#portable concert stage

[koz123]

However, the challenge is that you need to find an even and stable platform that you can use as a stage. Today, you can find a portable concert stage that can become a great item that you can use in many ways.

[mystagecorp]

However, the challenge is that you need to find an even and stable platform that you can use as a stage. Today, you can find a portable concert stage that can become a great item that you can use in many ways.

[sinoswan12]

Trailer Advertising Signs: Revolutionizing Outdoor Marketing

Today, businesses are constantly seeking innovative and effective marketing strategies to capture the attention of their target audience. In the realm of outdoor marketing, one solution that has gained significant traction is Trailer Advertising Signs. These portable and customizable platforms, known as Trailer Advertising Signs, function as moving billboards. They are affixed to trailers, particularly Box trailers, enabling easy transportability and making them an ideal choice for various outdoor marketing initiatives. With their visually appealing designs and strategic placement, these Trailer Advertising Signs, also referred to as Trailer Signs or Trailer Billboards, have become a popular choice among businesses aiming to maximize their brand visibility and reach a wider audience. The ability to customize these signs to suit specific marketing needs further enhances their effectiveness as powerful marketing tools.

Importance of Trailer Advertising Signs in Outdoor Marketing

In the vast landscape of outdoor marketing, trailer advertising signs have emerged as powerful tools for brand promotion. They offer exceptional reach and exposure to a diverse audience. Whether it's a bustling city centre, a lively trade show, or a crowded event, trailer advertising signs have the ability to captivate the attention of passers-by and leave a lasting impression.

Key Features and Benefits of Trailer Advertising Signs

Trailer advertising signs offer several key features and benefits that make them an attractive option for businesses. They provide a large display area, allowing for highly visible and impactful brand messaging. Additionally, these signs can be equipped with LED screens, ensuring enhanced visibility even during night-time. Moreover, trailer advertising signs can be customized to suit specific marketing objectives, enabling businesses to convey their unique selling propositions effectively.

Cost-Effectiveness of Trailer Advertising Signs

Compared to traditional advertising methods, trailer advertising signs offer a cost-effective solution for outdoor marketing campaigns. They eliminate the need for recurring expenses associated with static billboards or print media. By investing in a trailer advertising sign, businesses can achieve long-term visibility and brand recognition without incurring exorbitant costs.

Comparing Trailer Advertising Signs with Traditional Advertising Methods

Trailer advertising signs offer distinct advantages over traditional advertising methods, such as static billboards or print media. They provide flexibility, mobility, and customization options that static ads cannot match. Moreover, trailer advertising signs have the potential to reach a larger and more diverse audience, making them a superior choice for businesses aiming to maximize their marketing impact.

[hedgehog-moss]

^ Macron did not enjoy us symbolically shutting him up by banging pans on Monday, and today for his official visit to a small town in the South of France, the Police Prefecture banned pots and pans from city streets. They might have realised it sounded insane, because they artfully phrased it as “passersby are banned from carrying portable sonorous devices” (‘dispositif sonore portatif’—here’s the prefectural decree:)

I won’t blame you if you think that’s too dumb to believe, but TV news today really showed us cops in that town explaining to people that saucepans shall not pass, and old ladies grumbling as they relinquished the old pans they had planned on using for protesting. (My mum lives nearby and was devastated that she didn’t go. “I could have been fined for illegal possession of saucepan... a once-in-a-lifetime crime...”)

(The caption says pans are being confiscated.) The lady on the left went through all five stages of grief at the thought of leaving her pan in police custody, from denial (“seriously?”) to bargaining (“can I keep my tin can?”) and anger (telling a cop “oh, go fuck yourself” on national television in a beautiful Southern accent) then finally, sadly walking away to leave her pan and can atop a pile of other confiscated kitchenware.

People trolled them so hard with the “portable sonorous device” thing that the police prefecture eventually responded that this never meant pans at all, and if police officers banned saucepans it’s because they didn’t understand the prefectural decree. (That meme of someone sweating in front of two buttons and it’s “we admit we issued a laughable (and illegal) decree” vs. “we imply cops have the reading comprehension of an oyster”...) (I tried to find a link for the prefecture spokesperson’s defensive statement but couldn’t find it again :( But I found another article from today saying protesters threw potatoes and eggs at gendarmes so it was a worthwhile google search.)

Here’s a tweet with a video:

For a visit to a village of 4000 people, 600 cops were deployed to ensure Macron’s safety (from seditious kitchen utensils) (okay, and potatoes). Now we’ve got MPs raising philosophical questions like “Can you solve a democratic crisis by banning saucepans...?” and the Association for the Protection of Constitutional Freedoms saying the prefectural decree was illegal as it “seems to associate the act of participating in a saucepan concert with a terrorist threat.” I mean it’s outrageous but also you’ve got to laugh at the absurdist play we find ourselves in.

One last thing:

^ The last sentence of Le Monde’s article summing up today’s presidential visit was: “Macron interacted at length with teachers, sitting in a circle around him on chairs hastily set up outside in the school’s playground”—because trade unionists shut off the power in the building Macron was visiting, for the second time this week, which is always funny.

[ddoxhan]

all I wanna do

like a rain shower in midsummer, I need you cuz all I wanna do is be with you

word count : 5.3k words

genre : fluff revolving around two goofballs; scriptwriter! ningning x office worker! reader; experiencing a disastrous date won't stop you from planning the best date for the love of your life

t/w : none :)

a/n : a light-hearted, playful date with ms ning yizhuo! imagine her laughters throughout the entire thing and just seeing how happy she is being with you 🤍 I love this baby so much :') anyways enjoy !!

outfit? check. water bottles? check. portable fan? check. power bank? check. umbrella? check. snacks for your pretty girlfriend? check. after that disastrous date with yizhuo last time, you were traumatized hence the over-the-board preparation for today's date with her. you had planned a lot of events for the day, hoping that she would be surprised with how you made sure things were to go according to plan. her reactions are just the cutest and no one can tell you otherwise.

regardless of whether it was going to rain, or if you lose her in a crowd as her phone dies, or if she gets incredibly hungry that she's in the mood to murder you. yes, that was how the entire date went the last time when you two headed for a mini concert in the outskirts. just thinking about it again sent chills down your spine. never again, you thought.

as you take a step out of your apartment, that annoying ringtone informed you of who the caller was.

"yeah, babe?"

'on the way? or you just woke up and getting ready to throw on just anything?'

"missy, I'm slaying my fit of the year. and yes, I'm on my way. maybe in another thirty minutes?"

'okay, missy. sounds good to me, see you then babe!'

"love you."

'love you too!'

her voice got softer, as usual walking away from her phone to do her own things. she usually lets you end the call, either you'd end it while chuckling at her antics or listening a little longer to hear her humming a song that's on her 36th spotify playlist.

the sun was shining, the clouds were fluffy, and the bus just passed by the stop before heading for yours. was it more than enough time for you to make it? sure, but, that was if you ran for it. you were definitely not waiting for the next one that was going to be in the next 15 minutes.

the run wasn't too bad, giving you a chance to try out your new pair of sneakers. definitely not made for running, but they were sure looking amazing with your outfit. yizhuo had gotten them for you when you had finished that torturing physics paper one semester ago but you couldn't get yourself to wear them. she insisted that you wore it after she saw them in a new display box you got for it when she slept over after spending hours playing animal crossing with you.

'jagi, didn't I get those for you?'

'yep.'

'wear them when we go on a date next week.'

'but-'

'no buts.'

so that was how you were striding in these slides. they made you a little taller, which was the perfect height to pull yizhuo into a hug and rub your head on her hair. she hated those the most, but you love the scent of her vanilla shampoo, calming and soothing. as you stared out the bus window from your seat, your lips naturally curled into a smile as you reminisced those times when you and her took the bus home during your uni days.

when you had shared social law with her, you always took the bus with her after classes at the end of the day. you had known that she lived a little further from campus instead of the dorms and you happened to also take the same bus line as she did. acquaintances bloomed into friends, and you took your friendship with her to the next stage when you confessed that you saw her as more than a friend. you were the happiest girl alive when she said that she felt the same too.

when you had graduated with your psychology degree and her with her communication degree, that was when you found out that yizhuo had not lived three bus stops away from yours. and that was also when she had found out that you lived two bus stops before where she supposedly lived. in summary, you were two idiots thinking that you guys were so smart for trying to fool each other.

she did indeed live in the campus dorm, but just got down the stop where her friend lived at, in a way using her as an excuse to spend more time with you. you on the other hand, did similarly to spend more time with her by pretending that you got off at the next stop after hers. for four months straight, you had took a whole trip around the neighbourhood each time you had social law.

till this day, this was still something that you and her would bring up and laugh about at how stupid you two were. but you didn't complain, you were stupid in love with her.

a ring on yizhuo's doorbell was enough to make her frown from finishing her favourite shampoo to smiling as it indicated that her huggable human was by the door. when she swung the door open, she was surprised to find you with a bouquet of crocheted pink tulips and a puffy tote bag. first, you hated tote bags because you were afraid of forgetting them on your seat. second, what occasion was it for the flowers?

"hello, girlfriend."

"hello to you too. what's with the flowers?"

a toothy grin was all it took to convince that it wasn't a special occasion that she knew, but rather one that you wanted to celebrate because, you just wanted to.

"it's 520 days since we've started dating. so yeah, happy 520!"

"and here I thought that I had forgotten our anniversary or something."

"well, it's still something to celebrate about."

if yizhuo had her clumsy and quirky antics, you had your puppy-like and unpredictable antics. it wasn't once or twice that you had showed up to her front door with tulips or roses, be it real or fake, or crocheted. or that one time you had a spur in the moment and made her beef wellington for lunch. you didn't even like cooking that much.

'I saw this recipe and I thought you would like it a lot!' as she quotes from you.

but none of that can stop her from loving you more as each day went by. the good morning and good night texts were a must and meeting up at least once every day was the base, whether it be face-to-face or through facetime. as much as she could feel her fatigue from her day fade away when she saw that smile of yours, so did you when you heard that laughter of hers when you crack a joke.

"thank you, babe. I like it a lot."

she tiptoed to press a little peck on your cheek, which led to that big ass grin on your face and your tail would have wagged hard like a helicopter, if you had one. seeing your usual reaction, yizhuo went back to her room to proceed getting ready for the day. oh, did you mention that she looks amazing even when she had her hair up in a messy bun, and the most worn out, comfortable home clothes? yeah, now you know.

as you took your spot on the couch, it didn't take her longer than 20 minutes to be in the cutest outfit for your anticipated outing. the opening of her bedroom door prompted you to stand by the shoe rack and put your shoes on.

"ready?"

"mhm."

after you leaving her place, she naturally headed over to the bus stop while you stepped further from it, making her confused at the way you had a mischievous smile on your face. you walked over to her and dragged her along to the nearest car rental shop, rendering her further confusion.

leaving her at the entrance for a bit, you returned while twirling a shiny key with a far too recognizable logo printed on it,

"I knew we were going to the aquarium, but you didn't mention anything about driving there. when did you even have a driver's license?"

"well, surprise."

driving wasn't a practical option since you lived four bus stops away from your now alma mater. public transportation was a pain in the ass during before and after work peak hours but that was more worth than paying for the parking fee. that included having not told yizhuo about your driving capabilities.

your campus was practically in the middle of the city where most necessities were within public transportation reach. it didn't really matter if you had a car or not cause that was how convenient travelling for stuff was. if there was a need for a car, you would just ask minjeong for hers since she drives. even now, you could get to your job without a car, and you only head to office 3 days a week.

"and you rented a BMW?"

"yes?"

the look on her face darkened further as she couldn't comprehend your spending tendencies. you weren't a thrifty douchebag, so this was really a firsthand experience of you being willing to spend so much when there were cheaper options.

"please tell me you're joking. this could easily cost you half of your monthly salary for a day."

"okay okay, yes, I'm joking."

"thank god."

" but I did buy a kawasaki though."

yizhuo's jaw could not drop further as you said those seven words. she couldn't even form words, let alone sentences.

"wha- huh- you- eh?"

"come on, I got a second hand one so it's a lot cheaper. and it was a snatch with its low mileage."

the whole ride to the aquarium was just her bombarding you with questions on why you decided to get a motorcycle, when did you get your driver's license and a whole lot more. the entire ride there. though you weren't annoyed, you found it adorable that she wanted to know more. you being down bad was an understatement, you were just so in love with her that you don't see any chance of you getting back from being down bad.

you sure didn't need a second hand kawasaki to get to work considering the many reasons that would have stopped you from getting it. but there was one extremely big reason to get it that surpass every other. it was yizhuo. at the end of every day where you would drop by her place to spend time together, she would tell you about the things she encountered on the way home on the train, be it good or bad.

you were content with listening to how she would coo at the children and babies she saw, but grimaced at some things she would witness that you don't even want to reiterate. just then you thought, maybe you should get a vehicle to fetch yizhuo after work. as a scriptwriter, the expectation to get things done by her deadlines were brutal, from your nine-to-five job perspective. at times, she would finish past dinner hours and leave the broadcasting station with slumping shoulders while you waited for her at a nearby cafe to have dinner together after she clocks out. it always made a part of your heart ache a little when she drapes her body over you, with her basking in your scent.

she had always reassured you that she would feel her energy pick up when she spots you at your usual spot waiting. and even more so when she hugs you, as if you were her human energizer. but to imagine the days that you wouldn't be there, it was the right decision to get a vehicle for her to relax in after work on the way home. regardless of whether it was this nice BMW or the kawasaki you got, you get to accompany her back home while she talks about her day at the broadcasting station.

to head home together after a long day and lay in her arms on the couch while watching a movie was always your dream. usually her housemates would be around and it wasn't that comfortable to have the whole living room to yourselves. you would either leave after dropping her off or you would spend some time in her room for a while since she would reason that you have work the next day. one day, you would get a house together with her and make that dream a reality. one day.

"for me? this nice ass bike because you wanted me to get home safe?"

"yep."

she looked at you in disbelief, worried that the cost of this damn bike would put a hole in your wallet while you had a sheepish smile knowing exactly what she had in mind.

"I know it sounds crazy but trust me, I've planned this for a long time."

"how long?"

"roughly 5 years."

as yizhuo mentally counted, she figured that that was when you were still freshmen back in university. although she was flattered by the fact that you fell for her since then, she couldn't help but feel bad. and you knew she would from the way her smile fell a little, just enough for you to be able to tell.

"don't feel bad babe. I did say it's for you, but it's also for me, for us. it's a lot better than having to squeeze into the train and having body odour rubbed all over my face."

the joke managed to lift her mood as she giggles at the way she could relate too. well, you could say that this kawasaki was a dream motorcycle that you've had your eye on for some time now too. her hand reached over to yours on the gear stick, her eyes looking into yours, feeling that she was the luckiest girlfriend on earth.

"you're welcome, and let's go see those penguins, shall we?"

"welcome to underwater haven, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! I will be your guide today, so make sure to remember how I look like. you wouldn't wanna get lost and bump into the polar bear."

the crowd laughed at the humor of the male guide, before following to enter into the aquarium for the day.

in one hand, was your professional camera to capture the beauty of the animals (as well as your girlfriend), and yizhuo's hand intertwined with yours in the other. although she was more fond of furry animals in the petting zoos, she absolutely loved the way your eyes would sparkle when you tell her about your favourite aquatic animals that even she had managed to remember by now. you looked like an excited child jumping around and she just wants to give you all the kisses that you deserved for being so cute.

"oh! that's the angelfish. isn't it such a nice shade of pastel blue? and the way they just look so pretty."

"yes yes, very pretty."

and her gaze was just fixated on your smile that hasn't fell ever since you stepped foot in here. she couldn't give a damn about all these fishes that looked the same to her. all it did was make her crave for some good sushi, but she shall not talk about that while you're here. maybe in the next few days, she should bring it up. for now, she would enjoy this aquarium date.

"did you have fun?"

"mhm. did you? weren't you bored a little halfway?"

"I mean yeah but when I look over to you, wow best day ever."

you shot yizhuo a glare before relaxing when you knew that she had eyes only for you.

"I love you too."

that sheepish smile on her face made you chuckle at the way you found it cute, realization for the nth time that you would never be able to win against her. be it her random rendezvous at odd hours or cheeky remarks like this.

"so where would lunch be, ms. 'I have a BMW now so we can go anywhere we want'?"

she's just not gonna let you breathe huh?

"well, it is a thursday today. so you know what that means."

"the bazaar!"

the first time she found out about the bazaar, she had always gone there either alone since her friend had clashing schedules or would resort to the cafeteria food which she disliked a little. after knowing you through social law, she deciced to persuade you to accompany her there.

'you mean be your chaperone?'

'I wouldn't put it that way, think of it that you're there as my food mate.'

it was a weekly food bazaar that happened at the city square, filled with all kinds of food from all around the world. yizhuo was always down to try anything that was edible, while you were just there to be with her as you didn't fancy trying new things.

'come on! try this, the vendor said it's glutinous rice cooked in a bamboo tube.'

'it looks questionable.'

but to be honest, it did taste good. while she had a habit of ordering a variety to try, she wouldn't hesitate to share it with her friends, encouraging them to head to the bazaar to try out too. when you looked back and thought about it, she was also helping out the local businesses that had a hard time. she tried to deny, giving you the reason that they had better food that whatever the cafeteria served. however, you would notice each time you stood by her while she talked to the vendors. the way her eyes fold into crescents, truly grateful that they were doing great.

as you spent more time with her throughout your days, you harbored feelings for her and they just grew out of control when you would malfunction from being around her. you were there once as an acquaintance, now you were back there again, as her girlfriend. wow, thinking about it made you feel overwhelmed.

"are you sure we're able to finish this?"

"if we can't, we could bring it over for minjeong."

"I'm pretty sure she would be too full from lunch with jimin. you know how those two are."

"well, I guess this is all for us!"

just watching yizhuo enjoy the food in front of her made you feel as if you had ate. if your girlfriend was happily full, then so were you. at some point, the vendors didn't change often, and they soon became permanent at the bazaar, being able to find a crowd of customers for themselves. you didn't remember how it happened, but when yizhuo would always recommend it to the people around her, you knew who it was because of.

"what? is there anything on my face?"

your gentle gaze had her rub the sides of her mouth, then her cheeks. full of food while she mumbles, it was just a sight too adorable. you succeeded at holding back your urge to squeeze her cheeks, or you would end up with a flick on your forehead.

"nothing, you just look really pretty."

"thank you, but I can't tell if you're being sarcastic cause I am stuffing my face full of food right now."

"nothing beats a happy girlfriend who loves her food. and it's cute."

extending a hand over to clear that sauce stain on the corner of her mouth, you looked so lovesick, it almost made the people at the table on the right gag. what did single people do to be punished like this?

you would only cut it out with the lovey dovey eyes when yizhuo made sure that you were eating enough unlike when you were in your final year. that final year research paper had you lose 5kg throughout the journey and you wish to not experience that ever again. sleep was an option and so was food. if it wasn't for her threatening to have your meals properly or she would not see you again, you would have probably fainted at least twice that year.

so now, you have a wonderful girlfriend and a stomach full of good food. the day was going spectacularly smooth without any problems. but you spoke too soon when the sun had set and night had came.

after the bazaar lunch, you were to drive to a restaurant by the beach that yizhuo had really wanted to try but didn't insist on going as it was far. since you had rented a car, it was only right to bring her there. before night would fall, it would have been perfect to enjoy the sunset by the time you would have arrived considering the journey.

that was until the car started to smoke on the front all of a sudden. pulling over to the side of the road, you had to call for help from the nearest car repair shop to send a tow truck. you weren't going to risk driving there despite it being a short distance, not with her in the car.

as the tow truck arrived along with another car, you thanked the foreman for offering to drive you two to your destination when he couldn't get you a spare car. nevertheless, you managed to reach just in time to sit by the beach to admire the sunset with yizhuo. that was before it got windy and droplets of rain turned into a downpour.

"why is it always like this whenever we decide to go out for dates?"

she was feeling a little down from the mishaps from the car to the downpour. to be frank, you were too, since you had hoped that the date ended perfectly since she had looked forward to it a lot. although she didn't verbally express her excitement, you could tell from the way she had already put together an outfit for the day a week before and marked the date on her calendar with a big red circle and hearts around it.

"babe, things happen. plus it was my fault that I didn't check the car properly before today."

"it's not your fault, like you said things happen. just why on our dates..."

you were half soaked from the rain even with an umbrella. as you sought shelter at nearby shop, yizhuo wasn't soaked as much because you had wrapped yourself over her to make sure she didn't. that also made her a little more upset as she was scared you would get sick because of her. on the brighter side, you were at a vintage shop where they had quite a collection of film cameras. you had to take the opportunity to get one from here before you left. but first, back to making your girlfriend feel better.

"hey hey, babe. look at me."

you placed your hands on her cheeks and made her face you, squishing them a little. around her colleagues, she was competent and very professional when dealing with the producers and directors at her workplace. but when she comes home and relaxes around you, she would turn into a small little kitten that needed her favourite human pillow. just like how you had her pouting and leaning into your hands.

"things don't have to always go as planned. it's best if it did, but now that it didn't. we're here at this vintage shop and it looks like there's a lot of stuff to explore around here."

"sure we missed the sunset for a little, but we stumbled upon this place."

and with that, your girlfriend was back to her normal self.

"okay, but promise me you're not going to get too many things. nothing else is going to fit that glass case."

"yes, ma'am."

giving her a tiny salute and a cheeky smile, it was another mission success of making the best out of a (sorta) ruined date.

"I did mention not to get too many things, but you did get something that was very expensive."

"but it does take really good film pictures. plus, a good camera to fit the most beautiful model in the world."

yizhuo scoffed at the compliment but couldn't help but blush a little. thankfully, the downpour had come to a stop, only a small drizzle remained.

as you headed towards the restaurant that you had made reservation for, you couldn't help but feel super lucky at that moment as the sky was still lit and the ambience of the waves hitting the shore, as well as the drizzle adding its touch. along with the beautiful sight of her while her hair is blown by the wind, that gorgeous smile making you fall for her all over again.

arriving there, you were brought to your reserved table before ordering whatever she wanted on the menu. the wait wasn't too long, which was good as it was quite eventful before this meal. as you indulged in the local delicacies, you couldn't help asking yizhuo if she was in for some alcohol. and knowing her, she wouldn't pass on the offer.

you only drank a little as you would still need to drive back, as the foreman had mentioned that it wouldn't take till the next day to fix the car. just as you wrapped up your fulfilling meal, your phone rang, indicating the caller to be the foreman.

"yes, mr. lee. is the car done?"

"I'm very sorry miss, but I've called to inform you that we've come across another problem from the engine as we looked into it earlier. we would need another day for it as we are closing soon."

"ohh... umm... alright then. we'll look around for somewhere to stay for the time being. thank you very much."

hearing how you would need to look for somewhere to stay and seeing that apologetic smile plastered on your lips, yizhuo just knew that the plans for the day had changed for third time.

"we need to look for a motel?"

"hey! you don't need to put it that way."

the ends of your ears started burning a little as you hid your face in your hands, trying to lower the rising temperature of your cheeks. her word choice had caught you very off guard while she remained calm.

"it is what it is. plus, we could get separate rooms so why so shy?"

she was definitely having a great time teasing you.

you managed to find a decent place after asking the locals. but being there on the weekends only meant that there was no such things as vacancy. however, you still decided to shoot your shot, praying for two rooms.

"we've got only one room left, with a single bed."

and you definitely didn't expect that shot to miss entirely. it was better than no rooms at all, and it meant using the same room as yizhuo. you had to repeat that to yourself several times to fully register what you had heard. number 1, you had not slept over at her place before as you didn't want her housemates to feel uncomfortable with your unfamiliar presence. number 2, it would only be you and her in a room. nothing would probably happen, given that you would be sleeping on the couch.

"where are you going?"

"to sleep...?"

drying your hair with the provided towel, you glanced over to your girlfriend who already dried her hair and changed into a set of pajamas that you had got from a nearby shop. you were in a similar one with a different color, reminding you too much of what married couples would usually where in dramas. 'enough!', you thought.

as much as you wanted to wake the next morning in your arms, you held yourself back as it might make her uneasy. what if she's not used to sharing the bed with someone? what if she thinks it would be hot? what if you snore? what if―

before you could complete all the possible scenarios from overthinking, yizhuo stretched out her arms, telling you to hug her. and so you did. as you fell for her temptation, she pulled you in closer to make you fall onto the bed. as she leaned over to place her lips on yours, your brain short-circuited with too many things happening at once. pulling away, all she saw was a shocked puppy speechless and thoughtless.

"you good?"

"huh?"

"were you going to sleep on the couch?"

"yeah..."

it was as if you lost your ability to speak because all you could do was nod or give short answers to her questions. well, you were being considerate for your girlfriend in case she didn't want to share the bed with you and you were more than willing to let her have the bed for herself. after all, the bed wasn't the biggest and it was just fitting for two people, no more, no less. but she didn't mind at all.

"why when we could just sleep together?"

you hit her a few times for her choice of words and she just wondered what she said so wrong. 'sleep together', technically you were going to sleep together but not sleep together. there was a difference, but you were just being overly sensitive from the way that your body was in close proximity with yizhuo.

it wasn't like you didn't cuddle with her before in the living room while watching dramas and movies. it wasn't like you didn't hug her every single time you would leave by the end of the day. it wasn't like she wasn't already clingy and always finding an excuse to stick right next to you, be it be holding hands or just pulling you into a bear hug. but why was this time so different just because it was on a bed?

"you could take this as practice before we get married in the future."

right, that was why it made you so fidgety and anxious like a teenage girl who was in love with her first love. true enough, she was your first love, if you were to minus out the short fling back in high school that wasn't even a relationship nor situationship.

your relationship had not even turned 2 years old and yizhuo already had confidence in that you would marry her when the time comes. and she was darn right that you would. that day just sealed the deal where you definitely couldn't see yourself spending the rest of your life with someone else other than her.

the way she would enjoy your rants about sea animals that she couldn't care less, the way she reminds you about spending too much, the way she held your hand throughout the whole date.

although she wasn't interested in the many species of fishes that you knew, she didn't complain about it and just enjoyed how you were ecstatic about them. she would nag you a little about getting too many vintage cameras when you wouldn't even use some of them, but she knew that every single one you've bought had at least taken one picture of her. she knew that physical affection wasn't your way of expression where gift giving and words of affirmation was, she made sure that you felt hers.

just like this very moment, you could feel it through the way her gaze bores into your eyes, letting you know that she loved you as much as you did for her, if not more.

"okay, if you say so, wifey."

"oh? already agreeing to the proposal?"

"no way, I will be the one proposing to you in the best way possible when that day comes."

"but does that mean you want to marry me?"

yizhuo was glad to see how you snapped out of your trance with the playful banter between you and her. not only that, your string of thoughts had brought you to a conclusion that sounded like the best one to your life story.

"yes, ms. ning yizhuo. I would love to marry you."

"cause all I wanna do is be with you."

[metmotleysgirl127]



Summary: James is nervous about a show and reader comforts him. Some fluff turns into hot sex back stage.

Warnings- anger, sex, scratching, public sex, swearing, slight overstimulation.

I was helping the guys get ready for a concert. It was their very first concert of the tour. “Fuck!”, James says, looking at his pants. “What’s wrong babe?”, I asked. “My fucking pants ripped”, he says throwing the cup he was drinking out of. Whatever he was drinking spilled all over the floor. “Okay, okay. Hold on you have another pair”, I say going to his portable closet. He grumbled to himself and sat down. I walked over to him with a new pair of pants. “You think I should use some of your makeup to cover these scars?”, he says, looking at his face. “Why would you do that?”, I asked. “I hate it. Since it’s happened I hated it.”, James says. “Honey, that happened 30 years ago. And I think it adds to your handsomeness”, I say, kissing his scars. “You think so”, he asked, tearing up. “They look badass man”, Kirk says, looking up from his guitar. “Baby, you're having anxiety about the show. Do not doubt yourself. It’s not your first ever show. You know what you're doing! You can do this”, I say, kissing him. “Yeah?”, he asked. “Yeah”, I chuckled, kissing him again. “Yeah baby, don’t worry”, Lars says, messing with him and kissing his cheek. “Ewww”, James says. Everyone laughed and James rolled his eyes playfully. “No tears”, I say, wiping his face. “Now collect yourself and get dressed”, I say, then walk over to the couch. “Yes ma’am”, James says, taking his pants off. I saw a girl walk over with paper towels. “Oh I got it honey”, I say, standing up. “Are you sure?”, she asked. I nodded and she gave me the paper towels. She walked out and I got on my knees, cleaning up James' mess up. “You don’t have to do that”, James says, putting his new pants on. “I got it”, I replied, getting more towels out. “Thanks baby girl”, James says. I nodded and then stood up, throwing the paper towels away. I walked over to James and smacked his ass. He jumped. “I like you in leather pants”, I say, putting my arms around his torso.”Oh yeah,” he asked, pulling me around so he could see me. “Mhm. It hugs your ass just right. And other areas”, i say, grabbing his ass and pulling him towards me. He laughed, putting his hands on my face and kissing me. “Hey, get a room”, Kirk says, taking a sip of his tea. “We might have to”, he says. “Or they can leave”, I chuckled, kissing him again. He responded with a “mhm”. “Yeah so you guys can fuck on my drum set? No thanks”, Lars says, turning his hat backwards . “On in five guys”, the stage manager says. I looked at James and pulled his head down so it connected with mine. “You got this. You’ve done this many times. You are James mother fucking hetfield. Everyone loves what you do. I love what you do and I love you. Go out and rock it baby. Then you can rock me after the show”, I say, kissing him. I whispered the last part. “Alright let’s go”, Robert says. James gives me one last kiss and we all leave towards the stage.

Time skip

James came off stage and kissed me. I laughed as he pulled me under the stage. “James, what are you doing? '' I asked. He kissed me again and got on his knees. He pulled my underwear down and put them in his pocket. He then lifted my leg and put it over his shoulder. He lifted my skirt slightly and started eating me out. “Fuck James!”, I say, gripping onto his silver hair. “James, people are looking”, I say, then moaning, throwing my head back. He didn’t care and nipped at my clit. I nearly screamed as he pushed his fingers inside me. I watched as workers smirked at us and some tried their best to ignore us. “James, James, fuck!”, I moaned. “Cum for me baby”, he says, curling his fingers. “Oh!”, I squealed, laying my head against the equipment boxes. He started sucking on my clit again and his tongue danced on my cunt. “I’m gonna cum. James, I’m cumming!”, I screamed. I came with a loud moan and squirted all over his face. He opened his mouth to catch it. I was still gripping onto his hair as I came down from my high. My legs shook and I looked down at him, smiling. He whipped his mouth and stood up. “Wanna go finish this somewhere else?”, he says. I nodded and we walked back out of the stage. All the fans were screaming and reaching for James. He put an arm around me and waved to the fans as we walked down to the exit. We walked down the hallway and he pushed against the wall unexpectedly. “James, babe. I love you but we are not having sex in the hallway”, I giggled as he kissed my neck. He lifted my hips onto the table and unzipped his pants. “James!”, I gasped. “Nobody’s around sweet cheeks, I need you”, he says, pulling his boxers down just so his dick was out. I wrapped my legs around his waist and held onto the back of his neck. He pushed into me and moaned, and I gasped at the sudden fullness. He laid me down on the table and started fucking me, putting a hand on my breast. “Oh, oh fuck”, I moaned. “Oh god! Fuck you squeeze me so good baby. So good”, he says, leaning down and kissing me. I screamed as he hit my g spot over and over again. He made big eyes and covered my mouth. “Gotta be quiet baby. Don’t want anyone to come runnin”, he says, nibbling on my ear. I gripped onto his leather vest and threw my head back. “James! James! JAMES!”, I moaned. “Mhm baby, baby. I’m gonna cum. Fill you up so good”, he says, kissing up my neck. I cried out, digging my nails into his back; “Fuck, FUCK”, he booms. “Who’s being loud now”, I giggled. He groaned, pulling my hair back as he came inside me. “So good, so good”, he says, laying his head on my chest. “Fuck me a little bit more, I’m close. Please”, I beg. He nods and uses the rest of his energy to deliver my second and powerful orgasim. “FUCK”, I moaned, pulling him closer to me. I whined as I came down from my high and he stopped moving, breathing heavily into my chest. “You alright baby?”, I asked. He nodded and looked up at me smiling. He pulled out and then shoved himself back into his pants. I laid there still sex drunk. “Are you okay?”he asked, pulling me up by my arms. I nodded and he kissed me and pulled my skirt down. “Can I have my underwear back”, I asked. He nodded and I stood up, putting them on. “Let’s head back to the dressing room.”, he says, putting an arm around me. We started walking and heard Lars and Kirk. “Oh fuck james, oh my god!”, they both said loudly. “ Shut up”, James says, putting both of them in a headlock. The men both struggled. “Are you gonna stop?”James asked. They both nodded and James let them go. “Assholes”.

.

.

.

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Little bit longer one but I hoped you like it.

[ladamedusoif]

Music (Marcus Moreno x Music Teacher F!Reader)

A Merry Fic-Mas - December 5

Part of A Merry Fic-Mas: A Holiday Fic Calendar - click for masterlist. FYI: I'm having so much trouble with taglists at the moment that I'm not going to use them for now - if you want to keep updated, follow @ladameecrit and turn on notifications.

Pairing: Marcus Moreno x Music Teacher F!Reader

Rating: Teen

Warnings: Fluff; intended as taking place after the events of We Can Be Heroes; one very tiny minor swear; Missy plays the trumpet; some references to Christmas carols and A Christmas Carol; yes the denouement is partly inspired by a scene in Love, Actually; no physical descriptions of reader; no use of Y/N; Marcus Moreno in a Fair Isle sweater.

Word count: 1565

Summary: Marcus Moreno is a Band Dad. You’re Missy’s music teacher and director of the junior high school orchestra. And you might have a tiny crush on a Heroic. And where better to realise that than at the holiday concert?

“Marcus. Marcus. MARCUS!”

Anita Moreno stands in the doorway of her son’s kitchen, wondering why Marcus is so oblivious to her voice as he empties the dishwasher, back turned. 

“Oh, shit!” He lets a plate fall, startled by the seemingly sudden apparition of his mother. “Hi, Mom.” Marcus removes a pair of earplugs, scoops up the broken crockery, and crosses the room to embrace Anita.

“Earplugs, mijo?”

He shrugs and points upstairs, in the general direction of his daughter Missy’s bedroom. The strains of the trumpet solo on Joy to the World float through the house.

“She’s practicing extra hard for the holiday concert in a couple of weeks. She’s really good, Mom, she’s a star soloist. But… there’s only so many times you can hear the same stuff."

Anita huffs a laugh. “Been there, done that. I was secretly very glad when you decided you didn’t want to keep up piano lessons.”

Your rehearsal with the school orchestra is winding to a close with a final run through of Carol of the Bells, when you catch a glimpse of Marcus Moreno slipping quietly into the little auditorium and taking a seat near the back. He nods towards you in recognition, and you return the gesture while continuing to conduct the musicians. 

Missy joined the orchestra a couple of months after her mother died, the camaraderie and creative outlet a useful form of therapy for a grieving child. Marcus, understandably, had been a little protective of her at first: ensuring he was there to pick her up after evening rehearsals, insisting on driving her to weekend day-long training and performance events, and always being one of the first to arrive for every show.

You had a quiet, teacherly pride in the way Missy had grown in confidence and independence since joining the group. Marcus still sometimes arrived early for pick up, settling in to hear the last piece of music at the back of the room, just like this evening. And he remained an enthusiastic “band dad”, as his Heroic colleagues teasingly called him. He’d worked closely with you on fundraising events over the years, and gladly used his public profile to boost support for programmes designed to give instruments to children otherwise unable to afford them. You had come to enjoy spending time with him, quietly thrilled whenever he would appear at rehearsal or join you at funding drives.

The final note rings out from the handbell section. Your hand signal marks the end of the piece. The teenagers begin chattering excitedly, and Marcus “Band Dad” Moreno applauds in the back row. 

You can’t help but laugh when he starts cheering “Bravo!”, sending a mortified Missy diving for cover behind her trumpet case. He swiftly walks down the aisle when he notices you struggling to fold up the portable music stands, insisting on lending a hand as you start wrangling them off stage. He makes short work of it, lifting them with little to no effort and carrying them in his strong arms.

“Sounding great, as always,” he muses, stacking the stands in the little music store room. “I’m really looking forward to the show. Missy’s been practicing every minute she gets, she’s so excited about that solo.”

“She’s a talented musician, Marcus.” You lean in conspiratorially. “Even so, I hope you have invested in those earplugs I recommended. No matter how talented she is.”

He smiles that warm, genuine smile that somehow feels like the sun coming out, even in the depths of midwinter, and leans even closer. “Two pairs, just in case. And thank you. Seriously, thank you.”

“Has anyone heard from Missy?”

Your musicians shake their heads. It’s 6.55pm, the show is due to begin at seven, and there’s no sign of your lead trumpeter. The students have been trying to contact her on every social platform they can (and that’s a lot), and you’ve left a voicemail for Marcus.

“I’m going to try her dad one more time. For now: please take your places. If she doesn’t show, we’ll just have to fudge Joy to the World.”

Your left hand twitches nervously as you pace around backstage, listening to the ringing tone on the other end of the line. The telltale click of a call going to voicemail makes your heart sink. 

“Marcus, hi, just me again. Um, we’re a little worried to have not heard from you or Missy and we hope you’re both okay. Please don’t panic and get here whenever you can, okay? But be safe. Hope you’re safe.”

As you hang up, you realise just how worried you are about them. 

Marcus is getting out of his car before it has fully come to a halt, grabbing Missy’s bags and setting off at speed in the direction of the back entrance into the auditorium when his daughter calls him back. 

“Dad! You forgot to turn off the engine?”

He swears under his breath, sprints back to the vehicle, and grabs Missy by the hand as they run into the school. 

“Do you think we’ve missed your solo? I’m so sorry, sweetheart, you know how work gets sometimes and -”

Missy thinks for a moment, listening carefully to the music coming from the auditorium as she leads her dad down the narrow backstage corridors. “No, they’re still on In the Bleak Midwinter,” she whispers in reply. “Then there’s an intermission, and then it’s Joy to the World.”

Marcus exhales in relief, but keeps up his pace. “Phew. Okay. Guess we have to wait for intermission, right? Do you feel okay? Able to go on? Not too out of breath?”

Missy pats her dad on the arm. “It’s fine, Dad. I’ve got this.”

The orchestra and vocalists file off for the short intermission and you follow close behind, mentally trying to work out how to cover up the missing solo in the second half of the show. 

And there they are. Missy, silently practicing on her silver trumpet, while Marcus, wearing a dark green sweater with a Fair Isle pattern around the yoke, stands with his arms folded and what can only be described as a look of sheer anxiety on his face.

“You’re here! You’re okay! I mean, uh… you made it!”

Marcus looks up at the sound of your voice and shrugs apologetically. “I’m so sorry, it was…work stuff, I can’t… I’m so sorry, is it still okay for Missy to perform? She’s worked so hard and -”

Instinctively, you place a reassuring hand on his forearm. He feels warm and solid under the soft yarn. 

“Breathe, Marcus. Of course she’s performing. I’m just so happy you’re both here.”

He unfolds his arms, visibly relaxing, and lightly touches your shoulder. “I’m happy we’re here, too.”

Is he…blushing?

Missy’s solo is, as expected, a triumph. She plays better than she’s ever done before, the house erupting in applause as the piece ends and she takes a special bow. 

You have a little break now from conducting duties, as the orchestra remains on stage while a couple of students from the drama club perform extracts from A Christmas Carol. You return backstage to get a drink of water, and find Marcus standing behind the black curtains serving as a backdrop, peeking through and beaming with pride and delight at his daughter.

“She’s wonderful, Marcus.” 

He nods as you stand beside him. “She is. But she has a great teacher, too. You’ve been so important to us - I mean, to her - the last few years.”

Now it’s your turn to feel heat rise through your body as you become aware of just how close you are to him, of the feelings that refuse to go away, no matter how much you try to suppress them. 

Even in the semi-darkness, you can see how he’s looking at you from behind his glasses. Warm. Kind. And…wanting?

There’s no one else around. Everyone else is either on stage or in the auditorium. 

You move closer simultaneously, leaning in and inclining your head in anticipation of what you think - hope - is about to happen. And then those big, broad hands are caressing your face and cradling it as his plush lips meet yours, his moustache a little ticklish against the soft skin of your mouth, and your arms wrap around Marcus’s broad body as his kiss intensifies.

The student acting as narrator is declaiming how Ebenezer Scrooge was a second father to Tiny Tim - who did not die - as Marcus Moreno holds you tight and kisses you. Even Dickens couldn’t top this.

And then you forget, for an instant, where you are. Marcus shifts just a little too much to the right, you move with him, and with a thundering crash the backdrop falls from the rigging to the floor, exposing the two of you wrapped around each other.

The kid playing Tiny Tim isn’t going to let anything interrupt his big moment, not even the music teacher making out with a literal superhero on stage during the big holiday concert. As the auditorium gasps, the orchestra swivels and stares, and Missy slumps forward and groans, he doesn’t miss a beat as he throws his arms wide and proclaims: “God bless us, every one!”

[mischiefandmedicine]

Very Full - Chapter 12: End of the Dream

Summary: Tragedy strikes requiring Loki to seek help from enemy acquaintances.

Word Count: 4,152 words.

Chapter Warnings: Implied nudity, fire, hospital, health problems, injury/trauma.

Soundtrack Link

This Chapter's Music Inspiration:

End of the Dream by Evanescence

Very Full MASTERLIST

Previous Chapter

A/N: As per usual, I just want to say that I do not own the rights to the lyrics. I did, however, imagine that Melara wrote this song, because the lyrics fit so perfectly into hers and Loki's story.

Let me know if you would like to be added to the taglist!

In a time not bound by the linear march that mortals call chronology, there came a calm. Melara, with a newborn Saoirse cradled in her arms, found a semblance of peace. It was a fragile time, woven from the silken threads of lullabies and the steadfast presence of Loki, who lingered just long enough to ensure the safety and care of his daughter and the love he had left behind in the mortal realm.

Loki had duties and they required him to keep his strength. Projecting such a strong connection to Melara’s timeline for months on end cost him strength and energy that he could not always spare.

 Evelyn, a beacon of support, would often step in when Loki was called away to tend to his throne. The nights were long, and Saoirse, colicky and restless, would cry into the wee hours, her wails a stark contrast to the serene stillness of the multiverse. Yet it was in the embrace of music that both mother and daughter found their solace, their shared strength. Melara would hum softly, melodies weaving around Saoirse, calming the tempest within her tiny form.

Time, ever the fickle stream, flowed on, and Melara, with her little star in tow, began to traverse the country, her music making her own body stronger with each passing day. Her voice, her music, touched the hearts of many, and soon her journey expanded, crossing oceans and borders, until the whole world became her stage. But with the spotlight came shadows, and odd occurrences began to weave themselves into the narrative of Melara’s life on the road with infant Saoirse. Power outages at concerts, instruments that burst into flame of their own accord, and more such peculiar happenings that left audiences both bewildered and entranced.

Melara shrugged these things off, assuming that her daughter, a princess, and heir to the god of mischief’s throne, had been passed her own magic and mischief that was uncontrollable. It was a theory that was not without merit, but the reality was that little Saoirse was not the cause.

But in the tapestry of one particular night that draped over upstate New York, Melara’s latest performance had seemingly cast a spell of enchantment. Her voice had ebbed away into the velvet darkness of the countryside. Once Melara had returned to the hotel, her place of respite in between performances and appearances, the words of her songs etched into her heart as she felt a longing for Loki to be by her side once again.

High above, in the penthouse suite, Melara took refuge on the balcony, having just nestled her daughter into the cocoon of a portable crib. The city below was a lattice of light and shadow, a mosaic of the mundane and the magical, unbeknownst to the brewing tempest of fate. As the cool breeze nipped at her skin, Melara felt the stirrings of a familiar sting to her nerves.

The suite was a realm of silence now, save for the soft breathing of her sleeping baby. Melara, her body weary from the night’s exertions, felt her body succumbing to the call of pain threatening to overtake her body once more. Yet, as she sought refuge in the solitude of her room, a peculiar heat began to unfurl within her, a companion to the pain that clawed underneath her skin. It was a heat that bore no kinship with the warmth of the stage lights she so often basked in. It clawed at her senses, urging her towards the cool solace of a shower, where the water ran like rivulets from a winter’s thaw.

Stripping her clothes off in a flash, Melara found herself doused in cold water, but steam poured from her skin as though she were molten lava reaching the ice-cold seas below a volcano. As the cold streams cascaded over her flesh, Melara’s thoughts swirled like the steam around her – a frenzy of longing and solitude. She chastised herself for the stubborn pride that made her decline Evelyn’s company, her mother’s foresight now seeming like a beacon of wisdom in the haze of her fatigue. The independence she sought now felt like an albatross around her neck, a self-imposed exile. She had insisted on carving her own path, a lone figure silhouetted against the daunting expanse of her dreams.

The silence of the suite was stark in contrast to the disharmony of her inner turmoil. She missed Loki – his presence, which was both comforting and confounding, had become an anchor in the tumultuous sea of her life. The whisper of his name against the tiles of the shower was a prayer, a wish, a conjuration she half hoped would summon him to her side. But the only solace she could find was to turn off the shower, wrap herself in a towel, and retreat to the confines of the oversized bed.

Her dreams were not comforting either. She found herself lost in the same nightmare she had every night. The burning strands of the infinite timelines in Loki’s grasp. She would feel her limbs tangled within them, pain searing through her flesh as she fought to break free. Loki, commander of ice would put the fire out, but at a cost to himself and many of the timelines for which he had sacrificed so much. He had the choice to save her or the strands of time, but he could not offer refuge to both. He would always choose the timelines. Every time. The look in his eyes when he had finally made the heartbreaking decision to put the fire out, all at the expense of Melara tangled within them as she screamed in agony.

A sudden cracking in the air pulled her from the dream, gasping for oxygen, but not able to find it. The sounds that had pulled her from her frantic dreams seemed alien to the rhythm of the night. It began as an undercurrent, a whisper beneath the threshold of hearing, growing to an insistent sizzle that set Melara’s already pained nerves on edge. The air turned acrid, a prelude to the scream of alarms that soon shattered the quiet.

Melara’s heart lurched as she tore herself from the bed, a robe her only armor against the unfolding chaos. The suite had transformed into an inferno, the flames a ravenous beast devouring the walls that had once promised her rest. Saoirse’s cries pierced the roar of the fire, a clarion call that galvanized Melara into action.

Barefoot and hair still drenched from the cold shower, she raced through the flames, her only thought of Saoirse, her little star in peril. The fire licked at her heels, a predator snapping at its prey, but Melara was undeterred. Her arms ached to hold and comfort her daughter, to shield her from the fury of the blaze, but it had burned too bright and too hot for her to reach the door to the room where her daughter lay.

Separated from her crying child by walls now licked by fire, Melara’s heart was seized by terror. With her voice, raw and powerful, she called out, a name that was both a plea and a summons, “Loki!”

As if conjured by the sheer force of her frantic will, Loki materialized amidst the chaos, the god now a savior in the searing heat. With the fabric of his cloak unfurling like the wings of a raven, Melara watched, calling out between coughs as he traversed the inferno, an ethereal figure against the consuming flames. His heart, often shrouded in enigma, now beat in tandem with the mortal dread of losing what was most precious.

Breaking down the door in a flash of green, Loki found Saoirse enveloped in a cocoon of purple shimmer, her cries muted by the roar of the fire. Scooping her into his arms, he further shielded her from the embers’ wrath with a mantle of energy unmatched. Through smoke and flame, he carried her, the heir to worlds lost, to safety, her tiny heartbeat a drum against his chest. Seeing Melara, now sputtering in the smoke and flames, he ushered the family out of the burning building in a flash.

Outside, the night air was a cold shock to their senses. Melara, escaping just moments after Loki, smiled as she met Loki’s gaze, seeing him rocking Saoirse, attempting to shush her cries as they watched the building burn. Overcome, Melara collapsed to the ground, her strength failing her just steps away from the blaze of the hotel. Her voice, which had called upon gods and enchanted mortals, now faltered, a mere whisper carried by the wind.

In the aftermath, as the first responders tended to the flames and survivors, the onlookers whispered of miracles. Loki, with Saoirse safe in his embrace, knelt by Melara’s side. Her skin, once kissed by the spotlight, now lay pale in the moon’s ghostly hue. The night air was filled with the sounds of distant sirens and the murmurs of the gathering crowd, but Loki’s focus was solely on Melara, her shallow breaths a counterpoint to the pounding of his immortal heart.

With a tender gentleness that belied his chaotic nature, he handed Saoirse to a paramedic, reaching to cradle Melara in his arms. His voice, a soft incantation, called her back from the brink, “Melara, hear my voice. Follow it back to me, to Saoirse. We need you.”

There, in the shadow of the smoldering hotel, under the gaze of a silent cosmos, Loki conjured the essence of Asgard’s healing magic, a luminescent thread woven from the fabric of the universe. It danced upon his fingertips, a ballet of light seeking to mend and restore.

Melara’s eyelids fluttered open, her spirit grappling with the tether that pulled her homeward. And as her eyes met Loki’s, there was an unspoken understanding that passed between them. He had answered her call, he had saved their daughter, but the night’s ordeal had exacted a price – a debt that would shape the destiny of all three.

As she came to full consciousness, Melara coughed again, attempting to express words of gratitude to Loki, but as the air hit her vocal chords, so did the realization of the level of anguish she was in from the attack that she had tried to avoid. Her back arched, her ruby lips parting, eliciting a piercing scream so treacherous as it fell from her lips, it shook the ground surrounding them.

***

Loki’s gaze was a tempest of green, swirling with the power of ancient magic and the depth of his despair as he watched Melara wrestle with the pain that gripped her. The hospital room, bathed in the sterile light of necessity, was a haunting reminder of the last time the pair had been in this situation. Machines beeped and hummed, a discordant symphony to the rhythm of Melara’s heart – steady, yet fragile.

Loki stood there, a god amongst men, feeling the weight of his own helplessness. His magic had always been his ally, his weapon, his shield, but now it hung uselessly at his side, unable to soothe the agony that wracked Melara’s body. He had already tried to heal the burns and smoke inhalation, to weave the threads of restoration through her with his magic, but the pain she now faced was a different beast – one that his powers could not quell.

Saoirse, innocent to the gravity of the situation, lay in his arms, her small hand reaching out towards her mother, grasping for a connection that, for now, was just out of reach. Her coos were a balm to the cold dread that had settled over Loki, a gentle reminder of life amidst the sterile echoes of the ICU.

The doctor’s voice broke through the quiet, a solemn timbre that carried the weight of his words. “Mr. Odinson,” he began, an address born of formality in the face of the inexplicable. “I’m afraid we need to place Melara in a medically induced coma. Her metabolism is incredibly high and she is burning through medication to keep this pain at bay. It’s the only way to allow her body to rest, to try and get past this episode.”

Loki’s heart clenched; a visceral reaction to the words that threatened to sever his hope. A coma. The word hung in the air, a specter of the unknown. He looked down at Melara, her once vibrant face now a canvas of pain and exhaustion. Nodding slowly to the doctor, he granted the silent assent they needed to proceed.

Melara, the woman who had captivated his ancient heart, lay before him, her vitality ebbing into a void with each excruciating scream. The doctors, these mortals vested with the knowledge of healing arts, spoke in hushed tones, but their words were a tangled lexicon that grated against Loki’s ears. They spoke of comas, of metabolic cascades and analgesic thresholds – of pain so profound that even their most potent of medicines faltered in its wake.

As the medical team worked with quiet efficiency, preparing Melara for the deep sleep that would, hopefully, be her respite, Loki’s mind raced. But as the medications were administered, the heart monitor picked up. It was like her body was fighting the very efforts to stop her insides from burning. Melara’s bloodshot eyes snapped open, her face contorting in agony even worse than it had outside the hotel. Tears streamed down her face before another cry of anguish escaped her lips, so loud, so penetrating that the medical staff collapsed to the ground, holding their ears to mute the onslaught of wails as the glass windows of the tiny room shattered around them.

Loki’s mind went wild, every thought a shard of ice, sharp, cold, and desperate. To see Melara in such torment was torture greater than any punishment meted out by his brother’s hand, the Allfather’s decrees, or even what he’d experienced at the hands of Thanos before being sent to take New York. It was the agony of a soul, a test of his very essence.

He had tried, gods, how he had tried. With the whispered incantations and the force of his will, he had sought to weave a tapestry of healing around her, to mend the burns, to soothe the hurt. But the malady that had gripped her now was a menace that danced just beyond the reaches of his magic – a flame that no spell could quench. What good would all the power of the universe be if he could not save her?

In the communion of their intertwined hands, he felt the fevered heat of her skin, a glaring contrast to the chill of his Frost Giant flesh. It was a heat that seemed to burn him from the inside, a reflection of the fire that raged within her, unseen but deeply felt.

It was obvious to Loki that the love of his life, the mother of his child, was experiencing no ordinary pain, no ordinary illness. There was another place, a place where science and magic danced in a delicate duet – a place where the best scientific minds and the most advanced technologies converged. It would be dangerous for him to travel there, but it was a place that would likely be the only hope to ease Melara’s supernatural affliction. The Avengers’ compound.

To take Melara there was to risk everything. His pride, his secrecy, his very being could be unraveled by those who had every reason to distrust him. Yet, as he watched the rise and fall of Melara’s chest, each breath an echo of the vibrant life she once embodied, he knew there was no other choice.

With a heart heavy with trepidation, Loki made his decision. He took Melara’s hand, her skin nearly burning to the touch. He enveloped her with his magic. “Hold on, my heart,” he whispered, his voice barely more than a breath. “I will not let this be the end of your song. There is yet one more haven we have not sought. I will take you there no matter what the cost.”

In a shimmer of emerald light, the boundaries of space and time bent to his will. The walls of the ICU, the machines, and the world he had come to know as Melara’s refuge from the stage, all dissolved into the ether. They were traversing the fabric of reality of her timeline itself, moving through space in a way that only Loki, the god that he was, could command.

They arrived at the Avengers compound, a place that was a nexus of heroism and home to some of Earth’s mightiest protectors. The air crackled with power and in the wake of their arrival, a hush fell over the compound.

The heroes, ever vigilant, ever ready, were taken aback by the sudden appearance of the Asgardian god of mischief, an infant in his arms, and a woman whose pain was written in the lines of her face, the pallor of her skin, and the cries escaping her lips. But this was not the Loki the original team had fought in New York, certainly not the adversary they had once known. This was a man whose face had been twisted with the torment of seeing the woman he loved suffer.

“Help her,” Loki implored, his voice carrying the command of royalty and the whispered plea of a man whose entire universe hung in the balance. “I know you all are ready to fight me, but she…she has fought with the courage of the mightiest warriors, and now she needs your strength, your knowledge. Please…”

A man, wearing the same colors as Captain America once had, stepped forward, to take Saoirse from Loki’s arms, smiling at the baby and greeting her gently to gain her trust. Once his arms were free of his squirming child, Loki gently picked Melara up to cradle her in his arms. An exhausted Melara, just moaned, tears streaming down her face as Loki carried her through the compound to the medical bay.

By Melara’s side, he remained, a sentinel against the dark tide of her pain, with Saoirse being cared for by other members within the compound. And Bruce Banner – who had been moved by Loki’s sincere pleas for help – worked tirelessly, blending his knowledge of science and some of magic. The night gave way to the promise of dawn quickly.

The compound, once a battlefield, was now a cradle of hope, and in its embrace, Melara, Saoirse, and Loki found the strength to face the coming day. For in the hearts of heroes and gods alike, the power of unity and the will to protect the ones we cherish transcend all differences, forging alliances in the crucible of necessity. The compound became a testament to this newfound accord, as each Avenger lent their expertise to the effort.

In the medical bay, a symphony of technology and expertise buzzed around Melara as she came in and out of consciousness, body contorted to its limits in insurmountable excruciating pain. Banner and Loki, side by side, worked with a focus that belied the underlying urgency of the situation. Each monitor, each device, was a lifeline that hummed with the promise of healing. They were the best of two worlds – Midgard and Asgard – and they pooled their knowledge, seeking a way to pull Melara back from the precipice on which she precariously stood.

Loki, often with Saoirse still in his arms, watched the Avengers move with precision. He saw them not the warriors of old but as allies in the fight for Melara’s life. It was an unexpected solidarity, born of the very love that had once made them adversaries.

The man who had initially taken Saoirse, now having introduced himself as Sam Wilson, Captain America’s successor, approached Loki, his expression solemn yet kind. “We’ll do our best for her. She’s in good hands now,” he said, clapping a supportive hand on Loki’s shoulder. “Just don’t try anything,” he warned.

Loki nodded, his usual façade of aloofness shattered by the gravity of the moment. “I…can only thank you on her and our daughter’s behalf.”

Sam wordlessly raised an eyebrow in Loki’s direction, training his eyes between Loki and Melara, almost as if to question what this woman was doing with the god of mischief. He walked away before speaking another word in judgment or condemnation.

As the hours passed, the compound’s resources were pushed to their limits. The magic that Loki had provided mingled with Earth’s finest medical advancements, creating a bridge between methods old and new. The Avengers, each in their own way, stood vigil with Loki, a silent oath shared among them to see this battle through to its hopeful end. Many of them, however, used sitting with Loki as an excuse to play with Saoirse who was a beacon of hope to all those who checked in on Melara. Loki certainly also used this opportunity to tell their story in the hopes of casting a different light on himself, an urgent plea for redemption in their eyes.

The sun rose, casting its first light upon the compound, and with it came a change. The machines that had been monitoring Melara’s vitals began to reflect a positive shift. Banner, monitoring the readings closely, let out a breath he had not realized he had been holding. “She’s stabilizing,” he murmured, allowing himself the faintest smile of relief.

Loki’s eyes, which had been pools of fear and desperation, now shone with a glint of cautious optimism. He looked down at Saoirse, her presence a comfort and a reminder of all that was at stake. “Did you hear that, little one? Your mother is a fighter,” he whispered eliciting a smile from Saoirse.

In the days that followed, the compound became a haven for the small family. Melara’s condition improved steadily, her body responding to the care it was given. The Avengers watched over her, their respect for Loki growing as they witnessed his devotion. Of those who frequented the compound, Clint Barton resolved to avoid Loki, having been under his control in New York, he thought it best to avoid the triggers of the past in the god’s presence.

Many of them watched as Melara finally opened her eyes for the first time, taking in her surroundings. “Loki?” she asked, as he ran to her side with a smile.

“You’ll be okay. I brought you to some…acquaintances that could help you,” he explained, his voice hushed. He grabbed her hand, brushing a hair away from her face as she lay on the gurney.

Her voice transitioned into a hushed whisper as she smiled sheepishly, singing the words:

I’m not afraid, I pushed through the pain. And I’m on fire. I remember how to breathe again.

            A look of bewilderment crossed Loki’s face. “Melara? Your…your hand.”

Melara looked down to see a small fireball cradled gently in her free hand. She gasped in shock, looking as she played with the fire, wide-eyed. “Did…did I do this? The hotel? Oh my god! Saoirse!”

Loki shushed her, using a burst of ice to put out the fireball in her hand. “Saoirse is here, she’s just fine. She’s even made a few new friends.”

At that moment, Banner entered the room. “Miss Brandt? My name is Dr. Bruce Banner. You’re at the Avengers compound. We don’t know what’s going on, but we will get to the bottom of this while you recover. And you are welcome to stay until you do.”

Melara nodded, turning her attention back to Loki. “I have to see her, Loki.”

“Let’s wait until you get a little stronger and can control whatever is going on with you,” Loki whispered.

“Loki…,” her voice trailed off as tears fell. Each one evaporated from her hot skin before they could be wiped away. Melara nodded in agreement, realizing that she had been a danger to her daughter without even knowing it and began singing again to calm her nerves. It was what she knew would give her strength and keep these burgeoning powers over fire at bay.

As much as it hurts, ain’t it wonderful to feel? So go on and break your wings, Follow your heart ‘til it bleeds, As we run toward the end of the dream.

            Realizing that Melara was likely foreshadowing an untimely demise – her powers of observation were keen – Loki dropped his head into her lap, hiding the fact that he felt helpless in the face of Melara beginning to burn out of control. They both wondered if this was what had ailed her for all these years, a deadly magic raging beneath the surface. It explained the pain, but they could not reconcile why music, her singing, but nothing else seemed to quiet the storm and give her strength. Though some questions seemed to have been answered, at the moment, more rose to the surface, silently treading water.

-----

Tags: @mischief2sarawr

[notafraidofredyellowandblue]

Do you think any of them shat themselves on stage?

here i am looking for happy guys, little pranks, nice warm fuzzy stuff....and get an anon ask like this, looking for....well...a different kind of warm fuzzy stuff 😄

I don't think i have the answer (and maybe i don't want to 😇)...

....but we have a little bit of info from Flake's book "Heute hat die Welt Geburtstag" (page 76)

"Ich wühle in der Eiskiste. Ich muss viel mehr trinken, ich bin völlig ausgetrocknet und habe dafür nur noch eine Stunde Zeit, denn wenn ich kurz vor dem Konzert etwas trinke, muss ich während des Konzerts dringend pinkeln. Da sind mir schon die unangenehmsten Sachen passiert. Ich kann ja beim Konzert nicht weg, und zwischen den Liedern sind nur ganz kurze Pausen. Nachdem ich einmal ein halbes Lied weg gewesen war und die Band sich aufgeregt hatte, habe ich mir das nächste Mal einfach in die Hosen gepinkelt. Das erzähle ich nur sehr ungern. Aber so schlimm war es dann gar nicht. <..> Trotzdem bin ich natürlich nicht wild darauf, jeden Abend einzupinkeln, und trinke lieber in gebührendem Abstand vor dem Konzert mein Wasser. Und dieser Abstand ist jetzt."

"I'm rummaging through the ice chest. I have to drink a lot more, I'm completely dehydrated and I only have an hour left to do it, because if I drink something shortly before the concert, I'll have to pee urgently during the concert. That's where I'm most uncomfortable things have happened. I can't leave the concert, and there are only very short breaks between songs. After I was gone for half a song and the band got upset, I just peed my pants the next time. I hate to say that. But it wasn't that bad. <..> Nevertheless, I'm not keen on peeing myself every evening and prefer to drink my water at a reasonable distance before the concert. And that distance is now."

😊

---

Fortunately we know that nowadays the band has a portable toilet available right behind the stage, so in case of need...

---

(the story of how Flake got sick in his sleepingbag on a Feeling B tour is one for another day as anon didn't ask for *that* 😇)

[itwaslegendary]

okay here comes a LONGGGGG post about my experience at eras 🫶

———

we arrived yesterday. today in the morning i went have breakfast (a shake and some crepes) and then i went back to the hotel with my friend to get dressed up. after that we went grab the metro to the santiago bernabeu stop because it’s the closest one to the stadium.

when we got down and saw the stadium for the first time (well- second for me) we started freaking out because we were SO CLOSE to actually being IN there.

we first went check out the merch stores, at first i wasn’t going to buy anything but i ended up deciding to get the blue crewneck :,) afterwards we went look for a place to eat. i had a plate of pasta.

then we took some pictures outside (there was an eras tour film poster!!) and during the hour we had until our doors opened we decided to go trade bracelets. my friend ran out of them but because i was a beast and made 60 for 1 night i still have a few left.

i swear to god everyone was SO NICE, which was so refreshing because i’m used to the people in my school which are the closest thing to demons tbh. plus after having been bullied and excluded from all kinds of hangouts it felt so beautiful to feel included and see everyone so warming and friendly. 😭 if i could live at a taylor swift concert i would.

16:00 came and we decided to join our queue because even thought we had assigned seats we wanted to go in asap ! at first i was worried because i had a portable battery and i thought they’d throw it but ig the guard didn’t see it because we got in without any problem! by 16:20 we were in :D

our section was right in front of us but we wanted to check where the bathroom was first. the “field” is not closed so you could kinda see the stage and GUYS we freaked out again because there’s no way to describe what you feel when you see the eras tour stage for the first time because it means you’re THERE. that this is happening and you’re actually going to see taylor perform a 3 hour and a half show with all her eras (except debut but that’s a topic for another day). that the day you’ve been waiting for for so long has finally come. 😭

we talked a lot with a girl in front of us and the two beside us (the seats next to me were empty until way after paramore finished) and they were super nice, we love them 🫶 we traded some other bracelets and took some photos

then paramore came out and hayley was SO GOOD!!!! while they’re not my favorite band they were soooo fun and i knew some songs so i sang along :,) however i was sweating so much and i also needed to go to the bathroom because i had drunk like 5 bottles of water because it was HOT and also i was afraid of dehydration lol. so i had to miss 2 songs so i could go refresh myself.

we kept waiting and here i got mad because after paramore my friend said “i’m going to the bathroom” and i was like ok sure. 20 minutes went by and she was still not here so i got scared thinking i’d lost her, so i went find her…. the minute i crossed the door in ha mood started playing and everyone screamed. my friend was in the queue all nice and was the next to go in, so i got back to our seats and asked one of the girls we’d befriended if the “cleaning cart” had come out and she said yes 😭 i had missed that moment but all fine

my friend came back during applause. the countdown started and we all FREAKED OUT X3 and started counting down screaming from 13 downwards. i filmed my reaction to the intro because while i had seen it a billion times already seeing it live feels SO DIFFERENT (but the video got cut the instant taylor appeared smh). i was trembling and almost crying, for some reason singing along to the intro like it was my job.

… SHE came out. we screamed cried probably fainted too and here i kinda lost myself because i just remember being so excited about the bodysuit (i love purple and the tassels JSKAJ) and thinking like “oh my god she’s there she’s actually there i am seeing her in person she’s so pretty what what wHAT” and screaming miss americana + cruel summer like it was my only purpose in this life.

the crowd was insanely loud so i decided to play it safe and put earplugs on and LORDDDD THE DIFFERENCE taylor sounded SO much better, like you could actually hear her voice clearly and neatly and i got out with no ringing or pain whatsoever. i could sing along quite loudly and perfectly fine without only hearing myself (i only took them out in very specific occasions like illicit affairs and the smallest man who ever lived)

she spoke to us in spanish too 😭 just a few words but “encantada de conoceros” “hola” "vamos!!" “bienvenidos a la eras tour” “muchas gracias” etc. told us how we were being sooo loud and probably the loudest crowd ever!!! she also said that we all made her feel at home here not only in the stadium but also outside <3 (ik she says more or less the same things in every country but shhhh)

the 22 hat kid was ADORABLE he was so excited to get the hat and the interaction was so cute overall <3 during all too well she stopped a second to say that we were singing sooo loud (which from what i’ve seen does not happen too often!) and that this is the loudest she has ever heard this song 💓

during reputation we screamed “in the middle of the night in madrid” andddd we believe that she may have sung it too during the last verse which would be INCREDIBLE and so iconic 😭

in folkmore there was an issue with her guitar (she did not explain what) but it got fixed super quickly. i love small mishaps like these because it makes her look more authentic (?), like closer to the public, makes the atmosphere kinda look like we are all friends in here and she’s just at a cafe with a friend chatting jksja.

she also had to stop twice; once during betty and another during august, because some people in GA needed help. she saw the flashlights and asked (in spanish) the guards and sanitary staff to help. it was so nice to see how much she cares for the safety of her crowds, like you could see during betty how her face changed to a soft expression once she's told that everything was okay 🤍 we also have to thank that the staff in our show was fast and did everything right :)

the champagne problems ovation was adorable, i love in general her reactions because that’s pookie right there. it’s so personal to me how she throws her arms around her head and laughs and says i love you thank you like a hundred times ugh i love her with my whole soul ☹️

1989 was soo fun! (i got the outfit right but wrong order 😭) but the bad blood fires were. pretty noticeable LMFKWOS it was already hot and with then the thing got much hotter but it cooled down quite fast.

TTPD OH MY GODDDDD it’s def my favorite set. loved the choreo the outfits the setlist EVERYTHINGGGGG. i screamed the the smallest man who ever lived sooo loud and the i can do it with a broken heart’s “intro” was so fun too ajdkaj. i loved so high school even if it was just 30 seconds jdka

THE. SURPRISE. SONGS. at first she started talking about how we have been supporting her since the beginning and we knew a debut song was coming. the jump then fall mashup was AWESOME it’s one of my faves from fearless and it fit so well 🫶

for the piano one she said nothing. she just sat and started playing. i knew that i recognized the song but i could not fully realize which song it was until she sang “i’m perfectly fine” and there i lost it. i went blank for 5 seconds and then just SCREAMEDDDDD those lyrics like my life depended on it. i will never hear these 3 songs the same way again 🥹

after those surprise songs i went blank again but this time because the visuals of lavender haze are so beautiful i had to record them. i had to sit down during mastermind because my feet were exhausted… during karma i had a breakdown because it meant that the best day of my entire life was coming to an end, so i was singing along while crying like a little kid.

overall, i would repeat this a billion more times. it was the best night of my life and it has marked a before and after in my life (not exaggerating) and i hope i have the chance to experience these same feelings again for a future tour 🫶

[freddiemercurylegendabovelegends]

Today, on October 17th, 1981 - Queen Live! Puebla, Mexico, Estadio Olimpico de beisbol Ignacio Zaragoza

'Gluttons For Punishment Tour'

- First of two nights in Puebla

🔸Unfortunately, some excesses among the public have created several problems. Furthermore, all the batteries of the portable recorders were confiscated at the entrance to prevent the concert from being recorded, but it was later discovered that the batteries were being resold within the structure at exorbitant prices. Some people in the audience thought that Queen were also complicit in the initiative and so they started throwing objects on stage.

Freddie, ironic as always, said: «I've never seen so many shoes on stage. I have to say, it's like that damn Chelsea Cobbler!” (shoe shop in London).

📸 Pick 4: Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor display a large bolt, one of many objects thrown at the band during this concert

[mystagecorp]

3 Benefits of a Portable Concert Stage

Why Choose a Portable Concert Stage?

When you are hosting an event you need to provide your guests with the right experience. For this, you need to have an elevated platform which is sturdy and stable. If you are not booking a venue you can always host these events and parties in your home backyard or a field. However, the challenge is that you need to find an even and stable platform that you can use as a stage. Today, you can find a portable concert stage that can become a great item that you can use in many ways.

Portable Concert Stage is Lightweight

The best part about buying these outdoor stages is that they are lightweight and easy to move around. These stages are made from high-grade aluminum and therefore they are tough and durable but at the same time, they are easy to carry and transport. If you are an event hosting company you can make use of these stages and risers to host various events.

Portable Concert Stage is Foldable

Also, when you are looking for a cheap stage that you can move around you need to focus on a collapsible design that you can fold and transport. With the right design and dimensions, you can ensure that you can quickly collapse the stage and transport it or put it in your car and carry it to different places. You can easily stack multiple stages and convert them into a bigger platform and that would offer you a great experience. Various brands and firms offer different design options that allow you to collapse the legs without any need for using installation equipment.

Portable Concert Stage is Versatile

The best part about these risers and stages is that they are versatile. You can use them as a portable dance stage and that would offer you the right experience. If you are planning a party you can transform it into a portable DJ stage and it would still offer the best portable solution. Hence, you can use these stages in many ways depending on how you want to use them. You can also use these stages to mount vehicles on your car. MyStage Corp provides you with the best affordable stages that you can find in California.

Source: https://mystagecorp.blogspot.com/2022/10/3-benefits-of-portable-concert-stage.html

[riaaanna]

Paywall ahead so here is the full thing below!

I want to 3D: Brian May enters yet another dimension

After nearly dying after a heart attack in lockdown, the Queen rock god and badger advocate has one more vision: a book of ‘stereoscopic’ photos.

“I suppose that everybody thinks I’m mad,” ponders Brian May from his study in Surrey. He’s in a black hoodie and beanie hat with his trademark bushy grey perm poking out the bottom. The hat has a bright rectangular light in the middle of it, which is, he says, great for working in the garden. “I just got this the other day and then I got one for all my friends. If it’s getting dark you’ve got your light here.” He pushes it twice and it flashes at me furiously.

Queen’s 75-year-old guitarist is a bit of a nutty professor. He’s the only man in rock to have played the Olympic closing ceremony in 2012 and the actual Queen’s golden and diamond jubilees, and who also has a PhD in astrophysics.

He’s glad to be performing again after having what he calls a “pretty terrible” lockdown, in which he had a heart attack followed by stomach problems that led to him coming “close to dying”. Performing mini concerts on Instagram and pottering around his garden and workshop kept him going.

Out of that pottering comes his latest project, reflecting another of his quirky hobbies: the Victorian invention of stereoscopy, a technique that produces a 3D image from two photos side by side when viewed through special glasses (of which May has, of course, designed and patented his own brand). He’s just released a book in time for Christmas, Stereoscopy is Good for You, which he compiled from hundreds of submissions from around the world after he put out a call on Instagram during lockdown for the best pics deserving the 3D treatment.

If you’ve seen the new Avatar sequel, lower your expectations. “I’ve met [director] James Cameron and discussed all this with him. It’s the same technology, just that the actual apparatus of looking at it is slightly different.”

May got hooked on stereoscopy as a child in the 1950s. He remembers opening a cereal packet and finding a toy inside (“It just doesn’t happen these days does it?”). It was a card with two near-identical images on it, side by side.

“There were two little flat pictures of a hippo. Suddenly with the 3D glasses, I’m looking at an image so real it feels like I could almost fall into its mouth,” says May, gesticulating wildly. “It took my breath away.” He tells me it’s a feeling that’s never left him. “I get very impatient with flat pictures,” he says.

He looks a bit sheepish when I ask how many stereoscopic images he’s collected over the years. “It’s several hundreds of thousands,” he admits. “Which might sound dull to you, but the Victorians were able to see the world through their stereoscopes and travel to places they could never go. They had 3D images of famous politicians, theatre actors. I have a stereo of Charles Dickens in my collection.”

He is, by his own admission, “pretty old school”. At home, which he shares with his wife, the former EastEnders actress Anita Dobson, he saves things that “look like junk to most people” but which might one day become useful. He enthusiastically explains how he recently invented a device to stop the bird bath in his garden from freezing over using a few transistors and a portable camping immersion heater coil used to boil water: “Hopefully it saves a lot of birds’ lives because they need to drink,” he says. Thankfully for the birds, he got the voltage right.

He loves the art of creating a spectacle. May is very involved in the band’s performance and stage design. “If Freddie had been alive, I would definitely have been designing them for him,” he says.

In recent years, May has turned his energy to becoming a vocal environmental campaigner and is especially passionate about badgers, who are culled in “a tragedy of epic proportions” to supposedly prevent the spread of bovine TB. He calls Rishi Sunak “an intelligent and sensitive man” — though the jury is still out on his eco-credentials.

He’s also working with Nasa to produce stereoscopic images of the Bennu asteroid, which was discovered in 1999. His heart attack has put life into perspective. He’d like to do another Queen tour but “it depends on how long we last”, he says, laughing. “If we’re still alive in a year, we’ll do another one.”

May says “it’s always tempting” to want to use a hologram to bring Freddie Mercury back to the stage — like the new Abba Voyage show. “There’s one song I sing, Love of My Life, where Freddie’s vocal comes in to sings the final verse,” he says. “It’s a lovely moment. It’s like having him beside me.”

Stereoscopy is Good for You: Life In 3-D is available from londonstereo.com at £30. An exhibition at Proud Galleries, London, runs until March 25, 2023

[aurore-parle-de-ses-idees]

and for au roulette #1, band/musician, sending est and a van full of rangers to a rock show lmao

Traffic slows to a crawl as you leave the highway that runs from Minas Tirith to Dol Amroth, the Belfalas exits clogged as half the world it seems tries to reach the concert grounds at the same time. Candaith is asleep in the passenger seat, despite the music you have playing much louder than is reasonable. The windows are open as far as they’ll go, admitting a pleasant breeze that smells of clouds of exhaust and the distant sea.

“It will be fun,” you insist, not for the first time. Radanir looks no less skeptical in the rearview. “Surely we’ll be able to find something you like here.” Radanir mutters something you can’t make out and you inch forward another car-length.

“Are your friends from Stangard coming still?” Lorniel calls from the far back of the tight-packed van you have borrowed for the occasion.

“Most of them, I think,” you shout back, turning down the music some. “Nona said her brother had something come up, but the rest of them should be there.” It will be strange, you think, having friends from so many circles of your life overlap here, but that’s half the fun of it. “Can anyone reach the cooler?” you add. “I finished my drink up here.” There’s some shuffling, and muffled cursing from Corunir when you’re forced to swerve aside to avoid a group of impatient motorcyclists cutting in and out of traffic. “Sorry...”

It’s a long, slow slog into the concert grounds and around to the open parking, but you arrive at last and gratefully let the van shudder to a rest, stretching with a great sigh while your friends clamber out. The roof bends concerningly as Lothrandir climbs up to look around, but he swings back down quickly to inform you of the nearest gates and bathrooms.

There’s no rush. The gates won’t open for hours yet while the lots continue to fill. You open the trunk and fold down the backmost seats and lounge, watching Candaith soundly beat everyone at cards and propping your feet on one of the coolers. Someone nearby has set up a portable speaker loud enough to carry five rows in any direction; he’s taking requests. Someone else rolls out an entire grill, and soon the open field smells of... well, it smells of lots of things, but you think the grillers are making burgers.

You swap snacks with a group three cars down, and the group next to them invite you for drinks and party games. By the time Nona calls you to say she’s arrived, you think even Radanir is a little caught up in it all, even if he keeps regularly retreating to the van. You really do hope he finds something here to his liking.

You’ve lost half your group by the time Nona finds you, Horn and Corudan trailing behind her. You talk about the fine weather, and the less fine traffic, and the most interesting things you’ve seen so far (a surprisingly long list, for the few hours you’ve been here). Nona paces about the entire time, restless after her days-long drive to meet the others before coming here.

Finally, the gates open, and the great crowds slowly amble inside. Your friends have more or less reassembled, chatting with new friends and total strangers all the way in. The great rising excitement buzzes under your skin, your laughter loud and the late-day sun warm on your skin.

The opening acts are good, and you do want to sit and appreciate them, but the rising, restless energy keeps you moving, grinning at the great banners and posters for Valasmack and Amon Amarth and telling at least five different people where you found the onion rings.

You stop at last in the warm hour after dusk, the wind from the coast cool and pleasant where it cuts through the heat of so many people all pressed together. You don’t go down to the wildness at the front, where people throw themselves about with an abandon you can’t quite reach, but you stand near enough the stage that the sound from the great speakers rolls right into you. The bass of it rumbles through the concrete, pulsing with every rolling drumbeat through the thick soles of your boots. You can feel it in your ribs.

Your ears will ring for nearly a week after this, but there’s a certain kind of magic to it, the great thunder in your bones and singing so loudly, loud enough your voice will be deeper and rougher from the strain come morning but still not louder than the bands themselves. The punch-drunk camaraderie with old friends and with people you’ll never see again. The heat and the wind and the wide, wide grins, and the exhausted sleep you have with your friends, crammed into the back of the borrowed van and passed out half on top of each other. There are few more pleasant ways to end the free days of summer, you think.

[wolfisland]

hey do you have any first time concert tips

YES!

just as a disclaimer, im physically disabled, australian, and i live in a large city, and those can definitely make a difference here

but heres some tips or things i generally try to follow for myself, under the cut!

⭐ always carry portable chargers. multiple if possible

⭐ stay hydrated. enclosed venues get hot and sweaty and gross and if youre moving around a lot you WILL get dehydrated. some venues offer free water, take advantage of it. also stay masked bc i cannot stress enough what a perfect breeding ground for illness venues can be

⭐ protect your ears. there are loads of noise reduction earbuds marketed towards concerts and loud environments in particular, and honestly in my experience theyre kind of overpricer, but protection is absolutely vital, ESPECIALLY in smaller venues in my experience. noise over 70db over prolonged periods of time will start to damage your hearing and ive seen 90db as the LOWER end for concerts ive been to.

⭐ if you have any headphones or earbuds with active noise cancellation these are also great options, i actually prefer wearing my headphones just with anc on than i do my silly little specialized loop earbuds.

⭐ try not to go to these events alone if you can help it. most concerts are at night and most concerts are at licensed venues and whether youre drinking or not, there will likely be people acting like fools around you. it goes without saying to NEVER accept a drink you didnt watch be mixed or opened yourself.

⭐ make sure people know where you are and make sure you always have enough money easily accessible to you (either in cash, or in your bank account) to pay for an uber or cab or whatever. if its a big concert theres a decent chance itll fuck up public transport. ive left shows at 11 pm and not gotten home til 3 am just because of how crowded shit is and how fucked public transport is after like 10-11 pm

⭐ get your concert merch before the show starts. like every time i am so serious if you wait til after the show 7 times out of 10 whatever you want will be gone.

⭐ if theres an opener i can almost promise you you will not see your headliner for like half an hour after the opener finishes. go pee now

⭐ in some areas if youre disabled just call the venue and ask for accommodations. i can usually make sure i get seated (for free) because im disabled and it makes such a huge difference its not even funny. like just ask. theres no harm in asking, worst case scenario is they say they cant help when you were gonna to to the show anyways. some venues will also make sure security keeps an eye on you so you can exit safely after the show too.

⭐ if youre trying to get close to the front at a show, barricade for example, youre almost always gonna need to show up way earlier than you think you are. an hour? try three. get there early and make yourself comfortable. itll suck and you might not even get close but when you do it fucking rules

⭐ dont be that person who has to get told to shut up. dont be rude or heckle the artists if they arent taking the piss themselves. dont throw shit at them. dont try and climb up on the stage. dont keep yelling while theyre talking. dont interrupt them while theyre talking by showing requests for stuff that isnt on the setlist. if youre close to the stage you might be able to see the setlist (and you might even get the setlist after the show if youre close enough or linger around) OR you can probably search up sets the artists have played recently to get a better idea. dont be a tool.

⭐ pit etiquette sucks rn. covid has made people forgot how to fucking behave and if the artist themselves doesnt set some boundaries dont trust that the venues rules around pits will be respected either. i am so serious. people die in pits so be careful. also tbh almost always unless youre like BIG VENUE big, if you call for a pit and wont get in it yourself youre nothing to me sorry

⭐ if you can, support the openers too! if youre lucky theyll be at the merch stands themselves after if the stand is selling their merch too. definitely go say hi and grab like a shirt or sticker or poster or cd or whatever if you can.

⭐ you will get charged like $20 for a vodka redbull. dont let them charge you $20 for a vodka redbull. pre game elsewhere if youre gonna drink.

⭐ if i think of anything else ill come back here and drop it, feel free to dm me about any of this

[dreamerwitches]

Wich witch introduction was your favorite?

Ohhh! What a good question! I suppose a good build up is always what I want for a witch. Some of them are hard since they just appear suddenly like Gisela or Roberta...

I think Elly is a great one. I adore her labyrinth's introduction, especially in the movie version. You just see blobs of blue and then these skeleton horses passing by behind Madoka. Though I prefer the music in the tv version, i think a darker tone suits it better (contrary to charlotte's new music which i think fits very well). And the pan of her endless labyrinth is great. It's pretty memorable

I think Oktavia's is great mostly because there's a lot of emotional weight to it all. I mean, it feels the whole middle of the anime is leading up to this moment. Sayaka's transformation scene is so good, especially with the iconic line. I love how you don't really see all of her in her first labyrinth as she's got her cape over her arms, it's like she levels up before the second fight. And the sweeping scenery as Kyoko and Madoka enter her boss room, mimicking a train rushing by, is amazing as you're hit with the orchestra. I'm so glad so much effort is put into her <3 I think her timeline 3 appearance is good too, sadly she doesn't get any build up but I think the rock concert theme with the lights, stage and backup dancers helps the brief moment be cool enough

I think Izabel's introduction is pretty unique and cool, we get a one time view of what it's like for a civilian to run into a labyrinth. I think the build up is great but the payoff of Izabel being such a stationary boss and how she's killed so quickly isn't very exciting... it feels a little wasted but the build up is still good

I have complicated feelings about Kriemhild. I think her first appearance is pretty dull. Cool, but after seeing Sayaka's transformation it's nowhere near as good. I like ultimate kriemhild, of course. Her appearance is amazing and so different to anything we've seen up to it but of course it's very quick and brief. I think my favourite appearance of hers is in timeline 4 where she's this colossal giant in the background and in the movie version you get a thud as her name appears on screen. I love it, it's so subtle as she never does anything but you already know her power.

Walpurgisnacht is great and she earns it. She's built up the entire anime goddamnit! (well on the tv version at least). Homura's room, the storm warnings, the familiar parade, it's all amazing and you, me and she knows it. The fact that we see the cool and unbeatable Homura struggle against her is also amazing, she barely flinches and always laughs. She's amazingly imposing <3

Do these count, do they not? Well... I think the introductions to Quitterie and Itzli are good. They're unique witches hidden at the end of dungeons with lots of floors and they just come out of nowhere! I'm sure if I was playing portable blind I would be amazed

But ooohhhh, ohhh of course my favourite witch introduction, hands down, HANDS down, so down they're on the floor, the prize goes to Homulilly by beloved. Everything leading up to it is golden, the flower fields scene, the flaming bus, 'when did i become a witch?' the bit where Homura interrogates Kyubey 'i am anything but happy'/'this is not the happiness i asked for', the scene where Homura sees Madoka fall off the chair, the countdown ala Walpurgisnacht, then you're blessed by 'theatre of a witch' as Homulilly and a literal entire army appears. It's all beautiful and stunning. It's my favourite part of Rebellion absolutely, no contest, its probably my favourite part of madoka magica at all (well, including the fight too)

A special addition for Plejaden von Asunaro, the only spin off witch I could think of with a good introduction. I love the scene where she kills Mirai, the panelling and art is beautiful