#quote is from a depeche mode song

[cryogendered]

“And I have been patient, I have been so calm

Bit my lips through the torment, please fall into my arms”

another madoka magica piece i made for my visual presentation class, i think this was a month ago? maybe a little more

this time around i was tasked with trying to draw in the Cubism style (if you don’t know what that is Pablo Picasso is a famous Cubist)

did my best to not add so many soft edges, im not used to geometric techniques but i think i did pretty good for my first try!

edit: happy pride month to MadoHomu, one of the lesbian ships of all time 🙏 /pos

[doyoulikethissong-poll]

Depeche Mode - It's No Good 1997

"It's No Good" a song by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released as the second single from their ninth studio album, Ultra (1997). It was commercially successful, reaching number one in Denmark, Spain, Sweden and on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. It entered the top 10 in Finland, Germany, Iceland, Italy, and the UK, where it peaked at number five.

The album debuted at number 1 in the UK as well as Germany, and number 5 in the US. The band did not tour in support of the album, with Fletcher quoted as saying: "We're not fit enough. Dave's only eight months into his sobriety, and our bodies are telling us to spend time with our families." As part of the promotion for the release of the album, they did perform two short concerts in London and Los Angeles, promoted as "Ultra Parties".

"It's No Good" received a total of 64,4% yes votes!

[the-hottest-band-tournament]

Round 8 of The Hottest 80s Band Tournament

Guns N’Roses 

Defeated opponents: ZZ Top, Pantera, A-Ha, The Go Go’s, Fleetwood Mac, Mötley Crüe, Hanoi Rocks

Formed in: 1985

Genres: Hard rock 

Lineup: Axl Rose- vocals 

Slash- lead guitar

Izzy Stradlin- rhythmic guitar

Duff McKagan- bass

Steven Adler- drums 

Albums from the 80s: 

Appetite for destruction (1987)

G N’ R Lies (1988)

Propaganda: “The sluttiest a man can do is be in the Guns’N Roses’s original lineup” 

“Watch this video and tell me slash doesn't have pretty boy babygirl swag”

“Whoo! Time for more Guns N’ Roses propaganda (and by that I mean an excuse to gush about Steven Adler, one of my favorite drummers/people ever)

First off, look at him. This is, and so cannot stress this enough, one of the cutest people I’ve ever seen. Ever. Look at him! (And also, he’s a drummer so he’s fun-size - he is 5’7 at most and at least some of you reading could pick him up)

And he’s one of the greatest and most fun drummers to ever live. I’ve heard maybe 3 other drummers who are as fun to listen to and who have as good of a feel for matching the actual emotion of a song (harder to explain with drumming, but even though they’re both love songs, wouldn’t do the same solos for Patience and Sweet Child o Mine - it’s the same deal here). The demo for Back Off Bitch runs laps around the full version and half of that is because of him.

Izzy Stradlin himself has said that he gave early Guns N’ Roses their feel and that things got weird and “nothing worked” without him (I swear to god that’s a direct quote). You know how hard it is to get a guitarist or singer to recognize and actually admit that? And he’s never made a bad song or sounded boring, and that’s really rare for 80s-era hard rock drummers. Even Tommy Lee’s had his weird songs and I can’t say the same here.

And some bonus propaganda before I write another five paragraphs”

Queen

Defeated opponents: Green Day, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Psychedelic Furs, R.E.M., Duran Duran, INXS, Depeche Mode

Formed in: 1970

Genres: rock, glam-rock, hard rock, pop-rock, pop, disco

Lineup: Freddie Mercury- vocals 

Brian May- guitar 

John Deacon- bass 

Roger Taylor- drums 

Albums from the 80s: 

The Game (1980)

Hot Space (1982)

Flash Gordon (1982)

The Works (1984)

A Kind Of Magic (1986)

The Miracle (1989)

Propaganda: “HAVE YOU SEEEEN THEMMMM???? these men never lost their looks as they aged. smoking hot 20 somethings to smoking hot 40 somethings. in their own words, "we was glam" and "we were all stunning". all four had impeccable style choices 99% of the time, from leather jackets and wraps to monochrome to undone blazers and ties to brightly coloured /everything/. Deacon changed his hair style every few years and even in just tshirts and booty shorts, never missed. Roger had a sleazy mullet and sunglasses for what felt like forever, hot Persian dad, did not miss. Brian forgot how to fully button shirts. bell bottoms. same hair for 50 years. no misses. even after Freddie got sick and started wearing makeup and had to grow a beard to cover up, MAN NEVER FUCKIN MISSED. he was beautiful to the day he died. and thats not even touching on the leather daddy look from the early 80s.king shit. we love wrinkles and laugh lines in this gd house. if they don't sweep I’m blowing this whole website up we was glam”

“a few years back i was obsessed with these guys and i would find it hard to not have a crush on all of them. in the 80s especially Brian was GORGEOUS.. BEAUTIFUL”

Visual propaganda for Guns N’Roses:

Additional propaganda here and here

Visual propaganda for Queen:

[orphanheirs]

Intro Post!💀🦇🕸🕯

Hey there! Figured I'd finally make one of these in case anyone who stumbles on this blog wonders what it's all about.

As it says in my blog description, this is an online space where I can compile and organize imagery, info, and anything else that inspires me related to the novel I'm developing. At least that was the original motivation for making this, but I'm definitely wanting to post some original content surrounding the story and the characters in it soon! This imaginary world has been obsessing me for a few years now, and I'm honestly chomping at the bit to share it with others.

What you'll see on here:

Images related to: gothic lit, the regency period in Europe/Britain, the late 16th/early 17th century, some earlier 18th century, ancient and prehistoric cultures, paganism, the occult, witchcraft, fairies, folklore, the countryside/forests, autumn, Halloween, demons/devils, romantic fashion, screenshots and gifs from films, illustrations/other artists' art that inspires me, and any other random pic that speaks to me or that gives me an idea even vaguely related to the story.

Text posts relating to: all the same subjects above, plus quotes from poetry and literature, other stories that inspire me, and writing advice posts/memes.

Hopefully soon: posts introducing my characters and sharing concept art, ideas, research I've done, who knows what else??

***Content warning for some imagery that may be disturbing (as can be expected, I guess, from a horror aesthetic/theme).***

What the novel's about:

It's [going to be] a gothic/dark fantasy/folk horror/historical fiction novel set in regency Britain and centering around the concept of Halloween and its origins/meaning. Think Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell meets Over the Garden Wall. Kinda. Characters include a bratty aspiring sorcerer, a demonic changeling who wants to be human, a witch, a sin eater, and a handsome devil. Over the course of the plot the question of whether the spirit realm(s) and mortal world should be kept separate will be a source of conflict.

I've had some aspects of this story/characters in my head since I was 14, so it's super special to me!

About me:

I'm an artist, writer, and musician. This is my first time trying to write anything as involved as a novel. I'm having loads of fun with it, though. I love music and reading and history, particularly fashion history, and anything related to the supernatural. The title of my blog is a reference to a song by Echo & the Bunnymen (though I think it's actually an inaccurate lyric :P ).

Ficton books I've been reading lately: Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke, The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles books, Edgar Allan Poe short stories

Nonfiction books I've been reading: The Devil and All His Works by Dennis Wheatley, Celtic Mythology by Philip Freeman, The Making of Victorian Values by Ben Wilson, Occult Features of Anarchism by Erica Lagalisse, Halloween by Lesley Pratt Bannatyne

Some musical artists I'm into recently: Cranes, Kate Bush, The The, The Smiths, Fiona Apple, Alex G, Caroline Polachek, Imogen Heap, Depeche Mode, Fad Gadget, Pinback, Steeleye Span, The Cleaners From Venus, Suzanne Vega, The Garden, Jessica Pratt

Visual Artists I've been thinking about lately: Edward Gorey, Aubrey Beardsley, Nicole Rodrigues, Francisco de Goya, Leonora Carrington, Brian Froud, Wendy Froud, Willam Blake, Edvard Munch, Harry Clarke

Some of my favorite films: The Witch, Valerie and Her Week of Wonders, The Wicker Man (original), Meshes of the Afternoon, Days of Heaven, The Thief and the Cobbler, The Masque of the Red Death

Regardless of why you're here, I sincerely hope you enjoy browsing around, and feel free to say hi! :) I would love to link up with other writers on here and make some new pals. Also feel free to like this post and I'll give you a follow!

WIP INTRO POST

~I love tag games and ask games! I may be slow to respond though. -

[karlakattz]

time for a little fic promo!

The lovely @starrythomas tagged me in a tag game! Thank you so much!

Rules: List the first line of your last 10 (posted) fics and see if there’s a pattern.

I took the first sentence of my fics, even if they are still WIP.

And when our worlds they fall apart, When the walls come tumbling in, Though we may deserve it, It will be worth it. (Worlds Collide, Robron, WIP)

There he is again! (See me through, Robron, WIP)

One day, the prophecy says, the Tarrthálaí, the savior, will appear, and vanquish the Darkness. (Songs of the Savior - Defeating the Void, Sterek, complete)

Seb and Isaac are proudly counting the sweets they hunted. (The Scene That We Stole - Happy Easter, Robron, complete)

“I’m fine.” (the Scene That We Stole - Positive, Robron, complete)

Letting out a long and suffering groan, Aaron sinks into the chair. (Paging Aaron Dingle, Robron, complete)

It wasn't Stiles' fault he fell asleep. (Red, White and Royal Sterek, Sterek, complete)

Aaron is pissed off on most days, but today he‘s extra pissed off. (Keeping the monsters away, Robron, WIP)

Aside from the soft clatter of the keyboard, it's peacefully quiet in the loft. (True Alpha, Sterek, complete)

A cloud of steam trails after Aaron when he steps out of the bathroom. (made it ok to be me, Robron, complete)

As for the first one I'd like to add that it's a quote from a song I love and adore, and that's Halo by Depeche Mode, which is my all time favourite band. You can listen to it here.

The third one is a quote I made up for this universe.

I don't see a pattern, except that I might have a thing for short first sentences to dive into the moment quickly? Hmmm.

Tagging @renmackree @escharis @triskhellion @quackquackcey, in case you haven't done that yet

[dorianbrightmusic]

List 5 things that make you happy, then put this in the askbox for the last 10 people who reblogged something from you! get to know your mutuals and followers (ू•‧̫•ू⑅)♡

i might tag some mutuals rather than askbox it, but let's go!

disarmingly honest statements of care. @srijellyfishtempura once simply said the words 'i care about you', and i nearly cried because it was so straightforward and kind.

when we scoop up my dog and carry her occasionally, there's a household tradition of calling her the 'baby jesus' in this position. and i can confirm that the baby jesus is extremely cute, especially when she's also wrapped in a towel

tiny weird mixing details in music. the way the 'she will not let you go' and the 'this time i'm not coming back' in 'With Teeth' (NIN) are panned ever so slightly on opposite sides, but so subtly that you can barely tell until you've listened fifty times. the fact that 'Immaterial' (SOPHIE) does not have a kick drum, but sounds like it does. the 'i'm in a box' sound of slap delay, and how it makes 90s acoustic songs sound like 70s music (especially with Tori Amos and Alice in Chains). the distortion that comes in ever so briefly in 'Waiting for the Night' (Depeche Mode)

kudos on fanfiction. especially kudos on MY fanfiction (please and thank you)

avuncular, playfully grumpy teachers and university lecturers, and the way they seem to delight in having their quotes written down.

@srijellyfishtempura @soullessbutsenile @0rchidrose @a-suspicious-lack-of-bagel @doot-boi (oh wait never mind you already did it. sorry) @thekiereneffect@most-definitively-a-human @so-you-read-the-usernames (i'll stop at 8 tags) y'all are all up next

[corvidamned]

FIVE SONGS for your muse.

i. Love Me Dead - Ludo: She moves through moonbeams slowly. She knows just how to hold me. And when her edges soften, Her body is my coffin. I know she drains me slowly. She wears me down to bones in bed. Must be the sign on my head, That says, oh Love me dead! Love me dead!

ii. This Is Not An Exit - Duncan Sheik: Maybe this schism, is just a symptom, Of late capitalism. A Savior's died and risen, Of worlds that wouldn't listen, To their own collapse. Even if this story, Is overwrought and gory, It's not a fable, it's not an allegory. No cautionary tale, no memento mori. Or a vague perhaps.

iii. I Would Die 4 U - Prince: I'm not a woman, I'm not a man. I am something that you'll never understand. I'll never beat you, I'll never lie. And if you're evil, I'll forgive you by and by. 'Cause you, I would die for you, yeah. Darlin', if you want me to, you, I would die for you. I'm not your lover, I'm not your friend. I am something that you'll never comprehend. No need to worry, no need to cry. I'm your Messiah and you're the reason why.

iv. Shake the Disease - Depeche Mode: Some people have to be permanently together, Lovers devoted to each other forever. Now I've got things to do, and I've said before, That I know you have too. When I'm not there, In spirit I'll be there. Here is a plea from my heart to you, Nobody knows me as well as you do. You know how hard it is for me to shake the disease, That takes hold of my tongue in situations like these. Understand me.

v. As It Was - Hozier: And in a few days, I would be there, love. Whatever here that's left of me is yours just as it was. Just as it was, baby. Before the otherness came. And I knew its name. The love, the dark, the light, the flame. The eyes at the heights of my baby. Let's hope at the fight of my baby. The lights were as bright as my baby, But your love was unmoved. And tell me if somehow, some of it remained. How long you would wait for me? How long I've been away? The shape that I'm in now, is shaping the doorway. Make your good love known to me. Just tell me about your day. Just as it was, baby. Before the otherness came. And I knew its name. The drugs, the dark, the light, the shame.

FIVE TWELVE QUOTES for your muse.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before ―  Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven Strength does not make one capable of rule; it makes one capable of service. ― Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings You cannot have both. In war you must always choose sides. One or the other. Silver or black. Human or demon. If you try to be a bridge laid down between them, they will tear you in half. ― Catherynne M. Valente, Deathless I look down at my body and think, No. I will not abandon you. Not yet, not again, not like the rest of them. ― Ashe Vernon, from “For Anyone Who’s Listening,” Not a Girl Part of heroism is being able to see the future and still remain standing. If you don't believe in God or Fate, you still must believe in narrative. ― Richard Siken, Four Proofs “I’ve been trying to go home my whole life—” — Chelsea Dingman, “Psychogeography” “Break often - not like porcelain, but like waves.” — Scherezade Siobhan First love's all right, as far as it goes. Last love, that's what I'm interested in. ― The Edge of Love, 2008 Understand, there are two pains. Pains that try to rob you of your essence and burn you to the ground, and pains that will transform you and give you wings. ― Helaena Moon

If you are so committed to being perfectly lawful that you cannot see the value of breaking a law to defend yourself or others, you’re not good, you’re obedient. ― tumblr user cenkrett “As the image of myself becomes sharper in my brain and more precious, I feel less afraid that someone else will erase me by denying me love.” ― Jenny Slate there's a misconception that grief only happens when we lose people. this is not true. we can grieve circumstances, relationships, missed opportunities. in fact, sometimes when you find yourself plagued with waves of emotion from sadness to melancholy you may be grieving yourself. the version of yourself that you might have been if things had been different, or if only you had said something, or if someone had stood up for you. ― tumblr user blooooom

Tagged by: @manufactoredxbyxdesign @fiercehearts Tagging: @prettytm @gviral @blood-on-my-coat @dcwnthercbbithcle @mxlevolence @red-hemlock @umbrellamedic @stxsis @qu-tipie

[go-go-devil]

for the character ask i send you 3: clara the changeling, somsnosa, reah of thorolund?

Excellent picks, my friend! Though I'm going to exclude the favorite picture of them segments since they all come from video games and I don't wanna overthink which screenshots of them I find the most interesting.

Clara the Changeling (specifically from Pathologic Classic since I really haven't seen much of her in Patho 2 in comparison):

favorite thing about them: I love her sense of humor, even despite the horrible situations she's forced into. I swear Classic's Changeling route has some of the funniest dialogue exchanges in the entire game largely coming from how snarky and overall DONE she is in dealing with all the nonsense of the adults around her.

least favorite thing about them: How her religious ideology often leads her to show a very black and white understanding of morality. Obviously she's not an adult and is largely being manipulated into these ideas by her adoptive parents, but that doesn't mean she's innocent of some of the legitimately rude things she can say to other people's faces (or even just racist since I'm pretty sure I remember her calling Aspity a "heathen" or something along those lines).

favorite line: Of course the "I detest trickery" line is one of the most iconic quotes in the whole game, but I also really love that one line she can say to Daniil on Day 11 when he asks how she was able to get to Peter's loft unscathed: "I can walk through bullets and flames." It's so needlessly dramatic and untrue but also EXACTLY the kind of thing Clara would say to hype herself up XD

brOTP: I will constantly remind people that Classic tells us that she has a friendship with Sticky and Murky. The fact that the devs either ran out of time or simply forgot to show us this friendship in Changeling Route is one of the saddest missed opportunities of the whole game T_T

OTP: I don't really "ship" Clara with anyone, but I do think Clara/Grace is cute. Creepy neurodivergent girl relationships are always a win in my book, and honestly I could see these two getting together when they grow up.

nOTP: I'm not gonna get into this in detail here, but for the love of god people STOP FUCKING SHIPPING HER WITH BLOCK, OR ANY OF THE OTHER THE ADULTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

random headcanon: I truly do adore the idea of her having pet rats 🐀🐀🐀

unpopular opinion: I don't believe her going away with Commander Block is in any way the "good ending" for her. He certainly cares about her, more than the vast majority of the other characters even, but also literally says to her face that he wants bring her into a WAR solely because he too is so consumed by religious prophesies that he believes this malnourished teenage girl will be able to lead his troops to victory with her miraculous powers! What I'm saying is that he's got the spirit, but is also basically just as insane as the Saburovs when it comes to how he chooses to see her.

song i associate with them: As far as I'm concerned "Crucify" by Tori Amos and "Precious" by Depeche Mode are basically Clara's two theme songs. They just fit her storyline SO PERFECTLY T_T

Somsnosa:

favorite thing about them: I can't go into too much detail about this since you haven't listened to Absent Moon yet, but I love how much actual character development (and even character regression) she goes through in this series. Considering how extremely space characterization is in this series, that's very impressive!

least favorite thing about them: Nothing. She's literally perfect 💙

favorite line: Oh man I dunno... "Oh hey Wayne. I left my magic gauntlets in the basement... and now its infested with ambulant skulls." is a very iconic line from the Hylics 1. Wonderfully absurd premise for a "mission," and it's unique in how it implies her and Wayne already know each other!

brOTP: Wayne, Pongorma, and Dedusmuln

OTP: Wayne, Pongorma, and Dedusmuln. They're all in a queerplatonic polycule together 💛💙❤️💚

nOTP: Gibby and/or Odozier, I guess.

random headcanon: Her cat in H1 is named Bug. Unlike Wayne's cat it doesn't own the house she resides in, but does help her hunt insects on occasion and has agreed to guard her fridge as long as it gets free access to any fish held inside.

unpopular opinion: I don't think I even have one lol

song i associate with them: Since I'm nearly done making a character mixtape for her, I'll go ahead and say "The World Backwards" by Broadcast. Both the melody and the lyrics give me major Somsnosa vibes, largely because I imagine her being the one singing it.

Reah/Rhea of Thorolund:

favorite thing about them: Her determination for sure. When you find her in the pit Patches kicks you down into she's the only one of her party who's kept her sanity, and I always read her request for you to put down Hollowed Vince and Nico as less of her lacking the skills to do so on her part and more so that she can't bring herself to kill her two friends herself. Also that one line she says to you in the parish about how she's lost everyone she's ever cared about really hit me emotionally when I least expected it T_T

least favorite thing about them: How we never actually get to SEE her preform any of the powerful miracles she teaches us, even when we aggro her. My assumption is that she wants to be a pacifist whenever she can, which makes sense for her character and explains why she brought knights along with her to do all the dirty work for her, but still I hate being denied women showing off their powers, and she clearly has them!

favorite line: I always loved her end of conversation line in the parish: "Vereor nox." Which translates (roughly) to "Fear the night." It's a cool line by itself, but also does so much to tell us how Reah's viewpoint on the state of this dying world and how she's aligned with linking the fire without her having to outright tell us.

brOTP: Vince and Nico for sure!

OTP: Like with Soms & the Crew, I too enjoy the idea of her having wanted to be in a polycule with her two friends, only it was never meant to be due to the mission they would never return from.

nOTP: I hope I never stumble upon anyone who ships her with Petrus...

random headcanon: The reason Vince and Nico were chosen to be Reah's knights was because she specifically requested it to her father, the ruler of Thorolund. Petrus, however, she has no close relationship with. She let him join the mission out of pity, since after he naturally died and became undead this mission would be his only way out of being carted off to an asylum.

unpopular opinion: Reah is NOT innocent. She may prefer to be a lonesome pacifist, but there's no way in hell she's a fully helpless little maiden. Only the highest ranking clerics are given the mission to seek the Rite of Kindling, and she is objectively the most powerful in her squad thanks to the ivory talisman she carries and which Petrus wants to desperately to steal for himself. She also has a frankly absurd amount of humanity held within her if you steal it via the dark hand: 12 to be exact. That's more than Sieglinde, the only character canonically not an undead, and much more than Lautrec, Patches, and Maneater Mildred, the three of which all having so much because they're MURDERERS! Reah fucking stole humanity from many undead to reach that number, either by her own hands or using her knights to harvest them for her. She hates herself for what she's done for the sake of the mission, but she still let it happen...

song i associate with them: I... honestly haven't thought of that yet. Let's pray that maybe one day it'll come to me 🙏

[neonradiation]

Album Review: 'Memento Mori' by Depeche Mode

Key Quote: "It's taken me a year to review this album - a year of letting it's flawed brilliance permeate through me."

As the length of time gets longer between albums (Spirit was released 6 years before Memonto Mori), we have to wonder how many more we can expect from Depeche Mode. Having just completed a huge world tour, Dave Gahan and Martin Gore will inevitably be thinking about solo projects. But maybe this time we can expect something a little bit sooner from DM - perhaps even a surprise album with no tour..?

1. My Comos Is Mine

This is more of an album prologue than an actual song, although it does have some words set against an industrial soundscape. In my opinion, although not an easy listen, it does serve a purpose, which is to set up the next song perfectly. But, I'll never understand why it was released as the 2nd single from the album - that did have me worried...

2. Wagging Tongue

The 3rd single released starts with some classic DM synth and suddenly everything in the world is ok again. 'Watch another angel die' is not everyone's choice for a song chorus, but it does work wonderfully and is somehow catchy as hell. This is co-written by Martin Gore and Dave Gahan.

3. Ghosts Again

Released as the 1st single before the album release and upon 1st listen, this could only ever be Depeche Mode. Stripped back production from James Ford (Artic Monkeys, Gorillaz, Pet Shop Boys) really let the guitar and vocals breathe. When placed in an album context, you could be forgiven for thinking we are going to get a concept album about death and re-birth.

4. Don't Say You Love Me

Something you don't hear too often in Depeche Mode songs are orchestral strings - but they are prominant in this song. It's an interesting sound when combined with guitar and sub-bass synth. But, it's Dave Gahan's vocals that gels everything together. This another song (as well as Ghosts Again) co-written by Martin Gore and Richard Butler (Psychedelic Furs).

5. My Favourite Stranger

This track stands out for me immediately, a great guitar, bass synth and percussion introduction followed by crunching guitar hook. The vocals give way to the music around 1:30 mark and the song really takes off. It's a bold move but it works well and when the vocals come back in, it becomes the best arranged song on the album.

6. Soul With Me

So now it's time for the Martin Gore sung song. I've really enjoyed listening to the 'Martin songs' on the recent tour. But in my opinion, this one doesn't stand out as much as those. It's a little bit of a plodder - there I've said it!

7. Caroline's Monkey

This song about addiction doesn't really hit home with me either. Musically, I feel it's disjointed and patched together. Lyrically, although I get the metaphor, it does jar a little and feels out of place.

8. Before We Drown

For me, this was instantly my favourite track on the album and I was glad it was released as a single and later included in their live set. It has all the elements of a perfectly crafted synthpop song but then at 2:50 is taken up several notches. It really is spine tingling stuff and like 'Cover Me' from the Spirit album, it gives a nod in the direction of synth pioneers Kraftwerk.

9. People Are Good

The final (probably) single from the album has DM trying to find the good in people. Although quite bass heavy, this has a catchy vocal melody although I'm not sure it's single material.

10. Always You

A guitar free song gives this a pre-Violator feel to it and is a refreshing change on the album. Also, its worth noting there is a lack of droning bass which is present in a lot of the other songs.

11. Never Let Me Go

Back with the guitar then and there's nothing too offensive about this song, but it doesn't really grab me either.

12. Speak To Me

This slow burner serves as the album's epilogue. An understated, yet powerful song where again the stripped back music really showcases Dave Gahan's vocals which I have to say sound better than ever on this album.

In conclusion...

Well, it's taken me a year to review this album - a year of letting it's flawed brilliance permeate through me. Although it's not a perfect album, Memento Mori (Remember Death) was definitely worth the long wait.

Depeche Mode Contact Details And Music Links:

Twitter: @depechemode

Album Spotify: Memento Mori

Artist Spotify: Depeche Mode

Website: Depeche Mode

[thespiralstaircasewriter]

Well, I'm not exactly an "Ask Me Anything" person by nature, so when I was tagged by @calamity-cain to answer a little question game, I retired under a rock to meditate for some time and produce my answers.

So, here goes:

relationship status: for ages with someone who still has no idea of who/what shares their bed.

favorite color: hmmmm… I’m a glutton when it comes to ANY colour. This can get irritating: it’s never just colours, but colours + matching + texture + shades + material… And if it’s all together, it hits like a train. So.... dark-red very scented velvet rosebud?

Some colours I adore in flowers, like delicate yellow/blue-purple irises, but as to wearing them, it's normally black, white or the occasional sand colour.

song stuck in my head: “Made in Italy” by Rosa Chemical

three favorite foods: although my approach to food is more theoretical than practical, which both sounds and IS stupid… Favorites… risotto with porcini mushrooms, the heretical version (with saffron), triglie al pomodoro (red mullet with tomato), any fish or shellfish recipe I don’t have to spend time cooking myself.

And… don’t ever ask an Italian to name just three foods… ;-D

last song I listened to: “Ghosts Again” by Depeche Mode

dream trip: California. I’d like to visit where the film industry was born, where it died and still haunts the place. Many of my loves from the Past and Present are there. Some at Hollywood Forever, like Rudy Valentino or Rozz Williams, but someone else in the world of the Living (they know who they are)!

last thing I googled: what changes DOWN THERE after re-assigning surgery, and how does that work? Well, yes. With respect, that it was.

... Oh! Under this rock I found some leftover answers from a past tagging by @meibruges Let's throw them out too!

Currently reading:

Tumblr everyday.

Endless curiosities I google instead of sleeping, with some recurrent obsessions, like plants propagation, languages, or types of fabric (when I’ll reach “types of ashes” that’ll have to stop, I’m told).

Fanfiction: anything @drachenkinder or @illwynd wrote or write.

Book: “Funeral Games”, by Mary Renault (basically glorified fanfiction of Alexander the Great), and “Bacchae”, yes, Euripides. 1) won’t pretend that was my idea. I found it quoted in wonderful fic “Dog in the Heart” by @thebookhunter, and got curious; 2) It’s GREAT.

Currently writing:

some obscure original narrative (nobody asked for), some Rozz Williams fanfiction, written in my heart’s blood (nobody asked for it either), some Lestat!Bowie WIP (somebody DID ask for it, some time ago, but please let them forget they did). Other: Bowie WIPs, BBC Sherlock WIPs... (may public mortification restore this pen to dignity).

Last series: Wallander. Late to the party, I know. But that was irresistibly sad.

Last movie: “Bones and All”. Guadagnino does it again: a good movie out of a bad book!

Sweet/savoury/spicy: savoury AND spicy. Sweet drives me a bit crazy in a bad way. But… what happened to bitter and sour? :-P

[cryogendered]

“Don’t stare at my soul, I swear it is fine”

here’s a fauvism styled (or at least an attempt at fauvism) drawing of Homura Akemi that i originally made just for fun after learning about fauvism in class, but then my teacher wanted us to create a fauvist styled work of art so i just,, turned this in 💥

madoka magica rebellion sparked something deep within me (i am very ill over this franchise)

[aggressiveguitarnoises]

for the music asks, #10 -- what lyric tattoo would you get?

omg thats a hard one. just went through so many playlists and songs for this.

if i ever got one then it would def be a lyrics i either resonate with a lot, think that matches my view in life or just has a lot of meaning to me

i thought i would choose something from NIN but i somehow settled on Depeche Mode, not to mention a song that i've known for like a month ONLY. Expected to choose smth ive known for years, bur anyhow, i choose the song "Nothing":

"Life is full of surprised, it advertises nothing"

i overall love that whole song sm, it's quite nihilistic even tho i wouldn't say i am nihilistic, but it's a good and simple reminder for me. I am someone that cares a lot and gets overwhelmed and starts to overthinking extremely easily, it's hard to calm down for a long time after. But reminding myself that things in life don't matter that much, something that matters to me now might absolutely not matter to me in as soon as 3 years, hell, even a few months from now does help quite a bit, even if it sounds pessimistic. Life is full of surpises, opportunities just come or don't (not to say that effort doesn't matter). With how ridiculous and meaningless life can feel or get, it really advertises nothing. There's nothing to worry about. Just reminding myself that from time to time helps, so i think these lyrics would be the best if I ever had to get only one lyrics tattoo. ok lol maybe i am just a worried nihilist

realistically i would tattoo a lyric for every fav band lol or smth associated with them like for nin "Nothing can stop me now" (another lyrics that resonates but the depeche mode one seemed better) or "All I've undergone, I will keep on" or the fragile flower, or "We are beautiful, we are doomed" from Los Campesinos!

I would prob get a lot of logos or icons, i seem more of an icon/symbol person rather than quote or lyric person. I want the fragile flower so bad now omfg

ok rant over thank u for the ask:)

[gviral]

FIVE SONGS FOR YOUR MUSE.

i. Shake the Disease - Depeche Mode: Here is a plea from my heart to you, nobody understands me as well as you do. You know how hard it is for me to shake the disease that takes hold of my tongue in situations like these.

ii. Weird Science - Oingo Boingo: My creation, is it real? It's my creation, I do not know. No hesitation, no heart of gold. Just flesh and blood, I do not know. From my heart and from my hand, why don't people understand my intentions?

iii. The Hand That Feeds - Nine Inch Nails: Got your chin held high and you feel just fine cause' you do what you're told, but inside your heart it is black and it's hollow and it's cold. Just how deep do you believe? Will you bite the hand that feeds? Will you chew until it bleeds? Will you get up off your knees? Are you brave enough to see?

iv. Evil Eye - Franz Ferdinand: Some people get a freak outta me. Some people can't see what I can see. Some people wanna see what I see. Some people put an evil eye on me.

v. Less Than Human - The Chameleons: I must have cried a thousand times, feeling less than human. I surmise I'm less than human in God's eyes.

FIVE QUOTES FOR YOUR MUSE.

i. "I will take a crowbar and pry out the broken pieces of God in me." - Anne Sexton

ii. "What was in our stars that destined us for sorrow?" - Anna Akhmatova

iii. "There are times when I am convinced I am unfit for any human relationship." - Franz Kafka

iv. "I have searched for my mother's love in all corners of the world." - Annie Ernaux

v. "If there is a light then I am going to swallow it. If there is a God then I'm going to make him cry." - S. Osborn

TAGGED BY: Stolen from @manufactoredxbyxdesign teehee TAGGING: YOU 🫵

[vinjaryou]

just stand there and be pretty - that’s what it felt like their eyes said to her.

another piece courtesy of me asking friends for quotes, song lyrics, and places during work downtime last week; my good friend Seren gave me a short verse from Depeche Mode’s ‘Little 15,’ and this is what came of it~

vincent/reilena, casino AU, set about a month after their first real meeting. once again, this is unedited (i literally finished it about fifteen minutes ago), so please forgive the roughness, as it will be edited and cleaned up before being posted on AO3.

And if you could drive, you could drive her away To a happier place, to a happier day That’s exists in your mind and in your smile She could escape there, just for a while…

------

The limo door was slammed shut, the chauffeur circling the car to get back in the driver's seat; blinking at the loud thud, Reilena sighed, resting her head against the window, hands set on her lap, holding her black clutch close. Even in the dimmed vehicle, through the tinted windows, her dress still shimmered, and she lifted a hand to her pendant, holding it as she smiled to herself.

A snort from across the car. “What’re you so happy about?” Heidegger grunted, taking a cigar out of the box in the limousine’s center console. “I lost nearly a quarter million at the goddamn baccarat table – the President’s gonna want a discussion about that.” When he was given a mere shrug in response, the smile fading from her lips, Heidegger rolled his eyes. “Whatever. You behaved tonight – my luck was shit, that’s all.”

The two shifted slightly as the car pulled away from the curb of the Seventh Heaven, carefully turning into the late-night Midgar traffic; Heidegger first lit his cigar, then pulled his phone from an inner coat pocket, cursing under his breath at the messages left for him. “What the hell is Kurtis whining about now…”

Reilena waved the smoke away from her face, head still leaning against the window as she watched the scenery fly by, letting her mind drift back to earlier that night.

To her secret date with the Heaven’s best blackjack croupier.

------

Think you can slip away for a little while?

The note had been subtly handed over, the paper pressed against the underside of the lavender lemon drop that had been bought for her by a ‘secret admirer,’ Yuffie dropping a wink before smoothly turning to hand Heidegger his double scotch on the rocks. Both Cissnei and Balto – the Turks assigned to them that evening – had opted for water, as they often chose to remain sober while on duty with Heidegger.

Taking a short sip of her drink, Reilena had nodded when she caught Yuffie’s eye, hiding her smile when the host strode off, empty tray under her right arm. A second later, a hand was shoved in her face, Heidegger bellowing beside her. “C’mon, you’re usually such a stroke of luck, give th’ dice a good blow for me!”

On the CEO’s opposite side, Balto coughed into his hand; beside Reilena, Cissnei barely hid her eyeroll, and Reilena pasted a polite smile on her lips, pursing them together to blow softly on the pair of blue and yellow dice before her. Hiding her startle at the guffaw beside her, Heidegger flung the dice down the table, wrapping his arm around Reilena’s shoulders immediately afterward, pressing her to his side. “C’mon now… don’t let me down, sweetheart…” his voice trailed off into a holler of joy, the numbers coming up in his favor. “That’s my goddamn girl!” His teeth were wide and bright white through his dark, bushy beard, hands already pulling the chips toward him as the dealer began to call out bets for the next round.

When Reilena shifted uncomfortably in Heidegger’s arms, he let go of her, more concerned with counting up his winnings, and she took a long drink, violet scanning the casino floor, chancing toward the card tables.

Vincent still had a trio at his table, but when crimson met violet, he bowed his head, subtly tapping his forehead with a finger. Last game. She nodded, sneaking a wink as she sipped at the rest of her drink, and turned back to the table just as Heidegger threw down his next wager.

A tap on her left elbow.

Cissnei held out her hand, a single nod. “I’ll take your glass, Miss,” she murmured softly, leaning closer so as to whisper in Reilena’s ear. “I’ll make sure he’s distracted, but I can’t guarantee just how long that’ll be.”

A final sip. “Can you hold him off for twenty minutes?”

The Turk nodded, taking the glass as she motioned for Reilena to step behind her. She held her breath, fingers tightening on her clutch, until Cissnei nodded once more, and she backed into the crowd, slipping through a group of middle-aged couples, until she was on the other side of the aisle. A glimpse back – Balto and Cissnei were on either side of Heidegger, the burly man shaking his head at the game – and Reilena bit her lip, turning to head for the card tables.

Felt her heart skip a beat when she walked up to Vincent’s blackjack table just as the game ended, the croupier setting the BREAK placard on his table. Her face warming at his own faint blush and smile, she slipped her hand easily into his offered one, letting him lead the way to the private lounges.

He didn’t start the timer on his phone until after they were in the room, the door locked, and both seated – drinks were optional.

Time dragged when she was on the casino floor, as she knew that out there, she was nothing but arm candy to whichever of Shinra’s bigwigs she was accompanying that night. She was barely talked to, unless it was for superstitions or drink requests; anything else was unusual and a reason to worry. Even the Turks usually kept to themselves, save for Cissnei and Elena, with the men keeping a close eye on her, raising a brow whenever she happened to glance over. Just stand there and be pretty – that’s what it felt like their eyes said to her.

She needed it to slow down when she was with Vincent. To let them savor the short time they were able to spend together when she was assigned to casino escort.

It was almost terrifying to her, how deeply she felt she’d fallen in such a short amount of time. When was that first encounter – barely four weeks ago? – and yet whenever she heard that she was to go to the Seventh Heaven, all she could think of was that she’d be able to see Vincent again.

They were still getting to know each other, too. Four weeks for a normal couple would’ve had them closer she imagined, but with Reilena not knowing when she’d be assigned to the casino, meant that this was perhaps only their third real date.

Date…

The word alone brought a flush to her cheeks, though neither she nor Vincent had ever referred to these as such just yet. But… that’s what they were, right? Spending time together, warm and close, sharing smiles and laughter as they talked, still quick to blush and turn away shyly at times…

She’d rested her head on his shoulder with a sigh, her hand resting on his own as he’d slipped his right arm around her waist, listening to how Yuffie had tried asking prying questions about the two of them, Vincent’s soft chuckle sneaking in at times. Even his voice was soothing to her; soft, husky, but warm and comforting, with an underlying protective tone. It was how remembering both the way he’d whispered “Are you okay?” in her ear, and how he’d growled “Let her go” after the incident with the drunkard were able to elicit a warm flush in her cheeks. How she could sit and listen to him talk about everything and nothing during their short, blissful time together.

“…I don’t think she’s quite figured out that there’s boundaries to questions,” he continued, giving their clasped hands a squeeze, when a muffled chime rang out. Both Vincent and Reilena shifted, he taking his arm back to take his phone out of his vest pocket, while she reached for the clutch still laying on the table before them, slipping her own from the purse.

Both screens were lit, and the couple shook their heads with near-simultaneous sighs. It was Reilena who murmured “Damn it,” first, violet scanning the text message from Cissnei.

Got you twenty – Heidegger’s asking where you are. He’s ready to go to dinner, and we have a table at the steakhouse. I told him you’d told me you had to go to the ladies’ room. You’ve got maybe five more minutes.

Beside her, Vincent silenced the alarm on his phone before slipping it back in his pocket, glancing over at Reilena with a sigh. “Time’s almost up…” he said, brushing her hair over her shoulder as she nodded. Biting his lip in thought as she typed out a quick response, Vincent asked, “…could I ask for your number this time?”

Her phone slipped back in her clutch, Reilena shook her head, turning back to him with an apologetic smile. “I would if I could, but you know I can’t,” she said, catching his hand in both of hers. “It’s tracked by Shinra – if they knew about us...” her gaze dropped to their hands, squeezing his tightly, her smile warming when the gesture was returned. A few seconds later however, she gestured at Vincent’s vest, toward the pocket. “But maybe…”

Raising a brow, Vincent took his hand back, reaching into the vest pocket again. As he took out his phone, Reilena nodded. “Take a picture of us together – it’s something to hold us over until our next date.”

The word was out of her mouth before she could rethink it, her face suddenly warming; blinking, Vincent’s cheeks turned pink as well, both of them smiling shyly before he motioned for her to sit next to him, her arms around his waist again as he held the phone up. “In three, two…”

Instead of saying “one” however, Vincent turned to kiss Reilena’s cheek, pressing the phone’s shutter button at the same time, smiling against flushed skin as she giggled. Shaking her head as she sat up, Reilena waited as Vincent lowered the phone, showing her the picture as well. “There – it’s a beautiful shot,” he said, a soft laugh when Reilena shoved his shoulder, though his arm still remained around her waist. “And after our next date, you can take the new one.”

She blinked, her smile softening. “I’ll hold you to that,” she replied, giggling again when Vincent tightened his arm around her in a hug, and she rested her head against his shoulder, the embrace returned as she sighed. “Vincent?”

“Hn?” He hadn’t made any moves to get up either, despite them both knowing their time together was ticking away. Instead, claws ran gently through her hair, gold complementing dark auburn rather nicely. The tips ran along her bare back, a smile when he felt her shiver at the sensation.

“…I miss you already.” A light nuzzle to his neck after the soft admission, Reilena shifted, meaning to finally sit up and admit to herself that their date was over. Feeling Vincent’s arm fall from her waist, she reached toward the table to grab her clutch, hoping there wasn’t another text from Cissnei, as Vincent stood up with a sigh. A gloved hand was offered, Reilena smiling as she laid her free hand in his, letting him guide her to her feet.

The gauntleted hand brushed her hair over her shoulder again, sharp yet tender coolness tracing along skin, as he lifted her hand to his lips in a gentlemanly gesture. “I miss you, too,” murmured softly before he kissed her hand, a soft smile on his face.

Taking her hand back, Reilena lifted her arm to Vincent’s shoulder as he leaned toward her, claws sifting into her hair as she dropped her clutch on the table again, their kiss deepening immediately. A shiver when she felt his arm wrap around her waist, pulling her to him, she wrapped both arms around his neck, a soft, wanting moan sneaking out as her fingers clutched his back, feeling his trace across her waist.

It broke slowly, tongues taken back, lips still stealing fleeting kisses before foreheads rested against one another, sharing lightly panting breaths. A low sigh as Vincent brushed his nose against Reilena’s, both smiling as the tender gesture was returned, she snuck one more kiss in before finally resting back on her heels, fingers running through his hair as claws gently stroked her cheek.

Tender smiles, knowing nods.

----

Hands held tightly as they made their way down the hall, one more squeeze is exchanged before Vincent reluctantly lets go, straightening his vest and tossing his hair over his shoulders as he walks back to the blackjack table. It’s barely fifteen seconds after he’s stepped behind the table, the BREAK placard put away, before a quartet of men have already sat down, waiting to be dealt into a new game.

Letting out a heavy sigh, Reilena closed her eyes for a second, listening for the door to the women’s washroom to open up. Sure enough, a pair walked out, and Reilena scooted in behind them, scouring the floor just as Cissnei was walking over, hazel eyes wide.

“Heidegger’s waiting outside the steakhouse with Balto, grumbling about you running late,” she hissed apologetically, taking Reilena’s free hand in her gloved one. “What’s the excuse?”

“I was talking to a girl who’d had a fight with her boyfriend, and lost track of time? You know he’s not going to ask more if it’s something like that.” At least, she hoped so, and Cissnei nodded.

“Good one. Heidegger doesn’t have a sympathetic bone in his body.” The two women kept pace with the crowd as the Turk led the escort to the casino steakhouse’s entrance, nodding to Heidegger as she let go of Reilena’s hand. Beside the Shinra exec, Balto raised a brow at Cissnei, but said nothing. “Here she is, sir.”

Rolling his eyes, Heidegger held his elbow out impatiently as Reilena slipped her arm inside. “It’s about damn time. What took you so long?” he grunted.

She sighed. “Had to console a lady who’d gotten into an argument with her boyfriend,” she replied. “I didn’t rea…” she trailed off when Heidegger waved his free hand in the air with a condescending snort.

“I don’t need the details. What matters is you’re here. Let’s go – I’m starving.”

Balto pulled the door open, Cissnei stepping inside first for coverage before Heidegger and Reilena strode in behind her, the exec already hollering for menus as he walked them to their private table. While he wore a boisterous grin on his face as he greeted people, the smile Reilena had didn’t reach her eyes.

It was her professional smile, the one worn whenever she was at Shinra’s side, to fulfill her role in their hierarchy.  

Just stand there and be pretty.

[heartstringsduet]

ahhh you wrote some more "let me" 😍😍 sooo excited!!! now, I know it is quite random but if you had to choose one/few lines or quotes to describe this series what would you choose? like it can ofc be from one of the fics (quote or monologue) or a standalone lyrics/quote

Thanks for being excited <3 Never not happy to talk about writing so thanks for asking. You definitely caught me at my weakness. Condensing things. Me? But then I think at it's core, as cheesy as it is, it's probably from my fic: "Asking about his kinks still makes Carlos think of the word care. It might as well be a kink for how essential it feels to him and how it still makes others turn their backs as if it’s shameful."

"This is it, TK thinks. He can’t just be doing this for Carlos. To take care of him, to push him, to tease him. That’s what Carlos wants. For them. Something in TK clicks like it desperately waited for this to be reframed like this, with both of them in the picture. 

His nerves hum but now it’s with excitement. Just the thought of listening to anything Carlos wants, to try and be the perfect sexual fantasy, turns him electric. He’ll get to watch every single effect this will have on Carlos and he will make sure to reduce him to a mess, too." As for lyrics, my playlist for this series is LACKING. I have 4 songs only for mood mostly except for: Stripped - Depeche Mode "Take my hand, come back to the land Where everything's ours for a few hours

Let me see you stripped Down to the bone (let me hear you speaking just for me) Let me see you stripped Down to the bone (let me hear you crying just for me)"

And honestly, anyone want to throw some D/s undertone songs or poems my way I'd be absolutely thrilled. (is this the weirdest request I ever made?????)

[casualtydept]

experiencing a particular sense of derangement today so how about an annotated walkthrough of my zeroskull playlist

there's a sort of progression to this that i intended to span their relationship as i portray it so keep that in mind. i hope you like 80s music.

this charming man - the smiths

this man said "it's gruesome, that someone so handsome should care"

my very first zeroskull fic has zero call him handsome and i shamelessly stole the idea from here. oh the romanticism of somehow finding yourself involved with an older english man who knows so much about these things...

2. unloveable - the smiths

i don't have much in my life, but take it - it's yours

sorry for all the morrissey it's not my fault he's also depressed and sexually complicated. i haven't written late 50s skull face in a while and this makes me miss him. oh you poor messed up thing.

3. love my way - the psychedelic furs

a kiss in not enough in love my way, it's a new road i follow where my mind goes

would you look at that another song about being gay. a comfy dreamy sort of feeling of falling for that older man that encourages him just to give in to all these terribly complicated feelings

4. later tonight - pet shop boys

and you wait 'til later, 'til later tonight 'cause tonight always comes

"the most gay song we've ever written" says neil tennant. i'll leave it at that

5. jack the ripper - morrissey

your face is as mean as your life has been crash into my arms, i want you you don't agree, but you don't refuse i know you

oh fuck he's back. anyway haha hope you enjoyed the sweet stuff here's one in which i compare zero to a serial killer. the "nobody knows me" lyric at the end fills my head with many thoughts. it's not zero if it isn't at least a little bit fucked up and morally questionable.

6. shake the disease - depeche mode

here is a plea from my heart to you nobody knows me as well as you do

hope you like this band as much as me or you'll be sick of them by the end of this. oh the desperation. ow oof the mortifying ordeal of being known.

7. in your room - depeche mode

i'm hanging on your words living on your breath feeling with your skin will i always be here?

be thankful i only quoted the chorus here. zero is a powerful man.

8. vampires - pet shop boys

say what you like i'll do what you want me to do you're a vampire, i'm a vampire too

the inherent romanticism of becoming strange and offputtingly wicked men who operate largely at night together

9. master and servant - depeche mode

domination's the name of the game in bed or in life, they're both just the same except in one you're fulfilled at the end of the day

i could have just quoted the whole song here. it's a lot like life!

10. stories of old - depeche mode

but we won't sacrifice anything at all to love

tfw you're totally in love but not enough to make you stop caring about controlling the global population/destroying the english language [delete as appropriate]

11. lovesong - the cure

whenever i'm alone with you you make me feel like i am whole again

i love pain and suffering.

12. love will tear us apart - joy division

love, love will tear us apart again

from the mgsv soundtrack itself. oh the misery.

13. wicked game - chris isaak

the world was on fire and no one could save me but you

[chanting] DIVORCE ERA DIVORCE ERA DIVORCE ERA. the bitterness... the longing.... the knowledge that the guy you essentially spent the last decade or more giving your life to is obsessed with some other guy and has ambitions that directly conflict with yours/make you want to murder him

14. diamonds and rust - joan baez

it's all come back too clearly yes, i loved you dearly and if you're offering me diamonds and rust i've already paid

[skull face voice] oh joan baez we're really in it now. music to drink heavily to after making a certain phone call, thumb running over the scratched metal of an authentic pin badge...

15. no children - the mountain goats

i am drowning there is no sign of land you are coming down with me hand in unlovable hand and i hope you die i hope we both die

oh you know i had to.

anyway hope you enjoyed this glimpse at what drives my insanity, i might do this for my (multiple) skull face playlists sometime but one is full of edgy bullshit + hungarian metalcore and half of my other one is just ennio morricone's dollars trilogy soundtracks lol.