#obv a lot of this has to do with the whole. y'know. 13 years of classical musical training thing i've got going on

[supercantaloupe]

a big part of the reason why i like baroque & classical music so much i think is because of how Structured it is. like it sounds nice yes but it's also very Predictable. i can listen to the first half of a phrase and pretty easily predict where it's going harmonically speaking, and predict where an entire section or aria or whatever is going based on its opening motives. the universe is ordered and comprehensible and beautiful and i can stick my fingers in it and pull it apart at the seams to see exactly how it works

[merinnan]

DMBJ Ep 8

The Xiaoge Rescue Count at the start of ep 8 remains at 9 for Wu Xie, 13 for the protagonists, 14 for everyone. 

 The newly added Wu Xie Swoon Count remains at 4, since he didn't faint on the tree, he just lost his grip.

And can I just add, I was VERY DISAPPOINTED to have an entire episode without a Xiaoge rescue

- And we start with a brief flashback? recap? redo? of the last few moments of ep 7 

- In order to watch Wu Xie's oh so pretty fall from the tree, obvs

-Oooh, this time he's holding on to A-Ning for longer and hasn't fallen yet 

- And over to Sanshu and Pan Zi 

- Who have reached the surface 

- Because apparently this cavern was just fully open to the surface the entire time 

- And no-one noticed

- Okay, I just have to pause here because of how FUCKING RIDICULOUS the corpse-eaters look 

- It looks like a fucking cartoon alien or something 

- See?

- Okay, back to what's going on 

- Wu Xie being cutely self-sacrificial to try to save A-Ning from having the evil bug munch on her, and for once, she's willing to risk herself/her people for him instead

- "Don't worry, I've been vaccinated" she says, as if that will stop the flesh eating bug from EATING HER 

- NOW we get the oh-so-pretty fall 

- With the wide eyed look of surprise 

- That was a conveniently placed very large branch 

- That could have been a much nastier fall

-  Xiaoge's 'Wu Xie is in Danger' senses are tingling

- Go, Xiaoge, go! You know you want to! 

- Your future bf is in danger!

- Angry face! Again, Wu Xie seems to bring out the most emotion in Xiaoge

- Time for some bloodletting again 

- Xiaoge Rescue Count: 10 for Wu Xie, 14 for the protagonists, 15 for everyone

- Off the evil bugs scatter, leaving Xiaoge to be Very Concerned about Wu Xie

- VERY

- CONCERNED

- Sanshu and Pan Zi watching and now can feel better that Wu Xie is gonna be okay 

- Very convenient vine right there for Sanshu to throw down to A-Ning 

- Okay, now I should probably rewind a bit and see what they were saying while I was being distracted by these very close poses

- Ah, okay, the blood repellent is wearing off. Yeah, getting out would be good 

- But Wu Xie going no, no, I've been poisoned, leave me and go 

- Dammit Wu Xie 

- You just ate kirin blood 

- It's probably still good for a bit 

- I don't think you're going to die of poison anymore

- Hahahah, Pangzi, you said something to make me like you 

- Sure, you all came together, so all get poisoned and die together 

- Wu Xie managing to be partially sensible even while he's trying to sacrifice himself. Again.

- Okay, how come that vine has leaves on the surface, but no leaves in the cavern? It seems to magically get leaves once it gets hauled up. 

- Man, this is really not good for Pan Zi, trying to help haul someone up when he's still got a roughly bandaged gut wound

- And now they've got A-Ning up. 

- 3 out, 3 to go. 

- Xiaoge standing there watching Wu Xie get hauled up towards the exit

- Is that the hint of a smile I see?

- And that is a someone is about to get their shit fucked up look

- And now they have Wu Xie out, and he looks like he's about to pass out again 

- Sanshu finally remembers High Shao and Chengcheng and goes racing over to where they left them

- Okay, like, seriously, if they were THAT CLOSE to where they dug into the tomb, how did, like, no-one notice the HUGE FUCKING HOLE IN THE GROUND leading to a huge cavern filled with an underground tree?

- I can excuse the Wu party because they got distracted by the hole High Jr fell into and realising what that hole must be 

- But A-Ning's people have been skulking around the forest

- They should have noticed the HUGE FUCKING HOLE leading to the UNDERGROUND CAVERN RIGHT WHERE THE TOMB THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IS 

- Aaand A-Ning's guys apparently took High Jr, Chengcheng, & their computer equipment, but left behind the petrol cans that were taken from *their* camp

- As you do 

- And now Pangzi is up 

- That's a big tree and a lot of bugs. I'm not sure two cans of petrol is going to be enough to burn them all. 

- Also, you guys remember that Xiaoge is still down there, right? 

- ...you don't have a lighter or anything on you? 

- Really?

- Pangzi to the rescue 

- HOW THE FUCK did two cans of petrol create an explosion of that size? 

- Dude pulling a gun on Chengcheng. Please. Shoot her. I'm begging you. 

- ...and which ones are your friends, Chengcheng? 

- I have my suspicions

- Oh, NOW you remember the guy who has saved your life 10 times, Wu Xie 

- Awwww, Wu Xie is so worried about Xiaoge 

- WHY COULDN'T YOU HAVE BEEN WORRIED BEFORE YOU SET EVERYTHING ON FIRE, WU XIE?

- Oh, there you are, Xiaoge. Lurking behind a tree watching your future bf worry about you and yell out your name trying to find you

- You tell him, Chengcheng. For once you're actually right. 

- Broken clock, twice a day, all that 

- I still want him to just fucking shoot you, though 

- Look, she even dared you to do it

- Please 

- Do it 

- Damn it, High Shao having to be the reasonable one and talk him down

- Awwww, he's so pleased to see A-Ning. The sheer delight on his face was just adorable. 

- A bit blurry, but there we go

- So you're just going to leave your entire campsite behind and not take any of it with you 

- At least A-Ning is doing the right thing & not trying to take Wu Xie & his friends prisoner. 

- No, don't do that stupid romantic music while Wu Xie & A-Ning look at each other 

- Boo hiss

- Wu Xie, did you really expect her to tell you? How many times has she told you she won't? 

- Shut up, Chengcheng 

- High Shao: "You look like you're going to faint" 

Wu Xie: *faints* 

High Shao: *surprised Pikachu face*

- Wu Xie Swoon Count: 5 

- And he wakes up back in the village hostel in the most ridiculous pyjamas 

- Covered in oranges, lemons, and bananas. And cherries? 

- Oh, no, just a top 

- Because he slept in jeans

- Dude 

- Could no-one find him more comfortable pants to sleep in?

- Of fucking course Pan Zi's wound got infected, with how roughly it was bandaged and then how much dirt and blood and soot and bark he got dragged around in 

- Yeah, someone yelling fire is never a good sign 

- And there's a huge fire on the mountain

- Yes, Wu Xie, that huge explosion & fire you set off probably DID cause that 

- You should have taken her into the tomb with you & thrown her at the bugs 

- Either they'd have eaten her, or they'd have found her so awful that they'd have stayed away from her 

- Either way, win win

- Pangzi first of all of them to be off helping out the fire effort. He's starting to make me hate him a little bit less 

- Oh yeah, you don't want those bugs getting out at all 

- Hahah, now they feel dumb

- This is why you ask the locals what you need to do instead of just haring off and trying to help while knowing shit all 

- Okay, Pangzi has got MUCH better in this episode compared to the entire rest of the season beforehand 

- Oh, is that what you were after, Chengcheng

- Wu Xie proving to Chengcheng that if you talk shit, you get hit 

 - Really, High Shao? Really? 

- You are such a 20-something boy 

- How do you know Xiaoge is a Zhang, Chengcheng? 

- I'm pretty sure that hasn't been mentioned so far, especially not to you  

- Trying to make Wu Xie suspicious of Xiaoge, I see 

- And trying to get them to stay away from him 

- Yeah, she knows Xiaoge is a threat to whatever she's up to 

- Good boy, Wu Xie. 

- Because yes 

- Xiaoge saved your life a lot. Over 10 times, in fact.

- Heheh, already planning to meet him again. Don't know when, just that you will 

- Dun dun dunnnn 

- Something's happened that High Shao and Chengcheng aren't allowed to know 

- Wow, THAT is Sanshu's house? 

- Didn't get a good look at it in the first ep

- Mmm, good question 

- Wu Xie, why do you immediately jump to Xiaoge? 

- Yes, thank you, how? 

- If you didn't find them suspicious, then maybe he's not suspicious? 

- Since there were, y'know, a whole bunch of other people also running around the tomb

- Oh yeah, I'd forgotten about the box Wu Xie put in his backpack 

- It's the Harry Potter music again 

- Wait, if the code was on the mercenary's belt buckle, then that would hint that they were looking for the box, & A-Ning saw Wu Xie take the box so why did she let him keep it?

- That was a lovely 'you idiot' look from Sanshu 

- Noooo, don't throw the fake manuscript away, it would make a great costume prop! 

- You are a good friend, High Shao 

- You know waaaaaay too much, Chengcheng

- That's a good response to finding your nephew & his rando friends just chilling in your house without an invitation 

- Sanshu knows you far too well, Wu Xie 

- Oh, now we get the first mention of the Nine Families 

- I'm guessing that's the three years of the torn out diary pages

- She is just echoing everything that Sanshu says 

- Sanshu, surely you should know your nephew better than that 

- Of course you do, bb. Of course you do 

- And there is the end of ep 8

Episode 8 ends with the Xiaoge Rescue Count at 10 for Wu Xie, 14 for the protagonists, 15 for everyone 

 And the Wu Xie Swoon Count at 5 

[smosh-stuff]

THE TIME HAS C O M E

So, as a preface to this, I would like to clarify; there are like, three basic types of high school au.

The cheesy 90's movie type, with stereotypical groupings (I.E, theres the jock, and the Nerd, and the goths, ect.)

The Normal type, which is literally just the characters/people in a high school setting. Nothing special, but still enjoyable.

And then. There is the angst type. Family issues, reckless behavior, mental issues, found family/breakfast club-esque situation.

Take one look at the links I provided in the last post about it and guess which one I went with. (I'm a sucker for hurt/comfort found family shit dON’T JUDGE ME) I should point out, none of this is supposed to reflect the crew's actual situations growing up. I know for the most part their families are great and cool people and I don't mean any disrespect to them by writing this!! Just imagine that any and all family members are basically OC's.

Also I sort of thought all of this up through short pieces of self-indulgent writing so this is all sort of based around a fic??? So any situational bits like that you can change or ignore if you want. I aint some gatekeeper my dudes.

ANYWAYS, with disclaimers and such out of the way, headcanons??? Headcanons

(Put under a read more because this is gonna be long af)

Okay. Joven, right? He's a nerd. Like. Comic books, video games, all that shite. 50% of his wardrobe is graphic tee's and hoodies, the other 50% is button ups and cardigans. (what a LOSER haaaaa)

And his family had some shit going on. Dad wasn't the best. Divorce things happened, and he ended up in his mom's custody while his brother went with his dad. And then, his mom took him and they moved away from the town he grew up in. Kinda sucks.

He ends up in a new, small house, and he and his mom don’t have a lot of money anymore, so his mom has to work two jobs and it isn't the greatest, but they try to make the best of it.

But y’know what new city means?? NEW SCHOOL OH BOY

So Joven tries his best but y’know bullies are a pretty universal aspect of public high schools. So he isn't having the best time; but those aren't the only people he meets.

In homeroom, he ends up sitting next to three other kids in the back of the room.

(I got that idea from this pic, it's actually where I got the whole idea for this AU from)

So. Lasercorn. I made him a punk kid.

But not like, the cool, only-wears-black, piercings and spikes and leather kind of punk.

The trashy kind of punk. Old-tshirts-ripped-jeans kind of punk. Skateboards and bloody knees and weed kind of punk.

(He listens to Blink-182, skateboarded as a teen and makes the most weed jokes. I COULDN’T HELP MYSELF)

And, much like Joven, his dad ain't the greatest guy. In a physical way. And his mom doesn't really do much to help him. So he spends most of his time out of the house, smoking or skating or both. 

This is where Sohin comes in.

Sohinki is pretty chill with most people in school, for a reason.

See, his dad isn't mean, but is almost never around. Always working or something. And his mom is a drugie, meaning that she is also out a lot, and when she isn't, she doesn't really pay him any mind. 

So, what do you do when you're a secretly neglected and attention-starved kid with a drugie for a mom, and you need spending money?

Get a retail job? Na

He's a weed dealer. He only sells weed tho, since he doesn't really condone the usage of harder stuff. He's a delinquent but that doesn't mean he into all that.

This is how he met Lasercorn, in freshman year, when he was first selling and Lasercorn was first buying. And they became friends and bonded over shitty parents and getting high. It's convenient, actually, because Lasercorn likes to stay out of the house most of the time and Sohinki doesn't have anyone that will care if he has people over. So lots of sleepovers!!!

And drug selling is also how the Bois met Mari.

So when I was figuring out Mari's character, I was thinking. Is there anything special I can do with her?? Like Lasercorn is punk, Sohinki sells drugs, what can I do here??? And then I realized.

Gross rave kids are a thing. I can't really fully explain why I chose this??? Like it just feels right for her in this story. So I'm running with it. (And I probably did way to much research on club drugs and illegal teenage activites for this haha woops)

Her parents are both there, but not a lot? Like they aren't super neglectful like Sohinki's but also don't really give her much attention at all. And they fight a Lot. Like constantly. There isn't a lot of peace in her house ever, and her parents are usually too busy being angry at each other to love her. She tried getting their attention with good grades and ballet, but it didn't work. They hardly ask her about grades, and she isn't sure if they've ever been to even on of her recitals. So, she said fuck it, and got into raving.

And there are like two kinds of teen raves? Approved ones, where there are people that don’t let you in with drugs or alcohol, more public events, really just glorified dance parties with underground music. Then there’s the underground ones, which are pretty illegal since it's a bunch of 13-25 year olds doing drugs and drinking alcohol in abandoned buildings. Three guesses for which type Mari frequents. A lot of dancing and cool stuff happens at underground raves. That's cool. Y'know what also happens at them that is kind of less cool? Girls getting drugged and raped. A lot less cool.

So she was at a party and she isn't careful enough, and gets her drink roofied. But before the assface that did it can make any moves, someone had called the cops. And everyone is leaving in a rush because they obvs don’t really feel like getting arrested. Guess who happened to be passing through the area when this goes down? Lasercorn and Sohin.

And they see everyone leaving, but then there's this girl who can barely walk and is passed out on the ground? And long story short theyre like shit we cant just let her get arrested/fucking die or something so they take her to Sohin's house, and the teen angst club gains a member!

So Joven gets seated near them in homeroom, and after a while he sort of joins their little friend group, they like him and hang out with him and he ends up liking them a lot because?? These are real friends??? Which he's never really had because back home nobody really liked him??? But these guys are so nice and funny despite how fucked their situations are??? And he joins the group.

About halfway through the year, Joven gets moved to an honors science class, and ends up sitting next to this kid who is really quiet and has long hair and dresses like some kind of emo anime dweeb. (I've decided that he wears black gauges because FUCK he would look good with earrings you cant tell me he wouldn’t) I wonder who that could be??

Well Joven gets help from him on the work in class, and starts talking with him a lot, and finds out his name is Wesley and that he is kind of an anime dweeb but isn't actually that emo or anything? He just likes that kind of music and stuff and dresses like it, but he actually is really sweet and funny and likes video games and stuff. 

And Wesley doesn't have any friends, really, because people are usually off-put by how he dresses/he can be very enthusiastic about his interests and stuff and people are dicks and make fun of him and bully him for that. And even though he is Large and pretty strong he doesn't want to hurt anyone so he doesn't fight back. So he sort of just learned how to shut himself up and stay quiet around people?? Because when he is his Energetic and happy self!! People don't like that. 

Wes is also part of team shit parents. His parents are Smart and have degrees and shit; and also have VERY high expectations for him, and don’t really care about much else when it comes to him. Wes is super Smart as well, all honors classes, straight A's, but it is never enough for his mom and dad. They expect high marks, but don't congratulate him on them, just deem them 'acceptable' and tell him to keep working. B's and lower are met with lectures and punishment. (He is also dealing with the fact that he has pretty bad ADHD but isn't getting any sort of treatment? And has to work through that.) Wes wants to make them happy, and all he wants is validation from them, but he never gets it and just ends up stressing way to much over his work. And teachers don't really do much to help? So he's kind of stuck in this rut of trying as hard as he can and doing great but not being told so. 

So when he meets Joven, who introduces him to the rest of the group, it's like??? Friends??? People who are impressed and happy for me??? And don't make fun of me when I get excited or make funny voices??? And he is so happy that he can finally be himself around people.

Finally, Flitz is brought in through Mari.

Flitz comes from a poor family, with no dad because sometimes people die when they shouldn't. (And that isn't because he is stereotypes, to be clear, he has mentioned that his dad wasn't around when he was growing up, and that he grew up poor and I kind of wanted to write that) But he doesn't let anyone know, and does sports and breakdancing and is super cool! But not really popular because he is very open with his weird personality and philosophical interests, which don’t really go over well with a bunch of shitty high school kids.

And he meets Mari when she sees him practicing his dancing by himself on the stage in the empty school auditorium, where she was going to practice her dancing a little. And they are like “2 person dance session??? Yes” 

And they have fun showing off and watching each other’s moves, and they get talking, and Mari is like. I know people who will like you.

And that’s what I got! They hang out and smoke weed sometimes (except Wes because asthma) and have fun and deal with bullies together, and they all just really love that they have friends who like them for them and it’s nice but also angsty and I love it.

Sorry that was so long but I had a lot to talk about. If you read this far, thank you for reading my rant!! And feel free to send me asks and talk to me about it. That’s all for now! ~<3