#would it be groundbreaking tv? definitely!

[honorarybuckley]

..

[purplechaosguardian]

Mom said it’s my turn on the writing

Alex stumbled through the door, mentally and physically drained. Another day working at the Foundation, another day of being kept in the dark, another day of feeling completely powerless. Nothing they could do about it now, a voice in their head reminded them. Nothing that could be solved by running themself even more ragged, anyways. Their stomach growled loudly. When was the last time they ate? That was what they were going to do next then. Get something to eat, find a dumb horror movie on tv, and shut off their brain for a while. That sounded nice.

They were far too tired to actually cook anything, settling for grabbing some bread and a jar of peanut butter out of the cupboard, then a jar of strawberry jelly from the fridge. Nothing particularly groundbreaking, but it was a classic for a reason. They were just about to settle down and relax when a large crash came from outside. “Goddammit.” The raccoons got into the trash again. They let out a sigh, rushing for the broom. They still clutched the sandwich. Not like this would take long. They were pretty skittish. Besides, the sooner he got outside, the less he had to clean up.

The air outside was crisp, a sure sign of autumn. They could see people already putting out decorations, strings of lights were draped across roofs and inflatable displays laid across yards, limp and lifeless. They felt their stomach churn.

Alex’s attention was drawn back to the trash cans. They were too far away from the streetlights to see what they were actually dealing with, but the faint outline of the toppled over cans and the sound of something digging through them was all the evidence they needed. It didn’t seem to have run off yet. Weird. Maybe it just didn’t hear them. They could fix that. They tapped the broom against the trash can. “Alright, get outta th-?” A figure rose from the piles of trash, staring down at them with yellow eyes and cat-like slits. Definitely not a raccoon.

The thing’s grin seemed to get bigger at the sight of them, and the next moment they were on the ground, wind knocked out of their lungs and the back of their head stinging. They must have dropped the broom when they fell. Not much good that would have done them, barely able to move under the thing’s weight and claws threatening to puncture something important.

Maybe it was panic, maybe it was an attempt to stay alive, but they flung the sandwich. It seemed to have caught the thing’s attention, because the next thing Alex knew, the weight on their chest was gone. They weren’t exactly sure why it would settle for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich when it was obviously looking at them like they were on the menu, but they sure as hell weren’t complaining. They quickly scrambled to their feet and ran back inside, making sure the door was locked. They looked out the kitchen window, and could see the thing staring back at them. In its claws was their sandwich, and a large bite had been taken out of it. It grinned again, and maybe, just maybe it looked more mischievous than malicious.

They let out a breath they hadn’t realized they were holding in, continuing to stare into the darkness.

“What the fuck.”

—-

“What the fuck.”

Of all things that could have happened next, it definitely wasn’t it coming back with a flimsy pad of paper with “sandwich please” messily scribbled in orange crayon.

“Where did you even get this?”

(A cashier watches as it approaches the counter, holding a pad of paper and a pack of crayons. It had been running around the store for a few minutes, seemingly looking for something. Not that the cashier intervened, this was a situation that was above her pay grade, and if she was being honest, was a nice distraction from the store’s playlist replaying for the fiftieth time. “Will that be cash or card?” Several pennies fall out of its hand, dropping onto the counter and rolling across the floor. The cashier signs.)

It shrugged.

Alex looked down at the pad of paper. They know they should be far more panicked, run back inside and call the police, but they couldn’t lie, the absurdity of a demon requesting a sandwich from them quickly snuffed out any horror they should be feeling. They looked back up at it. “What kind?”

“What’s your name?”

“Clyde”

“Mine’s Alex.”

[flimflamfandom]

Hi there, it’s me again. I hope you’re doing well and that you’re having a good day/night. Since it’s pride month where I’m at, I was wondering how Rocky got into fighting for LGBTQ+ rights as well as women’s rights? Was he an avid supporter since he was a young adult or was it later in life? 

Also, I was wondering how Rocky’s shows would work? What’s his comedic style? And did he ever talk about his activism stories openly in his shows? 

And, as a last question for now, do you have any other miscellaneous older Rocky trivia that you would like to share? If for some reason you can’t answer these questions then I completely understand. You’re busy with a new job if I can recall and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors. Please make sure you leave time for resting as well if/when you can, burnout’s no joke. I adore your future Lackadaisy headcannons! 

Hello! New job has been taxing, but fun. In any case, I CAN answer the questions!

FIRST

As far as activism in this case goes, most of his started during his later life in the 70s and 80s - Rocky was never particularly public about his sentiments towards the queer community until then.

His sentiments were definitely aligned with the community - he didn't have to be convinced to accept them - but after Stonewall, he started to try and add more gays into stories he pitched, shows he wrote, etc. He wasn't necessarily groundbreaking in this regard - it's very 70s style stuff - but he did his best to keep them from being the punchline.

During the AIDS crisis, he was notable for visiting friends of his who were patients - of which there were remarkably many. he wasn't going into any marches at this point in time, being in his 70s, and he was mostly retired, but he did contribute some TV episodes about the crisis here and there.

HIS SHOW

Rocky went through a few different forms of entertainment - first, of course, was radio. He was brought on to run a comedy show, which was structured around parodies of other radio shows, comic adaptations of dramas, and show-within-a-show episodes which were explicitly about running the show. Think of him as this universe's Jack Benny.

He transitioned to Television in the early 50s, and he did well there! He was notable for his show's transition, which was one of very few radio-to-TV bids that actually...y'know. Worked.

But he was ALSO notable for a game show, Ivory Towers, which ran from '55 to '62 - a quiz show where a group of college professors would compete against random attendees to answer questions. After being pretty much the only quiz show NOT to be cooking the books after the big Quiz Show scandals, it started to run with the subtitle of 'The Cleanest Racket in Town'.

OTHER TRIVIA

Rocky actually got a lot of fanmail from girls. It made his wife rather jealous.

In the OLD AU, I shipped Rocky with an OC named Loretta - she has been written out of existence.

Rocky once entered a pie eating contest and won, and wore a giant fake pie slice on his head for the next show. He became so well known for it that he would enter that contest annually until he died.

Rocky almost recorded a comedy album about Christmas - it never got released or published.

[tenok]

Still fuming about «Crowley’s so queer it makes Aziraphale looks straight» take. I saw some people saying «queer is not a political identity» as an argument against it... and actually I disagree. Queer is an identity that’s as much about politics and community as is about gender and orientation. «Queer as in fuck you» indeed! And while I’m pretty sure that if you’ll ask Aziraphale he will say that he’s queer because mentally he still in times where it was term preferred by community as whole (or he’ll say that «gay» is his gender because he still links gender and orientation together and it’s a habit thats hard to break), I’ll argue that he’s definitely queer by definition. And I won’t say that one of them more or less queer, I want to vomit just from thinking this, but he and Crowley definitely different flavors of queer; and the point is community.

See, the Crowley we see is not the very community-oriented being. He despises angels and demons alike, he’s not close with humans, through whole series we saw him connected with Aziraphale, maybe Warlock, Shadwell to some point and only as a subordinate he’s not really interested in (Aziraphale actually remembered all the names of soldiers Shadwell pulled from his ass, on the other hand [book, also in script if I remember correctly]). But for Aziraphale community is the whole deal. He links himself to communities: community of book collectors, for example ([in book at least]), community of angels (even in season two he regretfully said that he misses reporting back to his lot), as soon as he put his roots there he become part of British and specifically London community (immediately clocked as British by everyone, for better or for worse). And he’s clearly consider himself and considered by others as part of queer community. For example:

He’s clocked as specifically effeminate gay man (which is part of queer umbrella oh my god stop misuse of political slogans gay are not some kind of others that are lesser for being gay!!!) by everyone, to the point of getting called homophobic slurs (twice in book, once in series) and being targeted by literal Nazis. He’s not arguing or denying, he reclaims it: he’s not calling himself gay, he’s proudly declaring that he’s THE southern pansy (not very «hurray establishment» of him hmmm?). He looks so gay and safe that cemetery man from season 2 doesn’t see a problem in telling him he uses grindr!

Tied to this: he can present as anyone else, he chooses to look soft, gay, effeminate, he chooses to make silly sounds and flamboyant gestures, and as soon as he gets comfortable he likes to go a little campy (can you imagine Crowley in ribbons and frills? do we see male-presenting Crowley in pink silky shoes? would he fight to the death before you put him into pencil-drawen moustache and bright cape with shiny starts? yes he’s GNC! there’s more then one way to be GNC and one is not better then other because it’s in black and sexy!). I’ll argue that him choosing one comfortable presentation and stick to this is no less groundbreaking by heavens standards then «hoarding all the genders» since he’s not treats his corporation as «meat suite», he really had an identity tied to it!

And using this identity he becomes part of 100 guineas club. Part of gay/queer (it was in times where this distinction was meaningless) community with fellow queers, where he learned queer ways, such as dances, becoming part of queer culture as a whole (and should I remind you that back in days drag was mandatory part of such clubs? if we measuring queerness by how close it to cross-dressing apparently). He also collects literature by queer authors, immersing himself in this culture, again. Do I remember correctly that Oscar Wilde gifted him one of his books specifically? So we can safely assume he hangs with queer authors as well? Correct me if it’s not in canon (I’m freely mixing tv and book canon there btw although usually I treat them as two different things)

He also lives in Soho. He specifically chooses to live there, knowing perfectly well what a neighborhood it is (even back in 1600s it already had a Reputation). He knows what it says about him and he aims for it! (Crowley lives in Mayfair because it says something about him too — remember that while Aziraphale constructed himself around being soft and gay, Crowley intentionally made himself look as irrating rich asshole. If this asshole has vibes of sinister gay that would gladly corrupt you if you ask nicely, that’s another story) He is a part of this community! As a word of god, he: speaks Polari freely because he used it… with other queers (as oppose to Crowley that knows «bits» because he hangs out with criminals); he hide incriminating things from fellow Soho residents back when there were police raids (breaking law to help those in need is reacurring theme with him!). He still part of this community, he knows people, people knows him, he literally gives place to lesbian women for free so she can have her dream shop (supporting your local queer business!) (also great call back to Edingurg minisode! Aziraphale, personal saint of broke lesbians!)

I’ll also argue that letting in first Gabriel and next Muriel was a very queer of him. Queers help other queers: he may not like Gabriel, but «he has no other friends» (and he's homeless after being kicked out from heavens after disaster forbidden love affair with other queer being, hmmm? paralleles with reality of being queer much?), so he steps in. And Muriel, while being the same age as those two (we're NOT child-coding Muriel in this house), vibes as queer youth in needs of guidance, and Aziraphale, that had every right to be suspicious and cold to them, immediately lets them into safety of his shop and tries to be nice and supporting in both older queer and older ND cousin way.

So, in conclusion: Aziraphale is a queer being, that likes to make it clear that he’s queer and queer GNC man specifically; he’s part of queer community for at least couple hundred of years, participant in queer culture, and he watches out for other queers, helping his own as much as he can, using his money and other resources and breaking law to do so when needed. What there can make him look straight even as a joke?

Crowley is absolutely a queer being too, in very queer love with other queer being, and I'm sure he has a blast pocking into rules and boundaries of genders, orientations and all kinds of relationships since he loves questioning and testing so much. He also has a cool rebellious aesthetic and «fuck all» attitude, so it’s understandable that he becomes tumblrs queer icon (and being played by David Tennant helps for sure). But if you ask them both where’s local shelter for homeless queers located, one of them will have an answer and it won’t be a Crowley, or he wouldn’t sleep in his car (I'm joking), and this is as much of the part of being queer as having cool aesthetic or being kicked from home (I'm joking again). And it's a shame that some people want to make a competention out of it, because it gives us infinity possibilities to discuss their different experiences and choices, down to what their respective aesthetic choices says about them, and how they can use their strong sides to support each other! But alas.

[genericpuff]

Any thoughts on the girl wonder podcast ? ??The host seems to gloss over alot of things happening in LO, especially when talking about the episode with leuce and Persephone.

Nothing really, I think as an interviewer she's not exactly all that credible or groundbreaking because she approaches her "interviews" more like just sit-down one on one gushing sessions between a fan and their favorite creator, but if you want just like, a chill podcast of someone talking about comics they like with the odd interactions with those same creators, then her stuff is chill and she seems to have a lot of fun doing it. There's definitely nothing for me to really gain by listening to her LO-related stuff because her LO stuff is not for me, it's for fans, and that's fine.

Although there was her recent "interview" with Stephanie K Smith that she did that I talked about on stream that I really do wanna re-listen to and breakdown in an actual essay post here. Just because I think a lot of what Smith said really just further confirms how mismanaged the LO TV production is LMAO But I don't have any opinions regarding Girl Wonder specifically in that way (again at most I think her "interviews" are just very softball between a fan and a creator rather than trying to really dig at more information like a decent interview would), I'm more so just miffed with what Stephanie said throughout it.

[raisinchallah]

since you are a queerbaiting scholar, I have a question that I don't remember if you've ever covered. Do you think the t'hy'la footnote in the Star Trek TMP novelization could be considered an example of queerbaiting or is it just too iconic to fall under that category?

oh unequivocally like for clarification for people i guess who have a more narrow and specific definition of queerbait i do think it like kind of dodges around the entire central conceit of hoped for "gay representation" or something that is not really the lens i think its viewed thru in 70s fandom the way it was in 2010s as in like the way people frame queerbaiting they want characters to join this pantheon of confirmed gay characters fitting a mold of existing gay characters on tv to some degree and nobody was assuming like from that tease that kirk and spock would be portrayed as a couple in future movies or anything the way the queerbait dance between creator and fandom was portrayed in 2010s queerbait discourse but i think it was probably the first and most high profile attempt to date for a creator to try and mediate the relationship between the media property shippers and ship haters through like a direct communication of like canon material i guess like i would have to go on a pretty big deep dive back into some of the random star trek zines ive looked at to find sources again im struggling to find it right now but i know i read some various responses from fans at the time and kirk/spock shippers did react negatively to the footnote in much the same way people reacted to like ship tease jokes in classic queerbait tv shows on tumblr which i found really interesting people did think it was trying to shut kirk/spock shippers down just as much as people thought it was energizing them and speaking to them it really threads the needle so perfectly by like opening the door to a whole new type of possibility and whatever to the types of people who want that while also in text saying theyre not lovers hah hah isnt that weird which i think some fans also felt uncomfortable about because it was like shining a light on their niche corner of the fandom letting people know there were people who thought the relationship between kirk and spock might be romantic but again ive only read like two accounts of this so i honestly have no clue how widespread each type of reaction was i wonder if it also like re inflamed fights about if they do or dont have sex lol because that was a whole thing which is slash was for people who believed it was sexual vs kirk&spock was like homoerotic friendship to nonsexual romance fanfic and these were bitter fandom divides as well but of course and like this isnt to paint it all in a negative light but i do think the dissenting voices get a bit lost in the history and i thought it was kind of fascinating how similar a lot of the weird mediations felt to like some actor at comiccon 2012 saying well i dont know but it could be romantic you know it creates the perfect vessel for everyone to see what they want thru it so i think in many ways it was groundbreaking queerbait but also tbh did it better than anything else like truly stoking the fires of fan speculation and probably introduced a lot of people to the idea of "the premise" and planted the seeds in their minds to begin with and again few other queerbait texts are out here inventing special words that mean lover for the characters to call each other few people that bold like again somewhat different context but it does kind of feel like a first of its kind broaching into that messy dynamic between fans and the powers that be as they sometimes called them and truly a fascinating iconic piece of queerbait history

ok upon further looking i believe i must have read a scan of "a careful analysis: the roddenberry footnote" by christopher randolph (a pseudonym for della van hise the author of killing time) that was printed in the star trek zine naked times issue #3 but i have been unable to locate an actual link to the full text beyond the excerpts from fanlore here [x]

[bigfootbeat]

Patterson-Gimlin Film, Greatest Hoax or Evidence Ever

On October 20, 1967, Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin took the Patterson-Gimlin film. It is now a key piece of both the Bigfoot debate and the field of cryptozoology. The movie was shot in Bluff Creek, California, and shows a big, hairy, two-legged animal walking quickly along the bank of a creek while looking back at the camera. This short encounter, which lasted less than a minute, has caused a long-lasting debate that people are still interested in. For believers, the movie is the most important wildlife video ever made. In their defense, they say that the movie's subject has traits that would be very difficult to fake effectively. Supporters, for example, point out that the creature walks naturally and fluidly, and that you can see muscles moving under its fur. This suggests a level of anatomical detail that would be difficult to duplicate with the technology available in the 1960s.

Several experts, including anthropologists and special effects artists, have looked at the movie frame by frame and concluded that the creature's proportions and limb movements don't look like those of a human and are eerily similar to what one would expect from an undiscovered primate. People who believe the story also point to the fact that Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin have stuck by their story of what happened, even though they have been skeptics and made fun of it over the years. Patterson, who died in 1972, stuck to his story until the end. Gimlin, who initially avoided the spotlight, has also kept his word. Skeptics, on the other hand, think that the Patterson-Gimlin film is a clever hoax that is ultimately flawed. They say that the creature in the movie is just a man in a suit, and that the "muscle movement" and "natural gait" might be possible with good acting and smart costuming. Critics often highlight the role of outfit designers and special effects artists. Philip Morris, for instance, claimed to have sold Patterson a gorilla suit suitable for the movie. Skeptics also look closely at the events leading up to the filming, pointing out problems with the timeline and the fact that Patterson, a Bigfoot fanatic, was working on a documentary about the creature, which some see as an excuse for staging the experience. The lack of supporting evidence, such as more clear sightings, physical remains, or undeniable footprints, makes the case against the film's authenticity even stronger. As technology has improved, the argument over the Patterson-Gimlin film has grown even stronger. These days, digital tools for analysis make it possible to look at the video in more detail than ever before. Certain studies have reinforced the authenticity of the movie by revealing details previously unobservable with outdated technology. Others, on the other hand, have found problems that point to a possible fake. There have been many efforts to definitively prove or disprove the film's authenticity, but it remains a mysterious piece of evidence that neither side can claim for sure.

The Patterson-Gimlin movie had a big effect on culture. It has become a symbol of the Bigfoot story, and it has been the subject of many articles, books, and TV shows. The movie's creature, often referred to as "Patty," has come to represent Bigfoot itself. It doesn't matter if you think the movie is a groundbreaking wildlife video or a masterful hoax; it changed the way people thought about and were interested in cryptozoology. In the end, the Patterson-Gimlin film is a testament to the long-lasting wonder of Bigfoot because it sits at the edge of belief and skepticism. It will always have a place in history, both as a piece of video footage and as a cultural symbol that makes us think about how much we know about the natural world and how creative people can be. People are still amazed and skeptical about the movie, which means that individuals will continue to argue about how real it is and whether or not Bigfoot exists for generations to come.

[pickypickypeak]

It's kinda sad that Disney's films with a black leads get the short of the stick

Tiana is well loved but she was a frog for most of the movie and that people care more about the tropes in her movie over the issues that were present

Ethan Clade is a decent character and Disney (the animation studio, not the whole company) proper first gay character who is one of the main character from not a minor character but no one didn't watch his movie because they were too busy complaining about the lack of original films, oh the irony

And finally Asha, who is deliberately meant to be an homage to the classic heroines without needing to a princess with a love interest, but is lauded as the real villain because of the wonky premise that idiots immediately use to describe her and her movie bad and only care about her if she's paired with an imaginary Jack Piss-in-the-Snow boyfriend they made up based on a concept art that never said anything about her being in a romance with

Mmm… I wouldn’t say tiana gets “the short of the stick” yes there are alt right idiots using her as a scapegoat to “prove” we white people are oppressed (“they should do white tiana next!!🤡”) which sucks but overall like you said I think she’s well loved and put among the best disney princesses by the ACTUAL disney fandom (because she is. Sorry not sorry) also she’s getting a tv show which is possibly becoming a sequel?? I mean there most definitely are movies that did WAY worse than princess and the frog lol (home on the range? Chicken little?)

Yeah, strange world was a very unfortunate movie coming out in a very unfortunate time. Kinda same with wish. It’s not really about skin color in their cases imo though.

I don’t wanna dive too deep into this “race” matter because I’m not black so I don’t really know what these characters and their reception mean to the black community in terms of rep, but hey – literally no offense anon I know you’re coming from a good place – while I like addressing these issues let’s also talk about the positive aspects! Being negative about people being negative is what keeps the negativity going lol, let’s show them reasons why these characters are awesome instead!

Tiana and ethan were both groundbreaking characters for different reasons, tiana was the first afro-american princess which was HUGE at the time and ethan was disney’s first gay character who is actually gay on screen??? I’m kinda relieved we skipped all the hate for that lol, youtubers would have been insufferable about it if it became a hit. But I’m happy some kids will have this movie to look up at as they grow older, I’m sure it’ll mean the world to them to see it so normalized in s disney movie.

And finally asha being a blending of classic and modern disney heroines brought a smile on the face of people who actually watched her movie without prior biases. Wish was just not for everyone. It’s cool.

(Also you wanna know about a disney leading black lady who doesn’t get enough credit????? BRANDY’S CINDERELLA!!!!! I ONLY WATCHED IT RECENTLY I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT MOVIE IS NOT A DISNEY MAINSTREAM!!!! IT’S SO GOOD!!!!!!)

[infecto-groovalistic]

From the first moment I laid eyes upon him, I decided I liked him. That was saying something, because I don’t much like anyone. I can’t afford to like or trust anyone. Not anymore.

He slunk in one morning, head down, eyes x-raying the floor, shoulders tense and overall trying to look like he didn’t exist. I saw him appear in the doorway and quickly slip into the armchair Magda pointed out to him. He didn’t look around or make a noise or speak. He just sat there, as straight as he could in the sagging cushions of the blue and white striped armchair. He clasped his hands together tightly and placed them carefully on his lap, the thumbs facing the ceiling. A moment later his hands unclasped and one hand flew to his mouth where he began gnawing on a fingernail. Then, as though realising the full extent of his habit, he removed his fingers from his mouth and reclasped his hands back in his lap. Then he began to twiddle his thumbs instead. My eyes drifted away from the distracting hands and to his face. God, he was young. Too young to be in a place like this. He must be pretty fucked up. His face was pale, like it had been cast in moonlight. I twisted my head to check his eyes. His face may have looked like moonlight, but there were definitely no stars in his eyes. They were hazel, I could tell. I couldn’t see. But I didn’t need to see. I just knew. He had the whole ‘poor baby’ thing going too, but, to his credit, he wasn’t exploiting it. On my first days I would’ve killed to have the “poor little victim baby” thing going.

A shout of laughter rippled through the room and he jumped. Scared, he cautiously looked up only to find everyone fixated on the stupid television. He took a quick glance around the room, assuming everyone was watching the television. I wasn’t. I was still watching him. I focused on his lips now. Straightaway I could tell that those lips had touched another person and was disappointed. But there was no love on his face. There were no remnants of who had kissed him in his eyes or mouth or soul. He had hidden the memory of them inside of him and that distinctly annoyed me. If people hide things, then they have to actually look to find them. It’s okay if you lose them, or misplace them, or put them somewhere else, you can still stumble across them. Just like your first kiss. If it was a good memory, don’t try and hide it somewhere – just put it somewhere. If you hide it, you’ll never just stumble across it. But, if you forget it or misplace it, you never know when it might come back. You never know when it’ll pop up in your subconscious and give you a nice surprise. But if it’s a bad kiss, you try to forget and lose the memory so you’ll never stumble across it again. It’s quite sad actually when people forget to lose a memory and are haunted by it for the rest of their lives. But the brain is not just like a filing system, or a big tunnel with two exits saying ‘keep’ or ‘chuck’. You can’t physically file your memories; you don’t actually get to decide which ones you lose for good or which ones you simply misplace. I’m the only one who knows this, so, naturally, I know how to do it. If I’m really bored and Jasper is not here I sort through the week’s memories and file them, but a lot of the time I just let them go, it’s no big deal once you’ve cracked the secret. Though I bet if anyone else did it would be groundbreaking. Imagine being able to lose memories of a tragic childhood incidence or forget all the deaths you’ve witnessed. Think of how much a doctor or an ambulance officer would give to be able to forget things like that.

So, that’s how all memories work. Don’t ask me how I know – I just know. And now you know, so if I hear of a groundbreaking new study about memories I’ll know. I’ll even understand if you don’t credit me. After all, I’m just a teenage kid and that doesn’t give me much credibility, does it?

Back to the new kid. He’s taken up staring at the TV now, instead of his lap. I hate that TV! Doesn’t anyone realise how easily that box kills your brain cells? Annoyed, I ground my teeth together so hard Ben turned around.

“That’s not a good idea now, is it?” he said in his annoyingly calm, orderly way.

I purposely rolled my eyes and ceased the grinding. I don’t want to be here. I hated TV time. They think that we’re all so interested in who gets voted off American Idol. Who cares? Half of them can’t sing anyway. My money’s on the chick, and I don’t even watch the show. She’s gonna win though, I knew it. I shuffled in my armchair so my back is resting against one padded arm and my legs are propped over the other. Another ripple of laughter courses the room and I glanced at the television, wondering what was so funny about American Idol. Only, it’s not Idol that on but some crap TV sitcom. Holy shit! Quick! I need something to gouge my eyes out with and deafen myself with before too much of this stupidity seeps into my brain. Somebody must’ve changed the channel because now that I think about it, I don’t recall the sounds of American Idol at all this session. I must be slipping. How could I let such a little observation slip past me? Oh yeah, it was the arrival of that new kid. The one with messy, once-styled black hair. I could still smell the gel he used to use in it. Yeah, of course he’s washed it since he came here, but, like I said, I know stuff. And I know he used to gel his hair.

There is a quiet click but to my ears it is so loud because I have been awaiting it all day. The TV is off! Hallelujah!

“Lunchtime!” said Magda in an overly cheery voice, beaming at us all.

I moaned and purposely took my time unhooking my legs from the arms of the chair. I desperately hoped Ben didn't decide to wait for me. However, he’s not waiting for me but instead for the new little black haired kid who was sitting trying to look as inconspicuous as possible in his armchair. He offered a hand to the kid to pull him out of the chair. The black-haired kid learnt the hard way how difficult it is to extract yourself from the cushions of that particular chair. It swallows you in; sucks your arse in the base of the chair. I chuckled as he gripped the arm and tried to haul himself out.

“Here, let me help. Can I touch your arm?” Ben asked carefully, his hand still extended and quite close to the boy’s.

The little victim shook his head violently and retracted his hands, terrified, clutching them close into his body, staring up at Ben like he was threatening him. Ben holds up his hands hastily, indicating no contest.

I raised an eyebrow to myself and passed Ben on my way to the door. I paused, my back facing the two and shook my head slowly. I turned back around to face them both, smirking.

“What are you smirking at, Gerard?” Ben snapped, watching the kid and looking defeated.

I raised a finger to indicate patience then began to slowly undo the tie around my neck. Slowly, systematically, and carefully I undid it, preferring to reverse every step rather than loosen it. I took it off my neck and dangled it in front of the kid’s chair. He’s watching me with such intense scrutiny I’m quite affronted. If I was mocking him, he would know, and would not have to resort to attempting to read me. He finally decided my intentions were pure, or whatever; he just finally took the loop of the tie I held out to him. In one swift motion I hauled him out onto his feet. He staggered for a bit but I didn’t move to steady him. He didn’t want anyone to touch him. I had to respect that. If he fell and cracked his head, I wouldn’t touch him. If it was against his wishes to be touched, then I wouldn’t do it. It wasn’t that hard to comprehend.

Once out of the chair he was steadily going bright red. I let go of the tie and it fell, slack, in his hands. He bundled it up and held it out to me. I shook my head and made my way to lunch; I was hungry, after all.

I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE IM GOING TO SMASH YOUR DANGER DAYS CD ALSO KILL YOURSELF

[buckleydiazes]

the thing is, if byler isnt endgame, i'm not going to be angry about shipbaiting or mike not being confirmed queer or 'losing the ship war' against melvins or whatever. what i'll be angry about is that it would be a shit writing decision that leaves all three characters in the love triangle ultimately miserable, even if they try to cover it up with a no really everyone is perfectly happy! sort of ending.

m*leven does not work at its core. aside from liking to kiss each other, their relationship is regularly in turmoil. they don't communicate well. their relationship is shallow. they make each other insecure. they do not meet each other's needs, despite caring about each other deeply.

comparatively, byler does have a basis for a good relationship. they know each other better than anyone else. they communicate both verbally and nonverbally. they have shared interests and enjoy talking to each other about things beyond kissing or the latest monster/villain. they make each other feel secure and safe and cherished. they are complimentary in basically every way.

if the duffers decide not to go the byler route, then mike & el continue to stay in an unhappy relationship for the sake of... fanservice? convenience? conventionality? and will continues to be another sad gay character who is in unrequited love with a straight boy but it's okay because he's just so selfless. how groundbreaking. definitely what we need more of on tv. /s

[malikarchive]

A Deep Dive Into The Beat-Tape "reflective" By Aerate and Areyetee

Written by Me, Malik (aka kingmalik)

On November 3, 2023, the beat scene world was shocked by storm when rising producers aerate and areyetee dropped their surprise collaboration project "reflective". Till this day the project stands as one of the most cohesive and groundbreaking projects of the post-dirteesoulhop era beat scene. And with aerate (aka PSICOSE) gaining some extra traction in the scene after winning Dibiase's beat battle, I think it's about time we shed light on, in my opinion, one of his best projects to date, a partnership/collaboration made in heaven resulting in "reflective"

We are introduced to the project with what sounds like clips of random vhs samples, and then a sampled house track, which instantly lets you know what the inspiration and direction of the project will be.

Words from the producers : 

Malik - “so what was the thought process behind the tape?”

Aerate -” Honestly like i was in the mindset of like trying to keep it as coherent and smooth as possible. From my POV it was like putting pieces of a puzzle together”

Areyetee - “i kinda just sent chops and made beats and let roy do the busywork so yea what he said lol”

Malik - well it definitely did come out cohesive. With that being said was there any moments in the tape, whether it be transitions or sample choices that were purposeful?

Aerate -"Im glad you asked that cuz frankly i rarely see appreciation for like skits or transitions

The art of finding random vhs rips on youtube and finding that little piece of audio gold is most of the time completely accidental LOL

you never really know when youre going to find a little piece of audio that sounds absolutely perfect and i live for that really” 

Areyetee - “yea all the transitions and skits n shit were heavily scrutinized i would say. i did do all the transitions and skits on my side of the tape so I guess that's my contribution to keeping it cohesive. just making sure it sounds clean and there's a good balance between music and downtime was all basically”

On sample choices 

Aerate - And as for this i mean.....im a house fanatic so most of the chops and samples i sent were of house songs LMFAO”

“im on a road to making sure everyone flips house at least once”

Areyetee - “on the other side of that though i feel like you’ve carved your niche in this scene with to the point where to me it sounds like im biting u most of the time i try to flip house LOL

Aerate - “Its kinda funny cuz like whereas im not that great at flipping rnb and i dont flip it often, most of the niggas in this scene are like fuckin pros at it

"Its the status quo atp”

The first track, whatsmissing is what sounds like a soul sample accompanied by fast kicks & heavy sidechain, giving it a stutter-y feel. as if the voices on the sample are struggling to breath, but just pushing through and the catchy drum pattern guides u through it with a bounce .

Appealing to the cohesion of this project, onme is seamless transition from what’s missing, the beat takes you aback by its complete abstractness. you just got hit by surprise. and just as your getting used to the beat , the drums disappear and the beat is broken down and there's a tv ad esque transition into the next beat

The third track righthere is a simple flip of the airy intro to singer Olivia's "its on again” from the early sounds of 2000’s r&b gives the audience a moment to take in what was just heard. this is probably my favorite out of the whole tape as the snare rolls keep the accelerated beat pattern thru the first few beats continue, and what sounds like bird sounds give off the feeling of being one with nature, floating.

getyou is another fast kick heavy beat, drum pattern carrying the groove of the track. and throughout you hear what sounds like a female voice coming in and out which reminds me of that house/disco sound. To further the musical ride we are on with this project, the beat is broken down and a vhs rip is brought in to transition to the next beat

The track fun sounds just like its name, I might be reaching but the voice in the sample it sounds like he’s saying fun at some moments, one of my personal favorites off the tape.

On sequence we get a lowpassed sample that is a pleasurable contrast to the chaos heavy part of the tape. not much to say abt it but its repetitiveness was addicting and you get lost in it's sauce, one of those tracks you upload an extended version of 10 minutes up on YouTube to.

Next up, the beat for spring is introduced gradually with a spaced out sample before we get those avant-garde drum patterns we all know good and well from aerate. as the beat ends we hear the words “spring” shouted out as it dissolves to nothing but white noise..

The track aura, brings what sounds like a more jazzier approach to the sampling in this project, with the closed hat and snare combo clashing against each other it feels like the drums are having a conversation with the sample, with more drums being added to the track as the song progresses, definitely one of those tracks you have to put both earbuds in to fully grasp what's happening. This track feels like the beauty behind chaos.

The interlude marks the end of the first half of the tape, where aerate’s distinctive drum and mixing style flourished.

On Excellentmecha we instantly hear a change in mixing choices, the drum pattern sounds completely new. We’ve reached areyettes side of the tape

On Wayward the beat starts with just the kick and the sample before the rest of the drum pattern comes in one by one. And once it reaches a climax, white noise is introduced, the drum pattern is taken out and the kick and the sample are left in. the detailed yet simple sound of this beat is reminiscent of the “soulhop” sound like that of ohbiliv, yet with a house inspired take on it.

The track heaven is a house sample chopped and sidechained by the kick in a way that keeps you hooked and addicted to the weird vocal placement. The vocal sample makes it one of the more standout tracks from this tape.

On Incomingfire areyetee shows off his crazy side with a groovy chaotic beat that quite literally sounds like.. incoming fire 

With the track Deject, this might just be my ears making its own comparisons but this track has a heavy benja influenced sound to it. 

And continuing the common theme of cohesiveness, the stuttering end of Deject takes you into backhere .

off the strength of the stuttering transition, backhere's never ending snare rolls work well with the beat and the transition as it all feels in one with each other. With this track the project got somehow even more experimental, with the snare rolls acting as ear candy reminiscent of gun shots. The piano and ambient sounds coming in and out keep u hooked, before the beat is slowed down and video game esque transitions come in flowing through both backhere and the next track

glad (remix) marks one of the only tracks where we get a definitive female voice present in the track, a noticeable contrast in aerate’s sample choices . fun fact, this was a spin on a previous beat called “glad” by aerate. The reason for the remix - “I just felt the original beat was lacking in its impact and i knew areyetee could do the chops way more justice than i did so i sent them his way” - aerate

The track aqua comes as one of the more laid back calmer beats of this project, the (as what i like to call them) “michael jackson chords” keep u relaxed throughout the track. Before the beat ends and the transition comes in. Looking at this track and its placement retrospectively it could be signaling the end of the road-trip this beattape serves as.

The penultimate track Train feels like the accumulation of all the inspiration the project pulled from. after all the house samples and influences throughout the tape, we finally get that staple “kick on the 1 2 3 and 4” drum pattern on a track.

On The outro the tape closes out with yet another vhs rip and brings to an end to a very cohesive and smooth tape. 

To me, this tape sounded like a statement, aerate and areyetee staking their claim as one of the best producers out, this project was the result of chemistry and synchronization between the two. In my opinion the tracks aura and heaven are the defining tracks of this project as they serve as aerate and areyetee's coordination at it's finest points.

If you haven't heard this project yet, this is your sign to check it out.

Peace, Malik

[silviatheorbit]

One of a Kind Album Review!

I will be repeating this all summer for sure! I really love this direction sound-wise for Loossemble. The album all together is a 8.5/10.

Before I rank each track individually,

Track 1 : Intro (A butterfly's signal)

A pretty good intro! ngl the beginning scared me, I thought we were going to go to a sound more like Birth if you know what I mean...But anyway, someone said it sounded like Burn the Bridge (by le sserafim) and I kind of hear it, not to mention the spoken lyrics as well (which le sserafim does for their intros). I don't really mind, though. I still like Searching for their Friends better just because it feels so grand, but this is a different concept so I understand why they sound different. A solid 8/10.

Track 2: Girls' Night

Overall, I do like it. I especially love the chorus and post-chorus. What definitely made me enjoy it more is having heard some of the instrumental beforehand. The first verse got me hooked, same with the pre-chorus. The chorus has a lot of overlapping ad-libs which was very confusing on my first listen, but listening to it again I actually love the chorus. The bridge is okay, not groundbreaking but it does the job. You'll notice I've avoided talking about one part in particular, and that's the 2nd verse. In my first album review, I had the same problem with sensitive. The talk - rapping completely ruins the overall mood of the song. It at least seemed less out of place in Sensitive. But in Girls' Night, with a much different concept, it sticks out like a sore thumb. I already layed out my other issues about talk rapping in the Loossemble review, you can find them there. If the 2nd verse had been different, this would have had a higher score. But alas, we'll have to settle for a 8.5/10. It's a good title track that could have been great.

Track 3: Moonlight

While the beginning starts out with an undefined ballad vibe, the song slowly solidifies into something more substantial by the chorus. Comparing the beginning to the chorus, most people wouldn't think they were part of the song. Bizarrely, the change works well. I can't exactly point out what genre this song is, but I like it. I probably won't listen to it much, but it's certainly not bad. A 8/10.

Track 4: Boomerang

Why...just why...this type of song, reminiscent of Oops! by Loona is my least favorite. The chorus is really not that bad, but the verses are abrasive and not in a good way. It's saving grace is the bridge, carrying So What's torch with ethereal bridges. As Hyunjin says in Boomerang, "So high up in the air, you'll fly away". I have nothing else to say. 6.5/10, the .5 is from the bridge.

Track 5: He Said I Said

Since this was my favorite from the track previews, I'm not suprised how much I like He Said I Said. It's a spring track through and through, I love it. Right before the last chorus when Hyunjin says, "You are my only desire" is my favorite part of the song. It just scratches an itch in brain. I need it in a loop. 9.5/10.

Track 6: Truman Show

My favorite track??? It reminds me of Day by Day in a way. I love that Yves, her sister, and Gowon did the lyrics together! Speaking of lyrics, the meaning of this song is so interesting.

I see 2 meanings to the lyrics,

the first: Unrequited love, using the metaphor of Truman Show. In case you didn't know, Truman Show is a movie about a man who's whole life is being broadcasted on TV, everything around him is fabricated, his friends, family, neighbors. The lyricists say that, "This is my own Truman Show that just endеd", meaning they thought their crush loved them but in reality the narrator was only imagining it. It was all fake, like everything around Truman in the movie.

the second: About someone going through a breakup (probably because the other person cheated). In this version, the narrator's partner was faking their love all along, hence fake like Truman Show. I think this interpretation is most likely the one the lyricists intended

Thank you Loossemble for giving us this masterpiece!!! Some lyrics that stood out to me:

Say anything to me Lie to me sweetly

This is my own Truman Show that just ended It's like I'm throwing it away, sorry, too bad (Too bad) The acting was quite clumsy, too late

I don't know who I am, in this empty heart

Track 7: Starlight

Lyricist Hyunjin appears again for her 2nd ballad. This is probably my 2nd favorite, not as good as Day by Day but still memorable. Some lyrics that stand out to me:

Even when the cold wind blows, inside my heart There's only one thing that burns, your light

You filled me up with starlight Dyed in your color

Closing Thoughts: Thanks for making it all this way! Not as good as their debut album but not bad either. I'm so glad we got to see the members be more involved in production. Especially Hyeju writing the lyrics for the title track was pretty crazy. It was so cool to hear the underappreciated members of Loona have the spotlight. Can't wait to see what Loossemble does next!

[butterbeerandlemoncakes]

Books of 2023

The ABC Murders, Agatha Christie--This is probably one of my favorite Poirot novels. It keeps you on your toes and as always with Agatha Christie, there’s a surprise twist (or two!)

1984, George Orwell--I feel like this is another book that has been lost to the times. When it first came out, I’m sure it was a phenomenal read--it predicts a dystopian future in a surveillance state, which, at this point, maybe hits a little too close to home for some. The ‘big bad’ and scary suggestions for the future in this book are, at this point in our lives, fairly normal feeling, or things that we’ve since in more recent sci-fi novels and tv shows, done bigger and scarier. So, while I’m sure it set up the foundation for which many of these new things were based on, I was fairly bored reading this book, and did not finish it.

Finn Fancy Necromancy, Randy Henderson--This was a fun, light read. It follows the story of a boy who was framed for a crime he didn’t commit, and his journey of discovery after completing his sentence. 

The Diviners, Libba Bray--A supernatural-esque mystery story set in New York in the 1920s? What else can you ask for? This book was actually really good, it had a well rounded set of diverse and interesting characters, and was a good mix of a scary read and a fun read. 

The City We Became, NK Jemisin--This was a really interesting book--it’s hard to explain without giving too much away, but it was a very unique writing style overall, with subtle shifts in narration for when a different character was telling their part of the story. It explored a new concept, I think, in writing and storytelling, which I really enjoyed.

Shadow and Bone, Leigh Bardugo--I’m a bit biased because I saw the show first, but that and a friend convinced me enough to read the book, and I loved it! The TV show stays pretty accurate to this book, at least (I’ve heard it strays from some of the later ones). Although it has some of the typical fantasy YA romance tropes, I still really enjoyed this book, and it had enough new and interesting ideas to keep me hooked and interested in the book. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

Moby Dick, Herman Melville--It’s taken me literal years to finish this one because I was reading it on my phone so would read it while riding to work and then forget about it for months on end and then pick it up again. BUT regardless, I really enjoyed it! I can see why a lot of high schoolers hate it, she’s DENSE. There’s a lot of explanation and things that aren’t necessarily plot-related going on in the book, which I enjoy, but I can see why others wouldn’t. Another one that I’d maybe recommend reading the abridged version of, but I really liked it!

Dune, Frank Herbert--Having watched the newest movie beforehand really helped me with this one. It’s a FANTASTIC book, but there are a lot of moving parts, politics, and characters with similar names, that I definitely would have gotten confused and frustrated if I hadn’t have had the movie to base things off of. That being said, would highly recommend reading. A lot times with old sci-fi books like this, they don’t live up to the hype because like, they may have been groundbreaking at the time they came out, but our expectations have risen so much since then. However, for a book that came out in 1965, this one still holds up. It definitely kept me interested throughout the book, which is saying something, because she’s THICK.

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Eveyln Hardcastle, Stuart Turton--This was a really good book with a fresh new take on murder mystery/whodunits. Essentially, the narrator wakes up each day as a new person, reliving the events of the same day over and over again until he can solve the murder. It was a really interesting concept and I thought very well executed.

[samcarpnter]

hey so is it really bad? the netflix atla? i can't even bring myself to watch it, i have such low expectations already. would it be a total waste of time? 😬

just to preface, my roommate and I (who are big fans of the original show) tapped out after episode 3, so I can’t exactly speak for the rest of the show (made sure not include any big spoilers either)

id say objectively, looking at it as a tv show and not an adaptation, it’s fine. nothing groundbreaking or award worthy but not a complete disaster. visuals are nice, if maybe a little inconsistent, and the action is pretty good, but the writing and pacing definitely is a little all over the place.

as an adaptation though, big oof. maybe im just still riding on the high of the pjo show’s wonderful adaptation, but it really wasn’t good. even the weird plot changes aren’t that big of problem, they just butchered the characterizations of so many crucial characters which is a big part of what made the original show so good. some other people have described it as all ‘tell’ and not ‘show’ and i couldn’t think of a better way to phrase it. the characters and world don’t develop organically and it really hurts the show, which is what happens when you try to condense a season of 20 episodes into 8 … even with longer run times it just doesn’t flow well.

idk I just wish we could stop making live action adaptations of animated masterpieces, it rarely works (I really can’t even think of any example unless you want to count some of the Cinderella adaptations)

[vintage1981]

Dr. Who & The Daleks: The Official Story of the Films by John Walsh Available Now from Titan Books

The definitive guide to the making of the classic 1960s Dr. Who movies, lavishly illustrated and packed with insights into these beloved films.  

Dr. Who and the Daleks: The Official Story of the Films is the definitive guide to the making of Dr. Who and the Daleks and Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. The first and only big-screen adaptations of the long-running TV series, the films, starring Peter Cushing as the titular time-traveller, are beloved by fans – and the Daleks, in glorious Technicolor, have never looked better.

Author and film expert John Walsh has unearthed a treasure trove of archive material, interviews and stunning artwork, and takes us through the whole process of translating the metal monsters from small screen to big. In-depth information on the production, design, casting and special effects is accompanied by full-colour illustrations, including props, posters, and behind-the-scenes photography – making it the perfect gift for fans of the films.

About the Author

John Walsh is an award winning filmmaker with a focus on social justice. His work ranges from television series to feature films. He is a double BAFTA and double Grierson Awards nominee for his groundbreaking work. John’s 1989 documentary on Ray Harryhausen (Movement Into Life) is held in the Ray and Diana Foundation‘s archive. John also produced HD audio and film commentary recordings with Ray in his final years.

Hardcover | $50.00 Published by Titan Books Dec 05, 2022 (UK) Dec 20, 2022 (US) | 160 Pages | 10 x 12 | ISBN 9781803360188  

REVIEW

By Brandon Gantt

Dr. Who & The Daleks: The Official Story of the Films is a title that I have eagerly looked forward to since it was announced. Filmmaker and author John Walsh has the golden touch (or pen) when writing definitive guides on classic cult cinema. He’s done it thrice over with his tomes, Harryhausen: The Lost Movies (2019), Flash Gordon: The Official Story of the Film (2020), and Escape From New York: The Official Story of the Film (2021), all for Titan Books. To say my expectations were high would be an understatement. Consumers and reviewers highly regarded all three previous titles, and all were nominated for Rondo Hatton Classic Horror awards!

Luckily Dr. Who & The Daleks: The Official Story of the Films lives up to Walsh’s previous titles and my lofty expectations! John takes control of TARDIS and drops us effortlessly back to the swinging sixties, where Dalekmania was running wild, culminating in the two 1960s Doctor Who film adaptations, Dr. Who and the Daleks and Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. John does an admirable job of painting a vivid picture of the making of these two films, drawn from lots of archive material, interviews, unseen artwork, and gloriously restored and colourised photos by Clayton Hickman. The book examines the complete production process for both films, including production, design, casting, and distribution, all accompanied by a cornucopia of illustrations, behind-the-scenes photos, posters, and props that I’ve never seen before. The overseas promotional campaigns are always fascinating, as Doctor Who had yet to become the worldwide phenomenon it is today.

This book is a must-purchase. Whether you are a fan of Doctor Who or just cinema, John Walsh has done a magnificent job capturing the excitement and enthusiasm of 1960s Doctor Who.

Interview with John Walsh

[fic-history]

Star Trek: Fic and Fandom

As we explored in the last post, fanfiction has been around for a while, but before Star Trek, it wasn’t really ever in fanzines. Fiction about fans was, but usually not fanfiction in the way that we consider it to be now. In 1967, that all changed for good.

Star Trek had just started airing its second season in September, the same month the first issue of the fanzine Spockanalia. Created by Devra Langsam and Sherna Comerford, the zine was initially meant to be a one-shot, but the second issue was published in April of the following year. It was quickly joined by many, many more zines, each with their own stories and other content.

^ The front cover of Spockanalia Issue #1, featuring Mr. Spock illustrated by Kathy Bushman.

ST-Phile 1 was published January 1968, and the first issue of Warp Nine: A Star Trek Chronicle dropped in February 1969. In June of the same year, Ruth Berman released T-Negative, a zine named for Mr. Spock’s blood type, that would go on to run for 10 years. In Joan Marie Verba’s book Boldly Writing: A Trekker Fan and Zine History, 1967-1987, you can find a comprehensive history of the first 20 years of Star Trek fanzines.

^The front cover of Boldly Writing by Joan Marie Verba.

Star Trek was the first fandom to make fanfiction (as we know it today) an integral, collaborative part of its culture. Prior to ST, this kind of fanfic wasn’t really published in science fiction zines. So many people wrote fanfiction about Star Trek that there were multiple zines dedicated to fic alone (Jamison, 2013).

Not only was Star Trek the first fandom to routinely publish modern fanfiction in fanzines, but it is also home to the first published slash fic, unsurprisingly featuring Kirk and Spock. The story, “A Fragment Out of Time '' by Diane Marchant, was published in the 1974 third issue of the fanzine Grup. It was unique not only because it was most likely the first slash fic, but also because it was initially unclear as to the genders/sexes of the two people having sex in the story. Marchant cleared this up in Grup’s next issue, and it’s now definitively clear that the two characters in the story are Kirk and Spock.

Another groundbreaking fanfic is the Kraith series, which was originally authored by Jacqueline Lichtenberg, co-author of the first published book on media fandom Star Trek Lives!. The Kraith series explored the planet Vulcan and its society, and several other authors helped to write installments of the story over time.

Despite the fact that the original TV series aired its final episode in June of 1969, Star Trek definitely isn’t a dead fandom; new and OG fans are still active and new installments of official Trek media are being released constantly. Just because a fandom is older doesn’t mean it has any less life in it!

Happy reading!

-KP

Further Reading:

The Sandy Hereld Memorial Digitized Media Fanzine Collection

Star Trek: Slash and Suits by Colleigh Stein