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mrs-johansson · 13 days

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Escape from LA - Lisa Manobal x Fem!Depp!Reader

Part 8:

I couldn’t tell if I was hallucinating or not. Her body moved around like it was the easiest thing in the world. I didn’t even know she was gonna pole dance!

Lisa walked off the stairs and she was in a different outfit and my eyes didn’t move from her body.

“Give me what the fuck I want!” As she sang those words, my mind just went to so many places. “I would give her every fucking thing!” I couldn’t help but say, my sister, laughing hysterically while pointing a camera in my face.

Lisa’s dance parts were just INSANE. She was so flexible and well controlled, it was unbelievable.

“I think I’m high,” I said once she was off stage. Shake grabbed me by the shoulder and shook me a little. “Bro, you’re so damned! You gotta talk to her later!” She said and I didn’t know what to say. “I’ll need a lot of alcohol for that!” Yeah… My brain was fried.

The dancers left the stage soon, then pitched black again.

And then BOOMBAYAH started playing. Literally one of my top three BP songs.

The way Lisa said that bad girl line was like a big hit of green. Her outfit was even better than the previous two, hugging her body perfectly.

I was jumping, dancing and singing at the same time. So happy to be there, spending my birthday like this was the best.

Lovesick girls came next, and Lisa’s part in this song is just so good. I was literally just watching her dance and sing her heart out.

Type girl was alone an experience. The way this choreography was put together was absolutely incredible. These feathers were fantastic. Lisa’s rap part was hot as fuck like all of them so far.

Shut down is my favorite. Like all time favorite. The way I sang this song with my shitty ass Korean was criminal. I filmed a lot again, taking a bunch of pictures but also just staring at Lisa.

I feel like Tally is the most relatable for me. And clearly the girls were really enjoying every word and singing with their heart.

One of the last songs was Ddu-du ddu-du and the crowd ate it up. Everyone knows this song so even if you’re not a fan you’ll know it. The visuals went off once again, looking so dope. The dance was so fun and iconic. I didn’t want any of it to end.

Forever young was the closing song and they were on a platform now, rising to the sky, and I bet even from there they couldn’t see the end of the crowd. Then the girls were on the stage again, making their way back to the main part. All of the dancers came in for the last few minutes, lights and special effects going crazy, lighting up the crowd. It was a big ass party.

The girls said their goodbyes and Lisa was almost running off stage. But they stopped at the top and said a couple more things while the platform took them down.

Lily-Rose, Shake and I fought our way backstage which was very hard but we made it. Obviously it was very rowdy and busy back there, so I thought I’d wait for a while so the girls have their moments with their team. I asked for a round of drinks for the three of us and paid but then my phone buzzed.

Lisa💋: where are you?

me: backstage, we’re at the bar

Lisa💋: stay there!

I took the gin and tonic from the bartender and looked for any possible signs of Lisa. Then I saw slender arms wiggling in the air, making their way through the crowd. Phone in one of the hands while the other held a pink plastic cup. The last couple people stepped away and Lisa popped out of the crowd, an enormous smile on her face, looking around then she saw me. She didn’t waste time and ran over to me and wrapped her arms around my waist and lifted me off the ground. My hands immediately grabbed onto her shoulders, trying to balance my cup in one of them as she spun us around. After a couple seconds she put me down, the smile didn’t disappear from her face. She was breathing heavily and her eyes were sparkling. “You were fucking amazing!” I acknowledged, my hands still on her shoulders, and hers around my waist. “My jaw was literally on the floor. I’m sure my sister has pictures of it.” Lisa chuckled and she looked away because of shyness. “I’m glad you enjoyed it,” she said, her voice very humbled and genuine. “And your solo… Why didn’t you tell me you’re gonna be dancing on a pole?” I raised my eyebrows and a smirk immediately pulled on her fluffy lips. “It was a surprise… You knew a lot about the show already, I had to keep something special,” she shrugged and I scoffed. “Well that… I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget. A birthday to remember…” I tilted my head a little, looking down at her lips then back to her eyes. “The night is still young,” Lisa lifted the cup to her lips, taking a long sip of whatever she was drinking. Her eyes remained on me and all I could think about was her dancing on that pole and the video that was on the screen before she came on.

Lisa changed into a different outfit but kept her hair and makeup, while I waited for her I chatted with Rosie and she was getting tipsier by the minute so it was really funny. We were sitting on one of the coaches in the garden area, and we were having drinks. Suddenly she put her arm around my shoulder, and looked at me with a serious but funny face. “Can I tell you something?” She asked and I chuckled but nodded. “Lisa is so much happier since you two are talking. She always talks about you, it’s getting annoying sometimes but you know…” she shrugged and I could only laugh. I’m sure Lisa wouldn’t be happy to hear Rose spill her secrets. “Well I’m much happier since I’m talking to her. I guess that’s a plus right?” I asked, curious about her tipsy answer. “Aw come on, just ask her out already. I’m 100% sure she would say yes, actually…” She leaned back in her seat, taking a sip of vodka soda that she was drinking. “101% sure.” Rose said and I shook my head with a smile. “You really think she would say yes? The circumstances are pretty shitty, you know that,” I downed the last bit of my drink. The trailer door opened, Lisa and the girls came out in their different outfits, a drink with each of them. “It’s worth a try,” Rose whispered before standing up, pulling me with her. “Y/n rides with us,” she announced to the three others and I looked at her questioningly. “Am I?” “Yes.” Lisa said with a serious face, coming to my side and putting her arm around my waist. I gently put my hand over hers, brushing my thumb over her knuckles. “And where are we going exactly?” I asked. “We rented a house for the after party, it’s not far from here.”

After everyone got their stuff we all made our way to the cars waiting for us, Jennie texted Lily-Rose the address so they could come too. Jisoo and Jennie sat at the first two seats behind the driver, then Rose took two seats, saying she needs to rest her legs, so Lisa and I were in the back, not that I minded. “I took so many pictures and videos, I think my phone is gonna explode,” I said as I scrolled through my gallery. “Are they any good?” Rose asked and I pulled a face, knowing probably half of the pictures will be blurry. “No comment.”

Lisa was staring at her phone next to me, and she was very quiet. I didn’t want to peek at her screen so I just turned my head away. Her hand landed on my knee, making me look at her. She handed me her phone, her messages with someone. Oh shit.

Frédéric A.: hey, I just got the invite to the after party from your team. Just wanted to tell you I’ll be there

My eyes were on Lisa in a second. She looked furious. “A lot of people will be there, it’s gonna be fine,” I brushed my hand along hers. “Yeah, but I thought he was busy and he couldn’t come, now suddenly he has time,” she said. “But he doesn’t know, does he?” I asked, not sure about this reaction. “No, of course not.” I’m so curious about this guy though. “Have you guys talked about this though? I mean… seeing other people,” I asked carefully. Lisa closed her phone without giving a reply to Frédéric. “We said if there’s someone, obviously we’ll have to keep it very private. I’m sure he has someone too,” she said, avoiding eye contact. So this means she’s somewhat serious about this?

We were listening to music on the way to the house, and altogether had a very great vibe from that. I couldn’t help but always have my hands somehow on Lisa. Either on her thigh, her arms or her waist but it’s not like it wasn’t the other way around.

Soon we got to the house and already there were a bunch of people, colorful lights escaping through the tall windows. I could see Lily-Rose and Shake smoking outside the house, talking with some other people, but I couldn’t see who so I just left the subject. Then we got out of the car and Lisa grabbed onto my arm, pulling me to her side which made me look up at her immediately, thinking something’s wrong. “Why is your sister talking to Frédéric?” As she said those words I looked over and noticed him right away, then me and my sister made eye contact. Lily-Rose waved us over, and I cleared my throat. “This is gonna be awkward.”

#gxg #lalisa manobal #lalisa manoban #lalisa #lisa x female reader #lisa x reader #lisa manobal #blackpink lisa #lisa manoban #lisa #blackpink x you #blackpink x reader #blackpink #coachella #jennie #jisoo #rosé #wlw

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ryuichirou · 2 months

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A couple of replies related to the shipping chart we posted yesterday and a bunch of other twst-related ones.

Anonymous asked:

(Hi! just saw the shipping cart) Kalim/Idia... 👀👀👀 I'am listening

It’s just like it says in the chart, Anon, they do seem like the type of ship we would like. The contrast between their energies is just way too fun. I briefly talked about them last week, actually!

Anonymous asked:

I saw some interesting ships in your tier 👀 TreyVil? The epitome of Just A Guy x The hottest person on twst. OrthoMalleus? Ok maybe they'll make out hundreds of years later after everyone else has died.

Trey/Vil is a ship that started with a “hmm”, but the more I think about it the more I like it, to be honest, and the fact that they are the epitome of that exact thing is one of the reasons, Anon… Watching them is very fun sometimes, especially when Vil either flirts with Trey or complains about him being a horrible man that spoils people rotten lol We have a couple of posts about them.

Also YES about Ortho/Malleus! This + that one vignette in which Ortho helped Malleus to find some information in the library, and Malleus had his first experience with search engines lol They are such an odd couple, I would love to see them interact more.

Anonymous asked:

Ace x Jamil? Floyd x Jamil? Basketball trio!! I saw some fanworks of them and now I kinda vibe with the ship.

Also, Ace x Idia? How'd that one come about?

Both of these ships are very fun~ We have a lot of stuff with Floyd/Jamil, more than I expected, to be honest… And nothing for Ace/Jamil, but I do love their dynamic and how clingy Ace could be with a senpai sometimes.

I don’t really remember why we started kind of shipping Ace and Idia, maybe it was because of their master chef thing together, but this is a combo of Ace being a clingy sly kohai once again + him probably thinking that Idia is genuinely cool at times… They also use the same slang every now and then, and I find it amusing.

Anonymous asked:

Do you think Crewel gives Vil special training to be the perfect house warden?

He might, Anon~

To be honest, to me Vil feels like too perfect of a student that learns everything super quickly and catches flirtatious advances without any problem. Ironically, they are such a perfect fit for this kind of special training that it’s almost like they aren’t each other’s type.

But who knows, maybe Crewel just already did play a role in how perfect Vil is…

Anonymous asked:

On the topic of ships, what do you think of selfcest?

Nothing against it, but because of our “not shipping tops with tops and bottoms with bottoms” thing it makes it kind of not work for us. But visually it could be very pleasing + I wouldn’t have the heart to deny Cater his right to selfcest.

Anonymous asked:

Thanks to the gossip headcanons, I’m now thinking of everyone gossiping a la No Me Diga. Not sure whether they would be dirtier than the original song tho

Oh god I just watched it. This is pretty much how NRC boys communicate with each other… and they’ll absolutely be dirtier 😭

Anonymous asked:

The vibes of Needy Streamer Overload remind me of Idia as does the music, esp Internet Overdose. Plus, think how cute he’d look in the outfit!

Idia would look very lovely in that outfit…! Idia should cosplay every cute girl ever.

But also, I think I remember seeing a video of Ortho doing the Internet Yamero dance… right, I think this is it.

Any type of media or song that is somewhat related to someone being an otaku or a neet or producing an idol anime girl SHOULD be applied to Idia Shroud. “ME!ME!ME!” included.

(Just a note: I am not super familiar with Needy Streamer Overload lol)

#replies

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withered-rose-unbreakable-lotus · 3 months

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I see people who went to Jiluka arguing about whether you should be taking videos at lives or not for a number of reasons and I'm sitting here laughing cause if you were dealing with an old school jrocker you wouldn't even be allowed to have your phones up. Also I will never understand why you need to be filming the live so much. With how shaky everything is it's not even worth it. Better buy the DVD later and watch the type of show you can enjoy through a camera and sth to remember. When I am live I want to live the moment with my eyes, not through a phone so yeah you do you, but even from an artist perspective, I wouldn't enjoy performing in front of a bunch of cameras. If I wanted to record my own stuff I'd have 4-5 professional cameras on the side and that's it. Lives are all about exchange of energy so if you pay more attention to getting a good video than watching the live you're missing out. It's different of course if you want to take a picture and that's it, but if you're filming yeah, i don't get you.

Also they are arguing about moshipitting or not...honey...if I've never seen the said artist 1 in my life before I am not taking my eyes off them. You can moshpit all you want, I don't fucking join. Cause a) to me this type of action doesn't give me joy, i find it very dangerous and b) cause if I do that, i will barely even watch the artist from the chaos. Just no. And I know there are artists out there that expect you to mosh pit, I happen to be fan of one, and this is exactly why I wouldn't go to their concert and just stay in my comfort watching his lives through DVDs. But you can't shame sb for not moshpitting or saying it's "rude". It's rude not to want to be violently showing my enthusiasm? Get the fuck out. xD You can dance in safer ways and raise your fist in the air. And headbang without hitting sb else in front of you. You don't have to go amock to have fun, geez. And I don't wanna hear shit like metal isn't for softies. Visual Kei isn't only metal and it isn't only for fans who need this type of release to enjoy a live. Many bands have made it clear that their concerts are places for people to be as they are, express their joy or frustrations anyhow they want, not be forced to be something to fit in a specific standard.

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fuszulykaleves · 1 month

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Ok here we go! 2013 version of "István a király". Its the 30 year jubilee so its definitely special! (last year was also a jubilee, and boy, was it special) ((this is all in good fun, don't take it to heart))

Opening sequence. A cool visual. Approved! I am mostly skipping the overture, cuz nothing ever happens during the overture, other than the actors walking around.

7 minutes in and I'm proven wrong. They are already dancing. To the overture. Its good to, I just don't like the 'Hey!Hey!Hey!' shouts.

Ok, dance number done, now we can get into the meat of things! Let's hear the bard!

....

There is long ass silence here...I think the head priest is walking up the stage, very loudly also, for some reason.

Very awkward. I think the dude on the left is István. The priest gave the signal and the music began., weird, but ok....I'm crying laughing, Oh, my god! The priest is singing the bard song! And so very badly too! He sounds like a robot. No feelings in there.

Calm your tits, Terminator.

Ok, now everyone is singing. Even lord Géza! I haven't seen that before! He is usually silent and I don't really see the point of including him as a character, because the most significant thing he does is that he dies in the first act. There is just no time for you to become attached to him emotionally.

He also moves like a muppet here.

So dude left of the priest is not István. That's Koppány. I think he is shorter than István. Comical.

Veni Lumen cordium. One of my favourite songs. I mostly like these, i don't know what to call them, priest songs? Only with electric guitars and synthesizers. Very cool, much vibe.

I'm only now realizing, they are going very heavy with the electric guitar, and the synth is lacking.

Red crosses? I'm guessing for better visibility...

The people are afraid of the red crosses. I don't blame them.

A bunch of guys in black, with sunglasses just ran in nodded to the priest ran out, then a car pulled up, and now there are policemen suddenly on the stage????? The absurdity is hilarious.

Gizella climbs out of the car, and is escorted to meet with István, who looks... not thrilled, to be getting married. This looks like two mafia families are witnessing the union between their families....

No thoughts, head empty.

For a moment he wants to leave his bride , what the hell man. He is stopped by his mother. Gizella and István share an awkward handshake. Did I mention there is no music during all this? Yeeah. Extra awkward. (you can hear their breaths, eugh)

She actually has a good singing voice, small mercies.

I hate this. István is fucking afraid of his soon to be wife.

Koppány comes in, looks confused by the wedding, looks offended by the crosses, and leaves.

Romeo what the hell are you doing here? You took a wrong turn get out before its too late!

So, now would come the nobles yeah? They are playing "Gratitude to you Lord", which is at the very end? Weird.

Somehow, a bit choppily, they transitioned to the nobles song. Ehhh. Its drawn out. Honestly, EVERYTHING is needlessly drawn out in this version. For dramatic effect maybe? Back to nobles, they have a pause in the middle of their song, i thought it was over for a minute, but they started again. I don't know what was the point of the pause.

One more song and I'm leaving the rest for later cuz, I'm more tired than I thought I was, and it seems, I have more to say than I thought I would want to say.

Koppány comes in with a whip scares away everyone.

This is Réka. With a garbage bag. Koppány is so disappointed with his daughter, he doesn't even look at her. Réka starts picking up some thrash strewn about. What the hell is going on.

Oh, she has a nice voice too.

So this is the scene where Réka is praying and Laborc calls her out for this. Here, Romeo-lookalike-Laborc is like "Pst! Hey, what the hell are you doing???". He is whisper singing, its so weird, isn't Laborc supposed to be like "Shame on you for betraying your Father!". He is weirdly considerate for Réka here.

Ok, shaming is on full force. Damn. He held a note for 10 whole seconds, while running up the stairs. Impressive? Yes. Unnecessary? Also yes. He also sings pretty well. Honestly, the only bad voice until now was the priest. Everyone else is fine.

Look, guys! Its Hide the Pain Harold!

He comes in with this look of "I'm not mad, just disappointed". Everyone looks away in shame. (there is no music here again! very awkward. again)

Hide the Pain Harold Lord Géza walks back out and yells "Yes! It is needed!" (replying to the song before, where everyone chants 'Not needed!' referencing the Christian fate), takes two steps, collapses and dies. RIP Hide the Pain Harold Lord Géza.

#that's it for today folks #im too tired to continue #istván a király #istván a király (2013)

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wysteir · 5 months

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Wisteria's FG Journal

S1 In Review

Around the start of this year I decided to try and get into fighting games! This post will have notes about my journey and learning experiences in the first 3 months

My first* fighting game was Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising! Asterisk because it was the first game I actually wanted to try to learn all the ins and outs of fighting games seriously.

Before this year the bulk of my experience was whatever odd fighting games we had lying around, including Samsho V, One Of The Mortal Kombats, and One Of The Dead Or Alives. Later got Skullgirls and Street Fighter 4 but never got deeply into either, and I'll include any time I played playing Whichever Versions of smash.

Either way, having fun with them casually, but never really thinking about actual strats. I wanted to fling specials at people and hit then with heavy buttons hahaheeheehoohoo

Granblue stood out to me because

1) A bunch of folks I knew were playing it

2) It touted a relatively low skill floor

3) Fox gal with huge fluffy tail

So I steeled myself for losses, and dove in, except - where do I even start?

Well thankfully my friends had my back on that one. I got linked copious amounts of resources, and of them the most important ones for me personally were the ones related to keeping a healthy mental game.

Fighting games are hard to learn because it's a skill like any other. Learning an art is hard- music, visual arts, writing, dance: all of these are skills that take time and have difficult aspects to learning them.

They should also bring joy when engaging in them, both through the fun of doing, but also the satisfaction of honing a skill. This is where healthy mental comes in. I didn't want to be stuck in a bad mental state learning fighting games. That would cascade into my attempts to learn and would spoil my fun- and at that point why bother?

Staying realistic while taking as much pride as I could in my progress contributed a huge amount in how smoothly I ramped up. In many ways I benefitted from being almost entirely new, and starting with upholding mental first. Note that it was also important to me to not dismiss my feelings or bottle them up. These things linger in the subconscious, they are mind killers and they need to be treated with care.

Immense damage was dealt to me by the North American Education System and Familial Expectations. Part of my journey in fighting games involved a continuation of dismantling the shame in perceived failures. I would let nothing stop me from finding joy in learning, and being silly with it. A key thing for fighting games is that for better or for worse, there's a common perception that the failure state is getting KO'd. After much deliberation, I personally refuse to view it as such.

Winning is merely a side effect of good play.

Losing is an opportunity to hone my skills.

Success to me is the 50/50. I'm a performer by heart, I love the drama, the thrill, the narration. And over and over again, I see my goal in others' replays and tournament footage- it's the 50/50. Being evenly matched with my opponent became an immense source of positive vibes, and as I improved, and got closer to it, the joy I got grew more and more. Most notably, I hit a point where even fighting players who could 10-0 me wasn't even daunting anymore, because every round we played I got just a little bit better, and I knew it was only a matter of time before I could turn it into a 10-1.

Mental is the most important thing because it determines how efficient you are in terms of learning, performance, and inspiration. Once mental tanks or ges overwhelmed, it's time for a break!!!

The next important thing for me was defense and taking back my turn.

I thought about it, and realized that at my skill level, I would probably be on the losing side of the fight more often than not. What I needed wasn't the most damaging combo, what I needed were the skills to get myself out of an inevitable scenario.

A dependency comes about from this then:

1) If I'm knocked down or in the corner, my priority needs to be taking my turn back. I can't do anything else if I'm under attack with whatever mix tape my opponent is blasting on loop.

2) If we're in neutral, I need to find the best way to get into a position to establish offence (or just establish it outright)

3) If they're blocking, I need to mix them and watch out for when they want to take their turn back

4) If I'm hitting them I either won or I'm about to get sent back to 3

Combos ain't shit actually!! They kinda fucking suck for a new player!!!! Combos and Complicated Hornswogglery won't save the new player from the situation they'll be in most of the time, ie- blocking in the corner

Second most important is playing neutral to try and prevent getting hit and cornered in the first place.

When I first started playing Granblue the most I could do was a basic baby auto combo into 236L and easy input super for offense, but I learned how to jab out of pressure, I learned how valuable reversals were, as I spent less and less time in the corner I learned how to approach and counter in neutral, and everything else was the fun fancy stuff that most resources list in great detail.

So! Behold, my power 9!

0) Preliminary research on game specifics

1) Learn how to maintain good mental

2) Learn how to block/evade/tech

3) Learn how to escape pressure

4) Learn how to skip/hold neutral

5) Learn a basic midscreen combo

6) Learn Okizeme/counter reversals

7) Learn a basic corner combo

8) Learn the advanced mechanics

Throughout the discord server I'm in I have lists and lists of things I felt I wanted to learn and some little victories and eureka moments

The 9 things above basically cover the gist of things

As I learned more and more granblue basics I also ended up playing guilty gear strive more often, and applied the same principles. Strive has more mechanics/resources than granblue so some of them came hand and hand with the 9, but I'm sure you'll find they slot in easy

By the end of March I was at a relatively low Mental and was taking it easier, but by then I was also playing in a way I didn't see myself being able to do for at least 6 months.

And now, even only 2.5 weeks since then? I could deck the halls with my March self

And if you've ever been interested in fighting games, you could learn them well too!!!

#fighting games #on living #on laughing #on learning #organic wysteir original #stay pozzy stay cool #on fighting games #Wisteria's FG Journal

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adultalternative · 5 months

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Rodeo Star by Cowgirl Clue- One of the weirdest albums of the year. Electropop with country samples and lyrics that are a bunch of mantras together. Don’t take my lack of description as a lack of praise. My favorite songs are Rodeo Star, Picket Fence, and Gold Switchblade.

Ooh I Rap Ya by George Clanton- George Clanton was a name I sometimes saw but never gave a chance until last year. This album is a perfect homage to 90’s alternative dance. My favorite songs are the epic Justify Your Life, the Savage Garden-esque I Been Young, the nihilistic but anthemic FUML, and the dreamy For You I Will.

10,000 gecs by 100 gecs- Very loud, irreverent, and most importantly fun. People keep wondering how long hyperpop can last, but 100 gecs was able to shift seamlessly into an alternative rock sound. My favorite songs include Doritos and Fritos (which I was surprised to see on the Warner Bros rock channel on my Roku), The Most Wanted Person in the United States, Billy Knows Jamie, Frog on the Floor, and Dumbest Girl Alive.

Moments of Clarity by Narrowhead- I don’t know what it takes for me to give two looks to ‘regular’ alternative rock bands now that I have a more diverse taste, but Narrowhead stuck out to me immediately. Loud and cathartic, I’ve seen them compared a lot to Deftones. My favorite songs are Breakup Song and Sunday, as well as the alternative dance inspired Soft to Touch.

BB/Ang3l- After the very broad 333, Tinashe went for mega concise. I liked Talk to Me Nice, Treason, and Gravity. I am looking forward to the sequel project this year, which should be sooner rather than later given the delayed release this list has.

World Hassle by Alan Palomo- Alan Palomo’s music was no stranger to inspiring daydreams for me. After an 8 year hiatus, this still holds. Palomo’s solo album sounds more like sophistipop and jazz-funk than synthpop, but is still perfect for soundtracking dead mall videos, Sims Youtube speedbuilds, and city planning videos. My favorite songs are "Is There Nightlife After Death?”, Nobody’s Woman, as well as Stay at Home DJ.

guts by Olivia Rodrigo- I never know how to rate the pop girls of the next generation. Usually there are dozens of discussions about them for who is the most planty, who is the most naturally talented, who is the most wise beyond their years, and who is the most annoying (AKA a normal under 23 year old with a public social media platform), but I just opt out of them instead of having dozens of opinions (unfortunately, I can't always restrain my thoughts on pop stars this easily). This either means an album like Melodrama will have the highs affect me less than they do other people, or an album like Happier Than Ever I wrongly write off too early because I'm not that interested in the meta discussions of Billie’s sophomore slump. But guts had no problem reeling me in. Olivia shows how eclectic Pop rock can be with a rap rock song like Get Him Back, a One of the Boys esque song like Love is Embarrassing, as well as the bubblegrunge inspired Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl.

Gag Order by Kesha- Usually, when people want a dark and personal album by a pop star, we imagine it to be a little confessional and a little experimental, but this album took me by surprise, from the album art to the songs themselves. Maybe it was just watching the visualizers for the videos, but you definitely get the alienation and stress Kesha was facing over the last decade with Something to Believe In and Eat the Acid. For a little more balance, listen to The Drama and Only Love Can Save Us.

Bully by Bully- Bully’s most immediate album since their debut, in my opinion. I like the anthemic Days Move Slow, the surprisingly moody A Love Profound, and the political All This Noise.

Leaving The Light by Genesis Owusu- Genesis Owusu came with an album with a little bit of everything. Post punk, drum and bass, and funk. I like Leaving The Light, The Roach, The Old Man, and That’s Life (A Swamp).

heaven knows by PinkPantheress- More of PinkPantheress’s trademark easily digestible and recognizable UK Garage and helium vocals. My favorite songs are Capable of Love and Internet Baby, as well as The Boy’s a Liar.

Good Luck by Debby Friday- Debby Friday came out of nowhere with this brash homage to industrial music. If you want to get adjusted to the soundscape with a moody bop, start with So Hard to Tell. If you are ready for the loudness, go to Pluto Baby.

Gizmo by Tanukichan- Going on the shoegaze subreddit is good for finding out how to classify ‘The Greats’ of shoegaze music for people whose names I always see but never actually commit to (Or in the case of Curve, are not on streaming), but not my favorite for finding new people. Seeing everything described as ‘Bad impressions of Loveless or just reverbed guitar music’ makes me turned off from giving people more chances. Tanukichan, however, has the right amount of vocals and right amount of guitars. My favorite songs are Don’t Give Up, Take Care, Thin Air, and Mr. Rain.

Chaos for the Fly by Grian Chatten- I’ve kept up with alternative rock enough to know that solo acoustic projects are usually optional for me. But calling Chaos for the Fly an acoustic folk solo album is not doing it any justice. This album has enough atmosphere to keep people who normally don’t like folk music interested, without taking away focus from the lyrics. This is a perfect album for rainy Sunday mornings. My favorite songs are Last Time Every Time Forever, Bob’s Casino, and Fairlilies.

Rabbit Rabbit by Speedy Ortiz- Speedy Ortiz returned with a better focus than their 2018 project, in my opinion. The production gives a lot of different textures time to shine. I like the songs Kim Catrall and Who’s Afraid of the Bath?

wallsocket by underscores - An album that might cast itself out based on how weird it is until the hooks sneak up on you. Other people have talked about how it’s a concept album better than I have, so I won’t talk about that, but Locals (Girls Like Us) is very ahead of the times party-rap revival, Shoot to Kill, Kill Your Darlings, is probably one of the cleverest political songs of the year, and Cops and Robbers is a pure adrenaline rush. Special mention goes to You Don’t Even Know Who I Am, which is haunting with a very unique sample.

☆ Cosas de brujas ☆ by Maria Escarmiento- An exciting and fun hyperpop album where the language barrier doesn't matter. It reminds me of Number 1 Angel era Charli. Mejores que ayer and Demasiado Callado are euphoric, Creo que hoy no me apetece quererme morir is a crunchy futuristic song

Past/present/future by Meet Me @ the Altar- over the past few years, I've had revisionism for the 2000s pop rock girlies. Not just ‘Breakaway is good’ or ‘One of the Boys has Really solid album tracks that get overlooked for obvious reasons’, but more deep-cut esoteric ones that can definitely merit their own post. Meet Me @ the Altar captures the era with their power pop influenced pop punk. Say It (to My Face) is purposely well, immature and energetic like most pop punk, and is the most famous song, per the Roku rock video channel I use, but they have other sounds, too. A Few Tomorrows is a catchy singalong midtempo which could have been the last stray American Idol alumni breakout single (I mean it in the best way possible) and Need Me reminds me of the power pop on One of the Boys.

The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We by Mitski- After too much meta narrative about Mitski’s career clouded her last two albums, Mitski came with a folk album that might be more sparse, but not at all too simple. There is the dreamy My Love All Mine All Mine, the wanderlust of Buffalo Replaced, and I Don't Like my Mind.

Flower of Life Taleen Kali- An interesting shoegaze album that reminds me of the Dum Dum Girls. My favorite songs are Only Lovers Left Alive and Flower of Life. I am curious for where her sound will develop from here.

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vivelafrancemotherfuckers · 3 years

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WEST SIDE STORY 2021 THOUGHTS (SPOILERS)

Yesterday I saw Spielberg's West Side Story and I have no words. I'm very picky when it comes to movie adaptations of musicals, and I was definitely slightly uncertain about this one, but it has absolutely blown me away. Spielberg's love for the show is blatant in every frame he presents and every choice he's made.

I don't want to conpare it too much with the previous adaptation. I just want to point out a few highlights:

1. THIS CAST. Seriously. I hate A. E. so I won't speak much about him. All I'll say is I was expecting him to be worse, but he wasn't. In fact, it would have been considered a better performance if he hadn't had to share the screen with these absolute human powerhouses. Which leads me to (standing ovation) Ariana DeBose, Mike Faist, and David Alvarez. Theater pros who have arrived in Hollywood to show them how it's done. Spielberg proves the importance of casting people who know the craft over people with name recognition. They stole the show. Rachel Zegler left me speechless. That voice, that emotional depth, and that screen presence, at that age? What a future ahead of her! And what can I say about Rita Moreno that hasn't been said already? She is such a beautiful addition to the film, and a gift to us all to be able to see this performance from her at almost 90. And, finally, the Sharks/Jets are phenomenal and I'm glad they were allowed to shine. Josh Rivera and Kyle Coffman come to mind as standouts. Josh makes Chino incredibly complex, and Kyle scared the shit out of me in the scenes after the rumble. It felt weird to be scared of a Newsie. Speaking of Newsies, playing "spot the newsie" was a lot of fun.

2. THE CINEMATOGRAPHY. Janusz Kaminsky's work is always stellar. But he was able to understand something crucial to movie adaptations that not many can master: make use of the medium. It's based on a stage show, but it's not a stage show. This, my friends, is A MOVIE. It encapsulates late 50s New York, the very vivid image of the rise of gentrification. You can feel the desperation of all the people who will soon lose their homes and their blocks in the name of progress. It lookd like it was made in the 1950s while being distinctively a modern movie. And the dancing. Oh, boy, do Spielberg and Kaminsky know how to film a dance number! Chef's kiss.

3. THE MUSICAL NUMBERS. Speaking of dancing... I can't find the words to describe how I felt watching Justin Peck's choreography performed by these absolute beasts. The opening number, the dance at the gym, AMERICA, cool. Oh, boy. The beauty of it all. I don't know how to explain it. You have to SEE it.

4. THE REFERENCES. I loved how there were very subtle visual references to '61 like the purple wall and pinkish tones before the song Maria and the use of snippets of Robbins' choreography here and there, as well as direct references to Romeo and Juliet when Tony says he's a by the book guy (Juliet tells Romeo "you kiss by th'book" when they first meet), or also visually with the clusters looking strikingly like Verona. It's a great nod to what came before them. I'm sure I'll find many more when I rewatch it.

5. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. Shout out to Tony Kushner for fleshing out the characters more to show us why they make the decisions they make and why they are the way they are. Chino's arc helped us to understand how he gets to the point of killing Tony. We understand why Tony has been away from the Jets, and Anybody's, my love, has more scenes and a bigger involvement in the plot. Even San Juan Hill itself and the community are explored more, which we as 2021 audiences might need for context if we wish to understand the characters. Other subtle but brilliant details like the Jets playing with the gun that Riff just bought hit you like brick with the reality that these guys are, after all, a bunch of kids fighting over a territory that won't be there for much longer.

Overall, I'm still impressed by it even a day later. Was it perfect? Probably not. I never liked the originall placement of I Feel Pretty in the second act, and hoped they would play out the dramatic irony of the audience knowing what happened at the rumble against María's happiness a bit more, and I wanted Bernardo to have more to do, but it still blew me away. I can say that, after almost a decade of being let down by movie adaptations of my favorite musicals, I finally left the cinema feeling every positive feeling possible and can't wait to watch it again. I feel blessed to have yet another way to experience this story. Because, remember guys, this movie doesn't replace the 1961 adaptation, it builds on it. It's not a remake, it's a different adaptation of the same material. And what a wonderful adaptation it is. Thank you, Mr. Spielberg.

#west side story #west side story 2021 #steven spielberg #rachel zegler #ariana debose #mike faist #david alvarez #west side story spoilers #rita moreno

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steve0discusses · 3 years

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S5 Ep 29 Part 2: Welcome to !NotEgypt

Fun fact, just finished up a project of doing a book cover for someone who was like “can you do stitches, like in cross stitching?” and I was like “oh, I happen to already have a bunch of brushes like that, actually” and the reason why I had all these digital cross stitching brushes? Because I wanted to make Yugioh fanart with them as a joke. Which was such a funny thing to resurface a few years later. I did not expect that cross stitch gag to help me get real work.

So make fanart, guys. It’s good for you.

Now last we left off, Pharaoh was vacuumed up into a tunnel made out of CGI. In Photoshop, to make this texture you click “filter>render>clouds.” We’re not going to see too much of this in the caps though because it was quite blurry.

While he’s there, Bakura’s ghost just kinda jumps out of the puzzle around Pharaohs neck--sounds weird but thankfully I have a visual for you (which is still weird).

Lots of levels in this episode, you got a ghost living in a different ghost (although the puzzle is on Yugi, so this is the ghost manifestation of the puzzle that Bakura is leaping out of, but don’t think about it.)

And the ghost that was living in Ryou decided it was freakin done with this mess, and in a huge beam of light just jumped directly out of this poor boy.

Congratulations, Ryou Bakura, you are no longer possessed.

He had a total of 2 seconds to enjoy it before his head hit the cement.

(read more under the cut)

I assume that he probably off-screened the Ishtar family, because we get no mention of how he ended up on this stairwell unseen. Just a blur of stuff happening because we don’t have any more time to stuff something into this episode.

Almost like there’s so much going on here it should’ve focused on this stuff instead of all that filler. And as entertaining a lot of that filler was, boy does this arc decide some of it just never happened. Not that Yugioh was ever that heavy on the continuity.

So the 2 parts of Bakura’s ghost decide to become 1 ghost, and I can no longer use the joke that the relationship between Yugi and Tea is a foursome. Their relationship on Facebook went back from “It’s complicated ;) ;) ;)” to “It’s complicated 🥱 “

(I just realized Facebook didn’t exist when this episode came out, holy crap.)

Meanwhile in the Ishtar Foyer, they are recovering from the many beams of light that just occurred so no one has noticed Bakura is passed out on the steps about 15 feet behind them. I really hope someone finds Bakura because I don’t know much about the sands of desert, but I have been raised to believe every tomb in Egypt is full of five million poisonous scorpions. Someone please save the nasty boy from the scorpions.

Yugi is very upset about losing his ghost, and at first I was like “hey, is this scene here a throwback to S1, when Yugi was also sobbing on the ground after breaking up with his ghost?” And so I went back to S1, and youknow, Yugi ends up sobbing on the ground so often during this show, that this isn’t so much a throwback as it is just Yugi every 5-10 episodes or so. I kind of forgot what a freakin disaster Yugi is because I’ve gotten very used to it.

Speaking of disasters, Shadi has decided to show up.

This show loves a Matrix plot so much, lets go over our Matrixes, a recap:

-Kaiba’s MMO he made in VR that never got officially launched (I hope) that was mostly offbrand pokemon, mazes, and dragons

-Gozaburo’s MMO he made to keep Noah Kaiba busy (it didn’t) and potentially trap all mankind into (which honestly is a strange business model). Could only be escaped by either going to the arcade where Johnny Steps once dance-faught with Tea, or by abducting Mokuba and becoming Mokuba (which is much easier)

-That time Mai got trapped in the Shadow Realm and thought everyone was having fun without her (also she was being slowly buried in quicksand but she didn’t care about that as much as the FOMO)

-That time Joey got trapped in the Shadow Realm while fighting in a tournament and he had to win a tournament to wake up from the Shadow Realm and go back to the original tournament.

-That time that Alister created a world to show Kaiba that Gozaburo ran over his brother with tanks???

-Shadi’s Pyramid In India that Matrixed Alexander the Freakin Great as well as the Ghost that haunted Alexander the Freakin Great (which is also the ghost living in Bakura don’t think about it).

-Pharaoh’s Memories, which, looking at our other list of Matrixes here, are so incredibly Not Real People that he’s interacting with, but I don't know if he knows that. Even after all of these Matrixes, he seems to think it’s not a simulation.

Anyway, Tristan suddenly realizes something and brings up a plot Point from like S2.

Congratulations if you have been watching from S2 and remembered any of this when it happened in S5. I only remember this because I write a meticulous blog about it.

RIP the Shadi’s Wacky Pyramid in India Plotline, I can’t believe the show just decided to de-canonize it so quickly, hahaha. There was too much Yugi/Tea Shipping in that arc for the creators of this show to commit to it, lets be honest. Maybe the India arc was made after this one? But like...it wasn’t, right?

Lets check out Pharaoh’s memories, shall we?

So, in a big beam of light that Pharaoh has no control over, he becomes--himself!

It is nice to see him as actually Egyptian, which is a pharaoh that we don’t ordinarily see. He still looks a lot like Yugi, but the artists did their work to make it different enough that he finally looks like he’s not just Yugi’s Dad or older brother. Also that wig is a LOT (because this was Egypt, so it would likely be a wig), but I want to note some of the hair spikes are actually part of a crown, which is easier to see in other caps. Kind of a cute touch, I like that.

++++++++++++RANT ABOUT THE OUTFIT YOU CAN SKIP++++++++++++++

Mind you, this is like the aftertaste of an Egyptian outfit from this time period, but the influences are there. Like I don’t want to do a deep dive into Egyptian clothing and design (although deep dives like that are very accessible right now, which is nice) but I want to note that this episode features beads.

Thank you, show, for remembering that ancient people were whole hog about beads. It’s an extra thing to draw, sure, but you gotta put beads on your ancient peoples. Egyptians, in particular, had a hell ton of beads.

But are there beads on Pharaoh and the others? Not really, that’s hard to draw, instead they have pieces of plate armor. In ancient times in Northern Africa you don’t see much of any armor at all because it’s a freaking desert. However, it’s hard to tell if this is actually plate mail, or an artistic interpretation of what would have actually been decorative pieces stitched together like a beaded necklace.

Also, this is Yugioh, so their tech was probably not the same as our universe’s tech (like they had magical creatures and stuff) so I can let it go that we’re 300 years before the Bronze Age and he’s got a bunch of plated stuff. You have to have that tech in order to make the millennium items anyway. (although there was metallurgy way before the Bronze Age, I just don’t know too much about historical metallurgy to care because this is a fantasy show anyway)

Like I would love to see a historically accurate Yami outfit drawn. There’s probably one around somewhere because trying to draw something historically accurate is so vogue right now. Then again, this probably hasn’t been done because a.) There’s not to much extant pieces left from 3000 BC to copy, and b.) none of the historical costuming sticklers really care about Egypt, which is a whole other rant.

Something I will bring up though, is that the side characters in Egypt wear a lot of cloth that looks like straight up tunics and knee-length skirts, probably because like...they had to cover up for TV. You can’t have your ladies just shirtless with see through skirts, like how historically accurate can you really get for daytime TV? Sure this show had a couple of attempts at suicide and killed quite a few people but a boobie? Never in a thousand years. They can’t even show Pharaoh boobs anymore.

But when you look at depictions of Egyptian wraps, there’s a lot of really fun shapes there that I wish the show had taken advantage of. Lots of wild hangings they had on the front of their tunics back then. But Instead it leans on simplicity, and then they end up drawing just so many folds anyway I don’t know why they didn’t just go for it and do something weirder on a show that already loves weird fashion.

+++++++++++++++++++++++END RANT+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

And also this isn’t enough color for Egypt but they probably decided on that so we wouldn’t lose the center of focus. But I’ve already gone over how garish the past was and how I wish we’d just draw the past being colorful as hell.

Anyways Grandpa’s here. The Eyes from the abyss. Just looking up at me from under that brim. Those intense awful eyes.

*slow claps*

Remember when Alexander was like “I really looked up to you, Pharaoh.” What a freakin liar! Pharaoh was on this King seat for like 3 minutes. Good for you, Alexander, what a way to lie directly through your teeth.

Honestly I thought this was hilarious. Maybe he lives a little longer than this, but knowing how TV arcs work, They only have so many episodes to wrap this up, and it’s gonna go through the steps of what he went through before !notKaiba killed him, and so we only got like...maybe a week, tops.

I look forward to seeing how long this Pharaoh actually sat on the throne, maybe there’s a huge time skip that happens where Pharaoh will magically be 52, but I am fully enjoying this ironic twist that the entire time our competent Pharaoh was actually a green dumbass. Yugioh sure does love that irony.

The only room with color, rejoice! Also the boys are all in town for this party/funeral, too!

!notKaiba is still a huge asshole, and yes, they gave him a terrible hat. I have seen forshadowing about this hat for so many seasons but a part of me just really hoped it would not happen. Alas, the hat is here, and it looks like ass to draw.

!notKaiba, the word of reason, is completely ignored.

Also !notPegasus is here.

So I stumbled on a viral tweet yesterday about an Egyptian guy called “Akhenaten” who was...probably the name they were going for, but I don’t know for sure. I grabbed the spelling of “Aknadin” from the closed captioning but Yugioh is referencing this guy, right? Like apparently he was a very disliked Pharaoh that tried to change their religion and after he died, his people removed a bunch of evidence this guy existed.

Also, a bunch of people online think he was an alien from outer space, which is how that viral tweet stumbled across my timeline. Now I don’t follow Egyptology or aliens online, but twitter has no rhyme or reason as to to how their algorithm works, and so I assume sent me that because I have too much Yugioh in my search history. Either way, he seems like good bait to make a Yugioh arc out of. If this arc goes to space, I will be pleased.

Also I’m guessing !NotPegasus is a freakin weirdo based on evidence (and also future Pegasus). That’s just my bet.

I later found out this is not !notShadi but is in fact !notOdion, and like....

....he has those abs all the time, right? Like in the present, under that cute purple turtleneck thingy, he’s just jacked?

Also the Ring is here:

Featuring who I believe is !notMarik wearing it. Which really leaves a lot to interpretation of how current Marik got so freakin effed in the bean from a very young age: he was not only under a lot of duress, he had the wrong millennium item the whole time. But clearly he craved one, so he stole someone else’s. A fun bit of worldbuilding, I think.

So, for reference:

-Seto Kaiba : Seto (easy to remember)

-Pegasus : Aknadin

-Ishizu : Isis

-Grandpa : Shimon

-Shadi : Shadu (also easy to remember)

-Odion: ???

-Marik: ??????? Yeah, I already forgot. My bad.

I went to do a cursory google search and only found links to wikis I’m not letting myself read because of spoilers. None had like...their actual name just right there in the title of the link. I could also just boot up hulu, but listen it’s been a long week so I’m gonna take a nap instead. I’m sure it won’t be important (it will).

Hell yeahhhhh it’s the second episode of this arc and we already got a Pharaoh cult! I do love how nearly every season of Yugioh has a cult in it.

Pharaoh has himself a secret cult made up of maybe the most unhinged people that have ever stepped foot onto this show (and Ishizu, who was never unhinged but deffo just likes to let things happen and watch it burn). At this point he can say “yo can you say my name real fast?” and then go straight home because wow. I think we figured out how this guy freaking died.

But that wouldn’t be an interesting arc, so we’ll get to the tail end of this episode in the next one.

https://steve0discusses.tumblr.com/tagged/yugioh/chrono

Have a good one and stay safe out there guys, it got pretty real out there.

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teddy06writes · 4 years

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To Talk To A Crush

Requested by this anon: “Dream x fem reader but make it school AU Pog? And Idk why but at least somewhere in there, can I please get sapnap with his backpack on his chest instead of his back just plowing into someone and knocking them over. Thanks!”

{Oh my god my brain went haywire, I love this idea- the visual of of Sapnap fucking sprinting down a hallway and just jumping into a crowd of people- holy shit my guy you are on to something}

Dream x fem!reader

trigger warnings: some swearing, slight spoilers for the Great Gatsby?? other than that nothing

Premise: high school AU, a retelling of various events from meeting your friend group freshman year to now, the last time you saw your best friend before graduation

{Also the project scene was an excuse for me to relive that one time I taught myself the Charleston without realizing it}

“blep” speaking

‘blep’ singing/music

Italics = Dream’s memories/flashbacks/whatever you call that

bold = your memories/flashbacks/whatever you call that

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

Dream watched in horror as Sapnap went running down the hallway packed with people, his backpack still strapped across his chest and not his back, running straight toward a specific target.

George slapped his hand over his mouth to stifle a laugh as Sapnap slammed into you, knocking the books from yours arms and sending you clattering to the ground.

Wilbur laughed openly as Eret and Bad shoved him forward, “Go help her you idiot!”

Oh, this that could not have been worse.

He’d mentioned wanting to talk to his crush once and then along came Sapnap, ready to do just about anything to force his best friend into talking to you.

Taking a deep breath he made his way forward, shoving Sapnap out of the way, “Are you okay? I’m sorry, my friends an idiot.”

You smiled, letting out a giggle, and his heart melted a bit as you took his hand.

“YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

You barley had time to look up to see someone running at you from the juncture of hallways, a backpack on his chest as he slammed into you.

Your things spilled everywhere, and you hit the ground, Niki’s gasp sounding loudly from somewhere behind you.

Great, this was just great.

All you wanted was to not be bothered in the hallways, to just blend in and not be asked if your brother really was really the greatest football player the school had seen, and yeah that wasn’t how you were being bothered now, but still this was not what you meant.

You looked up to see a group of people practically pushing a cute blonde boy down the hallway, “Are you okay? I’m sorry, my friend is an idiot.”

You glanced over at the kid who had run into you, who was beaming proudly, allowing yourself to giggle as you took his hand.

You chuckled, taking a sip of your water, “Man that day was weird.”

The causal reminiscing hadn’t been planned, nor were either of you providing full details, but Dream made good company, even on what seemed like it could be one of the last times you ever saw your bestfriend.

“Yeah, I think Sapnap did a good job though,” Dream glanced over at you, “If there's any random person he could knock down and then drag into our friend group I’m glad it was you- you and Niki.”

You looked at him for a minute, “Well I think Niki got dragged in first. I was just brought along to that one party.”

Dream groaned, “Oh god that party was so cringe. Sapnap and George kept trying to shove me and my crush into talking. And the worst part is they were actually subtle about it!”

“I didn’t realize that was possible.” You murmured, trying not to continue on looking at him.

~~ “If you don’t go over there and talk to her I will literally lock you two in a closet.”

The party had been strange, cramped and awkward.

The first high school party Dream had been too; it was some party that one of Wilbur’s older friends was hosting, and they were the only group of Freshmen there.

That what he had thought at least, until Niki arrived, with you in tow.

George had imideaitly tried to get Dream to talk to you, but he was still hesitant.

It wasn’t until that threat that he finally made a move, quietly moving across the crowded room, to where you were standing with Eret, Niki and Wilbur, “Hey guys.”

He barley noticed the way Niki shot you a glance, too drown out by Eret laughing, “Did George and Sapnap kick you out of there little group over there?”

“Something like that.” He’d chuckled nervously, heart swelling when you smiled at him reassuringly.

~~ “It looks like he wants to talk to you- he might like you! (y/n) if you don’t go talk to him I’ll get Eret to lock you two in a closet.”

This party wasn’t somewhere you had originally wanted to be, but Niki had insisted that you go with her.

It was your first high school party, one that Niki had only been invited too because Wilbur had been invited by one of his older friends, Phil.

You were wary about talking to anyone, but Eret and Niki, the only people you really knew, but then Dream had wandered over.

You elbowed Niki at her comment, glancing over at Dream, George and Sapnap just as Dream had turned to look at you.

The next thing you knew he was sidling up to your group, “Hey guys.”

Niki looked at you, eyebrows raised a little and a small grin on her face.

Eret had laughed, though more about your misfortuane than the comment he made, “Did George And Sapnap kick you out of there little group over there?”

“Something like that.” He chuckled, and you couldn’t help but smile, already feeling a bit better about the party.

“Wait- did they end up getting you to talk to her?” You asked, looking over at him.

Dream groaned, scrubbing a hand over his face, “Uh- yeah. They- they did.”

“Who was it?” You asked, starting to laugh when he shook his head, “Come on dude your my bestfriend! You legally have to tell me!”

“No!” He protested.��

“Why not?”

He glared at you, “I am not telling you about some girl that I had a crush on freshman year!”

You huffed, crossing your arms and faking a pout, “Well did you ask her to a dance or something?”

“Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, sort of? I didn’t ask her, but we hung out some. It was that dance right before we got closer.”

‘oh oh! we’re halfway there! Oh living on a prayerr!’

Music blared through the gym, and Dream barley stifled a laugh as Sapnap kept trying to get George to dance with him, even as he screamed along to the lyrics.

The entire friend group was clumped around the center of the gym, halfway mixed with the other people at the dance, though you were all certainly the most obnoxious people there.

He looked over at you, dancing next to Niki near the edge of the group, looking amazing in the soft green dress you’d picked for the night.

You looked over catching his eye and smiling.

He grinned, and paused dancing long enough to point at his tie and then your dress, mouthing “We match”

You smiled, starting to look behind as the song change and both Sapnap and Quackity screamed, “It’s the cha cha fucking slide!!!”

‘oh oh! we’re halfway there! oh living on a prayerr!’

The music throbbed through crowds of kids that filled the gym, seeming to make your head spin as Sapnap screamed to the lyrics, harrassing George while he was at it.

The kids you were now beginning to feel comfortable with enough to call them friends were all clumped in the center of the gym, dancing and singing along to the music loudly.

You laughed, dancing along next to Niki, reveling in the way that your dress swished around your knees.

Niki bumped you, motioning to the side, and you turned, still smiling, to see Dream looking at you.

He smiled back pointing to his green tie, and mouthing “we match”

Your smile grew, but your attention didn’t stay on him for long as the song changed and behind him someone, who you suspected with Quackity, screamed, “It’s the cha cha fucking slide!”

“oh- that was right before the group project right?” You asked, looking over at him.

Dream chuckled, thankful you had dropped the crush thing, “Yeah, the group project from hell.”

“It wasn’t hell! We killed that thing.”

“You made me learn a dance to do when we presented it.” He said, looking at you critically.

“And?” You grinned, “That was the literal only reason we got an A.”

“And Karl recorded it and sent it to the group chat!”

“And the last set of partners will be Clay and (y/n)!” The teacher announced, “Everyone find your partners and get situated, I’ll be around with your topics shortly.”

Dream sighed, grabbing his binder and pencil case before starting across the room toward you, sure he was glad to be spending extra time with you, but also the thought of having to be near you for so long scared him.

“Hey.”

“Hey yourself,” You smiled as he sat at the desk next to yours, “I’m glad I’m working with you and not someone I don’t know at all.”

He nodded, “Me too.”

Your teacher approached your desks, “And you’re decade is the 1920s, have fun!”

Dream sighed, “I still don’t understand the point of a decade project.”

“Well we’ve been reading books that are set in like, every decade from the 1860s to the 1970s, so it sort of makes sense,” You shrugged, opening your laptop, “Besides, the roaring 20s was epic.”

“Gatsby dying wasn’t epic.” He grumbled.

You chuckled, “Well I have an idea for extra stuff besides a bunch of slides of major events that we could do, and none of them involving being shot. You wanna come to mine on Saturday to work on it?”

He shrugged, and that's how a few days later he found himself in your basement after finishing most of the slides as you tried to convince him to learn some dance.

“I’m not doing that!”

“Yes you are! Our project is bland! This is how we get the grade!”

He stared at you for a moment, “You seriously think we’re gonna fail if we don’t?”

“Miss Mcall looked over the slides the other day. She didn’t seem impressed,” You nodded.

Dream sighed, slowly getting up off the couch, setting his laptop aside, “Fine.”

You grinned, “Yes!”

“And the last set of partners will be Clay and (y/n), find your partners and get situated, I’ll be around with your topics shortly.” Miss Mcall announced.

You breathed a sigh of relief as Dream came over, sitting down, “Hey.”

“Hey yourself. I’m glad I’m working with you and not someone I don’t know at all.” You smiled.

He nodded, “Me too.”

“And your decade is the 1920s!” You took the paper the teacher offered you, “Have fun!”

“I still don’t understand the decade project.”

You pulled out your laptop, looking to Dream, “Well we’ve been reading books that are set in like, every decade from the 1860s to the 1970s. Besides, the roaring 20s were epic.”

His face seemed to squish, and you tried not to think of how cute he looked as he grumbled, “Well Gatsby dying wasn’t epic.”

“Well I have an idea for some extra stuff besides a bunch of slides about major events, and none of them involve getting shot,” You chuckled, “You wanna come to mine on Saturday to work on it?”

Dream shrugged, and that was how you found yourself in your basement a few days later, beginning him to learn the Charleston.

“I’m not doing that!” He insisted.

“Yes you are!” You yelled, “Our project if bland! This is how we get the grade!”

“You really think we’re gonna fail?” His stare bore into you for a moment.

You sighed, “Miss Mcall looked over the slides the other day. She didn’t seem impressed.”

Slowly Dream pushed the laptop to the side, standing up, “Fine.”

You beamed, jumping up and down, “Yes!”

Dream still flushed at the thought of you trying to show him how to do the dance.

“We did get an A.” He conceded.

You spent the rest of the night reminiscing, until near 11 when the sudden weight of the fact that Dream would be leaving only a few days after graduation.

“Dude- I just realized- your like leaving.”

“Yeah, I know.” He chuckled.

“But collage doesn’t start till the fall. And I know your not taking summer classes.”

He smiled, “I’m just gonna drive, see where I end up. Have a summer of freedom before for more years of school and a shit ton of student debt.”

“Man.” You mumbled, trying to comprehend what it would be like without him, “Why didn’t I think of that?”

Dream sighed, the thought of leaving you for who knows how long eating away at him, “I dunno man.”

~~ The next day was graduation, and you found yourself taking your place in the student section next to Niki, both of you laughing at how silly you looked in your caps and gowns before the ceremony began.

Your graduating class wasn’t huge, maybe a hundred people or so, so it didn’t take you long to have your name called, and you headed up to the stage to collect your diploma.

You looked out over the crowd, meeting Dream’s eyes with a smile, he was grinning, clapping loudly as both Sapnap and George seemed to make fun of him.

Dream didn’t care that his bestfriends were berating him from either side, he still looked up at you, looking as beautiful as ever, trying to commit the moment to memory as you smiled back.

And then the moment was over and you were heading off the stage to sit back down.

Sometime later you found yourself moving around out on the school’s lawn, taking pictures with various friends and your parents, when you heard someone call your name.

“(y/n)!”

You turned, grinning, “Clay!”

He practically tackled you in a hug, “We made it baby!”

You could hear your mom taking a picture, as you laughed, “That we did!”

~~ It was later, that night, you were sitting in your room, trying to take in the events of the day, and the fact that your bestfriend and crush was leaving the next day when your mom called up to your room, “(y/n)! Clay’s here!”

You rushed down the stairs, not wanting to waste any of the time that you would have to say goodbye.

Dream was standing in the doorway, his face full of anxiety as he saw you, but he swallowed the feeling, quickly wrapping his arms around you and pressing his lips to yours.

You froze, hesitating barley a moment before kissing back, looking at him in confusion as he pulled away, you quickly blurted, “I don’t want you to leave.”

“I don’t want to go where your not.” He said quickly.

He pulled you into another hug, “Come with me. I- It’s you. Your the girl I like.”

You chuckled into his neck, “Your the boy I like.”

He pulled back, looking you in the eyes, repeating, “Come with me?”

You grinned, “Of course.”

#mcyt x reader #mcyt imagine #dreamwastaken x reader #teddy06 writes

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atouchofsass · 3 years

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warning: the google doc i drafted this post in is seven pages long and I still didn't even remember everything I wanted to say. anyway here's essentially a journal entry on the caroline, or change revival at studio 54

My opinion

I fucking loved it lol. There was one weak link that we’ll get to later but I was NOT disappointed by this production. Go see it.

The vibe

The show was clearly purposefully livened up to make it more appealing to the mainstream, but in a way I would consider almost entirely positive. The appliances were less stoic, more whimsical, flashier and more fun. Instead of mainly standing in place behind their physical counterpart, they dance and move across the stage, interacting directly with other characters in ways that are sometimes metaphorical and sometimes just for fun. At first I wasn’t really sure about having the Moon physically flying above the stage, but by the end of the first act I was completely on board. I had heard it referred to as “intrusive” by a couple of people, but I think I have to disagree. It was only intrusive to me because it wasn’t my expectation; to a fresh viewer I think it would seem perfectly natural. In fact, I think it would seem odd to them that the Moon had ever not flown.

Moments of actual visual comedy have been added too, rather than depending on line delivery. For example, rather than have Rose alone when she’s on the phone with Mr. Stopnik, she’s across the stage from Noah, who is in bed. When she sings “the boy still hates me- I really shouldn’t be talking so loud,” instead of her just catching herself, Noah jerks his head to look at her after “the boy still hates me” and then after a beat she finishes the line and begins walking away towards the steps. At first, this stretches the cord to what you think will be its full length as she arrives at the stairs and pauses after taking a step down, but then she keeps going down the stairs, enters the “basement” area, and eventually stands all the way downstage, with the comically long cord stretched out behind her. I thought it was hysterical.

If you had asked me before seeing this revival whether Caroline, or Change needed to have more comic relief and bright colors and fun silliness, I would have been like fuck you don’t be a coward!!! but in practice it actually works very well.

The cast

Our playbills came with three notices inside: the first announced Jaden Myles Waldman as our Noah, the second gave us our Jackie (Alexander Bello [FROM JOHN MULANEY AND THE SACK LUNCH BUNCH!!! {the one who said he was Marlon Jackson’s son}]) and Joe (Jayden Theophile), and the third announced that the role of the Dryer and the Bus would be played by the cover Quentin Oliver Lee. Everyone else was the usual cast.

Sharon D. Clarke was magnificent. She didn’t read quite as cold as Tonya Pinkins used to, but still cold, sort of brittle. She approached almost all her high notes with head voice and didn’t seem terribly comfortable with them, but I’m not certain whether she always does that, if she might have been sick, or if she was holding back because we saw a matinee. Regardless of the reason, I got used to it quickly; I’d just as soon have a Caroline that DOESN’T destroy her voice anyway. It’s a very responsible approach and, again, did not detract from the performance the majority of the time (and even if it had, the unbelievable richness of her lower register, including her speaking voice, would likely have made up for it). Whenever she spoke instead of singing, you got the sense she was making the most of every syllable. She especially shone during the fight with Noah- the unbelievably measured way she handled those lines left a chill over the room. The pause between each phrase was brutal.

Jaden Myles Waldman was great as Noah. Though as usual with child actors you can very much see the effort he’s putting into his singing, his physical acting was very natural- only once or twice did you notice him actively trying to hit a mark. He was a more lively Noah, still shy, but one you might imagine having one or two friends at school. His entrance to Caroline’s basement at the beginning was energetic, he physically salutes her as the President of the United States, and she wordlessly tells him to stand at ease (it was ambiguous, from the distance I was at, whether she did so with annoyance or with the same scrap of indulgence that allows her to hand him her cigarettes. I would prefer if it was with annoyance, but I could see the utility of making it not).

There were a few times the energy clashed with the book, specifically the moments where Noah says something very ungrounded. “My father is a clarinet” didn’t suffer too much, but I did not buy this Noah saying “I did it… I killed her” and so on. He also spoke “I killed her” rather than sang it, which I’m not a fan of. But like, he’s also a child actor; it’s not really a big deal and he was good the rest of the time.

I could not get enough of Samantha Williams as Emmie. I wanted her to be on stage the whole time. She shone when her acting was allowed to get more physical- her dancing, her body language when playing with her brothers, and her proud, furious, glowing confrontation with the statue in the epilogue (staged with her interacting with the physical washing machine prop, arguing past it, slamming her hands on it, then finally climbing atop it for the finale). For this reason I was disappointed when she held onto the dinner tray for the entirety of her argument with Mr. Stopnik- I kept wishing for her to be able to put it down on the table, to see what she would do unencumbered.

Speaking of which, Chip Zien as Mr. Stopnik, naturally, was great fun. I wished for a little more bombast from him during A Twenty Dollar Bill and Why, but that was really my only complaint. A choice that jumped out at me was to make “let her stay” very forceful- instead of the subtext being “please” the subtext was “come on, really? Let her.” which I think plays nicer with Mr. Stopnik’s general refusal to be polite.

Caissie Levy was the obvious weak link in the cast. Her over-the-top, self-aware performance clashed terribly with the grounded feel of everyone else onstage. I read some reviews on the way home out of curiosity and saw one that called her performance “honest and believable,” which seemed so comically incorrect that I still want to believe it was a joke. She literally pointed at Caroline with both hands on “from now on, YOU keep it.”

If there are some people who should not act in period pieces because they have a face that knows about email, Caissie Levy should not act in period pieces because she has an affect that knows about Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. She was acting like she was on an SNL skit about karens. She was acting like Anna Kendrick. It doesn’t work. Because she is a caricature instead of a person, her moments of open distress fall completely flat. Her voice was pretty though.

I LOVED John Cariani as Stuart. He was perfectly awkward, getting carried away when playing the clarinet (which he is doing for real btw) and coming across deeply stiff and scripted at all other times. I could be totally off here, but I think MAYBE he was specifically making his voice more clarinet-like. I’m not super familiar with his work outside of The Band’s Visit so maybe he just sounds like that though. I also learned during the cast Q and A afterwards that he was already pretty good at the clarinet before the pandemic, but spent the intervening year becoming an absolute boss, came back, and SHOCKED the rest of the cast with how good he had gotten. I don’t really know anything about clarinet performance, but to my untrained ear it certainly was stunning. Also, he was hot.

Tamika Lawrence as Dotty Moffat was very enjoyable, though I think Dotty got hit hardest with the “talk slower so the audience can understand you” thing; she sometimes delivered lines rather slower than felt natural for the character. I loved her voice, especially in Moon Trio, and she had great comic delivery.

Joy Hermalyn and Stuart Zagnit were delightful as the Gellman grandparents. I actively enjoyed them the bulk of the time they were onstage, which is impressive considering these roles can fade into the background a little. JFK has potential to be a slow spot, but it was never in any danger in their hands.

Nasia Thomas, Nya, and Harper Miles were, as you may have already heard, fucking fantastic. Their vocals could not be better and each one handles the fleshed-out interaction between Caroline, the Radio, and certain other characters with gusto. Because of the group nature of the roles I struggle to say anything about them individually, but oh my god they were so good.

Arica Jackson as the Washing Machine was a delight to watch, as bubbly as her costume, but at times I wished her voice was a little less of a light silky pop belt and more of the full-throated fare Capathia Jenkins gave us in the original cast. That said, I think that’s purely a matter of preference and me being stuck in my ways; her vocal performance was very deft and there was nothing actually wrong with it.

Quentin Oliver Lee KILLED as the Dryer and the Bus (and briefly, spoiler alert, Caroline’s ex-husband). I would never have known he wasn’t the principle if the playbill didn’t tell me so. His voice was resonant and sweet, which as the Dryer gave a cruel contrast to his words and body language and as the Bus revealed sincere reverence and sorrow. I never looked away from him for a second when he was onstage. He was a more overtly sexual Dryer- rather than the original where the implication is delivered only through the music, this Dryer postures while manspreading (all the while seated on the physical dryer), caressing his legs and leaning forward hungrily. I would like very much to see how Kevin S. McAllister’s take compares, but I’m delighted to have gotten to see Lee. I am in love with him.

Finally, N’Kenge as the Moon was gorgeous. Her voice was flawless. Her gestures were rather repetitive, but given that she’s sitting in a half-bubble the entire time I think that issue lies with the direction more than her interpretation, and anyway she’s graceful enough that you don’t really mind if she waves her arms the same way a few times in a row. I am also in love with her.

Alexander Bello and Jayden Theophile obviously play bit parts as Jackie and Joe, but they were still great and one of them did a sick flip during Roosevelt Petrucius Coleslaw, which was very impressive. We all clapped, but I clapped first.

The stage

When you walked into the theater, the first thing you noticed was the sound of frogs and bugs. The second thing you noticed was the copper confederate statue, labeled “the south’s defenders,” standing center stage. The pedestal gives away that the statue on stage is based on (but is not a replica of) the real South’s Defenders Monument in the real Lake Charles, LA. The sides of the stage are covered in tall grass and reeds while the center is tiled. Hanging lightbulbs are strewn all about the edges. Above is the “upstairs” featuring a TV and phone on one side and Noah’s bedroom on the other. The two sides of the upstairs begin and end the show joined together, but are separated for the bulk of the run time (the symbolism is not subtle).

At the beginning of intermission the washing machine is left alone center stage; at some point during intermission it is replaced with just the pedestal of the South’s Defenders statue, plus the head and a confederate flag on the floor of the stage. Unfortunately, I was in the bathroom so I didn’t see when/how they switched them or if anything interesting happened :(

My one complaint about the set design and use of stage and lighting throughout the show is that it actually feels quite cool, not hot or stifling at all. Before the show, someone behind me joked that it felt like Pirates of the Caribbean at Disney World. They make things red and hot and small when the dryer is actively singing in the first scene, but not really at any other time. Again, a very minor complaint comparatively.

A brief top three visual moments utilizing the set and lighting:

The Bus’s entrance, in which the back of the stage opens with a blinding light and the bus and his passengers, hidden in shadow, slowly trudge in

Salty teardrops, where real water begins falling onto the back and sides of the stage

Lot’s Wife, in which as Caroline sings the final “flat” she is slowly but ultimately BLINDINGLY illuminated from behind with pure white light, as though being granted her wish and purged in holy fire. You could hear the audience gasping at the absolute splendor of it, I also gasped and physically covered my mouth with my hands (even though I was wearing a mask lol) and obviously everyone broke into applause immediately afterwards

The costumes

The costumes for the human characters are fitting but mainly unremarkable. I think this is for the best; making them any more eye-catching would have been a poor choice. A few costumes are very similar to ones from the original broadway production, like Emmie still wearing a brown plaid coat during I Hate The Bus, while others were completely original.

The costumes for the appliances and the Moon, though, were fabulous. The identical dresses and hairpieces for the Radio stunned every time- my favorite was the blue and silver for Salty Teardrops, but the white Christmas outfits complete with white wigs and the red and black numbers for No One Waitin’ were also gorgeous. The Dryer was perfect, wearing a dark jumpsuit with red-hot coils around his neck and splashed over his arms (the one on his neck neatly evokes a collar). The Moon had three (?) very similar dresses, each of which provided a slightly different effect when she gestured but all of which suggested roundness and grace by means of sleeves connected to the body of the dress. The Washing Machine’s bubbles were a bit of a weak point by comparison, but not distractingly bad.

My favorite was actually the Bus- his costume includes a license plate and headlights, as one might expect, but I was really delighted by the simplest part: an ultra-thin, bright line painted directly down the center of his face, suggesting the light peeking out from the crack between two bus doors on a dark night. It may be because the Bus is already one of my favorite parts, so I am undeniably biased, but I was obsessed.

The changes

The most noticeable overarching change from the original production is that LOTS of moments have their tempo slightly reduced. This makes sense given that Caroline, or Change has a lot of very dense lyrics sung very fast, so I can’t fault them, but it does unavoidably make those moments slightly less high-energy, less frenetic, less of an outburst. For example, “I think it’s a negro thing/A southern thing/A christian thing” is sung slower than it was in the original version, there is a rest between each phrase.

There were slight changes in the music at parts. During Dotty and Caroline, Caroline’s pitch is lower on “Dotty Moffat/high and mighty/going to college/every night.” During Moon, Emmie, and Stuart Trio the Moon’s “dona”s have been altered. And at the end of Emmie’s first bit in the Kitchen Fight, her melody and lyrics have been slightly altered from the furious, rapid “Come on, come on teach me what you know! Mama, teach-” and are now slower and almost desperate: “Teach me, teach me, teach me, mama, teach-”

Other changes were purely lyric-based. “Night, cheap beautiful music” has been changed to “Night, free beautiful music.” And a few very minor wording changes have been made to dialogue parts such as Caroline giving her perspective on Noah’s mother’s cancer. I don’t remember exactly what changed, except for the slight rearrangement of “Sometimes God eat people like a hungry wolf” to “God eat people sometimes. Like a wolf.”

Finally, during 1943, Caroline’s husband actually appears for the flashback. He wears a white sailor’s uniform and dances with her sweetly. They hold hands and romance each other at first, then becomes distant as babies are piled into their arms (and into the arms of the appliances). We do not see them hit each other- it is portrayed through flinches and, when Caroline retaliates, by her slamming a hand down on the washer.

Little Things

Roosevelt Petrucius Coleslaw is always a fun-act-ender, but it’s really emphasized as a whimsical showstopper here with lots of visual interest and even Caroline smiling and participating in the shower of money.

During Rose’s call with Dotty towards the end, Stuart is standing by her constantly trying to nonverbally communicate something to her but getting shut down every time. He’s clearly frustrated with how the call is going, but I couldn’t read what he was trying to get Rose to do- to be more harsh, perhaps?

When Grandma Gellman has Stuart play the clarinet after A Twenty Dollar Bill and Why, he is seated at the head of the table and comically whips the clarinet out from underneath and begins playing in the same motion and it’s really funny.

As previously noted, “I think it’s a negro thing/A southern thing/A christian thing” is sung slower and annunicated more, but there was one more interesting thing- “christian” is emphasized much more heavily than “southern” and “negro”. It lends a little more aggression to the interaction on Emmie’s part while also emphasizing the Jewishness/Christianity dichotomy of the piece.

Inside/Outside had a brief chaotic light show that to me was the only part of the show where the lights and colors went too far. It wasn't overly disruptive though, since the part is so short.

We attended a brief Q and A after the show, featuring Stuart Zagnit, Jaden Myles Waldman, Khalifa White (cover for Radio 1 and 2 and Emmie), and Timothy Quinlan (cover for Stuart, Mr. Stopnik, and Mr. Gellman). The first “question” managed to be a white dude giving a comment-not-a-question about how he “had his own Caroline” and stuff and I thought he came off a real dick but the moderator seemed into his story. Personally, I think if you want points for showing basic human decency to the black maid that raised you, you should probably at minimum write a Tony-nominated musical about her, but that’s just me.

Most of the other questions were good but very basic. The one answer that was pretty interesting was when someone asked about little things the actors picked up about the score that a one-time audience would never notice. Quinlan and White explained to us that after the Washing Machine does her bit begging Rose not to fire Caroline, there is a brief bassoon part which represents Betty “telling” Rose not to fire Caroline. It was unclear whether this was actually coming from Tesori or if it was White’s pet theory (Quinlan noted that White was the one who told him about it) but I thought it was pretty neat either way.

The audience

The audience was so excited to be there! It brought me a lot of joy. There was instant applause the MILLISECOND the lights started to go down. The guy next to me was, I think, competing with me to see who could scream the loudest during applause breaks. Audible gasps occurred at times, especially when Noah turns on Caroline- there were small gasps during his rant, then some BIG gasps after “I hope he drops his bomb on you!”

There WERE unfortunately laughs at “and hell’s where Jews go when they die.” My boyfriend patted me sympathetically on the back as it happened since he knows how I feel about that, but there were at least fewer laughs than you hear on the bootleg and they were more uncomfortable. Plus, Sharon D. Clarke’s acting was so captivating in the moment that I wasn’t able to be drawn out of the scene very much.

Conclusion

I could literally write about this all day but this is already a little excessive. I take credit for psychically willing this revival into existence, now go see it before it closes.

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themurphyzone · 4 years

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PatB Oneshot: Every Rose Has Thorns and Petals

Summary: Brain’s plan is simple: create a Valentine card with a message that the world should adore him as their new ruler. But he needs extra help in coming up with a catchy message to rein in the consumers for the outer cover. And who better to help than the expert of all things amour?

AN: I decided to see if I could write a good Suavo. Enjoy! Warning for terribly cheesy flirting. I don’t typically write this genre XD

This borrows from the HC that Pinky can still do the Suavo persona.

Written for Valentine's Day/Suavo Sunday. I regret everything.

AO3 Link

At last, a new plan came to fruition! With Valentine’s Day looming upon them with its chocolate-coated fangs and sickly sweet aroma, people would be flocking to grocery stores everywhere to purchase giant teddy bears they could barely carry around and heart-shaped boxes of gourmet chocolate. But most lucrative of all, they would buy Valentine cards with the most obnoxious lovestruck messages that were far cheesier than Pinky’s cheesecake.

Everything clicked into place. The slightly larger than average dimensions of a Valentine’s card. Various red and pink hues for the envelopes. Colorful images with hearts, roses, and Pinky on the front cover (for Pinky met all of the scientific criteria that triggered one’s protective instincts). And on the inside, an image of Brain standing on the world in royal regalia with a message declaring that all the world shall adore him as their new leader.

But there was a single, glaring flaw to his otherwise brilliant plan.

He could not come up with a ridiculous phrase for the outside cover. It had to be eye-catching, humorous, or corny enough to grab a customer’s attention. He stared at the smiling picture of Pinky for several minutes, then gave in.

Pinky was the expert in all things ridiculous after all.

“Life is the road I wanna keep going! Love is a river and I wanna keep going ooonnnn!” Pinky sang along to his playlist, leading a Barbie doll in a tender waltz.

And it was best to interrupt before Pinky’s playlist reached My Heart Will Go On. That sappy 90s love ballad was on there. He was not striking the King of the World pose until he was actually king of the world, but that assertion hadn’t gotten through Pinky’s cotton-stuffed head yet.

Brain grabbed the prototype card and pencil, marching up to the windowsill where Pinky and Barbie danced under the evening sky. The sun lowered, the moon rose, and the first twinkling stars poked out, signifying the beginning of another night.

The phone was propped against a wall, and Brain smacked the image of Anastasia and Dmitri dancing to stop the song as he passed by. Pinky continued to hum, dipping Barbie low enough that her blonde hair touched the windowsill. His eyes were half-lidded, tail swishing to an invisible beat. Though there was no music, his rhythm was steady and his feet never missed a step.

It was mesmerizing. Pinky danced with all the grace of a professional ballerina.

He pricked his finger on a sharp point of the prototype card, and the poke brought Brain back to reality. Right. No distractions.

“Hiya, Brain! Zort!”

Dear Archimedes there were otherworldly blue eyes right in front of his face.

Startled, Brain leapt back and swung his pencil defensively. There was a muffled narf as the eraser end went into Pinky’s mouth. Once the initial shock passed, Pinky giggled and nibbled on the eraser, several rubbery shavings poking out between his teeth.

Brain took a deep breath, trying to calm his too-fast heartbeat.

“Quit slobbering on my erasers, Pinky,” Brain snapped. He removed his pencil from Pinky’s mouth, wrinkling his nose at the saliva-coated eraser. He tossed it aside, and the pencil skittered across the counter and onto the floor.

“But they taste so good!” Pinky licked his lips. “Especially with a pinch of dryer lint. That way you get fluff and chewiness in one single fantastic bite!”

Sometimes he truly worried for the state of Pinky’s digestive tract. For now, it was best to change the topic entirely. “As much as I’d love to debate the intricacies of your exotic cuisine, I require some of your eccentric expertise for my latest plan,” Brain said, setting the prototype card on the counter.

Pinky’s tail and ears perked up. A predictable reaction, but reliable all the same.

While Pinky put Barbie away, Brain retrieved a new pencil. There were few writing utensils that weren’t chewed up by a bored employee or Pinky for fun, and it wouldn’t be long before Brain would have to acquire more.

“I gotta help Brain now, Barbie. Thanks for sharing a dance with me! Those ballroom dance classes are really paying off!” Pinky chirped, waving to the inanimate Barbie, who now sat in a pink plastic convertible next to a shirtless Ken doll. He peeked inside the card and clasped his hands together, holding them against his cheek dreamily. “Awww, Brain! This is gonna be so romantic!”

“The very atmosphere I intend to create with these mass-produced cards, Pinky,” Brain replied. “However, while I have all the elements of your typical Valentine card alongside an additional message that will aid us in our conquest, I haven’t worked out one essential component yet.”

He closed the card and tapped the empty speech bubble next to Pinky’s image.

Pinky tilted his head. “You haven’t figured out how to make single people buy your cards yet?”

Drat. He hadn’t considered those outliers.

“Then we’ll just have to infiltrate the postal service,” Brain said, mentally congratulating himself on correcting that error quickly. “But before we implement the plan, I need a Valentine phrase for this speech bubble. A saying that will entice the average infatuated consumer and hook them into purchasing my cards alone. And since you lean heavily toward the sentimental and saccharine…well, this is where I require your assistance.”

“The sentimental and the saccharine?” Pinky echoed. “I don’t think I’ve heard of that soap opera, Brain. What channel is it on?”

Brain opened his notebook and found an empty page, poised to jot down Pinky’s suggestions. “The real life channel. Don’t be concerned about missing it, Pinky. It’s on 24/7 all year long. But I digress. The sooner I find a phrase, the sooner we’ll have the world!”

Pinky tapped his foot in thought, the tip of his tongue poking out like he truly believed protruding tongues had the power to magically grant ideas. For all Brain knew, Pinky probably believed that.

Then Pinky snapped his fingers. “I got it! How ‘bout ‘be mine, valentine’?”

“Too cliché,” Brain muttered. A million Valentine cards would already have similar phrasing. They didn’t have time to seize control of a greeting card factory. “Not unique enough.”

Although the valentine bit wasn’t particularly directed toward him, his grip on the pencil slackened, the tip leaving a graphite smudge along the margins. He quickly turned the pencil around and erased it, hoping Pinky didn’t catch onto his brief moment of inattention.

Fortunately, Pinky didn’t notice. “Alrighty then. Hmmm…you’re the sour cream to my cheese-slathered potato?”

“…I’ll save it for a last resort.”

Well, he asked for unique. But sour cream didn’t particularly invoke strong Valentine feelings. Idioms that involved sweet foods with enough sugar to induce diabetes in an elephant would be better, and he made a quick note to the side.

“I turtle-y adore you?” Pinky suggested, his blue eyes sparkling accordingly.

Brain felt a light blush settling over his cheeks, and he rubbed his fur to rid himself of the mortifying feeling. “Doesn’t match your picture. And no animal puns unless they involve mice.”

Pinky rubbed his chin, not one to be easily deterred. “There’s gotta be some good ones on the Internet.”

“Don’t trouble yourself, Pinky,” Brain sighed. He sat cross-legged on the counter, massaging his forehead to intercept any headaches before they began. “Figured we should’ve gone with the photobooth plan. It’s your fault for influencing my subconscious with your caterwauling over The Princess Bride’s movie adaptation.”

“Troz! I’ll have you know Princess Buttercup and Westley have great chemistry!” Pinky pouted.

Brain rolled his eyes. “Please. They’re about as compatible as two noble gases.”

Pinky went quiet after that. Whether he’d gone off into the imaginary world of talking cheeses or taken unusually great offense on the lead couple’s behalf, Brain wasn’t sure. But the silence obliged, and Brain took the opportunity to ponder their next course of action.

Take a risk and use one of Pinky’s earlier suggestions? Scrap the plan entirely and pull one from storage? Seek a second opinion?

Then Pinky gasped, his tail pointing high in the air like an inverted exclamation point.

“Brain, are you pondering what I’m pondering?” Pinky asked, gripping Brain’s shoulders in excitement.

Brain leaned back, supporting himself on the palms of his hands. “We break out the Feldman disguises and ask Mr. Sultana for his opinion on what a hypothetical Valentine card should say?”

“I’m sure he’s got a bunch of good ones, but that’s not it,” Pinky said. “Actually, I oughta slip into something more…in-character. I’ll be right back!”

Pinky skipped away, humming as he went over to his dress-up box in the corner of their cage. He pulled a divider around himself so that all Brain could see was a shadowy silhouette rummaging through clothing and accessories.

Brain continued to ponder, though no feasible ideas were coming to him. He closed his eyes, shutting out all visual forms of distraction. He listened to Pinky dressing in the cage, but it was more white noise than a true hindrance.

Five minutes later, he still had nothing. But there was something…different.

A tantalizing scent. Not overly sharp, though just light enough that he couldn’t identify it with confidence. And he wanted to know more.

It wasn’t fruit or soap. Nor was it vanilla, like the scented candles Pinky loved so much.

Something smooth snaked its way under his nose, brushing the fur above his lips. The scent was closer now. His nose twitched.

“ACHOO!”

Startled by the force of his sudden sneeze, Brain’s eyes flew open. He rubbed his nose to wipe off the lingering sensation, staring down at Pinky’s long tail, which sat unassumingly in his lap. The tip was wrapped around the stem of a small red rose.

The tail lifted, rubbing against the fur under Brain’s chin. Brain felt his cheeks heat up again, and he quickly batted the offending appendage away.

“Pinky, you’re not helping my state of-“ Brain began, ready to launch into a verbal tirade on how he needed to think and if Pinky wasn’t going to help then he could make like a mitotic cell and split…and then he saw a very familiar, perhaps all too-familiar, lavender tuxedo with an overstuffed dark purple…something underneath.

He couldn’t tell if it was a shirt, vest, or pincushion. A gold button glinted in the middle of Pinky’s chest.

Gulping, Brain knew the mysterious article of clothing was the least of his concerns. He forced himself to look up, gaze raking past the slender neck and toward half-lidded, coy blue eyes. A sophisticated mustache poked out from each side of Pinky’s muzzle. And he was genteel, charismatic…

Suave.

Pinky’s ability to play a character to perfection never ceased to astound him. He still remembered? Brain had long destroyed the Personalitron and its blueprints, deeming them unnecessary and cumbersome.

“Pardonnez-moi, you with the giant head and marshmallow body are seeking the passionate advice of I, the great Pinky…Suavvvo-“ he drawled every syllable with that odd French accent, r’s rolling off his tongue like smooth butter “-for your…ah, Saint Valentine card, no?”

Fu—choose your words wisely—I mean, dear name of a historical contributor to the scientific or mathematical field who I can’t identify properly at this time.

“I fail to see how playing dress-up is going to help with this conundrum, Pinky Suavo.” Brain stood up and crossed his arms. He wasn’t about to let the Suavo persona sway him. He was the Brain, and he bowed to no one.

Exert control over the situation. Yes. That’s what he needed.

Suavo plucked the rose from his tail between two practiced fingers, inhaling its scent deeply. Where did he even get that rose from? The lab wasn’t growing flora for any reason, nor did any scientist have the green thumb to care for anything so fragile.

“Oh, but love is always…how did you say, a conundrum, is it not?” he purred, and Brain scowled. But Suavo was unperturbed. “One may pluck the petals from a pretty flower and ask if one loves or loves not, yet how will one know if they ask the flower and not the lover? Oh, I do not know.”

His voice dipped into a lower, softer register, and a strange sensation traveled up Brain’s spine. Though the riddle seemed directed at him, he wasn’t in the mood to unravel any cryptic meanings.

Just like before, Suavo’s magnetism was…hypnotizing. Like he had no choice but to do what Pinky Suavo said. And wasn’t that ironic? He, the Brain, as the hapless follower instead of the commanding leader.

Suavo appeared oblivious to Brain’s internal dilemma. He simply set the rose back into his tail and twirled one curled end of the mustache around his finger, humming a dreamy, sentimental song to himself. He was waiting on Brain in the most irritating fashion possible.

But if he wanted this plan to work, he’d just have to tolerate Pinky’s attempt at resolving his predicament.

“Pinky Suavo,” Brain sighed, forcing all his pride back. Suavo turned to him, his eyes still in that odd half-lidded position. “Is that overstuffed pincushion actually giving you ideas for the card?”

“Of course, mon ami.” Suavo slicked his ears and fur tuft back with a smooth, graceful stroke of his hand. “For it is he, who is I, who is the connoisseur of…ammooooouuuur.”

Brain grabbed his notepad and pencil, his stomach doing odd backflips like butterflies had somehow burrowed their way into his flesh and laid eggs there. He was not paying attention to Suavo’s hand movements. No, the eye was just naturally drawn to movement. That’s how it worked.

Besides, he was looking at the same being who once managed to get all his fingers and tail tangled up in a complicated cat’s cradle.

Suavo clicked his tongue, deftly plucking the items out of Brain’s grip. “No, no, you silly mouse. You cannot experience amour through pen and paper alone. You must feel it, see it, hear it. For it is everywhere and anywhere you search…if only you would use those big ears of yours.”

Brain gritted his teeth and jumped for his supplies, but Suavo simply held them out of reach with one long arm. All Brain could manage was a tiny hop. It wasn’t getting him anywhere.

So he took a deep breath and forced himself to relax.

“I’m listening, Pinky Suavo,” Brain said, hoping he sounded at least a little cordial. “I believe the colloquial is, I’m all ears?”

A pleased smile flitted across Suavo’s face, his arm lowering.

Perfect.

Then Brain threw himself forward, digging his hands and feet into Suavo’s clothing and hauling himself towards the notepad and pencil. Fortunately, it wasn’t hard to grip. Suavo stumbled a bit, but he refused to yield. Brain grabbed a fabric fold on Suavo’s right shoulder. He was so close-

-and a red nose pushed into his own. Warm, mint-scented breath tickled the fur on his face.

“You know, it is more, ah, polite to take a mouse to dinner before you begin climbing him, is it not?” Suavo crooned.

Brain’s ears flopped against his back, a warm sensation sweeping through his body. His clammy paws lost their grip on Suavo’s clothing, and he would’ve fallen entirely if Suavo’s free arm hadn’t wrapped around his waist and secured him with a strong yet gentle grip.

In hindsight, perhaps his attempt at reclaiming his belongings was ill-thought out.

Perhaps it was for the best that the arm was covered by fabric, but at the same time, some irrational thought of wanting Pinky’s fur against his own wormed its way into his mind.

Suavo set the notepad and pen down with care, dipping Brain in the process. Brain clutched the fabric tightly, but it was unnecessary. Suavo’s embrace was strong enough to prevent him from landing on his head. Then Suavo straightened up, once again plucking the rose from his tail and holding it next to Brain.

“Oh, now this is…magnifique,” Suavo murmured, his eyes darting from the rose to Brain’s face. Though Brain tried to maintain eye contact to make his displeasure known, his resolve was quickly crumbling away. Surely it was the close proximity, the thumb stroking his fur, that was picking apart all rational thought and leaving some hormone-driven creature behind?

“What?” Brain asked, and he inwardly cringed. His voice wasn’t working properly. He’d meant to sound more demanding than that pathetic excuse of a question.

“Your eyes, mon ami, are just a few shades lighter this rose,” Suavo said. Brain stared at him in disbelief. Comparing eyes to flowers, or worse, gemstones, was just ridiculous.

And your comparison of Pinky’s aesthetically pleasing eyes to the wild blue yonder above isn’t?

Brain ignored the contemptuous voice. That was completely different. The sky was neither a flower nor a gemstone, and therefore it wasn’t off-limits. Besides, it was a thought for him and him alone. It’s not like anyone else was going to hear it.

“You are but a deer mouse in the headlights. Yet there is no need to hide under a thorny layer,” Suavo hummed, tilting his head curiously. Deliberately. How strange. Even the slightest movement was mesmerizing. His fingers traveled up the flower stem, until his hand rested underneath the petals, supporting the tiny rose in the palm of his hand. “A rosebush may scratch and prick, yet the great Pinky Suavo cannot be swayed. For there’s a pretty bloom hidden in the darkness, and he is who moi shall…shall…NARF!”

Shocked by the return of the nonsensical exclamation, Brain lost his hold on Pinky Suavo’s clothing. He fell onto the counter surface with a pained groan. The hard material wasn’t doing wonders for the bends in his tail.

Something fluttered against his nose, causing Brain to sneeze again. He removed the offending object, and found himself staring down at the rose he’d been teased with. If he ignored the heavy-handed rose imagery Suavo kept spouting, it was rather adequate for a specimen.

“Narf! Zort! Poit! Egad!” Pinky laughed uncontrollably between his usual tics, uttering them at such a fast rate that they started to blend together like a tongue twister. “Ooh, I haven’t—troz! Haven’t said narf in a long time! But it’s poit—it’s okay cause you needed my help!”

Idiot.

Brain sighed and pushed himself to a standing position, then placed the rose on his notepad so Pinky could reclaim it later.

Now that he thought about it, Pinky hadn’t said any of his favorite syllables in his Suavo persona. Of course, they’d been replaced by stupid love poetry and gratuitous French, but the narfs and poits and zorts were rather refreshing.

Odd. He never thought he’d actually miss Pinky’s…unique diction.

“Pinky, were you actively suppressing your usual speech patterns in your strange form of assistance?” Brain asked. He couldn’t help his curiosity.

“Zort! Oh Brain, I’m not nearly as good as suppressing things like you are!” Pinky’s chortles continued as Brain grabbed his wrist and led him straight to the water bottle in their cage. “Besides—narf! Besides, I had to stay in character!”

“Remind me to never have you play a villain for any future plans revolving around cinema,” Brain grumbled.

Pinky’s tail happily flicked against Brain’s own. Though the imbecile was just swishing it around mindlessly, the brief physical contact suddenly brought back that very odd, warm sensation.

Curse this heightened sensitivity! It’s only a principle of thermodynamics and heat transfer!

“Brain, are you okay? Poit,” Pinky asked as Brain made him sit down in front of the water bottle. “You’re all woozy and whirlywindy. And white and red all over like a newspaper!”

“I’m f-fine,” Brain said. He was absolutely not relying on Pinky for balance. “Just drink, Pinky. And take off those silly clothes when you’re done.”

Pinky stared, not comprehending anything Brain said, but that was normal for him. Then he started to laugh, and only then did Brain realize he needed to watch his word choice, especially around a certain someone, because of course his fluff-filled mind would misconstrue it.

“Not like that!” Brain spat.

Pinky tipped onto his back, legs kicking upwards as his high-pitched laughter continued to assault Brain’s ears.

For the sake of his own sanity, he left Pinky to his own devices and stormed over to the nearest sink. He pushed on the tap for cold water until he’d created his own miniature waterfall, then hopped right in. He welcomed the cascade over his body.

As long as it pushed his homeostasis in the opposite direction, he was fine with resembling a drowned rat for now.

o-o-o-o-o

The plan failed before it ever took off. Brain had been so distracted that he’d failed to notice the lab was completely out of colored ink, rendering the copy machines completely useless.

He’d gone with the ‘you’re the sour cream to my potatoes’ message for the front cover, formatting it into the speech bubble in an elegant cursive font. Though it wasn’t conventional by any means, he simply considered it again since no other suggestions were forthcoming.

But at the same time, part of him wasn’t keen on allowing the masses to lay eyes on the Valentine card.

It seemed special. Unexplainably so.

“Brain?” Pinky called. His verbal tics had long gone back to their normal frequency. “Aren’t we taking over the world tonight?”

Brain shook his head, relieved that he finally had control over his body again. “Not tonight, Pinky. I’m afraid I’ve been prematurely thwarted by the lack of inventory in this lab.”

“Oh, you don’t have to be afraid, Brain,” Pinky said. Gone were Suavo’s clothing and mustache, and Pinky’s lean, muscular arms were on full display as he folded them across his chest. “I’ll protect you from Tory.”

It was an unnecessary gesture, but Brain couldn’t help but be touched by the admission all the same. Brain made a show of carefully placing the card into storage, just so he could distract himself momentarily.

When he finished his task, he found Pinky holding an elegant paper rose, crafted meticulously with purple tissue paper. A light blush settled over Brain’s cheeks as he accepted the gift from Pinky, whose blue eyes shone brightly as Brain ran his fingers over the soft petals.

“Thank you, Pinky,” Brain said gratefully, and he resisted the urge to rush off immediately and place the paper rose with his globe keychain, another gift from his dearest friend.

“You’re welcome!” Pinky smiled, and Brain’s heart beat faster. Then Pinky’s gaze flicked to the TV screen, and Brain figured he was about to be roped into watching a cheesy love story unfold. “Brain, can we watch Beauty and the Beast please? With those special Valentine M&M’s and chocolate-coated popcorn? I saw a whole bunch in the kitchen! Narf!”

Well…he could’ve suggested worse. At least this one was tolerable.

And it’s been a while since they’d watched a movie together.

“Get everything set up, Pinky,” Brain ordered. “I’ll join you when I’m finished with my own tasks.”

Pinky saluted and scampered into the kitchen, grabbing the rose he’d held in his Suavo persona along the way. He sang at the top of his lungs, though he’d forgotten most of the actual words and replaced them with a series of narfs and portmanteaus. Once Pinky was sufficiently distracted, Brain moved his notepad and pen over to the TV, then laid the paper rose over it.

He heard the crinkle of a bag followed by the sound of M&M’s being poured into a bowl. Pinky would be back any minute.

Brain knocked his head against the side of a wall.

Calm yourself. Pinky believes pebbles are precious gifts. You’ll be fine. Probably.

Slowly, he approached the drawer where he’d kept his hidden present. Sifting through several sheets of paper covered with complex formulas he’d deliberately placed in there to ward off Pinky, he found the sunflower pen he’d carefully hidden towards the back.

It wasn’t exactly…traditional for a Valentine’s gift. Simple blue ink with a green body and tipped with a bright yellow sunflower.

But it was bright. And colorful. Like Pinky.

More importantly, it was practical.

Brain’s ears twitched, and he heard the whirring of the VCR as Pinky popped in the movie. Brain debated leaving the pen and presenting it after the movie, but he didn’t want to procrastinate either. Otherwise it would be impossible to enjoy their activity.

Well, he could just drop it in Pinky’s lap. And snatch up some popcorn so his actions wouldn’t be too conspicuous. He climbed out of the drawer, holding the pen behind his back.

A preview for The Little Mermaid began to play. Pinky was enraptured by the animated marine animals. He seemed so happy.

Maybe he should reconsider. Valentine items would be discounted next week. He could just hold off and give a belated…what was he thinking? Valentine’s was just another day to turn profit!

The paper rose was sitting right there. No…Valentine’s meant something to Pinky. Like Christmas.

“Goody, you’re back, Brain!” Pinky cheered, stuffing two pink M&M’s into his mouth. The large bowl beside him was overflowing with chocolate. “It’s not raining inside, but I love your parasol! Where’d you buy it?”

A parasol?

He glanced up at the sunflower. Oh. So there was a resemblance to a parasol, he supposed. If one viewed it at a certain angle, that is.

“It’s a pen. Not a parasol. Take it,” Brain said, holding out the sunflower pen.

Pinky didn’t take it.

Instead, he made a joyful noise and crushed Brain with a flying embrace. Brain dropped the pen in surprise as Pinky’s entire body curled around him, feet off the ground. Brain had to support all his weight, Pinky’s warm fur brushing against his own.

“I love it! Loveitloveitloveit! Thanks, Brain!” Pinky squealed, happy tears forming at the corners of his eyes. “Happy Valentine’s Day!”

“You’re welcome, Pinky,” Brain murmured as Pinky nuzzled his cheek. “Now get off. I require my lungs. And heart. And my digestive system.”

Pinky didn’t get off until the Disney fanfare to herald the beginning of the movie began to play. Then he quieted down immediately, rolling the sunflower pen so that it rested across his lap.

“…happy Valentine’s Day,” Brain whispered, nibbling on a red M&M.

Pinky smiled back, teeth flecked with bits of chocolate. He shushed Brain, not wanting him to interrupt the opening narration.

As the enchanted rose appeared onscreen, Brain stroked the soft tissue paper of Pinky’s beautiful creation. Then he set it aside and reached for some popcorn.

His world was here. And there was nothing more he wanted.

Fun fact: the original name for this fic was going to be Suavo Valentino, but the current title was a last minute change cause somehow I just wrote a lot about roses.

Another change: The Princess Bride bit was originally a dig at High School Musical and how Disney Channel has bad romance in general, but since that was mid 2000s I changed it so this story could reasonably fit in the 90s.

Suavo’s lines...were interesting. I couldn’t stop laughing at how dumb some of them were though.

Brain’s got it bad here. Save him.

Are the roses corny? Yes. Do I care? Not really. Maybe. Possibly.

#pinky and the brain #patb fanfiction #pinky suavo #suavo sunday

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maybeacrowdedmind · 3 years

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My Top Seven Favorite Musical Moments In Shows That Aren't Musically Driven* and why (in no particular order)**

*By not musically driven I mean shows that do not have plots driven by music (i.e. Glee, Smash, etc. etc.)

**I know I said top seven, but I just mean out of the many I have seen, these seven are the ones I like the most.

Note: None of the images used are mine; they belong to various internet gods.

Legacies Season 1 Episode 11: We're Gonna Need a Spotlight

Kaleb and the Vampire faction singing "Feeling Good" by Nina Simone at the Salvatore School talent show.

While the entirety of the talent show was amazing (Kaylee Bryant's singing voice, Raf's slightly awkward yet still appropriately dramatic poetry), it was Kaleb and the vampires who stole the show. Chris Lee has an incredible voice and his rendition of Nina Simone's "Feeling Good" was stunning, both visually and vocally. I'm also a great lover of epic dance moves, so it was no contest.

Gilmore Girls Season 7 Episode 20: Lorelai? Lorelai?

Lorelai singing "I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton originally (Whitney Houston covered) at Stars Hollow karaoke to Luke, despite beginning the song as a dedication to Rory.

Lorelai and Luke may be broken up, but Lorelai's beautiful (and slightly alcohol-fueled) version of Dolly Parton's kind of cheesy yet nonetheless tender "if you love someone, set them free" ballad that was later made into an iconic cover by Whitney Houston was proof that they'd never really be over. Sure, she says she's singing it to Rory, but the moment Luke walks in and they lock eyes, everyone knows. Lauren Graham also has a good voice, and the emotion that comes through is so real, a cheesy karaoke moment becomes a heartfelt cheesy karaoke moment.

Everything's Gonna Be Okay Season 1 Episode 5: West African Giant Black Millipedes

Nicholas doing a drag queen routine to Thelma Houston's disco hit "Don't Leave Me This Way" for Alex and his friends.

Okay, so I love this scene so much, because not only is it done to an incredibly fun song, it also showcases Nicholas doing something so utterly entertaining for Alex and a bunch of people he was nervous about meeting. The fact that just a few days before watching this episode I had watched an episode of Ru Paul's Drag Race where two queens had to lip sync for their lives to the very same song made the scene that much more enjoyable to watch. Nicholas looks amazing, his dance moves are to die for, and his lip syncing game is strong. I also appreciated the fact that when he did this scene, Josh Thomas committed to it. The scene is done in full, not going for a bit and then fading out before we get to see the end. Also, I know that Nicholas isn't technically singing, but it still totally counts.

The Magicians Season 1 Episode 4: The World in the Walls

Quentin starting up a group sing-along to Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" to get Penny's attention in the mental hospital while under Julia and Marina's spell.

I just started watching this show after having read the first two books, and this scene was HILARIOUS! I loved that the show used a random interaction between Quentin and Penny from a previous episode and turned it into something more because usually shows ignore one-off interactions between characters. Also, Quentin singing off-key at the top of his lungs with everyone else joining in and dancing while Penny suddenly hears it in the real world was so funny and a huge break in an otherwise extremely dramatic and rather dark episode.

Skam Season 2 Episode 3: Er det noe du skjuler for oss? (Are You Hiding Someone From Us?)

Noora singing Extreme's "More Than Words" on William's guitar, initially doing so to make fun of him, but quickly turning into a super sweet and romantic moment between the two.

Skam is another show I started watching recently, and Noora quickly became one of my favorite characters. Now, I'll admit, I wasn't too fond of the idea of William and Noora at first, but this scene changed my mind immediately. I'm also very into the whole "enemies to lovers" thing these two have with one another. All of the songs Noora sings in this scene are good, but "More Than Words" is the one where you really begin to see that William's feelings for Noora are not as one-sided as she says they are. Josefine Frida Petterson, who plays Noora, has an absolutely beautiful voice, and the vocalization and soft musicality throughout are stunning. This is one of my favorite scenes in this show to date, and everything about it was perfect.

New Girl Season 1 Episode 1: Pilot

Coach, Schmidt, and Nick singing "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes from Dirty Dancing to Jess, who eventually joins in, after her date stands her up.

Poor Jess had just broken up with her boyfriend, moved into an apartment with three guys who have little to know emotional know-how when it comes to women, and had her first date since her breakup stand her up at a fancy restaurant. The situation was made worse by the fact that she was told to give up her table. When the boys showed up and claimed to be her boyfriends, it was sweet, but the moment they began singing "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life", they showed that they really did care about her. What makes this scene so funny is the fact that Nick (who begins it) and Coach (who joins in after Nick elbows him) don't really know the words, they're both singing different parts in different tunes at different volumes, and then Schmidt (who initially says he's not singing), comes out of nowhere belting the song with the correct words and tune. Then Jess joins in and they have a great time until the restaurant makes them leave. They head back to the apartment, watch Dirty Dancing, and show that any problem can be solved with good friends and 80s movies.

Angel Season 2 Episode 11: Redefinition

Cordelia, Wesley, and Gunn sing "We Are The Champions" by Queen at Caritas after Angel fires them.

Cordelia, Wesley, and Gunn had just been fired by Angel so he could kill Darla and Drusilla without their interference and the trio was at a loss for what to do next. Angel Investigations was disbanded, and none of them had any clue what to do about it. Their solution? Terribly sing Queen's "We Are The Champions" at Lorne's bar Caritas and drown their sorrows. While an extremely short scene, Cordy, Wes, and Gunn's reaction to being fired was super relatable, and you can never go wrong with Queen. They also have three very different personalities; Cordelia is snarky, has a lot of wit, and tends to be rather superficial, but she has so much heart beneath the surface, Wesley is a stuffy English professor type, and being a former Watcher means he couldn't be hip and cool if he tried, and Gunn is a hardened vampire hunter with a strong resolution and loyal to the core, who was still relatively new to the group when Angel gave them the boot. As such, seeing them all be together with arms around shoulders singing their hearts out was immensely fun to see.

Honorable Mentions:

Legacies: Alaric singing "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" terribly off-key before Kaleb and Cleo swooped in and saved the day with their improvised song.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Giles Singing "Free Bird" while playing his guitar in his home.

How I Met Your Mother: Lily and Marshall singing "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" at karaoke, effectively making up after Marshall accepts a corporate job rather than one that fits his morals.

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passionate-reply · 4 years

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Great Albums is back for a third time! This week, we discuss Dazzle Ships, the avant-garde masterpiece that was so infamously weird, it almost ��sank” the pop career of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. Or did it? As usual, you can find a full transcript of the video under the break, if you’d like to read it instead.

Welcome to Passionate Reply, and welcome to Great Albums. Today, I’ll be talking about an album that many would consider OMD’s best, and many would consider the last great album they ever made: 1983’s Dazzle Ships, their fourth studio LP. It has a reputation that precedes it, as a strange, experimental, and avant-garde album. And I can’t argue with that too much, when it has tracks that sound like "ABC Auto-Industry."

The most obvious thing one can say about Dazzle Ships is that it’s dense and rich with samples. You’ll hear found sounds ranging from a “Speak and Spell” toy to a radio broadcast from Czechoslovakia. It’s a magpie’s nest constructed of garbage and baubles, collage-like and conscientiously artificial. And OMD’s Paul Humphreys and Andy McCluskey managed to make it before sampling became easier and hence more widespread later in the 1980s, thanks to advancements in digital technology. In its own day, it was, famously, a huge flop, baffling even the critics, which makes it tempting to argue that the world simply wasn’t ready for it. Popular legend says that Humphreys and McCluskey were essentially forced to make increasingly soft, pop-oriented music for years afterward, usually at the hands of their label’s higher-ups.

Is that story really true? Well, I don’t know, and I’m not sure if anybody really does. But I think it’s important that we entertain some doubt. Regardless of its actual veracity, this legend is offering us a simplistic narrative of art and capital butting heads, and one that we see repeated all too often in music journalism. It’s a story that expects us to believe that experimental music is good by default, and the natural goal of music and all the people who make it--and, conversely, that accessible music is bad, and anyone who writes a song you can dance to is always after profit, never craft.

Ultimately, though, the most important reason why I’m asking you to leave this question at the gate is that it’s simply a less interesting way to think about art. What I think is truly ingenious about OMD is their ability to combine a pop sensibility with that bleeding-edge experimentation, and vice versa. I don’t think of Dazzle Ships as just an inscrutable, esoteric musical ready-made, but rather something capable of animating and enriching a bunch of otherwise mundane sounds. A word I might use for it is "challenging," because it isn't simply off-putting--it has a certain charm that invites you to stick around and work through it, and you don't feel like it's a waste of your time. I think the underlying pop DNA offered by Dazzle Ships is a big part of that.

In “Genetic Engineering,” the samples from that Speak & Spell are contrasted with a more traditional chorus, which rises above the chaos, stirring and anthemic. It’s a song full of friction, not only between these musical ideas, but in ideas about technology and our future. Like many great works of electronic music, especially earlier in its history, Dazzle Ships is deeply concerned with science and technology, and the ways they’ve structured our world. These guys wrote “Enola Gay” a few years earlier, sure, but there’s much more than Luddite, dystopian thinking here! Dazzle Ships walks a tightrope between romantic adoration of the promise of a better tomorrow, and the tempered uncertainty we’re forced to develop, when we witness the devastation our most horrifying inventions have wrought already. Something that helps sell the former is the motif of childhood: in addition to the Speak & Spell, “Genetic Engineering” also features a children’s toy piano, and prominently references “children” in its lyrics. And “Telegraph,” the album’s other single, sees fit to reference “Daddy.”

Touches like these, and the centering of not-so-new technologies like telegraphy and radio, carry us backward in time. Dazzle Ships has a sense of nostalgia for the technological explosion of the Midcentury, when household technologies were improving in ways that saved time and labour, and faith in “better living through science” was high. It’s not a wistful or introspective nostalgia, but rather one that taps into the bustling excitement of living through that era. That retro styling helps us situate ourselves in a childlike mindset: optimistic, but somewhat naive. Children are highly imaginative, and become enthralled with possibility, but don’t always understand every implication their actions have.

But, as I said, “Telegraph” and “Genetic Engineering” were the album’s singles; the typical track on *Dazzle Ships* sounds more like “ABC Auto-Industry.” The track listing is structured such that these more conventional songs are surrounded by briefer, and more abrasive, intrusions. They become signals in the noise, as though we’re listening to them on the radio--or ships, rising above some stormy seas. Several tracks, such as “International,” also feature a more dissonant intro, on top of that, crowding their main melodies inward.

Over the years, many critics have been quick to contrast Dazzle Ships with OMD’s other albums, but I actually think it has a lot in common with their preceding LP, 1981’s Architecture & Morality, and seems to me to flow naturally from the direction the band had already been going in. Architecture & Morality is a lively mix, with moody instrumentals like “Sealand,” guitar-driven numbers like “The New Stone Age,” and catchy, intuitive pop songs like “Souvenir.” Architecture and Morality proved to be their most successful album, when its title track sounds like this. I fail to see how it’s tremendously different than the title track of Dazzle Ships, which leads us on a harrowing sea chase, with radar pings quickly closing in.

That nautical theme is a great segue to discuss the album’s visual motif. Like all of OMD's first five albums, its sleeve was designed by Peter Saville, most famous for his stunning work for New Order. The cover and title were inspired by a painting Saville had seen, Edward Wadsworth’s *Dazzle Ships in Drydock at Liverpool,* which portrays WWI warships painted in striking, zebra-like geometric patterns. These sharply contrasting “razzle dazzle” designs weren’t “camouflage,” but rather served to confuse enemy forces’ attempts to track them, and predict their motions. Dazzle ships were killing machines that fought dirty...and they were also beautiful. It’s a potent, complex symbol, and it’s a natural fit for an album that’s also capricious, perplexing, and captivating in its uniquely modern terror. Saville’s sleeve design features both a die-cut design as well as a gatefold; peeking through the cover’s “portholes” reveals the interior, where we find a map of the world, divided by time zones. It’s yet another reminder of how technology has reshaped the planet, connecting the human race while also creating divisions.

Earlier, I argued that Dazzle Ships isn’t that different from OMD’s preceding LP, and I’d also suggest that their follow-ups to it aren’t all that different, either. It’s easy to see the influence of Dazzle Ships on their most recent work, made after reforming the group in the late 00s, and informed by the critical re-evaluation and cult acclaim of their alleged masterpiece. But even in the 80s, they basically continued the pattern of layering easy to love, “obvious single choice” tracks alongside more experimental, sample-heavy ones. Compare the title track of their sixth LP, 1985's *Crush.*

Even the greatest of pop hitmakers can't maintain a streak in the charts forever--it's not the nature of mainstream pop charts. Not even in the 1980s, when you could get away with quite a lot of electronic weirdness...at least for a while. Looking back and listening to "Maid of Orleans," it's almost hard to believe it was one of OMD's biggest hits. Is it really less weird than something like "Telegraph"? Perhaps they had simply reached the end of their imperial phase...whether they really had that stern talking-to or not.

It's not so much that Dazzle Ships isn't weird, so much as it is foreseeable that a nerdy, left-of-center band like OMD would have come up with it. Dazzle Ships IS excellent--it’s a Great Album! But it's good enough that I think it deserves to be heard and valued on its own terms. The album is too goddamn good--too compelling, too spell-binding--to be reduced to "that one album the plebs were too dumb to really get." I'm not clearing the air because I think this album is overrated, but because I think it deserves better, deeper discourse than it gets. A truly great album is great whether it sells or it doesn't, right? My advice is to never let art intimidate you, no matter how obtuse people say it is. Send your ship on that plunge into the dark waters of the unknown--you might find something beautiful.

That said...my favourite track overall is “Radio Waves,” an irresistibly fun cut that could easily have become a third single. Since “Genetic Engineering” and “Telegraph” live on side one of the record, “Radio Waves” is really the only “reprieve” we get on side two, smack in its middle. It really stands out, in context--almost like the opposite of how a more conventional album might have one out-there track that catches you off guard. Aside from all of that, though, the song also stands perfectly well alone. I have a real soft spot for music about music, how it’s made and transmitted, and “Radio Waves” is simply one hell of a ride.

Thanks for reading!

#great albums #music #omd #orchestral manoeuvres in the dark #album review #album reviews #dazzle ships #peter saville

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thesmokingguns · 3 years

Text

Wendy and The Lost Boys

Chapter 7

Sasha ran down the sorority stairs headed to the phone where she had been told there was a call for her. Usually it was just Tommy’s mother asking her to come home for the weekend or sometimes Len would call to go out. But it was the Thursday before she took her last final and she was trying to cram in as much study time as she could. Len knew this because he had come by earlier with takeout for her to have and a promise that he’d take her dancing tomorrow night. Which she had to say no to despite wanting to go out. It had to be Tommy’s mother, she decided as she slid on the couch. She probably wanted her help in the kitchen and to teach her how to cook some more.

“Hello?” She greeted the person, sliding into the chair next to the phone. Her head was swimming from the rereading of her notes. She had been in the sorority house since this morning. After she had finished her history exam she had locked herself up to try and get ready for the English exam in the morning. She was ready to be done with this semester and have the month off before going back in June. Sasha was planning on spending time at the Lee family house on her break and she was ready to hear about what she’d be cooking this upcoming week.

“Hey, Angel.” The sound of Nikki’s voice threw her off. He had never called her at school. She was always the one showing up at the apartment or shows. They would make plans when she was with him but hearing his voice on the phone was new. She had been so sure it was Tommy’s mother, “We’re all going out tonight and I wanted to see if you’d come along. I can come pick you up?” he offered.

“I have to take a final tomorrow that’s half my grade.” She explained feeling like an idiot. There were times like this where she felt like a kid. “But I’ll be at the show tomorrow night.” It was his birthday tomorrow and despite him not saying anything to anyone about it she had made sure she placed an order at the bakery for a cake and was going to head over to see him before she had to take her final at noon.

“Such a good girl staying in to study.” He teased her, making her roll her eyes, “How is studying going?” She looked at the receiver and wondered what was going on that made him want to talk to her. Nikki and her had rules to the thing that was going on between them. They did things like couples might do, like go out together to the movies or last week when they had gone shopping together. He had been so patient as she tried clothes on and it was like he liked having a say in her everyday life. She had been able to figure out a couple gifts for his birthday as well; Sasha was set on making this day special for him.

“I feel really stupid.” She admitted tucking her knees under her chin and lighting a cigarette, “I just don’t know if I’m smart enough to be here. I’ve been a mess taking tests all week. I never had trouble in school before so it’s weird trying so hard.” It was the first time she verbalized her fears and the way she took a breath after made her realize how much she needed to talk about it.

“Don’t worry. You’re the smartest person I know. I’m sure you’re going to do great, Angel.” She loved how Nikki always called her Angel. Since he wasn’t a sentimental person, the fact he had given her a nickname mattered. Usually Nikki just referred to girls as babes of babe. But when he saw Sasha and got to meet her it was different.

*Flashback January 20 1981*

Nikki was waiting for the drummer to meet him at the apartment but the kid was running late. He had to work tonight and scheduled an afternoon practice on purpose so he could get there on time. As if he knew that Nikki was getting mad, the drummer burst into the apartment with a blonde girl behind him wearing a school uniform. Nikki did a double take to the girl that was trailing behind Tommy. Her white shirt was tucked into a plaid skirt she had rolled shorter so it hit her thighs instead of her knees, knee high white socks and white Keds that looked like they were fresh out of the box. She was holding a sweater in her hand despite it being chilly out. Her blonde hair was down, ucked behind her ears, and she was laughing as she took a drag of a cigarette.

“Sorry, dude, had to make a quick pit stop to break this delinquent out of school.” She rolled her eyes at Tommy, turning to look at the skinny bassist who seemed pissed off at the pair of them. He glared at her as she threw her sweater on the couch before sitting on it like she didn’t want to catch whatever was on there.

“You shouldn’t show up to practice late with your girlfriend. That isn’t what I’m looking for in someone serious about the band.” He was in a bad mood and didn’t need an audience brought to the apartment that was supposed to be for the band they were forming. Sasha scrunched her nose as she looked up from where she had been digging in her bag..

“Ew, Dream On!” The way she used the slang made Nikki want to roll his eyes. Obviously, she was a teenager like the idiot drummer, “ Tommy’s not my boyfriend. That’s super gross.” She said watching Tommy laugh as he settled behind his drum kit. They were thick as thieves so whenever anyone thought they dated it was just a weird place for either of them to imagine being.

“She’s like my sister, dude. My mom would legit kill us both. Though she’s going to kill you for cutting class.” Tommy said pointing a drumstick at her. She shrugged toeing off her shoes and tucking her feet under her. It was just great that she was making herself completely at home, NIkki thought sarcastically.

“You have been talking up this band so let’s hear what you boys got.” Nikki didn’t like loud mouth girls and she seemed to be the type to always have an opinion. The way that her blue eyes were twinkling, amused at his frustration was just setting him off more. He nodded at Tommy and they started jamming. He didn’t know why he kept looking up at her to see how she was responding to the music. She was quiet watching them both as if she just wanted to take in what she was seeing. It was good that she didn’t interrupt them because Nikki was sure that he would yell at her. A half hour later the guys were high fiving. Nikki moved to the fridge grabbing beers and tossing one to the drummer. He looked at the girl smoking on the couch, she had gotten a book from somewhere and was reading it, no longer interested in what the guys were up to..

“Hey,” she didn’t look up at him, only took another drag of her cigarette, turning the page to her book. Her Catholic school girl skirt was bunched up around her legs showing a lot of skin and he wasn’t sure how he should feel about seeing all of that. She looked young, maybe 15-16 at the most and he felt weird looking at her, thinking about what was under that uniform. “Hey, Angel.” He said the name teasingly over the uniform she was wearing but when she looked up at him smirking she might as well have been an Angel. She almost knocked him on his ass flashing him such a smile.

“Yes, Lucifer?” He tossed her a beer, smiling that she could give it back to him when teased and because the way she looked with that toothy grin he couldn’t help himself. “Thanks.” He watched her tap the top before cracking it open. Nikki was getting ready to make fun of her but she tipped the can to her mouth gulping it down and licking her lips turning to look at him after chugging the beer in under a minute. Maybe she wasn’t as young as he originally thought she was, “Your beer is flat.” She said crushing the can and turning to look back at her book, “When can we leave?” She asked Tommy without looking at him. The drummer liked how she didn’t give any attention to Nikki. Usually girls were all over him but her indifference was pissing the bassist off and it was visual.

“Have to get you back to the suburbs before your bedtime?” Nikki asked, glaring at the girl. His attitude was back now that she had made fun of the beer he had given to her, Sasha turned to look at him taking in his appearance for a second before nodding as if she was confirming something to herself. She tucked her book back into her bag

“You were the shitty bassist in London. When I lived off the Strip we’d all go watch you open for whatever good band was playing.” He didn’t believe in hitting women but at that point he wanted to slap her mouth but she wasn’t done yet , “God, I hope you don’t write the songs for whatever this is because no one wants to hear the whiny pop songs anymore.” He hated her. He gave Tommy a look and the drummer was making a face at her to stop. “Didn't you give the lead singer's girlfriend The Clap? You were the cause of the big outbreak in the strip last summer.” She stood up from the couch picking up her sweater and shrugging into it and looking at Tommy. “I’m going to wait in the van. Bye Sixx.” The fact she knew so much about him and he didn’t know a thing about her made him madder. He was going to tell Tommy never to bring this creature around him again. He didn't care who she was to him.

“You wait a second, Angel.” He was stalking across the living room the stupid nickname still rolling off his tongue because he hadn’t bothered to ask her name and Angel just fit this little devil. She turned looking at him, this amused bored look on her face as she stared up at him, “I’m not going to let some 14 year old bad mouth me in my own house.” He sneered at her. Tommy was jumping up to break them up but Sasha reached out, her hand caressing Nikki’s cheek. The bassist stiffened under her touch. She wasn’t pawing at him or rubbing against him trying to get something from him. It was this leath like touch on his cheek that was so different from the harsh words she had spoken.

“I’m 17. I’ll be 18 this summer.” She corrected him, her blue eyes locked into his. He felt like he was drowning making direct eye contact with her. She tucked a strand of hair behind his ear and took his cigarette placing it between her lips, “See you soon, Sixx.” She tugged his ear watching the way his eyes widened in confusion before lightening the cigarette and going to wait for Tommy in the van.

*End Flashback*

“I think I’m ready to have sex with you.” She blurted out. Her and Nikki had been fooling around for a few weeks but they hadn’t gone the whole way yet. Since it was his birthday tomorrow she felt like now was a good time. It had been over a year since she had sex so as much as she was worried about it there was a safety in doing it with Nikki.

“Should I come over to your dorm now?” He teased but his mind was racing with what she just told him. He had known that they were building up to it and she was going slower then he had ever done in the past but he was still surprised she was ready for that. Hooking up was one type of intimacy but the thought of being buried inside of her was something different.

“If I wasn’t afraid I’d fail out of school if I didn’t study I’d say yes.” She looked up to see someone walking by looking at the phone she was using, “Tomorrow night after the Whisky will probably be crazy but I can rent a hotel room for Saturday night to give us privacy?” She offered. Losing her virginity had been kind of a shitty experience so now she wanted the bells and whistles she hadn’t gotten. And she was willing to provide them all.

“We can go tomorrow after the show. I’d rather be with you anyway.” He didn’t say this because he just wanted to sleep with her and that made him instantly regret the words. If he let his emotions show too much she was going to get hurt. He liked Sasha but the truth of his life and what would happen always leaked in.

“Well I’ll see you tomorrow night and we can decide. I have to go, Sixx.” She bit her lip wishing she had another pack of smokes down her so she could smoke her anxiety away.

“Angel, if you don’t want to or-“

“I want to, Nikki. See you tomorrow.” She hung up headed to study for the rest of the night and planned what she was going to do the next morning.

Nikki was at the bar drinking with a few of his friends. It was fairly early into the morning at this point and he wanted the get home soon because she was in his head. He had made it very clear to her that he couldn’t date her but he didn’t expect to be the one who couldn’t get her out of his head. It was becoming a problem trying to think when she was the only one on his mind. He couldn’t believe he had called her earlier to come out. And how he was excited to just hear her talking about school and to be there for her. And how she had surprised him at the end. Jesus fucking Christ. Now all he could think about was having sex with her. He knew she hadn’t done anything outside of their hooking up since her ex. And that had been over a year ago now. He was going through all the things he wanted to show her tomorrow night when he felt a hand tap his shoulder. He turned looking at the pretty blonde, who seemed oddly familiar.

“I’m Lita.” She said with a confident smile flashing at him. Usually girls would be looking back for their friends to give them encouraging nods but she didn’t need any of that. He nodded his head.

“Rick.” He had no idea why the fuck he was lying about his name but knew that must mean he was about to get into trouble.

“I have half a Quaalude.” She held up the pill before reaching over and crushing it between her fingers over his drink. Nikki knew at this point he was going to fuck the blonde in front of him. His friends were all giving him these looks and he couldn’t let them down. He downed the drink and gave her an easy smile.

It was a cool LA morning and Sasha had her jeans on for once, tucked inside white high heels boots, a T-shirt she probably stole from one of the guys and this new white leather jacket that Len had given her as an early Christmas gift. She was really unsure of Len and what his angle was with things but the jacket was nice. He had mentioned meeting her after her last exam to talk about something so she agreed to a lunch. Since she had been hooking up with Nikki she wondered if he was going to officially stop seeing her. Even though they weren’t technically dating a lot of girls at the sorority considered them a pair.

She was holding the cake in one hand and juggling the presents she had gotten for Nikki in the other, a balancing act as she made it inside the apartment. When she got inside she rolled her eyes at the tree that someone had tried to paint black and was decorated with random clothing left behind from girls. She thought she spotted a condom tied in a branch but she wasn’t planning on investigating. Sasha set his presents down on the couch and grabbed the cake sticking some candles inside and moving towards his room.

Nikki had always talked about how shitty his life was growing up with his mom. He never really got to have a birthday cake or anything really to make him feel special. Sasha wanted him to know that someone cared, it was his birthday and that he was special. Even though they had agreed they weren’t anything serious Nikki was someone she was close to and she really did care about. She had this nervous energy building up inside of her. An image of him scruffy and hungover from the night before was in her mind, the lazy lovely smile he’d give her seeing the cake. The warmth of his kiss when he thanked her. It was all playing in her mind as she started towards his room.

“Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear-.” She smiled pushing the door and her heart sank. The image of his lips on hers turning to fire and ice all at once. “Nikki?” He shot a look over his shoulder, stunned seeing her holding a cake in the door frame, a blonde woman in bed bent over in front of him as he fucked her. The man was so caught off guard he felt his heart get stuck in his throat and wondered if he was hallucinating his actual worst nightmare.

“Didn’t you say your name was Rick?” The woman didn’t seem bothered as she looked over her shoulder and the realization of who she was hit Sasha. She turned from the woman to Nikki trying to get her composure so that no one saw her crying or throwing up.

“His name is Nikki Sixx.” She whispered out, swallowing hard to try and not cry. His eyes were on her and she saw he had the decency to throw a blanket over the woman well he reached for his pants in a pile on the ground. She didn’t want him coming near her right now. “I just brought you a cake and some presents that are on the couch because it’s your birthday and I wanted to make sure someone remembered it and for it to be special because I know how -“ Someone came behind her blowing out the candle on the cake and taking it from her hands before she dropped it. Also saving her from some of the embarrassment she was facing talking about nothing as she freaked out . The door was being shut, her eyes on Nikki’s as he looked back, not sure what to say to her but the presence of someone else stopping him from following her . Sasha was forced to see who had gotten her out of the room and saw Tommy standing there.

“Are you okay?” His hands were on her shoulders trying to keep her eye contact on him. She nodded her head weakly, the tears slipping out the sides. “Oh Jesus, Sasha.” Tommy was wrapping her in a hug in the living room looking towards the window. He knew Nikki would come out in a second to get and talk to her so he wanted to get her out of the situation. “I’ll take you to Denny’s and buy you a coffee.” He promised moving them closer to the window. He was thankful she nodded getting out of there.

Tommy was driving in the van with Sasha silent besides him. The tears were more under control now as she laid her head against the cool window. She had asked him to drive her straight to her exam. He knew better than to say anything to her or try to ask how she was doing. Mainly because she might start crying hysterically at any point. She licked her lips reaching out to take one of his cigarettes. She was tucking her legs up trying to be as small as she could.

“I think I’m going to sleep with Vince tonight.” Tommy choked at her words looking over at her to see if she was serious or not, “I think I need to just rip the bandaid off and sleep with someone to get it out of my system. Plus, Vince won’t say no and Nikki will be so fucking mad.” she nodded her head to herself, rolling the filter of the cigarette in her fingers as she tried to hatch her plan.

“Well, you’re friends with Beth so unless you’re going to ask her to sleep with her husband I don’t think your plan is going to work.” Tommy pointed out, which earned hm a look of annoyance from her, “Aren’t you going out with that guy from school? You know he sent mom and dad a gift basket for christmas?” she looked over at Tommy wondering how he knew that one.

“Len? He’s nice.” she shrugged her shoulders wanting to add that he wasn’t Nikki and she couldn’t even think of the man, “Tommy, I can’t compete with Lita Ford. Like out of all the fucking people he brings home that’s who I have to walk in on him with? I’m literally going to have fucking PTSD flashbacks listening to The Runaways now.”

“THATS WHERE SHE'S FROM!” it was like it had just dawned on him where he had seen her before. He apologized and she just shook her head at him, “Just take your exam. I’ll pick you up tomorrow from the dorms and we can go back home. Mom will cook for us and there will be no more sadness. She can cure hurt with food. You’ve experienced it.” she nodded her head wiping any stray tear from her face.

“Thanks for rescuing me in there.” she said as they pulled up to her school. “Sorry you’re always rescuing me.” she added.Tommy pushed her shoulder gently smiling at her.

“Listen, I had to wake up to terrible off key singing and then you went into a crazy rant. I was putting myself out of misery blowing out that candle.” he always made her feel better by teasing her like that Tommy gave her another hug and rubbed her head, “Also wash and return my shirt when you’re done with it. That’s a great Kiss shirt.” she smiled getting out of his van and waving. It was starting off to be a terrible day but at least she knew that Tommy would always make her laugh.

Nikki knew he was going to mess everything up. He had warned her that this all would be something that would get her hurt. He didn’t mean to have sex with Lita but they had gotten back to the apartment only about an hour before Sasha had showed up. They had been doing drugs and drinking so he didn’t have any common sense. He figured if he just fucked the woman she would leave the apartment and he could be on with his day. But now all he could think about was the shocked look on her face with those blue eyes staring at him, tears stinging as she saw him with someone else. He looked at the presents wrapped on the couch and just felt worse about everything. He had never had someone try to make his birthday matter like this and he had fucked it up spectacularly.

He picked up one of the packages wondering if he should bother opening them or if he had ruined everything now. He tugged open one of the presents smirking when he saw a new TRex shirt; she never had given him his short back and this was a sign she never would. There was another box with a silver cross in it which made him smile because he always talked to her about stage props and how he wanted this imagery with the band. She listened to him when he talked. The last box was a leather journal because he was always just writing lyrics or journaling. This was exactly why he didn’t want to hurt her. She did things that were kind and thoughtful and he had hurt her as he had promised that he would do.

He was a fuck up. He had fucked up what he had with Sasha and he knew that there was no coming back from this one. At least not without effort,

#nikki sixx fanfiction #nikki Sixx fan fic #nikki sixx imagine

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