#they got some of the lyrics wrong in the sing along but it’s ok i knew the truth lol

[alister312]

la resistance truly does live on

[paramorearchived]

September 12, 2012

Transcript:

to be happy now.

fair warning. i am allllll over the place tonight! so hopefully, you guys can follow along down these rabbit trails...

we're officially a little over half-way through the tracking of this album. it feels real-er than ever. i'm starting to understand all these songs more and where they've actually come from... for a minute, it was such a whirlwind of inspiration, emotion, and sweat. now that we've spent some time getting to know the album and growing with it, i can finally tell myself it's real. i can just almost tell myself that it's alright to relax. 

have you ever been that way? haven't you ever said "things are so great right now that i know something's bound to go wrong... any minute." just so you know, i might be the QUEEN of that phrase. maybe it's part of being a total realist? maybe it's just the fact that i've been through some rough situations and i know how awful it feels not to be prepared for the worst? it's been a while since i didn't have my fists in a ball... since i wasn't sort of on the defense, waiting for the attack. if there was an actual good reason for why i lived that way for so long i'd give it to you but now that i'm (hopefully!) passed that, it's a little unclear as to why that would ever be worth it. because now i wake up every morning and i know for certain that there are at least a few good people around me, if not physically then just by an iPhone somewhere, who could look me in the eye and tell me that they love me. i've got just enough blood in my veins and air in my lungs to know that i am definitely not dead. and that could be enough to say outloud, to myself... "You're OK!" 

another thing to consider is what if there is a part of us that doesn't fully want to be satisfied? what if there's something that asks us: if everything is "OK" then what do we have to strive for? to LIVE for, even? that's the constant duel in my spirit! i want life to go smoothly but when it's all working out... i'm sort of bored. ugh. it reminds me of a lyric by mewithoutYou that i've always connected with so deeply. "All I want is to want one thing." how beautifully that depicts our nature as humans to want everything, sometimes multiple things at once that couldn't be more opposite... and in the end get upset with the whole thing and want to get rid of desire altogether. (i digress!) 

what i've had to learn during this last year and a half, is that i might actually just be happy with where life is heading at this point. doesn't mean i'll always feel this way. nothing's perfect... at least for very long! anyway, it might just be OK to be happy now. right now in this very moment. i should just go with it, right? by the way, if i don't sound completely insane to you after 3 paragraphs which all are complete contradictions to each other then i appreciate your patience and flexible perspective. 

all this to say, i feel happy and i feel like my soul is actually being fulfilled. not only by the making of this album but also by the few close relationships i have in my life that have either stood the test of time or have bloomed from virtually nothing since entering whatever phase of my life i'm in at the moment. i'm not waiting for the sky to fall because i know that while the sky is staying up there in it's place, i have my opportunity to live. no more wasting time, hope, emotions, on worrying when, if, or how i could ever be let down again. i'm going to tell myself it's okay to be happy now.

i guess i want to finish this off by asking you what fulfills you. what is it that reaches your soul? it doesn't have to be some profound thing or even anything cool. if you can hold that one thing in your mind and know that you're exactly who you are supposed to be in that moment, then that could be all you need to get from point A to point B. maybe i want to finish THAT by saying, let's all listen to "One Thing" by One Direction and sing it to each other. you've got that one thing and guess what? it doesn't even need to be named. cause you just know and so does One Direction.

ok, i don't know how you made it to the end of this.... love you, mean it.  hayley

[missnind]

No Plans and None Can Be Broken

Eddie opened the door of the car with an easy grin.

"What's up, Harrington?"

Steve shot a dazzling smile back.

"Hey, Eds." He said, sweetly. "Ready for the movie?"

"Yeah, sounded cool. You know me... easy." He replied with a grin.

"I wouldn't say that, Munson. You haven't had a single date the whole time we've been hanging out." Steve jibed.

Eddie cleared his throat and fidgeted as he put his seatbelt on.

"Man, I-"

"I was teasing, dude! No need to sweat it." Steve replied as he moved to switch the radio on. "Ready?"

"Yeah, let's go."

The car cruised down the road, Steve nodding his head to the song on the radio. The silence was easy between them and Eddie relaxed. He loved spending time with Steve. Even if Steve didn't feel the same as he did.

Eddie glanced over and took in the sight next to him - full, thick hair, gorgeous eyes, full pouty lips, golden skin - fuck, it was no surprise people fell at his feet.

Steve had been a bitch in school. Now he was Eddie's best friend - something no one saw coming. Eddie had held an unrequited flame for him since 9th grade. Since he realised he really just wasn't interested in girls. Watching Steve in those little Hawkins Tigers shorts doing basketball and the various other jock stuff he was so good at... Well, that did it for him.

"Eddie? You OK, man?"

Eddie shook his head to clear the thoughts and realised he was staring.

"Sorry, dude. You know me - always in a world of my own." He laughed nervously.

Steve reached to place a hand on his knee.

"You sure you're OK, man?"

Eddie felt fire where the hand was. Straight to his groin. This car ride needed to go quicker.

"Yeah. Think a nice smoke before the movie will sort me right me out." He grinned.

Steve sighed and smiled.

"If you say so, man. Those things will kill you. Just saying."

Eddie laughed out loud.

"Yeah, be a shame to die from those after all we've survived, hey."

"What can I say, Munson? That noise you call music saved us all. Well, almost not you but like fuck were we gonna leave you there."

Steve's hand squeezed Eddie's knee and Eddie squeezed it back.

"You wouldn't know good music, Harrington." He shot back with a laugh.

"That, my friend, is where you are wrong! This-" He turned up the radio. "-is good music! You heard this one yet?"

Eddie's ears perked up as the music began and his heart began to hammer against his chest.

Steve was tapping his fingers along to the beat on the steering wheel. He was singing along to the song and Eddie just stared at him. Speechless.

"These lyrics, man! Who even comes up with this stuff?" Steve said as the song ends.

Eddie thinks for a beat and replies.

"Do you not like them?"

"Not like them? Munson, they literally resonate to me deeply! Like, OK so ... one sec, let me compile my thoughts into proper words."

Eddie's heart felt like it was going to force its way out of his chest.

"Ok, so, take this bit - 'Do you laugh about me whenever I leave? Or do I just need more therapy?' Like, I often feel that people are judging me still. You know, King Steve and all that. But is that like paranoia? I know you and the kids and Robs... you are my family. But the thought that you guys are just... The song's title is 'Fake Out'. Maybe that's it. There's a part of me that thinks you all just fake it." Steve took a breath and ran a hand through his hair.

Eddie opened his mouth to speak and nothing came out.

"Anyway, another one, yeah? So, there's this bit that goes 'My mood board is just pictures of you but I'm not sad anymore'. Like... I think it's about some unrequited love or something."

"Steve, I... It is, by the way. It is about unrequited love."

"Ha! I knew you didn't mind this type of music really!" Steve laughed as he reached out to poke at Eddie. "Or is this your opinion as a songwriter?"

"I haven't written in a while, Stevie. My muse must have left me. But I did send a load off and got paid for it. They showcase some to bands/artists. So if you're lucky, someone uses your lyrics for their song. It was a mad moment and Gar said it may be an idea since I had so many."

"Eds!" Steve pulled up the car into the parking lot of the theatre. He turned to face Eddie. "Why didn't you tell me, dude? That's pretty cool."

"I guess I just... it's not likely to be your song picked out of so many. So I just didn't think to." Eddie shrugged.

"Eddie, we would have been proud of you for trying. So, if your lyrics are picked do you get like a credit or something?" Steve asked with interest.

"Yeah. They will credit you for writing. And then you get a percentage of the royalties of the song."

"Well, I think you are gonna hear good things soon, Munson! Positive vibes." Steve smiled and leant towards Eddie for a hug.

Eddie's mouth was so dry. He did the only thing he could think of.

Singing quietly, he sang "We did it for futures that never came. And for pasts that we're never gonna change. Love is in the air. I just gotta figure out a window to break out. Buried alive inside my dreams. But it was all a fake out."

Steve looked at him curiously.

"That... it's my favourite part." Eddie explained. "It's about how we never really escape our pasts and a future that isn't... it can't happen. Won't happen. And no matter how much I want it, it won't be real."

Confusion flickered across Steve's face.

"Hey, Eddie, we aren't our pasts anymore. You know that, right? I mean, look at us! You're my best friend. Who would have thought it back then?"

The words stabbed through Eddie's heart. Worse than any demobat bite.

"Yeah." He managed a weak smile. "Friends."

"Eddie, come on. Talk to me, man. What is going on?" Steve seemed genuinely concerned.

"I just... OK, don't judge me. That song? It's mine. I wrote it."

Steve's face lit up with excitement.

"Man, that's awesome! That was you? Damn, you made me feel some kinda way! Maybe this is the road to the big time for our Eddie Munson from Hawkins! The kids are gonna-"

"Please, don't." Eddie began. "Don't tell them. I... I have something else to say."

Steve settled back against the car door.

"Eds, man, you're scaring me here." He said with a cautious smile.

Eddie looked down at his hands as he played with his rings nervously.

"I don't want to be friends." He blurted out.

Steve looked like he had slapped him.

" You don't wanna... did I do something?" He said, the hurt clear.

"That didn't come out right!" Eddie panicked and grabbed for Steve's hands.

Steve recoiled and Eddie looked like he was going to cry.

"Stevie, I-"

"Nah, it's cool, man. Don't sweat it. I'll just-"

Steve opened the car door and got out. He ran his hands through his hair, breathing quickly and trying to calm himself.

Eddie pulled open his door and ran around the car. He grabbed Steve and pulled him around the side of the building into an alley, away from prying eyes.

"Hey, dude, not cool!" Steve riled as he backed away from Eddie.

"Steve, you're not- ok! OK, I like you. I don't want to be friends because I want to be more." He trailed off as he pulled at the hem of his tee and looked at the floor.

There was silence and Eddie couldn't take it.

"'M sorry. I'll get Gar to come get me." He said quietly as he turned to leave.

"Eddie." Steve said quietly and calmly.

"It's ok, Stevie. Thank you. For everything." Eddie rambled as he walked quickly towards the open lot.

Hands spun him around and lips found his own. Pushing. Desperate. A tongue felt its way between his lips and he opened up, allowing it to explore his mouth.

Eddie backed up and the look on his face made Steve laugh.

"Eddie, you're an idiot." Steve laughed.

"I'm sorry? You-" Eddie began in an incredulous tone.

Steve looked at Eddie with hooded eyes and puffy lips.

"Eds, you took your sweet time. I've wanted you for longer than I care to admit. You just didn't seem-"

"You wanted me?" Eddie looked like he was about to hyperventilate.

"Yes, dingus. Didn't you- All those times we spent the night out in your van talking. Sitting up when the kids had gone to bed and just shooting the shit. All the times I tried to get you to open up about your love life... you really didn't...?"

"I... you want me?" Is all Eddie can push out.

Steve walked towards him and backed him against the wall of the alley. He put his arms up against the wall, blocking Eddie in. He leaned forward towards his ear and pressed a gentle kiss beneath it. He felt Eddie shudder.

"Yes. I kinda want you, right now." He said as he grabbed Eddie's hand and pushed it to the growing hardness in his tight jeans.

Eddie moaned and smiled like the cat who got the cream.

"I can help you with that, Stevie baby. If you want me to." He gave a positively filthy look as he dropped to his knees and Steve was glad he was holding himself up because the sight made his knees weak.

"Fuck, Eds. Here?" He looked around cautiously but it was empty except for them.

Eddie looked up at him with his doe like eyes and grinned devilishly.

"Here."

He began undoing the button on Steve's jeans and slid the zip down slowly as he pressed his face to the emerging bulge.

Steve hissed and gently pushed forward chasing the pressure.

Eddie mouthed over Steve’s clothed length and moaned softly.

"Oh, baby, I'm gonna enjoy this." Eddie said as he pulled out Steve's length. "Fuck, you're so big."

Steve looked down at him, a dopey look across his face.

Eddie started giving the tip kitten licks and Steve moaned softly. Pre-cum oozed out and Eddie lapped it up.

"Mmmm, you taste so good, Stevie." Eddie moaned before he popped the head between his lips.

Eddie sucked and licked at Steve, hollowing his cheeks. He loved the sounds Steve was making and he decided he could die happy if this was how he went.

Steve tried so hard not to thrust into Eddie’s hot mouth.

“Fuck, you’re so good at this.” Steve gasped as he looked down. “So fucking hot with my cock in your mouth. Fuck.”

Eddie just looked up through his lashes and hummed, causing Steve to moan again.

"Eddie, Eds," Steve's breath hitched. "Close."

Eddie looked up at him and took him deeper. A strangled sound left Steve's mouth as he spurted into Eddie's mouth. Ropes of hot cum covered the inside of his cheeks and his tongue.

Eddie swallowed down Steve's load and got himself to his feet.

Steve grabbed him into an embrace, bringing their foreheads together.

"That was..."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm amazing, I know." Eddie laughed teasingly, voice slightly hoarse.

Steve smiled widely and laughed.

"Where does this leave us?" Steve asked softly.

"Um, the alley behind the theatre, Stevie boy." Came the sarcastic answer.

Steve bounced his head gently against Eddie's.

"Was that song really about me?" He asked curiously.

"Mayyyyybe." Came the reply. "Why? You into that?"

"Eds, I just kissed you in an alley and you sucked my dick. I'd say I was so into that." Steve replied.

"Still wanna watch that movie or wanna come back to my place? Wayne's at work. Maybe we could figure out what this is?" Eddie said, holding his breath for the answer.

"Sure. Sounds good. I mean, I think this is the start of something wonderful." Steve said as he began to walk to the lot, pulling Eddie behind him.

"Sure it's not a fake out?" Eddie replied with a grin.

"Imma show you it's not, Munson. Every day if I have to." Steve replicated his grin.

Eddie rolled his eyes.

"I suppose that would be acceptable, Harrington."

"The kids are gonna be pumped." Steve said with an air of confidence.

"I'm sorry, what?" Eddie paused by the car.

"The kids. They've been taking bets on how long til we finally got it together." Steve said matter of factly.

"Wait... the kids? Our kids?"

"Yes, dude. Our kids."

"They know I'm-" Eddie stumbled to say it aloud.

"Gay? Yeah. And that I'm bi." Steve raised a brow. "Just seemed you were the only one who didn't."

"Man, I... Fuck. No, I didn't. I just don't assume."

"If you had, this could have happened quicker." Steve teased as he pulled Eddie towards him and kissed him softly on the lips.

"Let's go home, Stevie." Eddie said.

They got back into the car and they held hands all the way home.

[tenoart]

Animatic idea I had

Secret life spoilers

Ok it goes to the song Monster from epic

Anything in red is for lyrics

--

"What if I'm the monster? What if I'm in the wrong?"

Its Scar at the secret keeper after his win. He's been there for weeks. The ghosts of all the others haunting him. Looking down at his blood stained clothes

"What if I'm the problem that's been hiding all along?"

Scar turning around seeing all the others ghosts, all blurring together and kind of transparent, like fog or mist. He steps towards them, getting closer to a group: tango pearl and Jimmy

"What if I'm the one who killed you?"

Scar dropping to his knees in front of them, they're faces are blurred, he's crying

"every time I caved to guilt"

Scar whipping his tears. Trying to sit up. Assuming these are all just hallucinations

"what if I've been far too kind to foes but a monster to ourselves?"

Visuals stay about the same, but scar looks over at Scott, in the crowd, he stands out. Feeling guilty for betraying him.

"what if I'm the monster?"

A purple flash of the Evo symbol goes in his eyes. He blinks, all the ghosts fading some except four

"Is the cyclops struck with guilt when he kills?"

Martyn, now looking like his red limited life skin walks past scar towards the secret keeper, dragging a bloodied sword

"is he up in the middle of the night?"

Martyn leans against some of the rocks by the secret keeper, his face becoming clearer. It looks like he's wincing scars still the one singing , looking at Martyn in awe

"or does he end my men to avenge his friend"

Martyn stabs his sword into the ground, looking past scar at Jimmy, smiling, scar looks back at Jimmy to see him smiling back.

"and then sleep knowing he has done them right."

Martyn closes his eyes, with a content smile.

"when the witch turns men to pigs to protect her nymphs is she going insane?"

Pearl flys above scar, landing beside Martyn, it flashes to pearl teaming up on Gem with scar

"or did she learn to be colder when she got older and now she saves them the pain"

Gem backs away, looking upset, pearl looks saddened, but still smiles. The implication being she was sparing gem by not letting her win.

Scar looks back at gem, about to reach out and apologize

"When a god comes down and makes a fleet drown"

Grian flys from the back of the crowd, tackling scar sending him sliding against the grass, closer to the secret keeper and the other two winners. Fist raised like he's about to punch scar

"is he scared that he's doing something wrong?"

It flashes to third life from scars pov of Grian, fist raised in third life, the look of guilt in his eyes flashing back to the cold empty look in his eyes now

"or does he keep us in check so we must respect him"

Grian smiles at scar when scar doesn't look scared, grabbing Grians wrist, seeming satisfied that scar defended himself this time.

"and now no one cares to piss him off"

He flys up on top the secret keeper behind scar, sitting.

"does a soldier use a wooden horse"

Scott emerges from the crowd of ghosts, kicking scars bow towards him. Scar flinches back from his own bow. Scott sings this line, talking about scar.

"because he is vile"

Scott is standing over scar as scar picks up his bow, from scars perspective it looks like he's glaring scar sings this line, calling himself vile

"or does he throw away his remorse and save more lives with guile?"

Scott reaches out a hand and helps scar up, smiling, being the one singing this line, basically praising scar for his win, patting him on the shoulder and walking past him.

"if I became the monster, and threw guilt away"

Scar is standing, looking out towards the bone winner ghosts, they're all still foggy, hard to make out and further away from him now from how grian dragged his ass.

"Would that make us stronger? Would it keep our foes at bay?"

He turns around to the other winners, while the ghosts look empty, lacking distinct facial expressions they all are fully colored like scar, all dressed like the season they won in. On the line keep our foes at bay scar looks up at the watcher symbol on the secret keeper, it glowing purple for a moment before scar sharply looks down, scared.

"if I became the monster to everyone but us? Made sure we got home again who would care if we're unjust?"

Side profile of scar looking at the winners, then in front of him on the line "to everyone" showing all the ghosts behind him as he takes a step forward. the line "but us" moving to behind scar, showing him and all the other winners. Lingering for the rest of this line. Basically meaning that as long as someone makes the sacrifice of remembering, of living with the guilt of killing everyone, then everyone else can move on. That scars win and all the others wins are sacrifices.

"if I became the.. monster"

Scar sings the first part, then he turns around to all the other ghosts, the entire group singing the line monster, slowly moving past him like mist

"oh ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves, and deep down I know this well"

All the ghosts surrounding him, but he doesn't crumble to his knees or fall to guilt, he grabs an arrow from the quiver on his back.

"I lost my best friend I lost my mentor my mom, 500 men gone this can't go on!"

He shoots an arrow through bdubs at best friend, image flashing of them hanging out in hermitcraft season 7, an arrow through Joel at mentor, last life flashing, another through Cleo at mom, flashing limited life. All them disappearing after being shot through. At 500 men gone this can't go on he he goes to put another arrow in his bow, tears falling from his eyes onto his hands

"I must get to see Penelope and Telemachus "

He closes his eyes, happy memories from hermitcraft flashing, mostly from season 9

"so if we must sail through dangerous oceans and beaches I'll go were Poseidon wont reach us"

Images from all the different life seasons in order, throughout them scar becoming more dangerous and hostile

"and if I have to drop another infant from a wall in an instant so we all don't die"

It gets to secret life, scar chasing pearl her getting knocked of the ledge and lightning striking in the memory.

"Then I'll become the monster! I will deal the blow!"

Lightning strikes behind him a transition from the memory back to scar, All the ghosts start going past him, more must then people, he's crying, but determined

"and I'll become the monster"

He turns around ignoring the mist going past him, dropping his task to the ground

"like none they've ever known"

He looks up at Grian, who's smiling, then panels of each of the other winners faces. Martyn looks worried, Scott relived, pearl guilty. All the ghosts chanting monster in the background

"so what if I'm the monster?! Lurking deep below."

Scar turns around, shooting an arrow through the mist breaking it apart

"I must become the monster, then we'll make it home"

He's crying. The camera looking at him from where the arrow shot past, he's breathing heavily. Horrfied. The Evo symbol glowing behind him, purple. The camera panning out as he starts to look behind him at the symbol, showing him and the other winners being all that's left. All in a eerie purple glow, with faint purple eyes

It fades to black while the ghosts still chant monster

I WANNA MAKE THIS. STUPIDLY BAD. IK ITS UNREASONABLY ANGSTY BUT GOD DAMN IT I FEEL LIKE ITS COOL RARARRA .

Characterizations aren't quite canon but

Grian - cares about scar, but distanced himself from scar thinking he was too soft to handle the burden of winning, he tries to punch scar as a test, to see if he's still like that, and is content and happy to have scar around again now that he's strong enough to handle the truth. Creepy fella but not horrible person, just low-key apathetic to non winners

Scott - while hurt my scars betrayal, it's more pity then anything. If he held a grudge for every betrayal he'd hate everyone. He forgives scar, but is sad that he has to win.

Pearl - had to pick between letting scar or gem win. She was closer with gem but feels horrible for scar winning, knowing the burden of the memories is overwhelming. Wishing she could've just won again.

Martyn - is worried for scar, knowing how the close friendship with grian and becoming a winner with all his memories can be dangerous. Knowing how much the weight of it all hurts. How it's easy to spiral and wish it didn't happen. But isn't particularly close with scar, and is just happy Jimmy's curse was at least temporarily broken and wanted nothing more.

[all-will-be--well]

The Maybe Man

ok no one asked, but here is my AJR album review, song by song:

🌀 Maybe Man: I love this. I have a special place in my heart for all their album openers, they always give me chills. I can't wait to see them open with this live, especially when it goes so hard at the end! I've danced to this a lot already. Also learning that each verse references one song on the album! like a table of contents! I love them so much.

💔  Touchy Feely Fool: Very cute, and fun to sing along with. Probably like a solid 7 or 8 out of 10. Great to listen to, and has grown on me after listening to that Zach Sang interview and learning a little backstory

👍  Yes I'm A Mess: One of my faves from the album. I feel like such a badass walking around listening to this. Wish I could whistle!! The only thing i can't stand is the very end. I don't mind the tempo change but I don't like the slo mo voices that sound like a toy running out of batteries

🤓 The Dumb Song: More mid-tier for me. Got a great swing to it, and the instrumental breaks are really fun to dance to like a total idiot. I like to try out the lamest dance moves and just really commit to it. Lyric-wise, it's cute but reminds me of male weaponized incompetence (I know this isn't the intention, just what i think about), so it makes me feel a little weird if I think about it too much. Can't wait to hear a whole crowd scream "You should nooooot have done that!"

▶️ Inertia: Currently, this is my FAVORITE song on the album. It's fun, it's meaningful, it's got a great beat, and there are sounds that bring me back to past albums so it feels almost nostalgic. They used the instrumentals a lot in their promos for this album, and I can see why. It's both angelic with the choir sounds, and dark with the reverb/bass sounds. So good.

🧍‍♂️ Turning Out Pt iii : Always appreciate the Turning Out songs. Personally, the original is still my favorite. But even that one took me listening to it a dozen times before it really HIT, and then i was crying in the car. So maybe the same will happen with this one someday! Also if i'm not mistaken it's Ryan on vocals? So that's fun to have a change (though honestly he and Jack sound so similar)

🧠  Hole in the Bottom of My Brain: Gosh, so fun! Has that kind of nursery rhyme theme where it builds on itself (swallowed the spider to catch the fly, etc). However, unlike a nursery rhyme, the lyrics are kinda complicated to it's hard to sing along to. I'm sure people will be singing along by the time they're performing it live, like everyone memorizing the rambling line from Karma.

💿 The DJ is Crying for Help: I want to like this one more than I do. Don't get me wrong, I do like it! I think I just find it a little auditorily overwhelming. Like the string arpeggios are awesome, but I can't listen to that and the back up vocals and other sound effects at the same time. idk. To quote my favorite movie, Amadeus: "There are simply too many notes"

🙅🏻‍♂️ I Won't: This one has been out for a while so I feel like I've listened to it a lot already. Definitely makes me swagger walking around my apartment like I'm a total badass. Doesn't get my blood rushing like some of the others, but again that might just be because I've heard it a lot already.

🎡Steve's Going to London: Took me a few play-throughs to actually realize it wasn't just a nothing song! I appreciate them kinda breaking the 4th wall in a very AJR way. This song has grown on me with each listen! Very fun to sing and dance to, and has a great beat. My prediction is that this song will have a lot of special effects when they perform it live. We'll see...

💜 God is Really Real: RIP Gary ❤️ I love that their dad became a beloved part of the fandom. Very touching that they released this song early when it became clear they didn't have much longer with their dad. Beautiful, meaningful addition to the album.

🍂 2085: Perfectly packages up the album! The lyrics say that the old-timey voice says "You are not alone, young child, young child" which is NOT what it sounds like?? So hopefully that gets cleared up. I've seen some claiming it's a Yanny/Laurel situation, and tbh i wouldn't put it past the boys to find a way to do that on purpose. (I hear "You are my heart grown, just know, just know" which i know doesn't really make sense, but it's sweet to me) But the lyrics at the end "You've gotta get better, you're all that I got" give me chills. And then switching to "I gotta get better, I'm all that I got" 😭 . Also loves that it connects so perfectly back to Maybe Man so I can just listen to the album on repeat without interruption

 THE END

[schneezburger]

So what's the story of POWR band AU and how they became a band?

I was originally saving this so I could make art for it- but then the wonders of ✨artblock✨ happened. So I’ll answer it now and one day make art for it 😭

Alright!!

So Ruby was originally in a band with Weiss, Blake and Yang as RWBY, they all had musical experience and a passion for it, and lots of anger to express, so why not!!

I’ve explained before why RWBY splits up, so after that, it’s just Ruby, who tries to make some music with JNPR because Pyrrha isn’t feeling music as much anymore, but they eventually disband too just due to not wanting to continue music at the moment.

So! Ruby is without a band and she has a strong desire to make! Music! So, Ruby asked her friends if they want to start a band, and they agree! Unfortunately, her friends Penny and Oscar have no knowledge of music, but Ruby can fix that! So she starts giving them musical knowledge.

Taiyang and Yang were both drummers, so she gets her dad to give Penny lessons every week.

Her Uncle Qrow was mostly on bass/guitar, and now works as the music teacher for the high school. Ruby is able to get Oscar to have lessons with him on his free time.

Since they consistently hang out in the band room, they eventually take notice of one other person who spends a lot of time there!

When they come a bit early for their free block in the band room, they find another student using his free block for the music room as well. Whitley! He spends his free block playing the piano, and perfecting songs he has to play for events.

Ruby is absolutely thrilled to learn that there’s someone else that she kind of knows, who knows music too. So she immediately is set on making Whitley join her band.

Whitley however, is extremely against joining. Refusing anytime they ask, no matter how they do it. He has a slight idea of who Ruby is and that she’s one of the reasons Weiss got in so much trouble with their father.

Eventually Ruby understands she’s not going to wear Whitley down like she was able to do with Weiss, so she gives up and leaves him alone. But it’s actually four separate events after that, that make Whitley want to join!

Event 1! Whitley decides to stay in the band room during lunch, and due to Penny and Ruby not being at school, Oscar goes to the band room to get some more practice with Qrow.

He tries to ignore them, but finds he can’t really focus on his own music, so he ends up just kind of listening in on their lesson, and he notices how nervous Oscar seems while trying to play, so when Qrow is out of the room, he gives Oscar some advice on how to not be afraid to mess up, and to just relax.

Event 2! Penny runs into Whitley in the hallway, and due to their families kind of knowing each other, they occasionally chat. Or, Penny rambles to him while he mostly listens.

While Penny rambles this time, she talks about the band and how excited she is to learn the drums and play music, and how even if they’re not playing, and just hanging out, she’s having so much fun. Whitley due to this, starts thinking about what it would even be like to be able to hang out with friends and just have fun.

Event 3! Ruby messes up her schedule and accidentally comes into the band room at the wrong time, Whitley is a bit confused on what she’s doing, but doesn’t concern himself with it.

Ruby starts practicing singing some lyrics, and eventually she asks Whitley if he would mind playing some notes for her to sing along too, and then she’ll leave him alone again, which he is surprisingly ok with doing for her. While playing, he realizes how much fun he finds playing the songs Ruby has given him, they’re so much more different than what he’s used to playing.

Qrow eventually comes in and tells Ruby she has the wrong schedule and she runs out to her class 💀 very late

Event 4! Ruby’s band is practicing a song during their free block, but playing a bit over the time. Whitley, who’s free block is right after, is out of class early and comes in during one of their songs.

He kind of just watches from the door, and they don’t notice him yet, very much in their own world of music. But in that moment he sees how much fun they’re having together and how much better at the instruments Penny and Oscar are, and he realizes how much he wouldn’t hate being a part of the band.

He spends a week with that thought on his mind and finds himself kind of stalking their social media posts about playing. Then at like 2 am while trying to sleep but thoughts about the band keeping him awake, he unblocks Ruby’s number and texts her, asking if the band offer is still open.

He regrets it in the morning, as Ruby has spammed his phone with 100 yes’s and questions.

Whitley has his first band practice after school the next day!!

And that’s how POWR became POWR!!!

[kankrivantas69420lmao]

Hello everybody here's Annie to tell you (ramble to you) ab the ballad of jane doe!!!

first off, I've heard some people say that it should be "Jane Doe's Lament" and "The Ballad of Monique Gibeau", since a ballad tells a story, and to lament is to feel pain, agony, etc, but i think that is WRONG. Bc as Karnak states, the entire point of the show is to give them the chance to express what they wish they were, not what they were perceived as. a ballad tells a story. Jane wanted a story. Noel wanted tragedy. I think the titles fit them very well. Anyways, let me tell u ab some lyric choices that I luv sm bc this entire musical is a lyrical work of art. Ok first first!!! Lots of people get confused by the beginning of the song, but I think it makes sense if you've seen or read Legoland, because penny was unhappy with life, she had a realistic point of view, she always knew she would die one day, she is just lamenting (ba-dum tsss) the fact that she can't remember who she is. Another thing I like is that in fall fair suite when she does her screaming thing they're all spinning around and she's repeating the same notes bc its like she's swirling around them, but in her song it just represents falling straight down. Another thing is the next bit where she references Saint Peter, who is the guy who judges souls and decides if they were good or bad or wtv. I like this part bc the way she says it so desperately is that she doesn't care if she was a horrible person, she just longs to know who she is. "And from the ground, beneath my feet" this line is more evidence that penny was still dying after the rest of the choir was already dead, disproving the theory that penny was dead before everyone else. One of my favorites bc it has so many ways it could be interpreted, "a choir never complete." There are a few things I think it means. 1. She lost her head, this can be either metaphorical (referring to the "head voice" which is a way one can sing) or literal (since one of penny's body parts is missing, they can never reunite the entire choir.) 2. Penny was the only soprano. It's clear that Ocean's actor has a wide vocal range when you hear her sing in the background of other songs, but whenever she sings as Ocean, she mostly stays in alto range, meaning penny would have been the only soprano in the choir, and the choir isn't complete without their soprano. 3. Since it's implied that penny joined the choir at the last minute, she never got to perform with them, they were never complete. This is my favorite bc it shows up multiple times!!!! "An old forgotten tune, a song that no one knows, forgot how it goes" any time she references a song, the song she's talking about is penny. In Legoland, penny has a quote something along the lines of "Im just one song in a big symphony." (I can't remember the full quote right now.) She's saying that penny is forever forgotten. "Why be left with no family and no friends?" In this part in the musical, the choir covers their faces. None of them know who Jane is. "Time eats all his children in the end." This is a reference to Kronos, who is sometimes associated with time, and is known for eating his children. It's also a reference to earlier in the musical when she talks about lions eating their children. "A melody floats through the air, when silence falls, does no one care?" Going back to what I said earlier, the melody is penny. When penny dies, silence falls. The melody stops. But there's no one to care. "Another sad forgotten tune, another song that no one knows, so that's how it goes!" I like to think that she's talking about Jane now. Jane is the other song, but they know how that song goes already!! So, that's how it goes. "No one to sing, no one to sigh" here, she's saying that when people hear a Jane Doe body was discovered, people are obviously sad, but nobody can say "Hey, that's somebody i know." "Isn't there anyone to tell me who I am?" Penny is Christian, so she was probably expecting to go to heaven and see her relatives who could identify her. "Just a sorry speculation" bc Jane's entire existence is a speculation. Nobody knows who she is.

Thank you :]

[cacklefrendly]

Hi this th same anon who ask for gin and vodka hc and thank you for answer first and you say you have more hc about the two not as a duo so spill the hc i will enjoy hearing you rant about them ofc if you want and about the compliment you're welcome

anon i would've answered more quickly but the weather has been Too Cold to do anything but hibernate. i refuse to let that stop me.

here have a song that's in my Vesper Cocktail playlist — "Slaughterhouse Floor" by Skippocalyptic:

Be thou flesh of my flesh, and I’ll be the house that you haunt Lay down your neck for my blade, and I’ll be what you want And I can’t seem to imagine, perfect love But I have to imagine That it’s blood, blood, blood

ok more headcanons YIPPEE—

GIN:

He's always just a bit sleep-deprived and just a bit under-weight. It’s perfectly understandable given his job but the 'tism isn't helping him any.

Gin is trans, and transitioned after he got his first codename (Kina Lillet, as previously mentioned). Turns out that the Black Organization already has paperwork ready for name changes!! Black Org. says Trans Wrongs. He doesn't see his old codename as a deadname, but he's so comfortable with 'Gin' that he considers that to be his real name. The only reason he doesn't talk about the old codename is that he and Vermouth had a couple one-night stands while he was Kina but she doesn't know that was HIM and he would like to KEEP IT THAT WAY—

For dysphoria-related reasons he used to keep his hair short religiously. When he got De-Titted he started letting it go a bit longer between cuts. Then the T started really kicking in as he was climbing the B.Org’s ranks and he decided “gender norms are simply another law to be broken over my knee” and from then on only ever trims the ends. As he should.

Gin does Not play video games. He’s never even played Portal. It’s one of his more glaring flaws as a person.

Silver is his natural hair color! He used to dye it darker, but he stopped when it was getting too long to be worth maintaining. He’ll go through the hassle if he REEEEEEALLY NEEDS TO for undercover shit but he only uses temporary dyes. And tries not to leave the house until it’s gone.

Speaking of his hair, again, 90% of the people who end up fighting Gin hand-to-hand go for his hair. Which is a trap! He’s specifically trained himself to break out of hair grabs — or use them to his advantage, which is way more fun for him.

He's actually pretty calm and laid-back when he's not on-the-job. In the same sense that lions and wolves are kinda lazy when they're not hunting. Predators need to conserve their energy! Of course the SECOND he has an assignment he is 100% in Murder Mode.

VODKA:

First and most importantly: Vodka wears Doc Martens. Because he deserves it. He mostly wears work-appropriate ones — Oxford-style, black stitching, little-to-no heel. Actually just. THESE ONES — but he owns a selection with high-heels and/or platforms. (the first time he struts walks out in THESE Gin’s like “firstly you’re taller than me and that’s unacceptable. i trusted you. but secondly God-Damn,”)

As I’ve said (and drawn) before, Vodka can sing. Because I deserve it. He likes to change the lyrics to make songs gay. Also because I deserve it.

Before Vodka was codenamed, while he was working for one of the Black Org's front businesses, while he still wasn't privy to any super illegal information (rather, wasn't SUPPOSED to be, but he’s not stupid and could tell that numbers weren’t adding up the way they were supposed to), he was kidnapped along with three coworkers. The kidnappers were part of a decent-sized rival group looking to get some dirt to force the Black Org. out of their territory (not knowing exactly what they were getting into) by interrogating its employees. One by one, all of his coworkers cracked and admitted that they didn’t know anything. So they were killed. Vodka didn't tell his captors a damn thing, so they concluded that he must have access to important information. They kept him alive and quickly moved from interrogation to torture — but Vodka lasted long enough for the Black Org. to track the threat down and kill them. His secret? the only thing he let himself think about was a song, one he'd kept hearing when he hung around his superiors' offices: Seven Children. By the time he should've cracked, the only thing he had the presence of mind left to do was sing. The incident got him codenamed, and he’s proud of himself for it, but in particularly high-stress situations you might hear him singing under his breath — "Cute, cute," The mother crow sings. "Cute, cute."

Yknow how in like every movie with the Black Org. the team has some Super Expensive New Toy (spy plane, submarine, ect.) that is absolutely going to be Blown The Fuck Up by the end? While the movies technically don’t exist, i 1000% believe that Vodka is extremely good at convincing The Boss and the people in charge of weapons distribution that Gin’s team should totally get a shiny new toy to play with, thank you. He presents the keys to the newest Vehicle For Manslaughter and watches Chianti and Gin vibrate with excitement like two grayhounds you just asked "wanna go for a walk?"