#so dreamy nostalgic warm & sentimental

[lilidawnonthemoon]

[shuacore]

barcelona nights

reader (afab) x lsm — 6.9K summary:  "The music is all but static in the background, and for a moment it’s just the two of you again, drinking in the airless summer night and the sounds of other couples enjoying each other’s company. You run your thumb across Seokmin’s bottom lip, completely enraptured. His eyes are dangerously dark." —a/n: a fun little birthday present for my bffl ang <3 tags: swearing, smut (18+), probably too much plot n not enough smut, not completely proofread i’m so sorry, mentions of alcohol??, emotional and physical intimacy are my kryptonite, additional warnings under the cut

additional warnings: unprotected sex (always be safe pls!!), oral (f receiving),  pet names (princess, baby, angel, etc), not very adventurous but i would do anything with him tbh

playlist 4 the vibes!!! wyoming — elijah fox a quick getaway — stephen rennicks spring 1 — max richter, antonio vivaldi puerto claridad — amparanoia bamboleo — gypsy kings since i don’t have you — the skyliners the sun is in your eyes — jacob collier tell me — groove theory

Sweat drips down the bridge of your nose as the precarious stack of books in your hands threatens to wobble. Please, for the love of God, don’t fall. The summer heat is brutal—hot and humid—and it sucks all of the energy out of you as you shuffle to the library. It had been a difficult week of research and you were finally returning your books, ready to throw them and the stress from working so hard away. A bead of sweat lingers on your brow, slipping onto your eyelid and you blink furiously, praying it stays there until you can set your burden down. 

In your fervor, you walk a bit too close to the curb, your toes slipping off the edge—you feel the stack slip dangerously, and you curse out loud as you realize you’re falling, desperately clutching your books to your chest, the pavement below approaching a bit too fast when—

A hand clamps around your wrist, hauling you out of the street just as a car zooms past, ruffling your hair. 

“Careful!” a male voice says, breathless. And when you get a good look at your savior, it feels like you’ve been rocketed into one of the dramas you and your roommates obsessed over. 

His name is Lee Seokmin, he’s 25, an anthropology major, and he is the most handsome and charming man you have ever seen. He picks you up off the street, flashes you the most blinding smile, and then your mind goes blank. The rest is history.

So it’s no surprise to you after three years when he still asks questions like, “Do you remember when we met?” You resist the urge to scoff fondly. Always so sentimental.  

It’s a warm summer evening as you sit on the plaza, observing the night life of a quiet coastal Spanish town you had come across during the day. You pause the furious digging in your purse—for something which you had forgotten some time ago—to look at your partner, whose eyes are glazed over in dreamy contentment. 

“Really?” you ask, tampering down the amused look of disbelief that fights its way across your face. Seokmin hates being teased unless he initiates, even if it’s all in good fun. 

“No, I’m serious,” he says, in unwavering sincerity, head lolling against the back of the bistro chair as he watches you unabashedly. Even after so many years, Seokmin’s eyes still set your skin on fire, and he looks so picturesque like this, just a little bit undone from the day’s toils and a few glasses of wine down the line. The collar of his shirt is open a few buttons down, exposing a swatch of buttery smooth skin that—after the drinks you’ve had—makes your mouth water. He looks like the last burst of fading sunlight before nightfall. 

You shake your head with a small smile. “You’re ridiculous. Of course I do.”

Seokmin opens his mouth to say something else when his nostalgic reverie is interrupted by the waiter, who asks quietly if the two of you would like anything else. Your fiancé orders two more glasses of wine for the both of you, and thanks the waiter again as he finally takes the menus from your table. 

It’s quieter now. The night is beginning to dwindle down, your bellies full of good food and wine, and in the distance the ocean waves wash across the rocky shores, pulling pebbles out to sea with quiet shushing sounds. The air is salty on your tongue, and you know you probably look a mess, especially after the long day of heat and humidity, but Seokmin watches you with shining eyes like you’re still the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. You blush sheepishly, fingers finally finding your lipstick in the bottom of your bag. 

“What?” you hiss without malice as Seokmin studies you. His cheeks are flushed, eyes shining even against the slowly dimming night light, and if you could commit an image to memory, if would be right here, right now, sitting at this table with him. Your stomach twists and you’re not sure if it’s a twinge of pain or an all-engulfing rush of affection, so instead you offer him another shy smile and replace your bag on the ground. 

He shakes his head, more to himself, and says, “You’ll make fun of me.” 

“Sure.”

“You’re just so radiant. All the time.” 

You suck in a breath, cheeks burning and laugh nervously. Seokmin was an all-or-nothing kind of guy, which meant you got all of his affection, all the time. It was overwhelming in the beginning, seeing how devoted he could be to one person, but you had grown accustomed to the quiet deference in which he did everything for you. Compliments were near holy to him. Nothing was more intimate than your name. His actions always spoke louder than words. For a while you had been resistant to it—like you would never quite deserve all the love he had to give—but Seokmin had a way of worming his way into your heart and lodging there until his smile was the only thing you could think of when you woke up. 

The waiter appears with two glasses in hand, asks once more if you need anything, before floating away again. You lift the glass—it’s a deep crimson and smells faintly sweet—and swirl the stem around in your fingers, watching the wine coat the sides of the glass with mesmerizing smoothness. 

Seokmin lifts his glass and murmurs a toast. You say it back, and the glasses hit each other with a soft ding! His eyes glint at you over the rim as he takes a sip. The wine is velvet on your tongue, rich and full-bodied, and it sends a flurry of warmth down your throat. 

You hum in appreciation and set the glass down on the table. Above, the stars blink into existence, mimicking the lights flickering to life around the plaza. They wash the patio in a lovely yellow glow, throwing Seokmin into soft relief. He looks a little out of it, pretty lips parted in hazy awe of the scenery around him. It’s still humid, but not too warm—just cool enough that it’s hard to tell where your body ends and the rest of the world begins. A moped passes by, its headlights bouncing off the stone walls of the buildings around you. The chatter from other cafe-goers could be white noise in the trees. In the background the sounds of sultry guitar float through the air, soaking into your skin and you sigh deeply, stretching your arms high into the air above you. It lulls you into a serene sense of calm and you close your eyes—just for a moment. 

Then—“Hey, dance with me,” you hear, whispered by lips pressed to your ear, and you open your eyes slowly to see Seokmin crouched next to your chair, his hand extended in offering. He looks so lovely here, so unguarded and pleased, the same overwhelming feeling of adoration—so strong it overflows into your throat—is difficult to choke back down. You take another hearty swig of wine, feeling it sink into your stomach and turn your legs to jelly. It activates the fuzzy feeling sitting dormant in your body, lifting you out of your chair and into the plaza center with other couples swaying slowly to the music emanating across the square. It all feels so horribly cinematic you’re having difficulty believing any of it’s real. 

You inhale sharply as Seokmin pulls you close to him, your bodies snapping together like magnets. His skin is sticky and warm from the summer heat as his hands brush over your ribcage and come to rest on your waist, coaxing you into a sensual rhythm of swaying hips and chests rising and falling in tandem. His strong arms wrap around you, pulling you tight to his body. The wine keeps you limber—which is nice because otherwise you’d be two left feet with out it. 

Seokmin tips his head to rest his sticky forehead against yours, eyes dancing with mirth in the evening light. His fingers press into the small of your back, searing through the gauzy fabric of your blouse, igniting a slow burn that sweeps through your whole body. You sigh deeply as your eyes flutter closed, taking in the sounds of soft timbales and claves bouncing off the stone under your feet, the heat from Seokmin’s body on yours, and his lips pressed against your skin, murmuring sweet nothings into your ear.

It’s sexy, to say the least. The laughter and conversations around you vanish until all you know is the sound of Seokmin’s breath ragged in your ear and hot on your cheek. He smells like rosemary and mint and the soap from the hostel. His lips dip dangerously low on your cheek until they brush over the skin under your jaw, sending a chill down your spine despite the heat. Seokmin smiles against your temple as your fingers toy with the hem of his shirt, skirting low over the smooth expanse of his stomach. He hums into your ear—a warning—as your fingertips trail just a little higher. But you’re still in public, so you pull back just enough to smile coyly at him and smooth the hem of his shirt back down.

The music is intoxicating, the melody swelling and swaddling you in a heady daydream of nothing but Seokmin. You tuck your nose into his shoulder, inhaling deeply as his fingers dance up your spine and land lightly on the back of your neck.

“God, I love you,” he confesses, and his laughter is swallowed by your lips suddenly on his, giddy and girlish. It’s just supposed to be an innocent peck—just a quick one you could share in public—but with the wine having gone completely to your head, the music reverberating in your chest, and Seokmin’s tongue in your mouth, it’s difficult to concentrate. Seokmin tastes like the Albariño you ordered, like lemon and nectarine, and so, so sweet your knees turn to liquid. He hums in content as a soft sigh escapes your mouth, unprompted. His hands are firm on your hips, fingers lacing through the belt loops of your skirt to pull you closer. You tangle your own in the damp strands at the nape of his neck, relishing the own sounds you can persuade from your partner’s throat. 

Someone catcalls in the background and you come to with a start. Seokmin’s face is rosy—from the wine or from you, it’s hard to tell—but he’s well past the point of having the grace to look embarrassed. His eyes are glued to you, drinking you in completely. You grin, hiding your face in his chest. The music is all but static in the background, and for a moment it’s just the two of you again, drinking in the airless summer night and the sounds of other couples enjoying each other’s company. You run your thumb across Seokmin’s bottom lip, completely enraptured. His eyes are dangerously dark.

“Go back to the hotel?” you whisper, mouth hovering mere centimeters away from his. 

Seokmin’s next kiss is indication enough. Grabbing your purse, he throws a few bills onto the bistro table before tugging you away from the plaza. Street signs bleed into flights of rickety stairs and cobblestone alleyways into flowered medians and quiet side roads. The ocean roars in greeting as you run unsteadily back to your hotel. Street lamps blaze into life amid loud shouts of laughter from nearby pedestrians, and the fluttery feeling in your stomach only grows. The only thing that stays constant is the feeling of Seokmin’s hand in yours, firm and reassuring. 

Then, unprompted, Seokmin tugs you into a hidden alcove off the street, and presses you hard against the brick wall, tilting your jaw up with his thumbs to pull you into a searing kiss. He draws in a sharp breath, groaning softly into your mouth as you sag into his touch. You feel like a teenager again, sneaking off the beaten path so you can put your hands all over each other. Seokmin is impatient—his hands dig into your hips, his mouth is on your jaw, and his body is so hot it’s any wonder he hasn’t yet burst into flames. 

“Seokmin,” you gasp, nails digging into his chest, breaking away. His excitement is palpable. He groans, irritated, and tips his forehead against your cheek, still holding you tight to him like you might still slip through his fingers. You extract yourself from his grasp, a little dizzy from the lack of oxygen and pull him away from the wall amidst protests. The privacy of your hotel room can’t arrive fast enough and it feels like eons before you’re pushing Seokmin against the back of the door yourself—so hard the air is knocked from his lungs—but he grins breathlessly as he draws you close, hip to hip, chest to chest, mouth to mouth.

You breath him in, smelling the lingering traces of cigarette smoke and lavender from the night markets on his clothes. Seokmin is all teeth and all tongue, hands traveling up and down the curve of your waist, over your ass, up your forearms and shoulders. His thumb tugs on your bottom lip, coaxing your mouth open as he slips his tongue in once more. You dissolve in his hands like water—you’ve always been so pliant with him, so eager to please it goes straight to his head.  

“Tell me what you want,” he mumbles, hand holding your jaw in place. His eyes are asking for a challenge. 

But you feel needy and slightly hysterical that it’s all you can do to say weakly, “You.” 

Seokmin’s breath is hot in your mouth and you have no choice but to ride the wave. This is Seokmin’s all-or-nothing, as he drags your thin linen blouse off your shoulders, popping the top button clean off amid breathless laughter so he can press more open-mouthed kisses along your shoulder and collarbone. You sigh deeply, winding your fingers into the hair at the back of his head again, chasing his lips with potent desperation. Seokmin grins, canines glinting wolfishly in the moonlight. It’s difficult to see in the burgeoning darkness—nothing but vague shadows dancing on the walls—so you kick off your shoes haphazardly, stumbling until your knees eventually strike the edge of the bed. You hit the mattress with a huff!, Seokmin in tow. His hand is hot against your bare skin, palm pressed flat to your chest where your heart races.

“This is your fault, by the way,” you tease, and Seokmin feigns sympathy, except his fingers are little too far up your thigh for the sympathy to land. You suck in a breath, eyes burning as Seokmin gazes at you with undisguised want, eyes flicking around your face in a dizzying pattern—eyes, lips, cheeks, forehead, nose, eyes, lips—like it was the first time he’d ever seen you. The air grows thicker like mud, sticking in your nose and throat and you struggle to swallow, pushing yourself off the bed. 

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Seokmin asks, voice laced with worry. His figure is clothed in deep blue shadow in the imminent darkness. Air is sparse, and anxiety flares in your stomach, unexpected, and you press a hand to your racing heart, willing it to slow. Your pulse is erratic and you realize you’re nervous.

“Woah, talk to me,” Seokmin pleads again, sitting up. His fingers around your wrist are soft, like all of him, and it eases the sudden ache in your chest, even if just a little. You place your other hand on top of his, stroking your thumb over his knuckles. 

Your voice is hoarse. “Just nervous. I don’t know why—it’s so silly.” 

And then Seokmin is there, tucking you into his arms and his nose in your hair, swaying as he holds you for a moment. 

“We don’t have to do anything you don’t want. You know that.” 

You frown, pushing away from his chest. “No–no, I want this. Just–had a moment, but I’m ok.” You lean your forehead on his shoulder again. “I’m always ok when I’m with you.” The quiet presses in on your ears. The incessant buzzing in your fingertips fades to the background, slowing to the steady rhythm of Seokmin’s heartbeat in his chest—reliable as always, a constant you had come to memorize like the spots on his face. 

“I’m right here, baby,” he whispers against your temple. “Whatever you want.”

The soft glow from the street lamps outside illuminate his features in a tranquil yellow hue. He looks angelic, always so gentle and willing, that it sucks the remaining air out of your lungs. 

He settles back on the edge of bed, hands resting on your hips as he gazes up at you with adoration so tangible it makes your heart ache. You run your fingers gently through his hair, pushing the dark strands off his forehead and trace the shape of his profile with your pointer finger, down his forehead and the bridge of his nose, pausing over his waiting lips, down his chin until you grasp it in between your thumb and forefinger. 

“You’re beautiful, too, you know?” you say, voice soft. And Seokmin smiles, pleased, and it lights up his whole face, sending a bolt of warmth down your throat like lightning. The crashing waves of the ocean are muffled under the sound of your heart in your ears. Seokmin is quiet, arms tight around your waist. Had it not been for the pulsing rhythm in your body, this might have been a tender moment—but the heat is still there, prodding in your stomach, building, smoldering, aching. 

You want him. Bad.

With a noise of impatience, you pull his face back towards yours, curving your body to pull him in, kissing him longingly, hoping he’ll sense the desperation growing in your stomach, understand the way you need to feel him under and over and inside you. Seokmin reads you like the back of his hand—senses the tension in your shoulders—and knows that if he uses his mouth just right your last remaining shred of self-control will snap.

He pulls at the rest of the buttons on your blouse with agonizing restraint, kissing every inch of skin revealed with painstaking deference. His mouth trails down your sternum, pausing as he listens to the quiet exhales that leave your mouth. The skin on your stomach is sensitive to his touch, and you bite back a few nervous giggles as Seokmin ghosts his lips just down to where the waistband of your skirt rests on your hips. His thumbs dig into the skin there, and he peers up at you, eyes sparkling mischievously. Asking for permission. You nod, breath shallow in your throat.

“Should be on my knees for a princess,” your fiancé murmurs lowly, dropping to his knees in front of you. What had been a steady flame in your gut erupts into a hunger so strong it might consume you from the inside out. Your mouth goes dry as he gentle pulls you down to the mattress, urging you to sit. 

In the same tender manner, Seokmin lifts the sole of your foot to his lips, eyes darkening as your breath quickens yet. His breath fans across your bare skin, up your ankles and your shin, before he pauses to press a hot kiss to the inside of your knee, teeth digging into the soft skin there. The static in your ears increases tenfold as his other hand pushes the hem of your skirt up to your waist. Seokmin’s mouth continues upward, stopping on the supple skin of the inside of your thighs. Hunger gnaws at your insides by now, and you tense your stomach in anticipation. Seokmin’s pupils are blown wide—impossibly dark as he takes you in—forcing you backwards, his mouth hovering just over the fabric in between you and complete bareness. Your breath quickens—waiting, waiting, waiting—as Seokmin’s tongue trails from the inside of your knee right to where your thigh pools at your hip. 

And then, with a dazed smirk, he sets your foot down—not on the floor—but gently over the bulge in his pants. Seokmin leans forward ever so slightly, eyes daring. Already he’s so hard, even under his trousers and it’s all you can do to stop yourself from falling apart right there.

“See what you do to me?” he rasps, breath hitching as you press your foot down—just a little—to feel him so vulnerable under you. Your panties are soaked by now—it feels like you’re wearing nothing at all. Seeing Seokmin like this, shirt unbuttoned to his stomach, hair still styled so nicely, lips parted with desire; you want him like this, now, all the time. 

“Seokmin–fuck–” you choke, the words ripped from your mouth as you feel his tongue, wet and hot over your panties. Seokmin tosses one of your feet over his shoulder as he wraps his fingers in the waistband, pulling your panties taut. The ability to control yourself is lost. You curve into his touch as Seokmin gently pulls your panties aside, and presses one last reverent kiss to the inside of your hip.  

“So beautiful,” he murmurs, breath fanning across your skin, “always so beautiful for me.” Then his mouth is on you, open-mouthed and scorching on your cunt, the tip of his tongue circling around your clit, tasting every part of you. You clench your fists into the sheets, gasping for air as he wraps his strong arms around your thighs to pin you down. Even still, you squirm away from his mouth, hands pushing at his head as he sends you to cloud nine. His eyes are searing even behind closed eyelids as he drinks your pleasure, watching in rapture. 

Seokmin’s voice is almost inaudible over the thrum of your heart in your ears. “You like the way I worship you, baby?”

“Yes, please, yes, oh my god, Seokmin, please,” you plead, lurching upwards to curl around his head as a particularly powerful bolt of pleasure rushes through your body. He’s ruthless, nails biting into your thighs as you writhe in pleasure, nose bumping against your clit, mouth planted firmly on your pussy as your cries become higher and more desperate. It builds and builds and builds, a rope in your gut stretching and pulling until you feel like you might snap in half. The pleasure mounts as Seokmin crudely licks his tongue up your cunt, pressed flat against your skin and you release a strangled groan, fingers knotting in his hair.

“S–Seokmin, I’m—” you gasp, body tensed in anticipation.

And then he leans back, and your release fades as quickly as it appeared. Your body aches uncomfortably. The mattress sinks down on either side of you as he braces his hands by your head. Seokmin grins, tucking a few pieces of hair gently behind your ear, dragging your mouth open with his thumb once more to push his tongue past your lips. He tastes like you and he moans as you pull him in by the back of his neck, kissing him fiercely.

“You’re a dick,” you protest, shoving his shoulder. Seokmin’s smile is tender, his cheeks flushed despite his actions just moments ago. 

“Hey,” he says in between kisses to your collarbone that stifle the feeble protests spewing from your mouth, “I don’t wanna go too fast.” 

You groan weakly, as he shifts his knee in between your thighs. He wraps his fingers around one of your ankles, lifting it up onto his hip. 

“But I wanna feel you,” you complain, looping your arms around his neck as if to urge him on. But Seokmin just shakes his head, grinning. His leg shifts again, pressing against the ache in between your thighs and you instinctively roll your hips, mouth dropping open at the touch. He places a large hand on your pelvis, pinning you to the bed.

“I’m taking my time with you,” he says against your mouth, smiling as you sag onto the bed. 

He wanted to fuck slow.

And he does, touching you with feather-light pressure, building your frustration and anticipation until you’re a sweating, panting, desperate disaster in his hands—and only then does Seokmin let you feverishly remove the rest of his clothes. The desire to feel him, see him, taste him has grown so vicious you might cry. He perches on the edge of the bed again, and with shaking hands you jerk the rest of his shirt off his broad shoulders, scraping your nails down his chest to the belt at his waist. You’ve always loved Seokmin’s body—its strong, lithe build, all toned and smooth. Seokmin curses under his breath, tossing his head back in pleasure as you kiss along his jaw and down his torso. The muscles in his stomach tense under your touch, pulled taut as your lips reach his hips again. Slowly, you undo the button on his trousers, all the while keeping burning eye contact. You want Seokmin to see how much you need him. 

“Let me touch you,” you whisper against his abdomen, waiting for the desperate nod, before your fingers slip under the waistband of his briefs to finally take him in your hand. Seokmin moans low and you moan with him, imagining when he would finally let you take him, how he would stretch you out, and you’d finally feel all of him. 

You pull your hand back to spit, making sure to keep your eyes on him as you do, before wrapping your fingers around his length again. Seokmin’s voice is choked in his throat as you run your hand up and down his entire shaft, taking care to twist your fist around the base of his cock, delicately trailing up and around the head, soaking up every breathy sound of satisfaction that leaves Seokmin’s lips. 

With palpable restlessness, you yank the rest of Seokmin’s clothes off, straddling him on the edge of the bed again. He feels the damp fabric of your panties against his thigh and groans, his fingers knitting into your hair to kiss you again, feverish and wanting. You grind down, feeling his cock hard against your pussy and laugh weakly—except it sticks in your throat as Seokmin’s nails dig into your hip, dragging your cunt down his length again. 

“You want me so bad, don’t you?” Seokmin goads, hand holding the back of your head as you roll your hips up and down his length with increasing desperation. Your nails dig into his chest. He pulls your panties to the side, eyes fluttering closed as your arousal slides over his skin. The heat of the room muddles your brain, heightening every sensation. You’re already so wet, needy and willing to do anything to make the tightness in your stomach go away. “Want me to fuck you, baby?”

“Please–” you beg, “need you. Seokmin–”

His lips are crushing, destroying any semblance of thought you might have had. 

“Go ahead, princess,” Seokmin groans, as you pull your panties to the side, sliding two fingers into yourself and using your arousal to lubricate his cock again. The weight of Seokmin’s cock in your hand, the sound of your fingers sliding down the length is enough to have you weak in the knees. Seokmin’s hands splay across your back, propping you up as you line up his cock with your entrance. 

Your fiancé has always been a romantic, and this time is no different as Seokmin kisses you, open mouth waiting to breathe in your needy moans as you slowly sink down onto his cock. In your agitation, it’s still tight, extracting a few hisses of discomfort out of you. But Seokmin is there, soothing you with quiet shushes against your lips, thumbs stroking your cheeks as you take him all the way. He stretches you out, nice and slow, drawing the air from your lungs. 

There you go, that’s my girl. You’re doing so well, baby.

His praise rolls over you like late afternoon sunlight, settling in your chest until you feel lightheaded—the love in your chest is too much to take. It feels more intimate than usual, being nose to nose with Seokmin like this, seeing every emotion flicker in his eyes, feeling his breath fan over your face as he pants. You comb your fingers through his hair and cup his face in your hands, as the fluttery, panicky desperation for a hold on reality reappears in your chest again. You gasp as Seokmin shifts farther onto the bed, nails biting into his scalp as he pulls you closer.

He can surely feel the supersonic pace of your heart against his chest and he shushes you gently, pressing his lips against your sternum.

“I–I just need you to relax, sweetheart,” you hear him murmur in your daze, hands running up and down your spine. “Just a little more.” 

You nod, eyes squeezes shut as you try to swallow the trepidation in your stomach. Seokmin takes it all with grace; his voice is like honey in your ear, sticky and sweet, whispering soft reassurances. Seokmin’s love can be so strong—even after all this time—that it overwhelms you, leaving you vulnerable and defenseless. You’re not used to the devotion that even now, it sometimes takes a little to get used to, so you tuck your nose in the crook of his neck. The smell of sunshine still sticks to his skin, like a moth to a flame. 

“Baby, are you still with me?” Seokmin asks, forefinger petting your cheek. “Hm?”

You nod wordlessly, breathing deeply while Seokmin watches, attentive, until you’ve finally taken all of him. Seokmin bottoms out with a strangled groan, and presses a chaste kiss to your lips, chest stuttering as you roll your hips with impatience. Even then, it’s still too much right away and you freeze, gasping for breath. 

“Hey,” Seokmin says, holding your face in his hands, “we have all night. Take it slow.”

“I know I just—ah–” you whine, stubborn, as you roll your hips again—ignoring the vague hesitancy in your stomach—this time relishing in the dull ache in between your legs, feeling the stretch and pull as Seokmin coaxes your hips into a lazy rhythm. He watches closely, mapping out your body with his hands, leaving you out of breath and hazy in the head. You throw your head back as he kisses your exposed throat, mouth hot over your skin. 

Seokmin rests his hand at the base of your throat—not quite squeezing—and leaves it there. The possessive glint in his eyes is enough to say you are mine. Mine. The thought alone is enough to have you falling into his touch. 

Mine.

Mine.

He slips the other hand lower, using his thumb to rub circles around your clit, persuading languorous moans from your mouth, watching you with sordid fascination as you respond to his every touch. You brace your hand on his knee, brow furrowing as the pleasure in your core molds into shape. It’s hot and heavy, radiating so strongly it makes your arm shake.

“Just like–that,” you whine, nails digging into Seokmin’s thigh as he fucks into you slow, gripping your ass so hard you know it’ll leave marks. He curses as you clench around his cock, urging him to go faster. But Seokmin is, and always has been, more patient than you, and he grins slowly, even through heavy-lidded eyes clouded with lust, gripping your hips tight enough to still your movement. 

“What did I say?” he challenges, lips hovering millimeters over yours. You frown, protests falling on deaf ears, as he leans in closer. His lips brush yours as he whispers, “Go. Slow.”

So you try, rolling your hips, grinding down on his cock until you think you might die, until your restlessness is as tangible as the arousal dripping onto Seokmin’s thighs. He fluctuates between playing with your clit–just until you’re on the verge of release—and waiting, just long enough to keep the buzz in your body at bay. Your knees ache as you hold yourself up, feeling Seokmin’s cock slide and and out, his hands in your hair and on your ass. He edges you, daring you to come first each time you whimper you’re close, waiting until the shaking in your fingers stops just for him to continue. 

You’ve never been a crier, but after twenty minutes of this, you’re certain that even a slight breeze would cause you to come undone. Seokmin’s cock rests deep inside to the hilt, his mouth is on your skin, and you know that if he moves, you’ll come harder than you ever have before. 

“Baby, please,” you beg, hips jerking at every slight movement, “please–”

Seokmin smiles, and even just the sight of his pretty teeth have the tears you’ve been holding back, rolling down your cheeks like two big fat admissions of defeat. You suck in a breath as Seokmin lifts you off his cock, dropping you onto your back on the mattress. He places one of your ankles over his shoulder, pressing you down by the back of your thigh as you toss the other around his waist. 

The sounds coming from your mouth are less than human as Seokmin runs his fingers through your arousal again, placating your whines with his lips. You feel like you’re about to snap. 

“Seokmin, fuck me.” It sounds so ridiculous coming from your mouth you think you might cry again, but the thought is shoved away as Seokmin slaps his cock against your needy cunt a few times, pulling more animalistic cries from your throat. 

“Soon, pet,” he grins, and then his cock is pushing into you again, his fingers on your clit, his eyes dark and earnest as your whole body tenses in his arms. 

Your nails claw into his skin and he hisses, brow furrowed, as you drag them down his back with uncharacteristic force, but the thought of his beautiful back marked by your torment only feeds the fire in your belly. You arch your spine, pressing into him as Seokmin draws his cock back out, still much slower than you would like. He’s just winding you up at this point, seeing just how far you’re breaking point is.

Seokmin tuts, simpering as you pant deliriously under him. He leans down, brushing his lips over your cheekbone to rest his forehead against yours. You groan impatiently. 

“Patience, lamb,” Seokmin urges, pressing a chaste kiss to your lips, and you frown like a petulant child. Your protests are quickly silenced as he moves, pushing into you with little urgency, pulling back out with agonizing slowness, relishing in the tiny sounds escaping your tightly clamped lips. His strokes are languid as he holds you close to his body. Sometimes it feels like a challenge, to see how long you can go without indulging Seokmin, but today every sensation is amplified tenfold—the smell of his hair, the feeling of his skin, his fingers on your body, his tongue in your mouth, his cock deep inside. He holds your head in between his hands, petting your hair when you tense, whispering sweet words against your skin. 

“Look at me, baby,” Seokmin murmurs, brushing the hair off your forehead. Your pry your eyes open, resisting every impulse to squeeze them shut again as Seokmin pushes into you again, this time with more heat, feeling the burn in his own body increase as you brace yourself against his shoulders. His strokes are long and deep, barely a second apart before he drives back into you to the hilt, swimming in the crude sounds of skin against skin. A chorus of moans fills the room as Seokmin finally fucks you into subspace, your head going foggy with pleasure. The sounds leaving your mouth are barely coherent—just a messy jumble of garbled syllables. Seokmin is unrelenting. His stomach is tense with the effort it takes to keep up his pace. You’ve all but given up on keeping your eyes open, instead falling openly into the pleasure that builds in your gut again. 

Good girl. Just a little more, I promise. Look at you, so beautiful like this. Just like that.

Good girl. 

My girl.

You want to hold on. You want to hold on as long as possible. But Seokmin’s praise washes over you like the tide, saccharine and familiar, so you come again and again, feeling insurmountable pleasure pulse through your body—white-hot and blinding—so intense it leaves you breathless and weak, as Seokmin’s voice continues to flit in and out of focus. 

“God!” you plead, as an orgasm so powerful it rips your voice from your throat tears through you. Your nails bite crescents into your fiancé’s shoulders, and you jolt upward to kiss Seokmin feverishly, fingers carding desperately through his hair as he fucks you through your high. 

“Where–” Seokmin stutters, jaw clenched.

So you breathe, “In me,” and Seokmin groans long and low, as he comes undone, his release hot inside you, fingers searching for yours as he heaves. His hand is clammy and you smooth your other over his cheek, thumb skating over his cheekbone. Seokmin looks ragged, hair fucked and messy, lip bleeding from where you bit him in a fit of passion. He kisses you again, hungry and desperate as if the last forty minutes hadn’t been enough of you for him. Then he pulls out slowly, frowning apologetically as you wince in discomfort. He sets your foot back on the bed, before pressing one last, sweet kiss to your pelvis. You feel fucked raw, sensitive from all that the two of you had done.

Seokmin always ravishes you like it’s the first time he gets to hold you, taking his time until the bedsheets are tangled around your limbs and you’re both utterly spent. He loves you deep into the night, until the sun threatens to peek over the horizon. The dreamy cerulean color of the sky tells you it’s far too late for you to be awake. The street noise below has become all but mute, as the townspeople slumber peacefully in their homes. It’s the birdsong that pulls you from your reverie, still bleary-eyed and a little limp, so sudden you place your palms flat on Seokmin’s chest and stare at him in disbelief. He hums in acknowledgment, stirring from his place at your side. 

“What time is it?” you rasp, voice hoarse from use. 

Seokmin groans, reaching for his phone and murmurs, “Almost 4:30.” 

Your eyes open a few more centimeters. “It’s been—it’s been all night.” 

Your fiancé flashes his usual heartbreaking smile. “I know,” he says, and groans as he turns onto his side to look at you, “but I just wanted to be with you.” He tucks his arm under his head, reaching out a hand to run his thumb over your bottom lip. You kiss the pad of his thumb, leaning into his touch. “I love you.”

It always feels like a promise coming from his lips.

You flop back onto the bed, wincing at the twinge in your ass and roll over onto your stomach, tucking your chin over your folded hands. The Spanish coast is quiet, and for a while it’s just you and the ocean and the intimate sounds of Seokmin’s even breathing as he falls back asleep.

The next thing you feel are his lips on the base of your spine, and the early afternoon sun in your eyes. You blink groggily, shielding your eyes from the sun with your hand as Seokmin kisses up your back. Goosebumps erupt on your skin and you wrap yourself in the top sheet, smiling sweetly as Seokmin leans down to press a gentle kiss to your lips. 

“Good morning,” he murmurs, and rolls off the bed—still naked—over to the small kitchenette. “Coffee?”

You lift your arms high over your head, stretching until your muscles feel sore and limber, sighing deeply. “Mm, please.” Seokmin nods and grabs two espresso cups from the cupboard. 

From your spot on the bed, you settle back, admiring the view of your beautifully sculpted fiancé preparing morning coffee. He’s started working out again, and you see the smooth muscles across his back flex as he stretches. Your eyes trace the graceful curve of his spine to his narrow hips and you flush, stifling a nervous giggle. Even making coffee while butt-naked, Seokmin exudes an easy confidence that sets you at peace, the slope of his shoulders relaxed as he waits for the espresso to finish brewing. The aroma of coffee curls into the air and you smile to yourself, tucking your chin into the palm of your hand. How did you get to be so lucky? 

Seokmin catches you staring and breaks you from your trance by kissing your temple, holding a small espresso in his hand. 

“Yeah?” he asks, eyes glinting with amusement. You tilt your head and just nod, scooting so he can join you on the bed again and press a kiss to his bare shoulder. Seokmin still smells like his sunscreen. He squeezes your thigh again, gazing wordlessly over the balcony at the coastline. It’s picturesque—nothing exists beyond this hotel room except for you and him. 

The espresso is warm in your hands, but Seokmin’s body is warmer. 

You’ll never be cold again. 

--

check out my other stuff! :)

[summerrainwinterbreeze]

BEOMGYU HEADCANONS

▷▶▷A/N ↛Can you tell how much I love this man?

▷▶▷ Word Count ↛2.1k

▷▶▷ Warnings↛ Mentions of (impact play, dirty talk, edging, overstimulation, public sex, general smut, first time sex)

GENERAL / AS A FRIEND

Beomgyu is just so ethereal. Otherworldly. Dazy. Hazy. Floaty. Dreamy.

Exchanges playlists with you at the end of every month. It’s a ritual. Tradition. The two of you splayed all over his bed, taking turns playing songs, “Listen well, I really think you’ll like this one”.

You also show each other all the polaroids you took that month. He just really loves telling you the stories behind each one, and why it’s special to him.

He’s said it himself multiple times that he’s sentimental, that he’s the kind of person that lives in two different realms at the same time. This is why he would really appreciate a friend who isn’t put off by this. That would listen, adjust, support. That’s the kind of person that he would feel comfortable with.

Has a tendency to laugh off things that hurt him, or ignore it when he's with others

Plays songs for you on his guitar to get your approval first of all. He trusts your opinion, and takes it seriously, “So I really like this one, but the other one has a really pretty feel to it, don’t you think?”

He’s playful though. Loves to tease and annoy you. Poke at you (literally and figuratively) Just because he can.

Gaming buddies. Every time he loses, he gets loud insert maniacal smile, “What!?!? No! Again, we’re going againnnnnn!!”

Ambition on steroids. Remember that vlive with him playing the typing/spacebar game? “What should I do Moa!! Again? Again? Should I go again? Dashi? Dashi? Haja! Dashi!!!” ...looks like he snorted a line or two beforehand.

I feel like he gets easily swept up in a situation. His mood more often than not reflects that of the environment, what kind of feeling it brings up, (very intuitive). He’s mentioned how sensitive he is to scents, how easily they trigger memories, and nostalgia. Beomgyu feels like a very nostalgic person. An old soul.

Gets sad when you don’t remember certain things that he told you, cause he does his best to remember the things you tell him. So when you forget Toto’s birthday, he’s outraged. “Toto? Ohh..your pet parrot?”

“Yes Toto my pet parrot”

Doesn’t want much, but does crave the little things. “Look! Its that pen you mentioned when we were in 1st grade” or “Heard you were having a hard time, can I listen?”

You’d be surprised how quickly he’d seem to go from fussy to bright eyed.

Stares at the ceiling. Alot. Its unhealthy. Choi beomgyu if you don’t go to sleep right now!

Words of affirmation is 100% his love language, as well as quality time. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a relationship or not.

The kind to get salty if he compliments you, and you don’t compliment him back. “You look really good today” “Oh thanks! I’ve been trying this new-” you still when his gaze darkens, “Gyu? Everything okay?”

“That’s not how this works! Person A is supposed to compliment person B, then Person B says ‘thank you so much person A, you look absolutely, stupendously, flawless today!” He screams all at once, animated actions defining every word.

“Let’s try this again.” He sighs after a long moment, “You look really good today”

Is not going to stop until you get it right.

Lets you listen to the tracks before they come out. But you have to pinkie promise, stamp it, cross your heart and hope to die and swear on your neighbours’ puppy. This is very serious business.

AS A SIGNIFICANT OTHER

When I think of beomgyu with a significant other, the air is just so intimate, so soft, cozy. Warm, but chilly. It feels like not getting out of bed on a snowy day. The intimacy of a tender embrace, sweet. It just feels so..hazy.

Kisses that make you feel light, breathy, eternal. That have you floating, spinning. Pulling each other closer, closer. More, more. Kisses that feel like drowning, flying. A trust so strong that its impossible to break. Kisses that suffocate you in the best way possible. Kisses that you’re scared you’ll forget, so you press and press, until your lips are puffy and swollen, but it’s still not enough. Kisses that sate a need so raw its borderline carnal, greedy, hungry, passionate, but….not rough. Delicate, melting on your tongue, slipping down your throat, fluttering your heart.

Intimacy with Gyu is deep, occasionally confusing, but lovely.

He holds you in his between his legs, and places your fingers the right way when he’s trying to teach you the keys, “This is ‘E’ this is ‘A’ ‘D’ and ‘G’ when you do it all together..”

One of his favourite things is to have you straddle his lap, arms wrapped around his neck, and your forehead against his. Just..breathing..just taking you in.

Please put him in your lap and play with his hair. Stroke your fingers through the strands, give a little scratch here and there. He will fall asleep instantly.

Cuddles, and baths together. The baths he’d be awkward about at first, hesitant. He’d laugh it off, and change the subject whenever you offered. But when he finally accepts, it means a lot.

Remembers little things that you’re really passionate about, and waits until the perfect time. He’s not an all-out lover. He’s a lot more subtle than that, but he does want to please you with the little things, and really wants you to do the same, even if he won’t say so.

He’s sweet and sentimental, but Gyu is deeply insecure and gets jealous and pouty easily. He just wants to know that you’re his, and only his. That you feel as deeply about him, as he does you.

Birthday present ideas 100 things I love about you. 100 reasons why Choi beomgyu is the coolest. Write the reasons behind polaroids of special moments, and dare him not to get emotional.

He loves you...andddddd he loves picking on you. He’ll tease you over the simplest things. Nothing passes his eye. “Oh? The great Y/N mispronounced a word? Is the world going to end? EVERYBODY RUN!!!”

“Oh? Are you getting angry? Is it too much?” his apology betrays his shit-eating grin.

“Ya! Ya! Ya! Ya! Jagiya!!!”

“Shut it beomgyu.”

Fake cries. He’s thorough with it too. Persistent little prick. “Everyone! My girlfriend doesn’t love me anymore”

“Sit down beomgyu!”

But he really does care for you and wants you to only look at him, “So..that guy you were talking to the other day. Are the two of you close? You never told me he was your friend” The words guy, two, and friend, drawn out a bit longer than the rest.

He’d really like if you had a special side that was saved only for him. Say you typically present yourself as a carefree, cheerful person, he’d really appreciate you taking the mask off around him. Showing him the more mellow undertones to your personality. If you appear more independent, capable, he loves it when you let yourself go around him. Just let yourself fall into him.

He loves learning about you. All of you. He loves to know your every expression. What makes you tick. What things do you like? He wants to understand you fully so that he understands why you may do a certain thing, and how to offer his full support. He just wants to delve into you. Discover more and more. He wants to form that unbreakable bond. It brings him such pride and joy to know that he knows you.

But he just loves to push you to your limits.

Speaking of which...

NSFW

You really need to work him into this. He’ll be so tense at first, and so worried about the nitty-gritty because he doesn’t want to mess this up. He’ll need your constant support and encouragement that he’s doing a good job, because it really helps him let loose. “Yeah Gyu, that’s good, keep doing that” Moan extra loud for him Even though he will tease you the morning after about it.

The first time for him, foreplay will be key. Like hours of teasing, getting him riled up, pushing him to the point where he wants it so badly he lets it all fall away. Lets himself relax into the feeling, slides his hips against yours, "I can't take it anymore"

Baby just needs to know that he’s doing a good job.

He does want you to be completely honest. He’d be very vulnerable in this situation already, and would not want you to fake anything. Rather he’d want you to tell him what you like (Really sweetly and gently!) so that he can adjust to please you.

He can be very self-sacrificial in this situation, so please make sure he has his own pleasure in mind as well.

But oh when he gets warmed up. He’s the king of running his mouth. “Whose fucking you this good? That’s right I am." "Look at you baby, you're drooling all over"

Not that much into degradation, but does have a praise kink. Both giving and recieving.

He’s such a tease. Loves bringing you right to the edge, then pulling away. He laughs when you whine and try to force him to continue.

Not exactly kinky or experimental, but he will try something if you suggest it (so long as it isn’t one of his hard limits!) he may be a little surprised at first, but will enjoy milder versions of most kinks.

But he does prefer to be the dom. He’s a lot more comfortable in that position.

Tries his best to hold back when he’s close. His teeth will be battering his lips. Fingers pressing colorful bruises into your hips. The way he’s trying to brush his hair out of his face, and strangling his moans into grunts, only to fall apart when you grip down onto him, cunt clenching as you get closer and closer.

At this point in your relationship he’s pretty playful with it all. Not stressing himself over it too much when he casually asks you if he can rip your clothes off and annihilate you.

I think he’s secretly into rougher sex, or something mildly taboo that kind of contradicts his personality. Beomgyu is a pretty cautious guy, so to find himself in the mall suddenly wanting to fuck you in a random stall, the rush of the thought of someone walking in having his cock jump in his pants comes as a surprise to him.

HIGH sex drive, king of random hard-ons, and would do well with a partner to match that energy.

Back to back rounds. He kind of sees it as a challenge. A game. Always trying to beat his highscore.

He loves when you rough him up a bit. He may be startled at first, how you suddenly pull him out of his pants and ride him. But he’s all for it. Though you’re the top he’s still the dom, and he’ll be giving you playful spanks the whole time. Forcing you to slow down or speed up in the way that makes you cum so hard. “You want me so much you just can’t help yourself, huh?” his hands find purchase on the swell of your ass, and you jump at the sharp sting he rubs deeper into your flesh, "Answer me. Tell me how much you want this. How you’re so greedy for it, that you couldn’t wait for me to stuff you so full”.

He feels so good when he makes you cum.

Really really wants to please you.

He’s not stopping until you can not take anymore I am dead serious. This man does not stop. Bunnies cannot compare. Have you seen him? Allow me to reiterate that this man is ambition on steroids. Saying that he’s going to make you cum is not a goal, it’s a life or death mission, it’s something he needs to do. He’ll give you breaks in between if you beg really nice, but he is not stopping until his balls are empty. He’s just not.

It’s not because he has great stamina you’re pussy just feels so good around him that he can’t last all that long, it’s just that he’s so determined.

Gets really really drained afterwards. He can’t even keep himself upright, he just collapses on top of you. He’ll try his utmost best with aftercare, and will make it to the end, because he wants to comfort you, and make sure you’re okay, but this man is exhausted.

[madmadmilk]

omg i just finished watching "Luca" (2021) and i need to gush over ittttt >>> light spoilers ahead >>>

i fucking love this movie– the plot, the characters, the scenery, the animation, the dialogue, the music!! it is all SOO charming. it captures the curiosity, innocence, and dreamy ambition of being a child!! everything is so brand new, and as you 'stop' daydreaming and start to venture on your own...

you can meet some incredible people who change your life forever.

there are 1000000 takeaways from this movie, and plenty of parallels, but the one I wanna talk about is the power of your very first friendship.

Luca!! he's a timid, polite, smart lil' introvert, and thru the movie, he got adopted by all these extroverts and big personalities!! i think every shy kid remembers their first friend; the one who draws you out and makes you learn so much about yourself, and the world.

alberto showed him the sun! the sky! the trees! ... gravity!! wah!

it makes me so nostalgic and warm to think about their friendship... it was the greatest relief and comfort to be "adopted" by an extrovert, growing up lol. Sure, Luca is able to speak for himself and take care of himself, but Alberto helped draw him out of his shell and amplify those thoughts and feelings!! he helps the idea that "dreams can become real too" sink in.

Luca is in awe by all the things he can do and see, now that Alberto is by his side. their connection is something he'll remember forever!! and even if alberto was 'wrong' about a few things (like the fishes in the sky), it's the sentiment he will always cherish and remember with good humor.... like, those are literally core memories.

and that sentiment is not one-sided either!! alberto found honest companionship, someone to talk and walk the streets with. he carries on because someone cares enough to stay with him! he's goofy and sometimes careless, but he proudly wears it because Luca will be there to catch him if he falls.

that's so!!! gorgeous!!

we all yearn for a friendship/connection like that, even as adults.

and ahh!! guilia! what a fucking PAL!!! (and ally lmao). she welcomes them both with open arms, protects them, and gives them a safe space to be themselves. she teaches them with patience and accepts that they all come from different places, as she understands that the world is big and full of vibrant people.

the main three carry no judgement towards each other, or the world around them. they see it for what is is– like children! the boys know they are "different" from Guilia, but never wish to throw away the fishy side of them. and guilia doesn't condemn them for who they are, instead warns and protects them from who her town is!!

(lol and alberto's jealousy of luca and guilia's closeness is so sweet and understandable: nobody likes to see their bestie with anyone else.)

but like i said, luca's connection with alberto is irreplacable: his main goal is to explore the world with him!!! he risked going on land to stay on land with him. and that's!!!! so !! AHH!!!

that's love!! however u interpret it, platonically, romantically, whatever, it's love!!

a charming exploration of friendship, 'other'-ness, curiosity, and all forms of love u can imagine. and the art style is fucking unforgettable.

please go watch it if you have a chance!

[wallgirl]

The Little Nereid Part 5

2200 words, part five of a nine part fanfiction (it ain’t over til it’s over, babes)

Poseidon x OC

Dynamene, youngest of the 50 Nereids, has lived most of her adolescence as a servant alongside her sisters at Poseidon’s palace. But with her coming-of-age birthday and other developments, what she initially thought was just admiration of her master blossoms into something stronger and more passionate… and painful.

Categories: Romance, angst, unrequited love, coming-of-age, earn-your-happy-ending; no NSFW content

---

Since their conversation that night, Dynamene had been in high spirits. Poseidon seemed so much more tangible, so much closer, now that he had allowed her a glimpse into his mind. She found herself yearning for one more moment with the two of them alone. There was so much more she wanted to know about him. She wanted to hear his thoughts on everything. It was a curiosity stronger than anything else she'd felt.

She spent the following days in a dreamy haze, humming her way through chores and afternoons on the beach with her sisters. It seemed like any moment her thoughts were allowed to wander they travelled back to that night with the black ocean and crystalline sky, and those dark eyes that had held her within for the first time in a thousand years.

"Dynamene," called one of her sisters. Dynamene started from where she had been tracing her fingers absently through the warm sand, lost in her dreamy reverie.

"Yes?" She asked, gathering her wits about her.

"You've been sitting there day-dreaming the whole afternoon," Thoe complained. "I thought you were going to help me wash these shells out. I want to make them into bracelets."

"Oh, right," Dynamene blushed, getting to her feet clumsily. "I'm sorry, I'm coming."

From higher up on the beach, closer to the rocky cliffsides, Ianeira watched her sisters converse. She sighed and shook her head at Dynamene's absent-mindedness. "She's completely out of it."

"Spying, are we?" An unexpected voice came from Ianeira's side. Ianeira smiled wryly as she turned to the speaker

"Bold words coming from you," she quipped at Eione, who had come to lean against the rock next to her. "What are you doing here?"

"Same as you, to be honest," Eione shook the water from her strawberry locks. "Just looking at the view. Guess the difference is that you seem to have an ulterior motive. What troubles you?"

"Dynamene has been... rather out-of-sorts lately," Ianeira answered, turning her gaze back to the Nereids on the beach. "I'm worried about her."

"She's just being a young girl, isn't she, though?" Eione asked, following Ianeira's gaze to Dynamene. "We all went through that phase. Some worse than others." She gave a nostalgic sigh.

"Yes, and we all cringe at it when we've come out on the other end," Ianeira replied. "But her case is... different, and not for the better. I just don't want Dynamene to fall into any trouble."

Eione stared at her sister for a few moments before grinning. "This involves Lord Poseidon, doesn't it?"

It was Ianeira's turn to stare at her sister. "Did Actaea tell you?"

"Did Actaea what? No, silly. I heard your conversation at breakfast last week." Eione tapped her ears. "You all always underestimate these ears of mine. Nothing escapes my hearing, even when I'm not trying."

Ianeira sighed in frustration and shrugged her shoulders helplessly. "I guess it can't be helped, then. Just don't tell any of the others. I don't want anyone else to worry."

"It's too late for that, sister. Everyone already knows," Eione stated matter-of-factly.

Ianeira froze. "Everyone, you say?"

"Oh, Ianeira, look at her!" Eione cried, sweeping her arm down towards the beach. "She's only been acting this way after her birthday meeting with Poseidon! He gave her that bracelet, and she hardly ever takes it off! She spies on him when she sees him pass in the halls! She smiles at him! Do any else of us smile at him?!"

Ianeira bit her lip. "I know. I just don't know how to discourage it..."

"There's no use in that, dear sister," Eione sighed, resting her chin on her hand. "She's completely fallen for him." She looked down towards the beach with a resigned expression.

Ianeira stared at Dynamene in fear. "I am afraid for her."

"You have very right to be. Poseidon really is a sea serpent in a man's skin. If any of the other Olympians asked for our heads on a platter, he'd say, 'whose, and how soon?'" Eione shook her head. "But we can't rein in Dynamene's feelings anymore than we can stop the sunlight. Her feelings are her own."

"I know," murmured Ianeira. "But I have an idea." She briskly turned away. "Swipe Actaea and bring her up to the palace. We need to talk."

"Aye," Eione sighed, running her hand through her frazzled tresses. "I hope you know what you're doing, Ianeira. Too much meddling will only make things worse." She stared back at their youngest sister, hastily sorting shells with Thoe, completely unaware of her elder siblings' exchange. After all, the heart wants most that which it cannot have.

An hour later, Dynamene was following Thoe through the palace, arms laden with sacks of seashells. "Do you really need this much, Thoe?" She whined, shifting the weight in her arms.

"Of course. I'm going to make two for everyone so there's no complaints. I figure that equals out to about 40 shells per sister. Of course, a few will break in the process, so make that closer to 45. Then, multiplying that by every sister, of which there are 49... oh, I shouldn't forget one for Nerites..."

Dynamene groaned silently as she listened to Thoe ramble on, but then a subtle shift in the air nearby caused her to halt. It was a sensation she'd been in-tuned to ever since that night on the beach; the ever-so faint sound of Poseidon's heartbeat.

She quickly set the sacks down, and Thoe turned to look at her in bewilderment. "What - where are you going?" She cried as Dynamene took off down the hall.

"Just the bathroom, I'll be right back!" Dynamene called, her voice distracted. She hadn't had the chance to talk to him since then; she couldn't let herself miss this opportunity.

He was headed out the main doors to go to the ocean. Dynamene sprinted at first to catch up before skidding to a halt just out of sight. Her heart pounded with indecision. Should she make her presence known? Then again, he must already know that she was close by.

"Dynamene," Poseidon said with his back still turned. She jumped before shyly stepping forward from behind the pillar.

"Lord Poseidon," she said quietly.

"Hadn't we already spoken about spying?" he asked, turning partially to look at her.

"I'm not spying, my lord. Just observing," she replied boldly, twisting her hands.

"Hm." He turned away and continued through the open doors out onto the deck. Dynamene remained where she stood, bashfully looking at her hands.

"Weren't you following me?" He called without breaking his stride. She gave a gasp of happy surprise before taking his cue to resume following him, this time close to his side.

""I haven't seen you since last week," she said quietly. "You must be very busy, per usual."

"Movement of tectonic plates in the western Indian Ocean was causing unwanted activity," he said matter-of-factly. "I decided to check in on it myself, seeing as no one else is qualified to do so."

"Ah, yes," Dynamene bumbled. "Tectonic plates. I forget that they call you the Earth-shaker as well."

Poseidon's gaze flitted to the side for a moment. Was he annoyed, or... amused?

"So you'll be spending more time there for the foreseeable future, I take it?" She asked, clasping her hands behind her back.

"It shouldn't take more than a week. Fixing the problem requires a delicate balance, but nothing I haven't handled many times in the past."

"Mm," Dynamene responded, not sure what to say. It wasn't like she had a deep understanding of his work, but she did know what tectonic plates were, and that their movement was capable of causing disaster. Perhaps it was a bigger deal than he was letting on. "Please don't strain yourself," she whispered. She knew he might take the statement as a slight, but she was earnest in her sentiment.

His eyes shifted to her face. "You concern yourself with my well-being?"

That wasn't the response she'd expected. Her face flushed an even deeper red. "I mean no disrespect, my lord."

"It is not possible for me to strain myself. I am a god. The ocean and its movements are my purpose. Concern yourself no longer." Poseidon's words weren't those of anger, but of fact.

"Of course," she murmured. "I have faith in you and your abilities. You are the god of the seas."

By now they had arrived down to the beach. They had come a good distance from the palace, and Dynamene realized they were headed towards a small cove just a little further off. She wondered what his purpose was in going there.

Once they were in the cove, still and serene aside from the splashing of sapphire waves, Poseidon halted. Dynamene waited as he took in the horizon, seemingly scanning for something.

"Come closer," he said, kneeling at the foot of the waves. She stepped forward and knelt beside him, their arms nearly brushing. He took her hand in his and held it into the cool water. Dynamene stared, trying not to come undone from the unexpected contact.

"Close your eyes," he commanded, and she did. Just like before, a surge of energy flowed from him to her. Her eyes darted underneath her eyelids, searching the imagery that filled her mind. There was a vast darkness - the seafloor, perhaps? - then a glint of something orange. Those must be underwater volcanoes. A sudden loud boom, almost deafening despite the fact that she wasn't really hearing it, sounded, making her body jolt and her eyes fly open.

"Those are the plates shifting," he explained. "That's the sound they make as they run against each other. That sound has been repeating for several days. The sea life around it is getting agitated." His gaze rose back to the horizon. "I must return to the fault soon and break up the edges that are making that hideous noise. Only then will the area return to peace."

Dynamene realized that he was still holding onto her hand, and her heart skipped a beat. This time, his grasp was rather gentle, as if he were afraid she'd break if he used too much strength. She was getting up the courage to squeeze his more tightly when, to her disappointment, he pulled away.

They stood, and Dynamene followed his gaze out to the ocean, fascinated. "It's amazing that you can sense all that," she whispered, eyes wide. "I'm a sea-nymph, but I had no idea... It's incredible."

"It is a sense that can improve through practice. Continue using it and you'll be able to pick up on more." Poseidon began to retrace their steps back to the palace. "I needed to check up on the situation anyways. Things are getting worse; I must return as soon as possible."

Dynamene's face fell at the mention of him leaving once more. "I see." She tagged along behind him at a larger distance this time. "Say..." She swallowed hard. "Could... Could you maybe take me along there someday? The deep-sea vents and the strange fish... It all looked so fascinating."

He paused and turned back to her once more. She stared up at him earnestly, seeing her own reflection in his eyes. His eyes trailed down to her wrist, where the bracelet sat faithfully in its place of honor on her wrist. Dynamene followed his gaze, confused.

"You're wearing the bracelet," he said quietly.

Dynamene blushed. "Of course. It is... beloved to me." Her fingers lingered gently on the glistening beads.

"You weren't wearing this beloved gift when we spoke on the beach," he replied.

Dynamene's skin prickled in embarrassment. I wasn't wearing it because I was upset with you. "I wasn't sure if I should wear something so fine to the water." Why are you bringing this up now? Did me not wearing it bother you?

Poseidon stepped closer to her, and she stopped breathing. She knew he heard her heart racing, but she wasn't ashamed anymore. It wasn't like she could hide it anyways. At least she could hear his now as well, just as steady and rhythmic as before.

"I will give you another," he said, his words rather quiet. "It's dull to wear just one bracelet. A pair is more suitable."

Dynamene's eyes widened. Her thoughts momentarily shut-down in the face of his offer.  "I will gladly wear both," she answered after she'd drawn a breath. "I promise."

"I know," he said simply.

She was unable to hold back a wide smile of joy. The one bracelet for her birthday had been more than enough, and now she was going to receive a second? She knew the gesture was not meaningless... But what, exactly, did it mean?

His expression was less rigid as he took in her smile. Then he continued to walk once more. "I cannot waste any more time. I have an audience to hear before I return to the Indian Ocean."

Dynamene's eyebrows rose. He heard audiences at most thrice a year, so this was unexpected news. "An audience? I hope it's not anything - or anyone - bad."

"No," he responded simply. "The audience is your sisters."

Dynamene halted, her expression filled with shock. An audience with my sisters... about what? I wasn't told anything.

Deeply concerned, she ran to catch up to him.

---

Author’s Notes: This chapter took a little longer once again. Like before, I ended up rewriting part of it, but that’s fine. I once again ended up closer to my vision by doing so. I wanted to have it up last night, but a headache kept me from finishing it.

Dynamene is a bold girl sometimes, isn’t she? But now that she knows Poseidon won’t kill her, she doesn’t have to be afraid anymore. not about dying anyways

Okay, but was he going to kill her in part 4? He was prepared to, depending on what she said. He brought his trident for a reason.

But he could’ve killed her for listening in either way, so why didn’t he?

Because, deep down, he does have a soft spot for the Nereids. They’re ocean spirits, and they’ve made up his court for a thousand years; that’s as close as it gets for him. Killing one Nereid means pissing off the rest of the family, and that’s a hassle to deal with. Also... her feelings for him are interesting to him, and not something he’s dealt with from anyone else before. At least, no one he knows. Perhaps he’s selfish and doesn’t want to lose that.

Maybe there’s more to it, but that’s what he tells himself.

[theflowersgalore]

16 Unique Wedding Bouquets For Your Special Day

Every blushing bride knows that what makes a wedding stand out is in all the little details - the personal finishes that celebrate you and your partner's one-of-a-kind style. And your bouquet is no exception!

Finding the perfect bouquet that mirrors the beauty and uniqueness of the love you've found with your partner can make your wedding day truly memorable. While there's absolutely nothing wrong with a bouquet of standard roses, clutching a hand-picked, carefully crafted bouquet that's exclusively and wonderfully yours makes a great and meaningful difference!

We know it's hard to drum up new ideas, especially with the endless to-dos on your wedding checklist. So to help you get inspired, we've rounded up 16 bouquet ideas with their own spin on this timeless tradition.

These unconventional selections combine classic appeal with out-of-the-box imagination, perfect for the modern bride. Check out this lineup to find faves for your special bridal bouquet!

If you are eager to learn more about flowers from a formal course or want to get certified as an expert on florals, we recommend exploring professional bodies and colleges in gardening and floristry such as the American Institute of Floral Designers of the AIFD (www.aifd.org), the National Gardening Organization (www.garden.org), the American Floral Endowment (www.endowment.org), the American Horticultural Society (www.ahsgardening.org) and other similar organizations offering programs focusing on floristry and horticulture.

Unique Flowers

Filler flowers

While often relegated to supporting roles in flashy bouquets, filler flowers possess a delicate, almost dainty beauty that enchants you with their simplicity and understated elegance. We recommend soft and warm blooms like baby's breath, lily of the valley, Queen Anne's lace, delphiniums, and bouvardias.

Dried flowers

Brides all around the world have been embracing this trend's wonderfully rustic look. With warm hues and distinctive textures, dried flowers inspire a nostalgic mood to your stunning bouquet while also evoking a message of eternal love. Their versatility also blends flawlessly with any wedding theme. For your flower choices, wildflowers, lavenders, hydrangeas, proteas, and roses make beautiful dried flowers.

Big blooms

Make a statement with big, bold blossoms! A bouquet with oversized flowers adds an elegant and dramatic effect to your wedding look to match your fearless and confident persona. Among the most striking large blooms are peonies, water lilies, calla lilies, and gardenias.

Succulents

Boho chic is in, and so are succulents. For a more natural, textured appearance, go for these stylish eye-catchers! Whether you match them up with choice blooms or pull off an all-succulent arrangement, these stunners are a pragmatic and gorgeous choice for an one-of-a-kind bouquet.

Sunflowers

Love brings joy and lightness to the heart, so add a bright burst of cheer to your wedding look with sunflowers! If their summery look weren't enough, these blossoms also bear a heartwarming meaning: they represent adoration, fidelity, and lifelong joy. What better way to start a life filled with joyful love than with a bundle of the happiest flowers?

Themed Bouquets

Monochromatic

Sleek, chic, and fabulous-- all qualities of a monochrome bouquet that elevates your wedding to modern elegance. One color with varied flowers or in different shades adds texture to your bouquet while retaining a clean look. Go for standards like pinks and whites, which are always in fashion. If you want more of an edge or have a liking for the gothic, don't hesitate to go with an all-black bloom ensemble.

Tropical

Celebrate your destination wedding with a bouquet that matches its sunny vibe! Parrot tulips, anthuriums, oriental lilies, bird of paradise, and monstera are standard go-tos for an exotic, zesty look. For color choices, you can't go wrong with brilliant oranges, intense magentas, and popping yellows. Palm leaves or banana leaves also add warmth and volume to your arrangement.

Seasonal

Your wedding is all about new beginnings, much like the first breath of spring or chill of winter. Seasonal flowers enrich this lovely sentiment. Even better, there's also the practical advantage of having them readily available for your wedding date. Seasonal bouquets come in a wide selection of colors and florals, giving you the free rein to pick the ideal bouquet.

Signature Styles

Cascade

Finally, a flowy, enchanting bouquet to complement your fairytale wedding! Cascades pull the eyes down a trail full of flourishing blooms, fine foliage, and rich greens, creating an ethereal look and a waterfall-like illusion that will make your wedding truly a dream come true.

Horizontal

A harmonious drape of florals and foliage that joins a relaxed feel with a softly lavish look, the horizontal bouquet is luxury personified. It sweeps sideways, establishing clean and aesthetically appealing lines. Known for its versatility, it can be suited to a wild style with vines and stems or a more traditional bouquet with bountiful blossoms.

Hand-tied

Simplicity is sophistication with the hand-tied bouquet, eliciting a truly personalized touch with its free, loose, and laid-back style. All it requires is a cluster of flowers and greenery tied together using a ribbon or a silk wrap, which makes it very easy to create and set even on your own.

Hoop

This buzzworthy fad is making waves among brides nowadays! Evoking the romantic style of wreaths from days of yore, this bouquet has florals, greens, and ribbons attached to a wood or metal hoop. With a dreamy look and a laid-back aura, you'll surely fall for this gorgeous garland.

Special Touches

Berries

Fruit might not be the first thing that enters your mind when it comes to bridal bouquets, but berries create complex accents for a wild and natural look. Large, bright berries like hypericum berries, blackberries, raspberries, and snowberries make a bouquet burst with color and fullness. For more understated but stylish accents, go for tallow, berzelia, and pepper berries.

Greens

Lush greens and lovely foliage add allure to your bouquet with breathtaking color palettes, interesting textures, and even appealing aromas for a fresh, forest-inspired arrangement. Whether you go for a delicate trail or a full, overgrown look, these beauts add whimsy and playfulness to suit your delightful blooms.

Feathers

Combining classic glamor with a sense of lightness and softness, feathers inspire a vintage vibe, while creating a modern look with their delightfully unique style. These unusual accessories also come in varied types with their own unique textures and colors, making them surprisingly versatile and easily suited to different wedding themes.

Paper

Get creative with hand-crafted paper flowers! Your special creations can be just as stunning as fresh flowers, while carrying more special sentimentality. Plus, you can cherish it as a long-lasting keepsake after your wedding! Whether it's florals made from the sheet music of your special song or maps of where you first met, this bouquet is sure to be one for the books.

Click her for our  Handy Guide To Keeping Flowers Fresh For Longer.

[rainydawgradioblog]

Our Shitty Taste

Hello friends! Music sounds good. Good to the ears. Here’s some music that sounds goodest to our ears, hopefully goodest to your ears too! Unfortunately though, we have awful taste - just straight up some of the worst. Why? We’re not sure. It might be because we’re both from Federal Way, the land of forgotten dreams and crippling ennui, broken souls and idle wishes. Anyways, I’m Thomas, and this is my pal Helen! Together, we will prove how bad our tastes are by providing serious music recommendations. I’ll start off:

Megumi Acorda - I’ll Get By According to Google Translate, “Megumi” is Japanese for “grace” and “blessing,” and “Acorda” is short for “Acorda Therapeutics,” an American biotechnology company based in Ardsley, New York. Putting these two together lends “Grace Blessing Acorda Therapeutics,” which doesn’t make a lot of sense - an unfortunate theme for many dream pop and shoegaze band names. However, you’ll have to forgive them because this EP they dropped two years ago is a prime example of dreamy music done right - with an ethereal atmosphere, nostalgic lyrics, and catchy riffs, this is certainly an EP worth listening to while curled up in a fetal position.

Sad Day for Puppets - Hush Dream pop with… xylophones??? Normally, it’s pretty rude to tell someone to hush, but somehow this song makes it an enjoyable experience. Save this one for a rainy winter day.

Chat pile - Dallas Beltway This is a very cool song about murdering your child and then burying them in the trunk of your car, which is admittedly not a cool thing to do. There’s a really cool riff around the two minute mark though which possibly makes up for the whole child-killing thing. Well, the lyrics don’t explicitly mention killing a child, so the singer might actually just be talking about how they hate living in Texas.

The Softies - C.K.M. The Softies is one of those rare bands where their name suits the music they make a bit too perfectly. Rose Melberg, the official queen of Twee pop, has quite possibly the most gentle voice in all of pop music, and this song alone is a good example of why. If warm Autumn blankets could sing, they would probably sound like this. I also found out that Rose Melberg has an active Facebook account, but unfortunately she hasn’t added me back yet.

Capstan Shafts - Successfully Into You Okay so these guys have a lot of albums. Well, it’s really just one guy, Dean Wells, recording songs in what sounds like his basement. From 2006 to 2007, Wells released around 10 albums under the Capstan Shafts name, which is an absurd amount of music. What’s more absurd is that these albums were actually good - really good. Albums such as “Euridice Proudhon” and “The Sleeved and Granddaughters of The Blacklist” highlight Wells’ songwriting talent, each of them having around twenty songs with the average length of these songs being around a minute. If you like your music unmixed and songs written better than Robert Pollard, then Capstan Shafts is a must.

Helen’s Recs

This week I wanted to look at some generally upbeat girl pop and rock. My selection has a general theme, we hear singers describe their jaded response to life’s lemons under the guise of an upbeat tempo. These tracks see singers hardening in response to confusion and unintended consequences, and embracing their own realizations and emotional response in the aftermath. All to generally dance-inducing beats!  

Cate Le Bon’s “Home To You” uses sparse percussion and a deep bass line as background to her confused and segmented musings on where  “Home” actually is. Her song is a reflection on the real life experience of Romani people living in Slovakia, but the sentiment of not having one distinctive, consistent home is applicable to many ethnic and migrant communities globally. Le Bon works out what this feels like and looks like in her song, ending the song by chanting “Last time for all time” over and over again. Though this lyric imagines home as a confused and jumbled idea, home still exists “for all time.”  There’s a certain resilience to the song's interpretation of home, recognizing the often contested nature of where or what home is, while acknowledging people's ability to maintain and claim their rightful place in the world.

Róisín Murphy’s “Incapable” moves in a very different direction than Le Bon’s, but it uses the same framework of contemplation as a solution to opposing thoughts or circumstances. Murphy is preoccupied with her atypical response to a relationship’s end; rather than slumping into misery, she realizes she’s “never had a broken heart”. In fact, she proclaims “I must be incapable of love!” to the rhythm of a staccato bass and steady synth beat. Murphy’s 2019 releases are all an eclectic mix of electric and rhythmic dance songs, and if you enjoy “Incapable”, further exploration into her work is worth your while.

Sasami’s “Free” is another great release from last year. This is actually an alternative version to the same track off her debut album “Sasami”. Here, there’s heavier instrumentation, the guitar and bass come through stronger and the breakdown at about two and a half minutes is more chaotic than the original. This version is also relatively more upbeat, giving the lyrics greater optimism. There’s a sense of urgency for Sasami to profess her feelings to the person she’s singing to here. This track again finds our singer taking a “come what may” position and owning the uncertainty they are dealing with.  

Vagabon (Laetitia Tamko) released “Cold Apartment” three years ago on her album “Infinite Worlds”, and it still goes! This track is a sweet and succinct rock ballad. With a quick drum beat backing the singer’s distinctive voice and guitar work, Tamko sings about a relationship on the rocks that ends with her alone and her beloved hitched. There is a certain amount of sullenness to the lyrics and emotion of the track, but there are important moments of triumph expressed in bursts of loud percussion and her accompanying vocals. This is a tight, loud track that's a great entry point into Tamko’s other work.

I think everyone has been eagerly awaiting Fiona Apple’s latest album, “Fetch the Bolt Cutters”, and as one of those individuals eagerly awaiting, I dipped back into Apple’s discography to prepare myself. Off Apple’s first album, Tidal, I’m recommending “The First Taste.” The song’s hypnotic and upbeat tempo sets the perfect tone for this song about willfully getting caught in a trap. Though one would imagine the trap-setter to be in the position of power, Apple subverts expectations by claiming prior knowledge. The lyrics in this are great, and her line “Full is not heavy as empty, not nearly, my love” is delivered with a consciousness for the literal sound of words, an interest expressed in much of her work.

Thanks for reading out little selection! Come back next week for more of “Our Shitty Taste”!

(photo of Róisín Murphy in her MV “Narcissus”)

[thesuper17]

Nostalgia, the kind fomented unnaturally early in a generation forced to confront its imminent end, soaks Titanic Rising, Natalie Mering’s fourth and finest album as Weyes Blood. The record’s warm, luxurious 70s pop arrangements and brief glimpses into Mering’s tender and empathetic interior life serve to underscore the value of what will be lost, and the necessity of treasuring it while it lasts.

Despite its eschatological subject matter, Titanic Rising isn’t a morose, or even explicitly didactic, experience. The 31-year-old was raised in a religious household (albeit subsequently denouncing Christianity), and a fundamental search for belonging and meaning feels as close to the center of Titanic Rising as its clear-eyed recognition of the coming ecological catastrophe. 

It could easily sound glib to claim, as Mering did in an interview with Pitchfork, that one should “have a smile during the apocalypse and be grateful for whatever conditions exist, because life is a beautiful thing,” but on Titanic Rising, she dispels cynicism with full-hearted commitment to all the beauty left to salvage.

Mering has pointed to religious music as a particular influence on her output, not in terms of content, but staging. Grand cathedrals, at once meticulously ornate and cavernously open, these vast, high-ceilinged chambers feel like a natural arena for the compositions on Titanic Rising. 

Opener “A Lot’s Gonna Change”, for instance, begins in humble simplicity but soon blossoms into a lush orchestral arrangement, all swooping strings and long-held ascending vocal harmonies. The song is an overture to Mering’s approach on the rest of the album, demonstrating her penchant for broad, melancholic melodies and stark but tragically optimistic lyricism.

These tendencies coalesce on the stunning centrepiece, “Movies”, a stirring and poignant lament that real life could approach the deliberate meaning of cinema. On a meta-level, within the self-contained world of the record, Mering achieves her wish. 

"Movies" unfolds in distinct sections, not unlike the separate acts of a film. Its stage-setting, submerged synth arpeggios move subtly as the singer enters: ‘This is how it feels/ to be in love,’ (alluding to the function of art in not only reflecting emotional dynamics but producing them). Again, there is a near-religious sense of ceremony, of slow-moving bodies gradually aligning, led by Mering’s multi-tracked voice.

After building to a sustained perfect cadence, the track is interrupted by a flurry of strings, dry and staccato in contrast to the dreamy build-up that preceded them. A single bass drum pulse corrals the flock into formation and the high-drama second act takes shape. Guided by singular desire, Mering repeats ‘I wanna be/ the star of my own movie,’ her falsetto climbing intervals in a crystalline timbre. The intensity of this movement gathers and crests with a final high ‘my own’, before sloping to a mellow denouement, peaceful but not satisfied.

The filmic quality of “Movies” is clearly indebted to composers like Brian Eno and – as astutely observed by Alex Denning for Dazed – Gavin Bryars’ minimalist opus “The Sinking of the Titanic”, from which Mering’s title is inverted. Her broader palette however, is drawn from the soft-rock and pop of artists like The Carpenters, Harry Nilsson and even The Beach Boys.

The attention to detail with which Titanic Rising reconstructs these profiles is both technically stunning and wholly aligned to the record’s thematic intent. Describing that intent, Mering carefully distinguishes her desire to make something “sorrowful” rather than depressing, illuminating the world’s majesty and leaving context to shape the atmosphere around it. 

That the artists she venerates are so often given to an intimate conception of that duality of love and melancholy (as in Close To You), only contributes further to the record’s synchronicity of theme and construction. 

On “Wild Time” Mering addresses ‘the rising tide’ - both a direct reference to the climate catastrophe and a more general allusion to the instability gripping our cultural, economic and technological institutions. Here, as in “A Lot’s Gonna Change”, her nostalgic yearning targets the neatness of childhood, before the world’s contradictions laid themselves bare. In this way, “Wild Time” addresses a personal loss of innocence as directly as it does the re-configuring of social structures under late Capitalism and global warming.

Constantly shifting tonality between major and minor (reminiscent of a Joni Mitchell composition), the song eludes simple categorisation, refusing to signpost the listener a one-dimensional response. Its overall sonic character is analogue and warm, with thick bass guitar confidently underpinning Mering’s modulating melodies. 

A gliding and pensive wordless middle 8 section gently floats the song to its final chorus, whereupon the singer locks on to a steady note for the word ‘time’ rather than the shifting pattern she adopts prior. The note holds fast while all around her, strings, drums and keys forcefully ascend, again suggesting Mering’s hopeful resolve against total uncertainty.  

More contemporary reference points for Weyes Blood like Father John Misty (lampshaded by Phil Elverum in “Now Only”, where he talks to the two of them about songwriting ‘in the backstage bungalows’) and Lana Del Rey differ from Mering in their elevation of wry cynicism over sincerity. Sincerity is one of Titanic Rising's most commendable traits, but should Mering have immersed the album in earnest sentiment entirely, it would’ve risked buckling under the weight of self-seriousness. 

In discussion with Mark Kermode on Ari Aster's Hereditary, film critic Robbie Collin brings up the idea that brief winking moments of humour can act as a 'steam valve' for the audience, allowing intense experiences to avoid tipping over into overwhelming ones, where they become parody.

On Titanic Rising, "Everyday" functions in precisely this way. Accompanied in video by a whimsical send-up of vintage slasher films, the track is a relentlessly bouncy and upbeat exploration of the re-organisation of love in a digital age. Without ever explicitly breaking character, "Everyday" lets in a small current of air that actually imbues the parts of the album played straight with more power. 

Instructively, Mering has said "I'm actually really sincere. But I feel like humour is a part of the great cosmic question." Rather than morbidly drilling down on a singular theme, she successfully evokes a kaleidoscope of experience and emotion. Humour, just as misery or elation, is part of what comprises a full life: 'It all just overlaps.' 

"Everyday" strikes this intersection most cleanly with a line in its third verse: 'True love, is making a comeback/ for only half of us the rest of us feel bad.' The heartbreaking purity and tenacity of its first half is so immediately deflated in the second, it's almost impossible not to crack a smile. A gorgeous and kitsch electric piano flourish cascades beneath Mering's voice to drive home the absurdity.  

It is these smaller, intimate moments on the record, as it is in life, that invoke real wonder. The drum fill before the second chorus of “A Lot’s Gonna Change” or the duelling slide guitar motif in "Andromeda". The deeply personal ode to a friend who passed on "Picture Me Better", where Mering offers only kindness and understanding 'We finally found a winter for your sweater/ got a brand new big suit of armour'. 

Titanic Rising is replete with pockets of surprising beauty, weaved carefully through its construction, its homage, its themes, its heart. In this delicately manufactured capsule, filled both with artefacts from a collective cultural memory and thoughtful preparation for a stormy future, Mering makes her case for hope; that both the past and present contain splendour worth holding onto.

[thezodiaczone]

June Forecast for Taurus

Start turning those dreams into reality, Taurus. This is a month for buckling down and building, as the Sun sprints through Gemini until June 21, activating your stabilizing second house. You can make “practical magic” happen by sticking to a simple plan and prioritizing. And since Taurus is the natural ruler of the zodiac’s second house, you should be pretty comfortable doing that.

Of course, not all the planets will cooperate with your efforts to make life more predictable and profitable. June is the first full month of a MAJOR cosmic chapter that started on May 15, when disruptor Uranus moved into Taurus for the first time since 1942. This eight-year cycle, which only happens every 84 years, will be a once-in-a-lifetime visit for many Bulls—one that could send you on a massive reinvention tour. Hosting the planet of innovation, radical change and freedom isn’t exactly a lighthearted experience, and between now and 2026, you could change everything from your appearance to your lifestyle to your career path. Resistance to progress is futile, so you might as well embrace the philosopher Heraclitus’ principle, “the only constant is change.”

It doesn’t have to happen all at once, though, and it wouldn’t hurt to use the rest of Gemini season to drop a few anchors where you can. You’ll return to those safety zones between Uranian voyages into the unknown and unfamiliar. Lock in some security on June 13, when the year’s only Gemini new moon brings a lunar lift to your second house or work, money and daily routines. You might apply for a promotion or a new gig, start a healthy routine or use this burst of energy to clarify and tweak your goals.

Father’s Day falls on June 17, and if you’re celebrating, the nostalgic vibes could flow. The moon is in showy Leo and your emotional, domestic fourth house. Gather with loved ones and your favorite father figures, keeping the festivities intimate. A home-cooked meal, a handwritten card and a meaningful gift will give you all the warm-fuzzies.

If things are a little tense on the home front (and hey, even if they aren’t), avoid controversial topics like politics—a hot-button issue in so many families today. With peaceful Venus and combative Mars facing off in your communication sectors, one caustic comment could ignite an unnecessary firestorm. While we don’t recommend stuffing down your true feelings or avoiding tough discussions, see if you can all agree to take a day off. And hey, you might want to read these tips in advance just to be prepared.

Once the Sun moves into Cancer on June 21, you’ll have an easier time talking about any subject, since el Sol will heat up your third house of communication and local culture. Get out and mingle in your neighborhood, catch up with friends you haven’t seen in a while, devour a few books and podcasts. Your mind is hungry for great conversation and new ideas—you might decide to sign up for a short class or attend a workshop.

The pace could slow down during the latter part of June, as dreamy Neptune and ambitious Mars turn retrograde, bringing the total retrograde planet count to five. Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto are already in their slowed-down cycles, giving summer a more reflective tone.

Hazy Neptune is the first to start its backspin, on June 18, reversing through your eleventh house of teamwork and technology until November 24. Neptune turns retrograde during approximately the same time each year, and in some ways, the foggy planet’s U-turn can actually help you see things with MORE clarity. If you’ve been on the fence about a friendship or collaboration, take a step back. Codependent or “user-friendly” relationships will hold less appeal once you get a look at this person’s true colors. Remembering that their actions reflect on YOU might make you think twice about being associated with them.

Protect your tech and strengthen your passwords: With shady Neptune going awry in your digital domain, you could be susceptible to identity theft or phishing scams. Take extra precautions with all things virtual, and post conscientiously. Make sure your online presence reflects the best version of you. Strengthen the privacy settings on those raucous vacation photos (or maybe take ’em down) and stay off unsecured networks. That “free open-source Wi-Fi hotspot” could cost you a lot more than you bargained for.

Your career has been hurtling along at warp speed since May 16, when go-getter Mars blazed into Aquarius and your tenth house of professional success—a sizzling transit that only happens every two years. While work could be demanding, with long hours and short deadlines, the right strategic moves could pay off handsomely. Prepare to feel the blast of your office’s air conditioners or the sweltering summer sun on your back as you make those money moves all summer.

Be discerning: The red planet is here for an extended stay (until August 12), but on June 26 turns retrograde and won’t correct course until August 27. This could bring a few setbacks or extra demands you didn’t see coming. Not ALL hard work was created equal. In fact, with stressful Mars in your prestigious tenth house, you could feel full-on tension with a boss, client or authority figure. Since this zodiac sector rules fathers, some old “dad issues” could rear up (all the more reason to wave that white flag wildly on Father’s Day).

Have you gotten obsessed with status or the end goal, and lost sight of the journey? Check out Simon Sinek’s Start with Why —it could be the perfect audiobook to listen to during a long commute or while you tackle a laborious job, like moving your office or cleaning out a cluttered supply room.

Even the relentless Bull needs a vacation, and the perfect pack-your-bags day arrives on June 28, when the Capricorn full moon beams into your ninth house of travel, expansion and new perspectives. Broaden your horizons by taking a bucket-list trip—or at least making serious plans for one! With stern Saturn hovering one mere degree away from the moon, you might have to keep it short and sweet. But even a night away—or heck, a day trip out of city limits if that’s all you can manage—can give you enough of a reboot to keep on keepin’ on.

The ninth house rules personal growth and higher education, and you could be inspired to return to school or do some self-discovery work. From the Myers-Briggs test to the Clifton Strengths Finder to getting your astrology chart read and learn what makes you tick (besides the obvious Taurus list of beautiful things, great food and plentiful sex) and let that guide your next moves. There’s metaphysical magic in the air today. Look beyond what’s right in front of your nose and open up to inspiring new ideas, friendships and teachings that you might otherwise miss.

Love & Romance

Amiable, amorous Venus is sailing through Cancer and your social third house until June 13, putting you in high spirits and fine flirting form. You’ll enjoy nights out with your posse, perhaps going on double dates or meeting friends of their friends with serious dating potential. Don’t overthink how you engage. Being friendly, authentic and outgoing will win you admirers!

During that two-week uptick, the love planet makes some “direct hits” with weighty planets, which could trigger interesting events in your romantic life. On June 1, she forms a harmonious trine to expansive Jupiter in Scorpio and your house of committed relationships. You could fall head over heels for someone within minutes of meeting them, but tug on the reins so you don’t go galloping off into the sunset—yet. Couples may do something to deepen their bond, like put a ring on it, renew their vows or talk about growing their family.

The next day, Venus forms a second trine to dreamy Neptune in quixotic Pisces and your communal eleventh house. A formerly platonic friend may suddenly have a certain glow about them, or you might introduce your love interest to members of your inner circle.

One day to stay on your guard is June 5, when vixen Venus forms its annual opposition to shadowy Pluto and your spontaneous, adventurous ninth house. You could feel abruptly stifled in your partnership or like your mate is playing mind games. In the dating world, a budding connection could fizzle, or you could be ghosted with zero warning. Try not to take it personally; while painful, this is a classic Pluto move.

Meanwhile, the other cosmic lovebird, Mars, is in Aquarius and your goal-driven tenth house all month, which could siphon off a bit of your romantic energy as you focus on work demands and lofty plans for the future. Mars will turn retrograde for two months starting on June 26 (until August 27), making its passionate, powerful energy even harder to get a handle on. Take a time-out from trying to force things to go one way or another this summer and let things develop at a more natural pace.

When Venus enters Leo and your emotional fourth house on June 13 (until July 9), it will oppose Mars (their exact faceoff is on June 21), which might lead to some disagreements on the home front or with a new love interest. Try to keep a head-heart balance—though that can be tricky under this influence. Stay mindful: You could easily get roped into a squabble that you hardly have the appetite for!

Key Dates

June 14: Venus-Uranus Square Fickle much? You’re feeling sentimental and even clingy one minute then detached the next, thanks to sensitive Venus in your touchy-feely fourth house squaring indie Uranus in your sign. Watch for emotional outbursts, especially when someone close to you pushes your buttons.

Money & Career

And…you’re off! This month you’re in serious-business mode as the Sun journeys through Gemini and your productive, profit-minded second house until June 21. With go-getter Mars in Aquarius and your tenth house of career from May 16 to August 27, your influence and ambition could be off the charts. Wooing decision makers, courting contacts with clout—your pitches will be hard to resist, especially with silver-tongued Mercury in Gemini and your money house until June 12.

The Gemini new moon on June 13 sets off a six-month cycle of abundance. Set some intentions for where you’d like to be by the corresponding Gemini full moon on November 23, then map out an action plan for how you’ll get there. Look at your budget and set a few monetary milestones. If you’re job hunting, this is a favorable day to start a search. Step by careful step—in other words, the methodical Taurus way—is how you’ll reach those goals.

Grand plans could hit a summer slowdown on June 26, when Mars turns retrograde until August 27—a backspin that happens once every two years. As Mars reverses through your career zone, you might reevaluate your professional trajectory, cut ties with a difficult client or just have to put in some extra hours of hustle to get through a demanding project. Have you rushed into a big undertaking without the proper structure or long-term plan? Use this two-month U-turn to tweak and revise so you’re ready to go full steam ahead this fall.

The end of the month gets tricky. On June 27, the confident Sun in your communication house will lock into its annual opposition with skeptical Saturn, causing you to second-guess your ideas. Reschedule any pitches or big meetings today, as you’ll be met with resistance and cautious conservatism rather than a warm reception. If you need to take a hard look at your plans and scale back a bit, the Sun-Saturn opposition can help you face any cold, hard facts you’ve been avoiding. But beware the hefty dose of pessimism that this aspect can bring. You may see the glass as barely filled, as the stars cast an overly bleak picture of what’s really going on. A gentle reality check is fine, but don’t lose your perspective! Talk to a friend, colleague or mentor who can help you regain your balance. The June 28 Capricorn full moon in your optimistic ninth house arrives just in time, helping you regain some hopefulness again.

Key Dates

June 7: Sun-Neptune Square Unreliable or downright flaky colleagues could make Team Taurus feel shaky. If you don’t want all your hard work to unravel, call them out on this. By the same token, you might need to work harder to keep your own focus on the project at hand. Close those social media apps and stay off the shopping sites during this distracting influence.

Love Days: 19, 23 Money Days: 13, 4 Luck Days: 11, 29 Off Days: 8, 21, 26

[pussymagicuniverse]

my top 5 mac ‘n’ cheese movies

what is a ‘mac ‘n’ cheese’ movie, you might be wondering?

these are the movies that always make you feel good. they don’t need to necessarily be “feel good” films. not all of mine are. these are the movies that you could always put on your Netflix at home (granted it’s on there), always put in the DVD (if you even have any) player, or always leave on while you’re channel surfing (if that’s even a thing you do these days). these are the movies that are “comforting” background noise or movies you never get sick of, no matter how many times you’ve seen them. these are the movies that, if you live alone, will make you feel like you have friends with you. these are the movies that, if you’re feeling alone, will bring solace to your loneliness.

these do NOT have to be:

award-worthy 

“good” films

from any specific genre or decade

popular

simply, these are the films that somehow, your spirit is comforted by their essence. maybe through memory, or sound, or childhood… it doesn’t matter. just having these on in the background is soothing to my soul. we can pay attention, or not. we can be cleaning, doing the dishes, working, etc. and it just FEELS GOOD to have them on in the background.

the following movies are my film mac ‘n’ cheese, in no special order.

•

Clueless (1995)

“Searching for a boy in high school is as useless as searching for meaning in a Pauly Shore movie.”

i said no special order, but of course, i’m going to put Clueless, the beloved classic, first.

Clueless has always been my go-to “favorite” movie. not to age myself or anything, but yes, even before it was “cool.” i’m a ‘90s kid, and my first memories of this movie are watching it at my aunt’s house when she’d babysit me when my dad worked weekends. i was actually 5-6 years old when it came out, so it was ingrained in me very young, for better or worse. 

speaking of better or worse, i know that everyone now loves to bring up the weird fact that *spoiler alert* Cher ends up with her ex-step-brother, Josh… but i didn’t say these mac ‘n’ cheese movies had to be perfect. so even though now i watch with a tiny tinge of ‘ew?’ in my brain, i allow timeless Paul-Rudd-dreaminess to wash away all of the potential ickiness that somewhat does not make sense.

and please note that i am not excusing step-cest because the general thought of that is very, very ew and evokes quite a visceral response from my entire being.

(did you like how i said that last sentence in my best Cher voice?)

also speaking of better or worse, because i also grew up thinking that i would find the love of my life by not realizing i loved them at all or pretending i didn’t know i loved them at all until ONE DAY i would be standing by a fountain after a therapeutic shopping spree like, ‘WAIT… I LOVE THEM. AND THEY LOVE ME TOO?!’ be careful what you wish for, kids. it can happen… and not always how you want it to.

regardless of all this negative-sounding analysis, i have always loved this movie and i’m certain i always will.

Scream (1996)

“my parents are gonna be so mad at me!”

my favorite part about this choice is that my friend deemed it a “hot take,” and i will die on that hill if i have to.

Scream is one of my favorite horror films. firstly, this movie is not typical horror. sure, it’s horrific at times… mostly in the opening scene, whereafter it becomes more of a (highly witty) teen comedy with (a lot of) murder. i think while true horror fans can appreciate the merits of Scream, what it did for the genre, and Wes Craven’s meta expertise, and also agree that it’s “not scary.”

if someone could have The Exorcist, or, for a more modern reference, Hereditary and just have it on any time, i’m not sure i could subscribe to that. but Scream is (thankfully) not either of those movies. it’s horror lite for ‘90s kids like me who, at times, revel in their teen ‘90s nostalgia. although, i have to say, i have seen someone recoil just at the mention of such a mild horror film. and i thought i was a weakling in horror. however, now that i’ve seen Hereditary (AND SURVIVED!), i feel like i can handle most things, though i am fairly certain i will not test those waters.

not to mention:

Dirty Dancing (1987)

“You Just Put Your Pickle On Everybody's Plate, College Boy, And Leave The Hard Stuff To Me.”

A CLASSIC! i’ll save most of my opinions for another piece i’m writing, but here’s the take: this movie is classic, heartfelt, funny, meaningful, political in mostly the right places (it doesn’t focus on everything), and babealicious in all the right places (Patrick Swayze, Cynthia Rhodes who plays Penny, Jennifer Garner, hello––a triad we’d all love to see if the movie had gone THAT progressive––but then it never would’ve been made. it already had a hard enough time, let’s not get carried away). 

so far you can probably sense the ongoing theme in my choices: the air of nostalgia. film geeks and those who just heard Stan’s spiel on VHS in I Am Not Okay With This on Netflix will understand. while i’m not watching these movies on VHS, there is something about the feeling of these films. and i’d argue that everyone has favorite movies that pertain to their tastes and interests that fall under this physical sensation of 20th-century film. i’m not nostalgic for the time itself, i don’t need to relive the decades (don’t we daily? in our pop culture, in our fashion, everything)… it’s just that these films are comforting for very personal reasons that have nothing to do with the rest of the world. which is why your mac ‘n’ cheese list will look very differently from mine. it’s kind of unexplainable.

in 8th grade, i watched this movie every day after school because my friend just had to. she was obsessed. years later, we feel the same about this movie. it has this summery vibe to it. i guess there’s something about summer, and something about fall that both tug at my sensibilities in film and literature… the way they’re shown or described. it can be kinda magical. Dirty Dancing does this for me. this scene brings me to tears often.

Moana (2017)

“There is nowhere you could go that I won't be with you.”

stepping out of nostalgia (it’s a relief, honestly), we have my favorite Disney cartoon of the twenty-teens. Coco is up there, but Moana is something else (for me). one day i will also write more in detail about the beauty of this film and what it means to me, but maybe that’s not for me to write.

Moana is about a young woman who is set to become the next chief of her Hawaiian island. but as she grapples with that path for her life, a crisis descends. Moana ends up having to save her family’s island (and the world, essentially, because this curse/disease would spread far beyond their home) from destruction because of the demigod, Maui, who robbed the heart, a glowing lime stone, from Goddes Te Fiti, who kept life flourishing and abundant. it can easily function as an allegory for global warming as well as some other things i may get into another time… but it is so much more than that. it makes me cry nearly every time i watch. i deeply resonate with Moana needing to carve out a way for herself that her family (specifically, her father) might not agree with, but she has to do anyway for her ancestors and her own spirit. 

between her sweet and sentimental relationship with her grandmother, the call of her ancestors, and the courageous anthem, “How Far I’ll Go,” that she sings throughout the film––it is not only beyond precious and meaningful, an homage to the feminine, but also doused with humor throughout. i literally feel my heart swell when i watch this and it’s a movie of self-care for my inner child. i can’t fully explain the connection i feel to this film but i know that i very much wish i had this film when i was an actual child! and i can’t wait to show it to my future children. especially my daughter(s).

and last but not least…

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

“What is it with this chick, she have beer flavored nipples?”

it was SO HARD for me to choose one 5th film. i mulled about it for weeks. but this one is a classic i could never tire of. it was the perfect movie to tie up the ‘90s.

10 Things, ah yes, the story of two sisters on their high school dating (or not) journeys. this movie is hilarious and very cleverly derived and adapted from a Shakespeare story: The Taming of the Shrew (which they reference in the film, and i love that they do because i’m a reference nerd), while, fun fact (i’m also a fun fact nerd, i’ve recently discovered)!: Clueless was derived from Jane Austen’s, Emma.

besides Julia Stiles as Kat being a powerful and perhaps overly-feminist voice of her generation (hey, it really worked for the ‘90s) and Andrew Keegan who plays Joey “eat me” Donner mocking a large chunk of his, we also have Joseph Gordon Levitt as the lovable boy next door, Heath Ledger as the bad boy, Patrick Verona which, sidebar: isn’t that name totally sexy? (who’s character is surprisingly funny under his straight-faced guise), and the character i think is potentially the funniest AND most overlooked: David Krumholtz as Michael. but David K. tends to get overlooked a lot, doesn’t he? unless you want to throw Larry Miller as funniest character competition playing Kat and Bianca’s dad, because he is also perfectly on point with the dad jokes and over-the-top push for celibacy, which really does carry the plot of this film. not to mention their English teacher, who is hilarious and real.

this movie is back-to-back laughs to me. it can be subtle and it can be direct. it’s just all around well done. if you haven’t seen it, i highly recommend. between the cast, the writing, the soundtrack even… it’s a beloved comedy classic. its humor outlasts its decade (despite some stuff that probably wouldn’t make the script nowadays) and its heartwarming moments carry it through to being a genuine film. while this film doesn’t garner the attention of some other ‘90s teen comedies, like Can’t Hardly Wait, or She’s All That, i do believe it is more deserving.

besides, they gave us THIS EVERGREEN GIFT?!

Honorable Mentions (or where i expose my johnny depp obsession that has only mostly subsided):

Valley Girl (1983) - another one that i love so dearly in my heart… look out for another article about this one!

Blow (2001)

Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) – it’s an understatement to say i was obsessed with this film when it came out.

Black Snake Moan (2006)

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Ed Wood (1994) – if you haven’t seen this movie and want to see Tim Burton with genuine talent, watch. Johnny Depp should’ve been nominated for an Oscar, or at least a Golden Globe, for his portrayal of the disgraced movie director, Ed Wood.

Or any very old Disney cartoon: Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Rescuers, Jungle Book, Robin Hood - for some examples.

tell me, Soulbabes… what are YOUR mac ‘n’ cheese movies?

comment below or tweet us @pvssymagic or tweet ME @samantharosej!

The Creatrix and Editor in Chief of Pussy Magic, sam is a writer/editor originally from the Bay Area. Her work outside of writing revolves around the merging of spirituality and wellness to foster community, raw self-expression, and holistic healing to honoring our sacred selves: mind, body, and spirit.

sam is the author of L’ACQUA (2017), the columnist of Sacred Wild Exile at Pussy Magic, the host of Satin Soulbits, a limited-series podcast focused on womxnhood and sexuality, and editor of the Satin Soulbits Blog. Her writing has been featured in The Sonnetarium @ Rhythm & Bones, Occulum, ILY Mag, Rose Quartz Magazine, Tiny Flames Press, and more. sam offers Sacred Serpent Writing + Healing sessions to bring people more intimacy with themselves and their writing which you can find more info about on her website. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her partner and plant babies.

Find more about sam, her writing, and her offerings on her website and follow her #soulbits on Instagram.

[rainydawgradioblog]

Our Shitty Taste

Hello friends! Music sounds good. Good to the ears. Here’s some music that sounds goodest to our ears, hopefully goodest to your ears too! Unfortunately though, we have awful taste - just straight up some of the worst. Why? We’re not sure. It might be because we’re both from Federal Way, the land of forgotten dreams and crippling ennui, broken souls and idle wishes.

Anyways, I’m Thomas, and this is my pal Helen! Together, we will prove how bad our tastes are by providing serious music recommendations. I’ll start off:

Megumi Acorda - I’ll Get By According to Google Translate, “Megumi” is Japanese for “grace” and “blessing,” and “Acorda” is short for “Acorda Therapeutics,” an American biotechnology company based in Ardsley, New York. Putting these two together lends “Grace Blessing Acorda Therapeutics,” which doesn’t make a lot of sense - an unfortunate theme for many dream pop and shoegaze band names. However, you’ll have to forgive them because this EP they dropped two years ago is a prime example of dreamy music done right - with an ethereal atmosphere, nostalgic lyrics, and catchy riffs, this is certainly an EP worth listening to while curled up in a fetal position.

Sad Day for Puppets - Hush Dream pop with… xylophones??? Normally, it’s pretty rude to tell someone to hush, but somehow this song makes it an enjoyable experience. Save this one for a rainy winter day.

Chat pile - Dallas Beltway This is a very cool song about murdering your child and then burying them in the trunk of your car, which is admittedly not a cool thing to do. There’s a really cool riff around the two minute mark though which possibly makes up for the whole child-killing thing. Well, the lyrics don’t explicitly mention killing a child, so the singer might actually just be talking about how they hate living in Texas.

The Softies - C.K.M. The Softies is one of those rare bands where their name suits the music they make a bit too perfectly. Rose Melberg, the official queen of Twee pop, has quite possibly the most gentle voice in all of pop music, and this song alone is a good example of why. If warm Autumn blankets could sing, they would probably sound like this. I also found out that Rose Melberg has an active Facebook account, but unfortunately she hasn’t added me back yet.

Capstan Shafts - Successfully Into You Okay so these guys have a lot of albums. Well, it’s really just one guy, Dean Wells, recording songs in what sounds like his basement. From 2006 to 2007, Wells released around 10 albums under the Capstan Shafts name, which is an absurd amount of music. What’s more absurd is that these albums were actually good - really good. Albums such as “Euridice Proudhon” and “The Sleeved and Granddaughters of The Blacklist” highlight Wells’ songwriting talent, each of them having around twenty songs with the average length of these songs being around a minute. If you like your music unmixed and songs written better than Robert Pollard, then Capstan Shafts is a must.

Helen’s Recs

This week I wanted to look at some generally upbeat girl pop and rock. My selection has a general theme, we hear singers describe their jaded response to life’s lemons under the guise of an upbeat tempo. These tracks see singers hardening in response to confusion and unintended consequences, and embracing their own realizations and emotional response in the aftermath. All to generally dance-inducing beats!  

Cate Le Bon’s “Home To You” uses sparse percussion and a deep bass line as background to her confused and segmented musings on where  “Home” actually is. Her song is a reflection on the real life experience of Romani people living in Slovakia, but the sentiment of not having one distinctive, consistent home is applicable to many ethnic and migrant communities globally. Le Bon works out what this feels like and looks like in her song, ending the song by chanting “Last time for all time” over and over again. Though this lyric imagines home as a confused and jumbled idea, home still exists “for all time.”  There’s a certain resilience to the song's interpretation of home, recognizing the often contested nature of where or what home is, while acknowledging people's ability to maintain and claim their rightful place in the world.

Róisín Murphy’s “Incapable” moves in a very different direction than Le Bon’s, but it uses the same framework of contemplation as a solution to opposing thoughts or circumstances. Murphy is preoccupied with her atypical response to a relationship’s end; rather than slumping into misery, she realizes she’s “never had a broken heart”. In fact, she proclaims “I must be incapable of love!” to the rhythm of a staccato bass and steady synth beat. Murphy’s 2019 releases are all an eclectic mix of electric and rhythmic dance songs, and if you enjoy “Incapable”, further exploration into her work is worth your while.

Sasami’s “Free” is another great release from last year. This is actually an alternative version to the same track off her debut album “Sasami”. Here, there’s heavier instrumentation, the guitar and bass come through stronger and the breakdown at about two and a half minutes is more chaotic than the original. This version is also relatively more upbeat, giving the lyrics greater optimism. There’s a sense of urgency for Sasami to profess her feelings to the person she’s singing to here. This track again finds our singer taking a “come what may” position and owning the uncertainty they are dealing with.  

Vagabon (Laetitia Tamko) released “Cold Apartment” three years ago on her album “Infinite Worlds”, and it still goes! This track is a sweet and succinct rock ballad. With a quick drum beat backing the singer’s distinctive voice and guitar work, Tamko sings about a relationship on the rocks that ends with her alone and her beloved hitched. There is a certain amount of sullenness to the lyrics and emotion of the track, but there are important moments of triumph expressed in bursts of loud percussion and her accompanying vocals. This is a tight, loud track that's a great entry point into Tamko’s other work.

I think everyone has been eagerly awaiting Fiona Apple’s latest album, “Fetch the Bolt Cutters”, and as one of those individuals eagerly awaiting, I dipped back into Apple’s discography to prepare myself. Off Apple’s first album, Tidal, I’m recommending “The First Taste.” The song’s hypnotic and upbeat tempo sets the perfect tone for this song about willfully getting caught in a trap. Though one would imagine the trap-setter to be in the position of power, Apple subverts expectations by claiming prior knowledge. The lyrics in this are great, and her line “Full is not heavy as empty, not nearly, my love” is delivered with a consciousness for the literal sound of words, an interest expressed in much of her work.

Thanks for reading out little selection! Come back next week for more of “Our Shitty Taste”!

(photo of Róisín Murphy in her MV “Narcissus”)