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aci32 · 2 years ago

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CARCASS/MUNICIPAL WASTE/SACRED REICH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Folks, sorry for running 13 days late but better late than never. Here's my first review of 2023: Carcass/Municipal Waste/Sacred Reich. This was my 3rd time seeing Carcass and first time in 9 years I've seen them as last I saw them they headlined the 3rd annual Decibel tour on April 8, 2014 and they were once again awesome at that time. It would've been my 4th time seeing Carcass had I not missed them with Amon Amarth last December as I had come down with a cold at that time and since a large majority of patrons were going to Walter Froebrich's viewing and/or memorial, I didn't want to get them sick and have them miss it, so it was my way of taking one for the team.

Let's start the festivities!

First band was Creeping Death. While I admired their stage presence and their energy, I found them to be hit and miss musically, plus it was no big loss that I missed a few of their songs as I was in line for merch for a good 45 mins-hour. After they got done, I shared a joint with my friends Rabih and Chris Zeman and then returned inside.

Next band up was SACRED REICH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This was my 3rd time seeing them live as I saw them 13 months ago when they opened for Sepultura and they blew Sepultura off the stage as I was there more for Sacred Reich than I was for Sepultura. Sacred Reich always wow me with their performances and plus Phil Rind always has good banter both serious and comical. His first two banters were a mix of both like railing against politicians, telling a funny story about Chris Robinson, Music being a uniting force, etc. His third banter went with him giving shoutouts to Creeping Death, Municipal Waste, and Carcass he then went on to talk about Toronto in saying "I grew up in New York, and I remember the first time I came to Toronto I go 'It's a big city, but t's like clean and safe how the fuck do you do that shit? I grew up in New York in the 70s it was neither clean nor safe, so that was an eye opener. I always thought 'if it wasn't so goddamn cold here I might move here, there's no fuckin way' two words for you guys: Fuck Snow, fuck that shit. It's bullshit, snow is bullshit, I know you put up with it, I live in Arizona, 120 degrees is fuckin bullshit to. But at least when it's 120, I jump in the pool, if it's 120 I might deal with ice and bullshit on the roads, anyhow enough about the fuckin weather huh? Anyhow we're gonna to the title track on our most recent record, this song talks about going through hard times in your life, everybody has hard times in their life, this song's aout going through hard times, sometimes it feels like it's not going to end, but it is, hard times don't fuckin last, but the thing you got to do is just keep going, so this talks about awakening to the positivity in our lives that is already inside us, this song is called Awakening". His 4th and final banter which was his funniest went after he thanked the fans especially when he said "We'd like to take you home with us, but there's no room" He then said "Who wasn't born yet in 1987? *Crowd roars* You know what you all are? A bunch of whippersnappers as us old farts call ya and who's the 40 and over crowd?*Crowd yells* We're known as the old farts so young whippersnappers meet the old farts" then he dedicated Death Squad to SR's founding guitarist and here's their setlist:

Divide & ConquerPlay Video

The American WayPlay Video

Manifest RealityPlay Video

Rest In PeacePlay Video

SalvationPlay Video

IgnorancePlay Video

AwakeningPlay Video

IndependentPlay Video

Death SquadPlay Video

Surf Nicaragua

After Sacred Reich it was time for MUNICIPAL WASTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This was my 5th time seeing them and 2nd time seeing them as an opening act as I saw them open for At the Gates last August and they're always fun live. Lots of energy on stage and as well Tony Foresta has funny banter where he was railing against border guards and Ryan Waste had amusing chime ins as well. Tony said when he got a blow up killer whale he said "As a Floridian, I want to say fuck SeaWorld" "Your partying for Jesus, or are you partying for Slayer?" He also told people to make the security guards work harder in catching crowdsurfers and as well mocked people who aren't into Sacred Reich. He then also asked people on the floor to flip people off on the upper balcony then he said "Oh that's the handicap section? Nevermind, I fucked up, that was rude". Also like in 2016 when there was a lot of beer being thrown, this time there was a lot of cardboard boxes being thrown and torn up by the crowd. Here's their setlist:

DemoralizerPlay Video

Breathe GreasePlay Video

Mind EraserPlay Video

Beer PressurePlay Video

Thrashing's My Business... And Business Is GoodPlay Video

The Thrashin' of the ChristPlay Video

Poison the PreacherPlay Video

Grave DivePlay Video

You're Cut OffPlay Video

Sadistic MagicianPlay Video

Slime and PunishmentPlay Video

Crank the HeatPlay Video

Headbanger Face RipPlay Video

Blood VesselPlay Video

High Speed SteelPlay Video

Wave of DeathPlay Video

Born to Party

After the Waste it was time for CARCASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This was my 3rd time seeing Carcass and first time in 9 years seeing them as I last saw them headline the decibel tour on April 8, 2014. Carcass were once again awesome and they made history by becoming the first band I've seen 3 different times in 3 different decades and in 3 age eras, first time when I was 18, second time I was 24, and third time at 33. I will also say Jeff Walker is a joker in between songs when he goes on his banters in which he said "What's going on? It's Canada, it's supposed to be fucking cold for Christ sakes, huh? How you doing? Are you fuckers still awake? *Gives shoutouts to Creeping Death, Sacred Reich, and Municipal Waste* and us old farts trying to keep up with the kids, fuck me. We're gonna try our best okay? Just bare with us. You good? You're not going to be good for long, 30 years since Heartwork". His other banter went "Fuckin hell, global warming, what the fuck's going on?" He also then made fun of a guy in the pit wearing sandals. Here's what Carcass' setlist looked like:

The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue(Intro)Play Video

Kelly's Meat EmporiumPlay Video

Buried DreamsPlay Video

Incarnated Solvent AbusePlay Video

Under the Scalpel BladePlay Video

This Mortal CoilPlay Video

Tomorrow Belongs to Nobody(Intro, >)Play Video

Death CertificatePlay Video

Dance of Ixtab (Psychopomp & Circumstance March No. 1 in B)Play Video

Black Star(Intro, >)Play Video

Keep On Rotting in the Free WorldPlay Video

The Scythe's Remorseless SwingPlay Video

Corporal Jigsore QuandaryPlay Video

Ruptured in Purulence(Intro, with drum solo, >)Play Video

HeartworkPlay Video

Carneous Cacoffiny(Outro)Play Video

Encore:

Exhume to ConsumePlay Video

Tools of the TradePlay Video

316L Grade Surgical Steel

Overall a great show and as well unless a gig is on a Sunday where I don't have to work the next day ie a stat holiday I say fuck sunday shows as the next day I was exhausted and had a bangover, but it was a sign the show was good.

HEAVY METAL FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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ca11istee · 2 years ago

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Bermuda Locket Pre-Fic Timeline

hey! i finally did the thing i said i was gonna do! i ended up removing most instances of valerie/the arasakas from the timeline since johnny and samurai kinda took it over when i spruced it up, but i did leave birthdays at the beginning.

for anyone wondering what the fuck this is, it’s a pre-fic timeline for my modern au silverv fic on ao3. this is not canon at all to cyberpunk or the ttrpg books (even though i borrowed heavily from them).

everything’s below the cut because its a massive post (1983-2023)

i’m sort of sure i kept all the dates/ages accurate? don’t @ me if i messed something up lol time math is hard. there’s also a fair bit of legally gray areas, especially when johnny is a teenager. don’t think too hard about it. i already did and fried my brain with google searches like “losing child custody during imprisonment in texas in 2003″ or something lmao.

triggers listed in the tags because of course there're triggers.

1980’s

July 25, 1983 – Alteria Cunningham (Alt) is born

1985 – Henry is born

1986 – Denny is born

May 8, 1987 – Nancy Hartley is born

January 3, 1988 – Kerry Eurodyne is born

November 16, 1988 – Robert John Linder (Johnny) is born

1990’s

January 1991 – Johnny’s father, a Marine, dies in the Gulf War

March 31, 1993 – Rachel Amendaries (Rogue) is born

Summer 1994 – Johnny’s first step-father makes Johnny (5) and his mother go to Catholic Church/Sunday School/Choir, where he meets Kerry (6)

September 8, 1995 – Yorinobu Arasaka is born

May 28, 1996 – Valerie Archier is born

March 2, 1999 – Hanako Arasaka is born

Summer 1999 – With the approval of his second step-father, Johnny (10) joins the Boy Scouts with Kerry (11)

2000-2004

January 2000 – Kerry (12) gets a guitar for his birthday, and he and Johnny (11) teach themselves how to play

Spring 2002 – Johnny (13) gets expelled from highschool due to fighting, getting caught smoking, and skipping classes; Johnny’s third step-father threatens to send him to military school

Fall 2002 – Kerry’s parents help enroll Johnny (13) in their son’s highschool

Winter 2003 – Kerry (15) and Johnny (14) are suspended and nearly expelled for a fight over a rumor stating the boys were a couple

Summer 2003 – Johnny’s mother and third stepfather are arrested and incarcerated for drug-related charges; Johnny (14) is placed in foster care, where he makes a habit of running away and sleeping on the streets

Winter 2004 – Kerry’s parents are denied the option to adopt Johnny (15) due to immigration status and insufficient income

2005-2009

Winter 2005 – Johnny (16) successfully removes himself from foster care several weeks after his 16th birthday

Summer 2005 – Johnny (16) drops out of high school and follows Kerry (17) when his parents move from Texas to Night City

Fall 2005 – Johnny (17) meets Nancy (18) through Kerry (17), and the two begin dating

Winter 2006 – Johnny (17), Nancy (19), and Kerry (18) make friends with Denny (20) and Henry (21); Samurai forms, the band plays local gigs in Night City and neighboring cities

Fall 2006 – Samurai puts out a self-produced EP (really bad, almost unlistenable)

Summer 2007 – Samurai puts out their first full-length album (actually quite decent, has better versions of the EP songs such as “New Noise”) on an indie record label

April 2008 – Johnny (19) secretly gets his GED so he can enlist in the US Military and fight in the Afghanistan War, which causes Samurai to break up and his relationship with Nancy (20) to end

November 2008 – Johnny (20) is deployed and sent to Afghanistan, where he meets Jonathan Nauman (Milt’s son)

Summer 2009 – Johnny (20) and Jonathan grow close/intimate and become a secret couple

September 2009 – A military convoy that Johnny (20) is part of runs over a landmine, and Jonathan Nauman dies while keeping Johnny alive; Johnny is medically discharged from the military

October 2009 –Johnny (20) returns to Night City, where he meets up with Jonathan’s father, Milt Nauman, a therapist

November 2009 – Johnny (21) adopts the name Johnny Silverhand from Henry because of external fixation devices on his left hand/wrist

2010-2014

April 2010 – Johnny (21) starts instigating riots in Night City against NCPD brutality (NC Homeless Riots)

August 2010 – Johnny (21), Kerry (22), and Henry (25) find out that Nancy (23) is being abused by her husband; Nancy pushes her husband out a window before the guys can do anything about it

September 2010 – Nancy (23) is tried and goes to jail for a year

Winter 2011 – Johnny (22) has regained full use of his left hand, and Nancy (24) gets out of jail; Samurai reforms and starts making more music

March 2011 – At a local show, Johnny (22) meets a fan, Rogue (18), and they begin steadily dating shortly after

Summer 2011 – Samurai self-produces another short EP (really good, has the first recording of Chippin’ In)

Fall 2011 – Johnny (22) starts using opiates to help deal with his PTSD; Rogue (19) and Johnny’s relationship gets rocky

Winter 2012 – Samurai is signed to MSM records with a three-record contract and releases their second studio album (very good, album charts and goes gold)

Spring 2012 – Johnny (23) meets Alt Cunningham (28) when she’s a model/extra for a Samurai music video; the pair begin dating off and on

Summer 2012 – Johnny (23) and Rogue (19) break up for good

April 16, 2013 – Alt Cunningham (29) dies when she and Johnny (24) are jumped after a Samurai show while they’re arguing/breaking up in an alley

May 2013 – Johnny (24) is involved in an incident at a riot that results in the immolation of an Arasaka corpo (Arthur Jenkins)

October 2014 – Due to indirect involvement and a great lawyer and psychotherapist, Johnny (25) is found not guilty of first-degree murder and is sentenced to four years (one year time served) in federal prison for other related charges

2015-2017

May 2015 – Kerry Eurodyne (27) fulfills the second album of the original MSM contract as a solo artist (super good/classic rock inspired, charts top 10 for several weeks, makes him famous)

September 2017 – Kerry Eurodyne (29) fulfills the third album of the original MSM contract as a collaboration with the Lazrpop group Us!Cracks (really fucking weird but still pretty good? But mostly sellouty on Kerry’s part)

October 2017 – Johnny (28) is released from federal prison and returns to Night City, declares he’s finished making music

2018-2023

February 2018 – Johnny (29) collaborates with a Pop artist named Violet (26), and they put out an album under MSM Records to fulfill her contract (controversial/copy-cat Kerry & Us!Cracks/bizarre but still pretty good, excellent production); The couple begin fake dating as a rouse to promote their music

February 2019 – After a year, Johnny (30) and Violet (27) “break up” as they finish promoting their album and end the world tour for said album

Summer 2019 – Samurai reforms a third time, and a new contract is drafted under MSM Records

Fall 2019 – Samurai puts out their third studio album (pretty good, not as great as their second album, but does well because of Kerry’s fanbase)

November 2019 – Johnny (31) relapses in his addiction to opiates

Winter 2022 – Samurai, under pressure from MSM, begins working on their fourth studio album, but with Johnny (33) in and out of rehab and disappearing, its slow progress

April 15, 2022 – Samurai releases the first song they’re able to complete to try and keep MSM off their asses, titled Black Dog

April 16, 2022 – Johnny (33) purposefully overdoses, and Kerry (34) saves his life

April 2022 – Johnny (33) goes to and stays in rehab, and all production on the new Samurai album is halted

July 2022 – Johnny (33) is officially sober from opiates, leaves rehab

March 12, 2023 – Bermuda Locket starts

#cyberpunk 2077 #cyberpunk 2020 #johnny silverhand #kerry eurodyne #silverv #samurai #ao3 #fanfiction #bermuda locket #timeline #tw: substance abuse #tw: opiates/opioids #tw:suicide #tw: homophobia #tw: death

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thegeneralreturns · 2 years ago

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Thoughts on HELLRAISER (2022)

The Hellraiser movies are... weird. And I don't mean the kind of weird they usually are.

Pinhead and his Cenobite homies are usually not the central antagonists of the movies in which they feature. There are protagonists, there are antagonists, and the Cenobites are usually neutral tertiary characters. Someone solves the Lament Configuration, Pinhead shows up, and he's all "Oh, so you like puzzles huh? Well, maybe you'll also like hooks in your taint." Thus ensues Pinhead's mild confusion that the person who solved the configuration thinking hooks in the taint wasn't the particular jam they signed up for.

This is such a strange and narrow needle to thread that, in one of the most controversial of my opinions among my horror loving friends, I don't think the Hellraiser franchise ever produced a good movie in its initial run. There were ten of the fucking things between 1987 and 2022, and none of them were good. The only comparable record among horror icons was Leatherface, who had only one good movie. Though, to be fair, that one good movie just happened to be the best movie of the seventies, and the greatest all-around horror movie ever made.

Pinhead was the Detroit Lions of horror.

But the Lions eventually won a game, and Pinhead eventually got a good movie. This Hellraiser reboot is only one of these damned things I like. It found a reasonable solution to its bizarre alchemical mix, and whoda thunk that its secret to success was in its main protagonist?

Her name is Riley, she's played by a wonderfully game Odessa A'zion, and she provides a terrific counterpoint to the creepy debauchery around her by being flawed, but still trying to be the best person she can possibly be. She's sincere, resourceful, and comes up at the midway point of the film with a gambit to foil the Cenobites that made me laugh with how gutsy and intelligent it was. Riley is a character you want to follow, and A'zion is an actress that I want to see in other things. Hers is a performance that one can easily compare to Amber Midthunder's splendid star-making turn in Prey from a few months back.

But Prey is a masterpiece. This new Hellraiser is just "good." It feels strange to say, but this movie could have used more gore. There is a feeling attendant to Hellraiser movies that a line should be crossed, but this new one doesn't cross it. For its other virtues, it feels weirdly prim.

But that isn't the fault of the Cenobites themselves. They're wonderfully designed, and Jamie Clayton as Pinhead is charismatic enough to get me interested in another movie, even if this one didn't pan out.

This new Hellraiser is good. It's fine. It provide the gory spookums that people were looking for from the more ambitious but more divisive Halloween Ends. No more and no less.

But hey, like I said, Hellraiser is a good idea that's been looking for a good movie since the eighties. I'll take whatever drops of water in the Sahara I can get.

#hellraiser 2022

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thefinalcinderella · 4 years ago

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Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru Chapter 8 - Winter Comes Again (Part 1)

Full list of translations here

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A team with only ten runners had passed the qualifiers and was now in the Hakone Ekiden.

This spectacular achievement accomplished by the residents of Chikusei-sou was widely talked about, not just by the university athletics world.

Since the Hakone Ekiden began being televised in 1987, there was hardly anyone who didn’t know the name of this event for student runners in the Kanto region. Whether it was due to the grueling nature of the race or the glamour and glitz that aired on New Year’s Day, the Hakone Ekiden never failed to attract attention.

Only ten people were taking on that famous competition. Why would they think of doing such a reckless thing? What would happen if someone got injured or sick on the day of the event? What kind of daily training regimen did they follow, and how did they live?

Curious locals and students who wished to join the team began to visit Chikusei-sou incessantly. Most of the students had no experience in track and field, but when they found out that the team had passed the qualifiers, many of them asked to join the team in a temporary rush of excitement.

Kiyose carefully wrote on a piece of paper that he would turn down all visits and stuck it on the door of Chikusei-sou. He appreciated them wanting to join, but the Kansei University boom would soon die down, they couldn’t enter without an official record, and Chikusei-sou was already full. After much deliberation, Kiyose decided that it would be better for the ten of them to concentrate on training and unite to compete in Hakone rather than take in any new members.

With regards to the locals, the shopkeepers of the shopping district told them to not get in the way of training and most of the locals were now content to just peek at Chikusei-sou from over the hedges. The exceptions were the old people who quietly supplied produce from their fields.

As Kakeru was leaving for his morning jog, he noticed napa cabbages and pears placed outside the door. Is this some kind of repayment? He thought. Nira, who had watched the old people’s actions without barking, only wagged his tail at him. In the end, without knowing who did it, the residents of Chikusei-sou filled their stomachs with the produce that was often left at their door.

Of course, requests for interviews flooded in from the media. Not just track and field magazines, but also weekly magazines, newspapers, and TV; every kind of media outlet they could think of had been trying to contact them. Kiyose and Shindou investigated them all carefully and refused almost all requests with “We want to concentrate on our training.”

However, they agreed to an interview with Monthly Track and Field’s Sanuki and Yomiuri Shimbun’s Nunoda, who had been supporting them since the summer training camp. The two understood the psychology of runners well, so they watched them train without interfering and briefly asked them the most pertinent questions. Favorable articles about the people of Chikusei-sou were then published in the respective mediums.

The twins and King were over the moon and insisted on accepting more interviews.

“We’re actually going to Hakone, you know? It’s better to be noticed,” Jouta said.

“It might even help with getting a job,” King said.

“Instead of thinking about that, you need to get more serious about training. Otherwise, your pathetic running will be televised all over the country, and you’ll get attention whether you like it or not.”

Even when Kiyose flatly rejected them, the twins and King didn’t give up.

“No? We wanna be on TV. TV, TV!” they yelled. Kakeru was astonished as he watched the offense and defense unfolding at the dinner table.

Just the thought of competing in the Hakone Ekiden was enough to make Kakeru nervous and elated. But on top of that, the twins wanted the “extraordinary” experience of being interviewed on TV. Were they too simple-minded, were they greedy, or were they just fearless?

Until that spring, the twins had lived without having any connection to long-distance running, so they might not have had a clear idea of the significance of the Hakone Ekiden.

The Hakone Ekiden, which began in 1920, took place every year with the exception of a few years during the war. Even amidst the food shortage after the war, the runners put on their sashes and aimed for the mountains of Hakone—that's how important it was as an event for runners, with more than eighty years of tradition.

The Hakone Ekiden was what student runners yearned and dreamed of; the twins might not have fully understood the meaning and value of participating in such an event. But even though they didn’t understand, they trained and had the ability to claim their place to take part in it, so they were no ordinary people. Kakeru was impressed and amused by this.

Between them, the twins continued their appeal with Kiyose, who was silently moving his chopsticks.

“Hey, hey, let’s go on TV at least once.”

“We can have that perk, at least. After all, Haiji-san, you’re…”

“What about me?” Kiyose's chopsticks stopped moving. Jouta and Jouji suddenly closed their mouths and squirmed like they wanted to say something, but finally shook their heads.

“Nothing.”

In the end, Kiyose gave in and they ended up accepting a TV interview: on the evening news, in a five-minute topic segment, the lives of the residents of Chikusei-sou were going to be introduced.

TV cameras came and filmed Prince’s room full of manga and Nico-chan’s room full of small quit-smoking dolls that were scattered around his futon that he never put away. They also filmed their training in the field and interviewed the members.

The twins and King took the lead in the interview. We don’t know if things just followed their course or if it was because we were threatened by Haiji-san, but we found ourselves aiming for Hakone. We eat lemons soaked in honey every day to avoid catching colds. We don’t do any special training. We believe we have the same kind of regimen as the track clubs in other universities.

Kakeru, as usual, stood meekly in the corner, just far enough away that he was partially cut off by the cameras.

“Why are you hiding, Kakeru?” Yuki asked.

But Kakeru only smiled vaguely and dodged the question with, “No, I'm not really.” Nico-chan, who was watching over the interview, looked back at him.

“You’re not gonna tell us that you’re a wanted fugitive, are you?”

“No, it’s nothing like that.”

That’d be cool, though, Nico-chan said and gave him a suspicious look.

“Putting that aside, there’s been a strange mood lately, don’t you think?” Yuki said. Nico-chan nodded, I guess so.

Kakeru had also noticed it; it had become somewhat strained within Chikusei-sou. The first-floor residents were the same as before, and most of the people living on the second floor were practicing with the same attitude as usual. The twins, however, seemed to be clearly depressed. To be frank, it was regarding Kiyose.

They didn’t argue with him or act defiant towards him. However, they tried to keep a subtle distance. Although Kiyose treated Jouta and Jouji as he always had, they couldn’t seem to be open with him for some reason. For some reason, their trust in Kiyose seemed to have faded.

This awkwardness spread through Chikusei-sou, and a somewhat uncomfortable atmosphere had persisted ever since the qualifiers ended.

“I wonder what’s going on,” Nico-chan said. “Kakeru, you’re in the same year as them—ask them casually.”

“What do I ask?”

“About what’s in their heart, of course.”

“Aah…yes.”

Although he answered with that, Kakeru honestly felt that it was a heavy burden.

Training was becoming more and more voluminous and dense. They slowly ran the first 5000 meters of the 12,000 meter run in 17 minutes, then increased the pace and ran the last 1000 meters at a pace of 3 minutes and 0.5 seconds. After that, they did five 1000 meter runs of 2 minutes and 55 seconds with a 200-meter interval in between.

Kakeru did his best to think about his own running. Was the swinging of his arms, the angle of his feet when he landed on the ground, the relaxing and tensing of his muscles okay like this? His consciousness stretched around every inch of his cells and he checked his running with every step.

Of course, he had to attend his university classes in between training sessions, but it was hard to have to pay attention to other people as well.

One time, he happened to be in the Tsuru no yu public baths with the twins. When the twins went to the washing area, Kakeru and Kiyose soaked in the bathtub with their backs to the painting of Mount Fuji, and conversed with the plasterer who happened to be there.

“How’s it going, Haiji? How are the Chikusei-sou guys?” the plasterer asked. He was sitting in the hot water with his back to the washing area, so he didn’t notice the twins. The twins, who would usually call out to them, saw Kiyose by the bathtub’s faucet and only slightly bowed without a word.

“They’re doing good,” Kiyose answered the plasterer.

“The first-years did pretty good.” The plasterer pulled his hands out of the water and rubbed his face. “Kakeru did great too, but look at those identical twins—they’re pretty fast too, aren’t they?”

Kakeru fretted over how Kiyose would answer. Behind the plasterer, Jouta and Jouji were straining their ears to listen. Perhaps because he was distracted by the conversation, Jouji lost control of his hands and spilled a large amount of shampoo on his head.

“They really are,” Kiyose smiled. “I can’t say it in front of the people themselves, but they run well.”

“Really?” Jouta stood up from his chair in the washing area, and the plasterer looked behind him with a start.

“What’s the point in lying?” Kiyose rose from the bathtub. “Sir, we’re raising promising runners, so please continue to support us from the shopping district. I will be taking my leave now.”

He walked past the twins’ backs, opened the sliding door of the baths and disappeared into the changing room.

“He only praised us ‘cause we were here,” Jouji muttered to no one in particular. But he couldn’t hide the fact that he was happy. He shampooed his head so vigorously that it was covered in dense bubbles in the blink of an eye.

“What’s with you guys? You didn’t even say hello.”

After the plasterer compared Kiyose’s and the twins’ words and actions, he turned to Kakeru, who was still in the bath. “Are they fighting by any chance?”

He was asked that in a whisper. “Well,” Kakeru sank up to his shoulders in the water. “I don’t think that’s the case.”

The twins might have been dissatisfied with Kiyose in some way, however they couldn’t hide it within themselves forever. If anything, he would say that it was because they had openhearted and naïve personalities; he was sure that they would let their emotions erupt at the earliest opportunity and directly vent them to Kiyose. It wasn’t too late to try and solve the problem.

Kakeru decided to leave the twins alone. He shouldn’t intentionally nudge a dormant volcano; when an eruption occurred, they would naturally discover where the crater is. After carefully assessing the location and wind direction, they could take shelter and wait for the overflowing lava to cool. That was what he thought.

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#Kaze ga tsuyoku fuiteiru #kazetsuyo #kazetsuyo translations #run with the wind

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stuckinapatriarchalbullshitland · 4 years ago

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Hi guys! As promised to that Anon, I wrote the timelines. I decided to write only the key points though because these are things we already know, and then, I’m sure there are more than a thousand proofs around and people who have already spoken about it. Enjoy.

Drum roll, please 🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁

Let’s start with the first competitor: Tyrone William Griffin, aka Typical Dish Snacked Ty Dolla $ign 04/13/1982, the man who liked to tweet things like “I’m the curator of lesbians”.

PRen Tyren: As I already mentioned in the post “There is a light at the end of the tunnel”, it all started on the evening of November 15, 2016, when 5H went to the Epic party. Due to Laucy’s picture of the wedding and the ‘official’ coming out then occurred a few days later, on November 18, 2016, Lauren needed a boyfriend. That same night at the party, Typecast accepted the management’s proposal.

Typo tweeted “LMJ” on January 4, 2017, and then immediately deleted it. First move to create speculation since, presumably, Lauren ‘was’ still with Ludicrous. Shortly thereafter, a blind item about L who was having an affair with a married man came out. On January 10, 2017, Nicole Cartolano posted that picture of Laucy in the snow with a piñata. After wishing her a happy birthday, as we already know, luBYE. On February 13, 2017, there were the first PRren pictures at the Grammy after-party, so that people would start believing the blind item, BUT, making it clear that he wasn’t a married man, but a taken one, and yes, MAN, since Tyred is 14 years older than her, and therefore inculcating the idea that L was really cheating on Luggage. On March 9, 2017, Tymbal posted a picture of them together, coincidentally, the day after he advertised his upcoming album ‘Beach House 3’.

On March 22, 2017, we had ‘Bare With Me’ and Nicole Cartolano’s interview with MTV News. On the 23rd, we had, still very coincidentally and totally unplanned, “no I hate it because it’s invasive, scary, delusional, disrespectful to us both and was never real…Ever”, because, because, SHE DECIDES. NOT US. PERIOD. (sorry, I had to 😂. This is another of L’s tweets dating back to July 2, 2017: “I decide. Not you. Period.”) Joking apart, because she was single and she certainly couldn’t let the fans have hope for her and C, so she tried to kill the Camren ship for the umpteenth time. “Hey, hey, Lo, how’d it go? That bad, eh?” “Let me try again in 2020.” “Laur, babe, I’ll tell you what. I’m from the future, okay? It didn’t work, honey. And I don’t think it’s gonna work either in, I don’t know, in 2030.”

Back to the program.

The day before Nicole’s MTV article and eight days later, Twix posted a series of tweets (21: “Lo” - 30: “You look better on me 👀”, Cuban flag, and “I think she like me 😍”) [👈🏼 ‘Great grammar’ said in Lauren’s voice] which he then of course deleted to make everything more and more mysterious, and thus making people connect and figure out who was that ‘LMJ’ tweeted in January. On April 14, 2017, we had a picture of L with TyPod and his family dating back the night before when they celebrated Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’s birthday, followed by the blurred picture of the 15th of them together at Coachella. On April 18, 2017, Alycia Bella, Tinky Winky’s ex, tweeted “when you get cheated on w a 5th harmony member & all you can do is laugh.”, and then immediately deleted it, thus giving even more confirmation to people that both had cheated, despite Teletubbies denied and defended himself: “been moved on :) no cheating. Keep it Taylor’d. gang gang 🤘🏽🤘🏽”. The same Alycia who complained of being cheated on by Telly for ‘another girl’ during the reality show ‘The Platinum Life’ which aired on October 15, 2017 and that was recorded MONTHS BEFORE.

There were other tweets that Tyronic continued to tweet and then delete (April 1: “I think about you all the time” - April 3: “You my favorite” and “I don’t know what I did to deserve you” - April 7: “Really like what you’ve done to me”), Insta-stories and posts by both, and other public appearances together to increase the public’s curiosity. Such as: 1) Mani’s birthday. 2) August 16, 2017, when 5H did that famous and messy phone interview with The Sun for Dan Wooton’s podcast, one of Salmoned Cow’s well-known puppies friends, during which Dan asked Lauren about his relationship with Twinkly and she replied that they were just vibing. 3) Lauren’s birthday. 4) On September 11, 2017, Lauren posted pictures about the FentyxPuma party, and in one of those posts with pictures of her and Troglodyte, she put the caption with three hearts emojis, thus confirming to people that she and Tipsy were together.

February 2017 was the chosen month for Pukeren to ‘become’ official, confirmed by Typed in an interview at the Power 105.1 FM morning show The Breakfast Club on October 31, 2017, though, so a long time later and when the waters had already calmed down. By saying February, Tyring confirmed the cheatings exactly as it was planned. In another interview with BigBoyTV made on November 2, 2017, Typology showed the interviewees how even the background of his phone was a picture of Lauren. Picture that, by the way, Lauren herself posted 21 days before that by wearing Tijuana’s merchandise sweatshirt, so not even a personal picture that you’d normally expect to see from a real boyfriend.

Blah blah blah, Lauren never needed to defend a person so much in her life, blah blah blah, weed and booze and parties, blah blah blah, dogs (and fake allergies when convenient), blah blah blah, #Laurenthegroupie, blah blah blah, Tara and social media don’t get along very well, blah blah blah, #freepoorTweed ⛓️👮🏼 who was just having some fun with his friends, blah blah blah. We know the rest of the farce, and moving on to two years later, and therefore at the end of the PR, on April 15, 2019, Tic Tac tweeted a broken heart before zeroing his social media and Lauren a post on her social media, both implying the end of their oh so real ‘relationship’.

🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁

Let’s move on to competitor number two: Maturely Hushed Matthew Hussey, 06/19/1987. The scammer par excellence (since 2012). The salesman who pretends to be a life coach/dating advice expert by deluding poor women who fall into his bullshit. The charlatan who has an infinity of fraud charges and even a restraining order for stalking and harassment by a woman named Samantha C. of San Diego. [this woman continually talked about the situation on her Instagram account, cheating_matthewhussey. Even Chelsea Briggs liked a picture.]

Ewmila Mattmila: The skit was supposed to start a lot sooner in reality. They ‘met’ for the first time on September 29, 2017, on the set of NBC’s Today show (performance that C dedicated to the Dreamers), but nobody has heard much about it, right? There was only a single Billboard article that did that. Following that meeting, it was supposed to start in October 2017, when they also started to follow each other on IG, but everything was postponed because C’s album was postponed. The album was released on the 12th, and by pure coincidence, on January 11th, 2018, during the interview with Elvis Duran, and COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BLUE, C mentioned Matilda for the first time by saying she was a fan of his. The same Mattress (10 years older than her) who coincidentally was there that day, so a setup for the public to make believe that they’d met that day.

The next day, at the release of the album ‘Camila’, C performed at Good Morning America, and Macaque, again by pure coincidence, had a small slot in the same program. On January 15, 2018, during the interview with Zane Lowe, when he asked if she had someone special in her life at that time, she replied with “maybe”, which was a big yes when she read “I can’t say your name without smiling” just before from her phone notes. On January 22, 2018, on Zach Sang Show, C said that she’s a private person and that she doesn’t like the ‘public thing’ since the Austin fiasco. Another bullshit said to make the public believe that it was the truth and take advantage of the events that would happen shortly thereafter, since, literally 18 days later, on February 9, E! News exclusively posted the first Burpmila pictures on vacation on a beach in Cabo, Mexico.

Blah blah blah, we know, blah blah blah, they lived in airports to get papped, blah blah blah, they even paid fans to do it, blah blah blah, “He’s great”, blah blah blah, “She’s great”, blah blah blah, #They'reGREAT!, blah blah blah, let’s kiss in a children’s playground #Sinu #needyCamila #someonepleaseteachStMatteohowtoholdagirl #SofiwasdecidingwhethertoreturntotheSagradaFamiliaorgoontheswingratherthanwitnessthatugliness, blah blah blah, let’s get to the first oh so real oh so important obstacle in their story.

On August 12, 2019, a Dutch singer named Elieve did an interview in which she confessed that she and Camila were dating the same guy (Matchbox) at the same time. Elieve was in London from the beginning of January to the beginning of February 2018 and Matzo was in London from January 14 to 19, so they met on one of those days.

Blah blah blah, let’s pretend we’ve overcome this obstacle, blah blah blah, let’s pretend we’re a super happy couple, blah blah blah, Disneyworld, blah blah blah, let’s go skiing, blah blah blah, trip to Italy, blah blah blah, Shawn’s entry, blah bl- wait… Oh yeah, it’s the second PR’s turn. Goodbye Ew! ‘Thank you very much for nothing. Bye-bye!!’ said in Lauren’s voice. End of ‘story’ on May 11, 2019, that is, the last time they were photographed together, news confirmed on June 25, 2019, only 4 days after the release of Señorita.

🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁

Even if it wasn’t part of the request, this is a bonus of mine just because.

Señorita + Shitmila Showmila Shawmila: On January 27, 2018, Camila, Shaky, and Andrew, Shavable’s manager, were papped in a restaurant eating pizza before the Pre-Grammy Gala in New York City. That meeting took place to propose the idea of the PR to C to help increase both Shallow’s music sales and his image. Camila was uncertain. 2017 had been a great year for her as a first time as a solo artist, and she knew that she would’ve to play her cards even better during 2018; plus, the PR with Matryoshka hadn’t even officially started and had already been postponed for a few months because the release of her album ‘Camila’ had been postponed.

Andrew explained to her that the PR with Chauffeur wasn’t going to be done right away at all, also because as C would have her PR relationship with EatchEW, Shanty would have that kind of PR relationship/not relationship with Hailey Baldwin (now Bieber) that only served to make people speculate and maintain the idea that Shazam wasn’t gay. Andrew also explained to her that their future PR relationship would benefit both of their careers because there would be a collaboration, a number 1 hit, which they would look for and use as a launchpad for the narrative. #friendswhothenfallinlove #RomeoandJulietbullshit

This perfect duet, went first to knock on Camila’s door, and then to Shuttle’s one in April 2018 in the form of Andrew Watt who already knew everything about the charade. Watt (he also worked on Havana and 7 songs for Romance including Señorita) co-wrote the song in April 2018, shortly before contacting Shitto, along with Jack Patterson, Ali Tamposi (she also worked on Havana, Consequences, and 6 songs for Romance including Señorita), and Charli XCX. [The same Charli who did an interview on October 21, 2019, in which she gave the true version of the story without even remotely mentioning Scab: “This Latin Pop flare just wasn’t right for who I am because I am not a part of that culture, I’m not from there. Whereas Camila has that in her blood, so when we wrote the song we thought about her and sent it to her.”]

Now that they had found the perfect song, and with the addition of Benny Blanco and Cashmere Cat in the production, all they had to do was convince Camila and her team. Charli XCX and C were the opening acts for Taylor Swift’s Reputation Tour from May 8 to October 6, 2018, during which Charli tried to persuade her to do the song by explaining how perfect it was for her. And who knows, maybe even since then they started working on it together since Camila, as she used to do, rewrote almost completely the lyrics to make it more her own. Ask that also to ‘Care About Me’ who turned into ‘The Boy’.

On August 4, still during the Reputation Tour, Shampoo went to the concert date in Toronto, and Taylor posted an Insta-story in which she put make-up and glitter on Shank’s eyelids. Sweaty regretted giving Taylor permission to post the video because people have always thought he was gay for years, and on November 26, 2018, the RollingStone interview was released in which he admitted that he felt the need to be photographed and seen with a girl to prove he isn’t gay. This was a great leverage they used with Camila since she could understand and help a friend in need. The work of persuasion lasted for about 9/10 months, from January 27, 2018, to the end of November/beginning of December 2018. Indeed, on December 5, 2018, both posted a picture taken on the 4th in the backstage of KISS 108’s Jingle Ball 2018 in Boston. Thanks to those pictures and C’s comment, word of their possible future collaboration began to spread. The plan was by then in place.

P.S. remember what happens to Romeo and Juliet, don’t you? Yeah. They die. And like Romeo and Juliet, they’re gonna (metaphorically speaking, of course) die too. Be patient, my babies, be patient.

🎉the🎊end🍾

I want comments now, guys. Which of these competitors you can’t stand the most and why, I’m curious. Put this 🐙 for Tissue, this 🐽 for Matte, and this 🐔 for Shrunken accompanied by the motivation. Let’s have some fun. 🥂

🖕🏼 this is mine for all of them, by the way.

As always, thanks, Mari. 🥰 Bye guys, I love you. Always with love, F. ❤️

#submission #f anon #mattmila tyren showmila timeline #so funny #anon #ask #how many names on this post #thanks you too much faby

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ritchieblackless · 4 years ago

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There's superstition...

After the torture sentence that I aplied to myself by thinking that this post could be a good idea, I fucking have the information about this... this... twisted story. Not all the information though, because if I search for more info about this I will surely need to go to the Cuckoo's nest.

Oh Martina, you're exaggerating. No, I'm not (well yeah, kinda). This was so confusing to understand and organize. Believe I was in the bathroom seconds ago saying "Okay, 1970 Cozy and Jeff going to Detroit. 1971 and 1972 Stevie.."

The most important thing about Superstition's back story and theories about Cozy's playing on it, is the ☆Timelines.☆ Because in the end everything revolves around 1970-71 and 72 to ever consider Cozy in Superstition so let's start.

[Jeff Beck and Cozy Powell going to Motown Studios in Detroit, 1970-71]

They both travelled to the States to do some Motown covers for the upcoming album with only covers but they never released it. They released Rough and Ready inestead but I'll leave the man explains that to you himself:

"My producer, Mickie Most, said, 'We have to make an album.' I talked Mickie into going to Motown, the Hitsville house. It was one of the last sessions there. I was so privileged. We were more like tourists, kids in a candy shop. I took Cozy [Cozy Powell] and I said, 'I gotta go to Motown, and you’re coming as well.' (Cozy: *gets scared and excited*) It wasn't a request. What the hell was I doing taking a rock drummer, with two huge Ludwig bass drums, into Motown? They hated us right away. They didn’t want to know. But we loved it there, and they sensed it after a few hours. The first day, when Cozy sat behind the Motown drum kit and started playing like the Meters, they all went, 'Oh!' (Motown people: Heeey... That's pretty good!) and came flooding back to the studio. It was James Jamerson on bass that day — no rhythm guitar — and Earl Van Dyke on keyboards. That was it, a stripped-down thing. They kept saying, 'Where are the dots?' [sheet music] I said, 'There ain’t no dots.'

When Cozy started playing, it was great. James was locking up with Cozy’s drum pattern. Then I looked around — Cozy was wheeling the drum kit out of the studio. They’re going berserk. He has moved the sacred Motown drum kit out of the studio and wheeled this stupid double kit of Ludwigs in. The studio tech came up to me and said, 'Didn’t you guys come in here for the Motown sound?' Yeah. 'Well, it just went out the door.' [Laughs] "

Jeff Beck, Rolling Stone.

I just love when Jeff refers to Cozy's drum kit as stupid, fancy or whatever in a derogatory way... just because it was sparkling red jsjdjfkgkgl.

We have here, Cozy's side of the events:

"You may as well start off with both feet on the most obscure thing I've ever done. I've got a copy of it, a tape.

It never got the test pressing stage. We went to Motown in Detroit with the idea of Jeff recording an album of all the Motown hits, basically as an instrumental album. He wanted to use a lot of the Motown session players. At that time I'd just joined him, 1969 I think, and his original idea was to find a drummer first. Found me, went down to the audition, got the job, next thing I know (Jeff: You're coming with me. Cozy: ...the fuck?) we're going to Motown to do this album. We did 'Reach out I'll Be There', 'Losing You', things like that. In the end we did about 7 or 8 tracks of which the backing tracks were done.

Jeff plays rhythm guitar, he hadn't actually put the lead on and for some reason he wasn't happy with what he heard or with Micky Most or whatever. It never ever saw the light of day."

Cozy Powell, interview with Joe Gessin

This is all important because this wouldn't be the first time that Jeff and Cozy travelled to the States together.

[JBGroup going to Electric Lady in New York, May 1972]

This is where the party begins and when the timelines confusion comes in.

So, Jeff Beck Group's second album is recorded in January of 1972 at TMI Studios in Memphis. Talking Book was RELEASED in October of 1972 so we don't know how exactly when it was recorded.

But anyway, the thing is that Jeff and his gang released the album in May but before that Stevie and Jeff were kicking the idea of some session works with Jeff for Talking Book so when they released the album in May, they had no obligations left so Jeff took his gang to Electric Lady in New York.

Jeff recorded some guitar tracks and the gang was just observing and occasionally adding ideas. They wanted Stevie to write a song for the next album (which it doesn't exist).

This is where the party begins part 2:

There is this story of Jeff playing the drums for a laugh, noodling around while Stevie was writing over it. It seems like Jeff did something that inspired Stevie but here's the guy again:

"One day I was sitting at the drum kit, which I love to play when nobody's around, doing this beat. Stevie came kinda boogieing into the studio: 'Don't stop.' 'Ah, c'mon, Stevie,' I can't play the drums.' Then the lick came out: 'Superstition.'"

Jeff Beck, Jeff Beck: Crazy Fingers.

I really doubt that is Jeff's playing in the record. What I don't doubt is that maybe Stevie played the drums but since they had Cozy around and Stevie liked Cozy's beat and most importantly he was a drummer (I'm not saying that Stevie is not a drummer, I'm just saying that Cozy is a full drummer while Stevie plays a lot of things). This is where the previous Cozy post about this comes in. They where trying different things so I really believe that at some point of that day Cozy sat down on the drum kit and did a take.

And there's a proof that Cozy was there and worked with Stevie, actually there are two: The only two existents pictures of Stevie Jeff and Cozy were taken in 1972.

"Stevie Wonder is one of these man who walks around singing all day, tapping out rhythms... well, the man IS music. When I worked with him -which was very briefly- he'd come in with this idea in his head and he'd say 'Hey, hey, play this man!' and he'd start tapping something out"

Cozy Powell, Rhythm magazine 1987.

And theres another Cozy quote but is not complete because I found it on pinterest (so sorry) but it's understandable as well.

"He'd tapping out the table. You'd watch and start tapping along with him and he'd get excited and say 'Yeah, yeah, yeah... now try this on the hit-hat, man, try this.. ' After five minutes you'd have come up with something and then perhaps you'd do a little bit more or a little bit less of it, and if he really liked it he'd start dancing around and laughing and waving his arms about. Then he'd leap on to the keyboards and start playing. It was all very energetic, good stuff and really easy to do. You weren't aware it was work."

Cozy Powell, unknown article.

I feel that Stevie's energetic attitude and passion for music hit him deeply, I can see that by the way that the quotes are written. Cozy just loved Stevie.

So yeah, Cozy said that he did some takes for Superstition when Stevie finally wrote it down. In the case that I'm mistaken and it was Stevie who played the drums... it should have been over some Cozy's track because there's no way that Stevie could imitate his Crashing-Cymbal sound or either his drum rolls. Stevie can of course, but not will the same touch, because of the simple reason that one person is different from another.

But I still believe that it IS Cozy's take, i really do and the most important question here is: if Cozy was not who played the drums on Superstition... Why he would lie about it? He had no reason to do it so there must be some truth in his words.

And we need to remember that Superstition was originally planned for Jeff Beck Group so if it was for Jeff Beck Group, they would need Jeff's drummer which was Cozy. So I wouldn't be surprised if Stevie asked Cozy to do some takes.

And when Superstition was finally out, it was by Stevie Wonder using Cozy's take. The reason of why Stevie released it was because Motown said that it was such a great song for giving it away. Also Jeff was busy with Jeff Beck Group's break up for working on the song.

The reason of why Stevie was enlisted as the drummer is not clear, it seems like a Motown move.

So yeah, this is story, well half of it. The shit was so long with a lot of details that I didn't need for this.

I believe that it was Cozy's take, for a lot of reasons. Not because I like him (Well i do like him but the truth is the truth). Maybe it was Stevie with a Cozy guide, we don't know... and we never will.

(Unless we kidnap Jeff Beck and ask him)

#omg Martina get a grip #what the actual fuck?#what is this? the new testament or something??????#but good unnecessary stuff to know...#I know that It was Cozy... i just know #long post #cozy powell #jeff beck #jeff beck group #stevie wonder #superstition

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gothpanda · 4 years ago

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A Little Bit of Attitude Ch.32: Los Angeles

WORD COUNT: 5.6k

A/N: lol I’m not dead. Just had finals

TAGS: @madamsixx @emariehorror

Read on Ao3

Previous/Next

May 31st, 1987

Oakland, California

"... At the dollhouse in Fort Lauderdale! Girls, Girls, Girls! Rocking in Atlanta at Tattletails,"

Sammi groaned loud from the music through the speakers, lightly banging her head against the metal shelves aligned with cassette tapes. It was a brand new song that seemed to play 24/7 since being released, Sammi wanting to rip her ears out of her head. It didn't help that she was in a record store where most of the employees were goth or punks. As Sammi rested her head on the cold metal, Athena couldn't help but chuckle at her sister's dismay while browsing the selection of pop tapes.

"Why are you so dramatic? I thought you'd be happy the band is being successful," said Athena, side-eyeing Sammi's pouted lips.

"I would be happy if I didn't have to hear or see them all over the place. It gets annoying after a while," said Sammi, walking down the aisle of music, finding something new to entertain herself in. Athena followed in her little sister's footsteps, keeping a safe distance from her. It was Athena's idea to check a music store as Sammi showed her around the Bay Area, never having been able to visit until today.

"Well, it's not like you've been avoiding them or anything like that. Of course, it would get annoying,"

"I am not avoiding them," mumbled Sammi.

"Are you sure? You have done a pretty good job if you ask me," said Athena, grabbing a new Aerosmith cassette for her walkman.

Sammi stopped dead in her tracks, turning to glare right at Athena, who had a playful smirk. "I have not, Athena. I've been busy. " There's a difference," said Sammi, turning into the magazine aisle near the shop's cash register.

"Really? You could've fooled by the way you haven't been home in a year. When was the last time you talked to mama or dad?"

Sammi sighed out. "I'm sorry for missing out on stuff, but school has been a bigger pain in my ass than I thought. And I have spoken to mama and dad,"

"You've missed: Tommy's birthday, Mama's birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, my birthday-"

"Okay, I get it, Athena! You don't have to remind me. I'm going home for a month aren't I?" asked Sammi with a sting of sarcasm, glancing at all of the headlines from the gossip tabloids.

"And thank god for that,"

"Why L.A isn't living up to its potential anymore?" joked Sammi.

"Exactly. Everything has been moderately boring since you left. It's not fun hanging out with Tommy after he got married. Our lovely sister-in-law isn't up to crazy fun. And all of my friends are acting like full adults now with 9 to 5's," said Athena.

Right as Sammi responded, her eyes fell on an issue of 'Rock Secrets,' another gossip magazine amongst the hundreds. The cover for the tabloid made Sammi's heartstrings get pulled in different directions. Nikki in the arms of another woman, both smirking. Sammi knew the woman from the party scene of Los Angeles, a dancer for every music video but nothing more. She was the complete opposite of Sammi in every single way. The woman was someone taller who was almost the same height as Nikki in heels. She was slimmer than Sammi and tanner in comparison to Sammi's pale cheeks. Sammi didn't want to believe Nikki running out to get new girlfriends after she left but knew it was bound to happen at some point. It had been a year. Sammi was never one to feel self-conscious about her appearance but seeing someone so different from her have Nikki wrapped around their finger stung. As Sammi stared longer at the cover, she was able to see the haze in Nikki's eyes that she hated, the girl almost matching him. Sammi reached for the magazine, facing Athena with a ghastly face, a cocktail of anger and sadness show. Athena pressed her lips tightly together, taking the tabloid for herself to examine.

"She isn't close to being as pretty as you," said Athena in hopes of cheering Sammi up. Sammi scoffed. "And Tommy hates her with his whole being. Apparently, she's some crazy attention whore. That's probably why she's on this stupid cover,"

"She is pretty, don't lie. And I don't care if Tommy doesn't like her or she's an attention whore," said Sammi, yanking the magazine from Athena's hand. She curled her lip as she stared at the cover, turning pages to see more photos of the couple around Los Angeles. With the luck of being around drugs and partying, Sammi could see when Nikki was high in the images. "Her name is Veronica?" asked Sammi.

"Yeah. Don't let her get to you, she's just some background dancer who's gotten with other musicians," answered Athena, skimming through a Rolling Stones magazine.

"Still. She has a pretty name," mumbled Sammi under her breath, unable to look away. When it finally felt too much for Sammi, she threw the thin tabloid down the aisle with all her force in one quick motion. Athena whipped her head fast, snapping her eyes wide open in shock.

"Sam, what the hell?" asked Athena in a sharp whisper. Sammi only continued to walk into a different section of the music shop. "Was that really necessary?" asked Athena, raising an eyebrow at Sammi.

Sammi shrugged her shoulders, pouting slightly. "It felt good for a second, now I'm just annoyed again,"

"It's great to see you've moved on," teased Athena, throwing her arm around Sammi's shoulders.

"What? I can't be bitter if an ex got a new girlfriend?" asked Sammi, folding her arms across her chest.

"No, because you're supposed to be the mature one, remember? It shouldn't get to you,"

"I beg to differ on being mature,"

"Hey! You can't throw around the magazines!" yelled a young goth girl, picking up the crinkled magazine from the floor, frowning at Sammi and Athena.

"Sorry, she had a temper tantrum. Won't happen again!" answered Athena, trying her best to hide a chuckle. "But seriously please don't do that again. I like to come back to this place next time I visit you,"

"Oh finally you're thinking about visiting?" asked Sammi with a smile, crossing her arms against her chest.

The sisters continued exploring the record store a moment longer, buying cassette tapes to listen to on the drive back home. When Sammi would scan down the rock section, she couldn't help think about what Nikki would like. It was a habit she couldn't break yet. The Oakland streets were beginning to grow busy with summer vacation coming around, Sammi seeing more tourists than usual. "So, I know you don't want to talk about Motley but I should probably tell you this," said Athena.

Sammi kept her dead stare ahead of her, scowling into the distance. "What is it? No one's dying or in the hospital right?"

Athena scoffed in amusement. "No, nothing like that. They're going to be back on the road soon," said Athena, lighting a cigarette as the sisters walked down east.

"Oh. Good for them," said Sammi, wrinkles deepening between her brows. "When are they packing up?"

"Third week in June? Tommy hasn't given me all the details yet except for one,"

"Which is?"

"He wants to throw this huge kick-off party at his and Heather's,"

"Okay," Sammi shrugged.

"I wanted to let you know before Tommy gets so incredibly excited to tell you, he forgets to ask if you're okay," said Athena, blowing out smoke into the air.

"Athena, I'm fine. I just needed to let out my frustrations for a second,"

"Sammi no you're not and please listen," Sammi stopped her steps, sucking her teeth as she faced Athena. "You can admit to not wanting to see Nikki when you get back home. It's understandable to not want to see an ex. You shouldn't tough it out for the sake of Tommy or anyone else. If you're not okay just tell me,"

Sammi sighed out heavily, gazing up anywhere but Athena. "It's okay. I'm okay. Yeah, it hurts Nikki moved on, but what am I supposed to do? We haven't talked in a year, and we both messed up," said Sammi, continuing to walk with heavy steps.

"How did you mess up?" asked Athena.

"I got up and left without telling him. I didn't tell my boyfriend anything about me leaving, and I just left him. You don't think that's a little messed up?" asked Sammi, scrunching her brows together with a frown.

"You two broke up before you left," reassured Athena.

Sammi stopped again in her tracks, looking right into Athena's eyes. "Did you know Nona died last year? Nikki's grandma" asked Sammi.

Athena bit her lip. "No, I didn't. Tom never mentioned it," muttered Athena, looking down at her feet.

Sammi bit the inside of her cheek, shaking her head slightly and continuing to walk. Instead of spitting out venomous words, Sammi pulled out a cigarette from her crinkled pack of Camels, lighting it in silence. "You've been busy, Sam. Don't be hard on yourself," said Athena.

"This conversation is going way longer than I want," muttered Sammi, staring dead ahead of her.

"Fine. Are you ready to go home then?" asked Athena, looping her arm around Sammi's. Sammi sighed out with a nod. The sisters continued their walk through the city streets until finding the car park, silence forming between them. Sammi only wanted to go home to her family.

June 2nd

Los Angeles, California

"Sammi!" screamed Emma excitedly from the apartment balcony, smiling down at her best friend. Sammi slammed the backseat door, swinging a duffle bag on her shoulders as she smiled back at Emma. Sabrina soon rushed out behind the sliding door with a smile on her face. "Do you need any help?" yelled out Sabrina.

"No, I'm good! I'll be right up!" answered Sammi, racing up to the second floor of the apartment complex. As Sammi reached Emma and Sabrina's door, Emma swung it right open, engulfing Sammi in a lovingly tight hug. Sabrina wrapped her arms around both the girls, everyone smiling gleefully. Once finally pulling apart, Emma grabbed Sammi's duffle off her shoulders, playing a great hostess.

"We've missed you so much," said Sabrina, kissing Sammi on her temple.

"Come on and welcome to our very adult apartment," joked Emma, swinging her arm around Sammi's shoulders, walking into the apartment. It was perfect for Emma and Sabrina, enough space for both with extra for Sammi. Anyone who visited could see the elements of a future lawyer and a star athlete, a mix of color and neatness. Sammi admired the decor from every corner, noting the purple sofa and accent chair in the living room.

"I like everything. You girls really got the place up and pretty," said Sammi, dropping herself on the sofa.

"Thanks, we did have a year to get it clean for you," teased Sabrina with a smirk, sitting down on an accent chair. Sammi glared at her, matching Sabrina's smirk as Emma took the duffle bag to her room.

"Ha. Ha. I just wanted to give you two all the time in the world,"

"In that case, you better love every single corner of this place," said Emma, prospering herself next to Sammi. "But enough about this place! How's San Francisco? Is it great and gay as I imagine?" asked Emma with a goofy smile.

"Is school going great for you? I know my mom wanted me to move there for college," asked Sabrina, almost on the edge of her seat.

"Are the nightclubs totally amazing like I hear? We should go to one when we visit next month!" exclaimed Emma.

Sammi only looked down at her hands, checking her nail polish with a forced thin smile on. She shrugged her shoulders, trying her best to think of something great. "San Fran's pretty, don't get me wrong, but it's so… cramped and stiff. It's nothing but an overpriced tiny island," scuffed Sammi, pouting at Emma and Sabrina.

"Really? You made it sound so nice on the phone when we'd call," said Sabrina, scrunching her brows together.

"I also make those phone calls short if you two recall," said Sammi, Sabrina and Emma exchange worried looks. "The only nice thing I can think of was the food. Great Japanese restaurants. But school is school. One year down, one more to go. The people I've met have been incredibly rude. One was some Christian freak who said the boys were satanic, and I wasn't any better hanging out with them,"

"Wow. Wait until you tell her you like to hang out with a lesbian," joked Emma, earning a smile from Sammi. "Sam, you should've said something about not being happy. We could've gone up and hung out for a weekend," Emma suggested.

"And brought some company with us," said Sabrina, pressing her lips firmly together.

"You'd really make Emma sit in a car with her ex? Even if they were my sister?" teased Sammi.

"No, I think she was talking about another ex," said Emma, biting the edge of her thumbnail. "And not a blonde ex,"

Sammi looked back down at her hands, grabbing a pillow to hug. "I think Nikki is already pretty busy with his new girlfriend. He wouldn't want to come to San Francisco," shrugged Sammi.

"You sure? I think he would drop everything if we asked him to tag along. The guys haven't been on tour yet," said Sabrina.

"Yep. I'm sure. Nikki was never a fan of San Francisco,"

"Sabrina is right about Nikki dropping everything to see you, Sammi. It wouldn't matter if he has a girlfriend or not. He hasn't seen you in a year or talked to you-"

"He's tried, mumbled Sammi.

"What?" asked Emma, scrunching her eyebrows deeper.

"He tried and I tried, but I just fucked it up," sighed Sammi with a shaky breath.

"Sammi, please talk to us," said Sabrina, leaning forward on her legs, hands closed.

Sammi sighed out, resting her head from the side in the palm of her hand. "Nona passed away. Nikki left a voicemail, sounding messed up and I didn't do anything about it. I didn't call him to check in on him. I didn't call his grandfather to check in on him. I didn't do anything. I would call him in the middle of the night and then hang up right away after I first moved. He would be high," said Sammi, wiping away the forming tear that could fall.

"Sam," said Emma softly, reaching out to hold Sammi's hand.

"Please don't tell me I didn't fuck up because I did," pleased Sammi, looking at Emma and Sabrina.

"Okay, the both of you have had bad communication skills, but it still isn't considered fucked up ," said Sabrina. "You're home for a month. Maybe now it's a better time to speak to him,"

Sammi shook her head. "There's more than just that. I slept with Vince after we got drunk," admitted Sammi. "I fucked up,"

Sabrina and Emma stared at Sammi for a moment, glancing at each other to find something to say. "How bad do you feel about having sex with Vince?" asked Sabrina.

"S,"

"No Em, I'm just asking a question. Sammi, why did you sleep with Vince? And why did you feel bad afterward?" asked Sabrina again, this time in a stern voice.

"Because it didn't feel right after I sobered up. There were no rekindled feelings within me for the person I dated. I was drunk and Vince kept saying how great Nikki was doing. He didn't sleep with me because he missed me. It felt like he just wanted to get back at Nikki," said Sammi running a hand down her face.

"Did Vince tell Nikki?" asked Emma.

"I don't know. When we spoke, I told him it was a one-time thing and to keep it between us," said Sammi.

"I still think you should talk to Nikki," suggested Sabrina.

"You're going to have to someday," said Emma, swinging her arm around Sammi's shoulders, bringing her in for a hug.

"I know. I have to do it next Saturday," groaned Sammi. "Tommy's going to throw a party before the guys leave on tour and I have to go,"

"You mean we have to go," added Emma, Sammi scrunching her brows together. "You seriously think we're just going to let you be alone where Nikki is? What kind of friends do you think we are," teased Emma, smiling at Sammi.

Sabrina walked over to the sofa, perching herself on the sofa's armrest, placing her chin on the crown of Sammi's hair. "You'll be fine. Things may seem like shit right now but I promise you, there's always a glimmer of light after a storm," said Sabrina. Sammi only smiled at the two girls, nerves slowly thawing out and relaxing.

June 13th

"What time does Tommy want us to show up?" shouted Sabrina from her bedroom into the hallway, scowling down at the multiple outfits on her bed. Sammi shuffled into Sabrina's room, undoing the last hair roller from her dark locks.

"He said 8:30," answered Sammi, seeing a digital clock read 8:40. When it came to times for parties, they were only a suggestion for the girls. Tommy never meant the time he really said. Sammi scanned the bed before picking up a blue strapless dress. "You should wear this one. It's a nice summer color,"

"So happy to have you help with my little dilemmas," smiled Sabrina, grabbing the dress to change in the private bathroom. "Is Emma ready?" Sabrina shouted through the restroom.

"Yeah, I just needed to finish straightening my hair," entered Emma, ready to go in her purple jumpsuit. "Are you ready, Sammi?" asked Emma.

Sammi scrunched her brows together. "Oh yeah, I'm already dressed. I only need my heels,"

"I don't mean physically ready even though I love that black dress. I meant ready to see the guys again. Specifically a certain bassist,"

Sammi pursed her lips out. "No, but it's going happen sooner or later,"

"That's the spirit! I'll call us a cab while Sabrina's changing. Remember it's still going to be a fun night!" cheerfully said, Emma.

"If you say so," said Sammi with hesitation.

From the grand driveway, guests from the party scenes had already flooded the mansion, either inside or outside. The girls walked up the front steps, smiling politely and maneuvering past people they didn't know until inside. Sammi scanned the foyer and living room, hesitant to find familiar faces just yet. It wasn't until Sammi heard her name yelled out in a high pitched voice.

"Sammi! Finally, you're here!" yelled out Heather in excitement, walking as fast as she could in her heels. She swiftly hugged Sammi tightly, ignoring the presence of Emma and Sabrina. Sammi embraced back with less enthusiasm but still happy to see her sister-in-law. "It's been so long! I have missed you so much!" said Heather, releasing Sammi from her grip. "Did you all just get here? Let's go to the kitchen for a drink!" suggested Heather, grabbing Sammi's hand, pulling her further into the house. Sammi flashed anxious wide eyes at Emma and Sabrina, the two only shrugging their shoulders and following. A few people began to recognize Sammi as the four passed through, almost remembering Tommy's other sister. The kitchen wasn't better in the number of people, some others herding in the quarters. Heather let go of Sammi, playing hostess, as she filled up three glasses of expensive champagne. Soon another person in the herd approached the absent girl, clearing his throat to gain her attention. Sammi's eyes lit up, as did her smile when realizing who it was.

"Mick!" exclaimed Sammi.

"How have you been, Little One?" said Mick, smiling his best as the two exchanged a small hug. "I'm not one to be needy, but how come I haven't heard much from you?"

Sammi shrugged her shoulders. "School has been kicking my ass. It's harder than I forgot," joked Sammi.

"I'm happy that's your reason. It's been quiet without you,"

"How can it be so quiet? I'm the least crazy out all of you," teased Sammi.

Mick shrugged his shoulders. "Quiet for me at least,"

"Here you go, Sammi. Heather had to find Tommy," said Sabrina, passing her the champagne glass.

"Hey, Mick! Enjoying the party?" asked Emma, forming a small circle between the four.

"As much as I can for a little while. I'm just waiting for my girl to stop by then I'm taking off," said Mick, earning wide eyes from all the girls.

"You have a girlfriend?" asked Sabrina with an amused smile.

"That's so nice!" said Emma.

"Who is she?" asked Sammi, cocking a raised eyebrow.

Mick began to smirk, taking a sip of his alcohol of choice. "Her name's Emerson. She's a backup singer, but please don't tell the guys. The three of you can't tell them,"

The girls all scrunched their brows at Mick. "Why? Is she someone they know?" asked Emma.

"We hired her to tour with us. That's how we met. But I know they'll just bust my balls for liking her,"

"Mick, you shouldn't let the guys dictate who you want to like. If you really like this girl then they're just going to have to deal with it," advised Sabrina.

"Unless she's mean to you then we're going to have a problem," said Sammi, winking at Mick.

Mick scuffed at the girls. "Whatever just please keep it yourselves, for me. That is all I ask,"

"Promise," the girls said in unison.

"Thank you. Come on let's find your brother and sister, they've been wondering about you," said Mick, taking the lead to leave the stuffy kitchen. Right as Sammi stepped out, her eyes couldn't help but fall directly onto a man far away, almost making her freeze. Nikki staring right at her, back against the wall. Sammi swallowed hard, continuing to follow Mick and the girls, eyes looking down. This didn't stop Nikki; he followed every step Sammi took until disappearing behind a wall. Sammi couldn't help but finish the champagne in one gulp, placing the glass on a random table.

"Sammi! Finally! I was starting to think you were going to show up!" yelled out Tommy in excitement, hugging the youngest sister. "And ladies, always lovely to see the two of you!" Emma and Sabrina giggling alongside Tommy. Athena appeared right past Emma, only smirking at her without a word. She kissed Sammi on the cheek, passing her a refreshed drink of vodka. "I see Mick got to you before anyone else. Let me get Vince!"

"Tommy, it's cool. I have all night to talk to people," said Sammi, biting her lip.

"Besides Vince is wrapped around a new blondie's finger," added Mick, sitting down on a nearby sofa.

"Vince got a new girlfriend?" asked Sammi.

Tommy shrugged his shoulders. "She's basically a look-like of Sharise. I give it two months while we're on the road,"

"When did you know about this?" Sammi asked Athena.

"About an hour ago when he walked through the door. She seems like a nice girl if I'm being honest," said Athena.

As if his ears were burning, Vince sturt his way to the group with a young woman wrapped around him. "Sam! What a surprise!" said Vince with excitement. Tommy shot a look between Athena and the girls, sitting down beside Mick. "Babe, this is Sammi. Tommy's other sister I was telling you about,"

"Hi, I'm Hayley. I've heard a lot about you," said Hayley extending out a hand, trying her best to not seem uncomfortable.

Sammi smiled politely, accepting the handshake to not be rude. "All good things I hope,"

"Of course all good. I'd never talk bad about you," said Vince, smirking lustfully at Sammi.

"Yeah, like how smart and nice you are," said Hayley. The tension between the two girls was incredibly thick. Anyone could cut it with a knife. Suddenly, the music changed from its rock sound to a techno beat, blaring even louder than before. Tommy jumped up to question, only to let out an annoyed groan when seeing a wild hair woman jump on the coffee table in the middle of the room. To the music's beat, the woman danced faster and faster, almost too fast for the music. Emma couldn't help but curl her lip at the woman, wrinkling her brows at Tommy. Sammi hitched her breath, caught in her throat when realizing it was Veronica.

"Who the hell is that?" asked Emma.

"Nikki's new girlfriend," groaned Tommy, pouring some whiskey into his solo cup. "She's a bitch," he whispered to the girls, noting the somber expression from Sammi.

"I don't know how Sixx deals with that. Come on, babe, let's go out to the pool," said Vince, wrapping his arm around Hayley's waist. "Later, Sam," winked Vince.

Sammi remained silent amongst everyone, sinking into the sofa to watch the unfortunate show display in front of her. People around the grand living room gathered to watch Veronica, snickers from other women as they watched. Muttered comments going around on the visible state of Veronica being high on some type of drug. This went on longer than anyone wanted, Sammi beginning to wonder if anyone had the heart to stop her. Most found it entertaining, while others didn't. Sammi glanced around the room, wondering where Nikki was during all of this. It wasn't until Heather stomped up to Tommy, bringing him down to her level to whisper in his ear. Sammi was able to read the anger on Heather's face, seeing her fold in her arms right at her husband. Tommy shook his head, marching straight to Veronica, and one swoop brought her off the table, clinging onto Veronica. Tommy tried his best to shuffle out of the living room even when it was becoming difficult.

"Let go of me you asshole! You demon!" shouted Veronica, her weak legs making her almost sink to the floor. As Tommy lifted Veronica back on her feet, Nikki appeared from thin air confused. Tommy couldn't help but throw the intoxicated girl at his best friend. Nikki didn't bother to help her stand on her two feet, letting Veronica stumble by his feet. Sammi could see the three frowning at Nikki's careless attitude toward Veronica.

"Was she dancing again?" asked Nikki, scowling down at Veronica.

"Yeah. Now can you please watch your chick? Some of us are trying to enjoy our night," said Tommy, going to the stereos to finally switch the music to something more bearable. He walked over to Heather with his classic Tommy smile, kissing her on the lips to melt any anger away. Grabbing Veronica by her arm, Nikki dragged her up on her feet, quickly turning away from all staring eyes. Nikki grinds hard his teeth when his eyes fell on Sammi for the second time of the night, being able to see the worry from her. The dysfunctional couple disappeared from within the house, everyone soon forgetting about the little show—everyone except for Sammi. Sammi stared down at her drink, Sabrina sitting right next to her.

"Ready to talk to him?" asked Sabrina?

Sammi bit the inside of her cheek, glancing up in the direction of where Nikki was. "Will I ever be?" scuffed Sammi, taking a swing from whatever was in her cup.

"Probably not, but it wouldn't hurt to try another time. Nikki already saw you. He knows you're here. And he's leaving in a couple of days. I'm only suggesting because I care about you,"

"I know. I'll be right back," said Sammi, passing Sabrina her cup as she stood up while fixing her short dress.

Sabrina wrinkled her brows at Sammi. "You're going to talk to him now?"

"No, but if I just happen to go missing please come find me," answered Sammi, carefully passing through the sea of people.

"Why do you keep making a scene everywhere we go?" whispered Nikki from behind the closed door. Sammi paused from touching up her makeup in the mirror, remaining completely still and silent to listen. "You're high again aren't you?" asked Nikki. Sammi pressed her ear to the door to listen better. She knew there was no point in hiding in the bathroom, thinking of Emma and Sabrina looking for her.

"So what if I am? It's a party!" shouted Veronica.

"That I didn't invite you to!" said Nikki. The silence between the two soon followed for a moment, Sammi slowly opening the door. She tried her best to not make her heels clank loud on the tile, walking into the hallway with small steps. The hallway's right end was utterly empty, causing Sammi to drop the cautious act as she shut the bathroom door behind her. "Sammi?" said Nikki, Sammi jumping in her skin when hearing her name. She peered over her shoulder, Nikki looking dead at her for the third time, somewhat softer finally. Veronica leaned slouched against the wall with a deadly stare, unhappy to see Sammi even if she was a stranger. It was clear to Sammi Nikki looked better than most days, Veronica appearing to be the only one under something. Sammi didn't peep a word, unable to say anything to Nikki, especially with his new girlfriend by his side.

"I know who you are," slurred Veronica, stumbling on her feet to regain balance, dodging Nikki's attempt to hold her down. She fought the urge to fall onto the floor, wanting to be right in Sammi's face. Sammi couldn't say or do anything, freezing at the taller woman looking down on her. Sammi could see the pin needle pupils in Veronica's eyes. "I know exactly who you are. You're the one corrupting Nikki. The one corrupting everyone," Sammi scrunched her brows deep together, looking past Veronica to Nikki. "No! Look at me! You're nothing but a devil. A devil!" shouted Veronica, inching closer to Sammi's face. Before having the chance to grip onto Sammi's bare arms, Nikki yanked Veronica down to the floor with no care if she got hurt.

"Don't fucking talk to her! You don't get to talk to her!" yelled Nikki at Veronica, scowling at her. Veronica laid flat down on her back, pouting up at Nikki. Nikki didn't care about Veronica's state of being in this moment, only wretched when Sammi appeared scared. "Leave her alone and leave me alone," Nikki said, grasping Sammi's arm lightly as he led them away from Veronica. Sammi couldn't help look back at Veronica, wondering if she had any idea of what was really happening. Nikki took Sammi to another empty hallway, the music almost a bit louder from where they stood. Sammi rested against the wall, unable to look Nikki in the eye even when she could feel Nikki's on her. "Got nothing to say?" asked Nikki.

"Thank you," mumbled Sammi, looking down at her feet.

Nikki scoffed, shaking his head. "Is that really all?" Sammi stayed silent. Nikki stepped closer to Sammi, lightly taking his hands to cup Sammi's cheeks, cradling her face. He brought her eyes to meet his, a loving brown meeting a foggy hazel. Just from the simple tough of something so innocent, a flush of pink stained Sammi's cheeks. Nikki couldn't help but crack a small smile, missing the sweet face. Alas, the unfortunate always comes. "I know you and Vince had sex," said Nikki, dropping his hands and stepping back.

"What?" uttered Sammi, lips parting in shock, deep wrinkles setting in between her brows.

Nikki only shrugged his shoulders. "I guess you aren't that great anymore to keep him around," said Nikki.

Before Sammi could say anything, Nikki headed straight for the front of the house, hands in his pocket as he ignored everyone. Everything came like a tsunami wave; all Sammi could see was red. Instead of beginning to cry, Sammi marched her way through the party, ignoring the calls of her name from Athena or Sabrina. When reaching the outside, Sammi was able to find Vince in a short second, making a fast b-line to him. Vince didn't pay any attention to his surroundings, talking to a friend by the pool without Hayley. Vince was soon heavily pushed into the body of water in a blink, drink flying out of his hand. When he came up to the surface, Vince was ready to fight until realizing Sammi was scowling down at him.

"Sammi, what the fuck!?" yelled Vince. Tommy and Athena were quick to run out to get Sammi, Sammi pushing away their grasps.

Hayley rushed to Vince's side. "What's wrong with you?!" asked Hayley.

"Why did you tell Nikki?!" screamed Sammi. "You promised!" Vince bit his lip, looking at everyone but Sammi. "Huh?!"

"Sam," whispered Athena, softly pushing her away from the edge of the pool. Tommy pulled Vince up out of the water, glaring right at him for answers.

"Why are you so mad you slept with me?!" asked Vince, Athena, and Tommy, eyes opening wide at Sammi.

"Because it was a drunk mistake!" shouted Sammi. She shook her head at Vince. "You didn't give a shit about me," spit Sammi.

"You had sex with Vince?" asked Athena, concerned. Sammi didn't give an answer.

Emma and Sabrina delicately put a hand on Sammi's shoulders, being the only people who didn't get shoved off. "Sam, we're going home," ordered Emma, grabbing her hand as she shot daggers at Vince. Sammi didn't protest, letting the girls engulf her in protection from stares. They didn't need anyone to judge Sammi as she was only a stranger to everyone. Mick had already left from the madness, knowing he would hear from the grapevine. Once the girls were in a cab, Emma turned to Sammi. "Are you finally going to talk to Nikki? And this time like adults?" Sammi only dropped her head against the fuzzy middle seat, nodding with another word.

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hippriestess · 4 years ago

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Part 4 - I’ve Been Duped...

It was to be expected that some of those who brought us some of the less essential Fall releases would also respond to Smith's death. One of worst was the first to arrive and it came from perennial recyclers Secret Records; a repackaging of 10 live tracks from the 2002 “A Touch Sensitive” DVD – already reconfigured multiple times – on an LP titled, and this absolutely beggars belief, “Best Of” and credited to “The Fall & Mark E Smith”, a credit never once used on a release in Smith's lifetime (a few gig posters, yes but never a record). Released just 3 months after Smith's death for about £18-20, this received the derision it deserved and, judging from the number of copies for sale on Discogs and their current asking prices, it appears to have sold just a little more than fuck all.

But even this was overshadowed come March 2019 when Ozit/Dandelion released what has to be The Worst Fall Release Ever. Pressed into horrid orange vinyl, the contents of “Mark's Personal Holiday Tony Tapes” were staggeringly poor. Proudly labelled as “Non-Record-Store-Day Release” (was it turned down?) the record boasted just 8 tracks. The album tried to elide its rotten contents by calling all the tracks “Mark's Personal Holiday Tony Tapes”. Track 1 was a 6 minute version of “Last Nacht” from “I Am Kurious Oranj”. The released track doesn't actually feature within the 6 minutes so this is probably an outtake and therefore probably not owned by Beggars Banquet. There is a drop out lasting several seconds that has gone uncorrected and it's about 4 minutes longer than it needs to be, confirming the brevity of the version used in 1988 to be bob on. Tracks 2, 4, 6 and 8 are live tracks from 1981, all of which had already been released on the otherwise unimpressive “Northern Cream” DVD. What is barely credible is that tracks 3, 5 and 7 are also “Last Nacht” but not further alternates, rather being Track 1 cut into 2 minute pieces and simply repeated! Did they think we wouldn't notice?! Utterly awful, thoroughly exploitative and an absolute disgrace. They also stumped up a 30 minute DVD of MES being interviewed. This bore the thoroughly unappealing title “30 Minutes On A Manchester Slag Heap”. I only ever saw this for sale on eBay but a couple of clicks confirmed that it was Ozit/Dandelion product being sold by them through that channel. The cover was of a slag heap rather than of MES. Enough said.

OK, let's tidy up, what's next?

The immediate future sees 2 vinyl releases in the August “drop” of the now-staggered, socially-distanced RSD2020; a double LP of “[Austurbæjarbíó] - Reykjavík Live 1983” on the now inevitable splatter vinyl and a single LP of “Cerebral Caustic” on multi-coloured “bonkers” (their word, absofuckinglutely not mine) splatter vinyl because of course it is. That's all for RSD this year, a move which represents far better judgement by the organisers. A studio album out of print on vinyl for 25 years and a properly sought after live release on the format for the first time? Yeah, that fits well with what RSD was meant to be back when we all queued up for a “Bury Pts 2 + 4” 7” in 2010.

Now, a fun wee question mark was raised over “CC” when the RSD website credited the release to Demon rather than Cherry Red. It appears Demon have the Permanent Records catalogue and have also announced clear vinyl reissues of “The Infotainment Scan”, “Middle Class Revolt”, “The Twenty-Seven Points” and, perhaps most interestingly, “The Post Nearly Man”, all on clear vinyl with expanded artwork from Pascal LeGras. It looks as though these are coming in under the £20 mark (£25 for T27P) and I reckon they'll be popular – I fancy nabbing MCR and TPNM myself. A bit of a downer that all of these, except, oddly, “The Post Nearly Man” were recently rescheduled from September 2020 to January 2021 but hey ho – probably Covid-related, much like everything else.

As for Cherry Red, whilst one report had it that “Are You Are Missing Winner” was next, they are finally releasing a 3CD/2LP edition of “Imperial Wax Solvent” in October. This includes the much-discussed original mix by Grant Showbiz and a previously unavailable live set from shortly after the album's original release. This is, basically, exactly what we wanted. Hurrah! Can't wait.

Thanks to the speculation re: AYAMW, there was a little disappointment in come quarters and I can certainly see a healthy audience for a straight single LP pressing of that as it was only ever available on a picture disc vinyl before. Here's hoping they won't go for a double splatter vinyl with unnecessary extras (“Where's The Fuckin' Taxi? Cunt” on vinyl? Come on, SPARE US).

To yr present authors surprise, an expanded edition of “The Frenz Experiment” was announced for release by Beggars Banquet/Arkive in October. I had reckoned a new vinyl edition was likely as it was the only studio album on BB not yet afforded a new pressing and the addition of a second LP with various singles tracks was no surprise either, given that there are similar packages available for “TWAFW”, “TNSG” and “Bend Sinister”. A very pleasant surprise however is the inclusion of the group's Janice Long session from 1987, their only unreleased Radio 1 session. Also, “A Day In The Life” has been licenced for the this also (it was the only studio recording from the era missing from “5 Albums”). The Long session and “...Life” are only on the CD version. As such, this release very much follows the pattern of the “Bend Sinister” reissue from 2018 and is likely inspired by the near ecstatic reception and healthy sales that release enjoyed. Nice that the CD edition is £12 this time, having been more like £22 for “Bend Sinister”.

Let Them Eat Vinyl are responsible for the illustration...they are planning an almost ludicrous onslaught of Fall vinyl. Their website currently lists an almost unbelievable THIRTY ONE Fall LP releases for the three months running September to November. Thirty-one. Now – this includes “Interim” which is already on the shelves but it also includes the “Live From The Vaults” releases. It was assumed from the inclusion of two of these on Cherry Red's “Dragnet” 3CD box that these were part of the Fall Sound Archive deal that MES cut with CR in the years before his death which makes this a bit interesting. Also, LTEV are also claiming they will release “The Post-Nearly Man” on vinyl in October, which clashes with Demon's schedule – they originally had Smith and The Fall's albums for Permanent Records releases slated for reissue in September but all except TPNM have been moved. Meanwhile, “Cog Sinister” are about to release TPNM on CD! After being unavailable and highly prized for 2 decades, we're now set for 3 separate reissues within 2 months! Anyway, the vast majority of the remaining LTEV are discs from the 2 “sets of ten (really eleven)” although also included are the excellent “I Am Pure As Oranj” and the first vinyl edition of “The Light User Syndrome” since its original release in 1996. Caveat Emptor, as the saying goes.

Narnack are also hinting that a 3LP “Fall Heads Roll” isn't too far off. Having teased this for a couple of years, Early in 2020, it was announced that the label was folding. This announcement was deleted and Narnack immediately moved on to asking fans to suggest what additional material could be added to this new version. Never one of their best, there would have to be some impressive outtakes to persuade yr persent scribe to cough up.

Elsewhere, Phonogram have yet to succumb to new vinyl pressings of their albums, despite the prices fetched on the collectors market for these, especially “Code-Selfish”. This may be partly due to what seems to have been a relatively low take-up for their 6CD box set from 2017. Titled “The Fontana Years”, this was just the 2CD editions of the three albums from 2007 in a box. It therefore looked weak next to the “Singles 1978-2016” box set as well as providing nothing attractive to the faithful who already had them. It hit the shelves at £35-40 a time and, unsurprisingly, remained there and can now be scored for around £20.

The much requested expansion of “The Real New Fall LP” with the original, very different mix of the album has yet to appear. At last count, contractual wrangles between the UK and US were said to be in the way but who knows? If “Levitate” can reappear, surely this can too.

Of course, we never know what else the less-salubrious end of the market will have for us but we shall approach with due caution.

The cold reality: what we get now is all there is. Mark E Smith now exists for Fall fans on paper, on magnetic tape, on vinyl and in combinations of 0 and 1. A sad fact. But it is clear that the appetite for The Fall is, if anything, increasing. Hindsight is presenting The Fall in a particularly clear light. In such a stylised, filtered and carefully marketed world, full of covert strategies and manipulative messaging, The Fall are reassuringly flawed, human, real. Their jagged edges, their constant state of flux, their DIY presentation and their disinterest in convention draws in the curious. The quantity of music suits an insatiable, want-it-all-and-now culture and, having made their albums for the vinyl format as well as bringing us so many magnificent 3-4 minute singles, their music is almost perfectly suited to today's market place where vinyl albums mix with song-by-song streams. People who love to write about music always loved The Fall and it seems that this is every bit as true today as it was in the days when we never had to wait any more than a few months for a missive of some sort, be it an album, a single, a Peel session or even just an entertaining interview.

Given that The Beatles – the most lauded rock/pop act of all time - have finally reached a generation to whom their blithe optimism means absolutely nothing, it is impossible to say how anything in music will be regarded 20 years from now. But for now, at least, The Fall endure. Their vibrations remain intense and powerful. And we, the people, dance to the waves.

Nine out of ten? Nah. Ten out of ten. Top marks.

#mark e smith #the fall #long live the fall

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weneverlearn · 4 years ago

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My Liner Notes for Strum & Thrum compilation, 2020

So long about two and a half years ago, an excited and probably slightly tipsy Mike Sniper came up to me at a Brooklyn bar and told me I was the perfect choice to write liner notes for a compilation he was putting together for his record label, Captured Tracks. This was to be the first archival type comp his venerated indie rock imprint had ever done, and in fact the first of what’s to be a series called Excavations.

Mike surmised that perhaps the last underground rock music scene to never be fully recognized yet was that brief span -- between hardcore’s early ‘80s rise and late ‘80s proto-alternative rock -- where loads of young, small town bands picked up (mostly) Rickenbacker guitars and a cardigan sweater, and searched for a new punk energy-inspired sound that was a little more melodic and looked back to jangly ‘60s antecedents like the Byrds, instead of forward into hardcore’s macho dystopian nightmares.

There was a musically concurrent scene in the UK and New Zealand around that time that got some ink and college radio play over here, and has since become collector market-defined. Mike thought these American bands that had somehow slipped through music history’s hands were just as good; and in fact some came before the British and Kiwi bands, and exuded an often more ragged, anxious, and yes American edge to the sound. He also noticed that the mid-80s being the mid-80s, the whole DIY underground touring network wasn’t completely solidified yet, and so these ostensibly “lighter” bands often shared Sunday afternoon all ages hardcore bills because where the hell else were they gonna play.

I grew up in an Ohio scene that housed a number of these types of initially hard-to-slot jangle bands, I was a fan of said music (often umbrella-tagged “college rock” back then), and I ended up fronting a fast punk band (New Bomb Turks). So Mike thought my personal understanding and involvement could convey the premise of his comp idea to modern day garage punks and indie rockers -- the two types that should likely find interest in this stuff.

The Reactions, from Cleveland, 1985

By January, 2019, we got to work on writing the liner notes and riding an editorial email thread train through the end of winter. He also asked me to edit email Q&As with the bands that he and his nice assistant, Gabrielle Redmond, had accumulated over a few months of prepping the comp -- there’d be an Oral History in the liner notes too. Admittedly, I’d only heard of about 1/3 of the bands on this comp, but that’s Mike for ya -- there are few current record collector / label heads around who have as much knowledge and sheer vinyl mass as Mike Sniper. He did a similar deep dive with lost late-70s power pop back in the mid-2000s with his Radio Heartbeat reissue label, helping turn that forgotten sub-genre into the Next Big Collector Thing.

It was a lot of work, and everything seemed to be going fine. But as happens with these large projects, staff came and went, ideas shifted, and there was that little Covid-19 thing. By the time the compilation came out last September, the liner notes idea morphed, and they ended up mainly being Mike’s thoughts, which makes complete sense. Looking at my liner notes now, they are pretty fucking long. I always offered to chop them further, but I was assured at the time they were fine. Most of the Oral History I clipped up is in the comp’s excellent pix-stuffed booklet, and hey, I got paid, so I’m not complaining. Got a couple copies too, which is cool because apparently the thing is already sold out! (I believe a repress is in the works...)

I was pretty proud of the liner notes I did though, so I thought I would post them here on my blog. Mike’s idea was great, and I understood it before it all came out of his mouth that night at the bar. There really were tons of these kind of bands, they (say it with me) just didn’t sell. If you went to bar shows or off-campus parties at all from 1983-87, you no doubt saw some and maybe had a couple in your town, so it is a scene well worth revisionist attention.

Not to mention, Strum & Thrum: The American Jangle Underground - 1983-1987 is excellent, a wonderful listen, best suited to cloudy Saturday afternoons in the cold months, and packaged in a nice sleeve with that big thick booklet. Get it while you can. Aside from capturing Sniper’s vision, it’s really one of the best compilations of the last few years. So thanks Captured Tracks!

So, dig into my original liner notes below...

A personal favorite jangle rock masterpiece, 1985

Salem 66

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thecollegefootballguy · 5 years ago

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The Real Florida Cup

Hey folks, I’ve been thinking about doing another fun hypothetical series during this offseason. I’ll be looking at some of the three-way rivalry games in college football and wondering what the real score is.

The Florida Cup is a rivalry trophy shared by the three P5 rivals in the Sunshine State: Florida, Florida State, and Miami. All three consider each other bitter rivals and despite the on and off nature of the UF-Miami rivalry, it’s a huge deal in the state for recruiting and bragging rights.

The Cup was established in 2002 and unfortunately has been more of an imaginary trophy than a real life event. It is only awarded in the years that all three teams play each other, meaning only when the Gators and Hurricanes clash. So since it’s inception nearly two decades ago, it has only been awarded six times.

But what if that wasn’t the case? What if the Florida Cup was awarded to the best team in the state no matter what, going all the way back to the beginning? Where would the score stand?

I’ll be using the rules of the trophy as much as possible, which are as follows:

1. If a team beats the other two, it is automatically awarded the trophy. This should go without saying.

2. If there is a three-way tie the trophy goes to the team that has allowed the fewest points.

3. If teams play twice in the same season (bowl or ACC Championship Game) and split the series, the combined score is used.

There are more sub-rules here that hammer out all possible occurrences, but I’ll keep it short and only bring them up if necessary. The point is that there will *almost* never be a scenario in which the schools tie and split the trophy.

For our purposes, I’ll be using the inception date of 1958, the first year that Florida, FSU, and Miami all played each other.

The Early Years: 1958-1975

Florida and Miami were already established football programs by the time that Florida State came on to the scene. The Gators were charter members of the SEC, though they had middling success at best in the conference, having never won the league in its first 26 years of existence, where we pick up the story.

The Hurricanes were one of the two or three dozen independent programs dotting the eastern half of the country. Miami had a bit of success in the early and mid-50′s, but for the most part they were stuck in the middle ground, a rather anonymous program on the far southeastern corner of the country. UF and Miami were each-other's end of season opponents, and their game was really the only consequential rivalry within the state. The rivalry dated back to 1938, and was more or less even 20 years on, with Miami holding an 11-8 advantage.

Florida State began their modern football program in 1947 when an influx of WWII veterans began attending thanks to the GI Bill. The Seminoles began to schedule University Division opponents in the early 50′s, including Miami, who first began playing FSU in 1951. It wasn’t until 1958 that Florida first began to schedule the Noles, and we introduce our hypothetical Florida Cup.

Florida Cup Record Florida: 12 Miami: 5 Florida State: 1

Florida dominated the early years of the three-way rivalry. In the late 50′s and early 60′s the Gators routinely fielded Top 25 caliber teams, though they were never good enough to win the SEC. Under first Bob Woodruff and then Ray Graves, UF attended four Gator Bowls, one Sugar, and an Orange Bowl in this span.

Both Miami and Florida State had small peaks but could never sustain any success. The Hurricanes managed a top 10 finish in 1966 but spent most of the decade toiling in obscurity, regularly losing to both the Gators and the Seminoles, who they still didn’t play every year. College football in the Sunshine State was solid, but never consequential on the national stage. That was about to change.

The Golden Age (Part I): 1976-1987

After miserable coaching tenures under Larry Jones and Darryl Mudra, Florida State managed to poach West Virginia’s Bobby Bowden away from Morgantown in 1976. Bowden took very little time transforming the Seminoles into a powerful program among the robust eastern independents. FSU made the Tangerine Bowl in 1977 and then two consecutive Orange Bowls following the ‘79-’80 seasons which were paired with two top ten finishes. It’s just a taste of what’s to come as football in the state of Florida suddenly takes off.

Florida had some solid seasons under Doug Dickey in the mid-70′s, but Charley Pell raised the bar a little higher upon coming to Gainesville in 1979. Pell’s Gators still couldn’t compete for SEC titles, but they sure harassed their in-state rivals, who were both on the rise.

Miami had a horrific decade in the 1970′s. Fran Curci, Pete Elliot, Carl Selmer, and Lou Saban all came and went without coaching more than two seasons. By the end of the decade the administration was looking to cancel the football program. Instead, they gave it one last shot and hired Howard Schnellenberger in 1979 (the same year as Pell). Schnellenberger quickly took advantage of the shifting recruiting sands that were making Florida one of the hearts of high school football, and turned underachieving Miami in The U.

The Hurricanes exploded onto the scene as the 70′s gave way to the 80′s. Miami transformed into one of the best programs in the country almost overnight. The Canes won the ‘81 Peach Bowl, finished in the top ten the next season, and beat Nebraska in the Orange Bowl to crown themselves national champions for the 1983 season. They were the first team from the state to earn a championship.

Schnellenberger was lured away to coach Florida’s USFL franchise following the victory, but he was replaced by Jimmy Johnson, who guided the Canes to even greater heights. During Johnson’s 5 seasons in Coral Gables, Miami made two Fiesta Bowls, a Sugar Bowl, and two Orange Bowls, and won the national championship again in 1987 with a perfect 12-0 record.

Charley Pell was forced out three games into the 1984 season after incurring massive NCAA violations. He was replaced by Galen Hall, who promptly won Florida’s first ever SEC Championship, though the Gators were ineligible for the postseason due to sanctions. UF then tied for first in the SEC the very next year. Florida wouldn’t reach those same heights again under Hall, but they managed to sneak some more wins away from Miami and FSU.

Florida State may have been the first team in the state to become perennially competent, but Miami was the first to truly “activate” and become a brand new blue blood program. The Noles weren’t far behind. Bowden took FSU to the Gator Bowl in the 1982 season, beginning a bowl streak that would last a record 36 seasons. Florida wasn’t quite there yet in the early 80′s, but they were quickly catching up to their rivals.

Florida Cup Record Florida: 16 Miami: 9 Florida State: 5

National Championships Miami: 2

In the 12 year span between 1976 and 1987, each school won 4 Florida Cups. An astonishing level of parity that you almost never see in college football. Florida was able to win one in ‘76 while FSU and Miami were still down, but managed to upset their superior rivals in the mid-80′s to pull even. The Seminoles’ initial burst of energy from ‘77-’79 under Bowden fell off as the Hurricanes and Gators raised their level of competency. Miami should have won more Cups here, they were certainly the best team overall in this era, but only managed the same four.

The series was so competitive that even the best teams of the age rarely won the Cup. Miami’s 1983 national champions lost the Cup to Florida by head-to-head loss, their only defeat all season. Florida won their first ever SEC title in 1984, but lost the Cup to FSU by a three-way tiebreaker as the Noles only allowed 3 points against Miami.

Unfortunately, football would never be the same in the state of Florida after the 1987 season, when Florida ended their yearly football rivalry with Miami. By the 1980′s the Gators had already begun to prioritize their rivalry with Florida State, moving that game to the end of the season instead of the traditional UF-Miami matchup. Florida would instead play the Canes near the beginning of the season, and after ‘87, not at all. The SEC moved from 6 to 7 conference games, and UF decided they couldn’t play both in-state rivals and chose to keep the Seminoles instead of the Hurricanes on the schedule. Miami fans will always contend that it was sour grapes because the Canes were showing up the state’s flagship university. Either way, the nature of the three-way rivalry changed from here on out.

The Golden Age (Part II): 1988-1999

With the Florida-Miami rivalry on ice, the hypothetical Florida Cup now runs through Tallahassee, and is determined how each team performs against Florida State.

Miami, of course, began this period on top, having just won the national title in the 1987 season. The Hurricanes would finish 2nd in the country in both 1986 and 1988. After Jimmy Johnson left for the Dallas Cowboys following the ‘88 season, Dennis Erickson took over and promptly won another national championship in 1989. Miami joined the new football sponsoring Big East in 1991 and won their fourth national championship that same year with another perfect record. The Hurricanes finished in the top three every season from 1986 to 1993, an insane streak that has proven near impossible to replicate.

Florida State did it, they were in cruise control under Bowden. After meandering a bit in the middle 1980′s (relative to the other schools), the Seminoles truly “activated” in 1987. FSU became a perennial national title contender for 15 years, an insane streak that has few equals outside of perhaps Tom Osborne’s Nebraska in the 70′s and 80′s. The Noles finished in the top 5 every season from 1987 to 2000, an astonishing feat that has never been approached by any other program.

FSU joined the ACC in 1992 and immediately began to terrorize that basketball conference. They didn’t lose a league game for their first three and a half years and wouldn’t lose two in one season for their first ten years in the league. The Seminoles won their first national championship in 1993 and a second after the 2000 Sugar Bowl and an undefeated 12-0 campaign. Florida State earned berths in major New Year’s Bowls every year from 1991 to 2000. The 90′s Noles were by far the most consistent winners of any of the Florida teams at any point.

Galen Hall was forced to resign 5 games through the 1989 season. His permanent replacement would end up being Steve Spurrier, who had just won the ACC as Duke’s head coach, which is the equivalent to a national championship as far as I’m concerned. Spurrier’s innovative Fun ‘n Gun offense revolutionized football in the SEC and immediately brought Florida to the forefront of the conference. The Gators won the league in 1991, the last year before divisions, and then won the SEC East in ‘92 once the divisions were established. After losing the SEC title game to national champion Alabama in 1992, UF would go on to win the next four SEC championships.

Florida was the last of the three major programs in the state to truly “activate” and become a true blue blood, but they definitely made up for lost time. The Gators lost to Nebraska in the 1996 title game, but won the next year to earn their first national championship in program history with a perfect 12-0 record. After temporarily ceding the East to Tennessee in 1997 and 1998, Florida roared back to win the division in 1999 and 2000. UF finished in the top ten every year from 1991 to 1998.

Dennis Erickson left Miami after the 1994 season, perhaps seeing that the program was about to get hit hard by the NCAA. The U had flown a bit too close to the sun and were getting the hammer laid on them. The program were stuck in the doldrums for the rest of the decade as Butch Davis slowly tried to cobble together another competent team.

Florida Cup Record Florida: 20 Miami: 13 Florida State: 9

National Championships Miami: 4 Florida State: 2 Florida: 1

Football in the Sunshine State was never better. Florida, Florida State, and Miami all won national titles in a six year span, and the latter two both won multiple championships from ‘88 to ‘99. The center of the college football universe lay squarely within the great State of Florida.

Once again, Florida’s three major programs all managed to win four Florida Cups in the 12 year span. Miami did their damage early, as their success fell off with the departure of Erickson following the 1994 season. The Hurricanes, the first of the three schools to “activate,” was also the first of the three to fall off. Florida’s success in this decade centered around the mid-90′s, the height of Spurrier’s tenure. It’s a shame that Florida State didn’t win more than four Cups, given their insane top five consistency.

Much like the 80′s, the 90′s Florida rivalries featured legendary events that will go down as some of the most iconic games and plays in college football history.

The U won their third national championship in the 1989 season with an 11-1 record, but their one loss was to FSU, who won the Cup as a result. Miami then won their 1991 Championship thanks to a 17-16 win over Florida State, a game that would go down in history by the name Wide Right. Despite this, Florida managed to win the Cup that year by only allowing the Noles 9 points. Yes, in three of Miami’s first four national championships, they didn’t win the Florida Cup. Florida State won their first ACC Championship in 1992, but couldn’t win the Florida Cup thanks to the soul crushing Wide Right II.

In 1994, Florida and Florida State played two games in a row. The Gators blew a 31-3 lead in Tallahassee, forever after known as the Choke at Doak, and ended up tying 31-31. The Gators and Seminoles were then pitted against each other in the Sugar Bowl, where FSU prevailed 23-17, outscoring their rivals 51-17 in the final five quarters of those combined games in a bitter reversal for UF dubbed the Firth Quarter in the French Quarter. Oh well, Miami won the Florida Cup with an easy 34-20 victory over the Noles back in October.

By the second half of the 90′s, the Florida-FSU game took center stage as Miami began to slide off the national stage.

In 1996, the Gators and Seminoles played another series of back to back games, this time to decide the national championship. #1 undefeated Florida came to Tallahassee and lost 21-24 to the #2 Noles. However, the Gators only fell to 2nd in the polls, and the two were once again matched up in the Sugar Bowl by the Bowl Alliance. This time, UF crushed FSU 52-20 to claim their first national championship.

In 1997, Florida came back against Florida State to win 32-29 in the Greatest Game Played in the Swamp, costing the Noles another shot at the national title. The next year, after another pre-game brawl, FSU pulled away 23-12 to secure the win in a top 5 matchup.

It’s such a bummer that Miami and Florida didn’t play during this time. I mean, could you even imagine what craziness could have happened if all three schools were facing off at this point? It’s such a goddamn shame.

Twin Peaks (2000-2009)

The 2000′s were dominated by two teams in two different shifts. The first two years of the decade continued much the same as the 90′s, but Florida State and Florida both entered periods of decline in the early 2000′s. The Seminoles began to fall off after the 2000 season and the Gators immediately dropped like a rock after Spurrier left for the NFL after 2001. Miami, however, would get their second wind.

After bottoming out in the 1997 season, the first losing record any of the three Florida schools had suffered since the 1979 season, the Hurricanes built themselves back under the steady hand of Butch Davis. In 2000, after losing on the road to Washington in the second week of September, the Canes roared to life an annihilated every other team they played. They were kept from the BCS title game but ended up finishing 3rd after FSU lost to Oklahoma in the Championship Game. Many think Miami, who obviously beat Florida State (Wide Right III), should have gotten the chance to play for the title instead.

Davis ended up leaving for the pros, continuing a depressing trend going back to Schnellenberger. Larry Coker inherited Davis’ war machine, and set it into cruise control. 2001 Miami needs no introduction, and is considered by many to be the best college football team of all time, certainly if you consider the NFL talent on the roster. The U Part II demolished all comers en route to an undefeated campaign with an easy win over Nebraska in the Rose Bowl to earn their fifth national championship.

Coker’s Canes lost next year’s national title game in heartbreaking and controversial fashion to Ohio State, meaning that Miami very easily could have easily won the 2000 and 2002 titles if things had broken slightly differently. The Hurricanes won the Big East again in 2003 but lost two consecutive games in the regular season and couldn’t play for another title. After moving to the ACC in 2004, Miami started to slowly (and then quickly) fall off. Coker was fired after going 7-6 in 2006 and for the most part they’ve never been the same.

Steve Spurrier left for the NFL in 2001 the same time as Butch Davis, but his replacement crashed the war machine very quickly. Ron Zook’s three years in Gainesville were a disappointment to say the least. The Gators never finished better than 8-5, and this was on the heels of their best years in program history. Zook was fired after the 2004 season and replaced by Urban Meyer, who had just come off an undefeated season at Utah.

Meyer took almost no time turning Florida back into a national power. The Gators went 9-3 in 2005 and stormed back to a national championship in 2006. Meyer reinvigorated UF’s offense on the back of Tim Tebow, and Florida became a fixture in the second half of the 2000′s the same way Miami was a fixture of the first half of the decade.

Florida took a year off in 2007 but roared back to another national championship in 2008 with another 13-1 record. The Gators went 13-1 in 2009 as well, but lost the SEC Championship Game to Alabama and blew their chance to repeat. Meyer’s tenure ended after a frustrating 2010 season, but his success in the 2000′s brought Florida, without question, up to the level of Miami and Florida State.

Miami and Florida were both snake-bitten by coaches leaving for the NFL in the early 2000′s. Butch Davis built the Canes back to the tip top of the football universe, and Larry Coker was good enough to sustain for a while, but not forever. Zook was a bust replacing Spurrier, but Meyer was able to reinvigorate the program and even outdo the Head Ball Coach in some respects. Bobby Bowden had plenty of chances to leave Tallahassee after his wild successes in the 80′s and 90′s. Perhaps he should have.

Florida State spent the 2000′s in limbo. They weren’t really ever bad. Just not relevant. The Seminoles won the ACC three times from 2002 to 2005, but never finished higher than 10-3 or 10th in the polls. The second half of the decade was even worse. FSU, the most consistent winning program in all of college football in the 80′s and 90′s, was now just mediocre. Bowden retired after the 2009 season as one of the most successful coaches in football history, and he also went 7-6 in three of his final four campaigns with many considering the dynasty over.

Florida Cup Record Florida: 26 Miami: 17 Florida State: 9

National Championships Miami: 5 Florida: 3 Florida State: 2

Miami and Florida traded off domination of the 2000′s. The Hurricanes owned the first half and the Gators easily held the second.

The first half of the decade was notable not just for the return of the Canes to the national stage, but the return of the Miami-Florida rivalry. After the 2000 season, Big East Champion #3 Miami was pitted against SEC Champion #7 Florida in the Sugar Bowl. It was their first meeting since the series cancellation in 1987 and was preceded by a verbal and then physical altercation on the streets of New Orleans. The Canes, well on their way to their 2001 peak, handily won the game on the field 37-20.

Florida and Miami didn’t play in 2001, and it cost the Canes the Florida Cup. The U’s undefeated season included a 49-27 demolition of Florida State, but they allowed more points to the Noles than Florida, who won 37-13. By the rules of the Florida Cup, the Gators, who were in their own right an amazing team that finished #3 by the way, once again deny Miami a Cup. The Canes only won the Florida Cup once time during their 5 national championship seasons. There’s some kind of cosmic wackiness in play there.

The Florida-Miami series resumed in the regular season at the wrong time. Coker’s well-oiled machine took apart Zook’s Gators in 2002 and 2003. The next year two old rivals were would once again face off in a Peach Bowl appearance, with the Canes winning handily. UF and the U, if you can call it that in 2008, played the first half of a home and home in Gainsville. Florida won easily en route to their title.

The Gator’s five consecutive wins from 2005 to 2009 are the most by any team since before Bowden. If the Florida-Miami rivalry continued in the late 2000′s, it would have gone the same way as the Florida-Florida State rivalry. The Gators would have dominated.

The Revenge of Florida State (2010-2019)

Following the Miami period of dominance in the early 2000′s and Florida’s dominance in the late 2000′s, the wheel turned over and Florida State roared back to life in the 2010′s.

Following Bobby Bowden’s retirement in 2009, Jimbo Fisher replaced the legend and completely revitalized the team. In Fisher’s first season in 2010, the Seminoles won the ACC Atlantic, and from 2012 to 2014 they reeled off three straight conference titles. FSU won the Orange Bowl in 2012 and then won the national championship for the 2013 season with a perfect 14-0 record. The Noles coasted through an easy schedule in 2014 before losing in the inaugural College Football Playoff semifinals. Florida State did nearly as well in 2015 and 2016, but were blocked from winning the ACC and making the Playoff by a rising Clemson.

Coinciding with FSU’s revival, was a dry spell for the other two powers. After Coker’s firing in 2006, Randy Shannon guided the Hurricanes through four unsuccessful seasons before getting replaced by Al Golden in 2011, who then led the Canes through four and a half unsuccessful seasons.

Urban Meyer was replaced in 2011 by Will Muschamp, who reoriented Florida to a defense-first team as opposed to the offense-based Spurrier/Meyer squads. Outside of a rather successful 2012 season where the formula actually worked, Florida began to severely fall off in the 2010′s before Muschamp was dumped towards the end of 2014.

The late 2010′s have been rather disappointing for all three programs. Will Muschamp was replaced by Jim McElwain in 2015, who won two consecutive SEC East divisions, but were never national contenders. McElwain was canned in 2017 after a crap year. Dan Mullen seems to be doing well, but Florida remains behind Georgia in the East.

Al Golden’s embarrassing ouster in 2015 led to Mark Richt returning home to Coral Gables. Richt was good for a little magic in 2017, which saw the Canes snap their longest ever losing streak to Florida State, but otherwise his three year tenure did little other than confirm that Miami wasn’t dead.

Jimbo Fisher’s incredible implosion at Florida State took everybody by surprise. The Seminoles collapsed seemingly for no reason other than willful negligence by Fisher, who bailed before 2017 was over. Willie Taggart came in, talked a big game, and was fired perhaps a bit too early for not fixing things immediately.

Florida Cup Record Florida: 29 Miami: 18 Florida State: 15

National Championships Miami: 5 Florida: 3 Florida State: 3

Florida State evened the score with Florida in the 2010′s, pulling even with their rivals with 3 national titles. The Noles dominated the first half of the decade while both other schools were down. The second half has been a mixed bag as really none of the three schools have been nationally competitive.

UCF claimed a national championship in 2017, demanding their own share of the spotlight and the right to be taken as seriously as the other three top flight programs in the state. The Knights’ success in the last 10 years is a reflection on the state of the P5 programs in the 2010′s. Central Florida would never have been close to undefeated if Florida, Florida State, and Miami were all taking care of business in recruiting and development, but that’s not they world we’re living in currently.

I’ll be interested to see where things go from here. Florida seems to be in the best position to succeed in absolute terms. Dan Mullen is a fine coach and is already doing great work in Gainesville, albeit behind a more advanced Georgia program. Florida State is breaking in a new coach in Mike Norvell and Manny Diaz’s first season at Miami wasn’t particularly inspiring. It remains to be seen if FSU and the U can rebound to reclaim their past glory. Both have institutional issues which may prevent them from seriously sustaining success at the highest level which Florida doesn’t have.

And then there’s UCF, who can continue to build and win in a much easier AAC East division. If Central Florida can throw their hat in the ring and jump to a P5 conference we might see our first real shift in the balance of power in the state of Florida since FSU became a major football player when this whole story started.

Postscript: 1938-1958 and extras

If any of you are curious what the entire series looks like going back to the inception of all 3 rivalries, here you go:

Florida Cup Record Florida: 37 Miami: 29 Florida State: 15

Miami actually outperformed Florida in the early part of the rivalry 11-8, but it’s not enough to make up the ground between the schools. Obviously this isn’t really fair to Florida State, who weren’t around for the first ten years of this era and weren’t that good in the second.

Since Bowden (1976) Florida: 17 Florida State: 15 Miami: 13

Since Bobby Bowden was hired by Florida State, more or less kicking off the first of the builds that would see all three programs become national powers, Florida has still won the most Florida Cups. Te score is relatively even and only separated by 4 wins between all three.

Since Schnellenberger (1979) Florida: 16 Miami: 13 Florida State: 12

Since the hiring of Howard Schnellenberger, Florida still leads the pack with 16 wins, but Miami is now a bit closer and Florida State is right behind. The schools are still only separated by 4 wins. And remember, Miami somehow lost 4 Florida Cups in 4 of their 5 national championship seasons, which certainly would sway the standings in their favor at this point.

Since Spurrier (1990) Florida: 13 Florida State: 9 Miami: 8

Florida still leads since Spurrier’s hiring, and the gap slightly increases to 5 games between the first place Gators and the last place Canes.

Restoring Championships Florida: 26 Miami: 22 Florida State: 14

From 1958 onward, if you were to override the Cup rules and give the title to the winner of the National Title by default, thereby giving Miami 4 more titles at the expense of 3 from Florida and 1 from FSU, well, Florida still wins. Sorry Miami, it’s rigged against you I guess.

It was truly a golden age of football in the state of Florida in the 1980′s and 1990′s. No state has dominated the sport quite like Florida in that span unless you go back to like the 1800′s when Yale won every year. College football may as well have been the three teams in the state, and one other challenger every year, maybe Nebraska more often than not.

Thank you so much for reading. I’ll be putting out a few more of these series on three-way rivalries so if you’re interested keep an eye out.

-cfbguy

#college football #Florida Gators #Florida State Seminoles #Miami Hurricanes

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oswhys · 6 years ago

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Dumb AC concept ideas

So this is basically a info dump of ideas for potential AC games and concepts that its been playing with in my head, it's mostly me nerding out about junk (look if I can info dump about Teotihuacan I’ll do it.) like it's ideas that I think would be cool and what id want to see in future installments, even if they aren't likely to happen. It's also written super casually cause I started making this in a burst of inspiration at like 2 am and yet still got distracted from it cause I started going on tangents. So it's a bit of a mess. I’m totally down for bouncing ideas around if anyone has their own concepts.

1920’s jazz age assassin from the beginning of unity and the abstergo employee handbook. "The lives and failures of the most degenerate Americans to ever grace the world's stage - Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Stein." please tell me how this doesn't sound cool as shit? Okokokokokokok SO… CARS. like this dude would have a car (and of course the player can earn different cars and looks for their car and junk, including a yellow Duesenberg… like come on if he knew Fitzgerald they gotta let this dude drive Gatsby's car.) I think there can be an argument about him having a rope launcher attachment buuut maybe not??? I mean a car and a rope launcher would be dope as hell. The dude probably bounced between Paris and New York if he's a genuine jazz age junkie like how abstergo describes him and his writer pals. Also it would be cool to meet Picasso… also his base of operations should be a fucking speakeasy, like duh, like where else would a 1920’s assassin camp out? I don’t really have any plot ideas but the concept of a jazz age assassin is cool enough for me to want it this badly.

1970’s-1980’s William Miles in a corporate espionage type game, like i know he had Desmond in 1987 but he was an active filed assassin in 1977 when he was in Moscow so clearly he could've been doing other junk around then. It doesn't have to be him, i just want a 70’d-80’s assassin trying to fuck with abstergo and trying to steal animus research or something. Like Alieen Bock died in 81 and that was at the height of animus research before abstergo started really investing in it cause of Vidic. Like the surrogate initiative and the animus project are… basically the same thing really. Like knowing that Altair and Ezio were not actually related until their bloodlines crossed with Desmond. So with the memory keys being cited as an integral part of the animus project they obviously had a role to play in the surrogate project. Besides the newer games are pretty loosey-goosey with how the DNA and animus junk works now, with the spear having DNA traces or whatever and its corrupted enough that we could… choose things?? (don't ask questions just have fun i guess.) ok i’m over thinking this stuff… but come on… disco!!!!! Please please please have a disco assassination. Like… the idea of an assassin taking out a target at the disco is cool enough for me to want it. ALSO!!! If it goes into the 80’s then please for the love of god a Thriller inspired outfit would be to die for. Like i know getting the exact look would be a trademark nightmare but an inspired look may be able to get away with it. I just want some real corporate espionage type missions while dressed in some brightly colored dorky(cool as shit) 70’s/80’s fashion.

So like… ANYTHING from ancient Andean culture. So The Chimú or the Moche… that would be cool, but I'd settle for Wari and Tiwanaku. I just kinda want to see Chan Chan recreated. And Moche art was so fucking good like… idk man they're making video games that are mostly of ancient cultures now so the possibility of them making something in a more modern setting is slim to none. Like come on they're gonna want to make like idk maybe one more really ancient cultural game so they can still reuse assets again before making a whole new saga. That's just their track record. The problem with doing an ancient andean cultural video game is that there isn't a lot to work with other then our knowledge of the architecture and artistry of the ancient peoples. We have art documentary significant events but there isn't really any historical recordings so there's no significant figures to meet or events to take part in that we know of right now. BUT that also means that hey if Ubisoft wants us to have freedom of choice within the narrative this would be a great opportunity.

Speaking of ancient culturesssss ancient Mexican cultures would be REALLY cool too. Like obviously Mayans culture is the first to come to mind but AC already kinda explored the Mayans so idk maybe a more underrated ancient culture deserves the spotlight. The Zapotec and other civilizations in the Oaxaca. Like this would be really cool since we actually see a rise in raiding and conquest warfare, like theres these bas-relief stone carvings called Las Danzantes which are actually depictions of sacrificial victims, most likely foreign captives. The architecture is also to die for like i’m a sucker for talud-tablero style stuff popping up in ancient Latin america. Also do i gotta say it? BALL COURTS!!! A recreation of the ancient ball game in a video game would be cool as shit my dudes like… please i want this so bad. Like how origins depicted mummification with respect I’d love to see the same kind of loving dedication to the funerary practices of the ancient peoples. (off topic completely but some latin american civilizations had their own forms of mummification) like i wanna see the abandonment of Monte Alban and the later use of it by the Mixtecs. But the most important thing about the celebration of the ancient Zapotec would be the ability to celebrate the modern Zapotec culture, that would just be cool. Ok I’ll finish up this train of ideas with the one i really really really want to see recreated, the original Teotihuacan, before the Aztecs found it. With the pyramids being painted and covered in beautiful carvings and, of course, talud-tablero style architecture. It's basically the biggest ancient city in mesoamerica with hidden cave systems that we are still finding today and so much of the ancient city was built over because it might've been covered up or eroded to the point where no one knew it was there, or because there wasn't really anyone who cared enough to uh, not build on top of historical sites. Modern mexico city is built all around and on top of it (apparently you can see Walmart from the top of the temple of the sun…) so its a huge ancient city that was really colorful and really populated with crazy ancient tunnels underneath the pyramids that we’ve only discovered recently so how fucking cool are those possibilities? Like i just can't get over the idea of some assassin-esque person climbing up red pyramids and sitting next to statues and carvings of Queztalcoatl painted in a turquoise. Ancient farms and city life thriving. From what we know about it, like many other ancient latin american cities it was abandoned at some point, exactly why is unclear though (probably a mix of things cause there wasn't any kings really but more like… neighborhood councils (that's the best guess rn)). It was an actual city though, most archaeologists compare it to modern cities due to its city planning and its huge population. What was left behind was so spectacular that when the Aztecs found it they legit thought it was the city of the gods. This was a real fucking city and I’m crazy about it man i want it in a fucking video game my dudes.

COWBOYS PLEASE. Like i know rdr2 came out so they probably wont do it (for a while at least) and they already have the gold rush assassin so they've dabbled with cowboy stuff but… cowboys… like theres nothing else to say really… Cowboys. Also like i know how AC is pretty much ass melee combat and cowboys means guns and lots of guns and bows and probably rope darts. But… folding swords. That my shitty solution to have melee combat, like syndicate had melee and some gun stuff cause duh, but it was mostly melee. Like you can make the game centered around stealth so a lot more sneaking then combat, kinda like in unity. I have a few ideas for this one but most of them play into my own personal cowboy wish fulfillment fantasy of owning a farm with snakes for the production of venoms and other toxins. It's hard to explain but i kinda really want to see someone with a snake/spider enclosure where they produce venoms for the protag to use. The specific time period i have in mind is like 1870-1888 but it could defo go later. It's just that was peak for a lot of famous gunslingers and robberies. And Mesa Verde was basically rediscovered in the late 1880’s (its kinda weird like it was “officially” discovered in 88 but others saw it before that soooo. Also Montezuma Castle would be cool to visit in game as well. I dont have have a lot of knowledge about mesa verde or Montezuma but i know they're cool af.) the wild west is just ripe with possibility so i have some hope they’ll do one in the future but i don't see it happening anytime within the next couple of years.

Please for the love of god give me a AC3/unity dual sequel. Set in 1798 Egypt before during and maybe a little after the french invasion of Egypt. There would be a ton to work around and justify to get that to happen in universe buuuuut… i want it so badly. I have a shit ton of ideas but im saving all of that for a rainy day.

I wouldn't mind if they actually did stuff with WWI, mostly cause i really like that one WWI assassin from project legacy and Lydia's whole thing was really cool.

Ok I’m kinda on burn out after all that cause I just… its 4 AM and i’m supposed to be writing a paper but I made this big fucking oops.

#Assassin's Creed #assassins creed #assassin’s creed #this is dumb sorry i just... gotta express this shit #my stuff

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