#Birth Sampler

[withneedleandthreadimhappy]

Birth sampler completed ... just waiting for a name and a date. Based on a kit from Vervaco. This will be set into a keepsake box lid.

[crossstitchpatterns]

[astudyinfreewill]

hi! sorry for this random ask but I've read your amazing post about adam's birth chart, it was so interesting and spot on, so I was wondering if you'd ever shared your headcanons about ronan's big 3 or big 6 too :) if not, I'd really love to know what you think! imo in addition to his scorpio sun having pisces and aquarius placements would also suit him, and also at least one fire (aries?) placement 🌸

hey there!! please never apologise for random asks, i love getting visitors - and i'm glad you enjoyed my astrology thoughts about adam! :D

i don't believe i've shared my hc's for ronan's big 3/6, but rest assured i do have them, and in fact i'll do you one better - i have his whole birth chart, which was concocted with/peer reviewed by some of my really good friends, way back when in 2019 :')

(incidentally, i'm a little disappointed no one bit the bait in my previous post asking to guess how many scorpio placements ronan has... but i'll tell you right now the answer is seven. yes, seven. i don't think anyone's shocked)

anyway, before i get started, one caveat: this is the chart that i made when ronan's original birth date was revealed. people who've been in this fandom a long time may remember that initially, when the sampler for call down the hawk dropped, ronan's birthday was placed on the 14th of november, and it was only later, in the published book, that stiefvater retconned it to be november 1st. general consensus at the time seems to be she did it for two reasons:

a) November 1st is All Saints' Day, and maggie wanted to make ronan as catholiccore as possible

b) maggie is notoriously bad at timelines, and she realised belatedly that putting ronan's birthday so late clashed with some other events in the books (iirc, political events happening with the gansey family??? OF ALL THINGS??? like. be so fr rn margaret who even cares???).

personally, based on the fact very few timelines make sense in the trc/tdt world, i tend to think it was mostly the catholiccore thing. the problem i have with this is that for astrology purposes, having ronan born on nov. 1st changes a crucial aspect of his chart, and i simply won't stand for such shenanigans. but let's get into it, shall we?

as we all know, ronan's a scorpio sun - but you asked about his big 6, so: if we go by his og birthday on 14th november 1994, that makes him an aries moon, a leo venus, and a scorpio... everything else dkgjfdlg. ok, so we don't technically know his rising sign, but come ON - he's 200% a scorpio rising. some evidence from my trusted resource thee cafeastrology:

"Scorpio Ascendant people have a lot of presence. There is something about them that tells the world that they are not to be pushed around. Their manner commands respect, and in some cases, fear. [...] You either love or hate Scorpio rising people [...] They seem to look right through people, seeing through superficiality. This can be quite intimidating to some, and intriguing to others.

^ other than the invoking fear/seeming dangerous (see: ronan the pitbull, the pit viper, the snake - ronan whom, per the books description, you would not hand over a baby to hold, and isn't that a misleading impression), this to me is very reminiscent of that part in trb where blue says that she finds herself craving ronan's approval and good opinion, in spite/because of how intimidating she finds him. she can tell he sees through the bullshit, and she likes that.

on a cute pynch note, it seems also that Scorpio rising people are drawn to down-to-earth and reliable partners, with whom "they generally look for complete commitment" - which seems very fitting for ronan "imprinted on adam before they ever met and decided to mate for life AND the afterlife" lynch.

...also, it's just good fun to think of ronan as being a hyperscorpio lol.

on to the other placements!

now, here is the one that makes me resent maggie changing his birth date: if we stick to nov 14th, then ronan would be an aries moon. this is PERFECT for him, as despite being a water sign, he's definitely got some fire to him, especially in his subconscious/emotional side (see, anon, your intuition was right!! :D).

mostly, an aries moon has to do with impulsivity, impatience, and rash decisions - which, hello, is ronan to a T:

"Life is a series of emergencies for Lunar Ariens. They live in the moment and have a hard time waiting for things to happen. Whims of the moment take absolute precedence in their lives."

life as a series of emergencies? for ronan "always the car crash" lynch? say less bestie. furthermore: "dealing with new sentiments and needs stirs up a huge desire for activity", which seems to me to be how he largely deals with his feelings for adam in trc. don't know how to cope with the fact you're absolutely head over heels gonzo for one of your best friends? SIMPLE just put him a shopping cart and crash it into your car at breakneck speed!! ideal date right there-- high energy, low talking, and plenty of convenient excuses for touching.

Additionally, Aries moon is said to be very defensive and take things really personally, but also that "their flare-ups generally end almost as quickly as they started", which again strikes me as true for ronan. although often consumed by their needs, they are also direct, and don't tend to play manipulation games. other interesting/fitting traits:

they project a strong personality but actually go through emotional rollercoasters quite often, and their moodiness presents not as them getting withdrawn but rather being temperamental

they appear to enjoy trouble and confrontations, and get easily bored with environments that are too peaceful

interestingly: "their childhood homes are often battlegrounds", as their strong personality can make them not the most peaceful to live with... i bet declan has a thing or two to say about that.

HOWEVER... if we change his chart to nov 1st, then ronan's moon is actually in libra. there are many reasons why i think this placement, for ronan, is a travesty, starting with the trait that "Because their drive for harmony, peace, and sharing is so powerful, Lunar Librans are apt to do a lot of conceding". (i could almost stop here tbh - "drive for sharing" is already a nonstarter with ronan). furthermore, lunar libras are described as charming, flirty, and "rarely directly aggressive", rather projecting a "gentle and refined" outlook... again, not quite a match. finally, lunar libras are said to be diplomatic with acquaintances (LMAO...), but argumentative with their partners and rarely letting them win (LMAO surely not the ronan lynch that has adam in his phone as "management").

it was very clear to me and my esteemed colleagues from the crying club server that this, quite simply, will not stand. kelly @ellipsea and i even tried changing his birth year and generating other charts to see if we could find a november 1st placement that was more fitting - but we had no luck finding a better match, plus 1994 is usually taken as the consensus, and changing years threw adam's astral chart completely out of wack as well - so we decided to just act like despite being born on nov 1st, his birth chart remains as nov 14th, lol. or as kelly wisely put it:

which is of course: correct. and so, as gansey boy would put it, onwards and upwards! 😌

mercury is meant to rules the sphere of communication - and for ronan, a scorpio mercury makes a lot of sense. scorpio mercury people are said to, essentially, want to cut the bullshit and get to the heart of the matter, of any matter. they're observant of other people's secrets, though not willing to divulge or examine their own, and they will deep dive into something that makes you uncomfortable and give no fucks. they hate superficiality (check), and can come across as quite 'dark' or negative and suspicious (check again), but they will also staunchly defend/support anyone they care about.

i'll close on a quote about them that made me laugh: "Their idea of constructive criticism can be interpreted as destructive criticism". chef's kiss, no notes.

interestingly, this is the only other placement that changes drastically by moving ronan's birthday on the 1st, changing his mercury from scorpio to - AGAIN - libra. shall we check out that description?

"Libra communicators come across as very pleasing. Diplomacy comes naturally to these natives. At the very least, they take many pains to be diplomatic--"

...yeah, no. i don't think so. i'm gonna have to stick with nov. 14th for this one as well, i fear.

thankfully!!! the rest of his big 6 remain unchanged regardless of the specific november date, so we can forge ahead without second thoughts.

if mercury rules communication, mars rules aggression/conflict. ronan's mars is in leo, bringing us back to a mix of fire and water. some highlights of a leo mars:

strong need to create in some way— (ronan does so quite literally with his dreaming)

enjoys the pleasures of risk-taking, but still generally has strong willpower and sense of self

strong idealistic streak, hates disloyalty, and fiercely defends their high principles

apparently - or at least according to cafeastrology - this is also one of the "more sexual positions" of mars, making mars leos easy to arouse, but only as long as love and romance are involved to make their passion long-standing... i mean i can't say i disagree here 😮‍💨

the mention of sex/romance segues neatly into ronan's venus sign, which is - of course - scorpio. now, venus in scorpio has two main traits, both of which are extremely ronan: intensity and commitment.

essentially, scorpio in venus people make for devoted, laser-focused lovers whose feelings run deep. they fearlessly go all-in when it comes to intimacy, they are intensely loyal and incredibly unlikely to stray. a word that comes up a lot is possession, which also rings true of the guy who's not willing to share adam in the afterlife, lol. they also tend to want to know their lover completely, but are not always equally forthcoming with their secrets, which i think we can agree is also like ronan.

one quote that struck me: "Their body-and-soul love and commitment can be so intense [...] it makes loving them a very heavy experience". this makes me think of the siken quote about taking romantic love as a religion - which i always associate with ronan - and also about adam's thoughts in trk, about how ronan is the most difficult of any option, how loving him is not a game and he's aware of the enormity of his feelings - and still decides to go for it. which is lucky, because as it turns out, the way to win a scorpio venus' heart is to demonstrate your complete commitment and loyalty to them in return. <3

and for the last sign... we have another scorpio placement. i'll admit i don't know a lot about jupiter in astrology because i tend to stick more to "big 5" analysis, but apparently it stands for luck, vision, and personal growth. from my reading, jupiter in scorpio people are at their best, career-wise, when they "put their “all” into a project or undertaking, and use their magnetic powers to heal others". these projects can often include rather esoterical studies, delving into subjects that are considered deep and/or mysterious.... and honestly, that's kind of perfect for ronan at the end of the trilogy, considering that he's making it his mission to help other dreamers through his considerable powers in all things dream-related. :')

so, there ya go, anon, hope you enjoyed this deep dive on my objectively correct and canon interpretations headcanons for ronan's big 6! if you have any thoughts or questions, i'd be delighted to hear them - this is such a fun subject to yap about teehee<3

[the-ninja-legacy-whip]

How do the Ninja cry? Who does a silent tears falling cry and who ugly cries? Who does it anime style and on who does the mascara run down?

Also If one of the Ninja actually started crying in front of the others how would the Ninja react? (Like Jay or Zane?)

All right, let's have fun with this (I call it the Sobbing Sampler)-

Long post, woo! And out of context spoilers for certain story beats I guess!

I'm just saying, let's not pretend I haven't made these fools all break down crying at least once already ahahaaaa

Jay:

Jay actually cries quite often, though most of the time it's over-the-top wallowing that probably would be anime tears in a different life haha.

"…you gave Jay a book about yourself?" Kai asks incredulously. "What kind of gift is that?!" Zane blinks in confusion—he thought it was a good idea—but Jay's immediate silence is somewhat concerning. "That's…so NICE…!" Jay wails, almost on the verge of sobbing. "You trust me…with all these secrets?" "…well, there is the issue that I will require external assistance with the more intricate parts of my maintenance, and my father will not always be a go-to option," Zane confesses, something of a sheepish look crossing his face. "…but, yes, I do trust you with the information. And Nya as well, but…I've seen your fine work and technical know-how firsthand, so I opted to give your first access." Jay springs out of his seat, the giant book thudding to the floor, and throws his arms around Zane. Zane catches Jay as Jay bursts into tears. “Waaaah, Zaaaaane, that’s an amazing gift!! I’ll treasure it always! I’ll read it cover to cover! And I’ll make sure I have a digital copy so we’ll never have to be without!” Zane just smiles, eyes glowing softly. “I am pleased to hear you approve.”

Just the same, the ease of how he can find himself beginning to cry, he perceives as something of a shortcoming. But like a storm suddenly brewing over a horizon, there's just no stopping a coming torrent of rain.

Jay does his best not to cry, he really does—but it's a failure, as tears start pouring down his face regardless. He releases Nya's hand to fruitlessly dry his eyes. Nya watches with pity, unsure of what to do to help the situation, other than just letting Jay get it all out of his system. "…we're so sorry, Son," Ed continues. He sounds so disappointed in himself. "We…hope this doesn't change anything—" "It doesn't, I promise!" Jay exclaims, rising from his chair. He scrambles to the other side of the table, struggling to hug both his parents at once. "I love you guys so much, and I'm glad I have you in my life. I just…my birth parents…why…why did they…" "Why did they…abandon me?" "What did I do…to make them have to do that?" "Shhhh, it's okay, sweetheart, we've got you," Edna assures, running her hand through his hair. Jay wails harder and despises himself for it.

But he would never let himself fully break down in front of someone if he could help it. He's already got people convinced he's weak–he doesn't like giving people more "reason" to undermine him—even if it's just his family.

Jay scurries into the bathroom, refusing to look back as he hurriedly shuts the door behind him. The image that greets him in the mirror's reflection is less than pleasant. He runs his hand through his bangs, frowning at how puffy and red his eyes are. His cheeks are flushed and streaked with tears, and he curses himself for such a dramatic reaction. He knew this was coming, so why—?! He knows his parents understand, and that Nya's not going to care, but…he thought he would've been better prepared for the news. Ever since learning about Elemental Inheritance, and even everything about the Elemental Compass from Fuchsia…he had the pieces of truth all along. So why does it still hurt? Why does realizing he's been abandoned hurt so much…when he already knew that? His eyes begin to water again. Jay glares at himself in the mirror, reaching up with his right hand to force the tears right back into his eyes if he has to—

...

"…then why would you think I'd leave you, or that the others would ditch you, just because of this?" Jay really wishes he had his scarf right now, because all of this is too much for the moment and he thinks he's going to cry. Again. Over a question he already knows the answer to. "Because, if my birth parents could abandon me for no reason…then, why wouldn't you guys for a good reason?" He stares at his scaly hands, frowning at the before clenching them into fists. "…and maybe, it goes beyond the snake-thing too. Maybe I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Maybe I'm waiting for everyone I care about to wake up one day and realize they put too much effort into the wrong guy. It's not like it hasn't happened before, and it's not like it won't happen again, and I…I…can't even convince myself that I'm anything worth bothering over. And turning into a snake just…put all those thoughts on fast-forward, I guess. Ahahaaaa…" “Jay,” Nya tries to interrupt, but Jay shakes his head. "…and the last thing I wanted to do was drag you into any of it, so I buried all of it away. I tried to pretend that things were better than they actually were; that things were…the way I would have wanted them to be. You deserve better than that though, and I selfishly tried to enjoy one good day, one good thing that happened to me…and got punished for it. Such is my life. And now we’re about to crash on a rollercoaster. Ahahaha.” Jay whimpers, really about to cry this time, until he feels something brush against his hand. It's Nya's hand, despite her arm still being pinned down by the chain, fighting to get a grip on Jay. Jay nudges his hand over, locking their fingers together.

When backed into a corner, Jay will spill with very little pressure to do so, but that doesn't mean he isn't agonizing every second it's happening. But Nya's a good enough friend (and girlfriend) to be supportive of Jay in those moments, and hopefully one day he'll feel like he can be safe to be extra vulnerable in front of his friends when the time calls for it.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAAAAAAAAAY!!!" In the span of time Jay feels his entire face go red from embarrassment (which is basically no time at all), Cole and Kai have him all wrapped up in the biggest hug either of them have ever mustered, while Zane magically produces a freshly made carrot cake with sixteen candles sprinkled on top. They all bust out the most out of tune and out of synch birthday song he's ever heard in his life, and Jay's laughing so hard that he can barely speak through his tears.

...but despite all that, he's also very much a happy crier as well :')

Zane:

Always trying to rationalize everything, Zane hardly ever cries. Yet it's only when hit with a surge of emotions that he can't quickly and neatly sweep off or easily explain away do his tears start to fall. It doesn't matter to him if he's got an audience or not—he's far too distracted by the fact the process is happening to begin with. He's not 'ashamed' of it like Jay is though; he just tends to be surprised when it happens.

It's a little hard to go detailed into crying!Zane at the moment, as the majority of his heaviest-hitting moments haven't happened yet (let alone in front of everyone else, save for his reaction to the Aurora news) ...buuuut here's his biggest kicker so far:

The world feels like it has shifted completely, and yet, everything is just the same as before. The room is still, and Julien sits beside him, ready to take action in case another malfunction occurs…but after an eternity measured by the ticking of the clock, Zane finally turns around…with tears streaming down his cheeks. "Oh, Zane," Julien remarks, reaching over to flick a tear away with his thumb. "I am happy to see you were able to process things a little easier, but…were the memories truly that tragic?" "…no. Not at all." Zane swipes at his eyes for himself. "I…remembered everything. I remember everything you and Mother have done for me, I remembering being so loved, and…Mother…she went out happy, pleased with her life…she died satisfied. You and I, we no longer have to hang onto the weight of dreading that she hadn't. She…did what she set out to do.” Zane stands now, clenching his fists with determination. The Falcon flies over, perfectly operational once again, and perches on Zane's shoulder as if it missed him. Zane pets it, expression alight with unbridled pride. Then, he places his free hand over his chest, right over the Aurora Unit. "And I have never been more excited and honored…and proud…to exist as I am."

When he does cry though, it's usually the silent, stoic kind (...with exception of finding out his parents are dead and/or dying I suppose) (he did cry when he initially found out about Aurora I just didn't describe it so directly/its implied more than anything) (also god i can't wait for Aurora to be relevant again hnnng)

Cole:

Cole doesn't cry very often either, but when he does, it's usually with the force of a dam finally breaking. Unlike Zane, who tries to reason out his emotions before attempting to dissociate move on from them, Cole would rather not even deal with it, shoving it down deeper and deeper...until all that pressure build up causes it all to pulse right back up to the surface.

Cole's heart breaks with the sound of the sliding door slamming shut. He groans, chest aching and limbs numb, only with enough strength left to slump over. Jesse's still stuck in place, only brought out of it by Zane putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. Jesse gives him a grateful nod before turning worriedly back to Cole, where Kai and Jay have scrambled to his side. "…I'm sure he didn't mean that," Kai tries to assure, trying to support Cole as best as can. Jay helps from the other side. "Yeah, maybe if he just saw you in action or—" "No, no, it's…it's okay…" …but it's really not. Cole can't even begin to sugarcoat it this time. So Cole falls to the floor all over again, crying his heart out.

There is nothing Cole hates worse than being raw and vulnerable—especially in front of the people he's supposed to be the strong one for. It gives him a whoooole ton of impostor syndrome.

When the room is entirely quiet, Zane knocks rhythmically against the door; Cole once more grumbles out the demand to leave— "Cole," Zane calls out softly. "Please."  Silence prevails, until the creak of the door swinging open rings into the hall. Zane goes still as Cole's form finally emerges from the room.  "…What?" Cole croaks, rubbing a hand down his face. If he appeared exhausted in the days before, now he mimics a zombie. Eyes bloodshot, hair unkempt, face blotchy, dark circles heavier than ever… Zane dreads to imagine how long (or how hard) Cole's been crying.  "…tch, what's wrong?" In the face of Zane’s stunned silence, Cole glowers at the ground, gnawing his lip. "Can't see me as a leader anymore, now that I've failed to get another Fang Blade, or now that I've gone and completely broken apart? Couldn't blame you if you did…disappointing people, that's all I'm good for, apparently." Zane frowns and inches his way through the door, shutting it behind him before Cole can change his mind. 

He'd really rather pull teeth than let anyone see him at his lowest, but as he's such a physical-touch sort of guy, isolating himself for too long takes an equal toll as well, and he'll cave on finally letting someone in eventually, but never an entire crowd (for now just Zane, but Jesse and Nya eventually get this privilege too)

Zane wilts, his eyes glowing a soft white. But before he can get too stuck in his own head, Cole rises from the bed and practically tackles Zane in a hug. Zane has to blink away the haze, but easily returns the sentiment. "…thanks for putting up with me," Cole mumbles into Zane's shoulder, clutching his shirt. Zane chuckles under his breath. "I need no thanks for that. You had to deal with me first, after all." Cole pulls back, grinning for the first time in days. "Heh, and I'd gladly do it again!" 

No relevant thoughts here, I just like glacier hjgfddf.

"Careful there, Jess." Though he speaks with a tilted smile, no amount of pleasantry can mask the misery that bleeds from Cole's tone. "Or I'll start to think you're more upset about this than I am." Jesse swallows a hiccup as he shoots Cole a look from across the room, not appreciating the stab at levity when prickling glitter trails down his cheeks the same way his tears do. He's been sobbing uncontrollably ever since the news was less-than-delicately dropped on him. Only now, being alone with Cole in the aftershock of the chaos, forced to face this new reality, does Jesse finally start to come to grips with it all. But, a surprise of the cruelest flavor makes it all the harder to swallow. And it's not that Cole hasn't had his own share of wallowing over the situation either—but his crying was just louder, hollow, hauntingly tormented, and dry. Only a mere echo of what he was once capable of. Now, any tears he could've shed—were it still possible—would have killed him in more ways than one.

This is from a (speculative) S5 fic like three people read, but I included it to better demonstrate how Cole cries- even if in this specific instance he ironically can't cry and Jesse cries more than Cole rip

...also as a bonus:

Cole's eyes momentarily drift back over to Zane, now with Jay and Nya huddled over him. Nya's got her arms full of parts all while Jay performs makeshift fixes to reattach Zane's arm, but can't confidently go any farther than that. Zane's so still, and in pieces, and busted wide open, and unconscious, and…and… While Cole's distracted, Kai chomps his bicep. "OWWWWW?!" Cole releases the Scythe, and also flings Kai straight into the air. Kai wails but miraculously lands on his feet, glancing up just as all that power starts to flood out of Cole. The fissures of energy begin to dissipate from Cole's body, and Cole's eyes fade back to their desaturated normalcy. He staggers, taking a knee and digging his fingers into the concrete. A few tears spill down his cheeks, dropping beside his hands. He swipes an arm across his eyes, just as Kai shuffles over and drops a hand onto Cole's shoulder. "…jeez, Kai, did you have to bite me?!" Kai shrugs, unashamed. "You wouldn't let go! Not my fault your hand is, like, a bear trap…"

Nya:

Is absolutely an angry crier...

Nya falls to her knees, clawing at the grass, and begs herself not to cry. She grips her bangs, hissing at the sting. “Graaaaaah, I feel so violated! And betrayed! A-And I’m so stupid for even letting it happen—”

...and cries from frustration...

Her eyes flicker; Nya hides her face, hands curling into fists. "I know he's short-sighted sometimes, and I know he doesn't always think things through, and I know he gets way too caught up in everything, like, all the time…! But he's never, ever had bad intentions! He's one of the most pure-hearted people there is, so…you went too far…you went too FAR…!" Nya's eyes flash before her head goes back, drawing a yell out of her. "…how could you possibly believe only something bad would come of his True Potential?!"

...but also has a tendency to cry when her heart is broken...

"…so that's what Garmadon meant," Nya says slowly, her fists clenching with realization. At the mention of Garmadon, Wu goes rigid. "…What? What did he tell you…?" Nya inhales, breath shaking. "He said…that water was meant to change, and adapt, and flow freely…so can it truly be called water if it only ever goes in one direction, or goes nowhere at all?" Nya blinks, only now realizing there's tears there, and refuses to look at Wu. "…you knew what I was this whole time, right? You knew I could've helped fight even before I was kidnapped! I could be something better than I am now, but you…keep holding me back for reasons I can't understand. You keep leaving me just to stagnate." Wu reaches for Nya just as her head snaps up, her element trickling down her face in perfect lines, in perfect droplets. His hand freezes; his heart seizes in his chest. "Am I really nothing more than an afterthought to you?"

...or when she experiences extreme loss...

"Hey! Get off! Nya, you can't—!" Cole grabs Nya, wrangling her into his arms and dragging her away from everyone else. She kicks and thrashes, but knowing there's no way she can combat Cole's strength, she goes limp in his hold and fully starts to cry. "Cole, you have to let me go! They're my brothers!" Nya insists, her tears just as cyan-colored as her eyes are. "I can't…I have to…I can't let this—!"  "And we're your brothers too!" Cole shoots back, and that snaps Nya silent. Jay, Zane, and Olivia look on in dismay as Cole's voice cracks. His restrictive grip quickly shifts into that of a hug, though it's not any less painful. "We can't lose you too! We can't. Please." Only Nya's sobs fill the silence for the moment.

. . .

“...but where’s m’brother?” The realization of Kai’s absence causes Nya to push herself off of Jay. She doesn’t get far before flopping back into Cole instead. “How’m I gonna take it easy if he’s—?!” “We’re gonna find him, Nya,” Cole promises. “But we can’t be dragging you around when you’re like this—” “Please! Just take me with you!” Nya begs, tugging on Cole’s gi. Her gaze pivots over to Lloyd, eyes watering up as she thinks of the last time she’d nearly lost her brother while she’d been helpless to do anything about it. “I can’t lose him like this again—!” The desperation in Nya’s voice twists Lloyd’s heart, but he can’t bring himself to speak. She chokes on her sobs, with Cole and Zane hastily trying to calm her down before she agitates her injuries further. Jay looks absolutely torn between risking harming Nya further or holding off longer on Kai…so Lloyd makes the decision for them. 

...and relief...

"No…!" Nya's on her feet now, her tears of sorrow turning into ones of relief as she runs for the front of the ship. "It's Kai! KAAAAAI!!!!" "YEAAAAAAAAAAH!!!" "WOO-HOOOOOOO!" Like a star falling from heaven, the burning and whooping Kai brings himself and a cheering Lloyd down to the deck. Nya's there to immediately catch them both, and Kai holds her for the duration he remains in the air. But as soon as Kai hits the floor, Lloyd's springing off his back and into Nya's arms, knocking them both to the ground. "Nyaaaaaa…!" Lloyd wails, snuggling against her. "I missed you!" "Lloooooyd!!!" Nya bawls, squeezing him as tight as she possibly can. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry—!" "It's gonna be okay," Lloyd assures, letting his eyes fall close in her embrace. "Augh, man…that's way too much action for being freshly freed from a cage, heh heh…" Nya chokes out a laugh between sobs.

...and she cares not who sees.

Kai the crybaby (affectionate):

Kai's primary Outburst trigger is Sadness—while he doesn't outright cry as often as Jay or Lloyd, when he does get pushed to the point of crying, it is an explosion of emotion.

Kai's cut off when Wu's arms suddenly find their way around him. For a second, he thinks he's having the last remnants of his rage squeezed out of him, but when Wu pulls Kai to him, he realizes this is a hug. The mystification of it all makes Kai go silent. "You have been doing the right thing from the very beginning; you have been doing your best. And what matters is, you're still here." Wu pulls away, resting his hands on Kai's shoulders. His smile is gentle and soft, just as his words had been. "…and is that not what you told me when we met?" Kai can't take it anymore—he cries, loud and wailing until he muffles it into Wu's shoulder and makes a soggy mess of his poor robes. Wu says nothing of it though, only providing the support Kai requires, just as he always had. And for once, it's nice to let everything out in something other than unbridled fury. "If this is supposed to be my best, then my best sucks," Kai laughs through sobs. Wu merely shakes his head. "If all of us were truly at our best, none of us would have room to become even greater than we already are. The ability to better oneself…makes us limitless."

Like Cole, he hates feeling vulnerable, but because Kai is a far more emotional person, simply shoving it down and ignoring it isn't an option for him. The second he feels too strongly, that's like putting extra kindling onto the fires of his heart.

And suddenly, the flame in Kai's soul feels smaller than it ever has been. Whatever warmth he'd felt from it before is now almost all but gone. Like the tiniest wisp of a flickering candle on the last of its wick, threatened by an infinite darkness the moment it goes out. "How…can you say that?" Kai's voice comes out soft, warbled and broken. The temperature of the room rises. " You were the one…that said you saw something special in me…you were the first person that made me believe that…so how can you say that now?!" Wu another takes a deep breath. He carefully reaches out. "Kai—" Kai's lip quivers; his infrared eyes boil over with hot tears, his body quakes…and a wretched, choked sob breaks out of him. "…how could you say that about me?!" Everyone screams as Nya's room goes up in scarlet flames, Kai stuck in the epicenter. Garmadon hits the floor, Wu tries to batter away the flames with his hat, but the ninja very quickly deduce what's really going on…along with the fact that the Bounty's currently at risk of being turned into firewood.

He's a loud, uncontrollable, mascara-running crier at the worst of times

"No, stay away from me! I don't want to hurt yoooooou!" Kai wails through another tattered sob, his flames going higher and licking at the edge of their sails. The boys hitch in panic.  "Kai, you're going to ruin the whole ship!" Zane calls, starting to feel the strain from the sudden overuse of his powers. "I can't do this forever…!" Kai clutches his flaming chest, his voice rough and heaving between his words. "But I can't…I c-can't stop crying…!" "Well…try?!" Jay suggests, only to be slapped by Cole. Kai only cries harder, falling to his knees and clutching his head. The area around him goes fully ablaze; Kai inhales with a heartbroken gasp.  "MAKE IT STOOOOP! IT HUUUUUURTS!!!"  

. . .

Flames and tears alike fly out from behind him as he merges with the wind, the end of the Bounty closing in by the second. His mind races as the world blurs around him and the voices calling out to him fade away, replaced by the wandering thoughts in his head. His memories forcibly play on repeat, dragged to the surface by the outrage in his heart. Each one serves as another bit of kindling upon his raging wildfire, spurring on these annoying flames he can't put out on his own. Despite, supposedly, being the Master of Fire. The one thing he was supposed to do, guaranteed to do, even…and he can't even do that much.

...But a lot of the time when Kai is pushed to crying, it's when his self-worth is at its absolute lowest and he feels helpless/hopeless (ayo Monstrosity coming in clutch for me???)

The cavern goes silent, save for a second rumbling of the volcano. Regrettably, it reminds them of their more pressing predicament…and the hopelessness of it all. Lloyd sighs, not really sure where to go from here but to wait for the end. He's about to ask Kai if he has any last minute ideas…only to find him with an arm over his eyes, chest shuddering violently. "…at this point, I just…" Kai quickly switches to covering his face with both hands, even if it's beyond obvious that he's crying. "…I just want to know what it was that held me back. If I have to die, then I at least want an answer, y'know? How come…I never got any special power?" Kai faces the ceiling once more with wet eyes, as if expecting the FSM to descend from on high and tell him directly. Of course, that doesn't happen… …but, he does still have Lloyd.

And after Outbursting in front of the others more than once (and them literally seeing him at his worst), Kai gets a little more open to breaking down in front of the other ninja, especially when he knows he's got their support.

Kai lets out a deranged cry, pushing off from Cole and fruitlessly running after Wu, knowing he'll never catch him on foot. He keeps calling and yelling, knowing that it'll change nothing but he still has to do something …until Jay warps in front of him, letting Kai plow into his arms so he can catch him. Kai doesn't fight it; only takes it as an excuse to wail in anguish. "…c'mon, man, I know it hurts." Jay tilts his head up, looking past Kai's shoulder to see Nya, Cole, and Zane load the damaged Water Strider onto the Bounty. "We're gonna go get Lloyd back, but we need your head in the game for this too. Can't do this without you, remember?"  "But…what about Sensei?!" Kai cries, curling his hand against Jay's gi. "He's…he's gonna try to…and what if we don't…!" "Hey, now you know how we felt about you in the Fire Temple," Jay retorts. He pulls back, putting a firm grim on Kai's arms. Kai does look ashamed at that, and Jay smiles. "…all we can do is what we can. And you know that's what he'd want too."  Kai sniffles, unable to find the words, so he just settles for throwing his arms around Jay. Jay hums, returning the gesture.

Kai just sometimes has emotions that are too big for his body ;w;

Kai's stomach plummets as the Great Devourer captures Vulcanell in her mouth faster than he can set off his roar, and tosses him behind her like a ragdoll. The lion lands with a harsh thud, landing on some scattered debris, and doesn't move from his spot—as if he'd known this was coming. Kai lands half as harshly, skidding along the asphalt, but he's quick to jump back to his feet. He coasts the entire sidewalk in one long flame leading up to where Vulcanell landed, and pyroports to his Guardian’s side.  Kai collapses to his knees as he beholds the damage—Vulcanell gives a soft roar to assure Kai that he's fine, but—that's…not going to be an easy injury to just walk off. Kai counts himself lucky that the Great Devourer didn't actually bite Vulcanell, but…he's getting really, really tired of that monster taking away things he cares about. And beings sacrificing themselves for him. With a defeated sob, Kai buries his face in the lion's fur, hiding his anguish from the rest of the world. They…did what they could, at least.

...and sometimes he still struggles to keep it together when he thinks he needs to.

Kai’s gaze flickers down to his rush job. He chuckles, haphazardly waving it off.  “...oh, what, this? Heh, nothing I can't walk off, right? I mean, wha-what else was I gonna do?! I barely knew what hit me— but, the blood was— and-and I c-couldn’t move enough to wrap it or any-anything, s-so—I…I-I just—”  Grinning weakly, Kai spreads out his arm and waves his hands. “...ta dah! All good!” Obviously no one buys that, and Kai’s false confidence caves in under its own frail foundation.  His lips tremble as his irises glow, highlighting the tears flooding into the corners of his eyes. Silently, he holds out his arms forward, in a beckoning fashion—Nya moves first, concussion be damned, and throws herself into her brother’s embrace. But Cole, Jay, and Zane aren’t far behind, joining the hug for themselves.  And only then does Kai break down, crumbling under the weight of everything up with him all at once. 

Lloyd:

Lloyd is...interesting, as he's a mix of the show (where he never cries/only cries at VERY poignant moments) and the movie (where his eyes are shimmering in every other scene + is stated/shown to cry multiple times), so here...it manifests in the duality of his Everything Outbursts vs a Nothing Outbursts, and his tendency to repress, dissociate, and the general inability to properly regulate his emotions most the time (but like, its extremely justified though).

"…When you attacked the city all those months ago…did you think about me even once?” A long silence fills the space in-between. Garmadon turning his back once again should be telling enough, but the words that follow Lloyd isn't prepared for. "…I proceeded with my plans as if you didn't exist." It's not a yes or a no, but somehow, Lloyd still gets the answer he'd been dreading. And it means that everything he thought he wanted… He can't even finish the thought or choke out a response; only squeezing out tears before spinning around and sprinting out of the room.

. . .

Kai's protest dies in his throat, as if finally realizing for the first time. The waterworks start up again, and Lloyd only laughs, finding himself crying now too.  "…you managed to convince yourself that you're only meant to ruin everything, but Fire wouldn't be an Element of Creation if that were the case. So, what Fire can create…must be hope." Lloyd grins, shrugging before swiping away a few stray tears. "…and I think that's pretty special as it is." Lloyd plunks back down, still laughing and struggling to dry his eyes.

. . .

Finally, with a moment to process, everyone immediately crashes to the ground. With quaking knees and nauseated stomachs, the ability to stand vanishes from them all. They all mostly keep their composure, just trying to take in the moment of stillness while they have it. But that doesn’t stop Nya from hiccuping sobs, nor Cole from shaking in desperate need of something to hang onto and ground himself, nor Zane from detaching himself from the others, running scenario after scenario through his computerized mind to find just where they went wrong. It doesn't stop Jay from pacing and trying to stave off a proper freak out, nor Kai from gazing off over the horizon with a thousand-yard stare…nor Lloyd from doing the same. Lloyd props himself up against the rock, pulling his knees up to his chest. He's sniveling the hardest, the loudest, and with the least amount of control. His new home is gone before he'd had the chance to truly live in it, his supposed Guardian is about to go on a ravenous rampage throughout the world, and he had a literal hand in unleashing it...and his uncle is now gone, giving Lloyd everything that he had to give yet left him with only one bonding moment to cherish in his memory. He wonders why no one else cries with him. Is it just because he's younger? Is it because he's got such a huge personal stake in all of this?  But then, Lloyd considers—maybe they're just more numb to it. After all, this isn’t the first time they've lost a home, nor loved ones, nor smacked into rock bottom and lost all of their hopes in a single sweep…and it probably won't be the last.

Lloyd's normally so angry, but a lot of the time the anger is at himself, and that's a hard thing to get away from when you don't know how

Oh, nevermind— that’s the last thing Lloyd wants.  The words aren’t said with any kind of malice—rather a perfectly flat, neutral tone—but Lloyd still feels like he’s been brutally stabbed in the chest. His whole body goes rigidly still, his tears finally boiling over and spilling down his cheeks. He sniffles and hiccups, voice breaking past the tightness of his throat. “...I’m so sorry…” With quivering hands, Lloyd slowly pushes his plate away and bows his head in shame. “Y-You’ve been so kind and welcoming with my friends…b-but because of what I…did…I don’t….I don’t deserve —”

. . .

Lloyd’s whole body seizes with a grimace, clutching at the concrete below him and gaining no purpose from it, other than allowing room for him to stain the ground below dark gray with tears. …He’s done some irredeemable stuff before—it’s almost hilarious how he keeps managing to top himself!—but how is he supposed to come back from this?! Just getting back up and carrying on now …it feels wrong. The familiar temptation to run away consumes him, but there’s no distance he could go to escape himself. He’s out of places to go—as if there was ever a true destination to find in the first place. The guilt, the shame, the rage, the dread, the responsibility…it’s all only going to follow him.  Being bad didn’t work. Being good didn’t work.  Nothing he ever does… works.   …maybe it really is just him that’s the problem.  He sniffles. He chokes on the lump in his throat. The last barrier keeping him together breaks, and he buries his head in his hands, body wracked with tremoring sobs. His cries echo into the expanse of the empty tunnels. “…What have I done…?!”

...and nevermind how he feels about his DAD...

A few tears leak out unprompted, but Lloyd ignores them. He can’t be pushed any lower than this anyway.   “…but he’s been more of a father to me in the few days I've been with him than you have in my whole life! And sure, you were banished and that sucks …but as soon as you were able, as soon as you could have… If you were so worried about me while banished, I should’ve been what you went after first—but no, you just wanted those stupid Golden Weapons, even at my expense! How am I supposed to believe you care about me after that?!” Garmadon glowers, the weight of the weapons in his hands heavier than ever. Lloyd scoffs in disbelief, shaking his head. “…So yes, Garmadon…you ruined my life. Not because you weren’t there for me before, but because you refuse to be there for me now...when I would have needed you more than ever. I needed you, wanted you to be there, like an idiot, and you—YOU—YOU …!” Lloyd grinds the word between his teeth, biting off his sentence there and leaving it at that. But no matter how hard he clenches his teeth shut, his true thoughts fight past his lips regardless. “...I wish you weren't my father."

Writing Lloyd crying is so fascinating, because sometimes he's just got a TON of emotion that NEEDS to come out...

With a trembling lip, Lloyd knows what he has to do to make it all go back to normal…but, he's scared. He doesn't…want to feel that bad again. He doesn't know if he'll be able to handle it— this —that— everything …! Especially at a time like this! Yet the Great Devourer becomes disturbed at the presence of the golden glow, her tongue jetting out impatiently, which forces Lloyd to make his decision. He takes a deep breath, releasing the push that forced all his emotions down in the first place…and it comes back up all at once, pouring down and out his eyes. He fully starts to cry now, sinking to his knees as hot tears roll down his cheeks. But through the bleary cloud of his tears, he can see his eyes have returned back to green. His heart may feel like it's ripping out of his chest, but he doesn't have to be scared anymore either. He can face the truth with full clarity and feeling. It’s just…going to hurt, that’s all. And, even more shocking, the Great Devourer nuzzles against him in comfort.

...and yet, sometimes, when he tries to stop it...that just makes it all the more tragic when he can't.

“…All I’ve ever done is just make things worse, y’know?“ Lloyd’s unnaturally calm. The only sign of any hesitation is the way his eyes shimmer as he speaks. “I can’t be evil right. I can’t be good right. And I can’t even do the one thing I’m destined to do right…! So why should I even keep trying?! What’s the point?!” The floodgates have opened now; all that stored potential energy turns kinetic and bursts out of him. No amount of pushing can keep it all down now. Lloyd’s expression twitches as he tries— tries to shove it all under just one more lie, just one more bid for borrowed time— …but it doesn’t work this time. (Nothing ever works.) Kai’s hand slowly slides from Lloyd’s face as a new set of tears begin to fall from golden eyes—but Lloyd’s expression never changes. 

...and that's the difference between when he tries to let nothing bother him vs letting everything just flow, painful though it is

Kai gives Lloyd one final squeeze to really emphasize his point, if it hasn’t gotten through his thick blond head yet already. “It sucks that we lost today. It sucks that the city is still a mess. It sucks that Garmadon has the Golden Weapons now…but I told you before; whether we have the weapons or not, as long as we have you, just as you are…we will be just fine. I promise… and you know I don’t say that lightly.” Shuddering, Lloyd releases a loud, forceful weep —the indifferent gold vanishes from his eyes, the emotional green returns, and the waterworks fall in full force. The tension seeps out of Kai in one big woosh, and he’s never felt more exhausted in his life…nor more emotionally spent. This kid is going to give him gray hairs before he’s twenty, surely.  “You’re not perfect…but we’re not going to give up on you. Never in a million years.  …so don’t give up on yourself, either.” Through the tears, Lloyd nods in a silent agreed promise, and Kai quietly guides a bawling Lloyd back home. 

...but even after THAT, we really haven't hit Lloyd's biggest group breakdowns yet uwaaaaah (ooh baby yeah the storm is coming oooh yeah babyyyyy WHEEEEEE)

[noel-fielding]

Boys from the Boosh

This article is more than 17 years old

With their Lurex-clad, psychedelic silliness and anarchic punk humour, the Mighty Boosh have been catapulted from the Edinburgh Fringe to the BBC. Amy Raphael catches up with them to talk sudden fame, instant families and stupid haircuts

Amy Raphael

Sun 21 Oct 2007 00.14 BSTShare

Noel Fielding is sitting in a dark corner in a bright-red Joan Jett jump suit, staring absently at his odd socks. His feet are killing him. He only has a short break between takes but the knee-high, stack-heeled boots, made by the same designer who once worked for Marc Bolan, had to come off. 'God, I feel as though I'm in Sweet today,' he says, rubbing his toes and swishing his shoulder-length bottle-black hair. He may be in costume just now, but Fielding is nothing if not glam rock. He is, he later says, fascinated by his own image and what he can do with it. He is one of those people who openly admits that he always thought he'd be famous.

And maybe his time has come. It's 10 long years since south Londoner Fielding, now 34, and Leeds-born Julian Barratt, now 39, became friends after appearing on the same comedy bill at a pub in north London. Fielding had studied Fine Art at Croydon Art College while Barratt had dropped out of an American studies course at Reading University; both had fathers who loved Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart, and who encouraged their sons to avoid getting proper jobs.

When they first met, Barratt asked Fielding if he had his hair on backwards (hair being a bit of a theme - the duo takes its name from Fielding's brother Michael, who as a child had really big hair which a friend called 'the mighty bush'). Barratt was also intrigued by the large gaggle of girls who went everywhere with Fielding. Both wanted to get their material heard; neither had found anyone to work with who remotely understood what was going on in their head. It was a huge relief when they chanced upon one another and decided to be the new Goodies.

Which, of course, they're not. What they take from the classic Seventies series is more the spirit of psychedelic, silly and surreal comedy. It's part of a lineage that includes The Goon Show, Tony Hancock, Monty Python, Vic and Bob. If Fielding is to be believed, the new friends went back to Barratt's place that first night and while the host played around on his Akai sampler, the guest made an eye patch out of a ping-pong ball. A decade on, the Mighty Boosh are on the verge of breaking free of their cult status and edging into the mainstream, but their approach to comedy hasn't really changed. Stage shows feature monsters made out of Jiffy bags; in the new series, Fielding briefly sports a Polo as a monocle. Theirs is a homemade, DIY, punk humour that knows few boundaries.

But while they can be ridiculously funny, Barratt and Fielding can also be tricky. Interviewing them in Edinburgh in 1999, I felt slightly awkward as, hungover, they talked the alienating language of a comedy double act unwilling to fully engage with an 'outsider'. On this cool, damp August morning they are filming the third series of The Mighty Boosh for the BBC in a vast warehouse on a disused MOD site in Surrey. Fielding is in high spirits; he keeps reappearing between scenes and chatting away about Suzi Quatro's new autobiography ('She's very sexy') or a recent all-night party where he met a cat called Steve. Barratt turns up at one point in checked shirt, cords and wellies, nursing a polystyrene cup of steaming tea. He vaguely nods but says nothing. He looks frazzled; his partner Julia Davis (star of Nighty Night) gave birth to twins Arthur and Walter just four weeks ago.

As Barratt wanders off into the shadows, Fielding does another take of a scene with an unbalanced tramp. After one series set in a zoo and a second in a flat in Dalston, the third has moved to a shop. This time, the insecure, anxious Howard Moon (Barratt) and the self-assured, narcissistic Vince Noir (Fielding) work in a second-hand shop owned by their shaman friend Naboo (played by Michael Fielding). If this sounds like a move towards traditional sitcom territory, it's not: Fielding may call it a 'psychedelic Open All Hours' but director Paul King, who has worked with the Boosh since the early days, insists it's more of a homage to Tim Burton, Dennis Potter and the film Delicatessen

Taking a lunch break in his dressing room, Fielding sits cross-legged on a cheap sofa. He tucks into red jelly and ice cream and talks about how frustrated he and Barratt (who is next door, too busy creating music for the show to talk just now) are by the various labels assigned to their comedy. 'Most of all, we hate being called surreal,' he says. But despite his protestations, it's hard not to think of the Mighty Boosh as surreal: after all, they are undeniably bizarre and much of their comedy flows freely from their unconscious. Yet Fielding insists it's more fitting to refer to the influence of children's books: particularly Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are and Raggety, the spiky, scary forest creature made out of sticks who encounters Rupert Bear.

Fielding plays with his Lego necklace, pulling bits off and popping them back on again. 'I think our show is magical and fantastical. We tell very intricate, weird stories. Vince Noir is quite modern, a bit of an indie kid; Howard Moon is a bit Fifties and eccentric. We tap into youth culture - the Horrors make a guest appearance in this series - and we rely heavily on Julian's music and my animation.' He pauses and grins. 'It's such a weird shambles of stuff.'

So weird, in fact, that it almost didn't make it to television. Around 2000, Barratt and Fielding disappeared into development hell. They had done a sketch show for Radio 4, but no one was sure how to translate their act on to TV. That's until Steve Coogan, who had seen them in Edinburgh in 1999 when they were performing as Arctic Boosh, moved things along. His production company, Baby Cow, put £40,000 into a pilot and Coogan himself sold the concept to the BBC simply by saying: 'If we were young, we'd want to be them.'

The first series of The Mighty Boosh went out on BBC3 in 2004 and eventually transferred to BBC2. It was pretty much a word-of-mouth phenomenon: the Boosh had hip young fans and more than their fair share of groupies. Last winter, even Fielding and Barratt were surprised when they took their show on an extensive tour of Britain. 'It was like the Rocky Horror Show,' says Noel. 'Everyone was dressed up and there was so much screaming! We did five nights at Brixton Academy and we could probably have done more. It used to be really cool people that liked our show - freaks and artists. Now the people that bug me every day are cab drivers and chavs. We're no longer on the periphery. I wouldn't mind being really popular...'

I ask Coogan how he feels about his proteges finding mainstream success: 'When Henry [Normal, co-owner of Baby Cow and executive producer of The Mighty Boosh] and I approached the BBC about the Boosh, they were quite sceptical at first. There was a feeling that their comedy was too esoteric. But we felt there was a playfulness in their fantasies that transcended the sometimes oblique references. Monty Python often operated on two levels - sophisticated and silly - and the Boosh carries on that tradition.'

Part of their strength, Coogan feels, is their very distinct relationship. 'In some ways it is pure music hall. They have a sweet innocence coupled with a kind of rock-star cool. It's escapist and surreal, an appropriate antidote to the trend for super-naturalistic comedy we've seen recently, including some of my stuff. What Julian and Noel are doing doesn't seem at all derivative. It isn't the kind of comedy you arrive at through audience research, which is the best thing about it. They do it absolutely on their terms.'

Back on set, Julian Barratt appears in blue shorts, grey T-shirt, black flip-flops. He looks terrifying: from the shoulders up he has morphed into a fox. With the help of yellow contact lenses, a false beard, nose and teeth, he has taken on the demeanour of a feral animal. Fielding spots him and giggles. 'Look at you! Crack Fox has come for me!' But Crack Fox, it seems, is not needed just now: the scene he is to film with Vince Noir is delayed as adjustments are made to the set.

It is time to leave. Outside the hangar, as a weak sun pushes through the clouds, Fielding sits around with his long-term girlfriend Dee. Barratt sits slumped on the ground, leaning against a car. False teeth in hand, he looks less wild animal, more exhausted new father. 'Oh God,' he says, trying to summon up some energy. 'We didn't get the chance to talk... sorry.'

I meet Barratt and Fielding again last month on London's South Bank. It's warm and all the cafes are packed. They eventually settle on a balcony overlooking the Thames. We sit on very high stools at a small table, which forces an unwanted intimacy. Initially it's not unlike the interview situation in Edinburgh all those years ago, but this time they quickly apologise for being exhausted after seven gruelling weeks spent bringing series three to life.

Fielding, in black skintight trousers with white spots, glam punk T-shirt, silver snake necklace, silver pointy boots, a trashy PVC coat with furry collar and outsized black sunglasses, is still recovering from a bout of flu. He yawns, twists and turns on his seat. Barratt, wearing black shorts, Birkenstocks, a stripy red and blue T-shirt and an open checked shirt, is slightly perkier but clearly exhausted by filming and fatherhood.

I ask how the rest of filming went. Fielding pulls a face: 'It was atrocious.' Barratt smiles benevolently at his partner: 'It was good but it was hard, the hardest yet. Although it was the third series, there was no more money. We seem to have stretched goodwill from the crew to breaking point.' Fielding hugs his battered doctor's bag to his chest: 'Until you get ratings, the BBC doesn't understand. They came to see us live last winter, saw everyone screaming and said: "It's like the Beatles. It's amazing! You're getting less money!" The fact is, we will never be as big as Little Britain. Having said all this, the BBC never interferes, which is something.'

Fielding suddenly leaps off his stool. 'I've just seen a man in a Boosh T-shirt!' As he hangs over the balcony, gesturing frantically, Barratt shakes his head. 'I'm quite happy sitting here. Obviously Fielding likes to attract even more attention to himself...'

If you'd never seen them perform together, you'd be forgiven for thinking that these two are an unlikely double act. Yet virtually every comedy duo in history has been the odd couple off stage, and the Mighty Boosh is no exception.

Fielding likes to be noticed - hence what he refers to as 'the stupid haircut' - and embraces celebrity. 'I go to lots of gigs, hang out with bands, party hard. I don't think it's possible to have a better time than I've had this year. It's like my birthday every night. I DJ with seven girls, I hang around the Hawley Arms [in Camden] with Amy Winehouse, Russell Brand and Donny Tourette.' Another celebrity friend is Courtney Love. 'I went to her house at New Year and then we went to the Paramount party. I've never seen paparazzi like it. There must have been 500 photographers. It was quite a buzz, because we're never going to have that.'

And Barratt looks positively relieved. He is far more private: when I comment on his new haircut, he says bashfully: 'My girlfriend did it last night.' When asked about his new young family, he says: 'It's a whole new thing for me. Something changes inside...' He starts squirming. 'I don't know if I want to talk about it publicly. My relationship with the press is different now; it's not just me any more.' He won't even talk about where or when he met Julia Davis; he is keener to discuss his relationship with Fielding.

He traces two circles on the table with his index finger. 'There's a kind of imaginary Venn diagram of our interests: we have a very shared middle ground that's a lot to do with comedy and music and visual language. Noel then does his own thing, hanging out with the latest band. I'm always initially very cynical: who are these people, they look ridiculous.' Fielding smiles and Barratt continues. 'Usually I end up getting on with them quite well.'

Part of what works for Barratt and Fielding is their open relationship. Both regularly do their own thing, whether it be stand-up, art (Fielding), jazz (Barratt), acting in Nathan Barley (both) or The IT Crowd (Fielding). They like to invite friends, family and pop stars to appear in The Mighty Boosh (this series sees cameos from The IT Crowd's Richard Ayoade, Gary Numan, Fielding's girlfriend, both sets of parents). The more ad hoc it all seems, the better - although on occasion it can seem overly self-referential. When I visit director Paul King in the editing suite some time later, he says that the show 'needs to look homemade' and is delighted that there isn't a single proper actor in the whole show. 'It's vital that Noel and Julian appear to be pissing around, having a laugh.'

The Mighty Boosh is very good at removing the barrier between the artist and the audience: many of its fans watch thinking: 'I could do that.' Yet with a little pushing, the couple admit they work bloody hard. 'I look as though I'm partying all the time, but actually we've worked virtually every day for 10 years,' says Fielding. 'It's a cycle,' adds Barratt. 'Slog, focus, panic. You work hard as hell and suddenly it gets you down. It all appears very trivial and you start thinking that perhaps you should be helping people instead, being less egocentric.' Fielding nods enthusiastically: 'By running a butterfly sanctuary in Peru.'

Given that they almost always do interviews together, I ask if I can talk to them separately. I suggest a Mr & Mr interview where they are tested - informally, of course - on their relationship. I'm surprised by their relative enthusiasm. Barratt offers to go first; Fielding slopes off to make a phone call. Within moments, there's a startling transformation. Barratt perks up. He relaxes, his shoulders drop. He even makes proper eye contact for the first time.

Julian, tell me five things about yourself, four of them true. I love jazz. I would have been a musician had I not got into comedy. My dad is a fisherman. I used to draw penises on my history books at school. I've never been scuba diving.

Tell me five things about Noel, four of them true. Noel is a girl. He can't drive. He is an extremely good football player. His nose has been broken. He didn't drink once for three years.

Who's the funniest? Noel. Although I think he finds me quite funny. He likes to make people laugh; I do too, but I'm also quite happy to make people uncomfortable. I've done interviews in the past where apparently I didn't give the journalist any eye contact. I'm a bit shy, yes. I've thought about refusing to do any press at all. All those questions you were asking us earlier... I felt slightly thwarted and crushed by this weight of having to be funny because I'm a comedian. Fielding does it much better; he rises to it.

Who's the weirdest? [Laughs; pauses] We've both got pretty idiosyncratic taste. Noel's gift is his ability to see his weirdness in the guise of a small child telling an adult a story. His weirdness has a friendly face.

Who's the sexiest? Fielding.

Who's the most rock'n'roll? Um... er... I suppose Fielding is flying that flag at the moment. I don't know that I've ever really been rock'n'roll. I like the countryside. I like chopping wood. I'd like to be a carpenter...

Who is the most boring? I've got a lot of friends with whom I discuss jazz.

Who's the most neurotic? Me. I can have a sleepless night worrying about a joke.

If you fight, does one or both of you sulk? We both sulk. We can get fired up quickly. Noel tends to say what's on his mind; his subconscious is very close to the surface, which is part of his gift as a comedian. I bottle everything up and then explode. Most comedians are borderline psychotic. It's what makes their work interesting.

Fielding approaches, looking hopeful. He is, it appears, anxious not to be left out. Barratt lies down in the shade, talking on the phone. Fielding takes a photo of him on his own mobile: 'Huckleberry Finn'. He whizzes through the questions then asks if he can do them again; he wants his answers to be as good as Barratt's. He also, interestingly, performs better alone. Even the yawning stops.

Noel, tell me five things about yourself, four of them true. Jesus! I'm Jesus. I like clothes. I'm tired. I'm trying to reintroduce a sense of magic, of the fantastic into society. I have an affinity with animals.

Tell me five things about Julian, four of them true. Julian wants to make a film. He's a father. He's often funny but doesn't know why. He's obsessed with logic, which he often uses to portray absurdity. He's made of coins.

Who's the funniest? Him. Physically and on a basic level, he's funnier.

Who's weirdest? I have the weirdest ideas. I dress more strangely. My stand-up is more ridiculous and silly; it has no foundation in reality whatsoever. Julian can seem quite offish when you first meet him. People find him offensive, rude, short-tempered, impatient. But he's not really. It's just his natural state; he's quite preoccupied and twitchy.

Who's the sexiest? [Laughs] Julian. I hope I'm sexy, too... Sometimes I look in the mirror and see a woman. My nose has never been broken, but it's a fucking weird shape.

Who's the most rock'n'roll? Me. My mum and dad had crazy parties throughout the Seventies. They listened to a lot of Jimi Hendrix, Mick Jagger, Led Zeppelin. There was a lot of drink and drugs around. So I'm more rock'n'roll by nature. I go out and don't come back for days.

Who's the most boring? [Laughs] Julian. My great fear in life is of being boring. He's like a teacher; he reads dry books, smokes a pipe and wears corduroy.

Who's the most neurotic? He's the most neurotic person I've met apart from my girlfriend.

If you fight, does one or both of you sulk? We very rarely fight and neither of us sulks. Never. Did he say we both do? [Looks genuinely horrified.] This is fucking brilliant.

Barratt returns to the table, smoking a cigarette he talked a tourist into giving him. To distract from the lack of agreement on sulking, I ask if it seems like a long time since they first met. 'I suppose we've changed quite a lot in 10 years,' offers Fielding. 'I was quite cocky back then; I thought I was supersonic.' He pauses. 'I couldn't tell you what life was like before Julian. He made me. Out of scraps.' Barratt joins in: 'In Pakistan.' Fielding starts giggling. 'Why is that so funny? I love that word: Pakistan. So when you made me in Pakistan, what was going through your mind?' Barratt smiles. 'Cheap labour. I thought we could get 10-year-olds in factories to write our jokes.'

Perhaps the last word should come from Steve Coogan, who saw something in these two comedy punks when few others could. 'The Mighty Boosh is a party you are invited to where Julian and Noel choose the music and dress code, and you end up having a better time than you thought possible. It's proof you can be sexy and funny. I try to soak up as much reflected glory as possible.'

{x}

[neverlostmycrown]

Scans: Hard'n'Heavy 2003 - A Girl's Senses

Scanned by AllySugi

A few years ago I found this magazine cover image on Pinterest. So I started looking for where this magazine came from and what was inside at the time. And finally I found it.

My French is still very basic, but Google Lens Translate is a great thing. Thanks to Ally for scanning this magazine!

This was a special issue of Hard'n'Heavy magazine with the subtitle Girls Special Edition - it contained articles about various popular bands "with girls", according to the then proclaimed opinion (which has since been refuted) that female fronted metal is a genre. (it's not!)

In addition to Evanescence, they introduced readers to bands like The Gathering, Within Temptation, Arch Enemy, Lacuna Coil, and others. Evanescence undoubtedly stood at the birth of a new wave that tormented metal chauvinists - and gave all the girls a signal that they were in the right place and belonged in the world of metal.

Even though this magazine was published in France, the interview with Evanescence was apparently interesting enough for the publisher to include it as a cover story.

So much for the frequent criticism that Evanescence just "copied the sound of European bands".

According to the website zenial.nl, they also released a CD sampler for the magazine, Hard N' Heavy - Hors-Série Filles Vol. 01 (2003), which surprisingly featured the non-single track "My Last Breath".

text for evanescence.cz

[bonefall]

now these are bones opinions and ive only seen like 3 episodes of naruto before i got bored but i gotta say: it IS weird that the show puts SO much emphasis on naruto coming from nothing and then makes his dad like, the ninja-president cause it feels like naruto is only impoverished bc the narrative needs to LOOK like it's important that he's in poverty

Smarter, more Naruto-centric blogs have discussed this odd retcon than I, but Nonny... let me just give you a sampler of how weird the retcon was.

(ALL of this is a retcon btw. We learn nearly everything about Naruto's lineage in one fell swoop.)

We find out that Naruto is actually the son of Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze.

Kushina Uzumaki is one of the last known members of a super powerful bloodline who was renowed for being special vessels of "Tailed Beasts."

Not only are Uzumakis powerful and renowed, Kushina being a survivor of the collapse of a nation, but any other Vessel who lets lose a tailed beast out of their body typically dies. (Unless you're gaara, then ur protected by being a main character)

She was known as the newest vessel of the Nine-Tailed Fox, which is basically like Konoha's very important nuclear warhead. Having a nuclear warhead is a major political consideration for ALL nations as a deterrant against invasion.

Minato, meanwhile, was the Hokage. President Dictator of Konoha.

These Are Both Well Known People. These Are Political Figureheads.

And also Kushina and Sasuke's mother were personal friends. Sasuke's mom was aware her friend was pregnant.

But when a Vessel gives birth is apparently becomes a moment of weakness during which the Tailed Beast can pop out. They take precautions, but You Can't Thwart Stage One

Nine-Tailed Fox kills a bunch of people in its rampage and Minato seals the beastie into a baby before dying (this part is not a retcon this is established from like the 1st chapter)

But it turns out that actually Minato and Kushina did it together and put the beastie into THEIR OWN baby.

But this makes NO sense in hindsight... like, at all.

His last name is Uzumaki and NO ONE KNEW?

He NEVER LEARNED what an Uzumaki is?

He looks JUST like Minato, too, spitting image. And no one knows.

THE PREVIOUS DICTATOR PRESIDENT

In spite of it being KNOWN that Minato was married to the previous Nuclear Warhead Holder.

This one shows up with a Nuclear Warhead of his own and no one puts two and two together

Sasuke's Mom also never approaches the very obvious child of her friend. Only person in the whole village with her last name. Born around the same time that her pregnant friend vanished.

Making Tailed Beasts into Nuclear Warheads was also a mistake because why the hell is no one trying to kidnap this unwanted WEAPON if having and using them is a major political consideration???

But no we gotta make Naruto the specialist boy to have ever been born and he's so amazing and perfect and always destined for greatness because of his birth. Who cares how little sense it actually makes.

It's like Kishimoto wanted to have his cake and eat it too; have Naruto both come from poverty and humble beginnings, but also have been the chosen one all along who was always going to become the big damn hero. Frustrating.

[price1972]

Recent finishes and back from the framers. ❤️

And what I’m working on, a Winnie the Pooh birth sampler for my granddaughter , born Jan 6, 2025

[365sylviaplath]

In Memoriam: Pluto in Capricorn

Y'all Mind if I Go Listicle on This One

setting the scene- pluto first entered capricorn on january 25th, 2008. retrograde sent it back to sagittarius for a few months over the summer (6/14/08 - 11/25/08) and 11/26/08 and beyond, it's been pluto in capricorn. pluto is currently in its final degree of capricorn. we had brief previews of pluto in aquarius (3/23/23 - 6/11/23 and 1/20/24 - 9/1/24), and from the afternoon of 11/19/24 forward, we will be in pluto in aquarius until 2043.

a sampler of news headlines from january/early february 2008:

"Stock markets around the world plunge amid growing fears of a U.S. recession, fueled by the 2007 subprime mortgage financial crisis."

"U.S. President George W. Bush says Israel must return to its pre-1967 borders to enable the establishment of a Palestinian state."

"Israel blocks fuel to the Gaza City power plant, causing a citywide blackout."

"George W. Bush delivers his final State of the Union Address as President of the United States"

"President Vladimir Putin says Russia would target its missiles at Ukraine if it threatened Russia's national security."

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture stands down two employees as part of its investigation of the biggest meat recall in United States history."

"WHO declares global tobacco control efforts and an approach to avoid tens of millions of premature deaths by the middle of this century."

"Bird flu cases in poultry spread in India, as the H5N1 virus infects seven districts in the state of West Bengal."

"Writers Guild of America strike (2007–present): Hollywood writers reach tentative agreement with the major movie studios."

in summary- end of Bush presidency, 2008 election, bird flu, attempts at nicotine control, war against Palestinians, imminent economic collapse, Russia/Ukraine, hollywood on strike, recalled meat, also several countries trying to get YouTube outlawed. imagine!

Wow crazy! What's Pluto's deal?

what does it mean for pluto to be in capricorn? pluto is the planet of transformation, destruction, rebirth, hidden truths, generational/societal shifts, and it's currently in capricorn, the sign of practicality, hard work/professional ambition, and leadership. capricorn, the zodiac's father figure. the merger of the two means slow-moving and long-lasting change in life/career path, family/societal structures (i.e patriarchy), financial systems, so on. pretty telling that we started this transit with a global financial crisis and now we're......here! posts circulate periodically about empires lasting ~250 years, which is about as long as it takes for a pluto return. if we're taking the US to have been "born" on 7/4/1776, the US' natal pluto placement is capricorn! never in the history of the US has pluto been back into its birth sign of capricorn until 2008. this placement means the US's foundation is one of these qualities listed above- built on patriarchy, conservatism, so on. this pluto return was technically in 2022 (around 27 degrees capricorn) and the effects could be felt +/- a few years on each side, since pluto moves so slowly. i think most would say the US (as we've known it) has been forced to confront the ugly sides of its foundations since 2020!

anyway, on with the pop culture highlight reel for pluto in capricorn. remembering the themes i described above (conservative/family values, patriarchy, financial systems, etc), let us look back.....

Pluto in Capricorn - Pop Culture Notables

(a non-exhaustive list, prioritizing my Most Memorable. Forgetting stuff is inevitable but this is a hell of a list)

- a moodboard for visual accompaniment - please support me getting into Pinterest

MOVIES:

Avatar, the Twilight series, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Moonlight, Inception, Get Out, La La Land, Zero Dark Thirty, The Social Network, The Blind Side, Ex Machina, The Wolf of Wall Street, the Fifty Shades series, Black Swan, all of the Jennifer Lawrence x Bradley Cooper movies, The Help, High School Musical 3, the Minions franchise, John Krasinski war hero arc, Interstellar, every single Marvel movie (minus the first 3 Spiderman movies, those were pluto in Sag), Frozen, The Dark Knight, Zootopia, the last 3 Harry Potter movies, Hunger Games series, Lady Bird, Call Me By Your Name, Parasite, Hereditary, the Hangover movies, 21 Jump Street series, Step Brothers, Project X, Bridesmaids, A Star is Born, Crazy Rich Asians, the Magic Mike series, Hidden Figures, the To All The Boys movies, Easy A, the Kick-Ass series (important to the Aaron Taylor Johnson fans)

TV:

indulge me as i go in depth on this....

Reality TV continues to expand after the early 2000s boom (a direct product of the writers strike)- Jersey Shore, RuPaul's Drag Race, every Real Housewives city after the original (Orange County), Are You The One, Love Island, Love is Blind/dating shows on streaming services, the rise of Nick Lachey -hosted competition/reality shows, the Love & Hip Hop franchise, Vanderpump Rules, Shark Tank, Basketball Wives, MasterChef, grandfathering in Keeping up with the Kardashians (first aired months before pluto into cap), Below Deck, Dance Moms, Impractical Jokers, Chopped MTV - Teen Wolf, Awkward, Girl Code/Guy Code, 16 and Pregnant, Teen Mom, Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory, Silent Library, Skins, Ridiculousness, Catfish Huge Cartoon Network moment- Adventure Time, Regular Show, The Amazing World of Gumball, Chowder, Steven Universe, the Total Drama series (grandfathered in from pluto in sag) Disney & Nickelodeon - Shake It Up, Sonny with a Chance, Phineas and Ferb, Wizards of Waverly Place, Good Luck Charlie, The Suite Life on Deck, Victorious, Big Time Rush, True Jackson VP, iCarly (grandfathered in from pluto in sag) Revivals - Cribs, Punk'd, Fear Factor, Twin Peaks, The X-Files, Fuller House, Rush Hour tv series, Girl Meets World, iCarly, Queer Eye, Sex and the City: And Just Like That, That 90's Show, Arrested Development, Fraiser, Futurama, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, Rugrats More shows I want to mention but didn't want to categorize- Modern Family, Parenthood, The Vampire Diaries, Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Community, Game of Thrones, American Ninja Warrior, Cake Boss, Lena Dunham's GIRLS, Broad City, The Walking Dead, Downton Abbey, Pretty Little Liars, The Great British Bake Off, Storage Wars, Glee, Sherlock, Tosh.0, South Park, Supernatural (grandfathered in from pluto in sag)

MUSIC:

i have spoken for so long about television that i will just direct the audience to this Spotify playlist of vetted pluto in capricorn hits (thank you to this playlist creator) - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5XALIurWS8TuF6kk8bj438?si=4cd575cfa9564201

MISC/EVENTS:

the transition from myspace to facebook, majorrrrr social media takeover- instagram, tiktok, twitter, tumblr, vine, snapchat, yikyak, reddit, BeReal, skype/oovoo, so on - all either founded or gained traction, social media becomes a career, Amazon buys Whole Foods, Occupy Wall Street, gay marriage legalized, the entire Obama presidency, rise of Donald Trump's political career and presidency, #MeToo movement, "incels", formation of BLM, Colin Kaepernick takes a knee during NFL national anthem and causes nationwide outrage, Nationwide 2020 BLM protests and marches, increased visibility on police brutality (w/ the rise of social media, body cam requirements, etc), more anti-racist organizations and coalitions created across racial groups following the creation of BLM and 2020 racial unrest, strengthening of the alt-right pipeline and supporting right-wing sycophants/"influencers", Joe Rogan podcast, Pokemon GO to the polls, both Prince William and Prince Harry's royal weddings, Tiger Woods cheating scandal, rise of bizarre celebrity sexting scandals (notably: many celebs with capricorn placements), Jonas Brothers purity rings, Gisele Bündchen & Tom Brady's first baby (NOTE: PLUTO IS CHANGING SIGNS AND GISELE IS CURRENTLY PREGNANT AGAIN W/ HER NEW MAN'S BABY), formation of Odd Future, Lady Gaga's meat dress, Beyoncé's children, Kim Kardashian's 72-day marriage, Bieber Fever, Bangerz era Miley Cyrus, Summer 2016, Hot Girl Summer, One Direction/boyband takeover, Charlie Sheen's hashtag winning moment, Caitlyn Jenner tell-all, Bobby Shmurda’s arrest, Free Britney, Ben Affleck x JLo notably first happened right before pluto in cap and they got back together right at the tail end of pluto in cap, the infamous white and gold or blue and black dress, the term Girlboss, the Ice Bucket Challenge, Hamilton, the rise of fanfiction, the rise of Buzzfeed and listicle journalism, Fyre Festival scam, Fenty Beauty launched, growing concerns about the electric grid, the rise of streaming services, the iPhone absolutely dominates the cell phone market and we all have supercomputers on us 24/7, e-cigs and vapes more commercially available in response to anti-cigarette campaigns, the iPad, Angry Birds/Candy Crush and the affiliates, COVID, rise of remote work, "Adele Dazeem", David Cook winning American Idol over David Archuleta (see: title photo for this post), self driving cars, new wave of the opioid overdose epidemic, AI takeover

See also: Fall Out Boy's version of Billy Joel's We Didn't Start the Fire - has a handful of pre-pluto in cap events but close enough

NOTABLE CELEBRITY DEATHS:

Michael Jackson, Brittany Murphy, Heath Ledger, Prince, Christina Grimmie, Cameron Boyce, Amy Winehouse, Aretha Franklin, Steve Jobs, George Michael, Whitney Houston, Chadwick Boseman, David Bowie, Toni Morrison, Carrie Fisher, Donna Summer, Nelson Mandela, Cory Monteith, Naya Rivera, Robin Williams, bell hooks, Anthony Bourdain, Pop Smoke, Mac Miller, Nipsey Hussle, James Gandolfini, Paul Walker, Alexander McQueen, Chester Bennington, Virgil Abloh, Lil Peep, Avicii, Joan Rivers, XXXTentacion, George HW and Barbara Bush, John McCain, Nancy Reagan, Hugh Hefner, Dick Clark, Margaret Thatcher, Queen Elizabeth II, Henry Kissinger

we exit this crazy transit having had:

a deep exploration of werewolf/vampire stories (often, allegories for capitalism)

the rise of reality tv through unfair conditions for tv workers

more copaganda in direct response to increased organizing around police brutality

a film industry dominated by military-funded superhero movies

popularization of Girlbossing alongside the destruction of labor rights

the rise of social media and its monetization

cigarettes reinventing themselves and then the OGs making a comeback

a considerable embrace of ""traditional"" values

a slow decay of the concept of celebrity

numerous financial crises and major changes to the workforce

everyone now has to have a smartphone and thus, the ability to work 24/7 from anywhere

the highest measured period of unemployment in several decades (spring 2020)

a very bootstrappy approach to global pandemic response

AI becoming increasingly popular- especially since the first dip of pluto into aquarius

and now, a fresh resurgence of 2024 Cougar movies (The Idea of You, A Family Affair, Lonely Planet and very soon, Babygirl).

What a ride. Onto the next era….

[coffeecatstitch]

Went to costa to work on another of my current WIPs, this birth sampler for my sister!

I have until February ISH to get it done, but I'm hoping to have the majority done by the end of the year

[swordshapedleaves]

Tuesday Indie Game Tabletop Sampler Weekly noon to 4 PDT

I donated to a couple charity bundles on itch.io last year and now I find myself the owner of several hundred games. I'd love to run/facilitate a series of one shots and short campaigns (up to ten sessions but preferably under 8) going through this collection. There's also a few games that seem to be very foundational for other games that I'd like to try out like Apocalypse World, Blades in the Dark, and Monster of the Week. These games would happen in my private discord server, which we would use for voice chat during games. We'd use roll 20 for our VTT needs, and google docs and sheets for shared documents we all need to edit.

Your Game Organizer: Hi, I'm MercifulWombat (37they/he)! I've been playing TTRPGs over 20 years, mostly d&d but there's been a ton of other games along the way. I don't mind crunch but I'm not a fan of d100 systems. I'm here to tell a cool story and I just find that level of granularity to be more trouble than its worth. My GM style is mostly a Miss Frizzle vibe. I'm here to take you on a wild ride and help your characters grow so I hope you feel empowered to "take chances, make mistakes and get messy!" I do tend to keep characters safer than I should though and it's something I'm working on. I welcome corrections when I get a rule wrong but may opt to homebrew if I don't like RAW.

Your Fellow Players: This group is rising from the ashes of a d&d5e campaign that stalled out through a combination of my burnout and some medical issues that required a 3 month hiatus anyway. Some of the players are sticking around, but not all. We're pretty much all queer and autistic or ADHD. Our current age range is late 20s to late 30s. English is the language we all speak but we currently have a German player and have had other ESL players in the past.

You: You are an adult whose birth year is 2000 or earlier. You are respectful of other people's boundaries and identities. You are here to have a good time and make some friends. You may not be interested in every game we try but are mostly down to try new games. You could even be interested in running one now and then. You don't need any prior experience playing rpgs.

If you're interested in joining, please send me a message and I'll send you a link to a google form application.

[somediyprojects]

Long Dog Samplers: Hare Presumptive stitched by Long Dog Samplers. Pattern (£8.10) designed by Julia Line.

From Resolution & Independence William Wordsworth 1802 All things that love the sun are out of doors; The sky rejoices in the morning's birth; The grass is bright with rain-drops;—on the moors The hare is running races in her mirth; And with her feet she from the plashy earth Raises a mist, that, glittering in the sun, Runs with her all the way, wherever she doth run.

The ancient spotlight mounted above the drawbridge at Castle Long Dog falls today on Betsy's delightful Hare Presumptive which I'm really pleased about as it's only held in place by a piece of old twine and I was afraid it would just fall.

Betsy decided to work on 40# cream Newcastle linen 1 over 2 and her admirable choice of thread was Classic Colour Works Belle Soie in Tulip. 🌷  it took precisely three skeins and things got so tight when she got to the last 20-25 stitches that Betsy was forced to raid her orts jar for long enough pieces to finish.  But she made it, oof!  Have a glass of wine 🍷 dear lady while your blood pressure returns to normal.

I wonder why the left over bits of thread are called orts.  Does anybody know?

Oh good grief!  Not again, Quill has just entered covered in "plashy earth".  There's a big muddy puddle by the back door and he's fallen in again.  It's rather more than a mist he's raising but it certainly seems to be following him wherever he's been.  And it has a curious odour all of its own..... a mixture of midden and marmalade.

—Julia Line, designer

[wei75631]

[Prologue: The Incubation Point of Gaia’s Dream]

Opening: The Crack in the Egg The story does not begin, as in previous entries, with a “transfer student,” but with the birth of a life. Deep within the central Nature Tower of Mikage Ryū no Mori Academy—at the threshold between the Lost World and the Real World—lies a liminal cavern known as the Dragon Vein Core Grotto. In this space, where environmental imbalance and psychic resonance reach their extremes, an egg resembling fossilized stone suddenly cracked.

As faint pulses of light rippled outward, a girl slowly awakened from within the shell. She stood barefoot on the damp Dragon Vein bedrock, her pupils elongated like serpents’. Her speech came in broken fragments and her movements were sluggish, as though she were an as-yet incomplete life form—primitive and unindividualized, an “existence” yearning to take shape. Without name or language, she could only begin to learn the world through mimicking the behaviors of those around her.

The academy’s emergency response team wrapped her in an improvised uniform and brought her back to the campus. The young prodigy student Tomoomi Amakawa looked at her with a gentle smile and said, “You hatched from an egg, right? Then you decide for yourself what your name will be.” From that moment onward, the protagonist’s name became whatever the player chose—and her existence unveiled Persona 6’s core question: “If self emerges from the depths of Dragon Vein memory, then what does it mean to be human?”

Entering the Academy: Simulating Humanity and Observation The protagonist was not an ordinary student but a “Persona Resonance Subject,” temporarily housed within Mikage Ryū no Mori Academy’s residential quarters. Having no official residence or enrollment record, yet looking no older than a first-year high school girl, the school placed her in the Integrated Environmental Curriculum to monitor whether her emerging personality remained stable. Caught between “unofficial student” and “resonance sample,” she was treated as an experimental persona drawn from nature itself. In this ambiguous social position, she gradually learned what language, relationships, boundaries, and emotions meant through her interactions with peers.

First Encounters: The Marks of Companionship Through everyday life at the academy, four future companions became her first windows into humanity:

Tomoomi Amakawa: The young observer was the first to understand that her “birth was not human.” He treated her with cold rationality, calling her “an observation sample.” Entranced by the animated graphics playing on his computer, she began mimicking his speech patterns and posture—marking the first steps of persona imitation.

Himari Tsukishima: On the solar-powered farm, she taught the newcomer how to plant and harvest. Noticing the girl’s bare feet, Himari offered her a pair of shoes. That was the protagonist’s first sense of “helping another person equals warmth.” From Himari, she learned care and protection and developed an attachment tendency.

Renji Minase: Assigned by the administration as her “physiological data sampler,” he once unintentionally touched her wrist, triggering the girl’s instinctual defense—her pupils constricting, a low growl escaping her throat. From Renji’s calm observation and subsequent conversation, she learned that “fear and understanding can coexist.”

Hajime Kazami: A straightforward free spirit, he never recoiled from the girl’s strangeness. Instead, he exclaimed with admiration, “This is amazing! Are you a dinosaur princess?” That was the first time she felt a positive response to “being different,” prompting her to start imitating his clothing style and tone of voice.

These four encounters not only forged her connection to the world but also stamped her emerging persona with its foundational archetypes.

The Lost World: The Birthplace of Summoning One day, the protagonist joined teachers and classmates on a field trip to the top floor of the Nature Tower. As she approached the glass greenhouse, the space warped suddenly—ripping open a fissure from the Lost World that swallowed everything nearby. Shadow creatures poured through the rift, sending students into a panicked flight. But the girl could not run; her body reacted to fear first.

Her fingertips elongated into claws, her pupils narrowed, her spine arched, and a long tail unfurled behind her. She let out a low, guttural roar, as if some ancient voice had awakened from her blood. This was not summoning; it was an instinctive counterstrike from Earth’s unconsciousness. For the first time, she manifested a Dragon Vein Persona mask—not by will, but because the entire natural system regarded her as “an extension of itself.” That defensive response drove back the shadows and saved everyone present.

One student—Himari—had been pinned beneath the shadows, on the brink of being consumed. The protagonist leaped forward to shield her, speaking no words, only unleashing a beastly growl. It was not anger but protection. As she stood before the fractured glass dome, the sight before her was a being that had “never existed in history”—part beast, part human, an unnamable primeval presence. In that instant, the rift tore even deeper. It was not a catastrophe but the world’s unconscious echoing back to human civilization.

The protagonist was not a victim; she was the bridge within the rift—connecting nature and civilization, unconscious and conscious. Witnesses were stunned by her power, yet they understood that she was neither human nor foe. This event became the story’s watershed moment, cementing her role as “the genesis of Persona masks” and “the bridge between bestial instinct and humanity.” Through her existence, the world would have to redefine what “persona” truly meant—and, ultimately, what it meant to be “human.”

[mama-ghostie-61542]

Synchronicity--Chapter Six

Kinda fluffly, but still NSFW So NO MINORS!!!!

Synchronicity— The term synchronicity (syn = with, chronos = time) is the simultaneous occurrence of events (or coincidences) which apparently have no clear cause but are deeply meaningful.

However, please remember this small detail........There is no such thing as coincidence. Every single meeting was planned on the other side of the veil before birth. It was given to you in the dossier you are supposed to read before you are sent off to be washed of memory. 

"Actual dialogue"

<text messages>

"Phone calls"

^Telepathy^

*Astral speak*

Memory(--ie; ^Telepathy^ or “Actual Dialogue”)

Chapter Six

Yoongi PoV

                Annah fixed herself a small cup of coffee as I pulled the cover from my meal.

                "Don't drink that," I shouted as I put my hand over her mug. Then I grabbed the carafe and smelled the liquid. Damnit, JIN!

                "What," she asked, confused.

                "Asshole used whiskey instead of water. I told him you don't drink, but," I trailed off.

                "Easy, Papi," she cooed. "He's not the only person able to pull a prank."

                Now it was my turn to be confused.

                "Our correct order will be up in fifteen minutes. Jin's, however. Well, let’s say there was a bachelorette party tonight and some leftover pasta. Also, the line cooks all grew up with me, so they are playing along. Put your phone on the table."

                "Why?"

                "Cause in five minutes, he will call, screeching."

                She sat back so cool, calm, and collected as she reached up under the table and pulled out a few cans of pop.

                I admit, I had almost forgotten how cold and cunning she could be when provoked. How ruthless she can be when she's wronged.

                In four minutes, my phone lit up. I touched the screen to answer it and put it on speaker.  "Yeah," I answered.

                "That girl is a demon," Jin screeched, "She didn't mess up the order, everything is here, but it's all shaped like dongs! You better warn her that I'm gonna tell Dad!"

                Then, he turned his camera to his plate. He was right, everything from his steak to the pasta, was in the shape of male parts. And it wasn't just the shape. The steak was alright, if a little funny to look at. The pasta, however, left little to the imagination. Not only the shape, but they were, umm, shades of pink.

                I lost it when I looked up to see her face placid and still. She just picked up her pop and sipped at it, calmly, as he ranted and raved about her pranking him back.

                Suddenly, she interjected, "Teaches ya not to fuck with me, don't it."

                Jin just gulped air and started shrieking all over again.

                "Jinj. Manjia E statti zitto."

                His rant came to a dead stop as I fought off the laughter that threatened to bubble up.

                "What?"

                "It's Italiano. Means 'Shut up and eat'. You wanna be a dick, have fun eating a buncha tiny dicks. Now," she sighed before snarkily finishing, "Chew, chew, motherfucker."            

                Then she calmly ended the call, while I laid my head on the table and laughed.

                About the time she hung up, the food got to her room. "I told them you like to try local stuff, but, huh, immigrants, so not much is 'local'. But the boys down in the kitchen were gracious enough to send up a sampler."

                The bellboy who had brought up the mess with Jin, grinned and placed two covered platters before me. Upon whipping the tops off, I could smell something yummy.

                "Here are Toasted Pepitas, Fire Roasted Hot Wings, and Seared Scallops with Cream Corn, Poblano Risotto and Red Pepper for you, Sir. For the lady, the Filet and a side salad. For dessert, Chocolate Tower Cake for two. Have a nice night, Annah."

                When she tried to tip him, he chuckled, "Nope. Your money is no good to me," as he exited her room.

                As I ate, a text came through from the boss.            

                <"Don't forget about the Live in five.">

                "Aw, Shit!"

                "What, Babe," Annah said as she looked up from the remains of her meal.

                "Forgot I have a live to do. I should go."

                "Just do it here. That way you can finish eating. I'll go shower so you are alone."

                "Alright," I nodded. "I'll keep it as short as I can."

                "Take your time, Miee," she said as she cupped my face in her small hands. "There's no need to rush just for me." Her pretty blue eyes were soft and full,

                I smiled as I gently supported her wrists, "I'll rush anywhere for you."

                As she gathered up her pajamas, Annah chuckled, "Don’t hurt yourself. Now get to work, ya flirt."

                I waited until the bathroom door closed and the water started before I logged in and went live. In the chat, as I ate, there must have been a thousand girls asking about the woman in the photo. Some others who were just in the chat were asking about what woman and quite a few girls posted pics of Annah and me. I will admit the images weren't the best ones of me, but Annah. Now, Annah had been in the perfect spot and shone like a goddess. A lot of Army's were congratulating me on 'Finding my Ghost', while others were mad that I would even consider an older American woman. I apologized and rushed off of the live in a grand total of fifteen minutes with the excuse that I had just gotten in and wanted to wash up and sleep.

                After closing everything, I snuck over to the bathroom door and placed my hand on the knob. To my surprise, she hadn't locked it. I poked my head in and did my best to stare at the floor as I said, "All done, Annah."

                She chuckled, low and warm in her chest, and sighed as she turned.

                The rustle of the curtain caught me off guard and I looked up to check on her. It was entirely a reflex, but I was damned glad I did. A thin, white, plastic shower curtain was all that hung between her and me. I could see the silhouette of her curves behind that sheet. I could see the swell of her stomach, where she had carried the kids. She turned just right, and I could see her butt, legs, and boobs, all at once.

                How many times had I dreamed of this. The unsettling feeling of deja vu landed on me and I knew I had seen this somewhere before. Only the choice I had made then was to calmly back out and hide the image away in my mind, to recall later when want turned to need. My hands almost ached to touch, to claim what was already mine. I could almost feel her soft skin under my hands.

                I leaned against the counter and said, "Hey, Annah."

                She almost climbed the tile as she yelled, "Jesus Fucking Christ, Yoongi!!" Annah giggled, "I know what ya want, Darlin. But the answer is no."

                "Why? It wouldn't be the first time."

                "It would! You haven't seen me before."

                "That never stopped us before, Woman. Or need I remind you of all the nights spent dreaming of me and me of you? The sleepless nights spent in erotic dreams. Not to mention all of the shenanigans we got up to in the telepathy."

                "Yoongi," she gasped.

                "What," I growled as the scent of sweet pea and violets filled the air. Inhaling her scent, I hummed, before speaking, "Your soap smells divine. I wonder if you will taste as delicious as you smell."

                As the words left my lips, I saw her silhouette shiver behind the curtain.

                "Remember, Darling, I don't need to physically touch you. Close your eyes, and don't turn around," I ordered as I stood. "You, Ghost, have become a pro at teasing me," I paused to pull my sweater over my head. "But even my patience has an end," I said as I removed my remaining clothing. "Besides, it's my turn to shower," I said as I rushed in behind her.

                Annah shrieked and hugged the wall, under the spray. She stood there, cupping her girls, her beautiful, strong back and fantastic ass bared to me. I could only imagine what those globes would look like with my handprint and bitemarks on them.

                "Darling, why are you acting so nervous? You are acting like this is the first time. You and I both know better," I said as I trailed my fingertips down her back delicately. "Ghost, look at me."

                "Nope."

                "Why," I chuckled.

                All of a sudden, I knew why she would not turn. The woman was blushing like mad.

                "Are you seriously blushing?"

                "No," she croaked.

                "You are! Wah! All this time between us, and I can still make you blush. That, right there, is a gold star for me!"

                "Shut up," she chuckled.

                "No, Ma'am," I grinned and wrapped my arms around her from behind and kissed her cheek before turning her to face me. Her eyes were closed up tight. "Hey," I whispered, "It's just me. I promise I won't do anything you don't want."

                "Really," she asked as she looked up at me. Her blue-green eyes are so pretty.

                "Honest."

                As the words left my lips, I felt hers on my bottom lip. How many times had either of us dreamt of kisses; from slow and sensual ones to deep and passionate ones, our shared dreams ran the gamut. But this, this was tentative and tender, and so very sweet. It was all I could do to kiss back.

                After a second, as she pulled back, I mumbled, "No."

                As the haze cleared from her eyes and she understood what I had said, but before she could speak, my thumb was already residing in the cleft of her chin as I pulled her back into me and kissed her, right and proper. Our lips began the age-old dance we both knew so well. My hand trailed down her neck and gently, but firmly, grasped her. If there was ever a time for tenderness it was during our reconnection. However, tenderness always seems to give way to passion and tonight was shaping up to be no different.

                Her hands were resting on my chest as I gathered her to me, willing the fire in me to mark every inch of her flesh as mine. She lapped delicately, but with such heat at my bottom lip, that I shivered in return; only to hear her hum of approval as I  did as she asked with that gesture and deepened the kiss. Tongues languidly fought for dominance, drawing out ragged huffs, whimpers, and whines. We broke apart, only to dive back in.

                Sometimes, I forget how hot and fast her blood is. And how the blood, now pounding in her own veins, calls to mine, singing a song that only mine understands. There were no words spoken between us; every gasp and sigh that filled the space was a language all its own.  Somehow, I knew what she wanted, how to touch, where, and when, before she knew herself. 

                The water suddenly went cold.

                We parted again, shivering. However, it was not from the coolness of the water beating down on us. To be quite honest, when we are that wound up, cold does very little to diminish the ardor.

                "Finish up," I ordered, though I was the one who had yet to wash. "Wait for me."

                She stepped under the flow and quickly stepped back out to leave me to my cold, lonely shower. I swear, it was the quickest shower I have ever taken to date.

                As I rounded the corner, out of the bathroom, I saw her on the bed. She had slipped her nightgown on and was sitting back against the pillows she had piled up behind her.

                "Who said to put this on," I growled as I gripped the delicate fabric.

                "Please, don't tear this one too, Haka. Give me a second," she said as she struggled to pull her gown over her head.

                At her plea, a memory of our shared past floated to the surface. How many of her chemises did I destroy in the past. I could count at least a dozen from what tiny snippet of time I was shown. There was one that was re-spun black silk that left little to imagination, it was so sheer. If I remember right, her bindings and panties never seemed to last long either, she was always repairing them, yelling at me all the while.

                I nodded and helped her to slide the gown back over her head. As it cleared her, I balled it up and threw it across the room, paying no mind to where it landed.

                If I didn't want before, I was aching now, but I knew better than to rush. She needed me to show her the control I still had at the moment, though it was quickly slipping through my fingers. In all truth, I had a white knuckled grip on my control, and it was taking every bit of sheer willpower to slow down. That primal part of me wanted to throw her back and feel her around me now. But I knew better. This thing between us was not made for a quick coupling, but rather for the long, slow, sensual ruin of reconnection. For I knew, we would, in fact, ruin each other for anyone else.

                My hands found her hips and pulled her into me before tenderly caressing her spine and dipping in for another round of languid hot kisses. The silk of her skin held me entranced as I stepped her closer to the bed.

                Helping her up onto the surface, I growled, "On your knees. Don't close your eyes."

                She steadied herself with her hand on my chest. I covered her small hand with my own and cupped her head with the other, proceeding to whisper on the flesh under her ear, "Tell me to stop."

[tallgreenlady]

tmi

Holy SHIT i forgot how heavy my period was when i wasn’t on birth control. I had a stray ultra tampon from some sampler pack and I bled through it in 4 hours, what the hell.

[grantgoddard]

Congratulations on the birth of music genre 'world music'! : 1987 : The Empress of Russia, London

WORLD MUSIC? The phrase is used with such regularity by the media in recent times that you might think the term had existed forever. But 'world music' was in fact a name artificially created by a small group of music industry people who met monthly during 1987 in a public house in London, England (somewhat appropriately named 'The Empress Of Russia'). 'World music' was devised as an appropriate answer to a simple problem.

Since the early 1980's, a handful of small, independent record labels had sprung up in Britain that were releasing music recorded in Africa, East Europe, Asia and Latin America. These record companies were not interested in the traditional music or quaint 'ethnic' recordings from these continents that western record companies had dabbled in since the earliest days of the phonograph. Instead, upstart labels such as Earthworks, Globestyle and Sterns were interested in bringing the vibrant, contemporary, popular music from other continents to the attention of music fans in Europe and North America. The problem was that record stores throughout the western world had no obvious place to display or file such recordings in their inventory. A record-buyer looking for an album by, for example, The Super Rail Band in music stores had no obvious place to find it. It could be in the 'folk' section, though it was not folk music. It might be in the soul section ("well, the musicians are black, aren't they?") but the music certainly was not soul. So The Super Rail Band was most likely to end up in the 'S' division of the huge 'rock/pop' alphabet, lost in a sea of pouting, preening third-rate mediocrity.

The independent record companies were frustrated by this situation and hurting financially. The potential buyers of their releases were failing to find these albums in record stores. And the record stores were caught in the middle of the situation. If they ordered this type of music product, where should they file it to maximise sales? It was a real problem for all parties. By 1987, a label such as Globestyle had developed an extensive catalogue of 25 album titles, and there needed to be an obvious single point in every record store where potential buyers could find its releases.

The result was a series of regular meetings in 'The Empress of Russia' attended by the managers of twelve pioneering British record labels, as well as DJ's of the few radio shows that played this music, and representatives of record distributors that specialised in this music. By the third meeting, the ad hoc group had agreed upon the name 'world music' as descriptive of all their releases, and each record company contributed £50 per album title towards a jointly funded generic marketing campaign.

Twelve-inch plastic divider cards with the words 'WORLD MUSIC' emblazoned across the top were distributed to every record store across Britain, enabling each to establish a brand new section in its display of album sleeves (this was the pre-CD era). 25,000 copies were distributed of a single-sheet, monochrome leaflet that listed 73 albums available from the twelve record companies. Press releases explaining and describing this new genre called 'world music' were sent to everyone on a media list created by pooling the contacts of the individual record companies.

The interest from all sections of the British media was overwhelming. Many magazines and newspapers ran feature articles about the campaign, as well as spotlights on individual artists whose recordings were being promoted. In October 1987, the popular weekly music newspaper 'NME' produced a special 'NME World Music Cassette' which acted as a sampler for all the record labels' individual releases. By the end of the year, the term 'world music' had been adopted as a new genre of music, not only in Britain, but across Europe.

And what exactly did the phrase 'world music' mean? One of the press releases produced in the marketing campaign explained: "Trying to reach a definition of 'world music' provoked much lengthy discussion [within the committee], and finally it was agreed that it means practically any music that isn't, at present, catered for by its own category e.g.: reggae, jazz, blues, folk. Perhaps the common factor unifying all these world music [record] labels is the passionate commitment of all the individuals to the music itself."

Eleven years later, the debate about the meaning of 'world music' continues to ignite much passion, but the original campaign succeeded beyond its participants' wildest dreams. A section of 'world music' – whatever it is – can now be found in music stores across the western world.

[First published in 'Toronto World Arts Scene' magazine, August 1998(??)]

POSTSCRIPT: How do I know? Because I was there.

[original: https://peoplelikeyoudontworkinradio.blogspot.com/2024/08/congratulations-on-birth-of-music-genre.html ]