#for this random urge to be poetic

[storiesoflilies]

metanoia is an ode to

mathematics and physics, and how the universe sings to us without words.

toji fushiguro, and just how deep the green of his eyes can really go.

and of green tea, but that my darlings, is a discovery you’ll have to make for yourselves.

i absolutely cannot wait for you guys to read it!!

much love,

Lily xo

[chaserofstarsandtheabyss]

I want to create poetry by kissing him on the mouth

But since he’s not here

I’ll spin words for him instead

[brain-empty]

I dont think im quite alive, but death is something I still could never know.

[cherievol6]

in love in italy

hey!!! long time no see…sorry i’ve been off the grid - i’ve been working loads. i just randomly wrote this (I was feeling very poetic after reading Sally Rooney lmfao) hope you enjoy!

being with harry in Italy brings on some intense feelings that you just need to confess.

warnings: very brief mentions of sex, other than that it’s absolutely heart wrenching fluff.

word count: ~1k

.

You’ve never felt like this before.

At least, not when you're in the middle of having sex with someone.

This wasn't just someone though, it was Harry.

Sweet and gentle Harry, whom had made everything feel a little bit lighter for you since the moment you met. Here he was, skin so close to yours it felt like he was trying to meld you both together like clay. His head was dipped into your shoulder, his breaths heaving but blissful. You felt like a pot of boiling sugar bubbling up to a gooey caramel and oozing into the bed below you. He made you feel as though one look from him or one kiss from him would make you shed every negative piece of your mind.

"You okay? You're awfully quiet after that." He half laughs, referring to the intense scene of love that was just displayed in the early hours of the morning, in a random villa in Italy. You’d woken up to get a glass of water and returned to bed to find Harry awake. A quick good night kiss turned into wandering hands and clothes being stripped to the floor. It wasn't quick, or impatient, the way you'd held eachother. It was intense, and thick and heavy — like there was something lingering for the two of you. You feel a few tears slip to yours ears and on to the pillows. Harry still hasn't noticed, gently stroking the leg around his waist. You scratch your fingers in his hair and let out a shaky breath.

You always found it hard to hold in your cries, since you were small. They swelled your chest like a balloon, and with a sharp gasp of breath the balloon pops and Harry's snapping his head up quickly and brushing your hair out of your face.

"Woah, woah. What's wrong?" His voice is panicked and you don't find yourself trying to avoid his gaze, which is strange. You don't feel upset, you feel overwhelmed. Harry always said it scared him how every time you looked at him it felt like you were reading his mind.

You wipe the sweat from your brow, the warm room making you feel flushed. Or was it this nagging urge to tell Harry something you’d kept to yourself for so long, out of fear of scaring him off so early in your relationship.

You smile, and he must think you look manic, grin growing the more you look at him, his constant over concern for you, like he couldn’t bear to think of anything bad happening to you.

“I feel good.” You say quietly, running your thumb over his mole next to his mouth.

“Yeah? That’s good.” He kisses you softly.

“Do you feel good?” He nods at your question without hesitation.

His eyes seem to gloss over akin to yours, and the words are literally behind your teeth when he says, “Always when I’m with you. You make me feel so safe. I can’t describe it-”

“I love you so much, Harry.” The tears are no longer tears, rather streams of saltiness that saturate your hair and Harry’s hands. He seems to deposit the last of the air in his lungs before he can speak again. Like your words winded him.

“You love me?” His voice is timid, and his hand is now shaking.

“You know that thing, where people paint in acrylic on a canvas, and it looks good, but kind of dull? A bit moody?” Harry nods, with a small smile creeping up his face. You always were one for the metaphor, “and then they paint it with that shimmery gloss and it makes the painting look so different. Like it’s brand new, and you’re finally seeing it in its best form? That’s how you make me feel. I wasn’t bad before, I just needed something…or someone to make me more vibrant. You do that for me. And I love you for it.”

He laughs, and the movement makes his tears fall out of his eyes and on to your cheeks. You are the most emotionally intelligent person he’s ever met in his life and he can’t believe that you’re in love with him.

“You always come up with the most beautiful metaphors...” he kisses you again, like staring at your face for too long brings on the urge to just devour you whole. “I genuinely think my entire life was created to coexist with yours, and just hear every piece of your mind that you’ll let me.”

You pull him down again and kiss him again. You were insatiable for his kisses, they were like oxygen for you. He’s still crying, and you’re still crying, and all you can hear around you is his heavy heartbeat and the owls in the trees around you. Your favourite place to be with Harry was in his Italian house. It felt like no one in the world existed or cared about the two of you when you were within these walls.

“I love you. I have done for months and I will do for a lifetime. Okay?” His brows are pinched together, in a sincere and reassuring way. Like he needs you to know that he’s not going anywhere.

“Okay.” You smile widely, until your cheeks hurt and your eyes wrinkle. “I love you.”

“I love you.” Now that it’s out in the air it feels like the only form of communication between you both in this moment. Harry rocks against your hips and kisses your neck, and you begin to breathe shallow. You whine when he connects your lips again.

“Show me how much you love me, H.”

.

[khoipyan]

tell me you love me! ☆

how they confess to you.

gn!reader, you/your, romantic

characters; floyd leech, leona kingscholar, rook hunt

warnings; no major ones, heavily implied mutual feelings between you both, reader lives in ramshackle for rook’s part but is not stated whether to be yuu or not

notes; slowly trying to expand who i write for… also i want a simple writing format layout and not a billion trillion headers so here we go ig 😿 on the other hand YAY MOTIVATION!! 

☆ FLOYD makes sure you hear him loud and clear.

ehh? confess? hasn’t he been clear enough already? or are you just dense?

azul tells him that to be officially dating, floyd needs to ACTUALLY (and properly) confess. however, floyd doesn’t see the need. have his little gifts of trinkets, random items and heavy affection not won you over already? still, he’ll make sure to confess properly if that’s what’s needed.

and so, floyd searches for all over until he finds you. resisting the urge to tackle you in a lovingly-death grip, he explains how he likes you, more than friends! and that you should like him back too!

as you accept his confession of love, you find that floyd has impulsively tackled you with a passionate squeeze. 

☆ LEONA meets you in person.

it’s a bit awkward for him, but it’s the easiest way to convey feelings.

he could have done it over text, but he thinks that it’s too low effort to show how he really likes you. writing letters takes too much time, especially when his mind wanders off while thinking of what he could possibly put on the paper with his pen.

so, meet leona by the botanical gardens at a specific time and he’ll (embarrassingly but) gladly pour his heart out for you to hear.

☆ ROOK goes all out.

why do you think he’s a self-proclaimed, ‘chasseur d’amour’? ah, my mistake. he’s LE chasseur d’amour. emphasis on THE hunter of love? i think my point has gotten across by now.

absolutely prepares the best confession yet. nothing too heavy so that if he gets rejected it all goes to waste, but he puts enough effort to be able to subtly hook you.

it’s no surprise when a bouquet of flowers with a wax-sealed letter placed neatly within it meets its way to the ramshackle doorstep, now is it? but the letter is anonymous, telling you to meet the person at a specific place.

now here comes the final part. when you arrive at your location, rook let’s his feelings to you spill out his chest. he makes sure to add french midway to his sentences per usual, and spouts out poetic words only he would be able to put together.

rook could never admit it, he says that you’ve put him in a position where he is deeply head over heels. you’ve trapped him. he’s deeply in love with you.

and yet he does admit it, but only for him and yourself to hear.

( due to be edited at anytime )

[aziiori]

Random kiss with 5WIRL *ੈ✩‧₊˚

Characters:Venti, Xiao, Kazuha, Heizou, Wanderer (referred to as Scara) x gn reader

Word count:1.5k

Author's note:I do not have ownership of any of the characters mentioned. All rights are from Hoyoverse.

I'm back from the dead (⁠＾⁠∇⁠＾⁠)⁠ﾉ. Enjoy this fanfic I made for everyone!

❥Venti

The moon hung high over Mondstadt as Venti and you strolled through its quiet streets. Laughter echoed in the night as you shared stories and experiences.

Venti grinned mischievously, "You know, there's something special about this place at night. Care for a detour?"

Curiosity sparked in your eyes as you nodded, and he led you to a serene spot near the city square, the moon casting a soft glow on the scene.

Venti turned to you, his emerald eyes reflecting the moonlight. "You ever notice how the night brings out the magic in everything?"

You smiled, captivated by his words. "It does feel different, almost like anything could happen."

He chuckled, "Exactly! Now, let's add a bit more magic." Venti took your hand, guiding you to the edge of a fountain. The water's gentle melody accompanied your steps.

As you stood there, Venti's gaze softened. "You know, I've enjoyed every moment tonight."

You met his eyes, feeling a warmth spread through you. "Me too, Venti. It's been amazing."

The air between you crackled with an unspoken connection. Venti's hand cupped your cheek, and he whispered, "There's one more thing missing from this night."

Before you could respond, his lips met yours in a sweet, lingering kiss. Time seemed to freeze, and the world faded away, leaving only the gentle embrace of that magical moment under the moonlit sky.

❥Xiao

In the enchanting glow of Liyue's moonlit night, you and Xiao found solace on the tranquil terrace of Wangshu Inn. The celestial tapestry above seemed to mirror the ethereal connection between the both of you.

A soft breeze whispered through the bamboo leaves, and you couldn't resist the urge to playfully break the peaceful silence.

"You know," you began with a mischievous glint in your eyes. "legend has it that kissing under starlight grants eternal luck."

Xiao's expression remained stoic, but a faint spark of curiosity gleamed in his eyes. "Legends are mere tales," he replied, his usual detachment betraying a subtle curiosity.

Undeterred, you pointed to a particularly radiant star, its brilliance reflected in their eyes. "Humor me, Xiao. Close your eyes and make a wish. You might be surprised."

With a rare hint of compliance, Xiao closed his eyes. In that fleeting moment, you seized the opportunity and pressed a gentle kiss on Xiao's cheek. The world around both of them seemed to hold its breath, capturing the essence of a magical connection.

As Xiao opened his eyes, a fleeting warmth lingered in his gaze. "I didn't wish for that," he remarked, attempting to maintain his composure. However, a subtle curve at the corner of his lips betrayed a hint of amusement.

You grinned, reveling in the playful banter. "Well, perhaps your wish will still come true. Sometimes, fate works in mysterious ways."

Under the celestial dance of stars, you and Xiao shared a quiet laughter, the stolen kiss leaving a lingering magic in the Liyue night—a moment etched in the canvas of both of your shared adventures.

❥Kazuha

In the heart of Inazuma, where the city's vibrant energy met the tranquility of nature, you and Kazuha found refuge in a hidden garden adorned with blooming sakura trees. The soft glow of lanterns created a delicate play of shadows, casting an enchanting ambiance over the secluded space.

As you strolled through the garden, the distant sound of waves became a distant melody, blending seamlessly with the rustling leaves and the gentle murmur of the evening. The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of sakura blossoms, invoking a sense of calm that surrounded both of you.

Kazuha, with his usual poetic charm, spoke, "Inazuma's night carries whispers of stories untold. Each petal, a chapter, and each moment, a verse."

Captivated by his words, you found yourselves beneath a particularly majestic sakura tree. The delicate blossoms seemed to bow in acknowledgment of the connection shared between you and Kazuha.

"In Inazuma, there's a belief that beneath the sakura, one can find moments of serenity," Kazuha confessed, his eyes reflecting the moon's soft glow.

As he gently took your hand, guiding you to a spot bathed in moonlight, the anticipation in the air grew. The subtle brush of his fingers against yours sent a shiver through you, and in that quiet corner of the garden, he leaned in.

Your lips met in a tender kiss, a shared breath beneath the sakura's embrace. Time seemed to stand still, as if the universe itself paused to appreciate the delicate dance of emotions. Sakura petals fluttered around you, creating a dreamlike spectacle, a symphony of nature applauding the blossoming connection between two souls in the heart of Inazuma's magical night.

❥Heizou

Beneath the enchanting moonlit canopy of Inazuma, you and Heizou found yourselves wandering through the serene forest, surrounded by the whispers of leaves and the ethereal dance of fireflies. The night air was filled with an irresistible mystique that seemed to draw you deeper into the heart of nature's embrace.

Heizou, with his quiet yet captivating demeanor, broke the tranquil silence with a thoughtful observation. "This night holds a certain charm, don't you think?" His words carried a subtle melody, echoing the serenity of the night around you. His amber eyes, reflecting the moon's gentle glow, invited you to share in the enchantment.

You nodded in agreement, feeling an unspoken connection that transcended mere words. Continuing through the forest, Heizou led you towards a secluded grove adorned with cherry blossoms. "A beautiful spot," he remarked, his gaze softening with appreciation for the natural beauty surrounding you.

You both found yourselves in a magical setting, the soft glow of cherry blossoms and the gentle rustle of leaves creating a timeless backdrop. "It's magical," you replied, the serenity of the grove enhancing the enchantment of the moment.

Turning to face you, Heizou's subtle smile deepened. "Sometimes, words are unnecessary," he said, his hand gently cupping your face. The warmth of his touch resonated with a silent understanding that transcended verbal communication.

In that quiet grove, beneath the moon's watchful gaze, the connection between you and Heizou deepened. The air crackled with anticipation as Heizou leaned in, and your lips met in a soft, lingering kiss. The moonlight painted a celestial portrait of your shared moment, capturing the delicate intimacy of the night.

As you parted, you found yourself lost in the depth of Heizou's olive eyes, a silent promise exchanged between you two. "A promise made in the moonlight," he whispered, his words lingering in the night air like a secret shared between kindred souls.

Hand in hand, you continued your journey through the grove, the night breeze carrying whispers of your shared moment. The cherry blossoms above, stirred by a gentle breeze, showered you both with delicate petals, a celestial celebration of the connection blossoming in the heart of Inazuma. And above it all, the moon smiled down, a silent witness to the beginning of a beautiful romance.

❥Wanderer (Scara)

In the vibrant city of Sumeru, where the pursuit of knowledge echoed through grand libraries and scholarly debates, you found yourself strolling through the market square with Scaramouche. Once a member of the Fatui, he now wandered the streets with a newfound sense of freedom.

"Quite the change of pace, isn't it?" Scaramouche remarked, observing the lively energy of Sumeru's diverse culture. His eyes, usually sharp and mischievous, reflected a hint of genuine curiosity.

You nodded in agreement, "Sumeru has a different charm, away from the problems and duties of the Fatui."

Finding a quiet alcove, away from the city's commotion, Scaramouche turned to you with a smirk. "You know, I never thought I'd enjoy wandering these streets without the weight of the Fatui's schemes on my shoulders."

A chuckle escaped your lips. "It's a relief to be free from all that, isn't it?"

Seated on a bench beneath the glow of lanterns, Scaramouche's hand found yours. The touch was unexpectedly tender, and he looked at you with a softness that contradicted his usual sharp demeanor.

"Strange, isn't it?" he mused, his gaze lingering on yours. "The quiet moments in the heart of the chaos."

Your smile mirrored his sentiment. "Sometimes, unexpected moments become the most cherished."

As the night unfolded its celestial canvas above, you and Scaramouche delved into deeper conversations, sharing stories of your pasts and dreams for the future. The air was filled with a sense of newfound connection, an unspoken understanding that transcended the barriers of faction and duty.

Under the celestial dance of stars, Scaramouche leaned in, his lips meeting yours in a kiss that spoke volumes of liberation and shared understanding. The ambient sounds of Sumeru transformed into a symphony of shared moments, and time seemed to linger in that space between heartbeats.

As he pulled back, Scaramouche's eyes held a mix of surprise and satisfaction. "Well, who would've thought? Sumeru's streets hold more than just ancient scrolls and dusty tomes," he teased, a genuine warmth softening his words.

And so, in the heart of Sumeru, amidst whispered knowledge and cultural wonders, you shared a quiet, liberated kiss with Scaramouche, weaving your narrative in the vibrant tapestry of the city. The night continued, a canvas of shared moments awaiting in the streets of Sumeru.

I had a blast writing this, and I guarantee that you can expect more captivating stories from me this week!

I worked hard on this and I do not allow any form of translation, copying, or plagiarism. Cooperation is appreciated.

©aziiori 02/03/24

[bilbao-song]

ulterior motives: an unnecessarily elaborate guide & review

okay literally no one asked for this but here is my full synopsis of the ulterior motives album. i wish more secret time capsule-ish albums from past decades would be released so i can start doing this type of thing more often

🐬 disclaimer: i think only like two? three? people who follow me are (currently.....) interested in this as far as i'm aware. therefore it's going to be sooooo self indulgent and tbh partially just for my own satisfaction <3 but hopefully someone will find it useful/enjoyable/etc.!! also it's super long but like...idk it's a Review. also if ur interested but otherwise have no clue what this is about, i'm putting some useful links at the veeeery bottom :-)

🐠 relevant introductory notes: im not rlly a lostwave person actually. like as a concept i think it's very cool, but this is litcherally the only one i've come across that appeals to me thus far. i was somehow exposed to it like a year ago and went bananas bc i enjoy funky little 80s songs and i desperately wanted that song in particular. i think some people have kind of dismissed this as like, a ~tiktok thing~ and well <3 i don't care. tiktok didnt exist in the 80s but this music sure did. anyway i would urge you to ignore that entirely at this point and just enjoy the funky 80s bops no matter how they got here (actually that's like part of why i'm even making this post. consider this like...a guide. forget tiktok exists and learn to love this album full of 80s music w me)

🐬 preliminary assessment of vibes: half cute 80s synthpop and half things that make me want to pretend to be really elegant on a cruise ship somewhere between like 1987-1992, a period of time in which i was not alive but enjoy pretending i have some kind of experience with anyway. sometimes it kind of feels like music that someone would put over an old video of people walking around a mall, which is probably really appealing to a lot of people tbh. that seems to be a well-liked vibe recently. *not* an album to listen to if ur looking for something deep/poetically meaningful/super serious, 10000000% an album to listen to if u want something catchy/fun/zesty/poppy/very 80s!! it is very muchly unpretentious music for a good time

also may i just say that throughout this album there are like, random elements that remind me of like 68769376386896 different other artists who are varying degrees of wildly unrelated to this album. i mean like, there are brief moments that give me michael jackson vibes (tangentially related!), and every once in awhile something reminds me of frankie valli (??????????). that's only the tip of the iceberg tbh but if i made an exhaustive list i feel like it would just look like me listing off every third thing i have ever heard of. also a lot of people have made comparisons to wham! and i can definitely see why, soooo if that’s your type of thing!! ur in luck

anyway:

🐠 a track by track analysis & review:

to preface this: if ur skeptical...the sweet spot for me is like, tracks 8-11, and if you like those, try 4 as well. i like the album start to finish tbh, but if you just want a little sampling for now, i suggest starting with those. beyond that, upon putting this together i have noticed that you can kind of break this album into categories vibe-wise. tracks 1-4 seem like they wanted to be long lost singles, 5-7 = Vibing Music. smooth and pleasant sounds to have on in the background. not the sort of thing you’d probably sing along to but the vibes are immaculate. a calm moment before things get zesty again, 8-11 = back to back hits. cream of the crop. exquisite cuisine. all pretty upbeat and poppy and i genuinely cannot imagine not enjoying this at least a little. 12-13 = very nice closing tracks to put a neat bow on it <3

pink titles = my top recommendations (i'm trying to be selective here)

here is the full album on youtube and here it is on spotify. individual youtube links next to each song title :-)

#1 - chemistry - [x] - excellent choice as a first track bc the quality is very Crisp and it kind of encompasses both the whole 80s synthpop vibe and the smooth, kind of classy thing that a lot of these songs have going on. this one is very popular among those of us who have been eagerly waiting for this album to be released and it’s super nice to have a full version available now!! we had like a minute long sample of it there for awhile and i kept listening to a three minute looped version on youtube bc i was desperate. anyway!! there’s a LOT going on here. it flows well, is super catchy, and i really like it. would probably be fun to dance to if ur into that sort of thing

#2 - your guy - [x] - smooth and snazzy!! makes u want to light some candles. spoken portions in songs are always kind of funny to me for some reason but i can lean into the overall vibe and embrace it. very cute. one of my favorite things about it are the moments where the backing vocals are like, drastically deeper than the lead vocals (around 1:42ish). love that

#3 - ulterior motives - [x] - this one needs no introduction i guess lmao. tbh i feel like i still kind of need more time to absorb this version as compared to the old version — being entirely honest, if i pay very close attention, i CAN pinpoint a few little odd things going on with it quality-wise. idk what that's about (definitely doesn’t seem to be a skill issue lmao these guys know their shit) but it also doesn't ruin it for me or anything. i feel like a major part of the issue is just down to being sooo used to hearing one particular version. any difference good or bad is going to stand out. whatever, it’s still a delicious song (and there are pleeeeeenty of different cleaned up versions ripped from the movie to be found on youtube if anyone is just fully unsatisfied w this one)

#4 - man needs love - [x] - THIS is one of the best ones hands down. once again we are monologuing in the middle of a song but imo it works pretty well here. it feels veeeery of the era and i definitely feel like this could've been tremendously popular if not for the whole Never Got Released thing. it is super fun and catchy. if u came for the wham! comparisons this should be ur starting point

#5 - so in love - [x] - the beginning to this one is soooooooooo exquisite to me. my overall take on this one is that it's kind of...well. Vibing Music. like i would never choose or recommend this for karaoke night but it is excellent for having on in the background while you do basically anything else. smooth and snazzy yet again. definitely creates some kind of vibe. also i really like a lot of the vocals on this one

#6 - you turn me on - [x] - when i first saw the title i did not expect to enjoy this one quite so much, BUT it's actually pretty great.......visceral subject matter notwithstanding (that's just rlly not my thing usually but i think i'm the odd one out here so disregard this lmao). very chill vibes; kind of in a similar category to the previous track re: Vibing Music status. lots of interesting sounds and things, very very VERY of the era. importantly, it contains that instrument that i can only ever think of as "lizard noise thing" (apparently that's a vibraslap), and that appeals to me immensely.

#7 - rock me to sleep - [x] - more Vibing Music. initially i wasn’t sure how to feel about the whole whispering thing but i’ve concluded that they pull it off well. it reminds me of something but i really can’t place what it is — some kind of particularly funky and vibey 80s background music type of thing. late 80s/early 90s fashion show music!! for sure

#8 - think i'm gonna cry - [x] - back to the more upbeat vibes. another one of my favorites!! possibly THE favorite for me. seems a little underrated among fans thus far imo so allow me to champion it here. kind of similar vibe-wise to man needs love, so if u liked that one then you'll probably feel positively about this one too. definitely another one that should appeal to anyone for whom the wham! comparison sparks interest. i honestly think this is like...one of the best tracks. if i didn't know any better you could have easily convinced me that this was popular in its era bc the overall quality is there and it reeeeaaaaally has a poppy vibe that feels almost universally appealing. it feels like a fun song for summer. also pretty short in length, so v approachable to anyone feeling impatient <3

#9 - potion of emotion - [x] - another one that i thought i wouldn't be a huge fan of when i saw the title lmao but i was wrong!! i love the deeper vocals here and just ?? well. basically everything about it. not to bust out a technical term but i do just absolutely love the synthiness. there's something kind of satisfying about the lyrics...i mean they're not like, deep elaborate poetry lmao it just sounds neat from like, an auditory perspective. anyway, it’s smooth yet fun. i want to be hearing this on a cruise ship

#10 - one last look - [x] - deliciousss. i feel like this one is almost a sssslightly different flavor of 80s vibe but i have no idea how describe it. maybe ummm idk more pop-rock than just straight pop. feels pretty summer-y. very 80s classic rock-sounding guitar parts (delicious). if i had heard this on the radio at some point i would've wholly accepted it as just like. idk a normal popular 80s song i just never happened upon before (this applies to a Lot of these tbh)

#11 - nothing lasts forever - [x] - another solid favorite for me!!! suuuuuper catchy, has been stuck in my head for like three days!!!!!! i love it!!!!! fun horns!!!!!! idk what else to say but it's fun, upbeat, and ummmmmm. one of the best songs here imo

#12 - language of love - [x] - actually probably my least favorite, but it's still fine. from what i've seen it seems pretty popular though so who knows!! i feel like putting it second to last was a good idea because it does kind of seem like…idk, calming down after four very zesty ones in a row.

#13 - lie school - [x] - if u feel dissatisfied with the new ulterior motives, this is like...the next best thing. very similar vibes both in terms of theme and sound, but not in like, a repetitive way. i actually rlly like that it's the last track bc it kind of feels like sort of a callback to ulterior motives, and i looooooove when albums do that kind of thing. anyway i definitely feel that it’s a little……hmmm. idk the whole school thing is just such a highly specific theme and they really stick with it. but i like it >:-)

🐬 closing thoughts:

i just really really like it tbh. i hope i have converted at least a few people not only bc it's a worthy cause but also bc i spent literal hours spread across two days writing this. shoutout to christopher and philip booth, thank you for this whole entire album and also for inexplicably moving to my town in the midwestern usa despite being from the uk. idk why you did that but i think it's very cool and learning that information after a year of hoping somebody would find ulterior motives made me feel like i was living in some kind of weird dream. also. vinyl release when?? <3

additional links:

rolling stone article that pretty thoroughly explains what this is about

my tag where i've been putting relevant posts thus far

album on youtube

album on spotify

[ardentkurashk]

For the recent Tav ask list you shared : 13, 22, 23, 31, 42, 94, 95.

I tried to be selective, I swear.

Thank you, Barnabas you king <3

13. What was your Tav's first reaction to Lae'Zel?

The biggest eyeroll and the heaviest "G'lyck" to ever be uttered. She's sporting the attitude of a gith fresh out of the creche and talking about Vlaakith. He was happy to have kin on his side, but also oh boy the propaganda.

22. What is your Tav's first impression of the other companions (Astarion, Gale, Karlach, Wyll ...) He was convinced Shadowheart would try to kill him at some point and was very surprised when she actually voluntarily talked to him later on. Astarion pulling a knife on him earned his respect, even if he did nearly get himself offed at the bite incident. He's good at killing which is always appreciated too. Karlach's ferocity was immediately clear and he liked her straight away, although her questions and energy were a bit overwhelming at times. She'll be pestering him about random things I imagine. Gale and his talking, oh god his talking. He talks with such flowery language sometimes and Ka'zalii was already having trouble with common. Then along comes this wizard with his poetic words and his superiority. It's okay though, they get along very well in the end. They swap recipes, Gale now knows how to cook several creatures he will probably never encounter. Gale definitely constantly bothers him about learning tir as well. Wyll I always picture as the one most determined to talk to Ka'zalii, language problems be damned. He's the one that is persistant enough with his positive attitude and wisdom to get some childhood stories out of him.

23. What's their opinion of Emerald Grove? Do they help the tieflings or side with the druids? To Ka'zalii, the grove was very stuffy and slow and he'd much rather be elsewhere. But it was the only place to reliably get supplies and repair things. He ended up assisting the tieflings because Halsin was the best lead at the time. Kahga gave a bad impression by threatening a child, a very cowardly move.

31. What does your Tav think of the Underdark and the Myconids? He found the Underdark quite uncomfortable, being that far underground. The myconids were intriguing though, with their spore magic. It reminded him of the way m'lar use corpses to farm fungus. Just with more reanimation. Then of course meeting Omeluum who he did not kill, despite Lae'zel's urging.

42. How does your Tav react to the shadow curse? Are they scared of the dark? He's not scared of the dark, but he found the shadow curse extremely unsettling. Just a featureless, depressing void. Especially after that first time you walk into the curse itself. It was a big relief for him and the party to get that lantern and Isobel's blessing. He was glad to be out of there, even after the curse was lifted.

[thishumanformislimiting]

Emelin how many times to you send weirdly poetic things to people in the middle of the night

Sometimes I’m possessed by the urge to just send random things to ppl. Did you enjoy your messages.

[quiveringdeer]

Camera Roll Challenge: Dating Jean Kirschtein

I dunno what it is about Jean but this man reads hopeless romantic to me. Maybe the whole being an artist thing. Especially when he's older. Breakfast in bed just cause you deserve it. Probably did the thing where he wrote letters to his future self to open at certain life milestones. Some of them are to his future significant other. When they get engaged. When they get married. When they've been together 5, 10, 15, etc years.

It's something he keeps up with as he gets older too. So they aren't always just from his super younger self. Maybe he wrote one to his future partner in high school then after going through lots of growth and experiences he decides to write another one to that same person. It'd be really interesting to read how much he changed in-between those years. I think he'd also make ones for partners that are like, what I was thinking in the moments before our first kiss. when I knew I'd fallen in love with you. other ways I thought of proposing. (Man, I'm so smitten for this man, I can't believe out of everyone I'm writing the most in depth for him. lol)

I don't know if he ever reaches the smooth or suave level when flirting or asking folks out --tho he thinks he has lol. He's so corny but it's really sweet and cute. Probably continues to use ridiculous pickup lines on people as a way to break the ice.

He can dance-thanks to Connie! He's a got pretty good rhythm and is a quick learner when someone takes the time with him. So thanks to his bestie Jean can salsa, batchata and merengue. He's always up for going out dancing and would take the time to teach his partner. Along with that, he's also the type of person that feels a big urge to wine and dine his partner and take them out on regular dates no matter how long they've been together.

Also the dancing wouldn't just be when yall are out on the town. Saturday morning cleaning days often lead to some kind of dancing and sometimes dance-off shenanigans. Depending on the music selection.

Like Bertholdt, I can really picture Jean being into theatre. Though, unlike Bertie, he very much thrives being the center of attention on stage. Related to the hopeless romantic thing, I can see him memorizing monologs, sonnets and poetry to recite to his partner.

Also, while there is that one OVA of him being a lil shit to his mom, I feel like once he gets over that teen "too cool for my mom" era he's a great son. His mom is so accepting of you and the first time you come for dinner she's totally the stereotypical mom who breaks out baby photos of her Jeanbo! I feel like she'd be such a great mother-in-law and is just so thrilled that Jean found someone to give his heart to.

A few photo thoughts below the cut :)

Top middle: Random morning with him bringing you breakfast in bed. And then also cleaning up the dishes afterward! Definitive husband material right here. (not that the bar should be that low but it's a green check) And you can't help but wanna catch a photo of those pretty legs of his as he's heading out.

Middle left: Okay I can't make a Jean post without bringing up horses. lol I feel like he grew up in the burbs and never really interacted much with them. But being besties with Sasha he ends up tagging along with her and Connie when she starts learning to ride from friends at the Ren Faire she works at in high school. Also, can you imagine how dreamy this man would look dressed up as a knight? Then waxing on poetically about how much he's in love with you? Corny as hell but my heart would definitely be doin flips.

Middle center: Why did he take a picture of himself pretending to sleep and send it to you?? Who knows with this boy. But at least he's cute. And he does seem real snuggleable.

Middle left: Booooooooooooooooy. I don't know bout yall but this photo got me feelin some type of way. Not just the tongue but the beanie and the earring too. 😮‍💨 Just feels like our boy's whole vibe in a nutshell.

[formulafixated]

The 2010 Season: The Greatest Ride

(This is an old blog post from July 19th 2023)

AKA: Niamh yaps about a random F1 advert from 2011. Here's a bit of a curveball.

My original plan for my second blog post (a deep dive of sorts into the mythic nature of being a Ferrari driver) has been momentarily put on hold to make way for whatever this will be. And I have yet to know what this will be or how it will turn out but stick with me, okay!

Some context first. Picture me at 11pm eating some Shreddies as a before-bed snack and finding things to watch on Youtube while I do (because eating without having a video to watch is a fate worse than death), when I come across a video titled "BBC F1 2011 INTRO". I'm instantly like "oh awesome, love me a bit of The Chain", thinking this would be similar to other F1 intros of the 2010s era.

(Try and tell me you can listen to that song without thinking of Formula One.)

I was wrong.

What I was witnessed to instead was enough to make me stop eating altogether. I put the spoon down. My Shreddies were left to drown in the milk but I didn't care, I was physically unable to move as a result of this video. It was a montage of various moments from the previous 2010 season (a beloved season to me), set amongst Hans Zimmer's iconic 'Time' from Inception and over the top was a poem narrated by Eddie Jordan.

"But Niamh, that sounds way more boring and normal than you made it out to be. Shreddies drowned for this?" I hear you say. You underestimate how much a bit of film soundtrack and spoken poetry can impact a girl. I was so impacted, in fact, that I was suddenly fully prepared to pause my planned blog post (which in all honestly I still have yet to find the inspiration for, so maybe this is a good thing!) and write this one instead. I have got to talk about some of these quotes and what they refer to. Think of this as a sort of 2010 season mini recap, but only the most dramatic moments.

Here is the video, by the way. I urge you to check it out.

https://youtu.be/k_hFOC42Qcw

Let's begin!

(A warning: this is all just going to be meaningless drivel from my brain. But you probably already knew that)

“It had charging snorting bulls in the ring tamed only by those two who rode them. Unable sometimes to tame themselves, unable to control their own beast within”

Who doesn't love a metaphor? Obviously this refers to Sebastian and Mark at Red Bull and their tumultuous relationship that had started to develop by the second year of their partnership. Most people think mainly about 2013's Multi 21 incident when talking about the pair's most tense moment, but 2010 had its fair share of these too. Firstly, the wildly entertaining Turkish Grand Prix saw them collide after Seb attempts to overtake Mark on the inside. Due to the angle of Seb's car they made contact and he is sent spinning off into the gravel, with Mark managing to escape being stuck and continuing the race. This moment is so iconic, I think, because of Seb's reaction to it (watch it on Youtube if you haven't already, it's great) and the fact it was the catalyst for the downfall of their relationship. Not helped by the fact that three races later at Silverstone, an incident with Seb's front wing in final practice meant that the team replaced it with Mark's newly upgraded one. Seb then went on to take pole position in qualifying. As a result, talk about favouritism within the team arose. But that's a blog post for another day. Anyway, I love this quote and I think it sums them up perfectly; sometimes they really were unable to tame the beasts within. The way the shot moves from Seb laughing with Britta to Mark in the background looking all solemn and serious? Art.

“It had intrigue and inviting. It had a prancing horse and a rider asked to take a fall”

It's quite easy to wax poetic when it comes to Ferrari, but I think this line is just so good. I love it when Ferrari is referred to as the 'prancing horse', there's something so elegant about it. The lineup for 2010 included newcomer Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, who had already been part of the team for a few seasons. The season before Felipe had undergone surgery due to an accident at the Hungarian Grand Prix, and understandably he had a slow return back to his usual form once the 2010 season began. As a result, by the German Grand Prix, Massa was 31 points behind Alonso and therefore not a championship contender. It was during the last few laps of this race that Massa was ahead of his teammate for a 1st place finish when he received a message from his race engineer Rob Smedley informing him that Alonso was faster. He quite literally said, ‘Fernando is faster than you, can you confirm that you understood the message?’. Felipe let his teammate through to take the 1st place trophy. Ferrari, despite claiming that the incident didn't involve illegal team orders, were fined $100,000 for the controversy. It didn't help that Smedley literally apologised to Massa after the original message... whoops. How many riders of the prancing horse have been asked to take the fall?

"It had those who would not lie down and told that they were not the chosen one."

The term "chosen one" has so much weight to it, right? Obviously this line relates to Mark during his time opposite Seb at Red Bull. Mark frequently vocalised his feelings surrounding the apparent favouritism within the team despite their adamance that there was no such notion. The initial tension caused by the swapping of front wings at the British Grand Prix was soon diminished once Seb took a trip off track and received a puncture, meaning Mark was able to storm ahead and take the win. During his cool down lap he announced over the radio, "not too bad for a number two driver", referring to the idea that Sebastian was Red Bull's favourite. This wouldn't be the first time Mark brought the subject up in a public manner, so it's definitely true that he refused to lie down and accept what was happening. No matter how much they tried to deny it, Sebastian was always Red Bull's 'chosen one'. The chosen one hand picked personally to bring the team to the top after years of disappointing results. And that he did. But God, did Mark try his best!

"It had new and old; new faces, new machines, new blood. And an echo of the past, a name, a memory."

One of the moments that genuinely gave me chills. The 2010 season brought with it five rookies, including Nico Hulkenberg and Karun Chandhok, as well as new teams. There were also new regulations regarding a ban on refuelling, a ban on double diffusers and a collective agreement not to use KERS. But despite the fresh faces and rule changes this season indeed brought several echos to the past. The 2010 season saw the return of a familiar name in Team Lotus, which hadn't taken part in F1 since the 1990s. Their livery even referenced the classic green and yellow colours of the original Lotus cars of the 60s. One of the rookies introduced this year was Bruno Senna, nephew of Ayrton Senna (who even raced for Lotus during his career). I remember while I was watching the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix, Bruno's engine overheated and there was a shot of his eyes through his visor. Martin Brundle reacted to the shot by saying, "that scares me, that looks like Ayrton through the crash helmet when the visor is open... it stops me in my tracks." Despite his unremarkable rookie season, I'm sure he brought back a lot of memories for F1 personnel and fans alike. In a similar vain, 2010 was the year that 7-time world champion Michael Schumacher returned to the grid to drive for the also returning Mercedes GP team after retiring in 2006. 2010 was the year of throwbacks and nostalgia.

"It had the spectre at the feast; a falling god now reigning against his own mortality and risking that of others."

Used to talk about Michael, this line was SO interesting to me. Firstly, the description of him as the 'spectre at the feast'. This phrase can be linked to a scene in Shakespeare's Macbeth where the ghost of murdered Banquo appears at a feast, and is used to refer to someone or something that brings misery or sadness to a happy or celebratory occasion. So why was this used in reference to Schumacher? Of course, the legend's return to the sport brought with it a lot of hope and anticipation that he would return to his former glory once he raced again. Nevertheless, Michael struggled to get good results in his first stint back. A new generation of cars and regulations, and a team which struggled to improve upon its previous success (Mercedes GP replaced 2009 constructor's champion Brawn GP), can't have made it easy for him. Thus commenced a season of misery and disappointment for those once hopeful fans. A so called "spectre at the feast". "A falling god reigning against his own mortality"; a god of the sport attempting to reestablish his former glory but unfortunate timing and circumstances meant he had to accept he was no longer untouchable. The last part of the line refers to Michael's sometimes aggressive driving style, specifically the incident at Hungary where he squeezed former teammate Rubens Barrichello against the wall of the pit lane while defending. The dangerous move was punished with a 10-place grid penalty the next race. People often claimed that while Michael never lost his ruthlessness, he had lost other aspects once apparent in his original F1 stint. Whoever came up with that line deserves a Nobel Peace Prize in literature.

And there we go. The 2010 season recapped in the words of whichever brilliant mastermind at the BBC F1 team came up with that poem, and a bit of my knowledge sprinkled in as its one of my favourite seasons. There's just something about art when it's combined with Formula One because the effects it has on a simple girl like me is groundbreaking. I eat it up every time! It turns simple car racing to something much more dramatic and emotional and interesting and I value every person who creates art dedicated to F1.

Please never stop.

Anyway. That was really long and probably quite boring, but I had so much fun writing it. I love talking about old seasons and I'll probably do it again in other posts. I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless!

[mlichaelm]

for some random dude taking his periodic sea vacation to stave off his urge to knock people’s hats off, ishmael was damn profoundly poetic in his thoughts about water. and he wasn’t entirely wrong either; water has a rather mesmerizing quality to it.

the lines, “Yes, as everyone knows, meditation and water are wedded for ever.”

and “Why did the old Persians hold the sea holy? Why did the Greeks give it a separate deity, and own brother of Jove? Surely all this is not without meaning.”

and basically that whole paragraph—email, really, i did not expect to be slammed with flowing prose the first week, damn—was so poignantly written, it’s hard not to quote the entire thing….

needless to say, i’m glad i signed up because i’m very excited to do this with the batshit community we have here. much love

[momentofch-aos]

for the fanfic writer asks: 1, 6, 15, 20, and 29 ! :)

August - Taylor Swift reminds me of my Coffee Shop AU every damn time I hear it. Not only are the two main parts of the series titled after lyrics within it but it was the song that was playing when I started writing it, first posted it and posted the final (before bonus chapters) one shot. The lyrics and story of the song aren't reflective of the story in any way other than the titles spoke to me when I was writing. I'll cry when I hear it live this year.

6. Yes! I have a few series that I pop back to when I feel the urge.

Season 2: All the Different Ways We Could Have Gotten the Peggy/Daniel Kiss by yourcadaverouspallor - my PeggySous Heart 🥹

Brooklyn Scout Troop 87 by @steeleholtingon - a fic that had me hooked with an incredible story line. I especially like the third part of the series as it offers a dynamic I wish we could see on screen .

and theres many more I cannot remember off the top of my head.

15. When I used to write more consistently I would plan out a lot more and normally have names sorted early on, but these days I tend to write and take something I organically write that sounds a bit poetic? If that makes sense? Sometimes I wind it in as I think of it sometimes I spend a long time looking for something title worthy within the 4,000 words I've cobbled together in an anxiety fueled rush.

20. I have a love for "I'll Be Right Here (when you wake up)" but I have no idea why.

29. Random idea that I'll never end up writing is Coulson dying in my Coffee Shop AU, I just can't write it. I wrote a chapter where he had a heart attack and it took me a long time and I cried writing it. I just feel like I don't have the words to capture everyone's feelings about it. BUT I would probably write it from Sousa's point of view, taking care of Daisy and the kids, bringing a broken May green tea and sitting with her in Coulson's office for a while. Checking in on Jemma and Fitz as they sit on a couch in the back of the shop. The empty feeling of holidays without him at the grill. And I'm gonna cry again....

Thanks for asking :)

FanFic Writer Asks

[snowthornes]

Greetings, @greatprotector-if . I saw your tag about writing the mc. Do you remember that random galen.txt file screenshot Someone (alas, 'tis me) sent to your asks? Yes. I have kept its contents locked away for all this time but now it is clamoring to be set free. I cannot keep it at bay any longer.

I was about to send it to your ask box, but then I took a step back and Actually Looked at its length and I was like. Madness. To terrorize anyone's inbox with this would be a most heinous crime.

So, it's a post now!

(Warning!!! Short snippet where you talk to a loser who's utterly in love and is very annoying about it. You may feel the urge to launch them out a window. I would support you <;3)

I am going to babygirl galen so hard actually, themk youf or creating them. I've mostly been lurking around in your blog till recently, but I just want to say that the moment I laid eyes on Galen I have been head over heels besotted with them. Thank you for giving them to us, they are the light of my life, the love of my dreams, I promise I will take care of them I will make them so so happy.

I am keeping an MC who's ready to fall head over heels besotted in love at first sight with Galen. They are raring to go. They are going to be so in love and they are going to be so persistently annoying about it.

"I don't think love at first sight is really a thing," a lovely well meaning individual might say, "Wouldn't that just mean you liked their face?"

(Another MC I keep stuffed in the freezer, voice coming muffledly from its depths: AND WHAT ABOUT IT,)

"No, friend," My MC would say, with a solemnity akin to a war general giving an impassioned speech in the name of their cause before they march off to war, "I mean, yes, Galen is lovely. The prettiest. They have the prettiest golden eyes, like the glimmering gold of sunlight coating tree bark and grass blades in sunset, though they often use them to give me the look—"

They pause in their enthusiastic ramblings to stare at you, eyes bright. Your expression has long collapsed, settling into a flat, dead-eyed stare. Why are you here. Why are you still listening to this. They gesture excitedly at you, triumphant.

"—Yes, like that! And they have the broadest shoulders and the thickest arms and the loveliest eyelashes, and sometimes I wonder what it would feel like to hold them—"

"You know, you're really not helping your case," you interject, your dead-eyed gaze strengthening into indignant accusation. You have to cut this wannabe bard off before he decides to wax poetic about this poor Galen for another three paragraphs.

Gods know that you would launch either them or yourself out a window before they finished.

"It— it's not like I'd do that without their permission," they cough meekly, their eyes wandering away from your accusing gaze. They have the audacity to look shy. "Of course I'd court them first."

"Court," you echo flatly. "Did you really just say court—?"

"Yes!" They draw themselves up, gaining steam once again. Their eyes sparkle with determined fire as they outline their wooing plans to you, the resigned listener. "I'll give them gifts, like cool looking rocks and flowers — nothing too expensive at first, since that would probably make them uncomfortable—"

You squint at them. "... Are you a crow?" they steamroll on, undettered.

"And I'll do some wood carving! Maybe some pocket-sized figurines first — wait, what do you think Galen's favorite animal is? Do they even have one? Ah, what about a chicken? Do you think they'd appreciate a chicken—?

"Not a clue, but you never answered the earlier question," you point out. "Why do you like them so much?"

At this, they pause. "I just..." unlike in their earlier spiels, their voice sounds much softer. Stumbling over their words, as if they were about to voice something extremely precious. "They're... them" they clear their throat, and fiddle with the woven bracelets around their wrist. "Galen. They can be grumpy and intimidating and they're kind and they care and everyone knows that. And I just... I like them a lot. Just because."

"Just because," you repeat.

"Yeah." they seem to struggle with themselves for a moment before they draw themselves up, looking at you with earnest eyes. "I want... I want to make them happy."

— And that was my Galen-mancer MC. It was an ungodly hour in the morning, I was possessed by the Galen Brainrot, and I proceeded to write this abomination, immediately passing out at 5am once I finished it. I woke up groggy and dazed with only one .txt file possessing a damning title as a testament to what I'd done. I'm so sorry 💀

[mickmundy]

feeling abnormal (positive) about your vampire medic/hunter sniper au

OH MY GOD WAIT REALLY ;___; OUWAAAA EEEEEE THIS IS EVERYTHING OT MEEE ;;;; I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT MORE,.., I NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT MORE..,., HERE JUST FOR U let me think.... AUGAUAA I SWEAR IM GONNA WRITE A FULL FIC ABOUT THEM becuase i'm going insane. i NEED to talk about them. i have OS MANY THOGUHTS BUT THEYRE ALL JUST RANDOM SCRAMBLED TID BITS..... AGAUUGA!! I JUST WANT TO WAX POETIC ABOUT ROMANTIC SEXUAL TENSION BETWEEN THEM (and.,.., a Litany of... Very Sexual Things Between Them... SKDFSDF)... BUT PLEASE TAKE THIS I LOVE YOU YOU MADE MY ENTIRE NIGHT PLEASE ALWAYS COME BACK ANON ILY

vampire medic loves human hunter sniper for a Number of reasons, but something he really loves is how sniper Smells.... smelling his sleeping huntsman (that's not yet His...) and catching the scent of the sun under his skin.... having his fangs out ready to Eat but then...! brushing his nose against the underside of sniper's jawline... hearing his pulse....... closing his eyes and furrowing his brow....

Resisting his Primal Urge to feed and getting lost in sniper's consistent heartbeat..... his hunger for sniper goes beyond wanting Food.... its Carnal... he wants him to be His... but not without that Desire being reciprocated.. like he Needs sniper to Need him too... and he swears sniper feels that too... but he needs to hear sniper say it... and sniper wants to say it...

and sniper wants medic in return..... but he also doesn't want to ruin what he has (a good relationship with a powerful vampire who is his boss + amazing lifestyle (eats well and sleeps in gorgeous mansion etc))..... and medic furrows his brow and his pupils tighten and he slinks away and leaves sniper Undisturbed.... :'(

[sidhewrites]

three chapters in three days. Don't ask me how but it happened. Tag list is getting slightly longer, so I'm moving it to the bottom of the post now :)

Some of this chapter taken from the previous version of this project, but most of it is new.

Project Info

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

So I’m in the graveyard.

I’m not proud.

For the record, I did finish my ice cream first.

I hide my hair under a hood, more to keep it protected from any potential rain than to hide. I don't exactly stand out in a college town like this, with plenty of other young people of varying genders, sexualities, and hair styles. But it does help me hide a little better as I duck behind an eroded old headstone to spy.

If the team notices me, they don’t care. There’s seven people in all. Lourdes and Mick are the most recognizable as the hosts, but I can guess at everyone else's roles the director, their manager, the camera operator, the gaffer, and the sound technician. They argue about shooting schedules and locations, and whether this headstone is more photogenic than that one. Because, you know, carved rocks are really important for setting the mood.

The sound tech splits off, holding the boom mic this way and that with a furrowed brow. After a few minutes, she returns to the team with her concerns. “Do you think the rain will come back tonight? I’m not sure how clear our sound will turn out if it does.”

“You think we’ll lose the vocals in the background noise?”

I suppress a groan, and mutter, “Literally all your vocals are background noise.” It's so easy to influence how you hear the sound just by putting a subtitle underneath. Humans search for patterns in everything, from rock formations that look like faces, to random sounds that maybe kind of a tiny bit sound like someone whispering.

A voice hissed into my ear, cold breath on my skin: "Lies."

I yelped and fell over in my scramble to escape. "Jesus shit!"

A young woman sat next to me, laughing delicately. "Sorry, sorry. You looked so focused just then, I couldn't pass up the opportunity."

I don't know how she snuck up on me with a wardrobe like that. She's not just goth, but Gothic, with full Victorian regalia. Her dress had poofy sleeves and a bustle and everything, not to mention the black veil over her long, startlingly pale face made all the paler when compared to her dark hair. It felt like she could have chosen something slightly more practical to wear when kneeling in the mud to scare innocent people who absolutely weren't planning sabotage, but she also looked really good in the getup, so who am I to judge?

Okay, yeah, that was kind of funny. Despite the residual terror, I laughed as my pulse slowly returned to normal. "Okay, yeah, fair. That's fair."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm only 80% sure you didn't scare me to death."

She nodded, and looked back over to the group, who miraculously didn't seem to care about the fact that I'd screamed just a minute ago. Granted, we're far from the only people in the graveyard, but I'm still counting myself as lucky. I got comfortable and looked over as well. The team was still discussing the pros and cons of trying to catch any background vocals, and I scoffed.

"I can't imagine they really believe that stuff.

They hear a shoe scuffing and think it’s some long-dead spirit saying, get out.”

The woman shrugs. Her long face makes a delicate, benevolent expression, and I really have to admire her dedication to the goth aesthetic. “Maybe the shoe wants them to get out.”

I snort. “Maybe.”

“They do look rather serious about it all, don’t they?”

“Serious?” I peek over the headstone again to see the camera crew discussing angles. “I guess so, yeah. They’re probably behind schedule since they're still location scouting. According to their social media, this video's supposed to go out in a week."

“Hm.”

“Hm?” I glance over to see her looking at me. Even her eyes are dark, and I resist the urge to make comparisons to pools of water. There’s nothing poetic about two girls kneeling in the dirt behind a headstone at dusk. 

"They're making a video, you say?"

"Yep. It's the Haunted Archivists. I think they just reached two million subscribers last month."

"Ah! That makes sense." I glance over just in time to see a mischievous gleam in her eye. "Since they're already behind schedule, I think we ought to help them along, don't you think?"

"What do you mean?"

It's hard not to melt under her smile. "It's like you said. They hear a shoe scuffing and think it's a spirit trying to communicate."

It's even harder not to swoon at the idea of someone just as ready to sabotage these people as I am. I think I do a pretty good job sounding very calm and collected as I answer, "Sounds like they plan to start filming tonight."

Sure enough, the script supervisor or director or manager or whatever is hammering in the fact that call time was 10 pm, no exceptions.

"Shall we assume that's a call time for us as well?" she asks.

“You read my mind. Oh -- my name is Kaz, by the way.”

“Kaz, lovely! And you can call me Lucy. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Uh -- you, too? You, too.” I’m not going to ask her out for coffee. I’m not. I broke up with Josie two weeks ago. Instead of saying what my brain wants to say, I manage to shrug. “I have an EMF emitter at my apartment, and probably some other tools too, if you really want to mess with them.” The emitter was Josie's. I'm sure she wouldn't mind. Our schedules didn't line up for the next few days, and, even if they did, she wasn't texting me back about coming to pick up her stuff.

Lucy looks thrilled. She claps a hand over her heart and shakes her head. “Oh, we would be so wicked, wouldn’t we? Good young ladies wouldn’t dare do such things to those just trying to make entertaining documentaries, I’m sure.”

“I’m sure!”

“I hope they won't be too disappointed with a few whispered words. Most people like to see the ghosts limned in the moonlight, pale specters against the dark trees. Shall we reconvene once the moon is up?”

I stammer, realizing I’ve been staring, and nod. “Right. Yeah -- yeah, let’s do that. I’ll go get the EMF emitter and stuff. You want me to bring you a coffee?”

“Fantastic!” Lucy beams, first at me, and then out at the team once more. “I’m quite alright without one, but I’ll haunt you if you don’t come back.”

“Promise?” I say before thinking.

“I swear it on my grave.” She pats the headstone in front of us, solemn as can be, and giggles.

She’s so goth. It’s so cute, I can’t stand it. I hope she haunts me forever.

#

tag list:

@adaughterofathena

@ambreeskyewriting

@carnelianflames

@feather-dancer

@halfbloodlycan

@nadunacreates

@serenanymph

@vigilantdesert