#this would win at the dance comp

[lee-sanghyeok]

(250220) LUN8 ཐི༏ཋྀ󠀮 BUTTERFLY [ CHOREOGRAPHY ]

[itsnotamatterofif]

Thinking about a figure skating au…

Rusty (he showed up to his first competition with Rusty skates and the nickname stuck) is a rising figure skater with longtime partner Pearl, never wins anything but they get awfully close a few times. Pearl’s manager thinks she could do better and that Rusty is the one holding her back, so contracts her to work with a new star from the continent who has been winning a lot of regional and national comps, who goes by the mysterious stage name Electra.

Rusty can’t skate without a partner, and now has a bad rep since he couldn’t win anything with Pearl, but comes back to his rink to destress late at night to find it in use by one of the technicians who didn’t think anyone would see them just absolutely shredding ice. It’s not technically sound, but they have rhythm, mobility, and are handsome to boot, so Rusty decides to make a little project, and try and teach this Hydra how to dance before the next championships.

[dapperapple]

Mike's crush on El does not necessarily contradict him being gay rather than bi

I wanna start off by clarifying that if you see Mike Wheeler as bisexual rather than gay, THAT'S 1000% VALID don't let anyone take that from you babe

this is just my perspective as a lesbian who thought she was definitely straight until the end of 10th grade (age 16, a bit older than Mike and Will are in canon)

I was rewatching a lot of scenes from the show, mainly s2 and s3, to see if I thought that Mike's feelings for El came across as weird/forced or if their relationship felt off

and honestly it left me (a Byler shipper) pretty confused at first

because YES there are a lot of odd things about his feelings and their relationship

BUT ALSO

there are a few moments that are so cute and feel so genuine I didn't know what to do with them for a sec

mainly all the scenes where they're together at the Snowball dance

because that shit seems real to me, it's cute as fuck, that is a Mileven win right there if there ever was one

and honestly, the forehead touch when she and the Byers are about to leave, and again when they reunite in s4

dude that shit is so sweet okay

(Mileven shippers are valid even if I disagree with it for the narrative)

ANYWAYS here's where my personal experience comes in to help out with my confusion over this

Mike in s1 feels the most obviously comp-het to me

because I had a big crush on a boy in kindergarten, another in gr2/3

I didn't even know what gay people were, I knew girls liked boys, so if a boy was my friendly, and nice to me instead of mean, I probably would've liked him or thought I liked him

Mike in seasons 2-4 reminds me of myself in gr7/8

the most intense crush I had on a guy was in gr7/8

I was more used to being friendly with guys at this point but this guy was becoming a close friend of mine

a cute confident guy who was nice, funny, and taking an active interest in me as a person was like wooaahh

I really do believe that Mike unintenionally idolized El, putting her up on this pedestal, with his self esteem all wrapped up in her liking him back

but I also don't think that's his fault, when you're young you don't know any better

the pressure to date starts to increase a bit, and low self esteem is kicking your ass

I did the exact same thing with the guy I liked, I had this whole other version of him in my head and I started liking him less and less the more he didn't act like that ideal

(insert Mike's behavior towards El after she assaulted Angela)

even after I figured out that the kind of person and the kind of connection I wanted in a relationship was something I was far more likely to find with a girl, I still thought I was straight, so it just made me kind of sad

like- I had resigned myself to the fact that I would struggle to find a guy that I TRULY liked

maybe it was lingering internalized homophobia, idk, I had lots of gay friends, but I just hadn't felt that way about any girl at all before, I didn't think I was capable of being attracted to girls

and then there was her

we became very close friends, she was such a kind person, so fucking funny, an incredibly skilled artist, and absolutely gorgeous

and it finally clicked

finally my mind registered the fact that I COULD be attracted to girls

I still consider her my first love

and then there was no turning back

WHICH IS WHY

I wouldn't be surprised AT ALL if it takes Will coming out to Mike/the party in order for him to consider Will romantically

not because he isn't already in love with him subconsciously

but because I don't think he has registered it as a possibility for EITHER of them

moral of the story:

COMPULSIVE HETEROSEXUALITY IS REAL GUYS AND IT CAN FEEL MORE REAL THAN YOU'D EXPECT

especially since when you're young, the differences between boys and girls (both physically and how we're socialized) are much less apparent

MIKE WHEELER I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE (because me too!!)

[brights-place]

Valorant Agent Headcannons

Pairings: None <33

Warnings: Fluff, Sillies, Headcannons,

A/N: My friend and I were rambling and writing stupid headcannons after playing a comp match so here we are \(･◡･)/

-Yoru is double jointed -Sage is heavily questioning her sexuality

-Omen is heavily questioning his mental insanity -Phoenix has a sneaker collection -Raze and KJ wake everyone up with there bots

-Chamber when he gets mad he starts speaking french sassily -Kay/0 has a file that's filled with comfort shows for the agents -Kay/0 knows how to make pancakes and makes them for everyone -Skye drags every new agent into a run in the morning -Omen once made every agent a knitted sweater for christmas… Ugly sweaters for life <33 -Breach makes good swedish sweets for everyone -Wingman would make beaded bracelets to agents he likes -Gekko bought a bead set for wingman so he could make more bracelets -When Kay/0 feels petty at an agent he will translate their mother tongue into english for the others to hear ESPECIALLY when someone talks shit (reyna) -Neon knows how to play Bass -All the young agents have tried to make a band together -Sage likes to gossip with Iso over tea and boba -When Clove’s pissed they make fanfics of the other agents >:D -Fade plays with her haunts like yarn (CANNON) -Astra collects seashells for Harbor -Sova has once had a snow globe obsession. He would bring them back to show his grandmother and place it on a shelf -Gekko has called older agents slang names -Viper is obviously a coffee woman and Reyna is a tea woman -Jett has tried to make Skyes birds move faster SHE WAS NOT HAPPY -Deadlock & Sova sometimes have a snowman building contest -KJ likes anime but also phoenix who hides it -Yoru and KJ know phoenix like anime Yoru found out by seeing Phoenix dance to anime songs -Yoru would bring back trinkets for them but denies he thought about them (LIAR)

-Reyna wants to take up crocheting

-Astra is really good at the drums

-Gekko has gotten curious on how his little friends taste he made a list

-Deadlock braids hair, and helps breach braid his

-Iso is really good at cooking and cooks with Jett in his spare time.

-Similarly, Jett and Iso have cook offs and get the other agents to vote

-Clove sneakily puts pride flag toothpicks in everyone's food

-Raze sneaks love letters in everyones lockersand watches with breach and laughs

-Harbour has a bath bomb addiction and collects them like an insane person

-Brimstone has reading glasses

-Cypher gets gifts from everyone on fathers day and also mothers day

-Kj likes making forts

-Chamber corrects the waiters pronunciation at french restaurants

-Reyna plays basketball with Gekko and helps him aim

-Phoenix is trying to learn how to sew so he can make better jackets due to Jett trying to take them

-Clove has an etsy and the only people that buy are breach and gekko

-Neon VS Gekko in any sports (NEON WINS PINOY PRIDE MFS) -Deadlock is scared of dogs

-When Neon gets sick every agent fears for their lives. Her sneezes are BIG (Zoomies) - Neon and Jett get the zoomies if they have energy drinks or coffee -Brim is a BBQ dad he makes good burgers -Imagine Fade looking into Deadlock's nightmares and seeing Cub instead of the bear -Cypher has tinkered with Chamber,Raze, and KJ’s is tech for funsies -Cypher will use people’s fetishes against them -Sova wears one of omens knitted scarves when he goes hunting -Omen gets overwhelmed by crowds sometimes so he likes to hide somewhere quietly -Jett would GRIND on Wuthering Waves and Honkai Star Rail

-Sova has different variations of prosthetic eyes and sometimes he gets gifted weirder or cooler looking ones for fun -Sova as a party trick has taken his prosthetic eye out and some younger agents who haven’t known scream like a banshee -Phoenix is a mama’s boy (I BELIEVE HE HAS TWO MUMS)

-Sage has binged Avatar The Last Airbender many times and takes inspiration from Katara

-Jett has a hidey hole full of other agents' belongings. Yoru’s knives, Phoenix’s shoes, Cyphers hat (sometimes)

-Yoru has tried time travelling, Phoenix jokes about it all the time

-When someone has a bad day, cypher watches over them over the camera to make sure they aren't doing anything bad to themself

-Yoru gives haircuts and is actually good, but he keeps yapping while using his different knives

-Gekko sings creep by radiohead in the shower when he's sad and Neon films from outside the door and jokes about it

-Omen gets too much candy due to being treated as a trick or treater

reblogs + comments are appreciated ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡

©brights-place 2023 — do not repost on another platform, copy, translate or edit my works! if you fit my DNI list please don't interact!

[constantlybrainrotting]

i lied, put your clothes back on. i'm going to keep talking about the dance studio au (side note, currently writing this as i am at the studio i teach at lmao)

on today's episode of brainrot, i tell you about the different specialties of the characters i chose to teach and why i chose them, as well as some random facts about them as teachers!

Silco Lane-Shimmerson (ZDC)

STYLE INSPIRATION: Ballet/Pointe | Contemp

Silco mainly teaches ballet, pointe and contemp to both the full time comp kids and the part-time comp kids. I chose ballet/pointe for him because he is seen in canon as an overall precise and focused person, with little room for error, which are qualities usually seen within those styles. While he loves a good classic ballet routine, i think his specialties would lie within contemporary ballet, a style i see as more Zaun fitting. he would've learned the vaganova method growing up, a method known to use and value flexibility, strength and endurance, a method i believe that holds values that are pretty in line to Zaun in the show. due to his proficiency in contemporary ballet, i think it would bleed into him really enjoying contemporary/modern as a style. he would definitely be a harder and tougher teacher overall but the kids, especially the younger ones, love his upfront personality and makes him one of the more favoured teachers at the studio. He makes a lot of the kids enjoy ballet despite it being not well liked for many kids which is a FEAT. Silco is known for his intense choreography and it pays off since they are usually winning pieces (in contemp because anyone who judges a ballet dance judges so dumb no matter which way you go). He grew up with Vander at a small local studio and ended up joining and teaching at the Greater Piltover Ballet Company (GPBC) for a couple years before opening up a studio.

Vander Lane (ZDC)

STYLE INSPIRATION: Lyrical | Acro | Open

Vander doesn't actually teach all that much in comparison to many of the teachers since he also runs a cafe part time that is attached to the studio but is an overall favourite among the full-time competitive dancers. I chose for him to teach lyrical, acro and open because acro and open can be very powerful movement wise, which we see in Vander in the riots on the bridge and makes a lot of sense in that front, i decided to however also have him teach lyrical to bring out his softer side, which we see in the show when interacting with the kids. He teaches lyrical and acro to all of them but teaches open to the senior and inter teams. he's the type of teacher that brings in goodie bags for each holiday season and will tell the most insane stories during class time at random of him, Silco and Benzo over the years (ex. "fun story about spotting, when I was in the Piltover Ballet with Silco we learned from this woman who used to throw chalkboard erasers at us if we didn't spot our turns lol" "WDYM CHALKBOARD ERASERS???" "anyways back to your turns-"). He creates the most visually moving pieces ever and you wouldn't expect such softness and fluidity from that large of a man but by god does he do it well. oh and his acro routines?? SO visually stunning. this man has an eye for creating the most stunning pieces in all of his routines and they are consistently getting special awards for artistry at competitions. He also joined the GPBC for a brief stint with Silco before going to open up a small cafe on which Zaun Dance Movement was built upon.

Sevika Vann (ZDC)

STYLE INSPIRATION: Hip Hop | Acro | Open

Sevika is the one woman army of ZDM and Silco's right hand woman. She's the one picking out costumes (only Babette is aloud to help she does not trust those men), unpacking costumes, bedazzling, the whole works (dw she is compensated GOOD). I have her specialty as hip hop because she is a notably strong fighter and with the way she moves when fighting, she moves fluidly and sharp which are common notables in hip hop. She teaches the whole slew of comp kids hip hop and does tech classes with them. Her hip hop style is heavily mixed with Zaun break dance/street dance and allowed for the studio to become known for their unique style. She also teaches the part time kids acro since Vander is busy with the cafe and does some of the open small groups for the full comp kids. Her general stylization with her dances is heavy hitting and focuses on strength. She is a tough teacher but she does have her moments of roasting the shit out of her students to their delight. she loves a good banter and to be able to do that with her students will always be meaningful to her. She actually met Silco and Vander during a convention before they opened the studio, with her attending both their classes (Vander jazz and Silco contemp) and they took notice of her technique. Silco asked her to join the team the year they opened and with nothing else lined up for her at the time she agreed.

Babette Furlan (ZDC)

STYLE INSPIRATION: Jazz | Musical Theatre

I couldn't resist not putting Babette in this au she would be a riot omg. Babette teaches jazz and musical theatre because this woman would THRIVE in it. she owns a brothel in the show okay she would just love the theatrics of the two styles and would definitely go towards a more fosse style of jazz. she's been around a hot minute so she's very well known in the dance world and has won many awards for her choreo so it was down to pure luck that Silco ran into his old dance teacher whose home studio was closing and she was looking for a new studio to teach at. she creates choreo made to entertain the masses so it's very theatrical, loud and with the funnest costumes ever. she's also pretty well liked in classes and teaches all levels and ages.

Smeech Citrano (ZDC)

STYLE INSPIRATION: Tap

I LOVE ADDING THIS FUCKASS INTO RANDOM AU'S OKAY SO HEAR ME OUT!!! Smeech is the tap teacher because no.1 the way h moves in fights is great for tap and no.2 he has cybernetics in the show and metal meets metal shoes yknow!! this man is my favourite to figure out because he has beef with SO MANY of the kids, even the ones he has do solos/duos/trios and the only reason hes still employed is because hes the only good tap teacher in Zaun. the kids hate him but his routines place good so its a win-loose situation for them all honestly. his style of tap is steampunk ambience music with complex and/or fast steps with weird timings.

Cassandra Kiramman (PDC)

STYLE INSPIRATION: Jazz | Lyrical | Open

i have Cassandra teaching jazz, lyrical and open for a few different reasons. the jazz style appeals to her more intense side that we see when she busts in cait's room with a gun. she tends to lean towards the jazz-funk style more and her choreo is upbeat and fast moving. her lyrical becomes the opposite of that in fact and tunes into her softer side that we see when she talks to Caitlyn or Tobias. she uses traditional lyrical with it's softer and flowy lines of the body creating almost constant movement that draws in the audience. her style of open brings the two together which i think is important for her character. there tends to be sharper movements within but still allows for the flowiness to come through. her teaching methods can get intense at times but overall shes a good teacher and she's the kind to always have you do it full out with the music. she took over the studio after Heimerdinger's decision to step down and retire (for the most part lol) and has improved certain areas of the company since. before she had taken over, she was both a student and a teacher and had graduated from the GPBC's teaching program for lyrical and jazz. she's pretty hands on with her studio so she teaches both full time and part time competitive teams in her 3 preferred styles and is at the studio almost always. When she took over the studio, that's when a initial reach out to ZDM was made... she got one half in good faith at least!

Grayson Menea (PDC)

STYLE INSPIRATION: Hip Hop | Contemp | Acro

i couldn't NOT include miss Grayson so i have her in some of the more intense styles like hip hop, contemp and acro! she's got an overall pretty intense job in the show and i wanted to really bring that forward with the hip hop and acro, but show her somewhat softer side through with the contemp. her hip hop choreo is really sharp movements and lots of isolations, and her acro can be similar, with the placed movements and intensity. her contemp choreo is a lot more softer with the movements but still brings in that intensity through intentional and well placed moments of movement. she had actually grown up dancing at a smaller studio on the outskirts of New Piltover and close to Zaun so she learned hip hop very similarly to the Zaunite style of hip hop. she ended up doing a brief stint in the military and after a shot taken to her shoulder she was discharged. she decided not to return and was offered a job by then owner Heimerdinger to teach hip hop, since she was recommended by a mutual friend. she agreed and has thrived ever since. shes an overall pretty tough teacher when teaching but outside of that shes a wonderful person to be around and gives advice to the kids she teaches. she takes on more of the full time kids but does do some teaching with the older part-time kids.

Amara Saffioti (PDC)

STYLE INSPIRATION: Ballet/Pointe

Amara just looked like an older ballet teacher idk what you guys want from me, i went off pure vibes from her tbh. in any case, she is a true believer of classical ballet, plateau tutu's and all and is a no-nonsense but kind teacher. she uses the English (RAD - Royal Academy of Dance) method when teaching and she teaches the full scale of comp kids. she has a tendency to use music from different ballets and doesn't really branch out in that regard but her choreography is gorgeous. she also single-handedly puts on the nutcracker with her students every year and when Cassandra tries to help she shoos her out of the classroom. she was the first employee of the studio and she claims she will stay until she dies because she genuinely enjoys teaching so much.

Shoola Junot (PDC)

STYLE INSPIRATION: Tap | Musical Theatre

Shoola was also a very vibes based choice but i did think that a good musical theatre would help her be less cold in a way. for Shoola's tap style, it is a lot of quick tapping and lots of movement around the stage. she also has a habit of picking the shiniest of costumes for the kids which they love! i had a harder time finding a musical theatre style i liked for her but a classic simple musical theatre is where she is happy. her choreo still has those fast movements that she loves, just not as shiny costume wise and she loves to pick from older musicals. shes pretty well liked among staff and students but can seem quite cold due to her quiet demeanour outside the studio. she was originally a student at the studio and after graduating was asked to teach while she attended college to get her degree in engineering. she has another job outside the studio in a mechanical engineer position. she has also single-handedly upgraded the tap technique at the studio which is insane behaviour tbh.

Bonus! Cecil Heimerdinger (PDC)

STYLE INSPIRATION: Musical Theatre

thought fuck it, might as well add in the yordle! so Heimerdinger was actually a musical theatre geek and loved kooky theatre music so much he opened a studio mainly for that. he quickly learned he needed more variations of dance styles so in came Amara! tbh he had no clue wtf he was doing but they got an increasing number of wins with their routines so he said fuck it we ball ig. when he decided to give up the studio, he asked Cassandra and thankfully she said yes! while yes he was retired, he knew he needed SOMETHING to do so he took over managing the front desk (his multiple degrees came in handy) and does guest choreo work for Cassandra in his favourite style... musical theatre!

[mercutio-the-velaryon]

Challengers Meljayvik AU Part I - slightly nsfw btw cause its challengers...

cow farm, there's gonna be cows outside

Part I

Mel Medarda, 18 in 2006 - 30 in 2018, former emerging tennis star and it girl, coming from an upperclass background with a renowned family name, she as the chosen heir of the Medardas, disgraced the family businness by persuing a career as an athlete from a young age - fortunately for her, her pursuit proved favourable for her mother's political and economic ventures so she was eventually completely supported by her family - Tashi Duncan Variant

Jayce Talis, 18 in 2006 - 30 in 2018, humble boy from even humbler beginnings, Jayce's love for tennis started young, he'd watch the same set of matches over and over again until his parents finally cracked it and sent him to have lessons. It's there at 8 years old, he met Viktor, who was "volunteering" as the coach's assistant, by there early teens Jayce was being trained and coached solely by his best friend Viktor who had become an expert on the sport through mere observation - Patrick Zweig and Art Donaldson Variant

Viktor Reveck, 18 in 2006 - 30 in 2018, hailing from the Czech Republic, his working-class parents moved to the US for work and very soon regretted it, leading them to move back to their homeland once Viktor went to college. Viktor took a liking to tennis, because his parents found a box of VHS tapes in the attic of their new house when they first moved in and it was all they could afford to watch for a month or so because they'd spent all their savings on the move. His neighbour Sky was also interested in tennis and her father coached some pretty big names so Viktor started hanging around during his coaching lessons, after he and Sky became close friends - Art Donaldson and Patrick Zweig Variant.

Jayce met Mel first at his summer job, two years prior to the comp rhat brings them all together, part-timing at a country club. She approached him after he attempted to get some after-hours practice in on the courts. Mel pretended she was security, with a flashlight, yelled at him and scared the living daylights out of him. He had already known who she was prior because her face was plastered across all of the magazines he'd give out to club members. And he took very considerate but appropriate and not at all creepy notice of her frequently sunbathing by the pool every now and then. They friendly after that, but Jayce never built up the courage to ask her out. He tried to on his final day but she didn't show up.

At the Junior US Open (everyone is 18/19) Viktor makes Jayce come with him to watch Sky's match, but for the purpose of studying Mel, the most dominant player in the tournament. Jayce sits there pretending not to know Mel, but astonishment trumps his facade. He had seen her practice before at the country club but this was something else entirely, she was fierce and magnetic on the court and he was sitting there slack jawed, clutching on to Viktor's thigh, Viktor had also found himself distracted and entranced. Mel wins the match, ending it with a bellowing war cry. Viktor and Jayce are both hot and bothered, trying to play off how horny Mel Medarda had made them.

They find Sky after and console her. Jayce tries to catch Mel's eye from a distance to no avail, Viktor makes note of this attempt, scoffing at him but also somewhat troubled at the idea of Jayce and Mel potentially knowing each other because if they did it would be the first time ever Jayce kept something from him.

At the after party hosted by Mel's family, Sky leaves early a little downtrodden after her loss, Jayce and Viktor watch her leave, and see her bump in to Mel, and exchange pleasantries. Mel envelopes Sky in a hug, Sky melts and the two chuckle. Sky finally escapes and Mel makes her way to the dance floor. Viktor taps Jayce to signal that they should get a closer look. They stand a table with their drinks in hand eyes fixed on her movements. When she goes to her own table alone to take a sip of her drink, they approach with quickness.

"Hi, I'm Jayce Talis. I'm not sure, you remember," Viktor's eyes flicker over his best friend for a mere moment before taking a seat in front of Mel. "Viktor Reveck." Jayce stays standing.

"I remember, Jayce... and I know you, Viktor, your reputations proceed you, the ultimate best friend coach-athlete duo, they call you earth and moon, don't they?" Her gaze lingers on both of them.

Viktor sucks in a breath sharply as Jayce huffs in astonishment "I can't believe you know that,"

"So, who's who?" she asks, well aware of the answer.

Viktor, reeling from the adreneline of being known by the most dominant up and comer, finds his playful side and tilts his head to the side, "What do you think?"

She smiles, narrowing her eyes at them, pretending to assess but well aware of the answer.

Jayce interrupts unaware of the building tension, "You were incredible today,"

"Thank you" Mel offers politely.

"I mean it, Mel, you were fucking luminous, I've never seen anything like it, it didn't even feel like tennis... Sky is our friend though, we felt-feel bad for her," Jayce stumbles through his praise.

"She's quite lovely, but not lovely enough for me to pull my punches,"

"And what could make thee Mel Medarda pull her punches?" Viktor poses.

"Death," she says lightly, smirk etched on her features, as she sips her cocktail. Viktor laughs, snickering uncharacteristically.

"I'll be seeing you at Stanford, Viktor?"

"How do you know that I'm going to Stanford?"

"I keep my ear to the ground, when it comes to things of concern,"

"What are things of concern exactly?" Viktor bit his lip, anxiety looming.

"Things like wunderkind coaches with the potential to revolutionise the sport," she glances at the two, piercing them with her gaze.

Viktor felt even hotter in the face if that was possible. "Ah,"

"I'm taking a gap year," Jayce offered.

"What? Do you need time to figure out your life purpose? Something tells me it might be right in front of you," she meant tennis of course, but that didn't stop Jayce's heartbeat from thundering against his ribcage.

"Couldn't the same be said of you? You could go pro right now if you wanted why the buffering period with school?" Viktor says.

"Hmm, athletes burn bright but they also burn fast, I don't want my only skill to be hitting a ball with a racket"

Ambessa walks up to them, paying no mind to the two boys entertaining her daughter, and touching Mel's shoulder lightly"'Mel, they want photos" Mel bids the two farewell and they gaze after her longingly.

"Now what?" they say to each other simultaneously. They grin. Viktor's smile falls first. "Shouldn't we wait for her?" Jayce asks, Viktor grimaces, "Won't we seem too desperate?"

"You're right," Jayce nods.

"We should just go" Viktor says.

"Yes, let's go," Jayce agrees.

Neither of them move.

An hour later they're seated at the love seat. Viktor absently, rolling his cane between his hands and Jayce spreading dip on a cracker. Mel walks by. Viktor sees her and alerts Jayce hitting him with the bottom of the cane. "Hey" Jayce yells at the same time that Viktor yells "Hi".

She looks over at them and laughs a little, "Hi" she says back, approaching them. "You guys are still here,"

"Yeah" Jayce says standing, "great party by the way,"

"Thank you very much... but don't you have a final tomorrow , shouldn't you be preparing or resting?"

"We'll be okay," Viktor asserts not so kindly. Mel enjoys the traces of harshness in his words. It indicates more lies beneath the surface.

"I wanted to get your opinion on my technique,"

"My opinion?" Mel huffs, "Her opinion?" Viktor asks, no one had ever entrenched on his territory of coaching Jayce Talis before, it felt invasive. Not unpleasantly so.

Viktor's eyes rake down Mel doused in the shine of the moon and the fairy lights strung all around the area, what could he thing to say to a walking daydream "Do you smoke?" is all he can accomplish.

"Cigarettes? No not at all, do you?" her words we asked with no malice and yet suddenly both Viktor and Jayce felt ashamed of their habits.

"Yes" they say mournfully as if they were scolded.

Jayce suggests they go down to the beach, checking in on Viktor and if he could manage the walk, Mel shows them a more accessible route. They walk and talk about their homes and where they came from. When they get to the beach, Jayce and Viktor recline on some beach chairs and Mel perches herself on a rock. The waves crash serenely behind them.

The tendrils of smoke from their cigarettes float around Mel, dancing on the air around her, wisping past her nose. All she can feel are their eyes on her, all she can smell is ash and salt.

Viktor, brings up Mel being a phenomenon of the sport and expressing confusiona and shock at her not going pro immediately.

Mel laughs and cites her philosophy on tennis, one she claims, Viktor does not understand, "You're too motivated by ambition and single-handedness, there are so many moving parts and key factors in tennis, even when its not one on one, its as collaborative as team-based sport, more so even, the beautiful balance of trust and disdain with the person right across from you, its intense, there's only one force in the world it resembles,"

Viktor and Jayce edge forwards, as pulled as in as the tide.

She looks out at the sea and says "love... Sky and I, the world faded when it was just us, chained to each other, to a set rhythm, we disappeared into the rules of the game and so did everyone watching we were all drawn together,"

"You screamed," Viktor acknowledged quietly, Mel turned to face him. She remained silent, "When you hit the winner...I'd never heard anything like it"

She looks down, with a smile, Viktor watches her lashes touch her cheek as her eyes flutter.

Mel then says she has to leave and Jayce asks if she has a Facebook, Mel's unaware of what that is but Viktor clarifies by saying that Jayce is asking for her number and so is he.

"Are you asking as a set or separately?"

Jayce and Viktor stutter through their responses then finally affirm that they're offers are seperate.

Mel shakes her head and tells them she's not a homewrecker.

"We're not exclusive," Viktor jokes, "We even sleep in different beds now, you couldn't make it worse," Jayce adds, teeth gleaming.

Mel just hums in respone, Viktor suggests she come hang out with them in their hotel room later. She smiles at them and walks off.

Later in Viktor and Jayce's hotel room, they're strewn across their beds, in nothing but their shorts because of the summer heat - Viktor's recently removed both his back brace and leg brace with Jayce's assistance.

Viktor is now certain Mel isn't coming. Jayce is still holding out hope. They are both still smoking.

As the conditions start to irritate Viktor, he scoffs very bitterly "Mel isn't coming, Jayce" which temporarily shushes his partner.

But right then is when a knock resounds quiet enough for both of them to think they hallucinated it until resounds again much louder.

Jayce throw on a crumpled dress shirt and doesn't bother to button it up, leaving his torso on display, Viktor chucks on his stanford t-shirt, they chuck their cigarettes clumsily and they both attempt to make the room look a little presentable before clambering over to the door and opening it.

Mel who was leaning on the door listening in on their conversation and giggling, pulls back with a sharp gasp but neither of them seem to notice.

Jayce says a curt "Hi," and promptly swallows. Viktor offers a "hey" a moment later, leaning on the doorframe.

They end up drinking beer sitting on the ground, Jayce and Viktor reveal their backstories, Mel probes them about their relationship to each other. She asks them about any potential girlfriends. Viktor reveals he hasn't had any then goes on to reveal Jayce's several unhappy exes - which Jayce refutes then reveals that Viktor's absence of history is due to a lack of trying "people generally flock to him, if he wanted to do fine he could," Jayce says ruffling Viktors hair. Viktor slaps his hand away languidly.

"So..." Mel starts moving to sit on her knees and lean closer to them, her voice is an entrancing lull "How often does this happen... going after the same girl?" she licks her lips gazing at them.

"Not as often as you'd think," Jayce says. "We usually have different types," Viktor agrees.

"So, I should be flattered?" Mel caresses her chest dramatically.

"I mean... Aren't you everybody's type," Viktor hums, chewing on his thumb.

There's a beat, a moment of comfortable quiet.

"What about the two of you?" Mel asks

"What do you mean?" Jayce asks,

Jayce abruptly understands her meaning and vehemently denies, While Viktor stays quiet a look of deep contemplation on his face.

Mel turns to Viktor and asks him what the look is for.

Jayce disrupts Viktor's attempts to tell her what went down only making Mel more curious. Jayce finally relents and Viktor tells the story of them technically hooking up when they were sixteen after getting drunk for the first time, they didn't have sex, they did things next to each other.

Mel laughs at the absurdity of it finding it endearing, she then realizes that there's no beer left.

Jayce and Viktor fearing the beer was the only thing keeping her there, look at each other frightened.

Mel stands, towering over them, in their admiration, they take note of the shortness of her shorts, her silky skin, the way her velour jacket had ridden up and exposed her midriff.

She thinks for a moment, her hands on her hips as she meanders briefly before sitting on the on the edge of where the two beds have been pushed together.

"Come here," she says.

"Which one of us?" before the words could completely stumble out of Viktor's mouth, Jayce had gotten up in a flash and sat by Mel's side, Viktor quickly followed.

They're close, together, only a little space between them. Jayce and Viktor's gazes are fixed on Mel. She glances between them, slithering her head closer to Jayce, their lips so close their breaths mingle, just as Jayce goes to close in, Mel playfully curves away. Her half-shut eyes finding Viktor.

She leans in, bit by bit, looking in his eyes then at his lips over and over, she kisses him first, he reciprocates immediately but only with his mouth too scared to make any other moves. But when she draws him in closer with a hand at his neck, which quickly evolves into both hands cupping his jaw, he slides his hand over her thigh and rubs circles into the soft flesh. Mel pulls back. It takes a moment for Viktor to collect himself, his eyes cracking open slowly, his mouth still open.

Jayce is closer than he was before when Mel turns back to him, he's taller, peering down at her, she kisses him, cupping his face, he deepens it immediately, he gently places his hand at her cheek gently caressing over her hair, tentatively caressing over the curls, then resting his hand at her neck. Mel pulls away again and faces forward, pushing her hair behind her shoulders.

Viktor and Jayce move intuitively, holding Mel's hair back together, and pressing long and slow kisses into her neck with kisses. She huffs a laugh for no reason in particular, but as the sensation starts to get to her, her face grows stern from the pleasure, and her breaths become short and sharp. Viktor and jayce kiss up and down her neck, nuzzling into her collarbone too. They were there way back up biting her ears, whispering sweet nothings. They reach her cheeks and pepper sweet long kisses across, Mel encourages them closer lightly grabbing their jaws and bringing them closer to her lips.

When all their lips meet, Viktor and Jayce pull back and laugh it off, Mel laughs to but brings them back quickly. Nodding at them, she draws them back in slowly, and all their mouths meet. Mel's hands are frantic, at their jaws, sliding down their chests, in Viktor's hair, on Jayce's thigh. Jayce breaks away, trailing down Mel's neck again with open mouthed kisses as he trails back to her lips, Viktor trails down, from her cheek to her collarbone. Mel brings them all back again. A fervent heated display between the three commences once more, she escapes, leaving the men to their own devices watching as they inhale each other but glance at her as they do, deriving as much pleasure from watching her as she is from watching them.

"Okay, I have to go to bed," Mel says, getting up and suddenly everyone involved felt much colder.

"But wait what about your number?" Viktor asks.

"I told you, I'm not a homewrecker,"

"Please" Jayce says.

Mel, dedicated to fair play, offers an ultimatum, if Jayce loses tomorrow's match, Jayce gets Mel's number, if he wins, Viktor gets it.

"What? How does that work?" Jayce splutters.

"It doesn't really, pinning coach and pupil against each other, doesn't really work out, but if you win Jayce that'll be because of Viktor's efforts and if you lose it'll be because Viktor wasn't a good enough guide... take it or leave it"

They both look at her not willing to protest

"Good luck, gentlemen, put on a good show for me," she stalks out of the room.

"I could throw the game" Jayce hums leaping to his feet, his words laced with jest.

"Don't you fucking dare," Viktor seethes slapping Jayce's erection making the taller man keel over and land back on the bed. Jayce flicks Viktor's ear in agitation.

The next morning, Jayce loses the match, in a very close game.

To be continued...

[ikyoudreamofme]

BY YOUR SIDE

A/N:ibsr I got this idea because I fucked up my back in dance🌚. Idk how I feel about this one it kinda goes on I fear.

Summary: your a dancer and have an important comp but get injured badly and have to go to the hospital.

—————————————————————-

Y/N POV

Today I had a really important dance competition, there would be scouts for scholarships to some of the best dance academy’s in the country. I’ve got a trio small group and a group dance with my whole team.

I called Matt this morning before I left, he wished my luck and told me I’d do amazing as always. Knowing that he’s in the audience makes me feel somewhat relieved.

I get to the arena going to the changing rooms putting my costume on and asking a teammate to put my hair into a high ponytail while I do my makeup. The trio gets called to the wings, we stretch and mark the dance quickly before the team before us comes off stage smiling and wishing us luck. This is a friendly competition but I still needed to win. “Now with Stars Elite Dance Company! Number 2354, Dream On!” The commentator shouts as the crowd cheers, we walk on, into starting position waiting a few seconds before the music starts.

Matts POV

Her dance starts, she moves perfectly in sync with her two other teammates, her kicks are perfect, she does a set of turns and the crowd claps when she comes out of them without tripping. The dance is near the end and close to the part she’s been pushing herself to perfect, her two teammates kneel down beside her y/n steps on their knees then their shoulders before they stand up. Just before the music ends she drops back (it’s like the picture at the top). It’s perfect until she looses balance and falls. I stand up, her coach,Sam, runs on stage as the curtains close. “Matt shes okay.” Nick tried to reassure me I don’t listen to him and walk towards the backstage doors ignore the protests of my brothers who are following behind me.

Y/N’s POV

The second i dropped back something was wrong a wave of pain spiked through my back and I fell. “Y/N what happened!” Sam shouts “something.. with my back.” I mumble holding back tears. She gets someone to call 911 and we wait. “where’s Matt? Can you get him please…” i ask now letting my tears fall, Sam turns to look at me going to speak when Matt walks in. His eyes soften and he sits down beside me holding my hand and wiping my tears. “baby..” he whispers kissing my cheek. “Matt I ruined it. It was so good.” I cry; he shakes his head “no, no you didn’t y/n/n.”

The paramedics walk in and everyone moves out of the way except Matt. “Sir you need to step back so we can check her out.” The paramedic talks. Matt listens and stands beside his brothers who hug him and tell him I’m going to be fine. The paramedics ask what happened in which I explain. They tell Sam and Matt that I need stronger pain meds and some further checks at the hospital. Matt walks over to me “Nick’s going to go with you and I’ll drive Chris to come and meet you. yeah?” I smile and say okay before leaving I say bye to my dance partners “if we don’t place I’m so sorry.” They smile at me “its not your fault y/n”

We get to the hospital and the paramedics take me inside while doctors run up to the stretcher. They take me to a room stopping Matt, Nick and Chris at the door showing them the waiting area. I get an IV to manage my pain and i get taken to X-ray. The x-ray took a few minute before they took me back to a room.

“When your x-ray comes through we’ll come and see you. How are you for pain?” A doctor asks “I’m okay right now. can I see my boyfriend please.” I ask, the doctor nods getting Matt.

Matt walks in sitting at the chair beside the bed, he places his hand on my thigh and asks me how I’m feeling. “I’m okay I think, today was my only chance to get a scholarship Matt.” I say turning my head to look at him.

Before Matt can reply the doctor’s walks in with a clipboard in his hand. “Your X-ray is clean no breaks or fractures you can go home after the rest of your paperwork is signed off.” The doctor says. I sigh loudly relieved my backs not broken. “When can I go back to dance?” I ask only focused on the answer “4-6 weeks time.” My smile drops at his reply and he walks out I look at Matt shaking my head. “no, Matt I can’t miss dance for that long I have another competition in 2 months and need to practice.” He frowns at me and takes my hands holding them. “Maybe you should have a break for a while, you push yourself so hard sweetheart.” I have nothing to say to him.

~~~~~~

We get back to Matts house the doctors said I need to come back in a week for a check up. Matt wrapped one of my arms around his shoulder and his arm around my waist slowly walking me upstairs. “Matt I’m fine you don’t need to do this.” I protest he just shakes his head helping to his room placing me on his bed. He lays down beside me letting his head fall on my shoulder. “do you need anything baby?” He looks up at me. I shake my head looking at him and smiling “thank you Matt.” I say kissing him. He kisses me back “I love you. So much y/n”

“I love you more.” I reply

[corneliaavenue-ao3]

You’re probably not drunk anymore but if your still taking “drunk prompts”, would you think of writing a scene where Harry sees Ginny chatting with Viktor Krum (after a grueling quidditch match) and he’s all “big bloke and jealous “

Take care, and your co-writer is adorable

@takearisk-ao3

not me trying to rid of three prompts (that have been in my ask box for a year) in one. happy drunk prompts night

He watched her fall and thought he was going to be the one to die.

While the crowd around him reacted to the illegal hit the Ballycastle Bats' beater made, Harry felt his heart fall along with Ginny as she slipped off of her broom.

One, two, three feet she fell.

Admittedly, she was quite close to the ground when the bludger hit the tail of her broom, but that didn't make Harry feel much better. Her back hit the ground first, her feet and then her head hit the grass shortly after.

The crowd oohed, drowning out the sound of Ginny's string of curses she shouted at the whole Ballycastle team. In one swift motion, Ginny swung her leg back over her broom and raced off. With an outstretched hand, she intercepted the throw between the Ballycastle chasers. She threw the quaffle to her teammate and raced off to the hoops.

Harry watched closely monitoring each move.

She was slightly out of formation on the Hawkshead formation. Was she concussed?

Was that a flash of her read hair on her forehead or was that blood?

She scored that goal with her left arm not her right, did she hit her right arm when she hit the ground?

The match ended 47 minutes and 31 seconds later, not that Harry was counting, when the Harpies seeker caught the snitch while the Ballycastle seeker was looking in the opposite direction.

Harpies win, 370 to 180.

Ginny and her teammates practically danced off the field, hooting and hollering at their win, but Harry's anxiety still did not subside. He knew she would be escorted back to the Healer's room as protical since she was knocked off her broom during a match. He just hoped she was actually okay.

Harry pushed his way through the crowd, making his way to the back. It was one of the few times he was thankful to be so recognizable. He waved to the Harpies security guard as he let him in the back of the stadium.

Down the hallway from Healer's room, Harry could hear Ginny laugh. Good. Harry thought, calming some of his anxiety. If Ginny was laughing that meant she couldn't be that badly hurt.

Pushing open the door, Harry stopped short, realizing the source of Ginny's laughter.

Victor Krum.

Harry had never understood his best friend any more than in that moment because why was famous Quidditch star, Triwizard Tournament competitor, Victor Krum, talking with Harry's girlfriend?

Why was famous Quidditch star, Triwizard Tournament comeptitor, Victor Krum, making his girlfriend laugh?

Why did Ginny laugh at something famous Quidditch star, Triwizard Tournament comeptitor, Victor Krum, say?

"You look quite unsettled over there, Potter," Ginny said grinning at him.

"Harry! It is so good to see you again," Krum said in his stupid accent. "I was hoping I you would be here today." Krum strolled to Harry with an outstretched hand.

Harry crossed his arms, "Why wouldn't I be at my girlfriend's match?"

Ginny rolled her eyes, "Don't worry about my boyfriend's attitude, Victor, he gets all grumpy whenever I fall off of my broom."

Victor!? Harry gets called Potter, but Krum get's called Victor?

"I do not get grumpy," But Harry's voice faded at the end of his sentence with Ginny's pointed look at him, his hand finally meeting Krum's in a handshake.

"I vas at the game because I was told to scout out Ballycastle's beaters," Krum grimmaced, "vas not impressed."

Harry begrudgingly agreed.

"But, I was very impressed with Ginny over here. That Chelmondiston Charge you pulled off right after intercepting the quaffle vas spectacular."

"She is spectacular," Harry stated, matter-of-factly.

Ginny stuck her tongue out at him.

"I just wanted to compliment her and talk her out of ever joining England's professional team. Bulgaria doesn't need anymore competition," Krum winked at Harry like it was some inside joke. "Vell, I get out of both of your hair. Tell Fleur ello from me when you see her next."

The door clicked shut after Krum, and silence filled the room for just a moment before Ginny burst out into laughter.

"You are so jealous!" She accused him.

"Am not!" Harry lied.

"I cannot wait to talk about Hermione about this," Ginny grinned.

[frankiefrankiefrankies]

THANK GOD!

This December a trans teen girl won the regional championship and it caused quite a stir. Especially because it was the region in which I used to dance and compete so quite a few people I knew showed their whole ass. I guess the upside is I now know who the transphobes are.

Anyway, the whole thing was a steaming pile of bullshit because the veil behind which the “protect girls in sports” crowd hide is even thinner. Dancers are only separated by gender in “majors” so in local comps they are only split by age and level. And dancing in the girls category puts you at a severe statistical disadvantage. Girls age groups in my region usually had around 90 dancers, boys had like 9 and would get handed a world qualifying placement by showing up.

Would love to see the mental gymnastics of these folks saw a trans boy win. “That’s an unfair advantage dancing in the smaller boy groups!” “But you just said that AMAB dancers have an advantage over AFAB?”

[aiscapades]

my birthday was nice :)

i was trying so hard to be positive all day (despite everything bad going on in my life),, so excuse this diary entry of a tumblr post lol

there were no eggs at the store so we couldn't bake a cake like we usually do </3 so i got cheesecake last night + a skillet cookie at dinner tonight! :') (thanks to my sister. she gets a big discount and hooked us up with cool seating outside and made sure it was all special so i would have fun)

presidents day also fell on my bday again this year which angers me............ i should be president. there would be eggs at the store AND queer folks would have their unalienable rights. win-win.

i simultaneously feel so old and so young. i'm behind in so many ways. i want forever but i've had to learn nothing is forever. i hate change so much but need it so bad. don't trust people who claim to be your savior. be your own savior, no matter how impossible it feels. i am forcing myself to believe these things and i'm passing them onto you :) take my hand and implode with me

i deeply value everyone here who has shown me any amount of kindness. i've lived a very isolated life and don't have friends irl so i really do consider everyone here my friend. without y'all, the loneliness would deteriorate my brain. i'd be making friends in my head like ais but less hot and way more pathetic. i don't know where my life's going, but i'm thankful to have an escape and an anchor in this community as i try to keep moving forward. i love you all so much 🩷 kiss kiss mwah

if you're also having a hard time, or if you just wanna have some fun, here are some things that have brought me happiness recently:

smosh moose master

gmm comp

gmm nct dream dance

aoaoaoa the look

befriending roblox grifters

sinjindrowning comp

make some noise comp

this smartypants presentation

ham cake animated

santa animated

i'm sorry for my bad taste these are my comforts (also i keep adding more heehee)

[cspasfan15]

Today’s 2014 Best Dancer is Brady Farrar from Stars Dance Studio. He was the mini male winner from New York. He would go into win 2 more titles (junior male 2017 and teen male 2021) and he was also teen male 1st runner up in 2020. He ended up graduating early in 2022 and is now part of the ABT Company. He has also been choreographing a lot of ballet and contemporary routines for current comp dancers.

[5sosnobody1420]

I JUST said Ilona could win… but chandler is flawless. And Brandon hasn’t won ever yet. Ugh. It really is gonna all come down to the freestyles for me. Also I want both her costume and Brandon’s.

(Also for you who say she’s a dancer she did comp/non ballroom dance. Like I did. Like Riker Lynch did. Like Jojo did. Like Charlie did. And heather morris with even more experience was on the show. And as someone who lived in the comp world for most their childhood it’s so different. Ballroom is so different. And even the “competition” styles they do like Jazz and Contemporary are different than they would be in a formal comp setting. So she deserves to be there)

[evolvingsidekick]

There was a dance competition judge doing an AMA on Reddit a few days a go, so here's a recap of all the most interesting points they made. As background, the judge told that she is from Boston area and mostly judges in the north

Costumes and footwear

about revealing costumes: "i personally don't love revealing costumes at all. it adds absolutely nothing to a dance. if anything, it's a bit distracting and not in the good way! i think when kids wear skimpy costumes, they tend to hold back in their movement. they're too worried about a nip slip or their booty popping out of their leo to dance truly full out."

she doesn't care if dancers wear tights or not, the most important is being comfortable. Some judges prefer tights because they help complete your lines

she doesn't care what you have on your feet, as long as you have the same thing on both feet

Choreography, trends, and styles

she believes [/hopes] that soon there will be a shift from the current trendy contemporary, back to more classical pieces [meaning traditionally clean techniques, tap etc.]. She sees trends in dance style the same way as in fashion, and they will move on once people get sick of the current trend

she thinks that super sharp, crisp and technically driven jazz and contemporary will have a big rise in popularity, because of the growing college dance team fandom

Large groups have the advantage that mistakes are harder to spot. On the other hand small groups are easier to perfect in regards of timing and spacing

judges may naturally have a bias towards specific genres, but every judges panel is different, so you shouldn't think about it while making/choosing routines. Just do the style that makes you the happiest

Scoring and awards

she thinks some comps will score boys higher to keep them motivated in dance, but she doesn't think this happens very often

she has seen routines being bumped to a harder level, but she would like to see it more often. If a routine gets bumped, up it has usually been decided by comp managers

judges are not insiders and they don't know anything about studio-competition relationships. Her competitions also use studio codes, so they don't know which studio is which.

tricks don't automatically raise the score, and often winning routines are the ones that have one trick here and there

ambidexterity is a nice addition, but she doesn't take points off for not having it

she has never been able to adjust scores after they have been given, so it is an advantage to go later. At later stages the judges know the overall level better

another judge commented that she has worked for 7 different competitions, and all of those have allowed adjusting scores, and therefore the running order has no effect [So it seems it depends on the competition]

judges awards are not always special. In some comps judges have zero say in them because they are picked by other workers

at some other comps judges are assigned 2–3 studios, and they have to award each studio a special award

some comps have a specific judge that only focuses on giving special awards

Miscellanious

the most common critique she gives is to reach past your arms and legs. The energy should be flowing during the whole routine

Cali and Florida have a commercial vibe, New York and New England have a broadway vibe

[glitterslag]

This is so random but seeing Eddie's room again it reminded me, like what does Chrissy's room look like? I need to know!😭 god I wish someone at a con would finally ask Grace

Omg so I'm envisioning pale pink walls, a white floral bedspread, a little antique-style vanity where she keeps photos of her friends and all her makeup and perfumes. And she's got a shelf above her bed with old ballet trophies and stuffed animals.

There's likely a fair bit of jesus paraphernalia in there - a crucifix above her bed (Eddie flips it upside down whenever he comes over and gleefully waits for her to notice. Sometimes she doesn't). A little Mary statue and a bottle of holy water on her bedside table.

She'd have a wall full of rosettes and certificates from her various wins (school stuff, cheer comps, dance comps). A few posters on the walls of silent film stars or of Broadway shows. She likes to keep fresh flowers in a vase on her dresser. Porcelain trinket dishes filled with bits of jewellery are on every surface. Old lemonade bottles are used to hold dinner candles.

She definitely has the Lane Kim secret wardrobe compartment too, where she keeps all her contraband!!! Her weed stash, clothes and makeup her mom wouldn't approve of, a bottle or two of peach snapps for pregaming, that sort of thing.

What do you think??

[randomvarious]

Today's compilation:

KissFM Flashback: Best of Love 1998 R&B / Adult Contemporary / Pop / Soul / Arena Rock / Pop-Rock

Funny thing about this pretty anodyne and somewhat random assortment of love songs from the Warner Elektra Atlantic catalogue that span between the late 70s and late 90s is that, had you not recognized the radio station logo that's on this album's cover, you'd probably have no idea that this was actually a Finnish release. And that seems to be because of two intertwined things: one, naming your radio station Kiss FM is like the equivalent of naming your American town Springfield; like, I'm pretty sure it's the most popular name for a radio station in the entire world, which also makes it the most generic. And because it's the most generic name for a radio station, it also then makes sense that its own tracklist would not provide a single clue as to where this particular Kiss FM station itself was actually located.

Which I guess just also goes to show how generic the market was overall for one of those hit European radio stations that played a mix of 'the hits from yesterday and today' in the late 90s, because not a single song on this release is actually Finnish-made itself, which would definitely lead you to think that it's not actually Finnish when it so totally is! 

But all that said, despite there not being anything to actually individualize this comp from any other similarly-scoped Euro comp out there, this thing nevertheless still manages to kick itself off with a pair of my all-time favorite big hits of 1996: the terrific Todd Terry remix of Everything But the Girl's "Missing," which was not just undoubtedly that year's single biggest commercial house hit, but was one of its biggest radio hits, period, too; and British one-hit wonder Donna Lewis' dreamy and ever-so-soft disco-pop-slow-dance smash, "I Love You Always Forever," which subtly built up all this tension with an unwavering bassline chug that smacked of the stuttering opening seconds from Survivor's own "Eye of the Tiger," and then suddenly released it all with a much louder and very catchy bridge that was outfitted with some handclaps and sharp, rich, and powerful keyboard chords. Sounds like a ballad that Cyndi Lauper might've made had she been born a decade later, and to that same end, a really lovely tune.

And another thing you might be interested in is that if you wanna hear iconic Swedish teen pop producer Max Martin's signature mid-to-late 90s sound applied to something before he managed to launch the Backstreet Boys into the stratosphere himself, there's Papa Dee's euro-reggae-pop cover of P.P. Arnold's "The First Cut Is the Deepest," which has that same smack-clappy backbeat sound that would define much of BSB's own output. Not gonna say that I particularly enjoy this song at all, but it's still intriguing to hear the Martin sound on something else prior to BSB.

And lastly, we have Lutricia McNeal's largely forgotten cover of Barbi Benton's "Ain't That Just the Way." If you dig that softly bouncy, hip hop-laced contemporary R&B sound of the mid-to-late 90s that made the careers of people like Mary J. Blige, Brandy, and Monica, this Oklahoma City native who ended up launching her career in Sweden and scoring this hit there is a good one too. After hitting big in Europe, "Ain't That Just the Way" crossed over here into the States and achieved moderate success as well, and while it never ended up earning itself the Grammy-winning plaudits of something like The Fugees' Lauryn Hill-led cover of Roberta Flack's own Grammy-winning "Killing Me Softly with His Song," I happen to think that the two tunes dovetail pretty perfectly with each other as 1996 R&B companions 👍.

So, a pretty lame Finnish comp of love songs with most of a selection that could fool anyone into thinking that it actually came from any one of a number of stations named Kiss FM in America instead, but nevertheless, some great intercontinentally popular hits from 1996 on here anyway 😌.

Highlights:

Everything But the Girl - "Missing (Todd Terry remix)" Donna Lewis - "I Love You Always Forever" Simply Red - "If You Don't Know Me By Now" Lutricia McNeal - "Ain't That Just the Way" Mr. Big - "To Be With You" Damn Yankees - "High Enough"

[mywifeleftme]

320: V/A // Tommy Boy's Greatest Beats Volume 1

Tommy Boy's Greatest Beats Volume 1 Various Artists 1998, Tommy Boy

The Tommy Boy catalogue has been endlessly repackaged over the years, but if you’re looking to score some of the classics on wax you could do worse than this late ‘90s double LP compilation. Tommy Boy had commemorated its first 15 years with a 2xCD/4xLP box set of the label’s “Greatest Beats,” but for the more cost-conscious consumer also broke the vinyl set out into individual volumes. Volume 1 sadly (sadly!) does not include anything by Coolio or House of Pain, for which you would have to splash out for Volume 2, but what is here’s pretty good: both Bambaataa’s “Planet Rock” and “Renegades of Funk” (the latter in its full 12” glory); the 12” mix of De La Soul’s debut “Plug Tunin’ (Are You Ready for This”); early electro gem “Play at Your Own Risk” by Planet Patrol (likewise in 12” format); Stetsasonic, Naughty by Nature, Digital Underground and more.

The selection admittedly feels a bit random without the accompanying Volume 2 (we get K7’s minor New Jack-dancehall hit “Move it Like This” rather than his smash “Come Baby Come” for example), and it’d be hard to argue fun but forgettable cuts like Choice MC’s instrumental b-side “Gordy’s Groove” or Bambaataa and James Brown collab “Unity” belong on a “hits” comp for a label of Tommy Boy’s magnitude. Not all of the actual hits are winners either—Club Nouveau’s Grammy-winning Kidz Bop version of Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me” has aged like a Kidz Bop reunion tour. On balance though, the set does a good job of representing the label’s hip-hop, dance, electro, and R&B sides, delivering some of the most influential Black music of the past forty years, a heap of ‘80s and ‘90s nostalgia, and some sure-shot party fuel. Drop the needle and hit the floor.

320/365