#As stated I think mine has to be Grendel

[retphienix]

This thought actually brings up a potentially fun question.

Who's your favorite warframe that you don't actually "love" playing?

(You are allowed to "like" playing them, but we're talking one of those "10/10 frame but I don't play them much because..." frames)

[technicolortheshow]

BOHREN & DER CLUB OF GORE

My Bloody Quarantine part 1

The last six months have been pretty shit, hey? It looks like there is no future anymore... global warming, COVID-19, Australia on fire, wars... shall I go on?

ANYWAY, we are not here to talk about a stupid government led by a buffoon with a mop in his head (ops!) but to praise one of the bands who kept me company during this bloody quarantine of mine: BOHREN & DER CLUB OF GORE. This German act, in fact, hung out with me during the several nights of insomnia, which, trust me, were devastating, loooooong and cold. Cigarettes after cigarettes, wine after wine, I thoroughly enjoyed the discography of the quartet and I thought it was time to write something about them.

Because of the slow-moving and nocturnal nature of their music, a doom jazz plenty of end-of-the-world ballads, or, in their words "unholy ambient mixture of slow jazz ballads, Black Sabbath doom and down-tuned Autopsy sounds", I happily matched their records to these apocalyptic months. Just like a dark noir by Leo Malet, or a Terry Gilliam dystopian movie, Bohren & Der Club of Gore managed to convey, over the last 25 years, a deep sense of ethical abandonment and claustrophobic imprisonment. There is no future in the music of the German band, no escape from reality, which is doomed and looped into an endless limbo. A not long time ago - which now seems AGES ago, to be honest - I went to the White Cube for the latest Kiefer’s exhibition. I believe that the combination of BCG music and Kiefer’s artworks pretty well. 

Over the last months, while listening to them, between a Medoc and a Nebbiolo, I was picturing the band in a smoky “bar at the end of the world”, channelling some kind of Tom Hillenbrant’s dystopian political setting or a Lynde Mallison’s grey cold painting. The best description, though, comes from the band website: “Dear friends of nighttime drives, remote bridges to nowhere and empty multi-storey car parks”. Club Silencio state of mind, indeed.

The ensemble has constantly been releasing high-quality records since 1994, with the first doom jazz album called MOTEL GORE - albeit the first release was a 1992 cassette filled with post-hardcore noise published under the name of Langspielkassette. MOTEL GORE is, as someone brilliantly described it “audio pointillism”. I think this similitude is accurate: the band did draw tiny dots of obscure, eerie, music on canvases of sound. “Die Fulci Nummer” drives me mad, with its spectral adagio: it’s so good it would’ve been great in the Fulci’s masterpiece Non si Sevizia un Paperino. “Cairo Keller” is charming and evocative, reminding me of a possible soundtrack for Lovecraft The Nameless City. Extra points for the brilliant reference of the cover.

in 1997 BCG published MIDNIGHT RADIO, two hours of lynchian-LA-night-driving-without-a-destination soundtrack. if it is true that its predecessor "Gore Motel" is more song-oriented, and therefore a lot easier to listen to - it’s evident that Midnight Radio is more rewarding in its own special way: it’s a journey in the darkest corner of your mind. Yes, because the journeys BCG offers are not only external but often internal. The band has developed over the years a therapeutic dialogue between the listeners and their consciousness. Jungian jazz music anyone? LET’S DEBATE!  

By the way, while writing this article, I’ve realised how difficult is to talk about BCG music without quoting several cliches - everyone always ends up referring to the same stuff:” car parks”, “night drive”, “Lynch”. But I have to admit, in this case, it’s definitely true! Listening to BCG can really inspire these topics under our skins, as trivial as it sounds! The point is: they do it better than anyone else, they have been doing this forever and they represent the top in this particular sub-genre. With the results of a cinematographic component in their music that leads to these night drive scenarios, post-modern inner state of minds. Bravo!

Let’s go back to Midnight Radio, to BGC and their discography. It’s undeniable that their music fits perfectly in the set of the SLOW TV/MUSIC/YOUTUBE movement. From The Norway train to this 1986 Canadian TV show called “NIGHT WALK” (which, by the way, looks freaking awesome), from Andy Warhol’ “SLEEP” to Kiarostami or Tarkovsky cinema, the slow movement has left an imprint to contemporary culture. Arguably, BGC, with their long holistic records, is part of the movement. Calming the listeners and bringing them into a meditative state of mind, without being mindfulness - luckily. The point is: BCG makes you think about yourselves, finding out that you are someone you should be scared of! Know yourself, fear yourself!

All that Jazz came in 2000 with the thrilling “SUNSET MISSION”, thanks to the help of saxophonist Christoph Clöser. In this record the band opened up the sound, literally letting some fresh air to enter their music, easing the claustrophobic moods of the previous albums. A hint of lounge-ness came in, due to the mellow, yet sophisticated, sax of Mr Clöser. It is still quintessential BCG, with the nihilism of the band raising up form the bass. Slow, reiterated bass lines are running through the record, giving to Sunset Mission a gloomy, hypnotic cadence. The liner notes include a quote from Matt Wagner's Grendel comic book, which reads: "Alone in the comforting darkness the creature waits. As confusion reigns on this hellish stage, the deafening grind of machinery, the odious clot of chemical waste. Still, the trail of his ultimate prey leads through this steely maze to these, the addled offspring of the modern world.

According to many people, 2002 ‘BLACK EARTH” is BCG masterpiece. I don’t know yet, as I REALLY like them all. What I can say is that Black Earth sounds a lot more accessible, with an even more developed sense of ‘lounge-ness’ which was not so evident in the previous records.  Blach Earth is a good record. Perhaps the trick here is the balanced tempo of the saxophone. Perfectly played within the songs at the right time, Christoph Clöser’ sax conveys an open jazzy sound. One of my favourite directors ever is Jean-Pierre Melville, his movies are everything I like in term of style and plot. Noir a là Dashiell Hammett, but French and without hope - give me more of this, Hollywood, please! Enough of fucking Marvel heroes, give me noir hard-boiled movies! 

Black Earth could have easily been the perfect great soundtrack for Mr Melville’s movies - especially, IHMO, Bob le flambeur. Think about it: a french man, with a cigarette in his mouth, gambling his life for a young woman, in a dirty Marseille, with the BCG slow tempo doomed jazz. yasss please, give me more. Or a glacial Alain Delon killing his lover for money.

Black Earth was followed up, in 2005, by “GEISTERFAUST”, which is considered a slower than ever version of the former album. In Ghost Fist (this is the translation) Bohren & Der Club of Gore has stripped down its sound to the bone, becoming more gentle and less aggressive without any compromise. 5 songs only, named after the 5 fingers of the hand, for an hour of dark jazz. Again, excellent quality.

I have been buying BCG on CD, I think this music on vinyl does not sound perfect UNLESS you have an extremely high-quality sound system, Like some classical music issue, where you need to hear the pianissimo of the piano and single notes, BCG music deserves a very clean medium, I would say CD is the best.

Jazz de nuit again on their seventh album “DOLORES” published in 2008. This record is pure Badalamenti, pure Lynch in the night. Within the ten songs of Dolores, the core idea of slow-music is even more highlighted, with no guitars at all on the whole album and a sedated keyboard-based mood.  In 2009 the band released a 10 minute EP called “MITLEID LADY”. it is strange, because, albeit recorded just after Dolores, it sounds way more gloomy and somehow different. It is BCG but has another level of sophistication compared to the previous record. This step further in the direction of stylistic accuracy is confirmed two years after, in 2011, with another EP, this one named “BEILEID”. The cover of the record is a reference to the famous Edward Gorey, or at least I believe. 

The record includes the cover of  "Catch My Heart" by German heavy metal band Warlock, with vocals from Mike Patton. I believe this is the only song with a singer in the entire catalogue of the band. Beileid is a cinematic mood-changer composed of pained saxophone solos, and ghostly string sections, an album that will sweep your mind away into dreamland. A must-have IHMO.

In 2013 the ensemble released “PIANO NIGHTS” probably the warmest record of the band. The Piano obviously helps a lot in making the sound softer and brighter - candle lighted rigorously. A German Gothic feast, with a touch of Teutonic expressionism - who remembers the movie The Hands Of Orlac. BCG should definitely play the soundtracks of this movie. A twisted, dark, thriller with Gothic and expressionist elements. After many years, the band introduces the 

Finally, in 2020, the band published “PATCHOULI BLUE”. A pristine, unique, summa of their work, which manages to sound similar to other releases of the band, yet unique, with something different, like a small accent. 50s noir glam, Badalamenti, German Gothic, Slow-Movement philosophy are all elements we can find in this record, but there is something else: a hint of electronic, which can possibly open new territories to the band. I am curious to see if they will become a techno ambient act in the like of Gas (joking).

Aristotle once said that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. I guess this is the whole point in BCG’s music. The synergy the band has been consistently showing over the last 3 decades, and the constant refinement of their own skills. 

VIVA BOHREN! 

[exoversxl]

cc facts while this is my permanent account now i guess? xD (more under the cut)

There are approximately 1500+ countries on Arda (Earth). The entirety of the Earth is protected by the EMCU, centered in The Benevolent and Blessed Confederacy of Missouri, in the Former United States Region. The Exoversal Major Crimes Unit is lead by Trippz Grissom, who came from the Unity Hearts Multiversal Cluster. The Crossover Chaos Exoverse was formed from a parental dispute between Xedra Colmare, and her then-husband Xalgoth. Their dispute was so explosive, that it destroyed Exoverse Zero, and started the First Exoverse. The couple had 3 sons, and 1 daughter that they were fighting over. Bone, the oldest, Venom, the second oldest, Ice, the second youngest, and the only daughter, and then the baby of the children, Qhkarus Colmare, who later reincarnated into Puggsy (Fangface). Fanboy (Fanboy and Chum Chum) is in the Adventurer's Club (Mission: Magic!) due to being in a relationship with the leader, Kim Yu. He loves her to pieces, and they are due to marry within a few weeks as of this writing.

Fred Jones and Daphne Blake (Scooby Doo) ended up together, and ended up having kids. Velma is an eternal bachelor, and Shaggy ended up with Makoto of Jupiter, also known as Sailor Jupiter. (This was inspired by ScoobMoonBusters) Fangs (Fangface) is gay, and ended up with a skateboarder by the name of Ken Hunter. They were both famous in the 2000s for their skateboarding, so they are considered a power couple. Winston Zeddemore ended up retiring from the Ghostbusters, and is now married to Queen Ti'yah Clarke of the Desert Nekonian peoples. He is also a Monster Hunter, and is good friends with Black Panther and the people of Wakanda. Nagisa Misumi and Honoka Yukishiro (Futari Wa Pretty Cure) are married. They still have their Precure powers in this universe, and Nagisa is a high ranking commander in the Japanese Defense Force. She is semi-retired from it, though, but can still be called in if there's a situation. Honoka works at S.H.I.E.L.D as a scientist, alongside Velma Dinkley, Tom Van Beuren (Van Beuren Tom and Jerry), also of the Antiknyghtz!, and many others. Eugene Meltsner (Adventures in Odyssey) is an alien, his blood originating from the planet Bagklock. He is of the Ixfay tribe, and is a Bagklockian Skypiean. His real name is Yuija Malznar, and he is of blood related to the previous royal family. He cannot step foot on Bagklock due to that fact, and has lived on the planet of Avalon most of his life. Milkweed (Fanboy and Chum Chum), Hogwarts and Sakurazami (Magic School from Mahou Tsukai Pretty Cure) are part of the same school system. Hikaru Hoshina (Star Twinkle Pretty Cure) went here in Crossover Chaos after graduating her canon school. This is where she met Gastoon Lagaffe (formerly Bow Lagaffe), and Kyle Bloodsworth-Tomason. They currently share an apartment together. Shantae is in a relationship with Vinnie Malaproper (Mission: Magic!). Because of this, she is semi-retired from protecting Sequin Land, which is situated in the Caribbean in this universe. If shit goes down, though, she will go there and save the day. Vinnie often comes along when this happens. The Lylat System (Star Fox) is a dead galaxy. It is currently being mined by the Byakkan Empire, a black comedy parody of KallyPanaStudio's Jellielandia. John Avery Whittaker (Adventures in Odyssey) is a retired Green Lantern. He used to fight alongside Hal Jordan back in the day, and retired during the Blackest Night Crisis. Beatrix (Gaston) Lagaffe is a Grey Jedi. She used to be a true Jedi, but then lost her mind, becoming what she is now. She is also a Grendel, a space werewolf species, is queen of them, and is also a trans woman. Gaston, her name in original canon, is instead her deadname. British Columbia, a capitalist country originally part of Canada, and Alberta, a communist country also originally part of Canada, constantly butt heads over a lot of stupid stuff. The rest of the 1500+ countries in the world think they're idiots. In the ancient past, an ancestor of Housemaster (Arfenhouse) came to Earth from space and landed in Ancient Ireland. His spaceship looked like a toaster, and he even called it such. Hence, why the country of Ulster is named such, and why toasters are named toasters. Wreck-it Ralph and Fix-it Felix are the mail carriers for Muncie, the Democratic Protectorate of Indiana. They have rubbed shoulders with Garfield and Jon Arbuckle, by the way, and are aware of Garfield's heritage from the Stars and Stripes Supergalaxy, and his ties to the Biker Brethren of the planet of Washington. They find it super ridiculous. Sailor Moon and Goku are married, and rule the Moon Kingdom together, due to the fact that Tuxedo Mask and Chichi died heroically in the Exoversal War. Chibiusa in the Crossover Chaos universe's father is Goku, hence she has a pink Saiyan tail. The universe of Ni No Kuni is one of many "parallel universes" in Crossover Chaos, and Swaine Pendragon, who in this universe is a Naga, comes from that universe. Parallel Universes and Alternate Universes are different things. Parallels are universes where there are different people existing then the main verse. Alternates are where the same people exist as the main verse, but are under different circumstances then the main verse. Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters is in the same school system as U.A. High School (My Hero Academia) and the Splitsboro Sidekick Academy (Sidekick), among others. The Time Knife (The Good Place) is on Pluto, in the Time Palace. It is watched 24/7 by guards that are trained from birth to protect it.        

[kaoru-takaida]

Shadowbringers chapter:

What Is To Be Undone...

*may contain Spoilers*

A big hooded figure runs along, carrying a long hempen sack over his shoulder. The Roegadyn man smiles to himself, the mask over the top part of his race concealing his joyful expression despite the chaos ensuing all around him. With this, he could help the Royal Family restore order to the Capitol. He could curry favor and ask for a position o the Court. With this, he could abolish any competition for reputation. "Oh, what luck I have." He says to himself, readjusting his grip.

He runs towards a safehouse, where he plans to wait till the morning to run to the Royal Palace. He sits the sack against the wall and seats himself on the couch, removing his flask from his pocket. He takes a swig of the alcohol and sighs with bliss at the taste. "Damn, how lucky am I?" He says, staring at the hempen sack. "To find you right as the Empire goes to shit? Had it not been for my position in prison transport, I wouldn't have spied you." He scoffs. "After that, it was as easy as mixing sleep potions into your food. And right as I planned on taking you from the prison, this chaos erupts just as I need a distraction." The man chuckles. "Just how lucky is that?"

"Yes..." A low voice growls. The Roe man chokes as a slender gunblade is rested on his shoulder from behind. "How lucky I am to find you here, and stop you before you doom the entire Garlean Empire." The Roe man scowls, instantly recognizing the voice. "You'd forsake the Empire for your own personal gain and power? How the times have changed..."

The Roegadyn man scoffs. "The times never changed." He begins. "You did... Gaius Van Baelsar." Gaius tightens his grip on the handle of his gunblade. "You think you can take my only ticket to curry favor with Lord Zenos?" He asks. "We all know that you'll never find a way back into the Empire. Even if you were to bring him the prisoner."

Gaius glances over at the hempen sack. "That prisoner isn't here to complicate Garlean affairs. They've completed their duty." He looks down at the Roe man. "Return the prisoner or hand them over to me. Those are your only options..."

The man scoffs. "Really?" He asks. After a moment of silence, the Roe man springs into action. He bats the blade away before pouncing forward, just as Gaius snaps the sofa to the side with a crash. As soon as his gunblade trains onto the Roe man, he stops. "Don't move!" The man has the prisoner revealed, the top of the sack undone to expose a small hooded figure, a knife to her throat. Under the hood, Gaius could clearly see Xeala horns and scales, despite the fact that her eyes were covered by cloth and her mouth was covered by a handkerchief.

"Coward." Gaius says.

"Coward?" He asks. "And what are you? A hero?" The man tsks. "Nooo. No, no, no. I'm doing what you never could have done. Bring a Warrior of Light to heel for the sake of the Garlean Empire." He points his knife at Gaius. "You'll never fool the Empire into trusting you again. And I'll be the one to-." Just before he could finish his sentence, a bullet shoots through the window behind him and through his chest. The man drops forward, lifeless, dropping the Xaela Prisoner Girl with it. Gaius releases a little sigh in relief. He walks over and kneels beside the prisoner.

He undoes the tie around the sack, and takes the bound girl into his arms. Moments later, he exits the safehouse, looking around the demolished area.

A blond woman steps out of the shadows, sniper rifle in hand. "I see you've found my 'prisoner'." Ingrid says, her blueish green eyes cautiously gauging him.

Gaius stops in his tracks. "Ingrid Zes Juvis... Daughter of Grendel Die Juvis. The Legatus of the Special Ops chapter." He scowls. "Tell me:" he begins, gripping the side of the girl's hooded robe. "Did you bring the girl here?"

Ingrid sighs. "Aye. That I did." She answers.

Gaius clenches his teeth. "For what reason would you bring her here?"

Ingrid scowls. "The Legatus was murdered. And we believed it was an Eorzean by the name of Alphinaud Leveilleur." Gaius's eyebrows shoot up when he hears this. "Ah. You know the name as well?"

Gaius takes a moment to answer. "Yes. I briefly traveled the Burn with the lad before this. I'm sorry to hear of your father's death..."

Ingrid nods towards the bound girl. "She came here and cleared Alphinaud Leveilleur's name." Ingrid says. "She found the killer and drew it out before slaying them. A killer you're all too familiar with." Ingrid says. Gaius knew the answer but waited for Ingrid to say it. "An Ascian..." Gaius can feel the rage swelling within himself. But the same rage comes across Ingrid's face. "Turns out, the vile creature had taken the skin of a newly fallen young Elezen cadaver. And the order given to it was to eliminate my father. Since he was a candidate to become elected Senator..." Ingrid clenches her fists. "Throw in some smoke and mirrors and a little magic. And they succeeded in convincing our order that the Eorzean had done it."

Gaius takes a moment to respond. He now looks at Ingrid. "You best return her to Eorzea. Garlemald is not safe for her as of late." Ingrid doesn't say anything. Gaius steps forward. "Is something wrong?"

"I can't do that." Ingrid says. He stops quickly. Gaius feels his stomach sink a bit. The tension begins to build in the space between the two. Gaius stands there, unwavering. "I can't in good conscience let a Warrior of Light simply leave." Gaius scowls at her. Ingrid inhales slowly before smiling at Gaius. "However... if a certain rebel could be a dear and arrange for her to be returned. That would be ideal."

A masked figure just around the corner of the building looks away. He tsks and crosses his arms before walking out of his hiding spot and into view.

Kaoru opens her eyes. She hears the gentle whirr of an airship. That realization rushes to her and she instantly jolts forward. She chokes, finding she's handcuffed to the seat. "Easy..." A voice says. She looks over to the right and spots the driver. A tan Lalafell man with long dark brown hair and honey highlights pulled back in a braid. He was wearing a mask but Kaoru could see freckles on his cheeks. "You've been sleeping for quite a while." He says. Kaoru doesn't respond. Only stares at him with a serious expression. "You're fine. I won't hurt you... I'm actually doing the opposite." Kaoru cocks an eyebrow. She looks out the front window and can see that they're almost to the Burn. She chokes, eyes widening a bit.

"How long?" She asks. The Lala gives her a "hm", looking over at her. "How long have I been asleep?" He frowns.

"I... cannot personally say exactly. But it's been nearly a few suns since the exchange with Shadow Hunter." He says.

Kaoru purses her eyebrows. (How long was I asleep before I was handed over to him? And how much time passed on the First?) She looks over to the masked Lalafell. (And how could I know if I can trust him?)

"You're wondering if you could trust me." He states. He looks over at Kaoru. "Or am I mistaken, of which, I rarely am."

"You've a mask on and I am restrained to a seat in a Garlean airship as we speak." Kaoru begins. "What am I to do than question you?" The man chuckles. Kaoru scoffs.

"You're restrained because I was told that you'd resist once I told you we're heading back to Eorzea."

Kaoru stands up quickly, straining against the shackles. "What?!" She scowls. "No! Take me back!" She demands. "Have you any idea just how badly it's gotten there?! The Empire's-."

"The Empire's affairs are just that." He interrupts. "The Empire's. Yes, Garlemald is about to be in for a rough time. That much is clear. But meddling in their affairs was something you were to be exempt from handling." He says. "According to the Lady Ingrid and Shadow Hunter himself. Or am I mistaken?"

Kaoru gives him a bitter look. "You... are not..." Kaoru's expression softens a bit. (He has the right of it... I was to return after Alphinaud's name was absolved of the accusations. And they have been for nearly a month.) She seats herself back in the seat. (Ingrid had been so fed up with my attempts to investigate into the Royal Family that she'd thrown me in the prison as a way to keep me contained...) Kaoru tsks. "Gods dammit..."

"I understand it's hard to accept right now. But we've bigger concerns as of late and I'm unwilling to stand idly by anymore." He looks over at her. "Something big is about to happen, Kaoru. And you need to be there when it does." Kaoru cocks an eyebrow.

"Mine apologies. Do I know you?" Kaoru asks. "What's about to happen? And why do you know my name?"

The Lalafell hesitates but looks away a second. "I cannot tell you why you need to be there, or what's about to happen..." He says. "But as to how I know you're name, I've a confession to make." The Lala takes a second. "I've been watching you and yours for a few years now." He looks up at her. "You, Tius, Hope... Even your friends the Scions." He nods at her. "I've watched your journeys unfold from the sidelines. But I can watch no more."

Kaoru scowls. "Who..." She begins. "Just who are you?"

The Lalafell removes his mask, revealing two eyes of different colors. The exact color of eyes as Kaoru, but rather his left eye blue and his right eye green. "I'm a summoner soothsayer. My name is Nilele Nile. Nil for short." He gives a worried expression. "And I am here to tell you that you're all in grave danger."

THE FATES OF MANY HAVE BEGUN TO UNWIND,

FATES THAT MUST BE UNDONE...

The beginning of the Soothsayer Arc begins in the Kaoru/Tius narrative... please look forward to it. ^.^

The introduction of a new character, Nilele Nile, aka "Nil" is coming as well!

[omg-puddingpie]

Chap. 2

“You never realize how strong you truly are, until being strong is the only choice you have…”

Lyla ventured into the kitchen, patiently waiting for the return of Penelope. She could hear the others walking around, while her younger group carelessly plays in the living room.

Gren emerges from around the corner and wraps his arms around Lyla’s waist. She chuckles, allowing her husband to gently rest his chin upon her shoulders. Even after all their time spent together, Gren never ceased to amaze her.

“So, what’s up with Penelope?” Gren nuzzles his face into Lyla’s neck while speaking. “Typical teenager issues or is it a hectic pile of emotions we dare not to touch with a ten foot pole?”

Lyla giggles. “It’s far worse than that I’m afraid but...it’s my own fault or attempting to push this under the rug for so long. I should have told her years ago….”

“You did what YOU thought was necessary, Lyla...remember this.”

Lyla removes herself from Gren’s grasp, heads to the counter and pours herself a cup of Coffee. Grasping the cup in her hands, she takes a seat, slowly sips from the edge and stares blankly at the wall.

“But was it the RIGHT thing to do, Grendel?”

Gren takes a seat beside Lyla, grabs her hand and lovingly strokes it. This woman before him was stronger than anyone he had the privilege of knowing; she’d been through a lot and the majority of those would remain between her and whatever the afterlife may bring them all. It wasn’t that Lyla was ashamed of the past, for it’s the very thing that created her but more of how those emotions left her: feeble. Over the centuries, Gren learned just how to simply read Lyla’s emotions.

“You did the best you could for those kids, Lyla. Sometimes as parents, we find ourselves questions our actions more and more: Should I have done THIS differently, was that punishment truly needed….did I raise them to be GOOD people?”

“It’s just….her biological father came over multiple times and….I had the opportunity to tell her but….I was terrified, Gren. The THINGS attached to Penelope, plus just WHO Mephisto is and-”

“I don’t think he’ll hurt Penelope in any way. IF there is some grand plan for her in this world, he’s the key to that destination...only he can prepare her for whatever may be waiting in the shadows….” Gren squeezes Lyla’s hand and beams. “.....I did not raise Penelope or her siblings when they were little ankle biters but…..damn it, Lyla: you raised a wonderful bunch of kids in there and if Penelope understood, she’d see through your eyes just WHY it had to be done this way….”

Lyla nods. If Penelope was to sincerely sprout her wings and fly alone, Lyla had to give her the needed push into the open: The open that she’d been attempting to avoid since Penelope’s conception but despite everything, all of this as well worth it in the end. During her talk with Penny, her daughter stated the want to venture out and seek her biological father and all that he could provide.  

“Hand me my phone, Gren...I need to place a call….”

Later that night…..12:45 pm

“Wait, so our dad isn’t YOUR dad too, Penny?”

While the younger children and their parents slept, the quads remained awake and huddled into Penelope’s room, of which she shared with her sister Emily. The order went like this: Katherine, Emily, Junior and finally, Penny. Junior and Emily took after their father’s side and were identical clones to who the man was at one time. Katie looked more like her mother, with a mix of her grandmother but the brains of her grandfather, who was once a proud and devoted Alpha pack leader. Penelope was like her mother, yes but there was always a difference to her that no one could quite put their finger on, that is, until tonight.

Penny sits upon her computer chair, staring at her older siblings. “Guess not but….that explains some things.”

“Really? Like what?”

Penelope eyes Emily. “Remember when we were five years old and you had this obnoxious need to pick on me, no matter what the situation was.”

“Oh yea’....” Emily chortles. “I rememba’ that. I made ya’ cry so many times-”

“AND….” Penny continues her tale. “.....Do you recall one summer, we went to the lake with mom, nana and papa for three weeks and while we played by the river, you felt the need to PUSH me into a puddle nearby, full of muck, twigs and God knows what?!”

“Oh….” The memory seemed to be brought to life through Emily’s eyes. “.....I do…..”

“And you laughed and laughed and while Katie ran to get help, this dark cloud enveloped me and for sometime, YOU said my eyes changed and I looked infuriated?”

Emily attempts to swallow back the lump developing in her throat. She glances over at her brother, who was a witness to that afternoon as well. Emily must have pushed this memory into the back, hoping time would clear this but the more her sister unraveled the past, the more the images became clear, as if she was right back to the location.

Emily was just being a brat and doing things that came with the territory of being a sister; she never meant to hurt Penelope but rather play a giddy prank. At first, Emily  howled uncontrollably at her now muck covered sister, until Junior mumbled something and points. At that moment, faceless figures emerged from the surrounding forest, coming towards the children in groups of black. The little creatures, later called Coal Tars, swarmed around Penelope and darted across the air; they seemed harmless, until a cosmic quantity of them gathered, now bouncing above both Junior and Emily.

Junior speaks in this matter. “I’d never seen you like that and afterwards, when all was said and done, I’d never face you the same. Nana and papa kept saying it was because she had Witch heritage in her and at such a tender age, you’ll believe just about anything to mask your fears and uncertainty.”

At that moment, Emily speaks. “Since that day, I neva’ messed with ya’ again. It was not worth it, ta’ be honest….but afta’ that afternoon, something in ya’ changed.”

Penny shakes her head in agreement. “But after tonight and the talk mom and I had, it makes sense….all of it….”

“But….how is that possible,” said Katie, while she scoots closer to Penny. “....And why would mom allow a client to impregnate her? She said she was always careful with casual hookups before she got married and-”

“We’re here.” Junior chuckles with his answer.

“Yes but a Demon of all things? And not JUST a Demon but the king of time?”

“Where are you getting at, Katie?”

Katie crosses her arms and sighs. “He’s obviously not just some ordinary Demon that has crossed this family’s path. For example, Mr. Chester D’Emon: He’s been a GOOD friend to mom and Grendel for centuries and have assisted them in missions when they use to work for an organization to keep the peace between the mundane, supernatural and beyond. But this guy-your dad, Penny-is royalty. He’s played the field and has been around for a looooong time….and it’s no secret we all now know about our prophecies, right?”

“Psh!” Emily laughs loudly. “Ya’ really believe in that stupid story?! Katie: Out of all of us, ya’ BE the brains and-”

“Don’t pretend like nothing has CHANGED among the four of us, Emily….I’ve noticed the difference between us all. Judging by the stories we’ve been told about our father, you’re identical to him, Emily…..”

“And? Just a coincidence….”

Katie looks at Junior. “And mom said yours would involve Bloody Mary, which you two have been in contact since mom could recall. Ever since she brought us home, the mirror dweller has taken every opportunity to view you. For fuck sakes, man: She use to play pretend and hide-n-seek with you when we were kids!”

Junior remained hushed, for he knew this to be true. Katie continues. “I’ve been following papa and his second in command Malcom for two years now because the world of leadership and government has interested me since I was a young pup. Being responsible and holding a place among the community has always been a dream of mine. Apparently, my prophecy leads me into leadership, so explain THAT one….”

“So where does that leave Penny?”

Katie continues. “I’m not sure if this is true but I overheard mom and Grendel talking one night sometime ago about you, Penny and it involved something called the Black Knight. Might not be anything too dramatic but seeing your biological father is a Demon-king of time, mind you-it seems to fit in nicely with your prophecy. Maybe Black Knight is code word for next in line?”

Penny exhales, removes herself from the chair and heads to her closet. While taking out a suitcase and sliding clothes off of their hangers, she begins to think about what her sister said. Was she next in line for something? Did her father have something planned, considering she was the ONLY one of the quads to have a different father? Was there something bigger mapped out besides this Black Knight title?

“I’ll find out for sure you guys. I’m going to be gone for sometime and….I promise, no matter what this journey means to me or my future, I’ll still be the same bubbly sister you all know and love.”

Katie looks over at the clock; upon noticing how late it was, she figured now was the time to head off into dreamland. While standing and stretching, Katie looks over at Penny; how Katie was desperately wanting that statement to be true but deep down, all of them knew this was a false promise and nothing in this room between them would ever remain the same. Life had a comical way of doing this, too. All Katie could manage to do was crack a crooked smile and glance back at her sister for the last time. She’d welcome the ‘new’ Penelope when the time was right but for now, Katie wanted to relive this moment.

“You sure will be, sis. Have fun on your trip, okay? Make sure to take a TON of pictures for us because I’m slightly jealous you get to go to Japan right now….”

And like that, Katie was gone and heading to her room. Junior quickly follows, now yawning and rubbing his eyes.

“Did I scare you too, Junior?”

“Penny….” He despised this guilty feeling. “.....It’s late, you know? I just want you to know, even with all this mess and unknown lurking in the shadows, we’re STILL family. I hope you find what you’re looking for out there.”

“Thanks Junior…..I’ll miss you….”

The pair embrace for a minute. “I’ll miss you too, sis. Keep us posted, okay?”

“I will Junior….I will….”

Junior exits the room and trails down the hall, until he enters his own room, shuts the door and remains hushed the rest of the night. Penny continues to to fold her clothes, layer them within the suitcase and prepare herself for the trip. This was all in an instant; one minute, her mother is explaining the truth, the family sits together for a meal and before she knew it, a private plane was on its way to pick Penelope up. She’d be alone this time around.

“Well, I’m headin’ ta bed sis.”

“Emily…..you don’t think it’ll be different between us, do you? I mean, sure our lives have different plans but….Katie seemed so sure of herself and-”

“Look, ya’ know ‘ow I feel ‘bout this shit: if it’s true, it’ll ‘appen ta’ us ALL, Penny. If not, we go ‘bout our lives and call it good. But ya’ NOW ‘ave a chance ta’ SEE if it’s true and no matta’ woot ‘appens down ‘ere, just know ya’ got me on your cheerin’ side...ya’ still be the bratty, snot-nosed sista’ with perfect skin I’ve known and loved all my life….”

Penny bites her bottom lip and holds back the urge to cry. “Thank you, Emily….I always

knew you had a heart in there.”

“Ya’ ya’.....” Emily hides herself under the covers. “....Whateva’....”

Any questions, let me know! I’ll be tagging these as #puddingfanfics just so ya’ know. :3 Chap 3. coming soon! Thank you to all the support, likes and reads this gets; it’s been quite sometime that I’ve created fanfiction and it’s been a lot of fun going back to familiar oc’s and introducing new ones or changing some things up!

[grcndel]

hey.  so.

i don't normally like getting caught up in bullshit and drama on this website, but recent events have brought up the topic of a pretty explicitly homophobic user in the RPC, and i've been asked to provide proof of some of the garbage she's said and done to both me and others, so. 

here's your evidence. 

do with it what you please, interpret it as you please -- but here's your evidence.

regardless of how conscious or  intentional her actions have been, xuxu (osfractxm --> saintginevra / dcradc / equitvm / seculum / itsrickybxtch / compendixm / etc.) has said and done things to other members of the RPC that have hurt them, and that have contributed to much larger issues -- ex., homophobic rhetoric / fetishization / erasure.

i apologize in advance for certain images being low-quality, or compressed oddly by my blog theme. for readability's sake, i recommend clicking on the screenshots provided.

here's my personal run-in with xuxu, wherein she first approaches me regarding a sort of shipping call despite my rules explicitly stating that grendel is gay. when i explain this to her, she follows it up with a statement that essentially boils down to "oh, i knew he was gay; my muse tends to go after gay muses specifically, which i then use as a personal angst plot on her behalf."

TRANSCRIPT -

osfractxm (xuxu):   ;;I saw your post about flirting with grendel, i have no knowledge of the game, per say, but zombie lady over here is like, "dat monster ... he kinna cute" xuxu:   but i also assume he's based off the grendel from beowulf, yes? xuxu:   or /is/ the grendel from beowulf grcndel (me):   im sorr y zombie lady you can Try to flirt with him but he's sad and gay and will probably just. completely go quiet because he doesn't know how to deal with people. -- ALSO,, yes!! he is grendel from beowulf; just in a verse where he survived the maiming me:   and lived to modern day me:   he's just trying to get by and not be a total monster anymore. xuxu:   gg  (ginevra)  over here has a tendency to think gay men are cute and then regret everything. but hey.

i really shouldn't have to explain why saying this shit, especially to a gay man, is pretty fucking creepy.

( in hindsight, i admit that i probably should have been more assertive about saying 'no,' but i didn't want to be rude. i made it clear enough that gren wouldn't react well in the only way i felt comfortable and decent doing so at the time. i figured maybe she'd just forgotten, or hadn't read my rules yet, so i wanted to be gentle about the rejection. )

still.

i do understand that, out of context, what she said up there seems misguided, but maybe not bad. 

it gets bad, though, when you consider her interactions with a certain other character on her nsfw archive blog, ossaxfortes, wherein she has (recently!) been writing out a plot of her muse seducing a character that the mun had previously written as explicitly gay.

just in case you don’t want to read it yourself (i can’t say i blame you), i’ll say here that a major fetish-point of the thread between ginevra and this other muse seems to be the fact that he's ~fucking a woman instead of a man, oh, how dirty and different and strange~.

given that thread, plus whatever brief thing has gone down between her and i, i don't think it's unreasonable to say that xuxu most likely seeks out gay muses and gets off on the "Gay Man Experiencing Straight Sex, But Oh, It's Okay, Because He Liked It!" plot, and that she was most likely going to attempt to do the same with grendel if i hadn't shut her down and stopped replying to her, which -- as a gay person who's experienced corrective rape -- is ... pretty fucking sickening to me.

but!  maybe i’m not the best judge of this kind of thing. i mean, after all -- what do i, a gay man, know about what counts as fetishism and erasure of gay people? not as much as too non-gay-men, obviously.

let's go on.

here are the testimonies of a close personal friend of mine regarding their experiences with her + their observation of her tendency to muse-hound/muse-hoard and force-ship, which they have personally experienced, as well as general statements regarding her behavior as an rp partner (draining + pushy in ooc interactions; no regards for other peoples’ comfort or consent; takes advantage of people with passive personalities, however conscious or intentional).

here's some of the awful shit xuxu's personally sent to this friend + people this friend knows.

let’s start off with some good old rape fetishism, shall we?

and maybe some admittance to knowing other people’s characters are gay & going after them anyway.

... yeah, no she’s definitely aware of what she’s doing / is proud of it.

cool.

it really DID come out of nowhere!

   > do you want my nsfw blog?    > ‘not really, no thanks’    > xuxu sends the nsfw blog anyway.png

fair enough, but kind of an uncomfortable statement.

kind of another uncomfortable statement / context for a former testimony.

so, reasonably, the other party involved in these screencaps left the situation.

...... and here's xuxu failing to just do the right thing and leave them alone after they've blocked her. (way to ruin a good apology with self-victimization, passive-aggression, and guilt-tripping, btw.)

-- also, on a final note? just to add a little irony onto the shitpile? here's a particularly pissy segment of a particularly pissy little post that xuxu still has up on her blog.

interesting viewpoint on minority characters/the voices of minority people, considering everything, isn't it?

very, very interesting.

HOWEVER.  please understand that, regardless of how sarcastic and bitter i might sound, this post is not telling you to send hate to xuxu, or to approach her about this at all. this post is not telling you to feel one way or the other about the person or the circumstances. i know i, personally, have probably done my fair share of similar shit in the past -- i’m not saying xuxu’s the fucking devil. i’m just saying, ‘if this sort of thing bothers you, watch out.’

i only want to put this information out there so that people who are bothered by this sort of thing can AVOID her, unfollow her, block her -- whatever they have to do to keep themselves safe and comfortable.

you can dislike her, or dislike me. i don’t care. you can reblog this, ignore this and scroll past it, feel neutral about it, i don’t care. you can agree with either one of us or neither of us at all -- you can even think me writing this whole thing up is stupid and unfounded and unnecessary, i don’t fucking care, but whatever you do? DO NOT turn this into some all-out fucking war. that’s not what i want, for either party.

like i said before -- read this objectively and take it as you will. don’t listen blindly to strange men on the internet. don’t just assume somebody’s a piece of shit because ruben @ grcndel dot tumblr dot com said they were. make up our own mind about it; i can’t do that for you. --  but, above anything?

just be safe.

[cameronjcollins]

Episode 104 - Geronimo Ruiz

On episode 104 of Punk Rock Pariah, Greg and Grendel return to the topic of Chile and interview Geronimo Ruiz about what's happening on the ground in the country. They hit on the history of Chile, what sparked the current unrest, protesters being gravely injured and disappeared, and so much. This is an important listen for every American to get a better understanding of the develpoments in Chile. Along with this episode, Geronimo wrote an essay for our listeners to better explain the ongoings there. We present it to you in it's entirety here: 

Beforehand, I think is important to generate a political context of Chile in order to understand a little what is happening here. Chile is a South American country, the longest in the world, and with very varied climates, its capital is Santiago de Chile, it is in a valley in the central area of the country, basically it is the city where 80 percent of the population lives. Is country with an economy based on raw materials, mining, agriculture, services but industry destroyed over the past 30 years. A country where immigrants from different sides are conjugated, mostly descendants of Spanish and native people, with some important migratory waves, English, German, Italian and Croatian and new ones coming from the same American countries as Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Haiti and Venezuela, who escaping from the their contingencies or looking for better life opportunities. Believing this is a kind of social-economic paradise but founding many problems and dichotomies of a neoliberal system where the basic needs of people are not met. Historically, had a dictatorship imposed in 1973 with the help of the administration of the United States shift and ended in 1990 through vote. This regime consisted of the overthrow of a legitimately elected socialist government imposing the foundations of what we know today as a neoliberal model. I have the impression of Chile; it was and potentially until today a field of experimentation and social laboratory for neoliberalism. So, from 1990 to date, we have had several governments with different political prisms that have only perpetuated the social differences between a political-economic class and the base and middle classes. While it is true throughout these years there have been concrete experiences of social improvements that can meet the basic demands of the people. Simultaneously and in parallel, the perpetuation of the benefit of a few over many is present, where we have millionaires to the German standard and poor to the Mongolian standard. Where the middle class lives to solve their problems through the capacity of indebtedness for life We have the worst statistics related to mental health, the highest rates of suicide in adults older people in the world, because they cannot pay their cost of living with the current pension system In summary, we have a constitution established in dictatorship in 1980 and the perpetuation of benefits to a privileged class supported by a benefactor state that does not make relevant investment in socially relevant sources of concern. Currently, as a result of a popular uprising that began with the demonstrations of secondary students who massively began to evade the payment of the subway ticket, It began a spark of a general social uprising, full of demonstrations that has spread by almost four weeks and that has a percentage of the population manifesting in the streets for different demands, but with a common denominator a system that for 30 years has failed to meet or meet the basic demands of the people: Quality Health, Decent Wages, corruption  cases of the political class have real sanctions, the usurpation of natural resources, among others. --- For more amazing photos from Chile like the one above, visit GaryGo on Instagram at @garygophoto or click this link here

  Check out this episode!

[the-firebird69]

we look at it this way your conversations in space are illegal a mac says what conversations, you want to hault them but spurn them on and then take huge losses and I don't care, not mine.  and you want that too.  you want to lose lots of stuff and win. quite a tall order for a teeny group that shrinksnow.  small. Zues fine throwing insults we throw them we do it so don't touchyou macs insulting you how quaint.  most know the truth by now Zues and we sacrifice and they know so what mac yeah so what lol hahahahah it is half of it loser Zues yu have sgtuff so mac so Zues we do too so what mac so what Zues and he sits content to insult and leave.  we wonder and are supposed to and he says no I want you to stfu and we agree he is not in the mood ever to entertain solacing himself or other it is a nuisance.  we find it trite we fight over oil  gfu he states lather up and get anointed we also point out we control it.  and he laughs you are you and you over there are you.  and we  us get it no.  prob not he says. we don't.  what day did you arrive.   and we don't know how...hehehehhe lol.  it is stupid.  no he says smart.  but what of you and stuff.  what of it bully asshole.   we laugh ok we push you round.  what are you saying. massive electromagnetic waves...and he insists some know we hunt and says that's all.  and we fire off and find out who.  so I say we had stuff there and it was to preent it  from being attacked then our retard shows up and thrashes it he says yeah hard to predict  sure was. lol he is an asshole.  and picked a fight with us so many times. we followed him to his barn not far away, he said good trick load me up with bugs and make me sick.  we felt ill he was so huge and down and out.  feltbadly he was sick. but put him down he ate people whole and that is a crime in this state.  so is letting bugs run rampid.  and thye are all over ruining life so we hit them. and Tyrel will fall. and your involvement is known. your forced to as I say he says. and he knows, has he says.  and it will be a shocker mac as the man said you call him a man, I have seen things you wont believe.  his is a son of mine and Olympus but mainly Rah.  and he went to speak to him.  did not return as is normal Zues we rebuke you for making us feels soorroow  nd you say so what you have for generations and continue to and my wife is always in a lower mood due to you fags....so what he says.  and we agree nothing to feel too sorry about.  this is it folks we either fight correctly or pack it in. if you want to quit we do it together like all the other dopes all over just run at it. he says it is involuntary, like Grendel.  we now know hwat you mean my body is zapped I have to stop it and y ou feel what we do and so o and so on but it is what it is involuntary, it makes you convulse have heart attacks puke and burst if close they don't know what to do...some escape.  and we know that.  now we know whaere more or less and will ride on in....haha lol arm cork nad walk him in.  maybe.  some think it a good idea.  patch him up.  we will. mac they will just send more titans mac Zues hen why sy it to send more ok we get it a warriors way. send them here ok then I say corky you want a used car almost used up, I coolle insurance lol Zues hahaha lol the truth comes out damn this is annoying ok work at thiand this and so on I will mac

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrzvY0JNT0U

[bakechochin]

Book Reviews - Grendel

Grendel - John Gardner - Looking at the Fantasy Masterworks books with the lovely covers that are currently published, me and my mate Reader unanimously decided that this one seemed like the coolest, and so of course I bought that bitch -> Now I don’t want to say that I’m always opposed to books that don’t really have much of a story, but that is my general rule (with an exception being made for The Slow Regard for Silent Things), and whilst this book really fucking excels overall there are a few things that I’m not sure about -> I will say that regardless of my negatives for this book, everyone should go and read it for themselves - The one thing that I will praise this book for perhaps above anything else is the absolutely amazing writing; it’s beautiful and it’s evocative and it’s complex and it’s just so fucking good, so good that there’s not a chance that I’ll be able to do it justice with my bastardised vernacular, so all I can say is that everyone needs to check this shit out for themselves -> I’ll admit that I haven’t read Beowulf (I mean I read the BetterMyths version (big up to my man Cory) but I don’t think that counts), but by fuck does this book do such a good job at painting this beautiful and gruesome world, a world of warriors in their mead halls and dragons and hags and fire snakes and all this awesome shit described in such beautiful detail - There are also points where the writing style changes, and though I don’t really know what this has to do with Grendel, as a concept it’s really fucking cool (I especially loved the scene settings like in the script of a theatre play, and the few bits of bloody good poetry) - Grendel is, if nothing else, an incredibly complicated character, but I am really not set to go about explaining why because I just lack that kind of writing prowess; he is nihilistic and petulant and powered by bitter resentment for man, yet can also switch from scathing hatred to an idiosyncratic sense of humour (which can often be surprisingly funny) -> A lot of the complexities of Grendel comes from how quickly he can shift from a good temperament to a hateful one, yet underlying it all are these incredibly unique and very interesting to read life philosophies that are really better read for yourself than having me explain them to you -> What’s more, Grendel’s relationship with and constant epiphanies about mankind (and stuff like heroism) drives the book forward in what I’d hesitate to call a story but may define as a sort of bildungsroman, and seeing everything from Grendel’s perspective made for a very interesting read - Now this book right here is how you fucking write dragons; the dragon in this book is omniscient and ridiculously intelligent and cruel and judgemental and above all unknowable, far more than our or Grendel’s mind can comprehend, and the way that Gardner can convey the dragon’s ever-changing mood through the incredible descriptions of just its facial expressions and tone of voice is so bloody impressive - The book’s ending is obvious for anyone with a vague idea as to who Grendel is or the story of Beowulf, but that doesn’t make it any less fucking awesome - The book is short, only one hundred and twenty something pages long, but I’d say that this works in the book’s favour to give a short but satisfying read; not a word is wasted, and honestly it surprised me how Gardner managed to fit so much incredible writing into such a wee little book - Grendel is a good fucking character, but I don’t know if I’d call him a likeable character -> He is most certainly interesting due to his complications (as stated above), but realistically I need to acknowledge that he is murderous and kind of edgy in his petulance and melancholy and seems to for the most part lack any genuine warmth and compassion -> Yes of course that’s what the story is trying to go for, and yes if I was to give a professional detached opinion of this book I wouldn’t hold said characterisation against the book in any way, because by fuck it succeeds at perfectly writing these characteristics, but since these book reviews of mine do include a wee bit of my own subjective opinion, I can’t forget that the reason why The Slow Regard for Silent Things is one of the few books I rate as a legitimate 10/10 is because Auri warms my heart in a way that Grendel doesn’t (and also because I still cry when I think about that damn book) -> I reckon that the few times Grendel did seem likeable is when he is placed alongside such characters as the men or the dragon, both of whom are bigger bastards than Grendel, and viewing Grendel on his own only outlines his negative qualities - There are a few times when the writing can be quite dense, especially in scenes wherein it is ambiguous whether the magical sights are literal or an extravagant metaphor, and in Grendel’s few bouts of temporary madness when the text gets all fragmented and the narrator becomes unreliable and nonsensical - Regarding the changing writing style mentioned above, whilst in concept it does seem sweet, in execution it seems totally out of nowhere, and said section are occasionally written in a kind of awkward manner; like in the aforementioned play-esque bit, initially it’s a bit unclear as to who is saying what line of dialogue, which took me a couple of re-reads (but like I say, the concept is sound, and when it gets into its stride it’s damn enjoyable to read) - Though Grendel does get characterised the shit out of, most of the other characters get little to no characterisation, and the result of this can vary from characters seeming unintentionally fucking hilarious by how little there is to them (like Grendel’s mother, who’s just an overweight hag who rolls around and grunts to herself), to just seeming kind of boring and forgettable - 8/10

I have a load of other book reviews on my blog, check that shit out.