#let’s find a new Christmas duet that doesn’t have a joke that now sounds like a date rape joke

[vashti-lives]

For years I have held myself back from participating in Baby It’s Cold Outside discourse. I hope I can reign myself in for another season but I can feel myself slipping…

[a-dumb-simp]

How the obey me brothers + Arcana would react to a dancer gn mc

> The Arcana + Obey me

Regular and competition hc

This is purely self indulgent because I dance lmao <3

> I matched up different styles to different people based on what they would be most interested in!

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆　　 ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

^ this is so long and I’m sorry but I’m on mobile so I can’t put a read more :( I love u <3

Ballet

Lucifer

He found out you did Ballet when he looked through your profile for the exchange program

He was interested but waited until you wanted to tell him to ask anything

He loves to watch you stretch and if you convince him well enough he might join you some nights and morning

It's part of your guys routine

His brothers must never know

You convinced him to finally do a partner dance with you

Him in a Ballet leotard and black legginging

His brothers are going insane but his glares still give them chills

Makes a room for you guys to practice with mirrors and ballet bars set up

Will spin you and then dip you

Kisses in the middle of dances all the time

Becomes a lot more flexible and doesn't know what to do with it

You teach him all the French Ballet terms and sometimes use it as inside jokes cause no one else can understand ”dance talk”

Cuddles in between fun practices :))

He's soft for you

Asra

He knew you did ballet before the incident

Afterwards he helps teach you again

Has to teach himself the moves and terminology first so now he gets to dance with you

Loves teaching you small bits of French when you learn to talk again so it's easier to understand ballet

Once you remember the both of you go to masquerades and do partner dances in the ballroom

Nadia loves watching the both of :)

You try to teach Muriel and it goes awful but Asra finds it adorable

He teaches you slowly and you learn to be a dancer again thanks to him <3

Contemporary

Belphie

He was napping the first time he heard you jumping around

He looked up curiously to find you practising a sequence

Almost asked you what you were doing but instead went back to sleep

Woke up again and saw you in a butterfly jump

You heard him rustling around and got excited!!

You can finally show him what you had choreographed!!

He watched you do a routine with a sleepy smile

Afterwards he'll applaud and let you curtsy towards him

Acts like he's throwing roses to you (plz pretend you caught one in your mouth)

He loves watching you dance

It's soothing to him honestly and if he's ever in a bad mood he’ll ask you to dance for him

Muriel

He found out through Asra that you liked to dance

He found you one day in the garden outside the hut practising grande jetes

You looked like a little fairy jumping around the in the forest

He honestly fell in love again

He sat down with Inanna and watched you for a good hour

Loves seeing your face light up when you finally nail doing your firebird

Will walk up to you and and tell you how beautiful you looked dancing

Scared you a bit!

He's v sorry :(

You just looked so focused he doesn't want to interrupt you!

Hip-hop

Mammon

Found you practising moves after school

You were playing music in your headphones and couldn't hear a damn thing

He just watched you for a bit until he felt the need to cause mischief >:)

He grabbed your waist as you were about to do a move and your hips went back towards his

-0-

He's a blush mess now and so are you, you compose yourself better than him tho

He didn't realise what you were dancing to at first so he begs you to play the music without headphones

As soon as it starts playing he can't take his eyes off you

He has little hearts shining in his eyes and is a blush mess but at the same time proud of you

Please teach him some moves

This man can sway and shake his hips-

Show him how to dance in different styles

wacking would be just favourite, the mix of pop with a subtle sway is perfect

Both of you doing duets

Please recreate dirty dancing scenes with him, he’ll die happy

Lucio

He's in the ballroom when he sees you

You and Portia we're just messing around and she found out you had danced before you came to Vesuvia and she immediately asked you to teach her

His heels made so much damn noise there was no way you couldn't hear him

Portia took her leave after blushing and left him staring at you

Deciding to be a bit bold you continued the combo

Leaning down to the floor and dragging your hands up your body slowly while continuing eye contact

He's a blushing mess

He may seem like a dominate tall leader but. You make him especially weak

He's begging to learn how to strut

You pull out his pairs of highest heels and go walking through the castle

He's surprisingly good at it, maybe a bit too good

His balance isn't the best but his confidence makes up for it

If he falls he's taking you down with him though so watch out

Tap

Leviathan

He found a video of anime characters dancing to song and saw someone recreate it with tap shoes

He found it so cool and shoved his phone toward you to show you

You quietly goggles and said you would be right back

He was a bit disappointed you didn't have a reaction to the video but he let it go for now

When you came back he looked up and saw the same style of shoes in your hands

He jumped up and yelled that you had to learn the dance!!

Oh you will, but he's using your spare pair of shoes to do it too

He's of course on board, dancing and anime with you!! of course he loves it

The other brothers not so much, the constant noise forced you guys to learn it outside

Levi was clumsy and not forceful enough to truly make sounds but he had the right spirit

You're both giggling and out of breath when he gets the idea to upload the video

Mammon and Belphie are both already making fun of you guys in the morning

Portia

She was so excited to come home and see you with a tap board laid down and playing a metronome

You were so distracted you didn't see her looking at you with stars in your eyes

She closed the door and you still didn't look over

She finally had to walk over and grab your hand

You were so concentrated as you were mastering doing a switching pullback without moving

You completely fell

You forgot to tape the bottoms of your shoes and slipped when she tapped you

She quickly pulled you up and made you sit on the couch

She's apologizing but you assure her she's fine, she's just mumbling about how powerful and focused you looked

She loves seeing you so passionate about something <3

Pointe

Satan

Satan had read about traditional French and Russian ballets at some point probably has seen a recreation of a Christmas classic dance at some point

So when he was in your room reading and saw your first pair of shoes tied up he asked about them

You showed him how they bent and about how the shank was dead but they were your first pair and it was sentimental so you kept them

He went with you to get fitted for a new pair and even paid for them just to see you dance

As soon as you got home he asked you to show him some basics

He had seen enough dances to know how to twirl you and you let him

He held you and you taught him how to do partner work

It becomes a regular thing

The brothers find you guys in the living room one day, him in a leotard and tights and you in a leo and a pancake skirt

They all watched as he completed a lift with you

Please convince him to try pointe

He learns fast so pre-pointe isn't really and issue and he has good balance

You eventually both learn multiple traditional combinations and show off

He's so glad he asked about your old pair of shoes

Nadia

She found out you did some sort of balance-related sport as soon as she saw how you carried yourself

She knows from having to learn how to walk elegantly and from dance lessons how the two are related

She just flat out asked you

You told her you did pointe and for once you didn't have to explain it to someone using the term ”toe-shoes”

She took ballroom lessons as a child and then went on the learn some other styles as well

She never did try pointe but she knew what it was

She took you to get handcrafted and fitted Russian pointes

You showed her different moves in French and she taught you the same terminology in Russian (she knew both)

It was fun honestly, she could relate more than anyone to learning

She taught you styles of dance she learned and in return you put on shows in pointe shoes just for her

She loves watching the control you had over your body and the concentrated faces you made

Jazz/Mucial Theatre

Asmodeus

This man lives for drama

As soon as you told him you did musical theatre dances he was in love all over again

He loves helping you come up with ideas for dances

He will ABSOLUTELY do a duet with you

You have to perform in front of the brothers

Diavolo has you both be entertainment for his parties

He's so enthusiastic about this

Please let him do dramas with you

He can't act for shit but it's still so funny

There's really no dancing happening more just over exaggerated falling into each others arms

Julian

We already know he's been in plays and acted in theatres

So that night he had acted as himself when he accidently fell onto stage you told him you danced

He's already dragging you to dance on the tables at the bar

Everyone drunk and clapping for you and you get free drinks for the entertainment

He's also making you come to be in theatre with him

Please indulge him in this

Your both getting ”made fun of” by Asra but he truly finds you both adorable

You put on shows for Nadia and the staff and Portia is crying by the end of it

Julian completely falling into your arms and taking you down with him

This man forgets his height

Demands to be the damsel in distress

Please be his knight in shining armour

Acro/Lifts

Beel

This man-

Get him to lift you please

He’s absolutely strong enough to lift you over his head

Dirty dancing lifts that Mammon can’t do lmao

He loves watching you stretch before and he starts stretching with you too

You guys work out together to build strength

He uses you as a weight honestly

You both scare the other demons in the gym

(Mostly him but like seeing a tiny human being able to keep up with a demon is also a bit terrifying)

Protein shakes together!

The other boys will come down to the kitchen to see you both in workout gear and happily talking and wonder how the hell you're both this excited in the morning

He loves watching you concentrate and enjoying it with you when you finally land a move

The first time you successfully did your arial he was so proud

The first time you fell doing a trick he was so worried

He learns to spot you from then on

Please lift him, he loves it

FAUST <3

She’s so excited!!!

Her human can do tricks

Likes wrapping around you while u stretch

STRECTHES WITH YOU

She sits in blanket forts and watches you

Sits on your head while your balancing

Emotional support <3

She loves you so much

💘💖💗💘💞💖💓💝💕💖💓💘

[justafewsmallsteps]

The Look Up Setup

For PST, it’s still 12/30 so here’s my technically on time @inusecretsanta gift for @moongoddesslee​ ! Hope you enjoy this college grad AU. 

Prompt: InuKag Mistletoe Shenanigans Title: The Look Up Setup Word count: 4759 Rating: T

He wasn’t exactly happy to be here, but he’d somehow gotten roped into it by his classmates, the conniving jerks. He didn’t go to these stupid things, and everyone knew it. It was a goddamn conspiracy!

Of course Sango knew that when she orchestrated the class party, making a big deal of asking him right after asking Kagome. Then there was that stupid Secret Santa idea. Of course he “just so happened” to randomly pull Kagome’s name out of the hat. Sango’s smug smile and Miroku’s wicked grin told him everything he needed to know. He couldn’t skip out if she was going to be there and he was in charge of her gift. Never mind that he totally could if he wanted to! He could have stayed home tonight instead of being here in this stupid karaoke room with over a dozen of them. It was loud and obnoxious. He couldn’t wait to get out of here. That’s why his legs wouldn’t stop bouncing anxiously up and down. It had nothing to do with her, and when she’d be here, and if she was coming, and if this whole thing was a fucking mistake because what if she didn’t even show up, and if she’d even like the gift he picked out for her.

It’s not like he spent hours roaming around the mall for her. Never mind that he hated the mall.

Inuyasha did his best to shove himself as far into the vinyl seat as possible.

God, what if Kagome never even showed up? He should never have let her get to him like this. They were just supposed to be classmates, nothing more. It didn’t matter how often she smiled at him, or greeted him as he walked in, or slowly wormed her way into his life. This was what happened when you let people get to you! You turned into a dope!

When the door opened for a fifth time, he couldn’t help but turn to look. Pathetic. It was the server with their drinks, because who else would it be? He watched as everyone grabbed their glasses from the table, several of his classmates already on their way to a decent buzz. Great, just what he needed, a bunch of drunk college grad students slurring around him and babbling about the historical inaccuracies in the latest hit Edo-drama. That’s what he got for going for his Masters in Social Studies.

Miroku took a seat next to him and swung his arm around his shoulder, well into his second beer. Not enough to get him drunk, but just enough to set him looser than usual, which, from knowing the guy, was plenty more than Inuyasha wanted to handle. He wondered if he’d have to slump him over his shoulder by the end of the night. He didn’t fucking plan on it.

“Inuyasha! Nice to see you pal! Glad you could make it!” He jostled him.

“What’s got you in such a good mood?”

“Who could be in a bad mood? We’re off for the holidays, New Year’s is just around the corner, and we’re done with that major research paper! As much as I loved comparative culture, I’m most joyous to reclaim my regular life away from my desktop.”

Okay, so even Inuyasha had to admit he could at least relate to that. For now he wouldn’t have to worry about being up at odd hours of the night doing research. As much as he liked his topic and was sure Kaede would too, he’d been antsy to just turn the damn thing in to get it over with. “Yeah, sure.”

“Oh come on. Get into the spirit! It’s Christmas! We’re at a party!”

He rolled his eyes in response. “There’s no reason to be so nervous, man!” Miroku teased with a smirk.

“Shut up!” Inuyasha sputtered.

He lowered his volume but playfully dug his elbow against his ribcage. “Kagome’ll be here soon enough, you rascal!”

His face felt like it went through a steamer. “Oi, I said shut yer mouth! What makes you think I’m waiting on her anyways?”

“Oh, I don’t know, the everything about you? And I bet I know why you’re extra on edge. Has to do with what’s in that box, doesn’t it?” Miroku gave a pointed look to the gift he’d tucked under his arm.

“Mind your business!”

“I understand,” he sighed, clearly ignoring him. “Finding the perfect gift for the perfect woman, it is no easy task. Whatever you get her is like a confession of your heart’s innermost thoughts. What you think of her, how you think of her.”

“And how would you know that?” Inuyasha deadpanned.

“From experience.” He turned his attention to his Sango.

“There’s no way you pulled her name.” “I may have done some talking and managed a trade.”

“That sounds more like you,” he deadpanned. Inuyasha paused, letting the words sink in. The gift would mean that much huh? “So, why’re you so calm about this whole gift exchange thing? What’d you get her?” he mumbled with a blush.

The door cracked open again, this time revealing exactly who Inuyasha had been waiting for.

“Ah, we’ll just have to wait and see. Nice talking to you!” Miroku gave him a wink and hard pat on the back as he stood up. “Kagome, welcome!” he greeted.

Wait and see, what could that mean? Inuyasha watched the man with a confused stare. God, knowing that pervert he might’ve dared to gift her underwear or something equally distasteful.

“Sango, I’m sorry for being so late.” He turned to see Kagome smiling apologetically as she walked in. Her cheeks were flushed from hurrying in the cold.

“Don’t worry about it! I’m glad you’re here now. You should take a seat, order something to drink and heat up. Everyone’s already gotten started.”

She assessed the room, the Christmas-colored lights swirling around as a pair of guys sang a rock song while swaying arm in arm. “I see that.”

Miroku took the chance to talk. “If you’re cold, I was just warming up that seat there for you,” he offered, ushering her to where he had just been sitting next to Inuyasha.

Of course.

“Oh! Thank you.” Her eyes landed on Inuyasha just as she hovered next to him. “I’d like to sit here, if you don’t mind?”

“No!” he yelped.

Kagome froze.

“No, as in, I don’t mind!” Inuyasha corrected. “You can sit here, if that’s what you want. I don’t control you or anything. Do what you want!”  

She smiled shyly, and he felt doomed. He denied being nervous before, but now that she was sitting right next to him there was nowhere to escape. It was him, her, and the gift under his sweaty palm.

“Nice to see you, Inuyasha,” she offered a smile.

He stiffly nodded.

Sensing that was all she’d get for an answer for now, she took a few moments to get her bearings. “Looks like quite the party. Have you sung anything yet?” Kagome asked, removing her gloves and scarf before setting them over her purse.

He shook his head. “No.” God,would he ever be able to say more than a single word to her again?

“You planning on it?” She goaded. At least she was trying. She always did.

The least he could do was try and unravel his damn tongue. “Not really my thing,” he managed. Oh good. His ability to string a sentence together was coming back.

“Aw, you should. I bet you have a nice voice.”

He gave a dry laugh. “Yeah, no. More like a dying frog.”

She responded with a short giggle, the sound doing wonders to his anxiety.

With a smile he asked simply, “You?” But he didn’t need her to answer. He knew she had a good voice, as often as he’d make fun of her for sounding shrill.

She grinned, and he couldn’t tell if it made him feel more or less at ease. Just that he wanted the expression to stay pointed at his direction. “I’d like to sing, but not alone.”

“Gonna partner with Sango?”

“What about if I partner with you?” she suggested.

“Yeah, right.”

“Scared?”

He rolled his eyes. “As if.”

“Then you’ll duet with me?”

He wasn’t going to fall that easy. “I don’t think so.” She blinked her big eyes at him, pressing into his side and taking hold of his arm. “Please, Inuyasha?”

How? How did she have this effect on him? He knew it was just a power play. Like he’d cave in over nothing but the bat of her dark eyelashes, but damn if it wasn’t working. They’d been comfortable around each other since the near beginning, so it wasn’t like having her smooshed up against him was anything new. He had shaken her off a dozen times when he wasn’t in the mood for her antics. Never mind that he’d let her have her way a hundred times over. After a while it just felt like it natural.

But something was different lately. Something that felt deeper than their friendly dynamic. Something like crossing past the edge of what he’d grown comfortable with.

“We’ll see,” Inuyasha finally replied, his throat feeling awfully dry. Maybe a drink would do him some good after all.

She gave him this irksome look that was all cheeky, as if she’d won. He wanted to bring it up to argue, but settled for an annoyed glare as she snuggled right up against him with the song book. When’d it start feeling so right to be this cozy with a girl? Why the hell would someone like her even want to be close to him?

“I’ll pick us a good song, promise.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he grumbled. For a second there, he had forgotten to be nervous with her next to him. They were comfortable around each other most of the time anyways. They’d spent hours together in the library, gone out to eat after class, sent each other their papers to peer review. In her research paper Kagome had done some deep digging into an old myth her grandfather used to tell her about the Shikon no Tama. She told him that she used to take the old man’s stories for granted, but now that he was getting on in his years, she’d genuinely grown interested in exchanging tales with him. She fell in love with history, particularly Japanese history. Anything that wasn’t math, she once joked.

He knew her pretty well, so it wasn’t like it was anything new to be around Kagome. They were friends, and he was fine with that. At least, he had been until Miroku started putting it in his head that he should make a move. He’d convinced himself that he didn’t feel that way, and that even if he did, which he didn’t, it’s not like Kagome felt that way. So they’d stay as they were, with Inuyasha having to try harder and harder to convince himself that nothing was going to happen between them.

Flash forward to two weeks before school let out. The class had been deep into research and the best way to write up a comparative report. Kagome and he had been spending a lot of time together going over the best structure for the papers, spending hours together in the library helping the other with gathering sources, keeping motivated, or generally studying in companionable silence. It became their routine, and suddenly they were together during almost every spare moment. With things wrapping up for the year, Inuyasha had felt like he’d been on a good pace to get all his work done before the deadline, so he hadn’t been stressed. When Kaede dismissed the class for general questions or review, he and Kagome had decided they could chat in the back and he could tease her about how relaxed he felt about the whole thing— a trait she begrudgingly admitted she admired. She was the type to cram and procrastinate, after all.

“So how much help are you going to need writing this paper and reviewing for your finals? Going to call me at 6 AM again for another last minute cram session?”

He remembered her pout in response. “Oh, haha. Just admit it helped you too.”

“Sure, Kagome. Let’s pretend like it was mutually beneficial. Any excuse to hang around me.”

The accusation was sent lightheartedly, and he had expected her retort to come swiftly after. It didn’t though.

Instead she shuffled in place, finally admitting, “It’ll be weird for classes to be over. Kind of got used to the schedule.”

Their schedule. Shared nights over the phone, hours hanging together for school or for study breaks. With school on holiday and no impending assignments, they really had no excuse to keep seeing each other. If he was going to spend time with her over winter, it would have to be just because he wanted to.

He’d felt like the walls were suddenly closing in on them.

When Kagome asked him if he had any plans for the holidays, something hard went up his throat. She’d basically opened up the doors for him to ask her out officially, and he’d choked and barely answered out with a, “No.” When he didn’t follow up with anything, she tried to let him know that she’d also be free and all he said was, “Okay.”

God, he’d never forget the look on her face. Her eyes dropped down in disappointment while her mouth registered the smallest frown. She had left class that night without much of a farewell, and he practically banged his head against his desk.

When Sango made the announcement that they’d throw a party after exams let out, there was no part of him that was in the mood to go. That was, until Kagome accepted the invitation and he saw his second chance.

He had to make his intentions clear, Miroku warned. If he went on like this, Kagome was sure to get asked out by someone else eventually— like that annoying Hojo guy who worked at the coffee shop.

So he went, and he bought her a gift, and who could blame him if he caved in and sang a song with her? Anything to keep that sad look off her face.

“Who’s song is this?” one of the girls called out.

“Oh! That’s us!” Kagome grabbed his hand and led him to a stand. “Let’s go!”

Inuyasha didn’t care much for singing, but he knew he’d exaggerated about his voice. It wasn’t the worst, but on a normal occasion he’d never sign up to get in front of his classmates to make a show of himself. Here he was though, all for her. Sap.

At least it helped that by the time it was their turn, most people were happily drunk and cheering them on. He ignored his whooping classmates, Miroku in particular, and stared at the screen following Kagome’s lead. He did have to hand it to her for picking a good song for them. He gripped the microphone and sang along with the words on the screen. Kagome practically sent stars shooting from her eyes to hear his voice, and he couldn’t help the smile from shaping his mouth as he let the lyrics flow. They worked together well. They synched. He knew they would.

By the time they finished, he felt flushed and maybe even a little confident. Kagome was still beaming at him, and that had to be a step towards the right mood.

“Dying frogs don’t sound half bad, huh?” she goaded when they got back to their seats.

“You weren’t bad yourself.”

“I didn’t know you sang.”

He shrugged. “I used to sing when I was little. My mother liked it.”

Kagome knew that his mother passed away when he was a kid, so the intimate detail wasn’t lost on her. “You should sing more. I’d like it, too.”

He blushed. “Yeah, well… there’s not a lot of times I go out to karaoke or anything.”

“Maybe we could try again next time?”

This was it. There could be a next time! He could invite her to a next time!

He felt his throat drying up. No! Not again! He was just using his fucking voice to sing! There was no way it was leaving him now!

“Kagome,” he choked out.

“Hn?”

“I uh,” he could feel his lungs shriveling up.

“Okay everyone!” A voice took over from the microphone and the lights went on. They turned in unison to see Sango announce, “I think it’s time for the gift exchange! I’ll pull a name out of the hat, and if you’re the Secret Santa, go give your gift to them. Sound good?”

He gave her a helpless look, but Kagome didn’t seem to understand.

Everyone shuffled around, and Sango began the activity. It wasn’t a surprise that she was so organized, having experience teaching kids at her family’s dojo. She had that kind of authority that no one questioned. As she unfolded slips of paper, the exchange went on smoothly, but Inuyasha’s heart wouldn’t stop hammering.

“Ayumi!”

He’d just been ready to ask Kagome out and went mute. Was he relieved or pissed for the interruption? On one hand, he was choking. On the other, maybe he could’ve done it if he had another minute. Now it was gift exchange time, and Miroku’s words were swirling in his mind.

“Hoshino!” They watched as she lifted the tissue paper from a light blue bag and took out a knitted teal scarf. She seemed grateful for it, exclaiming how cute it was.

Was giving a gift to a girl that big of a deal? No, it wasn’t. Not normally. But this was Kagome, for crying out loud.

“Inuyasha!”

His name. Oh shit. His name. In all his panic, he’d forgotten that he’d actually be receiving some random gift as well.

From his left, he felt Kagome shift.

“Inuyasha?”

He turned to her, feeling like a deer caught in the headlights.

“Yeah?” he stammered out.

“I’m your Secret Santa.”

From behind her, Miroku gave an enthusiastic thumbs up. Of course. This was a two-way set up. He wished he had it in him to send a death glare, but Kagome was pressing a package into his hands.

“Red’s your favorite color, right?”

“Right,” he said, staring at the neatly wrapped rectangle in his hand.

“You know you have to open it, right?” Sango voiced.

Broken from his daze, he quickly tore the paper off the box. He slid up the wooden front and revealed three miniature swords. One bore a striking resemblance to the one passed down over generations through his family.

“It’s a set of pens that are shaped into different katanas. You know, since your focus was on weaponry and all,” Kagome explained.

“Just like my research topic,” he marvelled. They were perfect. “These are cool.”

“Yeah, and you don’t have to complain about borrowing my girly ones now.”

He gave her a toothy grin. “I guess I don’t. Thanks for this.”

“You’re welcome.”

Sango took it as her cue to move on. “Okay, next up is…” she unfolded the paper “Miroku!”

One of the more inebriated guys of the class, Hachi, rose up and ambled his way over. “I thought this would be the perfect gift for you,” he said, dropping a dark blue bag into his hands.  He slung his arm over Miroku’s shoulder to watch him open it.

Everyone laughed when he pulled out a headband, complete with mistletoe dangling down from the front.

Miroku wheezed. “It’s perfect!”

“Have to admit, I was worried you might have come with your own tonight.”

He immediately adorned it on his head and took a step forward with open arms. “I’m going to have to try out my gift! Anyone willing to help?” He pivoted. “Sango?”

“In your dreams,” she announced into the microphone, causing everyone to laugh harder. “Next!” Sango announced, effectively cutting him off.

The exchange went on, with more highs and a few thoughtful moments. Inuyasha waited anxiously to hear Kagome’s name get called. She got him a thoughtful gift, and he was glad he got the chance to give her something in return. He was gladder that it wasn’t something dumb like a mistletoe headband, though he had to say he’d gotten a kick out of that. Kagome was in stitches over it, because anyone else probably would have gotten him the same thing, given the opportunity.

When Sango pulled out her own name, Miroku leapt up.

“You’re kidding,” she deadpanned into the microphone, making everyone laugh.

“He cheated for it!” A girl named Natsuna claimed.

“Anything for you!” Miroku exclaimed. “But today, just this for you,” he said less boldly, handing her a box.

“Do I even want to know?”

He shrugged.

Sango sighed, and put the microphone down to open his gift. When she lifted the lid of the square box, she slapped her hand to her head. “No way.”

“Is it underwear?” Natsuna yelled, representing the ideas of just about everyone else in the room.

“I wouldn’t do that!”

With a defeated sigh, Sango lifted up a tiny bouquet to show everyone.

It took a few seconds for the class to put it together. The round green leaves and white berries matched the ones hanging from Miroku’s ridiculous gag gift.

“It’s mistletoe again!” Someone screamed.

“Oh my god. Of course it is.” Inuyasha slapped his own face.

“I knew he’d come with his own!” Hachi’s voice bolstered through the room.

“This one’s made of wool. Headband or no headband, Christmas or no Christmas, I’ve got backup. Anytime you’re ready, you just hold that above your pretty face and I’ll come rushing in!” Miroku claimed.

“What happens if I put it over my fist? Wanna come running then?” she suggested with a smirk.

“Why Sango, I’d never miss the chance to kiss the back of your hand.” He winked, wiping the look right off her face.

“Enough of this,” she said, snatching the microphone back up and pulling the last name. It was obvious she was done having the attention. “Last but not least, Kagome!” Sango announced. “Who got Kagome?”

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. As if they didn’t know. “I wonder,” he droned, turning to face the girl. If it wasn’t obvious before, it was at least a process of elimination. It was entirely possible that no one was keeping track though, since alcohol had made its way through just about everyone’s bloodstream by this point.

“You?” Kagome questioned with amused eyes.

“Who else?” He joked.

She responded with a shyer expression than he expected. “Yeah, who else?”

Looking at her big eyes again had him feel like jello. “R-right.” Great. His stutter was coming back. “Here.”

It didn’t take long for her to unwrap the small box, yet it felt like it was happening all too slowly. His heart hammered in his chest like rapid fire.

“We ended up having similar ideas,” he explained as she let out a small gasp.

“This is…”

“You said it resembled a pink pearl, right?”

She pulled out the necklace and stared at it in awe. “Just like my research topic,” she mimicked him saying earlier. “The Shikon no Tama.”

“Obviously not the real one.”

Just for a second they forgot about being in public, but reality came back to a crashing halt as the class started whooping around them, eager to get back on their high. “Damn Inuyasha, make the guys look bad!”

“That’s so sweet! I wish a guy got me something like that.”

Again, most of the room was hammered, but it did little to quell the embarrassment this time.

“Thanks,” Kagome managed, over the crowd.

He avoided her gaze, choosing to tack his gaze to the wall. “Welcome.”

With that, Sango declared the end of the game. The dim lights returned, and someone was already calling dibs on the next song. Everyone was returning back to their side conversations, but Inuyasha felt like all the unresolved tension from earlier hit him back like someone pressing unpause in a game.

“I think I’ll go to the bathroom and put this on there, where the light is better,” Kagome said to excuse herself.

Inuyasha blushed. “Oh. Sure.”

As he watched her disappear through the doors, he felt someone at his side. His instincts told him it had to be Miroku again. Obviously, he’d been right.

“A necklace, huh? Way to go there.”

“Mistletoe? Really?”

Again, Miroku shrugged. “Unlike you, I have a little more tact when giving personal gifts to women I like. That, and a grander scheme.”

“What do you mean?”

“We’ll just have to wait and see,” he repeated.

“The gift exchange is over. What are you talking about?”

“You should probably make your move,” he ignored him. “Kagome seemed to like your present, so now’s the chance. Otherwise you’ll have to wait until we get back, and who knows what could happen between now and then?”

“I was getting to it,” Inuyasha ground out, annoyed.

“You were getting nowhere.”

“Quit watching us!”

“Then go someone else, loser.”

“Like where? To the other side of the room?” he suggested sarcastically.

“Like, I don’t know, the hallway she’s about to travel through?”

But that would mean now. He froze.

“Yeah, that’s roughly what I thought would happen. Oh well, no time like the present, right? Ready?”

Before he knew it, the door opened and Sango walked in with her hand lifted in a thumbs up. The next second, Inuyasha was shoved out and left in the hallway as the door slammed shut.

“What the hell?” He was ready to swing it back open, but then he heard a voice.

“Inuyasha?”

“Kagome!”

Voice. Clamming.

She walked up to him. “Is everything alright?”

Trapped!

“I. Yeah. Just, you know.”

She gave him a quizzical look. “You look feverish. You sure you’re okay?”

He nodded, but Kagome took it upon herself to put her hand against his forehead to check.

“Definitely running a little warm.” When she backed up, a light caught his eye and drew it to her neck. So she’d put it on after all, huh?

When she caught him staring, Kagome’s cheeks tinged pink. “Thanks again for this. It was really sweet, and it means a lot to me.”

Inuyasha gulped. ‘Now!’ his brain told him.

“Kagome?” he tried once more.

“Yeah?”

He took hold of her shoulders to ground himself. “Would. I mean. You?”

Again, he was faced with her confusion.

“Me?”

How? How was she so pretty? So breathtakingly wonderful?

“For fuck’s sake.”

“Inuyasha?” she asked gently.

“I can’t do this,” he sighed, looking down.

“Just talk to me.”

“Talking’s the problem!”

“Then just look up,” she suggested.

“No, see that’s the other problem. I can’t look at you.”

“Inuyasha.”

“No! Everytime I look at you I just end up all stupid.”

“I think I know what you’re trying to do. At least, I hope I do. It’s okay if you can’t come up with the right words. Just look up and do what feels right.”  

“Kagome,” he whined. “I have to do this to let you know what I feel. But--”

“No,” she replied firmly, cutting him off, “You have to listen to me. Look up!” She grabbed his face by both cheeks and pushed it upwards towards the ceiling. As his eyes adjusted to the light, he squinted to focus on a familiar green blob right above them.

“What the--? Is that… the mistletoe Miroku got Sango?”

She let go of his face and nodded.

“I like you, Inuyasha. I really, really like you. How do you feel about me? I’ll accept whatever you answer with.”

As he stared at her, once again he felt his tongue grow heavy. What was it, a disease? He replayed her voice in his mind. Just look up and do what feels right… I’ll accept whatever you answer with.  

He gave a quick glance back up at the mistletoe. Okay.

He should stop looking into her eyes, he decided, so he closed his.

And words just weren’t going to make it out of his mouth, so he decided to do something else with it instead and pressed it right up against Kagome’s lips. It was the best he could muster for a confession in that moment.

And he swore, the second she kissed him back, she took all the breath he had and made it all right again.  

[carolunea-matea]

Mistletoe

A/N: Well this is my first time trying out a writing challenge.  And of course, I take on a 12-part challenge. @like-a-bag-of-potatoes and @thing-you-do-with-that-thing are running Kari and Ida’s 12 days of SPN Christmas.  This is day seven. Mistletoe

“I’ll see you tonight at the party?” Jade asked me as we were pulling our coats on, getting ready to leave work.

“I don’t know. I hate going to these things dateless.” I shrugged.

“Oh, come on! It’s going to be fun! Maybe you’ll meet someone!” She wiggled her eyebrows making me laugh.

“Maybe…” I really didn’t have anything else to do.

“Look, Sam’s big brother just moved to town. I’m sure he doesn’t have any plans tonight. Let me text Sam and see if Dean is up for the party tonight. If he is, I’ll tell him to pick you up at your house around 7:30. Worst case scenario, you end up with a new friend and we get to spend more time together!”

“A blind date? Really, J?” she was already texting Sam. I rolled my eyes.

“He’s related to Sam, Carebear! Practically raised him! He can’t be that bad! Sam did graduate from Stanford with honors after all.”

She had a point. Sam was a great guy. This couldn’t be that bad.

“Yes! Dean will be at your place at 7:30! I’m so excited! I ‘ve been wanting to set you two up since Sam told me he was moving here!”

I just shook my head and laughed.

“Well now I have to go get all cute and shit. Thank god this is a dressy casual thing. I don’t think I could handle having to get all decked out tonight. I’ll see you in a few hours.”

We waved good bye as we headed for our cars.

 By the time I got home it was almost 6 o’clock. I jumped in the shower after pulling out my dark skinny jeans, a burgundy sweater, and a dark green top to so underneath.

It was almost 7 by the time I had my hair dried and curled, makeup applied, and was running around my house looking for my knee-high boots. I had finally found them when my doorbell rang.

“Coming!” I yelled as I hopped down my hallway pulling on my left boot. I knocked into the table I dropped my mail and keys on every day.

“Ow! Fuck!” I was still rubbing my hip as I opened the door.

There before me stood an emerald eyed, dark haired, drop dead gorgeous man.

“Hey, you must be Caroline. You ok?” He was smirking obviously having heard my run in with the table.

I laughed, “Yeah, the table just attacked me is all. Nice to meet you. Come in. I still have to get my coat.”

He walked in and shut the door behind him. I led him to the living room and told him to make himself at home.

“So, you and Jade work together at the hospital?” He asked as I dug through the closet looking for my leather jacket.

“Yeah. She’s one of my techs in the main pharmacy. We’ve worked together for, wow for five years now. I actually remember when she met Sam. She was like a school girl! Couldn’t wait to talk about every date they had.” I chuckled at the memory.

“Yeah, Sammy would call me after every date, too. She’d a good woman. She’s good for my brother.”

“Sam’s a great guy. J told me you practically raised him. You did a good job.” I had just pulled on my burgundy hat and match gloves and was buttoning my short leather trench.

“Thanks. Dad was on the road a lot. Mom, she passed when Sammy was six months old. Our Uncle Bobby watched us a lot, but yeah. We pretty much only had each other.”

I grabbed my purse, “Ok, I’m ready.”

“Let’s party!” Dean joked standing up and opening the door for me. He offered me his arm with a goofy grin on his face.

“Why thank you, kind sir!” I teased in a southern belle accent.

We laughed as we walked to his car. My jaw dropped.

“Holy Shit! A 67 Impala? She’s beautiful!” I walked around his car impressed.

“A woman who knows her cars. Nice.”

“Not all cars. But this, this is my dream car.” Dean was opening the passenger side door for me. I got in and rubbed the dash and the seats before pulling on my seat belt.

“This is my Baby. She was my Dad’s. When he passed, I got her.”

Dean had just bought his own mechanic shop. We talked about cars, my job, how cute Sam and Jade were together. All the random first date stuff. We were laughing about our favorite episode of Friends when we pulled up to the bar the Christmas party was at. Sam and Jade were just arriving as well.

“Well look at you two, laughing and getting along,” Sam teased and Dean opened my door for me.

“Hush, Sammy. Respect your elders!” I teased right back.

“Oh God, you’ve already started telling her stories, haven’t you?” Sam glared at Dean while I gave Jade a hug.

“Oh my God! How did I not think about that? Dean, please! You have to!” I gave Sam a hung before spinning around to look at Dean.

“Oh, there are tons of them! We have all night. Let’s get inside and get drinks. I hope there’s pie.” Dean grabbed my hand and led the way into the bar.

My co-workers called out to Jade and me with a chorus of “Merry Christmas”.  We said hello to everyone and I introduced Dean around.

“What’s your drink?” Dean asked in my ear so I could hear him over the noise in the bar. I got chills.

“Captain and Diet and a shot of Patron.”

“Coming up!” Dean and Sam walked to the bar to get the first round of drinks. As soon as they were far enough away, I smacked Jade’s arms.

“Dude! You didn’t warn me about how hot he is!”

She laughed.

“Well what did you expect? He’s related to Sam.”

“Fair point. But, my God, those eyes!” I fanned myself to further my point.

We pulled off our outerwear and hung them on chairs reserved for our party as Dean and Sam walked back with our drinks. We drank to Christmas and family with our shots and settled in to our seats.

“Ok, everyone! We have our food to the left and we’re going to start karaoke in about twenty minutes. Solo, duets, and groups are all welcome! Let’s have some fun tonight!” The head nurse of the hospital’s trauma center, Meaghan, announced.

We all cheered as people started going to sign up.

“Santa Baby?” I asked Jade. It was a sort of tradition for the two of us to perform the song together.

“Absolutely!”

I told them I’d be right back and went to sign us up.

“You guys carrying on tradition?” Stephanie, one of the trauma nurse’s asked.

“Of course!”

“Who is that guy you walked in with? He’s fucking hot!”

“Dean. He’s Sam’s brother and just moved into town. J fixed us up on a blind date tonight,” I explained, taking a large sip of my drink.

“Good luck!” Steph said while nudging me with her shoulder. I laughed as I walked away.

Back at the table, Jade and Sam were smiling widely while Dean shot a dirty look at them.

“Whoa! What did I miss?”

“Oh nothing,” Jade responded, not making it sound like nothing.

I shrugged it off and sat back down.

Two and a half drinks later, Jade and I were called up to do our song.

“Now up, your favorite duet in the pharmacy and at the Christmas party, Caroline and Jade!”

Our group cheered and Sam and Dean threw in a couple cat calls.

Jade and I laughed our way to the stage.

Santa baby, slip a sable under the tree for me Been an awful good girl Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Jade began the song giggling.

Santa baby, a '67 Impala too, dark blue I'll wait up for you, dear Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

I sang, walking toward Dean, shrugging at the color of the car, shooting him a wink. We were now standing in front of Sam and Dean and pulled them to the stage with us.

Think of all the fun I've missed Think of all the fellas that I haven't kissed Next year I could be also good If you'll check off my Christmas list

We alternated the lines. Circling the men while we continued.

Santa baby, I want a yacht and really that's not a lot Been an angel all year Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa honey one thing I really do need, the deed To a platinum mine Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa cutie, and fill my stocking with a duplex and checks Sign your 'x' on the line Santa cutie, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Come and trim my Christmas tree With some decorations bought at Tiffany I really do believe in you Let's see if you believe in me

Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing, a ring I don't mean on the phone Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight Hurry down the chimney tonight Hurry, tonight

 When we finished, we turned back to the guys to see Sam down on one knee. My jaw dropped as I turned my face to look at Jade, who had dropped her microphone. I slowly walked to stand next to Dean.

“Jade, we’ve been together for four years. I don’t want to spend anymore time not being your husband. Will you marry me?”

The room had fallen silent. Our co-workers all holding their breath waiting for Jade’s answer.

“Of course, I will,” she replied in a barely audible whisper.

“She said Yes!!” I screamed jumping up and down in excitement, tears streaming down my face.

The room erupted in applause while Sam slipped the ring on Jade’s finger before they kissed.

They were the talk of the rest of the party. Everyone congratulating them and hugging the couple while we were dancing.

Dean and I walked over to the food table and began filling our plates. We were about to head back to our table when I heard Sam yell, “Hey Dean! Look up!”

We both looked up to notice we were standing directly under a mistletoe.

Dean smiled taking both of our plates and putting them on the table. He placed one hand on my hip and the other on the back of my head.

“I’ve been waiting all night to find an excuse to do this,” he whispered against my lips before kissing me.

I could feel myself blushing as I stood on my toes, my hands traveling behind his neck.  His lips parted and kissed me deeper.

It wasn’t until I heard the cat calls from my co-workers that I slowly pulled away blushing bright red.

“I am so glad Jade talked me into coming tonight.” I was grinning ear to ear.

@idk-wtf-is-happening (Merry Christmas, Darling!)

[thedogsled]

Coda 13x05: A Nurse, Stripper Barbie & A Bottle of Jack

This place was nicer than the usual kind of dive they stayed in. Sammy pulling out all the stops, no doubt; a hotel with twin beds and regular manual doors dressed up as something flashier, as though to show just how pointless a facade was when it was all a goddamn lie. It was a joke, really, his brother trying his best to make him feel good, stretching the limits of Dean’s ability to cope with any of it.

This wasn’t how he usually dealt with grief. He needed space. He needed to be alone. Maybe right now it didn’t feel like he’d ever be better, but when did it ever?

But this was different. Dean knew it. Nothing he did seemed to work. No amount of beer or junk food or time was getting Dean any closer to a feeling that soon the grief might come to an end. It felt neverending.

(tw for mention of suicide, also vague mention of strippers and body parts thus PG-13, unrequited Destiel and a BONUS CHRISTMAS SCENE)

Read on AO3 here and read my other codas here

Maybe it was his fault. He hadn’t even named it. He’d avoiding speaking it out loud for fear of making the feelings true. Every time he mentioned Cas it came on the back of something else, but it was what went unspoken which was tearing him up the most.

And Sam should know. Of anyone Sam should know. Dean kept expecting Sam to ask him, kept expecting Sam to make him confront it, because if Sam told him he loved Cas then Dean wouldn’t have to be the one to admit it; wouldn’t have to admit out loud that maybe he was into guys as well as girls.

God, he was so ashamed. But what was the point now? Cas was gone, and with him went any hope of Dean exploring that side of himself. Would he tell Castiel that he loved him if he saw him now? Would he be too ashamed, still, even in the face of death and parting?

It didn’t matter. Cas was never coming back. And part of Dean, the part he’d always hidden away, the part of him that was really the all of him…it went away too.

Dean could never be himself, and now Cas was gone why would he ever want to be? The world was empty and pointless without him.

In the bed opposite Sam snored loudly. Dean turned his attention away from the boring ass ceiling to look at his brother. Sam was trying so hard, damn him. He always tried so hard, and Dean knew he was only bringing him down. Maybe if Dean wasn’t in the picture Sam would have saved Mom already. That was what he and that shapeshifter Mia thought, wasn’t it? Dean was poison. He’d always been poison…

Poison that wasn’t getting a damn lick of sleep.

Dean sighed, sitting up, leaning across to dig in his bag. No extra bottle of Jack Daniels. Nothing in his flask – he’d already emptied it. Short of stabbing himself with the shot in his hunting bag, he had nothing on him that could possibly put him to sleep, quieten the thoughts in his head, or the last image he’d had of Castiel’s blue eyes before his grace burned the life out of them.

Sometimes when people experienced trauma they couldn’t put it out of their minds. Dean was like that, and he’d seen a lot of traumatic things. God only knew how many times he’d drawn Mary on fire as a child. John had been so traumatized by them in turn that making sure Dean didn’t have access to crayons was one of the few priorities he had in life.

He’d never really bothered learning to draw after that.

Sam snored and rolled over, exposing a slither of his spine as his t-shirt rolled up. Dean frowned at it. What was it Sam had suggested earlier? A strip club? Not perfect, but at least they sold alcohol. Better than lying here staring into oblivion stone cold sober.

He rolled out of bed, still fully dressed, and crept out.

-----

This was the worst Christmas ever.

Sam scowled, staring at the back of his brother’s shoes as they made their way into the strip joint. He kicked at the step as they went in, but almost ended up tripping over his own feet instead. It was anything but smooth.

“What’s wrong, Sam? How old are you, exactly? C’mon. Live a little.”

Sam glowered. To think he’d let Dean drag him away from face time with Eileen for this. He was – he thought – doing pretty decently at getting to know her, a real woman, but Dean wasn’t thinking about any of that. He cared, Sam knew, even ribbed him about it sometimes, but… Well, Dean was Dean. This was how he liked to have fun.

Not just the naked chicks part, oh no, but certainly the part where he got to watch Sam squirm as well. Sam expected it. Christmas or not, he knew his brother, and he could already tell that this was going to be some fresh kind of hell.

He wasn’t disappointed.

Her name was Yasmine--until it wasn’t. At about the one minute mark she admitted that in fact her name was Annabella-Louise. When Sam asked her why she’d chosen stripping, Dean admonished him, but Annabella-Louise smiled and said that she got that question all the time, before telling the sad story of how she’d dropped out of nursing school because it was too expensive to rent near the university.

Sam, bleeding heart that he was, spent the rest of the dance giving her ideas about where she could find a roommate, and not to give up on her dream when she was only a few credits away.

Well, it wasn’t like she was the only one who’d given up on her academic dream, was it?

Sam was barely even flustered by the time the dance was over, and Dean rolled his eyes.

“You really ruined that for me, man, you know that?”

“Ruined it for you?”

“Yeah. What a waste of thirty bucks. You suck, Sammy.”

-----

It was already late when Dean got to the club. Fortunately he made it just in time for happy hour, and arranged half a dozen half price drinks in front of him like a chorus line.

Half an hour later, the chorus line was a duet, and Dean was finally starting to feel numb enough to deal. He folded his arms on the bar and dropped his chin on top of them, staring at his empties, barely noticing as a woman swayed up to the bar to join him.

“Just a water, sugah.”

A hand fell on his shoulder, slight and feminine.

“You okay, darlin’? Hey…”

Dean lifted his head slowly, blinking up into the glittery blue eyeshadow of the woman who’d joined him. She was one of the dancers, no doubt, dressed in star spangled pink, white and red like Stripper Barbie. Her blonde hair was chalked with pink as well, and thrown back in tousled curls away from her face.

She was gorgeous. Dean just wished he was even vaguely interested. Right now the hurt in his chest, though dulled, was almost all he could comprehend.

“You hurtin’?”

“How can you tell?”

“Oh sugar, I can tell. You don’t do this job for long before you figure out how to tell if a guy’s hurtin’.”

Dean rubbed his mouth on his arm. “Sounds like psychic mojo to me.”

“Last thing anyone wants to be around here is psychic. But hey—“ she stroked his shoulder firmly. “Point is I can help with that.”

“You think.”

Stripper Barbie sighed. “Your hurt goes pretty deep, don’t it?”

“You don’t even know the half of it,” Dean answered, dryly.

“Doesn’t matter. I can take the edge off. C’mon. I’m on next. You can sit up front.”

Dean sighed, waving his hand, but the woman caught it, smiling, and tugged him to his feet. Dean cooperated miserably, following as she led him across the room.

When he dropped into the seat beside the stage, his two remaining beers miraculously reappeared in front of him.

“It’s Toni, by the way.”

“Tony’s a boy’s name.”

“Yeah, but it’s better than ‘Stripper Barbie’.”

Jesus, had he said that out loud? He didn’t remember speaking.

Toni-not-a-boy’s-name reappeared on stage to “American Woman” and the other patrons screeched and yelled as she strutted her stuff. Dean sat quiet, sedate, watching, and smiled when her attention unerringly came back in his direction.

She was gorgeous, but his heart was still broken. There was no getting away how empty he felt inside, and at this point Dean knew better that sex wasn't the answer. Sex wasn't going to fill this hole--maybe ever again.

Even death had to be better than this emptiness. If it came, he wouldn’t fight, but damn it, he wasn’t suicidal. He wasn’t. That implied he wanted to end himself, and Dean still strongly believed that wasn’t an option.

In the line of duty, though?

In the line of duty. That was the noble sacrifice. The only thing he knew.

Toni crouched down in front of him, wrapping her bra around his neck like a collar. She was right in his face for a moment, her breasts inches from his nose, but Dean watched only her blue eyes and felt sadder still, emptier still.

This had been a mistake. He’d always known it was a mistake, but now it just felt even more like one. It was too late to get away from it now, though. A group of four men at the nearest table who’d been hooting at Toni gravitated toward him when the dance ended. They had their work ties bound around their heads like they were all badly cosplaying the Karate Kid, but Dean discovered swiftly enough that they were guys who had ditched their high school reunion because it was too boring. After claiming to recognize him from their school days, they threw their arms around his shoulders and celebrated him as their hero.

Dean snapped his guard up, felt the façade of boisterous masculinity slot into place in order to survive in the wild. At some point he managed to pretend that he was having fun, even as Toni – in her new dominatrix outfit – writhed all over him in a dance paid for him by his new ‘friends’.

God knew when he drove home he was far from in his right mind, and the underground parking at the hotel almost put Dean and Baby out of their misery once and for all.

Thank God for valet parking. Thank God for Sam sleeping like the dead once in a while. Thank God for the bottle of Jack that Sam had hidden in his bag, presumably intending it as some kind of well-meaning gift to indulge his alcoholic brother.

And all along Dean knew - he knew - that he couldn't carry on like this. Their Dad had, and look what it had done to them--look what it had done to him. Just like it had taken dying for John to tell him that he was proud, Dean couldn't speak about his feelings either.

Not while it still mattered.

Not to the person who needed to hear it.

What a fucking joke.

[svbjetarch]

VinBun!

            .• ♕ ┊        LET THE MUSIC PLAY.

          SHIPPING QUESTIONAIRE           Status   :   Accepting           @niiiightsky

            Usagi ✗ Vincent

where was their first date ?       Actually, I don't think they would have had a typical first day because as they work together often, they'd just naturally slither into a relationship so a cliché first date would happen way later. They'd rather start with simple things, mostly Vincent buying her drinks and snacks when he knows they have a shooting together and he goes past a convenience store on the way or the "we both don't know where the location is so let's go get some coffee and find the way together". But after some weeks of being like that, Vincent would have made a reservation at some fancy restaurant and ask her out and all those necessities like picking her up, treating her, sharing desserts, taking her home and maybe a short kiss at the door.what my muse would do to cheer your’s up ?       Let's be real: He'll buy her food. Buy her food, kiss her forehead, feed her, cuddle her. He's the really affectionate guy and worst case he'll just make stupid faces to cheer her up. But I somehow think he has it quite easy with making her smile because they're generally super sweet.who wakes the other up with kisses ( and where ) ?       They'd both do it??? Usagi prolly by pecking his cheek or his lips and Vincent on his innocent days by pecking her forehead or - ngl - kissing her thighs and inbetween on his naughty days aka their days off.who would pour water on the other to wake them up?       Usagi because Vincent would never dare shock her in such a way or wake her up in not gentle way. He worships her. Usagi probably doing it with the little devil on her shoulder called Kwangmin.how would my muse wake yours up ?       Tell her to get up and go take a shower. Tell her again, give her a kiss and get dressed. Then tell her again and finally being more stubborn and not letting her sleep again by continueously telling her they have work and "my little bunny still has to take a shower or no time for breakfast" and all sweet.who would start a food fight while baking or cooking ?       PLEASE don't make them bake/cook. D I S A S T E R. It would probably be Vincent, though, making clouds of flour by blowing it into her direction and then laughing as he brushes it out of her hair.who would suggest putting marijuana in the brownies ?       Vincent? On their shared holidays in the Netherlands? Because he has gone around the world so much and is a curious little thing but he's respecting the laws so he'd only suggest so wherever it's legal.who said i love you first and how ( or when ) did they say it ?       Vincent would at a gloriously romantic moment. He'd probably have it all planned out, booking dinner on a river cruise or some late visit to an amusement park or whatever but he'd just blurt them out way too early, like, when they meet up and she wears that really pretty dress or something.who would get into a physical altercation over the other ?       As much as I'd love to say Usagi to burst that bubble of her innocent image, it'd probably be Vincent in the heat of the moment and especially if they dare insult her or anything alike. He's protective. A baby. Please love him.who insists on purchasing a pet together ( and what kind of pet ) ?       Vincent bought a puppy with Kwangmin already. Fight me on this. It's Usagi's biggest rival in love along with his 20 cameras she's not allowed to touch.who is louder ( in and out of bed ) ?       Out of bed it's Vincent and especially if that 4-cornered friendship is all together because don't leave them boys alone. But in bed it would be Vincent giving his best to make Usagi be loud. Lbr.who takes more risks ( in and out of bed ) ?       Vincent??? Did you ever look at him??? But really, he's more curious than good for him at times which also shows in the way he never sticks with one specialization of photography because he wants to try it all out and master it all although he'd have had enough opportunities to make it big already. He definitely wants to play it safe later on but not without having given it all a try. He's not that much into trying out new things in bed, though, but definitely more than Usagi but only ever if it doesn't mean making her uncomfortable in any way most times or hurting her.who would bring up the word ‘daddy’ first ?       He would? With a horrible lame joke as if to buy her sweets and then be like "you know what I just brought you? sugar. you know who buys sugar? daddy. so am I your sugardaddy now?" But he would feel odd about her calling him daddy??? so no???what is their shared, favourite kink ?       Sex all throughout their apartment? Is that a kink? Okay, prolly their most beloved kink is the use of scented lubes/massage gels because she likes scented things and he likes giving her all kinds of sensations and these things are a totally harmless way to do so.describe their typical kiss ?       S O F T. Lbr, Vincent just pulling her close, kissing her head, playing with her hair, all these things to lead towards him lifting her chin, having to lean down his head cause height difference and soft kisses. Mostly without tongue or too much passion, I bet. He merely loves the taste of her lips.how would my muse show their love for yours ?       Okay but Vincent is the guy to show affection with money but not in a bad way. He wants to spoil her and make her feel spoiled so he'd often treat her to things, buy her drinks and snacks, pay her meals, buy a necklace and earrings there, a dress and a pair of shoes here. But he'd pay attention to not making her feel burdened so he'd stick to the cheaper things ( although he could afford more ) or the expensive ones for special occassions, her birthday, Christmas, her getting a big gig, all that. their favourite ways to give affection ?       The things they'd both love doing definitely is cuddling and being all cozy together. Watching movies while sharing a blanket or holding hands while walking through the streets. They're drawn to PDA.who is more dominate ?       Vincent? Unless Usagi's being overly adorable? Idk???who sings in the shower ?       They both do? Steamy shower duets? Now, that sounded wrong. I can imagine them both singing in the shower and, like, Vincent singing in the shower but Usagi needs to brush her hair so they sing together for a while or Usagi singing and Vincent forgot his deo so he's just joining in, spraying deo, leaving. It's their thing.who washes the other’s hair in the shower ?       Usagi can't even reach his head. Good try there. So Vincent it is.who initiates shower sex despite being in a rush ?       Vincent would but they both know that it wouldn't just end with one round of shower sex so better none of them does if they're in a rush.who teases the other under the table at dinner with the family ?       Why can I so imagine horny Vincent doing that? Caressing her thighs, sliding a bit too high, but never actually going there but seriously, the moment they're in their car, he'd lose it and definitely it would be GAME OVER once they're home.who has the weirder taste in music ?       Vincent listening to African tribal music, though.who would initiate dancing in the rain ?       Vincent would because he's a silly person but he'd totally manage to make Usagi have fun with it as well.who would be the one to suggest marriage ?       There's no way there's suggesting, there's only Vincent proposing without ever having talked about them getting married and Usagi having to agree.what would they name their children ?       Minnie and Mickey. Okay, let's be realistic. They'd probably name their kids with a Korean and a Japanese surname so there're both nationalities. Or they'd look for a name that's used in both their countries. He'd also suggest naming their kid after his mother if it turns out to be a girl.who would their children take after more ?       They'll definitely earn their mother's adorableness and their father's silliness. Checkmate.

[demitgibbs]

Michael Bublé Talks Eggplant Emojis, ‘Sexist’ Christmas Cover

“You’re my first. Be gentle with me. Can we start with, like, a foreplay thing where you can just take it easy on me? Some gentle licking perhaps, and then we’ll get into the heavy stuff.” And so my interview with Michael Bublé, who has almost made me forget he has a wife, Argentine actress Luisana Lopilato, begins.

Returning to music with a new heart-emoji-titled album called love that he will support on a world tour in 2019, Bublé – who introduces himself by that mononym when he rings me directly – spoke openly on a variety of topics, including the difficulties of being a public figure amid familial distress, atoning for his “sexist” Christmas song and doing his part to support the LGBTQ community.

It’s sweet that this album uses the heart emoji for its title, though the gay community certainly wouldn’t have argued with you naming your album using the eggplant emoji.

Oh god, I wanted to use the eggplant. You have no idea.

You fought for that.

I did. I had long conversations about it. And you think I’m joking. I’ve already said this a million times when talking to my friends: They were like, (in a deeply bro voice) “Why didn’t you use the eggplant?” and I’m like, “Oh, I would have.”

Did you intend for the album to be a Band-Aid for our divisive times?

Yeah, it’s funny that you just said that: I’ve actually said that in private. You know what, man, obviously everything I’ve gone through has everything to do with this record and what I want to put out to the world. I had different names that I’d come up with, but there was nothing that really explained the record and the concept as well as just one word could.

The record is about love, but it’s not simply about romantic love. It was really a record that was kind of my theory on this word, this emotion that has so much range. When you hear it you think, “Oh god, romantic and lovey-smovey,” but there’s so many different things that happen with that word.

“When I Fall in Love” is such a beautiful track and people say, “Oh, it’s so romantic.” It is romantic. But for me, it’s really sad. As I put myself into the character of that song, I thought about a guy sitting at the bar at 4 o’clock in the morning, drunk, looking over at another couple, wishing that he had that because it hasn’t happened for him. It’s very unique in that way. It’s a very sad song about longing. I could go on through the whole tracklist. They all have a story for me.

Did you personalize any of the songs?

I wanted to do the best I could to be as personal and honest in the storytelling, in becoming the characters for the song, but at the same time give the audience a way to be able to hear and have their own opinions.

If I want to use this album to get a guy to fall in love with me, which song do you suggest I play to make him swoon?

Honestly, I think “La Vie En Rose” (a duet with jazz vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant) is incredible because when I did this song my concept was to build a mirror of the relationship I had with my wife. It was me going to this foreign land with someone who didn’t speak my language and having this kind of dance of love with them.

I felt like there were these two characters and one is singing to the other, where I was singing to her in my language and my culture and she was answering in hers. Though we were on this path together, we were still apart; and by the middle of the song we have this beautiful dance together, this incredible night, and by the morning we were walking through the streets of Paris. I have sort of assimilated to her culture and I am singing in her language, and I loved that because that’s exactly what happened in my life.

I don’t think you thought you’d be recording music again after your 5-year-old son, Noah, was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2016, days after our last conversation. But I’ve heard you say he’s holding up and is in remission. Was creating this album more cathartic than past albums?

I don’t think I ever fell out of love with making music or being a creative person; I just think I knew it had to be put aside. The part of being a public person, that part I didn’t know if I was ready for. There are always reminders every time you go out and people speak and you’re trying to move on with your life or yourself and your family. At first, there were always these reminders of it and so it was hard to just move on.

I made a promise to myself that it would be organic and that it would be joy and it would be blissful – and if it ever becomes what I consider work, or egotistically driven, then I would step away. But I never fell out of love with making music. You know, I’m having to leave the family and stuff for little bits, and if I do then it has to be for the right reasons.

Harder than usual to leave the family right now?

No, it’s not. When I do something, I know that there’s a great reason for it. We can make more money and we can make more music and we can make more this and more that, but it’s time – you can’t make time. I wanna make sure I’m spending time doing what I love and that it’s all worthwhile.

You talked about being an LGBTQ ally in our last interview. Why did you decide to express your compassion and advocacy for the LGBTQ community at that moment in your career?

I don’t know if it was about that moment. I think I had an opportunity to speak with you, and I felt like it was a really good chance to say how I felt. Now more than ever I think it’s important for me to just be honest, and it’s what I believe. It’s part of who I fundamentally am, how I was raised. And it’s about equality. It’s simple. That’s it.

I wish it were so simple. When we last spoke, Trump hadn’t been elected, and a lot has changed in the last couple of years politically. How are you feeling about the way this administration has treated the LGBTQ community and other marginalized groups?

I don’t… (pause)… it sounds crazy, but after what I’ve been through, I really promised myself that I would try not to get into – and when I say “get into,” I just didn’t want to be a part of negative things. So I stopped reading things. I stopped reading things about myself. I stopped reading things that made me feel badly.

I really, truly feel like more than ever in my life actions speak much louder than words do and how you treat people is – it’s funny, a friend heard me talking to my son. My son was going to his first day of kindergarten and he saw me kneel down to my boy and I said to him, “Noah, I just want you to know that” – and it sounds like a cliché, but I said, “You treat people the way you want to be treated, kid.” I said, “If you’re kind to people and you’re good to people, life will always be OK for you.” And I got up and I walked away and my friend said to me, “They may not remember what you did or what you said but they’ll remember how you made them feel.”

I can’t stop the politicians or stupid, uneducated people from thinking and saying and doing stupid things, but I can make a stand, I can talk to you, and when I’m with groups of friends or I’m in public places or when I’m with people who I think can use that sense of love and education, I can open my mouth and tell them how I feel. And one at a time, you can change the world like that.

Listen, I’ve gone through too much not to feel this way. I just feel this way really strongly. I also think it’s important – it’s really easy for someone selling something, an artist, to say that they support or love the gay community; I just think it’s a different thing to say it than to do it.

When we spoke in 2016, you told me you had plans to get involved with the Harvey Milk High School in New York City, but then, of course, you had to tend to your family. Do you plan on picking up where you left off?

As a matter of fact, (my publicist) Liz (Rosenberg) and I have spoken many times and talked about the plan that we have. We have a plan (that involves) the Hetrick-Martin Institute (a NYC-based professional provider of social support and programming for LGBTQ youth and host agency for the Harvey Milk High School).

To start, I just wanted to go. I wanted to go and just let people know they had my support. Young kids who have been bullied and haven’t felt comfortable have a place to go, which is just disturbing in the first place, that in 2018 they didn’t. There wasn’t an environment where they felt they could be who they are. Listen, I can’t get into the details. I can’t.

You can’t get into details about the project?

Not those details, but within my family there are things that I can’t really speak to that have made this even more pressing for me. It’s because it’s not my story to tell. But I’ll just say that within my family these are the same issues that every family has. I wouldn’t and I couldn’t talk about something so personal. Definitely, I just know there needs to be advocates. Being a public person is having a responsibility sometimes to show that kind of love and that kind of support and to step out there and to do that. It’s not an edgy fucking thing to do. It’s not.

For some public figures it seems so.

Why? Because what – half of the audience doesn’t buy your records anymore? Well, that’s fucking stupid, isn’t it? Then you gotta ask yourself if you want half of those people buying your records in the first place, and what’s really important to you. Because if you’re gonna tell people that you know what’s important or that you’ve had an epiphany in your life that you know what matters then, again, actions speak louder than words, don’t they?

Knowing what Noah has gone through, has the feeling of loving your kids no matter who they are, which we discussed in 2016, intensified in the last couple of years?

No, it was always the same. I could tell you the truth: I never had to find that perspective, I always felt that way. And I think I’m very lucky because I really do think that came from the way I was parented. I really do think I was very lucky to be raised in a family that was so open and liberal and loving. I just think they were always so unconditionally loving – not just toward us children, but toward our family.

Again, clichés, but I just tell both of my boys now that they’re old enough to understand: “You know, boys, the things that make you different are what makes you special.” What’s amazing to me about that school and wanting so badly to go to that school is, I just feel so strongly that the difference between a child and an adult is only life experience. An adult’s life experience is, “It’s gonna get better. This isn’t how it has to be, and this isn’t how it’s going to be.” So for me, it’s really massive to be able to meet kids and to say publicly – really: “It’s not always going to be like this.”

In light of the holidays, you do realize your gay fans would’ve gone wild for a version of “Santa Baby” by you that was actually called “Santa Baby,” right?

(Laughs) Yeah, exactly. Instead of “Santa Buddy.” I think I used “Santa Baby” in one of the lines.

You did.

I should’ve gone full.

I mean, a straight man can shop at Tiffany’s.

(Laughs) Yeah, no, you’re right. It’s funny: When I did that song, I tried to put it into my perspective and modernize it. I changed words; I asked for a Rolex or Mercedes or things I would want. The best part about it is: I get to sing those kinds of songs now in my life, and if I do concerts and I wanna add a Christmas song, then you know what? I can amend it and I can sing “Santa Baby.”

A straight guy singing “Santa Baby” is the progress we need.

F*ck yeah. You’re right, you’re absolutely right. It was sexist of me not to.

I’m looking forward to your live rendition of it.

I’ll do it for you. That’s a promise. I promise I’ll do it for you even if it’s not f*cking Christmas.

Even if it’s the middle of summer?

You think I’m kidding, but you shout it out and I promise you I’ll get it done. Madison Square Garden, f*cking done.

from Hotspots! Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/12/13/michael-buble-talks-eggplant-emojis-sexist-christmas-cover/ from Hot Spots Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.tumblr.com/post/181080332255

[cynthiajayusa]

Michael Bublé Talks Eggplant Emojis, ‘Sexist’ Christmas Cover

“You’re my first. Be gentle with me. Can we start with, like, a foreplay thing where you can just take it easy on me? Some gentle licking perhaps, and then we’ll get into the heavy stuff.” And so my interview with Michael Bublé, who has almost made me forget he has a wife, Argentine actress Luisana Lopilato, begins.

Returning to music with a new heart-emoji-titled album called love that he will support on a world tour in 2019, Bublé – who introduces himself by that mononym when he rings me directly – spoke openly on a variety of topics, including the difficulties of being a public figure amid familial distress, atoning for his “sexist” Christmas song and doing his part to support the LGBTQ community.

It’s sweet that this album uses the heart emoji for its title, though the gay community certainly wouldn’t have argued with you naming your album using the eggplant emoji.

Oh god, I wanted to use the eggplant. You have no idea.

You fought for that.

I did. I had long conversations about it. And you think I’m joking. I’ve already said this a million times when talking to my friends: They were like, (in a deeply bro voice) “Why didn’t you use the eggplant?” and I’m like, “Oh, I would have.”

Did you intend for the album to be a Band-Aid for our divisive times?

Yeah, it’s funny that you just said that: I’ve actually said that in private. You know what, man, obviously everything I’ve gone through has everything to do with this record and what I want to put out to the world. I had different names that I’d come up with, but there was nothing that really explained the record and the concept as well as just one word could.

The record is about love, but it’s not simply about romantic love. It was really a record that was kind of my theory on this word, this emotion that has so much range. When you hear it you think, “Oh god, romantic and lovey-smovey,” but there’s so many different things that happen with that word.

“When I Fall in Love” is such a beautiful track and people say, “Oh, it’s so romantic.” It is romantic. But for me, it’s really sad. As I put myself into the character of that song, I thought about a guy sitting at the bar at 4 o’clock in the morning, drunk, looking over at another couple, wishing that he had that because it hasn’t happened for him. It’s very unique in that way. It’s a very sad song about longing. I could go on through the whole tracklist. They all have a story for me.

Did you personalize any of the songs?

I wanted to do the best I could to be as personal and honest in the storytelling, in becoming the characters for the song, but at the same time give the audience a way to be able to hear and have their own opinions.

If I want to use this album to get a guy to fall in love with me, which song do you suggest I play to make him swoon?

Honestly, I think “La Vie En Rose” (a duet with jazz vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant) is incredible because when I did this song my concept was to build a mirror of the relationship I had with my wife. It was me going to this foreign land with someone who didn’t speak my language and having this kind of dance of love with them.

I felt like there were these two characters and one is singing to the other, where I was singing to her in my language and my culture and she was answering in hers. Though we were on this path together, we were still apart; and by the middle of the song we have this beautiful dance together, this incredible night, and by the morning we were walking through the streets of Paris. I have sort of assimilated to her culture and I am singing in her language, and I loved that because that’s exactly what happened in my life.

I don’t think you thought you’d be recording music again after your 5-year-old son, Noah, was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2016, days after our last conversation. But I’ve heard you say he’s holding up and is in remission. Was creating this album more cathartic than past albums?

I don’t think I ever fell out of love with making music or being a creative person; I just think I knew it had to be put aside. The part of being a public person, that part I didn’t know if I was ready for. There are always reminders every time you go out and people speak and you’re trying to move on with your life or yourself and your family. At first, there were always these reminders of it and so it was hard to just move on.

I made a promise to myself that it would be organic and that it would be joy and it would be blissful – and if it ever becomes what I consider work, or egotistically driven, then I would step away. But I never fell out of love with making music. You know, I’m having to leave the family and stuff for little bits, and if I do then it has to be for the right reasons.

Harder than usual to leave the family right now?

No, it’s not. When I do something, I know that there’s a great reason for it. We can make more money and we can make more music and we can make more this and more that, but it’s time – you can’t make time. I wanna make sure I’m spending time doing what I love and that it’s all worthwhile.

You talked about being an LGBTQ ally in our last interview. Why did you decide to express your compassion and advocacy for the LGBTQ community at that moment in your career?

I don’t know if it was about that moment. I think I had an opportunity to speak with you, and I felt like it was a really good chance to say how I felt. Now more than ever I think it’s important for me to just be honest, and it’s what I believe. It’s part of who I fundamentally am, how I was raised. And it’s about equality. It’s simple. That’s it.

I wish it were so simple. When we last spoke, Trump hadn’t been elected, and a lot has changed in the last couple of years politically. How are you feeling about the way this administration has treated the LGBTQ community and other marginalized groups?

I don’t… (pause)… it sounds crazy, but after what I’ve been through, I really promised myself that I would try not to get into – and when I say “get into,” I just didn’t want to be a part of negative things. So I stopped reading things. I stopped reading things about myself. I stopped reading things that made me feel badly.

I really, truly feel like more than ever in my life actions speak much louder than words do and how you treat people is – it’s funny, a friend heard me talking to my son. My son was going to his first day of kindergarten and he saw me kneel down to my boy and I said to him, “Noah, I just want you to know that” – and it sounds like a cliché, but I said, “You treat people the way you want to be treated, kid.” I said, “If you’re kind to people and you’re good to people, life will always be OK for you.” And I got up and I walked away and my friend said to me, “They may not remember what you did or what you said but they’ll remember how you made them feel.”

I can’t stop the politicians or stupid, uneducated people from thinking and saying and doing stupid things, but I can make a stand, I can talk to you, and when I’m with groups of friends or I’m in public places or when I’m with people who I think can use that sense of love and education, I can open my mouth and tell them how I feel. And one at a time, you can change the world like that.

Listen, I’ve gone through too much not to feel this way. I just feel this way really strongly. I also think it’s important – it’s really easy for someone selling something, an artist, to say that they support or love the gay community; I just think it’s a different thing to say it than to do it.

When we spoke in 2016, you told me you had plans to get involved with the Harvey Milk High School in New York City, but then, of course, you had to tend to your family. Do you plan on picking up where you left off?

As a matter of fact, (my publicist) Liz (Rosenberg) and I have spoken many times and talked about the plan that we have. We have a plan (that involves) the Hetrick-Martin Institute (a NYC-based professional provider of social support and programming for LGBTQ youth and host agency for the Harvey Milk High School).

To start, I just wanted to go. I wanted to go and just let people know they had my support. Young kids who have been bullied and haven’t felt comfortable have a place to go, which is just disturbing in the first place, that in 2018 they didn’t. There wasn’t an environment where they felt they could be who they are. Listen, I can’t get into the details. I can’t.

You can’t get into details about the project?

Not those details, but within my family there are things that I can’t really speak to that have made this even more pressing for me. It’s because it’s not my story to tell. But I’ll just say that within my family these are the same issues that every family has. I wouldn’t and I couldn’t talk about something so personal. Definitely, I just know there needs to be advocates. Being a public person is having a responsibility sometimes to show that kind of love and that kind of support and to step out there and to do that. It’s not an edgy fucking thing to do. It’s not.

For some public figures it seems so.

Why? Because what – half of the audience doesn’t buy your records anymore? Well, that’s fucking stupid, isn’t it? Then you gotta ask yourself if you want half of those people buying your records in the first place, and what’s really important to you. Because if you’re gonna tell people that you know what’s important or that you’ve had an epiphany in your life that you know what matters then, again, actions speak louder than words, don’t they?

Knowing what Noah has gone through, has the feeling of loving your kids no matter who they are, which we discussed in 2016, intensified in the last couple of years?

No, it was always the same. I could tell you the truth: I never had to find that perspective, I always felt that way. And I think I’m very lucky because I really do think that came from the way I was parented. I really do think I was very lucky to be raised in a family that was so open and liberal and loving. I just think they were always so unconditionally loving – not just toward us children, but toward our family.

Again, clichés, but I just tell both of my boys now that they’re old enough to understand: “You know, boys, the things that make you different are what makes you special.” What’s amazing to me about that school and wanting so badly to go to that school is, I just feel so strongly that the difference between a child and an adult is only life experience. An adult’s life experience is, “It’s gonna get better. This isn’t how it has to be, and this isn’t how it’s going to be.” So for me, it’s really massive to be able to meet kids and to say publicly – really: “It’s not always going to be like this.”

In light of the holidays, you do realize your gay fans would’ve gone wild for a version of “Santa Baby” by you that was actually called “Santa Baby,” right?

(Laughs) Yeah, exactly. Instead of “Santa Buddy.” I think I used “Santa Baby” in one of the lines.

You did.

I should’ve gone full.

I mean, a straight man can shop at Tiffany’s.

(Laughs) Yeah, no, you’re right. It’s funny: When I did that song, I tried to put it into my perspective and modernize it. I changed words; I asked for a Rolex or Mercedes or things I would want. The best part about it is: I get to sing those kinds of songs now in my life, and if I do concerts and I wanna add a Christmas song, then you know what? I can amend it and I can sing “Santa Baby.”

A straight guy singing “Santa Baby” is the progress we need.

F*ck yeah. You’re right, you’re absolutely right. It was sexist of me not to.

I’m looking forward to your live rendition of it.

I’ll do it for you. That’s a promise. I promise I’ll do it for you even if it’s not f*cking Christmas.

Even if it’s the middle of summer?

You think I’m kidding, but you shout it out and I promise you I’ll get it done. Madison Square Garden, f*cking done.

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/12/13/michael-buble-talks-eggplant-emojis-sexist-christmas-cover/ from Hot Spots Magazine https://hotspotsmagazin.blogspot.com/2018/12/michael-buble-talks-eggplant-emojis.html

[hotspotsmagazine]

Michael Bublé Talks Eggplant Emojis, ‘Sexist’ Christmas Cover

“You’re my first. Be gentle with me. Can we start with, like, a foreplay thing where you can just take it easy on me? Some gentle licking perhaps, and then we’ll get into the heavy stuff.” And so my interview with Michael Bublé, who has almost made me forget he has a wife, Argentine actress Luisana Lopilato, begins.

Returning to music with a new heart-emoji-titled album called love that he will support on a world tour in 2019, Bublé – who introduces himself by that mononym when he rings me directly – spoke openly on a variety of topics, including the difficulties of being a public figure amid familial distress, atoning for his “sexist” Christmas song and doing his part to support the LGBTQ community.

It’s sweet that this album uses the heart emoji for its title, though the gay community certainly wouldn’t have argued with you naming your album using the eggplant emoji.

Oh god, I wanted to use the eggplant. You have no idea.

You fought for that.

I did. I had long conversations about it. And you think I’m joking. I’ve already said this a million times when talking to my friends: They were like, (in a deeply bro voice) “Why didn’t you use the eggplant?” and I’m like, “Oh, I would have.”

Did you intend for the album to be a Band-Aid for our divisive times?

Yeah, it’s funny that you just said that: I’ve actually said that in private. You know what, man, obviously everything I’ve gone through has everything to do with this record and what I want to put out to the world. I had different names that I’d come up with, but there was nothing that really explained the record and the concept as well as just one word could.

The record is about love, but it’s not simply about romantic love. It was really a record that was kind of my theory on this word, this emotion that has so much range. When you hear it you think, “Oh god, romantic and lovey-smovey,” but there’s so many different things that happen with that word.

“When I Fall in Love” is such a beautiful track and people say, “Oh, it’s so romantic.” It is romantic. But for me, it’s really sad. As I put myself into the character of that song, I thought about a guy sitting at the bar at 4 o’clock in the morning, drunk, looking over at another couple, wishing that he had that because it hasn’t happened for him. It’s very unique in that way. It’s a very sad song about longing. I could go on through the whole tracklist. They all have a story for me.

Did you personalize any of the songs?

I wanted to do the best I could to be as personal and honest in the storytelling, in becoming the characters for the song, but at the same time give the audience a way to be able to hear and have their own opinions.

If I want to use this album to get a guy to fall in love with me, which song do you suggest I play to make him swoon?

Honestly, I think “La Vie En Rose” (a duet with jazz vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant) is incredible because when I did this song my concept was to build a mirror of the relationship I had with my wife. It was me going to this foreign land with someone who didn’t speak my language and having this kind of dance of love with them.

I felt like there were these two characters and one is singing to the other, where I was singing to her in my language and my culture and she was answering in hers. Though we were on this path together, we were still apart; and by the middle of the song we have this beautiful dance together, this incredible night, and by the morning we were walking through the streets of Paris. I have sort of assimilated to her culture and I am singing in her language, and I loved that because that’s exactly what happened in my life.

I don’t think you thought you’d be recording music again after your 5-year-old son, Noah, was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2016, days after our last conversation. But I’ve heard you say he’s holding up and is in remission. Was creating this album more cathartic than past albums?

I don’t think I ever fell out of love with making music or being a creative person; I just think I knew it had to be put aside. The part of being a public person, that part I didn’t know if I was ready for. There are always reminders every time you go out and people speak and you’re trying to move on with your life or yourself and your family. At first, there were always these reminders of it and so it was hard to just move on.

I made a promise to myself that it would be organic and that it would be joy and it would be blissful – and if it ever becomes what I consider work, or egotistically driven, then I would step away. But I never fell out of love with making music. You know, I’m having to leave the family and stuff for little bits, and if I do then it has to be for the right reasons.

Harder than usual to leave the family right now?

No, it’s not. When I do something, I know that there’s a great reason for it. We can make more money and we can make more music and we can make more this and more that, but it’s time – you can’t make time. I wanna make sure I’m spending time doing what I love and that it’s all worthwhile.

You talked about being an LGBTQ ally in our last interview. Why did you decide to express your compassion and advocacy for the LGBTQ community at that moment in your career?

I don’t know if it was about that moment. I think I had an opportunity to speak with you, and I felt like it was a really good chance to say how I felt. Now more than ever I think it’s important for me to just be honest, and it’s what I believe. It’s part of who I fundamentally am, how I was raised. And it’s about equality. It’s simple. That’s it.

I wish it were so simple. When we last spoke, Trump hadn’t been elected, and a lot has changed in the last couple of years politically. How are you feeling about the way this administration has treated the LGBTQ community and other marginalized groups?

I don’t… (pause)… it sounds crazy, but after what I’ve been through, I really promised myself that I would try not to get into – and when I say “get into,” I just didn’t want to be a part of negative things. So I stopped reading things. I stopped reading things about myself. I stopped reading things that made me feel badly.

I really, truly feel like more than ever in my life actions speak much louder than words do and how you treat people is – it’s funny, a friend heard me talking to my son. My son was going to his first day of kindergarten and he saw me kneel down to my boy and I said to him, “Noah, I just want you to know that” – and it sounds like a cliché, but I said, “You treat people the way you want to be treated, kid.” I said, “If you’re kind to people and you’re good to people, life will always be OK for you.” And I got up and I walked away and my friend said to me, “They may not remember what you did or what you said but they’ll remember how you made them feel.”

I can’t stop the politicians or stupid, uneducated people from thinking and saying and doing stupid things, but I can make a stand, I can talk to you, and when I’m with groups of friends or I’m in public places or when I’m with people who I think can use that sense of love and education, I can open my mouth and tell them how I feel. And one at a time, you can change the world like that.

Listen, I’ve gone through too much not to feel this way. I just feel this way really strongly. I also think it’s important – it’s really easy for someone selling something, an artist, to say that they support or love the gay community; I just think it’s a different thing to say it than to do it.

When we spoke in 2016, you told me you had plans to get involved with the Harvey Milk High School in New York City, but then, of course, you had to tend to your family. Do you plan on picking up where you left off?

As a matter of fact, (my publicist) Liz (Rosenberg) and I have spoken many times and talked about the plan that we have. We have a plan (that involves) the Hetrick-Martin Institute (a NYC-based professional provider of social support and programming for LGBTQ youth and host agency for the Harvey Milk High School).

To start, I just wanted to go. I wanted to go and just let people know they had my support. Young kids who have been bullied and haven’t felt comfortable have a place to go, which is just disturbing in the first place, that in 2018 they didn’t. There wasn’t an environment where they felt they could be who they are. Listen, I can’t get into the details. I can’t.

You can’t get into details about the project?

Not those details, but within my family there are things that I can’t really speak to that have made this even more pressing for me. It’s because it’s not my story to tell. But I’ll just say that within my family these are the same issues that every family has. I wouldn’t and I couldn’t talk about something so personal. Definitely, I just know there needs to be advocates. Being a public person is having a responsibility sometimes to show that kind of love and that kind of support and to step out there and to do that. It’s not an edgy fucking thing to do. It’s not.

For some public figures it seems so.

Why? Because what – half of the audience doesn’t buy your records anymore? Well, that’s fucking stupid, isn’t it? Then you gotta ask yourself if you want half of those people buying your records in the first place, and what’s really important to you. Because if you’re gonna tell people that you know what’s important or that you’ve had an epiphany in your life that you know what matters then, again, actions speak louder than words, don’t they?

Knowing what Noah has gone through, has the feeling of loving your kids no matter who they are, which we discussed in 2016, intensified in the last couple of years?

No, it was always the same. I could tell you the truth: I never had to find that perspective, I always felt that way. And I think I’m very lucky because I really do think that came from the way I was parented. I really do think I was very lucky to be raised in a family that was so open and liberal and loving. I just think they were always so unconditionally loving – not just toward us children, but toward our family.

Again, clichés, but I just tell both of my boys now that they’re old enough to understand: “You know, boys, the things that make you different are what makes you special.” What’s amazing to me about that school and wanting so badly to go to that school is, I just feel so strongly that the difference between a child and an adult is only life experience. An adult’s life experience is, “It’s gonna get better. This isn’t how it has to be, and this isn’t how it’s going to be.” So for me, it’s really massive to be able to meet kids and to say publicly – really: “It’s not always going to be like this.”

In light of the holidays, you do realize your gay fans would’ve gone wild for a version of “Santa Baby” by you that was actually called “Santa Baby,” right?

(Laughs) Yeah, exactly. Instead of “Santa Buddy.” I think I used “Santa Baby” in one of the lines.

You did.

I should’ve gone full.

I mean, a straight man can shop at Tiffany’s.

(Laughs) Yeah, no, you’re right. It’s funny: When I did that song, I tried to put it into my perspective and modernize it. I changed words; I asked for a Rolex or Mercedes or things I would want. The best part about it is: I get to sing those kinds of songs now in my life, and if I do concerts and I wanna add a Christmas song, then you know what? I can amend it and I can sing “Santa Baby.”

A straight guy singing “Santa Baby” is the progress we need.

F*ck yeah. You’re right, you’re absolutely right. It was sexist of me not to.

I’m looking forward to your live rendition of it.

I’ll do it for you. That’s a promise. I promise I’ll do it for you even if it’s not f*cking Christmas.

Even if it’s the middle of summer?

You think I’m kidding, but you shout it out and I promise you I’ll get it done. Madison Square Garden, f*cking done.

from Hotspots! Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/12/13/michael-buble-talks-eggplant-emojis-sexist-christmas-cover/

[geekade]

Turn It Up: The Holiday Special

I thought it was a little nuts that two of my all-time favorite groups were putting out holiday albums this year. I mean, maybe it’s just my odd luck, but when they both ventured out on Christmas tours at the same time, 13-year-old me was absolutely in heaven. Then I noticed that Spotify was suggesting other albums – not the classics either. They were showing me all kinds of new holiday music being released this year. While I don’t know what caused the trend (though I venture it was out of a need for some kind of happiness in the world), it’s been a fun ride through many musical areas this holiday season. Let’s check out some of the best in each world of music.

The Ones We Probably Expected

Herb Alpert - The Christmas Wish

It’s around this time of year that we start to appreciate both choral and instrumental music much more than any other time. Herb Albert is one of the best in the business, especially if you can appreciate the sounds of brass. This combination of smooth jazz with upbeat Tijuana sounds is something from the classics but with an incredibly cool sound for now. If you need to feel warm in the cold months, this might just be right up your alley.

Josh Groban - Noel (Deluxe)

We’re starting this list off with some of the ‘obvious’ suspects because they’re the voices I’m sure the holidays wouldn’t be the same without. Josh Groban has been crooning for us for a few years now, and his vocals have become almost a necessity to Christmas. Noel was released in 2007, and following his successful run on Broadway this year, Josh brought it back around for the 10th anniversary, adding five new tracks. They range from the classics of “White Christmas,” to his own rendition of “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” – literally something for everyone.

Pentatonix - A Pentatonix Christmas (Deluxe)

Again we get a re-release, this time from a group that has solidified their position as a classic Christmastime act. This one is just a year later on the heels of last year’s charting release, and again adds five more arranged songs. The group took to their social media to help promote this year’s release as well, speaking more to the experience of putting these songs together, taking us deeper into the process. With the exit of one member and the entrance of a new bass, the group has certainly had an eventful year, and this tops it off nicely.

The Comebacks We’re Glad to See

Hanson - Finally It's Christmas

The band themselves have labeled this “20 Years In the Making” and they did not disappoint. “Snowed In” is actually an acclaimed Christmas album that most people I know keep in heavy rotation over the holidays, so I’d imagine the pressure was on to live up to it this time around as well (Hanson fans, you’re welcome for the little joke there). From the opening harmonies on the title track through Ike’s quiet and beautiful ending with “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” the band has provided yet another classic album. And hey, now they’ve built up enough material to warrant a Christmas tour – aka the only way they can get away with doing a concert without singing “MMMBop” (though, thanks for sneaking it in during the NYC show, Mark Hudson).

98 Degrees - Let It Snow

Again, it’s been quite a while for these guys since their original Christmas album, This Christmas, and they still have every bit of the soulful vocals they always did. The biggest difference this go-around is their devotion to their social following and fans. They have been all over the place this season promoting the album, all starting with Nick’s impressive run on Dancing With The Stars (which brother Drew won years back… I may be biased on my Lachey brother choices though). The guys have grown and are letting us get to know them so much more now, showing their humor and talent as men who have grown to be comfortable in their own skins and with their own voices. This is a welcome addition to their classic sound (and yes, they were concert #2, same week as Hanson – bless you New York concert schedules).

Cheap Trick - Christmas Christmas

This is the one that took me by surprise. Maybe calling this section ‘comebacks’ doesn’t make a ton of sense, as every band has had recent releases in addition to their holiday albums, but they are certainly a group of albums I would not have expected last year. Anywhos, Cheap Trick is a pleasant surprise to this list, melding their old classic sound with upbeat holiday cheer, including three original tracks. The band said it was very natural to put this one together, and I have to say, it’s the perfect addition to all of us little weird punks’ collections amongst the sugary carols otherwise surrounding the season.

New Kids On The Block – Thankful: Unwrapped

I didn’t believe it when I first saw it, but apparently NKOTB jumped on the Christmas album train this year too. Don’t get too excited – they’re not singing the classics, and really it’s just three tracks added onto their earlier EP release from this year, Thankful. But hey, everyone needs an excuse to perform this time of year, and you need the right themes to the music to make that happen. Welcome to the train, once again, boys.

The Compilations We’ll Enjoy

Various Artists - Holidays Rule, Vol. 2

You may or may not remember round one of this compilation set, where there were some cool takes on some old classics. Well, five years after the first one, Paul McCartney has brought folks together to create that magic once again. This time we get such greats as The Roots, The Decemberists, and Andrew McMahon adding in their style. This is every hipster’s dream if they actually enjoy the holidays, and if not, it’ll help put them in the mood.

Various Artists - Now That's What I Call Merry Christmas

On the flip side of styles, here we instead get all of the major radio pop artists of the past year putting their flair on holiday songs. NOW has always done a pretty great job of gathering the greatest hits together, and their specialty albums like this are no exception. They meld the old and new, kicking things off with deceptively new tracks from Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, but transitioning into the true bests with Elvis and the Beach Boys taking over the soundtrack. It’s all a bit confusing, but probably a good set for the whole family to enjoy.

The Unexpected New Sounds

Gwen Stefani - You Make It Feel Like Christmas

I will willingly admit that post No Doubt (and really, Post Tragic Kingdom), I have not been a big fan of Gwen Stefani. That said, I think this album has actually allowed her to embrace the unique voice that I’ve otherwise never loved a whole lot these past few years. It’s a pop album through and through, and all the cuteness you might want while decorating for the holidays. Maybe if I had heard this one sooner, I would have actually decorated my apartment this year.

Blake Shelton - Cheers, It's Christmas

It only seemed appropriate to follow one with the other, so we get into Blake Shelton’s Deluxe release this year. I have mixed feelings here, but for those of you that are looking for that sweet country Christmas sound, you’ll find it here. The bittersweet moment is hearing a newly written “Home” done as a duet with Michael Buble. It’s been Christmas-fied with many of the lyrics changing and a lack of Miranda’s backing vocals. It holds up, along with the gentle album from this otherwise seemingly raucous guy.

Sia - Everyday Is Christmas

Anyone else remember when Sia Furler was one of those songwriters who you didn’t know about, but you dang well knew the songs of? Yeah, that’s a distant memory for me too. Sia has really come out as a strong artist all on her own. This album is completely unique and a treat for anyone who is a fan of her in any way shape or form. Heck, there’s even a song called “Puppies Are Forever” – give me that over a diamond any day!

Kaskade - Kaskade Christmas

If nothing has been up your alley yet in this list, Kaskade is one of the final remaining pieces to cover just about every genre of music available. Yes, the dance/trance artist threw us this one out of left field and it’s got all the right grooves you’d want or need from him and his appearing friends throughout. I want to say this is a weird experience, but I think it’s borderline brilliant – this is an untapped market for sure, and it’s almost sort of nice to have that gap filled in.

Lindsey Stirling - Warmer In The Winter

I couldn’t explain why now, but I really did not like Lindsey Stirling for a while. I think it had something to do with the difficulty to track down her publishing when I first started my job, or maybe a bad experience on the business side. Whatever the case may be, all of that changed this season on Dancing with the Stars, where she was paired with Mark Ballas. This girl’s creativity and grace and just general amazing quirky attitude was a downright inspiration. She is a performer in every sense of the word, bringing such imagination to every single move she makes. Just take a listen to this album. It doesn’t fit a niche and I’m so glad for that. It’s so incredibly different and delightful and all I want to do is see every performance and video she could possibly create around this music. There’s a reason I saved it for last – this one’s the highlight of the season by far.