#and my man johnny guitar? haven’t heard him in years

[morganathebogwitch]

Urge to play Fallout … big. List of mods i would require to install…. Bigger.

[knoxvilleforever]

Break A Leg - Johnny Knoxville x Reader

request: I loved your hesfcanons about knoxville! Can i request a johnny knoxville x reader in which she is a bass guitar player from a famous punk rock band and a really good friend with steve o? Maybe he introduce her to the crew to filming jackass forever and she fell for knox

The first time you met Johnny Knoxville, you wanted to kill your best friend Steve O. Your pre concert nerves were sent into overdrive and you can’t remember if you even managed to form a coherent sentence before your bass was thrown over your shoulders and you were out there facing the crowd.

‘I don’t really know the etiquette for this kinda thing but break a leg, I guess?’ You heard his soft voice before you were ushered toward the stage, praying the smile on your face didn’t make you look like some kind of bashful idiot.

‘That seems like it’d be more common in your line of work.’

And the sound of his laugh was the last thing you heard before the roar of the crowd filled your ears.

Before Steve O could congratulate you after the show you grabbed the nearest object, which luckily for him was a couch cushion, and hit him upside the head.

‘You didn’t tell me you were bringing Johnny Knoxville! When you asked for a plus one I assumed you were bringing a date!’

‘What Johnny can’t be my date?’ He laughed as he stole your weapon from you and attempted a headshot.

‘Sure! But a heads up would’ve been nice!’ You sighed as you dodged the flying cushion and flopped on to the couch behind you.

‘Okay. Hey, heads up he’s in the next room grabbing a drink. Is that cool?’ You narrowed your eyes at his smirk, immediately sitting up so you looked a little more presentable than your previous position. ‘What’s your deal anyway?’ 

You avoided his eyeline, fiddling with the non-existent lint on your outfit and uttered out the only response you could think of. ‘Y’know, I just like to know who I’m playing too.’ 

‘I’ve known you long enough to know you’re a really bad liar, Y/N.’ Steve O laughed, earning another couch cushion launched towards him. 

You’d known Steve O for years, after he had made it abundantly clear how much he loved your band’s music. In that time you’d never crossed paths with Johnny Knoxville, as between international tours and Steve O’s work it made it difficult to see each other as much as you’d have liked. 

So later that night, when Steve O invited you to watch the latest filming of Jackass Forever, which luckily coincided with a break from your tour, it was something you couldn’t refuse. 

‘Good to see you again, sweetheart.’ 

You couldn’t help the blush that rose to your cheeks as you turned to find Johnny watching you behind his sunglasses. 

 It was your first day visiting the set of Jackass Forever, and Johnny was the first friendly face you’d come across so far. 

‘It’s good to see you too! Thanks for having me here, although I’m not sure what I’ve let myself in for yet.’

‘Well I saw you do your thing so I guess it’s only fair you see us in return. And we have some pretty big fans waiting to see you, me included.’

Your heart skipped at his admission, but a bundle of nerves also appeared. You were always excited to meet fans, but imagining some of the Jackass crew being excited to meet you seemed surreal.

‘No way! Y/N!’

You turned to see Pontius and Weeman making their way towards you, ‘Steve O said you were coming today but we didn’t believe it!’

After some new introductions and getting reacquainted with some old faces, you found yourself stood behind the camera with Jeff whilst Steve O, Rachel and Poopies were dressed as mimes.

‘Dude we haven’t even started and I can see you laughing at me!’ Steve O shouted to you from his position next to Johnny.

‘Hey I thought this was the quiet game?’ You quipped, laughing even more as Steve O stayed quiet but gestured crossing his thumb over his neck as an empty threat.

Your cheeks burned again as Johnny burst into laughter, ‘can we have Y/N come keep you in check more often?’

‘Man I’m nervous already and now we’ve got Y/N as an audience.’ You heard Poopies groan.

As you watched Rachel handle the electric lollipop, Spike called for a break as they set up the next stunt.

‘Hey Y/N, get over here! You’re gonna like this one!’ Steve O called you over to stand between him and Johnny.

When they lifted the box you screamed, not expecting to be face to face with a viper. Well, face to face with a viper that was still inside a very secure box.

You felt Steve O grip your arms so you couldn’t facilitate your escape, fighting his grasp as he was laughing into your ear at your reaction. Snakes freaked you out. And he knew it.

When you finally managed to wriggle free you ran to your first available human shield, and luckily for you it was in the form of Johnny Knoxville.

You could hear him laughing as you hid behind his back, wrapping your arms around him instinctively to keep you away from the damn snake.

You felt the vibrations of Johnny’s chuckles through his chest, ‘You should be glad you’re not Poopies right now, sweetheart.’

‘Y/N I thought you loved snakes!’ Steve O’s laugh was infectious, and even if he nearly gave you a heart attack you couldn’t help but laugh along with him.

Without thinking you rested your forehead on Johnny’s back, catching your breath in between giggles.

Peering around his tall figure, you sighed in relief when you realised they’d finally moved the snake away from you.

‘Not a fan of snakes, huh?’ You heard Pontius call out from behind you, raising an eyebrow at your position behind Johnny.

‘Rule number one on Jackass, don’t show your weaknesses,’ Weeman laughed at you, ‘I can’t believe you play to thousands of people and this is what scares you!’

‘Well you know, it helps if you imagine them all naked.’

‘Maybe I should give that one a try.’ You heard Johnny, gaining your attention and making you notice your arms were still wound tightly around his waist.

You loosened your arms shyly, taking a small step back so your body was no longer pressed against his.

‘I’m a little offended you don’t need me as a human shield anymore.’

‘Oh believe me, if they bring that snake back out I’ll be attached to your hip.’

‘That doesn’t sound so bad to me.’ Johnny gave you his signature grin, and you thanked the gods he was wearing sunglasses because if you could see his eyes you might just melt into a puddle on the floor.

‘I guess I’m gonna have to hold you to that, Knoxville. Quite literally.’

‘Only if you’ll hold me to it over dinner. If you’re interested?’

The flirty demeanour he held had been ever so slightly replaced with a hint of nervousness, which gave you the extra boost of confidence you needed.

‘Yeah, I think I’d like that.’

[tractorbeamofwoe]

Top ten favorite bands, feel free to vent about it

TEN?!? Oh god I’m not sure I even like ten bands 😭😭

okay so

1. Catfish

2. Inhaler (I’m scared cause I feel like I’m going off them slightly 🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️)

3. Symphonic Pictures. I know I literally talk ALL THE TIME about how much I love them but I do really love them both musically and yk...I have a big fat musical crush on Johnny bond but yeah as a musician I can really sort of pick apart their songs and think “yeah that’s what they were trying to do with this part and that’s what they were trying to do with that part”. Although they’re a mysterious little band and no matter how hard I try i don’t think I’ll ever truly understand their minds but it’s genius and it’s comforting to me. Their lyrics are so genuinely beautiful I’m obsessed with them. I adore the EP I could listen to it over and over and over and it’ll always be one of my favourites. They had so much potential with their unreleased ones as well but of course Van had to swoop in and put a stop to it all 😅 I still get really excited when I see Bondy and Dale hanging out together tho

4. Them Things. Another band that I would’ve liked to hear more from 💔💔 the Good Weird EP is another one of my all time favourites that I listen to a lot because it brings me a lot of comfort. The harmonies are so lush and the guitar riffs and Lou’s vocals are so brilliant oml he’s such a great frontman and even better live. I really hope I get to go see Chintzy Stetson in the near future cause the vibes are immaculate 👌🏻👌🏻 Out in the Rain is my fave Them Things unreleased and I’m so gutted we’ll never get a studio version but cause me and Lou are like twitter besties maybe I can ask him nicely for it ALSO LOU IS SUCH A LOVELY GUY LIKE HE’S UNHINGED BUT IF YOU TALK TO HIM HE’S SO FUCKING SWEET I LOVE THAT MAN 😭

5. Jango Flash. JACK’S ALSO A LOVELY MAN (as expected, he used to be in Them Things and everyone who was in Them Things is the certified nicest man in the world™️) And his vibes are so funky like his music videos are so creative 😭 Not one of my favourite live bands but tbf this is like their first tour practically so they can only get better from here 😁

6. This is where it gets a little fuzzy so hold on 😭😭 I guess I’d say The 1975? Haven’t listened to every single one of their songs but I went through a massive phase a couple years ago. Plus I just put them on when I need a bit of motivation and I need to get up and dance. I think at one point I was a very Matty type front woman but obvs now it’s Van lol. Also can’t forget they’re besties with Catfish.

7. Blossoms. Can’t say I’ve listened to all their songs either yet buttt they’re lovely lads and they absolutely send me especially on the podcast 😭 They’re also one of my music teacher’s favourite bands so we sort of talk about Blossoms a lot haha. And we’re covering Charlemagne this month so I’m very excited for that!!

8. The Native. PLUGGING MY HOMETOWN BAND!!! I’m yet to listen to all their songs but from what I’ve heard so far they‘ve deffo got potential. But I listened to an interview they did at Boardmasters the other day and OHMYGOD they said everything I’ve been thinking about the music scene down here and I’m so relieved. (e.g Artists never play down here, the furthest they go is Bristol or Exeter, there aren’t any bands to come out of here, the music scene down here is just generally pretty DIY). Another honourable mention from down here is Holloway, bunch of kids my age doing music stuff is very nice to see.

9. 5 Seconds of Summer. Hopefully going to see them next year lol. Only really sort of got into them just after Youngblood came out (So again, haven’t listened to their whole discography lol). I also love Luke’s solo stuff and if I ever experience Place In Me live I will lose. my. nut.

10. The Vamps. I hate saying it cause people think I’m cringe but they were essentially the first band I liked when I started really getting into music and I discovered so many other bands through them. Unfortunately I don’t really listen to them as much anymore cause I’m not a fan of their new album but anything from Meet The Vamps-Day Edition is like a massive part of my life from age like 12-14. They were the second concert I ever went to as well and Brad gave me a lil half peace sign half wave I am so in love with that man.

[mancalledmxlice]

Honorable Mentions: Somebody to Love- Queen//Fernando- Abba

War Pig: Damien Blackwell Playlist

Option 1: we’re looking to highlight the differences between your canon mythology character and the oc you’ve created and built around them. for side a, include songs that apply to the myth, for side b, songs about your own character

Side A: Deimos

War Pigs- Black Sabbath

Time will tell on their power minds Making war just for fun Treating people just like pawns in chess Wait 'till their judgment day comes, yeah!

Another Way Out- Hollywood Undead

You better run, better run, better run, yeah I'm coming after you When you're sleeping at night, yeah there's nothing you can do There's no place you can hide cause I'm coming after you

Street Fight- Adam Jensen

Try to break me, but I can't break I'm a bad dream, and you can't wake Nothing's gonna kill me, nothing's gonna stand in my way

Everything Black- Unlike Pluto

In a nocturnal state of mind Children of the night But it's the only way alive This black hole's pulling me inside Of this black heart, this black soul Underneath this black, black sky

Brain Damage- Pink Floyd

The lunatic is in my head The lunatic is in my head You raise the blade, you make the change You re-arrange me 'til I'm sane

Look What You’ve Done- Jet

Give me back my point of view 'Cause I just can't think for you I can hardly hear you say What should I do, well you choose

Gladiator- Zayde Wolf

Let me back it up to the start of the climb Faced with an army of vipers and lions I had to keep on reaching up 'cause it was my time To tear down the kingdom and call out the liars

Can’t go to Hell- Sin Shake Sin

Turn that fear into a souvenir The world is waiting and the hour's near So if you need a reason, if you need a sign Open up you're eyes, you'll see they stole your water, turned it into wine

Metal Health (Bang Your Head)- Quiet Riot

Bang your head Wake the dead We're all metal mad It's all you have So bang your head And raise the dead

Ain’t No Grave- Johnny Cash

Well, look way down the river And what do you think I see I see a band of angels And they're coming after me

Wreak Havoc- Skylar Grey

I herd 'em like cattle Cause I'm surrounded by cowards And I don't give a fuck when I walk into battle And that's why I got all the power I'm where you wanna be Ain't no one ahead of me All of my enemies made a decision It's better to follow me

Who Are You, Really- Mikky Eiko

Now you're moving idle and you say you're alone Suspicious that the string is moving your bones We are the fire, we see how they run See how they run, lift me higher, let me look at the sun Look at the sun and once I hear them clearly, say

Bad to the Bone- George Thorogood and the Destroyers

The head nurse spoke up Said "leave this one alone" She could tell right away That I was bad to the bone

For What It’s Worth- Buffalo Springfield

Paranoia strikes deep Into your life it will creep It starts when you're always afraid Step out of line, the man come and take you away

Ohio- Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young

Gotta get down to it Soldiers are cutting us down Should have been done long ago.

God’s Gonna Cut You Down- Johnny Cash

Well you may throw your rock and hide your hand Workin' in the dark against your fellow man But as sure as God made black and white What's done in the dark will be brought to the light

Side B: Damien

War- Edwin Starr

Oh, war has shattered many a young man's dreams Made him disabled, bitter and mean Life is much too short and precious to spend fighting wars these days War can't give life, it can only take it away

Hurt- Johnny Cash

I wear this crown of thorns Upon my liar's chair Full of broken thoughts I cannot repair

Pretty Fly For a White Guy- The Offspring

Friends say he's trying too hard And he's not quite hip. But in his own mind He's the—he's the dopest trip.

Funny the Way it is- Dave Matthews Band

The way your mouth feels in your lover's kiss Like a pretty bird on a breeze, or water to a fish The bomb blast brings the building crashing to the floor Hear the laughter while the children play war

For Your Love- The Yardbirds

For your love, for your love I would give the stars above For your love, for your love I would give you all I could

My Mirror Speaks- Death Cab For Cutie

And when my mirror speaks it never minces words 'Cause these eyes don't shine half as bright As they used to do and they haven't for quite a while

Sleep is for the Weak- The Dreadnoughts

Baltic is at your back You'll head towards the Black Where the river's rising high All along the countryside Enter the hyenas

Viva La Vida- Coldplay

Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes Listened as the crowd would sing, "Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!" One minute I held the key Next the walls were closed on me

Wish You Were Here- Pink Floyd

How I wish, how I wish you were here. We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year, Running over the same old ground. What have we found? The same old fears. Wish you were here.

Rock and Roll- Led Zepplin

It's been a long time since the book of love. I can't count the tears of a life with no love. Carry me back, carry me back, carry me back, baby, where I come from.

Dear God- XTC

Dear God, sorry to disturb you, but I feel That I should be heard loud and clear We all need a big reduction in amount of tears And all the people that you made in your image, See them fighting in the street 'Cause they can't make opinions meet

When You Were Young- The Killers

He doesn't look a thing like Jesus But he talks like a gentleman Like you imagined When you were young

Train in Vain- The Clash

Now I got a job But it don't pay I need new clothes I need somewhere to stay But without all these things I can do But without your love I won't make it through

Wish I Knew You- The Revivalists

Oh I hope you don't mind We can share my mood Two strangers in the bright lights I wish I knew you I wish I knew you Oh I wish I knew you when I was young

The Weight- The Band

I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin' about half past dead I just need some place where I can lay my head "Hey, mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?" He just grinned and shook my hand, "no" was all he said

Hard to Handle- The Black Crows

I have got some good old lovin' And I got some more in store When I get through throwin' it on you You gotta come back for more

Honorable Mentions

Somebody to Love- Queen

I work hard (he works hard) every day of my life I work 'til I ache my bones At the end (at the end of the day) I take home (takes home) my hard-earned pay all (goes home on his own) on my own

Fernando- ABBA

In the firelight Fernando You were humming to yourself and softly strumming your guitar I could hear the distant drums And sounds of bugle calls were coming from afar

[headoverhiddles]

Spookshow Baby - Rob Zombie x Reader [Smut]

Synopsis: By good luck or connections, you find yourself backstage at a Zombie show, and Rob can’t take his eyes off you. 

Requested by @plagued-rat​!  “Rob and a younger fan meeting at a show and sleeping together or something along those lines.”  Hope you like it, hun :)

Notes: The personalities depicted are fictional-- I don’t know them, even though I wish I did. 

Is it really that hard to get a beer in this place?

You try to navigate your way through the crowd of people getting their seconds and thirds at the bar when you haven't even had one. You finally get up to the bar, and order your drink. You get a bit of a look from the bartender-- you can't tell if he's judging you, or in awe of you, and honestly? You're okay with either. You'd worn a pretty striking outfit tonight, your favorite that you'd had in the closet lying around for something like this.

It had been an event you'd been looking forward to for months. Your friend Ash has a band, a sort of side project from her main group, called The Haxans. She'd promised you'd be the first to get tickets when they had their first show, and five years later, here you are. Maybe if you had told the bartender you knew the singer, you could've at least gotten your beer faster.

Not only are you excited to support your friend, but her fellow band mate and guitarist, Matt Montgomery, is the current bassist of your favourite rock band. Rob Zombie had been a huge part of your life, since Hellbilly all the way up til now with Celebration Dispenser and the new album coming out sometime this year. You'd never been able to make it to a concert of his yet, as he hadn't played anywhere near you, but you had made no secret of your strong feelings for the front man.

 ---

You hang back near the tech at the Viper Room, and look around as the band starts their set. This place was said to be a hotspot for ghosts.

"Sweet venue, huh?" a voice behind you asks. You turn, and see a guy in a big straw hat. You feel like the voice is familiar, but you can't really tell with the loud noise.

"Yeah. It's haunted, you know."

The guy laughs. "No kidding." He glances up at the band performing. "That's... kinda fitting."

"Right?" you smile. "Somebody's apparently buried in the basement."

"Jesus. Guess that's why Johnny Depp sold it."

“Or maybe he did it," you laugh, sipping your drink.

"That’s sure a theory. So, what brings you here?" the guy goes on. You're used to the line that guys use on you to flirt, but this guy's still keeping his distance. It's interesting.

"I like their music," you say, "And I'm supporting my friend, Ash."

"Ah, cool. I'm here supporting the other guy, Piggy D. I dig their sound, he's got a great fucking gig here."

"Yeah, totally. Along with working for Rob? Super rad."

"Hm. Yeah." The guy gives a little smile, which you don't see. "See you around, maybe." 

"Yeah!" you smile, and when you turn back, the guy's gone. You wish you could place that voice.

 ---

After the show, you head up to the stage to congratulate your friend. "You were awesome!" you say, giving Ash a hug. She kisses your cheek.

"Yeah?"

"For sure.You guys were both amazing." Piggy D comes over, lifting his guitar strap over his head.

"Hey. Who's this?"

"This is my friend who I said would be coming, (y/n)?"

"Oh yeah." Matt gives a lopsided grin, shaking your hand. "Great to finally meet you. How'd we do?"

"You were great," you assure him. Ash nudges him.

"She's a big fan of Zombie."

Matt's black shadowed eyes light up. "Yeah? Here, I'll send you a pass to come say hi to us backstage. We're playing the area in a couple weeks!"

"Oh god," you blush, "That'd be awesome. Thank you so much."

"No problem." He gives you another smile, then sets his guitar down. "Gotta dash." His eyes ascend over you and Ash. "John, Rita! Thanks for coming!"

Ash pulls you to the side. "Oh my god. You're gonna get to meet him."

"I know." You fan yourself.

"He's really chill, don't worry. He'll love you."

"You think so?"

"Look at you! You're hot as fuck girl, I'd sleep with you if I wasn't taken. He'll go crazy for you."

“Ah. I’m too young for him...” 

“You could use a daddy. He’s daddy material. Spookshow daddy for a spookshow baby.” 

You smile, and ignore the unlikelihood of that happening. Still-- you've never been so excited.

 ---

The next Friday night, you find yourself enjoying tickets to the Zombie mosh pit in your home town, backstage pass tucked safely in your back pocket. You're currently waiting for Rob to come out on stage, and are watching the opening band, Palaye Royale.

After the last song of the opener's set, the stage lights begin going crazy, and you hear Rob begin to shout out the beginning of Dead City Radio.

The show is amazing, as you knew it would be. You've never actually heard him talk before, only sing, and when he speaks to the crowd between songs, you can't help but notice how attractive his voice is too. During Get High, Matt notices you, points to you with his pick, and winks.

As everyone cheers after the encore of Dragula and gives the band a good send-off, you slip backstage, coming up to the guards. You show your pass shakily, and they let you through.

"Hey!" Matt calls, and you turn down a long hallway to see the boys coming offstage.

"Best show I've ever seen, hands down," you say, "Other than the Haxans, of course."

Matt laughs, and fist bumps you. Ginger and John walk past you, shooting you friendly smiles. For a metal band, these are a bunch of really good guys. Then Rob comes out, dragging a towel over his face and dreads.

"Fucking high energy crowd!" he exclaims, punching the air as he comes over to you and Matt. "Great night."

"Crowd was on fire. Hey man, this is (y/n)." Matt introduces you.

Rob looks at you for a second, and tilts his head. "Oh yeah. You're the girl I met at the Haxans show, huh?"

You go to say yes, then start to realize how he knows. "You're the guy I talked to!"

"That would be me." He nods, then remembers how much he enjoyed talking to you. It’d be dangerous to see where this went, so after that stunted exchange, he goes to leave. You think of something to turn him around.

"Is that a Creepshow patch?" you ask, finally close enough to his patch jacket to decipher each one. He stops, and looks back.

"Hell yeah. You like Creepshow?"

"Love it!"

"Best one?"

"The Crate."

"Oh, fucking right!" He nods, "I like that crazy hitchhiker one too from the second one..."

"Thanks for the ride lady!" you quote, and he gives a loud belly laugh.

"Damn. You're pretty cool." He rubs his makeup with the towel. "I'm, uh... chilling a bit later tonight at a little after party. Sorry to be a big fuckin' drag, but I'm not one for lots of drinking or anything like Danzig or Manson are. I'll probably bore you to death."

"Then we can be a couple dead people together," you smile, and he smirks down at you.

"Sounds like a plan." He bites his lip, and gives you a once over again. "Follow me."

 ---

When you get to the party, it's pretty much like he said. He immediately wanders off around the outskirts of the crowd, stopping only to shake a few hands and greet a few people. It's a cool venue-- better than any you'd been to. It's dark, black-lit and monster-themed, with all kinds of pop art and horror memorabilia around the place. It's fitting for the band, and the people who hang out with them.

"Hey, man. Who's the lady?" John whispers in his ear. "Saw her backstage."

"Someone I met the other day. Piggy brought her back."

"She's pretty, huh?"

Rob shrugs, trying as usual to appear noncommittal when in fact he was feeling very committal. "I like her. Figured she may be some fun. Could definitely save me from this party." John shakes his head with a smile, going back over to Rita.

You try and crane your neck to see where Rob went, and are startled by a voice behind you. "Hey, you're the girl from the show, right?" You turn to see that it's Rob's drummer, Ginger.

"Yeah," you smile, "Ginger, right?" He shakes your hand heartily, nearly bruising your fingers with a drummer's grip.

"You can call me Kenny! Hey uh, long shot, do you happen to have a shower curtain anywhere accessible?" You frown, and are about to say no, but Ginger's already sensed your answer by your look of alarm. "No worries, I know who to call for one." He gets out his phone, and starts texting his old boss.

There's Rob. He's hiding in the corner like Dracula, away from the bright lights and people. You walk towards him through the crowd, toward where he's taken a seat on a red couch shaped like psychedelic lips. Rob watches you walk over to him, furrowing his brow. You look fucking good. His breath gets heavier as blood rushes down south. He hasn't wanted a girl this bad in years... much less a fan. Play it cool. She’s young enough to be your daughter, or some shit. 

"Dumb party, huh?" he mutters, burying his feelings down deep. You smirk, sitting down beside him and crossing your legs.

"Seems like you really don't wanna be here."

"Well, it's all about the show, you know? What happens afterward is all bullshit, catering to TMZ who peddles articles about stupid shit like drugs and trashing hotel rooms to 15 year olds who read their articles and think that's what being a rock star is all about." You blink. He's not wrong.  "But it's uh... it's a lot better with you here." Come on, Zombie. At least try not to be a black hole of negativity for once?

"Don't worry. I'm not really one for parties either. I mean, they're fun sometimes. But sometimes you just wanna be by yourself, you know?"

"Exactly!"

"Or... with someone you'd have a lot more fun with." He glances up. "Wanna get out of here?" you ask, eyes conveying your intentions. 

"Let's do it." As you walk toward the exit though, Rob pulls you down a hallway, then out the back door to the alley behind the club.

"You pulling a Lugosi on me, Zombie?" you joke. He smirks.

"You want me to?"

"Are you a vampire?"

He runs a hand through his dreads. "I'm more of a werewolf."

"It's a full moon," you tease, pulling him closer to you. He walks you back against the graffiti'd brick wall, and you part your legs to make room for him.

"You sure you wanna do this?" he murmurs, eyes already falling down to your lips behind his sunglasses. By way of reply, you take his sunglasses off, reach around to stuff them in his back pocket, and bring your lips to his. 

Fuck it. His eyes close, and he reaches up to support you properly, urging your to wrap your legs around him as he holds you up. You moan as his ratty jeans provide the perfect grind for you, grazing your inner thighs and grazing where you need him most. His fingers dig into your ass as you reach forward and unzip those jeans, taking out the chunky belt with Svengoolie's face on the buckle. 

His head tilts back as you take him in your hand, and fuck, he has to be inside you. You sink your face into his shoulder as he pushes in, and his face twists up. The way he's glaring at you in pure concentration is driving you wild, and the intense eye contact is turning him on too. He bares his teeth, gnashing as he fucks in again rough, making you gasp.

"Ro-ob..." you manage out.

"Whatdya need?"

"That's... ohmygod,that's so good, fuck, that's so good, faster--"

He gets even more rough, almost animalistic as he drops the cool guy act and just goes ape on your body. One of his hands shoves up your top, unhooking your bra with the precision of a master, and dips down to roll the tips of your nipples with his tongue. You cry out, neither of you caring who can hear you. It's as if he's become the demon he performs as, and it's fucking hot.

"Feelin' good, babe?" he growls.

"So good," you sigh, working down on him. He holds you up with one flexing arm as he keeps your wrists pinned with the other, dipping his head down a little again to leave hickies along the juncture of your neck. "I'm close--"

"Come on, baby, come on," he snarls, "Yeah..." You gasp out his name as his heavy thrusts rock you against the wall, tipping you off the edge and ripping you apart.

He watches you cum with the intense gaze of a hellish predator, and pounds you even harder until you're done. When he's sure you're satisfied, he lets you down, and cums against the wall, bracing himself against it with one hand.

You run a hand through your hair, and lean back. "Christ. There are so many puns I could make right now."

"I like puns," he pants, slipping his sunglasses back on, and with them, into his awkward, chilled out self.

"You fuck like a Superbeast." There's silence as you hold in your giggles, and he stares at you, completely deadpan.

"I fuckin’ regret all of this." You let the giggles burst free, and he takes you under his arm, leading you toward the street. "Come on."

"Where are we going?"

"My torture chamber, for special fans like you."

"I'm not surprised."

"Then maybe, after the torture, we can throw on a movie. Maybe..."

"You got Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine?"

"...Okay, maybe I don't regret this."

He calls his driver, and excitement fills you at the prospect of seeing what his house looks like. Probably as eclectic as the man himself. As the two of you get in, you open your phone to see a text from Ash.

So?????? watchu up to sex kitty

You grin to yourself as you type out a response that's sure to make your friend screech.

Is it necrophilia if I fucked a Zombie...? ;) 

[misscellophane-ao3]

Story Title: Backstage (Ao3)

Pairing: Mike Wheeler x Will Byers (Background Steve Harrington x Jonathan Byers)

Summary: Will finally meets Jonathan’s band. He just wished his brother had the foresight to tell him how hot the guitarist was. (Modern AU/They are all 16-18)

Warnings: Light cursing (Barely any really)

Words: 2742

Story -

“So, are you excited?” Jonathan asked as he glanced at his brother in the passenger seat.

Will rolled his eyes, “I’m meeting your weird emo garage band.”

Jonathan poked him in the side before returning his hand to the wheel, “It’s not a weird emo garage band. We play rock music.”

Will grinned at him, “I know. You’ve been talking about it for months now.”

Jonathan shrugged, shooting his brother a small grin, “It’s fun. I can’t wait to introduce you to the others.”

“I can’t wait to meet Steve.” Will said with a teasing smile.

Jonathan cleared his throat, he could feel his face heating up, “Yeah, yeah. Steve’s cool. I think you’d like him.”

“Not as much as you, I bet.”

“Will!” Jonathan groaned.

Will laughed brightly.

...

To be honest, Will wasn’t sure what he was expecting when Jonathan asked him to join him for band practice. He had known his brother had joined a band a few months back, how could he not? It really was all Jonathan talked about lately. But besides Jonathan, he didn’t really know anyone in the band. He had heard a lot about Steve though. Steve with the cool hair, Steve “the ladies man” Harrington, Steve who acts cool but is a huge dork (Jonathan’s words), Steve Steve Steve.

Honestly, Will rolled his eyes, Jonathan was worse than him when it came to hiding a crush.

“Who else is even in this band?” Will asked suddenly, the thought hitting like a brick. How was he supposed to meet these people when he didn’t even know their names?

“I talk about them all the time and you don’t know?” Jonathan sighed, “And here I thought you actually listened to me.”

Will shrugged, “I haven’t listened to you in years.” He pointed out with a grin.

Jonathan rolled his eyes, an amused smiled tugging at his lips, “Right.”

“Anyway, Band?” Will prompted.

Jonathan hummed, “Right, well, there’s me obviously. I play the drums. Then there’s Steve who is the lead singer, he also plays guitar. Jane or El as we call her, plays the bass and sometimes the piano. Then there’s Mike. He’s the lead guitarist and is the backup vocals. Sometimes El plays back up vocals too.”

“So, You, Steve, El and Mike?” Will repeated curiously.

Jonathan nodded, “Yup.”

Will nodded, “Anything else I didn’t hear you say before?”

Jonathan shrugged again, “I don’t know. Uh, El and Mike used to date but now they’re just good friends. Steve used to date Nancy, Mike’s sister. It’s how they met. Uh, we had another member, Dustin. But he had to move due to his dad's work. He still has a spot in the band though if he ever moves back.”

Will nodded, “So, the usual band drama. Got it.”

“It’s not- “

“Drama.” Will repeated firmly.

...

Jonathan pulled up to Steve’s house, his stomach in knots. It wasn’t necessarily because he was nervous. He just- it was Steve. And he was Jonathan. And he had never felt like this for anybody before. Sure, he had crushes. Hell, he had a crush on Nancy! But this was different somehow. Jonathan didn’t really want to dwell on why though, He wasn’t really ready for that.

Will nudged him, pulling him out of his thoughts, “You okay?”

Jonathan notes concern hiding in between amusement and exasperation.

He stared at his brother for a moment before nodding, “Yeah, I’m good. Let’s go.”

Will nodded and got out of the car.

Jonathan took a moment to collect his thoughts as he turned the car off and got out, following after his brother at a sedate pace.

“So, what are your band-mates like?” Will asked as they headed to the door.

“Wow, you really didn’t listen to a word I said over the past five months huh.” Jonathan teased.

...

Will felt a hint of embarrassed guilt creeping up on him. He honestly didn’t mean to ignore everything his brother had said, he just had been really busy himself with the art festival coming up.

Jonathan must have noted the look on his face as a fond smile tugged at his lips as he shook his head, “It’s fine Will. You’ve been busy yourself lately.” He said as he knocked on the door, “How’s that going by the way? You finish that portrait yet?”

Will groaned, “Don’t remind me! I haven’t started on it yet. I just can’t decide who I want to sketch and It’s due in two weeks! Why did I agree to do the art festival for extra points?” Will complained.

Jonathan laughed and patted his shoulder as the door opened, “I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

“Hey, Johnny boy! I don’t know what you guys are talking about but you shouldn’t sweat it. Things always work out eventually.” The guy, Will guessed this was Steve based off the light flush and shy smile on Jonathan’s face, said to him then turned to Jonathan, “You made it! And you brought your brother.”

Will nudged Jonathan in the side and his brother jerked slightly before clearing his throat awkwardly, “Uh, right yeah. Steve this is Will. Will, Steve.” He uselessly gestured between the two.

“Nice to meet you. Steve.” Will greeted with a slight playfulness in his tone. The embarrassed narrowed eyed look he got from his brother was so worth it.

Steve grinned at him, “Yeah, you too man. Jon talks about you all the time! I’m honestly surprised you hadn’t come by before.” He stepped back so they could finally walk into the house.

“Uh, yeah. I’ve been busy.” Will said as he looked around the large house. Holy shit. Everything looked so expensive, just how rich was his parents?

“The art thing right?” Steve asked as they headed down the hallway to another door that leads to the basement where they practiced.

Will nodded “Ah, yeah. Yeah, it’s a real pain but I enjoy it.” He replied.

“I get you. It’s the same thing with music for me. I mean, I gotta practice but sometimes I just don’t want to you know?”

Will hummed in agreement, his eyes flickering around the room. There was a drum kit, guitar stands and a microphone set up in the corner, a few amps surrounding it, across from a large couch and mini-fridge. There was a girl currently sitting on the couch munching on what looked like an eggo. She looked up at the sound of their arrival, her eyes dark and piercing. Will almost felt like she was looking right into his soul.

“Hey, El! This is Will, Jon’s brother. Will, meet El. She’s the resident psychic.”

Will blinked in confused surprise, “The what?”

“For the last time, I’m not psychic. You’re just easy to read.” Her voice was soft, calm, pleasant to listen to.

“I’ll believe that as soon as you stop doing freaky shit.” Steve shot back.

Jonathan rolled his eyes before he greeted El politely, “Hey El, Mike here yet?”

El shook her head, “He said he was gonna be a little late. He had to drop off Holly at her friends for a sleepover.”

Steve huffed, “He always has excuses.”

El turned her gaze onto him, “Funny, you live here yet you are also late eight out of ten times.”

Steve opened and closed his mouth, “ I- well- I-shut up.” He turned his face away with a small pout.

El’s lip twitched upwards. Will noted Jonathan had a small grin on his face too.

Before anyone else could say anything the door to the basement slammed open and a voice yelled down, getting louder as they got closer, “I’m here! I’m here! I’m here!”

“You’re late!” Steve said with a stern look.

Will turned in time to see a head of curly back hair jump down the last two steps, he curled over a bit as he gasped for air, “I’m not late. You’re just early.” He retorted, looking up.

Will swallowed thickly. 

‘Holy shit.’ He thought as the beauty in front of him straightened and swiped some hair out of his eyes.

El giggled, “You said that to Mr.Phillips today too when you were late to Bio.”

The gorgeous person in front of him, who could only be Mike, shot El a grin and a wink, replying with, “Must be true then.”

Will could feel his cheeks heating up as Mike turned his gaze onto him.

“Well hello there. I don’t think we’ve met. I’m sure I would have remembered a pretty face like yours. I’m Mike.”

Jonathan nudged him with a grin, “This is my brother Will.” He said for him as Will’s brain seemed to turn to mush.

Mike’s eyes lit up with recognition, “Oh! The one you talk about all the time? I’ve been wanting to meet you.” He walked over to Will and the closer he got the more Will felt like he was gonna melt right into the floor. He thankfully stopped about a few feet away from him, giving Will some breathing room, then his statement processed and Will flushed even darker.

“You have?” Will was so glad his voice didn’t crack on him. He wouldn’t be able to stand the embarrassment.

Mike nodded with a bright grin, it made him look even more beautiful, “Yeah! Jonathan always talks about you. He said you were a nerd like me.”

Will’s brain halted. No way. There was no way this amazing and handsome and beautiful guy was a nerd like Will, there was just no way.

“Oh yeah, Mike likes D&D too Will.” Jonathan added, nudging his arm again, “He also is a huge Star Wars fan.”

Mike shrugged with an embarrassed look on his face and he rubbed the back of his neck, “Yeah, I’m a huge dork.”

Will shook his head quickly, “No! I mean, I am too so like, uh, there isn’t any problem with it. To me anyway. I mean, it’d be pretty hypocritical of me to judge you based on things I like too so, uh, yeah.” As soon as he realized he was rambling he snapped his mouth shut.

Mike thankfully didn’t seem put off by it, and merely laughed, “Yeah, I get you. Thanks.” He smiled again and Will felt like he had ascended to heaven.

He cleared his throat awkwardly, “Yeah, yeah. Cool.”

‘Yeah, yeah. Cool? What the hell, Will!’ He thought to himself, ‘Could you sound any stupider?’

“I heard you play the guitar? That’s cool.”

Apparently he can.

Mike nodded, “Yeah. I’ve got good hands.” He said with a wink.

Will’s brain short-circuited. Was-was he flirting!?

“I’m sure you do too. From being an artist.” Mike added with what was almost a playful smirk.

“Uhm. I-I guess. Though I-I doubt it compares to you.” Will replied as casually as he could. He was still processing the earlier statement but immediately was horrified once he realized what he had replied with.

‘Oh my god. Oh my god. What the hell? Why am I so dumb? Way to go Will. He’s gonna think you are so weird.’

“I could show you sometime?” Mike said with another wink and flick of his hair.

‘Wait, what?’

Startled out of his thoughts, Will could only squeak out an “Oh. Really?”

“Yeah, playing the guitar isn’t that hard. I’m sure you could easily pick it up.” Mike chimed brightly, flicking a piece of hair out of his eyes again.

Oh. Oh. That was what he meant. Will was just gonna go jump into a volcano now.

“I don’t know. I’m not much of a musician.”

“That’s alright! I could show you.” Mike easily replied.

El giggled from her seat on the couch and said so quietly Will wasn’t sure he was supposed to hear, “I’m sure that’s not the only thing you want to show him.”

Will ignored her and tried valiantly to cool his face down, “I wouldn’t be any good.” He weakly replied.

Mike shrugged, “I wasn’t either at first. But it’s all good. You don’t have to play, just thought it’d be fun.” Mike shot him another grin, “Guess you can watch me instead.” Mike winked again, “If you want to.”

Oh. Oh my god. He was definitely flirting.

...

He had to hold back a laugh as Will pretty much gawked at Mike the moment he saw him. He was definitely going to be teasing his brother about his reaction to Mike later.

To be honest, Jonathan kind of expected this. Mike was objectively a good looking guy and definitely Will’s type but actually seeing it in person was hilarious. Will was as red as a tomato and stammering like a fool while Mike had a slight flush to his cheeks and a wide grin on his face. He figured Will was far too shocked by the sudden flirting to notice how awkward Mike was being though. Mike kept swiping his hair out of his face, almost stammering his words and winking far too much. He had never seen Mike so obviously and awkwardly flirt with someone before, even with El.

It was honestly kinda adorable.

Steve nudged him with a grin, “Is it just me or are they flirting?” He asked quietly.

Jonathan glanced at him then to Will and Mike then back to Steve with a smile, “Definitely flirting.”

...

Later during the night as they were taking a break, Mike sat next to El on the couch and watched Will, a bright smile on his face, talk to Steve and Jonathan.

El rolled her eyes playfully as Mike continued to stare at Will from across the room “You’re gawking again.”

“I am not.” Mike scoffed but didn’t look away from Will, eyes tracking the movement of Will's hands as he pushed some hair out of his eyes as he laughed.

El hummed “Sure. And I’m actually psychic.” She stated dryly.

Mike rolled his eyes and finally turned to her “Okay, fine but can you blame me? It’s Will.”

El smiled at him “Yeah, just Will. The guy you have been crushing on since you first noticed him in 4th grade.”

Mike gently shoved her arm playfully “Shut up.”

She laughed at him “Are you gonna tell him?” She asked.

“Tell him what?” Mike asked absently as he turned back to look at Will. Steve was currently, it seemed, telling him about the story of how he first got his guitar if the constant gesturing and occasional loud word Mike managed to catch was anything to go by. Jonathan was smiling at Steve as he spoke and Will would nod every now and then politely but he didn't seem as interested in the topic. Though Mike doubted anyone could be as interested in whatever Steve says as much as Jonathan.

“That you’re a huge dork who’s had a gigantic crush on him for years?” El suggested, “Or maybe that you were the one to stick that cheesy poem in his locker in 6th grade? Or wrote a whole song about him? Or maybe that you-“

Mike pressed a hand against her mouth, his cheeks bright red and eyes wide “Shhh, are you crazy? What if he hears?” He glanced at the male in question worriedly, as if he could hear them whispering from across the room. He was still standing with Jonathan and Steve, nodding along to whatever they were talking about now.

El rolled her eyes again, pushing his hand off her face “He obviously likes you back Mike. I don’t see the problem. Besides, you started flirting with him the moment you saw him.”

Mike cleared his throat “Yeah, but he probably just thought I was being weird.”

El stared at him with a look of disbelief “Oh my god. You are an idiot. Why did I ever date you?”

“Hey!” Mike complained.

“Hey you two! Stop conspiring and come practice.” Steve called over to them. They turned to see Steve waving them over as Jonathan patted his brother on the shoulder, whispering something to him that made him pink a little and shove Jonathan, who just laughed and patted his shoulder again before heading towards his drum set.

“Coming!” El replied and slapped Mike on the shoulder, “Good luck.” And added with a lowered voice as she walked away, “Poor Will.”

"Hey! What is that supposed to mean!?" Mike called after her, offended.

"I'm sure you'll figure it out." She replied with a wave of her hand, "Hopefully."

[midnightswithdearkatytspb]

The Spark (CountryMusicStar!Bucky x OFC)

Pairing: Country Star!Bucky x Country Star!OFC 

Rating: PG

Warning(s): Angst & Fluff

Word Count: 2,954

Info: This series has been running around my brain for forever, like over a year, so here it is. This is for @the-omni-princess​ 1k Writing Challenge, I grabbed Celebrity AU. Please forgive me for having it be 2 days late, being sick and just having a laptop that doesn’t quite like me hasn’t helped me get this done on time. I do not know lawyer-speak or contract speak for that matter, so please do not come after me or my friend @stormygedd0nthespaz​ who helped me with this. Thank you! 

Synopsis: What do you do when the man who holds your career comes to you with an ultimatum, that not only affects you but the lives around you? That is what is happening for Sparrow Lake, she thought she would start 2020 with just her close friends and family, but when Tony Stark shows up at her family's Smokey Mountain home, with fellow country star Bucky Barnes and their manager, that was not going to happen. 

Thursday, January 9th E!News Online

Stark Record’s owner Tony Stark held a press conference Thursday morning in Nashville, to announce the engagement of two of his top-selling artist Bucky Barnes and Sparrow Lake. The couple first sparked rumors when they performed their new singles Center Point Road and I Will Fall, which both happen to be duets with each other, at Stark Records Take Over Grand Ole Opery. Fans of both Bucky and Sparrow took to Twitter with their speculations but were shot down by Sparrow Lake’s guitarist, Clint Barton, who tweeted; “What happened to the days when artists could collaborate and it didn’t mean they were in relationship?” It was quickly retweeted by Sparrow’s siblings Bey Lake and Peter Parker, as well as Bucky Barnes best friend Steve Rogers. 

Tony broke the news saying, “It is my pleasure to announce the engagement of two of my record labels artist Bucky Barnes and Sparrow Lake. The couple have worked hard to keep the relationship as private as possible for the past thirteen months, but know they are ready to share it with you all. As the fans have been speculating for a while they were together, both Sparrow and Barnes are open with fans, they felt it was the right thing to do. They are working on setting a date for their wedding and are happy to have their relationship out in the open. Stark Records, couldn't be more happy for Barnes and Sparrow, they make a great couple. I look forward to seeing what the future brings them. Thank you.” 

In Tony Stark fashion he didn't stick around to take questions from the press, but just hours later Sparrow posted to her Instagram, where she showed off her ring with the caption, “My soul said yes.” Just minutes later, Bucky Barnes posted a photo of Sparrow Lake makeup-free, with the caption, “So glad you said yes, so we can take over the world together.” If that doesn't melt your heart, I don't know what will!

Wednesday, January 8th, 10 AM - Great Smoky Mountains, Eastern Tennessee 

The house was alive giggles from Birdie as she ran after Jojo, who held her scrunchie in her jaw. Clint laughed at his daughter's antics reminding her to be careful between puffs of breaths. Bey sat on the couch, guitar in lap, phone beside them as they recorded a demo for a pop star. Sparrow sat with her mother, Maggie, sipping on a new tea she had gotten while in Canada with her father Bruce. This was how Sparrow imagined her break, before she hit the studio, with her family, her friends just relaxing. 

“Mr. Lake, Hayes is reporting that Mr. Stark is coming up the driveway, I wasn't aware we were expecting him today.” Kaius, frowned as he walked in listening to his Bluetooth earplugs. The security guard was known for not liking Tony Stark’s chaotic fits, as he liked to call them. Bruce looked up from his book, pulling his glasses off confused before shaking his head. 

“We weren't aware he was coming to visit.” pulling himself up from the chair, Bey followed suit laying their guitar on the couch. “Why don't you go ask Mags to put the coffee on and I’ll go see what Mr. Stark is here for.” patting Kaius on the shoulder, he made his way out the front door pulling his bomber jacket closer to his body as she black SUV came to a stop.

Bruce watched on as Happy Hogan opened the door for Tony Stark, followed by Sam Wilson, his daughter's manager, last but not least Bucky Barnes got out. Bucky looked annoyed as Sam spoke to him, but shook his head before he smiled when he saw that Bruce was watching them. Sam waved to Bruce as he took a bundle of bouquets from Happy, Bruce provided a head-nod of acknowledgment. 

“Good morning Bruce, would it hurt to get cellphone reception up here?” Tony climbed up the steps while gazing up at the maestro of recording music. “Also I hear a congratulation is in order, 4 grammy nominations, that makes what 60 in total your career so far?” Bruce shook Tony’s hand when they met at the top of the stairs. 

“Don’t go congratulating me just yet Mr. Stark, I haven't won yet. As for cellphone reception, my Verizon network works just fine, I was able to call my sister and heard her crystal clear.” Bruce peered down the shorter man, as they waited for the other two gentlemen to reach the porch. Tony scoffed as he pulled his cellphone out to see his name network only had two bars. 

“Is there a chance that Miss. Sparrow has risen yet from slumber?” stuffing his cell back in the pocket of his jeans, as both Bucky and Sam came up behind him. 

“She rose with the sun today. Mr. Stark, we weren't expecting you today, any of you. Not that I'm not happy to see you Sam or Bucky, but this Sparrow’s vacation as well as mine, so if you don't mind me asking, what is it your here for?” Bruce leaned against the banister his arms crossed over his chest, keeping the heat in. Before any of the visitors could speak, Sparrow had opened the front door, her mother's Mexican serape around her shoulders. 

“Sam, Mr. Stark, what a surprise, I just checked with Sarah, she said you didn’t call or e-mail to say you were coming by. Bucky it’s so good to see you.” stepping out onto the porch, Sparrow laid a kiss to Bucky’s cheek, before doing the same to Sam, her eyes staying on Tony the whole time. Clint and Kaius stood vigilant in the doorway. 

“I thought you’d give your team a break, we also needed to talk in person, at best interest.” Tony kissed Sparrow on the cheek as he took his sunglasses off and looked at her with a fond smile. Sparrow pulled away, taking one of the bouquets off Sam’s hands. The anemone’s stood out against berries, lilies, cotton, and roses. 

“Let's go inside then, it's warm and my mother put a fresh pot of coffee on and she’s about to take a tray of snickerdoodles out of the oven.” Kaius and Clint broke away from the doorway allowing the group to pass by, Bey was holding Birdie upside down by her legs, making the little girl giggle. Maggie stood in the entrance of the living room hands on her hip, an apron around her waist looking at the men. 

“You best remove your shoes before you mess up my house, I had these floors cleaned before Christmas so my angels could eat off them,” Maggie ordered the group, referring to Birdie, Clint’s daughter, and Jojo the family's dog, when she meant angels. Bucky made no protest and was quick to take off his worn cowboy boots, while Sam handed over the matching bouquet to her before he slipping his Timberlands off. Tony sighed before he took a seat at the bench in the entrance, pulling off his Adidas. Maggie kissed Sam’s cheek before she took both hers and Sparrow’s bouquets into the kitchen to put them in water.

Bruce leads the group into the dining room, sitting at his usual head of the table. Sparrow sat beside her father to the left, the windows casting a rainbow effect to her. Tony sat down with Bucky between him and Sam, facing Sparrow as Clint came in and sat down beside her. Sam opened his jacket to pull out a file and setting it on the table, immediately Sparrow's stomach dropped. 

“Sparrow, I assume you've seen the charts since you and Barnes put your singles out at the end of November. Well fans have been speculating that you two are together for awhile since photographers caught you both leaving the studio in New York.” Sparrow looked at Bucky who was staring at her, he winked but it did nothing to ease the monster sitting in the pit of her stomach, that felt like it was trying to claw its way out currently.

“So I got to thinking you know what would be great, if we could form the next Faith Hill and Tim McGraw!” Was she going to faint, was the room suddenly too hot? Sparrow threw the serape from her shoulders and covered her face with her hands. 

“Stark, you do realize they are always fighting? Just last year when I was backstage at their tour, Faith was kicking him out of their dressing room and they were spending the rest of tour in different busses. That marriage is in shambles.” Sam didn't think the Tim and Faith were a good reference at all, as he put his two sense in. There was no doubt the two loved each other but no one would want to put themselves willingly in their shoes. 

“Okay, so terrible reference, Sparrow Lake and Bucky Barnes could be the next Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood. I bet they could even be the next Johnny and June Cash, I want to make it happen.” banging his hand on the table, Sparrow flinched back while Bruce glared at Tony. Tony was out of his mind if he thought he had the next big it couple, you had to have a couple for it to be a couple. 

“Just one problem Stark, last I checked Bucky isn't dating my daughter.” Bruce stood up from his chair, placing his hands on the table, making his annoyance ever the more known at the label owner and multimillionaire. 

Clint reached under the table grabbing Sparrow’s hand as her leg started to bounce up and down. Anxiety was heavy on her mind, Tony Stark had something up his sleeve she just knew it. Bruce sat back down just as Maggie came in with a platter of cookies along with mugs and coffee. 

“Mom, can you take Dad and Jojo out for a walk, he needs some air.” meeting her father's gaze as her mother placed a kiss atop her head. Bruce was up from his seat no argument as Maggie looked at him from above their daughters head. Placing a kiss on the crown of Sparrow's head, he sighed then proceed to follow his wife out of the room. 

Sparrow poured cups of coffee for everyone, buying time to be sure her parents had left the cabin. Bucky watched her closely, he could see the slight shake in her as she passed each cup out, how her left pointer finger plucked at the skin on the nail bed of her thumb. The door closing pulled everyone from their thoughts as Sam took a cookie from platter stuffing it in his mouth in one go. 

“Tony, as my dad said before, me and Bucky aren’t dating, I‘ve made no inclination that I was dating anyone since I broke up with my ex, so I’m just not sure what you are insinuating.” Clint and Sam’s eyes met while Bucky scratched at the stubble that had grown on his face over the past few days. 

“Well it’s simple really, Bucky and you have been dating in secret for the past 13 months, that give you what six months to get over what’s his face. Bucky over Christmas break proposed to you and well, you both just love your fans so much it’s now time for the two of you confirm that you have been in a relationship and you want to share this wonderful news with them.” Tony smiled at her while Sparrow’s jaw dropped, the monster was now raging and it was going to try and claw its way out of her. Clint well he was laughing, the man couldn’t be seriously insinuating a fake marriage was an amazing idea. 

“Stark you can’t seriously be thinking that a fake marriage is going to sell more tickets and records are you? It may work for a little bit but when TMZ finds out it’s fake because you can’t fake records like that, well it’s over their fans will hate them.” Clint got up from the table and started to pace the dining room, running his fingers through his hair. 

“No it will be real, they will be married till one of them doesn’t want to make music anymore. I’ve thought this out for weeks, they can tour together and support each other. They will be the next big thing. Sparrow if you don’t go through with this, I will terminate your contract with Stark Records.” It was getting harder to breathe, the air felt stifling, she could hear Clint calling Tony something before he stormed out of the room. Suddenly someone was beside her holding her hand, and she knew it was Bucky. 

“But what about my contract surely you can’t just take it away from me because I refuse to get married.” Sparrows’ voice cracked as she looked to Sam than Tony, as her pointer finger tried to make contact with her thumb, but Bucky held her hand tighter. 

“I looked Sparrow and in your contract under clause 12 article 1, it says at any point in which you don't fulfill any request or obligation given to you by Tony Stark or Pepper Potts, they have the right to terminate your contract.” Sam handed over the very contract Sparrow had signed at 21, without her parents beside her or a lawyer, for that matter. He had the part he was talking about highlighted in lime green. This was real, she could very well have her record contract taken from her.

“Sam, Tony can you give me and Sparrow a few minutes alone.” Bucky continued to hold Sparrow’s hand as she stared at the contract. His heart went out to her it truly did, he remembered what it felt to feel as if the world was out to get him when he was barely acknowledged by fellow country artist, producers wanted to control his sound. He found his backbone, kept his true friends closer and stood up for what he believed in, his family. 

When they were alone Bucky got up from the table and pulled Sparrow along with him, remembering the door Maggie Lake had come through, as the kitchen, he leads them through there. At the breakfast nook was leftover ice water from breakfast, he quickly pulled a chair out for Sparrow to sit, before pouring the water. Once he was sure they were alone and some of the color had returned Sparrow’s face he took her hand again. 

“Sparrow I need you to listen to me and I need you to listen to me well. I’m on your side and I know in the end we’ll make a great team but you just have to hear me out.” setting her glass down she turned her body so it was facing him and he had her full attention. “As much as the media likes to think I’m with every girl I’m seen with I’m not. I haven't been with anyone since Delores Smith, and she, she broke my heart, Sparrow. I haven't had time for anyone, I’m always on tour, in the studio recording or I’m promoting a single. I need someone who understands me and I think that if you give us a shot, a real shot to fall in love like I’m willing to try, I think we could have something.” pulling her hand from Bucky’s she started to pull her hair up but he got up and moved up behind her. Suddenly he was putting her hair in a French braid. 

Sparrow felt like she owed this to everyone in her life to do this. She owed this to her parents who worked so hard year after year, album after album of her own dads to this. She owed this to her siblings who cheered her on, but especially Bey and Peter who had known what it felt like to feel so lost. Scott, she for sure owed him, he had taken her song and put it on the airways of his music show, got her played all across North America, taking her directly himself to Tony Stark. Scott had helped her get signed. She really owed it to Clint, who took his only child on the road with them, looked out for her like a big brother did. He had given up so much to be her guitarist and he showed no signs of stopping. How could he let not only them down, the fans but herself? 

“I promise you Sparrow Lake we are in this as a team.” Bucky gave her his signature half-smile as held out his left pinky to her, biting her lip she hooked her right one with his. 

“Don’t make me regret this Barnes, and I hope you are prepared for this family because you have no idea what you have gotten yourself into.” talking as she watched Bucky get down on one knee, she laughed when he reached into his skin-tight jeans to pull out a purple velvet box.

“Sparrow India Lake, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife and my best friend, that drives Sam crazy with me?” opening the velvet box sat a beautiful ring that Sparrow recognized right away as a ring she pointed out to her sister-in-law when they were out shopping. 

“Yes, yes James Buchanan Barnes, I would love to drive Sam crazy with you as well as become your best friend and wife.” Bucky took the elegant celestial ring from its holder and placed it on her left ring finger, making it very official. Sparrow Lake was on her way to becoming Sparrow Lake-Barnes.

[queenmylovely]

Just My Luck; Part 3

Summary: John deacon x fem!reader. John and Reader make plans to see each other

Warnings: cussing, slow burn

Word Count: 3.7k

A/N: There’s more of Queen in this one, especially of the Chaos Duo. It’s kind of a filler chapter, but there are a lot of cute little moments. Most likely, I’ll be posting on weekends from now own. As always let me know what you think!

Part 1, Part 2, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14 (Epilogue), Masterlist

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Exactly three weeks after John sent the letter to you, he received one and sent another.

Receiving your letter was a godsend to him. To all of the boys. Not only did it save Deaky from his own worrisome mind, but it also saved Brian from constantly having to patrol Freddie and Roger, and saved Freddie and Roger from coming under the wrath of over protective Brian or manic Deaky. Not that the cycle wouldn’t repeat itself as soon as a week passed with no reply.

In the aftermath of your letter, Roger and Freddie figured they had an about two day grace period where they could talk about you and tease John as much as they wanted.

“Well it’s official, you two are now properly each other’s,” teased Freddie, referencing the way each of you signed off your letters. This got an eye roll and beginnings of a quick response from Deaky but he continued anyway, “Why don’t we call you Johnny? Where the hell did Deaky come from?” He questioned. “Johnny is much more traditional.”

“Are you joking? Fred, you’re the one who started calling me Deaky, because Johnny was too traditional,” replied a flabbergasted John.

“Oh that’s right, because fuck how things are traditionally done. Although I thinks it’s absolutely precious that your girl has a special nickname for you,” Freddie remembered, giving Deaky a cheeky smile. Deaky just ignored the comment about you being his girl and tried to focus on tuning his bass.

Since the band was in the studio before noon, John had gotten the letter early and decided to mail his response on the way back home. For now, he, Freddie, and Roger were in the control room while Brian was working some guitar part in the sound booth.

“In any case, I think the best course of action for you, Deaks, is to meet on your turf. If she comes to London, you can show her around, take her to all the fanciest places, have her stay with you, in your bed,” Roger said into the silence. His last remark was solely for Deaky’s embarrassment, and he knew his mission was accomplished when he saw the red on the other man’s cheeks. He didn’t allow Deaky time to object as he continued, “Plus, we only went to Brussels in Belgium, not this Tourn-ey place, wherever the fuck that is. You wouldn’t be any help there.”  

“Tournai,” John mumbled with the correct pronunciation. “It’s part of the French region in Belgium called Wallonia.”

“Well I’m glad to see that college education and those research skills haven’t gone to waste,” Roger joked, drawing laughs from the other two.

“French, you say, Deaky?” Freddie asked and John nodded. “You do know that French is the language of love, don’t you, dear? I bet Y/N is quite fluent and would jump at the chance to teach you.”

Again, Deaky just flushed at the implications of Freddie’s somewhat convoluted metaphor and focused on his bass.

After a while, they went back to working and got consumed by it. At around 4:00 p.m., when they finally had their lunch, Deaky remembered to write the letter, relying only on himself this time. He dropped it in a post box on their way home, this time around 9:00 p.m.

_____

Ten days later, after driving back from an early shift at the café, you were checking the mail in the lobby of your building and saw the now tell-tale sign of a letter addressed to you but without a name on the returning address. You sprinted up your stairs, seeing the long line outside of the elevator and knowing it would be faster to run. Reaching your apartment, you slowed down and grabbed your keys but picked right back up again once inside and ran into Jeanne’s open room. Even though it was half past noon she was still in bed, as she didn’t have class at all and didn’t work until much later. As you ran up, you grabbed her shoulder, giving it a small shake. She jumped awake then saw it was you and groaned, “Ugh, why did you wake me up? Why are you breathing so heavily? Wait, what’s in your hands? Is that another letter from John?” her questions becoming less annoyed and more excited as she went.

“Yes. But I can’t read it, I need you to.”

“Too nervous?” she asked, grabbing the letter from you as you nodded. “You know he’s going to say yes. Of course he wants to meet you in person.”

You just waited for her to start.

“Okay, here goes: ‘Dear Y/N, Your time at uni and your career plans sound brilliant. I’m sure you’ll be an amazing professor. If only I would have been so lucky to have someone like you for a communications professor, I might be better at it.’ Oh that’s cute,” Jeanne remarked and you smiled but looked down to hide the way his compliment made you feel.

She continued “‘I have been to Belgium, Brussels to be exact, but I haven’t ever been to Tournai. Since you’re teaching English there, do you speak French? Didn’t your best friend from high school speak French too?’ Yes, that’s right, John! Her lovely best friend, Jeanne, is the entire reason any of this reconnection is possible,” Jeanne laughed, delighted at this new revelation, causing you to groan and put your head in your hands. Jeanne remained content in her moment, pausing to do a little dance.

“What next, Jeanne? I’m sure the letter doesn’t stop at the mention of you,” you prompted when she took too long.

“Oh, right, just got a little distracted. Hmm, he says, ‘Although I did enjoy my time at Chelsea College, and did earn my degree, I’m not an engineer. I’m not sure that you would remember, but when we were in high school I was in a couple bands, which is what prompted my current career path. I’m working in music right now, which is what has allowed me to travel so much, to answer your other question.’ Wow, you didn’t tell me he was a musician!” Jeanne scolded with admiration for John in her eyes.

“I did, actually, it was just like, 7 years ago.”

“Ha, I keep forgetting that this is the same John as all those years ago. Okay, let’s see, next he says, ‘I absolutely would love to meet you in person! There’s no way that I would let you get within 300 km of me without seeing you.’ Hoo! That was too much. That just about took me out, how are you?” Jeanne said, fanning her face at his comments and looking at you to gauge your reaction. Your lips were pursed, eyes were wide and staring at the floor, and you felt your ears and cheeks heat up. Shaking your head, you motioned her to continue.

“‘If you wanted to come see London, I could show you around, being a local and all. I’m going to be in London all summer, so if you had any specific dates, I’m sure I’d be open.You could stay with me if you would like so you don’t have to pay for a hotel. Through my work I have access to discounted aeroplane tickets, if you would rather fly than take a 5 hour train ride. I honestly can’t wait to see you now. Ever Yours, Johnny.’ That’s so nice, you should take him up on his offer!” Jeanne said, referring to the plane tickets and extra room.

You were stuck on him wanting to see you so badly so it took you a second to respond, “What? Oh yeah, I’ll look into it.”

“Can’t focus because you’re smitten, huh?”

“Hmmm? What about a cat?”

“Smitten, not kitten. Geez, you’re gone,” Jeanne said as she laughed at the far-off look in your eyes. You remained in this state as you wrote back to him. Writing the letter, you probably poured in too much emotion, but Jeanne wouldn’t let you edit it any further. You had to trust Jeanne to drop the letter off on her way to work since you were busy with the final bit of paperwork you had before leaving for Tournai, which was just over one week away.

_____

You spent the rest of that week packing, carefully choosing what clothes you would bring with you. It was tricky because you were going there to teach but also to travel. This meant you had to have a lot of business casual clothes but also a wide array of layers in case you traveled somewhere colder. The most difficult choices were for the clothes you thought you would take with you to London. You wrestled with yourself because you didn’t want to stress out so much over clothes and definitely didn’t want to choose clothes specifically for one boy. Still, you kept thinking What will impress John? What will John like? despite yourself.

However, there was only so long you could agonize for and only so much you could fit. Eventually, all of your clothes and necessities were packed and you were spending your last night in the States much as you had the first night you had heard all of A Night at the Opera, with Jeanne and your mom.

The three of you talked during dinner then watched a movie, and closed out the night with another listening of the album, but paired with ice cream this time. It was an early night because you had to get up extremely early for the airport the next morning. Also because of this, your mom stayed over and slept in your bed with you.

After getting ready and getting into your bed, you were laying on your back staring at the ceiling. Your mom was facing the other way on her side, about to turn the lamp off when you spoke, causing her to turn to look at you “I’m nervous, Mom.”

“I know, honey. But you’re going to do great. Everyone in your class will learn English quick as whips, and I bet transitioning to life in Belgium will be easier than you think,” she said reassuringly. But that wasn’t all that was on your mind.

“Is it stupid that I’m actually more nervous about meeting John than I am about leaving the country for three months?” you questioned, grimacing at your own words.

“Nothing you feel is stupid. And I know you’re feeling vulnerable and scared, but there’s no way that you and John won’t get along. You wrote letters to each other for five years and never ran out of things to talk about. As soon as you get over the initial awkwardness, you’ll be thick as thieves.”

“Thanks, Mom. Love you, goodnight.”

“Love you too, goodnight, sweetie,” she said, turning off the light and rolling back on her side.

The alarm rang out all too soon, before the sun was up, and before you actually fell into a deep sleep. The three of you got up and got dressed in silence, eating toast and fruit with eyes half-closed. Jeanne drove your car to the airport with your mom and you leaning on each other in the backseat. The only sound was the soft music playing from the radio, a song you vaguely recognized as early Queen, called “Some Day One Day.”

Walking into the airport, to the luggage drop off, and to the gate, you were all chatting and making sure you had everything that you needed in your carry-on. The three of you sat at the gate to wait and soon enough, the first group was called to board. You were in the second group, so you started saying your goodbyes right away, hugging Jeanne first.

“I’m going to miss you so much! What am I going to do alone for three months? How am I going to handle having our entire apartment to myself? Without you reminding me constantly about dishes and vacuuming and dusting and eating all of my food?” Jeanne’s tone was turning from sad to gleeful as she realized all of the good things about you being gone.

From your place next to her head, you tried to turn and look at her, “You sound suspiciously happy that I’m leaving.”

“Happy? No, not me! Just a little liberated, heh,” she admitted and you both laughed.

“As I’m sure you just realized, you’ll be fine without me. Plus, the university gave us those vouchers to give to the phone company so international calls won’t charge extra, so you can call me anytime. Anytime that I’m awake that is.”

Then it was time to say goodbye to your mom. You both got misty-eyed and gave each other a long hug. It was times like these that you were glad you never got taller than your mom, happy for the extra comfort and protection her height gave you. After a minute, you both pulled away, and she held onto your arms, “I’m so proud of you, Y/N. This is a big step, and I know you’re going to do great. Remember to call me as soon as you get there and every Monday after that.”

“Thank you, Mom. Don’t worry, I will,” you replied. Then the intercom came on, calling for your group to board, “Love you, Jeanne,” you said, pulling her in for another quick hug before doing the same with your mom and kissing her on the cheek, “Love you, Mom. Keep each other company while I’m gone!”

They nodded and waved, as you walked right up to the desk, the last goodbye making you the last in your group. They stood together and watched the plane until it took off before heading back to the apartment to go on about their days.

_____

Deaky was asleep on the couch of the control room when the studio received your letter the day after you left Seattle.

Roger and Freddie, however, were wide awake, waiting for Brian to return with coffee when an intern came in with the letter and they maneuvered it from the unknowing college kid. They were quick to convince each other to open and read it without waking up Deaky.

Deciding to take turns reading it out loud, Freddie started, “‘Dear Johnny, Oui, je parle français.’ Oh she does speak French, astounding! ‘And yes, my still best friend, Jeanne, is the main reason that I can speak it at all. We’re roommates now and we still spend every Saturday just speaking French so we don’t lose it since her parents moved back to Montreal.’”

“This Jeanne girl sounds interesting. She can talk in English and French,” Roger said in a thoughtful voice, biting his lip. “They live together, too. Two girls speaking to each other in French…”

“Yes, that’s what it means to be bilingual,” Freddie replied dry-pan, ignoring Roger’s snort at the word “bilingual.” With a sigh, he continued, “‘Jeanne made it clear that she thought it was important to note that she’s the entire reason I’m even travelling to Tournai. But I can’t be too annoyed because that’s the reason I’m getting to meet you.’ My heart! I’m not sure I can keep reading this, you better take over.”

“Sure, you know I like a confident woman,” Roger smirked, earning an eye roll from Freddie. He found where Freddie left off on the page, “‘Of course I remember your bands! I always wanted to hear you play. When I’m in London, you’ll have to play me some of your old songs so I can experience it live!’ Ha, little does she know she’ll be staying with bassist of Queen. This is going to blow her mind!”

“Rog, love, do try to stay a little humble. She’s American, we’re not as well known over there. She might not even know who we are,” Freddie reminded him before joining the other man’s laughs. Although Freddie could be shy and wasn’t one to make other uncomfortable with his newfound wealth and fame, he was never less than proud of Queen, and wasn’t afraid to show it.

“Okay, okay, ‘If you’d be willing to have me, I would be delighted to stay with you and see London! You’re so sweet to extend your home to me. You’re way too kind to offer those vouchers, I’m fine taking the train. I have a week off from June 1-9, so I could come for a couple days if any of those work for you. I’m actually leaving for Tournai this Wednesday, so you can send the next letter to the address on the index card. Looking forward to seeing you more and more everyday! Very Truly Yours, Y/N. p.s. You seem very capable at communication to me, but the real test is in person.’ Oh-hoh-hoh, getting a little flirty aren’t we there,” Roger remarked, smirking.

“Ooo, very suggestive. Sounds like Deaky here is going to get himself a girlfriend by the first of June!” Freddie replied, both of them laughing.

“Deaky and Y/N sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S…,” one of them started and the other sang along. It was this that woke Deaky up. He rose to sitting on the couch and watched them dancing around with their backs to him.

He rubbed his eyes sleepily while asking, “What are you two on about?”

This stopped them in their tracks. They quickly put the letter back in the envelope, and whipped around, Roger holding the letter behind their backs. Unfortunately for them, Deaky had seen the flash of white.

“Nothing…” they replied in unison, trying to sound innocent.

“If you’re not up to anything, what are you hiding behind your backs?” Deaky questioned in a serious tone.

“Oh this?” Roger asked as he held up the letter and Deaky gasped. “It’s nothing important, just a letter from Y/N,” he said, tossing it to him.

“You opened it without me?”

“Not without you, darling, you were right there on the couch,” Freddie defended.

“I was asleep,” Deaky said half paying attention as he reopened the letter. As he started reading, his full focus stayed on what you wrote, not noticing the other two men staring intently at him. They exchanged glances when he visibly reacted to your words, grinning at you wanting to hear him play, frowning when you declined the vouchers, and giggling at your post-script.

Brian walked in as Deaky finished reading and looked at the scene in front of him before clearing his throat and holding up four cups of coffee. The other three heads snapped up, eyes zeroing in on the coffee. As they drank, Deaky filled Brian in on the details.

“You should definitely send the vouchers anyway. You should also tell her to stay the entire week. You can’t see all of London in two or three days,” Brian persuaded him, with encouragement from Roger and Freddie.

Deaky wrote another letter, including the vouchers and inviting you to stay the whole time.

_____

After arriving in Tournai, you got set up at an apartment with another graduate student from your program. As soon as you could, you called your mom and then Jeanne to check in.

Because of the day it took to travel, and the night stay at a hotel for orientation, you got John’s letter your second day at the apartment. You were surprised, but quickly remembered that mail would be much quicker within Europe.

You were so happy to see that he wanted you to stay the whole time and in your own letter gladly accepted. Although you thought the vouchers were too generous, some time on the phone with Jeanne convinced you to accept them anyway. Her talk didn’t stop you from thanking him over and over in your next letter, though.

_____

Over the course of the next week, you got settled in at your job teaching, too. Your new roommate, Eileen, was from France and was in Tournai to teach public speaking in the student’s native language. You thought you were lucky to be able to speak to her easily. She was nice, but reserved, and you soon developed a routine of eating breakfast together at the apartment and lunch together at the school, but had separate dinners.

On weekends you didn’t see much of her, so you explored much of Tournai on your own, quickly finding a cafe you loved and becoming a regular at the Museum of Fine Arts. Each week on Saturdays, you would spend the entire afternoon taking in a different branch for hours. You had completed three before your first four weeks were over and it was time to travel to London.

You packed your carry-on for London on the Friday night before, Jeanne on the phone to give you advice the whole time. You decided on two pairs of pants, two skirts, two dresses, five shirts, two jackets, and two pairs of shoes, including what you would wear on the plane. One of the dresses was pretty fancy, a choice made by Jeanne “just in case.”

You had told Eileen you would be gone during your week off a week earlier, and Saturday morning she asked you more about where you were going. Always polite and never prying, she accepted your description of your pen pal with understanding and offered to walk you to the train that would take you to airport. Walking with her, you confessed your nerves, and she turned to face you.

“We don't know each other that well, and I like you. He knows you very well,” she offered. You knew what she was implying, even if she wouldn’t go that far herself. That strengthened your resolve and thanked her, coming up on the train station. You kissed each other’s cheeks, as the French were wont to do, and stepped on the train, waving goodbye.

At the airport, you walked quickly and got to the gate forty-five minutes early. You sat, reading the book you had brought with you, Murder on the Orient Express. You had been inspired to read Agatha Christie’s books after her death reminded you of how much you liked the movie of the same name that came out a couple of years prior.  

When your group number was called to board, you took a deep breath and stood. With no one to say goodbye to you walked straight to the forming line without hesitation.

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[imagineclaireandjamie]

Image 18th!century Jamie saw Claire dancing rockabilly / lindy hop? With all the swirling and jumping? I'd love to see his reaction. Bonus if she's dancing with Joe.

We Live For Love

--

Jamie framed Claire’s face between his hands, drawingtheir foreheads together. Together they inhaled, then exhaled, ears roaringwith the crowd.

 “You ready?” he whispered against her lips.

 She pulled back. Smiled. The necklace with three goldcharms – the letters J, F, and B, for him and their two daughters – sparkled inthe stage lights.

 “Let’s do this.”

 He returned the smile, bent for a quick kiss, then strodeonstage, guitar slung over his back.

 She didn’t think the crowd could have been louder, butsomehow it now was.

 Claire enjoyed what she had so dearly missed watching himdo, these past few years away from the road. For he always took such care tomake sure that everything was just perfect – the lighting, the microphones, themarks where they would stand.

 They’d run through it all at the sound check thatafternoon, of course. But Jamie knew that something would always get a littleout of sync – and tonight of all nights, they couldn’t afford that.

 Fortunately this check was just a cursory one – because beforeshe knew it, Jamie plugged in his guitar and began strumming the intro.

 Confidently she strode onstage. Suddenly glad of the new earmonitors Joe had insisted she and Jamie have custom made for this tour. Forabove the screams of the crowd she could just barely hear Jamie’s guitar. Andshe counted the bars of his intro, smiling into the hot lights, heart racingwith nervousness and joy.

 Never again, isn't that what yousaid?You've been through this beforeAnd you swore this time you'd think with your head

 It was their first time playing this new acoustic arrangement live –just her and Jamie’s guitar, without the band and its bass and keyboards anddrums. She was afraid that somehow the song would sound naked, thin,incomplete.

No one, would ever have you againAnd if taking was gonna get doneYou'd decide where and when

 Jamie, of course, had convinced her that certainly her fears wereunfounded. That the simple acoustic guitar was exactly what her voice needed toshine. The perfect metaphor for who she was now – how far she’d come – and justexactly what this tour represented.

Just when you think you got it downYour heart securely tied and boundThey whisper, promises in the dark

Jamie’s strumming became a bit more frantic, in time withthe melodic shift in the song. The crowd screamed in delight. Claire met Jamie’seyes, and knew that it would be all right.

 She needed that reassurance with the next song. For anacoustic version of Promises in the Darkwas just her warm-up; only she and Jamie knew what was in store for the rest ofthe night.

 “Wow!” she exclaimed after finishing the song with a flourishof Jamie’s guitar. “Wow!”

 The crowd chanted her name. Claire knew she was alreadysweating under the heavy lights – but she didn’t care.

 “I can’t tell you how thrilled I am – how thrilled we are – to be with you tonight.”Quickly she bent to sip from the bottle of water perched on a stool a few pacesbehind the amps. “As you know, this is our first gig in just about six years. Iwas afraid you guys would have forgotten about me by now.”

 “No!” “Never!” the crowd replied.

 Claire laughed. “I know, I know. Jamie and I – wait, doyou know this is my husband?”

 The crowd laughed; Jamie shook his head, playing it up.

 “Well – we’ve been through a lot these past six years.Spent a lot of time at home, just enjoying being Mommy and Daddy to our twolittle girls. And we’ve been singing and recording – but just for them. And we’veloved it. But we missed being out here with you.”

 She swallowed. “We were afraid you wouldn’t want to hearfrom us anymore. But I guess we were wrong.”

 “Yeahhhh!” the crowd cheered.

 “Well – so we decided this time around, we’d mix it up abit. Just Jamie and me – we’re giving the rest of the band a break. And we’dsing for you some songs you know, just that they sound a bit different. Andthen we’d sing some new songs for you, too – after all, we do have a new record out.”

 “I hope you’ve bought it,” Jamie laughed. “We gotta putthe girls through college.”

 “Anyway,”Claire rolled her eyes. “For these next few songs, we’re going to do somethingwe’ve never done before. See – this man right here, my husband – you may notknow this, but he helped me find my voice.”

 “I wasn’t aware it had been lost, baby,” he teased.

 She turned to face him on the stage. “Back when I wasstill Claire Beauchamp, singing show tunes in jazz bars – he helped me find avoice that wouldn’t get lost with his electric guitar. There would be no ClaireFraser without Jamie Fraser.”

 The crowd sighed and cheered.

 “We’ve given the gift of music to our little girls. Andthis next song is something we sing to them every night. Our two-year-old lovesit – she thinks we wrote it for her – but please don’t tell her we didn’t!”

 The crowd laughed. She nodded at Jamie, and he beganplucking a very familiar introduction. She closed her eyes – pictured Bree andFaith’s joyous faces when they had music time – and began singing.

 She's got a smileit seems to meReminds me of childhood memoriesWhere everythingWas as fresh as the bright blue sky

 Now and then when Isee her faceShe takes me away to that special placeAnd if I'd stare too longI'd probably break down and cry

 Jamie’s baritone voice joined hers for the chorus. Tohear their voices together, amplified, sent chills down her spine.

 Oh, oh, ohSweet child o' mineOh, oh, oh, ohSweet love of mine

 She opened her eyes to watch what happened next. For shestood away from the microphone – and for the first time in their public career,Jamie Fraser sang on his own.

 She's got eyes ofthe bluest skiesAs if they thought of rainI hate to look into those eyesAnd see an ounce of pain

 His voice was so beautiful. For so long she’d wanted himto share it with the world – but for so long he had resisted, insisting (correctly)that the focus should be on her, not him. That she was the star – not him, eventhough they had been equal partners from day one.

 But now, on this tour that naysayers in the press saidwas a comeback and fans said was just about time – now, they played by theirown rules. Dictated absolutely everything. And when Claire insisted theytransform the performances into duets – Jamie couldn’t refuse.

Her hair reminds me of a warm safe placeWhere as a child I'd hideAnd pray for the thunderAnd the rainTo quietly pass me by

 He sang directly to her. Knowing that she couldn’t helpbut think of how he loved burying his face in her neck, sheltered in the cloudof her hair. How he would cling to her in sleep; how they would burrow undertheir quilt, skin-on-skin, lips and limbs tangled for hours and hours in thedark.

 Oh, oh, ohSweet child o' mine

 Her voice rejoined his.

Oh, oh, oh, ohSweet love of mine

 The intensity in his eyes stirred something deep in her.How the hell was she supposed to get through the next ninety or so minutes,when one glance made her want to drag him offstage and lock the door to their dressingroom?

 He electrified her – and she him.

 Next up in their set was back-to-back Bob Dylan covers.

 “It may not surprise you that we idolize June Carter andJohnny Cash,” Jamie explained, tuning his guitar before the next song. “Theyfirst started singing this song together back in the 60s. And most people don’teven know Dylan wrote it – like Jimi Hendrix and ‘All Along the Watchtower.’”

 “It’s better with the harmonica,” Claire interjected. “Butnot today. Maybe next time.”

 Jamie rolled his eyes – and launched into the intro. Thistime he began the song.

 Go 'way from mywindowLeave at your own chosen speedI'm not the one you want, babeI'm not the one you need

 Following in the hallowed steps of June Carter, Claire’svoice joined in. Yet again they sang in perfect harmony.

You say you're lookin' for someoneNever weak but always strongTo protect you an' defend youWhether you are right or wrongSomeone to open each and every door

 It was the perfect metaphor, really – for that’s whatClaire and Jamie had been looking for – and found – in each other, thosefateful days in New York when they were recording their first album. Theirvoices raised for the chorus –

But it ain't me, babeNo, no, no, it ain't me, babeIt ain't me you're lookin' for, babe

 After this song the lights went down a bit – and aspotlight hit Jamie.

 “I know this one’s a bit more folk-y then you all may beused to. But it shows off Claire’s voice in a very different way. She says shelikes to hear my voice at home – well, I feel the same way about her. Andbelieve it or not, she doesn’t sing rock and roll every day. She sings as shedoes things around the house. And I caught her humming this one a few monthsback, and bugged her enough that she agreed to share it with all of you.”

 “Well, Dylan started off in New York clubs, too,” Clairereasoned. “If he can do it, I can do it. And Jamie wrote this particulararrangement – we haven’t heard anyone do the song like this. So it’s a risk.”

 “Well, when have we shied away from risks, Claire?”

 “Never, Jamie,” she laughed. “Now start playing, beforeeveryone gets up and leaves. All right?”

 Claire turned to face the audience. Jamie played a shortintro – and they sang together.

 Oh, where have youbeen, my blue-eyed son?Oh, where have you been, my darling young one?I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountainsI've walked and I've crawled on six crooked highwaysI've stepped in the middle of seven sad forestsI've been out in front of a dozen dead oceansI've been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard

 It was a bit more poetic then the lyrics she typically sang– but the hush that came over the audience during the song was positivelyspellbinding.

And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's ahard, and it's a hardAnd it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall

 So it continued – song after song after song.

 Some familiar favorites re-imagined – songs from herprevious albums, cover songs from the 60s to today. Interspersed with songsfrom the new album, including We BelongTogether, which everyone said would hit Number One within a matter of days –and then a few brand-new songs, written exclusively for this tour.

 When Joe Abernathy – their friend and mentor – had askedwhat they wanted to call this tour, WeBelong Together naturally came to mind. But Claire – and Jamie – had adifferent message to send.

 So after Jamie strummed the final notes of the secondencore song, and gripped Claire’s hand, and they took a bow – Claire spoke intothe microphone for one last time.

 “Thank you, from the bottom of my heart – and Jamie’sheart – for your enthusiasm. We took a big risk doing this, but we know nowthat the Our Voices tour will be thebest we’ve ever done.”

 Jamie kissed her sweaty cheek.

 “Good night!” they shouted into her microphone, then ranoff stage, holding hands.

 In the wings, Jamie handed his guitar to Fergus – normallytheir bassist, now playing the role of guitar tech for the tour – and pulledClaire away from the screams of the crowd. Within seconds they arrived at theirshared dressing room, and he shut – and locked – the door behind them just intime for Claire’s hungry mouth to find his.

 They were both shaking, he realized – from adrenaline,and exhaustion, and pure unadulterated need for each other.

 “You were so, so good, baby,” he whispered against hermouth, peppering her sweaty face with kisses.

 “Mmm.” She bit his lower lip. “I love singing with you. It– it just does something to me, Jamie– ”

 He cut her off with another deep kiss, picking her up andsetting her on the makeup table. He stepped between her legs, and she wrappedher calves around his hips.

 Five quick knocks at the door tore Jamie’s mouth fromhers. Because it could be only one thing –

 Claire jumped down from the table, opened the door, and staggeredas two giggling daughters grabbed hold of her legs.

[shiftyskip]

Robert Van Klinken

The real Robert Van Klinken 

While he is a really minor character in the show, he’s still a part of Easy. Everyone’s important to remember, especially the boys who didn’t come home. 

Robert Van Klinken was born October 31, 1919 in Loomis, Washington to Walter and Cora. His grandfather immigrated from Holland to the USA in the late 1880s. It is reported that he still spoke a bit of Dutch, even overseas. His family moved from their town in Loomis to a town called Twisp in the early 1920s. He had a sister named Susan, called Susie. She was a bit younger than he was. When Robert was around 15 years old, his mother had another son, Gene. 

Robert was a country boy, who loved hunting and fishing. His parents became tenant apple orchardists. They never owned their own farm because they were very poor. Even though they were very poor, they never went without food. His sister was also described as spoiled. She even had her own horse. But even when she was spoiled, her and Robert never fought.

Robert graduated from Liberty Bell High School in 1939. His sister graduated the next year and almost immediately got married to Robert’s good friend Johnny Klinkert. They had a son together, named Walter (called Walt). After graduation, Robert began work as a diesel mechanic. He also worked some in logging. Robert was said to be “a good natured young man who dated a lot and dreamed of getting married someday.” 

When the war started, Robert was in his mid twenties. He believed that he was too old to go to war. at the time, he was working with a defense industry company in Alaska. The job would’ve kept him out of the war. Robert was registered for the draft on July 1, 1941 and was drafted soon. Robert wrote, saying “Uncle Sam sure played a dirty truck on me when he put me in the army. I signed a contract with Deims Drake Company for 1 year to work as a mechanic in Kodiak Alaska at $450 a month. I bought a ticket for $87 on the steamship Yukon and $40 of clothes and was all ready to sail. Just about 15 hours before I was to leave, the Army called. If I’d got to Kodiak they would have given me a deferment as it was an air base for the Navy.”

(I HAVE NO VAN KLINKEN GIFS FIGHT ME)

Robert sent many letters home to his parents, Susie and her husband Johnny. In his first letter to Johnny, he stated he was trying out ot be a paratrooper. He got in, and became a member of Easy Company. A month later, Robert wrote to him in September of 1942, from Camp Toccoa. Which he wrote, “Toccoa has a reputation for making Supermen, and it’s not wrong.” In another letter to his parents, he wrote, “This is the best and toughest outfit in the army. It beats the regular army and the navy. It’s like the Marine parachute troops. The definition of a paratrooper is a soldier who lands in hell in a parachute and runs the devil away with his own fork.”

The harsh training under lovely, lovely Sobel didn’t seem to bother Robert. HE ACTUALLY ENJOYED THE WORK OUTS. He wrote, “Boy I sure feel swell. Nothing to worry about, and got a swell bunch of fellows in our barracks.” Winters wrote that along with Pat Christenson, Lipton, Carson, and Rainer, Robert scored among the highest in the physical competition. 

Robert, as previously stated, really, really liked dating. So in one letter, he wrote, “All the girls want to do is sit at home or go to church. I had a home cooked meal last Sunday at my girlfriend’s place. Boy it sure was good.” In another letter to his sister’s family and his dog (Sleepy), he wrote, “What do you think of the snapshot of my lady friend? She is going to be madder than hell at me because I didn’t go to see her and go to church. I sho cain’t figure out these Southern folks. All they want to do is go to church.” He later wrote to Susie and Johnny about a girlfriend he was serious about, “I am going to my girlfriend’s house in New Orleans. I might get married, but I won’t say for sure...We haven’t made up our minds yet, we might wait till after I get out of the Army. I figure it’s better that way...There’s also a darned good chance of me not coming back.” (cue me ugly crying)

He signed most of his letters : “So long, Bob”. 

Robert made his last jump Christmas Day. He states that after getting their wings, they were going to have a feast. Robert enjoyed all of his jumps. He said that 80% of jumping is guts. 

Robert was head over heels in love with his girlfriend, Joyce. (Trust me, I don’t know if all these women are the same women...) He wrote, “I am the happiest man in the U.S. The little lady is going to wait for me to get out of the Army. She is a girl any man could be proud of...maybe you think I am a damned fool for going with a girl that has been married. I don’t care what you or any of my relatives think about it. Al that matters is that we have each other....We both cried when I got in the plane in Oklahoma City...When I got over the camp...I jumped out and said, “Joyce, this one is for you.”...I am so darned happy that nothing can hurt me.”

(Source: @alexpenkala, thank you for sending me this photo and the link with it!! Here is the link: https://ww2gravestone.com/people/van-klinken-robert/amp/)

Sadly, Robert’s happiness wouldn’t last long. Walter, Robert’s father, died in early 1943. Robert received an furlough back home. He got an extension to stay a bit longer with his family. 

Apparently Robert liked guitars. He wrote in one letter, “I bought another guitar the other day...It sure is a honey.” He even signed this letter with a nickname, Rip.

He wrote in February, after arriving back with Easy, “How did Sleepy act when I left? Hope he didn’t feel too lonesome. The poor little rascal. Walt is sure a sweet little guy. I sure wish I was back home and had a cute little fellow like him to take care of....I have to write on to my “old lady” tonight. She only wrote 11 letters to me while I was on furlough.” 

1943 was not a good year for Robert. By the time April came around, Joyce had broken up with him. She had met another guy and left Robert for him. But even with all this, Bob’s letters were always happy. He wrote this about the break-up, “Well it looks like I got “outranked” by a 1st lieutenant from Fort Sill, Oklahoma. She figures the duration is too long to wait. Anyways, it’s all over and it makes no difference. As Johnnie Rogers says, “I can get more women than a passenger train can haul.”

There were a few occasions that Robert wrote about him and his fellow Easy Company members went out and had wild drinking parties. One time, he and all of first platoon got drunk. They all received punishment for their drunken actions and had to sleep outside. Another time he claims that after he and Skinny Sisk came out of the hospital together, they were drunk for three days. He also got into a bar fight. Some civilian pulled a knife on a “one of the boys”, so Robert and a few men from the 506th and 505th Airborne “cleaned out the joint.” Robert was punished with a fine of $20 and 3 weeks restrictions, with K.P. duty. He also had to buy a new shirt after ruining his.

Robert has health problems in late 1943. He was up for a medical discharge, but received a 10-day furlough that he spent hitch hiking. After the furlough, he continued going to the hospital everyday. When his health cleared up, he was reinstated to Easy.

Soon after, they were headed across the sea to England. Sobel wrote to Johnny, with the famous letter:

(THIS IS NOT THE REAL LETTER. This is from Marcus Brotherton’s quoting Sobel’s letter. AGAIN NOT THE ORIGINAL I AM JUST LAZY)

Aldbourne and training left no time to write letters for Robert.

Robert jumped on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He and other Easy men eat the cookies and cake sent by his family right before they entered the planes. He survived the jump but was injured some point after the jump. He got a piece of shrapnel stuck in his arm, what he called “a flesh wound”, and was sent back to England to recover. He wrote that being in the hospital was worse than fighting. “You get to thinking about your buddies you lost over there and you can’t do anything about it.”

Still interested in the women, Robert wrote home about Phyllis, a woman from home. But he stated it didn’t matter that he hadn’t heard from her in a while, since he had too much to worry about over there. He also said “there will be lots of girls left in the states when I get back.” That was his last letter home.

(This is the transcribed version of Robert’s letter. Again: NOT ORIGINAL)

Ten days after this letter was written, Robert jumped into Holland.

Robert fought to Nuenen on September 20, 1944. In most accounts, once in Nuenen, he was hit by a machine gun burst as he tried to run forward to attack the Germans with a bazooka. He was killed instantly.

But according to Pat Christenson, after Robert’s death, Robert didn’t die that way. Pat writes, “The last house had an open field next to it. I parted the foliage of the hedge that separated the field from the house. I just have been spotted by a German machine gunner. Before he could fire, I pushed through the hedge and dropped into a ditch just on the other side. Robert Van Klinken, one of my riflemen, was following me closely. [Van Klinken] must’ve peered through the same opening as I had, just as the German machine gunner depressed the trigger. Van Klinken was hit with three bullets.”

Christenson grabbed Robert and pulled him through the hedge. Robert was still alive, but he was dying. Robert had been hit in the groin and twice in the chest. The men had to temporarily leave him behind to take cover from a German tank, they retreated behind the house. Christenson attempted to get Robert back to the safety of the house, but the Germans fired upon them every time they made a move towards Van Klinken. Finally, Private Longo, the medic of first platoon, walked over to Robert “as if the war had ceased”, picked him up, and carried him. Robert was still alive, but his face was ashen and Christenson knew he’d be dead soon.

Robert’s death would have a lasting affect on Christenson.

The telegraph home to Johnny on October 9, 1944 (19 days after Robert had been killed), read: “The secretary of war desires me to express his deep regret that your brother-in-law Pvt. Robert Van Klinken was killer in action of the 20th of September in Holland. Letter following. Ulio-adj. General”

October 11, the letter arrived, still addressed to Johnny. It restated the facts that Robert had been killed, with no further details. It ended with: “I know the sorrow this message has brought you, and it is my hope that I’m the time of knowledge of his heroic service to his country, even unto death, may be sustaining comfort to you. I extend to you my deepest sympathy.”

A telegram was also sent to Robert’s uncle Herbert that informed Herbert to tell Robert’s mother. The telegraph, not the letter, to his mother. A letter was sent to Robert’s father, but his father had passed away already, informing him that Robert had been awarded the Purple Heart posthumously for his actions.

On April 13, 1945 Captain Himes, a chaplain with the 506th PIR, wrote to Cora, Robert’s mother. The letter read: “I believe I can answer some of your questions...Robert was killed while voluntarily acting as a scout locating enemy positions during an attack. He was given a Christian burial in Holland. You asked for some names of his friends. I can give you these, Sgt. Denver Randleman, Pvt. William Wingett...He was a fine soldier, and an expert rifle shot, and was aggressive and brave in action.”

One final letter was sent to his mother, four years later to tell her that Robert’s remains had been interred at the US Military Cemetery in Holland. To this day, that’s where he remains.

Robert did not have an official funeral back in the USA. His grave marker in Twisp says the wrong year, marking his death as 1943 instead of 1944.

Susie took his death hard for several years. She felt a lot of resentment for 45 years after his death. One day her daughter Cora found Susie crying, worried, she asked her what was wrong. Susie replied, “Today is the day I finally have forgiveness in my heart.”

Susie always wanted to visit her brother’s grave. Sadly, Susie never did. But her granddaughter Gariann and a friend backpacked across Europe. Gariann asked her Grandma if there’s anything she wanted her to do in Europe. Susie told her, “Tell him we love him and haven’t forgotten.”

A neighbor, a young boy at the time, of Robert’s family was affected by Robert’s death, his name was Chuck Borg. He later joined the army. Years later, he was in Holland when he stumbled upon the cross bearing Robert’s name. When Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose was published, he saw the name again. He was later adopted into the Van Klinken family after reaching out to them. When he returned to Twisp, he created the Robert Van Klinken Memorial Scholarshop at Liberty Bell High School in Twisp, Robert’s school. The scholarship rewards hardworking, adventurous country boys like Robert with college money.

Robert’s grand-grand-nephew J.R. Matkins even got to attend an Easy Company reunion along with his family.

Gariann says, “...our family will always love him. He’ll always be very much alive in our hearts.”

[janiedean]

god, youre so delusional, its pathetic.

johnny 99 is a song by Our Only Savior Bruce Springsteen, to be found in his masterpiece 1982 record Nebraska, which was wholly composed of acoustic songs concerning themes way darker than his usual and which his record company probably considered a commercial suicide back in the day - and it’s regarded by many people as his actual finest record (and objectively I agree, ngl). the song, other than being in the same stark style as the rest of the record, as in, acoustic guitar and harmonica only, in less than four minutes manages in an admirable example of synthesis, not only to tell an entire story, but to touch heavy themes such as economical crisis, the death penalty, the fact that the american government didn’t give a shit about blue collar workers way back in the seventies and arguably also that it might be a tad too easy to buy guns in the US. sounds interesting? great, then let me welcome to this evening’s episode of tumblr user janiedean explains bruce springsteen! ;)

so, shall we start? brace up because this is a wild ride.

Well they closed down the auto plant in Mahwah late that month Ralph went out lookin' for a job but he couldn't find none He came home too drunk from mixin' Tanqueray and wine He got a gun shot a night clerk now they call 'm Johnny 99 

first of all: bruce again shows that he knows how to hook you in, because in four lines he has pretty much told you the bones of the story. first - and most important thing: a factory in a town in new jersey closes. it was a true fact, and in real life it was because they failed to follow environmental rules, but as back in the day there was indeed an economical crisis in the US for which a lot of factories shut down, we could fictionally assume it was for that reason as well. anyway, what matters is that the factory closes. our protagonist, ralph, who presumably works there, is fired, searches for a new job, isn’t re-hired (which was common to a lot of people who were laid off at that time, please feel free to read dale maharidge’s journey to nowhere and somewhere like america to get educated on that), proceeds to get drunk and when he’s not thinking straight he buys a gun (just like that), shoots a guy and gets a new nickname: johnny 99. why? we don’t know yet. but we know that a guy who was just doing his job and failed to be rehired lost it and shot someone... because he lost his job. hmm. but let’s go on.

Down in the part of town where when you hit a red light you don't stop Johnny's wavin' his gun around and threatenin' to blow his top When an off duty cop snuck up on him from behind Out in front of the Club Tip Top they slapped the cuffs on Johnny 99

so: after having shot the night clerk, our guy is in the part of town where you don’t stop at a red light so we can assume not the best part of it, he’s threatening to hurt himself with the gun, he gets arrested by an off duty cop, that’s it. sorry, not that much of a criminal career. but snuck up on him from behind... maybe like the closing of his factory and the fact that his life was fucked in the span of a few days? that might have been a deliberate lyrical choice, which makes you, if not sympathize with the guy, at least get how he’s feeing right now.

Well the city supplied a public defender but the judge was Mean John Brown He came into the courtroom and stared poor Johnny down Well the evidence is clear gonna let the sentence son fit the crime Prison for 98 and a year and we'll call it even Johnny 99

at this point, of course johnny goes to trial. he gets a public defender (which from what I gather tends to be shitty) and a judge whose nickname is mean, from which we can surmise that the stacks against him are bad regardless. the judge comes into the courtroom and stares poor johnny down, and at this point it’s obvious that we’re meant to sympathize with him, not with the judge, who is *mean* and stares down at the guy before even sitting down at this point. so, the judge says that the evidence is there, and his sentence is 99 years of prison.

which is why he’s re-baptized johnny 99 as we had seen in the beginning. now, 99 years is pretty much life, since this guy must have been at least older than twenty to work in a car factory. rough. 

A fistfight broke out in the courtroom they had to drag Johnny's girl away His mama stood up and shouted "judge don't take my boy this way" Well son you got a statement you'd like to make Before the bailiff comes to forever take you away

this verdict does not indeed please johnny’s family/loved ones, as a *fistfight* breaks out and they have to forcibly remove his girlfriend, while his mother pleads the judge to not take her boy this way, presumably crying, which means that again, we are supposed to see that he has relatives who love him and would cry for him and so maybe he’s not a bad guy deep down. sure, we haven’t heard his side yet, but we know his girlfriend loves him enough to try to beat up the guards and his mother pleads for another solution... which is denied, and the judge actually replies with the last two lines, which sound fairly rude and insensitive especially given that the bailiff is coming to forever take him away. but it’s as if the judge has decided that since the guy isn’t rich or matters much in the great scale of things, it’s an already done thing and fuck that. ouch.

Now judge I got debts no honest man could pay The bank was holdin' my mortgage and they was takin' my house away Now I ain't sayin' that makes me an innocent man But it was more 'n all this that put that gun in my hand 

aand wait, here finally our dude finally speaks for himself. first: he had debts no honest man could pay, which means that losing his job fucked his finances for good and he was deep in the red. the bank was taking his house away, which was another thing that was extremely common back in the day (same as in the twenties haha) (read those maharidge books for more info) and so he was going to become homeless because he couldn’t find another job and had no other safety net to fall back on. he doesn’t try to argue for his innocence because he did kill a man so he’s not really downplaying it, but then he adds that ‘it was more than all of that which put a gun in his hand’, which means that it was losing his job, losing his money, possibly losing his house, being unable to provide for his family and feeling most likely useless and like he couldn’t do anything anymore with his life. and that puts the gun in his hand. he didn’t do it because he enjoyed it, he did it because he saw no other way, and none of that was considered in the *evidence*, which means he got a trial where his circumstances weren’t even taken into account. but that’s not the heaviest blow this song deals. that one’s the ending:

Well your honor I do believe I'd be better off dead And if you can take a man's life for the thoughts that's in his head Then won't you sit back in that chair and think it over judge one more time And let 'em shave off my hair and put me on that execution line

HAAAAA BUT JUST YOU WAIT. so: he thinks he’s be better off dead, which admittedly is fair of him, idk if I’d take 99 years (so: entire life and death) in a US prison over just being done with it already, and after all if he has no job, no house, no money and no prospects, what does he have to lose? and fine enough, but here’s the gist: if the judge can take a man’s life for the thoughts in his head, ie if the judge thinks he can condemn him to 99 years in prison ie rotting in there until he dies for what he thought and not giving a fuck about why he thought that or why he did what he did... then he welcomes the judge to ‘sit back in that chair’ (which is already pretty damn wording because it sarcastically implies the judge is in a higher position and nothing can hurt him in the chair while everything can hurt johnny 99 and everything has done so already) and have the balls to give him the death penalty instead of condemning him to die but pretending to have been merciful and only giving him time in prison that he can’t possibly serve before he dies. so he’s basically raising the judge (representing the system that betrayed him) the middle finger because if the judge/the system have ruined his life then they should at least have the courage to end it instead of condemning him to be a prisoner for the entirety of it.

now: that’s it. there’s nothing else. there’s no lesson, there’s no moral, that’s how it ends, it’s bleak and sad and it doesn’t really give you any silver lining... because there’s no silver lining and it’s unjust to live in a society where losing your job means losing your life *and* you will be automatically judged for the thoughts in your head without a chance to prove that you can be better or meant better or could make up for it.

no, it’s one mistake out of reasons beyond your control that you would actually pay for, and hey, thrown in jail with the keys thrown away. what an enlightened, beautiful, just system, the system that judges a man for the thoughts that are in his head, huh?

and actually, bonus story: this story is tied to bruce’s biggest BDE display ever, as when reagan became president and was running for re-election in 1984, he thought to quote bruce’s (sadly misunderstood) song born in the usa in a speech in nj. at that point bruce said nothing for a bit, but then:

guys, what a man, what an idol, what a class. no, sure af reagan did not listen to nebraska nor johnny 99.

and, given how you, my dear anon, also judge people by the thoughts that are in their heads and proceed to be their jury, judge and executioner, both fictional people and real ones, if you’re who I think you are (and I actually know you are)... I’ve got a feeling that neither have you. and I really think you should, same as everyone because bruce is the best ;)

[dreamdaddydutch]

Van der Linde Gang - Time Travel Karaoke Headcanons

I was listening to the radio in work the other day and this idea popped into my mind. I haven’t done Karaoke in years but when I lived in Manchester I LOVED IT (Apart from at Christmas when Maria Carey – All I want for Christmas (is you) would play like 5 times in a row... Anyway, below are some thoughts on how the Van der Linde gang would react to the idea of Karaoke along with some song suggestions for what they’d sing. (I might make a part 2) 

When you first suggest going to Karaoke, the gang are mostly confused, but some of the younger members are truly excited.

Sean especially, if there’s alcohol and a party to be had, he’s there!

Micah thinks it’s one of the most ridiculous things he’s ever heard – but you bet your ass he’ll be there – all he really wants is to be included in things. But just don’t expect him to sing.

Bill also thinks it’s stupid – at least that’s what he says out loud, secretly he’s thinking about the songs he’s heard on the radio and deciding which one he wants to sing.

Javier thinks it’s kinda sweet and will be nice for the gang to do something together that doesn’t involve a ‘plan’ for once. Also he’s secretly a little excited, after-all he’s a great singer and will take his time deciding what he’s gonna sing.

Dutch suggests a duet with Molly as a way to make amends, Molly is instantly touched by this and spends the day excited that Dutch finally wants to be seen together as a couple again.

Kieran is gonna use this as an opportunity to show a special someone how he feels about them.

Strauss surprises everyone by looking forward to the event

The gang all get dressed up, overly so… It’s only when they get there that they realise it’s actually quite a casual affair and the men feel a little silly in their suites. You just find that you don’t have the heart to tell them when they’re getting ready. But promise after the event to take them shopping for next time – because of course they’ll be a next time.

Arthur kinda rolls his eyes at the suggestion, but is won-over by the charm of the evening.

When the gang first arrive at the bar they are a little over-overwhelmed by how busy it is along with all the bright and flashing lights. It’s so new to them, like a completely different world and a little over-whelming.

You and Hosea have the foresight to book several large booths in advance so that the gang can at least sit together.

As soon as the gang start drinking, Abigail is in ‘mom’ mode, making sure they have water on the table and ordering plates of nibbles. 

The gang soak up the atmosphere for at least an hour before any of them decide to give it a go. 

In the mean time, Lenny, Tilly, Mary-Beth, Sean, Karen, Swanson (to everyone’s surprise) and John enjoy a dance. 

The first to perform is Sean - He enthusiastically grabs the mic like a real front man in a band, he choses to sing ‘Drunken Lullabies’ by Flogging Molly, much to the delight and support of most of the gang who are clapping along and up on the tables.

Tilly, Karen and Mary-Beth agree to perform together – I’m thinking The Puppini Sisters style, maybe ‘Side by side’ (if you don’t know who they are, check them out, they’re INCREDIBLE)

Susan sings ‘My Heart Will Go On’ by Celine Dion, which the gang can’t help but feel is directed at Dutch.

Charles, who has been sat happily watching the others and tapping his fingers in time with the music on the table, gets up and sings ‘Mad World’ by Tears For Fears (probably the Gary Jules version) 

Arthur, Javier and Uncle end up singing a Mumford and Sons song - probably ‘Little Lion Man’ 

Javier would take his guitar up and sing, ‘Common People’ - By Pulp. 

Lenny will sing something peaceful like, ‘Nature Boy’ by Nat King Cole. 

Kieran, Sean, Tilly and Mary-Beth discover glow-sticks and immediately have to have as many as they can get their hands on. 

Arthur and Lenny discover snakebites (cider and beer) and this is pretty much the end of them for the night and reminds them of ‘that time’ in Valentine. 

Stauss sings, ‘Money’ - The Flying Lizards version. 

Bill walks on stage nonchalantly and sings ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go?’ by The Clash. He drinks a lot whilst he’s singing. 

Abigail sings ‘Glitter in the Air’ by Pink and dedicates it to John.

John sings ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ by Johnny Cash - he puts real emotion into every word too. 

Swanson is embarrassed to get up on the stage at first, but Karen and Abigail reassure him and hold his hand as he walks up, he sings, ‘Losing my Religion’ by REM. 

You KNOW that Arthur, Charles, John and Javier are going to sing a rendition of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Queen once drunk enough.

Pearson thinks it’s hilarious to sing a Christmas song in August, he picks, ‘It Feels Like Christmas,’ from The Muppets Christmas Carol.

Arthur, once he’s knocked back enough whiskey, walks solemnly onto the stage and sings, ‘Hurt’ by Nine Inch Nails. He sings it beautifully, it brings tears to more than a few peoples eyes. 

Despite their planned duet, Molly gets up to sing, ‘Stay’ by Shakespeare’s Sister. Dutch is transfixed, unable to look anywhere else but at her and decides, resolutely that he will stay. 

Dutch & Hosea have to sing a duet, they have their arms around one another as they sing, ‘O Children’ by Nick Cave. 

Sean and Kieran leap onto the stage, interrupting the end of whoever was singing before to blare out, ‘Kickstart My Heart,’ by Motley Crue. Kieran really comes out of his shell and has one of the best nights of his life.  

Dutch and Molly sing passionately, both staring into one another’s eyes as they sing,‘Up Where We Belong,’ by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes.

Hosea will anxiously walk onto the stage but once he starts to sing he gets well and truly into it, beautifully singing, ‘What a wonderful world’ by Louis Armstrong. 

Trelawny is in his element of course! He’s likely to sing something modern like ‘Shut up and Dance with me,’ by Walk The Moon - he dances a lot and cannot resist doing a magic trick at the end. 

Uncle drunkenly stumbles onto stage to sing, ‘Girls just wanna have fun’ by Cyndi Lauper much to the delight of the ladies in the gang who join him on stage dancing. 

Virtually the whole gang would end up in a conga going round the club towards the end of the night, Micah, Strauss, Susan and Dutch are likely to sit this one out.

Afterwards they would so be up for a kebab! It’s gonna be 50/50 for who loves garlic mayo and who hates it. Arthur loves cheesy chips. Javier loves chips, cheese and gravy. Karen is all about anything in batter. 

On the way home they’re gonna burst into a rendition of ‘Can you hear the people sing?’ from Les Miserables.

[ibelieveinahappilyeverafter]

Just You And Me - Phic Phight 02

Event: Phic Phight 2019 Team: Team Ghost

Title: Just You And Me  

Prompt Giver:  Ave-aria on tumblr

Prompt Chosen: One side effect of fighting spooks in your spare time? It makes for a lot of good stories to tell around the campfire. While away at camp, Danny, Sam, Tucker, and Jazz get the chance to share some of their best and creepiest firsthand Ghost Stories, with their classmates none the wiser. *Can also be set Post Phantom Planet if desired.

Rating: T Content Warnings: Mentions of past character death (ghost). Status: Complete Final Word Count:1,028

Author’s Comments: Written alongside Kasena/Cheshire-Kas!

Summary: What’s better than real ghost stories around the campfire? Well, it’s a lot more fun when the ghosts actually show up.

              Click here to read the work on Archive Of Our Own.

                           ⍣ I have a Patreon! Support me?⍣                         ☪ I have a tip jar! Buy me a coffee?☪

                                                     ::

They had gotten the campfire going, and now it seemed like everyone was looking around, waiting for something. It was Dash that finally spoke, “So. Who’s got some good ghost stories?”

“Ghost stories?” Danny felt the grin growing on his face as he realized this stupid camping trip he had been forced to go on might end up being more fun than he thought. “Depends on how scared you’re willing to get.”

“Jeez, Fenton, we want something actually scary. What are you gonna tell us about? The little ghost kitten that went ‘meow?’”

“If that’s the only story you think you can handle, Dash, sure,” Sam cut in sweetly. “Just leave it, Danny. Pretty obvious they can’t handle stories like we’re used to telling.”

Kwan leaned forward. “What kind of story would you guys tell?”

Danny looked at their classmates and shrugged. “Just the story about Amber.”

“Amber?” Star frowned, huddled in a jacket and already looking wary. “Amber who?”

“You haven’t heard about Wailing Amber?”

Sam and Tucker looked at him and they all grinned as they leaned forward. “Amber was just another girl. A teenager, she wanted to be a total popstar.”

“She was sixteen when she died, and that was probably about ten years ago.”

Dash shook his head, interrupting almost immediately, “You’re really just gonna start off with ‘oh, here’s this girl who died ten years ago.’ Weak, Fenton. Weak.”

“Well, hang on. Gotta build up to it, first,” he told Dash with a grin. “Amber went to a high school pretty close by. She loved writing songs, and so she had sheet music and a whole bunch of lyrics and stuff around her bedroom, right?”

“It was total music heaven,” Sam laughed. “She loved the guitar, the most, and she was actually really good at it. She could even play a few other instruments, but the guitar was the best for her, and she knew that she and her guitar were going to be famous.”

“Amber, you know, she was a teenager, right? She had a crush on a guy at school. His name was Adam, he was like the Dash Baxter of their school.”

“Aw, yeah, sounds awesome!”

“Dude was totally not awesome.”

“Aw, what? You said he was like me!” Dash whined, a few of the other A Listers snickering or hiding behind coughs. “How bad could the dude be?”

“She asked him out, and he said yes,” Danny said. “He told her to meet him… In the forest right around here. At midnight. You know what she thought was gonna happen. So she came out here to the forest, and she waited.”

Sam picked up the story. “She got there at about eleven-thirty. She didn’t have a watch, or a phone, so she never knew what time it was. Midnight came and passed, and he never showed.”

“She kept waiting,” Tucker said. “She waited until one. Until two. When she finally got home, it was like four in the morning.”

“Jeez, what a douchebag,” Kawn grumbled, crossing his arms as he looked around. “And she was alone throughout all of this? Until that late?”

“Yeah, they basically thought Amber was like one of the losers.”

“Amber went back home and basically passed out in her bed.”

“While she was sleeping, her house caught on fire. Remember all that music and those papers? They lit up. She stayed up so late, she didn’t even wake up. She didn’t make it.”

“They say that if you’re out here, late at night, you can hear her practicing one of her songs while she waits for him to come meet her.”

Paulina gave a huff, crossing her legs, “Please, there’s no way any part of that is…” Paulina trailed off due to the fact that a gentle guitar song was filtering through the trees. “Oh, very funny, Fenton. You can stop whatever you’re playing on your phone, now.”

Danny pulled up his phone. “My phone’s been off this whole time. Sam? Tuck?” Both of them pulled out their own phones, Tucker even turning his on to show that nothing was playing.

“Then one of you guys need to stop it,” Paulina snapped, everyone else quickly pulling out their phones to show they were either off or not playing anything. The guitar was getting louder, too.

“What if we could be… Just us, you and me?”

“Uh, guys?”

“Oh, no way, no way, no way, no way, I refuse to be the dumb jock in the horror movie! Fenton! This was your stupid story do something!”

Just before anyone could do anything, there was a rustling in the bushes near them, and a translucent girl with a glow about her came forward. She looked like any other teenage girl, except obviously ghostly. “You finally came.”

Danny watched with absolute glee as every kid there except him and his friends screeched and then took off running into the woods. It was impossible to hold in his laughter as the ghostly girl’s form flickered before Ember was floating in front of them and looking amused, “Man, babypop, you’re more sadistic than I thought.”

“That’s not sadistic,” Danny defended. “That? That was payback!” Tucker was still laughing, Sam shaking her head with a happy sigh.

“I hope Paulina breaks a heel before they get back to camp.”

Danny stood and looked at Ember. “You alright?”

“Aw, worried about me?” Ember laughed, flying over to ruffle Danny’s hair. “No worries, Danny, I’m fine. Besides, did you see the looks on their faces? Johnny and Kitty are gonna be jealous missing out on this.”

“And hey, that sounded like a cool song,” Tucker pointed out. “You just start writing it?”

Ember blinked, looking surprised before giving a rare, softer smile, “Thanks for the compliment, but that was actually an old one of mine. Thought I might play around with it again.”

“Thanks for the help, Ember. Those jerks totally deserved it.

“Of course! And hey, you know, if you ever told a story about two lovesick teenagers who died on a motorcycle… And then a ghostly motorcycle just happened to run through you all…”

“We’ll save it for next time.”

[chelseawolfemusic]

Chelsea Wolfe Interview / Cover Story // Revolver

Full feature via REVOLVER

Chelsea Wolfe has escaped into the woods and she's not about to come back. You'll find the singer-guitarist in the mountains of Northern California, hours from her Sacramento hometown, where the closest she gets to city life is in some tiny, ancient hamlets left behind from the Gold Rush days.

It's quiet up there, which might help explain the acoustic direction of her next album, a mostly solo project she's been writing and recording in her living room, her garage, wherever there's space to dig into Wolfe's new songs that are both intimate and biting, delicate and fierce. As an artist, she was already hard to pin down, with elements of folk, goth, post-punk, industrial, metal and more woven deep into her grooves. "I move in extremes, hot or cold," she says. "I tend to combine those two things at all times."

The still-untitled album is a left turn from the explosive rock guitars that dominated 2017's acclaimed Hiss Spun, with its churning songs of white noise and epic melodies. This year, she returns to her core inspirations, and the playlist Wolfe is spinning on infinite loop are recordings by Townes Van Zandt and Neurosis, Johnny Cash and David Bowie, disparate songwriters who cut deep. That makes the new album a kind of follow-up to her smoldering 2012 release Unknown Rooms: A Collection of Acoustic Songs, which gathered leftover folk tunes of a certain understated volume that hadn't fit on her other albums.

This one is different in that Wolfe is building this collection from the ground up, intentionally working within her own version of folk on songs written over the last year. She has longtime collaborator Ben Chisholm co-producing and engineering, and occasional guest players to add subtle layers of sound, including drummer Jess Gowrie. But she is determined to make this a solo project as raw and as cooked as the early country music and folk she heard growing up, with a modern message suited to the moment.

With Hiss Spun, her following only grew wider, and she's seeing fans with her lyrics tattooed to their skin. Wolfe is responding with new songs that both embrace and challenge, exploring the trials and triumphs of feminism, present and past, within an ever-changing world order that she's encouraged to see has a new wave of women rising to power in the U.S. Congress.

"I just follow my instincts and I follow all the strange and different voices that live inside me and I don't hold them back," says Wolfe, "especially not anymore."

photograph by John Crawford

YOUR LAST ALBUM, HISS SPUN, HAD A LOT OF EXPLOSIVE GUITAR MOMENTS. IS THIS ACOUSTIC RECORD A REACTION AWAY FROM THAT? CHELSEA WOLFE Honestly, I didn't know exactly what I was going to do next. I was so completely enveloped and focused on doing that record. And it was cathartic for me. That record felt very internal, but very explosive, as well, letting a lot of things out I hadn't thought about or talked about before. Maybe the natural reaction to that is to retreat into the wilderness and just write a really quiet album. It's introspective, but it's also about the history of women and what we've gone through over these years and how a lot has changed, a lot hasn't changed.

IS THAT INSPIRED BY RECENT EVENTS IN THE WORLD? I'm sure it is. Part of it has to do with just being a woman and getting older and understanding things more and just feeling that really visceral reaction to the way women are treated and seeing it on the daily in our society and on the news.

THIS ISN'T YOUR FIRST ACOUSTIC PROJECT. DO YOU GET A DIFFERENT FEELING ONSTAGE WHEN YOU'RE ALONE VERSUS BEING WITH A BAND AND HAVING AN ELECTRIC GUITAR IN YOUR HANDS? I haven't done shows by myself onstage in a really long time and it's not so easy for me. It's definitely more comfortable to have your band with you and to be able to lose yourself in all these sounds and things that you're creating together. But I also feel really ready and excited to do that, even though it's scary. I like to push myself into new territories musically and physically. Heavy music can be really intimate, and solo can be very intimate. So in a way it's the same thing, being up there and baring your soul for people.

HOW IS THE NEW RECORD BEING MADE? I'm recording it at home. Originally, I really wanted to do everything myself. Sometimes as a female artist, if one man is involved with one little thing on your record, they end up getting a lot more credit for it. I was being a little defensive at first. But as I started approaching it, I felt like that was actually a very lonely way of doing things and it didn't sound like much fun. So I decided to involve Ben, and he's helping engineer it so that I can just focus on recording the parts and not having to run back and forth to the board or computer.

I really wanted to play every song just with me and an acoustic guitar. That was important for me. So they all started in that way. We might add some electric guitar, or some kind of electronic beats to it.

I sat down with Ben and that really helped me finish everything — we would talk about a song and then I would run upstairs to my writing room and suddenly have all these lyrics that finished a song.

HOW ARE THE NEW SONGS RELATED TO SOME OF THE QUIETER MOMENTS ON HISS SPUN? I think it's different. I did Unknown Rooms, which was a compilation of a lot of acoustic songs I'd written over the years. They were just written with the idea of playing them as a solo artist in mind. I think every record definitely is going to have some heavy moments and some soft moments. Abyss had "Crazy Love" and Hiss Spun had "Two Spirit." It's just part of me to oscillate between the two.

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT ONE OF THE SONGS? One is called "Be All Things." It's very introspective and it's very triumphant. Conceptually, it's about a Victorian-era woman who is a maiden but very much wants to be a warrior — and just thinking about nature and environmentalism and how long that has been a problem and how we're trying to make changes but still we're just destroying the earth. Just when it seems like something's changing, it just gets worse. I think my music in general represents the soft and the strong, embracing the feminine and masculine of myself. This album is very much along the theme of that dichotomy. And I think a lot of people can relate to that, as well, whether it's a man or woman, a non-gender-specific person. I think a lot of people are starting to embrace that about themselves, the soft and strong, and then really finding that empowering.

DID THAT COME AS A REACTION TO SOMETHING? It's a bit of a reaction, but it's also just something that's really been a part of me for a long time. I'm not just one thing. You can't really put me or my music into a box. Sometimes that's frustrating for me because I think maybe it holds me back in a way, but then sometimes I think that is why I've been able to do what I do and why I have any kind of success as an artist and a musician. I'm saying in the song: "I want to be all things." I don't want to be held back anymore and I don't want to feel like I need to quiet my voice. I just want to be who I am and be free.

IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL THAT WAY. JUST LOOK AT HOW MANY WOMEN WERE RECENTLY ELECTED TO CONGRESS. Exactly. It's amazing. And I think it's very indicative of this time and more and more women and non-gender-specific people are really starting to speak up for themselves and let go of the fear of that. So that's definitely a strong theme with this new album.

HOW HAVE YOU EVOLVED AS A LYRICIST SINCE YOUR FIRST RECORDS? I'm a much better writer and I'm taking the time to really make sure I'm saying the right thing. As a younger artist, I would just write a song and then that was it. I never really went back and fixed up the lyrics or changed a word if I didn't like it. I love words and I love reading and I love thinking about language and how to make something sound the best way but also infuse a lot of meaning into even just a short phrase. On this new album, I'm using some archaic language to talk about new things.

HOW ARE YOU USING ARCHAIC LANGUAGE? I was spending some time with my great-grandmother before she died and I would often write down a word here and there that you don't hear anymore. Jess is very much like that, too. She was raised by her grandparents, so she has a lot of cute old phrases that she says that you don't hear very often. There's a moment [on the record] with the word "daylight plumed my skin." That's something I've probably read in some old poetry books. It's something sensual, and I'm always trying to bring sensuality into language and keeping that alive because I feel like sometimes that is a dying art.

ASIDE FROM YOUR OWN TOURS OVER THE LAST YEAR, YOU DID TOURS WITH MINISTRY AND A PERFECT CIRCLE. HOW DID THAT GO? I'm such a big fan of Ministry and they're really great — but I don't think their audience was as open as I thought they might be. So it was a little bit tough if I'm honest. I got really aggro on the Ministry tours because sometimes it felt like their audience was just looking at us with disgust. Not all of them. Of course, there were some really nice people that wanted to be open to it. It ended up being fun and it brings you and your band closer together, too. I just took it as another learning experience.

Al [Jourgensen] was so great and he would invite us onto his bus after the show and just talk about music and stuff for a long time. We would overhear him describing us to other people, talking about me and Jess: "They're women and they're angry and they're making good music!" It was really cute.

A Perfect Circle was very different. Their audience was a lot more accepting of us for some reason. Definitely bigger venues than I've ever played. I have a long way to go in knowing how to work a room of 8,000 people because that's totally different than what I'm used to be playing. Maynard actually invited us out to his winery. We got to experience his wine and homegrown vegetables and stuff. It was really cool.

YOUR FANS SEEM WILLING TO FOLLOW YOU THROUGH YOUR SHIFTS IN TONE. AND NOBODY REALLY KNOWS WHAT THEY LIKE UNTIL THEY SEE OR HEAR IT. That's true. And I think it makes you a better artist when you do things that people aren't expecting. It's like when I heard Black Sabbath doing the song "Changes" the first time — after hearing all their other heavy music. Them doing something so touching and intimate helped me understand the freedom to just sing whatever song is calling to you.

[bbclesmis]

Composer John Murphy on Creating A New Musical Identity for ‘Les Miserables’

John Murphy returns from a personal hiatus to score PBS Masterpiece and BBC’s adaptation of Victor Hugo’s classic novel.

When you hear the title Les Miserables, you automatically think of the bombastic and overly played Broadway musical that came to a city near you. Or you saw the film adaptation that won Anne Hathaway her first Oscar a few years back. Since it debuted over 3 decades ago, Les Miserables has won the hearts of millions around the world. John Murphy, however, isn’t really a fan.

You’ve heard the music of John Murphy but you may not know it. I had no idea that he was the man who created that jolting music behind the opening sequence of 28 Weeks Later, and he also composed the lyrical and epic sound to Danny Boyle’s Sunshine (not only an underrated film, but an underrated score).

After taking a personal hiatus to focus on family and his personal life, Murphy wanted to jump back into scoring something completely different. If you look at his resume (you can sample his music here), there isn’t anything like Les Miserables on it. This is a classic tale of redemption with a sprawling scope and massive cast, and that wasn’t lost on Muphy. The score shows a huge amount of range, and he really digs into the minds of the characters. One moment the minds of Jean Valjean and Javert are amplified by the incessant plinking of simple piano strings and the next we are witnessing the horrors of Fantine literally selling her body for the sake of her child.

It’s a familiar story, for sure, but the execution is sophisticated and smart. The music is classic and enthralling in a way that a staged musical never could be.

You haven’t done a big project like this in a long time. Why return from your hiatus with Les Miserables?

I had enough of the movies, to be honest with you. I wanted to spend time with my kids. The spark had gone from me, and I felt that I was going through the motions. I wanted to feel like a human being again. When I decided that I was going to come back, I went in to see my agent, and we sat down to figure out what I wanted to do. I didn’t want to pick up right where I left off—with the wall of the sound, post apocalyptic sort of edgy thing I was getting known for. I wanted to do something a bit more grown up with more weight. I wanted something with gravity. A few days later, my agent said there was interest in my doing Les Miserables. I just cracked up, because, of course, I was thinking of the musical.

I do think that’s everyone’s immediate thought.

I hate musicals. I told my agent that I’d be the worst person for that—I’d mess it up. When he told me it was the book, something clicked. I remember that I read the book years ago. I used to tour a lot, and every time I was on the bus, I’d take a big stack of books. On a tour through France, I read Les Miserables. I loved it. I’ve never seen the musical, and I never want to—it’ll ruin it for me. It’s got everything. It’s got these dark characters wrestling with demons, good versus evil, death, betrayal. When I found out that it was going to be a 6 part adaptation and that it was going to be written by Andre Davies—who did the last War & Peace series—I knew I had to do it.

I had a Skype interview with the producers and the director, Tom Shankand. He was so passionate that I knew he was the real deal. He wanted to go back into the Victor Hugo book. It’s like a French Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Part of what Hugo was trying to do was let the world know of how these people were suffering. He was a brilliant man. He was trying to change legislation—he was a real champion of the poor. Tom wanted to get back to what the story was about and keep it raw. I was sold. A week later I was lucky enough to sit in a read through with the actors. Normally, I get brought onto a movie and they’ve practically finish the cut. It was interesting because they hadn’t even started filming yet.

Oh wow.

Yeah, I got to sit in and listen to their inflections the first time they were reading through it. There were ideas straight away. Lily Collins is this tiny thing, so that vulnerability was there immediately. I got to see Dominic—this huge guy. It was very inspiring. When I came onto it, I thought they weren’t going to start shooting for another 2 or 3 weeks, so I thought I’d have 6 months to wait for it. Then Tom and producers told me they wanted songs written, and I was like…hold on, what do you mean songs. There are these little songs and piano pieces in Hugo’s novel. They asked me if I wanted to do it, and I told them that I had never written anything before they started shooting ever. So I had 3 or 4 weeks writing these things.

With sitting in on that first reading, did it feel like the music could change with the characterizations or maybe that it would even help build the characters? I’ve never heard of a composer getting to see that so early.

Neither have I! With these great actors, it was amazing to see them. With David Oyelowo, you could see the posture he adopted—just reading it aloud. And I thought to myself, “That’s not natural.” There were all these different things I was watching—with him especially. When you’re composing in a medium that you already know about, you’ve got to make the distinction that you’re not scoring the book. You’re scoring this new retelling of the story. You have to be sensitive to what this new version is going to me. So, for me, watching David to his read through, he did a very quiet, controlled voice. It was different than the book. The same with Dominic. Dominic was a lot warmer with his Valjean than I remember the character being. I was putting notes in my phone and a lot of the things I felt that day helped me later on.

Once they started shooting, I just faded back to LA, and I was on my own. Just being there that day and cross referencing that with the scripts allowed me to write most of the scenes before they dropped the first episode with me. I got a real head start. I couldn’t write anything to picture, obviously, but by the time they gave me the first episode made such a big difference. I was lucky that when I agreed to do it, the read through was 5 days later. It was an amazing experience.

The miniseries has such beloved characters—whether you’re familiar with the book or the musical. Was there someone you really liked writing themes or motifs for?

It’s obviously to say the two main characters, but for them that was the biggest well. And it’s not just character scenes. I think some of my favorite things in there were the hulks scenes. I wanted to have something that felt utterly repetitive. What would be the repetitive sound of nothingness of this guy’s life? I ended up climbing inside the piano and muted some strings and was tapping one of the low piano strings with my finger to get this “dun…dun…dun…” It was this annoyingly repetitious thing that is so uncomfortable because you’re waiting for the chord to change. And it kind of doesn’t for ages. His biggest fear is getting caught. As soon as Javert sees him again at the factory you hear very quietly the “dun…dun…dun…”  I was trying to do the John Williams thing with Jaws. If he can do it with two notes, I wanted to do it with one. I thought it was a way to be effective without being necessarily musical. It’s not necessarily the character themes, but it’s the situational themes.

That repetitiveness feeds into Javert’s obsession with catching him.

You’re absolutely right. Javert’s version of it was much lower. His driving force throughout the whole story is his skewed sense of justice. In episode 3, 10 years have passed and he’s receiving the Medal of Honor, and when the camera comes to his face, it means nothing to him because this one man got away. You see him go to his room afterwards and when he starts eating his meal, you can see he does not taste it. Then you hear the lower version of the same theme and this hunger will never go away until he’s caught Valjean. It was a nice way to tie in the repetitive life of Valjean in prison with Javert’s mechanical obsession. It’s sort of Javert’s state of mind theme actually.

One of the most distinct pieces of music is when Fantine cuts her hair off and her teeth are ripped out of her mouth. The music feels like the score of a horror movie.

It was such a difficult decision to do it that way. Some people at the BBC said, “You can’t do it that way!” We had this scratchy viola when she gets her teeth pulled out. I thought it’s more gruesome without music. I argued with Tom because I thought that you need to hear the sounds of the teeth getting wrenched, and he said it’s too hardcore. We needed music to remind people they are watching television. I had that little theme for her on a music box with whole carnival. I wanted to do it a bit more macabre cinema—a bit otherworldly with this circus vibe. The guy who does the teeth pulling already has this painted face and hands, so I played into that. What changed it was I had this wonderful violist named Andy.

I need something to be whimsical but also be kind of fucked up and edgy. We had him in the studio and we were working through some articulations. We tried it with harmonica and tried it with the bow going one way and then the other, and then we tried putting it all together. We came up with this sound and I take no credit for it—it was him. It was swirling around and it was so fucked up. So we pulled the picture up, and we started as if we don’t know what’s going to happen to Fantine. Like she’s just going to get a haircut but we know it’s going to get bad. When we go into the teeth pulling, we were going let loose a little bit. There’s a moment when the old woman grab’s Fantine’s shoulders and pulls her back, and I thought wouldn’t it be cool if we did a viola version of the great guitar crash of Radiohead’s “Creep”? I asked him if he could do an 18/16, Johnny Greenwood crash in when he goes to take the teeth. He did it in one take. It made it completely over-the-top, but sometimes you gotta say fuck it. We may get hung for this, but let’s go for it.

I was going to ask if you used any nontraditional sounds in that sequence.

It sounds like a Les Paul with a lot of pedals with a lot of distortion. It was just the sound that we were getting from the viola. Once we had that sound, we wanted to use it in other places.

The scratching sound reminded me of the sounds people are scared of when they go to the dentist. It helped that she’s getting her teeth yanked out, so thank you for scaring the crap out of me with that.

We did use some non-orchestral sounds, but in that moment it just happened to be an orchestral instrument making that metal scraping sound. I hate the dentist too, so that sound really helped. It’s what you get with great musician.

There is obviously a lot of heavy material with this piece of fiction. When you get to do something different for the story—like the sweeping romance for Cosette and Marius—was that a welcome change?

It really did. Tom had an idea of what he wanted, and I had an idea of how I wanted to do it. He wanted a very gnarly folk score and to just use the music of the day. My original idea was 1816 Velvet Underground meets classic French 60’s romantic film music so we had these really light highs with grungy darkness. We ended kind of meeting in the middle. Some of the Velvet Underground stayed. What we both loved was when we went to the world of Cosette and Marius, we went to a stylized version of what she thinks love is. She’s just this abused kid who goes to live in a convent, so she has no idea what it really is. She’s 16, so she has every right to be romantic about everything. When we got to play her frame of mind, we got to play this romantic style. It was a relief after all the dirty stuff we’d be doing. I never thought I’d say that I was ready to get into some of that love stuff.

Since it’s 6 hours, this version really feels like 3 movies stacked on top of one another. Did the size of it all intimidate you?

I’ve done movies that have become big. My first thought was like, “I can’t win here.” Even though I’ve never seen the musical, people are going to watch it and wonder where those songs are. I didn’t think it was intimidating, but I did feel like I had a monkey on my back. Whatever I do, it’s not going to be the musical. A cloud that was always there. The only way to get through that is to completely own it. It’s clear that we aren’t trying to reference the show in any way. The first time I got the first episode, I think I was in denial. When I told people that I was doing it, they got so excited. But the first time I saw those famous two words come up on the screen, I thought, “Fuuuuck.” I had a beer and calmed down and we were fine from there. One small moment, and I got my shit together.

Les Miserables is streaming now.

https://www.awardsdaily.com/2019/05/06/john-murphy-interview/

[sterekhobrienfics]

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted a fic rec list, and since we are only 76 followers away from TEN THOUSAND, I figured I’d throw the latest bunch of fics I’ve read together for you guys. I know things have been slow over here lately, but I want to thank you guys for sticking with me even when I don’t post every day. Y’all are the best! Happy Reading!

I’ve Always Been the Storm (Complete | 25,251 | Explicit)

“You’re all headed out to Oklahoma in a week.”

Derek snaps his head up, stares at him in horror, “No, boss.”

“Yes,” Finstock insists in a steely voice. “The NSSL have been on at us for a year about some decent exposure, and I think you’re just the team to do it.”

“I haven’t done weather since college,” Derek protests.

Boyd snorts again, presumably because he’s thinking back to the time when Derek and the weather last collided and he…. well, did the guy into the weather for a brief, wonderful, terribly foolish time. But, Boyd needs to shut up before Derek punches him on the nose.

Of Glasses and Lacrosse Sticks (Oneshot | 6,810 | Teen)

“Okay, how ‘bout this? One date, just one date, and if you still don’t believe I’m genuinely interested in you, then I’ll leave you alone for good. How does that sound?”

Derek hesitated for another moment, before he sighed and said, “Fine. One date.”

I Know That I Remember You (Oneshot | 1,307 | Teen)

“I didn’t know you could sing.” The guy says, walking towards him, cautious.

Derek busies himself with closing the guitar case, waits for the guy to say anything else or maybe introduce himself. The bar is always crowded whenever Derek sings, and many people approach him every night, how would Derek remember who he is?

“Do I know you?” He ends up asking, not being able to hide the annoyed tone. He just wants to go home, take a shower and watch some stupid TV show.

To his surprise the guy flinches. “I don’t think so.”

Regression to the Mean (Oneshot | 16,580 | Mature)

There aren’t really words for this – “sure, dude. Let’s hang out sometime and bond over the fact that our lives suck and we’ve both basically killed a bunch of people by accident” somehow doesn’t roll off the tongue. –

Prompt: In the aftermath of 3B, Stiles and Derek learn to trust, learn to fuck, and learn to love themselves, each other, and their pack.

First Impressions are Overrated (Complete | 14,634 | Teen)

In Stiles’ defense, he didn’t deliberately ram his grocery cart into the (evidently precarious) pyramid of oranges. 

Throw me to the Wolves (Complete | 13,493 | Teen)

He feels the physical embodiment of devastated, his already too strung-out mind struggling to wall up all the hurt, the rejection—he takes a deep shuddering breath and looks down at the shredded skin on his arms, at the sluggish way they’re weakly healing.

There is nothing, nothing he wants more than to have Derek sweep in and make everything all better. He should have known, though, that something like that would never happen to him.

OR -

Stiles accidentally gets bitten, and everything goes to hell.

One Piece at a Time (Complete | 24,994 | Mature)

Scott is a mechanic who never answers his phone. Derek is also a mechanic who never leaves the shop. Stiles has a low alcohol tolerance and lots of car problems. Everyone knows except Stiles and Derek. This also turns into a holiday fic halfway through, so if you were here for the car stuff, I’m sorry!

Title is a song by Johnny Cash.

Happy Birthday To Me (Oneshot | 10,819 | Mature)

It’s Laura’s 30th birthday and Derek sucks at buying gifts. Then he stumbles across ‘Full Moon Jewellery’, an Etsy store run by an art student who has strange ideas about nutrition, and whose enthusiasm for his new commission is actually kind of adorable.

In which the whole pack wants Derek to get a life, and Derek just wants some peace.

(But not really)

36 Questions (Oneshot | 8,071 | Teen)

“So I’m doing my senior psych thesis on friendships,” Erica says, not-so-accidentally elbowing Derek in the ribs as she turns to face Stiles. “How they develop, how intimacy is fostered, stuff like that.”

“That’s cool,” Stiles says agreeably. “What’s our part?”

“Well, I can’t really tell you the point because that would influence the results. But it’s a set of 36 questions that you have to ask each other.”

“Just the two of us?” Derek chimes in, finally, and Stiles sighs.

“Okay, dude,” he says, making a face, “could you try not to look quite so offended? Like, my ego’s pretty strong, but come on, man.”

Wood and Nails (Series | 50,188 | Mature)

”The five stages of grief,” Stiles nods and sighs. They've both seen it, been through it. Heard them repeated by therapist after therapist. Stiles doesn't say anything, but they both know which one Derek's slipped into by now.

***

When things calm down in Beacon Hills, all the things Derek hasn't dealt with come back with a vengeance. Stiles does his best to help him.

Stars in his eyes (Oneshot | 5,303 | Teen)

“License and registration, please.”

“He was kidding,” Derek interjects, “He’s just being an idiot.”

Stiles resents that.

“You too, please,” The officer addresses Derek.

“What? You’re gonna arrest me for sarcasm?”

And that’s how they ended up in jail.

I Breathe Disaster (Complete | 84,946 | Explicit)

“No. I’m not doing it. You can’t make me, Scott.”

“Don’t be such a wuss. You don’t want to die, do you? This is the only way to keep you safe from the Alpha pack.”

“Why not Danny? He’s actually gay, kind of adorable, and doesn’t look at me like he wants to shut me up…with his teeth.” Stiles threw his arms out in front of him, Scott shook his head for the thousandth time. “Why not?”

or

How Stiles went from hating Derek, to wanting to cuddle him, to hating him again, to kissing his boo-boo’s, to waxing poetic, then finally laying his life on the line to save him. Funny how things turn out.