#nope. Winslow Leach!!!!

[liquidorcard]

When Lily said to "name 50 villians" who are "sympathetic," that was too easy. But now that we've graduated to Lily's bullshit moving of the goal post . . . Well, being annoying is one of my special interests, so.

Naming 50 villians who, "have a point, successfully navigate still being a villian, and are well written."

(Extra challenge: trying not to repeat any of the ones Crim and Ant have already named. Sorry if I repeat one by accident.)

1. Frank, The Wasp Factory by Ian Banks

2. Brandy Alexander, Invisible Monsters by Chunk Palahniuk

3. AM, I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream by Halan Ellison

4. Willy Loman, Death of a Salesman

5. Shylock, The Merchant of Venace

6. Beloved, Beloved by Toni Morrison

7. The Cenobites, The Hell Bound Heart, Hellraiser (1987), Hellraiser 2, Hellraiser (2022)

8. Starro, The Suicide Squad

9. Can't name this character without spoilers for Invincible, but the character who ends up with their brain in a jar at the end, Invincible (comic)

10. Goff, Peacemaker

11. Rorschach, Watchman (comic)

12. Ozymandias, Watchman (comic)

13. The Comedian, Watchman (comic)

14. Can't name this character again because spoilers, but the last person Hughie fights, The Boys (comic)

15. Mr. Freeze, Batman (comic and animated series)

16. Christiane, Eyes Without a Face

17. Ryu, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance

18. Dong-jin, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance

19. Lee Woo-jin, Old Boy (2003)

20. Lee Geum-ja, Lady Vengance

21. Curtis Everett, Snowpiercer (film)

22. The Assassin, Mad God

23. "Su-yeon/Eun-joo", A Tale of Two Sisters

24. "Pyramid Head", Silent Hill 2

25. Alessa, Silent Hill 1

26. Claudia Wolf, Silent Hill 3

27. Lady Hideko, The Handmaiden

28. Jennifer, Jennifer's Body

29. Robert Neville, I Am Legend by Richard Matherson

30. The Machines, The Inevitable Conflict by Isaac Asimov

31. Master, Reason by Isaac Asimov

32. Hanna, Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage

33. The Artist, Mermaid in a Manhole

34. Red Death, The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allen Poe

35. Father Paul, Midnight Mass

36. Death, Fall of the House of Usher

37. Death, The Seventh Seal

38. Hell, No Exit

39. Winslow Leach, Phantom of the Paradise

40. May, May

41. Jean Jacket, Nope

42. Hayley, Hard Candy

43. Red, Us

44. Violet Hubbard, Penance by Eliza Clark

45. Charles Kinbote, Pale Fire by Vladimir Nobokov

46. You, House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

47. Tess Clark, Haunted by Chunk Palahniuk

48. "Oba Yozo", No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai

49. Asami, Audition (Novel and film)

50. Arsriel, His Dark Material by Philip Pullman.

A few of these are malicious compliance-- but Lily made the rules, not me. I made sure to scatter them in the list, so, good luck to her picking them out considering she only watches cartoons, lol.

[talenlee]

Story Pile: The Phantom Of the Paradise

I love musicals, all the greats, all the classics, like Once More With Feeling, The Muppet Treasure Island and Hotline Miami. Musicals are a form that allows for enjoyable storytelling through music that in many cases, done well, cannot be anything but themselves. And this? This is a musical. This is a musical as hell.

Before going any further, though, we need to talk about a Spoiler Warning, and also a Content Warning. The story of Phantom of the Paradise is one with a plot-critical twist that kind of changes the genre of what you’re watching, and I mean, I’m gunna talk about it, it’s kinda hard not to. I’m also going to lay down a content warning because this is a movie about the music industry as framed as exploitatively as possible, you’re going to see a lot of, like, comically unrealistic depictions of sexual assault, exploitation and some murder and drugs? It’s weird, I’d say it’s got one of the more PG representations of serial gang rape I’ve seen in a movie but isn’t that a ludicrous thing to say on the face of it.

If none of that sounds like stuff you wanna hear about, or you want to know if the movie is good without spoilers, I can tell you I enjoyed it and it was pleasantly weird as experiences go.

Phantom of the Paradise is a movie that seems to be baiting you into thinking of it as a 70s rock opera version of The Phantom of the Opera and maybe it is, but it doesn’t seem to be, because in the first thirty seconds this movie tells you who the main character is and what the story is about, and then the next hour is about showing a sort of hyper-stylised 1970s live action cartoon about the music industry, and how much it sucks.

The story introduces you to Swan, and positions you in his eyes, then shows you how he follows the story of Winslow Leach, a composer whose rock opera rendition of Faust swan steals, then exploits over and over in a series of abusive exchanges.  Then the blood contract shows up and the supernatural elements of the story stand up straight so you can see them and you remember those first thirty seconds.

This is the story of how Swan dies to Winslow Leach, a person he made, because of a contract with the devil, and how this is pretty much exactly how the music industry works.

If I was a smarter and more clever boy more familiar with movies like, as cinema, then I might be able to say I had something about putting this work in its greater context. Like this guy, Brian De Palma, he’s made other movies. I haven’t seen them. They’re all full of references to Alfred Hitchcock, I’m told, and also, since I can’t remember seeing any of those, that’s probably not that useful a detail to know either. When I first heard the singing I went: Oh yeah those aren’t native English speakers, maybe this is something like Prisencolinensinainciusol, which is a point where an Italian performer duplicated the feeling and cadence of American English without actually speaking the language.

Thing is, that’s not related either, because, nope, this is a story in the Italian giallo tradition. I don’t know what that is either, it’s just a thing I heard. I could tell you, you know, oh, yeah, I’ve heard of things and you’ve heard of things, behold our shared interest in this movie.

Basically I warn you ahead of time my opinion of this movie is coming from the perspective of someone who can’t tell you about some kind of deeper genius or some critical relevance or the importance of the key use of the frame. Anything on that front you get out of me is going to be reheated and warmed over and otherwise you’re getting the opinion of Just Some Guy who in the greater context of educational perspectives on film theory is pretty much rock stupid. 

Oh uh anyway, holy hell, this movie looks like it was created to be a story about men by someone who was only partially aware of men existing. Maybe it’s just how masculinity has evolved over time, maybe it’s the limitations of the movie’s ratings or forms of the time or whatever, but this movie is incredibly queer. Oh sure, there are piles of women in a state best described as Bisexual Writhing, and there’s a recreation of the Psycho shower scene (that doesn’t count as knowing about Alfred Hitchcock, come on, everyone knows that one) which instead of murdering with a knife involves threatening another man by claiming his mouth with a plunger, which somehow manages to be gayer than just stabbing him, but, but, you know, it’s not a movie with anything you’d call a queer subtext.

Oh I guess there is the way a guy records naked video of himself and Satan says he needs to keep watching it so he can appreciate how beautiful he is? The way that two men fight over a woman but only how that woman can express their vision of art? The way that Winslow despite being a scrawny dork from the 1970s has the personal aesthetic of a 2024 trans woman boymoding as hard as she can in the hopes that if she pretends she’s cisgender enough maybe she can make it true.

None of this is to say it was there intentionally, it’s just this movie is as high melodramatic camp even as it tries to assert its own heterosexuality, to my eye, gay as shit, and when you have a character vividly recoiling from society instead surround themselves with synthesisers and classic literature, the natural reading is she’s a trans woman, and also, probably a real fun hang if she can get past the introversion and general anxiety.

Looking at media from the 1970s can create some really interesting timeline splinters. Things that are to me fundamental to all media do, in fact, have a point in history where they started to exist. KISS and Star Wars and The Phantom of the Opera as a stage play are all things that you can reference so freely that they’re basically bedrock details of media to people my age. Thing is, Phantom of the Paradise predates all of these. It looks like it’s derivative because those things change how the world looks to me, but that material itself? It’s its own thing, and it gets to be more of a sign of the future ahead of it than the past behind me.

Check it out on PRESS.exe to see it with images and links!

[pomegranighte]

Filled my Favourite Character Bingo sheet after much temarious and solid judgement, and certainly with no influence of “vibes” or “same hat!”.

Multiple characters in one box indicates that - whilst I was not necessarily most fond of the characters as single actors within their narratives - I was impressed by/moved by/intrigued by the characters as a unit that interacts with their constituent parts and with their world. (I don’t quite agree with some of the characterisation of IWTV (Lestat was...a lot) but damn is it the best I’ve seen their family presented! Lazslo was already great, but he’s even better as a tortured and soft mentor to Colin.)

2022 media is ordered by release date/date I watched it.

The last two rows are devoted to characters that do not originate from 2022 media, but which I experienced for the first time in 2022. They’re ordered from least to most recent watch/play.

The list, in order from left to right of each column:

Helly R (Severance), Irving Bailiff (Severance), Stede Bonnet (Our Flag Means Death), Blackbeard/Edward Teach (OFMD), Oluwande (OFMD)

Steve Harrington (Stranger Things), Eddie Munson (ST), Emerald Haywood (Nope), Otis “OJ” Haywood Jr. (Nope), Louis de Pointe du Lac & Lestat de Lioncourt & Claudia (Interview With The Vampire)

Dream/Morpheus (The Sandman), Death (TS), Waymond Wang (Everything, Everywhere, All At Once), Laszlo Cravensworth and Colin Robinson (What We Do In The Shadows), Cyllene (Pokemon Legends: Arceus)

Non-2022 Media, first experienced in 2022 - In order of least to most recent

Betty Elms (Mullholland Drive), Rita (MD), Winslow Leach (Phantom Of The Paradise), Revan (Knights Of The Old Republic), Kreia (KOTOR II)

Stokely “Stokes” Mitchell (The Faculty), Georgia Byrd (Last Holiday), Beverly Sutphin (Serial Mom), Yuki (The Snow Woman/ 怪談雪女郎), Nigel Tufnel (This Is Spinal Tap)

[swanbedandchill]

A Tale of Two Theatre Kids

Sophomore student, Phoenix gets the leading female role in her high school's production of, "Faust." Phoenix meets a fellow junior student named, Winslow, who's serving as the undertstudy for the original set instrumentalist. The two meet by duetting a song together, that has a very special place in both their hearts.

This is my first ever fanfic for Phantom of the Paradise, which I recently watched for the first time, and instantly fell in love with it! But I hope whoever reads this enjoys it. Hopefully I will be able to write more for this soon. :)

“Faust” the musical for two nights only! April 19-20 at 8:00-10:30.

Some of the signs read, that were posted up on the walls of Webber High School, reminding everyone about the school’s production of the rock musical “Faust.” Which sophomore student Phoenix had the leading female role in, and she couldn’t be any more excited about it. At first, she wasn’t too sure if she was good enough to get any role in the play, let alone the lead! But she did, and Phoenix was so looking forward to opening night. And she couldn’t help but smile proudly each time she saw her named printed on the cast list part of the production posters.

It was sometime after school when Phoenix and the other Faust cast members were to stay after for the second to last final acting, and dressing rehearsals. Phoenix greeted some of her co-stars as she passed by them, which some responded kindly, but there were others who weren’t too happy that she got the role as the lead female. Phoenix was always known to be the quiet type, but with a strong voice, and a strong passion for singing. She always kept to herself, and never encouraged any of the gossip, or drama that happened within the school walls. But the main reason why some of the girls in their theatre class acted so jealous, and bitter towards her, was because not only did Phoenix get to be the leading lady, but it also meant that she would not only have plenty of scenes with Swan, but would also have to play his love interest.

Swan was a popular junior boy at their high school. Being brought up from a rich family background, who had a very strong run, and high status in their theatre classes since his freshmen year there. Swan ironically also had a thing for Phoenix, which a lot of girls of course questioned, for they didn’t see her as the, “type that people would want to win or chase after.” Phoenix discovered Swan’s feelings towards her, despite their popularity statuses in school, sometime after she’d found out she had a part in the play. Swan often liked to hit on her by giving her compliments for her singing, or tell her how pretty she looked. Although she didn’t have any feelings for him to give to him in return. Phoenix tried her best to give him the hint that she wasn’t interested by simply telling him, “thank you,” or by trying to completely avoid him after rehearsals. Especially if they’ve just finished an intimate scene together.

But, unfortunately for Phoenix, Swan had a weird thing for girls who liked to play hard to get. And avoiding him was going to be a lot harder than she thought...

Phoenix made her way inside one of the shared dressing rooms, there were a few other girls already inside who were fixing their costumes and makeup on, while conversating with each other. They kindly greeted Phoenix when she’d entered the room. Phoenix greeted them back, before sitting her school bag down on one of the chairs, and extracted her song folder that had all of the lyrics to the play in it. She flipped through some of the pages before finally deciding on rehearsing the song, “Old Souls” first.  

Everyone had fifty minutes to ready themselves, and now had at least thirty minutes before rehearsals began. Phoenix, who had just gotten fixed in her costume, which was a beautiful majestic white dress with sheer sleeves, and some silver pearls. As Phoenix made her way out of her dressing room, she noticed that Swan had already arrived to rehearsals. Usually he showed up fashionably late. On purpose... But nope, here he was talking to some very giggly flirtatious girls, and showing off in front of his other male co-stars. Phoenix didn’t want to have to deal with him right now, so she quickly held up her folder to cover her face with it, before turning around and making her way to the backstage area.

Phoenix made it backstage and away from the crowd, and began to hear what sounded like someone playing the piano on stage. She heard a voice singing along to the smooth melody, but it wasn’t any voice that she’d recognized.  

“I was not myself last night couldn't set things right with apologies or flowers Out of place as a cryin' clown who could only frown and the play went on for hours And as I lived my role, I swore I'd sell my soul for one love Who would stand by me and give me back the gift of laughter One love who would stand by me and after making love we'd...”

Dream a bit of style We'd dream a bunch of friends Dream each other's smile And dream it never ends...”

Phoenix closed her eyes for a moment, as she took in the sweet sounds of the mysterious singer working their magic on the keys. Phoenix finally decided to see who it was making that sound, peaking her head from behind the curtains. Winslow Leach, a boy with shoulder-length dirty blonde hair, wearing thick glasses, and basic clothing. He seemed so plain and average looking, but had all of the true talent and potential to make up for it.  

Phoenix also took notice to the fact that Winslow was playing the title song, “Faust” as he worked his fingers skillfully on the piano keys. And she had to admit that his version sounded a lot better, and far more natural than how Swan sang it.  

“I was not myself last night in the morning light I could see the change was showing Like a child who was always poor reaching out for more I could feel the hunger growing And as I lost control, I swore I'd sell my soul for one love Who would sing my song and fill this emptiness inside me One love who would sing my song and lay beside me while we'd...

Dream a bit of style We'd dream a bunch of friends Dream each other's smile And dream it never ends...”

Phoenix smiled blissfully as he continued to sing, and it all seemed so strange to her. “Who was this guy? Had he always been a part of theatre classes? And why haven’t I seen him around before?” She thought to herself, and she also assumed that he had to have been a senior, or at least a junior. Winslow seemed so skilled at what he was doing, or maybe he was just that talented. Either way, Phoenix knew that she had to know more about him.  

“All my dreams are lost and I can't sleep And sleep alone could ease my mind All my tears have dried and I can't weep Old emotions may they rest in peace and dream, dream a bunch of friends Rest in peace, and dream, dream it never ends...”

Winslow sang the final words of the song, happily smiling to himself as he did so. Phoenix really wanted to applaud him, but didn’t want disturb him. So instead she just watched him curiously as he reached for the sheet music that he had propped up on the placeholder, before sitting it on top of the piano, and began to play a different song that he knew by heart. Winslow began playing the title song to, “The Phantom of the Opera.” Which is a song made for two people to sing together as a duet. Phoenix gasped when she heard him playing that familiar tune. The Phantom of the Opera was Phoenix’s favorite musical, and how ironic it was that this boy was playing it. The music sounded a bit odd, since the original music is typically played on an organ, but nevertheless, Winslow was making it work. Phoenix couldn’t keep silent anymore, and out of nowhere started singing the first verse to the song, which is sung by the lead female character, Christine in the musical.

[Phoenix]

"In sleep he sang to me, in dreams he came. That voice which calls to me, and speaks my name. And no I Dream again? For now I find. The Phantom of the Opera is there, inside my mind...”

Winslow was startled at first by the sudden female voice that began singing out of nowhere. But to him the voice sounded so beautiful and unique, that he found it difficult to stop playing the instrumental music in the background for whoever was singing along to it. Winslow wanted to turn around to see who it was, but decided that it was best to keep things a mystery, just like in the actual musical itself. And now it was his turn to sing the male verse in the song, which is sung by the Phantom character.

[Winslow]

“Sing once again with me our strange duet My power over you grows stronger yet. And though you turn from me, to glance behind. The Phantom of the Opera is there, inside your mind...”

Phoenix smiled as she could feel the power of the music in the tone of Winslow’s voice possessing her, they were practically reenacting the scene where the Phantom takes Christine to his lair, together. It made her wish that their school had decided to go with The Phantom of the Opera, rather than the one that they’d already been rehearsing, and working hard for to make happen. Phoenix and Winslow continued to mysteriously play along with each other, as they continued to sing their verses.

[Phoenix]

Those who have seen your face, draw back in fear. I am the mask you wear...”

[Winslow]

“It’s me they hear...”

[Both]  

“Your/my spirit and my/your voice, in one combined The Phantom of the Opera is there Inside my/your mind...”

Phoenix held her hands over where her heart would be located, after they’d completed a verse together. Winslow’s smiled grew after his voice and Phoenix’s finally consummated together for the song, encouraging him to keep going, and give it his all as if he were performing for an actual live audience. And not just any audience in a school auditorium, someplace like Carnegie Hall, or some other grand theatre. Phoenix emerged herself from behind the curtains, and started walking towards him, but slowly for the anticipation.  

[Winslow]

"In all your fantasies, you always knew. That man and mystery...”

[Phoenix]

“Were both in you...”

[Both]

“And I’m this labyrinth, where night is blind. The Phantom of the Opera is here/there.

Inside my/your mind...”

[Winslow]

“Sing my angel of music...!”

[Phoenix]

“He’s there, the Phantom of the Opera...”

Phoenix started to vocalize her way through to the end of the song, with Winslow encouraging her in character, as she made her way closer and closer towards him.

[Winslow]

“Sing! Sing for me Sing, my Angel of Music! Sing for me...!”

Winslow commanded, as Phoenix hit the final high note, and finally made her way in front of him, so he could finally see the face that belonged to the beautiful voice. And was indeed met with a face that was just as beautiful as her voice.  

Winslow couldn’t help but stare at her in awe and amazement, as his hands slowly left the piano keys. Phoenix just chuckled from his reaction, both of them not knowing what to say to each other in that moment. It didn’t take long before Winslow finally realized that he’d been staring at her that whole time, and awkwardly turned his head away from her for a moment to get himself together. Clearing his throat, and adjusting his glasses as he did so.

“Oh! Um... I’m sorry, I- I didn’t mean to stare... It’s just that I wasn’t expecting... Um... Hi, I'm Winslow. Winslow Leach.”

Winslow stammered out with an awkward smile, and Phoenix couldn’t help but giggle at his reaction.  

“Hi, I'm Phoenix, Phoenix Harper. And I think you have an amazing voice, Winslow.”

Phoenix smiled and said politely. Winslow couldn’t help but smile, and blush a little at her compliment towards him.

“Oh, well thank you, Phoenix. And I can say the same to you too, no wonder you got the leading lady role as Gretchen. You definitely deserved it.”

Winslow complimented back, and now it was Phoenix’s turn to start blushing.

“Well I'm glad someone thinks so, since not too many people were happy to hear that I got the part as the leading lady.”

Phoenix said with a hint of sadness in her voice, as she thought about the mean and unnecessary rude things her theatre peers have said to her.

“Well, forget about them. They’re just jealous of you.”

Winslow said defensively, and Phoenix just smiled and nodded politely.

“Thanks, and I've learned to just do me, and not pay any attention to them.”

“That’s good to hear.”

The two just smiled for a moment, not knowing what else to say to each other as that awkward, and shy tension started to build up again. Until Phoenix finally spoke up.

“So, Winslow, I didn't know that you were in theatre classes. I mean... I haven’t really seen you around, until now of course.”

“That’s because I'm sort of the understudy for the person who was originally set to play piano for the play. And since Sebastian, the set piano player couldn’t be here, I stepped in for the job.”

“And what happened to the last player, Sebastian?”

“I think they said he got sick with food poisoning... Or something like that at least.”

Winslow couldn't help but chuckle at that, and Phoenix couldn’t help but do the same.  

“Well, we’re all happy to have you here with us then, Winslow. I know I am.”

Phoenix said sincerely, with a warm smile spread across her face. Winslow smiled that same genuine smile as he moved his head around slightly, so he could cover some of his hair over his face, to hide the fact that he was blushing pink.

“And I'm happy to be playing for you all. For you, Phoenix.”

The two laughed a little at each other’s small yet kind words to each other, before things grew silent and awkward again between the two.

“Hey, Winslow, I know rehearsals don’t officially start until fifteen more minutes, but would you mind practicing with me for a little while? Just the two of us.”

Phoenix asked. Despite his nerdy appearance, there was something about him that she found really attractive. Maybe it was his talent, or maybe it was his charm, but all Phoenix knew was that she wanted to spend more time with him.  

Winslow was more than happy, and quick to answer that question. Wanting to spend more time getting to know Phoenix, and to just spend more time with her in general. Just the two of them together.

“Sure! I would like that very much.”

Winslow smiled up at her, before gesturing for her to take a seat right next to him at the piano. Phoenix did so, giggling a little like the giddy school girl that she was turning into for him. Winslow gave her a look that asked her if she was ready to begin, which Phoenix just smiled and nodded a yes, before Winslow started playing the instrumental to, “Old Souls.”

“Our love is an old love baby it's older than all our years I have seen in strange young eyes familiar tears We're old souls in a new life baby They gave us a new life to live and learn Some time to touch old friends and still return...”

As Phoenix sang, and Winslow worked his fingers on the keys, Swan, who had been watching them for quite a while from the backstage curtains, gave them both a menacing stare. More so towards Winslow, who had Phoenix willing singing and interacting with him, two of the things that Swan always failed to do with her. The sight of the two happily making the music come alive together, only made Swan feel increasingly jealous, and annoyed at the two. Swan just knew that he wasn’t going to let some nerdy loner take away his girl, and he planned on doing something about it too. Swan smiled, before silently making his way back to his dressing room, thinking to himself that Phoenix will be his by opening night.

[madphantom]

The Sound of Life - Chapter 7

Winslow woke up because somebody splashed ice cold water in his face. He gasped and opened his eye. It was Emmy.

She grinned. "G'morning, bro. Time to get up."

He groaned and wanted to conter with something witty but he wasn't wearing the voice box. So he just glared at Emmy, rolled over and put it on.

She sat down on the bed. "I'm curious. How does that thing work?"

"I'm not completely sure myself," Winslow confessed. "Swan constructed it. I think I should start learning sign language in case the thing ever breaks or some shit."

"Probably."

"What time is it?", Winslow asked and sat up next to Emmy.

"Six thirty," she said. "Everyone else is still sleeping. I just wanted to have a talk with you alone." She suddenly leaned over and hugged him with all her might. "You have no idea how much I missed you." When she sat straight again Winslow saw tears in her eyes. Emmy laughed shakily. "Of course, everyone else did too, but I think I missed you the most. I just..." A tear rolled down her cheek. It surprised Winslow to see his big sister so vulnerable. She'd never showed any weaknesses, ever. He slid closer and put his arm around her.

"It's okay now," he whispered. "I'm okay."

She nodded and bit her lip. "Sorry for the random outburst. I just...I just missed you real bad."

"I missed you too, Ems," Winslow whispered.

She smiled and wiped the tears away. "Oh Jeez. Pulling the crybaby number here. Get up bro! You have a wedding to attend!"

Phoenix didn't turn up to the breakfast. The twins didn't either. "They're turning her into some elf queen apparently," was all Emmy let slip.

Instead of Phoenix Oskar joined the table. He still seemed a little nervous around Winslow, but a few jokes later he relaxed. Maite on the other hand was on Winslow's lap within minutes and started asking him about the voice box and his teeth. Winslow laughed while answering her countless questions.

"You'd be an amazing dad bro," Emmy finally commented before pulling him up by the collar. "C'mon we need to turn you into Phoenix' Prince Charming."

An hour later Emmy was painting Winslow's nails golden. She had insisted on doing so.

"What's up with everyone wanting to paint my nails?!", Winslow asked. "That's new!"

Emmy grinned. "It completes the look. Fits your hair." She added a finishing touch. "Speaking of that, are we gonna ponytail your mane?"

"Jesus, there's a massive chunk missing, no."

"I think it would look cute." Emmy tilted her head. "Yep. It definitely would. I've got some of that glossy stuff. Let's do this."

Five minutes later Winslow looked into the mirror and barely recognized himself.

"Wow," he said.

Emmy grinned. "I hope you appreciate it."

"I do, it's..." Winslow was lacking words. "It's incredible."

"Good." Emmy put away the nail polish. "I'll be attending in jeans and my favourite hoodie because fuck beauty standards. Hope you don't mind."

Winslow shook his head. "Nope."

"I knew I could count on you, nerd."

The wedding took place in the small church of Dunphy. The few attendants seemed to be as excited as Winslow. He was waiting by the altar when the door opened and his bride entered.

"Phoenix," Winslow whispered.

She was walking down the aisle in a beautiful silken wedding dress. Her hair was flowing over her shoulders like a dark waterfall. Her smaragdine eyes sparkled. She was so beautiful it hurt. Then she smiled and Winslow felt as if an angel was walking towards him.

The priest was a little old man who had known Winslow since the husband-to-be had been a little boy. He started talking. Winslow didn't even listen until the end "...til death do you part?"

He could feel how he was shaking when he nodded. "I do."

The priest turned to Phoenix and repeated everything he had just said. "...til death-" - Phoenix flinched a little. Undoubtedly she thought of her wedding with Swan - "-do you part?"

She nodded and smiled with relief in her eyes. "I do."

"You may kiss the bride."

They leaned forward and their lips crashed together. A giggle and a muffled "Ow" were audible. The church erupted in applause.

"Hiya, Mr Leach." Emmy popped up next to Winslow. She was wearing jeans and a faded blue Elvis hoodie, just like she'd promised. "That was nice."

Winslow smiled. "It definitely was."

"The kiss was hilarious."

Winslow laughed.

"Okay, but seriously bro, you may need some practice," Emmy pointed out. "If you need advice..."

"God no."

"I've seen the sixties, my friend, I can tell you more about free love than all of the Beatles and Yoko Ono combined."

"Emmy!" He was furiously blushing.

"Okay, okay, relax, bro. T'was just an idea." She laughed. "Jeez. I can't believe it. Lil' Mister Awkward is a married man."

Phoenix turned up next to them. "Well, hellooo." She smiled. "Hey Winslow, I like the hairdo. Looks nice."

"Thanks. It was Emmy's idea."

"Your husband heavily resisted."

Phoenix laughed. "Oh dear."

Archie appeared by their side. "Eyoo! Let's party!" He was drunk as fuck. Phoenix laughed and pulled Winslow along.

Late in the evening Winslow and Phoenix stumbled into Winslow's room. Both were drunk and happy. The lights from the garden reflected on Phoenix' jewelry and in her eyes when she turned to Winslow and smiled. She was gorgeous.

"So, what are we gonna do now?", she whispered seductively and leaned against the wall.

Winslow laughed. "Whatever you want, Mrs Leach."

"Alright." Phoenix' smile widened and she started taking off her jewelry.

[madphantom]

The Sound of Life: Chapter 2

They were told that Winslow was in operating room 3 and searched for it. Phoenix soon became very sleepy, but she was determined to stay awake. After a while Harold almost had to carry her.

"I suggest we sit down and wait," Archie said.

"Yeah," Jeffrey agreed when suddenly the door to the room opened.

A doctor walked out and Phoenix rushed over to him. "How is he?"

"We're working on him," the doctor said. "Uhm, by the way, Miss, do...do you know, by any chance, what his name is?"

"Winslow Leach," she mumbled.

"Excuse me?"

"Winslow Leach." She looked him in the eyes.

He frowned. "But...hold on, sorry, but... Winslow Leach? The composer? Didn't he die?"

"Yeah, I thought so too," Phoenix sighed. "Listen, Doc, I've had a rough week and an even rougher night and I am so tired..."

"Alright, alright. You can sit down here on the bench. A nurse will come to you when he wakes up."

She nodded sleepily. "Uh-huh."

The Fruits and the singer sat down on the bench. Phoenix fell asleep almost immediately. Archie disappeared into the cafeteria and reappeared with a bag of crackers that the Fruits shared.

"Thanks Doc," Harold said when he noticed that Phoenix was already half asleep on his shoulder. "Come on, Goldfish, time to go to bed."

"So, what are we gonna do now?", Harold asked. "Swan's dead. Not that I liked the guy. But he filled up our pockets. And we're not even remotely close to being talented enough to write our own songs."

Archie laughed. "Yup. Thinking about it... we're just a bunch of losers Swan made popular."

"Yeah," Jeffrey agreed.

"Any jobs you guys had before this apeshit pop star business?", Archie asked the others.

Harold nodded slowly. "I was going to work in a supermarket. But the boss hated me. I don't think he'll take me back."

"Nope for me," Jeffrey admitted. "I failed school as thoroughly as possible."

"Really? I thought you'd be the teacher type."

Jeffrey laughed. "Good joke."

"So, in conclusion, we're just three dudes who lost their job," Archie concluded.

"Yeah."

"Yeah."

They sat in silence for a while.

"T'was nice though," Harold suddenly said. "Being in one band, you know. Going on tour together. Seeing our photos in the news. All that. Not because of the fame, just...you know, I like you guys. You're my best friends. My best and only friends."

"Honestly," Archie agreed. "I hate to be sentimental, but it was amazing. You guys were so much fun. I loved being one of the Juicy Fruits. You guys rock."

"Absolutely. All that touring together, the jetlags, the shows, getting yelled at by Philbin...it was such a great time and now... it's just over."

"Just over. All the illusions are gone. What's left are just three guys sitting in a hospital with a sleeping chick on their laps that isn't even their girlfriend."

"Strange place for the story to end, isn't it?"

"Strange place."

"I'm gonna miss it."

"Me too."

Finally the door opened and a nurse walked out.

Harold gently tapped Phoenix. "Hey. Hey. Phin'. The nurse is here."

Phoenix jumped up. "How is he?"

"He's awake now," the nurse said.

"Can I see him?", Phoenix asked. "Please!"

"Yes. He asked to see you. But-" The nurse handed her a noteblog and pen. "-we had to take off the device he used to speak. He can't wear it until the wound has healed."

"Okay. Thanks." Phoenix hastily rushed into the room.

Winslow was lying on the bed. Machines were buzzing around him and a beeping sound told Phoenix how rapid his heartbeat was.

"Winslow," she whispered.

A wince escaped his throat. It was obvious that he was trying to speak.

"The doctors said that you can't wear the voice box until your wound has healed," Phoenix explained. She handed him noteblog and pen and sat down at the edge of the bed. "How are you?"

He gave her a weak smile.

"Okay I guess" he wrote down.

"Does it hurt?"

"Just a little. They filled me up with painkillers."

"Good. I mean - good that it doesn't hurt that much." Phoenix smiled helplessly. Winslow laughed a little.

"You gotta explain a lot to me," Phoenix said.

"I guess I do." Winslow sighed. "What do you want to know?"

"Tell me everything. From the beginning. Why you came to New York. What Swan did. How you survived." Phoenix looked him in the eye. "Everything."

"Well..." Winslow started scribbling. After five minutes he gave Phoenix the first piece of paper and she started reading.

Suddenly she dropped the paper in shock.

"Swan had your teeth pulled out?!"

Winslow nodded.

"Why would he do that?!"

Winslow shrugged his shoulders and wrote something down. "Humiliation I guess."

"That's horrible!" She hesitated. "Can... can you show me?"

He nodded slowly and opened his mouth. Two rows of blinking metal glittered in the light of the lamps. Phoenix gasped.

"Oh my God...how cruel is that?"

He laughed a little.

"Winslow, you were tortured."

He shrugged his shoulders again. His expression said I know.

Phoenix picked up the paper again, but was quick to let out another gasp. "Wait - what?!" She looked Winslow dead in the eye. "You were at the audition?"

He nodded.

Phoenix took a deep breath. "Winslow Leach, are you honestly trying to tell me that I was right thinking that you were always around whenever my career got another boost?"

He laughed and nodded. Phoenix facepalmed. "Oh...my...God. This is the worst. I'm so embarrassed right now."

Winslow smiled a little. Then the smile died down.

"I know that I hurt you, that night, on the roof," he wrote down. "And I know that there are wounds that can never be closed. But I hope that we can at least try."

"Winslow," Phoenix whispered. His eye widened in fear. "Winslow... I've forgiven you already. Whatever you did that night, you've redeemed yourself by saving my life. You were ready to give your life for mine. The only question is... can you forgive me?"

A wince escaped his throat and something, a sound, that slightly resembled that of her name. His lips twitched and then he smiled. It was a weak smile, but it was sincere.

Suddenly the door slammed open and the Juicy Fruits stormed in.

"We investigated!", Harold panted.

"Yeah, we couldn't believe it, but...!"

"We thought we owe you an apology...!"

"...scraped this together...!"

"I even went to the police station and told them to fucking investigate, but Swan controlled everything...!"

"Guys!", Phoenix calmed them down. "Guys, relax, Winslow literally just woke up!"

Archie and Jeffrey shut up, Harold kept talking. "... anyway, Mr Leach, we decided we owe you a big fat apology, scraped together seventy percent of what we earned with Faust and hereby hand it over to you." He gave Winslow a thick envelope. When Winslow opened it dollar bills fluttered out.

He gasped, counted the money, then gasped again. The sum was enormous.

"Thank you!", he hastily scribbled down.

Archie shrugged his shoulders. "Seventy percent. You probably deserve more, but the bank thought I was high again and wouldn't give me more. Besides..."

"It's enough, it's more than enough!" Winslow laughed. Harold and Jeffrey sighed in relief.

"Hallelujah," Jeffrey said most sincerely. "We were so worried that we messed this up."

"We didn't want to be dicks, you know?"

"Just wanted to do our job and ended up being the bad guys."

"Relax, I'm not angry. Sorry for trying to bomb you guys up."

"Is my singing that bad?", Jeffrey asked.

"Yes, it is," Archie replied. "Sometimes even I want to bomb you up, man."

"Thank you." Jeffrey glared at him and Harold laughed out loud.

"What are you guys going to do now?", Winslow scribbled down.

The Fruits fell silent and threw each other nervous glances.

"Well...", Harold began. "We discussed that outside while you two were talking here and...uhm..."

"We decided to split up," Archie said quietly. It was obvious that the words were hurting him.

Phoenix' eyes widened. "Split up?"

The Fruits nodded.

"Swan's dead. Death Records is finished," Jeffrey explained. "We're not even remotely close to being talented enough to write our own songs. They just used us as mannequins. We've got no image."

"Swan was always the biggest ad. Swan presents the Juicy Fruits - you can't believe how much more the Swan presents counted." Harold sighed.

"You don't have to split up," Winslow wrote. "You can try and start again, only this time being yourself instead of being someone you're not."

Archie laughed sadly. "There's no ourselves. Ourselves are boring talentless farts who can't sing or write or play anything."

"That's not true," Phoenix suddenly said.

The Fruits laughed. "It is."

"No, it's not. Archie, I saw you improvising at that one show where the guitarist was sick. And Harold, I have a copy of that duet you sang when you weren't famous yet. It's awesome. And Jeffrey - you've got potential. Loads of it."

The Fruits blushed.

"Uh, thanks," Archie mumbled.

"You've got that duet? There were just, like, fifty copies!"

"I know." Phoenix smiled bashfully. "Found it in a thrift shop and thought, hey, why don't you listen to what your colleagues did before they got famous."

"Oh my God."

Winslow snapped his fingers to catch their attention again. "Is anyone here interested in founding a label with me?"

Silence.

"Hell yeah, that's genius," Phoenix suddenly said.

"Right."

"Awesome."

"We're in."

[madphantom]

The Sound of Life - Chapter 4

The next morning they were eating breakfast. Phoenix was still wearing her pajamas.

"Phoenix," Winslow suddenly said.

"Yeah?"

Winslow looked as shy as he had on the day Phoenix had seen him for the first time. "Ahum... Phinny..."

"Yeah?"

"Phinny... on Friday it's my sister Lucy's birthday. I...I think it's about time you meet my family."

For a second she was very quiet. Then: "Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh."

Dunphy looked just like it had when Winslow had left to look for fame. A soft summer wind was blowing over the yellow fields and playing with his hair. The sky was blue. First golden leaves were sailing across the streets, but most trees were still green. Some people passed them. Not everyone recognized Winslow. Those who did looked surprised or shocked. And they whispered.

"Look!"

"It's him! It's Winslow!"

"Harry's kid!"

"The Leach boy! The one who ran off to New York!"

"The musical one, who got lessons from Carmine!"

"My God, what happened to his face?"

"And who's the girl?"

"Yes, who's the girl?"

Before he rang the doorbell Winslow realized that Phoenix deserved a warning. "Phoenix...I have five talkative sisters."

She laughed. "Good company for me. Let's go."

He pressed the bell.

For a few seconds nothing happened. Then the door opened. The fragile elderly woman in the doorway had fluffy hair and was wearing thick glasses. She hadn't changed a bit.

"Winslow!", Joan Leach yelped and pulled him into a long hug.

"Winslow?" Suddenly a tall lanky girl with equally thick glasses and a ponytail appeared in the corridor. "Winslow, bro!" She sprinted over and joined her mother in hugging the lost son.

"Whatcha sayin... Wins'!!!"

"The lost son has returned!"

"Bro! Bro! Bro!"

"Winsy! I knew you'd come back!"

"Sonny, don't you ever dare scare your poor old dad like that again!"

In the end, four siblings and the father had joined the group hug. Phoenix was awkwardly standing next to them.

Finally Momma Leach chased her children off. "Dear God, we're gonna suffocate the lost sheeple. Emmy, Jenny...Jenny! Sandy! Ellie! Harry, don't smother your son like that, I want him to live another day. Winslow, for God's sake, what kind of trouble did you get in in New York?"

He laughed shyly. "I'm gonna tell you later, first of all-" He reached out for Phoenix and pulled her to his side. "- I want you to meet Phoenix, my girlfriend."

"We've lived to see the day, my wee lil bro got himself a girlfriend," Emmy commented.

"Emmy!", Joan hissed. The girl shrugged her shoulders. Winslow laughed.

"Why are we standing in the doorway?", Jenny suddenly asked. "Come in! Let's get in the living room!"

They sat down at the table. The twins, Sandy and Ellie, brought two extra chairs.

"Winslow, we want you to tell us everything," Poppa Leach said. "And Phoenix...if he exaggerates stop him from doing that."

She laughed. "I will."

"First things first: What the hell happened to your visage?", Emmy asked.

"Emmy!"

"What? He was ugly already when he left, but it was definitely not the pollution in NYC that made him even uglier."

"Emmy!"

"No, no, she's right," Winslow laughed. "Gosh, Emmy, I missed your salty comments."

"See, mum?" She grinned triumphantly.

"Anyway," Winslow continued. "I got my head caught in a record press."

Poppa Leach looked over to Phoenix. "I asked you to prevent him from exaggerating."

"In fact he's understating,' Phoenix mumbled.

"Gosh, Winslow you've always been one clumsy individual, but this just takes the cake."

"Emmy!"

"How is it even possible to do that?"

"Right, how do you get your head caught in a fucking record press, Winslow?"

"Sandy! Language!"

"I tried to destroy all copies of Faust Death Records printed," Winslow tried to explain.

"Oh yeah, I heard those bastards play your stuff on the radio...!"

"Ellie! Language!" Everyone laughed.

"And your voice?", Joan asked.

"Same thing."

"I've told you, son, New York is no good," Harry murmured.

"But how did you two meet, I'm curious!", Jenny burst out. Everyone else was quick to beg Winslow to tell the story. He laughed. "Well, I heard her sing Faust and..."

"Dot dot dot? Ey yo, you're not usually that type," Emmy remarked.

"Emmy!"

"Sorry momma."

"We kind of lost contact after we first met and then later Winslow found me again and we had a chat - I didn't recognize him then, because-" - Phoenix gesticulated at Winslow - "-Face. Then the next day Winslow saved me from being shot and got wounded himself and while he was in hospital we started talking and, well, became a couple."

"Awwwww," Jenny commented. "Hey, Phoenix, you're his first girlfriend, just so you know."

"Really?" Phoenix looked over to Winslow. "You didn't tell me!"

He blushed. Everyone laughed.

"Lucy is gonna marry soon too!", Ellie burst out.

"Really?" Winslow raised his eyebrows. "What'd I miss?"

Sandy grinned mischievously. "His name is Oskar. He's a historian from Germany. He's divorced and has a kid."

"They met in the grocery store!", Ellie yelled.

"I wanna know more!"

"She bumped into him..."

"...more or less deliberately."

"Less, according to her! Apparently it was an accident!"

"Sure."

"When is she coming?"

"Should arrive any minute, Winslow. Get ready for confused German mumbling!"

Everyone laughed.

"I left the cake in the oven!", Joan yelled and rushed into the kitchen. She returned with a warm oven-fresh cherry pie. A wonderful smell filled the living room. Winslow felt truly at home. The doorbell rang.

"That's them!", one of the twins yelled and sped off to open the door.

"She's gonna go flippin' when she sees you, Winsy," Jenny whispered.

"I hope she doesn't get a heart attack from your visage, bro," Emmy joked.

"Emmy!", Joan hissed. Winslow quickly combed his hair over his bad eye.

"That's not necessary, you know," Phoenix remarked.

"I was just joking," Emmy agreed.

"I know, I just thought I really shouldn't shock Lucy more than necessary right away." Winslow grinned.

A short woman of around forty with wild dark blonde hair and thick glasses walked into the kitchen, only to freeze as soon as she spotted her long lost brother. She stared at him in pure shock.

"Winslow?!"

"Hi." He grinned like a young shark.

Behind Lucy a lanky redhead of forty and a little girl with pigtails appeared.

"Hey, Lucy, what's wrong?", Oskar asked.

She pointed at Winslow, her face as pale as if she'd seen a ghost. "Tha-tha-that's my brother...and he's dead!"

"Happy Birthday," Winslow replied.

Lucy looked like she'd just been forced to swallow a rolled up newspaper. "H-h-how this possible?"

She was so shocked she'd literally forgotten grammar.

The Leaches looked at each other and collectively burst out laughing at Lucy's puzzled expression. Finally Winslow got up and walked over to her.

"Jesus was resurrected," Emmy commented.

"Emmy! No jokes about God!"

"Sure, mum."

Lucy blinked five times. Then she reached out and touched Winslow to convince herself that he was, in fact, real and standing in front of her. Then her eyes widened. "I'm not dreaming!"

"Nope."

And suddenly she launched herself forward and gave him a hug. Winslow laughed. "It's nice to see you too, Sis." Over his sister's shoulder he greeted Oskar, who looked quite baffled. "Hi, you must be Oskar. My sisters told me about you..."

"Ja," Oskar replied in confusion, then realized he was speaking the wrong language. "Ich...I mean - yes, I'm Oskar."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Winslow Leach." They shook hands and Lucy let Winslow go. She reached behind herself and took the little girl's hand. "Maite, c'mon. Winslow, this is Maite... Oskar's daughter. Maite, this is Winslow - your uncle."

Maite tilted her head curiously. "Mr Winslow, why do you have silver teeth?"

"What?", Lucy asked in confusion, followed by a "Holy shit!"

She looked absolutely helpless. "Oh my God...oh my God...I... I...I need a chair."

Sandy brought her one and Lucy plummeted onto the seat. She was still staring at Winslow like he was a ghost. Joan served the cake. "Lucy, will you drop the plate if I give it to you?"

"Wha - no." She took it. She was still staring at Winslow.

"Her eyes are going to pop out any second," Harry commented.

"H-how come you're here?!", Lucy asked Winslow.

He laughed. "Ah well... it's a long story. But first of all, I want you to meet Phoenix - my girlfriend."

"Hi." Phoenix waved. "It's nice to meet you."

"Okay, I must be dreaming," Lucy slowly and serenely uttered. "Winslow's back, he got a makeover and he has a girlfriend. I'm asleep and my brain is playing tricks on me."

Winslow and Emmy collectively rolled their eyes.

"Now you're overreacting," Jenny said.

"No, I'm not." Lucy finally managed a shaky laugh. "Alright. Winsly - you have a lot to explain." She frowned. "Hey, what's that with your eye?"

Winslow wiped away his hair and Lucy visibly paled. "Alright, the tabloids weren't lying."

"Nope," Phoenix agreed. And then Winslow started telling the wild story that had happened to him. Joan gave everyone pieces of cake. Occasionally Winslow was interrupted by gasps, either from Lucy or Jenny or Joan. The twins admired Winslow's makeover. Harry asked him whether metal teeth were more useful than usual ones. Phoenix and Emmy soon appeared to get along greatly. Ellie slid off and returned with Winslow's long-lost copy of Goethe's Faust - she'd borrowed it. It was a wonderful afternoon.

When it got dark Lucy and her new family left to drive back to Oskar's home. The twins were sent to bed, but of course they didn't even bother to go.

"It is crazy to get you back, bro," Emmy at some point commented. "Specially with that Goth upgrade you got."

Winslow chuckled. "Thanks."

"Still," Jenny added. "I wouldn't be surprised if I woke up tomorrow and it would've just been a particularly nice dream."

"Me neither," Winslow laughed.

Joan checked her watch. "It's getting late. Did you take the train?"

"Yes." Phoenix nodded.

"The last train goes at midnight," Emmy said. "Will you take it?"

"Probably," Winslow replied.

"Then you oughta hurry. It's eleven thirty," Joan said. She sighed. "Winslow, I don't want to sound like a stereotypical country mum, but I hate to see you leave."

He chuckled. "I'll come back."

"You promised that last time."

"And I kept my promise, didn't I?"

"You were a year late."

"But I came."

"I have an idea," Phoenix suddenly said. "I can just leave our phone number. And y'all can call. Whenever you feel like it."

And so they did. Phoenix scribbled down her number. Then they left. When Winslow turned around for the last time he saw his family standing in the doorway and waving.

He smiled and waved back.