#[[Turned Stage]] D. Lovers verse

[keerysfreckles]

OKAY BUUT IF ITS NOT TO MUCH CAN U DO A LUKE CASTELLAN X APOLLO READER AND LIKE IF U EVER HEARD pure as the driven snow (hunger games song) I CAN TOTALLY SEE APOLLO READER SINGING THIS TO HIM INFRONT OF PEOPLE

(Sorry for typing in caps I got excited 😰 but it’s okay if u don’t this request 🫶🫶🫶)

mamma mia — luke castellan

pairing: luke castellan x apollo fem!reader

warnings: none!

a/n: i did twist this request only with the song, i used lay all your love on me by abba :) i hope you still like it!

masterlist !

꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱

saturday's were y/n's favorite day. not only because it was a free day throughout the whole camp, but also because of the apollo singalong at the bonfire.

every weekend a camper or two from apollo's cabin would take turns performing to start off the night. this weekend it was y/n's turn.

herself, and her two closest friends from the cabin were all getting ready. abigail, a tall brunette, was wearing a blue and purple 70s inspired jumpsuit. they were flared at the bottom of the legs and elbows of the sleeves. she finished the look with her hair straightened with a matching purple scarf acting as a headband.

stephanie, a shorter blonde, was wearing a green and silver two piece 70s set. it was a halter styled top, paired with bell bottom pants. she wore the same white boots abigail had, and had her platinum blonde hair in a ponytail, with her bangs covering her forehead.

stephanie and abigail were currently setting up their mini stage for their performance. the other campers were starting to file in the area, filling the empty seats of the amphitheatre fairly quickly. stephanie noticed hermes' cabin was front and center. both girls knew y/n would love the fact her boyfriend was right in front of the stage.

abigail and stephanie finished setting the stage, and went to get y/n from the cabin as chiron and mr. d started to announce tonight's events.

"will you hurry up? lover boy is out there waiting," stephanie walks into the cabin, before looking over her outfit once more in the mirror.

"what steph means to say, is the stage is set, and camp is waiting for you," abigail stands behind y/n at the shared vanity, and places her hands on her shoulders.

y/n continues fiddling with her hair, which was teased slightly, with a white headband, with a few front pieces framing her face. she had a similar 70s inspired outfit like abigails. hers was pink and orange, and the top was cropped. her bottoms were the same colors and they had five layers of ruffles adorning the bottom. of course, she had matching white boots just like her sisters.

"what if i mess up?" y/n asks no one in particular.

abigail continues rubbing her shoulders, "you've never messed up one of our performances, why is this one so different?"

y/n shrugs, "maybe the fact luke and i are dating now? and i guess i still want to impress him."

"he's impressed with anything you do," stephanie speaks up from the other side of the cabin, "this can just be another thing he brags about to his friends. how cool his girlfriend, and her friends, are."

y/n stands from the vanity, and simply holds her arms out, "group hug before we go out there."

stephanie and abigail happily oblige before the trio start walking towards the amphitheatre. the three girls grab their matching white microphones and get into their very stereotypical stances on stage, just as chiron finishes his speech.

the music starts, which makes all the campers quit their side conversations.

abigail, y/n and stephanie who were in a line, were now in a triangle, as abigail starts singing.

"i wasn't jealous before we met. now every woman i see is a potential threat. and i'm possessive it isn't nice. you've heard me saying that smoking was my only vice."

abigail continues to sing the second verse, when y/n takes the center of the stage as abigail and stephanie stand behind her.

"don't go wasting your emotion, lay all your love on me."

as soon as y/n met luke's eyes as she sang her line, she could've sworn she saw hearts in his eyes.

stephanie sang the next two verses, as y/n and abigail had choreography while they were behind the blonde.

y/n moved to the middle again, and the trio all began dancing with the same choreography. she started singing thr chorus again.

"don't go wasting your emotion, lay all your love on me. don't go sharing your devotion, lay all your love on me."

the campers had started clapping along and moving to the rhythm of the song, as the girls on stage sang another verse and the chorus a few more times.

as the song came to a close, y/n brought both of her friends into a hug, before chiron instructed for the ares cabin to gather the firewood for the bonfire.

y/n was talking with abigail and stephanie on stage, and shrieked when she felt a pair of arms pick her up and spin her around. her feet land on the marble ground instead of the stage. she turns in the stranger's arms and her smile grows once she sees luke.

"you look like you walked right out of an abba music video," he laughs.

"that was kinda the point babe," she leans up and kisses his cheek. "did you like the song?"

luke nods quickly, "you all were amazing, but you," he paused to kiss y/n's forehead, "i couldn't keep my eyes of you."

"it was meant for you, if you couldn't put that together," y/n giggles.

"oh i was hoping it was meant for me. if it was for any other camper i wouldn't hesitate to share a few words with you missy," he tries to sound affirmative with y/n, but it only makes the girl laugh more. the couple and the rest of the campers who were standing were all instructed to sit by chiron, as the ares' kids all came back with firewood.

luke kissed y/n's cheek once more before he dragged her to sit with him for the rest of the night.

[dracomeir]

So here's a bit of story for Funkin' Starlights along with a short song. I'm not going to put narrative stuff between the verses since I want to save that for whatever I'm doing in the future, so it's up to your imagination to determine who sings what for this.

There's also angst after the song, so if you don't want to feel sad, you can pretend that part doesn't exist. :D

Behind the stage, Checkmate was waiting for their cue to get ready. Pico was clutching his fur shoulder cape while staring at the crowd. His lovers noticed his anxiety, and Darnell wrapped an arm around the ginger’s shoulders while Boyfriend placed an arm around his waist.

The pyromaniac said, “It’s okay to back out if it's too much. Our fans don’t know you’re here anyway, so you won’t be letting them down.”

Boyfriend added, “Yeah, we can always try another day. Don’t push yourself too hard.”

Pico let his cape go. “I’ll be fine. I can’t stay backstage forever.” The trio heard their group being announced as the lights on stage went out. “Let’s go.”

The ginger walked forward as the other two looked at each other. The taller men followed after nodding, and took their places at the center of the dark stage. With their backs towards the audience, they waited for the music to start.

Pico took a deep breath to steel himself. Then the boys raised their right hand into the air as the spotlights hit them. The ginger started singing the first line, turning around to face the crowd with his partners as he sang the second line, his fur cape swishing over to reveal his body. 

Looks like it’s time to steal the spotlight Over here under the moonlit night That’s right, I’m making a comeback Don’t look away, or you’ll lose track

Let’s beat the stupid algorithm And lose ourselves to the rhythm Look at us like stars in the night We will make you shiver in delight

We’re dressed in monochrome On beat like a metronome We swear we won’t be a bore Out here slaying the floor

We’re back after a setback This time we won’t backtrack You won’t put us at a stop We’ll rise back to the top

Woaaaah, oh, oh, oh Come on, baby Lose yourself to the rhythm

Woaaaah, oh, oh, oh Come on, baby Get us back to the spotlight

Woaaaah, oh, oh, oh That’s right, baby We are making a comeback

Woaaaah, oh, oh, oh Back into the spotlight Underneath the moonlight Nothing will stop us now

The boys raised their left fist into the air as they sang the last line. Catching their breath as the crowd roared with applause, they were relieved they managed to get through the song without anything going wrong. The growing crescendo of the audience was starting to get to Pico however. Darnell noticed the shift in the rhythm of his lover's breathing, and Boyfriend quickly addressed the crowd so the other two could leave without anyone noticing anything. As the rapper talked about an upcoming tour, the pyromaniac held their partner.

"You did well, babe. Just focus on breathing, okay?"

Boyfriend joined them soon after. "Is he alright?"

"Yeah, the roar of the crowd must've reminded him of the panicking stampede back then."

Pico muttered, "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. You did nothing wrong."

Boyfriend added, "He's right. Our goal today was to get through a song without you having a flashback, and you did it. You should consider this as a success."

Darnell continued, "Yeah, babe. Just continue taking small steps forward."

The ginger still had his doubts, but their words were enough to make him feel better. "Thank you. I'll try to keep that in mind."

"Good." Darnell gently held his partner's hand while Boyfriend went to get water for the ginger. "Come on. Let's get back to our dressing room, and relax for the rest of the night, alright?"

And you get nothing else from me. Ehe.

[ficsforgaza]

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[royalaliceflush]

@tearsforgctten

Why had she been feeling so? Off? It was a growing sickness but that was near impossible with her vampire status. Raising her hand to leave the classroom so she could sleep in the nurses’ office. Alice dragged her feet over to the small confide room to get some sleep. 

Maybe rest was all she needed, though her body was screaming for something else too. She thought it might be best to speak to her partner but he’d probably recommend something ridiculous than give her a straightforward answer. And there was no way she was pregnant yet either. She would’ve known since she’s been keeping up with testing and whatnot. 

“I just need..some rest.” Falling asleep in an empty room, Alice also found it odd that there was never a doctor in here. She herself has never seen the doctor or nurse either. 

[d-is-humming]

Who you’re goin’ to call sweetheart this evening

It’s one of many nights at the speakeasy. The room is full of people drinking at the tables and listening to the singer and the pianist on the stage. Nicky Valentino is sitting in his special booth separated from the other people, a million dollar smile on his face while he fondly watches his companion sit beside him.

They are beautiful and in love while you are standing at the opposite side of the room, smiling softly on the stage at the end of the last song you performed, a sweet cheerful love ballad for young lovers like them. The pianist nods at you, letting you the time to drink something and allowing himself to fire another cigarette, and then he starts playing again. You hear the first notes and already know what you’re going to sing. Oh, that one seems written for you. You take a plastic pose, one side raised, arms bent and hands held high, and start with a long held note

Who

You lower your eyes and lightly tilt the head

You’re goin’ to call sweetheart this evening?

You look at the customers sitting around the stage and give them a soft smile

Who you’re goin’ to kiss goodnight?

As drunk as those people might be, that song always get their eyes and ears to you – or maybe is the way you sing it, you don’t really care. You turn your head and close your eyes, putting a hand on your chest

It’s not me, not my eyes The one thing that makes you smile

As drunk as they might be, they all always turn to you. All of them. Just one person in the room isn’t listening, he probably doesn’t even hear you, too enchanted by the pair of eyes of the one sitting in front of him. He’s not listening, he stopped doin’ it some time after you got the job

It’s not me, not my mouth

You watch the crowd again, still with a sweet suffering smile, avoiding one precise spot of the room

The one you’re goin’ to kiss tonight

You bring a hand to your face, theatrically, repeating again the verses of the song, with growing bitterness in your voice. You should have known better than getting a crush on him, but happy endings happen in films and when you stepped in it – because you stepped in without a doubt that it would have been your film – you thought that he was the one.

If you knew What would you knew?

You start the last part of the song, glancing at his private booth. He gave you a job when you had nothing but the clothes on your back. He was nicer to you then a lot of people you had known for longer. He was a kind man while you, on the other hand, were in love.

If you knew Well I wouldn’t be anyway The one you’re kissing tonight

You avert your eyes from the couple in the booth and lean on the back of the piano, striking a dramatic pose for the last verse. This time Murray was wrong, it’s not your role the main one, the lovebird, the place in the protagonist couple.

It’s not my role the loved one, so Who

You manage to laugh a heartbroken laugh while you end the song as it started

Who you’re goin’ to call sweetheart tonight?

Silence fills the room while the last piano notes are played. Nicky and his lover have already left. Among the customers, you see some stray tears and misty eyes. Well, you’re probably not the only heartbroken one in 1920s New York.

--

Hello there, it’s D. talking. It’s been at least six years since I last wrote a fanfiction, so I might be a bit rusty and this is my first attempt at writing something like this in english. I hope there are no major mistakes in the text. This fanfic is quite sad, I know, but I also know we all like some tears (I do, oops).

I really hope you enjoyed it, kisses, D.

[letters-from-eros]

Pairing: Kirishima Eijiro x Fem!Reader

Genre: Angst To Fluff

Form: Oneshot. Songfic

AU: Hanahaki disease.

A/N: I had to edit this so hard for me to like it at all 😭 I hope you all enjoy.

Thank you.

You laid down, sprawled out on your bed with flower petals surrounding you. You think they're petals from a rose but they could just be stained in blood. You honestly didn't really understand how your condition worked, even though the extensive research you did and the consults with doctors. What you did know is that you're grateful that you haven't started coughing up blood, which is a side effect of progressed Hanahaki; AKA you're conditon/disease. It was obvious you had bigger and better things to worry about than Kirishima (the cause of the suffocating disease) but the petals were a constant reminder of him. You wonder if he thinks about you at least a tenth of how much you think about him.

The only people who know about your... Condition, is Jiro and Mina, your two best friends. Jiro is there to comfort you, though she can't quite understand why you would go through so much pain just to hold feelings for someone, Mina's there to try to make Jiro understand the importance of love and to make you happier about the situation. You couldn't ask for better friends, honestly.

The lump in your throat starts to form and come up and you take a deep breath and let the cough come, sitting upright, expelling the flowers. After the coughing fit is done you're left panting but there was something that didn't have the petals just fall out of your hand. You look at your hand that you coughed into.

Blood. It was laced on the flower making it oddly stick to you're hand.

You quickly went to the bathroom to flush the petals you just coughed up and wash the remainder of blood off your hands before rushing back to your room to call your two support units. You fumble with your phone before you manage to start a group call.

One ring, Mina is in.

"Hey, what's up?!" She asked in a cheery tone

"One second..." You hoarsely respond, waiting for Jiro.

3 rings, Jiro picks up.

"Sorry, couldn't hear my phone over my music, what's up you guys?" Jiro says in her usually monotone voice.

"I... I coughed up blood, guys," You confess to them.

"Y/N..." Jiro sighed, you could practically hear the head shaking and facepalming.

"It's time to confess, hun. And if he doesn't reciprocate it you can go get the procedure," Mina said in a fairly sassy tone, referencing the procedure I could take to make sure I would never cough up flowers again but that would iradicate my feelings for Kirishima.

"Yeah, I know. I'm not a blinded by love idiot," You respond, matter of factly.

"Thank god.." Jiro scoffed and you and Mina chuckled.

"So how am gonna ask him out?" You ask your polar opposite best friends.

Timeskip

You see Kirishima and Bakugo argue over... Something, at Bakugo's desk that was on the other side of the classroom than yours. You watch the clock tick for a few seconds before you start writing your note.

'Meet me at the auditorium,

                                             -Vines'

That was his nickname for you, vines. It referenced your quirk called the same thing. Oh the irony that you can sprout vines from your palms and control plants then you get a disease to cough up flowers.. The doctor who you went to to consult when you first starting coughing up the petals actually said that your quirk had the possibility to make the condition worst.

The bell rang and Bakugo and Eijiro continued arguing. You quickly left class and slipped the note into his prior to hurrying to the Auditorium.

Once you got there you found Mina adjusting her stool for the drums (Bakugo taught her how to play them) and Jiro tuning her bass. They both faked illness at some point of class to go set up the stage.

"Hey there, lover girl," Jiro said into the mic as you threw your backpack into some random chairs on the back row.

"Aren't you supposed to say check one two?" You snarkily replied. Once you got on stage you adjusted the height of your mic stand so that the mic was at your mouth.

The plan was great. You're gonna sing a cool love song that was playing in your earbuds when you first met Kirishima. You hope to god he doesn't have the memory of a goldfish and remembers the fact, especially after already telling him multiple times prior to conceiving the idea to sing to him. It was your favorite song because of that reason..

Two plants were on both sides of the door, you focus your quirk to move the plant vases to the middle of the main aisle, curling the branches into an intricate design that ultimately formed a heart.

"Pretty~" Mina spoke up in awe, staring at it. It was somewhat rare for you to use your quirk for something other than combat and it can be forgotten you can do cool, small things like this.

The door starts to creek open as Jiro and Mina start playing the beginning instrumentals. You start to sing the beginning verse as Eijiro fully comes into the auditorium, already awe struck.

Eijiro Kirishima's POV

"All I wanted was you," Y/N strong yet smooth voice sings, bouncing off the auditorium walls. I've get to hear her sing on rare occassions and I don't think I love anything more, well except for Y/N herself but unlike her singing I have to keep that love to myself...

I take a few steps further down the isle as an instrumental sounds off. Her quirk is so cool to add this beautiful and manly arbor, I doubt anything like this could be bought at a store.

I try to focus solely on her voice, but the thought keeps ringing in the back of my head onto why am I the only one watching? I know this song held significance us, but this seems so sudden. I am a man for spontaneity yet something like this seems random nonetheless. I should just focus on her singing.

Your POV

The ball starts to form in your throat towards the end of the song, you try to surpress it but your voice cracks just slightly, which is so embarrassing.. Which makes you focus on how stupid you're probably looking out of embarrassment which leads to you not focusing on the flowers which make them launch out in coughs. You pull the microphone away as weakening coughs expell the roses.  After your coughing fit theres a bed of rose petals, each one dotted with at least a little blood.

A pair of strong arms make you stand up straight before entrapping you.

"You have Hanahaki?" Kirishima questioms softly, barely above a whisper. Apparently he's heard of the disease. Didn't he do a very botched project on it once..?

"Mhm..." You confirm. He nuzzles his forhead into the crook of your neck as you hug him tighter.

"Because of me?" He questions again, sounding guilty, it took a second to process that if it was him, it meant that you reciprocated his feelings. The question was fueled by his instant assumption to blame himself.

"Mhm..." You respond, a bit to anxious to respond in full words, let alone full sentences.

"I'm so sorry.. I had no idea.. Y/N," He says, drawing away and looking into your eyes, hands moving to either side of your face. "Y/N.. I love you so much, I'm so sorry I didn't show you sooner.. I never meant to hurt you!"

How unmanly was the only word that Kirishima could think of to describe his cowardice to tell you how he feels, only to see that it left you with a painful disease. The supporting grip on your waist tightened, and the man in front of you looked like he was about to shatter into a thousand pieces.

"Its okay! There was no way you could've known!"

"But-"

"It isn't you're fault, please don't blame yourself.." You empathetically started to mirror Kirishima's feeling of guilt and sadness and your smile slowly turned into a dejected one.

Strong arms wrapped completely around you in a tight hug, causing you both to wobble a bit.

"I'm so sorry.. Uh, d-don't I need to kiss you? To get rid of the.. The flowers, I mean," A warm tint that complemented his hair flushed across his cheeks as he thought back to his botched project on Hanahaki. Requited feelings was enough to keep the disease at bay.

"Not if you don't want to, Kiri," You smiled warming at the flustered teen in front of until a rough collision of lips against yours. It was filled with anxiety and awkwardness from the redheads behalf with this being the first time kissing anyone, let alone someone who he loved as much as you.

"Woo!!" Jirou catcalled, exiting the auditorium with a playful smile

"Yaaaasssss!!!" Mina cheered.

They were already gone by the time you both had pulled away from the kiss, leaving you both at a complete and utter loss for words.

You relished in the feeling of breaths unclogged with suffocating flowers, the feeling on Kirishima's soft, lingering hold across your waist that he didn't even know was there. There are no words in the english dialect to describe this moment of blissful clarity. It was hard for you to even come up with words to say.

So many feelings to express, but all that came out was a soft, grateful, "Thank you."

[worryingthing]

Illuminati Hotties - Frequent Letdown

I was thinking of a little project, to maybe help pull me up, or maybe center me, stear me a bit off of the course of nihilist depression I’ve been on. A meditation of sorts, through the Tarot, if and when I feel like it. Writing helps me sort my thoughts, usually? It’s the start of Leo season and I feel squirmy about that because I feel the opposite of my worth and the complete void of confidence lately. It’s almost August and I’ve been to the beach one time!! and even then it felt like risking our lives potentially? to be nourished, by the sea, the thing I extremely desperately need to wash away all the crowding stray thoughts and sneaky trauma that has settled in comfortably during this time of quarantine. I haven’t been on the Subway since March 13th. I’m unemployed, not playing music at all, and struggling not to be disappointed when I wake up dreading every day. So, a little exercise I guess? The song is there because I like it and that’s how I feel. I listened to it while I shuffled and drew my card. For the curious I am using the classic Smith-Waite tarot deck, I like the clarity of traditional decks’ imagery. It tells a story well. 

For this first entry I pulled the Ace of Pentacles. It looks like a hand from a Monty Python illustration is floating out of a cloud and holding a big coin, which has a star in the center.  Pen-TA-CULLS . I know this suit represents the earth signs, money and all, right? I’m a Taurus sun and rising and no one is surprised. Anyway this card has the floating hand and it’s coin and it also has a garden underneath, and the garden has what look like tall lilies blooming, and then there is a hedge with an archway, and the hedge has red flowers or leaves, and the archway gives way to a view of a pale blue mountain. There is a little worn path that leads to and through the arch. There is grass and growth and lusciousness and what I sense from this card is its statement of possibility. Let’s check Biddy Tarot though:

No matter the occasion, the Ace of Pentacles heralds a sense of prosperity and abundance in the material or financial areas of your life. It undoubtedly comes as a welcome invitation – but it is not a free ride. As with all Aces in the Tarot deck, this card illustrates the possibility of a new endeavor but does not guarantee its manifestation or success. That piece is up to you.

Ok, so full disclosure, a while ago my friend and I talked about illustrating a tarot deck where cards would be paired with songs. We began outlining the project but then, of course, life happened. So forgive me if this exercise constantly brings me back to song, but that is the realm of my old self that my present self just sort of woefully drags around like a deflated homunculus. Anyway this reminds me of (course!) of Springsteen. In truly the most devastating call out I’ve ever felt encountered in lyric form:

You can hide 'neath your covers And study your pain Make crosses from your lovers Throw roses in the rain Waste your summer praying in vain

Ok, so Biddy Tarot also says this: See the Ace of Pentacles as your ‘green light’. It marks the initial stages of manifesting your goals and assures you that you can truly achieve what you have set your mind to do. The world is your oyster and, through careful planning and determined effort, you can manifest your goals and desires. Your ideas are ready to turn into something tangible and real! This card encourages you to map out how you will achieve your ambitions, create targeted plans and get those actions underway. Keep your eyes open for chances to manifest your goals and realise your inner potential.

To be quite honest I wasn’t expecting this much of a doozy with my first pull for this weird, blog accountability thing I made up. But then the next verse of the song goes on to say: Well I got this guitar, and I learned how to make it talk.

Which is of course, abstractly, a goal of mine. I’d love to get good enough to pen a few jangly tunes. I know I could do it? but also I’ve no idea how to continue with music after everything, but I do miss it, and lately I’ve been lusting after a reasonably priced mini amp. I also need actual life direction, which is a huge bummer, and frankly too much to consider in the midst of a pandemic where everyone I know is lucky to even be employed, or alive, at best. D also wants to get out of this country, and who can blame him? It’s so hard to think about now though, what would I be losing? the friends I can’t see, the trains I can’t take, the live music scene I’m unsure will ever recover? 34 is an odd weird year to lose to nothingness this way. Everyone just wants me to have a baby. and i want a single fucking hour of peace and alone time, and to learn all of my favorite guitar riffs without being absolutely overcome by grief of missing the music community I formerly took part in (That’s not all I want, obviously, but I could really use everyone else getting a grip about telling me I need to procreate!!!). ANYWAY the tarot further says: 

This Ace signifies abundance in all areas of your life. Enjoy it! Feel blessed and deserving of everything that comes your way. If you wish to amplify this feeling of prosperity, live by the Law of Attraction and send your positive energy and intent into the Universe so you will receive more in return.

I am pretty sure I can do that. I sent a friend chocolate this week. I have donated variously when I can to places in support of protests and bail funds. I did some yoga today and then did an online figure drawing session, which was me directly trying to make time for myself. I made bread last night and then baked it this afternoon and ate some for dinner as a broccoli melt.  and now I am doing this. I made space for myself and made myself be thankful. I am taking myself by the scruff and forcing my face into the food bowl of existence and making myself appreciate it, even when it has felt excruciating. I’m treading water when I want to be laying down under the waves and merging with the silt. I don’t know. Maybe this will help or maybe I’ll abandon it. It probably would have been smarter to do a spread and not just one card? But a new season? and whether mockingly or not this card seems to feel I have an opportunity to rise to and meet? 

[luthienebonyx]

10 Songs

The the top ten songs on my mind, tagged by the beauteous @firesign23   

Caveat: most of these are a) old, and b) Australian - like me, basically.

1. Apocalypso (wiping the smile off Santa’s face) by Mental As Anything. I am still hugely sad that the Mentals’ secondary lead singer, Greedy Smith, died suddenly earlier this week, but for some reason this song, rather than the ones that Greedy sang lead vocals on, has been on my mind since. It’s a Christmas song about Santa Claus drinking beer and gin, and... a possible apocalypse. And that really makes it the quintessential Mental As Anything song. They were a band with a weird sense of humour and a great sense of fun, and their shows were all about dancing and having a good time.

2. Don’t Change by INXS. I called D at work the other day when he happened to be at the office Christmas party, and they were doing an ‘80s trivia quiz. D asked me, “What’s that INXS song with something about being on the ground in the first line?” THIS is that INXS song with something about being on the ground in the first line. It’s also my favourite INXS song, and the one they often used to finish their shows with. It’s from three albums before the one that made them internationally famous.

3. In Too Deep by Jenny Morris. Hey, she’s originally from NZ, but that never stopped Australia from appropriating any musical act before. This is my primary song for the Aussie Coffee ‘verse. Some bits belong to Jaime and some bits are Brienne. Which are which should become very clear in the next few stories in the series, if they’re not already.

4. Oh, No Not You Again  by Australian Crawl. This song was on my mind a lot when I first started writing the Aussie Coffee ‘verse. Most of the lyrics aren’t relevant, except for the opening line: “Let me tell you about the two young lovers that lived down the coast.” Aussie Crawl always had a bit of a vibe of the Australian summer, though, which also helps. But the most important thing about this song: the lead singer, James Reyne, does NOT mumble sing lead vocals. Instead, the guitarist sings, so you can actually understand the lyrics!!!!!

5. Like Wow, Wipeout by the Hoodoo Gurus. This is probably not the first song most people think of when they think of Jaime and Brienne, but in some ways it fits them very, very well.

6. & 7 Love Me and Bedazzled by Dudley Moore and Peter Cook. The other day I saw some reference to the chattering nuns of St Beryl in Good Omens, and it reminded me that they MUST be a shout-out to the leaping nuns of St Beryl in Pete and Dud’s 1967 movie Bedazzled (NOT the 2000 remake *shudder*). If you don’t know the plot, basically the Devil (aka George Spiggot) played by Peter Cook, gives short-order cook Stanley Moon - played by Dudley Moore - seven wishes in exchange for his immortal soul, so that Stanley can find a way to win the love of the waitress Margaret Spencer. These two songs are from the wish-incarnation where Stanley is a rock star appearing on a TV show and Margaret is a lovestruck fan. Unfortunately, George turns up in the form of the next act of the show, Drimble Wedge and the Vegetation, and Margaret is... Bedazzled. Both of these songs were written by Dudley Moore, who was a musical prodigy who accidentally got into comedy, and they’re just so memorable and clever when you listen to them one after the other. The way Peter Cook as Drimble Wedge delivers the line (in the song) “You fill me with inertia” is one of my favourite things ever. (Also, that suit he’s wearing!!!!!! This movie could ONLY have been made in 1967.)

8. Bedazzled by the Dudley Moore trio. This is an instrumental only jazz version of the song that Drimble Wedge sings in the movie. It’s just Dud on piano accompanied by drum and double bass, and it opens up this no-frills song into something else entirely. It’s a fabulous bit of jazz piano.

9. Alone With You by the Sunnyboys. The ‘80s were an amazing time in Australian music. Unlike now, with lockout laws and other dampeners, the pub scene was ALIVE. (A place that holds some very particular memories for me, the Rose, Shamrock and Thistle Hotel - aka the Three Weeds - is a gentrified gastro pub that no longer hosts live music now. *sigh*) In Sydney and Melbourne in particular, there were so many little venues, and so many local bands to fill them.  Some legendary bands and legendary songs emerged from that scene. It’s all gone now, but the music lives on. This song is sort of the ultimate 1980s Australian pub rock song for me. It’s one of my perpetual ear worms. (The band was named after a tetrahedral-shaped orange ice block, just in case you were wondering. ;)

10. I See Red by Split Enz. D mentioned this song to me the other day and said that the band used to cover the stage in red flags when performing it. It really doesn’t have a lot to do with communism, though. It’s just a lot of intense feelings being sung by people jumping around in silly costumes and wearing lots of make-up. Another ‘Australian’ band from NZ, notable for many things, including being Neil Finn’s brother’s band, which Neil joined for several years before forming his own band, Crowded House.

Tagging: @doctordearie @woodelf68 @ophidiae @intoni @sinick and anyone else who wants to do it!

[theotherboywhonevergrewup]

My Top Songs of 2019

It’s that time of the year again when I take a look back at all the great music that was released throughout the year and choose my top 10.  Quick disclaimer as usual: These are not what I think are the best songs of the year.  They’re not even my favorite songs of the year.  They’re simply the top 10 songs that have defined my year.  (See the end if you’re interested in the rules of the selection of this top 10; also, most of this was written in 2019 but some was written in 2020).

10. “Think About Us” - Little Mix featuring Ty Dolla $ign

“When you're dancin' in the club And the nights are getting hard Do you think about us?”

Everyone knows that I have a weakness for girl groups.  UK’s Little Mix isn’t exactly my favorite, but admire how strongly they’ve stuck together as a group.  Their chemistry is undeniable, both as people and as vocalists.  To me, “Think About Us” was the standout track from last year’s LM5, and the addition of Ty Dolla $ign was the little shove it needed to be great.  The girls shine with their vocal prowess both on their solos and together on the chorus, and Ty$’s verse splits the track nicely.  The accompanying video is mesmerizing.  Each of the girls look absolutely stunning, and they have individual sets representing the different parts of a relationship, with Perrie as the butterflies-in-my-stomach beginning and Jade as the icy, cold end.  The lyrics are quite vague, but I think that’s the intention.  It’s applicable to any stage of a relationship; it could be a love song or a break-up song.  With it’s fun beat, it’s hard to pick if you want to dance to it, belt it out, or try to do both, but it’s definitely been an infectious part of 2019!

9. “Lonely for You” - Armin van Buuren featuring Bonnie McKee

“No, you're never gonna see me cry I already got a brand new life Don't you know I'm moving on And everyday I'm stronger? I don't even know you're gone”

The Netherlands’ Armin van Buuren has a recipe to get trance music to pull at your heart, and one piece that makes this apparent is “Lonely for You.”  With the assist from US’s pop hit writer Bonnie McKee, this track is different yet familiar, a haunting disconnect to match the mixed feelings of the lyrics.  From light synths to disco-esque drums to pure piano, Van Buuren’s track pushes and pulls the same way the tumultuous narrator’s lyrics go back and forth, with McKee’s vocals surfing on the top.  The music video has a couple choreography emphasizing the push-and-pull theme, and McKee looks fantastic as usual.  Van Buuren’s Balance is full of more emotionally-rich tracks for both happy and sad times, many of which utilize beautiful piano to highlight amazing vocals.  “Lonely for You” is an altogether addictive track that was perfect for all the lonely nights of 2019.

8. “Antidote” - Mr Hudson

“You of all people After all we've been through Started out an angel And now you get away with murder”

As a huge fan of the UK’s Mr Hudson, I waited basically a decade for his sophomore album, and it did not disappoint.  While When the Machine Stops features several tearjerking songs, “Antidote” is on the next level.  The song takes the subject of betrayal and perfectly captures how trust can die.  The genius is in its simplicity.  Not a single instrument starts until the entire first verse is complete, letting the lyrics speak for themselves.  Even when the instruments do come in, it’s just soft percussion and synths.  As much as I love vocal runs and ad-libs galore, the straightforward melody had me humming this song for much of 2019.

7. “Me & You” - EXID

“Oh 야야야 더 이상 우리라는 말 하지 마마마 안 봐도 뻔하잖아 야임 마마마 지금 날 어디서 속이려 들어 그건 네 엄마마마 한테나 가서해 baby I don't care”

As I mentioned in last year’s post, 2018 was the year I fell in love with K-Pop, mostly due to Blackpink at the time.  As much as I love Blackpink (and got to see them live this year!), their limited discography didn’t leave much to be loved.  Enter EXID.  This group is stacked: arguably South Korea’s best female rapper in the game LE, one of the best vocalists Solji, and the girl who is absolutely beautiful, sexy, cute, and smart all at the same time Hani (who may or may not be my ultimate bias, sorry Rosé).  Their previous single “I Love You” missed my 2018 list because it was released so late in the year, but it turned out to be my most played song on Spotify this year.  In fact, several of their songs were on that list.  Like many of their previous singles, “Me & You” is an infectious dance track utilizing each member where they excel: Hani with her soft, sultry vocals, a splash of LE’s sick flows to split up the song, Hyelin’s powerhouse vocals to bring up the first chorus, Solji’s even more powerful vocals to take the song to its climax, and Jeonghwa on the dance break (low key kinda sounds like she’s singing “Baby Shark” but that’s a jam too I guess).  The duality of the track is what makes it stand out, with the pretty vocals and simple verses largely contrasting from the deep and dirtier synths of the dance break.  The video plays with this duality by featuring EXID as brides in white versus clubbing in neon.  The rest of the WE mini album isn’t quite as dance-y but is fun to vibe to nonetheless.  The group unfortunately may be over, since Hani and Jeonghwa are leaving their record label, but they’re at least sticking together for their activities in Japan for now.  So many more K-Pop hits were released this year, some of my favorites being Mamamoo’s “Gogobebe,” SEVENTEEN’s “HIT,” Super Junior D&E’s “Danger,” Park Bom’s “Spring,” KARD’s “Dumb Litty,” NCT 127′s “Highway to Heaven”, NCT Dream’s “Boom”, Ong Seongwu’s “Heart Sign,” and another release to be mentioned later on this list.

6. “Heartbreak” - Hunter Hayes

“Another, ‘Almost perfect’ Didn't work, but totally worth it Better to have loved and lost my mind Than lose the nerve to even try”

I remember watching the 2013 Grammy’s and watching Hunter Hayes lose all three of his nominations, at that point becoming the “Leonardo DiCaprio never wins an Oscar” meme to me and my friends.  He went on to lose two more nominations, but honestly, I always liked his music (and Grammy nominations are no small feat in the first place!).  While 2017 was technically the year I had my first date and 2018 was the year I had my first girlfriend, 2019 was the year that I really put myself out there and dated the most.  And yes, there was a lot of awkwardness and stupidity and mostly me messing up, but that’s just a part of life.  And “Heartbreak” perfectly captures all those feelings.  From the guitar to the bit of twang to the drums, this song is unabashedly fun country, and the optimistic lyrics always made me feel better.  It’s like a c’est la vie Rascal Flatts’ “Bless the Broken Road” before he found the girl. The accompanying video is also fun with a groundhog day theme as he tries to win over a girl.  The album as a whole is a fun listen, with “Dear God” being the other Wild Blue (Part I) standout to me.  Here’s hoping Part II comes out with some vibes in 2020!

5. “Tempo” - Lizzo featuring Missy Elliott

“He look like he could gain a little weight Lick the icing off, put the rest in your face”

Lizzo exploded this year, and I’m not mad about it.  She has confidence and charisma galore, and her resulting music is mad bouncy, earning her several Grammy nominations for next year, including Best New Artist.  Her songs like most of Cuz I Love You can be quite loud and in-your-face, which is fine, just not exactly my style.  However, get her on this more subdued R&B beat and throw in a Missy Elliott feature, I’m in.  This will make any upbeat R&B lover dance, and the music video is the kind of hot and fun you would expect (with a cowboy hat you may not expect).  Missy also made an imprint this year with Iconology which is her first group release since 2005′s The Cookbook.  I’ve always been a fan of her work, and this is a perfect feature for her.

4. “NONE of this has been about you” - Spencer Sutherland

“I'm afraid that you would hate me if you knew, That I've become insensitive, It's true, But even if you do”

Spencer Sutherland’s “NONE of this has been about you” off his debut EP of the same name has a lot of elements about it that I would personally want in a song of my own.  It starts off with a very simple piano and vocals with a tinge of soul.  As he continues to sing, he puts more soul and emotion into his voice, and splashes of harmonies start to come in.  A couple short riffs later and just a second before the drop.  Although, it’s not a dance drop.  A choir drops in for the chorus with some drums to announce that, in fact, none of this has been about you.  The song eventually escalates to Sutherland’s soaring ad-libs over the choir.  Beyond the musical stylings, I enjoy the message of this song.  Sure, the narrator is telling someone, possibly his lover, that his struggles are personal and not something she or he should worry about, but I also like to take it as a reminder not to always worry about others or what they are thinking.  For example, 2019 was the first full year I had an ex, and a lot of that time, I was worried about posting on social media because maybe she’ll think this or that is about her.  Honestly, I don’t recall ever “subtweeting” about her.  We’re good.  Any breakup song or black and white photo I post has nothing to do with her.  So this song is a nice reminder to keep it pushing and stay in your own lanes.  The remaining songs on Sutherland’s EP were all also on repeat throughout the year.  The man’s just got a solid voice, and I’m glad he’s continuing a soulful pop sound that is rarer than before.

3. “Beautiful goodbye” - Chen

“다시 시간을 되돌려 처음 만난다면 가로등 옆에 서 있지 말아요 미소 짓지도 왼손으로 머릴 넘기지 마요 그래야 내가 그대를 지나칠 테니까”

Now, when it comes to a piano and vocals, nothing dominated my year more than Chen, especially his debut solo single “Beautiful goodbye.”  I won’t repeat all the reasons why I love his voice so much (see last year’s post), but long story short, he’s my favorite male vocalist right now.  Don’t get me wrong, I love EXO and the energy they bring to their songs, but a full EP of just Chen really lets the listener feel his artistry, pulling on heartstrings every which way.  In this song, the narrator is recognizing that his relationship is dead but proposing that they can hold onto it just for a bit longer until they peacefully part in spring.  There’s a respect to their relationship and what it has done for them that they can take with them as separate people before they part ways.  Chen’s voice takes the listener on an adventure, starting soft and simple then escalating and crescendoing to unveil the hardened pain in his voice.  It’s not a sudden angry breakup, it’s more subtle and more somber.  In the end, his soft vibrato and the final notes of the piano leave the listener in just as an uncertain position as the narrator; is it better to hope it stays winter forever or hope for spring to come?  While I also wanted some upbeat songs from Chen, his April, and a flower EP followed by Dear my dear is chockfull of beautiful and emotional ballads.

2. “Never-ending Summer” - Cyn

“What if we don't ever have to say goodbye? I wanna keep living like we'll never die If you're mad then I'm mad too You're crying, I'm sad too I'll watch your back for you, watch mine”

Newcomer Cyn’s “Never-ending Summer” is, to me, an experience.  It took me a while to appreciate its simplicity, but then it became so addictive that it itself became never-ending.  The guitar or synth (or whatever that instrument is) plays on loop to emphasize the never-ending nature of the song and gives a dreamy vibe that’s somehow both modern and reminiscent of the 70s.  Cyn’s simple vocals evoke a carefree feeling reminiscent of running on the beach and all the accompanying imagery with her photoshoot and lyric video.  It makes sense that Cyn is part of Katy Perry’s record label Unsub Records, as this song feels somewhat like Perry’s hits off of Teenage Dream including “California Gurls” and the title track, albeit much more in Cyn’s own understated style.  This summer, I learned how to surf and have fallen deeper in love with the beach (even though a stingray stung me my last time there), and this song would keep the surfing mentality continuing throughout the year, even when it gets too cold for it to be summer (or, even if my foot is bleeding to death).  Doesn’t hurt that Cyn is unbelievably cute too.

1. “Lovebird” - Far East Movement featuring Lay

“I can sleep here alone, but you know it's better with you You could be by yourself, but you know it's better with two”

As I grow as a person and become more proud of who I am, I think it makes sense for me to become more proud of my Asian heritage as well as support Asians and Asian-Americans out there, especially in the music industry as music means a great deal to me.  That said, it’s important to me that I don’t support people just because they’re Asian as if it’s some kind of nepotism.  That kind of segregating mentality can also be unhealthy.  Far East Movement are technically a one hit wonder; they have yet to outdo their 2010 hit “Like a G6.”  However, this year I found out about their record label Transparent Music that has been around since 2016 with a goal of unifying eastern and western music.  Their previous album aptly named Identity features a ton of artists from both sides of the word, from Hyolyn and Loco to Macy Gray and Soulja Boy (shoutout to my favorite song on that album, “Freal Luv” featuring Tinashe and yet another EXO member, Chanyeol).  To me, music is about unification.  It is about bringing a deeper understanding through melody and rhythm.  Those are the simplest terms I can put it.  I hope this is evident through this list that I appreciate people and music from all kinds of backgrounds.  Even if my tastes lean one way or another from year to year, I hope my lists maintain diversity and well-roundedness.  Somehow, Far East Movement has managed to capture this sense of unification in “Lovebird,” featuring Chen’s EXO bandmate from China, Lay.  It’s not the most complex song; in fact, like many songs on this list, it’s quite simple.  The synth bends in a carefree way that celebrates togetherness along with the lyrics, and I find that beautiful.  2019 was a year of growth and life, and “Lovebird” was the perfect song to accompany it.

*To qualify for this list, the song must have been released this year.  An artist can only have one song on this list, excluding features.

[deviated-detective]

Bold What Applies - Olympian Edition

Italics some verses

APHRODITE.   laughter-loving,      sweet  smiles,     dressed  in  silk  and  satin,    flower  in  their  hair,     sees  the  world  as  a  runway,     unapologetically  sexual,   the  sea  washing  their  ankles,     in  love  with  love,    stirrer  of  passion,  cunning  concealed  by  painted  lips,    secret  daggers,     doves,     revolution  in  their  kiss,    delighting  in  the  waves,     flirtatious  winks,     strolling  along  the  beach,     staring  wistfully  from  a  balcony,     this  is  how  to  be  a  heartbreaker,     wants  to  be  adored,     gets  turned  on  by  danger.

APOLLO.   glitz  and  glamour, art  galleries,    turning  the  volume  up,     being  made  of  gold,     neatly-organized  music  sheets,     notebooks  filled  with  poetry,     bathing  in  the  sunlight,   the  powerful  urge  to  create,     collecting  vinyl  records,     beautiful  cover  of  Wonderwall,     playing  multiple  instruments,   tasting  like  sunshine,     healing  touch,     speaking  in  prophecies, smile  mingled  with  wrath,   shunning  lies,     sporting  shades,     hanging  out  at  music  festivals  with  their  friends,     sleeps  naked,  arrow  to  the  heart,     paint  brushes,     probably  has  a  Tinder  account.

ARES.      armed  for  battle,     wants  to  raise  a  dog  with  their  significant  other, soft  spot  for  children,  gives  piggyback  rides,     scarred  body,     blood  on  their  hands  and  face,  willing  to  fight  the  world  for  the  ones  they  love,      fights  against  injustice,     warm  hugs,   well-worn  combat  boots,  boxing gloves,   bandages  wrapped  around  bruised  knuckles,     fist  raised  in  protest,    ignites  revolutions,     fear  is  a  prison,     more  sensitive  than  what  their  tough  shell  would  have  you  think,   exhausted,     damaged  goods,   force  to  be  reckoned  with,     red  roses,    curses  under  their  breath.

ARTEMIS.     keen  sense  of  a  hunter,   freckles  like  constellations  on  their  skin,   piercing  eyes,     disheveled  braid,  moonlight  peeking  through  the  shadows,     the  calm  of  the  forest  at  night,     lying  on  the  grass  and  staring  at  the  stars,    mother  doe  and  her  fawn,     protecting  their  kin,   the  moon  shimmering  on  a  still  lake,   quiver  full  of  arrows  resting  against  the  bark  of  a  tree,    running  with  wolves,   bonding  while  circled  around  a  campfire,     not  being  much  of  a  people  person,     arrow  hitting  a  target,     popping  egos,     patience  on  3%,     touches  heaven  and  returns  howling.

ATHENA.     discerning  gaze,   unreadable  face,   quiet  museums,   owl  perched  on  their  finger,     armor  that  intimidates,     eye  for  architecture,    plays  the  sims  for  the  sole  purpose  of  building   houses,     studied  the  blade  while  everyone  else  was  busy , big  fan  of  logic,     loves  brain  teasers,    ancient  buildings,     sweaters  in  neutrals  and  cool  colors,    hair  done  up,    can  kill  you  with  their  brain,     heads  to  the  library  often  to  research,     sharpened  pencils,   abs  that  can  cut  steel,    stoic  statues,     pottery classes.

DEMETER.     soil-covered  hands,   smile  that  can  bloom  flowers,    skin  loved  by  the  sun,     being  the  mom-friend,    can  lift  you  and  your  friends,     flowers  kept  in  the  pockets  of  overalls,    takes  pride  in  their  beautiful  garden,     speaks  to  their  plants,    leaves  rustling  in  the  wind,     stalks  of  wheat,     picking  fruit,     greenhouses,    heart  as  strong  as  a  mountain,     values  simplicity,   daisies  dotted  across  a  collarbone,     curls  crowned  with  flowers,     folded  pile  of  sweaters  in  warm  hues,    pulling  out  fresh-baked  bread  out  of  the  oven  and  the  smell  wafting  through  the  air.

DIONYSUS.     drunk  shitposter,     on  their  sixth  glass  of  wine  before  you’ve  even  finished  your  second,     seductive  smirks,  untamed curls,     rich  fabrics  on  dark  skin,     sleek-furred  panthers,     theater  masks,    stage  productions,     receiving  a  standing  ovation,     rose  caught  between  their  teeth,     being  the  baby  of  the  bunch,     wild  parties  that  last  from  sundown  to  sunup,     creeping  vines,     inspiring  loyalty,    grand  opera  houses,    masquerade  balls,    rolls  of  film,     shattered  chandeliers  with  broken glass  scattered  across  the  wine-spilled  floor,     pouring  champagne  into  flutes,     lives  for  the   applause.

HEPHAESTUS.     the  calloused  hands  of  someone  who  knows  labor,    sweaty  brow,     flame  burning  in  their  eyes,     inventive  mind,    broad  shoulders,     steampunk  goggles,     nuts  and  bolts  stored  away  in  little  boxes,    ashes,     striking  a  match,     blueprints  for  future  projects,     fixing  up  a  busted  up  car  and  giving  it  cool  upgrades,     wrestles  with  bitterness,     work  boots  have  seen  better  years,    wrinkled  plaid  shirts,    iron  melted  in  blazing  fire,     huge  jackets,    crafting  masterpieces,     greased-stained  overalls,     fascination  with  robotics,     pain  is  fuel,     stack  of  weaponry,     even  their  muscles  have  muscles.

HERA.     resting  bitch  face,     dressed  to  the  nines,   cows  grazing  on  a  pasture,    cool  rain,     loving  and  hating  fiercely,     hand  clutching  a  string  of  pearls,     large  chandelier  with  glittering  crystals,  plays  the  sims  for  the  sole  purpose  of  killing  off  their  sims,     romance  to  realism,    pictures  of  the  sky  while  flying  on  a  plane,  downs  glasses  of  wine  as  they  relax  with  a  scented  bubble  bath  and  netflix, like  their  selfie  or  you’re  grounded,    knows  57  convenient  ways  to  murder  a  man,   dark  eyes  that  penetrate  your  soul,     marble  and  gold.

HERMES.     devil-may-care  smile,     always  up-to-date  on  the  latest  technology,     will  steal  your  french  fries,     does  it  for  the vine,     shitposter,     puts  googly  eyes  on  everything,     meme  hoarder,    long  drives  on  the  highway,     ma  and  pop  diners,     spontaneous  road  trips,     folded  maps,     fingers  dancing  across  the  keyboard  of  a  laptop,     shooting  hoops  on  the  basketball  court,     chatting  up  strangers  as  you  all  journey  to  your  own  destinations,     goes  jogging  in  the  morning,     mixes  redbull  with  coffee,     menace  on  april fool’s,     hoodies  and  sneakers.    

POSEIDON.     storm  with  skin,    colorful  coral  reefs,   waves  crashing  against  the  shore,     stroking  the  soft  fur  of  a  cat,     their  heart  pounding  as  their  horse’s  gentle  trot  speeds  into  a  gallop,     tousled  locks,     clothes  smeared  with  paint,     owns  several  sketchbooks  yet  always  yearns  to  own  more,   leather  jackets, fondness  for  diy  projects,     handwriting  that  flows  across  the  page,   nimble  fingers  playing  the  strings  of  a  violin,     velvety  singing  voice  that  haunts  your  dreams,     mood  as  ever-changing  as  the  sea,     the  roar  of  a  motorcycle,     compass  with  a  spinning arrow.

ZEUS.     thunder  in  their  heart,     running  on  coffee,     flash  of  lightning,     natural  charisma,     eloquence,    badass  in  a  nice  suit,   aficionado  of  history,     force of nature,     lenny  face,     nightmare-filled  nights,     proud  arm  around  their  lover’s  waist,     high-rise  buildings,     planes  soaring  through  a  cloudless  sky,     technician  on  the  piano,   maintains  order,   strong  handshake,    juggling  multiple  events  on  their  busy  schedule  with  ease,    expensive watch.

Tagged by: @scarletclues

Tagging: @coffee-and-guns @doctor-for-you @stayhuman-genevieve @soulxism @miranorrington @ninesis @connorlikesdogsposts // any & everyone - think I tagged some to do this already but here we go lol

[zzapzzaptasers-a]

Olympian Aesthetics

Bold for always, italics sometimes/verse dependent, strike through never.

APHRODITE          laughter-loving, sweet smiles, dressed in silk and satin,flower in their hair, thrives on attention, sees the world as a runway, unapologetically sexual, the sea washing their ankles, in love with love, stirrer of passion, cunning concealed by painted lips, secret daggers, doves, revolution in their kiss, delighting in the waves, flirtatious winks, strolling along the beach,staring wistfully from a balcony, this is how to be a heartbreaker, your girlfriend thinks they’re attractive, wants to be adored, gets turned on by danger.

APOLLO          glitz and glamour, art galleries, turning the volume up, being made of gold, neatly-organized music sheets, notebooks filled with poetry, bathing in the sunlight, the powerful urge to create, collecting vinyl records, beautiful cover of wonderwall, playing multiple instruments, tasting like sunshine, healing touch, speaking in prophecies, smile mingled wrath, sporting shades, hanging out at music festivals with their friends,sleeps naked, arrow to the heart,paint brushes,probably has a Tinder account.

ARES         armed for battle, wants to raise a dog with their significant other, soft spot for children, gives piggyback rides, scarred body, blood on their hands and face, willing to fight the world for the ones they love, warm hugs, well-worn combat boots, boxing gloves, bandages wrapped around bruised knuckles, fists raised in protest, ignites revolutions, fear is a prison, more sensitive than what their tough shell will make you think, exhausted, force to be reckoned with, red roses, curses under their breath

ARTEMIS          keen sense of a hunter, freckles like constellations on their skin, piercing eyes, disheveled braid, moonlight peeking through the shadows, the calm of the forest at night, lying on the grass and staring at the stars, mother doe and her fawn, protecting their kin, the moon shimmering on a still lake, quiver full of arrows resting against the bark of a tree, running with wolves, bonding while circled around a campfire, not being much of a people person, arrow hitting a target, popping egos, patience on 3%, touches heaven and returns howling

ATHENA       discerning gaze, unreadable face, the patience of a lifelong teacher,quiet museums, owl perched on their finger, armor that intimidates, eye for architecture, plays the sims for the sole purpose of building houses, studied the blade while everyone else was busy getting laid, big fan of logic, loves brain teasers, go-getter, balls of wool displayed on shelves,ancient buildings,hair done up, can kill you with their brain, heads to the library often to research, sharpened pencils,abs that can cut steel, stoic statues, pottery classes  

DEMETER          soil-covered hands, smile that can bloom flowers, skin loved by the sun, being the mom-friend, can lift you and your friends, flowers kept in the pockets of overalls,takes pride in their beautiful garden, speaks to their plants, leaves rustling in the wind, stalks of wheat, picking fruit, greenhouses,heart as strong as a mountain, values simplicity, daisies dotted across a collarbone, curls crowned with flowers, folded pile of sweaters in warm hues,pulling out fresh-baked bread out of the oven and the smell wafting through the air

DIONYSUS         drunk shitposter, on their sixth glass of wine before you’ve even finished your second, seductive smirks, untamed curls, rich fabrics on dark skin, sleek-furred panthers, theater masks, stage productions, receiving a standing ovation, rose caught between their teeth, being the baby of the bunch, wild parties that last from sundown to sunup, creeping vines, inspiring loyalty, grand opera houses, masquerade balls, rolls of film, shattered chandeliers with broken glass scattered across the wine-spilled floor, pouring champagne into flutes, lives for the applause

HEPHAESTUS        sweaty brow, flame burning in their eyes, inventive mind, broad shoulders, steampunk goggles, nuts and bolts stored away in little boxes, ashes, striking a match,blueprints for future projects, fixing up a busted up car and giving it cool upgrades, wrestles with bitterness, work boots have seen better years, wrinkled plaid shirts, iron melted in blazing fire, huge jackets, crafting masterpieces, greased-stained overalls, fascination with robotics, pain is fuel,stack of weaponry,even their muscles have muscles

HERA         resting bitch face, dressed to the nines, cows grazing on a pasture,cool rain, loving and hating fiercely, hand clutching a string of pearls, large chandelier with glittering crystals, plays the sims for the sole purpose of killing off their sims, romance to realism, pictures of the sky while flying on a plane, files that under fuck it, downs glasses of wine as they relax with a scented bubble bath and netflix, like their selfie or you’re grounded, knows 57 convenient ways to murder a man, dark eyes that penetrate your soul, marble and gold

HERMES          devil-may-care smile, ink-stained hands, always up-to-date on the latest technology, will steal your french fries, does it for the vine, shitposter, puts googly eyes on everything, meme hoarder, long drives on the highway, ma and pop diners, spontaneous road trips, folded maps, fingers dancing across the keyboard of a laptop, shooting hoops on the basketball court, chatting up strangers as you all journey to your own destinations, goes jogging in the morning, mixes redbull with coffee, menace on april fool’s, hoodies and sneakers

POSEIDON       storm with skin, colorful coral reefs, waves crashing against the shore,the sea casting its spell, stroking the soft fur of a cat, their heart pounding as their horse’s gentle trot speeds into a gallop, tousled locks, clothes smeared with paint, owns several sketchbooks yet always yearns for more, leather jackets, fondness for diy projects, handwriting that flows across the page, nimble fingers playing the strings of a violin, velvety singing voice that haunts your dreams,mood as ever-changing as the sea, the roar of a motorcycle, compass with a spinning arrow

ZEUS        thunder in their heart, running on coffee, flash of lightning, natural charisma, eloquence, badass in a nice suit, aficionado of history, force of nature,lenny face, pretends they don’t have (certain) feelings but they do, nightmare-filled nights, proud arm around their lover’s waist, high-rise buildings, planes soaring through a cloudless sky, technician on the piano,maintains order, strong handshake, juggling multiple events on their busy calendar with ease, most likely to be voted class president out of their peers, expensive watch

[royalaliceflush]

@fangedsadists asked  🤕 ( Laito and Alice pleeease ~ )

While out exploring in an unknown town, Alice had strangely lost sight of her partner when she heard twisted laughing behind her. “Look fellas, seems we’ve found ourselves a living dead. Why not take her out? Heheh…” Whipping her head around, Alice saw she was outnumbered obviously, but they were only humans.

Though not knowing herself, these were vampire hunters, after disposing of several bodies, Alice was about to retreat to find her partner until one hit her head in the back with an unidentified object.

Needless to say, Alice was unconscious for quite some time and upon waking up. A sense of...fear filled her body, this---looked nothing of the sorts of where she should be. A fancy-looking room from the bare eye and her throat, it--was terribly parched. Not to mention that throbbing pain that was looming over her head, “perhaps I should find out where I am.”

Soon but not short after, Alice placed her hand to her throat where the door bursted open, perhaps that was just the state she saw it as, but with the door opening. The female grasped the covers and looked shocked towards a---weirdly dressed fedora man. And just as he inched closer to her while wearing a conflicted smile, Alice shut her eyes and remained mostly calm. “Ah-- Um? Who are you?” 

[closetspngirl]

Love Heals the Soul (Part 10) - The Concert (Jensen POV)

Summary: The concert gets interesting…From Jensen’s POV

Masterlist

Pairing: Jensen x reader, Briana, Jared

Word Count: 1428

Warnings: Nervousness with being in front of people, fluff, minor swearing, nothing else, unless I missed something

A/N: Kind of nervous for this one. I wasn’t sure that I wanted to rewrite the last chapter from Jensen’s POV, but I wanted some of the parts, and didn’t want to put it in the next chapter topic...so here we are. Also, I should have lots of time to write this week!! I’m excited. :D Feedback is always welcome! Italicized are lyrics, POV thoughts or text conversations; you can tell by the context.

Jensen’s POV

Jared and I were sitting and hanging out in the green room during the concert, shooting the shit, having a drink; talking about the events of the day, lunch, the kiss and even dinner. I didn’t tell him about the scars that I saw on her arms during lunch. Even though Jared and I talked about everything, I couldn’t do that to Y/N, not until I knew she was comfortable talking to me first.

We saw Y/N walking over without Briana, and I watched as she took a seat in one of the chairs next to the couch Jared and I were on thinking to myself that there was more than enough room, a little sad that she didn’t share the space. As Y/N sat, Briana came over with a couple of drinks and handed one to her, “One whiskey coke, light on the coke,” she stated.

Y/N took a generous drink, like she was nervous about something, needed the alcohol to help relax her a little. Wow, whiskey coke, my kind of girl. I hope Y/N is ok though, she seems nervous, but she knows all of us back here. Would it be too much to go over and try to talk to her? I don’t want to add to the stress, if that’s the case.

“Earth to Jen…hellooo…”, Jared waved his hand in my face bringing me back to reality. “Yeah, I totally agree with that,” I said, hoping that was an acceptable answer. Jared chuckled, “Yeah buddy, whatever you say.” We couldn’t continue the conversation further since Rob announced my cue to go out on stage, still having no idea what I was singing tonight. “Well I guess that’s my cue, wish me luck,” chancing a wink towards Y/N, accidentally making her blush.

The crowd was insanely loud as I got to the stage, making it difficult to hear Rob as he came over to me. “Hey man, so how about a new song tonight?” Rob asked, almost nervous about I would say. Laughing, I nudged him on, “Sure Rob, whatchya thinking?”

“Do you know the song ‘Brother’, Needtobreathe, album version,” he asked. All I had to do was smile, telling him I knew the words. What a coincidence. There’s no way that Y/N would have been involved in this, Briana maybe, but I’m certainly not upset, it’s been in my head for the last two weeks.

I went and high fived Billy then started the introduction for the song. “What’s up Vancouver? We are going to be trying something new. I had heard this song before but just recently reintroduced to it by a friend of mine. It’s a great song that I know y’all will enjoy, one that also fits with the basis of our show.”

With that, the music stared playing and all I could think about was that night at the café, listening to Y/N sing this very song. It brought a huge smile to my face. What I would give to listen to her sing again. I started into the song, the words hitting home, thinking about Sam and Dean, and how much everything in the song spoke directly to the show.

As I was in the second chorus, the crowd started cheering, which is when I saw Briana coming out to help Rob with backup vocals. I gave her a smile and kept singing, only to realize a second later that Y/N was out there with her. I smiled and winked at her, since that’s all I could do while in the middle of singing, but dropped the line I was on, trying to recover as quickly as possible. We continued the song, noticing at one point that Y/N sang some of the vocals that Bri and Rob weren’t. She’s getting comfortable, that’s good! Suddenly excited by the thought.

The song came to a close, and I thanked everyone on stage, even giving Y/N a quick kiss on the cheek and a hug. We were filing off the stage when I heard Rob pull a classic move, “Hey Jensen, how about one more song?” eliciting more applause from the crowd, and giving me a half-cocked idea. God I hope Y/N doesn’t hate me for what I’m about to do. “Sure Robby, but only if I can have one of my new friends join me,” turning to Y/N hoping that I didn’t just scare her off.

After some convincing, I walked her over to Rob who was a little surprised, but after working countless conventions with us, he was pretty much used to anything that was thrown at him. “Hey Y/N! Singing with us tonight, huh?”

“Uhh, yeah, I guess I am, which I totally wasn’t expecting so I’m kind of freaking out here,” she started rambling, I didn’t want her to hate what was about to happen and thankfully Rob stepped in, “Well, that being the case, we can play anything that you’re comfortable singing, sound good?” She smiled timidly, thinking for a quick second, “’Have a Little Faith in Me’, Briana’s cover, is that ok?” I looked to Rob in agreement and he pulled Jason out to help.

The music was starting and I could tell she was having a hard time keeping it together. I gently pulled her to me,  “Y/N, just look at me, forget everyone else; It’s just us and the music, and you can hold my hand the entire time if you want to,” getting a small nod out of her.

The first verse was nearing its end and I had to make sure she was still with me, so I gently squeezed her hand. She smiled, and started singing, surprising me and probably everyone in the room. Her voice was that of an angel, scared, but so sweet. I could tell the longer she was up there the more comfortable she was getting, more power coming out behind the words. I can’t help but wonder if this song means a little more than everyone sees?

Y/N and I sang in perfect sync with each other, something that can sometimes be difficult when two people have never performed together; but she was good. I could listen to her for hours, and wished that I got the chance sometime. The song was ending, Y/N finishing the last line and the crowd went absolutely wild, I’ve never seen them go this crazy for any one of us cast members; there was something special about Y/N, and I loved seeing that energy around her.

A tear slipped down Y/N’s cheek, but she wasn’t sad, she was smiling, I’m sure the emotions were overwhelming her. I reached up and wiped it away, needing to hug her, which she welcomed. I spoke quietly in her ear, a miracle she heard it over the noise, “That was perfect. You were perfect, and I am so proud of you…and I’m sorry for this…” I pulled back and touched her cheek softly, placing a gentle kiss on her lips. It was only a couple of small kisses; I didn’t want to over do it in front of so many people. When I pulled away, I was nervous. Oh God, this is it. She hates me. I shouldn’t have crossed that line, not in front of all of these people… She spoke, almost cutting off my thoughts, “You’re forgiven,” with the biggest smile I have seen on her face all weekend, the kind of smile that was showing in her eyes as well.

I took her hand and we go backstage and she no sooner bolts over to Briana and engulfs her in a hug. I couldn’t do anything but stand there and relish in the sight. Jared came over to give his job well done bit, “Dude, that was amazing, both songs, but especially the second. I would have never have guessed Y/N to go from corner café stage to a room full of screaming fans in two weeks. She must really like you,” he quipped, giving me a pat on the back. I laughed, when I saw Y/N turn towards me, she started walking over, only to get stopped by Jared. I couldn’t quite hear what was exchanged, but it looked comforting to her, which I’m sure she needed right now.

When she reached me, I slid my arm around here waist, “What do you say we get out of her, go get you that drink you said you’d let me buy?”

“I say that sounds like an excellent idea,” Y/N responded, her beautiful smile still on her face.

Tags: @maralisa124 @somilotopia @delightfullykrispypeach @steffiemeheus @lizwinchester16  @spn-dean-and-sam-winchester @mystrie @supernatural-lover-teamfreewill @cats-are-untrustworthy @superromijn @gifsforgomez @sherlock44

[jeonbase]

I read that fic you talked about yesterday, which I really loved!! I was wondering if you could rec more Yoonkook fics you've read so far this year? Thanks xx

i have so much tabs open of fics i’ve been meaning to read from yk week but also fics i’ve come across and have yet to read… but these are the ones that i’ve read so far this year: 

the life we live by blackksakura

Jungkook begins to have doubts about continuing Golden Closet, but his boyfriend over at Genius Lab knows better.

(canon verse, fluff)

my will is yours by raspberrychai

Jeongguk is cursed with perfect obedience; he can never disobey a direct order. It’s a living hell until he meets Min Yoongi.

(au, ella enchanted au, chaebol!yoongi, childhood friends, slow burn, friends to lovers, hurt/comfort, eventual smut)

note: this was such an interesting concept and au for a fic, i’ve never read anything like it and i think it was the first work i’ve read of raspberrychai’s and… i was captured by their writing, this is such a masterpiece

bad boy by xiajin

roses are red, veins are blue, i’d do anything for you.

(au, murder, death, blood, violence, possessive behavior, stalking, obsession, sociopathy, attempted sexual harassment (not between yk), non-con/dub-con (not between yk), unhealthy relationships, minor character death, asphyxiation)

note: i’ve reread this twice this month and im… still not over it???  this fic was so… something i never knew i needed, god the way summer writes and captures a story and the characters/characterization always has me in awe and amazed… all the little details, the subtleness of certain things.. wow im… beautiful

home by dreamingdaegu

Home, Jungkook has come to learn, is not a constant.

(hyyh au, light angst)

note: dreamingdaegu blessed us with another masterpiece

just called to say i love you by raspberrychai

Yoongi isn’t like Jeongguk’s brother’s other alpha friends and Jeongguk is secretly sort of really in love with him.

(au, abo au, fluff, smut, alpha!yoongi, omega!jeongguk, friends to lovers, top!yoongi, bottom!jeongguk)

note: i’ve mentioned this in my last ask but i love this fic so much

i hear you in the spring breeze by ial

[17/09/01 2:12 AM] yoongi: i still dream about you[17/09/01 2:12 AM] yoongi: a lot[17/09/01 2:12 AM] yoongi: more than i should[17/09/01 2:12 AM] yoongi: is that weird

[17/09/01 2:43 AM] yoongi: don’t answer that

[17/09/01 5:57 AM] yoongi: is it though

(ANGST, implied depression, implied suicidal thoughts)

note: :) my heart still hurts, a beautiful fic written by beautiful wonderful talented nat, please give nat all the love

my little work of art by becomingjk

yoongi has a fascination with jeongguk’s scar.

(canon verse(?), established relationship, fluff)

note: ‘my handsome baby, prettier than all of the flowers’ kook is!!! he rlly is!!! this fic was so soft, i live for fics that mention kook’s cheek scar and yoons loving it cause… Same

small talks by licornes

At first, Jungkook just likes the sound of his voice.

(au, slow burn, underground rapper!yoongi, blind!jeongguk)

affection, always by suisei_honeymoon

jungkook shows up to genius lab and yoonkook have their own mini birthday celebration.or: the reason why the twitter birthday video ended so abruptly

(canon verse, fluff, mild smut)

piece of peace by dreamingdaegu

Yoongi and Jungkook spend the night together.

(canon verse, fluff,  light angst, smut, mature, top!yoongi, bottom!jeongguk)

now by rire

It hits him at the weirdest moment possible.

Jungkook’s got his perfect, pink lips wrapped around Yoongi’s cock, big doe eyes innocently contrary to the obscene noises he’s making. Yoongi slides a hand shakily down to cup Jungkook’s jaw, thumbing the scar on his cheek, and Jungkook kind of involuntarily nuzzles into his touch like he always does. At that very moment, Yoongi’s heart does a little flip-kick. He looks at Jungkook and thinks, with fierce, unmistakable clarity— I love him.

(canon verse, fluff, explicit, smut, top!yoongi, bottom!jeongguk)

note: i just talked about this fic the other day and honestly it’s so fucking good, this characterization is my fav and just like the little details and certain things that are said in this fic is so??? wow and yoongi fucking jeongguk and eating him out with agust d tracks playing in the bg…. A Fucking Concept (also im still ded over the mention of jin cutting his bangs adjjskdfl)

sonatina by raspberrychai

Sometimes we just need a little repetition to see what’s right in front of our eyes.

(Yoongi gets stuck repeating the same day over and over again until Jeon Jeongguk fades into view.)

(au, time travel, composer!yoongi, famous!yoongi, slow burn, pining)

note: :(( i hope raspberrychai comes back, their writing is so lovely, one of my top favs

parachute by cinibun (akiikook)

Min Yoongi is a lonely workaholic CEO who adopts a bunny hybrid named Jungkook.

(au, ceo!yoongi, bunny hybrid!jeongguk, fluff, smut, explicit, heat)

don’t say goodnight by artangeltae

Yoongi worked late and just wants to sleep but Jungkook keeps him awake. Can he even be mad about it?

(au, painter!jeongguk, fluff)

wake up (inside me) by asterismos

jungkook wants to try something new. yoongi’s apprehensive but gives in bc he’s weak. he likes it more than he thought he would.

(explicit, smut, consensual somnophilia, dom/sub, established relationship, top!yoongi, bottom!jeongguk, dom!yoongi, sub!jeongguk)

young & dumb by notyoongs

“Yeah. Wanna be your baby.” There’s another puff of air against his skin, and he feels Jeongguk turn his face further into Yoongi’s neck, like he’s trying to hide—it does nothing to quell the flip of his stomach. But Jeongguk is drunk—that’s all. He tries to remind himself of that even though he really, really doesn’t want to think about it. He prefers to pretend this is what every weekend could be, even without the alcohol.

(or: jeongguk is drunk and just wants yoongi to cuddle him. as usual, he gets his way.)

(au, college au, fluff, drinking, grinding)

note: also mentioned this in the last ask, cute ass fic

in the midnight hour by marienadine

Jeongguk can’t sleep alone.

(established relationship, mild hurt/comfort, fluff)

heart bind by xiajin

yoongi didn’t need to break his heart; jungkook did it all on his own.

(au, angst, friends with benefits, famous!yoongi, singer!jeongguk, anxiety, self-esteem issues, internalized homophobia, mentions of starvation, mentions of attempted suicide)

give me your hand and save me before i fall by arcticcircle

The manager’s hardest on Jungkook of all; he’s young, and excitable, and sometimes can’t help being silly on stage. When the other members aren’t around he knows the consequences can be steep - but with a little help from his hyung, he remembers that he’s not alone and that he has someone he can rely on.

(canon verse, emotional hurt/comfort, referenced physical violence)

engaging by xiajin

“hyung,” jungkook starts as soon as yoongi opens the door to the apartment they share, “let’s get engaged.”

(au, fluff)

l'heure bleue by pursuit

“i can’t sleep.”

or; yoongi is definitely weak.

(canon verse, hurt/comfort, fluff, top!yoongi, bottom!jeongguk)

[rockinlibrarian]

Three Survey Memes

@e_louise_bates tagged me once directly and twice indirectly (I mean, since I'm already typing something here I might as well do the others too), so here. Please feel free to comment! I like discussions!

Survey One (what I was actually tagged for): Name my top ten favorite characters from ten different fandoms.

I feel like the way this is phrased, I should pick ten fandoms first and then narrow them down to the characters, so that's what I did. It's an easier way to find my favorite characters, anyway.

1. From Harry Potter: Luna Lovegood, obviously

2. From Tolkien: Samwise Gamgee, obviously

3. From the MCU: Peggy Carter, most obviously of all

4. From Star Wars: This is a product of me picking fandoms first, and then discovering I don't have an OBVIOUSLY answer this time. But when you get right down to it, I've always had a special place in my heart for Obi Wan.

5. From Diana Wynne Jones: Sophie Hatter. Stealing one from Louise there, but again, obviously.

6. From L.M. Montgomery: Stealing the fandom from Louise that time, but I on the other hand have to stick with Anne Shirley, because she may top my fave character list, period.

7. From Jane Austen: Rev. Henry Tilney, NOT stealing from Louise because again, OBVIOUSLY, as she well knows, too. :D

8. From Discworld: DEATH. This was hard, because as soon as I started thinking of Discworld, so many MUST INCLUDES came up. Tiffany! DEATH's granddaughter, whose name I totally had a minute ago when I first thought of it but now has suddenly slipped my mind as I'm typing it (my brain now keeps trying to tell me it's "Karen" but that feels utterly wrong Her last name's Sto-Helit. I think. EDIT: SUSAN! Of course. The second I hit "post")! Sam Vimes, one of the other great Sams of fiction! But who's there and perfect and wonderful through all of it? DEATH. So I'm sticking with that.

9. Uh, other Marvel properties that aren't the MCU: I just have to shout out again to the Loudermilk twins from Legion. They count as one person because they sort of are, and because their chemistry together just MAKES them, even though they both individually are pretty fun, too (Cary's dorkiness and Kerry's innocent enthusiasm for beating people up). There was like a block of three or four episodes this season without them and it nearly ruined the whole season for me.

10. No particular fandom I'm aware of but no list of favorite characters is complete without: Blossom Culp. From the books by Richard Peck.

SURVEY TWO, a writing one:

1. When did you start writing and how? In first grade I had this dream about a disgruntled Santa's elf taking our church hostage on Christmas Eve. It was a great dream, so I decided to turn it into a book. Recently I decided to revisit it-- the basic plot, at least-- as a picture book. And for some stupid reason I decided it needed to be in verse. It might work some day.

Early on all my story ideas came from dreams, actually. Still today, my subconscious does most of my story-creating. Last night I had one about this huge family that lived in a mansion with a public pool in it and had all sorts of hijinks. They were great. They lived on Chalk Street and the oldest girl's boyfriend was named Granger the Ranger. Anyhoo.

2. What is your favorite line from your own work? It's got to be "Concentration leads to Meditation leads to Levitation leads to Aviation," because that's just a way of life.

I'm also partial to anything at all that Billy Boyd says in the Pipeweed Mafia Stories.

3. Who is your writing idol, and how have they influenced you? Hmm, I wouldn't call Madeleine L'Engle my writing idol, but she has influenced me the most, with her way of seeing the cosmic in the very small and the individual in the cosmic. And I named my daughter after her. But my Patron Saint of Writing whom I occasionally call on for intervention is Diana Wynne Jones. I don't know why. She just seems to be who I need to get my writing juices flowing.

4. Which oc has the best family (found or otherwise)? Of my characters? Hmm, I've never really focused much on family in my works. Even found family. I guess Billy 'Arrison's uncle IS George Harrison, so probably that.

5. Which oc has the most satisfying ending to their story? Ah, I'm terrible at endings. None of my characters has an ending to their story, not just because most of my works have never been finished, but because I keep thinking of things that happen to them later. NO ENDINGS.

6. If you’ve gotten feedback on your writing, who is your readers’ favorite character? If not who do you think readers will fall in love with? Well, no questions there. Billy 'Arrison. I mean look how often he's come up already in this survey. If you ask anybody whose ever read my work to name ANY of my original characters, they will go with Billy. Heck, people who HAVEN'T actually read his story would pick Billy.

7. Which tropes (eg. Friends to lovers, fake death, white haired pretty boy) do you always find yourself wanting to write? All my stories tend to have the theme of disparate people becoming friends through having an adventure together. I recently wondered if that's because I've always thought friendship would be easier if you could cut out all the small talk, and having an adventure leaves no time for small talk.

8. What goes through your head when writing a scene? The... scene? Also, random entirely unrelated stuff. Because I have ADHD. My brain is impossible to follow anywhere.

9. How specific is your idea of your characters’ appearance usually? Do you draw them? (If so can we see it?) Facial features are usually fairly foggy to me. I get general shape and color, so, like, what their hair looks like, their size, their race. I get their sense of style, too-- often I give them a signature item of clothing whether in my mind or in the text. I've drawn a few of my characters, yes, but I'm not particularly good at drawing consistently.

10. What are you proudest of as a writer? That I can occasionally look back at things I have written and be delighted by them as a reader. Unfortunately most of these things I have written continue to not be finished.

SURVEY THREE, also about writing:

1. How many works in progress do you currently have? That depends on your definition of "in progress." If you mean ACTUALLY IN PROGRESS, zero. Zip. Unless you count a couple of GeekMom articles I have in the planning stage. Or unless you count not-writing. I have a living room renovation in progress at the moment.

How many works do I have in an incomplete status that I plan to get back to eventually? Hmmm. At least five.

2. Do you/would you write fanfiction? I'm not INTO fanfiction but I do/have written a few pieces when they occur to me. There's of course the Pipeweed Mafia, which is a mix of Inklings fanfic and real people fanfic. You could count me writing George Harrison into Billy's background real people fic. One of my works in possible occasional progress is a Firefly fic about how Zoe fell in love with Wash. Oh, I should have put Firefly on my list of fandoms above, just so I could name Kaylee. KAYLEE, people. But I haven't written fic about her. Anyway. I also once wrote a very short prompt response X-Files fic that always delights me. It's silly, and yet in character.

3) Do you prefer paper books or ebooks? Paper.

4) When did you start writing? First grade.

5) Do you have someone you trust that you share your work with? A few people. It depends on the type of work, who would be the best fit for it. Louise is in fact one.

6) Where is your favorite place to write? Someplace where I don't have real life demands calling on me. Oddly enough, I think I got some of my best writing done while working at the Children's Museum, during downtime. On slow days I'd write a scene on the back of my schedule. A page a day really adds up! Of course, on busy days that was unthinkable!

7) Favorite childhood book? Have I mentioned A Wrinkle In Time?

8) Writing for fun or publication? Depends on where I am in life. Now, it is for fun, unless it is an article.

9) Pen and paper or computer? First drafts pen and paper. Then putting it together on the computer.

10) Have you ever taken any writing classes? Yeah, I had some writing courses in college, and I also took correspondence courses twice.

11) What inspires you to write? Ideas. As I mentioned, I get a lot of ideas from dreams. But there's also, like, a swelling of words in my brain that needs to come out through my hands every so often. I called it "writeritis" as a kid, and I guess I still do.

TAGGING: Whoever. You know who you are, if any of this resonates with you!