#show: fiery bolero

[submariini]

When Finland’s Käärijä took the stage at this year’s Eurovision, a star was instantly, explosively born. With an outrageous energy, infectious presence and that oh-so-catchy hook, the Vantaa-based rapper may not have won the contest but he certainly snatched the hearts of those in his home country and beyond. We ask Käärijä the million dollar question: what next?

[full article under the cut]

Last May, a peculiar frenzy engulfed Finland. Virtually all green foods – cucumbers, especially – were sold out from stores. Buildings across the land were bathed in vivid green lights. Social media brimmed with green-themed parties, while data obtained by Swedish fintech company Klarna showed a 570 per cent increase in the online sales of neon green shirts.

This phenomenon was all thanks to Käärijä, the rapper who represented Finland in the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. His now-infamous, blazing green puff sleeve bolero – dreamt up by Finnish broadcasting company Yle’s costume design team and which he dons when performing the smash hit track ‘Cha Cha Cha’ – had taken on a life of its own, the lush hue uniting the entire nation amid the competition. “It was incredible to see it happen and so cool being part of it,” Käärijä says. “It wasn’t planned at all – it was the people who created the commotion. I’ll definitely never forget it.”

When we speak over Zoom, Käärijä, whose real name is Jere Pöyhönen, is lounging in his minimal apartment in Vantaa, a city just outside Helsinki. He appears on my screen shirtless, a chunky gold chain dangling on his neck. On his head sits a pastel turquoise cap adorned with little cat ears. As he gestures with his hands, I spot flashes of poison green nail varnish. Pöyhönen’s chosen attire, or lack thereof, is extremely fitting – he typically performs bare-chested (“It gets so hot during my gigs”) and his Instagram handle is @paidatonriehuja, or ‘shirtless rascal’.

Hot off a performance in western Finland, the 29-year-old is enjoying his first days off in a while. It’s been a sweltering summer of non-stop touring, with fans flocking to festivals and concerts nationwide to see his explosive live show. Things are not winding down either, with Käärijä heading off on his first-ever European tour this month. Some of these shows sold out in mere minutes, an indication of his immense international following. “It’s so exciting; I’m definitely jumping into a new territory with that tour,” Pöyhönen says. “But I don’t have any expectations – I’m just going to let everything happen organically rather than stressing about it.”

Although he created one of this year’s buzziest songs, the guy on my screen is humble and, save for his look, almost un assuming. I remark on the stark contrast to his fiery and flamboyant stage presence. “Through Käärijä, I get to channel all the craziness, quirkiness and hyperactivity I’ve had since I was a child,” Pöyhönen says, describing himself offstage as “just this ordinary dude”. Without delving into further details, he tells me that the name Käärijä (translating roughly to moneymaker) stems from a history with gambling. Despite the darkness of its origin, he notes that the moniker is to be taken with a grain of salt.

While it might seem like Käärijä exploded into the public consciousness from obscurity, Pöyhönen has a long journey in music behind him. Born in Helsinki but having spent most of his youth in Vantaa, he started dabbling in the medium at just three years old. Coming from a musical family (“My dad and big brother both play the guitar”), jamming sessions were commonplace in the Pöyhönen household, his instrument of choice being the drums. “I was playing with pots and spoons before I got a set of those plastic kids’ drums,” he says. “When we moved to a bigger house, we built a band room downstairs where me and my brother spent a lot of time practising.”

At that time, rap music hadn’t yet entered Pöyhönen’s life; he was strictly a self-described “metal guy”. His older brother had instilled in him a love for the genre, particularly metal icons Rammstein. Upon starting high school, his musical taste broadened and he began listening to Eminem and popular Finnish rap groups Fintelligens and JVG. “Me and my friends were filming our own music videos to old rap songs, learning the words by heart,” Pöyhönen says. “It [making rap music] pretty much started as this humour thing I did with my mates.”

Encouraged by his loved ones, Pöyhönen began writing his own songs, still playing it for laughs. Turned out he had a knack for it. “Since I was little, I’ve been an avid storyteller – my imagination ran a little wilder than the rest of the kids’ at my school,” he says. “So when I started making music, I didn’t even need inspiration; I was able to whip up the lyrics from my head.”

But then, at 15, an unexpected turning point came by way of a severe sudden illness. Rushed to the hospital with ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, Pöyhönen underwent emergency surgery to remove his colon. Had he not been treated immediately, the complications could have been fatal. “I was writing songs in the hospital – music became a source of strength for me,” he says. “I decided that if I make it through this, I’m going to give my all to music and be serious about it.”

After over a decade of hard work and countless hours in the studio, Käärijä released his first album, Fantastista (Fantastic), in 2020, but it would take three years for him to become a household name in Finland. After snapping up the top prize in Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (the Finnish contest for new music) with his party anthem ‘Cha Cha Cha’, a song dedicated to a hedonistic night out fusing rap, electronic music and metal, he secured the coveted spot as his country’s entrant for the 2023 Eurovision, held in Liverpool. One of Pöyhönen’s craziest dreams had come true.

For Pöyhönen, Eurovision was “an amazing but immensely tough experience”. The event’s intense schedule and the little time carved out for practising surprised the artist. There was no room for errors or retakes once it was time for rehearsals. “They didn’t give much mercy,” he says. On the bright side, the long days filled with “lots of press conferences and waiting around” gave Pöyhönen a chance to get to know the other artists. “The group we had there was wonderful – there wasn’t a competitive atmosphere at all,” he says. One of the contestants he became especially close with was Sweden’s Loreen, with whom he exchanged numbers and promised to “meet up and talk about everything else but music”.

By the time the grand finale came, Käärijä’s explosive performance and infectious song had made him one of the favourites to win. Ultimately he came second, while Loreen nabbed first place. How did Pöyhönen handle the letdown? “It was a huge disappointment, but in the end, the feeling didn’t last long,” he says. “When I thought about how far I’d gotten, the incredible journey it was and all the new friends I made, I realised that these things are far more meaningful than winning.” Plus, he still achieved something major: ‘Cha Cha Cha’ made history as the first ever Finnish song to reach Spotify’s global most-listened charts. The track’s reach proved to Pöyhönen that language doesn’t matter; it’s all about creating a singular, infectious sound: “The mouth is just as much of an instrument as the piano or the guitar is,” he says.

Having made history, I ask Pöyhönen if he felt any pressure after the Eurovision bubble had burst. “Of course there are the thoughts of ‘what now?’ and ‘is this going to be it, will anyone be interested anymore next year?’ – I’m aware that the hype won’t last forever,” he says. “But I’m onto creating the next thing, trying not to feel any pressure for future releases. I haven’t done that before, so why would I do that now?”

Pöyhönen hints at a new album dropping sometime next year, but in the meantime, he’s enjoying the attention – including his Vogue Scandinavia debut. Shot at the extraordinary home of the late interior architect Antti Nurmesniemi and his wife, textile artist Vuokko Nurmesniemi, we find the space where Pöyhönen and Käärijä meet, the quiet confidence mingling with that more-is-more persona.

And while Käärijä might develop as a character (“I want to show that he’s more than just a bolero chap”), he’s adamant that he will stay true to his music and keep singing in Finnish, despite the sudden international attention. “In the end, I’m doing this for myself,” he says. “Also, why change something that works?”

Photographer: Karoliina Bärlund Stylist: Sanna Silander Talent: Käärijä Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist: Neea Kuurne Photographer Assistant: Milja Laakso Stylist Assistant: Nelli Korhonen

[noloveforned]

looks like we'll be set for a new show on wlur at 8pm tonight. i hope you can tune in! last week's show is below if you'd like to catch up.

in only semi-related news, over the weekend i was informed that june 10th was the birthday of kim and kelley deal from the breeders, who we heard from as part of our 'sibling band' theme two weeks earlier. sometimes i wish i had a time machine so that i could make these indie rock puzzle pieces all fit together nicely but then i guess it wouldn't be radio!

no love for ned on wlur – june 10th, 2022 from 8-10pm

artist // track // album // label the fiery furnaces // here comes the summer // ep // rough trade the undertones // here comes the summer // the undertones // sire blondie // moonlight drive // against the odds, 1974-1982 // numero group superchunk // endless summer // wild loneliness // merge horsegirl // anti-glory // versions of modern performance // matador boat featuring the crystal furs // dark dependency // no plans to stick the landing // magic marker sasami featuring j. mascis // tried to understand // tried to understand digital single // domino teenage tom petties // lambo // teenage tom petties cassette // safe suburban home junk monkeys // all in a day // bliss // metal blade chronophage // summer to fall // chronophage // post present medium helvetia // the brink // fantastic life // moone camp cope // blue // running with the hurricane // run for cover angel olsen // big time // big time // jagjaguwar bill noire // breathin' // bill noire cassette // we don't make it roy montgomery // rhymes of chance, part four // rhymes of chance // grapefruit lucas brode // we all miss and are missed // "vague sense of virtue" and other dreams of mundane profundity // cacophonous revival maxime petit and daniel carter // iv // maxime petit and daniel carter cassette // lurker bias grachan moncur iii // exploration // new africa // actuel dave holland quartet // see-saw // conference of the birds // ecm jean carne, adrian younge and ali shaheed muhammad // the summertime // jid012 // jazz is dead moor mother featuring melanie charles // woody shaw // jazz codes // anti brian jackson // all talk // this is brian jackson // barely breaking even gang starr // manifest // no more mr. nice guy // wild pitch fly anakin // got it for cheap // got it for cheap digital single // bigger picture phife dawg featuring rapsody and renee neufville // fallback // forever // smokin’ needles m.i.a. // the one // the one digital single // island adrian quesada featuring angélica garcia // ídolo // boleros psicodélicos // ato claudine longet // here, there and everywhere // claudine // a&m isik kural featuring spefy // coral gables // in february // rvng intl. acid house kings // honey, honey // honey, honey digital single // labrador the wendy darlings // fun in the summer // the wendy darlings against evil // odd box belle and sebastian // a bit of previous // a bit of previous 7" // matador

[zukalations]

Snow Troupe star Ayakaze Sakina tearfully thanks fans on opening day of lead show

I haven’t been posting much lately, but since there is actual news I figured I should make sure you’re updated.

This article was originally published on August 29 in Nikkan Sports (there is no author credit, but I think it was probably Murakami Kumiko). Please click through to see photos.

Note: I am sure there are different opinions on how Takarazuka has been handling the coronavirus situation. If you have criticisms please reserve them for the company, and not any of the performers.

Snow Troupe star Ayakaze Sakina tearfully thanks fans on opening day of lead show

After being twice rescheduled due to the effects of the novel coronavirus, Snow Troupe star Ayakaze Sakina's lead show, Fiery Bolero/Music Revolution! New Spirit, opened on the 29th in the Umeda Arts Theatre, Osaka. It plays until September 6th.

Ayakaze and the rest of the cast spent the two days before opening in dress rehearsal, putting the finishing touches on their performance. At the end of the final rehearsal, the night before opening day, Ayakaze tearfully voiced her gratitude to the staff and the fans waiting for the performance, saying "Thank you so much, everyone [that we are able to open despite the coronavirus]".

This performance was originally scheduled as a national tour lead for Ayakaze, one of the major stars of Snow Troupe, after Top Star Nozomi Fuuto announced she would be retiring, and was planned to open in May. In March, the 35 cast members gathered and began rehearsals, but in April a state of emergency was announced and rehearsals were put on hold. The national tour was cancelled before it could open.

According to someone connected to the company, "there were performers crying" when the cancellation was announced. Afterwards, the theatre changed performance schedules. The production began preparing for performances in the Umeda Arts Theatre in Osaka from August 17-25, and in July rehearsals resumed after a 3 month gap.

However, the situation was still crowded, and rehearsals were once again stopped after one of the scheduled cast members registered a positive result on a PCR test. Opening was postponed. After getting over these two delays, the show finally opened almost 4 months after it was originally scheduled.

The play, Fiery Bolero, is an original work written by the late Shibata Yukihiro, premiering in 1988, when it starred Star Troupe Top Star Hyuuga Kaoru. For this revival, the show is directed by Nakamura Satoru. It is set in 1860s Mexico, at the time when it was under French dominion. The play tells the story of a young nobleman who, after losing his family and estate to a failed rebellion attempt, decides to rise up and take back his country.

Ayakaze, in the lead, plays young nobleman Alberto. Alberto falls in a fateful love with Jun Hana's character, the daughter of one of his enemies. Popular star Asami Jun gave a great performance as a captain in French intelligence who is hunting Alberto.

As it was originally scheduled to be a national tour, it is a double feature production featuring a revue show*. The revue, created and directed by Nakamura Kazunori, is a renewal of a revue that toured in 2019, themed after all different kinds of 'music'—jazz, rock, Latin, pop, classical... Ayakaze, who uses her long legs and ideal proportions to her advantage, charmed the fans with the ease in dance that she is known for.

* I am not quite sure why this is being stated as a logical equivalence; there have been single-feature plays as national tours, and double features have played in Umeda (though this is slightly rare).

[zukadiary]

Takarazuka news 8.14.20

Haikarasan’s cancellation period has been extended through 8/31, with the fate of the performances from 9/1 on to be announced later. They have also decided not to reschedule the previously canceled shinjin kouen and Tomo no Kai talk event.

Yukigumi’s Fiery Bolero/Music Revolution -New Spirit-, which is currently in rehearsal, is being suspended for now. The company is looking at rescheduling (both the general sale date and the show itself) and will announce an updated schedule at a later time. 

According to Yahoo news, testing the remainder of the Hoshigumi cast and staff yielded no more positive results beyond the one originally announced.

Soragumi’s FLYING SAPA managed to finish without incident in Osaka, and as of now is still on track to move to Tokyo for a 9/6 opening. Sakuragi Minato-led Soureitei has just opened in Drama City. 

[hobisexually]

* michelle from allo allo voice * listen very carefully, I shall say this only once

I don’t know about you, but @ardentlyadmire is feeling 22!!!!!!!!!

I can make this joke because I have the opportunity to make it once (twice, if you count our card) in this friendship and I will not let it slide, and also 1989 is a banger of an album and your teenage self agrees with me. My birthday present of this year is me exposing that secret to the world. YOU ARE VERY WELCOME.

I’m going to do the same thing I did for Alice, because I don’t know how else to say it, so without further ado — this is how I’d introduce you in a fic.

~*~

She’s nervous. Her hands are shaking as she texts the one who shall never hum bolero, saying how surely, she won’t like her. How is she supposed to act? It’s the first time they’ll ever meet. What is she supposed to do?

Little does she know that when she gets off her train at Amsterdam’s central station, and her friend, wearing a too flashy shade of purple on her lips, sees her, all she can think is how nice she looks — how she has an urge in her to hug her, befriend her, let her talk about her life because surely, this is someone who’s got something interesting to say.

And as it turns out, her friend was absolutely right. Behind those glasses and long, blonde curls, there’s a pair of eyes hiding that shows exactly how much goes on behind those frames. She’s quiet at first, seizing up the moment, happy to let someone else do the talking. Her curls fall in her face, her red boots shuffling across the ground, faded by time and wear. One of the first things she passionately speaks about is Latin and Greek in school, and it’s a testament to how much she loves to learn, how she always makes sure to feed her never ending taste for knowledge. How much she loves stories, myths, reading about love affairs and how humans tick.

She asks questions. Out of curiosity, but also because she genuinely wants to know. She genuinely cares for the people she loves, and even people she doesn’t necessarily love — she spreads something, something great and indefinable, that makes the people around her grow three sizes. And when they do, so does she.

That’s the next thing she’s passionate about. How she’s kind, and prefers being nice to people, but it doesn’t mean she’s always happy. Doesn’t mean she likes everyone. Certainly doesn’t mean she can’t be angry.

When that fiery energy does break free, it’s one of her friends’ favourite things: when in the middle of the night, in an undisclosed location, she sets loose. When a burst of anger comes out and she rants, yells, lets all that fire free she doesn’t always show. It never burns anyone up, however. It’s hot enough to be a warning, but never spreads too far. And that warmth is always there, comfortable when she is, hot when she’s not. She’s unabashed. She doubts who she is, but she doesn’t mind letting people know that she does. She’s brave, in loud acts of defiance, or quiet ones — but both are as powerful as she is. Driving scares her, at first. Long distances are something she’d rather not do. And still, she drives all the way to Amsterdam just to see her friends. To pick them up and sing from the top of their lungs to the band that connected them together in the first place. At first she hates every second behind that wheel. A year later, you wouldn’t be able to tell. Without a care in the world she drives an extra half hour just to pick up her friend and drive to Belgium, despite it possibly snowing. She flies to different countries just because she wants to. Together, but also alone.

She doesn’t see it a lot of the time, but she’s always growing. Always bettering herself. Soon, she’ll move to another country, when three years ago she thought she never would leave her parents’ home again. Her friends will see her there. They can’t wait.

That first day, on that windy day in Amsterdam, was the beginning. Her red boots got sent on a permanent vacation not long afterwards, and got traded in for a style sense that is unabashedly her. Her long curls got cut off, her hair changed from blonde to red and back to blonde. She’s flown under bi flags, on horses in a forest, flew from the mountains, and flew into her friends’ hearts.

If I could fly does not apply to her: she already spreads her wings every single day. And she makes everyone want to fly with her.

[chibinightowl]

A Man Walks Into a Saloon

@charcoal-soul, your little head cinemas are going to be the death of me.  

For those who aren’t privy to these little headcanons, welcome to the Wild West where Bruce is the town Sheriff, Dick is his secret deputy who really has too much fun wearing a skirt, and Stephanie runs the local saloon. 

I could be persuaded to continue this. We’ll see.

~*~*~*~

Dick is a performer, through and through. It’s in his blood, is part of the very essence of who he is. But just because he’s on stage dancing his heart out in men’s burlesque show in front of a crowd of rowdy customers doesn’t mean he’s not paying attention to what’s going on around him. Bruce trained him better than that.

Not that anyone knows he’s a deputy for the wily sheriff. Much of his work here at Stephanie’s saloon is just that. Work. Bartending and running tables when he’s not on stage or rehearsing, but through it all, he keeps an eagle eye out for folks who just don’t look like they belong here. He’s gotten to a point where it’s practically a sixth sense.

And that sense is screaming at him as his blue gaze lands on the tall man who strides into the saloon and takes a seat at the bar. He looks road weary and dusty like most do in these parts, as does his companion, an equally tall woman with fiery locks barely contained in her long braid. Normally his attention would be on the redhead, especially since she’s dressed in men’s clothes rather than the divided riding skirt that’s more common in these parts, but Dick keeps going back to her dark-haired companion. There’s just something about him that sends a tingle down his spine.

This warrants further investigation.

But first, there’s a show to finish.

When he and the other men are done, they hop off stage and work the crowd. Or rather, Dick works the crowd while the others run off and change. While they’re all part of the entertainment, he’s the only one as comfortable in women’s clothing as he is men’s. And that means more tips and more attention for him. Dick has no problems playing both sides of the fence and Stephanie knows he’s more than capable of taking care of himself if someone gets too handsy.

One less thing for the saloon owner to worry about.

Dick slowly makes his way to the bar, stopping here and there as he does to chat. One woman even stopped him to ask where he found the rich blue silk that stands out so vibrantly against the black of his skirt.

“Had it special ordered from St. Louis,” he says, twirling around so she could see the full effect of it. “No offense to Mr. Pennyworth, but this just ain’t something he keeps in stock down at the general store.”

“It sure isn’t,” she agreed, her eyes lingering not only on the silk, but also on the ribbed corset in matching colors going up his waist.

Dick grins and winks at her as he walks off. The corset is strictly for show, as is the little bolero jacket he wears over it. His best friend Wally often teases him for how he looks in costumes like this, but to him, it’s all part of the act. Stephanie doesn’t care what he wears as long as it brings in customers, so he’s allowed free rein.

As he approaches the bar, he can’t help but like what he sees and wonders if maybe the shiver earlier was simply him picking up on the gorgeous hunk of a man sitting there. From behind, all he can see is broad shoulders, well muscled arms, and a solid trunk of a torso. The man’s jacket falls over the back of the barstool so Dick can’t make out the rest of the package, but so far, things look promising. Time for a closer inspection.

The stool on the man’s right is open, so Dick flops down with a flourish of silk and lace. “Hey, Steph! Got anything you’d think I like?” he calls out to the busy bartender/owner. The blonde woman knows better than to give him too much alcohol after a show (especially since he has another set in an hour) but dancing and flirting is thirsty work.

“Honey, you like it all,” she replies, dropping a pint of beer in front of him. “Try not to have too much fun in that new skirt of yours.” Steph winks and bustles off, her own purple and black striped dress looking fantastic on her. He’d ordered the silk for hers along with his own.

Dick salutes her with his glass. Turning, he looks at the two strangers and instantly, his heart starts beating harder. The woman is stunning, but the man…he can’t find words to describe him. His face looks like something out of one of Tim’s history books, the ones about Ancient Rome or Greece.

Time to turn his flirting up a notch.

“Hello, stranger,” Dick says with a saucy smile and runs a gloved hand over the smooth fabric of his skirt, outlining his thigh in the process. He picks up his beer and takes a sip, eyeing the man over the rim. The man is dressed for traveling, his dark brown leather jacket shiny with age. A dusty cowboy hat rests on the bar next to an empty shot glass and a mostly full glass of beer. “You must be new in town,” he offers with a wink. “I’d never forget a face like yours.”

The man honest to god blushes. Dick wants to crow in delight as red stains his cheeks.

“Yeah, Arty and I are just passin’ through.” The man replies as he tries for casual, even running an awkward hand through his black hair while his companion laughs boisterously. He’s young, probably around Dick’s age, but he’s got a white streak in his hair that’s rather eye-catching.

“Jay, I swear you always act like this whenever anyone hits on you.” The woman, Arty, slaps him hard on the shoulder. She catches Dick’s amused eyes. “Don’t let the blush fool you. He’s had his eye on you since we first walked in.”

Jay groans and gives Arty a good-natured shove. “Shut it.”

Dick laughs because this is just too much fun. “If it’s any consolation, I have too.” He takes another swig of beer and holds out his hand. “I’m Dick.”

The man accepts it and grips it firmly. “Jason, but I go by Jay more often than not.”

Dick reaches across Jason to shake Arty’s hand too. She also has a very firm grip. “Artemis. Only yahoos like Jay get away with Arty.”

“Noted. So, what brings you two into town?” Dick settles in for some small talk. He’s got the time but maybe if he plays his cards right, he won’t be crashing into an empty bed tonight. It’s rare that someone gets him this interested this fast, but hopefully Jason won’t be like the others.

He has a tendency to be attracted to the wrong type, usually with questionable appreciation for the law. Wally and Tim both joke about his poor taste, but Dick only has to remind them that they’re both single and to shut up, that at least he gets laid on occasion. Stephanie doesn’t run a brothel, no sirree, but she doesn’t care (much) what her employees do in their off time.

“Like I said, we’re just passin’ through,” Jason replies easily as he sips at his beer. “Wanna try and get to Colorado Springs before the end of the month. Heard tell there’s gonna be some hirin’ down there for some merchant trains and we could use the work.”

Before Dick can probe further, there’s a commotion over by the main entrance. Shouts ring out and Stephanie reaches under the bar for her shotgun.

“You assholes take it outside!” she shrieks loudly and pumps the shotgun for emphasis. “Now, before I blow someone’s hand off!”

Dick doesn’t even realize he’s stood and sits back down, but as he does, he catches sight of Jason lowering his jacket back over the gun on his belt. The stock on the revolver is inlaid with pearl. That’s an unusual sight and one that doesn’t exactly fit with the poor cowboy image the man is trying to portray.

Something isn’t right here.

He starts talking with Jason and Artemis again, casually flirting and enjoying the crap out of the blushes he gets from the other man. Soon enough, his hour is up and it’s time to get ready for his next show. As he stands, Dick runs a gloved hand over Jason’s lightly stubbled cheek. “Keep your eyes on me,” he whispers and leans in to plant a kiss where his hand just was. Jason looks startled, his deep blue eyes wide as he blushes again.

Artemis laughs raucously as Dick walks away, making sure to put an extra sway in his step.

Jason is seriously cute and Dick really wants to find out how far down his neck the man’s blush goes, but he’s still bothered by the sense that something is off about him. He’s halfway through the next set when he figures it out. Only years of performing keep him upright and in character.

The man sitting at the bar is the Red Hood.

Bruce had shown him the new wanted posters that arrived with this morning’s post. The sketch doesn’t do the man justice at all, especially since he always wears a red bandana over the lower half of his face and the brim of his black cowboy hat pulled low, but the sketch did mention his deep blue eyes.

Some additional information about him was passed along only to law enforcement, which Bruce shared with him as well. Like the pearl gripped revolver and the fact that his accomplice is suspected to be a woman. Dick remembers the poster for Artemis being even more vague as she wears a full wrap of faded red around her face and head, leaving only her eyes bare, probably to conceal her feminine features and that massive amount of red hair.

The pair are wanted in conjunction with over a dozen robberies in the last year. Almost no one is ever seriously hurt but one man was killed when he tried chasing after them. He’d been shot in the shoulder and the impact sent him flying off his horse where he then landed wrong and broke his neck. Accidental to be sure, but murder is murder.

Dick wants to groan in frustration as he kicks up his legs and dances around the stage. Why does this always happen to him? It’s like he’s one of those magnets that attracts trouble rather than iron shavings.

But he remembers Jason’s blush as he flirted with him and how sweet he is, even while telling Artemis off for ordering a third beer. This can’t be the same person that has a $500 reward for his capture.

Additional verification needs to be done first. After all, the sketches for the Red Hood Bandits are iffy at best.

It doesn’t take long for Dick to rejoin Jason and Artemis after his last performance. Stephanie drops off another beer for him, which he downs quickly. “Care to take a walk, Jay?” he asks with a wink. “I could use some fresh air.”

Artemis all but pushes Jason off his barstool. “You do too. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

Jason curses and mutters something that Dick doesn’t quite catch, but has his companion laughing uproariously as she slaps his hat on his head and shoves him towards the door.

Outside, the night air is cool against Dick’s flushed skin and he welcomes the change in temperature as he and Jason stroll down the wooden sidewalk. Jason’s heavy boots jingle slightly as they walk from his spurs. He awkwardly holds out his arm for Dick, who can’t help but laugh lightly at him. “I am a guy, you know. I just wear women’s clothing because it’s fun.”

“Well, my ma beat it inta me ta always offer my arm to a lady and since the one I travel with never wears a skirt…” Jason’s lips quirk in amusement.

“I accept then,” Dick replies and takes his arm. The man is taller than him but not by much. Warm too, but in a good way.

They stroll for a little ways before Jason speaks up again. “Ya know, wanderin’ off with strange men may not be the smartest thing for someone like you ta be doin’.”

Dick waves off the warning. “Thanks, but I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.”

“That so?” In the faint light from the moon, Dick catches a glint in Jason’s eyes.

Challenge accepted.

Before Jason can react, Dick has him firmly pressed against a wall, out of sight of the street and one of his secreted knives pressed lightly against his throat. “I grew up in a circus,” he breathes into the other man’s throat. “Learned a few other things besides how to put on makeup, kick up my heels, and look fabulous in a dress.”

“I see that,” Jason replies carefully, not moving in the slightest against Dick’s body, which he thinks is a crying shame. “So what now? You gonna rob me?”

Dicks smiles into the warm skin and presses his lips firmly against Jason’s fluttering pulse. “I can think of one thing I want to steal from you.”

“What’s that?”

“This.” Dick slides the knife back into his skirt and presses even more against Jason, capturing his lips in a heated kiss. The man gasps into it, startled, but then lets out one of the sweetest moans he has ever had the privilege to hear.

Oh, good lord. If Jason is the Red Hood, boy is Dick ever screwed.

[arysavignaniacchan]

SOOOO MINA SAAAAAAAAMA

long time I didn’t post a video here on my BLOG AND ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL!

So here we go with a very big revue full of ‘80s bliss that won’t disappoint you.

Plus a very sexy Nesshi,what d’ya want more?

Here we have an exstract from “TOO HOT!”,the amazing 1988 hoshi revue following Fiery Bolero,a passionate story about a bold group of mexican republicans (LEAD BY MARIKO!) who will fight for Mexican independence from Napoleon III’s established monarch. Whit the help of a liberal nobleman,interpreted by Nesshi,they will bounce to victory giving freedom to Mexico. Cool isn’t it?

TOO HOT IS COOLER

Believe me,I just have NO WORDS to describe the 80s epicness this revue is XD. But here we are with this small video.

The final performance of the revue closes up with this amazing drag number where a beautiful white dressed woman goes descending he stairs of what probabily is a club,and Moroder like music starts playing in the background.

The whole set is minimal,the beats are SICK and the dance numbers too and,in a very 80s show,this number stands out as very futuristic (even if you know,Moroder did it in the 70s XD).

So guys ENJOY!

[zukadiary]

Takarazuka news roundup 6.29.20

They’re coming more frequently now! Let’s hope all these performances can move forward as planned without any health consequences.

Several small theater productions that were scheduled for this past Spring and cancelled due to the coronavirus have been rescheduled at different theaters. The schedule and locations are as follows:

Soragumi’s Flying Sapa: 8/1-8/11 at Umeda Arts Theater Main Hall (previously planned for Akasaka ACT)

Soragumi’s Magnificent Emperor: 8/14-8/18 at Drama City only (previously planned for Drama City and Nippon Seinenkan)

Yukigumi’s Fiery Bolero / Music Revolution -New Spirit-: 8/17-8/25 at Umeda Arts Theater Main Hall only (previously planned for national tour)

Todoroki Yuu’s dinner show: 8/26 and 27 at Hotel Hankyu International

Nozomi Fuuto’s NOW! ZOOM ME!!: 9/11-19 at the Takarazuka Grand Theater, 9/26-10/3 at the Tokyo Theater (previously planned for Kobe International Hall and Bunka Civic Hall)

Maaya Kiho’s Music Salon: 9/6-8 at the Takarazuka Hotel, 9/13 & 14 at the Daiichi Hotel Tokyo

The measures in place for shows at Umeda are largely the same, adding that the one ticket per show per customer rule also applies to Umeda Arts members as well as Tomo no Kai. Measures for the hotel performances will be announced at a later date.

Additionally, the company’s instagram messages will be coming to an end with Todoroki Yuu as the 106th participant, representing the 106th year of Takarazuka. 

[zukadiary]

Takarazuka+ week-end roundup 11.24.19

Asumi Rio retired today, wrapping up over 5 years of top stardom. Congratulations to Mirio and the other retiring actresses, and I hope they all get a good long rest!

We got posters for The Red and the Black and Chinatsu’s alien show

Mozart l’opera rock opened and looks like great fun

The next Yukigumi shows were announced. Ayakaze Sakina will be leading a national tour of Fiery Bolero (another old Shibata) paired with the third iteration of Music Revolution, this time subtitled “New Spirit.”  Nozomi Fuuto will be leading a concert called NOW! ZOOM ME!!—a pun so groan-worthy I didn’t even want to type it—extravagantly guest-starring Inoue Yoshio and Ramin Karimloo. Maaya Kiho will be heading up her own music salon. In short, you should probably start saving your money if you’d like to see Daimon and Kiichan one last time!

Ryuu Masaki has announced that she’s marrying a race car driver (named in the article as “Mr. A”) after dating for only 4 months (clarifying that she is not pregnant).

The homepage for Kurenai Yuzuru’s upcoming concert got some gorgeous visuals and a comment video!

Kisaragi Ren hasn’t used a computer in 8 years. That must be nice.