#or half a world away by r.e.m

[thoughtfulchaos773]

Season 3- The Lay of the Land

So we know how important it is to understand the layout of the bear- the vision, so to speak, is as detailed as two tops and a booth, a sandwich window, outdoor seating, etc.

For the teaser, Notice this is the only time we get a wide shot and almost a tour of The Bear as a whole; we see the expo station, the kitchen layout, the front of the house, and even the outdoors as they show a view of Chicago.

Knowing the restaurant's layout is important; we're getting 'the layout of the land', which will help us dive deeper into Carmy's past at EMP.

It's been mentioned here a few times how The Bear looks so similar to EMP, which Carmy helped design.

Sidebar BTS knowledge: Thanks to @angelica4equity, this is the photo of the restaurant where EMP was filmed. Even the expo window and lighting are similar to The Bear.

Just like in season 2, where we learned about the menu and its ties to Carmy's family history, and as he had a hard time letting go of seven fishes, he's going to have a hard time letting go of the abuse and stress cycle he experienced at Eleventh Madison. We're going to go deeper into the experience in New York- maybe that's why we have a few New York references in season 2, such as Claire going to medical school and cousin Michelle explaining how alive you feel in New York. So, last season foreshadows where we're going for season three.

We will explore his past as a chef and as one of the best CDCs in the entire United States of America. However, Carmy will no longer have Sydney's voice in his head, reminding him of who he is; instead, he will disappear into his mind as he focuses on the star. He will focus on the task as he did in New York. He just kept going, but a part of him is ready to break out of his past. Instead of disappearing further into his work, will he try to move forward in healthier ways? Or will we get focused Carmy? The Carmy Berzatto in New York?

[total-derangement-of-the-senses]

Song of the Day

12 Mar., ‘23

[mikimeiko]

Devastated by The Bear season finale but also very grateful to whomever is choosing the music because I haven't listened to this many R.E.M. songs in years

[punk-chicken-radio]

r.e.m. - half a world away

-ax and TOS

[sydcarmyfan]

What if Sydney screams out for Carmy?

When Carmy is stuck in the walk-in, he screams for Sydney but as Syd is running the restaurant, she can’t go to him. What if in s3, Syd is the one to scream for Carmy? Would Carmy drop everything and tend to her? In what situation would Syd scream for Carmy? At the end of s2, Half a World Away by R.E.M. plays in background and it’s implying that Syd will go it alone in s3, but I want her to ask for help and Carmy to provide the help.

[currymanganese]

Y'all, Let Down by Radiohead played over the ending of Season 1....And what did Carmy do in Season 2, especially in the finale??

Transport Motorways and tramlines Starting and then stopping Taking off and landing The emptiest of feelings Disappointed people Clinging onto bottles And when it comes it's so so disappointing Let down and hanging around Crushed like a bug in the ground Let down and hanging around Shell smashed, juices flowing Wings twitch legs are going Don't get sentimental It always ends up drivel One day I am gonna grow wings A chemical reaction Hysterical and useless Hysterical and Let down and hanging around Crushed like a bug in the ground Let down and hanging around Let down and hanging Let down Let down You know, you know where you are with You know where you are with Floor collapsing, floating Bouncing back and One day I am gonna grow wings A chemical reaction (You know where you are) Hysterical and useless (You know where you are) Hysterical and (You know where you are) Let down and hanging around Crushed like a bug in the ground Let down and hanging around

Likewise, the song that played over Season 2's ending was Half a World Away by REM; since Carmy literally Let Sydney Down in Season 2, is the title of this song gonna foreshadow Syd and Carmy's relationship in Season 3 as well?? What if Syd goes to Noma to stage or something? Or Carmy goes to Copenhagen on a sabbatical? And they spend much of the season literally half a world away from each other? What if they have to check in with each other regularly over Facetime or something while they're apart?

Hell, what if Carmy or even Sydney needs to be institutionalized for a time and held for observation?

^I hope not, but now I'm nervous......

This could be the saddest dusk I've ever seen Turn to a miracle High alive My mind is racing As it always will My hand's tired, my heart aches I'm half a world away here My head sworn To go it alone And hold it along Haul it along And hold it Go it alone Hold it along and hold, hold Oh, lonely deep sit hollow I'm half a world Half the world away My shoes are gone My life spent I had too much to drink I didn't think And I didn't think of you I guess that's all I needed To go it alone And hold it along Haul it along And hold it Blackbirds, backwards, forwards and fall and hold, hold Oh, this lonely world is wasted Pathetic eyes high alive Blind to the tide that turns the sea This storm it came up strong It shook the trees And blew away our fear I couldn't even hear To go it alone And hold it along Haul it along And hold it To go it alone And hold it along Haul To go it alone And hold it along Haul it along And hold it Blackbirds, backwards, forwards, and fall and hold hold This could be the saddest dusk I've ever seen Turn to a miracle High alive My mind is racing As it always will My hands tired, my heart aches I'm half a world away and go

[michellemisfit]

Weekly Tag Wednesday Thursday

Thanks for the game @jrooc and thanks for the tag @blue-disco-lights @deedala @energievie @lingy910y @creepkinginc @crestfallercanyon

Name: Mys

What is the most listened to artist in your music app of choice this month?

The Libertines - They’ve just released a new album

What song do you know all the lyrics to?

Erm… most? Well, at least most songs I regularly listen to. Back in the day when we’d still buy CDs I would get a new album and sit in my bedroom listening to it beginning to end, while reading along to the lyrics in the booklet. And oooooh, I would get so furious when bands had a booklet that did not include song lyrics. Wtf is wrong with you?? SO ANGRY! haha

What song do you pretend to know all the lyrics to and sing along to even though you don't?

It’s the End of the World As We Know It by R.E.M. I get to ‘eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn’ and then I’m lost until we hit the chorus lol But it’s such a fun song to pretend to sing along to, and really just making vaguely appropriate noises at the right time, until the chorus kicks in again… and of course we’re all ready to shout LEONARD BERNSTEIN! Hahaha

If you were to be crowned Queen/King/Royalty of listening to a band or artist, who would that be?

That would have to be Dirty Pretty Things. I fell in love with The Libertines just as they were falling apart and a few weeks away from calling it quits for good, so when Carl Barât announced the first tour of his new band Dirty Pretty Things I wasn’t gonna miss out again. So I flew to Ireland and then to England and attended the first 5 gigs of their first tour. And that pretty much set the tone for the next couple of years of my life. I ended up flying to the UK so much and meeting so many people that in the end it only made sense to move to London. Dirty Pretty Things had a tour booked starting two days after my moving day and we were gonna go to a few of the gigs. Then the day before I got on a plane they announced it would be their farewell tour, so we bought tickets for every single gig, which meant that I moved to the UK and then spent all of October, November, and half of December on tour… I didn’t start job hunting and thinking about real life until January lol

So yeah. Them. They’re my boys. As coined by the NME in their ‘sad to see them go’ article… “They were well fit and nice!”

What band/artist surprises you the most on your frequently listened to artists?

I’m ongoingly surprised by how much I managed to trick myself into liking Taylor Swift

Favourite line from a song (or one you have been thinking about lately?

Fame and Fortune by The Libertines

The deal was done, the trade was rough, Doubloons down for a double bluff, Dip your quill in your bleeding heart, Sign there and there and there

Guilty pleasure band or song?

I don’t believe in guilty pleasures.

Liking what I like don’t make me a bitch.

Okay let's talk fandom music:

Fave band or song you've discovered from a Fan Fic?

The Libertines lol My friend really wanted me to get into this band she liked, and I just wasn’t massively into music at the time, so she sent me a Libertines fanfic, and that, as they say, was that. Oh, she knew me very well… hahah

Fave Fanfic Playlist?

Right now I’m REALLY into The Menagerie playlist!

Fave Gallavich song?

Do you listen to music recommended by the writer or an included playlist? 

Almost always, yeah. Though sometimes that can go terribly wrong. When someone’s like OMG THIS SONG!!! and you’re just like ‘eh, I don’t see it’ lol

What song do you think is Gallavich coded?

Well, thanks to @deedala this will never not be Season 5 Gallavich

What’s a bop you want to share with your mutuals today? 

Love the original, but I also love Darren Criss

And this, because I’m dying for the next season of The Bear!!!!

Oooookay… I’m late and I’ve been way too busy, so if you’ve already played and I didn’t see please tag me in yours so I can check it out!! If not, and you’d like to do it, I’m tagging @heymacy @heymrspatel @darlingian @too-schoolforcool @palepinkgoat @vintagelacerosette @crossmydna @captainjowl @mikhailoisbaby @rereadanon @the-rat-wins @tsuga-of-mars @loftec @sickness-health-all-that-shit @deathclassic @rutherinahobbit @faejilly (you can skip the Gallavich questions!!! Hahahahah)

[turbulenthandholding]

Unhinged The Bear Season 3 Musical Speculation: R.E.M. Carmy-Specific Edition

See my previous Sydcarmy specific R.E.M. speculation here

See my previous Syd-specific R.E.M. speculation here

Based on the three songs that have been used so far (Strange Currencies, in several forms, plus Oh, My Heart and Half a World Away) - I get the sense we are more likely to see mid-to-late catalog songs vs. earlier ones. So far, the songs chosen for the show sound like R.E.M. songs if that makes sense, which is to say they haven’t used anything that has veered into some of their later-catalog experimentation (Airportman comes to mind) and or even like early jangly mumblecore R.E.M. either (most songs from Murmur through Lifes Rich Pageant or Document).  I have the feeling this pattern will probably continue into Season 3.

World Leader Pretend (Green)

This song is one that will show up again on my general list for songs that could show up in season 3 but I think it’s worth mentioning on the Sydcarmy list as well.  World Leader Pretend is a gorgeous song that has really beautiful wordplay (raise/raze) and contradictions (this is my mistake, let me make it good - could either mean ‘let me right this wrong I made’ or ‘let me continue to fuck something up so I really fuck it up good’).  I think there’s a lot of what’s going on inside Carmy expressed by the song, but it also makes sense in the Sydcarmy context because of the last lines:

Reach out for me, hold me tight

Hold that memory

…

You fill in the mortar

You fill in the harmony

You fill in the mortar

I raised the wall

And I'm the only one

I will be the one to knock it down

Let Me In (Monster)

This is the gorgeous remixed version from the 25th anniversary release; see also the original version .

Michael Stipe wrote the words to this one about Kurt Cobain’s passing.  The original version is such a beautiful, wrenching melody under these really dirty guitar sounds; the grief of the whole song really comes through.  I love the remix version, though, which is more vocal-forward and lovelier.  I could see the show using either version as Carmy continues to process his grief over Michael’s passing.

Bonus:

Finest Worksong (Document) - take your instinct by the reins / better best to rearrange / what we want and what we need / has been confused, been confused / your finest hour

And finally, the song of my unhinged, anti-Claire Bear dreams:

 this one goes out to the one I've left behind / a simple prop to occupy my time / this one goes out to the one I love

The Bear IS a love story - but this is not a love song.

(Bonus anti-Claire Bear suggestion: All the Right Friends - OG version; All the Right Friends - In Time version)

[loversofthegrave]

BALLAD OF A FREAK BOY - sammy playlist X

no one's boy marcy playground 2. my beloved monster eels 3. where is my mind pixies 4. me and the devil soap&skin 5. please please please let me get what i want deftones 6. to be alone with you sufjan stevens 7. flume bon iver 8. child psychology black box recorder 9. brother alice in chains 10. your lucky day in hell eels 11. king's crossing elliott smith 12. i'm so tired fugazi 13. talk show host radiohead 14. son of sam elliott smith 15. how to fight loneliness wilco 16. heart of darkness sparklehorse 17. lonely day system of a down 18. metal heart cat power 19. bleed the freak alice in chains 20. half right heatmiser 21. nutshell alice in chains 22. bottle up and explode elliott smith 23. troubled times screaming trees 24. sad and beautiful world sparklehorse 25. last call elliott smith 26. a wolf at the door radiohead 27. bootcamp soundgarden 28. frogs alice in chain 29. losing my religion r.e.m 30. say hello 2 heaven temple of the dog 31. do you believe in the rapture sonic youth 32. mental eels 33. gouge away pixies 34. novocaine for the soul eels 35. spaceboy the smashing pumpkins 36. last night i dreamed somebody loved me the smiths 37. inbred ethel cain 38. the bends radiohead 39. i need some sleep eels 40. sleep forever portugal, the man 41. father of mine everclear 42. just mark ronson, phantom planet 43. opium marcy playground 44. jigsaw falling into place radiohead 45. sinister kid the black keys 46. special death mirah 47. the wolves (act I and II) bon iver 48. why i don't believe in god everclear 49. love of the loveless eels 50. about today the national 51. it's been awhile staind 52. too afriad to love you the black keys 53. one more suicide marcy playground 54. lonely boy the black keys 55. mouth bush 56. to forgive the smashing pumpkins 56. fell on black days soundgarden 57. out of my hands dave matthews band 58. what's the matter milo greene 59. little black submarines the black keys 60. cold contagious bush 61. only dying - demo stone temple pilots 62. eye the smashing pumpkins 63. abuse me silverchair 64. soma the smashing pumpkins 65. pretty (ugly before) elliott smith 66. the vampyre of time and memory queens of the stone age 67. ugly - sadlands demo the smashing pumpkins 68. freak silverchair 69. feel the pain dinosaur jr 70. creep stone temple pilots

[minkshame]

I did want to reshare the SPARE CHANGES PLAYLIST complete with tracklist and key lyrics... under the cut

SECTION 1 (TORD):

Half a World Away (R.E.M.) - My hand's tired, my heart aches / I'm half a world away

Leaving New York (R.E.M.) - You might have laughed if I told you (it's pulling me apart)

Dirty Imbecile (The Happy Fits) - When my heart starts beating, lungs stop breathing / All my fibers say to run away

Don't be Seen with Me (Oppenheimer Analysis) - I kept things under strict control / Resisted all diversion

How to Disappear Completely (Radiohead) - That there, that's not me

You've Got to Hide Your Love Away (The Beatles) - I can see them laugh at me, and I hear them say / Hey, you've got to hide your love away

Heart in a Cage (The Strokes) - See I'm stuck in a city, but I belong in a field

Back to the Old House (The Smiths) - Cause I never even told you / Oh and I meant to

Promise (Laufey) - And I should get a cigarette / For how much restraint

No Time to Explain (Good Kid) - It's been a while I've been out on my own / I'm in denial about living life alone

SECTION 2 (EDD):

I Guess He'd Rather be in Colorado (John Denver) - I guess he'd rather work / Out where the only thing you earn is what you spend

Give you My Lovin (Mazzy Star) - Cause you see, rain reminds me of you / And everything has turned to you

Hopelessly Devoted to You (Olivia Newton-John) - I know I'm just a fool who's willing / To sit around and wait for you

I Don't Wanna Be Okay Without You (Charlie Burg) - And I can hear so clearly all the words I wish I'd said / You're stuck in my head

Mamma Mia (Austin Weber) - Yeah, I've been brokenhearted / Blue since the day we parted / Why why did I ever let you go?

Livin' With a Heartache (The Beach Boys) - I'm no good alone, you know-a everyone sees / That you left me alone with nothin' but a heartache

Oh Love (Delaney Bailey) - And I don't want to turn back time anymore / But I do miss when I thought that I was loved

Duvet (bôa) - But you know that it means so much / And you don't even feel a thing

I want you (Mitski) - We're starting over / And I love you darling

SECTION 3 (GENERAL):

The Less I Know The Better (Tame Impala) - I was doing fine without ya / til I saw your eyes turn away from mine

Pork Soda (Glass Animals) - Why can’t we laugh now like we did then? / How come I see you and ache instead?

Spare Hearts (Exit Mouse) - I know you’re afraid / Of making a big mistake / But you’re just what I need / Spare me the fear

Les maudits mots d'amour (Le rouge et le Noir) - Mais dans l'ivresse de tes bras / Tout le reste vole en éclat, / Vole en éclat.

SECTION 4 (LOW POINT):

If I can't be yours (Loren & Mash) - I realize / We're not the same / And it's making me sad / Cause we can't fulfill our dreams in this life

Memento Mori (Red Vox) - Could it be, the presence of memory / Is all we are, all we'll ever be?

I Know It’s Over (The Smiths) - And it never really began / But in my heart it was so real

Sparks (Coldplay) - My Heart is yours / It's you that I hold on to

Turtles All The Way Down (Sammy Copley)- And I’m aware / That it’s not fair / To bring you here then send you on your way / You had so much to say / And to ask

Door (I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME) - If I'm out of line / Just show me the door / I promise you I / Won't come here no more

SECTION 5 (HAPPY ENDING):

Scary Love (The Neighborhood) - No one has ever cared for me / as much a you do

It's Been a Long Long Time (Harry James) - You'll never know how many dreams I've dreamed about you / Or how empty they all seemed without you

Those Eyes (New West) - I close my eyes and all I see is you / And the small things you do

Heart to Heart (Mac Demarco) - To all the days we were together / To all the time we played apart / In each other's lives

Another Believer (Rufus Wainwright) - And give me just one more chance, one more glance

Home (Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros) - Man oh man you're my best friend / I scream it to the nothingness

Genesis (Jourma Kaukonen) - And there I found myself with you / When breathing felt like something new, new / Along with you

[thoughtfulchaos773]

I'm thinking of the leak of Claire and Carmy's argument.

I'm wondering if the end of the 3rd season's song "Disarm" by Smashing Pumpkins will give us a clue - at least what the argument will highlight and the theme of season 4.

I think that's the moment- the argument it will reveal the truth of Carmy and Claire's relationship.

If I think about the end of the second season and the song that plays. Half a world away by R.E.M. the lyrics that end with Sydney go it alone foreshadows and tells us about season 3 which starts with Carmy saying I left you alone. (May I had based on that song alone I was about to predict the 3rd season).

But back to the ending of the season 3 song.

Season 3 ends with the song disarm- lyrics:

Disarm you with a smile And cut you like you want me to Cut that little child Inside of me and such a part of you Ooh, the years burn Ooh, the years burn I used to be a little boy So old in my shoes And what I choose is my choice What's a boy supposed to do? The killer in me is the killer in you My love I send this smile over to you

Giving us a hint to the 4th season. This song is quoted by Billy Corgan as:

“... rather then have an angry, angry, angry violent song I’d thought I’d write something beautiful and make them (his parents) realize what tender feelings I have in my heart, and make them feel really bad for treating me like shit.

Disarm’s hard to talk about because people will say to me ‘I listen to that song and I can’t figure out what it’s about.’ It’s like about things that are beyond words. I think you can conjure up images and put together phrases, but it’s a feeling beyond words and for me it has a lot to do with like a sense of loss. Being an adult and looking back and romanticizing a childhood that never happened or went by so quickly in a naive state that you miss it.”  — Billy Corgan on Disarm

Season 4 will explore Carmy's issues with Donna, shedding light on Claire and Carmy's relationship and its core truth. It was an idealized version of what he didnt have his mother and one moment will show just how he's trying to workout his relationship with his mom through claire. How he was dating someone who has versions of donna and idealized versions of Donna carmy never got to experience.

This repeat of donna was outlined in the network script but not the show itself. This claire and carmy relationship in the show is insidious. It's not obvious she resembles donna except for her actions and the camera angles and she's also the happy- "nice" idealized version of donna that donna plays but shows her true face eventually.

It's like the song and how he idealizes a childhood- a teenage love that he never had. But realizing in season 4, like the song's synopsis, his choice in changing- in breaking that cycle of relationships that resembles his relationship with Donna.

This song is about him resolving a cycle that he made the mistake of repeating things so he can move on.

My theory on the argument shedding light of claire- it will probably happen on the night of Tiffany's wedding. They either get back together briefly, so he's Claire's plus one – probably one date to try it again – or he's Richie's plus one.

This show loves parrallels- the argument between claire-carmy-richie will resemble this scene:

Donna yelling- Carmy dealing with her anger- all of it with Richie in the middle just watching not cutting in- but who knows maybe he has changed and will step in when Claire argue with carmy- listening to disarm it's about breakin cycles- changing and Richie will do the thing he's never done with Carmy he's going to stop the argument from escalating or at least he'll try to.

Another clue of a possible parrallel: we get clues throughout the episode fishes that donna is connected to claire. Keep in mind, after the scene with Donna yelling at Carmy to move the pot, we dive into Claire—an idealized relationship Carmy never had.

After the scene with Carmy freaking out about Claire, Richie tells Tiffany about hooking Carmy up. Tiffany is surprised because from what she knows of Claire, she's so nice.

Let's talk more about that nice thing that tiffany says...because it appears through 2x06 fishes.

With the berzattos. Things and people just can't be nice. The berzattos are both kind and agressive. If claire is a bearzatto- then she has the same traits in that household. Probably being nice is not what Claire is- not fully at least.

Why this will happen the night of tiffanys wedding? Because tiffany and richie talk about claire and carmy.

And all tiffany knows is what claire said about the situation.

There's going to be another theme similar to seasons 2 and 3, where Richie and Tiffany are the ones discussing or observing Claire and Carmy's relationship with the awareness of repeating cycles. But it's not just Carmy repeating the cycle of being like Donna; it's also his relationships resembling Claire mirroring Donna.

Because from the conversation with Tiffany and what she was told about Carmy, Claire throws pity parties like Donna.

Sorry, but Claire is having a pity party over what Carmy said while he was having an existential crisis in the fridge.

Claire annoyed with the question are you okay? Yeah similarities as it's been discussed here.

Now that Carmy has faced Chef David, as Jimmy mentioned, he has to confront it head-on. Carmy will begin to see the reality and let go of the idealized versions of his mother. He will see the truth about their relationship, which will lead him to end things that no longer serve him.

Apologizing to those he's hurt the right way carmy is going to be able to smile and show the tenderness in his heart. He'll have the courage to change and no longer carry things and people from his mother. He'll break a cycle.

Now if that argument is about syd? About carmy lying - about not doing anything with sydney?

The climax of the argument: Clairebear is going to try to make Carmy say the words "I love you" just to prove something. just as Donna makes him say the words..

Remember Donna is coming to the wedding too. Both Claire and Donna he'll have to face them, and Claire and Donna being in the same room together will make the resemblance even more obvious.

We shall seee. What a mess.

Tagging: @currymanganese @whenmemorydies @turbulenthandholding @moodyeucalyptus @vacationship @fresaton @vacationship

[doyourememberrocknrollradio]

R.E.M. - Half A World Away

[kingboolists]

shut down the sun // an Oppenheimer playlist

LISTEN ON: SPOTIFY

Can You Hear The Music? - Ludwig Görannson // Manhattan Project - Rush // Goodbye Blue Sky - Pink Floyd // The Radiance - Linkin Park // Burning in the Skies - Linkin Park // Run - AWOLNATION // Moral Panic - Nothing But Thieves // Passover - Joy Division // Prometheus - Neal Francis // The Weapon - Rush // Trip Switch - Nothing But Thieves // Two Evils - Bastille // Now, I Am Become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds - FANGNCLAWS // Half A World Away - R.E.M. // Bravado - Rush // Red Rain - Peter Gabriel // Here Comes the End (feat. Judith Hill) - Gerard Way

[scorpiongrassfield]

You Want to Visit Theo's Grave

Start | Prev

“Let’s go see his grave first,” you decide. 

Pat hums, amused. “I thought you might say that. Let’s go then,” they say. They back out of the parking spot and start navigating out of the parking lot. 

“I wasn’t kidding when I said this would be a long drive though. He’s way up north,” Pat tells you. “We’re probably gonna have to switch out driving half way. Think you can handle it?” 

You nod. “I think so. I managed to drive to the cabin and back okay, didn’t I?” 

“Yeah, that’s true. We’ll switch when we stop for lunch then. And try to find a florist while we’re stopped.” 

“A florist?” 

Pat raises a brow. “You’re really going to visit his grave without bringing him some flowers? Rude,” they say, but their tone is teasing. 

“Oh. I hadn’t thought about that,” you admit. 

“Good thing you’ve got me around to remind you of your manners then,” they say without bite. 

The car falls silent after that. 

The drive stretches on mostly empty. Pat drives a little faster than might be legal. 

After a bit, they speak up. “Okay it’s too quiet in here. You’re in charge of music now,” Pat says. 

They don’t seem to look at you, though you can’t quite tell with the sunglasses, but they seem to sense your deer in headlights demeanor. 

“Music stuff is in the glove box,” they remind you. 

“Right.” 

You open it to discover many CD’s in clear cases, all with handwritten labels. There’s also an aux cord, which you pull out before shutting the door again. 

You hook up your phone and pull up your music app. 

You have a lot of playlists made, but you figure the one labeled “Car Music - Pat Approved” is your best bet for now. Maybe when you get some down time you’ll give the rest a listen. 

After setting the playlist to shuffle, Jimmy Eat World’s “Sweetness” starts playing through the speakers. 

“That’s better,” Pat says. 

The music makes the time go faster. 

It’s a little frustrating listening to it though. None of it sounds familiar at all. You know music must have been very important to you before you lost your memory, considering how many band T-shirts you seem to own. You try to let the music elicit some emotion in you other than that frustration but you get nothing. 

You wonder what kind of music Theo likes. Maybe you’ll ask him next time you see him. 

Getting curious about Pat’s taste in music, too, you look through the glove compartment again. 

They’ve got Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, R.E.M., the Eurythmics, Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, and… none of this means anything to you because you don’t recall having heard any of their music. 

Sighing, you close the glove compartment again after putting all the CDs away. 

You’re just about to look back up at the road, when Pat says something, sounding urgent. 

“Close your eyes.” 

You look over at them. “What? Why?” 

“Close your eyes, Sylv. Now.” Their tone brooks no argument. 

You close your eyes. “Okay. Fine.” 

“Good. Keep them closed until I say, alright? There’s something very dangerous happening,” 

“Okay?” You do as you’re told. 

You have to wonder what dangerous thing you could avoid simply by closing your eyes, but Pat has never steered you wrong. 

Time moves a lot slower when your eyes are closed. 

You wonder about how Pat is avoiding this dangerous thing, since they better not be driving with their eyes closed. 

After more time passes, Pat finally says: “Okay, you can open your eyes now. Don’t look in the rearview mirror for a while though, okay?” 

“Sure,” you agree, opening your eyes. 

Your curiosity demands you look in the rear view, but you don’t want to invite trouble right now. 

“What was that all about?” 

“We just passed an urban legend,” Pat says, like that explains anything. 

“Why did that require me to have my eyes closed?” 

“Because, if you had looked at it, and it noticed you looking, it probably would have followed us. And we don’t need that kind of complication right now. One ghost and one mystery shadow person is quite enough,” they say. 

You frown. “I thought you promised to help ghosts?” 

Pat sighs. “Urban legends aren’t ghosts. Sometimes they start as ghosts, but they’re… a lot more dangerous. There’s no moving on for an urban legend, as long as there are people that believe in them. And they usually are pretty keen on killing people, so, you know. We don’t want to mess with that. Especially if we’re on the outs with the exorcist community at the moment,” Pat explains. 

“Oh.” you say. Then, “Why didn’t you mention any of this while teaching me about ghosts?” 

They sound rattled and a bit agitated. “Because they aren’t ghosts, and we do not fuck with them, like I just said. Don’t need info on something we aren’t going to touch with a 10 foot pole, huh?” 

You don’t think that’s true, but you’re not going to argue that point right now. “You saw it, why isn’t it chasing us still?” you ask instead. 

“I’m wearing sunglasses. It can’t tell for sure that I saw it, so it can’t follow us. Urban legends typically have rules. And we’ve passed this one before on our way down, so I got a chance to find out what those rules were,” they say. 

You suppose that makes sense. 

“So what sort of legend was it?” 

“Repeating the legend gives it more power,” Pat says. 

That sounds like a cop out, but you don’t say as much. 

Pat sighs. “But. I can tell you the general idea. Hitchhiker gets murdered, they become an angry ghost, legend states that if you pick them up, they kill you in revenge against the person that picked them up and killed them, if you see them and pass them by they follow you and kill you for not trying to help them. The only way to pass safely is to make it seem like you never saw them,” they explain, sounding a little agitated. 

“That sounds like most people would end up dead passing that stretch of road then,” you say. 

“Yeah, well. It only effects people who have heard the legend and believe it, or people who are sensitive to supernatural phenomena. Like us,” they say. 

“Oh. That sucks,” you say. 

“It does suck. I totally forgot I needed to watch out for that,” they grumble. You realize they might be grumpy because they’re upset with themself. 

“Anyway,” they say to change the subject. “Can you skip this song? I’m not in the mood for it.” 

You do as you’re asked. The next song is “Little Talks” by of Monsters and Men. 

Pat sighs like they’re not in the mood for this one either, but they don’t ask you to skip it. 

Conversation peters out between the two of you, and the road stretches on as your journey continues.

Next

[queen-susans-revenge]

Persephone in Autumn

late Sept / Josh Ritter "Getting Ready to Get Down"

early Oct / Parker Millsap "Hades Pleads"

late Oct / Cults "Abducted"

early Nov / Saint Motel "Cold Cold Man"

late Nov / Sia "Hostage"

early Dec / Julian Moon "Pomegranate Seeds"

Winter Solstice: Dua Lipa "Be the One"

early Jan / Lucius "Turn It Around"

late Jan / Neko Case "Hold On, Hold On"

early Feb / Aimee Mann "This Is How It Goes"

late Feb/early Mar Alela Diane "White As Diamonds"

Spring Equinox: Tori Amos "Mother" Persephone in Spring

early April /Josh Ritter "To the Dogs or Whoever"

late April / Tom Petty "Mary Jane's Last Dance"

early May / Thomas Dolby "I Love You Goodbye"

late May / Freakwater, "Good for Nothing"

early June / Amanda Palmer, "Want It Back"

late June / Nanci Griffith, "Late Night Grande Hotel"

Summer Solstice: R.E.M. "Half a World Away"

early July / Bob Dylan "Simple Twist of Fate"

late July / Cowboy Junkies "To Live Is to Fly"

early August / Great Lake Swimmers "Palmistry"

late August / Shelby Lynne, Allison Moorer, "Not Dark Yet"

Fall Equinox: Tall Heights "Back to Autumn"

it's about cycles. It's about love, it's about loss, it's about endless leavetakings and homecomings. It's about addiction and abuse. It's about manic/depressive swings and seasonal affective disorder and also the joy of leaves changing color and crocuses blooming in the frost. It's about Her. Persephone in Autumn: "Songs for an Earth-daughter, abducted, not entirely unwillingly: but increasingly irritable in captivity" Persephone in Spring: "Songs for an Earth-daughter, irrepressible and freed, but already homesick"