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nicoscheer · 3 months

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Milex quotes (ranging from unhinged to batshit crazy while taking a detour through wtf land)

- first impressions: “What is this puny spotty kid with his little brown bag ?” (Miles about Alex) “Who’s that jester who makes me laugh so hard as soon as he opens his mouth ?” (Alex about Miles). Via Les Inrocks arcticle

- “I tell him I love him all the time,” via NME (Miles)

- “I love you because you’ve got a very strong pain threshold.” Via NME (Miles)

- since when are you both that close ? “You want to know if we’re going to get married ? If we have sex like real men, between the buttocks ?” Via Les Inrocks article

- “For kids from the North, it's hard to say but we never stop telling each other that we love each other. Alex knows I'll always be there for him. (How do our girlfriends deal with that? Are they jealous? Maybe we should ask them).” (Miles) Via Les Inrocks article

- “To me, The Last Shadow Puppets is not even a band. It’s more like a way-out of the notion itself of ‘band’. It’s a space of freedom. There is no embarrassment, no taboo, no limits between us. It's a real trade, we reroute each other's ideas. In the end, it's impossible to quantify the contribution of the two of us. Our complementarity sometimes freaks me out.” (Alex) via Les Inrocks article

- MK: Totally, to me it’s even the best vocal take of his entire career! (He cuddles him.) AT: Thank you, my dear. (Note: here it says “mon lapin”, which can mean “my dear” but literally translates to “my bunny”) via MyRock Magazine

- AT: Ah yeah, that’s how it is with my Miles! I start a joke and he’ll finish it! (he pounces on Miles and catches him in an armlock on the settee, before giving his crotch a light slap and shouting “Here comes the nuts!”) You wanna see how close we are as friends, Miles and I? Here, look, a spectacle exclusively for you! (At this point, we move up another notch in this madness: Alex swoops for a bowl of cashew nuts and starts to frenetically toss them at Miles, who tries to catch them with his mouth… after a fashion. Via MyRock Magazine

- “Alex is so dedicated to song writing, it’s inspiring to be around. He’s a beautiful soul and I’m honoured to witness him and the band grow. His left ears going to be burning when he hears this…” (Miles) via GQ magazine October 2013

- “Alex Turner is a genius, isn’t he? He’s a genius fish.” (Miles) via Knack Focus

Via Kultura Onet

- “Sometimes we have Skype-sex, or we wank off on FaceTime!” (Miles) via Index

- “We've been through a lot together. It's like, he's one of those friends, those few best friends you have in life. As you grow older, your circle tends to shrink, but he's remained one of my closest pals. It's almost like a bit of yin and yang between us.” (Miles) via Numéro

- Alex turns to Miles and propositions him: “Your place or mine, then?” There’s no-one expect us and the road-crew there to see it, but it feels like a special moment nonetheless. Via NME

- “I think we can bring the best out in each other, you know? He certainly does that with me.” (Miles) Via Eska Rock

- “Why, yes, bromances are for sharing your dreams. What a wonderful sentiment.” (Miles) via Interview Magazine

- AT: Miles is, without a doubt, Wolverine. Wolverine is a style icon to him. I see similarities. Miles always follows his instinct. And he’s capable of fixing things that are broken, whether it’s material or emotional damage, in no time. MK: Alex often reminds me of Gambit. He can change something insignificant into something explosive. He’s very aware of everything that happens around him, something that balances him out. And he can read my mind. Via OOR Magazine 2016

- “We understand each other and keep each other going. We both have strange ideas and we need the presence of the other to make sense of them.” (Miles) Via OOR Magazine 2016

- “Sometimes it can be a pressure being the fella in the band who writes the songs. Getting together with Miles I've got someone to bounce ideas off and that is something new for me. Also, it gives me somewhere to hide because he's up there singing with me. In the Arctic Monkeys, there's nowhere for me to hide.” (Alex) via Culture

- “My best mate. I love him, man. I like the way he pushes himself and keeps that thing of, whatever's going on around you, you're just a lad who loves playing music and writing tunes. He's a prime example of someone who's big but doesn't take anything for granted.” (Miles)

- “I decipher his thoughts and organise them. When Miles bursts, the idea comes flying. Someone who knows him well enough might be able to filter out the good ideas. But usually, he only has good ideas and it’s up to me to catch everything. That’s my job within this duo. That process releases all kinds of stuff within me, causing me to go into certain directions I would never take my own.” (Alex)

- “I thought it were going to be like them finding a tape where you’d had an affair,” he grins. “Like your bird had found an affair tape and was watching you having sex with another bird… but it weren’t like… an affair tape… erm, not that I’ve ever made an affair tape.” Alex Turner about the Monkeys’ reaction to The Last Shadow Puppets’ album via NME

- “And also working with Miles, it comes very much from my heart. You know, with such a close friendship we have. Wanting to work together, it brings something else. I haven’t done too much with other people… he’s kind of the only one.” (Alex) via Hot Press

- MK: And he can read my mind. AT: But you can read mine, too. MK: I knew you were gonna say that. AT: And I knew you were gonna say that. via OOR Magazine 2016

- “Even if we aren't writing half a word is enough. We can finish each other's sentences sometimes and if we focus on it, we can take it to a much deeper level. That's pretty unique. My thinking process is pretty abstract and a lot of people don't know what to do with that. Alex understands me like no other.” (Miles) via OOR Magazine 2016

- you’re living in Los Angeles too now, miles? “…because Alex lives there…” (Miles) via Humo

- “He has written a lot of songs – a lyrical wonder, this boy!” (Miles) via Humo

- The pair live, Turner says, “seven minutes away from each other”. Ask them what a typical night out entails, and they look at each other, then proceed to not be very forthcoming, though Turner will eventually concede that “some of what happens in those situations is disclosed, through the veil of song, on the record. There’s references.” Via Shortlist

- “Starin’ out the balcony at the moon, wonderin’ where is he, what is he doin’ now, who’s he kissin’” (Alex) via Sidewalk Hustle

- “… but this thing we had together… I know that I was the new kid and he was a sort of superstar, but even from day one, it was amazing. To an outsider, it wouldn’t look equal, but it was always so equal. He made me feel like that, just because it was.” (Miles)

- “We take it in turns playing the straight man.” (Alex) via Shortlist

- “Quite cute ! Quite and quite camp, you mean ?” (Miles about their relationship) via NME

- On what it’s like to work with Kane again, Turner said: “It’s like John Lennon meets… Paul [McCartney].” Via NME

- Miles says their relationship was established “on laughter and general stupidness” via the Telegraph

- Interviewer: Alex, what does Miles bring out in you that…. Alex: A woman can’t bring out in me?

- Miles and his endearments for Alex:

“We always talk about it, me and the boy, y'know?” (one of the cutest things Miles has called Alex is 'the boy' it's so beautiful bc someone asked him on Twitter what he was up to and he just said he was 'going out with the boy'. which boy? it didn't need saying. everyone knows who The Boy in Miles' life is.)

"He's got the face for it...the little diamond."

"The Little Prince" x

“Shavambacu” at 4:01

- “He (Alex) turned up one day in red jeans. That surprised me. I like it when he wears red jeans. When they’re tight.”

- “There's nothing innocent about Miles Kane,”Turner warns, in case anyone was planning to accuse him of luring his fresh-faced co-conspirator into a decadent world of rock star self-indulgence. “He is the antithesis of innocence.” “Ooh,” Kane retorts, archly, “you scampi fry.” Via the Guardian

- “We went for a bike ride. Tops off. Fred Perry shorts on.” (Alex about their time recording the age of the understatement in rural France Blackbox studio) via Q Magazine 2008

- You look like you're about to snog each other. AT: “It’s rare that we don’t look like that.” Tlsp at the Mercury music Prize 2008

- “As far as I’m concerned there are only two superstars: Beyoncé and Miles Kane. You can quote me on that.” (Alex)

#Milex quotes #if anybody has some missing sources or more quotes please do add #the length of this post is uhm a bit concerning #pet names #nicknames #yeah totally normal best friend behaviour nothing more #and not only are the sons getting on like a house on fire but their mums as well even having the same biscuits #this is gonna have several parts but I’m way too tired to go down this spiral even furth

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sophaeros · 7 months

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arctic monkeys for clash magazine, april 2010

ON THE ROAD WITH… ARCTIC MONKEYS

Words by Simon Harper Photos by Jason Joyce

As Britain’s favourite band headed out on the European leg of their ‘Humbug’ tour, Clash discovered that Arctic Monkeys were less sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll, and more cakes, ping-pong and Coco Pops…

The city of Offenbach, about twenty minutes south of Frankfurt, was once noted for its abundant leather industry, and is currently the base of the German weather service, but such claims don’t negate the fact that it’s basically a sterile, grey, typically German suburban borough. The arrival of a fleet of trucks and buses, carrying Arctic Monkeys, their crew and stage gear, heralded the notion that for one night only, Offenbach may just come alive with suitably bustling energy.

Offenbach’s Stadthalle is the smallest venue on the Monkeys’ three-week tour of Western Europe. The band have been through Portugal, Spain and France, and know how to kill time during the day while everyone works around them, building the stage for that night’s show. And so, when Clash finds them, upstairs in the Stadthalle’s back rooms, they’re in the middle of a fierce ping-pong match – the game scores being tallied up across the tour. The table, it transpires, is the band’s own, and follows them wherever they go. A set of football goals lie waiting for action, but the small white balls prove more enticing.

It’s a cold, February Tuesday, and these back rooms are where the band will spend the whole day.

Previous encounters with Arctic Monkeys have been somewhat tough – notoriously reticent and famously press-shy, there’s a tangible wall that surrounds them, which is seemingly hard to penetrate. Suspicious stares cut through you, while succinct answers frustrate you. Today, however, they couldn’t be more accommodating.

Clash sits with the quartet in the band-only room, where their personal equipment is kept in a vertical flight case of drawers, and a small fridge is at hand for cold beers. Nick O’Malley, Jamie Cook and Matt Helders sprawl on the leather couches, while Alex Turner perches on the table, often pacing the room, then escaping in search of a lighter. We’re here to talk about life on the road. What starts as an interview eventually descends into louche conversation; daft chat punctuated by much laughter. Perhaps they’re glad to see a friendly face; perhaps the monotony of touring makes them crave any respite; perhaps there’s nothing better to do in Offenbach.

Is being on tour like real life, or does it feel like you’re detached from what real life is?

Matt: It’s probably real life. It doesn’t seem like it’s too separate or miles away.

When you go home is that normality or is it just a continuation of what you do on the road?

Matt: I don’t find it hard to settle back and switch between the two.

Nick: You feel like you’re unemployed when you go home properly.

Like you’ve got nothing to do?

Nick: Yeah, or like if you’ve got a couple of weeks off.

Matt: Like school holidays.

Alex: Does that make this school then?

Matt: Yeah, but it’s like basketball camp or something you enjoy.

How do your friendships cope with life on the road?

Matt: It’s fine.

Nick: Yeah. We know how to not annoy each other. We’ve never really had friction, because we’ve all got a similar outlook on how not to annoy people, I suppose, so there’s never really been any problems.

Alex: (Mock nastily) That’s what you think, mate.

Nick: (Laughs) I suppose if you see the same people every day, after a while you’re bound to get a bit annoyed, but as long as you keep in your mind that it’s just because of the situation and not because you don’t like the person, then you can kind of avoid outbursts that you might not mean. It’s never really been a problem so far.

Do you notice a huge cultural difference between touring Europe and America?

Alex: Even between places in Europe. I mean, often, to be honest, certainly at this stage that we’re at, days like today aren’t uncommon, where you’re out of town and you don’t even really see where you are, as I’m sure you’re aware. But you can really tell the difference just in the show, from the crowd. We did Madrid and Barcelona over t’weekend, and last week Portugal, and they were really excitable and there was like a frenzy going on when we were playing. Whereas I think crowds elsewhere can be a bit more reserved, can’t they, depending on where it is. I reckon one of the best crowds on this tour was a gig we did last week in Porto. We’ve never played there before. There was this real appreciation or something just from the start. You can just sort of feel it, can’t you; ‘We’re all here to have a laugh’.

Alex lives in the States now. Have any of you considered moving to somewhere you’ve visited on tour?

Matt: Yeah. It’s good that you do get to see places that you might consider moving, like Berlin. I could imagine living there.

Does living apart make you appreciate each other more when you’re back together?

Jamie: [Long pause] Mmmm…yeah.

Gone are the days when you’re living round the corner from each other.

Alex: Yeah, I suppose that’s true. You’ve got to sort of organise to be in one place. I suppose that is a bit of an inconvenient drag.

Are there any essential items that you have to pack before you come out on tour?

Jamie: One of them rolly things that gets fluff of your coat. (All laugh)

Alex: I feel like you’re a lot better equipped than the rest of us with things like that.

Yeah, you’re looking very bobble-less.

Jamie: Ah, cheers. Yeah, I did it this morning actually. A quick roll.

Matt: A skipping rope – except I forgot it this time. I’ve lost mine.

Nick: DVDs, stuff like that.

A ping-pong table?

Jamie: A ping-pong table is essential actually. I don’t think we’d go on tour without that.

Alex: Some kind of series…

Matt: A box-set.

Alex: Kinda really discovered that this last year. It was summat I’d never really got into before.

Nick: Any HBO series.

Alex: (Laughs) Yeah. I’ve really learned to appreciate that sort of continuum, because you can follow a thread.

Matt: You know what you need to do the next day.

What have you been watching?

Alex: We’ve got into Deadwood a bit on the last tour. That’s what’s been missing, I think, for me on this tour, some sort of thing like that.

Have you done The Wire?

Alex: Yeah. I went Wire mad on that tour. I just got so greedy. I get so greedy with them things.

Matt: I couldn’t catch up.

Jamie: Yeah, he ditched everyone. I got ditched on t’second series!

Matt: Six in t’morning, I could hear him.

Jamie: You’d get up and that [theme] song would be on. It’d just be crisps all over, a bottle of…

Nick: ‘Wire Beast’s been up all night again!’

Alex: ‘Where’d you get that dressing gown from?’

Jamie: Just laying there with crumbs all over him.

Have you ever had any scares at customs?

Nick: I got searched yesterday actually.

Matt: It was your squeaky wheels, just as I’d said. I said, ‘Them wheels are gonna attract attention.’

Nick: In Germany. A very thorough search, but luckily no glove action.

Jamie: They probably wanted to mend your wheels for you.

Matt: ‘I’ve got summat for that, some GT85.’

Nick: They were really suspicious of me. They really took everything apart and didn’t put it back as neat as I’d put it in.

Alex: At this end, yesterday?

Nick: Yeah, when we arrived in ‘Munchen’.

Alex: They’re quite, like, strict, aren’t they, Bavarian authorities.

Nick: Yeah. They had a look at me belt, everything. All me case and bag. Took everything apart. Then he were like, ‘Where have you come from?’ I went, ‘Barcelona’. He were like, ‘Have you had any contact with drugs in Barcelona?’ I went, ‘No.’ He went, ‘What do you do?’ I said, ‘I’m in a band.’ And he went, ‘Ah’, and then, like, swabbed everything.

Alex: When I got in t’car yesterday, the fella were like, [German accent] ‘If you like to do drugs, do not try and do it in Bavaria.’

American customs scare me most.

Matt: Yeah, it’s a load of questions.

Alex: ‘What are you doing here?’

Jamie: New Zealand were quite funny. We all got pulled…

Matt: We had to sit in them chairs for a bit…

Jamie: And this guy was asking us directly the last time we ever did drugs. Then someone came over who worked for us…and he soon disappeared rather fast. We were fine. (All laugh)

Alex: I’ve come to quite enjoy the American customs people. (All laugh)

Matt: They’ve always got weird names.

Alex: They’re like, [American accent] ‘So you’re in a band, huh?’ You go, ‘Yeah, yeah.’ ‘What do you do in the band?’ ‘Oh, I’m the singer.’ ‘Yeah? You don’t look like a singer to me.’

Nick: ‘Do you sound like Coldplay?’

Alex: Yeah, ‘What kind of music do you guys play?’

Jamie: ‘Do you sound like Staind?’ I went like, ‘Staind? I know them… Fuckin’ hell!’ It took me ages. ‘Yeah, yeah, we sound a bit like Staind.’ When he said it I were like, ‘Yeah, a bit.’

You’ve said before that you wanted to try and get an album out this year. Do you get any time on the road to do any work on that?

Alex: Not really. That’s a bit of a pain in the arse, not being able to rehearse and work stuff out. I don’t think I write very good songs on t’road. They’re all a bit wonky. You get back and you’re like, ‘Hmmm’.

Does it detach you from what we were talking about earlier, ‘real life’? Does it detach you from the things that you want to be writing about?

Alex: I dunno. You can still use your imagination, but I just think, yeah, in your surroundings there’s always about to be something that’s going to happen. You can’t think. I always write wherever I am, but I dunno if the things that come out when you’re touring around always have the shelf life that the other things do.

Have you got any songs earmarked for the next album?

Alex: Yeah. I mean, there’s some ideas, but we haven’t really had the chance to get out the fine toothed comb.

‘Humbug’ was a departure in sound from your previous albums – do you think you’ll continue in that direction, maybe bring Josh Homme in again?

Alex: Not sure, really. We would like to do something with Josh again – it was terrific for us to go on that adventure – but whether or not it’s this next thing, I’m not sure. And also, like, he’s busy! (Laughs) He’s got a schedule himself, doesn’t he?

You went to record over in his place, so do you think next time you’ll have him over to...

Alex: High Green? (Laughs) Homme in High Green? I quite fancy that.

Nick: He’d look like a superhero in High Green, all the bad genetics there are in High Green. He’d look amazing.

Matt: He’d be the biggest man there.

You’ve released a couple of singles exclusively through Oxfam. What made you decide to do that?

Jamie: Laurence and Jonny at Domino came to us with that idea – a great idea for the charity reason, and then cos Woolworths and stuff had shut down, but there were always an Oxfam.

Alex: Like, in towns where there perhaps aren’t, like, an Our Price or something.

Do you have to think of more creative ways to get your records out there?

Jamie: Yeah, rather than just sat at home.

Matt: They should think about making the journey exciting – paint paths a nice colour to the record shops.

Alex: The yellow brick road.

Matt: Something that makes people want to walk to a record shop. Even if it’s just free parking. (All laugh)

Jamie: It’s just too easy to buy music now.

How do you feel as artists about the devaluing of music? Does it annoy you that you’re working hard to make something, but people can just pick it up from their friends?

Jamie: I suppose we were never in the industry when it were big money, when people used to sell twenty million albums. Has that ever happened since we’ve been around?

Probably someone like Dido has.

Jamie: Yeah, that were probably the last.

Matt: It’s like, we wouldn’t expect anything like that to happen to us, so…

Alex: I do think there is people that always will want to go and get records.

Matt: Yeah, it won’t change everybody.

Alex: I was reading a couple of months ago about there’s an idea where you won’t even have – you know like you pull songs off iTunes or whatever – but they were saying you subscribe to a database and pay to get ’em…

Jamie: Spotify, that’s what that was.

Alex: Yeah. But you can’t get them on…

It streams the music – you can’t download them.

Alex: But you can’t do that on your phone, can you?

Matt: Yeah, you can do Spotify on your phone if you pay about £10 a month. Nokia did that thing where you can just pay a monthly thing and you can have as many as you want…

Alex: The fella had a quote, he’s like, ‘There’s nothing sexy about an MP3 on your desktop’. (Laughs) He’s like, ‘There’s nothing sexy about having a subscription to a database’. (All laugh) But then you could just sort of buy a record and stand it up against your wall. Not that that’s particularly sexy, but, you know what I mean… I like things that you can stand up.

Jamie: Like you said the other day, everyone’s just gonna have an empty house.

Matt: Yeah, there’s gonna be nothing on t’shelves. Not even books now.

Jamie: No one’s got any photos anymore, no ones’s got any CDs or records…

Matt: You’ll just have a screen and a chair.

Jamie: You’ll just go, ‘Sound. This is sound.’

Matt: With nowt on your wall.

Jamie: You can just have everything [at your fingertips]; turn your fire on, open your curtains…

Alex: You’d get in it for your bath. (All laugh)

[Alex goes into the band’s equipment drawer, pulls out a giant figure of Freddie Mercury in full-on rock pose. “See, he said he likes things that stand up,” Matt says.]

Does being on an independent label give you the freedom to experiment with your marketing or promotions?

Matt: Yeah. They [Domino] have as many ideas as us for stuff like that, like the Oxfam thing. They tend to think on a similar level, and, at the same time, if we have a suggestion, they’re open to it. It sometimes is a good thing to have a label like Domino, cos they’re experienced in doing weird stuff, and have obviously signed things that aren’t necessarily to make any money or anything, so we’ll listen to them if they have a suggestion, and vice versa. They’d put records out on tins of beans and all sorts. (All laugh)

Jamie: I wanted to do it on a conifer. I wanted to put an MP3 out on a conifer.

Matt: Or just seeds. Christmas tree seeds.

Alex: Yeah. What did they actually do?

Matt: There’s a Jewish guy, I forgot what his name is, and they did it on a kosher chicken noodle soup or something. You buy the soup and you get the code [for the MP3]. Which is good in a way, because he’s just poo-pooing the fact that there’s not much point. It’s an incentive, but it doesn’t get it in the chart, you see. It’s a give-away. So you can sell anything and just have an MP3 code on it. You can sell a car and you’d just get one song.

Jamie: But then it doesn’t count towards t’charts?

Matt: No. The Oxfam thing don’t either, does it. Only the download bit does. You’re not allowed to give away incentives like free stuff, because that’s obviously encouraging people. See, that’s the thing – people might buy the soup and not download the song. ‘I wonder if they make good soup?’

Jamie: When you see a good cover sometimes…

Matt: Yeah, you buy it for the cover.

Alex: Perhaps the epitome of that is you buying a Lady Gaga picture disc. (Laughs)

Matt: Yeah, I did. I’ve been a fool.

Alex: It’s great, cos she’s wearing like a fuckin’ box of Coco Pops or something. (Laughs)

Matt: You could buy that Freddie Mercury thing and get a Queen album, for instance. You don’t need to put it on or owt.

Jamie: You want to make it awkward.

Matt: Buy a chair. Buy a flat pack piece of furniture and you get a code for an album.

Jamie: You have to put your furniture up and send a picture to someone, then they send you the MP3.

Alex: That would make a good video: playing in a bowl of Coco Pops. (All laugh) Remember that kids programme where they used to have to go swimming in a bowl of cereal…

Jamie: Ah yeah. Didn’t they used to do something like that on The Big Breakfast?

Matt: They did, yeah.

Jamie: It were a massive cup of tea and you used to have to get the sugar lumps…

Matt: Yeah, yeah, that was it: One Lump Or Two.

Jamie: One Lump Or Two, yeah!

Alex: It would be great: kid comes down, he’s having his breakfast – Coco Pops – and then, like, Arctic Monkeys are in his cereal. (All laugh)

Jamie: Hot milk, though.

Matt: Hot milk in t’afternoon.

Alex: (Laughs) ‘Why not try Coco Pops after school?’

Jamie: (Laughs) I love that advert!

Alex: It’s the best!

Do your fans give you CDs of their bands?

Matt: They throw them on t’stage! Imagine if you got one of them in t’eye! Fuckin’ hell! Remember in America, a kid got on stage and he had a handful [of CDs] and someone had to grab him to get him off, but he threw them. So he were getting pulled away and he threw them.

Alex: I’ve been getting less CDs though…

Matt: Now they’re throwing download cards at you!

Alex: I got a pair of underpants…

Jamie: People are chucking downloads at you. You’re like, ‘What the fuck?’

Matt: People are throwing zeroes and ones at you – it’s like the credits of The Matrix!

Jamie: You can’t get any flick on a download.

Alex: They’re chucking Spotifys at me. Maybe that’s what them pants were – some sort of code.

I think it’d be a totally different sort of code! Do you listen to the music that fans give you?

Matt: I listened to one that someone gave me the other day. It just were at home though, he just gave it me.

Alex: No more than I’d wear that pair of pants! (Laughs)

Matt: It were just convenient – I were getting in me car and there’s a CD player there.

What’s the strangest thing a fan has given you?

Matt: Just in Japan – everything you get is weird! Like, a monkey hat – it left your own face in but it’s got ears and a tail.

Jamie: And sweets.

Matt: A lot of sweets.

Jamie: We once said, ‘Oh, we like these sweets’ in an interview…

Nick: There’s someone that makes baked goods.

Matt: You got a good one, where it were like a picture of you…

Alex: Yeah, I got like a diagram of myself…

Matt: A diagram, pointing at every bit, and then asking to fill in, like, what his favourite brand of jeans were.

Alex: Hand it back, and then she’d sort of kit me out.

Matt: She’d buy it all! So, like, ‘Favourite shoes? Trainers or boots?’ It would be like that. He’d fill it in and send it back and then she’d buy it. ‘Will this do?’

Alex: Back it came with this jumper that were perfect actually. She really knew me better than I knew meself.

Nick: With baked goods, I know it’s not [spiked], but you never know… It’s probably fine – it’s more than likely fine – but it is a gamble.

Matt: It’s innocent, but someone might have seen that opportunity.

Jamie: I don’t think I’m ever gonna eat a baked good that some stranger’s made. You learn about that. There is a story there…

What’s the first thing you do when you get home after the tour is finished?

Nick: See your friends and family that you’ve not seen.

Matt: I go and get my photos developed. That’s actually one of the first things I do.

Alex: I usually pick up me guitar. Honestly. It’s a deep breath.

Later that evening, Clash is back in the ping-pong room. The tour manager comes to break bad news to the band - the curtain at the front of the stage is broken. They won't be able to make their usual grand entrance. "Ah, we've got to do it," grins Alex. Do what? "We've been saying on this tour if ever the curtain doesn't work, we've got to go on to this song." Which song? "Black Eyed Peas’ ‘I Gotta Feelin’’," Alex beams. The band are giddily bouncing around, electrified by the prospect of taking the stage to the song that's soundtracked many a menopausal vodka-stained Saturday evening's preparatory gathering.

“But when do we go on?" Matt asks.

"The rap. We gotta wait for the rap," Alex asserts.

"We should wait until "Mazel tov”,” Jamie smirks.

Ten minutes later, Clash is amidst the Offenbach crowd when the lights go out and the song bursts from the PA. A wave of euphoria swells, the irony not lost, and right on cue, just as the Peas declare, "I know that we'll have a ball", the four Monkeys stride towards their instruments.

The nineteen-song set covers their three albums - with Nick Cave's 'Red Right Hand’ thrown in for good measure. The last song before their encore is 'Secret Door’ from 'Humbug’. Just as Matt cracks the snare drum that launches the song's long psychedelic outro, cannons on the roof blast out gold and silver confetti over the joyous crowd below, proving that the Monkeys aren't averse to a bit of showmanship every now and then.

The after party is a subdued affair (well, in Offenbach it's bound to be!), with just the band, some friends, crew, and Clash, diving into the beer and nibbles on offer. A fairly drunken chat with Alex about Johnny Cash, Billie Holiday and Gram Parsons rounds off our time with the band, as they retreat back to the confines of their bus, about to depart for Dusseldor and their next gig.

Such a welcome and warm atmosphere is often rare backstage, especially with a band as celebrated as this, but the Monkeys - ever changing and ever surprising - are beginning to make a habit of defying expectations. Growing up has never been such fun.

#arctic monkeys #alex turner #matt helders #nick o'malley #jamie cook #humbug era #clash magazine #interviews #not my scan #bands #screenshots from vk #in another universe they wouldve started a four white men talking podcast #eye contact #my image id

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ladykailitha · 2 years

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Can Anybody See Me? Part 3

Holy hell, guys. Seriously, I love you all. And just seeing the sheer amount of LOVE this story is getting makes me so happy.

Tag list of 50 has now been filled. Any other requests for tagging will be denied. I’m sorry.

Edit: Also if you saw the title as something else? No, no you didn’t. And any reblogs you see with anyone instead of anybody are a figment of your imagination. (*thuds head on laptop* I have the title right on here...in my file *wails*)

Part 1 Part 2

Eddie was wrong. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that. On the one hand, he was wrong and that was uncomfortable. On the other it meant that whatever was going on with Steve he didn’t care about his reputation anymore and that was always a good thing.

He had walked out of the school doors to the parking lot after school to see a Steve Harrington leaning against his van, just like yesterday.

“Harrington,” Eddie said, “this is a surprise.”

Steve ducked his head. “If you don’t want me to be here, I can leave.”

Eddie held up his hands. “Whoa, whoa there. I didn’t say that. I’m just surprised you took me up on the offer is all. Last time I checked your lot doesn’t throw in with mine.”

Steve’s shoulders sagged. “It does now. Now that I don’t have anyone else.”

Eddie’s eyes widened and he cocked his head. “I thought you and Nancy Wheeler were hot and heavy.”

The very idea of the two of them made him gag. Hetros. Freaking insane, man.

“We broke up on Halloween,” Steve murmured.

Eddie blinked. He had been at that party. To sell, of course, he hadn’t been invited. Had even seen Wheeler storm off, but he really hadn’t thought much about it.

“What bridges haven’t you burned?” he asked in all seriousness.

“My kids,” Steve said. “I’d do anything for them.”

“Okay, that’s going to have to take some explanation,” Eddie said, shoving his hands in his back pockets.

Steve looked around the van and gulped. “Can we take this somewhere else?”

Eddie looked over and saw Nancy and some other guy being all cutesy. “Yeah. Come on, hop in. I’ll bring back later to pick up your car when the lot’s no longer crawling with people who want to do you in.”

Steve sighed in relief, his body fulling relaxing for the first time since Eddie started this journey. He moved around to the other side of the van and got in once Eddie unlocked the door.

“Where to, my liege?” Eddie asked with a grin.

“Is the quarry okay?” Steve asked shyly.

Eddie’s grin softened to a smile. “Sure thing, pretty boy.” He started the van and pulled out on to the open road, leaving behind the messy turmoil that was high school.

They made it out to quarry and Eddie climbed up on the top of his van. Steve looked up at him in amazement.

“Uh, how am I supposed to get up there?” Steve asked.

Eddie leaned over the side and held out his hand. “Grab hold.”

Steve looked at it a moment and then back up at Eddie. He looked into those doe brown eyes and sighed. He planted one foot against the side of the van and then took Eddie’s hand.

And was promptly vaulted to the top of the van.

“Holy shit!” Steve said once he was settled next to Eddie. “You’re strong.”

Eddie laughed. “It comes from all the lugging equipment around for my band. And helping out with stage crew.”

“Wow, you have a band?” Steve asked.

Eddie nodded. “Corroded Coffin. It’s a metal band, we play at the Hideout every week.”

Steve bit his lip. “I don’t know much about metal. I tend to go for alt rock bands like Oingo Boingo, Depeche Mode, REM, Tears for Fears...I bet that was a load of gibberish for you.”

Eddie shook his head. “I’m familiar with a couple of them,” he admitted. “Not my thing. But I would have pegged you for a pop vibe.”

Steve scoffed. “I have some taste, man.”

Eddie laughed. “I’d beg to differ, but sure. You do you, dude.”

Steve bumped Eddie’s shoulder. “Go on, then. Impress me with your metal bands, since mine are such shit.”

“My favorite is Metalica,” Eddie said, bumping Steve back. “But I like Mercyful Fate, Dio, Poison.”

Steve wrinkled his nose. “And I thought my bands had weird names.”

“What the hell is a Depeche Mode anyway?” Eddie fired back.

“What is a Metalica?” Steve replied.

Eddie opened his mouth, but no sound came out. “All right, you got me there.”

“I was talking to Mrs Hall today about my schedule,” Steve said, drawing his knees up to his chest and resting his chin on them. “I have to drop basketball and baseball. It’s too late to drop swimming, but I talked to Coach Burton and he said I should be cleared for competition I just have to see the swimming board’s doctor for final confirmation.”

“So suddenly you have two classes opened up?” Eddie asked.

“Yeah, my last two,” Steve mumbled into his knees. He lifted his head with a sigh. “She won’t let me just drop them and not pick up new classes even though the semester half way through.”

“So you thought about what to fill those slots with?”

“She gave me a list of options,” Steve grumbled and dug the paper out of his pocket. He handed it to Eddie.

Eddie looked over the options. “Debate, would double as extra English credit...” he mumbled reading what Mrs Hall had wrote. “Can’t see you doing that one, if I’m honest.”

Steve shook his head. “Me either. I know it’s not just arguing. But I know they can get heated. I don’t need complete strangers yelling at me when I get that enough at home.”

Eddie nodded. “Choir. Can you sing?”

Steve blushed. “Yeah, actually. But I’ve never wanted to join the choir.”

Eddie frowned. “Why not?”

Steve cleared his throat and looked away. “My vocal coach said that I don’t blend well and am very loud.”

Eddie bumped into Steve’s shoulder. “Soloist only, then?”

Steve nodded.

“Sounds like you’d be great at metal singing,” he continued. “Very loud and very in your face.”

Steve laughed. “Whatever you say, man. But no, choir is out.”

Eddie looked back at the list. “Machine work?”

Steve shook his head. “My dad would kill me.”

“Too blue collar for your dad?” he asked. Steve nodded. “I gotcha.”

“Stage crew,” Eddie continued.

Steve sighed. “I thought about that one, but like with the machine work it’s too ‘blue collar’ for my dad. Plus with my concussion, I’m pretty sure either option would be out.”

Eddie cocked his head and clicked his tongue. “Fair enough.” He looked over the list. “Pottery?”

Steve laughed. “Sure, why not? That’s one.”

Eddie nodded. He mentally crossed out all the classes that were seventh period, focusing only on the class that were eighth.

“Hmm...” he murmured pursing his lips. “Looks like what you’ve got left is geology and drama.”

Steve reared his head back. “What the hell is geology?”

Eddie shook his head. “I have no idea, but it’s obviously a science-y thing.”

Steve let out a bitter laugh. “I guess it’s pottery and drama.” He buried his face in his knees again. “I know my reputation is already in tatters but fuck those kids in those classes are going to tear me to pieces.”

Eddie blinked. The mystery that was Steve Harrington was like following a rabbit down a hole, and coming up to Wonderland. “You’re more concerned that they’re going to make fun of you then you are of your old friends making fun of you?”

Steve lifted his head. “Well sure. I know Tommy and them are going to make fun of me even if I stayed on both teams. That’s a given. They’ve got King Billy to follow now and they’re gonna get vicious with it. But no, the real problem comes from the art geeks coming for me because I have invaded their space.”

Eddie almost brought up the drawing class Steve was already in, but wisely kept his mouth shut. He shrugged. “So tell them truth. Tell them you had course correct because of a concussion. Be honest and defer to them in all things.”

“I’m also going to be the only senior in those classes, man,” Steve groused.

Eddie cocked his head. “Yeah, probably. But what else have you got?”

Steve’s shoulders slumped. “Nothing.”

They lapsed into silence. Just sitting there for awhile looking out over the quarry.

After some time, Eddie bumped Steve’s shoulder again. “So you want to tell me about ‘your kids’?”

Steve frowned.

“Burned bridges, people who haven’t given up on Steve Harrington?” Eddie prompted.

Steve lit up. “Oh yeah. Sorry, man, it’s just the...” he pointed to his face. Eddie nodded. “I still don’t know how I got roped into dealing with these assholes, but yeah. There are six of them now. Started with Dustin Henderson. Smart kid, smarter than most adults I know. Then it expanded to his friends, which includes the little brothers of my ex and her new boyfriend, Jonathan Byers, and of course Lucas Sinclair. And then I picked up El or Jane. I’m not sure which one she prefers, most people call her El though. And then there’s Max.”

“Five boys and a girl?” Eddie asked, his face twisting awkwardly. “Congrats?”

Steve laughed. “Max is short for Maxine. But don’t you dare call her that.”

Eddie blinked. “Max Mayfield? As in Billy Hargrove’s step-sister?”

Steve tilted his head back. “Yeah...but I don’t think I could separate her from the group now if I tried. And besides, she’d kick my ass.”

“You are an enigma wrapped in a mystery, man,” Eddie said.

Steve looked over at him. “You don’t know the half of it.”

Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21

Tag List: @evix-syne666 @renaissan-vvitch @deadlydodos @scarletzgo @messrs-weasley @kodaik97 @thedragonsaunt @butterflysandpeppermint @gregre369 @nelotegreitic @sundead @artiststarme @fandemonium-takes-its-toll @thing-a-ling @anaibis @garden-of-gay @matchingbatbites @spectrum-spectre @winterbuckwild @steve-the-hairrington @swimmingbirdrunningrock @lifeisnotsobadonceyoustopcaring @babyblender @cursedfoxteeth @novelnovella @throwbackthrowaway @strangersteddierthings @shrimply-a-menace @emly03

#My writing #stranger things #steddie #canon divergence #the boy with the bat #ladykailtiha writes

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duffsmckagan · 1 month

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DEBORAH FROST, DOKKEN, GROUPIES, HEAVY METAL, JAMES HETFIELD, KIRK HAMMETT, METALLICA, MONSTERS OF ROCK

Stories From The Road: Deborah Frost and Metallica

In Deborah Frost, Stories From the Road, music on December 7, 2008 at 2:28 pm

By Deborah Frost

“I once walked into the dressing room of a very huge metal band well, they were not quite as huge then as they are now, oh what the hell, they are probably the biggest band in the world Metallica (and they didnt get that way without airing their own dirty laundry very publicly from revealing in various cover stories tales of the drummer being fellated under the stage nightly during the bass solo to the somewhat drippier venereal complications).

Anyway, they were somewhere in the middle of the bill on one of those late 1980s Monsters of Rock concerts at RFK Stadium in Washington, I think it was. There was a lot of waiting around in the days they were all lumped together without their own private jets or drivers and everyone seemed to be in a grumpy mood, particularly James Hetfield, who was sitting next to two fairly unattractive girls who could have been models only for one of those BEFORE acne-medication ads.

Instead of his usual warm greeting, James barely grunted at me that he was doing an interview. Which was a little strange, given that he was not really even having a conversation with the skinnier one of the two girls, who was not equipped with any of the usual tools of the trade, like a tape recorder or pencil or piece of paper, only a flimsy little sun-dress which was only remarkable in its cheapness and that it was fairly inappropriate for the weather but did reveal all of her other lack of equipment in every other department.

James suddenly got up, jerking her by the wrist, and disappeared toward the bathroom where other members of the crew and band were, eager to try out the brand new little video cameras (they had just come on the market) they had been playing with. Kirk Hammett also grabbed what I called my Helen Keller camera one of those point and shoot 35 mm things (this was in the pre-digital era) that even she could have operated.

There was a great deal of commotion when James discovered that Kirk was holding them both over the top of the bathroom stall where well, several months later, when I had forgotten all about it and the prints came back from the developer, I was shocked to discover, right in the middle of some happy family vacation, exactly what he was doing with this young lady crouched on the toilet and could not believe that I had not been arrested for pornography. Then again, maybe that only happens if it involves pictures of children and it was VERY clear in vivid living color that James was NO child.

It was almost the end of Metallica as we knew it, when James suddenly roared out of the bathroom, grabbing Kirk by the throat with one hand and the video camera, from which he ripped the film, with the other, before stomping on it and practically smashing the guitarists head against the wall as he begged for mercy.”

#tw: violence #poor kirk #classic rock #metallica #kirk hammett #james hetfield #Deborah Frost #thrash metal #groupies #groupie

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tarotomorrows · 2 months

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WE GOT THE OG 5 IN THE HOUSE!!! This is part of my Inside Out punk au. Their band name is Harmony! So let me introduce their roles and how they came to be. PART 1 (cause I write a lot of background context of the story and characters sooo yeah breaking it apart to give your brains a break)

Starting with Joy! She’s the vocals and the leader of the band.

She can play a multitude of instruments but her favorite choice of sound is her very own voice.

She came up with the idea back in their senior year of highschool she wanted to be the opening act for the Senior Festival and so she lovingly (and forcibly) got her closest friends to band together and rock out one final time. Little did she know she’d change the trajectory of a young juniors life forever. It’s been 3 years since graduation and they teams still rocking on playing out for minor shows but somehow unable to achieve their big break. Which may or may not be driving Joy of the rails in frustration out of a fit of desperation and with some well said advice from the skies (and sadness) they set back towards their hometown Anderson Falls in hopes to rekindle what they had lost. Will they be able to find out the secret to their musical failures or will they have to face reality and leave their dreams to the wind.

Next is Sadness! She’s the keytarist and song writer of the crew.

She loves music theory especially how it impacts peoples emotions (especially the sad ones) and has an affinity for song writing and playing the piano.

She and Joy have been best friends since Elementary School. Despite their differences they both hold each other in high regards. “Wherever I go you go” is their motto towards each other.

Which is why when Joy offered up her and the rest of the gang to play out for the festival it was just another one of the many quips she’d got them into. Until it wasn’t just some silly little push out of her shell but a hard shove onto the road far from home having to crank out songs nearly every month.

It was fun and she could handle some pressure…until it wasn’t fun anymore and the shows stopped selling well and the rest of the crew wasn’t doing well. Eventually one night she had planned to confront Joy about her feelings towards this selfish guided “tour” and she had but was met with indifference towards her thoughts. With no choice arguing with a brick wall she left the conversation as is and would enact more level heading when morning came.

However when morning came she wasn’t met with scorn but instead another one of Joy’s plans but this one was different, a plan to go home? Did she really have a change of heart? Did she really break through to her friend and mended the relationship to what it once was. Only time will tell…

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freddiemercurylegendabovelegends · 2 months

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July/September 1974 - Queen Story!

'Sheer Heart Attack'

Queen's third studio album was recorded between July and September 1974 at four different studios in England and Wales.

Produced by Queen and Roy Thomas Baker, with once again Mike Stone as engineer.

👉 Released November 8th, 1974

Reached number 2, chart for 42 weeks Achieved Platinum status.

🔸In May '74, after a week at the Uris Theater, Broadway, New York, bad luck hits the band. Upon arrival in Boston for the next stage of the tour, Brian May contracts a severe attack of hepatitis. The rest of the tour is scrapped (Kansas stand in for the band), and Brian is flown back to London on the 16th.

Meanwhile, Freddie, Roger, John, road crew and anyone else who may have come into contact with Brian hastily inoculate themselves.

"When he turned yellow, we thought he had food poisoning.", said Freddie in an NME interview in June. Sadly for Brian, the hepatitis is to become a regular feature of his life.

There is nothing for the band to do but start writing songs for the third album. After rehearsing for a week at Rockfield Studios, Monmouthshire, they immerse themselves at Trident on July 15th and start recording. But it just isn't Brian's year. On August 2nd, he is rushed to hospital with a duodenal ulcer - and straight onto the operating table. Queen have to cancel their US tour planned for September, but assure their British fans they'll still be gigging in England in November.

For the next three months, recording continues at Trident, but it is a frustrating, sporadic process. Sessions are frequently cancelled when May is too sick to attend, and when he does manage to turn up, his contribution is so below par that it has to be scrapped. As a result, the band decide it would be better to continue recording without Brian, and let him play his parts when his health improves. Against all the odds, the album is finished to a standard acceptable to all.

Brian: "For some strange reason, we seemed to get rather a diferent feel on 'Sheer Heart Attack' because of the way we were forced to record it, and even allowing for all the problems we had, none of us were really displeased with the final result."

Source ➡️ brianmay.com

Pic: 1974 - Queen 'Sheer Heart Attack' album cover shoot

📸 Photographer © Mick Rock (1948-2021)

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robsheridan · 5 months

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Very excited to finally tell you what's kept us so busy recently: I’ve had the unique honor of directing/creating the first-ever tour visuals for one of the greatest live rock bands of our generation and a hugely formative part of my Seattle youth: Pearl Jam.

I haven’t worked in tour production/design since NIN 2014, but I always said I would go back to it one day if the right artist and the right creative connection came around. There’s a short list of musicians I’d drop everything and rewire a year of my family’s entire life to make art with, and Eddie Vedder is absolutely one of them.

Ed and I hit it off immediately and discussed an inspiring, experimental approach to creating textural video art inspired by the Dark Matter theme using decidedly tactile and analog methods, with the the album’s light-painted artwork as a jumping off point (I wasn’t involved in the album art / promotions, that was all underway when I came on board). My wife and collaborator Steph, who produced the project, set up a raw studio space here in Tacoma and assembled a lean local camera crew, and we spent two months filming in the experimental, open-ended, DIY style that I like to work. With macro lenses and the 1000fps Ember slow-motion camera (made by fantastic local Washington company Freefly), we followed paths of inspiration through elements and states of matter: Light refractions, chemical reactions, fluid dynamics, incandescent projections (including an old overhead projector that ended up in the show) and other experimental setups tracing the connective tissue of the universe. It was prolific and intense, and wouldn’t have been possible without Steph’s rapid problem-solving and a talented camera, animation, and post-prod team.

A grueling month of editing/programming/rehearsals later, the Dark Matter world tour is out on the road now, with two shows under our belt in Vancouver last weekend.

I’ll have a lot more to say about this production, the unique analog practical VFX we employed, and of course videos to share as more people start to see the shows and I maybe get ten seconds to breathe. For now, I’m off to Portland - show number three is tonight!

#pearl jam #eddie vedder #dark matter #concert visuals #production design #Rob Sheridan productions #rob sheridan

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rhysdarbinizedarby · 7 months

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Rhys Darby returns to New Zealand for two huge milestones - Spy

Rhys Darby is back in New Zealand.

Why is Kiwi comedy star Rhys Darby back in New Zealand?

Rhys Darby is returning from his base in Los Angeles for a double celebration over the next few weeks - his 50th birthday and a special event to mark his 25 years working as a stand-up comic.

“I’m home for my 50th birthday celebrations,” he reveals to Spy.

Darby hits the big milestone on March 21 and says he, his wife and manager Rosie are planning on a shared party with their family and friends.

A week later, Darby will be in proud parent mode as his eldest son Finn’s band, Great Big Cow, will be performing at The Whammy Bar on Karangahape Rd on March 27.

“So, as a cool dad, I’ll be there of course, with my band manager suit on,” he says.

There will be fun and laughter to have on Waiheke Island the following week too. Popular island spot Wild Estate Vineyard in Onetangi has secured Darby for an exclusive one-off New Zealand show with an intimate audience of only 200 tickets.

Punters can be sure Darby’s will be giving the native birds on the island a squawk for their money with his famous bird calls from his 2021 TV stand-up show Mystic Time Bird.

“The show is called ‘25 Years’ - it is a celebration of my stand-up career,” say Darby.

“I’ve hand-picked the best material from my five comedy specials, and I’ve also added some new stuff,” he divulges. “It’s all killer, so the audience can expect me having a blast, and so I’m sure they will too.”

Wild Estate has become the go-to live venue on Waiheke for comedy and live gigs; last month, the Jordan Luck Band rocked the vineyard, and comedians Nick Rado, Tony Lyall, Paul Douglas and Ruby Esther have all had successful stand-up nights there too.

Darby has been home several times over the last few years, whether to film with his mate Taika Waititi in West Auckland for the second season of their hit HBO Max show Our Flag Means Death in late 2022, or his Kiwi road trip with David Hasselhoff called Hoff the Beaten Track last spring.

Darby finished the year with aplomb, hosting the 51st International Emmy Awards in New York in November.

The production company for his road trip show, Stripe Studios, made headlines last month with the New Zealand Herald’s Media Insider column, penned by Shayne Currie, reporting Stripe for unpaid bills. The production company also filmed a travel-style show with US comedian Iliza Shlesinger. Currie reported the Netflix comedy star is applying to have Stripe Studios (Comedy) Ltd liquidated. Stuff followed up this story, reporting Hasselhoff was also owed money from the production company.

Darby politely had no comment on the state of his and The Hoff’s road trip show, but sources say Darby played a big part in getting as many of its Kiwi crew as he could paid by Stripe.

However, Darby did share that Hollywood has been rather wet and dull so far this year. “I have a few top-secret TV and film projects in development, which I am really looking forward to.”

“What I can reveal is: I’ve been involved in Mukpuddy’s awesome adaptation of Badjelly the Witch,” he says.

“I think it’s going to be so so good!”

Source: NZ Herald

#rhys darby #ofmd #nz herald

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vivwritesfics · 1 month

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Fuck The Drummer

She's been there for him, by his side since they were kids. She's there when he starts performing with his band. She's there until he'd rather have Maria

Band! Rhett

Everything was going so good. Rhett and his band had rocked the stage and, for a good five minutes, she had all of his attention. He looked damn good, in his usual cap and open button shirt.

But then Maria Olivarez walked into the bar.

She had been sat with Rhett's arms around her when Maria walked in. Rhett's arm fell from around her shoulders and he strode towards the girl that had never given him the time of day.

Even when they were all in high school together, Maria didn't even know his name in high school (and, if she did, it was because he used to get into fights with other kids). When she'd come back to town, a week before Rhett's band had their first performance outside of Wabang, she'd brushed him off every time she tried to talk to him.

Rhett stood from the seat beside her. He finished his beer and strode over to Maria. She slumped against the table as she watched the way Maria flirted.

But she had no reason to be jealous. She and Rhett weren't together. They were just best friends that sometimes fucked. Rhett could do whatever he wanted, and she had no reason to stop him.

Rhett pointed towards her and she raised her hand in an awkward wave. But then Maria strode over, Rhett following her like a lost puppy.

"Hey," Maria said as she leaned against the chair Rhett had just been sitting in. "I didn't think I'd see you here." Her smile was an an attempt at being kind, there was no malice behind it.

But that wasn't how it came across. "Why wouldn't I be here?" She asked, voice a little rude as she looked past her, looked at Rhett. She didn't mean to be rude to Maria; she'd known her close to forever.

But she knew how much it got to rhett, didn't have enough fingers to count how many times she'd gotten his hopes up only to bring them crashing back down.

That was the reason for her first time with Rhett, in the barn while she was supposed to be helping him with chores when she was supposed to be staying over. She'd let him pull her back into the hay, felt the way his large hands settled over her hips as he pulled her on top of him. Things hadn't been the same since.

"Did you catch the performance?" She asked, mouth tight and voice a little gravelly. But that was where she'd been cheering between songs.

Maria looked almost reluctant as she shook her head. "You know, I actually didn't. I was hoping to catch you at the next one, though," Maria said, fully turned to Rhett.

She didn't miss when Rhett's eyes lit up. What she wouldn't give for him to look at her like that, just once. "You're coming to the next one?" His voice was so damn hopeful, she couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"Every good band needs a roadie, right?"

The way her pint glass hit the table had everyone quiet. "Maria, do you have any concept of what a roadie is?" Her fingers massaged her forehead, trying to take care of the headache that had been forming ever since Maria showed her face. "It's the road crew, not the girls that tag along to sleep with the drummer."

Maria's expression dropped. She turned on her heel and marched away.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Hissed Rhett as he stepped up to the table.

She sighed and pushed her chair away from the table. "Oh, just go and chase after her. Be her night in shining, fucking armour, but don't come crying to me when you find out she's a heartless monster."

With that she placed her empty pint glass on the bar top and marched away.

***

She hated that she and Rhett had gotten a room to share. The lingerie beneath her clothes had seemed like a good idea when she put them on, but now she was full of regret.

Still, she laid there on the bed they would have been sharing, wearing the lingerie and nothing else, watching shitty motel TV. She felt pretty, and that was all that mattered.

The lock in the door twisted. Her eyes glanced up as the door opened and Rhett strode in. Maria wasn't with him, but that didn't come as a surprise.

When he sat on the end of the bed, she sat up. "Did you fuck her?" She asked, brows furrowed as she looked at him.

A sigh left his lips. "Does it matter if I did?"

Instead of answering, she hopped off the bed. She reached into a bag and grabbed a hoodie, one she'd had for so long she'd forgotten it was his. "What're you doing?" He asked as she got herself dressed.

She didn't answer as she pulled her shoes onto her feet and reached into her bag for her car keys. "Hey," he said and went to grab her keys.

"I'm going home," she said quickly.

But Rheet stood and held the door shut. "Darlin', no," he whispered. When he reached out to touch her, he stepped back. "I need you here."

Pinching the bridge of her nose, her fist hit his head. "When are you gonna get it through your thick fuckin' skull that I'm in love with you?" She shouted, spit flying into his face. "You're a fuckin' idiot, Rhett, an' I'm goin' home."

#rhett abbott #rhett abbott imagine #rhett abbott x reader #rhett abbott angst #rhett abbott x you #rhett abbott oneshot #outer range #outer range imagine #outer range x reader #rhett abbott fanfiction #rhett abbott fic #outer range fanfiction #outer range fic

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south-of-heaven · 6 months

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Can i request a Single Dad Jeff Hardy x daughter reader? I'll let you decide what happens.

Golden || Jeff Hardy x Daughter!Reader

Summary: It's just been you and Jeff since you were a baby. You're his everything.

A/N: Jeff as a girl dad is everything.

From the moment you took your first breath, it's been just you and Jeff against the world. He's more than just your dad; he's your rock, your hero, your everything. Growing up on the road with him has been an adventure unlike any other, and you wouldn't have it any other way.

From the roar of the crowd to the quiet moments backstage, you've experienced it all by his side. Wrestling rings and hotel rooms have become your playground, and the superstars and crew your extended family. Even though you might not have a mother, Jeff has always made sure you never felt lacking in love or care.

He's your protector, always there to wipe away your tears and lift you up when you fall. Whether it's a scraped knee or a broken heart, he's there with a band-aid and a hug, ready to mend whatever hurts. And when the world feels too big and scary, he's there to hold your hand and guide you through.

But it's not just the big moments that make your bond special; it's the little things too. Like late-night drives with the radio blasting, or impromptu wrestling matches in the living room. He's not just your dad; he's your best friend, and there's nowhere else you'd rather be than by his side.

As you grow older, your bond only strengthens. You share your hopes and dreams with him, and he listens with unwavering support and encouragement. He believes in you more than you could ever believe in yourself, and his faith in you gives you the courage to chase your dreams.

Sure, life on the road isn't always easy. There are long days and lonely nights, and sometimes you miss the stability of a traditional home. But when you look into Jeff's eyes and see the love and pride shining back at you, you know that you wouldn't trade this life for anything in the world.

Because no matter where the road takes you, one thing remains constant: your love for each other. And as long as you have Jeff by your side, you know that you'll always have everything you could ever want and more.

#wwe fanfiction #wwe x reader #wwe #pro wrestling #wrestling #jeff hardy x reader #jeff hardy #jeff hardy x daughter!reader

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hooked-on-elvis · 8 months

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What is your favorite part of the '68 Special?

Pictures: Singer Presents ... Elvis, commonly referred to as the '68 Comeback Special. 1968.

For me, undoubtedly I say my favorite part of the '68 Special is the sit-down concerts, specially the reunion between Elvis and the remaining members of Elvis' former band, the Blue Moon Boys, Scotty Moore and DJ Fontana.

I wonder if the fans, not the specialized critic such as musicians and general people in the business but specially the fans, back then, while watching this TV special for the first time, understood or merely felt the significance of this moment. I wonder if they were surprised in seeing Elvis not only back onstage after a while but back onstage with Scotty and DJ Fontana by his side. Man, that was special! To me, the most special portion of the '68 Comeback. ♥

Bill Black, bassist, unfortunately passed away in 1965, while Elvis was still full time engaged with his Hollywood career. Fans only wish Bill could have been there with Scotty and DJ. He had that irreverent performance that fascinates me, surely he would've been a great asset to the show. I only feel sorry Elvis, neither Scotty or DJ, ever mentioned Bill on the '68 Special, but its understandable the reason why. It wasn't about the Blue Moon Boys more than it was about Elvis returning to the stage. Even so, had Bill made it to this moment, man! That would've been something else. Even more meaningful than it already was.

Scotty Moore: His memories on the '68 Comeback Special and 'behind the scenes': Elvis and The Blue Moon Boys performing in Europe?

Source: Excerpt of the documentary "Elvis: The Birth of Rock n' Roll" (2004)

Scotty reveals Elvis asked him and DJ Fontana if they would agree to go on the road with him again, this time performing overseas, in Europe. Curious enough, to that question, Scotty says Elvis called him and DJ Fontana to another room in his home, so they could talk in private - which was something unusual for him because "usually anything he had to say, he'd say no matter who was around".

For the longest time, performing around the world was something Presley aimed. Ever since he had been stationed in Germany with the US Army during his service time, a period he did paused his career therefore he didn't perform while in Europe between 1958 to 1960, reporters asked him if and when that moment would come when Elvis would go back to Europe but this time for live concerts, to the thrill of his passionate fans overseas who followed him career from afar, many since the 50s. Unfortunately touring outside US (other than few performances in Canada in 1957) never seemed the get the right time.

Once Elvis begin performing live again in 1969, after he was out of the movie contracts, Elvis' manager, Colonel Tom Parker, would always have excuses on the tip of his tongue for why an European tour, or world tour for that matter, would not be a such good idea. When Elvis received some death threats coming his way through letters sent to his crew occasionally, starting from 1969 on, those incident perfectly fit to Colonel Parker's intentions for his gold boy. Parker would use the incidents to manipulate Elvis to believe they couldn't do his security properly out of the US. Colonel would tell Presley how it would be too dangerous for him, besides they could make just as much money performing home as they have been doing so far.

Elvis never had this one dream of performing overseas coming true in his life, as much as another reunion between him and the Blue Moon Boys never came to be after the '68 Comeback Special. Scotty says that private conversation in Elvis' home (in 1968) was the last time he was together with Elvis like that, which makes this moment in history one of a kind.

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During the '68 Special (sit-down concert), Scotty submits a special request to Elvis for them to play "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" together.

The song was recorded by them on February 3, 1956, at RCA studios in New York. It was released as B-side to the EP "Elvis Presley", out in September 1956. The cover shows Elvis, Scotty Moore and Bill Black performing together.

Later, the song would be featured on the LP "For Elvis Fans Only" released in 1959. Elvis would frequently include "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" to his main setlists from 1970 to 1975, occasionally performing it in 1976 and 1977.

No wonder Scotty picked this song. Maybe a subtle way of honoring late Bill Black. ♥

About their performance of this tune during the '68 Comeback Special:

As they jam together, Scotty gives a cue and Elvis tears into “Lawdy Miss Clawdy” with a raw assault of mixed emotion. His performance is so intense that it almost—in the best way—scratches the ears. Vocal cords that, so far, have proved their owner’s mastery with smooth singing are pushed to the point of fraying at the edges. As Greil Marcus noticed, when Elvis lurches into the number, what he experiences is a feeling that is both joshing and liberated. At one point, as the musicians jam together, it’s possible to hear Charlie Hodge getting carried away with laughter, as if bobbing in the fray of a heady, almost oceanic moment. In his underrated 2004 pocket volume The Rough Guide to Elvis, Paul Simpson describes “Lawdy Miss Clawdy” as “Elvis’s answer to Jack Kerouac’s On the Road.” Taking on this old staple in the Comeback, what the singer delivers is lusty, passionate, and commanding, yet also desperate, angry, and sad. He conjures with immense powers. — Mark Duffett (Counting Down Elvis - His 100 Finest Songs, 2018)

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Again, what is your favorite part of the '68 Special?

#68 comeback special #elvis presley #elvis #elvis the king #elvis fans #elvis music #elvis fandom #elvis history #60s elvis #NBC #60s tv shows #60s tv #scotty moore #the blue moon boys #DJ fontana #Bill Black #rock and roll history #Youtube

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chemicallady · 8 months

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I WANNA FEEL LOVE AGAIN

Part 1 ; Part 2 ;

Couple: Noah Sebastian x Fem!Reader

Content Warning: I made a little homage to three fanfiction I really love! I leave you to find the references ;)

Taglist: @ada-clarence , @badalmondzzzz , my wifey @starsomens , @raventherockstarhippie @blacksoul-27 , @somewhere-diamond

Summary: This is just cute. I swear.

But you never promised me to be wiser of better.

Time flies.

Two years passed by so fast that you almost didn't notice. At first, your job was not demanding at all, compared with the rest of the crew. You have to accompaning Noah or any other member of the band to attend the interviews, most of them for radio stations. Taking notes for integrations on their website. Keep an eye on publicize enough any tourdates or merch drop, find sponsor for bigger venues and check at the end of the day if the guys need something for the day after.

You had to spend a lot of your time on the band socials, especially instagram and twitter, which you have always shared credentials with your brother and the rest of the band. You also create their TikTok and take care about the creation of fun contents.

It was way easy before the release of Death of Peace of Mind. After the beginning of 2022, you were on the road more than at home. A lot of famous hosters started to ask for an interview with Noah. All the lights switched on the future promise of rock music when Just Pretend became one of the most used/listened songs on TikTok.

And now, in the middle of the summer of 2023, the band is still rising. More money bring more responsabilities, the necessity of arranged a better shows, bigger interviews, more publicity, more interaction through the socials.

Everyone has to work the double, you included. Speaking with radio manager and small magazine specialized in all metal subgenders was a thing.

But now the band is too huge to stop at this level. And you werent trained enough for all this pressure, but it started to grow on you month after month, tour after tour. You are the guardian of Noah's schedule. You are not charming enough to compete with others PR, but since the crew is more similar to family meeting than a serious ansemble of professionals, you became competitive.

Hard work got big results like the european tour with Bring Me the Horizon. Oli wanted Bad Omens to open for him but you were the one who put all her soul and time on the project. On the papers. Because behing any tour there is a mountain of burocracy, sponsor phone calls and publicity. You had to team up with Matt, Miles and Davis so many times that at some point, that it's like having more than just one older brother.

From june 4th, the last day on tour, you are on vacation. You have nothing to do with music creation or audio/video sound checks. You just need a laptop, a lot of patience every time you scroll your emails, and the fantastic mojito your neighbour Brianna makes. A good reason to work on your balcony, along with the sound of the ocean, is her company. You don't have many friends but she is amazing. She moved from Minnesota after the shutdown, and she is an actress. Small roles, but as she always says, small roles bring bigger ones.

《 and it would have been ever better if my prick boyfriend didn't show up and basically assaulted the casting director》

You have heard this story at least ten times, but it's still amazing how boys can be idiots. 《 Why are you still with him? He's a bomb ready to detonate, Bri》 , you know that your concern will not help her in resonate, but you can't shut up.

《 I can't afford either the apartment or the car and you know that, y/n. Also, he is not that bad when he's sorber.》

《 But he never is! 》 you place the now empty glass on the outdoor table, disappointed in seeing her almost offended expression. It's a fortune that Matt isn't around. He has to deal with Jim at least twice a week. 《 You're my friend, Bri. The only one unrelated to my job..... I can't sleep over this situation anymore. I can help you. Move in with me and Matt, take care of my plant and Lucifurr for me while we are on tour. We don't want you to help with the rent. You just need to tell that dick to fuck off.》

《.... but he drives me to every casting》

《 and he's the reason no one is picking you in a very first place. This relationship is too toxic》

《 y/n I think you're crossing the line.》

《 He's gonna kill you one of these days!》

You both muted for a couple of seconds, the now tense air between the two of you being thick as a wall. Yeah, you cross the line but like Matt, you're no good in resonate with people who don't want any help. And like Matt you can't stand injustice, not at this rate.

But you know that you have to excuse yourself, simply it's hard to find the right words. You are not going to apologise for speaking your mind, but just about the way you did it.

《 y/n? Are you ready?》

A raspy voice catch you off guard. It's already seven??

《 Shit, Noah. I'm outside》, you yell in response, before turning again towards Brianna. She already reached the empty glass and without a word, and she comes back to her apartment. 《 C'mon Brianna. I'm sorry, just-for the fuck sake.》

Noah is standing right next to you when Brianna shut the door loudly.

All you can do is sigh out loud - a bad habit you inherit from the tall man on your side - before bringing your hands to cover your face in frustration.

《 What's going on, here?》 He asks , munching a candy.

《 I don't understand women.》

He gives you a funny look. 《 Damn, that's the real deal, man. Not the chicken/egg question, or what's our purpose on earth.... but why you girls act so weird. 》

《 Shut the fuck up, Noah. Not now.》

Your relationship with Noah also changed drastically in the last two years. It required some time and a ton of patience, but he open up to you and from thenon, you became a sort of confident of him. In return, he is the one you call when things are not going well. It was a bit embarrassing, the first months, but your friendship now is stronger than youve ever immagined. You feel like you can tell everything to Noah without being judged. Sometimes he laughs at you, of course, but he knows when a situation has to be manged seriously.

He cares about you with all his heart.

He doesn't aspect nothing in return, but he is dear to you on a level than only your brother have always been.

And he knows you deeply, that's why it is so easy for him to detect how worried you are.

《 Do you think he beats her? I mean, Steve is a scumbag, but I can't figure him being actually that violent. He is always too high to have some form of coordination.》

Since his arrival - Noah has the keys of the apartment so he can come and go as he pleased, especially when both you and matt are not in town and someone has to take care of Luci- Noah asked you questions on Brianna's situation.

He knows you're concerned and he also can't pretend he is fine with your neighbors yelling at each others on daily basis.

《 I don't know but he is getting more and more jealous. She told me he's sabotaging her auditions, now.》

Noah takes a sip of the iced tea you offer him, before grab your hand on the surface of the counter. 《 Start to call the police on them, when they argue. Maybe you're right. He is not beating her yet. But he could start.》 You nod slowly, thanking him with a soft smile. 《 By the way, do you feel okay? Wanna postpone our date?》

He loves to joke around with you, because he knows how this helps in rising your moral.

You pretend to get offended. 《 I would never, ever decline a date with you. Let me change in a more adequate outfit.》

《 take your time, the limo's driver can wait downstairs.》

You giggle, before leaving him in the kitchen, reaching your room for a quick change. In five minutes you're ready: a ponytail, red joggers and a tank top.

《 Ready to run, pretty boy?》

《 I'm always ready, chicken butt.》

Noah has never told you the real reason why he has taken the work out so seriously, but you're glad he did, because you joined him on his program and honestly, you feel at your top right now. It's not a matter of aesthetics, but you feel healthy. You are less tired at the end of the day, and you can endure the - at least- 15 working hours while Touring. Back at home, it became a habit of the two of you going out for a run daily during the sunsets since Noah is not an early bird and you'd rather work in the morning.

The place you chose is on the street that runs alongside the beach in Malibù. One of reason why you got used to LA is also the precious view of the ocean while the sun sinks in it and paints the sky in gold.

There is a small beach, hidden in the stunning nature of the Pacific Coast, that has become your spot. Every day you reach that beach, stretch a little and then go back to your apartment when usually Noah showers before leaving.

Today is a Saturday and even if you don't have big plans, Noah sometimes takes his chances on a Saturday night. Even God took a day off on Sunday, right?

《 It's the red hair?》

You ear him chuckles while you bend, grabbing the tip of your toes to stretch your back.

《 No red hair as far as I can recall》

《 So... the girl you helped at that dive bar?》 You rise again, bringing your arms to the sky 《The one who broke up with her cheating boyfriend? Or maybe your neighbour? I like her. I remember you told me she was so happy when you sent her our merch.》

Noah pushes you a little, making you loosing your balance while a giggle leaves your lips. 《 You're making me look like a fuckboy!》

《you are a fuckboy, always surrounded by beautiful women. And don't look at me like that! I know you like it that way!》

Noah is young and awesome. You got a crush on him in the beginning of your partnership. It's more than obvious that he has a significant number of choices when he wants to spend a night out.

This used to hurt you a bit, but the feeling of jealousy or envy - you still don't know what it was - disappeared in the moment you realised what you have.

All this girls can have noah for a night or two.

You can have him fully, you can call him in the middle of the night if a guy screws on you and Noah will bring you to buy ice-cream to McDonald's. You two can talk for hours about the absolute nothing or regarding the most difficult life choices.

You can mocking him, make him laugh in the golden light of the dying sun, in this very moment.

And that's more than enough.

Maybe you and Noah are not meant to be lovers, but he is your person and you are his. Like twin Flames, that doesn't matter how far they are.

They always burn bright.

《 I don't know, I was thinking for something casual. Like Netflix and chill.》

Lucifurr jumps off the sofa in the moment he hears Noah entering in your apartment. Your cat totally ignores you and starts to purr to the tall man that interrupts everything to kneel and cuddle the black ball of furr.

Satanic animal...

《 Then you should text the neighbor. She is the sweetest of yours hooks up.》

《 Then I can simply ring the door on my way back.》

《 Call her, Noah. Don't be a prick. The world doesn't revolve around you. Maybe she is planning to go out.》

You can hear him sigh in his annoying way. 《Can I shower here, anyway? I smell bad.》

《 You always smell bad.》

《 Am I???》

You exchange a glaze with him and immidiatly know its time to run. In the moment he leaves Luci alone, he is following you around the house while you yell for help. But matt isn't back yet, so you're on your own. As soon as noah reaches you (very soon, his legs are longer than yours), he huggs you tight, trying to put your head under his armpit.

《 NOAH STOP IS DISGUSTING!》 , you try to defend yourself hitting him on his back and between his legs with small slaps.

《Ei! Low blow! Don't slap my nutts!》

《 Don't sweat on me, you piece of-》

A yell interrupted the both of you, follow by a long cry and some smashed dishes. Noah realise the grip on you and sighs deeply looking at the wall that divides your apartment from Briannas one.

《 Is it always like this?》

《 almost every day, now.》

And there is something that broke in your cracking voice that completely shattered Noahs heart.

《 let's call the cops》, he says with a soft voice, hugging your shoulders. 《 I'll stay. We can watch a movie togheter.》

You look at him in surprise while he is reaching his phone. 《 and your date?》

《 you're my date》 , is the cheeky replay. The both of you smile, and you need a second. Not only because you're worried about brianna, but also because these small situations make you feel.... weird on your feelings towards noah.

You don't want to admit it, but a real date would be all you desire.

....but at what cost?

#noah sebastian #bad omens #noah sebastian x reader #noah sebastian imagine #bad omens imagine

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gingerjolover · 1 year

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Unspoken - Lucy Dacus x fem!reader

Synopsis: Lucy and Crew!Reader don't have to say it but they're in looooove

G's notes: Thank you guys for all the support :') I have had the shittiest month and feel so grateful for all the sweet messages and encouragement I've received. Things are finally returning to normal, so this is literally like 1/5 stories I have to post! (lmfao)

Julien fic is up next!!!

WC: somewhere around 1.2k...again

Warnings: RPF, smoking ciggies, kissing, julien calling you punk, swearing ig

feedback is appreciated and welcomed but pls be kind!

boygenius, “the tour,” 25 shows come and gone. It’s dark outside, the Red Rocks amphitheater slowly emptying, fans and crew alike buzzing from a fantastic performance to end the US leg of the tour. It's hard to tell if the elevation in Colorado is dizzying or if the post-show high is slowly infiltrating the band.

You and Julien are sitting backstage, hoodie-clad and shivering but still leaning against the back of a truck, smoking cigarettes out of sight from the exiting crowd. “You sure you don't wanna help them?” you ask Julien teasingly, pointing to the crew loading equipment into the vans. “Oh fuck off!” Julien laughs; it's obvious she’s staying as far away as clean up as possible, her willingness to help often making it harder for the crew.

Lucy approaches the two of you, changing out of her stage uniform into a pair of flowy pants and a hoodie. Her eyes glimmer, her cheeks flushed, and her hair slightly messed up from pulling her hoodie over her head. She smirks as she walks closer to you, the tension rising as you stare at each other, smiling.

There’s something unspoken, not quite a relationship but more than a friendship, bubbling beneath the surface. Julien smirks, noticing the tension, coughing softly before taking another drag herself.

Lucy leans beside you and takes your cigarette, taking a long drag and exhaling a puff of smoke,

"How about that show?" Lucy says. "It felt like it went by in a blink."

You can’t help but let out a contented sigh, nodding in agreement. Having spent hours on the road with the band, working and chatting, it's impressive how fast shows fly by.

“You did great, Luce, like always,” you smile, eyes twinkling, tucking some of Lucy’s hair behind her ear.

Lucy smiles back at you brightly, her lipstick slightly messed up from kissing Phoebe and Julien on stage. She leans her head against your shoulder, enjoying the closeness. There's something so familiar and comforting about you; Lucy knows she can trust you with anything, and the natural connection that seems beyond words is evident to everyone around them.

You nonchalantly kiss Lucy’s forehead, avoiding Julien’s teasing eyes and wide smirk. Glaring at Julien, you turn your head away to take a drag from the cigarette.

Lucy's face flushes at the touch of your lips. What’s seemingly a quick, innocent kiss on the forehead makes her heart race.

“Jules… you want the rest of this?” you ask, holding up your cigarette, blowing the smoke out of the side of your mouth, away from Lucy.

"Nah, I'm good," Julien responds, smirking. She looks between you and Lucy, giving Lucy a subtle, knowing smile.

You hold out the cig for Lucy, waiting for her to take it between her lips.

She gently takes it, nodding playfully in thanks. She inhales and lets out a slow stream of smoke. Without thinking, her gaze drifts downwards, staring at your lips.

“Pretty,” you mumble softly, pulling the cigarette from her mouth.

Lucy blinks and looks back up at you, blushing and embarrassed at having been caught staring at your lips. She keeps a minor distance between you both, leaning against the truck. You take another drag on the cigarette and smile, maintaining eye contact with Lucy.

"You look pretty good yourself," Lucy quips playfully, surprising the both of you.

“You feel okay? Still flushed from the show?” you ask, noticing Lucy’s pink cheeks, thumbing the meat of Lucy’s warm cheek.

Lucy flushes even more, trying to stay composed and ignore her growing attraction, but her feelings are becoming more apparent.

"Yeah," she replies, attempting to act nonchalant. "Just...still processing everything, I guess." Lucy takes another drag on the cigarette and watches as the smoke evaporates in the cold night air.

“I’m gonna go grab Pheebs,” Julien says, awkwardly exiting. She’s a few yards away when she turns around, wiggling her eyebrows and winking at you.

Widening your eyes at Julien, you turn back to Lucy, smiling at her softly. “So, you ready for Europe?” you tease Lucy, staring at her eyes and lips.

Lucy nods and huffs out a breath, slightly taken aback by your teasing expression. She doesn't know how to respond, not often getting stuck like this; her eyes are drawn to your lips again.

"For sure," Lucy replies with a forceful laugh, attempting to sound chill.

"I've heard that European crowds are even more enthusiastic than back home, so hopefully, you’re prepared,” you tease in a sing-song voice, leaning closer.

Lucy crushes the cigarette on the ground with a slight grin. "So... what about you? Are you ready for the next leg of the tour?" she asks, biting her bottom lip.

“I’ll only be seeing y’all in a few cities, unfortunately,” you pout, “but I’ll be back on the fall leg,” you reassure, stepping closer again.

Lucy's cheeks flush ever so slightly at your remark, her smile dipping momentarily when she realizes there will be some separation soon, having gotten used to your presence working on the tour.

"Well, I’ll miss you while you're away," Lucy says softly. “I… I mean, we all will, you know, because you are such a big part of the crew…” Lucy trails off, swallowing the lump in her throat as she stares into your eyes. You grab her hand, rubbing it with your thumb.

A brief silence passes, and Lucy breaks it again, her voice softer.

"I..." she stops, finding it difficult to say what she wants.

“You don’t have to say anything Luce,” you murmur, interlocking your fingers, eyes staring into Lucy’s, dropping to her lips. “I feel it too,” you say softly, smiling widely.

Lucy's eyes go wide. She hadn't anticipated that response and hesitated momentarily before leaning closer toward you. She brushes her lips gently against yours, a moment of pure intimacy. Holding the kiss for a few moments as if time had stopped moving.

Lucy slowly pulls away and looks at you, her heart racing. She can feel the heat from the kiss on her lips, and her entire body is awash with emotion. She looks back into your deep eyes and tries to control herself.

Your smile widens, leaning back into Lucy, connecting your lips again. Your hand cradles her jaw, tongue softly sliding against Lucy’s.

Lucy's hand moves up to your waist, pulling you closer. You share a passionate kiss, mouths pressed together with a growing intensity. Lucy's body trembles, and her heart pounds rapidly in her chest. She can feel your shaky breaths between kisses, and the sound of her pulsing heart fills her ears.

You kiss for several more seconds before finally pulling apart. A deep silence hangs in the air before you lean forward again to brush your lips against Lucy's cheek.

“Hey punk, you got a light?” Julien calls to you somewhere hidden backstage, likely standing with other crew members.

Leaning back to not yell in Lucy’s ear, “Coming,” you shout, rolling your eyes and making Lucy giggle.

Some of the band is approaching Lucy, so you turn to her gently. “I’ll be back, yeah?” before leaning to kiss the corner of her mouth.

Lucy watches you walk away, her eyes trailing down your body. She’s distracted as she greets the band, leaning up against the truck with her, with a small smile despite so much left unspoken.

#lucy dacus x reader #request #requests open #julien baker x reader #phoebe bridgers x reader #boygenius #we love women in this house #lucy dacus x crew!reader

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reallyverysane · 4 months

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Little Serpent, Long Shadow

Pairing: Astarion x Fem!Tav, Named Drow OC (Tav'are)

Summary: The gang saves a handsome Zhent from certain death, and are repaid with a sweet reunion and a party. Astarion is less than enthused about Tav's choice of dance partner. The tension comes to a head (finally).

Warning: Explicit/ 18+, oral (F receiving), P in V sex, fingering, angst and complicated feelings, OC canon.

Word Count: 7.9k

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The smell of the gnoll’s blood and the burning oil of the alchemist’s fire hung acrid and thick in the air. As the smoke cleared, two grimy, blood covered faces appeared in the mouth of the cave.

“By the gods, you’re a sweet sight!” The man’s relief flooded his voice, “I thought for sure they had us.” As his tired eyes adjusted to the light he gave Tav a salacious once-over and grinned. “Must be my lucky day after all.”

“What are you doing all the way out here? This is dangerous country.” Tav rested her weight on one leg, subtly rocking her hip out and emphasizing the pleasant curves of her figure. “It’s not a pretty sight out there.”

“I know,” The man lamented, hanging his head and sighing. “The godsdamned beasts ambushed us and killed half my crew before we even knew what was happening. Poor fuckers.”

Tav eyed the man suggestively, an echo of the look he had given her. “Normally I don’t do rescue missions for free, but I might be convinced to give you a discount. You seem like you’ve had a hard enough day already ser…” she paused, gesturing to him expectantly for him to give his name.

“Ah, Rugen.” He gave a mock bow with a slanted smile and a quick wink. “At your pleasure.” The man standing behind Rugen let out a long-suffering goan, rolling his eyes so hard his whole torso followed.

“Stop flirting Rugen, my gods! Our whole crew just died!”

“Yeah, and we’re still alive, that’s lucky. So shut it, Olly.” He flashed a devilish smile at Tav, straight white teeth catching the sun. “No use dwelling on the past, eh? Not when we all got business to take care of.”

“Oh?” Tav crooned, slowly twisting a curl of her long silver streaked hair around a finger, head cocked coquettishly. “And what line of work are you in, Rugen?”

“I’m a trader, mostly, fine and rare goods I might add. Been traveling with this cargo all the way from Elturgard.” His posture stiffened and he drew his shoulders back, clearly proud of his work but unwilling to divulge too many details.

She decided not to push, the fight with the gnolls had been rough, and she was in no mood to start another.

“Is your destination far? We could escort you the rest of the way, help guarantee your luck holds.” She heard a groan from behind her, Astarion clearly annoyed she was offering their help to yet another random stranger. She shot him a glare over her shoulder before turning back to Rugan. “We could all use a break if there’s a tavern or the like at the end of your road.”

“The name of the place is Waulkeen’s Rest. It’s not far along the road, you can’t miss it.”

Tav’s face fell, “That place is not much but ash, I’m afraid. We passed it on our way here. There were some survivors, but they had been raided by a band of drow and goblins.

Rugan heaved a deep sigh, turning his face skyward, beseeching any who might listen. ”God’s above. Can we catch a break?” He drew his hands down his face, pressing his palms into his eyes, and squared his shoulders. “Right, well, Olly and I still need to head there and see what might be left. The spot’s hidden, down a hatch in the floor of the barn out back. By some miracle, maybe it’s all still standing and we’ll finally get to have a relaxing pint in peace.”

“Mmmm, pints.” Karlach chimed in, wistfully. “Can we go, please?”

“I owe you all a drink, to be sure, lots of ‘em. Our goose was well and truly cooked before you came along! If you come by, give this code to the doorman: Little Serpent, Long Shadow. They’ll know you’re a friend of the family.”

Shadowheart and Wyll had silently moved behind Rugan and were nodding enthusiastically at her over his shoulder, playfully pleading. She chuckled, dimples softening her angular face.

“Thank you, Rugan, we’ll see you there.” Tav looked up into the man’s handsome face, his strong jaw and high cheekbones accentuated by the sweat and grime of their fight. They could all certainly use a night to unwind, and what better way to do so than with the help of a tall, gruff, stranger.

* * * * *

Coming back to the smoldering husk of Waulkeen’s Rest, Tav worried momentarily that the fire had consumed more than they hoped. Following Rugan’s instructions she led the group, out of their armor and dressed for a night of merriment, behind the smoking ruin. To her delight she saw a few outbuildings that had weathered the fire’s heat, including a tall barn. Once inside, a tense and jumpy man ambushed them, voice cracking in his false bravado, before she recited the passphrase and was ushered through a series of basements to the opening of a massive underground cavern.

She felt oddly comfortable in the space, the still air filled with the echoing sounds of people at work and the ever present drip of water through the walls of the cave. As the group wound their way down the earthen ramp that led inside, Astarion slid to her side, hissing in her ear. “Why, praytell, have we simply thrown caution to the wind for a night of piss beer and bad company? We know nothing of these so-called ‘traders’. We could easily be walking into a trap, unarmored and unarmed!”

“You’re unarmed!?” She affected a tone of shocked derision and whipped her head around to him, silver curls flying. “What do you mean, you’re unarmed?”

Before Astarion could dance out of her way, she had closed the distance between them in a flurry of skirts. He felt the cool length of a dagger press against his throat, just hard enough for him to feel without drawing blood. She grinned, looking up at him through her lashes. “My, my, you have gotten sloppy.”

“Not quite, dear.” He raised an eyebrow, lightly pricking her side with the dagger he held to her ribs. “Seems we’re both appropriately wary after all.” He backed away from her stiffly, lifting his arms in exaggerated surrender. She deftly twirled her blade across her fingers before sliding it back into the sheath at the top of her thigh. The slits in her skirts fell open and his gaze hungrily roved over her long, muscular calf, the powerful, soft thigh, up to where the fabric met again, just below the dip where her leg met her hip. She gave him a knowing grin, turning away, the panels of fabric sliding back over each other to fully conceal the weapon.

He stood for a moment, rooted in place, before he felt a light chuck on his shoulder. His head whipped around to see Wyll waggling his eyebrows, eyes darting back and forth between him and Tav.

“Better close your mouth, Astarion” Shadowheart teased as she looped her arm into the crook of Wyll’s elbow and pulled him down the ramp. “Wouldn’t want a bat to fly in.”

* * * * *

“Tav’are?! What in the hells are you doing here?”

The voice rang out as Astarion pulled himself up the last rung of the ladder onto the outcropping of rock. Dusting himself off and looking up he watched, surprised, as Tav ran forward, jumping into the open arms of the leader of the operation. Both women were holding the other’s face, their gleeful shrieks careening off the walls of the cavern.

“What am I doing here? You should be fucking dead Zarys!” The astonishment on Tav’s face lit her features like the sun. She held the woman at arm’s length, shaking her head and probing the human’s features. “You have to be over two hundred years old at this point! How?”

“Oh, business has been good, and when you’re the top earner for the Sword Coast Zhents, they tend to want to keep you around. They have mages back in Waterdeep that make powerful life-extending artifacts. Long as I stay useful, I stay youthful!”

Tav pulled the woman into a crushing bear hug, laughing from deep in her chest. “I should have known you’d find a way to weasel out of mortality. You’re the slipperiest eel I ever met!”

“Clearly, I’m not the only one! How in nine hells did you get here? How are you even on the surface?”

Karlach and Gale were the first to interrupt the reunion, excited to meet someone who had known Tav in the days before the tadpole. As it turned out, she and Tav had formed somewhat of a partnership when the trader had met her trying to fence stolen magic items on the streets of Menzoberranzan. Tav had been running with a ragtag group of urchins, surviving by pickpocketing and petty theft. Zarys, seeing the business potential in the young scamp, had set up a regular trade of information, rare gems, and magical artifacts. Tav and her cadre of lost children had been small and unnoticeable enough to sneak unseen into the moldering estates of deposed Great Houses in search of valuables. Zarys, in turn, had provided the children with a steady stream of income and supplies, sometimes even offering them passage out of the City of Spiders to the surface.

The last time they had seen each other was a lifetime ago, when Tav was only 80 or so. The human woman had already survived well past her lifespan even then, appearing to be no more than thirty while actually having lived over a century.

After the warm welcome and happy reunion, the attitude among those in the cave became jubilant. The Zhents would be caving the place in within the next few days, not wanting the fire to draw Flaming Fists down on them, so it was decided there would be a proper Zhentarim send-off. That seemed to simply entail much food, drink, and music. Astarion begrudgingly admitted that their vintages were excellent, after their quartermaster Dent insisted on opening a rare bottle of Elverquisst from Waterdeep. Gale had practically sprinted across the cave at the sound of the cork popping, desperate for a taste of home.

Astarion had to hand it to them, the Zhents truly did know how to throw a party. They had set up a makeshift bar and tables, using upturned barrels and crates for seats and long, worn planks of wood for tabletops. A few of their number were skilled with instruments and the cave resounded with the melodies of flute, lyre, and fiddle. The group’s cook prepared a magnificent roast boar, basting the glistening skin as another of the crew slowly turned the beast on a spit above the fire. There was a buoyant levity in the atmosphere of the cave, both the Zhents and their own little crew happy for a night without the worries and travails of the road.

Still, Astarion couldn’t shake the gnawing, cold feeling in his gut. He tried, at first, to put the feeling down to his hunger. But he had fed just that afternoon on a gnoll. While they certainly weren’t very appetizing, the beast had sated his thirst for the evening. He watched, sullen, as Tav floated around the cavern, eyes bright and smile brilliant. He had never seen her this uninhibited. Her laugh came easy and lilting, rolling over him like a bell tolling. She and Zarys stayed glued to each other for a time, speaking of everything and nothing, trying futilely to fill each other in on the century that had passed.

Once in a while, he would catch her watching him back, a quizzical smirk twisting her mouth. He would nod, or raise his glass in silent toast to her, and she would shake her head and turn back to whomever she was captivating at the time.

Karlach flopped onto the red clay floor of the cave at his feet, swaying slightly in her cups. “What is it, Fangs? Why are you so broody all the time?” She pulled her knees up under her chin, arms hugging her shins. “Can’t you see it’s a party? Get out there! Mingle! Have some bloody fun for gods’ sake.”

“I happen to be a bit more… selective, in my choice of companion.” His haughty tone made Karlach roll her eyes and groan.

“Pull the stick out of your ass Astarion. She’s having a good time. Do you think it will help your case if you ruin it? Especially when there’s others around who would be glad to indulge her.” She looked over at Tav, who was standing close to Rugan, leaning on the makeshift bar, a mug of frothing beer in one hand and her other playfully batting at the trader’s bicep. Her deep, slate colored skin caught the warm glow of the braziers, their blazes reflected in her laughing eyes. As he watched, Rugan snaked an arm around the small of her back, leading her toward the cleared space by the musicians where Gale and Wyll already twirled, taking turns spinning each other in a drunken courtly dance.

He felt a growl bubble in the back of his throat, limbs itching to leap forward and snatch her out of Rugan’s arms. It was a ridiculous idea, one clearly borne of too much wine, but he had to grip the arm of the crude camp chair he languished in to keep himself in place.

Karlach sighed, standing and dusting off her leathers. “Suit yourself.” She breathed, resigned. “But just so you know, it wouldn’t kill you to take a risk once in a while. Life can be pretty great when you stop thinking so much and just let yourself be.” Her wise words were somewhat undermined by a sudden and violent hiccup that ripped out of her, but she merely laughed and turned back to the celebrations, calling to Zarys for more stories of Tav in her youth.

Astarion needed to do something. He couldn’t sit here any longer watching that trader’s hands all over Tav as he spun her around the dancefloor. He was frustratingly nimble, leading her through complicated steps with ease, her body yielding to his touch in a way that had Astarion digging his nails into his palms. She had been quite upfront with him about her attraction, but since the day she had mocked him for his cheesy lines they had stayed relatively guarded around each other. He had found no time when he could pull her away from the rest of their group to explore further whatever it was he felt. His plan to seduce her for favor and protection was absolutely not going how he had imagined. Her uncanny ability to see past his mask to the man below had left him rattled, unsure how he should proceed.

In another time, before their slimy passengers, he would have floated onto the dancefloor, effortlessly spinning her into his arms and cutting the Zhent out of the picture. Another woman might have swooned at his boldness, but he had a feeling she would just tell him to wait his turn. Unwilling to face the potential rejection, he slipped deftly into the shadows, unseen, to plunder the unguarded vaults in the back of the cave. If the traders were stupid enough not to place guards during a party, he might as well teach them the error of their ways.

* * * * *

Tav was having the best night she’d had in decades. The effervescent joy of her reunion with Zarys bolstered by lively music and stimulating company. She let Rugan lead her in one dance after another, her head spinning along with the swirling steps. Though his speech was rough and his advances obvious, he treated her with a quiet courtesy she found charming. There was no pretense with him. She knew what he wanted as if it was written plain on his face. After weeks of uncertainty and dread, never feeling like she fully understood the situations she was thrown into, it felt nice to have a clear and pleasant path laid out before her. The man wanted what so many had before, and she had wants of her own. A lascivious smile curled her lips as she imagined his strong hands, leading her now in a bouncing two-step, holding her roughly by the waist and pressing her to a cold stone wall.

The music slowed and he pulled her toward him, twisting her under his arm and curling her in so her back was against his chest. Holding her to him, she could feel his rising excitement against her rear, and pressed herself wantonly into it, swaying with the beat. His hand slid from her waist to the front of her thigh, fingers achingly close to the place where her skirt slit. She spun away from him in a whirl of fabric, the deep navy cloth whispering over her skin. When he pulled her back in, he dipped her low, his strong arm supporting her back while he brought his mouth to hers. The kiss was fervent and hungry, his hand moving up her back to crush her to him. To the beat of the music he brought them both back to standing, lips still melding together, one hand now clasping the side of her face.

An applause erupted from behind her, bawdy whoops and whistles from the Zhents and her friends. Blushing wildly, Tav buried her face in Rugan’s chest, groaning. He laughed, loud and unashamed, stepping back from her and taking an exaggerated bow. In an instant Shadowheart and Zarys rushed forward, grabbing at her hands and dragging her away.

“We just need to borrow her for a moment.” Shadowheart called to Rugan “Promise we’ll bring her back in one piece.” She snorted a laugh and pulled Tav down a snaking corridor. Zarys held Tav’s hand, leading them down a steep slope to a looming wall of red stone. Smirking at Tav and Shadowheart, she walked backwards into the rock, pulling Tav’s hand. The illusory wall flickered as they passed through, and the room opened to reveal a large domed space with a massive iron elevator in the center.

Tav gasped, dropping Zarys’ hand. “Does that go to the underdark?” Her voice was shaky and weak.

“Yeah, but that’s not important!” She waved off the questions forming on Tav’s lips. “I’ll tell you all about it in the morning. Right now I just want the details.”

Tav laughed, her momentary nausea at the thought of the elevator fading, and grabbed Zarys to her for another bone crushing hug. “Gods, you never change, do you?” Seeing Shadowheart hovering awkwardly next to them, Tav reached out an arm and pulled the cleric into the embrace.

Zarys pulled away, beaming at her. “But seriously, Rugan? I’ll give you this much, I had no idea he could dance like that. Truly, I’m floored, but Rugan?”

“Why?” Tav’s face fell, she was normally adept at reading people, especially those she thought to take to her bed. “What’s wrong with him?”

Shadowheart rolled her eyes, “Ugh, he’s so cocky. He’s been wearing this smug, self satisfied look all night. Like he’s showing you off.”

“He is.” Tav chuckled. “I don’t mind being shown off. It’s not complicated with him Shads, he’s upfront and direct.”

“He’s a pair of cheekbones with no personality!” Zarys interrupted, “The man is barely worth the money we spend outfitting him. Honestly, hun, he’s an idiot.”

“I’m not marrying the guy!” Tav protested,”We’re here one night. Let me have fun with an idiot, at least I know he has decent rhythm!”

Shadowheart cackled, but her eyes were searching, staring at Tav with something almost like sadness. She swallowed her laughter, voice becoming low. “What about Astarion?”

“Is that the pale one with the moody eyes and great hair?”

Shadowheart touched her finger to the tip of her nose and nodded. She didn’t speak, waiting for Tav’s reply, her eyes imploring.

“I don’t…” Tav started, voice faltering. “I don’t know about him. He acts like we’re on the same page, like he just wants something to escape from all this.” She gestured at her forehead and Zarys raised a quizzical eyebrow, not knowing about the tadpoles, but let Tav continue. “But we haven’t even really kissed, and I feel like he’s been avoiding me ever since I told him I was attracted to him. I just… It’s kind of exhausting. I’m too old to play games.”

“Wait, Tav?” Shadowheart held up a hand, “How old are you?”

“I’m not exactly sure. Not many name-day celebrations in the gutters of Menzoberranzan, but I think around one hundred and seventy.”

Shadowheart’s eyes went wide. “Huh, I thought for sure Astarion would be significantly older than all of us, but I guess not. Either way, you both are too old for playing games.”

Zarys nodded vigorously. “Well, first thing’s first. If you didn’t care for the pale guy you wouldn’t care that he was being skittish. Now, that doesn’t mean you can’t go fuck Rugan for fun, but who would you rather be down here with later.” She gestured to the large, mostly empty room. “There’s some blankets in a crate over there, and I’ll leave the illusory wall up for some privacy, but you gotta cast silence if you’re going to be too noisy. This place echoes like motherfucker.”

Shadowheart stifled a laugh in her hand. “Good to know! So Tav, who will it be? The admittedly handsome idiot who you’ll never see again, or the admittedly handsome idiot who travels with us and occasionally sucks your blood?”

“That's what it is!” Zarys clapped her hands, the sound reverberating around the chamber.”I knew there was something about that guy I couldn’t put my finger on!”

Shadowheart clapped both hands over her mouth and her eyebrows disappeared into her bangs. “Shit! I can’t believe I said that!”

“Oh, don’t worry about it, honey.” Zarys patted her back affectionately. “I’ve been around far too long to have qualms about shit like that. I’m guessing he’s a spawn, not a full vamp, yeah? The spawn are always so much more maudlin. Must be the whole, lacking in free will, thing. How’d he end up with you all?”

Tav gave Zarys a meaningful look. “It’s a long story.”

“Understood.” She watched Tav for a moment, letting the silence fall between them, curious, but trusting her to divulge what she needed to. “So, what are you actually wanting from him?”

“Ugh, I don’t know.” Tav groaned, “Right now I really just want someone to throw me up against a wall and make me forget about the world for a while. Is that too much to ask?”

Zarys and Shadowheart shared a low chuckle and a sly look, their eyes lingering just long enough for Tav to catch. “Ha!” She blurted, “I guess I’m not the only one who’s trying to have a pleasant evening.”

“True.” Shadowheart demurred, “I don’t really have an opinion either way, I think you should do whatever it is that you want, but I have seen the way you look at Astarion. And the way he looks at you. You’re both disgusting, but it’s kind of cute.”

“He couldn’t take his eyes off you all night, kid. Kept glaring behind his wineglass at you and the blonde. He slinked off somewhere when you started letting him touch your ass on the dancefloor. It’s not a big cave, though, I’m sure you could find him.”

“Gods, I missed you, Zarys.” Tav gently knocked her forehead into the older woman’s, “Now get out of here. I guess I have some thinking to do.” She stuck out her tongue in a pantomime gag, shooing them out past the illusory wall. “Tell Rugan I had a dizzy spell and I’ll come find him later if I start to feel better.”

Zarys winked over her shoulder. “Atta girl, keep your options open.” As the two of them left, Zarys’ hand slipped from Shadowheart’s waist to the curve of her hip. Tav chuckled to herself, sitting on the cool, rough, stone, her back propped up against a wooden crate. After a few moments she rose with a deep sigh, mouth set, posture strong, to look for her idiot.

* * * * *

Astarion choked down bile in the back of his throat, letting the wave of nausea roll over him. He had watched Rugan kiss Tav from the shadowed door of the vault and had begrudgingly returned the stolen gear to the chests he’d found them in. Resetting the traps and fiddling with his lockpicks until he was able to latch the iron grates again from the outside, he slipped quietly away from the scene of his reversed crime. If she wanted to spend the night here with Rugan, she certainly wouldn’t appreciate a rude awakening in the morning when the Zhents found their best loot missing. He was kicking himself for how soft and precious he was being, when he turned a corner in the dark tunnel and ran face first into her.

Tav stumbled backward and he shot out a hand to catch her wrist before she lost her balance, Feeling a stab of bitterness he spun her toward him in a mockery of a courtly dance, employing every ounce of his upper class bravado. She pulled in a soft gasp, her other hand coming up between them to press into his chest. He held their arms above their heads in a flourish, intending to spin her back out in a well practiced move. Before he could, her hand was balled in the ruffled fabric of his shirt, pulling him in and pressing her hips into his.

“I was looking for you.” She breathed into his ear, her lips ticking his earlobe and sending a shiver down his spine.

“Oh? You seemed otherwise occupied.” His voice was just as low as her’s, words tinged with a hint of venom. “Didn’t want to get between you and the dancing dimwit.”

“Don’t tell me you were jealous.” She teased, leaning in and brushing her teeth against his neck. “It’s not like I’d let him bite me.” She nuzzled against the crook of his neck, her fisted hand in his shirt pulling him tight against her.

“I’d hope not, darling. You’ve no idea where a mouth like that’s been.” He was drunk on the smell of her, the feel of her body against his. They had been circling around each other for some time, planets destined to collide in their orbits. The touch of her skin shot sparks through his fingertips. Still, he felt his shoulders stiffen as she pressed closer, the echoes of his past raking their claws across his back. His best chance at survival was with her, and the easy way she had yielded to his machinations was altogether positive, but his gut twisted at the thought of bedding her under false pretense.

Tav felt Astarion tense against her, his body like a bowstring. She unclenched her fist from his ruffles, leaning back on her heel to get a better look at his face. Though his eyes met hers, he seemed hollow. Just for a moment, she saw the reflection of that familiar yawning emptiness she had seen so many times iin the mirror. Her hands slid from his chest and shoulder as she took a small step back, creating some distance between them, his hands still on her waist.

“Are you alright?” Her face opened to him, curious and concerned, and the sincerity of it sent a jolt of fear straight through him. He scrambled to replace the mask he had obviously dropped, pulling his features into the predatory allure that had won him so many conquests.

“Not yet,” He paused for dramatic effect, smoldering at her from under his strong brow. “I need you to promise me something.”

“Mmm?” She didn’t take her eyes off his, boring into him with a look that brooked no deceit. He wanted to fold and retreat from her, but his plan was already taking too long, and he needed to get her under his thumb. The Zhent’s hands had been all over her, touching all the places he had thought about tracing with his own fingers. His anger flared at the memory of their dramatic kiss, the way the man had lingered, holding her to him in front of the cave full of people, staking a claim.

Karlach’s words echoed in his head, stop thinking, just let yourself be.

“Tav, I…” His quip died on his lips. Her heart was pounding in his ears, blood rushing hot in her veins. He tried to still the warring waves of desire and revulsion, buffeted by the storm inside. There was a part of her that saw his intentions, and yet she continued to allow him near her, feeding him with her blood and beguiling him with her body. Their small moments together were charged with attraction, but when they sat together by the fire at camp or gossiped cattily on the road, Astarion couldn’t deny the calm that settled over him. Her voice had become a balm to his isolation. He found himself ever striving to coax a grin or a bright laugh from her lips.

She searched his face, sensing the shift in his thoughts as his fingers tightened around her waist. Her breath left her in shallow gasps, the twisting heat in her core spreading outward as he once again closed the space between them.

“What do you want, Astarion?” Thick with need, her question hung between them.

“I just… I don’t… “ His head spun, unable to land on a singular answer. He wanted to bed her, he wanted to drain her, he wanted to lay in the sun and press her to him, he wanted to slink into the shadows to hide from her light. But he had a plan to enact. She was in front of him, practically begging to give herself to him. He couldn’t let his inner turmoil keep him from snatching this chance and running with it. “All I want, darling, is to know that you’re here, with me, while that ogre you were toying with goes to bed in a cold bunk. Alone.”

“I guess you really were jealous.” She cocked her head and smirked, biting her lip as her gaze drifted over his ruinous face.

“Don’t play the fool, you wicked thing. You knew all night what it was doing to me, watching the oaf paw at you.” He leaned into her neck, deeply inhaling the scent of her, juniper honey and iron. “I practically wanted to rip his throat out when I saw him steal that kiss from you.”

She chuckled, a dark, smokey sound low in her throat. “He stole nothing, Astarion.” His grip on her waist shifted lower, clutching her hips and pressing himself into her, a territorial growl escaping his lips. “Though, you’re a rogue, I’m sure you could manage such a simple act of thievery.”

“Would it really be theft, my dear?” His body stilled, hands bunched into the flowing fabric of her skirts. His breath on her neck sent cool shivers over her skin.

“No.” She sighed, “I suppose you can’t steal what is freely offered.”

Her words opened a floodgate within him and he allowed himself to act purely on instinct. His lips found hers, desperately chasing the warmth of her mouth. She clung to him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, fingers twining into his curls. She felt electric against him, sparks arcing between their bodies as they crashed together. The screeching echoes of his past drowned out by the pounding of her heart. He surrendered to his need, wanting only to consume and be consumed by her.

She whimpered a moan into his mouth as her lips parted and his tongue flicked between her teeth. The tension that had built between them finally snapping, they melted into each other, breaths coming fast and ragged. He had thought many times how it would feel to have her, warm and yielding in his arms, his small fantasies a spark compared to the inferno of reality.

She kissed him back with a fervor that surprised and delighted him, her fist in his hair pulling him hard against her mouth. Her body rolled wantonly into him as she rose onto her toes to deepen their kiss. He groaned at the contact, his head swimming in the heady flavor of her mouth and the scent of her skin.

Tav broke from the kiss with a ragged inhale, lids heavy and pupils blown.

“Fucking finally!” She laughed, the sound echoing off the vaulted stone of the cave.

Astarion shuddered, hearing in her words the answer to his own desire. She took a small step back from him. He loosened his hold on her waist, unballing his fists and letting the loose panels of her skirt fall back around her feet. His eyes never left her parted, berry lips.

“Zarys showed me something I think you’ll appreciate.” Her grin was crooked and mischievous as she reached down and pulled the skirt apart, revealing her shapely thigh. His fingers moved to brush the soft, slate gray skin, mesmerized. She playfully batted his hand away, and reached for her dagger, concealed in the swirling skirts.

“Now darling, no need to get violent, we were getting along so well.” He teased, but a small corner of his mind recoiled, thinking somehow she had lured him into a state of lust drunk vulnerability only to betray him. She merely smirked and tossed the blade over her shoulder. The dagger passed, shimmering, through an illusory wall and clattered unseen to the ground.

“Clever.” He purred, regaining his grip on her skirts and steering her through the wall by her hips. He guided her backwards across the floor of the cavern to press her firmly against the red stone at the back of the room. Now hidden from view by the glinting enchantment, he began to pull at the fabric of her shirt, frantically groping underneath to cup her full breast in his palm.

She moaned softly, head lolling back against the rough surface. Leaning hard into her, trapping her against the wall, he grasped a fistfull of curls at the nape of her neck. She smelled of deep pine forests warmed in the sun, of honeycomb and gin. He drank in the scent of her throat, inhaling deeply while trailing nips and kisses from her collarbone to her jaw. She melted into him, hand tugging boldly at his hips, small rhythmic cries escaping her lips and he ground into her.

“Astarion…” Pleading, his name a ragged prayer barely audible over the sound of her pounding heart in his ears. His hand roved over her, grasping desperately at waist, ribs, breasts. She shivered under him, crushed between his desire and the crumbling cavern wall. When his fingers ran over her nipple, pebbled under the fabric of her shirt, she groaned and bucked into him.

He captured the sound with his mouth, ravenous for the taste of her soft, yielding lips. She kissed him back, frantic, burning. They merged, breath mixing in feverish gasps.

“Gods, you smell amazing.” He rasped, breaking contact with her lips to drag a fang lightly down the skin of her throat. She shuddered, head rolling to the side in invitation. He wanted to sink his teeth into her soft flesh and draw all of her heat into his own veins. Before he could, she dropped her hand along the planes of his stomach and her fingers found the waistband of his leathers. His arousal strained painfully against the laces, and her fingers sent shockwaves through him. Hissing in a sharp breath past his fangs he pulled away and caught the wicked glint in her lightning streaked eyes.

Tav held his gaze as she traced the outline of his cock through the front of his leathers, delighting at the small shudders that ripped through him. She searched his eyes for a hint of the apprehension she had seen there. Her brow arched in a silent question, palm cupping his length.

Astarion could barely think through the fog of his desire and the intoxicating bouquet of her skin, his calculated plan all but abandoned at the touch of her fingertips. He nodded, lips slightly parted. “Yes” was all he could manage before she was kissing him again, deep and hungry, her fingers pulling at the strings of his leathers.

As his erection sprang free he shuddered, pressing himself into her, crushing her against the wall. Her hand snaked between them to grasp his cock, tip slick with need. Her touch sent sparks through him and he bucked into her fingers, a primal growl rumbling in his chest. She hitched her skirt aside, revealing the plump expanse of her thigh, and stood on her tiptoes to curl her leg around him.

The heady scent of her arousal surrounded him. His cock in her hand, his tongue in her mouth, her body writhing against him, he nearly came undone. Breaking their kiss with a stuttering breath, he knelt, pulling her leg from his hip to rest over one shoulder. Parting the flowing panels of her skirt, revealing the deep burgundy flesh of her sex, he titled his face to her with a wicked grin. She stared down at him, her eyes heavy lidded and burning with lust. He kept his gaze locked to her face as he dragged his finger up the length of her core, watching her melt under his touch. Her eyes rolled and she threw her head back with a soft cry as he languidly drew circles around her clit. She was already slippery with want, and she bucked into his fingers, soft mewls of pleasure echoing around the cavern.

The heat of her was intoxicating. As Astarion slipped his fingers inside he brought his mouth to her throbbing apex, lapping at the bundle of nerves there. His head spun with the taste of her, all thoughts receding as he deftly worked his tongue, drawing deep tremors and breathless cries from her. Tav moaned his name, her fingers twisting into his curls, and his cock throbbed, aching to be inside her. He drove his fingers faster, his other hand stroking himself in time. He sucked at her tender flesh, drawing her closer to her peak, her legs quaking. Her breaths came quick and heavy, her walls clenching around his fingers as her fervor climbed higher.

She came like a wave crashing into rocks, the cascades of her pleasure tearing through her. His masterful fingers found the spot inside to drive her onward, drawing out her orgasm as she bit into her arm to muffle the throaty moan that wrenched from her. She rode his fingers, pulsating with the crescendo of her pleasure, gasping for breath.

At the peak of her ecstasy her knees gave out and she slumped, boneless, against the wall. In a fluid, practiced, motion Astarion rose, shifting her legs from his shoulders to his waist. Hooking his strong archer's arms under her trembling thighs he held her, pressed against the stone, grinding himself into the slick heat between her legs. She was still riding the aftershocks of her climax, head lolling back and small high pitched moans escaping her kiss swollen lips. When his hardness pressed against her she whined and her hips bucked wildly, her nerves on fire.

Astarion drank in her face as she came undone, reveling in her fluttering lids, the sharp cries of pleasure spilling from her berry lips. He gripped her ass and drove her harder against him, aching to sheath himself inside her. Trembling, she fell forward onto his shoulder, she clutched him, steadying herself and slowing the rhythm of her hips. He felt her smile against the skin of his throat, a soft chuckle mixing with the small gasps still she still uttered.

“Gods, Star…” She breathed into his neck, her legs tightening around his back and drawing him closer. Her words became a deep moan as he teased her entrance. She pulled back to meet his eyes, angling herself to take him, her gaze hungry. “I need you, now…”

He obliged, driving into her slick heat. The silken tightness of her walls around him drew a guttural cry from his lips, his body spasming with the intensity. She angled her hips into him, allowing him to bury his cock deep within her, and moaned as she began to ride him. It was all he could do to keep his hold on her, bracing himself against the stone and burying his face in the crook of her neck. Small, muffled whines pulled from him as she undulated, each move of her hips driving him deliciously deeper into her and closer to his own release.

Astarion fought for control within his own mind. He had imagined over and over what it would be like to finally bed his alluring companion, but in his musings he had never anticipated the way she would make him feel. He had used his body as a lure for so long he had all but forgotten what it felt like to experience his own pleasure. Now, he was all but drowning in it.

A part of him was struggling to regain sense, to claim the upper hand and win her loyalty, but that part seemed to be losing to the greater whole of his longing. As he rutted into her, their bodies surging in time with the primal rhythm of desire, all thoughts of his plan and his past fell away. He could focus only on his need to consume her, to be one with her warmth. The sound of her heartbeat, pounding and frantic, filled his ears and drowned out the persistent, gnawing doubt that plagued his every waking moment.

Pumping into her faster, he dug his fingers into the gunmetal curls at her nape and pulled her head back, exposing her delicate throat. Tav shuddered, rolling her hips and moaning a soft “yes”. He playfully bit her flesh, suckling on her neck, drawing her blood to the surface. As he dragged a fang along her skin he felt her clench around him, her body shivering in anticipation. The convulsion nearly sent him over the edge, his own body quaking. Tav whined into his ear, a wordless plea, and he sunk his fangs into her. The sudden rush of her blood into his mouth, coupled with the deep shuddering spasms around his cock, had him moaning and bucking, desperately trying to maintain his composure.

It was too much to bear. As he swallowed greedy mouthfuls of her blood, his hips jerked deeper into her and he felt himself unraveling. A rasping cry tore through him as he tumbled over the edge of his pleasure, the hot coil in his core snapping with a violent release. He spent himself inside her, his cock throbbing in time with his hungry quaffs of her blood. She felt the tremors of his climax and met him with her own, the walls of her sex spasming, drawing him deeper and pulling the strands of his desire from him. In the throes of his pleasure he cried her name, a keening whine muffled by the flesh of her shoulder and bubbling through a mouthful of her blood. She echoed his wail with her own, his name a whispered moan in his ear.

As they receded from the precipice of their ecstasy, Astarion gently lowered Tav to the ground, untangling his fingers from her hair and licking the wound at her throat clean. Her breathing was ragged, her heart racing, standing on shaky legs as he slipped from her. She leaned back against the stone of the cavern, a shy smile on her lips, her gaze turned inward.

“Well,” She whispered, the hint of a chuckle bubbling from her. “That was…” She trailed off as her eyes swept up to meet his, her icy stare meeting his burning crimson with a jolt. He wore a look of haunted surprise. Though the corners of his lips curled in a satisfied grin, his eyes were wide and almost empty, his thoughts leagues away from where the two of them stood, bodies still heaving against one another. The affectionate warmth she felt was shot through with an icy stab of doubt. Had she misread his intentions? Had she somehow done something wrong? She tentatively brought her hand to cup his cheek and he flinched at the touch. Hissing in a sharp breath, as though her hand on his face had jolted him back into his body. She opened her mouth to ask him where he had gone, but he silenced her with a deep, soulful kiss.

Astarion was determined to conceal the tempest of emotions that raged within him. Her touch had been the first in centuries that he had chosen for himself, the first he had actually enjoyed in longer than he could remember. The way her bright eyes searched his face shot a bolt of fear through him, as though she could read his apprehension. As he kissed her, tender and honest in his affection, he marveled at his dueling urges. He wanted to cling to her, desperate for the reassurance of safety and reciprocated care, while another part of him longed to dash from the too-silent cavern into the night.

Unsure of how to proceed, Astarion nearly dropped with relief when the sound of Karlach’s ale-sodden voice echoed into the chamber with a tone of bravado and challenge. Breaking the kiss and pulling away from Tav just a bit too quickly, Astarion did not meet her eyes. “As much as I would love to linger in your arms all night, dearest, I had better go. Wouldn’t want our hot-headed hellion to forget herself and accidentally incinerate one of our hosts.” He still did not meet her all too observant eyes as he bowed deeply and pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. “We really must do this again sometime, darling.”

With that, Astarion spun away from her and retreated a bit too quickly for the casual air he was trying to maintain. Tav stood, body still humming from the exertion and pleasure, and silently watched him scamper back up the earthen hallway toward the center of the party, awkwardly retying the laces of his leathers as he went. While she hadn’t expected a long, affectionate cuddle, the sudden absence of him was jarring after the warmth of his embrace just moments before. She had caught the shift in his features, the shadow that drifted across his face as the heat of their joining cooled.

Though Tav had claimed that all she wanted was to be thrown against a wall, now that her goal had been accomplished a sense of unease settled over her. She had made the choice to go looking for Astarion instead of rejoining Rugan, the budding affection and deep attraction she held for the vampire overshadowing the promise of mindless fun with the Zhent. Now, though, she wondered if she had made the right decision. Astarion had seemed willing and enthusiastic, but the shadow that had washed over his face at the end reminded her too much of the hollow smiles and empty words she used to ply to her clientele in the underdark.

She would have to be careful with this one. For both his sake, and hers.

#This is the first smut I've ever posted #not the first I've written #never had the guts before #hope it's not too cringe #feedback appreciated #astarion #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #astarion x tav #my tav #bg3 astarion #astarion smut #smut with plot #bg3 rugan #zhentarim

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