#wade lumina

[lachiennearoo]

Was fucking around with Wade's 3D model and got this funny angle, and obviously I HAD to make the meme hehehe

[stardustpinkart]

"Wheee go higher HIGHER!"

"Elemental" was so cute :) Go see it, its wonderful. Especially the slowburn relatiosnhip between Ember and Wade, gives me shades of Nick and Judy.

If they had a little girl :) I imagine Ember is supposed to be Korean, so there little girl is biracial. Maybe Wade is too, his mother looks a lot paler blue? Could be like the triplets in Encanto or Pepa's own family, all diffrent skin tones. However way you want to interpret the characters.

Her name is "Lumina", Lulu for short, which is a name I came up with for someone else's Wade/Ember baby :) She is energetic, giggly, calls her parents Appa and Umma(Dad and Mum), and loves spicy food, her favourite being kimchi. Here she's about 3 years old

[wildfallproject]

Campaign Summary's (2/4)

The following is a summary of a finished Campaign of D&D 5e which unfolded within Wildfall...

Wildfall Janus | 32 Sessions + Epilogue

Southern Armagh, temperate, gentle, caring, the land gave and the world took. The Rikash Empire, home of innovation and endless progress formed through the destruction of constant cultural conflict; the scattered peoples of the seven settlements attempted to find intellectual and philosophical happiness through domination of the land not unity. Opus Luminas, thought otherwise, and despite its almost guarantee to fail he offered the worlds leaders a chance to find real sanctuary as one. One Empire. He reasoned, rationed, and divided the lucrative south into beaurcratic systems, cultures diffused and ideals became the plight of one ruling class, a Council of leaders, some elected, some grandfathered. The ancient city of Riti, their awing Aeternum Institute and endless farm fields of the Redtile Ward offered to be the new states Capitol, now a symbol of what the whole continent may become. Bureaucratic levels govern every aspect of life in the city, allowing for the individual to dissolve into its orderly current. However, the current is beginning to show its wear in the old walls of Stone Ward, the forbidden word cut into its reliefs, “Change.” Some think it will come in a philosophical revolution, some think War is on the horizon. But change in Riti is subtle, hiding in the forgotten cracks with its people.

PC's (The Six of Hearts)

Pendragon (Fairytale Human, Glory Paly/Eldritch Fighter)

Silvestri (Tiefling, Twilight Cleric)

Azure (Kobold, Bladesinger Wizard)

Rook (Firbolg, Life Cleric/Mastermind Rogue)

Fiero (Fire Genasi, Phoenix Sorcerer)

Yennefer (High Elf, Eloquence Bard)

When a story ends what is made of its hero's? A question posed at the beging of the campaign. The Empire was promised to be a end of the chaos of the world, the levels of checks and balances ensuring the suffering to be a thing of the past. These characters stories should be over, retired, old, fated and/or doomed. However, fate has pulled them together, drawing them into a Temple to Dragsol now turned nightclub better known as the "Whispered Prayer." Someone has doubled crossed Rook, a once smuggler, who is now themselves double dipping their spying between the Silvereye Smugglers and Marble Consort Governors. The owner of the nightclub, the retired pit fighter Silvestri threatened to have their bar closed once and for all due to such a mishap; pissing off the wrong group of magical investigators, accidentally killing one in the process. This string of bad luck could be called just that, if it were not for the very real threat that has wormed their way into Riti, someone alighting the streets with destructive purpose, a person of destiny it may seem, Vea.

Through an exploration of the self, we turned our attention to the small fates of the small few, wading through the wake of grander fates. Vea, a powerful aasimar, sees themselves as a destroyer, told from birth they were made only for the purpose to hurt, even if they were to run from it or not. Passed that, The Empire has sparked a war with the growing magocracy of Axyindor to the North, bringing into question if the people are those that truly makes the decisions. Our small folk, the Six of Hearts, assist those just as small make their lives the slightest lighter. Heading to the ancestral homes of Azure, the industrialized Torval, and helping those there, family included, lead a proper campaign to succeed from the Empire in good faith. Returning home excited, a new force move overhead, the forgotten sins of the Empire home at last to see it ended.

Elsyvra, The Dustbowl Sovereign, or better known now as Elsie Sov, leader of the Baldur Sov Gang. An Ancient Amber Dragon who once considered herself the protector the Reith badlands, now here to make good a promise. To put down a dying Empire, so that its memory may live in envy not infamy, as a state meant to look up too and not to look down upon. And do, then came the time to make choices, to draw cards. So that The Six of Hearts may ask themselves one last question; are the gods really the ones pulling the strings, or is fate in the hands of those that simply try; or some combination of both.

[lumina-grand-ec]

Urban Sophistication at Lumina Grand EC

Nestled in the vibrant heart of Bukit Batok, Lumina Grand EC is not just a place to live, but a statement of urban sophistication. Designed for those who seek the perfect blend of modernity, convenience, and luxury, this executive condominium promises an unparalleled living experience.

Unmatched Connectivity

Lumina Grand EC’s prime location at Bukit Batok West Avenue ensures that residents are always well-connected. Proximity to the Bukit Batok MRT Station and major expressways like the PIE and BKE means that getting around Singapore is a breeze. Additionally, the upcoming Jurong Region Line (JRL) will further enhance the area's connectivity, making travel to key districts more convenient than ever.

Elegant Living Spaces

Step into any unit at Lumina Grand EC, and you’ll be greeted by an ambiance of modern elegance. Each unit features a spacious layout, high-quality finishes, and large windows that flood the space with natural light. The interiors are designed to be both stylish and functional, catering to the needs of contemporary living.

Smart home technology is integrated seamlessly into each unit, offering residents unparalleled convenience. Control your home’s lighting, temperature, and security systems with just a few taps on your smartphone, ensuring a comfortable and secure living environment.

World-Class Amenities

Life at Lumina Grand EC is designed to be nothing short of extraordinary. Residents can enjoy a range of top-notch amenities, including a swimming pool, fully equipped gym, and tennis court. For those who prefer a more relaxed pace, the beautifully landscaped gardens and communal spaces provide a serene retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Families with children will find plenty to love at Lumina Grand EC, with dedicated play areas and a wading pool that ensure young ones are always entertained. The clubhouse serves as a social hub, perfect for hosting gatherings and fostering a sense of community among residents.

Investment Potential

Investing in Lumina Grand EC is not just about buying a home; it’s about securing a future. The development is situated in an area poised for significant growth, thanks to ongoing and upcoming infrastructure projects. The future Jurong Lake District, envisioned as Singapore’s second Central Business District, is set to become a major economic hub, further enhancing the value of properties in the area.

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[dfroza]

some people just let ‘em grow

which isn’t such a terrible thing, you know

A set of still shots at the corner of Coit Ave and 4 Mile Road

the 6th of may 2024 as viewed through an “ancient” iPhone [8]

and it is the 49th day of Astronomical Spring as a “mirroring” of the alphabetic number 49 of the set of letters TYD on the Oklahoma license plate [TYD 593] on the 1991 Chevy Lumina i sometimes drove to work at Love envelopes, inc. in Tulsa

also, it is now day 127 of the year that points to my starting date at Love envelopes of 12.7 of 2004 and my ending date of 1.27 of 2006

with Today being the 67th day of meteorological Spring that mirrors the alphabetic number 67 of the word “water”

back in 2011 i stayed with a buddy named Wade at his apartment in Tulsa with the address 6752 E 91st Place with the number 52 being the alphabetic number of each of the words “heart” and “door”

And i recorded a few snippets of piano strings (fingertips on keys just as the keys of a typewriter) on his digital piano that year that relate with the 4 seasons of garden earth

all pointing to this pure dream of writing to open the inner “door” of someone’s “heart”

(my beautiful mysterious)

dancing quietly in the Spring sun amidst the world’s passing traffic noise

And they could have thought that i would call out on the phone

when i absolutely won’t.

they could even run over my book with a golden chariot, but i would still keep perfectly silent (and still in nature)

(and the words wouldn’t disappear from this open heart)

its dream would stay Alive carried on in the Light

by those who “embrace” the same inner Light (inside, Anew)

[lachiennearoo]

Well... Happiness is something that I suppose you can't just constantly feel 24/7.

As I was reading this... I suppose I felt alright.

It's been a couple of rough months but I'm getting there.

Taking solace in the small things I like in life. Like talking to my friends, my boyfriend and my sister. Planning my Wade Lumina project. Drawing stuff that I like. Writing things I think about. Hanging out with my dogs.

Hell, even just sometimes when I go outside in nature, and breathe in. I stand still, taking in the air, focusing on the trees. Maybe look at some bugs on the ground and try to guess what they're doing.

I suppose... If I had to change anything to be happier... Well, most of my demands aren't really anything possible at the moment. Like "I'd want money" "I'd want my boyfriend to live with me" "I'd want the Wade Lumina project to be done" "I'd want to get recognition for my work so I can make my own movies".

I do sometimes obsess over those things. I've sometimes stayed awake at night thinking of those wishes. Sometimes even cried for hours, wondering if I'd ever get there. If all my effort would lead to something. (Yay I love my GAD it makes me panic over shit randomly yaaayyyy)

But one thing I've learned about life is... Don't obsess over things you can't control. Do what you can. And then just... Let the flow of life carry you. Like, building a boat, and then letting the current of the river guide it where it wants.

So while you wait for the river of life to carry you to destination... Look at your surroundings. And focus on the beauty of the world around you

Hey guys, this is a bit of a weird request but can you guys answer these and reblog so I get more answers, please?

1. Are you happy right now as you read this?

2. What makes you happy?

3. If you could change anything to make you happier what would it be?

[mystery-star]

@gohoubi Thanks for the tag to psot the first line of my first 10 fics. I decided to just take the character x OC fics bc there's so many x readers I wrote XD.

The legacy of Durin (Fíli x OC, the Hobbit) [Translated]

Despite the cool weather it dragged me outside, to the river - my favourite place.

2. Descendants of the sea (Fíli x OC, The Hobbit/Pirates of the Caribbean Crossover) [Translated]

Fog pervaded the coast, sadness Kaylin's heart.

3. Lumina Noctis (George x OC, Harry Potter) [Translated]

You could say I grew up in two worlds.

4. Threshold of Space (Spock x OC, Star Trek)

With a deep frown, the brunette stared at her fellow cadet who had just passed out in the captain’s chair.

5. Passing Boundaries (Sequel to ToS) (Spock x OC, Star Trek)

Carissa cracked her knuckles.

6. Beyond the frontier (Sequel to PB) (Spock x OC, Star Trek)

Going back to work was almost impossible for her after what she had just been told.

7. Snippets of Infinity (Short series to above FFs) (Spock x OC, Star Trek)

Carissa didn’t mean to think inappropriately but she had never seen that many non-humans in all her life than on that day.

8. Not Yet Time (Ben Wade x OC, 3:10 to Yuma)

The nightly breeze blew up the dry sand in little clouds of dust, illuminated by the moonlight.

9. One Day More (Sequel to NYT, probably abandoned now) (Ben Wade x OC, 3:10 to Yuma) [unpublished]

“Daddy! Hi!” Jenny shouted as she jumped out of her chair and hurled herself at her father “You’re back”

10. Bee Burns Chronicles (Working Title, literally only have like 2 sentences written for it) (John Biebe x OC, Mystery, Alaska) [unpublished]

“This is fucking ridiculous” Bee cried at her own mirror image.

-

Thank you for the tag, this was much fun to do. And I actually had exactly 10 fics in total lol. (Another one for Master and Commander in the workings but I've never written a sentence aaaand I might have even abandoned it already... and turn it into a imagine series instead.

[lovelessdagger]

Starlight - Chapter Seventeen: You Become the Stars

Pairing: Din Djarin x OC, Din Djarin x OFC

Rating: Mature

Enemies to Lovers, Slow Burn, Canon Divergence, Eventual Smut

Warnings: Explicit Language. Canon Typical Violence. Angst.

Words: 5k

Summary: Mando pretends not to care but he locks every shared detail to memory.

Starlight Masterlist Here

Read Chapter Sixteen Here

Read on AO3 Here

Seasons change from summer to fall on Nevarro. The five degree temperature drop on the volcanic planet is symbolic of nothing but time. Wasted and thrown away. Unnecessarily present in everything. Mocking every move the Mandalorian makes and torturing him with thoughts of what if and forced considerations.

Nevarro is less shitty now, something has to be after all. Newly reformed since the days of the battle against Moff Gideon. Buildings and roads reassembled, shops reestablished, schools made from the rubbles of ash. Children are free to play now, parents free to shop at leisure.

All to say it is still generally insufferable with a sprinkling of insanity.

Perhaps a dash at this point.

Mando knows he shouldn’t have come back. The smart and logical thing to do would have been to reroute directly to Trask. Find the other Mandalorian’s, find the Jedi, give up the kid, move on with life. But as history goes, he’s not prone to making smart and logical decisions. Not under the pressure of himself anyways. Try as he might to be a beacon of whoever the fuck he was before all of this galactic bullshit, he can’t.

He doesn’t think he can ever be that anymore, that time has passed. He’s too fucked up with new experiences.

Basics of his personality don’t change but ideals of life, stances on morality. He can’t not care anymore. That much should have been evident when he collected the Child, but at least then he could still fake his way through it all. Compassion is new to him, new to have and new to share.

He doesn’t know what normal is anymore, who he is anymore. He knows he’s not the same man who gave up the Child nearly a year ago, he can’t be that anymore.

But he does try.

The first couple weeks go by in disconcertment, guilt, annoying anxiety. A million scenes of what could have happened if he had done things different shuffle in his hallow mind. He starts with anger towards her, Lumina. Justified and not. Her selfishness, her horrendous lack of apathy, her utter disdain towards herself for any notions of care and love—not love, but something close.

Maybe.

He tries to not dwell on it.

Eventually that all subsides. It’s not her fault, he realizes, not completely anyways. He had been just as negligent towards whatever had conspired between them. If not worse. Maybe if he had never acted at all, never bought into the shameless teasing and flirting, things would be different. He wouldn’t care so much.

Or, oppositely, maybe if he had acted sooner, stronger, skipped the games and just said it.

Told her how he felt the moment he realized. Committed to figuring things out together, to give her himself and hope she would do the same.

They’re both fucked up, they knew this from the very beginning. Having issues big enough to take hold of the ship. They wade around shallow waters of intimacy and jumped out the second their feet could no longer feel the ground.

And they’d do it again. And again. And again.

Thinking they had learned how to swim.

Obviously, they never did.

And no one wants to drown, no matter how much disregard they had for their own lives.

He should have said something.

But then million reasons to why never did any of that follow close behind in the thought process. And he settles of the facts of reality.

Kissing her, taking off his helmet, holding her. It was a mistake.

Not for reason of regret or remorse, given the chance he would do it all again, better, kinder, sweeter. Make it so she had reason to at least reconsider staying. If only for a moment.

He would have asked her to stay, one more time.

Exactly why it had all been a mistake.

He misses her.

He shouldn’t and he does.

She made him want things he never considered possible.

Everything feels wrong, and foreign, and he never wants to experience any of that ever again.

But he does. Desperately, he does.

Mando didn’t realize how much he missed touch until hers was taken away.

He thought going back to Nevarro would fix things. Give him the back edge he softened and sanded away. It works, kind of. Not really.

Greef Karga and Cara Dune never questioned his sudden return. Why he still held the Child in his arms, why his initial moody nature increased tenfold. They didn’t question when he asked for bounty pucks, when his record for fastest bounty capture was demolished within the first week. They didn’t question his refusal when offered a quarry in Coruscant.

Things are fine for a while, he takes job after job, as many as he can until he’s worn and his muscles ache when he breathes. A self inflicted ramification for his foolishness and harmful self indulgence in a greed he knows he should not have. He hasn’t broken Creed, a saving grace keeping him from insanity.

Soon he forgets about all of it. Or ‘forgets’. He doesn’t much know or care for the difference between them. Pushing whatever he felt or thought he felt or continues to feel deep inside his beskar. He doesn’t have time to mourn a relationship that never was and that would frankly be the downfall of everything he believed in. He doesn’t have time to be sad when he was a kid to watch over, when he has bounties to catch, a Jedi to find.

It’s for the best, he knows this because it’s what he tells himself to get through it all.

After the second month passes he likes as though he’s woken from a fever dream. He stops thinking about her, about everything that had happened. The kid stops mimicking her mediation on her crate, he moves her crate, now just a crate, to another side of the Crest.

In truth, he can never see the stars the same, and every time he looks at the green armor on his wall there’s a pang in his heart. Her ghost lingers in the Razor Crest wherever he goes, leaving him with a haunted heart and craving her spirit. She has become a star, invisible to him but painfully present in his dreams. Dreams of her rare smiles, her soft skin and cautious touch.

Dreams where they can be.

Not that he would ever say it, but the whole ordeal is worse than the first time. Where all he had was a single conversation and his imagination to create scenarios in his head.

Everything is different with experience. To know what it feels like to fight, to hold, to yearn, to touch her and be touched in ways he’s never been or done before. When he knows how she takes her tea in the morning, how she’s religious about cleaning her weapons, how even when she won’t admit, she cares too much and against her better judgement.

When he’s heard her laugh enough times to fill more bottles than he could dream of.

When he’s seen them literally shatter with his own eyes.

But it’s fine.

It’s not.

Technicalities.

When he’s not planet hopping, regrettably he’s found company in Karga while waiting for new jobs. Conversations are brief, and mainly of the man coddling the Child like he was his own.

A day comes where Karga mentions he’s heard whisperings of the rising crime lord in Coruscant. He says the death of Neri, the ending of the Kelli lineage, rocked the underworld more than anyone had anticipated. Other syndicates across the galaxy were biting off more than they could chew, threatening wars against each other, aiming for a seize of power to match what Red Axe once had.

Mando pretends not to care but he locks every shared detail to memory.

“Black Sun member found dead in Jakku blackmarket,” Karga reads from a projected data pad. “I’d put money on it being Red Axe. Whatever that new leader is doing it’s working, makes the Hutts look like fucking children. I’d hate to be the sucker who crosses them. Look at this,” he says turning the hologram.

“Jakku Coroner, Myeil Putow says the cause of death is thought to be asphyxiation, but with no bruising, the official cause is inconclusive. The victim was also found with nonfatal knife wounds in the upper thighs,” he reads. “You’d think this guy would’ve used a blaster instead. He must be new to the game.”

It’s the first time Mando’s done anything close to a laugh in a while.

A week later Karga tells him about some parlor on Ord Mantell with the owner and a second victim found dead. Mando doesn’t think anything of it until it’s mentioned the location had been some hotspot for clones.

“I met a clone once,” Karga says. “Weird guy, had half a skull tattooed right on his face.” His face pinches together, shaking his head at the memory. “Real character he was. You’d like him, you’ve both got the whole dark and broody thing going on. Wonder what the deal is with that place though. No forced entry, nothing broken. Neighbors say the only thing they believe to be missing is some photo.”

Unfortunately, it peaks his interest.

“A photo?” Mando asks.

“That’s what they say. Family portrait or something, nothing valuable. No reason why anyone would actually want it.”

Comfort comes to him in knowing she hasn’t changed dramatically. “Probably family that took it back then.”

Karga looks up, brow raised. “I’ve never heard of a clone having a kid.”

Mando shrugs. “It happens. You’d be surprised.”

He doesn’t answer Karga’s questions, the plenty that come, shrugging him off and asking for more pucks.

He goes to bed that night in hyperspace, grateful she’s alive.

---

Things get weird some weeks later when he goes to Corellia for a bounty. The planet isn’t pretty and the Child throws a fit the entire time. Streets are grey and dull, he gets more wet than he would have liked. He finds the quarry outside some worn down warehouse. He pleads, he begs, he tries to buy his freedom which is it’s own fucking insult.

The kid doesn’t stop crying until they leave the atmosphere and are safe in hyperspace. But he still looks rattled, confused and staring at the damn crate.

“You dodged a fucking bullet,” Karga says to him upon his return as he steps into the cantina. He’s got the newsprint displayed between them, sliding over Mando’s credits for the capture.

SECRET IMPERIAL BASE DISCOVERED IN CORELLIA WAREHOUSE

“Red Axe took care of it,” he goes on to say. “Fucking massacre, every single one of em dead.”

His gut twists for reasons it shouldn’t. “Red Axe was there?” He asks.

Karga nods. “Must’ve been a whole group of them, brutal doesn’t begin to describe these reports. Trooper heads bashed in, officers stabbed, limbs severed. You got lucky Mando, who’s to say what would’ve happened if they found you or the kid. This is exactly why I told you not to get involved with them in the first place.”

“They killed Imperials,” Mando defends. “They’re not all bad.”

“They also worked with the Empire for decades, this one switch doesn’t mean anything. These men were hiding from trial by the New Republic. As far as you know the only reason they’re dead is so they won’t face trial, and once again, justice isn’t served. Not to mention they could’ve been hired by someone bigger, or are planning something themselves. Keep an eye out and keep your distance,” he warns. “If Imperials were alive on Corellia there could be more anywhere. You can’t trust anyone.”

“If there are, Red Axe will take care of them. They’re not fans of the Empire, and from my experience they’re the farthest thing from sympathizers.”

Karga huffs, his arms crossed over his chest. “We’ll see. Just keep a low profile, I’m not in the business to make friends with them. It’s a bad look.”

Mando doesn’t argue.

His journey to Trask is more of an accident than a deliberate choice. A refuel on Tatooine turned to him reluctantly taking an extra passenger to the moon as a favor to Peli. A frog, mother, person, honestly he’s not exactly sure. But Peli calls it long awaited payment for the speeder that crashed on his last visit.

When he asked if she’d seen Lumina—only referenced as the girl—she laughed and said his wires are twisted.

It’s one way to put it.

When she tries to press more on the subject, Mando leads the Child inside the ship and ignores her calls.

Traveling sublight isn’t ideal, it never is. Neither is being woken up by a run in with the New Republic.

“May the Force be with you,” he says, foot tapping on metal flooring. Whatever the fuck that means.

“And also with you,” says Captain Carson Teva. “Just one more thing.”

“Yes?”

“I’m gonna need you to send us a ping. We’re out here sweeping for Imperial holdouts.”

“I’ll let you know if I see any.”

“I’m still gonna need you to send us that ping.”

If his eyes could roll father they’d be stuck. “Well, I’m not sure I have that hardware online.”

“We can wait.”

Life is more annoying than it should be.

“Yeah uh, I… doesn’t seem to be working,” he mumbles.

“That’s too bad. If we can’t confirm you’re not Imperial, you’re gonna have to follow us to the outpost in Adelphi. They’ll run your tabs.”

Looking around the control board a red card flashes in his peripheral, the glorious nightmare symbol of the Red Axe reflecting off the lights.

Fuck it.

Running’s always an option.

What’s the worst that could happen?

Death?

It’s not so bad, or, it wouldn’t be if there wasn’t a green monster napping in his bed.

“Oh wait,” he says, sticking the card in the reader, flipping switches. “There it is. Transmitting now.” The Frog gasps awake behind him, croaking a storm. “Be quiet!” He hushes.

“What was that?” Carson asks.

“Uh, nothing. The hypervac is drawing off the exhaust manifold,” he stutters.

“Carson,” the other pilot, Trapper Wolf, intervenes. “Can you switch over to channel two?”

“Copy,” he responds.

Mando’s left in the dark for longer than he’d prefer, which is meaning to say any time at all, hands drumming on his lap.

The main channel crackles again, Carson clearing his throat. “You’re free to go,” he says. “Our apologies for the inconvenience. After Corellia, the Senate has us doing expanded searches, it won’t happen again, R.A.”

Well, shit.

“…Good to hear,” Mando responds. “You wouldn’t want me to uh, speak to Relena about this.”

“No sir,” Carson says. “Our apologies again. Have a safe flight, may the Force be with you.”

The channel goes dead when the X-Wings pull back out of sight.

Huh.

“Uh,” Mando says, looking back at the Frog. “I’m, not sure, what just happened. But, I think we’re good.”

She croaks to him, adjusting herself back to sleep.

Pulling the card out the reader, his head shakes.

“You still manage to surprise me Sarad,” he mumbles.

---

The moon is… interesting. Entirely covered in water and shipping ports, the smell of sea life is strong enough to make it past his helmet’s filtration. Grey skies cover their heads, vendors and sailors making passes at another about harvest and other wares to be bought and sold.

Mando fumbles with the card in his pocket, the kid hovering by his side in the pram. Frog Lady runs ahead of them, croaking into the crowd. At the embrace with her husband Mando turns away, arms crossed. The Child looks between him and the couple, cooing.

Always perceptive he is.

“Stop that, I’m fine,” he says to another coo. “I know you’re hungry, we’ll get you something to eat.”

At least the kid can laugh at him.

At least one of them can laugh.

Whatever.

---

Bo-Katan Kryze. The last of her line, born on Mandalore, and veteran of The Great Purge. And a pain in Mando’s ass. General arrogance and lack of personable attitude aside—somehow he was sure she’d make Lumina look like a pile of rainbows—she turns out to be the last of his kind he would have preferred to run into.

A Child of The Watch, is what she called him. What ‘The Watch’ is to begin with remains a mystery. A cult, religious zealots. Bo-Katan’s explanations hardly seem like a reasonable definition to him. Although Bo-Katan hardly seems like a reasonable person herself.

She did not follow the Creed, she did not follow the way of the Mandalore. She did not respect the armor she wore on her body and therefore she did not respect everything their people have stood for.

Though she does know a lot more than him. Not that it matters, at all. But the food for thought leaves crumbs in his mind trailing to places he’d rather not explore.

He does anyways, his consciousness is a deadly trap.

Forgetting Lumina isn’t easy, he’s come to realize this annoying fact of his life. Try as he might to trick himself into it. She hides comfortably in the dark corners of himself.

He thinks about her words more than he’d like to admit. Of her expressed loneliness to never seeing her own father, his own developing worries he’s harming the Child. Making him feel lonely, confused.

Her father would hurt whoever saw him, just as he would, and she feared him. The amount of nightmares he’s had to wake and comfort her from, along with the other plethora of context clues surrounding the entire ordeal were enough to solidify in his mind they were all about him.

She called him psychotic, heartless, a mere mention of him from others sent her in a panicked frenzy.

He doesn’t want the Child, his child to fear him in that way. To grow scared, hateful, because of what he does or doesn’t do.

Taking off his helmet for her was stepping on the line enough. Had he been asked about the concept before meeting her, he would be disgusted by the notion of it. It would be crossing the line. Creed broken, no questions asked, he should feel ashamed for ever putting it back on.

But he doesn’t.

He never did.

He still wants to take it off for her.

Fucking hell.

It doesn’t matter now. Never-mind his now certainty he’s condemned to only hearing of her through Karga, there are more pressing issues at hand.

Finding the Jedi, and not killing Bo-Katan where she stands, for example.

The group of them, him, her, and two other Mandalorians of the names Koska Reeves and Axe Woves, conduct the siege on an Imperial Gozanti freighter by daylight.

They pummel through troopers and officers, Mando is shot which, yeah comes with the territory but is honestly more annoying than anything else.

“This is the Way,” Bo-Katan says to him after announcement of taking the ship. Her pride in this, in convincing herself to be the best of them, of not being in what she deems to be a cult, it makes him regret going for a refuel in the first place.

Frankly this Jedi shit is turning out to be a lot more trouble than what it’s worth.

By the time they reach the bridge, only the deck officer is alive, pilot and captain both shot dead on the floor. Bo-Katan is the first to strike, holding the man, who looked more like a boy against the wall in total fury.

“What did you do?” she demands to know as Koska and Axe take the controls, Mando standing idle in the doorway.

“I helped you! I know why you’re here, I want to help.”

She laughs bitterly. “A defector? Likely story, no one leaves the Empire this late.”

For once Mando has to force himself to keep his silence, kept on observing the interaction instead.

“I swear to the moons, I am, I am,” the boy pleads. “You want the dark saber! I know who has it.”

She tenses. “Do you know where he is?”

“I—I don’t,” he stutters, her forearm pressing against him. “No!” He cries. “No please! I can help you! I know where the others are.”

“What others?” Bo-Katan hisses, knife to his throat.

“The other shipments, our entire supply. I’ll give you the location, please don’t hurt me.”

“How do I know you’re telling the truth?”

“I swear to it, by the Maker. She—I was promise I could live, you don’t understand. I wouldn’t lie.”

“So where are they?” Bo-Katan asks, cutting the side of his neck.

“Arkanis!” The boy gasps. “Arkanis! You can look,” he points to the control panel, “It’s where all the shipments come from, it’s in the log. We have a whole warehouse, you—“

He’s stabbed by the last breath, falling to the floor.

“Clear the atmosphere and prepare to jump, then set course for Arkanis,” Bo-Katan instructs. “Now.”

“Are you serious?” Koska asks. “It could be a trap.”

“It’s not,” Mando speaks up finally. “He’s not lying.”

They turn to him. “How do you know that?” Koska asks.

He swallows. “The Empire had a strong hold on the planet, there was a training school there. Makes sense for storage to be there as well.”

“Arkanis is under New Republic jurisdiction,” Axe argues.

“So is Corellia,” Mando says. “In case you haven’t heard the news, the Empire doesn’t care about all of that. They find their ways.”

“And you’ve been to Arkanis?” Bo-Katan asks.

“No. But my—I have a contact who’s from there, and I trust her word.” He leaves out the usually part. “And it’s in the same sector, makes a lot of sense to me this place is the middleman.”

“Even so,” Axe says. “We can’t come in on an Imperial cruiser, they’ll shoot us dead in our tracks.”

“Then we leave the ship, take his,” Koska says, pointing to Mando.

“We are not leaving my ship,” Bo-Katan presses. “I’ll figure something out.”

“Better figure it out fast, they sent a distress signal, others could be here at any moment.”

Mando sighs, hand shoved in his pocket. “I… I might have a solution,” he pulls out the card, handing it to Koska. “Plug this in, you’ll get full clearance.”

She looks at it through the light, brows pushed together. “You’re a part of Red Axe?”

“No,” he says. “But I said I have a contact.”

“Then it’s settled,” Bo-Katan says. “Make the jump, we’re leaving now.”

“I’m not going,” Mando stresses. “You have your out, I’m done here.”

“You,” she responds, head tilted. “Will be accompanying us. It’s nonnegotiable.”

“I have to get back to the foundling.”

She smiles. “Then you better hope that card works and the N.R. doesn’t blow us to bits, Mando.”

“You’ve changed the deal enough—“

“And you want to find that Jedi don’t you? Strap in. We’ll be back by sundown. The next sunrise if we’re lucky.”

He settles on the fact that Bo-Katan Kryze, the last of her line, born on Mandalore, and veteran of The Great Purge, is the most intolerable person in the galaxy.

In the absolute worst way possible.

---

Thankfully the card works, the tower once again apologizes for the confusion, noting the freighter number and promising to not do it again. Bo-Katan and her crew don’t question him further on his acquisition of the card, Axe tries before their thankless leader cuts him off.

“We’ve all found means to an end. What’s important is we’re here,” she says.

Arkanis is as dreadful as Lumina described it to be. Perhaps even worse. Storms ravage the air and make for a shaky landing. Cliffs line the ocean’s coast, fishermen boats are tied to the docks, sails too late to be tied in now torn by the wind. Lightning flashes in the horizon, thunder shaking the ground. A branch at the edge of the street snaps, crashing into the roof of some shop.

A siren sounds in the air around them, automated voice echoing in the black sky.

“Attention people of Arkanis. This is not a test. Repeat. This is not a test. Attention people of Arkanis. This is your emergency broadcast system. All citizens are encouraged to take shelter immediately. Class eight winds are reported with class seven rain. Air travel is discouraged at this time. All emergency services will not be operational until the storm subsides. May the Force be with you. Long live the Em—“

The transmission cuts, static hanging in the air to be followed by the continuous siren. Loud, deadly, haunting.

Suddenly he understands her initial panics, well, more terrified nature at the storm of Eadu.

An entire childhood spent in fear.

He tries to imagine her, younger, roaming the streets with Imperial guards or Stormtroopers by her side, taking blaster practice on the beaches.

He can’t. It doesn’t feel possible. Her being young, being free.

Things start to make sense.

They all wear ponchos upon exit of the freighter, hoods draped over helmets. Not that it helps, they become soaked to their socks, squishing in their boots full of wetness.

“Any idea where this warehouse is?” Koska asks, loud over the noise of the trees.

“Weren’t there location pings in the ship?” Axe butts in.

“Nowhere specific. All it said was underground storage facility.”

“Well that’s useful,” he huffs.

Mando doesn’t care for their complaining. He’s preoccupied taking in everything he can. A large building stands on a cliffside in the north. An empty flag pole on the roof shakes but stands strong. There are no lights and half the building’s integrity is torn down.

“Let’s get dry and form a plan,” Bo-Katan says, interrupting his thoughts. “There aren’t many places here that can be stable and underground without falling apart or being flooded. Someone around here has to have some idea of a good place.”

“And if they don’t?” Mando asks.

She looks to him, flashes reflecting off the helmet. “I hope you like digging.”

A cantina lays at the end of the road, lights guiding their way through the thick downfall. Harmonized footsteps marching in splattering mud. The sky snaps in pops of light, over and over. Rowdy shouts are heard from the outside, the group sharing looks of caution and intrigue.

The whole place is a madhouse, over a dozen men and aliens in an all out brawl. Glasses are thrown across the room, tables broken, blaster shots scattered like flies.

He’s able to count five men dead on the ground.

“Looks like we missed all the fun,” Koska says.

Everything pauses at their entry, punches stopped midair, knives midswing.

With the dispersion of chaos, Mando’s vision focuses on the center of the room. Where a girl lays, back against a table and a hulking yellow Zabrak double her size holding her down. Fabric falls around her head, braided hair a tail from her head.

She turns with the rest of the crowd where Mando sees her eyes, resting above the mask over the bottom half of her face.

Those eyes, those artificial brown eyes, wide, filled with sadness and now looking especially angry.

Lumina.

Lumina, who gasps at the sight of him. Who drops her piece of broken porcelain, the clay clanking on the tile floor. Who makes his stomach drop the the core of the world and his head spin in fifty different directions.

Lumina who left him, who he kissed and held for hours.

Lumina who he hasn’t seen in months. Stares right at him, chest rising heavy, brows pushed together.

He takes in all that he can of her. The extra hairs that frame her face, the gloves covering her fingertips, the bandolier across her torso. A rifle lays next to her feet on the ground, the clone one taken from the moon of Cantonica, newly repaired and polished.

Mando meets her again, feeling as though hours have passed where all he has done is stare. The cantina nonexistent.

He realizes he falls for her in situations like these. Not when she’s bathed in glamour by makeup and dresses—though it had still been a sight he’s committed to memory, but that’s not her. The one he looks at in this very moment. With mud on her shoes, cape soaked by the rain with a knife in side holster and a blaster in the other. When she looks like how she did the night they met.

That’s who she is.

The stupidly stubborn, exhausting, arrogant, girl with who could kill a man in one shot and turn around the be the sweetest thing in the galaxy. Who talks to his kid like he’s her own in a baby voice that he never would have expected for her to know how to conjure.

The girl who reminds him of flowers.

Fuck.

He wants to hate her. He should. They’d done enough damage to each other to warrant it for the rest of their poor lifetimes. He should tell Bo-Katan they should go, or pretend like she has no effect on him and sit down. Ignore it completely, refuse anymore eye contact. Refuse her. Refuse himself.

He can’t, and he’ll commit to beating himself up over it later. When he’s back on Trask, back on the Razor Crest. When he finds the Jedi and gives up the kid and is utterly alone for the the remainder of eternity.

For now he won’t do any of that. Because after everything. After months apart, months spent torturing himself, forcing himself to not care, to pretend to not care, to live as though nothing ever took place. To ignore the odd looks Karga and Cara gave him on a daily basis, ignore the way he felt every time a news report came out giving him the slightest idea of her whereabouts, ignore everything in his mind screaming at him to act one way or another.

After all of that complete bullshit.

She’s still beautiful.

And she’s the first to speak:

“Oh you’ve got to be fucking with me.”

---

Chapter Eighteen: A New Light, Everlasting

Taglist: @lexloon @jay-bel @xsadderdazeforeverx  @spideysimpossiblegirl  @sarahjkl82-blog 

[razieltwelve]

The Terror of Blissey (Final Rose x Pokemon)

Lumina’s Blissey is actually terrifying.

Although Lumina was not someone who wanted to battle for a living, she did complete several leagues just to build up experience and to explore various parts of the world while catching pokemon.

Throughout her journeys, Chansey (who later evolved into Blissey) would serve as the anchor of her team. Blissey remains one of the few of her kind to engage in more than a handful of battles, and her track record speaks for itself.

She left a trail of mangled, broken bodies in her wake before healing them with a cheerful smile.

Lightning has said, without joking, that Blissey would actually fit quite well onto one of her championship-level teams. It is not a coincidence that even the Hit Squad listens when Blissey occasionally puts her foot down, and even Mewtwo and Mike the orange Gengar have learned to be wary of her ire.

One of the key reasons that Lumina’s Blissey is so terrifying is that she has the highest recorded defence stat of any Blissey. In fact, her defence stat is only slightly lower than her special defence stat. In other words, she is largely impervious to attack and can then win at her leisure.

There is footage of her wading through the increasingly frantic attacks of a Volcarona, only to slap it silly until its trainer was forced to concede defeat. Her most infamous feat was tanking a Mega Alakazam’s attacks to just gut punch it repeatedly until it quit. Yeah.

This has made Blissey extremely valuable since people are interested in seeing if her children inherit her bizarrely high defence stat. The answer is that they do although all of her children are either with the Dia-Farrons, the Yun-Farrons, or the Villiers.

And Blissey can Dynamax.

Yeah.

[seerow]

When everything is chaos, the strong make themselves known. 

The People of the Stars

Lantern Year 5 for Draco Vita:

Time is immeasurable in the Kingdom of Death. There are no clocks, no sun with which to innovate. Only the ceaseless tide of night and the passing of a lantern. This is the measure by which Draco Vita must go by. To watch day after day as the light of one of their lanterns slowly fades. For you and I, this would seem a foolish way to keep track of time, because we would know the inherent truth of lanterns: That the time it takes for it to burn out is not consistent. One cannot blame Draco Vita, how could they know anything else? Even the Tyrant far more knowledgeable than the subjects he keeps was born in this land of darkness and horrors.  

It was time for another hunt, it was time to face the crucible. Estel gathered her team and readied to venture out into the Kingdom of Death. High on their victory over the Tyrant and armed with far more knowledge and capability than any could have ever known. All of them had seen things, all of them had fought for their very lives. They were ready to kill Gorm.

Hunt Phase:

The darkness ahead is filled with steady flashes of green light. Enormous piles of jagged bones forebodingly line the horizon in an unbroken line. Inhuman, mournful laughter echoes through the air. Fear stalls the hunting party, but Estel grits her teeth and moves forward. 

The hunters find a body slumped against a large stone face. Moving closer they discover a prospector riddled with arrows. To their surprise the prospector yet lives, growling in a foreign tongue, threateningly raising a shard of stone above his head. He calms recognizing the hunters as humans. With his dying breath he utters something in his strange tongue and offers the settlers a key. Estel takes the key, uncertain what it is for. She takes the prospectors hand as what little life remains finally ebbs. 

They were getting close to the Gorm and discovered an area covered in mounds of their foul-smelling corrosive vomit. Fang offered to investigate, to see if their quarry was nearby. He waded through the vomit, burning his legs and discovered nothing. He looked back and signaled the Hunters to move on. Knowing they were close. 

Among the Gorm stomping grounds the Hunters came upon the remains of four humans. Clad in loincloths and clutching stone shards, each bearing the distinct burns of Gorm vomit. Estel spends little time dwelling, taking their resources and moving on. In  the distant a Gorm is calling out, perhaps a little revenge was in order.

Battle With the Quarry:Gorm (Level 1)

The fight with the Gorm was going well. The team worked in unison carving deep wounds into its flesh. There was a moment of fear when Orson got overconfident. Holding his shield against the massive Gorm he paid the price for thinking he could out muscle such a tremendous beast. The monster charged full force against him and while he was able to absorb most of the damage he was thrown and smashed his head against the ground. He rose, but the side of his head was caked in blood, his ear all but destroyed. 

Estel was proud of of her team. They worked just as she hoped. Together they hacked at the Gorm. Drawing it nearer and nearer to death. The great lumbering beast slowed and trembled from its grievous wounds. Sensing its own end it pushed for one last defense. It’s strange bulb flashed and flickered, the Hunters threw themselves to the ground almost instinctively hoping to escape the blinding light. Only Estel remained on her feet, safely behind the beast for the moment. It turned and rushed her, but Estel was not so easily felled. She was the Champion of Draco Vita. She readied her blade and prepared for the charge. With a monstrous roar the Gorm rushed toward her. Estel grasped the base of its bulb and hoisted herself over its skull, driving her blade deep into its maw shoving the blade up seeking its brain. If she got it she’d never know but she did feel the monster jerk and fall, it was dead where it lay. 

Settlement:

A low rumbling fills the settlement. Cracks and fissures begin to form belching up hot, foul-smelling vapor. The Tyrant seems to be little more than annoyed, so the whole of Altera Lumina manage. Though with all the earth uprooted the hunters spent much of their days relocating and reestablishing hovels and walls.

One day, the mutilated body of a fellow survivor was found hanging in the center of the settlement. Their life snuffed out and put on display in such a horrific fashion. Estel and her hunters are brought quickly to the scene to investigate. Yet when they arrive they begin to hear a dull ringing. Fear and panic crept into their minds as they struggled to comprehend what happened. 

A tall, grim stranger appeared before them, with eyes deeper and blacker than any they had ever seen. In his hand a lantern with a distorted face was emitting a piercing light and deep reverberation that fills their very minds. Estel calls out to attack but finds her signal cannot be heard. 

The stranger walks with slow soundless steps toward them. Only the lantern's strange vibration could be heard within its light. Outside of its light, no one notices the stranger. They talk in shock and frightened tones around the corpse unaware of the danger lurking just behind them. The Hunters were practically paralyzed by the strange turn of events, their limbs heavy, their minds numb as the stranger drew ever nearer. 

Fang suddenly stood in the way. He remained between them, limply staring at the ground. The flooding memories of his brother, the hatred, the anger, he would abide no monsters. Sensing something amiss, the grim stranger stopped its approach just inches from Fang. One couldn’t hear it, but rather feel it- a confident laughter that split Fang’s feature nearly in half. The others watched with wonder as Fang finally found something terrible and dark within him. Transformed by the very intensity of the situation, Fang’s face remained distorted, deranged, an expression of madness. All monsters would perish!

Showdown (Manhunter level 1)

It came from a distant, golden city. It came hunting to serve some horrifying purpose. It came without remorse, without mercy, and without explanation. It came for you. 

The Manhunter wasted no more time, pulling two strange weapons from his sides. They cracked like thunder and before Orson even knew what was happening he was falling his body riddled with buckshot. He was alive but gravely wounded, gritting his teeth as he clutched his legs. Red-hot agony spilling into his limbs as his blood pooled over the ground. 

The Manhunter sneered leveling his gun to Orson’s face before crying in pain, Estel’s blade burying itself into his back.He was alone, and they were a team. Each looking out for the other. This madman would fall!

Estel shifted and swung with all her might. Her boneblade smashed into his armored kneecaps and by some miracle she broke through, although it came with a cost. As she followed through toppling the Manhunter to the ground, she found only the haft in her hands. The weapon had broken. 

However, Estel had opened up an opportunity. With the Manhunter down her team rushed in striking and stabbing at their weakened foe. Each in turn smashed or cut, even Orson managed to catch the foe’s head with his shield. When the Manhunter managed to his feet he was dizzied and angry, adrenaline rushing through the stranger’s veins. 

He kicked Undomiel aside and whipped around to face Estel. Reaching out to grab her. In retaliation she stabbed him with a stone shard she kept as a back up. This proved a mistake as now he had her. The Manhunter rushed the two of them through a column destroying it with her body. She was tossed to the ground broken and bleeding she glanced up to find the Manhunter’s guns leveled. The other warriors rushed knowing the danger but were too late. Before anyone could reach her, the Manhunter’s guns rang out shot after shot until the hammer clacked uselessly. The thunder of his weapons silencing the Tyrant’s chosen champion. 

Fang screamed in bloody vengeance and leapt upon the Manhunter’s back biting and clawing into his flesh like a ravenous animal. In the struggle Undomiel caught up and broke the Manhunters jaw with a swing of his axe. The mountain of a man finally crumbled, and Draco Vita eviscerated his corpse, anger and pain keeping their arms moving. 

When the Manhunter’s lantern was silenced they were greeted by the Tyrant. The settlement now seeing the results of the conflict became hushed and fearful. No one else had seen the intruder. How could this have happened? The loss of their leader was a bitter blow. Even the Tyrant seemed sympathetic. 

The Tyrant descends the obsidian staircase with a gift. He places the gift at the settlement’s center, and heat washes over the cold stone ground for the first time. The Tyrant beckons each survivor into the light. Among the survivors dim reflections in the polished black stone of the settlement the ghosts of the dragons appear to walk among the settlement. The Tyrant calls to each survivor and embraces them, whispering to them in a familiar tone that chills their very hearts. He gives them part of his name: “The Warbringer”. 

~~Hooo boy okay. So upside I got some new survivors, some boss gear, a few innovations. Downside? I just lost one of the best hunters I had. Well… lets hope the others can carry on as we face a new threat next lantern year the Spidicules! Good luck Draco Vita!~~

[joncrawford]

Best of COVID-2019: (Late) 2019 End of Year Wrap-up

Even though we’re well into 2020, most of us would probably swallow a pill that makes us forget the year so far. With a new job, I got too busy to do an end-of-year wrap-up of my picks for the best albums, movies and shows of 2019, so assuming you’ve swallowed your Hindsight Pill™ (get it?, cause hindsight is 20..ok, fair if you stop reading now) here’s my take on the best music, movies and shows of 2019. Maybe you’ll find something to make the rest of quarantine a little better.

ALBUMS

Remind Me Tomorrow by Sharon Van Etten on Spotify

It’s hard to find a better album this year. It’s heartfelt, gentle in places / wild in others, it pushes her sound forward from her more folky records of the past and gives us the opportunity to gaze into this sensitive she-hulk of an artist’s soul.

Favorite Track: Jupiter 4 - Jupiter 4, a song by Sharon Van Etten on Spotify

Lux Prima by Karen O on Spotify

This concept album by Karen O (“Yeah Yeah Yeahs”) and Danger Mouse (“Broken Bells”, “Gnarls Barkley”) can best be described as a record composed by badass feminine superhero from the future who has a nostalgic fascination with soundtracks from 70s European love story films. It’s phenomenal. The chord progressions are unusual and interesting. The vibe is consistent throughout. It’s a great record to listen to intentionally or a perfect soundtrack to a day outside with friends.

Favorite Track: Nox Lumina - Nox Lumina, a song by Karen O, Danger Mouse on Spotify

Lana Del Rey - “Norman F*ing Rockwell“ (censored for my mom)

I get it. You stopped following Lana after “Summertime Sadness”. She’s not your jam. She’s vapid. There’s something about her appearance that you don’t like (Didn’t she get her lips done?). She doesn’t make serious music. Here’s the thing though: You’re f*cking wrong (censored for mom). LDR is one of the most prolific songwriters and performers we’ve got. This artist has evolved with each album and the songwriting keeps improving. This is her best album to date. The lyrics take on deeper themes than her prior records and any ego on previous submissions seems to have been replaced by a general comfort in herself and the discomfort of her experiences and relationships (fictional or not). This is also her release with the lightest touch. She’s not pushing the LDR persona anymore, she’s being herself — take it or leave it. It’s her, your little Venice B!tch (censored for mom). Hi, mom!

Favorite song: Venice Bitch, a song by Lana Del Rey on Spotify

Phoenix by Pedro The Lion on Spotify

This is my favorite artist’s first studio album in 15 years. (!!!) It’s not technically fair to say that because he released several color records in the interim. As a largely one-man show, the DNA was very much the same. But this is a true return to form for the the man known as David Bazan that I’ve been following carefully for 20 years and have seen live too many times to count.

This is a concept album (most of them are) about his experience growing up in Phoenix, AZ. But it’s more about growing up than about Arizona. I got goosebumps and watery eyes the first time I listened carefully to the lyrics of “Yellow Bike” which tells about the experience of getting your first bicycle as a little boy around 1990. For me, this was the apex of my childhood. Absolute freedom and the ability to easily join any pack of desperado bike kids.

The album hits hard with the catchy hooks, introspective lyrics, challenging topics and excellent production & instrumental performances only using standard rock staples like guitar, bass and drums (with a couple quick appearances of an organy synth).

Lyrics, melody & a great beat. This is a fantastic rock album.

Favorite song: Yellow Bike, a song by Pedro The Lion on Spotify

WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? by Billie Eilish on Spotify

Much has been written about this wunderkind. You know her. It’s a great album. She has a promising career ahead of her.

Favorite song: when the party’s over, a song by Billie Eilish on Spotify

SOUND & FURY by Sturgill Simpson on Spotify

This album slays. It’s a badass rock album. If you don’t know Sturgill Simpson, he’s technically a country act… BUT! He’s entirely rejected the conventions of modern country with its shallow lyrical content, right-wing dog whistling and computer-assisted faux harmonies. He sings about psychedelics, his problems with religion and also covers 80s synth-pop in country ballad fashion. Well, forget all that for this record. It’s a banger. This record sounds like Waylon Jennings was cloned 100 years in the future and brought back just to record a ZZ Top album. Major leap for this artist. One of the best of the year.

Favorite song: Make Art Not Friends, a song by Sturgill Simpson on Spotify

ANIMA by Thom Yorke on Spotify

We’ve had a complicated relationship with Thom Yorke’s solo work. As the lead singer of Radiohead, we’ve had to give deference to literally anything with his name on it. But his prior solo works have waded into the avant-garde and we’re entirely listenable in a casual way throughout. This has changed. This record is a masterwork. In fact, it demanded a beautiful short film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (“The Master”, “There Will Be Blood”) released on Netflix earlier in the year featuring no dialogue and Thom and his wife is choreographed love affair starting during a mundane commute. My favorite track is the most peaceful and introspective on the album.

Favorite song: Dawn Chorus, a song by Thom Yorke on Spotify

Fear Inoculum by TOOL on Spotify

It’s TOOL’s first album in 13 years. WHAT. It’s fantastic. Worth the wait? Hell no because that’s too long to wait for almost anything. There are people with Snapchat accounts that weren’t alive when “10,000 Days” came out (2006). 728,000,000 people (presumably, all TOOL fans) died since their last album. I can’t, in good conscience, condone the deprivation of 3/4 of a billion people like that. But it’s SO good. This is metal for people that don’t like metal (I don’t really like metal).

Favorite song: Pneuma, a song by TOOL on Spotify

Screamer by Third Eye Blind on Spotify

I may be literally this bands only fan still paying attention, but I don’t care. They’re still writing fantastic tracks. This was one of my heavy-hitter bands in high school. I learned every song from their first two albums on the guitar. Then I stopped paying attention for like 13 years. In 2016, I ran across a new single by the band and went in with a lot of trepidation. Most bands from your high school years should probably leave it there. There's nothing worse than a band desperately trying to stay relevant with weak ass releases well beyond their shelf life (cough Goo Goo Dolls –– They've put out 4 albums in the last 10 years. 🤦‍♂️) But then I heard Third Eye Blind's pro-Black Lives Matter track “Cop vs. Phone Girl, a song by Third Eye Blind on Spotify” released in 2016. Go back and listen to that one. It's not only catchy as hell, but it's got a gut punch of a message about how shitty is it to be a well-meaning black student in a white-dominated power structure that's supposed to be a safe place like school.

Well 2019’s “Screamer” doesn’t disappoint either. It’s all the same energy and hooks of the band’s early sound with an updated feel and sensibility that still feels like a relevant rock album. All the same things you came to Third Eye for in the past is right here waiting for you on “Screamer”. I know I’m gonna get some flack for this one, but…shut up.

Favorite song: Ways, a song by Third Eye Blind on Spotify Bonus points if you catch the “Outside Lands” ref.

i,i by Bon Iver on Spotify

Short review for people who know how to pronounce the name correctly: It’s a Bon Iver record. Listen to it.

Longer review: It’s pronounced “Bone ee-VAIR” based on the French bon hiver, meaning “good winter”. If this is news to you, here’s a nugget from an interview where the main figure in the band explains it:

When I was living up north I wrote a letter. I’d come across a story about this Alaskan town that the people, the first snow of every year, they come out of their houses and gather in town square. They hug and kiss each other and they say “Bon Iver.” I was like, “whatever that is, that’s cool!” … Then I found out how it’s spelled and it was sort of disappointing. I didn’t like how it looked. It didn’t have any emotion. Looking at it didn’t make any sense. I wanted to look at it and feel something. It was sort of a compromise. I sorta wanted it to be like “Bon Iverre,” sort of like how I saw it, but that didn’t look good either, so I just decided to chop off the “h.” Bon Iver | Pitchfork

OK, now that you’re caught up. I guess you haven’t been paying attention, but Justin Vernon or Bon Iver (DBA) is one of the luminaries of the music industry. This grammy-winning dude-band has collaborated with Kanye, Jay-Z, James Blake, Travis $cott, Poliça, Ani DiFranco, Vince Staples, Eminem, Bruce Hornsby and more. But if you need me to explain any of this to you, do yourself a favor and go back and listen to his other 3 studio albums. Every one of them is treasure.

Favorite Song: Hey, Ma, a song by Bon Iver on Spotify This song makes the top 5 of all the tracks he’s released.

MUSIC - Honorable Mentions

Amyl and The Sniffers by Amyl and The Sniffers on Spotify

Two Hands by Big Thief on Spotify

I vs I by Alex Ebert on Spotify

Face Stabber by Thee Oh Sees on Spotify

Infest The Rats’ Nest by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard on Spotify

MOVIES

Hail Satan? (Hulu)

JustWatch

Hilarious look at a group trying to make Free Speech really free.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Duh. Also I got low-key obsessed with cults after I watched this.

MONOS

Incredible Spanish language drama about child soldiers in South America. Great acting by unknowns.

Green Book -Duh

Duh. Won an Best Picture.

Parasite

Duh. Won Best Picture.

Joker

Duh. Won life.

Greener Grass

JustWatch

The weirdest movie I saw all year. Bizarre and hilarious. Written by the two actresses who star.

Apollo 11

INCREDIBLE documentary about the first moon landing mission featuring a ton of footage I’d never seen and assembled into such a magnificent narrative. You feel like it’s happening in real-time today. The last time mankind was united around one hope.

SHOWS

The OA - Season 2 (Netflix)

This was one of the most beautiful creations I’ve seen. Epic followup to the first season which seemed like an impossible act to follow. Netflix canned the show, but there’s still hope it will get a resurrection through another venue.

Watchmen (HBO)

This is a sequel to the critically acclaimed graphic novel from the late 80s. You should read the novel first. As stated two sentences ago, this is a sequel set 34 years after the events of the novel.

The Boys (Amazon)

This is the first realistic superhero story. Why have we always assumed that those with superior or supernatural powers would be intrinsically good and seek to served mankind? Regular humans don’t even act like that toward each other. In this world the soops are like paid athletes and are secretly total pricks. Well made and begging for a second season.

Chernobyl (HBO)

Haven’t seen this? What is wrong with you? It’s in the top 5 highest rated shows of all time on IMDB. One thing I’ll note is that it did a good job separating the characterization of the soviet people from the soviet government. The everyday soviet people in the story came out looking like heroes while the government lived up to its reputation. It made me a lot more curious about soviet history which has led me to other movies, books and Wikipedia rabbit holes. Watch this for the historical value, at a minimum. It’s not as gory as you might be afraid it is.

Love Death + Robots (Netflix)

I love sci-fi and I love weird animation so this just brought it home for me. The episodes are often short and sort of feel like Twilight Zone episodes, each with their own mini narrative or moral lesson. Each episode is made by a different creator or team, so the variety is part of the curb appeal. Great binge material.

[thisdayinphishtory]

3 years ago: Bill Graham Civic Auditorium - San Francisco, CA - 2016

Phish • July 20, 2016 • Bill Graham Civic Auditorium • San Francisco, CA

Set 1: Demand, The Curtain With, Alumni Blues > Letter to Jimmy Page > Alumni Blues > Fuck Your Face, Cry Baby Cry, Sing Monica > McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters, The Very Long Fuse > Big Black Furry Creature from Mars, Walk Away > Sanity -> David Bowie

Set 2: No Men In No Man's Land > Mike's Song > Fee[1] > Seven Below > Waiting All Night > Gotta Jibboo, Miss You, Weekapaug Groove[2], The Oh Kee Pa Ceremony > Suzy Greenberg > Julius

Encore: Wading in the Velvet Sea > Character Zero[3]

[1] Trey on megaphone. [2] Trey on Marimba Lumina and Mike on keys. [3] Character Zero was sung almost entirely by the audience, with the band providing the chorus.

Demand was played for the first time since December 31, 2009 (258 shows). Alumni Blues and Letter to Jimmy Page were played for the first time since August 3, 2013 (114 shows). Cry Baby Cry was played for the first time since November 21, 1998 (496 shows). Sing Monica was dedicated to producer Bob Ezrin, who was in attendance. Walk Away was played for the first time since October 29, 2013 (100 shows). Mike teased Whole Lotta Love in Bowie. Fee featured Trey on megaphone. Weekapaug featured Trey on Marimba Lumina and Mike on keys. Character Zero was sung almost entirely by the audience, with the band providing the chorus..

[lumina-grand-ec]

Dream Home at Lumina Grand EC

Are you in search of a home that combines luxury, modernity, and convenience? Lumina Grand EC in Bukit Batok might just be the perfect place for you. This executive condominium offers a unique living experience, catering to the needs of today’s discerning homebuyers.

Prime Location with Excellent Connectivity

Lumina Grand EC is ideally situated at Bukit Batok West Avenue, offering unparalleled convenience and connectivity. With the Bukit Batok MRT Station nearby, residents have easy access to the North-South Line, ensuring efficient travel across Singapore. Additionally, major expressways like the PIE and BKE are within close reach, making driving a breeze.

The future Jurong Region Line (JRL) will further enhance the connectivity of Bukit Batok, linking residents to key areas such as the Jurong Lake District and Tengah New Town. This strategic location makes Lumina Grand EC a prime choice for families, professionals, and investors alike.

Stylish and Functional Living Spaces

Each unit at Lumina Grand EC is designed with a focus on style and functionality. The interiors feature high-quality finishes and spacious layouts that are both elegant and practical. Large windows allow for ample natural light, creating a bright and welcoming atmosphere in every home.

Residents can enjoy the convenience of smart home technology, which enables them to control various aspects of their living space with ease. From adjusting the lighting to managing security systems, these features enhance the overall living experience, making daily life more comfortable and secure.

Extensive Amenities for Every Lifestyle

Lumina Grand EC offers a wealth of amenities that cater to a variety of lifestyles. Whether you’re looking to stay active, relax, or socialize, there’s something for everyone. The development features a swimming pool, gymnasium, and tennis court, providing ample opportunities for fitness and recreation.

The beautifully landscaped gardens and communal spaces offer a tranquil environment where residents can unwind and enjoy nature. For families with children, the development includes a dedicated playground and wading pool, ensuring that young residents have a safe and enjoyable space to play.

A Wise Investment for the Future

Investing in Lumina Grand EC is a smart move for those looking to secure a valuable asset in a prime location. The development is set in an area with strong growth potential, driven by ongoing and planned infrastructure projects. The future Jurong Lake District is envisioned as Singapore’s second Central Business District, which will further enhance the value of properties in the area.

Executive condominiums offer a unique investment opportunity. Priced lower than private condominiums, they provide similar amenities and finishes, making them an attractive option for homebuyers. After the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) of five years, ECs can be sold to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents, and after ten years, they become fully privatized, allowing for sales to foreigners. This offers significant potential for capital appreciation and long-term returns.

Lumina Grand EC in Bukit Batok is more than just a place to live; it’s a lifestyle choice. With its prime location, stylish living spaces, extensive amenities, and promising investment potential, it’s the perfect home for those seeking luxury and convenience. Explore the unique charm of Lumina Grand EC and discover your dream home today.

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[lumina-grand-ec]

Standard of Living at Lumina Grand EC

Are you searching for a home that blends luxury, convenience, and modern design? Look no further than Lumina Grand EC in Bukit Batok. This development stands out as a beacon of contemporary living, offering residents an unparalleled lifestyle experience.

Perfectly Positioned for Convenience

Lumina Grand EC is strategically located at Bukit Batok West Avenue, making it a prime spot for those who value connectivity. Just a stone's throw away from the Bukit Batok MRT Station, residents can easily access the North-South Line, ensuring smooth commutes to various parts of Singapore. The development is also well-connected to major expressways, such as the PIE and BKE, further enhancing its accessibility.

The upcoming Jurong Region Line (JRL) promises to boost connectivity even further, linking residents to key areas like the Jurong Lake District and the future Tengah New Town. This makes Lumina Grand EC an ideal choice for those who value convenience and ease of travel.

Modern Architecture and Thoughtful Design

The architectural design of Lumina Grand EC is both modern and elegant. Each unit is crafted with attention to detail, featuring high-quality finishes and spacious layouts that maximize natural light. The design philosophy emphasizes both aesthetics and functionality, ensuring that residents enjoy a comfortable living environment.

The units come with state-of-the-art smart home features, allowing residents to control various aspects of their home with a simple tap on their smartphones. From lighting and air conditioning to security systems, these smart features provide an added layer of convenience and peace of mind.

Comprehensive Lifestyle Amenities

At Lumina Grand EC, residents have access to a wide range of amenities designed to enhance their lifestyle. The development features a swimming pool, gymnasium, tennis court, and beautifully landscaped gardens. These facilities provide ample opportunities for relaxation, recreation, and socializing.

For families with children, the development offers a children's playground and a wading pool, ensuring that young residents have a safe and fun environment to play in. The clubhouse is an ideal venue for hosting gatherings and events, fostering a strong sense of community among residents.

A Smart Investment Choice

Investing in Lumina Grand EC is not just about buying a home; it's about securing a valuable asset. The development is located in an area with strong growth potential, thanks to ongoing and upcoming infrastructure projects. The future Jurong Lake District is poised to become Singapore's second Central Business District, further boosting the value of properties in the vicinity.

Executive condominiums offer a unique value proposition. Priced lower than private condominiums, they provide similar amenities and finishes, making them an attractive option for homebuyers. After the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) of five years, ECs can be sold to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents, and after ten years, they become fully privatized, allowing for sales to foreigners. This makes ECs a smart investment choice with significant potential for capital appreciation.

Conclusion

Lumina Grand EC in Bukit Batok offers a lifestyle of luxury and convenience. With its strategic location, modern design, comprehensive amenities, and strong investment potential, it is the perfect choice for those seeking a high-quality living experience. Discover the benefits of living at Lumina Grand EC and make it your new home.

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[lumina-grand-ec]

Lumina Grand EC, Bukit Batok

Nestled in the vibrant district of Bukit Batok, Lumina Grand EC is a premier executive condominium that exemplifies modern living with a touch of elegance. This exceptional development offers residents a harmonious blend of luxury, comfort, and convenience, making it a perfect choice for those seeking a high-quality lifestyle.

Strategic Location

Lumina Grand EC is strategically located at Bukit Batok West Avenue, providing residents with unparalleled connectivity and access to essential amenities. The development is just minutes away from the Bukit Batok MRT Station, offering seamless access to the North-South Line. Major expressways such as the Pan Island Expressway (PIE) and Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) are also easily accessible, ensuring smooth commutes to various parts of Singapore.

The upcoming Jurong Region Line (JRL) will further enhance the connectivity of Bukit Batok, making it even more convenient for residents to travel to key destinations such as the Jurong Lake District and the future Tengah New Town. This strategic location makes Lumina Grand EC an attractive option for families, professionals, and investors.

Luxurious Living Spaces

Designed with the modern homeowner in mind, Lumina Grand EC offers a range of luxurious living spaces that cater to diverse needs and preferences. Each unit is thoughtfully crafted to maximize space and functionality, featuring contemporary designs and high-quality finishes. The spacious layouts ensure that residents have ample room to live, work, and play.

The units come equipped with state-of-the-art smart home technologies, allowing residents to control various aspects of their home with ease. From lighting and air conditioning to security systems, everything can be managed conveniently through a smartphone or tablet. This integration of technology enhances the overall living experience, providing comfort and peace of mind.

Comprehensive Facilities

Lumina Grand EC boasts an impressive array of facilities designed to cater to the lifestyle needs of its residents. The development features a large swimming pool, well-equipped gymnasium, and tennis court for those who enjoy staying active. The beautifully landscaped gardens and walking paths offer a serene environment for relaxation and leisure.

Families with children will appreciate the dedicated play areas, wading pool, and educational corners that provide a safe and stimulating environment for young ones. The clubhouse serves as a social hub where residents can host gatherings and events, fostering a strong sense of community within the development.

Investment Opportunities

Investing in Lumina Grand EC is a smart choice for those looking to secure a valuable asset in a prime location. The development is situated in an area poised for growth, with numerous infrastructure projects underway that will drive demand and enhance property values. The future Jurong Lake District, envisioned as Singapore's second Central Business District, is set to be a major economic hub, further boosting the appeal of properties in the vicinity.

Executive condominiums offer a unique investment proposition, providing the benefits of private condominiums at a more affordable price point. After fulfilling the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) of five years, ECs can be sold to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents, and after ten years, they become fully privatized, opening up the market to foreign buyers. This offers significant potential for capital appreciation and long-term returns.

Lumina Grand EC at Bukit Batok stands as a beacon of modern elegance and luxury. With its strategic location, luxurious living spaces, comprehensive facilities, and promising investment opportunities, it is an ideal choice for those seeking a refined lifestyle. Experience the best of contemporary living at Lumina Grand EC and make it your new home.

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[lumina-grand-ec]

Lumina Grand EC in Bukit Batok

Located in the heart of Bukit Batok, Lumina Grand EC offers a unique blend of luxury and convenience, making it an ideal choice for discerning homebuyers. This executive condominium (EC) development stands out with its contemporary architecture, premium amenities, and strategic location, ensuring a lifestyle of comfort and elegance.

Prime Location and Connectivity

Lumina Grand EC enjoys an enviable location at Bukit Batok West Avenue, offering residents easy access to a myriad of amenities and facilities. The development is well-connected to major transportation networks, including the Bukit Batok MRT Station and major expressways like the PIE and BKE. This ensures seamless connectivity to the rest of Singapore, making daily commutes a breeze.

In addition, the future Jurong Region Line (JRL) will further enhance the connectivity of the area, providing more options for residents to travel conveniently across the island. The proximity to key commercial hubs, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities adds to the appeal of Lumina Grand EC, making it a preferred choice for families and professionals alike.

Exquisite Design and Spacious Layouts

The architectural design of Lumina Grand EC is a testament to modern luxury. The development features sleek lines, high-quality finishes, and thoughtfully planned spaces that cater to the needs of contemporary living. Each unit is meticulously designed to maximize space and natural light, creating a bright and airy ambiance.

The layouts are versatile, offering a range of configurations to suit different lifestyles. Whether you are a young couple, a growing family, or a multi-generational household, you will find a home that meets your requirements at Lumina Grand EC. The inclusion of smart home features further enhances the living experience, providing convenience and peace of mind.

World-Class Amenities

Residents of Lumina Grand EC will have access to a plethora of amenities that cater to their recreational and lifestyle needs. The development boasts a variety of facilities, including a swimming pool, gymnasium, tennis court, and BBQ pits. There are also beautifully landscaped gardens and communal spaces where residents can relax and unwind.

For families with young children, the dedicated children's playground and wading pool provide a safe and fun environment for play. The clubhouse offers a space for social gatherings and events, fostering a sense of community among residents. With such a wide range of amenities, there is something for everyone at Lumina Grand EC.

Investment Potential

Investing in Lumina Grand EC is not just about securing a luxurious home; it is also about making a sound financial decision. The development is situated in an area with strong growth potential, driven by ongoing and upcoming infrastructure projects. The future Jurong Lake District, envisioned as Singapore's second Central Business District, will further boost the value of properties in the vicinity.

The EC market, in particular, offers a unique proposition for homebuyers. ECs are priced lower than private condominiums, making them more affordable. However, they offer similar, if not superior, amenities and finishes. After the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) of five years, ECs can be sold to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents, and after ten years, they become fully privatized, allowing for sales to foreigners. This provides significant potential for capital appreciation.

Lumina Grand EC in Bukit Batok represents the epitome of luxurious and convenient living. With its prime location, exquisite design, world-class amenities, and strong investment potential, it is an ideal choice for those seeking a high-quality lifestyle. Discover the unique charm and benefits of living at Lumina Grand EC and make it your new home.

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