#suggested listening: Riot by Hollywood Undead

[chadillacboseman]

Summary: Alex and Danny have a little quarrel in the cage. Featuring Kate and Danny (@thesingularityseries) Echo (@roofgeese) Alex (me!) and Alora (@bihanspookies). Art by Quiddling!

--

The crowd in the fight pit roars and Alex waves his arms to pump them up further. From the stands, Kate whoops loudly and Danny screws his face up in a disgusted grimace.

"You ready to get pummeled, Carver?" Alex sneers and Danny scoffs. Alex outweighs him by 50 pounds, a fact that isn't lost on the former.

But he's adapted since last time.

Alex lunges before Danny can queue up an illusion on his gauntlet. A quick strike to his midriff has him wheezing, skittering backward to cling at the chainlink for support.

Alex laughs, the sound muffled under his mask, as Danny regains his composure. Carver is a bastard, and Alex savors every hit he can land with childlike joy.

The two of them have butted heads constantly, to the point that Kano finally sent them settle their differences in the pit. Danny plays too fast and loose with civilian lives, Alex cares too much.

"Kick his ass, Demir!" Alora calls from the crowd, her hands cupped around her mouth to amplify the sound.

Alex grins and circles Danny like a big cat, his fists raised. If he had it his way, he'd break every bone in the spy's body, but he has to keep it contained or Kano will hand him his ass.

Danny doesn't look afraid though, he's smiling as he raises his gauntlet and an illusion comes to life. Alex's eyes widen.

Mikhail Federov stands before him, just as he remembers. He feels like a child who has just seen a shadow in the closet, so frightened that his mind goes blank. From in the stands, Kano chuckles as he watches Alex freeze.

"Carver you son of a bitch," he says it with a grin that has Kabal cocking his head in question.

Danny leaps through the illusion and levels a knee into Alex's ribs. Alex topples to the ground in a heap and Kate pulls her lip between her teeth in worry.

"Not so big and mighty now, are you?" Danny snarls as he kicks Alex in the side.

"Call him off, Kano!" Kate cries and the aussie laughs.

"Nah, I wanna see how this plays out."

Alex rolls and jumps to his feet, clutching at his ribs protectively. How the fuck did Carver know about the Federovs? He shakes his head to clear it, but his ribs throb in a way that tells him at least one is broken.

He's mad now, more angry than he's ever been.

Echo watches from beside Erron, her placid expression hiding the worry that builds in her chest. She recognizes the man from the illusion- Mikhail Federov, Alex's old boss. Leave it to the Brit to play dirty.

"Think the fuse is lit now," Erron nods toward Alex, who looks as if he's going to rip Danny's head off.

"Scared, Demir?" Carver smirks and Alex wants to wipe the expression from his face with his knuckles, "Now every merc in this building knows."

The thought makes Alex hesitate. He's right.

"I'm going to fucking kill you," Alex hisses and Danny throws his head back in genuine laughter.

Kate recognizes when the detonation is imminent.

"Fuck him up, Alex!"

Alex sprints toward Danny and the latter's smile fades. He's never seen him move that fast. The first ironlike fist hits Danny in the face and he stumbles backward into the chainlink with a pained groan. The second hit comes to his gut and he doubles over, unable to catch his breath.

"He's gonna kill him," Erron muses and Echo almost feels the corners of her mouth tick up.

The next punch makes Danny drop to his knees and Alex grabs him by the hair, jerking his face upward so their gazes meet. Danny's nose is bloodied and his cheek is already swelling.

Alex is so caught up in his blind rage that he doesn't see the knife Carver pulls from his boot.

A quick swipe on the back of his ankle has him hissing in pain and retreating as blood pools on the concrete beneath him. Danny scrambles to his feet and watches as the crimson puddle grows.

"Not fair!" Kate calls from the stands and Kano laughs.

"What fun is there in a fair fight?" he asks and Kabal rolls his eyes.

Adapt or die. Truly the Black Dragon motto.

Alex tries to put weight on the bleeding ankle, but he's sure his achilles is severed. Danny has learned since their last spat.

The Brit grins and nods at the pool of blood with a tut, "You really should get high top boots, mate."

"When I see you outside this cage," Alex grits as he holds his foot just above the floor, "I'm going to break your fucking neck, Carver."

"I'd like to see you try," Danny makes a beckoning gesture with his hands that makes Alex see red, "Go on then."

Alex lunges, one-legged, and grabs Danny around the middle, leveraging his weight to bring the Brit to the concrete. Danny yelps in surprise and Alex pins him, the sharp point of his knee driving into his gut to keep him in place.

Danny tries to shove him off, but Alex hits him in the face, this time shattering his glasses. Another hit has his mouth filling with blood. Still, he grins, even as the blood drips from the corner of his mouth in a thick crimson rivulet.

"You can't un-ring a bell," Danny mocks, "No matter how hard you hit me."

Kate doesn't catch the words from the crowd, but she sees Alex's face twist above the mask. Danny knows how to hit a nerve.

The next punch breaks his nose, he's sure of it.

Alex takes hold of his face, his massive hand enveloping nearly the entirety of it, and slams Danny's head into the concrete. There's a sickening crunch and Kano finally rises from his seat.

"Alright, call him off. We don't need Carver dead."

Kabal zips into the cage and grabs Alex by the shoulder. Alex shrugs him off with a snarl and moves to repeat the motion, but Kabal finally pulls him away.

"C'mon, Demir, you proved your point," he says it quietly enough that only Alex can hear it over the roar of the crowd.

Kabal glances down at Danny, whose face is so bloodied that he's nearly unrecognizable. Kabal offers him a hand and he rises, wincing at the way the cheers make his head throb.

Alex had won the fight, but Danny had won the war.

The former has already departed, ducking for the locker room before Danny can say something else to piss him off. Kate follows him, hot on his heels, concern painted on her face.

"Alex-" she tries to get his attention, but he levels a fist into a locker and dents it with a grunt.

"Alex, you're safe with us," she says quietly and he drops onto one of the wooden benches, his hand now bloodied. His shoulders shake and she knows he's barely holding back tears.

"I would have killed him" Alex says quietly and she pats his arm, "I should have killed him."

"If anyone deserves it..." Kate trails off and offers him a warm smile. His mouth twitches under his mask.

Back in the cage, Danny spits and runs his tongue over his teeth. All still there and in one piece. His glasses are a lost cause, laying in two pieces at his feet. He'd have Echo order him a new pair, it was about time anyway.

Beside him, Kano is droning on as usual.

"-lucky I had Kabal intervene when I did, or I think he'd have caved your head in," Danny catches the last part of his rant and scoffs.

"I had my boot ready," he gestures to the toe of his boot that holds a concealed knife.

"Hard to stab a man when he's got you pinned."

Danny shrugs.

Kabal glances between the two of them; this fight has surely caused a rift that he's not sure can be repaired. Kano's idea of team building had backfired spectacularly, not that he'd ever admit to that fact.

"Don't be surprised if you find a live grenade in your bed," Kano continues and Danny laughs.

"I'm not scared of that big idiot," Danny waves dismissively and Kabal gives him a pointed look.

"Maybe you should be."

[knockyasocksoff2022]

My Tachizaki Playlist

(A/N: I know a lot of these songs are from Heartstopper but I think that that show really fits Tanizaki’s vibe, so here we are. Also thanks so much to @coraline06 for all the suggestions. I haven't listened to them all, but I turst you so I included them here.)

Bang bang - Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Niki Manaj

Blow - Ke$ha

Blow My Brains Out - Tikkle Me

Burn - Ellie Goulding

Call You Mine - Chainsmokers

Choke - I DON'T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME

Clearest Blue - CHVRCHES

Close To You - Dayglow

Cold Water - Justin Beiber

Dark Red - Steve Lacy

Don't Blame Me - Taylor Swift

Feel It Still - Portugal. The Man

Freaks by Surf Curse

heart - flor

Holding Out For A Hero - Adam Lambert

I’m a mess - Bebe Rexha

Just Dance - Lady Gaga

LUCID - Rina Sawayama

My Own Person - Ezra Williams

Outrunning Karma - Alec Benjamin

Play with Fire - Sam Tinnesz

Riot - Hollywood Undead

Runnin’ - Adam Lambert

She's Crazy but she's mine - Alex Sparrow

Sorry Not Sorry - Demi Lovato

Starships - Niki Minaj

Telephone - Waterparks

Tension - Kylie Minogue

That’s My Girl - Fifth harmony

This feelings - The Chainsmokers

Uptown Funk - Against the Current & Set It Off

Want Me - Baby Queen

What’s It Gonna Be? - Shura

Why Am I Like This - Orla Gartland

Work from Home - Fifth Harmony

[r-ando-m-w-rite-r]

Songs that I think define each Apex Legend Pt. 3:

(btw I suggest HEAVILY to listen to a part of the song whilst watching the provided clip below)

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

17. Valkyrie

So What by P!nk

18. Seer

Romeo and Juliet by Peter McPoland

19. Ash

The Day You Killed Yourself by Xojira

20. Mad Maggie

Riot by Hollywood Undead

21. Newcastle

Legends Never Die by League of Legends

22. Vantage

Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Hunger Games Version) by Lorde

23. Catalyst

Behind My Eyes by Apashe (ft. LIA)

[itsdiamondeyesuniverse]

URL Song Tag

@themeasureofasim tagged me for this, thanks :)

Rules: Spell out your URL with song titles and tag people

I - I Don’t Like The Drugs (But The Drugs Like Me) by Marilyn Manson

T - Too Young To Fall In Love by Motley Crue

S - Sell Your Soul by Hollywood Undead

DIAMOND EYES - Diamond Eyes by Deftones (The "secret origin” of my url revealed)

U - The Unforgiven by Metallica

N - Nightrain by Guns N’ Roses

I - Issues by Escape The Fate

V - Violent Pornography by System Of A Down

E - Eat Me Up Alive by Ratt

R - Riot Act by Skid Row

S - SOS by Papa Roach

E - Eye Of The Tiger by Survivor

I’m not putting the youtube links cos that’s too much of a bother for me, i just did it if anyone cares to see what i listen and if we have shared tastes, that’s how i always look on those tags personally. And i kind of cheated with the “diamond eyes” part but my url is actually that song title + “its” and “universe” suggested by tumblr, and anyway i’d just list my fave bands in there over and over so no point :D

I’m tagging @jeweloftheworld, @lilith-sims, @blissful-indigo, @niiice-pants, @sims-influence, @simsinsania, @vegan-kaktus, @mrs-mquve-cc, @mrsreval, @oawus. It looks like you didn’t do that url tag thing yet so i’m tagging you, no pressure ofc ;)

[devils-gatemedia]

Hollywood Undead – O2 Academy, Bristol 24th April 2019

Arriving at the O2, it is clear that tonight’s gig has attracted a rather different demographic than many others I attend. The queue is young, lively and, unusually, almost split 50:50 by sex. It wasn’t a warm night, but clothing appeared to consist of a large number of holes held together by small amounts of fabric. Inside, there is an atmosphere of excitement, and a smell that I came to realise was that of a room full of teenage hormones.

Opening the show were Liverpool experimental metal band, Loathe. The indication of their intent was immediately clear when vocalist Kadeem France bounded onto a very low lit stage and encouraged a wall of death pit to form before the band had even played a note. What followed was a set of crushing metal that blended a very inventive musicality with immensely powerful delivery and catchy choruses. In all honesty, this was not a style of music that I find easy to listen to, so when reviewing it seems right to look behind from the pit and watch how the crowd react. The answer was that they loved it! I haven’t seen a support band get such a fevered reaction for a fair while.

My biggest challenge was getting a single photo to illustrate the performance as the lighting was limited to flashing red back-lights. What we missed capturing was the band sending out wave after wave of jaw-breaking riffs whilst France provided a fulcrum. A natural front man, he spent the last song towering over the crowd at the barrier, or stalking the pit encouraging more reaction. To get an idea of just how unique this band are, take a listen to “Servant And Master” or “White Hot”, both of which may well destroy your expectations of the genre, as well as your speakers.

Once Loathe left the stage it became party time. A chorus of “Happy Birthday” rang out for one gig goer, which was soon amplified by the entire ground floor. Noise levels rose and aforementioned hormones were secreted. I have never seen so many people caressing and fondling at a gig before! Every so often, a Hollywood Undead song would ring out from an impromptu choir.

The first surprise, when the lights went down, was that each member appeared on stage without a mask! One by one, Johnny 3 Tears, J-Dog, Charlie Scene, Funny Man, and Danny took to the stage until the entire band were present waving their hands from side to side and “Whatever It Takes”. The crowd were in ecstasy, and I had absolutely no idea which way to look as the band bounded around energetically. “California Dreaming” was followed by the first of my set highlights with “Undead”. The energy of the quintet was infectious. Personnel rotated in a finely choreographed dance, each adding their own style and delivery to lyrics. Roadies wandered around handing out guitars and swapping mics. There was absolutely no let up in the speed with which the hits were delivered. The tour comes with all the tricks: a great light show, pyro sparks, streamer cannons, and later, a huge confetti cannon.

“Renegade”, “Been to Hell”, “Dead Bite”, and “Gravity” kept the energy levels high, including both an air drum solo and a rather impressive vocal solo from the drummer of “Livin’ On A Prayer”, until we got a little break as a request was made for a fan who would like to play guitar on stage. Previous reviews have suggested this is a “plant” in the crowd, but tonight it felt real, and when he left the stage after playing with the band on “Comin’ In Hot”, he not only returned to the floor, but was also helped back into the crowd to be with his mates.

“War Child” was huge, and the next treat was “Another Way Out” before an acoustic guitar was bought out for the best singalong yet for “Bullet”. I love this song with a passion. Anyone who can write such a catchy song about such a sad subject gets my vote! The crowd were then incited to start a “Riot”, which they responded to energetically. The main set was closed out with “Bad Moon”, “Broken Record”, “Levitate” and “Hear Me Now”.

We all knew there was great stuff to come in the encore, and we were right, as we got manic versions of “Everywhere I Go” which the Bristol crowd took as their own, drawing out the stage vocals, and finally “Day Of The Dead”, where the huge confetti cannon disgorged its sparkly contents as high as the balcony.

Sometimes in life you just need a party. Hollywood Undead bought the streamers and the music, and Bristol did what it needed!

Review and photos – Rob Wilkins

#gallery-0-5 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-5 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-5 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-5 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Review: Hollywood Undead/Loathe – Bristol Hollywood Undead - O2 Academy, Bristol 24th April 2019 Arriving at the O2, it is clear that tonight’s gig has attracted a rather different demographic than many others I attend.