#zach chapman

[vgmremixtape]

OCR04844: Disco Elysium: First Death of the Heart - TheManPF, CeCe Ennui, Cory Johnson, Zach Chapman

[La Revacholiere]

from OverClocked ReMix; originally a submission for Dwelling of Duels. more by the artists linked below.

song credits:

Arrangement, sequencing, mix, and electric guitar by TheManPF

Bass and lyrics by Zach Chapman

Vocals, acoustic guitar, and additional electric guitar by Cory Johnson

Vocals by CeCe Ennui

lyrics:

[Excerpts from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind]

"I had a really nice time last night." "...nice?" "I had the best fucking night of my entire fucking life."

"I still thought you were gonna save my life, even after that. It would be different, if we could just give it another go-round."

"Is there something wrong with a girl being attracted to me, is that a problem?"

"I can't remember anything without you." "That's very sweet, but try, okay?"

"Alright, Joel... Look, man, seriously... here's the deal." "Rob, don't do that. Rob, what are you doing?" "Well, what's your fucking suggestion, Carrie?"

"What a loss to spend that much time with someone, only to find out that she's a stranger."

"...what if you stayed this time?" "I walked out the door. There's no memory left."

"...she's there with this guy, and she looks at me like she doesn't even know who I am."

Punitive numbers and measures All that push me on Pain, duty, rejection And all my unpaid bills

Warm primordial blackness (Ferments your consciousness) Now it's finally done (In your insignificance)

Only myself to hear (First death is in the heart) Here is love for a face

End to my pain and struggle (Here there are no ex-wives) The disco ball slows (Your act is wearing thin)

But through the indignity and bloat (The machine is firing up again) My will to overcome

Dust myself off and proceed (Dust yourself off and proceed) Turn my radio back in (Turn your radio back in) I'll do this sober and beautiful (You'll do this sober and beautiful)

This will be a victory For the light

"I could die right now, Clem. I'm just happy. I've never felt that before."

[graphicpolicy]

A Haunting on Mars #1 delivers a Resident Evil sci-fi vibe

A Haunting on Mars #1 delivers a Resident Evil sci-fi vibe #comics #comicbooks #ncbd

Mars is a wasteland: A dead colony, founded by a dead billionaire, holding darkness and secrets within. Secrets which Echo Team are sent to uncover. A hacker. A psionic. An empath. A soldier. And their corpo loyalist leader. They’ve crashed far from the LZ and their sanity’s already unraveling… A Haunting on Mars #1 delivers an opening that feels a bit like a sci-fi spin on Resident…

[lucy-frostblade]

sometimes ur friend texts u at five in the morning and u decide to draw it a solid fifteen hours later bc you got sidetracked

@blueskiesandstarrynights @unreal-unearth-undead @sourscratched @dapper-nahrwhale @starstruckodysseys @wheelsupin-azarathmetrionzinthos @fatestitcherr @thisisverypoggers @genuine-possum @disdoorted-crows

[facethemusic505]

AGGGTM One of Us is Lying AU

Hear me out... AGGGTM One of Us is Lying AU. I've only read the books so any change that happens in the show isn't taken into account.

Bronwyn Rojas: Pippa Fitz-Amobi

Nate Macauley: Ravi Singh

Cooper Clay: Connor Reynolds

Addy Prentiss: Lauren Gibson

Simon Kelleher: Max Hastings

Maeve Rojas: Josh Amobi

Jake Riordan: Ant Lowe

Keely Soria: Stella Chapman (Pip's classmate from book 2 who had her pictures used for Layla Mead)

TJ Forrester: Tom Nowak (Lauren's ex who broke up with her during book 1.)

Kris: Zach Chen

Janae Vargas: Either Naomi Ward or Millie Simpson (Millie was in Sal's friend group if you don't remember)

Thoughts? I just thought about how Pipravi are so Natewyn coded and ran with it. - Em

[christafeagin]

Soundtrack to My Life

Track 1:

Song Title: "Fast Car"

Artist or Group: Tracy Chapman

Track 2:

Song Title: "Sometimes I Cry"

Artist or Group: Chris Stapleton

Track 3:

Song Title: "Birds of a Feather"

Artist or Group: Billie Eilish

Track 4:

Song Title: "All the Time"

Artist or Group: Zach Bryan

Track 5:

Song Title: "2009"

Artist or Group: Mac Miller

Track 6:

Song Title: "Burning Bridges"

Artist or Group: Wyatt Flores

Track 7:

Song Title: "Take You With Me"

Artist or Group: Luke Combs

Track 8:

Song Title: "Who Am I"

Artist or Group: Casting Crowns

Dear Listener,

I'm Christa Feagin, from Summerfield, Florida. I am a college student studying Clinical Psychology at the University of St. Leo. Music has always been a source of inspiration and comfort for me. Through this soundtrack, I aim to share a narrative of my life's journey—a mix of highs and lows, growth, and reflection.

This soundtrack represents a personal exploration of my experiences and emotions. I created it to fulfill an assignment and gain a deeper understanding of how these songs resonate with my life. I hope to look back on this project in the future and see it as a testament to my growth and the soundtrack of my journey. My goal was to curate a sequence that reflects the different phases of my life, providing insight into who I am and how I cope with various situations.

Track 1: "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman

This song represents my dreams and aspirations for a better life. It captures the desire to escape from limitations and seek new opportunities, reflecting my ambitions and the hope for a brighter future.

Track 2: "Sometimes I Cry" by Chris Stapleton

Stapleton's raw emotion in this track resonates with my moments of vulnerability. It mirrors my emotional struggles and the need to express and process my feelings.

Track 3: "Birds of a Feather" by Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish's reflective and introspective style connects with my personal growth and the search for understanding my place in the world. This song symbolizes the connection I feel with my thoughts and experiences.

Track 4: "All the Time" by Zach Bryan

This track speaks to the enduring nature of certain relationships and memories. Despite changes and challenges, it represents the people and experiences that have constantly been present in my life.

Track 5: "2009" by Mac Miller

Mac Miller's nostalgic reflection on past times aligns with my reminiscing about earlier life phases. This song captures the bittersweet nature of reflecting on how far I've come.

Track 6: "Burning Bridges" by Wyatt Flores

This song reflects on letting go of past relationships and moving forward. It resonates with my experiences of making difficult decisions to leave behind what no longer serves my growth.

Track 7: "Take You With Me" by Luke Combs

Luke Combs' song highlights the importance of carrying cherished memories and loved ones with me as I navigate life's journey. It represents the sentimental value of experiences and connections that remain with me.

Track 8: "Who Am I" by Casting Crowns

This final track encapsulates a deep introspection about identity and purpose. It reflects my ongoing quest to understand myself and my place in the grander scheme of life.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to my soundtrack. Each song was carefully chosen to reflect different aspects of my life and emotional experiences. I hope this collection provides a meaningful insight into my journey and resonates with you as much as it does with me.

Sincerely,

Christa Feagin

[minijenn]

Univese Falls Cast List

You know, basically ths is just the voices I want you to hear when you read various characters' dialogue in UF, UF2, and UFF. It really is just me mostly listing off irl voices actors for canon characters, but I did also include OC and fusion fan casts. Idk why I'm even making this I just thought it'd be fun shut up and let me chase my bliss:

Dipper - Jason Ritter

Steven - Zach Callison

Mabel - Kristen Schaal

Connie - Grace Rolek

Stan - Alex Hirsch

Ford - JK Simmons

Garnet - Estelle

Pearl - Deedee Magno Hall

Amethyst - Michela Dietz

Bill - Alex Hirsch

Rose Quartz - Susan Egan

Lapis - Jennifer Paz

Peridot - Shelby Rabara

Soos - Alex Hirsch

Wendy - Linda Cardellini

Pacifica - Jackie Buscarino

Greg - Tom Scharpling

Jasper - Kimberly Brooks

McGucket - Alex Hirsch

Gideon - Thurop Van Orman

Ruby - Charlene Yi

Sapphire - Erica Luttrell

Bismuth - Uzo Aduba

Yellow Diamond - Patti LuPone

Blue Diamond - Lisa Hannigan

White Diamond - Christine Ebersole

Stevonnie - AJ Michalka

Maven - Kimiko Glenn

Stepper - Jeremy Jordan

Opal - Aimee Mann

Sugilite - Nicki Manaj

Sardonyx - Alexia Khadime

Alexandrite - Rita Rani Ahuja

Dipevebel - Madeleine Martin

Mabonnven - Mae Whitman

Convenper - Andrew Rannells

Stonipbel - Oliva Olson

Stonemason - Jason Ritter

Amber - Patricia Summersett

Hessonite - Christine Baranski

Allison - Cissy Jones

Aaron - Scott Weinger

Blue Pearl - Deedee Magno Hall

Yellow Pearl - Deedee Magno Hall

Pink Pearl - Deedee Magno Hall

Ruby Squad - Charlene Yi

Alwin Weidmann - Matt Mercer

Stevifica - Stephanie Beatriz

Holly Blue Agate - Christine Pedi

Aquamarine - Della Saba

Topaz - Martha Higareda

Zircons - Amy Sedaris

Emerald - Jinkx Monsoon

Squaridot - Shelby Rabara

Yellow Sapphire - Erica Luttrell

Lemon Quartz - Kimberly Brooks

Honey Quartz - Kimberly Brooks

Sphene - Rachael MacFarlane

Rutile Twins - Ashly Burch

Padparadscha - Erica Luttrell

Rhodonite - Enuka Okuma

Fluorite - Kathy Fisher

Spinel - Sarah Stiles

Smoky Quartz - Natasha Lyonne

Rainbow Quartz 2.0 - Alastair James

Sunstone - Shoniqua Shandai

Obsidian - Zach Callison, Michaela Dietz, Deedee Magno Hall, and Estelle

Axolotl - Ben Schwartz

Stepping Stone - Jeremy Jordan

Bluebird Azurite - Larissa Gallagher

Candy - Niki Yang

Grenda - Carl Faruolo

Robbie - T.J. Miller

Lars - Matthew Moy

Sadie - Kate Micucci

Jenny - Reagan Gomez-Preston

Buck - Lamar Abrams

Sour Cream - Brian Posehn

Tambry - Jessica DiCicco

Thompson - Michael Rianda

Lee - Michael Rianda

Nate - Scott Menville

Mayor Dewey - Joel Hodgson

Onion - Zach Callison

Vidalia - Jackie Buscarino

Melody - Jillian Bell

Priyanka - Mary Elizabeth McGlynn

Doug - Crispin Freeman

Abuelita - Matt Chapman

Ronaldo - Zach Steel

Peedee - Atticus Shaffer

Fryman - Billy Merritt

Preston - Nathan Fillion

Priscilla - Kari Wahlgren

Jamie - Eugene Cordero

Kevin - Andrew Kishino

Toby Determined - Gregg Turkington

Tyler Cutebiker - Will Forte

Shanda Jimenez - Kari Wahlgren

Kiki - Reagan Gomez-Preston

Kofi - Godfrey

Nanufua - Toks Olagundoye

Bud - Stephen Root

Mr. Smiley - Sinbad

Sheriff Blubs - Kevin Michael Richardson

Deputy Durland - Keith Ferguson

Manly Dan - John DiMaggio

Lion - Dee Bradley Baker

Waddles - Dee Bradley Baker

[betterwithbooksthanwithpeople]

and what if I said I turned a bunch of lyrics from songs y'all have said are parry/peril coded into a poem thing about Darry breaking up with Paul when he has to turn his focus to taking care of his brothers?

songs included: "Alley Rose" - Conan Gray, "reckless driving" - Lizzy McAlpine, "Paul" - Big Thief, "Favorite T-Shirt" - Jake Scott, "Fast Car" - Tracy Chapman, "Something in the Orange" - Zach Bryan, "Postcard" - First Aid Kit

[vgmremixtape]

OCR04785: ToeJam & Earl: Big Earl Funk - Zach Chapman feat. TheManPF, newmajoe, Ian Martyn, Ronin Op F

[Big Earl Bump]

from OverClocked ReMix; hear more by the artists linked below

song credits and lyrics:

Zach Chapman - arrangement, mixing, mastering, bass

TheManPF - guitars

newmajoe - saxophone, vocals, lyrics, beatboxing, bonga, tambourine

Ian Martyn - keyboard

Ronin Op F - percussion

lyrics:

It's the real deal We keep it on the DL We got sick flowin' and a fit funk feel You courting controversy, I'm the in-house polemicist My drive's more Mega than an overclocked Genesis

How do I do it? Is it born or bred? I could check the DNA, but I'm a lousy geneticist But either way, yea, it must be said Yo, my rhymes is so funky, gotta call a hygenicist

It's just the emphasis I place with such an eloquence My excellent intelligence demands no further evidence But if I sense the listener has got incredulous I got a chorus, let me introduce the elements

You just don't know what we're doin' We locked in the rhythm, the rhythm is just groovin' You just can't hear what we're sayin', uh But you gettin' what we're playin' at

Got a chorus, let me introduce the elements

You just don't know what we're doin' We locked in the rhythm, the rhythm is just groovin' You just can't hear what we're sayin', uh But you gettin' what we're playin' at

Just don't know what we're doin' We locked in the rhythm, the rhythm is just groovin' You just can't hear what we're sayin', uh But you gettin' what we're playin' at

[bikinibottomdayz]

JANUARY 10, 2025 RELEASE

All my videos can be found here, full release under the read more! I am also offering the two & Juliet videos as a bundle for 30 USD!

ORDER FORM HERE

This release includes: & Juliet (7/13 & 7/31), HPCC (tour), The Who's Tommy (Danny Quadrino), Wicked (Laurel Harris)

& JULIET July 13, 2024 (M) | Broadway | 4K MP4 (9.85GB) | bikinibottomday’s master Cast: Maya Boyd (Juliet), Betsy Wolfe (Anne Hathaway), Austin Scott (William Shakespeare), Makai Hernandez (u/s Romeo), Philippe Arroyo (Francois), Justin David Sullivan (May), Jeannette Bayardelle (t/r Nurse "Angelique"), David Bedella (t/r Lance), Brittany Nicholas (s/w Lady Capulet/Viola), Andrew Chappelle (Lord Capulet/Sly), Tiernan Tunnicliffe (Eleanor/Benvolio), Virgil Gadson (Augustine), Matt Raffy (Gregory), Daniel Assetta (Henry), Jasmine Rafael (Imogen), Khailah Johnson (Judith), Joomin Hwang (Kempe), Megan Kane (Lucy), Bobby "Pocket" Horner (Rumour), Michael Iván Carrier (s/w Thomas) Notes: Excellent 4K capture of Makai as Romeo! First ten minutes are a bit rough, with a few short blackouts and wide shots, but it gets better as it goes on. Some wandering / readjustment and unfocusing throughout. Includes curtain call, audio is fed from external source. https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBzrLT | ASKING $20 USD NOT FOR SHARING EXCEPT THROUGH ME UNTIL JULY 2, 2025

& JULIET July 31, 2024 (E) | Broadway | 4K MP4 (10.04GB) | bikinibottomday’s master Cast: Maya Boyd (Juliet), Betsy Wolfe (Anne Hathaway), Austin Scott (William Shakespeare), Daniel J. Maldonado (u/s Romeo), Makai Hernandez (u/s Francois), Justin David Sullivan (May), Jeannette Bayardelle (t/r Nurse "Angelique"), Paulo Szot (Lance), Najah Hetsberger (Lady Capulet/Nell), Andrew Chappelle (Lord Capulet/Sly), Tiernan Tunnicliffe (Eleanor/Benvolio), Virgil Gadson (Augustine), Matt Raffy (Gregory), Daniel Assetta (Henry), Jasmine Rafael (Imogen), Khailah Johnson (Judith), Joomin Hwang (Kempe), Bobby "Pocket" Horner (Rumour), Michael Iván Carrier (s/w Thomas), Ava Noble (s/w Titania) Notes: Great 4K capture of Makai as Frankie! Footage starts 8 minutes in at the beginning of “Hit Me Baby,” audio only until then. Very minor head obstruction throughout. Some wandering and unfocusing throughout. Includes curtain call, audio is fed from external source. https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBC6zM | ASKING $18 USD NOT FOR SHARING EXCEPT THROUGH ME UNTIL JULY 2, 2025

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD September 10, 2024 | First US Tour (Chicago, IL) | 4K MP4 (12.67GB) | bikinibottomday’s master Cast: Emmet Smith (Albus Potter), Aidan Close (Scorpius Malfoy), John Skelley (Harry Potter), Trish Lindstrom (Ginny Potter), Ebony Blake (Hermione Granger), Matt Mueller (Ron Weasley), Benjamin Thys (Draco Malfoy), Julia Nightingale (Delphi Diggory), Naiya Vanessa McCalla (Rose Granger-Weasley), Kaleb Alexander (Sorting Hat), Mackenzie Lesser-Roy (Moaning Myrtle, Lily Potter Sr.), Larry Yando (Albus Dumbledore, Amos Diggory, Severus Snape), Katherine Leask (Professor McGonagall, Professor Umbridge), Timmy Thompson (Craig Bowker, Jr.), Caleb Hafen (Cedric Diggory, James Potters), Julianna Austin (Polly Chapman), David Fine (Yann Fredericks), Zach Norton (Karl Jenkins, Viktor Krum), Maren Searle (Trolley Witch), Alexis Gordon (Madam Hooch), Torsten Johnson (Professor Mazoni), Nathan Hosner (Voldemort), Travis Patton (Teacher), Rene Thornton Jr. (Station Master), Chris Jarman (Voice of Phone Box/Voice of Bookcase), Paul Thornley (Voice of Ludo Bagman), Markus Blair, Casey Butler, Erin Chupinsky, Reese Sebastian Diaz, Simon Gagnon, Lauryn Hayes, Markelle Leigh, Evan Maltby, Ayla Stackhouse, Jennifer Thessen, Kristin Yancy Notes: Excellent 4K capture of the tour’s first preview! Some wandering / readjustment and unfocusing throughout. Some washout on the wider shots. Includes curtain call, audio fed from external source. https://mega.nz/folder/NtpHyKQC#yEDS9jvDa4nP0K-T0xby_Q | ASKING $20 USD NOT FOR SHARING EXCEPT THROUGH ME UNTIL JULY 2, 2025

THE WHO’S TOMMY July 10, 2024 (E) | Broadway | 4K MP4 (8.2GB) | bikinibottomday’s master Cast: Daniel Quadrino (u/s Tommy), Alison Luff (Mrs. Walker), Adam Jacobs (Captain Walker), John Ambrosino (Uncle Ernie), Bobby Conte (Cousin Kevin), Haley Gustafson (Sally Simpson), Aliah James (Nurse), Jenna Nicole Schoen (Nurse/Mrs. Simpson), Christina Sajous (The Acid Queen), Nathan Lucrezio (Lover/Mr. Simpson), Sheldon Henry (Hawker/Judge/Specialist), David Paul Kidder (s/w Allied Solder), Mike Cannon (Minister), Olive Ross-Kline (Tommy, Age 4), Reese Levine (Tommy, Age 10), Tyler Eisenreich (Commanding Officer), Alexandra Matteo (Head Nurse), Lily Kren (Psychiatrist), Andrew Tufano (Allied Soldier), Mark Mitrano (First Pinball Lad), Jeremiah Alsop (Second Pinball Lad), Dee Tomasetta (s/w Chief Resident), Reagan Pender (Bartender, s/w Harmonica Player), Ronnie S Bowman Jr. (Ensemble) Notes: Excellent 4K capture of Danny’s debut as Tommy! Minor head obstruction on the bottom which blocks off a bit of action. Some moments of wandering and unfocusing. Some washout on the wider shots. Momentary blackout during the last song due to a standing ovation. Includes curtain call, audio fed from external source. https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBzd79 | ASKING $20 USD NOT FOR SHARING EXCEPT THROUGH ME UNTIL JULY 2, 2025

WICKED July 25, 2024 | Broadway | 4K MP4 (11.33GB) | bikinibottomday’s master Cast: Laurel Harris (s/b Elphaba), Alexandra Socha (Glinda), Jordan Litz (Fiyero), Donna McKechnie (Madame Morrible), Brad Oscar (The Wizard), Natalie Ortega (Nessarose), Jake Pedersen (Boq), William Youmans (Doctor Dillamond), Stephen Hernandez (s/w Chistery) Notes: Excellent 4K capture of Laurel as the temporary standby Elphaba! Increased wandering / readjustment and unfocusing throughout. Overall more messily filmed / wideshot than usual. Some washout on wider shots. Includes curtain call, audio is fed from external source. https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBBqBi | ASKING $20 USD NOT FOR SHARING EXCEPT THROUGH ME UNTIL JULY 2, 2025

[graphicpolicy]

Earth's Most Dangerous Hacker is Captured and Forced On A Suicide Mission into a Haunted House On Mars. A Haunting on Mars is coming soon!

Earth's Most Dangerous Hacker is Captured and Forced On A Suicide Mission into a Haunted House On Mars. A Haunting on Mars is coming soon! #comics #comicbooks

A hot-headed hacker is forced onto a team of corpo scum tasked with retrieving a dangerous piece of tech from a haunted house. She must survive double-crossing teammates and the bizarre mysterious horrors within. Mission at the Mansion:  High above the long dead Mars colony, atop Olympus Mons, looms Emmeric Deschutes’ mansion. Inside shadows twist, ancient automated defenses cycle, corpses rot…

[prettygrrlwho]

no one asked for it but.... here's what color I think different agggtm characters would be! (really specific edition)

Pip - #6e329c

Ravi - #a89945

Lauren - #a84573

Ant - #233b23

Cara - #c486ae or #7a4668

Naomi - #6d98b3

Elliot - #060540

Nat Da Silva - #6a90ad

Daniel Da Silva - #a66c2e

Detective Hawkins - #87413d

Zach Chen - #3b3636

Connor Reynolds- #eda547

Jamie Reynolds - #b86e7c

Josh Amobi - #afe0de

Victor - #63798a

Jason Bell - #122e0a

Andie Bell - #f08bee

Becca Bell - #5c3c5b

Sal Singh - #16308c

Howie Bowers - #423c2c

Charlie - #92a874

Hariet - #b89756

Isla Jordan - #9c6aa8

Dawn Bell - #6aa8a3

Stanley - #debfdb

Max Hastings - #000000

Stella Chapman - #ffffff

If there's anyone I missed please let me know!!!

[the-penguin-of-baskervilles]

Summary: Princess conducts interviews with witnesses in Fredericksburg to learn more about the disappearance of Li Wei and Zoe Chapman. Meanwhile, Lloyd confronts Tate Corbin about what he saw the night Julia went missing, but the answers only lead to more questions.

Word Count: 5,064

Masterlist

Author’s Note: I’d like to dedicate this chapter to @nomadstucky. Without her, I never would’ve been able to dig my way out of this latest writing slump. Her feedback was critical to getting this chapter moving in the right direction when I was going off the rails creatively. Thank you so much!

Warnings: Allusions to domestic violence, discussion of murder and other criminal behavior. Minor use of foul language. Only appropriate for 18+ readers. No minors.

Chapter XXIII

The cabins were in good repair. Seeing them in person disrupted the mental image you’d formed of the Chapman Bible Camp. It wasn’t the neglected place of crumbling disrepair you’d imagined it to be. Words like charming and neat came to mind, rather than decrepit and gloomy. The cottages were arranged around an ellipse shaped quad in uniform fashion, like spokes on a wheel. Their vibrant colors were reminiscent of the famous bathing boxes at Brighton Beach. Each one was painted a different shade of the rainbow and trimmed in a contrasting hue. The yellow cabin had purple trim, the green cabin fuchsia pink, and so on.

Instead of the Adirondack style commonly found in rural Virginia, the cabins boasted steep, angled roofs and front-facing gables adorned with whimsical gingerbread bargeboards. The whole aesthetic was so unabashedly Queen Anne that the cabins could’ve blended in with the homes on San Francisco’s famous Postcard Row. They seemed both too sophisticated and too cute for these primitive woods.

After her husband passed away, Mrs. Chapman had sold the bible camp. It was now in the hands of a musician who’d turned the tabernacle into a concert hall and rented out the cabins on Airbnb. Zach was fetching the keys from the owner while you waited on the porch of the converted tabernacle.

Standing here, you wondered if this visit was a fool’s errand. This morning Lloyd had called to tell you he’d be leaving the search party this afternoon to cover Roth’s interview with Tate Corbin. After hanging up, you’d itched for something productive to do. The abduction had injected a fresh sense of urgency into the investigation, but you’d agreed to keep your distance from Harmony because Lloyd was worried that Shun Nguyen would return to familiar surroundings. It was a reasonable assumption, one you didn’t have a counter argument for.

Still, you’d itched with a need to do something, so you’d turned to the mystery surrounding Li Wei and Zoe Chapman. Now that you were actually here you couldn’t shake the feeling that you’d drifted off course. The place to look for fresh leads was forty miles north of here, yet this was where you’d come.

What breakthroughs did you expect to generate digging into a case that was almost twenty-five years old? You were about as far from a lead as Pluto was from the sun.

Gravel crunched as Zach came up the walk behind you.

“I got the keys,” he said.

“The place looks better than I expected. More charm, less gloom.”

“Like a fucking rainbow in the woods,” Zach said, inserting the key in the lock.

“Uh-huh.”

“It’s creepy, though.”

“Creepy?” you asked.

“The place feels off. Too pretty for its history, like Gettysburg without a war memorial.”

- - - - -

Zach went to explore the camp and forest while you waited in the concert hall for your witnesses. Twenty minutes later, the first of two former employees arrived.

Mrs. Koep was a petite fair-skinned woman with thin lips and a broad face. She wore a white button down with a silk scarf draped around her neck and carried a pink Michael Kors purse. Her handshake was firm when she introduced herself as the camp’s former groundskeeper. Right behind her, the other ex-employee Mrs. Brittenridge entered the hall. Mrs. Brittenridge was the opposite of Mrs. Koep. The former administrative assistant and camp nurse was tall and thin. In contrast to Mrs. Koep’s carefully coiffed appearance, Mrs. Brittenridge wore a plaid button down with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, straight leg jeans, and scuffed suede boots. Her dark brown hair, worn in a shaggy bob, gleamed with red highlights that complimented her olive complexion.

If they hadn’t introduced themselves, you’d have figured Mrs. Brittenridge for the groundskeeper and Mrs. Koep for the nurse. You sat down together in the pews. The two women took the second row while you sat in the first, angling yourself to face them.

“Thank you for coming,” you said.

“Of course,” Mrs. Brittenridge replied.

“Why did you want to meet us here?” Mrs. Koep asked.

“My colleague, Zach, is exploring the grounds, and I thought the familiar setting might help jog your memories.”

Mrs. Koep’s chin lifted. “My memory is just fine.”

Mrs. Brittenridge shot the blonde woman a tired side-eye, but didn’t comment.

“Rolling Stone magazine said your law firm is investigating the murders in Harmony,” Mrs. Koep said. “Is that true?”

“I’m afraid I can’t comment about ongoing cases.”

She scowled.

“We’re glad someone’s looking into Li Wei and Zoe’s disappearance again, and we’re happy to help anyway we can,” Mrs. Brittenridge said.

“I was hoping you could fill in some blanks surrounding Li Wei’s disappearance. What was she doing just before she disappeared?”

Mrs. Koep answered first. “She was supposed to take the campers on a nature hike before lunch, but never showed up. I learned she was missing when Mr. Chapman came to the potting shed and asked if I’d seen her.”

“The last time I saw her was that morning,” Mrs. Brittenridge said. “She came into the office to fill up her water bottle.”

“What time was that?” you asked.

“Eight-thirty,” Mrs. Brittenridge said.

You turned to the other woman. “And you, Mrs. Koep?”

“I caught a glimpse of her around nine. She was heading into the woods.”

“And Zoe?”

They debated whether Zoe had been with Li Wei that morning or not, but neither one could say for sure. With some more questioning the women decided their last official sighting of the little girl had been on Friday afternoon.

“What about Li Wei’s personal life?” you asked.

Mrs. Koep scoffed. “Non-existent. Her social life fell off a cliff after Zoe was born - some people even compared her to Boo Radley.”

By the icy glare she shot at Mrs. Brittenridge, you could guess who ‘some people’ had been.

“Betty, I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“You were right, though! She was a recluse! She was bored and lonely. All of her friends had gone off to college and left her behind.”

“She had Zoe, and her parents. You were there for her, too,” Mrs. Brittenridge said.

“It wasn’t enough,” Mrs. Koep said, wringing her hands. “Her mother should’ve pushed her to date, to get out and socialize. She practically was Boo Radley in the end.”

Mrs. Brittenridge sighed. An uncomfortable silence settled, and you waited to see if they’d continue. When they didn’t you pivoted to the main line of questioning you hoped this visit would shed light on.

“Who was Zoe’s father?”

Mrs. Brittenridge stiffened. Beside her, Mrs. Koep’s expression transformed from distraught to frosty. Neither of them answered. You retreated to a less aggressive position, realizing the delicacy of the subject called for coaxing, not pushing.

“Mrs. Koep, you worked here the longest. Since 1982, if the records are correct. Were you close with Li Wei?”

“Yes. She used to follow me around everywhere, always wanting to play in the dirt when I was planting flowers. I had kids who were a few years older than her, so I didn’t mind.”

“Did she ever confide in you about Zoe’s father?”

“Li Wei was a quiet girl,” Mrs. Koep said.

“She was quieter after she had Zoe,” Mrs. Brittenridge interjected.

You weren’t getting any useful information from the direct approach. Despite their obvious dislike of one another, the women were working in concert to dodge your questions.

A strategic retreat was in order.

“Do you have any theories about what happened to Li Wei and Zoe?”

Mrs. Brittenridge lowered her gaze, but Mrs. Koep offered a theory immediately. “I always assumed it was an accident of some kind. There’s a lot of abandoned mining shafts in the area.”

Mrs. Brittenridge’s lips compressed into a flat line.

You smiled at the former groundskeeper. “Mrs. Koep, would you mind taking my colleague, Zack, around? It would be nice to get the perspective of someone who knows the area.”

“Of course.”

“Mrs. Brittenridge, if it’s not too much trouble, I’d love to see where the administrative building was.”

“There’s not much to see. The new owners tore it down.”

“Any familiar spots would be great,” you said.

You led them out of the tabernacle and Mrs. Koep headed east to where Zach was inspecting the tree line, while Mrs. Brittenridge turned west. She walked to a picnic table hidden behind a grove of trees and sat down on one side. You took the place opposite her.

“This is where I used to take my breaks.”

“It’s a pleasant spot.”

“It’s private. You wanted to get me alone, so go ahead. Ask,” Mrs. Brittenridge invited.

“Do you know who Zoe’s father was?”

“No. Li Wei and I were friendly, but we didn’t have a relationship where she’d be comfortable sharing such personal information.”

“Would Mrs. Koep know?”

“Maybe. Betty was like an aunt to her. I always assumed she’d confided in her, but I’m not sure.”

“How long did you and Betty work together?”

“Seven years.”

“Were you full or part time at the camp?”

“Full time, May through August. I was a school nurse at Monroe High.”

“Li Wei graduated from Monroe, didn’t she?”

“Yes.”

“What was she like as a student?”

Mrs. Brittenridge considered the question before answering. “She was very smart, especially in English and exceptional in art. She wasn’t the most outgoing person, but always had friends.”

“You’d say she was well liked?”

“Absolutely,” Mrs. Brittenridge said. “She wasn't exactly shy, just reserved. The kind who thought before speaking.”

“Was she much of a partier?”

“Not in high school.”

You raised an eyebrow. “And after?”

“Sometimes when you’ve led a sheltered life, a little freedom goes to your head.”

“Got it. One more question. Why don’t you and Betty get along?”

“I had a cell phone in 1992.”

“Mmmhhh.”

“You’re too young to understand, aren’t you?”

“Probably.”

“Back in the early nineties, only drug dealers had cell phones, or at least that’s what people thought. I had one, which immediately roused her suspicions. To add insult to injury, I set up a website for the camp in 1996, then persuaded the Chapmans to put in a computer station so the kids could email their parents instead of writing letters. You’d have thought I suggested we convert to Satanism.”

You ran through your follow up questions and then walked Mrs. Brittenridge to her car, thanking her again for coming.

Then you headed down the curving path, around the oval lawn, past the cabins, to the garden shed. Zach was waiting outside.

“How’d the tour go?” you asked.

“I don’t think she likes me,” he said.

“Welcome to the club.”

Zach smirked. “Oh? Your charm met its kryptonite?”

You sneered at him, ignored his silent laughter, and stepped over the threshold into the plywood floored shed. The only source of light was a rectangular skylight on the roof.

Mrs. Koep was standing on the far side of the shed with her back to you. Her hands rested on a high table constructed from two-by-fours and MDF board. She stared at the garden tools that hung from the pegboard behind the table. Despite her chic clothing, she looked far more at home in this spartan surrounding with its crude furnishings than she had in the concert hall.

“I missed this place,” Mrs. Koep said, breaking the silence. “It’s weird to miss somewhere that smells like manure and gasoline, but I did.”

Mrs. Koep turned around and leaned against the table, crossing her arms over her chest. It was time for the confrontation.

“You knew Li Wei better than anyone,” you said.

“I like to think so.”

“Do you really believe she and Zoe fell into an abandoned mining shaft?”

“No, I don’t. But that’s what I want to believe, so I do.”

“Is it easier that way?” you asked.

“Being in denial for twenty years isn’t easy, it’s a survival mechanism.”

“What exactly were you in denial about, Mrs. Koep?”

It was stuffy and warm in the shed, but she rubbed her arms as if trying to generate heat.

“At first, you let yourself believe something irrational. Then… when reality breaks through the facade… you make yourself believe it because you can’t accept the truth.”

“You know something about Li Wei’s disappearance that you’re not telling me.”

“You’re very blunt for someone so young.”

“Thank you.”

“I wish I’d been that way when I was twenty-five. It would’ve spared me a divorce.”

This time you didn’t respond, just nodded.

“Li Wei didn’t give me the name of Zoe’s father. She said he was from up North - I think she meant D.C. - and that he’d been in a fraternity. They weren’t in a relationship or anything like that. Zoe was the product of a one night stand.”

“Did he know about Zoe?”

“I’m not sure but I think she would’ve told him. Whatever the case was, he wasn't in the picture. Li Wei was dating someone else.”

Excitement surged in your blood. That hadn’t been in the file. “Really? When did she start seeing him?”

Mrs. Koep squeezed her arms, gripping them until her knuckles turned white.

“Some time in March.”

“Why didn’t you tell the police?”

“Because I was afraid her parents wouldn’t approve. I didn’t want to start any trouble for her.”

You nodded. “And you’re sure the relationship began in March?”

“Pretty sure. I always came up early to start on the flower beds. He drove a motorcycle - not a Harley, it was a sporty thing, like the one Tom Cruise rode in Top Gun. I saw it parked in front of her cottage a few times.”

“Did you ever see her boyfriend?”

“A couple times, from a distance,” Mrs. Koep said.

“Can you describe him?”

“Caucasian, early twenties, with dark blond hair. I guess he was about six feet tall, give or take. He looked a bit like David Beckham.”

“You spoke to her about him?”

Mrs. Koep nodded. “I warned her that if I’d seen her sneaking around with him it was only a matter of time before one of her parents caught on.”

“What did she say?”

“She told me it hadn’t been serious and that they’d broken up.”

You swiped open your phone and pulled up an image of Julia Xiarong.

“Have you seen this woman before?”

She studied the photo carefully. “I don’t think so. Who is she?”

“She was related to Li Wei. A friend of hers said she’d been looking into her family history in 2002 and uncovered records of an adopted cousin.”

“How did she know they were cousins?”

“There was a family mystery about her uncle. He fought in the Chinese Civil War and fled to Taiwan in the 1940s. No one ever heard from him again. She found his death certificate and learned that he’d had a daughter who died in childbirth, which led her to Li Wei’s adoption records.”

“Was there proof Li Wei was related to her?” Mrs. Koep asked.

“If you mean a DNA test, I don’t believe so. Her friend said she came to Fredericksburg in March 2002 and tried to get in touch with Mrs. Chapman. I don’t know if they connected or not.”

“It wouldn’t have mattered if they did,” Mrs. Koep said. “Mrs. Chapman had Alzheimers. She’d lost everything but her long-term memories by the end of 2001. Her sister came up from Arizona to take care of her. She stayed on for a year until it was time to move Mrs. Chapman into a memory care unit, then sold the camp.”

“Is it possible she met with Mrs. Chapman’s sister?”

“Maybe.”

“Do you have a number for the sister?” you asked.

“In my address book. I’ll send it to you.”

“Thank you.”

Mrs. Koep squinted at Julia’s picture. “She’s dead isn’t she?”

You cringed internally, realizing your mistake. Detective Roth was going to have your head.

“I do recognize her. She was in the Rolling Stone article.” Mrs. Koep’s eyes narrowed. “You found Li Wei and Zoe’s bodies, didn’t you?”

“I can’t share any information about the investigation.”

You braced yourself for her to unsheathe her claws, but instead of lashing out, she opened her tiny pink purse and handed you a card. It was an old-fashioned calling card with her name, phone numbers and email address.

“When you can release their bodies, please call me. They deserve a proper funeral.”

“That’s very thoughtful. Especially after all this time.”

“It’s the only thing left. I can’t do anything else for them now.”

“Thank you for taking the time to meet with me. I’m sure talking about this wasn’t easy.”

“I wish I could’ve been more helpful,” she said.

“On the contrary. You were very helpful.”

Mrs. Koep looked confused. When you didn’t elaborate, she sighed. “Alright then. Is that everything?”

“Yes. Zach can walk you to your car.”

You watched from the doorway of the shed as the pair walked down the ellipse shaped path towards the tabernacle and the parking lot beyond it. When they were far enough away, you took out your phone and dialed Annabeth Greene.

She answered on the fourth ring.

“Hey, how’s it going? Have you made any progress on your case? The one with the cousins?”

“That’s why I’m calling. Do you remember running Li Wei and Julia’s DNA samples?”

“Of course I do. It’s the most interesting thing I’ve cracked in months.”

“What about Zoe’s?”

“The little girl?” Annabeth asked.

“Yeah.”

“I thought I already sent you an analysis of her DNA.”

“You did, but I was wondering if there would be any way to identify her father?”

Annabeth sucked in a long breath. “Ugh. Look, I can try, but I’m not optimistic. A lot of genetic libraries have closed the loop holes that allowed us to use ancestry DNA to identify suspects for law enforcement.”

“I’m not law enforcement.”

“You’re as bad as Lloyd.”

“Can you do it?”

“If I loosen my definition of ethics,” Annabeth said.

“You’re the best. I owe you.”

“Uh-uh. Lloyd owes me. It’s going to be something good, too. Expensive. You tell him that.”

“Will do.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

In a semi-private alcove within the vast common room of Fairfax Fields Assisted Living facility, Lloyd faced down his prime suspect. Tate Corbin didn’t look eighty-three. His face was wrinkled but his posture was impeccable. Also, he seemed to be made of Teflon, because nothing stuck to him. It wasn’t charm that formed the protective coating that resisted Lloyd’s best interrogation tactics. Just the opposite - the Teflon shield surrounding Corbin was constructed of impertinence.

None of his usual tricks were working, and that pissed Lloyd off. He was good at two things in the interrogation room: getting a rise out of someone and building a sense of despair that made them unravel. Corbin was immune to both tactics.

First, there was no getting a rise out of Corbin. The man existed in a perpetual state of annoyance; the only dependent variable was the subject of his ire. Second, Lloyd didn’t have any actual evidence and therefore wasn’t equipped to build a sense of despair.

He wished he’d brought you along. If he had, he probably wouldn’t be sitting here listening to Corbin monologue about his various hatreds. Mr. Corbin hated scarlet macaws, because his neighbor had one and it wouldn’t shut up. He hated New Jersey and their subpar roads that were always under construction.

Trying to forge a connection, Lloyd empathized with that sentiment and inadvertently triggered a cascade of grievances.

The architecture of FedEx Field was hideous and the Washington Commanders had been on the downhill slide ever since they’d let Kirk Cousins sign with the Vikings. Tate claimed to despise Roger Goodell, Jerry Jones, and the entire NFL organization. And he loathed the football commentators on TV, too. They didn’t know shit about football. He preferred to watch the games on mute these days. Lloyd really, really didn’t want to agree with Tate Corbin… but he was right about a lot of things, especially the Commanders letting Kirk Cousins go. However, he wisely kept his agreement to himself and sat back, waiting for Corbin to run out of steam.

There was a rant against the commissioner of baseball, which didn’t have enough context for Lloyd to figure out whether Corbin hated the office or the individual who currently occupied it. Without a segue, the topic shifted to how social media addictions were the younger generation’s smoking. As much as he hated social media, Tate also had plenty to say about the mass media, and he didn’t hesitate to bend Lloyd’s ear about it.

Tate had been talking for almost ten minutes straight before Lloyd found an opening to put the conversation back on track.

“I hate dogwood trees,” Corbin said.

“You had a disagreement with Shun Nguyen about a dogwood tree, didn’t you?”

“Eh?”

“Dogwood trees,” Lloyd repeated, louder.

Corbin turned up the volume on his hearing aides. “Yeah, I did. That damn tree was growing over the fence and he wouldn’t trim it! Claimed he didn’t have the time!”

“We need to talk about his girlfriend’s death.”

Tate turned his head. His eyes shifted to the window. Uncharacteristically, he didn’t offer a comment.

“I’m here to talk about Julia’s death and the missing women,” Lloyd said.

“Always back to that, huh?”

“The investigation has been re-opened.”

“It’s old news. What’s there to talk about?” Corbin asked.

“You were convinced that Shun Nguyen killed Julia, is that right?”

“Damn right. They were always scrapping. I told her straight out that he’d kill her someday, but she didn’t listen.”

“Were you familiar with any of Dr. Nguyen’s other victims?”

Tate’s initial chattiness had waned. He shrugged. “The whole town heard about them. Heck, most of the country did.”

“Tell me about it.”

Mr. Corbin ran his tongue around his teeth. An expression of disgust, like he’d just bitten into something rotten, flashed across his features. The silence lengthened between them and Lloyd decided to prod.

“Did you know Stacey Moore?”

“Her grandfather and I golfed at the same course. We never played together or anything, but we’d see each other at the bar sometimes. I suppose you already know Maya Sutton interned for my accountant.”

“Why do you say that?”

“You’ve done your homework. Everything I’ve told you was in the files, so you tell me - what’s the point of this? What are you getting at?”

Lloyd uncrossed his legs and leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees.

“In 2002 you claimed you saw a man walking across Nguyen's lawn on the night Julia went missing. I think you were lying.”

Tate straightened, his scowl darkening. “Lying about what?”

“You didn’t see a man. You made it up.”

“Why would I do that?”

“To throw the police off your scent.”

Realization dawned, and then Tate chuckled. “You think I’m the killer?”

“You hated Shun and Julia.”

“And the others?”

“You’re not much of a people person, Mr. Corbin. That can be very frustrating. You couldn’t join them, you couldn’t beat them, so what does that leave? You kill them.”

“That’s pretty twisted logic,” Tate said.

“Six women are still missing and we have the bodies of three others, so yeah. The whole thing is pretty twisted.”

“I’m not much of a people person, Mr. Hansen, but I’m not a killer.”

“Can you prove that?”

Tate snorted. “Actually, I can. You see, you’re not the first person to accuse me.”

Lloyd raised an eyebrow. “Who?”

“Peter Shaw, a reporter out of D.C. - obnoxious bastard.”

“So I’ve heard.”

“He tried to accuse me of being the killer in a story for some hipster magazine ten years ago. The editor called before they ran the story, trying to verify the facts.”

“What facts?”

“About my whereabouts during the times those other women went missing. Stacey Moore was the first, in June of ‘99. A few months later Maya Sutton disappeared. The next summer it happened again. Two more victims.”

“Do you remember their names?” Lloyd asked.

“Peyton Quirk and Kayla Ballesta.”

“They disappeared in the summer, too?”

Lloyd knew the answers to the questions he was asking, but he wanted to see if Tate did.

“Peyton disappeared in July and Kayla went missing during the first week of September.”

Lloyd pretended to make a note on his pad.

Tate continued down the list. “He took Lucy Lund in May 2001. Stephanie Young went missing in September.”

“You’re very familiar with the case, Mr. Corbin.”

“Of course I am. I was at Nguyen’s trial every single day, both times. Which is why I was able to track down the tickets and photos from my summer vacations in 1999 and 2001. There are three ex-merchant marines, guys I served with in the sixties, who can vouch for me. We’ve done a biennial fishing trip in Maine for the last thirty years.”

“Their names?” Lloyd asked.

He took them down, along with the phone numbers the old man rattled off from memory.

“You’re grasping at straws if you think I’m your guy,” Corbin said.

Lloyd had a sinking feeling he’d just grasped at said straws and they’d slid through his fingers. He clicked his pen and sat back, studying Tate carefully.

His body language was open and relaxed. He didn’t seem rattled by Lloyd’s prodding, which made him think the man was being honest. Of course he would check with the merchant marines to be certain but Lloyd suspected his alibi would check out. It was a shame Peter Shaw didn’t share information from his unpublished articles, because it would’ve saved Lloyd a trip.

“I didn’t lie, you know. I saw someone walking across Nguyen’s yard that night,” Tate said.

Lloyd noticed the way Tate’s left hand shifted to cover his right wrist when he said ‘someone.’

It was a subtle gesture of self-protection, the kind of thing you or Zach would be able to discern the meaning of. He couldn’t read the emotions on Tate’s face. Discomfort? Fear? Or was he gloating over some withheld piece of information? Being caught out of his depth was irritating. Lloyd switched tactics, dropping the confrontational strategy.

Corbin had a propensity to interject whenever he felt something was being misconstrued, so Lloyd phrased his next words as a statement instead of a question.

“You saw someone that night and recognized them.”

“No, I didn’t. I mean, I didn’t recognize them for sure. Not at the time.”

“But later, you figured out who it was,” Lloyd said.

“It was just a guess.”

“A name?”

Mr. Corbin adjusted the leg of his trousers, smoothing out a crease. “Guess isn’t really the appropriate word. Maybe you’d call it a… hypothesis?”

Lloyd wanted to grab Tate by the collar of his polo shirt and shake the answer out of him. Instead, he smiled, trying to school his features into a neutral expression.

“About a month afterwards, I had an epiphany, of sorts and the puzzle pieces just snapped together. There was a neighbor boy. He was college age but still lived with his parents. A big, strapping kid, just like the figure I saw.”

“Why do you think it was him?” Lloyd asked.

“I woke up that night because their dog was barking. I got up to see what was going on, but by the time I reached the window the dog had shut up.”

“Which house did these neighbors live in?”

“The one adjacent to Nguyen’s property.”

“Left or right?”

“Right,” Tate said.

Lloyd jotted down a note. “Anything else?”

“Like I said, I wasn’t sure if it was the kid or not. But he fit the general description of the person I’d seen, and that dog didn’t bark much. I figure that’s why the dog started barking - he’d smelled his owner.”

“Was he coming or going from the house?”

“Assuming it was him, he would’ve been returning to his house.”

“By cutting through Nguyen’s yard?”

“His parents had a security camera pointed at the front door,” Tate said. “I asked his father about their setup after things went down. I was thinking of getting myself a security system and he told me they only had the one camera for the front door.”

��And?” Lloyd prompted.

“Given the camera at the front door, he would’ve had to sneak in through the back. Nguyen’s yard wasn’t fenced. The easiest path would have been to cut through Nguyen’s front yard, go around the back of their house, and jump the fence into the next yard.”

“You never mentioned this to the police,” Lloyd said.

“Dealing with ‘em left a bad taste in my mouth. They’re idiots, the whole lot. Look at who they’ve got locked up now! One of their own evidence clerks! While I happen to think they’ve got the wrong man, I'm sure glad that fellow is off the streets.”

“Yeah?”

Corbin’s face scrunched. “With Leo McKenzie in the slammer Harmony’s DUI rate is about to go into free fall, if you catch my drift.”

“You didn’t think it mattered if you said anything or not.”

Tate grunted in acknowledgement.

“You seem to have this whole case figured out,” Lloyd said.

That earned him a smile. The old man leaned in, lowering his voice. “Want to know what else I think?”

Lloyd mimicked the posture, inclining his head.

“I’ve got a theory about why they never found any remains.”

“Really?”

“Copper Ridge Quarry.”

“I’m not familiar,” Lloyd said.

“It’s an abandoned mine, closed down in the 60s. Toxic waste. Acidic runoff. That’s where the bodies went.”

This interview was burning up more leads than it was generating. Perhaps he didn’t need to check out Corbin’s alibi after all, Lloyd realized. Tate definitely wasn’t their guy. The coroner’s findings on Julia and Li Wei pointed towards the other end of the pH spectrum, away from acid.

Even so, he played along, raising an eyebrow. “Acid.”

“It’s so strong it’s off the pH scale, into the negative numbers.”

“Interesting.”

“It’s more than interesting. Acid dissolves everything. No bodies, no evidence. Take my word for it - look into Copper Ridge Quarry and you’ll find your killer.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Next - Chapter XXIV

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Masterlist

- - - - - - - - - -

Tag List:

@denisemarieangelina @before-we-get-started @buckysteveloki-me @patzammit @badassbaker @meetmeatyourworst @whiskeytangofoxtrot555 @thiskindahotkindamusic @jesgisborne @charmingprincess @amiets2 @seitmai @elle14-blog1 @chaoticsteverogers @kaleidoscopepov @fangirl-and-doctor-help @jesevans @openup-yourmind @kandierteveilchen @adoreyouusugar @awkwardgiraffe726 @pono-pura-vida @mysweetlittledesire @liecastillo @marantha @babyevansblog @lizzzaaaaaaaaaaa @thegirlnextdoorssister @ladygrey03 @cynic-spirit @rosedpetal @jeremyrennermakesmesmile @bambamwolf87 @yiiiikesmish @calwitch @peachiestevie @texmexdarling @here4thefanfics @rogersbarber @spikeluv84 @dear-fifi @crayongirl-linz @bigcreatorwombatdreamer @andydrysdalerogers @mrsbarnes32557038

[strnza]

⚡    UNIVERSAL  RECORDS,      notable  figures.

SUSAN  BROWNING,    (visual  ref:  morena  baccarin)      universal  records  president.  head  honcho,  in  charge  of  all  shit  that  goes  down,  proud  face  of  the  label  /  corporation.  kills  with  a  smile.  ruthless  in  business,  largely  enigmatic  in  her  personal  life.  most  notably,  her  job  history  includes  head  of  public  relations  with  militech  -  where  she  accredits  her  ability  to  run  any  corporation  like  a  well-oiled  machine.

the  ghost  of  night  city.  susan  weaves  and  wills  through  every  room  without  leaving  a  trace  -  though  she’s  fully  capable  of  handling  almost  any  situation  on  her  own,  she  uses  her  well-trained  team  to  distribute  orders  and  punishment  as  necessary;  leaving  her  as  the  last  resort  for  naysayers  and  problematic  figures.  if  you  find  yourself  at  susan’s  door,  beware  of  what  lies  beyond  it  -  she  is  a  force  to  be  reckoned  with.  she’s  got  too  much  to  lose  and  absent  morality  to  match.

NOTABLE  TIES  (potential  public  knowledge,  mostly  private  -  up  to  individual  plotting  discretion):      militech,  obviously.  meredith  stout,  specifically.  most  high-ranking  corporation  officials.

HARDING  PEARCE,    (visual  ref:  adrien  brody  in  poker  face)      universal  records  vice  president.  harding’s  father  was  the  longtime  head  of  universal  records  -  shareholders  of  the  corporation  stunted  harding’s  expected  inheritance  of  the  presidential  position  after  his  lack  of  willpower  in  the  public  eye  (with  many  a  scandal  varying  in  wit  hitting  the  presses  through  the  years),  leaving  him  the  meager  title  of  ‘vice  president’.  left  feeling  slighted  by  his  supposed  birthright,  he's  always  got  something  to  prove  +  is  consistently  falling  short.  would  happily  kill  susan  for  her  position  (if  he  had  the  stomach  for  it).  his  title  is  the  most  threatening  thing  about  him.  pearce  is  prone  to  temper  tantrums  and  throwing  anyone  else  under  the  bus  for  his  own  shortcomings.

arguably,  the  highlight  of  his  unimpressive  career  is  acquiring  eliza  kardel  to  universal  records.  one  of  his  talent  scouts  brought  the  girl  to  his  doorstep,  making  harding  the  one  to  push  the  dewy-eyed  babe  to  the  front  of  the  line  -  young,  impressionable  talent,  free  to  be  molded  to  their  will.  susan  quickly  latched  onto  the  opportunity  and  claimed  it  as  her  own,  though,  harding  is  quick  to  remind  prying  eyes  that  he  was  the  one  who  tangentially  discovered  the  love  bot.

NOTABLE  TIES  (potential  public  knowledge,  mostly  private  -  up  to  individual  plotting  discretion):      maintains  amicable  relationships  with  all  his  fathers  contacts;  vaguely  in  contact  with  the  arasaka  family,  dexter  deshawn,  dino  dinovic  and  anders  hellman.

DAMIAN  LAMB,    (visual  ref:  benjamin  bratt  in  poker  face)      executive  manager  at  universal  records,  specifically  and  mainly  involved  with  overseeing  high-ranking  talent.  ask  anyone  about  him,  they  will  answer  with  raised  eyebrows  and  averted  gazes,  describing  his  methods  as  morally  questionable  and  dangerous.  ask  damian,  and  he’ll  say  that  he’s  a  glorified  babysitter  of  spoiled  brats.  damian  is  a  name  whispered  with  revered  respect  by  most  -  the  unspoken  truth  of  the  matter  is  his  penchant  for  getting  talent  hooked  on  chrome,  pills,  drinks,  and  whatever  else  will  keep  them  malleable  to  his  +  universal’s  wishes.  lamb  treats  people  like  machines  +  products  for  the  financial  betterment  of  universal.  as  long  as  his  paychecks  keep  growing,  he’ll  do  whatever  is  necessary  to  keep  business  in  line.

damian  keeps  eliza  on  a  particularly  short  leash  -  he  introduced  her  to  arguably  legal  and  ethical  substances  early  on  in  her  career,  touting  them  as  a  tool  to  keep  her  awake  and  functioning  for  all  the  music  she  was  destined  to  create.  ‘you  don’t  want  to  blow  your  shot,  do  you?  head  back  to  bumfuck  nowhere  as  a  failure?’  now,  he  is  her  captor  and  stoker  -  he  tends  to  provide  all  her  drugs  and  substances  of  the  like.  after  all,  should  there  be  any  slip-ups  or  overdoses,  he’s  the  one  who  can  make  the  problem  go  away.  judge,  jury  and  executioner,  all  in  one.  for  all  intents  and  purposes,  he  is  the  love  bot’s  babysitter.

NOTABLE  TIES  (potential  public  knowledge,  mostly  private  -  up  to  individual  plotting  discretion):      goro  takemura  and  saburo  arasaka  directly;  considered  close  allies  to  both  through  business  dealings.

ZACH  WALSH,    (visual  ref:  ben  barnes)      executive  producer  highly  affiliated  with  universal  records  -  newly  recruited  by  susan  browning  in  the  wake  of  fresh,  new  talent  acquired  by  the  corp.  means  business  always,  no  holds  barred  on  the  path  to  success.  walsh  has  years  of  experience  producing  the  greatest  music  of  yesteryear,  now  most  well-known  for  producing  the  love  bot’s  discography.  diabolically  talented  at  what  he  does  and  is  not  afraid  of  abusing  his  power.  perhaps  some  of  his  resentment  toward  musicians  stems  from  his  own  failed  success  as  a  solo  artist  many  years  ago.

behind  closed  doors,  zach  walsh  is  eliza’s  greatest  antagonist.  he  pushes  her  to  the  absolute  maximum  in  universal’s  desire  for  an  all-encompassing  monopoly  of  media  takeover.  he  scrubs  her  creativity  to  whatever  is  popular  in  the  moment  of  production  -  he  is  a  master  manipulator  who  values  productivity  over  humanity,  always.

NOTABLE  TIES  (potential  public  knowledge,  mostly  private  -  up  to  individual  plotting  discretion):      frequenter  of  clouds,  strong  ties  to  tyger  claws  through  the  years.  passive  interactions  with  woodman.

FLOYD  CHAPMAN,    (visual  ref:  jon  hamm  in  baby  driver)      night  city's  finest  (sleaziest)  publicist.  despite  heavy  ties  to  universal,  he'll  accept  bribery  from  anyone  and  everyone  with  enough  eddies  to  catch  his  attention.  he’ll  proudly  air  out  your  dirtiest  laundry  to  the  latest  screamsheets  without  batting  an  eye.  in  his  words:  all  publicity  is  good  publicity.  floyd  has  eyes  and  ears  everywhere  -  no  where  is  safe  from  his  watch  and  influence.  if  you  see  floyd,  turn  around  -  nothing  good  is  sure  to  come  of  anything  worth  his  presence.  the  snake  of  night  city.

though  floyd’s  direct  communication  with  eliza  is  sparse,  she  knows  that  he  is  the  one  to  blame  for  fanning  the  flames  on  any  of  her  public  exploitations  + personal  vendettas.

NOTABLE  TIES  (potential  public  knowledge,  mostly  private  -  up  to  individual  plotting  discretion):      let  it  be  indicative  of  floyd’s  moral  compass/character  that  his  ripperdoc  of  choice  is  finn  "fingers"  gerstatt.

[jtophat]

My Ponyboy Curtis playlist because I love it, I listen to it quite frequently even when I’m not writing stuff involving him, and want to share it.

Fast Car- Tracy Chapman

Imagine- John Lennon

Dark Days- Punch Brothers

Mama Tried- Grateful Dead (The song is originally by Merle Haggard but I listen to the Grateful Dead version)

East Side of Sorrow- Zach Bryan

hope ur okay- Olivia Rodrigo

Renegades- X-Ambassadors

Everybody Wants To Rule The World- Tears For Fears

Boy In The Bubble- Alec Benjamin

Uptown Girl- Billy Joel

Everybody Knows- Sigrid

Friends In Low Places- Garth Brooks

Winter’s Come and Gone- Charles Wesley Godwin (Song originally by Gillian Welch but I feel like this version fits Ponyboy better)

teenage dream- Olivia Rodrigo

Youth- Daughter

Teenage Dirtbag- Wheatus

Friend of the Devil- Grateful Dead

You’re On Your Own Kid- Taylor Swift

Here Comes The Sun- The Beatles

Tomorrow Will Be Kinder- The Secret Sisters

My reason/analysis for each song is below:

Fast Car- I think the desperation for a better life but the cycle of how life can drag you down and make you live the same lives as the people is something that can relate to Pony. I feel like, deep down, he probably has a fear that things may not work out for him as well as people hope and that he may end up living the same kind of life as the rest of the people in his neighborhood which is why I also think it’s a great song to choose to have as the opener for the playlist. I know Luke Combs has a cover of this song and that it may be the more masculine take on it but I feel like the way Tracy Chapman sings it just has so much heart that it really works for Ponyboy. And plus, Tracy Chapman is my favorite artist so I had to go with her version.

Imagine- I think the song has a bit of a daydreamy kind of vibe that can represent how Ponyboy is described as having his head in the clouds. The song is also a call for peace and unity among people and asks them to imagine a world where what divides them no longer exists which is something that I can see Ponyboy longing for.

Dark Days- The song is about how love getting people through difficult times which is something that I think really works for the Curtis brothers because no matter what they love each other and will do whatever they can to help each other, especially after their parents die.

Mama Tried- I think the song works really well for the vibe of the gang as a whole even if it’s something that may directly relate to Ponyboy. And even if Ponyboy doesn’t get into much trouble I’m sure that he gets into more than his mother would have wanted for him (especially after goes on the run for Bob’s murder)

East Side of Sorrow- I think there is so much about the song that relate to so many people in the story but I’ll try to keep my analysis limited to Ponyboy. I think while when song talks about fighting a war that you don’t even know what your fighting for works well for the metaphorical war between the Greasers and the Socs in the books. It’s been going on long before Pony and will continue long after him and no matter what he will never fully understand it even though he too participates in it. “I lost friends in the August heat” I feel really relates to Johnny and Dally’s death, because it was probably about that time that the book takes place. And when the song talks about losing someone in the waiting room and that the doctor did all the could it really brings home the point about Johnny’s death. The song then mentions walking around the Tulsa streets while feeling fucked up which represent Pony’s depression after the death of Johnny and Dally and how he was aimlessly going through life. I also like how the song specifically refers to the east, and of course the Greasers live on the East side of Tulsa. The song then also talks about the sunrise as a symbol of optimism for the future and the sun imagery really works for Ponyboy. After all, sunrises can’t really be that different than sunsets for him.

hope ur okay- I feel like this is how Ponyboy will look back on the people he knew in Tulsa once he finally moves away. I also like how the song references a towhead blonde which is also similar to how Ponyboy describes Dally.

Renegades- I feel like this song really works for Johnny and Pony running away from Tulsa. Even though it’s a bit optimistic for the events in the book, I still feel like it also works for their friendship too.

Everybody Wants To Rule The World- I feel like Ponyboy would really dig the instrumentals of the song and the references to well, people wanting to rule the world works for the story in an odd way that I can’t quite explain. But the vibe of it just really works

Boy In The Bubble- I feel like the beginning of the song is really reminiscent of how Ponyboy and the rest of the gang will get jumped by Socs but in the end where it discusses the home life of the person who attacked the singer represents Ponyboy gaining an understanding of how things are rough all over Tulsa and that even Socs have problems

Uptown Girl- I feel like once Ponyboy starts liking girls (if he does even like girls because I’m not entirely convinced that boy is straight) he would mainly have a thing for Soc girls. The song is about a lower class boy wanting to get with an upper class girl which is what I can see for Ponyboy in the future.

Everybody Knows- The Greasers have the cards stacked against them and everybody knows this, especially Ponyboy.

Friends In Low Places- I was debating between this and Heathens but this won because it’s country (I feel like the gang would really like country music) and the friends in low places is an obvious reference to the gang. I also think that in a way it shows how Ponyboy is out of place in his classes because he’s a Greaser and there are a lot of Socs in them.

Winter’s Come and Gone- I love the outdoorsy vibe of the song and think that Pony would too. I also like the lyrics “so long now I’ve been out in the rain in snow” because I think it can work as a really interesting way of portraying the gangs struggles and how Ponyboy doesn’t feel like he entirely fits in.

teenage dream- Ponyboy really hates it when people refer to him as being a kid which is a sentiment that I think this song shares. I also think it has a slight desperation to be taken seriously which is something that I also think that Ponyboy relates to.

Youth- It only loosely relates but has lyrics like “if you’re still breathing your the lucky ones” which in a way works because it shows that even things are tough, as long as you’re still alive you’re pretty lucky. Because, as we see in the novel, Greasers tend to die young so those of them who still able to keep on living are pretty lucky.

Teenage Dirtbag- I feel like the title of song is probably a bit about how Ponyboy feels about himself. I also think that song relates a bit to teen who are bit more into counter culture/ may get into a bit more trouble which I think works really well with Ponyboy.

Friend of the Devil- From the title alone I think it works. Ponyboy is friends with a lot of troubled people, and some of them, like Dally, some people probably consider a bit devilish. The song as a whole may not perfectly work with Ponyboy but I feel like the vibe of it does

You’re On Your Own Kid- I feel like this is really a Ponyboy in twenty years looking back at his life/childhood kind of song. And also shows how at the end of the day, and even though the gang wants to help him, the only person who is truly looking out for him is himself. He’s not like the rest of the gang. He’s on his own.

Here Comes The Sun- The song has a really optimistic tone has promises of a better future. It also has a lot of sun imagery

Tomorrow Will Be Kinder: The song is hopeful for a future that is better than the present. I think that is the kind of sentiment that Ponyboy holds onto throughout life, especially during his childhood. I think if he doesn’t develop that kind of outlook he will probably be depressed for most of his life.

Some my analysis for this stuff is better than others and not all songs directly relate to Ponyboy, or even the gang/Greasers, but I think the vibe for each song works.

[jadebat7]

"DATURA"

y/n ♡

tastes like...

a beat up chevy, cowboy boots, sundresses, swimming in a creek, apples, frizzy hair, an old farm house, driving a tractor at the ripe age of 8, pigtails, ribbon, anne of green gables, willow avalon, horseback rides, a big field, cicada buzzing, a pond, lily pads, a grand piano, the rodeo on friday night, a flannel over a dress, humming a tune, reading under a shady tree, naps in the corn field, chasing the dogs, red lipstick, ice cold water, fresh picked tomatoes, notebooks full of flower drawings, grandpas guitar

sounds like...

-tequila or whiskey

willow avalon

-pink skies

zach bryan

-you're gonna go far

noah kahan

-burn, burn, burn

zach bryan

-need you now

lady a

-i walk the line

johnny cash

-marys song(oh my my my)

taylor swift

-revival

zach bryan

-all my love

noah kahan

-fast car

tracy chapman

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