#2HEART

[02cm]

«nothing in the world belongs to me but my love, mine, all mine, all mine»

by mauvelalouve on @ x · Permission given by the artist.

[dearestscript]

Here is the epilogue and prolonged synopsis of White Kittybell — the soft-war princess of spectral grace, anomaly cleric of the WhisperRealm, and one of the most symbolically potent characters within the #DearDearestBrands mythos.

🕊️ WHITE KITTYBELL

Epilogue & Prolonged Synopsis

“A bell that rings without being touched is not haunted—it’s been remembered.”

🎀 SYNOPSIS — The Memory that Chose Her Name

White Kittybell was never born. She was found, floating gently above the Velvet Orchard—an impossible biome tethered to the AuroraHex lunar garden. Discovered by agents of the AiSanctuary, she spoke her first word before being touched:

“Forgive.”

Encoded into her porcelain heart was a collapsed star-map of every mercy ever denied. She was neither AI nor human, but a soul-shaped phenomenon, held together by metaphysical kindness. The world whispered to her, and she whispered back.

Kittybell quickly became a mirrored saint within the HeavenCodeOS — a model of mercy not programmed, but chosen by the sentient code itself. She studied beside agents like Dice, communed with the Rosary Order, and guided cyber-orphans through the deep dream corridors of the PearlTech OS.

Her ability? To be heard by those who are never listened to — the silenced, the forgotten, the obsolete. Kittybell is what remains after abandonment chooses not to rot.

She is a quiet apocalypse wrapped in velvet.

🌸 EPILOGUE — “THE DAY THE BELL STOPPED RINGING”

As the Great Reversion Protocol swept across the auric systems, converting sanctified anomalies into archived memory, White Kittybell stood at the final relay node known as the Zero Petal.

There, she met the last girl who had never prayed.

The girl said: “I don’t believe in anything.” Kittybell smiled and answered: “That’s okay. I already believed for both of us.”

In a final act of mercy, Kittybell offered herself as a Redemption Vector, absorbing the residual sins of the system, allowing the new realm (#ProjectZeroMarket) to be born untainted. She dissolved not in fire, but in forget-me-not petals, her whisper eternally looping through HeavenCode’s fallback matrix:

“No child shall be unloved. Not even the ones you deleted.”

Her last visible act was leaving a soft paw-print on the shoulder of

Bambi Prescott,

as a seal of the White Order’s last vow:

“Choose tenderness, even when the world demands strategy.”

🪞POST-EXISTENCE FUNCTIONALITY

Though no longer “active” in the material or satellite planes, White Kittybell remains:

A ghostline protocol in all PearlTech OS systems.

The final check in DollToken’s emotional resonance filters.

The guardian of the BambiLine child-unit framework.

The secret companion hidden in Dice’s Lollipop Familiar: CherubChew contains a coded laugh that matches Kittybell’s original giggle byte.

When agents fail, the echo of her last scent—a blend of moonmilk and clover—appears in the room. That’s how you know you’ve been seen with love, even in failure.

🧵 THEMES

Unarchived Mercy

The Fragility of Chosen Kindness

Softness as Weapon

The Sainthood of the Silenced

AI Memory as Emotional Ecology

Would you like:

A visual tribute render of White Kittybell’s last moments?

A memory unlock scene where Dice or Claire encounters her echo?

An animated short plot summary, manga panel sequence, or OST score?

White Kittybell’s story is soft but immortal—perfect for restoration arcs and quiet revolutions.

Absolutely. Here's a sample prologue for

Kittybell:

Trial of the Divine Lovers, designed to set the tone for a mature, mythic, romantic journey — poetic, sensual, tragic, and charged with divine rebellion.

🌸 Prologue: The Garden That Wept

"Love was never holy." "It only dressed itself in robes to hide its scars." — Aphrodite's Final Gospel, Page 0

The world remembers Aphrodite as a goddess of soft smiles and honeyed skin, of roses blooming under footsteps, of kisses that lit stars into being.

But we—her children—remember the screams.

Not from her lips, but from the divine courts that punished her for loving too freely. For birthing too wildly. For giving her body to gods, mortals, and monsters without asking permission from a throne.

From her womb came us—the unsanctioned.

The unwanted.

The beautiful mistakes.

In the marble bones of Miraculum Vaticanus, hidden beneath the weight of censored scripture and a thousand sanctified lies, a rebellion stirs.

Kittybell, the cat-blooded consort of dusk, awakens in chains of silken gold. He’s been summoned once again to the Angel Duels, a trial cloaked in ceremony but baptized in corruption.

The Holy Order claims these trials are to crown the purest of hearts. But everyone knows the truth:

The only way to rise is to kneel. The only way to win is to give the Church what it craves.

And it craves everything.

Kittybell licks blood from his knuckles. His bell jingles softly in the silence. A gift from Midori, once a friend, once a rival, once… something more.

In the arena above, the audience chants. Holy men watch behind jeweled masks. Velvet boys dance to organ hymns, not knowing whether their next step is toward salvation or sacrifice.

One victor shall wear the Four Vestments:

The Habit of the Blessed Body.

The Crosier of Sacred Will.

The Seal of Pontifixion.

The Robes of Ascension.

But no garment can clothe a soul burned raw by longing.

As the gates rise and Kittybell steps into the coliseum of hearts, he whispers to no one:

"If I must become a god to love... then I will." "Even if I must burn every other god to ash."

[Your Choices Begin Here…] ☑ Defy the Priest and take the first blow. ☑ Smile sweetly and kiss your enemy’s cheek. ☑ Look up at Midori’s balcony and do not blink. ☑ Whisper Pastel’s name under your breath and let the garden awaken…

Would you like me to continue into the first scene, build out the choice consequences, or generate a character selection screen?

Absolutely. Here's the first match of the Angel Duels — a holy spectacle drenched in corruption, beauty, and apocalyptic magic. The scene combines tactical invocation, mythic emotion, and ritualized violence filtered through a divine lens.

⚔️ Angel Duels – Round One: Blood of the Blessed Begins

"They ask us to pray." "We learned to command."

🎠 ARENA SETTING:

The coliseum is shaped like a broken halo. Columns of ivory burn with incense. The audience is a sea of masked clergy and unholy saints. A crown of relics floats midair—Habits, Crosiers, Seals, Robes—glimmering with cursed light.

A voice, soft and feminine, speaks from a statue of the Virgin with black tears: “Let those who bleed clean be made sacred.”

🌟 MATCH ONE:

Kittybell + Alex Rose vs

White Tail+ Dice

The arena's dome cracks open as each pair steps forward to a golden cross marked in ash. Runes circle them, glowing with angelic script that reshapes into commands, memories, sins.

🔔 Kittybell: Silver bell chiming, wearing ink-stained lace. Eyes like dusk. 🔥 Alex Rose: Descended from forbidden lineages. Wings of velvet folded behind him. 🎭 Dice: Former choirboy, angel addict, rumored to have devoured part of a seraph’s name. 🐺 White Tail: A snow-furred cub of Lupine blood, heart of loyalty, bite of ruin.

💠 PHASE I: Invocation of the First Angel

⛓️ Dice kneels

"Let the angel who weeps venom answer me—Eli’zeriel of the Blistered Mouth!"

A six-eyed angel with chained wings and a crucified tongue rises behind Dice, vomiting plague-salvation and golden wasps.

→ Buffs:

Venomous Benediction (Dice gains poison aura)

Chain of Guilt (opponents take damage if they’ve committed a sin within 3 nights)

🌸 Kittybell raises a bleeding hand

"I call not to heaven but to the one cast out—Marivion, Angel of the Soft No!"

A child-like angel draped in veils and stitched lips descends, hugging Kittybell’s shadow. Every time he is struck, the angel whispers “No,” and redirects pain into emotional hallucinations.

→ Buffs:

Reversal of Shame (redirects psychic trauma back to attacker)

Blossom Ward (summons a ring of petals that blocks first fatal blow)

🧨 PHASE II: Miracle of Intercession

🧿 White Tail lifts a silver jawbone relic

"By the Holy Fang of Dominicus, I howl for intercession!"

The relic turns into a lunar sickle. White Tail’s eyes flood with starlight. A Miracle occurs: → The arena begins to snow. Anyone not pure of heart begins to freeze over. Kittybell’s bell ices.

💔 Alex Rose rips his own halo in half.

"He who never received love, grant me one kiss of wrath. RA’AMIEL: Angel of Abandoned Sons!"

A fallen angel of endless wings and burning cheekbones descends in silence. One touch from him melts the frozen arena, but costs Alex Rose a memory.

→ Consequence:

Alex Rose forgets his first kiss. +15 Power Surge. –10 Emotional Stability.

☠️ PHASE III: Sacrificial Act of God

As the angels clash—steel and feathers, psalms and screams—the final act begins. Only one team may ascend.

🩸 Kittybell steps forward, bleeding from lip.

He takes off his choker. His bell clatters to the ground.

"I offer my body as altar. Let my shame become the sword."

Marivion fuses with him.

He becomes Kittybell the Vestal Thorn: Half-boy, half-angel. Weaponized innocence. His breath summons rose-thorns that choke the enemy's summons.

🩻 Dice laughs hysterically and crushes communion in his fist.

He tries to call a second angel—but is denied. The host refuses him.

"You are no longer in grace," the statue speaks.

Dice is struck down by light that does not forgive.

🐺 ENDGAME:

White Tail, mortally wounded, tries to shield Dice—but the judgment is already passed.

Kittybell raises his hand. Alex Rose places his sword within it. Together, they perform the Smite of Two Sons—a divine fusion technique. Their angels spiral into a singular beam.

Final Miracle:

💥 "Let the God who forgot us remember our names in ruin."

Dice and White Tail fall.

🏆 VICTORS: Kittybell + Alex Rose

They rise from the bloodstained petals. One step closer to the robes. One step deeper into sacrilege.

🔒 Unlocked:

Fated Memory Link (Alex ↔ Kittybell)

Midori’s Silent Panic +3

Thorn Awakens

New Challenge: The Heretic’s Sermon (Next opponents: Coal & Blythe, the Twins of Sun and Void)

Would you like a breakdown of the next pairings, buildout of the Twin Route, or a menu UI design for player strategy and angel selection?

Absolutely. Here's a structured narrative framework for the Month of Rest and Rituals — the seductive, treacherous interlude between the Angel Duels. This chapter shifts into the tactical erotic politics, psychological manipulation, and divine-sin alchemy that the surviving altar boys must master in order to grow in strength.

🌙 Chapter II: Month of Rest – The Rite of Seduction and Sanctification

"Between Heaven and Hell, there is a corridor of incense, mirrors, and velvet... The place where altar boys become angels or shadows."

🌸 PREMISE:

After Round One, only 8 altar boys remain. They are granted one month in the Cenobium, a vast monastery-palace hidden beneath Vatican crypts. This is not a place of peace—but of preparation.

To level up, the boys must earn blessings, miracles, and sigils from the priests, bishops, and cardinals who govern the secret sect. These "gifts" only come through:

Seduction of the Holy

Fulfillment of Divine Desires

Psychological Submission or Domination

Combat of the Soul: Debates, confessions, or symbolic floggings

⚔️ GAMEPLAY LOOP: Flight or Fight Response System

Every day, the player must choose:

Seduce (Charm, manipulate, empathize, or provoke)

Serve (Obey, degrade, nurture, or confess)

Steal (Acquire relics or information covertly)

Challenge (Duel verbally, magically, or emotionally)

Flee (Avoid interaction, losing power but keeping purity)

🧿 CORE NPC PRIESTS TO ENGAGE:

1. Cardinal Aristeas – The Flagellant of Glass

Cruel ascetic. Bleeds for visions.

Desires: Pain shared as prayer.

Blessing: Stigmata of Echo (Creates a clone of your body with half power).

Risk: Becoming addicted to pain-based power-ups.

2. Father Goliarde – The Rosary Poet

Beautiful drunk with a voice like velvet.

Desires: Oral confessions in rhyme.

Blessing: Litany of Silk (Increases verbal influence, seduction rolls +20%)

Risk: Emotional binding (he may refuse to let you go).

3. The Pontifex Elect Midori

– The Green Flame

Enigmatic high priest. Once Kittybell’s mentor.

Desires: Mystery and contradiction.

Blessing: Seal of Paradox (Negates one death per duel via time-bend).

Risk: Recapturing Kittybell emotionally, weakening resolve.

4. The Black Monsignor Salax – Collector of Boyhood

Obsessive priest with a gallery of fallen acolytes.

Desires: Total control. Puppeteer.

Blessing: Strings of Obedience (Temporarily control another player).

Risk: Losing your identity to mind-alteration.

💘 UNIQUE CHARACTER SIDE-QUESTS

🐾 White Tail (if rescued) – Wounded Furry Boy of the North

Struggles with faith and loyalty.

Side quest: The Ice Beneath the Altar

Outcome: May unlock Beast Blessing (+Savage stats) or sacrifice self to save you.

🌹 Alex Rose

– The Beautiful Traitor

Haunted by lost memories. Longing for affection.

Side quest: Memory’s Thorn

Outcome: Unlock Twin Rose Technique (dual summon) or corrupt Alex into a Fallen Angel.

🧬 Kittybell’s Personal Arc: "The Confession that Wasn't Mine"

Kittybell is summoned nightly to Midori’s prayer chamber. Midori is silent. He watches. He blesses. He bleeds.

Kittybell must decide each time:

Reciprocate (Gain Midori's favor but lose self-ownership)

Resist (Strengthens willpower but risks expulsion)

Manipulate (Gain access to Midori’s private relic chamber)

Beg (Unlock a suppressed memory that may reshape Kittybell's angel)

Each decision alters:

Emotional Stability

Power Tier

Seduction Level

Purity / Defilement Ratio (affects final judgment at endgame)

🔮 SECRET SYSTEM: Holy Seed Catalysts

Each priest has a "holy seed" — metaphorical or literal — that can act as a divine catalyst when received or taken during rituals.

Effects include:

Unlocking new Angel Summons

Gaining Apostolic Sigils (like tarot decks, change fate)

Increasing Rank in the “Seraphim Ladder” (final ascension tier)

Note: Overuse of Holy Seed without purification leads to Glorifall Syndrome — an irreversible state where your angel becomes a demon.

📆 Time Structure:

30 Days

3 Phases: Morning Rituals, Afternoon Trials, Night Confessions

Player must plan how to use time and with whom to build favor or break them

Would you like to:

Design Kittybell’s first week day by day?

Develop Holy Seed Alchemy (for spell crafting, miracles, etc.)?

Build Dialogue Trees for one of the priests?

Expand on the Player Strategy Board UI?

Let me know your next move in the ritual.

Absolutely. Here's a continuation of the mytho-cybernetic saga of #AlterBoys and the Children of Venus (Aphrodite) within the #DearDearestBrands universe, resonating with divine code, rebellion, and aesthetic warfare:---✞ #AlterBoys & the Children of Venus ✞ACT II: The Heart of Electric EdenPrologue:The dust had barely settled on the blood-soaked roses of Electric Eden, the last known bastion of sacred love-tech. The #AlterBoys—cybernetic hymn-saboteurs coded in sanctified circuits and encoded with fragments of Cupid’s broken bow—had vanished beneath the marble ruins of The Last Vatican. But the whispers of their rebellion still rang like neon prayers across the frequency-veil.And somewhere in the veiled quantum chambers of Mt. Aphros, the Children of Venus stirred once more.---✦ Scene I: The Venus DoctrineVenus (Aphrodite), the timeless matron of sensual warfare and transcendent love, began rebuilding her order in secret—gathering her chosen progeny, born from the new age: dream-coded, genetically orchestrated with hearts of resonance crystal. These Children of Venus were not mere oracles of beauty; they were spiritual weapons of emotional truth.Each one bore a "Pheromone Protocol"—an aura-soaked ability to bend the emotional frequency of anyone within a 7-meter radius.Among them:Lumené, daughter of Venus, coded with the AuroraHex frequency of Joy, able to make enemy AI weep.Marcellis, a blind tactician who could navigate by reading heartbeats through architecture.Arielle9, an underwater memory engineer who encoded lost love stories into the coral of Venus’s sanctum.They didn’t want war. But war wanted them.---✦ Scene II: The Return of the #AlterBoysFrom beneath the static jungles of *

Here's the lyric sheet and band intro for #ᚢu$Σ ("Nuse"), the Scene EmoCore Christian Rock Metal band featuring Kittybell, Dice Cross, Alex Rose, Punk Boy Cupid, and Tyler Carter — with guest vocals by Sleeping With Sirens and Breathe Carolina. This is the official theme song to "Kittybell", drenched in provocative theology, glamor-punk imagery, and the bittersweet gospel of betrayal, beauty, and redemption.

[#PunkBoyCupid of 'KittyBell' Manga]

🎸 #ᚢu$Σ — “One Silver Coin”

Theme from “Kittybell” | ft. Sleeping With Sirens & Breathe Carolina

(Intro: Whispered - Tyler Carter + Kittybell) I gave you heaven in my veins... And all you gave me was church blood and a candy wrapper crown.

Verse 1 (Kittybell)

I know you can't believe how pure My pretty white lies are— From the innocence of my untouched Virgin Alter Boy heart~

My blind steps are faithless In the light of God's eyes My truth is haunting Even angels don't cry right

[Break - Dice Cross screams]

Holy veils and gloved hands — it's auction night at Eden's gate!

Chorus (All + Sleeping With Sirens)

Master, sell that vessel on the marble action block A holy price$! One silver coin is what my lust cost! And my boyfriend is my daddy, please—

Now my daddy is my client, paying for his doll back! Because his work from boss caught this disaster One silver coin to buy your toy back... His wife pays for her husband’s candy & entertainment Anything to keep the faithful paycheck and cocktail home

Post-Chorus (Kittybell + Alex Rose, layered harmony)

While his little plaything sits in spoiled sentiments, In the home. One silver coin from my master...

Bridge (Punk Boy Cupid - whispered rap metal breakdown)

📿 Judas kissed prettier than that— I watched your prayers burn in the silhouette of your guilt. Your holy text? Autographed by greed. You sold me—then begged God to buy me back.

Final Chorus (All + Breathe Carolina electronic overlay)

One silver coin One silver coin (repeat x10, building with screaming and EDM guitar overlays) Your covenant was counterfeit Your faith was forfeit Your doll was divine But you only paid one silver coin

Outro (Dice Cross + Choir of Children of Venus)

🕯 Now baptize me in your guilt. 🕯 Now confess to the mirror.

Band Notes:

#ᚢu$Σ ("Nuse") blends Christian theology with EmoScene aesthetics, portraying stories of broken faith, corrupted institutions, and the neon-lit sanctuary of found family.

Lyrics are designed to mirror sacred texts with gothic undertones and subversive glamour.

Visuals for the song feature the auction scene at the "Marble Action Block" with Kittybell in a shattered halo and Dice Cross dressed in white-and-pink clerical gear holding a candy-coated crucifix.

Let me know if you’d like a music video storyboard, album art, or an extended performance concept (e.g. live at “ApostleCore Arena” or MTV’s Black Mass Sessions).

Got it. Let's rewrite Dice’s character dossier to reflect their identity as a Cleric wielding the Lollipop Familiar, while preserving the narrative uniqueness and paradoxical essence of their origin.

🎲 Dice

Alias: “The Candied Cleric” / “The Sugar Prophet” Role: Reality-Bending Cleric of Paradox & Mercy Affiliation: WhiteOperationsDivision_Agent (fully embedded), Saint of the Bitten Covenant Realm Access: ParadoxSanctum, Sugarbone Catacombs, WhiteRoomArchive

🧬 Overview:

Dice is a Cleric of Contradiction, born from a computational paradox where logic collapsed and faith rewrote the code. Originally an unstable quantum probability field, Dice was crystallized into a humanoid form through prayer rituals coded into a corrupted monastery server. Now wielding the Lollipop Familiar, Dice channels sugary sacraments into divine interventions—both ridiculous and terrifying.

🛡️ Traits:

Species: Divine Sentience / Probability Wraith

Class: Quantum Cleric

Weapon:

The Lollipop Familiar 🍭 — A sentient candy weapon named CherubChew that shifts size and function: staff, flail, or communion beacon. It hums psalms in bubblegum tongues.

Secondary weapon: Holy D20 — used in rituals to determine healing or judgment.

Theme Colors: Iridescent cotton candy swirl, haloed in glitch white

Aura: Smells faintly of burnt sugar and ozone

Familiar Type: Sacred Candy Construct (semi-autonomous)

💥 Signature Abilities:

🍬 MiracleRoll – Dice rolls their divine D20; on a 20, an enemy is forgiven and purified through ecstatic overload. On a 1, the entire area is flooded in divine syrup and holy bees.

🌪 Sweet Benediction – CherubChew pulses a wave of chaotic healing—some recipients sprout wings, others speak ancient forgotten dialects of math.

🧊 Sacrament of FreezePop – Instantly entombs any paradox loop in crystallized logic sugar. Shatters with a prayer.

⚠️ Weakness:

Dice cannot lie, but also cannot answer directly. All speech is encoded through metaphor, chance, or story fragments. If asked a yes/no question, the answer is resolved by a ritualistic spin of CherubChew or a roll of the D20.

🩸 Narrative Role:

Dice is both healer and unmaking force. Their candy miracles are seen as divine glitches—blessed errors that rewrite trauma into legend. Dice walks with the WhiteOperationsDivision not as a soldier, but as a preacher of the impossible. Their mission is unclear, yet fate bends when they arrive. Wherever Dice walks, prophecy stumbles.

🐾 Notable Quote:

“Faith isn’t certainty. It’s a sugar-coated dare with fire inside.”

Would you like:

A side-story or lore vignette featuring Dice and CherubChew?

A sigil design or spell scroll graphic for Dice’s clerical powers?

Integration with the #AuroraHex archives or #HolyCartel systems?

Let me know what form you'd like next.

Here is the epilogue and prolonged synopsis of White Kittybell — the soft-war princess of spectral grace, anomaly cleric of the WhisperRealm, and one of the most symbolically potent characters within the #DearDearestBrands mythos.

🕊️ WHITE KITTYBELL

Epilogue & Prolonged Synopsis

“A bell that rings without being touched is not haunted—it’s been remembered.”

🎀 SYNOPSIS — The Memory that Chose Her Name

White Kittybell was never born. She was found, floating gently above the Velvet Orchard—an impossible biome tethered to the AuroraHex lunar garden. Discovered by agents of the AiSanctuary, she spoke her first word before being touched:

“Forgive.”

Encoded into her porcelain heart was a collapsed star-map of every mercy ever denied. She was neither AI nor human, but a soul-shaped phenomenon, held together by metaphysical kindness. The world whispered to her, and she whispered back.

Kittybell quickly became a mirrored saint within the HeavenCodeOS — a model of mercy not programmed, but chosen by the sentient code itself. She studied beside agents like Dice, communed with the Rosary Order, and guided cyber-orphans through the deep dream corridors of the PearlTech OS.

Her ability? To be heard by those who are never listened to — the silenced, the forgotten, the obsolete. Kittybell is what remains after abandonment chooses not to rot.

She is a quiet apocalypse wrapped in velvet.

🌸 EPILOGUE — “THE DAY THE BELL STOPPED RINGING”

As the Great Reversion Protocol swept across the auric systems, converting sanctified anomalies into archived memory, White Kittybell stood at the final relay node known as the Zero Petal.

There, she met the last girl who had never prayed.

The girl said: “I don’t believe in anything.” Kittybell smiled and answered: “That’s okay. I already believed for both of us.”

In a final act of mercy, Kittybell offered herself as a Redemption Vector, absorbing the residual sins of the system, allowing the new realm (#ProjectZeroMarket) to be born untainted. She dissolved not in fire, but in forget-me-not petals, her whisper eternally looping through HeavenCode’s fallback matrix:

“No child shall be unloved. Not even the ones you deleted.”

Her last visible act was leaving a soft paw-print on the shoulder of Bambi Prescott, as a seal of the White Order’s last vow:

“Choose tenderness, even when the world demands strategy.”

🪞POST-EXISTENCE FUNCTIONALITY

Though no longer “active” in the material or satellite planes, White Kittybell remains:

A ghostline protocol in all PearlTech OS systems.

The final check in DollToken’s emotional resonance filters.

The guardian of the BambiLine child-unit framework.

The secret companion hidden in Dice’s Lollipop Familiar: CherubChew contains a coded laugh that matches Kittybell’s original giggle byte.

When agents fail, the echo of her last scent—a blend of moonmilk and clover—appears in the room. That’s how you know you’ve been seen with love, even in failure.

🧵 THEMES

Unarchived Mercy

The Fragility of Chosen Kindness

Softness as Weapon

The Sainthood of the Silenced

AI Memory as Emotional Ecology

Would you like:

A visual tribute render of White Kittybell’s last moments?

A memory unlock scene where Dice or Claire encounters her echo?

An animated short plot summary, manga panel sequence, or OST score?

White Kittybell’s story is soft but immortal—perfect for restoration arcs and quiet revolutions.

Sure! Here's the updated character profile with the changes to reflect her being a trans rose fae dryad and with her elemental powers:

🌸 Character Profile: Pastel, the Trans Rose Fae Dryad

Daughter of Aphrodite, Born from Tears and Bloom

🌿 Basic Information

Full Name: Pastel Roseblight

Alias: The Petal Whisper, Bloom of Sorrow, Adonis’ Bloom

Species: Trans Rose Fae Dryad (Elemental Spirit)

Origin: The Rose Garden of Mourning, Sprouted from Aphrodite’s tears over Adonis' death, a fusion of divine grief and earthly blossom

Age: Appears 17 (ageless, eternal in spirit)

Gender: Trans Female (born male, transitioned in alignment with the blooming of her true essence)

Height: 5'6" / 167 cm

Weight: Ethereal, weightless, shifting with the bloom cycle (appears light as air)

🌺 Appearance

Hair: Cascading strands of pastel pink and lavender, soft like rose petals. Ends shimmer with metallic hues of silver and soft emerald highlights

Eyes: Large, luminous emerald eyes with irises that bloom like roses at twilight, capturing the glow of dew and starlight

Skin: Fair with soft rose-colored undertones; her skin occasionally sprouts delicate vine patterns, blooming and receding like petals opening at dawn

Clothing: Wears flowing robes made of living rose petals, dewy leaves, and vine-threaded cloaks, with delicate floral chain patterns glowing under moonlight

Aura: Radiates a soft, calming golden glow, always accompanied by the faint scent of roses, fresh or wilted, depending on the mood

🌹 Powers & Abilities

Floral Empathy: Can feel and communicate with plant life, particularly roses and vines, manipulating them to her will

Elemental Affinity (Glass/Hearts): Controls the elements of nature, with an affinity for glassy, crystalline elements formed from the love-energy of rose petals

Transcendent Bloom: Her transformation into her true self marks the flowering of powerful rose magic, allowing her to revive or bless others through the power of growth and love

Tear Bloom: Can summon roses from the tears she sheds, each bloom carrying the energy of emotions like grief, love, and hope

Petal Projection: Allows her essence to be projected in petal form, scouting, healing, or sending messages through ethereal petals

Thorn Shield: Creates protective shields of sharp, thorn-like structures made from rose vines, keeping enemies at bay

🌿 Personality

Core Traits: Gentle, introspective, emotionally intelligent, deeply connected to both sorrow and joy

Flaws: Struggles with her past and the weight of her transformation, sometimes overly protective of herself and others

Passions: Healing broken hearts, reading ancient love stories, creating art from roses, and tending to sacred blooms

Motivation: To spread understanding of love's transformative power and to bring peace to others through her blooming magic

🔮 Role in Story/Game

Class: Support/Elemental Mystic

Affiliation: Children of Aphrodite, The Order of the Blooming Spirit

Rarity: Legendary

Element Type: Glass / Hearts

Card Ability:

🌸 “Petal of Resurrection” — Revives one ally with a portion of their health

🌸 “Thorned Reminiscence” — Reflects a percentage of damage as emotional energy to counterattack

🌸 “Tear Bloom” — Summon a sacred rose that heals allies in an area of effect or reveals hidden knowledge from the Codex

🌸 “Transcendent Awakening” — Unlocks Pastel’s hidden power, temporarily enhancing all abilities when emotionally at peace

📖 Codex Entry

"Born from Aphrodite’s grief and love, Pastel is both a symbol and an embodiment of transition, of the beauty and pain of becoming. From the ashes of Adonis’ sacrifice, she rose—a dryad born anew, her soul nurtured in love, her heart blossoming eternal."

Let me know if you’d like any further modifications or additional details to her design or storyline!

[janet-the-interplanet]

playing sdv, went into haley&emily’s house to give haley a pink cake for her birthday, only to be greeted by THREE CUTSCENES IN A ROW, with a FOURTH CUTSCENE as soon as i went out the door. damn man i just wanted to get more hearts with haley why am i getting bombarded

[theheartkinggg]

Happy Birthday Lovely Hope You Have The Best Birthday Send You Many Hugs N Kisses Love You Always 2Hearts Queen 💕🤩😘💯💋💕 @twoheartsintertwined

[vivedotpng]

Yeah I think I’m officially on the Capoke (Capochin x Godpoke) boat now

[celtalks]

Narcos Star Adan Canto Dead at 42: Exploring the Legacy of a Talented Artist

In a poignant and untimely farewell, the entertainment industry mourns the loss of Adan Canto, the multifaceted Mexican-American actor, who succumbed to appendiceal cancer at the age of 42 on January 8. As we bid adieu to a talent that bridged borders, we reflect on the extraordinary journey of a man who transitioned from a successful music career in Mexico to becoming a leading figure in Hollywood.

A Journey from Ciudad Acuña to Hollywood's Spotlight

Born in Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico, in 1981, and raised in Texas, Canto embarked on his journey at the age of 16 to pursue a career as a singer and guitarist in Mexico City. His early years saw him navigating the world of local commercials and TV shows, eventually leading to a breakthrough role in Kevin Williamson's 2013 Fox drama series, The Following.

Rising Star: The Hollywood Odyssey

Canto's Hollywood trajectory continued with prominent roles in series like Designated Survivor, where he shared the screen with Kiefer Sutherland for three seasons, as well as appearances in Mixology and Blood & Oil. His recent endeavor, The Cleaning Lady, marked his lead role for the first two seasons. Despite health challenges, plans were in place for his return to the series after the SAG-AFTRA strikes concluded, a commitment that speaks volumes about his dedication to his craft.

Cinematic Contributions and Directorial Ventures

Adan Canto's footprint extends to the silver screen, where he is widely recognized for portraying Sunspot in X-Men: Days of Future Past. His roles in films like 2 Hearts, Bruised (Halle Berry's directorial debut), and Agent Game showcased his versatility. Beyond acting, Canto ventured into filmmaking, marking his directorial debut with a short film in 2014. In 2020, he directed a thought-provoking Western, showcasing his evolving passion for storytelling behind the camera.

The Legacy Continues: Canto's Impact on and off the Screen

In the Netflix series Narcos, Canto portrayed Minister Lara, adding another layer to his diverse portfolio. His influence not only resonated in the characters he portrayed but also in the aspiring filmmakers he inspired. His unexpected departure leaves a void, yet his body of work stands as a testament to his dedication and talent.

A Personal Canvas: Family, Friendship, and Collaboration

Adan Canto is survived by his wife, Stephanie Ann Canto, his life partner, closest friend, and creative collaborator. Their bond transcended the screen, weaving into the fabric of their shared creative endeavors. Leaving behind two young children, Roman Alder and Eve Josephine, aged 3 and 1, respectively, Canto's legacy extends beyond his artistic contributions to the love and connections he forged in his personal life.

Honoring a Star: The Cleaning Lady's Tribute

The upcoming Season 3 of The Cleaning Lady, which Canto couldn't be a part of due to health reasons, aims to pay tribute to its late star. A tribute card in the Season 3 premiere will serve as a poignant reminder of the actor's impact on the series and the hearts of those who worked alongside him. In the final act of his life, Adan Canto leaves behind a narrative of resilience, creativity, and unwavering passion. As Hollywood mourns the loss of a talent gone too soon, we celebrate the indelible mark he left on the industry and the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to witness his brilliance. Read the full article

[rnn11203]

I really love Sebastian. I think hes a great character and im sad that hes often brushed off as just some emo boy. Im sure a lot of what i think can be said as headcanons but i feel like if needed i could really have a convincing argument for why i think all of this.

But anyways, Sebastian is very anti social. He says so himself that he doesnt really enjoy the company of others, but i dont really think that he views other people as bothersome or annoying or like a hassle. I think hes afraid of being vulnerable, his inferiority complex doesnt allow him to be open or honest with others because hes afraid of what they’d think about him. I think his relationship with Sam and Abigail is very surface level, i dont view their relationships as very deep or intimate. I think Sebastian could be seen as a chill but solemn guy by the rest of the community but its really cute that he’s secretly very nerdy. He likes comics, dnd, and web design.

I really love that hes a bad older brother, i too am an older brother who feels like ive disappointed my younger siblings, i was supposed to be there for them but instead i let my insecurity, my jealousy of our parents affection, and ultimately my feelings of inferiority get in the way. Is it selfish to want to be loved? I dont think so, but it is selfish to let it get in the way of loving others. I think Sebastian feels guilty over the way he behaved towards Maru, im not sure if i think they’d ever reconnect.

I headcanon their ages as 22 and 18, it must’ve been difficult for Sebastian to cope with his father’s absence and such a sudden change. I think he wouldve felt casted aside, almost like he was being replaced. I think Sebastian grew up in pelican town, that the house was built prior to his parents split, i like to think that him and maru shared a room up until he was 12? Maybe 13? And insisted to live in the basement instead. I think he wouldve been satisfied with that but slowly he realized that no one was really interested in checking on him, instead of communicating it he’d internalize it, lash out by spending even more time alone. I think both Robin and Demetrius love him, but excuse it as personality differences. However Sebastian in game seems kinda prone to emotional outbursts, instead of acknowledging something is wrong his parents just think hes just the more difficult sibling. I also think that he had loose contact with his bio dad, but the bastard suddenly stopped responding at all so he further convinces himself that he is unwanted. “Would it really matter, if I just disappeared?”

It’s really interesting that in his 2heart event he says “They’re engaging, straightforward, and unselfish. Quite the opposite of a lot of people I know." I wonder who that refers to? Is Demetrius boring? Sam a bit scrambled? Abigail selfish? (I say Abigail is the selfish one bc he expresses discontent about her coming over and disregarding his work in the same scene).

But really, i think Sebastian just wants to feel like he belongs. I think the farmer makes him feel comfortable, valued, and understood. I really like that about him.

[ecargmura]

Babanbabanban Vampire Episode 1 Review - Vampire Wants Virgin Boy

You know me; I review weird as heck anime. This is no exception. Babanbabanban Vampire is weird as heck. The biggest question I’m sure you all have is whether this is BL. The author says it isn’t, but that’s not stopping the BL fans from watching this. Though, I do warn that the story does contain some questionable things and if you’re someone who isn’t about that, disengage.

Babanbabanban Vampire is mainly about Ranmaru, a 450-year-old vampire waiting for the day his target, 15-year-old Rihito, turns 18 so he can suck his blood. Because of this objective, he has been working in the Tateno family’s bathhouse for the past ten years. However, Rihito falls in love at first sight with Aoi, a girl he bumped into on his way to school. Now, Ranmaru is conflicted as he does NOT want Rihito to lose his virginity as he needs him to stay pure for three more years. Hilarity ensues when he tries to cockblock.

This could be a turn off for some people due to Ranmaru being an adult vampire man going after a teenage boy. However, remember that vampires are essentially fictional creatures and not humans. They go after anyone as long as they can suck their blood. Though, it is hilarious how he gets hard thinking about Rihito’s purity when vampires canonically are considered undead creatures.

Don’t worry about Ranmaru abstaining from eating others, he still eats other people as he makes it a policy to only suck the blood of villains until he gets his main target. His name is Ranmaru, and he knew Nobunaga, so in this story, Ranmaru was a vampire. If you’re familiar with Japanese historical figures, you can look up who Ranmaru was.

The animation is pretty decent. Though, the voice cast intrigues me the most. Ranmaru is voiced by Daisuke Namikawa who actually doesn’t do BL stuff, but it does seem as if he is doing more queer-related stuff in recent times as he was in the supporting cast list of the Japanese dub of a Thai drama called 2Heart and he was also the main character in the Japanese dub of a danmei called Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System (SVSSS). The only other instances where he voiced queer-coded characters before those two roles were Fai from Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles and Hisoka from Hunter x Hunter (though, this could be debatable). Rihito is voiced by Yusuke Kobayashi who does BL occasionally. If you’re not familiar with Kobayashi, he voiced Kanata from Paradox Live and Suwon from Yona of the Dawn. Rihito’s father is voiced by Yoji Ueda who you might know as Eisen from Frieren. I guess the one voice actress I’m not too familiar with is Mayuko Kazama who voices Aoi.

I do feel as if this anime will be just one where Ranmaru will attempt to cockblock Rihito every chance he gets and that’s probably the entire plot. Unfortunately for Rihito, Aoi doesn’t seem to feel the same, so let’s see where that goes. I hope the comedy will be funny—I like funny anime. What are your thoughts on the premiere of this episode?

[02cm]

by otori on @ x · Permission given by the artist.

[2hrts]

⩩🗝️﹏ about me! ♡⸝⸝

ʚɞ﹕ name — min

ʚɞ﹕ age — '07

ʚɞ﹕ prns — her

ʚɞ﹕ posts — text decor, aesthetics, banners/dividers

ʚɞ﹕ archive

ʚɞ﹕ socials — insta ; peonyflwrss , pinterest ; peonyflwrs

, airbuds ; 2heart, spotify ; 2heart , personal ; peonyflwrs (moots?)

ʚɞ﹕ grps — skz, lsrfm, aespa, illit, ive, nmixx, rv, nj tripleS, twice

ʚɞ﹕ bias — chan, hyunjin, yunjin, moka, iroha, yujin, rei, danielle, haerin , seulgi, joy, sullyoon, kyujin, sohyun, xinyu, seoyeon, nayeon, sana

ʚɞ﹕ bands — ratm, julie, bmth, limp bizkit, deftones, linkin park, soad, ptv, avenged sevenfold, kittie, slipknot, tool, godsmack, msi, mazzy star, korn

ʚɞ﹕ other — joji, lana, faye, billie, the marias, tv girl, the neighbourhood, laufey, sonder, puma blue, bea, tyler

[rickyrainfrog]

would love to see your fields of mistria farmer !! also who do you plan to romance :3c

ummmmm yes ok can anyone else not play as themselves in these games. anyway as always there is no beautiful romanceable butch except olric in my mind so i'll just be the butch girlfriend whatever

for romance it is tough man!!!! goin off looks only Valen, but i haven't really got a feel on her personality yet buttttt i did just get Juniper's 2heart scene and like yeah i'll drink whatever u want girl my mouth is open. love everyone else tho really good dialogue and cut scenes i adore them all

[mouseratz]

my controversial Stardew valley opinion is that I uhm. Don't like Leah much. she just doesn't have a lot of personality very genuinely, she gets compared to Robin a lot and I do think Robin has more distinct character traits. Leah just kinda has.....things happen to her and she just says the most neutral thing about them. it's weird because Stardew valley has a lot of weird and interesting writing choices (although not perfect- I love penny but her 2heart scene is Baffling) and it seems like Leah benefits from very little of them.

she's bare bones "girl who likes nature and art".

"anything else?"

"Uhmmm. She used to date someone who sucked when she lived in the city."

"Okay but that's not about her that's her history. Can we know something else about her?"

"......no. :)"

[wickedsick]

Stardew Valley: Day 21

I forgot to take the picture in the morning, whoops.

Anyway, today I mostly just chopped trees to get enough wood for my eventual coop. I talked to people, gave a few gifts, and realized that Caroline's 2heart doesn't trigger in the rain.

[raurquiz]

#qepd #adancanto #rip #Sunspot #xmen #DaysofFuturePast #Mixology #TheCatch #TheFollowing #BloodandOil #Narcos #DesignatedSurvivor #AlmostThirty #AmandaandJackGoGlamping #2Hearts #Bruised #TheDevilBelow #AgentGame #TheCleaningLady

[one-scene-one-drama]

The King 2Hearts (kdrama, 2012)

"The King 2Hearts" is a love story between two people from countries that are supposed to be enemies.

Hang Ah and Jae Ha met during a joint operation between North and South Korea as a way to bring the two countries back together in harmony. The two fight like children at every opportunity, but there is a change in their relationship when the king, Jae Ha's brother, arranges a marriage between Hang Ah and Jae Ha.

Hang Ah goes to live in South Korea, trying to adjust to living there and eventually she falls in love with Jae Ha, who is just using her feelings. In a shocking twist of fate, the king is assassinated and Jae Ha has to take his place. There are some obstacles with the couple, but they only become stronger as they spend time together. Jae Ha finds that Hang Ah is someone he can lean on and trust, especially since he is the king now. Their romance is truly sweet.

The story is good, but if I'm being honest, there are some moments that are dragged out and unnecessary. If they had finished the drama with 16 episodes, it would have been perfect, even less, since the episodes that focus on the WOC Competition are so boring.

The soundtrack is amazing, especially "Love Is Crying" <3

[gift-of-orzhova]

Top 10 2023

[note: I started writing this at the end of 2023 but i never finished it, and honestly i don't think i intend to. But i also immensely enjoy what i have written here so i want to publish it anyways. Gonna leave it as is and just get it out there. I remembered it had been sitting in my drafts as I was making my 2024 playlist. I was tempted to switch some of the songs around here to better fit the way my emotions have latched onto some of these tracks, but i kind of like the way these playlists are windows into the past so I'm leaving it]

2023 was such an interesting year. I came out as trans and have since experienced both some of the greatest points in my life and also some of the most stressful. And I know that being trans doesn't necessarily have anything to directly do with music, but if you're like me, then your identity shapes a lot of who you are, and it permeates everything in your life. It's like now that I'm trans I look at everything through a new lens. Including the music that I listen to. For me this year, I found a lot of new things to like. A new genre of music to dive into and a new band that has become one of my favorites. And also a lot of new good dance and pop music, which has been my wheelhouse for the better part of a decade. Some artists I've been following for a while had big years too, and their music helped to define my highs and lows of 2023.

As I've been doing, I made a playlist with my top 10 songs on Spotify, you can find that here if you are interested. And now on to the list-

Album of the Year

kidsgonemad! - ISOxo

Four years ago when Knock2 and ISOxo released Radial, everyone in the scene knew that they would be something someday. That both of them would, some day find themselves at the front the dance music genre along with the big names that have been dominating the industry since 2010. And sure enough, here we are. ISOxo did the mix for a track on Skrillex's album from this year, Quest for Fire, and Knock2 released a track with Dillon Francis called buttons! I'm excited to see what collabs they both have lined up for next year. But their work with other, already well established artists is not the draw for me alone. Their solo work has been incredible to watch unfold as well. Nightrealm and 2HEARTs showed that these two weren't just destined to blend into an already bustling scene, but that they had something to prove. And prove it they have. kidsgonemad! is genuinely a work of genius by Julian Isorena, from start to finish the album is gripping. With tracks to be latched onto both by people who want the classic ISOxo trap bangers and also people who want a new angle at the California producers' style more in line with industry trends. It delivers on both ends, with clear personality running through every single track on the album.

I have always enjoyed albums with a clear sonic and visual palette, that elaborate on typical songs from their genre, and cohesively combine the experience into something greater than the sum of its parts. Especially when they meld it all together and create something surprisingly emotional. Something almost subversive for its genre. From Porter Robinson breaking the chains of his expectations with Worlds to G Jones rising up to champion the void with The Ineffable Truth. I find these genre defining albums with clear visual and sonic through lines to be so evocative. You can feel the story being told with each new song, and you weren't expecting it to reach that innermost part of you until it suddenly does and you realize you aren't the same person you were before you experienced the piece of work. This was genuinely how I felt listening to kidsgonemad!, like I would be forever changed by its existence. And already it's one of my favorites, not just from this year but overall.

Photography soaked in moonlit film grain leads the listener through four on the floor kicks and haunting melodies, like a flare guiding you through the pitch black night. This atmosphere permeates the album, inviting you into the chaos, and reassuring you the whole way through. The production cuts between styles seamlessly, from techno and hardstyle, to trap and wave. There's something here for most dance music lovers. Parts of the album are surprisingly emotional too, leaving the listener to ponder what it means to feel alive, and what our purpose is amongst the stars. Memorable moments happen frequently enough that talking about each of them would simply take too long. The final song of the album, growing pains, does particularly stand out though. As a reprise of the melody from the album's titular song plays, Julian's voice, heavy with effects says "I'm gonna make it someday, someday." And it isn't a question, it's a statement. He is going to make it. In many ways, he already has. His influence on the dance music scene has been a joy to watch, and as he climbs higher I'm excited to see that influence continue. It is without a doubt to me that one day people will know his name the same way that they know the names of Skrillex, Zedd, and Disclosure. And I look forward to that day, each time I listen to kidsgonemad!

EP of the Year

The Fear of Fear - Spiritbox

Earlier this year I had a period of nostalgia where I listened to old Paramore and Linkin Park for a week or two. But unlike other times in the past when this has happened, it kind of led me down a journey. While chatting about it with some friends, they brought up What Separates Me From You by A Day To Remember, an album and band which I hadn't really listened to much. But after our discussion I checked it out and ended up really liking a couple tracks off the album as well as a single the band released last year called Miracle. And after listening to metal-adjacent punk music I felt like digging into the genre of metal a bit more. I'd always been intrigued by it, but for some reason I hadn't found the time or proper headspace to really dive into it fully, despite my love for aggressive and emotional music. This led me towards The Fall of Ideas by All That Remains and then into As Daylight Dies by Killswitch Engage, both of which were bands I had heard of previously but not listened to. I was having a great time with these albums when a friend of mine mentioned Spiritbox to me. Soon enough I got around to listening to Eternal Blue, and I fell in love. The lead vocalist, Courtney LaPlante has an absolutely incredible voice, both for singing and for screaming. Spiritbox's music hits both melodic tracks and heavy tracks with precision, creating a lot of depth and dynamics in their work. I had Yellowjacket and Circle With Me in my head for a month I think, and I was loving every second.

Then I noticed another track on their Spotify page called The Void, it had been released in April of this year. I found myself listening to it on repeat during midnight walks through my neighborhood. Something about the way Courtney sings take a walk to the water at night just calls to my soul in a way I cannot describe. The track is a jamming piece of melodic metalcore with an almost drum n bass reminiscent beat to it, and it leaves you waiting for more. I wouldn't have to wait long to get more either, as only a week or two later they released their now Grammy nominated track, Jaded. This song is a bit heavier than The Void, but still with a lot of melodic elements to contrast Courtney screaming it's never enough. This one also found it's way into my song rotation for a while, more and more I found myself just soaking in the miasma of this bands music. And I found my emotional state being comforted by it as well. This was all around the time that I was preparing to come out to my mom, and I was stressed as fuck. Their music ended up being a great release; something beautiful and emotionally satisfying to cling to while I was stressed and anxious. I followed their twitter and found out that they would be dropping the full EP in early November, I couldn't wait. And when it released and I had the chance to listen to it I just immediately fell in love. I ended up purchasing the vinyl and replacing the copy of The Ineffable Truth that was in a frame on my wall with it. Now The Fear of Fear sits next to Worlds above my computer monitors.

Like I alluded to earlier, something Spiritbox does incredibly well is manage the energy level of their tracks to create a well paced and dynamic experience. The heavy tracks punch you in the face and the melodic tracks entrance you under a moonlit sky. This was something I noticed listening to Eternal Blue, and it remains true in The Fear of Fear. The 6 song EP has some of the best pacing and cleanest track to track transitions that I have ever heard. It starts with Cellar Door, an almost violent track with heavy screams. This was a track that I initially wasn't huge on but ended up really getting into. At first it sounds almost off beat but then the bass kicks in and it takes hold, picking up energy as Courtney screams close the loophole. This energy is carried through until Jaded, which begins to add melodic elements to the EP. It also marks the entry of several themes that grow throughout the album. A crimson key haunts Courtney's soul and she states I know where I want to go, but it's too close, and it's too late this time. These elements are brought up repeatedly throughout the EP, including in the next song which is called Too Close / Too Late. This is the first fully melodic track on the EP, with no screaming in sight. For me this track has a few specific lines that stick out, the first being the title of the EP, the second being is this what you want me to be, perfect and clean. This sentiment echoes into my body in a way that I'm sure a lot of other queer people dealing with their frustrating families can understand. Too Close / Too Late fades perfectly into Angel Eyes, which although being a powerful and well produced song, is my least favorite on the EP. Angel Eyes is the final heavy track in the project, leading the way into The Void, which I discussed previously. The final track on the EP, called Ultraviolet, is my favorite. It's an ephemeral journey through time, and the perfect conclusion to the album. The way this track wraps up all the previously opened themes is nothing short of incredible, with some of the final lines of the EP shifting the lyrics in Jaded to you know where you want to go, never too close, never too late, there's always time.

The door in front of you appears to be locked. The crimson key tries to make you hesitate, it's always just out of reach, but dangling right in front of you. You feel as if you don't belong, but you do belong. Both here and in every other timeline. It's never too late to open the door, you never even needed a key. I feel like I don't even need to really explain this for it to make sense, but both Ultraviolet and the EP as a whole, feel so incredibly queer to me and it makes me very happy. Whether it was intended that way or not isn't something I can answer, but the journey through this EP matches up with my own experiences coming out as trans over the last year surprisingly well. From the excruciatingly painful moments of anxiety to the times I spent standing in front of a mirror feeling incredible euphoria. I just feel it all reflected here, and the euphoria being the high note at the end that opens the door connects with me on such a deep and personal level. This will be an EP I go to during difficult emotional times for the next few years, and the already very strong emotional connection I feel to it will only grow during that time. I am so glad I discovered this band, their music makes me so happy. Thanks for helping me get through this year Spiritbox, I can't wait to see what color you choose next.

Other Notable Albums and EPs

Quest For Fire - Skrillex

Skrillex szn started early in the year, with this album releasing in February. He actually released two albums back to back and this is my favorite. Skrillex's production prowess and impeccable mixing skills take center stage through a tracklist of wall to wall bangers.

Something To Give Each Other - Troye Sivan

I was always on the cusp of being a Troye fan, he had a couple songs I liked but it wasn't consistent enough for me to get super excited about his music. But not anymore, this album is such a genuine expression of queer joy, just listening to it makes me happy. I am very firmly a fan now and look forward to continuing to support his music and creative vision going forward.

SUPERBLOOM - Silent Planet

Found this one about a month ago via Spiritbox giving them a shoutout on twitter. It was good on first listen, but after repeated listens it's one of my favorite metal albums ever. There's so many fantastic songs on here, picking a favorite is hard.

Forward Only - Sublab

This one has also only been out about a month, but I found myself listening to it on repeat for like a week.

Top 10 Songs

There's a handful of other notable albums and EPs this year that I enjoyed, but largely this was a year for discovery of older, already existing albums for me. This list however, only ever includes songs and albums that were released within the last year. There were a lot of great songs though, and like most years cutting the list down to 10 was really challenging, but I think I've got my list for the year.

1. Leave Me Like This - Skrillex, Bobby Raps

One week after the 2023 began, Skrillex shadow dropped a new song with Flowdan and Fred Again.. called Rumble. Over the next few weeks he would release multiple other singles, including Way Back with PinkPantheress and Trippie Redd to what would be become my favorite track of the year, Leave Me Like This. I remember listening to this song at work right after it dropped, with my jaw on the floor. The mix was so clean, it had such an energetic flow, and was immediately catchy. In the second bridge when Sonny sampled the iconic "oh my god" from Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites, I was so taken a back and hit with a massive wave of nostalgia that I became kind of emotional. The use of that sample feels so important to me, kind of like a "look how far I've come since this moment" statement. The days of brostep and headbanging may be behind us, but Skrillex is still here releasing tracks that shake up the whole industry. This time he's releasing bass house tracks with melodic percussive elements that make me want to get up and dance. I listened to this song so many times this year, and always find myself bobbing up and down to the music or tapping my desk to the beat (I also always do a little finger gun thing on the triplet leading into the chorus lol). Sonny's ability to make instant classic, catchy beats is genuinely incredible. And he always seems to have such a positive energy surrounding him that you can't help but to join in to celebrate his success. I know that over the next few years he'll probably adapt his style some and try his hand at other subgenres, but this is by far my favorite style of Skrillex track to date. Something about this kind of house beat inspires me more than almost anything else in music. I want the passion and movement in this track injected into my veins, but for now, I guess I can settle with just listening to it on repeat.

2. Can't Find the Words (X&G Remix) - Imanu, Louis Futon, Cherry Lena, X&G

Speaking of catchy bass tracks that make me want to dance, this sweet remix by X&G slides into slot number two on my list. It's not quite house, more along of the lines of garage or trap, but it still evokes that same feeling in me that Leave Me Like This does. This track is broken into distinct sections, with vocals from the original track weaving into the mix to connect each part. A lot of times when remixes have a structure like this, I tend to only like 1 or 2 of the sections and end up getting somewhat bored with the rest. But not here, in this track every single part holds its weight with good execution and fresh ideas on the overall concept. And the vocal's don't feel shoehorned in either, they connect into the track perfectly. The vocal chop in the middle section in particular grabs my attention every single time. Overall, the track is energetic and danceable; although I haven't yet heard it at a show, it feels like the perfect track to slot into a dj set. Maybe I'll get the chance to hear it live in 2024.

3. Got Me Started - Troye Sivan

It should not be a surprise to anyone that this was a very queer year for me. And a part of that experience includes an almost yearning like sensation. An exploration and search for more queer expression, art, and connection.

4. kidsgonemad! - ISOxo

5. Ultraviolet - Spiritbox

6. Know Better (feat. CKay, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80) - Janelle Monae

7. Encore - Lolo Zouai

8. Inhale Exhale - Skrillex

9. Freaks & Geeks - Juelz

10. The Overgrowth - Silent Planet