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turtletotem · 4 years

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Betrothed

Behold, @ikeracity‘s Cherik fic reward for winning a Star Bright party challenge! Prompt was "I never knew it but apparently I'm heir to the throne and have been betrothed to you since I was three" -- came out as something close to a Princess Diaries AU + arranged marriage! (Also on AO3.)

"But why should I have to marry him?" Charles wailed, knowing he sounded like a petulant toddler instead of a nearly-grown-man of sixteen, but feeling helpless to stop it. He'd felt helpless quite a lot lately, ever since the prime minister of the obscure little nation of Genosha showed up at his door and told him he was now their king.

"I mean, technically you wouldn't exist if not for him, so it's the least you can do," said Raven, and sucked frappe foam through her straw with an amazingly obnoxious noise. Sprawled against the sofa at one end of his dressing room—he had a dressing room now—Raven looked completely at ease in the rich royal surroundings, which she ought to be, having grown up in them. Lady Ravenna Evangeline Penelope Margaret Mystique Darkholme was Charles's newly-discovered first cousin, and the single best thing to come out of all this mess.

"What do you mean, I wouldn't exist?" Charles said as his stylist staff—he had stylist staff—continued zipping and buttoning him into a sinfully expensive tuxedo.

"No one told you? Erik Lehnsherr's parents saved your dad's life. They were on their way to the hospital to have Erik when they saw your dad being hustled into a van by terrorists. Erik's mother—Erik's pregnant, in labor mother—fought them off with her handbag. So your dad promised that their child would marry his heir and become prince consort of Genosha."

"Well, that was ever so nice of my father," Charles said. "To give his eldest child away in marriage before I was even born."

"To be fair, even after you were born, no one really expected you to be heir to the throne. Brian was supposed to get married and have legitimate children at some point."

Which, Charles supposed, was why no one had ever bothered to tell him his father was not just from Genosha, but king of Genosha. No one had ever bothered much with Charles anyway, unless they needed a punching bag. At least now that he'd moved to this ridiculous palace in Genosha, Charles would never have to see his stepfather again.

"But this whole marriage idea is barbaric." He was wailing again. "The Lehnsherrs deserve a reward, certainly, but can't we just give them money? A lot of money? As much money as they want? Instead of making me marry some strange guy I've never met? I mean, it's lucky I'm even open to marrying a guy at all, what if my father's heir had been straight?"

"Sexual attraction isn't a required element of an arranged marriage anyway," Raven shrugged. "And same-sex marriage has been legal in Genosha for over a century—honestly it was never not legal, but it got made explicit… yeah, over a hundred years ago now. And Erik's not gonna be some strange guy you've never met. You're meeting him now! By the time you get married in two years, you'll be old friends."

Charles made a face, and Raven laughed, handing off her empty coffee cup to a passing staff member and unwrapping the cookie she'd bought with it.

"This is just how it works for royalty, Charles," Raven said, a little more seriously. "Sucks that you weren't able to grow up with the idea, but it is what it is."

"You're royalty, do you have a betrothed lurking somewhere?"

"I'm not royalty, I'm nobility. If you kick the bucket without an heir, then I might end up royalty. Until then, my parents know I'd scratch their eyes out if they tried to arrange my life for me." She grinned, all teeth.

"Oh, so it's all right for me, but when it's your life—"

"I don't mean it's all right for you! Just that this is how it is, whether you like it or not."

"Yeah? And what if I just refuse to do it? Then what?"

"Then probably they won't let you be king after all and you'll have to go back home to your mom and stepdad."

Charles's face crumpled in disgust.

"Yeah, that's what I thought," Raven said, and shoved her entire cookie in her mouth.

Charles made a frustrated whining noise. "But it's so wrong! For someone else, someone who's dead now even, to decide who I should marry? Who I have to spend the rest of my life with, and tough luck if I ever fall in love with someone else?"

"Close your eyes, Your Majesty," murmured a stylist, and brushed powder over his face, making him sputter.

"Raven, what if Erik's terrible?" Charles said as soon as his face was free again. "What if he's mean and selfish and greedy? What if he's like Kurt and just out for himself? What if he's some narcissistic jerk who's going to make my life miserable? What if he's stupid? There's nothing morally wrong with being unintelligent, but I don't think I could stand it, Raven, being trapped all day every day with a stupid person, I'd go mad—I don't mean to sound vain, but it's no use pretending I'm not bright, my test scores—"

"You haven't even mentioned 'what if he's ugly,'" Raven said, sounding amused.

"His looks are hardly the most significant thing," Charles said stiffly. "It's much more important that he be a good companion, a good partner, and a good co-ruler for Genosha." His bottom lip trembled, but he held it together while the stylists finished tweaking him and left, before the words burst out of him. "Oh, Raven, what if he's hideous? What if I'm trapped with him forever and I can't even stand to look at him?"

"What if he can't stand to look at you? None of this was his idea either, you know. Oh, Charles, I didn't mean it!" Raven cried when Charles gave her a horrified, near-tearful look. "I was just teasing! Come here." She folded him into a tight hug. Raven was like that; the first thing she'd done when they met was hug him. Charles wasn't used to hugs, but he'd already decided he liked them, at least from Raven.

"Charles, listen to me," Raven said. "You are adorable. You are sweet and clever and good and full of love, and Erik Lehnsherr is lucky as hell to get you. If he doesn't appreciate you like he should, you divorce his ass and tell the prime minister and the whole cabinet to do whatever they dare about it. You hear me?"

Charles sniffled, wiping away the tears Raven's hug had squeezed out, and nodded. "I hear you."

"Good. Now let's go introduce you to this guy and see if he deserves you."

"It's not about whether he deserves me," Charles said as Raven tugged him out the door and down the corridor, past museum-quality oil paintings and crystal statuettes. "It's about the fact that a marriage arranged without any input or consent from the couple themselves is a human rights violation! It's about the fact that when we marry I'll still only be eighteen years old and that's an insane age to make a lifetime commitment! It's about the fact that Erik's mother doing one heroic deed almost twenty years ago doesn't mean her son will make a good ruler! It's about the fact that the heart cannot be legislated and sexual compatibility is important in a marriage and I don't want to marry Erik Lehnsherr—"

He stopped dead as Raven opened a door, revealing the young man within, and a very tiny internal Charles-voice said very sheepishly, Never mind.

Erik Lehnsherr—and so it had to be, there was no one else in the room—was absolutely gorgeous, with the whip-thin grace of a hunting cat and the cheekbones of a god. He had intense, enigmatic eyes the grey-blue color of a winter sky, and he was using them to stare at Charles just as speechlessly as Charles was staring at him.

Raven pushed Charles ahead of her into the room. "Charles, this is Erik. Erik, this is Charles. Good luck."

And she backed out of the room and closed the door.

"Raven, come back—!"

Charles's wasn't the only voice who had said the words. Startled, he turned back toward Erik, who had a hand extended toward the door as if to pull Raven back into the room.

"Do… you know Raven?" Charles asked.

"Of course I know Raven, we've grown up together." Erik continued staring at him, and it was hard to say whether he looked annoyed or terrified. He shifted his feet awkwardly and scratched at his dark auburn hair. "Um, hi. I'm Erik." He put out a hand.

"Charles." He tried not to visibly react as Erik shook his hand, tried not to let on that the most beautiful person he'd ever seen was touching him. "I wish I'd grown up with Raven, she's much better company than my stepbrother. How did you… why…?"

"King Brian was basically my godfather," Erik said, a shadow of grief passing over his face. "I've spent as much time at this palace as I have at my own home, being trained and educated for the day I would help rule the kingdom… For a while I was afraid I'd have to marry Raven, until the council confirmed you come before her in the succession."

"Afraid? Don't you like her?"

"Oh, I like her very much, but she's not…" Erik's cheeks reddened. "I mean, she's a girl, and I prefer… um…"

"Oh, good!" Charles couldn't help bursting out. "Me too!"

"Really?" Erik's smile, Charles thought, changed his whole face, transforming him from an incredible chiseled artwork into a real person, slightly odd and awkward and imperfect and wonderful. Charles blushed and looked away.

His gaze landed on a chessboard, on the table in front of Erik, and he belatedly realized that was what Erik had looked up from when Raven opened the door. "Oh, do you play?"

"I'm head of the team at my school," Erik said with shy pride. "Sometimes I could even beat Brian. Do you? Play chess, I mean?"

"I'm head of the team at my school," Charles said, unable to keep from laughing. "Or I was. Now that I live in Genosha, I might end up competing for your spot."

Erik's smile widened. "You're welcome to try. Don't think I'll go easy on you just because you're the king. And my betrothed. And—" But he didn't finish that sentence, just got redder in the face, and turned to reset the chess board.

So Charles sat down with the young man he was being barbarically forced to marry, who was not stupid, not ugly, not any of the things Charles had feared he would be, and played chess far into the night.

#my fic #cherik #ikeracity #i picked an awful time to post this just as all the secret mutant stuff came out #oh well

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blondecarfucker · 5 years

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Bed of Roses (1988 Special)

Roger Taylor x Reader BoRhap!Roger Taylor x Reader

Fic Summary: It's 1971. You just moved to London to study, and you find a band on a local pub after a bad date. The encounter doesn’t go the way you expect it, and neither does what follows this evening as you try to deal with loving Roger Taylor.

Fic Note: So I’ve had this story in my head for the last three weeks and finally decided to write it down. It’s completely planned. It will have 21 chapters and it’s divided in three acts: Dusk, Night and Dawn. It’s will be a bit angsty in the future, and it will most likely have some smut as well. I hope you guys enjoy it! Tell me what you think about it in the asks/comments/messages. If this is your first time stumbling upon Bed of Roses, thank you for stopping by! The rest of the story is in my masterlist, the link is in my bio - can't put the link here or else the post will disappear from the tags.

Chapter's notes: so this is not even a real chapter??? i mean, it doesn't have a number - it's really a reallll epilogue, you really get to know what happen in the eleven years that follow the end of the story. this wasn't really on my outline - i just kept thinking about the characters cause theyre SO CUTE and DESERVE THE BEST and im an absolute softie so i couldnt help but write this. its probably a bit messy cause im tired atm but im happy i wrote this and i want to share it with you guys already. im curious to know what you guys think about it! - also, just making it clear, there's no story for a sequel, so there's no sequel coming. just so you guys know. thanks again for stopping by and reading my story and being AMAZING. im a bit rusty i guess so sorry about the size of the chapter

Words: around 2.8k

1988

You heard Roger hitting the drums as you opened the studio door.

"Hey, Y/N", Freddie said, coming to hug you. "It's your man recording", he told you, and you nodded.

"I see", you answer, and Jim comes closer to Freddie and says hello to you. You really like the way they feel at ease with each other - it just looks natural. It's been long ever since you saw Freddie so peaceful.

But Roger soon showed up in your field of vision, having just left the recording booth. "Babe, it's so good to see you", he said, hugging you by the waist. "Good seeing you too, Rog. What are you guys recording?, you ask, and Deacy answers.

"It's 'Rain Must Fall', just wrote it with Freddie", he says, as Freddie listens to Roger's recording.

"It's still not right", he says, and Roger sighs. "Be right back", he tells you, going inside the booth.

Now that you're paying attention, you realize it's latin percussion. "This is really nice", you tell Freddie, and he smiles. "Thanks, darling. How's the museum? Did it fall apart after you spent a month away?", he asked, and you laughed.

"Actually, they've been holding up quite nicely", you say, referring to the period you've just spent with them in Montreux. "They're getting used to it, I suppose", and he nods.

You and Roger have been taking turns the last decade on who's gonna spend time along with the other, but now, after you've got your PhD and was promoted to Senior Curator, your job could be done without official office hours, so you've been following Roger around a bit more - which is nice, especially when he's in Montreux, such a calm place you thought about retiring there, in the future.

"And this outfit, too, I love it. You look like such a serious business woman" Jim said, pointing to your tailleur. "I have to look the part, Jim", you shrug, and Brian laughs. "I miss your yellow Chuck Taylors days, Y/N", he says, and you laugh. "These shoes are killing me, so I do, too", you tell him.

"I won't invite you to dance, then", Freddie said, and you frowned. "Please do, Freddie. You know how I love these latin inspired songs of yours", you pouted, and Freddie laughed, extending a hand to you.

You could feel Roger's eyes watching you through the glass as you danced with Freddie. Rain Must Fall reminded you of Cool Cat, and even though the Hot Space days, in 1981 were complicated, it reminded you of an afternoon with Roger on a yacht on Lake Geneva, the two of you drinking mimosas and sunbathing as Montreux glimmed under the Riviera sun.

"God, I hate this fucking song", Roger said, sipping on his mimosa.

"It's not the best", you agreed, and he laughed.

"This fucking album, I swear to God. If it wasn't for you here, I would've dropped this", he said, and you got up to prepare another mimosa for you.

"Don't say that, Rog. You wouldn't drop the band", you said, and he sighed.

"You're right. But I would drop this album, though. This song, even - I didn't take part in anything regarding the production. I just watched, like you watch a car crash", he says, and it's your turn to laugh.

"You're so dramatic", you tell him, mixing the orange juice and the champagne. "But seriously, babe. Do you even like the songs we're making now?", he asks, and you take a sip of your drink.

"I like Under Pressure", you say, and you're happy to see his face lighten up as he laughs. "Of course you do. I'm impressed you didn't ask Bowie for an autograph yet", he said, and you laugh along. "I have to stop myself from fangirling every time he's around, you know. It's pretty hard, but I do my best not to embarass you", you told him, sitting by his side.

His sun kissed skin made his eyes even brighter than usual - like lapis lazuli on bronze.

"Like I try not to embarrass you by looking stupid when we're on one of your fancy dinners?", he asks, hugging you by the side. "Exactly", you told him, pressing a quick kiss on his lips. He tasted like orange.

As you now kept dancing with Freddie, Jim pulled Deacy for a dance too, and eventually everyone was dancing to Roger's percussion. Each had a different level of success, and you were trying to help Brian when Roger finished his part.

It made you happy to have moments like this. After A Kind Of Magic, in 1986, the band was fighting constantly - it made you sad to see such thing. Roger even created a side band, The Cross, and he worked with them for a while before reuniting with Queen for this new album.

You were always a huge fan of his solo work, but you never connected with The Cross - and you felt like he didn't, either. They never really challenged him, and anything only gets better after receiving honest feedback.

But now Freddie wanted to produce again with the rest of the band - as much as they could, non-stop. They wouldn't even tour after this album, The Miracle. You felt like Roger knew exactly why these changes happened, but he didn't share them with you. You didn't really mind - it was not only his privacy, but the privacy of the rest of the band members. The fact that he was trustworthy enough to keep his friend's reasoning behind a polemic decision private only made you love him more.

"Babe", Roger called, walking over to you. You hugged him, his known smell now more refined, cologne mixed with the patchouli and substituting the cigarette smoke - you both quitted smoking, since you heard it could be harmful for little ones.

"The kids are with their nanny, right?" Rog asked you, and you nodded.

It was 1982 when you realized you couldn't keep your breakfast - you vomited every morning, almost religiously, twenty minutes after you ate.

Roger was immediately concerned on the phone - you spent two weeks in Mexico for work, and it was only when Roger spent a weekend there at the end of your trip that he told you not to drink the tap water. So you were both convinced you had some parasite, and Roger took you to a doctor - he liked to spend time with you when you were both in London, even in boring activities, since you still lived in separate flats, always trying to take it slow - even though you felt like a teenager when you had to pack to stay a weekend at your boyfriend's house - and you considered talking to Roger about moving in together again.

The doctor soon realized there were no parasites inside you, but there was a baby - a 3 months old little boy, in fact, as the doctor confirmed after taking you two to the ultrasound room.

You could never forget Roger's face once he understood what the doctor told the two of you. He was going to be a father.

But the realization that you were going to be a mother took a little longer to hit you. It was only when you heard the baby's heartbeat that you really understood what was going on inside you - a baby. Your baby. Roger's baby.

Proof that you were together, proof that you belonged to each other, that you loved each other.

"This is the most beautiful sound I've ever heard", Roger told you, and you smiled in agreement.

Nine months later, Apollo was born.

You agreed on Apollo because you always thought about how Roger reminded you of Apollo, and it did remind you of New York, too - the Apollo Theater was a landmark only a couple dozens streets above the apartment you grew up in.

But Apollo was much more like you than he was like his dad. He inherited his dad's dirty blonde curls, but his eyes were just like yours, and so was his personality - he was very determined, liked to be alone, and a full blown nerd. He taught himself to read when he was four, and now, at age 6, he liked to read The Hobbit by himself.

He didn't speak with an English accent, oddly enough, even though he was raised in London - he spoke water like his dad, but copied your accent in every other word.

Roger would hold him and hug him and always spend time with "his little guy", always telling him how proud he is to be the father of a genius, and Apollo's cheeks would be flushed pink, just like yours did when Roger told you how smart you are.

When Apollo was born, you both agreed to move in together into a big family home, but you filled the walls with artwork and tapestry, and Roger made sure there was always good music playing - it didn't feel like you were abandoning your old selves to become parents; it felt like a natural step.

And for financial reasons - mostly to protect Apollo and to make taxes easier - you and Roger decided to get married. He tried to play the practical part, reaffirming marriage was just a title and the two of you were way beyond that, but you knew, deep down, that he was incredibly happy to get on his knees and propose.

It was a simple ceremony in 1984 - close friends and family under the hawaiian sunset, the Lana'i Island's atmosphere made you feel like you were in a dream. With a simple cotton white dress, you reunited with Roger - in a half open, white cotton button up - in front of a licensed marriage performer, and you became Ms Taylor.

Roger used any excuse to call you Ms Taylor, savoring the name on his tongue just like he did with your lips on honeymoon.

Apollo was 2, and stayed with his grandparents for a week as the two of you enjoyed your honeymoon on paradise. "It's funny how this is like, the millionth time I feel like I'm on honeymoon with you", you tell Roger, and he pouts. "If you consider honeymoon everytime we go somewhere amazing alone and keep fucking like teenagers, then yeah. But this is special. This feels more… I don't know. Official", he said, and you agreed.

And all that young love had a result - you soon found out you got pregnant again after a routine blood test. Roger was, again, the happiest man on Earth.

You felt calmer this time around - a kid and responsibilities didn't ruin your relationship with Roger the first time around, and you were actually pretty good parents.

So when Live Aid came about, you were huge - you enjoyed the many performances, but when Queen was onstage, it felt different. You could remember when, almost fifteen years ago, you saw these guys broke, rehearsing and travelling around in a van.

Now they were here, and in a day filled with performances from stars, they shined the brightest.

You don't know if it was all the emotions you felt watching them, but once you finally got home, the sun about to rise - Apollo long asleep - you sat down to prepare a warm bath for the two of you, but you felt something warm running down your legs. Your water broke.

You and Roger ran to the Hospital, and after a few hours, Artemis was born.

She screamed, not cried, once she first looked at you and Roger, almost annoyed - like she was sad she missed the show.

Artemis was a logical name choice - Apollo's twin in greek mythology - but the kid also got her strong will. She looked just like her father, big, round blue eyes and pink, full lips soon learned to express what she desired and complained when things seemed wrong in her perspective.

At the early age of three and with a reduced vocabulary, she convinced the two of you to get the smallest drum set you could find, and she tried to repeat her fathers movements on it, still too small for her tiny kit, but proud of the loud noises she made, hitting it recklessly.

Roger looked at it as if he was seeing a miracle.

The kids were raised primarily in London, but they spent some time in Montreux, when the band was recording, under their father's care, or on tour when you could stay with them - tour made the kids so confused about their whereabouts that it needed a conjoined effort - but now that the band was recording in London with no plans for long periods away, it was going to be interesting.

Apollo was just getting started in school, and soon it would be Artemis turn. They still had no dimension of their fathers - or their "uncles" - importance, but you and Roger talked about this, waiting for the day you'd have to explain your life for the kids, who you were before you were their parents.

You wondered if Apollo would think back on the time he went to dad's work and he was dressed as a woman - he couldn't recognize Roger when he was Rogerina while recording the video for I Want To Break Free until he took his wig off.

It was a better reaction than John's kids had, screaming in fear of the old, scary and tall lady that tried to pick them up.

The latest video recording was incredibly sweet, actually - it was for The Miracle, the single, and the band was going to be interpreted by 11 year olds. The kid that played Freddie was absolutely brilliant, mimicking all of his signature moves.

But it was the kid that played Roger who stole your heart.

As you watched the tiny Rog rehearse, you couldn't help but imagine Artemis hitting her drums - maybe in a few years, she'd be able to actually play something.

You also thought about Apollo, how he'd look like an even younger version of Roger if he was sitting on the stool, bouncing his curls and pouting in concentration.

You really loved the life you lived now, and when you looked back to all the drama that went between you and Roger so you could get here - two happy, fully realized people; and two great parents - you'd do it all again.

You kept thinking about it as the kid rehearsed Roger's part in the song, until you felt a familiar smell fill the air around you, and an arm snaking around your waist.

"Hello, beautiful stranger. Are you lost?", Roger whispered, his husky voice still able to give you chills.

"I am, actually. I can't find my husband, and I came here just to see him before work", you said.

"How did he get so lucky to have you?", he asks, and you turn around to kiss him.

"Actually, I'm his good luck charm", you say, pulling him closer to you.

He was ready for the shoot, so you felt bad when you broke the kiss and realized you transfered part of your lipstick to his lips.

"Shit, your makeup artist is going to kill me", you say, trying to wipe it away.

"It's fine", he says, kissing you again. "So I'm picking Apollo from school today, right?", he confirmed, and you nodded. It would always amaze you how you found your own level of responsibility, of the feared and dreaded domesticity, without losing the passion you had for each other. Taking it slow.

But now, back in the studio, you said goodbye to everyone, and followed Roger to a limo.

You always had your nights out - nights where you'd stay in a fancy hotel room just for the sake of being together in different ambiances. You two learned from your trip to Paris how it makes you more in love with each other, the new place making you fonder of what you know and love - in your case, Roger.

So when he popped open a bottle of champagne while you undressed, and once you were only in your lingerie, Roger took his own shirt off, knowing to pass it to you - a ritual, really.

You both went out, relaxed and comfortable, and enjoyed the view.

The Thames was below you, and you could see the entire city - if you tried, you could point where the bar you first met was, and Kensington Marked, and the first flat you shared. London was a huge part of your story.

"Let's make a toast", Roger said, and you nodded. "To what?", you asked, but you knew the answer.

You've been together for almost twenty years, now, so it's normal for you to know what to expect from Roger. But it doesn't feel boring - it feels like home.

"Us", he says.

Taglist:

@taylorroger-s @sarai-ibn-la-ahad @its-nessi @anamcg317 @frenchieswiftie @queen-danielle-dani-dan @minihemo @shutup-sorry @theyrealllegends @killerqueenisthebest @ashagracelove @hardy-s @fuckinghurricanesoul @secretsweetscollectionblog @mrswinterhater @11mb0 @tamtam-go92 @derptatosaur @brianandthemays @phantom-fangirl-stuff @the-hysterical-queen @rogerofmylife @notevenlxvely @discodeakyy @x1975sos @16wiishes @jennycidesstuff @partydulce @melros-e @onevisionliz

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thezomblr-blog1 · 5 years

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HAPPY ONE YEAR WRITING A FUCKED UP NOT-A-ZOMBIE DUDE

I'm following suit and doing my own #FollowForever to celebrate my one year on this blog (Which actually was April 30th Oops!) Just wanted to take some time to appreciate my ride or dies and friends I've made over the course of this year. I'm so glad I made the choice to give Tumblr RP a chance because I've met so many fantastic people and inspiring writers. Overall this RPC is incredible and deserves all the positivity I can possibly fling at it. I can't believe there are 649 following this trash fire. Thank you all for the support!! Every single one of you liking threads, fics, participating in events, and sending in asks means the absolute world.

RIDE OR DIES

@hellrager

Just as you started with me, there's no one else I could have started with but you. I was so shocked by how instantly we connected. Even before we talked OOC our writing meshed together so flawlessly without any prior plotting or discussion. We've always been on the same wavelength to the point it's almost creepy and yet in the same breath, we can still inspire and surprise each other with new ideas and plots. I never expected to find a friendship like this in the RPC, and so quickly. We've said this before but you are a breath of fresh air into my life and the first person I've been able to bond with so closely in a long ass time. Grim, you inspire me not only in terms of writing but also in my day to day life. I don't think you'll ever understand how much of a blessing you've been to me. You've given me the motivation to work harder, to constantly improve myself, and do better each and every day. You've empowered me to take control of my life and stop coasting through it mindlessly. Our relationship means so much to me and I gotta stop now or this whole post is going to end up being about how truly incredible you are. 🐱 ♥ 🐺

@youngsouthey This time I actually get to write a bit for you instead of someone I just watch from afar! It was my first Follow Forever that actually got us talking and contrasting how we both played Brian! I'm never going to forget that moment when your incredibly talented self told me that you admired me – when I was the one admiring your work. It felt like I had been noticed by a celebrity honestly. It was insane. I'm so glad that its spawned a solid friendship where we can sit and talk about our OCs for hours on end just shooting the shit. I cannot wait to see where another year takes us. God your art and writing ideas just take my breath away. It's honestly crazy to see how rapidly you keep improving. Just when I think your artwork can't get any better it does with the very next drawing or sketch and I have to pick my jaw up off the ground. Your artwork and headcanons made me feel so validated with my own (and I'm so glad to have someone else in Team Top Damien Bottom Brian – but you me and Grim go on about that for hours haha

@shadow-of-fear-and-doubt / @a-poisonous-gamble By now almost everyone has heard about how you were the first blog I encountered in the Monster Prom community. About how I was scared that I was going to be the only Monster Prom blog before we found each other and screamed about these idiots. I'm so proud of all the progress you've made personally and how you tackle challenges that come your way. A lot of other people would have let that defeat them or made them turn bitter. I admire your genuine positive attitude towards people around you. It's absolutely awesome.

@woofjock

Where would a Follow Forever list be without you? You've installed yourself as a centrepiece to this community from the get go. You've spent so much time and energy maintaining the Masterlist. You're constantly showering the dash with them positive vibes and reminders that the RPC tends to need more often than not. Not to mention your version of Scott is absolutely flawless. Brian and Scott have not gotten to interact as much as I would like but he will support him dating his purple eldritch daughter any day. One day our jobs will stop kicking our asses collectively and we'll be able to interact ahaha.

@zombfear / @d-e-lioncourt Honestly the best duplicate I could have asked for. I love how we forged a relationship between our Brian's that works so well for our canon. The idea of them as cousins is so fucking heartwarming and I want to make an effort to get more zombie cousins back on the dash again soon!! I also super miss your Liam and the 'dirty little secret' plot between Brian and Liam in their ship verse. Interactions with you are always so much fun to watch and take part in!

@hellrexgn / @gruselhigh

I don't think I have EVER seen a multimuse run so smoothly. You run the gold standard for multimuse blogs. How you keep interactions between all the muses even and active is just astounding and I only wish I had more energy to play with the ships we have concepts for because I love them all! Honestly, I do not know how you do it but other multimuse blogs should look to you as an example. You're so fun to chat and plot with or just talk stupid headcanons about their day to day. When things do go amiss in the plotting phase you are so easy to work with and have things rectified and it's never felt awkward or forced. I also LOVE that you indulge Grim and I with three-person threads! So many other people are scared of doing them, but I love that we can have our characters slip in and out of threads as they are needed. You're so accommodating and adaptable. I love it. Thank you for putting up with my shit.

@screvvedloose / @outofthemaiinstream

AAAAAHHH !! The relationship between Vicky and Brian is one of the most simultaneously heart wrenching and adorable thing I've written. The way you so readily took the role my Brian needed in his life is incredible and exactly what I pictured when I first conceptualized the headcanon and I'm so thrilled that you had a similar take on the relationship between these two! I also am a huge fan of your Liam and hope he and Brian will also get to interact more soon as what I've seen of them already is fantastic.

@loveyourfears

I think it's so rare and fantastic to see someone so invested in other people's storylines on the RPC – I think you were the Damien/Brian ship's original cheerleader on this blog and at some points Oz became the mouthpiece for what a lot of others in our captive audience were thinking at the time when Dame and Bri were torturing themselves. It's really good to see someone try to foster platonic connections and take part in being part of a cast of characters rather than the one on one stuff you see most often on the RPC. It's been cool to get to know you over the past year and here's to another year of fun times.

@spoiledfins / @idowatercolours / @revcnga I LOVE YOU! Even though you aren't active on Miri so much I still love your take on her and I've got a Brian/Miri ship with your name on it whenever you wanna start working towards it. I'm so glad we've started to get to know each other OOC because you make me laugh so fucking much. Your stories are fucking gold as is the cursed content you provide! I can't wait to get to know you better as I think this is the start of an amazing friendship.

MORE FANTASTIC PEOPLE (Lets Interact More I Love Your Shit)

#Follow Forever!#I know I've missed some people #it's 4AM #catch me adding more when I wake up ahaha #sneakily putting this up when everyone's sleeping >>#this way they can't assault me in discord #added some people I interact with over on Nate too :P

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libralita · 5 years

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Week of Bookblr - Top 5 Best Books of 2018

So, while I did read some really bad books there were also some really great books this year. I actually narrowed my list down to the top five books that I thought were really great. So without further ado let’s get into my top 5 books of 2018

#5 Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Shusterman always has these great premises and this book is no exception. In this world humanity has basically cured death. The only threat is overpopulation so you have these people called Scythes who’s job it is to maintain the population. Shusterman some how figured out my greatest irrational fear is immortality so that’s terrifying. Along with a creepy AI, some really great characters, and an appropriately asshole-ish villain this book deserves the number five spot. Rest in peace Shawn Dobson.

#4 Fullmetal Alchemist Vol. 8 by Hiromu Arakawa:

Words cannot describe how much I love Fullmetal Alchemist the series. It probably the closest thing to a perfect series. I absolutely adored it and my favorite volume of this series was the penultimate Volume 8 (the omnibus version). First of all the van Hohenheim and Father stuff was amazing. I love seeing Mustang’s crew and the Briggs troops take over the city. It is so cool how clever these characters are. Mustang going absolutely nuts with Envy and that talk was so beautiful. Then when Mustang apologizes to Riza, I just teared up. It had my second favorite fight scene with Greed and Wrath. So awesome to see Greed and Ling work together. But it also had the best fight scene in the entire series which is when the Armstrong siblings and Curtis couple fight against Sloth. I did not know I wanted to see these four characters fight together but it was the most epic thing I have ever seen. I loved it so much. It was bad ass and powerful and SO AMAZING! I loved it.

#3 The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick:

I read and listened to this on audiobook and it was unbelievable. It was a mixture of the wonderful writing and the sound design that made this story come to life. Selznick was a new to me author and I so happy that I found his books. This one especially was whimsical and charming. It had beautiful artwork. The characters felt so real and it was so heartwarming. This is something that you need to read when you’re feeling down and need to put a smile on your face. It’s a classic in the making.

#2 Skyward by Brandon Sanderson

Yeah, yeah I have to put Brandon Sanderson on this list. I think the real shocker is that he isn’t number one on this list. Nothing this year really felt like it deserved the number one spot. Legion and White Sand Vol. 2 were both five star stories but I think Skyward is the best that he published this year.

The reason that this book does deserve to be on this list is the characters, especially Spensa. If you saw my Top 5 Worst of the year list you’ll see that I hate overly aggressive main characters. When I first read this book, I had the kneejerk reaction to hate Spensa. She was aggressive and violent. However, I actually really liked Spensa. I cannot believe it. Brandon Sanderson took the trope that I hate the most and made it something I liked. I’ve talked with other people who HATE this trope as well and they were shocked at how well Spensa’s character was handled.

I think there are three reasons why Spensa works. First is that she is given a logical reason for acting this way. First when she’s young it’s more child-like and then as she gets older it’s because she’s an outcast in this society for what her father did. Second, it’s a lot of talk. She generally never really physically hurts anyone. She’s never really mean. There’s no mean-spirited-ness to her. Third, and this is the most important thing: she is not automatically great at flying. Spensa loves flying and wants to do it more than anything in this world. But she is not automatically amazing at it. She has to work her butt off to become great. Which not only ties into the theme of meritocracy but also shows a character having to work for things.

I also really loved most of the side characters. Jorgen was a tad bland for me, I hope that we get to see a little more of him, maybe even add his own POV chapters. I was really sad when someone either left flight school or died (and man do a lot of characters die in this). The story is portrayed very realistically to how you’d think flight school would work. It also gave Spensa a chance to grow and realize how dangerous this path could be. M-Bot is obviously the best character. He funny, sarcastic and an obvious self-insert.

#1 The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I am so mad at myself for waiting so long to read this absolutely brilliant book. This book is about a girl living in Nazi Germany where her adoptive family hides a Jewish man in their basement. I know, so uplifting! This story is absolutely heartbreaking (no surprise there). Towards the end I was just crying nonstop at everything that happened.

First of all Zusak really humanizes the Germans, even those who belong to the Nazi party. He doesn’t make them all evil and cruel. All of these characters are human beings. These are people who are just trying to survive and you really feel for all of them. This plays into the Death being the narrator. Death does not discriminate and thus he can have an objective point of view when it comes to what is going on. He is so alien yet relatable. Despite being Death he brings some light heartedness to this story. Zusak pulls no punches. When Liesels parents die it is the saddest thing imaginable. I am tearing up right now as I write this. Zusak made me feel like I too had lost someone. It is so heartbreaking. I am glad that Max had lived and found Liesel. It was the most beautiful thing.

This book is truly a classic. A book that will never leave me and that why it deserves the number one spot.

#2018 #Top 5 Best #Week of Bookblr #WoB #Bookblr #Scythe #Arc of a Scythe #Neal Shusterman #Fullmetal Alchemist #Hiromu Arakawa #The Invention of Hugo Cabret #Brian Selznick #skyward #Brandon Sanderson #The Book Thief #Markus Zusak

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cardandpixel · 4 years

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...and 2 I forgot..

Hey happy gamesters, in yesterday’s post I banged on about 8.5 games that I always grab to take to (now imaginary) game evenings, but crucially (and mainly because they were sat on another shelf when my addled brain was listing them) I missed out 2 other games that also (used to) go with us just about everywhere. In some respects, they are probably guilty of their own familiarity, so I’m not entirely to blame....

IN A BIND (now Yogi) - Stuff By Bez Behrooz Shahriari Apx £9 In the olden days, if we wanted to get all physically twisty and generally uncomfortable, we’d either go to Yoga run by our sadist friend Nigel, or play the classic game for making folk who don’t know each other well and yet physically engage with them more than on a 5th date, Twister. What Bez has done with the brilliant and hilarious In A Bind is to distill down what was funny and engaging about Twister, and yet strip away that uncomfortable grinding with a stranger. I’ve written much more about the brilliant Bez and her games here, but in essence, In A Bind is a set of cards which demand of the player to make life difficult for themselves, such as “Place this card between thumb and forefinger” or “Cover your left eye” or my most feared one “Elbow above shoulder” (honestly, try it, it’s a nightmare). In the next round, you draw another card (if you still can) and crucially must still fulfill all the criteria of your previous cards. This quickly gets out of hand (NPI) and has in past games led to people getting on tables, under tables, cards in clothing, under glasses, tucked into bra straps - you get the idea. For the picky, In A Bind does rely on some degree of trust to ensure that everyone is still keeping track of what all their cards say, but honestly - no-one cares. Everyone will be laughing so hard and having so much fun, that it just doesn’t matter. Most folk will take the cards waaay further than they were intending, and strangely often make life actually more difficult for themselves than less. Simple rule, if you drop a card, you’re out. This can be a blessed relief sometimes and so this is the ONE game where I break my golden rule that I hate elimination games. Going out allows you to sit back, relax, rub on your favourite muscular salve and just carry on watching your friends keep torturing themselves more than a session with a physiotherapist called Patricia with a chip on her shoulder about why Brian left her for a dental hygienist. What Bez has created with In A Bind is a stroke of no minor genius. It is a game that immediately engages everyone round the table; doesn’t make anyone feel emotionally uncomfortable (unlike the bumping and grinding in Twister); doesn’t overstay its welcome, and will genuinely leave you with some of the happiest gaming memories you will ever have. The first time we played In A Bind was at UKGE a few years ago: we couldn’t find a table one evening for love nor money and so we ended up with a group of us (some we knew, some we didn’t) in a corridor near the bar, and we just went for it. Very soon we were all doubled up and helpless with laughter and looking like we were all auditioning for Quasimodo roles at Disneyland, and John Robertson (The Dark Room) wandered past. I know John, he’s a lovely and gloriously strange guy, and he looked at the scene, looked me in the eye and quietly said “You guys are weird” - yes, this game prompted John ‘Ya Die Ya Die’ Robertson to call someone else weird. It’s a great game, and deserves to go down as an utter classic. Sidebar: A while ago, In A Bind got picked up by Gigamic and re-released as Yogi, but I have a feeling if you find Bez at cons (and you really should meet Bez, she’s one of the loveliest people in gaming!) you might still be able to win one of the rare original versions with Bez’s brilliant handdrawn artwork. Bez has the best competitions and booths at any con.

COCKROACH POKER - Devir Jacques Zeimet apx £8 I was first introduced to this devious little whelp of a game again, in the bar at UKGE (why do so many games come from random meetings?) several years ago, and it has become a staple of games evenings ever since. It has also become a nemesis of a game between me and muh good friend Dave. I love that I have friends who know me massively well, but it does make playing games sometimes intensely difficult - especially bluffing games, and bluffing is pretty much the modus operandi of Cockroach Poker. The premise is simple, players have a hand of bug cards and must try and give their cards away. This can be done honestly, or ideally by lying thru your teeth about what you are handing off. Players may call you out immediately, if they are wrong, they keep the card and place it in front of themselves, if they’re right, you keep it. They may also pass the card to another player and so on. If you end up with 4 of any one bug type in front of you, you’re out. It’s brilliantly tense, usually hilarious, and refreshingly short, maybe 10-15mins per game. It’s one of those games you don’t just drop in a bag, but take with you almost everywhere. Dave knows my most hated phrase is “Paul, this is a scorpion” because it always is, unless it isn’t. It’s cheap, it’s hilarious, the artwork is great and sufficiently abstract and cartoon-y that I don’t think I’ve ever known an otherwise bug-phobic player to have a problem, but it’s worth considering. Both these games are brilliant, pack a real game punch for a tiny investment of both money or time, and have years of replayability. I’d recommend both of them highly for pockety goodness. Sidebar: Please note, if you are following the link to my previous article on Bez, since writing that article some years ago, I have become aware of a change in Bez’s personal pronoun and therefore the older article features what is now an error. I must apologise to Bez for this, and if I can find the original article to correct it I will, but apologise for the error until then! Sorry Bez! Happy gaming y’all

#cockroachpoker #boardgaming #inabind #bez #poker #fun

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httpsung · 7 years

Text

I’ll build you a garden of memories

pairing: reader x dowoon

genre: isshuukan friends au, fluff?/angst?

word count: 2,426

note: just another anime inspired something because i’m trash :’)

Will you be my friend?

Can we be friends?

These two lines were well rehearsed in the deepest depths of your mind and finally, you were going to work up the courage to spill either one to a person who deserved it most. He was a beautiful mystery, looming in a cloud of dark and heavy rain, avoiding the light that was everyone around him. His words, though few each time someone spoke to him, were often cold like his eyes, projecting a dreary overcast that refused to let the sunshine in. There was never a smile to decorate his pink lips, never a laugh to slip past them.

The fact that his expression always remained aloof had you wondering if the boy you knew as Yoon Dowoon was void of all emotion, an empty shell just moseying his way through life. That had to be lonely, right?

He's so mean. He thinks he's better than us. Yoon Dowoon is a waste of looks.

Your classmates were cruel with their speech and it frustrated you to hear such things when you knew they hadn't put forth the effort to say something more than a simple “hello” to the solitary boy. You, however, were going to be the person that said more than just “hi” and set a new goal the moment you found out he shared classes with you for the third year in a row.

Dowoon was going to become your friend.

You never understood what happened to him over the years, in the beginning of your high school life he seemed so popular, well known by every freshman and even the upperclassmen knew his name. As time went on those who hung out with him diminished to the point where hardly anyone looked his way, but maybe you could get him to look at you just once.

It was a sunny afternoon, the lunch bell had just rung, signaling for seniors to go off to the cafeteria to enjoy lunch. Dowoon never showed himself during this time but you had an idea of where he might have gone every lunch period. You caught him sneaking off to the west corridor assuming he was heading to the school garden where a lonely tree stood tall among the flowers.

You prepacked a lunch from the night before, and though it was probably horrible in taste since you weren’t the best cook, you were determined to eat it while sitting side by side with him. You found Dowoon sitting under the tree in the garden, sandwich in hand as he kept his gaze on the moving clouds, he hadn’t noticed you approaching.

“Um…” Your hesitant voice caught his attention, his dark eyes settling on you as you inched closer to him. His gaze made you nervous suddenly, you were so confident in approaching him a few minutes ago, but his eyes pierced you as though he was peering straight through your soul. You cleared your throat and your nervous thoughts, dropping your eyes to the ground.

“Hey Dowoon, I’m Y/n… from class.” That was stupid, he probably knew your name for being stuck in the same class together for so long. “I saw you sitting out here and it looked like you needed some company so here I am!” You spoke more confidently, lifting your gaze to meet his but found him gone. You turned around to see the boy walking away from you silently without giving you a second glance.

You bit your lip and hurried after him, grabbing the sleeve of his sweater, making him turn to look at you. His stare sent chills slithering down your spine but you weren’t going to let the coldness he exuded freeze you.

“I just want to be friends!” You blurted out your intentions so early on, making him raise his brows, painting a look of surprise on his sharp features. In that moment, you could feel the heat rising in your cheeks, awkwardness in the air as you cringed, waiting for his reply. Dowoon’s lips parted to mutter a simple “sorry” without explanation, leaving you a bit sad but even more curious to why he denied you so easily.

This wasn’t the time to give up.

The next day you found him in the same spot at the same time, eating another sandwich. You approached him and sat down, rustling through your brown paper bag for the Pb & j you made, biting into it with a hum.

“The weather is so nice, today right?” You smiled while you ate, not ready to look over at him just yet. There was silence lingering until you heard him sigh, watching him put down his food. Dowoon turned his head to look at you, the wind lightly blowing his fringe.

“Listen Y/n….” He said this was the first time he had ever spoken your name.

“I can’t be friends with you… it just can’t happen.” He stated, turning his attention away.

After being rejected twice most people would just quit and deem him as the uncaring meanie who only worried about himself, but still there was a feeling deep down that urged you not to lose to his words.

“I don’t understand why… but if it’s something you’re not comfortable in talking about then I won’t question why you can’t be friends with me.” You gave him a thin smile, nodding your head.

“Thanks.” He replied, picking up his food again.

“But… if you don’t mind it, could I eat here again? You don’t have to call me a friend... but I’d like to just sit here and eat too, I don’t mind the silence.” Your smile stretched further across your lips, while he stared at you curiously, shrugging his shoulders.

“If you want… it’s not like this place is mine alone.” He added, leaving your heart warm and thumping with joy.

“Briaaaannn!” You squealed as you entered your classroom, waking up the boy who had his head buried against his desk.

“You’re loud… shut up.” His response was not unusual, words like that were at the pillar of your friendship.

“Guess who I had lunch with!?” You shook his arm, making him raise his head with a sleepy glare.

“If I say I don’t care will you let me finish my nap? I have about...” Brian paused to pull out his cell phone checking the time.

“Five minutes left until class starts again…” He yawned, his head falling back to his desk.

“No, you should already know the answer.” You sighed in content leaning back in your seat.

“I had lunch with Dowoon and though he didn’t speak much, he’s definitely not as mean as everyone thinks he is.” You smiled at the thought of the boy, recalling your time under the shade of the tree you two sat under, enjoying the quiet.

Brian turned his head toward you, eyes opening again to give you a curious stare.

“Congratulations, you made progress.” He said with another yawn following. Brian half-heartedly supported your enthusiasm on making new friends, even if it was with someone he didn’t particularly care for.

“Thanks!” You smiled with a nod, proud of your small accomplishment. You hoped that one day soon Dowoon would open up a little more to those around him.

The next day during lunch, you found Dowoon drawing instead of eating. When you sat down next to him you noticed him shrink away concealing his artwork and you respected that he didn’t want you to see it. He drew in silence and you ate your meal, humming a tune that had been in your head all day while you admired the flowers, your eyes missing how his dark irises scanned over your every detail while his pencil moved against the paper.

It was the third day during midday when Dowoon finally made conversation with you, his deep voice sending warm vibrations directly to your chest.

“What’s your favorite subject…?” His ears were red as he spoke and you wondered if he was a little shy.

“Umm... literature! You?” You grinned, taking a bite of a doughnut, you brought from home. Dowoon looked as if he was pondering your answer before he answered in return.

“Hm, art…” He nodded, looking over at the sketch pad sitting next to him.

“I’d love to see your artwork if you’re ever comfortable with showing me.”

You didn’t expect Dowoon to open his sketchbook so quickly and reveal to you a set of creative drawings consisting of the garden scenery and even the interior of the school. He was so talented it almost made you envious.

“Woah!” You exclaimed, startling him a bit with how loud you were.

“Sorry!” You apologized with a giggle. “You’re really good.” You leaned in close to absorb every aspect of his pencil sketches.

“Thank you for sharing these with me.” You beamed. Dowoon nodded slowly, cheeks burning. You were something else, trying to slowly drag him out of his shell and he could feel himself each day appreciate your presence more even if he didn’t express it well. It was nice having someone by his side again, at least for a bit.

It was a calm evening, the soft glow of a lamp located at his bedside highlighted his features in the dark. Dowoon sat on the edge of his bed, eyes brimming with tears as he stared at his calendar on the door. Tomorrow marked the end of school for the week, bringing on the weekend which would soon fade into Monday. And that’s when he would forget. Dowoon would lose all good memories he made during the week, each minute he spent with you or anyone else would be wiped clear from his mind as if it never existed.

His life for the last three years had been a constant cycle of reset and it hurt, which is why he no longer let anyone get close to him.

“I’m sorry.” He mumbled an apology with the thought of you in his mind, it was time for him to repair the walls you had quickly managed to break through.

The following day was bleak, gray skies were accompanied by small breezes of wind, but it wasn’t too much of a downer to keep you from the garden at lunch time, technically there weren’t any weather reports of rain. You spotted Dowoon standing this time, his back facing you as he stared up at the tree, and you wondered what he was doing, or even thinking about.

You approached him and he glanced over his shoulder at you.

“Stop.” His icy voice had you freezing in your tracks.

“I don’t want you here.” He turned his gaze back to the tree, bitterness dripping from his tone.

“I seriously want to be left alone from now on Y/n…, so please don’t come out here. I can’t make friends no matter how much I want to…” He muttered.

You stared at him, his posture seemed so defeated and he gave off a sadness that had your brows creasing in concern. For the last few days, you assumed you were making progress in befriending him and now it seemed like everything was drifting back to square one. You stood silently, still trying to form the right words to combat his dismissal of you.

“Each Monday…” Dowoon began speaking again, this time he turned around to look you in the eyes.

“My memories of those who try to get close to me disappear. I reset without wanting to, leaving people too freaked out to want to be near me.” He exhaled.

“That’s so unreal.” You responded, what he was saying was preposterous. A person’s memories resetting was something you’ve never heard of before, it was unimaginable.

You let Dowoon walk away from you after that and it was the first time you decided to give up for once.

“Are you really giving up on him?” You listened to Brian’s disembodied voice over the phone as you laid in bed, sighing.

“Definitely not like you Y/n.” He added. You could hear loud sounds blaring from the other end which meant he was playing his evening video games.

“The vibe I got from him this time was serious Brian... the other times he shot me down it was different.” You whined.

“But remember, I can’t make friends no matter how much I want to,” Brian repeated what you told him earlier, his voice mimicking Dowoon’s deep tone as best he could.

“He wants to make friends, but there has to be something keeping him from doing so and if memory loss is it, then believe him.” Brian always offered you the best advice. He did well at lifting you up from a sea of misery and doubts and he was a reason why you kept pushing forward and remaining positive in any given situation.

“You’re right. Come Monday I’ll try again and take things slow. I just don’t want him to feel alone...everyone needs a friend.”

Dowoon opened his eyes, raising his head from his desk. He had gotten to school early enough to prolong sleep and now his classmates were beginning to file into the room. He got out his books in preparation for class to start, flipping open his sketch pad accidentally. He noticed a picture perfectly drawn of a girl in the garden that he didn’t remember ever drawing before. The male recognized her as his classmate but he couldn’t recall any time spent with her.

A result of his memory resetting.

“Dowoon!” A voice called out to him. He jerked his head around quickly to see you standing there but he was confused. He had never spoken to you before so why were you speaking to him?

When your eyes met your heart stopped Dowoon stared at you as if he was meeting a stranger and slowly the realization from his words last week really settled in, you believed him now.

His eyes were genuine enough that it pierced you and it was saddening knowing he had to live with forgetting anything good to happen to him.

“Uh… what do you want...?” Dowoon asked, one brow raised as he waited for your reply.

You flashed him a broad smile and shook away the melancholy that almost grabbed hold of you.

“Yoon Dowoon, will you be my friend?”

If Dowoon’s memory resets each week, you didn’t mind becoming his friend repeatedly.

No matter what you were going to build him a garden of memories and help him remember everything little by little.

#day6writersnet #dowoon #yoon dowoon #day6 #day6 scenarios #editing sucks so I quit ba-dum tssss

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jim-reid · 7 years

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Jesus and Mary Chain's Jim Reid Talks New Album, “Depressing” New Bands, and That Line About Killing Kurt Cobain

march 8 2017

“People seemed more interested in listening to bands that sounded like the Mary Chain, but nobody seemed to be more interested in the people from the Mary Chain, you know?”

On March 24, the Jesus and Mary Chain will release their first new album since 1998’s Munki. It’s called Damage and Joy, and it was recorded with producer Youth (who also contributed bass). Along with core members Jim and William Reid, the album features the band’s touring drummer Brian Young and former Lush bassist Phil King. It’s now been confirmed that the album also features Sky Ferreira, Isobel Campbell (formerly of Belle & Sebastian), and the Reid brothers’ sister Linda.

So far, the band have shared two songs from the album: “Always Sad,” a duet with guest vocalist Bernadette Denning, and “Amputation,” which is a re-recording of Jim Reid’s solo track “Dead End Kids.” Another track, “All Things Pass,” appeared, in an earlier version (as “All Things Must Pass”) on the 2008 soundtrack to NBC’s “Heroes.” All told, seven of the album’s 14 songs have previously been released in other forms.

Jim Reid talked to Pitchfork over the phone earlier today about Ferreira’s role on the record, his relationship with his brother, a lyrical reference on the album to killing Kurt Cobain, why the album features so many re-recorded songs, and why the album’s artwork is a bowl of alphabet soup.

The first question on most people’s minds is, respectfully, what took so long?

Jim Reid: Several things, really. I suppose when the band got back together in 2007 I wasn’t totally sure that I wanted to get back in the studio again. Because my memories of the studio had been the recording of Munki. And that was a very painful record to make. I mean, I love the album. I think it didn’t suffer. But it was a low point for us in terms of our relationship—I think everybody’s aware of that—William and I.

I guess I just kept making excuses, reasons why not to, and I hadn’t realized how much time had passed. And then people kept just saying, “When’s this record ever gonna come out?” Suddenly I realized, “This is becoming a bit of a joke.” So I thought, let’s either make a record or tell people we’re not gonna make a record, one or the other. And I went to William and I said “I’m ready to do it now, so, let’s.” And that was a couple of years ago.

In 2015, you said you and William disagreed on things like where to record this and how to record it. How did you end up reconciling on that stuff?

There was a feeling of it’s kind of now or never. If we don’t do this record soon, I don’t think there’s gonna be a record. And I just thought, well, look, I want to have a record out. I don’t want to just go out and do the back catalog forever. And I thought, well, whatever it takes, let’s make it work. And I went into it with that attitude. I didn’t really sit down and talk to William about it but I think we both realized as well that if we were to go into the studio and screw it up over petty bickering that it would have been a massive opportunity that we’d blown. The kind of World War III in the studio that I had almost been having a nervous breakdown about didn’t materialize. Actually, we kind of bonded and got on quite well.

For Munki, I understand you and William recorded separately from each other. How did the process go this time? Where did you record it?

We recorded at various places but mostly at the producer Youth’s place in Spain. He has a studio in Spain. Well, it’s a house with a studio in it. We did a couple of tracks at his place in London just to see if the whole idea was gonna work. It did. So then we went to Spain to do most of it and that’s pretty much where it was recorded.

Were you and William both recording at the same time?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. With the exception of the fact that there was a producer involved it was pretty much the way it used to be in the early days. It was just me and Wiliam just getting on with it. And there was no arguing and it was all pretty productive. Like the old days. No matter whose song it was, anyone was free to pitch in any ideas or rearrange it. Basically it was all very open. If you had an idea, you didn’t feel you were stepping on anybody’s toes.

Photo by Steve Gullick

There were a number of female guest vocalists. Sky Ferreira, for example, appears on “Black and Blue.” How did you guys get in touch with her?

She came to see the band a couple of times in America a couple of years ago. It turns out she’s a fan. We were just getting the album together, and we realized there were a lot of duets. So we started asking our friends, ‘Well, who do you think we should get?’ And she had just done a vocal with Primal Scream. So we had asked Bobby [Gillespie, once the Jesus and Mary Chain’s drummer in addition to singing with Primal Scream], who do you think we should get to sing on our record, and obviously he said Sky, so, of course, why not? So we asked, and she was keen, and she did a fine job.

Did she come out to Spain?

She was in Budapest doing a movie, and I just flew out there with the—well, not the tapes, because there are no tapes anymore—and had the files sent out there, so I just recorded her vocal and flew back with it.

The lyrics on that song are pretty intense: “I don’t have nothing to give, but if I could I’d give my heartbeat.”

It’s just one of those. It’s supposed to be kind of doomed lovers with nowhere to go. It’s a suicide pact kind of thing, we could die in the morning. I don’t really like to talk too much about lyrics because I like people to use a bit of their imagination. The reason I say that is that I’ve loved songs for years by other people and then I’ve read an interview where they told you what the song’s about and you think, ‘Oh god, that’s not what I thought it was about.’ There should be a bit of mystery about a song.

On the subject of guest vocalists, Isobel Campbell sings on two songs on the record.

We’d never met, we don’t know her, but we’re fans of her music and her voice, and we just thought she would be a perfect fit for the Mary Chain. All it takes is a phone call. We found out how to get in touch with her, called her up, and luckily she said she’d do it.

There’s also Bernadette Denning, and—

Bernadette Denning—most people say “who the hell is Bernadette Denning?” And the reason there’s no hits when you look on Google is that she’s not a professional singer. That's William’s girlfriend. She’s never been in a band, she’s never sung on a record. So that’s why nobody knows who she is. But she has been touring with us the last couple of years, singing “Just Like Honey” with me at the end of the show.

How did it affect the process knowing that the Mary Chain is such a signpost to other bands nowadays, the way that maybe the Velvet Underground, the Stones, or the Beach Boys once were to you?

Sometimes people mention things like that to me, but it’s not all that apparent to me or William. And it doesn't really matter to us. The way we make records now, or this record now, is for the same reason we’ve always made records. We just wanted to make a record that sounds great to us and if anybody else likes it, that’s fantastic, but if nobody else likes it then we’ll just have to deal with that. That’s how we make records. That's how we made Psychocandy. We made a record that was the best possible record that we could think of at that time. And that’s how we’ve continued throughout our career, just make a record that sounds good to us, and hope for the best.

When you were starting to work on this, you said that maybe it was a “more mature” sound for the band. In what ways, do you think?

I’m not really sure. I mean, I’m not really sure that it is. [laughs] It’s just the Mary Chain, really. I mean, if it’s a more mature sound then it’s probably because we’re more mature people, I suppose. To me it just sounds like a continuation from where we left off. It’s not like we’ve come back sounding like a different band. It sounds unmistakably Mary Chain. It sounds as if Munki ended and this begins, it doesn’t sound that far removed, and that was intentional. We wanted to make it as close as we could make to a classic Mary Chain album. It’s up to the listener to decide whether we’ve succeeded.

Several of these songs you’ve put out either solo, with your sister’s project Sister Vanilla, or with your other project Freeheat. How did you make them make sense for the Mary Chain?

Well, those really should have been Mary Chain songs, and the Mary Chain really shouldn’t have broken up. Those songs were recorded at a time when I was rather the worse for wear. A lot of them came out sounding like demos, I think. I just didn’t want to waste those songs, and I wanted them to come out under the umbrella of the Mary Chain. I wanted those songs to be part of our set. They finally got the treatment they deserved as far as I’m concerned.

On the very first track, “Amputation,” you sing about feeling “like a rock’n’roll amputation.” What do you mean by that?

At the time the song was written, that’s the way it felt. It felt as if no one was interested in anything me or William had to say. It felt as though people seemed more interested in listening to bands that sounded like the Mary Chain, but nobody seemed to be more interested in the people [laughs] from the Mary Chain, you know? It felt like we were in exile. Rock’n’roll amputation, that’s exactly what I felt like. I was probably quite far into the bottle at that time. Maybe it was all in my head. I don’t know.

Do you have any favorites of the newer bands that sound like the Mary Chain?

I kind of don’t stay in tune with what’s going on. Any time I listen to what’s going on in the music scene, it kind of depresses me, to be honest with you. I don’t hear a lot that I like. And I figure that if the best band in the world is gonna come along, I will hear them eventually. I might get there after everybody else, but somebody will bring the best thing since sliced bread to my attention. But I can’t be bothered going to gigs or listening to radio or keeping up with what everybody’s up to at the moment. I've got thousands and thousands of albums, and I don’t need any more, to be honest.

Again, with lyrics, I think this is William’s song, but on “Simian Split,” I think people are going to notice: “I killed Kurt Cobain/I put the shot right through his brain.” Is that sort of calling back to “Reverence” from Honey’s Dead where you sing, “I wanna die just like JFK”?

It may sound silly, but it’s playful. It’s fiction. It’s total fiction. It’s not meant to be taken too seriously. It’s just a work of fiction, and people shouldn’t get too het up about it.

This feels like a callback too, to “Kill Surf City” [off 1987’s Darklands, where Reid sings, “I hate my honey and she hates me”], but on “Facing Up to the Facts”: “I hate my brother and he hates me.”

It’s just talking about one day thinking about how come it is that we’re still around after all these years. And that’s what it is. The friction between William and me is what’s kept the band going. In fact, it’s both been a blessing and a curse. Obviously it makes it difficult to have just a normal relationship with your brother. But it’s good for the band. There’s a lot of creative material that comes out of that fucked up relationship.

Truth be told, we love each other, but there are times that we actually hate each other. I guess that’s the same with all brothers. But what it is, if you chuck a couple of siblings in a band—a band can be a very claustrophobic environment, and if you’ve got two brothers, it can get brutal. Because brothers fight in a way that, if it’s just your friends, you’ll say a couple of things but you'll back off. When it’s your brother, there’s no backing off. It was never particularly physically violent, but it was just the screaming and the things said were rather shocking to those that were around us that had to witness all that shit.

What’s the story behind the cover art for the album? The alphabet soup?

[Laughs] I just liked that alphabetic spaghetti as we call it in this country. I took that photo myself. That’s my bowl and my table and my house.

#interview

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chaos-and-recover · 7 years

Note

you know what, just do all the fuckin music asks. ALL OF THEM

ALL OF THEM.

LIKE I HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO

(I don’t)

1: name 11 bands you listen to regularly

AFI

Anberlin

The Rocket Summer

July Talk

Take That

Lucky Boys Confusion

Jimmy Eat World

The Gaslight Anthem

Paramore, lately, I guess

Dreamcar

Blaqk Audio

2: is there a band with only one song you like?

I really never got SUPER into Underoath beyond A Boy Brushed Red... but MAN that song goes hard

3: what is a very unpopular band you're into? tell a little bit about them

Unpopular as in no one knows who they are, or unpopular as in... they’re kind of a joke and no one takes them seriously/admits to liking them? The former would be July Talk, who are my darlings and one of the best live bands I’ve ever seen. The chemistry between the two singers is UNREAL. They’re like... indie rock but sometimes kinda bluesy? Also they’re all my faves, their guitarist spends 90% of his time on twitter retweeting people talking shit about them and their drummer is the purest ever and just uses Instagram for his birding photography, I love him. The latter, a band no one admits to like/no one takes seriously/are pretty much a fucking meme are the Plain White T’s but LISTEN!!!!! I’ve been listening to them since 2002, they are so much more than Hey There Delilah, they’re my boys and I love them.

4: name a great band you recently discovered

I’m kinda really big on Creeper right now. Go listen to Misery. Do it. I’ll wait.

5: which rare recording of any band would you like to possess?

I don’t know if it like, actually counts/if there are recordings in existence but listen there are songs written BY Fall Out Boy FOR One Direction that were considered “too weird” for them and I’ve never needed to hear any specific songs more in my life.

6: is there an artist whose solo career you prefer over their work with their band(s)?

I prefer Justin Timberlake to N Sync because those battle lines were drawn when I was 12 years old and I chose BSB. I OBVIOUSLY made the right choice but man, solo JT is the shit.

7: which is you favourite side project by any band member?

Blaqk Audio. But I also really like Brian Fallon’s solo album but I think that’s just... his project now, I don’t think Gaslight Anthem is a thing anymore.

8: which song do you think should everybody listen to at least once in their lives?

Hear me out -- it’s the Neverending Story theme song by Limahl. I FUCKING LOVE THE NEVERENDING STORY MORE THAN MOST THINGS. (also the New Found Glory cover is A+++)

9: explain why your favourite song is your favourite song

I don’t really know what my favourite song is, like, of all time. As a kid it was probably Forever Young by Alphaville and I can’t really explain why except that instrumental bit at the end is amazing (also ask @sinceubeenjon about how I feel about the One Direction cover because... I love it. I’m not ashamed). My favourite like... not-embarrassing song is probably “Falling Slowly” because I also love the shit out of Once, and it’s like 7 years later and I’m still obsessed with it winning the Oscar over three Disney songs, it’s the greatest underdog story of all time. And I’m in love with Glen Hansard.

10: any bands you got into after seeing them live?

So okay my love of the Plain White T’s (which started after I saw them open for Jimmy Eat World, so there’s one) meant that for a LONG time I was seeing them open for other bands or as part of really weird lineups and because of them I got into The Rocket Summer, Lucky Boys Confusion and, recently, Set It Off. I also got into Anberlin in 2003 when they opened a show I went to and they went on to be one of the most important bands in the world to me (and then ruined my life by leaving me forever in 2014 but IT’S FINE I’M FINE)

11: any bands your friends got you into?

I guess I can count Jacques who got me into Creeper lmao. Also in high school my friend Shannon fell in love with the first Taking Back Sunday album and gave copies to EVERYBODY, so there’s that one, and I fucking love that album (kiiiiiinda fallen off them lately but damn that was a good record.)

12: a band which is the only band from their genre you like?

I don’t regularly listen to all that much hip hop but I adore clipping. so I guess they count.

13: an unpopular opinion on which is your favourite song by any band?

Listen, all you former emo kids are dead wrong about MCR, Welcome To The Black Parade is not their best song, it’s obviously Headfirst for Halos or You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison or Helena like... anything off Three Cheers. Also like as recently as last week I was thinking about a band where the die-hard fans all pretend to hate their most popular song and wanted to say we can all admit it’s fucking great, let’s not be too cool for it but I CAN’T REMEMBER WHAT BAND OR SONG THAT WAS ANYMORE. I REMEMBERED WHO IT WAS IT WAS JIMMY EAT WORLD AND THE SONG WAS THE MIDDLE. FUCK Y’ALL THAT’S A GREAT DAMN SONG.

14: _th favourite song by your _th favourite band?

This one needs more direction I think I need a number to answer with?? It also seems like it would require a LOT of thought.

15: _th favourite album by your _th favourite band?

SEE ABOVE.

16: favourite album artwork?

MxPx - Life In General. I’ll fight you on this. I love that album cover. Although Glassjaw - Worship & Tribute had a bad ass minimalist design too.

17: favourite booklet design?

It doesn’t feel like this should be my real answer but I both love and hate what Anberlin did with Lowborn, from the cover variants (I have all of them and they’re framed with a signed one in the middle because I am GARBAGE) and the band photo on the back of it with like an obituary type layout. It hurts my soul but I like it too.

18: favourite concept album?

Showbread’s Anorexia & Nervosa albums were INCREDIBLE but then everyone hated them because no one likes when bands take risks for some reason??? and it made them bitter as hell and they called everyone out on their next album lmao I miss them. Also Boys Night Out’s Trainwreck was really good and someone made it into a stage show I want to see so badly.

19: which bands would you like to see live one day?

I think I’ve actually gotten to see almost every band I would ever want to but there are a handful of boybands I never got to see because they never made it over here that I’d like to. A1 and 5ive mostly. I don’t care. I’d go hard for them.

20: which was the longest concert you ever attended?

Like in terms of a single artist’s set fucking Eric Church played for three and a half goddamn hours on his last tour. C’mon man I don’t have that kind of energy. Good show though.

21: a musician whose music you enjoy but whom you dislike as a person or vice versa?

So uh... Stephen Christian from Anberlin SORT OF falls into this because obviously I love him??? and I love Anberlin and I love Anchor & Braille but MY DUDE I cannot do the worship album he just released. Can’t. Sorry. Not for me.

Also, there used to be the concept of “Good Guys Bad Band” thrown around the scene a lot, and I very strongly associate it with Simple Plan because it SEEMS LIKE THEY GOT HIT WITH IT A LOT and honestly? Those guys are/were the best. I can’t really speak to it now but like 15 years ago when they were starting out, they were rad as hell. SUPER nice, SUPER friendly, just really good dudes. But their music. Bruh. Same thing with Marians Trench, actually, Josh was just THE BEST but holy shiiiiiit they suck. (I’ve heard he’s kind of a dick now and that disappoints me)

22: list 10 favourite songs by your top 10 bands (each)

Like, 10 songs each by 10 bands? WE’RE GONNA BE HERE ALL NIGHT.

Songs won’t actually be in top 10 order but:

AFI:

Narrative of Soul Against Soul

This Time Imperfect

Malleus Maleficarum

Days of the Phoenix

Veronica Sawyer Smokes

Wester

Darling, I Want To Destroy You

Kill Caustic

The Great Disappointment

A Deep Slow Panic

Anberlin:

The Unwinding Cable Car

The Haunting

The Runaways

Atonement (lmao I will never not cry listening to it though)

Alexithymia

Autobahn

Miserabile Visu (Ex Malo Bonum)

God, Drugs & Sex

Time & Confusion

Uncanny

The Rocket Summer:

200,000

Skies So Blue

This Is Me

Brat Pack

White Fireworks

Do You Feel

Colors

So, In This Hour

The Rescuing Type

Mean Thoughts & Cheap Shots

Jimmy Eat World

If You Don’t, Don’t

Kill

Work

Big Casino

The End Is Beautiful

The Middle

A Praise Chorus

Futures

For Me This Is Heaven

The Gaslight Anthem

The ‘59 Sound

Great Expectations

Handwritten

Boxer

Here’s Looking At You, Kid

Blue Dahlia

Mulholland Drive

Rollin’ and Tumblin’

We Came To Dance

Take That

When We Were Young

Back For Good

Pray

Wooden Boat

Hold Up A Light

How Did it Come To This

The Flood

Eight Letters

Said it All

MxPx

The Next Big Thing

Move To Bremerton

Responsibility

Chick Magnet

Andrea

I’m Ok, You’re Ok

My Life Story

My Mom Still Cleans My Room

Party, My House, Be There

Punk Rawk Show

Tiger Army

Never Die

FTW

Incorporeal

Cupid’s Victim

Annabelle Lee

Ghost Tigers Rise

Wander Alone

Forever Fades Away

Prisoner Of The Night

Twenty Flight Rock (ok it’s a cover IT’S FUCKING AWESOME THOUGH

July Talk

The Garden

Gentleman

Uninvited

Summer Dress

Strange Habit

Lola + Joseph

Johnny + Mary

Having You Around

Now I Know

Touch

36 Crazyfists

Bloodwork

At The End of August

Slit Wrist Theory

I’ll Go Until My Heart Stops

Destroy The Map

Skin & Atmosphere

Absent Are The Saints

Time & Trauma

11.24.11

Song For The Fishermen

23: favourite singer (only for voice?) and favourite drummer/guitarist/bassist (only for playing their instrument)

Singer: Adam Lambert has a stellar voice and I will, as usual, fight anyone about that.

Drummer: Adam Carson was way better than early AFI deserved tbh, and honestly Travis Barker has always been better than every single band he’s ever been in.

Bassist: Mike Herrera is lowkey the love of my life soooooo

Guitarist: I CAN’T DECIDE SO I’M JUST GONNA SAY IT’S JADE PUGET.

24: favourite songwriter/lyric writer

Davey Havok & Stephen Christian are two of a very short list of people who have written words I have planned (but not GOTTEN AROUND TO) to tattoo on my body forever, so.

25: somebody you absolutely adore as both a musician and a person

MY DARLING BALL OF HAPPINESS BRYCE AVARY AKA THE ROCKET SUMMER. THE LIGHT OF MY LIFE. A LITERAL RAY OF SUNSHINE. I L O V E HIM.

I mean. I just think he’s neat.

#music asks #ALL OF THEM #nikkihorrorxx

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inhumansforever · 7 years

Photo

Uncanny Inhumans #1.MU Review

spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers

Captain Swain and the Uncanny Inhumans star in this one-shot tie-in to the Monster Unleashed Event from the creative team of Paul Allor, Brian Level and Jordan Boyd, with a neat throw-back cover from Gustavo Duarte and Michael Walsh. Recap and review following the jump.

Monsters have invaded the Marvel Universe! No one has yet been able to ascertain where these giant creatures known as ‘Leviathans’ have come from, why these have come, or what they want… mostly because all of the heroes have been all too busy fighting these monsters off all over the globe, desperately trying to push back the tide and save the countless innocent people threatened by these rampaging beasts.

The answers behind the onslaught of these Leviathans will ultimately be addressed in the pages of the main Monster Unleashed book, while this issue focuses on a team of Inhumans and their efforts to repel a pair of monsters attacking Rome and save a group of civilians who were left behind in the initial evacuation of the city.

Medusa, Karnak, Inferno, Triton and The Human Torch battle the Leviathans while Swain and Crystal attempt to evacuate a group of civilians in a New Attilan skyboat. One of the two monster notices the escaping skyboat and gives chase, trying to bat it from the sky. Piloting the craft, Swain attempts to utilize her empathic telepathy to ‘nudge’ the leviathan, dissuade it from its pursuit. It doesn’t work and Swain is distracted by the bizarre, alien nature of the monster’s mind. The skyboat is swatted from the sky and crash-lands in a forested area of the Italian coastline.

Meanwhile, Karnak is finally able to detect the other leviathan’s key point of weakness; he directs Medusa and The Torch to concentrate their attacks to exploit this weakness. The monster is destroyed and The Inhumans quickly depart in search of their fallen allies.

Following the crash, Crystal receives a severe blow to the head, leaving her concussed and barely conscious. Swain must take charge and corrals the civilians into a cave, hoping to escape the leviathan.

All the while, Swain attempts to use her empathic powers to connect with the monster’s strange and savage mind. She succeeds for a brief time and is able to keep the creature away.

The exact nature of how Swain’s Inhuman powers work has yet to be fully explained. Unlike a standard telepath, Swain’s psychic abilities are more affect oriented... she can read and influence another’s emotional experience. And it turns out that this ability is not completely unilateral, rather it can act as a two-way street. Swain is able to calm the leviathan, curb its furious bloodlust, but in the exchange Swain herself is effected, overwhelmed by primal and savage feelings of the monster.

The shock of it all breaks her concentration and once again the leviathan is on the attack. Struggling to control her own monstrous feelings, Swain continues to lead the escape. The cavern opens up to the face of a cliff and in a final confrontation, Swain is able to overpower the leviathan’s mind, causing it to leap from the cliff and fall to its doom.

Yet Swain is left significantly infected with the monster’s bloodthirsty mentality. When the other inhumans finally catch up with them Swain lashes out and attacks Inferno. Karnak steps in and delivers a swift chop to a nerve cluster that renders Swain unconscious.

The narrative leaps forward, back to The RIV where Swain is convalescing following the ordeal. Crystal comes to visit her, expressing her thanks for saving her life and lauding the great heroism and leadership that she demonstrated. Swain does not feel she deserves the approbation.

Swain feels that she let the leviathan get inside her head, let it get the best of her and unloose a more beastly and savage side of her. She is still infected by the monstrous feelings that she had come into contact with inside the leviathan’s head. Crystal assures her that it will all soon pass; that she will eventually make a full recovery. Crystal adds that she is very proud of her. And it is here that the one-shot comes to an end.

A not especially necessary but nonetheless fun read. The Monsters Unleashed event thus far has been much more style over substance, with lots of very cool drawings of great looking monsters, but not much in the way of plot. As a one-shot tie-in this issue doesn’t address the plot-based matter of the event and instead offers a character study of Swain and the intricate ways in which her powers work.

Swain’s powers are rather interesting. There are a lot of psychics and telepaths among the heroes and villains of the Marvel Universe, but it’s quite uncommon for such powers to entail a bilateral reciprocation. Swain can telepathically influence someone, yet the path can go both ways and she too can end up influenced.

In the field of psychotherapy, the term ‘vicarious traumatization’ refers to instances where a therapist comes to feel overwhelmed by the psychologically traumatic experiences of their patient. On a psychological level, trauma can sometimes be akin to radioactivity… and discussing such matters on a deeply empathic level can often act to essentially infect the therapist with those same feelings of pain and helplessness (it’s a matter more likely to occur as a cumulative effect when a therapist has multiple patents on their caseloads who are coping with issues of trauma).

Self-care, supervision and working with their own therapist helps these councilors contend with vicarious traumatization, thus allowing them to continue being helpful and effective for their patients. Still, it can be a substantial problem for newer or younger therapists who don’t yet realize how such exposure to another person’s trauma can impact them.

Captain Swain’s situation in this issue very much reminds me of the matter of vicarious traumatization. She has only had her powers for a short while and is still relatively new to figuring out how they work. She did not realize that communing with the leviathan on a psychic/emotional level could end up going both ways. The primitive savagery of this monster is itself somewhat ‘radioactive’ and Swain ends up infected.

Empathy is a double-edged sword. To be especially empathic is a great source of strength in that it adds to wisdom and allows one to truly understand and sympathize with others. Yet it can also be a source of pain in that you feel what others feel and, if they are in pain, you share that pain... experiences it as your own. A lot of people often try to suppress or side-step their own empathic feelings because it can be so tough to feel the pain and hardships that others are experiencing.

Paul Allor’s tale does a pretty good job addressing these themes with Swain, although I would have liked them to go a bit deeper. Stand-alone stories can be tough because the economy of story and action is razor thin. I ended up wishing there had been a bit more attention granted to Swain’s interactions with the leviathan. Although this might just be a product of the fact that I’ve been kind of starved for seeing Swain on the page ever since All New Inhumans ended.

Swain is such a wonderful character and I’m so glad that she is getting the attention she deserves (I’m especially happy that Al Ewing shares this enthusiasm for Swain and is including her in the cast for his upcoming series, The Royals).

Brain Level and Jordan Boyd do fine work with the art. The illustration style is not exactly to my taste, but this is merely a matter of preference. I’m more inclined toward a clean line and an animated style, whereas Level’s artwork leans more toward a fluid, busier line. It’s very good artwork, but, again, not in tune with my tastes.

All in all, the issue is worth checking out. It doesn’t do anything to forward the over arching narrative of Monster Unleashed, but does a nice job of further exploring Swain’s character and examining the multifaceted nature of empathy. Three out of Five Lockjaws.

#Inhumans #Monsters Unleashed #Paul Allor #Brian Level #Jordan Boyd #spoilers #review

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hkvoyage · 7 years

Text

Fic: Butterfly Wings - Chapter 30

Story summary A fashion blog started at University launched Blaine Anderson’s fortune and fame. As Vogue’s new editor-in-chief, he is struggling to find an original angle for an upcoming issue. Kurt Hummel has recently arrived in New York City after finishing high school, and is having no luck building a musical theater career, so he decides to explore another passion of his: fashion. He applies for an internship at Vogue, and Isabelle sees in him the perfect fresh face to liven up the magazine, and convinces him to try out as a model. Kurt meets Blaine, and in spite of their 10-year age difference, sparks fly. Can they overcome misunderstandings and sabotage to find their happily-ever-after? Klaine model AU. Rating for this chapter: General (overall story is mature) Word count for this chapter: 6,140 Can also be read on A03 / FF Masterpost is here. The fantastic artwork produced by Cassie at CC-Graphics can be here. Thank you to the amazing @lilyvandersteen for the beta work and support. ***** Surprise! I want Kurt and Blaine back together in this story as much as you do! Therefore, you’ll be getting two updates a week until they reunite.

***** “As a kid I quite fancied the romantic, Bohemian idea of being an artist. I expect I thought I could escape from the difficulties of maths and spelling. Maybe I thought I would avoid the judgment of the establishment.” - Peter Wright February “I can’t believe I already have 1,850 followers for Surf’s Up! and every day I get more. I only posted a couple of comics on Tumblr a week ago.”

“I told you the webcomic would be a hit. I’m sure it helped that we blogged about it on our Krian accounts,” Blaine replies. “I have a few ideas for the story, but nothing has prepared me for the comments. I’m not sure what to do, because everyone wants Biffy and Jamie to get together.” “It’s way too early, Sam. The guys haven’t even come out of the closet! Don’t you know that the ship gets together at the end?” “Will readers really want to wait until the end? How do I keep the plot going?” “Sam, it’s pretty basic. Use the OMENS plan - Obliviousness, Missed chances, External factors beyond their control, No effective communication, and Smut in small doses. That usually works.” “Cool. I guess it’s the same formula for most Krian fics. It takes a while to create the comics, so I won’t post anything new for another month. Will people wait that long for an update?” Sam asks. Blaine thinks this question over carefully. He really wants Sam to succeed with his Surfs Up! webcomic. “It’s hard to say with only a couple of comics posted, but I have an idea. Why don’t you set up some dummy Twitter accounts for the main characters and get them chatting to each other? It would be an easy way of filling people in on their backgrounds and how they think about things. Give links to the Twitter accounts on your Tumblr master post and people will flock over to see what it’s about. You can even have a few scheduled Twitter Q&A sessions to answer questions about ‘Jiffy’.” “Hey, man. That’s a cool idea. I need to find something to do now that I can’t read KrianFeel’s fics.” “Did I hear you right?! You’re no longer reading KrianFeel’s fics? I never thought this day would come!” “Mercedes has banned me from reading them during her pregnancy. Something about not wanting to deal with so much kinky action in the bedroom.” “Then I’m not going to tell you about yesterday’s update...” “What happened, Blaine? I need all the deets!” Blaine laughs at Sam’s commitment to the story. “The chapter starts with Kevin and Brian doing homework together at their apartment in New York City. They both look up at the same time and realize that all their roommates are out… And they are alone for once. Brian waggles his eyebrows and Kevin gives him that smile – the one he uses when he understands what’s going to happen. The next thing you know, Kevin has Brian spread out on the couch, slowly stripping him of his clothes. Kevin starts to blow Brian, but then at the critical moment – at least from Brian’s point of view because he’s about to climax - Stan returns home. What a cock-block! It ends with a scene where Kevin tells Brian that Stan’s got to find his own place to live.” “Sounds like a filler chapter, so I didn’t miss much,” Sam replies with a deep sigh. So, how’s Mercedes doing? Is the pregnancy coming along nicely?” “That’s why I called you, dude. We went to the doctor’s this morning and Mercedes had a sonogram. I could see the baby! She’s about six inches long, and I could see her head. I could even hear her heartbeat!” “You know the sex of the baby? I thought that wasn’t possible for another month or so,” Blaine asks. “Nope, we don’t know for sure, but I’m certain it’s a girl. I want the baby to be a girl like Mercedes.” “Awww…” Blaine coos. “So dude, I wanted to ask you something important. Will you be baby Evans’ godfather?” “Oh my god! Absolutely! I’m so honored that you asked me.” “Of course I’m asking you. You’re my best bro. Mercedes definitely wants the baby baptized, and I’ll let you know the deets closer to the time. It will probably be after Mercedes’ national tour.” “Count me in. So how is the country and western singing going? Have you found any regular gigs?” “It’s hard to get into the country music scene in LA. I’d be much better off in Nashville, but that isn’t going to happen any time soon. Not with Mercedes recording and going on tour so soon after the baby is born. I’ll need to take care of my baby girl then.” There’s a pause in the conversation and Blaine can tell that Sam is thinking about how to break into the country music business. However, he waits patiently, because Sam will confide in him when he’s ready. “So what’s up with you, Blaine? I saw some pictures of you on Instagram with some tall hot dude.” “Oh… I went out a couple of times with a lawyer I met when I was signing the paperwork for the Westerville Monarch House. Connor is a really great guy, but I’m not sure if I’m going to see him again.” “Why the hell not?” “I like Connor a lot, but he’s never going to be the special one in my life, because he’s not…” “Kurt. Blaine, I know it’s tough but you’ve got to move on. Maybe Connor is your rebound guy.” “Connor doesn’t deserve to be somebody’s rebound guy. I really don’t feel ready to move on. I don’t think I ever will.” “Promise me that you’ll give Connor a chance and go on a few more dates. It’s not like you’re doing anything else and it beats staying home by yourself.” “Maybe,” Blaine sighs. He knows he should give Connor more time to see if things will develop. “Maybe what you need is a change in scenery. Come visit me in LA. It will be totally awesome! I can teach you how to surf and you can hook up with some of the dudes. They’re pretty buff and I’m sure they wouldn’t mind being your holiday rebound guy.” “Thanks for the offer, but I don’t want a holiday rebound guy either. I’d love to hang out with you, but I just took some time off in India and went home for Christmas. I’m saving all my vacation time this year for when the Monarch House in Westerville opens.” “Just remember, you’re always welcome to stay.” ***** “Did you see the photos I sent you?” Michael asks. “Yeah, Dad. Monarch House really looks like a construction site now. I can’t believe the renovations already started this week.” “Believe it, son. I’ve gone every day after work to see how it’s progressing. Meagan is handling everything well. I think she’s going to make a brilliant director of the Monarch House. She might not have any experience with a project of this scale, but she’s smart, super organized and really committed.” “I have you and Mom to thank for getting everything sorted out. I could never have done it without you… Both of you. I can’t believe that you got the planning permission through so fast.” “You can thank Burt Hummel for that. It’s amazing what a call from a Congressman can do.” “You know Burt Hummel? Do you know he’s my Kurt’s father?” “I didn’t know Burt before this project. When the press release went out for the purchase of Monarch House, Burt called me. He said he was 100% behind the concept and would help in any way he could. When I mentioned we were waiting for the city council to approve all the plans, Burt said he knew the Westerville mayor very well - something about helping out his teenage daughter when her car broke down one snowy night in Lima. The very next day, the mayor called me and said the plans had been approved.” “Wow, I guess it does pay to have friends in high places. You didn’t… umm… discuss us as well?” “Of course we did, Blaine. How could we not? It was mostly pleasantries about how Kurt is doing in Paris and how you’re doing in New York City. One thing I’ll say is that if Kurt is anything like Burt, you know how to pick them. Burt seems like a decent and honest man.” “Well, don’t leave me hanging, Dad! What is the news on Kurt?” “Kurt is settling in nicely and boarding at an old lady’s house in Central Paris. He’s about to start his first modeling job with Dior. I think it’s a perfume ad. He also has a job for the Paris Fashion Week. Kurt is making friends and exploring the city.” “I wish I was doing that with him.” “All in good time, Blaine. Don’t lose hope. Kurt is so young. You have to give him some breathing space to experience Paris on his own. But make sure he knows that he’s still very much in your thoughts and heart.” “I’m not sure how to do that, Dad. Kurt is living on another continent.” “Tweet him, send him something that has a special meaning for the two of you. You’re a smart man, Blaine. You’ll think of something. Andersons are like the Canadian Mounties – we always get our man. Ha! I never thought I would be using that expression to describe one of our love lives.” Blaine rolls his eyes as he chuckles. That sounded a bit awkward, but he knows that his father means well. ***** Blaine has been feeling out of sorts all day. It’s been exactly one year since Isabelle brought one Kurt Hummel to his office as Vogue’s ‘fresh face’. At the time, Blaine had never suspected that his life would be both shaken and stirred. However, life hasn’t been the same since that fateful day. Until September, Blaine has spent most his free time with Kurt and has fallen deeply and irrevocably in love. Blaine has mixed feelings about the fateful night of the diva-off. He was so happy when Kurt finally kissed him. Sure, things went a little too far, but he was so lost in his emotions that there was no way he could pull back. When they left the theater, Blaine felt optimistic about his and Kurt’s future together. Then the ‘Klainegate’ video hit the Internet the next day, and nothing has been the same since. In hindsight, Blaine thinks that he should have gone after Kurt as soon as he left Vogue – when he was at Elle and still in New York City. However, at the time, Blaine felt hurt that Kurt had cut him off so completely by accepting the Elle job, moving and changing phone numbers. When Blaine finally decided to seek out Kurt in Ohio and see if things could be mended, he discovered that Kurt had moved to Paris. So exactly one year later, Blaine is just where he was this time last year. Alone. Blaine reflects on the telephone conversation he had with his dad a few days ago. As much as he wants to book a ticket on the next flight to Paris, his dad is right. Kurt is young and should experience Paris on his own for a while. But that doesn’t mean that he can’t let Kurt know that he’s thinking of him… missing him… wanting him. Blaine just needs to find subtle ways of getting that message across. Thinking that there’s no time like the present, Blaine tweets A year ago today, @KurtHummel walked into my office and life hasn’t been the same since. #InstantConnection, #FriendsForever Connor invited him out to the Comedy Cellar to see Ben Bailey do his standup show, but Blaine declined the invitation, knowing he would be poor company tonight. No-one wants to be with someone feeling blue in a place that’s supposed to make you happy. He had promised Amy he wouldn’t stay home by himself tonight – she emphasized that it wasn’t productive to drown in his sorrow. Blaine knows of only one place where he wouldn’t feel out of place this Saturday night, so he gets ready for a night out. ***** Blaine enters the Treble Club Jazz Club and takes a seat at the far end of the bar. It’s the perfect place to sit on such a busy night, hidden in the corner, but still able to see the stage. “Hey, Blaine. What will you have tonight?” the bartender asks, placing a coaster on the bar in front of him. “Not sure. I’m not in a bourbon and soda mood. Any suggestions?” The bartender nods and spends a minute or two mixing a cocktail. When he slides the tall glass towards Blaine, he merely says, “The Never-Ending Story.” Blaine sees a shimmer in the drink and gives the bartender a quizzical look. “It’s basically a Long Island Iced Tea but with Unicorn Tears gin instead of… well, gin. Blaine slowly nods, because whoever knew there would be a gin liqueur called Unicorn Tears. However, his attention is soon on Marley Rose, who steps onto the stage. She sings a long set - a mixture of soulful slow love songs and more upbeat country blues ones. Once the set is over and the encore performance has been sung, Marley Rose slowly makes her way over to the corner of the bar. “Blaine, what are the chances of you coming here three Saturday nights in a row? You’d think that you didn’t have half of New York’s eligible bachelors knocking at your door.” ‘New York Fashion Week is starting soon and so I’ll be out every night. Today’s a special day, and I didn’t want to be with anybody. Besides, I like it here - I like listening to you sing.” Marley Rose smiles at Blaine and takes a sip from her drink. Blaine is relieved that she gets it – she knows that he’s thinking about Kurt but doesn’t want to talk about him. “How’s the song-writing coming along? I was so excited when you told me before Christmas that you were playing the piano and composing again.” Blaine bows his head and places his two palms on his forehead. “I’m enjoying playing the piano, but the song-writing is another matter altogether. I actually composed a song called ‘I'm Never Saying Goodbye to You’. It is so melancholy that I had even considered submitting it to Adele. Song-writing is unleashing emotions that feel too personal and raw. I’ve got to figure a way out of this funk.” Marley Rose squeezes his shoulder and gives him an encouraging smile. “Maybe we can both do each other a favor. I’ve written the lyrics to a song called ‘All or Nothing’. I’m thinking that it needs upbeat music to accompany it, but I can’t figure out for the life of me a single musical note. Perhaps you could help me?” “Why not? E-mail me the lyrics and I’ll see what I can do.” ***** Blaine wakes up early Sunday morning, thankful that he had only one ‘Never-Ending Story’ drink last night. After a run in Central Park and a shower, he opens his e-mail and notices a new message from Marley Rose. True to her promise, she has sent him the lyrics to her new song. Blaine pours over the lyrics as he eats his breakfast. Then, with a newfound energy, he sits down at the piano. After doing his usual warmup exercises, he starts to compose the music. I can't stay here I am not the girl Who runs and hides Afraid of what could be And I will go there I need time, but know That things are always closer Than they seem Now I'll do more than dream yeah! The lyrics resonate with him, and he can’t help but wonder if the full story with Kurt has been told, or if there’s a new chapter waiting in the future. He hums out possible music to go with the rest of the song. Once he has an idea of where the composition is going, he switches on the mic and starts recording.

That it's All or nothing All or nothing Cause this is my life I'm not gonna live it twice There's no in-between Take it too extreme Blaine spends the rest of the day making minor adjustments and re-recording. When he’s satisfied with the end result, he sends Marley a text. Got my muse back and composed the music for the song. Want to meet tomorrow night to hear it? B

Gathering all his courage, Blaine attaches the audio file to an e-mail for Wes with the following message: I’ve been working on my music again. Marley Rose wrote the lyrics and I’ve composed the music. It’s something that I want Kurt to hear. Could you please forward this to him? Thanks – B. ***** “Prêt sur le plateau,” the photographer calls out when the lighting is ready. “Ready on set,” Louis, his Parisian agent, whispers to Kurt. “Don’t worry, there are only a dozen or so things that you’ll need to learn in French. You’ll pick those up quickly today.” Louis and Kurt step out onto the rooftop of a skyscraper, with the cityscape of Paris in the background. Kurt is freezing, as the sun is weak on this winter’s day, but he’s thankful that the wind is blowing only softly. Kurt is wearing a charcoal-gray suit with a simple white shirt. Instead of a tie, the first three buttons are undone, exposing his neck and his upper chest. Fortunately, it’s slightly warmer with the photography lights beaming at him. Kurt is surprised at the traditional poses he’s asked to take – standing near the guard rail, adjusting his shirt cuffs, lifting up the jacket lapels, and stuff like that. It all seems so easy after posing for Elle on the dance pole. “I want the faraway look. Like you are thinking about a beautiful femme, or homme. And face the city.” Kurt turns and leans his upper half on the guard rail, taking in the mix of historic and modern buildings of Paris. There is only one person to think of to give him ‘the faraway look’ – Blaine. He calculates the time in New York City and wonders if Blaine is awake yet. Is he alone in his penthouse or waking up with the new man in his life? Kurt has seen photos on Instagram and Twitter of Blaine out and about with a tall and good-looking man. They weren’t taken at high-profile events, but rather at coffee shops, the theater and local restaurants. Blaine looks comfortable around this new man, but something’s missing. There’s no hand-holding or shared smiles – nothing to indicate they are lovers… yet. Kurt had zoomed one of the photos and stared at Blaine’s eyes, for they are always so expressive. Blaine’s eyes look warm, but they lack the sparkle – the way they used to sparkle when Kurt and Blaine were together. “Cut. We’ll take a 30-minute break to warm up. The look was parfait, Kurt.” Kurt dashes inside and goes down one flight of stairs, where the model prep area has been set up. Louis immediately comes over and throws a wool blanket around his shoulders. “Kurt, don’t look sad. You were magnificent on set. The Dior manager is very pleased with the shoot,” Louis says. “I’m not sad about the photo shoot. I was thinking about someone towards the end of the session, and I miss him.” “The world is a small place. Why don’t you invite him to Paris to visit you? After this photo shoot, you have two weeks before you’re needed for the next job. Paris can be very romantic, even in the winter.” “I wish that it was that easy, Louis. But the man that I miss has found another.” “Impossible! There is no such thing as finding another after you.” “That’s not what the photos on Instagram and Twitter say.” Louis goes off to get Kurt a hot drink from the canteen. Kurt desperately wishes that Blaine was here in Paris - but Blaine isn’t, and no amount of wishing is going to change that. Kurt finds his phone and opens Twitter. He’s surprised when he reads the tweet from Blaine, reminding him that they met exactly a year ago. Has it really been that long? Blaine’s message has been retweeted thousands of times, with #klaine tagged. Kurt tosses his phone aside when he reads the retweet, Why aren’t my babies together? Before reading the tweet, Kurt thought that Blaine had moved on with his life, with brand-new projects and a brand-new man. But maybe the tweet means that Blaine misses him? He picks up his phone and retweets Blaine’s message, And what an amazing year it’s been. #InstantConnection, #BucketLists, #GoodTimes, #FriendsForever ***** “How did the photo shoot go, Kurt?” “It went really well, Dad, although it was shot outside and it’s cold here. The ad is going to hit the March issue of the magazines.” “Let me know which ones so I can go out and buy ‘em.” “The ad will definitely be in the American issues of Vogue and Elle.” “Then I’ll buy Vogue next month.” Kurt laughs when he notices his dad’s earnest expression, obvious even through Skype. “You’re probably Blaine’s number one fan.” “Of course I am. I really respect what he’s doing in Westerville with that Monarch House project. We had a long chat about it, and I think I might be able to convince him to open the next one in Lima.” “Wait a minute, when did you have a long chat with Blaine?” Kurt can see his dad take off his cap and rub his head nervously. “I wasn’t supposed to tell you about that.” Kurt wraps his arms around his waist and arches one eyebrow. “About what, Dad?” “After I dropped you off at the airport last month, Blaine came to the house looking for you. When I said that you were on your way to Paris, he looked as if his world was ending. Blaine was a mess. A snow storm started and I couldn’t send him back to Westerville in that state, so he spent the night.” Kurt shakes his head. He wishes that his dad had told him about this earlier. “And you just talked about his Monarch House project?” “No, of course not. It was all I could do to convince him not to jump on the first plane to Paris.” “Blaine wanted to come to Paris?” “Of course he did. Blaine is crazy about you. However, I convinced him that you need this time to figure out things for yourself.” Kurt rushes through the rest of the conversation because he wants some time on his own to think about this. When he gets off Skype with his dad, he heads down a floor and runs himself a hot bath. Once he’s soaking in a tub filled with his favorite lavender-scented bath oil, he thinks about what his dad told him. Kurt wonders what his reaction would have been if his dad had told him that Blaine came over when he had first arrived in Paris. He probably would have taken the first plane back. But his dad was right… He does need this time to experience new things and to gain a perspective on his relationship with Blaine. Kurt steps out of the tub and gets into his nightwear. After doing the long version of his nightly moisturizing routine, he heads back upstairs and crawls under the warm down duvet on his bed. Not everything his dad said made sense though. If Blaine is so gutted about Kurt moving to Paris, why is he dating another man? Why is it only now that Blaine is tweeting him? Kurt knows that Blaine is sentimental, so he must still like Kurt to remember the day they first met. But does Blaine like him just as a friend or could there be more between them? ***** “Café au lait et un petit pain au chocolat, s'il vous plaît (A coffee with milk and a chocolate-filled bun, please),” Kurt requests, sitting at the famous Café de Flore on Paris’ Left Bank. Kurt has switched his usual grande non-fat mocha order to something he feels sounds more adult. Besides, the flaky croissant pastry with fine dark chocolate chunks on the inside satisfies his sweet tooth. “Mon chouchou, I’m sorry I’m late. I was painting François and lost track of time,” Antoine apologizes as he slides into the seat across from Kurt. He snaps his fingers to grab the attention of the garçon and orders a double expresso. “Of course, I would prefer to paint a portrait of you,” Antoine adds with a wink. Kurt gives Antoine a tight-lipped smile. This isn’t the first-time Antoine has asked him to pose for one of his paintings. However, Kurt feels uncomfortable posing in the nude. Although Antoine promises he can cover up his ‘bits’, it doesn’t feel right that the first man to see him naked would be like this. Antoine hints at it, but never pushes, and Kurt is grateful for that. Kurt has met up with Antoine a dozen times since they properly met at the afternoon tea with Emmeline. They’ve played the tourist on the Left Bank and visited the Pantheon, the Sorbonne University and The Invalids. They’ve strolled through the Jardin des Plantes (“we must return in the spring when the first flowers blossom”). They’ve also explored the little shops and boutiques in hidden streets that Antoine knows so well. They have gone to clubs and bars and met up with Antoine’s friends. Wherever they go, Kurt notices that Antoine always attracts a crowd. His easy-going nature, good looks, and natural charm draw everyone to him like a magnet, women and men alike. Antoine has always been a perfect gentleman towards Kurt and makes sure that he’s included in the conversations, introducing him to his friends, who are artists, writers, musicians, chefs, and professional students. Kurt always enjoys himself with Antoine’s friends and is curious about their lifestyle. They seem to live in the moment, without thinking about the future. This isn’t a bit like he was raised in Lima, Ohio – where commitment and family are what really matter. “Mon chouchou, I have an idée magnifique (magnificent idea) for next Saturday if the weather is beautiful. Everyone must experience the Château de Versailles.” “I’d love to visit the palace where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were married. It’s on my bucket list of places to visit in Paris.” Kurt bites his lip and wishes he’d never mentioned his bucket list – that’s something special between Blaine and himself. However, remembering the photos of Blaine with the new man in his life, Kurt is determined to get past Blaine and his feelings towards him. ***** Kurt is glad that he downloaded the audio guide app of the Versailles Palace the previous night. Kurt and Antoine have toured all the impressive areas inside the palace - the King’s Apartments, the Hall of Mirrors, the Queen’s Apartments, and the Chapel, but also lesser known areas such as the Gallery of Battles, and the apartments of Louis XV’s daughters. “This palace is so ornate and over the top. I can’t believe the royal family could live like this for a hundred years.” “Now you know why the French Revolution happened. Come with me, mon chouchou. We now need to explore les jardins (the gardens). If Kurt thought the palace itself was over the top and impressive, nothing has prepared him for the gardens. There are meticulous manicured lawns with paved paths creating intricate designs. The flower beds are mainly empty on this winter’s weekend, but the shrubs provide sufficient greenery. There are statues in small pools of water dotted throughout the gardens. “And I thought the palace was the main attraction. These gardens are something else altogether,” Kurt observes. “We’ve only seen a small portion of the gardens. There are almost 2,000 acres at the Château de Versailles. We’ve visited the most famous parts.” Antoine checks his watch and then adds, “Come with me. Let’s grab some lunch.” They stop in a small café, get ham and cheese baguettes and mineral water to go, and return to the gardens. They sit on a wrought iron bench, which is cold. However, Antoine soon has Kurt laughing with jokes and trivia about Marie Antoinette. “I had absolutely no idea that the children’s song ‘Jack and Jill’ was about Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette getting beheaded. It certainly puts a different slant to ‘and Jill came tumbling after’.” Suddenly, classical music is heard from speakers throughout the gardens and the swishing sound of water starts. Kurt looks up and sees the fountains come to life with spouting water. “You are in luck, mon chouchou. Usually the fountains aren’t switched on until spring.” Kurt puts the remainder of his baguette into his messenger bag and rushes from fountain to fountain to see the spectacular water shows. He makes sure to see the Latone, Saturn, Apollo and Neptune fountains. Antoine remains on the bench and laughs at Kurt’s enthusiasm as he takes photo after photo. The train journey back to Paris takes just over an hour and they arrive at the Left Bank in the late afternoon. “The day is still young. Come to my studio, Kurt. I’ll cook dinner and show you my artwork.” Kurt agrees and they wander back to Antoine’s place. After climbing the stairs up to the fourth floor, Antoine quickly opens the door and leads Kurt in. It is a large studio apartment. Half the space is taken by canvases, easels, and paints. The wooden floors are old and unrestored, with oil paint splatters making interesting patterns. There’s an old upholstered couch and a large king-sized bed, which are surrounded by studio lights – Kurt guesses this is also used for the models. There is a small kitchenette along one side and a door leading to the bathroom. “It’s modest, but it works for me. When I get inspired, I can paint right away. I’m planning to make a cassoulet for dinner. Have you eaten this before? “No, what is it?” “I think you Americans would say pork and beans, but it’s a lot more than this. It takes a while to cook, so let me get the casserole prepared and then we can relax.” Kurt helps Antoine with the prep work by chopping onions, carrots, tomatoes, and garlic. Antoine combines this with cubes of pork, ham, beans, and fresh herbs into a cast iron casserole dish and slides it into the oven. He then pours Campari and mineral water in two glasses to create an aperitif. “Santé, mon chouchou,” Antoine toasts as he clinks their glasses together. Antoine takes Kurt by the hand and leads him to the coach. Antoine then heads to the studio’s corner, where there are at least a dozen oil paintings leaning on the wall in the corner. One by one, he takes a painting and places it on the easel for Kurt to view. The first ones are landscapes of the French countryside – mainly fields of poppies and wheat. The next few paintings are classic stills of fruit and flowers. The last ones are portraits of young men in the nude. “You certainly cover the full range of subjects for your art. Which do you enjoy painting the most?” Kurt asks. “The landscapes are the best sellers and help pay the rent. I paint the others when I feel inspired, and currently I enjoy painting the portraits. I do charcoal sketches at first and then the oil painting later.” Kurt can see that Antoine is passionate about his art, as he rants on about the meaning of each painting, with hands waving everywhere and the same look in his eyes as Rachel gets when talking about Broadway. Antoine puts ‘Lucie’ by Pascal Obispo on the sound system and soon they are discussing other things they plan to do in Paris together. The meal starts with a terrine de campagne (country terrine or pate), served with crusty baguette and red wine. Kurt only nibbles at it because he can smell the rich cassoulet cooking in the oven. The main course is soon served with a simple side salad. “I can see why this is a popular dinner in France. The tastes go together so well and it’s hearty for a cold winter’s night.” “I’m glad you like it, mon chouchou. This recipe is from mami Emmeline. Apparently, she got the recipe from the executive chef at the La Fontaine de Mars restaurant decades ago. God knows how she pried it out of Jean-Guy Loustau.” After the dinner dishes have been cleared, Antoine places an artesian cheese platter and baguette on the coffee table and they relax on the couch. “I’m afraid that I can’t eat too much cheese if I want to be able to get into the suits that I model. I already broke my diet with the ham and cheese baguette at lunchtime.” Kurt’s cheeks flush when he sees Antoine’s glance move from his head to his toes. “I really don’t think you have anything to worry about. You are parfait (perfect) in my eyes. I’ll put this away, but I insist you join me for a digestif. Would you prefer cognac, armagnac or calvados?” Kurt has never tasted any liquors before, so he asks for the only one he recognizes. “Cognac, s'il te plaît.” After the drinks have been poured, Kurt takes a sip and finds he can’t stand the taste of cognac. He thinks about how he could get rid of the drink without Antoine noticing. He doesn’t want to appear unsophisticated, but there’s no way he’s finishing this drink. “So tell me about your life in New York City?” Antoine asks. Kurt talks about working at the Spotlight Diner and auditioning for roles in the theater without ever getting call-backs. He then goes on to relate the story of his Vogue internship interview and how he became a model that very same day. “What an incredible story, Kurt. What do you hope for in the future?” “I’m not entirely sure. I want to continue modeling until I get bored with it or people stop paying me lots of money. I’m thinking of studying musical theater and taking another stab at Broadway. I’m also thinking about studying fashion and get into the designing end of things. But for now, I’m enjoying Paris.” “Exactement, mon chouchou. You are young and don’t need to weigh yourself down with plans. This is the time you should live for the moment.” “What do you hope for in the future, Antoine?” “I hope that I continue to be inspired to paint, and people are inspired to buy my artwork. I want a place to live, good friends, and the freedom to do what I want. Une vie simple (a simple life).” When Antoine puts it that way, a life free of commitments and society’s pressures sounds ideal. However, Kurt does want to put down roots eventually, and get married and have kids. “There is one more thing I hope for, and as luck has it, you are here tonight.” Antoine slowly leans towards Kurt and presses their lips together. Kurt can feel the sensation of Antoine’s soft warm lips and it feels nice and comfortable. Kurt is pleased that he’s wanted by such an attractive and nice guy. But there aren’t any fireworks or butterflies in his stomach like he felt with his first real kiss. Kurt doesn’t think anything can compare to kissing Blaine. However, for now, it’s a welcome feeling. “Stay the night, mon chouchou,” Antoine whispers. Kurt jerks away quickly as if he has been burnt by fire. “I’m not ready for that… for things.” “Kurt, look at me. I’m not expecting anything. Okay, maybe more of the kissing. We can take this at any speed that you’re comfortable with. I’m very interested in you and enjoy your company. To see Paris through Kurt Hummel’s eyes is quite magical. So please, spend the night. I can always sleep on the couch if you want.” Kurt likes Antoine. He’s fun to be with, and this would take their relationship - can he call it that? – one step further. Kurt knows Antoine well enough to know he’s not a predator and will honor his word. But something holds him back. He can’t get Blaine out of his mind, and isn’t ready to take things further with Antoine yet. Kurt slowly shakes his head. “I think I better call it a night.” Author’s notes Song Marley Rose writes the lyrics and Blaine composes – “All or Nothing” performed by the Glee cast. Next up: Kurt models at the Paris Fashion Week opens and the Westerville Monarch House opens. It will be posted on Saturday.

#my fic: Butterfly Wings #klaine fanfiction #klaine fan fic #hkvoyagewrites

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daggerzine · 3 years

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Twin City revolt! A chat with Christian from Minneapolis label mpls ltd.

It was September 2019 and I was at my first Gonerfest in Memphis. I had posted a few pics of the bands I’d seen when a pal from Mpls named Amy messages back, “Oh, my friend Christian is there. You and he should really meet since you’re both huge music fans!” Within the next hour Christian Fritz and I were face to face and chatting music.

Not only did we like a lot of the same bands/labels/scenes (namely Sarah Records, C86, Flying Nun, to name but a few) but he told me that he had a label as well, one called mpls ltd. He was nice enough to send me a bevy of records that he’d released and it was everything from cheery/noisy indie rockers Sass to tripped out freaks like Flavor Crystals and everything in between. Yes, Christian is documenting the varied and talented music scene in the Twin Cities and beyond. Read the interview, check out some of his bands (or all of ‘em) and you may learn a thing or two and discover a new favorite. After all he is “Bringing the sounds of Minneapolis to the world, and the sounds of the world to Minneapolis.”

When did the music bug first hit you? Was there much music in your house growing up?

It goes back literally as far as I can remember. My mom gave me a Singer tabletop record player that she got with her sewing machine when I was maybe 4 or 5 years old. My dad’s albums were off limits, but he had a box with maybe a couple of hundred ‘60s pop and country 45s that I would play for hours at a time. I used to tell everybody that record player was my best friend which would terrify my parents.

Do you remember the first record you ever bought?

I grew up in rural Minnesota, and the first two 7”s I bought together with my own money at the local Ben Franklin were John Lennon’s “Nobody Told Me” and Nena’s “99 Luftballoons.”

First concert? First indie/punk show?

Probably my first live music experience was seeing Billy Joe Royal of “Down in the Boondocks” fame with my family during one of our outings to the Minnesota State Fair at one of the free stages there, but my first real show was seeing Sonic Youth on the Daydream Nation tour at First Avenue when I was 16. It was my first time being in downtown Minneapolis, and the entire experience was mesmerizing for this young rural hillbilly. My friends and I worked our way to the front, and Kim Gordon stomped on my hand when I idiotically tried to reach for her bass pedal mid-set (I totally deserved it and wore that bruise like a badge of honor for days). One of my friends got kicked out for violating First Avenue’s then “stage dive three times and you’re out” policy. While in retrospect I cringe at a lot of my behavior that night, it was also when I finally discovered a world I hoped to be a part of really did exist.

Tell us about the beginnings of the label, when did it start and why? How did you decide on the name?

For as long as I have been in love with music, I have also wanted to make records. I even remember drawing records with crayons at an early age and trying to figure out a way to make them play (unsuccessfully). When I was in college at Saint Cloud State University in the early ‘90s, I tried my first attempt at starting a label called Timbre and released a 7'' by a local punk band called The Nothingheads. I was contacted by someone in Seattle who said they already had that label name (to this day I have never seen a release), so I changed it to Idyllwise which was a word I made up so that nobody else could take it. Josh Koch from Saint Cloud had moved to Australia and joined the band Patterson’s Curse with Matty Whittle who was in God and Greg Bainbridge who had played with Kim Salmon, so I jumped at the chance to release their debut EP in the States. Future releases were in the works from Minnesota bands Chast and Silver Rocket Band but I really had no idea what I was doing, got in way over my head, and the whole thing fell apart.

Flash forward to 1999: I had been working on my own breakbeat tracks, and decided to surprise some friends and make a professional looking demo by having a 7” pressed. Even though I had no intention of launching a label, I wanted the record to look like it was on one. I was listening to a lot of 70s soul on Philadelphia International at that time, and it occurred to me that I was living in Minneapolis and I didn’t have any money. Hence, “mpls ltd” (Minneapolis Limited) was born.

Although I was involved with a few releases, things didn’t really evolve from “vanity project” to “label” until 2004. My good friend Vince Caro had just finished recording his band Basement Apartment’s latest album “Transistor!” and asked if he could use the mpls ltd name just to have the CD released on a “label.” I asked to hear it first. We were listening to it in my living room and were probably somewhere around track #5 when I knew I wanted to be involved, and asked if we could partner together on the release. That changed everything.

Were there other labels out there that influenced you to start a label?

Princeton Minnesota had a short-lived gem of an independent record store when I was in high school called McCarty Music that really didn’t fit the community, but I was so glad it was there for as long as it was. Carolyn who ran the store introduced me to the sounds of many brilliant bands on labels like 4AD, SST, and Touch and Go. Also as soon as we got driver’s licenses, my friends and I would drive from Princeton to Minneapolis just to go to Northern Lights or Let It Be Records any chance we got. I loved how those breathtaking early Sarah Records 7”s all included postcards with pictures from Bristol, and I would also buy anything on Creation that I could get my hands on. The brilliant bands from all over this earth that somehow found their way to Homestead Records before the days of the internet also had a major impact on me, in that “someday I hope I can do this too!”

How many releases does Mpls Ltd have so far?

52 as of the end of 2020, plus seven 7”s from a short-lived “super split singles club.”

How did you get the records out to the world in the beginning (and even now)? Distribution?

In addition to my primitive website, I spent a lot of time in the early days pleading with places like Carrot Top and Parasol to carry my releases with mixed results. When Flavor Crystals opened for The Brian Jonestown Massacre on their 2009 US tour, distributors from the UK and Europe started approaching me. Before the Bandcamp era, it felt like my bands could focus on tour sales and I could focus on retail. Now the artists and I discuss how our overall strategy is going to work before we do each release.

Weirdest/worst review one of your records ever got?

I can’t think of any that were terrible, but there were definitely some that were weird. The most recent one that comes to mind was Razorcake’s review of Partition’s “Prodigal Gun” last year. I was stunned when it was reviewed by Rev. Nørb of Maximum Rocknroll fame, but he talked a lot about how purple the vinyl and artwork was, with quotes: “I personally think this record is somewhat cool because it’s so purple, but I realize your situation might be entirely different” and “This vinyl is seriously the purplest vinyl I’ve ever seen in my life. Don’t be surprised if they find Barney dead at the bottom of the vinyl vat.” (He did also say “this sounds kinda like a cross between Exene Cervenka and Kathleen Hanna fronting Flipper” which spoke to me.)

Are all the acts on the label from the Twin Cities or at least Minnesota?

While the label has a stronger Minnesota representation, I’ve released records from bands all over including UK act The Projects whose members included Mira Aroyo of Ladytron, Scotland’s Abagail Grey who was produced by Chris Geddes of Belle & Sebastian and Tony Doogan, and even a 7” from Damo Suzuki of Can.

How do you explain the plethora of great Twin Cities bands over the years?

The amount of amazing music that comes from here past and present is kind of insane! While the Twin Cities Metro is a large area, it’s also small enough where it’s easy to make friends with people in the music scene here. I moved to Minneapolis in 1995 after doing five years of college radio at KVSC, so I was already a superfan of many local bands including The Hang Ups, Babes in Toyland, and Saucer when I arrived. I never imagined getting to be good friends with some of those members. Witnessing the evolution of Real Numbers, I shouldn’t have been surprised as I was to eventually learn that Eli Hansen is as excited about the whole Sarah Records scene and bands like Felt as I am. I got three original members of The Litter onstage at the Kitty Cat Klub for mpls ltd’s 20th anniversary party in 2019, and I am not sure if I can ever top that.

Current favorite bands (anywhere…not just local)?

I have been very much into the new albums from Adele & The Chandeliers, Michael Beach, The Boys with the Perpetual Nervousness, Flyying Colours, Moon Coven, and Jane Weaver so far this year. The Baudelaires who played several shows with Flavor Crystals on their Australian tour are finally getting ready to release their next record, and I cannot wait! I bought a ridiculous amount of fantastic new vinyl throughout the pandemic, and I am beyond excited to finally experience live music again.

Five bands you wish you could release records by (defunct or not)?

Broadcast, Dolly Mixture, The Go-Betweens, Sparks, and Windhand.

Any advice for other people wanting to start a label?

Always expect the unexpected (for example: the pandemic was additionally terrifying while I was waiting for test pressings of two records as I realized that nobody would be touring or playing any shows for quite some time), trust your instincts, and don’t forget this is supposed to be fun. Things will inevitably get stressful at times, but you will also learn as you go. In the immortal words of Gibby Haynes “it’s better to regret something you have done than to regret something you haven’t done.”

What’s next for the label?

I am expecting test pressings for the new album from Minneapolis sludgegazers Another Heaven any day now, and there is a collaborative effort between Flavor Crystals and The Telescopes in the works.

www.mplsltd.com

www.facebook.com/mplsltd

Christian and his assistant

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jillmckenzie1 · 5 years

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I Started a Joke

“So, when you find yourself locked onto an unpleasant train of thought, heading for the places in your head where the screaming is unbearable, remember there’s always madness. Madness is the emergency exit. You can just step outside and close the door on all those dreadful things that happened. You can lock them away…forever.”

That dialogue is from The Killing Joke, alternately the best and worst story about The Joker ever written. On its face, the story is simple. The Clown Prince of Crime has kidnapped Commissioner Gordon, and his plan is to drive Gordon mad, proving to both him and the Batman that anyone can lose their mind and descend into insanity. All it takes is one bad day. The best stories seem to be simple, but a little investigation reveals hidden complexity.

That complexity is why The Joker, a character originally created in a 1940 issue of Batman, still endures. He’s appeared in hundreds of comics, video games, artwork, and other media. It’s film, however, where the character has truly come to life; no wonder actors love playing him, as you can take him in an infinite number of different directions. Cesar Romero played him as a campy clown with a painted-over mustache. Jack Nicholson played him as a peacocking narcissist. Heath Ledger played him as an urban terrorist without a past. Jared Leto played him as a deeply annoying Juggalo. Hell, Mark Hamill might have delivered the definitive portrayal of him as a mischievous agent of chaos.

There’s a single kernel of truth within the heart of The Joker: giggling nihilism. To him, nothing matters. Not love, not death, not responsibility or decency. It’s all a twisted joke, and he’s the only man who can see that. The right portrayal of him depends on empathy and fearlessness, while never forgetting that core fundamental concept. With Todd Phillips’ new film, Joker, we have an up-to-the-moment take on the character made with skill, intelligence, and no small amount of confusion.

You can’t blame Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) for feeling a little crazy. He’s got a screaming head full of mental issues, barely managed by numerous medications. One issue that can’t quite be managed is the laughter. Specifically, when he feels stressed, he’ll erupt in a high-pitched cackle at the most inopportune times. Arthur carries a card that explains his condition and urges a modicum of compassion, but nobody seems to care.

Compassion is in short supply in Gotham City. A garbage strike has deposited thousands of pounds of trash throughout the city. Economic catastrophes, crime, and income inequality have transformed Gotham into a simmering powderkeg, and all it takes is one man to light the fuse. Who would have thought that man would be Arthur?

Certainly not him—at least not initially. He makes a meager living working as a street clown and dreams of becoming a famous stand-up comedian. If things really worked out, maybe he could even meet his idol Murray Franklin (Robert De Niro), a glib talk show host. For now, that doesn’t seem likely, particularly since he needs to care for his mother Penny (Frances Conroy), a woman suffering from profound psychological problems.

All Arthur needs is something to believe in, someone to give him a chance. There’s the slimmest thread of hope when he meets Sophie (Zazie Beetz), the pretty single mom who lives down the hall. But then there’s the gun he receives from a cruel co-worker, the social worker who informs him that budget cuts have removed access to his medication, the mayoral campaign of business titan Thomas Wayne (Brett Cullen), and a pack of Wall Street bros who just won’t leave him alone. Up against all of that and more, all Arthur can do is laugh.

I still kind of can’t believe Joker even exists. Consider that we have a film about Batman’s greatest nemesis that only briefly portrays Batman as a frightened 7-year-old boy.* The main character is played by Joaquin Phoenix, one of the most talented actors on the planet. The film is directed by the guy who made The Hangover trilogy. That simple narrative would indicate a clusterf–k of epic proportions, no? No, as this simple story hides complexities.

Director Todd Phillips deserves credit since he’s made a superhero movie that’s less an action movie and more a gritty character study. His film shares DNA with 70’s classics such as Taxi Driver and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. His Gotham City is a decaying metropolis brimming over with despair, and we can feel Phillips luxuriating in gorgeous sleaze. From a technical perspective, Phillips has made an excellent film, one with strong cinematography, creepy editing, and (mostly) solid pacing.

Before we go too much further, I can hear you thinking, Hold up there, hoss. Should we really be taking a movie about a cartoon clown seriously? We should because The Joker can be interpreted as a trickster archetype or a means of blowing up a corrupt economic system a la Occupy Wall Street. I even read an interesting argument about how The Joker represents a Nietzschean superman who creates his own rules and rejects conventional morality through a will to power.

That’s great and all, but the script by Phillips and Scott Silver is frustratingly inconsistent. If we’re going to have a character study where a man is broken by an unfeeling society, we should have a series of moments plotting Arthur’s fall and rise. The path should look “insane,” but in hindsight, the pieces should fit together and feel inevitable. There should be a moment or moments where Arthur chooses to be The Joker. Instead, it feels like Arthur’s character is yanked all over the place in a crazy-quilt of trauma. Yet speaking of inconsistency, there’s a sequence late in the film where Arthur achieves self-actualization, and I thought, “There he is. There’s The Joker.” When the script works, it works. Their screenplay does have a number of clever details. I particularly enjoyed Thomas Wayne portrayed as a Trumpian tycoon entering politics** and Arthur’s spiral caused by conservative budget-cutting. There are a few moments of humor, but only a few. You’d think that a movie about The Joker would be…y’know, funny.

I literally cannot imagine any scenario in which Joaquin Phoenix doesn’t receive an Academy Award nomination. He’s that good as Arthur, and it starts with Phoenix losing over 50 pounds and transforming himself into an emaciated scarecrow. If you’ve seen the trailer, you’ve seen him twitching, dancing spasmodically, and laughing. His performance, thankfully, is more than a collection of tics. Phoenix lets us into Arthur, showing us a man who might not necessarily be good, but the potential is there. He’s mesmerizing, and he’s ably supported by a number of strong actors. I’m pleased that, between this and The Irishman, Robert De Niro seems to be on a career upswing. I was also highly amused to briefly see Marc Maron, a noted hater of superhero movies, showing up as Murray Franklin’s producer. The great Brian Tyree Henry has a strong scene as a clerk in a certain asylum you might be familiar with.

I can’t say that Joker is a great film. Todd Phillips, Joaquin Phoenix, and the cast and crew have made a very good movie that’s sure to polarize audiences and, like Fight Club, is sure to be misunderstood. Is it the right movie for today, for times that feel like we’re tipping into the abyss? Perhaps, and perhaps we always feel that way. Near the end of The Killing Joke, The Joker is pleading with Batman, begging The Dark Knight to understand his point of view. He says, “It’s all a joke! Everything anybody ever valued or struggled for…it’s all a monstrous demented gag! So why can’t you see the funny side? Why aren’t you laughing?” How does Bats respond? “Because I’ve heard it before…and it wasn’t funny the first time.”

*The nerd part of me got upset here. “If Bruce Wayne is only seven here, while The Joker is, let’s say 40, then we have a big-ass age discrepancy! Figure after his parents are killed, Bruce spends the next 15 years going to school & doing pre-Batman stuff. If he dons the cape when he’s 22, Bruce is going up against a Joker who’s pushing 60! The Joker should never be concerned about prostate health!” Then I thought, “Relax, it’s just a goddamn movie.”

**A smart friend of mine said that nothing in movies is an accident. Look at how two of the three Wall Street bros on the subway are dead ringers for Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.

from Blog https://ondenver.com/i-started-a-joke/

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comiconverse · 7 years

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Fan Fest Chicago: Fierce In The Windy City

Fan Fest Chicago proved to be a great success as thousands of excited fans flocked to experience the joining of two incredible events, Heroes and Villains Fan Fest and Walker Stalker Con. The weather outside may have been dreary but all was bright and lively inside the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.

Welcome!

A favorite aspect at any Fan Fest event are the helpful and happy volunteers. Chicago was no exception as all fans were greeted warmly upon entry. Staff and volunteers alike worked hard to move lines quickly as possible so that fans could maximize their time at this illustrious event; a world filled with options to please even those with the most obscure of obsessions.

Volunteers manning the merchandise at Fan Fest Chicago. Credit: Linda Marie

From artists and merchants to entertainment and celebrities, one surely noted the epic combination of fandoms. A cursory glance across the show floor revealed stellar representations of superheroes, villains, and horror. Unique items were just waiting for a new home; many options to help memorialize your time at Fan Fest.

Con Coordinating

While Fan Fest was inundated with excited people meandering about, a great job was done in providing a layout that allowed a smooth flow from one area to the next. Of course when you have guests like Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Stephen Amell, Milo Ventimiglia and John Barrowman in attendance, some areas are bound to get a little clogged. The good news is that everything was managed in a way to assure all fans received the experience they desired. The celebrity guests were warm, welcoming, and grateful to all involved. It fills my heart to see such thoughtful and caring interactions between the celebrities and their fans. That is the epitome of Fan Fest… fans first!

Jeffrey Dean Morgan holds court during his Negan panel at Fan Fest Chicago. Credit: Linda Marie

My Con Craze

As always though, my valiant attempt at trying to be everywhere at once proved challenging to say the least. What I have found works best is simply to share some of the highlights I observed through my own experience. It was also wonderful to hear fellow fans share their stories of celebrity interaction; their faces were absolutely beaming as they spoke. Cast members from Sons of Anarchy, Agents of Shield, Arrow, The Walking Dead and so much more were on hand to the delight all of those in attendance.

Chandler Riggs signs for fans at Fan Fest Chicago. Credit: Linda Marie

I’d personally love to thank Mr. Khary Payton, The Walking Dead’s King Ezekiel, for inviting me into his world and taking the time to chat. It was a pleasure to interview such a charismatic, talented, and passionate guy (that article will be posted soon). I also want to give a shout-out to Milo Ventimiglia. The talented and handsome Mr. Ventimiglia, currently starring in the hit TV series This Is Us, always shows genuine joy and interest when meeting his fans. I was in awe of his humbleness (and silly selfies).

Michael Rooker and Sean Gunn host a Guardians of the Galaxy panel at Fan Fest Chicago. Credit: Linda Marie

One other guest, for which I must give special mention, is the ever unpredictable yet approachable Michael Rooker. This was my third time interacting with Mr. Rooker at a convention and he never ceases to surprise. When Yondu pulls you into a random photo, you go with the flow! Lol Overall though, all the guests deserve kudos for showing such amazing kindness and appreciation… well done!

Michael Rooker always having fun with the fans at Fan Fest Chicago. Credit: Linda Marie

Fan Fest Fun

One of the reasons it’s always difficult to catch everything Fan Fest has to offer is because there is SO much available. Not only did Fan Fest give host to some truly entertaining panels, there was entertainment and action to be found throughout the floor. Attempting to make your way through the crowd proves challenging when you walk past a stage featuring two girls playing rock music on their harps. Yes, their harps! The Harp Twins were mesmerizing to watch in action. And, it’s impossible to not stop and stare in wonder as artist Rob Prior puts brushes to canvas. Yup, I said brushes… plural. This guy is ambidextrous and uses both hands simultaneously as he creates some amazing pieces.

The Harp Twins rock out with some Iron Maiden at Fan Fest Chicago. Credit: Linda Marie

Continuing across the floor, one would wonder what all the ‘buzz’ is about. That ‘buzz’ was the sound coming from several tattoo artists hard at work on some truly dedicated fans…talk about commitment! Then there’s the cosplay. Exceedingly creative and skilled individuals put together some outrageous representations of their favorite characters. A photo with them is an absolute must!

Time to get inked at Fan Fest Chicago. Credit: Linda Marie

Not only did the convention itself boast a myriad of entertainment, they also hosted a Zombie Bash Friday evening. Walker Nation CEO Dave Solo was emcee as zombies roamed the dance floor in search of fresh meat. Tom Payne, Jesus from The Walking Dead, even joined the onstage festivities with some karaoke style musical treats. Fans went crazy as they were ‘blessed’ throughout the evening.

Zombies party through the night at Fan Fest Chicago 2017. Credit: Linda Marie

Artistic Array

Attending such a large variety of conventions has allowed me to connect with some incredibly skilled individuals. I was beyond thrilled to see Fan Fest featuring several of my favorite artists! These guys impress me on a level like no other. I also met a couple new artists whose work I found quite intriguing, always a great surprise. Realizing that there was simply too much to write about regarding the artwork at Fan Fest, I’ve decided to feature it as a separate article. I am honored that five selected artists agreed to be part of a piece I will be working on in April. Very special thanks to Scott Spillman, Brian C. Roll, AJ Moore, JaCo Tartaruga, and Cory Smith. Check out their work!

Skilled artists in action at Fan Fest Chicago. Scott Spillman, JaCo Tartaruga, AJ Moore, Cory Smith. Credit: Linda Marie

Thank You!

In closing I’d like to show appreciation to all the management staff, volunteers, and fellow media that work so hard in putting together such an amazing event. Thank you Cory Hewitt for your press assistance and interview set-ups. Thank you Liz Solo for keeping things in order and for your great advice. Thank you Michael Guthas for being the first to allow me access to these events. I am with family when I am at Fan Fest.

See you all again… very soon!

Stage ready at Fan Fest Chicago. Credit: Linda Marie

Keeping You Comic Con-nected!

Linda Marie

Twitter: @LindaMw87 Instagram: comic_con_crazy Cosmunity: ComicConCrazy

The post Fan Fest Chicago: Fierce In The Windy City appeared first on ComiConverse.

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ricardosousalemos · 7 years

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The Jesus and Mary Chain’s Jim Reid Talks New Album, Working With Sky Ferreira

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The first question on most people’s minds is, respectfully, what took so long?

In 2015, you said you and William disagreed on things like where to record this and how to record it. How did you end up reconciling on that stuff?

For Munki, I understand you and William recorded separately from each other. How did the process go this time? Where did you record it?

Were you and William both recording at the same time?

Photo by Steve Gullick

There were a number of female guest vocalists. Sky Ferreira, for example, appears on “Black and Blue.” How did you guys get in touch with her?

Did she come out to Spain?

The lyrics on that song are pretty intense: “I don’t have nothing to give, but if I could I’d give my heartbeat.”

On the subject of guest vocalists, Isobel Campbell sings on two songs on the record.

There’s also Bernadette Denning, and—

How did it affect the process knowing that the Mary Chain is such a signpost to other bands nowadays, the way that maybe the Velvet Underground, the Stones, or the Beach Boys once were to you?

youtube

When you were starting to work on this, you said that maybe it was a “more mature” sound for the band. In what ways, do you think?

Several of these songs you’ve put out either solo, with your sister’s project Sister Vanilla, or with your other project Freeheat. How did you make them make sense for the Mary Chain?

On the very first track, “Amputation,” you sing about feeling “like a rock’n’roll amputation.” What do you mean by that?

Do you have any favorites of the newer bands that sound like the Mary Chain?

youtube

What’s the story behind the cover art for the album? The alphabet soup?

[Laughs] I just liked that alphabetic spaghetti as we call it in this country. I took that photo myself. That’s my bowl and my table and my house.

#news

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