he was entirely human again. Like he wasn’t always walking on eggshells with himself to avoid relapsing into his old ways, even after T’Challa had his team had helped remove Hydra’s programming. And for once, he felt that he could leave it behind and start a life.

The song was ending far too quickly for his liking. He wanted this moment to last forever because he didn’t know if he’d ever feel like this again. If they’d ever be like this again. As the song came to a close, he spun her under her arm again and brought her into a gentle dip, supporting her with his metal arm.

Velika looked back up at him, hands holding onto his shoulders with a loose grip. She trusted him to not drop her. Her unnaturally light blue eyes flickered between his, judging his expression. One hand came up to tuck a stray lock of hair behind his ear. It lingered on his cheek.

Bucky leaned in tentatively, heart in his throat. Was he really going to do this? This could destroy the friendship they’d built over the last year. He couldn’t keep it in any longer. He liked her more than a friend and he wanted to hold her like this all the time. He hadn’t realized he’d been hovering a hair away from her until she pulled him down.

Velika kissed him, the hand still on his shoulder wrapping around his neck. Her lips tasted like strawberry chapstick and some kind of alcohol that she had had earlier. They were soft and moved against his own like a perfect match. A missing piece in a puzzle finding its place. A wandering warrior finding their home.

He broke this kiss and leaned his forehead against hers, watching those bright blue eyes flutter open. He couldn’t help the smile that broke out on his face. She returned it with a soft giggle, her teeth catching her lip.

“Can I...can I kiss you again?” He asked, breathlessly.

“You can kiss me as much as you want and whenever you want, James Buchanan Barnes.”

[davethot]

read more

The air was thick with idle chatter and the smell of tobacco. At the other end of the crowded room a gentleman plucked softly at a piano, its melodies weaving through the clouds of smoke and filling the room with its pleasant and comforting familiarity. While Rose could not exactly pinpoint the exact tune, the perfectly timed chords and trilled runs had her heel aimlessly tapping along with the beat, making inaudible clicks as she did so.

Her legs were comfortably crossed underneath the small wooden table, giving her aching feet a moment to properly rest. She had somewhat underestimated how much of a walk that particular bar was from her apartment. She was also leaned forward so that her elbow was propped up on the surface, allowing her to rest her cheek in her hand and stare somewhat blankly out towards the stage. It perhaps wasn't the most ladylike position to be sitting in, but she truly felt as if she had blended in with the crowd enough that no one had even spared her more than a passing glance. Fine by her, it wasn't like she preferred it any other way.

She took the next few minutes to people watch, a personal favorite hobby of hers. As always the majority of the crowd were men, their cigars and cigarettes between their lips as they took long drags and let the smoke float lazily up towards the ceiling. Most of their faces were pink with drunkenness, their laughs loud and harsh against the soft jazz piece that now utilized a soprano sax as well as the piano still being played by the same gentleman. The ice cubes in their glasses clicked gently against each other every time they were lifted up to their mouths, typically downing most of the alcohol in one or two drinks. Some of them had their wives or girlfriends next to them, their style of dress much more diverse compared to their male counterparts. Their dresses tended to be strikingly beautiful, the sequin details twinkling when the dim lighting hit them just right. Their lips were painted in various shades of dark pinks and reds, not seeming to smudge at all as they took delicate sips out of their own glasses.

Rose let out a silent sigh through her nose, silently debating whether or not she should gather her things and go. She had lost track of the time and knew it was only getting later.

As she considered her options, a tall figure on the other side of the table tore her away from her train of thought. On instinct she raised her head from her hand, her violet eyes falling curiously on the person who had stopped by her table. "Good evening." A smooth and deep female voice said to her.

At first she thought it was a waitress there to fill her glass, so she was surprised to see that instead it seemed to be another patron. The woman wore a jade green dress that stopped right above her knees, the fit overall slightly loose with a plunging neckline that ended at a point in the middle of her chest. She was not particularly overly endowed in that area, so the slightly unconventional cut was not quite as revealing as one may think upon first glance. While the dress itself was relatively plain, the extravagance in her appearance instead made itself known through her accessories. A black fur coat hung off of her shoulders, simply being held up by her forearms where the extra material pooled. Her intricate necklace was only complimented by large matching earrings, hanging down from her pierced lobes.

Rose, realizing that she hadn't responded for a few seconds, quickly sat up in her chair and uncrossed her legs so that she was sitting properly. "Good evening." She answered, her naturally quiet voice getting somewhat lost in the noise. She hoped the woman heard her.

To her relief, the other smiled gently, her lips painted a color so dark that at first Rose thought it to be black, but in fact may have been a dark green color to compliment her attire. "Would you mind if I had a seat? It's quite crowded in here tonight."

Rose nodded instantly, not against having a guest. "Please." She offered verbally.

The woman dipped her head as she pulled the metal chair from underneath the table, and Rose could not help but admire her sharp profile. Smoothing out her dress underneath her, she took a seat, setting her white bag down on the table. "Thank you, I appreciate it."

Rose gracefully waved a hand, dismissing the gratitude to signify she was unbothered. "It's no trouble."

There was a couple seconds of silence, though it wasn't as awkward as Rose had feared. She didn't miss the way the woman had taken that time to give her a proper look over, much like Rose had just done to her. Her dark eyes lingered on her face, no doubt taking in her strangely colored eyes and her perfectly styled platinum hair, a piece of it curling gently along her jawline and onto her cheek.

"If you were waiting for someone I'll only accompany you until they get here." The woman said, still somewhat worried about inconveniencing her.

Rose shook her head. "I wasn't."

The other raised a filled in eyebrow. "Oh?"

"My sister works as a waitress here. I stop by to visit since we don't see much of each other at home anymore." Rose explained, picking up on the question that the woman wanted to ask but didn't quite say.

Seemingly relieved that Rose picked up on that, she nodded, smiling again. "What is your name, if I may ask?"

"Rose Lalonde." She responded easily.

"Nice to meet you, Rose." The woman said politely, holding her hand out across the table. "My name is Kanaya Maryam."

Kanaya... Rose thought, somewhat affectionately. She liked that name. She extended her own hand out as well, taking Kanaya's hand into her own in a short shake. She had a decent grip in her long, dainty fingers, and her dark skin was warm to the touch. "Pleasured to make your acquaintance, Kanaya."

The two women smiled at one another as they put their hands back down into their laps, feeling much more at ease with introductions out of the way. "You said your sister works here?" Kanaya asked, continuing the conversation.

Rose nodded, picking up her glass from the table and swirling around the remains of her water at the bottom. "Yes, I believe she's helping at the bar right now."

Kanaya turned her head in that direction, scanning the crowd for a woman with a fair complexion and blond hair much like Rose's. As her head was turned, Rose couldn't help but appreciate the artistry in Kanaya's make up, her eyeliner and eyeshadow crafted with care and precision. It made her want to practice more.

Once Kanaya had spotted the woman in question refilling drinks and chatting happily with customers, she giggled softly, turning back to Rose. "She seems to enjoy it."

Rose let out a somewhat dry laugh from her throat. "Definitely not something I'd be happy with, but then again we're not very similar in anything other than appearance."

The other hummed in understanding. "It's nice that you take the time to come see her."

Rose's expression softened, not sure what else to say to that, and instead just nodding. There was a beat of silence. "What brings you here, Kanaya?" She asked, wanting to keep the conversation going. She couldn't help it, she was... somewhat enamored with her.

"I also work here."

Surprised, Rose tilted her head curiously. "Oh? I'm surprised I haven't seen you before. I feel like I would remember you."

Thankfully Kanaya took that comment in the exact way Rose wanted her to, and her smile turned a little more flirtatious. "I'm a relatively new employee. Have only been coming in the last few weeks."

That explained it, Rose thought. "Well, at least that means I'll be able to see you again."

Kanaya giggled, bringing a hand up to cover her mouth as she did so. "I would like that as well. Who knows, maybe we can become friends." She offered, though there was an extra something in her voice that shifted the tone into one that suggested that maybe it could go beyond that.

Rose tried not to get her hopes up, but she was admittedly a little starstruck in that moment. "I'd love that." She said genuinely.

Before Kanaya could say anything else, she turned her head to the stage as the saxophonist belted out the last few bars of his song, the perfectly in tune note ringing out in the air into the foggy air. Those who were paying attention politely clapped for him as he bowed, stepping off of the stage.

"Speaking of work," Kanaya began, smoothly rising up from her chair. "I have to go. It was wonderful meeting you, Rose. I'm looking forward to seeing each other again."

Rose looked up at her, not able to hold back the slight disappointment in her departure. She just hoped it wasn't that apparent on her face. "Of course, I'm sure it will be somewhat soon."

Again, Kanaya dipped her head in a single nod. "Have a wonderful evening, Rose."

With that, she gracefully turned and began walking in the other direction, her black heels clicking smartly on the hard floor. Once her back was turned, Rose once again let out a sigh, already moving to gather up her things and leave for the night. However, just as she grabbed her bag and was about to rise up from her seat, she saw Kanaya step up onto the stage at the other end of the room, the lights making her jewelry sparkle and her skin glow. Rose raised her thin eyebrows, watching the woman take her place on stage behind the microphone. She adjusted it to be her height, nodding at the man nearby, ready and holding a trumpet. Intrigued, Rose settled back in her seat, watching on.

After a few preparatory beats, the trumpet player began to play, the first few notes of the song clear as a bell. The melody was soft, smooth, and comforting; a melody that could make anyone's worries melt away after only a few seconds. Without any sheet music to accompany him, the trumpet player simply went off of feeling and what felt right to him, effectively adding in his own crescendos and flourishes to give the piece more character.

After the introductory melody was played, another man off to the side with a guitar on his lap began to pluck out a rhythm similar to the trumpet. Together they both gradually quieted their volume, and Kanaya began to sing.

Hold me close and hold me fast, This magic spell you cast, This is la vie en rose...

Her voice was soft, low, and crooning. Her eyes were delicately closed as she sang, her hands keeping a loose grip on the microphone stand in front of her. She was actually singing the song in French, her pronunciation easy and effortless. Rose, also knowing French, had no trouble understanding her as she sang.

When you kiss me heaven sighs, And though I close my eyes, I see la vie en rose...

When you press me to your heart, I'm in a world apart, A world where roses bloom, And when you speak, Angels sing from above, Everyday words seems, To turn into love songs...

As Rose listened, she unknowingly began to relax even more in her seat, once again resting her elbow on the table and propping her cheek up in her hand. She typically wasn't one to be moved by love songs, but the gentleness of Kanaya's voice and the way she lovingly sang every word made Rose indulge herself, if only for a moment. Kanaya held out the last note of the verse, letting it subtly ring out until there was a beat of silence. As the melody kicked back in and she began to sing the last verse, Rose closed her eyes like a content cat, letting the sound lull her.

Give your heart and soul to me, And life will always be la vie en rose, And when you speak, Angels sing from above, Everyday words seems, To turn into love songs...

Give your heart and soul to me, And life will always be la vie en rose...

Once the patrons were sure that the song had ended, Rose lifted her head up just in time to join in on the polite claps (and enthusiastic whistles from those closer to the stage). Kanaya bowed her head in thanks to them, waiting to let the applause die down before the notes of a new song began to play. This tune was faster and more upbeat, and she began to tap her foot along with the melody to assist her in singing along.

As Rose listened, she had completely forgotten about her earlier plans to leave. The hour was late, and Rose really should have started the journey home awhile ago. Though, in that moment, she couldn't bring herself to care all that much. The constant white noise of drunken chatter and laughter fell away as she let herself indulge in Kanaya's performance for at least a moment longer, not thinking of any other place she'd rather be.

[bachyou]

Orchestral Burn Book

by Yours Truly, a bitter violist.

---

Violins: Divas. They stretch every melody in an attempt to see which soloist can get an audience member to hold their yawn the longest. They suck at staying with the beat and hate themselves so much, they only come in two groups. NEXT

Violists: Derpy workaholics. These kiddos, along with the clarinet, bassoon, French horn, the conga, and often the snare drum, are filling in all that rhythm around the timpani and compensating for your HORRIBLE mismanagement of pitches around us. FML, you need to be thankful we’re content out of the limelight.

Cellos: Violin 2, emote harder. Cellos get just as many epic solos as the leads but with 3x the range and technique. They stay on the beat but are also given some UNFAIR passages to play and often suffer when they have to play together /quietly/.

Basses: If this were the Baroque era, these deep-dish twangos would have the power of the Timpani but sadly... they are too quiet in any number fewer than a dozen. They are... okay with this. It's fine.                          This is fine.

Flutes: Tweet Rockets. Champion of their race was John Phillip "Liberty Bells" Sousa who gave them and their shrieking cousin, the Piccolo, the kinds of melodies that didn't so much stick in your mind as slice their way in through your THROBBING TEMPLES.

OBOES: If I didn't play viola, I would live over here. It might waddle like a duck and quack like a duck and really, really sound like a duck, but it's also one of the most expressive colors I could imagine. Gabriel's Oboe, every bit the schlock I believe it sounds like, is just perfect in its capable keys. I get shivers and I hate it.

Clarinet: I hate these honk-bois almost as much as I hate the Soprano-GD-Saxophone. Mozart fricking loved them and wrote a bazillion parts. Not one Clarinetist I've met has had the lung capacity to hit his high notes and not see white at the corners of their eyes.

Saxophone: Sir Not-Appearing-In-My-Damn-Orchestra. Mussorgsky wrote one (1) good orchestra part for it in Pictures at an Exhibition and since then, it has been relegated to the hell that is the jazz hallway.

English Horn and the Bass Clarinet: the Oboe's and Clarinet's stupid old uncles. They're stubborn and farty and there's NO reason for both of them to come over at the same time but oh no it's too late YES WE'LL GET ANOTHER PLATE.

Bassoon: This one makes me giggle the most and yet, the Sorcerer's Apprentice gets a bad rap, I think. It's extremely functional, filling the slot of "woodwind cello" and plays on the bottoms of chords and downbeats a lot. It's just... limited and older.

Contrabassoon: I can’t see you behind your instrument and you can’t see the upbeat. *shrug*

Trumpets: The worst offender. Superman and Batman. Sigfried and Oden. Fanfares and hunting calls and holy wrath, these high and mighty types only come in two flavors: Look at this! I'm going to blow your mind with my VOLUME, speed, /screaming high pitches/ and...                       Behold my power. Only one of those makes me moist.

French Horns: It took us a while to figure out how to curl the brass like that so it's like they showed up to Art Music 3 centuries late with a Starbucks saying, "What, we're using pistons now? Fuck, what am I gonna do with all these valves? Oh well, better stick my hand in my own ass and blow so hard I might shit myself."

Trombones: What's up? Here's the slide-o-phones! You'd think that the convenience of being able to adjust with only the twitch of the wrist would mean they react to sour pitches better. You'd think. They make up for it by being super friendly.

Tuba: The 'OOM' of your 'pah.' Every orchestra needs one but they spawn naturally in band halls, football stadiums, and gazebos though only seasonally around Oktoberfest. We don't trust them with melodies, really, it's just not their forte.

Euphonium: The kid-sister of the Tuba. Mom and Dad only made you because they realized Tuba was gonna be hard to carry. Sux.

Timpani: Already touched upon the power behind the throne but fun history fact is they used to be really hard to tune and the oil would freeze in church sometimes. That's rough if your notes are the Tonic and Dominant (I and V) of the whole ensemble, so often you needed as many timpani as you had notes. Pedals changed this in the... 1800's I wanna say.

Marimba and Xylophone: Long thin planks of wood overtop metal resonators. A good way to remember which is which is that theee Marimba is Mellow and the Xylophone is the drill that will pierce the heavens! Good for Latin dance, early radio Ragtime, using way too many sticks to make that chord work and now, to their everlasting shame, ambience at spas.

[nerianasims]

Billboard #1s 1968

Under the cut.

John Fred And His Playboy Band – “Judy In Disguise (With Glasses)” -- January 20, 1968

This is not a parody of Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds. It probably would have been better if it had been. It actually makes less sense than that. The narrator seems to resent that Judy wears bracelets. Apparently she dumped him? And in revenge, he plans to take her glasses, which is absolutely foul. Also he does what sounds like sexual moaning some because why not be as tacky as possible. Terrible song.

The Lemon Pipers – “Green Tambourine” -- February 3, 1968

The narrator is asking for pennies for playing his tambourine. That's it, that's the song. Musically, though, it's kinda psychedelic, so that's something. Incredibly lightweight.

Paul Mauriat – “Love Is Blue” -- February 10, 1968

It's an instrumental that starts quietly with a harpsichord. Then there's a loud string/brass part. It's pretty, but it doesn't really stir my imagination. And if an instrumental gives my imagination nothing to work with, and also isn't intellectually interesting, I do not like it. Blah.

Otis Redding -- "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" -- March 16, 1968

There are few perfect songs. This is one of them.

Bobby Goldsboro – “Honey” -- April 13, 1968

The song feels like trying to wade through honey musically. Except it's bitter, not sweet. Unintentionally so. Honey is the narrator's dead wife. He made fun of her pretty much constantly, then came home one day and she was "crying needlessly," and apparently she killed herself. Now he misses her. This could be a good song if the narrator seemed to realize what he did wrong, or if there were clues in the music and lyrics that showed he was intended to be seen as a colossal jerk. But there aren't.

Archie Bell & The Drells – “Tighten Up” -- May 18, 1968

It's a funk song in which Archie talks rather than sings. Not raps, just talks. He says it's a dance song, but I have no idea how anyone who wasn't an amazing dancer could dance to this beat. It's an odd little piece.

Simon & Garfunkel: “Mrs. Robinson” -- June 1, 1968

Coo coo ca choo. It's a song about Baby Boomer nostalgia before those became suffocatingly ubiquitous. It's also the best of its kind, because it punctures that nostalgia neatly. The guitar and singing are great too, of course. And I always feel like dancing to it, though I don't think that was the intention.

Herb Alpert – “This Guy’s In Love With You” -- June 22, 1968

70s easy listening is coming, whether I like it or not, and this song heralds it. Burt Bacharach wrote this thing. It's not as bad as many (most) of its successors will be, but then Bacharach was far from the worst of the easy listening writers. But I cannot care about this song at all.

Hugh Masekela – “Grazing In The Grass” -- July 20, 1968

It's a jazz trumpet song by a South African musician. So that's interesting. He's no Miles Davis, but still pretty good.

The Doors – “Hello, I Love You” -- August 3, 1968

I'm sorry, Jim Morrison's singing was too sexy. It makes the songs themselves difficult to evaluate. I do think this song is better than "Light My Fire." "Hello, I love you, won't you tell me your name" is a great hook. And the music is insistent, and insistently sexual. So yeah, I like the song.

The Rascals – “People Got To Be Free” -- August 17, 1968

"People everywhere just got to be free." Yep. It's a well-meaning song with okay but not great music. There's nothing profound or memorable here, but its heart is certainly in the right place.

Jeannie C. Riley – “Harper Valley P.T.A.” -- September 21, 1968

An upbeat story country song. The Harper Valley P.T.A. sends a note to a widow woman that they don't approve of her short skirts and dating men. But the widow goes to their meeting and calls them all out as hypocrites. It turns out that the narrator is the widow's daughter, and she's proud of her mother. It's got bite, and at the time, a song like this was a big deal. I like it, but musically it is a bit repetitive.

The Beatles – “Hey Jude” -- September 28, 1968

This song is too damn long. No one needs four minutes of "na-na-na"s. Because of that, and that it's musically kinda gloopy, it's one of the few Beatles songs I actually dislike.

Diana Ross & The Supremes – “Love Child” -- November 30, 1968

The Supremes have found their footing again, with a different sound and very different subject matter from what they'd had before. The narrator is the child of an unmarried mother, about which she's always felt shame. Things have changed there since, but not so much with the material conditions of poverty that she grew up in. She's telling her boyfriend she's not going to have sex with him, because she refuses to risk bringing a child into the world with the same problems she had, which makes it one of the Supremes songs in which the narrator doesn't sound like a doormat. It's a little bit disco-ish, but still rooted in Motown. And it's really good.

Marvin Gaye – “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” -- December 14, 1968 

The narrator has heard rumors that his wife/girlfriend is going to leave him for a previous guy. He seems convinced the rumors are true, but I've always thought they were false. And if he keeps being this suspicious, he is going to lose her. It's full Motown, with horns and strings and backup singers. But Marvin Gaye's the only one who really matters musically here. A truly great song.

BEST OF 1968: "Sittin' On the Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding WORST OF 1968: "Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)" by John Fred and His Playboy Band