#this album IS about nessie actually

[actualhumansunshine]

there's something so personal about bressie watching niall sing love songs on instagram live at 3:30am in ireland

[princedrewwrites]

hi!! if you want to answer any "weirder asks", maybe 1, 4, 19, and 23? also, here is an additional non-weirder weird question: do you know elijah by the mountain goats? i heard it for the first time a couple of days ago and got absolutely obsessed (there's this voice tremble that cuts me to the core)!! i hope you have the loveliest of days!! :)

hi hi!! I hope you have the loveliest of days too <3 this got a lil long so I stuck it under a read more!!

who is/are your comfort character(s)?

dick grayson and hastune miku are the big two at the moment!! dick grayson is just. such a good character when done right. I've got a very small collection of miku figures and every time I see her I'm like ':) miku'. a very honourable mention goes to cogimyun, a sliiightly obscure sanrio character (at least outside of japan!) because. well. look at her.

she has a pet shrimp which cryptyd being do you believe in?

Listen, logically, I know Nessie can't be real. In my heart of hearts? She's out there. Also, thylacine! They're not quite technically cryptids but they're on the list. I just. I want them to still be out there, you know?

imagine we’re at a sleepover, would you paint my nails?

yes i would!! I am getting my nail polishes out as we speak <3 it's funny, despite the fact I'm a chronic nail biter (or perhaps because of), I have soooo many different nail polishes in sooo many different colours.

how do you feel about chilly weather?

I like it! I prefer it chilly to warm, actually. my style tends to be cosy orientated, for lack of a better phrase, so that means a lot of jumpers and big flannel shirts that I want to wear all year long, but can't :( Even when it gets warmer, I try to wear cardigans for as long as feasible. I'd rather wrap up warm than strip to cool off, you know?

i just listened to elijah!! it's a beautiful song, I think it sort of evokes that bittersweet homesick uncertainty that john darninelle is really good at capturing. displacement, I think. the album it's from - the coroner's gambit - also has one of my favourite grief songs in blue jays and cardinals, which I listen to whenever I need to. i think it's best to articulate grief in simple way, and just. the song gets it. but elijah!! it's soft and gentle. a complete contrast to his other coming home song, sax rohmer #1

[malereader-inserts]

New Parents

Fandom: Twilight Pairing: Rosalie Hale & Son!Reader & Emmett Cullen Summary: You like your life, it was safe and loving with your new parents. Word Count: 1,185 Request: hey i have a request/idea for twilight! we know that Rosalie and Emmett wanted to be parents and were very protective of Renesmee. A fic where reader is Emmett and Rosalie's son and he's either a newborn hybrid baby vamp or they save him from a vamp? just some hurt and comfort or pure fluff!

Emmett and Rose had found you, cold and alone, terrified out of your mind. A small child by the side of the road. They remember vividly upon your meeting, they had approached you as you snapped your head at their direction they saw your (e/c) flash red for a second. Approaching you slowly, they asked if you were a vampire, a young seven year old looking child.

You gulped and nodded, telling you that the Volturi was after you because they think you were a child that was turned into a vampire. However, you had lost your mother in childbirth and your father tried to raise you before getting killed. The last thing you had been told was to run and never look back, you told them that you were only five.

So, despite hesitation on your part, you went along with Emmett and Rose. It took the coven weeks to understand how you were to come about, watching your rapid growth. By, your seventh actual birthday, you were standing as a ten year old. Rose and Emmett took you under their wing, whilst you saw how they saw Carlisle and Esme as parents, you did not.

It was a secret that the Cullens would die with, Emmett and Rose promise to protect you - their child. Their son who looks to them for protection, whenever you were scared. Always hiding you away from the Volturi, because you know, your parents knew, if they had found out the runaway child vampire was residing with the second biggest coven, there will be hell. And, everyone knows that Emmett and Rose will shift hell for you. 

They taught you the basic of being a human, catching you up for education and knowledge, most often not whenever they had to go away for school for their act around town, Esme was filling in. You were quick to take in knowledge, it wasn’t like you had any choice to do so. Your appearance stopped at the age of fifteen, when you had caught up with most things, you were allowed to venture out more.

Enter Bella.

When one problem had faded away, another enters. The coven had agreed that you were just human in the face of Bella. To Bella, you were fifteen years old, not a hybrid that was actually seventeen years old. Most things were going well, Bella was too oblivious to hear you call Rose Mom or Emmett Dad. She misses how you call the others Uncles and Aunt. 

Rose and Emmett had protected you when there was a newborn army, wanting Bella’s head or Edward. You stayed away from the fray, keeping with Emily who distracted the fact there was a possibility that your parents may not come back alive. You wanted to fight, you could and you were strong but your mother was very insistent, wanting to keep you sheltered. 

You had spent twelve years with the Cullens, hiding away. It was going well, Bella and Edward got married, she was soon to be a vampire after the honeymoon. You should have seen it coming, you stood idle whilst she went through her pregnancy. Pitying that she may die in childbirth, Edward took one look at you and did everything to save his wife. 

Bella awoke as a new vampire, turning to the family in confusion as she watched her daughter rapidly grow. 

“What is she?” She asked, looking at the family in confusion.

She looks over to you, standing between Rose and Emmett, Rose having her hand placed on your shoulder as you blankly stare at her. A part of you envious that she had survived and your biological mother did not, your father too selfish to save her. But, a part of you was very grateful you had found parents who would nurture you and loves you unconditionally.

“She’s a hybrid,” Carlisle explained.

“How are you all calm?” She asked as the family looked at you.

Emmett placed a hand on top of Rose’s, which rested on your shoulder and pulled you slightly back. As if to tell the family to back off.

“(Y/n) is a hybrid just like her,” Carlisle explained as Bella’s eyes travelled to you as she looked at Carlisle, “We need to shield her until we find it is safe.”

Safe, it was rarely safe with your coven. Days had passed and there were unfamiliar vampires entering your home, the place you felt safe, to protect Nessie and now essentially you. Vampires had questioned why you were part of the coven until Carlisle had collectively explained about your existence. 

The others would not question it as Emmett always stood close by, with a threatening aura around him. It was unspoken, but they could sense parental protectiveness from Emmett and Rose whenever you were nearby. 

One night, you looked down to the visiting vampires from the railings from upstairs, on the landing.

“They’re all for Nessie,” You softly say as you feel your parents’ presence next to you.

“They’re here for you too,” Emmett reassures you.

You sighed and leaned on the railing, “But, more so for Ness,” you hummed, “I saw how you interacted with her when she was a baby.”

“Are you jealous?” Your mom teased, but you scoffed, making her frown.

“Perhaps,” You shrugged your shoulders, “She got to spend all her life with her parents, people who care for her. I didn’t, I never got to spend my younger years with you.”

“Sweetheart,” Rose coos, stroking your hair, kissing your temple, “As much as I wanted to see you as a baby, I will never trade my child for anyone else. You are my son, and you have a special spot in our heart.”

“Yeah...” You trailed off, it was going to be hard to convince you, but your parents were willing to validate you.

After all, they can’t have any children, so to be blessed by you was the best thing that could ever happen to them. Suddenly, you had shocked them, as you rapidly dug into your inside pocket before fishing out a photograph, giving it to your mom.

“I found it in my bag when you had first found me.”

Rose and Emmett examine the picture, it was you when you were a baby. Smiling at the camera, both their unworking, dead hearts had melted at the sight of you. You chuckled nervously, shoving your hands in your pockets.

“You know, maybe, after this whole thing? Can we make a trip to my old family home, I want to know if there is anything of my past I can salvage.”

Emmett and Rose looked at you, you give them a half smile, nervously looking away. In came a hug from your mom and your dad laughing as his ruffles your hair.

“Of course, son!” Emmett exclaimed, “I want to find all your baby clothes and pictures.”

“We can see if you had a baby album with all your information that I can keep!” Rose excitedly spoke.

You smiled to yourself, it seems like your parents were more excited than you were.

[lilas]

3, 7, and 14 for innes pls!!!

oc ask meme

HI!! 💖 Thank you for asking! I’m always happy to just gush about Innes and #3 has actually been on my mind recently.

3. What does your oc’s voice sound like? (Or, if you have one, what’s their voiceclaim?) Can they sing, whistle, or roll their rs? Do they have any speech impediments or notable dialects/accents?

Nessie is actually Scottish!* Though their accent is a little light and broadens when they get excited about something. One of my favorite things about Scottish accents is the tendency to change the long “i” sounds into “ah.” So it sounds kind of like...

“Hellew, A’m Detective Calimeris.”

*Was it on purpose to nickname a Scottish character “Nessie?” The world may never know...

Their voice in my head sounds very measured. Soft but clear. Dulcet. Silvery. Kind of like a cool, smooth rock that just feels nice to hold. Does this make sense??????

And Innes can sing and whistle! Though they have terrible stage fright, I think they could sing in a group, and would be very good with practice. They’re in the Alto/Tenor range.

7. What is a song that makes you think of your OC? Is it something they’d listen to?

Lately these (Deep is just an instrumental remix of the second song) have been giving me all of the Nat/Innes feels (their ship name is Sewellis 😌). Specifically in the flavor of an AU that’s been forming in my head of a seafaring Nat meeting merperson Innes.

I think Innes would like them! Nessie likes musicals, and shows like what Cirque du Soleil puts on. They’re the type to buy the album after seeing a show they really really liked.

14. If your OC could spend a day free from consequences or recognition for their actions, what would they do?

PFFT. After spending most of the day not trusting that was the case????* Go shopping! Books, accessories, candles, perfume. A new car... If they can spend money without it effecting their budget? HELL yes.

*Even if they were told clearly that there’d be no consequences, Innes would still question that. Like

[panlight]

What are some of your favorite headcanons for Carlisle and Esme as “parents” to the others?

I like the idea of Emmett calling Carlisle “Pops” sometimes. It started as a joke (Carlisle is 23, Emmett is 20, the idea of him posing as his dad is kind of ridiculous), and it’s still mostly a joke, but it’s taken on a little bit of sentimentality and meaning. No one else really calls him anything like that, other than in public, which gets a little awkward for everyone. “Oh hi Ca—Dad.”

Edward calls Esme “Mom” sometimes, and so do Alice and Emmett. Rosalie is less likely to do it; Jasper never really does other than in public if they’re trying to blend in, because he’s actually 50 years older than her and it gets a little weird for him. 

I do think Esme is the more parental of two on a day-to-day basis. She’s the “wipe your feet!” parent. The “If you’re going to wrestle, wrestle outside!” parent. She’s faster to go Mama Bear about insults or threats to her kids, too. Carlisle gets protective too, but he takes longer to get there because he has to try to solve the issue peacefully and work through the morality first. Esme is there in a snap of her fingers. Emmett cooks with Esme.  Jasper helps her in her constructions projects. Alice and Rosalie keep her young and take her on girls weekends to pop concerts and shopping. She soothes Rosalie when she’s upset by brushing her long hair. She hums to herself a lot, sometimes humming songs Edward has composed, and sometimes her humming inspires new Edward compositions. 

I think Carlisle sees his “kids” are more adult than Esme does, and lets them do their own thing most of the time, but he DOES have a lot of fatherly pride for them. He’s so proud of how far Jasper has come in terms of self control. He’s so proud of Rosalie’s nearly perfect record. He’s so honored that Alice chose a life with him and his family out of all the possible futures. He’s so grateful for how Emmett brings light and humor to their situation. With Edward, though, the relationship is much more parental, with Carlisle feeling like Elizabeth charged him with looking after her son. He’s proud of him too, especially how this experience with Bella has caused him to grow and change how he sees himself and vampirism (and how Bella’s mental shield has humbled him a bit!). 

Esme has photos of everyone everywhere. She has the “safe” ones that she cane leave out on the rare occasions humans visit the house, and then albums and albums that document the family through the decades.  Photos of her just her, Edward and Carlisle. Then photos of them plus Rosalie.  Then Emmett. Then Alice and Jasper. And now Bella and Nessie (and Jacob and Seth and a disgruntled, arms-crossed, scowling Leah). A confused Charlie. An uncomfortable-looking Sue. 

[lovinitkpop]

Brown Sugar and Honey

This one is about a new girl group at SM. You could say EXO sister group there may be a love line put in it who really knows. I mean I know but then again I might not know. Heads up I’m sorry for any spelling mistakes or grammar mistakes after rereading it over and over I can’t deal with it.

Oh the reason I came up with this title is because the main OC is black and DO KyungSoo looks damn sexy and handsome when his skin is dark and tan and NOT WHITE WASHED!!!!! STOP THE WHITE WASHING!!!!!!!!

If there is a love line then it will be my first Kyungsoo series. Hope you like it but if you don’t guess what I don’t give two shits leave my blog then. Anyways enjoy bye.

Warnings: Fluffy, Angst, Language, Bullying, Stupid, May not make senses, Brain frat, May not have smut, Trigger, Suicide talk, Racism, Blood, etc.

Pairing: OC x DO Kyungsoo

Chapter 33

July 26, 2019

Jisoo runs down the hall running away from her manager. As she makes it to Renesmee room Rosalie walks out looking at her phone. “Stop running now.” She says turning her head causing Jisoo to slide to a stop.

“She is still okay nothing changed from the last time you were here.” Rosalie adds putting here phone in her pocket.

“I don’t know that someone didn’t let me stay the night.” Jisoo says before walking into the room. “Sis!”

“Jiji you should be at practice.” Renesmee says looking up from her phone. Jisoo walks over sitting next to Renesmee. “You could have asked me to move over.”

Renesmee says moving to the side letting her sit. Jisoo puts her arm around Renesmee laying her head on her shoulder. “Ugh I missed you so much.”

“Unnie we were just here yesterday.” Roxay says walking in with the others. “Unnie!” She says hopping over to Renesmee hugging her.

“Girls you should be at practice.” Renesmee says looking at them and they just pout. Their manager walks in sighing. “What are they doing here?”

“They won’t step into the practice room until you get out; they keep running away.” He says folding his arms looking at them.

“Girls really; the doctor said I’m fine in fact I might be getting out tomorrow.” Renesmee says looking at them.

“We don’t want to go on without you.” Eunjin says looking from the floor.

“Well you won’t I’m a 100% okay all they’ve been doing is running test and making sure my oxygen is good.” Renesmee says smiling pushing her hair back.

“Which from the result that just came back everything looks good.” The doctor says walking into the room looking at his clipboard. “If it stays that way tonight you are free to go in the morning.”

“Yay!” The girls yell running over hugging Renesmee. She laughs looking at them before looking back at the doctor.

“Thank you.” She says bowing her head. He nods watching them as he looks back at his clipboard. The girls smile looking at Renesmee. “Told you girls.”

“You know you’re a tough cookie.” He says walking to the door. Renesmee smiles giggling covering her mouth. “I mean one tough cookie.”

“Yes I am.” She agreed with him watching him leave. The girls smile looking at Renesmee. “You girls better be in practice tomorrow before I get there.”

“Yes ma’am.” They all say jumping up and down. Rosalie walks back in with Déshì. He bows to everyone saying hello.

“Okay girls it’s late we need to go.” Their manager says looking at them and they all whine looking at him. “Not now I promise I’ll come pick her up tomorrow and bring her to practice.”

“You promise?” Xiaoling asks looking at him.

“Yes now lets go.” He says pointing to the door. They all hug Renesmee before leaving. “Bye I’ll be here tomorrow to get you.”

“Okay bye.” Renesmee says waving bye. Déshì smiles walking over handing her the bag. “Oh good you found it.” She says smiling and he nods sitting down next to her.

“Anymore nightmares?” He asks pushing her hair back.

“Yeah but my mom has been here to help me.” She says looking at Rosalie. “I mean I don’t get that much sleep but I’m getting something.”

“Well Déshì is staying tonight I have a meeting in the morning.” Rosalie says walking grabbing her bags. Renesmee shakes her head looking at them.

“What?”

“He doesn’t have to stay, I can’t keep him from his family.” Renesmee says looking at them smiling. “So I asked him to grab this bag it has a few thing to help me.”

“I don’t mind staying Nessie.” Déshì says but Renesmee just shakes her head again grabbing his hand. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah but you can stay till I fall asleep.” She replies tilting her head. Déshì nods before looking back at Rosalie.

“Okay then good night.” Rosalie says kissing Renesmee forehead. She then walks out as her phone starts ringing.

“I need you to do me a favor.” Renesmee asks tilting her head. He nods listening to her and she smiles. “I need you to mail this off for me.”

“Sure what is it?” He asks taking the package. She shakes her head looking at him and he sighs. “Okay fine be that way, do you want anything while I’m out?”

“No I’m fine but thank you.” Renesmee says looking in her bag. “Again thank you for bringing the bag.” She says smiling and he leans forward kissing her forehead.

“Bye only sweet dreams and no staying up late.” Déshì says smiling before leaving. Renesmee smiles nodding pulling her plushie out hugging it. “Ahh now I see why you wanted the bag; I guess you will have good dreams.”

Renesmee nods pulling the hoodie out the bag. “Night Déshì.” Renesmee says going to the bathroom. He nods before leaving closing the door.

July 31, 2019

‘Breaking News!

Hello everyone we are back again with an update to Renesmee noona aka Nessie from Royal 1004.

Yes this is right as you know we are both huge fans of Nessie unnie and the group. But we had some major concerns ever since the end of last year.

Yes Nessie noona has been through a lot and this video we are doing will confirm it. As you all know there was talk about SM kicking Nessie from the group.

Now we got a package a few days ago with a note. We would have filmed earlier but I was out of town. So my brother had to wait on me.

Now that she’s here we opened it the other night and this person sent us a video. Now this video is very disturbing, disappointing, and disgusting, etc.

Like this video made me angry and sad to see it. And we don’t know how this video was taken without anyone knowing. We don’t know where it can from the sender left no name or return address nothing.

Now our last big story about Nessie noona was on her birthday when she didn’t attend her birthday fan meet. When fans told us that she told her mother she had broken ribs and a twisted ankle.

Which was why she sat out for one album. Now this time it’s about what happened on the first day of their tour. Where she collapsed during the show. Their were fan videos capturing the whole thing.

You could hear the staff clearly say her heartbeat stops not once but twice. That’s before she was rushed to the hospital. Going back just a few hours before the concert Renesmee unnie went live on vlive.

Where she said that she had just gotten more medicine. The following day her manager released a statement on his personal Instagram; saying her fever had spiked which caused her to collapse. Now this manager is the only manager we have seen out of the girls 3 managers.

Yes he is always going beyond his job when taking care the girls. He seem to have a soft spot for Roxay, Jisoo unnie and Nessie unnie.

But with all that being said we are going to show you the footage we received. Again this video maybe to much for you. We did add subtitles just in case you can’t hear the audio that well.’

Renesmee sits in the practice room looking at her phone tilting her head. “Interesting how did I know you would be here?” Taeyong says walking into the room.

“Well you know me never stop working.” Renesmee says looking at her laptop now. “I have to get these counts just right.”

“How did you find time to be here aren’t you on tour?”

“Yes we leave in two days.” He says sitting next to her. Renesmee turns looking at him frowning. “Don’t give me that look.”

“Taeyong your hurt I can see it in your eyes.” She says as she pushes her hair back. He sighs looking away. “You need rest.”

“Looks who’s talking, you never take care of yourself.” Taeyong speaks wrapping his arms around his knees. “You always push yourself too far.”

“Yeah people actually like you; no one gives a shit about me.” Renesmee says looking back at her screen.

“I’m sorry was that a British accent?” He asks tilting his head.

“Yeah I’m sorry I don’t know where it comes from.” She says looking down at her lap. “Trust it happen a lot I just don’t know how it comes out when I’m speaking Korean.”

“So you can speak with a British accent?” He asks looking at her and she nods. “So what are you working on?”

“Well three new songs for when we go to America because they need to be filmed over there.” Renesmee says looking at her phone. “Oh I have the songs I need you to look over.”

“For?” He asks looking confused.

Renesmee smiles covering her mouth seeing his face. He tilts his head watching her and she just looks away. “For the next part in the pandora series.”

“Oh okay send it to me.” He says and she nods sending him the files. “What are we going for this time?”

“The good side of the box.” Renesmee says pushing her hair back. “As much as I love dark evil concepts got at least cover the good side.”

“We don’t have to, we can just be evil for good you know.” Taeyong says smiling and she turns her head looking at his face.

“Don’t tempt me.” She whines pouting and he just laughs seeing her face. “Ugh we have SM Town coming up.”

“Are you sure you’re up to it?” He asks grabbing her arm. “You just got out the hospital.” He adds looking her in the eye.

“You are so cute I’m glad were friends Tae.” Renesmee says smiling and he sits up hearing her. “The doctor said I’m fine.”

“Just friends?” He asks watching her and she nods.

“I knew for a while Tae.” She says and he looks at her in shock.

“You did?”

“Yes, I like you too but we wouldn’t work out, plus your fans would go nuts.” Renesmee says smiling poking his cheek. “I like our friendship the way it is and so do you; it’s fun being cute and flirty with you some fans like it.”

“But you know deep down it wouldn’t end well; the thing that pulls us together also pulls us apart.”

“So you really like me the way I like you?” He asks watching her smiling and she nods. “I guess you’re right in the long run something would have happened.” He adds putting his arm around her.

“Plus I don’t think my manager would be happy.” She says smiling up at him. “But you are still my vampire.”

“And you’re still mine.” Taeyong says pulling his phone out hearing it ring. “Well my queen I have to go, I’ll start working on these songs later.”

“Bye.”

August 9, 2019

Renesmee sits there looking at everyone. “Am I in trouble?” She asks as she sits there. “Wait it has to do with those YouTubers video.”

“Yes.”

“Well I had nothing to do with that.” Renesmee speaks sitting up in her chair.

“We know but why didn’t you come to anyone?” One man asks looking at her.

“Like they told me it’s their word against mine.” Renesmee says looking away. “And who would believe an ugly fat black bitch monkey like me.”

“One of many names I was called.” She says with a scoff. “I’ve said it many times before no one cares about me, so why am I here.”

“You’re here because I brought you here.” Sooman says watching her tilting his head. “I would have believed you, I’ve told you to come to me if something was wrong.”

Renesmee sighs looking away again hearing him. “Yeah but I didn’t want to cause trouble.” She says folding her arms looking at her lap.

“Everyone out please I’m sure you have paperwork to take care of.” He says looking at everyone else. They all nod bowing before leaving.

Sooman sighs taking his glasses off rubbing his face. “You don’t want to cause trouble?” He repeats what she says and she nods.

“So you rather die!” He says standing up hitting the table watching her. Renesmee jumps hearing him scream and she bites her lip.

“It’s not like it’s the first time trust me.” Renesmee says folding her arms across her chest. “And I’m sure it won’t be the last.”

“I treat you like my own daughter Nessie all I ask is you come to me if you need help.” He says putting his glasses back on. “I did everything I could to make you feel at home.”

Renesmee bites her lip again hearing him. “I’m sorry I’m not used to dealing with people helping me.” She says looking at him and he sighs.

“Nessie no one will hurt you.” He says and she scoffs rolling her eyes. “No one will hurt you anymore, what happened to you in the past won’t happen again.”

“Plus those who were mentioned in the video were fired.”

“Wait what?” She says looking at him and he tilts his head.

“They’re fired.”

“Great I’m more of a target than before.” Renesmee says getting up walking off. Sooman grabs her arm stopping her.

“What are you talking about?” He says looking at her. Renesmee pulls free pushing her hair back.

“They’ll blame me for getting fired, since they don’t work here it’s free game to hurt me!” Renesmee screams kicking the chair over.

“But you had nothing to do with that video.” He says watching her. Renesmee grips her hair thinking and she smirks shaking her head. “Unless you…”

“Yes it was me I knew they were right I needed proof.” Renesmee says looking at the floor. “I knew those two followed my every move so I sent them the video.”

Sooman sighs shaking his head watching her. “I promise nothing will happen to you.” He says grabbing her arm again. “Are you hiding anything else from me?”

“Well yes but I can’t tell you yet.” She says biting her lip. He hums tilting his head to the side. “It’s nothing bad and I promise I’m safe okay.”

“So when are you going to tell me?” Sooman asks folding his arms. Renesmee smiles biting her finger. “Nessie.”

“I don’t know when it’s safe and I won’t get in trouble.” Renesmee says standing there thinking. “But I can tell you I really haven’t been staying at the dorm.”

“Where have you been staying?”

“Well you know that house my mom had she gave it to me.” She replies looking at him and he nods.

“That’s fine since no one knows about it, I guess you’ve been driving yourself here.” He says standing up picking up the chair.

“Yes, I couldn’t just let those cars go to waste.” Renesmee says smiling swaying side to side. Sooman shakes his head laughing watching her.

“I swear you cause more worry than trouble.” He says walking towards the door opening it. Renesmee follows behind walking out the office.

She walks down the hall heading to the others. “Uh Nessie.” He calls out to her and she stops. Renesmee turns just as a few staff walks pass. “I’ll talk to you later.”

Renesmee smiles running to him hugging him. He laughs hugging her back patting her head. Some of the workers look over at them in shock.

“I promise you’re safe from now on.” He says looking at her. “Now go I’m sure you have a tour to finish.”

Renesmee nods running off and she smiles seeing Jongin. She jumps on his back laughing hearing him scream. “Kai oppa!”

“Nessie I swear you are going to give me a heart attack.” He says tilting his head looking at her. “What are you doing?”

“I want to spend time with my favorite devil bear.” She says smiling at him and he keeps walking.

“Yeah right what do you want?” He asks walking into a practice room.

“Why do you think I want something?” She says pouting resting her head on his shoulder. Jongin looks at her and she sighs. “I’m writing a song and want you to do it with me.”

“Fine.” He says walking over putting his bag down. “Now I have to practice for the new group, so you have to go oh and have fun with the rest of the tour.”

Renesmee let’s go of him dropping to the floor nodding. “Okay have fun debuting again, I swear if I don’t get a solo soon me and the rest of EXOLs we riot.”

Jongin smirks watching her and she looks at him. “I’m not kidding just wait and see.” She says walking to the door.

“When I do release an album you better be ready.” He replies and she looks back at him.

“Why?”

“I want you to be on it.” He says smiling biting his lip. “Duh.”

“The devil dancer wants me on his album.” Renesmee says putting her hands on her hips. “The man that oozes sex on stage wants me on his album.”

“Plus the mv and dance.” Jongin smirks his cheeks turning red. “I at least want to do three mvs.”

“D.O oppa won’t be happy about that.” She says smiling evilly. Jongin shrugs starting the music as he gets ready. “Text me your evil plan to kill everyone later.”

“Will do my little devil.” He says as he dances and she nods leaving.

Renesmee heads to her car carrying her bag. She gets in getting ready to drive off. “Man this tour has to do good.” She says heading to the dorm.

“Where have you been?” Eunjin asks as the girls run around getting there stuff together. Renesmee smiles as Roxay runs over hugging her.

“Uh I had a meeting about the video they wanted to know if I had something to do with it.” Renesmee says before going up to her room to grab a few bags.

“Are you in trouble?” Jisoo asks walking downstairs with her bags.

“No.” Renesmee says walking up behind her.

“Are you girls ready?” Their manager asks and the girls nod standing by their bags. “Then let’s go.”

[katesummervsthemultiverse]

It's come to my attention that I haven't formally introduced the rogue's gallery featured here, so:

Kate: the titular protagonist and graduate student in research paleobiology. Likes kittens, fancy cheese, the scientific method, high fantasy, and dinosaurs. Dislikes cruelty for cruelty’s sake (especially when justified by ‘intelligence’), smug ignorance, the interpersonal Politics of higher academia, tomato-based pasta sauces, and being kidnapped and dragged into a series of unpleasant and incredibly dangerous interdimensional 'adventures' that have nothing to do with her by old women with apparently supernatural abilities and no regard for others or for the laws of physics. Owns at least one Nine Inch Nails album and takes secret, perverse glee in listening to it through her headphones in public while dressed her cutest. 

Margo: old woman with apparently supernatural abilities and no regard for others or for the laws of physics. Likes novelty flasks, stupid pranks, loud, fast, and shitty garage rock, anything that annoys or inconveniences Peggy and the Architects working with her, and not talking about things that involve genuine emotion. Dislikes it when people don’t recognise her pop culture references because they don’t exist on that planet/in that reality. Is the frontwoman of a band that enjoyed moderate popularity in the eighties and nineties and lives on on the interdimensional circuit, and will not shut up about it, ever. Liked Meryl Streep best in Ricki and the Flash. 

Peggy: also an old woman with apparently supernatural abilities and very little regard for others or for the laws of physics. Sort of Margo Brown from another dimension, though if asked she will say it’s the other way around. Likes it when things go smoothly and she doesn’t have to have anyone memory-wiped or permanently and forcibly displaced from their home dimension in order to retain the fundamental structural integrity of the multiverse. Also a fan of any evening plans that include a good Okanagan red, a well-written book on aberrant psychology, and a pair of warm fuzzy slippers. Hates being called Peggy. Liked Meryl Streep best in The Devil Wears Prada.

Wanda: Kate’s best friend, graduate student in engineering, and amateur cryptid enthusiast. Would fight a wildcat bare-handed for her friends but doesn't let it stop her from making fun of them, like, all the time. Likes cartoon sitcoms, Mexican food, and logical solutions to complex problems. Dislikes brutalist architecture, finding out that people have been using her as 'my black friend' to support their shitty arguments, and how Kate completely agrees with the conventional wisdom that birds are descendants of dinosaurs but still won't get on board with Nessie being one too. May or may not be joking about the Nessie thing.

Bo: Architect with a capital A, a word which here means 'alternate-dimension counterpart of an old woman with apparently supernatural abilities and no regard for others or for the laws of physics'. Likes big sleek shiny machines that go very fast, loud thumpy music you can dance to, action movies, and her girlfriend Autumn, who is practically an action movie in and of herself. Dislikes being taken less than seriously/having her abilities questioned because of her age (or race, or gender), the smell of anything blue raspberry-flavoured, Peggy's strict no-sharing-the-secrets-of-the-multiverse-with-non-Architects policy, sleeping, and speed limits.

Autumn: not an Architect with a capital A, but shows equal disdain for the laws of physics. Adventurer by trade, action heroine by trope. Former protégé of Margo Brown and will sing her praises to the ends of the earth. Likes reality television (especially in the Ninja Warrior tradition), highly implausible and extremely powerful sci-fi tech, blue raspberry-flavoured foods, travel, and her girlfriend Bo. Dislikes Peggy's policy against letting non-Architects traverse the multiverse, sexist tropes in action movies, the fact that all this sci-fi tech still hasn't produced a strapless bra that actually provides noticeable support, milk and milk products, and fighting with Bo about whether she can have blue raspberry energy drinks inside their spaceship.

Dustin: just got dragged along for the ride. Animation industry professional, former failed stand-up comedian, classic sci-fi superfan, and self-professed smartest guy in the room. As he's often the only guy in the room, this is frequently a true statement. Definitely not a murderer, no matter what any of these other weirdos say.

[cardboard-moon]

40 Things You Never Wanted To Know About Me

You probably already know me decently well or else you wouldn’t be reading this, so instead of rehashing the basic (boring) “getting to know me” questions I dug a little deeper and asked myself about what’s really important. Here is the result: 40 Things You Never Wanted To Know About Me. Enjoy!

1. What Parks and Rec character am I?

While I could argue for almost everyone on the show I’m probably most like Ben Wyatt: a white, brunette, and sad man who eats soup alone on a park bench (minus his love of math and rollerskate kink)

2: Top 5 books?

To Kill a Mockingbird, The Secret History, A Prayer for Owen Meany, The Help, 11/22/63

3: Top 5 movies?

Chinatown, Star Wars, Rear Window, National Treasure (nick cage can be good in small doses ok) and Nancy Drew (2007)

4: Top 5 shows?

Parks and Rec, B99, That 70′s Show, Mad Men, Arrested Development

5: Top 10 most iconic vines?

1) Chris is that a weed/Mary is that a police

2) Hi My Name is Trey I have A Basketball Game Tomorrow

3) Rebecca It’s Not What You Think

4) The one where the girl is just hitting elmo with a baseball bat

5) Anything Kermit but esp. the one where he falls off the building

6) You Know This Boy Got His Free Taco

7) 2 Bros Chillin in the Hot Tub

8) Waelcom to my Keeetchen we have bananis and avocadis

9) Whoever Threw That Paper Your Mom’s A Hoe

10) i spilled lipstick in your valentino bag (yOU SPILLED WHAHULAUG LIPSTICK IN MY VALENTINE WHITE BAG)

6: Where do I see myself in 21 years?

One of my dreams in life is to marry the heir to a prestigious winery out in wine country. I have a vision of myself at 39, waking up at 10 AM on a tuesday and standing on my private balcony in my state-of-the-art spanish stucco villa. i am drinking a chardonnay despite the early hour whilst i observe my grape empire in my silk negligee. the only event planned for the day is a portrait sitting for my rottweilers (4 of them), for which i have arranged spaces in the family’s private art gallery. i am aging well despite the harsh california sun and my partner and i have a trip to tuscany planned for the fall. it’s a charmed life and i never tire of eating grapes  

7: Top 5 favorite cryptids

1) Nessie (Nessie is a true lady I believe in her)

2) Mothman (not real)/ el chupacabra (possibly real)

3) the kraken (definitely real)

4) Bigfoot (not real but a legend anyways)

5) the yeti (real only in russia)

8: Do I Believe in Ghosts

It’s a complicated topic and of course we will likely never know for sure but the short answer is yes. in my opinion though, what ghosts are is the important question: are they really the dead coming back to haunt the earth? are they just manifestations of energy that the mind interprets into recognizable shapes? hallucinations? or is it wish fulfillment and the reduction of tensions on a heavy conscience? our brains are capable of powerful things, but it begs the question as to whether if a human desperately wants something to be true does the human mind have the power to make it true? c. s. lewis mentioned once that he never understood the ghost debate since, given that ghosts are real, they have no real power over us or anything interesting to say. but i believe that just goes to show how the mystery is far often more important than the solution.

9: Best/Worst Month of the Year

Best: May/November (spring/fall in full swing, holidays, time off school, great atmosphere) Worst: August (too dang hot & start of school)

10: What is one of my embarrassing secrets

I didn’t learn how to tie my shoes until I was nine (velcro ftw)

11: What is my Dream Date

We go cryptid hunting in the woods and have a picnic in the dark; you supply dogs for entertainment and guardianship purposes, i supply drinks and the cryptozoological myths we are chasing. Afterwards we get gelato

12: Top 3 Presidents

(this is based solely on arbitrary opinion not policies) 1) Barry Obama 2) Lincoln  3) Millard Fillmore (his name is funny) 

Honorable mention: jimmy carter (he was the only noncorrupt man in office for like 30 years before barry)

13: Top 3 Vice Presidents

1) John Adams, if nothing else but for the drama this man caused 2) Walter Mondale 3) the big boy JB 

Honorable Mention: Nichard Rixon

14: Top 3 Secretaries of State

1) Madeline Albright 2) Henry Clay 3) Elihu P. Washburn 

(note: secretaries of state have the funniest names, like Hamilton Fish (1869-1877) rest easy Mr. Fish)

15: Worst Activity they make you do in middle school PE

Middle school P.E. is the worst in general but I’m going to say either grading you on your shotput skills (?) or BMI (??) or just the tuesday run in general (luther kids know)

16: Top 4 Worst Scents

1) Washing a knife covered in peanut butter 2) Really cheap perfume that they sell in checkout lines at convenience stores 3) Olives 4) organic deodorant

17: Top 7 Conspiracy Theories

1) The Denver Airport is an underground military fallout shelter designed to protect the 1% from nuclear warfare

2) A Roman pope adjusted the Gregorian calendar so that his reign would fall on 1000 AD so we’re actually living in the year 1783

3) Paul McCartney is dead and was replaced prior to the Seargant Pepper album by a lookalike named Billy Shears

4) The state of Wyoming is a myth

5) Avril Lavigne died and was replaced back in the early 00’s

6) The Titanic sank because too many people went back in time to prevent it from sinking

7) Not to be cliche George Bush and the military-industrial complex orchestrated the 9/11 attacks (jet fuel can’t melt steel beams and all that)

18: Inside jokes with myself

I’m not usually a “gamer” but every year without fail someone introduces me to a game exactly at finals time and I get hooked and it ruins my gpa and study habits. This year it’s Stardew Valley, last year it was Dream Daddy and the year before that it was undertale and I blame Jojo for absolutely all of it bc they are usually the instigator. Anyway, every year I joke with myself about what game will derail my grades this year

19: Top 5 Worst Tactile Sensations

1) Putting tights or leggings on wet, hairy legs post-shower

2) Running fingernails along cardboard

3) Sweating in a turtleneck

4) Having wet, salty hair after swimming that drips down onto your back and makes the top of your shirt damp

5) Reaching into a bag of grapes and only finding really soft, slimy ones

20: Best Cat I’ve ever encountered

One time my friend and I were leaving Romancing the Bean and walking back to her car and the fattest, fluffiest, softest ginger cat I’ve ever seen came trotting up to us and flopped over at our feet. He was such a good boy!!! And so friendly with strangers!! He was very well groomed and just wanted some love, and whenever we stopped petting him he would jump up onto our legs and leave little wet paw prints everywhere, I wanted to kidnap him

21: Best dog I’ve ever encountered

All of them

22: Best squirrel I’ve ever encountered

My dad has befriended a squirrel named Nutty that likes to sneak into his office when the door’s open and steals peanuts. if the door is closed he’ll bang on it and scream until we acknowledge him

23: If I were a furry what would my fursona be

I do not know because I am not a furry. HOWEVER someone who is well-versed in furry matters told me once that I would be one of those long, nervous dogs like a greyhound maybe and tbh I could see it

24: Favorite/Least Favorite Disneyland Rides

My favorite has always been haunted mansion, except for the halloween season when it’s nightmare before christmas and then it’s thunder mountain. I just love the outside atmosphere of the house bc I’m a slut for that southern gothic architecture style. Worst is splash mountain because there’s no seatbelt and LOGICALLY i know I don’t need one but it doesn’t stop me from having a panic attack every time I get on and we go up the big hill as I worry about being flung from the toboggan across the park

25: Least favorite restaurant within 10 mile radius of my house

I live over by Porto’s so I am #blessed to be surrounded by some really dope food. However there is a hipster place a couple of blocks over in Toluca Lake that only serves bizarre food like fried chicken in maple syrup with waffle fries and it’s surprisingly bland, so the lack of taste combines with how expensive it is probably makes it the worst (it’s also forgettable bc I can’t even remember its name)

26: Rank of JBHS history department according to how good of a parent they would be

9.Mr. Bixler - I have never had this man so I can’t say shit. NA/10

8. Ms. Snowden - I’ve never had her either but I’ve heard enough about her between Burroughs and Luther to know that this woman is kind of scary, intimidating and uptight, all things I personally do not desire in a parent. 2/10

7. Mr. Hatch - I love Scott Hatch but he is a tremendous mess of a man. Judging by his wife’s instagram photos his idea of parenting is taking naps while cuddling his children and letting his wife do the rest of the hard work. Plus he seems like the type to be too wrapped up in his own melodrama and too busy hangin out with his best friend Edward Frankenbush playing Xbox to pay much attention to his kids. However, he did skip the first day of school to take his daughter to kindergarten so he gets points for that. 4/10

6. Mr. Lee - Mr. Lee is a very respectable guy who seems like he does a very good job providing for his family. He’s ranked as middle of the road because he’s a naturally private person so I can’t speak to his parenting tactics or personality much, however the few stories he shared about his daughter were very cute and he does the typical teacher/parent things like making her his screensaver on his computer. Overall, a very quality dad and man, 6.5/10

5. Mr. Fitz - Kyle Fitzgerald is similarly a mess of a man, but the difference between him and Scott Hatch is that he seems to make an investment in his kid. He always talks about current events in terms of what idiocy his poor daughter will have to put up with which shows his devotion to her well-being and survival in a confusing world. Also he brought her in to go swimming once while I was working at Verdugo and I got to see them having a great time on the splash pad and it warmed my heart. Great dad 7/10

4. Mr. Piper - Richard Piper is such a good father but in a detached way. He loves talking about his son and wife just as much as he loves talking about planes. The real kicker? When he talks about taking his son ON planes and geeking out over history together. He also asked all of his classes for people looking for tutoring work when his son was struggling in math which is so cute. Good guy Rick gets an 8/10.

2. (tie) Mr. Frankenbush and Ms. Hacker - Ed and Jan are both beautiful people. I know Ms. Hacker is #divisive but I personally am a big fan and would die to have her guidance in my daily life. She’s always interested in what’s going on in people’s lives and sure she’s definitely chaotic but it’s a loving chaos that’s only looking to help other people. I’ve not had the pleasure of having Mr. Frankenbush but he always is hanging out with his son Joey and they love coming to the Burroughs pool and playing water polo together; they spend a lot of time together since his wife works so much and they have such a buddy friendship. Both of these lovely people are super devoted and invested in the youth and would make great parents. 9/10

1. Mr. Clark - A god. We don’t deserve this man and I can’t sing his praises enough. Were were all lucky enough to be Greg’s children I don’t think evil would exist in the world. 11/10

27: Worst book I read for school

Hands down Tale of Two Cities since it’s the only one I’ve never finished. Dickens just doesn’t do it for me I guess plus I get really tired of the one dimensional characters and how much he romanticizes Lucy

28: Favorite little-known tidbit of history

When Richard Nixon went to Soviet Russia as Eisenhower’s VP during the cold war his secret service agents detected higher than usual amounts of radiation coming from Nixon’s hotel room, so they started talking loudly about it bc they knew the Soviets had planted buds and were listening. Within like an hour the radiation had vanished and they never heard anything about it again so man Soviet’s ain’t sly

29: 5 Places in Burbank That Are Definitely Haunted

1. Coral Cafe for obvious reasons, look up the ghost on youtube

2. The View seems like it would have some kind of el chupacabra-esque creature prowling around, maybe a mountain lion hybrid

3. Fry’s Electronics

4. The abandoned train station under the bridge

5. The LA river by the equestrian center

30: Rank of all the AP classes i took in order of entertainment value

9) AP Bio: I liked bio but the class wasn’t very entertaining. There’s not a lot of humor in bacteria and cells, and Mr. Van Loo is much more of a calming than a humorous and chaotic presence, so overall it takes the hit as the least entertaining class.

8) AP Stats: Math is similarly not very entertaining, but Mrs. Hollingshed’s erratic personality gives it the edge over Bio. Definitely more humorous than expected of a math class.

7) AP Econ: I bombed econ and business/money isn’t very entertaining but Jan Hacker made it so thanks to her chaos (love her though).

6) AP Euro: European history is incredibly iconic because, spoiler alert, Europeans are idiots and historically speaking everything that can go wrong, will go wrong. I just wish I remember it since I think idiot sophomore Lily slept through most of the class so needless to say I didn’t soak up much of the entertainment value. If it were up to me I’d take it over again and maybe stay awake this time.

5) AP Lit: Lit was just as much challenging and intimidating as it was entertaining, so it balances out. Mrs. Caluya is notably iconic and the books we read were all pretty interesting so it gets a high vote from me.

3) (tie) Gov/APUSH: History is always entertaining in my eyes since people do stupid things out of pettiness. These two tie for different reasons: Mr. Piper is a great teacher and that mock trial we did for the industrial age was great, but the subject was also extremely entertaining overall. I loved reading about how John Adams made making fun of him illegal. Gov was mostly just entertaining because of Mr. Hatch and how salty his is about the government. His sarcastic comments about how corrupt everything is gave life to an otherwise pretty lifeless subject.

2) AP Lang: aka the class with no curriculum, or the Kuglen Hour. I love Mr. Kuglen so much and he is responsible for 99% of the amusement in the class. I somehow learned how to be a better writer by listening to him complain about Trump and everything else under the sun for an hour every day so it was well worth it. Also who doesn’t like a class where you read Dave Sedaris for homework?

1) AP Psych: Without question, this is the epitome of entertainment. Psychology is just a mishmash of people trying to figure out why humans are as stupid as we are and why we do dumb things. Add in all the iconic psychologists and history and a class led by salty Mr. Hatch and you have a recipe for an entertaining year.

31: Top 5 Iconic JBHS teachers that I NEVER had (no particular order)

Mr. Peebles: A quirky man who I would have loved were I any good at math whatsoever

Mr. Arakelian: Band kids hate him but the stories I hear are so frickin iconic that I wish I could be an honorary band kid for a day and see the horror firsthand. If you have Arakelian stories please send them my way I’d love to hear about your pain

Mr. Frankenbush: A sad boi who everyone should get to experience and I regret never having.

Dr. Madooglu: He was so kind to me after the failed anti-trump lunchtime protest last year and he didn’t even know me. I wish I could’ve experienced him as a teacher.

Mr. Clark: The man, the myth, the legend

32: List of some iconic swim horror stories

Charlie breaking his hand after he lost a race and punched the gutter as hard as he could

Some idiot JV boys smearing poop all over the Burbank High locker room

The entire JV team getting Burroughs swim banned from Islands

Me almost passing out at the Los Amigos meet last year after I didn’t eat or sleep all day

Everyone always feigning illness or injury to get out of swimming the 4x100 relay

Getting in trouble for watching boys volleyball practice instead of doing the weight room sets

Every. Single. 5AM morning practice before school.

When coach martin finally figured out how periods work and suddenly we couldn’t use that as an excuse for not swimming anymore

33: What Office Character Would I Be

A mix between Angela, Oscar, and Kelly (we love our dramatic icons)

34: #1 Thing I’d Bring With Me to a Desert Island

Castaway for instructional purposes

35: What Would I call my memoir

Schadenfreude

36: 7 Best Buzzfeed Unsolved Episodes (no particular order)

This is one of my favorite shows so these are my recommendations:

1. 3 Horrifying Cases of Ghosts and Demons - one of the very first and best episodes; a 45-minute special where the Boys investigate the Winchester house in San Francisco, the Island of the Dolls in Mexico, and the Sallie House in Kansas

2. The Strange Disappearance of D. B. Cooper - A man going by the name of Dan Cooper hijacked a plane, demanded money and passage to Mexico, and then at some point jumped out of the plane and was never seen again. To this day no one knows his identity or his fate despite some of the ransom money turning up in a river somewhere.

3. The Haunted Halls of Waverly Hills Hospital - Ryan and Shane explore an abandoned asylum in Pennsylvania and some creepy stuff ensues. One of the best supernatural episodes

4. The Thrilling Gardner Museum Heist - An almost hilarious story (with reenactments!) about a seriously inept security guard and the loss of some of the world’s most beloved paintings. This was one of the first episodes after they started making money and the production quality is off the charts 

5. The Scandalous Murder of William Desmond Taylor - Another excellent reenactment story about one of Hollywood’s first and biggest scandals, the suspicious murder of a leading film producer.

6. The Enigmatic Death of the Isdal Woman - A woman’s body was found suspiciously burned in the European wilderness and no one knows who she is or how exactly she was killed. Watch if you like espionage!

7. The Strange Killing of Ken Rex McElroy - An entire town seemingly rose up to murder a douchey, violent pedophile. One of the only episodes that’s actually happy?

37: 6 Things I would Have Changed About High School

1. Definitely would have joined yearbook as soon as I could

2. Wouldn’t have forced myself to swim for all 4 years; if the passion’s gone then you shouldn’t force it. It’s just a sign that you need to move on to better things

3. I would’ve taken more AP’s and maybe tried another stem ap class. I’ve always been self-conscious about how bad I am at math, but I’ve gotten a little better over the years and instead of being too afraid to challenge myself I would’ve liked to see how I could do and prove myself.

4. Worrying less about grades!! I killed myself over my grades for like three years and then I just kind of let myself go. I would have let myself have who knows how many more hours of sleep and taken the L on a couple of assignments; I’m still learning that my health is more important than perfection.

5. Meeting the right people! I wouldn’t have restricted myself to a few friends and would have branched out more by joinng stuff like JSA. It sucks meeting the right people your senior year and realizing that I was hanging out with the wrong people this whole time.

6. Spanish instead of French.

38: What Would I Name My Farm Animals if I had A Farm

I’d definitely name them all after female Shakespearian characters. My cows would be Hippolyta and Titania from Midsummer, my horse would be Desdemona from Othello, my chickens would be Gonereil, Regan, and Cordelia from King Lear and my goat would be named Gertrude from Hamlet

39: Most Useless Talent I Have

I have a really strong internal clock so when I don’t think about it too hard and guess intuitively I can usually predict how much time has passed/what time it is without looking at a clock. It’s really only useful for estimating how much time I wasted standing in the shower staring at the wall

40: Top Regret After Writing This:

Writing this instead of studying for my econ test in seven hours.

Thanks for reading!

[peterkayscarshare]

Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow By OverTheRainbow chp 4

Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow – By Over The Rainbow

Chapter 4 - ....All My Troubles Seemed So Far Away

Yesterday was bad, today had been another shitter. Tomorrow already looked like it wouldn't get much better. He wasn't rating with next week's chances either. Come to think of it he could probably write off the foreseeable future. He'd woken up with a bad 'ead. By the time he'd left the house it was bangin. It wasn't helped by the fact that he'd driven for twenty minutes and was on the A56 towards Bury before he realised he didn't need to do that anymore. He could just sail in and sail out. Travel in silence. No more chatter about last night's telly, or which celebrity was doing what to whom and why. No more singing along to blasts from the past, no more Golden Hour and "Who's in the Toaster?" No more debates about dinosaurs and conspiracy theories and favourite albums and childhood pets and movies and holidays and past romances...and regrets. No more questions about his day....he suddenly realised with a sense of almost overwhelming panic that he never really asked her about hers...why did he never ask her about her day? Why didn't he ask that simple question!? Why did he act like those things didn't matter to him when they did? Why did he let her think she didn't matter when she did? When she does...when she always would. She would matter to him when nothing else ever mattered again. Kayleigh Kitson would "matter" to him until the day he died. In that moment all he wanted in this world was to ask her about her day. To hear her voice telling him about what promotion she was working on. To hear her asking him for ideas about how to make a BOGOF deal on Toilet Duck exciting. Just to have her next to him, to look to his left and see her face, to know she was there, with her perfume and her smile and her laughter, filling up his senses and warming his heart. Losing her had completely frozen it. The thought that she must hate him now, had shattered it to bits. He knew there was nothing left. He was convinced if he shook, he'd rattle as the pieces rolled around in his chest.

By the time he arrived at work he was late. His inadvertent detour had cost him. He hated being late. It set a bad example to the staff. Like fraternising with colleagues after work...or falling in love with your Car Share buddy. Ted 2 was sweeping up the early autumn leaves that were starting to fall in the car park. He was wearing a company sweatshirt for a change. The weather had taken a turn. It had been colder these past few days. For all his bluster about him, it turned out he was a nice lad. He'd spoken to him earlier in the week. His name was Ethan, Ethan Bask. He was in his second year of Medicine at Edinburgh. His Dad hadn't been well; John remembered that his Mum Barbara had mentioned that her husband was having tests. Ethan wanted to come home for the summer to help out. He was glad of a chance to make a few quid. He had a girlfriend. Jenna. They were on the same course. He showed John a picture on his phone. A daft selfie they'd taken with a giant plastic "Nessie" when they'd spent a weekend camping up at Loch Ness. She was a beautiful girl, with a kind, gentle face. They looked happy together. He was a lucky lad. Ethan was leaving at the end of the month. Back to Edinburgh. Jenna had spent the summer in Thailand and would be home in a fortnight. A few of the staff were organising a leaving do for him. John planned to chip in a few quid and some beers. He'd call in to wish him well. Leaving dos. One of the limited exceptions to his "no fraternising rule"....the less said about the amendment pertaining to flame haired, brown eyed promotion representatives, the better. It occurred to him that he hadn't mentioned Ethan's imminent departure to Kayleigh. Partly, he reasoned, because he knew it would make her sad to see him go and partly because the prospect of her being saddened by the news saddened him. She'd doubtless hear it from the staff Newsletter...or as she was better known...Elsie. I'm sure she'll break it to her with her customary tact and diplomacy, he thought.

John spent much of the rest of the day squirrelled away in non-foods. He took a sudden notion to carry out a stock take. Not strictly necessary but highly advantageous when you're avoiding the food aisles. The place was a bloody mess. He was furious at the slipping standards, at the poor presentation, at the amount of waste. He'd torn a strip off Adam Arnold. He was the section supervisor. "How did you let it get in such a state?! Look at it! It's a mess. If you couldn't handle it, why didn't you say something? This is how it starts. You think you're in control. You think nothing can hurt you, then you realise you're in over your head!" Suddenly he stopped. He could see Adam's puzzled face. "Hurt me?" John struggled to recover his composure, "I meant professionally...hurt you professionally. This mess is costing the company money. Get it fixed...or you'll be up the road!" With that he stormed out and back to his office. He slammed the door shut and slumped in his chair. Christ! He was a bloody mess never mind Non-Foods. Rachel appeared with a bottle of water and two Nurofen. She'd heard he had a headache. She'd been buzzin around him all day like a wasp at a picnic. He wished she'd take her arse kissing routine and sod off....after she left the Nurofen of course. He turned on his computer and opened up his emails....and it all suddenly got very much worse...

From: Cath Hilton

To: John Redmond

Subject: Company Car Share Scheme

 Hi John,

I hope this finds you well. Kayleigh called in to the office today to confirm that you've decided, mutually, to end your Car Share Buddy arrangement. I'm sorry to hear this. You were one of our more successful pairings and we'd hoped to feature you both in the Autumn Corporate Bulletin. I completely understand your reasoning though. A ninety minute detour every day is not only inconvenient but hardly consistent with an environmentally friendly travel policy. Kayleigh has now signed and returned the attached form confirming the end of the arrangement. I'd be very grateful if you could please do the same as soon as possible.

Additionally, as the driver, you will be aware that the parking space you are currently occupying will now be subject to review. Pending your acquiring a new Car Share Buddy. HR can of course assist you with this process and should you wish to seek a new "buddy", we will make appropriate enquiries on your behalf. You should note that in the event that no "buddy” can be found, or you choose to no longer participate in the scheme, the parking space will be withdrawn in accordance with company policy, within 30 days. I've attached a copy of the policy for your review.

Should you require any further information on this, or any other matter, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Kind Regards,

Cath

Catherine Hilton

Human Resources Executive

 She'd gone to HR. Already! She'd said it was "mutual". It wasn't mutual. She's the one who got out of the bloody car!! How the Hell was that MUTUAL?! None of this was "mutual". It wasn't friggin "inconvenient" either! How could she not know! How could she not see! He'd have driven to the ends of the bloody earth for her! He stood up...he was going to find her. He was going to talk to her....she couldn't do this to him. It was driving him mental. He sat down. He stood up again....he sat down again. He put his head in his hands. After a moment and several calming breaths he began to regain his composure...or what was left of it. She'd gone to HR. She wanted it to end. That was what she wanted. He'd been enough of an asshole to her already. If this was what she really wanted, he'd sign the damn form. He'd make it official. He'd let her go...again. It was becoming like death by a thousand cuts. He hit print and signed his life away. This time it felt like he really had.

Rachel had been waiting for him as he left. She was pappin on about a weekend she'd had up in Newcastle and getting her heal stuck in a grate. He'd tuned her out somewhere around her "hilarious" anecdote about Vaseline and a Fireman actually called "Geordie". He wanted to crawl up his own asshole. Instead he slumped against the car. Every part of him was exhausted. He felt like he might just die before this perpetual earache finally ended. Then the door opened and there she was. Like a ray of sunlight, like a dagger in his heart, there she was. Every fibre of his being wanted to go to her. His eyes couldn't look away; he stood up straight as though his subconscious mind was saying go! Go and get her! Look! Run! Quick! There she is! It's Kayleigh, our Kayleigh! We want her back! Get her back John! God he wished she could read his mind right now. There'd been times when he'd been glad she couldn't....particularly that time when he'd bought her a Mr Whippy and she started sucking on the flake...what!?....I mean fair dos...it was outrageous...and shit hot. Anyway, who sucks on a flake?!! She wanted to melt the chocolate apparently. It wasn't just the chocolate that was meltin that day...She looked amazing....he'd wanted her more than he wanted his next breath...By the time he drifted back to the present she was gone. Like a cloud had covered up the sun. He was stood there with Rachel making low level background noise and she was gone. Inspiration took over, "Oh, is that the time! Listen I must dash. I'm picking up my brother from the airport. See ya!" Before she could finish her enquiry about where his brother had been and what time the flight was arriving? John was in the car, seatbelt on and he was off. He saw her crossing at the traffic lights. The early evening sun caught her hair. For a moment he considered changing lanes, catching up with her, offering her a lift but he knew it was futile. He turned right, she walked straight on towards the tram station, her head down, looking at her phone. Probably checking Heart Searchers, he thought. Probably getting a "wink" from some bloke with a bloody dodgy user name. Up to now they'd just been a random assortment of losers and weirdos but the thought of her being in any real danger terrified him. The thought of her actually falling in love with any of them terrified him almost as much. He was due to announce the Christmas Team in a couple of days’ time. The thought of working with her on it had thrilled him. Finding "legitimate" excuses to talk to her during working hours. Maybe the odd very necessary trip to a wholesaler, by way of a nice little pub/restaurant, or a country house hotel. Watching the look of innocent delight on her face, as she helped select the decorations and watched the Christmas lights...and his not so innocent delight at the prospect of catching his favourite Elf under the mistletoe. Along with everything else, that dream was gone. She wasn't in work the next day. Annual leave apparently. He didn't remember her mentioning that she had any plans. It wasn't as though the day was improved by her absence. It was all just one long, endless, slow moving nightmare. If only he'd known then, what tomorrow would bring.

She was leaving. He heard it second hand from Cath Hilton when he left the signed form with HR that brought a final end to their journeys together. He literally couldn't hear anything else after she said it. It was like there was a buzzing in his ears. Nothing else mattered. Where she was going, what she was doing...nothing. She was leaving. He thought proximity without intimacy was a circle of hell, distance without hope was far worse. One month and that was it. He'd most likely never see her again. He finally caught something about cosmetics, Preston and a company car but she might as well have said NASA, Florida and a Space Shuttle. It all meant the same thing. She was leaving. He saw her later that day. He'd gone down to the shop floor to announce the Christmas Team. He'd left her name on the list. For some pathetic reason he just wanted her to hear him say it out loud. To say her full name out loud. Kayleigh Kitson...one last time...this one's for you. There was some light muttering and a faint chuckle as he'd announced her name before Elsie piped up, "Here, Mr Redmond. You know Kayleigh's off to pastures new don't ya?" "Yes Elsie I'm aware." He looked at Kayleigh in that moment and she looked down at the floor as though the tiles were the most fascinating thing she'd ever seen. "I'll consider her replacement when she leaves. The people on this list were my first choice. I thought they should know that." For a second Kayleigh closed her eyes. It was such a subtle moment it could be easily missed. By anyone whose heart wasn't breaking too. "The A Team, eh Mr Redmond. Are you Mr T?!...here…Mr R!?" Elsie's roaring laughter shattered the moment...and a few eardrums. He took the moment to escape back to his office, leaving behind the pleased, the disappointed and the, frankly, couldn't care less, to absorb his announcement. He had no idea what Kayleigh was feeling... then again he never did...till it was too bloody late.

The second time he saw her she was leaving for the night. He was observing that his rear tyre needed air yet again and supposed it was a slow puncture, when she suddenly emerged through the staff entrance. He watched her for a second; she studiously attempted to ignore him. Then, as though he no longer had control of his mind or his body he said out loud, "Congratulations." She stopped and for a second, she didn't move. He assumed she was ignoring him or maybe she didn't hear, then she slowly turned around and faced him. She looked shocked and momentarily confused. He suspected he did too. He couldn't even control his own mouth these days. Then like a drowning man reaching for a lifeline, he said, "I mean it. I'm happy for you. I want you to be happy.... and I know it's not enough but I am sorry. More than you know". The silence was deafening. "I wish you'd talk to me Kayleigh. I need you to talk to me...." "I'm talked out John and anyway...I think you've said enough. I may live in a fairy-tale but I'm not stupid....sometimes there's just no "happy ever after" is there?" With that, she turned and walked away.

[hallaburger]

the wanderer

(ficlet, wolfstar, cw: death mention)

One thing Sirius Black has to say for living on the run? He feels more free than he ever had before in his life. Who knew that living like a Muggle could be so liberating? Here he is, standing in the shower, hot water cascading through his hair, the record player (he’d been ecstatic to find it in the consignment shop, he’d wanted one ever since that Hufflepuff party in sixth year where one of the Muggleborns was showing theirs off) going in the next room, volume cranked as far as the knob would go.

Oh yeah, I'm the type of guy that likes to roam around I'm never in one place, I roam from town to town...

He’d picked out the album on the recommendation of the shop owner, who pointed out one song in particular--”the original is the good one, much better than the cover Quo did”--and it did not disappoint. Each time he reached that point in the record, he couldn’t help but sing along. 

As he is doing now, while lathering shampoo into his hair.

They call me the wanderer, yeah the wanderer I roam around, around, around, around

A sound catches his ear, then, just below the sound of Dion’s voice growling on the record, a sound that isn’t part of the music. He freezes, listening. Someone is in the flat. Shit-- his wand is on the counter beside the sink, just out of reach if he needs it fast. He is royally fucked if the Ministry has finally caught up to him. And he’s naked. Bloody perfect. Maybe if he made a grab for it now--

The shower curtain is torn away, tugged sharply to one side, exposing him. He throws up his hands in a meager attempt at self defense, prepared to be Stupefied--

“You stupid git, do you know how easy it was for me to track you down?”

Sirius’s heart leaps so hard he’s almost afraid it will tear itself right out of his chest. “Moony! Moony, you beautiful fucking idiot! You scared the piss out of me!” Despite the running water and his current state of undress, he jumps out of the stall and throws his arms around Remus, who splutters and tries to pull away. 

“You’re getting me all wet, you lummox!”

Sirius leans forward, pressing his lips firmly against Remus’s, the tension leaching out of his muscles. “Remus, I was so afraid. I’ve been so afraid. I don’t think I’ve truly realized it until just now.”

“Yes, well, could you please turn that water off and put some clothes on?” Remus replies, unable to hide the fondness in his voice. 

Sirius grins at him, pulling back. “Then will you kiss me properly?” 

Remus rolls his eyes, his mouth twisting in a barely-stifled grin. “Perhaps, if you behave yourself.” 

The water is off before the words are fully out of Remus’s mouth, and Sirius tucks his wand into the back of the towel once he’s tied it snugly around his waist. 

*

Remus sits on the end of the unmade bed while Sirius digs through a pile of clothes to find whatever he’s looking for. Sirius is thin, considerably thinner than the last time he saw him--which had been just before James and Lily--no, he couldn’t think of that right now, he couldn’t spoil this moment. It’s been months, Harry’s safe, so far as anyone can tell, James and Lily are buried, and Sirius hadn’t been there. But how could he have been? Remus watches the vertebrae in his back as he moves, each one jutting out like a little spike, a ridge like some drawings of Nessie have along her back. Sirius looks like a feral dog, living off of scraps, just trying to survive. Remus’s heart clenches even as guilt twists his stomach. He’d actually thought...he’d actually considered the idea that Sirius had given James and Lily up. That was before he’d decided to track him down. Early on, he’d thought about what he might do if he found Sirius--you bloody coward, you fucking miserable excuse for a friend, I could kill you right now but I won’t insult their memory--but as the trail got hotter, he realized that Sirius wasn’t running from a murder he’d enabled, but from fear of the truth, fear that his best friend was dead, and the boy--the man--he loved thought he’d done it. Sirius isn’t a killer at all. He could be cruel at times, he could make Snivellus’s life a living hell, but Sirius isn’t capable of betraying the person who’d effectively saved him from his family, saved him from a legacy he’d run from for so long. Sirius is innocent.

“Ah, finally,” Sirius says, straightening up, a burgundy jumper in his hand. He presses his nose to the fabric for a moment and inhales deeply. “Doesn’t smell, either, I don’t think.” He tosses it at Remus, and the fabric hits him square in the face, he’d been so lost in thought. “Smell that for me, would you? Make sure I’m not nose-blind?”

Remus holds the soft wool to his nose, the fibers tickling his skin. He breathes. It smells like Sirius, smells like the way Sirius has always smelled. Memories fill his mind in a flash--the two of them, squashed together in Sirius’s four-poster, watching the little feet on the Map--Sirius using James as an excuse to get into the Quidditch locker after a match with Ravenclaw and then nicking the Quaffle (they’d gone out that night to the field just outside the gates and tossed it around for hours, not even bothering with broomsticks)--their first time together, fearful and shuddering and over far too quickly, their skin clinging together afterwards, sticky with sweat. 

“Mate? You alright?” Sirius asks, and Remus only then notices that he’s put on trousers already. 

He holds out the jumper. “Smells fine to me. But then, you’ve always smelled.”

---------

for my weird moon dogs, @owls-and-feels and @tehriz

[fridaynightbordercrossing]

An Interview With Almalafa

Almalafa is one of the most important bands to understand the development of a ska and reggae scene in Tijuana. With a trajectory that has gone for more than 18 years, they tell us about their trajectory.  

THE BEGINNINGS  

"In those years, we had some friends that were singing, Roxana and Ivette, who did not sing at all(laughs). There was also Carlos Monarrez on Guitar, Jorge Martínez on bass and Julio Martínez on drums. We knew the people of Babylón XX, who played then as Cairo, that was between '93 or '94, so they invited us to play "

"The first important show was the Rock 94 Marathon behind the Jai Alai, they connected us. At that time, we had a demo that was produced by El Chino Perales. In addition, for that festival, we had our first interview for radio, which was connected through Jorge, keyboardist of Babylón XX, who was the boyfriend of Betty Juárez of Stéreo Amistad at the time. We were hungry to be known and we were looking for where to play. "

"In '97, the band was well formed with a metal section and with Isaac as a vocalist, we had the songs ready and we were looking for a studio and an engineer who could record as well. Nessie recorded in Los Angeles, that was an option, but we listened to Nona Delichas and we talked to Rubén Montoya and with him, we recorded at Sweet Sound in National City. With the album ready, we were always looking for large venues to play. We played at Mexicali En La Playa, which in those years was good, there we met Mario Alberto from More FM 98.9, we delivered him the tape and so, we went into the radio little by little".

"The songs were liked and the band got a lot of fans, people thought that the band was foreign, not that it was from Tijuana. Once we played at Club Dosis in Pueblo Amigo and we met El Gato from Mexico City, he brought bands from there and had a sales tent at the Tianguis Del Chopo. He was the first to take the cassette to Mexico City, and that was the first time we went there, even in the Metro, they sold it for 20 pesos. After more bands came out like  Los Kung Fu Monkeys, Dead Panchos, and Esos Gueyes and we made the Mexican Ska Fest 1 in Studio 1 of More FM with 1500 people, we invited Chencha Berrinches from Los Angeles with the support of Eduardo Cruz through the Institute Municipal of Art and Culture".

CALIFORNIA CONNECTION

"Playing in California was a good time for the band. I do not remember if they found us online, but who called us was Sergio" Lavis "Peralta for the Skalifornia Fest that was held at the Terraza Jamay, which was a party hall straight from the '70s. After him, we hooked with Jorge Leal from Ecléctica, who later became our manager in the United States and was the one who got our record trough Option Sónica USA ".

"With the album, we started playing in the best places in Hollywood like The Roxy, Key Club, Conga Room, House Of Blues, The King Theater, Whiskey A Go-Go, The Palace and The Knitting Factory. In addition, we also played in Anaheim at JC Fandango's, obviously in San Diego at Brick By Brick, SOMA, Open Air Theater, Cafe Sevilla and Over The Border. We were also in Chicago, in the Aragón Ballroom with Brujería. But what is a fact, is the list of names of bands and artists that we alternate in all these places: Los Pericos, Autenticod Decadentes, Tijuana NO !, The Specials , The Wailers, Fidel Nadal, La Mosca Tse Tse, Karamelo Santo, Garrobos, King Chango, Wisecracker, Chris Murray, G Spot, Vicentico, The Aggrolites, The Skatalites, Un Kuartito, Sekta Core, Salon Victoria, Panteon Rococo, Maldita Vecindad , Molotov, General Public, Victims Del Dr. Cerebro, Okploide, Alika, 2 Minutos, Antidoping and many more. The reviews appeared in magazines such as La Banda Elástica and Retila, in those times we played more in Los Angeles than in Tijuana".

"In fact, at a point we considered staying in California for a while, it would have been interesting to stay for months and record there, since there are good studios, but we have a family, that occupies a large part of our time. When we went to Mexico, we slept in a small room, we were without nothing, 2, 3 months. You have to know how to have control of that, because if you can not stand it is difficult. People have said to us a lot of bullshit, but if people knew that we played from the nastiest punk places in Mexico to the nicest places in Hollywood, we've been working hard".

"More FM was very strong with rock music, all of Tijuana began to listen to us. What happens is that because of their politics, the radio stops helping you, they take away the spots. At that time, we were strong in Los Angeles, in Tijuana we did not play because there was not a record to show people. On the other hand, in Tijuana it is difficult to get paid, you have to pull your people, assure them something. Nobody takes risks, then, it is difficult in that sense. We used to do our events, but we stopped doing them because we did not have a record, but we're starting over again".

SOWING THE SEED IN MEXICO

"With the Psicodelic Ska album in the market, we returned to Mexico City to festivals and PP Lobo arrived and offered to release the album under his PP Lobo Records label. He already had signed the bands that we the most popular there like La Matatena, Sekta Core, La Tremenda Korte, so he offered to distribute the album. We also participated in the first two Mexican ska compilations, Skuela de Baile 1 y 2 that had very good distribution, and that helped us to get promoters to take us to Mexico City. Almalafa had the best recording, best vocalist and most original concept. Maybe it is bad to say it, but, we were better in everything and we influence many bands from there. For example, listen to El Fantasma De La Rana of Sekta Core and it sounds like Quemare Tu Sepultura or a song from Panteon sounds like Psicodelia and there are more".

"The ska scene in Mexico continues and strong, there are ska shows everywhere, in Tijuana, Guadalajara, Monterrey, DF and even in Los Angeles, we are in the 3rd. Ska wave. New bands come out in every city. Here in Tijuana, ska bands are the ones that move the most, as I see it, making shows, looking for venues, and this is part of what we have planted bands like Tijuana NO !, The KFM and us. There is a strong scene with an audience".

"Many people have a very bad concept of ska bands, not all of them are like that, but, we have an evolution, we are playing more things. We are Mexican Ska but it's boring to play just that, that's why we're putting more thing, having more fun, that's why there are very varied things on the second album. In terms of lyrics, each band has its own way of protesting. We talk about not wanting wars, but we do not talk about what happened in the past, we talk about the present, talking about positivism and good vibes, it's a way of a protest seeking peace. We can not be a single genre band, we have to change it, but as for the band's concept, we play what we play, we're not going to change, so we play with any type of band, we are what we are, that's our satisfaction".

MI PELIGROSA TIJUANA

"We feel more mature, musically, we are better musicians than before and that helps us make better music, lyrics, and arrangements. We are going to give you a mixture of rhythms very different from those of the first album, combined with the Alma-style ska. Also, more aggressive voices and choirs, something that did not have the first album. The sound of this album is more raw, not as clean as that of Psicodelic Ska. In this recording, the studio is better and we use Rubén Montoya as an engineer again, we feel very comfortable with him ".

"This record was a medium length process, like 2 years, a lot of time, but it was because of the expensive of the studio. We recorded it in the Studio EQ of Los Tucanes De Tijuana. With the profits of the shows, we bought blocks of 5 or 10 hours. Actually, it was not very comfortable, we worked against the clock, pressured by time and cost, but in the end, I am quite pleased with the result. It was also a long process because when it was already recorded new things were coming out in the arrangements and we were changing them again. This record can be considered to be within the ska movement, but that does not mean that Almalafa does not play anything else ska. Almalafa is a versatile band that likes to combine ska with rhythms such as Danzon, Bossanova, Jazz, etc, that could change on a future the musical course of the band".

"Imagine that at this time we had released two albums, things would have been different, but now, things are like that and we go with it. Exactly I do not know what would have happened, but we would be a little more advanced. There is a time, in which, I do not know, it's like a challenge in all bands where there are difficulties, but thank God, we get along, we have been able to keep the band, we are more understanding among ourselves, we are still here and we do not think about stopping in a very long time".

"At the start, we played making noise, looking to structure a song, build the band and not think about the result. We do not do thinking that the songs are going to hit,  we compose and make then for our liking. We were lucky to have been in a compilation of Sony Music, where the first track was ours. A lot of people knew about us and had a good response and it was a good achievement. Also with Ubeerse Records in Germany with whom we had the distribution of the album, there has been a good response from over there and even from Indonesia".

"Technology makes things easier, but we are old school. We recognize that computing and the internet are an important tool, and in that case, it is better to be independent, we can do anything with the record, we can put it anywhere. What we want is promotion, that is what we are fighting, whoever distributes it, gives us something to work. If we were signed, the problem would be that we would be without promotion, without that, there is nothing. There are bands that been freeze by companies. In fact, there are many bands that even the company decides not even releasing or distributing their record, which is worse. You are learning to be independent, to move without that "help", since you do not know if it is for good or for bad, so we want to be the owners of the material. Peter Gabriel, to give an example, sells only his material and is dedicated to touring the world. The most well-known bands are able to pull their own deals. We like to have control, so that is why nothing has ever been signed. We are not interested in the transnational record companies, we will be independent until death, (the big ones) do not take care of the bands".

IN CONCLUSION  

"Almalafa continues, and will continue to make music, recording it, making videos and playing here and there, where it is possible, traveling to other cities. We have a necessity to create and present music, and if it is well accepted by people, much better. With the time we have, it is easier, the promoters are looking for us to participate in their festivals and it allows us to play for more people".

"We have been playing for more than 15 years, but we have reinvented ourselves, we have again that hunger to go on tour and record new songs. In music we are in a super point of creation, we are getting the very good stuff. And what we have left this year is to return to Mexico City and start recording Volume 2 of the album Mi Peligrosa Tijuana, we are ready to start recording, there are 10 full songs and we want to start working on that".

UPDATE

They finally released Mi Peligrosa Tijuana and in fact, it is their finest release, showcasing their uncanny ability to make great songs. They celebrated their 20th year being featured in the Pepsi Ska Fest in Mexico City with good reception. Still are going strong, going back to California and doing some special shows.

(Compilation of interviews conducted between 2000 and 2012 for RadioTrac in Bulbo Broadcast, Trac! Trac! Trac!, JarCore Radio and No Cover in Spanish)

[rancid-butter]

Questions Tag

I have been tagged by @soot-and-snide​ and @scienceoftheidiot​. So many things to think about!

1. Name a favourite film. Hot Fuzz. 2. What’s a country you’d love to visit? Denmark. 3. If you could be an animal, would what it be? A cat, most likely. Not sure though. A jellyfish sounds just as cool. 4. Biggest turn ons. SUSPENDERS (admit it, you were just waiting for it dude) and if possible tight jeans/boots/white shirt, hearty laughter, cute smile, handsome arms, sense of humour, interesting conversation. 5. Biggest pet peeves. Babies crying, "I only hang out with boys because girls are too much drama, and boys just like me you know”, misunderstood and doomed artists, rudeness, lateness. 6. If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be? I couldn’t. But it would be England Keep My Bones by Frank Turner, I think. 7. Do you believe in fate? Do I? I do believe stuff happens for a reason though. I believe decisions you make are always the “right” ones for you, the people you meet/befriend/fall in love with were made for you just as you were made for them. Since I don’t believe in God at all, I suppose it is fate then. 8. List three books that are special to you. Pars vite et reviens tard by Fred Vargas, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling, The Ladies’ Paradise by Emile ZOla. 9. Most important thing in life? Life itself with its ups and downs. Also good beers, food and friends. 10. Imagine you were given an offer to go to a new, inhabitable planet. There’s others there, also, but you would never return to earth. Would you go? Not a bloody chance. 11. Love: is it merely a chemical reaction? Or something ‘deeper’, pertaining to the soul? I don’t believe in the concept of “soul”. I don’t think it’s a chemical reaction - sexual desire, on the other hand, is. Love, I think, is something to do with your mind and how you see/sense things. Which is why you can have one without the other.

What is the last thing you cooked ? Properly cooked and not randomly thrown together in a salad? Veggie curry.

What would you name your pet if you had a new one ? No idea! Perhaps just “Captain”.

What do you think about cryptids ? Fuck you for making me Google that and therefore feeling stupid when seeing it was just a general name for Nessie & Bigfoot. I think popular belief could make anything exist, sadly.

Artist or just enjoying the art, do you prefer traditional or digital ? Traditional.

Favourite super-heros ? Oh come off it! you bloody well know I hate ‘em. Wolverine for the sexyness, Daredevil for the brains (and sexyness, right).

Last show you watched ? Doctor Who series 8

If you could visit any new country, which one ? Denmark, as stated above. But also the US, someday.

Which type of tea ? Black. But green in the summer to make iced tea.

What is your Hogwarts house ? RAVENCLAW BITCH (cause I’m an obnoxious little shit)

Where are you from ? I’m French. Sometimes I just hate it.

C’est une bonne situation, ça, scribe ? Given that my job is actually to write stuff, I would say that Otis’ take on that is pretty acurrate. Neither good nor bad :D

Geez, friends! Exhausting but pretty cool :D

Here are my eleven questions for who ever wants to do this!

1. What’s your favourite fruit? 2. What did you want to do when you were little? 3. Are you in a relationship? 4. What’s your favourite outfit to wear? 5. What do you like most about yourself? 6. Rain or sun? 7. Do you have a hobby? 8. What’s your favourite quote? 9. Pick 3 items that are essential to get you through the day. 10. Are you a morning person? 11. Do you have any phrases, expressions or words you tend to use more than reasonably often?

[lovesimos]

  Last summer began with a few MJ’ estate executor’s interviews informing the fans that there would be no other forms of un-released songs or albums, but there would soon be an announcement of new projects. In fact, (cannot say the timing was like a Swiss watch) a press release announcing a special Michael Jackson Halloween animation theme would be televised in the fall on CBS. Predictably, the reaction of many fans was once again very critical in relation to this new project of the Estate.

“Thriller” 3-D version announcement arrived. A world premiere at the 74th Annual Venice Film Festival, alongside its original matched film “The Making of Michael Jackson’s Thriller” – the hour-long behind-the-scenes documentary whose broadcasted sale to MTV and Showtime and released in VHS format at that time. The “Making of Thriller” has never been released in any other format, and Thriller has never been released on Blu-ray. We also had much hype announced of a fans-useless “Scream” compilation, but I have no word to spend for it.

I’ve never appreciated any of the products the estate has released after MJ’s demise, but Thriller 3-D clearly intrigued me; especially since having seen Captain EO as far back as 1992 – when Disneyland Park Paris was called Euro Disney – and it was stunning and I could not ask for more. I was so amazed to see MJ in 3-D in Captain EO and I would not be surprised to be thrilled for “Thriller 3-D”. This is definitely something I will not miss. The 3-D vision is an experience and has nothing to do with going to the cinema to see a movie. You are in the movie! Having a Smart TV with a cinema home setting, I also appreciated the 3-D effect in the extras of the “This Is It” documentary, (introductions to Thriller, Earth Song, and Smooth Criminal) which are pretty nice to see. Some of the visual effects seemed to emerge from the screen straight into the room!

  It’s not a big surprise if I share publicly that there is not one single release from the estate that causes a vibration of my soul.  However, I never thought I’d have reason to doubt that Mr. John Landis would allow anyone to ruin a direct “relative” of his dream movie.  It might be that many don’t remember the 1981 “An American Werewolf in London”. Landis wrote the script when he was a teenager. Rick Baker won the first Oscar for makeup for that movie.

And Michael Jackson was a big fan of both. That’s why he called Landis and told him of his appreciation of An American Werewolf in London and of Baker’s work particularly while asking him to direct his “Thriller” video.

Unfortunately, public disputes in the community were set in motion following an interview with Engineer Martin Nessi explaining the technical issues he had on mixing the “Thriller” for Dolby audio.

Fans screaming “to the sacrilege – the sound has been disrupted, tarnished” jumping to conclusions such as ” the original audio track is lost – Why couldn’t be provided – Sony archives are crap” – (I also jumped on this bandwagon at first).

And with the “Scream” London party the tragedy begins. Despite the fantastic restoration and the exciting 3-D interjection, the sound is strange. The result is that many other component sounds are totally missing except for the percussions.

Our poor engineer, Martin Nessi, comes onto twitter attempting to give a professional explanation but soon withdraws from the scene due to the rudeness he was apostrophized; after having to do a titanic job he had to deal with even the most stupendous insults.

Now, those who dared to insult the engineer cannot be stopped! “Bullshit walks”, and there is NO way to face unreasonable speech. Insults come like rain, in less than 30 minutes you have been cast off as a fan and suddenly you find yourself in the category of the “bullshitters”. Oh well…an approach to be proud of.

News from the next “Scream” party in Sidney assures that Sony sent a new audio and that the sound is mostly conformed to the original.

Good! We have the privilege to have another clip on the web and again fans screaming: “chopped, reframed, cut”…

Say it again? But it’s not that….did people forget that the video has been transformed into another format and we are talking about a 3-D interaction?

Even if the Adobe is only a preview of a 3-D broadcast,  the details and beauty of the restoration are notable. Plus you need  to appreciate 3D.

I agree that everyone can have opinions but I believe that a video taken with a smartphone while sitting in a chair and displaying the shadow of a row of chairs at the bottom of the screen, proves nothing from the technical point of view; it’s what can be called a “glimpse”. And complaining for the sake of it denotes a cruel intent to stir things up in an already conflictual community.

 “All of the copies of Thriller out there now are duped,” Landis tells Billboard, “and it used to drive me crazy. I’d been trying to get to the negative for a long time as the new digital technologies are amazing at restoring films. And Michael and I always intended for people to see Thriller in a movie theater”.  

In more than one interview John Landis emphasized that his primary interest was to get the original master and restore the negatives of the video clip Thriller and “The making of”.

Restoring old films from the negative with new technology is crucial for their preservation in the years ahead.  “There are countless films that disintegrate because the chemical base of the film corrodes over time. Once the camera negative, internegative and last print of a film are gone, the film is gone forever.”

And the 3-D has nothing to do with the original clip. It’s an alternative way to see it. It is a homage to Michael Jackson that a technology he loved very much was used. The shift from 2-D to 3-D is very impactful.  It’s an almost faithful representation of the real world. It creates an illusion so real and reactive that it trumps our senses and becomes every bit as real as the physical world itself. If you don’t like it, never mind. You still have the original video wholly restored from now on. That’s the most important thing!

The good news is that the videos have been restored!  The Estate of Michael Jackson put some real Michael Jackson money into the preservation of Michael Jackson’s work! And surely a good chunk.

I know, with all the goodies the estate has spoiled us with during this 8 years –  fake songs – garbage remixes – DVD of grotesque quality –  probably no one noticed but it actually and strangely happened.

It is not necessary to thank and worship Sony or his estate executors, is their duties to celebrate and take care to Michael Jackson artistry.

Yet in the end, Martin Nessi’s explanation is more than reliable.  He did nothing other than the same procedure (with a different technology) done in 1983.

In fact in the book “I Want My MTV” written by Craig Marks, there is an anecdote of how the audio for the video clip Thriller came out:

“The version of the song in the video is different from the one on the album. On the album, the song begins with a series of spooky sound effects that don’t lend themselves to dancing. Editing the song for the video was a challenge since producer Quincy Jones wouldn’t release the master tapes. Landis explains how they got around this restriction. “The song was five minutes long, and I needed it to be 12 minutes for the video,” he said. “So Michael and I went to the recording studio at three in the morning. We walked past the guard – ‘Hi, Michael.’ ‘Hi’ – put the tracks in a big suitcase and walked out with them. Then we drove across Hollywood, duped them, and put them back.”

Landis told the same in an interview in 2008 for the release of “Thriller 25” to the magazine  “Horrorhound” September/October 2008:

 “Making the Music Video”

The music in the video and this is so interesting to me that no one has ever figured this out. But “Thriller”, the song, is just over five minutes long and the song in the movie is about twelve minutes long. Landis explains the difference. Quincy Jones the producer of the album and Bruce Swedien, the mixer said that we couldn’t get the original track. So Michael, George and I went to the studio in the Valley and we stole the tracks. There were only about 38 tracks. It wasn’t that complicated a song. We mixed down and then re-cut it completely – they’re TOTALLY different songs. Really different! And people don’t hear it. Even the Vincent Price rap was re-recorded for the video. What happened was the original takes were tied in with a synthesizer track and I couldn’t separate it. I asked Vincent Price to come back and re-record, and he did. “

So, as you can read, they had to proceed in a very similar way as Martin Nessi, already explained in his interview at https://www.izotope.com/…/3d-thiller-mixing-michael-jackson…

Concerning the restoration of the movie and the “making of thriller” Landis supervised the restoration and conversion from the original 35mm negative, provided by the Jackson estate archives. In addition to the visual work, the film’s audio – the song, the effects, and Elmer Bernstein’s original score – has been upgraded to 5.7, 7.1, and Atmos standards.

We know the estate artistically is far from the mark.  We should not buy things that do not suit us, it seems to me the minimum. It will not necessarily change much as long as the general public continues to buy any record.  I’m sure one day the fans will, once again, be the target. That’s why it is useful to formulate constructive criticism and let the estate know that fans will not buy anything. But I think it seems important to differentiate between a 3-D Thriller and a “Scream”.

I also would like to remind all concerned that Michael Jackson always wanted to do something “special” for Halloween, and a project was already planned to air on CBS in 2009.  When Michael Jackson signed with AEG Live for the concert at the O2 Arena in London, his agreement had a specific requirement;  AEG had to help him venture into the cinema. The first thing Michael wanted was to produce something special for Halloween on television, focusing on what he had done in the field of horror with “Thriller” and “Ghosts”. And Randy Phillips organized a meeting between Michael and the program’s producer, Ken Ehrlich. The meeting took place before rehearsals on June 24, 2009, at the Staples Center on the eve of Michael Jackson’s death. Ken Ehrlich, who was to produce the show for Michael, later said, “When I saw him the day before his death, we had a meeting on a Halloween project that Michael wanted to do with CBS.” The intention was to create an annual Halloween special on television. Michael was going to be the guest and perform in the show.  Michael wanted to put forward his short film “Ghosts” and the first “Michael Jackson Halloween Special” had to be broadcast on October 31, 2009, on television.

It would have been the perfect timing for all the involved parties and Michael would have been free thanks to a three-month break planned during his tour. The first part of the tour was due to end on September 29, 2009, and Michael Jackson was not scheduled to return until January 7, 2010, the start of the second part.

Since Michael was not on tour during the broadcast, his performance for the special would have been taken from a series of high definition footage that AEG Live had planned to capture during the first part of the tour. Thriller, Ghosts and Threatened live shows were also scheduled for this special evening, giving the audience the opportunity to see Michael Jackson’s triumphant comeback, and also giving AEG excellent publicity that the tour will continue in cities around the world.  Frank Dileo said that Michael was satisfied to see the special Halloween he wanted with the film Ghosts and his own participation. He agreed with all of this.   Everyone knows, unfortunately, this special Halloween eventually did not take place.

So for once let’s take this sign in a positive way, even if we know very well that this Michael Jackson Halloween season is not what it could have been with him not being in charge of the project.¨ (Read the story at Damien Shield website:  http://www.damienshields.com/michael-jacksons-halloween-special-that-never-was/) 

Let’s not forget that the power of MJ’s message created an event such as “Thrill the world” in 2006; an annual international dance event and world record-breaking attempt. The title of the event is an allusion of another one of Michael’s songs, “Heal the World”. http://www.thrilltheworld.com/

The syllogism that through a “monstrous” dance we can “heal the world” is simply fantastic.  It is an invitation to the world to dance simultaneously in an almost tribal dance that goes beyond the “thriller”. A sort of spiritual dance about the struggle that is taking place between good and evil, light and dark. Warding off evil spirits with the art of dance and a proving that connecting the world in a fun, a joyful celebration is a key to understand that you can do more than you think you can.  In addition to sharing the joy of dance, the celebration of community and the passion for living, the communities participating in the simultaneous dance use the event to raise money for local charities to help others in need.

It’s also an encouragement to people to pursue any dream, vision, idea, and passion that they would like to see realized. Nothing is impossible. Impossible just means it hasn’t been done yet. Do the impossible!

It is a celebration of the genius of Michael Jackson and his commitment to better the world.

For once let’s not think of who is behind these events development, but think of the beauty to have a worldwide event in honor of Michael Jackson.

This is Michael!  His work, his legacy, and just one of the many reasons of why he will be remembered forever.

      Sources:

http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/813388/grammy-awards-producer-dishes-michael-jackson-tribute

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_American_Werewolf_in_Londonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson%27s_Thriller_(music_video)

http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7890127/michael-jackson-thriller-3d-world-premiere-venice-film-festival

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-ujlaki/keeping-cinema-alive-by-r_b_5585774.html

http://www.irmt.org/

  THRILLER RESTORED: THE FIRST REAL INVESTMENT FOR MICHAEL JACKSON’S LEGACY Last summer began with a few MJ’ estate executor’s interviews informing the fans that there would be no other forms of un-released songs or albums, but there would soon be an announcement of new projects.