#Graham Walker

[ramblings-of-a-mad-cat]

Have you ever read Borrasca?

Yes Anon, I read it.

I don't even know how to start this. My instinct is "Content warning" but like...where to even begin in terms of listing the content I would warn people about with Borrasca. I'll just say, that if you've already read it, you know what I'm about to discuss. If you haven't read it, do not go under the cut. Because it's better to experience this story yourself.

But only if you have the strongest of stomachs. You are not prepared and neither was I.

Still here? Okay. Content warning: Child sexual abuse, kidnapping/trafficking, (gruesome) murder, discussion of remains, infertility, incest, parental abuse, horror....did I cover everything?

I don't normally like creepypastas. I am not a horror fan. Never have been. It's easier to consume horror via reading because it ensures a lack of jumpscares but I still don't like it. The content all too often makes me queasy and just don't fit me. So it was fortunate that when I picked up this story, I had no idea it was horror. Because that genre just has telltale signs and, at least to me, those signs weren't initially there. It wasn't until the characters first visited the Treehouse that I began to feel uneasy, (especially the first instance of the Shiny Gentleman's "song of death") and not until Whitney disappeared that I knew the story would be dark. But then it throws you for a loop by doing that time-skip without any notification, no "Seven years later" etc. They just leave it to you to figure it out, House of The Dragon style, so it took me a bit to figure out what happened and that kind of wrapped up my attention. (Speaking of, as a major fan of the Thrones universe, a lot of this was stuff you'd think I'd be able to handle no problem, but that didn't make it any easier.)

Unfortunately, the story had fish-hooked me by this point and I wasn't going anywhere. One moment that properly stood out to me was Phil Saunders talking about all the missing people going in the ground, or, as he put it, "grounder." In hindsight, that is downright cruel foreshadowing, or maybe it was purely coincidental (but I doubt it) and it stuck out to me the first time. That whole sequence did, of him basically saying that when he got high, he would figure out that all these people going missing was no accident, and that everyone in town either knew, or chose not to know. For some reason, the "grounder" line stuck out to me, and the next time we heard the Shiny Gentleman, the description of it being metallic and everything just made me pause. I remembered the "grounder" line and...a truly horrifying thought crossed my mind about the place where bad things happen. And when I make obscure predictions about stories, I often wind up being exactly right. (It's a strange gift, I'd rather something useful like Sign Language or Tax Lax, but I digress.) What kept sticking in my mind was "Why?" I couldn't place who or why people were taken there to be put in the "grounder" or what they were wanted for.

Side note, a lot of my thoughts were wasted on trying to figure out the "skinned men." A masterful red herring with an actual explanation that works. I didn't think of the answer as a cop out, I just went "Ohhh...." The whole concept leads you on a wild goose chase to assume there is some sort of supernatural element to this story when there isn't, because reality is so much more frightening than fantasy. It all feeds into the Borrasca folktale, which helps build a mythos for the place and acts as a gateway for people in the town learning about it as they grow up without questioning it too strongly. Which is useful for things like the "song of death" which will be heard periodically but mustn't be something anyone overthinks. They ignore it, because they assume it's just a logging company up the mountain, or because they fear the whispers and legends about the "skinned men" and want nothing to do with it...or because they know. Or, even worse...they don't want to know. Like Tom Prescott said, the townspeople probably don't know everything, most of the time...but some of that is willful ignorance and complacency with a system that they must sense is rotten to the core. Even the more sympathetic characters like Anne and Meera, they aren't innocent in all this. Anne says it herself - everyone is guilty. Meera's refusal to participate in Borrasca to get a baby until she eventually wilts...that's not her "falling to the dark side." She was already there. Because clearly, she knew. She knew, and she did nothing. Then again...what can she do? What can any of them do? This is how evil institutions rise and remain in power. Complacency and hopelessness.

The other moment...I could call it prophetic, but like, I don't want to pat myself on the back. The story is just very well told. But I remember the moment, distinctly, that Graham Walker told Sam and Kyle that he would "never let Whitney go." And the wording...I noticed the wording. And I thought to myself in that moment, "You have her. I don't know how, but you have her." And it made sense. When children go missing, sometimes it's the parents who are behind it. I mean, we've all seen SVU, right? Up to that point I genuinely hadn't suspected Walker at all, because I just thought - if there is some deep conspiracy in this town, how could Walker be a part of it? He moved here, only a few years ago. But it's quite possible that he was involved with Drisking even before moving his family there because he did something "bad" that caused them to reassign him. Honestly, that entire act is filled to the brim with amazing foreshadowing. Like, the adults really shouldn't be talking about any of this or even hinting it around the kids - that's just a writing tool, right? Well, yes, but, all of the adults know and are either involved or they turn a blind eye, so it's the kind of thing they would want to introduce to the teenagers gradually - Owen and Meera's cryptic conversation about the "only other option." comes to mind. Especially Sam, as Walker undoubtedly wants to recruit Sam to the "business" even at this point, and so they have to start grooming him early.

Kimber. Probably my favorite character, though both her and Kyle are compelling. Kyle's fate may be the saddest part of the story, actually. But the entire journey of Anne's death, about the mysterious suicide note and the lengths Kimber had to get to in order to read it. The way her father slipped and mentioned it within earshot, and then all anyone could do was try to gaslight the kids into believing he never said that and there was no note. The way Kimber knew Prescott was involved but also just knew it wasn't an affair. Like, sure, she probably didn't want to believe Anne would do that, but it was much more than that too. The clues just didn't point in that direction - oh, and don't get me started on Tom Prescott's ravings, by the way...why did they put him in a home outside of Drisking if he's going to be ranting about Borrasca to anyone who talks their way into a visit? But I digress. Nothing made my heart pound more than Kimber's final texts. How she was so unresponsive for so long before just sending back "I found it." Like. She definitely had already read it, and was processing what she had been told. Of course, after being told that the police were coming to find her (complete with her father "objecting" to something with them) all she texts back is "They're here." And that's the last thing she sends, and jesus cartwheeling christ, that is basically proof that the cops kidnapped her but of course, Walker pretends he does not see it.

The foreshadowing is everywhere. There's a scene where Kyle says "She's my...my..." And Sam notes that he "still can't say it." Which, in hindsight...yikes. Like, the story itself stops short of saying what Kimber and Kyle are to each other. Obviously, Kyle meant "girlfriend" and that's what Sam understood. But rereading that moment is another punch in the gut. And so many of the most twisted reveals aren't actually reveals. A lot is left implied. You have to read between the lines and put the puzzle pieces together to figure some of it out. Like how the last baby born in the story is called "William" and then the Shiny Gentleman sings his song one more time. They don't explain what that means. But if you pay attention to the naming rule, then you know who William's father is. Whitney was putting out "shit babies" and Walker said he would "never let her go." He had to be the one behind her being sold to Borrasca, but he was seemingly the only one "visiting" her. I don't know how he arranged it that way but I know he did. They don't even directly confirm what the "Shiny Gentleman" is, if I recall. Oh, and Kyle and Kimber are an incestuous couple but honestly, that is the least of the town's problems and it's probably not a unique situation. They're all unknowingly unrelated, and it's not as though Kimber will be having Kyle's babies, right? Not in this town.

Like. Once you read it over again (or listen to one of the many live readings/podcasts) things become clearer. Jimmy Prescott is initially the worst human being in the story (and don't get me wrong, he's still a monster of immeasurable proportions, I cottoned onto that as soon as Kimber said he was checking her out when she was in fifth grade) but on a second consumption of the story...Graham Walker is the one I want to throw into The Shiny Gentleman, and he's never outwardly wicked the way Prescott and Clery are. He hides his darkness very well until his last scene and even then, he admits to nothing. Based on the scene where he tells Sam that he'll be taking the blame for what happened to Kyle, it reads in two ways. You think to yourself, he's definitely in on it, but on the other hand, maybe he just chugged the koolaid and is believing this town's bullshit over his own son. Until little William is born, and Anne's clue about the naming smacks you in the face. No, he's not just ignorant to the point of being part of the problem, he is so emphatically the problem.

Borrasca is...devastating.

It's horror, to be sure, but it's good horror, and I don't even come out of it scared. I come out devastated. Angry. Feeling hopeless. Because the villains win. The corrupt and wicked institution isn't going anywhere, because why would it? Prescott and Clery let Sam go, because why shouldn't they? The situation is under control no matter what Sam does. The entire town is either part of Borrasca or willing to turn a blind eye to it. Except Kathryn. I honestly believe she didn't know a damn thing and bless her for being a wholesome light in this dark facade of a town. There's nothing to be done except get the hell out of Drisking and never look back. To just try and forget.

P.S: I am aware of the sequel.

I didn't really talk about it here because I have mixed feelings about it. I appreciate the happy ending and god knows Sam and Kimber have earned it, but there were several aspects of the story that I just didn't enjoy. Don't get me wrong, the prose is as well written as ever, but the plot feels like wish fulfillment and without a mystery to drive the story I just wasn't as engaged. I mean, there was kind of a mystery but the answers didn't really click for me. While it's realistic and painful, seeing the way Sam treats Kimber is hard to read. It hurts. These two were best friends, and none of this is her fault. Obviously, she was a victim of Borrasca too. Also, I do not buy that Kimber would have ever trusted Prescott, even if he dangled Kyle's name before her. No way, no how. I don't know why Sam kept using his real name after he escaped, enabling both Kimber and Walker to find him again. I also think it's rather...I don't want to use the word "convenient" but the fact that he was best friends with a hacker...also, why would Borrasca have any records to begin with? Fine, fine, business and all, but why keep them for so long? Prescott talks about destroying all of them, including the backups, and it's like....motherfucker, why don't you do that on a regular basis? Why do you even have backups?

I also feel like the sequel just takes some of the dread out of the air by removing the ambiguity and the lies. Everything that was left implied in the original story is outright confirmed. Walker is shown to be the monster that we know him to be, when he never fully revealed those true colors in the original story. Ultimately, the idea that two people could walk into a criminal empire like this one and topple it so successfully, not to mention that they both survive...it just stretches my suspension of disbelief, especially for a story that has already established itself as gritty and heartless. I'm glad there's a happy ending out there for people who wanted one, and in my own way, I obviously wanted one too, but I remember being both sad and a little relieved that Kyle's years of trauma had taken physical toll on him and that he didn't just immediately embrace Kimber and Sam. Because there needed to be at least one bittersweet aspect to all of this, especially if they were getting Kyle back at all. Something about the way Kimber "reverted to her old self" and was even more than fine with physical affection again after the climax....like, no, that's not how that works, and the original story wouldn't have tried something like that. It's hard to explain but I just couldn't get into it in the same way.

[longliverockback]

Gary Moore Still Got the Blues [SHM-CD] 2023 Virgin ————————————————— Tracks: 01. Moving On 02. Oh Pretty Woman 03. Walking by Myself 04. Still Got the Blues 05. Texas Strut 06. Too Tired 07. King of the Blues 08. As the Years Go Passing By 09. Midnight Blues 10. That Kind of Woman 11. All Your Love 12. Stop Messin’ Around 13. The Stumble 14. Left Me with the Blues 15. Further on up the Road 16. Mean Cruel Woman  17. The Sky Is Crying —————————————————

Don Airey

Albert Collins

Bob Daisley

Brian Downey

Nicky Hopkins

Albert King

Gary Moore

Andy Pyle

Graham Walker

Mick Weaver

* Long Live Rock Archive

[aprocessblog]

She can never make herself ask the real question: “Is a bad feeling really enough to be afraid of your father when nothing bad has happened?”

I’ve been thinking about Whitney Walker constantly since finishing Borrasca, and I wanted to put my thoughts and ideas about her perspective into a short story, and this is the result. All the trigger warnings you would expect from a story about what happened to Whitney—abuse, incest, etc, of course.

[bklily]

Hey! Who let this guy in here?!

[ninadove]

The thing with Flairmidable’s costume is — this isn’t Felix’s style, at all. And that’s what makes it so brilliant.

The entire point of this design is to be a credible copy of what Adrien would wear as the Dog holder, and as such, it is much closer to Chat’s suit than it is to Argos’.

Allow me to demonstrate:

✨ Ears! ✨

High collar + Bell combo

Shoulder pads

A geometric motif on the chest, which also elongates the arms

✨ Tail! ✨ It’s a shame you can’t admire it on this render.

The biggest difference between the two costumes is the absence of over-the-knee boots on Chat’s side — but you know who does wear them?

That’s right! Adrien’s miserablesona! The one who conforms to expectations and fake perceptions of his identity.

In other words, Felix (and the character designers, of course, let’s hear a round of applause for them) came up with a costume that is a perfect combination of:

What Adrien would actually wear as the Dog holder;

What Felix thinks his cousin would wear as the Dog holder.

And he slays. And he knows it.

[felinetteagain]

Footage from the series containing important clues and hints.

(PART 1)

1️⃣FEATHER 🪶✅

2️⃣RINGS ✅

3️⃣Main character. Who is he? Felix or Adrien? Will there be a replacement?

4️⃣THE LOVE TRIANGLE

5️⃣The confrontation of two intelligences.

Lila and Felix, what is their connection? Family ties?

6️⃣Loss of control over your power. Their love always leads to destruction.

7️⃣Which sentimonster would want to become human?

8️⃣FELINETTE again

[sesiondemadrugada]

The Killer (David Fincher, 2023).

[bloodmoonlich]

Grammys 2024 + white outfits

[fanaticloser]

Finding a good character Spotify playlist is hard cause I want THEIR playlist not a playlist of their vibes.

Like no I don’t think they listen to this artist. Does the song apply to them? Yes. Do I love this song? Yes, but they wouldn’t play it themselves.

Like I want a playlist they created themselves.

Yeah, we can joke and say they’d listen to this or that, but they actually wouldn’t and it so weird when a one of those songs pop up.

It’ll still be a great playlist. But not THAT characters playlist.

[sizzleissues]

So in process of making a page of Chat Noir’s but thought I’d explain and get some help here so I don’t messy up the actual post. I’ll go through each Chat I have included and a little about them and ask for some suggestions of different names or another Chat to include.

More under cut

From left to right, top to bottom.

Chat Noire- Genderbent Chat Noir

Chat Night (better name please suggest)- Miraculous if it turned you into the animal. A cat with a smoky quality. Adrien would first dress in a homemade Chat Noir get-up and then transform so he could switch between forms in battle without revealing his identity. He can be as small as a regular cat and as large as a house. Gets distracted by mice frequently mid-battle.

The Dashing/Daring Black Cat- English Adrien and a vigilante. A Robin Hood type figure who faces the Red Knight. Of course she soon becomes smitten with his charming antics and eventually switch’s to the side of the rouge, becoming the Ladybird

Kitty Noir- Zoe with the miraculous. Gave her a pony tale because I wanted to

Ladynoire - Marinette ofc

Lord Cattus (please suggest names)- Felix with the miraculous if he was going full morally grey antagonist mode and not masking as Chat Noir. Sort of regal and dangerous, even if he used his powers for good. He would totally act like Batman, all broody and dark. I’m really conflicted on his name because I wanted to go Ancient Greek for cat but that word is already tied up in something…… else

Plagg- Favourite boy

Dark Claws (name suggestions?)- Nino with the cat miraculous. A situation where he’s permanent holder, alongside Alya as Ladybug. Very anti-establishment and uses his power a little irresponsibly. Nino is the type of dude who shouldn’t have such a destruction power, it’s in his nature to protect so he’s fiercely loyal to Scarabella and very reactive. Liable to fall down a dark path. Or Adrien gives it to him one day for the goofs and they terrorise Ladybug

Ears on his hood, a cropped hoodie with a turtle neck underneath and loose jogger style pants. Debating on dropping the mask and giving him black circular glasses (since miraculous hide identity anyway with magic buffering)

Cat Walker- Chat Noir x200 times the Adrien

Chat Noir- little baby man

[longliverockback]

Gary Moore Blues Alive 1993 Virgin ————————————————— Tracks: 01. Cold Day in Hell 02. Walking by Myself 03. Story of the Blues 04. Oh Pretty Woman 05. Separate Ways 06. Too Tired 07. Still Got the Blues 08. Since I Met You Baby 09. The Sky Is Crying 10. Further on up the Road 11. King of the Blues 12. Parisienne Walkways 13. Jumpin’ at Shadows —————————————————

Albert Collins

Tommy Eyre

Gary Moore

Andy Pyle

Graham Walker

* Long Live Rock Archive

[almadesarrollo]

FÉLIX THE BEST CHATNOIR

okok BUT just for a moment THINK THAT this is actually Felix being a chantoir telling Marinette/Ladybug, FELIX IS SO ADJSIDJDJI he will be the best chatnoir in the world S6 COMING NOW.

[nofatclips]

Wicked Witches by Kiwi Jr. from the album Football Money

[phillipthehermit]

characters whose identity and self-perception is extremely blurred you'll always be my dearest friends

[ninadove]

tell us about glitter and gold?

Thank you for the ask, Anon! This one is actually almost finished (26 chapters and counting)! 💖🖤

Adrien hated everything about Cat Walker: the stiff leather of his boots, the stupid ponytail, the golden chain slashing his chest. It was so on the nose it was almost pathetic.

Then again, he did not have a choice.

Loveybug was… nice. Great, even. But her perfume was sickly-sweet, her eyes too big, her smiles so wide and bright they rivalled the crushing billboards. After every fight, he would offer his fist; she would leap and strangle him into a hug, pressing wet kisses against his cheek.

Which was fine, he supposed. But also suffocating.

Glitter and Gold was, originally, an exploration of comphet on both Loveybug and Cat Walker’s sides. The plan was to have Felix there as a secondary character, but then he started doing his own thing, aaand now we have an entire plot to deal with. Unfortunate, I know.

This fic is also a very fun experiment, because I introduced not one, but two unreliable narrators. Hehe. I have even drawn some designs, but they are very spoilery, so I’ll wait a bit to share them.

Another fun fact is that the title can be interpreted in two different ways: “Glitter and Gold” could refer to Loveywalker, but also to the cousins (with glitter being a callback to Adrien’s modelling career and Felix being associated with gold).

[annahi-red]

Ladybug giving Adrien a miraculous is fun.

First there's Aspik, which totally fails. She is delighted with Aspik and when Adrien gives up on the miraculous, Ladybug insists that he is perfect for the miraculous of the snake and that they try again. Here you can see very clearly her desire to have him on the team (or spend more time with him).

But she tries again and that's where Flairmidable comes in, who was actually Felix. (It doesn't matter why she chose Adrien, she chose him and that's all I'm talking about)

And she was so excited to have her best friend and the guy she likes on the same team. It's clear that she wanted Adrien to be part of the team, especially considering that almost everyone she cares about has a Miraculous, except Adrien.

I wouldn't be surprised if Ladybug was in: "Third time's the charm. I'm going to make a hero out of Adrien and he's going to like it."

I suppose that at this point, having all the carriers with their miraculous permanently (which I don't like), Ladybug will no longer be able to choose more carriers unless something happens and some carrier has to resign, she should give up the idea of Include Adrien on the team for now. (Or maybe it doesn't occur to try again)

Although he's part of the team from the beginning, it's not like Ladybug knows that anyway.