#sleep music oh . i fell a little out of love for a while only thru having to use yt app so no adblock…….. we’re soo back<3< /div> Explore tagged Tumblr posts

[mozki]

good morningggggg im so happy this morning?? i was Freaking out in bed last night but i just put sleep music on and persevered and i dont remember falling asleep!! im so proud of myself<3 my entire house were having a pissup in the room next to me so quite impressive really <3

[rukia-writes]

Snk daddies react to a bath with their s/o? (sfw) like wholesome relax time after a loooong day 😚

I have done bath time with their s/o for

Levi Ackerman 🧼

Eren Kruger 🧼

I also went with a modern au 🙇🏼‍♀️

Stress talk, wine glass, mud mask, oil

“And the next thing I knew I broke his camera. But in my defense he was asking a lot of questions-“

“So you just tossed it?”

“Yeah, I did. So that will be in the news tomorrow.”

Reiner currently was a professional football player and was stressed from football practice and the awful side of the paparazzi, (Name) knew what had to be done when the stressed out football player came home.

A bath.

A (Name)’s day special.

Reiner had on a green mud mask, that was hydrating his skin, (Name) had massaged scented oil on his back and legs while Reiner steadied talked about his day while drinking a glass of red wine.

The whole nine yards.

(Name) felt it was worth it as the more Reiner talked and received his amazing bath the more relaxed he became, of which Reiner was grateful for. Another reason why he likes bathing (Name).

“Can I give you a massage now? It’ll help with my stress.”

“Sure, I don’t mind Reiner.”

Reiner watched (Name) turned around as Reiner wiggled his fingers with a smile on his face ready to help (Name) now.

“Your leg smells delicious.”

Kruger was currently taking a bath while (Name) was steady shaving one of Kruger’s legs and then massaging it with a cake batter body scrub. The remark made Kruger roll his eyes yet he continued to watch (Name) massage his leg. Kruger had come home from a long days work and wanted to simply take a nice relaxing bath, (Name) helped in this regard. (Name) was very careful not to prick him with razor, Kruger was tall so he had long legs. Now (Name) thought he had nice smelling long legs.

“Why don’t you try the mud mask too?”

“No, this is more than enough.”

“..Can I rub your toes?”

“My toes?”

“Mhmm..”

(Name) didn’t even wait for Kruger’s answer and simply rubbed his slender toes making quickly withdraw his foot as a quick laugh escaped him, brightening up (Name)’s day as it was the sexiest laugh to grace (Name)’s ears.

“Oh, I didn’t know you were ticklish. I’m sorry.”

“Toes are off limits.”

“Toes and armpits. Got it.”

(Name) gave Kruger a wink knowing another body part he was ticklish at, Kruger was a bit bashful that (Name) had found at that information as he was blushing a bit. None the less he let (Name) massage his foot without touching his toes, which was well worth it as the long days stress had melted away.

“Is the one Mike?”

“..No. that scent is too heavy.”

(Name) sighed while putting another scented oil back on the shelf as Mike started to sniff around trying to find a certain oil that (Name) wore that he really liked. Mike had return from work stressed from a long day work and (Name) offered to take a bath with him which he agreed to. Mike loved all the scents that (Name) wore but there was certain scent that he calmed him and he just really liked.

“What about this one, Mike?”

Mike leaned forward and sniffed the plastic bottle a few times and smiled while nodding his head signaling that this was the scent. (Name) was going to apply it but Mike intervened because he wanted to massage his favorite scented oil on his beloved..

and he did.

so while the (Name) received a massage that relieved all the stress (Name) went thru that, so did Mike as well.

“Be still (Name), or I’ll mess up.”

“You can’t mess up a mud mask, Erwin.”

(Name) chuckled in response as Erwin was heavily concentrating applying a mud mask on (Name)’s face while the two were taking a nice hot bath together. Erwin had a rough and long day at work, but the bath he was currently taking with lover was doing wonders. Erwin had on a green mud mask himself and he had shampoo in his hair. Smiling Erwin lightly tapped on (Name)’s nose and stating that he was done.

“So we are matching now?”

“We are matching. Now I’ll apply the oil-“

“No, Erwin I’ll rub the oil on you. The bath is to relax you.”

“But I want to rub it on you first.”

Seemingly, Erwin found it just as enjoyable to massage (Name) as he did receiving a massage himself. Sure enough, Erwin gave (Name) a pouty look with his beautiful blue eyes and pouty lip.

Which was super effective.

Erwin got his way and enjoyed massaging his lover’s back, melting away all the days stress he had been thru that day.

“(Name), did you order pizza?”

“I did.”

(Name) happily responded to Erwin while he gave a massage, Erwin secretly wanted put a ring on (Name)’s finger.

Zeke currently had the famous and stylish bubble hair and beard, with his hair sticking straight up. Resembling a Santa Claus.

“You’re the most handsome Santa ever. Let me take take a picture-“

“Don’t send it to Eren.”

Zeke simply responded as he looked at himself in the mirror examining his bubble beard and hair, saying “Not Bad.” Then before he knew it he saw a blinding light and looking to his right side he saw (Name) taking pictures of him.

“You only need one.”

“Something could happen and I need a back up.”

“Oh? Well in that case.”

Zeke then did one pose after another as (Name) then became a photographer. Saying “Lift your chin more.” Or “Handsome. Do another.”

Zeke had long forgotten about his long and awful day he had before hand as he steadied posed for his sexy photographer.

“Give me your foot.”

“No, you’re going to tickle me.”

“No, I’m just trying to make sure you’re clean. You washed my feet.”

The bath was a bit on the hot side as Levi managed to finally get a hold of (Name)’s foot so he could return the favor. Levi didn’t mind taking a bath with (Name) at all, in fact he rather enjoyed since it was a moment to really bond with his beloved. Levi’s muscles also thanked him for the needed bath after a long days work. The heat from the bath and the little massage (Name) gave Levi helped him a lot. As well as, mud mask that calmed him down. Supposedly, it was green tea.

“Anyways, help me to find out this song is (Name). The students keep singing it.”

“How does it go Levi.”

“..I don’t really know all I know is it involves a bucket and a mop. So, I’m assuming it’s for cleaning.”

(Name) tried to recall the song Levi was talking about but came up empty handed, so it felt like 21 questions as he steadied washed (Name)’s legs. Levi was so occupied with trying to figure out what song it was that he forgot about his stressful day that he had with his wild students, while enjoying the all the attention (Name) was giving him from the questions to asking what all he did that day, etc., even though Levi couldn't recall what song it was he still enjoyed the attention from (Name) while relaxing in the bath and that was all needed to make him happy.

“And thats when the brat hit him in the face with his foot."

"Levi never misses, does he?"

"Nope, not even as damn runt."

Kenny had finished one story about how a toddler Levi kicked him the face one day while he and (Name) were simply enjoying a hot bath together. Kenny had few beers before hand and was in a talkative mood. Kenny was resting his neck on a rather comfortable quilted neck pillow that helped with his stress from earlier that day and his neck pain.

(Name) was steady washing his chest and stomach off while listening to him constantly talk about his day, that is until the talking was replaced with snoring.

“Kenny? Kenny Ackerman?”

(Name) tried to wake Kenny up by calling out to him and shaking him but the man was sound asleep. Taking a deep breath (Name) knew what to do wake Kenny up.

“Oh no, we’ve been robbed and they took all the beer.”

“I’ll kill them.”

Kenny arose from his deep sleep half asleep still ready to fight as he looked around ready to fight whoever supposedly took his beer. It was only until he heard a chuckle from (Name). Sighing he rubbed his forehead knowing exactly what happened.

“Fell asleep again?”

“Yes, you did. But I awoke you sleeping beauty.”

The music was a little on the loud side as Jean and (Name) were singing to a song Jean picked out by a music artist he loved as much as Eren loved Beyoncé and that was Mariah Carey. Jean had to spend time with (Name) after an long and exhausting day in his college courses. Both were simply vibing to the music while applying mud masks on each other’s face, washing each other’s bodies with soap, just having a good time in the hot bath. This wasn’t the first time (Name) and Jean had taken a bath together, so (Name) simply picked up Jean’s foot as he continued to vibe to the music. The song that was playing “Emotions” by Mariah Carey and the high note part was coming up and as soon it came on (Name) gave a gentle scrub to Jean’s foot resulting in him giving a high pitch yell just like Mariah Carey.

The scenario was too funny to (Name) even though (Name) tried to stop the laughter, the laughs kept coming while Jean was blushing with an not so happy look, even though he wanted to laugh too.

“It’s not funny (Name). I swear if you tell anyone-“

“I won’t Jean, I promise.”

Jean wasn’t convinced as (Name) kept laughing resulting in him giving a little blush and a little pout of his lip, which then made Jean get a smug smirk on his face as he wiggled his fingers.

“Okay then, let me give me your foot.”

The laughing quickly stopped as (Name) simply replied with a “No” but that didn’t stop Jean from trying while more songs played in the background.

✨Rukia-Writes✨

[icharchivist]

hello icha!!!!! learned from my mistakes and typed this out in a separate document. first i have to say im feeling a very deep connection with citron as of late bc i was giving myself a pep talk abt like physics and i told myself "face up and man the music!" and was like "...is that wrong. theres that song called man against the music isnt there... yeah it must be right" and. well i realized later. i also think the phrase "dont cry because it happened, smile because its over" is very good. also I’m halfway thru creating a very eclectic list of like. a Pokémon team for each a3 character which is… something. kinda knew it would happen to me. might take a while for me to finish it tho now that I’m halfway bc I’m suddenly having a crisis like “wait shit I’m only confident on my understanding and characterizing of like 4 characters am I good enough” so… it’s slow going lol. anyways. i finished that damn physics thing I was giving myself a pep talk about and so am treating myself to autumn/winter. happens that watching these events is also like. the only thing which reminds me to actually like. log into a3 lol. i am so bad at gacha games. probably a good thing in the long run. ok starting from the top!

hisoka going "zzz" as his reaction made me immediately go... oh dear, please dont fall asleep in the bath and guess what happened. yeah. good thing homare was there lol. speaking of i fucking adore homare and his poetry. id buy his collection. i also wish there was a collection like if there was a master list of every poem he says in like. at the very least main story. if not i will literally do it myself. i love homare so much im like him in that back when i had to play dodgeball id always be like kufufufu they cant hit me if im friendless enough that no one pays attention to me but like in my case it actually worked out. on the subject of the pillow fight tho, hisoka's crazy strong pillow fight throw... one more mark on the list for suspicious, maybe assassin occupation. this event made me realize how much i missed winter like. i saw the stranger pretty recently (which has caused the effect of be being like "taichi!! thats my boy!!" in my head everytime he shows up lol but anyways i havent gotten to a winter play yet so im VERY hype. especially bc this seems like it stars hisoka and homare??? like oh!! oh!!!! also detective fiction... im swooning. i also just enjoy the hisoka homare dynamic a whole fucking lot i think its nice how homare was like "yeah im ride or die for this funky lil amnesiac, why wouldnt you be?" and its just like. nice. feel like hes always reaching out to hisoka which is like. man homare is so nice.

back to chronology. ofc sakyo goes cheap for the hot springs lol. on brand as ever. was very hype for the azuma sakyo dynamic bc all i remember is like azuma trashing everyone including sakyo at some game or the other in one of the winter chapters and it was very good. or was this a clip in like a stage play? either way it was delightful. at first i misinterpreted taichi going "…" after azuma and sakyo said theyd never been on a field trip bc like. taichi being quiet or noncommunicative... after going thru autumn troupe act 1 it makes me fear for my life a little lol. anyways im glad he was just like planning fun times. speaking of taichi tho we got a tasuku taichi pair for etudes!!!! im not spoiling myself for later events but i hope to GOD tasuku and taichi do like a lead co lead in SOMETHING or at least like some mixed troupe event i want them to talk!!!

also dunno if this is an intentional pun but i enjoy that its called high spirits at the hot spring bc like oh theyre having fun but also bc like. "spirits" is used to refer to a certain type of alcohol i think? which is cool. dunno if its intentional but i liked that. anyways the talent show. taichis moving rendition of single ladies... ok i know it said single fellas but like. we know. wonder if that line was a different song in japanese? its not too old at ALL tho imo. anyways the way banri and juza being themselves Are the entertainment... flashback to when banri slaps juza live on stage instead of doing a stage slap lol. my reaction to azuma essentially went:

azuma: I can offer to bare my soul, and a little more ;)

izumi: what do u mean by that???

me: hey tasuku and omi were shirtless what's ur problem with azuma

anyways i reread and from what i understand they were maybe only flexing and doing a gun show? which like. no wonder it didnt last too long then lol. also explains why they didnt have shirtless sprites i suppose lmao. i am SO curious abt what azuma ended up doing tho that fade to black is so mysterious! did he tap dance? did he pole dance? the world will never know...

oh also im not like super familiar with azuma yet but my read on his personality is definitely like "I am so touch starved All The Time but I will be chill. :) :) this is fine :)" like he just seems to rly like being around people! just like basking in presence whether or not hes rly talking that much.

i enjoyed that juza mentioned pillow fighting with his lil brother... thats nice! i think a lot of this event was just focused on ppl having fun over the drama lol bc it got wrapped up sooo quick. i liked the bit where sakyos worried that izumi was out late searching for him tho it was so sweet. table tennis match was very fun although id argue calling hisoka and juza the two quietest tho lol like... banri exists so juza isnt quiet. just like inevitably. finally, the event cg!!! azumas hair tied up... so nice! thats how I tie my hair up sometimes tho it doesnt look nearly as nice lol. taichi rambling abt his first love for so long tho... lol. ill be honest i have to reread autumn bc i was not aware of this whole situation until it came up in the stranger and i like inferred from there. the end of this event was nice! it was cute. i dont rly have much thoughts on it but im so hype for the winter play

Hello:!!! so good to see you again, freshly learning from your mistakes then :3c

the connection with Citron is a BLAST to read about. I am glad that Citron is there, on your mind, supporting you at every turns of language. It's beautiful.

AND OH THE POKEMON LIST!!! thrilled to hear about it being a wip ongoing! take your time ofc and i hope you'll feel more confident as you go for your characters interpretation! i believe in you!

lmao i'm glad the events help you remember to play a3, i'm sure that by the time you'll be done with the events you will have unlocked so much of act 2 you won't have to worry too much about it. Anyway i'm glad you treat yourself to good things :3c

of course Hisoka fell asleep in the bath. tbh this event was a lot of "Hisoka almost dies in a spring house multiple times if it wasn't for his troupesmates". Between sleeping in the bath and almost swallowing the table tenis ball... where would we be without Winter, and especially Homare, taking care fo him.

I'm SO GLAD you like Homare that much! he's so so good! i'm sure there must be a masterlist somewhere, or well. can be done anytime i guess?? but yeah Homare is fantastic and LDJFDLKFJDF the evil plan to avoid dodgeball from both of you.. this is incredible DLKJFDLKF. But yeah alas he's loved by his own so he gets hit smh.

And yeah Hisoka is just acting sus huh.

BUT YEAH... YEAH... WINTER... BELOVED.... I feel regular and normal feelings for Winter as you know, s o .

(i'm so delighted that you feel that way about Taichi though, as he deserves!! what a good boy!!!)

But yeah Winter play next!!!!! i love the winter plays so much i hope you'll like it as well!! aND YEAH HISOKA AND HOMARE AS A DUO... for a DETECTIVE story?? so good.

I'm sO GLAD you like their dynamic! yeah i adore it too. Homare was so quick to leap into taking care of Hisoka? Like i mean he immediatly called him sleeping beauty when they first met, and immediately decided to be his roommates to watch over him, and then he did everything to take care of him and it's just so sweet. Homare has such a big heart he's so gentle with Hisoka. Homey and comfortable, whenever Hisoka admits it or not ahah.

ahah wouldn't be Sakyo if he didn't need to stay cheap. BUT YEAH the Sakyo/Azuma dynamic is pretty good. oh the event you talk about i think is in some of his very first backstage storyes (that you can read if you have them since they're at this point of the chronology). There's one where they play a mafia game and Sakyo is warry of Azuma because "people like him are those you need to worry about the most" and Azuma is just ":) you wound me :) i would never :)" and then Azuma wins the game and starts to mess with everyone. It was so fun. and yeah i see which clip you mean for the stage play!! it's so so fun they have such a neat dynamic and i loved to see it in this event as well.

and omg worrying about Taichi while he was just there preparing a fun time! this child really would have worried us all back then huh

but AHH YEAH TASUKU TAICHI.... It's such a neat dynamic! ofc i won't say anything but man i love the potential of their stories, as the two ex Godza boys. To see them bond and be comfortable with each other always make me so soft.

OH NICE CATCH FOR THE PUN! i think it must be the reason for it tbh, i love it! thanks for pointing it out!

The talent show was really fun yeah ahah! I wonder what it is in Japanese too but at least the localization was hella fun!

"anyways the way banri and juza being themselves Are the entertainment." THEY'RE SO SILLY I love them so much

AND LMAO YOUR REACTION AT AZUMA I LOVE IT. YEah i think Tasuku and Omi are just flexing (which is Still. SO FUNNY. Just there saying "our talents is.. our muscles...") meanwhile Azuma is like "my talent is that i'm crazy hot :)"

But YEAH Azuma... AZUMA WHAT DID YOU DO....

your read on Azuma's personality feels pretty spot on to me ahah omg. Staying with what you know about him, the fact that with his job and all, he seems like he's starving for connection while also terrified to make himself emotionally vulnerable. He loves staying with people, listening to them, caring for them, and he's touch starved as hell (i mean it's his job) but he doesn't seem to really know how to be on the receiving hand of affection. there's a flair talk, i can't remember where, with Omi at some point, where Azuma compliments him, and Omi is just "mhm.. but you know i think that it's more about you" and ends up complimenting Azuma in depth and it let Azuma dumbfounded because he didn't expect Omi to trick him at his own game, while Omi just genuinely don't get why Azuma is reacting that way. He gives he gives he gives, and he's genuinely happy with that, but he seems to have difficulties to take, or to demand for something, while also starving for it. I have so many emotions for Azuma.

Any mentions of Juza's little bro are the best things. I love this type of mention TwT

And yeah it was such a laid back event. Honestly deserved after the crying fest that was The Stranger imo. It's good to relax once in a while and it was nice to have them have fun. There was the bitterness of both Azuma and Sakyo's past that was always a bit looming but everyone was working so hard for them to enjoy themselves that the joy just overtake any sadness i loved it.

Sakyo worrying about Izumi is always adorable TwT

And yeah the Table Tennis match was so fun and chaotic LMAO. I love the dynamic between Juza and Hisoka. Just two usually quiet boys who like sweets. Except that yeah like you say, as long as Banri is around, Juza cannot be 100% quiet. Rip.

THE CG WAS SO PRETTY i loved seeing it. And omg you can share your hairtips with Azuma how nice :D Azuma manages to make everything look beautiful smh....

Oh yeah Taichi and his first love! if i recall he mentions it quickly at the begining, that Yuki reminds him of his first love, and he says that again at some point - then the fake Portrait he does he mentions his first love again. And since then it's been a reccuring topic so yeh :3c

but yeah! this event was really sweet and laid back, not much to say about it, but it was nice to have it at all!

Hope you'll like the winter play :3c

Take care and thank you again for your thoughts <33 i love reading them!! bless you!!

[harrys-sunflower-bakery]

Only you tom holland x reader

Arthur's note: hi this is a fic of tom Holland and the reader so if you like it thanks cos it is my first fic and I am in love with tom 😁

Synopsis: you meet tom at comic con and at the photo ops you were the very last person and you run and he followed you and then something you did not think would happen happens.

Warning:make out. fluff. inappropriate jokes. And bad writing probably.

I was going to my first comic con and I was going to meet tom Holland I was on my way to take a photo with tom Holland

"Y/n you there?" Your friend Emily said

"Yeah just give me a second I'm trying to get my hair flat," you say you and Emily have been best friends for 8 years and never left each other's side you argued a few times but never stayed mad

"Well get your ass ready and fast I want to get to the comics"

"Ok chill out" you shout to her. A few minutes later you come out of your room

"Finally you took a fucking lifetime in there," she says

"Haha very funny" sarcasm laced in your voice

"Ok can we go now please" she asked

"Yeah let me grab me phone real quick" you run to your room and get your phone and walk back to Emily "ok got it " you say as you stand in front of her

"Ok let's go meet marvel's hottest guys" she says

"Yea yea let's go," you say as you walk out the door to your car you get in and put some music on and despasito comes on you look at Emily and she looks at you and you start singing at the top of your lungs while you drive to comic con. About an hour later you arrive at comic con and go inside. You where wearing Toms quackson merch and Emily was wearing a Capitan America shirt. First, you went to the miraculous ladybug panel and then walked around and then it was time for one of the marvel panels with Chris evens, Robert Downey Jr, and tom holland but tom showed up as a surprise .

"Boo" tom came behind Robert and Robert almost fell off of the sofa and you and Emily laughed. It was a really fun panel and you had a good time you had the whole day to spend cuz your photo-op was at the end of the day and you lost track of time a little. Emily had her photo-op earlier and you were literally the last person in the line but it did not really bother you if it means you can meet your idol so you just looking thru your insta and reading a little fanfiction. And then it was your turn to take the photo with tom he did not do agraffes today so you were the last person in the line and it was your turn the last person to see tom in the day, you walk in and you see him taking a sip of water and the guard Leeds to tom and you try not to fangirl and you did as you wished.

"Ello there love how you doing?" Tom asks you as you step in front of tom and give him a small smile.

"H-hi I'm a-a r-really big f-fan i-i'm y/n" you stutter and smile shyly at tom

"Hi y/n nice to meet you do you want to do a pose or?" He asks you and you shake your head no

"Whatever makes you c-comfortable," you say

"Ok then come here," he says and you step closer to him and he takes your hand and turns you around so your back is against his chest and you do the prom pose and you take the photo and he was about to ask you something and you start to freak out say thank you and run and tom was finished for the day and ran after you, you stop for a second and see ton running after you but this time you don't run you just catch your breath

"Why did you run away?" Tom asks you. Tom doesn't know what made him like you but he could see that he needed you in his life for some reason.

"S-sorry I just freaked out b..but should you not go back to the photos?" You look at tom and he gives you a smile that will be the end of you

"Nope, all done for the day do you maybe want to get food I'm starving? But only, if you want to that, is" he says and you look at him in disbelief and nod your head

"Um y..yes that would be nice but I just need to give my friend my car keys or she would be stuck here" you text Emily and tell her to meet you at the photo ops both and 5 minutes later she comes

"So why are you ditching me is it a guy?" She asks and you blush and tom comes out of the photo booth

"Ok y/n are you ready? Ah, you must be the friend?" He looks at Emily and gives her a smile and her jaw dropped

"Wait what you? Him? Y/n what the? Ok I'm not mad that you are ditching me anymore" she says and she leans in to whisper in your ear "oh and don't forget to use protection" she says and you punch her arm and she laughed and said bye to you and get home by 12 or she is locking you out and you just rolled your eyes

"Ok well we should go or you don't have a place to sleep," Tom says, you and tom went to a diner had a good time and very fun full of passion and love and two years later you are married and have a baby on the way you did not think that was how your forst comic con would go but you are happy and that is what matters

Tag list

[scandeniall]

Can I request Atsumu Afro!American!s/o inviting him to her family cookout ( I’m not American tho)

Since you said you weren’t american i tried to make this not americanized (bc thats what i know) and relatively general so i hope i didnt trash this 

ok so i want to start this by saying i can actually see atsumu as a top tier type of bf to bring and heres why:

hes not gonna show up there and be awkward as fuck. Hes not gonna be scared to engage in conversation. Also not gonna be the type of s/o thats like “babe come with me to fix a plate”. His ass is gonna just GO do it

he makes a perfect balance between a dork and smooth talker so he can vibe with all your family. Bashful laughs and genuinely polite greetings when he first meets your parents/grandparents/aunts/uncles to being able to act a fool with you and your cousins when the older folk are away

so when you first approach him like “hey do you wanna come to my family’s cookout,” hes excited. For one- its canon that this man loves food and loves to eat so hell yeah hes in. Second, i can imagine the fact that you’re comfortable enough in your relationship to bring him (whos obvs not black) is a big deal. Like you want him to meet your more extended family? hes like “oh shit i gotta impress” (also people be out here demonizing him more than needed- hes an asshole but not that bad, so even before he was aware of the more cultural aspect of it and is super respectful and wants to learn)

So you pull up with him, and I can imagine him being lowkey nervous the day of/drive to and youre just like “relax, just dont be you” as a joke and he glares at you and youre just like “I’m kidding”

Give him a tiny pep talk, he’d appreciate it. It’d be one of the times you get the sweet side and not the “yall just wild ass best friends who are dating” type him.

The minute he steps out of the car he literally hits a 180 on you and suddenly isn’t nervous. The music is a vibe, your hand is in his, and that food smells good. Hes annoying though and as yall walk thru to the central location hes like “watch your family like me more than you”

Anyways when yall get there its not early but its not late either, so food is highkey still cooking, save for a few hot dogs (which i’m gonna say turkey or veggie for my own selfish indulging LMAO). And this mans does NOT care. He’s still gonna eat 2-3

Anyways, you make quick rounds with him by your side to greet: he straight turns on the charm. To the point where its like “OK but you didn’t even charm me like this sir.” And trust me he eats the compliments your aunties and shit shoot off at him up. (but also props to you because you bagged a man who is fine as fuck) 

Whether you say something or not, he asks YOU to go dance. So yall got your little red solo cups and he smooth grabbing your hand and just straight vibing with you. (he looked at youtube videos and learned to step much to your surprise so uh, you better know how to before he embarrasses you). bonus: when youre alone with close cousins later they like: spill the tea. his hips? d**k game gotta go crazy

anyways towards the later half of the day where the air is a lot more settled and everyone is just chilling, hes over with some of your guy cousins (lets say yall around the same age). Anyways you walk over after talking with your parents, beer in hand for him. Hes the type of bf to just wrap his hands around your middle even while your standing and you gotta give him the look that his hands better not slip lower. But yeah, your fam teasing anyways F in the chat

idk if hes more touchy because its getting late and the adrenaline and excitement for the day is winding down, or its because hes that comfortable with your cousins and they all friends now so if he wanna touch on his baby hes going to

hes actually really good at cleanup (now if only he’d exercise that not around your family lol). Hes handing out the foil, helping empty garbage cans, etc: yeah hes invited back, your family is impressed

yeah now hes tired, its dark its late and as yall are walking back to the car, he offers a squeeze to your hand. “Thank you for inviting me. I had fun.” He also loved seeing you being unapologetically black and you and not having to code switch and yeah he fell in love right then and there at the bright smiles and just pure joy (hes not gonna tell you that part tho, maybe if your sleep and he thinks you cant hear but don’t hold your breath on him voicing that)

bonus: he helped (kinda) with whatever dish you made. He also brought the extra foil, because he didn’t wanna fuck up and bring something stupid 

bonus: your fam like “ooo you should bring us a Japanese dish next time” and yeah he takes something osamu made and claims its his and that he made it all while you look at him like 🤨 knowing damn well-

[lockdownuk]

Lockdown Diary Part 10

A personal account during the lockdown in the UK due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

23/03/2020 8:30pm Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister, gives a live address to the nation to, effectively, put the country on lockdown to stem the spread of the deadly coronavirus strain, Covid-19.

Many of us have been self-isolating for days but this latest development within the UK in reaction to the pandemic feels very serious and very scary. I decided to keep a simple diary and where better but online. Day 271: Work was dominated by Qfiniti again, including a meeting with Jon and staff from the States, where I found my self taking control to get the next steps in process (and then, Dave Stewart, the SCCM engineer fucked off and put an OOO message on Teams telling me he’s off until Tuesday (it’s Thursday)...and I am off on Monday!) But, I have to say this project does float my boat. Got a text message and then a call from PCH for another laser eye appt this coming Monday at 12.30pm. I mentioned to the lady that phoned that I will have to square it with work (I won’t, but she doesn’t know that) as I can’t afford to lose my job - it just seems the hospital, while under pressue with the admin and the clinic availability - I get it! - just aren’t seeing the issues for the patients. Plus, Peterborough has been declared a Tier 3 from Sunday under the new lockdown scheme, the highest tier. Great...I really want to travel to a highly infected area! managed to find an online booze shop that does Gordon’s and Famous Grouse and will deliver beforee Chrimbo, so I’ve placed the order for dad and Rita’s gift. I spoke with Dad today, he hasn’t heard about his vaccination yet which is a surprise (he’s in the first draft being over 80)

Day 272: Typing on day 273. Work was that manic shit at the end of the dya when I’ve got time off. I am only off on Moday but still had to tie up loose ends, complictaed further by Jon being off next week and Sueanne off this week and the Qfiniti project! In the evening I only mamaged three beers. I ate too much. Plus my sugars were all over the place and way too high! I ordered a torch a couple of days ago (£17), it arrived today. It takes rechargeable batteries or 3 AAAs. Apparently, to get the best performance (i.e. brightness) you need the rechargeable batteries in it, so i charged ‘em. Fucking hell, I’m glad I did - it’s brighter than the sun. It opens up my late walks in winter, for sure.

Day 273: While it was a very late (but sober) night yesterday (gone 4am before lights out) I was up before midday. Usual walking etc. plus gave the bathroom a clean (albeit with wipes, but I did mop the floor - and used the water to also mop the kitchen). Now I am about to stick a pizza in the oven, plus wedges (to have with microwaveable chip shop curry sauce) and watch This Is 40 which is coincidentally on telly tonight - the coincidence being clips of it are on TikTok a lot right now. I am on my second beer and am going to have a smoke right now as well. Lastly for this entry, I have been using my AudioPro speaker today, it pisses me off it’s not WiFi capable but, thru Bt, it does sound fucking good - revisiting James works very well to demonstrate the speaker’s prowess.

Day 274: I have another Paypal a/c. I have been getting emails to my standard gmail account from Paypal saying they are going to charge me £9 for an inactive account which I have been largely ignoring since my paypal a/c has a specific email address. Anyway, I tried to log in, after a password reset and, hey presto, I do have another one, with £35 in it, having just been fleeced of £9 for the aforementioned inactivity, fuckers. It’s registered with the old Market Place address and phone. When I try to transfer the £35 to my card, it wants to confim it’s me by calling the phone, which I can’t amend. Oh, and you can’t contact Paypal direct. Fuck knows what to do! Other than that, usual Sunday, a tad more relaxed since I have tomorrow off, but not that much now I have an eye appointment in Tier 4 Peterborough (it’s been up’d from tier 3)! Up at 1.30 pm (I watched This is 40 and The Guvners last night with lots of beer), feeling worse for wear but, stair climb and a 6 miler acheived!

Day 275: I was at the hospital for 3 hours. The laser clinic didn’t start until 1.30pm so, why my appointment was at 12.20, not even the consultant could understand. 15 minutes of lasering - horrible but I am used to it. It took so long it pretty much fucked my day off up completely. I got a Christmas card from Karen, in the actual post, so, a mail shot. It’s depressing.

Day 276: Back to work and it’s definitely in wind down mode. I’ve decided to compile a list of things I have done this year. It will be on the postive side, such as all the steps I’ve walked and getting an article published about my photography, but it will also include randon facts like getting bitten by a dig twice and not having a haircut. I’ll get it done so I can post in at new year, hopefully be a little inspiring, a little silly and a lot of showing off!

Day 277: Work, again, was quiet. It’s fucking pissing down now, as I type at 21:50, and has been all day. It’s causing havoc and there’s flooding everywhere. I could walk down St. Peter’s Road tonight ‘cos of it (had to go up New Road, Springfield Road, down Latham Road). Soaked a lunhtime and tonight! With a new variant of Coronavirus, France stopped frieght crossing the border. That’s now been resolved but tyeh back log has/is affecting certain food stocks in the shops, of which, fresh veg might affect me for Christams dinner (I plan to do a chicken breast with stuffing, pigs in blankets, yorkshire pud and shed loads of veg. I’ll nip to Co-Op tomorrow morning and see what’s vaialble. It’s a half day at work ‘cos of Christmas Eve, so I can nip out somewhere in the car if need be, as ong as the flooding has subsided. Or I could just get shitfaced and have burgers and pizza.

Day 278: Christmas Eve. Sueanne let me finish at 11.00am so, very shortly thereafter, off for a walk I went; it turned out to be a stop/start affair - flooding as the Nene had burst its banks, ended up doing more of a circuit round town. Bumped into Andy Smith (and his son) and, after that, Ash and Denise. Ended up doing just under 11.5km in 2 and a half hours.Knackered! As I type, I have a chilli on the stove, beer on the go, all the veg and chicken breast bought with no shortages, as feared, for tomorrow’s lunch and looking forward to eating. getting drunk, smoking, listening to music, watching telly....all over the next two/three days.

Day 279: I don’t even remember going to bed last night. As a direct result I got out of bed at 2.30pm. I couldn’t even be bothered with Christmas dinner, let alone anything else like exercise. I’m just about to have chilli for dinner (it’s 8.10pm). Watch some telly then try an go to sleep before midnight. No booze! I did talk to dad earlier. Day 280: Typing on day 281. A better, more productive day. Up @11.00am exercise and walk as usual, although the walk was a different route due to flooding. In the evening I could hear ‘storm Bella’ raging, so windy! I cooked a christmas dinner of sorts, chicken breast with Thyme, all the veg, roasted spuds and parsnip, stuffing (a first for me, albeit co-op stuffing mix), Yorkshie and pigs in blankets. It was smashing! A few beers and The Hitman’s Bodyguard, alays a fun watch. A better day, as I say, but I am feeling particular deflated this Christmas. Day 281: Typing on day 282. I realised, about mid afternoon, that Monday (tomorrow) is a bank holiday so no work. It was a great realisation but, also, worrying that it dawned on my like I’m an old person! Nevertheless, a nice long walk - bumped into Baz & Kate and had a nice long chat, then El & Camila, Aaron and Eva for another, shorter chat. I also saw Denise & Ash along the way. Fog video called later in the evening for a chat too (he told me how he fell asleep at the dinner table, fuck he makes me laugh - unwittingly - when I need it most!) A regular social fest! A repeat of last night’s dinner and a few beers - it was a good day albeit I am in a proper low ebb.

Day 282: Up at midday after a 4am-er. A very long walk (1.75 hours) and a hodge podge dinner (remaining chilli, roasted spuds and peppers, steamed cauliflower and runner beans, grated cheese) - it’s nearly ready, I’ll type the review tomorrow. I realise that this is the first time in 21 Christmases that I have at least talked to K. Is that connected to my mood slump? I reckon so. So, as that fact dawned on me, I then considered, should it be the case next Christmas, it will not be the first in along time and, as such, more manageable....fuck knows how I manage to accentuate any little positive but, thank goodness I do. Day 283: Work was a sedate affair today, fuck all to do really. Sueanne is now follwing me on Insta...I shall invetsigate on how to exclude posts to individuals, methinks. Tea, last night, was fucking lovely. More of the same tonight-ish - currently I am roasting spuds, peppers, garlic, chillies, tomatoes - it’ll all go with left over pigs-in-blankets (5) and a burger. I’ll have bisto beef with mustard on it. I can’t wait! Day 284: Typing on day 285. That meal was fucking lush! Checked on the car todfay and it would not start. Something is draining the battery so I will have to give it a run every day until I can get Julian to sort it. So, I WhatsApp’d Karen to borrow the portable starter. She dropped it off for me. We had the briefest of chats at the doorstep, first time we’ve spoken in weeks. She mentioned my hair! Day 285: NYE. I have just got back from walking to Cottersock and back. I would not have been able to do so without my new torch! I finished and published my double letter quiz on FB, including to the Virtual Pub group and the Oundle Chatter. It’s had some good feedback, I’m rather proud of it. I am going to make chicken casserole now (with dumplings - a first for me, I even bought some flour), have some beers and get a bit stoned. Before that, I am going to finish off my list of things I’ve done this year, including steps wlaked and hours listening on Spotify. I am quite proud of that list too.

Day 286: I fucked the dumplings up, added too much water, so that didn’t happen but the chicken casserole was good, just about to finish it for tea tonight. I also had pizza last night and went to bed at 5am. I have had a lot of good feedback on my list of 2020 achievements. I proud of it. K sent a happy new WhatsApp last night, around 00.30.

Day 287: No booze last night, so I was up before the alarm today (about 10.00am) Two walks, one on my own, another with Fog with a couple of beers. I fucking loved it! Watching datrts (World champs semi finals - been texting Dan while the first one has been on). Going to watch The Aviator later...I’ve not seen it before which surprises me. Why it surprises me I do not know, since I know I haven’t seen it. How the fuck can I be surprised by a fact I’m completely aware of? Day 288: I didn’t watch The Aviator ‘cos Logan Luck was on at 11:55pm on ITV4. Great fildm...I can’t believe that I very nearly paid for it (rent from Sky or Amazon). A late one last night and quite pissed. Thinking about it, having afew beers with Fog in the afternoon made it quite a long sesh for me! Up at just gone midday today, nice long walk (Cotterstock) which was mde long by a painful right ankle - I must have turned or twiested slightly sometime. Still, it survived. Back to work tomorrow - Chrimbo and New Year all done and dusted for the 55th time in my life!

Day 289: First day back at work of 2021. Boris announces another full lockdown in England (there’s a new strain of Covid19 which is seeing huge numbers of infections every day, over 50,000 per day).

Day 290: Something is up with my right foot, the little toe pad. It’s bloody sore. If it gets any worse it’ll affect my walking and exercise. I phoned Anne Bennison to talk about it, she just wants me to go and see her which i donlt want to do if poss, pandemic and all that.

Day 291: Wearing my sandals instead of the M&S slippers and my foot/toepad is already feeling bteer. However, I did inspect my Merrell boots, just in case, and the sole on te right is really worn down, in just three months. I have sent a WhatsApp to CotswoldOutdoors, where I got them from....let’s see what they say! It’s all kicking off i  the US - pro Trump protestors have storm the Capitol Building, where congrees was being held. Only in ‘Merica.

Day 292: Busy at work with rolling out Qfiniti - all that project work was pretty much for fuck all since the SCCM package has to hand held. It’s feckin’ freezing today, below freezing, slippy af on my walks. I have been shopping tonight, £106 in Corby Tesco. That does include 8 cans of sapporo.

Day 293: The fracas at Capitol Hill on Wednesday left 5 dead, it looks like Trump will be impeached. He’s already said he’ll not attend Biden’s inauguration. In a fucking world gone mad, it’s another level of madness. It’s really cold -3℃ tonight, more of the same tomorrow. Makes for brisk walks. I’ve just had chicken balti pie and chips for tea. It was so nice that I burnt the roof of my fucking gob. I’m on the Sapporo and about to have a smoke then watch Jack Reacher. I’ve (kinda) earnt after the first 5 day week for a while.

Day 294: Well, last night saw another late one...5am by the time I :went to sleep. Up at 2pm today with no instention of any exercise or walking or housework or fuck all, really. But, I did my exercises and a 9 mile walk. While I walked I came across Banners, quick 15 min chat and listed to Stage by David Bowie. He’s all over the radio right now as it’s his death’s anniversary tomorrow and his birthday yesterday. It’s a fucking good live album. A few beers tonight, eating trash, watching FA Cup highlights then End of Watch later.  Posh played today (first time in a while due to Covid infections) drew away to (shitty) Lincoln 1-1. Good point as Posh were down to ten men after 67 mins for a second yellow for handball in the area. Lincoln missed the pen. Fucking funny. Chorley, the non leaguers who knocked Posh out in round 2 of the FA Cup, beat Derby in round 3 today (albeit derby fielded an academy side of 11 first timers due to Covid ) - a great day for them!

Day 295: Up at 2pm swearing blind I’d not walk or exercise (again!) but, of course I did. I’ve done over 25 miles this w/e! End of Watch was brilliant last night. Well worth a rewatch, so emotional. I am making butter chicken as I type. I’ve added extra onion, garlic and, of course, chillies. It’s the spiciest butter chicken I have ever tasted! 

Day 296: One of those frustrating days at work when no problem of request I try to resolve goes without a hitch. After a 7km walk in the evening, took the car for a spin and cleaned the bathroom. Fucking knackered. It’s 11:30pm and I’m in bed typing this on the iPad! despite getting up so late, I feel knackered. 11pm bedtime for me, I reckon.

Day 297: Fucking busy at work, the States rolled out a new Okta trust policy and it caused mayhem. Meant my evening walk didn’t start ‘til gone 6pm. When I got back, clened the hall and stairs, made chilli (which I am about to have for tea (gone 10.15pm!) and showered. I’m, again, fucking knackered! Posh played Portsmouth in the EFL Trophy 3rd round at home. Won 5-1. Nice.

Day 298: Had an electrician rouind for the EICR cetrt. He was here until 2pm and it was a pain in the arse, having to work upstairs plus, with having to cut the electricity, all the smart devices lost their settings. And it was freezing up there.

Day 299: Work was impossibly infuriating. Not one pc remote session went to plan! It was pissing down a lunchtime during my walk but, I have to say, the cheap TargetDry coat copes fine in heavy rain for short periods. Everywhere is flooding again even though the rain turned to sleet. By my evening walk, it was dry but bloody cold. Then, when I got in I cleaned the kitchen and mopped the floor and the bathroom’s as well. I fucking done in! Chatted to dad today - same as ever!

Day 300: What a fucking work at week! I am so glad it’s Friday. To celebrate, I ordered new walking boots: Scarpas £121!

[painandpleasure86]

Burned all my energy (BreakyWeek2k19)

Author’s note: Hi ppl! This was for Day 4, but this last Thursday and Friday were so frenetic... I couldn’t post this before! Probably I’ll post for the last day... Thank u @runningfortocome​ for hosting this special week for this underrated ship and for supported me last Tues for the hateful anons.

Prompt for Day 4 that I choosed: “Back Chat/arguments in the studio”

Warnings: Angst and fluff.

Word count: +2.0k

Tag list: @warriorteam1924  @runningfortocome​

They love to each other. So much. But also argue a lot. Both have a big pride about their own opinion and that didn't helped at all. Not only in the studio, but also in the intimacy. At least in the last one scenario was always a lot easier to fix the things. Nothing like a special meal or something sexual couldn’t fix.

Record an album always was a challenge for the group. The four of them have different points of view about what to do. But the two of them were usually the worst. Fred always mediating, Roger always mocking to the couple. 

Around 1979, John showed to the group Another one bites the dust. He recorded bass, guitar, synths and claps as a demo. Meanwhile the group was listening it in the studio, Bri and Roger started to feel in disconform, mainly Roger. 

In a whisper, Roger told to Brian “please, if you want to say your disagree, be careful... despite that it’s so funny mocking him, i’m quite tired of both of you arguing”. Brian nodded.

Once the demo ended, Bri said to John with a kind smile "Nice song really, but..."

The youngest one started to feel the anger. Still in his chair, turned to them and he watched right to the hazel eyes of his man. Said sighing “ah shit here we go again ... always but. Nothing that I make likes you!”

Fred, half turned to Brian and John. Trying to calming the atmosphere, said with a cheeky face “You mean musically darling no?”, while winked and made some sexual gestures with his hands.

Brian watched at him pretty disgusting.

"That stuff it's irrelevant here" he said.

"It is Bri. Thanks to the gods that you're happy at bed, hehe." His blonde friend winked an eye. "If not, more hysteria. And the three of you are drama queens. Despite that's quite funny, sometimes it's tiring to see the three of you always discussing" throw Roger.

Bri, pretty done, almost screamed "oh okay, look at you, calling to us drama queens when you made a number for your song of the car some years ago!”

Roger started to be really irritated.

"That's your only argument! Change your cassette Bri!" yelled the blondie.

Fred stand up of his chair and puts between Bri and Rog, separating them with his hands. John just was covering his face trying to not say nothing. "That childish fight again…" he thought.

"Guys, quiet." said so calm.

They still watched to the another pretty upset.

"Relax, guys." continued the singer.

Looking at Roger, he said "the four we're hysterical queens in a some way… But just a real one, ha!" Roger smiled. 

Fred turned his face now to Bri.

"Now you can continue with your opinion about John's song."

Bri started to talk, but Fred interrupted him.

"First, something more Bri". His hands leaved the chest of his friends and walked near John to grab his shoulders, which was on one side watching all the scene. He ducked his head in direction of the face of the bassist.

"And you, darling… don't interrupt to Brian and start to argue again. Let the man speak".

Deaks looked at his friend and sighed deeply.

"Okay, Fred."

Looking at his lover "I'll not yell this time, love." He stand up of his chair. Fred was behind John now. The bassist walked to his man and hugged him with his left arm. Watching to that hazel eyes and caressing the cheeks of the guitarist, continued speaking. "Go ahead." And he kissed him in the cheek. 

Brian watched at the bassist and smiled, slightly blushed.

The environment it's relaxed again.

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A couple of months later, The Game album was released. Another One Bites the Dust it's the most selled single. Bri and Roger should to recognize the ability of John there. And that was right  heeding to Michael Jackson that suggested to release that song as a single.

That album gave them tours for common lands to them like Japan, and visit for the very first time places like South America; where the band had an excellent and very warm reception from the fans. Where Another one bites the dust sounded in the discos and a lot of people enjoyed that funky vibe in the dance floor.

Even that song won the prize as Best Pop Single. Deaky and Rog were there to receive the prize. John, very happy. But Roger, pretty deceptioned "we are a rock band and we won a prize for best pop single? For God's sake…" he thoughts while they’re receiving the prize.

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Flash recording. Releasing. And now another recording, the album that would be named Hot Space. Now have even more argues and problems, the sound of this album its pretty away of the rockish sound of  the band. The experiment with AOBTD was successful, so, the funky and the (slowly dying) disco music took over the album concept. Even of that way, Brian and Roger could insert rockish songs or at least with powerful guitar riffs. Deaky and Fred must accepted that after a lot of argues, for maintain the good environment in the studio. Specifically, Deaky didn't wanted to have problems with his lover. They have already problems pretending being straights, until decide get out of the closet. He often just sighed deeply, pretending that everything's okay. But his patience was reaching it limit.

One night he couldn’t sleep. Changed a lot of time his position in bed. Deep breath didn't worked in him. He have a lot of angry inside. He needed to vent thru a song. 

He get up of the bed so quickly and was to the studio where he write his songs. In that studio he haves books that covered almost an entire wall, having infront a comfy couch. Next, the window and in front the desk. To the right side of the window, lied his Fender Precision Bass 1968, a keyboard and an acoustic guitar.   

In the studio, he grabbed paper, pen and sat in front of the desk to start to write. Isn't that often that him haves a suddenly inspo to write a full song. But that night was one of the examples. Back Chat born. Reading the paper, he though “I love you… but i’m tired of you complaining about my things and talk behind my back, my dear”.

Trying to not make a lot of noise, he grabbed his bass that are there. He connected to an amp and started to play a bassline. Meanwhile, he thought “I’ll be so funky, more than another one bites the dust… and you will not have your solo. If i can’t modify your arrangements, you will can’t modify this. Eat from your own medicine. I’m so patient, i’m so kind with you, but i’m also done.”

Next day at the studio, he came with that paper in one of his pockets. They entered like any day, but he have a little surprise…

Fred asked finally to him “well darling, do you have something to the new album?"

He extended the sheet to the singer. He has read. The face of Fred was a mix between laugh and confusion.

"My dear, who made you that damage?" finally said watching at the greenish eyes of his friend, curious.

He crossed his arms and "posed". That pose. That face. That smile.

"Don't matters" he said with a ironic voice, and his eyes focused in his lover. Bri watched at him so confused.

Roger, watching the scene and drinking a coffee, said "ha! Couple issues. That's fun guys… I love the drama between you! Thanks to God that I always haves some popcorn! That's better that any soup opera…

Despite the joke, the tension came back once again to the studio. And that just was the beginning. Because after that, Deaky specified that he will play also the guitar, keyboards and even a drum machine.

Bri and Roger started to be very upset. 

"Deaky, man, I love you… but trying to replace me? I'm the drummer! Despite all, I must to play that part!" said the blonde.

Bri, of course, reacted even worst. "Really… REALLY? What the actual fuck? Plus… YOU DON'T WANT A GUITAR SOLO? AND YOU WANT TO RECORD ALMOST ALL? Seriously, this isn't the way to speak about our problems!

Deaky watching to his face and yelling, said: "I'm so done of that attitude of you and more when we try to experiment new things… Always guitar riffs it's boring! Not always we should sound like rock music! Really… my patience it's done for today. Don't speak to me, even you Fred. I just want to be alone!!!"

He grab his things and started to leave the recording studio.

"You should to be alone for being so mean with me!" said Bri almost crying.

John sighed and turned back.

"Look Brian… we're a couple no? Learn to accept your part of the responsibility. I have patience, but isn't endless." he said in a serious tone.

He watched to Roger and Freddie.

"Guys, for today I don't want to work. I'll go to drink something perhaps. Don't try to catch me, please."

He sighed. "Sorry Fred."

And leaved the studio slamming the door.

The three of them tried to back to work. Brian couldn't really. He was crying and drinking a lot of beer. After some hours, he fell asleep in a couch, so drunk, so sad.

Similar scene was John. After a lot of drinks in a near bar and avoiding the occasionals fans trying to get an autograph, came back to the home where the four habits when they're recording an album.

Barely could close the door. His head hurts. His throat wanted to vomit. Walked as he could to the bathroom and threw in the toilet.

When he ended, he just wanted to go to bed.

Opened the door of the room… him was already in bed. And he almost started to cry, but he hadn't energies at all. Just gone to sleep, trying to not wake up to him.

---------------------------

Next morning, first in wake up was the guitarist. And he saw to the another one sleeping so deeply, snoring. He kissed him in the forehead and whispered "I still love you, funky man". And leaved the bed and the room. Moments later, John woke up and he find himself alone, with a hard hungover. He rubbed his eyes and said “ugh why I need to get out of this bed, i’m feeling so terrible”.

He took a bath. After choose his outift for that day and dressing, go to the kitchen to have some breakfast. He found the another three having a nice chat while they were taking their breakfast, until he entered to the kitchen to prepare some tea.

The three watched at him in silence preparing everything to his breakfast. When put the kettle to boil some water, he turned to his bandmates and ask “Who’s died that you’re in silence?”

“Are you better, darling?” Finally Fred says to Deacon.

He sighs deeply. “Yes and not. From the anger from yesterday… fine. But i’m still having a hungover and i’m hungry.” he says, touching his forehead and after his tummy.

Silence again.

Roger, after sipping of his cup of tea, look at John and says to his friend “c’mon mate”

He was confused. “What?”

Brian without rise his sight and moving the little spoon inside the cup of tea, said “an apologize, perhaps.” He sighed deeply and rise his head. Turns around still sat in his chair in Johns direction. “ Sorry for being rude with you yesterday.” added the guitarist.

He watched at him with tears in his eyes. The bassist ran to hug him so tightly.

“no, I’m the one that should apologize”. He caressed the curly hair with his left hand. Being near of the right ear of the guitarist, whispered “you will can have your damn solo if you want. You always get your way, haha”. Watched right to the face of his man, both hands holding that smiling face. He’s smiling too. “I love you”. “Me too my grumpy bassist”, added the elder one. And both kissed softly.

Roger and Fred watched the scene so happy to see that two happy again, until Roger watched to the cooker.

“Fred…? I should say it?” asked sipping his tea, quite cold.

Freddie watched to Roger and shaked his head. “Let them be happy for a moment” and giggled a little.

The water from the kettle was boiling intensely since a couple of minutes...

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If you liked this fic, reblogs are highly appreciated! -Lily

[urdbell18]

Madamspellman Teacher AU: Chapter 6: The One With Apples and Teeth

AN: So, I've been muling over this a while. I was originally using 'Madamspellman Teacher AU' as a temporary title until I thought of an official one but titles are not my strong suit. So, I'm going to let you guys have a say, if you have a story title let me know or if you want the title to stay as it is. Thanks and enjoy!

On the first of the month Principle Hawthorne called a staff meeting immediately after school. The meetings mostly consisted on what was coming up like club fair next Friday and Halloween festivities. Faculty advisors needed to fill out a form to register the clubs attendance and spot in the fair to Mrs. Meeks by Friday. Hawthorne also talked about the football teams status in the division but Zelda tuned him out. She focused on her notes for her Chinese class, she was giving them a test Friday and wanted to finalize her answer key but Mary wasn’t helping. There weren’t any open seats when Zelda joined the meeting. She was doing some last minute marking and wanted to finish before heading for the meeting. There was an open spot near the window, right next to Mary. Mary smirked and gave her a small wink. Zelda just smiled in return. When Hawthorne started talking about the football team Zelda felt something press against her back. It was Mary’s hand, her palm rested just above her hip. Then her fingers started taping up her back. Zelda tensed not because she disliked it but because they were in a room full of their fellow coworkers and their boss. Mr. Hawthorne paused and looked at them for a split second but continued on. When the meeting was concluded Mary whispered a ‘see you later’ into Zelda’s ear, it sent a delicious shiver down her spine.

“Ms. Spellman a word?” Zelda groaned at the loss of her good feeling bubble as annoyance filled her. Hawthorne wanted her. He stood at the front of the room rocking on his heels like he was a grade school child.

“Yes, Mr. Hawthorne?”

“I was curious of your plans for this weekend.”

“I’m apple picking and pumpkin carving with my family.”

“Oh… so concrete plans.” Zelda just hummed. Hawthorne had bowed his head in what appeared to be dejection but he wasn’t anywhere near as clever as he thought he was. He looked at her with heavy hooded eyes that gleamed in hope that she would change her mind. It might work for teenagers but Zelda wasn’t a fool.

“Very, it’s a Spellman tradition. Now if that’s all I must be on my way.” Zelda turned on her heel and left, she was eager to go home.

“That was nicely done.” Zelda smiled when she saw Mary. She was leaning against the wall like it was a casual thing for a teacher to do. Zelda mocked curtsy. Having brought her coat and bag with her to the meeting Zelda made her way to her car. Mary followed, standing close enough that their hands brushed together. This was another new thing with Mary, she would walk with Zelda all the way to her car. Zelda made it a goal to leave work around 4:30 at the latest, she wanted to pick her daughter up at a decent time, and Mary will always be waiting in the doorway of her office or her classroom. And surprisingly enough Zelda didn’t find it as annoying as she thought she would.

“Mary?”

“Hmm?”

“What are you doing this Saturday?” Mary snorted and Zelda spun on her heel so fast that Mary crashed into her. “What’s so funny?”

“Sorry it’s just that… oh god, it wouldn’t be this funny if I hadn’t just overheard this exact conversation.” Zelda huffed as Mary went into full blown laughter. She opened the drivers side door more forcefully than needed to and threw her case into the car but didn’t get in herself.

“Fine, continue on laughing. I won’t invite you to join us this Saturday.” After another two minutes Mary finally stopped laughing. She took a few deep calming breaths before that signature smirk came back.

“I would love to join you Saturday.” Zelda, still a little huffed, finally calmed down. A gentle smile graced her face.

“Okay then.” Mary leaned over the car door that was between them and quickly gave Zelda a peck on the lips. Zelda then got into the car with an even bigger smile as she drove off to pick up her daughter.

Friday nights were lively in the Spellman household. Hilda had every other Friday night off, she was in the kitchen buzzing around making something. Sabrina after surviving another week of school and homework for the week finished was playing a game with Ambrose. Vida would buzz between helping Hilda and seeing what her cousins were up to but most of the time she was with Zelda. Friday nights was when Zelda did chores around the house. She’d change the sheets or did some dusting. Tonight was laundry, Vida folded small things like pillow cases and sorted while Zelda maned the machines and iron. While they were down in the basement Zelda could still hear everything that was happening upstairs, the clattering of pots, music from the stereo, the occasional argument between Sabrina and Ambrose. It was the perfect way to unwind after a long week. With all of her family in the house Zelda didn’t think twice nor did she stop ironing out the wrinkles from one of Sabrina’s dresses when she heard footsteps on the stairs until her daughter running across the room caught her eye.

“Mary!” Vida waited patiently for Mary to reach the bottom of the stairs so she could hug the other woman. Mary went one step further, she scooped up Vida, hugging her tightly and blowing raspberries on her cheek and neck causing Vida to giggle. Zelda watched with a soft smile. The scene didn’t cause a sting of jealousy but instead a fuzzy feeling that filled her with warmth.

“You’re early. A whole day early.”

“Hilda invited me for dinner.” Zelda hummed and tried to push the shock off her face. She didn’t know that Hilda had invited Mary and she didn’t know how she felt about her sister interfering in her personal life. But on the other hand her daughter looked so happy chatting to Mary about her week at school.

“Fine. You can help fold.”  Mary opened her mouth to say something but Vida started squirming. When she was placed on the ground she led Mary to her pile of towels that she was working on. Mary threw Zelda a dirty look but sat on the floor to help Vida. Zelda just smirked and continued ironing.

Zelda’s alarm went off at seven the next morning. Most Saturdays she slept in till around nine but they needed to get an early start to the orchard. She sat up and Mary’s arm fell into her lap. For a split second she forgot that Mary spent the night but she smiled softly when she saw Mary’s disheveled head poking out of the duvet cover. Zelda placed a kiss on what she thinks was Mary cheek then got up to get ready for the day. When she came back out of the bathroom dressed in a maroon sweater and black slacks Vida had made her way onto her bed.

“Mommy I’m an oso!” Zelda couldn’t help but smile. Mary had a tight hold on her daughter, clutching her like she was a real teddy bear.

“I see that. Come here my bebe oso.” Vida held her arms out so Zelda could lift her but Mary’s grip on Vida’s waist tightened keeping her in place.

“Can’t take her.” Mary’s voice was muffled into the pillow but Zelda made it out and it caused her to smile. Vida found it amusing and her giggling filled the room.

“Fine then. You two can stay here while I go apple picking.” Vida’s eyes went wide and she started to squirm out of Mary’s hold.

“Mary! Up!” Now free from Mary’s grip Zelda lift her daughter from the bed, placing her on her hip. “Hi Mommy.”

“Hi baby. Why don’t you start getting dress so that we can head down to breakfast. Make sure you get a sweater it’s going to be chilly today.”

“Okay.” Zelda placed a kiss on her daughter’s cheek before setting her down. She turned her attention to Mary who was still on the bed but awake. Mary was looking at her propped on her elbows, Zelda just raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

“You know it’s customary to greet your lover with a morning kiss.”

“I’ll kiss you when you’re dressed for the day.” Mary looked at her with mocked shock.

“You’re a cruel woman Zelda Spellman.” Zelda just smirked because she ultimately got what she wanted. Mary was moving, she got out of the bed with a little stretch and ran her fingers thru her sleep tousled hair. “If you won’t kiss me then I’ll just have to take what I want.” Zelda squeaked under her breath as Mary pulled her close by her waist and kissed her soundly on the lips. Zelda didn’t fight it, she kissed Mary back and draped one of her arms around Mary’s shoulders. It only lasted a moment before a thump and a cry pulled Zelda’s attention to her daughter.

“Mommy I’m stuck!” Zelda looked a Mary who smiled back at her and headed into Zelda’s walk in closet where her overnight bag was placed. Zelda looked at her daughter, Vida was sitting on her bed trapped in her sweater. Zelda just smiled and went to help her daughter. By the time Zelda freed Vida of her sweater and found a matching sock to place on her daughter’s left foot Mary was dressed and her hair and make up was done. They left hand in hand with Vida between them to join the others downstairs.

They arrived at the orchard just before nine thirty. Harvey, Sabrina, and Ambrose arrived in Harvey’s truck, they were already out of the vehicle and waiting when Zelda pulled her car into the free space that was next to them. In Zelda’s car was Mary, Vida, Hilda, and Dr. Cerberus. It didn’t place Zelda in the greatest of moods having to witness what could only be described as a make out session between her niece and her boyfriend and then having to endure Hilda chattering the whole way. Not even five minutes there Sabrina wanted to run off with Harvey to the corn maze. Zelda didn’t want her to, the purpose of being here was to pick apples, but Hilda let them. They ran off hand in hand. Then Ambrose decided he was going as well, he smuggled his bat mask with him and he wanted to see if he could scare the two teens. Zelda told him not to, he was kicked out of the orchard a few years ago for that very reason, but he ran off with that intended purpose. That left her, Mary, Hilda, Dr. Cerberus, and Vida.

After discussing if they needed one basket or two they entered the part of the orchard that was designated for picking. Hilda took one basket and she and Dr. Cerberus headed in the direction where there was more granny smith trees. Zelda took the other and she along with Mary and Vida headed towards where the red apples like fuji and red delicious trees grew. Zelda set the basket down next to a red delicious tree that didn’t have that much foot traffic and waited until Vida brought apples to her. One of the things that made apple picking enjoyable for Zelda was watching her daughter analyze apples that barely fit in her hands. Only apples that Vida found acceptable were brought back to Zelda. Vida was picky, just like her mother, and Zelda was okay with that. Zelda remembered going apple picking when Sabrina was her daughters age. Her niece picked up everything and Zelda took on the role of quality expectation because the last thing they wanted was rotten apples or rocks. But Vida took her time, looking and weighting to what her standards were and thanks to Hilda Vida was a great produce picker. Since they had an extra set of hands Mary would come back with arm fulls of apples. It meant that the basket filled up twice as fast as before and Vida didn’t have to run herself back and forth. When the basket was over flowing they started back. Zelda couldn’t lift the basket herself so she took one side and Mary took the other. Vida walked ahead of them with an apple in her hand that she declared was ‘hers’.

While all the apples that were in the basket came from either the ground or branches that were low enough that Vida could just stand on her toes to get the one that Vida held was different. At one point Vida pointed at a fuji tree and asked Mary to lift her so she could get a particular apple that was on a higher branch. Mary didn’t bat an eye, she set down the apples that they already collected so she could pick up Vida. With a hand on either side of the child’s small waist Mary lifted Vida high in the air. Vida stretched the remainder of the way until the apple that she wanted was safely in her hands. Mary high fived her for a job well done and Vida stashed the apple in her jacket for safe keeping.

They met up with Hilda and Dr. Cerberus, their basket was filled with granny smith apples and some golden delicious. They ‘ohhed’ when Vida showed off her apple. Zelda was surprised to see Dr. Cerberus have actual interest and enthusiasm in hearing Vida talk about her apple. She still wasn’t completely sold on him but she could admit that he was a good guy. While he started to run the baskets back to Harvey’s truck an employee came and Zelda knew what was wrong just by the look on his face. She looked at Hilda who gave her her own ‘I’m not surprised’ look.

“We’ll be right back. Are you okay watching her?” Mary nodded and Zelda gave her a kiss on her cheek. Zelda and Hilda left following the employee in the direction of the corn maze.

“Mary can I eat my apple now?”

“I don’t see why not. Let me wash it real quick then it’s all yours.” Vida nodded and handed her apple to Mary. There was a metal basin where people could wash their hands at the hub of the orchard where other produce and honey and jams were also sold. Mary placed the apple under the water for a second, rubbing the pad of her thumb over the surface before handing it back to Vida with a flick of her wrist to get rid of the excess water.

“Thank you!”

“You’re welcome sweetie.” Mary smiled as Vida started chomping at her apple, leaning slightly on Mary’s legs.

“Fancy seeing you here Ms. Wardwell.” Mary didn’t make an attempt the hide her displeasure. She groaned and rolled her eyes as Mr. Hawthorne approached her. “Enjoying the nice weather and apple picking Ms. Wardwell?”

“I was.” Mr. Hawthorn just nodded and smiled, completely oblivious to her indifference.

“Good. Is that Ms. Spellmans daughter?” Mary didn’t say anything. She just glared and placed a protective hand on Vida’s head. Vida didn’t like Hawthorne either, she hid behind Mary and was eating her apple slower than she was before. “Lisa right?” Disgust filled Mary and she tried to rack her brain for a response that would go over his head but wouldn’t get her fired like kicking him in the balls would. As satisfying as that would be Hawthorne wasn’t worth her job. Before she could think of something Vida cried out behind her. Mary turned to see what was wrong but all she saw was Vida crying as she looked at her apple.

“Sweetie what’s wrong?” Vida mumbled something but Mary couldn’t make out over the crying. Mary got down to Vida’s level and Vida latched on to her, wrapping her small arms around her neck and crying into her shoulder. Mary just ‘shh’d’ and rubbed small soothing circles into Vida’s back. Eventually Vida calmed down to where she was only crying softly. “Do you think you can now tell me what’s wrong?” Vida sniffled and hiccuped but nodded.

“The apple took my teeth.”

“I don’t understand.” Vida held out her apple which Mary took. Mary turned the apple around in her hands until she saw it. Two little white teeth stuck in the flesh of the apple. “Oh honey you just lost some baby teeth.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, we are all born with two sets of teeth. When you get to be around your age you start to lose your baby teeth and get your permanent teeth.”

“So I’m okay?”

“You’re perfect.” Vida smiled and wiped away the remainder of her tears with her sleeves. “And do you know what the best part about losing your baby teeth is?”

“What?”

“You get a visit from the tooth fairy. You leave your teeth under your pillow at night and when you wake up they would be turned into quarters.”

“Really!?” Mary hummed and picked up Vida. Vida smile softly as she rested her head on Mary’s shoulder.

“Isn’t that overstepping your place Ms. Wardwell?” Mary turned to glare at Mr. Hawthorne. She had forgotten he was there. Mary didn’t like the fact that he looked self entitled in telling her right. Very deep down Mary knew he was right, she shouldn’t have told Vida about the tooth fairy but there was nothing wrong about comforting her. But ultimately she wasn’t going to take advice from a guy who couldn’t even remember Vida’s name.

“Not from where I’m standing.” Mr. Hawthorne paled to a ghostly white and turned slowly around to face Zelda.

“M-Ms. Spellman.”

“Mommy! I lost teeth!” Vida smiled and there were fresh gaps thanks to the lost of her lower front teeth.

“I see that baby.” Zelda took her daughter from Mary. Vida smiled and settled her head on her mother’s chest. “Was there something that you needed Mr. Hawthorne?” Mr. Hawthorne stuttered but shook his head. “Good. Shall we?” Zelda smiled at Mary and held out her hand. Mary smirked and took the offered hand, lacing her fingers between Zelda’s. They walked away without another word or a second glance.

“I hope you know what you’re doing.” Zelda looked at Mary dead on.

“I know perfectly well what I am doing.”

“Good.” Mary stopped and stood squarely in front of Zelda. In the distance just over Zelda’s shoulder she could see Mr. Hawthorne looking at them. “Because there’s no turning back.” Mary kissed Zelda lightly on the cheek but it was enough to cause Hawthorne to huff away. A ping of triumph shot through Mary, it made having to deal with him a little better.

“I don’t want to.” Mary nodded and they continued their walk to the car to join the others.

[rxcusant]

wow hey more peopled liked my hoshimeguri sora sketch than i thought so

Hey, who wants some context!!! and further rambling of the au!!! its all about traveling the stars and theres a dragon and everyone has beautiful designs and my faceclaim is an assassin in it

[its a little long tho because of the Lore (TM) so uh. fair warning]

Hoshimeguri, or Star Tour Observer, was an original event and storyline in IDOLiSH7 like 4 months ago? I think? anyway if you wanna get a little glimpse over everyone and the stars you can go right here but otherwise im gonna quick run thru everything cause i rly love hoshimegu (the PV is gonna pop up first you can either watch it and rock out to Hoshikuzu Magic or click out and skim thru everything)

the prologue for hoshimeguri is, as roughly translated,

in the beginning a myriad of stars crystallized into a form known as the ‘Star Gem’. The gem contained the power to grant any wish. People prayed to the Star Gem for blessings and obtained joy and fulfillment in their lives. People prayed to the Star Gem for evil purposes and brought about calamities. People grew covetous of the star Gem, breeding hate and resentment. The Star Gem that had granted millions of blessings had instead become a vessel for millions of curses. the Guardian of the Star Gem prayed for the Star Gem to be sealed away. The wish was granted the Guardian fell into eternal slumber. The Star Gem could no longer hold its form and split into six pieces. A single massive planet split into six with it. On the verge of sleep the Guardian created a being to oversee the worlds in his place. To journey across the stars, watching. the ‘Observer of the Stars’ bore witness to countless moments, countless stars, and countless lives.

so.. in less fancy speak, there was a Star Gem that granted wishes but people misused it’s power for Bad Stuff. the Gem’s Guardian sealed it away and the Star Gem split into six little gems-- and created the six worlds i’m about to explain-- and the Guardian pulled a ventus and fell asleep, but the last thing he did was make a cool dragon to observe and watch over life.

so this brings us to the six planets/worlds/stars one thousand years later!

First off-- Eterno! aka where I shoved Sora and Riku, ill expand on them later

Eterno is a desert star, covered in sand and sunlight. the planet Alba once waged war with Eterno to steal their sunlight a dozen years ago and drained the planet of its resources in the process. During the war the royal family disappeared so Eterno doesn’t have any ruler or security. Being a wasteland Eterno is considered a worthless star so nobody bothers or troubles it beyond some trading at the port.

Secondly we have Bestia!

Bestia is covered in dense forests and jungle, inhabited by several types of animals. The people of Bestia have beast blood and animal parts like ears and tails so this is basically the furry planet. the people of Bestia are looked down upon for this though. Bestia is home to a large trading port and many from starts all over come to trade in Bestian goods.

Next is Alba!

Alba is a star covered in darkness as the other planets block the sun’s ray from reaching them. Alba's main specialty is minerals and so bright crystals are their symbol. the former king invaded Eterno to steal their sunlight however the current king, Carnelian, regrets that war and would like to set things right between the stars.

Then we have Lama, the star of steel! i love Lama, two of my favorites are from this star!!!!!

Lama is a star with strong military power, easily overcoming the other stars in terms of strength. Lama is currently recovering from a long civil war between the former king and the people. The former king treasured military might and soldiers above all else-- in particular, those that could provide weapons for warfare. Anyone who couldn’t was subject to a life of poverty and servitude. Eventually the people rebelled an the civil war raged on for years. the prince at the time, Orion, with the help of an assassin, Erin, faked an assassination of the king (instead locking him up) and when the news reaches the rebel forces they called off their forces. The rebels had no issue with Orion becoming king since he carried out the assassin order and thus Orions peaceful reign as King began, working to rebuild relations between the people of Lama and the royal family.

next up is Sirenia! this is where i put Kairi, ill expand on that later.

Sirenia is blessed with water and canals everywhere. Every year they hold a festival to celebrate the rainy season. The people of Sirenia are relaxed and laid back because their star hasn’t been attacked or invaded in many years (with the former king using most of his power to essentially cut off Sirenia from the other stars with a magic wall, and trading was regulated). The residents love the arts and music and living life freely and creatively. The residents also practice in hydromancy, using water to predict the future and learning tarot cards and fortune telling.

Lastly is Mistero which i admittedly remember the least about

Mistero is a mysterious star but faith in the Star Gem is strong. There exists a large temple on the star however divine energy prevents people from entering. Mistero was the original planet before the planet and Star Gem split into six pieces. Its on this world that the Guardian, Vega, still sleeps. His attendant, Capella, still waits for him to wake.

aaaaaaand those are the stars! oh my god that took an hour to type. WELL SINCE THIS IS ALREADY REALLY LONG WINDED I’LL TRY TO KEEP THE AU WITH SORA AND RIKU AND KAIRI BRIEF EVEN THO IM SURE THATS WHAT YOU’D BE HERE FOR INSTEAD OF IDOL JUNK djfgnks

i dont have anything concrete but my current concepts are-

Sora and Riku grew up on Eterno together. Having known about the existence of other stars but always being too young to travel themselves the two decided one day to leave and explore them all together. Eventually the day came where the two of them snuck onto a ship, not entirely sure where it was headed. Once the ship docked on Sirenia Sora and Riku made a break for it, not wanting to be discovered as stowaways. 

Kairi lives a carefree life on Sirenia with her friend Namine and instructor Aqua. Aqua teaches the girls hydromancy altho Namine holds more of an interest in drawing and painting. Kairi however is extremely skilled in hydromancy and one day receives a sign about dual forces about to enter her life. She doesnt know what to make of the vague message tho and puts it to the back of her mind for a week maybe.

And then came the day she ran into Sora and Riku. the two of them stuck out like a sore thumb in their Eterno attire. Kairi warned them about how trade and visitors are carefully regulated and any intruders aren’t to be taken lightly. the boys apologize and explain they just wanted to explore some new worlds. Its with that Kairi agreed to help them out but only if they let her come with them, since life in Sirenia while carefree can get dreadfully dull doing the same thing over and over again. Kairi arranges passage under the guise of aiding other stars with her fortune telling and sneaks Sora and Riku onto her ship. 

And thats how the three of them began their own Star Tours ha cha cha

also side note i bet Vanitas and Ventus are brothers from Lama raised by xehanort to be soldiers in Lama’s military but neither of them are really Cool with this idea and probably just take off one day jdfhgkjf dont ask me what terra or xion and roxas and axel are doing because i have NO IDEA what star to put them on

yeah. thats the hoshimeguri au right now. //jazz hands; if you made it this far thank you for indulging me i owe you my life

[professional-anti]

Chapter Ten: City of Bones

Things that have happened since the last update: I moved into my new school in a whole different country, became problematic, and read one (1) book. So I’m pretty cultured atm. Let’s do this.

Part Two: Easy is the Descent We have an unstranslated quote from the Aeneid, I guess so CC can show off how smart she is.

Chapter Ten: City of Bones Everybody freaks tf out about the fact that Jocie was Voldemort’s wife. We have an actual, real-life, total gem from Clary:

"That's impossible! My mother would never-she was only ever married to my father! She didn't have an ex-husband!”

Clary….blease…….I’m begging u……..she makes it so easy………

Hodge lists off the other death eaters. I’m not even going to pretend they’re not death eaters. There’s no reason to. Anyway, they all got in trouble after the Uprising™, except the Lightwoods got “clemency” bc they had a baby. Which is ridiculous and makes no sense. Ppl don’t just get lighter sentences bc they have babies. Hodge’s punishment is that he has to stay in this mansion in New York. I thought the Clave would be more into capital punishment, just going off how much they suck, but I guess that would just hinder the story.

Hodge reveals that Voldemort wants the cup bc it can give him an army of Shadowhunters. Isabelle comes in to say that she ordered Chinese, which raises interesting questions. Wouldn’t the ppl delivering just see a decrepit, condemned house? Did she have to order to next door and wait outside?

In the kitchen (where Simon is still staring awkwardly at Isabelle), Isabelle says that she thinks the fact that Voldie is looking for Jocie is “kind of romantic”. You know, that this vile supremacist is hunting down the woman who left him. Super romantic. Then she says the “evil thing” is “sort of hot.” No, really:

"Isabelle," said Hodge patiently, "this is the man who rained down destruction on Idris the like of which it had never seen, who set Shadowhunter against Downworlder and made the streets of the Glass City run with blood." "That's sort of hot," Isabelle argued, "that evil thing.”

At least in Harry Potter, no one thought that Voldemort was hot. In fact, everyone rightly despised him for killing innocents and preaching hatred. Bellatrix Lestrange was physically attractive, and nobody tried to argue that her actions were hot. Because they saw the terror she brought. No one would call her carving “Mudblood” into Hermione’s arm “hot”.

Oh, and even worse, after Isabelle reveals she likes murderous racists, “Simon trie[s] to look menacing”. The whole situation is just so awkward. Hodge tells them that Valentine would use the cup on children (it would kill adults) and discard the children who couldn’t handle it. Isabelle finally gets that Voldemort is bad and that water is wet. Jace is super mad that Voldemort wants to harm muggle children bc Shadowhunters are all about protecting the muggles. Never mind that Jace has shown nothing but disrespect for them the entire book.

Hodge pushed his plate away. "Valentine was insane," he said. "Brilliant, but insane. He cared about nothing but killing demons and Downworlders. Nothing but making the world pure. He would have sacrificed his own son for the cause and could not understand how anyone else would not." "He had a son?" said Alec. "I was speaking figuratively," said Hodge, reaching for his handkerchief. He used it to mop his forehead before returning it to his pocket. His hand, Clary saw, was trembling slightly.

Could Hodge be any more obvious. No, really, I’m asking. Please be more obvious Hodge. All the readers are dumb as goldfish and wouldn’t understand subtly. We need bricks in the face. This is compounded by Hodge telling them that they shouldn’t do anything to stop Voldmort, that the Ministry of Magic will handle it. Hodge is sooo not on Voldemort’s side, you guys. Never!

They decide to go to the Silent Brothers to retrieve Clary’s memories, which they think will help them save Jocie from Valentine. The Silent Brothers are Shadowhunters who destroyed their bodies with runes and now have crazy mental powers. Honestly sounds a little creepy. I’d read a book about their order, tbh. Are they all guys, though? Then I wouldn’t read it. Also, they sound like Dementors.

That night, Clary has a dream that she’s dancing with Simon in the Glass City, and then Simon turns into Jace. The Symbolism is so real. Then Jace wakes her up, holding her wrists. Apparently she tried to hit him in her sleep, but he shouldn’t have grabbed her wrists. I can think of few things more terrifying than waking up to a boy restraining my arms. Apparently, she fell asleep in a hallway the night before and Jace and Hodge let her to a bedroom. Honestly confused how she fell asleep in a hallway, but we have bigger problems to deal with.

Oh. My. God. A silent brother (I’m done with the dumb capitalization. We don’t say a Congresswoman or a Principal or a Citizen) has arrived. And his name is. His name is. BROTHER JEREMIAH.

Clary gets dressed and wishes she could look more like Isabelle. Bc girls have to judge themselves on their appearance even during everday tasks, like getting dressed. They meet BJ in the library, and he’s described like a death eater with a white color scheme, basically:

For a moment she thought he was alone in the room: that Jace had been playing a joke on her. Then she saw a figure move out of the dimness, and she realized that what she had thought was a patch of darker shadow was a man. A tall man in a heavy robe that fell from neck to foot, covering him completely. The hood of the robe was raised, hiding his face. The robe itself was the color of parchment, and the intricate runic designs along the hem and sleeves looked as if they had been inked there in drying blood. The hair rose along Clary's arms and on the back of her neck, prickling almost painfully. "This," said Hodge, "is Brother Jeremiah of the Silent City." The man came toward them, his heavy cloak swirling as he moved, and Clary realized what it was about him that was strange: He made no sound at all as he walked, not the slightest footstep. Even his cloak, which should have rustled, was silent. She would almost have wondered if he were a ghost-but no, she thought as he halted in front of them, there was a strange, sweet smell about him, like incense and blood, the smell of something living.

BJ says that he can’t get Clary’s memories bc there’s some sort of magical “block” in her head, and that she has to come to the Brotherhood HQ in order to have it removed. BJ leaves on his own, and Clary and Jace go and stand on the corner. Jace is incredibly cruel about Simon. Then a black carriage disguised as a limo pulls up, driven by BJ himself. It’s honestly cool how the carriage moves thru NY traffic and no one nottices. It’s the exact touch of “magic hidden in New York” that I like. Clary and Jace also have a conversation about poetry and music, which reveals the distance between their worlds, that I like, so maybe this carriage is magical.

Oh, here we are. Back on our bullshit. Clary looks at Jace’s ring and thinks that “there would have been something feminine about a boy wearing a ring, but there wasn’t.” Let’s deconstruct, shall we? First of all, men wear rings all the time. Secondly, we get it, Jace is super super masculine, feminity in men is Bad, Jace would never at all be feminine in any way at all bc that’s gross right? Like, I love how Clare has to specify that this ring in no way, shape, or form makes Jace at all feminine. No one would have thought it, and, also, there’s nothing wrong with femininity in anyone.

Jace says that he didn’t tell Hodge the identities of the guys Luke was talking to bc then Hodge would know that Jace wouldn’t take no for an answer re killing Valentine. He gives a pretty realistically traumatized description of his father’s death:

"I was ten," Jace said. She turned to look at him. He was without expression. It always seemed like some color drained out of him when he talked about his father. "We lived in a manor house, out in the country. My father always said it was safer away from people. I heard them coming up the drive and went to tell him. He told me to hide, so I hid. Under the stairs. I saw those men come in. They had others with them. Not men. Forsaken. They overpowered my father and cut his throat. The blood ran across the floor. It soaked my shoes. I didn't move.”

Bare bones, emotionless, disconnected. I approve. Honestly, I like the next part too. Clary shows emotion while attempting to comfort Jace, and Jace tells her that he’s not unhappy bc he has a purpose. It shows a bit about their respective upbringings.

Jace says that demons are worse than everything else (e.g. vampires and warlocks) bc the latter are part human while the former are “interdimensional parasites”. Doesn’t explain why Jace is such a dick to the other Downworlders, though. If I remember correctly, he’s going to be a total asshole to vampires at some party later on. I wouldn’t mind Jace’s disgust as much if it weren’t so confusing. The book contradicts itself so much. It’s demons he doesn’t like, no it’s all Downworlders, he’s all about protecting mundies, but actually, he hates them. It flip-flops back and forth, leaving me with little understanding of Jace’s psyche.

They end up at the Marble Cemetary and take a secret passageway under a statue into BJ and co’s lair.

You know why I think this seems so good to me? I read a little bit more of ACOMAFail last night, and this writing is so much better in comparison.

Anyway, the lair called the Silent City (so many cities), and it’s giant and underground has archways with shadowhunter ashes mixed in. Pretty cool. Clary also has a moment where she tells the brothers they have to wait for her to be ready for them to go inside her head. Showing agency, girl!

The brothers do their thing, and a bunch of memories come into Clary’s mind. Among others, there’s a box with the initials J.C. on it (Jesus Christ?) and a doorway with the name “MAGNUS BANE” over the door. When she comes to, she’s lying on the marble floor and has blood all over her arm. Not sure what she managed to cut herself on. The floor should have bruised her, not cut her. Anything for the Drama, I guess. Jace heals her with a stele. Anyway, the block can’t be removed, and they have to go find Magnus Bane. Clary and Jace leave. The end.

[onewheelneil]

My first 3 days

Day 1: Today I started my Appalachian trail thru hike journey. I woke up at hotel in Dawsonville, GA from sitting in a car, that my parents were so graciously driving, all day yesterday. We had an exquisite dinner the night before and my tummy wasn’t feeling well. I woke up at 7 am and took a nice long hot shower since I wouldn’t be having one in a long while. It was good for a hotel shower and I was thoroughly cleaned. I brushed and flossed as well. Afterwards my parents took turns doing their morning ritual and we left the hotel around 8:30 pm. We stopped at a breakfast place and a grocery store before heading to the trail. By that time my stomach was feeling better. Once we got to the visitors center I had a little orientation with several other thru hikers and were showed a new method to hang our food so bears couldn’t get it. After that I was off! My parents joined me to the top of the Amicalola Falls and after some pictures and hugging I was by myself for the rest of the 7 miles to the start of the Appalachian trail. It doesn’t start at the visitors center it starts at the summit of spring mountain which is an 8.8 miles climb from the visitors center. So I technically haven’t started the trail yet. Once I got started from the falls where my parents sent me off I was going at a nice pace and my legs fell into a rhythm and the pain from going up the falls seemed to melt away. I crossed some other hikers when the trail crossed a gravel road and kept going up. They were looking beat and I stopped to have a quick drink of water. We talked a bit but then I started cooling down which I didn’t want to do yet. So I kept going. I got back into my rhythm and got up a quite steep part until it went flat for a while. It was nice listening to nature through my grunts and breathing and hearing nothing. It was awesome. The farther I got the more I hurt. My legs were aching and my lower back was complaining but I kept on trudging. Of course it got to a point where I had to stop and eat some trail mix and more water. After finishing the trail mix from several stops I was almost there. I also had to sit down a few times to rest my legs. Eventually I made it to the to of springer mountain. There was one point where I crested a hill and was looking at the summit from below where I thought “that cannot be the summit its too far”. But of course I was wrong and walked up it anyway. After resting at the top I started down the actual Appalachian trail. I was beat so I decided to set up camp near the shelter 100 yards from the summit. It didn’t take long and it was well marked. I set up my hammock and put my sleeping bag and pad in to weigh it down as it likes to flip over when empty. Then I got my med kit out to put some mole skin on some parts of my foot that were getting rubbed. After that I got my food out and heated up some water to cook it. Tonight was chili with beef dehydrated by my loving mother so all I had to do was boil water and pour it in there. While it was cooking I started to shiver as the wind picked up and a drizzle started. I had on my gloves and my long johns and my fleece and my rain gear but I was still cold. Wishing I had my ski jacket but knowing that it would be way too bulky and heavy. Once the water was boiling not even a minute later I poured it over my food and let it sit in the food cozy my mom sewed together herself. She treats me well. There were lots of other people at the campsite and one of them even had a dog but it was very protective and would growl at you if you got near the owner. Still a good boy. I ate my chili after it had rehydrated and then climbed into my hammock because everyone else was retreating to their sleeping bags to get out of the cold. I laid down inside and just felt my body slowly warm up but the wind kept chilling my butt and I wished I had an under quilt. I’ll buy one maybe at the next town and see where I can fit it. The rain slowly tapered off until it was only drops falling from the trees blown by the wind. It was after dark then and I slipped into a warm cold sleep.

Day 2: This morning sucked. I was woken at midnight by a cold wind that sent shivers up and down my body. I also had to pee really badly but I didn’t want to get out of my sleeping bag knowing it was much colder outside it. I tried to fall asleep and I must have been successful because th next time I woke up was at 4 am. I noticed that all the condensation that happens from you breathing with a rain fly above your head was frozen to the ceiling of my hammock. You see my hammock is basically a floating coffin with an insulated bottom and a rain fly that encloses me in a protective cocoon from wind and rain. Unfortunately it was way below 32 and it doesn’t protect me from sheer cold. My sleeping bag is rated for 20 degrees so it must of been below that as well. At 4 I begrudgingly got myself out of the hammock tiptoed to a tree and pissed on it. Then I scurried back into a relatively warmer hammock except it wasn’t warm enough for me to fall back asleep. I just lay with my eyes closed trying different positions trying to get warm. I put my rain pants on and put my rain jacket over my sleeping bag to protect it a little from the eventual drops of the frozen condensation when it warms up in the morning. I changed my alarm from 7 am to 8:30 thinking I could get a little sleep after sunrise instead of getting up at sunrise. So when 8:30 comes around i tell myself there’s no reason to stay inside any longer. I start to unzip my bag as my brain is telling me “WHAT ARE YOU DOING ITS COLDER OUT THER YA DINGUS” but I ignore him. As I get outside I look around and everything is frozen. Every branch is covered in ice and even my hammock is covered too. I quickly put my rain coat on to warm myself up and do some exercises to get warmer. I jog in place and stretch before starting to pack camp. I even make some tea to help with the cold. I try to eat my breakfast of cliff bars but they were frozen solid so I put them in my inner pockets to warm them up. I pack everything back into my pack and set off knowing I’ll warm up faster from hiking. While I’m hiking the wind is blowing the ice off the branches in wood chip sizes. It was like walking past a wood chipper when it spews the wood out. But ice was falling on me instead. Sometimes it hurt but mostly it just fell on me harmlessly. I had most of my clothes on including my long johns and fleece and rain gear. It surprisingly didn’t become uncomfortably hot until mile 4. I had descended quite a bit from starting on top of spring we mountain and it was just raining from the branches down here. I passed many people and even several doggies. When I was changing out of my warm clothes a bunch of day hikers with their children came by asking how far I was going and when I replied they said to their children, “wow he’s better than all of us combined”. It brought a smile to my face. As I kept hiking along I stopped at one point to eat my breakfast and some beef jerky and just listened to nature. I was surprised no one passed by during that moment since there was so many people today. There was a pair of guys with a dog that kept playing leap frog with me. I asked them where they were headed and they said the same place as me but they didn’t know if they’d make it at their pace. I kept going knowing I’d see them again. Then I found a glorious sight. A big tent with oodles of food and water underneath it. A group of adults who had thru hiked before had set up a table and rain tarp and were handing out goodies. A bunch of other hikers were there already and while I was munching and drinking more hikers stopped by as well. We all talked about different things and at one point a guy asked me about my future and I said I was going to grad school for robotics. He replied, “Robotics?!?!?, you mean you wanna be responsible for sky net?” And one of his friends said, “Oh Terry shut it with that trash”. I chuckled and responded with, “No I want to help make sure skynet doesn’t happen”. That brought a few chuckles and the subject was changed after that. As soon as I was done I thanked them all and headed on my way determined to go 15 miles before sundown. But as it turns out that was a mistake. At around mile 8.5 my knee started giving out going down a hill so I stopped took it easy and rested. Then when I thought it was better I kept going. It wasn’t better and I gingerly limped hoping maybe taking some weight off it would be good but still gaining ground. Eventually it came to the point where I was limping painfully and after a frantic text to my mom and dad (I was lucky for any cell service) I staked camp at a little tent site about 4.5 miles from my destination. It hurt to put any weight on the knee so i just sat and elevated it on my sleeping pad. A couple hikers passed by and when they asked if I was camping here I told them of my predicament and one of them handed me an instant ice pack. It helped reduce some of the swelling and made it so I could get to work on setting up my hammock again. Before I set in for the night I had to put my food into a bear bag using the pct method. The method involves pulling your bag full of food up all the way to the branch then tying a stick in the middle of the rope so when you let go, the stick keeps the bag suspended and the bear can’t cut the string to get your food which they had now learned to do. It took me a while to find a branch suitable to carry my food since my food weight about 10 pounds and all the branches around here looking pretty flimsy. Eventually I found one and with a little difficulty, since it was my first time doing it, I had my food suspended in air. Afterwards I went back to my hammock jumped in and enjoyed the music of nature. I even took a video because there was a really loud bird of some sort making some weird noises. I thought it was an owl but let me know what you think. Then since it was going to rain again I closed up my rain fly just as the sun was setting. Before going to bed fully, I read my book a little bit until sleep took taking me by the hand into dreamland.

Day 3: Today I tried to hike on my hurt knee today but had no luck. I got myself to Horse Gap where the trail crossed a road. There many hikers passed me making sure I was okay with one hippie looking girl offering me some pot to ease my pain. I of course said no. I had called a cab company to come pick me up and take me to a drug store so I could pick up a knee brace. Luckily a local who helped thru hikers with their problems had happened by and agreed to let me hitch a ride with him. We drove to Coopers gap where he handed off some packs back to some other hikers who asked him to carry some weight for them. After meeting them and talking with other hikers that stopped to get some water from his truck we drove down to the town of Dahlonega. There we stopped at a Rite aid so I could get a knee brace and then to a motel where I got a room for the night since I wasn’t capable of getting back on the trail with my knee in this condition. It was a cheap motel called the Mountain Inn and I got a room for 65 dollars. So I cooped up and watched some TV and read a book to keep my knee healing. I iced it as well to reduce the swelling. I also got to hang my stuff over the shower to dry since my hammock and sleeping pad were wet from this mornings rainstorm. Hopefully the rest will help and I’ll be back on the trail tomorrow I already have a shuttle service booked to get me back to the trail so I can try again and this time take it slow. That’s all today I’ll update you on my progress tomorrow hopefully it won’t be bad enough to go back home.

[rodger-that-studios]

The (Actual) Final Countdown Part 2

My Top 20 Albums - Part 2

The ten following albums are sheer musical perfection, and in no order, I’m going to recommend that you check them out.

Did I say recommend?

I meant damn near demand.

It’s live. Lets go.

10 – Reggatta De Blanc – The Police – 1979

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPwMdZOlPo8

Take a bow, Stewart Copeland

The Police were, simply, a revolutionary band.

We’re not going to talk about Sting on his own, though.

Why were they revolutionary? That’s easy. They combined so many elements when making music it was as if Dr Frankenstein signed a record deal. Reggae? Check. Rock? Check. You want falsetto? Opera? yeah, it’s in there. RDB was definitely their magnum opus, the Michelangelo’s David of their remarkable discography.

There are so many remarkable tunes here. Let’s have a crash course, shall we?

Message in a Bottle is an incredible song. It’s almost transformative, as if it starts as one genre, a rock and roll record, and then becomes something else. Once Mr Copeland starts to flex his muscles on the kit it changes and becomes a Reggae-licious affair. It’s unlike anything else I’ve ever heard, and it floors me every single time. Also offered here is some truly genius lyricism. Sting remarks that it “Seems I’m not alone in being alone”. How melancholy and unique is that? It’ll make your head spin, but god is it worth it.

The other knockout tune here is Walking on The Moon. Safe to say the lyrics are simple. Giant steps are indeed what you must take when you walk on the moon. Not all the lyrics are as profound as Message in a Bottle, but for me, with this song, it’s all about the drums. I fell in love with all things Stewart Copeland when I first heard this. Stewart is in his own little bubble here, and he knocks me for six every single time, especially the fill he cheekily adds before the final chorus. That is nothing short of magical. It’s a stunning performance, much like this is a stunning album.

9 – Greatest Hits of The Cure – The Cure – 2001

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3nPiBai66M

warm fuzzy feeling

The Cure are one of those mythical groups that have very few bad songs. I know the musical puritans among you will slate me for including a compilation album rather than the original works (it’s not the SAME, WILL), but this is just a silly list, after all, it’s really not worth you getting so worked up over.

As far as the album is concerned it features most of the usual suspects, but a few songs stand out to me, even at 20 years old. My mother first showed me our first standout, Just Like Heaven when I was no older than ten. It was captivating to me that someone could pour so much happiness into three and a half minutes. Originally the song came during that transformative phase of the band’s career when they went from their gothic ‘I hate everybody’ origins to ‘Friday I’m In Love’.

Wow

Yeah

Quite a change.

But Just Like Heaven is an ode to falling in love for the first time. It’s quite a beautiful thing to behold really. Also, my mum and I still sing it together and I’m almost 21. That still makes me smile.

Boys Don’t Cry is one of those songs that you’ll find yourself singing even if you have no idea what Robert Smith is talking about.

Boys Do Cry.

Honestly it’s gorgeous. It’s honest and emotional, which is where the best songs come from. That about sums up this album actually. It has a profound sense of emotion and a lust for life. Not one to miss.

8 – The Colour And The Shape – Foo Fighters – 1997

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBG7P-K-r1Y

This one will blow your socks off

If you’ve had the pleasure of reading my piece about my recent, ahem, experiences at the 2019 Reading Festival, then you’ll know how I feel about the Foo Fighters. They are one of the greatest, if not the pinnacle rock band of the last 20 years, and if you’re hoping to get into them, this album is the perfect diving board.

Following the death of Kurt Cobain in ’94, Dave Grohl, the guy in the Foos who looks an awful lot like the drummer from Nirvana, channeling his inner mad scientist, started a new project. The result was The Foo Fighters.

So logically a mere 3 years later they dropped this seminal, uncomfortably incredible record.

Every song on the tracklist is a home run, but there is something truly transcendent about a little ditty called Everlong. It’s a four-minute voyage into unrequited love and not wanting things to ever change, wanting things to stay the same. That’s the perfect description for the track because once you’ve listened to it, you never want to un-hear it. It’s remarkably simple, just Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins and the rest of the band making love to your eardrums with hypersonic mastery.

Side note – maybe I’m babbling because of how much I freaking love this song, or maybe it’s just that good. I guess you’ll have to listen to find out.

I’m having to restrain myself from gushing about every single song on this thing. Its one of those records that will never leave your memory once you’ve listened to it a few times. The Foos are an amazing collective of awesome haircuts, amazing instrumental technicality, and genius lyrics.

If I had to choose one other song to personally recommend (and it can’t be all of them) then I’d have to go for Monkey Wrench. It’s one of the most energetic rock songs you’ll ever hear. It’s angry, but that anger is harnessed by Dave and the boys and transformed it into a ridiculously cool song and indeed album. Kick. Ass.

7 – Black Holes and Revelations – Muse – 2006

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZIk5wIq2Qw

It’s about the song people, not the film

Oh Hell Yes.

Muse, but more specifically their jack of all trades irritatingly talented frontman Matt Bellamy have always had fans. They’re a fabulous band after all, but when this album came out in the summer of 2006 Muse went from strength to strength, and it’s not hard to see why this album is held in such high esteem by die-hard Muse fans the world over.

This is Muse at their most theatrical and most powerful. The lyrics are profound, the guitars are loud and the vocals are up in the stratosphere. Its a rock opera, an odyssey of epic proportions. Also the first standout, Supermassive Black Hole gained new notoriety when it was used for that scene in Twilight where the vampires play baseball (you know the one. don’t lie).

But there are other songs here that will leave you stunned. Let’s take Map of the Problematique for example. Its a brilliant bloody song, with Dominic Howard beating the shit out of the drums to create an almost trance-like listening experience, complete with soaring harmonies from Bellamy to boot. Its so cool. Bottom line.

And before we move on there’s the tiny little tiny matter of Starlight, which is one of the best songs the band has ever written, and my personal favourite of the album. It’s soaring. A song for the ages about wanting to be with that one person that means more to you than you could ever put into words. You need to experience it, but we’ve all felt those feelings. That’s why it works.

6 – Sweet Baby James – James Taylor – 1970

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOIo4lEpsPY

‘Who’s cutting onions in here?

Way back at the start of our list I warned that Mr Taylor may be making a cheeky appearance, and look who’s rocked up. I’m a man of my word.

This album is a family favourite, and one of the first albums that Mum and I ever listened to together. She used to sing me, Sweet Baby James, before I went to sleep every night, and I still get that same warm fuzzy feeling every time I listen to it. I’d never heard such a beautiful song before but I knew what that meant after the first time I heard some of the songs on this album. Taylor was an incredible songwriter and truly one of the greatest talents of his generation.

That talent is reinforced with our next song, Fire and Rain (tears, already). The song is melancholy and painful to listen to. But its not pain in a bad way its as if its a necessary pain to go trough because you know things will get better soon. Thats what I think Taylor was going for. The song has a certain distance to it, almost. The lyrics are desperately sad, but the instrumentation and interpretation that Taylor places round them is sonorous and achingly beautiful to listen to. The song is like an old friend after you’ve listened to it a few times. It simply will never let you down. Thats the perfect description for Taylor’s 1970 magnum opus. It will always be with you.

And side note – who knows if the ever speculated relationship between James Taylor and Carole King was real, or if it ever materialised. Frankly that doesn’t matter. If it was true that they wrote this album together, then that will only make your love for the record increase. Two people came together and made a fabulous and timeless piece of artwork. Well done them I say.

5 – Escapology – Robbie Williams – 2002

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHdvQmA2Ws8

Damn this is some funky shit

This was another album I couldn’t get enough of growing up.

Take That split up back in 1996, and Robbie Had been going it alone (and doing rather well for himself) for a good few years when this gem came out in 2002. The main reason Escapology is so resonant with me and still so relatable even in my 20 year old head is because of two things;

The honesty and realism of Williams’ lyrics

The unstoppable partnership between Williams and the albums super producer, Guy Chambers.

Escapology was a new direction for Williams. It was completely different from Life Thru A Lens (1997) I’ve Been Expecting You (1998) and Swing When You’re Winning (2000). Now don’t get me wrong. All three of those albums were great too, but this one would go down as being historically different.

The cream of the crop here, in my ever-humble opinion, is a tie between Something Beautiful and Feel. The former is a cheerful, life-affirming ode to happiness and prosperity, while the latter is a brutally honest and beautifully written song about wanting to find happiness. Maybe there’s a theme that connects the two, but they’re different in almost every other way, and both iconic because of it.

But that’s not where the magic ends with this album. Later on, in the stellar tracklist you’ll find Hot Fudge. This is one of the funkiest songs Robbie and Chambers ever wrote, and one listen to the thing will prove to you why. Its three minutes of killer keyboards, awesome vibes and that trademark Robbie Williams tongue-in-cheek.

Basically, this album is awesome. Get the message? Check it out.

4 – American Idiot – Green Day – 2004I don’t even have to explain this one. I wrote a piece about why this album was ahead of its time.

You can find that here. This one is special, but unbelievably it’s only in fourth. So lets press on.

https://wordpress.com/view/thefriendlycritic.org

Oh my god

OH MY GODDDDD

We’ve reached PODIUM POSITIONS PEOPLE

Look alive sunshine

I’m EXCITED!

Okay okay home stretch lets do this.

3 – Hotel California – Eagles – 1976

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tcXblWojdM

AIR GUITAR

I’ve always been in complete awe of The Eagles. They’re a bunch of freaking rockstars. Living legends. And boy do they know it.

This is the album that gave them that status.

Its a masterpiece. An absolute fucking masterpiece. I’ll try and explain why without squealing with glee.

The title track is the musical equivalent of willingly losing your mind. It’s a drug trip made of sound waves. It’s remarkable and will change the way you think about music. Probably forever. It almost goes beyond how the song actually sounds with this one, although HC does also happen to feature the single greatest guitar solo I’ve ever heard. Glen Fry, take a bow up there you beautiful man. We all miss you.

The lyrics warn you that you ‘can check out any time you like, but you can never leave’.

But let me ask you

If being held hostage by narcotics in blissful ignorance of your situation (somewhere in the desert) sounds this good, why the hell would you ever want to leave?

This song is that good. And its only track ONE.

This album is one of those mythical records that will surprise you more and more every time you listen to it. We continue with New Kid in Town and later Life In The Fast Lane. These are two equally beautiful, but vastly different songs. New Kid is quite melancholy when you first listen to it, but it grows on you. It makes sense really considering the song is about wanting to be accepted. Fry, Henley and the rest of the band really flex their instrumental muscles here, and the result is glorious.

Fast Lane is a different beast, though.

It’s my personal favourite on the album, and it features Glenn Fry at his most untouchable. A guitar hero if ever there was one. This song rocks, this song rolls and this song does basically everything in between. Its a song you can listen to in any mood and you’ll instantly feel better because of it. The harmonies here are phenomenal too.

Just like the rest of the album. Incredible.

2 – Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – The Beatles – 1967

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naoknj1ebqI

Uh, no clues for what they wrote this one about.

The silver medal goes to the fab four.

Everything these four incredible people achieved together, every album they released, every record they broke (that’s destroyed) simply added to their mythos.

The Beatles aren’t a band anymore, people, they’re practically a religion.

If you had the unenviable task of choosing a magnum opus album-wise, then Sgt Pepper makes a fabulous case for itself. It’s my personal favourite, but of course my opinion should play no part in how you choose to discover this band. They were the greatest pop group and the greatest songwriters of the modern age. You all know the stories, believe them. They’re most certainly true.

Sgt Pepper is, to be frank, the Bayeux Tapestry of 20th-century songwriting.

It touches on some incredible subject matter. Some of it is heartbreaking, some of it is exhilarating, all of it is perfection. Where do we even start with this thing? The title track and With a Little Help From My Friends sets the tone and begins to tell a story that spans the entire length of the album. Its a story of overcoming adversity and finding solace in each other, in people you care about. For that to be put so effortlessly into an album is why this one will live forever. It had never been done before, and odds are it will never be done again.

My personal favourite song here though is surprisingly easy for an album that cannot be categorised. That honour goes to A Day in The Life. Up until I discovered the album you’ll see momentarily at number one, this was the greatest song I’d ever heard. Even at 20, the song cracks my top three tunes ever. This is why.

I almost don’t consider this a song. It’s a narrative. A script, if you will. Lennon, McCartney, Starr, and Harrison guide each listener through exceptionally ordinary activities, catching the bus, oversleeping and waking up late for work, watching television.

Therein lies the genius of the piece, because what’s the best way to make a song memorable.

Easy. Make it relevant to everyone all at once.

I feel like the song gives off a profound sense of loneliness as if while you’re listening you’re just drifting, blissfully unaware. But it makes it so strikingly relevant to everything we do collectively in society today. Everyone has these feelings. Everyone knows where The Beatles are coming from.

Truly outstanding songs talk to you. You don’t listen to them as such, they speak to you, and you listen. I think A Day in The Life is the epitome of that. The song will affect each listener differently. But eventually, you’ll realise why it’s so resonant, so incredible. You’ll understand what it means to you, and you alone.

That is what Sgt Pepper as an album facilitates. Each listener will judge it how they see fit, but to me, it is truly almost perfect.

But it isn’t my greatest album of All Time.

This is.

1 – Fleetwood Mac – Rumours – 1977

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqjXn2NflqU

It’s a masterpiece, people.

What do you all know of heartbreak?

Simply, you don’t forget when your heartbreaks.

If you don’t immediately understand the significance of that then odds are you haven’t felt it yet.

Fleetwood Mac were the first band that truly changed my life. Once I understood Rumours it changed my outlook on where the future would take me.

Honestly the first time I listened to it I didn’t understand it. It took a few tries. But one fateful day I started it and everything clicked into place in my head. I was captivated, and sobbing uncontrollably by the end. I knew I wanted a career in music because of this thing.

The album was released in 1977, and it came at a turbulent time in the lives of the members of the band. The married Mick Fleetwood began a torrid and publicised affair with Stevie Nicks, who was married to Lindsey Buckingham. Meanwhile, the other members of the Band John and Christie McVeigh were also on the brink of divorce.

So basically everything was going wrong.

Rumours was the band’s response to the chaos, the eye of the hurricane and the light at the end of the tunnel.

Each song here is more like a thrilling story, and two of the most memorable are Dreams and Go Your Own Way. The incredible thing here is that these two songs are written from the perspectives of Stevie Nicks and Mick Fleetwood respectively.

ABOUT THE SAME ARGUMENT

Dreams is brutal. Nicks’ lyrics tear into an unknown (but known) person who doesn’t want the same things as she does. It’s angry, bitter and painful stuff.

But even with the darkest subject matter, there’s an undeniable beauty to it. The lyric ‘women they will come and they will go’ will undoubtedly tear you to pieces. Its as if Nicks knows she isn’t good enough, but sings through the pain and uncertainty anyway.

The song, and album, almost reminds me of the music played by those brave musicians on the Titanic. They knew the inevitability of the ship going down but played on with courage. This song makes you feel desperately sorry for the circumstances under which it was written, but it will captivate you from start to finish.

But all stories have two sides

Go Your Own Way is the equally spiteful response to the story of Dreams. Fleetwood lays into an unknown (yet known) woman about how he’s feeling. Again the pain telegraphed here will leave you breathless, just as before.

The lyrics here are what makes the song so remarkable. Fleetwood almost begs for forgiveness but doesn’t back down. He tells the recipient that ‘packing up, shacking up’s all you want to do’. That line destroys me because again its a story of how both parties must have known what was coming.

Yet they bravely knew that the show had to go on.

Every song here is much like these two highlights. Just as heartbreaking, just as melancholy and just as stunning. The adjectives I could use to describe this seminal album just go on and on, so I’ll be blunt.

After almost 21 years Rumours is (thus far) the greatest album I’ve ever heard. I hope you find something to love within it too.

So

Deep Breath

Rest those eyes

We made it

It’s been a pleasure, and it’s been a wild ride. I sincerely hope that each person reading this was happy to dive into my head and pick my brain for a few albums.

I may be a professional musician, which means I’m probably biased, but that’s the amazing thing about music. It means different things to different people.

That means each person can react to this list however they want to.

Get listening. It’s been fun

[cyjprojectarchive]

GOT7!!!!!!!!!!

alright, folks  *cracks knuckles* it’s gna get real in here jk i don’t rly crack my knuckles bec i get freaked out hearing the sounds dkjdfhd

my time period as a fan / i’ve known of them since around march-april of 2016 but my status of being a ‘stan’ was quite on and off…. my gf was the one who introduced me to the ~world of kpop~ hence showing me bts first, which i still love them a lot lot !!!! BUT when i asked her some other groups she knows of, she told me about got7 and and….. i found myself falling deeper and deeper for these 7 adorkable dorks,,,, and that’s when i knew they’re my first ult group ;; altho the following months i wasn’t able to keep up with them bec of irl issues…. but it resurfaced late 2016 and early 2017, and i’m sososo glad i went back :’))))

my bias among the members & why / i have 3 ultimate biases so buckle up bec i want to talk about all three of them sdajkdks. ok? u ready? here we go. 

starting off with my very first kpop bias/ult of ults: jackson wang!! what can i say?? it may have helped that my focus was more on him when i was just getting to know them that he was also the only member my gf really knew in the group, but all throughout ‘researching’ got7 and watching their dp’s and reality shows,,, he really just captured this fragile heart of mine. i saw genuine passion in his actions, in his eyes, in his voice !! and up until now, although some undesirable events have happened…… , i still believe his heart of gold remains intact - and i can still totally see that. he’s not just here for the money. he’s here for the experience, for the happiness and i’m - i easily fell in love for him because of that. 

then we have park jinyoung - oh jinyoungie. funny story !!! one of my best friends actually ults him (and yugyeom) so i told myself not to give any of these two more attention than necessary bec problems will arise BUT. she also kinda went on a short hiatus with kpop when i returned, and as the good friend that i am i tweeted her pictures of her mans as a way to persuade her to come back…. but as i did all those supportive things…. little did i know i started falling for this dude :// and i couldn’t help it :// his sarcasm and his charms just pulled me in and i :/// haven’t recovered since :///

OK THEN WE HAVE THE ONE AND ONLY LORENZO CHOI YOUNGJAE. my dear,, my heart,,,, my bright and happy sunshine…light of my rainy skies…. where do i begin.. he’s always had a special place in my got7 hort bec his laughs turn my sour mood upside down every time…. and then i focused on his vocals a bit more…then his soundcloud stuff…then never ever era arrived and i,,, my hort just stopped because good god he looks so freaking stunning and his voice is a stunner and his personality is just beaming with cheerfulness i….. knew it was time to ult this dork….. he has 2 v distinct sides and one of them is rarely seen and thats his “sad” persona… sad in a way that makes him create sUCH EMOTIONALLY WRECKING songs,,, like he stays up until 1:31 am ;) thinking about feelings and incorporating them into music,,,,, and then there’s his bubbly otter self which…is self-explanatory he exudes life hhh off his breathless chuckles, reverberating chortles, and his never ending slaps on other members’ chest !!! let’s not forget his love for coco !!! i’m a sucker for a man in love with his dog….and he did that :’’’))))))

favorite song /  i have a lot of favorite songs… i already mentioned ‘angel’ before so i’m gna say smth else for this one heh…. see the light !! oh goodness gracious me does that song still gives me chills ~~~ and YOUNGJAE’S PART. JUST LISTEN TO YOUNGJAE’S PART, the english translation,,, and live recordings of the song…….i been dedfavorite mv / i’m a slut for fly era so fly it is… (although i have a huge thing for got the stage paradise….oops)

favorite choreo / i’ve already answered this too before! if you do is def up there! paradise and angel too gaddam gaddam am i sweating ;;;; fly is also rly cool to me !!favorite era / bih what is my tumblr usernamecutest member / yugyeom… as much as i love sexci yugyeom…… he’s such a dorky dork i want to hug him so bad…. then there’s mork :’))))))) giggly mark gives me fluttery feels

sexiest member / jackson freaking wang shhhh best friend member / yugbam. imagine being best friends with yugbam ;;;; their got jackson show bit itself is proof that they invented best friendships jdkjdjhs

best smile / youngjae i luv him his smile turns grey skies into rainbowsfavorite rapper / bambam has such a unique rapping style, ngl !! but jackson’s hoarse voice gets me all mmmhm ;;;;

favorite vocalist / is this even a question….. it’s youngjae. (but jinyoung is close too) but youngjae gaddam youngjae’s voice….there’s such a power and intense emotional depth to it i swoonfavorite dancer / i love them all ;;; but yugyeom and jaebum are def up there tho,,, they really know what they’re doing and they know what they’re doing to mewhat i see for them in the future / oh lord this is already TOO FREAKING LONG BUT WHATEVER IF YOU’RE STILL READING OMHFGO IM SO SORRY YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH MY MINDLESS RAMBLING BUT HERE I GO

first of all, i want them to rest. lmao they’ve done so much, we’ve been fed so much they deserve at least three weeks of break. as in, no promotions, no schedules, no guestings, no nothing. it’s just them sleeping, eating their hearts out, and hanging out with friends and family. 

secondly, i just see them getting bigger and bigger from here. i know there’s been a few issues lately…..but i believe their true fans would rise above them and believe in what got7 has to offer. these people have proven themselves to be so passionate and so hard working, so i only expect greater things being put out there for their fans as well as themselves. 

heq… i luv got7 so much idk how else to describe my wishes for them in the future…. all i know is that i’m gna be with them for a long ass while, and amidst all the obstacles, i’m gna fight thru it with them, learn with them, and cheer them on until the very end (hopefully) sjddskd

[thunderoad]

HMMM 6. 12. 48 for to the end of the night. 24. 50 - would you just talk to me a little about why you like found family as a theme.

BLESS U KATE ILY

6. how did writing change you?

oh shit, this is like a deep question right out of the gate?? i’m not sure, exactly. it’s definitely given me some of the best friends i’ve ever had. i think maybe that’s the best thing about writing, really - realizing how you can connect to people you’ve never met, both in the fic itself and in those friendships outside of it. aw. man. i’m gonna cry lol

12. favorite place to write

my bed! anytime i can wake up abt 7am, get my coffee, and open a word doc without any distractions i know it’s going to be a really productive day. i also wrote, like, the entirety of everything between my second fic and hold on at my friend’s place, often while watching tv. (quiet is only for the very end of a fic where i gotta tie up all those loose strings or let it all unravel)

48. three spoilers for (insert story title) to the end of the night

i’m not sure about spoilers, but i found my old notes doc for this one, so here’s some stuff i had planned for the fic that didn’t make the final cut. 

niall was originally gonna be taking some time off music work to enroll in uni. i was DEADSET - i have no idea why - on him doing this in toronto, or somewhere else northern and cold, but i couldn’t make that location work, which was a pretty good indication i couldn’t make that plot work, either. (at least, not from louis’s pov.)

the dedication at the beginning is to the mother’s we’ve lost. i’ve gotten some real nice comments on it, but it’s really nothing fancy - it’s exactly what it says it is, louis’s mom and mine. i didn’t even know she was ill till halfway thru the fic, but i didn’t have to make any edits to it at all, really, which probably says more about me than it should! it was really nice, though, at least on my end; that dedication at the beginning, and the run-on sentence at the end sort of act like this framing device where the whole fic is louis catching his mum up on everything she’s missed since she passed away. unlike louis, i like middles; i don’t think they ever really end. 

this is just a couple of deleted scenes that kind of capture a mood, but don’t really move the plot in any way: louis accuses niall of lying to him, and “Like you never lied to me,” Niall says, all the more hurtful because he’s not wrong. But that’s not the kind of relationship Louis wants to have with Niall. It hits him out of nowhere, how fucking lonely he’ll be if Niall gets up and walks out right now, how dependent he’s become on Niall’s warm, assuring presence. So of course Louis does his best to get rid of him right away. and, “Fuck,” Louis says, the feeling trapped inside his chest like a lead weight, like a jar of fireflies, like a helium balloon. He closes his eyes, and the image of Niall, sleepy and lax in his bed, the soft sheets slipping over his bare skin, springs forth. “I miss you.” “It’s okay,” Niall says, his voice gravelly with sleep. He means, it’s okay for you to feel like this about me. i never want to articulate feelings explicitly if i can help it for some reason, but i remember thinking of these scenes and going ohh, it’s going to be one of those fics. i really wanted to write a canon compliant fic that delved into louis’s character and looked at the way he coped with losing eleanor and zayn and having freddie all in one fell swoop, but time had just progressed too much. i remember reading that portraying louis as the commitment-phobic one in a relationship just doesn’t make sense, cuz he’s constantly in these big, beautiful romances, but i wanted to write a louis who was older and bitter and really deeply hurt, and i think that’s what these scenes were trying to get at. it’s like darkest timeline!louis. that’s where this monologue comes from that was later fiddled with a bit and mostly put in the final version of the fic: “The truth is,” says Louis, “the truth is, I don’t know that maybe he is better off without me. He can have a normal dad and a normal life and – and that might be better for him, wouldn’t it? And you, I don’t – for God’s sakes, Niall, you told me you’d booked more tour dates the other day and all I could think was can you cancel them so I can keep you a little longer?” Louis shakes his head. “It’s fucked up, and I’m fucked up, and I love you so fucking much. You deserve better.” He puts his hand over his heart like he’s been hurt. Sort of feels like it, to be honest. Now that he’s started talking it’s like he’s an oil station way out in the ocean and all this blackness is just pouring up and out into open water. “My dad, Eleanor, Danielle – even Harry,” says Louis. He draws up short. “Zayn,” he says, barely above a whisper. “Liam. I mean, there’s a fucking pattern there, isn’t there? It’s me, there’s something wrong with me that everyone stops loving me eventually.” “Louis,” Niall says, his voice hushed. “Don’t deny it,” Louis says. “You were there – you saw it happen. I just…can’t love them enough. And I just,” Louis runs out of steam. “I don’t want you to stop loving me.” 

24. favorite scene you’ve ever written

i answered this before, but i really like this scene, too, from to the end of the night: 

They get as far as the back garden – straight through the living room and kitchen – before they lose the plot. Louis kicks one of Freddie’s little play footie balls into the pool and watches it bob along the surface like a fishing lure. He’s aware of Niall watching him from the corner of his eye, same as he’s looking at Niall every time he pretends to look away.

Looking out over Louis’s infinity pool, Niall says, “California,” in his best Terminator accent.

“I hardly ever come out here anymore,” Louis says. He’d had all these plans when he bought the house of playing footie with the lad and floating around on pool loungers and maybe even the occasional water balloon fight, and then he’d just kept saying “tomorrow” till tomorrow’s today, and it’s just him and Niall, silhouetted by the light spilling out of the kitchen windows.

it’s not really a crucial moment or anything, but i felt like it really captured that feeling of life passing you by; that bitterness of knowing you used to have something great, and having lost it, and the way you can want something or someone so bad you don’t even know how to ask for it. (at least, that’s what i hope it says.) 

50. found family - my FAVORITE theme

i have a healthy respect for fate - ‘there is a tide in the affairs of men,’ and all - but a lOT more regard for the bit that contradicts, ‘i have taken these tides of men into my hands and wrote my will across the sky in stars.’ there’s definitely a kind of crossover for me between family and genetics and even learned behaviors and fate, and on the other hand, found family and the parts of ourselves that we choose. 

my dad’s watchwords are ‘but they’re blood,’ as if that settles everything. which it SO doesn’t, at least not to me! a lot of reason for the way i am is because i want to be as unlike my family as possible, and that’s all about choice, really. caving to blood and genetics and stuff i can’t do anything about is like accepting defeat. (there’s a lot of this stuff in oaft, looking back.) but lotr is such a good example of the way you can sort of tie these conflicting values of fate vs. choice together, though, like all those times sam and frodo reflect on how they’d never have accepted the ring quest if they knew what it entailed, and will people tell their stories someday? you don’t often get to know the full extent of what you’ve signed up for, but you do get to choose. so that’s what found family is to me, really - a way of choosing your own fate, accepting the quest you think you can abide. 

i rely a lot on connections between people in my fics, whether it be one acting as another’s human credentials and making them seem lovable at their worst moments, or of tethering them to other people, memories, even parts of the world. i love the way those connections that are made, and not born, can be the most important thing. two of my favorite books, mrs. dalloway and howards end, are built around this idea of “Only connect . . .” where connecting  to people and then connecting them to each other is, like, what life is all about. i like to imagine it looks a bit like portolan charts from back in the day, where maps were made based on the connections between places. some were near and some far, but all tied into the same network, and all tied to each other, albeit with some degree of separation. whenever my directions start getting mixed up, it’s soothing to think of these forged connections making sense of everything. 

[ohhhhmyblog]

#StoryTimeWithMy - Me & #HurtBae handle things differently...clearly.

Ok... So I was with him over 3 years at this point. But in recent times, we had had multiple convos about not being together for various reasons...but there was still that lingering love. You know? Where you still speak everyday, still hang out, are still intimate, etc... Still...to the point where one week prior to this "incident" we did a little day trip where we took Teagan out to eat and to Liberty Science Center. You know, regular shit...

So on this day, I spoke with him a couple times throughout the day. I let him know I had made plans in his area later and we agreed to just hang out until my girl got off work. Soooo.... I go.

I get to his house and everything's regular... drinks, music, his friends, their girlfriends...typical weekend night at his place.

Then the bell rings, he goes to open it, and a woman comes in. I don't think anything of it at all...at first. Then I notice all of his friends get weirdly silent (completely out of character for this bunch). The woman is totally comfortable. She goes into the fridge for something, takes a charger out of the wall and heads toward his bedroom. She's out of sight for about a minute and I decide to go follow her.

And there she is...sitting on his bed, phone plugged in the wall, just scrolling through her phone...super comfortable. I do the only thing there is to do... "Oh hi...I'm MyAsia. Who are you? I'm *insert name i dont remember because it didn't matter*. Oh. You're here for *him*? How do you know him...because you clearly KNOW him? I've known him for years." She starts to look worried. She's catching on... (lol, funny now...wasn't funny then)

I go back into the living room. I approach him. I just stare at him. He gives me this look like "Fuck!" but tries to play like he's confused. "What?" he says., I just stare at him...

In that moment, I am trying soooooo hard not to burst into tears because...y'all...she was comfortable there. She wasn't new. She knew where the outlets were in his bedroom. She didn't require an introduction to his friends. She was comfortable enough to go in the fridge.

"Who is she? Why is she here?" He just stares at me with the goofiest "I have fucked up" face. She walks into the living room. It's now awkward af. I. LOSE. IT. I have so many questions and I'm asking them all...in front of everyone...at max volume...without one single fuck to give. Not. One.

His friends start to head to the door. The gf of one his boys stays behind and attempts to get me to relax. Nope. I'm on one. Then something in my head is like "MyAsia, you are making a fool of yourself. You are flipping your shit and he isn't even reacting." He is still in the same spot...looking dumb.

The woman gets her things to leave. I start to leave too. He follows. (I think he thought we would get into something...but no, my issue was never with her.) But in that moment, I interpreted that as him wanting to save her from me. I started swinging. You know when you swing as you talk? Why👊would👊you👊do👊this👊to👊me? Why👊have👊her👊come👊here👊when👊you👊knew👊I'd👊be👊here? He gives me this "I didnt know she was coming" bs...which only pissed me off even more. Now I know she's comfortable just popping up here? Ok.

I start bawling. I am sooo hurt. I felt betrayed. I felt stupid. I had placed him on this pedestal...because in my mind, he would never be "this guy". I attempt to storm out. He stops me. Now he has answers. Now he wants to explain. He wants to tell me that "we broke up already". He wants to tell me "we already decided not to be together". He wants me to believe she just came around in the last couple weeks...this woman who goes in his fridge, knows his friends, comes over unannounced and knows where the outlets are in his bedroom... I. Can. Not. Stop. Crying. I want to...because I feel weak and stupid...but I can't.

I snatch away from him and leave. I can't leave. I have an excruciating headache suddenly. I can't see thru the tears. I was a wreck...smh. I get in the car, drive one block up and park. I call the friend I was suppose to link up with after she got off. I am hysterical. She can't understand me. My phone beeps. There's another call coming in. It's his friend's gf from back at the house. She wants to know where I am. I tell her and click back over. I give a short, prob super inaccurate version of what just happened. At this point, he is Satan to me...so I can only imagine what I said.

Anyway, I tell her where I am and hang up. I am legit hysterical. My head is hurting. I am angry. I am hurt. This woman wasn't new. This woman was comfortable y'all. When he reacted to this whole "incident", he considered her. I saw it. It was too much. I sat in my car just shaking...trying to talk myself out of setting his house on fire. Seriously... The ONLY thing that stopped me was knowing that children lived in the unit above him...the children who stomp around and make so much more on those weekend mornings when he and I just wanted to sleep in. Those loud ass children kept me from making a super irrational decision that night.

I'm startled by a knock on my window. It's his friend's gf. She tells me to unlock the door. She gets in the passenger seat and just sits there, silently. I'm still crying. I can't make it stop. My head is racing. Then the other friend shows up. She gets in the car. We just sit there for a minute. Then my friend who missed the whole thing says "what the hell happened?"... I tell her...and finish with "My head hurts. My stomach hurts. I need a drink."

We all get in her car andride around North Newark looking for a bar. It's dark. It's late. Everything is closed. Then we see this little corner bar that seems to be open. We get out. We go in. There are all Hispanic men over 50 in this bar, y'all. I didn't care. They had liquor...lol I had shots and cocktails with these 2 til the bar was closed. I spilled my little heart out in there...to 2 women who weren't even THAT close to me...but in that moment I appreciated them. They let me vent and talked me down...well kinda... ...Because now, I'm angry AND upset AND still feeling stupid...and I've spent the last hour drinking continuously...

I decide I am going back to his house. They try to talk me out of it...but nah, I'm going back. I call his phone. He answers immediately. I tell him I'm coming back and he needs to be there and alone. I promise you in my head I was going back to that house to hurt him. I considered killing him...in real life. I thought of how I'd do it, how I could get away with it, how it'd make his mom and sister feel, how I'd explain it to Teagan...all that. SMH

We leave the bar and head back to his house. They wont let me go in alone. I ring the bell. He comes to the door. In that moment...something happened to me that I cant and wont ever be able to explain. In that moment, I needed him. So many times before I he had been the ONLY person to see me through bs and tough times. This time was no different. In that moment, I was searching for and anticipating comfort and consolation...from the very person who had just hurt me. SMH Why was I like that?!

I start yelling, crying and carrying on...and he tries to hold me. I'm fighting him...I want him not to touch me and I want him to hold me tighter...at the same... damn...time. Y'all... I was all messed up.

We go inside and he's giving me the same story and I'm so over hearing it. I zone out and I'm just wondering why I'm back at his house...seeking solace in the same man who had upset me in the first place. I got angry. I was back and forth between literally throwing blows and falling into his chest crying asking him why. The whole time my head is KILLING me.

Suddenly it's silent. For a while there's just me doing that "I just finished crying", sniffling thing lol Then he takes my jacket off of me, lays me down in his bed, takes my shoes off and just cuddles up next to me. He says he's sorry and that he never meant to hurt me like this and this isn't how he ever thought this would go. I fell asleep...in the arms of the same mf who I had just thrown jabs at...the same mf I seriously considered killing just hours before. I woke up the next morning and left silently.

I was violently ill for days. I learned then just how real "mind over matter" is. I had literally gotten physically SICK...because of mental and emotional pain. I also learned that you can not ever view someone the same after heartbreak. I learned that anyone is capable of anything and pedestals are for trophies, not people. I learned that everyone is just moments of hurt & anger away from a Snapped episode so I don't judge.

Fast forward to present time...fast forward pass months of personal growth and experience...fast forward pass a bunch of laughs and tough convos between us over the years... This guy is still one of the closest ppl to me. I still love him to death. I currently consider him a friend of mine. I just know I can't ever look at him THAT way again...and that's ok.

That #HurtBae video struck a nerve with me. No one is above being hurt. But when you're in a situation that is emotionally and mentally draining, get the hell out of it!

[lilyevcnz]

From the very beginning II

(check out the first part here! )

Parties did happen at Hogwarts. Very often. Come on, there’s about a thousand teenagers living with each other, locked up in a castle, and you expect them not to seek some wildness every now and then? It’s not that teachers weren’t aware of this; if it was up to him, Dumbledore would have joined the students more than once. He understood that partying and making mistakes was just a part of growing up, however, he did ask for some discretion. 

That’s why the room of requirement made for the perfect Hogwarts dance club; isolated, hidden and as big as the host wanted it to be. 

Usually it were the Ravenclaws that got in charge of sorting the room with decorations and scheduled meeting hours, as the Ravenclaw tower was the closest to the Room.  Hufflepuffs’ task was obviously to bring food because to get to the seventh floor where the party was located they had to pass by the kitchens anyway.  Given their discretion, Slytherins were usually the ones to spread the news that a party was being held, and Gryffindors, most specifically the Weasley Twins, were the ones who dared to bring the booze to the party.  The other students from Durmstrang and Beauxbautons where arriving the following week, and excitement was almost palpable among the Hogwarts students, so it was only ex that the last Friday of September Ernest MacMillan hosted a party at the common room.

“I can’t believe you’re actually thinking of going” said Hermione, in that typical squeaky voice she made when she was stressed “I don’t think you understand what would happen if we get caught. Besides, since when do you two get along with Ernest?”

The Great Hall was alive, all students eating as if they had been starving for days, talking about what was to go down in a few hours.

“He’s great. I mean, he accused me of petrifying half of the school during our second year, but he apologised, he’s funny too” Harry replied

“Yeah, he’s a good mate.”Ron replied, stuffing a whole Yorkshire pudding in his mouth “Also, it doesn’t matter, everyone is going”

“Cho will be there” a blushed Harry muttered, trying to get a glimpse of the pretty girl sat on the Ravenclaw table.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying! Everyone will be there, including Malfoy” Hermione cried.

Harry and Ron looked at each other. The first replied while the redhead almost chocked on his Yorkshire pudding: “Honestly Hermione, why do you even think of him? He will most likely be too drunk to bother us.”

“And even if he wanted to yell something at us, Blaise will keep his mouth occupied...”Ron replied.

Hermione swallowed hard. Something about that comment of Draco and that Zabini girl made her stomach flip. How could anyone be attracted to such a terrible person? Not like she should care, she thought, it was the snogging in general she disliked.

 She took a deep breath “Ok, I’ll go, but just to keep an eye on you two. And we’ll take the invisibility cloak just in case. And I want to be in bed by ten.”

Ron chocked again, the reason this time being laughter: “If you want to be sleep by that time, you may as well not go at all.” 

“Ten is a bit excessive Hermione, don’t you think? Besides, it’s our first party at Hogwarts, it will be fun”

The young witch finally just gave in and decided to have a little fun for once. It was the weekend, after all, and students had been celebrating this clandestine parties for ages, realistically nothing bad was likely to happen. 

She and Ginny started getting ready as soon as they got back from the great hall. The Weasley girl was buzzing. She straightened Hermione’s hair, only for the brunette to decide that she hated it, but Ginny made her keep it like that.

 “You look stunning, Hermione!” She squealed. “Now, about that blouse...”

“What’s wrong with my blouse? It was a present from my grandma!”

“Exactly, a present from an 80 something year old muggle. I’ll be more than happy to walk you thru my closet.” 

Half an hour later, the two friends met Harry and Ron, among other Gryffindors, at the common room. The girls looked rather pretty; Ginny was wearing some dark washed jeans and a sparkly silver jumper, and her makeup made her easily 2 years older, fierce. Hermione, on the other side, felt a bit uncomfortable, as she had never before “glamed up” for anything before, not even Christmas back at home. Usually she spent all day in her pyjamas, and her grandparents would come over. Her now straight hair was remarkably long ad silky looking. Her face glowed, and she looked radiant, even with the little makeup that she had reluctantly left her redhead friend apply on her. She had changed her blouse for a flowy white top that was Ginny’s, and it was obvious this one was a lot more flattering. 

“Great, you’re here.” Said Harry “Shall we leave now? The corridors are clear.”

Ron was just staring at her sister and her best friend, quite confused. “W.. What kind of charm have you two preformed up there?”

Ginny just laughed, Hermione rolled her eyes and blushed a little too. “Always so thick, ain’t ya Ronny? Mum was right. ‘Man can’t even begin to comprehend the capabilities a woman has to explode her potential to the last bit, when they want to do so’.”

 Hermione preformed a silencing charm on the little group, and they marched up the stairs, to the seventh floor, ready to party. Well, at least her friends were ready, she was anxious. They could hear nothing, but as soon as the room appeared and they got inside, a roaring noise deafened them. Ginny soon left when she saw a Slytherin girl from her year who she had befriended with. The room was filled with Hogwarts students from all four houses. The trio went up to Ernest to thank the host for the invitation, and he, already a bit dizzy, welcomed them with a hug. They danced for a while; the boys had punch, although Hermione, terrified at the thought of willingly losing control of a situation rejected the brewage. A while later, Harry saw Cho and gathering all the Gryffindor courage he had in him went up to her.Ron and Hermione where left there by themselves and shared an awkward look. Hermione gave the room a good scan: Tables filled with party foods and punch, booze bottles and red cups.  At the back, Lee Jordan controlled a magic phonograph that played music so loud it filled the whole room. The high ceilings were illuminated with what seemed to be stars, and in the centre of the space there was a stage, lighted up by a much bigger star that constantly changed of colours to the rhythm of the music. It all almost seemed like a muggle disco, only much bigger and beautiful, much more magical.  She located a small group of people, which were not screaming and singing like others. Behind a column, among other couples, Malfoy and Zabine were kissing. She couldn’t understand how they were just there, snogging in front of everyone. She grimaced and decided to turn her thoughts on something less... disturbing. 

People was smiling, having so much fun, something clicked in her, a deep desire of wanting to be part of the crowd for once. She looked at Ron and said something she never thought would never come out of her mouth, at least while at Hogwarts, and being underage: “Shall we go and get some punch, Ron? And I love this song, may I have this dance?”

 Her redhead friend looked surprised but did not complain at all. Harry joined them shortly after that, and they danced to a Weird Sisters song. Hermione forgot about the upcoming exams, the teachers, the fact that she was breaking so many rules at that moment, and just had fun and danced. She didn’t know if it was the alcohol or the music, or simply happiness, but she felt lucky, truly grateful at that moment, surrounded by two boys she deeply loved. She felt as nothing or no one could break that instant. 

And then she heard it: a masculine voice from behind, talking to her, or more precisely, talking about her. “Who would have thought it, miss perfect-student drinking, out late at a party. “

 Hermione turned to Draco, who was evidently really drunk and could barely stand still. “I almost didn’t recognize you without that bird nest you usually have for hair.”He gave her a mischievous smile. “Aren’t you afraid that you may get a detention, Granger?”

Ron told him to piss of, Harry took a step towards the blonde, looking angry, and Hermione was about to spat back with some rude words just when Blaise Zabine appeared rushing to the floor, where they standed.

 “Oh Draco, here you are. What are you doing with this.. this... with Granger? C’mon, let’s go to the back.”

 “No.” He replied. 

Blaise looked confused, “Oh, want to go back to my room then? We can...”

“I SAID NO.” 

Silence fell on the floor, now everybody around them was looking at the scene. 

“Actually, I’d like to dance with Granger, since now she’s so changed she is almost bearable to look at.”

“What are you saying Draco, c’mon, let’s go back to my ...” Blaise lost her voice, embarrassed, her dark skin flushing.

“I think you have drunk too much punch Draco, maybe it’s a good idea you go back to bed.” Harry said, defiant. “Your own bed, that is.”

“Ha!” He spouted “Punch is for the weak. Straight of the bottle, that’s how the Malfoys do it. But anyway, who are you to tell me what to do, Potter? Just because you have an ugly ass malformation on your forehead doesn’t mean you can boss me around. I said I want to dance with your muggle-born friend.”

 And just as he said that, he grabbed Hermione’s hand, and swirled her around, aggressively and carelessly, making her dizzy and eventually making both of them fall to the ground. Ron, furious, took out his wand with the intention of cursing Malfoy, but he was too drunk and  he held his wand the other way around, performing the charm on himself.

“WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TO TREAT ME LIKE THAT, YOU BASTARD.” Hermione shouted at Malfoy when she had stood up. She turned to Harry and told him “I... I think we should go back to the Gryffindor tower.” 

“Yes, that might be a great idea... And we should take Ron to see Madam Pomfrey, he’s puking slugs... again.” And so they picked up Ron, who lay on the floor, and began to leave the room, as everyone watched.

Just when Hermione turned her back to Draco, the boy shouted at her: “You FILTHY LITTLE MUDBLOD. You should be THANKFUL to even have the CHANCE to dance with me!”

That night, Hermione cried herself to sleep. It wasn’t like she was drunk-crying, her discussion with Malfoy had cleared her mind instantly, turning al her senses back on, but as much as she wanted to stop, the tears would keep falling. And just with pretty much everything that had to do with that blond Slytherin boy, she didn’t understand the reason of it all. He had called her that awful word again. Mudblood. She wished she didn’t know what it meant, that the radical ideology that came along with it didn’t hurt her so much, getting into her head, almost believing that it was true, that she didn’t deserve magic. She just knew she hated him, worst, he despised that Malfoy boy.