#i just love connecting characters to songs/artists tbh

[ahfrickenfrick]

tim is a boygenius queer

cass is a mitski queer

steph is a penelope scott queer

i will not be taking questions at this time, thank you <3

[my-past-disgusts-me]

Your Turn to Die characters but they're my favorite Vocaloid producers and not all of them are there GO

Kikuo - Shin. Something about him just has such a Kikuo vibe. Is it perhaps his unbearable melancholy? Perhaps the autism energy? Maybe it's just because I'm a Shinnie. Who knows.

PinocchioP - Anzu. Pop and fun, sure, but also. W. What. What is Psychedelic Smile. What is Schevengingen. Why is Whatever Yama-sama Says Goes so sad. Why does Aimaina hit me directly in the soul. Why must love be pain. I think she'd enjoy Pino-san's work.

Maretu - Reko. I don't think I need to elaborate much, just go listen to Aishiteitanoni and White Happy, maybe a little Taste of Cockroach I trust you to get where I'm coming from.

Utsu-p - Alice. He definitely wishes he could pull off drum lines for Utsu-p's music, poor thing. He's got that screaming against the world, looking for connection and being unable to find it energy.

Sasakure.uk - Nao. There's a lot. Just, a lot. You think you know an artist and then they turn around and pull out Åmara (The Great Intelligence) and you're hooked. Vague in such a compelling way. The more recent the discography the more fascinating it is. Like Nao!

Monaca.factory - Kanna. It's childlike and soft vibes, I think it fits her perfectly.

23.exe - Jou. Just, positive vibes with more below the surface than you'd think. That's him baybee

Ferry - Sara. The fucked up teenager energyyyyy, the fucked up traumatized teenager energyyyyy plEASE. You cannot tell me that 100 Epitaphs isn't Sara-coded. You cannot tell me that Sara and Sanya aren't so very similar. Plus The World is Smiling on Me UGH it has Sara written all over it, anyways.

Siinamota - Safalin. Something about the "Saa" in Q makes me think of her.

Nashimoto-ui - Kai. There's such a soft melancholy to Nashimoto-ui's music and I think it fits Kai quite well. He suffers, but he does not scream.

Hachi - Keiji. He's fucked up in such a way.

Azari - Mishima. Not a lot of screen time and under-appreciated by wider fandom NEXT

Beau Jordan - Qtaro. The mix of existential contemplative music and just, fun pop is very him, I think. Also Beau Jordan started off as Ctrl Ult Delete which is the shiteyanyo "joke" cover channel and that reminds me of Qtaro being a burger. Why. Anyways.

Neru - Ranmaru. Fucked up teenager energy. Wanna kms energy. Why am I still here energy. Get this Pomeranian therapy, dear Lord.

Kurage-P - Ranger. TRASH and TRASH! has such him vibes tbh. Also the fast paced and the sometimes fucked up topics (Check 1 2 hello????? Huh????? Girl chilllll) And dear lord Diary of Underage Observation is like. Ranger good ending.

cosMo@Bousou-p - Miley. Fucked up and upbeat and so much fun but also VORE SONG????? THAT SONG IS ABOUT VORE????????? HELLO????????????? A terror to behold, gamers quake upon seeing cosMo-san's name, just as Sue Miley is a harbinger of chaos and suffering. And yet, we love her dearly. Such is the way of things.

Chinozo - Mai. She seems the type to mask too much. This music is for people who mask too much.

Pepoyo - Hinako. I don't think this needs much explanation.

Mafumafu - Gin. It's the cat motifs.

[project-sekai-facts]

do you have any producers you want to comm a song for a certain character like saying "inabakumori Kanade comm" or "Nem Rui comm" etc

i am sorry this took so long for me to respond to i had to research* for this bc pretty much every producer i've heard of has a song in the game already. Here's a list I made

Dixie Flatline - An (could go for Kohane. def Vivids though)

Wotaku - Toya (this is just bc of itoken's rap in the Shanti cover. it was awesome he should do it again)

23.exe - Kohane (i don't really have reasoning for this one)

Omoi - Ichika (different from Ichika's other comms but I can't really see them going to anyone else in the group and I like Omoi's style and want them to do a comm)

Hiiragi Kirai - Mafuyu (Bocca della Verita was a good cover imo and I know they also produced Love ka? which is more jazzy but Jackpot Sad Girl exists so. Could see them going to Ena as well idk why)

Last Note - Saki (listen I wanted Saki to cover Setsuna Trip for over a year only for it to go to MinoAiri so now I'm in my copium arc. I mean they could be a good pick for Airi as well)

second list for re-comms that kinda just spirals into me talking about non-vocaloid stuff after one bullet point

Kanaria - Rui or Kanade (i'm just going off what they have in the game already. technically Identity is a Kanade comm but we'll just ignore that)

Mafumafu - Mafuyu or Mizuki (i found Merry Bad End during my research which reminds me of Kitty for whatever reason. Also please listen to Anticlockwise it's not vocaloid and the arrangement is by a different artist but do you see the vision?)

This is such an oddly specific one but DECO*27 x POLICE PICCADILLY for Emu. And my only reasoning is Tsunagaru Connect is a song of all time; it's really fun and would suit Emu (tbh this combo could work with other characters I'm using only one song as reference)

*Luna - Literally anyone from VBS they've done quite a few edm subgenres. For some examples I know/found: Ephermera, Adventure Log, Manic, Eutopia (collab w another artist), and Sugar Addiction

Also: TeddyLoid doesn't do much Vocaloid but apparently he has done Vocaloid music. Here's two more non-vocaloid examples and once again I'm gonna say VBS (but MMJ (Shizuku?) could work too for a song in the style of the second link. maybe N25 for the third link?)

i'm sorry anon

* read: watched wishlist videos on youtube

[bookgeekgrrl]

My media this week (3-9 Dec 2023)

just fucking spatchcocked him

📚 STUFF I READ 📚

😊 The Late Mrs. Willoughby (Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney #2) (Claudia Gray, author; Billie Fulford-Brown, narrator) - another perfectly serviceable, decently entertaining historical cozy mystery feat. Austen characters and their progeny. Plot's pretty basic but it's still cute to see Jonathan Darcy (autistic king) and Juliette Tilney (mom's adventure sense, dad's common sense) solving murders again. The 'obstacles' to their romance are typical for a series like this but still annoying [tbh in more deft hands they might be more angsty and less annoying but it is what it is]

😍 The Charming Man (Zenaidamacrouras1, author; Late_to_party_81, artist) - 65K, shrinkyclinks no powers AU - just a delightful fic with adorable art (TEXTILE ART!) - I'll let the author's summary speak for itself: "Tldr: Steve has an eventful three weeks. Longer version: Steve Rogers is quite happy with his pleasantly simple life working as a graphic designer, chatting with his best friend Sam who has the desk next to his, eating the same gluten free sandwich for lunch every day, and staring out his office window hoping to catch a glimpse of The Charming Man walking by. Unfortunately, life has a tendency to get complicated without our permission, particularly when Steve begins to suspect that a certain evil corporation is doing criminal things that decidedly grate on his nerves." Great banter/hilarious lines - even the secondary characters get great lines plus some fine quality angst.

😍 Proper English (England World #1) (KJ Charles, author; Bella Lowe, narrator) - reread, love love love. The origin story of fluffy Fen & practical Pat getting together and solving a country house murder.

😍 Think Of England (England World #2) (KJ Charles, author; Tom Carter, narrator) - reread. Another country house mystery featuring blackmail and treason being resolved by Daniel Da Silva (poet & spy) and Archie Curtis (blond viking himbo, about to have a gay awakening) with secondary but crucial support from Fen & Pat

😊 Lessons In Chemistry (Brenda) - 42K, stucky no powers college AU - I’m not often in the mood for a college AU but this hit the spot

💖💖 +46K of shorter fic so shout out to these I really loved 💖💖

Cupid's Rugby Ball (softestpunk) - The Sandman: Dreamling, 5K - h/c meet cute with instalove, as is only correct for this pairing 😆

you'll never be blue ([currently anonymous]) - The Cabots (Cat Sebastian): Peter/Caleb, 3K - "Caleb and Peter, adjusting to living together." Perfectly captured the character voices! {written for the Fic In A Box 2023 exchange, authors not yet revealed}

📺 STUFF I WATCHED 📺

D20: Fantasy High: Sophomore Year - e4-7

Dirty Laundry - s3, e7

D20: Burrow's End - "Evolution and Revolution" (s20, e10)

D20: Adventuring Party - "Welcome to the Honk Honk Club" (s15, e10)

Dimension 20 Interview: Siobhan Thompson Talks Jaysohn's Near Death In Burrow's End & Fantasy High

Doctor Who: The Star Beast (2023 special #1)

Doctor Who: Wild Blue Yonder (2023 special #2)

🎧 PODCASTS 🎧

⭐ Welcome to Night Vale #239 - Sister Cities: Vermillion Falls

What Next: TBD - They See You When You’re Shopping

Desert Island Discs - Lea Salonga, singer and actor

⭐ The Sporkful - Rise Of The Foodie Bro (The Year In Food 2023)

Cautionary Tales - The Dunning Kruger Hijack (and Other Criminally Stupid Acts)

Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Julia Gets Wise with Amy Tan

Vibe Check - Nostalgia, Ultra

99% Invisible #562 - Breaking Down The Power Broker (with Conan O'Brien)

Endless Thread - "Extremely Online" with Taylor Lorenz

Ologies with Alie Ward - Syndesiology (CONNECTIONS) with James Burke

NPR's Book of the Day - Norman Lear's memoir recalls a life and career that shaped American television

Cautionary Tales - Demonizing Dungeons & Dragons

⭐ Switched on Pop - Hear the Year: The music we loved in 2023

One Year - 1990: Bush vs. Broccoli

Song Exploder - Raye - Escapism (feat. 070 Shake)

Today, Explained - Get the lead out

What Next: TBD - Spotify Unwrapped

Today, Explained - Are movies too long now?

Dear Prudence - My Friend Won’t Stop Buying Me Gifts. Help!

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - The Super Museum

Wait Wait… Don't Tell Me! - Fred Schneider

Strong Songs - The Band: The Last Waltz

Endless Thread - What Is That?!

⭐ Cautionary Tales - How the Radium Girls Fought Back

🎶 MUSIC 🎶

'90s R&B Girl Groups

Presenting Etta James

Pop Motivation

Victoria Monét

Troye Sivan

Laufey

[mysticalthingphantom]

Hey! I wanna get to know my Swiftie mutuals. Tell me your top 5 songs and albums from her. Feel free to go into depth/explain if you'd like!

hey!!! meowdy! ( yup, i read your bio and agree) nice to meet you! i'm sorry for all my lore but it is hard to talk about things i love without bringing personal matters with it. i feel like i can talk about taylor lyrics without trauma dumping so i am truly sorry for the things i wrote. but since you said you want to know your mutuals here i go!

TOP ALBUMS

1 - folklore: it is such an ethereal experience for me. i love how all the stories in it are connected in some way and the way she could create so many details for all the characters tbh i feel like i could have been any one of them and in some ways i am. i love how every song feels like summer rain, is comforting and vulnerable. i was the first album of her that i felt i could relate to 100%. is my all time favorite.

(now the positions after folklore vary depending of the day for me so i may change them later)

2 - the tortured poets department: i know is new and everyone is freaking out about it but for me that's one of the most honest pieces of music i have ever listen to it. i keep caught on all these debates about to whom she wrote it but is so stupid because these songs were never about anyone BUT taylor. she could have dated anyone and still wrote these masterpieces, it isn't about a man, it is about taylor swift. and she put SO MUCH of her heart in it that i can feel it. all that anger, all that pain, all that fear it all came from her. she is the artist. i know some critics say is easy to write 31 songs if they all look similar (haters gonna hate is so fucking true) but for me as an inspiring artist is a relief to know you can create different things about the same topic and don't feel ashamed about it. you can write about the same theme a thousand times and guess what? it can be a thousand times different because it will be a thousand different parts of yourself. everything about ttpd is so beautiful ( plus dead poets society references makes it perfect bc is my favorite movie)

3 - evermore: follows the folklore aesthetic and vibes. marjorie? champagne problems??? tolerate it???? Does she have a hidden camera in my backpack or something?

4 - speak now: i'm nineteen wtf she wrote something like THAT when she was nineteen?????? this album is so magical, It has some of the fantasy she later put on folklore and evermore but with more joy and cheerful melodies. listening to speak now is like opening my favorite book over and over. i wish i could be emma falling in love and i wish to live a timeless love and i wish i could sing long live with my friends/found family after winning a battle. i just love it all so much and never grown up? i listened to it when i was packing my things to move out of my hometown so you can imagine how much i relate to it. castles crumbling is also so close to my heart because i constantly feel i'm burning bridges and fucking things up. so yep all these fears of loneliness and failure goes present in this album goes deep .

5 - midnights: as a HUGE fan of the moon ( the moon is my true soulmate and i don't care if it "just a sattelite"or a "bunch of rocks and dust glued together" because guess what? i'm also a bunch of universal dust glued together) the whole celestial aesthetic of the album hits me like a train. all these confessions, these letters, these maniacal thoughts i have after the sun sets are not only mine. i love how she hugged me through these lyrics and showed me that everyone is haunted by ghosts after midnight. but the night time isn't just a place for nightmares, there is also hope, and joy and good dreams.

TOP SONGS

1 - mirrorball : since the first time i listened to it all i could think about is "someone finally sees me"

2 - the archer: she saw right through me. i am so scared of being seen because if someone sees me, if someone truly knows me it would hurt 1000 times more being rejected by them.

3 - you're on your own, kid: i lost all my friends after high school, literally no one of the fucking people i used to talk to every day and go to their houses and remember their birthdays. all of the people i used to open up to, the people i used to cry and laugh with just didn't reach out anymore and i know it is half my fault but it made me realize how truly alone i am as a human. It doesn't matter how much you connect with someone you are always on your own at the end of the day and she literally summarized that feeling in a fucking song.

4 - i can do it with a broken heart: because you still can be a mirrorball even when the ones you built the show for have left.

5 - the lakes: dead poets society vibes and i'm also a poet and i also want to run away.

6 - renegade: (you asked for 5 but here is a bonus track for you haha <3) i sing that song is a platonic way because it translates so much of my relationships with my friends and family. i sing along thinking about them and i know they could sing thinking about me because of trauma and miscommunication is such a top topic in all that.

[septembersghost]

Am I a bad person if I really want to listen to Taylor today...not excusing her but I miss her music so much

anon bestie. first, *hugs*. second, i do not know how to stress, plead, implore enough with you all that loving music is not a moral or immoral action. yes, of course there are particular artists i myself would never engage with (and that is due to extremes), and there are artists i just don't like for whatever reason and that's subjective. on the "i would never engage with ___" side, i can say that for myself, confidently understand why, yet recognize i still don't have the right to tell others to follow suit. people have different boundaries, different tastes, and different ways of going about separating their enjoyment from other issues.

i know there's sincere concern about supporting "problematic" artists, particularly financially, and i do think that's an important conversation to have, especially when we're discussing people actively doing harm to others or platforming hate speech. taylor is not an abuser, taylor has not been trumpeting racist or homophobic etc rhetoric. i also realize the issue of complicity has come into play here because of that man, and that's why there's so much anger and hurt and disappointment right now, but ask yourself: does that man, who is not in any way, shape, or form a part of any of her music, have the power to steal that from you? do you feel like you have to suffer the loss of her music, which is clearly valuable to you, over one dirty rag of a man? i've been upset and critical too, but also feel like there's a call for perspective here. taylor alison swift is not causing the world's ills. tbh that man has no significant power or influence even compared to, like, a local politician. bigotry should be confronted and called out. at the same time, this is a microcosm of a conversation, and that doesn't mean it's not important to have it, and that doesn't mean people aren't absolutely valid in their criticism or hurt, what it means is that it is not impacting society as a whole. we get very caught up in fury over small things, especially when it's connected to something we are invested in, because it feels simpler to fix or righteous in some way or like the onus is on us to definitively prove we're upstanding people who don't condone harmful things, and that's fine, but at what point does it become futile? at what point are we just screaming into the void and self-recriminating for approval?

part of what's making this harder is we've connected taylor's music to her very personally, and she has fostered that herself, but i think now is the time to change that a bit. detach it from her however you can and think about what it means to you. you singularly not listening to her on streaming is pennies she won't ever notice are gone, it is causing her zero consequence whatsoever, but it sounds like it's hurting you. that, to me, isn't fair. you're suffering for her mistakes? or because that dude is a dirtbag? you do not have to punish yourself and crawl on your knees for forgiveness because you'd like to play my tears ricochet every once in a while. how exactly is the moral burden on us, as listeners, when we aren't condoning any -isms, we just want to hear songs we love?

i sound hyperbolic here but i'm really serious, it's concerning me that we're tying individual morality - am i a bad person inherently? (bad people don't tend to ask this question because they don't care). does listening to this artist whose work i enjoy taint me in some way because they've done things i disagree with? - to enjoyment of art. it's frighteningly conservative to think that you and your character should be called into question because you love something that isn't causing any outside harm. engagement with art cannot make you a bad person! it's (if you've seen the good place) chidi and his almond milk. we're damning ourselves for miniscule actions and so trapped in the anxiety of that it causes far more important things to slip by. what matters is what we do, how we engage with others, how we take action in the world.

the fact that you're worried about this, which means you've been aware and empathetic during this time, proves you care and are not a "bad" person. i haven't been listening to her and it's not because i think that's giving me moral high ground (it isn't), it's because i am very sensitive and don't want any of that music emotionally tied to what's been going on because i do actually want to go back to it someday, it's too cherished and too intrinsically part of me not to, and at the moment distance itself is healing. i also don't believe her music being such an aspect of my heart says anything about my moral fiber, you know? if i suddenly wanted to listen to red tomorrow, i'd give myself permission to do so knowing it is no measurement of my intellect or my moral integrity, and we've got to stop acting like art can make you good or evil.

sorry this became a very long soap box essay! but i'm worried at how much of this specific idea, of someone so far removed from us making a bad choice reflecting on you and making you personally responsible or irredeemable for that, is being perpetuated. listening to an artist because they make you happy or bring you comfort is not having a measurable impact on human rights or global crises, and it just feels super unfair that we're burdening and judging each other with this idea that enjoyment or passion for something harmless makes you fundamentally bad. the world is hard enough. i promise you that it's okay to allow yourself joy.

[neonscandal]

Neon, from all openings and endings songs of BNHA & JJK, which are your fav? Why?

Ooof, you're probably expecting really deep analysis to accompany these likes but my pleasure is not always that deep so please lower your expectations! I'm usually listening and looking at the animations for easter eggs and vibes, if anything, I don't religiously look up translations. Some of your questions are so funny to me, I'm sorry to disappoint if this wasn't what you were expecting!

This is a light skinned man. IYKYK

JJK

Off the top of my head, I feel like JJK has no misses? Hitting different vibes but nothing that feels like a theme song. Don't get me wrong, I love a good "Gotta Catchem All" or Pokemon Rap, too, but I prefer songs that don't feel out of place if it just popped up on shuffle, you know?

KaiKai Kitan - THE TROLLING.

Lost in Paradise - Catchy AF. Plus, this was as close as we were getting to a filler episode. I love how "simple" the illustration style is but the animations of each character have so much personality in their movements. Plus, provided a solid cozy cosplay on the last day of cons when you want to dress up but don't want to be encumbered as you hit the dealer room and artist alley.

Give it Back - even without the translation, this is sad. The animation is sad. The idea of this day that never happened when you think about the canon timeline is sad. It inspired a mediocre lil oneshot because why would they do this to me, specifically? This, of course, is animating something so realistic but ethereal.

Ichizu - okay, so maybe I looked up the translation to this one too and just.. SatoSugu.

Where Our Blue Is and Lantern - make me want to burst into flames? Also, I had a no-sleep-epiphany the other night where, if Geto was the last blue spring of Gojo's youth and blue is the basis of Gojo's strength then... I failed to make a sensical connection because I clearly don't rest and I'm unwell. It's currently 3:45AM. But it was something along the lines of equating that Gojo is not at full strength without Geto.

Specialz - this animation is just. 😘👌🏾 Also the breakdown at "I love you, baby". Nevermind that it is synonymous with tragedy and trauma. King Gnu clearly must have known that when signing on since a great deal of JJK songs are theirs

More Than Words - Again, simple illustration but also capturing this idea of youth for the trio which... after S2 is so *melt emoji*?? I think the theme of romanticizing life and their connection to one another while actively contrasting with murder and mayhem is so funny to me. 🥲

God tier level looping, tbh. Ty for your service @osakaxkobe

MHA

Def more of a casual enjoyer for the music on MHA. Especially since the brain rot for this series didn't set in for a very long time so I had to go back and look up each song.

Peace Sign - my niece and nephew dance to this song dramatically and, knowing none of the words confidently, sing anyway. I think it's the instrumentals and the clapping that does it for me haha

Odd Future - lowkey meets the "appears on shuffle without being too embarrassing" requirement but, with MHA being as pervasive as it is... will not beat the weird kid allegations if this pops up because I think it's recognizable

Merry Go Round - That "Hey Brother Listen" popped off so does the crescendo.

Hitamuki - I just like the graphical switch up to the comic book style because isn't it so silly and cute just to preface some trauma??

North Wind - are you kidding me? Showing all these critical moments from Deku's first. person. perspective. to elevate how important the people shown are when we've had largely the whole story from his actual first person perspective? As he's running to catch up to everything the story has built up to like running through a museum exhibit. Inspired. Beautiful. No notes.

Sketch - for the depression. ✨

Datte Atashi no Hero - just... fantasy AU. Song I can do without but who am I to ignore the best AU illustrated and animated? A nobody, that's who.

Believe - Hawks really said "The next time the cherry blossoms fall, I hope we will all be smiling" and then everything went to shit.

Shout Baby - less song more visual commentary. Hero or villain, it all started where Class 1A is right now, some of it even sooner (like with Tenko).

[nadiaxaydin]

2 AM and she calls me 'cause I'm still awake "Can you help me unravel my latest mistake?"

whoa! nadia aydin just stole my cab! not cool, but maybe they needed it more. they have lived in the city for one week, working as a/an flight attendant. that can’t be easy, especially at only 25 years old. some people say they can be a little bit fervent and unrealistic, but I know them to be icarian and passionate. whatever. I guess I’ll catch the next cab. hope they like the ride back to soho ! 

►GENERAL INFORMATION

FULL NAME: Nadia Banu Aydin NICKNAME(S): Sunshine ( family & close friends ) LABEL: The Icarian AGE: 25 DATE OF BIRTH: December 10, 1998 ZODIAC: Sagittarius Sun, Cancer Rising, Gemini Moon GENDER & PRONOUNS: Female; She/Her HERITAGE: Turkish SPOKEN LANGUAGE(S): English, Turkish OCCUPATION: Flight Attendant SEXUALITY & ROMANCE: Bisexual; Biromantic

► APPEARANCE

FACE CLAIM: Cemre Baysel HEIGHT: 5'2" WEIGHT: 115 lbs. DOMINANT HAND: Left HAIR COLOR: Brown EYE COLOR: Hazel SCARS: Tiny ones all over from adventures and life wear and tear TATTOOS: None.

►PERSONALITY

POSITIVE TRAITS: Icarian, Passionate, Apolaustic, Loyal, Benevolent, Humorous. NEGATIVE TRAITS: Fervent, Unrealistic, Flighty, Awkward, Naive Easily-Bored. LIKES: Tea houses, gardening, the feeling of sand between her toes, sun-kissed skin, watching the sun set, blasting music to clean her apartment, a nice pair of loved jeans, volunteerism, skinny dipping with strangers, catching last minute flights. DISLIKES: Confrontation, feeling left behind or left out, when people complain about their dislikes, crying, the sting of snow on bare skin, feeling bored in a new relationship.

►MENTALITY

PHOBIAS: Nyctophobia DISORDERS: ADHD, Anxiety ALLERGIES: Seasonal (Pollen)

►BACKGROUND

HOMETOWN: Adana, Turkey CURRENT RESIDENCE: SoHo, NYC, NY EDUCATION LEVEL: BA in Astrophysics from NYU FAMILIAL CONNECTIONS: - Ayla Aydin - 50, Mother, In Contact - Berat Aydin - 49, Father, In Contact

►FAVORITES

FOOD: Pickle pizza (just pickles in general, tbh) DRINK: Papaya green iced tea MOVIE: Serendipity, The Hangover TV SHOW: The Magicians, New Girl, Friends BAND/ARTIST: Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, Lizzy McAlpine, Renee Rapp SONG: 2AM - Anna Nalick

► EXTRA INFORMATION

JUNG TYPE: ENFP ENNEAGRAM: The Pathfinder (7w6) TEMPERAMENT: Sanguine MORAL ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Good SIN: Self-Indulgent VIRTUE: Charity ELEMENT: Fire CHARACTER PLAYLIST

'Cause you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable And life's like an hourglass glued to the table

► BIOGRAPHY

TW; Abortion mention, Alcoholism mention

Adana, Turkey, seems like a fairytale to Nadia now. Once the place she called home, she now can only recall fighting pretend dragons with her father in the rose garden in the back of their cottage. Her father is an accomplished psychiatrist whilst her mother? Well, she was a yoga instructor. Yoga was a constant in Nadia's life, whether she liked it or not. Lucky for her mother, she was enthralled with being able to do cool positions; her mother liked that it helped her hyperactivity as well. From yoga being the start of the day with her mother, to unpacking the day at the end of the evening with her father, mindfulness and wellness was always a part of the Aydin household. Maybe that's what made her so alluring to those who were broken. She always seemed to attract those who needed pick-me-ups; Her best friend suffering from a poor home life and a teen pregnancy that Nadia assisted in bringing her to the abortion clinic at 13. Or there was this boy she was head over heels for that couldn't quite put the bottle down, but he managed to whenever he saw her frown. Nadia thought she was meant to help people. When it came to going to university, she went for Liberal Arts/General Studies to try to figure out where on Earth she belonged. She wound up going with what fascinated her and worked her way into NYU's BA program for Astrophysics when she was 21. Though, it still didn't feel right. She realized that she spent most of her life helping and pleasing others, that she genuinely didn't know what she wanted out of life besides being happy. It was on a whim that she saw the job positing to be a flight attendant, came back to NYC, and she loves it. Not only does it involve helping others, but it gives her the opportunity to experience the world and discover herself.

► PERSONALITY (DEEP DIVE)

Nadia is a ball of sunshine - that little shot of espresso of a person. She never fails to make someone smile, and goes out of her way to make at least 5 people laugh a day. She falls in love at the drop of a hat. No joke. Like, if someone is nice to her, she's suddenly picturing painting their future kitchen yellow together. So, just be warned. But, she can be a bit flighty, and because of her personality of seeing the good in others, she lacks the ability to weed out those who may have ill intentions. She loves to dance, and if you were to walk into her apartment she would most likely be jamming to music whilst cleaning. She loves to garden, but kills everything she touches. She can play a bit of the piano and some guitar by ear. She loves art and dancing in the rain. Very manic pixie dream girl, but will very much break your heart with her boredom. She's just plagued with restlessness and she just will never 'settle' - at least, that's how she feels currently. In actuality, it's just that she's had so many people come and go that she doesn't think anyone would stay so she leaves first. Nadia is super loyal in the friendship vein and makes a great friend to either go out or stay in. She is also amazing at keeping secrets, unless she bought a gift... Then good luck, she's blabbing about what she got. But, she's always there for someone in need. This can be a stranger, to someone who is cruel to her; If someone needs help, she will do everything in her power to help them. Sundays is her designated charity day where she goes ad volunteers out in the community. She's just the sun personified, okay?

[filliteapot]

Hello!! what is your favorite character storyline in honey and clover? I tried watching it but it annoys me how everyone seems to fall in love with Hagumi Hanamoto, her voice is annoying... but I did liked Yuuta. I don't mind spoilers cause I reread summaries of the episodes so I already know what happens.

Honey and clover was my introduction into the world of josei, so I love it a lot, it's really hard to say which storyline is my favourite. It's that kind of slice I love the most nowadays, and probably my love is caused by this series in particular. I remember feeling confused about the characters and their weird ways to express themselves in the beginning too, but this feeling soon dissipated and I came to care about almost all of them.

About everyone falling in love with Hagu - well, not everyone, and the love they feel is not as simple as what we usually mean by 'love' in romance series. Now when much time passed since my first watch I see this as story where the romance part is present, but is not the key and the reason why it struck me hard and remained in my heart forever. It's just a good story about youth, choosing a path, first steps you make without anyone's help and pain you feel on that path. It got so much right and was so cruelly honest, about precious connections you make that will break or stay in the past, and days you'll never forget, that are bound to end soon and torment you for a long time. About the pain you feel from unrequieted love, missed opportunities, unfulfilled wishes, wasted efforts, which are still the very things that made you "you" and which can't be called useless and meaningless.

Takemoto is my favourite character in this series, with his kindness and struggles on the way to finding himself. And his relationship with Hagu is also something that still makes me emotional -- formally it was an unrequieted love, but with so much more depth and care and mutual support than you could expect from just 'unrequieted love'. The final scene at the station is like #1 in my list of scenes that murder me with feels every time. But tbh I love everyone. Hagu and her path of the artist, the struggle to 'open as many boxes as possible'. Hanamoto-sensei with his open wound from the past and losing people that were like a part of his own body. Morita with his weird personality and expressiveness and tragedy of the past and not being taken for serious by anyone. Yamada with an unreqieted love of her own and struggles of letting go and moving on (love her relationship with Morita btw). Nomiya with his cruel ways of teaching people what being responsible about your feelings is, and suddenly finding himself capable of softness and care. Mayama wih his unshriking love that happened to be enough to pull another person into the life again. Their daily life of art students, art projects, obligatory deadlines, their trip to the giant ferris wheel, girls cooking awful food, searching for lucky clovers, new years celebrations, hanamis, terrible caraoke singing, Takemoto destroying his 'tower of youth', going on his bicycle journey, Nomiya and Yamada going to see each other and giving each other a miss, Sensei's memories of his friends from past days. Choosing love of choosing career. Saying goodbye at the station. Crying and eating the lucky sandwiches. Spitz songs. Everything.

[use-your-telescope]

It’s only fair that I ask for your top five music albums! Go!

Ahahahaha FACK I should have known that was coming... picking ONLY FIVE is gonna be a struggle. All of these will have songs featured in the Trickster (I haven't even finalized my list and I already know that's true). I'm going to stick to one album per artist to help narrow this ish down. Okay, let's give this a whirl: (These are in no order)

Everything in Transit - Jack's Mannequin This album - holy shit. It's iconic. This was one of the very first albums I ever fell in LOVE with, and the story behind it is fucking incredible. Andrew McMahon wrote the whole damn thing about his (now) wife that he was on a break with, right as he was leaving his band Something Corporate and (unbeknownst to him) about to be diagnosed with cancer (which he ultimately beat!). Rescued is my most played song of all time (between itunes plays and Spotify plays), and that was before I choreographed my senior year of college dance piece to it, nine years ago. The entire album is the personification of TSwift's "yeah, we're happy, free, confused, and lonely at the same time - it's miserable and magical" - brilliant piano pop that you want to scream aloud in a bar next ot strangers and bond over. Honorable mentions to Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness (Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, aka Self-titled album) and The Glass Passenger (Jack's Mannequin)

Red (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift Okay, no secret, I love me some Tay. This was already my top album of Taylor's before she released the re-recorded version, because I think this hits the ultimate sweet spot for Taylor - balancing folk-style songwriting and pop sensibilities, with just enough country to keep it fresh - and it's so fucking relatable. And then when Taylor's version came along? I was even more in love. Nothing New still makes my chest ache (and I love Phoebe Bridgers), and don't get me started on the ten minute version of All Too Well. This is *the* breakup album, which hit at just the right moment of my college years and it STILL fucking SLAPS. (Low-key heartbroken I couldn't get Eras tour tickets, tbh) Honorable mentions (in order) are evermore and folklore (tolerate it. gets a spotlight in the trickster! fun fact. Because fiction is cool and I can retcon history, the creation of both albums are in The Trickster.)

American Candy - The Maine Okay, this was the HARDEST artist to narrow down just ONE album - I have seen the Maine FIFTEEN TIMES since I started listening to them in 2011. Pioneer, Forever Halloween, American Candy, Lovely Little Lonely, You Are Okay, and Love & Anxiety in Real Time all have distinctly special places in my heart for different stages in my life. Lovely Little Lonely has the song that was the first dance at my wedding. Pioneer was when I fell in love with the Maine. Forever Halloween was when I processed recovering from a toxic relationship and struggled with my own happiness. You Are Okay was when the world felt unsteady and COVID hit and I needed that reassurance, and Love & Anxiety in Real Time was grappling with the ability to find happiness while allowing inner demons to co-exist. Fun Fact: my original foray into fanfic was connected to this band (now I wouldn't do RPF for the life of me because I have a different understanding of things, but I was 20 and creating fictional characters based on idealized verisons of celebrity crushes in my mind). But, I chose American Candy because I think it has this balance of fun, upbeat music, heartfelt storytelling, candid moments, and delightful irreverence that is absolutely worth a listen. The last track (Another Night on Mars) was the last song of the night at our wedding and the memory of all my friends in a huddle chanting out "this one goes out to my closest friends, the ones who make me feel less alien, I do not think I would be here if not for them" still makes me warm and fuzzy five years later.

Ever After - Marianas Trench Trying to pick one Marianas Trench album is also a challenge - Josh Ramsay is a fucking lyrical GENIUS (with fucking INSANE vocals) and he really embraces creating albums; the most recent album (Phantoms) takes heavy influence from the work of Edgar Allen Poe, the album before that (Astoria) drew inspo from 80's movies like the Goonies, but the one that has my heart is Ever After, which has so many delightful references to fairytales and toys and childhood - it's full of absolute pop BANGERS and you CANNOT help but dance to the whole damn thing. Fun fact: Josh Ramsay is Grammy nominated for co-writing Call Me Maybe!

PEP - Lights This was a post-pandemic album that addresses cynicism, feminism, and girl-power in a fucking ICONIC manner. Salt and Vinegar is a fucking MOOD, and Jaws is my new theme song. Easy Money is my low-key Lo & Theo ship song. Beside Myself is so soft and vulnerable, and Okay Okay is an absolute delight. Lights just released 'ded', which is a slowed down/if synth could be called acoustic version of PEP, and the ded versions of Grip and Beside Myself have made me feel my feels. Lights does acoustic versions of every album she has released; I was so close to putting Skin & Earth Acoustic or Midnight Machines (the acoustic version of Little Machines) because they are so emotive and delightful! Other than Taylor Swift, I tried to stick to lesser-known artists; honorable mentions go to Florence + the Machine, PVRIS, the Midnight, Lydia, Hozier, The Wonder Years, Paramore/Hayley Williams, The Civil Wars, Queen, Annika Bennett, Neck Deep, Lorde, and James Taylor...

[starredforlife]

Hii I asked the question about the Allupa header. when I see the piece I am most reminded of alexandre cabanel’s Fallen Angel (mostly because of lupa’s expression) so that really informs my reading of it. I see Fallen Angel as a humanization of the devil who looks kind of petulant, vulnerable and guarded in the painting. For me, it challenges the understanding of Lucifer as a symbol of evil. I connect this to the werewolf who is traditionally a threat/abomination. Though I did not think about this before you pointed it out in your response, I can see Al as the Angel protecting or healing Lupa as the damned/maybe traumatized creature, and though Lupa’s pose is protective/possessive there is a sense of vulnerability/defensiveness just as in fallen Angel. I would literally love for you to dig into the symbolism in their relationship in the story/how their monster-types relate in-text. I find these characters and their story very intriguing! Sorry for how long this is lol

i'm gonna cry djkfkdl thank you for an artistic analysis my life goal is complete now i love u <3 <3 and no thank you so much for keeping it long

I do love your interpretation of it a lot because, like I said, it could go either way. I didn't even have Fallen Angel in mind but I can totally see that comparison!

I don't even know where to begin with them tbh there's just so much and it's all like, a jumbled board with the strings and pictures. but not all of the dots are quite connected yet, so i will try my best to surmise here. so much under the read-more, I'm so sorry

OH AND ALSO B4 YOU READ IT ALL here is their playlist it kind of answers a couple questions as well

I think for this piece it's mostly important to know that both Lupa and Al share a fatal flaw of sorts: they are both very self-sacrificing, in their own ways. There is a periods in their stories where the other feels safer literally dying for the other person than confronting their feelings for them. They have to hold to each other, metaphorically and physically, so that they don't let themselves go. It's not necessarily healthy, these kinds of stakes, and it does sort itself out eventually. But around this time, it boils down to: If I told you how much I care, it would only hurt us both.

So they cling to each other because they can't say anything. The circumstances of plot prevent them from getting together like a normal couple, and their own complicated past prevents them from simply kissing and telling, ykwim? Al liked Lupa first, and had to overcome a million hurdles to even admit it to herself, then Lupa got a boyfriend, then she breaks up with him and Al moves on, and then Lupa falls for Al, and at the same time they're finding out that the other person sees them, fully, as they are, and it's completely overwhelming and frustrating. But through it they hold each other. They would go through hell to make sure the other person makes it out the other side. Lupa would tear into God himself to make sure Al is safe. Al would go against her own divinity to make sure Lupa remains intact. so not to be That Person but they are Running Up That Hill (Deal with God) in essence bc I'm lame and I love that song so much

Their entire relationship is a duality in my head. A wolf and a sheep or a dog and a ram, beauty and the beast, devil and angel, the divine and the sinful, lion and lamb, healing and sickness, promises and lies. Sun and Moon! ETC ETC They are not confined to one definition, and their growth comes from being loved for what the other sees in them. Lupa and Al always dance on the line between duality. So that's why this piece is ambiguous--it's really just that they are one being, almost, in their monsterhood.

What's an angel to a werewolf? It's almost the same as an alien to us--bright, and unfathomable. It's sunlight on the night of the full moon. Their touch can burn as much as it can heal, and that's the choice of the holy to make. And Al always chooses to heal.

A werewolf to an angel is what the Earth is to anyone fond of her. A representation of the indomitable human spirit--uncontrollable to any god. Lupa's stubborn pursuit of freedom and indulgence at any means terrifies Al at first, but she grows to understand and admire why Lupa chases these things. There's a wilderness to Lupa that's just as incomprehensibly addicting as Al's proximity to godhood.

SO in terms of the art piece. The point was to make it seem like Lupa is holding back--we don't know from what. She's defensive, but restrained. Without Al there, we don't know what the image would actually be. But the even more important point is that Al doesn't appear afraid at all. You could look at this and see, at a glance, damsel in distress, and the terrible wolf that took her away. But you look at the expressions and you notice that she's calm--almost in control. And under that subversion, the wolf is the one that's tamed. Maybe Al's the wolf in sheep's clothing. Maybe Lupa protects the viewer. Maybe Al's the beating heart of a beast and Lupa's the cage around it. In the end, they are entwined, body and soul and spirit.

The colors contrast, and were chosen on purpose. Green for the ties to forest and monsters, and orange for a too-bright warmth, closer to fire than the sun. Somewhat dangerous, and a little unstable. Typically Lupa has more blues and Al has more yellows, mellowing out their appearances a bit. But in this moment they're unpredictable. So they hold each other. It all comes back to that, always. Holding and clinging tight and not letting the other go. I'm going to go fuckin nuts

There's so muchharghdvjsfk like. Al was a ghost as well. A literal spirit, detached from herself, and when she met Lupa, Lupa was extremely Herself, individualized and "confident" (traumatized to the point of projecting a tough personality). And then she loses her lycanthropy and becomes, in a sense, a ghost herself. And Al returns and she's everything she ever wanted to be--a hero, a healer. It's all !! SOO MUCH that's too much to talk abt though. you'll just have to watch the show or comic or w/ever eventually <3

BUT again thank you so much for the analysis and thoughts it truly means so so much <3 I'm so happy people like digging into my art like this it really makes me happy

[mrsrcbinscn]

Swynrpwrimo Task #20 - Personality Playlist

Create a playlist for a personality trait for a character! This could be an Enneagram, Meyers-Briggs, zodiac, etc. or anything else. – 10 songs minimum, a little description for each song.

2001 Franny Sor Robinson 3w2: An Insufferable Songwriting student at Belmont determined to be a star

Truly, how did anybody stand her from 1995-2002. Honestly.

[link]

[tracker]

Price Of Perfection

I overcompensate in everything that I do I bring home all the trophies that I won just for you You see a starving musician in debt from tuition I’m never enough for you

Honestly from the ages of 8 to like 22, this was all she did. How did Cornelius even stand her and marry her by the time this phase was over? for real. sorry to anybody who new her before age 23/24.

Oh! my mistake

Being pretty is a sin, yes, it’s my sin It’s my sin to be wanted so much Being pretty is a sin, anyone can see Making you fall so deep for me is Oh my mistake

Genuinely this was Franny Robinson at age 18 lmao, she was peak 'I'm a bad bitch and you can't tell me nothing.'

Oh No!

One track mind, one track heart If I fail, I'll fall apart Maybe it is all a test 'Cause, I feel like I'm the worst So I always act like I'm the best!

Fake it 'till you make it baybeeee. Franny really said "I'm already a star" before she was anything, truly the insufferable artist/theater kid/talented kid type.

Someone In The Crowd

You make the right impression Then ev'rybody knows your name We're in the fast lane Someone in the crowd could be the one you need to know The one to finally lift you off the ground Someone in the crowd could take you where you wanna go If you're the someone ready to be found

She'd word any event, sneak into any show, attend any mixer, just what the song says lmao. Meet anybody and everybody who would give her a connection!

Venus Fly Trap

Don't underestimate me 'Cause one day you're gonna see you're in a losing battle Babe, you'll never stop me being me I got the beauty, got the brains Got the power, hold the reins I should be motherfuckin' crazy Nothing in this world could change me

As annoying as she absolutely was, she had the talent and the grit to make it in the industry. You had to be borderline insane to come from a working class background in the US in the early 2000's and try to make it in music.

Primadonna

You say that I'm kinda difficult But it's always someone else's fault Got you wrapped around my finger, babe You can count on me to misbehave

Primadonna girl Fill the void up with celluloid Take a picture, I'm with the boys Get what I want 'cause I ask for it Not because I'm really that deserving of it Living life like I'm in a play In the limelight, I want to stay I know I've got a big ego I really don't know why it's such a big deal, though

This is truly the theme song for Franny Sor Framagucci/Robinson for most of her life lmao. Well into her 20s she was like "I need it all, I want it all, I'm GOING to have it all because I want it." Now she has everything lmao.

Applause

I live for the applause, applause, applause I live for the applause-plause, live for the applause-plause, live for the- Way that you cheer and scream for me The applause, applause, applause

Truly young!Frannycore

So Hot

Why are you staring at me? Why? Am I that pretty?

She's the one girl who probably could've standed being called ugly by a frat boy she rejected, tbh. (jkjk JOKES) Truly, her ego was sky high from like 16-19.

Set Me Free

Go and say that I'm a fool, bein' impulsive But, baby, what's out of sight is never out of mind Maybe I'm jumping into this with eyes wide open 'Cause you got me dreaming even in the morning light

It's giving both young!Franny chasing her music dreams and falling in love with her husband at this same time<3

Pierre

I danced in the desert, in the pouring rain Drank with the devil and forgot my name Woke with somebody when the morning came No one there to shame me for my youth 'Cause I wouldn't be with you

And then I found me a lover who could play the bass He's kinda quiet, but his body ain't Spend the days dreaming and the nights awake Doin' things we know we shouldn't do 'Cause I wouldn't be with you

The vibes<3

[squidsandcords]

KNOW ME BETTER

(tagged by @galaxies-unknown, ty, buddy :') )

1) Alias/Name: Alice, AliceC-666, Al, Ally, Olesja (that one incidental nickname by a few good acquaintances xd), Ally Smile (using it in games and on AO3), Alice Cadaver, Sweet Cadaver prefer being called just Alice, tho xd

2) Birthday: September 6

3) Zodiac Sign: Virgo

4) Height: 170 cm (~ 5' 7" feet)

5) Hobbies: Making sigital art/fanimations, writing (rarely), roleplaying (obviously), learning new languages, playing video games, watching letsplays

6) Favorite colour: I love yellow/golden the most, but also like red and black :'3

7) Favorite book: Have to go by The Master and Marguerite (love Voland's henchmen a lot xd)

8) Last song: The Spider and the Kitsune-Like Lion

9) Last movie/show: Haven't watched any movies for a while, so going by a show. Family guy :')

10) Recent read: Just began reading White walls on AO3 :')

11) Inspiration: Tbh, there are... Many things that can inspire and stop inspiring me at the same time... Other artists, animation makers, fanfic writers... All of the talented people both inspire me and make me feel like I'm a piece of sxxt unworthy of anytime getting in their rows :')

12) Story behind your URL: Literally took combination of the favorite answer from the "What would you like to talk about?" from Giffany and something connected with computers for, well, the pixel girl's reasons xd

13) Fun fact: Before making this RP blog, I actually wanted to make a Bill Cipher one, since love his character a tad more. But then decided not to, since 1) I suck in violent acts especially in roleplay and 2) ... It simply felt wrong to rp for him from my part and I didn't want to mess with his character. Best entrust it to the professionals, and get my hands on the one-episode-girl instead xd

PEOPLE I'D LIKE TO KNOW BETTER:

Anyone who wants to fill this - fill it :')

[kaypeace21]

I still think it'd be sad (but interesting ) for s4 to end with Will, El, maybe chrissy too in Brenner's clutches ...

I mean just looking at some s4 films said to be inspo for s4...

- Kirsty (in hellraiser 2) & Kristen( in elm street:dream warriors ), are both trapped in a mental hospital and dealing with evil psychiatrists (brenner) and supernatural monsters . And Kristen also has powers (chrissy?? Chrissy/kristen also look similar too) .kristen befriends Nancy (who isn't a subject). And one of the other kids/subjects is a kid named William (into d&d + calls himself a wizard). In hellraiser 2 , kirsty is dealing with interdimensional demons and a evil psychiatrist trying to exploit teens' abilities to open portals to other worlds.which obviously gives Brenner/ el vibes in s1.

- Will in his st comic also throws the book "house of stairs" at the demogorgan. The main characters are a gay boy in love with his bff and a girl with a buzzcut. They're kidnapped by a evil psychiatrist working for the government - who wants to brainwash them and  turn them into weapons. Mike in s1 "I think these bad men took Will."foreshadowing, maybe?

- society: William (Bill) is forceable sent to hospital, he's knocked out by an injection to the arm and kidnapped (like s2 Will). Then the hospital worker lies and tell his best friend , "Bill's dead". Faking Bill's death. Which also reminds me of how Brenner and others faked el's m*scarage at the hospital. And try to trick Terry into believing that fake story.

- Assassin's creed: gov fakes artists death , and he's sent to hospital like environment to be experimented on. His drawings are usually of shadowy looking monsters (reminds me of Will). The dr exploits his ability to explore memories (which also reminds me of El).

-also in st s4 bts: that one person in the hospital gown looked alot like noah (Will)

- And chrissy's actress (grace) on Instagram posted "so she floats" and a blue butterfly (like kali). The quote "so she floats" is from the old belief witches float in water. She also deleted a post (that she made right after being announced as chrissy). Its of her laying on a hospital bed (in water) with the quote "mostly dead - all day". This is a princess bride quote (which is on the st s4 inspo list). The quote is refering to Wesley. They say this cause everyone assumed he's been dead the whole time- when he's actually alive. Also it's an obvious parallel to brenner faking Will's death (in water) in s1 too. Along with possible proof chrissy isn't actually dead.

Also, starship troopers was on the s4 list. The main character in that was thought to be dead but was shown to later be alive . And guess what... the actor who played him is grace's (chrissy's) actual dad.

Also look at this other instagram post she deleted . And the tiktok she kept.

I shouldn't have to explain all the rabbit immagery in the series again. But i'm just mentioning the lab connection . it connects to the lab cause when El escapes and runs from the gov, the song "white rabbit " plays. In suspicious minds brenner compares his experiments to rabbits. And in the 6 comic, when several numbers try to escape the guard says "they're rabbiting".

Also the deleted instagram post has a caption - it's a quote from a character from Mouline rouge. Said character sings a cover of bowie's heroes. And that song is an infamous hint of faked deaths in st.

I probably wouldn't analyze these posts so much, if she didn't delete them tbh.

I just wouldn't be surprised if Brenner does his usual move of "faking kids' deaths" before taking them as subjects...

Aka he did so with El . Tried to fake Will's death. Maybe chrissy's? Or even sarah too?

I just remember my old sarah theory that sara's death was faked by kali under brenner's orders ...but I'm not getting into that possible can of worms XD

[pop-punklouis]

when you say that boyband’s work on a shelf-life and theyre thought of as a cash crop what do you mean? that they’re only an object to the industry?

i mean, let’s break it down. boybands, more times than not, are curated by someone else. it isn’t exactly the boys that come together, find each other, and then start a career. usually, a higher up will pluck 4-5 boys from the crowd and put them in a group together expecting them to be puppets to their success. from the beginning, a boyband is fundamentally under the thumb of the industry due to their origins. then, of course, you have the image branding. these boys, at a young age, are given labels to be to sell records and garner favorites from the fans— which in turn gives more reason to sell more individual product with a certain boy on them. the boys will go through image training/publicity training, and besides putting on a character depending on their branding (zayn malik literally talked about how he couldn’t even really grow a beard in the band), they’re also walking on eggshells to present to the media in a way that is not only broad enough for most of the GP to favor them, but also to give just enough personality away that most of what one knows about them is either created in a boardroom or acts as surface level for fans to push their own attitudes onto them without compromising this carefully patched together image. this doesn’t mean these boys aren’t genuine in how they perform, but there is a lot of tightening of screws and pushing into molds at a young age that can fuck with them when carried out for long periods of time. it’s like appearing as yourself but mimicking someone else’s idea of who you ought to be. it’s the alien impersonator. it makes me think of NSYNC’s music video where they were all puppets on a string, being controlled by the omniscient puppet master. do i think that visual was pointed in makeup? not necessarily, but it is a good reference point for how i’m sure many boybands feel throughout their lifespan

then, you get into the lucrative amount of $$$ people are making off these groups. the global merchandise. the touring. the albums pumped out every 12 months. the chosen teams that surround the boys to keep them on track and keep them feeding into the machine as long as their contract permits. when the $$ begins raking in, that’s what the label begins to view you as. your expectation revolves around their bank accounts, and the more $$ you generate, the harder it is to have freedom and orchestrate a life outside of the spotlight that isn’t predominantly cast in the form of making more $$ for these companies. and these companies know that the pop-sphere only has a general attention span of 5-6 years before a revolving door of new talent comes in, so they’re even heavier handed with how they pump the content out knowing the shelf-life is waning, and there’s only a specific area of time they can milk them for what they are— using it as a justification for dehumanizing a group to line their own pockets.

and god forbid one of them tries to “mess” with that money. even if the intention isn’t malicious. take for example, Brian Littrell from the Backstreet Boys or Niall Horan. Brian had to get open heart surgery, and they pushed him back into a worldwide tour and promo cycle almost straight after. Niall Horan has had knee surgeries that were prolonged for long enough until they were mandatory and he was on crutches during promo stints. their health and well-being is on the back burner if it compromises their ability to be a cash crop. their agency is stripped to be objects to an industry who looks at them and instantly sees wealth. they walk in a room not as individual people but as a well-oiled machine, which can mess with how you think people view you outside of the group. “would these people speak with me if i wasn’t apart of this?” “would i be able to get into the studio with certain producers/song writers if i was on my own?” “would i have the same opportunities without this goliath presence on my back?” “will i always have that part of my life carried on my back, unable to pick apart if my own talents or my past talents is what’s given me the success i have now?” “is this image the only thing people see and use me for when i walk in a room now?” “what is success if it isn’t the success i had in the band?” a lot of identity issues are created in this isolated bubble, and it’s no wonder why any member of a boyband has insecurities and doubts when they leave that model, not knowing who they are or what they represent.

and finally, you have to take into consideration how tightly controlled their entire life is beyond just promo or images. their schedules are blocked months if not years in advance, not being able to have personal freedom unless it works around things that have already been confirmed for the group (i mean let’s example girl group little mix here. two of them were afraid of becoming pregnant when they did bc their schedules are confirmed ages in advance, and they thought they’d be scolded for it). their agency is gone. their independence is gone. their freedom of just existing is gone. they exist in relation to the label and their “handlers.” they have lives, and they can do things, but many of those things have to be worked through the system and approved. think about how isolating the 1D bubble was. almost none of them had gaggles of famous friends that weren’t also there to sell a certain image of the group. they were contained for most of their youth to just those five boys. from 16+, their teen years and growth into adulthood was centered around this bubble mentality. they were stunted, and you can see the affects of that even now— years later.

so, i don’t blame these groups for taking indefinite breaks or disbanding altogether. that environment is toxic and erasing and superficial. it’s harmful. and i think it’s important to know this. because there’s no foul in loving boybands/girl groups and who they are, what their music sounds like, and what they represent to you. they’re a special type of celebrity that many connect with in different ways than they do individual artists. in ways, who they showed to you was genuine and loving and their friendships within the band cannot be faked. most times, they only have each other through the chaos of fame so they rely on themselves and their fans every night as their support beams so, don’t feel guilty or shameful for liking a band and supporting a band as you weren’t the ones who created this for them— it’s the age-old history of how the boyband model operates and tbh until it “breaks” i unfortunately don’t believe it’ll be fixed.

[luminecho]

Hello Echo, question. Do you still have Four brainrot? Follow up question. Do you have any songs that you associate with Four? Thanks bestie <3

Answer 1: Steel, I ALWAYS have Four brainrot <3

Answer 2: I am literally SO FUCKING GLAD you asked, you have no idea how excited I got seeing this holy shit. HELL YEAH I do!! Take a few songs from my playlist

If I include more than 3 Sleeping At Last, Of Monsters And Men, or The Oh Hellos songs on any given playlist or list of songs you may be entitled to financial compensatio-- *looks at this list* oh whoops

1) Crystals - Of Monsters And Men - this might as well be Four’s theme song for all I associate it with him. It’s so good. So so so good.

2) Call Them Brothers - Regina Spektor - Obligatory Call Them Brothers mention. This is not original at all I've seen so many other people talk about this song with Four and-- yeah they're right this song is about Four JKHEHBFDEKF.

3) Bad Blood - Sleeping At Last - I'm biased. If you know me then expect way too many SAL songs from me in any list of songs ever because I will never shut up about SAL and they have a lot of songs I like. So there's 4 SAL songs on this list, deal with it jhkwewjkwjkfh. Anyway Bad Blood gives me so many Four feels. 11/10

3) Soap - The Oh Hellos - THIS SONNGG. Ouugghh. I could probably dissect this song if I wanted to go over every little thing in it that makes me think of Four & why but I already exhausted my song infodumping capacity on the last song on this list so perhaps some other time HDEGJDDEKF. Just. The vibes AND the lyrics. Mannn

4) Forgive Me Friend - Smith & Thell - I have both the original and the acoustic version saved to my Four playlist because I really like both versions hwdfjefke but. There's so many ways this song could be interpreted w/ Four and tbh I'm just gonna leave it up to everyone else because every time I listen to it I think of something else lol.

5) Meteor Shower - Cavetown - I don't have much to say about this one other than thinking about this song gives me a LOT of emotions jhqkdhwbefjk. Just,,, it has a lot of self-acceptance vibes to me when I listen to it in this context and I think I'm drawing those comfort vibes from the melody? Idk but they're there for me lol

6) Glitter & Gold - Barns Courtney - Someone did a mini AMV to this song w/ Four a while back for the LU zine and I've associated the song with him ever since hwdkjgefhkfev. I like the vibes. Reminds me of the forge.

7) Lakehouse - Of Monsters And Men - Idk what it is about this song. It has a mix of homesickness feels and storytelling feels and something about that makes me think of Four. Also there's a line about breaking trust in here somewhere heehee hoohoo Vio go brr.

8) I Dare You - Bea Miller - my brain can't decide if I actually like this song or not for some reason buuuut it has big Four vibes regardless lmao. Mostly in the lyrics. Definitely in the lyrics

9) No Light, No Light - Florence + The Machine - based more off the vibes of the song than the lyrics. i don't really have an explanation for this one, it's just always given me Four vibes for no reason hdwkjfgeh. Shadow too. I have it one both playlists

10) I Have Made Mistakes - The Oh Hellos - probably self-indulgent but this one has the self-acceptance and self-forgiveness vibes than go hand and hand with Four as a character so <3

11) From The Ground Up - Sleeping At Last - something about the line "in an effort to remember what being mended feels like" shakes me to my core. Am I allowed to slap the "self-acceptance" label on this song and call it a day? Cause,,, yeah the self love in this song. Ough. Also the themes of growth and being somewhere that's truly home.

12) Overture III / Awake - Sleeping At Last - Bestie this one's so self-indulgent. This song is pretty new and when I tell you that I latched onto it the DAY I first heard it FTHDGHWJKEFG. I connect so deeply with this song and I can and will project every emotion I experience ever onto Four which means he gets this song too. <3 Also it once again has themes of self-acceptance

13) September 15, 2017: Cassini - The Grand Finale - Sleeping At Last - OH MY GOD *VIBRATES INTO THE FIFTH DIMENSION*

Alright alright alright. Listen. This song is entirely instrumental. So why do I associate it with Four, you may ask?

WELLLLLLLL.

First of all, happy anniversary to the event this song was written about! Or-- well, it was the anniversary when this ask was sent djwhfkhjdewjhke. I took a while to answer it. BUT still. Happy anniversary!

Second of all, strap in cause I’m about to infodump the hell out of this song on my way to explaining my reasoning behind why I associate it with Four. It might seem irrelevant at first but trust me, I’ll get there.

(All the stuff I mention here is all explained in a much better fashion by the artist behind Sleeping At Last on his podcast episode about the song here. I'd absolutely recommend giving it a listen if you're interested!)

Cassini was written about a satellite with the same name that was built with the intention of exploring Saturn. On September 15, 2017, its journey was complete and its course was set to crash into Saturn in a brilliant grand finale. Hence the name of the song.

This song is a medley of four of Sleeping At Last’s songs, written as a mirror of the exact flight path of the Cassini satellite. (SAL has songs about each of the 9 planets + our moon.)

The song starts and ends with Saturn. The beginning is a chorus singing the tune of SAL's "Saturn" and the ending is that the song on the "Astronomy, Vol. 1" album leads straight into SAL’s "Saturn" to symbolize Cassini crashing into the planet. Cool, right?

After the opening the song crescendos with SAL’s "Earth" to represent Cassini’s launch. Cassini passed by Venus twice in its flight, so the part of the song immediately after that is from SAL's "Venus". The next part of the song (and ofc the next part of Cassini’s flight) is Jupiter! It’s very faint and distant since Cassini only passed by the planet. Aaand then finally it reaches Saturn.

Now what does any of this have to do with Four?

Welllllll, it's all a bit of a stretch but LET ME HAVE THIS hdgjhkjdwef.

I mentioned that Cassini is a medley of 4 different SAL songs.

Venus could easily be associated with Red! It’s a love song and love of course comes from the heart and all that. But it’s also a song that reflects wonder and awe and I feel like that’s a very Red feeling.

Jupiter is a song I associate a lot with Green, not only because of the song itself but also because of the planet and Green’s wind element. Jupiter is well-known for its storms! So it seems fitting for Green. Jupiter is one of the songs I have on my separate playlist for Green too. It has vibes of instinct and wanting to make things count and make a difference which I feel like fits him.

I feel like Saturn and Earth are interchangeable with Blue and Vio. I’d probably tentatively assign Blue to Earth and Vio to Saturn for now despite Earth being Vio’s element and me generally associating that song with him a lot more than Blue anyway. Saturn is a song about loss and trying to move on and I think Vio encompasses that feeling and experience. It’s very melancholy and slower-paced too, which fits Vio more. Whereas Earth is a very powerful, somewhat explosive song (which fits Blue’s vibe) about ignorance and possibly arrogance. ALSO if you go with Blue as Earth then it works even nicer because Earth and Venus are woven together very closely in Cassini. Which could represent how Blue & Red are both the "heart" of Four compared to Vio's mind and Green's instinct.

And ALL of these songs are packed into Cassini into a convenient little medley. Four songs blending seamlessly into one another creating a whole song that makes me want to throw my hands in the air and weep.

And how perfect that the day Steel sent this ask is coincidentally the anniversary of the day the song is about. jhkqdwfgehf. It was meant to be :>