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writingcold · 6 months

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Hello! Welcome to Chapter 7.1 and 7.2 of CD&FE.

Pairing: Jake X Female Reader

Summary: This is an AU that starts with the release of GVF’s first EP, Black Smoke Rising, and follows along life paths over the course of twenty plus years. I’m just going to say I’m smiling.

Content warnings: Total Fluff. Like Josh’s hair at Red Rocks.

Word Count: approx. 6.2K

We’re almost there. I’m picturing @edgingthedarkness and @takenbythemadness rubbing their hands over the pending last part of this chapter. It’s… I can hear them cackling over it still. But that’s next week. We’ll just swoon together this week, okay?

CD&FE, Part 7.1: Jake’s POV

We needed to slow down a bit. Our families were feeling the effects of us always on the road. Danny was a single dad and Sam was struggling to keep his own marriage together. When things got super serious about priorities, it was decided that it would not kill us to pump the brakes. We would tour heavily the first year out after an album, but then taper off, picking festivals and one offs that were more friendly to the family schedules. This had a ripple effect for all of us - Danny had more time to spend in his folk sphere and play as a session musician for many of his friends. Sam was really making strides in his production interests, going so far as starting his own company that kept him busy enough to settle his bouncy nature. Josh had found a niche that satisfied his time with a camera.

That left me. I had a litany of projects with other bands and musicians, which was great. But what was keeping me busy in all that newly found downtime was creating tech for rigs. I had three different editions with a large guitar company issued, along with pedals, and even a few unique electronic pieces that I held patents to.

I had found a balance between my commitments with the band, with my commitments to tinkering with the tech side, and being able to fucking live. I was able to pursue interests apart from music. I traveled - mostly alone. It was strange, but I found solace in silent spaces. It was more than enough to keep myself sane.

I had a string of relationships that served their purposes at their given time, but nothing stuck for longer than a few months. I was happy. No matter what, I was happy. I felt healthier than I had felt in years. I got to spend an abundant amount of time with Dad and his bands. It had become more important since the old man was beginning to actually feel his age. We’d spend days going from tiny bar to tiny amphitheater to take in acts that we would debate over and appreciate together.

We were returning to the states after touring Europe in support of our eighth album release, ready to strike out across the States and Canada. I knew at some point I needed to look at the pending schedule, but we had a few weeks off. I found myself at my cabin close to Yankee Springs. Childhood nostalgia aside, it was the best retreat that I could find after the first part of the tour. The Spring air was crisp and the scrap of snow that still haunted the ground made sure that I was mostly alone in the area. By the end of the first week, I was actually sleeping like a normal fucking human, and behaving like one, too.

I finally was able to wrap my head around getting back into work and after bantering back and forth with Sam about meetings with management, I looked at the pending schedule. St. Paul was towards the beginning of the Midwest stretch. I closed that shit down and walked out onto the porch with a fresh cup of coffee and my pack of smokes to settle into my old man rocking chair to watch the day go by. I felt calm as the day whittled away. My thoughts bent back to Ann Arbor and that girl that had caught me absolutely despising myself for resorting to flirting to get people to see our show. She had captured my imagination the moment I saw the Deep Purple album between her fingers. She had my spirit the moment she walked out of my hotel room door without a goodbye.

Every time my path crossed hers, I fell harder for her. Each time we parted, the longer it took to recover. She took parts of my heart every chance she got, while leaving me with parts of her own in hopes of returning to reclaim. We had been through St. Paul a few times, but I actively avoided any contact. I supposed that was fear on my part. I had been with Clara. I was not that guy. The last time through, however, I was alone, but I was healing. I didn’t have the balls to check her socials. I didn’t have the fortitude to see if she was still with him. I just hoped that she was happy.

I was not on the rotation for the big meetings with the suits this time around - Sam and Josh had drawn the short straws, they would whine about it and I just quietly flipped them off. It gave me a few more days up north. Danny brought his boys and we spent time down at the lake and running through the woods. It felt good. It felt like I was strong. Ronnie and her family joined us, rounding out our nights with laughter and kids playing. It was hard not to feel the mind tug back to easier times.

Tour started in Nashville and moved east, then across the south, heading west until we landed in San Francisco. We turned north and worked our way back east with the intent of finishing in Detroit. Despite small hiccups and a few of us being dogged by respiratory illnesses, we were cruising right along at a good clip. We had built in family time every few weeks, taking a break to soak up kids and spouses/partners just for the sanity of Josh and Sam. It was working well. We had one such break between Rapid City and St. Paul. Because of school, Danny found himself stuck hanging out with me as we waited for Josh and Sam to have their time. We decided to push on to the Twin Cities, taking in the river and hanging out.

Wednesday I found myself itching to find her. A voice in the back of my head was whispering, but I wasn’t paying much attention until it was nearly four in the morning. I decided to check to see if she was even bothering with socials any more. I was pleasantly surprised to find that she had posted three months prior - a picture of her with a group of friends. She looked different. Beautiful as ever, but there was something missing. A shine? I noticed that her smile was not as warm, her eyes were not as bright. I felt a hurt pass over my chest as I scrolled back through, finding no evidence of him. Was she alone? I didn’t dare to text the old number I had still residing in my contact list, but I had pulled it up and stared at the picture of the cottage that I had as the profile picture.

I convinced Danny to go to that pub she had taken me to. I somehow remembered that there was live music on Thursday nights. ‘Perhaps’ was the word that I was thinking about throughout the day. I had no actual guarantee that she was even still in St. Paul. I had just this tiny hope that she would somehow know that I was in town. I knew her company was once again handling the graphics and ads for the show. I also knew that her company was handling not just the show in Minnesota, but in Des Moines, all three shows in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Detroit. Though it was someone else’s name attached to the team, I hoped that she had seen us on the roster, just as in times before.

The pub had changed little from the one time I had been there, however, by the time we arrived, it was much more crowded. I won’t lie and say that I didn’t spend my first twenty minutes looking around to see if she was there, because I did. Danny was in conversation already with the bartender about the band that was in the middle of setting up on the small stage. My eyes wandered around, landing on the booth that we had shared. Everything with Y/n had been natural. Never rushed. Quick to laughter. Always savoring every moment we had together. It was like we knew our time was always fleeting and we just needed to absorb whatever we could. Problem was - my being wanted it like a drug. Wanted her more than anything to just stay.

We settled into dinner and a fresh round of beers as the band began to play - mostly covers of well trod tunes. And they were good. I sometimes missed the days of finding joy in just playing to play. There was something to be said to get to hone an entire show, crafting how each piece was played over the course of a tour, but something else entirely to just being in the moment and the honesty in something so small. Three songs into the set, however, I heard a familiar muted sound. My brain ran through the guitarist’s rig like one of those fucking TV moments where the character figures out brain surgery or something. I glanced at Danny before I made my move towards the stage.

I pointed to the pedal and amp while catching the guitarist’s eye. He looked at me like I was about to touch his grail or something. I shrugged and started to turn when the most god awful shriek came across the speakers. He had such a look of panic that I had to help at that point. I grabbed the single pedal, disconnecting and tearing off the back. It was totally fried inside.

“Fuck no,” he gasped as he knelt down.

“Keep playing,” I remarked as I shoved my fingers around the hot wires.

It was a fairly easy fix, but I needed more cabling. I tucked behind the amps, finding what I needed and restrung the whole bit. By the time I returned to the pedal, six phones were out and up with faces that were beaming behind them. I smiled and waved, knowing full well my anonymity was blown. Oh fucking well.

“You’ve done this before,” the guitarist said as I finished hooking him back up.

“Yeah, Coachella was interesting. Another time in Mexico City. Nearly blew up somewhere in Italy once… Imagine doing this with a few thousand eyes on you,” I snickered as I took my bow and backed away.

I was polite and stood for a few fan pictures before making my way back to my nearly cold dinner. Danny grinned as I reached for my beer.

“Show off,” he snarked, leaning his back against the bar top.

“Poor kid didn’t know he was about to literally go up in flames,” I said before shoving a french fry in between my teeth.

Their song wrapped and the singer pointed us out with a big “thank you to Jake fuckin’ Kiszka for your amazing assist”, to which all I could to do is fight an eyeroll and cheer them with a lift of my beer. By the time I pushed away my plate and finished our drinks, we were ready. I got the band’s credentials from the pub manager. I wanted to be sure to send that kid a proper pedal and perhaps some gear, just to help them out, even if he never made it out of the bar scene. There was no hope of seeing her in the wild, so what was the point of hanging out? By the time we reached the hotel, our social media manager was on our asses about the “occurrence”. She scolded us for not taking video ourselves as that’s the shit that gets eaten up. We should just be thankful that there were a few steadfast fans that were being super positive on the feeds. Sometimes, this business takes all the fun from the part that really only held what was important to me.

We were playing Target Stadium come Saturday. Friday, we welcomed Josh and Sam back in and we spent the evening just going over the set list and catching up on the family. Mom and Dad would be there for each show from here through Detroit. It was good to have them close. I went to bed alone, knowing that she was out there, close, but not nearly close enough.

Sound check went fine. It was not the biggest venue we had played, but it was large. It was something to have our sound pulsing through the air and striking the empty seats. I was retreating off the stage when I saw a familiar figure, one that I thought I would not be seeing. Her face was shadowed as she was talking to a few of the suits that were in attendance, but when her eyes met mine, there was a shine that I had desperately missed. The slow smile that tugged and pulled across her lips set me on an edge that I could only tumble down from. My feet turned towards her direction, and I was unable to even think about stopping from my path towards her.

“Deep Purple,” I said as I approached.

The warmth of her laugh healed the distance. She wrapped her arms around my shoulders as she stepped in close to me. I felt all of me melt against her and hold on for dear life. I breathed her in as I nuzzled into her neck. I could care less of how it looked. I felt her chest quiver against mine and knew she was moved just as much as I.

“I’ve been looking for my mouse,” I whispered and smiled when I heard her breath catch in her throat.

She moved just enough to allow her lips to meet mine in a chaste kiss. I could taste tears and wasn’t sure if they were hers or my own. We hid against each other until we could both recover. I was sure my heart was leaping within my chest when I saw her eyes filled with the spark that had been missing in the pictures I had just seen of her.

“I’ve missed this face,” she said quietly, tracing her fingers down my jaw.

I could not stop myself from taking all of her in - the fine laugh lines at the corners of her mouth and eyes. The way her cheek blushed when she realized I was studying her. How her hands would not leave my body for more than a second. Damn, she was the most beautiful she had ever been if I had to compare to all of our meetings. She had taken my breath away and all of my reason with it.

Josh called from behind me and I felt the moment get yanked away. There were a few items left on the day that I had committed to and could not be put off. I cursed as she frowned, which was only mirroring my reaction.

“I should’ve-” she started, withdrawing from me.

“Wait. I have these promotions, then…”

“I knew you were here, Jake. I should’ve reached out. You have no time for this.”

I cursed again as I looked back at my waiting twin and Mom, both wearing the same mischievous look. “I have another break in about three weeks. Will you be here?”

She touched my hair, passing her fingertips across the streaks of gray amongst brown that I had allowed to be seen. “I’ll be here. Same number. Just…”

It was the best I could hope for. By the time I hit the stage that night, it was like I was weightless. I’m sure my brothers were taken aback by my energy of the evening, but they could fuck off. Mom hugged me tight that night and asked if that was the girl I’d been waiting for - the girl that held me like I was her life.

“I’ve waited for her for so long. I hope I can prove it to her that it’s finally our time,” I said, as she held onto me.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so happy, honey,” she said, filling me once again with all of the emotions of earlier.

The joy that had infused me was only spiked further as my phone pinged a notification when we were loading up on the buses. It was from her. I waited until I was away from curious eyes to open it.

I’ve made some changes.

I had no idea what she meant, but I desperately needed to find out.

CD&FE, Part 7.2: Her POV

Four words had never felt so heavy, and yet so freeing at the same time.

I’ve made some changes.

Four words that I hoped were enough to convey that my path had been lost, found and re-paved since our last meeting. My life with Frank had been beautiful. My life with Frank as we tried to make the long distance between us work was not so beautiful. We tried. There was no leeway for him - he had to be in Paris. I had a little bit of give, working from his tiny little rooms that the university had provided, but my company was once again expanding. I needed to be present to woo new clients. I was needed to be present to ensure the quality of our work to our established clients who preferred to work with me in person. It became us trying to prop up tent poles for a tent so riddled with holes and flooding with water that neither of us could survive.

In the end, it felt bitter to be walking away after so much was put into the relationship. It took more than a while to recover. I fought from throwing myself back into work - which would have been the easiest thing to do. Bury myself in hours away from home; away from being alone. I sold the apartment that we had so fallen in love with. Everything was very civil in regards to dividing up the holdings. I was thankful for that. I found a little craftsman home from the early 1900s that was further out of the city on a scrap of land where I didn’t have neighbors two feet away from me. It was… nice. I continued to work from home three days a week. I somehow found a balance - one that I knew I had been lacking.

I took time to go home to my parents. I took time to spend with my siblings and their families. I took time to absorb Pat and Sidney’s family. I took time to mourn my time with Frank. Finally, I took time to really be well within myself. I took about six weeks off, first to move into the new space, then to just be a regular human. I did travel back to Duluth, but did not stay in the cottage that I had with Jake. I walked the trails that we had slipped and slid across together. I went to the mansion, but this time the gardens were in full bloom. I knew my spirit bled for him. I realized that there was no one else that I wanted. There was no one else that understood me like Jake did; despite our time together adding up to little more than thirteen days. DAYS.

At first, I did not want to believe that this deep seeded need was love for a man I knew in such an ephemeral manner. I had promised that man to latch onto someone who could love me where I was. And I did love Frank. I am convinced that I loved him deeply. However, there was always a dogged feeling that not all of my needs were being met - not the way that Jake fulfilled me. What was wrong with me that I couldn’t fully accept that fact.

I celebrated my forty-third birthday by doing nothing. I was by no means feeling old or sad about my age. Fuck that. I was feeling better than I had in years. I was strong and independent and … When I had seen that the GVF ticket had been passed along to my old position that was now occupied by Cody Youngblood, I knew perhaps I was ready. I had sheltered in place the last time they had blown through town. This time, however, I paid attention. I was upper, administrative management now, no need to sit in on the tasks that were once so important to me. But I did take notice and follow the progress through. I wondered if any of them realized that it was now my company that was handling them throughout the Midwest stretch. We had our tendrils reaching across the states and even into Toronto.

I had checked the schedule of shows, knowing that this account was huge compared to even a few years prior. Live acts had changed considerably with the advent of having streamed shows across multiple venues. GVF were part of a dying breed that some speculated would be relegated back to playing on street corners and honky tonk bars. But the band was persevering - along with many others that were proving that live music - not streamed performances - were still best practice. I was stuck in Des Moines with a project that had simply imploded when I knew there was a break before playing the area in Minneapolis. The client was pissed off that we had followed their wishes to a ‘t’ and it fell apart just as the project manager had predicted. I soothed the ruffled feathers and salvaged what I could before trudging home, afraid that I was going to be too late.

While on the plane, Pat sent me a link with a question if that was ‘my’ guitar player. A friend of his had been at the pub that night and had video showing Jake helping a band out. I stared into my screen. What didn’t seem real was followed by all sorts of accounts that Jake had helped out a young guitarist during their set. There were pictures splashed all over. Each new picture came with a fresh fight to catch my breath. I had to get home. I needed to make my way to him.

I was a ball of anxiety as I dressed and prepared to get into the sound check that was scheduled. Cody was to be there taking care of our company’s tasks, but I thought dropping in would look good on such a large, long-term account. At least that was my cover. I passed through security and surprised Cody as he was running through his final digital checks. It was an amazing set up. It was hard not to feel the energy in the air. We were deep in the guts of the stadium when the sound vibrated through my form. Jake’s playing was unmistakable. I smiled as we walked up through the layers of concrete until we were in the open air. A group of techs were standing to the side, making adjustments and honing in on the sound that was needed. We moved towards a group of management that we knew, and were going over the final touches as the check came to a close.

My chest was on the verge of rupture when the band started down the main stairs that would lead them right past us. I kept my attention where Jake would eventually appear, but I turned away as I heard commotion towards the back of the stage. My body felt hot and jumpy the longer I waited. He was here. He was so close. I wondered if he would be happy to see me. I panicked at the notion that he may just walk past me without acknowledgement. I had not contemplated that part. I just knew I needed to be here, at this time.

He had his head down as he descended the metal stairs. I smiled at the amount of silver that had invaded his hair. Clad in sunglasses, he looked soft in trousers, boots and a pull over. I was glad to see that the mustache and goatee were in place, but once again, speckled with gray in the best way possible. How was this man aging like this? He was even more handsome compared to his form from years before. He looked up and paused. I hoped that he saw me - that his slowing of tread was because of me. He took his sunglasses off and my breath stopped completely. He was walking towards me, eyes filled with recognition and warmth. I had no idea if it would be any kind of touch until he called me ‘Deep Purple’ and I had no choice but to fall into his embrace.

There’s a feeling that can overcome you when you pull on your favorite outfit, or snuggle down into the right blanket, or how the sunshine hits your face after you’ve been upset and you just know it’s all good. The moment he touched me was like all three moments in one. Every inch of me felt right. I felt elevated. I could feel his body shaking against mine, like he was totally filled with joy and anticipation. I felt like I whimpered as his mouth passed against the exposed skin of my neck. It was by no means anything other than him trying to get closer, but just the feel of his breath against my skin was enough to know he was right there with me - in the same mindset.

Damn. He called me ‘mouse’ and I lost it. All of the emotions struck like a tide. His lips met mine. My chest swelled with a pain of need and want and lust and most of all love. Love that was passionate and greedy. Love that was consuming. Love that was nurturing and unquestioning. Love that was his.

I heard his name being called. I knew I was in the final seconds of whatever this was. I did not want to let go. My spirit tried to reach out and cling to him as he had to continue to work. But the need for him to stay was shared between us. I could see it in him - he did not want to go. I touched his face, brushing away tears for both of us. They called for him again and a look flared in his features that I wasn’t sure if he was about to explode in rage or melt into me with need. I knew I was stammering to get words out. I always felt like his time was precious. Never more so than in that rush that was beginning to tug at him. I watched as he physically struggled against it.

Three weeks. He said three weeks. I’ve waited nearly twenty years, what was three more weeks?

Rarely do I ever take advantage of tickets for events that we get for free through work. However, that night, I was in a VIP box watching Jake strut around like a god. Those few around me noted that he seemed different - lighter. I did not move from my spot the entire time, watching him laugh and interact with his brothers and the crowd. I wondered if he knew I was there. I should have texted him, but I needed this for me. The last little scrap to tear away and accept that the man that the whole damn stadium was screaming for was mine.

Three weeks. I needed to focus on getting the rest of my shit in place. I was by no means quitting, but I was stepping up and through an opportunity that would allow much more flexibility and time away from the office. I purchased a ticket to get to the Detroit show. It was my whole focus. He texted every night, while I answered every morning. I wanted to drop everything and run to him. Strange how things had changed. I had spent so much time focused on the now - but I wanted that ‘now’ to be nothing but him.

“I’m happy for you,” Patrick admitted as I was carrying my bag out to set by the front door. “You’ve thought this through. This is what you want.”

“It’s what I want,” I replied as I rushed back to get my light trench coat from the back closet.

“It’s good to see you this happy, Y/n,” he said with a grin. “The girls are going to miss you fiercely.”

“I won’t be leaving forever. Just not around quite as much,” I said as I made sure my ticket was waiting in my phone. “And perhaps their favorite auntie will send them all sorts of shit from all over that will drive their daddy crazy.”

He shook his head with a naughty look. “You do and I’ll break each one before it gets into their hands. They’re still young enough that I can open and censor anything that you send.”

I laughed loudly. The incident of the harmonicas, kazoos, and slide whistles still gets talked about years after the actual occurrence. Or the slime-fest that Auntie Y/n promised and was met with unexpected consequences of it in the girls’ hair and staining outfits for days. The glitter shooters. The craft fairs that we would hold in Sidney’s living room were epic, but glue, beads and cutouts were not furniture friendly. And best of all, at the end of it, I could kiss them all and walk away from the annoyed parents and happy children.

“Regardless, they’re going to miss their Sunday time with you,” he said, his lips held tight.

“I’ll miss you too, Patty,” I said softly. “But I’m not going far, or for that long. We’ve got a lot to figure out yet.”

He was nodding, but I knew he was just hiding what he wanted to say. They were concerned for me. Hell. I was concerned. I never threw anything to the wind like this. Every step I made was measured and planned and had a direction that had an end goal in mind. This whole time. My goal for now however, was Jake. My direction was him. I said I was not one of those girls to drop everything for a man. That was true. I still wasn’t. But I was to a point in my career that I could dictate my role and my projects.

“I love you,” I said, coming to a stop in front of him. “I’ve loved you since second grade when you told me that I had a booger on my forehead. I love your family. I love your kids. Fuck if I miss much of that, right?”

“Love you too, punkin,” he whispered, tugging me close.

I was on the flight to Detroit when I saw that Jake texted a picture from the stage of Comerica Park. My heart flooded with his words: Tomorrow morning will be here in less than twelve hours. He was counting down. I had a car waiting for me at the airport that would take me to the hotel before dumping everything and running my ass off to get to the venue. I had a ticket for one of the boxes, but also told Cody to expect me backstage. He was a sweetheart about it, knowing that I was not going to be there to see him. That ruse had been blown. He just said that all my passes would be at the will-call window. True to his word, everything was there.

I got a beer and tucked into my spot - on Jake’s side, overlooking the stage. I could not hide the absolute joy that flooded my system as they hit the stage and the whole stadium exploded in sound. I had no idea how long the tears were standing in my eyes, or how they started to trail my makeup down my cheeks, but I was ruined by the midpoint of the show. Amidst blushed cheeks and racoon eyes, I ducked out of the box and could only hope that I was able to hide my mess until I got to the ladies room. I could hear Jake commanding another solo and it was like reverberating off my bones as I tried to pull myself together.

“Hey, honey, you all right over there?”

Fuck. I was totally caught being overstimulated and over emotionally wrought in the fucking bathroom. I was reaching for a wad of towels when the woman who was asking me my status came into view of the mirror. My insides froze. She froze as well before she quickly recovered. I had seen pictures of his mother that he had shown me during our time in Duluth. I had seen her at the exhibition for Clara, though from a far distance.

“Well, I’ll be,” she said, her tone shifting as she moved to get me more towels. “You’re Y/n if I’m not mistaken.”

I bit into my lip trying to stall just long enough to catch my breath. I had no voice to give her so I nodded.

“Jake said that he would be flying to St. Paul the moment he came off stage,” she replied with a small grin. “Guess he won’t have to now. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Karen.”

“Y/n,” I said, as I met her gaze through the mirror.

“So, I’ll ask again - you okay?”

I sucked in a hard breath. “Just having a moment. I don’t normally do things like this, but… Honestly. I didn’t want to wait.”

The smile that spread across her face was so like Jake’s in those quiet, over the top moments that he could barely hold himself together that it just caused all the emotions to rupture out of me all over again. She hushed and cooed as she rushed to help once more. I tried to warble out a thanks, but it just made things worse. It started with a chuckle, then a laugh and landed in a sob that was not my own. Karen had her own tears in her eyes as she wiped at her face.

“You really do love my boy, don’t you,” she sighed, as if just giving herself over to her own emotions.

All I could do was nod my head and we both just blurted out in a shared moment of joy. She was waving her hands wildly as she was trying to reign herself in. A ray of light shot across her features as she froze.

“I have an idea!” she announced. “I’m not sure how you were planning on reaching him, but I think we need to really do this right. Wait… How were you going to surprise him?”

“I have backstage access. I was thinking about trying to meet him after-”

A twinkle crossed her gaze. “You’re with me.”

She wrapped her hand around my wrist and pulled me out of the restroom and down the walkway. We rushed past the box that I was in and moved instead into one just beyond the barrier that read ‘No One Beyond This Point’. She pushed open the door to reveal a near identical box that I was in, but this one was furnished with a sidebar filled with iced drinks and snacks. There were about twenty people in the room, all were just visiting and watching every now and then. This was the family. I felt way out of place as Karen waved me towards the glass.

“Hon,” she called out as we approached three men that were tucked at the fore. “Hon…”

The moment the man turned to look at his wife, I knew it was Jake’s father. The way he leaned into her and listened and reached for her… Fuck. It was all Jake. The shy little smile. The secret language that he was able to share with his wife was all on display. His eyes turned to me and he was instantly on his feet.

“Wow, fancy meeting you here,” he opened with a wide smile.

“We have to surprise Jake. You in?” Karen beamed as she wrapped her arm around her man.

“Jake doesn’t like surprises,” Kelly remarked, brows furrowed.

“He’ll like this one,” Karen stated with finality.

I couldn’t help the spike of nervousness that invaded as my eyes turned towards the glass. Jake was stomping across the front of the stage racing towards the encore. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but how awful would it be if his parents were ready to spring right into whatever was ahead for the two of us. I listened to them banter about how Jake was so looking forward to seeing me - how he had gushed over how we seemed to be the proverbial ships passing in the night over and over. I looked down as the spotlight dimmed across him before he stepped forward again to be awash in brilliant light. The silver in his hair was a halo around him. My heart thudded in my chest at the sight. I was putting myself in his parents’ hands. How the hell did this happen?

We’re down to one last posting to wrap this lovely little story up. See you next week!

@lvnterninthenight @doodle417 @luverleaver @jakesgrapejuice @fictional-duchess @milkgemini @positivegvfthings @songbirds-sweet @gretavanbitches @gardensgatedaisy @babyhoneygvfarchive @myownparadise96 @josh-iamyour-mama @starcatcherc @loveisonaroll @jakesstarlight @reesetrippingthelight @builtby-gvf @ignite-my-fire @wetkleenex-gvf @gold-mines-melting @starsasone @mysticalstarcatcher @montenegroisr @takenbythemadness @way-to-go-lad @cal-a-bungaa @thewritingbeforesunrise @leftjudgeempathsuitcase @brokenbells11 @imborrowedshesblue @vanfleeter

#jake gvf #jake kiszka #greta van fleet #gvf #cd&fe #greta van fleet fan fiction #gvf fanfiction #jake kiszka smut #jake kiszka fan fiction #greta van fleet fanfic #greta van fleet AU #jake kiszka AU

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blackhiil · 5 months

Text

We Might Even Be Falling In Love

“And it feels like

I’m gonna know you for the rest of my life

It’s safe to say that we might even be falling in love.”

We Might Even Be Falling in Love (interlude) — Victoria Monet

also on ao3

part 1 of ?

Clarissa Dovey and Leonora Lesso are two names you see together often. Whether it’s playing a couple in movies such as Mrs and Mrs Smith and Long Shot or most recently, playing a couple in the hit tv show Scandal. Their characters Savannah Washington and Victoria Theron, dubbed Therington by fans, have decided to let all those feelings blossom into something more.

However, in even bigger news, the two actresses have revealed they’re dating and have been for the past 6 years. I sat down with them to hear all about how Dovesso and Therington came to be.

It’s a breezy fall afternoon when I knock on their door. I’m greeted by Clarissa Dovey wearing a yellow long sleeve with red detailing and a brown belt around her waist matching the brown skirt she was wearing. Her normally blonde hair was now black and pulled away from her face, which had a warm smile on it.

“Hi, come in, come in.” She greets opening the door wider for me and the crew I have with me. She leads us over to the living room and makes sure to greet every crew member individually with a smile, making sure to learn their names and jobs before asking if we want anything. We’ve all heard rumors about how sweet she can be to the crew members of the projects she works on, but to see it in action is surreal. There’s a noise from upstairs followed by a thud and giggling. “You’ll have to ignore all the chaos, Nora and the girls like to play around.” She shakes her head, but there’s an endearing smile on her face.

Footsteps cause everyone's heads to turn as a newly blonde Leonora Lesso comes down the stairs in a dark blue hoodie and a darker blue silk skirt. The most surprising part of her appearance is the children, one in her arms and another on her back. “Princess, please get Aggie, Sophie refuses to be put down.” I watch as Clarissa grabs the child off of Leonora’s back. “Come here, little one.” she says softly while grabbing her.

We all get settled in the living room and prepare to begin. “I bet you have so many more questions.” Leonora says mischievously and I nod, speechless.

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CD: So, do you want to start with our relationship, Scandal, or the children?” The bluntness of her question surprises me, however I quickly recover.

RM: Let's start with your relationship. You met on the set of Mrs and Mrs Smith, what was that like?

LL: There was an instant connection. We did a chemistry read that day and just clicked. She was wearing this yellow dress and I just instantly thought she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.

A blush covered Clarissa’s face before speaking.

CD: Nora stop. Anyway, I had gotten there early and when I saw her walk in, I was stunned. Not only by her beauty, but also by the fact that I felt so comfortable with her and we had just met.

╴╴╴╴╴⊹ꮺ˚ ╴╴╴╴╴⊹˚ ╴╴╴╴˚ೃ ╴

2010; The Meeting; undisclosed location

Clarissa Dovey sits on set at her chemistry read waiting for her potential co-star Leonora Lesso. She had heard of the woman, but never met her in person. Many people had good things to say about her, so Clarissa hopes her reputation precedes her. The blonde turned her attention back to the script in front of her with intrigue. The movie is a lesbian action-comedy movie where she and her co-star will play a married couple who are spies, but they don’t know that. Her character is Jasmine Smith, a ‘senior accountant manager’ at an accountant firm. She takes another sip of her tea while reading the script when the door opens.

Leonora Lesso, who prefers to be called Leo, walks onto set script and coffee in hand. She had read the script front to back and she was very interested in her character of Jane Smith, a ‘tech consultant’. She was badass and had a team of women working with her which made Leo love the character more. Clarissa Dovey was a name she had heard, but never got to really know, but Leo could work with anyone…within reason.

As she walked further into the room, she made eye contact with a blonde woman and physically stopped in her tracks. She’s gorgeous. Leo thought to herself. The yellow of her sundress complimented her skin beautifully and her blonde curls framed her face nicely. Leonora watched the blonde blush under her gaze and she realized she was staring at the other woman. She had heard many things about Clarissa Dovey, but no one had told her how beautiful she was.

Clarissa’s first thought about Leonora Lesso was that she was tall, she easily towers over herself with or without heels. Her next thought was that she was stunning. The black pants fit her perfectly and the white tank accentuated her arms which Clarissa definitely wasn't staring at and her red hair was such a gorgeous color.

“Hi.” Clarissa greeted, standing up and meeting the other woman halfway. “Hi.” Leo said back, before reaching out to shake her hand. The second their hands touched, the women felt a spark. Green met brown and it felt like the entire world disappeared. The women jumped apart when they heard a door open and the director walked in.

“You two have met, great.” Doug the director said, walking closer to them. “Now, I want you to stand on the X and do one of the scenes from Jane and Jasmine’s first meeting. Remember, let the scene guide you, but make it your own. Do whatever feels natural.Focus on each other.”

They put everything down except their scripts and sat in the chairs, standing in close proximity as they’re supposed to be close to one another.

INT. JANE’S BED – NIGHT

(Jasmine)

I can feel you heart racing

Clarissa places her hand on Leonora’s chest, looking deep into her eyes.

(Jane)

I don’t want it to slow down.

Leonora places her hand on top of Clarissa’s.

(Jasmine)

Stick with me, it’s not gonna

(Jane)

Promise?

Leonora reached her hand to cup Clarissa’s cheek, caressing it gently.

(Jasmine)

Cross my heart.

Clarissa smiles.

(Jasmine pulls Jane closer, the two leaning in before the screen cuts to the next one)

“Good, good.” Doug says, interrupting them. Once again, Clarissa and Leonora have to snap out of their own world. “I knew you two would be perfect for the role.” He says, smiling. “The natural chemistry you two have is perfect. I’ll email you your schedules and everything else. Have a nice day ladies!’ With that, he left the room, excited about how big this movie was going to be.

Clarissa and Leo were still reeling from the scene. Never had a scene felt so natural with another person nor an attraction so intense. It was unnerving to both of them to say the least. “Um,” Clarissa started, still feeling the effects of the intense scene. “Would you like to go out to lunch with me? Get to know each other better?” The blonde’s voice was shy. The redhead was stunned, but eager to get to know the other woman better. “Of course. Meet me outside in 5?” Leonora agreed. “Yeah, I’ll be out soon.” Clarissa said before turning away.

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“So,” Clarissa started, “if you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?” Leonora’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion at the unusual conversation starter, but decided to indulge the blonde. “Maybe Italy or Greece. What about you?” “Costa Rica or Aruba, somewhere tropical and sunny.” Clarissa replied.

“Why the weird question?” Leonora asked curiously. “Because, I hate the small talk and getting to know you questions. They’re so boring and unoriginal, I want to know the little things; what you hate, your second favorite color, your favorite movie you watched and that you’ve been in. I wanna know the real you.” Clarissa expressed with enthusiasm and Leonora thinks she might have just fell a little in love with the woman across from her.

“I never thought of that.” the redhead said, intrigued. “If you could completely get rid of one month out of the year, which would it be and why?” The blonde tapped her index finger against her chin while she was thinking of her answer and Leonora thought it was the cutest thing she’s ever seen. I’m fuckedddddd. she thought to herself.

“July or August because they both have 31 days and mess up the flow between the months with 31 days and the months without.” Leonora faked offense, “Well, you can’t get rid of August because my birthday is in August.” Clarissa rolled her eyes playfully, “I guess August can stay.” she said with a smirk.

The two of them sat in the corner of the restaurant completely enthralled with each other for hours just talking and laughing, as if they were old friends. It was truly the start of a beautiful friendship and maybe, something more.

╴╴╴╴╴⊹ꮺ˚ ╴╴╴╴╴⊹˚ ╴╴╴╴˚ೃ ╴╴

#dovesso #dovesso fame au #clarissa dovey #leonora lesso #lady lesso x professor dovey #lady lesso #professor dovey #school for good and evil #lesbian clarissa dovey #lesbian leonora lesso #lesbians #༺ z writes

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estellardreams · 4 months

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Black Arms Sonic AU [Info Post]

Okay, the story is in it's rough stages but here's what I got so far:

Black Doom discuises himself as a Mobian (Doleon) and ends up finding Sonic, who had recently met Tails after the bullies. But before Tails could follow him Sonic suddenly vanishes without a trace.

Doleon had taken an interest in the blue hedgehog, seeing that his power was similar to Project Shadow. And knowing that Gerald was conspiring against him, he needed to find a way to prevent the Black Comet from being destroyed, along with a way to match Shadow in sheer power.

And the blue hedgehog felt like the perfect key to his idea.

So he manages to get ahold of Sonic without anyone noticing, bringing him to the Black Comet. And unfortunately the paralysis gas keeps Sonic docile and unable to escape.

With his limited knowledge in human technology, Doom attempts to experiment on Sonic and try to use his own DNA on the kid. He kept trying to monitor his vitals so he wouldn't die on him and made sure he couldn't escape by scarring his legs.

Eventually, Doom made a breakthrough by establishing the hivemind's connection to him, and it was all up to some careful manipulation and gaslighting to bring Sonic to their side.

More DNA is brought in, and Sonic's coat darkens as red pigment fades in, the DNA molding itself in the form of claws and spikes at his quills, arms, hands, and feet. The information from the hivemind also let Doom scew Sonic's old memories back on Earth to make him forget who he's supposed to be.

And once the finalization is complete and he proves stable... Doom brings Sonic out and begins to train him in the way of the black arms. Sonic was molded into a super weapon for the alien race, rivaling the king's own son in sheer power.

It wasn't until the final test that proved just how capable he was.

The Black Arms initiated their invasion the moment Doom sensed Shadow being reawakened from stasis. He brought Sonic back to Earth and told him everything he needed to know about Shadow and how to bring him to his side.

Shadow's first encounter with Sonic... Was a reverse situation from the original SA2 encounter. Shadow himself was startled by Sonic, who seemed to find joy in taunting and playing with the ebony hedgehog and his broken memories. However, Shadow resisted and fled the scene before the cops caught up with him.

Shadow then met Amy, Tails, and Knuckles who were trying to both stop the Black Arms invasion and figure out what was going on (Knuckles was after the shard pieces, along with Rouge). Amy was very quick to remind Shadow of his actual memories and he decided to align himself with their cause, bringing Rouge and Eggman to their side as the new team teamed up to stop the Black Arms.

The rest is... Similar to Shadow 05 in how everything goes down. Once the black comet was destroyed, only Sonic and Eclipse survived the disaster, hiding out on Earth ever since.

The two "brothers" eventually drifted apart and went their seperate ways, plotting their own form of revenge.

Extra details of the AU I wanted to fit in but didn't know how:

Amy and Tails are actually the sibling duo. Tails ended up finding Amy in danger and rescued her, still inspired by Sonic and his bravery. At this point he had no idea where the blue hedgehog had gone but hoped to find him again eventually (He never did)

Sonic CD, 2, 3, and Adventure did not happen. At least... Not normally. Tails became the main character after Sonic's departure land he brought along Amy from 3 and over. Knuckles wasn't met until Adventure when Eggman unleashed Chaos.

Sonic does not know Tails. His memory of the fox he saved is completely wiped.

Sonic does not consider Eclipse his brother. At all. Eclipse doesn't think the same thing about him.

Sonic's name was actually kept the same, however he ocassionally goes by "Aeron" which sound's similar to "Doleon" in a way

Shadow and Sonic are very intense rivals/enemies. Sonic is known to be incredibly relentless, even willing to team up with Eggman to make Shadow's life a living nightmare.

Sonic doesn't have any recollection of his old life, only general but vague knowledge. His personality is somewhat intact, though.

Sonic actually has a lot of powers to his new self. As seen here.

#black arms sonic #black arms sonic au #sonic #sonic au #text post #digital art #sonic fanart #sonic reference #🌸mine

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whiskydisky · 2 months

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alright buddy you asked for those headcanons....

a lot of them are for rachel for some reason, or just me projecting, or really out of character, I thought of them in the shower, blah blah blah you don't wanna hear me yap.

some of them are also just "____ reminds me of _____", and they shift past and present tense cause I'm STUPIDD so sorry

ANYWAY

Andre

Andre doesn't really have a definite music taste, he just listens to whatever Cal likes and whatever's on the radio (OR SO HE SAYS)

He was pretty much a straight A student, he probably would've even gotten a scholarship.

His family has had Mel since she was a kitten.

His favorite arcade games are those hunting simulators with the guns.

REPRESSED HOMOSEXUAL (obviously), but he probably would've never figured it out anyways.

If he was alive today he would've been one of those shitty misogynistic fortnite players that watch andrew tate and you can't change my mind.

His bed is the best thing you will ever lay on, it's so ridiculously comfortable.

out of character, but it's funny, so who cares. andre secretly LOVES pop music, but he never really gets a chance to listen to it.

cannot draw anything to save his life.

HATES musicals. absolutely despises them.

still sleeps with this one stuffed animal he's had since he was a kid. its a lamb.

THE HEAVIEST SLEEPER YOU WILL EVER MEET. it is almost impossible to wake him up unless he does it on his own.

he's red to me.

autistic. how many more characters will I project onto? only god knows.

necklace guy.

one of those white guys that punch holes in walls when they get mad.

pops his fingers a lot.

paranoid about balding. (AND FOR GOOD REASON.)

Cal

knew absolutely nothing about guns before andre started talking to him about them.

him and rachel were childhood friends.

had a MASSIVE cd collection. just shelves and shelves of cds in his room that him and andre would listen to when they hung out.

doesn't really like going out.

sonic fan. im not explaining he just seems like one.

his entire wardrobe is just black band shirts and jeans because black shirts "go with anything" (he isn't wrong).

bracelet guy.

a little spoiled, ends up spending money like an idiot because of it. (example, his massive cd collection)

the way he was bullied was either physically or those kinds of "my friend has a crush on you" type deals

huge music geek, and gets angry when andre doesn't keep up with all of the stuff he tells him about bands.

REPRESSED BISEXUAL. he probably would've figured it out.

middle school was the absolute worst for him.

says the absolute meanest shit about people and then says "but who am I to judge?" and thinks that covers it

absolutely loved chuck e cheese animatronics as a kid.

he's blue to me.

draws on himself a lot, just draws in general, it's a way for him to fidget.

definitely neurodivergent.

chews off the paint on his nails, and his nails.

Rachel

hums a lot.

not exactly a "popular kid" but people do hang out with her.

air hockey god, nobody can challenge her, they will lose.

earing girl.

people sometimes look at her weird for hanging out with cal, but she defends him.

had a little crush on cal, but nothing would've really come out of it anyway.

her house is super nice, like those grandma homes with the glass figures and useless decor with lace everywhere and uncomfortable couches to sit on. I'll send a picture if u don't know what I mean.

really nice to hang out with.

fidgets with her hoodie strings a lot.

one of those people that can adjust their personality depending on who they're hanging out with.

doesn't like andre because of his reputation and how cal acts around him (like how he actually is), but she doesn't actively bully or talk about him. she isn't that kind of person.

absolutely loved prom but the ride home was so incredibly awkward that it almost ruined the night for her.

has naturally curly hair, but doesn't really treat it right so it's pretty frizzy.

HATES it when car windows are down, her hair gets in her face a bunch.

also doesn't like putting her hair up unless it's really hot out.

paints cals nails. she knows he's a little 💅💅💅 but doesn't say anything.

really liked cal.

i do think she moved on, but it definitely took her a long time.

I'm very sick and tired of the "lesbian best friend" trope in caldre fics, she just doesn't seem like it to me.

falls asleep unnaturally quick.

absolutely loves going out, especially to malls or the park where she can walk and talk with people.

really good in school.

freshman year was horrible for her.

really likes reading and writing, she has a journal that she keeps to herself, it's one of those that have keys to them and stuff.

absolutely obsessed with unicorns as a kid. wanted them to be real so badly.

worried about how she'd look on her college application.

hung out with cal AND andre one time. did NOT like it and absolutely still talks to cal about how bad it was.

AND THAT'S IT... SO... YEAH!

THABK YOU SO MUCH FOR FUELING MY BRAIN AHHH I LOVE THESE SO MUCH!!!!!!

#thank you!!!!#we need more rachel headcanons #come on guys #zero day 2003 #cal gabriel #andre kreigman

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diyasgarden · 6 days

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not to like self project onto patrick but…

pat being a giallo fan. he loves to show you the 70s, 80s italian schlock with bad dubbing, red paint as blood, and pov shots of gloved hands.

i don’t think he’d be too into the ones with paranormal elements? mostly bc he feels like a slasher kind if guy to me

I support all forms of self projection here!!! Never stop!!!

He ADORES slashers. He pokes holes in movies that deal with the paranormal. You put on The Poltergeist and he is complaining about every little detail that doesn't make sense. He just doesn't understand what's interesting if everything seems so obviously fake to him. He loves how slashers are grounded in reality. This realism makes them more exciting. Regardless of how you feel about slashers, he drags you to the theater to watch any new slasher. And yeah, he's been ghostface for Halloween multiple times.

I don't know much about giallo films (although I have to say I'm intrigued now, so I'm going to check it out), but I think it would be cute if maybe he got into it as a pre teen due to one of his au pairs. an elderly Italian woman who's son were into those films growing up. He likes this au pair because she treats him like a grown up, which is part of the reason why she gives Patrick some of cds and casette tapes for these films because her son doesn't watch them anymore. It's a simple gesture, but he keeps these films with him for the rest of his life. He will literally carry it with him. If Art was forcing him to watch musicals, he was forcing Art to watch these films when he brought the tapes and cds to the academy. If you're doing a movie night with him, best believe he is pulling out one of these cds/tapes to watch. You've probably seen them enough to have it engrained in your brain, but it's clear he adores them. So regardless how you feel about it, you end up watching it with him anyway.

Also anon, I'm working on a longer fic right now. Could I integrate this into the fic? No worries if you don't want me to!

#challengers #patrick zweig #patrick zweig x reader #art donaldson

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solradguy · 25 days

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thoughts on drama cd red/black

Would you believe I still haven't finished reading the Side Black translation yet

Side Red is interesting though. It'd be neat if they did more "what if" AU scenarios like that some day. It does a lot for fleshing out how characters would act in weird situations they normally wouldn't get to explore.

Ed Chang's translation of it feels a lot better than his GGX Drama CD translation too, which, iirc, was the first audio transcription and translation he ever did. It's cool seeing the improvement between the two projects

#asks

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fromtenthousandfeet · 3 months

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https://www.tumblr.com/fromtenthousandfeet/754230657283162113/a-few-days-ago-i-saw-a-post-on-x-from-a-kpjm-that?source=share

I'm confused why would they wanna punish the fans, the cash cows for their future payola album? (I'm just curious to hear about ur thoughts more since I love to read ur blog lot)

Thanks for the ask. It's a good question. Why punish fans?!?

I've probably said this too many times, but I'll say it once more. I think Bang PD can't stand the idea of anyone under a HYBE label being successful without his direct influence. Threatening to put NewJeans on an 18+ month hiatus when they're doing so well is such a red flag. And while HYBE probably can't afford not to release Jimin's music and content (or they are contractually obligated to), they can gatekeep the heck out it by not giving him playlisting, not servicing his music to radio, only promoting his new album on Instagram, not providing pre-save or pre-purchase options. The company accepts that Jimin has a loyal fan base, but the goal is not to grow it.

Think about the extraordinary amount of money Jimin's fans spend on his birthday events/promotions. Can't you see BSH seething at the sight of all that money spent to support Jimin that could have been spent on BTS merchandise? And the fact that no other member - even his precious chosen one - gets that kind of love and loyalty reflects badly on the group. Jimin is a brand unto himself. That's only a boon for the company as long they can control his popularity and make money off of it. At the end of the day, I think BSH resents Jimin's huge appeal and popularity. He, so far, hasn't been able to recreate that love and loyalty for other BTS members or TXT, his other brainchild.

So, BangPD punishes Jimin's fans by gatekeeping Jimin's projects and Jimin himself. Has anyone else had the nagging sense over the last year that maybe Jimin's access to fans is being intentionally thwarted? Why wasn't he given more opportunities to perform live? Why was CTT released when he was already in the military even though the song was records long before? And can we talk about how the company completely ignores fans' requests for better promotion, more CDs, and radio play? That's another form of punishment.

Your question is, how can the company afford to anger and alienate Jimin's fans when they are going to need their purchasing power when the group returns in 2025? Two things.

HYBE can't lose. If they treat Jimin like crap (as they have so far), the fans get their "revenge" by raising and spending even more money on album sales and streams. The right response to his mistreatment should be a complete boycott of all Jimin and BTS merchandise, but nobody wants to hurt Jimin, so it'll never happen. While making Jimin's music rank high on Spotify and Billboard charts may feel like revenge against the company, I promise you it is not, because the company is laughing all the way to the bank as fans mass buy and mass stream.

Chapter 2 has proved that a large portion of ARMY do not care at all about the music and are in it for the parasocial aspect of fanning. Look at V's photo book announced this week. Selling out on the first day, multiple printings, and for what? Photos of his feet? Madness. $100 for BTS Minions Funko Pops? What?!? I keep thinking maybe fans will realize how they're being used as an endless cash stream, but so far no.

Ultimately, none of us know what the heck is going on in BSH's head or within the company, so your guess is as good or better than mine. I leave you with this interview from Billboard Magazine, which has some little gems that I think explain a lot. Let's talk about it soon.

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brokehorrorfan · 7 months

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John Carpenter will release his fourth solo album, Lost Themes IV: Noir, on May 3 via Sacred Bones Records. The filmmaker/composer is, as always, accompanied by son Cody Carpenter on synthesizer and godson Daniel Davies on guitar.

The album is available to pre-order on vinyl in several colorways, each of which features a foil stamped jacket and comes with a 24x36 fold-out poster (pictured below):

Black ($20)

Red ($24)

Indie exclusive tan and black marble with bonus 7"

Sacred Bones exclusive red on clear splatter with bonus 7" ($30, limited to 1,000)

Rough Trade exclusive oxblood red and black splatter with bonus 7" ($33, limited to 300)

Shout Factory exclusive black and clear cloudy with bonus 7" ($32, limited to 500)

The album is also available on CD ($14) and cassette ($12). Watch the music video for a new song titled "My Name Is Death" below, where you can also read the press release.

youtube

It’s been a decade since John Carpenter recorded the material that would become Lost Themes, his debut album of non-film music and the opening salvo in one of Hollywood’s great second acts. Those vibrant, synth-driven songs, made in collaboration with his son Cody Carpenter and godson Daniel Davies, kickstarted a musical renaissance for the pioneering composer and director. In the years since, Carpenter, Carpenter, and Davies have released close to a dozen musical projects, including a growing library of studio albums and the scores for David Gordon Green’s trilogy of Halloween reboots. With Lost Themes IV: Noir, they’ve struck gold again, this time mining the rich history of the film noir genre for inspiration. Since the first Lost Themes, John has referred to these compositions as “soundtracks for the movies in your mind.” On the fourth installment in the series, those movies are noirs. Like the film genre they were influenced by, what makes these songs “noirish” is sometimes slippery and hard to define, and not merely reducible to a collection of tropes. The scores for the great American noir pictures were largely orchestral, while the Carpenters and Davies work off a sturdy synth-and-guitar backbone. The noir quality, then, is something you understand instinctively when you hear it. “Some of the music is heavy guitar riffs, which is not in old noir films,” Davies notes. “But somehow, it’s connected in an emotional way.” The trio’s free-flowing chemistry means Lost Themes IV: Noir runs like a well-oiled machine—the 1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster from Kiss Me Deadly, perhaps, or the 1958 Plymouth Fury from John’s own Christine. It’s a chemistry that’s helped power one of the most productive stretches of John’s creative life, and Noir proves that it’s nowhere near done yielding brilliant results. “This is who we are, I think,” John summarizes. “Daniel’s the adventurer. He pushes for new sounds, new directions. He tries things that I haven’t thought of. He’s a lot more daring than I am, and he enriches the whole thing. Cody’s the musician. He’s a savant at music. He understands music. We depend on him to rescue us.” And what about John’s contribution? With characteristic understatement, he concludes: “I’m the experience. I’ve done music for movies before.”

#john carpenter #cody carpenter #daniel davies #synthwave #film noir #lost themes #noir #sacred bones records #vinyl #gift #horror #halloween #escape from new york #the thing #they live #80s horror #Youtube

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to-eat-laugh-love-in-peace · 1 year

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So I have a theory that the next season of Trigun Stampede is going to tackle the Fifth Moon Incident seeing as one, there have been a few official merchandise that depicted one or more moons in the background such as a t-shirt depicting the phases of the moon right beside the series’ title and above Vash and Wolfwood who are standing back to back with their guns drawn,

a Vash figure that again has him with his gun drawn depicting not only three moons but also Jeneora Rock, which was where the Fifth Moon Incident took place in the manga, behind him,

and a poster from the Blu-ray Soundtrack CD Booklet depicting Vash releasing a grappling hook from his prosthetic arm towards the general direction of the largest of the three moons present in the background, with the friction from the grappling hook being released causing sparks to fly,

and two, in the end credits scene in episode 12 an unbroken shot of the crater-laden surface of a moon overlooking a red and brown planet that I think is supposed to be No Man’s Land is shown while two people can be heard talking to each other off-screen. This leads me to think that Chronica and the other members of Project Pieces of Earth are going to have something to do with the Fifth Moon Incident happening this time around as seen how one of the two voices belongs to an unidentified man, who says that Project Pieces of Earth is entering phase two now that the drain gate deployment has been completed and the experimental warp drive craft is just about to be released, only for the other voice belonging to a woman later identified as Special Ops Lieutenant Colonel Independent Chronica, to give him the order to suspend the countdown because she notices a fluctuation in the gate, that they’re receiving something via subspace, and so she gives the order to be given readings of the entire solar system from which they learn that the noise is coming from Project SEEDS, which leads to Zazie letting Meryl know that ships from Earth will arrive at No Man’s Land after crossing a bridge of light thanks to the twins casting a bridge across the void during their confrontation in July when they met up at the memorial, before they take off. Also, in Tristamp’s iteration of the July Incident, when Vash tries to keep the excess energy from his gate he had condensed into the cube he kept contained within his demon arm from killing every living being on the planet and even possibly destroying the entire planet itself once the cube came apart, he couldn’t just point his demon arm up at the sky from where he was standing like he did in Trimax and ‘98, he had to actually fly past the planet’s atmosphere in order to release the blast into space so he’s likely going to enter into another fight with Knives that takes place in space for the Fifth Moon Incident to take place so they might be bringing in the Ark.

And on top of that, I think that the series of events that lead up to the Fifth Moon Incident are going to be combined with the series of events that lead up to another incident in Trimax where Vash nearly caused another July Incident, the Dragon’s Nest Incident, seeing as the people present and had a role to play in the Dragon’s Nest Incident were Hoppered the Gauntlet, Midvalley the Hornfreak, Zazie the Beast, Legato Bluesummers, Elendira the Crimsonnail, Millions Knives, Vash the Stampede, Nicholas the Punisher, Meryl Stryfe, and Milly Thompson, and in Tristamp, and in Tristamp Hoppered is pretty much confirmed to show up since his entire character hinges on the destruction of July City, Midvalley was name dropped in a newspaper article Roberto was reading in episode 6 about how he was scheduled to perform in September City for his live tour, Milly was also name dropped and practically confirmed to appear in S2 as Meryl’s very own newbie, with Meryl literally heading back to HQ to pick her up, Vash, Meryl, and Wolfwood have traveled together and gotten to know each other for at least two months prior to Lost July, with episode 1 taking place at May 25 and episode 12 taking place at July 21, which they were personally there to witness, and even play a part in, with Meryl learning not only more about Vash but also Wolfwood thanks to Conrad after getting kidnapped by Zazie and held hostage at the EoM’s base of operations in July City on top of receiving her signature weapon that is her derringer from Roberto and solidifying her resolve to go after Vash and help him however way she can to stop Knives from killing off each and every human on the planet, and Legato and Elendira have already made an appearance, however brief they were, so the cast lines up.

Starting with Vash having to leave behind his life with Lina and Sheryl as Eriks, I think that bringing him back into the fray in S2 is going to be group effort among Meryl, Milly, and Wolfwood for reasons others have pointed here and here, and that S2 is going to take the scene of Meryl returning Vash’s belongings that had been confiscated by the Bernardelli Insurance Society now that it had gone out of business with everything that had been happening with Knives and the ark in Trimax, and have it be her returning Vash’s belongings that he didn’t bring with him to July and instead left on Ship 3, like his photo of him, Nai, and Rem, along with the other photos of them and maybe even that recorder thing that Rem used to film their first birthday that Brad had been able to bring back from the ruins of Ship 5 back then and also that notebook he was shown writing what were likely journal entries during the flashback to the first few years he spent living in Ship 3, among other things like small trinkets he’s kept during his travels around No Man’s Land in Tristamp, since he was kind of pressed for time what with Meryl and Roberto getting kidnapped by Zazie so he really only brought the bare necessities with him to July.

That is assuming Meryl was able to visit Ship 3 at some point after the July incident which I like to think that she was able to one way or another even if she did leave on short notice. I figured that with how well Meryl and Luida got along while she was on Ship 3, especially with how supportive Meryl was of Luida’s goal to terraform No Man’s Land into a green planet with the flora she’s been growing in Ship 3’s biodome in order to lessen the strain the plants, they would want to keep in touch with one another somehow from that point on. And then there’s also the fact that Zazie told her that ships from Earth were on their way to No Man’s Land so Meryl would want to talk to a first-generation Project SEEDS crew member about it which I wonder how it’ll go since it seems like in Tristamp no one not even the people on Ship 3 seems to hace any idea that there's still life of Earth seeing as Luida’s plan in Tristamp isn't to repeatedly send a message to Earth until their receive and respond to it like it was in Trimax but to terraform No Man’s Land into a green planet in order to lessen the amount of work that the Plants have to do in order to keep humanity alive. Also, I also have a theory that the new pairs of earrings that she’s shown wearing two years after the July Incident aren't just for show, that they were given to her by Ship 3 and they work kind of like how Vash's earring does in '98 and Trimax where it acts as a hidden communication device connected to a pen or just the other earring in her case since she owns a pair ever since I heard someone, somewhere, forgot where, point out that Meryl’s new earrings look not only like a combination of her signature dangle earrings and Vash's signature huggie earring in silver, but also like a Dependent Plant with their petals curled to form a bulb around their upper torsos, I haven’t stopped thinking about it ever since.

I’ve theorized before in the tags of another post here that Brilliant Dynamites Neon and Meryl might have a confrontation with each other in S2 since although the two haven’t interacted much outside of her and Milly disguising themselves as members of the Bad Lads Gang to later back up Vash and Kaite when they’re cornered by the Bad Lads Gang during their heist on the sand steamer in the ‘98 and Trimax, in both iterations Neon took the time to ask Vash about what exactly happened in July that led to the city being destroyed, and in '98 its residents being left alive but homeless unemployed and impoverished leading them to fight and kill each other to survive in the fallout of the incident, and in Trimax its residents being swallowed by a black hole leading to no survivors or even any bodies left to be found which led Vash to ask him if he had folks who were in July at the time of the incident and then admit that he just didn't remember much about July when asked if he had anything to do with it which Neon was forced to accept before the two had a duel and then after Neon shot a rock about to crush Vash's head during their duel he was revealed to have been prepared to kill Vash for some time since July only for him to decide spare him for now not having let go of his reasons for wanting revenge post-July to stay true to the terms of their duel as was pointed out in this post.

Now in Tristamp Meryl was not only in July when the incident took place but was also there to witness firsthand what exactly happened for the city to have been completely demolished and more than half of its population to have been killed by a large explosion. Also, unlike Vash in '98, Trimax, and possibly Tristamp she didn't develop amnesia from the traumatic incident and still retains her memories of the incident. On top of that, she along with Roberto were announced on the radio to be suspected accomplices of Vash the Stampede who the military police were looking to bring in as persons of interest in episode 4, and she’s implied to have been spending the past two years since the July Incident defending Vash as was pointed out here. And then add in the fact that she's met the Bad Lads Gang when they took her and Roberto with them to the sandsteamer to take pictures of them during their heist to publish in the paper before Vash came in and knocked them out and all of this took place on July 20, the day before the July Incident took place, meaning that they could recognise her if they tried to find her. Also I wonder why Neon wasn't on the ship at the time like was he visiting his folks in July only to be pulled away when he heard that the heist was a bust because the ship was taken off course and its ion cannon was locked and loaded to fire at Hopeland? And if Neon had folks in July in Tristamp then what's their deal since it's been said to be the wealthiest city in NML with its citizens having to contribute to the city's development and pass a screening process to obtain citizenship according to additional lore provided in a tweet by Studio Orange.

I’ve also theorized in the tags of another post here whether or not Studio Orange will adapt the Little Arcadia arc considering what they've established with the flora in S2 which I think that they’ll likely adapt it because one, that’s when Marilyn Nebraska along with her mother and brothers make an appearance in Triamax and in Tristamp she’s been seen in wanted posters from time to time confirming her existence in this iteration, and two it puts a lot of focus on Meryl and Milly, like it provides some insight into their personal lives with their families and everything, as well as who they are as individuals and as partners, and with Milly being confirmed to show up in S2 as Meryl's very own newbie it's going to be crucial that they take some time for them to get to know each other and grow closer. Besides that if they ever do adapt the Little Arcadia arc I wonder how they would adapt Badwick and his family? With how Meryl reacted to the flora and by extension Geo Plants on Ship 3 are Geo-Plants just that rare even among Plants? Does no one else really try to use them to grow flora to the extent that Luida does? If so, what would that mean for Badwick's parents? Are they people who have no connection to Luida or Ship 3 and simply happen to share her dream to terraform NML into a green planet through the use of a Geo-Plant they have in their possession only for their dream to be threatened by their son planning to sell the land to someone who wouldn't really take care of it not to the extent that they have and certainly not with the dream that they hold? Or is something else going to go on with them?

Moving onto Legato, I think that when he does reappear in S2 he’s already going to be in a body cast like his Trimax counterpart was in since I think that the reason why he wasn’t in the S1 finale was because Knives crippled him prior to Vash’s arrival as punishment for acting on his own when he had taken the sandsteamer off of its original course to July through the use of his telekinetic ability to have it collide with Hopeland instead, leading Vash to take even longer to get to July after he had exhausted himself from communicating with the ship’s Plant to slow the ship to a stop, on top of redirecting the ship’s ion cannon which he had also telekinetically manipulated to power up to keep it from firing at Hopeland, fighting with Livio who he had sent after him, and fighting off the Bad Lads Gang who’d taken over the ship and held Meryl and Roberto hostage, and so had to be taken to Ship 3 to rest and recuperate for more than half of the day he was supposed to have already arrived in July, when he was just supposed to take the ship’s Plant once it arrived to July and further raise the stakes by stranding the ship’s passengers, leaving them with no other choice than to seek refuge in the city.

Either leading him to focus either solely on Vash after possibly both out of anger for being responsible for Knives’ state after July, nevermind the fact that Knives wouldn’t have been in that state had he not continued to put himself in Vash’s demon arm’s line of fire to reach for the cube despite Vash yelling at him to stop, to get out of the way, that he’s going to burn himself alive if keeps this up, and shame because his actions had led him to be put in a position where he couldn’t assist Knives when he surely would have needed it most, or direct his attention to Vash along with Wolfwood and Meryl because all three of them, in his eyes, had a part in Knives’ being severely injured, if not nearly dead after July. Or at least in Wolfwood’s case, he was the reason why Meryl had gotten out of July before the incident took place which I’m sure he wouldn’t be very happy about.

For a moment I thought that the idea of him meeting Vash for the first time since July in a full metal body cast like the coffin-shaped one that was either carried around by a lackey, attached to a motorcycle he would drive around, or attached to a sort of arm piece that would prop him up or push him forward his Trimax counterpart was in when he introduces him to the game he’s set up wouldn’t be likely since it would be a bit too conspicuous for him to go out in public in but then I remembered that his Trimax counterpart had also used his ability to make himself invisible to everyone but Vash in their first meeting, which was why Meryl and Milly expressed confusion when Vash warned Wolfwood about him on the bus ride to Jeneora Rock, so he could also just do that in Tristamp. And the thought of Vash being the only one who is able to see him in this utterly ridiculous contraption while everyone else just goes about their day like nothing’s wrong is such a funny mental image to me.

Since Monev is dead in Tristamp, I think that the one who Vash is going get into a fight with first after Legato introduces him to the game that he’s set up for him is Dominique the Cyclops because when he fights her in Trimax, he’s down one arm after he had his prosthetic arm blown off during his fight with Monev, and in Tristamp he’s also down one arm after he had sacrificed his prosthetic arm along with his gun to form his demon arm during his fight with Knives in July so the circumstances he’s in in Tristamp kind of line up with the circumstances he was in in Trimax. Also, Studio Orange could could easily give Dominique a backstory in Tristamp similar to Monev’s in Trimax with just a few changes to act as a parallel to Legato’s backstory, considering how they revamped Monev’s backstory to act as a parallel to Wolfwood’s backtory in Tristamp, again with just a few changes made for it to also act as a cautionary tale for both Wolfwood and Vash.

Seeing as what we do know about her is that she talks about the deaths of half of the Roderick Slavers as a simple matter of taking out the trash that profits off of the suffering of others, even calls it spring cleaning, and expresses happiness and relief over the surviving slavers having left town and no longer lining their pockets at the expense of the townspeople and expects Vash to feel the same, she has the ability to induce sensory paralysis in her foes, momentarily stunning them and making her movements appear immediate, when she lifts her eyepatch, which reveals a reptilian eye that I like to think is simply from a mutation rather than a product of experimentation, and locks eyes with her foes, regardless of the distance between them, and she commits suicide after she loses to Vash, saying that if she couldn’t be of use to Legato, then there was only one way this could turn out, which already kind of mirrors how Legato acts when it comes to Knives.

So she could made to be another slave girl who Legato freed for whatever reason, maybe not even with the intention to free her, like how he violently killed over a dozen people with his powers in front of those slave girls in Trimax, not because he intended to free them but because the slavers picked a fight with him first, though he did spare the girls, none of them were physically harmed at all despite the carnage, and he did offer them the closest thing he had to reassurances before he left, when he could have just ignored them, which he also could have done when he freed Dominique, the difference being that instead of being left to process what exactly went down in front of her like those girls did, Dominique expressed an interest to learn from him, work for him, if he’d let her, which Legato did allow her to do, though not without warning her that she would die a slow and painful death if she ever failed or disobeyed him, maybe after learning about her left eye’s ability and figuring that it could prove useful to further Knives’ cause much like his own ability.

Since Grey the Ninelives had also made an appearance, both as the mech suit in episode 3 and as the nine people who control it in episode 10, the attack on Ship 3 is all but guaranteed to take place, and I’ve also theorized in the tags of another post here that Meryl and Milly are going to play a much larger role to take them down probably alongside Wolfwood unlike in Trimax when they really showed up at the end of the fight as comic relief like they literally just happened to land on top of the surviving pilots right when they were just about to try and attack Wolfwood again since in Tristamp Meryl got to learn more about them when Conrad took her and Roberto in a tour around the Eye of Michael’s base of operations in July after she and Roberto had gotten kidnapped but not kept locked up by Zazie so she could be how Wolfwood finds out that this big guy is just a mech suited being piloted by nine people and in Trimax there’s this line that the guy who gave Meryl her first derringer says in a flashback something along the lines of how even small gun like that could even the odds between the biggest guy and her which really gives off a lot of David and Goliath vibes that they could and I kind of want them to reference during the fight. Though I’ve briefly considered that Milly is going to be the one who gets kidnapped instead of Meryl since she’s already gotten kidnapped before by Zazie in episode 9 during which she learned more about not only Vash but also Wolfwood thanks to Conrad in episode 10 and even had gone through quite a bit character development in an elevator lift thanks to Roberto later on, I think that Meryl is still the one who's going to get kidnapped, probably to keep Vash from reaching Knives before he’s fully recovered from his injuries this time around, seeing as Wolfwood did tell her he got her out of July in a mad dash that they were likely going to be hunted down by the Eye of Michael since they’ll never allow those who pose a threat to them to survive so maybe they’re eventually going to catch up to her and then take her away when she finds herself in a vulnerable position, maybe when she’s in the middle of looking out for Milly during a fight.

Which would automatically give Milly a personal stake to get Meryl back alongside Vash and Wolfwood since not only was she there when Meryl was taken away but also she was the reason why Meryl had been taken away despite how vigilant she’d been since she was aware of what was going on. And could lead to Wolfwood and Milly having an argument over whether or not she should come with them to get Meryl back.

Wolfwood could also have a conversation with Meryl after her kidnapping about what Vash and Knives are and what they can do as well as how Meryl should maybe back out and take Milly with her like he did in Trimax, which would be a stark contrast to how he planned to leave her and Roberto behind to be digested by a grand worm to separate them from Vash so he could get he alone would bring him to July as was pointed here and here. This could be something Meryl might seriously consider doing especially when she keeps in mind the fact that they’re fighting actual supervillains and she’s nowhere near on par with Vash and Wolfwood physically, so how is she supposed to protect an intern, who is bigger and stronger than her, as the situations become more and more dangerous, and on top of all that she’s still dealing with her grief and guilt over Roberto death so she wouldn’t want to risk repeating history with Milly.

Since Zazie appears to no longer side with Knives after what he had pulled in July nearly put them and their planet in danger of being wiped out, with how Wolfwood pointed out that he had never seen them so flustered when the two met up just outside of July, and how Zazie expressed confusion and borderline disappointment towards how the general public made Vash out to be the villain behind the July Incident when they and Meryl met up at the memorial, it’s unlikely that they’re going to be ones to kidnap Meryl this time around, with that role either falling to Midvalley or someone else. I think that it's going to be Midvalley since he was the one who commented on Zazie being the one to come up with the idea to kidnap Meryl and hold her hostage to draw Vash out in Trimax so why not just have him be the one to come up with the idea instead in Tristamp, seeing as there’s also this scene during his and Hoppered’s fight with Vash and Wolfwood where he manipulates the sound waves in the area in such a way that Vash can’t hear Hoppered lunging right at him so that could be how he catches Meryl off guard.

I didn’t even bother considering Hoppered to be the one to kidnap her since I think he’s much more likely to try to kill her the first chance he gets when you keep in mind that in Tristamp not only does Meryl know more about what's going on in than her ‘98 and Trimax counterparts have at this point of the series as was pointed out here but also she’s been implied to have spent the past two years since the July incident defending Vash’s name seeing as the first scene we see of her two years after the July incident was her ripping off Vash’s new wanted poster of the wall of the rest stop she stopped by at and then she later gets scolded and even threatened to be transferred to the insurance society by her coworker if she kept acting on her own after she told him she was at the crater so Hoppered definitely wouldn’t think killing her right then and there would be meaningless like he did in Trimax.

Lastly, seeing as Elendira was first introduced in Dragon’s Nest in Trimax, in Tristamp it could be where she could make a reappearance and have that rematch with Wolfwood Kenji Muto mentioned in a post on his twitter that depicted an older Elendira dressed and posed just like her Trimax counterpart, even holding that suitcase from where she would fire her nails in Trimax so I'm guessing that it’s somehow supposed to help her generate larger nails from her gate, did in the only flashback we ever see of her where she follows behind Knives from Legato’s perspective so she likely won’t show up just to keep Vash from firing his angel arm, or I guess demon arm in Tristamp, and retrieve Legato on Knives’ orders.

#Trigun #Tristamp #Trigun Stampede #Trimax #Trigun Maximum #Trigun '98 #Trigun 1998 #That's about everything I wanted to say and I can't wait to see what going to happen in S2 #I just wanted to put down my thoughts on what could happen so when it comes out I can look back on it and see what I got right #what I got close and what I got wrong and so I can see what other people think could happen in S2

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hit-song-showdown · 1 year

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[Image description: a collage of photos of the 10 musicians and musical groups featured in this poll. In order from left to right, top to bottom: Lifehouse, Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson, Train, Jennifer Lopez and Ja Rule, Matchbox Twenty, Eve and Gwen Stefani, Dido, Lenny Kravitz, Destiny's Child. End description]

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A lot of alternative rock this year, especially with the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart having major influence over the Billboard Hot 100. Rap and R&B are also blending a lot more, which artists from both genres appearing on each others' tracks.

However, when it comes to music business history, this year kicked off with a bang. 2001 marks the release of iTunes and the iPod, which would heavily alter trends in music listening and try to provide one solution to the issue of music piracy. After the previous decades of listeners being expected to pay full price for a CD, going to $0.99 per song felt like a downgrade in terms of profits. But even with Napster shut down, but piracy still left the music industry scrambling for a solution. With listeners being able to buy individual songs, the rising popularity of iTunes was great for singles, but not the best for album sales. With the iPod, music listening trends were also moving in favor of individual listening as portable music became more accessible. It will take a few years for both this product and platform to reach their cultural and economic peaks, but the trends are starting to shift here.

Also to address the elephant in the room, this was also the year of the September 11 attacks. Despite the event forever affecting American culture, those effects aren't that obvious when looking at this chart. Like with the Vietnam War era, some songs had the event projected onto them. But unlike the Vietnam War era, protest music won't be as prominent in the mainstream. The popular music at the time seemed to want to be defiantly apolitical, whether as a coping mechanism or to avoid public backlash (which we will definitely get to in a few years) differs depending on the artists. But to get to the music itself, iHeartMedia (formerly Clear Channel Communications) famously banned the airplay of a number of songs following the attacks. I'm not going to go over all 165, but previous poll entries featured on this list includes: Walk Like an Egyptian by the Bangles, Johnny Angel by Shelley Fabrares, Bennie and the Jets by Elton John, American Pie by Don McLean, Under the Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bridge over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel, War by Edwin Star, and Jump by Van Halen.

#billboard poll #billboard music #tumblr poll #2000s #2000s music #2001 #lifehouse #alicia keys #janet jackson #train #jennifer lopez #ja rule #matchbox twenty #eve #gwen stefani #dido #lenny kravitz #destiny's child

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riverbills · 5 months

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RIVER BILLINGHAM ( JUSTICE SMITH ) is a TWENTY-EIGHT year-old SCREENWRITER in LOS ANGELES. They were brought under Richard’s care when they were only TWELVE. They are known as THE MELODRAMATIC because they are IDEALISTIC but also TEMPERAMENTAL. Let’s see what choice they make regarding the fate of Woodrow House

BASIC INFORMATION.

Full Name: Christopher River Billingham

Nickname(s): As a child he used to go by Christopher. He decided to start going by his middle name when he moved to Woodrow. River had always preferred his middle name to his first name. Christopher was too inconspicuous and boring. He decided that moving to a new place was the perfect time to reinvent himself (as much as you can reinvent yourself as an twelve year old). Plus, he associated his first name with his parents and didn't want anyone else to call him that.

Date of Birth: March 3rd 1977

Age: 28

Occupation: Screenwriter

Current Residence: Los Angeles, California

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE.

Hair: Right now River has a curly bleach blond close cropped fade. Please always picture Justice in Generation even when I'm using gifs from other projects x

Eyes: Brown

Height: 6ft1

Notable Features: Dimples and a cute wide smile but he won't be smiling very much through the course of this rp

PERSONALITY & BEHAVIOR:

Strengths: Inventive,spontaneous and compassionate

Weaknesses: Immature,credulous and scattered

Quirks: Frequently chews gum, talks with his hands, usually wears multiple bracelets which he plays with,regularly gasps de and used to chew pens tops when he used pens more often

Vices:River is a very pleasure seeking person so has dabbled in alcohol, nicotine and drugs at various points in his life. He was a regular smoker from the ages of 16-19 but he didn't like the lingering smell of cigarettes on his clothes so decided to fill the hole nic left with red bull.

INTEREST & HOBBIES:

Interests: Writing, fashion, the history of film & photography, literature and after he processed his parents deaths he got back into music.

Hobbies: River has cds but he stands by his tape collection. He doesn't go out as much as he used to in his early 20s but he still enjoys clubbing. He also enjoys rollerblading and painting

Special Skills/Talents: Depending on when you ask him River would either answer this question with “Whatever I put my mind to.” or “Nothing.” He's pretty good at writing and acting. He learned to play the drums as a child but stopped after his parents death. However, he started playing the drums again in his late teens. He has tried djing a couple of times and is quite good at that

BECOMING A WARD.

cws: lightly implied period typical racism and this is woodrow ward lore so parental death (this time with a slight twist on a motor accident)

When River was born his dad was the frontman of a popular psychedelic rock band. River’s birth and his parents long term mostly monogamous relationship was kept a secret from the press because it was safer and more beneficial for River's dad to act as a cool sexually available rockstar than admit to the public that the Black woman working as the bands public assistant was actually his wife. Even long after the band split up and River's dad had moved onto making weird but very of the time new wave music as a solo artist he kept River's existence a secret from the general public. This was so River could have an upbringing that was more luxurious than most people's but didn't involve his classmates asking about his dad or being pestered by the paparazzi. River’s upbringing was very sheltered and he still views his childhood as an idyllic time in his life. His primary caretaker was a nanny but at the time he didn't see this as a negative experience and he didn't feel emotionally neglected by his parents. It was an exciting treat every time they stayed with him for long periods of time. When he was twelve both of his parents went on the twentieth anniversary reunion tour for his dad's band's first album. There was a horrific tour bus crash in which both of his parents died. Even though the general public didn't know he existed, various rich people his parents met at charity events did (this includes Richard Woodrow). Forever the bleeding heart Richard offered to take in River. Both sets of River's grandparents agreed that there would be less chance of a scandal and word getting out about River existing if he lived at Richard's secluded New York Estate.

LIFE AS A WARD.

Unsurprisingly, River was very volatile when he first moved to Woodrow House. He was a sensitive pre-teen who was grieving his parents and had just moved to the other side of the country. He would snap at unexpected moments and cry for no particular reason. With the passage of time and the best therapy Richard could buy that behaviour eased up. However, he was still one of the more expressive wards. He would make his emotions known through his words and actions. He was probably a source of great annoyance for most of the wards. But I'm sure at least one of them found him to be fun, charming and loving. River enjoyed having lots of people around Woodrow as a teenager. He's a true extrovert and being around others reinvigorates him. Though growing up River often felt like a failure compared to some of the other wards because he wasn't an academic genius.

AESTHETIC .

River's sense of style is a lot more garish and informal than most of the other wards. He has a behind the scenes job in film and tv and lives in LA so he really can wear whatever he wants. He has a lot of loose fitting brightly coloured shirts. But he's still young and hot enough for the occasional tight tank top. He also has a lot of shorts of various colours and textures. He does not have many clothes that are weather appropriate for New York. River has one of his ears pierced so he often wear stud earrings or little hoops. He loves wearing multiple embroidered bracelets at once

EDUCATION.

River chose to go to the same private school other wards had/were attending. He wanted to prove that he was as good as they were despite not being a natural academic. Another reason River wanted to go to a real school was because he wanted to meet more people and have a social life outside of the other wards. While in school one of the writing exercises River enjoyed the most was screenwriting and he wanted to go back to California so that's why he applied for a BFA in film at Dodge.

EXTRACURRICULARS.

If it wasn't clear River was a very artistic and dramatic adolescent. He spent a lot of time painting and crafting in the art room. He also enjoyed creative writing. When he started private school he did drama and directed multiple productions. River wasn't interested in sports but decided to try to find some he enjoyed because he knew Richard thought sport was an important part of making the wards well rounded individuals. Plus, he was jealous of the cute little outfits other wards wore as sports uniforms. He played cricket for multiple years. He never fully understood the rules but knew he had to run after batting the ball and thought cricket whites looked chic. He also took up dressage because he thought there was something sweet about doing a sport where you need to connect to an animal and again he got to wear a fun outfit.

LIFE NOW.

River has been coasting through life since graduation. He decided to stay in LA to pursue screenwriting and because he's a west coast baby at heart. Two of his scripts have been made into movies but they weren't big Hollywood features. The movies he wrote were very low budget indie dramas that didn't make much money. The biggest fans of his films are probably people who found them at the Dollar Tree DVD basket. River mainly writes TV show episodes. His most steady source of income is a medical drama. His lifestyle hasn't changed much since his early 20s. He goes out to clubs to feel something and make meaningful fleeting connections. The only way he's more successful than most of the other wards is the fact he has a spacious house with a pool. He uses the fact his house was expensive to justify why he has 3 housemates (an actress who mainly works in tv, a mildly famous model and a director he met because she directed one of his scripts). He also has a cat called Saskia. He adopted her from a friend who couldn't look after her anymore after moving in with her boyfriend with cat hair allergies. River brought Saskia to Woodrow House with him because she’s a daddy's girl and would make everyone's lives miserable if he left her for weeks.

#wrhq.intro

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themarginalthinker · 1 year

Text

Saves Nine

(Marko can't find his sewing kit, so he and Paul look for it. They find Dwayne in a bit of a state. A look into how Dwayne's vampiric bane manifests sometimes)

"Ow, fuck," Paul hisses, shaking out his fingers as he works on his bass.

He eyes the red line between fingertips, knowing it will be gone by the end of the evening, but also knowing it's going to be majorly annoying. He's waited too long to get all the strings on his beloved instrument replaced and now he's paying the price.

From the other side of the quiet den, Marko wanders in. In his hands is a jacket.

Denim, sturdy. It's new, the actual fabric of the original article still the main base of the structure, but Marko has been steadily working on replacing that. Like the Ship of Theseus, transforming it bit by bit into something unique. Embroidered sections stood starkly contrasted with pre-constructed patches, buttons starting to dot one sleeve, real silk ribbons snaking their way through the shoulder and cuff of the other side. No one was ever quite sure what drove Marko's design choices for his art - interest, pique, maybe just sparkly - but it was always fun to watch the piece come together, themes and transitions between sections revealing themselves in unexpected ways.

Right now though, Marko was looking less than pleased with his project. Well. Not quite the project itself.

He looks up at Paul, tucked away in his window nook about ten feet off the ground, accessable only to someone able to defy conventional laws of gravity. He catches Paul's eye, who just raises a brow.

"Where is my sewing kit."

Paul's brow now furrows. He shrugs a little.

"I dunno. I'm not your stuff's keeper, dude."

Marko growls, mouth setting into a line as he comes closer.

"I put it with your boxes of CDs. I know I did, because Thorn broke the shelf I normally keep it on and that was the next best place."

"I didn't touch your stitch kit, Marko," Paul sighs.

Marko throws his arms out, looking incredulous. "So, what, it just got up and walked away?"

Paul testily drops the little philip's head screwdriver he'd been working with into its own box of various other tools, snapping the lid shut decisively. He sets aside his bass, leaning it against the nook wall, and then jumps down.

He lands with a whisper on the ground, socked feet and joints of a predator built for taking much further falls swallowing whatever sound might have been made. Marko watches with a grouchy expression.

"I'll help you find it, huh?" Paul concedes. He was getting tired fingers from stretching strings anyway. "Mike probably moved it while looking for something."

Marko's mouth loosens a little, deal accepted.

"If he did, I'm taking it out on his ass - one for every minute it's gone."

Paul snickers, leaning into his mate's side as he rumbles like a displeased engine. "Easy, tiger. Babyteeth knows his place, you don't gotta go feral on him every chance you get."

Marko smirks, not letting up the growl, but letting it fade into something a little softer. "You like to watch when I do."

"Well, obviously."

They share a look at the possibility of potentially getting to do something more active and just as satisfying with their evening if they indeed found Michael as their wanted culprit, and start wandering the sprawling haven.

The old cabin had already been something of a small maze when they'd found (or, been directed, rather) to the abandoned building, and since hollowing it out and then making their inhuman additions, it had become somewhat labyrinthian. Doors leading to rooms stuffed with things, little nests tucked away, bookshelves filled or in the process of being so. Clothing in boxes, random bits and bobs shoved wherever the pack chose to drop them.

The room with Paul's current curated collection of music disks was thoroughly assessed, top to bottom. Marko looks over ever corner of the room, sure in his own memory, and not understanding why reality isn't matching.

Maybe someone needed something from it, and just didn't ask him? But they usually did, and it wasn't like they didn't usually have their own stashes to use...

Paul makes a noise, disgruntled. Yeah, same mood, Marko thinks.

Then across the bond, the why for that sound makes itself known. Not displeasure at Marko's quest having failed, but something of his having been disturbed. Marko blinks and looks up to Paul.

Paul has pulled a box down from a shelf and is pawing at the cases inside. Flipping through them, one by one, before looking up at Marko.

"Dude, they're not supposed to be like this."

"What?"

Paul lifts a lip, a hint of sharpness showing. "I put all the years together because it's how I want to find them - look," he tilts down the box to show Marko, who cocks his head. "Cassettes, LPs, and disks. Now it's. It's just CDs. What the fuck-"

He drops the box on the ground and starts yanking others off the shelves, and sure enough, almost all of them have been rearranged. It's going to take hours, nights even, to put it back how he'd had it before.

Marko and Paul look at the new mess, and then to each other.

An idea floats between their heads, finally catching the spark and illuminating.

Together, they extend the bond out, and find who they're now both looking for.

Dwayne is upstairs, a room just below the attic. He sits on the floor (covered with many different rugs of all kinds), and before his crossed legs, spans an array of things.

Another box of music. An ungodly array of pens and markers, all attempted to be lined up in some unknown way. All the shoes from various places they'd wound up in the den. A jar of rusted nails, screws, nuts and bolts, and yes, there in Dwayne's hands currently, Marko's sewing box.

Dwayne's fingers flicked over embroidery floss, spools of thread, the pincushion having been relieved of all its needles which had been lined up from smallest to largest on the damn floor.

Marko feels a flash of anger, sucking in a breath and starting to take a step forward...but when Dwayne's eyes flash up to him, connecting minds...

Thorn had been gone for a while - a week now, out on excursion. David and Michael had left a couple hours ago, wouldn't be back until almost dawn most likely. Dwayne had finished tuning up the bikes, making sure the van was functional. He'd wandered in the woods for a while, didn't find anything particularly interesting. In the middle of spring as it was, the animal activity had been so...loud. Nothing to distract him.

Paul sighs. "I'll get the jar."

Marko stepped closer, hands reaching out for his kit, but as he does, Dwayne's lips lift, flashing long, white teeth. The faintest growl in his throat. A threat against anyone who dares to disrupt the order, the flow he's created in the arranged items. Woe befall the poor sod who fucks with them before he's finished.

There's an immediate apology in the bond.

Marko sighs through his nose. Not withdrawing his hand - it's his stuff - but not pushing it.

After a few minutes, Paul returns. He sets the large gallon tub down in front of Dwayne, who locks eyes on it immediately, predator focus zeroing in.

"Carpet or floor, bud?" Paul asks.

Dwayne's jaw flexes a few times, teeth unlocking from their tense clench.

"...Carpet."

Paul nods. He unsnaps the lid of the jar, and upends it.

Across the floor, hundreds of beads spill out. They range in every possible style, size, and material. Wood, plastic, metal, ones shaped like flowers, animal heads, chunky and clacking to minuscule and sinking into the folds of the rugs.

Dwayne's on them in a second. Fingers digging into the pile, spreading them out so he can see them all. One hand reaches over, almost absent-mindedly, and grabs up a needle from Marko's sewing box, and begins using it to start scooping up the smallest beads. Already they can hear him muttering under his breath in counting. Locked with supernatural concentration. It would take an act of Hell to move him now.

Marko just scoops up his sewing materials, placing them back how he wants into their container. Paul crouches by Dwayne, mindful of his activity. He lays a gentle hand on his shoulders.

"They'll be back, man. They always come back."

Dwayne knows. But the absence, the inability to line them all up where he can see them, feel them close, have them all in their proper places...

Across the bond, he sends his thanks to his packmates, for this small relief.

Paul pats him a couple times, before leaving with Marko.

#the lost boys #marko tlb #paul tlb #dwayne tlb #arithmomania #drabbles

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