#she had hot artist energy I simply will die

[onyxhellebore]

I was at the antiques store and a beautiful woman was talking to me and I didn’t get her number :( she heard me say out loud that I like women bc I was commenting to a friend that sometimes I’ll buy clothes and realize I think they’re beautiful on other women, but not for me. And that it’s a problem bc I like women. And she literally came over and started chatting with me and I let the conversation die I CAN’T

[x--daughters-of-darkness--x]

20 WOMEN VOCALISTS IN METAL WHO ARE A DRIVING FORCE FOR THE GENRE

Lzzy Hale

If you haven’t heard of the colossal Halestorm and their show-stealing frontlady Lzzy Hale by now, how’s it been living under that rock? Out here in the real world, both rock and metal have been battling to claim Halestorm and Hale’s presence since the band’s first EP, (Don’t Mess With The) Time Man, in 1999. From the vitriolic masochism of “I Miss The Misery” to the heart-wrenching “Here’s To Us,” Hale’s vocal range reaches each extreme of moving emotion and devastating attitude. We couldn’t pay tribute to Hale without also recognizing her guitar talents. Check the sassy leading line from “Love Bites (So Do I)” as an example of this phenomenal lady’s ability to step beyond musical expression and into aural artistry.

SKYND

True crime has never been more compelling than at the hands of Australian electronic-metal sensation SKYND and their mystifying frontwoman of the same name. Tackling a new real-life mystery with each track, covering the disappearance and mysterious death of “Elisa Lam” and the doomed cult following of “Jim Jones,” SKYND’s haunting vocals tell each tale as if they were acting out in front of you. SKYND’s dedication to her theatrical persona (plus the ability to keep her real identity a secret), her iconic look and the creation of lore around her exposition of real-life crimes is a mystery the metal world may never solve, but perhaps it never should.

Taylor Momsen

Gossip Girl? We don’t know her—we know Taylor Momsen as the sultry tones commanding metal’s sassiest frontrunners the Pretty Reckless. With her gravelly vocals offset by her signature blacked-out eyes and suspenders, Momsen is an all-around powerhouse frontlady who bends all of your stereotypical expectations of a female vocalist. Take the hissing attitude of “Make Me Wanna Die,” the iconic summer anthem through “Messed Up World (F’d Up World),” the doomed “Going To Hell” and the gloriously filthy “My Medicine”—she’s not here for your entertainment, simply to make music in her own inimitable devil-may-care way.

Sharon den Adel

Where symphonic-metal outfits go through vocalists like water, Within Temptation’s Sharon den Adel has held on to her throne at the very beating heart of the genre since 1996. The band that introduced you to the dark side in high school has come a long way from “Angels” and “Our Farewell” to their most recent sensation “The Purge,” but the enduring talents of the angelic den Adel at the helm remain as moving as ever. Whether your heart breaks or races along with the captivating stories told through her cherubic vocals, den Adel’s talents have kept this legendary band alive and relevant for 25 years. We’re hanging on the edge of our seats for a new album.

Amy Lee

Most millennials were introduced to the world of metal through Evanescence’s invasion of radio airtime in the early 2000s, making vocalist Amy Lee an initial encounter in female presence in a heavily male realm. With an unforgettably haunting vocal range that can reach into your chest and pull out your heart with a single note, Lee’s trademark sound has lived in our minds since 2003’s Fallen and has no intention of letting go. From the iconic “Bring Me To Life” to her solo career’s “Speak To Me” and most notably the captivating “My Immortal,” Lee’s inimitable voice of an angel showed metal how to truly capture the mainstream.

Melissa Bonny

You’ve never seen symphonic metal quite like Switzerland’s Ad Infinitum and, consequently, you’ve never seen a frontwoman quite like Melissa Bonny. With her compelling vocals at the helm, each track tells a story steeped in historic struggles and triumphs as the band members each adopt a story of survival during the time of the Black Death in Europe. Every member appears in a plague doctor’s mask except Bonny, commanding the narrative as her show-stopping range transitions from heavenly cleans to venomous screams with ease. Ad Infinitum and Bonny’s towering talents begin an epic quest through the ranks of metal, and nothing will stand in their way.

Simone Simons

Symphonic-metal outfits face a constant challenge to stay relevant and move forward with the scene around them, more so than any other subgenre. However, the dreamy contributions of Simone Simons have kept Epica at the forefront of their genre since 2002. The band that once created “Storm The Sorrow” have matured to the lofty heights of “The Skeleton Key” with Simons’ operatic tones at the helm, bringing her angelic range to the band’s cinematic instrumentals and occasional death-metal infusions.

Maria Brink

Since their inception in 2005, In This Moment have redefined performance art and metal all at the same time, thanks to the command of iconic vocalist Maria Brink. Challenging religious imagery alongside feminine stereotypes, Brink’s presence both on and offstage has decimated the white male dominance of the metal genre. It takes a certain conviction and attitude to pull off the likes of “Whore” and “Blood” without trivializing their core moral messages, but Brink has rewritten the book on expectations of women in the heavy music industry. Long may she reign.

Larissa Stupar

Vicious, teeth-baring uncleans are the domain of Venom Prison’s Larissa Stupar, death metal’s brightest rising star. Whoever said women had to be the saccharine, angelic feminine contribution to metal clearly never met Stupar, who belts savage growls as if delivered from the gates of hell itself. The likes of “Uterine Industrialisation” and “Slayer Of Holofernes” prove devastating both live and in the studio when this unrelenting powerhouse gets her chops around them.

Alissa White-Gluz

Arch Enemy’s screamer-in-chief makes belting superhuman notes look easy. Alissa White-Gluz’s cord-shredding talents are the result of a career that started when she formed the Agonist at the age of 19. Joining Arch Enemy in 2014 gave White-Gluz a platform to showcase her range and also gave us her contagious live presence on a bigger stage. Providing her distinctive tones to regular collaborations with Kamelot and Delain, the voice behind Arch Enemy’s “War Eternal” and “You Will Know My Name” is no stranger to framing racing riffs with her guttural chops and showing off her heavenly cleans when the instrumentals allow.

Cristina Scabbia

The dual vocal onslaught we know and love from Lacuna Coil compels and fascinates, thanks to the storming presence of Cristina Scabbia. Dominating the metal scene since the ’90s, the enduring Italian crew pour richly gothic melodies over devastating riffs. Scabbia’s heavenly clean vocal is the cherry on top. From unforgettable classics such as “Our Truth” to their latest show-stopping “Save Me,” her dream-like range has been an invaluable gift to metal for over two decades and hopefully many, many more.

Tarja Turunen

The thought of losing founding Nightwish vocalist Tarja Turunen to the abyss of former symphonic singers when she left the outfit in 2005 was too much to bear. Luckily for us, Turunen kick-started her solo career the following year, and she’s been a mainstay of the metal scene ever since. The heavenly operatics that once heralded classics such as “Wish I Had An Angel” and “Nemo” now belts “Innocence” and “Tears In Rain” with the most celestial, earthbound vocals the genre has seen to date.

Suzuka Nakamoto

Easily the youngest member of our ranking, Suzuka Nakamoto, known as Su-metal, is the founding member of Japanese sensations BABYMETAL. With all the maturity of an artist twice her age, this 23-year-old puts us all to shame with her consistent energetic vocals and seemingly endless energy supplies while performing impeccable dance routines onstage. Between the iconic “Gimme Chocolate!!” and BABYMETAL’s latest “Kingslayer” collaboration with Bring Me The Horizon, there’s no denying she has a long and prolific career ahead of her.

Amalie Bruun

Myrkur has become a relentless hot topic in metal since its inception in 2014, and we have only recently discovered the identity of the haunting vocals at its heart. Now we can credit multi-instrumental composer Amalie Bruun with the rise of this mysterious Danish project, led into the wilderness by her raw screams bursting through cherubic cleans just when you least expect it. Often singing in Norwegian as an authentic twist on her own style of black metal, the theatrical “Ulvinde” and “Juniper”’s lingering atmospherics merely scratch the surface of Bruun’s compelling storytelling talents.

Elize Ryd

Amaranthe’s triple-threat vocals fetch their lighter tones from Elize Ryd, the Swedish outfit’s not-so-secret weapon who brings cherubic notes to their modern take on organized metallic chaos. Also known for her additions to Kamelot, both live and in the studio, Ryd’s heavenly cords and quirky songwriting add a bucketload of atmosphere and depth to the likes of “Amaranthine” and “Maximize,” making Amaranthe’s unique versatility one that continually sets trends for years to come.

Cammie Gilbert

Houston doom-metal upstarts Oceans Of Slumber have found themselves on a near-vertical trajectory over the last few years, a movement fronted by the tireless energy and boundless talents of their powerhouse vocalist Cammie Gilbert. Upon joining the band in 2014, Gilbert’s towering range came to the surface as her vocals neatly expand the lulling melancholy of “Winter” and the desperate cries of “A Return To The Earth Below,” as if her vocals project both fragility and strength at the same moment.

Heidi Shepherd and Carla Harvey

We couldn’t separate the two ladies commanding Butcher Babies, so this slot goes out to both Heidi Shepherd and Carla Harvey as the double-trouble onslaught who have brought us “Monsters Ball” and “Magnolia Blvd.” If you’re looking for a nonstop, indulgent party with the possibility of a snapped neck or two, look no further than L.A.’s dirtiest metal export that have become a staple on everybody’s festival bucket list. This versatile pair have made thrash their own ever since their 2013 debut, Goliath, showed the metal scene what it had been so desperately lacking—two relentless ladies who know exactly how to have a good time.

Chelsea Wolfe

Surprisingly the only strictly solo appearance on this list, Chelsea Wolfe has made metal her very own since her arrival in 2010, draping a veil of folk-y atmosphere and gothic depth over seductive doom-metal undertones. Combining her boundary-smashing approach with a sadistically dark visual style, Chelsea Wolfe somewhat ironically injects life into doom by refusing to conform to the genre’s ’90s stereotypes. She wraps her smooth vocal swathes around the compelling melancholy of “Feral Love” and “16 Psyche,” as if redressing the world around her in her own image.

Tatiana Shmayluk

You’d be forgiven for thinking Ukrainian outfit Jinjer tell their lyrical tales through the voice of three separate individuals covering melodic cleans, ear-splitting screams and guttural snarls and somewhat effortlessly slipping between them. The single towering voice behind this band’s meteoric rise belongs to Tatiana Shmayluk, flexing her multi-talented chops on “Perennial” and “Sit Stay Roll Over” just to increase your vocal envy. We’re still not sure how she pulls off such smooth transitions between the polar opposite personas onstage, but we can’t seem to look away.

Floor Jansen

Taking on the mammoth task of fronting the pioneering outfit Nightwish in 2013, Floor Jansen donned her new role as if she was born for it. Jansen’s inimitable honeyed tones ushered in a new age for the symphonic-metal icons, weaving her slick melodic range through the band’s trademark cinematic instrumentals. The theatrical atmospheres tracked on “Élan” and “Noise” give Jansen the room to flex her operatic range while she narrates the vibrant, tall tales we know and love from Nightwish.

[aomineavenue]

angel

Pairing: Bokuto Koutarou x Reader

Genre: fluff (OH WOW?)

Summary: meeting each other for the first time.

Word Count: 3k+

MIA’S GENERAL TAGLIST

@luvelyxp @paripedia @bokukiyoom @sunnyatsumu @centuress @doggonudez @newfriendjen @kodzukrn @anjvxmmv @keijikunn @maramalademadara @chaelysian @haikyuuwithadashofart @rogueofbullshit @bokuakadaily @kac-chowsballs @sakomi-kun @giyuwu-san​ @quirklessidiot​

mia speaks: 

just a little piece for my little baby bo to make up for the angst one i made of him lmao and bcoz BIRTHDAY BOY

if it isn’t too much, please leave a little COMMENT on this piece or REBLOG if you like it! Thanky! 

“No, ah—ah, it’s okay!” you interrupt him through giggles, dropping your hands down to your sides as you let your laugher slip through your lips at how such a well-built man turned into an adorable spluttering mess. He surely was different from the typical men that you had encountered throughout your modeling career.

It was like a breath of fresh air.

And you wanted more.

You were all smiles today with the girls as you all excitedly entered backstage to get ready. The show was going to start in a few minutes and honestly, despite the waves of anxiety rocking you back and forth, you were still very much excited for today’s show. After all, it’s the big event that the majority of the world waited to see.

Runway shows have never been a problem for you, that’s for sure. You were confident with your walk, but unfortunately, when it came to the Victoria Secret Fashion Shows, you were completely, utterly, nervous. Not only were you walking down a runway with people watching, but other people would be able to view it at home once it’s edited and polished. People from around the world would be able to watch your performance and you knew the VS Fashion Show was the talk of the world when it was that time of the year. 

Flashing a cheeky grin towards Candice, she gives you one of her own with a wink as you both sat down on your respective prep chairs that had your names on it and waited patiently for your assigned makeup artists to get started. 

“You ready?” Candice asked from her seat next to you. All you could give her was a nod and an excited squeal, causing her to laugh. “Have you invited anyone today?" 

"Oh, yeah. I’ve invited my best friends from high school since we’re around their area but that doesn’t matter since none of them responded to me so they’re probably too busy,” you said with a frown. 

Candice reaches out towards you, placing a comforting hand on your shoulder. “Well then your best friends are obviously missing out." 

You couldn’t blame your friends for not being able to attend your shows, no matter how vocal they are when it came to supporting you through scheduled video calls. They were all equally busy with their lives unlike during high school where they could find the time and support the other whether it may be your small local fashion shows or their volleyball matches. 

You wouldn’t have been able to make your dreams fully come true without their help and support. You had always dreamed of becoming a model. You were good, everyone adored your signature catwalk more than anything. Though, for the first few years when you just began, it was a little tough and a lot of competition from other aspiring models. You started off in social media, showing off your looks and your best friends were the first ones to promote it, especially Shoyo, who even ran around the halls of Karasuno High School, waving his phone in front of the faces of students to show you off. And you even had Tsukki sharing your posts though, as usual, he acted as if he was being forced. Eventually, despite still being in high school, you were recruited by a small modeling agency and from there, everything changed. All thanks to your best friends, of course. 

They never stopped supporting you, always finding the time to support your shows and even having them as your own team and because of their hard work and your own, slowly but surely, as you reached your junior year in senior high, you eventually got a name for yourself after a while, but projects didn’t come as easy or often. 

Though, that changed as soon as you approached your senior year during an after party for one of your shows. As usual, you had your team (aka your group of best friends) present with you and all their praises towards your performance during the show gained a lot of attention from various popular brands that were present as well. If anything, you were completely embarrassed by their excessiveness as brand owners began approaching you, but you were more than grateful for that night, for them, because after that night, projects started pouring in.

It was all thanks to Shoyo’s contagious energy, bouncing from one guest to the other, asking them what they thought of you. Kageyema’s persistent pestering, telling brands that they would miss out if they didn’t give you a chance, and he didn’t give them a chance to decline, not that they could anyway with how determined he looked. Then there was Yamaguchi, dragging Tsukki along to talk to different brands regarding your work, the usual tag team when it came to helping you, it almost seemed like a bad cop and good cop scenario, the receiving end not being able to escape until the two were satisfied. Even Yachi had some connections due to her mother, and had introduced you to the people she knew. 

And since then, everything took off and after becoming a well-known model in Japan, you eventually gained the attention of a huge brand that offered projects around the world, and who were you to decline such an opportunity? So as your modeling career skyrocketed, you found yourself exploring the world right after you graduated from Karasuno.

Despite being busy with your career and the time differences, you made sure to keep in contact with the people who helped you reach your dreams and they did the same, none of you drifted apart, always updating the other when needed. Invitations to your shows were always sent to the group, always expressing one day that they would be able to attend your shows. Especially since you had been recruited to become an Angel two years prior, but with everyone’s busy schedule and not having the ability to afford plane tickets to wherever the VS Fashion was being hosted, you and your friends found the time when the show would be aired and face timed each other to watch. And of course, the overwhelming love and support spilled from their mouths. 

Still, a part of you wished they would be able to attend your show today since it’s being hosted in Tokyo. You wished they would be able to see your growth in person. 

A loud squeal breaks you from your train of thought. You glanced over to one of the new girls that have been casted to run this year’s walk. "Wonder what’s that about…” you heard Candice beside you. You simply shrugged. 

“There are some really hot guys!” she squealed excitedly, clapping along. “I was taking a peek outside and saw them! They’re seated front row! Those seats are usually for our personal guests, someone tell me right now whose guests are those and please introduce me at the after party!" 

You and Candice turned to look at each other and burst into a fit of giggles. 

It wasn’t uncommon for the new girls to look around the guests to drool over celebrities that were invited, like a predator looking for its prey. You weren’t going to deny, but you were one of those girls too during your first year as an Angel, and had shamelessly flirted with one of your favorite celebrities during the after party. Thinking about it now, maybe you’ll have some fun later and find your own person to flirt with later but for now, you’re just silently praying that you don’t trip on the runway.

"Okay, can I just say that I’m really nervous right now?” you squeaked, a shaky breath escaping your lips. Your makeup artist patting the liquid shiny highlighter along your cheekbones with her fingers as Candice laughs beside you. 

She counters, flashing you a reassuring smile through the reflection of the vanity mirror in front of you, “You’ll be fine. Just relax." 

"Thank you, Shelly.” you said to your makeup artist before she gives you a nod and walks off. You let out a whine and throw your head back, your eyelids fluttering shut. “Easy for you to say, I’m opening the show this year.”

Candice extends her arm out to reach for your hand and gives it a gentle squeeze, hoping to calm your nerves. “You’ll do good.” You could always count on Candice to soothe you. That’s what best friends were for. 

“Y/N! Hurry up over here, you need to get changed!" 

You snapped back to reality and immediately jumped off of your seat and headed over to wardrobe. The last thing you heard from Candice was a yell of ‘good luck!’ before everyone begins fussing over your outfit. 

Music now blaring, excitement all over the atmosphere as the crew prepares the cue to signal you in. You were opening the show this year. The first set, which was called 'Snow Angels’ and you had been given one of the privileges of having huge fluffy white angel wings. It was heavy but nothing you couldn’t manage due to your rigorous training to maintain your model physique. They were huge and even had a trail that led down to your feet, you were able to grasp on it, to make it flow and follow you along every step. You had decided to hold onto them as you walked, an idea popping into your head. Along with the wings, you were dressed in white lace lingerie that fit perfectly and gave some accent to your well toned body. The lingerie had been adorned beautifully with gems that gave them a boost, making it sparkle when lights shine towards your direction. Plus, the silver heels were to die for. You really did look like an angel.

Bobbing your head to the music, dancing along to calm your nerves. You keep your gaze locked up ahead, a small smile playing on your lips. This is what you enjoyed the most, despite the nervous feeling you felt, you loved the adrenaline that coursed through your body. The adrenaline that pumped through your veins whenever you walked, you enjoyed the catwalks the most in your line of work. 

Hearing your entrance nearing since there was a rehearsal beforehand, you already knew when to start walking despite being given the signal from the crew members that stood around you. Giving them your signature cheeky grin, they give you their thumbs up of good luck with a smile plastered on their faces.

Following the beat of the music blaring through the place, your feet carried you through it, going exactly at the pace of the beat. As you reached the middle of the stage, you started with your signature catwalk entrance that your fans adored, you had your back facing the crowd for a second before you heard your cue to spin around from the music. You flashed the crowd with a smile and this only caused them to erupt into cheers. You began your walk, your feet taking you along in sync with the beat, your hips swaying to the rhythm. Letting your wings go for a second, you encouraged the crowd to go louder with your hands as you walked along the path, the smile still on your face. 

In an instant, your eyes catch a glimpse of a familiar mop of bright orange hair and your eyes widen ever so slightly, not expecting to see your group of friends standing up clapping happily at the sight of you with the biggest smiles on their faces. Time seemed to slow down but you were able to see them clearly. 

Yachi waved happily towards you with tears in her eyes, Yamaguchi giving you a thumbs up and a wide smile while Tsukki just looked at you with that irritating smirk but he looked proud, nonetheless. Kageyama waving a little flag with your face printed, his usual sheepish smile that you were accustomed to nowhere to be found, replaced with a wide smile that could compete with Shoyo’s. Speaking of the ball of sunshine, there was Shoyo, gaining the attention of the camera crew, jumping around excitedly with one hand in the air and his phone in the other, most likely capturing your walk, all the while, shouting your name. 

However, that wasn’t what just had caught your eye but the familiar looking person next to Shoyo who was equally as energetic as he was and you couldn’t help but let the warmth rush to your cheeks at the way he was looking at you in awe. A sudden surge of happiness bubbles in your chest at the sight of the duo excitedly chanting your name over the loud music, you were sure that the editing team would use the footage for when the show airs all over the world.

Despite not fully recognizing who the person next to Shoyo was, you couldn’t help but feel the butterflies burst in your stomach as you caught his eye. You were used to this kind of energy being best friends with Shoyo but something about his whole aura wanted to make your heart burst from the excitement. Summoning the courage, you send a flying kiss and a wave towards his direction. A grin makes its way to your lips at his unexpected reaction. It was like the one in cliche romantic movies where the guy captures the flying kiss with his hand and presses it to his heart before sending one back. You were hooked.

As you reach the end, you give the crowd, especially looking at the camera, your signature pose before gripping onto the wings once more, swaying yourself to create a flow as your eyes focus on the camera capturing your movements as if to seduce your viewers. Breaking out into a breathtaking grin, you spun around to walk back. As your feet carried you, you couldn’t help but glance back at where your friends were seated, your grin never wavering at the sight of Shoyo waving like a maniac, pointing towards your direction as he began telling the people surrounding him that he was your best friend. 

Your eyes caught golden ones once more and your heart skips a beat at the evident adoration mixed in his orbs. You felt breathless and giddy, slightly flustered at the thought of this mysterious man that was seated next to your best friend. You mentally note to yourself to ask Shoyo about him later and silently hope you would see him at the after party before disappearing to the backstage to prepare for your next set.

You had 3 sets for the year, the first one with the 'Snow Angels’ and then a set during the middle of the show and then the last set for the evening. The second set involved you wearing a sort of witch costume. You wore deep purple lingerie with a tiny hat that was pinned comfortably at the side of your head. The purple heels weren’t just a finishing touch, but the witch broom too. And the final set you wore, black lingerie. It was more of a corset but the texture was wonderful, lace, with some parts see through. You felt confident, so beautiful. A skirt was paired up with it, a small trail following you at the back. 

And every single time you walked down that runway, you would glance over at your best friends and him, winking playfully or sending kisses, Shoyo thinking it was directed at him but little did he know that it was for the energetic man with spiky white-grey hair with black streaks that resembled a horned owl that was on the receiving end of your playful gestures. And the man himself knew it too, playfully sending it back that made your heart beat rapidly in its confinement. Your friends, well aside for Shoyo, probably noticed that everything was directed to him, but you couldn’t find yourself to care as your confidence was at full percentage with how sexy you were feeling wearing lingerie.

As the show ended and you stood there happily in a line with the rest of the girls, your bubbly self began to show as you began dancing along to the beat of the music. It was another successful year. 

Now, it was time for the after party. 

You barely had the time to search for your friends as you were always pulled by either your co-angels or people you had wanted to work with. It was so difficult to reach them as they were situated from across the room, having their own little party and not really wanting to leave each other’s side, but you really wanted to join them at the realization that the man that was seated next to Shoyo earlier at the show, who you had been practically flirting throughout your walk, was a part of their group and it wasn’t just a coincidence of them seating next to each other. Then again, something in the back of your head was nagging you that you knew him, something about his aura completely familiar. 

After what seemed like forever, you were finally able to slip away from the people who wanted your attention, having the chance to see your friends after so long. However, before you could approach them you were pulled back by your forearm and as you were about to reprimand the intruder, your plan of actions were put to a halt as your eyes met his golden orbs. 

“Hey, hey, hey?” he starts sheepishly, a small smile playing on his lips as he releases his grip. 

A giggle slips past your lips as your shoulders relax. “Hey, hey, hey,” you repeat his words teasingly with a playful grin, “And what can I help you with?” 

“This may seem really weird since we don’t know each other but can I ask you a question?” he asks, shifting his tone to a more serious one but with one look into his eyes, you can see them twinkling with playfulness and you couldn’t help but nod your head to his request. “Did it hurt?” 

Brows knitting together in confusion, you tilt your head to the side at his question. “Did what hurt?” 

In a second, his features shift from the serious one that he had to one where his lips twitched to a grin, “When you fell from heaven.”

You suppress the heat that wanted to rush up to your cheeks from his cheesy pick up line, completely flustered. You were used to guys flirting with you but how was he able to surprise you and made you want to squeal like a high school girl? However, despite being flustered by his flirting, you weren’t one to back down so easily. Blinking a couple of times, trying your best to not look fazed by his words. “Are you implying that I’m Satan?” you ask, folding your arms across your chest as you arch a brow at him. 

He doesn’t expect your answer and turns into a spluttering mess before you. “No, I—I just,” he stutters, brows furrowing in frustration thinking he had failed to woo you with his pick up line, he was going to reprimand Atsumu who had told him it would work. “You—you’re an angel, ah you know, a Victoria’s Secret Angel, and I—” 

You interrupt him through giggles, dropping your hands down to your sides as you let your laugher slip through your lips at how such a well-built man turned into an adorable spluttering mess. He surely was different from the typical men that you had encountered throughout your modeling career. 

It was like a breath of fresh air. 

And you wanted more. 

Just as he wanted more of you when he stops his explaining at the sight of you bursting into a fit of giggles and he couldn’t even find himself to be embarrassed anymore at the sight of in your bubble of happiness, the way your face were scrunched up from laughing or how the sound of your laughter was like music to his ears, a smile making its way to his lips as he watches you in amusement. Ah yes, you truly were an angel to him. 

“No, ah—ah, it’s okay!” you gasp out through your giggles, shaking your head slightly as you try to regain your composure by holding onto your sides, “I didn’t mean to ruin your attempt at flirting.” 

He tilts his head to the side, the smile on his lips widening. “Oya? Why’s that?”

“Well...” you trail off, a smile matching his as you relax from your outburst, “I wouldn’t oppose to such, if it’s from you, that is.” 

He’d have to thank Shoyo for bringing him along. Your mere smile from afar was already breathtaking but now that he was close, he wanted to see it every single day of his life. Extending his arm, he holds his hand out for you to shake, “The name’s Bokuto Koutarou.” 

Taking his hand in yours, your eyes widen slightly as his name slips out of his mouth, “The Bokuto? The one that Shoyo’s been gushing about during freshmen year? I knew you looked familiar!” 

“The one and only,” he chuckles as he shakes your hand, listening intently as you introduce yourself, not wanting to let go of your hand just yet. He lets your name roll off his tongue experimentally and you mentally note to yourself that you loved the way that it did. “It’s nice to finally meet you.” A Happy Birthday indeed.

[thejudgingtrash]

Last but not least: PJO hot takes part IV!

Alright my dudes. I think we’re still in this game for one final round. Anyway here’s wonderwall. And Part 1//Part 2//Part 3!

Percy had actually knowledge about the Greek myths. He didn’t waddle in blindly. Where did y’all even get that?

The new possible Irish myth saga will be PJO 3.0 aka Magnus Chase 2.0 aka The Kane Chronicles 1.2.

Riordan already got the names of gods of that possible saga wrong

Riordan‘s Asian characters only know bitch or bland mode, huh

Stop babying Annabeth for fucks sake. Seriously

How the fuck did Sally afford several private schools for Percy when they were poor as fuck? I guess Gabe had to have a some somewhat decent job but then again playing poker/being a gambler and stealing from your stepson ain’t a cute move

Hazel should’ve been Thanatos‘ kid. To break the classic 12 Olympian mold (yeah Hades/Pluto technically isn’t one but he’s still team major gods) and also to throw the damned Hitler/Pluto aesthetics away

Did any of the kids break their limps or get permanently disabled at some point? Or do they just... die (and mostly stay dead)? I forgot

Where can the kids at Camp Half-Blood actually sneak off to fuck? Percy is legit the only one to claim his own shit as his love bunker. The rest is just fucked I guess or has first hand traumatic pre-college experiences

”Percy cursed“. Literally why, Riordan. Let the kid say fuck. He has earned the rights to do so a long time ago

Did I mention that people lack of basic reading skills in earlier takes? Anyway. Here’s another reminder!

Tbh the gods are egotistical fucks and have killed people for the fuck of it. I don’t see Poseidon being even close to okay with Sally marrying Gabe or Paul

I still don’t understand why Frazel is a thing

Most of you don’t understand how movie production works but that’s okay. Just know that everything inside your head will never be realized and there will be drastic cuts and additions to the books (again)

The electronics not working thing doesn’t even make any goddamn sense? Hermes is the god of the Internet. Does this mean that demigods can use the web just fine but simply can’t call each other? This really came back to bite Riordan in the ass now did it? Wouldn’t it make more sense to use old means of communication once you’re trying to reach more important/godly people or electronics fail in an accute situation?

Turning everyone heteroflexible creates the image that you’re simply liking a character for the fact that they are LGBTQ and not the character itself, just saying. More representation sure, but that itself isn’t a personality trait and shouldn’t be the main focus of a character unless it’s really defining in the story line (Nico‘s arc partially for example)

Tbh, HOO should’ve been aged up mentor Percabeth protecting CHB, with the rest of the gang fucking up Greece with aged Reyna + Nico perhaps. I might post an outline on that AU someday (someone should remind me about that tho)

On one hand you have in depth discussions and people diving into the matter and talking about every nook and cranny and on the other hand people are more then just fine with stereotyping and deflecting. Whut. Okay

Why are people shipping the lie that is Jasper/Jasiper

Stop romanticizing the gods

Dark!Percy is just a cheap way for you to turn Percy into an overpowered asshole and that’s that tea

Being in a relationship isn’t a personality trait, my dear shippers

Riordan‘s timeline is off because the coke rush didn’t last that long

The wasted potential of everything past PJO makes me want to cry

Percy’s fatal flaw isn’t stupid, Riordan just didn’t flesh it out properly which is why there were no real repercussions. A fatal flaw is supposed to be hindering you and not a compliment

The fact that adult people still can’t take jokes about their favorite characters is fucking insane part II

Why the fuck did the Stolls get tossed aside? Bruh. The potential? The stigma as a Hermes kid? They trying to redeem their cabins honor? Imagine one of them as a prophecy kid in HOO (and they’d switch and swap to confuse everyone)? Yes??

Every single one of you that essentially is team poc!Percy because he had a rough upbringing deserves to get slapped. Poverty, abuse, a single parent, etc. doesn’t equate to being poc?!?!? Smells racist just saying

Turning Hazel into Nico‘s sister was cheap af

Stop romanticizing and down playing the myth aspect. Tragedy is essential and will haunt demigods. Thank you, next

Also stop babying Percy

Let’s be honest none of those fuckers make it to college

Annabeth Chase is fucking WHITE part II. She’s not biracial, she’s not ”exotic“, she’s certainly not fucking black. She’s white with a little hint of a tan. That still makes her white. Do you really want to turn her into Ariana Grande 2.0? A fucking botched orange? This is your Annabeth aesthetic? Artists get it fucking right unless you state that you portray her as [spraytan headcanon] which is still fucking cheap let’s be real. Orange Annabeth isn’t part of the kulture

Regardless of the reception of the PJO movies, I’ll never forgive you people for letting Logan Lerman aka the OG white boy™ flop. Throw Tom “lipless but okay booty“ Holland and Timothée ”I missed a few meals“ Chalamet the fuck away!

Tbh a less romanticized version of the camps would’ve been more interesting. I’m still put off by CJ (and also the fact that CHB is a summer camp), but had there been more fights and actual deaths that had happened around the camps due to training, etc. you would’ve understood immediately why demigods dipped before the age of 18. The antithetical nature of sweet summer camp and people dying left and right would’ve been amplified

Did Reyna at some point in time even have the time to breath with all of the shit that went down? Her life is simply 24/7 stressful. I get that she wanted to bounce and no longer be in a tiring and demanding position but the hunters ain’t it sis

It’s okay to admit that fanon artwork or fanfics don’t deserve the webspace they are wasting. But phrase that probably in a nicer way

PJO Calypso wasn’t annoying. HOO & TOA Calypso on the other hand...

Alex Pettyfer would’ve been a better Luke Castellan but Jake Abel did an okay job

Percy isn’t an idiot. You are one for believing so

Riordan corrected the stance that Muslims don’t shower during Ramadan (literally how in the fuck did he come up with that in the first place?!) in upcoming MC books. Can he use the same energy to rewrite HOO tho??

Luke’s portrayals in SoM and TTC were straight up trash

Historically accurate PJO would’ve been everything

Monsters can detect demigods by smell. Camo wouldn’t do jack shit ffs

Jason is still bland and making jokes/pointing that out is more than okay

Omfg accept the fact that characters can have multiple facets all good and bad. Reducing them to one specific trait makes them boring and bland. Also it stereotypes

Getting mad over the fact that Clarisse has a boyfriend is still fucking insane

Not everyone needs to be a fanfic writer or an artist, a theorist or someone that analyzes everything phrase by phrase. As long as you’re in the fandom to enjoy works & discussions and remain on the saner side of the spectrum you’re good. You’re valid. Don’t forget that.

Not wanting to stay in a fandom and merely enjoying some of the fruits/benefits as in art/fics/headcanons is also super valid

PJO Reddit, Tumblr, IG and Twitter are a cesspool of chaotic mess and straight up trash but Tumblr > Reddit >>>>>> IG >>>>>> Twitter

Tbh: just try to enjoy a decent book series. It’s all not that deep

[ryuichirou]

do u have any favorite dj artists?

Yeah, a bunch of them! I’ll name a few, but there are definitely more very cool artists that I’m forgetting about right now. These ones are just those who I came to mind first +  those whose work I had saved for the occasional appreciation.

Please keep in mind that despite me whining about the characters being OOC all the time, these are also somewhat OOC (some of them are very OOC). I guess their characteristics are simply shifted in a way that we like so I don’t mind is as much, and sometimes the concept/artstyle/everything is just way too good for me to think about how character act.

Another disclaimer: the words “weird” and “messed up” are going to be used a bunch of times, but I mean them as compliments. When it comes to us and djs, the weirder and more messed up they are, the merrier. Here is the list with my little and not helpful summaries:

Atsukunare Kubota (Ereri) – I’d marry her djs if I could lol Her artstyle is so much fun to look at, her ideas are, well, a little weird, but this is why I love them – you’ll never be like “oh right I forgot that I read that”, they’ll be stuck with you forever. And I mean it, it really is the type of stuff where you go “oh I’m not sure if I’m going to like it- woah ok that was fun I’m kind of into it”. I’m so sad she doesn’t post new stuff on pixiv anymore… 

Ongre/Onjire/Tamy (Ereri) – another fave when it comes to Ereri djs. Her works are extremely funny and fun to read, some of them radiate such chaotic energy... it’s so enjoyable to watch lol Her Eren is insane, her Levi is grumpy and cute and she always does her best to showcase how feral Eren is and how adorable Levi is. She has good nsfw scenes too!

8205 (Ereri) – this one is very dear to me and very unique. 8205’s work is very interesting, she rewrites everything about the characters – their age, their “role” (for example, in the latest dj Reiner and Bert are Connie’s grandparents), and it still works well somehow?? Sometimes it all feels ridiculous and funny, but it still is very touching and beautiful. And creepy, it’s also creepy from time to time, I love it. I think I’d read those works even if they weren’t SnK djs. There are some nsfw scenes here and there, but not many, unfortunately. Katsu’s note: I’m ready to die for her Eren and for the author’s fashion sense.  

Zokugun Porno/Inumoto (Ereri) – their djs are more story-oriented, and their stories are interesting to read. I wouldn’t call them super creepy or dark and heavy per-se, but there is some ehh fleur of tragedy in some of their work. The atmosphere is amazing, I love this type of stuff. These djs also have some nice nsfw scenes, these are amazing too. Oh, and I really like how they work with Eren/Levi dynamic and incorporate it into AUs. 

Melomelow/Hyura (Eruri) – our all-time fave. The queen of size difference between Levi and Erwin. Her nsfw scenes are hot af, her Erwin is not ok in a beautiful way, her Levi is… well I was thinking for 5 min but I couldn’t come up with a perfect way to describe him lol, he’s just too good.

Chiruchiru (Eruri) – she has some good depressing djs, some more or less light-hearted ones, but her nsfw scenes are always great (and sometimes it gets weird…). She does Eruri’s size difference justice too, I appreciate her work a lot. 

Hakodume/x_hako (Eruri) – I absolutely adore her work. The storyboard, the frame composition, the artstyle itself – it’s gorgeous. Too bad she keeps deleting all of her galleries ;w; Her work is mostly sfw though, but still, very beautiful.

Uchu Kago (Eruri) – I don’t even have words for this one, every time they’re kind enough to share their dj in its entirety on pixiv I cry a little because of how good their Eruris are. Their AUs are very interesting, they has tons of very cool concepts with them, and oh my god THE SIZE DIFFEREEENCEEEEE it murders me every time we read any of their djs.

鼻子 (Eruri) – their works have such a great dark and depressing atmosphere. They’re mostly story-oriented with great and very fitting visuals: dramatic shading, hatching, rough lines, all this stuff makes their djs feel very… unnerving. In a very good way, I love it when djs make me feel uneasy.

Honorable mentions: here are a bunch of great artists who post short comics and art that we really enjoy. It’s mostly comical and sfw, but occasionally there is nsfw stuff too.

Si_tano (Ereri) – this person draws djs too and have a lot of previews on their pixiv page, and I’d commit a rumbling to be able to pay them and read any of those, but they also post a lot of short funny comics about Eren and Levi. They also have a series of sketches with Erewan 

Migiri (Ereri AND Eruri!) – this person’s short comics art hilarious, I adore their portrayal of Levi and the fact that they ship both of our fav ships. A lof of their works have “two idiots are madly in love with Levi who is just chillin’ there” dynamic and it’s great. 

Zundamochi (Ereri) – we’re in love with this artist’s Eren LOL he’s so moody and clingy and angry, it’s so close to how we see Eren, it’s always a national holiday for us when they post something new. Such a joy. Levi is adorable too

Bubiomaru – they mostly post non-shippy art nowadays, but they have short comics with both Ereri and Eruri. Although their non-shippy art is hilarious too 

Koka-tin (Ereri, Eruri, etc) – they mostly post illustrations, but there are some short stories here and there (both sfw and nsfw). Levi-centric, and oh god if their Levi is good. They illustrate his nature and his sexiness perfectly. There are  a lot of unexpected ideas, stories and characters’ combinations, their mind amazes me. And the art itself is breathtaking good . 

シャケ (Ereri, Eruri, Zevi, etc…) - their Levi is round, soft, smol, tiny, kittenish, everything. And woah they ship him with Zeke!! Well, they ship him with a lot of people, but Zeke is one of them and I’m grateful for that. You most likely won’t like their stuff though, I’m pretty sure about that. You’ll see what I mean when you see their Levi lol 

Once again, there are a lot of people that I’m forgetting about or don’t remember well enough to describe their work, since it’s been forever since I’ve reread some of the older djs… But I think that’s enough for now lol

Too bad there are no Zevi djs yet…….sob

[dvrthncx]

Facing the Past

(**spoilers** for end of Jedi Knight storyline)

The air in the Emperor’s throne room felt thick--heavier than foggy mornings on Dromund Kaas, and stickier. It seemed to Nevar’ija that she was breathing in the Dark Side, inhaling its poisons into her lungs and unwillingly fuelling herself with those sickly sweet odours given off by the blue-flamed pyres. It smelled like her youth: achingly familiar and ruinously hateful.

“The circle closes. The end beings,” the Emperor said when the Jedi reached the bottom of the stairs leading up to his throne, his voice echoing sinisterly across the expansive chamber. It gave the impression that he was omnipresent, that he might even reside within Nevar’ija’s very soul. She pushed back against that disturbing thought vehemently. The Emperor did not--would not--possess her. Not again.

He stood up; his body was slight, thin--would have looked frail if he were anyone else, but the sheer power and greedy hatred emanating from that thin frame dissipated any sense of weakness; one could simply not be such a force of power and be considered frail. He slowly stalked to the edge of the dias, as though he were time itself and knew he could use as much of it as he wanted. Looking down at Nevar’ija he said, “You dissipated your energy saving the weak. There are consequences.” Nevar’ija drew her lightsaber out in an instant, ready to fend off an attack, her eyes never leaving the Emperor’s glowing red body--it seemed almost ghost-like, evanescant as a result of the black smoke twining itself almost lovingly around that small figure; but she knew better. She knew that was neither death nor temporality, but the proof of the Emperor’s eternity, his constancy.

The Emperor reached out with his greedy fingers and Nevar’ija angled her lightsaber towards him, but rather than shooting lightnight at her, he raised spikes of purple lightning from the stone floor in a semi-circle around Nevar’ija and T7. 

Out of the dark purple smoke and crackling lightning many Emperors glowing red and encased in tendrils of black smoke emerged. Nevar’ija felt them through the Force before she saw them--better than she saw them. They were more substantial in the Force, more real than what her eyes saw. They were the Force. But she was also sure thay they could hurt her. She spun on her heel and brought her lightsaber down on the closest Force-entity. It vanished with a burst of bright purple smoke upon contact. The others had moved in to surround her, blinding her with flashes of purple light and filling the air with silky, serpentine tendrils of dark Force energy. She couldn’t see. She struck out with her saber, feeling her way through the writhing, swaying Force as though wading through deep, murky water--lost, afraid, desperate.

Less through skill than through sheer panic, Nevar’ija managed to eliminate all five of the Force-entities. They and their black and purple fog disappeared and revealed the Emperor, who had descended the steps and stoped in front of Nevar’ija. She turned on him, lightsaber out, a furious growl in her throat. She could not forget that the last time she had been subjected to this concentration of Dark Side energy, her mind had been taken from her and she forced to commit terrible acts--acts from which she had fled when she left the Empire and sought out the mercy of the Jedi. It would not happen again--she could not allow it. 

Perhaps she was imagining things, but she thought she almost saw the Emperor smirk in that instant--just for the briefest of moments. Burning rage and shame pooled in her heart, boiling, uncontrollable. 

The Emperor, still standing weaponless and staring down Nevar’ija’s lightsaber at her scowl, merely said, “My life spans millenia. Legions have risen to test me.” For a being of pure hatred, the calm and collected confidence he maintainted was unsettling, aggrivating to Nevar’ija--all the moreso as she struggled to contain her own rage.

He was goading Nevar’ija, and she knew it. But the hatred she felt within her for the Emperor, for his Empire, for everything they stood for in the galaxy and to her personally steadily gained control of her. She wanted him dead. She needed him dead. “You’re a threat to every living being in the galaxy. If you won’t surrender, I will destroy you,” she all but growled, pushing her lightsaber closer to his face.

“You discern a fraction of reality,” said the Emperor condescendingly. “Beyond these stars exist other galaxies, other worlds, other beings. I will experience or ignore them as I wish. I will spend eternity becoming everything: a farmer, an artist, a simple man. When the last thing in the universe finally dies, I will enjoy peace and wait for the cycle to begin again.”

“You will never possess that kind of power.” Nevar’ija could hear the shaking desperation in her own voice, how violently it clashed with the self assured, blasé tone of the Emperor’s assertions. Her every emotion swelled with each moment she faced the Emperor, inhaling his poisonous black soul. She could feel them starting to spiral out of control. Oh, but she hated him. And all she could think was that if she could just kill him, her negative emotions--her hatred, her pain, her sorrow, her self-doubt, her confusion, the sense that she was lost--would all die too. In saving the galaxy she would save herself and vice versa. All she had to do was squeeze the life out of the Emperor with her bare hands. 

Her legs trembled beneath her. Fear. 

But who was she afraid of? The Emperor? Myself?

She wasn’t so sure that the two were very different in that moment. 

As if the Emperor could hear her thoughts, he said: “There is no death, there is only the Force and I am its master. My ascendence is inevitable. A day, a year, a millenium--it matters not. I hold the patience of stone and the will of stars. Your striving is insignificant. Let your death be the same.” 

He suddenly drew his lightsaber and lunged at Nevar’ija. She blocked his attack and threw herself into action with a fierce and explosive energy the likes of which she had never experienced before. All the emotions, the tension, the fear which had been building up from the moment she stepped foot in the throne room released suddenly and from them sprung a savage sort of force that took control of the jedi and seemed to move for her rather than with her. She could feel that she was not in control, but she felt liberated, relieved, powerful.

The Emperor chuckled when she landed her first blow on his arm after a relentless offensive. “You’ve grown reckless since we last met,” he drawled antagonistically.

Nevar’ija snarled like a wild beast and lunged again. “I’ve only grown stronger!”

“No... but your emotions have,” the Emperor said, almost pensively, as he dodged Nevar’ija’s attack and Force-pushed her back across the room. “You must use your fear and your anger to your advantage. Release them!”

His insinuation infuriated Nevar’ija. With a burst like a hot flame she launched herself at him, almost blinded by red tears of rage. She felt certain her blow would land, that she would have the satisfying sensation of impact: lightsaber cutting through skin, sawing the hateful creature in half. With a violent, shattering crash her lightsaber clashed with the emperor’s. The impact was so hard that Nevar’ija’s arms went numb. Shouting in frustration, Nevar’ija withdrew her lightsaber and let loose another flurry of attacks, propelled by dark Force energy that pounded through her blood with every beat of her adrenaline-soaked heart. It was intoxicating, the power that pure hatred had ignited within her. Far from trying to gain control, she drank it willingly and abundantly, let it drive her to savage and aggressive attacks in her desperate campaign to pierce the emperor’s flesh with her blade, to feel muscle tissue and bone yield to her thrust. Almost screaming in rage, Nevar’ija Force-jumped, shooting downward with her saber out to strike to killing blow--

It was as though she landed on a stone wall. A burst of the Force stopped her mid-leap and threw her back across the room. Nevar’ija slammed into the far wall and landed with a painful thud. Her entire left side would be bruised for weeks. For just a few seconds she lay there, stunned, overwhelmed by shock and stinging pain. The fall had jarred her, snuffed out the flame of writhing, bestial power that had burned in her chest. She opened her eyes slowly and her gaze fell on T7 who had rolled up to her and beeped worriedly. The Jedi was suddenly reminded of the quiet mountain forests of Tython, the place where she had first met T7, with its tumbling waterfalls and bubbling creeks. She remembered the sound of Master Orgus’ voice, and the fresh sense of peace and safety that had come with the perfume of the whispering pines on the breeze. There is no emotion, there is peace. She shivered slightly as a calm, cool energy caressed her aching body and soothed her weeping heart. 

“You can do better than that,” the Emperor’s voice wormed its way into Nevar’ija’s hazy recollections, drawing her back into the dark and foreboding chamber of reality on Dromund Kaas. “You Sith purebloods have a natural propensity for dark passion; don’t try so hard, just let nature do it’s work.”

Nevar’ija pushed herself up slowly, resting a reassuring hand on T7′s head. “There is no passion,” she said, drawing her fallen lightsaber to her with the Force and reigniting it. “There is serenity.”

The emperor scowled. “Foolish child! You think you can deny your nature forever and hide behind your precious Jedi teachings? I will show you the true meaning of power,” he spat. In a burst of purple lightning and smoke, he appeared to multiply. At least ten emperors, all glowing red and crackling with purple sparks, leered at Nevar’ija through the haze. Taking a deep, steadying breath the jedi raised her lightsaber. “There is not emotion, there is peace,” she chanted, as though reminding herself one final time, and in the split second before the force-entities lunged at her she thought she could feel Master Orgus’ approval radiating through the Force. Nevar’ija clung to that sensation as though to a life-line, and this time when she entered the boggy swamp of Dark Side energy she did not panic; did not lose her way; did not relinquish control. She fought with the Force, not through it: methodic, controlled, infallible. Until all the force-entities had disappeared, and her saber struck flesh and bone, sliced through the emperor’s lower abdomen, brought him to his knees.

The jedi stood over the emperor, silent, weapon drawn. The end was near, at long last.

The emperor, clutching his side, looked up at Nevar’ija with a frown. He no longer glowed red, swathed in the twisting cape of Dark energy; instead he wore his corruption naked upon his body: skin so pale it was almost purple, wrinkled and loose from an eternity of life-devouring evil, and eyes sunk deep in their sockets, glowing blood-orange out of the obscurity. “You harness immense power--but you lack the purity of will to direct it,” he wheezed in a voice that, though it did not carry into the depths of Nevar’ija’s soul, remained saturated with power nonetheless.

Nevar’ija said nothing. She felt a ripple in the force just seconds before the emperor raised his hands and she lifted her lightsaber to block the stream of white-hot Force lightning that the emperor shot at her.

Even as the emperor rallied himself through the Force and stood up, the jedi firmly held her ground, lightsaber absorbing the devastating energy.

The emperor pushed forward, and Nevar’ija pushed back until they were running at one another, drawing on the Force. The clash was inevitable, and only one would rise from its devastating blow this time. Nevar’ija could feel her saber vibrating from the lightning’s energy, could feel the tension in the chamber as the Dark and the Light pushed on each other from opposing sides, meeting in the middle in a violently bright explosion. She could feel the raw power of the Dark Side, of the emperor: it was indescribably strong, but it was wild, uncontrollable. Even the emperor could lose his grip--was losing his grip. With a shock, Nevar’ija realised that her control and trust in the Light was a threatening match for the emperor’s dark power--and he knew it too. It was beginning to destabilize him, making him desperate. 

They were close now, just seconds apart. The emperor was going to kill her; she knew it. She could feel his intentions. She would only have the slightest of opportunities to stop him, the briefest moment to break the connection and his path of destruction. Rallying her strength in the Force, the jedi breathed deeply until the Force flowed within her, became One with her. Time seemed to slow down. When the emperor was mere centimeters away from the blade of her lightsaber Nevar’ija knew instinctually that the moment had come. Guided by the gentle, sure hand of the Force she broke her defensive position and with it the stream of lightning connecting herself to the emperor. In one smooth movement, she swung her saber over her head and, with a controlled twist, landed a carefully planned blow and cut clean through the emperor’s thighs. 

He fell with a moan, landing face-down on the cold stone floor of his throne room. Assured that the mutilated creature on the floor was no longer a threat, Nevar’ija lowered her lightsaber and slowly approached, standing over the living corpse with a scowl of disgust.

 The emperor struggled to raise his head and her chest with weakened arms. “I will not be contained, I cannot be redeemed,” he said, his voice low, threatening, even in his obviously pitiful state. “Death is all that remains, and you will not kill me.”

A thrill of defiance shot through Nevar’ija at the words: the emperor thought he knew her so well, thought he could read her soul and intentions so easily? She would prove him wrong, just as she always had. She stalked forward, towering over the meager, pathetic creature on the ground. You think I won’t kill you? Just watch me, she thought. He was the spitting image of everything that she hated--the perfect representation of a time, a life, she had come to look upon with the severest resentment. Gazing down at him, hate rose in her once more, smouldering in the pit of her stomach. In him she saw her childhood, the world she had come from, the culture that had made her. She saw the death, the rage, the mistrust; she felt the blood, the betrayal, the fear. Her bitter hatred urged her, begged her to end him, to slaughter the creator of everything she resented so ardently--and in so doing, to slaughter also that part of her she hated: the part of her that belonged to and was born of that hateful world. She could eliminate her shame, and oh! how she wanted to. 

In that moment, the emperor turned his face up and his gaze caught Nevar’ija’s as she imagined striking the death blow--imagined the vengeful satisfaction of the act. He smiled. It was a smug, triumphant, ugly smile. Nevar’ija faltered, struck suddenly by the futility of revenge, the emptiness of the act, of which the emperor’s triumphant grin suddenly made her aware. She felt as though someone had knocked the breath out of her with that realisatio; the realisation that if she took revenge, if in the thrawls of her hatred she struck down the very personification of that hatred, she would have nullified everything she had worked so hard for since the moment she’d fled Korriban with Rijalu and escaped to Tython. Everything: worthless. Her life: wasted. It would be a betrayal of the person she had sought so desperately to become and the very values she had spent years championing throughout the galaxy. She would, in essence, become the very thing she hated most in striking a vengeful blow against that which she hated most. 

Master Orgus’ voice came to her, then: a memory, though vivid through the Force. “You must let go of hate, my young padawan. You cannot hope to become the person you want to be, if you insist on clinging to the pain of you used to be,” he had told her once--was telling her again. 

Closing her eyes, Nevar’ija inhaled, long, heavy, until she could not inhale anymore and her lungs burned. Tears stung the corners of her eyes. This is it, she thought. I will let go of my hatred and I will finally be free. No more sorrow; no more hate; no more fear; no more shame. Exhaling slowly, intentionally, she released her hatred and resentment, her rage and vengeance on her breath. 

Opening her eyes, she felt light, felt truly secure in herself for the first time. She knew who she was, and where she belonged. I am a Jedi, she thought.

And outloud to the emperor she said: “You’re right. I don’t want to kill you--but you will face justice for your crimes. That is the Jedi way.” In so saying, she turned her lightsaber off and sheathed it.

The emperor’s triumphant grin melted into a disgusted frown. “There is no justice. There is only revenge. I will not be your trophy. If I must die, I choose how--and everything dies with me.” In a flash of purple, his body dissappeared. Nevar’ija could no longer feel his presence in the Force, but neither did she feel a significant enough shift in the Force to mean that he was really dead. Whatever had happened, she did not think he had let himself die, but he was unquestionably gone. 

T7 whistled and beeped enthusiastically. 

“Yep, it’s finally over...” Nevar’ija replied pensively, her brain still trying to process what she had just done. Shaking herself to try and get a grip on reality, she said, “Let’s get us all back to Republic space, T7.”

[aion-rsa]

The Sinner Season 3 Ending Explained

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

This article contains spoilers for The Sinner season 3.

When planned miniseries decide to expand into traditional series, they often run the risk of rendering their titles moot. Such is the case with USA Network’s detective drama The Sinner. When it opted to move past its novel inspiration’s premise to tell new stories about detective Harry Ambrose, there was a real chance that the name “The Sinner” would become vestigial.

The Sinner solved this problem by making sure that all its subsequent case subjects would be as focused on sin as season 1’s Cora Tannetti (Jessica Biel). In fact, the lead character of The Sinner season 3, Jamie, might be the series’ biggest “sinner” thus far. 

As effectively played by Matt Bomer, Jamie is the ultimate example of what happens when college classes on Nietzsche go wrong. In The Sinner season 3’s first episode, Jamie is a seemingly normal (if unusually hot) individual. He’s a teacher at a prestigious prep school, and a husband with his first child on the way. But when old college buddy Nick Haas (Chris Messina) drops by for dinner, it unlocks something primal and terrifying deep within him. 

The Sinner season 3 (streaming on Netflix now) doesn’t hold back what’s driving Jamie until the end of its season. In fact, early episodes are surprisingly forthcoming about the nature of Jamie’s transformation. Back in college, Jamie and Nick were essentially edgelords – weird, dark brats who became fixated on philosophies of the self. From Aleister Crowley to Frederick Nietzsche, Jamie and Nick are enraptured by intellectual theories that assure that God is dead, and the only meaning in the world is what you make of it. 

Throughout their lives, these philosophies encourage the pair to engage in risk-seeking behavior that ranges from jumping off of bridges to burying themselves alive to stabbing themselves through the hand in public. Nick’s latest plan is to murder local artist Sonya Barzel (Jessica Hecht). A fatal car accident that kills Nick foils this plan. But the experience of watching Nick die encourages Jamie to take his death obsession to the extreme. 

By the season 3 finale, Jamie’s body count has reached three with him having directly or indirectly killed Nick, a fortune-teller at a trendy Manhattan party, and detective Harry Ambrose’s precinct captain. This all leads to an expected final confrontation with Harry. This denouement is fairly perfunctory. In fact, much of The Sinner season 3 suffers from having too much time to tell its story. Jamie is constantly coming into Harry’s orbit, telling “you’re not so different, you and I”, then running away. This last meeting, however, is tremendously meaningful and deftly communicates the theme of season 3.

After a very silly game of murderous fortune-teller, Jamie tells Harry that he just wanted to force him to admit that they’re the same. There’s plenty of evidence throughout the season that Harry and Jamie have similar philosophical leanings – or at least some similar nihilism. Harry then seemingly confirms that by shooting Jamie in the gut. And this is where things get interesting.

Instead of maintaining his Nietzsche-ian energy, congratulating Harry on a job well done of becoming a murderer, Jamie begins to fall apart. He cries like a child, and begs Harry to help him. As Harry kneels down to tend to his wound, Jamie asks Harry over and over again if the ambulance is on the way. Despite talking a big game about the emptiness inside him and the inability to feel any god’s presence, Jamie clings to life in an almost embarrassing fashion.

When Jamie finally dies, Harry is clearly rattled from the experience. 

“What was he like in the end?” Sonya wants to know.

Sonya had been enraptured by Jamie’s killer aura, all but inviting him into her house on two occasions despite knowing the dangers he presented. She is clearly expecting him to have had some sort of revelation in the end…something that would have explained why he was so mysterious and appealing. But Harry can only respond with the truth.

“Scared,” he says, before beginning to weep.

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

Harry weeps because he too is scared. Harry thought he found a compatible spirit in Jamie. Both feel an absence of God (or any other greater meaning) in their lives. For Harry it was likely because of the horrors in the capacity of his job. For Jamie, it was just because he took Philosophy 101 a little too seriously during undergrad. But regardless of the reasoning, both men felt a deep dissatisfaction and emptiness that only something extreme could fix.

In the end, however, killing didn’t “fix” Jamie. Nor did dying. The only thing that dying revealed to Jamie was that he was afraid to die. The thing that motivates Harry Ambrose and the subjects of The Sinner isn’t malice, dissatisfaction, or sin, itself. It’s just simply fear. The Sinner season 3 is just like the show’s other two seasons, and really just about any other detective drama. It’s all about fear of the unknown. Jamie didn’t realize that until too late. Hopefully, Harry can carry that lesson onto the next case.

The Sinner is available to stream now on Netflix.

The post The Sinner Season 3 Ending Explained appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[birdycurtains]

What about Tony being an old school horror director who feels like he’s about to be upstaged by Peter, a new horror director - think Blumhouse - and Tony, never having met him, both hates and fears him, until he bumps into him at a movie theater and hit it off until Peter introduces himself -des

this inspired me beyond belief, i have no idea why. i don’t think this was the direction you intended, but once i started i couldn’t stop haha. - birdy

He Calls Him Anthony

wordcount: 2,357

Friday nights were sacred. They were nights centered around going to see old movies at the IFC, and there was never to be a schedule conflict. Because that was one of the three nights he was awarded for seeing his daughter a week. 

And he would die before he didn’t take Morgan to see a truly good movie every Friday night. 

This night was Sunset Boulevard, he did always enjoy a good Wilder film, as did Morgan. Her twelve year-old self had mastered the art of the Norma Desmond gaze.

But here was Peter Fucking Parker, waltzing out of a showing down the hall. 

Morgan blearily leant into her dad's side as he attempted to speedily walk out of Parker’s field of vision.

It wasn’t that he hated Peter Parker, well maybe he did just a little. 

He was once that fresh face on the scene, basking in the limelight, being the true face of modern horror. 

But now his takes weren’t exactly fresh, and what the younger audiences were looking for. They wanted a twisted gore, with just this side of odd comic relief, that Parker had perfected while Pepper was serving Tony divorce papers.

So maybe he was envious, maybe he was just tired of everytime he attended a premier, or so much as breathed in the direction of the media, he was hounded with questions of what exactly did he think about Peter Parker?

In the beginning, he didn’t care or think much. But as trailer after trailer was put out, the movies being produced at a rapid rate while maintaining or increasing their following, even Morgan was asking her father if they could rent this, or if they could go to the cinema to see that.

And maybe he caved once, and with a hoodie, and sunglasses, a hat. For good measure of course. He went and saw one. With Morgan, because she insisted, and who was he to deprive her. 

It was good. And he resented Peter Parker for the same craft he held a torch for.

So here was Peter Parker, coming out of Casablanca. And making a bee-line towards him. 

“Mr Stark! Mr. Stark! Mr. Stark?”

God damn it. 

Tony willed his body to face the younger man. Morgan follows in suit, her eyes widening in realization, and proceeding to prod her elbow directly into her father’s side.

“Mr. Parker, well, nice to see you.” 

Tony could play nice, put on his ‘customer service’ voice, and act chummy with Peter Parker.

Although, the in-person Parker didn’t exactly match what he imagined.

This one wore thread-bare jeans, and converse that had seen better days, three years ago. 

He didn’t match the one he had seen plastered over last month's vanity fair, the pictures that had circulated his time-line a little more than his liking. 

They ran in the same circles, it wasn’t like he was actively looking for him.

“Gosh, Mr. Stark, it’s an honor to meet you really. Please, call me Peter.”

He was like a chihuahua that took a five-hour-energy-shot. 

His handshake was firm, and he slipped his glasses back up his nose as he collected himself. 

“I’m sorry for bothering you, but I thought I had seen you here before, I come here all the time y’know, every time they have a Rocky Horror showing, I’ve got tickets.” 

It was easy to catch that he was a New York native, unlike Tony himself. His Queens drawl interweaving between vowels and catching on to his r’s. It was rather cute, and personable. 

Did he just- Tony called him cute. Christ.

“My daughter and I like the classics.” He put simply smoothing down Morgan’s unruly strands. 

“Yeah, me too. I’m usually knee deep in everything going on right now, that to just enjoy the good ol’ stuff-”

He gave a dramatic sigh of pleasure, Tony felt his ears turn red.

 “That’s everything man. You would know of course. God, of course you know-  I mean”

The younger man cut himself short as he realized he was gripping Tony’s shoulder, his face and neck flushing red.

“I’m sorry- I’m probably taking up your family time. But, we should totally get together. Like talk shop or whatever?”

Peter flashed him the brightest smile, he swore the dim hallway was a little brighter.

“Yeah.”

The man was gone with a friendly wave as he jogged back to a small group of people, probably his friends, towards the exit.

Tony looked down at the ground and focused on his hand that hung limply by his side. On it was a chicken scratch phone number. 

Peter had written down his phone number. On Tony’s hand. 

And he hadn’t even noticed.

~

A few days later, Tony decides to grow a pair. He types the number into his phone, makes an individual contact for a Mr. Peter Parker.

He never thought this day would come. And he’s not sure the exact connotation behind that thought.

Does he call? Does he text?

In all honesty it has been a minute since he attempted friendship, or even communication outside of his usual social circle. 

Things had never been like this when he and Rhodey had initially become friends. Even the rest of his band of misfits had just happened naturally, never really taking this much preamble communication.

He texts.

~

They decide to meet at a small cafe around the NYU campus. Peter had said the place was quiet and usually uncrowded, one of his favorites.

Going against his gut, he trusts Peter and agrees.

Now here he is, looking presentable for the public eye, it’s a Monday. He’s just dropped off Morgan at school, and here he is. At another school.

“Anthony!”

He winces just the slightest, and is met with the vision that is Peter Parker at eight a.m. on a Monday morning. For someone so heavily criticized and praised in the public-eye, appearances must be everything on some level for the man. He doesn’t exactly aim to disappoint.

He looks so effortlessly cozy, dolled up in his black turtleneck and rust orange suede jacket, and those same glasses from the week prior perched against his brow bone. His hair looks soft, and his eyes are warm.

“Mr. Parker.”

That’s good. Set some boundaries, before you directly tell him he looks soft.

“I told you.” Peter sighs wistfully, wrapping his hands around a deep mug of hot chocolate? 

He looks up again with the same kindness and warmth.

 “Call me Peter.”

~

He invited him to dinner.

He doesn’t exactly know how it happened. It was somewhere between talking about how Peter had wound up picking up where his uncle left off, and how working as a barista in the cafe they were sitting in was Peter’s favorite job during college.

He could imagine a littler Peter, running around behind the counter making drinks and warming up scones. His open textbook to the left of the register, just like he described.

It made a fluttering in his chest somewhere, to know a personal and small detail of the Peter Parker. 

Not in a, I’m a huge fan of the Peter Parker.

But, in a, this kind young man, I am having the privilege of getting to know, kind of way.

The point is he invited him to dinner, at this high-end steak house he’s familiar with. A reservation for eight. 

It’s eight forty-five, and he’s on his second glass of red wine, Peter’s on his third.

Things are comfortably warm, they’re talking about Tony’s first movie, and how much of a shitshow it was, but the critics loved it.

The steak is amazing, they order dessert.

And he doesn’t budge or comment when Peter hooks his foot around his own. He only smiles softly, and watches Peter’s curious eyes watch as he brings a piece of poached pear to his mouth.

He hails Peter a cab at the end of the night, and Peter thanks him for dinner.

He calls him Anthony, once again.

~

Peter calls him this time.

It’s in the late hours of the night, and Tony, never really one for sleeping through the night anyway, has a lapful of script he’s reviewing, making sure it fits his artistic vision and what-not.

His voice is rough around the edges, a haze of sleep almost.

Tony wonders what it sounds like in person. If he were in bed next to him, or with him. Maybe with a lapful of Peter Parker, and not dialogue bleeding into his iris’.

He invites Tony over for Thursday night.

Peter knows the custodial schedule. That should mean something right?

He texts him an address later in the day. It’s in the Upper East Side, not too far from him, it’s in a cozy neighborhood of brownstones. 

Very Peter Parker.

~

Tony, will never understand Rocky Horror.

Peter had invited him when he arrived a little late, just five minutes, but he could see the worry drip off his shoulders as he greeted him at the door.

His home was a beautiful thing, filled to the brim with the most eclectic vintage interior, but it somehow matched.

He had learned from their meeting at the cafe, that Peter’s aunt owned a store that specialized in all things vintage and antique. It hadn’t surprised him to see it rubbed off on him.

In the downstairs parlor, it was decorated with dozens of Peter’s movie posters. Some were beta’s that Peter and an artist had worked on together. Peter flushed when he caught him staring. 

Tony would never get used to the fact that this Peter Parker was shy and not open about his work in his personal life, he liked to keep things very separate. 

He watched him put together a heaping bowl of kettle corn and followed him up a winding staircase, Peter remarked it was his favorite thing about the house.

He told him they were watching Rocky Horror Picture Show. 

Tony had never seen it in his entire life, he knew the cult following it had, but he couldn’t piece together that this is something Peter loved so much, but was so different from the direction he took with his work. 

He only smiled and agreed and saddled up with Peter on the pink floral couch. 

They’d never done this before, but it felt so familiar, like they had been through this scenario a dozen times, and it was just natural to lean into each other and fumble for the sugary popcorn between them.

It was around the scene when Frank N Furter was doing the backstroke with the rest of the cast in the swimming pool, that Tony realized their closeness.

How he had his arm wrapped around Peter, and Peter had just melted into his side.

The younger man must’ve felt the pressure of Tony’s gaze burning into the side of his face, since he turned his head to face him. 

It was all very cliche in this sense. 

A romantic scene directed and scripted and cast.

Except the love interests were him and Peter.

Peter kissed him first. That’s all he can clearly recall, the seconds prior being a blur of ‘is this actually happening’ to ‘it’s actually happening, do something’.

Finally the cognitive gears in his brain rekindle their function, and his lips are moving against Peter’s. He’s so warm and soft, he tastes like cinnamon sugar. 

Peter’s hands are grounding against his chest, holding him to reality, in any other case he would’ve drifted off somewhere because he has to be dreaming.

But this is real. And Peter’s real.

And, oh no. 

Tony gently pulls away from Peter’s grasp, and takes a breath. And Peter’s got this smile on his face like he won the grand prize at a carnival game.

“Peter- I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that. This is not going to happen.”

The smile falls faster on Peter’s face than the pit in his stomach.

There’s something hurt and cold in his eyes. The warmth is gone, and the guilt gnaws at Tony as he flees the Parker residence. 

~

It’s been two weeks since the Rocky Horror incident. 

Peter’s texted, and called. He believes he’s got Anthony all figured out. 

To be truthful he does. 

He had called Anthony out on his behavior six days ago, and hasn’t sent another message since.

Peter left a voicemail stating that Anthony wasn’t going to let himself enjoy something without finding an excuse for why he can’t. Peter wants this, and Anthony wants this, then that is all that matters. He is going to be filming at this location for the next two weeks, he can make his peace by showing up or not.

Tony stared at the message for ten minutes before Morgan told him to go get Peter.

She knew.

She always knows.

~

When Tony saw Peter again he was rushing past people ushering him to stop.

But Tony was on a mission, he felt like one of his main characters in the final leg of the movie, finally making it out alive, and this was the final call, where he would live to the credits, or the antagonist would leave no survivors. 

Peter was beautiful.

Even if he did look like Prom Queen Carrie at the moment. 

His hands and clothes were covered in fake blood, helping arrange the set to a T.

When Peter looked up at him, he knew he would make it to the credits.

His boy ran at him and swallowed him in his warmth. 

It was a pining, longing, and apologetic kiss, with bloody hands cradling Tony’s face.

“You’re dumb, and you hurt my feelings Anthony.” Peter whispered as he pulled away. 

“I’m sorry.” He replies, his eyes watery, insecurity wrung out like a rag, he wanted Peter and Peter wanted him. He chanted it a million times into the crook of Peter’s neck, just holding him. 

Peter pulled away and held him by his shoulders “It’s okay Anthony.”

He smiled that big beautiful warm smile of his, and pushed him away.

“Now. Get off my set. I’ll see you at nine, bring Morgan, they’re playing Psycho tonight.”

[goodvibesatpeace]

The 30 Day Challenge Each Zodiac Sign Needs To Take In Order To Live Beautifully

Aries: Watch a movie each day challenge

Netflix is great, but how about expanding your knowledge and inspiration for the next 30 days with a movie marathon? A friend of mine took this challenge while he was studying to become an actor and spent a couple minutes each morning reviewing the film he watched the night before.

This proved an excellent exercise to access not only great art, but also to nurture his curiosity, to enhance his thinking and to learn amazing pick-up lines (my point exactly).

Make a list of the films you’ve always wanted to watch and never had the chance to, subscribe to local cinemas to stay informed about premieres or offer to host some movie nights at your place for your friends and their cinema aficionado acquaintances. Soon enough, you’ll have a complete new agenda to look up to!

Taurus: Living without social media challenge

This social media thing has invaded your life, hasn’t it, Taurus? You spend your minutes before falling asleep with your phone rather than with your SO, endlessly scrolling newsfeeds and hopelessly spying on your current Instagram obsessions. Before superficially sighing again and letting your ennui grow stronger than your sense of humour, consider cutting your own access to social channels for one month. Wait, what, you work there? That doesn’t mean you can’t still do it. Create a separate Facebook profile (without adding ANY friends) if you need one for your work, and deactivate your main profile instead. Oh, I know, you think you’re gonna die without your newsfeed tabloid each day, but whenever you postpone going to the toilet in the morning because you want some extra time spying your ex on Facebook, remember your bladder is not an infinite well. Other than that, you’ll be surprised how much spare time you will have access to. You might even want to pass this to your social media obsessed friend(s) next time their lunch gets cold because they HAD to Instagram it.

Gemini: Dance class challenge

This is a good time to work on your feminine/masculine balance and what better way to do so other than dancing your demons away while learning to actually synch with a partner? Takes two to tango, Gemini, and even if you do it just for you to learn to move your hips like Shakira, you can bet this kind of energy will make peace between your conflicted sides.

Cancer: Slow cooking challenge

If your diet’s been more vodka on the rocks and preheated meals this winter, Cancer, you might consider breaking up with your fast foodie knack and get yourself prepared a real, delicious and healthy snack. Even if you’ll find it boring and painstaking in the first week to actually move your ass to the market, analyze recipes and ingredients, spend time figuring how to mix organic avocados with goat cheese and chutney, doing so will make room for creativity in the kitchen. Plus, your body will thank you for that. From all its pores.

Leo: Learning a new skill challenge

It only takes 20 hours to become pretty good at something new. That means 45 minutes each day for a month, and a realistic plan to get you closer to your next dream job, fruition of a hobby or take-off of a business you’ve been long musing to kickstart. You might be surprised how fast your mind wraps itself around this new outlook and you’ll feel so much confident when you’ve touched first base with something you’ve always wanted to do but never considered yourself competent enough to actually do it. Now it’s the time!

Virgo: Deep cleansing challenge

Rest, eat, meditate, repeat. If you’ve been struggling with a difficult project, ran the mile to burnout at work or postponed washing your hair for a whole week (OR, even worse, slept in your make-up because you once read Kim Kardashian gets away with that – which she totally doesn’t, BTW), it’s high time to put a hold on your FOMO and workaholic inside and get a good and completely deserved rest. This means 9 hours of sleep each night, drinking lemon water each morning on an empty stomach, comforting your body with Swedish massage and eating healthy and vitamin reach meals three times a day, no exception. You might also want to swipe alcohol and caffeine while you’re at it, and treat your body and mind the well deserved rest it needs.

Libra: Vippassana meditation challenge

For someone who finds it hard to sit down with their own issues and often forgets to shush and listen to others, a no-talking yoga camp with long meditation classes in the morning and spiritual engaging activities throughout the day may be a winning challenge to finally connect with your deepest desires.

Scorpio: Arts and crafts challenge

The creative adult is the child who survived. If you’ve been feeling disconnected from your heart’s wishes and feel like your anxiety is the only thing standing between you and that big dream of yours, this is a good time to actively listen to your inner child, inner artist, inner voice, and give them some credit. Take a painting class, start scribbling your thoughts into poems, play with clay or take a graphic design course. Whenever I tell myself I can’t do anything artistic because I lack the skill, I think of my friend who channelled her creative energy into 38 paintings over the course of 30 days (!) after she fell in love. And even if you’re not in love, you might end up learning an important lesson about what you really love in life.

Sagittarius: Yoga mat challenge

Your body is a wonderland of sensations, Sag, and you need to work on your flexibility, especially if you want things to get wilder in the bedroom. Your epicurean spirit may find great comfort in taking a relaxing yoga class, while your body will thank you for releasing the blocked energies in your chakras. Take a deep breath and stick to it for one month, even if it seems pointless in the beginning, you will be surprised by your Jagger moves after this!

Capricorn: Be a tourist in your own city challenge

I know, we all love to travel and we get this fantastic high when we’re mingling with new people in different cultures. Then, back home, we find ourselves numbed and bored by the lacklustre of the city we inhabit, often forgetting the myriad of possibilities and attractions that make it so catchy for tourists each season after all. Take some time to sit with your mood while revisiting all the shows, galleries, museums and free activities your city has to offer. Rent a bike and explore the lesser known areas of your city. Book a nice dinner to a venue you’ve never stepped into before. Wear those beautiful clothes that you only sport on holidays (because you feel it’s tacky to dress nice for no occasion) and plan some getaways to local events with your close friends. You will feel tired but extremely happy and thankful for the energy boost your social life and your mind will get from this.

Aquarius: Surf camp challenge

Your body craves interactive sports that help you tone that beach body and boost your adrenaline in the same time. Take a month to relax and refresh your system while learning to surf with a hot instructor in a breezy resort. Lena Dunham just took one on the premiere episode of GIRLS’ season 6 and it made up for some good old soul searching too. Don’t forget to SPF!

Pisces: Diary of dreams challenge

This is a fantastic way to connect to your subconscious and learn decoding the messages it sends to you while you’re resting between the sheets. If you’ve been having nightmares, or if you’re simply curious how your dream world relates to events in your waking life, you might start a dream journal. Get yourself a beautiful notebook and begin collecting your dreams each morning before breakfast, trying to be as explicit and detailed as possible. Reflect on the notes you made at the end of each week and soon you will be able to deconstruct your subconscious mind and connect in surprising ways to the aspects of your life that need improvement.

[imaginedanganronpa]

While also doing some headcanons on Singer Leon, Barista Nagito, Masseuse Kirumi and Navigator Angie? Now we’ve got our cast together!

This is the last of the Talent Swap AU Requested, the other two parts can be found Here and Here! This was a fun Cast, I hope you enjoy!

Talent-Swap AU: Ultimate Singer Leon Kuwata, Ultimate Barista Nagito Komaeda, Ultimate Masseuse Kirumi Tojo & Ultimate Navigator Angie Yonaga!

Ultimate Singer Leon Kuwata

While Leon has always admired musicians and musical artists, he never thought he had what it took to become one himself. His family always pushed him towards other hobbies, mainly athletics and sports, but he was never nearly as drawn to those.

Leon is a hot-blooded and fiery teenager and his family wanted him to get into sports so that he could harness that energy. Leon complied for a short time, mainly because the athletes in his school attracted the attention of the ladies, but quickly realized that that isn’t what he wanted to do.

His cousin, Kanon, was the only one who he felt like he could confide in and she opened him up to music. She dabbled in music herself so she had the resources available for him when he was ready to try.

She could see the natural knack Leon had for music since he picked it up right away, but what he really wanted to do was sing.

From that point on, Kanon helped him with his vocal lessons in secret while he continued to pretend like he had interest in sports. Leon was always too insecure in his musical abilities despite what his cousin said and was unsure of how to bring it up to his family.

When he finally did land a gig at a local restaurant is also when he finally told his family he wanted to leave sports for music. Originally, they didn’t support Leon since music isn’t a ‘promised’ career, and he argued that sports wasn’t, either. This didn’t discourage him, though, because he was too passionate about it to quit now.

His family still came to his first show to support him, and that’s when he was scouted by a Hope’s Peek Academy recruiter who happened to be in the audience. 

They were floored when Leon was given a spot in the infamous Academy that night for his natural ability for music and singing. His voice was very versatile - Leon could master any kind of genre and proved that at his show. He could preform raspy punk and rock songs, mellow acoustic, upbeat pop, twangy country, and so on. It was a skill that not many people had, and it was even more impressive since it was his first ever live performance.

He gained the support of his family after his admission into Hope’s Peak, and while Leon jokes about ‘only being in it for the groupies,’ you can tell how much he loves it because of how alive he looks on stage.

Leon is an optimist who always wanted to improve his skills. He hired Kanon as his manager and started touring, gaining a massive fan-base right out of the gate and at such a young age.

After being stuck in the Killing Game, Leon panics since he’s just started his career and didn’t want to lose it all right away. That optimistic personality started to crumble and he struggled to maintain his appearance, losing himself in the Game.

A lot of the others pegged Leon as a potential Blackened, but he soon mellowed out and became a more cooperative member during the Investigations and Trials. Although, he may not take the Killing Game as seriously as he should and flirts with the ladies, sometimes offering to sing them to sleep.

This really isn’t the time or place for that.

Ultimate Barista Nagito Komaeda

Nagito just seems like the kind of person who would work as a Barista.

During his childhood, his family hit a patch of debt after struggling to pay for his medical bills. As a result, he burned through too many odd jobs to count, having a handful of different jobs at a time and always changing work places.

The one place that really stuck with Nagito, though, was his local little cafe. He was always told that he had the ‘face’ of the coffee shop which simply attracted customers naturally. However, he was polite, shy, and a little bit insecure.

Nagito was so good at his job that he got transferred to a higher-up place owned by the same company. Here, they not only served coffee and sweets, but also alcoholic drinks. He’s technically not allowed to serve those, but Nagito was such a remarkable and valuable employee that they gave him a pass. He became the youngest employee they ever hired which spoke volumes.

It came easily to him - he had frequent costumers coming just to see him, and Nagito always remembered everyone’s name due to his sharp memory; he was also good at charming his customers which adds to his appeal. On top of that, he was talented at making the beautiful, intricate designs in the drinks that became his mark.

His bright smile attracted people to him. Nagito had a friendly face that seemed to welcome even those who didn’t drink alcohol or coffee. His talent for bringing people into the shop was credited to be one of his greatest strengths and was not overlooked by Hope’s Peak Academy.

The bright smile and iconic laughter of his is what brought people to him, and he became like a local celebrity. Everyone knew about Nagito and the shop in which he worked, which in turn brought in tons of revenue for his workplace.

He never intended for this to be his full-time job, but he still loved it. Nagito thrived in the shop’s atmosphere and really knew how to work with people. The tips alone that he made in a single day would surpass that of even his paycheck, which is practically unheard of.

Unbeknownst to Nagito, one of his frequent customers was a recruiter from Hope’s Peak who didn’t reveal their affiliation with the school right away. They offered him a spot in the program as the Ultimate Barista in person after several months of watching him, and he graciously accepted right away.

In his mind, Nagito believed that this would help his family greatly. 

He was the kind of student who always brought a large coffee to class, and it was almost always a new drink he created. He loved mixing flavors and recipes to concoct his own drinks, which he would then serve to his friends and customers as free samples. Eventually, the menu became almost entirely his creations. He’d also wear his work’s apron as a normal fashion statement, especially to class.

In the Killing Game, Nagito would offer to make drinks for everyone to uplift their spirits, promising that his secret recipe would always brighten their day.

He tries to remain calm and be as helpful as possible during the Trials and Investigations, but he’s genuinely terrified of the Killing Game. He doesn’t want to die here and becomes determined to find the Mastermind, although his insecurity flares and he feels as though he won’t be able to help and sees his talent as pointless and useless in the Game compared to some of the other Ultimates.

Ultimate Masseuse Kirumi Tojo

As a young woman, Kirumi is refined, mature, and polite. She had very high expectations placed on her by her family which she strives towards adhering to.

They always pressured her into going into something that had to do with the medical field, or any career where she would be successful. This never really appealed to Kirumi but she was terrified of letting down her family and wasting her own intelligence.

She studied the human body extensively and always found the muscles and veins to be particularly interesting. Kirumi gave her first massage to one of her relatives while reciting the different muscles and areas of the body, only to accidentally put them to sleep.

This alarmed her at first, until she realized that it was just due to her massage. Kirumi was told that that was the best feeling they have ever received and praised her for her work, although that wasn’t her intention.

From then on, she continued to offer her services to friends and family, realizing that she had a natural skill for massages. All of her clients left feeling weightless and invigorated, as if they could do anything.

It became more of a hobby until her family started referring Kirumi to professionals and business-people. She was told that her hands could lift the stress from anyone’s shoulders - one of her clients happened to be a Hope’s Peak Academy recruit, who offered her a spot due to her impeccable talent for massages, as the Ultimate Masseuse.

Kirumi was going to decline until her family pushed her in the other direction. Although it wasn’t the path they originally intended for her, a student at Hope’s Peak Academy was guaranteed success in life no matter what, and that’s all they wanted for her.

Overall, she is very selfless and cares deeply about others. Her massages were designed to get the blood flowing - she was even rumored to be able to change the direction of one’s blood-flow, even just temporarily. Kirumi started giving massages to world-class athletes before and after games, and they made a world of difference.

She became famous for her ‘magical hands’ and she started to fall in love with her talent; she had a long list of regular clients and thrived with success, just as a teenager.

Kirumi can lower fatigue and improve one’s physical and mental abilities with her massages, almost like magic. No one, not even herself at times, knows how she does it.

In the Killing Game, Kirumi would offer her services to help the others de-stress in the high stakes situation. While the others worried that this may make her susceptible to being killed, she didn’t mind, as long as she helped others. That was her ultimate goal in life.

She is very classy and has set rules for her massages, very picky about who she will give them to.

And in the Killing Game, she will be very generous and polite. Even during the climax of the Trials, Kirumi is very level-headed and calm. The deaths and executions never seem to really faze her due to her relaxed personality, which calms the rest of the Ultimates as well.

Ultimate Navigator Angie Yonaga

Angie has always had a passion and need for traveling, even when she was just a young girl. 

She is also a very spiritual person and traveled in a group of faith tourists and missionaries that her parents were a part of, spreading the word of her religion and her God, Atua. While Angie did love spreading her faith, she more-so got a kick out of the traveling aspect of faith-tourism.

She has always had a renowned sense of direction. When she used to travel in a group, Angie could tell by just the wind alone which direction they were traveling in. 

Because of her raw talent, they never got lost. Once, she saved them from walking in circles for hours in an unfamiliar rural area, before her group could have passed out, or worse, from starvation and dehydration.

When asked how she did that, she would always have a smile on her face and insist that, “I just knew!” 

She has also claimed that Atua told her where to go and that she is his vessel, as he will “Always lead me in the right direction!” She is someone who is very in-tune with nature as well, which is a part of her talent.

It doesn’t matter if she is on land, air, or sea, Angie will always be able to navigate an area despite never being there before. She has spent time with pilots, helping direct them to new countries and grew up around fishermen and boat-captains who would bring her along their missions so she could navigate to the most plentiful fishing and treasure spots.

Once again, Angie simply insists that Atua tells her what the right path is. She says she just gets a feeling, and she has never been wrong. Perhaps that’s what makes her an Ultimate.

But her family worried that, while her talent was unmistakable, she would never be able to make a living off navigation. Despite that, Angie only wanted to see the world and that was her biggest goal in life.

So, she set foot on her own journey and sailed the sea until she arrived in Japan, her intended destination. While it may look like she was simply wandering aimlessly, she knew exactly where she was going.

Angie has heard of Hope’s Peak Academy before and easily found her way to the school where she presented her case as the Ultimate Navigator. The school was a bit hesitant at first, but after proving herself, they gladly offered her a spot in their program.

She is a strong believer that traveling is good for the soul and thinks that everyone should go out and try new things. The world is a big, wide, open area full of uncharted territory and beautiful places.

And she has a passport that is full of stamps from her different traveling destinations, and a journal where she scribbles down everything about her adventures. Angie carries a compass, although she doesn’t really need it, and a map in one of her pockets. She also keeps her hair up in a tight ponytail.

In the Killing Game, she is accidentally peppy and positive, not believing in its seriousness until the first murder occurs, mistaking it for a cultural event in Japan. Still, Angie does her best to keep everyone in good spirits.

But she hates the feeling of being trapped in the school and desperately wants to escape since her adventures are far from over. She is tempted to break the rules and explore the ‘off-limits’ areas of the Killing Game, navigating through the restricted areas, but decides against it because she is determined to survive this.

- Mod Rantaro

[praphit]

Velvet Buzzsaw: You need a plan like my man Patrick Swayze.

I saw the trailer for "Velvet Buzzsaw" a couple of weeks ago. It caught my eye (as I'm sure it did yours) due to its title.

When I think velvet, I think sexy. The dude who walks into the party with the velvet jacket on, is getting ALL of the ladies that night.

Trust me, couples at the party get into arguments over it -

Ex.

Insecure man says - "I saw you looking at the man in the velvet jacket - don't deny it! You're going to leave me for him aren't you?! I don't blame you... cuz that jacket took him to a ho nova level. I'm just saying, that I can wear velvet too."

Woman with insecure man replies - "No, you can't."

Insecure man fights it, but deep down he knows that she's right.

So, that goes down.

Now, everybody knows that red velvet is the most sexy.

Red velvet ropes - I think we all rub our hands down them with a big smile... oh God yes:)

Red Velvet Cupcakes... Here's the deal - I don't think kids should be eating them. Just MY opinion! I won't judge you shameful parents out there if YOU allow your kids to eat them, but I simply believe it's wrong. Too sexy!

So, to put these words together "Velvet Buzzsaw"... no bueno. It would be like putting the words "Ice Cream Needle" together.

Would you like a tasty ice cream needle today? NO! But that wording, combined with a premise of haunted, killer artwork was the intrigue of the trailer.

Plus, it has a great cast:

Jake Gyllenhaal and his creepy, bulging eyes. The movie "Nightcrawler" ruined him for me. Every time I see him, I see this -

I know it was just a character, but I actually believe that JG is like this... he leaves the set at the end of the day, and lurks around staring at people. I have a fear that one day, I'll go out at night, get in my car, the headlights turn on, and BOOM he'll be there... looking into the depths of me.

Other cast members - Toni Collette, Rene Russo, John Malkovich.

And even that "Stranger Things" girl.

No, not Bobby Brown (she's busy working on Godzilla).

Natalia Dyer -

Natalia talks to Millie Bobby Brown all the time, saying "Bitch, you ain't the only one who gets roles in movies. I got skills too! Why you out here stealing all the shine? I'm ascending! And If you get in my way, Imma cut you!"

Y'all didn't know it got that real on the set of "Stranger Things" did you?

When does season 3 of "Stranger Things" come out? They're all getting old. If they don't hurry up, season 3 will roll around and they'll all be in their mid to late 20's.

Anyway, I was excited about this flick. But, then, after all of that promo, the movie disappeared. I looked for it under "popular movies" and "recently added", but nothing. I searched for it - typed V - E... nothing... L T...they made me type out the whole word before it popped up. Dammit, Netflix, you know what I want! Give it to me!

Netflix hiding this movie is not a good sign, but I'm an objective man. Here we go:

This movie is centered around art, artists, and the art industry. The first thing that I learned right off the bat is that money sucks all of the fun out of everything. Or perhaps I should say the PURSUIT of money does... You want something, but you can't afford it, so you have to work harder and longer, and then by the time you have the cash, you want something else even more expensive. It causes jealousy. It robs one of joy and peace. Greed is some ol' bull shit! BUT, such is life.

Art was fun when we were kids, right? Finger painting, face painting, playing with clay, coloring books... what happened?! - the need to make money with it happened, and that's what is displayed here in this movie. This movie is about how greed and pursuing the glory of the art biz feeds on you.

We've got diff artists on diff levels:

The new hotness of the art world (everyone wants a piece)

The people who aren't the hotness

The critics / media / fans The leeches of the hotness (Cuz everything revolves around being hot)

The executives who run the machine that sucks all the joy out of what you do.

And the veteran - played by John Malkovich, whom I must say didn't need to be in this movie. His character added nothing to the plot at all.

But, I found the types in this world fascinating. If you think on it enough, you can def relate to these types (though some may be parodies). There are plenty moments of horror in this film (as seen in the trailer). Most of the elements of horror portrayed are really good, though some are silly. Not only well done, but well produced.

However, there's a reason why Netflix hid this movie from us. It's like looking at a piece of art, and learning the message behind it, only to find that the message is more interesting than the artwork. This movie itself is... kind of a mess. Like I said, good premise/food for thought, good acting, but errthang else - the writing, chemistry between actors, direction, storyline wrap-ups... ALL BAD.

Back to the horror - pretty much there's some dead artist's spirit that's killing off people through his art due to his blood being used in his projects.

Sounds cool, but he mainly and simply wants his art destroyed, so people don't die. Soooooo, you're KILLING people as a solution? Plus, why not use his ghostly energy to get others to destroy the art rather than destroy the people? Then, he starts trying to attack people through ALL art (including art that he didn't have any part in). What??!

We've all seen the movie "Ghost", so I know (cuz these movies are based off facts) that there were other non-violent options for this dead artist. In "Ghost" Patrick Swayze had a plan -

- to let Demi Moore know that he was around, let her know that she was in danger, and to try to have sex with her one more time through the body of Whoopi Goldberg. The dead guy in "Velvet Buzzsaw" had no tact!

Anyway, I give this flick a grade D

Pretentious art people may love it, but for the rest... I'd say just read this. The next time you want to get your "Flix and Chill" on, and your love muffin suggests this movie, tell him/her "Hold up, let's read through Praphit's rambling review instead, and then get into our sweet lovin." Save about 2hrs of your life, and make me a part of your foreplay instead:)

[fortitude-sakura]

The Supermodel’s Husband

Rating: T Prompt: This is the accompany piece to ‘The Director’s Wife’.

This is the big leagues now. Your manager tells you that the creative director of Luis Wuitton* requested for you specifically for the next campaign. You can hardly believe it.

“Do you know who else is going to be part of the campaign?” you ask, excitedly.

“Well, I think Lightning Farron will be shooting it with you since she is the face of Luis Wuitton. I’m not sure if there are any other models.” your manager says speculatively.

The other names don’t matter. Lightning Farron was the only model that mattered to you. You’d be hard pressed to find a man who didn’t consider Lightning attractive.

You’ve been in the industry longer than Lightning Farron and so remember her discovery and subsequent rise.

She had been ‘discovered’ by the noted photographer Phillip Argentum when she was walking down the street, minding her own business. He had proclaimed her to be his muse and the subsequent photoshoots he did with her garnered much attention.

You, and many others, remember her first commercial. It was a car commercial that featured her zipping down the busy streets of Tokyo. The commercial ended with a shot of her long lean legs getting out of the car before looking  at the camera telling you that it was your turn. The commercial was well received by both male and female audiences. Women wanted to be like her, strong and cool and men wanted to be with her. Either way, sales for that specific car model soared after the commercial aired and it propelled Lightning’s standing as a model.

She walked on major runways, her cool exterior making her a hot favourite and did plenty of print ads. Her signature blossom hair was well talked about both within the industry and with the general public.

You’ve worked with her once, walking for Kenjo. She was even more strikingly beautiful in person. You asked around about her after the show, hoping that someone tells you more.

You remember Lightning Farron’s slightly prickly nature which was what had deterred you from speaking to her in the first place. However, apparently it never stands  in the way of directors and photographers from requesting her. Several stylists say that even though she appears to be cold and aloof, she’s actually quite polite.

‘She’s real professional.’ one makeup artist gushes. ‘She just sits there in the makeup chair and doesn’t move. She even says thank you to everyone who works on her. Unless some models. God, some models are sooo stuck up!”

According to several set assistants, she also never makes outrageous demands the way some lesser models do. Her only regular requests were for a coffee (black, 1 sugar) and a ham and cheese croissant (if the shoot is an early morning shoot) or chicken caesar salad (if it was too hard to find or an inappropriate hour for said croissant).

Somehow after those conversations and a great deal of fidgeting in the makeup chair, you thank everyone when the shoot wraps up and continue to do so for each subsequent gig. You pare down your requests to just a steak sandwich. Sometimes a breakfast burrito with orange juice (pulp, no pulp, fresh or bottled it didn’t matter).

You also discover that she’s married (much to your chagrin). You sit calmly in your chair as the hairstylist carefully arranges your hair and douses you with copious amounts of hairspray. Some of the makeup artists were talking about Lightning and you almost strain your neck trying to eavesdrop,  

“I didn’t even know she was seeing someone at the time!” another makeup artist says. “She just turned up to the shoot with a ring on her finger!”

“She didn’t get  an engagement ring though. Her husband definitely could afford a huge ring for her.” one of the younger girls huffed.

“Lightning’s not the type of person to wear a huge ring anyway. She probably would have gotten just a plain band if it weren’t for her husband. You know, he insisted on that one from Miffany*. I looked it up. It’s over $20,000! 3 carats of diamonds and they’re probably all flawless, D colour diamonds.”

Your mouth falls open.

After some more eavesdropping, you discover that her husband is the Director of the Academy - the prestigious research institute. You assume he’s some kind of old fart and your opinion of Lightning sours a little.

Giving into your curiosity, you turn to Moogle*. To your surprise, the Moogle search of Hope Estheim returns a young silvered haired man. You had assumed that no Director could be under the age of 45. He’s incredibly handsome and looks quite tall in pictures. He could probably have been a model too. There are plenty of videos of him speaking at conferences, pictures of him with important academics and politicians. He’s well composed and eloquent.

You’re forced to retract the unsavoury opinion you have of Lightning, instead channelling the energy into jealousy of Hope Estheim. However you’d rather die than admit that you felt inferior to him, a man you had never met. All because you have a raging crush on his wife.

The morning of your shoot you turn up just as you see one of the assistants hand Lightning a takeaway cup and a brown paper bag, no doubt the black coffee with one sugar and ham and cheese croissant that she habitually requests. You walk over and introduce yourself.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Lightning.” her handshake was warm and firm. Her voice was a soft alto and rather soothing. It calms your nerves somewhat.

Lightning is nothing but professional during the photoshoot and you wish you could have impressed her more.

(You harbour a secret fantasy of sweeping her off her feet, holing up with her in your penthouse apartment and well…)

Before you know it, the photoshoot is finished and the set is being packed up. A mix of makeup artists, stylists, set directors and lighting assistants have planned to go out. You were invited (of course) and you wonder if Lightning is coming out too.

“Hey Lightning! We’re going out for drinks tonight. Come join us!” calls the photographer. She’s simultaneously wiping her face with a makeup wipe and rummaging through her large Luis Wuitton duffle bag.  

“Maybe next time, I have a plane to catch.” she politely declines.

The girls giggle. “Flying back to your hubby?”

She gives the girls a soft smirk before calling for a car.

The next day you see an article on Fuzzfeed* featuring pictures of Lightning titled “5 times Lightning and her husband were #couplegoals”.

There’s a photo of them, taken at a charity ball. She’s wearing a shimmering dress the colour of champagne and her hand is resting gently across his abdomen, her wedding band catching the camera’s flash just perfectly so. The tux her husband is wearing fits his tall frame perfectly. His left arm is snaked around her waist, his hand laid comfortably at her hip with his own wedding band (a plain platinum band) just visible.

There’s a few more of them at the same ball. One of her husband staring lovingly at her as she’s being interviewed and another of Lightning fixing up his bowtie before he goes up to give a speech (with Lightning’s prickly personality showing on her face as her husband smiles sheepishly).

There’s a series of photographs of varying quality - some look like paparazzi shots, other’s look like photos taken from a phone. She’s being greeted at various places (a train station, the airport) at various hours of the day by her husband and he’s always holding a bouquet of roses, always embracing her and always opening the car door open for her like a gentleman.  

There are various other shots of the two of them, at breakfast, at the beach with friends. There’s even various paparazzi shots of her husband, his ties circled in red. Accompanying the pictures are snaps of Lightning at the airport, the  You recognise the various ties as being from Luis Wuitton and there’s no doubt in your mind that Lightning bought them for him (or was most likely provided the ties).

You know deep down that they’re not putting on a show for an audience. They simply don’t care that they had an audience. What really surprises you is that how genuinely happy Lightning looks in those photos, that the smiles she exhibits are only for her husband. You close the lid on your laptop in bitter jealousy.

Lucky bastard.

* I’m sure you’ll be able to guess what brands exactly these refer to. 

[meaghanrosegallagher-blog]

Invasion of the 20th Century Entertainment Memory Snatchers

I have paid thousands of dollars on tragic stories inspired by industry abuse protocols established by Darryl F Zanuck.

Zanuck was 23 when he started at box. He ran the studio for 50 years.

FOX has been real bad...

The stories I have consumed and learned from were created by or shared by artists (or surviving friends/associates) who were on the receiving end of abuse.

In film. TV. Music. Plays. Books. When famous people are abused, their stories do get out. Stop acting like you have not seen this and you do not know about the dirty side of Hollywood.

One thing I know about famous people is this: fmous women & famous men rarely cannot stop talking about their personal narrative. From womb to tomb. Scandals. Coverups. Everything that happened to that.bWhy is everyone acting like there isn’t an industry based off of the inevitable tragedy of committing oneself to the romanticized Hollywood lifestyle?

I have paid thousands and thousands of dollars consuming and learning from tragic stories shared (or revealed) by all artists. My family treasures information and entertainment, so I have been awake since 1988.

Brokaw every night. Jeopardy. Cheers. Seinfeld. Simpsons. Old music. New music. My parents are old and white and grew up in Miami, Florida. During the Cuban missile crisis & segregation.

My parents talk to me and my sister about those experiences and how awful they were. What scary times they were. How confusing it was to be a child seeing adults that were a different tone forced to adhere to degrading laws that were clearly wrong. I’m sorry your parents chose not to discuss things about their lives. People have many reasons for keeping secrets. My parents never liked what they saw happening to their fellow Americans & the Seminole Nation.

We used to laugh as the family about the days of “duck and cover”. My dad remembers thinking (at 10) that hiding under a desk probably wasn’t going to help if we were bombed. My mother would run home every day and play nuclear fallout shelter with her friend Elaine.

I got a lot of Hollywood scandal information for free. At the damn library in Palm Beach County, directly across from President Blondie’s international west palm beach golf course. The one right next to the prison and airport.

I started reading books in the library about Hollywood, Broadway, Music, Art folklore when I was 8 & I got ahold of a Barbra biography that I’m sure Babs hated.

I am from the most clowned on state in the Union. It took me 12 years to get a two year associates degree from a Florida college. In English. I’m not a genius. Although, I did have a psychologist tell me during my IQ test if it weren’t for math, I’d be a genius. I chose to take that as a compliment.

Everyone seems to be very unsure about their position as a star. The last 100 years of show business information is very important for all artist to learn about.

Hollywood has a documented history of using artists for their own propaganda. Propaganda for making their studios look good or to influence politics. It can be good: WWII. It can be bad: House of un-American activities/ Hollywood 10.

I have spent a lot of money on Marilyn Monroe. Her image. Marilyn Monroe’s estate probably has more money from me than any other entity over my lifetime. I studied everything about this woman. Everything. Frankly, she would be

livid by these Instagram posts reimagining Marilyn’s narrative has one where she was a beauty accepted by other women and treasured by men.

The Marilyn Monroe I know would not want you to focus on your beauty. She spent her entire life fighting off the advances of monsters who exploited the beauty she took years to create. She was terrorized by the most monstrous of all Hollywood Mogul Darryl F Zanuck her whole career. You wonder where Harvey GOT that shit from? Look at Darryl. He was in charge of 20th Century Fox for five decades. He bought a prostitute for his 14-year-old son birthday. He had this bizarre obsession with Tyrone Powers.

Marilyn Monroe created the beauty you see. Her hard work and her listening to ridiculous notes is what created that beautiful face. Her mastery of her ability to find the perfect light and hold her body in iconic ways came from studio & personal training. She didn’t just waltz out of bed confused every day and not aware she was beautiful. Oh she knewwwww.

She knew she was beautiful. She knew the pain her face and her body went through to maintain those standards. This was a time where women were celebrated in a special way? They included measurements of actresses in every article during that time.

Marilyn underwent painful electrolysis, a nose job, a chin implant. And bleaching your hair back then was not fun baby.

I’m disgusted with the whole “Be a Marilyn and not at Kim” meme. That is confusing. No matter what anybody’s personal opinion of either women is, Kim Kardashian West has the ability and agency to do whatever the hell she wants. Marilyn Monroe never had that.

Marilyn would not want you to remember her looks. And she would really like for you to stop obsessing about her and JFK. She would ask you to re-focus that energy into researching JFK and Gene Tierny. Their romance was far more romantic & dramatic.

She would want you to remember her well documented horror stories with Darryl.

She would want you to remember when she said fuck you to Hollywood, went to New York, got to hang out with everyone she ever wanted to hang out with, formed her own independent film studio.

She would want you to remember her standing next to her husband Arthur Miller at the house of un-American activities committee. No one supported her then. They thought she was an idiot for doing so.

While many are focusing on reimagining this fantasy of Marilyn Monroe’s natural beauty, I remember I know what Marilyn would want. She would want you to lead a happy life. In whatever field you want. And that you have agency over your work.

Do you want to see the saddest place on earth? Go and visit her grave. See the hordes of people taking happy selfies next to the body of this the greatest movie star ever known to mankind. Westwood is a beautiful cemetery with many stars who clearly died with funeral plans in order.

Marilyn was simply exhausted by playing so many different roles in her life. She was the greatest actress ever. She had the ability to make anyone who was in a room with her feel like they were the most important person. When you know that skill, you know that skill.

She turned on Marilyn whenever she had to. But that was a personality that had no agency for herself. Whose survival depended on playing dumb while being very smart. No one didn’t like her. People can say she did it better or worse. No one will ever do it like it her.

Marilyn Monroe was the most beautiful American creation. Based on lies and a false narrative.

Listen to the final interview of Marilyn Monroe. You have yet to see her portrayed like that in any film. Smart and over it. And ready to share her true story. She rarely shared that side with anybody. The male commentary is a real gas. Filled with victim blaming.

Marilyn Monroe did not die alone out here for you to remember & renarrate her studio sanctioned, & talent at achieving/freezing in a state of unnatural physical beauty.

Marilyn weighed 118lbs when she died, baby. She did a whole photo shoot with Bert Stern flaunting her new “fabulous” figure. The press was not kind to her. The press fat shamed (during some like it hot) her while she was pregnant with Arthur Miller, after she had a miscarriage, during the filming of and release of Let’s Make Love. Countless times. I have a book of every magazine covers she was ever on. They were not nice to her.

Fat shaming is not a new concept to the entertainment industry. It is always been done. It’s been done on everybody. Jane Fonda has documented to her lifelong struggle with body image issues. Barbarella, baby.

Marilyn’s story is famous, but it is not original. If you ever watched E!’s Mysteries & Scandals it’s the same story. The tactics monstrous man have used go back directly to Darryl F Zanuck. He started when he was 23.

Bill Cosby has nothing on Darryl Fucking Zanuck. The fucked up sexual protocols and studio control of human lives was because of Darryl.

Darryl Fucking Zanuck destroyed so many careers and lives, follow his associations.

But that doesn’t mean that I want to destroy work Darryl F Zanuck touched. To do so is abhorrent and disrespectful to culture and history.

I want everyone to know that’s where it started. Everyone needs to stop this faux shock about how dirty my industry is. If you have seen who framed Roger rabbit, it’s all there.

Stars have power. Shine your light for truth. Acknowledge humanity and perseverance.

Blessed Cardi B,

Faye

[room75]

Strange Days

First thing this morning, I deactivated both my facebook and twitter accounts after seeing a couple of posts that really pissed me off. I’ve already been thinking about doing this for the last couple of weeks, but today I bit the bullet and finally did it. Why, you ask?

Because I’m fucking sick of the price that comes with being a millennial, constantly on social media. One word: toxicity.

We don’t even realise how toxic social media is at times. We roll our eyes when baby boomers complain about us being on our phones all the time, and get defensive instantly and spit out any and every argument we can. But has anyone actually thought, that this could be one of the very few things that the older generation is right about?

Social media is great. It would be beyond hypocritical for me to say that I hate it, seeing as I’ve been labelled the queen of facebook before....and I’m literally writing this post on social media, but I’ve come to realise that the obsession we have with taking that perfect selfie, or throwing as much “shade” as you can in 140 characters at someone you barely even know, isn’t just an obsession or a way of life, it’s a fucking addiction.

I’m addicted to social media, and let’s be real, so are most people but are just simply too afraid to admit it.

Sure, it’s not a physical addiction. You’re not gonna break out in hot sweats or get the shakes if you don’t log into facebook after 24 hours, but you and I both know it’s psychologically there.

How many times has someone been talking to you, but you’re too busy scrolling through that one girl from your old high school’s instagram because she’s in Europe now?

How many times have you procrastinated assignments, or other important tasks you’ve had to do, because you unintentionally have spent hours scrolling through some drama on twitter?

How many times have you put yourself down from spending ages trying to take the perfect selfie and you don’t look like your favourite instagram or tumblr user?

How many times have you negatively compared your life to someone else’s on social media thinking they’re a thousand times better than you or vice versa?

How many times have you woken up in the morning, and checking the notifications on your phone is the first and sometimes even most important thing you think about?

And more importantly, how many times has your whole DAY been ruined, because of one little thing you saw on the internet? Or from putting all your emotional energy into arguing with someone on a public forum?

Don’t get me wrong, social media is one of the coolest ideas anyone has ever come up with. It’s powerful. I know so many people who’ve benefitted greatly from social media, whether it be for their artistic talents, hobbies, career, or even to raise their voices on important issues. It’s an extremely powerful platform, but such a large majority of this generation is using it for all the wrong reasons. And we can’t lie to ourselves anymore saying it doesn’t negatively affect us.

There’s so much toxicity going on at the moment, especially on twitter, and people really seem to think it’s okay and not spiritually unhealthy to be constantly making negative jokes, whether it’s about artists you don’t like, wanting to die (seriously, the trend of joking about that shit needs to stop ASAP. It’s really not cool anymore at all), or just a general snide comment. It annoys me and sometimes even stresses me out when I see something that I don’t agree with on these platforms. Because I consider myself a strong empath, I pick up these frequencies very very easily, so I FEEL the negative energies, and it’s very very hard to deal with.

We are in complete and utter denial about unhealthy addictions to social media. When you’re constantly spending hours and hours per day on your phone or on your computer, the person you are harming the most is yourself.

I don’t know when I’ll reactivate my accounts. I’m obviously keeping my tumblr open to use as a journal, and a blog to inspire others, and who knows? Maybe next week I’ll change my mind and deludedly feed my addiction again and reactivate, which I’m hoping won’t happen. But for now, I’m sick of it. It’s affecting my mental health way too much, and it really really shouldn’t.

Getting those perfect snapchats or shots for instagram, or writing that “fire clapback” to someone on twitter, or however many likes you got on that last facebook status, won’t even matter at all thirty years from now. You know what will though? The memories you’ve made, the paths in life you’ve walked, the hearts you’ve touched, and the journey you’ve taken. Make it all count.

So here’s an important question I want anyone who’s reading this to think about. What are you proud of more, the life you’ve led so far, or the things you’ve posted on social media for the approval of others? Think about it. Really, really think about it.

If you’re gonna use social media, don’t spread negativity. The law of attraction is real, be aware of it and take notice if it affects the way you use the internet. Stop constantly posting about stuff that you don’t like, and start posting about stuff that you DO like. If it’s gonna be negative, make sure it’s something important that you wanna change and scream from the rooftops about. Set an alarm everyday to turn your phone off for one hour or more. Trust me, you’ll feel so much better.

We are a much more powerful generation than we give ourselves credit for. The world is our oyster. Use it wisely.

Sending love & light to all 🔮🌿☮️

[livironheart]

all of them do all of them

i have perished for my hubris. it’s too late. one day I will have to atone for my crimes as will you. fool? judgment day is coming.

🍕 = What is your muse’s usual pizza order? Do they order any drinks, sides, or desserts to go with it?

Liv likes pepperoni pizza with olives. She would definitely appreciate dessert with it, as well as cheese sticks.🍾 = What is the last thing your muse celebrated? How long was the celebration?

She hasn’t done any WILD celebrations in a while. She participates in holiday events sometimes, though. The last thing she celebrated was probably her engagement.

🎉 = When is your muse’s birthday? Is there a special meaning behind the date for you (the mun)?

June 21st. There’s no special meaning other than I wanted to be cool and symbolic and put her birthday on the summer solstice.

📚 = What is your muse’s favorite genre of books? What are some of their favorite authors and/or books?

Liv loves to read adventure novels, but doesn’t have a lot of them. Mostly, she reads tomes by a variety of authors to study magic. Most of them are written by elite Kirin Tor mages.

💌  = How does your muse choose to confess to the person they’re interested in? Do they usually get rejected or accepted?

Generally, Liv isn’t the one confessing. She’s prone to suffer in silence out of the fear of rejection, but if she starts getting hints that whoever she likes feels the same about her, she’ll probably reach out. She’s also a fucking idiot and will likely run in circles for a little bit even so and be like ‘do they like me? what if they don’t like me?’🍵 = Does your muse prefer coffee, tea, or cocoa? Do they add any sweeteners? Iced or hot?

Olivier hasn’t had a lot of tea so she can’t make a call on that. She loves coffee and cocoa.

💙  = Who does your muse have a deep and loyal love for?

Finnigan Wyman. She would genuinely kill and die for him.

💸  = Has your muse written their will yet? If yes, what have they decided to give to people? If no, why not?

Olivier hasn’t written her will because she doesn’t seem to realize that’s actually a thing that everyone should do. She also doesn’t have a lot to her name. If she wrote one, she would leave everything to Finnigan. Every last bit.

🔮  = Is your muse superstitious? What superstitions do they have? Where did they pick them up from?

In a fantasy world where nearly anything is possible, it’s tough not to be superstitious. She’s been getting worse, though. She’s wondering if she suffers from divine intervention and genuinely thinks that she tempts fate sometimes.

🔒 = What is a secret that your muse will take to the grave? Why have they decided not to tell anyone?

The true name of a certain someone, the depths of her ambition, and the fact that she likes waffles more than pancakes. She will never tell Finn this.

🍭  = Does your muse have a sweet-tooth? What’s their favorite candy?

Liv ABSOLUTELY has a sweet tooth. She has a bit of a sugar addiction. She likes any and all candy unless it’s super hard and crunchy.

🍦 = What is your muse’s favorite ice cream flavor? Do they prefer eating it in a cone, cup/bowl, or straight from the carton? Do they use any toppings?

Plain chocolate in whatever form is most convenient. Sometimes she’ll add whipped cream if it’s available.

💚  = Who or what makes your muse feel envious? Why do they feel that way? Do they act out or keep their envy hidden?

Liv gets envious whenever Finn mentions Caroline, although she tries to convince herself she had no reason to feel that way. She also gets jealous when she hears people talk about their happy families or how great their parents were or the fun childhoods they had growing up. She’s also envious of success stories, as she feels that hers is out of reach.

📘  = Describe an AU verse/story that you have written out for your muse that you’d love to roleplay. Why did you choose to make them that way?

None written. Avatar AU would be kinda cool though.

📕  = Describe a crossover verse/story that you have written out for your muse that you’d love to roleplay. Why did you choose to make them that way?

None written.

🍔  = What is your muse’s usual burger made of? You can pick any bread, meat (or non-meat), cheese, condiments, and toppings. What side and drink do they prefer with it?

Hamburger, half pound, with mushrooms, swiss cheese, ketchup, salt, and sauteed mushrooms. She would definitely love fresh fries and strawberry lemonade with it.

🖍️  = What was your muse’s favorite childhood toy? Do they still have it? What special memories are attached to the toy?

She had a little gryphon that her mother carved from cedar wood. It’s still at Otu’s house in the Hinterlands, so sort of. She doesn’t have any particularly strong memories, just little times she would bring it outside with her and imagine what it would be like to fly.

🎵 = What is your muse’s favorite genre of music? What are some of their favorite artists? How important is music to them?

She would definitely like Indie/acoustic music. Finnigan is her favorite artist. She absolutely loves music and feels it in her heart and soul. She wishes she could hear it more often.

🌶️  = Can your muse handle spicy food? What is the spiciest food that they can handle?

Olivier LOVES spicy food. She says it makes eating a little more exciting. She wouldn’t be able to handle the super crazy stuff like whatever the WoW equivalent of ghost peppers is, but she enjoys jalapenos and hot sauce and stuff like that.

🍰 = Does your muse prefer cake or cupcakes? What’s their favorite cake flavor and icing/frosting flavor?

She loves chocolate cake with whipped frosting from the bottom of her heart. Make it chocolate ice cream cake with fudge and you will win her heart forever.

🍼  = Does your muse have children or do they ever want to have children? Do they think they will/would be a good parent?

She has no children and doesn’t want children because she thinks she would be a bad parent. She remembers how she grew up and is afraid she would accidentally force the same neglect on someone else. Also, she vehemently despises the thought of pregnancy. If she ever got kids, she would adopt, and it would be MANY years from now.

☠️ = How would your muse prefer to die? What do they want done with their body after they die?

Quickly, in the line of battle, doing something cool and glorious in defense of the Alliance or the ones she loves. She would want to be cremated and have her ashes scattered in the Hinterlands.

👻  = Does your muse believe in ghosts? What is your muse’s scariest experience with spirits/the unknown?

She definitely believes in ghosts. Her scariest experience was practically becoming one during the final battle against Krath’ul.

🛀  = Does your muse prefer baths or showers? What’s their favorite body wash scent? What kind of shampoo/conditioner do they use?

She loves both, but probably prefers baths. She likes pine, vanilla, and roses. She would use shampoo/conditioner with any of those scents.

📱 = What type of cell phone does your muse have? What apps do they frequently use? Who do they text or call most often?

Liv doesn’t have a phone because they don’t exist in WoW, but if she did she would absolutely own a Samsung.

⛎  = What is your muse’s zodiac sign? Does it fit their personality?

Cancer; yes.

🔋  = Who or what drains your muse the most? Who or what helps to revitalize that energy?

People. She loves conversation, but extended amounts of time with people (especially the ones that piss her off) can be intensely draining for her emotions. Taking time to herself to sleep or cuddle with her s/o is what generally helps. Also, being out in nature.

💊  = Does your muse have any physical or mental disabilities/illnesses? Do they take medication for it?

She has anxiety and PTSD, and takes no medication.

🗳️  = Is your muse liberal, conservative, or somewhere in-between? What political party do they align themselves with most?

No political parties in WoW, but she would probably lean toward the liberal side.

📺  = What TV shows does your muse like to watch the most? Do they prefer watching them as they air on network or do they stream them later?

No TV in WoW.

🎞️  = What is your muse’s favorite movie genre? What are their top five favorite movies? Do they prefer watching movies at home or in the theater?

Liv has never seen a movie in her entire life and probably never will.

🐾  = What is your muse’s favorite animal? Do they have or do they want any pets?

Olivier loves foxes and gryphons. She has a pet cockatiel that she loves and cherishes.

🌈  = Is your muse LGBT+? What do they identify themselves as?

It’s a little-known fact, but Liv is bisexual. She’s never been in a serious relationship with a woman, though, so the only people that know this are the ones she has shared it with.

⛈️  = What type of weather is your muse’s favorite? What do they usually like to do when they have a day off when it’s their favorite weather?

Olivier loves warm summer nights, when it’s not so hot that things are unbearable. The world is warm but the sun is down. The stars are out, a cool breeze rustles the grass and trees, and nothing feels more perfect. She likes to spend these nights at the fire festival when it’s going on, or simply somewhere out in nature. She also likes thunderstorms when she doesn’t have to be outside in them.

💐  = How would your muse respond to receiving a bouquet from an admirer? What kind of flowers would they prefer in the bouquet?

Liv fucking loves flowers, dude. She loves receiving bouquets and will get incredibly affectionate when she gets one (unless it’s from someone that’s not her s/o).

💔  = When is a time your muse was heart-broken? Was it someone else’s fault or your muse’s? What did they do to get over it?

When she left Rook. It was her fault. She ate some ice cream and moved on. It still bothers her a little bit, but she’s beginning to see him in a different light, so it’s not a huge issue. It was hard for her to so easily discard all the memories they had, though. Another time was when Finnigan died, and she was led to believe he was permanently dead. And the monks of Northshire didn’t allow her to see his body to pay respects.

💤  = What position does your muse sleep in? What side of the bed do they prefer? How many blankets and pillows do they usually use? Do they snore or sleep with stuffed animals?

Olivier sleeps on her back with her hand on her stomach or on her side. When she sleeps with Finn, she definitely prefers to be the little spoon. She sleeps with a lot of pillows and a lot of blankets for maximum comfort. She doesn’t snore or sleep with stuffed animals.

🛑  = What is one of your muse’s pet-peeves? 

Ironically, arrogant people. A lot of people call Liv arrogant, which is sometimes true, but she doesn’t see it. She hates narcissists and people who are rude and unkind to others without reason.

▶️  = Make a playlist of five songs that your muse would enjoy.

King and Lionheart - Of Monsters and Men

Ignite - Zedd

Better Days - Hedley

Reluctant Heroes - AmaLee

I See Fire - Celtic Woman

🔆  = Out of your muse’s group of friends, who do they find the most attractive? Would they ever ask them out?

Aside from Finnigan, she finds Tiara pretty attractive. She would never ask her out because she only sees her as a friend, Tia is married, and Liv is engaged. Still, she appreciates beauty when she sees it.

🏖️  = What would your muse be doing on a day out to the beach? Are they the type to get in the water or just sit on the shore?

She would definitely be in the water splashing around. She would take turns doing that and lying out to laze in the sun, though.

🏥  = Has your muse ever been to the hospital for an injury or illness? How long did they have to stay?

She’s been in the infirmary multiple times for injuries, sometimes for days or weeks at a time. She’s never been out for more than a month, though.

🎠  = What is your muse’s favorite carnival ride, game, and food? What do they like to do first when they go to a carnival?

Funnel cakes are her absolute favorite, but she’ll eat just about any carnival food. She doesn’t ever really play the games or go on rides. She just likes to walk around, dance, listen to the music, watch the people, and spend quality time with her loved ones.

🚨 = Has your muse ever been in trouble with the police? What crime did they commit? Did they have to stay in jail?

Liv got censured because she inflicted cruel and unusual punishment upon someone impeding an investigation by singing his face.

🥇 = Has your muse ever won a contest or competition? What was the contest/competition? What did they receive as a prize, if anything?

No.

🎸 = Can your muse play an instrument? If yes, which one(s)? If no, do they want to learn how to play? Can they write lyrics or sing?

She can play a little bit of guitar, but she’s desperately out of practice. She can sing, but she’s bad at writing lyrics.

🎮  = What is your muse’s favorite genre of video games? What system do they prefer? What are some of their favorite games? Do they like to play online with other people?

Ain’t no video games in WoW. Modern AU Liv is definitely an elitist in Overwatch, though.

🍳 = Does your muse know how to cook? What dish of theirs is the most popular among their friends/family? What would they consider their specialty?

She used to be a terrible cook, but she’s always been a quick learner. As soon as she started to watch other people cook, she was able to pick up their techniques. She tends to stick strictly to recipes, but she’s just starting to experiment with cooking different combinations of things.

👽 = Does your muse believe in aliens? Have they ever seen a UFO? Do they believe they’ve been abducted before, or do they know anyone who claims to have been abducted?

O_O

[rainydawgradioblog]

RDR Essentials - Hip-Hop/R&B (2/10)

RDR Essentials is a weekly newsletter of alternating genres that outlines key releases of the past month, upcoming events around Seattle and happenings in the specified music genre.

Made in collaboration between Rainy Dawg DJs and the Music Director.

Releases:

Playboi Carti- Whole Lotta Red

Playboi Carti’s long-awaited sophomore album, Whole Lotta Red, finally arrived Christmas day, and to say that the reception of the project by fans has been mixed would be an understatement. Discourse surrounding this album’s release permeated into the new year and further, with longtime fans finding Carti’s switch into a more aggressive and unrefined sound for much of the record off-putting. Yet, if there is any outstanding strength that this record’s allure can be attributed to, it is certainly that boldness, and Carti’s raw energy. Vocals are often rough, with Carti’s vocals ranging in inflection, volume, intensity, and even intelligibility all within a few bars. Tracks like the booming “Stop Breathing” and opener “Rockstar Made” demonstrate a Carti that sounds absolutely furious, straining his voice and almost screaming, whereas cuts like the nonsensical “JumpOutTheHouse” and “New Tank” feel like a punch to the face. This album is less filled with the usual sickly-sweet Pierre Bourne beats Carti’s previous work has become known for, to the disappointment of many fans. Yet that sugar-trap vibe combines with heavy bass and high-energy on highlights such as the demented ice-cream-truck-theme “Teen X” which sees Future even leaning into Carti’s lane. Further, the punk-meets-vampire energy that’s been ascribed to this project and its promotion manifests on tracks like “Vamp Anthem”, which sounds laughable on first impression but sticks in the mind like an infectious funeral accompaniment. It’s not a perfect record by any means: it’s far too long, with a second half that drifts into familiar yet almost lazy territory, and is populated by sparse features that either feel right at home, such as Kid Cudi on the ethereal “M3tamorphosis” to downright bizarre like Kanye West on “Go2DaMoon.” What it is, however, at least at its’ best moments, is genuinely boundary-pushing. Its highs are missing the sticky baby-voiced earworms of Die Lit, but in their stead comes a far more raw and unique sound. Carti’s new description of himself as punk and a “rockstar” has pushed the buttons of those who feel ownership over those terms: in a way, that makes him far more punk than anything we’ve seen in years.

- Casey Chamberlain

billy woods & Moor Mother- Brass

Few rappers are as veiled and unrelentingly hard to understand as MC billy woods, and few artists in the last few years have made as much of an artistic statement as poet Moor Mother. To see the two meet up on a full-length project sets a certain expectation, of grim realization and disturbingly poignant tidbits. Amazingly enough, Brass delivers on all one might expect from either of the two: a project draped in an ethereally disturbing energy and soundscape, and a vehicle for the dispersal of wisdom seemingly long locked away. The energy that woods and Moor Mother provide is often dreary, yet filled with understanding, with each retaining much of their signature style. Woods' verses feel laced with nods to vignettes and far away stories, as his best verses are want to do: “Cinders in the wind, ashes in your mouth/ It's too late to repent/ You owe and we here to collect/ You know how it go over in debt/ Numbers scribbled on butcher's paper/ A bad wager/ We waved every day, but good fences make good neighbors” woods relays on “Blak Forrest.” Moor Mother’s voice commands, filling the ears with an almost terrifying sense of understanding: “I only write for the dead, somethin' ELUCID said/ Wrong words get you cracked in the head” she asserts on “Gang For A Day”, referencing rapper ELUCID, with whom billy woods forms the duo Armand Hammer. ELUCID himself makes a few appearances on the record, alongside Mach-Hommy, Navy Blue, and Fielded, among others.

Tracks on the record range from terrifyingly chaotic, such as the vocal-less “Mom’s Gold”, morphing into a full on assault of harsh noise, to hauntingly gorgeous, such as on the flickeringly ethereal “Giraffe Hunts”: “It’s beautiful” woods himself remarks, prior to a verse that transitions into a sinister beat change which Moor Mother uses to offer a retort, as the track flips back and forth between this beauty and the filth. It’s perhaps this track which best offers a glimpse of the artistic contrast the two provide on this album. “The zoo had a decapitated giraffe/ A dedicated staff of volunteers, the acid was bad/ The gift shop was packed” woods relays, only to be cut off by Moor Mothers’ own ruminations: “Saw men draw meridians through life lines/ Why we tip-toe 'round these land mines and fault lines/ Feel the earth movin', flat earth see-saw/ Me and Woods in the rickshaw being pulled by horses/ I'm hearin' voices.” In truth, this is a record with many quotables, so infuriatingly dense and with so many thought-provoking segments that little does it justice apart from listening with full attention. An album like this feels like one that has lessons to be learned and knowledge to be gained; knowledge that perhaps should be known, but is hard to come to terms with. “But you the one what strung the rope” woods remarks. “We sacked Rome in ski-masks, stripped the pope/ Nowadays he never miss a lot, he be doin' the most... He be doin' the most.”

- Casey Chamberlain

Kid Cudi- Man On The Moon III: The Chosen

Few artists of the last decade have proven to have had such a large influence on the sounds that would follow them as Kid Cudi. The music of megastars like Travis Scott wouldn’t exist as it does without Scott Mescudi, an artist who has long been held near and dear by his fans due to his brutal honesty about his struggles with mental health, depression, and substances. Cudi’s 2009 debut album, Man On The Moon: The End Of Day, is held as a classic of its time, and for good reason, Cudi’s artistry, storytelling, and intimacy on that album is still astounding. With Cudi’s resurgence in the last few years following his critically adored collaboration with Kanye West, Kids See Ghosts, in 2018, Cudi has seemingly sought to continue his hot streak with the long-awaited third installment of the Man On The Moon series, being Man On The Moon III: The Chosen.

On first listen, this album sounds a lot like Cudi has been influenced by those who followed him rather than the other way around. Much of the first half of the record sounds like it would fit right at home on a Travis Scott album, much like last year's collaborative track between the two, aptly titled “The Scotts.” Tracks like “She Knows This” and “Tequila Shots” feature a spacey, drugged out trap vibe, with the former breaking into a groovy beat switch in its last portion. Meanwhile, other tracks branch out into new territory for Cudi, such as the drill-inspired and in-your-face “Show Out” which features a hook from the late Pop Smoke as well as a fantastic verse from Skepta, while “Rockstar Knights” features Cudi and Trippie Redd trading melodic ruminations. For much of this project, it would be easy to interpret much of this as Cudi’s takes on a number of styles birthed from his original run, and while it certainly is that, the wide swath of sounds that Cudi pulls from speaks more to his unseen influence than anything else, making much of the record feel like a statement: that without Kid Cudi, there is no Travis Scott and no Trippie Redd, so Cudi’s steps into their lanes feel like reclamation rather than imitation. Yet, the record’s strongest moments come mostly in the back half, where Cudi falls back into old habits and channels an almost updated version of the sound he originally burst onto the scene with. Tracks like “Solo Dolo III” and the gorgeous “The Void” feel like exactly what a matured “Man on the Moon” would sound like and tracks like “Lovin’ Me” featuring Phoebe Bridgers harken back to Cudi’s experiments in indie rock years ago, albeit more successfully. All in all, Man On The Moon III feels like a victory lap of sorts, a more mature Cudi revisiting the sounds he popularized and making a statement: that he is back, and better than ever.

- Casey Chamberlain

The Avalanches - We Will Always Love You

There is little an artist can do to combat the expectations they face after releasing a record like The Avalanches’ 2000 masterpiece Since I Left You, one of the most highly regarded plunderphonics records ever released. To follow up an album like that is no small feat, and the duos’ 2016 follow-up,  Wildflower, is a commendable release, although a different beast entirely. It’s with the groups’ newest release that their strategy with that record has been reaffirmed: the only way to follow up a record of such stature as Since I Left You is to simply not do so. The Avalanches’ We Will Always Love You is more 2016 Avalanches than it is 2000s; it’s a sprawling, grand project with features from some of the most talented artists working across the board, focused less on instrumental epics comprised of samples and more on flowing backdrops for their guests to flaunt their talents. Themed around the vastness of space and the Golden Record on the Voyager, the extraterrestrial-ness of the record permeates its every corner; its grandness feels like its statement, as it stands larger than the sum of its parts. An air of nostalgia flows through it, laced with voice memos from a woman professing, over the length of the record, that though she is now gone, perhaps departed from the mortal plane, she will “always love you.”

The features on the album are an achievement on their own: any album featuring this wide of a swath of talent must be commended for its boldness. To hear Denzel Curry, Rivers Cuomo, MGMT, Pink Siifu, Blood Orange, Kurt Vile, and countless others on a project together and have it sound cohesive is a miracle on its own. The interstellar nature of the album doesn’t always come across, and it’s a weighty record, at an hour and eleven minutes, and not every moment feels like it contributes to that runtime. It isn’t a perfect record by any means, and for many, especially those who fell in love with the record scratches and horse neighs of “Frontier Psychiatrist” are likely to be still disappointed in the trajectory of the prodigal sons of plunderphonics. Yet, if one can get past those expectations, there remains a larger-than-life moment to be lived through here, an intergalactic celebration of music, and one laced with themes of loss, pain, and nostalgia. The emotional peak of the record comes with the stinging “Always Black” driven by gorgeous piano and striking vocals, with a cutting poetic recital by Pink Siifu: “Stay, will you stay?” More than anything, the album plucks on that idea of staying and leaving and doesn’t let go of it. Starting from the voicemail left to the listener in opener “Ghost Story”, that feeling of love despite distance reverberates throughout the album’s highs and lows. Love has no distance limit, The Avalanches seem to be telling us. Across the vastness of space, that love persists.

- Casey Chamberlain

Channel Tres - i can’t go outside 

Channel Tres has no damn business being as smooth as he is. With an array of singles, remixes and an EP under his belt, Tres has seamlessly blended techno and house with West Coast rap and production to create a sound that is uniquely his own. And his voice is the icing on the cake. Tres moves effortlessly from rap to R&B, sometimes without a change in pitch. There are times when Tres sounds like he rolled out of bed and started recording and it still works perfectly. And on his debut album, i can’t go outside, Channel Tres is firing on all sonic cylinders. Tres has elements from techno, house, rap and R&B in his production arsenal and spreads them throughout the track list. The album’s opener (“i can’t go outside – intro) features a synth-focused, breezy R&B beat and the flick of a lighter, letting you know how to listen to the project. On “2000 chevy malibu”, Tres delivers lyrics to drive along the Pacific Coast highway to over hip-hop-based drums and encapsulating, spacey synths to make you stare out the window. Although overlooked due to its classification as an interlude, “broke down kid” is easily the most interesting track. Here, Tres rolls completely into house and techno to create a beat that could be a standalone instrumental. Sticking with his pattern of merging different, or even opposing, themes or genres into one, Channel Tres laces the bouncy, uplifting beat of “broke down kid” with lyrics regarding mental distress and unhealthy self-isolation. But you’ll never get the same song twice. Following the best interlude of 2020 (so far), Tres teams up with Tyler, The Creator for the bass-driven “fuego”. This track features glorious background vocals and some steamy lyrics from the duo. Although his debut was only seven tracks, Channel Tres has proven he’s capable of taking his sound anywhere. 

- Charlie Darnall

Kota the Friend - Lyrics to GO, Vol. 2

To be honest, I’m not sure Kota the Friend’s Lyrics to GO, Vol. 2 is essential to the hip-hop genre. I doubt Kota the Friend would even say the album is the best in his discography. But artists don’t have to make albums that make you rethink your life, win awards, or get radio plays. Sometimes artists just want to make something fun and positive to listen to and if there’s one thing I can say about Lyrics to GO, Vol. 2 is that it’s good for the soul. And we all need that right now. What the fifteen-minute project lacks in time it makes up for in storytelling, production and *vibes*. “Luke Cage” is the best example of an equal distribution of these qualities. On the track, Kota reflects nostalgically on past neighborhoods, romantic interests, and friendships. The beat is a coffee shop bop with a groovy guitar riff and the organs near the end. “Flowers” features Kota reflecting on growth over a perfectly placed piano sample that almost competes for the listeners attention. To me, this song sounds like what looking at a bed of flowers in full bloom looks like. If you agree, let me know – it’s 2am and I think I’m onto something. Ok, not to go deeper into this, but Lyrics to GO, Vol. 2 includes another song that (somehow) matches its sound to its title: “Living Room”. The sampling of distant conversation, acoustic guitar chords and Kota’s discussion of safe spaces and peace will make you want to curl up on the couch. Kota also further solidifies his flow as one of the best on this project. Most songs only contain one verse which makes it even more impressive that Kota can move between and within topics impeccably. I cannot think of a single time or situation where this album couldn’t make you feel even the slightest bit uplifted and, for that reason, it’s essential. 

- Charlie Darnall

Arlo Parks - Collapsed In Sunbeams

After the virality of Arlo Parks’ “Black Dog”, a song written so gracefully yet accurately about depression, showcased the singer’s incredible poetic abilities, R&B fans and critics alike patiently awaited her debut album. And with Collapsed In Sunbeams, Parks doesn’t disappoint. I have to start with Parks’ voice - everything else revolves around it. The lyrical content and production are great, but without Parks’ soft and angelic vocals, every song would sound like Robert Frost poems being read over a Wallows jam session. With the blessing of a voice that pairs well with anything, Parks is free to stray from the blueprint “Black Dog” created and enter new genres and explore new themes. Although placed only two songs above “Black Dog”, “Hope” functions as its antithesis. With breezy and gentle indie rock production to match, the chorus serves as both a reminder to the audience and to herself: “You’re not alone like you think you are.” But if “Hope” is Parks’ mental ceiling and “Black Dog” is her floor, then every other track must be a mix of the two. On tracks like “Too Good”, where Parks reflects fondly on her partner from a failed relationship, or “Eugene”, where she discusses falling in love with a friend, Parks expresses the complexity, and sometimes irrationality, of her emotions. Instrumental inspirations on Collapsed In Sunbeams include indie pop (“Portra 400”), folk (“Collapsed In Sunbeams”) and pure R&B (“For Violet”). Although sonically eclectic, every piece of production perfectly fits Parks’ lyrical themes. Through the highs and the lows, Collapsed In Sunbeams signifies the beauty in the struggle. This line from “Portra 400” does the best job at encapsulating that: “Making rainbows out of something painful”.

- Charlie Darnall

Upcoming Releases:

Slowthai- Tyron (2/12)

Few have the energy that UK rapper Slowthai has on a track. 2019’s Nothing Great About Britain saw Slowthai burst onto the scene and cause a commotion that feels like it hasn't calmed down since. On his new record Tyron, however, Slowthai seems poised to get a bit more introspective, approaching his childhood traumas and his newfound fame. The first single for the project, “feel away” featuring the signature crooning of James Blake as well as Mount Kimbie, feels immediately like a shift, with a more intimate sound. Other singles including the bouncy “MAZZA” featuring A$AP Rocky and “CANCELLED” with Skepta feel like a more refined version of the energy we’ve seen Slowthai channel before. The rapper’s sophomore outing will most certainly further shape Slowthai’s artistic direction. Tyron arrives February 12th and features Skepta, A$AP Rocky, Denzel Curry, Dominic Fike, and more.

- Casey Chamberlain

JPEGMAFIA- EP2! (2/12)

Not content with last years’ excellent EP!, the enigmatic JPEGMAFIA has announced plans to release a second EP this month, featuring his recent single “FIX URSELF!” as well as the previously released “LAST DANCE!” from his last season of single releases among a batch of new tracks, including “PANIC ROOM!” which features co-production from James Blake. The rappers’ steady output has been accompanied by a widening soundscape on his newest material, further setting Peggy as one of the most forward-thinking artists currently working. The aptly titled EP2! drops February 12th and features the previously mentioned singles along with new tracks “INTRO!” “KELTEC!” “THIS ONES FOR US!” and “FEED HER!”

- Casey Chamberlain