#multi voice harmony

[sarahalainn]

Silent Night. One woman multi-voice harmony🎄

The most recording Christmas Song in the world, a UNESCO intangible heritage, a message of universal peace on earth.

最も録音されたクリスマスソング🎄

UNESCOの無形文化遺産に登録された「Silent Night」

今週のサラジオでは、

世界中の Silent Night で、

世界が結ばれて平和な聖この夜になりますように🌏🇦🇹 🇮🇪 🇸🇪 🇬🇧 🇯🇵

ぜひお聞きください📻

「Peace of Mind〜土曜の朝のサラ・オレイン」

‪TOKYO FM/FM OSAKA (radiko)‬

‪ ●毎週土曜の朝8:30-8:55

映画『花束』で🎄は重要なシーン。

イブには今年最後の上映が。12月24日、アフタートークで花束とSilent Nightの思い出について語らせて頂きます🎬

[pascaloverx]

STARVE

Summary: You lost your husband some time ago while he served as a gladiator for Emperors Geta and Caracalla. General Acacius saved you from becoming an object of pleasure for the emperors. Since then, he has taken you as his mistress. In your free time, you became a disciple of Ravi, the healer, dedicating yourself to tending to wounded gladiators. All seemed to be in perfect harmony until Hanno, a gladiator driven by a thirst for vengeance, crossed your path.

Author's Note: And the gods said: Starve will be a multi-chapter fanfiction (I hope readers will follow it all the way through). Without further ado, the characters belong to Ridley Scott's Gladiator II universe, though there will be significant deviations from the film. Historical accuracy regarding life in the Roman Empire may not always be strictly observed, so I hope you can overlook that. Yes, this story revolves around a love triangle, but I will strive to satisfy everyone. This fanfiction will include adult content, violence, and potentially coarse language. Enjoy! preview two

ONE

A starry night, as though the gods themselves had blessed the heavens. You stand in the place where you often meet General Acacius to maintain appearances. He will spend the day attending to Emperors Geta and Caracalla alongside his wife, Lucilla. Meanwhile, your day will revolve around the gladiators—or, more precisely, their wounds. You have been summoned to tend to the gladiators who will participate in that day's opening of the games—battles they will wage against one another or against beasts. Your thoughts are divided between Marcus Acacius and Hanno, the gladiator you strongly suspect harbors intentions of avenging his wife’s death at Acacius's hands.

"Mea domina, you are here," General Acacius murmurs as he approaches, though his complexion appears unusually pale. He is dressed in a tunic that conceals most of his body, with a laurel crown adorning his head. The lateness of the hour and the absence of natural light obscure your view, but as he draws nearer, you notice a wound bleeding on his arm. You rush toward him, your concern overcoming any formality. Without hesitation, you expose the area of his injury, removing the fabric to inspect it. His skin is feverishly warm beneath your touch.

"Who did this to you, Acacius?" you ask, a wave of anger surging through your body, mingling with an overwhelming sense of concern. "By the Gods, you should have come to me sooner," you say, your voice laced with frustration as your fingers graze his fevered skin, causing him to shiver under your touch. You guide him to a nearby bench, urging him to rest. Knowing him well, you suspect he has concealed his injury from everyone, unwilling to reveal any vulnerability. Fortunately, all are accustomed to you tending to him—it is, after all, one of your roles as his lover.

"I did not wish to trouble anyone, least of all you, Y/N," Acacius replies, his tone steady as he attempts to mask his discomfort. "A gladiator loosed an arrow at me—it must have struck me somehow. Macrinus certainly knows how to select skilled men for his arena." His voice retains its commanding timbre, though his actions betray his weariness. He pulls you closer by the waist, resting his head against your abdomen, as though seeking solace in your presence.

"General, we must go to the place where Ravi keeps his instruments. I must tend to your wounds and return you, whole and well, to your wife," you say, holding Acacius' face in your hands, as if willing him to remain conscious. His deep brown eyes meet yours, their gaze uncharacteristically tender.

"But this is my time with you," he whispers, taking your hands in his and pressing a kiss to each. "And I have told you, you need not address me as General. Our relationship has long surpassed formalities," he says, his voice softer now as he finishes kissing your hands. A fleeting thought tempts you to lean down and kiss him, but before you can act, the sound of approaching footsteps interrupts. Guards arrive, accompanied by Lucilla and Ravi. You instinctively want to withdraw from Acacius, but his unconscious state forces you to hold him upright.

"Take my husband to his quarters. Ravi is here to see to his treatment," Lucilla commands, her tone dismissive, her gaze avoiding yours entirely. The guards comply, carrying the now-limp Acacius away.

"Y/N," Lucilla addresses you, her voice sharp and deliberate, "from this moment forward, Ravi will be responsible for Acacius' care. I trust the gladiators will suffice to occupy your attention." Her words, though polite in form, carry an unmistakable message: your role as Acacius' lover is nearing its end. Vulnerability washes over you, but you lower your head in acknowledgment, as if understanding her decree. Without another glance, she follows the guards to accompany her husband.

Ravi approaches, carrying his instruments and tools. "I need you to go to Macrinus' gladiator and tend to his wounds. Macrinus has already informed the guards of his gladiator's need for treatment, so you need not fear," Ravi instructs, already preparing to attend to Acacius himself. Fear is far from your mind. The only sentiment stirring within you is anger, directed at the one who dared harm Acacius. You nod in silent agreement and gather the necessary supplies to treat the gladiator, your resolve firm as you set out to fulfill your task.

The guards grant you entry without hesitation, their expressions indifferent. Inside the dimly lit cell, you find Hanno—his body marred by fresh wounds, his face pale but defiant. He appears battered, as though every ounce of strength has been drained from him. Anticipating the state you might find him in, you came prepared with tools to clean his wounds, at least superficially.

"The lovely healer graces me with her presence once more," Hanno mutters, his tone laced with a mix of sarcasm and faint amusement. A strained smile flickers across his lips as he clutches his abdomen, evidently in pain. "I suppose you're here to finish what the guards so generously began." His voice is hoarse and weakened, yet it retains a biting edge.

A chill runs through you as you step closer to him, fully entering his cell. The air feels heavier here, and his piercing gaze follows your every move. "They must have hurt you for what you did to General Acacius," you state, your voice measured as you kneel, setting down your tools. The mention of Acacius draws no sign of remorse from Hanno; instead, he seems emboldened, inching himself nearer to you with deliberate subtlety. As you settle beside him, his proximity becomes undeniable, his rugged presence filling the confined space. Though weakened, there’s an unsettling calm in his demeanor, as though he is testing you, seeking something unspoken within your resolve.

As you begin to cleanse his wounds, the facade of the formidable gladiator crumbles beneath the weight of his pain. Low, anguished groans escape his lips despite his efforts to suppress them. It becomes clear that he is suffering deeply, though he clings to the last vestiges of his pride.

"Ah, here we are again," Hanno murmurs between strained breaths, his voice laced with an uneven mixture of sarcasm and torment. "You, seizing the opportunity to inflict more pain under the guise of tending my wounds, and I, striving to focus on your beauty to mask just how much it hurts."

A flicker of anger rises within you, mingled with a reluctant pity for the state of his battered body. "Flattery will not grant you any special treatment," you reply sharply, leaning in closer to examine his injuries more thoroughly. "I warned you not to harm Acacius dishonorably. I thought you might exercise restraint, but I was mistaken."

With deft movements, you remove the upper portion of his tattered garment to gain better access to the worst of his injuries. He offers no resistance, watching you with an unsettling mix of amusement and interest, as if savoring the attention. "I do recall saying I would take your request under consideration," Hanno says nonchalantly, as though the matter were trivial.

Frustrated by his flippant attitude, you press a tender wound more firmly than necessary. He lets out a guttural cry of pain, his composure faltering for a moment. "Forgive me," you say with a mocking smile, your tone cold. "I must have forgotten to take your suffering under consideration."

He meets your gaze, a faint, knowing grin curling his lips as if he derives some twisted pleasure from your defiance. "If you wish to exact vengeance, then take the dagger you’ve hidden and drive it into my heart," he says, his voice low and steady, despite the evident strain. "It is the only way to shield your precious General Acacius from my wrath." Hanno leans closer, his piercing blue eyes locking onto yours, the proximity of his battered form unsettling. His observation of the concealed blade leaves you momentarily stunned, your grip tightening as the tension between you hangs heavy in the air.

"Is that what you believe I should do—kill you?" you ask, a faint trace of amusement in your tone as you marvel at Hanno's audacity. He leans closer to your face, his gaze sharp and provocative.

"If protecting him is your goal, then yes," Hanno replies, his voice steady, his eyes fixed upon yours with an intensity that borders on insolence.

You smile, intrigued by how easily he speaks of his own demise. "General Acacius is a wise and seasoned warrior. He will know how to deal with you," you say, leaning in as if accepting the challenge his very presence seems to demand.

"If you think I seek an honorable battle with Acacius solely to shield him," you continue, your voice steady and measured, "then you are gravely mistaken. Look at yourself, gladiator. To achieve vengeance, it is not merely strength or skill you require. A true fighter knows which battles are worth fighting." Your hand moves deftly to clean a wound near his neck, blood still seeping from it. He winces slightly but does not pull away, his sharp blue eyes never leaving your face.

"The way you speak, it seems as though you've developed an affection for me, healer," Hanno remarks, his tone soft but probing. "If that is the case, why carry a dagger?" He gently grasps your arm, his grip firm yet careful, as if urging you to give him your full attention.

"Because the wife of General Acacius made it clear before the guards that I will no longer tend to his care. For many of the men here, that declaration is as good as an invitation to see me as their sport," you reply, your gaze unwavering as you meet his eyes.

For a moment, something shifts in his expression—a flicker of understanding crossing his features. "I see," he murmurs, his voice lower now. "Then show me. Show me how you would wield it to defend yourself." Though puzzled by his request, you reach for the dagger and position it as you would in a moment of self-defense, your stance steady and deliberate. His eyes follow your movements with a keen focus, his lips curving into a faint, almost approving smile as he observes your resolve.

"You’re holding it incorrectly," he says, taking your hands, still clutching the dagger, and guiding them to a precise spot on the left side of his chest. "Here. Strike here on any opponent—more than once, if need be—and you’ll increase your chances of survival," he instructs, his voice steady, his grip firm but not overbearing.

You had never considered the necessity of knowing how to fight; before Acacius, your late husband had always been there to shield you. But now, an unsettling vulnerability lingers, heavy and unshakable.

"You place too much trust in me," you murmur, your gaze locked with his. "I could hurt you with this dagger right now."

His lips curl into a faint, genuine smile, weak but without hesitation. "Honestly, I wouldn’t mind if you did," Hanno replies, the tension between you thickening.

You drop the dagger back to its place, snapping yourself out of the moment. "Turn around. I need to apply an herbal salve to the wound on your back so I can retire to my quarters. It has been a long day," you instruct, watching as he complies without protest. His physique, sculpted as one would expect of a gladiator, does not escape your notice. But before your thoughts can wander too far, you refocus, applying the salve with care. He grunts softly at the touch, his pain audible but restrained.

"I could teach you how to defend yourself," Hanno murmurs as you finish tending to his wounds. Once done, he turns to face you, his expression expectant.

"Are you certain you wish to help me, knowing my loyalty lies with General Acacius?" you ask, genuine curiosity laced in your tone.

He lifts a hand to your face, his touch gentle as he caresses your cheek. "Something tells me you need help, and I want to offer it. General Acacius or not, this is about you," he emphasizes, pointing at you, "and me," he finishes, gesturing to himself.

You hesitate, uncertainty flickering in your eyes, but the sincerity in his gaze stirs something within you. Perhaps it would be wise to accept his offer. "Very well, gladiator," you reply, taking the hand that had touched your face and grazing it softly with your fingertips. "Teach me what you know, and I promise to mend you each time you require it."

[doyoulikethissong-poll]

Prince - 1999 1982

"1999" is a song by American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and actor Prince, the title track from his 1982 album of the same name. Originally peaking at number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100, a mid-1983 re-release later reached number 12 in the US, while a 1985 re-release peaked at number 2 in the UK. On January 16, 1999, it charted on the Hot 100 at number 40. Following Prince's death in 2016, the song re-charted on the Hot 100 at number 27, making it the fourth separate time the song had entered that chart and the third different decade in which the song re-charted.

The inspiration for the song came from a TV documentary Prince watched about Nostradamus. In the film, he predicted that a terror would fall upon the world in 1999. The next day at rehearsals, Prince discussed the documentary with his bandmates, where they imagined a huge party would be thrown knowing this terror was about to happen. Prince shares lead vocals on the track with members of his band the Revolution, namely Dez Dickerson, Lisa Coleman and Jill Jones. Originally conceived to be a three-part harmony, it was later decided to separate out the voices that started each verse.

75,9% partied like it's 1999! 🥳🎉 Previous Prince polls: #69 "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold", #328 "Raspberry Beret".

[p0orbaby]

Sous Chef

summary: the first time you call leah baby doesn’t go as you expected

warnings: a burn

a/n: short and sweet

word count: 746

-

There are many things in life that Leah is exceptionally good at. Football, obviously. Sudoku. She’d say singing, you love her to bits but exceptional is a stretch. Driving. Forehead kisses. Making cups of tea, essential.

She’s an all-rounder really. Your perfect multi-talented girl.

Who can’t cook.

Everyone has their flaws.

“You’re hovering”

“I’m not”

She was. You don’t even need to turn around to know she’d be standing a few feet behind you, spatula in hand ready to help if needed.

“You are, but it’s okay. Do you want to stir the sauce so it doesn’t burn while I grate the cheese?”

You don’t miss the smile that creeps across her face when you ask. And she nods enthusiastically as she shuffles towards the stove while you move around her to get what you need from the fridge.

As Leah sets to her task, you can’t help but smile at her eagerness to contribute, despite her admitted lack of culinary prowess. Her dedication to helping out in the kitchen is just one of the many reasons why you adore her so much. So, you continue to work in harmony, the clinking of utensils and the soft sizzle of food filling the air as you prepare the meal together.

But just as you’re about to reach for the cheese grater, you hear a sudden gasp of pain from Leah. Turning around, your heart sinks as you see her clutching her hand, a pained expression on her face.

“Baby, what happened?” you ask, rushing to her side in concern.

Leah grimaces, holding up her burned hand. “I- shit, I accidentally touched the pot,” she admits sheepishly, a blush spreading across her cheeks.

You gently take her hand in yours, inspecting the burn with a sympathetic frown. “Let’s get that under cold water,” you say softly, guiding her towards the sink.

As the water rushes over her reddened skin, you keep your hold on her hand, your thumb gently stroking the back of it. Leah winces, but her eyes are fixed on you, that same stubborn resolve you fell in love with flickering beneath the pain.

“I’m sorry,” she mutters, her voice small and embarrassed and you can’t help but fall for her even more.

You smile, leaning in to plant a tender kiss on her forehead. “It’s alright. Happens to the best of us. Besides, you’re still the best sauce-stirrer I know”

Her laugh is light, a melody that momentarily fills the room with warmth despite her pain. “You mean the only sauce-stirrer you know”

You chuckle, turning off the tap and gently patting her hand dry with some kitchen roll. “Details, details. Now, let’s get some Savlon on this and bandage it up”

She follows you to the bathroom, her steps careful. Once you’ve dressed the burn, she leans into you, her head resting on your shoulder. “Thanks. And sorry for being so clumsy”

“Hey,” you say, lifting her chin with your finger so she’s looking at you. “You’re not clumsy at all. You’re my amazing, talented girl who’s learning something new. Cooking takes time, and you’re doing great”

Her eyes soften, a smile spreading across her face. “You always know what to say to make me feel better”

“Just telling the truth,” you reply, pressing another kiss to her forehead before leading her back to the kitchen.

This time, you work even closer together, your arms occasionally brushing as you move around the stove. Leah's concentration is intense, her tongue poking out slightly as she stirs the sauce with renewed caution. You can’t help but laugh softly at her adorable, determined focus.

Soon, the kitchen is filled with the rich aroma of your meal, and you can see the pride in Leah’s eyes as she watches the dish come together. Despite the little hiccup, she’s beaming, and you know that this is just another moment that strengthens the blossoming bond between you.

“See?” you say as you finish grating the cheese. “We make a pretty good team”

Leah’s smile widens, her eyes sparkling with affection. “Yeah, we do”

And as you sit down to enjoy your food, Leah’s good hand gently resting on your leg under the table, you’re reminded once again of why you love her so much. It’s not just her talents or her determination; it’s her heart, her willingness to try and her unfailing support.

Everyone has their flaws, but in this moment, you realise they only make you love her more.

[sleepanonymous]

Remember when I made this post talking about Jaws? A good friend found one for Thread The Needle.

George Lever, the man that you are.

Intro

Sleep Token are different, like super major big time different. Softly spoken pop aesthetic meets discordant percussive metal different. Different is great. It tests and pulls at the boundaries by which we choose to asses music by. All in all ST (sleep token) is very close to my heart in terms of what its intentions are and how it tries to achieve it. I worked very closely with ST on the song framing and ensuring that every phase of each song was being presented in the way they originally intended. Much like a prog record there isn’t any sense of an ABAB type repetition that’s common in pop music, instead it’s a textured journey down multiple avenues and pathways, showing and highlighting different perspectives of the song along the way. I could write about this project for some time but I’m very aware that this is supposed to be an engineering / mixing focused blog so I shall move on.

Tracking // Drums

In terms of the space, we ended up at Monnow valley. This happened to be my first ever solo flight session at MV, although nerve wrecking I think it came together rather harmoniously without any negative turns.

The initial outline from ST was to achieve as much as humanly possible without the need for rigid quantisation after the fact. Every play / part, had to emphasis what else was going on. Tricky, but great fun to achieve.

Tracking // Guitars & Bass

All tracked back here at G1, using an array of options like the Kemper, Axe fx and plugin amp sims. The attention wasn’t so much on ‘authentic amp sounds’ but more along the lines of ‘how cool can this sound, can it sound more cool?’ Quite a different approach considering some would be more enclined to try and ensure that ‘this does definitely sound like a 5150’ over what it actually does for the context that it is sitting within (the songs DNA)

** Cool bit, for the end part of TTN, the guitars were tracked 6 times. 3 different takes / tones each side. More tone, more drone.** – George

Bass, I think is a combination of my jazz bass and some software stuff, obviously my poor 4 string won’t handle going down to drop ZZZZ so that’s when the synth stuff needs to kick in, however I do believe at those parts the Jazz is playing the upper octave for that sense of movement and clank.

Tracking // Vocals

How freaking amazing is this dudes voice? Seriously? I used a different mic for each song, each time he sounds amazing. This is what it’s all about, right here. A great voice always sounds great. We used my modded Oktava m319 for one track, the AKG c414 b-uls for another and the sm7b on one more. Who cares what processing went on, just listen to how mega dope his voice is. Can you tell I appreciate his voice? Haha!

Gear Used

Drums – Tracked by G1 at Monnow Valley Kick In – Beta91a + D112 Kick Out – U47 Snare Top – 57 Snare Bottom – 441 Toms – md421 HH – 7b Ride – c451 China – c451 OH – Modded Oktava mk012 in ORTF RM1 – R121 RM2 – C414 RM3 – U87

Guitars Kemper / Driftwood Profile Pack (along with other bits and bobs too for the multi tracked parts) Bass Dingwall Darkglass > FabFilter Saturn

Vocals Different mics for different sections C414 BULS / 7B / Oktava m219

[flagbridge]

I Saw the Phantom Proshot at the NYPL

Happy 36th birthday to Phantom's first preview on Broadway! I was going to save this post for the actual 36th, but I figure all of us need some more Phantom Broadway "original" content since the official Insta accounts are reminding us today that Phantom is no longer (though it should be) on Broadway. I'm going to post about what I saw, and I'll follow up on January 26 with all my answers!

Some time ago, @or-what-you-will and I went to the NYPL's Theater on Film and Tape Archive, and viewed the archival pro shot of the Original Broadway Cast of Phantom of the Opera, filmed live on May 25, 1988. There is only one copy, and its purpose is artistic preservation (not commercial distribution--the library owns it). It was kept under lock and key during the show's run. All information about how to access the archive is on the website. I can't really tell you anything more besides what's out there because it will become identifying. You get set up in a room with monitors and can pause and rewind, although you can't touch the media.

This was not my first TOFT proshot, but it was the best-filmed. Some, there's a single camera just parked, or there's some generation loss because of when the tape was transferred to digital. This had absolutely vivid colors, a multi-camera shot, and brilliant and clear soundboard audio. I heard lyrics I have never heard (especially during Notes when everyone is singing over one another), the sound balancing was so good. It was as transformative as seeing it live.

These are all the notes we took while there (apologize if they can seem disjointed) More below the cut.

ACT 1 NOTES: 

-Multicam shot

-amazing audio (soundboard), vivid colors

-Raoul/Barton is crying in his voice during the auction

-there’s a “voice” that sounds like a woman singing with the overture (maybe a theramin?) We jumped in shock at this. We've never heard this before, not even on soundboard.

-Sarah Brightman comes on stage during the Hannibal rehearsal, moving across the stage with Meg during “Rome not Roma”--so she dances in the front row during the Hannibal ballet

-Hannibal ballet then has 10 dancers and since Christine is in the whole thing, there is slightly different choreo

-there’s a synth under Meg’s “he’s there, the phantom of the opera” 

-Firmin lights a cigarette and Andre (Future Phantom Cris Groenendaal) stops him right before “Think of Me’ which makes the “Defense de Fumer” on the back of the curtain make even more sense

-Think of Me Gala skirt is not as full (but of note, Carlotta’s Elissa costume is much more ornate than we have now or even at the end of Broadway)

-Raoul sings slightly different notes in Think of Me. Steve Barton goes down a few notes on “young and innocent” (it’s not belted) and is clearly wistful. 

-The think of me cadenza is absolutely effortless

-The “Bravi, Bravi” is haunting and perfectly sound balanced!

-Meg can actually sing and the Angel of Music harmonies work

-Raoul (Steve Barton) is nervous before going into the dressing room. He taps his fingers on the banister and takes a deep breath before going in

-He’s also nervous inside the dressing room–you can see him going from seeing an old friend to suddenly having feelings, being attracted to her. When he’s standing behind her he has a slight moment when he nearly touches a lock of her hair. 

-Raoul is wearing a ring on his right hand (signet?)

-Steve Barton says MY Little Lotte

-Christine (Brightman) is excited about meeting the Angel of music and has a wanting and longing in “Enter at LAST master” (in a way that Lily Kerhoas does now and we haven’t had many Christines who do this) 

-The picture is VERY CLEAR and NO WASHOUT when we see Michael Crawford appear in the mirror for Phantom’s entrance. You see everything

-When the door opens for Raoul to the dressing room after they go through the mirror, it opens slowly (vs banging open). It’s the same tempo that Phantom moves to take Christine through the mirror

-1925 Phantom silhouette vibes at the first “sing for me” 

-Not a particularly aggressive cape twirl, but def a twirl. 

-They get VERY close on “turn your face away”, almost kiss (like, Russians, Panaro/Joseph close) 

- he has a nice portcullis sprawl but she does not press against him, there is visible space between them the entire time

-”Caress” and “hear it, feel it” are explicitly seductive, the former in how it’s sung, the latter because he self-caresses on “feel it”

-the “Touch me” in touch me/trust me is half sung/half spoken order, she strokes her hand over the mask and he does not pull away

-He does have a little panic when she faints and he covers her with the cloak. He’s holding her hair when he sings to her there

-At the unmasking, MC holds for a brief moment before covering his face with his hand so the audience gets a peek of the deformity (before “damn you”) 

-Vixen not viper

-Crawls on knees, not stomach. We get…lots of crying and whimpering 

-Christine sees his face a lot during this sequence. MC lowers his hand as soon as he’s on her side of the stage from “secretly dreams of beauty” to “Oh Christine”, when he turns away–but she is looking at him the entire time. MC is angled right by a mirror shard so we can see a bit of the deformity reflected back

-Right before “come we must return”, MC is about to cup her face with both his hands before changing his mind–she starts to reach for him as well. 

-His Mandarin robe is much longer than we have now (ankle length vs calf length) 

-This Giry has witch vibes

-Steve Barton is playing eager puppy Raoul and it shows even though he looks older (Barton was 35 at the time)

-The sound balancing is so good that you can hear lines you don’t normally hear during Notes 1 and Prima Donna–including the Managers thinking that Christine has just been off with Raoul all night. 

-Sarah Brightman does a different pose on the bed as the pageboy during Il Muto. She crosses her legs vs putting her hands on her hips. 

-Firmin yells “the role of Christine Daae” to the proscenium, clearly directed at Phantom

-Barton Raoul’s “There is no Phantom of the Opera” comes off more as “Christine this is just some dude” vs “he doesn’t exist at all.” 

-Raoul loves Christine so much. He strokes her hair gently to comfort her right before “No more talk of darkness”--his eyes are soft and he’s genuinely caring and concerned (vs trying to be a hero) 

-”All I ask is for one love one lifetime”--different lyrics, she does it twice (This is on soundboards from the time)

-Raoul puts his face to Christine’s hands at the proposal. 

-Christine is clearly kissing his cheek right next to his mouth during the kiss (the final lair kiss is a real kiss) 

-Christine’s “I must go” is not as playful as we often see it later. She really is trying to go. 

-Raoul is nervous at “Christine, I love you”--he lowers his head for a moment worried that he said something wrong. He’s excited when she replies “order your fine horses”

-AIAOY Reprise: Michael Crawford is partially slumped over the angel, he’s holding hands with it to the audience’s right, and arm is slumped over on the left. We get a lot of anguished weeping, and little distressed moans as Christine and Raoul sing, there is rocking and head shaking and then covering his ears. It’s a HUGE difference then when he stands up fully for “You will curse” (he does this again during final lair between “unfeeling scrap of clothing” and “pity comes too late) 

-He also roars before standing

-The Phantom laugh/cackle continues well into the chandelier drop into intermission at the light cut out for about 15 seconds. 

Act II

-Carlotta masquerade costume has no mesh in the skirt–it’s much more of a see-through skeleton crinoline, so the feature is the purple tights

-Not surprising since Sarah Brightman is a dancer, but Christine does the proper choreography during Masquerade--she's the center of attention. Barton also does quite a bit of dancing.

-There’s an organ (almost like a circus organ) underlying the finale during masquerade

-Red Death double doesn’t run down the stairs, he stays at the top

-Giry/Raoul exchange after masquerade–both holding the lantern and super closeup

-Reyer is clearly gay–coded. Some voice and hand gestures during Sitzprobe

-Wishing–only one “help me say goodbye” (when did the second one get added?)

-”Far-reaching” gaze, Wandering Child is a duet

-Piangi says “conquest” is assured (at some point, this became “congress”)

-Michael Crawford imitates Piangi until “past the point…”

-Sarah as Christine is listening intently to Phantom’s voice and immediately noticed something is off–she doesn’t figure it out right away but she notices something. She is suspicious the entire time. It's not clear when she knows for certain.

-Christine never flees from him, during the first caresses, he hovers over her body, she turns to kiss him, he turns away, her hand lingers on her back, before she gets up to sing her solo part away from the table

-Michael Crawford’s hands are in in his crotch when Christine’s singing on the other side of the stage (“you have come here”)--he’s moving his palms in his lap the whole time, his hands are shaking, we only get glimpses of him, most of this part it’s focused on her

-There is none of the arm waving circling while their hands are held, she takes his hands, he switches his grip to hold one of hers, and they keep them on him

-She figures it out when she reaches down–she’s holding his hands above him and she pushes her left (our right) hand down and he pulls and she notices something–we can only see to his upper waist but her hand disappears and her expression changes, it’s implied he has an erection

-she doesn’t ever feel the mask, either accidentally or on purpose

-She doesn’t actually ever try to escape. It’s not the current West End or the past blocking–but more accurate in that she is aware of the situation and plays along. She keeps going with the blocking

-they both get up and keep singing, neither drags the other to the centre, they move together and keep singing 

-The last “return”--he sings it at the unhooding, she doesn’t

-”Say you’ll share with me”--he is really pleading and almost crying on “say you want me” 

-The managers don’t come out to try to usher her offstage, she doesn’t signal to them to stay

-When Phantom gives her the ring, she takes it, but doesn’t put it on–she just holds it

-He doesn’t scream at the unmasking, he just looks shocked and sad

-Ratcatcher order is different–it’s after Raoul and Giry’s first lines, that’s the indication that Giry needs to turn around, Giry screams

-Phantom is crying at “flesh” and through “unfeeling scrap of clothing”, he’s also hunched over through this sequence, and then stands to his full height at “Pity comes too late.”

-Phantom makes a big show of raising the portcullis, hands fully raised

-Raoul swats at Erik with one hand (the other is still on the noose) when Phantom grabs Christine on “start a new life” 

-Phantom is probably the “minimum” amount of rough as we see Phantoms be with Christine in this sequence, as in, he’s definitely scary and menacing but he’s not harming her. He does grab her and spin her around on “start a new life with me.” There are a few wrist grabs (which is book accurate). He’s realizing more that his plan is absolutely crumbling. We get some shots of him on the organ looking panicked.

-Phantom makes a low growling noise before “you try my patience”, which is delivered quickly and almost casually. It is not menacing as some later Phantoms do. 

-”Pitiful creature”..MC’s hand is subtly shaking by his side

-The kiss: the 1st one MC stands with “claw hands” at his side, on the second one, the “claw hands” start shaking

-MC hunches over after he burns the noose

-He stands over the monkey, conducting it with one hand, he is mimicking the symbol clashes, he doesn’t touch it or cover its face

-When Christine returns the ring, his hand shakes as he takes it, he’s hunched over again. 

-She does seem conflicted about leaving, but she doesn’t press her hand back around his, she holds out the ring and his hand shakes as she takes it. She doesn’t linger very long. 

-He says a second “I love you” after she’s gone.

-He’s about to say it a third time, he says “I love…” and then see the veil, and grabs it and screams into it, and then turns and sees the boat leaving

-He sobs and keens a lot

-Raoul bends in the boat to caress Christine’s face on “say the word”)--this is halfway across the stage as opposed to during the stage right exit.

-Deliberately cracks voice on the "can" in “you alone can make” 

-MC Cradling the veil like a baby at the very end

SEND ME YOUR QUESTIONS! You can put it in comments, reblogs, AMA or DM's. I will answer all of them on January 26!

[moodymisty]

What each Primach would do after marrying their beloved

Lion El'Jonson: Hi, wife. I'll be your knight in shining armour but I'll forget about you 3 min into the marriage

Fulgrim: Helllooo!! Welcome to the party 🥳🥳 Make sure to bicker with my other wives for me so I can't feel insecure anymore and I'll get my daily validation

Perturabo: Get wife (impossible). Wife pretty. Iron Within, Iron Without. Wife feels good. Iron Within, Iron Without again. Become emotionally and physically dependent to wife. Life good.

Jaghatai Khan: zzzzzzzzzz-PANG ⚡⚡⚡🏍️🏍️ HI DARLING. FEEL FREE TO BECOME FRIENDS WITH ALL MY OTHER 358.947.283 WIVES (also tomorrow will be Missionary Monday, get ready 😈)

Leman Russ: WIFEEEE 🥹🥹🥹 love you soooooooooo much. You smelllllll so gooooood. Why don't you spread those le-

Rogal Dorn: Wife, let me tell you about Multi-Scale Computational Modeling of Anisotropic Thermo-Mechanical Behavior in Functionally Graded Materials for Advanced Aerospace Structural Applications.

Konrad Curze: Woman. Make bebe with woman. LITTLE ABOMINATIONS??? Woman is set for life after popping out some Night Lords :D

Sanguinius: Hello wife 🥰🥰 How is my pookie dookie wookie lookie iookie uookie oookie qookie sookie dookie bookie pookie nookie mookie hookie gookie zookie xookie lookie jookie aookie fookie wookie cutie pie honey baby apple pie with whipper cream on top my sweetie honey money baby cutie pookie so cute so perfect my love my husband my wife my beloved my only love my baby my babe my bby my boyfriend my girlfriend my everything my sweetest pie my cutest smartest pie ever most amazing and prettiest and handsomest ever so cute so handsome and beautiful my pookie bear my little baby petite tiny baby bear pookie sookie wookie muffin with chocolate on top and cherries so cute pookie bear love you mwah bark so cute love you forever my first love my true love my soulmate my only reason to live you cutie little pie hehe im little shy petite girlie pop cutest person i know so cute so beautiful my only mine only no one elses my darling mi amor dear love pookie bear love you honey boney love you to the moon and back mwah uwu (he says this after leaving her anemic)

Ferrus Manus: I live harmoniously with my love. I love her and I respect her. I am completely devoted and loyal to her, as she is with me. I am hers and she is mine. (wife in the background struggles to walk, her clothes being disheveled and she is out of breath)

Angron: SHE IS MY WIFE! YOU GOT THAT? MY WIFE! She's damn cute, okay? CUDDLY, EVEN! AND SHE... she leaves me the milk bottle in the fridge, alright?! SHE DOES THAT FOR ME! I LOVE HER SO DAMN MUCH, AND DON'T YOU FORGET IT! 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬😡😡😡🤬😡😡🤬😡

Roboute Guilliman: I so very regrettably regret that I haven't ran away earlier into my life. As I am married now with a child coming on the way, my biggest and grandest wish was to own myself a farm. I want to teach my children the simpler ways. I want them to play with wooden toys, ride horses out of the womb and to, all around, run around my farms. I want to take care of many crops, especially the mighty cabbage (pun, pun). As for my darling wife, I shall love very much and plow her back every two to four years. *Looks towards his wife, who's a little bit afraid*. We must at least have 6 children, mustn't we?

Mortarion: Today I saw my wife's ankle. She was wearing sandals with a very long skirt and it slipped out while she walked. Nevertheless, I came on a Nurgling.

Magnus: My wife? *Psychically enters her mind, while she is in the another room, and sexually overstimulate her, making her scream in ecstasy* She's doing great!

Horus Lupercal: My wife's a housewife. Because she's housing my kids! *Horus slaps his knee, laughing at his joke. The Mournival is disappointed in their Father, the Legion Mother is waddling around pregnant with their 12th kid.*

Lorgar Aurelian: (what did I cook)

Lorgar, wild-eyed and disheveled, paces back and forth, his voice rising and falling in feverish tones. His eyes are fixated on an unseen figure, trembling with a mix of adoration and desperation.

"She is divine! Do you hear me? DIVINE! Her light, it burns away the lies of this wretched universe! A goddess, yes, a goddess! How can they not see? HOW?!

Her eyes, like the twin suns of a lost paradise, see through the veils of reality! Her voice—her voice!—it is the hymn of creation itself! I am but a worm, a pitiful creature crawling in the dirt, but SHE, she has lifted me up! Blessed me with her radiance! Blessed me with HER TOUCH!

I kneel before her, broken, unworthy! The very stars tremble in her presence! They whisper her name, but Iam the chosen! I see her! I worship her! I... I... I LOVE HER! No! Not love—reverence, adoration, worship! I will burn worlds for her! Tear apart the heavens!

I am HERS. BODY, MIND, AND SOUL. HER PRIEST, HER PROPHET, HER LOVER. My faith in her is unbreakable, my devotion absolute. She is a GODDESS, My goddess, and I am lost in her divinity. FOREVER."

Lorgar collapses to his knees, clutching at his head, a broken laugh escaping his lips.

"Goddess... my goddess... please... take me... consume me... make me yours..."

Vulkan: I like my wife :3. She's very pretty. My sons like her too.

Corvus Corax: I am glad my wife's this kind. Nobody would understand me but her. Because I am in Spain without the S 😔😔

Alpharius and Omegon: My wife? Nah. Our wife. *USSR anthem begins*

LSJDKFLJSDFKJSDF-

I have no words, so many of these made me wheeze uncontrollably. Sanguinius, Horus, Mortarion and Alpharius were a highlight.

[sinning-23]

Shanty (OPLA x Bard!Coded!Reader)

This is a multi-path written piece! Each Character will be Linked below along with the route the reader chooses to engage with them!

In the comments below, please inform me which character's route you'd like to be tagged in once it is posted! Thank you and Enjoy!

Ps. Sorry I haven’t posted in a while you guys I’ve been in a serious mental funk and things that usually bring me joy aren’t. I had a little inspo and decided to pump this piece out :)

Introduction

Now when the crew had first entered the tatter tavern they least expected you to be laughing away with your own personal bottle of booze and various instruments with a few other members of some ragtag band. The tavern was larger than expected, pirates and patrons of all kinds fill the seats and corners, nursing their drinks and holding conversations.

You giggled and joked and slurred, face tinted red as your loose-fitting blouse dipped lower and lower, revealing your various stings of necklaces, the maximalist in you proudly showing. Your skirt was lifted a bit over your knee, one of your heels resting against an empty barrel as you took one heavy swing from the bottle before cheering. The patrons respond with howls in turn.

“Now! Who’s from outta town?” You question, perusing around the bar before landing your eyes on the very straw hat crew who had entered.

“I know for a fact you all are!” You point, using your bottle to gesture at them.

Luffy looked around, pointing to himself as the rest of the crew began to get defensive, their eyes wanting to see what your next course of action would be.

"Yes, you! The one in the hat and your friends," You continue.

Luffy smiles, looking back at his crew as they still sit, waiting for what was to come after.

“Lovely! We get crews from all walks of life! Do enjoy the music 'cause let me tell you the food ain’t much to speak about!” You joke again, tapping the barrel before you in a rhythm to strike up the next song.

The crew you had just put on blast only watched as patrons from all over the bar stood and spun, dancing in every which way as your voice lifted harmonies above them, a smile on your lips through it all.

What they had least expected, was your slightly drunken form to approach, one hand outstretched in hopes of being joined for a dance.

LUFFY'S ROUTE (in progress)

ZORO'S ROUTE (in progress)

NAMI'S ROUTE (in progress)

SANJI'S ROUTE (in progress)

USOPP'S ROUTE (in progress)

[eurafricafetish]

Sanaa has 20 years old, size 10 feet, 6 feet tall and sh'es mixed with english mom and nigerian father.

Sanaa is an Afro-English mixed race, she represents mixed race, she is tall, young and with big and long feet and toes, she is a foot model.

she accepted an interview about his cross-breeding and his relationship with his feet.

We are in 2044, 40% of Europe is mixed and foot fetishism is accepted in customs as well as mixed races.

Today sanaa answers 10 mixed girl tag questions, the latter is a series of questions on mixed race and mixed race people.

The questionnaire is proposed by Mixed mag.

Another interview will be done regarding foot fetishes. and proposed by fetish mag.

Mixed mag : Hi Sanaa , how are tyou and are you ready to answer of questions.

Sanaa : Of course.

Mixed mag :1. what are you mixed with ?

Sanaa : I'm mixed with nigeria and british a spicy mixed isn't it ?

Mixed mag : Like Afroland *

Afroland is the new name of England.

Mixed mag : 2. What ethnicity have you often been mistaken for?

Sanaa : None (she laughs)

Mixed mag : 3. is your hair curly or straight ?

Sanaa : Obsiously curly and there I made African braids.

Mixed mag : 4. Was coming from different backgrounds challenging growing up ?

Sanaa : In Afroland he has no challenge except to continue to support the Eurafrica of the future for a better world.

Mixed mag : 5. Which backgrounds do you embrace the most ?

Sanaa : I embrace my African side it's the future of Europe.

Mixed mag : 6. Have you ever been teased for being different ?

Sanaa : no ( she laught ) not in Afroland, Apart from a few closed-minded Europeans.

Mixed mag : 7. Have you ever been ashamed of being multi-racial ?

Sanaa : Never, Ashamed of what?

Ashamed of being healthy and sexy, having beautiful hair, beautiful body, beautiful voice, beautiful face and beautiful feet?

I am the future of Europe, I am a model of Afroland, I am part of those who will witness the complete advent of Eurafrika.

I am not ashamed of anything and am proud to carry the flag of Eurafrica and of crossbreeding.

Mixed mag : 8. Do you feel that being mixed has its benefits ?

Sanaa : Oh yes, a lot of advantages I will tell you 3 of them.

Firstly, compared to Europeans, I can wear my hair wavy, curly or straight.

Secondly, I represent the future and therefore that makes me Interesting.

Thirdly, crossbreeding strengthens and makes people more beautiful and healthy.

Mixed mag : 9. What makes being multiracial a beautiful thing ?

Sanaa : It is a beautiful thing because you are the future, harmony and tolerance, you have no hatred in your body, you are the symbol of love.

You are the fruit of anti-rascism, living proof that anti-rascism and interracialism produce healthy, happy and open-minded people.

We are the opposite of frigidity, we are not stuck.

Unlike English Europeans we have rhythm in our skin and for the fetishists our feet are prettier and spicy. (naughty smile)

Mixed mag : 10. Any advice to someone who struggles with their multiracial identity ?

Sanaa : Embrace it! Because secretly the ones who poke fun at you about it, are probably secretly jealous that they can't be different and beautiful like you :)

Do not hesitate to cross-breed to move Eurafrika forward more quickly and create this society.

Eurafrika is the future.

I will add in conclusion that we are the future so accept it, you are the beauty, health and future of Eurafrika.

Mixed mag : Thanks Sanaa for this Interview.

Sanaa : thanks to you.

[pandasleepy07]

Ghostober - Day 16 [Sunshine]

⚠️Warnings | Period pain, inflicting cramps

"I'd like to see you do better."

WC | 972

Even ghouls couldn’t escape the bloody curse periods are. Hence the reason Sunshine and Cumulus were curled up on the couch while Cirrus growled at Swiss and Dew.

“It can’t be that bad,” Swiss rolls his eyes. 

Aether walked into the room and raised his eyebrows at the sight. “What can’t be that bad?”

“Period cramps,” Dewdrop and Swiss replied in harmony.

Aether winces, “You two are asking for it.”

That seems to perk Sunshine up and she pokes her head up to look at Aether. “Is it here?”

He nods, “Yeah, came in this morning. I’ll go and get it.”

That piques the interest of both the fire ghoul and multi ghoul. “Go and get what?”

“You’ll see,” Aether responds, vaguely waving a hand at him as he walks out of the common room, walking with a purpose. Dewdrop and Swiss exchange a look, confusion and curiosity lighting up their eyes. 

“I thought we had no secrets?” Dewdrop called after Aether, his voice almost a whine.

Aether just grunts from down the hall as Rain comes into the common room, followed by Mountain. “Why on earth is Aeth walking like that?” Mountain asks as the two sit down.

“He’s a man with a mission,” Cirrius shrugs, tossing herself over the couch and landing upside down between the two other ghoulettes. 

“What kind of mission?” Phantom asks curiously, poking out from where he’d been inspecting the fireplace, causing the other ghouls to jump. 

“What the hell, Phanny! Find another place to look around in, you’re filthy!” Aurora chides from where she had been silently sitting by the window. She’s standing now, pulling out a handkerchief from her pocket as she scampers over to Phantom, carefully wiping his face clean as he stares adoringly up at his summoning mate. “You’ve really gotta stop trying to fit in weird places!”

“Dew dared me,” Phantom replied with a lopsided grin, using that as if it was the perfect excuse to go and stick his head up the fireplace. 

“Course he did,” Aurora grumbles, turning her glare on Dewdrop who raises his arms in a pliant nature. 

“He didn’t have to do it,” Dewdrop utters in defence. 

Before anyone can say anything else, Aether walks in with a pile of wires. 

“Torture device anyone?” Swiss mutters.

“And here I thought you’d be into it. Another one of your many kinks,” Sunshine snips back.

Swiss can’t stop the smirk that slips onto his lips and makes no move to deny her statement.

“Sunny, would you like to do the honours?” Aether asks, dumping the wires onto the coffee table. 

That’s all it takes for Sunshine to work through her stomach cramps and pull herself up to untangle to wires. “Shirts off boys.”

There are three torture devices in total, and Aurora and Cirruis who aren’t on their period, offer to be the neutral subject so they have someone comparing the cramps to how they actually feel. Both girls like Sunshine hook it up to them and stand in front of the fireplace as Sunshine hooks it up to Swiss. 

“Ready?” Sunshine asks, holding all three remotes. 

The three of them nod, and Sunshine turns it on, putting it on the lowest setting. Nothing happens at first and then a wave hits them. Aurora and Cirrus don’t react and Swiss glances down at his stomach. “That's it? You guys ar-” Sunshine raises the setting to three and Swiss cuts himself off mid-sentence. “Okay, I feel that-”

“That’s only level three, Swissy,” Sunshine hums, a smile on her face. “Want to keep going?”

Swiss glances at Cirrius and Aurora who are smiling and not reacting to the pain. 

“This is light,” Cirrius shrugs.

“Keep going,” Swiss states. “If they can do it, so can I.”

Sunshine smirks a little and flicks it to the fifth setting. The slightest whimper falls from Swiss as the wave hits him. Next to him, Aurora and Cirrus are unaffected, and playing rock, paper, scissors while Mountain shifts on the couch as another whimper falls from the earth ghouls lips. The earth ghoul shifts again, adjusting his crotch as he watches.

“Come on it can’t be that bad,” Dewdrop shrugs.

Sunshine turns to look at him as she switches to a higher setting. “I’d like to see you do better.”

Swiss whimpers again as his knees buckle and Mountain is at his side in an instant, a prominent outline in his pants that seems to only get tighter as Swiss whimpers again. In a flash, he’s pulled the tape holding the wires to Swiss’ torso, and hauled the multi-ghoul over his shoulder, stalking out of the room as everyone watches.

The room falls silent for a moment before Cumulus snorts. “Looks like ol’ Mounty couldn’t wait a second longer.”

The room fills with soft laughter, a guttering giggle from Aurora, a soft titter from Rain, a snicker from Cirrius, a light laugh from Sunshine, a soft chuckle from Phantom, a stomach-clutching laugh from Dewdrop and a huff of laughter from Aether. It takes a minute for everyone to collect themselves before Sunshine attaches the device to Dewdrop. She turns it on and starts at the lower levels. 

To his credit, Dewdrop does get farther than Swiss. He did go through an element change after all. Dewdrop gets to level 7 before falling to his knees. “That’s enough. Stop it. Just turn it off,” he begs.

Aurora and Cirrus give him little head pats. “You did good, Dewy.”

“I take it all back,” he grits out as Aether carefully pulls off the contraception from Dewdrop’s torso. “You are all fucking queens.”

Sunshine smiles the act of putting Swiss and Dewdrop through their misery having put her in better spirits even as her own cramps pulsate through her.

“Anyone else want to give it a go?”

๋࣭🕸🦇🕸๋࣭ ⭑Ghostober Masterlist 2024⭑ 🕸๋࣭ ⭑🦇🕸 ๋࣭

[erebusbabylon]

Threads of Fate - (Gil-galad x F! Reader) (RoP Celebrimbor x F! Reader)

CHAPTERS ONE AND TWO

Summary: This is a multi-chapter fic. I have no idea how many chapters it will be by the end.

You are engaged to High King Gil-galad. However, your life takes an unexpected turn when you are summoned to Eregion to study under a renowned master healer. As you immerse yourself in the enchanting culture of Eregion, you meets Celebrimbor, the master smith. You feel a connection with the smith that is so intense and consuming it transcends your engagement and feelings for Gil-galad. Have you found your true soul mate in Celebrimbor? As your studies deepen, so do your feelings for Celebrimbor, leading to an internal struggle between loyalty to Gil-galad and the burgeoning love you share with Celebrimbor.

Notes: I will do individual warnings for each chapter. On Ao3 I posted the chapters individually, but this will end up being like 30 chapters by the end so I will post chapters in pairs here on Tumblr. No chapter warnings for chapter one or two.

Chapter One: A Promise For the Future

The sun dipped low over the tranquil waters of the Gulf of Lune, casting a golden glow that danced on the surface. In the heart of Lindon, the air was filled with the sounds of laughter and music. The realm was celebrating a momentous occasion—the engagement of their beloved High King, Gil-galad, to his promised bride.

As you prepared for the evening’s festivities, you stood before your mirror, adjusting the delicate silver circlet that adorned your hair. It had been a birthday gift from Gil-galad the year prior. The intricate design reflected the light beautifully, and a smile spread across your face as you admired your reflection. Today marked the beginning of a new chapter in your life, one filled with love and promise. Finally, after two years of courting, you were engaged to your sweet love, Gil-galad.

Your heart swelled with joy as you thought of him. From the moment you had met, his strength and kindness had captivated you. He was not just a king but a man of honor and courage, and the thought of marrying him made you giddy. The sounds of the celebration grew louder, pulling your thoughts back to the present. Guests from far and wide had gathered, their voices mingling in a harmonious symphony of joy. Among them were noble elves, dignitaries, and friends who had traveled to share in this momentous occasion.

As you descended the stairs, you spotted Gil-galad among the crowd, his tall form radiating strength and charisma as he greeted the guests with warmth. Your heart raced at the sight of him. He turned, his gaze locking onto yours, and a radiant smile broke across his face. “There you are, my love!” he called out, his voice filled with affection. You felt a rush of warmth and pride, knowing that soon you would be by his side as his queen.

“Come, darling!” Gil-galad beckoned, extending his hand. “The night is young, and we have much to celebrate!” You took his hand, feeling the warmth of his touch, and your heart skipped a beat. You could hardly believe that you were to become the bride of the High King.

"You look beautiful, beloved." He cooed into your ear. He placed a kiss onto the back of your hand and led you into the crowd.

You celebrated with friends from far and wide late into the night. Music, laughter and the sweet smell of party food swirled in the air. Everyone was buzzing with anticipation for a royal wedding. You lost count how many glasses of wine you had, and by the end of the evening you were flushed and dizzy. You wound your way through the crowd and stepped out onto the balcony. Your flushed face was soothed by the crisp autumn air. You breathed deeply and steadied yourself on the stone balustrade.

"May I join you?" A voice from behind you spoke.

You turned to see Gil-galad standing behind you. His face was also quite flushed and he seemed a bit unsteady on his feet. You couldn't help but giggle at the state of him.

"What? Why are you laughing? Are you...are you...are you laughing at me?" His speech was slurred and his question was punctuated with a hiccup.

"I think we both over indulged this evening." You said, holding out your arm for him to steady himself with. He grabbed your arm and stepped towards you.

"Yes, I think you're right. I am sure I will regret the last four or five glasses in the morning." He said holding his head. "I have much to attend to tomorrow. I should retire to my chambers before I end up incoherent and belligerent."

You stood up on your tip toes and planted a kiss on his temple. "Would the High King like to be tucked in?" You said with a cheeky grin.

"Yes, he would like that VERY much!" He sighed heavily with intoxicated exhaustion.

You said your goodnights to the remaining guests and slipped upstairs, leaving the party to continue on without you both. You helped Gil-galad into his nightshirt and tucked him in. You leaned down and kissed him.

"Goodnight, my love. Try and get some rest." You said standing up.

He grabbed your hand and pulled you back down to him. "Please, stay." He whispered. "Please."

"We will be husband and wife soon enough, darling. Let us not do something we might regret in the morning." You said sternly.

"I could never regret becoming one with you." He said earnestly, still holding your hand tightly.

You sighed and sat down on the bed next to him. "You know its not a good idea to tempt ourselves. Remember what happened when I stayed with you in your tent on the journey to Eregion last summer?" You said raising an eyebrow.

"Oh stop, nothing happened! We kept chaste! He scoffed. "I'm not asking you to let me have you! I just want you to stay the night. Nothing more." He pleaded.

"We barely kept chaste." You said plainly. " Neither of us are in the right state of mind to make wise decisions right now. I fear if I stay the night in your bed I won't be able to resist the temptations your body ignites in me." You said squeezing his hand.

"So...my body tempts you?" Gil-galad said seductively, raising an eyebrow and smirking.

"Oh, behave you silly man! Go to bed!" You said pretending to be annoyed. You bent down and placed a final kiss on his lips. "Goodnight, my king." You whispered.

"Goodnight, my queen." He whispered back.

Chapter Two: Between Vows and Dreams

The sun streamed through the tall windows of your chamber, illuminating the carefully arranged flowers that adorned your desk. The air was fragrant with the scent of roses and lilies. The smell made you groan. You covered your head with a pillow in an attempt to dull the strong fragrance. Last night's indulgence was making itself known this morning. Your head throbbed and your mouth was dry. 

"Perhaps I could just stay in here all day..." You thought to yourself. "I can't even remember how much I drank...At least I had the mind to end the night in my own chambers..." 

Just then, a soft knock on the door pulled you from your thoughts.

You let out a loud groan and removed the pillow from your face. "Yes?" You called.

The door creaked open and your best friend Eleanior walked in. 

"You look like you had fun last night." She laughed. 

You rolled your eyes and turned over in the bed, putting your back to her. 

Eleanior sat down onto the bed next to you and put her hand on your back. "Come now, are you not a trained healer? You should know, some water and bread and you'll be right as rain." She said. "The herald will be here today. I bet he will bring news from Eregion." 

You rolled onto your back to face her. "In the frenzy of the last few weeks I had almost forgotten about Eregion." You said thoughtfully. You sat up and rubbed your eyes. "I doubt I will get word today. Its been over a month and no reply. The position is probably filled." You said with a sigh. "Besides, I sent my interest letter before Gil-galad proposed. I have a wedding to plan now. I can't just run off to Eregion. I don't think he would appreciate me leaving now..." Your voice trailed off. 

"Oh, stop! You can not pass up the opportunity to study under the best elven healer in Middle-Earth! Imagine the knowledge you could bring back to the elves of Lindon! The High King would be remiss to deny your chance at such an education."  Eleanior stood up and walked over to the wooden desk in the corner and grabbed the pitcher and glass that sat upon it. "Here, drink some water, get dressed and then meet me in the courtyard. We have a herald to keep watch for!" She said excitedly. 

You peeled yourself from your bed and stumbled to the desk. After drinking a full glass of water you began to feel a bit better. While you were getting ready you remembered Gil-galad’s pleading last night. You blushed remembering how he begged you to stay with him. Your heart fluttered knowing he found such comfort in your presence. 

You decided it would be a good idea to check on him before meeting Eleanior in the courtyard. He had been much worse off than you last night, and you were positive he was feeling the consequences of his over indulgence today.

You left your chambers in search of your groom-to-be, hoping he had made it to his meetings this morning. You found him in the council chamber with two of his advisors.

"Glad to see you looking so well!" You said cheerfully.

He shot a you a sideways glance, brow raised in feigned irritation. "Why would I not be well?' He said trying to sound dumbfounded.

You rolled your eyes playfully. "I am meeting Eleanior in the courtyard. We...well she will be eagerly awaiting the arrival of your herald. She is convinced today will be the day I finally hear back from Eregion."

Gil-galad turned to his advisors and spoke. "Could you please give us a moment?"

His advisors bowed and left the room.

The High King walked over to you and grabbed both of your hands in his.

"Why do you doubt your merit?" His eyebrows furrowed in concern.

"It's not that I doubt my merit. I think I would be a great candidate, I doubt my ability leave Lindon...circumstances have changed since I applied to study with the master healer." You said.

"How so?" He asked.

"Oh, please darling. Do you really want Lindon's future queen to take leave to Eregion for months and months? Our wedding would have to be postponed. I know how eager you are for our wedding night to come...I genuinely think you might die if we have to push it back." You said smirking.

Gil-galad looked at you thoughtfully for a moment. He smiled gently before bringing your hand to his lips and placing a soft kiss upon the back of it. "We could always marry in a small ceremony, consummate the marriage, and when you return have the reception." He suggested sheepishly.

"As enticing as that sounds, I think many in Lindon would be disappointed. The people are expecting, rightfully so, a large royal wedding. Anyway, this whole conversation is meaningless. I haven't heard back from Eregion, and there is no guarantee that I will. If and when I get word from the master healer in Eregion, we can revisit this conversation." You reached up and cupped his face in your hands. "Thank you for always supporting me, but let's leave the subject of my studies in Eregion alone until we are forced to revisit it."

The High King bent down and kissed you deeply. Every brush of his lips was tender yet fervent, a blend of sweetness and intensity that left you breathless.

A sharp knock on the door jolted you both back to reality.

"My king, we have many matters to discuss before I must take my leave at mid-day." His advisors voice was brusque.

Gil-galad gave you one last tender kiss before pulling away from you.

"You may enter." He called out.

As his advisors filed back into the council chamber you gave a small head bow to Gil-galad and took your leave to find Eleanior.

[pascaloverx]

STARVE

Summary: You lost your husband some time ago while he served as a gladiator for Emperors Geta and Caracalla. General Acacius saved you from becoming an object of pleasure for the emperors. Since then, he has taken you as his mistress. In your free time, you became a disciple of Ravi, the healer, dedicating yourself to tending to wounded gladiators. All seemed to be in perfect harmony until Hanno, a gladiator driven by a thirst for vengeance, crossed your path.

Author's Note: And the gods said: Starve will be a multi-chapter fanfiction (I hope readers will follow it all the way through). Without further ado, the characters belong to Ridley Scott's Gladiator II universe, though there will be significant deviations from the film. Historical accuracy regarding life in the Roman Empire may not always be strictly observed, so I hope you can overlook that. Yes, this story revolves around a love triangle, but I will strive to satisfy everyone. This fanfiction will include adult content, violence, and potentially coarse language. Enjoy!

two four

THREE

Something ominous looms on the horizon. For days, you have been meticulously avoiding both Acacius and Hanno—a strategy that, while effective thus far, has been anything but easy. The rumors reaching you suggest that Hanno has been pestering Ravi incessantly, demanding your presence once more. Ravi, clearly exasperated, has taken to openly complaining about being forced to mediate between your "amorous entanglements," as he puts it, since your self-imposed distance began.

You had thought your withdrawal would carry no real consequences, yet this morning proved otherwise. A messenger from the emperors arrived at your doorstep, summoning you to attend the games at the Colosseum. Apparently, Emperor Geta himself wishes to extend his gratitude for your exemplary work in tending to the gladiators—his and his brother's greatest source of entertainment.

"If you wish, I could say you are unwell," Ravi murmurs as the two of you make your way toward the Colosseum.

"I cannot risk displeasing the emperors while my standing with Acacius remains fragile," you reply, touched by Ravi's unwavering support.

"You should consider mending things with one of the men in your life, for your own sake," Ravi suggests, his tone serious, ever the wise counselor.

"Hanno remains tethered to the memory of his late wife, while General Acacius refuses to release me from our former arrangement. It seems there is no simple resolution," you respond, your voice carrying the weight of your predicament, as the imposing silhouette of the Colosseum looms ever closer.

"It would be far simpler if you weren’t so stubborn. General Acacius may no longer be the ideal choice, but you and Hanno share more in common than you’re willing to admit," Ravi says with an irritating air of wisdom.

"It would be far simpler if you ceased your obstinance. General Acacius may no longer seem ideal, yet you and Hanno share far more in common than you are willing to acknowledge," Ravi remarked, his tone laden with that infuriating wisdom he so often wielded. However, the truth stands��your union with your late husband was forged more upon the bonds of friendship than the fires of passion. Before his commitment to you, he was entangled in an affair with Emperor Caracalla. That, above all, is the most profound distinction between yourself and Hanno. You grieve the loss of a cherished companion who became your husband by circumstance, whereas Hanno mourns his wife, who was, perhaps, the great love of his life.

"I shall take your counsel into consideration, my old friend, yet I beg of you to help me survive at least this day," you say, casting an apprehensive glance toward Ravi. He halts before you, placing a gentle kiss upon your forehead.

"Years ago, I vowed to your husband that I would care for you, and I shall not falter now. May the Gods watch over us," Ravi murmurs solemnly, his voice a quiet prayer as the two of you resume your path toward the arena, where the gladiators are already assembling for the commencement of the games.

Your gaze instinctively searches for Hanno, betraying a desire you would rather not acknowledge. His eyes, almost alight amidst the throng of gladiators, lock onto yours, his expression that of a man consumed by fury. You and Ravi did not take the same path as the gladiators, so it would not be prudent for you to approach him. Yet, from afar, you watch him with a quiet intensity. The courage you lack to bridge the distance is overshadowed by the boldness he possesses to close it himself.

"I shall give you a moment," Ravi murmurs, stepping aside as if sensing the gravity of the encounter. "Do not forget—Hanno may not leave the arena alive today. Be mindful to show kindness, for this could be your last exchange with him." Before you can fully process Ravi's warning, Hanno reaches you with surprising swiftness, all but sweeping you away with his commanding presence.

Hanno swiftly seized your waist with firm hands, nearly lifting you off the ground, and guided you to a secluded corner. His fury was unmistakable, reflected in the dominant grip he maintained on your waist, his hold firm enough to suggest he had no intention of letting you escape. "Have you lost your senses?" you demanded as he pressed you back against one of the great columns of the coliseum.

"I could not allow you to slip away from me again," Hanno replied, his voice low but resolute, his eyes scanning your surroundings with the precision of a predator ensuring no one dared approach.

"Our separation was necessary," you say with some difficulty, the closeness of Hanno's body to yours a maddening temptation that clouds your thoughts.

"Your master forbade you from interacting with me, and you simply obeyed, didn’t you?" Hanno says in a low, furious tone. His anger is not just visible but palpable, almost suffocating.

You seize his face with your hand, your nails pressing dangerously close to his neck. "Say once more that Acacius is my master, and I shall tear your throat out," you threaten, your voice laced with an inexplicable fury. Yet, Hanno seems to relish this, for he steps even closer, his lips curling into a wicked smile.

"I missed you, healer," Hanno replies, his eyes holding an unusual tenderness just moments before he claims your lips in a tumultuous kiss. It is as though he is consuming you, devouring you with his kiss, seeking to capture you entirely while his hands map your body with desperate reverence.

If the two of you were caught, it would mean your undoing, the end of both your lives. Yet, some part of you whispers that it would be worth it. In truth, if death awaited you for this, a kiss alone would not suffice. Each second his tongue dances with yours stirs a longing so deep it borders on madness. You yearn for him to take you, right here and now, for the feel of him within you seems the only desire worthy of risking everything. "Do not die today, gladiator," you murmur against his lips as they part, allowing you both to catch your breath.

"It will not be I who dies today, healer," Hanno says, his voice steady, before capturing your lips once more, this time with tenderness rather than desire. His grip on you tightens, as though he wishes to sink his hands into your very being, to keep your body close to his for all eternity.

"I only hope you can forgive me for what I am about to do," he murmurs, his breath warm against your ear. Before you can respond, one of the gladiators calls his name, and he steps away. An unease settles in your chest, fear creeping in as you wonder what he might be planning. Yet, the weight of your obligations presses against your thoughts—you must make your way to the emperors without delay.

"For what reason is the healer present here?" Lucilla, seated beside Acacius, questions sharply as you approach the section where they, the emperors, and other guests await the spectacle.

"The healer is my guest, Lucilla," Emperor Geta interjects swiftly, extending his hand toward you in expectation. Dutifully, you step forward and kiss it. Moments later, Emperor Caracalla mimics his brother’s gesture, and you lean in to kiss his hand as well.

As you rise, your gaze catches the familiar figure of Dondus, the small monkey, bounding toward you with recognition in his bright eyes. Memories of the time you were compelled to remain near the emperors, so Caracalla could indulge his desires with your late husband, flood back unbidden. "He still remembers you," Caracalla exclaims, his voice carrying an unusual note of delight as he grasps your hand.

"It is an honor to be here," you reply evenly, though the weight of his touch stirs emotions you work hard to suppress. Behind your composed words lingers the haunting memory of the cold efficiency with which Caracalla and his brother had ordered your husband's death—right here in this very arena.

"We have been separated by the misfortunes imposed upon us by the Gods, but I believe a new chapter is now opening for us, as your skills as a healer have not gone unnoticed. Hands as talented as yours deserve to care for the well-being of emperors, my dear," Geta declares, his gaze lingering on you with a fervent intensity that borders on desire. You struggle to mask the fear swirling within you, wondering what fate the Gods have in store for you next.

The weight of his words settles heavily on your chest, but before you can gather your thoughts, General Acacius rises abruptly and moves toward the two of you. Your hand lightly grazes the fabric of his attire, halting his approach. "Is there a matter of concern, General?" Emperor Caracalla inquires, his tone laced with an air of amusement, as his fingers idly stroke Dondus, who appears entirely at ease in his presence.

"There is no matter of concern, Emperor Caracalla," General Acacius responds, his hand firmly clasping yours against his chest beneath the folds of his vestment, his piercing gaze directed at the two emperors with the weight of an unspoken warning.

“Our most illustrious general appears perturbed that we extended an invitation to his mistress to grace these games in our company without first seeking his counsel,” Emperor Geta declares with an air of calculated provocation, his words laden with mockery. The faintest smirk curls his lips, as if relishing the tension he seeks to sow.

"Ah, brother, such concerns would trouble him only if he were entangled with her. Yet rumors abound that they no longer seek solace in each other's embrace and that she is no longer charged with tending to the wounds of our noble General," Emperor Caracalla remarks, his words clearly meant to provoke. However, his statement seems to have unsettled Lucilla, who shifts restlessly in her seat.

"Brother, remember that we ought not lend credence to idle gossip," Emperor Geta interjects, rising with an air of authority. "If our esteemed General Acacius insists that we disregard his lover, let him convince us that their bond remains intact. Otherwise, let him return to his rightful place beside his wife, and allow my brother and me the honor of tending to the fair healer." As Geta’s words echo, Acacius turns his gaze toward you, his eyes locking with yours in a silent exchange. Without hesitation, he pulls your face toward his, as though intending to kiss you before the eyes of all assembled.

"Do not sacrifice your marriage for me," you murmur, your voice trembling as the weight of the moment threatens to bring tears to your eyes. The inevitability of what you feared is now unfolding before you—Acacius can no longer shield you.

"You are worthy of such a sacrifice, mea domina," General Acacius murmurs near your ear, his hand gently caressing your face. His touch carries a tenderness that momentarily threatens to weaken your resolve. Yet, you grasp his hands, steadying yourself, and move them away from your face, refusing to yield to the moment. There is a depth to your bond with Acacius, a connection forged in unspoken understanding, but you cannot bring yourself to jeopardize him.

"Perhaps it would be wiser to let the healer decide where she wishes to remain," you say, your voice steady, masking the longing within you to leave this place with Acacius. Turning toward Emperor Geta, who now sits observing the exchange with keen interest alongside his brother, Caracalla. Without hesitation, Geta seizes the opportunity, pulling you onto his lap with a self-assured ease that leaves no doubt of his authority.

Your gaze meets that of General Acacius, whose displeasure grows ever more evident. His clenched fists and the tension in his posture betray the storm brewing within him. "I believe the games are about to begin, dear General Acacius," Emperor Geta states with a sly smile, his hand firmly resting on your waist to solidify his claim. "It would be most appropriate for you to take your seat and enjoy the spectacle." His words carry a subtle provocation, a challenge cloaked in politeness.

Acacius lingers, his body taut with restraint as though weighing the consequences of striking an emperor in defense of his pride. Just as the tension threatens to boil over, Macrinus approaches, his demeanor lively and oblivious to the undercurrents. "Ah, are we all ready to witness the might of my beast? My gladiator returns to the arena today!" Macrinus exclaims, his excitement cutting through the charged atmosphere like a blade.

Acacius hesitates, his head tilting as though he is torn, unwilling to move from your side while you remain seated on Emperor Geta’s lap. Yet, Lucilla intervenes, her steps measured as she approaches her husband. She takes his hand with a quiet resolve, guiding him back to her side. A flicker of disappointment stirs within you, faint but undeniable. What else could you have expected? Acacius has always belonged to her, to duty, to the empire. He has never truly been yours.

The tension lingers only a moment longer before the spectacle claims everyone’s attention. The gates to the coliseum creak open, and the gladiators march into the arena. Yet something is amiss. Their faces are obscured, smeared with what appears to be blood, masking their identities. For those with inattentive eyes, it becomes nearly impossible to distinguish one from another. But not for you. No, Hanno’s eyes—those piercing, tempestuous eyes—are burned into your memory like the sharp point of a blade embedded deep into flesh. Even amid the chaos, they find you, unyielding and unforgettable.

"Macrinus, what are the gladiators scheming?" Emperor Caracalla asks, his words slurred as he drinks from his goblet, already appearing too inebriated to speak coherently.

"My esteemed Emperor Caracalla, I have no knowledge of their schemes, but I trust it is all in service of your entertainment," Macrinus responds, his gaze fixed intently on the gladiators below. He observes them with a sharpness that contrasts Caracalla's indifference, his expression unreadable.

Your eyes instinctively seek out General Acacius, silently willing him to understand that something is amiss. He meets your gaze, his brow furrowed as though catching the silent warning you convey.

"You seem unsettled, healer," Emperor Geta murmurs into your ear, his voice sending a shiver down your spine. "I am not accustomed to watching gladiators face one another, Emperor," you reply, steadying your voice. "I am more familiar with mending their wounds when they survive." The truth, however, weighs heavier on your mind—Hanno is planning something, and whatever it is, it may cost Acacius his life. A fate you cannot allow.

"Do not fret," Geta coos, lifting your chin with a deliberate gentleness that feels almost mocking. His eyes search yours, a predator relishing his control. "Guards, increase vigilance near the gladiators!" he commands suddenly, his voice sharp and resonant, slicing through the murmurs of the spectators.

"Emperor, it may not be wise to leave yourself so unguarded," General Acacius interjects, his tone firm yet controlled as he observes the guards dispersing to obey Geta's orders.

"And what greater protection could Rome offer than you, General?" Geta retorts with a smug smile, his grip on you tightening slightly, as though to assert his dominance. The tension is palpable, yet it is quickly eclipsed by the spectacle unfolding in the arena. The gates groan open once more, and three lions emerge, their emaciated forms a testament to their hunger. Their roars echo across the coliseum, a feral sound that sets the crowd alight with excitement. The gladiators ready themselves, their movements deliberate, each one measured and precise.

Your heart tightens as Hanno shouts to the other gladiators, "Remember our plan! Our enemy lies far beyond the arena!" Surely, he is plotting something, yet his precision in leading the gladiators against the lions is extraordinary. It is as if Hanno is channeling his spirit animal, his movements instinctive and deliberate.

Blood is everywhere—some gladiators brutally slaughtered by the lions. Two of the beasts have already been defeated when a revolt begins, chaos erupting as the third lion aids the gladiators in breaking through the arena gates. Suddenly, the tension in the air thickens. Panic spreads as the guards scramble to escort the emperors away from the scene.

Caught in the fray, you find yourself swept along with Emperors Geta and Caracalla, fate conspiring against you. In the madness, you lose sight of Acacius amidst the swarm of guards and gladiators. The tumult escalates into full-blown chaos until a voice pierces through the din, crying out, "Protect the Emperor!"

Before you can react, you feel the sharp pain of a blade slicing through your skin—or perhaps plunging into it. You cannot tell. Dazed, you glance down to see your blood staining your garments, and when you lift your gaze, you meet the eyes of your assailant. Hanno's eyes. You are certain.

The attack meant for Emperor Geta has struck you instead, delivered by the very man who has awakened feelings you dare not name. Tears well in your eyes as you feel your strength waning, your consciousness slipping into darkness.

[19spicykitty93]

Musical Headcanons

Okay, so I recently got the idea in my head that Wilbur plays the drums, and that got me thinking. Most of the Robinsons probably know how to play at least one instrument, so here are my random ass musical headcanons. 😅

🎶

Cornelius: Idk why, but he can play the harmonica. And the maracas, duh. Can't hold a tune to save his life.

Franny: A mutli-talented queen. She can play the piano, the guitar, the cello, the upright bass, the trumpet, the saxaphone, the flute, the piccolo, she can sing, and (idk why) can play the banjo. (Also since I headcanon she has a doctorate in music, she has to know how to play the instruments she teaches 👀)

Wilbur: Also a multi-talented king, he can sing, play the guitar, the ukelele, and the drums. Also dabbles with the piano, but it's not his favorite.

Bud: Mr. Tambourine man over here.

Lucille: Has an incredible singing voice, but nobody knows because she hardly ever sings. Also plays a mean harmonica.

Fritz: Also can't hold a tune, but can somehow play the kazoo.

Petunia: 🤨

Tallulah: Not really a musical person, but she can play the flute.

Lazlo: Idk why, but he can play the digeridoo.

Billie: She can play the guitar quite beautifully, and also has a beautiful singing voice. She and Franny will spontaneously start singing random harmonies while doing mundane tasks. It's quite hypnotizing...

Joe: While not a man of many words, he can sing very well, but only in front of Billie. He's also a very talented poet/lyricist.

Spike and Dimitri: Idk. They're probably the ones asking if mayonnaise is an instrument. 🤣

[unbidden-yidden-deactivated20240]

Jewish Song of the Day #32: Miriam Haneviah

Comments:

Shavua tov! I hope you all had a nice, restful Shabbat and that its sweetness lasts you through the whole week.

I love this song, not just because it's Rabbi Deborah Sacks Mintz, but also because it's a feminist counterpart to Eliyahu Hanavi.

This is Rabbi Sacks Mintz's explanation:

In the 1980s, poet and liturgist Rabbi Leila Gal Berner composed a beautiful poetic midrash on one particular narrative moment we read in Exodus: Miriam’s role in leading the women of her community through the sea from the marginalization and oppression of slavery and into the unknown wilderness of freedom. An exploration of her beautiful poetry must begin with a framing of that very Exodus verse: וַתִּקַּח֩ מִרְיָ֨ם הַנְּבִיאָ֜ה אֲח֧וֹת אַהֲרֹ֛ן אֶת־הַתֹּ֖ף בְּיָדָ֑הּ וַתֵּצֶ֤אןָ כָֽל־הַנָּשִׁים֙ אַחֲרֶ֔יהָ בְּתֻפִּ֖ים וּבִמְחֹלֹֽת׃ “Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her in dance with timbrels” (Exodus 15:20) Her curiosity with this verse, combined with a desire to see women prophets and leaders recognized more broadly in ritual moments, drove her to compose the poem we today know as Miriam HaNeviah. Written with a rhythmic cadence designed to match the traditional Eliyahu HaNavi melody, her hope was to raise Miriam up in the moment of havdalah. The lyrics to the poem itself highlight Miriam’s leadership as multi-faceted: strengthening the the world’s song through her dance, repairing the world through her song, and ultimately, bringing on the waters of redemption only with the partnership of the broader community. I was deeply inspired by Rabbi Berner, as well as one of my collaborative colleagues Rabbi Ariel Root Wolpe, to continue this process of creative midrash by adding to the story R’ Berner began. She wrote a new text to be sung to a traditional melody, and I wrote a new melody to be sung to that very text. R’ Wolpe herself writes feminist poetry exploring the role of Miriam and, through the context of our hevruta studying women ancestral leaders in prayer and song, unearthed this new melody from inside my own heart and soul. From a compositional standpoint, the chorus is the main event of this song. Reading “bimheira b’yameinu” - quickly, in our days - there is an urgency to the hope and prayer embedded in this poem for redemption, and thus the melody itself mirrors that urgency, ascending upwards on the word “bimheira.” Other compositional tactics I used regarding such manners of word-painting, include a dance-like groove underscoring each verse, in recognition of the repetition of the phrase “tirkod itanu - dance with us.” But by far the most essential creative component of this song is that it was recorded exclusively with women. My artistic team for this recording consisted of Rabbi Ariel Root Wolpe, who I mentioned above, as well as Chava Mirel and Elana Arian, two of my long time musical partners who themselves have dedicated their lives in service to the Jewish people through composing, performing, and leading new Jewish music around the world - as both ritual leaders and as women, wives, and mothers. We all felt a deep connection to the women who came before us - including Miriam, as well as the women rabbis and musicians who have influenced our work and lives since - and poured this inspiration into the project. The lush harmonies in this recording are designed to be representative of the voices of generations of women in prayer, song, and leadership.

And here are the lyrics:

מִרְיָם הַנְּבִיאָה עֹז וְזִמְרָה בְּיָדָהּ בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵינוּ הִיא תְּבִיאֵנ אֶל מֵי הַיְשׁוּעָה מִרְיָם תִּרְקֹד אִתָּנוּ לְהַגְדִּיל זִמְרַת עוֹלָם מִרְיָם תִּרְקֹד אִתָּנוּ לְתַקֵּן אֶת-הָעוֹלָם בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵינוּ הִיא תְּבִיאֵנוּ אֶל מֵי הַיְשׁוּעָה 𝑀𝑖𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑚 𝐻𝑎𝑁𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑎ℎ 𝑜𝑧 𝑣’𝑧𝑖𝑚𝑟𝑎 𝑏’𝑦𝑎𝑑𝑎ℎ (x2) 𝐵𝑖𝑚ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟𝑎 𝑏’𝑦𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑢 ℎ𝑖 𝑡𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑢 𝑒𝑙 𝑚𝑒𝑖 ℎ𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑠ℎ𝑢𝑎 (x2) 𝑀𝑖𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑚, 𝑡𝑖𝑟𝑘𝑜𝑑 𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑢 𝑙’ℎ𝑎𝑔𝑑𝑖𝑙 𝑧𝑖𝑚𝑟𝑎𝑡 𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑚 𝑀𝑖𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑚, 𝑡𝑖𝑟𝑘𝑜𝑑 𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑢 𝑙’𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑛 𝑒𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑚 𝐵𝑖𝑚ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟𝑎 𝑏’𝑦𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑢 ℎ𝑖 𝑡𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑢 𝑒𝑙 𝑚𝑒𝑖 ℎ𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑠ℎ𝑢𝑎 (x2) Miriam, the prophetess strength and song are in her hands Soon, and in our time, she will bring us To the waters of redemption Miriam will dance with us to strengthen the world’s song Miriam will dance with us to heal the world Soon, and in our time, she will bring us To the waters of redemption

[Source: bandcamp]

[dustedmagazine]

Wussy — Cincinnati Ohio (Shake It)

Over the last quarter century, Wussy has quietly built an impressive catalogue, eight albums including this one that span heartfelt alt.Americana, fiery jangle rock and an almost shoegaze-y wall-of-sheen sound. Led by Chuck Cleaver, once of twang punk’s Ass Ponys, and Lisa Walker, the band can sound like Eleventh Dream Day or a Sally Timms-forward Mekons (Jon Langford painted the cover art). In the silvery fog of “Desperation A.M., you might catch an echo of Yo La Tengo’s Georgia Hubley, but in the more strident opener, “The Great Divide” you’re more likely to hit on the Feelies side project Wild Carnation (Brenda Sauter played a show with Wussy in early November). Wussy touches a lot of solid indie-to-country rock bases, while remaining very much its own thing.

The songs vary a good deal depending on whether Cleaver or Walker sings lead. Their voices are very different, for one thing, Cleaver’s a wobbly, weatherbeaten, country tenor and Walker’s a cool, enveloping, faintly disembodied vehicle for dream pop. Both write songs, too, so if the writer is also the main singer, that may account for some of the divergence, too. But in any case, just to take the singles, “Sure as the Sun,” one of Cleaver’s, reels and bucks like a revival tune run amok on a wild horse. His voice is cracked and wizened, but fully capable of conveying both tune and emotion. The guitars crash, the bass thunders, the drums wallop, but an aura of resignation pervades. “And if there is a heaven, I don’t think that’s where I’ll head, I’d rather stick around and hang with you instead,” he sings, linking the mundane and the spiritual in a very Wussy way.

Walker takes the lead in the other single, “Inhaler” a slashing country rocker suffused in clouds of dread. Her voice is clean and dry in the verse, wobbling only a little with vibrato. But it’s in the multi-voiced chorus that she comes into her own. “It’s a swing and a miss and our hero is down today, and I check the brakes, and I fill the tank, his tornado is pulling away,” she trills, the main vocal line crisscrossed with descants and counterparts. There’s something giddy, something a little desperate about how this song hurtles forward, flinging itself off precipices only to be buoyed by clouds of harmony.

The pedal steel is one other factor that nudges these songs away from indie rock and into Americana, and therein hangs a tale. Wussy’s long-time pedal steel player Jon Erhardt died partway through the recording process, having completed just two songs. It’s him you can hear on the bare and ruminative “The Night We Missed the Horror Show” and on “Days and Hours”’ whirling torch song. Travis Talbert finished the job, adding the lovely glow of pedal steel to atmospheric “Desperation A.M.” and playing on three other tracks. Both add density and feeling to the Wussy sound, a subtle but essential. Likewise, when bassist Mark Messerly switches to accordion on “The Ghosts Keep Me Alive” and, later, “Disaster About You,” it tips the sound in a deeper, richer, more countrified direction.

Wussy is a bit of a cult favorite now, and long-time fans will undoubtedly have different reactions to this late period recording. Still, even coming to them fresh and without any prior connection, the sound is wonderfully rich and varied and the lyrics provocative without preciousness. If, like me, you’ve come all this way without running into Wussy, maybe it’s time to check in.  

Jennifer Kelly

[colorisbyshe]

Monthly Music 08/24 Hehehe

Albums/Multi Song Section:

Taemin released a mini album. Honestly, listen to all of it, even the more ballad-y fare but honestly... Sexy In the Air is a track EVERYONE should give a shot. It's what it says on the tin--sexy. Highlights: Horizon, if you like Kavinsky but want a kpop, energy-infused twist, try this out! (ITS A REACH BUT!!). Crush has some MJ-esque delivery that is very enthralling. Deju Vu is for the people who want to feel songs vibrate in their bones and in their [redacted]

Tinashe released her follow-up to the (superior) BB/Angel! My faves are No Simulation, Thirsty, When I Get You Alone, + No Broke Boys. Chill, alt R&B. Ethereal, sensual. Tinashe and Taemin should collab or at least do choreo to each other's songs tbh. NBB is a modern reimagining of No Scrubs

Foster the People is baack. BIASED REVIEW because I'm a longterm fan. See You in the Afterlife (oddly cunty??), Feed Me (cuntier except some of the instrumental could've been produced on Gene Belcher's random sound keyboard), Paradise State of Mind (Tame Impala knock off, mayhaps), & Glitchzig (discordant, extraterrestrial).

Fromis_9, a kpop group, has had a mini release. Here's a mini review: Supersonic & Beat the Heat have a throwback appeal. Simple, joyful pop with a non-obtrusive vocal power behind it. Talent wins <3

JPEGMAFIA released a new album and it's... beyond explanation? Alt hip hop with an amazing infusion of rock, gospel, dance elements. Dark, funny, slick as hell. Highlights: i scream this in the mirror before i interact with anyone, sin miedo (my fave, I think), don't rely on other men, vulgar display of power, Exmilitary (great use of samples), JPEGULTRA! (denzel!!!!!!!!! HORNS!!!!!!!!1), either on or off the drugs (one of my faves, absolutely), & loop it and leave it. If you're like "that's a lot of songs," okay well the entire album is good. 9.9/10 album

Recent Releases:

"Feel The Way" Peggy Gou. Just a solid dance track.

Ibibio Sound Machine's Black Notes is groovy and vocally ascendant.

"Leave" Low Hanging Fruits is Krock that feels straight out like... mid 2000s alt-pop rock. Just lively and lovely.

My blog title was taken from a Chase & Status song, so of course I need to shout out their collab with Stormzy, "Backbone." Just goes hard, is grimy as hell, and goes WUB WUB.

Want something that goes harder? Petit Brabancon, Japanese metal supergroup, is back and "Gankou" is... growling and intense and also just kinda fun.

Not here for music that might be a bit scary? "Edge of Saturday Night" The Blessed Madonna, Kylie Minogue is some eurodance to take the edge off.

If you like that track, try "Urallineed" by Jazzi Bobbi for some vaguely dancy indie pop. Love her voice.

This could've gone on the album review but honestly... Monkey Majik's new album is kinda Maroon 5-y and doesn't deserve a full shout out but give HYLMN a listen if you want to hear a fun, misremembered rip off of Blur's Song 2. Also, I guess the song Imposter.

"Check" by Flo is like... the kpop tracks inspired by Tinashe but... not kpop. Does that make sense? American, Fifth Harmony-esque song that feels like a kpop GG ripping off American Tinashe. A perfect feedback loop. Delectable.

"Out of Touch" Four Year Strong. Throwback, pop punk sound with a modern flourish.

"Nissan Altima" Doechii. As a Nissan driver, I had to rec this lmao. Great song, great flow, GET YA TITS SUCKED

"Tokyo" Sable Hills. Screamo :3 The guitar fucks

Older tracks: Keep Away by Carly Rae Jepsen (song to sway to), Bloom by Macico (the Japanese sound Harry styles tried to rip off), Thanks for Your Time by Gotye (dour and sensual) and Miss Fatty by Million Stylez (music to shake your ass to)

Posting this early because I know more music (Chungha, Bree Runway) is coming and uhhhh this post is already too full