#ESC-verse

[zepskies]

More of This

Pairing: Russell Shaw x F. Reader

Summary: Welcoming Russell home, where he belongs.  

AN: Here it is - bonus drabble time!~ This can be a stand-alone, but it’s really a snippet missing from Lost Time in the Every Second Counts-verse. Using the GIF above from 2x02 specifically for the hair flip. It did things to me... 😮‍💨 (But there are NO spoilers for 2x02).

Shoutout to @impala-dreamer who helped inspire this in our @jacklesversebingo chat. 😂

Word Count: 900

Tags/Warnings: 18+ only. Smut and feels, small tinge of angst. Russell's hair. Tattoos. Everything really.

💜 Series Masterlist  

“Welcome home,” you whispered into his mouth.

All Russell could offer was a breathless sound, caught somewhere between an agreement and a groan of pleasure. He was being treated to a feast of the eyes as you rode him slow in the comfort and safety of your bed.

Your lips didn’t quite manage to connect with his in a kiss, with heavy breaths in between and a deliberate roll of your hips against his. He’d been letting you control the pace of him sheathing home with your every drawn-out thrust.

He was enjoying the show—your hair wild, your pupils blown wide with arousal, being able to palm at your breasts and tease your hardened nipples, kissing your flushed, dewy skin.

But you could feel him getting desperate. His hands moved down your body over soft curves, just for his fingers to squeeze into the flesh of your hips and ass, trying to ground himself in you. His eyes shut and his head fell back into the pillow. You bent down and fastened your lips to his neck, kissing and sucking hard there. He slid a hand up your back and buried it in your hair.

“Takin’ me so well, baby,” he said, his voice deep and rough, and a bit strained. “But you’re torturing me a little bit.”

You giggled breathlessly into his neck. Your tone was playful and coy when you replied, “What do you mean?”

You made a show of raising your hips, letting his hard length slide out of your wet heat all the way to the tip, before you slowly sunk back down. You shifted your hips along the way, until the thick head of him was nestled deep and pressing against your cervix. You both panted for breath. Even your arms were shaking while holding yourself above him.

“Yeah, think you’re trying to kill me,” Russell uttered. “Suppose there’s worse ways to go…”

“Fuck,” you muttered, releasing into a moan. The languid drag of his cock against your inner walls was good, but nowhere near enough at this point.

Maybe you were done teasing him, as well as yourself. Maybe you were done punishing him for taking one contract job after another, taking so long to get back, and making you worry about him and his safety. Your lips made their way back to his cheek, laying a sweeter kiss there.

“Okay.” You smiled against his skin. “How about you fuck me like it’s been three months, not three weeks. I wanna feel you come hot inside me—”

Russell wouldn’t even wait for you to finish the dirty whispers already setting his blood alight. His tattooed arm wrapped around your back and pulled you flush against his chest. He manhandled you seemingly without much effort, twisting you onto your back and having you laid out underneath him.

You let out a huff as your back met the mattress and made the springs squeak. Your head barely made it onto the pillow where his head had been, but your boyfriend wasted little time in grabbing your thighs and angling you just right, guiding you to wrap your legs around his waist. (You didn’t need any encouragement.) He took you hard and deep, making sure he hit that sensitive spot inside you with every thrust.

You gasped and clung to his broad shoulders.

“Right there, sweetheart?” he said near your ear. His voice was rich and gravel. A shiver ran through your body, goaded along with every other sensation he was drawing out of you. You couldn’t even speak. Just a nod and a broken, desperate whimper. Your teeth sunk into your lower lip.

You were holding on for the rest of the ride. If nothing else, Russell had precision, and he was a master of his craft. And that was whatever he set his mind to.

His hand slipped between your bodies for a moment, his fingers searching, and finding, then massaging your swollen clit between thrusts. You cried out in his ear and damn near choked on your own breath, your nails biting into his shoulders. It didn’t take much longer for that tightening coil in your core to finally snap, your inner walls throbbing around his cock.

A curse and a ragged groan fell from his lips as his body locked up on him as well. You felt his body stiffen and the warmth of his release deep inside you. The sensation elicited another shiver down your spine.

You were on birth control, but it still made you feel a bit wild sometimes, whenever he came inside you. You relaxed underneath him with your knees bent, your thighs a soft cradle for his hips.

Russell kept himself upright with his forearms resting on either side of your head. His long hair had slid forward, the brown silky strands tickling your forehead as his panting breaths mingled with yours.

You attempted to brush some of his hair back behind his ears, but it fell forward again, tickling your nose. Russell allowed it on purpose, making you laugh lightly. He grinned in response, but he lowered further to capture your lips in a kiss. He didn’t mind this one being nice and slow.

Even when he parted from you, you still craved more of him. More of this.

You slipped a hand over his bearded cheek, an affectionate caress. A softer smile drew across his lips. He rested his forehead against yours, and he chuckled a little.

“It’s damn good to be home.”

AN: 🫣 Lol hope you enjoyed this one! ❤️‍🔥

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Series Masterlist || Russell Shaw Masterlist

Main Masterlist 

Russell Shaw Tag List:

@kazsrm67 @letheatheodore @agothwithheavysetmakeup @jacklesbrainworms @foxyjwls007

@wincastifer @ades106 @iamsapphine @roseblue373 @rizlowwritessortof

@brianochka @branj19 @hazel-eye-coffee-shop-girl-blog @globetrotter28 @charmed-asylum

@waywardxwords @deanwinchestersgirl87 @this-is-me19 @rachiem4-blog @sweettimelady

@leigh70 @clinicallydepresso @xiphoidbones @skoveu @nyotamalfoy

@kmc1989 @jackles010378 @emily-winchester @waynes-multiverse @jessjad

@my-stories-vault @deans-spinster-witch @syrma-sensei @stellasfictionalworld @ultimatecin73

@jesllianaquilesrolonsworld @pieandmonsters @lhymer1995 @taehyungxjungkookistaekook @lovelystoriesaj

@nicksalchemy1 @spnwoman @onlyangel-444 @sexyvixen7 @illicithallways

@wolkenprinzessin007 @alwaystiredandconfused @carpenterswife @cheynovak @grilledcheeseandtomato

@arcannaa @angelbabyyy99 @twinkleinadiamondsky @ladysparkles78 @mistressofallthingsgeeky

@juno-pixie @deadlydivergentgirl @avada-kedavra-bitch-187 @fanficwriter5 @kayleighwinchester

@isla-finke-blog @kr804573 @corruptedcruiser @deansbbyx @lacilou

@ej13928 @star-yawnznn @djs8891 @stoneyggirl2 @yvonneeeee

@rrahuntersblog @superbouquetgarden @impala67stellawinchester @whimsicalcherry @deanwinchestersgirl8734

@hobby27 @iloveyou2mia @deadlymistletoe @smoothdogsgirl @fanfic-n-tabulous

@samanddeaninatrenchcoat

[purposefully-lost]

I've been lost before, and I'm lost again, I guess

But I never lost this feeling or this pounding in my chest

I have traveled many miles, I don't wanna walk no more

Every road and every highway led me right back to your door

[mayra-quijotescx]

finally got around to subjecting myself to Rotterdam 2021 and now I get why so many people fixated on Daði that year, the song sounds like some spacetime meddler kidnapped him and his bandmates from their dressing room at the 1976 contest right before they were scheduled to go on, but damn if he isn't one of the only contestants in this who can actually sing so far

[konoharfts]

This is so hyper-specific and will only make sense to two other people but here ya go anyway!

(Context is: what if the tokujo from both my Bulletproof Hearts AU and @stressed-sock ‘s Ghost Fire AU somehow meet thanks to spider-verse esc portal shenanigans, and what if they do the glitching thing like in the spider-verse too.)

(DEEPER context: BulletproofHearts!Genma is telling GhostFire!Genma about the whole chakra-as-a-power-source thing they’ve got going on in their universe and showing his blaster as an example.

But because chakra doesn’t exist in the GhostFire!universe - where they are now - the blaster becomes an energy paradox and glitches out of existence, zapping BulletproofHearts!Genma with the Cosmic Ray as a side effect…. Possibly causing a momentary rift in the veil of reality but that’s neither here nor there

The blaster ends up glitching back to it’s original universe, conveniently right beside Izumo and Kotetsu, who are now VERY interested in the space-time jumping energy blaster)

Sock and I have been having so much fun making up silly scenarios (and some serious) for what we’re calling the Ghost Hearts collaborative universe. It’s so fun <<33

EVERYONE GO GIVE SOCK SOME LOVE!!!! GHOST FIRE AU NEEDS MORE FANCLUB MEMBERS!!!

also if you think this is neat Sock posted some other Ghost Hearts art, so check that out too!!!

Okie dokie I’m off to go vote now YIPPEEE!!!!!

[bisnes-socks]

talking about ready to go on this fine sunday evening

the very beginning of the song, before the guitars come in, and it's just like a synth sound, some backing vocals and bass, reminds me of kinda like old school hiphop. an opening like that could easily lead into a real rap beat, it's giving like early 90's and early 2000's hiphop. i was kind of expecting it to go the rap route when i first heard the song! but nope, in comes a siiiiick metal inspired guitar riff (jukka i owe you my life???) that's some chugging, i am also ready to go with a riff like this. hell of an opening.

his vocals come in one style, transition into another, then a new style for the chorus, and yet another for the second verse. FOUR vocal styles for one song. that's not so typical for pop music these days. i love how fearless he is with vocals in general, he's not afraid of sounding weird or funny. and even with the funny voices, he himself never becomes a joke, because he commits and puts his whole back into it. that is genuenly a skill, to be able to be so playful and still be for real.

and his singing in the chorus is good, very pleasing. i especially love his voice with the word"haluut" like he hits some soft vibrato in the second chorus right there, that is some good shit.

and guys. the way the chorus is built. it's incredible.

the long pauses in between words is so good and so... cunty lmao. it's like he is leaving room for the listener to jump to conclusions, only to call you and your mother and the whole country and culture out for being negative nellies who wish artists would fail (context for that can be read here)

so the first time hearing the chorus is like:

sä (who me?) haluut (oh? i do?) nähä (see what 🫣) ku mä (when you what 😳) flomaan taas ojaan kuraiseen (ooooh snap he said that part out loud)

and like i said it's so cunty, it's so deliciously arrogant to open the whole entire album this way, because there is so much space in the chorus to expect all sorts of things. because it could go anywhere. like...

1. sä -> oh he's talking to me now

2. haluut -> he is calling out something i want and desire. that's very disarming as a listener, makes you feel on edge because whatever he is going to claim that you want, you either have to come to terms with him being absolutely bang on the money correct, which means he sees right through you and you feel exposed, or he is going to say something you don't want, which will be a whole different journey, could be funny, could be offputting, could be anything!

3. nähä -> oop, what is it that he thinks i want to see, is this going a voyeristic route? is he going to expose everyone for being horny for him? whatever it is he is calling everyone voyers, basically.

4. ku mä -> it's so very deliciously arrogant to just straight up make a chorus that starts by him straight up telling you, that you, yes YOU, want to see me [do anything]. he's like. you're obsessed with me, aren't you. and he is RIGHT. makes the listener a bit red in the face, don't you think?

5. flomaan taas ojaan kuraiseen / mokaan ja maitojunaan meen -> aaand (finnish) people know exactly where this is going now. he is calling out the culture, he is calling out the haters, he is calling out the negativity and the vahingonilo (schadenfreude?) in this country. and we know exactly who he is talking to, we all know these people.

KING SHIT.

THE CUNT ON HIM to make this the opening track because we know it's aimed at, you know, like Pekka from Janakkala or whatever, who spent all of 2023 huffing and puffing because he thinks this Käärijä business is ridiculous and a waste of time and so he told everyone who was excited about CCC and ESC that ultimately Käärijä would fail and embarrass himself and the whole country. So Jere knows Pekka from Janakkala is still mad that "mikä lie Käärepaperi se nyt oli" actually succeeded and continues to succeed, so he calls that shit out in the first fucken song. It's like he's saying hi to all the haters who put the record on with every intention of trashing it and complaining about it. and it is them to whom he is being like "why are you so obsessed with me honey, why are you here to peep at me, hmm?"

the gaps in the chorus are like the audio equivalent of awkward eye contact you can't escape. he's saying i fucken see you.

and then the one time he modifies the chorus, he says "mä haluun ajaa tosi kovaa, vaik pelti kolisee, hei baby i'm ready to go" and that's him informing everyone that he's going to continue to do whatever he wants to do, he doesn't care if he gets a bit banged up or bruised on the way, because he is ready. and then it goes back to like "you want to see me fail, but i'm ready to go". the confidence in all that is genuenly admirable and something that this culture needs.

and i think the rest of the lyrics, in the verses, are about that too. he's going full speed ahead because he does not care if he stumbles. he's doing what he wants, what he always wanted, it's his passion, and he no longer has anything to lose. he's not afraid of failure. he knows there are people who want to see him fail, because it would confirm their own sad world view, but he does not give a flying fuck and he's not going to let that kind of mindset affect him. so he is fucking ready to go.

and musically, this song combines all of the käärijä elements really well! like i said, the opening sounds first like old school rap, then like metal, then going into more of a dance beat, the use of different vocal styles, a strong message, proper attitude sprinkled with a lot of humour and some twinkle in the eye. and the way he switches between pronouncing ready to go the finnish way and a more "proper english" way, is also a fun little international Käärijä detail.

a banger of a song with the cuntiest attitude we've seen in a while. incredible.

[dandelioneffect]

This is the most underrated post esc release from Käärijä because the styling was amazing, he looks so good in this thumbnail (so does Elastinen), his lyrics are so good, he goes so hard at his verse… what more do I want?

[loulooser]

Here’s some things about me!

My name is Lou online

I’m a MINOR. A MINOR. STOP BEING WEIRD TO ME.

I’m agender

My favourite colour is green

I really like music, drawing little guys, cooking, talking, trans people, watching movies, making friends, wearing clothes, playing games, Spider-Man, being gay etc

I really DISLIKE disruption to routine, super loud people, drum and bass, hypocrites, knowing I’ll die some day, being lonely, socks (no fr I hate hate HATE socks so much), doomed siblings trope (for fucks sake give me a break), John Walker, etc etc

My favourite band is twenty one pilots I am normal about them I SWEAR anyways going on six/seven years of fanhood (since 2018)

I’m a huge Marvel nerd

My top five marvel characters in no particular order:

Phillip J. Coulson (actually my all time fav), Wanda Maximoff, Natasha Romanoff, Loki Laufeyson, Spider-Man (not including spider verse people, that’s a different tier list, butAndrew is the best of the three spider men)

Some of my fav books/series: Gone (Micheal Grant), Itch (Simon Mayo), all of Alice Oseman’s stuff, AGGGTM (Holly Jackson), The Angel Of The Crows (Katherine Addison), all of Darren Shan’s stuff, Skullduggery Pleasant, Ketchup Clouds (Annabelle Pitcher) etc etc also I really like comics (spidey and also Kate bishop’s specifically) (I’m not rich enough to read loads)

My favourite movie is fantastic mr fox

I really like Diggers (the machines)

Favourite animal is rabbits I want one so bad I will name him Peter

My favourite show is Agents Of Shield

I cry a lot (at everything, it sucks and I hate it)

I love love love Les Mis. Watched it in London in October 2024 and I will never recover. Stewart Clarke the Javert that you are <3

I LIKE SONIC!!! I REALLY LIKE SONIC. SHADOW AND SILVER ARE MY TOP TWO.

I’m blessed to be one eighth of the coconut shark gang :0

I would like to own two cats and my own small apartment one day, a cheetah esc print kitty called Jason (Statham) and a black cat called Liho. Both are references and if you get either PLEASE send me an ask saying so ily

I have what can be described as misophonia, but even if I’m not diagnosed please for the love of god don’t make any noises around me I DO bite.

Big fan of fictional old men from the 1800s. Shoutout to them.

I like Nintendo a lot!! Zelda and Animal Crossing my beloved. The 2DS is my favourite console ever (not the stupid 2DSXL)

I really like musicals!! Some honourable mentions: Les Mis, Hamilton, EPIC, Wicked, Six, Heathers (some of it, haven’t seen the whole thing yet), In The Heights, Rogers the musical (SHHH SHH ITS FUNNY), School Of Rock, Hadestown.

I’m a nerd about many things

Im gonna be a software engineer one day

Please send me asks!! My dms are always open for rants or a chat

Navigation:

TAGS FOR POSTS:

#**the reblogger - reblogs

#**the religious text - original posts

#**musical Lou - lyrics/yapping about music

#**lou being gay - me talking about my partner :3 (not active, we broke up actually)

#**lavish bros - tøp posts

#**my FRIENDS - me and my friends

#**marvellous tomfoolery - marvel

#**apple juice flood - fantastic mr fox

#**the wet cat musical - les mis posts

#**silly magic show - arcane

#**epic - epic the musical

#**gay hedgehogs - sonic fandom

#**agents of nothing - agents of shield (beware)

#**hermits - hermitcraft, life series OR anything to do with any member of hermitcraft

#**misc fandom - fandoms I’m in BUT I don’t post about enough to get their own tags

TAGS FOR PEOPLE:

- #shreypilled sheepmaxxer -> @shreysheep

- #dizzy my beloved -> @1nv1s1bl3-r41ndr0p5

- #the11thpeanut -> @nimbvx1015

- #snail enthusiast -> @dewey-1s-my-sp1r1t-an1mal

- #heebling my beeb rn -> @heeblybeebly

- #L being cool -> @quakeismyhero

- #conversing with angels -> @the-angel-academic

- #the nanner -> @bananapudding752

- #fetti party -> @toms-pink-confetti39x

- #goob -> @eats-hummus-cutely

- #red! -> @redwidow616

- #the luteinizer -> @sojirai

- #lieutenant hormone -> @kaoxin

- #chaos control! -> @chaos-pilots-control

- #baller -> @booberrybawls-deactivated202504 (this tag is for archive purposes)

(Note - any posts about a certain character will be tagged as {character} and ships will be {ship} (e.g. {Coulson} or {Fitzsimmons})

COOL POSTS:

Disproving TERFs with biology

Wizard maze.

Shoe lacing patterns that help pains

Reaction templates

Cool art links

Lou’s collection of writing tips/posts

My cat:

Her name was April and she was very cute.

[artzzyb00-27]

||🍕Headcanons🍕;part 1||

Random headcanons about the turtles!

Leo 💙

◊ he's a nerd for animated shows, specifically young hero-esc ones

◊fell in love with Mel from Arcane

◊wants his own pet bird, he thinks they're pretty cool

◊HATES, and I mean hates, when shows or movies force relationships

◊begged Donnie to pirate Spider-verse

◊Pizza is actually his second favorite food, his first favorite food is Onigiri

◊him and Mikey are best friends, no questions asked

Donnie💜

◊going off the pirating Leo head canon, he was going to do it anyway without any of the brothers asking

◊plays Life is Strange games religiously

◊*cries in Before the Storm*

◊him and Raph rewatched Horton Hears a Who actually every night because they loved the singing at the end, had to be giving a time limit by Splinter

◊they even started singing randomly out on patrol and Mikey and Leo just stared at them, Donnie does the high at the end

◊gave his brothers coupons for when they need him to fix things, other than that they need to give him something

◊BTS, anime, manga, video games, the holy grail in this guys mind

Raph❤️

◊favorite disney movies are the underrated ones, specifically Brother Bear and Treasure Planet

◊has a playlist with  GÆ energy

◊Criminal Minds and 9-1-1 are his favorite shows

◊animated show nerd like Leo

◊loves Christmas because of the snow and lights around town

◊Barrios are his favorite parts of town because of the food and culture

◊first time he had enchiladas he shed a tear of happiness

◊favorite drink is Horchata

Mikey🧡

◊as much as he loves pizza, like Leo it's his second favorite

◊favorite food is cheesecake

◊remember Chompy from 2012, yeah, he had a pet red-eared slider turtle named Stripe

◊Phineas and Ferb AT2D is his favorite nostalgia movie

◊convinced his brothers to have a sing a long to iconic 2000's and 2010's songs

◊favorite artist is Elijah Naslin

◊loves oldies music and rock

◊when Nimona came out on Netflix, he related a little too much to the shapeshifter

[idnkycmnbsesictoau]

My thoughts on every song in the grand final, in running order:

Norway: just a good pop song, but definitely one of the better ones this year. Somehow it’s live better than in the music video

Luxembourg: this is so cool, I’m not sure about the beginning with the doll house but we leave that soon enough, and her vocals while being basically manhandled around are so good. Best song in French this year.

Estonia: this is really the only one this year that I can’t stand. Just vocally and his vibe is weird and the song is just not my thing. But boy can he dance

Israel: the voice is amazing and I like the language changes (the switch to French is so smooth I literally didn’t notice it at all the first time I heard it) but other than that it’s just a typical Esc song we have ten of every year

Lithuania: they really managed to make it better, I love the “tavo” getting louder before the band comes in hard. Also the singer is so pretty esp with his hair in the wind like that. I haven’t listened to this song too much because it just makes me feel things that I don’t want to feel all the time

Spain: kind of typical Spanish pop song. The chorus is Very Schlager-y. It also kinda reminds me of mimi cat of Portugal? I have no idea where this could end up

Ukraine: I liked the lowkey national final performance better but the hazey colours make it stand out I think, and I like the lighting bug being passed around. Pretty much flawless as expected

United Kingdom: they look like Disney princesses! And sound like it too! I’m a uk apologist anyway and if they don’t get into the top 10 ok maybe top 15 then I’ll throw something.

Austria: I cannot express in words how perfect he and his voice and the song and the staging is. The last electronic part?? And if you watch the video at 1:45 the switch from the low part to high??! I was shocked.

Iceland: this is just fun all around. The part in the boat where they flip through and the Minecraft squid flying on my screen is great. Nothing much to say except I love them

Latvia: This is perfect except I would have kept the lighting more dark the whole time to keep more of the mysterious forest fairies vibes. This is what the crickets and frogs sing on the first warm night of the year

Netherlands: I wasn’t into this song at first but it grew on me, its an earworm. ce lalalalala vie. Second best song in French this year.

Finland: I’ll be honest I like the song but the live performance doesn’t do it for me. Also I’m of the opinion that using just three random words in another language is lame. I don’t know why they’re even there. At least make a whole verse in german. The giant microphone is still wunderbar though.

Italy: I love the chill vibes and the long piano. Best song in Italian this year.

Poland: I still don’t like the long yells but the rest is good. Also her stamina to do all of that *gestures wildly* while singing is craaaazy. One of the better songs sung by women in skin tight black outfits.

Germany: I can’t really connect to this song like at all. My guess is that it comes from knowing the language which seems ironic. I’d give a lot to just hear this song without knowing a word of german. But anyway her voice is much better than in the nf and the performance is great so I can hope for a good place.

Greece: I wish they had kept the blue colour scheme instead of using red! Greece is blue! The flag is blue! As a fellow glasses wearer I like her but the song again is just one of those songs we hear every year ten times. I wouldn’t say boring but also not exciting.

Armenia: I knew it would qualify once I saw what they’ve done with it. Not my favourite but there’s not much Rock this year so I think it could go far.

Switzerland: third best French song in this final. It’s boring and slow and quiet but it’s so extremely boring and slow and quiet that it sticks out again. She’s cute also. I like the focus on her face that no other song really does that much.

Malta: really serving Cu Singing, Best entrance of anyone. Bop that we’ll talk about for years. Diva not down. Very good.

Portugal: one of my favourites and I’m so happy they qualified. Just a cozy chill but not boring song that gets a bit bigger towards the end. Love the guitars. Gives the vibes of some local band doing a concert in a backyard on a warm summer evening.

Denmark: very Schlager-y again. It’s kind of a neutral one for me, I like her energy but I feel like I’ve heard it before.

Sweden: I think I liked the melodifestivalen version better just because the stage was smaller, now it feels like there’s a lot of empty space? But they still are amazing. Often we hear that musicians send something worse or completely different than their usual music to Eurovision but I’ve listened to KAJs whole discography and I can tell you this is exactly their thing, and not even their best song. Absolute banger, the only reason I don’t super want them to win is bc I didn’t like swedens hosting job last year. I hope they get even bigger than they already are and get so popular that kids in Sweden start speaking in their dialect bc that would be hilarious. Also watch their musical gämbamark its on YouTube and the bois all play in it.

France: France coming in with by far the worst completely French song in this final. Like Switzerland is boring but at least they’re trying something that no one else this year does with the camerawork. France is sending the same boring frenchiest French song but they’re not even trying to do something cool with the staging. Just making up a staging that takes four times longer than anyone else’s to build. Also People will be like “uh Lithuania is just repeating Tavo the whole time” but when France repeats maman for ages it’s good I guess. To say something positive she sings quite well.

San Marino: this will be such a vibe shift. Fun, energetic, banger, deserves to be here. Second best Italian song.

Albania: the live version finally sold it for me. Good voices good staging good song I honestly just find her dance a little goofy. But i’m sure it has some cultural meaning or whatever.

[teal-skull]

Now that I have the physical album and the offical lyrics to ICIP my suspicion just got confirmed.

There has been some confusion whether it's "juoksen" or "juoksee" (I run / one runs) the line "Ei bileit pääse pakoon, ei vaikka kuinka juoksen" but in the CD booklet it's written as "juoksen"

When Icip came out my personal theory was that it was about his experience with sudden fame and success during the eurovision season specifically because I heard it as "juoksen". That single consonant is very important because with it, the whole first verse turns into Kä talking about himself, instead of just talking about the strain of constant partying in general.

Specifically that one line makes me think that party in this case is actually a metaphor for his fame. In the spring/summer of 2023, Käärijä's fame very much followed Jere wherever he went. (Still does) Also considering how closely the character of Käärijä is tied to partying, it might also be about how Jere has to be his Käärijä persona 24/7 and he is unable to escape that no natter how much he runs away from it.

But the catch is this: considering ICIP's placement on the album, and considering the chorus, there is some feeling of acceptance with this fame and partying: "life is life you know?" It's like he embraces the party anyways, despite the negative aspects of it. Especially how ICIP is followed by People's Champion, which to me is about him looking at the ESC journey in retrospect and expressing his gratitude towards fans. (After all in Böle he said that PC is made for us kääryleet) In People's champion he assures the listener that he will not be brought down by the weight of fame nor the other obstacles he faces. (And about how he is the winner of the people)

[zepskies]

BUBBLY

Pairing: Russell Shaw x Reader

Summary: On your first vacation together, you and Russell take advantage of the hotel hot tub.

AN: This can be a stand-alone drabble, but it’s really set after More of This and Lost Time in the Every Second Counts-verse.

Originally released on Patreon: 2-25-25

Word Count: 800

Tags/Warnings: Fluff and feels…tinge of angst?

“Careful!” you giggled, trying to keep chlorine water from getting in your (third) glass of champagne.

Russell was less tipsy than you, but his cheeks were starting to hurt from smiling. The hot tub water splashed when he vaulted himself back in. In one hand he held above his head, he carried a tray piled with assorted mini quiche, finger sandwiches, and his personal favorite, some mini buffalo chicken empanadas. When he lowered the plate between you, your eyes widened at the haul. 

“Oh my God,” you said in a hushed whisper. “Did you steal that from the buffet?”

“Steal is a strong word. I prefer the term secured,” Russell whispered back. “Procured. Liberated, if you will.”

You bit your lip, but couldn’t stop yourself from reaching for the quiche. You still shot him a warning look. “The hotel’s going to liberate us from our suite if…”

The reproach died on your tongue as you watched him pull out an entire (opened) bottle of champagne from under his shirt. You gasped.

That’s why his other arm was bent like a chicken wing, you realized.

“Jesus, Russ,” you whisper yelled. You looked around discreetly to make sure no one was paying attention to you two on the far end of the pool site. But you were begrudgingly impressed. By that self-satisfied grin on his face, so was he.

“We could’ve just paid for another bottle,” you pointed out, even as you let him refill your glass, a smile playing on your lips.

“Now where’s your sense of adventure,” he teased. “Besides, this shit is way overpriced.”

He set the plate on the edge of the hot tub and stripped off his shirt again. He’d only put it back on to attempt his little foodie heist. After he submerged himself half under the water and into the seated spot beside you, he slipped an arm around your shoulders to guide you against his side. You went willingly, releasing a sigh. You rested your head on his shoulder.

“Here’s to us, sweetheart,” he murmured, and pressed a kiss to your temple. “Six months down.”

Your heart swelled with loving affection, along with your smile.

“Six months,” you echoed, clinking your glass with his. Half a year you had been with this man, and you two were finally on a nice weekend away together. The thought made you set down your glass.

You turned towards him and reached up for his cheek. His brows rose in question, but you just smiled and guided him down for a kiss. It was gentle, just a slow meeting of lips. Your thumb caressed his jawline, prickling a bit on his beard.

Russell set his glass on the edge of the hot tub so he could pull you tighter against him. His free hand slipped into your hair as he dove in for a deeper kiss. He tasted bubbly champagne on your tongue. He caught the faded scent of coconut lotion on your skin. His fingers slipped under the strings of your bikini.

You broke from his lips slightly and hissed in pain. “Careful, baby. Think I got sunburned.”

Russell hummed in sympathy. “Mmm, sorry. Let me see.”

He hugged you to his bare chest and swept your wet hair aside so he could take a peek at your back.

“Ooh yeah, you’re well cooked. Think I’m gonna eat you up with some butter,” he joked. “Maybe some chimichurri sauce. You know me. I’m a zesty kinda guy.”

Scoffing, you pinched his side in retaliation. He flinched with a laugh. You actually got him in the one place he was ticklish.

“All right, no need to play dirty,” he said. He gathered you tighter in his arms, so you couldn’t move yours. You laughed and struggled to get out of his hold. Your hands pressed against his chest, but it was no use.

“Russ!”

“Nope. This is penance. You’re gonna stay right where I want you.”

He had you trapped. And if you were a good girl about it, maybe he’d feed you an empanada. 

Russell’s amusement softened into fondness. Part of him still couldn’t believe he’d been able to make it work with you for this long.

Just three more months, he’d promised you, and he’d be done taking contract jobs for Horizon. He’d be out, and he’d start working on his brewery. He’d start truly setting down roots with you in Laramie, building something that would stick.

For once in his life, Russell was optimistic about his civilian future.

If only he knew what was coming.

AN: 🤭 Yes, I do plan to continue this, don't worry lol. I don't have it written yet, but it's aaaaall up here. 🫡

Special thanks to Michelle - @luci-in-trenchcoats - for giving me tons of Tracker spoilers from the books that helped me shape the idea for "what's coming" next. 💜

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@kmc1989 @jackles010378 @emily-winchester @waynes-multiverse @jessjad

@my-stories-vault @deans-spinster-witch @syrma-sensei @stellasfictionalworld @ultimatecin73

@jesllianaquilesrolonsworld @pieandmonsters @lhymer1995 @taehyungxjungkookistaekook @lovelystoriesaj

@nicksalchemy1 @spnwoman @onlyangel-444 @sexyvixen7 @illicithallways

@wolkenprinzessin007 @alwaystiredandconfused @carpenterswife @cheynovak

[xenazaria]

Ninjago battle of the bands au, I have so many ideas on this. It's set mostly in the movie verse, with some aspects of the show.

The big bands are:

The serpentine (nobody knows WHY they are popular, but they are. They're not necessarily good, and nobody really likes them, but everyone knows them. Nobody knows why.)

The Preeminent (see below, section EMO)

Sons of Garmadon (see above)

NinjaGo (really popular kpop style band)

Next Generation (dragons rising crew +euphrasia and wyldfyre, their style fluctuates alot)

Other characters and groups show up, but those are the main ones. If someone wasn't mentioned, imagine them as a lesser known band or solo artist.

EMO

So. The Preeminent and Sons of Garmadon are the two main emo/goth esc bands. The goth community is divided on which one is better, and this is one of the biggest topics within it. When it was announced that both groups were competitors in the competition, the people went WILD, and this only grew when it was recently rumored that solo Dj Mr. E was joining SoG.

They're going to lose their minds when the two bands make the announcement they have planned....

Imagine the rest of this like a poster adverting the competition and the bands.

NinjaGo

Members:

Cole Brookstone, son of Lou Brookstone, who had won this competition 12 times before his recent retirement. He's the Dj and the drummer.

Kai Smith, lead singer, plays the guitar. Not much drama with him.

Jay Walker, plays pretty much any remotely electronic instrument you can imagine.

Zane Julien, pianist and backup vocals.

There are rumors of a new member joining, but they have yet to be confirmed. (Spoiler: it's Lloyd. This will cause drama.)

Nya isn't technically a band member, but she's seen with the band enough to be considered one. There are also rumors about her dating the faceless singer Samurai X, though she denies all of these. Her denial does not stop the rumors from spreading.

Wu is basically the bands secretary

Next Generation

Members:

Arin, lead singer

Sora, guitarist and backup vocals

Euphrasia, she plays the keyboard and flute

Wyldfyre, she's a drummer. That is all.

They are a relatively new but still pretty popular band. Winning this competition would be a huge deal for them.

Serpentine

Members:

Pythor, lead vocals.

Scales, he does... Something...

Aspheera she's not in the band Jeff, why did you put her on the list? She's not? Sorry man, I forgot.

Uhhhh... Does anybody actually know the other members? Note to self: do research on this band

The annual Ninjago Talent competition looks forward to seeing you and all of this year's competitors at the competition! Shows will be held at [insert location and times].

Note to Jeff: get better at making posters or were demoting you back to janitor. I'm sick of going back and having to redo the whole poster because of you.

[lavender-tea-dragon]

FremiMay Day 2: Superhero!

I struggled with trying to come up with a design for this one! I originally was going to do a more magical boy-esc design; however, I wasn’t getting much inspiration….then I remembered The Spider-Verse existed!

Freminet’s design is partially based off the Diving Bell Spider, and I’d imagine he’d have their abilities as well; being able to breathe underwater, able to create and trap air bubbles from his palms, being a great swimmer, ect!

[squeakadeeks]

Transient lore overview

Figured at this point I have enough separate OC verses, let alone actual OCs themselves that its worthwhile to make big overview pages that describe all of their settings, characters, themes, connections, etc.

Transient is a OCverse i've been working on for a few years now ft. Sulu, Function, Felis, Splish, and Alpha in a fantasy space setting. In my head the intended format is an episodic cartoon comedy series, akin to things like regular show, futurama, adventure time, etc with no overarching ""plot"" per se, just following characters as they interact and develop.

Sulu:

Sulu is the main character, he travels throughout sea-space solving problems and helping people however he can. He is very competent and gives things his all until a problem is solved.

He spends a large portion of his time alone, but he frequently links up from his friends Felis and Splish when the need arises. He has a warm, comforting, friendly personality but doesn't often stick around long enough to form deeper bonds. Hes akin to a benevolent trader joes staffer that gives you a soothing sense of ease as he guides you where to the munster cheese is stocked, but like two ships passing never again will your two paths meet.

Sulu as a character is very dedicated and compassionate, and is genuinely motivated in helping others. That being said, there is a deeper layer to his unwavering dedication. Its a two-pronged coping strategy and distraction from his own struggles. He often ignores any ill that happens to him as a result of obsessively working and puts off addressing his own problems to an extremely problematic degree. His struggles with depression and self neglect end up devolving into the primary conflict.

Function:

Function is the closest thing to an antagonist the series has. Function is an entity originally from the realm of pure math that got wedged in what he refers to as "the meat world" (ie the physical world). By nature his intent is to increase disorder without bound. He's still adjusting to being stuck in the physical world and doesnt always understand the harm he's causing by driving chaos into systems. Although most of the time he is still uncomfortable in having a physical form, he adores thematics and getting attention from others. He has an expressive, energetic, rambunctious personality.

At first he poses a serious risk as a genuinely harmful figure in a cotton-candy marshmallow world, and Sulu has to frequently neutralize his actions. This causes a comical nemesis-esc relationship between the two, but in time as he adjusts and copes with his situation he settles down more into a goofy, campy 90's anime rival archetype and the two form a more genuine bond. He becomes great friends with Alpha, forming a "chaos crew" as the two largely goof around and make the most of things. He has a significantly hard time processing emotional turmoil as he's still trying to wrap his head around basic day-to-day functioning, let alone complicated interpersonal conflicts.

Alpha, Felis, Splish:

The other core cast consists of Felis, Splish the fish, and Alpha.

Felis is Sulu's current best friend, as they spend the most time together and work in tandem often. Felis is genuinely an out-of-place-astronaut, as all the other denizens are aquatic creatures. Felis has a classic goofy cat-like personality, they like to be entertained and pal around, but can struggle with serious matters and completing long-form tasks.

Splish is a space safety ranger and works hard to keep everyone safe and happy and within the rules. He employs Sulu's help on the very frequent occasion when he is out of his depth. He doesn't really comprehend serious matters at all, as he belongs squarely to the "marshmallow head" class of sea-space critters. (Felis is capable of processing serious things, but often elects to not engage)

Alpha is a character from Sulu's past, in particular his former closest friend. She and Sulu were incredibly close in their teens and early 20s, but she eventually lost contact as he splintered off and isolated. Alpha gets frustrated with his lack of care towards his own health and functioning, especially how it affects others around him, seeing it as not taking proper responsibility for himself. She clicks with Function not just because they both have very similar bombastic personalities, but also because she admires how dedicated Function is to adjusting to his new circumstances and improve himself. She is wickedly driven, she loves new experiences and exciting things and is overall incredibly active, but can be somewhat introverted. sort of a "i want to do cool things, but only with the 2 people i have allowed into my inner circle". Holds grudges like the dickens.

Setting:

The setting itself is supposed to be a fusion between underwater and space, there are lots of fish, whales, coral formations etc scattered throughout open space. The various planets act more reefs, collecting lots of life and activity. From afar things look more like ""space"" with planets, stars, galaxies, etc, but the actual deinzens tend to resemble either fish or cartoony space aliens. The overall palette is very bright, colorful, and pastel tones to reflect the cheery, cotton-candy environment.

Concept:

Most of the types of problems Sulu, Felis and Splish work on are lighthearted or comical in nature, such as chauffeuring constellations around, babysitting in a stellar nursery, fishing for asteroids, a mediating in a break up between a binary star system, trying to fix the cowlic generated by the hairy ball theorem, cleaning up a milk spill in a galaxy, a magnetar that keeps demagnetizing people's credit cards, things spontaneously gaining more degrees of non-trivial rotational symmetry, neutron star bowling, and other sorts of whimsical space/math problems.

Every so often something more serious pops up, like a quasar posing a legitimate threat or instability in the laws of physics such as a power on a spatial dependence term flickering back and forth, but 90% of the time its cartoony situations, a la regular show. Another equally descriptive statement would be "Cyberchase but with 30-40yr old queer anime people."

Elephant in the room, Sulu is indeed intended to be an outlet/projection/expression of my own struggles with depression and how severe depressive episodes get entangled with my work and social life, but on a more surface level I also enjoy working on this thing because 1) i like drawing fish, 2) i love using vivid colors, and 3) I love being obnoxious about math and physics jokes while stuck in the throes of a physics phd myself.

[juniorig0327]

Percy and Jason’s relationship in my unnamed AU is so interesting to me as I’m writing it. Because they’ve met, there’s no Greco-Roman divide, atleast not to where they don’t know each other. Because keep in mind, before Percy was a Greek, he was a Roman.

Percy and Jason met at CJ and Jason did something so bad that hurt him and his chances of having a family at New Rome, because sort of flipping Percy with canon Annabeth here a bit but Percy just wants to be loved, to know that he’s not a mistake and his entire theme is centered around themes like family and loneliness. Every single person he’s met and touched and becomes friends with ends up ruined, destroyed, gone.

So eventually Percy goes to CHB and he doesn’t end up gaining a lot of friends, he has Bianca (who dies) and Nico (who in his mind for the longest time he “ruined”). Eventually he’s friends with people like Beckendorf, Silena, Michael Yew but by the end of the Second Titan War, they’re all dead. And Percy? He doesn’t know how to cope, not with this so the friends he does have, he pushes them away and digs a hole so deep he can’t dig himself out of, not alone atleast.

Then he meets Annabeth, he gains friends, then boom, he disappears.

Then he shows back up and sees Annabeth working with Jason. He thinks his family has been stolen from him again, which is the real motivation for the Red Hood esc arc he’ll be having. But he can’t exactly hunt him down because they found out there’s a greater prophecy at large and is stuck with Jason.

Jason on the other hand didn’t really mean to ruin Percy’s life. He was simply acting how he was taught to, groomed to. He gained respect and even when he faltered on the ideas of Rome after meeting and forming an alliance with the Greek, he had friends beside him, people who supported him as he begins to bring a new age to CJ. So most of Jason’s conflict isn’t actually related to him, but the impact of his actions as he’s changed and changing, the two most affected being Percy and Octavian. His arc is about being leader, what it takes. He also essentially learns the lessons that Percy learned in PJO, about how it’s okay to not always be a hero and learning to step back and dealing with his hero complex (which ends up reflecting in eariler situations, his need to be a “hero” to CJ and his mind framing the villain as Percy at the time) and overcoming it.

Percy on the other hand has most of his conflicts relating to him and his internal conflict. His fatal flaw and how it affects the people around him, and him being forced to step up and him unable to escape it. Compared to last time where Percy was always stepping up, having to handle everything himself because he’s the “hero” Percy is more willing to let everyone sort of do their own thing even if it’s detrimental to the mission at hand without even realizing it (Percy really really doesn’t want to be on this quest in this verse lol) but Percy being forced to be the hero this time, forced to face his fears.

Idk this is all kinda rough rn but Jason having a family, having everything Percy wants but everything is threatening to fall apart as he has to learn to be a leader but only a leader but a hero in his own right, even if it means stepping back and not letting his flaw getting the best of him (his hero complex).

And Percy not having family, trying to rebuild as he takes the lessons he’s learned to heart, he doesn’t have to be the hero here so why try to be? (There’s a reason there’s seven people on this quest after all right?) So he takes the support role, which eventually allows his fatal flaw to get the best of him. He has to learn the difference of when to step back and when to lead instead of heavily doing one or the other. He takes the prophecy into his own hands because this is his time to step up, this is his fate. Percy becomes not only a hero, but a leader.

Idk if this makes any sense and I’m still writing it, as well as how Percy’s backstory would affect his character but I’m trying to keep some of the characterizations I really liked such as Percy and Annabeth’s relatively the same. If i do another one of these i do want to talk about Annabeth’s character and motivations next (another one im working on lol)

[bisnes-socks]

Professor 🙋‍♂️ I have an observation to share that I admit I haven't noticed before. You mentioned that Autiomaa first and second half of the song sets the theme apart from past to now with a different style of singing. Now that I listen closer, he's doing that with other songs too: RTG, Takavoltti, Kot Kot, S=M, etc.. second part tends to be either more 'shouty' or in slightly different voice tone. And I am absolutely eating it upppp :V

you are my favourite student for bringing this up. you get an A++ 💚

alright class, gather 'round. we're going to be talking about his vocal abilities, vocal styles and techniques and how he uses them to elevate songs and build different levels into them.

something you will often hear as criticism towards käärijä is that he's not a technically skilled singer. i have a friend who likes to remind me everytime we talk about eurovision 2023, that käärijä didn't get jury points "because he can't sing". but it's not that simple.

while clean melodic singing is not his strength, and it's true his vocal performance in the singing part of CCC was perhaps not the strongest on the ESC stage, up against a lot of technically skilled singers, what he does does actually take skill and it is not something just anyone could do at the drop of a hat. and if esc juries had actual vocal experts in them, instead of just radio pop producers, they might actually recognise that, but that's another rant for another day lmao.

you've all probably heard multiple CCC covers by now. how often do singers covering CCC sound comfortable doing all that? and how often do they sound like simply getting as low as he can go is a struggle? to hold on to that quality of voice, keep the volume and the breathing steady, and stick to basically one single note, and do all that live? that. takes. skill. there's a reason he isn't moving much in ccc live performances during the verses - he needs his body focused on producing the sound.

and CCC is a great example of him using different vocal styles to elevate the song. the first verse is in that low voice, then we get to the chorus, which is in a higher, more shouty voice - different textures! contrast between the sections! and then back to the low voice - but behold! the higher voice comes back now, for the second half of the verse, as the tempo of the rapping picks up. we're kicking into a different gear, and he is highlighting and emphasising that with a different vocal take. the song is going somewhere that sounds both new and familiar and that is sooooo important in a song like this, that is trying to make a big impact in a short amount of time. we're going somewhere new but the song isn't going to lose us, because we already know these elements - we heard these lyrics before, we heard this voice before, but it's something a little bit different know. the vibe is new and something else is coming!

and so after the second chorus we get to the melodic singing - again, a new vocal style! and then the softer part - again, a new vocal style! these aren't dramatic changes, but just enough to build the song and to familiarise us with these new sections, that will repeat, for us to feel and experience them again. brilliant songwriting and brilliant use of vocals!

you mentioned ready to go in your ask and that is an eeeeeexcellent example of his use of vocal styles, i could DIE! let's look at the choices here, they are delicious.

the thing to recognise about many käärijä songs is that ultimately, they are made up of quite simple ingredients. they aren't super complicated instrumentally a lot of the time, so if you look at ready to go, the musical elements in each section are, at the end of the day, quite simple. which is not unusual for the genre! so he brings a LOT into the mix with his different vocal styles, making the songs feel like they keep moving forward and building.

ready to go starts with one vocal style: quite a low and monotone voice, except lines start with a sort of a mechanical squeal in the voice. and it's quite a funny voice actually, it doesn't sound like a natural speaking voice. then we get to the pre-chorus: "oh, oh no, vaikka meikit valuu nii ei lopu show" part, and the voice is different. it's more of a singing quality, but still quite low. 

and then we get to the part that i'm sure everyone has realised is my favourite by now: "sä haluut nähä ku mä flomaan taas ojaan kuraiseen, hei baby i'm ready to go". there's no beat, there's just a synth-y carpet of a background, and he goes over it with quite a breathy tone, much higher than before. it's quite a flirty sound, on purpose i think. obsessed!

now! second verse! he could go back to the same voice he used in the first verse, but he doesn't. the song has moved on from that, it needs another layer to stay interesting. there is a change in the music as well, the palm muted guitar is now there for the whole verse, but the most noticable change is in his voice and the intensity. it's higher and sharper. 

he dips back into the lower voice for the pre-chorus, but that works in his favour, because going back down there, in the area we already know and are familiar with, allows the chorus to kick in hard when it does.

and this chorus is in full blast, the beat is there the guitar is there, and his voice is not so soft and breathy anymore. overall the voice is much sharper, much more resonate, much more engaged.

and then the song calms down again with "mä haluun ajaa tosi kovaa, vaik pelti kolisee, hei baby i'm ready to go" and he isn't quite as breathy and flirty as he was with the very first "sä haluut" part - because that wouldn't fit this part anymore. he has to go from here directly back into the full chorus at full blast. so he is softer, but not too soft - just the right style to calm it down and then jump back in.

he actually does know what he is doing vocally, even if he isn't one to belt like celine dion, you know?

and one more thing! i know how much people love his growly shouty voice - as heard in sex = money (tein onlyfans bagin section) or the last verse of yhtä vailla and many more. THAT takes technique to be able to do it so consistently and to be able to control the volume as he does. our beloved growly shouty vocals are actually a true testament of the fact that he is skilled with his voice. i'd like to see the best melodic singers do what he does for a song and see how well they do. because what he does is not easy.

now go forth class and find different vocal styles and textures in his songs! he is a vocal wizard and i love him for it. he is so flipping interesting to listen to.