#its just SO BEAUTIFULLY DONE. SO TASTEFULLY DONE.

[usertoxicyaoi]

You know so well. You probably do this a lot? You’re the club president, but you break the rules yourself. I’ve never brought anyone here. Let me ask you something. Our relationship right now ... we’re both benefitting from it, aren’t we? Nobody gets taken advantage of, right? Yes, we are. What if I get bored? Then, we breakup. BETWEEN US (2022) - Episode 2.

[destinyc1020]

My Movie Review: "Dune: Part 2"

**Caution...May Contain Some Spoilers**

Alright alright alright y'all.....

Whew! Dune Part 2.... Where do I even begin??

Okay, FIRST of all.... FIRST OF ALL.... This movie was EPIC. Like, GRAND epic-ness. I haven't seen a movie this epic in a good while. The sound, the musical score, the acting, the cinematography, the costumes, etc... EVERYTHING was so on point! 🤯

When the end credits started rolling, I was sitting there liiiiike....

I couldn't believe what I had just seen lol... 😅 I think I was a little bit in shock and just needed to sit there and contemplate/process all that took place in this movie lol.

Let me tell you all... Love the Dune movies or hate them.... These movies are SO well-done! Idk about other Anons/fans who saw this film, but I just felt transported to a totally different world while watching it. Seeing this film in all of its IMAX glory was amaaazing! 👏🏾 I highly recommend seeing this movie in IMAX if you have the ability to.

Okay, let me get down to the nitty gritty of everybody in the film.....

The Cast First of all... Can I just say? This cast did an AMAZING job in this film as a whole. Like, EVERYONE was awesome in this. Everyone was pulling their weight, and was hitting their marks...even the background actors.... I was like, "damn!" There weren't any weak links in this film (imo).

Timothee Timothee BABAAAY....Timothee suprised me! I'll be honest, I've seen a few of Timmy's films before, but none of his roles (that I had seen) had really wowed me, you know? But Dune Part 2?? Oh...he definitely served. 👏🏾 He started off in the beginning of the movie being the same ol' Timmy I know lol....But by towards the END of the movie?? Hunny chiiiiile.... He had me believing his character was feeling his own hype lol. 😅🤣 Timothee really outdid himself with this movie. His voice didn't even sound the same towards the end of the movie. And the foreign made up language that he (and the rest of the cast) had to speak? Superb! Paul's duel at the end with Feyd was awesome (more on Feyd later). It really looked like they were fighting to the death. I'm glad the scene didn't last too long though, because it was pretty intimate and intense. Overall, awesome acting by Timothee. Loved his transformation towards the end of the movie.

Zendaya Ahhh Zendaya! 😃 Zendaya's Chani was definitely the heart of this film as most reviews say. Her character was somewhat of a cynic, but only because she wasn't a "believer". I know Z's acting has been criticized in this film online, but I actually think she did a fine job? I was impressed by her action sequences and her portrayal of Chani's anger and frustration with Paul and those blindly believing in the Maud'Dib. I was SO happy that Z had way more screen time in this movie than in the first one. I also loved how she was given some action scenes/sequences!! I think this is her first action film on the big screen? She was shooting guns, fighting, etc. I was like, "Go girl!!" 👏🏾😃 Denis seemed to have a love affair with Zendaya's face lol, because I think she got most of the close-ups in this movie lol.😅 I actually thought that she and Timmy had pretty good chemistry in the film. It wasn't "passionate" or "sexy" chemistry, but they had good chemistry nonetheless. For those wondering.....YES, there is a love scene lol.... 👀 But it was tastefully done imo.

Rebecca Whew chiiiile, let me tell you... Rebecca scared me in this movie lol. 😅 I was liiiike....

She put the "Mother" in Mother okay? LOL 😅 I always love Rebecca, she's a superb actress and infinitely amazing in EVERYTHING she's in. She had me believing she was the Reverend Mother okay? After she drank that holy life water or whatever it was, she totally changed into someone else lol. 🤣

Austin Lawwwd....this man... I didn't even recognize him onscreen okay? 😩 Austin did not come here to play, and he played Feyd Rautha beautifully. He was ruthless, cunning, yet charming, sexy, and actually had an honor code. During most of the movie, every time he came on screen, I didn't know whether to be scared or turned on... 👀🙈 The Gladiator Scene was like wow.... I always thought Austin was a good actor since "Elvis", but that Gladiator arena scene had me like: "Whoa...he's a good actor!" His acting with his eyes was amazing... Excellent job. 👏🏾 My only gripe was that he was in the movie for far too short of time! Believe it or not, I wanted more Feyd.... 😩 I'm so excited to see what's next in his career, because so far, based on what I've seen, Austin can really disappear in roles. Like chiiiile...this man.....I swear, I wouldn't have even realized it was him had it not been for his eyes and lips lol. 🤭

Florence Florence did an amazing job in the limited role that she was given. Although her role was small, her acting was on point. 🥰 Even Christopher Walken (who's the least Christopher Walken-like I've ever seen him in a role lol) was so subdued, but did a great job as well. I wish we were able to see more of Princess Irulan in scenes (I loved her costumes!), but I know she will have a much larger part in Part 3/Dune Messiah.

Javier LOL I loved Javier in this. He's always good in everything he's in. He had a much smaller role in Dune Part 1, so it was nice seeing him have a larger role in Dune Part 2. His character of Stilgar gave the film much-needed light-heartedness and some funny parts to chuckle at.

PROS

Everyone's acting was on point!!!

The movie had an EPIC vibe and really transports you to a totally different world

The music was haunting and amazing.... I LOVED "Chani's Theme"... Hanz Zimmer really created a beautiful score for this Dune World...I loved it 😊

The movie was 3 hours long, but it never felt boring to me. It was very interesting to me, and when the film credits roll, you're left thinking: "They're really gonna leave things like this???" I wanted MORE!! 😩

The film felt believable. I know it's sci-fi, but the way the film touches upon normal societal issues, it almost makes you feel that this type of world actually exists.

I loved that Zendaya had more screen time in this movie 🥰

CONS

There were just a few too many sand scenes lol... I kind of feel like Denis could have mixed up some of the scenes on different planets with the dusty sandy scenes on Arrakis. During most of the first hour of the film, I was looking at desert sand scenes like this:

ROTFL!! 🤣 Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad thing per se, and it didn't detract from the film's greatness, but if I were Denis, I would have given the audience a bit of a break from the desert scenes a little sooner in. I would have given longer breaks in btwn the desert scenes at least 30 mins in lol.

I felt like Lea Sedoux's scenes were way too SHORT! She was like the Zendaya of Part 2 lol. I don't even think she had as much screen time as Zendaya had in Part 1 lol. And Chiiiiile...I wanted to see more of her interactions with Feyd. 👀 Their chemistry was hawwwwt.... 🥵 Austin and Lea had more sexual chemistry in their 2-minute scene together than Timmy and Zendaya had in the entire movie imo ROTFL 🤣 (SORRY Timdaya fans! 😅)

Speaking of Feyd.... Denis didn't give us enough of him! I liked that he was somewhat of a complex villain. But I kind of feel like it would have been nice to have seen a bit more about his background (like, why did he kill his mother??🥴), or know what makes him tick. 🤔

I think it would have been nice to have seen longer scenes with Timmy and Austin together, but I haven't read the books, so maybe they only meet once and that's for the knife fight lol. 😅

It would have been nice to have seen more of Anya in this film, but she will more than likely have more of a role in Dune Messiah.

Overall.... Amazing film. 😊 I know I'm going to have to watch this movie at least a second time to really process everything.

OVERALL SCORE: 8/10

😁

[bananaofswifts]

5 STARS

By Alexis Petridis

It’s one of the weirder aspects of 21st century pop that every major new album feels like a puzzle to be solved. Nothing is ever just announced, promoted, then released. Instead, breadcrumbs of mysterious hints and visual clues are very gradually dropped via the artist’s social media channels. Fans pore over them and formulate excitable theories as to what’s about to happen. Articles are written collating said fans’ theories and weighing up their potential veracity. Sometimes, it goes on longer than the actual album’s stay in the charts. It has certainly happened with Taylor Swift’s 10th studio album, Midnights. Everything has been pored over for potential information about its contents, up to and including the kind of eye shadow she wears on the album cover. Conspiracy theories have abounded. Space precludes exploring them here, as does concern for your welfare: reading about them makes one’s head hurt a bit.

Still, perhaps it’s inevitable that people are intrigued as to Swift’s next move. There has been a lot of talk in recent years about the willingness of big stars to service their fans with more of the same: building an immediately recognisable brand in a world where tens of thousands of new tracks are added to streaming services every day. It’s an approach that Midnights’ one marquee-name guest, Lana Del Rey, knows a lot about, but not one to which Swift has adhered. Instead, she has continually pivoted: from Nashville to New York, pedal steel guitars to fizzing synthesisers, Springsteen-like heartland rock to dubstep-infused pop. Last time she broke cover with new material, she released Folklore and Evermore, two pandemic-fuelled albums of tasteful folk-rock produced by the National’s Aaron Dessner. But that’s no guarantee of her future direction.

In fact, Midnights delivers her firmly from what she called the “folklorian woods” of her last two albums back to electronic pop. There are filtered synth tones, swoops of dubstep-influenced bass, trap and house-inspired beats and effects that warp her voice to a point of androgyny on Midnight Rain and Labyrinth, the latter a leading choice given the preponderance of lyrics that protest gender stereotyping, or “that 1950s shit they want from me”, as Lavender Haze puts it. Equally, something of Folklore and Evermore’s understated nature hangs around Midnights. It’s an album that steadfastly declines to deal in the kind of neon-hued bangers that pop stars usually return with, music brash enough to cut through the hubbub. The sound is misty, atmospheric and tastefully subdued.

On the superb Maroon, Swift’s voice is backed by ambient electronics and droning shoegazey guitars: it’s one of several songs that you feel could suddenly surge into an epic chorus or coda, but never does. The Del Rey collaboration Snow on the Beach is beautifully done – a perfect gene-splice between their two musical styles with a gorgeous melody – but it’s a long way from a grandstanding summit between two pop icons: there’s a striking lightness of touch about it, a restrained melding of their voices. Meanwhile, Anti-Hero offers a litany of small-hours self-loathing set to music that feels not unlike the glossy 80s rock found on Swift’s 1989, but with the brightness turned down. There’s an appealing confidence about this approach, a sense that Swift no longer feels she has to compete on the same terms as her peers.

Elsewhere, if the Swift you love is Swift in vengeful mode, settling scores with a side-order of You’re So Vain-esque who’s-this-about? intrigue, you’re advised to fast-forward to Vigilante Shit and Karma: the former features verses that could be directed at her old foes Kanye West or Scooter Braun; the latter excoriates someone referred to as “spiderboy” and notes how they “weave your little webs of opacity, my pennies made your crown”. But Vigilante Shit’s sound is minimal and unflappable – a beat with thin slivers of bass and electronic tones sliding in and out of the mix, not too distant from something Billie Eilish might have devised on her debut album, while Karma is kaleidoscopically tuneful, another track that harks back to 1989: there’s none of the distorted electronic fury that characterised 2017’s supremely pissed-off Reputation. The effect makes Swift’s anger feel less brittle, lending it a dish-served-cold poise.

That confidence is the thing that binds Midnights together. There’s a sure-footedness about Swift’s songwriting, filled with subtle, brilliant touches: the moment on Question…?, where, as they describe a drunken conversation, the lyrics simultaneously speed up their rhythm and stop rhyming; You’re on Your Own, Kid’s fantastic description of a now-famous Swift returning to her home town and feeling like a prom queen, albeit a very specific prom queen: “I looked around in a blood-soaked gown,” she sings, invoking the image of Sissy Spacek about to go postal in Carrie. It’s an album that’s cool, collected and mature. It’s also packed with fantastic songs and at a slight remove from everything else currently happening in pop’s upper echelons. As ever, you wouldn’t like to predict what Taylor Swift will do next, but what she’s doing at the moment is very good indeed.

[zetexa]

Checking in to the Best Vacation Spots Worldwide Planning your next vacation? 

Choosing the perfect destination can be quite a challenge with so many amazing options across the globe. To help you decide we 've compiled a list of the best vacation that offer unique experiences, beautiful landscapes and incredible adventures. Whether you're looking for a relaxing beach escape a cultural city break or an adventurous wilderness retreat this guide has something for everyone. 

1. Santorini, Greece Santorini  

It is constantly heralded as one of the best vacations for couples and honeymooners. This picturesque island in the Aegean Sea is famous for its breath-taking sunsets, whitewashed buildings, and crystal-clear waters. The stunning villages of Fire plus Onia offer romantic settings with stunning views of the caldera. Explore ancient ruins dine on delicious Greek cuisine, plus relax on the unique black sand beaches for an unforgettable experience.  

2.   Kyoto, Japan 

For those in search of a harmonious combination of history, culture and natural beauty Kyoto is a top contender among the best vacation spots. This former imperial capital of Japan is home to stunning temples, traditional wooden houses as well as beautifully designed gardens. Travel during the cherry blossom season in spring or the brilliant autumn foliage in fall for the most beautiful scenery. Don't miss the iconic Fushimi Inari Shrine with its thousands of red tori gates plus the serene Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. 

3. Maui, Hawaii 

Maui is one of the perfect vacation destinations in the world. This paradise has fabulous beaches, lush rainforests, and huge Haleakalā towering above. Some must-dos include snorkelling at Molokini Crater, driving on the scenic Road to Hana, and seeing the sunrise atop Haleakalā. Whether you just feel like lying on the beach or exploring the natural treasures of the island, Maui has it all. 

 4. Paris, France 

Paris, the City of Light, is no doubt tastefully done and is a sight to behold. World-famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, and the Notre-Dame Cathedral testify to the significance of Paris in the world. Have a leisurely walk along the Seine River, explore bohemian neighbourhoods like Montmartre, and indulge in a buttery croissant at a sidewalk cafe. All in all, the city is an epitome of a rich history, arts, and love. 

 5. Queenstown, New Zealand 

Queenstown completes the trip for you if you are a person who is always looking for adventure and loves to explore nature. It's a lively town on New Zealand's South Island west coast, surrounded by the Southern Alps and Lake Wakatipu. It's famously known as the birthplace of bungee jumping, but you will also find jet boating, skydiving, paragliding, and skiing. In short, it's breath-taking and endlessly exhilarating, with activities that one cannot find elsewhere. 

 6. Cape Town, South Africa 

Cape Town, in its contrasts, is the place where urban sophistication meets natural beauty, making this one of the best vacation spots not only in Africa but in the world. Dominated by the national icon, New Seven Wonders of Nature—Table Mountain—this city is the place to get breathtaking views of the city and the cable car to the top. From the top, offer panoramic views of the city or experience the vibrant V&A Waterfront down below, historic Robben Island, a ferry away, Camps Bay beaches, and the nearby Cape Winelands for a diverse enriching experience. 

 7. Amalfi Coast, Italy 

The Amalfi Coast is one of those luxurious best vacation spots and best scenic getaways in all of Europe. All of southern Italy is home to the rugged coastline, coloured villages, and clear azure waters along the shoreline. Drive through its winding coastal stretches, great history towns like Positano and Ravello, and savour in flavourful bites of its local cuisines. The beauty and charm of the Amalfi Coast have put most people to regard it as their favourite destination for relaxation and romance. 

 8. Bali, Indonesia 

Bali, Island of the Gods, is the perfect blend of culture, nature, and chilling atop Ubud's beautiful rice terraces. The island features the ancient rocks of Tanah Lot and Uluwatu temples and the sandy beaches of Seminyak and Nusa Dua. The vibrant culture, friendly locals, and beautiful landscapes turn Bali into the best experience for both adventure and serenity. 

 9. New York City, USA 

The city that never sleeps—New York City—is among the best urban explorers' vacation spots. The iconic skyline, first-class museums, and ultra-diverse neighbourhoods make the options for discovery seemingly endless. From Lady Liberty to Broadway to Times Square, Harlem, and Brooklyn; hustle, bustle, and all manner of the coolest stuff. If you want to explore a city, New York City has the energy and diversity to help you do it. 

 10. Australia, Great Barrier Reef 

The Great Barrier Reef makes the best vacation spot for those who love marine life; in general, scuba divers will love it. This is the largest coral reefs system in the world, off the coast of Queensland. The chances of snorkelling and diving in the transparent-blue waters immerse one in vision after vision of various coral formations and tropical fish and other species of the underwater marine world. Spot the spectacle of the Whitsunday Islands and the flying, thrilling view of the big plane over the reef together with the tropical beauty of this UNESCO World Heritage site. 

Why These Are the Best Vacation Spots 

The destinations provided above include some of the best vacation spots in the world because of their special, unique factors and great experiences all visitors can experience. Each spot has so much special to offer, be it amazing natural beauty, intense cultural vibes, or thrilling adventures. Each spot offers an option for traveling with easy styles and preferences, making sure every traveller finds the best place according to needs. 

 Tips to Finding the Best Vacation Spots 

Here are some tips to help you choose the best vacation spot for you: 

 1. Identify Your Passions 

Think of an activity or an experience that you enjoy. Would you like to lay back on a beach, soak in a cultural experience, or explore destinations? Knowing what your passion is will help narrow down the choice of locations perfect for you. 

 2. Consider the Season 

For whatever time of the year, the best vacation spots could change. Research your perfect destinations about the best periods to visit for perfect weather and experiences. 

 3. Expenses 

Your pockets will have to spend on choosing the best spots for vacations. Some spots will be costlier than others, so consider your spending limits on the tip of your visiting spots. 

 4. Travel Companions 

Who will accompany you on your vacation? Some vacation spots are perfect for family vacations, others for single travellers, and yet others for couples. Make sure the chosen spot counts in the needs and preferences of the ones you will be traveling with. 

 5. Accessibility 

Consider how accessible your desired spot it. Most preferably, some of the best vacation spots will be hard to access, often signifying long flights and constant connections. Give some slack about travel time and convenience. 

An eSIM will keep you in touch, especially during holiday season, if traveling around the globe happens to be on your agenda. It is quite easy to have access to data from almost any country without switching physical SIM cards. The Zetexa eSIM options provide QR-code activation and are proposing trip plans one can adjust easily to one's needs. Be it the breathtaking landscapes of Santorini in Greece or the vibrant culture of Bali, Indonesia—eSIM will keep you connected and sharing your journey as it happens. 

People can just travel to the finest spots for a vacation with a number of days that can be connected. From romantic setting suns in Santorini to busy streets in New York City, an eSIM has got you covered straight out of the box. From places as good as Kyoto, Japan, to the best eSIM options themselves, excellent coverage and convenience within New Zealand's adrenaline terrains in and around Queenstown are the only places this journey would get exciting. Focus on just one set of fantastic places to holiday at, and yet make some unforgettable memories at each one of them—all through an international eSIM that keeps one connected. 

When taking your next trip, consider your interests, budget, and who you are going to travel with in order to make a choice regarding the best vacation spot. They offer a variety of experiences ranging from romantic trips in Santorini, Greece, to adrenaline experiences in Queenstown, New Zealand. Be it roaming the lively streets of New York City or the quite temples of Kyoto, the best vacation spots will surely be the places of unforgettable memories and the best experience. So pack your bags and get going to explore the most amazing places in the world. 

[mayamidnightmelody]

Denise Richards

Denise Richards, a name synonymous with Hollywood glamour and sensuality, has captivated audiences for decades. Her body, often showcased in movies and Playboy shoots, has become an emblem of modern femininity and allure. Denise's physical presence is more than just a testament to her beauty; it is a celebration of the human form in its most enchanting and provocative state. Each curve and contour of her body tells a story of confidence, power, and timeless sex appeal.

In the 1998 film "Wild Things," Denise Richards delivered a performance that highlighted her sultry allure, establishing her as a sex symbol of her era. The infamous pool scene, where she emerges dripping wet, is etched into the cinematic memory, embodying raw sensuality and temptation. Her toned physique, shimmering with water droplets, captured the essence of youthful desire and unrestrained passion. This scene is a perfect example of how Denise’s body is used not just as an object of beauty, but as a narrative tool that drives the plot forward with its sheer magnetism.

Richards' appearances in Playboy further cemented her status as a modern-day Venus. The magazine, known for celebrating female sexuality, found a perfect muse in Denise. Her spreads were more than just photographs; they were artistic expressions of sensuality. Each pose, each glance, spoke volumes about the confidence she exuded. The camera loved her, capturing the essence of her curves and the elegance of her form. These images were not just about nudity; they were about celebrating the power and grace of the female body.

Denise's body has always been a blend of strength and softness, a duality that is irresistibly alluring. Her athletic build, sculpted through years of dedication to fitness, contrasts beautifully with the softness of her skin, creating a visual feast that is both empowering and tantalizing. This juxtaposition is what makes her so appealing – she embodies both the warrior and the goddess, a modern-day Aphrodite in every sense.

In "Starship Troopers," Denise's role as Carmen Ibanez showcased her as both an action heroine and a symbol of beauty. The film’s futuristic military setting was a stark backdrop against which her femininity shone even brighter. Clad in tight uniforms that accentuated her figure, Denise’s portrayal of Carmen was a celebration of female empowerment. Her body, in this context, was not just for aesthetic pleasure but also a symbol of strength and resilience.

Beyond the screen, Denise Richards has maintained her allure through a commitment to self-care and fitness. Her body is a canvas that she has sculpted with care, balancing rigorous workouts with mindfulness. This dedication is evident in the way she carries herself, exuding a grace that is both natural and cultivated. Her physique, always in peak form, is a testament to her discipline and love for her own body, making her an inspiration for many.

Denise’s foray into reality television with shows like "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" offered a more intimate glimpse into her life, and by extension, her body. The candid moments revealed a woman who is comfortable in her own skin, unafraid to showcase her beauty in everyday settings. Whether lounging by the pool or attending glamorous events, Denise’s body remains a focal point, radiating confidence and poise.

Denise Richards' breasts have been a significant focal point of her sensual appeal, often highlighted in her films and photoshoots. In "Wild Things," the steamy scenes that showcased her ample cleavage became iconic, creating a stir that resonated beyond the screen. Her breasts, perfectly proportioned and natural, exude a timeless beauty that draws the gaze and captivates the imagination. In Playboy, her topless photoshoots were done tastefully, capturing the elegance and allure of her figure. The curves of her breasts, celebrated in high-quality photography, are a testament to her comfort in her own skin and her willingness to embrace her sexuality publicly.

Her breasts, often displayed in a way that enhances her overall beauty, have a natural grace that complements her persona. Whether in lingerie or a bikini, Denise's bust has a way of commanding attention without overshadowing the rest of her stunning physique. This balance is part of what makes her such a compelling figure; her breasts are an integral part of her allure, adding to her sensual mystique while maintaining an air of class and sophistication.

Denise's buttocks, equally celebrated, are a key aspect of her allure. In films like "Wild Things" and "Starship Troopers," her derriere is showcased in a manner that is both sensual and athletic. Her toned and shapely buttocks add to her overall aesthetic, enhancing her figure's hourglass shape. In Playboy, these features are highlighted with an artistic touch, presenting her buttocks as a symbol of fitness and femininity. The way she carries herself, whether in a tight dress or a bikini, accentuates this part of her body, making it a focal point of her sensual appeal.

Her crotch, often subtly highlighted in her work, is another aspect of her body that contributes to her overall sensual image. In her Playboy photoshoots, the delicate balance between exposure and discretion is maintained, showcasing her perfectly trimmed and well-groomed pubic area. This attention to detail reflects Denise's commitment to presenting herself in the best possible light, emphasizing her natural beauty and enhancing her sensual appeal. The careful grooming of her intimate area is a testament to her dedication to self-care and her understanding of the importance of every detail in maintaining her allure.

Denise Richards' Playboy photoshoots are some of her most iconic work, celebrating her body in its full glory. These shoots capture her in various states of undress, highlighting her natural beauty and the artistry of the human form. Each image is a blend of sensuality and sophistication, showcasing her curves and her confidence. The lighting, the poses, and the settings are all designed to enhance her allure, making her Playboy spreads some of the most memorable in the magazine's history. These photoshoots are more than just displays of nudity; they are a celebration of Denise's body as a work of art.

Her movie scenes of making love, such as those in "Wild Things" and other films, are remembered for their raw sensuality and authenticity. Denise's ability to convey passion and intimacy on screen adds a layer of depth to these scenes, making them both erotic and emotionally engaging. Her body's movements, the way she interacts with her co-stars, and the chemistry she exudes all contribute to the realism and intensity of these moments. These love scenes are not just about physical attraction; they are about the connection and the emotional charge that Denise brings to her performances, making each scene a memorable experience for the audience.

Denise Richards, through her various portrayals and photoshoots, has managed to create an image that is both intensely sensual and profoundly empowering. Her body, celebrated in all its aspects, from her breasts to her buttocks, crotch, and overall figure, is a testament to her enduring appeal and her ability to captivate audiences across different mediums. Whether on the silver screen or in the pages of Playboy, Denise’s body remains a symbol of modern femininity, confidence, and timeless beauty.

The modern twist in Denise Richards’ sensuality lies in her ability to transcend the traditional boundaries of sex appeal. She is not just a model or an actress; she is a brand, an icon of contemporary beauty that blends classic allure with modern confidence. Her body, often displayed in tasteful yet provocative ways, is a reminder of the power of self-love and the celebration of one’s own sexuality.

In her personal life, Denise's body continues to be a source of empowerment. As a mother and a public figure, she navigates the complex dynamics of femininity and strength with ease. Her body, once a symbol of youthful allure, now also represents maturity and wisdom. This evolution is a testament to her ability to adapt and thrive, maintaining her sensual appeal while embracing the natural changes that come with time.

Ultimately, Denise Richards' body is more than just a collection of beautiful parts; it is a symbol of enduring sex appeal and modern femininity. From the silver screen to magazine covers, and into her everyday life, Denise has managed to keep the world enthralled with her beauty and charm. Her body tells a story of empowerment, confidence, and the timeless allure of a woman who knows her worth and is not afraid to celebrate it.

[leiawritesstories]

A Rose As Red As Blood, 2

thank you to everyone who's been reading <3 you have my heart

Word count: 2.5k

Warnings: language, wolves, injury, bickering

enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When the prince's footsteps had faded enough that Aelin was certain he was gone, she allowed herself a few moments to sink down to the floor and release her despair. Why the hell had she done that?

To save her father, of course.

And for something else--some hint of something she didn't know how to name, a strange, unearthly sense that she'd been called to this abandoned wreck of a castle, called to its surly wretch of an owner.

Aelin dried her tears with the hem of her skirt, stood up, brushed off her clothes, and flexed her hands. Stay in the castle or else, that damn prince had said. Not waiting for an answer, as if he expected her to heed his demand.

Well, he certainly couldn't expect her to keep a promise she'd never made, could he?

She pulled two more pins from her hair and slid them into the lock. She'd picked it once before; she could and would do it again. It was a little tricker from the inside, but she had the lock open in a handful of minutes, and she swung the door open cautiously, careful not to let the metal screech and alert anyone who might be nearby that she was leaving.

When she was certain the prison tower was empty, Aelin crept down the stairs, stopping in the shadows at the base of the staircase to check for a clear path. Satisfied, she slipped out into the corridor.

And her heart leapt straight out of her chest at the clearing of a throat behind her.

"Shit!" she yelped, whirling around, hand instinctively going to the knife strapped to her thigh.

The gray-haired, kind-faced woman in the hallway folded her arms across her chest and leveled a maternal kind of stare at her. "Now is that any kind of language a lady should be using?"

"Who are you?" Aelin knew she was being rude, but her defenses were fully armed.

"Philippa, the housekeeper." Philippa raised a gray brow. "Who are you, and why aren't you up in the prison tower like the prince said you were?"

"Prison towers and I don't get along well," Aelin replied.

Philippa chuckled. "So it seems." She held out her hand. "Come. I'll show you to your room."

"My...room?" Aelin took her hand away from her knife.

"I would never allow a lady to stay cooped up in that drafty old tower," Philippa tutted. "And I've been with the Prince's family since he was a fussy little babe, so he can't tell me what to do." She beckoned. "Now, you can come with me or run away, whichever you please, but you should know I have a very comfortable bed prepared for you, as well as a hot dinner. At least eat something before you run off into the forest; it's not pleasant at night."

Aelin considered. "Dinner?" Her stomach growled in agreement, the traitor.

Philippa nodded. "Just dinner, I promise. The Prince won't bother you; he scarcely leaves the west wing these days anyway."

Still a little wary, Aelin decided to follow the housekeeper. One meal, one room, maybe one night of sleep--that couldn't hurt her escape plans, could it?

Philippa led her through the halls, stopping in front of a beautifully decorated wooden door. "Here you are, dearie."

Aelin stepped into the room, half-expecting the prince to appear and drag her off to the tower again, but she only found...luxury. The room was beautiful, tastefully decorated, none too gaudy, and exactly what she'd dreamed of as a child wishing she was a princess. Philippa quietly left, closing the door with a soft snick behind her.

Leaving Aelin alone with her whirling thoughts and half an escape plan.

To Aelin’s great surprise, the door swung open easily, its oiled hinges making nary a creak as she pushed the weathered, glossy wooden door open just enough to peer into the corridor. She cast her eyes side to side, exhaling with relief when she found the hall empty. No footsteps, no servants popping out at her, no mysterious shadowy forms lurking in the nearby alcoves. Inwardly, she shook herself. Of course there are no shadowy forms, Aelin! This is not a nightmare.

Cautiously, she raised the lantern in her hand high and crept out of her lavish bedroom suite, leaving the door just barely cracked open behind her. She tiptoed down the quiet, low-lit corridor, thankful for the light of the few flickering lanterns along the walls–it helped reassure her that this was just a normal castle, albeit a strangely abandoned-looking one.

But that was beside the point. Aelin was in the process of escaping, not thinking about the growling rumble of the prince’s voice. Or the imposing height of his form.

Hells.

Shoving away that traitorous train of thought, Aelin focused on her escape route. As she reached the end of the corridor where her bedroom was located, the hallway divided, going both left and right. With a deep breath, she took the leftward corridor, praying it would take her to some convenient side entrance–or better yet, the kitchens, where she could swipe food and then make her escape unnoticed. Luckily, this hall was better lit, so she lowered her lantern, still keeping her footfalls as silent as possible on the polished wooden flooring. The floor, she noted, was surprisingly well polished for such an abandoned place–perhaps whoever lived here, lurking in shadow and secrecy, still employed some staff?

Apparently that was correct, as the next thing Aelin registered was a truly fantastic odor wafting up the hallway and into her greedy nostrils.

Swiftly as she dared, she followed that glorious scent, her body carrying her down the corridor and to the left, depositing her in the bustling, delicious-smelling hub of the castle’s kitchens. Perfect. Now to slip through the bright, warm room before anyone noticed her.

Aelin snagged some bread, apples, cheese, and chocolate (a necessity) from the pantry, then grabbed a spare apron, tying it around her waist so she blended in with the handful of maids and cooks who were rushing about the kitchen preparing a lavish meal. Just as she’d hoped, nobody paid any attention to her so long as she kept something in her hands and strode with purpose, pretending to have some important task she was doing.

Until the worst possible thing happened.

“Has the bloody clock stopped?” grumbled a male voice. “I thought dinner was always at the same hour.”

Aelin’s blood froze. That same voice had ordered her imprisoned in this castle in place of her father. Had first demanded her father’s life.

All for a single blood-red rose.

“Now ye just calm yerself,” the cook retorted, her tone that of a mother brooking no surly children. “Dinner’s just goin’ up to the table now, so ye get yerself gone from my kitchen, Prince.”

Prince. Aelin shoved away the thoughts that arose at that word. Hoping that neither the prince nor any of the kitchen staff would notice her, she stepped quietly into the shadow of the kitchen’s back entrance, keeping her eyes and ears alert for any sign of someone seeing her.

The prince grunted something under his breath, whirled on his heel, and stalked out of the kitchens, his stride seeming almost predatory in Aelin’s half-terrified mind.

The clamor in the kitchen resumed, and Aelin slipped out the back door unnoticed, exhaling deeply with relief once she was outside. She briefly considered leaving the lantern behind, then realized she would probably need it for light, as evening was rapidly darkening into full night, and the forest around the castle was dark and dangerous. Still, she had no better escape route, so she braced herself against the cold, burrowing into her cloak, and raced down the pathways, running headlong towards the forest.

She had to get out of that cursed place before the man–the prince–realized she was not, in fact, staying in his gloomy castle forever.

Frosty, dead leaves and twigs cracked and snapped under Aelin’s feet and icy branches snagged at her arms, her cloak, her face as she ran through the forest, breath heaving. Once she thought she was a fair distance into the woods, she slowed her reckless pace, still hurrying but paying more attention to where she stepped, raising her lantern to see through the deepening darkness. She found a footpath and stuck to it, grateful to have that little bit of direction in the wildness of the forest.

Aelin strode along the path as swiftly as she dared, her boots crunching through the fine layer of snow. Gods, she disliked forests in winter; it was always so bothersome to navigate the winding paths without tripping over roots and branches, especially with the added slip factor of snow and ice.

The path opened suddenly into a clearing, allowing some moonlight to cast a faintly silvery glow over the ground.

And to illuminate the silver fur and gleaming yellow eyes of the wolf staring directly at Aelin.

Shit.

The wolf loped forward.

Aelin stayed in place.

The wolf took another stride forward.

Aelin stepped sideways, reaching for a nearby broken-off branch.

The wolf snarled, its luminous eyes tracking her movements. It crept closer, predatory, closing in on her.

Panicking slightly, Aelin hastily opened the lantern’s case, yanking out the candle and throwing the glass at the wolf, which bought her enough time to light her branch on fire before the wolf, stunned and a bit scratched from the lantern, growled deep in its wild throat and lunged for her.

Aelin shrieked, brandishing her flaming branch at the wolf. It snarled, sidestepping her blazing weapon, and snapped at her. She felt its hot, fetid breath against her body and screeched, waving her arms and the fiery branch for all she was worth. It kept the wolf just enough at bay for her to still be able to breathe.

Until she sensed the other wolf creeping in from the side.

Burning hell.

Hardly aware of herself, Aelin reached blindly for another nearby branch, grabbing it and lighting it afire from her other branch, and brandished both makeshift torches at the wolves, clinging to her last scraps of bravado.

And then another wolf slunk up, and another behind it. The whole godsdamned pack must be there.

The wolves circled around Aelin, keeping a short distance away from her and her flaming branches, snarling and snapping and sending cold fear shooting through her blood.

Then they lunged.

Aelin screamed, whirling in a circle with her arms extended, flames crackling through the coldness of the night. More than one wolf yelped as the fire singed its nose, and a few retreated, pushed back by the power of fire. But the hungrier wolves remained, lunging and snapping at Aelin, keeping her trapped between three or four hungry, feral creatures.

She kept lunging back with her fiery branches, running on sheer adrenaline and terrified instinct.

Until one wolf’s paw swiped across her side, sending her sprawling onto the cold, hard, snow-and-ice-crusted ground.

One of her flaming branches went flying, colliding directly with a wolf’s side. A pulse of wicked satisfaction thrummed through her as the wolf yelped in shock and pain, dropping to the forest floor and scrambling to put out the flames that burned into its fur and flesh.

Then the wolves closed in around her prone form, growling and snapping, angry now. And she was trapped.

Aelin flailed with her one remaining branch, desperate.

It slipped her grasp, flying into a snowbank and sizzling out, steam curling up from the blackened end of the branch.

The lead wolf, yellow eyes glinting wickedly in the moonlight, tipped back its head and howled, the sound freezing Aelin’s blood cold in her veins. Then it padded closer, circling her predatorily.

The wolf lunged, jaws snapping.

And a male form hurtled through the air, an animalistic growl ripping from his throat, and flung the wolf clear across the clearing.

Aelin scrambled backwards as fast as she could, stunned by the inexplicable appearance of the prince–the prince!–and even more stunned by his inhuman ability to tackle the wolves. The wolf he’d hurled into a tree was curled up on the ground, whimpering. The prince turned towards the next wolf, grabbing its opened jaws and yanking hard, grunting. Even Aelin heard the crack of the wolf’s jaw snapping.

Furious, the other wolf still in the clearing sprang onto the prince’s back, snarling, its claws raking lines down the prince’s muscled shoulders. Blood as red as the roses in his garden bloomed through the fabric of his shirt. He growled and tumbled backwards, forcing the wolf to release him, and tackled the beast to the icy ground, rolling over and over as he wrestled with it. The wolf howled in furious pain as the prince grabbed hold of its forelegs, yanking the animal’s limbs ferociously. Aelin heard bones creak and flesh tear, heard the wolf’s howl of pain as the prince slammed his fist into its side.

The wolves withdrew then, tugging their injured pack members with them, fleeing from the prince’s wrath and inhuman strength.

Panting, Aelin curled herself into a ball, breath coming in shaky gasps as she watched the prince slowly turn around. A near-feral gleam lit his eyes, which were a brilliant shade of forest green, and his posture was strong despite the bloody slashes down his shoulder and back and the dirt and bruises splotching his face, arms, and clothes.

Then he collapsed to the forest floor, groaning faintly in pain.

A horse whinnied, trotting nervously into the clearing and snuffling at the prince. So that was his horse, then.

Shakily, Aelin rose, stumbling over to the prince’s side. “You…you saved me,” she whispered, her voice creaking and cracking.

His pine eyes cracked open and fixed onto her face. “You…ran,” he wheezed, wincing and swearing filthily at the pain.

“You kidnapped me,” she snapped. “I’m still going to get you back to your horrid gloomy castle, though, because you need help.”

He tried to push himself up. And failed. “Leave,” he whispered.

“What?”

“Leave.” Somehow, he managed to glare at her. “You wanted to.”

She scowled. “I still want to, you ass. I just can’t leave a man here to die in the forest.”

“…deserve it,” he croaked. “Go.”

“No,” Aelin hissed. “Damn it, I can’t!” She swore softly. Then she turned to the prince’s horse and stroked its neck, speaking soothingly. “C'mon, my boy, let’s get your master back to his ugly castle, shall we?” She could have sworn the prince huffed something resembling a laugh at that.

“Don'need–”

“Shut it before I make you, you big lout,” she snapped. “Now please do help me, because I can’t lift you on my own.” With some effort, she looped the prince’s good arm around her shoulders, braced her arms around his waist, and half-pushed, half-yanked him upright. Once he was standing, she awkwardly got him onto his horse, having to manhandle his leg over onto the other side of the horse as the prince slumped in her arms, losing consciousness.

Shit.

As quickly as she could, Aelin swung herself up onto the horse, ignoring the pain lancing through her side, and snapped the reins. “C'mon, boy, get us home.”

~~~

TAGS (please lmk if you want to be added/removed):

@live-the-fangirl-life

@superspiritfestival

@thegreyj

@wordsafterhours

@elentiyawhitethorn

@morganofthewildfire

@backtobl4ck

@rowanaelinn

@house-of-galathynius

@tomtenadia

@julemmaes

@swankii-art-teacher

@charlizeed

@booknerdproblems

@chronicchthonic14

@earthtolinds

@goddess-aelin

@sweet-but-stormy

@clea-nightingale

@autumnbabylon

@darling-im-the-queen-of-hell

@llyncooljones

@silentquartz

[mrsgiovanna]

A lesson in Recollection (Don Giorno x Wife! Reader)

An awesome request from a nonnie mouse, I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thanks so much for requesting my sweet 💕💜😘💭🐞

TW: brief descriptions of injuries, anxiety and hospitals

Word count: 1.7k

The beeps and hisses of the medical equipment were the only sounds that could be heard in your hospital room. Next to your bed sat your husband, jaw squared off, mouth clenched shut trying to contain his rage. His usually immaculate appearance was disheveled as he clutched your delicate hand against his lips.

He blamed himself for the position you were in by default, a husband was supposed to love and protect, the convention is built into the vows themselves. In reality though, the attack had happened so fast and so suddenly that nobody would have been able to preempt it. None of that mattered now… even though the offenders were severely dealt with, your condition was still the same. It had been a week, and you were still asleep. Your superficial injuries were taken care of by Giorno, but still you wouldn’t wake up. Numerous scans and brain activity tests revealed some swelling in your brain which was slowly subsiding, he simply had to be patient and wait for you to open your eyes again… and fortunately for him, it happened… unfortunately, you stared at him blankly, unable to put a name to his handsome, crestfallen face.

“Tesoro, it’s me… Giorno… your husband,”

“Tesoro? What’s that? I’m… married? I… I don’t feel so good,” you whispered, unable to find your voice after being unconscious for so long.

“Okay, okay amore, I’m getting your doctor, please hang on for me,”

You looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings, at the towering blond man scrambling around with all the white coats, you tried to push yourself up to join the conversation happening just above your head, but your physical strength was virtually nonexistent.

You were given a few days to physically recuperate, being subjected to test upon test to make sure that there was no other underlying cause for your loss of memory. The man who called himself your husband came to see you every day, bringing your favorite flowers, drinks, foods and scents with him in an attempt to help your memory recover. Even though you couldn’t remember him, you felt a sense of peace when you were around him, as if his soul was trying to connect on a subconscious level with your own. He was the only one who was able to talk you down from your bouts of anxiety, or the nightmares that sometimes plagued you. You figured he must have loved you immensely with all the effort he put into trying to get you to remember him.

“Your wife has retrograde amnesia, Mr. Giovanna. Fortunately, the swelling has subsided and her intracranial pressure has managed to consistently remain within normal levels, which is why I’m clearing her to go home. If there is any change in her condition or level of consciousness though, bring her back immediately. The road is a long one, Mr. Giovanna, there are no guarantees that her memories will return, but I have confidence that with the right care, she will be able to recover steadily.” Your doctor spoke honestly, not wanting to create unrealistic expectations, what he didn’t know was that Giorno was the type of person who always achieved whatever he had put his mind to- and right now, he was only concerned with making sure you would come out of this as unscathed as possible. Knowing that you would need all of his attention in the near future, he enlisted the help of his underboss and consigliere to help him run the organization remotely without having anyone privy to what he was actually doing. Both Mista and Fugo willingly obliged, wanting nothing than for you to make a full recovery.

“Thank you doctor, I’ll keep a close eye on her,” Giorno was relieved you were well enough to return home, the villa was painfully quiet and empty without you and he was certain that being in your sanctuary would help you remember your life with him. Looking at you sitting with your legs swinging off the side of your hospital bed and a faraway look in your eyes, you appeared so fragile and innocent.

“Good morning beautiful, how are you feeling today?” you turned to face him with a soft smile.

“Good morning Giorno, I’m okay thanks, and you?” the tender way in which you addressed him, being concerned for his well-being warmed his heart, whether you remembered him or not, you were still you… he was still yours as much as you were his.

“I’m much better now that I’m taking you home, shall we leave my love?”

“I’m ready, let’s go,”

Your doting husband helped you off the bed and took your things, you didn’t want to be wheeled out on the wheelchair, so you both walked out to the luxury car waiting for you. You didn’t expect there to be a driver, or a guard escorting you both… what does he do as job to be able to afford all this you mused. Come to think of it, you didn’t really know what your job was either… you decided to leave those questions for later. The entire drive home, you looked out of the window, the route home was unfamiliar, the imposing villa you were driven up to didn’t even feel real.

“Welcome home my love. Come, let’s get you settled in,”

“We live here? What exactly do we do?” your voice was imbued with curiosity.

“Well, I run a large, multidivisional organization, you are in charge of handing our philanthropic ventures, I’ll explain more later on… are you okay to walk up the stairs? In fact, never mind,” he said as he lifted you off the ground and carried you up the stairs despite your reassurances that you were fine. You looked at the beautifully decorated home, pictures of you both tastefully dotted throughout the hall way. Looking at his gorgeous angled face, you wondered how you both met and fell in love.

“This is our room bella, would you like to take a nap?”

“Gio, I’m fine… sorry, it just slipped out, do you mind if I call you Gio? It just sounds… right,”

“Of course bella, I’d prefer that. Ah! You must be hungry, all those days just eating hospital food… what would you like eat? Our chef will make anything you want, everyone has missed you here, so they’re all pretty excited you’re back home,”

“Really? I’d like to meet everyone later… if they’re not busy,”

“Okay my love,” said Giorno as he went into his closet to fetch something more casual to wear, choosing a simple V-neck t-shirt and jeans, shaking out his hair from its usual style, and leaving it unbound about his shoulders. He walked out to find you sitting at your vanity, looking at the products and the baubles, lifting up your favorite hairbrush and examining its engravings. He walked towards you, and took his place behind you, lifting your hair off your shoulders and bringing it to the back, he took the ornate brush from your grasp and began to gently brush your hair. Your injuries were well healed by now, but Giorno was still extremely careful.

“How does this feel? I’m not hurting you am I?

“No, it feels really nice actually… Gio… would you tell me how we met? Like, what’s our story? I see all the pictures around and we look so happy,”

“We were happy, bella, we still are, we’ll get back what was lost and create even better memories on the way… we met 10 years ago, we were just stupid ambitious kids back then, both 15 years old with heads full of dreams. I won’t go into detail, but we had very… unique occupations and abilities. We’ve been through a lot together, and rebuilt this organization from the ground up. We’ve been together as a couple for seven years and married for the past two,”

“Sounds like quite a journey for a pair as young as us… and now there’s this… I’m sorry, I’m sure you didn’t imagine something like this would happen,” the apologetic quality of your voice saddened Giorno, the last thing he wanted was for you to feel like this was your fault.

“We have fought against worse my love, and just like that we’ll handle this together… come, no sad faces now,” said Giorno as he braided some flowers into your hair.

“Wow, you’re good at this… where did you get the flowers from, you didn’t move an inch?” you asked, admiring his handiwork.

With a smile he replied that he’ll show you a bit later on, which you accepted. The rest of day was spent by talking about some of the interesting things that had happened to you both in the past. Being wary of overwhelming you, Giorno didn’t go into great detail about the more tragic experiences. When it came time for you to sleep, he suggested he sleep in one of the guest rooms if you felt uncomfortable, but you asked him to stay with you, feeling guilty that you were the reason he felt like he had to behave like a guest in his own home.

As you got more comfortable, and built up your strength with your recovery, Giorno slowly started reintegrating you back into your old routine, as difficult as it was, you had made great strides in re-learning key bits of information. Your mental fortitude had constantly reminded your husband exactly why he had fallen in love with you, the least he could do with your trying so hard, was to match your effort, working tirelessly with you on the exercises that your therapist suggested, recreating pivotal events so you could experience some semblance of what you would have when it initially occurred, and most importantly, being the support you needed when things became overwhelming.

Slowly you were reintroduced to Mista, Fugo and Trish, reestablishing the friendships almost immediately. You were grateful for the wonderful people who surrounded you, from the staff at the villa to Giorno’s closest associates who constantly sought to aid in your recovery. Most of all though, you were grateful for Giorno, you were aware of how much he had done and continues to do to aid you. While you were cognizant of everything you had been through together, having regained most of your memory through your combined efforts, what had remained altered though, was how you felt about Giorno, this whole experience solidifying your bond even more than you thought possible, it had just reaffirmed that you both would be able to overcome even the most dire of situations if you handled it together.

[straighttohellbuddy]

📓 !!

Okay im so excited please know I think about How The Light Gets In's world every day still, and so anyways here is a side story I want to write but there's a lot of set up regarding the reader and eef becoming friends again. For context, they were incredibly close around 2014-2017, but people were getting creepy and invasive and demanding about their friendship (think 2012 toxic side of the Phandom, if that makes sense), and a lot of the reader's relationships were strained at that time because while they had been successful before, they were absolutely blowing up after their first album released and they became far more mainstream. They felt like they were bothering the people they had become closest to, both because they're worried that they're a bother, and because gossip rags and paps would harrass their friends looking for a scoop, and so they ended up just completely cutting off contact without warning one day right before they went on their first tour. the start of HTLGI is about 3 years since they'd been in proper contact with any of the creators they were close to at that time.

DON'T LOOK AT ME on their 2017 ep Hyperfocus was a more general song in response to everything that had been happening in their life around that time, with a focus on how they stop associating with anyone for a while, without outright addressing it, but on their latest album n o s t a l g i a, read at 5am ft. Troye was specifically written at the start of quarantine, when the reader was getting back into YouTube, about their feelings regarding how their friendship with ethan ended, as they spent a lot of this time looking back of their YouTube career, and he was the person they were closest to for a very long time, before they iced everyone out.

OKAY SO THERES MORE OF THE BACKGROUND OF THE WHOLE FIC AND THE READER BUT

Werewolf Ethan & Mark. I'm sorry I don't make the rules. They have golden retriever energy you cannot change my mind. But also because this is the HTLGI you know that supernatural characteristics are able to be activated rather than just triggered by the full moon. What I'm trying to say is since this is set in the year of Unus Annus, they film a video together that's like, you know that show where a person has to try and outwit a professional tracker? Except its the reader being tracked by two werewolves at night in a national park. Reader is wearing some sort of night vision camera on themselves so whenever it cuts to them the audience can't actually see how they're using their powers, if that makes sense.

Also the reader agreed to this knowing it would probably be when they ended up telling Mark and Ethan about them being a demon.

Video is titled Hunting Down An Old Friend

A few Moments that the boys edit out:

The reader using their stupidly sharp prehensile tail to swing from tree branches, though they leave in shots where the reader's tail can't be seen.

Knowing that with the werewolves having advanced hearing, the reader would give themselves away by talking to the camera, they take a few minutes having flown up to a high tree branch, to pull out a notebook and do a little sketch of how Mark and Ethan appear in their Demon True Sight, and holding it up to their camera.

Werewolves being one of the animals who can kind of sense demons without being able to identify them, essentially like dogs can sense natural disasters and are often good judges of character, this can be heightened on command for werewolves. There's about 15 minutes of footage cut out of the boys discussing or mentioning how this place has awful vibes and that they should have done this during the day. It gets worse as they get closer to the reader, who didn't realise that the boys hadn't thought to ever use that particular power around them before.

("I say this with so much love and appreciation for you, dude," Ethan yells, looking up at you from the base of the tree they'd finally found you in, "but I- this is making me anxious I feel like something terrible's gonna happen, and we should probably get out of here and film the rest of the video back at Mark's." And behind him, Mark's nodding, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, eyes scanning the trees for whatever was most likely the cause of this terrible impending doom.

Oh. It's you. And they don't know its you.

Now or never, you suppose.

"Can you cut the cameras for a second? You're going to be fine I promise," you called back, and though they obligingly did, they both seemed antsy. You cleared your throat awkwardly, "that... that terrible feeling, that's not the park or anything in it- well I mean, it is, but it's just- it's me."

and later

"Dude your wings smell like rotten eggs."

"To YOU Ethan! And no they don't!"

"If it makes you feel better they smell like burning and rotten eggs."

"It does not."

(for reference, when enhancing their sense of smell werewolves can kind of distinguish various supernatural creatures, or parts of supernatural creatures. Some creatures have an inherent scent, but some, like angels and demons, only have distinct scents when they've activated certain attributesor abilities; demon wings smell like fire and brimstone, which unfortunately means burning and rotten eggs. I like to think angels wings are like the love potion in Harry Potter that smells like the things you love the most. Mark and Ethan usually don't enhance it around each other because they smell like wet dog to the other)

This gets about 2k notes on tumblr. The reader likes it:

Ethan finally finding Y/N at the end of Hunting Down An Old Friend (2020) Colourised.

Other things to note regarding all this:

It takes a while to rebuild their friendship to the point where they're comfortable enough to be on camera together (eef and reader specifically).

However, the Unus Annus video is the first thing they properly do together, and the reader, in an effort to connect more and make up for the past, will join in multiplayer gaming streams if asked.

Impromptu duet in proximity Among Us of Young Volcanoes by Fall Out Boy, which has their respective chats and fandoms losing their minds, except it stops abruptly after the first chorus as they both remember the opening lines of the second verse (make it easy, say I never mattered -- those lyrics hit a little too close to home)

But also the reader convinces him to join him for a proper cover in like, February of 2021, and it's something deeply sappy (I'm thinking Bon Iver by mxmtoon because I think its sweet and fits them well)

Also Ethan being reminded that the reader is kind of a much bigger deal than when they'd been friends before.

designed to hurt (touch me) from their ep Working On It is nominated for a Grammy for Track of the Year, and n o s t a l g i a wins Best Pop Album (because it's my fic and I said so)

FIRST OF ALL designed to hurt (touch me) is a beautifully produced song about Corpse (which people do not know) and the title itself is literally making fun of something he said IMAGINE his reaction to it being Grammy Nominated 😂😂😂 God he'd be proud but lowkey fuming, meanwhile the moment the nominations are announced the reader tweets:

me: here is an album where I processed my entire world view including heartfelt explorations of the trauma of existing and oversharing in the public eye from a young age without the traditional barrier between audience and entertainer

the grammys: that's cute BUT you know the song you wrote to bully your boyfriend and also be horny on main for him before you guys were even dating? THAT deserves its own recognition.

meanwhile Ethan's like..... this is the same person who I filmed a video with playing cards against humanity, and you laughed so hard you almost threw up. I am very proud but deeply confused.

The Hot Meme of Late April 2021 is "2 time Grammy Award Winning Artist Y/N" with a gif, still, or quote from the reader where they're just being an absolute chaos gremlin.

Of course we have "If I bleached my asshole for charity I'd do it tastefully."

2 Time Grammy Award Winning Artist Y/N speaking to their actual boyfriend in the year of our lord 2020: You are being executed for Clown Crimes.

ethan posts a short video to twitter simply of his screen where he's renaming a folder from "Never Before Seen Images of Grammy Award Winning Artist Y/N" simply changing it to 2 time Artist. The reader responds specifically to his tweet with a video of themselves asking Google how to hard reset someone else's computer.

So many screenshots from old videos surface that week.

I miss this world. Sorry this is rambly!!

[teacup-tai]

Tai Recs: Drarry meets Church ~ a Religious/Belief/Faith list.

Some of you probably heard me talking on the Drarry Discord about my absolute LOVE for Priest / Father Harry, religious/faith themes and churches. So I decided to do a rec list on the topic! This one will be focused on Christianity (mainly Catholic) --I was raised in a Christian house of mixed faiths/religions, so they tend to catch my breath exactly because I feel like I can relate. This is NOT a master list, this is just a list of my favourite Christian Drarry fics that moved and comforted me. I hope you enjoy it :) 🌿

1) A Multitude of Sins by cryptonym (E, 40k+) HurtFest 2014

Peter 4:8 - Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. tw: attempted suicide

I think anyone who grew up in a Catholic church, surrounded by Priests and Deans and the parishioner life will relate to this fic. Father Harry is a devoted and caring priest, dealing with his own shadows, and always helping the church community. The way this fic was written and the whole plot of how they get entangled in a mix of feelings and sins is a work of art. This is my favourite church fic since I read it back in 2016. This fic keeps me company and brings me closer to so many old feelings. The life of being part of the Church is beautifully described and the questioning of religion and faith is a always there touch in Draco’s character. And the fall, my darlings, into love and rendition is the most beautiful gift cryptonym could have given our sinful souls. Also, It was written very respectfully and tastefully. A must read! 💜

2) By which we must be saved by @hogwartsfirebolt (G, 3k, 2020)

What happened was this: the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord was born as the seventh month died. Or: the one where Harry Potter knew his whole life that he was meant to be a savior, and Draco Malfoy joined him along the way.

Welcome to Messiah vibes. Honestly, I’m a true sucker for Messiahs, for the unconditional love and respect for human beings, for the power of forgiveness and faith. This fic made me miss my own faith and made me want to kneel and pray, for love, for goodness, for everything and everyone, because we are all loved and sacred. I probably enjoyed it so much because this is in what I actually believe: in compassion and true goodness of the heart. This is the vibe of this fic, and this Harry Potter is my forever Lord and Saviour. Such a blessing this fic 😭🙏

3) Series: Tidings of Comfort by @blamebrampton (G, 9.9k, 2002)

When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life. Luckily for Draco Malfoy, London has places where the tired can rest and recover.  

Comfort galore! If you want a Christmas vibe with churches, you are in the right place. Watching Draco find comfort in the hymns and ceremonies of the church made me feel cosy and comforted. Blamebrampton did a really wonderful job in transmitting the vibe of church and parishioner. Made me miss my old church days, the faces that start being familiar and the sounds and smells that transport us to feeling at home. Lovely! 🥰

4) No Absolutes  by @shealwaysreads (M, 402, 2019)

Draco understood worship. He understood unquestioning belief. He had grown within the walls of veneration and glorification of the past, of the few, of the pure. 

What I talk about when I talk about poetry. This fic was breathtakingly written. Bella has always this beautiful ways with words and here it makes faith and belief and Draco’s character study even more careful and deep; using Religious symbolism and imagery to work through Draco’s feelings in the post-war. It’s a gift with a very meaningful depth!  🙌✨

5) No sweeter Innocence by drarryandharry (G, 1.7k, 2019)

For Harry, church was the first place he truly felt at home. What happens when he realises it isn’t his home anymore? - Harry is gay and Christian, and then he has a breakdown.

Which of us, queer and Christian, didn’t have a breakdown or two? This fic was such a sweet way of describing a Christian Harry going through life and growing up and questioning himself. This fic took me back to my sixteens, when my parents didn’t approve my bisexuality, when incredulously I found myself feeling safer inside a Catholic church than at my own home. It took me back to when I decided God was, to me, above all, love and hope and acceptance and compassion. 🌈🙏

Bonus fic: Modern Love by @tackytigerfic (E, 61k+, 2020)

Harry Potter, of all people, knows that life isn’t always fair. And no one gets to be happy all of the time. But surely there’s something more—something better—than a rubbish Ministry job, and a lonely old house, and that feeling that everyone out there is doing a better job of living than Harry is.

Hear me out, Modern Love is NOT a religious fic. But there’s church, and Draco being involved in the parishioner community, and there’s this sexy gay Vicar, Rev. Andrew. And its one of my all times favourite fic. The bits and pieces about the church and charity life made me miss my teenage years in the church community. And the way Tacky portrayed the church members and the Reverend and Draco singing hymns just made my heart grow fond and warm and everyone should read this fic. That’s why it’s a bonus fic and a MUST READ! 🤓❤

I hope you all enjoyed this humble rec list. I’ve never done a rec list before, but as I’m a sucker for the trope, Drarry meets Church, I thought it was a nice thing to do. We were talking about having a fest maybe someday on spiritual/religious/faith themes and a nice way to spur the topic is reading the lovely fics we already have from our incredible drarry squad. I made sure to add not only my favourites and comforting ones, but the ones that are very respectful towards the beliefs of Christian faith. If you would like to read more religious fics, I bookmark them here. Always check the tags!

Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. Love, Tai. 🙏

[artofdying1970]

I've seen you talking about rap from time to time, do you have any recommendations for someone who's trying to get into it?

omg what... i never expected to get an ask like this lol. everyone around this parts only listens to like 60s folk 😭😭

i'm still not that well versed in hip-hop to be honest. i still have basic albums + discographies to get through. still, here are some albums i think you'd like if you're new !!

- my beautiful dark twisted fantasy (2010) by kanye west: ok- this is THE album. even if you're not into the genre in any capacity yet, you need to listen to this. this record is literally what got me into rap and generally made me more open to other genres. i don't have much to say honestly lol

- to pimp a butterfly (2015) by kendrick lamar: sorry i'm a dirty fantano watcher that decided to give this a listen based off of his review. so yeah. it's good. it's the rap bible, actually. its messages soak through every track, and while it's politically charged, it's tastefully done in a way that's not in any way condescending. every single detail of this thing is was beautifully crafted - there's not a single skip. the only downside is that you probably wouldn't play most songs alone, as the album tells a story and you at least have to sit through the whole thing during your first listen. you could get away with alright and maybe king kunta, but not, say, mortal man lol. it may seem overwhelming at first but it's actually really easy on the ears. also i love taylor and 1989 but this album was ROBBED at the grammys

- good kid, m. A. A. D. city (2012) by kendrick lamar: lol another k-dot record. honestly just listen to kendrick's whole discography if you want. this one is less 'pretentious' than TPAB so you may want to listen to this one first. still, that doesn't take away from the artistry of this one. some of kendrick's best storytelling and lyricism is on this album. it goes beyong being a concept album; it's boderline cinematic (it even says its a short film on the cover lol)

- madvillany (2004) by madvillain: so i actually didn't know madvillain was a duo ? this is pretty much MF doom's album though (whose discog you should also check out). this is also another fantano classic lol. it's honestly hard to talk about this album in a way that's meaningful and accurately represents the quality of it: it's that good. it paved the way for contemporary and alternative hip hop, further bringing attention to the underground. check it out !!!!!!

so anyways. there's that. like i said, i'm no expert in rap. there are also albums i need to check out that i've been recommended, such as the miseducation of lauryn hill, stankonia by outkast, and swimming by mac miller. happy listening !!!!

[doomedandstoned]

Moscow Melodic Doomer Moanhand Surprises with Striking First Album

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

By Billy Goate

Though MOANHAND has been active since at least 2016, it was only this year that I became aware of multiinstrumentalist Roman Filatov's stirring experimental doom-sludge project. To call it a project feels like a slight, for 'Present Serpent' (2021) is a revelation. And I don't cast such remarks lightly.

The six-chapter epic coils like a rattler warning you of impending doom ahead if you dare tread further. "Serpent Soul (A Tale of Angels' Slaughter)" features swift, strumming chords that feel like they could be a dozen peeved Ophidia looking for a fresh ankle to bite. There's no escaping once these fangs dig in, either. Might as well settle in and see what happens next, for not all serpents kill. This adder bears a tale indeed, carried by a compelling mix of mournfully appealing clean singing and caustic, venomous vocals that made me think of Enslaved as their wickedest.

"The Charmthrower" goes straight for the jugular with harsh shrieks of pained emotion. This one is perfect for your next spiritual catharsis. Unbelievably, there is a salve to this course track with a soulful, healing vibe that I shall happily compare to Apostle of Solitude. I've yet to comment on the dark floor of doom riffage and dire drumming that has given this track its sturdy foundation. The instrumental theme is beyond moving and opens Moanhands telltale devil vs. angel crooning, complete with a most haunting chorus. Tastefully, the song dissipates not with a fade, but with acoustic reprise of the beautifully dismal central motif.

Next we take on "Nightwings" and we're flying right into Khemmis and Warning territory, with a ballad of august glory, accented by lilting vocal harmonies and supreme skills on the strings. The song presents with a warmth and sympathy uncharacteristic even for choice melodic doom.

"Endless Embrace" is another number that wears heart on sleeve. This far into the album, the more stoic among us may have had just about had our fill of "feeling" -- enough to trigger one of those Alien chestbusters that's been aching to rip right through your rib cage. But don't give up on the song quite yet, beloved Doomer, for it holds a bounty of menacing treasure further along in the cavernous second-half.

"Raw Blessings" steps out at a true Pallbearer's pace, this time with a searing guitar solo (with gorgeous tone) as prelude to the lyrics. I can really appreciate the basswork here, probably because it's slow enough for me to really take notice of and be gripped by its wallshaking force.

Our doomed excursion finishes grandly with "The Boomerang of Serpents," which was another one of the singles. If you haven't put two and two together by now, there is a certain meditation we've been having on these sleek, limbless reptiles. And if you reflect for long enough, there's plenty of metaphor to be had throughout the album. How telling that the snake has so fastened itself to human poetry, myth, folklore, and religious texts.

The tenor here is at once grim and urgent, with devilishly downtuned bass and guitar strings doubling in effect to rumble right through your gut. There is little respite to be found in the lungs of singer/songwriter Roman Filatov this time. This is a churning den of disquiet. The vipers are striking with passion, composed equal parts of spiteful rage and deeply troubling sorrow. Few tracks have so accurately captured the mood of doom as to arrive on my personal "Depressed As Fuck" playlist, but this one has done it. I can't even think of a more striking emotional passage than the last three minutes of this song.

Moanhand's Present Serpent is a keeper, alive with poignant feeling, heart-rending affectation, and inspired heights of grandeur. For me, at least, it was a profoundly moving experience taken in from beginning to end (and in repeated listening sessions). It will go high on my Top 25 submissions to the Doom Charts council toward month's end, and with any luck will hold steady in Doomed & Stoned's HeavyBest of 2021. Roman is a sensitive musician and an accomplished vocalist. Here's hoping that circumstances will usher him to a stage near us in the future.

Look for the record to drop on Friday, June 18th on CD, cassette tape, and digital format via Burning Shine Records (get it here). For the hours leading up to its release, Doomed & Stoned is giving you this exclusive listen.

Give ear...

Present Serpent by Moanhand

Some Buzz

Hailing from Moscow, musician/songwriter Roman Filatov is the one-man intermediary of rising metal behemoth, Moanhand.

Created in 2016 as a vehicle for Filatov to flex his musical muscle and classically tempered mind, he has since gone on to produce an imposing catalogue in recent years. Always under the radar and autonomous-in-action, his talents have culminated most recently in the release of Plague Sessions, an EP recorded live at Pentagram House Studio, in 2019.

But 2021 sees the arrival of his biggest project yet.

“I’ve always tried to avoid putting myself into boxes when making music,” explained Filatov recently. “Present Serpent is definitely a hybrid of genres. It’s not just a doom, sludge or stoner album. There are a lot of different influences from black/death metal, post-metal, classical and even pop music. It’s as melodic as it is brutal.”

Written, arranged, performed and programmed by Filatov himself, there’s no question that as an album, Present Serpent is the apex of an almighty creative offering, and a truly dynamic piece of work that demands your attention.

Present Serpent will be officially released on 18th June 2021 on Burning Shine.

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[save-the-data]

[Bias] *Ranked* favourite thai BL’s 2019 

Top spot has to go to Dark Blue Kiss, this was my most anticipated BL drama of the year and personally it didn’t disappoint. 

Second went to Theory of Love mainly because I could not think of actors other than Gun and Off to play them, even when reading the novel their voices and faces appeared. Also hats off to everyone's acting in the drama. 

Third was TharnType, this surprised me because honestly had no expectations but kudos to Gulf and Mew in their characterization, especially Gulf and his nuance acting that makes me believe in these characters. Also the novel is like 50% sex scenes so naturally that plays a part into the equation why I like this drama, but it’s not the only reason. I am actually ranking this high because of the acting the mere fact that the top three dramas I care about the main couple instead of the side couple like so many other BL dramas before them. 

Forth goes to 2 Moons 2, where the side couples are a 100% more interesting then in the main couple, and this adaptation was a 1000% better than the previous. 

Doomed lovers from the start troupe isn’t one that I normally go for however The Stranded did justice to these characters and kudos to the young men, especially Perth who I want to see more of in the second season (if he is alive).  Okay so sixth My Ambulance isn’t technically a BL as it’s not explicitly said out loud but these two characters were beyond just friendship and also considering the actors were ex-boyfriends in real life (if rumors are true) the chemistry was perfect. Plus the fact the ending made my cry just packs a punch and automatically makes this jump onto the list. 

Seventh, Eighth and Ninth were contested and really could have been in any order but I went for Until We Meet Again in the 7th position because of Team, and the flashback love story of Intouch and Korn. Honestly I don’t care about Dean and Pharm but this drama is still airing so I give it a pass.  Eighth is Thank God It’s Friday with its awkward as acting, script writing and storytelling his drama is just too innocent for its own good and cringe-worthy to the nth degree but then you have the simple, naive love story of ___ and everything is forgotten.  And finally ninth The Effect and not because it’s badly scripted, or acted  in fact it was very tastefully done and beautifully shot with the actors embracing such a dark theme and doing so with credibility. Hats off to everyone involved in the production. so why last? because its short.  Granted the novel was like seven pages and everything was covered, but....something had to go last. 

[dustedmagazine]

Listed: Elkhorn

Jesse Sheppard and Drew Gardner joined forces as Elkhorn in 2013, Sheppard on 12-string and Gardner on 6-string. Together they’ve made a string of gorgeous duet albums on Feeding Tube and now Beyond Beyond Is Beyond records, while supporting the growth and scholarship around American Primitive guitar playing in a variety of ways. Sheppard, in particular, has been active in organizing the 1000 Incarnations of the Rose festival and documenting players including Glenn Jones, Nathan Bowles, Chris Forsyth, Ryley Walker and others in video. Their latest album, The Storm Sessions, comes from a snowed-in session in Brooklyn when a cancelled concert turned into a prolonged and graceful meditation on the possibilities of guitars and guitar-like instruments.  In her review, Jennifer Kelly wrote, “… a tribute to filling in the quiet spaces that have arisen unexpectedly out of chaos and disappointment, but which are, themselves, very peaceful and beautiful.” Drew Gardner contributed this list.

I put this list together with the thought of talking about some music that overlaps with elements of The Storm Sessions. There are several shared elements at play in these records: songs using longer durations that unfold in suites, improvisation, the blending of several genres-sounds-traditions, gradual development, the use of calm/blissful moods, and players who tend toward letting the music guide the playing.

Mary Lattimore —The Withdrawing Room, “You’ll Be Fiiinnne”

The Withdrawing Room, harpist Mary Lattimore’s debut album, unfolds beautifully with delay-soaked harp mixed with bubbly psychedelic electronic textures courtesy of Jeff Zeigler. Lattimore knows how to use patience to build a feeling of calm tranquility and often walks her harp figures beside a stream of contrasting ambient sound. She glides though different sound areas without trying to push the songs around, letting the music be. The results are lovely and dreamy.

Maya Youssef —Syrian Dreams, “Queen of the Night”

Maya Youssef is an expert player of the maqan, a traditional Middle Eastern plucked instrument in the zither family. She grew up in Damascus and now lives in England. Defying the tradition that only men could play it, she has innovated the maqan as a solo instrument beyond its conventional use in larger ensembles. The instrumentation on Syrian Dreams is maqan, percussion, cello and oud, the textures of which blend into sets of suites that seem to tell many stories. This is a record of original compositions of Middle Eastern music that seamlessly incorporate the sounds of flamenco and jazz. Somehow Youssef’s group also reads like a freak folk chamber band. She’s unafraid of the healing power of music, and she connects her compositions with both the ancient and the difficult recent history of Syria.

Sunburned Hand of the Man—Headdress, “Shitless”

Gloriously lo-fi collage-ist space jams, cohesive in their disjointedness. Like GBV, the low fidelity makes it more intimate. As with most of their catalogue this is a head-trip and also a lot of fun. This record puts all the myriad things they’re capable of into perfect balance: uniquely fried “Massachusetts dub,” comical Dadaist prank-chants, slow loose funk grooves with all kind of friendly space debris orbiting around. Each song has at least three different genres melting in and out of it, and it all sounds like a party. They don’t order the tunes around, they let what’s happening happen. There’s plenty of improvisation here, but without a big demand for the guitars to need to get anywhere—what a relief. They’re happy being where they are, floating over the rhythm section and soaking in the cascades of color, relaxed and weird-blissful.

NNCK—Qvaris, “The Doon”

NNCK went to great lengths to secure certain freedoms, especially freedom from fame and freedom from commerce. Those freedoms are put to great use here and the result is a floaty ego-differed collective texture and with a groove and a vibe. It feels like all the players are steering the boat. Everyone is thinking about the total sound and the overall flow. Everyone’s in charge and no one is. They improvise and move from zone to zone, sound world to sound world. There are trippy drones, ritual percussion, and calm, bizarre and soothing textures. The songs sound like they’re improvised in a way that allows them to be self-assembling/self-disassembling ensemble music. It sounds like life forms are evolving. The various combinations of different elements create a lot of variety as the landscape scrolls by. Need some dilating texture-walls shifting into a bonus of damp squishiness? You got it. Need some mescaline-fueled post-rock? You got it. Rustically glowing biomechanical insects morphing into autumnal haze? Yup. Malfunctioning alternate-dimension windchimes into Dada kabuki Muppet theater? Cannabinoidosaurus Rex chill out wedding music into Martian organ grinder swing winding up at third-pot-brownie-surf-rock? You get the idea. There’s something for everyone. All the song/soundscapes flow through these ecosystems with a “how did we get here?” effect. The players find different windows in the soundscape. It never feels crowed. Sonically occupying the space they’re in, they let the music become itself rather than trying to control it.

Joshua Abrams Natural Information Society—Mandatory Reality, “Finite”

I first heard this record last year in the Elkhorn tour vehicle while Jesse and I we were driving from the Milwaukee Psych fest to Chicago. It turns out that being stuck in a car for several hours moving at twenty miles an hour in a white-out is the perfect context for experiencing this music. There was something about the slow speed, the need for concentrated attention, and the monochromatically unfolding landscape that really enhanced the experience of the music. Abrams’ use of slow tempos, repetition, long durations, gradually shifting textures and cycles of chords and melodic figures was perfectly mirrored in the snowy drive. He allows the music to repeat and unfold without needing to rush in contrasting sections or motifs. It’s patient and languid and mesmerizing. Done in real time with no overdubs, it blends several sounds beautifully: minimalism, Gnawa music and modern Chicago free jazz. At times it feels like a radically becalmed Braxton Ghost Trance piece transmuted into something like the spacious Tabla Tarang playing of Pandit Kamalesh Maitra or the straight 8ths of Gamelan music with John Luther Adams-style long tones stretched over it. When we arrived in Chicago the snowstorm had abated after the long drive, and as I stepped out of the car into the slush I felt refreshed rather than exhausted.

Pauline Oliveros with Stuart Dempster and Panaiotis—Deep Listening, “Lear”

Deep Listening was improvised with no overdubs using just-intonation accordion, trombone, didgeridoo and voice in a cistern in Washington State that once held two million gallons of water. This space featured a natural forty-five-second reverb. As dolphins know, reverb is a kind of image—information about space in sound form. On this record the players, the environment and the instruments all combine to become intertwined into one system. I’ll let Oliveros say it: “The Universe is improvising and we have evolution, so improvisation is always happening.”

Cul De Sac—Immortality Lessons, “Blues in E”

Cul De Sac featured Glenn Jones on electric twelve-string guitar before he turned to solo acoustic music. The band played improvised instrumental rock that crossed over several genres: Krautrock, psych-rock, surf-rock and American Primitive. This record was recorded live at a college radio station in one take under less than ideal circumstances and it’s a great example of turning lemons into psychedelic lemonade. This music flows and develops in suites, using various groove/dissolve/solo patterns than unfold with an expansive vibe. Everyone in the band is thinking about the whole arrangement, not just the parts. It’s genre blending, full-band texturing and rewards repeated listening. One can only hope for a reunion one day.

Marisa Anderson—The Golden Hour, “In the Valley of the Sun”

The Golden Hour is a record of solo fingerstyle electric guitar improvisations recorded straight to tape. It sounds like she’s doing variations on open themes and the results feel modern/spontaneous and composed/traditional at the same time. She has a warm, woody guitar tone, often tastefully overdriving the amp in a lush manner, using a nimble rhythmic gait. This works as psychedelic guitar music and at the same time resonates with the old American music traditions she’s connecting with. Her blend of genres is country blues, country and western, and folk, put together in concise songs that always have a coherent flow of ideas with sometimes subtle hints of deconstruction. She’s not afraid of the pleasures of meandering. This is music that sounds like it’s dreaming through guitar history as a kind of meditation.

Shivkumar Sharma and Zakir Hussain—Rag Madhuvanti, Rag Misra Tilang, “Rag Misra Tilang”

Shivkumar Sharma plays the Santur, an Indian box zither, not unlike a western hammer dulcimer. Sharma is credited with bringing this folk instrument, normally associated with the Sufi music of Kashmir, into Indian classical music. Indian music involves several of the elements I’ve been discussing in this list: long duration, improvisation, and drone. There’s something about the cascading overtones of Sharma’s Santur playing that reads as especially psychedelic, unfolding in undulating patterns using his knowledge of tabla rhythms. He wasn’t afraid to risk innovation and prove that a folk instrument could be used for high art. This album is mesmerizing, beautiful, and rejuvenating.

[dannyreviews]

Period Piece Lesbian Romances: Gentleman Jack (2019) and Elisa and Marcela (Elisa y Marcela) (2019)

HBO and Netflix are some of my go to areas for quality content. In the last few months, both networks have syndicated period pieces about taboo lesbian relationships. The first from HBO is a BBC made TV series called “Gentleman Jack” based on the diaries of LGBT pioneer Anne Lister. The second is a Spanish film that competed at the Berlin Film Festival about the first recorded gay marriage called “Elisa and Marcela”. For this post, I would like to compare how both programs portray their lesbian relationship and reflecting the mannerisms of the era.

For the first time on this blog, I’m reviewing an active television series, but when it comes to comparing similar content from the film medium, how can I pass up this opportunity? Sally Wainwright’s adaptation of Anne Lister’s diaries is done very tastefully and doesn’t go overboard with the sex scenes. Anne Lister (Suranne Jones) and her partner Ann Walker (Sophie Rundle) couldn’t look any more different. Lister dresses in black and looks like a Tim Burton creation and Ann Walker is the carbon copy of a Jane Austen heroine. But it’s those contrasting features that makes the relationship flourish on screen. Everything from their dialogues, to the make out scenes are all done in Romantic era poise and grace. Both Jones and Rundle are breaths of fresh air and never disappoint in making their characters stand out in the rigid world of upper class customs. The close contacts, the fighting and the moments of commiseration were very realistic. Even as the show got snubbed by the Emmy Awards, it still remains a standout in the ever-growing movement of British period piece programs reaching America and I look forward to the coming seasons.

On the other hand, “Elisa and Marcela” was a tepid and almost pretentious look at its title heroines who look and sound exactly the same. Unlike the differences in both Anne Lister and Ann Walker, both title characters (Natalia de Molina and Greta Fernandez) look like twins. There were times where I couldn’t tell who was who. Even as Elisa donned the “Mario” persona and looking like Anne Lister, I still wasn’t convinced it was a worthy disguise. Then, there was the contemporary mannerisms of said characters. Was this a legitimate period piece or a game of dress up? They got the background costumes and art direction down well, but Elisa and Marcela stuck out like sore thumbs. The make out scenes, like “Gentleman Jack”, were not overdone, were beautifully filmed and the actresses seemed to get heavily involved in the plot. Outside of that though, the dialogues were contrived, unrealistic and stilted. Like so many disappointing films I’ve seen, I can tell the actors did their best, but the director, Isabel Coixet, didn’t do enough to make the era stand out and instead used black and white photography, old film reel filters and iris effects to mask the imperfections. 

While both programs did a good job at showing the romantic contact, they differed on character mannerisms and the plot executions. It just shows that while the premises are nearly identical, the way in which their director/showrunners added their artistic touch, but with stark differences in the final product.

GJ: 9/10

EaM: 6/10

[jojotichakorn]

HIStory3: Trapped: Review (& General Info)

About the Series:

Summary: A police officer and a gang leader were killed in a gunshot attack four years ago. What's the secret behind this case? The only survivor, Tang Yi, is now the gang leader. Shao Fei is a police officer, who’s been following Tang Yi around for the past four years, trying to figure out what’s really happened during the attack. Will he be able to get to the bottom of the case? And can something unexpected come out of their rivalry? (Trailer)

Couples: Main gay couple, as well as two side couples - one gay, one straight.

Running Time: 10 episodes - around 45 minutes each - 8 hours in total

Cast (& their Instagram pages): Jake Hsu (Shao Fei), Chris Wu (Tang Yi), Andy Bian (Jack), Kenny Chen (Zhao Zi), Diane Lin (Hong Ye), Sphinx Ding (Dao Yi), Zhang Guang Chen (Andy), Stanley Mei (Li Zhi De), [more].

Where to watch? VIKI (if you watch on mobile, you’ll have to download the app).

Related Shows: HIStory is a recurring Taiwanese BL series, however, each season is separate from the others and none of them are connected in any way, so there’s no other Trapped content out there.

My Review:

Rating: 9.5/10

Short review: Trapped is my favorite BL of all time. It has a good plot, fantastic acting, the most wonderful couple ever (whose intimacy is handled incredibly well), amazing characters, awesome friendships and a whole list of other great things. Despite having one controversial character, a slightly questionable background couple and a not-so-satisfying (though still not bad) ending, I don’t think there’s anything that could stop you from enjoying it. And though, as usual,  it’s obviously your own decision to make, it’s definitely a must-watch in my book. 

Extended review (under the cut):

I consider Trapped the best BL that exists to date – without a shadow of a doubt. Not everyone agrees with me and that’s entirely understandable, however, I assure you that even though someone might prefer one or a couple of other BLs to this one, everyone considers Trapped one of the best ones for sure.

The plot of Trapped is thought-out and actually good. It obviously isn’t a masterpiece of modern cinema, however, unlike so many other BLs, the plot actually matters. It’s interesting, gripping, well-thought-out, with a nice mystery and some unexpected reveals that might actually surprise you. Everything gang-related isn’t just there for show – it’s done tastefully and doesn’t seem cheap at all, you truly believe it. So many moments are hilarious, especially in the beginning. And the show is very meticulous and careful with all its little details, so there are no annoying minor plot or aesthetic inconsistencies that could take you out of immersing into it. The pacing of the plot is a tiny bit slow in the first couple of episodes, but it needs that to build itself up properly, and it quickly picks up as soon as it can.

The characters in this show are amazing. You will not only fall in love with the mains, but also adore most of the background characters and hate the rest of them, which just goes to show how much each of them can impact you emotionally because they’re that fucking great. All the details about the characters are well thought-out and awesome too. Tang Yi is not just a gang leader in name – Chris, the actor who plays him, does a fantastic job of showing just how intimidating Tang Yi can be and generally convinces us of him being the Big-Bad-Gang-Boss through so many brilliant subtle acting choices. The villain is actually threatening and terrifying too. Shao Fei can be rather embarrassing and cringy, however, Trapped certainly manages to show that this is truly just his personality, and they’re not just doing this for laughs. Besides, I’ve heard many people who usually get second-hand embarrassment all the time say they didn’t feel awkward for Shao Fei at all – he isn’t embarrassed since this is his true, authentic self, so no one else is embarrassed for him either. Finally, two background queer characters are fantastic. Usually, in other BLs background queer characters, who aren’t there for a romantic plotline, are never anything beyond a stereotype and are always there for laughs. That’s not the case in Trapped. Both of the characters are absolutely incredible, authentic and beautiful – most certainly one of the best background characters I’ve seen in any BLs.

I must note that one character definitely caused some controversy in the fandom, and I can’t say much else beyond this without giving you a gigantic spoiler. However, even though I do think they could’ve handled the topic better overall, I don’t find there’s anything wrong with having one of the many queer characters in the show be a bad person. I’ve talked about it many times and, considering the fact that we still have at least six positively-portrayed queer characters, the seventh being a piece of shit does not affect the representation in any way and doesn’t suddenly give all queer people a bad name. There are shitheads among us too, you know. And it’s important to talk about it.

Moving on, let’s talk about relationships. For starters, the main couple is hands down the best enemies-to-friends-to-lovers you’ll ever see – that I personally guarantee. Their romance is developed well and treated with the care it deserves, and they end up being the most adorable, wholesome couple ever. I also want to especially point out how well Trapped handles their intimacy. A lot of other BLs have their couple treat each other like friends half the time, be dating another half and kissing/having sex on rare occasions. In reality, though, a couple is always intimate with each other. And I don’t mean that everyone fucks like bunnies – no. I mean couples have intimate conversations, hold hands, kiss each other in a million different ways (and on a million different spots), cuddle for no reason, hug, express emotions and, of course, sometimes have sex. Not every couple does absolutely everything I’ve just listed, of course, but you get the overall point. Couples are intimate. And Trapped gets that. It shows that. And that’s wonderful. As for others, the straight background couple takes up just enough screen time to not annoy you and it’s actually kind of cute, which is super rare for me to say. Now, the gay background couple is rather questionable. One of the guys is kind of oblivious and juvenile, while the other pushes him too hard. It’s not so critical that I’d tell you to skip their moments, however, it is definitely food for thought and I’d say pretty problematic.

The friendships in Trapped are sort of a double-edged sword. On one hand, we have Shao Fei and Zhao Zi, who were proclaimed to be best friends, but don’t end up having any meaningful moments together and are really out of the loop with each other’s lives by the end of the show. This can be explained and justified, but I still feel like it’s a little unrealistic. On the other hand, though, we have Tang Yi and his friends – mainly, Andy, The Doctor (whose name I, apologies, don’t remember), as well as Hong Ye and Tang Guo Dong. Despite only seeing a couple of moments with each of them, we get attached to every character and their relationships with Tang Yi very easily. His friendships with Andy and The Doctor are familiar and realistic. His relationship with Hong Ye is deep and authentic – you can truly see they are like siblings to each other. And his relationship with Tang Guo Dong is so beautiful and raw that you end up falling in love with the “found father” trope and wish you had the same relationship with your parents or any mentor figure, really. Despite Tang Yi and Tang Guo Dong only having four small scenes with each other – all of which are flashbacks, their dynamic is my second favorite in the show and their relationship is one of the best father/son relationships I’ve ever seen.

Finally, the show is shot beautifully and the acting in it is on a completely different level. Seriously, you will say, “Holy shit, this actor is so good!” like every other second. I literally grabbed my pen to write some version of “the acting is so good” in my notes, while rewatching the show for this review at least twenty times, and the only thing that stopped me is already having it written down thrice.

The very last note I have is about the ending. Now I will say immediately that this show does not have a bad ending – I could not have it as one of my favorites, if it did, I’m strictly a happy-ending kind of person. However, the ending is still a little too vague for my taste and I wouldn’t say I’m satisfied with it. It’s not the end of the world and overall it’s an alright ending you can live with – nothing bad happens. However, I wouldn’t call it the best ending this show could have – and that’s all I can say without giving any spoilers.

Finally-finally, should you watch this show? Fuck yes! Absolutely, my guy! Have you heard all I’ve just said? It’s brilliant. An absolute fucking masterpiece, I’m telling you. So yes, I recommend it to literally everyone. There is legitimately no other series I want to show everyone as much as this one – this is fucking mandatory in my book. Regardless of however I feel about it though, at the end of the day, it’s obviously your own decision to make.

[scintillating-galaxias]

i’ll be the wind beneath your wings (ch. 5)

and here we are, the final chapter of my swap gift to @peppervl! i hope you liked your gift!  (read it on ao3!)

-

The Day After Armageddon

Centuries passed. Humanity grew. The world morphed into something new and unrecognizable. The end of everything thundered on their doorstep and was sent away again. They lost—

I don’t need you.

— they found—

Lift home?

And somehow, the same angel and the same demon from six thousand years ago found each other in the storm.

You can stay at my place if you like.

They huddled together for refuge inside of Crowley’s flat, tired—so, so tired—but they could not rest yet. The War was over, but the battle was not.

“They aren’t going to be happy with us,” murmured Aziraphale. He still had enough energy to anxiously pace before Crowley, who was sprawled in his… throne? It certainly looked like a throne. “I mean—you saw Gabriel. He looked ready to smite me. And Beelzebub. Oh, we shouldn’t have antagonized them—”

Crowley listlessly stared at the ceiling as Aziraphale spoke, lazily swinging his sunglasses. “It was worth it, though,” he replied after a moment.

“I mean, of course, Gabriel’s face was priceless, but what are we going to do? They’ll send their armies after us as retribution for stopping their War!”

“Maybe.” 

“Twenty million angels and demons. All after me and you.”

“That’s a big number, alright.”

“We might be put to death, even. I doubt we’ll get a trial, not after everything we’ve done.”

“Probably.”

“Crowley, this is serious! Why—?”

“Angel,” said Crowley. He sounded so weary, yet a small, crooked smile pushed its way across his face. “C’mere.”

Aziraphale came. Step by step, until he stood before Crowley and his smile. He held out his hand. Aziraphale took it and sighed shakily as Crowley squeezed it.

“I’m sorry,” Aziraphale mumbled. “I’m just—I’m scared. For us.”

“We’re going to be fine,” Crowley said, in such a soft but knowing way that Aziraphale could almost believe him right away.

Almost.

“I—appreciate the vote of confidence, but how?”

Crowley rubbed his thumb along Aziraphale’s knuckles. “We’ll come up with a plan, and it’ll work. We’re smarter than all of Heaven and Hell combined. Gabriel thinks he has something going on up there, but we all know that’s a load of tosh.” Aziraphale chuckled weakly. “And Beelzebub—they’re crafty, I’ll give ‘em that much, but they learned it all from me.”

“We can’t rely on wits—or lack thereof—alone!”

“And we won’t,” Crowley assured. “We’ve got something else, too.”

“And what may that be?”

“Time.” Crowley snapped his fingers. His throne morphed into a very cushy looking couch. He lightly tugged Aziraphale down. The red velvet cushions were precisely as plush as they appeared to be. “Beelzebub’s got to get all of their little minions in line again, and so does Gabriel. Dunno about angels, but demons are a rowdy bunch on a good day, and horrid little buggers on a bad one, and I would say this is a very bad day for Hell.”

“What are you implying?”

“I,” said Crowley, “am implying that they aren’t going to break down my front door in the next thirty seconds, and that we can relax.”

Aziraphale let out a long breath and slumped against Crowley’s side. “You’re right. I suppose I got myself rather worked up.”

“I’ll say. I thought you were supposed to be the rational one.”

“Goodness, no, have you met me? Weren’t you the one to stop time just earlier today?”

“...I panicked.”

“Oh, dear.” With the initial rush panic mostly washed away, Aziraphale felt empty. Like the tide had come in and taken everything with it when it went back out. “Well, it was impressive, nonetheless.”

Crowley barked a laugh. “Don’t ask me to do it again anytime soon. I think I’ll discorporate.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it. You must be exhausted.”

“Could sleep for another hundred years,” Crowley said, and it was then that Aziraphale truly heard the exhaustion lacing his words. 

“Well, maybe not that long,” said Aziraphale. “I’d be lonely with you, my friend.”

Crowley glanced at him, a knowing glimmer sparkling in the corners of his tired eyes. “Fine,” he said. “Until morning, then. But if you wake me up before eleven, you’ll have bigger problems than Heaven and Hell to worry about.”

Aziraphale huffed a laugh and bumped his head against Crowley’s shoulder. “Go on then. We can discuss our strategy over tea in the morning. I’ll keep myself entertained. I’m sure you have a book or two somewhere around here.”

Crowley nodded slowly. After a few seconds, he stood up and strode over to a wall. He put one palm on it, then turned back to Aziraphale. Crowley was never one to look his age, but now the lines around the corners of his eyes betrayed a sort of ancient weariness that only came with seeing the beginning and the end of the world in your lifespan. “I’ll see you in the morning, angel.”

It certainly sounded like goodnight. But there was an individual note of reluctance playing in Crowley’s voice that Aziraphale hesitated at. 

“Yes,” he said instead of pressing it. “Have a good sleep.”

“...Yeah. G’night.”

He pushed on the wall. Part of it swung open like a revolving door, and Crowley went through it. Before it shut, Aziraphale swore he saw Crowley turning to look back.

And then the door shut and he was alone.

Aziraphale blew out a long breath and drummed his fingers on his knees. Some tea sounded nice right about now. Or hot chocolate. Crowley didn’t seem like the type of person that would keep a kettle around, or even a pot. Or tea bags. Or anything to make any drink. Did he even have a kitchen? He did say Aziraphale was free to explore… 

Twenty minutes of poking about Crowley’s flat found him back in the living room with a couple of dusty books and a cup of coffee. As it turned out, Crowley did have a kitchen, but it looked so new and unused that it could have been photographed for an advertisement for a remodeling agency. Aziraphale almost felt bad for using it to make coffee, which was the only thing Crowley had in the cupboards. He wasn’t particularly fond of coffee, but he was desperate enough for something hot to drink to take it.

He sipped his coffee, grimacing at the taste. The flat was large, but there wasn’t much in it apart from some furniture and a few oddly specific art pieces. The sketch of Mona Lisa was particularly impressive. He’d only met the artist once, and that was when he went to get his portrait sketched with Crowley. Judging from the stories Crowley had told of him, da Vinci was quite the character. Aziraphale still wasn’t entirely sure what to make of the vases. They were beautifully made, but they looked to be more like a last-ditch effort to make the place a bit more lived-in than actual decorations. The same was true for the books; the front covers were still glossy and stiff once he wiped the dust from them, and the spines crackled when he opened them up to read.

It took him almost an hour to get through the first chapter. It wasn’t that the content was dense. Even if it were, he’d become adept at processing even the most complex texts extraordinarily quickly. No, the issue was the anxiety shaking away in his mind. He pushed it aside for the first few pages, but as he went on, he couldn't but help pay more and more attention to it. It settled over him like an itchy robe and, as time went on, began to permeate his skin and gnaw on his bones. 

Aziraphale frowned. It was the strangest sensation, but he could swear that this feeling didn’t belong to him. When he stressed, there was a discernible reason for it that he would hunt down and fix. This time, he couldn’t begin to make sense of what precisely the problem was. 

If it wasn’t him, then…

Aziraphale gently shut his book. The half-full mug was left beside the couch as he got to his feet and took a few experimental steps towards the wall Crowley had gone through; the feeling immediately sharpened. He went to try and push open the same wall Crowley walked through. It opened startlingly easily, and Aziraphale was nearly hit in the behind by the door as he fell through it. He steadied himself and surveyed the… greenhouse?

Dozens of gorgeous tropical plants filled the room with colorful lush leaves and vibrant flowers. Some were enormous and nearly brushed the glass ceiling with their stalks, while others were much smaller and remained in plastic pots on small tables. For some reason, all of them appeared to be shivering slightly. Crowley clearly took excellent care of them. Aziraphale would have to tell him so later. 

After a few more seconds of gawking, he happened to glance upon a corridor. At the end was another statue. This one appeared to be two winged figures on top of each other and… wrestling. Definitely wrestling.

Uncomfortable, Aziraphale swiftly decided to move on. The prickliness morphed into thorniness, and he was extraordinarily gentle as he knocked on a closed door in a hallway off to the left of the statue. 

“Crowley?” he called softly. “Are you in here?”

For a moment, there was no reply. Then came a faint, “Yeah.”

“May I come in?”

“Yeah.”

He pushed open the door and entered. He could immediately tell that this was where Crowley spent most of his free-time. More tastefully positioned art decorated the walls, and there was a desk off to the right covered with random objects: more plants, quills, a doll, a few stones, a pocket watch, and even a glittering sapphire. Souvenirs from throughout the ages, he realized. He knew because he had an extraordinarily similar setup at the bookshop. Or rather, he used to have one.

Across from the desk, an enormous four-poster bed dominated the room. A mountain of red covers was piled on top of the bed. Barely visible from one end of it was Crowley.

“I was thinking,” started Crowley without prompting. “I was thinking, what if it all goes tits up? I know I’m a hypocrite, angel, but I can’t stop it.”

Aziraphale began to toe off his shoes. 

“I mean—They’ve got usss cornered. We know they’re coming. They know we know they’re coming.”

Aziraphale hung his coat on a newly formed coat hook on the back of the door.

“We could run away. They’ll probably find us. And then I guessss we could run again? And then that’s it. Zilch. No miracle’s getting usss out of this.”

Aziraphale came over to the bed and neatly slid himself beneath the covers. Crowley did not pause even pause once during his rant.

“I mean—twenty million! Twenty million angels and demonsssss—ugh, demons, can do a bloody lot of damage to Earth without an apocalypse! And—oh shit, what about Adam and hisss lot? Satan’s not gone, you know, but since Adam’s renounced Him as his father, He can—ngk, shsp—I dunno, kill him? Can He do that?”

“I doubt the Almighty would allow something so dreadful to happen to an innocent child,” Aziraphale soothed.

Oh, ‘cos She’s got such a spotless track record with children.” Finally, Crowley turned his head to look at Aziraphale. “I thought you were supposed to be reading?”

“You think awfully loudly when you’re stressed, my dear.”

“Oh. I didn’t mean to.”

“I know, my dear.” Obviously, Aziraphale was not pleased about Crowley’s distress, but secretly, it did bring him some relief to know he wasn’t overreacting. “What’s bothering you?”

“What’s—What’s bothering me? Nothing. I’m unbotherable.”

“Mm. Then what’s all this about the Lord of the Underworld and young Adam?” 

“Some worm in my brain,” Crowley muttered. He crossed his arms and frowned down at the bed covers. 

“Well, tell it to stuff it,” Aziraphale said. Crowley snorted. “I’m serious. You should listen to your own advice some time. Everything you told me not half an hour ago is still as true now as it was then. We have wits, we have time, and”— he pulled the scrap of Agnes’ prophecy he’d caught from his pocket—“we have Agnes.”

“What’s she got to do with this?”

Aziraphale handed the scrap over for Crowley to read.

“Playing with fire…” Crowley said after a few minutes. His eyebrows were making a brave attempt at escaping into this hairline. “Probably means literal Hellfire. I don’t have a clue what the rest is supposed to mean.”

“Neither do I,” Aziraphale admitted. “But I believe interpretations of four-hundred-year-old prophecies should wait until morning. We already agreed stressing over any plans now will do neither of us any favors.”

“Right.” Crowley flipped the paper over, then gave it back to Aziraphale. “Erm. Are you staying here then, or…?”

“Oh—I can go, if you’d like, I just thought you’d like some company—”

“No, it’s fine. Um. If you’re staying, then…” he trailed off into an unintelligible mumble.

Aziraphale slightly furrowed his brow. “What was that?”

“Wiyouhepwimywings?

“What about your wings?”

Crowley turned a shade of red that matched spectacularly with his covers. “Blast it all, will you help me with my wings? Just until I fall asleep?”

Aziraphale smiled and beckoned Crowley to come closer. He scooted over, turned his back on him, and in the next instant, Aziraphale found himself spitting out a mouthful of Crowley’s feathers.

“You could have warned me,” he groused, picking down off of his tongue. 

Crowley made an apologetic noise that somehow did not sound at all apologetic. Aziraphale rolled his eyes and began working his fingers through the feathers. They were in excellent condition as always, so Aziraphale was mostly undoing Crowley’s work so that he could do it again. Judging by how he leaned back more and more into Aziraphale’s hands with each stroke, he didn’t mind. 

The scars had healed up wonderfully, Aziraphale noticed. The bumps were nearly undetectable by his touch. The old, damaged set of feathers were replaced entirely, having been through a few molts at this point. Aside from a few telling ridges from healed broken bones and slightly thinner patches of feathers, he could believe nothing terrible had happened that day.

“It seems you’re doing well,” Aziraphale commented.

“Mmhmm. Thanks to you, mostly.”

He smiled. “Is your right wing still bothering you?”

“A bit. Could you…? Mm, thanks.”

Aziraphale gently rubbed slow circles into Crowley’s wing with his thumbs. If one listened hard enough, they would be able to hear the footsteps of the building’s other residents. Occasionally, a burst of laughter or a shout would make it through the concrete walls. They quickly faded out, and they’d be left alone with the quiet sounds of their breathing and the rustling of feathers.

An hour went by in companionable silence, until Aziraphale uttered, “Crowley?”

A few seconds passed. Then, in a voice roughened by sleep, “Yeah?”

“Could I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“The night you were injured, and you came to the bookshop… why did you come to me if you were so adamant about leaving?”

Crowley’s brow twitched. “I thought—Wait, you don’t remember?”

“I don’t believe I’ve ever asked before.”

“Huh. Oh, shit, that’s what I forg—I mean. Of course. Must be thinking of something else.” Crowley coughed. “Uh. Okay, so I escaped, got a little fucked up by Hastur’s cronies, and well… I was paranoid. Can you blame me?” Aziraphale resumed stroking Crowley’s wing while he waited for him to go on. “And… I figured you were the best choice. I didn’t want to die. I’d be stuck Down there with Hastur for Satan knows how long. But once I got there, I didn’t—I wasn’t sure if you’d pick your duties as an angel or—or something else.” Or me. Aziraphale’s heart dropped.

“I—I won’t lie to you,” he admitted. “You were correct. I wasn’t sure. I almost didn’t want to use any miracles on you. I still feel guilty about that.”

Crowley nodded slowly as the words rolled over him. He didn’t look hurt, but he didn’t seem surprised either. “But you wound up helping me anyway, and I figured it was just because, well, y’know, he’s an angel, angels help people. And demons. Couldn’t believe it. So when I woke up and I just—I was convinced that wasn’t what you actually wanted. I still thought it was an obligation. And well, you had made your points about our natures enough that I figured getting caught out was the last thing you wanted. I wanted to get out so they wouldn’t find us both.”

Aziraphale bit the inside of his cheek. “I was worried I’d done something wrong.”

“No, no. I just—you said you wanted to help, but I wasn’t sure if that was out of obligation or not, but I didn’t want you to get in trouble either way and—yeah. It was weird.”

“Again, you were right.” Aziraphale stroked his hair apologetically. “I’m an angel, and there was likely a divine instinct to take you in. I was hurt, you know, when you told me as much. Not because it’s true, but because I wanted to help you. You are, more than anything, more than either of our natures, more than Hell was to you or what Heaven meant to me, you are my dearest friend.” Aziraphale leaned over to make sure Crowley was meeting his eyes. “I knew the risks, and they were worth taking if it meant I could save you.”

“Oh.”

“Crowley, I am”—his breath caught—“I am so sorry I made you feel that way. You’re my best friend. I would never let anything happen to you.”

“I—That’s—The sentiment’s mutual, angel.” And then Crowley did something that surprised them both; he turned and tightly hugged Aziraphale around the middle. He squeezed tightly, burrowing his head into Aziraphale’s chest. “Thank you,” he mumbled. His breath puffed warmly through Aziraphale’s shirt.

Aziraphale wiggled his hands free from Crowley’s wings and placed one on the back of his head, and the other just under his wings. Then, he brought out his wings and and curled them around the two of them. They stayed like that for a moment, sharing closeness and warmth and something else that was indescribable, but it was warm, and it was safe. 

“I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” he murmured, pressing his lips to Crowley’s head. “Now let’s get some rest, my dear. We have our biggest day yet ahead of us.”