#this is a variety lol. but i stand by it! these are all good songs in different ways!

[arisingonmorningsinnocent]

Tagged by @pancake-man thank uuuu i love talking abt my own music taste so much lol

Rules: shuffle your On Repeat playlist and post the first 10 tracks, then tag 10 people

1. Déjà Trouvé - Dadju

2. Bible on the Dash - Corb Lund

3. Choked Out - The Mountain Goats

4. Black Me Out - Against Me!

5. Crazy Wind and Plashing Yellows - Tish Hinojosa

6. The Ballad of Czolgosz - Assassins: The Musical

7. Swan Upon Leda - Hozier

8. Slumber Party (Cover) - Rain Paris

9. Battle Hymn of the Republic - Odetta

10. Keep Your Rifle By Your Side - Far Cry 5 soundtrack

Tagging @bluebeardsfinalgirl @catholicbutch, honestly idk 10 people on here

[torahoes]

(IDOLiSH7) Minami Natsume - 16PRODUCERS Rabbit Chat

Please note that I am not a professional translator. If you come across any mistakes, feel free to let me know and I will make the necessary corrections.

Touma Inumaru: Good work, everyone! 😄

Touma Inumaru: Wait, maybe I got here too early? We're all separated today so I'm bored 🤔

Touma Inumaru: The "Ź" in ŹOOĻ stands for "Zealously always singing together!"~

Touma Inumaru: The first "O" in ŹOOĻ stands for "Outstanding and unrivaled!"~

Touma Inumaru: The second "O" in ŹOOĻ

Touma Inumaru: stands for "Oh, I can't think of anything!"~

Minami Natsume: Aren't you giving up too quickly?

Touma Inumaru: Mina!! You were watching? lololol

Minami Natsume: Yes. From the very beginning.

Touma Inumaru: The heck? You should've said something then! I wouldn't have wasted my time with that nonsense! 😂 lolol

Minami Natsume: I was waiting to see when you'd get lonely and call my name, but you started talking about ŹOOĻ instead. It was amusing so I couldn't help but observe you silently.

Touma Inumaru: Well, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself 😂 Are you done with your magazine shoot?

Minami Natsume: Yes, it went smoothly. Good work completing your variety show recording as well, Inumaru-san.

Touma Inumaru: Thanks! I'm on my way to the next location now 🚘 Is Utsugi-san going to join us after his meeting? Hope he'll be able to make it on time

Minami Natsume: I'm sure he'll make it no matter what. I believe he's a man who always keeps his word.

Touma Inumaru: That's true 😄‼️ Where are you now, Mina?

Minami Natsume: I had some free time, so I came to a café. It's wonderful here.

Touma Inumaru: Wonderful?

Minami Natsume: They're playing "ZONE OF OVERLAP" inside the café right now.

Touma Inumaru: Seriously!? That's a pretty hardcore café! 😆 lolol

Minami Natsume: Oh, the customers around me are getting excited, saying they love this song

Minami Natsume: I'm happy.

Touma Inumaru: Really...!? That's awesome. It's fulfilling to know that our songs are a natural part of our fans' daily lives

Touma Inumaru: Let's keep working hard, Mina!

Minami Natsume: Yes, of course.

Shiro Utsugi: Good work today! I'm dying to know what the "Ļ" in ŹOOĻ stands for!

Touma Inumaru: Ah, Utsugi-san, you too! I hadn't thought about that lolol

Touma Inumaru: Umm, the "Ļ" in ŹOOĻ is for "Lovely ŹOOĻ"~ 👍‼️

Shiro Utsugi: That's perfect! I'll make sure we'll be able to sing this at after-parties and such.

Minami Natsume: Good work, Utsugi-san. I'm glad you were able to make it.

Shiro Utsugi: I made it just in time, somehow!

Shiro Utsugi: Incidentally, "Sasagero" was playing on the radio this morning while I was driving. For a moment, I was genuinely startled, thinking Inumaru-san had called me.

Touma Inumaru: No way! Really? I've gotten a bit hesitant about what to say when I call people now LOL

Minami Natsume: Oh, so that’s why you always start so politely with, “Hello, this is Touma speaking.”

Touma Inumaru: I know they can see my name on their screens, but I still feel the need to say it 😅 Wait, it's time, isn't it? My bad!

Shiro Utsugi: Yes! Alright, let's begin then. I'm sorry that we have to conduct it remotely this time. 🙇‍♂️

Shiro Utsugi: Let me explain it once more. We've been asked to show your usual interactions in a friendly, dinner-table-like atmosphere, so we opted to have a conversation in this format using Rabbit Chat.

Shiro Utsugi: Natsume-san, how did you feel when you found out Inumaru-san would be your producer?

Minami Natsume: I was very excited. Composing a song is a lot like writing a love letter, as the lyrics and melody convey how the composer feels about the singer.

Minami Natsume: So I was curious what Inumaru-san would write about me. After all, I'm the one always writing love letters to them.

Touma Inumaru: A love letter! That’s our Mina; you know exactly how to put it! You're right, I do love you! 😊

Minami Natsume: You say it so casually

Touma Inumaru: No, I'm serious! You were on my mind so much, you even showed up in my dream 👍

Minami Natsume: In your dream…?

Touma Inumaru: That's right! We did stuff like attempting to break the record for eating the most fried rice and cycling across Japan together 😂

Minami Natsume: Is that so? You had quite a naughty dream, I see.

Touma Inumaru: Must've been because I watched a show about that before going to bed 😂

Minami Natsume: Well, I suppose it's fine. I’ll gladly accept it.

Touma Inumaru: Seriously, my mind was completely consumed by thoughts of you! I couldn't give anything less than my absolute best to ŹOOĻ's composer, after all. And above all, I really wanted you to like the song.

Minami Natsume: Thank you very much. It’s become one of my favorite songs.

Minami Natsume: Unlike ŹOOĻ's usual songs, the melody really complemented my singing voice. I could tell you put an incredible amount of thought into it.

Touma Inumaru: Really!? That makes me so happy!! Your voice is so sweet and delicate when you sing; I wanted to make sure it shone, so I worked closely with the composer!

Shiro Utsugi: It has such a pleasant rhythm and a trendy feel to it! Please tell us more about the creation process!

Touma Inumaru: Mina may be younger but he's the #2 Sexiest Man Alive so he's got that sex appeal, right? I figured fans would love it if I brought that out more!

Touma Inumaru: But I didn't want it to be too mellow either. I wanted to capture the lightness of Mina's dancing in the song 👍

Touma Inumaru: And, honestly, I just really wanted to hear Mina sing a love song!

Minami Natsume: Why?

Touma Inumaru: Because you're so affectionate, Mina. You're super observant, strong-willed, and dedicated to your work.

Minami Natsume: Are you sure? I'm someone who ran away once, you know.

Touma Inumaru: It’s because you cherish everything so much that you wanted to run away. If it didn’t matter, you would have just quit. But you didn’t give up on music or this job, did you?

Touma Inumaru: Remember the whole thing with Tora and his stunt a while back? You told us you understood how he felt. That was when I realized that you probably always face everything head-on, one thing at a time, just like this.

Shiro Utsugi: Inumaru-san…....

Touma Inumaru: Haha, this is a bit embarrassing!

Shiro Utsugi: Can I hug you?

Touma Inumaru: Huh!?

Minami Natsume: Why would you hug him!?

Shiro Utsugi: I apologize! I got carried away thinking about how great ŹOOĻ is.

Minami Natsume: Well, naturally. It's ŹOOĻ we're talking about.

Minami Natsume: Inumaru-san, thank you for sharing the story behind "FANTASY." I will cherish this song for the rest of my life.

Minami Natsume: There's no need to run away anymore. I won't be tied down by anyone’s feelings. The sounds surrounding me give me confidence. "Guided by the never-ending melody, let's take off and fly."

Touma Inumaru: Oh, those are the lyrics! The music you make always gives me confidence too, Mina.

Touma Inumaru: "There's a sight beyond the starry sky that I want to see someday," so let’s keep singing together — the four of us. ‼️😄

Touma Inumaru:

Minami Natsume:

Minami Natsume: Feeling good. Maybe I’ll order two cakes

Touma Inumaru: Sounds nice! All I have with me right now are some gummies. Guess I'll just eat those!

Shiro Utsugi: In that case, I’ll have the candy I got from Isumi-san yesterday!

Minami Natsume: Both of you are adorable. Next time, all five of us should go out to eat together.

Shiro Utsugi: That’s perfect for Lovely ŹOOĻ! 🐾 Please tell us about the outfits and photoshoot too!

Minami Natsume: I was curious about that as well. I was surprised that someone like Inumaru-san who prefers rugged materials would come up with these outfits.

Touma Inumaru: They were awesome, weren't they?

Minami Natsume: Yes, I honestly really loved them.

Touma Inumaru: I'm glad! 😆😆 I agonized over it a lot, you know! Our tastes are probably very different

Touma Inumaru: You're sophisticated, mature, but then suddenly you're cool and tough. You've got so many different sides to you, it's amazing. So I figured anything would suit you.

Touma Inumaru: I went for a nightclub-like vibe, with colors reminiscent of the night sky that I thought would complement your fair skin. I also used lots of soft, flowy materials and elements to accentuate your dance moves! ✨

Minami Natsume: I’m happy. I took a screenshot

Minami Natsume: The silk fabric felt great against my skin. And the delicate yet commanding accessories were also perfect.

Minami Natsume: So that's the reason why only my outfit used the chic colors. You wanted it to complement my skin tone.

Shiro Utsugi: Inumaru-san, you must be incredibly popular with the ladies.

Touma Inumaru: What!? Where'd that come from!?

Minami Natsume:

Minami Natsume: For better or worse, you’re a very straightforward person. I don’t dislike it.

Touma Inumaru: I can't tell if that’s a compliment or not, but thanks!? lolol

Shiro Utsugi: Was the night pool for the photoshoot chosen because of the nightclub vibe you mentioned?

Touma Inumaru: That's right! Like I mentioned, Mina has this night-time feel to him. It suits him. But I thought a pool with soft lighting would fit him better than an overly flashy club 😆

Minami Natsume: Inumaru-san, you mentioned during the shoot that the four lights reflecting on the water were like ŹOOĻ.

Minami Natsume: Each light may be faint on its own, but when they come together, they shine brightly, illuminating each other and creating a large, warm and enveloping light.

Shiro Utsugi: You’re definitely popular, aren't you?

Touma Inumaru: Not in the slightest lololol

Minami Natsume: My, at the very least, your words did make my heart skip a beat. I'm moved by how romantically you described our relationship.

Touma Inumaru:

Touma Inumaru: I’m usually not that great with my words but being your producer kinda made me feel like a better man as well, I guess 😂‼️

Minami Natsume: Because I'm a great man?

Touma Inumaru: Exactly! Isn't that obvious 😄👍

Minami Natsume: Thank you very much. I'm sure the fans will love "FANTASY", which is sung by two great men.

Shiro Utsugi: Sounds wonderful! Please keep bringing us incredible music as ŹOOĻ! 🐾 Lastly, do you have any message for your fans?

Touma Inumaru: Mina, the composer of ŹOOĻ and the #2 Sexiest Man Alive, has many sides. I wanted to create a song that highlights his delicate, loving nature and expansive vocal range.

Touma Inumaru: Be sure to give Mina's love song plenty of listens, alright? If you do, I'm sure you’ll fall in love with him even more! 😄

Minami Natsume: I have always been in search for people who would put their soul into my songs and sing them with all their heart. Laughing at and scorning the world, while hoping that someday... I'd find such people.

Minami Natsume: Meeting ŹOOĻ and being able to create the best music was already a blessing for me, but I never imagined that one day they would make music just for me like this.

Minami Natsume: However, this is not something to take for granted. It's all thanks to the support from our seniors and the staff.

Minami Natsume: So, just for tonight, following the lyrics of "FANTASY," I want to try being a bit more honest.

Minami Natsume: I love you all. As long as I live, I will never let go. Let's stay connected forever.

Touma Inumaru: So cool…

Shiro Utsugi: You both are the best! Super handsome!

Minami Natsume: Thank you. Next time we meet, you’ll hug me along with Inumaru-san, won't you, Utsugi-san?

Shiro Utsugi: What!? Is that really okay…!?

Touma Inumaru: Can I join too!? I'll join! I’m totally joining! Let’s get Haru and Tora too! 🤗🤗

Minami Natsume: My, it's starting to sound like we’re forming a huddle.

Touma Inumaru: True LOL but I'm sure it’ll be fun with the four of us!

Minami Natsume: Yes, I think so too.

The End.

[goodday-goodmorn]

Back on this account: Prefacing this that this work was wrote in like a day and like most of my things- i was too lazy to edit lol. The concept form todays work was injected into my brain by good old @auspicioustidings, check em out- they got some cool concepts and fics. (Particularly Firewatch- chefs kiss to that series), lots of soft, dark, kidnap-y, COD content 👍

Without further ado i present my impulsive thoughts on a page:

——————

“Committed to the Bit.”

words: 4.7k

Summary: You’re at an utterly boring halloween party, about to leave when some scottish man dressed as a solider comes slinking into the bathroom and really goes ham with his whole ‘This place is dangerous, you aren’t supposed to be here- we gotta get you to safety’ act. Weird pick-up line approach but hey it fucking works. He’s just charming enough for you to play along with his bit. Because it is just a bit… right?

This party was kinda dull. Which really was a shame considering how high your expectations were. From what your friend said- it was supposed to be an immersive experience. The hosts were apparently old collage buddies with your friend who were halloween fanatics.

You friend has absolutely hyped them up, talking all about how when they threw parties they got into them and would always play up whatever dynamic they were going for with their costumes. Even to a level of mild public humiliation.

She once recounted the story of how one year, when dressed as a pair of vampires, they full on acted as though they were melting when someone brought a side of garlic breadsticks with the pizza. Fully committed to the bit it seems.

Because of the hosts being so dedicated to their act, of course it wasn’t uncommon for guests to act in a similar manner. Even those who didn’t have a running gag for the night were overall relaxed and had a good time being apart of the fun. It was a non-judgmental zone, filled with pretty decor and open people.

So of course, after hearing all about the welcoming and fucking amazing vibes of these parties- you had agreed to meet up with your friend at one.

Normally, you weren’t really one for parties, especially halloween ones because it was typically full of judgey, horny, strangers who would consider you weird- and you’d have to small talk and the songs almost always sucked because of course they couldn’t play actual halloween songs even if it killed them.

But after many reassurances from your friend, including videos and photos she had graciously provided you- you went to one.

To say you were disappointed was an understatement.

The costumes were amazing- high quality and expensive, hell the place was fucking stunning, all decked out in halloween gear and dark lighting. Even the building itself seemed perfect for this sort of thing- winding corridors, random locked rooms, ominous men in suits. Oh and don’t get you started on the snack table, shit was heavenly even if you were the only one touching it. The aesthetics of the party were great, But…

The vibes were way off. There was no rambunctious fun laughter and people grooving on the dance floor. Everyone seemed oddly reserved. Committed to their bits for sure, but well… there wasn’t much ah, variety to everyone’s act.

They all shared a similar vibe of like- domineering power. Which was definitely pretty fucking hot when it came to some people, (looking at you fancy vanpire lady), but it got boring after a while.

Safe to say your attempts at socializing were pretty shot. And what’s even worse, your friend? Yeah she didn’t even show up.

Tragic truly. You would call her to see if she made it here yet, but your phone was dead- and talking to any of the other party goers was a song and dance you didn’t wanna attempt again.

So here you are, in the bathroom, sitting by one of the sinks and charging your phone.

How lame.

You sigh, standing up to check yourself out in the mirror. At least your costume is fun, it’s a reference that only really you and you friend would get, but still, it made you happy to wear. It was a royal outfit, you looked like nobility, nice and fancy. Perhaps a barron, or maybe a princess, or a king- really it was up for anyone's interpretation. You fix up the head accessory, then fuss with your hair just to have something to do.

Maybe you should just leave, you were getting pretty bored of everything.

And it’s at that moment, as you’re sinking down to the bathroom floor to grab your charger that the most interesting thing of tonight bursts through the door.

You look at him, blinking once then twice. He does the same.

Eye candy.

That’s the first thought that comes to mind. Without an ounce of shame you let your eyes rack over his form, fitted in some sort of military outfit, tactical gear and even a prop gun. He makes it look damn good.

And then you stop admiring the hunk of prime meat in front of you because starring is rude. (Even if he is fucking amazingly charmingly rugged and god damn what you wouldn’t give to run your fingers through that mohawk of his and just tug-)

“That’s a good fucking costume.”

He pauses, looking at you with something confused and a bit bemused. And like an idiot you just can’t keep your mouth shut and blurt out more shit.

“Did ya have to bust through the door though? I mean like- don’t get me wrong it was cool as shit- really adds to the character here, big, hot, ah… military? guy.”

You wince, you’re making a fool of yourself. Luckily the man doesn't seem to mind.

(Johnny takes one look at you, your bag in a sink, your phone charging in the bathroom outlet, your clearly partly homemade costume that shows way more care than any of the other people in this joint and easily figures out-)

“L.T, Found a civvie.”

He mumbles into a- oh shit he’s got an earpiece and everything. Now that is cool. You tell him as such.

“Okay that is so fucking cool. Dude does that thing actually work? Man. How long did it even take for you to get this whole costume?”

He studies you with an odd look for a moment. You wonder if there’s actually anyone talking to him in that earpiece. Must be with the way he pauses. Slowly, he speaks; gentle.

“Not a costume lass. We ought to get you outta here, it's gonna be a shitshow soon.”

You blink. And then, you smile.

“Rightttt, not a costume. I getcha.”

“Not joking bonnie. This place is dangerous, filled with snakes. How did a wee thing like you even get in here?”

You smile, a bit pleased to banter with the first person who isn't doing the same old same old, ‘i know more than you, ooo im so big and powerful and scary’ act.

“Took a carriage ride and promised my roommate I'd be back by midnight.”

He eyes your royal esc outfit, not cinderella by any means but it still makes him smile slightly. (And boy if that isn't a sight, him looking you up and down and looking at you like that?)

“Cute. Then allow me to be yer escort princess.” He jerks his head in the direction of the bathroom door.

The statement is said with just enough sarcasm to make you bite down a grin. Hes very committed to this whole military operation act. And honestly? You were ready to leave anyway. Not to mention this guy was the only one who’d gotten your interest all night.

You grab your things and stuff them in your bag, slinging it over your shoulder tightly.

“Follow me, and ye gotta be quiet. Cant let anyone see us.”

You are more than willing to go along with his silly bit. And so you give him a clumsy salute, with a good natured smile.

“You got it captain.”

“Sergeant.”

He corrects you with an amused little puff of air. Clearly- hes just as pleased to have someone indulge him as you are to have someone interesting to talk to.

“You got it sergeant.” You repeat back with a graceful little half bow and amused smirk.

He turns back to the door, hands on his gun and before you go out you grab onto his arm.

“Wait!”

He turns to you with a raised eyebrow, eyes sharp, focused: wow hes a really good actor and hes got really pretty fucking eyes-

“Lassie?”

Oh yeah you can't get lost in his eyes just yet.

“Can I have a gun? For safety and all that- totally.”

“Hen… i don't think-”

“please sergeant? I promise I won't break it or anything! I just wanna get more into character ya know? pretty please Sir…?

…

(Johnny is not a good man. And fuck when he hears you call him by his rank, sir, asking so sweetly- your hands clasped in front of you- looking at him with a sheepish grin and pleading eyes. He wants to give you a damn bazooka if it means you keep talking sweet to him. Ghost is in his ear, telling him he better not bloody dare.)

(So of course…)

“You keep that safety on boonie. Hold it like this. If you gotta use it, don't be shooting or you’ll blow yer eye out. You toss the bloody thing in the direction of whatever it is you’re tryna hit- or you hand it to me. Is that clear?”

You nod vehemently, assuring him with little, yep’s and sure’s, and got it-’s. He raises a brow, mostly cause hes not sure if you’re actually taking this seriously. You take it for something else entirely though and then quickly say-

“Yes sir. Understood.”

(...Johnny is both damn disappointed hes on a mission, and greatful as fuck, because the only thing he wants to do is push you up against that wall, sneak his hands down your silly little costume and tease you until you’re a squirming mess. Asking you if you understand how hard hes gonna fuck you and hear your breath hitch as you answer back with a wanton “Yes sir”—)

“Sergeant…?”

You stare at the fellow and his intense gaze, wondering if you took it too far. Hes committed to his bit sure, but you didn't mean to overstep and make him feel like he had to give you a gun. Clearly they were expensive props, detailed and metallic and heavy.

Instead of speaking to you, he speaks to his earpiece, “just a precaution L.T, what if her majesty gets cornered? Little lass don't have a lick of combat training.”

You -far to ready to add to this stupid little bit- chime in,

“Yeah, they only teach you fencing and the waltz where i'm from.”

Johnny grins, “Com'on L.T”

(As much as Ghost hates to admit it- Johnny is right. And so be begrudgingly relents. It seems everyone is amused by how utterly oblivious you are because Gaz spares a laugh and a cheeky comment after Ghost's gruff voice.)

“Soooo… what's the verdict Sergeant? Did your uh… LT? That's lieutenant right-? Does he approve?”

In response, Soap carefully positions a gun in your hand, telling you with an edge to keep your fingers away from the trigger. (Safety is on of course, Johnnys not an idiot all the time.) You nod, holding onto the gun and feeling so cool.

Like that the two of you are off, sneaking around the winding corridors and hiding.

Honestly? This is the most fun you’ve had since you got here. Its all you can do to not bounce on your heels when you follow Soap around.

He's just so into this, that you can't help but be sucked in. Speaking in low tones to his ear peice, making sure you stick close, talking about positions and other military jargon that goes over your head. Oh and he does it all with this charming smile, like the situation is serious yes- but like he's still making sure you’re having fun. Trying to keep you comfortable. The energy is tense but in a good way. Electric even.

You find yourself holding your breath whenever you hide behind a corner, or when he tugs you to him and holds you still- god it's just so thrilling. Maybe because you’ve had a boring night, and cause he's charming and fun in all the right ways- but you’re having a blast.

Even when things seem to get even more tense.

You and Soap are currently nestled away in a little nook, a back corridor, a dead end. Soap curses, speaking into his earpiece. You can hear footsteps, someones coming. And if they see you and Soap- you'll surely be compromised.

(Which means your little game will likely come to an end. Most of the party people here are judgmental, ergo they probably won't appreciate your little roleplay. Its in this moment that you decide- fuck it, you dont want this to end.)

“Sergeant!” You whisper harshly, tugging off your fancy coat and draping it around him, “I’ve got a plan- trust me.”

He looks at you, mildly conflicted, he's about to say something but the footsteps are getting closer and you really need a cover story for why you’re lurking in a dark corner away from the party. You can only think of one reason two people would sneak away at a party.

Sue you for getting too into this silly game of pretend, but adrenaline spikes and next thing you know; you’re kissing him.

Rough and messy, needy. You let out your best wanton muffled moan. His eyes are wide, and for a moment you spiral, realizing what you’ve just done. Sure you were playing pretend and he was committed to the bit but you just kissed him for fucks sake- sexually harsssed him!

Oh god hes gonna hate you and you just ruined all that fun banter and any shot at ever speaking to the only decent person you’ve met all night—

He’s kissing back.

With sudden haste he pulls you close, kissing you back with a ferocity that short circuits your brain for a moment. His knee slots in between your legs, entangling you two, and then there's a soft thud as his back hits the wall.

Holy shit.

Holy shit.

Your heart races, a slurry of adrenaline, of elation because he was playing along with your silly cover story, of something hot and molten because he was running his hands along your outfit desperately.

Amidst the heat of it all, the grinding of his knee between your legs- you don't even notice the fact that the footsteps stopped. Johnny does though. He breaks the kiss with a purposeful loud noise, when he sees your dazed and confused expression however- he quickly aims for your neck before you can say a word and accidently give away the clever cover story you thought of.

You gasp, the noise does wonders. He can hear whoevers about to round the corner shifting about, obviously realizing what's going on and debating if they should check to be sure or spare their eyes of the sight.

So of course, Johnny helps them decide by laying it on thick.

“Fuck atta girl hen, wanna hear you fall apart f’ me.”

He presses you against his knee, nibbling at your skin to make your breath stutter. Thankfully, you catch his words and seem to get at least to some level what he's doing.

So of course, because god damn it- you’re in the thick of this silly military operation act now- you’ve gotta commit. You moan out the worst thing you can think of to make someone go away. Which is of course—

“Daddy!”

(Johnny can hear Gaz fucking roaring with laughter over coms. It takes everything in himself not to laugh then and there. Luckily, having a pretty little thing pressed against his knee and trembling provides a good distraction. Still, he can't repress the grin.)

“Yeah? Need something kitten?” He captures your lips again, a quick kiss this time, just to leave you breathless for your next remark.

“Y-Your c-” Oh my fucking god you dont know if you’re struggling to speak because you’re trying your damndest not to laugh, or because you are painfully terribly aroused at due to his kisses and husky voice. Thank god he intervenes.

“Whats that kitty? Yer gonna have to speak up. Lemme hear that sweet voice of yours.”

He guides you across his knee, you tangle your hand in his hair, tugging that stupid mohawk close to kiss him again.

When you quickly pull away, you rush out the words, failing to hide the look of pure hysterical amusement on your face- luckily the rush of words is mistaken for neediness and not because you are seconds away from bursting into laughter.

“Your cock-”

He captured your laughter in another kiss, groaning to hide the sound of your stifled snickers.

Finally, after what seems like ages and yet too little time- he hears Ghost in his ear giving him the all clear. Not without clear amusement.

Johny backs off, panting heavily and listening. He hears nothing but empty air. Quietly he whispers,

“They’re gone.”

You pant as well, trying your best to keep your hysterical little giggles quiet. Johnny is right there with you, like fucking schoolgirls- the two of you giggle for a moment.

Ah but you should probably apologize.

“H-Hey im sorry by the way- for kissing you out of the blue like that, i didn't know if you’d be comfortable with it but uh- i kinda got invested in the whole-”

You wave a hand about as he backs off you, pulling his knee away from your heat between your legs.

“-‘Don't get caught’, thing. Sorry if i um- took it too far and make you uncomfortable…”

(Johnny looks down at you, pretty little oblivious thing, looking all sheepish and nervous as if there wasn’t the high potential you just saved both his and your asses with your quick thinking.)

“All good lassie. Good quick thinking.”

(As much as he’d love to tease you more about it- or even tell you just how much he enjoyed kissing you until you were breathless- he’s still on a mission, and you need to keep moving.)

(So for now, he settles for a hair ruffle and a wink. You smile all the same.)

The pair of you continue, and you are starting to wonder where you’re going. This ain’t the way you came in- though, you suppose coming in via the main entrance would defeat the point of the game. Which was of course: to sneak you out undetected. Walking through the hall of party-goers probably wouldn’t be the best call.

Still, it's odd when you find yourself stopping at a room. It appears to be locked, a passcode and everything. This doesn’t seem to be an issue though.

(“Intel says they left the hard drive here. Code is 269344041.” Johnny listens to Ghosts voice, inputting the code easily. He ignores the confused look you end him in favor of mumbling-)

“a’m in.”

You blink as he talks to his earpiece. Carefully and quietly as you enter the room, you ask,

“Um… sergeant? What are we doing in here?”

“Looking for a package hen.”

(“Should be in a small red box.” Ghost relays.)

“-Little red box. Help me look?”

You nod like the helpful little thing you are and begin to search the room. It’s a storage unit of sorts. Bunch of random shit, you even spot a cool ass box of skeleton bones. That you show to your newfound companion.

He grimaces and gently sets the box down away from your hands.

“Let’s not touch anything else alright lassie?”

It’s framed as a question but really it’s an order. You just shrug, and then remember your line was supposed to be, ‘yes sir.’

“Yes sir.”

The search doesn’t take long after that, a few minutes max before you spot a little red box high up on a shelf. All the things around it are collecting dust, but the dull red colored cardboard seems to be free of it. Placed there recently it seems.

Maybe this whole immersive thing was planned out, and maybe it was pure luck you got roped into it. Everything was awfully elaborate after all. With him knowing the code and stuff.

“Sergeant i think i found it.”

He’s on you in and instant,

“Where?”

You point up the shelf. “That it?”

He carefully grabs it, opens it up and shuts it before you can get a good look. Looked kinda like a flash drive? A flash drive inside a plastic baggie.

“That’s what we’re looking for alright. Good work lassie. Ye might as well be a recruit at this point.”

He’s joking it seems, so you smile back in turn.

“Lived a bit too cushiony of a life for military work i’m afraid.” You gesture once more to your royal outfit. “But i’ll consider the offer sergeant.”

He takes you by the arm, tucking the box into his vest and leading you to the door.

“Glad to hear it princess.”

After that, it’s more sneaking about, more little bits of banter whenever you can, and listening to him speak into his earpiece. It’s dreadfully fun, the most fun you’ve had all night and honestly? At any party ever.

Finally- Finally, you seem to make your goal as you feel open air on your skin. That took forever to get out, with how massive the place was, but by god it was fun sneaking around like a super spy with…

Oh. You come to the sudden realization that you don’t actually know his name. That and- you never gave him your name either.

Well, this is where you leave so…

“Hey i just realized i never got your name.”

He turns to you for a brief moment, his hands on your arm now, tugging you along away from the building so that the bouncers at the front won’t see you. The two of you stop a little ways away.

“Soap. Or Johnny if you’d prefer.”

He says it so simply, with such an easy smile.

“And you princess?”

You say your own back, and it sounds so nice on his tongue. So right.

“Um- if you wouldn’t mind-“ You’re fishing in your bag now for your barely charged phone, wanting to get his number because he seems like a stand up dude and-

Soap touches his earpiece, “Package and civilians secure L.T. Good to go.” He says it quiet enough you don’t hear it, too busy looking for your phone.

(“Roger. Gaz move in.”)

“-could i maybe get your number? After i find my phone, of course. it’s just uh, well i had a lot of fun. Truth be told the night was pretty shit before you found me so if it’s okay with y-“

Your eyes widen when you see behind Soap, several Military troops storming the place, all of them holding what look to be- very real guns.

“What the fu-?”

You start, dropping your phone in a shock and completely shattering the poor device against the pavement.

Johnny can’t seem to bite down his grin.

Slowly, and yet all too fast, everything clicks as soon as you hear gunshots.

At a snails pace your head turns towards Johnny. Soap. The sergeant. The real sergeant.

“I did tell ya it wasn’t a costume hen.”

You were such a fucking idiot.

——————

Awkwardly you sit in your chair, taken in for interrogation. Less that and more for protocol considering everyone agreed you didn’t know jack shit.

Apparently, you went to the wrong party and somehow ended up at a terrorist gathering, which would explain the weird vibes of all the guests. And the super big and confusing building. And the many locked doors. And the—

The more you thought about it, the more stupid you felt so at some point in the hours of being on this stupid military base, you stopped.

To your utter horror and humiliation: Soap was a real sergeant. On a real mission. And he gave you a real ass fucking gun. And you had kissed him and oh god he had his knee between your fucking legs- you called him daddy.

Physically unable to handle the shame and embarrassment, you make a noise similar to that of a dying cat and bury your face in your hands.

The person ‘interrogating’ you, (a nice man that everyone called Gaz), just laughed. At the very least your misery was amusing.

“I am- so, so so fucking sorry, oh my god i’m such an idiot.”

“Don’t worry about it love. It helped to keep you calm. Better than dealing with panicking eh?”

You nodded because he made sense. It didn’t mean you were happy about it- but it did make sense. Soap tried to tell you after all. Honestly it was probably for the best you thought it was all a joke. Who knows what you would have done if you knew it was for real, probably panicked and gotten both yourself and him killed.

Gaz pats your head, an amused but sympathetic smile on his face.

(God fucking damn it, were all sergeants just naturally this fucking charming??? …You don’t have a thing for military guys do you?)

When the captain of this whole thing walks in, John Price; with a smile like that of a damn koala bear and air of authority- you decide that, yeah. Maybe you do have a thing for military types.

Go figure.

“You're free to go love.”

You sigh with relief, mostly because you don’t physically think you can handle anymore embarrassment. Your face is starting to hurt from all the cringing you’ve been doing. How are you ever gonna live this down?

“Afraid your phones broken though. Do you know the way home?”

No. Obviously not. You were taken here via military truck with the other soldiers. Frankly you could be in a different country right now and you wouldn’t know because you passed out at some point from the sheer embarrassment of it all.

(Price of course, knows this. He just wants to see you squirm a little longer. Is it wrong? Yeah. But he’ll be damned if you aren’t the most fun thing to mess with.)

“Um no- sir.” You tack on the title quickly, unsure exactly what to call him.

“Alright. I’ll have one of my men escort you home.”

As long as it’s anyone but Johnny you should be able to survive a car ri-

“Soap.”

Fuck.

“Take my car and escort the little lady back home.”

…You just had to think it, didn't you?

(Price knows he’s cruel for messing with you. Mean and terrible really. But the face you make when he calls Soap into the room? Where you look like you go through every stage of grief before landing on depression in .5 seconds?)

(Priceless.)

——————

The car ride is just as excruciating as you thought it would be. Even worse- Soaps a good guy. Charming and fun, sweet even. He jokes and teases you but tries his damnest to make the car ride as comfortable as possible.

Hell he even offers to stop someplace and buy you something for the road. And offer you not let would refuse; but you were at the base for hours, and it’s like 2 AM and you are exhausted and hungry and embarrassed.

So the two of you get some takeout, and eat in Prices car. You would be worried about eating in the car, but Soap makes you comfortable, assuring you the captain would probably be more upset if he let you go home on an empty stomach.

The rest of the drive is cozy after that. He pulls laughter out of you, and embarrassed groans but it’s all in good fun.

By the time you get home, you’re most definitely a little unsteady on your feet just due to how tired you are. He helps you out of the car, and even walks you to your door.

Before he leaves, you awkwardly debate giving him your number. Just so you could buy him drinks or something later down the line to make up for your utter stupidity today- but then you remember your totaled phone.

Damn.

And then, a god seemingly hears your prays because he’s slipping you a sheet of paper.

Drowsily you blink down at it to find a king number string. A phone number.

When you snap your eyes back up to him, he’s grinning.

“You wanted it right lass? Give me a call sometime.”

And then, he’s winking and walking away. Just like that.

…huh. Maybe you should go to parties more often.

[iamred-iamyellow]

⋆ ˚｡⋆౨ৎ Good Luck, Babe! - [Part 2]

♥ prev | ao3 link | masterlist

♥ pairing: oscar piastri/carlos sainz jr 

♥ ballet au - enemies to lovers

♥ (none of the pictures are mine)

♥ warnings: swearing, drinking, drugs mentioned in passing

♥ a/n: no beta and its like 1 am I hope this is a decent second chapter lol

Music blared in Oscar's ears as he watched the trio from across the room. Time seemed to still and lights brightened in his peripheral vision making him a little dizzy. He stumbled forward as someone bumped into him from behind, the drink in their hand splashing onto the floor. They seemed a little too drunk to care. Oscar whipped his head around to see who it was.

"Sorry man," the unfamiliar person said. He walked away shouting across the room for a friend.

Lando spotted Oscar standing alone and gestured for him to hang out with them. He walked up to the group slowly with his arms crossed.

"Of course you're here," Carlos scoffed. "I'm going to need another drink if I'm going to be around you all night."

"Classic Carlos," Oscar spat back. "Getting too hungover to come into the studio the next morning."

"That was one time-"

"Okay," Charles laughed awkwardly, stepping between the two. "Maybe you two shouldn't be drinking around each other. Don't want you two to break something... or get into a fist fight."

"I would gladly watch them get into a fist fight," Lando piped in.

Charles rolled his eyes and threw an arm around Carlos, guiding him to sit with Max. They wandered off talking to a few other people they bumped into on the way. 

"You didn't tell me he was going to be here," Oscar turned towards Lando, crossing his arms.

"You didn't tell me you were so obsessed with him." Lando laughed.

Oscar scoffed in shock, "I- that's not-" he was speechless.

Lando smiled.

“I’m not obsessed with him.” Oscar spat at him. 

"This is the guy you've been yapping about, yeah? The one you don't like?” 

“The one I fucking hate,” he said firmly. 

Lando raised his arms in surrender, “Whatever you say.” 

“I need a drink,” Oscar mumbled, walking away from Lando. 

Oscar made his way to the kitchen, catching glimpses of people doing a variety of drugs. He grabbed himself a beer that looked expensive but tasted disgusting. He drank it anyway. Everyone in the house tried to scream over the music, letting the world hear their shit-talking. 

The music that played now was far too delicate for a large party like the one he was attending. Maybe Charles wished it was a more formal event, but knowing the dance community... everyone needed a night to unwind. Oscar didn't judge. The environment of ballet can be ruthless. He's been dancing for 20 out of 23 years of his life. He knows the dedication it takes, and not a lot of people get to make it to the top. As much as he hated everything that came with the art form, he couldn't help but love the dancing itself. The beauty of the ballet was addicting.

He hummed to the soft piano piece playing over the speakers. It felt like something he'd enjoy dancing to. He briefly tried recording the song on his phone in hopes to find it once he returned home. It was definitely hard to hear, but Oscar had a talented enough ear to block out the loud voices screaming in the video he took.

He continued to drink and examine Charles' house. It was a stunning sight, and he expected nothing less. There was a beautiful, antique grand piano in one of the rooms. Charles had been the pianist for their company's orchestra for a few years now. Oscar couldn't help but wonder if a piano like this one was something Charles dreamed of as a child.

Oscar sighed and walked out of the house to find some peace. He noticed Carlos alone as well, sitting on the far left side of the front porch steps. Oscar stopped in his tracks, debating whether he should just turn around or not. He glanced back at the overstimulating house and walked down the steps anyway. He took a seat on the other side of the steps, as far away from Carlos as he could possibly get. They sat there in silence, not looking at each other.

After a few moments, Carlos held the flask he was drinking out of for Oscar. Oscar grabbed it gently and took a sip, still not meeting Carlos' gaze. They passed the flask back and forth as the night went on and people began leaving the party. No doubt a dozen or more people were passed out in the house, but the sight of people catching cabs was their queue to leave.

Oscar

you can still drive me home right?

Lando

sorry mate I'm so fucking drunk right now

"Fuck," Oscar whispered running a hand over his face.

"Hm?" Carlos questioned.

"Lando was supposed to drive me home. I don't have a ride."

"Can't you call an Uber or something?"

"I'm kind of... banned?" Oscar said, hiding his face from embarrassment.

"You're banned from Uber?!" Carlos laughed. "I have so many questions."

"It's not funny. I have to ask Charles if I could crash on his couch now." Oscar crossed his arms.

"Don't worry about getting home. I'll call someone for you." Carlos said pulling out his phone.

"You really don't have to-"

"Too late. I already did." Carlos shrugged.

“You’re so drunk you’re being nice to me,” Oscar muttered after a moment and handed the flask back to him.

"Don't mistake this for us being friends or something," Carlos mumbled back.

"Oh no, I'm not. I still very much don't like you." Oscar said back.

"Good, because I don't like you either."

Oscar turned away with a soft smirk. He didn't want to admit the banter they've just shared was much nicer than their usual cutthroat encounters. The car came to get him within a few minutes and he left without another word said to Carlos. He wished Oscar would've said something. A soft "thanks" would've been fine enough. A "goodbye" would have sufficed as well.

They both tossed and turned that night, blaming their intoxicated state for their lack of ability to sleep. The conversation played over and over in both their heads like an annoying alarm.

They'd both forget about their shared moment by morning.

[acaplaya-musings]

A random assortment of Geoff Castellucci pictures - Part 1

I have a folder that is filled with screencaps of Geoff, some of which are/were for art references, and some of which are just because I think they're good pictures, and I asked in a recent post if any of you were interested in me showing you some of them. A few of you did very much express interest, and so here we are. This post, part 1, is for screencaps from videos on Geoff's solo channel, and part 2 will be for screencaps from VoicePlay videos.

They're just listed alphabetically by video title (because that's how they're sorted in the folder), and this assortment certainly has potential to be expanded upon, but it's just some/most of what I've got right now (plus some thoughts/comments from me about most if not all of them)

Everything below the cut!

This one I was considering as a potential fanart reference at one point - I was tossing up between this and Wicked Game for a sketch fanart, but I ended up going with Wicked Game

I mean come on sir please this is ILLEGAL /j

Look, Folsom Prison Blues is one of my top 3 favourite Geoff videos, emphasis on the word "video", so sue me!

h-

I know it's a habit of Geoff's to have at least two top buttons of a button-up shirt undone, but like in this video, (if you don't count the button that's probably right up at the collar), he's got three buttons undone and oh boy it shows And I Am Looking Respectfully

I grabbed this screenshot when I went looking for pics for my Geoff playing the piano photo compilation, but I ended up keeping this one because I just think it's a really nice pic <3

I actually don't have a lot of screenshots from Jack's Lament, but mostly because the whole damn video is so amazing and practically all of it is screenshot-worthy!

This was another one I was considering for fanart, but it would be quite hard to get right, even with my "tricks" for get outlines near-perfect

I mean yeah what can I say

Mele Kalikimaka really holds a special place in my heart, and I can't wait to watch/listen to it again come December (or late November if I get impatient, lol) (as if I don't have the whole dang song memorised in my brain already!)

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen may be the most impressive/stunning arrangement of Geoff's 4 Christmas songs, but Mele Kalikimaka is probably my sentimental favourite, deep down (and yes, he's very pretty in this one!)

I mean we all agree he looked dang good in this outfit right?

I actually low-key would love to do fanart of Jaime!Geoff (maybe standing up so I wouldn't have to include the Iron Throne), but that's a lot of brown, and I'm not sure I have enough variety of shades/hues to get it right

I know I included this one fairly recently in my visual analysis post for Song Of Durin, but I saved this one to my folder and so I'm sharing it again!

It's pretty rare for me to feel attraction to any "iteration of Geoff" (Geoff clone?) with thick facial hair, but man that smile... It's a similar deal with "Jeoph" in Unshaken, and frankly my attraction to him in that video continues to baffle me. You're not supposed to look that good with a handlebar moustache and not even a beard to go with it!!!

I call this one "Heart Eyes Geoff" and it makes me melt in love and affection every time <3

Geoff and Kathy had to refilm a lot of shots for Til Then, and they were completely by themselves in the studio when they did so. So yeah, she might not be on screen, but you just know he's looking right at her 💜

I really really love Way Down okay. I call this image "flirting with the camera" (got that from a comment on a reaction video to this I think?)

And finally, this is just the Wicked Game video thumbnail without the title text (got it from Patreon - Geoff sometimes asks Patrons to help vote on video thumbnails and will give us jpg downloads of each option), but still, it captured me from the moment I first saw it appear on YouTube. Like he's just! So! Pretty! And the wispiness of his hair (which was a deliberate styling choice, apparently, based on the BTS footage), and the way it's at this point long enough to reach his shoulders, just UGH man

So yeah, hope you enjoyed this; part 2 with VoicePlay video screencaps will be coming at some point soon! Seeya!

[seaofreverie]

Sparkstember Day 4: Propaganda (Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth)

At first I was going to open my Propaganda writeup with something to the same effect of "unPOpULAr oPinIOn!: propaganda > kimono!!!!" but you know what, even something as tame as this (prefering one album over the other, you know) feels wrong to say when we're dealing with two masterpieces (and even then it's probably not that much of an unpopular opinion anyways, lol). And yeah, I'll admit, that as I hinted at yesterday, for the longest time I really did fully stand by my opinion that Propaganda is not just something I like more than KMH, but it's just objectively BETTER. Well, the funny thing about opinions is that they can change everyday and again, I really don't feel about this quite as strongly as I did before! Not to say that Propaganda isn't still my personal favourite out of these two: it very much is, and it's also much more beyond that.

It used to be EXTREMELY rare for me to listen to an album and and get super obsessed with it and listen to it on repeat, I always needed something else to mix it all with, so when it did happen, it was a very big deal. Even bigger the deal gets when such obsession leads to becoming even more obsessed with everything else put out by the band behind the album over many following months, which only happened to me twice so far... And sure enough, with Sparks, that historic entry point was Propaganda.

I think I should call this album simply addicting: that's how it felt in the beginning and honestly still does to this day. It's impossible to listen to it just once. Something about it just grabs you immediately and completely and it just NEVER gets old or overplayed, I could try to figure out what it is exactly but I've no idea, it's just that Sparks magic I suppose! But as for some of the things I can definitely say that make me love this album this much:

It just flows sooooo well. For the longest time I had no clear favourites and least favourites, they all work so amazingly as a whole package and individually too of course. I think it's a perfect album in the way that you don't even think about it when you listen to it: the sequencing and all the different ideas just work so well together, it's kind of, seamless?

Something about it feels very modern to me once again, and I must say that I still do think that it's a clear improvement over KMH in many ways: more variety, more interesting turns and twists, more energy for sure too (and I have a very big bias for high energy and "intense" music, so I can't pretend that this isn't something that matters to me a lot). And even then we have some slower tracks that don't break the flow at all, I mean, ok, maybe only one such track really, but still, that applies even moreso in that case

So all in all, yes, this is definitely one of my favourite albums in existence. It continues what KMH started while bringing in even more of that special Sparks flavor that feels completely unimitable. And it has lots of cool keyboard lines, as do... most Sparks albums, but maybe it feels more prominent for me on Propaganda since it was the first Sparks thing I listened to on repeat for hours and days on end, so that was also definitely a big part of what drew me in initially. I guess I could really just try to figure out what makes this album as freaking good as it is for hours on end but it feels like I'm already running in circles a bit here so let's give this a rest for now.

Favourite songs (and other highlights):

Propaganda: he-LLO SOLDIER BOY! perfect opener and lead in into the next track. I'm a HUGE fan of when Sparks do these kind of intros (gratsax.... EXOTIC CREATURES...)

At Home, At Work, At Play: not an EARLY fav but I truly think this is one of the best Sparks songs. Peak intense energy and everything else, very special all in all

Reinforcements: another very early big Sparks fav so I'm pretty partial to it and also somewhat nostalgic about it for that reason

Thanks But No Thanks: love the keyboard line especially....

Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth: the bridge especially is peak, and is that a mellotron I hear here? Or something very similar, either way, that's another certified Iconic moment

Achoo: this song makes me SO nostalgic, I don't know if it's the chord progression or something else but listening to it makes me seriously so unexplainably happy and I love the bridge here an absurd amount too. The baseline is so good also

Bon Voyage: this and Never Turn Your Back are a bit of a duo to me, both more grand in sound than the rest here perhaps, and absolutely showstopping live too

[archivalofsins]

In a funnier turn of events after getting that Mikoto post out I am feeling more comfortable discussing his character. It was really bugging me that I was perceiving the fandom as an unsafe space to discuss plurality on a two alter system basis. It never seemed appropriate to gush about it given the things I'd been shown being said.

Yet, I was really happy with Double and the Neoplasm voice drama. Because it showed how diverse dissociative identity disorder can be with just two alters. Instead of just doing the same old hi I'm the totally good one and I'd never hurt a fly and I'm sin incarnate sometimes I just do bad shit for the lols you know.

The thing that most media does when discussing that presentation. I don't know how to really tackle my own feelings on it. It's like most my life I grew up seeing it represented as oh no, the evil one is out. As though the person had been possessed almost. So, it was very refreshing to see it be like, "Oh well, they're both just people. No one is as simple as just good or bad. They both have a variety of behavior."

It's something that should by now rightfully be expected when it comes to that sort of representation of it. Yet when it comes to two people always focus on the duality. The light and the dark the good and the evil. They try to separate all nice in neat like that without really focusing on the individuals. So, I was ultimately really pleased by Milgram. Though it could be because I'm more on the older side or just I gave up on looking for good representation and started avoiding anything thar covered it in middle school.

Honestly, I still avoid things that deal with it outside of Milgram. Simply out of habit of thinking, man, is it gonna be this shit again? How do I know it's not that shit again? Oh well, you gotta watch it, of course. I'm not doing that. I don't trust it. Yet with Double, there were just so many great things about it that really made me go.

Yeah, they get it. This is actually great. I couod harp on the lyrics all day.

Like favorite lines were,

1. That'd be good.

With the lyrics before it and how it's enunciated with so much longing paired with the visuals of him wiping the blood to look down into the other end of the train. It really fucking goes hard as a line. Really embodying the whole come on praise me for helping you I did good right I saved you right so hey where's my thank you it'd be good if you said it energy.

2. Doesn't matter if you didn't wish for it, can't get rid of me now. Just the two of us, relieved, aren't you? I'll protect you (us).

Just the enunciation the growl. It's just really good as if going oh you want to push me down well I'm not going anywhere.

3. "He's a liar," you said and made me out to be a scoundrel, why?

The fucking double meaning if this one line is just so got damn amazing. It's not only calling back to the ridiculous accusations lines in Double but discussing the audiences response to Mikoto. Calling him a liar claiming he was faking. But the second half is referring to the audiences reaction to John making him out to be a scoundrel immediately blaming the murders on him. Labeling him as the bad one without even a second thought. Only leaving him to ask why? Putting more meaning behind the line

4. Hey, I just wanted to save you, so why did it come to this? Cling to me hoist me up as your savior stand up and sing out your gratitude- So, why?

As though Mikoto is their asking why is your song like this you should be praising me. You should be grateful so why?

5. I don't remember a thing it couldn't be helped I'm Double (MeMe).

This line is super great because it's like John and Mikoto both claiming onus of their own songs. And John answering Mikoto's question about why his song is like this. Basically going it couldn't be helped I'm Double. Basically saying it was bound to turn out like this because I'm like this.

6. Why, why? If only I were never born, if only-

To me, this came off as John going. If only I had never been born at all, then neither of us would have existed, and this wouldn't have happened. Expanding on the idea that Es and Kotoko both bring up that his existence is the problem. Which most wouldn't immediately go they mean because of my disorder but go yeah fuck it you're right if I never even lived to begin with this wouldn't have happened. I wouldn't even be here for this to happen and then the apology after these lines as if apologizing for having been born at its sooo good.

It has no right to be sooooo good. So, yes despite the incredible detriment that this week has been to my mental health and my anxiety literally being on a fucking hundred. Double has been the best fucking thing to ever happen to me personally. And it's so fucking amazing.

I love it so much.

[cyber-corp]

By the time I'm posting this, it will be January 26th, commonly known as Australia Day where I'm from. A country known for its sweeping plains, unique fauna and the PM fucking off during a nationwide crisis.

I think, despite all Australia's long-standing issues, there are some things about it worth celebrating the culture. Specifically, the music!

Here are some of (what I think) to be some of the most quintessential Australian albums to listen to:

Midnight Oil - Diesel and Dust (1987): Quite possibly the most Aussie album from quite possibly the most Aussie band. The biggest song off of this album, Beds are Burning, is about Aboriginal Australians being forcibly removed from their land, and the lead singer Peter Garrett is really outspoken about justice towards Australia's native peoples, even being in Parliament at one point. Listen if you want to hear what Rage Against the Machine would be like if they were a new wave band and regularly consumed Oak chocolate milk.

INXS - Kick (1987): If the UK had new wave, Australia had pub rock. Artists defined by their songs being so infectious you can remember while you're smashed on seven bottles of Tooheys Extra Dry (kidding. it's called pub rock because that's where they'd play their sets. in pubs). INXS is quite possibly the pub rock band, the genuine article, and this album is a nice gateway into their music; Punchy, upbeat, and memorable riffs for days. (Songs like Need You Tonight and New Sensation for a good idea). Listen if you like Duran Duran or The Cars.

Kylie Minogue - Fever (2001): GOD, how do I introduce Kylie. This country's shining grace. The superstar in our backyard. Our very own Princess of Pop. This album just extrudes that gleam and optimism that'd you find in a lot of Y2K dance-pop music, and I absolutely love it. Listen if you like Discovery-era Daft Punk or Grace Jones.

The Avalanches - Since I Left You (2000): My personal favourite off this list. It might not be the most "Aussie", but I think it makes up for it in its ethereal tone and sampling techniques. One song might just be made up of just one sample, while another might be made up of 50, (Frontier Psychiatrist was originally made up of 28 samples), but it's all tied together by this collective lofi sound. Listen if you like DJ Shadow, Portishead, or The Chemical Brothers.

Regurgitator - Unit (1997): There was this period in the 90's where Australian alt-rock went fucking berzerk, and Regurgitator was one of those bands. Everyday Formula opens with "Everyday I shit into the sea" and ! (Song Formerly Known As) is about not going out to parties and staying at home. Listen if you'd like Gary Numan mixed with the subject matter of early Weezer.

Spiderbait - Grand Slam (1999): Spiderbait was another one of the alt-rock outlets that got really popular despite being really vocal about the hypocrisy of the industry at large. This album contains a wide variety of influences, like 60's bubblegum on Glockenpop (song about the needless commodification of music. their most popular song and highest-earning single of that year. lol), pop punk on Dinner Time and hard rock on Shazam! A pretty good all-rounder made brilliant by vocalist Kram. Listen if you like Green Day or No Doubt.

Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream (2008): I put this one on because the cover is really funny, but then I listened to the album and I got a sense of bittersweet nostalgia listening to it. A mix of disco, dance-rock and funk (We Are The People is a good example) make for something that made me wish I was 7 again. Listen if you like Prince or Let's Dance-era Bowie.

TISM - Machiavelli and the Four Seasons (1995): TISM (short for This Is Serious Mum) are a fucking disgrace to this country. They are such a bunch of yobbo cunts that I can't believe they managed to get anywhere past 90 on the charts. Wankers like them deserve to be dragged out on stage and beat to a pulp viciously, to the ravenous delight of the crowd. Don't listen to this album and don't listen to Greg! The Stop Sign!! Listen if you're a masochist, maybe.

AC/DC - Let There Be Rock (1977): Ah yes, good ol Acca. The ultimate dad band. You could put any of their albums on this list because they all sound the exact same, but I put this one on because I prefer Bon Scott's vocals. The title track feels like it goes forever, but in a way where you wish it didn't end. Some nice fashioned high voltage rock'n'roll. Listen if you like Black Sabbath.

There are way more that I could have put on here (Gurrumul, Frenzal Rhomb, Powderfinger, Silverchair, The Presets, The Chats, Men At Work, Tame Impala etc.) but I think you could probably discover them in your own time. In the meantime, here is the very culmination of Australian music. Nearly 50 years has led up to this being made.

Fuckin skitz cunt.

[dojae-huh]

Game caterers: part 2

Part 1 here

I stopped at the guessing a song game, the end of the first round.

The SM line-up showed well that it is better to have guests of different personalities and skills. One over the top and dramatic Key is enough, one quite sit-and-smile Wonbin is also enough.

Good at variety or with keen sense artists also excell in picking up and developing born on the spot jokes and themes. Like it was with everyone making Key do all the dances. Or Leeteuk (as a very seasoned MC) instantly assisting others with explanations or support comments and topics that weren't easy to get right away, nudging them in the right direction (for example about Kyuhyun not being in SM anymore). Or older gen defending Hyo.

Idols are more of animators and geishas than comedians and jokesters. Their task is to create a comfortable atmosphere, run conversations, entertain with dance and musical numbers (art). Of course it depends on the type of the show (Idol fanmeets have "low level" games with "layman's" jokes like cross-dressing and dirty dances). If in MiTH hosts tried to up each other, make it fun at the expense of each other, in GC it's about "being a family", so all SM artists did everything to show support and respect for each other.

24:06 - It is so funny how Do took Kangta like a small child by the hand.

In Russia age hierarchy is pretty strong, especially if there is difference in status (Kangta is a CEO) and teacher/pupil (Kangta produced Do's and NCT's songs) (of course, it applies to polite people, rude and disrespectful don't adhere), that's why I'm amazed at Do's assertiveness and "mother goose" nature every time. Perhaps this Do's trait is not as evident to other Westerners from the countries where age hierarchy after 20 is close to being absent. Whether Do grabs people or not is a good indicator of how close he is to people. He is very cautios with new people and exessively familiar with those he managed to turn into his hyungs (with noonas he continue to be polite physically but becomes sassy).

Do is not close with Leeteuk, btw. Do needs to work on it. Get more SuJu on his side. And get to know Karina. aespa is the only active group in SM Do doesn't have friends from.

"Candy" is originally H.O.T's song. Kangta didn't recognise the song because it was rearranged and the opening was unfamiliar, I guess.

24:18 - Do only involved his team, but Leeteuk commanded everyone to join (I'm liking this naturally evolving double MCing, lol, Leeteuk and Do's way of working with a group of people is very similar).

Kangta isn't a regular on these type of shows, he acts as a 40+ y.o. man trying to be funny with a group of friends. It works for him, but it's also evident how others push him in front, provide openings. He is the oldest, he should be given importance. Another case of someone falling for Do because Do gives them attention (look at how Kangta is very warm with Do, goes to him first, Do won him over with compliments during Xiumin-Kangta-Doyoung's drinking meet together in a hotel during SMtown in Japan and strengthened the connectiong with the drinking show with Heechul and musical partnership for his album).

29:20 - Karina is also a leader who easily falls into the habit of being bold (plus her image is this way, a gangster leader). She had to backtrack right away.

39:13 - Editors know their job with these comments. A throw back to the very beginning of the show (the discussion of height difference issue in small and big groups that evolved into "everyone wants to be in the spotlight").

Part 3

5:04 - Doyoung's extra flexibility. He has that condition when joints and skin are loose.

14:31 - Doyoung didn't even stand up right away, haha. The deflated stage.

17:16 - Another Do and Leeteuk combo. Leeteuk added authority to Do's initial pushing.

18:04 - Haha, kind of funny how Do is with the elder-line. He is good with grilling, the rest are probably not, so they didn't try to exchnge with him.

Same old games, but better variety skills of the participants and directing/editing skills of the producers result in a better product. I expected the show to be boring, but it was very fun, and I did develop more affection for the idols I knew by name but didn't care about before.

Fans in the comments wish for SM to comeback to creating content with participation of all SM artists. How it was before. I agree. And it will be better for the idols as well. Celebrety idol life is isolating. Many idols talk about not having friends outside of their groups (especially young ones). Plus, people like a community (especially Koreans, they need to be a part of a group). Finally, it helps fans of one group to get interested in another group.

P.S. The reason Leeteuk dissapeared often during breaks was to update managers and centre directors gathered downstairs.

[bluesylveon2]

Rook 32! (Neige concert lmao)

Hi anon! Rook is very oc in this but I hope you enjoy the fic! I had fun writing Yuu being grossed out at happiness lol :)

Prompt 32.  my friend drags me to the concert of some boy band that I can’t stand because they didn’t want to go alone and you overhear me complaining about how awful they are and decide to prove me wrong in a heated debate

Note: Modern au, aged up characters, me lowkey ranting about NRC losing to RSA, mention of game events, "Heigh Ho!" is a fan translation (cries in EN server)

Word Count: 1.4k

Warnings: not beta read and possible OOC characters (Rook definitely is)

Yuu was annoyed, very annoyed. She was annoyed at the world when she got dragged out of her will, and her roommate, Rielle, was currently having the time of his life at the Neige LeBlanche concert.

Who was Neige? One might ask. Neige was a talented actor and singer known for his cutesy looks and friendly personality. It was nice for some people, but not Yuu. She was not a fan of him at all. Too bad she was sitting in the front section, close to the stage, of the concert, or else she would've booked it out of there. 

"Did I ever tell you that I hate you?" Yuu turned to her red-headed friend, who pouted in response.

"But you said that you were my friend yesterday!"

Yuu rolled her eyes. "Yes, until you dragged me here! That was when I revoked your friend status."

Rielle stopped pouting and gave his most adorable puppy eyes his blue eyes could muster. "C'mon Yuu, this will be fun. You will have a great time, I promise."

Yuu only crossed her arms and sighed. Here goes the next two hours of her life wasted on this concert. "I am going to die."

"Of fun!" Rielle beamed and turned his attention back to the concert. Neige had finally arrived, along with seven dwarves standing behind him.

"Hello, everyone! How is everyone tonight?"

Yuu winced as every fangirl/fanboy screamed their heart out for the performer. Yuu could feel her hearing starting to degenerate. "If only I invested in some earplugs," she grumbled and glared at Rielle, who was too busy fanboying to care.

"Tonight, I will start my show off with a familiar song. This one is one of my favorites, Heigh-Ho!"

"A KIDS SONG?!" Yuu exclaimed and turned to Rielle. "Is he serious right now?"

"Of course he is!" Her friend replied as Neige sang the first few verses. 

The sun calls for us with a wave of its hand Our morning is here Let's all get ready Who's sleeping in? Pull him out of his futon Hurry up, hurry up! Let's go, let's go! Good morning, everyone!

"I am living in a nightmare!" Yuu groaned as everyone sang along. The words sounded cult-like in Yuu's ears, and she already wanted her misery to end. If only a monster appeared and ended the show…a girl could dream. 

Yahoo, yahoo What a fun song Let's all spin around and dance Come on, let's hold hands Let's all laugh and dance

"Does this boy even hear himself? Spinning around, laughing, and dancing. What a goody two-shoes! He sounds so fake!"

“Excuse moi, madamoiselle. Roi de Neige sounds very passionate about his words.

Yuu, annoyed, turned to the stranger next to her. He had long blonde hair, green eyes, a shirt with "I <3 Neige," and a wide-brimmed hat with a feather. Yuu questioned why the guy didn't get complaints from the people behind them. "Well, his singing makes him sound like a little boy, and he's what? 18."

The man arched an eyebrow and crossed his arms. All of his attention was focused on Yuu. "Oh? Tell me, madamoiselle. Which artists do you prefer?"

"Well, I like Poppu Myūjikku because they have a variety of music, unlike this Cocomelon remake."

The man hummed in thought. "I see what you mean. Roi d'Or is a good drummer, Monsieur MagiCam is also a good singer, and Monsieur Curiosity has a very unique taste. I saw a video of him smashing guitars and stage diving on MagiCam. Tsk tsk." 

"Oh yeah? Tell me, what makes Neige so interesting, then?"

The man smiled as if rose petals were floating around him. "Well, his songs have so much meaning behind them; it just makes you want to sing along! His innocent demeanor attracts people and animals to him. Also, he has worked hard to get to where he is now. Just staring at him now makes me wish for world peace."

Yuu laughed mockingly. "World peace? That sounds stupid. Besides, Neige is not the only hard-working celebrity. There is Vil Schoenheit, who works ten times more than Neige and is a better celebrity than him!"

(Somewhere in the same city, Vil unknowingly smiled as he fixed a lavender-haired boy's makeup).

The man stood up straight and looked down at Yuu in annoyance. "Roi de Poison is beautiful but not on the same level as Neige. In fact, both of them competed in a singing competition, and Roi de Neige won."

Yuu felt a vein pop out of her forehead. She had remembered seeing that competition and how devastated Vil was at the results. He was so close to winning, but he lost by one point. What pissed her off the most was that he lost to the very song Neige started the concert with. "WHY YOU!!! Neige is nothing compared to Vil, and Vil deserved that win!" She yelled out with angry tears running down her eyes. Her response shocked the man, and it seemed like no one else heard it as they were too busy cheering on Neige. 

"Hey, Yuu." The redhead behind Yuu interrupted, causing her to turn her attention to her friend. "Are you okay? I heard you yelling just now."

Yuu wiped away her tears with her hands. "I just want to go home, Rielle. Please take me home."

Rielle looked at her with concern. "Are you sure?"

"Please!" Yuu pleaded, and Rielle nodded. 

The man sat there frozen as he watched the encounter. Suddenly his mouth moved before he could think ." Wait."

Yuu turned to the man. "What do you want now?"

The man dug inside his pocket and pulled out a neatly folded handkerchief. "Here, and I'm sorry about earlier."

Yuu stared at the handkerchief and the man before reluctantly taking it. She just wanted to leave without embarrassing herself in front of more people. Yuu said nothing as she and Rielle left eh venue, leaving Neige and the mystery man behind. 

---

The birds were singing a sweet melody outside of Yuu's window. The sun shone brightly, and everything reminded her of Neige's concert and the mystery man. Yuu shook her head. She wished she knew who he was now that her mind had settled. She could return his handkerchief back and apologize like an adult. A knock interrupted Yuu's thoughts, and she called for someone to come in. A familiar mop of red hair and blue eyes entered, carrying a glass of water. 

"Good morning, Yuu." Reille smiled hesitantly as he handed her the cup. "I see that you are awake now. How are you feeling?"

Yuu drank the water and smiled. "Better now. Thank you."

Rielle sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Look, I'm sorry for dragging you to the concert. I thought that you would have fun when obviously you didn't. I will make sure to not do something like that ever again."

Yuu smiled sadly and looked down at the empty cup in her hands. "It's alright. I forgive you."

"That's good. Speaking of, you need to look at MagiCam.

Yuu tilted her head in confusion. "Why?" Rielle opened his phone and showed Yuu the screen. It was a video of an interview about the concert, and on it was none other than the man from yesterday wearing his ridiculous hat and shirt. "Great Sevens, is this real?"

"Just watch." Rielle pressed play, and the man's voice filled the room.

"I enjoyed my time at the concert, and I'm not just saying this as the Eternal Snow fan club president." The man and the interviewer laugh. 

"Are there any memorable moments from the concert?"

Yuu felt herself suck in a breath as the man's voice suddenly turned serious. 

"There are. I met many fans during it, but also someone who was not a fan. Someone as passionate about other celebrities as I am with Neige. However, I said some things I regret, and for that, I am sorry. I hope to apologize to you in person, but this will do for now."

"Thank you for those words, and I hope you will find this person one day. Thank you for speaking to us, Monsieur."

The man only laughed. "You can call me Rook Hunt."

"Yes. Thank you, Rook. This is NRC News signing off."

Yuu and Rielle sat in silence. Yuu was busy processing everything when she suddenly remembered something. She reached over for the discarded handkerchief on the nightstand and examined it. 

There, embroidered in purple, were the letters "R.H."

Disclaimer: I do not own Twisted Wonderland and its characters. Those belong to Aniplex, Walt Disney Japan, and Yana Toboso.

©: This story belongs to bluesylveon2 2020-23. DO NOT modify, republish, or plagiarize my work.

[porlatamconlouis]

puerto rico has been a bit bittersweet, if i'm honest. but first... louis in san juan! caribe louis!!!

so cool to have been at el choli! iconic pr venue! it did feel very usamerican though, but still pretty cool. it's a big arena, but only two levels and like half the floor were open. the seats right in front of the stage, the stands, those were empty. i had a puerto rican girl sitting next to me and she was saying that she knew it wasn't gonna sell as much so she bought the ticket the same day. the thing is that, and that's something she said as well, puerto ricans in general are not big on non-latin music, and that's fair. the atmosphere was still so amazing (even if i felt like panamá had slightly better collective energy imo) and the show was incredible. people lost it at the 1D songs of course, which i noticed people around me only knew those ones, but hey, thanks for coming to see this boo. he's amazing, isn't he?

anyway, nothing much else about the show that hasn't been said over the past few days. oh, the christian opener was even cringier than i thought, he literally introduced one of his songs about his faith and jesus and blah blah. and he got carried away with his set, and had to be told his set was over. lmao. i know how hard is to get up on a stage like that, but man, this was NOT the crowd for someone like him. when i told the puerto rican girl next to me who he was she was like "what? christian? but everyone here is gay". lol

i did record almost all of saturdays. i say almost because i was only recording lucía and once she went up i stopped. louis was emo and thankful as he always gets when he's so far away from home. we were close enough to see his face without needing to see screens which is always lovely. he had some cute interactions with fans. and... yeah. i love him. 💚

got to thank my friends at the soundbooth again. tom for sure recognized us, and said "i hope you enjoyed the show" and i was like, "of course! you guys make it look so good!" or something along those lines. now they'll get a break from my annoying ass for a few shows, hajshha.

the bitter part. puerto rico is so expensive. :c we stayed at the cheapest place we could find and that's still gonna be the most expensive stay on this trip. and it was located in a local barrio, so at least the groceries you could get nearby were cheap but not much variety. at least uber wasn't too expensive, but... *shrug* it also rained on and off after sunday (ofc), so couldn't really enjoy the beach again. and we got soaking wet yesterday and some of our clothes are still wet, lol. but it was kind of a little bit fun, hehe, being in that caribbean rainstorm.

had some yummy vegan eats (although expensive 😭) and passionfruit juice my most beloved foreverrr.

we're now flying to dominican republic, for a vacation within our vacation, lol. hoping the weather treats us better.

[beecreeper]

5, 12, 20 for the Tav companion ask? For all of them? 👀

Aaaaaaaa sorry this took so long!!!! Big huge answers under the cut!!

5.) Describe their idle animations

Briar – laying on the ground and staring into space (undoubtedly tripping), drinking from one of her fermentation bottles, vibing with her spores by like vaguely gesturing with her hands and watching how they float around, idly fiddling with/twirling her scythes, crossing her arms and glowering, doing that bored arrogant looking picking at your fingernails using your thumb thing

Ferox – pummeling the shit outta his training dummy, nervously scratching the back of his neck, standing all tense with his fists as his sides, (not in camp clothes) adjusting his armor, cleaning his hammer

Molli – head bobbing side to side like she has a song in her head (she does), penguin arm flappys, playing either her concertina or her flute, sitting with her knees curled up into herself, nervously fidgeting with her fingers

Myrala – practicing some sword dancer type moves, swaying back and forth, brushing off her pants/skirt (I still haven’t decided an official design for her camp clothes), running her fingers through her hair/fixing her hair/fiddling with the hair pin, something like praying/meditating, idly rubbing at her hand stub (she still gets phantom pain sometimes but she doesn’t consciously think about it anymore).

Poppy – playing some kinda dice game by herself, chillin’ with her hands on her hips, shaking out her hair like a horse, I know that in game companions don’t leave their tents but Poppy needs to be prodding at a campfire, practicing with a cross bow, throwing knives, or throwing axes

12.) Does your Tav have any tattoos or scars? Why?

Briar – Briar has red tattoos all over her body. She got them originally as a druid, with a vague concept in my mind that they follow “energy lines” in her body and helped her connect to/channel her druid magic. Originally, the tattoos were a very pale green and were imbued with spore magic, but when Briar fully connected with Bhaal for the first time and slaughtered her circle, the tattoos changed to red! Like Bhaal was overwriting them with himself instead. In the AU where she rejects Bhaal, her tattoos go back to their original color.

Pretadpole she didn’t have any notable scars, but post tadpole she gets the obligatory durge autopsy scars and the orin lobotomy scar over her eye

Ferox – Ferox has a buuuuuuunch of scars. Most of them are from scraps and fights when he was a kid/teenager and was a lot more reckless/less good at not getting hit/didn't wear as much armor, though some new ones will crop up into his adulthood. The major ones I always make sure to draw include the big one across his face, the ones on his neck, and a big x shaped one on his chest, but he really does just have a variety of them all over. He also has pale yellow tattoos on his face that I truthfully I haven’t actually figured out the exact when and why of. I usually imagine them as being from the goblins, as a tribal marker or something like that. Probably got them relatively young too, especially since Ferox’s urge flares up in response to pain. If he was too old/too strong, the tattoo would NOT have gotten finished lol.

Just like Briar he gets the durge autospy scars and he gets his lobotomy scar on the side of the head.

Molli – Molli's got a bunch of scars from her time with Gortash stemming from various “punishments” she’d have to endure, concentrated on her back but also on her arms, legs, and chest. The most notable/unique/disturbing scars are the letters EG in Thorass script cut into the side of her neck, the inside of both wrists, and her inner thigh. Ya gotta mark your property after all

Myrala – Well the big obvious one is that Myrala is missing a hand. I’m gonna go ahead and count that as a scar lol. She got her hand cut off as punishment for stealing when she was about 11 or 12. The only other notable scar she has is one that I use to distinguish which timeline I’m using for her – in the timeline where she never meets Ferox, she still gets captured by goblins and has to escape on her own, getting a scar on her chin in the process. In the universe where she *does* meet Ferox, he takes that hit for her instead.

Poppy – Poppy has clear scratch marks over one eye. This happened when she was about 7 years old and the sketchy kinda creepy guy in her mercenary family turned out to be TOTALLY unhinged, shapeshifting into a big jackal and dragging her off in the middle of the night. “Plan” is a strong word for Billy but he was essentially planning on sacrificing her (to Bhaal in the AU where Billy is a durge and to some other evil god/demon thing in the AU where he isn’t). BUT her family chased him off in time so it’s fiiiiiiiiine she only got a little maimed and a little ptsd about it she’s fiiiiiiine

I haven’t given Poppy any tattoos but I’m realizing now that I totally should. She’s absolutely the kind of person who is getting spur of the moment stick and poke tattoos at a party. Probably stuff like skulls and knives and flowers

20.) What is their relationship to touch? Do they shy away from it? Do they need it to feel present?

Briar – Briar is the kind of person who seeks out more and more extreme physical sensations in order to feel something (emotionally speaking. She feels physical sensations just fine.). This is part of what she likes about sex, even though she’s teeechnically ace. Doubly so for pain and stuff. Any kind of slow or sensual or intimate touch is off the table, but less because of the sensation and more because of the emotional aspects. A gentle caress? Get that shit OUTTA here and choke me already. She doesn’t wanna remember that the other person is a person she just wants to do something exciting.

Ferox – Ferox has a fraught relationship with touch. He’s very sensitive to it and pain especially tends to trigger his urges. Out of worry/guilt, he tries to avoid physical contact with others if he can help it, but on the flip side that means he’s suuuuuuuuper touch starved. Give *him* a gentle caress and he will literally melt.

Molli – Molli is also super sensitive to touch and has a complicated relationship with it. She’s the kind of person who, under normal circumstances, would be very cuddly and physically affectionate and love to receive touch from the people she cares about. And she still *is* but... well now touch brings up a lot of bad memories and complicated feelings. She *wants* to enjoy it but her mind is pulled somewhere else. In general she doesn’t like brushing motions, leaning more towards pressure based/static touch (hugs, laying on top of each other, cuddling, holding etc)

Myrala – Myrala's kinda middle of the road here idk what to say. I think she’s maybe a bit more on the reserved side. Like, she won’t offer a hug but she will accept one. When she’s in a relationship she loves casually and gently brush against their skin.

Poppy – I don’t know if I would say whether Poppy particular craves touch or not but she IS the kinda person who is constantly casually touching other people. Pats on the back, playfully elbowing you, big ol’ friendship hugs after meeting you once that kinda thing. She will get in your personal space for sure for sure. Like I’ve said before she grew up with a rowdy mercenary group with frequently rotating members that all treated each other like family, so that’s the kind of social interaction she’s accustomed to.

[vampireclub7]

how do you really think about enhypen? if there's one thing you'd say to give a snapshot of the group, what will it be? it's hard for me to even frame in my head what the group is supposed to be like though i love their music and the guys look passionate about it.

***

en-HYPE-n

:)

(Heeseung)

Enhypen are the hype boys. You just have to be prepared to see some blood, twisted necks, black feathers, bats, and creepy, flaming red moons when they're around, just in case, because sometimes that happens. Sometimes, they might switch it up and twirl to a haunting, sorrowful aria in a room that's filled with blood. Their soundscape has an undertone of gothic rock.

(Sunghoon)

But at the end of the day, Enhypen are the vampires who bring the hype. I sometimes get an adrenaline rush just watching them dance, sing and interact on stage. Their songs are very good, whatever the concept or genre they do it with energy, sass, and personality. Whenever Enha releases something I just know it's going to be lit. Possibly spooky too, in a good way.

(Jake)

I was kinda on the fence about them consistently dropping hits until Pass the Mic (even though I still think Ni-ki's rap verses could've been better, I appreciate how he delivered it). The rest of 4th gen was putting out music I couldn't really gel with and then Enha dropped a Chi-town drill beat out of nowhere with killer choreo and lore that added complexity to their vampire coming-of-age storytelling. I realized at that point their discography was solid.

(Ni-ki)

Enhypen at its core is a performance unit filled with elite dancers, at least two stand-out vocalists, and before long we can expect to see more songwriting and producing from the members going by comments made by Jake, Jay, and Heeseung.

(more Sunghoon)

Enhypen brings the hype. The way they connect with each other on stage amps up the energy of the whole performance. And maybe because of what their connection feels like on-stage, it's no wonder their off-stage energy is more chill and relaxed for them all to recharge.

(Sunoo)

That's my favourite thing about them though: how chill their dynamic is off-stage. I can't remember exactly when I first noticed it, but now whenever I see their vlog or variety content, the contrast with their on-stage energy tickles me a bit. Their dynamic on stage, how they pour it all out there and so easily play off each other, but then off-stage they turn into nerdy, chill, and kinda sassy dorks. They're still green so you can see how dorky they so often get. It's clear they're taking the time to understand each other and so their dynamic feels chill, everyone gets their own space and then sometimes randomly they're up in each other's armpits lol. I enjoy casually watching them.

*

(Jungwon and Jay)

[jellieclogs]

october media recap ✩°｡ ⋆⸜ 🎧✮

i love music, movies, tv, podcasts, games, books, and more. here's a recap of things i watched in october 2023!!

music ♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚

i've been really into more indie blues type music as autumn comes to a head, my playlist autumn girls this is for you has a bit more songs that i really associate with this season. anyway heres the list!

mitski - my love mine all mine

mitski - i'm your man

these two songs are phenomenal, as is mitski's album "the land is inhospitable and so are we" i actually wrote a brief analysis on my love mine all mine as a love song and breakup song. the feeling it invokes in me is second to none, what a beautiful song.

olivia rodrigo - lacy

sixpence none the richer - kiss me

jane remover - search party

searows - used to be friends

phoebe briders - moon song

iron & wine - flightless bird, american mouth

mazzy star - fade into you

sting - shape of my heart

yeule - software update

yeule - sulky baby

taylor swift - "slut!"

rachel chinouriri - maybe i'm lonely

emile mosseri - jacob and the stone

i actually listen to this song to fall asleep, but i can assure you that i also cry every time i watch those videos on the internet with this song playing in the background. it perfectly encapsulates a feeling of hope and loss. beautifully done. minari was a phenomenal as a (real) movie lover, i love when movies have tracks like this that so clearly stand out from the soundtrack and score.

movies 🎞️✮⋆˙

i haven't watched as many movies as i'd have liked in october, it has been an emotional month to say the least. but, now im on anti-depressants so our regularly scheduled slaying is back. movies will be rated a 1-5 star based on how much i enjoyed it! and NO NOT EVERY MOVIE IS FROM THIS YEAR OR EVEN THIS DECADE <3

talk to me (2022) ★★★★

pearl (2022) ★★★★

the invisible man (2020) ★★★★

child's play (1988) ★★★★

doctor sleep (2019) (fucking insanely good) ★★★★★

bodies bodies bodies (2022) (so camp??) ★★★

call me by your name (2017) ★★★★

silence of the lambs (1991) (this is a perfectly made film. argue with the wall!) ★★★★★

and thats about it, i genuinely have been too busy with school to watch as many films, still have not seen barbie or the fnaf movie because im so busy and too broke to go to the movies constantly LOL. however, i will say what my favorite youtube video topics are currently in my honorable mentions section!!

honorable mentions ˙˖°📷 ༘ ⋆｡˚

my current fave youtubers or streamers :3

dead meat (james and chelsea constantly demonstrate a genuine love for horror and have recently been branching out to video games amidst the SAG strike! love them and their work so much, they have definitely made me into more of a horror movie buff)

wendigoon (i will listen to this man talk about anything, but he constantly raises the bar with how informed he is on topics. he just likes to talk abt weird shit and thats really neat idk)

supertf (ive been watching this guy for over 5 years he is still the funniest ow streamer out there sorry)

kyedae (she is rlly funny and even though valorant is boring to watch i watch her play mostly, however i LOVE when she does variety or horror its so funny how scared she gets)

jacksepticeye (watching him play spiderman 2 bc i don't own a ps5, BUT ALSO sean just has the best playthroughs of games like this. love his takes on the game!!)

mike's mic (olivia wilde nodding gif like if you get it you get it!)

games im playing right now :3

the sims 4 (do i need to explain this rlly... i have 2000 hours on sims... currently building a tiny town for the new expansion pack :3 pics here)

sun haven (started playing with my bf, feels like stardew valley with a bigger world and more things to do! i HATE the fishing mechanic. it is not for me babes)

valorant (playing occasionally as i am not very good, but i have alot of skins so yipee)

overwatch (i have 1600 hours in the game unfortunately. addiction is real guys)

fall guys (just recently started playing with my friends again, idk why anyone wouldnt want to play this its free and fun. theres a hatsune miku skin in the game like CMON)

genshin impact (im actually really invested in fontaine's story, if i had multiple hours a day to game i would do all the story quests and things but again, im so b u s y. still farming for arataki itto, pls come home)

bloons td6 (i've somehow racked up 60 hours on this game...its so fun...i love it...)

lastly, my october hyperfixation was...

horror movies and true crime!! i watched over 100 hours of movies, video essays, podcasts, and documentaries relating to horror and true crime. i'm officially burnt out of it though, so i will be back next month to once again happily share my interests!! byeee

- jane ⋆｡° ✮

[grizzlyofthesea]

Attempting to Rank the Songs in Project Diva X

WARNING: LONG POST

I downloaded Project Diva X a couple weeks ago, and I absolutely love it. It has its flaws and quirks, but it's fun. But most importantly...

The song list is phenomenal. It's short and very Miku-biased, even by Project Diva standards, but what we have here is ~quality.~ We have a large variety of musical genres and styles. We have both Vocaloid community staples and new experiments. We have MARETU. You sadly won't find these songs anywhere else in the series (minus Mega Mix+ mods, but I mean in an official capacity), but at least they're here. And do you know what I like to do with my favorite things?

I like to rank them. I don't know why. Weird brain stuff, I guess. But if you want to read the ramblings of a sleep-deprived weirdo, you're in the right place.

Keep in mind, all of these songs are at least decent (around B-tier at minimum) to me. Someone has to be last, but I enjoy listening to all of them and playing through the ones I have.

There are stats at the end for each Cloud/Aura's overall score, too. Now, let's go!

32.) Sharing the World

Miku V3 English is...a bit rough-sounding here. Not nails on a chalkboard, but not the most pleasant thing ever. The concept behind the song is cute, though. Miku is everywhere now, and people are using her (and other vocal synths) to share their feelings with others across the world. That is truly beautiful.

31.) The First Sound

Very simple, and Miku sounds a bit shrill on the highest notes. However, the lyrics are heartfelt and sweet. Also, the Triple Threat version of this song's Extreme chart was my first (and is still my only) Extreme Perfect. I don't know how I got it before the normal one, but I'll take it.

30.) Babylon

I feel like Miku's voice gets a bit lost in the instrumental. I also don't get why there are teeth everywhere. That being said, the shifts in tempo and time signature give this song a truly unique vibe.

29.) Even a Kunoichi Needs Love

Again, Miku and Rin feel a bit drowned out by the instrumental at times, but the fast pace and catchy rhythm elevate this song's standing a bit. And the existence of a Naruto and Sasuke cover in one of Minnemi's cursed UTAU concerts.

28.) LOL - lots of laugh -

Slow and repetitive, but the imagery in the lyrics is creative and vivid. You also definitely get a "whimsical carnival" feeling from the instrumental.

27.) Hand in Hand

Kind of generic as far as Miku songs go, but still catchy and pleasant.

26.) Slow Motion

The premise of the song--contemplating life while sick with a cold--is simply delightful. I'm just not the biggest fan of how Pinocchio-P tunes Miku in certain songs, Slow Motion included. Common World Domination is more to my taste.

25.) Ending Medley - Ultimate Exquisite Rampage

Ow, my wrists. This is a fun, nostalgic tribute to Project Diva entries past, and the choice to begin with Disappearance and end with Intense Voice makes for a touching narrative. The Ura-Omote Lovers remix is pretty cool, too, since it starts off slower than normal and speeds up over time. But again, ow, my wrists.

24.) Name of the Sin

You can't really go wrong with a musical fairytale...unless you cut out a good chunk of the song and scramble the story, but I still like the simple, timeless feel nonetheless. The shades of purple used for Miku's Cantatrice module are gorgeous as well.

23.) Streaming Heart

This isn't my favorite of DECO*27's works, but the instrumental break is awesome--heavy and gritty. The charting during said break's Technical Zone, especially on Extreme, amplifies the intensity and makes it feel extra satisfying.

22.) Love Trial

Simple but (fittingly) cute. The piano and trumpet combine well in the instrumental. Miku's tuning isn't the most dynamic here, but it's not a big issue when the rhythms are getting stuck in my head anyway. The lyrics are also quite fun with their courtroom metaphors. Ace Attorney fandom, I want to see your take on this song.

21.) Elegant Medley ~ Glossy Mixture ~

The strange shifts in tempo make certain parts torture to learn (TECHNICAL ZONES), but man, the Nebula part is pretty. And who doesn't love Sweet Devil? The ending is a bit abrupt, but I also don't know what else could have been done there.

20.) Beginning Medley - Primary Colors

I adore OSTER Project, and the group performance of Miracle Paint at the end is spectacular. Easily the best version of Miracle Paint out there. This medley's low placement on the list is simply a testament to how amazing Project Diva X's song list is.

19.) Lost One's Weeping

Rin feels a bit drowned out during the verses, but as someone with horrible test anxiety, I feel the lyrics. You could even say that the drowned-out vocals fit the theme of overwhelming academic pressure. The heavy electric guitar is perfect for the Cool Cloud, too.

18.) Quirky Medley - Giga Remix

Giga-P makes some good stuff. The choices for Rin and Len's solos were a bit weird, though. I mean, Gigantic OTN is a classic, but the sexual theme for that and "Pincostique" Love just doesn't fit the Quirky vibe in my opinion. However, Childish War is peak.

17.) Raspberry*Monster

The stage is a bit "neon barf sensory overload," but it fits the song's chaotic vibes. The chorus is also memorable thanks to the unique melody and expressive shouts.

16.) Satisfaction

EDM isn't my favorite musical genre, but it really works here. I think it's the combination of the awesome instrumental and kz(livetune)'s tuning really leaning into Miku's nature as an electronic instrument.

15.) Cute Medley - Idol Sounds

A collection of Mitchie M classics in all their peppy, expressive glory is a win in my book. Each song, from Freely Tomorrow to Blooming the Idol, perfectly suits the "J-pop idol" theme of the medley. KAITO should have been there, though. He wanted to learn how to be cute, so he should get to be cute. >:T

14.) Patchwork Staccato

A surprise bit of melancholy for the Cute Cloud, but the change of pace is welcome. Miku's falsetto pushes the limits of her upper range without sounding shrill, which I imagine takes immense patience to get right. Her singing throughout is refreshing, too, somehow coming across as sweet yet cold. And we can't ignore the immersive, quilt-like scenery of the stage. However, the Freddy Fazbear cover is still the best version (thank you again, Minnemi).

13.) Love Song

My mom's favorite simply for the "u-papa" parts (although the way she sings it sounds more like PoPiPo ^^"). And hey, I can't blame her. It's bouncy and sweet. It puts you in a good mood.

12.) Strangers

The way the rhythm changes throughout the song keeps things fresh, and the instrumental is surprisingly captivating. I love the stage, too. The Playstation symbol lights are enticing, but not distracting or intrusive.

11.) Holy Lance Explosion Boy

Why are the dirtiest songs always some of the catchiest? And why is Len used for so many of them? It's still a bop, though. A lot of songs by rerulili are. The Extreme chart is pain, but it's not unfair. It's just very, very crowded and technical. It's satisfying to improve my score here, at any rate.

10.) Solitary Envy

Surprisingly gentle and subdued for the Cool Cloud, but that makes it unique. I also love when Miku is given a lower and softer voice, whether it's her Dark Append or a unique tuning style. The syncopation during the chorus gives it a bit of a playful edge, too.

9.) A Single Red Leaf

A classic, gentle love ballad with a traditional Japanese flair. It may not be the flashiest or feature the most realistic tuning of Luka, but it's simply perfect for the Elegant Cloud. Also, despite being on the slower side, it's not painfully slow like certain other songs in the series (Sakura Rain--).

8.) Humorous Dream of Mrs. Pumpkin

Halloween vibes are always good vibes, and we stan Hachi in this household. I wish the song wasn't so obviously cut off at the end, but I am glad that it's here at all. Also, Halloween Miku supremacy.

7.) Cool Medley - Cyber Rock Jam

The transition from Don't My List Me! to Tengaku is so smooth. Absolutely beautiful. Unhappy Refrain is always a jam, Palette was a splendid surprise (with Luka V4x, too!), and This Messed-Up Wonderful World Exists For Me is an incredible finale. Cyber Rock Jam is easily the best medley in the game.

6.) Calc.

The intense guitar solos interspersed throughout the song really complement the smooth, relaxed melody. They're fundamentally different, yet their differences blend into a beautiful product instead of clashing.

5.) Tale of the Deep-Sea Lily

Again, I enjoy songs with a softer, lower-pitched Miku. This one is bouncy yet gentle, and I'm a total sucker for the nautical theme. Plus, the Sea Lily module makes Miku look a little like GUMI (my absolute favorite Vocaloid).

4.) Urotander, Underhanded Rangers

Hilarious in every single way, from the PV to the Extreme chart. The Chance Time star zooming across the screen sends me every time. KAITO, MEIKO, and Miku make for a nice trio, too. I wish they were used together more often.

3.) Ai Dee

It's a Mitchie M song that features Luka rapping in English, as well as bits in French and Spanish. It has to be in the top 3. The Electronica Anode (Miku) and Electronica Cathode (Luka) modules are some of my favorites in the game, too. What can I say? I'm weak to glowy stuff.

2.) Brain Revolution Girl

MARETU's instrumentals tend to be awesome, and it's no different here. The synth is decidedly electronic in tone, yet dramatic in its note progression. The guitar bit in the middle and the quiet segment immediately after add to the drama by bringing variety. Also, C minor is my favorite key, and C# minor isn't too far behind. I just feel so evil and powerful when I listen to this song. I love it.

1.) Amazing Dolce

It's MEIKO and the Kagamines. It's Hitoshizuku × Yama. It's energetic and jazzy. It even has a huge, dramatic, big band-style brass break in the middle. Need I say more? Actually, yes. The modules. They're super creative and adorable with their food themes. Strawberry Witch (MEIKO) and Pâtissier Gretel (Rin) are simply stunning. Len's Pâtissier Hansel module confused me for a while, but then it clicked when I realized that his motif isn't anything banana-related--it's apple pie. So he's also up there, and all of these ingredients combine to give us the best song in the game.

Now for the Cloud rankings. These are simple averages/means:

1.) Elegant - average of 7.83/32

2.) Cool - average of 11.83/32

3.) Quirky - average of 18.17/32

4.) Cute - average of 18.83/32

5.) Classic - average of 21.5/32

6.) Extra - average of 29.5/32

And here are (hopefully correct) weighted averages to compensate for the outliers in each set:

1.) Elegant - wav of 7.83/32 (Huh. Neat.)

2.) Cool - wav of 13.47/32

3.) Cute - wav of 15.62/32 (What an upset!)

4.) Quirky - wav of 17.56/32

5.) Classic - wav of 22.98/32

6.) Extra - wav of 29.5/32 (Two equidistant data points will do that. :p)

With all that said and done, what do you think? What are your favorite songs not just in X, but in the entire Project Diva series (Mirai counts, too)?

[shoechoe]

i agree, in the court of the crimson king is really good!! i've listened to in the wake of poseidon in full too, i think? i don't remember most of it unfortunately but there are really good ones! i haven't listened to red or lizard in full but i do like a few songs from there too. starless is really good! i've gotta listen to discipline at some point too... matte kudasai is a really pretty song so i wanna see the rest of that album!

personally i like thrak and three of a perfect pair alongside in the court of the crimson king! i don't quite remember everything off them but i really like walking on air, and dinosaur (which i want to make a diavolo related thing to!) from thrak. three of a perfect pair has some good songs too, some of it reminds me of talking heads oddly enough? i guess a band like king crimson has a lot of variety in their music though, and i'm pretty sure it's one of their later albums.

Interesting, I'll keep that in mind. This is also not the first time I've heard Dinosaur be connected to Diavolo. Out of the albums I've heard so far, I thought Starless was the most Diavolo-like song other than, of course, the stuff off of In the Court of the Crimson King.

Discipline is the one I am most excited for as I have heard the most about it. Its cover art is definitely reminiscent of (the stand) King Crimson's design pattern (as my other mutual Dave has pointed out to me before).

I know King Crimson is notorious for having a constantly-shifting lineup, so I expect the sound to shift quite a bit throughout its lifespan. That's a big reason why I want to go in largely chronological order.

This also reminds me that I want to listen to Talking Heads- I have a lot of mutuals that are big fans and I want to see what all the hype is about, lol.