#ballad of ebbs

[luminafights]

░ 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭: 𝟔/𝟏𝟔-𝟔/𝟑𝟎 ⠀   𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟑.𝟎 ⠀   ᴛᴇᴀᴍ ᴀ: Abysm Sovereign Sylus, R0 ⠀   ᴛᴇᴀᴍ ʙ: Lemurian Sea God Rafayel, R0 ⠀   ᴛᴇᴀᴍ ᴄ: Abysswalker Rafayel, R0

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⠀⠀⠀☑ Stella Match⠀⠀☐ Brute Force ⠀⠀⠀☑ 36/36 ⠀⠀⠀☐ +20%⠀⠀☐ +30%⠀⠀☑ +40% ⠀⠀⠀☑ Video

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First SHC with Lemurian Sea God! Ignore my 20% OR for Team B, it's not needed, I only put that on for the DEF substats. This was a good season for me overall!

𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲── .✦

The question marks Seasonal Boost Memories were so funny LOL

𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐀── .✦

𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐁── .✦

𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐂── .✦

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬── .✦

2025-06-23 3:15 PM

✦ Team A: 1:30 clear, weakness build. Pleasantly surprised that I could take it this low, for a Team A fight. Focused more on dodging and grouping. - Using charged attack near a cluster enemies of will fill your HP up close to full. This helps towards the Fury resonance (more HP = more damage). - Remember to use active skill shortly after Fury resonance, for the fluctuation buff. Always use Fury resonance. - Support skill to stagger enemies in weakness. - For wave 1, group enemies 2 at a time. These cats are difficult to herd all at once. I prioritize the green cat because it can disappear = wastes more time, pushing it towards one of the red cats. - Wave 2 mobs are more manageable. Pale Mysts will float away from you, while Dark Mysts will chase you, so stick close to the Pale Mysts as you're grouping. - You can use Pale Myst's damage puddle as a trigger for active skill parry, if you need to. ✦ Team B: 1:30 clear, hybrid build (CR 40% + D2W). These stats are on the low side and rely on crits to a decent degree, and is also dependent on how quickly you can do the combos. Took some tries. Thanks to Sylusblobbu for her big brain strat on the Metaflux phase! Resonance rotation: - Support skill -> resonance -> CA -> active skill -> CA. Then, 3BA -> dodge -> 3BA -> dodge -> CA -> filler damage/support skill -> active skill -> CA -> 2BA* -> resonance (shieldbreak) -> Divine Favor. -- *This is needed to refresh Sea God Mark in time for Divine Favor. Divine Favor rotation: - Start: CA -> active skill -> CA - Then, Dash -> filler damage (I do 4BA) -> active skill -> CA. Repeat until Divine Favor is over. - It's important to learn how to do this combo fast, especially towards the end of the fight. Team B notes: - If dragon interrupts my combo, I restart the fight. Otherwise, I do the resonance rotation into Divine Favor. Kill the dragon within one weakness. - You can hit Alterum with basic attacks as he's loading in, if you need to refresh your Sea God Mark. - After Divine Favor, support skill -> resonance ASAP. Benedict will initiate Metaflux phase shortly after. - In Metaflux phase, the timer will stop ticking down, but you have 12s to look for the phantom with the red aura and kill it. - For this strat, get the phantom to just a sliver of health, then use resonance. If you do it right, the first hit of resonance will kill the phantom, and the second hit will break Alterum's shield -> Divine Favor -> victory! This saves you precious 2-3 seconds on the timer. ✦ Team C: 1:31 clear, hybrid-ish build (CR + CDMG + D2W)? Crit Rate is on the low side, but the fluctuation gives a Crit Rate boost, I say it evens out. - Resonance -> support skill to keep mobs from moving right away. - Back to back active skills for the Myst fight. No resonance. - Pay attention to beacon stacks so there's as little overflow as possible, and get as many Searing Slashes in. Collecting a beacon will give an ATK buff for a short time, Searing Slash additionally gives a crit rate buff for a short time - FRANGERE SLASH INTO THE SPIN! Drop a beacon into the spin!!

[lamemaster]

Yandere the Silmarillion Elves

Request: Hello! May I request yandere headcanons for Maeglin and Maglor (separately), perhaps with a human reader? Also, I really love your blog you write incredible stories :))

Pairings: Maeglin x human reader & Maglor x human reader

Genre: Dark themes. Maeglin's is gorey >"<

AN: Thank you for requesting this! I enjoy writing dark themes and this definitely was my cup of tea. I hope you like it.

Next up- Finrod x Valyrian! Reader Fall trope event list

Maeglin- (yandere reader)

A mangled mess of limbs was how you found him, withering beneath the ruins of the fallen city.

Somehow, against all odds, he lived. An amalgamation of mass bound to a body. Condemned to survive in a body tortured by death’s refusal to grant him peace.

He had endured this state for nearly a year, trapped between life and death, as if the world itself were determined to deny him release.

And then, there was you. As a wandering bandit, the sight of Gondolin’s ruins had seemed a fortune, a treasure mine promising riches to last a lifetime.

Yet amid the remnants of shattered stone and splintered wooden furniture, there he lay—the last survivor of the city’s fall. The one who instigated it all.

The incestuous bastard who, miraculously, had survived it. Every elven bards’ latest villain, the one sung of in recent ballads with curses on their lips.

You lifted the broken elf, cradling his twisted form—if his position could even be called that. His eyes, devoid of lids, remained fixed on you, unblinking, raw from months of crying out for help that never came. Gods, even now, he was beautiful.

Thus began your labor. Five days passed as you set bones that had grown crooked with time, wrapped him in scraps of cloth salvaged from the ruins, and nursed him with poppy milk poured into his helpless lips. With his face streaked by dried tears, he grew drowsy, finally slipping into fevered dreams.

As he lay shivering in your arms, lost in visions of a life that had abandoned him, you brushed your hand over his unmarred skin, tracing the contours of his trembling eyelids.

You murmured softly, your voice a mix of promise and threat “I would never let anyone hurt you. They’d have to get through me first... and believe me, they wouldn’t make it.” As if your reassurance could pull him back from his dreams of the past life without you.

Here, in the grave of his past, he was yours. No one would come for the one even death had forsaken. He was yours alone, bound by fate’s cruelty and your own claim upon him.

Cupping his damp cheek, you grinned, a glint of madness in your eyes. “My darling incestuous bastard,” you whispered, a low cackle slipping from your lips.

Maglor- (yandere character)

Maglor would follow you into death. Not even Eru Himself could hope to take you from him. No one would ever take what was his, not again.

The wedding was swift. In fact, the secondborn Fëanorian had insisted upon it within weeks of meeting you, brushing aside your hesitations with fervent kisses.

Your concerns about the doom of mortality were hushed in whispers and promises; if death was a gift granted to Men, then Maglor would seize it back from its giver. His breaths would ebb and flow with yours. Nothing could alter that.

It was all he could do now. Time had sharpened his resolve, even blunted the burns of the Silmaril, leaving behind only faint scars.

He had glamoured away his past, letting his skin heal so he could become the perfect lover for you, forsaking his true name for a new one.

Peldis, he called himself. A mountain elf from distant valleys. By sheer luck, you hadn’t noticed the faint scent of brine lingering about him, nor the care he took in combing his tangled hair until it shone.

You hadn’t glimpsed the quiet ferocity with which he shed his former self to stand before you, a stranger made whole in the reflection of your wants.

It had been one fateful night, when the ache of the Silmaril consumed him, that he’d first seen you.

Or rather, he’d caught sight of you wading in moonlit waters, bare as the light itself, utterly unguarded. He hadn’t looked away. The years had been long, and the Fëanorian had been starved.

The vision of silvery moonlight tracing your body had entranced him, struck him with a longing sharper than any oath. 

You were it, he thought. The Silmaril reborn. Perhaps even better than any of his father’s works. You were more than a cursed jewel.

Like a viper shedding its skin, Maglor transformed himself into Peldis. A convenient presence in your village, a simple trader of carved wooden combs.

It had not taken him long to notice the way your own hair flowed down your back like silk, and he knew, watching you, that you would come to him.

From offering a delicate comb for your hair to placing the ring upon your finger, Maglor had orchestrated each moment, each touch.

The songs of your fairytale romance made it easy to draw you into his arms, into the warmth of your bed, far from prying eyes and whispers.

And there, as he held you close, his touch guiding you deeper into his embrace, he tugged your soul into a quiet submission, bending your will and your mind to his desire.

Maglor knew what was best for you. And in this life, that place was here, wrapped in his arms, your heart tethered to his.

Even in the harmony of the Timeless Halls, yours would be the song he would compose. His muse. His beloved. You were his, now and forever.

[dustedmagazine]

Dust Volume 11, Number 5

Bag People

We’re approaching the midpoint of 2025, another turbulent year for life in general but an excellent one for music. This month we catch up with ambient reveries and no wave rackets, piano elegies and punk rock pranks, and a South American cello project inspired by alternative erotic practices. It’s a mixed bag, but a full and interesting one, and we hope you enjoy it. Contributors include Ian Mathers, Bryon Hayes, Christian Carey, Jennifer Kelly, Jonathan Shaw, Bill Meyer and Tim Clarke.

Aarktica — No Solace in Sleep (Projekt)

Jon DeRosa has made a lot of music over the past 28 years, and for much of that time has been known for interspersing his ambient work with surprisingly straightforwardly sung (if still lambent) songs. Rarely has he been as stylistically consistent over an LP as he was on this, his 2000 debut as Aarktica. Now remastered by Taylor Deupree for its 25th anniversary, No Solace in Sleep consists almost entirely of DeRosa’s guitar. There are some submerged rhythms here, a choral-feeling arrangement there, but otherwise it’s just endless pools of his beautifully enveloping playing. Slowly assembled at night after losing hearing in one ear, there’s a gloomy comfort to even the harshest efforts here, and even at over an hour it never wears out its welcome. It’s sneakily influential too, elements of DeRosa’s work here having been showing up not just in ambient but in goth and metal circles over the decades. The remaster brings these songs a bit further from their hissy four-track birth and the result feels even more monumental than the original.

Ian Mathers

Bag People — S/T (Drag City)

Bag People were a short-lived outfit who transplanted themselves from Chicago into the grime and soot of New York’s lower-east side in the early 1980s. They fit in alongside that city’s no wave contingent but retained enough midwestern muscle to temper arty abandon with propulsive rhythms and a coruscating chug. The cantankerous sonic maelstrom hovered on the precipice of outright chaos, but Diane Wlezien’s vocal howl positioned Bag People in the Venn diagram at the point where Sonic Youth, The Stooges, and The Slits intersected. Forty years later, Drag City has unearthed some long-forgotten tapes, the only proof of Bag People’s existence, and polished them up as best they could for our consumption. The angst and nihilism are palpable in these energy-filled tunes, which sound just as ferocious now as they must have when the band laid them to tape.

Bryon Hayes

Lawrence English — Even the Horizon Knows its Bounds (Room 40)

Soundscapes for museum installations can be the quintessence of ambient music but often are unimpressive on their own. Lawrence English’s soundscore for the Naala Badu building at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Australia, demonstrates that work meant to be unobtrusive can also retain interest in closer listening. In Gadigal, Naala Badu means “seeing waters,” and English responds to this idea with washes of synths that ebb and flow like waves and aquatic field recordings. A minor-key piano progression provides a balladic rejoinder. Several guest artists — Chris Watson, Jim O’Rourke, and claire rousay among them — join to ride the waves alongside English.

Christian Carey

Goldmund — Layers of Afternoon (Western Vinyl)

The last time we caught up with Goldmund, that is, pianist Keith Kenniff, he was reinterpreting Civil War songs for solo piano on the lovely and evocative All Will Prosper in 2011. This time Kenniff mines a less conceptual vein and enlists the violinist Scott Moore for moody original reveries. “Darnley” brings the piano to the front, its pure melody oscillating against a crackling popping room sound. Moore enters half a minute in, swooning and lush where Kenniff is elliptical. “Before I Sleep,” likewise, finds mournful beauty amid lingering chords and a rush of layered string sound. Here’s a record that will envelope you like a pearly fog and leave you lost in your own thoughts and memories.

Jennifer Kelly

G*U*N*N* — S/T (Going Underground)

Another excellent punk band in the venerable Orange County tradition (smartassery, suds and lots of skateboards…), G*U*N*N* has finally gotten around to releasing a full LP after six or so years of gigs, 7” records and a handful of tapes. Given G*U*N*N*’s…um, informal approach to existing as a functioning band, it’s a surprisingly substantial album: 14 tracks, averaging two minutes in length, replete with fun samples and a long, pranksome reggae outro. In some nods to punk tradition more broadly, G*U*N*N* includes songs titled “Pig Champion” and “Stukas over HB” (Dickies, anyone?). But the band is at its best when it embraces its own antic violence, on tracks like “Annihilation” and “No Hope.” As G*U*N*N* advises, you’d do well to “Stick with the Plan”: skate an empty pool, vandalize some private property and turn up the tunes.

Jonathan Shaw

Kovaa Rasvaa — Tarinaksi Paketoitu Valhe (Svart)

Finnish crossover music that derives its principal interest by keeping the thrash and the hardcore elements at odds with each other. Kovaa Rasvaa writes songs that tend toward the fast and nasty, and tunes like “Nokkakolari” and “Romahdushäiriö” will remind you of Kreator or Voivod, while “Kolmiomainen Nolla” and “Keinotekoisesti Valmistettu” (holy shit!) might make you remember the Electric Deads or Terveet Kädet at that band’s most melodically speedy. For all the stylistic fireworks, Kovaa Rasvaa has a sharply resolved sound. And it's pretty cool to engage a record that’s so stridently Finnish in its insistence on that language’s rhythms and specificity. If you want the lyrics or the Bandcamp text in English and you’re not a fluent Laplander, you’ll need Google translate. Maybe just learn Finnish to sing (and shout) along.

Jonathan Shaw

Johnny Maraca and the Marockers—Little Heart (Perenniel/K)

Rock ‘n roll doesn’t come more basic than Little Heart, a stripped down, flirting, snarling collection of ripped leather romanticism, sourced from Oakland, CA. A trill of organ, a quiver of bass, and then the beat crashes through, drums thumping the fours, guitar slashing in time. Johnny Maraca has a rough, boisterous way of delivering a song, tough but tender. “And I know, how your little heart beats,” he shouts over the irresistible clangor of “Little Heart,” the dangerous guy with a killer smile. Has it been done before? Certainly. Is it worth doing again? Yes, indeed.

Jennifer Kelly

Paal Nilssen-Love Circus with the Ex Guitars — Turn Thy Loose (PNL)

Norwegian drummer Paal Nilssen-Love’s Circus started out as a vehicle for him to sustain his involvement with Brazilian songs and forms during the pandemic. That didn’t last; the original septet of Scandinavian-based musicians developed a unique approach to songs of all sorts founded on the agreement that any musician could introduce any song from their collective book at any time. If that sounds to you a bit like the Instant Composers Orchestra dynamic, you’re not wrong, and you might appreciate this recording, which presents the beginning of the Circus’ next phase, which occurred when guitarist Oddrum Lilja left the band and all three guitar-playing members of The Ex joined. The arrival of three newcomers disrupts the immaculate trust and rapport that the Circus had developed, but since they have a deep respect for improvisation as a relational enterprise, their presence is more that of periodic game-changers than total wrecking balls.

Bill Meyer

Pyrex — Body (Total Punk)

Jackhammer punk from Brooklyn judders on a pogostick across a beer-sticky floor. Pyrex makes the kind of hopped-up, anxiety-attack thumpers that foment mosh pit casualties, though that shouldn’t stop you, if you’re so inclined, from full-body participation. All eight cuts make anatomical references from the vortex howl of “Reflex” to the razor-cut “Never Endings” to the nearly anthemic, power-chord-ripping “Digits.” That’s about right for an album that’s pure viscera. Body, indeed.

Jennifer Kelly

Paula Sanchez — Pressure Sensitive (Relative Pitch)

The liner notes of this South American cellist presently residing in Europe reads, “This album is the result of performative experimentations with cellophane and erotic encounters of transparent asphyxiation.” Now, there’s an explanation that raises as many questions as it answers! Particularly since a blindfolded listener might not detect the cello, the plastic or the erotic activity, but instead attribute this recording to oil-thirsty door hinges and tectonic plates. However you explain it, this is vibrantly physical stuff, sound that you can feel in the act of feeling. It’s also rather like the blind philosopher’s assessment of the elephant; having had the good fortune to hear Sanchez in diverse settings at Music Unlimited 38 in Wels, Austria, I can attest to her facility at playing parts and rocking the fuck out matches the performative noise-making of this CD.

Nick Storring — Mirante (We Are Busy Bodies)

The Portuguese word mirante denotes a scenic outlook. Canadian composer and multi-instrumentalist Nick Storring has a family connection to Brazil, so he’s had some time to view the country close-up, and it only takes one listen to know that he’s steeped in the country’s sounds. Dozens of instruments (all played by Storring) appear on Mirante’s seven tracks, but easy-flowing melodies articulated by plush keyboards and complex but uncluttered pulses expressed by a rich array of percussion dominate, while strings and voices flesh out the harmonies, giving the music a humid travelogue vibe. Storring’s pieces do not recreate Brazilian styles; he seems to be more concerned with expressing his feelings about the place, which are warmly conveyed.

Bill Meyer

Thor & Friends — Heathen Spirituals (Joyful Noise)

Thor Harris is perhaps best known for his contribution to the hard-touring and super-loud iteration of Swans that created albums such as To Be Kind (2014). During those tours, Harris could be found bashing all kinds of percussion on stage, often shirtless, his hair flailing and his muscles rippling. Harris’s new album is much gentler, despite the number of instrumentalists he’s mustered around him. There are over a dozen players on Heathen Spirituals, but they’re all playing in a restrained, minimal fashion on these three long pieces. “Anne Sexton’s Monocle” has a rapidly pulsing undercurrent of marimba and vibraphone, over which strings and woodwinds play slow, drawn-out phrases. The effect is akin to Philip Glass’s score for Koyaanisqatsi, soundtracking time-lapse footage of clouds scudding across the sky. “Heathen Spiritual” is slower and more mournful, with a less agitated pulse at its core. “Christmas Eve at the Wizard’s House” builds from a slow marimba line in 6/8, the other instruments dancing around it like tiny wooden characters. Pay close attention to this music as it dapples past and more rewards can be found, such as the occasional choral voices that emerge in the mix. It’s powerful in a gentle, insistent way.

Tim Clarke

[droughtofapathy]

For a musical, what's more unforgiving a bad singer or a bad actor?

In the broader musical theatre canon, bad actor, easily. I can forgive not being able to hit the notes if you can act the hell out of it. Sondheim wrote for performers who were actors first, and so that music has more leeway in that department. But it absolutely does not work if you can't act it. Bernadette makes up for her understandably aging and very inconsistent voice by giving a gorgeous acting performance in Old Friends. I can name a few other actors this season who have phenomenal voices, but christ almighty, are they bad actors...

Unfortunately, nowadays with scores and books being what they are, it does get painful when there's bad singing. Bad acting, sure, still unbearable, but the books are all so shitty nowadays that even Meryl herself couldn't sell it. But all these composers are forcing these women to screlt for two hours, and that's *really* bad if they don't have the skills to pull it off eight shows a week.

Gone are the days when we could have Lauren Bacall star in a Broadway musical and win a Tony for it not once, but twice. They wrote the score around her voice. She performed to her strengths, and her strength was in the acting. And we just aren't getting a lot of scores built on specific voices anymore with the exception of Kelli O'Hara, and maybe a few others. Yes, there are actors who are heavily involved with the creative process, but just looking at how the scores turned out, they were not written for those women. They were written, and given to them. Idina sounds good some nights and rough others, and that's a known fact about her vocal abilities at this stage in her life. The score should have been written to accommodate her fluctuations, and that means not writing seventeen power ballads in a row that sound identical.

I guess at the end of the day, it depends on the type of show. If it's a Sondheim or a Kander & Ebb or Ahrens & Flaherty, I want an actor in those parts. The singing is just gravy, but I don't care about how fancy you can get with your (unwanted) riffs. But if it's an ALW where the writing's already shit so if you sound bad, you're just making the pain worse... And of course, don't hire a screlter to play a soprano.

[justmystyles]

Do you think you might make a part two for ‘Home Stretch’? I can totally see it happening where reader comes back after those two weeks, the same ritual happens after the show (and we all know H will be exhausted mentally and physically from it being the last show), she’s unsure of taking an ice bath because she feels insecure after the birthday celebrations and H calms her down and they do it together with him guiding and helping her through it?

pulling double duty and also answering this ask:

Crossing the Finish Line

read my other work here!

this is a sequel to Home Stretch.

pairing: Harry Styles x plus size reader

word count: 1.8k

summary: after the final show, Harry charms you into making good on a promise you made last time you were together.

a/n: i'm digging through my asks again, this time i'm focusing on the more time sensitive topics, so i've got a couple of final show pieces, and i'm also still sitting on a daylight video request, so i'm hoping to have all of those out this week at some point.

thank you to both of these lovely anons for sending your asks. this became a little more emotional than i had planned, but i'm really happy with how it turned out. and of course, any time i get to use that picture, it's a good day!

tags: @allthelovehes @ameerakane20 @ash-craze @bethanysnow @blue-ballad @blueraspberryreader @brightlightsinlife @creativelyeva @cute-as-ducks420 @deannaard @fanficismydrug @gem1712 @golden-hoax @gothmingguk @groovychaosavenue @hillzrry @iceebabies @indierockgirrl @jerseygirlinca @jng4kook @jooniesbabie @kaverichauhan @laurxn-robinson @lexiecamposv @mrs-anna-styles211994 @n0vaj3an @potterheadandsherlocked @rach2699 @ravenclawdirectioner @stylesfeverr @superchrystaldrug @tenaciousperfectionunknown @tiaamberxx @thechaoticjoy @theekyliepage @walkingintheheartbreaksatellite @youknowwhaaat

You can’t help the smile plastered on your face and the tears welling in your eyes at the sight before you. Your boyfriend is surrounded by the people that mean the most to him in his life, celebrating the successful and emotional end to Love on Tour. 

As the cheers and laughs start to ebb, Harry locks eyes with you, crooking his finger, beckoning for you to come closer. You immediately comply, and he pulls you into his arms. “How does it feel?” You ask, wrapping your arms around his neck. 

“Not sure yet,” he shrugs. “I don’t think it’s fully sunk in.” 

You nod in understanding, the adrenaline was still running through him. It wasn’t likely to wear off any time soon, considering you were about to go out and celebrate for the next several hours. Harry squeezes your hip gently before releasing you and grabbing your hand. 

“Come with me.” He tugs your hand and pulls you away from the crowd and down the hallway. 

“Where are we going?” You ask as he hurries you toward his dressing room. “Everyone’s back there.”

“I know, but I haven’t had a chance to have you all to myself yet,” he smirked, as you reached the door to his dressing room. “Besides, I have a surprise for you.”

You eyed him curiously, he planted a kiss on your forehead and opened the dressing room door leading you straight through to the bathroom where there were two large tubs set up with ice water. 

“Harry,” you said cautiously. “Why are there two tubs?” 

A sly grin overtook his face, he knew you’d ask. “Last time I saw you, you said you’d do the last one with me.” 

“I said maybe, I never promised anything.” You removed your hand from his, crossing your arms over your chest. 

“I know,” he said, stepping closer. “But I also know how to turn your maybes into yeses.” He placed his hands on your hips, leaning down and leaving a trail of kisses down your neck. “Would you really deny me, the man you love, tonight of all nights?” He mumbled in between kisses. 

You groan, arching into his touch, knowing you’re one brush of his lips away from giving in. “Harry, I can’t.” You step back, putting some distance between the two of you. “We’re going out, I can’t walk around with dripping underwear all night.” Harry arched a suggestive brow at your words. “Oh shut up, you know what I mean.” 

“Lucky for you, I thought ahead, I brought you a spare set.” He grinned, walking over to his Pleasing tote and lifting it proudly in the air. 

You narrowed your eyes. “You went through my underwear when I wasn’t looking?” He smiled sheepishly. “Creepy.” You chuckled. 

“Now you have no excuses.” 

“It’s too cold.”

“You’ll get used to it in no time. Besides, it’s only a few minutes.” 

“Harry.” 

“Y/N.” He noticed your expression change, and he switched from playful to serious. “Hey,” he stepped up to you, taking your hands. “You know I’d never make you do anything you’re uncomfortable with. If you really don’t want to, it’s okay. I just missed you, and it’s the last night of the tour, so I wanted to do something special with you.” 

You sigh deeply. “I just, I don’t know… it’s stupid.” 

“Tell me princess, I’m sure it’s not stupid.” He places a hand on your cheek, preventing you from dropping your gaze. 

“I’m not feeling super great about how I look right now,” you said, eyes locked on Harry’s as his brow rounded. “I went kind of overboard with my family last weekend, stuff hasn’t been fitting right and I don’t know, just the idea of stripping down in front of you right now…”

Harry’s eyes were wide at your confession. “Baby,” he stroked his thumb over your cheek. “Why didn’t you tell me any of this?” 

“You’ve had so much going on, I didn’t need to burden you with my dumb issues.” You blinked rapidly, trying to hold back your tears. 

“Don’t do that, Y/N.” Harry’s tone was tender yet stern. “You are never a burden to me, and your feelings are always valid.” He wrapped his arms around you, pulling you close. “And you’re always beautiful and perfect.” He kisses the top of your head. 

You stay like that in silence for a few moments, feeling the comfort of Harry’s embrace. In that time, you let Harry’s words sink in, wondering why you thought he would have reacted any differently. Since the day that you met him, he’s always made you feel better about your insecurities. In a room full of people, he looks at you like you’re the only one there. Of all of the people in the world, Harry was the last one you needed to feel embarrassed around. He was your safe space. Your sanctuary. 

Harry finally pulled back, looking you in the eyes with a soft smile. “Would you at least sit with me while I do mine?” 

You stay silent for a beat, thoughts running through your head, until you finally make your decision. “I’ll do it with you.” You said softly. 

“It’s alright, baby you don’t –”

“No,” you place your hand on his cheek and smile up at him. “I want to. I like that you get me out of my comfort zone, and get me to try new things.” 

“Are you sure? What about how you’re feeling?” He asked, wanting to make sure he wasn’t pressuring you into anything. 

You shook your head. “Those are my insecurities, but I know that you would never see that in me. You only see the good things.”

Harry kissed your palm, which was still resting on his cheek. “That’s because there are only good things, my love.” 

You leaned up, placing a soft kiss on his lips before pulling back and grabbing the hem of your shirt. Harry’s hands rest over yours. “May I?” You nod and remove your hands as he begins to undress you, slowly kissing every inch of newly exposed skin. 

As his lips trail up your stomach, you run your fingers through his hair, still damp with sweat from the show. When he reaches your bra, he places a soft kiss on the exposed curve of each of your breasts. “So beautiful,” he mumbles against your skin, tossing your shirt to the floor. 

His hands move to the waistband of your pants, his eyes meeting yours in question. You nod in permission, and his hands move down your legs. His body follows, dropping to his knees in front of you. He maintains eye contact with you as he kisses up your leg, determined to make you feel wanted and loved. 

Once he felt he had doted on you enough, he stood and offered his hand to you. “C’mon pretty girl, I’ve got you.” He leads you to one of the tubs. “Okay baby, I know your instinct is going to be to just get in there, but I need you to go nice and slow for me, and take nice deep breaths. Just like this,” he inhales deeply through his nose, blowing it out of his mouth. “Try it with me?” 

You take a few deep breaths along with Harry as he looks at you with adoration in his gaze. When you feel ready, you lift your foot, dipping your toe gently. 

“Fuck!” You immediately recoil at the sensation. 

Harry couldn’t help the small chuckle that escaped him. “It’s alright baby, you’ve got this.” 

You give Harry a determined nod and return your foot to the tub, lowering it completely as you maintain your deep breaths. You continue to lower yourself into the tub, soothed by the constant words of affirmation Harry is showering you with. 

“Oh wait, hold on one second princess.” Harry stops you as you're about to sit down. He steps behind you, lifting your hair up. “Don’t want to get that wet,” he whispers in your ear. “I know how long it took you, and it looks so pretty.” He kisses you sweetly on the cheek as you continue to lower down. He’s careful to drape your hair over the back of the tub, ensuring it stays dry. 

You close your eyes, the deep breaths continuing as you let the cold wash over you. Your hands grip the sides of the tub with white knuckles, as if it will bring you some relief. 

“You’re doing so good, baby.” Harry coos as he kisses the top of your head. “Do you want a distraction?”

Though externally you’re freezing, the care he’s taking with you lights your insides on fire. “God yes, please Harry.” Your voice wavers as your teeth chatter.

“Okay, you’ve gotta open your eyes for me, can you do that?” You open your eyes, watching Harry as he moves to stand in front of your tub. “Good girl.”   

You watch as he unbuckles his pants and lowers them down his legs. You are unable to stop the laughter that escapes you at the sight. 

His head snaps over to look at you, his brow arched. “That’s not the reaction a man hopes for when he performs a striptease for his girlfriend.” 

“Sorry,” you titter as the laughter subsides. “Just to be so full of yourself that you think taking your pants off will distract me, it’s… it’s funny.” 

He approaches you, leaning forward and placing his hands on the sides of your tub to get close to your face. “Are you thinking about how cold you are right now?” 

“No, just how silly you are.” 

“I was going for sexy, but either way, it worked.” He said with a sly smirk. “See my love, it’s not that I’m full of myself, it’s that I know you so well.” He closed the gap, placing a quick kiss on your lips. “And I know what distracts you.”

“Okay, now I’m thinking about how sexy you are.” You lean forward, kissing him again. 

He laughs with his lips still pressed against yours before standing and moving to the tub beside you. You watch as he takes a few breaths and steps into the frigid water, taking a seat with ease. 

“Damn, you’re good at that.” You say as he lays his head back, adjusting to the temperature. 

“It comes with practice,” he shrugs. “You’ll get there eventually.” 

“Bold of you to assume I’m ever doing this again.” You keep your eyes on him, watching his profile as he lays back with his eyes closed. 

“You will. I know you so well, remember?” With his eyes still closed, he lifts his arm out of the tub, reaching it toward you. You do the same, linking your fingers with his. “See,” he said in a cocky tone. “I knew you were going to do that.” 

[creepycranberry]

Poetry On Perspective

Eddie x EnglishMajor!reader

This is just something I wrote after consuming too much poetry (I tried okay?)

I think Eddie would like Bukowski.

Warnings and notes: she/her pronouns, some swearing, not proofread, not much of an ending, kind of open ended (might do another part, idk)

I hope y’all like it :)

<3•<3•<3•<3•<3•

“I’ve read bukowski,” she starts, up on the stage with her hair swept up behind her head, her bangs tickling her eyelashes as her eyes look downward to focus on the words she had previously written on the page, “and I’ve seen what Dickinson had to say. Two thoroughly different viewpoints, differing outlooks on love. With no more in agreement than that it exists. A man who talks of lovers and sparrows, and the whores and the pigeons. And a girl who speaks of death and men, and her garden and love.”

Jeff’s face was screwed up and gareth was shaking his head.

Eddie had read bukowski.

Eddie had referenced bukowski.

Hidden in the folds of a guitar riff and rock ballad were the stanzas to The Twins.

“Bukowski is an empty bar and a calloused hand and Dickinson is a robin at a bird bath and a carriage ride with an old friend. Perspective is a mistress who never appears the same for more than a month. She changes as the wind does, ebbs and flows depending on her mood.”

Eddie didn’t understand the entire point of the girl’s rambling.

Then again he wasn’t meant to be here. He was supposed to be an hour away in a hotel with a cigarette. Maybe a joint.

A flat tire had landed him on the side of the road, band members and equipment in tow. A bus of college students drove them into town, grant found a phone and called someone to help get the van but until they got it into town the guys were here.

They had watched the students go up one by one and read off nonsensical passages in their journals.

Eddie hadn’t been paying attention until the pretty girl came up on stage. Her sweaters hem a few inches above that of her skirt and her black nail polish chipped as she avoided the gaze of the crowd and flipped through her notebooks pages.

Her notebook was covered in doodles of different flowers and fish and post-it notes bloomed from the top of the thing until about halfway through where the pages were pristine and likely unused.

What had mainly caught his attention were the tattoos on her legs. Different patches of sharks and flowers adorned her skin. One in particular went from just above her knee and crept around the back of her thigh and up into her skirt.

He wanted to see what the rest of it looked like, what images the upper expanse of her thighs might be hiding and did her arms match?

“Perspective changes when she pleases. One day she can be the same as ever, grass is grass and flowers bloom and babies laugh, and the next maybe the grass weeds and flowers wilt and babies wail and fuss. A year is a week, a day is a decade. Your grandparents got married yesterday and you broke up with your ex a lifetime ago. Grass is grass, it’s meant to hold the dirt together, grass is weeds meant to invade your fathers yard so you never stop hearing about them. Babies laugh and babies cry but you don’t have to worry about that because you’re single and might die alone so you might never have babies. Your boyfriend was your everything and now your ex is the reason you smoke. Etc.”

She ends her rambling and closes her journal, looking to the rest of the small bar for critiques and hopefully some encouragement.

“It could use some clarity.” A boisterous voice pipes up and Eddie scans the crowd for the perpetrator.

A guy with thick rimmed glasses and patchy stubble stares up at her, his face the picture of audacity.

“I thought her point was perfectly clear.” Eddie shrugs and the guy looks over at Eddie before sighing.

“Her transitions weren’t clear, her sentences could be more concise. Her rambling could be poetry if it were only a bit more clear.” The guy offers.

“Or you could argue that adopting the style of bukowski and melding it with the imagery Dickinson was prone to using.” Eddie argues and the guy pauses thoughtfully, his lips pressing into a thin line as he pulls together his thoughts.

Gareth and Jeff exchange a look of confusion at Eddie's knowledge of poetry and literature while Grant seems to be enthralled with the argument between the two boys.

“That’s a good take. I just mean that the initial examples of Dickinson and Bukowski could be better transitioned into her next points about perspective.”

Eddie nods, “I could see why you would make that argument but I kinda like the rambling. She’s writing how she thinks. Thoughts don’t always transition seamlessly, I think it’s pretty cool to just hear someone’s thoughts on a subject and I like that she gets you to think about it yourself.”

“I guess that’s just perspective for you.” The guy shrugs and Eddie grins, silently agreeing with him.

Eddie turns his attention to the girl in front of the class, “the personal touches were nice. Your writing was relatable. My uncle is probably outside our house fighting with the weeds right now.”

The girl smiles, “thank you, Eddie.”

Eddies eyebrows raise at his name. He didn’t know how she knew it but fuck did it sound nice when she said it. She smiled and stared at him through her bangs, pulling her notebook to her chest to discreetly reveal the doodle of corroded coffins' first album cover.

She stands up and goes back to her seat. The next person comes up but Eddie isn’t paying any attention to whatever they have to say.

He’s too stuck on her. Too obsessed with never letting his eyes leave her to even consider whatever the fuck the asshole on stage has to say.

He wants to try and talk tk her after all of the readings are through but as the students file onto the bus grant blocks his view of her, letting him and the guys know that the van is in the shop at the moment getting the tire changed and they should able to get back on the road in an hour or two.

By the time Eddie looks up from grant the bus doors are closing the girl is gone.

[heilanlecoq]

At The Bell Wedding | Heilan x Sunny

continue from here @sir-scamsalot

In a way, they were both innate risk-takers, Sunny and Heilan. Their lives were a testament to embracing the unknown, whether it was pioneering new design concepts or embarking on eccentric, passion-driven projects. They navigated bold ideas and unconventional paths with an almost reckless ease, pushing boundaries in every aspect of their lives—except, it seemed, when it came to the precarious landscape of their own feelings. There, a silent, invisible barrier stood, and neither would dare take a single step further. Heilan, especially, had made a solemn, private vow to himself: he wouldn't risk their friendship, a bond forged and strengthened over more than twenty years, for something as fragile and potentially destructive as his unspoken, burgeoning emotions. But then Sunny looked at him across the crowded, joyous wedding reception, his eyes crinkling at the corners with that familiar, genuine warmth, and in that instant, Heilan’s heart didn't just leap; it soared, a wild bird breaking free from its cage. He would do everything for this man. Anything. God, he loved him. It was a truth so profound, so overwhelming, that it felt too much to bear, a silent, beautiful burden that settled deep within his chest. "The vows?" he asked, his voice a little softer, a little more vulnerable than he intended, in return to Sunny's earlier, casual question about the ceremony. "Very much like them," he murmured, the words barely escaping his lips as his mind became completely consumed by Sunny. Heilan watched the way Sunny smiled, a gentle, almost wistful curve of his lips, and the genuine, tender look he gave the newly wedded couple. It was a look of pure happiness for others, and it resonated so deeply within Heilan that it made his own heart sing a melody only he could hear, a quiet symphony of adoration. Time, a fickle companion at such events, danced by, marked by laughter, clinking glasses, and the ebb and flow of conversations. Soon, the lively chatter gave way to the irresistible, pulsating rhythm of the music, signaling that it was time for guests to take to the dance floor. If there was anything Heilan loved to do, it was dancing—the freedom of movement, the shared energy, the pure, unadulterated joy of it. And to do it with Sunny? That was a different kind of magic altogether. "Come on, let's dance," he urged, a playful, hopeful grin on his face as he reached for Sunny's hand, his fingers brushing against his. Yet, just as Heilan pulled Sunny onto the dance floor, the vibrant, upbeat song that had been thrumming through the hall suddenly segued into a slow, romantic ballad, its tender notes filling the space.

A part of him, a small, vulnerable fragment he rarely acknowledged, tightened with a sudden, unexpected fear. What if Sunny pulled away? What if he turned him down, seeing the unspoken question in Heilan's eyes, the yearning in his touch? He chuckled nervously, a breathy, almost imperceptible sound that was more a release of tension than genuine amusement, as he gently, almost tentatively, placed his hand on Sunny's back, feeling the warmth of his suit jacket through the thin fabric of his palm. Their eyes met, a silent question passing between them in the soft, ambient light. "Who leads?" he whispered, his voice barely audible above the music, his eyes searching Sunny's for an answer, for a sign, for anything that would tell him what came next.

[jules-has-notes]

Unchained Melody — VoicePlay music video

Although they have a reputation as the theater kids of the a cappella world, VoicePlay don't need elaborate costumes, makeup, and set pieces to create impressive music. Sometimes its enough for them to simply sit together and sing a heartfelt love song with all their combined vocal skills and emotions on display, and that exactly what happened with this beloved ballad.

Details:

title: Unchained Melody (feat. John Pinto, Jr.)

original performers: Todd Duncan as Bill Howard in Unchained (1955); popularized by The Righteous Brothers

written by: Alex North & Hy Zaret

arranged by: Geoff Castellucci

release date: 5 February 2021

My favorite bits:

the vulnerable simplicity of starting with just John's wistful melody and Geoff's legato bass line for rhythm

the gentle bell chord as the harmonies are added

John lingering on the lyrics as he sings ♫ "time goes by so slowly" ♫

the octave drop on the "yeah" at the end of Geoff's lead section that both sounds beautiful and makes way for J to take over

J.None's smooth, flowing tone, particularly on his second ♫ "wait for me" ♫

the delicate "plucking" harmonies from Layne, Eli, and John

all of the backing vocals cutting out on John's first ♫ "hungered" ♫ to emphasize the empty feeling

the ebb and flow of the vocal layers in the build up to the final chorus, including Layne switching over to percussion

the combined effect of John belting ♫ "I need your love" ♫, the rising chromatic harmonies from J and Eli, Layne's syncopated rhythms, and Geoff's subtle arpeggios underneath

the full sound of all five voices on that last chord

Trivia:

This video was filmed at the Luxmore Grande Estate in Winter Springs, FL. The venue primarily hosts weddings, so it was the perfect setting for this classic ballad. Layne had used it as the setting for PattyCake's "CinderSwift" music video four years earlier.

John (coincidentally) seems to show up during times of turmoil for the group. His two previous collaborations with VoicePlay were "It Ain't Me" in 2017, during the limbo between Tony leaving and J.None joining; and "Just Sing" during early quarantine lockdown, shortly before Earl retired.

Camera assistant E. Michael Evans had also been involved in their previous video, "Carry On Wayward Son".

The Facebook upload of this video reached 1 million views in just four days!

Many of the comments on both YouTube and Facebook are from older fans reminiscing about their younger days, or younger fans sharing stories about parents and grandparents.

Geoff donned a red long-sleeved version of the shirt he wore in this for their "If I Were A Rich Man/Girl" video later in the year.

VoicePlay's pal Austin Brown from Home Free had released a stripped down solo rendition with guitarist Steven Martinez a couple weeks before.

Home Free also released their own version of the song as a group the following year.

[lovelyllamasblog]

The Moon 🌖

Character Description

“The Moon’s emotions change as surely as the tides. They ebb and flow, wax and wane. Though her mood swings can be unpredictable, this girl’s emotional lunar cycle is the foundation of the most exquisite poetry you could imagine! From her melancholy moments emerge beautiful bittersweet ballads, splendid sorrowful sonnets, lovely lamentable lyrics, awesome ominous odes, ravishing regretful rhapsodies and heavy hearted haikus. Her undeniable talent almost makes her moodiness bearable… almost!”

(taken from Galaxy Girls wikia)

[luminafights]

░ 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐭: 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝟏𝟔𝟎 ⠀   𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟑.𝟎 ⠀   ① ᴄᴏᴍᴘ: Abysswalker Rafayel, R0 ⠀   ① ᴡᴇᴀᴘᴏɴ: Hunter Claymore ⠀   ② ᴄᴏᴍᴘ: Lemurian Sea God Rafayel ⠀   ② ᴡᴇᴀᴘᴏɴ: Ballad of Ebbs

⠀⠀-------------------------------------------

⠀⠀⠀☑ Stella Match⠀⠀☐ Brute Force ⠀⠀⠀☑ Video

⠀⠀-------------------------------------------

My first fire orbit with Lemurian Sea God! I'm looking forward to climbing more with him. ❤️ T2 playstyle has to be adjusted to account for not having the R0 MS rank bonus benefits.

𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲── .✦

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐬── .✦

𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨── .✦

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬── .✦

2025-06-26 3:17 PM

T1 notes: - Weakness build. - Strategy is to prioritize cornering the red talons to the northwest corner during the first weakness, and to keep them cornered there for most of the fight. - After entering the arena, quickly target the red cat on the left. Wait for the second cat to appear before using resonance. Switch target to the talon on the right as resonance animation is playing. - Support skill for a small stagger as you close in on the talons to start pushing it to the northwest corner. - I focused on the talons until they were under 1x HP before switching to the cats. - Ideally, all enemies are in weakness for both oaths. T2 notes: - Hybrid build (CR + D2W). I have just over 40% crit rate here, but if you can get it to 50-60% without dropping too much D2W then that is ideal. - Because MS cards aren't used, basic attacks don't shorten Sea God Mark cooldown, and the weakness timer doesn't get extended by 1s. - Resonance rotation into Divine Favor for the first half of the fight: -- Support skill -> resonance -> CA -> active skill -> CA. Then, do filler damage (I spam CAs) -> support skill -> resonance (shieldbreak) -> Divine Favor. -- If you are wearing an Expedited Energy beta, use an active skill before shieldbreak for a bit of extra damage. - Divine Favor rotation: -- Start: CA -> active skill -> CA -- Then, Dash -> filler damage (I do 4BA) -> active skill -> CA. Repeat until Divine Favor is over. - After the weakness phase past the 1:00 mark, support -> resonance, then focus on building up the bars and use Divine Favor. - You can fit 2 active skill -> CA combos before using the final resonance -> oath -> Divine Favor at 0:16.

[knyshksenya]

Stumbleine - 'Deleted scene'

Deleted Scene, the 8th studio album from UK producer Stumbleine, overflows with beautiful nostalgia-tinged electronica.

'Stumbleine is the alias of Peter Cooper. With roots in the UK post rock scene, the reclusive producer began blending slow dream-like pop with fractured lo-fi beats as Stumbleine in 2012. Melancholic rnb vocals ebb and flow above submerged guitar ballads. Sand blasted samples intertwine with broken beats to create music with a nostalgic fragile warmth. Stumbleine is known for a DIY ethic, releasing music directly to fans or via the independent label Monotreme Records.'  

[droughtofapathy]

"Welcome to the Theatre": Diary of a Broadway Baby

Ring Them Bells: A Birthday Celebration for John Kander

May 19, 2025 | Roundabout | Evening | Benefit | Concert | 1H 40M

That setlist? Unmatched. I have experienced a great deal of euphoria at life-affirming theatre, but seeing the original Merry Murderesses perform "Cell Block Tango" with the costumes and choreography takes the cake. In fifty years (or so), I'm still going to be talking about how I saw Bebe Neuwirth (66) do "Cell Block Tango" and no one can stop me. The way she goes feral on "he had it comin'" is on loop in my head. And this number directly follows Alan Cumming's "Willkommen" so it was a unique moment in iconic theatre history. Calling him the host for the night was a bit of a stretch, as he only came out for two numbers and didn't do any real hosting, but that's fine.

The entire night had the makings of what might have been a legendary proshot much like "My Favorite Broadway" or even a scaled-down Sondheim 80th. I'm so glad they gave time to (nearly) all of Kander & Ebb's works (condolences to the three shows they did between 1968 and 1971 that got canned). I told myself I wouldn't be doing a track-by-track review, but when have you ever known me to be concise? It'll be under the cut.

There were at least six major Diva-filled events I could have attended last night, but I'd purchased this ticket many months ago before May 19 became THE day for benefits. I can safely say that nothing could have topped this. None of you are ready for when/if they ever release any professional photography. Those Merry Murderesses... So sleek, so sexy, so shameless. Knowing how dancers can have a short shelf life because of how taxing it is on the body, that they were all still up there kicking... Of course, much love to Tina Paul, the original Hunyak who died around this time last year.

Kander himself was there in the audience, and he looks incredible. Sharp as a tack. Deb Monk went out into the audience to bring him a microphone to make a speech and introduced herself as Debbie Kander, his wife. His reply? "Who's taking care of the kids?" And of course, Deb said, "I left those kids a long time ago." They need to let her host things if this is what we get.

Verdict: My Soul Transcended Space and Time

A Note on Ratings

Jessie Mueller has such a lovely wistfulness when singing "Colored Lights," and while I'll always prefer Mary Testa's brassy sass more, I like the sweetness Jessie brings out. What is a show without Tony Yazbeck doing a tap number? We don't give Karen Ziemba enough credit for her voice. It's still remarkably strong, and I hope she does another musical in New York soon. DHP sung a touching ode that Kander wrote both music and lyrics to as a serenade to his husband, and he was just perfect for the song. Look, I like Jinxx Monsoon as a performer, but she was fighting for her life during "Ring Them Bells" because they gave her some madcap choreography. So glad to have another chance to see Bebe do "So What?" and this time without the horrors of everything else going on in that revival.

I think hearing them a second time solidifies that I'm not the biggest fan of the "And the World Goes Round" arrangements for the show. Good for Anna Uzele and all, but I like Marin's because it doesn't need to be an upbeat belt to bring the house down. Bianca Marroquin and Charlotte d'Amboise "Hot Honey Rag"? Well, who else? And of course Jim Borstelmann was on hand to introduce them and several others. What a guy. But one of the biggest highlights of the night was Victoria Clark's "I Miss the Music." To have this song come after a clip of Kander talking about the late Fred Ebb? What an emotional wallop there. Thank goodness they followed it up with a rousing number from The Scottsboro Boys with five original cast members.

Kelli's "A Quite Place" was simple and sincere, and while not a bring-the-house-down number, I appreciate a ballad. This is the song that can put babies to sleep and make them feel all warm and safe. I'm pleasantly surprised they put in a Skin of Our Teeth song, despite how that show never went anywhere and also...well, the whole casting situation. Now, about Lillias White's "Maybe This Time." I do love this Diva, but I also just generally feel that at these kinds of concerts it's best to just sing the song as written instead of doing all kinds of riffs. Great for a personal solo cabaret, but I want to hear the music. Time and a place for vocal flourishes, you know? But yes, yes, we all want to talk about how Jennifer Lopez was as Aurora. Not as bad as I'd feared. She's no Chita Rivera, but no one is. I have no expectations on her acting, and as for her singing, she has that thing all pop singers have where they slide syllables, and then at other times she's oddly staccato like she can't catch her breath. (I think about Donna Murphy doing it for Chita's Kennedy Center Honors. Now *that* was a performance*)

Ending it on "Show People" was the only appropriate finale. How wonderful to reunite DHP, Karen Ziemba, and Deb Monk, and to showcase young talent in the chorus. Is this the highlight of my year? I do believe it is.

[de-fright-ful]

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐗 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍 𝐒𝐀𝐘 𝐀 𝐋𝐎𝐓 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔

𝐅𝐓. 𝐀 𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐎𝐌 𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐍 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐘'𝐒 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐍 𝐍𝐎 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐑 𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐑

DRIFBLIM final evolution of driftloon, evolved at level 28 or through extraordinary circumstances

❝ It drifts along at dusk, perfectly silent. Its transient, melancholy aspect touches some people deeply—every so often, one will come upon a song or poem devoted to Drifblim. ❞

❝ Some say this Pokémon is a collection of souls burdened with regrets, silently drifting through the dusk. ❞

PRE-EVOLUTION— ❝ Said to lure away young children and carry them off to the afterlife. Some whisper that Drifloon is formed of reincarnated human souls, but these rumours are as yet unconfirmed. ❞

ARIADOS final evolution of spinarak, evolved at level 22

❝ It attaches silk to its prey and sets it free. Later, it tracks the silk to the prey and its friends. ❞

❝ Every night, it wanders around in search of prey, whose movements it restrains by spewing threads before it bites into them with its fangs. ❞

PRE-EVOLUTION— ❝ It waits intently until its preferred prey, Cutiefly, gets caught in its web. In fact, it's quite a patient Pokémon. ❞

NOIVERN final evolution of noibat, evolved at level 48

❝ Flying through the darkness, it weakens enemies with ultrasonic waves that could crush stone. Its fangs finish the fight. ❞

❝ In the dark, even Hydreigon are terrified of this Pokémon. But in the light, Noivern is the one that avoids battle. ❞

PRE-EVOLUTION— ❝ No wavelength of sound is beyond Noibat's ability to produce. The ultrasonic waves it generates can overcome much larger Pokémon. ❞

UMBREON, final evolution of eevee, evolved through max friendship at night

❝ Umbreon evolved as a result of exposure to the moon's waves. It hides silently in darkness and waits for its foes to make a move. The rings on its body glow when it leaps to attack. ❞

❝ It is most active in the wee hours of the night, when moonlight bathes the land. Its large eyes can pierce the darkness and perceive prey with absolute clarity. ❞

PRE-EVOLUTION— ❝ It can evolve into a variety of forms. Eevee's genes are the key to solving the mysteries of Pokémon evolution. ❞

BRELOOM, final evolution of shroomish, evolved at level 23

❝ It scatters spores from holes in the cap on its head. It loves warm and humid climates. It feeds on trees and plants in fields and forests. ❞

❝ Breloom closes in on its foe with light and sprightly footwork, then throws punches with its stretchy arms. This Pokémon's fighting technique puts boxers to shame. ❞

PRE-EVOLUTION— ❝ Shroomish live in damp soil in the dark depths of forests. They are often found still under fallen leaves. This Pokémon feeds on compost made from fallen, rotted leaves. ❞

LUNATONE, final form & doesn't evolve

❝ Lunatone becomes active around the time of the full moon. Instead of walking, it moves by floating in midair. The Pokémon's intimidating red eyes cause all those who see it to become transfixed with fear. ❞

❝ Its health ebbs and flows with the lunar cycle. It brims with power when exposed to the light of the full moon. ❞

POLITOED, final form of poliwag, evolves from poliwhirl when holding a crown rock

❝ They gather on moonlit nights to form a large chorus. Their cries sound angry and not at all pleasant, but they are certainly distinctive. ❞

❝ Although its cries sound like screams, a composer created a beautiful ballad that was influenced by the sounds. ❞

PRE-EVOLUTION— ❝ The surface of Poliwhirl's body is always wet and slick with a slimy fluid. Because of this slippery covering, it can easily slip and slide out of the clutches of any enemy in battle. ❞

[moonslittlestar]

Moon? Well, he’s a love letter. He is the full moon during a cold winter's eve; blindingly bright and so low you could reach out and touch it. So radiant that everything it’s light touches is lit with a silver glow. His whole purpose is to amplify that feeling of standing outside on a brisk night. When the earth stands still, time freezes, and everything and everyone around you is sleeping; that feeling of peace and serenity that you get from basking in the moon’s glow, in a sky so clear that the stars that sparkle above you are almost overwhelming if not for their beauty.

He is tranquillity; the calm after a storm, the ebb and flow of peaceful waters, a single raindrop trickling down a window. He is power; the crack of lightning as it splinters across the sky, the raging waves crashing into each other in the middle of the ocean, violent like hailstorms, cold as morning frost. Moon is wise, knowledgeable; full of tales as old as time. His past lives in ballads and bedtime stories, a fallen hero to some… an out right villain to others. There’s a beauty in him that sleeps; lost and forgotten, torn away by anger, hate and hunger for revenge to destroy those that plucked his wings and broke his mind.

[rivyuus]

The Beatles - Ask Me Why (Song Review)

"Ask Me Why" is a tender ballad by The Beatles, featured on their debut album "Please Please Me," released in 1963. This song showcases the early songwriting collaboration of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, encapsulating the essence of youthful longing and the complexities of love, which would become a recurring theme in their discography.

From a musical standpoint, "Ask Me Why" exhibits the unique blend of pop sensibility and emotional depth that characterized The Beatles' work. The song is built around a simple yet effective melody that embodies the innocence of young romance. The harmonies are tight and sophisticated, reflecting the vocal prowess that the band would continue to develop throughout their career. Lennon's lead vocals are heartfelt, conveying a sense of vulnerability as he reflects on his emotional turmoil.

The instrumentation is relatively straightforward, yet it effectively enhances the overall mood. The arrangement is anchored by a subtle guitar line, complemented by soft, rhythmic drumming that maintains a steady pulse. The use of chords in the verses builds a gentle tension, which is released in the chorus, showcasing the natural ebb and flow that defines many of The Beatles' early compositions. This dynamic contrast not only highlights the emotional narrative but also keeps the listener engaged through varying intensity.

Lyrically, "Ask Me Why" explores themes of insecurity and the desire for understanding in a relationship. The repetition of questioning in the song's premise illustrates a yearning for clarity and connection between lovers. The song captures the essence of youthful relationships that are often steeped in confusion and uncertainty, ultimately reflecting on the human experience of love. This emotional complexity, paired with the simplicity of the melody, makes it accessible yet relatable to a wide audience.

The song's production is noteworthy in its own right. Recorded in the context of the early 1960s, when much of pop music was exploring new soundscapes, "Ask Me Why" retains a classic quality through its arrangement and vocal harmonies. The use of studio techniques, such as double-tracking, demonstrates the band’s early experimentation with sound, laying the groundwork for future innovations in their later works.

The placement of "Ask Me Why" within "Please Please Me" is also significant. As the album draws to a close, it serves as a contemplative moment amid the youthful exuberance exhibited in other tracks. This emotional pause allows for a deeper appreciation of The Beatles' capacity to convey nuanced feelings even at such an early stage in their career. The balance of upbeat songs like "Twist and Shout" with more introspective pieces like "Ask Me Why" showcases the band's versatility and foreshadows their growth as artists.

Moreover, the reception of "Ask Me Why" among contemporary audiences reflects its impact. While it may not have reached the chart-topping success of other singles from the album, its charm lies in its relatability and emotional honesty. The song contributes to the larger narrative of The Beatles' evolution, as they transitioned from a pop band into a cultural phenomenon, consistently appealing to various listener demographics.

In conclusion, "Ask Me Why" is an exemplary track from The Beatles' early catalog that encapsulates the emotional vulnerability of young love through its lyrical narrative, melodic craftsmanship, and harmonious vocals. Its place on "Please Please Me" highlights both its significance in the context of the album and its role in the broader trajectory of The Beatles' illustrious career. The song serves as a window into the hearts of its creators, reflecting the emotional landscape that resonated with a generation and continues to engage listeners today. This intimate exploration of love, coupled with the band's musical innovation, firmly establishes "Ask Me Why" as a timeless piece within The Beatles' extensive repertoire.

[cosmotheo]

PF2E Classes and Dating Dynamics

Episode 1: Bard

Bard + Alchemist: Wedded Weirdoes. Sharing a love for the boundaries of the known world, and even moreso pushing past those boundaries into the unknown. Eclectic, odd, and idiosyncratic, but never out of sync with one another. There is at least 1 mutagenic used in the bedroom nightly.

Bard + Barbarian: The Wolf and its Howl. Barbarian feels numb to the world due to their grueling training, and Bard reminds them the beauty of small, gentle things. Who is protecting whom differs depending on which you ask.

Bard + Bard: Songbirds. Cute little love ballads to each other, coming up with the stupidest rhymes with each other's names. Calling each other pet names like "Muse" and "My Sweet Sonata". Nasty freaky sex.

Bard + Cleric: Would you still love me if I were a Bookworm? They meet in a class discussing the Theological importance behind Likha, The Teller. Both are quiet, so as not to gush, until an obscure bit of trivia leaps from their mouths in unison. They spend the night together in the dorms, but they're far too busy talking to sleep. Two lovable gray ace dorks.

Bard + Champion: Hype and Hyper. Champion slays and kicks ass for their god. Bard thinks that's badass, starts playing some sick trumpet. The excitement is electric, and sparks form between them. They have a sex playlist, and Def Lepperd is on it.

Bard + Druid: The Spider and the Fly. No one understands the Druid quite like the Bard. There is a roughness, a viciousness to love that society has shorn off. Filed the points from our fangs to distance ourselves from beasts. The Bard remembers. The Bard can sing the old songs, just like the Druid can. Stare them in the eye, no matter their shape or size, and refuse to blink. Their love is raw gold in the belly of a forgotten cave, and that's just how they like it.

Bard + Fighter: Knight and Squire. Bard has ballads set aside just to tend to Fighter's wounds. Fighter learned to pick up a shield so that no one hurts their Bard. They lift each other up, holding each other to a fierce, almost competitive standard, only because they believe in each other so much.

Bard + Inventor: Experimental. Societal standards are stupid and identity is what they want it to be. Transhumanists who love each other's ability to ebb and flow. Music, fashion, expression, and even bodily configuration change day by day, and yet their hearts never drift apart.

Bard + Kineticist: Hearts Aflame. A Bard in awe of a dangerous powerhouse of fire. A Kineticist baffled by this Bard's insistence on being around despite constantly getting (slightly) incinerated. Their love is sacrifice and compromise, hard earned and Aloe scented.

Bard + Magus: Battle Buddies! Have you ever noticed how combat is like a dance? These two have! Magic, steel, song, dance, blending together in beautiful harmony. It's no wonder they get along so well, they're like puzzle pieces fit tightly together.

Bard + Monk: Order and Entropy. Sometimes, we must shed blood for peace. Sometimes, our silence must speak loudly for us. The Bard's creativity is tempered by the Monk's discipline. The Monk's form is made flowing by the Bard's song. In life and love, all things must be brought into balance.

Bard + Oracle: Strangers Together. An Oracle's burden is a heavy one. Nightmares wrack their restless nights, and alienation riddles their everyday life. If not for the lullabies of the Bard, they wonder how they would sleep at all. They hold hands, staring together at the Enigma, and for a moment, they feel a little less alone in this weird, wild world.

Bard + Psychic: Dark Side of the Heart. Bard will never forget their first meeting. Psychic will never remember it. The power of a Dark Persona is mesmerizing, like looking into the eye of a storm. Bard has tried and failed a hundred times to capture that feeling into a song. Psychic eventually stops apologizing for its existence... and feels a lot less lonely now that they have someone to confide their darkness into.

Bard + Ranger: Folk Heroes! Any talking that is done in this relationship is very one sided. The Bard will tell you all about how their partner slayed the evil giant with one hand tied behind their back, or pole vaulted across the sea with a single bamboo chute, or lifted a whole town out of the way of a volcanic eruption! The Ranger, smiling quietly, will simply add "That's true, mostly."

Bard + Rogue: Starcrossed Sneakthiefs. They meet in jail, both imprisoned under different circumstances. This isn't either of their first jailbreaks, but its their first one together. They turn robbery into romance, and second story work into soulful serenades. The only thing they need is each other... and everyone else's stuff too.

Bard + Sorcerer: Forbidden Feelings. Who else would understand? The way that society treats us different...the way they cast their looks of shame down upon us. We were born this way! We had no choice! If only they knew just how heavy it was... the burden of being...just so horny for dragons.

Bard + Summoner: Pet People. It's not often you find your true soulmate, or a trusty animal companion that'll stay by your side. Even rarer, the Bard finds both in the Summoner. Eidolons, the truest shape of one's soul, have a kind of "people sense" that cannot be overstated. It is no surprise then that the Summoner's face turns bright red when, for the first time ever, their Eidolon bends its head down to allow the Bard to give the goodest boy some pats.

Bard + Swashbuckler: Theater Dropouts. They met in the detention center of their college. One had switched the prop swords with real ones to show their prowess on stage. The other had cast Sleep on the lead to make them miss their entrance. It isn't their fault that the stage isn't big enough for them, someone ought to build a bigger stage! When they look into each other's eyes, minutes before facing their possible expulsion, they realize it doesn't matter. They'll star in this adventure together, two leads unbound by petty things like direction and criticism.

Bard + Thaumaturge: Hobby Hubbies. Bards, like crows, are known for their love of shiny things. Any Thaumaturge worth their weight in salt has a plethora of trinkets, doodads, and gizmos that have been marinating in hundreds of years of esoteric lore. You know what they say, couples that treasure hunt together stay together.

Bard + Witch: Love Through Spite. Listen, patrons suck. They're flighty, they speak in riddles, they have stupid expectations, and half the time they don't even know what they want. The only difference between ours is that yours is the Spirit of Winter and mine owns a villa in Tian Xia. Let's bitch together until the pain stops.

Bard + Wizard: Bitter Rivals. These two are the absolute bane of any unsuspecting lecture goer's existence. It starts off simply, one will answer a question provided by a teacher, or give some small anecdote. Like volatile chemistry, the other will react with something snide. Snideness turns to rudeness. Rudeness turns to vitriol. Vitriol manifests in nasty spells slung across the lecture hall. With all of the fighting they do, it's a wonder (and a nightmare, really) to all their classmates why they always end up in the same classes. The truly keen are left with an even larger mystery: why has the Wizard been repeatedly spotted leaving the Bard's dorm in the wee hours of the morning? The world may never know.