#and next…this is so wonderfully simply bittersweet

[age-of-moonknight]

“Journey to the Center of the Mind,” Moon Knight (Vol. 9/2021), #27.

Writer: Jed MacKay; Penciler and Inker: Federico Sabbatini; Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg; Letterer: Cory Petit

[narrators-journal]

So read the Hyoga angst one with the one who got away with Stanley, I NEED to know how hard it hits seeing his ex marry someone who isn't him and finally talks to them but in the way of "I still love you but you don't love me the same way I do" 💔

I stood at such a stand-still on this bitch. But! I’m happy with this regardless! I think this is wonderfully painful and angsty, but has a pretty...idk bittersweet ending? Like, if I got a third ask, I could probably swing a happy ending for Hyoga at least. I hope you enjoy too! I just hope that this is in line with canon stuff and the vibe you wanted...

Hyoga Akatsuki was back at the picnic table. He was back at the god damned picnic table again.

However, this time, he wasn’t sat there for the third day of Taiju and Yuzuriha’s wedding, but yours. Hyoga had gone from being forced to watch you tipsily dance and flirt with Stanley Snyder beneath the beautiful fairy lights and spring-time moon, to watching you hand the ex-marine a slice of a beautifully made wedding cake with a dopey, lovestruck smile that you used to give him. That he used to hope you’d give him while you were dressed in white the way you were for Stan that evening.

Yet, it wasn’t Hyoga who stood beside you with his own lovey smile on his face. No, he was sat at a picnic bench on his own once more. The others were up and about to mingle, drink, and gossip as the sun set and the floral decorations continued to fill the air with a romantic fragrance. “I heard they met back at Taiju and Yuzuriha’s wedding a couple years back, isn’t that so romantic?” Nikki giggled as she and Minami passed with drinks in hand and no care for the way their words dug into Hyoga. “Do you think anyone here will end up getting married next? Maybe Senku and Gen will finally tie the knot!” “Oh my god that would be adorable!”

And just like that, the two were gone. As if they’d simply swept by in their fancy dresses and light-hearted conversation to drop off a twenty-pound slab of regret to the spearman while he watched the celebration as the sun’s orangey-pink light faded to nightly blue. You shouldn’t be surprised. A more reasonable part of himself scolded. Stan had the excuse of not understanding the situation, you were just a bastard for sport.It continued, but all that logic and common sense did was worsen the knot of anger and pain that sat heavily in the white-haired man’s stomach. I’m only here out of obligation, or maybe so they could rub it in my face. So my ex could shove their hypocrisy down- “Hey there, Hyoga.”

Your voice cut his venomous thoughts off with the smash of a preverbial hammer through a window. Yet, when he raised his eyes to look at you, all you did was smile at him as if you weren’t using obligation to drive a knife into his very soul. “You okay? People are beginning to notice that you’re brooding more than usual.” You asked, but the twinge of concern was nothing but fodder for Hyoga’s anger. “How am I supposed to not ‘brood’ when you only invited me to this fucking slog to rub your hypocrisy in?” He asked in a coldly measured voice. The instantaneous regret dulled by the malicious victory he felt when your eyes flashed with your own pain and anger. And, if he hadn’t regretted how his actions cost him your affections, the way pain softened your voice to a weak, “Hyoga…” would’ve filled his heart with joy.

But, that catharsis was cut short when your eyes filled with anger before you lashed back at him. “How can you call me a hypocrite, Hyoga? How am I a hypocrite for marrying a man who only did what he was told and protecting his friend? I’m sorry, but trying to kill Senku for kidnapping a man doesn’t really match how you tried to take over and eradicate anyone you deemed ‘weak’.” “How?! How is that more forgivable then what I didn’t even succeed at?!” He snapped back. Now at his feet, though he kept his voice lowered as he leaned forward to get into your face and match your glare with his own. “Easy. Because he only wanted Xeno back and to get rid of people he deemed a threat in that moment. You wanted to cull all of humanity on a stupid, arbitrary measurement. Did you even consider where I would’ve fallen on your scale, Hyoga? Where you’d fall compared to Tsukasa?” You asked, and listened as it was Hyoga’s voice that softened this time. A wince almost able to show on his face as his violet eyes lost the glare. “I wouldn’t have let you be killed, you know.” “then you’d be the hypocrite here, Hyoga.” You pointed out. And he leaned away a bit with a soft sigh he couldn’t stop. “I’ve changed, you know. I don’t want to cull the population anymore, I haven’t wanted that for years now.” He explained. And, for a long stretch of time, neither you nor him spoke while you chewed on that fact. “I’m aware.” You finally admitted, “But I don’t…” Your voice trailed off as he recognized how close you were to tearing up as your shoulders slumped. “I don’t know if I can entirely forgive that decision, Hyoga. Maybe if you’d been the one to dance with me at Taiju’s wedding, when I was softened up and swept up in the romance, you’d be the one in the tux with me. But, this is how things fell. I’m sorry.”

With that, you turned to leave his table, but Hyoga grabbed your forearm in a firm, but gentle hold so he could ask in a vulnerable voice that might haunt him later. “Can...Can you at least forgive me enough to by a friend, if anything?” Which, made you purse your lips as your hand came to rest on his fingers for a heartbeat. Before, you worked your fingers under his to gently pry free. “I’m sorry Hyoga, but I’m married now, and our...history is too complicated for comfort. It’d probably be better if you treated this as a final good bye and move on.” You told him before you left to return to your husband. Your husband, who wasn’t Hyoga.

I won’t do that though…

[musicarenagh]

"Las Mariposas" - Ivelisse del Carmen: Love's Embers Fade Ivelisse del Carmen, a Puerto Rican singer-songwriter crafting sonic tapestries in London, has just released "Las Mariposas," a single that… well, it sort of feels like watching a beautifully choreographed dance between a raincloud and a sunbeam. A contradictory concoction that tastes great. Seriously, try doing that, rainclouds plus sunbeams, add milk, let me know what you got. https://open.spotify.com/track/4u3hpVdutakym3bnr7kW71?si=7bf8e465d5b6410d The theme, if you were to put a pin in its fluttering wings, is about love's embers cooling. Not a raging inferno suddenly extinguished, but more like…the slow fade of a campfire breakfast. The wistful realization that the person next to you is now a comfortable, yet slightly alien, continent. Bossa Nova underpins, with elements of World Music. There's this captivating tension. Uplifting, almost relentlessly cheerful rhythms, juxtaposed against del Carmen's voice, a spanish voice conveying that unique flavour of caribbean melancholia that's never overly depressing. She’s chronicling a slow-motion emotional drift, yet the music suggests a vibrant pulse, even in loss. It somehow calls to mind that moment when the spanish set foot on her home, new and old crashing toghether, or that friend with the quirky clothing style – undeniably unique, bafflingly perfect. [caption id="attachment_58859" align="alignnone" width="828"] "Las Mariposas" - Ivelisse del Carmen: Love's Embers Fade[/caption] "Las Mariposas" doesn't batter you with sadness. Instead, it leaves a lingering question mark hanging in the air. The lyrics – which weave poetic melodies and soulful emotion that only a daughter of that Caribbean jewel can perfectly describe – evoke images, and they stick with you like, well, like the lingering scent of mangoes on a humid afternoon. Random? Perhaps. But so is love, right? Or the random appearance of flamingoes on that english river last week. https://youtu.be/K2aDxltZz9s The song sits wonderfully between a Latin indie core and modern world beats that get's stuck in your ear-bones. Ultimately, "Las Mariposas" makes one ponder: Is acceptance the final stage of love, or simply its most bittersweet transformation? And can avocados ever really be trusted? Follow Ivelisse del Carmen on Website, Instagram and TikTok.

[oh-my-10133]

July 8, 2023 12:14 am

10133,

Do you remember what happened the last time we fought over that guest room? I do. Down to the word, accompanied by every single gesture and your goofy smile, we repeated it. That night will never find itself produced again, however. Though the memories stay fresh in my mind, and oh how terrible it would be to see them fade, that was a much different time. Less than a year between then and now but there exists a contrast akin to that of one between decades. The delightfully cool, misty october morning air we awoke to has been switched with humid and hot july nights, I still have quite the taste for rather "asinine" memes though. My spot in bed, replaced with hers. You've come to realized that I could never provide you with the stablity that you so despreatly seak, in the romantic sense at least, I'll always be here. Sometime between then and now, you changed and I changed too. Like all young adults, we're simply trying to make our way through the fresh world that has been presented to us. Sometimes in the process, more realistically frequently, mistakes are made and I know we've both certainly made our share. I can't blame you though. I could never blame you and that truly is, quite possibly, one of my greatest flaws. Even after a rarther climatic finale, what should have been atleast, headlined by a devestatingly brutal betrayal, by the begining of the new year I'd came back. Rather simply, I'd missed my best friend and I couldn't stand to continue the charades any longer. Charades really had been a game I played so often with you. I'd get so angry with you, and for good reason too, but it always found a way to disapate much too quickly, especially considering what you'd done, and I'd have to continue with the angry front to satisfy what little moral compass I do possess. But then again, I really can't ever blame you.

There were times when I really did want you gone, wiped from the face of the earth with not a trace left. Hindsight is always twenty-twenty and I'm eternally grateful you stayed. And now we've made it to the present day, your final weekend.

In just over forty-eight hours, you'll be gone. Off to bleedin' Kansas (or is it Oklahoma?) with near complete radio silence for the next five months. A period of time in which I'll hold you as close in my heart as I hope you do me in yours. I can't bring myself to cry, at least not yet. The whole ordeal just doesn't feel real. The greatest ajustment will hit the group as a whole. To see someone so ingrained in our lives have to leave is quite a challenging experience. We've know it was coming, yes, but I've always thought it worse to possess the knowledge someone will leave than to have someone leave suddenly. Like a dark seceret that eats away at you until there is nothing left but the bare bones. You should know, I'm certain you do, there is a large collection of people, including many you wouldn't expect, that will miss you terribly. You won't be gone forever, quite thankfully, though that does not exempt me from experiencing a sort of bittersweet sadness. I am endlessly proud of you (the army is a huge thing!), but I'll miss you so terribly, just as I did when we'd get in our little squabbles.

We've really had quite the run together. Through all of the ups and downs and bumps in the road we've come out still friends on the otherside. Though some times may have been rather painful, I wouldn't trade a single experience for the world itself. Every single one has been absolutely instrumental in shaping us each into the wonderfully, slightly delinquent, people we have become today. If only one take away should be found within this letter, it should be that I love you, forever and always, to the moon and back. Don't be a stranger.

Your fellow christmas tree enthusiast,

[redacted]

[jere-me--oh-my]

This Is Home - a Jeremy Johnson Playlist

The idea of this playlist is that these are all songs that Jeremy listened to while on his way back from Australia (obviously that journey is a lot longer than a 10 song playlist, but these are the songs he actively sought out to listen to during his shuffle time). Enjoy! 

Tracklist and explainers under the cut

Track 1: Homeward Bound - Simon & Garfunkel

“Home, where my thought’s escapin’ / Home, where my music’s playing / Home, where my love lies waiting...”

A classic! A masterpiece! Absolutely the song that Jeremy put over the instagram story of him at the airport and then he had it stuck in his head, so naturally he listened to it a couple of times over while waiting to board! While the storyteller in the song may not be on the way home, everyone connects this song with the process of travelling home. 

Track 2: I Missed You (acoustic) - Joshua Radin

“I’ve been around the way, been around but not ok, ‘cause I missed you so / just to let you know that I missed you.”

Jeremy actually sent a video home to his parents to show to Suzie of him singing along to this song to prove that he was actually coming home and soon she was going to get her big brother back! She was one of the things he missed most while he was away, and it just killed him to see her feeling like he wasn’t actually coming back, so he had to sing to her to make her smile!

Track 3: The Parting Glass - Trad. (Peter Hollens)

“Of all the comrades that e’er I had, are sorry for my going away / and all the sweethearts that e’er I had would wish me one more day to stay / but since it falls unto my lot, that I should rise and you should not / I’ll gently rise and I’ll softly call goodnight and joy be to you all.”

This song was a new find for him. But in the last week he was in Australia he went for drinks with his friends at a bar they loved. There, one of the older guys insisted that they had to send Jeremy off properly, which meant singing The Parting Glass. In a moment he’ll probably remember forever, he, his friends, and a whole bunch of acquaintances sang the song. Probably a little off key, stumbling over the words and the melody, but he felt so wonderfully loved in that moment he simply had to put it on to hold that feeling with him as the plane began to leave.

Track 4: Songbird - Fleetwood Mac

“And I wish you all the love in the world, but most of all, I wish it from myself.”

“Oh Stevie, we’re really in it now.” Half way through the flight to Dubai, and feeling sad, Jeremy put this on to try and comfort himself. While not exactly a happy and upbeat kind of song, he’s always found some comfort in it, the soft tender expressions of love, the simplicity of the piano and guitar and how they only add to the intimacy of the song. Its a happy kind of sad. 

Track 5: Waiting For My Real Life To Begin - Colin Hay

“Any minute now, my ship is coming in, and I’ll keep checking the horizon /  and I’ll check my machine, there’s sure to be that call / it’s gonna happen soon...”

Here beginneth the emotional spiral. Listen this song is just such a wonderful and beautiful song about uncertainty and in a way hopes and dreams for the future, and love and how love doesn’t always line up with what we have dreamt about. This song cuts deep for Jeremy. His gap year was the most wonderful year, but in many ways he knew it was avoiding reality, the reality of the life his parents have planned for him. The end of that is bittersweet for so many reasons, but not least because he has to put away so many of his dreams, or is expected to. But which is his real life? The life where he sang and played and people clapped and cheered and he brought them smiles and tears? Or the one where he finished his degree and puts on a suit and tie and walks straight into the next 50 years of his life? They both feel so real to him.

Track 6: Orpheus - Sara Bareilles

“Don’t stop, trying to find me here amidst the chaos / though I know its blinding there’s a way out / say out loud / we will not give up on love now...”

Much like with Songbird, he’s listening to this because despite being quite a sad song, it brings him comfort. He can lose himself in how much he enjoys the musicality of it, the comforting, inviting tone of Sara’s voice and how it sounds so perfectly like she’s singing directly to a lover. Certain fragments always jumped out at him, like “You miss the world, the one you knew, the one where everything made sense because you didn’t know the truth,” which always feels like growing up to him. Or “I’ll show you good, restore your faith, I’ll try and somehow make a meaning of the poison in this place.” which feels like an artists mission statement. “If the bottom drops out, I hope my love was someone else’s solid ground.” When he loves, he loves so very solidly and patiently, he always hopes that he can give that solid platform to people by believing in them, by being patient and kind, and loving them.

Track 7: The Weakness In Me - Joan Armatrading

“Why do you come here, when you know I’ve got troubles enough / Why do you call me when you know I can’t answer the phone / make me lie when I don’t want to / and make someone else some kind of unknowing fool / you make me stay when I should not / Are you so strong or is all the weakness in me?”

Switching his wifi back on, Jeremy quickly turned off his music. A message from Sophie, commenting “Fly safe xx” in reply to his insta story. This is not new. He never talks about it but all the while he was in Australia she would reply to his stories, or send him messages. She even video-called him sometimes. Usually when it was late in the UK and nobody else would answer, or when she was walking home from nights out, or when she was sulking with her new boyfriend... who she never once warned him about, for the record, she simply announced to the world and let him find out that way. She never stopped. She still keeps him half stuck in this holding pattern, expecting him to be there for her no matter how she treats him, or that they’re not together anymore. And he always answers. So yeah. Sometimes it is his god-given right to be dramatic about it and have a good power-ballad. 

Track 8: Angel Of Small Death & The Codeine Scene - Hozier

“I watch the work of my kin bold and boyful / toying somewhere between love and abuse / calling to join them the wretched and joyful / shaking the wings of their terrible youths.”

Determined to pick himself up, Jere resorts to something bringing happier memories. Out there on the internet is a video of him taking the lead on this song with a house band at the bar in Australia. Its one of the things he sees when he closes his eyes, the way the lights sparked off his bandmates, how they all joined together on the choruses, dancing about like idiots on the stage. It’s got an infectious drum line, beautiful syncopation in the guitar, clear gospel influences, and an absolutely dutty guitar solo that lets a baritone singing guitarist have an absolute moment in the sun singing this song. 

Track 9: These Hands - Samm Henshaw

“This fate is not my destiny, so I’m shaping it with these hands / Oh well I giving and giving it all / Oh and I give ‘till I can’t give no more / I’m working on my masterpiece, and I’m making it with these hands.

These hands are only made of flesh and bone / And I’ll stand not ready to give up on hope.”

Having a main character moment, this is the sort of song Jeremy just needs to hear sometimes. In a particular moment of rebellion, he resolved that he wasn’t going to lose music. He was going to find a way to make it work so that he could keep pleasing his parents and himself, but he resolved that he was never going to give it up. Sure, music might be a lot of hard work that could never pay off. But there is nothing he’d rather put the hours in for. 

Track 10: This Is Home - Switchfoot

“This is home, now I’m finally where I belong (where I belong) / Yeah this is home, I’ve been searching for a place of my own / now I’ve found it, maybe this is home. 

After all my searching / after all my questions / I’m gonna call it home / I’ve got a brand new mindset / I can finally see the sunset / I’m gonna call it home...”

I think this track best sums up Jeremy’s really complicated feelings about being back in Swynlake that he literally just will not talk about. Because the ‘home’ that the song speaks about is actually two places for him. There’s the home that is Swynlake. The place he was raised, that his family lives in, that holds all his memories, the place he was literally going home to. But the place of his own? The place he felt like he was able to belong? That wasn’t Swynlake. And it’s not so much about the place as it is about the expectations and who he was in either place. 

But well. Will he go back to the way it was? Or will he be brave enough to fight to make it his own? Certainly in that moment he felt brave enough. 

“I’ve come too far, and I won’t go back... yeah this is home.”

[blaster-aichi]

Cardfight!! Vanguard Extra Story IF 21 things

WHAT A GOOD FUCKING EPISODE

A running theme through the episode: whoever directed the visuals is a godsend.

Initially had wondered if the opening scenes within the first world were going to shine some light on the Tatsunagis’ past. Throwing the viewer into the deep end alongside Suiko was a clever decision, allowing us to feel her confusion all the more effectively.

Also the system for the girls’ ranger world is super-neat. Spin-off when?

Cards continuing their gimmick of being incredibly lethal.

The entirety of the fight with the Vanguard unit was spent thinking of the irony that it and Aichi share goals, so had a brain cell laughing at the suggestion the girls were simply on a filming set and he was the one in costume.

immediately after: Oh. Oh my fuck.

me: don’t do it. don’t do it. brain: Singularity F!

obligatory Long Live the King memeage

The claim that Kourin’ll search for a world Suiko likes smacks of irony given Suiko has her world she likes and has been fighting all along for it. It’s simply a world that Kourin approves of for Suiko to lose herself and how they handled it was stellar.

Just Miwa being cute. That is all.

Can someone inform Aichi that him getting into Vanguard has nothing to do with the Kais abandoning their son?

How dare you say such shit with such a sweet smile.

Curious how the Cardfight Club existed with four members (unless the other three were also signed up but simply not present). This world in particular is peculiar with its presumably aging up Rekka and the sisters not knowing one another to begin with. Not to mention how evidently distant Aichi is; the girls swear loyalty to him, but he minimizes his contact with them. Perhaps it’s to do with it being called the Cardfight Club but when he despises the game, have to wonder why he would choose that rather than anything else when the purpose was just to goof around.

Breaks through the door at a monument to Misaki’s existence.

Assuming she was roped into the surfing of worlds prior to Suiko, left to wonder how many worlds Rekka briefly lived in, and how many appealed to her, but she sacrificed to stay loyal to who she is, and just how difficult it must have been.

Thank you writers for giving SK4 Suiko and Rekka excellent names, rip Sanctuary Knight Ibuki.

Link Joker-hen noises in the distance.

I love this crew. That is all.

Whoever wrote this episode is also a godsend, thank you for giving the Tatsunagis some sisterly love.

Kourin: Aichi hates Vanguard. Also Kourin: [flips her shit at Suiko Riding “one of Aichi’s favourite units”].

I’M CRYING YOURE REFERENCING THE ORIGINAL ANIME? YOU DIRECTLY CONNECTED THE TWO CONTINUITIES ILY.

Rena continuing to lose her shit because this entire scene is so good and the girls’ contrasting feelings about Alfred, Vanguard, everything is so wonderfully portrayed. For bonus points; Suiko’s unit belonging to a clan that Aichi chose and stuck with whereas Kourin’s heralds from one he never played in the manga & reboot continuity and was forced onto him in the original.

Had been wondering for quite some time just how Kourin and Suiko remembered anything related to the Reboot anime, so them providing an answer is immensely appreciated.

Also still loving whoever storyboarded this episode. Also very much loving the touch of Suiko being in focus as she challenges Kourin on her choice while Aichi hovers out of focus in the background; with their respective positions in the season and in comparison to their Outside World lives as well as how Kourin risks to lose them, it’s incredible poignant.

"We move forward”. Rockets back to one of the best scenes in epi 7 that I love so much. The fact that Ibuki and Suiko are the ones to speak of the same sentiment is precious.

At the same time, turning the idea onto Kourin and Aichi, with the added visual of the latter, really brought it home. With OverDress’ new cast, our time with these characters is drawing to a close for a second time and with no guarantee we’ll see them again. It’s incredibly bittersweet, particularly when adding in how the Q4 voice actors showed how torn up they were during the live event shortly prior to G’s airing. We were incredibly lucky to get a second run with these characters, so as the audience carries on forward and part ways with them again, having this particular theme front and centre, we’re essentially in the same position as Kourin.

I love this crew. That is all.

As much as tried to discern the glitched figure, unless it’s whatever’s in/controlling/manipulating/whathaveyou Aichi (it doesn’t look human), a Deletor or something related to Brandt, couldn’t even try to guess, they did a good job of obscuring their identity.

IF 22 preview

Babie boy’s cheek looks bruised. Is he still getting bullied? Were you wandering around somewhere to prolong your mother being faced with another afterschool of being beaten up? My heart. He looks incredibly distrustful of Takuto compared to their previous first meetings.

Zooms in on that Akashic Record in Kourin’s hands. Zooms in on Aichi’s hand on his arm. Were you really beaten up? Point me to them! 9′^’9 — Alternatively, he looks uncomfortable, in the same vein as the photo of himself and Emi in their Miyaji uniforms from epi 7, perhaps Takuto's explaining the truth to him and Aichi just can't process such a world because he's weak and timid and simply doesn't have the strength to imagine it.

How can someone be so ominous without a visible expression? The Biggest Fear.

DID YOU RIP OUT YOURS AND KAI-KUN’S PAGE FROM THE AKASHIC RECORD AND THATS HOW NO-ONE CAN GET THERE?

The placement of the four cards is striking; one distanced from the other three. They may be representative of the Q4 members and how far Aichi has drifted as a result of IF’s premise. Though at the same time, even if unintentional, it could be reflective of the young Aichi, who saw Kai-kun, Ibuki and Miwa playing from afar, never closing the distance himself and allowing that space between them to remain.

I have many questions. First of all: is it next week yet?

SCREAMS IN PSYQUALIA. BUT ALSO. It looks darker compared to usual, particularly in the Reboot continuity. Maybe it’s a sign of it not being quite right? That darker huge reminds me of Leon’s Psyqualia during Asia Circuit, so the possibility springs to mind of Void (seeing as the original continuity has been drawn in directly now) or interference by Brandt. If it’s a shot from the explanation regarding what’s happened to him (INTENSE VIBRATING), it could be whatever worming its way in through his Psyqualia.

Akashic Record-related thoughts:

Suiko:

Suiko’s remembrance of handing Alfred to Aichi in the original continuity opens up a huge possibility that she’s aware of the Tatsunagi sisters’ pasts and fate of that timeline. Though the girls of that world themselves never found out about their missing memories, their counterparts may have learned the truth themselves.

Kourin:

Going along the same line of thought, it gives Kourin a much more sympathetic position in that she’s not only experienced losing her memories once, but learned it to be her fate in more than just this world. When threatened with the possibility of losing a treasured period of her life for a second time, coupled with it being apparently inescapable even in other worlds, it’s a hopeless position she’s been put in, so though her motives may be selfish, it’s difficult not to sympathize with her.

Also a curious thought; Kourin’s alternate worlds for Suiko. Using the Akashic Records to surf between them, there’s the possibility that these are all worlds that exist and continue as such without external interference; other worlds where Aichi hates Vanguard, where Ultra Rare exist in different forms. But Kourin also described her actions as “creating” new worlds, so that begs the question of if she’s nonchalantly creating and erasing entire timelines?

Aichi:

The scrap of paper from the preview could very well be the page detailing his and Kai-kun’s first meeting and whatever force is at work, the figure from the glitch, given the ability to keep the distortion locked by its possession of the page through Aichi. At the same time, it might also explain why deviating from IF World’s narrative had such a detrimental physical effect on Aichi or it could be a result of, being the Tatsunagis are the only ones we’ve seen truly handle the book, interfering with its writings without the authority to do so bit Aichi and he’s suffering the consequences of it.

Why go through all this and for someone he shouldn’t know in this timeline? After he (or rather the force inside of him that intervened when they tried to bring him around and lead him back to the correct worldline) handled Takuto and Kourin, Aichi was able to investigate the Akashic Records and see just how much damage was done to Kai-kun; in the Reboot continuity, in the original continuity, maybe even in continuities we've never known of; Psyqualia, Link Joker, Legion Mate, Neon Messiah, the PsyZombie arc  — he’s learned of them and how much anguish they put someone incredibly dear to him through (and it need not be just him; Ren, Ibuki, Leon, the Ultra Rare girls, Chrono, the list goes on for how many people have been deeply hurt by being connected to the game). So to protect him, that’s why Aichi targeted and hated Vanguard, not something that’s been brewing for years, but something that exploded when keeping him in his IF existence was threatened, allowing for Emi’s insistence that he’s always been a nice boy hold true.

[rayveos]

Why ‘Guilty Crown’ Remains To Be My Favorite Anime

HELL YES THIS POST IS DEDICATED TO GUILTY CROWN. 

And before you tell me how many flaws this anime have and how unsatisfying the ending was, I want to remind you that this is an appreciation post for this underrated anime. No hate comment could change my mind since I’ve watched it back on 2016. 

Shall we go back to the main point now? 

PLOT. Alright. Like any other animes, Guilty Crown had its flaws too. However, I’m sure you can’t deny that a character who started as a coward (in the beginning of the anime itself) obtaning a ‘Power of Kings’ is something. And it’s not your usual power that you can match on other abilities of our favorite hollywood heroes and comics champions. His power is basically drawing people’s hearts out and materializing them into voids which can be useful weapons and necessities. And these voids reflect its owners’ fears, personality, and character. 

***VOIDS. It’s like, “what will your heart look like if it was an object?” Personally, I’m in love with Inori’s beautiful Singer’s Sword while the explanation behind Shu’s always breaks me. They didn’t specifically elaborate why Inori’s is a sword but let’s remind ourselves that Inori was originally created as a vessel to contain Mana’s mind. So, I guess the Singer’s Sword is also an animation of Mana’s heart too. 

What I find interesting about the Singer’s Sword is that it contains strong abilities such as being a protective barrier for its carrier and as the sharpest longsword. I can’t help but always fangirl on the first episode wherein the sword is too powerful that it could create a huge flash of light up to the skies. There’s also one in the fourth episode wherein it can destroy anything it will touch onto, regardless of the direction of its attack. 

ANIMATION. I’m not that of an expert, technically speaking. You may hate or bash this anime you want but dude, it’s one of the prettiest animations you could ever see. I don’t know if it’s just me but the waves coming from anyone who possesses the power of the Void Genome and Inori when she’s singing are like the black transparent tapes on cassettes. The colors are wonderfully chosen too as they’re not flashy or painful to watch. 

If I’m going to choose my favorite episodes that contain the best animations of it, I would choose the first, second, fourth, nineteenth, and the last episode. The place where there is like a flower garden, the one where Shu and Inori spends their alone time after taking leadership of the school, is also gorgeous. The glow on that scene emphasizes how genuine their love is and how beautifully flawed Shu’s character behind his fierce leadership (of course, Hare). 

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. Sure, there are characters that go back and forth from being good to bad and vice versa. It may be uncomfortable to some but as for me, I think it’s pretty realistic in some aspects. Yes, this is supposed-to-be an anime. Nevertheless, it doesn’t invalidate the creators’ desire to put more reality in it. Sometimes, I think the other viewers are reacting the way they did on Akame ga Kill. 

In wars, just like how the setting of the Guilty Crown is post-apocalyptic and on the verge of having another one, casualties are quite understandable. Student Council President Kohouin also had her change of heart when she fell in love with Gai and when she ended up envying the studentry’s support to Shu after he proposed an action plan. It’s natural that an elite daughter of the family who has been the center of attention for a long time to turn to the bad side when the spotlight was taken from her. Ayase’s moving on moment is also a strike. She didn’t succumb to her guilt and sadness for losing Gai. Instead, she asked help from Shu to prove to herself that she is indeed useful. 

The best character development award goes to Shu, obviously. When he was a kid, he’s this jolly person who encourages others to be courageous and brave. After the tragedy the Lost Christmas inflicted, there’s no doubt that it will traumatize him and became this isolated person we get introduced on the first episode. Living in the shadows like that for years, there’s a tendency that they get well-attached to the first person who gave them attention and faith, hence his growing affection to Inori. 

The naivety on Shu’s side during Gai’s planning of operation is on point too. That would be the first reaction of ignorant people who believes that everything should be solved with peace and diplomacy. Again, on their time, it was chaotic and there are abusive officials that plan on bringing the next apocalypse. The way he stood up for the Funeral Parlor members after Gai died fell on the right place too. He was influenced by Gai and I’m sure that after everything what happened and after remembering his past, he won’t let others get harassed or hurt too. 

Hare’s death remains to be the biggest turning point for me. Given her strong belief to Shu’s kindness, she’s like a symbolism of Shu’s good side, the part that kept Shu’s inner struggles in check. When she died and Shu declared to become king, I clapped until the episode ends. The subsequent display of his flaws as a human is wonderful. His wrath, the cold treatment, the way he controlled the school and its students. I’m not saying they are nice things. BUT they kept his development moving. It’s not about embracing the bad side but accepting it as a part of you. It’s an ugliness that even Inori recognized as beautiful because in the end, the world has both its beauty and flaws, like a human being.

MUSIC. I will fight anyone who tells me that this anime’s soundtrack is not good. All of the songs they used in the anime are in my playlists! My personal favorite is Bios and Departure Blessings though. I remember I have a friend who has a similar voice to Inori’s voice actress. We became friends because we’re both in love with Guilty Crown. She would sing Departure Blessings a lot when we walk together. 

ENDING. As much as I’d like for Shu to die with Inori, the ending didn’t disappoint me or anything. Actually, when I read its summary and explanation, it made sense. It was an unexpected sacrifice from Inori as she have always preferred to be together with Shu. Even so, we have to admit that they are the most unfortunate pair. Inori is human-made vessel for someone else. Someone who is supposed to be emotionless and everlastingly obedient. Meanwhile, Shu is the Adam that Mana appointed even he was still on their mother’s womb. He was already destined to yield the power of the king. I think the reason why Gai is furious when Shu took the power on the first episode is not because he wants it to be his. He’s only making sure that Shu won’t suffer the fate he is destined to have due to Mana’s mind deterioration back then— which is to be the next Adam and bring forth the next generation and its evolution. 

That is why them being the couple in the center of all chaos, taking back all the virus’ traces and giving back the voids he used, made perfectly sense. The song ‘Release my soul’ is also a tribute to their love story. Since Inori is not really supposed to exist via natural means, I understand how she chose to allow Shu to continue living instead of dying with her. Shu is still young, after all. He has a future waiting for him, one that Inori can’t possibly have naturally because in the first place, she is not human. You do remember that part when she went berserk, right? 

As for the blindness, it came from Inori who was on that time was consumed by Mana. Mana being affected by Inori’s interference on the final battle, the physical body they share was greatly infected by the virus that it caused blindness. When Shu decided to take everything on his hands to end it once and for all, he also took Inori’s blindness as a part of sacrificing themselves. It’s Inori’s last minute sacrifice that mattered. The red threads which are symbolism of destiny/fate are also the same object that tangled Shu’s and Inori’s fates forever. By taking this, Shu also took Inori’s soul before it can also be destroyed along with her physical body. The blindness is simply a reminder that Inori was there. It was Inori’s blindness. It’s a bittersweet ending. The body no longer exists but her soul remains with the one she loves. Together, in the inner mind and consciousness, they are on each other’s arms. 

Credits to the owners of these photos. I do not own anything except for this long appreciation post. 

[hopesong7]

LENS Ch.1

Summary: Sometimes, the universe aligns, and you make friends with a stranger. Sometimes, that stranger is actually multiple people and life just got a bit more interesting.

Genre(s): Fluff, Comedy, lil bit of Angst (Maybe), BTS (It’s a genre now)

Contains: Things that make me feel fuzzy, photography, social media, things I know nothing about but have googled extensively, and the power of friendship.

Word Count: 1405

Note: This is an introductory chapter. BTS makes their entrance in the next. This one is mainly to help understand a bit more about you - as the reader - and introduce background characters that will be referenced repeatedly and brought up often.

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To say that you were excited was an understatement. 

Striding through the doors, you were met with Wonderland, quite literally. Alice in Fantasy Book was a cafe you’d had eyes on for awhile. Photos of it’s delectable treats had crossed your feed one too many times. Now, here you sat, Eun-ha practically vibrating with excitement beside you.

“Haru said she was on her way,” You informed her, taking a sip of your drink. You were ignored, the model opting to gaze at the decor in awe. You couldn’t blame her. The walls themselves were a sight to behold, canvases portraying various scenes from the novel. When coupled with the other various decorations - of which an abundance were hearts - it was simply awe inspiring. You wished you’d brought your camera, but supposed your phone would have to do for now. A gasp of awe caught your attention and you turned to see Haru making her way to you. While Eun-ha was a classic beauty, and you maintained a rather flattering appearance, Haru radiated the softest of auras. 

“Ah, you look stunning,” Eun-ha complimented. Purple hair - pastel, of course - covered pink ears as the up-and-coming singer took her seat.

“Oddly Cheshire today,” You teased, eyes on her striped sweater. Haru only shrugged with a cheeky grin. The three of you shared a small laugh, quickly placing your orders. “I can’t believe we’re all here,” You admitted as the waitress walked away. You were so glad she spoke English.

“I can’t believe it either,” Eun-ha agreed. “The fact that we’re all here in Tokyo… When was the last time we were all in the same city?”

“Too long,” Haru muttered. 

“So why are you two around,” you inquired, head tilted in curiosity. 

“I’m in between shows,” Haru admitted. “I just finished up in Osaka, so we’re taking a break before heading back home.” The singer took another sip of her drink before the two of you turned on Eun-ha.

The model gave a dismissive wave, “In town for a clothing shoot. The real question is why our darling ____ is here and not back home in lovely South Korea.” You smirked, tracing the rim of your glass and giving the waitress a polite nod as she delivered your orders. 

“I am here,” you snuck a quick bite, “because I really wanted to eat at this cafe.” Your admission earned nothing but flat looks of disbelief. “I kept seeing photos,” you defended, gesturing at the rather adorable caterpillar sushi in front of you. “I’ll probably make a vlog later today, take some photos.” You shrugged, “Honestly, I don’t have anything planned right now.”

“No jobs scheduled,” Eun-ha repeated, clearly shocked.

“I’m on sabbatical,” You joked. “Only photos I’ll be taking are for me and Instagram.” From there, the three of you devolved into casual chatter, occasionally squealing at how utterly adorable everything was. A trio of girls, all suckers for the wonderfully weird world of Alice in Wonderland. The fun ended once Haru’s phone chimed, her manager calling her back to the hotel.

“We can walk you back,” You offered. The two of you were obstinately ignoring Eun-ha paying behind you. You’d tried splitting the bill, but the model had refused, citing that it was “her duty” as the eldest. Eldest by three days, but you weren’t bitter. Nope, not at all. 

Haru shook her head, “No, they’ve sent someone to pick me up. You two should go explore, send me some photos!” You rolled your eyes, grabbing her into a hug. Eun-ha soon joined, obnoxiously resting all her weight on the pair of you.

“Yah! Get off me, you giantess,” your words were muffled by the sweater in your face, but she got the message, releasing you with a laugh. “Aish,” you muttered, trying to fix your hair. Haru merely snickered, seemingly unruffled by Eun-ha’s antics. 

“We should really meet up again soon,” Haru said, watching as a sleek car rolled up, the driver clambering out to open the door for her.

“Definitely,” You and Eun-ha agreed. “I'll message you,” You promised, giving her a wave as the door closed and the car sped off.

“I need to go too,” Eun-ha admitted sheepishly. “My flight leaves in a few hours and I need to pack.” 

You nodded sadly, “Where to now?”

“London, actually.” She pulled you into a hug. “Stay in touch, okay? And keep those videos coming, your last cooking attempt had me in tears,” She admitted with a laugh. 

You giggled, giving her a punch in the arm. “Next cooking video, you’re going to be in it,” You swore. The two of you laughed. For all the grief Eun-ha gave you, she wasn’t much of a cook herself. The only difference between the two of you was that she was capable of using a knife without injury, as opposed to your ongoing battle to not bleed everytime you walked by one. The two of you shared one last bittersweet goodbye before finally separating.

You made your way to your hotel room, grabbing your camera. Not the one reserved for photos, sadly, but rather the one you used when filming. Setting it up on the tripod, you double checked the lighting, adjusted the settings, and started recording.

“Hello everyone! I wasn’t sure if I was going to video today, but I’m in Tokyo, so I couldn't resist. It’s rather beautiful here and I just got back from lunch. Eun-ha and Haru were able to make it, so we dined in wonder! No joke though,” you shifted on the bed and leaned forward, “We went to that cafe I’ve been dying to try! It’s called Alice in Fantasy Book and not only was the food and service superb but, the decor-'' You stopped, blinking meaningfully at the camera. “I died,” you said solemnly, “and it was so worth it.” You sat back, running a hand through your hair, “You all have known me awhile, okay. Aesthetics, themes, anything like that? You know I’m going to be into it. This place was honestly gorgeous you guys. They had chairs like the at the Mad Hatter’s table, Queen of Hearts theme was there, the waitresses were all in Alice's dress and-” You muffled a scream with your hands. “The walls were some of the most stunning things I have ever witnessed. They were painted with scenes from the novel and the artwork, oh my goodness. I think I fell in love with the walls,” You admitted sheepishly. “If any of you get the chance, especially my Alice in Wonderland fans, I advise you to go.”

“Anyway! It’s my second day here, yesterday I just walked around. I probably spent too much money shopping but meh,” You waved a hand at the thought. “My Pokemon collection has grown and I have more Luigi merch. That is all that matters. I’ll probably wander around some more tonight, take a few nightlife photos, but what I’m really excited about is tomorrow.” You rubbed your hands together, smiling gleefully. “I,” You proudly announced, “am going to drown myself in art! There are so many art museums here and I’m ready. There’s one focused on photography specifically, so you know I’m going there. I won’t keep this video so short - I have standards - which is why when I’m finally done editing, you all will have a lovely montage of me making a fool out of myself yesterday, playing in three, two-” You stopped recording, a grin on your face, “One.”

Whipping out your computer, you started editing, removing any awkward silences that might have snuck their way in first. Next came the audio, double-checking that it didn’t cut out randomly. It had happened once when you first started, and you’d been paranoid since. The montage was already done, simply needing to be stitched into the clip from tonight. You internally thanked your past self, who’d had the foresight to get ahead. Triple-checking everything and making sure you didn’t miss something, you finally nodded, loading it up to your account and sending out a quick tweet that your new video was up. Instagram was treated to a selfie and the same message.

You stood, stretching, and grabbed your camera bag, the light of Tokyo shining through your window. For all that it was late, you had the oddest feeling that something good was going to happen tonight. It could wait until after you got coffee, though.

[the-quiet-winds]

Make a Move Just to Stay in the Game (part four)

and...we’re back with part four. i do love this part a lot, even though @ichlugebulletsandcornnuts and i went pretty deep into it. that makes it better, i suppose?

[part one] - [part two] - [part three]

[Part 4: The Sun Must Set to Rise]

from that moment on, katherine barely spends a single moment alone, not that she’d want to. she and parr work long hours, pouring over books and their own works until katherine can read aloud passages in latin, complete division and quadratics without a second thought, and accurately and thoroughly describe various trade routes.

one day, about a month after her arrival, parr dismisses katherine early, under the guise of ‘needing to speak with her majesty.’

a small part of katherine is immediately worried. that serious tone...did she do something wrong? did parr finally realize she was uneducated and she needed a different tutor?

katherine, worried and unhappy, retreats to the small lakeside in the woods alone.

parr, meanwhile, meets jane for tea. “good afternoon, your majesty,” she greets. “i would just like to discuss katherine’s progress, if you don’t mind.”

“of course,” jane smiles. “i’m always delighted to hear about kat’s progress in her education.” she picks up the teapot. “tea?” she asks. it’s unconventional for the queen to be pouring drinks for anyone else, but jane has never been one to be overly concerned about the divide between employee and queen. parr nods warmly.

“that would be lovely, your majesty.” she takes the proffered teacup and adds one spoonful of sugar along with the tiniest splash of milk. jane fixes her own drink and takes a sip.

“so, how has katherine been getting along?”

“i haven’t taught many students in my time, unfortunately,” parr begins, “and very few of them have been girls.” she sips her tea. “lady katherine, however, is probably one of, if not the brightest pupil i’ve ever taken on!”

jane’s heart swells with those words. “i’m very glad to hear that,” she says, grinning broadly. “i had high hopes with you, lady parr, and i must say you’ve lived up to every one of them.”

parr smiles and laughs, waving off the praise. “a teacher is only as good as her student.”

they sit in companionable silence for a moment, before parr speaks again. “perhaps we should bring lady katherine in? i would like to discuss our plans moving forward, if that’s alright.”

“that sounds like a good idea,” jane smiles. she stands and opens the door, calling out into the chambers. “katherine? are you there, love?” there’s no response and jane shrugs slightly, turning back to parr. “i imagine she’s gone for a stroll, and if I know my ward she’s either visiting the hounds or she’s gone for a walk by the lake.” katherine often went there, jane knew, when she wanted to think or just take a moment away from the castle. “would you care to take a walk with me to fetch her? it’s an unseasonably lovely day, after all,” jane says to parr, who smiles and nods.

“i would be delighted, your majesty.”

they walk slowly, talking companionably about a myriad of small topics, but mainly always coming back to katherine and her education.

finally they reach the lake, and there’s katherine, sitting primly on one of the rocks, not facing them.

she hears them approach, though, but doesn’t turn around. she stiffens slightly, waiting for the impending blow.

“you’re doing wonderfully, kat,” jane says, knowing exactly what her daughter was thinking when she hunched her shoulders. “absolutely brilliant, love.”

katherine’s shoulders relax ever so slightly, but there’s still a part of her that’s waiting for a caveat. she doesn’t speak, waiting for it to come, but it doesn’t. what happens instead is that parr starts to speak.

“i told her majesty about the excellent progress you’re making, lady katherine. she’s very proud of you.” she glances at jane, then back at katherine. “in fact, we’re both very proud of you.”

katherine shifts slightly, half-turning around. her face is uncertain, but when she sees the genuine expressions on both jane and parr’s faces she breaks out into a tiny smile. “thank you,” she says quietly.

jane steps over and pulls katherine to her feet, swaying them around on the sand. “soon, you’ll be more qualified to run this country than i, my love,” jane laughs.

katherine can’t help but smile a little wider at that.

“you are making leaps and bounds, lady katherine,” parr adds. “i see very bright things ahead of you.”

katherine looks at her. “please, just call me katherine. formalities are dumb,” she adds with a slight giggle.

parr grins. “very well then, katherine. i actually wanted to talk to you about your studies. you’ve made such brilliant progress in all your topics, but I’ve noticed you’re especially good at latin, and I believe this will extend to other languages as well. I wanted to know, katherine, if you’d be interested in learning an additional language. i can speak several languages,” she hastily adds, “so if you chose one of them then we’d have no need to get you any additional tutors.”

katherine’s face immediately lights up, not only at the prospect of learning more languages, but also doing so without parr having to bring in anyone else.

her eyes flit to jane, as if asking for permission. jane simply smiles lightly back, running a hand down katherine’s arm.

“i would enjoy that, yes,” she says politely, trying to mask her excitement, but the facade breaks the next moment. she smiles brightly, before breaking away from jane and capturing parr in a hug.

parr is taken aback by the sudden hug from her student, but after a few seconds she laughs lightly and hugs katherine back.

“excellent,” she smiles. “i’ll start planning some lessons, then - maybe french or italian?” she pulls away from the hug to look at katherine. “and if you do well at that language, which i’m sure you will, then we could think about including the other too. how does that sound?”

katherine grins brilliantly. “it sounds amazing. thank you.”

parr smiles again. “i’ll head back and start gathering what i need. you’ll be blowing through this all in no time, i believe!” she gives a quick bow to the queen and sets off back towards the castle, leaving jane and katherine alone.

jane takes both of katherine’s hands and frowns slightly. she knows she felt like she hasn’t seen katherine in ages but... those calluses were definitely new. had they been so distant lately she hadn’t noticed?

jane continues to study katherine, who was too busy looking at where parr retreated into the tree cover and then the water to notice. had her hair lightened slightly?

jane feels a pull in her chest: her girl was growing up, changing and getting even better every day, and jane hadn’t even noticed until today.

with each passing second jane notices another way in which katherine has changed. the sleeves of her dress were just the tiniest bit too short now, her height a fraction of an inch taller than it had been last month, her face was slowly losing its babyish roundness and becoming more defined, although she still had a way to go. it’s a conflicting, bittersweet feeling; jane loves that katherine is thriving, but it feels all too fast. she hopes that katherine will still want her care in a few year’s time, will still need her mother’s love, even as she’ll stand confident and strong by herself as a bright, witty, educated young woman.

katherine feels eyes on her and turns slightly.

jane is studying her, scrutinizing, almost. there’s a crease above her eyebrows, one that katherine learned meant tears were imminent.

what had she done wrong?

“mum?” she waves a hand in front of jane’s focused eyes, but there’s no change in the intensity of her gaze. katherine feels absolutely minuscule under her stare.

“mum?” she calls again, voice wobbly. “mum what it is?”

jane blinks suddenly, as if snapping back to reality, and she offers katherine a weak smile. “nothing, love,” she says, but her voice cracks halfway through. katherine searches for explanation in jane’s eyes but finds nothing but further worry.

“mum, you’re scaring me,” she says quietly. “did i do something wrong?” that seems to get through to jane and she sighs.

“no, kitty-kat. you’ve done everything perfect, love. your mum’s just being silly, is all.”

katherine’s shoulders slump at the weak explanation, and jane’s heart drops even more.

“i’ve just been thinking, love, about the future.”

katherine’s eyes widen dramatically. she doesn’t entirely know the context of jane’s thoughts, but she instantly feels nervous about what that could mean.

“what about, mum?” she timidly asks, terrified to hear the answer.

“you, love.” jane, even through her teary haze, puts both her hands on katherine’s cheeks. “how fast you’re growing up.”

katherine suddenly panics, knocking away jane’s hands as she takes a step backwards. “you aren’t gonna get rid of me, are you?” she asks, fear rising in her voice.

“love, no, of course not!” jane says immediately, eyes concerned and with panic of their own within them. “you can stay for as long as you want to, and that means forever if that’s what you’d like. i promise, kat, i’m not going to send you anywhere.”

“but- if i’m grown up-” katherine’s breathing is rapid and shallow, and jane takes her hands gently, trying to get katherine to focus on her. “you’re not quite grown yet, love, you’re still young. but even if you were, you’re still my girl. i’ll never send you away even when you’re grown up. i promise, kat.”

katherine is still scared; the thought of a life without jane in it, back with cruel men and lackluster authority figures is too much to bear.

"katherine?" jane asks hesitantly. "kitty-kat, i swear that you will never be alone as long as i am alive, do you hear me? no one will separate us, and i will never, ever make you leave." jane takes a step back. "i'd be perfectly content if you never wanted to leave." she comes back towards katherine, taking both of the girl's hands in her own. "whatever you decide to do with your life, i will support you, okay love?"

katherine stares into jane’s honest, loving eyes and she can’t help but sniffle, before throwing herself into jane’s arms. “swear you won’t make me go,” she chokes out, and jane’s hand begins rubbing her back gently in the familiar soothing motion. she’s aware of how childish and pathetic her voice sounds, but right now she doesn’t care.

“i swear,” jane says softly. “even if you want to stay until you’re a hundred years old, i’ll be happy with that. every day i get to spend with you is a blessing, kat, and that won’t change just because you get older.”

katherine burrows into jane's arms, knowing in her mind that she would be content to never leave the loving embrace or the woman providing it.

"you're the blessing, mum," katherine whispers. "i don't want to grow up if that means leaving you."

jane hushes her gently, sweeping a hand through her hair. "you never have to leave, love, not if you don't want to. we'll travel europe together some day, yeah? we'll do so much together you won't be able to wait to get rid of me," jane answers with a quiet chuckle. katherine's arms tighten around her waist. "i never want to get rid of you," the girl mumbles into jane's shoulder.

jane smiles softly at that. everything she said was true, and she hopes it’ll be true of katherine too. she’d be thrilled to spend her whole life with katherine. a thought strikes her, of katherine, now a young woman, of edward, a sweet young boy who adores his big sister, and jane herself, travelling to visit every court in europe. katherine can speak almost every language and chats happily away to a french princess, while little edward chips in every now and then to practice his own french. she can’t help but well up slightly at the thought of such a perfect future and she holds katherine even closer.

katherine herself has a similar train of thought. edward is still just a baby, but when he's a bit older she imagines she'll  be 'kitty' until the boy is old enough to say her name fully, and even then she'll be 'kat.' she imagines teaching the boy manners at mum's side, helping him navigate the busy life of royalty, and even being a secret confident for all the little boy's gossip. she also envisions time spent with jane - from book sessions to outings around the castle and beyond, and late nights spent lounging by the fire because neither has the energy nor desire to go back to their room.

yes, she decides, a long, happy life with jane is really all she wants.

"parr will be wondering where you are," jane says quietly, interrupting the moment.

“yeah...” katherine sighs. she pulls back from the hug slightly and looks up at jane, slightly shyly. “do you think she’d let you sit in on the lesson? only if you wanted to, of course,” she adds hastily. “i just... thought it might be nice for you to see how i’m doing.” her tone makes it sound more like a question than a statement, but jane gives her a warm smile.

“i’d love that, kat. i can’t promise i’ll understand everything; you’re much cleverer than I am, sweetheart, but i’d love to see you learn.”

they begin the slow trek back to the castle, jane's arm tightly gripping katherine's waist.

"you know," jane starts thoughtfully, "i never got much of a formal education myself."

katherine is caught off guard by the revelation. "really?"

jane nods. "i learned to read and write, obviously, but my education was steered more towards 'ladylike' things. keeping the house, needlepoint, things like that." she turns to look at katherine and smiles. "i'm so proud of you for wanting to get a higher education, love, and i know you're going to do wonderful things."

katherine blushes at the praise but smiles. "thanks mum."

when they return to the palace, they find parr in one of the study rooms, books stacked high on the desks.

parr is more than delighted to let jane sit in and observe. jane, however, quickly finds herself both confused and entranced as katherine reads aloud passages in latin, aimlessly wandering the room as she does so.

parr seems to notice this, and after perhaps an hour she suggests something.

“katherine,” she says, “an excellent job with that translation.” katherine beams with quiet pride and jane gives her an encouraging smile. “now,” parr continues, “this exercise should help reinforce the grammar lessons i’ve taught you. could you please explain to her majesty, if she is willing to take part, of course,” she looks over at jane, “how you conjugate latin verbs in the present, imperfect and perfect tenses?” when both mother and daughter look at her questioningly she elaborates. “teaching is an excellent way of making sure you truly understand something, especially teaching to somebody who is unfamiliar with the subject. I mean no offence, your highness, but I am correct in saying that you’ve had no formal latin training, correct?” from anybody else this last sentence may have seemed patronising, but from parr it was a simple question with no loaded meaning behind it.

jane shakes her head solemnly. "i cannot say that i have."

parr doesn't look fazed by her response. "well, katherine, it looks like you have your work cut out for you," she says lightly.

katherine smiles brightly and bounces over to the couch where jane sits, getting comfortable facing her and launching into the explanation, only stopping to find a particular note in her book or grab one of parr's texts.

the tutor listens carefully, ready to adjust any errors or aid katherine in her explanation, but she doesn't need to do either. after a half hour, jane can somewhat confidently conjugate verbs she doesn't know the meaning of. katherine can't stop beaming in excitement, and it warms jane's heart to see her so delighted at jane sharing in something that was becoming a passion of hers.

jane can't see the future, but she knows that it won't be the first time that katherine is teaching her something about another language, and she just can't wait.

at the end of the day, parr gathers her papers and books together in a neat pile and smiles at both jane and katherine. “i will see you tomorrow, katherine. your majesty.” she starts to bow but katherine cuts her off slightly over excitedly.

“parr, we haven’t done ‘What I Learned Today’ yet!”

‘What I Learned Today’, jane later learns, was a tradition at the end of each day of study where parr would get katherine to summarise the contents of the day’s learning. it was a technique parr usually used for younger children, but katherine had taken to the idea and parr decided it couldn’t hurt. parr smiles at katherine.

“go ahead then, katherine. what have you learned today?”

“i learned how to understand Cicero’s style of writing, and some new vocabulary words, and what happened in the hundred years’ war,” katherine lists. then she smiles, slightly mischievously. “and i also learned that i have the best mum ever, and the best tutor ever too.”

jane smirks and approaches katherine from behind, pulling her into a bear hug. "i hoped you had already known that one, love," she laughs. she can't help but to lightly tickle katherine's sides, and the girl nearly falls over herself to escape the grasp.

parr, meanwhile, has been struck silent. such high praise from princess katherine herself was something that parr didn't think could ever come. "i'm very glad you are enjoying my lessons, katherine," she says plainly once katherine worms her way out of jane's arms, panting heavily but smiling brightly. parr senses the genuine affection in katherine's words, partnered with her cheerful smile, and parr can't help but grin herself. "i look forward to our forays into french." she pauses, then smirks. "j'ai le sentiment que vous allez être l'étudiant le plus brillant que j'ai jamais eu."

katherine wrinkles her nose. "what does that mean?"

parr grins again. "you'll see."

[sinceileftyoublog]

Weekend Picks: 2/21-2/23

Big Head Todd and the Monsters

BY JORDAN MAINZER

There were no live picks for yesterday, but plenty for the weekend!

2/21: Objekt, Smartbar

Here’s what we wrote about Objekt’s Cocoon Crush when we named it our #6 album of 2018:

“An artist solidly known for his bold exploration of techno, Objekt now takes a plunge into a new kind of ethereal beauty on Cocoon Crush. A foray into ambient music, Objekt subverts a lot of what we have come to expect from him. The line between digital and analog is smeared. Tracks are ungrounded, punctuated still by percussion and synthesizers, but in patterns and textures that materialize in mysterious ways. And just as they appear, they stutter and morph in ways unexpected to the listener. The cold machinations of the dancefloor are still present; they are just stretched and masked in exciting and rewarding ways.”

Darwin and Flower Flood open.

2/21: Knuckle Puck, Beat Kitchen

We previewed Knuckle Puck’s set at Durty Nellie’s two years ago:

“Covering last year’s Riot Fest, I found Knuckle Puck the worst set of the festival, though I did remark that the band’s new, unreleased material had the crowd’s attention as much as their released material. As it turns out, the album versions of the songs are pretty good. Shapeshifter, released about a month later in October, was exemplary of what Knuckle Puck do best–write catchy songs with powerful melodies and hooks, enough to showcase the band’s more-than-capable instrumental prowess while avoiding the try-hard singing that plagues so many of today’s emo bands.”

Cleveland power poppers Heart Attack Man and Wilkes Barre hardcore band One Step Closer open.

Objekt; Photo by Kasia Zacharko

2/21: James McMurtry, Old Town School of Folk Music

We previewed James McMurtry’s show at FitzGerald’s two years ago:

“James McMurtry plays tonight as part of the 37th Annual American Music Festival at Fitzgerald’s, still touring strong off of Complicated Game (one of our favorite albums of 2015) like he was when it first came out. When we caught up with him last November, he said of new songs, 'I’ve jotted them down on my phone as I’ve gone along. That whole record was written on an iPhone3. Unfortunately, I dropped that phone, I don’t have the cool Notes app anymore.' Well, either he’s got a new phone or doesn’t need one, because late last year, he released 'State of the Union', a trademark jab at fascism and racism. It might not be as succinct as him telling us 'There never been a good Nazi a day on this earth dead or alive,' but at least there’s hope for more new material.”

2/21: Raphael Saadiq & Jamila Woods, Vic Theatre

Last year, Raphael Saadiq released his first album in 8 years (since the great Stone Rollin’). Jimmy Lee is named after, inspired by, and partially about his brother who died of heroin overdose after contracting HIV many years ago. As such, whether singing or inhabiting the character of his brother, Saadiq is at times uncharacteristically somber. He’s at the other end of a barrel of a gun on “Sinners Prayer”, reflecting on his wrongs, wondering whether it’s too late: “When a sinner is praying, God, will you hear it?” He wears a heavy burden on the funky, stomping “Something Keeps Calling Me”, the song’s wailing guitar solo in the bridge a mirror to his emotions. Saadiq calls out society, too, just as much as himself. “The people are mad,” he sings on “This World is Drunk”. The one-two punch of anti-mass incarceration jams “Rikers Island” and “Rikers Island Redux” presents the issue as simply as it should be put: “Too many n***as in Rikers Island / Why must it be / Set them free.” The former expresses its anger with upbeat piano and a simple refrain, the latter with spoken word over gentle guitar strums.

Best, though, are the reflections of grace that rise above the despair. On “I’m Feeling Love”, over a slower, more warbling funk, Saadiq, singing as his brother, is thankful for the little that he has. And on the skittering, rolling “Glory To The Veins”, he again distills his brother’s death to what matters: “I lost a brother to AIDS / Still, he laughed every day.” We’re lucky that as he gets older, reflecting on his life, and playing live reflecting on his career in Tony! Toni! Toné! and all the legendary artists like D’Angelo and Solange that he’s produced, Saadiq is willing to impart his wisdom.

Jamila Woods’ LEGACY! LEGACY! was one of our favorite albums of last year:

“Yes, Jamila Woods’ stunning LEGACY! LEGACY! is a tribute to important artists of color. What makes it stand out among other tributes, however, is the remarkable way Woods is able to present how each figure has guided her. Take opener 'BETTY', about funk artist Betty Davis, a woman married to a far more famous jazz trumpeter who gets his own song later on. Woods explores the gender and power dynamic in the relationship and uses it to make a personal and universal plea: 'Let me be, I’m trying to fly.' Fly, she does. On 'ZORA', over a hip hop beat, Woods succinctly declares in an all-time line, 'My weaponry is my energy', the drive and desire the catalyst in the noble goal to make her mark on the world as a black woman as opposed to while being a black woman. In various interviews surrounding the album release, Woods spoke about being inspired by black artists who perform and make art truly for themselves independent and often in spite of the race of the end consumers. 'Motherfuckers won’t shut up,' beings 'MUDDY', referencing Muddy Waters adoption of electric guitar because white audiences would talk over his sets; 'Shut up, motherfucker,' she sings inversely on 'MILES', 'I don’t take requests.' But the percussive, jazzy 'EARTHA' best encapsulates her aims of self-love and ultimate pride. 'I used to be afraid of myself,' Woods admits before stating, 'I don’t wanna compromise.' Ultimately, the refrain of, 'Who’s gonna share my love for me with me?' is the mindset by which Woods approaches relationships throughout the record and then life itself. You can be a part of it, but she comes first.”

DJ Duggz also opens.

2/21: The Wailers, SPACE

We previewed The Wailers’ set at Old Town School of Folk Music last year:

“Bob Marley might not be around, but his original band, containing many of the original members and their children, continues to play his songs. Seeing them in a venue as small as this is rare.”

Tonight at SPACE--an even smaller venue--they play two shows, an early and late one.

Joe Henry

2/22: Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Vic Theatre

We previewed Big Head Todd & The Monsters’ show at the Vic Theatre two years ago:

“The Colorado jam band that saw mainstream success in the 90′s is touring fresh off of last year’s heavy New World Arisin’. In 2016, as Big Head Blues Club (the band’s project with a wide array of blues legends like Cedric Burnside and Charlie Musselwhite), they released Way Down Inside. But for the full potential of Big Head Todd and the Monsters, go a few years back and try 2014′s Black Beehive, a rawer, more diverse blues record than you’d expect from the band who recorded 'Bittersweet'. What’s for sure is that live, they’ll lean heavily on the new material while not forgoing their more beloved classics.”

They haven’t released a new album since then but have released a new song every month as part of a series. They should play some of these live, including gospel piano ballad “Hard Times Come No More” and the funky, rollicking “Train of Storms”.

Nashville band Los Colognes open.

2/22: Todd Barry, Thalia Hall

We previewed Todd Barry’s sets at SPACE two years ago:

“So, this isn’t exactly music, but deadpan comedian Todd Barry is performing 2 stand-up sets in one night at SPACE. Commemorating his 30 years of being a comedian, he’s going on another crowd work-only tour like the one documented in his 2014 special Todd Barry: The Crowd Work Tour. From watching that and his most recent Netflix special Spicy Honey, Barry’s dry observational humor is effortlessly tailored to specific crowds and cities, making this one of the must-see comedy events of the year.”

Even if tonight isn’t crowd work-only, he should do some of his specialty.

Chicago-based stand-up comic Chelsea Hood opens.

Hot Snakes

2/22: Joe Henry, Old Town School of Folk Music

Since we last saw Joe Henry five years ago, he’s done quite a bit of production work and released two albums, 2017′s Thrum, and last year’s The Gospel According to Water. In between the two, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer; considering that, the latter takes on weight. It’s, first and foremost, raw, from the guitar playing on “Famine Walk” to the title track. But Gospel sports moments of beauty, too, as on the woodwind of “Mule” and rich vocal harmonies of “In Time For Tomorrow” and “The Fact of Love”.

Americana duo Birds of Chicago open.

Pissed Jeans; Photo by Ebru Yildiz

2/22: Tim and Eric, Chicago Theatre

Who knows what Tim and Eric will bring to their Chicago stop of their Mandatory Attendance tour, other than their purported "brand new spoofs, goofs and insanity” and “special surprises.” The last time I saw them, Dr. Steve Brule showed up and almost married Jan Skylar!

2/22: Hot Snakes, Pissed Jeans, & HIDE, Empty Bottle

Music Frozen Dancing is upon us again, with suggested donations benefiting the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless! Go and donate!

We last listened to Hot Snakes from the medical tent at September’s Riot Fest. Since then, they’ve released the first two of four seasonal 7-inch singles leading up to the next LP: the burner “Checkmate” and wonderfully plodding laziness anthem “I Shall Be Free”. (The latter’s 7-inch has “A Place in the Sun” as an exclusive.)

Hot Snakes also play Sunday night at the Bottle with an opening set from post punk band Pink Avalanche.

Allentown hardcore band Pissed Jeans haven’t released anything since 2017′s Why Love Now, but they’re thankfully back to warm your pants before Hot Snakes. Maybe they’ll have some new songs to play?

Local industrial duo HIDE (artist Heather Gabel and percussionist Seth Sher) released their second album last year, the raw, disgusting Hell is Here. The drum programming and screaming is just as cringingly visceral as the recorded sounds of vomit hitting a toilet that end opening track “Chainsaw”.

Synth band Crash Course in Science, arty The Hecks, and local punk band Hitter also open.

[newmusickarl]

Top 50 Albums of 2022

17. Last Night In The Bittersweet by Paolo Nutini

I must admit I had completely forgotten all about Paolo Nutini’s existence.

Eight years since the Scottish singer-songwriter last released an album, that was long enough for him to fade out of my memory altogether. That’s not for disliking his music either – although I really wasn’t keen on his debut These Streets, there were plenty of moments on his subsequent releases (Sunny Side Up and Caustic Love) that I played a lot at the time. However, in today’s current climate of hypersonic music release schedules, taking eight years out is a big risk as there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to get back the same spot that you left behind. Thankfully for Paolo though, just a few songs were all it took to instantly remind me of why he was always such a heralded songwriter.

Whilst his last two records saw him evolve from his soul-pop origins to explore more diverse sonic landscapes, bringing in elements of jazz, country and R&B, Paolo takes things even further on his magnificent fourth album, Last Night In The Bittersweet. Across the album’s expansive sixteen track odyssey that clocks in well over an hour, he bounces between those previously deployed stylistic traits, but also throws in a few new ones as well – most notably new wave, indie rock and ambient electronica. It all makes for a dazzling, eclectic and richly textured listen.

The first part of the record in particular is simply one of the best opening six track runs I heard in the whole of 2022. Opener Afterneath begins ominously before Paolo’s vocal screeches engulf the space, carrying with them strong shades of Zeppelin-era Robert Plant. From there the track rumbles on like a freeform jam session, overlaid with Paolo’s hypnotic spoken verse and snippets of 1993 classic crime film True Romance (which Tarantino even gets a songwriting credit for here). It’s a startling beginning to the record, as Paolo then brings things back to more familiar territory with stunning soulful rock track Radio (which you can hear above), with its glistening guitars and spine-tingling, repeated cries of “I want love.”

Lead single Through The Echoes is up next, an exquisitely crafted, stripped back love song where Paolo’s heartfelt vocals are the star of the show. Acid Eyes then might be my favourite from the record, with its instantly memorable refrain and jangly melancholic guitars, sounding a bit like Because of the Times-era Kings of Leon. Stranded Words may be branded as an interlude but is a great track itself, with Paolo’s Celtic tones speaking softly in a hymnal-like way over some quiet synths. Subsequent track Lose It then rounds off this incredible opening run, entering from the other end of the spectrum as a raucous guitar-driven rock track but with a tinge of gospel thrown in too.

However, it’s not just the opening section where this album radiates out the speakers, there are plenty of gems lurking in the latter half of the record too. Everywhere starts off quiet and subdued before erupting into a huge crescendo of soaring guitar riffs and soulful cries. Children of The Stars is then a wonderfully mesmeric and bluesy number whilst Desperation is a pulsating Strokes-esque jittery rock track, which culminates in probably the album’s finest guitar passage. The album then eventually draws to a close with epic penultimate track and seven-minute-long ballad Take Me Take Mine. Once your ears have wandered through its labyrinth of spacey synths and dreamy guitars, Dylan-inspired acoustic track Writer then ends the record on a heartfelt and reflective note.

You almost get the sense this was Paolo’s lockdown project, with him passing the time by just having fun with his instruments and exploring these different sounds. The album art for Last Night In The Bittersweet is Paolo sat in a room with an array of instruments around him and that really is the record’s whole vibe - like you’re sat in a room with him as he’s playing you this eclectic range of songs. Whilst I still think it may be a touch too long, on the 12 or 13 tracks where it does hit, you’ll be completely swept away by the raw brilliance of Paolo’s vocal and songwriting talents.

Best tracks: Radio, Acid Eyes, Through The Echoes

Listen here

[moonnfairie]

Proximity

Real Life!AU - Chapter 3

Author: softmochijm

Pairing: Reader x Jungkook (Main), Reader x Yoongi

Warnings: None to note unless you count angst as something to look out for

Word Count: 1,753

“Are you sure you want to eat with them tonight, Y/N?”

You flash Yoongi a small smile, nodding softly. You may feel extremely awkward for dining in with your ex best friend and ex crush, but after your wonderfully romantic movie with Yoongi, you felt like you couldn’t give a care in the world.

The kiss he so sweetly planted on your lips gave him a new confidence towards showing affection towards you. He held your hand and moments later found his arm around you, allowing you to lean on his shoulder. Your stomach was performing summersaults, warm blush rising onto your cheeks at the sudden acts of affection. You knew from his previous tales that he had quite the experience when it came to being with ladies, but tonight you truly felt like you were the only girl in the world to receive such tenderness.

After a few minutes of driving, you pulled into your favorite diner, the one that you and Jungkook would go to after nights of drinking or to talk until you saw hints of the sunrise outside.

Your heart sunk a little at the sight of it, considering it had been a couple months since you’ve last been here. But you shook it off, smiling wide at Yoongi opening your door to help you out of the car.

The small bell that was heavily taped at the top of the door chimed as you stepped in. The hiss of food frying on the stoves in the kitchen, blue and pink neon lights lined the tops of the white and baby pink walls, and your eyes followed them over to the corner where the jukebox was blaring. You sighed and grinned in a bittersweet fashion thinking about the endless hours you spent in here revealing secrets to Jungkook you never even told to Taehyung and Jimin before.

But in that moment, you realized things were completely different now.

Jungkook was sitting next to Andrea at your usual booth. A view that would normally make you want to spin around in your spot and leave, but you looked over to Yoongi warmly staring back at you, and felt a wave of confidence take over you.

You step towards him to close the gap between you two, hold his cheeks in both of your hands, and place a yearning but deep kiss onto his lips. You feel him breathe hard against you, but slowly return the passion as he kisses you back. You don’t quite know if it’s the adrenaline high you’re on, your feelings for Yoongi, or you simply trying to make Jungkook jealous, but you find yourself deeply invested in your newfound self-assurance, and there was no turning back after pulling a stunt like that.

You grab his hand and lead him to the booth and you greet Andrea and Jungkook with the biggest smile you’ve had all night. Before you could wonder if they witnessed your little spectacle, Andrea wiggles her eyebrows at you and nudges Jungkook’s arm with her elbow. He doesn’t react, but he’s glaring at you, green with envy.

“Oh, Y/N! For two people who ‘aren’t a thing,’ you both surely do look like something! And it’s so adorable! Right Jungkookie sweetheart?”

The expression on his face makes him look like he’s fighting some internal battle, making you lift an eyebrow in slight confusion , but the waitress interrupts any further conversation on the matter.

She smiles as she recognizes you and Jungkook, but that instantly changes to a puzzled expression as she sees the two new faces you’re sitting next to. Sensing the tension at the table, she asks for everyone’s orders.

“The usual, please!” you and Jungkook chime simultaneously, both of you abruptly looking back to one another, staring at each other with furrowed brows. If this mood kept up, this was going to be a long dinner.

To your surprise however, Andrea’s talkative manner came in handy for back and forth conversation, even getting a few laughs from Jungkook every now and then as well. You were even getting to a point where the both of you could maintain eye contact without having to temporary look away from awkwardness. Maybe there was a good thing to come from this dinner: an established friendship with Jungkook. Something you could remember every time you missed him, and something that would motivate you to move on.

Everything was going well. Until Andrea asked to play a game.

“How about a game of never have I ever?”

You look to Yoongi and he tilts his head at you, interest piqued at the game infamous for revealing personal and intimate information.

“Why not!” you say assertively. Better not let this confidence go to waste.

“OK OK, I’ll start!!” she squeals, a little too excitedly. “Never have I ever... lied to my parents.”

“Really?” you thought to yourself. She really was too good for her own use. You, Yoongi, and Jungkook all put a finger down, and Jungkook looks to the ceiling as he ponders what to ask next.

“Never have I ever fell asleep during a movie.”

You almost spit out the water you’re drinking but manage to swallow it down before cackling out loud, Jungkook’s face lighting up at the sight.

“It was once! And it’s not my fault you picked the most boring movie there is to exist on this planet!”

“Uh more like, it’s not my fault you don’t have as much of a refined taste in movies as I do to know what a true masterpiece Jurassic Park is!”

Your playful banter goes back and forth, the two of you laughing and joking like it was only the two of you there. You didn’t realize how long this was going, however, as Andrea’s stare started to grow cold on you.

A couple rounds pass and you share laughs here and there, but then came Andrea’s turn again, and she eyed you like a hunter eyed it’s prey.

“Never have I ever liked Jungkook.”

You freeze in your spot, hand dropping to the table. You find yourself in a quick state of panic and anger, looking down at your thighs to avoid eye contact with anyone. Yoongi notices your sudden change in breathing and places a hand on your thigh in attempts to calm you down.

“Andrea, what the hell?” Jungkook asks in disbelief. “What kind of question is that? Obviously no one else here-”

“It’s part of the game, and I’ll ask again. Never have I ever liked Jungkook.”

His eyes widened in shock, slowly turning over to then give you a resentful stare.

“I think it’s a little much to have gone that far, Andrea” Yoongi sternly declares, but you look up and shake your head.

“No, it’s fine” you say, as you hold out your left hand and place your last finger down, eliciting a big smirk on Andrea’s face.

“Great, we have a loser. Game over.”

You quickly stand up from your seat and Yoongi swiftly follows, fumbling to place a twenty on the table before trailing behind you as you rush out the door.

“Fuck that shit, I swear to God!” you yell, briskly walking to Yoongi’s car, Yoongi running close behind to grab you and hold you in his embrace. You feel so angry that you start to feel tears welling in your eyes, and without holding back, you break into sobs, shoulders shrugging against Yoongi’s embrace, face tucked into the crook of his neck.

“I’m so sorry. I’m here for you” he says in a calm, reassuring voice.

The faint sound of the door bell chimes behind you, fast paced steps approaching and Yoongi shifting towards the direction, still holding you in his arms.

“Jungkook. Now is not the time-”

“I’m sorry but if not now, I don’t know the fuck when. I need to talk to you Y/N. Please just speak to me.”

You push yourself weakly off of Yoongi’s chest, finding him sorrowfully staring back at you. You wipe your tears with your sleeve and manage to croak “it’s fine. I’ll just go talk to him for a little, okay?”

He nods, letting you out of his arms as you turn to Jungkook, the both of you walking to the other side of diner, dimly lit by the red neon sign above you.

“Why didn’t you tell me...” he says lowly, almost a whisper.

“That’s what you’re concerned about? Not your girlfriend practically attacking me like that? The hell is wrong with you Jungkook??”

Jungkook raises his hands to his head, turning the other way to grunt out in anger. At this, you feel more tears coming, seeing him genuinely upset over the situation.

He turns back to you, gazing apologetically. “Listen, no, I’m sorry about that Y/N. I’m sorry about her, okay?? I don’t know what the hell got into her but that was stupid and I know. She’s stupid!”

You manage to form a small grin at his last remark, and his look softens.

“I just... I didn’t know you cared for me like that” he says, voice trailing off.

You really didn’t know how to go about this. He knew the truth, but it’s not like anything would change between you anyway. You relinquish your efforts to hold back, and decide to just let him know everything.

“I did, okay Jungkook? I cared for you immensely, with all of me. I did for months. And that one night we first talked about Andrea, I thought you were going to tell me you did too. But I was so, so, wrong. And I couldn’t live with myself to tell you then because what would be the point. You obviously didn’t like me back then and clearly you don’t now.”

“Y/N...” he starts, slowly walking towards you.

“I liked you too.”

You look up to him panic struck once again, blood starting to boil at his confession.

“With Andrea, I just... everything happened so suddenly. I wanted you but-”

“So I’m just an option to you, right? A choice? A toy you decided to play with when you wanted and threw me away when you found a better one.”

Jungkook was silent after hearing the tone in your voice. He kept opening his mouth to try to say something, anything, that would make the situation better, but you could tell he was caught at a stand still.

“Well you don’t have to play with me anymore, Jungkook. Whatever the hell this is, is done.”

A/N: Dialogue heavy and a little shorter, but all I believe for a reason fitting for this chapter. Ouch, angst hurts.

Chapter 4

[the-energon-hole]

hi! can i request a drabble for bayverse crosshairs, tfp knockout, soundwave and smokescreen having like a nice soft moment w/ their s/o, cuddling and stuff and s/o tells the bot they love them for the first time and how happy s/o is to have them in their life? thank you! <3

Bayıverse

Crosshairs

There was a certain way that he liked to carry himself, and there was a certain way that he preferred to be seen by both his fellow bots and those who view him as a bitter enemy. He liked how he was perceived as an arrogant jerk who couldn’t play by the rules, the mech who was big and bad and not to be messed with. The kind of guy you’d pass by on the street and thought, wow what a bad guy- I’d never want to tussle with him! He is the leader that everyone needs, he can be the big bad driving force to prove once and for all whom the superior bots are in this war- which is why in situations that are seen as compromising like this, he would deny them sound anyone see what was going on.

Crosshairs both loved and hated these little moments.

He was lounging on a pile he made out of old cars and sheet metal, it was comfortable enough for him to at least sit and relax on- but he sure does miss having a nice big berth to stretch and recharge on. Ever since he got to this planet it has been nothing but scrounging and scraping in order to get by-the things he did for his fellow Cybertronians!

He would never admit it, and he most certainly wouldn’t say it outloud- but with you sleeping soundly on his chest as he just relaxes, well that also makes this planet a little more worth it to protect.

You somehow saw past his bad boy facade, you saw past his armored wall’s weakness, and you saw past all the words that he would spit out at you in anger and frustration.

You lay there, in the most vulnerable way your species could be, and you trust him enough to not only be like this- but to also utter words he never thought in his whole life span he would hear.

“I love you, nothing will change that.”

Love, what a silly thing to need or want- companionship and a battle partners he understands a need for, no one wants to be alone in the throes of battle and war, you want someone who understands and relies on you to be there when they need it. However, love was something he didn’t understand, who needs companionship all the time?

You sure proved him wrong though- he wanted nothing more than your companionship and love, but only when no one is around to judge him for it. He was glad you understood that, you were the understanding kind of person he needed- you knew he couldn’t always be lovey dovey like this, and you were ok with that.

He was starting to think he loved you to, and as he used his finger to touch your warm face, he couldn’t believe primus allowed you to be his.He would tell you he loved you too, eventually, it will take time and have to be on his terms- but you knew that as you smiled and leaned into his touch a little.

Transformers Prime

Knockout

Everything has to be perfection!

The night sky was clear and brightly light with all those pretty little gas bubble planets that glowed bright in the dark sky due to their chemical composition, the air wasn’t to warm to be hard to breath or to cold to begin to shiver; as it was the perfect middle ground for the season, and most of all you and Knockout were all gussied up and laughing as you sat and talked on top of secluded peak of desert littered with cactus and rocks.

You two rarely go anywhere fancy when you always dress so nicely, it wasnt so much your style to be seen in a bougies setting around the flawlessly rich and the beautiful- but it was always fun to just get dressed up and get fancy to drive to the middle of nowhere and just sit and talk under the twinkling stars. It was a way to get away from all the noise and the clutter, it was a way to bond and laugh without other people’s prying eyes to judge you, and it was a way to hide and pretend if not for a few moments that the world is safe and you aren’t in the middle of a giant conflict.

In reality you never really liked being this far away from civilization, it felt so lonely and cold as if there isn’t any life around you. That wasn’t true, as your planet was teeming with life, just not life you can connect to and understand, and it wasn’t until you met that big red colored Decepticon- turned Autobot not that long ago, that you realised that this life doesn’t have to be as lonely as you thought- no matter where you were located.

You both shared in similar experiences and pains, and you both shared in similar interests and ideals- and you both got along so very well, it only made sense that the two of you continue to grow and cultivate your relationship.It was nights like this- one with such clarity and understanding; as you both not only look perfect dressed in wonderfully beautiful clothing, but the fact that you both matched so deeply in your personalities and lights that helps fill the night air is with laughter and love, it just felt so right and so real.

You couldn’t stop the words before they flew out-

“I love you.”

It slipped, and you felt your heart stop for a split second as you begin to sweat in just the slightest way- that wasn’t supposed to come out yet! Your eyes grew wide as it hit you like a ton of bricks being thrown by a Decepticon with a vendetta; it was far too early and far to unpredictable to say, even though in that moment everything felt so right, you began to feel like the biggest loser on the planet- and for gosh sakes you shared a planet with someone like Starscream!

Despite your mind racing a mile a minute, you heard a deep chuckle from the handsome bot that was sitting next to you, and as you felt yourself spiral into a small panic, that smooth voice only made it worse- what was so funny!?“You humans sure do love to go fast don’t you? Good thing too, I love to go fast” He said, in that sweet and suave voice that you felt such a strong need to hear all the time“I must say, you have caught my full attention, and it would appear that I am too a little smitten with you- even if you are a squishy little human.”

In that moment, your heart began to settle on a rapid beat, and you could feel the blood rush to your cheeks as a warm sensation followed soon after that- did he just say what you thought he just said? Sometimes Knockout tries a little to hard to be cool- so his words don’t always come off the way they are supposed to, but this made the most sense than anything he has said all night.He said that he loved you too, in his own Knockout sort of way- it was probably one of the greatest things you could think to happen from your small little accidental word spill earlier. 

This might was so perfect, it couldn’t be any more perfect.

Soudwave

So many individuals find him to be unapproachable and terrifying, which is good for a bot in his position of power- being such a high ranking and high profile individual in the entirety of the Decepticon Army, however he wasn’t always the malicious and vindictive bot you see before you today. He would once argue that he used to have “a heart of gold” as you humans would call it, but he has just been through to much to allow himself to open up again like this- it was probably one of the only things that actually scared him.

He used to be a much more open and accepting mech before the time of war was upon them, but years of loos and anger has hardened his spark and has created the mech you see before you. Not to say he was a particularly good bot before the times of autobots and decepticons- but being surrounded by the worst the planet had to offer was what made him even more cynical and bitter than before- so much so that it was starting to become a point that he did not miss his old self, the mech who used to care deeply for so many.

Now he only cared for a few- and the list was so short that it could be counted on one hand,

Megatron, their glorious leader whom would raise them all into victory- Laserbeak, his last remaining minicon that has served him for such a long time they could be considered one entity- and you.

It was true, as much as he would try to hide it, but he grew a fondness for your personality and your appearance that it could almost be considered obscene and wrong to partake in all the things he thought of doing to you- be those acts sexual or otherwise. He never thought eh would feel warmness in his spark for anyone ever again, and it was a bittersweet moment for him when you spoke those words out loud for his audio receptors to receive.

“I love you.”

Certainly, those were words he wanted to hear, especially from one so special such as yourself, but when you spoke those words to him- he couldn’t help but remember all the bad and the evil he has gone through. 

So many of his minicons destroyed and slaughtered before his very screen, so many simply taken out without so much a second thought to who they are and what they could be.

So many important allies and big players in this game of power, simply gone and snuffed out without any regard to whom did it and for what reason.You-you could be just like them, and it scared him more than he thought it would. It scared him more than him actually opening up and loving you back.He absolutely loves you to, and will try even harder to protect you just as he protects everything that is important to him- and you have to be ok with that, as there is no going back on this relationship now.

Smokescreen

If he was going to be honest with you like you wanted him to be, he wasn’t much for these soft moments or these tender feelings that arise when he has things like this happen. Sure, it’s fun to sit around and cuddle with you when things are slow and he has nothing much else to do, but sometimes it becomes too much for him and he just needs to go- go where? Anywhere but here.He needs time to process, he needs time to think, and mostly he needs time to just be free and run.

He doesn’t want to be away from you, that isn’t true in the slightest bit, and it took you a while to come to that conclusion. ESpecially when he only got this way when you two would share very soft and tender moments together, like light touches and small intimacies.

Instead it was all on him and not on you, he is simply afraid of all these new feelings that are rising up in his spark- they are foreign and strange to him, he doesn’t know what to do with them except do what he always has done- and just go.

Go and drive and not come back for awhile.

He was young and inexperienced, and you could relate a little to it, but sometimes it is easier to face  problem like this head on rather than run and hide and hope it goes away, and it looks like it’s up to you to teach him this important lesson- so once you were finally able to catch him alone and not running, the words slipped out with much more force and frustration than you hoped t would.

“I love you.”

You wish this was a more tender moment, you wish things could be perfect and romantic, but it looks like these were the cards that were given to you- everyone told you that you needed to be more forceful with the bull-headed mech, and well, this was your way of doing so. As he stood there before you a little bit shocked, it made you almost laugh at the thought of “could Cybertronians blush? What color would it be?”

Before you could continue with those kinds of thoughts you heard a very quick-“YeahIloveyoutoo, bye!”

And he was transformed and out the door so fast you could barley process this new information.

Yeah, you are going to have to push the poor mech a little bit harder if you two will want to share any more soft and sweet moments together- but that was ok, you had all the time in the world to get him to sit till for long enough to talk, you will be here with open arms when he is ready. After all, there was no challenge that he couldn’t face without a little encouragement from a very special person.

[blossattic]

Scarf

[Notes: My Muse is making snow angels in the imaginary snow that fell in my mind Cx This idea came thanks to @momokitty27 (thank you!) and I had it macerating for the holidays! Let’s see if I could pull it off nicely. This is set in the Brotherhood timeline guys! :D It can be a little long!]

~*

Tagging: @princess-of-lucis, @mandakatt, @kayterschmater, @fieryfantasy, @nemo-ne-impune-lacessit, @kerbiesworld28, @agi92, @moonraccoon-exe, @birdsandivory, @onpanwa (If you wish to be tagged -or not-, let us know, please :D)

Disclaimer: Honey Naturae is OBloss’ OC and Prompto Argentum belongs to Square Enix.

. - . - . - . - .

“S-Sorry! Not today...”

It was maybe the third of forth time that week. The same reply, delivered with downcast eyes and lip worried between her teeth, as soon as the bell rang to announce the end of school activities. The same reply crushing Prompto Argentum’s beaming spirits and erasing the big smile he had as he once more asked her out on a date. Time together had become a school related thing only.

“I’m a l-little busy, that’s all!”

“It’s alright... maybe next time...”

But Prom’s deflated tone and saddened eyes were beginning to haunt her, and weirdly enough, giving her the fire to work faster, knitting the dark red wool into that fluffy creation she hoped could make up for every lost date. Every chain was laced with her love, every stitch here and there a reminder that they were together!

Happy, flustered giggles met equally infuriating shrieks of horrors as she missed a stitch and a hole came to greet her. Annoyed whines making her cat meow back as she pulled the thread to start over the line once more. It had to be perfect. The best for him! Not slacking there. Every mistake wouldn’t matter a thing later once it was done because Prom’s smile was going to erase every bittersweet moment.

Deep down, however, she knew Prom’s imaginattion was running wild with all her sudden absenses. He was more fidgety in classes (Noct had slipped that on her), more nervous as he spoke with her on lunch breaks, yearned for longer sneaky kisses as they hung out in the rooftop, whining as she pulled away once the chilly air was unbearable.

“Maaan, what if... what if someone else caught her eye?!”

Noct was quick to give him a funny look. He had to be kidding, but he understood his anxiety. Honey was a constant on his life now as much as Noct was and to have her disappear like that and near the holidays was a bummer.

“I think she’s trying to catch yours now.”

Prompto looked at him with pinched brows before following the direction Noct’s head tilt. Right at the school entrance was the petite blonde, fidgeting from one feet to the other as she adjusted her scarf over her lips. The pink tint in her cheek, from both nervousness and eagerness to be close to him again, making Prom’s heart sing...

A high pitched shriek bursted through Honey’s lips as Prompto ran, more like slided across the freezy path, to hug her. He had almost faceplanted there for a second, but found warmth and sweet vanilla hints in the crook of her neck, a grin stretching his face that made even Noct snort. She returned his embrace and after saying goodbye to Noct, they began walking side by side to their homes. Oddly quiet there, blushing from the cold breeze and nervousness as in their first official date.

What to say? What to do? Think Prom, think! But his eyes soon caught the bag she cutely carried, and the way her eyes looked at it like he was the most precious thing ever. Prompto shivered and she inmediatly froze on her spot. Yikes! He hadn’t brought a warmer jacket, or maybe it was his anxiousness, and now that... Maybe the thing was for someone! Ugh! 

“E-Eh...”

But Honey simply moved to stand in front of him, raising the bag for him to grab, her warm chocolate eyes waiting to see his reaction. Drinking on every flick of emotion as Prompto stared from it, to her, and back down. A nod urged him to open it and he did so, hands trembling as the colored paper was teared inside the bag to gap openly at the thing inside.

“I’ve missed y-you all these days but I needed to get something done. Y-you, hm- said you liked knitted things and I know how to knit! I-I hope you like the color and the pattern and-”

Honey clamped her mouth shut after noticing her rambling game was on. Maybe her cheeks were matching the gift now.

A scarf. Dark red with puffy stitches here and there. It felt warm and perfectly heavy on his hands as he pulled it out. It also smelled so much like her that Prom couldn’t stop himself, mesmerized by it all, and pushed it near his nose once she had helped him get it around his neck. His hands squeezed the cozy wool as he smiled, his eyes a little shiny now.

“Is t-this for... me? Really?”

...And his smile could melt even Shiva if he wanted. He looked so wonderfully happy that it was contagious. Honey giggled, taking his face in both hands before smooching his nose. It looked perfectly on him, against the camel colored jacket, his fair hair and stunning eyes. A perfect match to that blush that made his freckles contrast.

“I’ll keep you warm on your most chilly nights...! A-ah! The s-scarf! I meant the s-scarf! P-PROM!”

The snow began to fall slowly as Prompto laughed, like tiny frosty pearls, before they started walking again. Her hand holding his, fingers intertwining, as they walked down the sidewalk with matching smiles and warm hearts.

. - . - . - . - .

[wxnnabe]

Any hcs ya got on Passione (w/o Fugo) & how they would react to their crush giving them a big bouquet of their favorite flower that they grew themselves? Like, it's so big you can hardly see their face? That'd be just dandy. (P.S. Congrats on the new blog!)

Oh goodness this took me so long, sorry! It’s a bit long, so the answers are under the cut! (I also used this post for their favourite flowers)

-Bruno is delighted when they mention they have something for him-he wouldn’t be expecting the gift, and it warms his heart to know that his s/o was thoughtful enough to get him something-when he sees the huge bouquet that looks about as big to topple them, he blushes, but recovers enough to accept them with a sweet kiss for his s/o. (he’s also silently thanking any higher power that no one else is around to see this) And when they say that it’s homegrown? His heart is big but even the bright smiles they give to him when seeing him enter the room is enough to fill it, so he’ll fill several vases immediately and will research ways to preserve flowers for as long as possible, taking special care of the flowers until his s/o complains that he’s spending more of his free time caring for the flowers than he is on them. Every time he sees them, he is reminded of his s/o and the hard work and dedication they managed to put into the flowers and it’s not long before he comes up with a plan to give them something just as thoughtful that shows them just how grateful he is. And thank goodness, because he’d be loosing sleep over just how to pay them back for such a beautiful gift. The large amounts of Baby’s Breath that now cover the base does not help.

-Abbachio is dubious when they tell him that they may need help with the gift that they’re giving him, and they can see he’s about to wave them off anyways with some offhand comment about how he really doesn’t want anything over the top-they may feel slightly guilty, then, when they show him the huge bouquet of Latana’s-he has always felt a slight fascination with them in particular, but with this many all at once he’s at wit’s end as to what he could do with all of them. They hastily explain that they grew them on their own and perhaps they got a little carried away with the big bouquet, and Abbachio will, with a sigh, turn to his s/o. “I don’t like gifts, and certainly not flowers that will wilt into nothing in due time. But,” he adds, tilting their face up to meet his own, they see an amused smile on his face. It’s a rare one, one that only they have managed to see often. “I’ll take them from you, tesoro. Thank you,” He will give them a bittersweet smile as he presses a fleeting kiss to their forehead, and it’s a bittersweet smile that they have seen many a time-by now, they will be able to read his expressions well, and they know as he takes the flowers and clips as to how they managed to carry these all the way here without losing half on the way, they know what he is feeling deep down. That he feels unworthy, undeserving of such an extensive gift. It’s the same bittersweet smile that will greet them for a while after the bouquet is given, that he would give to them everytime they do something sweet for him that they know he will appreciate, and a reminder that perhaps they should give him smaller presents as not to scare him. 

-Mista would be almost in shock, at first. Not from embarrassment, rather from disbelief. His s/o’s gifts are all stacked on every surface of his room, and they’re all taken care of meticulously for the laidback gunslinger. For them to bring him a huge bouquet of the daises-for his s/o to go through the care of growing and taking care of the delicate little things-he can’t believe he scored this well. He’ll compose himself when he sees there smile drop slightly and will instead set the bouquet down carefully, replying with a “Hey, don’t freak out, I love it! Hell, I love you!” before hugging them and spinning them around before giving them a kiss. He may not know a lot about taking care of flowers, but he’ll ask his s/o about it since they should know a thing or two about preserving flowers (they grew them, after all). They’ll put the flowers in 3 vases together (they couldn’t fit them into one and his s/o suggested that the flowers into 2 might look a bit too busy, to Mista’s relief.) and Mista will be glad to know that they picked exactly 53 and avoiding picking up four flowers at a time. He loves his s/o; this is a well-known fact to anyone who knows either of them, but it’s the big gifts that they occasionally give him, all the way down to the simplest actions like separating the flowers into sets of three that really shows him just how much they care for him, and he feels light at the thought that they did so for him. While he won’t repay them back in flowers, he’ll be a ray of sunshine for the next couple of days-he is also brewing a thank you gift in return, and one that will make his s/o’s day as much as theirs made his. Sex Pistols will, no doubt, have their say in the present, but since they couldn’t decide they end up bringing a now very flustered s/o an array of presents that their s/o is bound to love.

-Narancia’s eye’s will widen in surprise when they bring him the largest bouquet of fresh sunflowers he has ever seen in his s/o’s hands, and he will have a look of shock on his face-thank goodness no one is here to see this, because as much as Narancia would love to have people reminded of their relationship, he would much rather this be between his s/o and him. Besides, he’ll have plenty of time to let everyone know just how sweet his s/o is later. His s/o is probably struggling to keep all the flowers in the bouquet (sunflowers aren’t exactly delicate, small flowers-they realise that they might have made a mistake in arranging this many of them, but they couldn’t stop once they found out it was Narancia’s favourite flower) and once he realises he will help them, and hold their hands with a smile that lights up his face. “Amore! You got these for me-!” he notes their mumbled “grew them for you” as they smile and nod. He grabs them up in his arms and gives them a sloppy yet enthusiastic kiss, and picks the flowers upon a quest to find a vase that will fit them in. He will be extremely grateful, and although he is a bit sloppy in taking care of them, he finds a better way of preserving all their hard work. His s/o-and anyone else who happens upon a book they were reading-will be pleasantly surprised to see the carefully dried and pressed sunflowers nestled between the pages. The gift is simple, but means a lot-especially when they accidentally find the many flowers that didn’t make it, whether they were so delicate they crumbled at the touch or were still being dried to this day, his s/o will feel warm at the thought of Narancia putting in just as much effort as they did for him.

- Giorno will treasure every gift that his s/o has given him, as he hasn’t experienced having things given to him at no cost to him in his youth, he won’t be all too sure how to respond to the bouquet being given to him. Yet he is grateful because he can tell that they put a lot of work into getting them to him. (He won’t mention that he would prefer they not disturb the plants by cutting all those flowers from it and rather just showing him the array of orchid plants they kept and grew instead just yet, but he may softly mention it in the near future.) There are quite a lot of flowers, and he wonders just how much of their spare time they put into the maintenance of the orchids with a small blush. Yet, he will not keep his s/o waiting for him to accept the gift for too long, and will give them a soft and lingering kiss as he calls Golden Experience forth and uses the scraps of paper in the trashcan to create a wonderfully large vase of vines; whenever anyone enters the office, they are welcomed with the same orchids, just as fresh and beautiful as they were the day his s/o gave them to him. If his s/o decides to pointedly note out the work of his stand on the flowers he will treat them to one of his rare smiles, and reply simply. “I cannot allow your hard work to go to waste cara.” He would waste little time in preparing for an equally extensive gift to be given back to them, and will usually end up turning into a date where Giorno has used his influence to vacate a special restaurant they have talked about or arranged for an activity they have always wanted to do together. He has limited time, it’s true, but he still believes in treasuring and spending time with them, and it is the perfect way to pay them back (it’s also a good excuse when they tease him about going over the top when he replies with some smart reply about how spending time with his s/o isn’t spoiling them at all. He’s lying, and they don’t even need to turn around to spot the smirk on his face.)

-Trish is surprised, but certainly not in a bad way when she see’s the Fragipani’s presented to her. “My favourite..” She will mutter under her breath before looking up at them with a sincere smile. “You brought these for me?” When they clarify that they did, in fact, grow them her eyes would widen. It’s then that she manages to notice how they’re struggling to juggle them in their arms, and she lets out a giggle, letting them place the bouquet on the couch next to her with a teasing comment that they shouldn’t get too carried away lest they shock the plants. Trish will have them taken care of accordingly-that is, after she’s finished taking photos of the two of them with the flowers in view and (so long as they don’t mind being viewed by thousands) posted to her profile. She wants the whole world to see just how amazing her s/o is (she might also want to tease them by giving them a kiss just as she snaps the shot) and her s/o will be given just as huge a gift when they return home to see the finely tailored outfit their eyes had lingered on in the magazine they were flicking through, and a note with Trish’s own handwriting commenting that they must be taking hints from her own fashion sense as their taste is improving. While she doesn’t have the time to pay them back in an equally thoughtful gift she is attentive and, like Giorno, will spoil her s/o with whatever they may want.

[johnboothus]

We Asked 12 Drinks Pros: What Cocktail Should be Considered a Modern Classic?

As bars and restaurants continue to navigate the coronavirus pandemic and reopening phases, VinePair asked the bartenders and drinks professionals below to provide a virtual tip jar or fund of their choice. More resources for helping hospitality professionals are available here.

Cocktails such as the Old Fashioned, Martini, and Daiquiri — all indisputably classics — have been found on bar menus for over a century. Simplicity and balance lie at the heart of their enduring appeal. But considering the recent revolution in mixology, what are the new libations ready to challenge the dominance of old-guard cocktails like the Margarita and Manhattan?

To find out, VinePair reached out to beverage pros across the country to weigh in on what they consider to be the go-to recipes of the past several decades. From old-school cocktails updated with new flavors or techniques, to entirely new creations destined for greatness, keep reading to find out the modern classics that should be on every imbiber’s radar.

“There are cocktails that are simply old, and then there are those that are classics. You’ve got to differentiate between those two. But staying power is contingent on a variety of factors, from a catchy name to an iconic serve to an easy-to-replicate ingredient list. … Here is a short list of modern classics that can be reliably ordered around the world: Cosmopolitan – Toby Cecchini’s pink Kamikazee riff brought back V-shaped Martini glasses and helped make cocktails cool again; Penicillin – Sam Ross made Scotch cocktails cool again with this spicy, smoky, honeyed Whiskey Sour; Oaxaca Old Fashioned – Phil Ward’s brown and stirred homage to agave put the pioneering Death & Co on the cocktail map.” — Jason Cott, Managing Partner, Bedford Post Dining, Bedford, N.Y.

“The Paper Plane cocktail should stand out as an exceptional modern classic. Equal parts lemon juice, bourbon, Amaro Nonino, and Aperol make this a boozy, citrusy, and downright delicious beverage.” — Kaitlyn Gibbs, Beverage Director, Louie, St. Louis

Donate: Kaitlyn Gibbs Venmo

“Though it may already be considered a ‘modern classic,’ I would cast my vote for the Ultima Palabra. A riff on the classic Last Word (though some variations of the Ultima call for an additional juice component), mezcal takes the place of gin in a cocktail that really showcases the excellent versatility of the agave distillate.” — Carlos Baz, General Manager and Beverage Director, Goosefeather, Tarrytown, N.Y.

“Currently, I am also seeing a resurgence of tiki cocktails, which for a long moment were just considered the drink of your vacation, meant to be enjoyed on the beach or by a pool, but now we are seeing bars open that are fully dedicated to tiki cocktails and it isn’t just bottom-of-the-barrel spirits used to make them. It seems that cocktails are much like clothes and style — they all come back as trends at some time.” — Julie Masciangelo, Sommelier and General Manager, Il Posto, Denver

Donate: Il Posto Emergency Relief Fund

“The one definite modern classic cocktail is the Paper Plane. It does everything a good cocktail should; it’s lively and refreshing and can be used as an aperitif. … The ‘Naked and Famous’ comes in close second. The lime [juice] and yellow Chartreuse play nicely off each other, while smoky mezcal fills the palate and Aperol provides a bittersweet finish. Considering the variety of mezcal on the market, both home and professional bartenders can have fun experimenting. Try one mezcal that is lighter and vegetal with one drink and a fuller smokier mezcal on the next. Both cocktails are equal parts, making them easy to remember. Also, there’s something beautiful in the simplicity of an equal-parts drink. — Eddie Riddell, Bar Manager, Montelupo, Portland, Ore.

“The Gold Rush was one of the first cocktails to come about during the first years of the cocktail revolution. It’s gained a lot of traction over the past few years, and who can blame it? It’s a wonderfully simple and balanced cocktail that’s perfect for both warm and cold weather. It combines sweet and sour flavors with the warmth and structure of a well-balanced bourbon. It should be considered a modern classic based solely on its simplicity and balance. In an age where everyone is trying to show their creativity and artistic skill with cocktails, it’s important to remember that not everything has to be esoteric and experiential. A simple creation can sometimes speak the loudest, [and] that’s fundamentally what a Gold Rush is.” — Warren Koguc, General Manager, Thompson’s Bookstore, Fort Worth, Texas

“For me, the Jungle Bird is a definite modern classic. It always comes in a fun glass, with some delightfully crazy fruit garnish and a mountain of crushed ice. It’s about as tiki as one can get without having to find the time to go on vacation!” — Kit Still, General Manager, Main Street Tavern, Amagansett, N.Y.

“The Revolver is my first choice for modern classics. Starward Australian Whisky ‘Nova’ expression pairs amazingly with black coffee and orange bitters to bring everything to life. It’s an early-2000s drink from San Francisco. That’s been one of my go-to cocktails behind the bar whenever someone is looking for a ‘whiskey drink’ but has no idea what they want. And it’s a great gateway cocktail into many other fun things. It’s also my favorite batched cocktail to keep in the freezer at home.” — PJ Wagner, Bar Lead, Guild Row, Chicago

“I love the classic Boulevardier, which is whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Campari, and [I] modernized it using one of my favorite bourbons, Orin Swift’s The Burning Chair. The bourbon is combined with [Carpano] Antica Formula vermouth, orange bitters and orange blossom Aperitivo. The drink is then aged in oak barrels for 60 days.” — Al Fiorenza, Bar Manager, Cafe Chameleon, Bloomingdale, N.J.

“You can never go wrong with a Negroni. Talk about a cocktail that has so much room for creative influence. After spending time in Florence, Italy, its city of origin, I realized this carefully balanced cocktail can be customized to anyone’s taste. The Negroni is a timeless classic being reimagined again and again in cocktail bars around the globe.” — Arielle Natale, Bar Manager, Elaia Estiatorio, Bridgehampton, N.Y

“A Whiskey Sour – a classic one, with [a] dry-shaken egg white before the rest of the ingredients are added. I will only have mine with fresh lemon juice, and a nice rye whiskey, preferably Old Hamer Rye from West Fork Whiskey Co. I love it as a ‘modern classic’ because it has remained simple in recipe, but allows the opportunity for the drinker to choose their favorite whiskey or take a recommendation from their trusted bartender to add a dash of a sweet liqueur or drop of red wine for fun. New York gets the credit for the egg white addition, adding a nice soft foam fluff to top off the tart beverage.” — Lindsay Jo Whirley, Certified Cicerone and Culinary Arts Operations Manager, Newfields, Indianapolis

“It’s a little difficult to select a drink I think should be deemed a ‘modern classic,’ mostly because I’ve been trained in the classics, modern and otherwise, and I’m not sure how many of them are universally considered ‘classics’ in the bar community. … If I was to nominate a drink that perhaps is one that I see ordered a bunch as of late, and is not one that was taught to me or published in a book by some well-known modern bartender, I guess it would have to be the Mezcal Negroni. Mezcal itself has only recently gained popularity outside of Mexico and South America, and for that reason there are no ‘classics’ per se that contain it, but it is a growing force among the spirits world. Granted, it’s simply a riff on a well-known classic and doesn’t necessarily have its own unique name, but the Mezcal Negroni is definitely becoming a ‘household name’ among bartenders and customers alike.” — Stephanie Reading, Bar Manager, Birdie G’s, Santa Monica, Calif.

The article We Asked 12 Drinks Pros: What Cocktail Should be Considered a Modern Classic? appeared first on VinePair.

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