#(hint. it rhymes with bat.)

[b0ba1nw0nd3rl4nd]

Alastor in wonderland

Chapter 11 A Mad tea party

(Author note: I took over a year off and cut u bitches some slack

Tell a friend to tell a friend…..

She′s Baaaaaack)

As Alastor approached the March Hare’s house, he was greeted by a scene of utter madness. It wasn’t what he expected at all—a ramshackle house with mismatched windows and a crooked chimney—but the sounds coming from inside were even more disturbing. Laughter, nonsensical chatter, and the clinking of teacups filled the air.

Alastor straightened his bowtie, took a breath, and knocked on the door. No one answered. Instead, the door creaked open on its own, revealing the chaotic scene inside. There was a long table filled with broken teapots, chipped cups, and mountains of crumbs from half-eaten pastries. At the head of the table, AngelDust—the Mad Hatter—was lounging back in his chair, twirling a cup on one finger, and cackling to himself. Across from him was Cherri Bomb—the March Hare—leaning against her chair in a lazy, almost reckless manner. Between them sat a very small figure Alastor recognized immediately: Nifty, the Dormouse, who was slumped over the table in a drunken haze, knife in hand, mumbling something incoherent.

AngelDust grinned, his many eyes glinting with mischief. “Well, well, well, Come to join the best tea party in Wonderland?”

Alastor paused at the threshold, taking in the scene. “It would seem I’ve stumbled into... quite the gathering.”

“Stumbled is right!” Cherri Bomb cackled, tipping over her teacup and splashing tea everywhere. “Come in, don’t be shy. It’s tea time, baby!”

Alastor hesitated but ultimately decided to take a seat. He was determined to keep his composure, no matter how ridiculous the situation became. As he sat down, AngelDust immediately leaned in closer, fixing him with a manic grin.

“So tell me,” Angel purred, “what’s your poison? Tea? Something a little stronger?”

Alastor smirked, unbothered by AngelDust’s antics. “I’ll pass, thank you. I’m more interested in conversation.”

“Oh, we have plenty of that,” Cherri Bomb interjected, pouring tea into a cup that immediately overflowed and spilled across the table. “We were just talking about our good ol' friend Time. Angie here went and killed him! Isn’t that just hilarious?”

Alastor raised an eyebrow. “Killed time? Literally?”

“Yup!” AngelDust leaned back in his chair, lifting a teacup as if to toast. “Twinkle, twinkle, little bat, how I wonder where you're at!”

Alastor blinked, bemused by the strange rhyme. “Charming.”

Nifty suddenly stirred from her stupor, muttering under her breath. “There were three little sisters, lived in the bottom of a treacle well… eating chlorine and bleach…”

Alastor watched as she drunkenly swayed, the knife in her hand gleaming under the dim light. Before he could react, Nifty lunged, aiming the knife at him. Alastor swiftly dodged, his reflexes kicking in.

“Nifty!” AngelDust scolded, grabbing her by the scruff of her neck and pulling her back. “You’re making a mess! Again.”

Nifty, tears welling up in her eyes, whined pitifully. “I didn’t mean to... I just... wanted to make it fun.”

AngelDust sighed dramatically, patting her on the head. “Alright, alright, don’t cry. You can play with Alastor, but no more knives, okay?”

Reluctantly, Nifty handed the knife over to AngelDust, her eyes wide with childlike disappointment. She then crawled across the table toward Alastor, looking at him with a mix of curiosity and amusement. Alastor shifted, trying to maintain his distance while avoiding eye contact.

“I don’t suppose anyone here knows the way out of this mad world?” Alastor asked, a hint of impatience creeping into his voice.

Cherri Bomb laughed, kicking her feet up onto the table. “Out? What’s the rush, Radio Demon? We’re all mad here! It’s the best party you’ll ever be at.”

AngelDust leaned in, smirking. “And you’re mad too. Oh yes, everyone here’s a little crazy. It’s Wonderland, after all.”

Alastor’s patience was wearing thin. “I appreciate the sentiment, but I have matters to attend to.”

AngelDust waved his hand dismissively. “Matters? Pfft, what’s more important than a little madness and fun?”

Just then, Nifty, still trying to impress Alastor, picked up a tea kettle and began pouring its contents all over the table, splashing tea everywhere. AngelDust groaned, his earlier jovial mood fading.

“Nifty, you’re a mess!”

Nifty whimpered, dropping the kettle and shrinking back as AngelDust stood up, taking the knife she’d used earlier and tossing it into the air. “You know what? I think we’re done with tea time.”

Alastor stood up as well, brushing crumbs off his suit. “I believe I am done with it as well.”

Nifty, still pouting, looked up at him with wide, tearful eyes. “You’re leaving?”

“I’m afraid so,” Alastor replied smoothly, glancing at the chaotic scene around him. “It seems I’ve overstayed my welcome.”

To his dismay, none of them even noticed as he made his way toward the exit. Their nonsensical chatter carried on without skipping a beat.

AngelDust: “You know, I think Time had it coming.”

Cherri Bomb: “He was always late anyway.”

Nifty: “Treacle well... sisters...”

Alastor sighed, stepping out into the fresh air of Wonderland, relieved to be free of the madness of the tea party. The echo of their bizarre conversation faded behind him as he marched forward, determined to escape this world of lunacy once and for all.

"Madness, indeed," Alastor muttered, shaking his head. "I should've known better than to sit at a madman's table."

[auxiliarydetective]

no analysis for Sonoko’s outfit? (what are the sword names btw?)

Oooooh you got me. I'm actually glad that people enjoy my outfit analyses, even to the point where they're asking for them. Really warms my heart <3

SO: Sonoko outfit analysis. Also gonna describe parts you can't see because other stuff is in the way.

First of all, her hair is dyed. I don't think you can really see it but her eyebrows are brown, so that's kinda supposed to be a hint that her hair isn't naturally green.

She also has a lot more scars than you can see in the picture. Let me actually give you a full view of her body, hang on...

Almost all of those scars she got in fights, whether that be training or serious fights. The scars you can see beneath her collar are claw marks.

For her clothes, I originally wanted to give her a Justice Coat to show her Marine officer status, but then I realized that the coat would just get in the way, so I decided against it. Instead, I put the epaulettes of her coat directly onto her shirt. That means she has more mobility too - practical for fighting. As for the color of the epaulettes, I spent what felt like hours looking at the coats of different Marines to figure out if there was any rhyme or reason to the colors of their epaulettes. You would think that they would correspond to rank in some way. But they don't so...

Generally, in its color scheme, I wanted Sonoko's outfit to resemble Zoro's main outfit from the animanga, so we have a white shirt and black pants and boots. If you make the shirt an actual dress shirt, that even fits into the Marine uniform scheme, so that's a big plus!

The belt is made of leather and has a section going down at the left side to hold her swords.

The blue sword is named "Komugi no Ha", which translates to "wheat blade". Y'know, like a blade of grass. You can see the wheat motive on the bottom part of the sheath. This is the sword she has carried since leaving Shimotsuki Village and she has a similar attachment to it as Zoro has to the Wado Ichimonji - though her attachment to the Komugi no Ha isn't nearly as strong.

The other sword is named "Koi no Oyogi", which means "swimming koi". I took inspiration from koi colorings and patterns for this sword and gave the blade a wave pattern to match.

Finally, you might be able to tell that, in comparison to her black pants, her boots look kind of worn-out and grey instead of being a pristine black. This will become significant later in her story...

Thanks for asking!

I expect you to be back for the next few posts if you like these rambles :)

Taglist: @starcrossedjedis @oneirataxia-girl @daughter-of-melpomene @bravelittleflower @box-of-bats - let me know if you’d like to be added or removed!

Also tagging: @supermarine-silvally

[selfship-confession-box]

OH MY GOODNESS I LOST MY ORIGINAL CONFESSION YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING MEEEEEEE—

OKAY. SO UH.. LET ME TRY TO RETYPE THIS:

SO! First of all: I made two kandi bracelets for a f/o of mine and my s/i for him!! Joy!! But I NEED(not really but like.. the urge to is holding a lot of mental over meh.. so-) to make matching Kandi for me and X🦇 aka batty!!(which: for clarification. Is a nickname for that one f/o. my ride or die, Mr. misunderstood strong with blond hair honey bunches of oats!!)

And like.. I wanna imagine how X🦇 would react to me giving this to him!! Because..

Ok rainbow rat x Batty lore rq

[heh.. rat and bat rhymes.!! >:333]

our relationship starts off as strangers, wonderful!! And like.. I start crushing on him.. maybe even sorta HARD.!! (My s/i has a heavy dousing of being neurodivergent. Like me.) To a point where (my newer friend f/o from the same source as X🦇) uses my struggles w/ talking to him as to help us get together!!! (Thank u btw to her!! Love ya girl!!!!)

And like.. it then turns into a sorta awkward filled friendship between us as he starts crushing as well!! but I’m like. 2 awkward to confess so tension fills!!! Oh noes!!!!

So like.. with that lore in mind (spoiler alert. Rainbow rat x Batty ends with me confessing with a blurted out “screw it what could go wrong?” Jumbled mess right before X🦇 is bout to confess!)

I’m wondering how X🦇 would think if I showed him the kandi I made for us!! I feel like stuff along the lines of “Oh.. that’s cool 🌈🐀..” if we’re imagining this during that pre and mid crushing for him. And like he’d say that with a mostly blank expression while on the inside he’s like.. “*SQUEAL* THIS CANNOT BE HAPPENIBG.???!!!!” Cause I wanna imagine that despite his cold and sometimes mean exterior he can.. be a TOTAL fangirl when he’s happy :3 AND IT MAKES ME HAPPY THINKING OF HIM SQUEALING WITH JOY!!

Another option for reply from him could be like, a small smile and a “That’s nice. Mind if I try it on?” While pointing at the kandi with MY name on it!! This would happen during that time within our mutual crushing friendship where he maybe starts dropping hints or figuring out of the love and romance is mutual!!!

…

Lol uh… can ya tell that I’m going crazy thinking about this scenario, folks? /pos /rhetorical question

Anyways I get to go to bed tonight knowing that if I made us matching kandi bracelets that he’d totally wear them and we’d get to match… cause like.. friends make matching kandi with hearts beside the names for each other and then also wear tjose same matching accessories.. right?? ….. RIGHT???!!! 🌈🐀<3🦇👍👍👍👍

Okay that’s all for my much needed expression of my love for my sweet guy!! Happy selfshipping folks!! <33

Sincerely, 🌈🐀!! [ps. I think more people should make matching bracelets/kandi for themselves and their f/os!!!]

.

[darzyr]

⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆ * ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆ @gwahren

imperious chin tilts yet higher, lips suggesting the barest hint of a smile. for once it is he caught in her web, he the mouse trapped between her paws. honey - gold head tips ever so slightly to one side, brazenly surveying him where he sits, holding him in judgment. a few steps are daringly taken into the chamber — a chamber she should certainly not be in, considering the risk to her reputation. "i've come to determine your intent," a pause, a dip at the knees in an almost - curtsy. "my prince."

aemond soon forbids 𝖙𝖍𝖔𝖚𝖌𝖍𝖙𝖘 𝖔𝖋 𝖊𝖑𝖊𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖆 𝖈𝖔𝖚𝖘𝖑𝖆𝖓𝖉 as a snake,  lest she remould into another scaled beast within his mind.   b̳r̳a̳z̳e̳n̳,  with birthright-assurance infusing every move,  even her bow,  one might well 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚍𝚛𝚊𝚐𝚘𝚗’𝚜 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍.   yet another reason a boy might take notice,  and breed within himself fanciful ideas despite his own monstrosity.   aemond scoffs,  flexes each finger of his free hand on the armrest.   if she thinks to 𝖍𝖚𝖒𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖆𝖙𝖊 𝖍𝖎𝖒 with insinuations,  she will be left wanting.

long since has he taken to 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚒𝚖𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚞𝚙𝚘𝚗 𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝚜𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝚘𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 instead of waiting,  helpless,  to be struck.   steel does not prove itself when protected 𝖋𝖗𝖔𝖒 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖋𝖎𝖗𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖋𝖔𝖗𝖌𝖊.   aemond does not take his eye off elethea cousland for a second,  though he might wish to.      ❛❛  my 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝.  ❜❜      𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧-𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠,  she intrudes on him but makes obeisance in the same breath,  mocking aemond and searing his blood.   he forces himself to stretch in this peeled-raw discomfort 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝚌𝚊𝚝 in sweet-warm sunlight,  and hopes she takes the flicker on his face not for a grimace,  but a snarl.      ❛❛  your courtesies 𝖆𝖗𝖊 𝖍𝖔𝖑𝖑𝖔𝖜,  lady cousland.  ❜❜

she was a pretty child,  but grievously unhappy.   at least aemond imagined her thus.   he himself was a walking bruise of misery,  and perhaps some small part of him sought akinness where kin had failed him.   before losing his eye,  learning had been a duty and passion.   while he recovered,  it was all he could stand to do   ‒‒   though it hurt to sit in direct light,  and the sore,  void socket seemed to painfully move along with his good eye as he read.   once sick of dead men’s names,  he turned to living ones and learned them,  too. he knew who elethea was when aegon pulled her hair,  when he batted heIaena’s linens from her arms and mocked her as an honoured guest.   perhaps,  aemond thought,  silent by the doorway,  she seems so unhappy because she wants to go home,  be done with serving targaryens.   her disdain and indignity were familiar as nursery rhymes.   they felt like looking in a mirror.   and when she turned her furious eyes from his brother onto him and said,      ❛❛  your courtesies are hollow,  then?  ❜❜      he felt it in his bones.

[v6quewrlds]

imagine joe saying goodbye to your baby for the first time.

author's note⠀⁎⠀idea by the dad!joe voices. wrote this a month ago and never posted it for whatever reason?

You sat at the kitchen island, your fingers dancing across the screen of your phone, lost in a sea of emails and to-do lists. Sweet baby babbles and the rustle of plastic toys filled the room, offering a comforting soundtrack to your afternoon. Amara was in her bouncer, her wide brown eyes fixated on a colorful mobile that swirled gently above her. The sun painted the kitchen floor with warm, golden rays, hinting at the beautiful day outside.

Summer was coming to an end, and the anticipation of Joe's first away game of the season hung in the air like the scent of your pumpkin pie cooling on the counter. You glanced up from your phone, your ears picking up on the sound of the garage door opening. The sound of Joe's footsteps shuffled as he entered the house, his heavy sigh echoing through the hallway. Your heart tightened, knowing the weight of the moment. You looked over your shoulder and watched him set his bag down gently as if the weight of his emotions were packed inside.

Joe's eyes met yours, and you could see the storm brewing beneath the surface of his usually calm gaze. He looked exhausted, the shadows beneath his eyes a stark contrast against his summer-tanned skin. Despite the fatigue etched on his face, his eyes lit up the moment they landed on Amara. He took a step forward, his movements slow and deliberate, as if trying to savor every moment before the inevitable goodbye. You couldn't help the chuckle that escaped you as Joe made a beeline for your daughter, his 6'4" frame seemingly shrinking to fit into her tiny world of giggles and nursery rhymes.

Amara's face broke into a toothless grin as Joe picked her up, her chubby arms reaching for him. She babbled away incoherently as if sharing the secrets of the universe with her daddy. Your heart swelled with love watching their bond grow stronger daily. You knew Joe was dreading the thought of leaving Amara behind for the first time, especially since she had just started to seek comfort in his touch when she was upset and to reach for him when she wanted to hear his voice.

"Hey, princess," Joe murmured, pressing his nose against Amara's soft cheek. His voice was thick with emotion as he swayed gently from side to side, trying to soothe his own nerves as much as hers. You set aside your phone and rose to your feet, walking over to them. You placed a hand on Joe's back, feeling the tension coiled beneath his t-shirt.

"Let me help you pack," you offered, your voice gentle. "You spend as much time as you want with her."

Joe nodded, following behind you with his baby girl nestled in his arms. You entered your bedroom, which was a symphony of organized chaos. Clothes were strewn across the bed, and his suitcase lay on the floor, half-filled with neatly folded shirts and sweatpants. You took charge, grabbing his travel bag and setting it on the bed, beginning to organize his essentials, listening to his gentle directions from the corner of the room where he sat in the rocking chair, Amara in his lap.

He picked up a small, stuffed tiger, one of Amara's favorites, and held it up to her, making it dance with the clumsy grace of a new dad. She giggled, batting at it with her tiny hands. Joe's eyes never left hers as he whispered, "This little guy will keep an eye on you while I'm gone." Your heart twisted at the sight.

"Do you want to take a garment bag for your game day fit? And what about your iPad?" You asked, your voice steady as you zipped up the suitcase. Joe nodded, lifting Amara to press kisses to her chubby cheeks again. He leaned back in the chair, his shoulders dropping slightly as he let out a long, slow breath.

"Yeah, grab the bag hanging on the door. I'll put my iPad in my backpack," he murmured. You retrieved it, feeling the weight of his eyes on you as you moved around the room. You knew he was trying to memorize every detail, every moment before he had to leave. You folded his favorite sweatshirt, the one that had been your gift to him years ago, with a faded SpongeBob reference. The soft fabric smelled faintly of baby powder and home, a scent that would surely be a comfort on the road.

While Joe continued to entertain Amara, whispering his itinerary and promises of his return into her baby ears, you packed his toiletries, slipping in the small picture frame of your family that you knew would be a needed solace when he unpacked in Miami. You tried to keep your movements swift and efficient, not wanting to miss out on what little time he had before he would have to leave. You knew that every second counted when it came to holding onto your precious time together.

Once the suitcase was packed, you took a moment to watch them, Joe's strong hands rubbing soothing circles into her back. Amara's babbles filled the room, a sweet melody that seemed to melt away the stress of the day. You knew that the next few days would be tough for him, being apart from your little girl for the first time since her birth seven months ago.

"Alright, everything's packed," you announced, zipping up the suitcase with a finality that made your own heartache. "You ready?"

Joe looked up, blue eyes glistening with sadness. He nodded, his Adam's apple bobbing with a hard swallow. With strong hands, he handed Amara back to you, who held your daughter tightly, feeling your warmth and the steady thump of your heartbeat. He leaned in and placed a lingering kiss on Amara's forehead, his eyes closing as if he could somehow imprint her scent into his memory.

You felt your own eyes sting with tears as you watched your husband's love for your daughter shine through his pain. You knew he was torn between his responsibilities to his team and the desperate need to be with his family. "We'll be okay," you assured him, your voice stronger than you felt. "We'll FaceTime whenever you're free."

Joe nodded, his gaze lingering on Amara's face as you held her. He reached out and touched her tiny hand, his thumb tracing her tiny fingers. "I know," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "But it's just..." He trailed off, unable to put his fears into words. You stepped closer, your hand squeezing his shoulder.

"I know," you whispered. "But you're gonna kill it tomorrow, and you'll be back before she even realizes you're gone."

You handed him the suitcase and a backpack filled with his travel essentials. He hoisted it over his shoulder, the weight of his burden both literal and figurative. As he made his way to the door, he paused, looking back at his two girls. Amara, blissfully unaware of the gravity of the moment, was reaching for the string of your sweatshirt, tugging it with a curious babble.

The door was a barrier to a world of noise and chaos that you knew Joe would soon enter, but before he stepped through it, you wrapped your free arm around him, pressing your cheek to his chest. You whispered, "You won't miss a thing, I promise," and felt his chest expand with a deep inhale. For a moment, you stood just like that, a silent trio basking in the warmth of your love.

With a final, lingering look he leaned down to kiss your lips, his eyes brimming with love and sadness. You felt a lump form in your throat as you whispered to your baby girl softly, "Say bye-bye Daddy," knowing that the word was still beyond Amara's vocabulary but hoping that the sentiment was conveyed.

As Joe stepped out into the late afternoon sun, you watched him load his bags into the car, his movements methodical and deliberate. The air was still, the quietness of the moment almost deafening. You knew that once the door shut, it would mark the beginning of the countdown until you saw him again.

[thebandcampdiaries]

Guala Armani is back with a new release: "SLID"

November 2023 - Some of the most interesting artists out there are definitely the ones who fight against the usual cliches and really make a point to keep their mindset open and creative. This is definitely the case with Guala Armani, an artist who always surprises his audience with his creativity, bringing a breath of fresh air to the mix.

"SLID" happens to be Guala Armani’s most recent studio work, and it is definitely something for you if you happen to be a fan of artists such as Lil Wayne, Future, and Kanye West, among others. Much like the aforementioned performers, Guala Armani captivates the listeners with his unconventional sound, and his formula is definitely not easy to replicate on the grounds of his unique skills and talent for exciting musical soundscapes. Right off the bat, the song is impressive due to its sample loop for the main melody of the beat. The section features a brass ensemble looped, giving a unique vibe to the mix. The way the melody interpolates with the drum parts and the syncopation that ensues is truly killer, creating the perfect backdrop for Guala Armani to go to town on his vocal track! Speaking of, his delivery of this song is next level. He has a fresh, youthful voice, which offers relentless dynamics but also a hint of melody, making him a very versatile rapper who can do much more than just dish out rhymes fast. He actually has a true flow to his rhythms, and his performance drifts in and out of the swing to perfection, creating a very organic vibe and locking in with the instrumental.

In conclusion, ”SLID" combines the lush soundscapes of modern hip-hop with the authenticity of the golden age of the scene, pretty much allowing all of these different influences to merge into something that is quite one-of-a-kind and extremely inspiring to listen to.

Find out more about Guala Armani, and do not miss out on "SLID", which is currently available on the best digital music streaming services.

[rilshock]

The Velvet Underground and Nico - The Velvet Underground, Nico(1967 Review)

What can I say about the Velvet Underground and Nico that hasn't been said already? Despite not selling well initially, this album overtime became a main influence for various styles of music to follow; there's an old saying that "Whoever bought their album went out and start a band" and for good reason. The Velvet Underground was doing stuff that was unheard of in the music world at the time in the 1967. How experimental is this album you ask? Well diving into the album and it's song it becomes much clearer.

The album starts off strong with two songs, Sunday Morning and I'm Waiting For The Man; how different those tracks are may throw the listener off guard. Listeners in 1967 might've been surprised at the brash experimentation of I'm Waiting For my Man, and modern listeners probably won't get how this band is experimental right off the bat. Why it was like this is because Tom Wilson, who was one of the producers of this album, wanted another potential successful single off the album with Nico providing lead vocals, but Nico ended up providing backup instead and Lou Reed took up the lead duties. This song about paranoia is also the only song on the album that has more professional sounding production than the rest of the album. If this never happened then the album would've jumped right into I'm Waiting for the Man: a proto-punk song also fronted by Lou Reed that tells the story of his Heroin purchasing from a certain drug dealer. Keep Heroin in mind as we continue. The lyrics of the song also hint at Reed's homosexuality with lines in the Second Verse Such as, "Hey White Boy, you chasing' our women around? Oh, pardon me, sir, it's furthest from my mind.", which in itself can also mean that Reed's objective is to buy smack, which can cause Men to have a lack of sexual interest when high. The next track is Femme Fatale, the first Nico fronted song on the album that has a more laid back pop sound in the same vain as, but not as lush and dreamy, as Sunday Morning. The Lyrics tell the story of Edie Sedgwick, an infamous Warhol Star who had an enchanting allure to her seductive nature, which was only climaxed by her death of a drug overdose at 28 years old.

Track 4, Venus in Furs, is a droning song that could almost be proto-gothic rock. The Droning nature of the song comes from what's called Ostrich Tunning, where Lou Reed tuned all of his strings to E. The Lyrics however, get much darker and deeper. This song and the title is based on 1870 novella of the same name by author Leopold von Sacher-Masoch. Both the Song and Novella talk about topics relating to sexual masochism, the song especially celebrating it out in the open, which was a bold move and thus challenged conventions at the time about songwriting. Track 5, Run Run Run, is an electric folk song that tells a tale about how four characters are seeking or engaging in acts of drug use. Teenage Mary sells her soul to try and be saved but still gets invested in drug use anyway. Margret Passion experiences a series of withdrawals as a drug addict stops using their drugs for a longer period of time. Seasick Sarah cocaine dealt and overdosed, and Beardless Harry is a trans male(hence his name),who's life ends after he couldn't get a single hit. Track 6, All Tomorrow's Parties, a 7 minute droning song that's the second song on this album that's fronted by Nico. This song tells about a nursery rhyme character named Thursday's Child, from the story Monday's Child. They are described as having "far to go", meaning she is a lost soul and before being happy she has much to encounter. This also ends Side 1.

Side 2 begins with Track 7, another proto-punk tune, once again about Heroin, Lou Reed describes the effects of the titular drug, with each verse getting more energetic as they progress, culminating to the end when the energy builds up so much it's the equivalent of an overdose. Track 8, There She Goes Again, is one of the more typical 60s Garage Rock sounding songs of the album, with the song describing a prostitute who is steadfast in her profession. Track 9, I'll Be Your Mirror, is the third and final track Nico appears on; it's also the shortest track on the album at just above two minutes long. This song is about a person who sees the beauty possessed by a loved one and wishes to share that beauty with them. Fun Fact this song was not written for Nico originally, Lou Reed wrote it before they even met, but Warhol requested Nico to sing it on the record and Lou Reed reluctantly allowed her.

Track 10, The Black Angel's Death, is the only track on the album where I don't think is perfect, but it almost is. This is a song that has more meaning in the context of other songs on the album, as this is another song that signifies that Lou Reed presents topics such as Drugs and Prostitution in a matter of fact way. One thing about this song that's upfront is the viola shrills done by John Cale, especially in the song's outro. The band would often play this song live much MUCH longer then what we hear on the record, however it wasn't a favorite at clubs. One time, when the band was told by a manager to not play the song again, they responded by playing it anyway with a "furious vengeance", the band were sacked anyway- I guess it was worth it. And the final track, track 11, European Son, really puts the Avant-Garde into the Avant-Garde of this album. This song is dedicated to Delmore Schwartz, who was Reed's teacher at Syracuse University. Apparently Delmore despised songs with words, especially rock and roll lyrics, so this big instrumental closer was dedicated to him. The sounds of this musique concrete composition were meticulously rehearsed, paying close attention to detail, with sounds ranging from Lou Reed scrapping a chair across the floor to John Cale smashing a pile of aluminum dishes. Ending the album

To say this album changed everything would be an understatement. This album is pretty much the ground zero for any alternative, experimental or indie genre to come after. Punk, dream pop, jangle, noise rock, post punk, the list goes on. The musician ship on this album as well as the lyrics and song topics on this album were unheard of in 1967. Basically put, if this album or band never happened, what would modern music be like today? 10

Listen to the album here

[astrxlfinale]

There was a realization that found itself burgeoning, scraping at the front of his skull, it was clarity with a price.

From his perspective, a reminder by the manic ecstasy embraced by the one known as Sparkle. It was a rewrite, situating her in the very position where all of his failures weighed like a steel ball attached to a thorned manacle. Whereas hesitation and confusion found itself stunning him before, concerns, worries, guilt, right now it felt as if he was liberated from the very sanctions that came with caring.

What a cruel way to get the picture, wanting to take that very flustered face of the Fool and to crush it out of existence. The mere thought in itself allowed the Stellaron within to hum with delight, almost as if it could synchronize with their companion's sense of Elation.

He refuses to stop feeling.

Even if it heightened to this fine film of madness before him. Seething, crimson demands that danced to maim and tear. An issue for (likely ignored) silence was made by the pivotal strike of his bat. The pressure from a swing alone prompting part of the surrounding floor by Sparkle's side to whine in utter distaste, caving downward into a cerulean chasm, more of these very grounds being injured by the anomaly she crafted.

"And nothing will get their hands on you until I do, bastard..!" His teeth clenched as instead of trying to barricade his Heart through the static, the daring move was made to draw his soul towards that very chaos. It was bitter acceptance tied to the dangerous line heightening this frequency. As Firefly's fading smile, how her bugged out eyes and terrorized expression, how he felt as the damning rhyme strung by her melody exacerbated the punctured sensation within his feelings.

Just by turning towards her, hints of an unnatural gold flickered as a challenge towards Sparkle's own Elation, the harmony woven between what looks like a standout serving as the ultimate bait.

What lurked in the shadows of unconsciousness could resist no longer. so RICH. DELECTABLE! The mass of base instincts refused to abide by hidden orders, opting to tear itself free from the surroundings as if a shadow ripping away from physics itself.

A mindless, disastrous howl would reverberate from the core of it being, momentarily tearing away all of the infrastructure surrounding them. What holds vigil around their figures is a cataclysmic void. Swaths of pure darkness, inklings of the same scathing gold that Caelus exudes, all as the predominant swirl of violet nebula would serve as the stage, the checkered floor expanding to an endless boundary as Death itself bared it's claws and salivating maw before them.

"So this is it then isn't it.. The border I never got to see." The Trailblazer begins, canting his gaze towards the gargantuan size of their foe.

"This is what Sam found, right at that border those other two decided to kick me from."

Truthfully? It felt so nice to let his killing intent radiate upon his partner as well, that same strength becoming a bolstering force to her own strength.

"...As much as I want to tear you apart, I need you. Penacony isn't getting it's hooks into me another time." So fucking up was no option.

Just as how the taunting worlds, and the gilded truths she offered through hell cycled around as a curious afterthought in his head. To think he'd find himself on the appropriate track after all, with his own newly established means through terrorized emotion served as the richest nourishment for these instinctive memes.

Death would shudder like a blight that held no true body, malleable while being lethally sharp as those golden claws arched in the air, only for a series of rapid strikes to pummel at the ground below. Scintillating glimmers of its thorny, crystallized appendages followed suit, turning their current surroundings into a maze of attacks to dodge, those multiple violet eyes never tearing its sights from them for a second.

Thus begins another dance of dance, Caelus sliding underneath two attacks before an abrupt flip of a jump would make him sail overhead of Sparkle, covering one of those steel whips as it's countered firm with a stroke of the bat, sending it snapping to the heavens at an awkward angle. Landing alongside of the Fool, a sudden breath and influx of Destruction path power would become his armament, leaving him primed to deliver two more counters that create their first opening.

"Can ya keep control on those robo bastards in this field? Might as well spam our good fortune till it burns up!"

Gamble it down.

Carnage.

That's the only word to describe how Caelus savagely laid waste to the Memory Zone Memes as well as the Dreamjolt Troupe automatons that used to surround them. What was once a hall filled with enemies that aimed to maim and brutalize them was now a hall filled with nothing but mechanical corpses, and dissipating memes.

But of course it would be both their peril if either of them would think that the party would end then and there.

"My, I'm off limits, hm~? You truly seem to be saving me for yourself, you greedy garbage guzzler, you~." She teased as she followed along with her masked puppets, her giggling that followed suit might as well be laced with venom with how much it outright sounded like mockery.

Indeed, something new was coming. A brisk pace, yet also careful one. Almost as if it was gauging them. Of course the Masked Fool already knew what it was.

Something wicked this way comes.

Truly, Sparkle could pull a fast one on him now, pull a switcheroo by having one of her masked minions assume her form while she would slink away by forcing herself awake by means of self-'liberating' from this Dream... Which would have worked if they were at the surface Dreamscape. Being this deep meant that the only way for them to wake up proper is to return to surface. In other words, the two of them have already dove deep enough in this ocean of fantasy, that the only way to escape is the way they came.

"You already know the answer to that. After all, we wouldn't be this deep if it weren't for you being so sure about it, right~?" She spoke in turn. "Still is baffling, you see, that it took you this long to actually take action, seeing that you watched like a passive waste while your precious firebug got dispatched with haste~." She even got the ingenuity to add rhyming to her vicious mockery, even with the looming threat of the Deep Dreamscape's resident reaper drawing closer to them.

Though of course, she wouldn't admit it, but she definitely overdone it, herself. Whoever hired her to be in Penacony wouldn't take too kindly with her pushing the envelope this far. Hell, they might even prefer it if the herald of death in dreams would be able to go about just fine.

But alas, Sparkle would deal with the eventual fallout from this breach of contract. She has her ways, and the words to be able to mend it.

And besides, it would take so much more than just battering and vicious clubbing to permanently get rid of it. That she knows. Should Caelus succeed in triumphing over it, it will still be able to keep persisting regardless.

"Surely this time, you won't fuck it up, hmm~?"

[dontotdraws]

Here is a small sample of my piece from the Of Bats and Beasts​ zine!

Hm, who could Damian be looking at?

[thefifthsister-notactive]

Halloween prompt 14!!

CHB '22 #58: Scar Tissue

Post Series

She's staring in the mirror, turning back and forth, pulling her dress and he can't help but hurt for the look on her face. He's never seen her look so unconfident. Not his wife. The woman that commands the attention of everyone as soon as she enters a room, standing tall on her ridiculous power heels, all power and grace and attitude. His badass. His love.

He wraps his arms around her.

"Is this costume too revealing?" She asks. He remembers many times when she's asked him that. A hint of lust, of teasing, of promises in her voice. Now he hears insecurity.

"You look absolutely beautiful," He assures her.

"I was going for sexy," she tries to smirk but he still sees it, the critical look she's giving herself. The scars she never really got a chance to adjust to, the way her body has been changed by bullets and birth.

"You are so stunning. I walk into a room and all I see is you. I wonder how I got so lucky. This costume is amazing."

He kisses her neck, hands roaming up to her cleavage until she's laughing at batting her hands away.

"Elvira, be still my heart," he murmurs. "You know, if Alexis has Lily for the night, we could just hit the hotel early."

She smiles at him. And he knows he's hit his mark. "You promised me dancing. To some other than nursery rhymes. But we will definitely make use of the hotel room." _________________________ Prompt: Is this costume too revealing?

[groovepawn]

Almost predictably, he’s natural to pull her into his embrace, to which she relents easily with a little girlish giggle. She returns the gesture, of course, hugging him back with a small squeeze. So far, so good, she thought—maybe he’d actually picked up on the tone of their meeting today, after all? She supposed it wouldn’t hurt to drop a hint, just in case. 

A little more forward than usual, she stood on his tippy toes, pressing her lips to his jaw, giving him a quick peck. 

Hee hee, this almost feels like something an actual couple would do.

A pinkish flush dusts her cheeks as he eyed her up and down, and her fingertips laced together as she hunched her shoulders bashfully. Demure, she swished her dress hem and bat her eyes. While she’d still call herself the farthest thing from stunning, she definitely felt prettier when he looked at her like that. Sure, he was dense as a rock sometimes, but at least she could get his attention in this way. 

And today, she was going to be the center of his attention, whether he liked it or not. 

“It’s no worries,” she reassured him quickly, mentally reminding herself to at least thank Rhyme for being his only source of keenness, bless her, “it’ll be nice to spend time with just the two of us, right?” Right? RIGHT? She nuzzles into his hand as he pat her head, and just as she was about to link her elbow around his, she stopped in place. 

Never mind, she spoke too soon. 

For as much as she relished in his compliments and her beloved nickname, he had the impeccable ability to shove his foot in his mouth in the exact same sentence. Puffing out her cheeks in reply, she leaned forward with a frown. She supposed she should've known better than to get her hopes up. “Well, I thought I was going on a date, but I guess it’s canceled!”

With an "ugh", she straightens out and crosses her arms, frowning. Only now does she notice his own attire, its painfully casual nature yet another clear giveaway that he still didn’t get it. It’s not like he didn’t have nice clothes for special occasions, she’s seen them herself, and if he actually took her seriously, he’d have worn them for once. 

“Looks like I got all dressed up for nothing,” she muttered defeatedly, turning away. 

Beat was the first to Hachiko. He could hardly be described as punctual or attentive to the time, but his puppy-dog-like impatience to see his favourite people often had him running to get-togethers well before anyone else showed up, so it wasn't unusual for him to be left waiting. Or it wouldn't be, if today he hadn't been stalled by Rhyme before he could leave the house -- this time he was bored loitering next to Hachiko because someone else was late, not because he had made it to the meeting spot any earlier than planned.

Rhyme had come down with something and wasn't well enough to tag along to the Saturday hang-out, but she had evidently still been well enough to nag. Or gently prod, maybe, as was more her way... but there had been a quite meaningful tone in her voice while she did (even if Beat couldn't guess at what the meaning was). "Without me there, isn't it just you and Shiki today?" And when Beat didn't see the significance of this, he was hounded further: If he was going to have more of her attention than usual, shouldn't he try not antagonizing her with a T-shirt with swear words on it? Wouldn't it be safer for his dignity to wear something new and yet undamaged, rather than tempt her to repair the blown-out knee on those joggers in public? Was he really, absolutely sure he had brushed his teeth?

And so, still without really knowing why, he had arrived looking a little crisper and shinier than usual. Still wearing nothing fancier than sagged jeans and a punk jacket over a baggy shirt, but the roughest edges had been sanded down, at least. The look was only soured by his annoyed frown at having to wait for Shiki to arrive, and that was quickly erased when he finally caught sight of her.

He recognized her by her stature and her gait and the cute swing of her arm as she waved before anything else; otherwise, the colour and the silhouette and the girly frills of her outfit were so rare to see on her that he might have passed her over as just another stranger in the crowd. Momentarily distracted by the hypnotic sway of the hem of her skirt as she moved towards him, he missed his chance to complain about her lateness before she apologized and made an excuse.

Traffic lights? Well... Beat couldn't be mad about pedestrian safety. "Uh. Yeah, sure." He shrugged and pulled her into a brief hug in greeting, before stepping back again to look at her better. "Good to see ya anyways. Rhyme says sorry she can't come, by the way."

Even just from the way his gaze continued to wander to the bows and flounces, it was clear he approved of Shiki's efforts in dressing up. Unable to resist, he gave her adorable little hat a pat. "You're done up some cute. Goin' somewheres, Beautiful Girl?"

[i-am-a-scholar-of-magic]

Extras Profile: Mary

One of the grand positives of “The Owl House” is that it devotes exceptional care to what I call the Big Three story elements: setting, characters, and - even more in the second season - plot. One facet of the characters is the truly incredible variety and creativity of the character design, stretching even to the background extras that keep popping up. Several of the characters, mostly at Hexside, have even been given semi-official names by the crew. 

One is quite possibly named for a nursery rhyme.

Horned girl, otherwise known by the cast as “Mary,” first appears in “I Was a Teenage Abomination,” being chewed out by Professor Hermonculus for her Abomination project failing for having too many toenails. Throughout the show, she’s had very few speaking lines, but appears enough for some interesting glimpses into her character. 

Her first appearance, as mentioned above, implies that she is middling in skill among her classmates. She doesn’t have Amity’s natural skill, but she has more talent with Abomination magic than Willow does. A possible hint at her academics is her attendance of the field trip to Belos’s castle in “Agony of a Witch,” which was most likely reserved for higher-achieving students. She also shows something of an admiration for the Emperor’s Coven. 

Her most revealing episode, though, is “Any Sport in a Storm.” Mary is recruited by Hermonculus as part of his flyer derby team to oppose Willow’s team, which may indicate he has some respect for her skills. Before the match, she seems more serious and determined than the rest of her team, possibly hinting at a competitive spirit, love for sports, or a desire to prove herself.

Mary demonstrates an yet unseen skill with Abomination magic during the match, launching an exploding sphere of muck that captures Skara, a veteran grudgby player. She is also one of the last to have her flag uncaptured until the very end of the match, which shows skill on her part. She also works well with the spikey-headed student. 

Finally, the episode shows that Mary possesses a palisman, likely acquired from the Bat Queen. The palisman is not seen off the staff, but is carved in the likeness of a ram, which humorously flaps its horns while flying. 

As for her name, Mary seems to have been named for the nursery rhyme “Mary Had A Little Lamb.” She has a strong sheep and ram motif with her horns, fluffy hair, and palisman. Personally, I think that is clever and quite funny. 

It really is a delight to find little tidbits about these background students that the crew has clearly put some thought into and stitch together a narrative. Had there been more time, I would have been happy to see more of Celine. 

Thanks for reading! More to come …!

[cartoonsofthecosmos]

This here is pretty strong evidence that Luz’s palisman will be a bat. I’m very happy with this development - bats are similar enough to birds to fit with the bird theme the Clawthornes have, but they aren't birds, giving Luz her own thing. And maybe it’s a little cheesy, but I also think a bat would pair well with Amity’s cat - not only do the creatures name’s rhyme, but one is black and one is white, and they both have a halloween/stereotypically witchy feel. If this really is hinting at a bat being Luz’s palisman, I think it’s a great choice.

[spellwing777]

I like the idea of vampire specialist Eskel, as soon as he's given access to higher vampires that aren't trying to kill him, will geek out and do allllll the field guides. Which resulted in Regis and Dettlaff getting drawn like one of his French bats and having to field a lot of awkward questions (hint: is it starts with 'p' and rhymes with 'tenis spines')

Fig. 1: Surprisingly mobile on ground and can even 'run' with a hopping gait on all fours. Standing and walking on hind limbs, while not impossible, is awkward and slow.

Fig. 2: 'Venom' glands are just modified salivary glands that sit under the tongue. Will only release venom when squeezed by a special muscle. Young vampires do not start making venom until full physical maturity.

Fig. 3a: The Fantomă. Face is mostly bald with some very fine short, sparse hair on some of it. Very little sexual dysmorphism, males are slightly bigger than females.

Fig. 3b: Large, robust skulls with conical canines for grabbing struggling prey. Primarily flying insects, but will eat other prey. Hypercarnivore.

Fig. 4a: The Runda. They have some sexual dimorphism, males usually have shorter fur and a balder face, while the females are generally almost round in shape with longer fur.

Fig 4b: Extremely specialized sharp, cutting teeth allow it to open shallow wounds on giant insectoids' joints to feed on the hemolymph. They supplement this poor diet with consuming the other exoparasites they find on their host, as well as the fungus and lichen that grow there, Mesocarnivore

Fig. 5 Hanging by one foot while using the other and the wings to manipulate is the most comfortable position for working. Sitting is not impossible but isn't pleasant. In this example the subject is stripping long fibers from a woody species of mushroom in preparation for braiding into rope. Weighted nets to tangle game are the most common item made.

Fig 6 The first three digits are capable of manipulation, though not possessed of fine motor control. Usually, the hold the object being worked while the ‘feet’ do the fine work.

Fig. 7 the ‘feet’ are more or less the hands and are exceptionally dexterous.

Fig. 8 Unlike most animals whose ankles lock in place and point in one direction, vampires have swiveling ankle joints, allowing them to rotate 180°

[schnees-and-schnugs]

Omg this is reminding me of when totally-not-canon/seeker sent me an anon accusing me, a woman, of being an 'sexist MRA' because I dare point out that male antagonists like adam and ironwood are treated considerably with less kid gloves and care than female antagonists in so many aspects. He even included whitley in it for some reason? As if anything I criticize about how that subplot with weiss has at all to do with the fact that whitley is a boy rather than the fact that he is a 14 year old and weiss is an adult.

(and honestly don't get me started on the honestly embarrassing small spat I had with someone else over whether it would be 100% completely justified for weiss to ditch whitley to die in atlas, even going as far to compare weiss to may and say that if it's okay for may to not care about her abusive family during that time than weiss deserves the highest praise for lifting a finger and not abandoning whitley. Threw me for a LOOP I tell you).

It's like all they see is gender and nothing else can influence why something may be justified and some may not. And of course I think the writers have a similar viewpoint hence why realistic age dynamics are practically nonsensical in rwby. Your 19 year olds act like 14 year olds while your 14 year olds are expected to behave maturely and turn the other cheek when the adults around them Suck (talking about boys like Oscar and Whitley here).

Adult soldiers in training like FNKI are described "just kids" in an attempt to villainise ironwood for... The crime of trying to fight off the Grimm invading atlas and apparently not having the ability to see into the future and know that Oscar is going to blast the whale into smithereens with a power that the writers probably didn't even know he had until they forced themselves to sit down and write that godforsaken excuse for a climax.

Do you ever start discoursing with someone in this fandom over something and you start questioning your own basic moral compass like damn am I the crazy one here