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sebstanseabass · 3 years ago

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Afterglow (A Bucky Barnes AU fan fiction) - Chapter 1

Afterglow chapters

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x reader

Story Description:

❝It's like an afterglow.❞

❝Yes, like an afterglow. If seeing something so beautiful makes you feel good then the after of it all must be... more pleasurable.❞

❝A lot of people tend to miss that detail after sunset. But not you. You're a photographer, y/n. The details in nature, in people, are some things you can never miss.❞

But there's one little detail you had missed, that you both missed: that you've already met years earlier.

You're a 25-year old photographer and part-time bartender, and has heard countless stories about the adventures of your roommate's stepbrother, Bucky Barnes -- a clumsy, party-driven 38-year old businessman. One day, you stumble upon Bucky inside your apartment on a Saturday night that would change both of your lives forever as you both take pleasure in the afterglow.

A/N: I already have this on Wattpad but with a female OC. This is my first ever Bucky Barnes fan fic and I hope you guys like it :)

CHAPTER ONE

"Hey, y/n. I think Nick wants to ask you out on a date." Peter Parker, your roommate, brought his beer bottle towards his mouth. His eyes were fixated somewhere while you were wiping droplets of beer on the countertop. You looked at his face features illuminated by the light from his laptop. "You should really put coasters here, y'know." he added.

"Shut it, Parker," You rolled your eyes at him, "or no more free drinks for you."

"He's into you." He sang and averted his eyes somewhere. You followed his gaze which was on Nick Miller who was talking to some loud blondes on the booth, taking their orders.

"I'm not talking to you anymore." You put your hand up, blocking Peter's face and walked away. You greeted some customers approaching the bar counter. "Good evening, gentlemen, what would you like to drink?"

"Shots of tequila," one replied, "and keep 'em coming, doll!" The other three cheered which you knew annoyed Peter.

The bar was packed tonight. Saturdays were the only days New Yorkers were almost free for a chill drink hangout. College boys hang by the billiards table on the corner, office girls sip their margaritas on one of the booths, thirty-year old women shoot darts on the dartboard as if the board were their husbands, thirty-year old dads with their caps on drinking hard beer on one of the tables, kids who just turned twenty-one ordering their first drink legally, lonely people by the jukebox or on the bar counter telling their sad tales to the bartender and Peter Parker casually drinking beer with a laptop in front of him.

"You really should stop doing your work here on the bar." You approached Peter once more. "You're bumming people out."

Peter raised an eyebrow, his eyes glued on the laptop. "You're bumming me out."

"Seriously, do your business work elsewhere. Go to a coffee place or something. Starbucks isn't that far."

"You know I work better with beer"

"How can I forget?"

You and Peter go way back. You two had met in business school and had been roommates ever since. While you would pull an all-nighter in your shared apartment, Peter would struggle to open the front door, dance around in the living room like he had left feet and threw his final papers on the floor. He'd end up waking up your other roommates, Mickey and Pablo (who would usually join him by the way), leaving poor you cleaning up their mess the next morning. You'd put Peter to bed, seeing as the other morons were incapable of doing so. The next day, Peter's bed would reek of the pungent smell of beer and cigarettes. Though he didn't smoke ("and I never will!"), cigarette smoke disgustingly clung to his clothes and skin, which you found rather unpleasant. Even with all the alcohol in his system, Peter managed to pass all his exams and graduate with flying colors. You hated that.

"I don't get why you drink so much during exam week." You sighed, handing Peter a glass of water. He wasn't an alcoholic but he did turn into one right before midterms and finals start. It was somehow seasonal. According to Peter, it helped him focus. "You're not supposed to drink before a big exam, y'know."

"Hemingway drinks. He writes better when he drinks."

"You're a business major. Not a writer. You don't even read literature."

"Look at you now cleaning other people's messes." Peter chuckled, closing his laptop. You sighed and wiped the counter with much vigor. The four gentlemen from earlier left a pretty big mess toasting shots before they went towards the billiards table.

"Please, this is not the kind of bar you used to go to." You responded, making a gin and tonic. "This is a smoke-free, grope-free, friendly bar. No dancing, no loud stereo music -- just your regular bar where you can relax with your friends after a long day at work."

Peter turned around and tilted his head towards the jukebox. "There's someone dancing right now beside the jukebox."

"Not that kind of dancing." A 20-something year old man was breakdancing to some old beat you've never even heard of.

"Y'know it's really ironic you're working at a bar now. Oh, how you used to hate them."

"It's the only job I can do." You shrugged. "Besides photography, of course. And again, this is not that kind of bar. Think of it like a MacLaren's Pub from that tv show. Kind of funny how it's also just below our apartment building. If only we lived in this building in college, I would've enjoyed bars more."

You once went to one party at a crowded bar where Peter had surprisingly invited you. Writhing bodies pressed up against each other. Body shots from strangers. Toilets that reeked of beer vomit and pee. An "accidental" kiss between you and Peter in the bar that lead into a steamy makeout session as soon as you got in the apartment you both shared. Up to this day, neither of you spoke of that night and perhaps that day wouldn't come -- You really hoped it didn't. Wouldn't want to open a can of worms from the past.

"You're a boring old hag." Peter snorted.

"Hmm, I'd like to disagree. I can make drinks and you can't."

"Oh, you know who can make drinks, though? My stepbrother!"

Ah, yes. His stepbrother. The infamous Bucky Barnes. Born in the upper east side of New York and sadly, out of wedlock. Orphaned at a young age and adopted by a man named Tony Stark who then married Peter's mother. A successful hotel business owner (but not really famous), and the star of Peter's countless stories. Been arrested once for streaking. Got Peter out of detention in high school. Trespassed school premises. TP'd a house during Valentine's Day. Caught naked by a newly-wed in a hotel room. That was just the tip of the iceberg.

"I know. He makes the best bloody drinks of all time." You mimicked Peter the way he would -- insulting and proud -- which he didn't like as he shot dagger-like eyes at you. His expressions changed in a snap.

"Oh, that reminds me. He's in town!"

"I thought he was in Monaco?"

"Yeah, no. He travels a lot."

"Does that mean I now get to meet this famous stepbrother of yours?" You smirked, pulling out shot glasses from one of the cabinets.

"I'm not sure he would want to meet you. You're not exactly in his league."

"You mean snobby and rich?" You laughed while fixing the shot glasses on the counter. "I'm aware."

"I mean classy." He adjusted his tie.

You snickered. "Yeah, all those stories were real classy, Parker. Top-notch."

"You know what I mean, y/n - suits, money, stuff like that. Bucky's changed." One big sip of beer. "I think."

"Ya think?" You scoffed.

"Maybe, I don't know. Haven't spoken to him in a while. He's always traveling and stuff. Hard to keep track of him."

"Sounds to me like he's on a run from the bad guys." You joked which Peter didn't find funny.

"What do you mean?"

Peter idolized Bucky. He was the sole reason why he got into business in the first place -- no, they didn't spend late nights talking in their backyard basketball court about how fulfilling business is and all that crap like brothers would do. Peter just wanted to be like Bucky. To be in the world of money, booze, and then more money. That kind of crap. "It was a joke, Parker. This Bucky sounds like he may have done some stupid stuff but I doubt he's into something illegal or what."

"Yeah, he's a good guy." But even Peter didn't sound convinced of himself. He took a big gulp of his beer.

Nick approached the counter, avoiding your eyes but a smile landed on his lips as soon as he neared you. You could hear Peter chuckling. "Hey, Nick."

Nick acknowledged him by saying a small hello and started preparing a bunch of Bloody Marys for the blonde girls by the booth. Peter watched him, finishing his beer. You gave him a look before walking away to serve some drinks -- which he just mocked in return. With a tray of beer in your right hand, you approached the four gentlemen from before at the billiards table and gave them their drinks. Seeing a couple of girls slide out of one of the booths, you grabbed a washcloth and a bottle spray on the cleaning station and headed to clean the girls' mess. The table reeked of Gin and tonic, Margaritas, Grasshopper, a couple of beers and Long Island Iced Tea. Well, that's a weirdly wild group of friends.

While cleaning up the booth, you glanced up at the printed photographs on the walls which were yours. Black and white portraits of strangers. Flashes of red and blue lights on the streets. Giant buildings. Random people on Central Park and New York streets. Peter drinking beer at the booth with his co-workers. And the owner of the bar who was always cooped up inside his small office. Photos that didn't sell in your exhibit always went to the bar, in hopes that someone might find them somewhat good -- good enough to take home. But that wasn't the case. To them, the photos were just mere decorations at the bar; they just wanted to have a good time and couldn't be bothered to even take one shy glance at the bartender's photos. You wanted to think they just had zero taste when it comes to photography to make yourself feel better but you were wrong. It just made you feel worse.

Just when you were about to turn around, Peter slid into the booth. You almost dropped the things you were holding. "Jesus, Parker."

He looked up at the photos. "Told ya your photos won't sell here."

"That's not what I was thinking." Lie. You walked towards the bar counter with Peter on your tail. He sat once more on the high stool and immensely watched as you placed some glasses on the counter.

"Come work for our company. We could really use your skills for our products." He leaned in, trying to get your attention. It wasn't the first time he tried to convince you to go work for his company.

"For the nth time, I'm no corporate slave."

"You're working at a bar. You make drinks and serve people. Some of these fuckers have corporate jobs as well - like me! If you think about it," he crossed his arms, placing them on top of the counter, "it's kind of like serving these corporations you hate."

With a frown, you asked, "What kind of logic is that?"

"A businessman's logic."

"If that's the case, the corporate world is dead." You smirked, washing the glasses. Peter was no businessman. He was just a part of a sales team, making marketing pitch presentations every week or so. Honestly, you couldn't keep up with his presentations. "I'd be happy to join then."

"Come on, Aria. You can't be juggling two jobs for the rest of your life. You can get one big job at our company and you'll get paid big time. Plus," he leaned in further, almost getting up from the stool, "we'll be working together. Wouldn't that be fun?"

"I'm honestly getting tired of you." You chuckled, sprinkling some water on Peter's face. "And my answer is still no. I don't want to work for your company. I like freelancing and bartending." That wasn't a lie. Despite graduating from business school, you decided to pursue your passion in photography even if the pay couldn't cover your half of the rent. So, you decided to take a waitressing job at the bar just below your apartment, and then started bartending. Out of all the establishments you could've gone to, you chose this very bar because it was the most convenient option of all -- it was just below the apartment. Being a photographer and a part-time bartender weren't exactly the dream you had for yourself but you liked them; nothing gave you more pleasure than taking product photos for small businesses and making drinks for strangers who happen to stumble upon one of the best bars in the Upper West Side.

Peter sighed. "I'm never giving up on you. I'm not a quitter."

"Whatever you say, big guy." Peter had been at it for a few years.

"I hate you." Peter groaned.

"Aren't you the sweetest?"

Peter rolled his eyes and caught a quick glance at the wall clock. "Hey, your shift's almost over. Better hurry up."

"Right. Thanks, Parker." You began placing back the shot glasses on one of the cabinets then hurriedly walked into a small door on the back. You greeted your boss who was just doing some paperworks.

"Hey, Steve. I'm heading out."

"Right, right." Steve looked up from his laptop and removed his specs, placing them on the table.

You gave him a smile and turned to leave but before you could even close the door, Steve called you.

"Yeah?"

"Nick's not gonna be here tomorrow afternoon and I'm gonna be in Long Island for some family reunion. Would you mind checking all the deliveries for tomorrow?"

"Well, what about the others?"

"Ah, they're no good." Steve sighed. "I only trust you and Nick."

You raised an eyebrow. "Nick? Really?" You wouldn't trust Nick with anything -- not even with some dumb, silly secret.

Steve shrugged. "He's a good kid. He and I get along. So, do I get a yes?"

"Yeah, sure. I got nothing going on tomorrow."

"No photography thingy?"

You pursed your lips. "Not unless you want me to take photos for your family reunion."

"No way in hell am I gonna let you meet my family."

"Aw, you said you trust me."

He chuckled and leaned back on his office chair. "Go home, y/n."

You sent him a smile before heading back to the counter to meet Peter who was mindlessly scrolling on his phone. "Let's go, Parker."

You two walked up the steps towards your apartment building, shoulders bumping from time to time. You and Peter lived on the fifth floor. You would've gotten your own place but your parents cut you off since you refused to work for the family supermarket your family owned in Hoboken, New Jersey. The last time you spoke to your parents was almost three years ago, when you threw a huge tantrum like a damn baby at your graduation party. "There's nothing for me here in New Jersey! It's as boring as these two old couples next door. (No offense). I hated business school. I want to pursue photography whether you like it or not. I'm not staying in this hellhole forever."

"You walk out that door, you're out of here forever."

And out you went with only a couple of clothes and some leftover college money. The only sliver of hope you had was Peter.

"Hey, y/n?" Peter asked as soon as you got inside the elevator. "Hypothetically, if Nick asked you out on a date, would you say yes?"

You gave him a weird look after the elevator doors closed before you. "I don't know, man. Never dip the pen in company ink, right?" You fished for your apartment key on your purse. "How are you so sure he's gonna ask me out?"

"He flat out told me that's how." He replied. "Yesterday night. So, if he does ask you..."

"Why are you so invested in my dating life?"

"You have no dating life." He retorted.

Peter was one to talk. He also didn't have one.

"You know what I mean, idiot."

He shrugged. "Just curious."

The elevator doors opened and you both headed towards your apartment unit, with Peter still yapping about Nick this and Nick that. You groaned, getting ultimately tired of hearing Nick's name and the possibility of you and him dating. "Maybe you should date him, Parker."

"You date him."

You gave him a confused look. "Shut up, Parker."

"Wait, you know what? Don't date him. I don't like him for you. He's weird and -- "

"No, I mean it. Shut. Up." You hissed, stopping on your tracks and grabbing Peter by his arm. You were right outside your apartment unit. There was a small gap between the door and the door frame. It seemed like someone broke in..

"What do we do? What do we do?" Peter half-yelled, half-whispered.

"Have the cops on speed dial. If it really is a robbery, call them. Got it?"

"What if they have guns?"

"I'll tell them to shoot you first."

"Gee, thanks for looking after me. Appreciate it."

You smirked, your hands already on the door. Slowly, you pushed it away from your body, failing to make it as quiet as possible as the door creaked against the floorboards. You gently looked around the dark living room, seeing no sign of someone inside -- until your eyes caught something moving on the couch. Your eyes went wide. You went back in the hallway where Peter was standing with his phone in his hand, ready to press the call button.

"Well?" He was waiting for an answer.

"I think someone's crashing on our couch?" Even you looked confused.

"What? Are you sure?"

"Either that or a large animal just broke into our apartment. Come on, let's go see." You whispered, trying not to wake up the uninvited guest.

"I'm not going in there!"

"Fine, I'll wake the bastard up." You groaned. "Pussy."

"Dick." He snickered but zipped his mouth shut as soon as you sent him a glare.

Without a noise, you managed to get closer, using the light from your phone as a guide. On the couch was a huge blanket sprawled across and under that was the rhythmic sound of someone breathing. Your hand lightly trembled, reaching for the blanket to unveil whoever was under it; but before you could even touch a single thread, the person jumped out of the couch, and so did your heart. You let out a scream, falling backwards and hitting your head on one of the small tables beside the couch. The unknown person stood on the couch, and awfully joined your screams. The lights suddenly turned on, with Peter standing by the door.

"Oh my god!" You yelped as soon as you realized the man in front of you was naked. No clothes, no nothing, just bare skin against the cold breeze. Your hands immediately flew to your eyes. "Who the hell are you?" Your screamed at him.

He urged you to remove your hand from your eyes, telling you he was wrapping the blanket around his waist. Thankfully, he wasn't lying.

"Bucky?" Peter breathed, approaching the scene.

"This is Bucky?" You asked in disbelief.

Bucky smiled and jumped off the couch, offering his hand. "Hi, I'm Bucky."

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chokememrstark · 6 years ago

Photo

We Are Electric - Starker

Words: ~ 3,3k

Summary: During a business trip to Berlin, Tony stumbles over a group of breakdancers on his lunch break. One of them in particular sparks his interest, a gorgeously cute boy, and he can’t help but ask him out for a coffee. As it turns out, he is completely smitten by Peter, a boy he will probably never see again in his life.

Warnings: no powers!au, underage (peter is 17), fluff, strangers, really just something cute i had to do

Note: Well, this is what happens when you let me listen to 2000′s B-Boy bands, woops. Still hope you enjoy this little fic! (and yes, the title is based off the inspiration, bc I love using song titles for my fics)

[read on AO3]

Tony tried everything he could to drop out of this trip to Berlin, but in the end, he wound up on the plane anyway, knowing that a week out of states was better than risking to lost the deal that this meeting promised. The first two days were spent rather eventless with smaller negotiations and by the time Tony left for his lunch break on the third day, he was ready to commit murder.

Since the people he talked to all day annoyed the hell out of him, Tony decided to get some fresh air and possibly a coffee. The rest of the group was going to eat at a restaurant nearby, but Tony preferred to be alone for some time and strolled down the street in search for a good place to stay at. That’s when he noticed a group of people gathered in one spot and curiosity got the better of him when suddenly music started playing.

It wasn’t the kind of music Tony usually listened to, but he still stepped closer and damn, was it worth it. There were several boys and girls who were dancing, breakdancing to be exact, and it looked almost like some sort of contest or battle. Tony always thought this kind of dancing was interesting - he could never in his life move like that but it was fascinating to watch. The girl whose turn it was finished her choreo and earned lots of applause, when suddenly someone else stepped forward.

The boy’s face was hidden by a hoodie at first, but once he stepped into the middle of the ‘dancefloor’, he pulled the hood off and Tony’s jaw nearly hit the floor. The boy was absolutely gorgeous!

“Go Pete!” someone shouted and the boy grinned, pulling his hoodie off completely and nodding. A new song startsed playing and what happened next completely blew Tony away.

The girl was good, but this boy was so much better. It looked like gravity has no effect on him. The way he flew over the ground, turned and spun, had Tony stare in complete disbelief. It was only two minutes, but it was enough to blow Tony’s mind.

When the boy stood back up, everyone around him cheered and even Tony couldn’t help but join in with the clapping that follows. The boy grinned, which made him ten times prettier, and walked over to someone else to grab a bottle of water. The contest seemed to continue as another boy walked into the middle now, but Tony didn’t have eyes for him. He kept looking at the boy from before, stunned by his obviously joy and mesmerized by his laugh and the way he smiled.

It took Tony five minutes to collect himself enough to figure out what to do. It felt like the worst luck to encounter such an incredible and fascinating boy all the way over here in Germany, but Tony wanted to at least make sure he knew how great he thought he was, so he summoned all his courage and walked over to the boy and his two friends.

“Excuse me?” Tony said, tapping the boy’s shoulder. He turned around surprised, pretty big doe eyes looking up at him.

“Huh?”

God, even his voice was adorable, Tony had to swallow down a lump that built in his throat.

“I just wanted to tell you how amazing you were over there,” he says and jerks his head towards the dancefloor where a new contestant had taken the place of the boy from before. “I had no idea it’s possible to move like this.”

The boy blinks a few times and then suddenly smiles brightly. “Thanks, man!” he answered, surprising Tony by speaking English, and his heart made a little jump. “You dance too?”

Tony laughed and shook his head. “Oh, God forbid! I’d probably break my neck if I tried,” he admitted, grinning and clearly losing some of his nervousness. “But I love watching people who can do it and you’re the best I’ve seen so far.”

“Been doing this since I was five, so thanks,” the boy said happily and held out his hand. “I’m Peter, and you are?”

“Tony,” Tony replied and shook the Peter’s hand. “Say, you don’t happen to have time to grab a coffee somewhere? I need some caffeine to make it through the day. You’re invited, of course.”

Peter tilted his head and looked at Tony for a moment before nodding and turning to his friends. He spoke to them in German, which made Tony smile because he was really fluent in it, and then grabbed a backpack from the ground, shouldering it.

“Alright, I’ve got two hours until they expect me back,” he said and looked up at Tony cheekily. “You know where to go?”

“Absolutely no idea,” Tony admitted and scratched his head. “I guess you are a bit more familiar with the place?”

Peter nodded and pointed to a building just a few feet away. “They got a nice café up there, if you want to?” he suggested. “Good spot to watch the dancers or the skaters when they do their tricks.”

Tony nodded and walked over to the building with Peter. It was a shopping mall with a restaurant and a café on the second floor. As Peter said, it was really nice and once they ordered coffee and some cake, Tony checked the view. Definitely a great position to not miss anything going on beneath them.

“I had no idea there’s such good entertainment here,” Tony laughed and leaned back in his chair. “Guess it’s not the worst place to be at today.”

Peter laughed and pulled out his phone, checking something. “We discovered it last week, it’s pretty cool,” he agreed and grinned. “Yesterday there was even a rap battle, really heard some fun insults. Tomorrow the skaters are back, I think. Some of the guys do that too.”

“You don’t?” Tony asked and Peter shook his head.

“Not good on wheels,” he shrugged. “I tried it a few times, but as soon as I’m off my own feet I turn into the clumsiest thing ever.”

“Hard to imagine, given how flexible you are,” Tony huffed surprised, but Peter just grinned.

“What can I say?” he grinned. “Dancing is my life and breakdancing is much more fun than smashing my face by losing balance on skates.”

“Sounds fair,” Tony chuckled as their order was brought to the table. “So, tell me a bit about yourself, Peter. What’s a talented boy like you doing here?”

Peter took a bite from his cake, humming pleasantly. “Enjoying my holiday,” he explained and gave Tony a sweet smile. “I traveled with my friends, but they had to leave last week, so I decided to stay a bit longer to explore the city by myself. The people here are pretty chill and I can practice the language some more by staying.”

“You’re good with it,” Tony pointed out, taking a sip from his coffee. “I still struggle with how harsh the language is sometimes.”

“You get used to it the more you speak it, I guess,” Peter shrugged. “But practicing with locals is good for improving, will come in handy back in school.”

At this, Tony frowned slightly. School? “You’re going to college?” he asked, hoping to get a yes, but instead, Peter shook his head.

“Starting my last year in high school in a few weeks,” he said casually. “Can’t wait for this to be over, trust me. Hopefully college will be a bit more relaxed.”

Tony gulped and let out an awkward laugh. Damn, so the boy wasn’t even 18 yet, or just turned 18. His luck really was something else.

“Usually it’s pretty cool if you don’t go partying every other day,” he said, smirking. “You know what you want to major in already?”

Peter nodded, his face lightening up. “Of course! I’ll go into engineering and possibly physics, but definitely engineering. I already got some colleges in mind I applied to, better get a spot early than not get one at all, you know?”

“Definitely,” Tony agreed with a nod. Peter seemed to be a smart one, he liked that. Too bad he wouldn’t meet him again after this and that he was way too young, but Tony still enjoyed the boy’s company.

They talked for almost an hour, with Peter telling Tony about how he was in drama class in school and that he wanted to keep the dancing up on the side, if only as a hobby, even when going to college in the future. Tony couldn’t say that he would tell him otherwise, Peter was damn good with it, so he should keep doing it if it made him happy.

Tony was almost sad when they had to part, but there was no way he could stay longer. The next meeting was only half an hour away and Peter’s friends expected him back soon too, so after they left the mall again, he hugged the boy quickly before smiling at him.

“Thanks for the nice lunch break,” he said sincerely. “You were much better company than the idiots I have to go back to now.”

“Can’t say I didn’t enjoy it myself,” Peter laughed and punched Tony’s arm friendly. “Don’t let them annoy you too much and if you want to, come by again later today. We will have another battle tonight.”

“I’ll try to come,” Tony said, but he already knew he wouldn’t be able to make it. The meeting was scheduled to last until way after 9 in the evening and he would be so exhausted that it would be a miracle if he managed to get out of his shoes before dropping into bed.

And just as he expected, Tony couldn’t make it. He was mad at himself and came back to the same spot for the following three days in hopes to see Peter again, but he had no such luck. Eventually, he accepted defeat and that it wasn’t supposed to be. It would have been too good to be true anyway, if he was honest.

Tony barely made it through the last day, so glad when he finally took a taxi back to the airport. The deal was settled with good conditions, that was a slight comfort, but he couldn’t wait to be back home and sleep in his own bed again. He hated sleeping in hotel beds, he just never managed to fully relax in those.

The airport was crowded and loud, perfectly adding to Tony’s already annoyed mood and the headache he felt coming up didn’t help lift it either. He checked in after almost an hour, ready to just fall asleep as soon as he was seated, when he suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder. Already preparing himself for some rude asshole thinking they were entitled to faster service, Tony turned around, only to see a pair of familiar, soft eyes.

“Now if that’s not what I call coincidence,” Peter said, looking just as cute and gorgeous as in Tony’s memory. “I missed you Tuesday evening.”

Tony swallows and just stares at the boy shocked. “Sorry, I… my meeting took longer than expected and after it I was practically dead,” he explains awkwardly.

“No problem, I got smashed by some other dude anyway,” Peter shrugged and smiled at him.

“Sir? Your ticket,” the airline employee said, turning Tony’s attention back to her. He took his ticket, nodded, and stepped aside so Peter could check in too.

“Economy?” the airline employee asked and Peter nodded, handing her his ticket. “You will be boarding last, check for your call.”

“Wait!” Tony said, a thought forming in his head. “Are there any first class seats left?”

The woman behind the counter blinked surprised and checked her computer, then nodding. “Yes, sir. There are plenty seats left in first class.”

“Upgrade his ticket, please,” he said and pulled out his wallet, handing her his credit card. “It’s on me.”

Peter’s eyes widened and he looked at him in shock. “Are you serious?” he asked, completely dumbfounded. Tony nodded.

“It’s the least I can do for breaking my promise,” he explained himself, leaving out the fact that he really just wanted to spend some more time with the boy. “Unless you mind?”

“Oh, hell no!” Peter laughed. “I never flew first class, thank you!”

“Alright, upgrade him then,” Tony nodded and turned back to the woman. She looked at both of them for a moment, then shrugged and did the upgrade for Peter’s ticket.

“Here you go, sir,” she said, handing the new ticket over to Peter. “You’ll board first and can wait in the VIP lounge for your flight to be called.”

“Come, the lounge is much more comfortable than waiting here,” Tony winked and led Peter to the VIP area, using his personal gold card to open the door.

“Damn, you’re really going all out, huh?” Peter huffed impressed as he looked around the place. Tony already sat down in one of the extremely comfortable chairs, crossing his legs.

“Flying first class has its perks,” he shrugged and grinned at the boy. “The food is much better too, trust me. You’ll never want to fly economy again.”

“I fear so too,” Peter laughed and sat down across from Tony, still checking out the room. “And all that because you said you’d come by and didn’t?” he finally asked, raising a brow.

“Partially,” Tony laughed. “Let’s keep it at that or I’ll embarrass myself.”

“I highly doubt you could embarrass yourself,” Peter chuckled and pulled out his phone. “Damn, they got good reception here. Perfect. Gotta tell my aunt I’m on the way, she keeps worrying if I don’t text her at least twice a day,” he explained and rolled his eyes dramatically.

“She’s probably just worried,” Tony smirked. “You’re pretty far away, after all.”

“Yeah, but she’s exaggerating, really,” Peter huffed. “Acts like I’m still a kid. I mean, come on! It’s not like I’m twelve, right? I’m seventeen! I can fly alone, so I can spend a few weeks away without her going crazy, right?”

Seventeen… fuck. Tony knew this much of course, but hearing Peter actually say it made it seem so much more real. He internally scolded himself for being this attracted to a seventeen year old, even if it didn’t change anything in the end.

“Typical parental worry,” he managed to say eventually and shrugged again. “At least she didn’t insist on coming with you. During my first actual holiday alone, my mother actually followed me without me knowing because she was so worried I would get into trouble.”

“Fuck, you serious?” Peter whistled and looked up, putting his phone back. “That’s tough.”

“Yeah, you bet I was quite surprised when I saw her in the hotel lobby one evening.” Tony laughed at the embarrassing memory. “I got the biggest scolding of my life for being drunk, even if I was just tipsy and didn’t do anything bad.”

“Good thing you can drink as much as you want now,” Peter grinned and winked. “I had a few beers while I was here too, pretty cool that you can drink it with sixteen here already.”

“Yeah, gives you a sense of freedom, doesn’t it?”

“And a huuuuge headache after the first time,” Peter laughed. “But it was good. I had lots of fun here and really wanna come back next year.”

“Yeah, I might too, but next time without meetings and annoing people,” Tony sighed. “Didn’t have an actual vacation in years. It’s really needed.”

They talked a bit more before their flight was called and they both got onto the plane. The first class was almost empty, so Peter simply sat down next to Tony and no one tried to stop him, given that the seat wasn’t booked anyway.

“God, there’s so much space!” Peter stretched his legs and didn’t even come close to the seat in front of him, whistling in appreciation. “I already love it!”

“One of the reasons I insist on flying first class,” Tony grinned and looked over. “Plus, no stress while boarding, good food and the flight attendants actually leave you alone when you look like you’re sleeping. No one’s going to bother you unless you ask them to or it’s time for food.”

“I feel like royalty, seriously!” Peter laughed, playing with his seat to the point he almost laid flat on it. Tony watched the boy with a gentle smile, it was lovely to see him to excited. Screw the money, it was worth spending it already, even if all they ended up doing was sleep through the flight.

Twent minutes later they were in the air and the flight attendant came over to offer them something to drink, explaining that whatever they would get was free, including souvenirs from the wagon. Peter was baffled and only managed to ask for a coke, while Tony got a coffee and some magazines to pass the time. He did have a book, but that one he already read through on his first flight, unfortunately.

As it turned out, the flight was absolutely pleasant. Tony and Peter talked for hours, even after the lights had already been dimmed so the others could sleep they continued, just more quiet. The flight was just eight hours and they had both slept in that morning, so they weren’t reall tired, even though it was a night flight.

Peter told Tony about school and living with his aunt, Tony talked about his job and the other trips he made - including one to Italy, which intrigued Peter a lot. He said he wanted to visit Italy so badly during his trip, but didn’t get the chance to do it sadly. Tony felt the mighty urge to buy Peter a ticket to Italy just so he could go as soon as they landed.

They were served breakfast around half an hour before landing and were still talking while eating. It really was the best flight Tony ever had and he was utterly sad when the flight attendants announced the landing.

When it was time to get off the plane, Peter stayed close to Tony until they got to pick up their luggage - due to their first class tickets it was much faster going through security luckily. Tony picked up his luggage first and waited for Peter to do the same. He dreaded actually leaving the airport, knowing he wouldn’t see this wonderful boy again.

Once they walked out of the arrival area, however, Peter suddenly took Tony’s hand and shook it before stepping on his toes to hug him. before he pulled back, he pressed a kiss onto Tony’s cheek, which actually made the man blush slightly. He looked at Peter as he grabbed the handle of his luggage again, a bright smile on his face.

“Thanks for the great flight, Tony,” he said sweetly and lifted a hand to wave at him. “I gotta go, my aunt is already waiting. Bye!”

Tony just waved back at the boy, unable to move and definitely blocking the exit because he didn’t move. He watched Peter run up to a woman, who hugged him tight and heard his wonderful laugh again, his heart aching at the sight. Only when someone bumped into him with a rude ‘Excuse me?’, Tony finally snapped back into reality and quickly left the area himself.

That was, when he noticed that he held something in his hand. Frowning and confused, he opened it, revealing a small folded note. Could it be? He unfolded the paper with shaky hands and stared at the writing on it, neat and pretty, just like the one who gave it to him. It contained a phone number, along with a small message that read:

Call me if you want to <3 Peter

Tony couldn’t wipe the smile off his face for the whole rest of the day.

#starker #ironspider #tony x peter #myfics #one shot #some cuteness i hope you will like

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lunaofthevalley · 6 years ago

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Talent Show Blues

Peter Parker x Reader

Plot: Y/N has stage fright, and Peter Parker knows how to comfort someone.

Type: Request.

Warnings: Panic Attack. @nxrsarah

You were standing backstage, right in the left wing, counting down the minutes until you were set to go on. Right now you were listening to Becky Linetti sing her heart out, or try to sing her heart out to Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You'. Sure she had a good voice, but not good enough to tackle that power ballad, her faltering voice and inability to reach the high notes were more than enough proof of the fact.

Midtown was hosting its annual school Talent show, which they always put on at the end of term. The cool thing was, the school gave a prize, it was always different, but good enough that every year every student wanted to take part, no matter how horrible or useless their talents were.

This year they were giving the winner and 3 of their selected friends an all expenses paid trip to the Coney Island fair, which sure wasn't that big of a deal, but it was a New Yorkers equivalent of DisneyLand in a sense. A dirtier, not that magical Disneyland.

You had never entered the contest before, and you never thought you would, due to you're stage fright. But you had been encouraged by your friends to try, to face your fear and try to get over it, but as you stood here now you noticed it was easier said than done. You weren't going to do something so out there, like Becky's singing or Mario's breakdancing. You would be playing piano, the sound of the small composition written by you would soon fill up the Midtown high auditorium and everyone present would hear.

It was too soon when the student helping backstage came to fetch you telling you it was you're turn to go on. You took a deep breath before stepping out onto the stage, the bright lights blinding you so much you could barely make out everyone that was present, which in a way helped calm your nerves, but not so much.

You walked to the piano that had been set out for you and sat down quickly, your gaze going down to its ivory and black keys and not to the crowded seats of the auditorium.

You took another deep breath before you started playing, the first few notes familiar in your ears, but soon the melodic sounds of the keys turned into light buzzing, your nerves getting the best of you, not allowing you to hear what you were playing.

You only performed for two minutes, but it had felt like an eternity. As soon as you had finished you stood up, gave a light bow and rushed of the stage.

You started to feel as if you couldn't breath and spots started to appear in your vision. You managed to make it to one of the unoccupied dressing rooms situated backstage, before you fell down against the wall, letting out quick breaths, tears staining your vision.

You didn't know how long it had been when you felt a pair of soft hands on your cheeks, lifting your head up, making your E/C eyes meet deep, chocolate brown ones.

Peter was speaking, but you couldn't hear him, just the very distant echo of his voice, but through his actions you managed to understand that he was telling you to regulate your breath so you did. It took a couple of minutes but you were back to normal. Tearwere still cascading down your face but you could now breath normally and hear Peter.

"Hey, every things alright. It's all over now. You did it, you managed to perform. And you were amazing." He reassured.

You were now leaning against him, your forehead resting on his shoulder, his hands softly caressing your back in a calming manner.

"As I was coming back here I heard someone say that you had played beautifully, and that the composition was amazing as well." He continued, "Also May told me to tell you that she thought you looked amazing, she thinks your hair looks nice when you wear it like you did tonight, and that you should do it more often. Oh and also that she thought your dress was nice, she thinks the color really compliments your skin."

You closed your eyes, the sound of Peter's rambling voice helped to tranquilize you, the heat radiating of his body making you inch slightly closer to him, making you become intoxicated with the musky scent of his cologne.

"-and then I told Ned that he shouldn't pressure you when he saw you 'cause I know you get nervous and worked up. I told him that even if you didn't win you would do amazing and plus we could go to Coney Island whenever we want. But Michelle shut us up and told us you were going to win, which I'm sure you are, you've been the best so far, don't understand how half the people that perform are even accepted to perform, some of them aren't even talents, like the guy that flipped the bottle, I mean sure it's cool but that was so last year, and don't get me started on-"

"Peter," you cut him off, "I really like listening to you speak...but can you just be quiet for a minute, please."

He didn't say anything after that, just continued caressing your back, his other hand lay limply on your waist as you now found yourself situated between his legs, your head still hidden in the nook were shoulder met neck, and his leaning against yours.

The room became silent, the only noise coming from the distant sound of the music that was playing and the occasional roar of cheering and clapping from the public. As every minute passed your senses became more intoxicated with what was the essence of Peter Parker.

The sound of his breathing and heartbeat combined and created a soft little melody in your ears. Your nose kept taking in his scent, which was something you absolutely adored. The soft patterns he created on your back made you shiver in the best way possible. And to feel his muscles trough his thin shirt made you feel safe, which was a feeling you cherished more now than ever.

After a few more minutes passed, you removed your head from his shoulder and turned to look at him. "Thank you Peter, I really needed that."

Peter just smiled at you, his hand coming to push back a stray hair away from your face and behind your ear. "You know I'm here for you always."

"I know."

"What do you say we go out to dinner after this s over, you, me, Ned, MJ and May. We can go down to that pizza place in little Italy, y'know that one you really like."

You nodded, "I'd really like that Peter."

"Then its settled."

It wasn't that long after that the show was over. Sadly, you didn't win, McKenna Rochester, a freshman, was declared a winner after delivering an amazing ballet performance. But all was good for you. You beat your fright, had a nice intimate moment with Peter and got to go out to dinner with the best people to the best place.

So, in reality, you had never felt more like a winner than you did that night.

PERM TAGS: @sighspidey @crist1216

#peter parker masterlist #peter parker imagine #peter parker x reader #peter parker fic #peter parker #tom holland x reader #tom holland #avenegrs x reader #avengers masterlist #avengers imagines #marvel imagine #marvel #mcu #avengers #lunawrites

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romancevsreality-blog · 7 years ago

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the bachelorette, season thirteen, episode seven: y’all, i think i invented a cult

WELCOME TO SWITZERLAND.

Rachel’s walking through the European streets, wearing a blazer, feeling herself. I’m very envious. Meanwhile, the four front-runners and Matt and Adam are sitting around in whatever sponsored hotel room ABC got them this time discussing how they’re a week away from hometowns. I get filled with dread because y’all know I think hometowns are the most boring episode of the season, followed by The People Tell All, the most boring reunion episode of all the reunion episodes1. Rachel literally walks in looking like Olivia Pope in an all-white outfit.

I commend anyone for wearing an all-white outfit. Seriously. I wore this to a party a month ago and wound up covered in dirt, red wine, and god-knows what other kinds of fluids.

It was a great fucking night.

She hugs four guys and two complete strangers, and she’s here to switch it up. There’s no rose ceremony - instead, there are three one-on-ones, and a three-on-one, and depending on how those go, some guys will get roses (and we know who) and some guys won’t (Matt and Adam, two guys who just stumbled into the room). She tells Bryan to suit the fuck up because they’re heading out on their one-on-one. All the guys are straight shook because he gets more time with her.

Rachel and Bryan are going on a “high-end date”, which in New York (or pretty much anywhere in the world) usually implies that the girl is getting some kind of monetary compensation for spending her time with a male companion. But no, Rachel’s taking Bryan out in a god damn Bentley. THIS IS WHAT BENTLEYS ARE USED FOR - ridiculous situations of reality television dating shows. You don’t take a Bentley to Kroger for milk, that’s what the Benz is for. They’re going to be driving around Geneva in this car, and for a second I was like, “wait, why is Rachel getting into the right side of the car, don’t they drive on the left in Switzerland?!” and then shots of horrible car accidents ran through my brain. But no, fun fact:

They drive on the right side of the road in some European countries!!!!!!!2 THIS IS BRAND NEW INFORMATION TO ME. And then I realized that in my semester abroad in Prague, they also drove on the right side of the road, and I have confirmation that I am, in fact, a fucking idiot3.

Since they’re in Switzerland, they do as the Swiss do - go and try on expensive-ass watches. Rachel treats them to $8k watches4 - or really, they’re sponsored gifts that they’ll forget to write off on their taxes next year - and Bryan kisses her in front of the watch guy. Bryan is so extra. They then drink champagne and go on a romantic boat ride.

We’re then treated to the most screen time Matt or Adam have gotten all season, and it’s mostly them talking about how jealous they are that the other guys. It’s literally two minutes of them talking because if it went on any longer, it basically becomes a lullaby. Basically, Adam’s jealous and envious and Matt’s like, “Imma relish all the time I get because Rachel pretty much forgot to eliminate me.” Dean, meanwhile, basically calls Bryan old, washed-up, fake, and from Miami. He says Miami in such a manner that you know it’s some shade. Neither he or Peter think that Bryan’s anything more than just a charmer.

Because he is. We get a scene of Bryan and Rachel swooning and smooching with champagne and I gag.

Back at the hotel, there’s a FUCKIN DATE CARD, WHAT

It goes to My New Boyfriend Dean5. He looks at Adam and says, “Don’t shoot me.” Because Adam IS PISSED.

Rachel has changed into a gorgeous white gown and they go to a romantic dinner in Victoria Hall. Rachel’s concerned that Bryan seems to be too good to be true, BECAAAAAUSE HE IS. We learn that Bryan’s last girlfriend didn’t get along with his mother, and that’s the reason that they broke up after going to a wedding in Colombia. She broke up with him because of his mom.

RED

FUCKING

FLAG

FLYING IN THE AIR

BLOWING AWAY IN THE WIND

THIS FLAG IS SO BIG YOU CAN SEE IT FROM SPACE

My very first relationship was with a man who had a very bad relationship with his mother. The man who sexually assaulted me had a tense relationship with his mother. My second relationship had a very close relationship with his mother. My third and fourth? Just right. Perfect amount. Date someone who likes their mother greatly and has great things to say about them but also can speak truthfully about who they are as a person. Date someone who sees their mother as a person, really. Do not date a man who has a bad relationship with their mother, and do not date a man who is far too close with their mother, because those two things will manifest themselves in your relationship in some way. You want someone who likes their mother and remembers her birthday.

If Bryan’s mother is the reason his last girlfriend broke up with him, then RUN AWAY, RACHEL. RUN RUN RUN RUN.

Bryan gets a fucking rose.

Rachel gets to wear the best clothes. Can I get that robin's egg blue trench coat she wears on her date with Dean? The two of them are going to church at a French Catholic mass, which...

WHAT KIND OF DATE IS THIS?

If any guy asked me to go to church on our first date I would ask what cult he was asking me to join, and what their demands on my body would be. If it’s like, grow a million children in your uterus and sell them into sex slavery, no thank you. If it’s like, shave your head and dance in the subway stations, no thank you. If it’s like, smoke weed, talk about pizza, and the idea of skepticism or making a list Hall of Famers for various industries… Okay. I’m on board with that.

Did I just invent a cult?

I get it, I’m one of the rare black people with zero interest in religion, God, or anything having to do with it. It’s not that I don’t believe, it’s just that whether or not it all exists has zero impact on my life. Imma keep doing me even if Jesus comes back and starts a breakdancing troupe. It’s hard not to see the things done in His name and not get disheartened sometimes, you know? I just can’t imagine that the big dude up there would be cool with a lot of shit people are trying to justify because of him. And that’s my issue to deal with myself and no one else. Don't @ me.

But faith is important to Rachel, so it’s nice to see some blatant religion on my television. With Master of None and The Big Sick’s beautiful portrayals of being both Muslim and.. you know, people, I think we need to do some normalization of all religions in pop culture and media. Maybe that’s just me. Rachel needs to find someone who shares the same values - I get it, it’s important to me that my boyfriend doesn’t get upset when I say “men are trash” because it’s not a direct attack on him, I’m just a misandrist - and they seem to have a nice time.

Rachel and Dean talk about how gorgeous it is on a Sunday in Geneva. Apparently, Aspen has a lot of Swiss influence, which is great. Dean is feeling conflicted about his “untraditional” family and how Rachel will take the information. Dean is v. closed off. They sit down to drinks and Rachel literally tries to get Dean to talk about his feelings. Dean’s not having it, though. Rachel wishes their relationship could have more depth.

Back at the hotel,

THERE’S A DATE CARD.

Of course, it goes to Peter.

Of course, Adam is pissed.

Bryan, Dean, and Peter are the front-runners, and Eric, Adam, and Matt are in the bottom of the boat looking for scraps.

Meanwhile, Rachel and Dean go to dinner, and Dean says that the day has been “Weird”. Rachel calls him out for trying to laugh his way out of the issue, and Dean basically admits that he really likes her a LOT a lot. His dad was a Fun Dad instead of being an Emotionally Supportive Dad. His dad is.. “Eccentric”, which frightens me. Has anyone been described as “eccentric” positively? It breaks my heart when he says that he wishes she could meet the family that existed before his mother died instead of the family that “abandoned” him when he was his most vulnerable.

Damn, Dean. Coming in with the hard stuff.

Rachel’s like, “Yo, I got my family, I don’t want yours. We can be our own family.” Rachel’s great. She all but quotes RuPaul when she talks about meeting the people who made him who he is - y’all, your family is who you choose it to be. DNA ain’t shit.

Dean gets a rose.

Peter and Rachel meet in a literal field and it’s glorious. They’re going on a helicopter ride to the Swiss Alps. I love helicopter ride dates because you know the producers couldn’t come up with anything else to do. Sorry, y’all, but Rachel looks at Peter differently than she does anyone else. At one point she rests her head on his shoulder in this way that’s so comfortable and natural I screamed. They go fucking dog SLEDDING, and I wondered when the last time I went sledding was, much like yesterday when I realized it is summer and I have yet to eat a single peach.

Sometimes the world is unjust.

I WANNA GO DOG SLEDDING.6 That is the only thing I would enjoy doing outside in this much snow. I went to school next to a lake. I no longer trust snow. Rachel and Peter sit and talk about his “dark days”, days when he was feeling unsure and wanting to leave. Rachel’s done a great job this season of really taking into mind the guys’ experience on the other end, having experienced it herself - I truly think she may be the first lead on this show to acknowledge doing so - but she’s happy he didn’t leave. Me too. They make out in the snow. Oh, honey, no. Too cold.

At dinner, Rachel asks Peter if he’s dated a black girl before, and he’s like, Nah, I’ve never dated a black WOMAN before and I screamed.

I literally screamed.7

Their relationship seems so real. Like, the fact that he goes, “Do you have any other questions?” after openly and honestly answering the initial ones goes so far and above Dean’s (charming) goofiness that masks his inability to open up to her and Bryan’s cornballishness just says a lot about him as a person, and about their relationship. He promises to be honest with her all the way - yes, it’s weird that you’re expected to propose to someone you barely know, but that’s what you signed up for? - and that honesty frightens Rachel, because she doesn’t want to get to the end and have him still be unsure.

I get it. No one wants to be Juan Pablo’d. No one wants to get to the end and not get a ring. But what’s so bad about being like, “I wanna date you because I see a future here but I’m just not ready, but honey, Imma buy you the biggest ring in like six months,” right? I’m conflicted. I mean, why not just do what Kaitlyn and Shawn are doing and get engaged for the show but really just resume dating for a while after the show? They seem to be in zero rush to get married, ABC contract be damned.

Anyway - Peter gets a rose. It is deserved.

The next day, the remaining guy and Matt and Adam are sitting around, talking about how rough the day will be for them. Eric, who had a one-on-one literally last week, is upset that he didn’t get another one. Has any contestant gotten two one-on-ones in a row? I don’t think so. Sit down, Eric.

Rachel’s outfit for the three-on-one is… ruff. Ruff Stuff. She is somehow both wearing a crop top and a winter coat. What is the weather here? The top is made from sweater material. Hrmmmmmmm. Anyway, they’re getting on a boat to France! They arrive at Chȃteau de Courdrée in Sciez-sur-Léman, France, where they’re going to have a four-way picnic? Adam gives a toast that’s kind of bizarre, but then again, I know nothing about Adam.

Rachel takes Eric aside first, and Eric does the usual “talk at you - tell you what I think you are” thing that Josiah did. Rachel talks about how she needs to be selfish in this but it’s difficult for her, and he’s like, “Well, life is hard.” BITCH SHE KNOWS BUT SHE’S STRUGGLING. I don’t like him. Meanwhile, Matt’s turn with Rachel comes along, and who is this person and why has he not been featured on the show more? He seems to be like a great, noble dude. He talks about how he wants her to be happy, and how it would be great if he could be the source of that, but if he can’t, that’s alright.

Fuck Lee, again, because if it weren’t for Lee’s antics, we would have gotten to know Matt. And Matt seems great. Rachel gets hella emotional when talking to him. Like, more emotional than she got sending Kenny home. She is snot-crying because she sees so much of herself in him and she holds him dearly in her heart and in any different scenario, they’d probably have a chance. She basically tells him she’s sending him home because he’s too normal to fall in love with on reality television, as seen by his non-edit. Matt gets kisses on the lips on his way out, which to me, is the most curious thing. Rachel really does seem crushed. WHERE WAS THIS ALL SEASON?

I WOULD HAVE MUCH PREFERRED TO SEE MATT AND RACHEL’S RELATIONSHIP DEVELOP INSTEAD OF RACISM FOR THREE WEEKS. WHAT IS THIS?

So the final rose comes down to Eric and some other guy we know that isn’t getting the rose. The two men sit down to dinner with Rachel, and Adam takes her aside first. He flat out asks her if he sees a chance for the two of them to fall in love, and she’s like, “well, yeah, I forgot to eliminate you, so….” I literally zoned out during their entire conversation. I really did. I even went back and rewound and zoned out again. They talked about stuff and his family. He talks about how great their relationship is and I’m sincerely like WHO ARE YOU, STRANGER?

Meanwhile, we learn that Eric’s home life wasn’t great - he was raised in a rough neighborhood and dealt with a lot of drugs and prison and all of that. He tries to help people instead of taking care of himself. Eric’s never brought a girl home, which is alarming.

The two guys return to the table we saw before, and Rachel gives Eric the rose. Adam is disappointed, but not surprised. And then he tries to mansplain her decision by being like, “I hope you didn’t make a mistake.” and then she thanks him for being there, which I have said on dates where I knew I was never going to call that dude again. He claims she made a big mistake but, like, dude. How do we know that?!

Anyway, Eric seems shocked, but Rachel tells him it’s an honor to get to go home and meet his family. I love her.

We get a wonderful montage of Rachel talking about how humbled she is by the entire experience and that her hopes are high because... it seems to be working.

Get it, girl.

Next Week: Rachel followed her gut and she’s ready to have something deep with these guys. Next week looks sexy. Dean’s dad literally has a beard and a turban and Dean cries. Peter has walls up with Rachel, and Peter’s mom throws shade. Rachel’s sister doesn’t think Bryan’s sincere.

See you next week!

Random Assessments from the Desk of Amanda:

Ever since I pointed out that Matt looks like Mark Brendanawicz I literally can’t see anything else.

FUCK THE PRODUCERS (yet again) for misleading us into thinking Peter made Rachel cry.

My friend Alicia pointed out Rachel’s eyelashes and how phenomenal they are and I can’t unsee. They’re clearly fake but whoever got them on her did the lord’s work.

I was taking notes and looking at the screen and I seriously was like “Why are they showing that pepper? Oh. That’s the rose.”

Peter wins, right? Peter has to win. He’s gonna win. He got the “bump in a road” edit. COME ON.

We got an acknowledge of Copper in the credits, y’all. He’s okay.

Oh my god, that credits scene was my favorite thing. More poop conversations, please. Rachel poops with the door open - she’s just like us!

And I would know. My Official Ranking of Best Reunion Episodes: 1) Real Housewives of New York, Season 3. 2) Real Housewives of Orange County, Season 9 tied with Real Housewives of Orange County, Season 5. 3) RuPaul’s Drag Race, Season 9 4) Real Housewives of DC (there was only one season, a true tragedy.) 5) Real Housewives of Atlanta, Season 6 tied with Season 9, tied with whichever reunion Kim pretended she had cancer for 5 minutes in. All the rest can go in the garbage. ↩︎

Bless the creators of this website. ↩︎

In my defense… I have almost no recollection of my first three days in Prague. Time differences are a bitch when you nap as much as I do. ↩︎

To me, a watch is actually a really intimate gift. Something about the metaphor of time passing, but also because it’s a serious investment. It’s something that’s literally built to last. Any kind of gift given that's tangible and meant to be worn, to me, is like... srs bizness. ↩︎

I have a lot of Boyfriends from this franchise - Alex, Ben Zorn and formerly Wells. Wells and I broke up over his continued association with the biggest misogynist this franchise ever produced - Ashley Iaconetti. Ben Zorn is my Hot Hunky boyfriend because I would like to climb him like the tree he is and he has a cute dog. Dean woke as hell. Dean is my Practical, Savvy, Geeky Boyfriend. Alex is the boyfriend who probably has Russian mob ties and that’ll come in handy because I have a lot of enemies. Also, he lives in my hometown, so it’ll be nice to be able to see my mom more often. ↩︎

Speaking of dogs, where the fuck is Copper. Was Copper not allowed to come abroad?! WHO IS TAKING CARE OF COPPER’S LEG. ↩︎

It says so much about the state of society that I'm freaking out that a grown-man called a woman a woman. ↩︎

#the bachelorette #the bachelorette recap #Reality Tv Recap #tv recap #rachel lindsay #y'all sartorial choices are important to me #someone once told me i can't use y'all #i am an advocate for the second person plural #y'alls for everybody #i am delivering opinion on opinion on opinion #real housewives

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thegazeofficial-blog · 8 years ago

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Our Favorite Videos of 2016

“I Am Chemistry” - Yeasayer

Released: January 7, 2016

Director(s): New Media Limited

Hunter: Okay. First of all, just look at this whole giving birth scene in the first 30 seconds of the video.

Kirk: They’re like “Hi, if you can’t handle this weird-ass claymation imagery, stop watching now.”

H: That’s the real allure of this video. What’s claymation and what’s digital animation? I don’t understand what I’m watching which automatically gives this video a psychedelic edge, but then it just gets weirder and continues to make sure I have no idea what’s happening.

K: It’s a great marriage of song and video. It made me like the song. I don’t even know how to describe what we’re watching except for we’re in some other-worldly acid trip. It’s very Adult Swim “Off the Air” stuff.

H: Yeah, don’t do drugs, but if you ever do drugs and proceed to watch music videos, pick this one.

K: No, do drugs. We’re condoning drugs. A smoking sesh would definitely be good for this video.

H: Well, we do get some interesting lights and dancing, which are common ingredients for a good music video, but what really sold me on this video is the amount of detail. I can’t even break it down to describe it in a meaningful way because there’s just so much going on.

K: Yeah! That’s what makes it great! Whoever made this music video... I don’t know what I’m looking at, and that’s true psychedelia. Like who are you? What’s happening? Can I join your cult? These are the questions I’m thinking.

“Chasing Shadows” - Santigold

Released: January 15, 2016

Director: Elliot Lester

H: Umm.. first of all, looks.

K: Looks!!! She’s so effortlessly cool. I love all of her looks... Like yes, work getting that orange juice from the convenience store, girl. I wish I looked like that when I was just running errands. I love the color schemes. It’s nice to see videos that embrace lots of colors.

H: I think people stay away from color because it’s hard to do well, but she knows exactly how to execute it well. I love this aestheticization of mundane everyday activities, causing you to read into them more.

K: I also love that it’s Christmas in this video, which continues to allow it to have lots of lights and be very colorful.

H: Yeah, she’s living this middle-class housewife fantasy, although it’s very dystopian. She’s always alone. Never happy. Just has her TV to keep her company...

K: And it’s actually just static on the screen...

H: Nobody’s at her dinner party. And in this one scene, she appears like a giant in this suffocatingly small room. I feel like she’s giving us this commentary on the emptiness of the “American Dream” sold to women..

K: I agree. And it’s just enforced in everything. The clawfoot bathtub, the classic beehive hairdo, that 50′s mod dress... everything.

H: Yeah, it’s all very... “look how unfulfilling the aspirations of femininity our society prescribes to women are.”

“Chasing Shadows,” is that like a thing? Is that like a phrase people say or did she make it up?

K: It’s a thing. It’s like Peter Pan... chasing something you can’t catch.

H: Oh... well yeah. Then there you go.

(Both laugh)

H: *sighs* Well, here it is then, the American Dream.

K: She’s got great decorating skills though...

H: Yeah, honestly I wouldn’t be that mad...

“Kill V. Maim” - Grimes

Released: January 19, 2016

Director(s): Claire Boucher & Mac Boucher

K: I don’t even have time to unpack all of the imagery that’s happening in this video. It’s like a post-modern... iconoclast.. like mish-mash of everything that Grimes is, and I’m obsessed with it. Let’s just say what she’s giving us. She’s giving me “Akira.” She’s giving me anime. She’s giving me “Kill Bill.” She’s giving me like... 60′s samurai movie? What else? It’s goth... It’s grunge... It’s 90′s rave... She’s giving us 80′s sci-fi... She’s giving us like Dolly Parton meets Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson... She’s like “Oh yeah, also here’s my art! Also, I directed this video! Also, I styled this whole thing!”

H: It’s steampunk... it’s vampires... My favorite part of this new era of Grimes is that it’s a very hyperbolized version of what she was before. So she really is just giving us all of the elements of Grimes in a big way.

K: If there was ever any restraint to Grimes, it’s gone. As someone who’s a filmmaker and who has a very specific inner world, I’m really inspired by Grimes. She takes everything she loves, throws it on the wall, and is like “Screw it. I’m going to include everything that I’m about.”

H: This mosh pit rave is such a a great ecstatic moment. I love the idea of this small white girl aestheticizing her aggression and highlighting this violent part of human nature in an artistic way that most people choose to neglect.

K: I love how bloody it is. She was definitely a goth in high school that would secretly listen to Mariah Carey and wouldn’t tell her friends.

H: It’s really every goth/emo nerds’ dream. I want to live in this video. It hits on a lot of subcultures that don’t get addressed by other pop artists... Look at those “Legend of Zelda” hearts on the top of the screen! Like, c’mon! There’s so many amazing outfits... like this guy in the same visor that Beyoncé wore in her “7/11″ video....

K: There’s also really only 3 or 4 settings... As a filmmaker, it shows you can make a great video with limited resources. This video probably didn’t cost that much to make.

H: Aside from the “Mad Max” caravan through some Tokyo-esque city, we’re really just getting a lot of fun dancing in great costumes in like 3-4 settings... and that’s all you need when it comes to music videos! Exhibit A.

“Wedding” - Poliça

Released: January 28, 2016

Director: Ryan Kron Thompson

K: Okay, obviously this comes off as a Sesame Street/Muppet-esque kids show. It’s even shot in full screen like an old TV show.

H: Yeah, I think it’s very much in vain of all the other forms of 90′s nostalgia that are trendy right now.

K: It’s like a dark beautiful PSA for the youth. They’re telling them things kids need to know, like police need a warrant to search you. I mean, these are things that I/any of us need to remember.

H: It’s very effective taking the format of a typically wholesome educational kids show and giving us some hard truths, especially for people of color. It’s like why doesn’t this already exist? Oh yeah, because mainstream media is tailored for a white audience.

K: The police brutality... The gas coming over them... I can’t handle this... But then again it still has kind of funny moments like Sesame Street. The juxtaposition helps with the dark undertones of the video.

H: It’s depressing, but these are conversations that should be normalized. I like how frantic and disorganized it is at the end. It takes it back to the idea that this is revolutionary subversive rebellion, even though the original presentation is very tame.

“Formation” - Beyoncé

Released: February 6, 2016

Director: Melina Matsoukas

K: What can I say that hasn’t already been said about this video? What’s cool is that this came out before Lemonade, and we’re getting introduced to this Southern Imagery. “Formation” is much more a portrait of New Orleans over the other videos in Lemonade though. From the opening shot with the police car, the mardi gras wear, the wig shop... we get to see a profile of the people of New Orleans.

H: A post-Katrina New Orleans, which really isn’t talked about enough. My main take away from Formation/Lemonade was how powerful the images were of Beyoncé occupying spaces that black women’s narratives are usually excluded from.

The swimming pool scene originally got me thinking about this, because it gave me a visual that forced me to think harder about what it was like back when public pools were segregated, and then about all of the other disgusting aspects of antebellum Southern culture in general.

And Beyoncé asserting the power of a black woman’s narrative continues throughout Lemonade. In the “Don’t Hurt Yourself” video, Beyoncé is this badass that you don’t want to cross in this parking garage, and it’s a total flip of the script of the way I, and probably most femme-identifying people, feel in parking garages, which is vulnerable to attack. I think it totally highlights the relationship between women and violence in that setting in a subversive af way.

Although the “Formation” parking lot scene did seem kind of random alongside all the other scenes from this video...

K: It captures a more modern mode of black representation, like 90′s hip-hop video. it’s trying to cover lots of different ground all at once which helps it be a good intro to Lemonade. The little boy breakdancing in front of the SWAT team is some of the most powerful imagery of the whole video. It’s so bold for Beyoncé.

H: That scene is amazing because it’s surface-level controversial, because nobody wants to talk about the way people of color and police are interacting, but it’s actually very sweet and pacifist, because they end up dancing and putting their hands up

K: On a superficial level, the looks and choreography and the aesthetic are all amazing and visually entertaining.

H: Oh, yeah. And there’s that.

“So Much It Hurts” - Niki & the Dove

Released: February 11, 2016

Directors: Gustavo Torres & Clara Luzian

K: I just want to say, as someone with tattoos of pixelated palm trees on their arms, that this video is everything to me. This is my dream pop dream come true. When I’m stoned in bed, this is the world I want to live in. Everything about this video is 80′s to tee from the old school supernintendo style imagery... the Tron-esque CGI...

H: The neon cityscapes... the record player... It’s also kinda giving us Windows ‘95 screensaver... It doesn’t matter what’s going on in this video, because it’s all aesthetic af.

K: Just make sure to include me going “Ugh! UGHHH!” a million times.

H: My favorite scenes are these psychedelic transition scenes with the shooting stars in the background, I’m a sucker for that kind of thing. Then, I love love love that she briefly emerges in one of those scenes as a neon power-ballad singing diva.

K: I think it’s a cool choice that she’s barely in the video. They concentrate their time on maximizing the amount of cheesy 80′s vibes. I love that it knows it, owns it, and pushes it.

H: Yes, and it’s funny how It seems like it’s going to tell a story in the beginning with these pairs of legs, but it’s mainly like let’s just party and dance.

“Upside Down & Inside Out” - OK Go

Released: February 11, 2016

Directors: Damian Kulash Jr. & Trish Sie

H: You can hate on it all you want, but OK Go are a band who really invests in their music videos, and that’s clearly what we’re about.

K: It’s just all so precious and kitschy, but they do do a certain thing that nobody else does... I’m just not a huge fan. It’s not like they hugely influenced music videos, they’re just known specifically for doing this sort of thing.

H: I disagree. The “Here It Goes Again” video was hugely influential in the aspect that it got a lot of people talking about that music video. People who wouldn’t normally watch music videos. They definitely have mastered the art of creating something visual for their music, even if it’s not high art or using the cinematographic tools you admire/respect.

Of the two videos they released in 2016, I like this one more because the zero gravity allows them to create really original and exciting visuals. I don’t really like it when they spend half the video explaining the technique behind it’s creation.

K: I don’t care if it costs $20 million to make, if I don’t care about its aesthetic, then I just don’t care. That’s how I feel about them. It’s all very silly and like “Whoaaa! What are they gonna do next???”

H: ...it’s good.

(laughter)

K: It is impressive. No other comment.

“Voodoo in My Blood” - Massive Attack & Young Fathers

Released: February 23, 2016

Director: Andrzej Żuławski

H: Okay, who is this woman again?

K: Rosemund Pike. She’s probably best known as the woman from Gone Girl. Massive Attack is still huge in the U.K. and so it’s badass that they could have this Oscar-nominated actress to be in this weird/dark as f*ck video.

H: Yes, I love that it all takes place in the same setting of this underground train station, yet it’s fully enthralling. It makes me wonder more about the story, like what is the world above this? Where was she coming from? Where is she going?

K: The lighting, the colors, and her outfit are all great, but what really makes it work is her acting. She gives it some Oscar-level commitment for this weird sci-fi Massive Attack video that totally sells it. I love this abandoned underground London tunnel and this weird-ass avant-garde dance... I’m pretty sure this is drawing inspiration from this scene in Possession. God bless whoever choreographed this. This is like how I dance alone in my room because I have no dance moves.

H: The dancing’s my favorite part! I like the lack of control, such a beautiful aspect of dance, being connected to something violent and lack of control in a very dark dystopian way. The way she’s slamming against everything and sweaty and fearful and joyous at times... It really amplifies the song. It’s enticing in a violent and beautiful way.

K: The video really makes me like the song. It’s almost like the soundtrack that’s killing it to this very cinematic scene. It’s bringing cinematography to music videos, and not as many people are doing conceptual videos these days.

H: We’re getting some serious Black Mirror realness. It really makes you think about technology even if you don’t know what you’re thinking about it, but it’s fine because it’s also just pleasant and interesting to watch.

“Ablaze” - School of Seven Bells

Released: March 28, 2016

Director: Alan Del Rio Ortiz

K: So more straight music video aesthetic, but like... deal with it! Sad girl goes out in a shoegaze dream to a tee. It’s just like... us.

H: “Sad girl” is always my favorite aesthetic, which is why I’m obsessed with this. To me it is so similar to Lana Del Rey’s “Video Games” video of her just singing but chopped up with all of this other imagery that fully embellishes on her aesthetic, but this is more of what I actually vibe with. It even has a blooming flower like the “Video Games” video... like, c’mon! I just want to have this song playing in my headphones as I’m riding the bus home late at night under the influence and staring out at the city while being pensive/sad.

K: I’m more into when she’s being sad in her bed, but with the cool lights on her...

H: I mean... that is what you’re into... but what I’M into is about being sad out on the town and drowning in the city.

K: Yeah, you’re a little younger than me... but you’ll get to where I’m at one day. Going out on the town does kind of have a cinematic feeling in real life too though. It’s mundane, but it makes you feel like your life is exciting and beautiful. It’s cool to see that captured.

H: I feel like this is tumblr youth culture to a tee right now, and it’s brilliant because it’s like... of course this is in existence, but it hasn’t been done quite to this level yet.

K: Yeah, it’s on the nose in the best way. What I love about nostalgia and throwbacks is that you can take all the elements that we connect to and you can put them back together again... like a shoegaze Humpty Dumpty.

“Your Best American Girl” - Mitski

Released: April 13, 2016

Director: Zia Anger

K: Tears streamed down my face the first time I watched this. I was so broken up by a breakup tbh...

H: Same! Well, not the tears part, but...

K: Like this is my moment of 2016... Yas, Mitski. Yas!

H: My moment of this video is when...

K: I don’t care! I want to talk about my moment first!

H: Lol. Okay!

K: My moment is watching her kiss herself while they kiss each other, and it’s passionate and she’s like feeling it too!

H: Yes. It’s such a self-love testament. Even if it is out of spite or heartbreak. Which brings me to my favorite part, which is just after that scene when it flashes to her in the gold dress, and she’s smirking like she’s plotting something, and then BOOM! The guitar comes in, and she’s striking her guitar. For me that takes the pain-turned-self-love moment to a whole other level, because she’s like “Y’all are over there f*cking, and I’m sad about it, but I’m going make some badass art out of it.”

K: Yeah, like “I’m going to make music, and be one of the best new artists of 2016. Byeee!”

The song is all about feeling like you don’t fit into this American couple paradigm, being mixed race, and we see this appropriative white girl wrapping herself and the boy in an American flag, further isolating Mitski from them and what being American entails. The separation is very distinct, because Mitski and the couple are never in the same shot until towards the end. Then Mitski’s like “I’m going to rock being outside of that. I don’t need y’all,” even though it still sucks.

The video concept is everything. We feel things, and we’re not even people of color. Plus, this video probably cost nothing to make, but it’s so layered and conveys so much.

“Daydreaming” - Radiohead

Released: May 6, 2016

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

K: The reason I like this video is because he always looks like he thinks he knows where he’s going in each of these settings, but he’s still sort of lost. It’s like this metaphor for life. He knows which door to go to, but he never knows what’s behind each door.

H: I mean... it’s a statement for sure. I respect it as an art piece, but I’m just like... if I have to watch him go through another gd door, I’m going to kill myself.

K: It’s so beautiful. Here’s a music video that is trying to be high art, like going to Cannes-shit. I like that it’s trying to be more than just a music video. It’s kind of like a film. It’s about his performance. Not to mention that it’s shot beautifully and it’s directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, which is cool that he’s still directing music videos even though he’s this highly accomplished director.

It makes you think about life being a series of choices, and that’s it. He’s never truly interested in anything even if it’s a surprising setting. It’s about knowing exactly where you’re going but simultaneously being lost. He’s not trying that hard, and it just ends in him dying.

I just have shivers for 4 minutes straight. i don’t even have much to say.

H: I appreciate the artistry being brought forth. I did feel things. It’s just a little... boring?

K: It’s not boring! It has momentum! It becomes more frantic, and you can see the discomfort in his face.

H: Okay, it’s an amazing powerful video. It’s just not a video I would go back and watch over and over again.

K: Okay, but this brings us to a broad philosophical question, which is that are things only good if they can be rewatched over and over again? Because I think some of my favorite films are films that I would never watch again. That’s what I like about it. Music videos tend to be fun and rewatchable, and it’s kind of cool to watch a video that is pushing the envelope more in an artistic direction. It’s not fun to watch, because it makes me feel things that aren’t super fun, but the level of thoughtfulness is way higher than most videos.

H: I do think it’s amazing. You’re right. That’s not sarcasm.

K: Okay.

“Easy” - Hinds

Released: May 18, 2016

Director: John Strong

K: Another great example of a cheap, easy...

H: EASY! Wink, wink...

K: ...easily made video.

H: I already like the smeared mascara looks. This whole sad party rocker girl that’s not here for your physical enjoyment is already pretty punk rock

K: Yeah, that could have been the whole video, and I still would have enjoyed it. They’re pretty girls too, but “let’s have streamed mascara because f*ck you.” Then they keep flipping the switch, because it’s basically a series of closeups with these revolving shots. Then UNH. Each time, we’re like “what is happening?” I love this spaghetti mouth look.

H: She’s like “I don’t give a f*ck if we’re gross.” They have cake and spaghetti coming out of their mouths, and as if that wasn’t enough, she slurps it back into her mouth!

K: Then there’s this girl smoking, which could also be considered not very feminine. They’re like stoner chicks. It’s such a video that Wavves or someone like that would do, but it’s so much punk rock that a group of girls are like “Hey, we’re stoner punks too, and we can be gross and smear shit on our faces all we want.” When they have the dicks and the post-party shit all over their faces is when the video really sold me.

H: And her vomiting as she’s singing! They just further keep on deconstructing their appearance. Each time emphasized by the trick of eye light flickers. So punk rock.

“When It Rain” - Danny Brown

Released: June 14, 2016

Director: Mimi Cave

H: We have interesting dancing, psychedelic special effects, and a cool VHS-filter... enough said.

K: It’s like video art. It’s got a great color palette. The dancing is cool. It’s also this portrait of Detroit. He’s like this fairly famous rapper, and it’s like he’s still presenting his real life in Detroit. That’s what I love about him. He’s keeping it real while keeping it very aesthetic at the exact same time.

H: I think Danny Brown’s iconic for not conforming to white-normative standards of what rap should be. He really keeps things at an avant-garde intellectual level.

K: Yes, he’s like “Yeah, I sold crack in Detroit,” but he’s still very intellectual, knows a lot about music, knows a lot about film, literally named his new album after a Joy Division album. He’s just very well-versed in everything. He understands hip-hop, understands the avant-garde, understands art, and just mixes them together.

H: I think it is really powerful. In my Beyonce/Rihanna feminism course I took, we talked a lot about how Rihanna embraces “ratchet aesthetics” and how that’s a subversive political tactic against white-normative media..

K: Especially because we have all these white consumers of hip-hop, we see this delineation between ratchet/gangster rap and “intellectual” mainstream-consumable hip-hop, and I feel like Danny Brown is like “I can do both, because both are just as important as the other. 2001′s A Space Odyssey is just as cool as Soulja Boy.

“Car” - Porches

Released: June 27, 2016

Director: Daniel Brereton

K: Okay, so basically this is my everything...

H: It’s very white people. That’s how I feel when I watch Porches’ videos.

K: But it’s good white people art. This is what I want white people art to be. I love it. I love his outfit. I love how self-serious and goofy they are at the same time. I love this 80′s/90′s setup, like we’re on a photo shoot with all the wires, but It’s also kind of like we’re in a museum.

H: Yeah, I like anything that gives me Andy Warhol’s Factory vibes. I love that idea of this performance art space that can be anything, and here they are performing in it. It’s like a GAP commercial’s take on The Factory.

K: Well, it’s produced by Urban Outfitters, so that’s pretty spot on. I love it. It’s just everything I want. It’s so much.

“Shut Up Kiss Me” - Angel Olsen

Released: June 29, 2016

Director: Angel Olsen

H: C’mon, tinsel wig!!

K: I just love how playful this video is. She’s hanging out of her vintage car in a letterman jacket. She’s at a roller rink. She’s skating around with those balloons...

H: It’s like classic video girl, but in an ironic way. She’s like “I’m in a tinsel wig, so I’m clearly not seriously trying to be this video girl.”

K: Right, there’s something very ridiculous about the whole thing. Look how pouty she is. I also love that it looks like it was shot on film. It’s just really pretty to look at.

H: I like her constantly acknowledging the camera. I feel like that’s kind of the whole point of this video, her being like “Am I the girl that you want yet? Clearly I can be the girl that you want me to be, but I’m trying to be Angel Olsen, so like can I live?” The continued eye contact just sends this “Are you entertained yet? ‘Casue I’m over it” vibe.

K: It’s very comedic in an old school silly way. Juxtaposing this with what she was before this album also adds power to it. Most of her songs/videos are very restrained but sad.

And then in case you haven’t caught on yet, she gives you the whole point of the video at the end with “Do you feel this attitude or...?”

“Nikes” - Frank Ocean

Released: August 19, 2016

Director: Tyrone Lebon

H: How many times are we going to say “90′s VHS filter?” Clearly that was a major trend in 2016′s music videos, and we fell for it every time.

Ugh. He’s so hot, and I want this white bedazzled bodysuit.

K: Ugh, yes, Frank. The eyeliner... Wear it every day. I bet it took days to get all that glitter off. It’s powerful to see a popstar be so feminine.

H: That’s what I love about this video. I feel like when Frank Ocean came out as bi, he kind of became this LGBT icon that he never really asked to be. Whether or not he asked for it, he’s very important to pop culture. People expect greatness from him, and he’s really owning it and stepping up to the title in this video. He’s very playful with his sexuality and masculine/feminine sides. He’s got glitter. He’s got eyeliner. He has naked bodies of people of different genders.

And as if this video wasn’t already political, he includes Trayvon Martin, and it’s just so good! This video highlights a lot of black people and seemingly working class people, including sex workers, which is really refreshing, especially in such an avant-garde way. Frank is here for black representation. He’s here for queer representation. This video really just highlights what all the hype over Frank Ocean is about, and why it’s justified.

K: Oh my god. I forgot about [the scene of the woman in the water tank]. That’s amazing. What makes film beautiful is that you can watch something and feel like you understand what’s happening based on context clues, but then they make you believe something like “we’re underwater,” and it turns out we actually have this stark minimalist setup of this woman being filmed in a tank.

H: That’s part of what gives this video a lot of power. It plays a lot of tricks on the eyes and the mind, like the subtle switch between men and women. It gives us the music video tropes of the lights, the partying, the women, but it’s done in a way that is very self-aware and somber about how constructed it all is.

K: Right. Like that meta-ness of showing them shooting it. They constantly remind us that this is a music video. We have all the elements of an R&B video, except they’ve been deconstructed, queerified, and taken to a very high art level.

H: The contrast between the shots of the film equipment and moments like the shining pussy gives you this mix of “Remember, this is constructed because it’s my art, but also this is what I’m trying to get across.” It goes well with the minimalist sound of the album too. He’s taking this just as seriously as the album.

K: Exactly, because this is the only visual we got for this album.

H: He waited so long to give us an album. He’s clearly very controlled about what he releases into the world, and in this video he really nailed it from every angle.

K: I agree. He’s giving you Frank, the R&B/pop-star, but he’s also trying to expose to you that he sees the big picture through all of this. He’s giving you something that’s cool to watch, but he realizes the place of power that he’s in and he’s here for us in more ways than mindless entertainment.

“Fade” - Kanye West

Released: August 28, 2016

Director: Eli Linnetz

K: This is another video that has already been talked about a lot, but I mean just look at this lighting, and the film grain...

H: Yeah, I mean, it’s Kanye West, and he debuted this at the VMA’s, so it had a lot to live up to, but honestly it’s just simple and beautiful. It’s a great choreography vid. Teyana Taylor looks great. It’s inspirational almost... like I need to get my ass to a gym.

Lol at how this debuted around the same time as Ariana Grande’s “Side to Side” music video that’s also set in a gym, and this just slays so much harder...

K: More interesting and artistic for sure.

H: I also just love the connection between exercise and dance. It emphasizes the beauty in being connected to your body.

K: This [shower scene] part of the video, I’m like eh.

H: No! I love it! I feel like Kanye’s always working on breaking down barriers. He gives us this dance sequence that’s almost sexual but not, and then here’s the full on.

K: See, I feel like I could have done without that.

H: I feel like it’s important. Like when else are you going to see black people, especially a darker-skinned black person, being so overtly sexual in media primarily consumed by a white audience?

K: It was like a connection to the last shot, which is amazing. So I’ll deal with it.

H: Well then he drops that last shot, and is like “BTW, I’m still Kanye and avant-garde af, so even though this is a minimalist choreography vid, here’s this.” And we’re all like “Wait... what?”

“Everybody Wants to Love You” - Japanese Breakfast

Released: September 20, 2016

Directors: Adam Kolodny & Michelle Zauner

K: Her in this Geisha wear at these dive bars being really silly is this cool juxtaposition of imagery that I have not seen.

H: Her emotion in it is great. She’s very campy and having fun, but also angsty.

K: Kind of similar to the Hinds video, it’s like girls doing drunk/stoner boy things like eating a huge sandwich and shotgunning a beer. Especially being in this geisha wear, it’s like “Just because I’m a girl, it doesn’t mean that I can’t do whatever I want.”

H: Yeah, even though on the outside she’s like this idealized representation of femininity, she’s a complex person who is not going to be what you intend for her to be. She just whipped out a guitar and is playing it on an 18 wheeler, she’s not here for your assumptions about her.

K: Yeah, it’s very much a masculine world, so it’s empowering to punk chicks. It’s really simple. Really well done. It makes me like the song and band more, which is the sign of a truly good music video.

“Cranes in the Sky” - Solange

Released: October 2, 2016

Director: Alan Ferguson

K: Everything about this is beautiful. Every setting. Every outfit. The camera angles. The lighting. Normally in music videos we have all these crazy light shows, and what we have is this classic cinematic lighting. The zoom-out/zoom-in staircase shot is so sick. This music video feels like a movie. It reminds me of a lot of avant-garde video art that I’ve seen, but done as a music video. We are getting into the world of what A Seat at the Table is trying to be.

H: It feels very classic, even though it’s the new era of Solange. The softness of the color palettes... It’s all very relaxing but at the same time, she just gives us SO much.

Like these dresses that are all connected... who’s done that before? This shot of them all touching and rolling around on each other is amazing. She has lots of moments of her seemingly isolated, but then she has these moments of sisterhood and connection. Throughout the video she maintains a very collected expression and direct eye contact with the camera. She’s the star of a pop music video, but she’s letting you know that she’s unamused and is taking it all very seriously.

K: What’s truly beautiful is when you watch something and you don’t even really know what it’s trying to tell you. I’m not even trying to analyze what’s going on, but it’s just beautiful. I feel like I’m totally being brought into Solange’s world, and I don’t understand it on an intellectual level, but I still get a feeling of how profound it is.

It all fits together. There’s a lot, but it’s very controlled. It’s such a good piece of art, because it’s clearly just trying to be a piece of art. It’s a beautiful integration of motion, sound, and image.

“After the Afterparty” - Charli XCX feat. Lil Yachty

Released: October 30, 2016

Director: Diane Martel

K: Another video shot in full screen. It’s a thing!

H: Umm... well first of all this crimped hair look is amazing. She looks gorgeous.

K: I love this zombie meets pastels meets “our organs are candy” thing that’s going on.

H: Yes! For me, it’s very reminiscent of Miley’s “We Can’t Stop” video. Dramatized soft but edgy party imagery, but this is apocalyptic and pink. It’s very Charli. It’s very femme power. It’s very early 2000′s nostalgia.

K: OMG. I love this golf-hoe moment. I love the makeup. I love how campy it is. I love the sugary sweetness.

H: That whole cropped sweater with the bra showing is so trendy right now as we’ve seen with Tinashe and Kehlani. My favorite part about Charli is that she’s very intelligent about acknowledging her references. Her inspirations are palpable, but still presented in a novel self-aware way.

K: She’s a hodge-podge in a good way. She takes all of her references and brings them up to date.

“Dope Dealer” - ScHoolboy Q feat. E-40

Released: November 4, 2016

Director: Ryan Staake

K: So the entire video is from the point of view of literal marijuana. Like even the scenes of ScHoolboy Q and E-40 smoking are from the tip of the blunt.

H: It’s genius! My first thought when I watched this video was “How has this not been made yet??” I think that’s the sign of a truly amazing piece of work, when you just think “this makes sense.” I loved every moment of it. It’s this representation of gangster life but with a lighthearted, comedic twist.

K: Yes. It gets dark, but it’s done in a very Quentin Tarantino way that is supposed to be funny and entertaining.

H: Even aside from this being from the point of view of the weed, we have funny moments like how these pretty L.A. white girls are the ones pushing the weed.

K: He presents everything in a very low-key not hyper-sensationalized way. He’s giving us some real shit, but instead of glorifying it or downplaying it, he’s just having fun with it. You get the sense that he’s being real in the presentation of his world even if he’s being comedic about it.

H: It’s also a fresh presentation of many classic hip-hop video tropes, because we still have smoking, partying, hot girls, etc.

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