#saw a post about making fun of balding etc etc

[theswampghost]

i love you falsettos. truly everything 2 me

[angevinyaoiz]

saw Dune 2 (2une?), and since I don't have my dune blog anymore I'll post here, since blah blah this is my place for posting about Dynastic Weirdos. This is long but NO MAJOR SPOILERS, except about like, small detail things that aren't plot things but whatever

Tbh it was disappointing. It had all the correct elements to be liked but one thing grated on me the whole time...the Bad Dialogue and lack of Elevated Speech! Why the hell were all these characters saying stuff like "these guys" "we're ok" and "literally" it took me out of the fantastical world sOOO bad. Super bummer because what I loved about Dune 1 (D-uno?) As someone who went into it before reading or knowing anything was how much it didn't explain, how it let the visuals and the world unfold before you, and how serious and somber it was in a way that gave it a sense of scale and time.

I can only wonder if WB saw all the complaints and tweets about people being like "we didn't understand the first movie!!! It wasn't funny and quippy!!!" And decided to simplify it down so characters just SAY things really obviously and inelegantly. The writing has some competence in moving the story forward but there's no poetry or rhythm to the way characters say things, it's serving "Rings of Power" scriptwriting to me lmao. And it's not like any of the actors are bad? I've seen them do well in the previous movie and in other things, so wtf was going on with the direction. I know people complained Abt Villeneuve saying that whole thing about being more into visuals than dialogue but maybe he was right...there needed to be LESS WORDS. bc much of the words we had were NOT GOOD.

Positivity: the middle and latter part was where the movie picked up for me. The Harkonnen Freak Villain behavior was everything I could have wanted! Finally instead of EXPLAINING everything obviously we got to see a LOT of character building, for Feyd specifically in a very short amount of time. I know a lot of us complained about Bald Feyd-Rautha but Mr Elvis did a very good job. And we got Madame Fenring and weird scifi femdomming finally, which is Essential for the Duniverse! Wonderful fantastic no notes.

Of course, getting back to our heroes, I anticipated this 2 years ago sadly and it was true...the Fremen were badass but SWAGLESS. More Learned ppl have already written about the frustration with the erasure of the Arabic/North African cultural presence so I won't reiterate that here since I'm not super knowledgeable about the specifics of that but even as a casual watcher there was a weird emptiness to the way I feel the society was portrayed. There were individual good character moments, such as fun bantering among the Fedaykin etc, but for Pacing or Whatever they cut out the community aspects that served to make them feel more like well, a People rather than just either Grizzled Soldiers/ Religious Fundamentalists aka Marks/Panicked refugees. I have to guess this was ppl were like "we can't show a culture too cool and colorful and the part with Harrah (Jamis' widow) would feel too ORIENTALIST!!! But the result is something sadly very dry. At least in more older orientalist works, the interest comes from when the ~exotic~ stereotypes figures are able to have charming personalities and personalities and be known as people despite the cliches sometimes but this sadly wasn't even like that....

Jamis' funeral is a good example of this; in the Book, it's a moment where you first get a good look of what rituals are like in this world, and how people relate to each other and to the dead. In the movie, the funeral is looks more foreign and even a little creepy as the water is extracted from the body. There's not really a Personal or community connection aspect to it at all.

The ending was pretty good as it satisfied all the Cool Dune Moments I think we all wanted to see, and also did literally the end of The Godfather Part 1 Framing which was hee hee heh. Anyways, Messiah is MY favorite book of the series personally so curious how they get to that.

Maybe I've been too spoiled by Cool Historical Fiction lately? I've been watching too much of The Devil's Crown where action happens mostly off screen but the dynastic drama is written and acted so compellingly, the historical mindset and setting so alien and yet so human and relatable, it's frustrating to see when works try to do the opposite? Idk??? Dune books themselves is fun in how action is mostly an "offscreen, offstage"' thing.

*if ANYONE in the Universe is a quippy Bastard, it should be Leto II esp in God Emperor where he literally has nothing to do all day but quip all day to terrified acolytes

[wen-kexing-apologist]

Is there a character/actor you have really enjoyed analyzing body language for? What about a performance makes it interesting to analyze?

Oooo what a great question! 

I don’t think I have like a particular actor whose body language I look forward to analyzing. In general, I think I’m just constantly subconsciously analyzing everything. 

When I turn on the more intentional analysis brain, it is actually often for performances I don’t enjoy, and that is to help me figure out what about the performance is putting me off. Like I said in my response to @waitmyturtles yesterday, microexpressions can be kind of hard for me to see, but they are absolutely one of the most vital aspects of informing character for me. So if I see an actor who is playing a flat character, I will actually start paying more attention to them, or rewatching the show/movie and specifically concentrating on their face, backing up scenes, etc. in order to see if they are actually delivering a packed performance or if they just can’t act. 

I said this in my last post too, but examples of people whose performances I didn’t really love: Copter in La Pluie and Saint in Step by Step because both of those boys are very stiff. They don’t have obvious internal monologues. It works in Copter’s favor with Lomfon, it does not work in Saint’s favor for Jab. 

Examples of people whose performances I didn’t initially love, but came around to after spending some time actually analyzing their faces: Luca Marinelli in The Old Guard who is a truly masterful microexpressive actor, but the first time I saw him play Nicky I thought he was just flat, upon second, third, eleventh viewing of that film his performance grows stronger and stronger for me.

Earth Pirapat in A Tale of a Thousand Stars, I actually have yet to go back to watch the original show, but being more familiar with Earth after seeing Cupid’s Last Wish, Moonlight Chicken, and Mama Gogo, I was much more able to read Phupa’s face and pick up on things in his performance I would have otherwise missed. 

There are, of course, the chameleons, like First Kanaphan, Khaotung Thanawat, and Gun Atthaphan, who are just fun to see slip in to vastly different characters. Neo is showing his acting chops in Only Friends right now in so strong a way he is truly blowing my fucking mind, because to be honest, I have not really enjoyed the other characters of his. 

If you read my response to Turtle’s ask last night, you will see a pretty extensive list of people actors whose performances are truly wonderful to watch. 

All of this said, if I am not actively focusing on what is making me not like a performance, I will rewind and watch scenes on a loop like four or five times before moving on if they are particularly emotionally complex. So sex scenes and fight scenes are some of my favorite things to watch because there are so many emotions flying that have to turn on a dime, and the choreography that it takes to make those romantic or explosive scenes feel believable and powerful. The way Uchino in What Did you Eat Yesterday? handles Kenji’s body after he hears Shiro express his fears that Kenji is dying, because Kenji was being cagey about his balding, is truly masterful! The way Hagiwara Riku is able to just flip back and forth between adorable cutesy boyfriend, and truly murderous violence in Utsukushii Kare: Eternal, the way Pee Peerawich handled the fight in Episode 10 of La Pluie. 

I don’t know, all in all, I can’t act, so it is fun watching people who are good at their job, absolutely demolish playing a completely different person.

[got-no-skill]

This is something that gets lost in discussions of how the past did science and especially medicine.

People weren't dumb.

They often did dumb things, like exposing themselves to mercury and making pipes out of lead, etc., etc., but they did so for reasons. They exposed themselves to mercury because holy shit this metal fucking moves we should study it. They made pipes out of lead because lead was easy to bend and shape, which is a useful quality when making pipe infrastructure, especially without modern metallurgical techniques. They weren't always right in what they did or why things worked, but they didn't do them for no reason. Galen saw that the symptoms of people who had this medical condition improved when they bathed and drank from an alkaline spring, reasoned that whatever made the spring alkaline was a good treatment for the condition, and told patients to dose up.

They didn't alway know why these things worked and often attributed them to entirely inaccurate reasons, but they were reasonable.

I would also be remiss if I didn't bring up this post about ancient timekeeping and Bald's Eye Salve:

Just found out something absolutely incredible.

The Ancient Greeks KNEW how to treat bipolar disorder!

Yup, that’s right. In the second century C.E, the Greek physician Galen treated people suffering from what we now call bipolar mania by having them bathe and drink from the water of an alkaline spring.

This spring most likely contained lithium, which is today used as a mood stabiliser… TO TREAT BIPOLAR DISORDER!

This means that this treatment… actually worked! The bipolar people in Ancient Greece who drank the water from the alkaline spring were actually being treated effectively.

What in the actual fuck. That is so wild. How did they even figure that out?

[anxiously-scared]

Hi im a rando that saw your tags on a post (about the reporting native bird feathers from witch etsy) where I saw you wanted to know more since they're "just picking the feathers up" and unfortunately, you've activated my autism trap card, so get prepared for some lighthearted explanation and commentary :3

So! I dont know if you're in the US, but I'm basing all of this off of US laws since most witch etsy shops are also based here (or the UK, but I don't know as much about those laws). In the US, almost all birds are protected under either the MBTA (Migratory Bird Treaty Act) or the Raptor Act. Both acts are essentially legal protection against bird poaching outside of specific game seasons using certain weapons. Birds that are not protected are 1. Farm fowl you own (such as chickens, ducks, etc), 2. Farm fowl you can prove were Farm fowl (such as ducks and turkeys specifically), and 3. Invasive birds (such as European starlings, sparrows, and more). Basically every other bird in the states is considered either migratory, or a raptor, and is therefore federally protected from any type of poaching

The reason these protections were implemented was a lot to do with 1800s bird hunting, which got just... so completely out of whack. Do yourself a favor and look up "punt guns", as they're massive cannon-sized boat mounted shotguns that could take out an entire flock of ducks in one shot, and enable hunters to spend the entire rest of their day bagging up to around 200 ducks from, again, just *one* shot. Due to this, ducks, turkeys, quail, pheasants, and other bird game absolutely plummeted to near extinction, even including regular "pest" birds like crows struggled through poaching eras. This is also a huge part of why dodos went extinct.

These acts don't just protect these birds from regular poaching though, because that would be too simple (and most bird poachers don't think they're doing anything wrong or anything that matters, so they don't care about just lying) you see, the #1 excuse game wardens get when they ask about illegal killing is "I found it like that", which when you're talking about, say, finding someone with owl talons or eagle feathers, is probably the biggest attempt at a "get out of jail free" card possible. Sure it's plausible, but there's always too big of a risk that the person is lying and is potentially poaching a species that only has less than 50 in the wild left just for some cool bird talons (like condors, bald eagles, some types of owls, etc). To resolve that issue, these acts have it down as a felony *per piece of bird*. As in, per individual Feather, per Talon, per Beak, etc. Picking a bird feather off the ground in the US can absolutely be a felony if you don't know what kind of bird it is, and you have decades and decades of shitty entitled bird poachers, even to this day, to blame for restrictions being as high as they are.

So if you find some etsy witch who isn't native selling non invasive wild bird feathers in the US, you can 100% report them to fish and wildlife and land them with multiple felonies for raptor and migratory bird poaching. If you also want more info on why the post specifies "white witch", feel free to check out resources about Native American tribes and their privileges for hunting and using native birds such as eagles for cultural reasons. Certain native american tribes have specific permits for hunting birds because of the cultural+community benefits as well as their way of using the full bird without *just* taking a stupid claw trophy and throwing away the rest of the bird

In short, it's actually not even cruel to report them, and in fact it's the morally correct thing to do, because only native americans from certain communities have the right to do so (speaking of, it's also fun to report white etsy shops that sell "native jewelry", because that's also a crime, just make sure they're actually not native before you do that)

a big thank you to all of you for telling me this!!! im very sorry if you sent this at an earlier time and i didnt respond, i only use tumblr on mobile and whether it shows me that i got an ask is literally luck based for me

anyways these were all very great answers, i def understand the post this was abt now!!

and to the first one dw abt rambling, i may not be stationed in the us but it was still interesting to hear (you can absolutely send me more asks abt it if you want to ramble more)

thank all of you once again!!

[inutaffy]

could you maybe tell me about the various byler gates ? when you have the time ?

yeah sure!

so there were a bunch of theories after vol1 drop (we didn't call them gates then) and after vol2 they all started to get fleshed out and with the joke of "watergate" made by dustin (and vecna opening all those gates) we just kinda adopted it for different theories for season 5 or analysis about byler or season 4

scriptgate: this is the non show related one. so 8flix is a site that like gives scripts to people/public (film students use it etc) and there was a gofundme to donate to 8flix and like you would get your email signed up on the list and then the stranger things script sent you. the first one was episode 8 (vol2) basically it was supposed to come early august. like august 3rd or something i do not remember exactly but nick (8flix guy) got a lot more people on his email list than ever, and he wanted to do it one by one rather than a big release so we waited like 3 days or so (THIS TIME PERIOD IS SO ICONIC HONESTLY HILARIOUS SO MANY MUTUALS MADE.) there was like people drinking sangrias, i made a pizza, people were making crafts in the tag, it was a big sleepover. very fun, each time it got delayed it was funnier and funnier 😭. anyways we finally got the scripts (but at what cost) and they were so fuckinf depressing there was not a dry eye in the house. will said "i hate who i am" and nancy said "jonathan who?" it was terrible. and a couple days later stranger writers basically implied they were fake. like they were fake scripts. AND THEN EVERYONE TURNED ON NICK. it was a big thing but basically he was saying they weren't fake, and there's 2 big theories: that either he had very early scripts or just a bad source. anyways netflix said he could keep posting them as long as it wasn't revealing anything that wasn't already known (spoilers for season 5 i guess) (worth noting that when nick got his acc hacked on twitter "he" said shit like he was gonna name his source and 2 actors had confirmed the scripts. he was hacked so ignore this. i believe him at least)

letter gate: theory that mike has written letters to will while he was gone but never sent them, also most people believe that he kept said letter in his pocket in the custom blue shirt he wore throughout season 4

pocket gate: finn mentioned this in the hair chair before the st costume designers said this but, they made him a custom shirt (the iconic one for season 4.) few things to know! the pocket opens sideways, it looks like there could be something in it (because it never creases), the costume designers used triangle imagery on robin because of its meaning to the queer community and the pocket is a blue square with a grey triangle, and the pocket was mostly pointing towards will the entire season, will was always on mikes left! very few times was it pointing towards anyone else

breathgate: so i THINK this gate is about mike and max paralelling/lumax+byler endgame secured. so when mike saw the painting in the scripts that the stranger writers twt released it said "his breath catches" and when max was asked by lucas if she wanted to go to a movie friday it said "her breath catches." this could also be about how byler... breathed in sync when they were out in the field in the ending scene. or it could be about that very deep breath mike took when he was looking at will when they were in the van!

bald mike wheeler: i don't wanna talk about it <- traumatized 😶 KIDDING anyways so people basically edited this pic of mike in the hell fire outfit as bald and started creating a "cult" out of it and making their mutuals and friends worship bald mike. byler tag chaos obvi. my mutual rori sent like 20 images in my inbox. i was frightened.

matt duffers basement: ok so someone was pretending to be matt duffer on tumblr and made an "official" account and idk how really but people started claiming he was locking him in his basement and people started making a joke out of it and the person running the account played along too lmao. it was a sleepover in there

twilightgate: basically people editing mike and will's faces on edward and bella . don't miss that era .

wormgate: OK THIS COULD EITHER BE ABOUT THE TIME PERIOD WERE PEOPLE PUT MIKE AND WILL'S FACES ON WORMS OR ITS ABOUT MIKE OR WILL ASKING THE OTHER "would you still love me if i was a worm" i think it's the former tho

mikhailgate+background guy gate+wills love interest gate: they're all connected im sorry. so mikhail is enzo/dmitri's son, and people started theorizing saying mikhail was going to make an apperance in hawkins i forgot the logistics of it, but basically he's boris from the goldfinch but like. stranger things. so he looks like mike but more russian LMAO. i forgot the- willhail! that was the ship name! basically so mike could be a jealous bitch they made up an entire character! there was fanfic and fanart, people were serious. background guy, were basically taking a bunch of extras and making characters around them. like that dude with "hell" on his shirt i think his name was brett, there was fanart of him ! and then the goth girl that looks similar to eden was el's gf apparently! those 2 are most prominent i forgot the others. and will's love interest was just all of this. people would even take people from other media. like i saw one that had miguel from cobra kai (apparently argyles cousin 💀)

birthdaygate/memory gate: so this one i don't keep up with because i don't like it. i know what it's about though! so will's birthday is mar 22nd and people in the pre vol2 era thought his bday was gonna get addressed in vol2 but it wasn't so now there's a big conspiracy that it's going to have a bigger play out in s5 (like him blowing up at everyone /mike etc) but some people think it's because vecna can... steal memories. this claim is backed up by the lyric "let me steal this moment from you now" from running up that hill. someone can explain this gate better than me

babygirl gate: someone made a tweet that made it to tumblr basically saying will was rubbing his back whispering babygirl in mikes ear so he could say i love you to el/his girlfriend. which sparked people to make will's quotes to mike say babygirl instead of mike(his name.)

decedants gate: is just like twilight gate. i forgor if mike is mal and will is ben. i think that's right. yeah. it was cool!! comparing byler to their relationship!! about how mal chose to be with ben because he makes her happy!

playlistgate: mike has a very queer coded playlist, promiently "smalltown boy" by bronski beat. it's a song about running away/leaving. this could also be about finn's playlist called "drive" which could be a playlist for mike (it's known that he makes playlists for his characters.) or this could be about (tender emotional music) and how the stranger things sound track proves byler endgame! or about how spotify /st took off a bunch of peoples playlists (some songs off mike and maybe will's too i think.) im not Exactly sure what this one is about.

flickergate: !!!!!!! MY FAV!!!!! season 5 theory mike and will go to the upside down and kiss in the wheelers garage! REMEMBER HOW MIKES GARAGE LIGHT FLICKERED AS WILL LEFT? byler kiss secured! that "it was a 7. the demogorgon, it got me." WAS THEIR FIRST REAL ONSCREEN CONVERSATION! also where everything went wrong, and immense forshadowing. any 7 is a byler number. also the upside down is stuck on nov 6 (day will went missing) so they would technically kiss on that day. a lot smarter person can explain this one.

salt lamp gate: basically a pic of mike licking a salt lamp and people in the byler tag talking about licking their salt lamps . i don't know what prompted this

gridgate: so duffers posted this story boarding grid (blank) back in like end of august/september. and then updated it but it was BLURRED. they blurred it. fucking tease. so people started to unblur it and read what it says but u couldn't make out anything really. and something we thought was a drawing was a pen holder. upsetting. what the hell. they were making fun of us. anyways we were insane for that.

things i'm not smart enough to cover or idk what they're about: 8:15 gate, ikea gate, google maps gate, mjgate, white rabbit gate

anyone feel free to add on!/tell me anything i missed!

[yeojaa]

one of the first things ive ever read of yours was the 'read 6:45' it made me bawl my eyes out during 12 am 😭 could i please request a follow up drabble for it?

[ read "i love you.” read: 6:45 pm ]

pairing.  jjk x f!reader.  rating.  general.  tags.  frustrating among us play, kook being cute, etc.  wc. 0.9k.  beta reader.  n/a.  author note.  i’m so sorry this is so late but i hope you enjoy this!  i wanted to keep it kind of light and silly, since the original was...  sad and then silly?  also, this was heavily inspired by this twitter post.

Dating Jungkook is kind of like free-falling from an airplane.  (Not that you’ve ever done that.)  It’s exhilarating and fun and sometimes, downright terrifying.  You suppose it comes with the territory of being with someone like him - effortlessly cool, collected, capable of turning every no into a yes. 

You’d seen it in action during your time as friends.  Watched him woo women and dunk on dudes, somehow scrap an A in a class you both attended where you’d barely gotten a B.  (You’re still a little salty about that.)  He’d even, somehow, wormed his way into your favourite bartender’s heart, on speed dial any time you and your girlfriends had a little too much fun.  Really - just do things you’d formerly thought impossible and with that dumbass grin on his face, confidence rolling off him in waves. 

You really shouldn’t have expected you’d fare any better, be able to deny him when so many others had failed. 

“Babe.  Babe.”  There’s that goofy smile, bunny toothed and adorable.  “C’mon— it’ll be funny.”

You level him with a look in your mirror - one that screams no, it’s not - but he just keeps beaming at you in the reflection, eyes so sparkly you want to tear your own hair out.  “Maybe to you,”  you retort, slicking brow gel on, mouth rounded in a little ‘o’. 

“No!  To everyone!”  Your boyfriend is insistent, curling across your back like drapery, chin resting upon your shoulder.  He bats his lashes at you, sways you back and forth in his arms.  

“A third imposter is so stupid.”  Also, because you’re bad at impostering as is.  (You always forget which room is where and you can never answer when people ask which fake tasks you’ve been doing.)  You don’t think you could properly third imposter if you tried.  “Just win the old-fashioned way, you dummy.”  Not like Jungkook isn’t already stupidly good at fooling everyone, going so far as to admit he was the imposter and yet somehow still win.  

“But it’s funny!”  Which you suppose is what it comes down to.  Your boyfriend doesn’t particularly care about winning - it’ll likely happen anyway - but he wants to put your friend group through hell.  Make them all doubt each other as he cackles maliciously in the background.  

(Because he does that.  Laughs so long and hard it’s embarrassing, arms thrown around his head as he revels in the chaos he’s unleashed.)

“Whatever.”  It’s a lost cause.  Once he has his mind set on something, it’s nearly impossible to turn him off the idea.  Whether it’s craving corn pizza at 3 AM, forcing everyone to try the bald head Snapchat filter, or doubling his one-rep squat max - he’s as stubborn as an ox.

“Are you kidding me!”  

You watch in horror - anger, exasperation - as your little blue character gets shot through the head, the eggplant imposter tearing off in the opposite direction.  You don’t know the map well enough to know how likely it is your body will be found or how easily someone will figure out who the murderer is.  Are there cams on this map?  (God, you really need to pay better attention when you play.)

All you know is frustration, glare furrowing your brows.

Somewhere, past the closed door of his bedroom, you hear Jungkook laughing.  He’s like Ed the hyena, snickering loudly, clearly pleased.  Then your body is reported.  By your boyfriend.  Your purple-suit wearing boyfriend.

(He’s with Taehyung, dressed in green with a little companion chasing after him.) 

“Who killed my girlfriend?!”  He has the audacity to sound devastated, voice pitching three octaves as he all but shouts into his headset.

There’s a chorus of not me’s from the group, people discussing among themselves who could’ve possibly killed you in cold blood - left you to rot in the tree room.  (That’s what it’s called, right?)  No one even seems to notice how quiet Jungkook is now, likely tapping the tips of his fingers together like an evil genius.

You want to scream, shout, send him straight to the shadow realm.  You cannot believe he’s getting away with this, playing the part of an indignant boyfriend so well.  It’s absurd, really.  

“I can clear JK.  He was with me.”  Of course Taehyung’s in on it.  That, or he’s just as chaotic as his friend.  (Both are believable.)  You’ve seen the blond accuse everyone under the sun, playing third imposter better than the goddamn imposters themselves.  There was something about him, his uncanny ability to cast doubt on anyone. 

(Conversely, he could make anyone believe him.  And by anyone, you meant Jimin.  The two never turned against each other.  Ever.)

“I didn’t see Jimin anywhere,”  comes Yoongi’s slow drawl.  It sounds like he’s just woken up from a nap, syllables rounded and sleepy.  You wouldn’t be surprised if Jimin had been following after his hyung and Yoongi had simply been too tired to notice.  Something something life of a bartender something. 

“I saw Jimin across the map right as it happened.”  There’s Namjoon, ever the reasonable one, humming thoughtfully.  (Reasonable, but still suspicious.  He was notoriously bad for drawing out votings, calling emergency meetings again because he hadn’t had a chance to consider every possibility.)  “And he wasn’t near a vent, so I think he’s okay.”  A pause,  “but you never know.”

There’s a collective groan - Hoseok’s bubbling laughter cuts through it - and the next round begins. 

[saevus-brutalis]

Vincent’s Glow Up

tagged by: @smilepal​

finally got a hold of my PC so i get to do this :^) been waiting for a whole ass week to be able to make this post

i don’t know how i feel about showing you guys my first early drawings of him from February since i was just starting to learn how to draw people and not just some animals, but let me tell you this man was  u g l y 😭

it’s gonna be a long post, so buckle up or just have fun looking at the pretty pictures

December 24th, 2020

I don’t have any screenshots of his first design other than those two photos I’ve taken of my screen to show my friends. When I tell you I was so proud of this man and thought that I made him look so good. 🤢 Yikes, not any more babes, look at you, disgust.

So at this stage, before the whole “V craze” (affectionately) started, and before I too became more invested in him and putting some effort into his lore, etc, he looked like an emo version of the V from the Cyberpunk 2077 trailers. Basically, I took the pre-made face setting, didn’t mess with them too much, and just changed his hair color to black, and for some reason got rid of the beard bc I thought the stubble would be more visible? Added some scars and tats and gave him inverted black and white cat eyes. Why did I think it was a good idea, I don’t know.

In conclusion:

basic 

no flavor 

kinda boring, not so good looking in the actual game

February 4th, 2021

I had to crop the image here bc it’s would be a crime for me to show you his face. 😭 Basically he’s a skinny-ass twink here. I don’t remember whether it was my initial intention (probably not, I think I just couldn’t draw more bulkier, muscular bodies quite right yet). Wanted him to have sleeve tattoos, but I was too lazy to actually design them so I just took some off google and pasted them over his arms 🤢 literal CRIMe, like what- 

At first, I envisioned him to be wearing tight vinyl lace-up pants (the same lace-up detail that Alt has). As for now I really don’t see him wearing any PVC clothing.

He still rocks his Valentinos “V” neck tattoo and it was really hard to draw, so I’m glad I changed that later.

Also, buzzcuts are so fricking hard to draw without making the character look bald. 🤡

February 16th, 2021

I managed to find some gifs of him that I made. I changed his eyes from the cat ones to those with white irises and stuck with them for a while. Changed his body tattoo for a snake. Mods weren’t really that popular and I didn’t know how to mod the game so I just did what I could with the pre-set options.

April, 2021

Here we fucking go. The first actual art piece/reference of him that I posted that still doesn’t look half bad even after all this time (and that’s saying something). This was how I imagined him to actually look, but I couldn’t really recreate that vision in the Cyberpunk character creator. The face (especially the jaw) is not perfect now that I look at it, but he still looks much better than the first sketches of him.

Added the steel jaw plates that I saw on one of the NPC in Lizzie’s Bar.

Changed his tattoo to this abstract design and got rid of his sleeve tattoos.

Here you can see he has a neck cyberware. Initially, it was supposed to be a voice-box regulator since he was writing and singing his own songs in his youth, so when he had enough money got this as his first cyberware, bc at that time he believed he’d make a career out of it. He didn’t, obvi, look at him killing people for fun money.

Added some scars on him, freckles, and beauty marks. The ones on his forehead arrange into a Serpens constellation. I don’t tend to draw them anymore bc they’re super annoying to place, I don’t ever remember where to put them so I just ignore them lol.

Made his hair a tad bit longer, just so they’d be easier for me to draw. 

But this haircut wasn’t really cutting it (no put intended) and sometimes he just looked like-  🤡

Also here you can also see three spikes on his upper cartilage - i got rid of those piercings bc I kept forgetting to draw them

May, 2021

Now, it was when my V got quite a bit of attention. It’s my most liked (i think) art of him with over 100 likes which was so fucking crazy for me at that time (and still is! Thank you!)

Redesigned his eyebrows, made them more thicker and pronounced - now they’re a key element of his design I always have to get the right shape of them, which tends to be quite a hassle at times, but I think I got used to drawing them now. Gave him some more piercings - a vertical labret, nose ring, and a stud.

I grew out his hair and swooped them back in a “swirly” manner idk. He kinda has a side part but it’s not visible most of the time. 

Here were some hairstyle alternatives for him, but now I just stick to the one on the left.

The cyber stitching on his forehead that can be seen in his earlier designs are actually from a hair transplant so his natural hair color isn’t actually black.

His natural hair color is red and on the far left, you can see me trying to design his old teen self and on the far right how he’d look in the future.

Below I tried messing with the Cyberpunk creator again for the sake of it. The picture on the right is the current version of him in the game and I hope the CDPR devs will add in an option for us to change our character’s appearance bc I really want to change his hair and beard but I don’t feel like completing the game for the 6th time lol.

July, 2021

And that leaves us with his current most recent design that I’m very happy with. Added shit ton of new piercings on his whole body (in total 40+). Got him some more face tatts and changed the arrangement of his ear piercings.

If you’ve read this far I love you and I want ot kiss you.

X

[corpsentry]

elmo! hi! I saw your post about how you want to learn proper anatomy and re-do your artstyle. I'm fairly new to digital art, but I'm determined to get the learning process right (is there even a right way to do it?). Just wanted to ask how you're approaching your practice. Are you doing anything new? How do you advise I go about practicing art? Best of luck to you!

man you guys gotta stop giving me excuses to talk about my process before i’ve even figured out What the process is exactly (in the background, a herd of cows is being beamed directly out of the earth’s atmosphere) to answer your first and perhaps most important question, i don’t think there is a right way to learn anything. i am one of those motherfuckers who will walk circles around you and then stomp on the floor and declare that there is no objective truth and god is dead and so it follows that my current view of art is this: draw thing that make brain go brrrr.

with that in mind i really don’t know a fucking thing about the Art Process beyond ‘i open csp -> breakdown -> i close csp’ so i probably shouldn’t be dispensing advice and will be describing my current ‘process’ instead.

i started out with a duplicate of momentum december. 31 days in january, yeah? all right, then, 31 photo studies of people. 31 headshots, if you will. pick different angles every day, pick different kinds of faces, do something new. this was meant to address a huge root problem i have which is that i don’t know how to draw the outline of a human face. here is hatsune miku to demonstrate. see those red arrows? these lines have been giving me grief for the past nineteen years.

and the thing is, i’ve spent my whole life drawing anime shit. i grew up on fruits basket and cardcaptor sakura and copied the shit out of my mom’s 90s shoujo manga tankobon covers, but i never actually sat down and thought about how, exactly, a person works. and because i don’t plan these posts we’re going to segway into a brief aside in which i lament the fact that drawing has always been a completely thoughtless process for me. thoughtless as in 1) i give no shits but also as in 2) i have never known a thing about art. i have never had any ambition. i have never had vision. i have never, in particular, tried to do anything, because i’ve always accepted that i’m a writer first and a clown second and an artist somewhere down the line. ‘i can’t draw backgrounds’. ‘i can’t draw cute people’. ‘i can’t draw.’

so these are like, mindset issues, right, but i also have a bunch of habits stuck in my muscle memory that are baseless and completely pointless because that’s what happens when you try to move forward with no direction in life.

so here’s what i’ve been up to. i’ve always started drawing faces with the eyes, nose, mouth, then shape of the head. right now i’m starting with the line of the brow and then the nose, the outline of the face, the eyes, the mouth. up until now, my guidelines have been stick figures. right now, i’m trying to use spheres, cubes, polygon (DOT COM VIDEO PRODUCER)(GOOD LUCK BDG). and the biggest thing of all, unsurprisingly, is photo studies (pensive homo dab).

i started out with, you know, photo studies of heads. like just. the head. the nose mouth eyes ears etc because i just wanted to draw cute faces but it occurred to me as i began to change how i look at the world as a whole that i suck at everything LOL so i’ve been troubleshooting my understanding of the human being, bit by bit. when i realized i couldn’t draw foreheads properly i did studies of bald people. when i realized i couldn’t compute the shoulder i did studies of torsos. i just finished a round of lip studies because god the mouth has always confused the living FUCK out of me, and now i think i’m ready to apply what i’ve taken away to some sketches of botw link (i have 300 sketches of botw link now and all of them look different).

from a mindset point of view, i’m changing the way i process photos. before this, i’d done referenced art and photo studies before, but i focused on a one for one likeness instead of capturing the motion, the flow, the proverbial dick energy of a photograph. now, i’m breaking things down into shapes. before i do a study i’ll go over the photograph with straight lines. here’s the nose. triangle. here’s the chin. flat line, short, slightly curved. here’s the cheekbone. square. rectangle. hexagon. i’m trying to process 3d space. here’s where the cheekbone turns away from the camera. here’s where the neck folds. here’s where the nose looks shorter, and the eyes look larger, and the brows disappear. it’s kind of interesting, honestly, because this was how i ended up settling into background studies too. i stopped thinking about it as ‘i am going to draw a mountain’ and started thinking about it as ‘i am going to render some shapes’. sometimes you need to think about the water and not the ocean.

but for all my dramatics, how much have i actually succeeded in changing? fuck if i know. i’m running around with my eyes squeezed shut on a tightrope strung up over the mouth of a volcano, but if there’s one thing i’m sure of, it’s that all of this. all of this is fun

SO i am going to have different thoughts in a few weeks’ time but here are my interim takeaways: learn from the world. the world is so fucking cool. it would be a pity not to do so. apply your learning. i do a photo study and then an applied sketch where i try to use what i just learned in a separate, slightly different sketch. but really, right, really really, ultimately, my biggest takeaway up until now, still running around naked on top of the volcano, is this: there’s nothing you can’t draw. there are only things you’re too afraid to draw

[tillyblogs]

BNHA HOGWARTS AU

You can see the art here in my ART BLOG! Also my Twitter! ❤️ 💚

Here and here and HERE too! 

 Thread of Hogwarts AU headcanons cause I’m super into this (I’m a pottehead so it makes sense) Mostly BKDK (I Edited a bit from my twt thread tho

LONG POST BELOW

Kacchan’s a pureblood (child prodigy) and Deku is a muggleborn (he was always teased by him for it) They both grew up in the same neighborhood, but weren’t exactly friends. Katsuki always knew he was going to go to Hogwarts, his family is well known in the Wizarding World.

They were from different worlds but Izuku always admired Katsuki’s ambition, he knew Kacchan had something no one he knew had and Izuku shared his secret of being a wizard, he wanted to be one so badly but he didn’t come from a family of wizards so he lost hope. 

When Izuku learned he was a wizard, Izuku was thrilled then but Katsuki was confused??... he’s known him his whole life, plus he’s a mudblood... :(

Izuku was confused by this... he didn’t mind being a muggleborn, he was just happy to be a wizard, yet Kacchan teased Izuku for it. Kacchan knew he was being shitty with that, after all purebloods are no longer considered the huge thing they once were, but something about Izuku intrigued him a great deal... he was always following him... 

When they were 11 they god the letter. They both were gonna got to Hogwarts and Izuku was the happiest he’s been!

FIRST YEAR

Once Deku got into Gryffindor, Katsuki was furious... Katsuki getting into Slytherin himself... he was going to show him how better he was to those pesty Gryffindors... 

It reminded Kacchan of that one time when they were kids... when Izuku saved him when he fell in the river... he scoffed. He was still greater than him and he was going to prove it....

Other Sortings (Class A*) 

Todoroki (Slytherin) 

Ochako (Gryffindor)

Tenya (Hufflepuff) 

Tsuyu (Ravenclaw)

Momo (Ravevnclaw) 

Kirishima (Hufflepuff) 

Kaminari (Hufflepuff)

Mina (Gryffindor) 

Jirou (Slytherin)

Tokoyami (Ravenclaw) etc

Sortings (Class B)+Shinsou (cause I want him to be in Class B bye)

 Monoma (Slytherin)

 Tetsutetsu (Gryffindor)

 Kendo (Gryffindor)

 Shinsou (Slytherin) 

Awase (Gryffindor maybe Hufflepuff) 

Ibara (Hufflepuff) 

Kuroiro (Slytherin) 

Juzo (Hufflepuff) 

Komori (Hufflepuff) 

Tsuburaba (Hufflepuff)

Anyways bkdk... 

Katsuki ADORES Quidditch and wants to become #1, he’s so good at it! but Deku loved it too... So they both made it to tryouts and always try to one up each other. They are so competitive. Katsuki had the Firebolt from the get go but Deku still was so good at flying with his petty broom. 

Katsuki wasn’t too keen of pets but he was quite fond of his Great Horned Owl; it was the biggest in the classroom he was pretty proud of him. For some REALLY STRANGE reason, two shitty Hufflepuffs? of all things mustard and ketchup hair decided they wanted to follow him... He evaded them like the plague but they kept coming... they’re okay he guesses. Students from all houses start to notice him too... 

Katsuki’s fave subject apart from Quidditch is Defense Against the Dark Arts cause he just wants to show everyone how good he is at kicking ass (he’s good at every subject tho). Katsuki’s the golden child among other Slytherins but as soon as he hears how well Todoroki and Deku are doing in class he always tries even harder. Of course he beats them.

Deku’s fave subjects are Charms, Transfiguration and Alchemy, tho he’s soft for CMC, but nothing gets better than flying. The first time he saw Katsuki fly, he knew he wanted to do the same and compete and to know how good it feels to be #1. Deku made great friends in Hogwarts but he’s always attentive of Katsuki. There’s something about that Slytherin, the way he’s so driven to succeed and his ambition and cunning mind. 

When Gryffindor won the Quidditch cup in first year, Kacchan swore he was going to pay... Deku however was growing more a more admired by everyone and he was so kind and smart and his smile shined so brightly. The blonde Slytherin couldn’t STAND his little group and how DARE Deku befriend that Todoroki bastard... he too was a Slytherin... 

THIRD YEAR 

Katsuki is starting to lose it... that little Gryffindor... how COULD he save him?! That time the Hippogriff almost tears his arm off... he just got distracted ok?! he was doing fine! Deku was brave but lacked self preservation... that pissed Katsuki off

He thought he could do anything but Katsuki proved him wrong and yes... He still smiles at him... Or that one time they crossed paths that winter in Hogsmeade... Kacchan was walking alone towards The Three Broomsticks when he almost feel into Izuku, he was carrying something he couldn’t see and got curious cause Izuku tried to hide it as soon as possible. He followed him for weeks, that little nerd... what WAS he hiding? He finally confronted him one day near the lake when he found out Deku has been sneaking a cat to his dorms OHOHO it was time to pay! But Deku begged him to keep the secret... Katsuki said that if he wins in their next match he will keep the secret, of course Deku wins... Kacchan reluctantly let’s it go... doesn’t care about some cat anyway... Deku is so excited! God that smile was too bright... He still thought he was a loser. Slytherin won the House cup though, Deku swore he will win next time with a determined look on his face.

FOURTH YEAR 

They were fine he guesses... Until the Triwizard Tournament... Deku got CHOSEN? WHY? Over him?? When he worked SO HARD for it??? And Deku still participated. Katsuki saw red... HE wanted to be the one to be chosen, he’s way better than him! They didn’t talk for half the year. Deku tried to make the most of it... he was even failing in Quidditch since he was only concentrated in the tournament. Bald Head and that illusion chick from those other schools also showed up but he didn’t care... he didn’t care about these games anyway...

Katsuki didn’t even bother going to the Yule Ball even though everyone wanted to be his date (after all he was the golden boy) and it totally didn’t have anything to do with the fact that Deku already had a date and it was Cheeks for some reason, he still didn’t understand... Kirishima tried to cheer him up to no avail.

Slytherin won the House cup but it didn’t feel like a victory... After Deku won the cup, he apologized to Katsuki for not focusing on Quidditch enough and that he will try harder next year... 

FIFTH YEAR 

Deku and Round Face were a thing he thinks, he’s totally NOT well informed.  Deku's focus on the House Cup was 10 times bigger than ever before, that drove Katsuki up the wall. It was perhaps the most invested he’s been in years. Their rivalry was at its highest and Katsuki’s sole purpose was to crush that little Gryffindor... 

Months passed and ok what was HAPPENING... 

Katsuki definitely was NOT distracted by the fact that Deku’s concentration on Defense Against the Dark Arts for their paired up assignment was very alluring. Deku’s focus on classes was making Katsuki feel drawn. Also fact that his hair was shaggier and that his own owl liked him? And that time those green eyes were greener than usual one day and made him almost explode the whole room for mixing the wrong ingredients in Potions... Izuku was realized he really liked being paired up with Kacchan in DADA, something he can’t explain yet. Like learning from him made it want to be closer to him.

After a few months, Deku and Round Face break up... Gryffindor won the House Cup that year... and for some reason Katsuki DEFINITELY didn’t know about... he felt accomplished. 

SIXTH YEAR 

Things were definitely not okay? Somehow studying Charms with Deku was becoming more fun than spending time in his dorm alone. Deku’s smile shined more brightly by the day. Their teamwork was becoming well known... they actually worked good together on their assignments. Quidditch was no longer becoming a competition but a refreshing stimulation where Katuski was allowed to let loose and really feel the adrenaline of competing with Deku and seeing his satisfied look on his face when he lost. He discovered he liked the look on Deku’s eyes every time Katsuki scored a point... The way Deku smirked at him... The way his lips tasted after he caught him in the dressing room-WAIT

Yep, he ran... they didn’t talk for a week. The world hated him and they were assigned again for Herbology... things did NOT go on well. Kacchan didn’t do feelings and for DEKU? since when? No. no. Deku looked confused and hurt but he brushed it off. 

On Christmas he received a strange present from Honeydukes. Green Acid Pops... his favorite. Only Deku knew that... The rest of the year they didn’t talk. Assignments where weird and people started noticing. They were supposed to be a team. Not to mention the fact that Izuku also turned down any date invitation he had.

Slytherin won that year’s House cup and he was NOT happy. 

SEVENTH YEAR

Yeah no he couldn’t stand not talking to him... he missed his voice. God that sounded corny. He’s more pissed than anything. He will NOT talk to him. 

In one very messy and rainy game where he fell of his broom and Deku caught him, they were both in the infirmary how convenient... He should be pissed Deku saved him... Again. they were not friends... right?

He didn’t look at him in the eye while he was patched up by the nurse. When she finally left  them alone. Katsuki didn’t know what to do with himself, he was about to tell Deku off, he didn’t need his pity, he didn’t need him saving him. Not after everything. He was self-sufficient. 

Deku kissed him. wait. When did he get close? Good thing too cause he as immobilized and wanted to punch him. But didn’t. In fact he kissed harder, he still wanted to be the best at it. The biggest weight was lifted. Who knew kissing Deku would be as thrilling as flying. He realized then. He had a new goal and it was to keep feeling like this for as long as he could. Izuku smiled when he saw Katsuki’s satisfied face. Yep. He thought of the same.

Things went pretty smoothly after: dressing rooms started to have more use to them than the actual Quidditch court, he NEVER sneaked out of the dorms until this year... he should be ashamed, he was the golden boy after all. And the grounds near the lake were perfect make out zone. Damn him for falling for a Gryffindor...

Hogsmeade trips were more fun than they ever were; little dates with Izuku meant seeing him smile more often and blushing. On winter he kept him warm when he visited the Slytherin dorms, he was quite welcome sine he was also friends with Half’n’Half. Gryffindors weren’t as bad as he thought after all... Everyone knew of course. They both didn’t bother hiding it. Even Cheeks was happy for them, it’s almost like she knew all along and Katsuki was the reason for their break up... He should feel bad but Izuku and Ochako were very good friends. 

Hufflepuff won the House cup that year. They both graduated with honors so who cares right? 

THE END. 🤗

[oikaw-ugh]

hi leia, i saw your post abt a matchup and here i am to request for one (if it's open tho!!) HAHAHAHA you probably know me so well already because we chat almost everyday jdksjsk but i'll add some general things lang: im shy and awkward at first but when i warm up to you, i bring out my chaotic side (wow remember those 20 qs we did? HAHAHA iconic) default mode: a chill homebody, but if you successfully drag me to a fun place (like amusement parks) i'll be grateful to u forever :> +

HALLO, DILAAAAG ✨ I HAD FUN DOING THISSSS MY BRAIN WENT *snap*

I match you up with...

Me✨

CHOS! My other choices were Lev and Goshiki but I match you up with...

Tanaka Ryūnosuke (◍•ᴗ•◍)✧*。

Mainly because Tanaka screams Pinoy vibes to me.

But also because he's so spontaneous and I feel like you love spontaneous people! (Kasi when you react to my replies minsan napakabongga HAHAHAHA)

Also, kasi I know you're shy (if 'di mo pa close) + he's shy when it comes to girls, too! THE DYNAMICS SPEAKS-

Let's throwback during your college freshman year.

You're a transfer student who just seemed so lost in the sea of people.

Plus the fact that you're not from Japan (assume lang tayo Dilag wala namang bayad mangarap HAHAHAHAH) just screams: a n x i e t y ✨

Well, you weren't the only one who's anxious though...

"E-Excuse me?"

You look to your right only to see a semi bald guy with a constipated face. His ears are so red + his lips look funny.

You who is anxious as well: "Ha?"

He shows you his card and like asks you if you knew where these classrooms are.

And you literally cried because you're classmates with almost (almost) all of his general subjects!

Tanaka brightens with this and like, suddenly his awkwardness is gone!

"Do you want to go to our first class together?"

Rumor has it that Tanaka knew where his classes were. He just wanted to talk to you :>

This approach has been mastered, honed, and consecutively developed for three years alongside with his humble partner, Nishinoya

Since you're classmates at general subs, it's given that you seat with each other.

I think your friendship started the moment Tanaka approached you on the opening ceremony.

But it developed when classes started. Tanaka started sharing that he was a volleyball player during high school and like, he was the best and he was the greatest and sorts.

You're just there nodding at him, completely in awe bc WOW an athlete. You're friends w an athlete.

He learns that you're not a Japanese, too! And when he immediately knew you're a Filipino, the first thing he blurts out is:

"TANGINA"

THIS GOT YOU WHEEZING. Because of that, you jokingly slapped his arms, "Huy, Tanaka!" While laughing

He apparently knows a couple of phrases because he plays online games like DOTA and stuff.

By phrases = we mean curses

But this isn't one-sided! You told him you knew Japanese (let's say you're not fluent yet) and you learned from the best: anime

Tanaka: Really? Try telling me a phrase then.

You: ちんこぱだいすき.

Kidding. That's on me. I'd definitely say that. Also, I'm not sure with the hiragana characters, forgive me.

ANYWAYS, TANAKA GOES RED BECAUSE OF THIS AND LIKE, HE LOOKS AWAY AND LIKE "W-What are you saying?!" And stuff.

Then you laugh because he becomes a mess.

I think the confessing part is the hardest.

Because Tanaka is just a huge m e s s when it comes to girls! While you're too scared to confess because what if he doesn't like you back?

Both of you are like, trying to balance whether it was worth the risk or nah

Karasuno squad is just like, groaning everytime Tanaka called them for advice.

Like, Suga: Jesus Christ, Tanaka. Just confess already.

Tanaka is like: But what if it doesn't work out? What if she only sees me as a friend? What if-

Tsukki: What if someone else takes her away?

Tanaka:

Tanaka: *angry mom noises*

I feel like imagining you dating was his strongest drive to confess!

He wants to confess in classical way, though. You know, he gives a message asking you to go to the sakura tree at the left side of the campus at 5 o'clock.

Only that that won't work since you're both college students and you have the messiest schedules.

You on the phone (while on your way to a class): Look, Tanaka I thought I'm free at 5. Turns out I'm not. What is it that you want to tell me?

Tanaka on the phone: it's... it's just that I want to say I like you.

You: 👁️/////👄/////👁️

Dates: ARE COOL

He loves how you're just good to go to places he mentions you.

Tanaka: I found this coffee shop where we can play with snakes.

Karasuno team would normally think he's being creepy but you were like:

"OMG I WANNA SEE THAT"

But kids, please don't play w/ snakes-

Favorite activity would be CHIKA TIME! Tanaka learned this phrase from you.

And like, you two would sit somewhere, cafeteria, library, etc. and would just start dissing other people.

Tanaka: I bet you those two are about to break up.

You: Yeah. Just look at their faces.

You love taking pictures, asking for his hoodie, clinging arms with each other while walking and stuff.

He also loves to place his arm on your shoulders? Like as if you're bros?

Domestic dates, too! Especially that you're far away from your fam, Tanaka invites you to his house most of the time.

*whisper* Something...steamy happens?

N o because Tanaka drinks his respect woman juice and he thinks too highly of you for him to do that!

Respect juice contents btw: he supports you, the things you want, the clothes you wear, and he treats you like an equal! (Not some sort of material he possesses wedontdosexismhere)

Kisses can happen thoughhh but rarely because you two would go crazy with the uwu after.

You're so frequent at his place to the point that Saeko loves you and literally bonds with you more than Tanaka when you're at their place.

If it's the other way around, Tanaka is sooooo stiff when he visits your place.

He's never been to a girl's house before!

You: Tanaka, make yourself feel at home.

Tanaka: ᶜᵃⁿ ᶦ ˢᶦᵗ ᵃᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ʳᵘᵍˀ

Fights happen too.

I feel like Tanaka is a jealous type.

The first time Tanaka got jealous, you found it cute.

But when it happened over and over again, that got you mad.

It might start with jealousy but it ends up turning serious like:

"Do you not believe in me?"

"I can't believe you said that."

"You think I'd do that to you?"

"Is that what you think of me?"

And like the other party would be speechless but you guys would be too heated and too prideful to apologize on the spot.

The reason why the following days would just be a season of you both ignoring each other.

But don't get me wrong. You still do things together. Like eating lunches together, sitting at one another, going home together but just no talking.

Like no talking at all!

I feel like Tanaka is the first one who gives in. He hates it when he couldn't talk to you. At first, he calls his friends and their words make him realize that:

"Ah, shit. I fucked up." -Tanaka at 3 AM.

You both fix things up eventually. Like, before you knew it, one of you would just casually approach the other as if you haven't ignored each other for a week.

HSJSJSJSJ I hope you like it dilaggg! And tell me if I'm accur8 or naaaaah HAHAHAHAHHA

[27emailsicantsend]

Beautiful: A Muffy Fic

Author Note: I was requested this fic based off of the song, “Beautiful” by Megan Nicole. I drew some of the fic from the song lyrics and from the music video (both of which you can find on YouTube). This fic takes place in universe post Buffy meeting Rachel. Because I don’t want to rehash all of 3x17 and 3x20, I’ll briefly skim over a lot of it and add scenes to 3x17 and 3x20 to make the song make sense with Muffy in this fic. A good portion of this fic is made up scenes to compliment canon scenes.

TW: I add a small part about Buffy comparing herself to Rachel because of skin color. It’s not meant to be harmful, racist, or anything of a similar nature. It’s brief and slightly vague, because I don’t want it to be the main focus of the story. I more want Buffy’s full comparison of looks to Rachel’s (clothes, make-up, etc.) to be the plot dynamic. Please understand I asked for second opinion’s on this from people who weren’t white to be extra careful with how I approached it. They said they thought I handled it ok. I felt like it was an important message to add, while still being sensitive to people who may struggle with this. I think Buffy/Sofia is wonderful and beautiful and I hope she recognizes that.

Ok, that’s it! Enjoy the fic!

Buffy finally met Rachel. She didn’t understand. Why was Marty so into her? Rachel was mean. She jumped to conclusions about Marty and Buffy before Marty could even say what they were. While some of the things he was accused of were true, she was also saying things that Marty said weren’t true. Maybe.

Buffy couldn’t help but think of the walk they went on together, the costume they did, the race. The race. There was no way Marty didn’t like Buffy. Even when he was fighting with Rachel at the bowling alley, he still came to her rescue. All she wanted was for Marty to admit his feelings for her. She wanted him to find her beautiful. Rachel was so pretty though, with her big doe eyes and small nose. Buffy could never compete with that.

But the way he held her when they walked together after Buffy got dehydrated. The way he made sure they finished the race together, because they were never going to be able to race each other separately. Both of them knew that. What was it going to take for Marty to finally see her the way she sees him?

This was all so stupid. The timing was absolutely off. Buffy wasn’t ready for a relationship and the idea of her and Marty scared her when he tried to date her the first time. She thought she didn’t like him, but maybe she was wrong. Now she feels like maybe there is more. Maybe she feels more. But he’s got Rachel, so maybe it’s obvious he moved on. Maybe.

“Have you talked to him yet?” Cyrus cut off Buffy’s train of thought, making her jump. She had been staring at Marty while he got things out of his locker and talked with his friends for the past two minutes.

“Cyrus! Don’t scare me like that! And what? Talked to who?” Buffy said, playing dumb.

Cyrus didn’t buy it and it was registered in his facial expression. “Buffy, I saw you staring.”

“Oh...” Buffy said, shame settling in.

“Yeah... so did you talk to him?” Cyrus said, perking up.

“No. Maybe it’s better if I disappear off of his radar again for a bit. He’s obviously not into me”.

“Buffy, that’s not true. He so likes you!... See!” Cyrus said as he noticed Marty’s face light up in their direction. Buffy started to feel better seeing how excitedly he was waving his arm back and forth in their direction. A smile began to appear on her face and she raised her hand to wave back. However, just as soon as she raised her hand, she lowered it, and her face dropped again as she watched Rachel run into Marty’s arms. She threw her arms around his neck and he lifted her up off of the ground, her legs kicking behind her.

Cyrus picked up the collar of his shirt and whispered into it, “yikes, abort! Abort!” He then threw his arm around Buffy and quickly turned her around to walk her away.

Marty was right about one thing: this was torture. How was she ever going to get clarity on her feelings- or his- if he kept dating Rachel?

Later, during lunch, Buffy saw Marty and Rachel laughing and eating. Andi, Jonah, and Cyrus were busy talking and hyping up some play Cyrus made for tater theater, but Buffy couldn’t focus on that. Not with Marty and Rachel smiling at each other... daring each other to eat a small bit of salt from their hand... and did Rachel just blow a straw wrapper at Marty which followed with playful nuzzling?

“H-H-Hey guys- I’ve got to go”, Buffy said as she made a clumsy attempt to get up from the table, knocking her milk off her tray.

“You ok, Buffy?” Andi asked, concerned.

“Yeah, you ok? Want me to come with you?” Cyrus chimed in.

“No, I just really need to use the restroom,” Buffy said as she accidentally looked back and Marty and Rachel again. In the time she had taken to stand up, Rachel’s and Marty’s chairs moved closer, with his arm around her.

She nearly tripped trying to swing her leg over the attached bench to the table. Just as she was walking away she faintly heard Cyrus say, “oh...”. It was an understanding “oh”. He had seen the same thing Buffy had.

Buffy dumped her tray quickly and ran towards the nearest restroom, head down. She trapped herself in a stall and used the walls to support her as she caught her breath and held in her tears.

This was so stupid. Crying? Over a boy? A boy she turned down awhile ago? She didn’t even want this with him. Why now? But more importantly, why Rachel? What did Rachel have that she didn’t?

Buffy took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Her breathing began to slow and she dropped her arms. She creaked the stall door open and peered around. No one was there. She embraced the sink slowly, holding tight to it’s edges. She stared at herself in the mirror. And stared. And stared.

What does she have that I don’t? Buffy thought. She knew she wasn’t supposed to beat herself up or have shame over her body image. Her mom taught her to love herself and the way she looked, but it was hard not to. Personality wise, she and Marty clicked. They loved the same sports, humor, and TV shows. It had to be the way she looked. That’s why he went to Rachel instead of coming back to her.

Buffy began to examine herself. Is it my hair? She thought as she used her hand to tossle her small black curls. My hair has gotten me into trouble before. Rachel can do stuff with hers. I gave myself a bald spot. 

Or maybe it’s the way I dress. Buffy pulled on her shirt and tilted her head. I wear some cute clothes, but mostly sporty gear. Rachel carries purses and shops at outlet malls.

Or is it the fact I don’t wear much make up, if any sometimes? Buffy touched her face and used a finger to try and curl her eyelash up to see what it looked like.

Maybe it’s my skin. I shouldn’t think that, because it’s unfair and wrong, but maybe his family has a problem with girls like me.

Buffy could hardly stand to look at herself in the mirror anymore. She had completely demolished her imagine in a matter of seconds and didn’t want to think about the way she didn’t look or the way Rachel did look anymore. She wasn’t going to be as beautiful as Rachel. She knew it.

The bell rang and Buffy walked moodily back to class, feeling defeated.

She spent the rest of the school day feeling sad, hardly focusing on her school work. She went into a total hibernation mode. Not thinking of anything, really- more that she just wanted to get home and lock herself in her room. And also ice her foot. It was killing her. She had been spending so long focusing on Marty that she completely forgot how bad her foot had been hurting her. When she finally became numb to him, her physical pain returned.

She hobbled outside of class and started to walk towards the stairs. She couldn’t keep walking because the pain was starting to throb, so she sat down.

“Buff-ay!” Marty called out happily.

“Mart-ay,” Buffy said, with much less enthusiasm and more pain in her voice than anything. She faked a small smile as he sat down next to her.

“How’s the foot?” Marty asked, examining it from where he was sitting.

“It’s ok,” Buffy said, rubbing it. It definitely wasn’t, but he didn’t need to know that.

“Buffy....” Marty said in a warning tone.

“Marty, I will call the doctor. I promise. Today. I swear.”

“Ok, good,” Marty said authoritatively. “Actually, I’m glad I caught you. I’ve been meaning to ask you something”.

“Really?” This peaked Buffy’s interest, but she acted a little too interested and backed off. “I mean, yeah, what’s up?” she asked, trying to seem nonchalant but clearly not pulling it off.

Marty giggled. “I was wondering if you were still planning on coming to the indoor track meet. I really don’t think you should race, but it would be fun to see you there. You could even cheer me on. Since I know you want to see me win,” Marty said with a smirk.

Buffy liked the idea of that, but knew that she wanted it to just be them. She didn’t want to ask straightforward if a “certain someone” was going to be there, so instead she just asked, “is anyone else coming?”

“Well, I did ask Rachel...” Buffy’s face dropped. “But she said she didn’t care much for coming, so it would just be you and me”.

Buffy’s face lit up a little again. She was fine with that.

“Sure,” she said softly. Just as she was saying it, she heard a voice call out behind her, “Martyyyy! We need to go”.

Rachel. Of course.

“Hi Rachel,” Buffy said politely, but slightly grimacing.

Rachel gave Buffy a half smile and then turned towards Marty, “we need to go”.

“Is it time for...”?

“Yes!” Rachel replied excitedly, cheering. “Come on! We don’t want to miss it! It’s supposed to be one of the best movies to date!”

Marty’s face got a huge smile. He quickly turned to Buffy and said, “hey, I’ve got to go. We’ll make plans for the meet tomorrow, ok?” 

Rachel’s face grew suspicious at that last sentence and Buffy said, “yeah, ok”, with obvious pain in her voice.

Marty stood up and he and Rachel walked down the hall with their arms around each other. “Don’t forget to make that call!” Marty yelled over his shoulder.

“Ok...” Buffy said loud, but it turned quiet real quickly as she noticed Marty didn’t hear her at all. He was too busy making jokes and giving Rachel a quick kiss on the cheek to notice her.

Buffy sighed as she stared at her foot. The emotional pain was definitely back.

The next day at school ended up being surprisingly productive. She had a lot of work to do in her classes and every free second she had she was making a play book for the Spikes team. She felt like it was going to be a really good idea on how to help the team win their last game... but also to keep her mind off of Marty. However, she was looking forward to tonight. Finally getting some alone time with him and away from Rachel.

Later that night she was at home, still working on her play book, when she heard her dad yell, “Buffy! They’re here!” 

Marty’s mom came to pick them up for a game. She was a hippie of sorts- she wore shawls, believed in world peace, and made Marty check his horoscope everyday to make sure the universe was in line with him. Buffy couldn’t have loved her more. 

She had already been growing a relationship with her before things went sour with Marty. Buffy got rides from her, played board games with Marty and his family every Sunday night (until things went south, that is), and even helped her make cookies for a bake sale once- Marty wasn’t even home during this! Marty’s mom acted like a second mom for Buffy while her real mom was stationed. Her connection to his mom was clear and unwavering. Buffy missed her a lot during the time she was separated from Marty. She was happy and relieved to see his mom again, who was equally as happy to see Buffy.

Buffy limped her way up the sidewalk and gave a large smile and wave to Marty’s mom. Marty’s mom waved back just as excitedly. Buffy yanked on the back of the tan van door and her smiled dropped immediately. Rachel. She was sitting on the other side of Marty. Luckily, Marty was in the middle so Buffy was a little more comfortable.

Or so she thought.

Marty and Rachel ended up talking and laughing the whole way to the track meet. Buffy would have sat somewhere else, but Marty’s mom was kind of a hoarder (go figure), so all of the other seats were taken by clutter. Buffy watched out the window the whole way, not saying anything to either of the two kids.

At one point, Marty asked if she was ok, but she just brushed it off with an, “yeah, I’m fine” and kept staring out the window. He didn’t seem to notice too much because he and Rachel just went back to joking around. Buffy just wanted to go home, but decided she was already there so she might as well deal with it.

Fifteen minutes later (or what felt like an eternity to Buffy), the van pulled up to the track meet. Buffy hopped out a little too hard and landed on her bad foot wrong. Marty asked if she was ok, but Buffy just played it cool and tried not to limp too much inside.

Marty didn’t believe her and ended up insisting that she just sit with Rachel and his mom while they watched him race in the indoor track arena. She hated this moment. She hated not being able to race. She moved up the bleachers and sat next to Rachel because Marty’s mom was on an end. She hated this seating arrangement.

Rachel turned to Buffy and gave her a vindictive smile. “So, are you dating anyone?”

“No?” Buffy said, extremely annoyed.

“Well, I sure hope you find someone. Marty and I are so happy together. You deserve to be that happy too”. The way she said the entire last sentence was as vindictive as her smile. It had no actual empathy laced anywhere in it.

Marty ran up the bleachers before the track meet started. “Hey, do you have my water bottle, mom? I forgot to grab it”.

“Oh, sure sweety,” Marty’s mom said kindly. She reached in her giant bag made of mismatching fabrics she stitched together and handed him his water bottle.

Marty smiled. “Thanks, mom”.

“Oh, Marty, you look so cute in that uniform. Tell him how cute he looks in his uniform, Buffy,” Rachel said with a mischievous tone.

Both Marty and Buffy gave Rachel weird looks, but Buffy obliged. “You look really cute in that uniform,” Buffy said under her breath, head hunkered down.

Marty didn’t say anything. He just looked around uncomfortably and then said, “ok... I have to go race now. I’ll see both of you later”. He leaned down and gave Rachel an awkward side hug, which she didn’t seem too amused with, and then ran to talk to his coach.

Buffy couldn’t believe Marty had taken Rachel back after how she treated him at the bowling alley. But, she also couldn’t blame him. Rachel was really pretty. Buffy observed Rachel while Rachel cheered Marty on during his first race. Rachel was in overalls with a sunflower t-shirt. She had a gold necklace with an “M” on it that Marty must have given her for some special occasion. She had white tennis shoes on and a braid in her straightened hair. Her make up was done perfectly and naturally.

Buffy looked down at what she was wearing. An over-sized shirt with a band name on it, jean shorts, tennis shoes, and nothing new to the same hair she’s had her whole life. No make-up, no purse, just herself. She couldn’t help to compare. Rachel was beautiful. Buffy started to contemplate stores she could go to to change her look or things she could do to make herself prettier.

She got lost in thought and was shaken out of it when a buzzer sounded. It was the break buzzer for all contestants to get water, use the bathroom, etc. before the second half of the meet. Marty won the first race, and barely got second in the second race. He needed to win at least third place for the next two races to place on the Shadyside score board in the events center. 

Rachel ran over to him and gave him a hug. Spectators weren’t supposed to get on the track, so Buffy silently scoffed to herself as she watched Marty push Rachel off and tell her to go sit back down. Rachel came back upset and a few minutes later Marty showed back up.

“Sorry, Rach, you just can’t be down there. It’s for competitors only,” Marty said as he sat down in the empty seat next to Buffy. Rachel said nothing to him, arms folded with her body turned away from Buffy, obviously annoyed she didn’t get her way.

“How are you enjoying the race so far, Buffy?” he said with a huge grin.

“Good... I mean.. you’re good.. I mean the race is good and great... you’re doing great”, Buffy stammered.

Marty smiled softly at her. “Thanks, Driscoll. You better get that doctor called so I can feel the victory of beating you at a race all over again”.

“In your dreams, Marty,” Buffy said as she playfully punched his arm. “You already know the only reason you’re winning is because I’m not on that track to give you actual competition”. 

They both started giggling and Rachel cut off the giggling with, “Oh Marty, your mom wants the three of us to go to dinner tonight. Kind of a celebratory type thing. You know, for the three of us”. 

Marty gave Rachel a look and said, “well, I think we should invite Buffy. Would you like to join us?” Rachel scowled at this.

Buffy thought that Marty was so sweet to invite her, but by the look on Rachel’s face she knew she was already pushing her limits, so she declined. “I’m sorry, I am still working on that Spikes playbook and I have a ton of homework, but you guys have fun”. Only half of that was true. She didn’t have homework because she got it all done during her productive day of classes, but she couldn’t stand the thought of going to dinner with Rachel so it was best to just lie her way out of this one.

Marty looked hurt. “Oh... ok. Well, some other time then?”

Buffy felt bad so she gave him a small, genuine smile and said, “sure, some other time”.

Rachel looked happy with a tinge of jealousy. Just then, the buzzer rang for the contestants to go back. Marty quickly ran back to the track beneath them. Buffy got carried away in thought again. This time, however, it was more confusion.

Maybe he does like me, Buffy thought. He hardly spoke to Rachel when he came back. And he seemed really upset I wasn’t going to dinner. But he was just being friendly. But what if he wasn’t?

Buffy thought on and off about this until she started getting invested again in cheering on Marty. Marty got third place in the third race. The racers were getting harder to beat and the distances were increasing.

In the fourth and final race, Marty was starting to get drastically behind. He was currently in seventh place and Buffy was worried he was going to accept defeat. Just as he was making his way to the next hurdle, he looked up at... Buffy? Buffy shook her head and blinked in disbelief. It was as if time slowed and the only thing in the room was them making eye contact. He quickly turned his head away and got incredibly fast. He started passing the sixth person, the fifth, the fourth... he was a few strides away from passing the third person but there wasn’t much track left. His legs broke into large strides, practically leaping, and he barely passed the person in third, crossing the finish line in third place- making the register. Marty’s mom, Rachel, and Buffy broke out in applause. Marty grabbed his legs and bent over, catching his breath. He was smiling so much- and Buffy couldn’t tell if that was because he had just won or because of the moment during the race that helped him win.

The next morning at school, Buffy saw Rachel wearing a cross country jersey for the school. Buffy hobbled over to Rachel and said, “I didn’t know you did cross-country. I’ve never seen you on the team”.

Rachel gave Buffy a dirty look and explained, “I don’t. This is Marty’s jersey”. Rachel was talking to Buffy like she was teaching math to an annoying seven-year-old. “He won and I’m his girlfriend so I’m wearing it to celebrate him. It’s what he wanted”.

“Ok, yeah, whatever. Nice talking to you, Rachel,” Buffy said as she walked away, peeved.

Buffy then heard Marty’s voice. She wanted to walk away faster but her boot only let her travel so fast, so unfortunately she heard another fight of theirs.

“Rachel!” Marty said, frustrated. “Why did you do that?”

“Do what?” Rachel said, innocently.

“Why did you talk to Buffy like that? You keep treating her badly. Can’t you just be her friend?”

At this point, Buffy had finally rounded a corner. She was going to keep walking, but this time her curiosity peaked, so she stayed on the other side of the wall where Marty and Rachel couldn’t see her. Eavesdropping.

“No, Marty. I can’t! She is clearly into you and I don’t want to lose my boyfriend”.

“Rachel, you aren’t going to. And don’t you think that even if I still did like Buffy it would be my choice whether I date her or you?”

“Oh, so you do like Buffy!” Rachel said, her tone now completely defensive.

Marty huffed loudly. “No. I. Don’t. Stop accusing me of that, Rachel. I was making a point. I like you!”

“Then if you like me so much why is she coming to everything now?”

“She came to one thing, Rachel. One. That, in case you’ve forgotten, she was supposed to compete in. She didn’t end up competing because of her hurt foot”.

“That foot is just an act to get you to talk to her”.

“Rachel, you’re being ridiculous! She’s hurt- wait, no, Rachel, I’m sorry I didn’t mean that,” Marty said, begging.

Buffy heard footsteps but couldn’t walk away fast enough so she flattened herself against a wall. Rachel walked right by her and down the other hallway. Buffy breathed a sigh of relief Rachel didn’t see her, heart racing.

Later, between classes, Buffy was trying to walk to her next class she had with Marty. She was panicking on what to say to him, but thankfully her foot started hurting so she sat down to take a rest. She was hoping if she waited long enough she would be late to class and not have to talk to him, giving her more time to think about what she was going to say.

This pipe dream didn’t last long because Marty found her. In short, he basically told Buffy that Rachel broke up with him over her. He insisted to Rachel- and Buffy- that he didn’t like Buffy anymore. But Rachel didn’t believe him. It must have happened during lunch, but Marty seemed to have bounced back really quickly. 

He also explained that he felt like he and Buffy were better off as just friends, because Buffy said so. She couldn’t help but feel like such an idiot for saying that. Karma had officially come back to get her for it.

Buffy spent the next few weeks in active avoidance of Marty and Rachel. Meanwhile, she finally listened to Marty and went to see a doctor. She had a stress fracture and was put in a walking boot. Marty talked to her once about it, thanking her for finally taking care of herself and giving her a hug. He asked if there was anything she needed, but when Buffy insisted she could take care of herself and that he did enough, he stopped talking to her. She was really good at pushing people away. It was all she seemed to know how to do as of late. 

She wasn’t sure he would talk to her again after pushing him away a second time. While it wasn’t as harsh, it was still forward and Marty seemed to get the hint. It wasn’t worth trying right now if she wasn’t even sure how to be friends with him.

The Spikes also won the game with the playbook she had been crafting for so long. Making the plays was a good hobby to keep her mind off of Marty. She was sad to not see him at the game, but understood why.

After this time had passed, Andi’s big party was finally here. It was on a Friday night. The music was loud and there were people everywhere. The Mack house was decorated beautifully with balloons and lights and Buffy was having the time of her life... until she saw Marty. She had classes with him and had seen him in the halls up until this point. She would stare sometimes, but she did her best to give him (and her) space while she figured out her emotions and he recovered from his break-up. Especially if the break-up was because of her, she knew it would just hurt him to keep seeing her.

But, at the party, she couldn’t help herself. She wanted to talk to him so badly, but knew it would only hurt. She was caught staring at Marty again by Cyrus. Cyrus, once again, tried to assure Buffy that he liked her as more than a friend, but Buffy knew differently. Why? Because he said so.

She decided that maybe the timing was off and that maybe it was better they were just friends. She later saw Marty dancing by the food table, the place where they first met. For fun, she rehashed the conversation about eating the live-frog. Marty took well to it and they were having a good time. Until Buffy messed it up. She thought that the bants were probably too flirty and they needed to have a normal conversation. A normal conversation would make them friends and finally allow her to move on from whatever feelings she was having- if they were something more. She was obviously never going to be Rachel. Not as intriguing or as committed to Marty. Not as beautiful. He was over Buffy and she needed to accept that for whatever it was worth.

However, when they tried a normal conversation, it died right after Marty asked, “how was your day?”

“Fine, how was yours?” replied Buffy.

“Fine”.

It wasn’t better. It wasn’t going to get better.

“Never mind. It was a stupid idea,” Buffy said before she ran away from that horrible conversation, fighting back tears. Her chances of even being friends with Marty were lost. She wanted to be more than friends with him and she knew it now. It was so clear to her.

Her jealousy with Rachel, the way he smiled at her, the way he helped her and cared about her, his dimples, his eyes- she wanted to be more with him, but she was too late.

As Buffy was running out the door, she heard someone call her name.

“Buffy!” yelled Marty. She turned around.

He asked if they could try the conversation again. More straight-forward and honest.

Here goes nothing, Buffy thought.

“I like you,” Buffy said. “Like the way you used to like me, but don’t anymore.”

“That was very straight forward, well done.”

“Thanks.”

There was complete silence. Buffy didn’t know what else to say. She came clean and was at a loss of words, but also proud of herself for finally acknowledging her feelings. 

However, the silence bothered her so she panicked and quickly asked Marty, “is it still my turn?”

“No, I’ll go,” he replied gently. “Really?! Now it’s your turn”. Marty seemed pretty enthusiastic she finally liked him, but it probably just boosted his ego so what was the point. Her opportunity was probably lost.

“That’s it. That’s all I wanted to say in case you ever changed you mind”. Defeated, Buffy looked at the ground. She wanted out of there so badly, but something was holding her there. Keeping her body locked in place.

“Buffy,” Marty said as he grabbed one of her arms, his hand sliding down to meet hers. He then grabbed her other hand with his other free one.

What is happening? Buffy thought. Her heart began to race. She felt herself start to clam up. The comfort she felt from Marty’s touched outweighed the panic that was starting to work up in her.

“I’ve never changed my mind,” Marty said, reassuringly.

That’s when something she never saw coming happened. He kissed her. It was as if the kiss made all of her fears and doubts vanish. Everything she worried about with Rachel was gone. He wanted Buffy and always did, but he safeguarded himself by lying. While Buffy was upset he lied, she didn’t let that get to her and ruin the now best night of her life. She understood why he did it and that’s what mattered.

He put his arm around her and she nuzzled into his chest as they walked back into the Mack house. It was where she belonged. That spot in his arms was meant for her and she knew it the moment she was there.

After they walked back in the house, Marty dropped his arm and grabbed her hand again leading her back onto the dance floor. He had a big, cheesy grin on his face and began to dance goofy while holding her hand as a way to coerce her into dancing with him. She rolled her eyes and shook her head laughing at him. He was so funny and she loved everything about him. The way he laughed, the way he never took himself too seriously, they way he banted with her. And he was hers now. They were together. It felt like a miracle.

Buffy relaxed and danced to the rest of the fast song with Marty. He spun her around and they jumped up and down as they sang loudly to the chorus. When the song ended, a slow song came on. Marty stuck out a hand, puffed up his chest, and asked in the most gentleman-like manner he could muster, “Buffy Driscoll, would you give me the honor of having this dance with you?”

Buffy grinned and rolled her eyes again, grabbing his hand. He moved the hand he was holding hers with upright and then put his other hand on the small of her back, quickly pulling her in close. She lightly rested her free arm on his shoulder.

Buffy put her head on his free shoulder and they gently swayed for a bit while he sang the song softly in her ear. This made her heart melt.

Then she heard something that solidified everything. His feelings, her feelings, correcting her doubts, and giving her confidence in herself, in them. It was four words, but it was all she needed to hear.

“You are so beautiful”. She knew he meant on the inside and out. He saw her for everything she was and she felt the same about him. 

She smiled, moving her arm from Marty’s shoulder, around the back of his neck. She was going to hold him as close to her as she could. He was the only one who could break down her wall. He was truly close to her, in every way possible and she couldn’t have wanted anything more than that. They were beautiful.

Requested by: @dancerdramatic14

[ben-the-hyena]

Sorry for the bad quality, the pen ran, some aeras were left out and her light grey eye color is uneasy to see

Well remember this post ?

Meet my OC Clarisse, Mighty Eagle's illegitimate daughter half bald eagle half canary he meets shortly after the first movie.

30 years earlier, hunky Mighty Eagle, who was at the top of his glory in Bird Island, was used to one night stands with random girls he found hot after his concerts, rescues, parties etc. One night, he got a bit drunk with a canary fangirl named Barbara, and things happened at her place. Next morning they woke up with a headache, casually took a silent breakfast and he flew away. The story was supposed to stop there and nothing more

Problem : 3 months later, after Mighty Eagle already left as a hermit (headcanon parents asked him to find a lost little girl and he couldn't find her so in shame he ran away and grew lonely and depressed still attached too much to his past glory until the first movie where he got enough faith in himself to save kids again), Barbara found out she was gravid of 3 months. And since Mighty had been her only one night stand in 5 months, it was obvious it was him. But since he left and nobody knew where, she was alone. She still decided to keep the egg and that was how Clarisse hatched

Despite being much taller than any regular bird and having an aquiline beak, nobody ever suspected a thing. Not even herself. Thinking Mighty Eagle was not that important to her life and seeing that he abandonned everyone anyway, and that the new generation of hatchlings doubted about his existence, Barbara didn't feel necessary to tell her. Actually, despite wondering who her dad could be out of curiosity, Clarisse never felt sad by his presence. She had a fun stylish mom who gave up on her relaxed life for her and gave her daughter anything she needed to live a normal child life

Clarisse made friends, had post school activities, but what she actually preferred were studies. From age 6, Clarisse found out she loved maths and dreamt to become an economist. It happened after she got her diploma years later, and she is now who has the responsibility of all the finances of Bird Island. She is very anxious and nervous by nature due to her workaholic tendancies as well as very serious in her job and responsibilities, contrary to her genitor. She still has one thing in common with him though : she loves awkwardly dancing on retro songs and musics on the dancefloor. Since opposites attract she fell in love with a rooster surfer, Richard aka Billy (only her calls him Richard actually), they married and they had a little boy named Rocky who was 2 in the first movie

It was only after the first movie's events Clarisse got interested in meeting her newfound dad : just after he came back with the main trio and the stolen eggs, cool stylish granny Barbara thought it was high time to tell this eagle who was everywhere on posters and marchandise was her dad all along. Shocked but determined to know more, Clarisse went to meet him and nearly gave him an attack when she plainly told him she's his daughter. At first, ol' Mighty was in denial and trying to reject her, but not only she looked too much like an eagle for him to deny, he wasn't either a bad guy and he saw how sad the rejection was making. What kind of hero would he be if he rejected his own child ? Instead he called her back, awkwardly apologized and offered her to know about each other

He didn't really know how to be a dad and his egocentrism the whole appointment was sickening to her ; plus they really had nothing in common except that dance thing (she only found out she loved sardinas when he offered her some, her mom never fed fish, it never came to her mind to do so since canaries don't eat that), and blah blah blah, after a bit too much of self-praise from himself she snaps, reproaches him to have been there the whole time but never came to the birds in years, he snaps too saying he really was not made for fatherhood anyway, they argue, they separate, they feel bad, they apologize, they hug, and they progressively learn to love each other as the months pass despite their differences ; he's just relieved she's already a grown up because he would have seriously not known how to deal with a kid

Cautious and miticulous as Clarisse is, it's only when they truely have a bond that she introduces him to her family. Barbara is not that happy to see Mighty Eagle and he is extremely embarrassed to meet het again, especially since he can't remember her name. For some reason that he can't grasp, he has a hate at first sight with his son in law in a maddening fit of father instinct that popped up out of nowhere, but Billy being completely chill and clueless, he doesn't realize. But most importantly : he finds out he's a grandpa. There again a lot of emotions popped up in his mind : he who thought he was doomed to a familyless loneliness finds out he had a family the whole and starts gross-sobbing, his grandson is young enough to create an early bond with him and fortunately he's not his son so he doesn't have dad responsibilities either, and he decides to become the cool grandpa who never says no and gifts anything he's asked. Which Clarisse doesn't approve obviously. Worse, he tries using his celebrity to advantage unfairly his family in everything (at the movies "MAKE WAY ! My mighty family has no way for queuing !", in a restaurant "my mighty family should have free dessert !" And so on), which will start to deeply embarrass hus daughter who will try to convince him to stop. Determined to make up for the lost wasted years, he is reticent to stop, but since it truely upsets her and her normal lifestyle she had before, he reluctantly accepts just for her and Rocky's future

Between the 2 movies, Clarisse has another egg that hatched shortly before the sequel, countaining a little girl named Poppy, and this time Mighty Eagle is here to see everything and make sure to be in her life from the start. As the cool mighty grandpa who irritates the mom by doing almost everything she forbids with his grandchildren. No need to precise he couldn't stop ugly crying when she hatched. During these 3 years he also tried to make up and be friends with Barbara, who just tolerates him, and he seriously just can't remember her name whatever he does for her to forgive him. And he still can't stand BILLY who just keeps invading his vital space

AAAND if (I do say IF since I will not be able to watch it before October) in the sequel we'll find out that Zeta and Mighty Eagle were together before, will go back together and she'll reform and either follow him to Bird Island or she'll just visit, the poor purple harpy will be adopted by a family she had no idea about before. At first, as a former villain, she would act like an asocial jerk, but the hatchlings calling her "grandma" !? Her heart would totally melt B-BUT NOT FOR THEM B-BAKA Also big jealousy from Zeta when she'll find out he slept with someone else in the meantime but since she can't be mad since in the meantime they both sincerely thought their relationship was over she just pretends she had men after him too and since for the same reasons as her he can't show he's dying with jealousy he just forcingly says "k" and the evening sure was sour for them both

[callioope]

Tagged by: @mythologicalmango, thank you! :) 

Nickname: My name is Elizabeth, I’ve gotten them all over the years. My family calls me Beth. In middle school, I switched it to Elizabeth or Lizabeth. In HS a friend pretty much permanently switched it to Liz. I did have one friend who called me Lizzie, but my parents really hated that so that did not catch on. There was a period in 6th grade where the girl who sat next to me in English called me a different nickname every day. 

Last movie I saw: Captain Marvel, saw it on the day Endgame came out. I enjoyed it a lot! Tumblr had spoiled some of the best parts for me though.

Favorite musicians: Sara Bareilles, Florence + The Machine, Regina Spektor, The Beatles

Song stuck in my head: this is very strange for me, but there’s not currently one song stuck in my head. usually songs are very sticky and get stuck in my head forever. i guess i’m between songs at the moment. 

Do I get asks: Not often. But then I’m clearly horrible at responding in a timely manner, so.

Other blogs: I have accounts on Pillowfort and Dreamwidth, same username. Some days I think about starting a travel blog. Some days I think about starting a blog from the POV of my Dungeons & Dragons cleric (who in-character keeps extensive notes about her travels and the people she meets), but I’m not sure that’d be interesting to anyone but me. 

Amount of sleep: I used to sleep midnight to 6, but both an adjustment in my work hours and a desire to be healthier have resulted in attempts to make that 11 to 7. If I am very good about self care, I will settle in bed at 10 and put a show on (Critical Role) to fall asleep to.

Lucky number: I don’t have a lucky number, but I’ve always loved the number 24. Because it was the number associated with one of my favorite toys when I was a kid, a Puppy in my Pocket named Sugar. She was a light pink poodle and she was beautiful. Puppies in my Pocket was a series of little puppy figurines, they had numbers and stat cards and they were adorable. (There were also kitties.) the 90s were great.

What I’m wearing: Winnie the Pooh pajamas and a light blue jacket for a Sheltie Rescue organization

Dream job: stay at home novelist. But my job right now is pretty good. I coordinate the editorial and printing schedules for women’s health publications, work with vendors to get them printed, etc. 

Dream trip: non-stop travel around the world. i want to go everywhere! I’d love to go back to Botswana and spend more time at Pangolin Photo Safari. if you’re planning on going on safari go there. they’re great! they give you fancy cameras, teach you how to use them, teach you what settings to use at this angle and so forth, they make sure to pull up to get the best angle etc. Great place. 

But anyways, places I’d love to go back to: Turkey (there’s SO MUCH to see there, we were there for like 10 days and we didn’t get to see everything on my list. Cappadocia, I’m looking at you); Germany; South Africa

Places I’d love to visit for the first time: New Zealand & Australia, Morocco, any place I could see the Northern Lights, Antarctica, prob a bunch of places in Africa

Favorite food: Chocolate chip cookies

Play any instruments: Yes, but not well. I took piano lessons when I was very young, like pre-school to second grade, but I quit in second grade because I was worried about my growing workload... at least that’s what I remember saying. My parents think I didn’t like the advanced teacher bc she was too hard on me. In HS my friend, who is very extremely talented at playing piano, started teaching me again, so I can play a few songs on the piano. I took up the violin in 4th grade, was pretty good until I stopped practicing in HS. Anyways played until senior year of HS. My orchestra was BALLER. Our conductor's name could be shortened to Mr. La so absolutely we called him that. He chose great pieces for us to play, including a medley from the Pirates of the Caribbean, Night on Bald Mountain (as he called it, “the Boom-Crash!”), and my absolute all-time favorite musical composition, Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2 Movement 4. Beautiful. A few years ago I also started teaching myself to play ukulele. 

Favorite song: I don’t know if Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2 Movement 4 counts as a song, but there’s that. Also “All This and Heaven Too” by Florence + the Machine, and “Orpheus” by Sara Bareilles. Once upon a time, “Drops of Jupiter” was a fave, so it does hold nostalgia points for me. 

Random fact: I don’t know how to swim, I can barely tread water

Describe yourself as aesthetic things: Sweaters. Fall colors. Apple cider. Messy notes scribbled on post-its. Color-coded spreadsheets. Bookshelves overflowing with both books and collectibles. Maps.

Tagging: You. Yes, you, reading this post. If you want to do it, you’re tagged. Seriously. If you love doing tag memes do it, say I tagged you, and have fun.

[daggerzine]

The Dot comes before the Dash- the Danny Ingram interview.

You would see their names on the back of records, many for Washington’s DC’s Dischord label and you might see a photo every now and again, but don’t know much about them unless you were part of that scene (ie; see my previous interview with Chris Bald from a few years ago). Danny Ingram was another one of those names. I knew he’d been in some of the early Dischord bands (Youth Brigade, etc.) and knew he’d done a lot of other stuff but wasn’t exactly sure where, when or in what context (‘cept that I knew he’s a drummer). Fast forward to nearly a decade ago when I saw his name as drummer of a new Washington, DC combo named Dot Dash. Their guitarist/vocalist Terry Banks had been in some of my favorite indie pop combos, namely Tree Fort Angst and The Saturday People, so I knew I was gonna like this one (Hunter Bennett rounds out the trio on bass)! I’ve enjoyed all of their records, but this latest one, Proto Retro (released earlier this year on The Beautiful Music label) is really a special thing of beauty. Well-written rock-pop songs that are both heartfelt and fun (and catchy as hell). Back to Ingram though, he was one of the older punks on the DC scene and thus saw and heard a lot so grab your favorite beverage, your reading glasses and bathrobe and take a stroll both down memory lane and up ‘til the current day.

A man and his drums, 

 Were you born and raised in Washington, DC?

Yes – DC born and raised. Lived in SE DC until I was 12, then moved to Palisades (NW DC) where I met my life-long friend and future bandmate, Nathan Strejcek.

 At what age did you take up the drums?

I had a fascination with drums from an early age. I’d had a crush on my baby sitter, Irene, and her brother had a drum set. To impress her, I tried playing along with his Beatles records and such, even though my feet didn’t reach the pedal. It was a lost cause. But a dear family friend and neighbor in SE, Richard Spencer, nurtured my interest. I think he bought me my first drums. He played in Otis Redding’s band and achieved quite a bit of success with his own band the Winstons (he wrote the Grammy-winning song ‘color him father).  I was about 19 when I took up the drums in earnest – with the intention of being in a band. At the risk of repeating an oft-told story…I had gone to see the Clash at the Ontario theater and was hanging out in the narrow, upstairs ‘dressing room’ with the band and several other people. I was sharing a spliff and talking with Joe, Mick and (to a lesser extent because I had trouble understanding him) Paul. Joe asked if I played in a band – I told him I didn’t – but that my best friend did. He admonished me to get off the sidelines – to ‘do something – create something’ – and when Joe Strummer tells you to do something…well…you do it. Shortly thereafter I volunteered to join the Untouchables (their drummer, Richard, left for college). A few weeks after that we played our first show. This was probably in the fall of 1980.

 How did you come into contact with the Dischord Records folks? Were you a Wilson HS student as well? Yeah. I went to Wilson (briefly) and knew all the Dischord people before there was a record label (or a Teen Idles). Nathan and I were best friends and he, along with Ian and Jeff, started the label. We all grew up together and have been friends since early days.

 Do you remember the first person you ever met in the DC punk scene? What was your first punk show?

I was there at the outset and knew most-if not all-of the people before there was a scene, per se. I guess the first people I met who weren’t in our group of friends were Xyra and Cathy – they had a punk radio show at WGTB (Georgetown University radio) called Revolt into Style. Nathan and I used to sneak out of our houses and go down for their shows after our parents went to sleep. As for the first concert? Hard to say. I saw so many bands in those early days –one of the first was probably the Ramones in the fall of ’77. I worked at the Atlantis and at the 9:30 club when it first opened up – so I saw almost every show that came through the DC area for many years. Also, I was a smidge older…so coupled with my fake ID I was able to get into places like the Bayou as well.

Youth Brigade (Danny is 2nd from left)

 From what I know you’re a bit older than some of the other DC punks, were you there early enough to go to places like Madam’s Organ and the Hard Art Gallery?  (places I only know about from pictures, usually of the Bad Brains).

Tell me about how/when The Untouchables formed? Was that your first band?

…and please tell us about the origins of Youth Brigade?

I was born in 1961 – so it makes me a about a year older than Ian and Jeff and six months older than Nathan. I never really considered myself older. Now, Boyd and the guys in Black Market Baby were fucking old! Most of em born in the 50’s! J Seriously though – we were all roughly in the same age group – though I think Xyra (who was a bit older) referred to that initial scene (affectionately – not anatomically) as teeny punks or baby punks.  My first band was the Untouchables. As noted above, Richard had split and moved off to college. I was sitting at the Roy Rogers with Eddie, Alec and (I think) Bert as they lamented the loss of their drummer and the prospect of breaking up. I jokingly volunteered to take his place. They immediately said ‘yes’ despite my warnings that I’d never really played the drums. A few weeks later we played our first show. We hung together for almost a year before splitting up. After that was Youth Brigade. Nathan had been the singer of the Teen Idles – but when the band split, it seemed only natural that Nathan and I should start a band together. We’d been best friends for years and had very similar life arcs and musical tastes. We tried out a few guitarists (including Jason of 9353) and one other bassist (Greg) before finally settling on the line-up that most people know with Tom on Guitar and my old friend and former Untouchable mate, Bert on bass.  As for Madam’s Organ or Hard Art? I played at Madam’s Organ – and I was at the infamous Bad Brains show at Hard Art. I can’t remember if I ever played there…but it’s entirely possible. You would have to consult with Bert or Alec or someone whose memory isn’t a shambles.

 Madhouse backstage

Was Madhouse next? They were a bit different right? A darker sound.

I was in a few bands before Madhouse. I played in a band with Dave Byers and Toni Young (from Red C) called Peer Pressure. Tom Berard (scenester) also sang with the band for a while. We recorded a demo up in NY with the bad brains at 171A. We played a handful of shows but, like so many other bands of that era, split up and moved on to other projects.  I also played in a band called Social Suicide – great guys and a fun band (featured Joey A who went on to Holy Rollers). Also short lived – but we did record some songs for a local compilation ‘mixed nuts don’t crack’.  OH – I also briefly tried my hand at singing in a VERY short-lived band called black watch. This featured future members of madhouse (Brad Gladstone on bass and the mega-talented Norman van der Sluys on drums). The less said about this the better. Not because of the band – but because my singing can curdle milk at twenty paces.

I was starting to get a bit antsy with the way the DC scene was evolving – so my then girlfriend (Monica Richards) and I decided to start a band that was more rooted in post punk bands like killing joke, magazine and the monochrome set. That was how madhouse started. But unsurprisingly enough, there was no scene for this band, so we still played mostly punk and hardcore shows – but the direction we tried to take didn’t really sit well with a lot of new, burgeoning scene.  It seems, at least from afar, that you were willing to go in other directions musically (goth, etc.) whereas maybe some of your DC co-horts stuck to the punk rock thing. Would this be accurate? Did you get flack for it?

Yeah – I guess it was a bit gothy. Certainly, that was Monica’s m.o. I’ve always considered myself a punk – no matter what kind of band I played in. But this was definitely the beginning of stretching musical wings. And, yeah, we caught flack for it. But it wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle. Monica caught the most grief – and that is exactly why we both were getting put off by what the scene was turning into. I’ll just leave it at that. That said – my friends, the ones I’d known from the outset, were all cool. Otherwise I wouldn’t have spent some time drumming for Iron Cross with another life-long friend, Sab.

Strange Boutique (not ready to dine and (dot) dash) 

 Was Strange Boutique next? If so how/when did that band form and what was its history?

Yes – Strange Boutique (a name I copped from the Monochrome Set song/album) was next up. It was still Monica and me – but while Madhouse tried to straddle the punk scene with whatever it was we were trying to do – Strange Boutique basically said ‘fuck it’ and dove headfirst into what was certainly a more goth-punk-pop sound. The Chameleons, Siouxsie, Cure and bands of that ilk were really influencing us a lot and the quality of the band grew exponentially with the addition of Fred Smith and Steve Willett. -- I should pause here to note that I’ve lost a few friends and bandmates along the way – like Toni Young. But two hit particularly hard: Fred Smith – who was a true original. A crazy fucker. Much loved and much missed no matter how much trouble he got me into! And John Stabb – My brother in every sense of the word. Someone I loved until the end and who was a never-ending source of insanity, humor and energy. John and Fred were both unique spirits…and it’s just not the same without them.

Swervedriver- not huffin’ and puffin’ 

radioblue in black and white 

 Pardon my ignorance (I know it was some years) but was there anything between Strange Boutique and Dot Dash?

There were a few bands after Strange Boutique. I played in radioblue who, like strange boutique, were a band on the outside of the dc hardcore scene. They were more 60s-influenced indie pop (byrds, beatles, beach boys, buzzcocks). It led to drumming in a Mark Helm (a singer/guitarist in the band) project called Super 8 and playing on his solo album (on not lame records). I also started a band called King Mixer AGES ago with Steven Engel and James Lee (the bassist and singer/guitarist from radioblue). We still get together to this day, but it’s more like the monthly poker game: play some music, have dinner, hang out and catch up with old friends. We did put out a self-released CD years ago, but Dot Dash came along, and that has monopolized my time for the last seven years. I also played in Swervedriver for about a year, relocating to London for about ten months. It was an amazing experience. Adam Franklin (the singer / song writer) is the greatest musician I’ve ever played with. And as far as I am concerned Adam is in the pantheon of great song-writers of the last 40 years. Glad to still call him and my old swervie bandmates friends. A lifetime of memories crammed into a short period of time! When I moved back to DC from London at the end of 1992 I played in two more bands. The first was the criminally obscure UltraCherry Violet. They were definitely in the mold of swervedriver and some other favorites from that era. The band was Dugan Broadhurst and Dan Marx (who later played in king mixer). We played a handful of shows before I imploded. We got together a year after we split to record some songs for posterity – and those were ultimately released on Bedazzled records (a label I started while in strange boutique – but by now taken over by Steve Willett). There are a few songs on that CD that are among the things I’m most proud of as a musician.  I also played with my old running mates and brothers-in-arms John Stabb and Steve Hansgen (and Rob Frankel) in a band called Emma Peel. THAT was fun! We really clicked together musically – and we recorded a single on our good friend John Lisa’s label Tragic Life. The Avenging Punk Rock Godfathers! This web of connections is what led Steve to joining Dot Dash further down the road.  The last thing I did before Dot Dash was drumming in the legendary local mod band Modest Proposal, with old friends Neal Augenstein and Bill Crandall (who shortly thereafter was part of the original Dot Dash line-up). Steve Hansgen had played with Neal and Bill during an early incarnation – and he and I comprised the rhythm section for and MP reunion show.

Emma Peel (Danny is far right and that is the late, great John Stabb, 2nd from left) 

Do tell us about your current band Dot Dash? I think the records have been terrific. How did you meet Terry and Hunter?

Thanks for the kind words about the DD records. Right now, the band is a three-piece: me on drums, Terry Banks on vocals and guitar and Hunter Bennett on bass. Terry has been in almost as many bands as me – playing in a lot of indie-pop bands like Saturday People, Glo-Worm and Tree Fort Angst. Hunter was a veteran of the Stabb band among others.  I didn’t really know either of them before we started the band…but I knew of them from their previous band Julie Ocean (the band also had Jim Spellman of Velocity Girl on guitar/vocals and Alex Daniels from Swiz on drums). Julie Ocean released a great record on Transit of Venus – and they should have been huge. JO had planned to go on tour with a band called Magnetic Morning (that was my old friend Adam Franklin and Interpol drummer Sam Fogarino’s side-project), but drummer-Alex, bailed on the tour. So, that night at the Rock n Roll Hotel, Terry asked if I wanted to play drums in a new project with him and Hunter. I said yes – after consulting with my wife, Sally – but it actually took another six months or so to get rolling (I had already promised to do the Modest Proposal reunion). As it turned out, Jim was planning on leaving JO as well (taking a job in Colorado) – but when he came back he played briefly in Dot Dash (between Bill and Steve).  Dot Dash has been the most prolific band I’ve ever played with and the longest running active band. We’ve put out six CD’s on the Canadian label, The Beautiful Music. It’s run by an amazing guy – Wally Salem. I’m not sure that we would still be going without his love and support! Truthfully – I also do it for my kids (Noah 12 and Sam 16). I think it’s good to show them that you can do fun and creative things at any age. Sam has really taken it to heart. He’s been playing guitar since he was 10 and is already a better musician than I ever will be! He’s already formed and broken up his first band – and he filled in for Hunter (on bass) at one of our shows…picking up the songs with relative ease and aplomb. 

Almost forgot the Social Suicide pic (Danny’s the UK Subs fan)

What’s next for Dot Dash? Another record in the works? Maybe a tour?  I don’t know about touring. I think we would all love to do it – but because we all have demanding jobs, families and such – it makes it difficult to pick up and run off. That said, if the right opportunity presented itself (like going on a tour with a band we love) I think we would certainly consider it. We’ve been REALLY fortunate to play with some bands that have long been heroes/favorites: the Chameleons, Ash, Hugh Cornwell (of the Stranglers), the Monochrome Set, Stiff Little Fingers, the Dickies, DOA and so on – I think if any of them said ‘let’s do it’ we’d be packing our bags! As for another record? Well – we just released our sixth. And it is definitely the record I’m most proud of. Geoff Sanoff did an amazing job producing it – he also produces the Julie Ocean album – and it’s probably the best batch of songs Terry has written to-date.  We are always cranking out new songs – and already have a few in hand – but I think we want to enjoy the last release, Proto Retro, for a bit. 

Dot Dash with Sam on bass. 

What’s happening in Washington, DC these days musically? Any new bands we need to hear about? The great thing about DC is that it is like the Hydra of Lerna – every time a band breaks up, two new ones start up again! The scene has been regenerating for ages. And there are a lot of great bands still plugging away – The Messthetics with my old friend and Brendan Canty, Miss Lonelyhearts, Foxhall Stacks (with Jim Spellman), Nathan’s band the Delarcos, any band with Chris Moore (an epic drummer) such as the Rememberables or Coke Bust, Anna Connolly’s new project or the new project with Ian, Joe Lally and Amy Farina. Old or young – the scene here is still vibrant and vital.

 Any final thought? Closing comments? Anything you wanted to mention that I didn’t ask?

Obviously, most people know DC for the great music (bad brains, minor threat, fugazi, 9353, government issue, fire party, faith, rites of spring, tommy keene) – but to me, the best thing about it has been the friendships…which for me have been practically life-sustaining. You can’t have a great scene without great people – and to me the people I’ve known along the way simply are the best.

 BONUS QUESTION:  What are your top 10 desert island discs (I know some people don’t like when I ask this questions so I decided to put it as a bonus) Wow. Tough one. My top ten has about ten thousand records in it. So, it really is dependent on my mood at the time. I’ll try to throw it together…but if you ask on another day it might be a different batch. Because I’m old – I’m going to take the liberty of picking a baker’s dozen.  Adam and the Ants – Dirk Wears White Sox (original on Do It records) Art Ensemble of Chicago – Les Stances a Sophie J.S. Bach – Air on the G String Buzzcocks – Spiral Scratch ep (rip Pete Shelley) Chameleons – Script of the Bridge (or Strange Times) Miles Davis – ‘Round About Midnight Al Green – Greatest Hits Kinks – Something Else The La’s – The La’s  Punishment of Luxury – Laughing Academy Red Cross – Posh Boy ep Swervedriver – 99th Dream Zombies – Odyssey and Oracle

 www.dotdashdc.bandcamp.com

www.thebeautifulmusic.com 

(**all photos posted with permission from the Danny Ingram collection- if you took one of these please do let us know so we can credit. Thank you). 

Thank you very much Danny Ingram (from publisher/editor Tim)!

Dot Dash tearin’ down the house. 

[philharmaddy-blog]

Disney Tag

So I think in the coming weeks I’ll be alternating posts between fun/hype and informational, so I thought I’d start off with a Disney Tag! Thanks to Steph for letting me steal her Disney Tag format, you can find her blog on her upcoming DCEP here.

So without further ado, let’s get into it... Grab your snacks, because this will be a long one!

Disney Movie: This is a hard one, but I think I have to go with The Little Mermaid just because of the number of times I watched that movie as a kid on VCR purely because my parents wouldn’t let me watch the behind the scenes footage that played after the movie unless I watched the whole thing through! FUN FACT: I was terrified of all animated movies as a kid, because I thought they were all as scary as A Bug’s Life, the crazy creations of Sid in Toy Story and the two terrifying scenes from Fantasia (Rite of Spring dinosaurs and Night on Bald Mountain)

DCOM Movie: Does The Lizzie McGuire Movie count?

Pixar Movie: The Incredibles. I love that soundtrack so much!

Disney Sequel: Either Lion King 3/1.5 or The Rescuers Down Under. Although I’m sure with Wreck It Ralph 2 coming out soon, my answer will probably change!

Disney Song: Belle. The writing is brilliant, the backing orchestral score is beautiful, and it sets the scene of the small provincial town so perfectly as the opening number of Beauty and the Beast.

Disney Love Song: It’s not a duet (well, it kind of is if you count the Muses), but I Won’t Say I’m In Love from Hercules is one of my favourites. 

Disney Villain Song: This one is easy. Poor Unfortunate Souls is such a classic.

Disney Song that gets stuck in my head: My brain will switch between Someday My Prince Will Come and A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes. But nothing is as much of an ear worm as It’s A Small World...

Disney Soundtrack: If we are including Pixar, it would be The Incredibles, because I love Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band. If it’s strictly Disney Animation, then I would go with Sleeping Beauty since they used Tchaikovsky’s ballet score. Or maybe Princess and the Frog for that sweet Dixieland jazz? I don’t know, it’s too hard to decide! Never ask a musician what their favourite music is...

Disney Quote: “I give myself very good advice, but I seldom follow it” (Alice in Wonderland)

Disney Ride: I think I have to go with Expedition Everest after my younger brother and I tricked my dad into riding it (we didn’t tell him about the bit that goes backwards!). Plus I love that documentary about its construction, even if we now only have the Disco Yeti.... 

Disney Show: Wishes will always be my favourite. 

Disney Parade: Festival of Fantasy, although I don’t know if it’s as good now that the dragon has gone down in flames.... literally...

Disney Food: The beignets at Port Orleans French Quarter

WDW/DL? I have to go with WDW since it’s the only one I’ve visited

WDW Park: Has to be Magic Kingdom since it’s the one that I spent the most time in, but I also adore Animal Kingdom

Disney Photo:  It has to be my amazing candid shot with Gaston. 

Time for some characters!

Princess: Anna, she’s such a goofball!

Disney Princess Dress: I love the classic Cinderella dress. Although Merida’s looks super comfy!

Prince: Either Flynn Rider or Prince Naveen, I love those suave, charming personalities

Couple: Meg and Hercules

Side-Kick: Mushu

Villain: I love all the villains so it’s hard to choose, but I narrowed it down to Ursula and Hades. All the sass!

Animal: Maximus (the horse from Tangled)

Pixar Character: There are so many good ones to choose from! But I think Dory takes the cake

Disney character I most identify with: Probably Ariel or Anna because I am overly enthusiastic about the most mundane things

Pixar character I most identify with: The seagulls in Finding Nemo any time there is food around

Disney movie I would star in if I could: Probably Hercules because I would love to be a Muse.... but really, we could all do with having a new Disney film where the princess is an alto...

Disney movie that makes me laugh: Again, Hercules. Despite how badly inaccurate the movie is to Greek mythology (even the name itself is wrong), I still think it’s one of the funniest of the animated movies. Either that or Aladdin, because Robin Williams is a gem.

Disney movie that makes me cry: Not technically Disney since it’s Pixar, but Up. Every time. Storytime: my state orchestra were doing ‘Pixar In Concert’, where they played medleys of the soundtracks with clips of the movie up on a massive screen. But not for Up, no.... They played the entire first 15 or so minutes of the movie with the soundtrack live. I think everyone in that entire theatre was sobbing by the end of it.

Disney item I collect: I don’t have any at the moment but I’m hoping to start pin trading and collecting signatures once I get there! I’m more of an experience over material kind of girl.

Most treasured Disney item: A card that says “If you can dream it, you can do it”, signed by all the teachers of the music department from my high school that I was given at the end of my final year when I was music captain.

First Disney movie I ever saw: Fantasia. I had a Sorcerer Mickey plush in my room, but I was asleep for the majority of the movie. Except for the two sections I mentioned earlier that scared me off watching more animated movies for years...

What I would like to see in a Disney movie: Please make the princess an alto and non-belter! Please!!! For the sake of all of us girls with low voices who can’t belt out Let it Go or warble along to Sleeping Beauty or Snow White!

What I would like to see at a Disney park: Still waiting for that fifth gate based around Disney Villains filled with thrill rides! Or maybe shooting a bit lower in expectations, a revamped version of the old and forgotten Fire Mountain idea for Adventureland in the form of a roller coaster themed around the volcano from Moana?

Park character I was/am looking forward to meeting: I’ve met Gaston which was pretty great. But otherwise I really want to meet some of the other princes! In particular, Flynn Rider and Naveen. Also can’t wait to meet Chewie in Hollywood Studios!

Best Disney Story: So to set the scene, it’s just as the park is about to open after Extra Magic Hours, I had been hanging out in New Fantasyland solo while my dad was sleeping in. I go to try and find where the meet and greet for Cinderella’s step family are, only to be given the hint by a Character Attendant to get in line for the carousel. I end up on a horse in between Anastasia and Drizella, with Lady Tremaine a few horses away! But that’s not the end of the story… After getting off the ride, I end up walking with Lady Tremaine to her character spot, idly chatting about how awful Cinderella’s hospitality was at the Royal Table last night, how the matriarchy will rise again, etc. Finally get to the character spot and see a massive line has already formed. So I get ready to say farewell to the characters. But no! I get told by Lady Tremaine that I’m a “VIP” and as a lady of such high class deserve only the best. And so I skip the entire queue and get an amazing photo right away!

And that’s all, folks! 

If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! My next pre-DCEP hype post will probably be a full bucket list - so probably even longer than this one!