#little-red-riding-hood-gone-wrong vibe

[simpingforthesmp]

"And now, this is the state that we're in."

[cl-01-kestis]

My Little Rebel - Inquisitor!Cal Kestis x Female Rebel!Reader | Part 6

Summary: You’ve been in a secret relationship with Cal for a while now, and during a mission on Bracca, you discover a more than surprising secret.

Warnings: Threat

Life got strange ever since the day you were broken out of prison, in a good way of course. You and Cal have been with one another for 3 months now, you’ve grown into happy and comfortable people because of each other’s endless support and appreciation. Cal was the missing piece for you, and you were the light in the dark for him, but it wasn’t enough to bring him to the light side.

Cal continued to be an Inquisitor in fear that Darth Vader would find and kill him if he left and vanished. You chose to stay a Rebel instead of join the Empire and get a job there, you refused to join something so corrupt, but you respected Cal’s decision and thankfully he respected yours.

The war between the Empire and Rebellion was getting worse and overtime you started losing a lot of your friends to battles. The Inquisitors continued cutting through the Rebels like butter, and you had no backup plan that could save yourselves.

You’ve almost died on many occasions, you’ve almost given up and accepted death, but then you remember Cal and everything he’s done for you. You haven’t died yet because within you there’s a love and determination so powerful because you don’t want to let Cal down. You don’t want to leave him in a war and without someone there to help him, that would be too selfish and heartbreaking.

Recently you’ve been jumping from place to place, and this has been the most time you’ve been away from your home on Yavin. A mission came up recently that involved a handful of Rebels going undercover to the planet Bracca to discover possible Empire plans. You were one of those rebels, no surprise, it was about time you’d left to go on a long, outdrawn mission that could rescue the Rebellion instead of always fixing ships and vehicles.

You were next to your commanding officer, back against a large scrapyard wall and clinging tightly to your pistol. The weather in Bracca was dreadful, you’re thankful you brought gloves and an extra scarf or else you’d be freezing to death. Stormy clouds rumbled above you and your squad as you padded through multiple scrapyards which felt like a never ending maze. You had to stop on multiple occasions to get some rest and get a drink or eat something to increase your energy.

The vibe around Bracca felt like it was draining you, you were tired, cold, frustrated and your body ached. You wish Cal could’ve been here, that way you’d be a lot more energised and ready to go. But this was different, you hadn’t seen Cal in a while and you’d grown a tad bit colder.

After two days of walking through scrapyards, your team finally decided to split up to speed up the process of finding something. You were thankfully on your own, able to concentrate on your thoughts without someone yapping in your ear the whole time. You had your own rations and a large flask of water in your heavy weight backpack that weighed you down massively, but you didn’t give up.

Your feet screamed for you to stop but you couldn’t, you had to find something. A strange sense of warmth filled your chest and for a moment you thought Cal was nearby, but from what you could see there was no Tie fighter nearby and no Inquisitor.

The warmth in your chest was pulling you to something, distant whispers of a child echoed in your ear as you grabbed onto wires and metal walls and pulled yourself up to the next platform. The rain poured down onto your face and cleaned away any muck you had on it before.

As you hoisted yourself up, your head peeking over the edge of the wall and into the platform, your eyes widened when you saw a bright purple hue swirling around what seemed to be a screwdriver. Bewildered, you stood up and approached the purple hue cautiously, afraid in case it might be hostile. You crouched down to It’s level and heard multiple voices calling to you, the whispers of the child now loud and clear as your hand slowly pulled out and reached forward.

And suddenly, everything went silent.

You looked up from your spot and realised the purple hue was gone, your surroundings now covered in a similar hue as a transparent, familiar figure stood in front of you. A young boy, about 16, stood next to you holding the same screwdriver that was on the floor, twirling it between his fingers as he hummed a soft song to himself. He wore headphones on his head and took off his hood, revealing a batch of fiery red hair. You froze in your spot, mouth hung open in shock as the vision of a young teenage Cal walked in front of you.

He was oblivious that you were here, it was clear this was some kind of hallucination. His eyes were a soft baby blue instead of that sharp yet beautiful gold you always saw. Cal’s outfit consisted of combats, boots, a grey/blue long sleeved T-shirt and a thick weighted vest over his torso. This wasn’t the Cal you knew, it had to be a vision of who he used to be before turning into an Inquisitor.

Young Cal looked around from all directions before looking to his waist and pulling out a glorious lightsaber, igniting it to reveal a bright blue that illuminated everything around it. Cal’s eyes gleamed and he smiled to himself, twirling the lightsaber skilfully around his body and getting into fighting stances, pretending to fight an enemy as he waved the lightsaber around in front of him and practiced his fighting for a while until hearing someone call for him in the distance.

“Coming!” He said, his voice sounding so much more light and innocent as he hid his lightsaber and ran in the direction of the voice.

And then you shifted back into the sad reality of the scrapyard, the rain poured and made your hair wet to the point it looked like you’d been thrown in a pool. Droplets of rain fell off the edges of your hair and onto the ground. A sudden, strange weight in your hand caught your attention, your eyes looking down and lifting your arm up to see a lightsaber - the same one that Cal was holding from the vision. It’s golden body gleamed as droplets fell onto it and rolled off the ride.

You took a step back in astonishment, raising the lightsaber right in front of your face and inspecting its every detail. This situation was so sudden, first the vision and now the lightsaber.

Who gave it to you? When on Earth did you pick it up? You were certain it wasn’t around before you saw the vision. You looked at the other side of the saber and notices a small button, you knew immediately what this did. You couldn’t deny the urge you felt as your thumb traced over the button, you wanted to see for yourself what this weapon looked like.

Out of impulse, you pressed the button and almost dropped the saber as a beautiful bright blue blinded your vision, your eyes not used to the harsh light since they were adjusted to the darkness of Bracca.

You waved it around, your eyes wide with amazement and your mind rushing with so many questions and undeniable excitement. You never thought in your 21 years of life you’d be holding something so special and so sacred. This was a Jedi’s weapon, not exactly the same to the blasters you were used to. This was all so surreal and then the realisation dawned on you.

Why did you, of all people, have a lightsaber? This wasn’t yours and you weren’t a Jedi or force wielder, so why did the saber chose you? Or why was it given to you?

You pressed the button and unsheathed the lightsaber, not wanting any accidents to happen. You clipped it to your belt next to your blaster, your eyes lurking on it for a few more seconds before looking up and inhaling deeply. There was still much more territory to go over, you had all night.

This was going to take a while.

-

There it was again. The silent whisper of a child. You desperately tried to follow it and walked into many wrong directions whilst you were at it. You’d heard it many times since the last and it was getting to the point it was driving you insane. The lightsaber had come in handy in getting through dark areas and cutting through blocked paths. You made sure not to keep it on constantly to avoid unwanted attention from nearby mechanics, you were also still trying to get used to the fact that you all-of-a-sudden had this lightsaber in your hand, zero experience of how to even remotely use it.

And slipped through the cracks of the buildings made from scraps of machine, injuring yourself slightly in the process and suffering from many cuts and bruises from trying to make your way around the area. You didn’t bump into any other rebels but you could see a few of them from a distance, and by a distance you meant small specs from miles away. You didn’t even know how you noticed them, you were positive your eye sight wasn’t the best.

You found another purple hue, once again it was hovering above something on the ground and the noise that came from it was a child’s whisper. You crept forward to it, making sure your lightsaber was kept hidden underneath your green poncho as you sat cross legged in front of the purple hue and reached out to it, closing your eyes and taking a deep breath in. It was strange, you felt a connection with the hue, it felt like a force dragging you towards something significant. You were slowly coming to the realisation that this might possibly mean you had a gift, maybe something like a hyper sensor ability that made you aware of everything around you. Or maybe, just maybe... the force.

As you dipped your hand into the purple glowing hue, a sudden sharp pain stabbed at your hand and you drew it back immediately, looking down at it to see where the pain was coming from.

There was a large scar on your hand that had been there for as long as you could remember, it had always been a part of you. It was on the back of your hand and dragged from your pinky to the centre of your outer wrist. However, when you looked down to inspect it, it was wide open and bleeding tons. Your first instinct was to panic but you couldn’t tear your eyes away from it. You’d never seen it before the scar formed, you can’t even remember how you got it. It was deep, you could see muscle and all the strange insides of your body, it made you want to be sick.

You tore a bit of your poncho off and wrapped it tightly around the wound to suppress the bleeding, sucking in a sharp breath as you applied pressure to the cut.

“This is strange” You mumbled to yourself, looking back at the purple hue that hadn’t vanished yet like the other, you realised you had yet to see what this one had in store. Reluctant, you reached your bandages hand out to give it a second try, if this one didn’t work then you’d just leave it and find another hue. You closed your eyes, preparing for the same sharp pain but instead opening your eyes to see that you were in another vision. The surroundings were coated in a fairly transparent purple and multiple bodies were around you.

You looked behind you when you heard blaster shots, ducking your head down immediately and looking up to see a young Jedi girl wielding a small lightsaber, blocking blaster blows that were shot in her direction by clone soldiers, lots of them. By her side was her Master, taking down the clones and defending her as much as they could. You were still in Bracca, the same environment but set in an era long ago.

The girl had (H/C) hair and soft yet grubby (S/C) skin, cuts covered her body and her Jedi robes were dirty and scarlet with blood that wasn’t all hers.

The girls eyes were full of fear, she continued blocking blaster shots until a clone trooper holding a blade approached her, running rapidly and throwing the blade down on her, only to swipe the back of her hand deeply and cause a painful scream to rip from the young girls throat. As a result, the young girl raised her lightsaber and cut the troopers head clean off before she realised the rest of the clones had been killed by her master. Bewildered, the girl fell on her backside and burst into tears, holding her head in her hands and smudging blood on the side of her face with the blood oozing from her hand.

Her master comforted her, reassuring the young Padawan that she was going to be alright and that they had to move or else they’d be caught.

“Come now, (Y/N), we have a long journey ahead of us” The Master said.

Wait... what?

[snoopysfriendwoodstock]

book recs based off of taylor swift songs!

so, we all want taylor to share her reading recs with us but she still hasn’t! so instead, here are book recommendations based on taylor swift songs! these recommendations are based on both the content of the songs, the vibe of the songs, and the themes present!

goodreads pages for each book are linked for more about them!

A Place in this World - coming of age novels

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo (YA novel told in verse)

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (classic)

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi (YA realistic fiction)

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth  (YA realistic fiction / tw: conversion therapy, religious abuse, homophobia)

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson (children’s/middle grade poetry)

The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf by Mohja Kahf (adult realistic fiction / tw: islamophobia, racist hate crime)

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (classic)

there are a lot here, so the rest are under a read more!

ME! - memoirs and autobiographies that are one of a kind

Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T Kira Madden (tw: substance abuse)

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls (tw: abuse)

Little Weirds by Jenny Slate

Like Me: Confessions of a Heartland Country Singer by Chely Wright

Know My Name by Chanel Miller (tw: sexual assault)

Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber

My Soul Looks Back by Jessica B. Harris

The Lucky One - novels about the perils of fame 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Tara Jenkins Reid (adult historical fiction)

Daisy Jones and the Six by Tara Jenkins Reid (adult historical fiction / tw: substance abuse)

City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert (adult historical fiction)

Fame Adjacent by Sarah Skilton (adult contemporary)

Girl in a Band by Kim Gordon (nonfiction/memoir)

Famous in a Small Town by Emma Mills (YA romance)

Fake Plastic Girl by Zara Lisbon (YA mystery)

It’s Nice to Have a Friend - novels about perceived friends with who turn out to be lovers OR who spend the novel with homoerotic tension

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (YA historical fiction)

Emma by Jane Austen (classic)

Dare Me by Megan Abbott (YA/adult thriller)

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (YA realistic fiction)

Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden (YA romance)

Only The Young - novels about young people making major change/experiencing societal upheaval

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (YA realistic fiction / tw: police brutality, murder, racism)

Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party by Ying Chang Compestine (middle grade/YA historical fiction)

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes (middle grade historical fiction/fantasy / tw: police brutality against a black child, depiction of emmett till)

Orleans by Sherri L. Smith (YA dystopian)

The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline (YA dystopian / tw: depiction of genocide against native americans)

The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness (YA science fiction)

The Best Day - songs about mother/daughter relationships (both meaningful and difficult)

Are You My Mother? by Alison Bechdel (adult graphic novel)

Restless by William Boyd (adult spy novel)

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng (adult realistic fiction)

The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick (middle grade contemporary)

Love Story - a reimagining of a classic story

Pride by Ibi Zoboi (YA contemporary / reimagining of Pride and Prejudice)

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer (YA science fiction / reimagining of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White)

Ayesha At Last by Uzma Jalauddin (adult contemporary / reimagining of Pride and Prejudice)

Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie (adult contemporary / reimagining of Antigone, tw: islamophobia, depiction of torture)

You Need to Calm Down - these are just a variety of books strictly abt LGBT characters not just a gay side character <3

Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins (YA romance)

Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (YA romance)

Charity & Sylvia by Rachel Hope Cleves (nonfiction)

The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater (YA nonfiction / tw: transphobia, transphobic hate crime, misgendering)

Autoboyography by Christina Lauren (YA contemporary)

Treacherous - a love that teeters between labels for too long as neither can resist the pull of the other

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken (YA science fiction)

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (classic)

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (classic)

Tell Me How You Really Feel by Aminah Mae Safi (YA romance)

Don’t Blame Me - an all-encompassing, maddening love

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (classic)

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (classic)

The Way I Loved You - love stories about people who are always attracted to the more dangerous option, even when they’re safe where they are

Anna K: A Love Story by Jenny Lee (YA romance)

Playing With Matches by Hannah Orenstein (adult romance)

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick (YA romance)

Heartless by Marissa Meyer (YA fantasy / retelling of Alice in Wonderland from the Queen of Heart’s perspective)

The Awakening by Kate Chopin (classic)

Speak Now - weddings/wedding related activities gone wrong!

Save the Date by Morgan Matson (YA romance)

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren (adult romance)

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware (adult thriller)

Look What You Made Me Do - women getting their revenge, whether it’s justified or not

Sadie by Courtney Summers (YA thriller / tw: physical and sexual abuse, pedophilia, murder, substance abuse)

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (adult thriller / tw: sexual/physical abuse, murder, suicide mentions)

Find Her by Lisa Gardner (adult thriller / tw: physical abuse, kidnapping, rape, murder, graphic depictions of violence)

I’m Only Me When I’m With You - books with a strong focus on platonic relationships, how they grow and change

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (classic)

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty (adult thriller / tw: physical abuse)

This One Summer by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki (YA graphic novel)

Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson (YA mystery)

Sula by Toni Morrison (classic / tw: racism, rape mention, physical abuse, sexism)

A Separate Peace by John Knowles (classic)

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid (adult contemporary / tw: racism)

Haunted - novels about feelings of loss combined with supernatural elements

Beloved by Toni Morrison (classic / tw: depictions of slavery, rape, sexual abuse, physical assault, racism, racist language)

Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult (adult mystery)

Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand (YA fantasy/horror)

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (middle grade fantasy illustrated novel)

You Belong With Me - young adult novels with a LOT of pining

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon (YA romance)

Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson (YA romance)

First & Then by Emma Mills (YA romance)

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord (YA romance)

Begin Again - novels about people getting another chance at love

Beach Read by Emily Henry (adult romance)

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes (adult romance)

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson (YA romance)

Persuasion by Jane Austen (classic)

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver (adult romance)

Enchanted -  love at first sight OR meet cutes!

Meet Cute by Various Authors (collection of YA short stories)

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith (YA romance)

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson (YA romance)

What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera (YA romance)

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera (YA romance)

Lovely War by Julie Berry (YA historical fiction / tw: racism)

Long Live - fighting monsters, both literal and figurative 

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi (YA fantasy / tw: sexual abuse)

A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney (YA fantasy / reimagining of Alice in Wonderland)

When You See Me by Lisa Gardner (adult thriller / tw: sexual abuse, physical abuse, rape, murder, kidnapping)

[camrensrealbish]

Camila’s spotify playlists 2015 part 2

So I found Camila’s playlists and wanted to have a look at the lyrics, thought I’d share my thoughts on this with you.

On my mind - Ellie Goulding

It's a little dirty how the whole thing started I don't even really know what you intended Thought that you were cute and you could make me jealous Poured it down, so I poured it down Next thing that I know I'm in the hotel with you  ---- Locked in the hotel /There's just some things that never change(Señorita)

You were talking deep like it was mad love to you You wanted my heart but I just liked your tattoos Poured it down, so I poured it down

And now I don't understand it You don't mess with love, you mess with the truth And I know I shouldn't say it But my heart don't understand

I always hear, always hear them talking Talking 'bout a girl, 'bout a girl with my name Saying that I hurt you but I still don't get it You didn't love me, no, not really Wait, I could have really liked you I'll bet, I'll bet that's why I keep on thinking 'bout you It's a shame (shame), you said I was good

You got yourself in a dangerous zone 'Cause we both have the fear, fear of being alone

Why I got you on my mind (you think you know somebody)

Wasn’t expecting that - Jamie Lawson 

It was only a smile but my heart it went wild I wasn't expecting that ----- But I expect, You expect, We expect (Expectations)-----

Just a delicate kiss, anyone could've missed I wasn't expecting that

Did I misread the sign? Your hand slipped into mine I wasn't expecting that You spent the night in my bed, You woke up and you said "Well, I wasn't expecting that"

I thought love wasn't meant to last, I thought you were just passing through If I ever get the nerve to ask What did I get right to deserve somebody like you? I wasn't expecting that It was only a word, it was almost mis-heard I wasn't expecting that But it came without fear, A month turned into a year I wasn't expecting that

Isn't it strange how a life can be changed In the flicker of the sweetest smile We were married in spring You know I wouldn't change a thing Without that innocent kiss, what a life I'd have missed

If you'd not took a chance on a little romance When I wasn't expecting that Time doesn't take long, three kids up and gone I wasn't expecting that When the nurses they came, said it's come back again I wasn't expecting that Then you closed your eyes, you took my heart by surprise I wasn't expecting that!

Tenerife Sea - Ed Sheeran

You look so wonderful in your dress I love your hair like that The way it falls on the side of your neck Down your shoulders and back We are surrounded by all of these lies And people that talk too much You got that kind of look in your eyes As if no one knows anything but us ----I’m sorry, but these lines Camren af ---

Should this be the last thing I see I want you to know it's enough for me 'Cause all that you are is all that I'll ever need

I'm so in love So in love So in love So in love

You look so beautiful in this light Your silhouette over me The way it brings out the blue in your eyes Is the Tenerife sea And all of the voices surrounding us here They just fade out when you take a breath Just say the word and I will disappear Into the wilderness

Lumiere, darling Lumiere over me

You look so wonderful in your dress I love your hair like that And in the moment I knew you, Beth

Pass out - Tinie Tempas

Let's have a toast, a celebration, get a glass out And we can do this until we pass out So let it rain, let it pour away And we won't come down Until we hit the ground and pass out Look at me I've been a cheeky bastard, man and Look at all the drama we started, now I’m In here laying on my back Saying DJ won't you give me one more track? So let it rain, let it pour away And we won't come down Until we hit the ground and pass out So let it rain, let it pour away And we won't come down Until we hit the ground and pass out

Taken - One Direction

Now that you can't have me You suddenly want me Now that I'm with somebody else You tell me you love me I slept on your doorstep Begging for one chance Now that I finally moved on You say that you missed me all along

Who do you think you are? ---- I have questions for you / Number one, tell me who you think you are (I have questions)---- Who do you think I am? You only love to see me breaking You only want me 'cause I'm taken You don't really want my heart No, you just like to know you can Still be the one who gets it breaking You only want me when I'm taken

You're messing with my head Girl that's what you do best Saying there's nothing you won't do To get me to say yes You're impossible to resist But I wouldn't bet your heart on it It's like I'm finally awake And you're just a beautiful mistake

Thank you for showing me Who you are underneath No, thank you, I don't need Another heartless misery You think I'm doing this to make you jealous And I know that you hate to hear this But this is not about you anymore

---- this song has such a ‘Should’ve said it’ and I have questions vibe ----

Some mistakes - One Direction

Circles, we're going in circles Dizzy's all it makes us We know where it takes us We've been before Closer, maybe looking closer There's more to discover Find out what went wrong without blaming each other ----  With no confrontation / I really wish we could talk about it instead (Expectations)----

Think that we got more time When we're falling behind Gotta make up our minds Or else we'll play, play, play all the same old games And we wait, wait, wait for the end to change And we take, take, take it for granted that we'll be the same But we're making all the same mistakes

Wake up, we both need to wake up Maybe if we face up to this We can make it through this Closer, maybe we'll be closer Stronger than we were before, yeah Make this something more, yeah

Yeah, yeah, that's what crazy is When it's broken, you say there's nothing to fix And you pray, pray, pray that everything will be okay While you're making all the same mistakes

Don't look back But if we don't look back We're only learning then How to make all the same, same mistakes again

I know there’s gonna be - Jamie xx

Good times, good times There's gonna be good times, good times I know there's gonna be

Worth every date til we meetings Have to turn it up on weekends Bust a toast to your real friends Tell me what you drinkin'

Remember we used to pull up and let 'em fight? That's that hood time Remember when I used to grab on that ass when it was that wood time? Yeah if that bitch walk up trippin' she get that mush time I don't waste time, I don't waste time I don't have patience, baby She gon' get on top of this dick And she gon' squish it like squish, then go fast, she Speed Racer We gon' ball, Walter Payton She my boss like I'm Prince's son Come here bae, I'ma listen I let her write me my suggestions Pop quiz, it's a pop quiz All my money comin' clean, you can't pop this She got that pussy locked up like locksmith Watch her come to my lights like a reindeer Me and papi on the same pills My diamonds could never stand still Where you goin'? Can you come here? ----Ok, so this one reminds me of Lauren’s More than that ( I need more than them diamonds that you got around your neck) and Camila’s In the dark ( Runnin', runnin', runnin', runnin' / Making the rounds with all your fake friends) as well as My Oh My ( She came with you and then left with me, I went up a point, let's call it even (yeah) / Don't like the car she in, gonna end up buying her a new Beamer (let's go)------

I'll always take you back for your sex appeal (Good time, hey) Come have a good time, bust a back wine

Know say you wan' gimme suckle and corn Me deal with the scene rough like crime I make ya sing this timeI know there's gonna be good times, there's gonna be good times There's gonna be good times, there's gonna be good

I'ma ride in that pussy like a stroller I'll survive in a mothafuckin' gutter That's my mothafuckin' woadie, like the Noila And I'm comin' red like Coke-Cola I'ma have a very good time I swear to God I can't never sound like lil shorty She say she likes all of her nigga's rhymes Where is my phone? That pussy callin' I want you to pass it to Thugger Thugger Even in the summer time me and lil shawty cuddle ----  I don't be trippin on lil' shawty, I let her do whatever she please I don't be kissin' on lil' shawty, she don't be kissin' on me either (My Oh My)---- I swear to God I'ma tip you, don't got to struggle Baby girl sit it down, you not known like an usher I told lil' mama I don't bite but my teeth do I wanna control you like voodoo I'm steady screaming free Unfunk and DuLu

Wild - Troye Sivan 

Trying hard not to fall On the way home You were trying to wear me down, down Kissing up on fences and up on walls  On the way home I guess it's all working out, now'

Cause there's still too long to the weekend Too long till I drown in your hands Too long since I've been a fool, oh

Leave this blue neighbourhood Never knew loving could hurt this good, oh And it drives me wild 'Cause when you look like that I've never ever wanted to be so bad, oh It drives me wild You're driving me wild, wild, wild

We're alike you and I Two blue hearts locked in our wrong minds So can we make the most out of no time? Can you hold me? Can you make me leave my demons and my broken pieces behind?  ----  Who are you in the dark? / Show me the scary parts (In the dark)----

Also fun fact: Camila and Lauren partying with Troye in May 2016 

Beggin for thread - Banks

So I got edges that scratch And sometimes I don't got a filter But I'm so tired of eating All of my misspoken words I know my disposition gets confusing My disproportionate reactions fuse with my eager state That's why you wanna come out and play with me, yeah Why?Stooped down and out, you got me beggin' for thread To sew this hole up that you ripped in my head Stupidly think you had it under control Strapped down to something that you don't understand Don't know what you were getting yourself into You should have known, secretly I think you knew

I got some dirt on my shoes My words can come out as a pistol I'm no good at aiming But I can aim it at you I know my actions, they may get confusing But my unstable ways is my solution To even space

Sex - 1975 --- first of all, this is classic Camren song: the 1975 concert in 2014, also it shows up on multiple playlists in the following years and Lauren’s instagram story----

And this is how it starts You take your shoes off in the back of my van My shirt looks so good When it's just hanging off your back And she said use your hands and my spare time We've got one thing in common it's this tongue of mine She said she's got a boyfriend anyway----- Camila’s Like friends do ?-----

There's only minutes before I drop you off And all we seem to do it talk about sex She's got a boyfriend anyway She's got a boyfriend anyway I love your friend when I saw his film He's got a funny face but I like that because he still looks cool She's got a boyfriend anyway She's got a boyfriend anyway

Now we are on the bed in my room And I'm about to fill his shoes But you say no But do you say no Does he take care of you Or could I easily fill his shoes Do you say no Do you say no

And now we're just outside of town And you're making your way down She's got a boyfriend anyway She's got a boyfriend anyway And I'm not trying to stop you love But if we're gonna do anything we might as well just fuck She's got a boyfriend anyway She's got a boyfriend anyway

You've got your tongue pierced anyway You in your hightops anyway You in your skinny jeans anyway You and your fit friends anyway I'd take them all out any day They've all got back combs anyway You've all got boyfriends anyway

One night - Ed Sheeran

Lying in a bedroom Lighting up a Benson Face hair is growing So I cut with a vengeance Hey, did I mention As she makes an entrance Said I had a tendency To finish off a sentence

Oh well, she's a local girl No make-up Cos she knows me well Hair tied up in elastic band With a kiss on the cheek For her one-night man

Is it fast food I'll regret it after And I needed money But I'm too shy to ask her So she buys me chips and cheese And I tell her I love her And she's all I need I take it with a cold glass Of the fruit and the barley She's still a sucker for the ----I’m a sucker for the way that you move, babe (Never be the same)---- Apple and Bacardi Heading to the party Sitting in the car seat B.E.P. on radio It makes me feel naughty

I don't wanna go alone

Tell her that I love her Tell her that I need her Tell her that she's more Than a one-night stand Tell her that she turns my cheeks The colour of my hair All I wanna do is be near

Tell her that I want her Tell her that I need her Tell her that she's more than a one-night stand Tell her that I love her More than anyone else If you don't, then I'll tell her myself

And we've got love in us So if the drink kill us We're gonna dance all night ---- Lauren’s All night---- Till the floor fillers If we talk outside I say I hate wasps too I don't really dance So I'll just watch you ----  I just need your eyes on me So I can see you watching me move it, move it, move it (Back to me)---- Are you taking me back tonight? Tell me if that's alright I don't wanna be here I'm not the sofa type Tell me if you have a toothbrush You don't mind sharing She said I wanna take off What you're wearing

Conclusions

I’ve recently read Karlaswine’s song analysis from Camila and Romance and it really got me thinking. (like e.g. In the dark). The relationship got complicated in the second half of 2015 and some of Camila’s (Consequences, Real Friends, OMG) and Lauren’s (Expectations, Nada, More than that) songs could be about that time. 

And this playlists seems to confirm this theory about the rough time in late 2015, plus the general theme of inconsistency and being friends with benefits at times.

[rootiebaga]

nobody asked, i know, but heres my departments thus far! (with nicknames, of course)

note! i do use mods, one of them being the ultimate fashion corp mod from reddit, a mod that lets you keep your employees after you reset a run, and some other useful ones

also its under the cut because uh- long

control team! (aka the OGS! (because control team is the first department people unlock when starting a run))

morty (former employee)

-may the brave fool rest, gone, but not forgotten.

rootieee (captain)

-its, its my self insert what do i have to sa

paul

-the most boring in the facility (and the most sane one in the department,)

-just wants to do his job correctly.

-not much to say about him, really

maxim (morty’s replacement after he died, rest in piece morty, you were a brave hero, yet a little dumb after trying to fight a green dawn in the early runs i had)

-morty’s big bro, a little sad that morty died but he didn’t know all that much in the facility,

-takes his job too seriously

-usually chills in the main room alot,

shao

-an absolutely innocent baby, even if they some horrifying abnormalities, they would still think of them as cute

-just, likes being here, many friends for them!

-they also like hugs!

igoree (rip)

-the sleepy employee has come back! wowie

-still sleepy and also hungry,

-the one who doesn’t work all that much

-..”how did she.. die? did she just want to? what in the world happened there? is it because of that behaviour adjustment thing?”

“just forget about it and keep working,”

“but, paul im curious-”

“quiet.”

eden

-woooooo returning!

-one of the calmest people in the department

-probably wouldn’t even be phased by the effect [CENSORED] gives her if we had it

“hey uh, eden? i got something to tell you..”

“go on shao,”

“didn’t... something happen to you? h-how are you even-”

“hey hey, dont worry about that! just, make sure you stay safe, alright?”

information team! (aka the threeks! (named by tom, who is dead, an idiot, and couldn’t count))

tom (dead)

-an idiot

-okay moving on

ryn

-the only one with aleph gear, seriously (edit (draft edition): hes the first one with aleph gear after i got nothing there’s gear, the second being daniel)

-chill once you get to know him,

-likes protecting others with his gear, since, you know

mason

-usually anxious, he doesn’t mean to be though!

-”alright calm down.. never mind this is not the time to calm dOW-”

-probably likes ryn??

eugene

-a little bit crazy, yet kind nonetheless! 

-hi

-just wants some friends, unfortunately not many people are willing to befriend her due to her kinda crazy nature

-basically someone who cares for everyone in the facility, y e e

(also whats known as a “bow kinnie” to the control team captain) /j

emma

-looks really kind until you try to talk to her, shes an asshole is what im trying to say

-likes to bite things with the sharp teeth she has, because why not

-absolute chaos

ray

-i dont know why she exists, shes just there

safety team! (aka the wind wielders (named by isabel, cause he likes flutes))

isabel

-brother of gregory

-the second innocent bean,,

-likes playing the flute whenever hes done for the day

-i accidentally gave him crumbling armour’s gift

gregory

-brother of isabel

-prefers acting over playing instruments,

-a bit more serious,

neville (prefers nelville)

-an absolutely tired employee, they just like waiting till everyone is done for the day to go home

-they’d be at home if they weren’t forced by their friend to work here

-hates everything right now

ramirez

-the joyful friend

-wanted to work here because of the people here, so many unique faces!

-likes all things unique, she usually loves trying different things that look nothing alike from the things she tried before

khanna

-the mute employee in the facility, uses notes to communicate

-another sane one, yet still kinda nervous

-a bean

training team! (aka “nobody here is fine” (named for the fact that almost everyone is very nervous, and then we got firenze))

hana

-the one thats sad most of the time

-really helpful for when it comes to working on abnormalities!

-gregory has a crush on them (why would you say tha)

sobin

-before you think of him as edgy, hes not all that edgy personality wise, he just likes the aesthetic

-hes just a really chill and friendly dude

-yes, he can see more with the e.g.o outfit hes wearing, it is pretty strange to him though

firenze

-the narcissist, he really thinks hes the king of this department

-hes wrong its actually hana thats the captain of this department

-nobody likes him

daniel

-actually used to be a clerk! the face was a little different then before but hey, thats fine

-the third pure bean

-hes a really good friend to have!

susan

-what can i say about her?

-well i mean

-shes susan

central command team! (aka where is everyone? (due to there being not many agents here))

geminiano

-the most sane one in the facility (while being the dead inside captain)

-really good when it comes to tech

-”oh sh** did anyone check on mika?”

charlotte

-the bald employee, doesn’t mind being bald, that just means she can take care of the “your bald�� abnormality

-”ignore the second mouth i got on my armour, please”

-plays vibe games on roblox

mika

-absolutely. chill

-doesn’t know where he’s going most of the time

-the one that works on child of galaxy everytime

gimtteol

-really bad sight, she doesn’t mind it

-kalm

-nobody can spell her name right

arang (prefers ayang)

-you thought sobin was the edgelord huh? think again

-easily annoyed.

-also was a clerk before

john

-the newbie!

-hes trying okay?

-hes still a little nervous but thats fine!

disciplinary team! (aka f**k (also nicknamed “why do we have red” due to me choosing little red riding hooded mercenary every run where theres disciplinary))

ara

-angy

-another person that takes their job way too seriously but doesn’t mean to

-not really that rude sometimes, but most of the time she can be a bit of an asshole, probably because of something that happened in the past, nobody wants to talk about it though

-lesbian

camille

-has a slightly torn snake tongue, it makes them not able to speak, they mostly make noises like growling,

-nobody knows why their like this, they just are, but dont be afraid to talk to them if you need anything! they usually write what their trying to say

-the expert, especially at finding things, even if they cant speak

tim

-another returning employee! wooooo

-still dead inside, but feeling a little bit better!

-might be the oldest out of everyone

welfare team! (aka “sleep tight” (nobody knows why its called that)

space

-very calm, most of the time doesn’t mind anything, but still does get a little nervous at times

-nobody knows why her eyes are always closed, (ara specified that her eyes look like a galaxy that can only be opened for a couple of seconds because if she opens them for more than a few seconds they’ll start to glitch, when others see it happening, it looks like the galaxy is becoming more like an image other than a real galaxy, parts of the galaxy become misplaced and reverted back to their original place quickly repeatedly (kinda like the select thing in paint, usually in the shape of the rectangular selection though) and parts of the galaxy turn into static and back very quickly and repeatedly. we she sees it happening her vision becomes the same as how other people see the galaxy when it starts glitching, randomly shifting from original place to different place, or from static back to normal, some ominous, glitchy sounds have been heard when this is happening aswell, (i thought of this because of a small dream(?) i had when i was in a certain state of almost about to fall asleep, maybe i was napping i dont really know, it was a strange dream, i dont remember much of it which is expected, i think it was something about discord and some sort of strange thing that had a little timer on it, and after it was done the thing it was in started glitching, the background it was in and even the button that used to be the timer was glitching, i heard some sounds that were glitching a little (it looked like those screens you see when someone’s streaming something on there,) and then i woke up, yeah kinda weird,)

-like eugene, cares for everyone! especially ara, since space herself is the one who helps ara through tough times

courtney

-gets bored alot, just wants to work on the difficult abnormalities

-really snarky

johnson

-a smartass

-yet still a little friendly if they trust you

-i’ll upgrade them soon dont worry (i have upgraded them/him dont worry)

,

woop!

i’ll probably update this soon, but in the meantime have this, sorry for being dead lately, on both this and my sideblog

[merlinistheredheadedstepchild]

Wolf Moon - June 5, 2011

Opens on police searching the woods and dogs barking

Is that house ever the McCall house again? Pretty sure it doesn’t ever look like that

How exactly is Stiles hanging from the roof? Do his knees bend backward? “No a body of water.”

God they’re such babies in this. Stiles is way to jazzed about the body being cut in half. Scott is little red riding hood.

Beacon Hills Preserve- No Entry after dark

Stiles is wearing a light blue Beatles shirt and plaid and hooded cargo jacket and khakis Scott is wearing a burgundy AE zip hoodie and light wash jeans Only one of these is an acceptable outfit

It is raining and thundering Scott nearly gets trampled by a dozen deer and loses his inhaler Cell phones don’t have flashlights on them yet Oh look, half a dead girl When werewolves attack Scott nearly gets hit by a red SUV after escaping the alpha

Beacon Hills High School- Est. 1941

Stiles has a navy target shirt and a hoodie under a blazer Scott has on so many layers and the ugliest appliqué tee shirt

Introducing super powers and Allison Argent

I like her scarf and her hair and her jacket Lydia that skirt is not dress code approved

Man I wish the girl who comes up and complains about Allison hitting it off with Lydia had stuck around. Or that she was Erica.

There is so much American Eagle in this episode

State champs three years running because of Team Captain Jackson This is clearly from when Lydia and Jackson were meant to be a grade above them.

Introducing Coach And his first pep talk

A whistle twenty feet away nearly breaks Scott’s brain It’s the bomb-di-bomb song! Jackson’s so fucking dramatic

“It was like I had all the time in the world to catch the ball.” “I can smell the mint mojito gum in your pocket.”

Stiles jumps to lycanthropy in about seven seconds, but to be fair Scott did say he thought he saw a wolf

Introducing a very baby faced Derek Hale Close your mouth Stiles

“He’s only like a few years older than us. His family burned to death in a fire like ten years ago.”

Cats gone wild That is a skyscraper pretty close to the animal clinic it’s also pretty close to where I live (it might be the mall parking lot?) Glowing eyes and dog obedience Allison has a ‘I’m not like other girls’ speech. Which I do not like. Scott cowboys up and asks the new girl out

And then he wakes up in the woods, in a cave, by a creek. In the fog. Not muddy at all. But there’s an alpha on the prowl In daylight (which is contrary to stuff we learn later)

“My mom does all the grocery shopping.”

“I’m sleepwalking three miles into the middle of the woods and I’m pretty much convinced I’m out of my freaking mind!”

“You’re not gonna believe what the animal was. It was a wolf.” Stiles went from joking about werewolves to believing in werewolves and it took like, three days

Coach’s second pep talk Jackson’s so agro

Scott is incapable of making angry face But we get some more super powers

Why are there so many print outs?

Lycaon Wolfsbane Silver Where did that history of lycanthropy book come from Stiles? It looks fifty years old. Who wrote it?

Stiles is wearing a white Lucky Brand tee Scott again has all the layers So much gray and the worst blue

The full moon’s tonight “You’re cursed Scott.” “Your blood lust will be at it’s peak.” Stiles nearly gets his brain smashed in trying to cancel the date

Introducing Melissa, mom of the year. Scott is old enough to drive. Which means he was probably has a fall birthday, right after the cut off.

Scotty, the tee shirts Allison’s cute though. Blazers are great Derek creeps on the party and makes a dog behave Oh look, bad music-less dancing Lydia, why are you creeping on Scott while making out with Jackson? Is this supposed to be a hint about her future arc? Stiles, did you really wear a button up and a tie to a party? Not a blazer too

Derek, sweetie, I know that you’re just being protective of Scott but you come off so creepy But also he’s clearly supposed to be young enough to easily blend in at the party My guesses on ages in this episode are Scott- recently 16, Stiles- about six months into being 16, Allison- eleven months into being 16, Lydia- 10 months into being 16, Jackson- recently 17, Derek- about half way into being 19. This all changes a number of times throughout the show and no one ever knows how old anyone is. Except for Erica.

The music in this transformation is fantastic Kinda psycho-ish Understandably Scott got vibes off Derek and made assumptions Superhero landing Drool and pointy ears

Introducing the jeep and Stiles running like there’s something wrong with him Victoria does not have time for Stiles

The werewolf run is just terrible but his face is cool It’s weird that his body is so hairless when he’s got mutton chops

Hello Mr. Argent

Hey look, Derek actually saved somebody It’s sweet that he’s so willing to save Scott And by sweet I mean fucking heart breaking “The bite is a gift.” “I don’t want it.” “You will. And you’re gonna need me if you wanna learn how to control it. So you and me, Scott, we’re brothers now.” Just get right up in the wounded, confused teenagers face and spout some culty non-sense

Scott’s priorities are Allison hating him Stiles’ priorities are how to figure out this werewolf thing and not even a little bit Allison Allison accepts his vague apology and we find out her dad is a hunter End episode One

[beyondflashpoint]

So, if you didn’t know, y’boi is a big RWBY fan. Has been since the beginning. I’ve been hoping for a Vol7 look since RTX started, and boy, am I excited.

Let me start by explicitly stating that I LOVE the new looks. They’re a breath of fresh air, and they follow the 3 volume trend of refreshing the looks. That being said, let’s dive in.

Yang has gone full Top Gun. Just... totally embraced the jump suit and aviator jacket. I am on board. I like the belt. It’s tactical, cool, and cute. I want one. No midriff in a northern continent. Makes perfect sense to me. Ember and Cilicia? Looks like. 10/10, buy this for me.

Blake has gone full bob. I understand Girl, you had s life changing experience. You had to confront your trauma in a way that was outside of your control, and that shit went pear shaped. Cut your hair, looks great cutie. Getting Big Winter Schnee vibes from her look, and honestly, I’m loving it. 10/10 because it’s cool for cats.

Weiss. Is. Ready. It took me a long time to warm up to her character, but now it’s my sworn duty to look after that sweet traumatized child. Though she looks ready to handle herself. Look at that solid color as a main feature of her outfit. Honestly the whole thing gives me Emperial Officer (Star Wars) vibes, and I’m here for it. Big Atlas Energy. Also, braid? Look at you go. 10/10 ice queen, more like YAAAAASSSS Queen.

Ruby. Ruby Rose. My child. You went from Goth Lolita to Ren Flair, to this. Little Red Riding Hood is fucking ready. Belt and straps everywhere. Are those boots? Stockings? Give’em straps. Gloves? Straps! Micro skirt under divided short skirt? STRAP THAT SHIT DOWN! Also my girl has decided that she too would like to change her hair. Anyone else getting Big Qrow Energy? I know I am. Maybe it’s to keep her hair away from her Special Eyes™️, but either way, short and punky hair is the fastest way to my heart. ♾/10. You are my favorite. You can do no wrong in my eyes.

Overall, I’m getting Big Kingdom Hearts Vibes from this combined makeover, and I love it.

TL;DR: I have an excite.

[youngfolksrpg]

 WELCOME TO NEW YORK, HARLEY.

Harley Beckett is a 30 year old native residing in Brooklyn. They are a musician + guitar teacher who is known for being adventurous, creative, energetic, helpful, idealistic, predictable, soft, trusting, well-meaning, youthful. Click read more to discover more about this character! Trigger Warnings: Gender dysphoria (not spoken about in too much detail, however).

• • • CHARACTER BASICS

Character Full Name: Harley Blake Beckett. Nickname(s): Beck. Age: 30. Birthday: April 22nd. Occupation: Musician for Gasoline Adventure and teaches guitar out of their home. Birthplace: NYC, NY (Brooklyn). Borough: Brooklyn. Citizen Type: Native. Ethnicity: Caucasian. Nationality: American.

• • • IDENTITY + HEALTH

Gender: Genderfluid. Pronouns: They | Them. Sexual Orientation: Demisexual. Romantic Orientation: Panromantic. Relationship Status: Single. Face Claim: Nico Tortorella. Hair Color: Brown. Eye Color: Grey. Distinguishing Features: Tattoos, tattoos, and more tattoos; They're covered in them and constantly getting more. They're also usually found with a bright smile, regardless of how they're feeling. They’re good at masking what’s on their mind. Personal Style: It depends on the day, but Beck typically wears nice clothes. They enjoy the occasional cliche musician looks, wearing dark clothes, leather jackets, et cetera. On a typical day though, they enjoy more colorful clothes. They put a lot of time into making sure they look presentable, ready to make an impression wherever they are. Physical Health: They are physically healthy. Mental Health: Gender dysphoria.

• • • FAMILY

Parents: Biological parents are unknown + no desire to reach out // Adoptive parents are named Neil & Laurel Beckett. They run a gallery together, with one being a sculptor and one a painter. Relationship with Parents: Their parents are their favorite people in the world. They were just a baby when they were adopted by Neil and Laurel, two loving parents who wanted another child because they had more love than they could give. Laurel also was struggling to get pregnant, so they started adopting. They have always been accepting of everything their children wanted to be, which is why Beck had no fear coming out to them. Siblings: Three siblings, all adopted. Beck is the second eldest of the four of them. Relationship with Siblings: Their relationship with their siblings is just as solid as their relationship with their parents. Certainly, there's fights here and there, but ultimately, Beck feels welcomed by them all. Beck and their oldest sibling were adopted by their parents purposefully, whereas the last two were fosters that ended up getting adopted when their parents realized how much they wanted to keep them, too. Beck tries to stay neutral throughout sibling disputes and stay on everyone's good side for the most part.  Children: N/A. Relationship with Children: N/A. Pets: N/A right now, but definitely open to the pro spect.

• • • PERSONALITY + MUSIC

MBTI: ESFJ. Moral Alignment: Chaotic Good. Zodiac: Taurus. Hogwarts House: Gryffindor.  Alter Ego: A more musically inclined and less political Leslie Knope from Parks and Rec. Personality Traits: Adventurous, creative, energetic, helpful, idealistic, predictable, soft, trusting, well-meaning, youthful. // Beck is a soft person overall. They enjoy being around people and are often seen with a smile on their face. They try not to get into arguments often, only breaking that rule if they feel like they need to stand up for themselves. They had quite a few years of being unable to accept themselves in their late teenage and early twenties years, but Beck has since come to terms with who they are and what kind of person they want to be. They're extremely creative, looking for multiple outlets for their creativeness. Music is the main one, but they have dabbled in art (it was a failure), writing (it wasn't terrible), and many other things. They know that it doesn't matter what most people think of them, always preferring to be who they are above anything. They work hard for what they want and often give off a youthful vibe. Playlist: Beck’s favorite songs. Moon River - Frank Ocean (cover) Amen - Amber Run, London Contemporary Voices Little Red Riding Hood - Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs We Used to be Friends - The Dandy Warhols Mansard Roof - Vampire Weekend Fuck You - Lily Allen Basket Case - Green Day Transatlanticism - Death Cab for Cutie Shit Happens - Late Night Thoughts Superposition - Young the Giant Cringe - Matt Maeson lovely - Billie Eilish, Khalid Should I Stay or Should I Go? - The Clash Take Me Out - Franz Ferdinand No Diggity - Blackstreet Loser - Beck Shadow - ARTY Piledriver Waltz - Arctic Monkeys World Gone Mad - Bastille What’s My Age Again? - Blink-182 Late Thoughts - Hanx

• • • WANTED PLOTS

Family!! Beck has three siblings + parents that mean so much to them. Their parents have always made them believe they could be whoever they want to be, which is why no child of Neil & Laurel Beckett's would worry about telling them anything that's going wrong. Two of the siblings (Beck and the eldest) were adopted by Neil & Laurel when they were babies, but the last two were fostered and then adopted. Their family is always the most important thing to them. 

Friends!! Beck is so gd friendly that it would be completely accurate for them to have a ton of friends. Some could be new, some could be old; they're a native, so they would've accumulated quite a few growing up. I imagine they lost some friends when they came out, but they don't dwell on anything like that. Beck needs friends who will accept them for who they are without fail, otherwise they won't get along or stick together for very long. I'd love to have a couple ride or die best friends who have been around through everything. Sharing crayon boxes in kindergarten to sharing a bottle of whiskey as adults?? Pls give me that.

Band mates!! Beck is a part of a rock band that I imagine has an Arctic Monkeys sound, but not quite as much their new album. Beck plays the guitar and sings back up, but I would love to get the rest of his band. Gasoline Adventure will have a request soon enough with all the other members of the band, but if you're interested, hmu!!

Exes and romance things!! When it comes to romance, Beck doesn't shy away from possibilities. Of course, things aren't always easy for them. Between not always feeling like someone is comfortable with their gender fluidity (some people are okay with the concept they've noticed, but are weird when it comes to actually being with them) and being demisexual, their love life has been a bit all over the place. If you have an idea for something in this area though, please let me know!! 

• • • THE PLAYER

Harley Beckett is played by Paige. She is 29 years old and in the CST timezone. Please be mindful of their triggers: incest, rape, student x teacher plots.

[sweetnestor]

the end of infinity with you | septic egos

previous: the last of the real ones

other works of mine

“you were too good to be true

gold plated

but what’s inside you?

but what’s inside you?”

After a very long month, Jack was transported to another hospital, on Dr. Schneeplestein’s orders. This hospital would be better for Jack, but it was just a little too far away and visitation was limited. Meaning, Chase couldn't visit every day like he used to.

Work had gotten a lot more demanding over these last few weeks. Bro Average had been picked up for a third season, which meant that Chase was on set almost every single day. Sometimes he had to bring his kids with him on the weekends. It's not really how he wanted to be with his kids, but it's better than nothing. Besides, the kids were fascinated by the big cameras and the bright lights. They liked to brag that their dad was a big star, and the crew adored them.

That was only sometimes. Other times, Stacy had to keep them over the weekend because Chase was a little too busy at work. He was quite taken with the flask he would bring with him. He knew he couldn't let the kids see that. He couldn't let anyone see that.

Other than that, Henrik got in contact with Chase again. He was put in charge of Jack's case, so he was constantly updating Chase on the situation. Lately, though, there weren't any drastic changes. Jack's blood count went up and down every day. His heart was going from good to great, from great to bad, and so on. His kidneys weren't working one day, his liver always threatened to give out. It was never anything major. There was no sign of Jack waking up, nor was there any sign of him never waking up again.

This was starting to feel like the beginning of the end.

It was another day of Chase sitting in his Bro Average dressing room. It was the middle of the week, so his little ones weren't running around the set. No one was keeping his mind occupied between takes. Typically, Chase would be chatting with his co-stars or FaceTiming some local magazine for an interview. But instead he was sitting in front of the vanity, anxiously checking his phone. Waiting on any kind of news about his comatose friend was getting to be exhausting these days. Of course, the worst news was sticking out in Chase's mind more than anything. He didn't want to wake up one day with a new text saying-

“Brody, we need you on set!” called the assistant, Jan. Third one he's gone through this month.

With a sigh, Chase put down his phone and put on his signature grey hat. He looked at himself in the mirror, trying to remember some vague but powerful quote to get him going again. Then, he cracked his head from side to side, only to feel a sting… on his throat?

Chase swore and placed his hand over the base of his neck, examining the skin in the mirror. That sting didn't feel like a sore throat, it was like…

He looked down at the palm of his hand. The scar was still very visible. The things that came after getting that cut were more vivid. Red lights in dark rooms still haunted his dreams at night.

“Okay,” Chase said to himself. He reached for the bottom drawer of the vanity and opened it up.

At this point, he didn't even read the labels on these tiny bottles. He just knew they would help.

~

Not surprisingly, Stacy had no problem keeping the kids for the third weekend in a row. She also didn't have any problem with not letting Chase talk to them over the phone. He knew he had to go visit Jack in London, but he didn't want the kids to feel left out because of it. Stacy always had to keep them to herself, and she wondered why Chase was so angry at her all the time. Always playing the victim.

The cab ride to London took ages. Chase wanted to sleep the whole way there, he even had some wine to help with the process, but to no avail. By the time he was actually in London, he was very glad he wasn't checking into a hotel. He would not have done it coherently.

Henrik had been kind enough to let Chase stay in his massive home. He was too kind, actually. He told Chase that the place would be empty, apart from the staff.

Yes, staff. Henrik owned a fucking mansion in a gated community of more fucking mansions. Apparently, he owned more in different parts of the world.

That was a little weird to Chase. He knew Henrik had a wife and child in Germany. Wouldn't he want to stay with them? Did they ever visit? Henrik was a strange man.

The Victorian style home was eerie once Chase was actually inside it. There was a certain vibe within the walls that made Chase’s hair stand up. This place was probably haunted. Maybe it was haunted enough for Bro Average to come and do a spooky Halloween episode. Upon that thought, Chase wondered if he could sleep at the hospital.

“I'm too drunk for this,” he mumbled as he followed one of the butlers up the marble staircase. The portraits hung on the wall were watching him. He held his backpack closer to himself, like the people in these portraits were going to jump out and rob him.

“I will have someone fix you a cure for that,” said the butler over his shoulder. They walked onto the second floor and opened the first double doors on the left of the hallway. “Here are you quarters, Master Brody.”

That only thing that was a master was the bedroom. There was a massive four poster bed between two large windows that had an incredible view of the neighborhood. There was a small chandelier hanging from the ceiling as well.

“This is awesome,” Chase muttered. Maybe he should be a doctor instead of a TV personality.

“The car will be here shortly, Master Brody,” the butler told him. “I know you are wanting to see your dear friend.”

Chase got a pit in his stomach again. Right. That's why he was here in a bougie ass mansion.

Once the butler had gone, Chase dropped his backpack on the floor and went to lie down. The bed was soft and very comfortable, especially in his intoxicated state. It was like being a cloud of ducks wrapped in pillows…

“Still… here…”

There was a flash of red light, and then Chase jolted awake. He was sweating, and his heart was pounding. Such a short dream, but he felt so put off by it.

“Mr. Brody?” called a female voice from the door. “May I enter?”

“Uh, yeah,” he called back. “And uh, please just call me Chase.”

A woman in a powder blue maid’s outfit walked in, holding a glass of clay colored… something. She smiled warmly, pretending not to notice the sweat dripping from Chase’s face.

“This will put you right,” she said as she handed him the glass. “If you drink it all now, you’ll be sober by the time you get to the hospital.”

“Thank you.” Chase accepted the glass, but he waited until the maid left to set it down on the bedside table.

He didn’t really want to be sober right now.

~

It was dark outside by the time Chase arrive to the hospital. Still, he was itching to see if his friend seemed any different than when he last saw him. Chase all but ran up to Jack’s room, ready to speak to him and catch up. Just as he approached the doorway, he heard other voices.

“So then what would this card be?”

“A joker?”

“Wrong! It’s the king of diamonds!”

“What do you mean?!”

Chase heard two voices, but he discovered four people when he entered the room. Henrik was checking Jack’s vitals, but the other three were quite the sight. Chase could barely take them in before Henrik started talking at him.

“Ah, look who has finally showed up!” he said as he went to shake Chase’s hand. “Welcome, my friend!”

“I, I didn’t know you would be here,” Chase said. “Thought you only worked in Brighton.”

“I am all over.” Henrik smiled. “Come, meet the others.”

The other three men came forward. The first one to offer his hand was a dapper looking guy in a white button up, blue vest, and a black bowler hat. It was like he was plucked straight out of a Charlie Chaplin film.

“This is Jameson Jackson,” said Henrik, placing his hands on the man’s shoulders. “He prefers to be called JJ.”

Chase shook JJ’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”

He smiled wide and nodded. Then he let go and signed something to Chase.

“He said he likes your hat,” interpreted one of the other guys. He was in a bright red hoodie with the hood up, and he wore black skinny jeans and blue converse.

“Oh. Thanks, dude,” Chase told JJ.

“Anyway, I’m Jackie,” said the red hooded guy.

“Huh. Jack and Jackie.”

“I know right!” He sounded a little too excited, given the circumstances.

Then came the last guy. He had on a purple button up, black skinny jeans, and boots very similar Chase’s. This guy also had a man bun, and he had a cape hanging over his arm. There was also a cat mask with little designs attached to his belt buckle. To top it off, he was fiddling with a deck of cards in his hands.

“Hey, I’m Marvin,” he greeted. “Wanna play fifty two card pick up?”

Chase cracked a smile. “I play that with my daughter all the time.”

Once all introductions were made, they all turned to Jack. Still in a coma. Still unknowing. Still beating. The heart monitor was the only bit of reassurance that he was still there. JJ returned to his chair right next to the bed, and he looked sadly at Jack. Marvin leaned against the wall next to the door, still shuffling his cards. Henrik stood at the foot of the bed, hands in his pockets. Jackie went over to the window, staring out into the night.

Chase thought he would have been sad all over again to see Jack like this, but he was just numb. “Are we still on the waiting game?”

“Yes,” Henrik answered, “but he hasn’t gotten any worse.”

That numbness went away pretty quickly. Chase couldn’t control his tone. “So then what was the point in moving him further away?”

However, Henrik wasn’t fazed by the change in attitude. “There are more doctors, better doctors. More great minds to try to figure out what to do.”

“But aren’t you the best there is?” Chase was getting angry. “Why would you move him if he was just going to stay the same? Why aren’t you being the good doctor you say you are?”

Jackie decided to step in. “Hey, he’s doing his best! It’s a really tricky situation, especially since we don’t know exactly how he got this way!”

“Yeah, you’re not the only one who’s pissed at the situation,” Marvin added.

Chase only felt angrier. “Who the hell even are you guys? Jack has never talked about you guys before! I never saw any of you at the other hospital!”

Marvin looked him right in the eyes, a hard expression on his face. “You know, he never mentioned you either.”

“That’s not true… We’re best friends!”

“Never seen you before, never heard of you.” He looked at JJ and Jackie. “You guys ever heard of a… what was it again? Chad?”

“It’s Chase…”

JJ and Jackie didn’t say anything, they were just looking back and forth between the other two men. Meanwhile, Henrik was staying out of it and pretending to check on Jack some more, walking up to check his eyes with a mini flashlight.

Marvin shrugged his shoulders as he turned back to Chase, still mocking. “I wouldn’t know. Jack’s never talked about you before.”

It felt like lead was falling over Chase’s shoulders. Was Marvin telling the truth? Had Jack never talked about Chase to anyone else? Was Chase not important enough to be talked about?

“Guys I think his feelings are hurt,” Marvin said to the others, only adding to the humiliation.

“Hey, come on now,” Jackie said as he turned away from the window. “Jack has loads of friends. I’m sure he’s mentioned all of us at least once.”

“Then how come I’ve never seen any of them at the hospital in Brighton?” Chase shot back. “How come only me and his family would come see him and everyone else just sent cards he can’t even read?”

JJ tapped his shoulder to get his attention. Chase watched him sign a speech, but Henrik interpreted.

“We were all planning to come visit. We just didn’t know we were all going to be here at the same time. The timing is strange, if you ask me. But please, don’t be angry. Jack is everybody’s friend.”

Chase wasn’t so sure about that anymore. Here he thought Jack was his best friend. He thought he had an effect on Jack like it was the other way around. Chase thought he finally mattered to someone. But maybe Jack only hung out with him out of pity. They did meet in a bar when Chase was completely hammered. Maybe that’s why Jack hid him like a dirty secret.

So then why was Chase wasting his time here?

“It’s true, though,” Jackie spoke up. “None of knew the other person was coming here today too. I don’t know about you guys, but, uh, my schedule is really busy at the moment. Really unpredictable. I didn’t think I would find the time to get here.”

“My round of shows in Vegas were pushed to next week,” Marvin said. “I figured now was as good a time as any to visit my friend. You know, before there is no time.”

“I got a random free weekend,” Chase told them. “It’s weird, I just started shooting the new season of my show, things were tight. No time for breaks or vacations.”

“But your superiors told you to take the weekend off?” Marvin guessed.

Chase nodded. He thought only Henrik’s house gave him skin crawling chills. Then, he turned to JJ, who was sitting down again.

“What about you?”

This time, instead of signing, he pulled a notepad and pen from under his hat. He quickly scribbled on a clean page and showed Chase.

“I was in the neighborhood,” he read out loud. “What does that mean?”

“He travels a lot,” Jackie explained. “He comes and he goes. We don’t really know where he came from.”

“So you all know each other, then?” Chase asked.

Jackie and Marvin shared a look.

“I have treated Jackie in the past,” Henrik spoke up. “I have treated him many times, actually. I met JJ and Marvin only today.”

“Yeah, we go way back,” Jackie added. He rolled back the sleeve on his hoodie, revealing his pale arm. “See that? There’s nothing! Would have been an ugly burn scar if Doc over here hadn’t helped me.”

“I have treated Chase as well!” said Henrik a little too gleefully. “Look at us, we all have common ground!”

Chase only nodded curtly. He didn’t really want to get into the time he was in the hospital shortly after the divorce and custody battle. “So how do you all know Jack?”

JJ went first. He wrote on his notepad again and passed it around. “We met on Halloween! We were pumpkin carving!”

“Jack always did love carving!” Henrik said with a laugh. “A little too much, I think!”

“I met him when I was doing street magic,” Marvin said, still leaning against the wall. “He was really fascinated with it. He encouraged me to keep pursuing it, to throw myself into it. So I did. Wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for him.”

“He saved me from getting jumped,” Jackie recalled. “Scared some guys out of an alley to keep them away from. He had a pocket knife and all. Now, I try to help people as much as I can.”

Chase felt a little sheepish now. These guys were doing great things because of Jack. Chase could barely function these days. He was still a little intoxicated standing in this hospital room. He wasn’t anything special. He didn’t do anything worthwhile. All he’s done is fail.

“I met him in a bar,” he said. “We really hit it off. We’ve hung out a lot.” Truth is, that was probably where the drinking habit began. Not because of Jack, though.

“Well,” Henrik began, “Jack helped me when one of my patients went under. We made a great team. Then, he needed my help. He was attacked, someone slit his throat. I almost lost Jack, but he is very strong.”

Chase suddenly remembered the weird sting in his throat from earlier today. He had never gotten injured like that before, and he had never know about Jack’s injury. There wasn’t even a scar to show for it. Yet, Chase could clearly imagine the blood seeping from the fresh wound… It went towards him… it came closer…

All five men jumped when Chase’s phone started ringing. Who the hell even calls him these days?

Stacy, apparently.

“I gotta take this,” Chase said as he went out into the hallway. Then he pressed his phone to his ear. “Hello?”

“You wanna tell me why there's so many empty liquor bottles in your flat?” Stacy's shrill voice said on the other line.

Chase froze in the middle of the corridor. His blood ran cold, and it felt like the ground under his feet disappeared.

“Uh - Why the hell are you at my flat?” he shot back.

“The kids left their Switch. What's your excuse?”

“I, uh, I had people over.”

“When? You don't have any friends!”

“You don't know that!”

Stacy sighed angrily. “You know, I thought your drunk voicemails were a one time thing. I was nice enough to let it go, I let you have the kids on the weekends-"

“You didn't let me, the court ordered it!” Chase spitefully reminded her.

She scoffed. “Well, the court will change their mind, won't they? Once they know what you do during the week-"

“Stacy!” he interrupted, getting desperate. “Stacy, I swear, it's not what you think.”

“Don't lie to me. I called your show producer. You're drinking on set.”

This couldn't be happening. This was not real.

“What do I have to do?”

“There's nothing you can do.”

Suddenly, a group of nurses rushed past Chase. He quickly got up against the wall to avoid a traffic jam, especially after seeing one nurse pushing a crash cart. To make matters worse, Chase saw the nurses run into the room he had stepped out of.

He heard Stacy's voice yelling over the phone, but the sound faded as he let the device slip out of his hand. Everything went in slow motion as he ran back to the room. All other sounds disappeared, the only sound was Chase’s blood pounding in his ears. Just as he made it to the doorway, he collided into Marvin, JJ, and Jackie. That was when everything came back.

“H-He, his heart…” Jackie tried to explain, while JJ frantically signed with teary eyes.

“The heart monitor went crazy,” Marvin explained, sounding shaken. “We heard the long beep, then the thing started sparking. Then, Jack started seizing. Nurses told us to get out.”

They all heard Henrik’s frantic yelling from the room, ordering to hit Jack with however many grams of whatever medicine. Then they heard something like, “We're losing him!”

“Come on, man,” Chase mumbled. He peered into the room, but only saw the backs of many nurses.

Soon enough, they all backed up on Henrik’s orders. He had the defibrillator ready.

“Clear!”

The paddles barely touched Jack's chest before he sat up. Jack literally sat up in the bed, scaring the hell out of the people surrounding him. His eyes were wide and alert like he wasn't asleep for months on end. He stared right at the four men at the door as he reached for the tubes in his mouth.

“Jack, no!” Henrik yelled. “Let me, let me!”

He tried to reach for Jack, but he was suddenly knocked off his feet, along with the nurses. It was like an invisible force pushed them back.

Jack pulled the tubes out of his mouth, still staring at the doorway. Then, he spoke in a clear voice:

“I remember what he did to me.”

Blood started coming out of his mouth. He choked and coughed, spitting blood down his front, and then he finally fell back again.

~

Chase, Marvin, JJ, and Jackie were sent to the waiting room while everything got resolved. Eventually, Henrik found them and updated them on the situation.

“I am very sorry…”

JJ responded by taking off his bowler hat. Chase did the same with his snapback.

Several phone calls were made after that. All the guys sat together and alerted Jack’s family, girlfriend, and close friends. After that, they were just sitting and trying to process what had happened.

“He’s really gone,” Jackie muttered, like he was thinking out loud. “Never gonna see him again, are we?”

“What the fuck?” Chase wondered. It still hadn’t properly hit. “What the fuck?”

“Why did his last words have to be so cryptic?” Marvin sounded more annoyed than sad.

JJ just sat with his head down and his shoulders slumped.

“If that fucking demon wasn’t there…” Henrik trailed off.

So they all saw it.

“I should’ve known,” Marvin spoke, rubbing his temple. “I told Jack how I… He told me he was desperate for change. He wanted a way out. I told him what I did. Didn’t think he would do it.”

Chase tilted his head. “You told him to use a Ouija board?”

“I told him I… called upon things outside of this realm.”

“Who’s the cryptic one now?” Jackie said rather harshly. “Jack was found unconscious in front of that board. If you told him to summon a demon or whatever the fuck, then just fucking say it!”

Marvin looked him in the eyes and said nothing. The two had a silent conversation before Jackie turned his eyes to the floor.

“I thought he was done with that stuff,” Henrik spoke after a while. “I thought the neck injury was the last straw for him.”

Chase absentmindedly rubbed at his throat. “I used a Ouija board not that long ago. Whatever came through, he took my kids for a day.”

“Just one day?” Marvin asked.

“Hey, when you’re a parent, losing your kids for even a minute is fucking scary.”

“Were they okay?” Jackie asked, concerned.

“Yeah. They’re perfect. They don’t remember a thing.” Chase remembered the phone call with Stacy. “I made a deal with this thing to make sure of it. The kids were to be unharmed, and I would lose everything else in return.”

He paused and waited for one of the guys to lash out. If Chase’s deal was to lose everything, then technically Jack dying was his fault. That’s what he waited for one of them to say. But they were all quiet.

Then, JJ took his notepad and wrote something. He showed Chase the page.

“He doesn’t like being called a thing.”

______

tags: @ninjasversuslife @modicumofmotivation

[swiftsnowmane]

You have such great taste, so I'm coming to you for advice. What are your recommendations for art house Halloween movies?

Oh, what an excellent ask! I absolutely love artistic horror films, but I’m by no means an expert on them. Since I wasn’t sure if I had enough to recommend, I decided to just make a compilation that best exemplifies my personaltastes. Many do not have anything to do with Halloween, and some are not eventechnically ‘horror’ films at all, but are simply films and/or series that Ienjoy watching at this time of year.  :)

Below you will find a widevariety of recommendations, including silent film, film noir, gothic horror,sci-fi and dark fantasy, vampire films, zombie movies, tv series, comedies, parodies, mockumentaries,and my greatest love….folk horror.

Silent film:

- The Cabinet of Dr.Caligari (1920), dir. Robert Wiene – Iconic and a highly-influential silentGerman expressionist film about a creepy ‘doctor’ who hypnotizes a sleep-walker(a ‘sonambulist’) to do his bidding.

- The Phantom Carriage (1921), dir. Victor Sjöström–  On New Year’s Eve, the driver of a ghostly carriage forces a drunken man to look back at his wasted life.

- Häxan (1922),dir. Benjamin Christensen – Fictionalized Swedish-Danish documentary aboutwitches and witchcraft through the ages. Often categorized as folk horror, thisfilm contains evocative visuals and some memorable dramatizations, including a (literally) hysterical ‘nuns gone wild’ sequence. Despite its sensationalism, it is actually quite a sympathetic take on thetragedy of witch hunts, from the medieval era to the contemporary (1920s)treatment of women with mental illnesses.

- The Lodger(1927), dir. Alfred Hitchcock – Considered by critics to be the first true‘Hitchcock’ movie, this silent film is suspenseful, visually entrancing, and surprisingly moving. One of my personal favourites.

Other old movie classics:

- Double Indemnity (1944),dir. Billy Wilder – An insurance man falls for a married woman, and togetherthey begin to plan the murder of her husband. A noir classic, the first tocontain all the elements that would come to define the genre. A favourite ofmine.

- Laura (1944),dir. Otto Preminger – Another filmnoir fave, this time a murder mystery starring the mesmerizing Gene Tierney. Oneof the (many) inspirations for Laura Palmer in Twin Peaks. ‘Not just anotherdead girl,’ indeed.

- The Innocents (1961), dir. - [summary forthcoming]

- The Seventh Seal(1957), dir. Ingmar Bergman – This Swedish existentialist meditation on deathand mortality needs no introduction from me. Not a horror movie per se, but dueto its themes and visuals, it is very haunting all the same.

- Hour of the Wolf(1968), dir. Ingmar Bergman – Another Bergman classic, this time a surrealistpsychological horror-drama. A man lives with his pregnant wife on a remoteisland, and suffers from insomnia. He begins to be plagued by visions of‘demons’ and haunted by images from his past.

- Hitchcock films– Some of my personal faves include TheLady Vanishes (1938), Notorious (1946– noir classic), Spellbound (1945 -worth watching for the stunning surrealist dream sequence designed by SalvadorDali), Rear Window (perhaps not asvisually interesting as my usual picks, but a nostalgic fave that I used towatch with my dad), Psycho (1960 -cliché to list this  one, I know, but Ido  legitimately enjoy this film), Vertigo (1958 - another I used to watchwith my dad), and two of my absolute faves, Rebecca (1940 – see below) and the aforementioned The Lodger (1927).

-Hammer horror (aka British horror of the ‘50s-70s) - you can’t go wrong with the Hammer Dracula series, and/or anything starring Sir Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. -  [summaries forthcoming]

Halloween films:

- Sleepy Hollow(1999), dir. Tim Burton – Fave Tim Burton film. Fave Johnny Depp film. FaveHalloween film. Just fave.

- Trick ‘r Treat(2007), dir. Michael Dougherty  –  Of all the quintessential, straight up‘Halloween’ movies, this anthology horror film is another top pick. It’s justsuch good fun.

- The Crow(1994), dir. Alex Proyas - A list of my personal faves could not be completewithout this fantastical, noir-ish tale of lost love and revenge. A nostalgicclassic.

Other ‘scary movies’:

- Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006 mockumentary), dir. Scott Glosserman  - I’m not all that into *actual* slasher flicks (other than the original Halloween, which still to this day scares the shit out of me), but I’ve always greatly enjoyed this satirical take on the subject. :D

- Return of the Living Dead (1985), dir. Dan O’Bannon – While zombie films aren’t necessarily my fave horror sub-genre either, I can’t help but adore this one. Early Greg Nicotero visual effects on full display. Not to mention the iconic naked dancing in the graveyard scene.

- The Crazies (2010), dir. Breck Eisner – Probably my fave ‘zombie’ film. I use that term loosely as it’s not really about zombies, but it has a similar vibe. This movie immediately pre-dated The W@lking Dead, and now that I can no longer stand to watch that awful show, it has sort of become my preferred ‘version’ of this type of scenario.

Vampire films:

- Vampire Hunter D:Bloodlust (2000), dir. Yoshiaki Kawajiri – With its incredibly rich anddetailed visual design, based on the art of Yoshitaka Amano, and an evocativepost-apocalyptic western/ gothic setting, this classic anime film is along-time fave. When I was younger I wanted to live (and die) inside the aestheticof this film, and to this day it remains my favourite vampire movie. Alsocontains one of my all-time favourite vampire/human romances, the Hades andPersephone-esque Charlotte and Meier.

- Let the Right OneIn (2008), dir. Thomas Alfredson  - Swedishvampire movie. Not the sort of thing you’re probably expecting, either.

- 30 Days of Night(2007), dir. David Slade – One of the few vampire films in which the vampires actually terrified me.

- From Dusk till Dawn(1996), dir. Quentin Tarantino – Over the top action-horror ridiculousness. Myfavourite thing about this film is that it includes a scene of a young girlgetting her white t-shirt splattered with blood. Bethyl fans will understandwhat I mean. ;D

- What We Do In theShadows (2014), dir. Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi – Mockumentary aboutvampires in New Zealand. Probably my fave thing I’ve seen in years. HIGHLYrecommended. :D

Dark fantasy/sci-fi:

- The Company ofWolves (1984), dir. Neil Jordan – A young girl in present day has a feverishdream in which she and her family live in a fairytale forest. After her oldersister is killed by a wolf, she repeatedly dares the dangers of ‘the wood’ tovisit her grandmother. Based on Angela Carter’s tale from The Bloody Chamber, with a screenplay co-written by Carter herself,this film is a must-see for anyone who enjoys a blend of eroticism and horrorin their Little Red Riding Hood tales. Despite the low-budget and cheesy qualityof some of the effects, I totally love this movie. :D

- Brotherhood of theWolf (2001), dir. Christophe Gans – Perhaps not the greatest film evermade, but I have an eternal soft spot for the legend of the Beast of Gévaudan.Not to mention my girl-crush on Monica Bellucci, lol.

- Angel’s Egg (1985) - [summary forthcoming]

- Pitch Black (2000),dir. David Twohy – The other films in this franchise might be more famous, butthe first entry is, imo, a sci-fi horror classic. My favourite part is thedynamic between the ‘boy’ Jack and the notorious criminal, Riddick.

- Pan’s Labyrinth (2006),dir. Guillermo del Toro - In 1940s Spain, a young girl finds escape from thebrutal fascist regime by visiting a labyrinthine underworld full of strange andmagical creatures.

- The Prestige(2006), dir. Christopher Nolan – In late 19th c. London, rival stagemagicians obsessively compete to find the best stage illusion, with strange,and often tragic, results. Not a horror film, but an intense and suspenseful thrillerall the same.

- Solomon Kane(2009), dir. Michael J. Bassett – Based loosely on the classic pulp-fiction stories ofRobert E. Howard (aka, creator of Conan the Barbarian), this film is a mix ofdark fantasy and horror elements. JamesPurefoy and Rachel Hurd-Wood in a SanSan-esque type dynamic. Super cheesy, yes,but such a guilty pleasure, OMG.

Gothic romance/horror (aka, ‘young woman goes to live at manor house and creepy things ensue’ ):

- Jane Eyre (2006BBC miniseries), dir. Susanna White – There are countless adaptations of thisclassic, and all have their merits. While the 2011 Hollywood movie has a higherbudget and some very lovely visuals, for me, nothing tops the version with TobyStephens as Rochester!!

- Northanger Abbey(2007), dir. Jon Jones – My personal fave adaptation of Jane Austen’s gothic horror satire, starring an adorable young Felicity Jones as thewide-eyed, imaginative heroine.

- Rebecca (1940),dir.  Alfred Hitchcock – A self-consciousyoung bride is tormented by the memory of her husband’s late wife. LawrenceOlivier and Joan Fontaine in a visually haunting Hitchcock classic.

- Dragonwyck (1946), dir. Joseph L.Mankiewicz – In the 1840s, a young women from a Connecticut farming community isinvited to the estate of a wealthy patroon.Worth watching for the ever gorgeous Gene Tierney and an extremely attractiveyoung Vincent Price. Such good chemistry!

- The Crimson Petaland the White (2011 BBC miniseries) – Based on the novel by Michael Faber,this is the story of Sugar, a prostitute in 1870s London, and what happens whenshe becomes the mistress of a wealthy soapmaker. At once sensual and deeplyunsettling. Plays heavily on the Victorian theme of ‘the angel in thehouse’.  Highly recommended.

- Crimson Peak(2015), dir. Guillermo del Toro – A culmination of all of the tropes andplotlines from the classics mentioned above (with the most direct nods to Dragonwyck).Guillermo del Toro takes the horror elements that are generally only present asundercurrent in these gothic romance stories and brings them, in all theirgrotesque and terrifying glory, to the surface.

Folk horror:

- The VVitch (2015), dir. Robert Eggers – In 1600’s New England, a puritan family must move from the safety of a settlement to the edge of the wilderness. One of my top favourite folk horror films, ever.  

- A Field in England (2013), dir. Ben Wheatley – Deserters of an English Civil War battle travel through an eerily empty English countryside landscape on a psychedelia-tinged trip. This film is not for everyone, but is visually stunning and ticks many of my personal boxes. HIGHLY recommended for anyone who enjoys alchemical themes and imagery.  A folk horror masterpiece.

- The Wicker Man (1973), dir. Robin Hardy – This iconic film needs no introduction. Features one of my all-time favourite Sir Christopher Lee performances, as the incomparable Lord Summerisle. A must-see for anyone remotely interested in the folk horror genre.

- Witchfinder General(1968), dir. Michael Reeves  –Another 17th century period classic, starring Vincent Price as the villainousMatthew Hopkins, aka the Witchfinder General. While perhaps not as well-belovedfor me as the three listed above, I very much appreciate this film’s settingand overall aesthetic, as well as its absolutely beautiful soundtrack.

- The Devil Rides Out (1968) - [summary forthcoming]

- The Blood on Satan’s Claw (1971)  - [summary forthcoming] 

- Black Death(2010), dir. Christopher Smith - Sean Bean, Eddie Redmayne, and Carice VanHouten in a supernatural-tinged medieval thriller. Essentially, ‘The Wicker Man’-meets-‘Heartof Darkness’, set to the backdrop of the black plague.

- Apostle (2018) - [summary forthcoming]

Misc/other:

- The Devil’s Whore(2008 miniseries), dir. Marc Munden – Despite the title, this is not actually ahorror movie, but is an exquisitely beautiful romantic period drama, set duringthe English Civil Wars. One of my all-time favourite historical miniseries,ever.

- Flesh + Blood(1985), dir. Paul Verhoeven – Set in Italy in 1501, Rutger Hauer is a leader ofa ruthless band of mercenaries and Jennifer Jason Leigh is the young maiden whobecomes their captive. Not a ‘horror’ film in technical sense, but Verhoeven’stypical bloody visuals and dark themes and tone secure it a place on this list.TRIGGER WARNING: Contains an intenserape scene.  

- Imprint (2007),dir. Michael Linn – Native Americanfolklore-based suspense/thriller. One of the many reasons I love this film isthat it was actually filmed onlocation in South Dakota (you have no idea how many times filmmakers try to pass off California landscapes as ‘SouthDakota’, it’s soo annoying).

- Southern Comfort(1981), dir. Walter Hill - In 1973, a Louisiana Army National Guard squad ontheir weekend maneuvers in rural bayou country antagonize the local Cajunpeople and end up ruthlessly hunted. A southern gothic thriller, with someWicker Man-esque elements.

- Winter’s Bone(2010), dir. Debra Granik – A teenage girl in the rural Ozarks must track downher missing father in order to protect her family. Not a horror film, but aquietly intense thriller.  A personalfave of mine.

- The Revenant (2015), dir. Alejandro González Iñarrítu– [summary forthcoming]

- Wind River (2017), dir. Taylor Sheridan – [summary forthcoming]

- Dunkirk (2017), dir. Christopher Nolan –[summary forthcoming]

- Trollhunter (2010), dir. André Øvredal  – Taking the form of a ‘found footage’ mockumentary, this movie follows filmmakers who set out to capture images of elusive Norwegian trolls

- Ed Wood (1994),dir. Tim Burton – Not a horror film, but rather a biographical comedy-dramabased on the life of the titular B-movie producer. An underrated TimBurton/Johnny Depp classic.

- Clue (1985), dir. Jonathan Lynn - A classic comedy, and one of my all ‘round fave murder mystery movies. No matter how many times I’ve seen it, this infinitely quotable film still makes me laugh, every time.

- The Whisperer InDarkness (2011), dir. Sean Branney  –Independent film, based on H. P. Lovecraft story of the same name. Made with ablend of vintage and modern techniques, intended to evoke the style of filmsfrom the 1930s.

- From Hell (2001),dir. the Hughes brothers – Murder mystery/thriller based on the Alan Mooregraphic novel. Gruesome and memorable interpretation of the unsolved tale ofJack the Ripper.

TV series:

- Ripper Street (2012tv series) – A period-drama procedural set in the aftermath of the Jack theRipper killings in late-Victorian Whitechapel, London. Centers around ChiefDetective-Inspector Reid, who is haunted by his inability to catch the serialkiller, as well as by dark events from his own past. (I only recommend thefirst two seasons, however, as after that the quality of the storylines greatlydecreased, imo).

- The League of Gentlemen(1999 tv series) – Legendary dark comedy/folk horror series created by MarkGatiss, Reece Shearsmith, Steve Pemberton, and Jeremy Dyson. If you enjoy the bizarre and grotesqueside of British humour, look no further. (See also the Christmas Special (set between series 2&3), The League of Gentlemen’s Apocalyse (2005), and the most recent, and incredibly well-done, Anniversary Special (2017)). 

- Psychoville (2009BBC series) - British psychologicalhorror/black comedy sitcom, created by above-mentioned The League of Gentlemen’s Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton. Memorablecharacters include David and Maureen (a hilariously creepy mother and son duo),Mr. Jelly, a grumpy clown who never removes his face paint, and Jeremy thelibrarian, who is tormented by a mysterious nemesis, the Lynchian ‘Silent Singer’.

- Inside No. 9 (2014tv series) – Another excellent show by the evil geniuses that are ReeceShearsmith and Steve Pemberton, this is a series of stand-alone episodes that Ican only describe as ‘short stories on film’, each in sightly different genre. Someare comedic, some are psychological, some homages to famous things, some sad,some bizarre, some are downright terrifying (there is an episode entitled‘The Devil of Christmas’ that was probably the most disturbing thing I’ve seen in a longtime).

- Twin Peaks(1991 tv series), by Mark Frost and David Lynch – Don’t think I even need toexplain why this seminal and endlessly influential show makes the list!

- Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries (2012 tv series) – Not remotely scary, or even remotely ‘horror’, this is rather a delightful little romantic period drama about a lady detective in 1920s Melbourne, Australia. Cheesy as hell at times, but worth it for the absolutely delicious chemistry between the two leads.

- Stranger Things (2016 tv series) – The first season is iconic in its own right, and the second season did NOT disappoint. This show is just the right combo of creepiness and comforting nostalgia. Not to mention the wonderfully-written and endlessly endearing cast of characters. I love it so much.  

Currentlywatching:

- Bates Motel (2013tv series) – Started watching this over the summer, and it is extremelywell-made and most definitely creepy and unsettling in every possible way.  I was very impressed so far, but I had totemporarily stop watching because this past summer was a difficult timeemotionally, and I didn’t want to compound things by watching something sopotentially disturbing. I plan to resume it asap, though!

- Project Blue Book (2019 tv series) - [more detailed summary forthcoming] Creepy/mysterious period drama about UFO coverups in the 1950s.

On my ‘still towatch’ list (**updated 08/04/2019):

Kwaidan (1965)

The Love Witch (2016)

Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)

The City of the Dead (1960)

The Masque of the Red Death (1964)

Picnic at Hanging Rock 

Penda’s Fen

Robin Redbreast

Tam-Lin (1970)

The Borderlands (2013)

Kill List (2011)  - tried watching this one, but struggled to get through it, tbh

Mullholland Drive (2001)

Penny Dreadful (2014 tv series)

I realize that the majority of these are not ‘art house’ films by any definition, but I hope this list is nonetheless of some interest. If I’ve left out anything essential, it’s probably because it’s either slipped my mind, or I simply haven’t seen it yet. 

Thanks again for the ask – it’s reminded me of some excellent films I hadn’t thought about in a while. :) 

[jordandesta]

3 / 27 / 19 ━ your character’s mood for the day. 

01. pure water by mustard, migos. “give me the beat, i ride it like a jetski, so many bad bitches they harassin' me, they like me 'cause i rap and be with the athletes.”

02. fall threw by rich the kid, young thug, gunna. “pull off in that lambo quick, hundred racks and a tec in this bitch, quarter mil' on my necklaces, tell your bitch to stop texting me, i've been living so reckless.”

03. splashin by rich the kid. “i flip the money, got my check up, i'm flexing up, but i'm no wrestler, blue cheese pockets got the extras, i stack the money up like tetris, how I got two-fifty from my neck up? how I made it from the hood to a bent truck?”

04. pure cocaine by lil baby. “when your wrist like this, you don't check the forecast, every day it's gon' rain, made a brick through a brick, i ain't whip up shit, this pure cocaine, yeah.”

05. west coast by g eazy, blueface, allblack, yg. “you can't imagine the way that this cash feelin', don't know what's harder, the first or the last million, my last album took care of my grand children, you try to win, cracked you head on the glass ceiling.”

06. middle child by j. cole. “i just poured somethin' in my cup, i've been wantin' somethin' I can feel, promise I am never lettin' up, money in your palm don't make you real.”

07. legacy by off set, travis scott, 21 savage. “i can't hold nothing back, i won't hold you up, i can't fit all my pain in this styro' cup, always talk to myself 'cause it's only us, always deep in my mind, don't know who to trust.”

08. envy me by calboy. “i was fighting some demons, in the field, bitch, i'm deep in, i was raised in the deep end, i know ****** be sinking.”

3 / 28 / 19 ━ songs that remind your character of their children/child.

for jasmine isabelle desta;

01. violent crimes by kanye west. “father forgive me, i'm scared of the karma, 'cause now i see women as somethin' to nurture, not somethin' to conquer, i hope she like nicki, i'll make her a monster, not havin' menages, i'm just being silly.”

02. when i’m gone by eminem. “have you ever loved someone so much, you'd give an arm for not the expression, no, literally give an arm for, when they know they're your heart, and you know you are their armor, and you will destroy anyone who would try to harm her.”

03. may i have this dance by francis and the light, chance the rapper. “you've got your, your mother's eyes, you've got your, your grandmother's ring, you've got your daddy's discernment, giirl, you did your thing, oh, give me one more, one, two, one, two, always on beat.”

04. right by you by john legend. “and even when it all becomes too much, when you're growing old and feeling out of touch, listen to this song and just take care, and know that i will be there...yeah, i promise i will, little girl, i'm cryin'.”

for legend magesty desta;

05. i love you so much by dj khaled, chance the rapper. “whatever you want to do, i will support you forever, one thing i can promise you, i love you forever, you're my son, i love you so much, i love you, son, you're my biggest blessing, mommy, daddy, we love you, we love you forever, son, you're the greatest that ever did it.”

06. only one by kanye west.  “hello my only one, remember who you are, you got the world 'cause you got love in your hands, and you're still my chosen one, so can you understand? one day you'll understand, so hear me out, i won't go, no goodbyes, just hello.”

07. new day by jay z. “sins of a father make yo' life ten times harder, i just wanna take ya to a barber, bondin' on charters, all the shit that i never did, teach ya good values, so you cherish it, took me twenty six years to find my path, my only job is cuttin' the time in half.”

08. mockingbird by eminem. “i know sometimes things may not always make sense to you right now, but hey, what daddy always tell you? straighten up little soldier, stiffen up that upper lip, what you crying about? you got me.”

3 / 29 / 19 ━ a playlist for your lover or ex lover.

01. worth it by yk osiris. “time is precious, baby girl, let's not let it go by, i just really wanna know, do you love me? don't lie, i know you felt alone, 'cause i been on the road, but i been doin' shows, i swear i ain't doin' you wrong”

02. swervin’ by a boogie wit da hoodie, 6ix9ine. “how you look so perfect on your worst days? double c your purses, you deserve it, ****** in your dm, they be thirsty, and in person, but you're curvin’, curvy little body, love your surface, i’m all on your body, make you nervous”

03. caramel by lloyd. “caramel, drippin' in my bed, yeah you know, what's going through my head, i'm thinking 'bout, getting with you tonight, i'm thinking 'bout, wifing you up for life”

04. kevin’s heart by j. cole. “she my number one, i don't need nothing on the side, said that i was done for good and don't want no more lies, but my phone be blowing up, temptations on my line, i stare at the screen a while before i press decline”

05. more/diamond ring by benny blanco, ty dolla $ign, 6lack. “you know your future brighter than a diamond ring, god damn, i put you on different things, god damn, you gon' make me break the bank, god damn...you're all I ever need, god damn, you mean so much to me”

06. ivy by frank ocean. “in the halls of your hotel, arm around my shoulder so i could tell, how much i meant to meant it sincere back then, we had time to kill back then, you ain't a kid no more, we'll never be those kids again”

07. mrs. variety by leon thoma, tayla parx. “mrs. variety, feels like i'm dating someone different every single week, it's like you know just how to play to every part of me, it's like you know just how to cater to my every need, mrs. variety”

08. cinderella by mac miller, ty dolla $ign. “you in my dreams that's why i sleep all the time, just to hear you say i love you, just to touch you, just to leave you behind, i told you, you don't have to worry, you'll be fine, this the type of thing i heard it happen all the time, yeah, I just wanna see you fly, because your fragrance got me faded, you be keepin' me high”

3 / 30 / 19 ━  songs that hit your character in the feels

01. power trip by j. cole, miguel. “got me up all night, all i'm singing is love songs, she got me up all night, constant drinking and love songs, she got me up all night, down and out with these love songs, she got me up all night, drown it out with these love songs, she got me up all night.”

02. practice by drake. “i can tell that money's got you working, got your body so wet, now we're finally here in person, i taste pain and regret, in your sweat, you've been waiting for me, i can tell that you been practicing.”

03. angel by the weeknd. “cause all I see are wings, i can see your wings, but i know what i am and the life i live, yeah, the life i live, and even though i sin, maybe we are born to live, but i know time will tell if we're meant for this, yeah, if we're meant for this.”

04. don’t by bryson tiller. “get in the ride, left hand is steering the other is gripping your thigh light up a spliff and get high, shawty you deserve what you been missing, looking at you i’m thinking he must be tripping, play this song for him tell him just listen.”

05. best mistake by layla russo, big sean. “hold up, i know love could be a beach with no shore, i done count to ten, lost my temper, and went back to four, i know sometimes it's hard to realize i'm the man that you need, i had a dream we branched out started a family tree.”

06. own it by drake. “next time we fuck, i don't want to fuck, i want to make love, next time we talk, i don't want to just talk, i want to trust, next time I stand tall I want to be standing for you.”

07. thinkin bout you by frank ocean. “yes, of course i remember, how could I forget? how you feel? and though you were my first time, a new feel, it won't ever get old, not in my soul, not in my spirit, keep it alive.”

08. come and see me by partynextdoor, drake. “i'll admit i'm sorry when i feel i'm truly sorry, things change, people change, feelings change too, never thought the circumstances woulda changed you.”

3 / 31 / 19 ━  a playlist for your character’s best friend. ( squad )

01. ni**as in paris by jay z, kanye west.

02. look at me now by chris brown, lil wayne, busta rhymes. 

03. rack city by tyga. 

04. swimming pools (drank) by kendrick lamar. 

05. gold digger by kanye west, jamie foxx. 

06. v.3005 by childish gambino.

07. the motto by drake, lil wayne.

08. bedrock by young money, lloyd.

4 / 01 / 19 ━ road trip playlist

01. hey jude by the beatles.

02. mr. jones by counting crows.

03. wonderwall by oasis.

04. hurricane by bob dylan.

05. mr. brightside by the killers. 

06. scar tissue by the red hot chili peppers.

07. all star by smashmouth.

08. stacy’s mom by fountains of wayne.

4 / 02 / 19 ━ three songs that make your character cry… every. single. time.

01. acid rain by chance the rapper. “my big homie died young; just turned older than him, i seen it happen, i seen it happen, i see it always, he still be screaming, i see his demons in empty hallways, i trip to make the fall shorter.”

02. perkys calling by future. “Iineed better thoughts, i need better vibes, focus on the top and let my ***** slide, i need more advice and ain't got no time, hustlin' do it right, feel like i waited a life time.”

03. u by kendrick lamar. “you shoulda filled that black revolver blast a long time ago, and if those mirrors could talk it would say "you gotta go", and if i told your secrets, the world'll know money can't stop a suicidal weakness.”

4 / 03 / 19 ━ free day, we just wanna see you be creative. ( throwbacks )

01. ambitonz az a ridah by 2pac. 

02. gin and juice by snoop dog, daz dillinger  

03. all falls down by kanye west, syleena johnston.

04. mrs. officer by lil wayne, bobby v, kidd kidd.

05. i’m n luv (wit a stripper) by t-pain, mike jones.

06. ms. jackson by outkast.

07. smack that by akon, eminem.

08. laffy taffy by d4l.

[mermaidinstereo]

LIST: 10 of My Favorite Dark Music Videos

What you probably couldn't tell from my ongoing Christina Aguilera project is that I love dark shit. No, you probably won't find me at the local goth club nights (in suburban Florida, we don't have those), or crying to Sisters of Mercy, or blowing an entire week's paycheck at M.A.C. just for eyeliner (because ya girl is broke). Still, I enjoy a good vampire flick (and a lot of bad ones), prefer to rock a good dark lip, and one time blew $50 at Hot Topic on a coat that makes me feel like a tragic Edgar Allan Poe heroine. I guess you could say I'm barely a low-budget goth, but that's okay. That's just my vibe, I guess.

So today, I thought I'd count down 10 of my favorite music videos, that are all at once super totally goth and not at all. In no particular order, of course. (Because of Tumblr’s rules, I can’t embed more than five videos at once. So I’ll link to the bottom five, and embed the top five.)

10. "Mine" - Kim Jae Joong If the former TVXQ member was looking to make a name for himself, other than being just a K-pop prettyboy, well, he did it right. He was already a bankable actor, racking up views on both the big and small screens. And even after departing from TVXQ, with fellow ex-members Park Yoochun and Kim Junsu, formed the group JYJ, also successful in their own right. However, Jaejoong was not content with staying the course of K-pop typicality. In response, Jaejoong tapped into his inner rocker, unleashing "Mine," off his first solo mini album I. In this video, he runs through dark forests, plays with snakes, and struggles to break free from a wall, before appearing at the end of the video as a vampire that looks straight out of a J-rock band. One can only argue that this is Jaejoong's final form. Or is it?

9. "Hyde" - VIXX While VIXX started playing with darkness in "On and On," it was "Hyde" where they really hit their stride. Telling the story of a man struggling with a Jekyll-and-Hyde-esque duality in a relationship, images of the band's six members are juxtaposed--wearing white as cute, loving, boyfriend material, and black as horrifying, nightmarish, even abusive monsters. I gotta give an award to Leo for looking a little too into it when he strangles his lovely lady, shortly before black angel wings burst from his back. Dude is scary. And so is the setting of this video! It appears to be a vaguely decrepit mansion crawling with macabre decor...and some classic creepy crawlies. It's no wonder VIXX are pegged for K-pop's go-to goths. (For more creepy craziness from VIXX, there are a lot of videos to choose from, but perhaps nothing is more terrifying than “Voodoo Doll,” a video so gory it was banned from TV! Don’t worry, though--there is a clean version.)

8. "Election Day" - Arcadia When Duran Duran temporarily split in 1985, they birthed two side projects. On one side, the pop-friendly Power Station, led by powerhouse vocalist Robert Palmer, along with drummer Tony Thompson of Chic, and Duran's own John and Andy Taylor. Then there was Arcadia, the artsier goth-influenced group, comprised of Nick Rhodes, Simon Le Bon, and for a short period, Roger Taylor. In this video, Le Bon just looks like he got a nice dark dye job, but it's Nick Rhodes who got the full goth makeover, because of course Nick Rhodes did. I'm not exactly sure what's even happening in this video--leave that to anything Simon Le Bon did in the 80s--but the image of Nick Rhodes dancing around with a candelabra is pretty goth, if I do say so myself. Also, it's just a damn good song. And album.

7. "Married to the Music" - SHINee As K-pop acts go, SHINee have not always been the group that goes with the flow. Instead of ripping off T-shirts in music videos, they play with unusual concepts, sometimes freaky ones. Among those was 2015's "Married to the Music." While not exactly elegant, "Married" boasted a quirky, camp-horror concept, inspired equally by Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Michael Jackson's "Thriller." In the video, the five members visit a wacky house party in which, throughout the night, they find themselves having various body parts removed in bizarre methods. Key gets his head hacked off while spinning on a giant roulette wheel. Taemin's eyes pop out when he gets smacked in the back of the head by a baseball bat. A phantom hand in the sink rips off Onew's nose. Jonghyun's mouth comes off after some kind of kiss of death. Then, Minho's entire body is sacrificed in a birthday cake incident gone wrong. All this culminates at the end, where our mystery woman uses the discarded parts to build the perfect FrankenSHINee. Like Mary Shelley, but with more BB cream and an Off the Wall beat.

6. "Beast and the Harlot" - Avenged Sevenfold Unlike SHINee, A7X have always toyed with the darkness, but in a similar manner, do it their own way. This cut from 2005's City of Evil is actually a track describing the fall of Babylon, in incredible detail. The video, however, tells of a Faustian tale, through a lens of rock 'n roll excess. A visually striking video, and I'm not just talking about Zacky Vengeance's eyeshadow. Careful what y'all are getting into when signing contracts, guys.

5. "Call Me When You're Sober" - Evanescence I could list nearly any Evanescence video, really. In fact, I kind of owe a lot to Evanescence, since they kind of helped me discover my artistic identity a bit. That said, I picked this cut from 2006's The Open Door. In it, Amy plays Red Riding Hood, on a pretty bad date with the Big Bad Wolf, played by dashing British actor Oliver Goodwill. He cuddles up to the plaid-clad Amy, who is clearly uncomfortable with his advances. Somewhere there is an awesome scene with Amy surrounded by black-clad dancers as they float above the ground, and this is honestly the coolest thing I've seen in an Evanescence video (though, truthfully, "Good Enough" was pretty cool, too). But nothing tops Amy walking toward her douchey wolf--across the table, as dining utensils go flying off the table. Very Once Upon a Time. Regina would be proud.

4. "Out of My Mind" - Duran Duran

This is an obscure cut from their 1997 album Medazzaland, a period in which the beloved New Romantics got suuuuuper experimental. It's hard to find this video in HD on YouTube, so you kinda take what you get. The then-trio of Rhodes/Le Bon/Warren Cuccurullo traipse around a creepy house, are sometimes ghosts haunting a library, or sometimes--in the case of Rhodes--are Rococo gothic drag queens. Also, Simon rocks a choker at some point. Totes 90s. Also, the setting and cinematography recall Marilyn Manson's "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)." Hey, wasn't that by an 80s band, too?

3. "Frozen" - Madonna

I was maybe around seven or eight when Ray of Light was released. Maybe. But I vividly remember seeing this video on VH1 when my mom left it on. I was freaked out by it at the time, but of course, I was a child, of course I would be. A solitary, black-clad Madge dances around a barren wasteland, cuddling nothing but her flowing gown as ravens surround her. I think she was playing with Indian motifs at the time, considering her hand gestures and tattoos (also, Ray of Light boasted "Shanti/Ashtangi," never forget). This was probably the beginning of the Kabbalah thing, too, but it wasn't quite as big a story as it would become years later.

2. "Within Me" - Lacuna Coil

I'd be betraying myself if I didn't include a Lacuna Coil video in all this, another group that, with Evanescence, led me down an aesthetically dark path. A mellower cut from 2006's Karmacode has vocalists Andrea Ferro and Cristina Scabbia at odds, with Andrea sitting lonely in some kind of elaborate chair or throne, as Cristina crawls the desert, producing these creepy black tendrils for some reason. It's just a pretty video and song.

1. "Sayonara Hitori" - Taemin

For his first Japanese solo single, SHINee's Taemin pulled out all the stops. None of the cutesy image that was cultivated during SHINee's early period, instead, Taemin fully embraced his darkness, portraying several different characters. The first looks like he walked out of Inuyasha, dancing around a piano (no, I don't know why either) as blue flowers grow around him. The next scene finds him clad in the edgiest black garb possible as samurai spar behind him. Perhaps the most goth thing, however, is Taemin laying in a black coffin as very fabulous mourners lay blue flowers down. Not bad for a kid who somehow loses nearly everything he touches. Gotta keep it relatable. Of course, I subscribe to the belief that Taemin couldn’t have gothed it up without Jaejoong paving the way. 

Now, a few honorable mentions. Okay, a lot of honorable mentions:

Stone Temple Pilots, "Sour Girl"

Sunmi, "Full Moon"

4Minute, "Volume Up"

XIA, "Tarantallegra"

Rihanna, "Disturbia"

Taeyang, "I'll Be There"

Depeche Mode, "Walk in My Shoes"

30 Seconds to Mars, "The Kill"

Christina Aguilera, "Fighter" (I wanted to save this for the Xtina project, whenever I manage to get to this video)

Keane, "Disconnected"

FT Island, “Pray”

INFINITE, “Bad”

2NE1, “It Hurts (Slow)”

[paoulkaye-blog]

Get Your Musical On

                 So it’s possible, although I cannot be bothered to check, that I’ve mentioned that I like musicals. In fact, I know I’ve gone on about La La Land before, so I’m almost certain the subject has come up. So there you have it. I like Musicals.

                What’s that? Which ones were my favorite? What would I recommend to you?

                Well, since you never asked…

                Pirates of Penzance: This was and still is my jam. A group of pirates must say goodbye to their apprentice, signed up with them through some truly terrible hearing, and the apprentice swears himself to the goal of their destruction, but must deal with a niggling contract detail about the day of his birth. There are singing pirates, singing maidens, singing police men, and a singing model of a Major General. The best part of this musical, to me, is that everyone is terrible at their jobs: The Pirates are merciful to orphans and gullible enough to believe everyone is an orphan, the maidens are a little mean, very dumb, and basically set dressing aside from their sister Mabel, the policemen are a cowardly, cringing lot, and the Major General knows next to nothing about actually being a General. The bombastic climactic song ‘With Cat-Like Tread’ is the loudest song you could possibly have about sneaking in quietly to commit a crime with no one noticing, and of course there is the incredible patter song to end all patter songs, ‘The Very Model of a Modern Major General.’ It is silly and satirical for the time on a level the modern musical hasn’t even tried to touch, because Penzance did it first, and did it best.

                The Producers: The musical take on The Producers with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick remains my favorite take on the Mel Brooks classic. When down-on-his-luck producer Max Bialystock hears a financial theory from public accountant Leopold Bloom that a man of less than honest nature could make millions by producing a flop rather than a hit show on Broadway, the two go into business together to do just that by putting together all of the wrong elements for a show called ‘Springtime for Hitler.’ Nathan Lane’s portrayal of Max Bialystock is just perfect, and Broderick’s somewhat wooden acting is actually well within character here. Moreover, the supporting cast is a shining example of colorful characters and the music they all get up to is well-constructed and hilarious. You have to look for the cut content on the DVD to see Max’s original intro song ‘The King of Old Broadway,’ but it’s truly worth it, and the actual presentation of Springtime for Hitler is an actual show-stopper.

                Hairspray: John Travolta in a fat suit, married to Christopher Walken. I didn’t see this one in theaters, but that sentence alone lodged it in my brain and insured that one day, yes, I would sit down and watch the hell out of it. A young girl with a heavy frame makes the effort to become a dancer on a local television show during the darkest period of the civil rights and integration movements, and local conventions are broken open not just by her but by the show’s annual contest when whites and blacks end up dancing at the same time to rave reviews. With the social commentary as a backdrop, this musical is a bit more pointed in its message than most, very much saying that equality regardless of race, shape, or gender is coming, and there is nothing you can do about it. It’s a good message, because it’s about acceptance, not imposition, and it has the trappings of a great musical around it to drive it home. Among my favorite songs are ‘Lady’s Choice’, where Zac Effron (yeah, that guy) sings a song that would have been considered almost sexually flirtatious at the time, and the finale where everyone gets a turn to express how they feel about the world moving forward.

                Into The Woods: Sondheim, has there ever been another one like you? This mishmash of fairy tales takes you through Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and Jack and the Beanstalk, and then right out the other side with the ‘truth’ about their Happily Ever After. Disney remade this one recently, and it was a good remake with James Cordon and Anna Kendrick, but if you can find the original stage production on DVD with Bernadette Peters. Meryl Streep is fine, but Bernadette Peters as the witch is simply the best thing ever. This is also a rare example in that both versions are good for their own reasons: Chris Pine as a prince in Disney’s version is awesome, especially during the Princely duet of ‘Agony,’ while the entire play takes one a whole other feel in the original with a character cut from Disney’s version; the Narrator. There’s a delightful moment when the characters gang up on the Narrator in the original that made for an excellent allegory for not only making your own bed, but having to lie in it, and that juicy little extra layer of depth made the stage show a superior production to me in the end. The beginning of the story on both counts is a winding, rambling ensemble piece fittingly titled ‘Into The Woods,’ and is Sondheim at his best.

                1776: Any chance I get to watch Benjamin Franklin bask in his own glory is a welcomed one. This one follows the tumultuous formation of the Declaration of Independence amid the backdrop of the Revolutionary War and quite a lot of congressmen in powdered wigs wondering if treason to the British Crown is worth standing up like men. John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson are the stars here, although the entirety of the Continental Congress circa 1776 gets namedropped. The music is great and catchy, with one of my favorites being Adams railing against the defeatist attitudes of his allies in the dark of the night during ‘Is Anybody There?’, or the joyful trolling of Jefferson as the members of the Declaration Committee decide who will write the damn thing. Most striking in this musical, however, isn’t actually one of the songs, but the long debate held early in the show between John Adams and John Dickenson. While Adams argues the virtue of Independence and displays his anger over Britain’s treatment of the colonies, Dickenson is the mouthpiece of the opposition, who argues for England and the glories of the British Empire of the time period. They both love America, but it isn’t clear who is ‘correct’ in that moment, even though we know that Adams will eventually win out. There is no joyous resolution to the plot, however; the Declaration is signed as a bell tolls, and every man there knows that if the war is lost, they will all hang. It’s a powerful look at the reality of the time period, backed by some great music.

                Beethoven’s Last Night: My final recommendation is probably the one you haven’t heard of, but you’re familiar with the artists. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra constructed this rock opera and stage show around the life of Ludwig Van Beethoven, specifically around the last night of his life as the deaf composer is plagued by visions and voices from the world beyond. Mephistopheles comes, claiming dominion of Beethoven’s soul unless the composer allows the devil to erase his life’s work, and Beethoven must walk the path of his life again to find where he went astray. Since it’s TSO, you know the music and the singing is going to be top notch, and it’s refreshing to hear them play something without a Christmas vibe to it. Unfortunately, I’ve never seen the entire stage show, but the music with liner notes is available in album format, and you can get a good idea of the story from that. TSO’s take on ‘Flight of the Bumblebee’ is sufficiently rocking for those of you who might be into that, but Beethoven’s ‘Here in the Night’ and ‘Who You Are’ are perhaps the best individual songs. The final song, where Beethoven weighs the worth of his 10th symphony against the life of a nameless child, has made me cry before, and is one of the most beautiful pieces of music TSO has ever produced. If you’re at all familiar with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, you know that is certainly saying something.

                I’m not an expert music critic by any means, and honestly I could go one and on about any one of these productions at length, but I hope this gives you a nice set of pieces to start with if you’re looking to have that musical itch scratched and you’re already seen Rent, Moulin Rouge, and Beauty and the Beast a dozen times. Thanks for reading.