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dustedmagazine · 1 month ago

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Listening Post: Natural Information Society/Bitchin Bajas

Joshua Abrams’ Natural Information Society and the Bitchin Bajas both thrive in the fertile Chicago improvisatory community, but the two outfits have very different energies. Joshua Abrams got his start playing bass for the Roots, but he decamped for the Windy City years ago to take part in its free-wheeling free jazz experiment.

Abrams once held down a steady gig playing bass at Fred’s Velvet Lounge and collaborated with such jazz luminaries as Jeff Parker, Makaya McCraven, Dave Rempis, Hamid Drake, Rob Mazurek and Roscoe Mitchell. His current NIS ensemble reflects broad acquaintance within the jazz scene. It includes his wife, the visual artist and harmonium player Lisa Alvarado, as well as an ever shifting cast of heavyweights: Jason Adasiewicz, Mikel Avery, Ben Boye, Hamid Drake, Ben Lamar Gay, Emmett Kelly, Norberto Lobo, Artur Majewski, Nick Mazzarella, Jeff Parker, Frank Rosaly, Jason Stein, Kuba Suchar, Nori Tanaka and Chad Taylor.

In addition, Abrams has collaborated with a slew of non-jazz artists such as Bobby Conn, Bonnie Prince Billy, Prefuse 73 and Godspeed You Black Emperor. His interest in non-western music has led to a prolonged experiment with the North African guembri, a stringed instrument which figures prominently in his Natural Information Society Recordings.

Bitchin Bajas, by contrast, comes out of experimental rock. Led by Cooper Crain (ex of the kraut-droning Cave) it incorporates shimmering electronic and woodwind textures that touch on kosmiche, Afro-beat and gamelan in a kind of hazy dreamscape. Like Abrams, the Bitchin Bajas are inveterate collaborators, notably with Chicago guitarist Bill Mackay in BCMC, Bonnie Prince Billy, Olivia Wyatt and, obviously, Natural Information Society.

The two bands made one previous album in 2015, Autoimaginary that sketched out how their very different aesthetics might mesh, first in a side-long, enveloping, droning meditation, then in a series of shorter, more rhythmic compositions. The follow-up, Totality, comes just short of a decade later. It adheres to the same basic pattern, a lengthy luminous title track on one side and three scratchier, more percussive titles on the other.

Intro by Jennifer Kelly

Jennifer Kelly: I’ve been listening to this album for a while, and I still get lost, in a very pleasant way, in the long title track. It feels like the center of a universe, with the sound extending indefinitely in every direction. I think it’s easy to think about how different NIS and Bitchin Bajas are, but they really merge very seamlessly in this one. What are you guys hearing and thinking about Totality?

Marc Medwin: Here's to nested recurrence! I love the idea of glancing deep into a universe center, or a universe centered, especially at either end of that first side. When it fades, all occurring to that point, and we get layers galore, disappears except for the harmonium and bass dead center-stage, so similar to the textures and sonic placement that opened everything up more than 16 minutes before, more like zephyr than big bang but with muted rhythm at its own center, powerfully controlled, harnessed potential in action just before all fans out to either side, absolutely stunning!

Not to hog the space, but one more thing I was thinking about as I listened to this collab's sophomore effort is the way technology creates dialogue. Obviously, this project digs deep and wide into the cultural reference crate but do you folks hear the equipment (and I'm not the one to parse what is being used!) actually creating the musical communication? I can't get over the precision with which each sound is placed, in the mix and on the soundstage! I'm a headphone listener, and this thing is a buzz!!

Jennifer Kelly: Great point Marc. I’m wondering if you could elaborate a bit on what you hear in terms of technology?

Jonathan Shaw: Due to my materialist leanings, I am always going to be a sucker for a song called "Totality." It's really something. Just getting into the listening now, but I am really loving these textures.

Marc Medwin: And I think those textures are largely a technological concern. Please don't misunderstand. I'm not suggesting that traditional musicality is absent, far from it! The way the way the winds, strings and drums interact on "Always 9 Seconds Away"'s opening is magical, unified like chamber music! It's just that when the harmonium enters, it's as if two environments are merging, a small but live room for the drums, bass and winds and something more malleable as the harmonium is answered (all in the left channel) by ... what is that? All that is, to me, a technological miracle. Each layer influences how I hear the others, two levels of discourse, and of course, the Gargantuan opening track has many more layers of acoustic interaction that only technology can offer. I'm still not articulating this well.

Jennifer Kelly: This makes sense to me. I do feel, especially on the long track, that I’m entering a physical space.

Bill Meyer: So, Marc, when you are referring to technology, it sounds like you are referring to the successfully precise placement of sounds in the mix, right?

Marc Medwin: To an extent, yes, the mix is certainly a large part of it but also the way everything is recorded, environments are captured and to the judicious use of effects, all part of the dialogue.

Bill Meyer: First of all, there's a lot of technical knowledge about recording spread across the two ensembles. Joshua Abrams has been doing post-production on NIS records and home recording for about 15 years. NIS' drummer, Mikel Patrick Avery, makes guitar effects pedals as a hobby. Cooper Crain of the Bitchin Bajas is a producer, engineer and the lead house soundman at Constellation in Chicago. Rob Frye of the BBs often does sound at Constellation. I can't say anything about Dan Quinlivan’s knowhow since he's not part of the Constellation sound team, but he sometimes has the heaviest-laden table at a Bajas concert, so I would speculate that at a minimum he knows his gear.

Second, there's the recording procedure and the setting where the album was recorded. This album was recorded in a day, mainly live, which is also the way that most of the last NIS record was recorded. It was done at Electrical Audio, which means that you have a good room and excellent analog equipment being used by people who know the room and know the equipment. Crain in particular is versed in analog as well as digital recording.

Third, I suspect that Abrams influenced how this album was mixed. He is a huge Lee "Scratch" Perry fan who prizes mixing as a performative act, and he did a lot of live mixing with the last NIS record, adding effects at the same time that they were setting levels. So, there's a dub-informed sense of space and an awareness of mixing as a moment of immediate decision.

Marc Medwin: I hadn't considered the dub aspect, Great! Getting back to Jen's initial point, yet another manifestation of that universe of the album's title. On that first side, I can't help but think of Soft Machine's Third and the loops informing their Spaced project, but we've come such a long way since 1970!

Tim Clarke: My first listen to the title track was revelatory! How can such a large ensemble of musicians play with such restraint and sensitivity?! Once the rhythm section picks up momentum, I took a glance at the amount of time the track had left to run and immediately had a sinking feeling... I would happily have listened to the groove run out for another 10 minutes, at least. For this reason, the shorter tracks are less satisfying, but the slow, gentle swing and unison playing of "Always 9 Seconds Away" is really lovely.

Upon repeat listens, the texture and timbre of the music is still deeply satisfying, but I wonder how much work has gone into finessing the mix. I also wonder how this gets away with deploying largely New Age sounds in a way that doesn't end up feeling hackneyed or annoying. Either way, this is a really beautiful record.

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Ian Mathers: The first thing that surprised me about this record is just that, based on the number of people contributing, I expected it to be possibly somewhat overstuffed (which can be good). But the whole thing feels rather... spacious. I'm glad to get more recording/production/ mixing context from this conversation, because it absolutely helped me understand why I kept going back and forth between feeling like this felt very "live," in the room and it feeling like a real showcase of the whole "studio as an instrument" production (in a less overt way than I think that term sometimes gets used). It is absolutely lovely, errr, totalizing stuff, and feels weirdly well represented by the cover art: simplicity (in the pattern) married with a pleasingly dense lushness (in the texture). I do like the title track a lot, but I admit the one I keep going back to is "Always 9 Seconds Away." And what a fitting, evocative, kind of nerve-provoking title; for all 13 plus minutes it feels like the track is constantly arriving but never quite getting there.

I'll admit I'm more familiar with Natural Information Society than Bitchin Bajas (and have not gone super deep on either); I certainly recognize elements of the former here but would be fascinated to hear what parts others identify as being more in line with the Bajas' sound, or even how this collaboration goes beyond or outside what either group normally does, if there is anything.

Bill Meyer: I just got home from the record release concert which is, I reckon, the fourth ever by the conglomerate of ten years. I got a bit more recording information, mostly from chatting with Rob Frye. The album was recorded between 10 am-7 pm the day after their last concert before tonight, c. three years ago, at Electrical Audio in Chicago. They ended when they did because Abrams had a gig that night. A few overdubs were done later, including some flute, and also some editing. There will be another gig in October, on the second night of Stereolab’s visit to Chicago in October.

The name Totality comes from a shared experience. Everyone in the joint combo except Avery has been at Frye’s parent’s home in rural Missouri on one of two occasions in the past decade when there was a total eclipse. They’re hoping they can pull off a gig in Spain when the next totality occurs there in August.

The concert comprised all four pieces from the album, but the shorter ones ended up getting played a bit longer and a bit differently from how they sound on the LP. It was a very good night.

Jennifer Kelly: Funny I was just looking for live video, given our focus on production/recording. Was it about the same as the record or were there notable differences? You mentioned the tracks being extended, but did it have that enveloping sound?

Bill Meyer: There were differences, especially on the second tune of each side of the record. I think that the distinguishing rhythms were de-emphasized, and the textures moved up on those pieces. The first track on each side was very recognizably the same piece as the record. I'm afraid that I did not think about taking a video, I was mostly busy listening and enjoying.

Definitely enveloping. A lot of that is due to having a lot of complementary instrumentation that can really thicken the sound; the flute with echo plus bowed double bass and the organ/synth/harmonium combos blanket things in a good way.

Marc Medwin: I was going to ask how many times these two groups have performed together, thank you for supplying the info! I guess, based on what you learned about the recording process, that effects would have been part of the recording process, not surprising at this point. I saw Jacqueline Kerrod and Joe Morris the other night, and both had quite the arsenal of effects with which they dialogued through the single-piece improvised set, pretty great and most likely somewhat similar to what we're hearing in the gradual musical/sonic unfolding on the first side of Totality.

Christian Carey: It’s great to hear about the release party from Bill and Marc’s take on recording. It makes sense that the shorter tracks would be stretched out live. And it speaks to the quality of the musicians that there has been such a long hiatus, and they created the recording in a single day with a strong sense of ensemble coordination. The overdubs work nicely, but they don’t seem to be necessary to rescue lulls or stitch together thin textures.

Totality is a reference to the post-style music that these musicians make. Bill, which cohorts were in the audience?

Bill Meyer: It was a sold-out show, as full as Constellation ever gets. Since I’m there a lot, I’d say that I saw all the usual suspects, by which I mean the free jazz/improv/experimental/fringe crowd to which I belong. There is a strong overlap between NIS and BBs fans in Chicago. The audience was bigger than that, though, and I would speculate that the additional people were open-minded curious folks who were there because they read about the show in the Chicago Reader and the Chicago Tribune.

Per my conversation with Frye, the titular concept of totality is informed by the fact that members of both bands are eclipse chasers, and everyone in the combined ensemble except Mikel Avery was present at one or the other of two gatherings held at his parents’ home in southern Missouri to witness total eclipses. They are trying to figure out if they can make it to Spain to witness a total eclipse that is expected in late August and would welcome the chance to play in support of it. But I’m sure they would welcome other interpretations.

Christian Carey: I wonder who would be in attendance if they played in New York?

Ian Mathers: I would definitely be in attendance if they played in Toronto, not that I'm holding my breath. I love the detail that they ended recording so that Abrams could go play a show, and the other details of recording. One thing I'm not clear on, and apologies if I've missed a discussion of this earlier; when they sat down to record, did they have specific compositions in mind, or was (some or all of it) improvised? The tidbit that two of the pieces were very much the same live but two significantly different has me wondering. (And from listening to the recorded version, I could honestly see it going either way.)

Jennifer Kelly: Bitchin Bajas toured New England a couple of years ago, but I don’t think Natural Information Society has ever played anywhere near here.

Bill Meyer: I think there’s some agreed upon structure in all the music they share, but there’s also room for things to happen.

NIS had played around a bit, but the heavier touring has happened in Europe. They have had phases of playing multiple times per year in Chicago, but also times when they lay low. The Bitchin Bajas have logged some serious mileage in Europe and the US.

Marc Medwin: Yeah! I hear what might be compositional frames, or even melodic ideas. I'm thinking of the tiered melody underpinning "9 Seconds Away” and paving the way for that collective improv stuff later on in the piece. It's always fascinating to dig down under that improv/composition boundary, because you can get into arrangement issues by doing that. I love the way the bass and flute interact on that melody, how unified they sound. So much of this music is about layered subtlety!

Bill Meyer: If you look back over their combined discographies, both the Bitchin Bajas and Natural Information Society are quite happy to play composed tunes and grooves. But since there's a lot of improvisational acumen on board, the two combine. I think what differentiates this music from what each does on their own does not fall on a fault line of improvisation or composition, but what textures they emphasize and what rhythms they choose to play.

Tim Clarke: The way the melodies and rhythms seem to emerge kaleidoscopically out of the textures is quite magical.

Bill Meyer: Both groups grew from the seed of a particular instrumental sound, the guimbri for NIS and analog synthesizer for Bitchin Bajas. So, it makes sense that that the musical moving parts and structures seem to emerge from the sounds.

Tim Clarke: For anyone loving what they're hearing on Totality, where would you recommend heading next, Bill?

Bill Meyer: Their first collaboration, of course, Autoimaginary, which was released in 2015 and has just been repressed. It was done with a different edition of NIS (Abrams, Alvarado, Emmet Kelley, Frank Rosaly) but if you like the new one, you'll probably like that one quite a bit too. Since Time Is Gravity, the last NIS record, which shares the combination of mostly live recording and dub-conscious mixing. And if I had to pick one Bajas record, it would be Bajas Fresh because it concentrates their percolating rhythms and has their best Sun Ra cover.

Ian Mathers: This collaboration got me to finally check out a Bitchin Bajas record after meaning to for years (NIS I'd heard, mostly based on Dusted recommendations, and quite like). My love of shorter records meant I checked out 2022's Bajascillators (well that plus a love of the album art they used). I think I'd forgotten they were analogue synth-based, but that record certainly reminded me (in a good way). Even if NIS doesn't swing through, I'll have to try and catch the Bajas next time they're in town.

#listening post #dusted magazine #natural information society #bitchin bajas #totality #automaginary #constellation #chicago #improvisation #drone #groove #eclipse

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vanillaa-sky · 4 years ago

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Hey! Could you make a post of your Aro and/or Ace headcanons?

I certainly can! I know you only asked for aro and ace but I’m gonna expand on some of them simply because we need more characters who are aro OR ace, rather than them all being aroace specifically.

Ace:

Allison Hargreeves, thanks to this post! (heteroromantic ace)

Stanley Uris, not actually sure where this hc began? I think I just saw other people making ace Stan posts and said ‘Yeah I can get behind that’. (See also the nb Stan hc because that’s Good)

Luke Patterson, again I think this is just because I’ve seen other people hc him as ace, but the pan ace Luke hc lives rent free in my mind

Willie (JATP), thanks to @thesunwillart’s posts, serving rights on all fronts

Julie Molina, I saw jatp and went wow that shit fucks, everyone’s ace now :/ and that was very big brained of me tbh! I mean her assigned colour is purple too so like? What other evidence do you need? /j

Not a hc but Jonathan Sims, actually canon (!!!!), you love to see it!

Din Djarin (hello angry anons <3), definitely bi-ace you can’t change my mind. Think this started from his complete disinterest in chapter 2 (?) when Greef suggests he goes to the Twi’lek baths? That man is ace and he just wants a nap :/

Aro:

Kristy Thomas, I’m still unsure on what I actually hc her as, because I feel her lines about not having a crush on any boys could either be read as aro OR that she’s a lesbian? I definitely see her as aspec though I know that much, perhaps demi?

Sasha James, stole this one from Gray because he said aromantic bi Sasha and mans went off with that, excellent hc king

Naimi-Selari-Nykantia/Nyx, I just fucking love her teasing Callum and Rayla for their feelings and decide she’s aro based on that alone, let more aros bully romance pls

(Honestly it’s a lot harder to think of aro hcs just due to the fact that a lot of characters are/have been in romantic relationships that I either enjoy or see as happy and healthy)

AroAce:

Five Hargreeves, you’re telling me that he genuinely fell in love with a mannequin? No he has Trauma and latched onto an inanimate object. Also I think aroace people should be allowed to commit a little crime, as a treat, y’know?

Another canon character, Zephyr Hernandez, genuinely teared up a little when he said he was aroace :’)

Luke Crain, another Luke for the list, seen a lot of good readings of his character and how he was written as aroace and I definitely see where they’re coming from! He’s aroace in my heart

#asks #aroace #aromantic #asexual #aroace hcs #how tf do I tag this?

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aurorasilverthorne · 4 years ago

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Total Misunderstanding Part #3

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Disclaimer: Elena of Avalor and all its characters belong to Disney.

Note: Llorona belongs to me. If you use her in fanart or fanfiction, please remember to give me proper credit as her creator. Thank you.

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"Chief Zephyr might let you stay on Mooncliff Mountain with us until you figure out where you want to go," Cruz suggested as they ate lunch and discussed what Llorona could do and also where she might go now that she'd run away from the palace.

Llorona finished her food and crumpled up the plate before tossing it in a nearby trash bin. She'd considered going to Hortensia Paloma. The magister of the trading guild had always been nice to the princess even on the days she hadn't purchased anything at her emporium.

Doña Paloma didn't like her parents either so she likely wouldn't tell them Llorona was there. However, if her mother or father happened to show up and find out she was hiding at the emporium, they'd probably punish her for being outside the palace, and she didn't want Paloma to get in trouble for helping her.

Llorona didn't know what the penalty was for aiding runaway royals, but given how strict her mother was, she figured the reprimand would probably be a harsh one. Neither of her parents were known to show much leniency whenever it came to upholding Avaloran law.

She didn't want to risk the jaquins getting hurt either though. Her mother hated animals, but she especially despised the flying jaguars who liked to sing and cause mischief which didn't bode well with her mother who preferred everything to be tidy and quiet. Her mother would incinerate them all with her Vadisima spell if she caught Llorona going anywhere near them. Just being around Cruz put the jaquin cub's life in danger. Llorona had told him that, but he refused to leave her side until she found a safe place to stay.

"What are you going to do?" Cruz asked once she'd said no to his offer to live at the cliffs with him and the rest of the jaquin clan.

"I'll figure out something," she told him. "I just...need time to think. Let's go look around some more."

Cruz nodded. "Okay!"

Llorona stood and dusted herself off before turning towards the vendor stalls only to bump into a man's leg. She tried to apologize, but the man grabbed onto her arm and attempted to drag her out of the market. Llorona started struggling, kicking and crying out for help, but the people in the market probably assumed the man was her father or some relative and she was throwing a tantrum. Cruz knew better, however, and leapt forward sinking both his teeth and claws into the man's lower arm.

The man cried out and let go of Llorona's arm. The jaquin cub and the princess tried to run away while the man was busy clutching at his injured arm and spewing profanities, but another even larger man got in their way as they were trying to leave.

"Get the niña," the first man ordered. "I don't give a damn what happens to the jaquin!"

"I've got her," the second replied reaching towards Llorona.

"Contali!"

All at once both men were thrown backward into the nearest wall. Llorona stood wide eyed as a man in dark blue robes appeared beside her pointing a tamborita at the two men.

"I've always detested adults who bully children," he said pausing to adjust the double headed serpent clasp on his cloak.

The man was so tall Llorona had to crain her neck just to see his face which was long with rather large green eyes and an extended goatee that matched his salt and pepper hair. He aimed his tamborita at the two men as they began pushing themselve up off the ground.

"Ecatuul!"

Llorona watched as the two men were swept up into the tornado the strange wizard conjured. She heard the two shouting and saw their arms and legs flailing as it carried them off to Maru only knew where.

The princess and the jaquin cub uttered a simultaneous "Wow..."

The wizard was putting his tamborita away when they approached him.

"That was amazing," Cruz exclaimed.

The wizard ignored Cruz and focused on Llorona. "A young child such as yourself should not be traipsing around here unattended. Where are your parents, girl, and why aren't they with you?"

His stern tone had Llorona taking a apprehensive step back. "Mamá and Papá don't want me. I was an accident. That's why I'm here. To find somewhere else to live."

The wizard frowned. "I see. What's your name, girl?"

Llorona eyed him warily. "Who wants to know?"

He seemed surprised by her question, or perhaps he was amused. Either way he gave a dramatic gesture and said, "I am, Fiero, the most feared and powerful malvago in all of Avalor. And you are?"

Llorona motioned to Cruz then to herself. "He's Cruz and I'm Ro."

Fiero quirked an eyebrow. "Ro? Am I to assume that's short for something else?"

"No. It's just Ro."

"Well, 'Just Ro', you and your furry friend need to be more careful. Even a nice kingdom like Avalor has its dangers-as you just learned. Keep to the main streets if you're looking for food or work and stay out of trouble, elsewise you'll fall in with the wrong crowd and end up stuck somewhere you don't want to be doing things you won't like. Understand?"

Llorona nodded. "Si, señor."

Fiero gave a stiff nod. "Good. Now if you don't mind, I'll be on my way."

The malvago wasn't a fool. He knew who the girl was. Only one woman in Avalor had eyes such a dark, vivid shade of emerald green.

It seemed Shuriki had found a man insane enough to sire her child. Fiero couldn't help wondering who she'd chosen and whether or not the poor, unfortunate lunatic had even survived the conception. The sorceress didn't seem all that affectionate or merciful, so it wasn't surprising in the least that she hadn't turned out to be an attentive mother.

Fiero pretended not to notice that the child and jaquin cub were following him while he took a long stroll through the market. A malvago's life was rather lonely-albeit fulfilling, so a bit of company now and then was appreciated even if that company was a little girl and her pet trailing after him at what they perceived to be a safe distance.

Fiero didn't mind keeping an eye on the two youngsters if only to make certain nobody else tried to bother them. He wasn't usually one to involve himself in the affairs of other people, but when it came to a child's well-being, well...even a malvago could have a heart from time to time.

#eoa #disney #elenaofavalor #shuriki #elena of avalor #chancellor esteban #esteban flores #fanfiction #EoA #original character #fiero #cruz

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chancelloramidala · 5 years ago

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Catastrophize ► Luke Crain

Introduction.

( TW: drug abuse & death )

If someone were to ask Vincent how long he’s been driving in circles around the less than favorable side of LA, he could give a rough estimate: about two hours or so. There were a surprising amount of places an individual could acquire illegal drugs in this country, and LA was a hub for it.

After receiving a frantic call from Paige, a counselor at the rehab center Luke recently ran away from, Vincent got into his 1980 Mercury Zephyr Villager station wagon with his sleepy nine year old in the back. Luckily, once they got half a mile in, Julia fell fast asleep, her head resting against a pillow on the window as she clung onto her blue bunny named Twix. All Vincent told his daughter as to why they had to go on a long drive was to pick up his lost friend, who Julia dubbed “Mister Luke” over the many phone calls they’ve exchanged.

He knew his daughter tried her very best to stay awake, so she could finally see this mysterious Mister Luke she’s been talking to for almost two months but failed to do so because she was nine years old with a strict bedtime.

Unlike his daughter, Vincent knew he wouldn’t be able to catch a wink of sleep until he knew Luke was okay. He knew that it wasn’t rare for Luke to just leave the rehab center his older siblings had paid for, but deep down, Vincent knew that this time, Luke actually wanted to get better. For fucks sake, the other day Luke had received his 60 day chip of sobriety!

It was such a huge improvement compared to the first time the two of them met. In short, Luke was high and walking around LA without a care in the world. Vincent, who wasn’t high and on his way home back from work, took pity on the homeless-looking man his age that was bumbling into others and manically mumbling under his breath. He knew the symptoms by heart, recalling the many times he saw his own mother, then later sister grow addicted to the poison in the needle.

Vincent ended up taking Luke to the very hospital he worked at, staying up to make sure that he was sobered up as he called his brother, Steve Crain, about his current condition. On the phone, Steve sounded tired, Vincent had probably woken him up and despite the worry in his tone after asking which hospital to go to, there was still a tinge of disdain about having to help out his little brother, again.

He understood the sentiment, which was similar as to having to pick up the mess that you had just cleaned up, but Vincent couldn’t help but get the slightest bit pissed at Steve. Yes, addicts weren’t the best people to be related to (imagine having two in the family) because of the never-ending cycle that came with addiction, but the fact that Steve, and most of the older siblings of Luke had given up on his recovery was astonishing to Vincent. He couldn’t believe that they had such little faith in Luke, save for Nell, so from then on, Vincent made a promise: to be there for Luke. Even if he might steal from him, or bug him for money, or even run off to who knows where, Vincent had to give Luke the support he couldn’t give his own sister, Frida.

He owed it to her.

From what Vincent could remember from their most recent phone calls and what Paige had told him, Luke became fast friends with someone named Joey, a fellow addict. And the only reason Luke even left the center was that Joey had run away to do god knows what. Paige had warned Luke about the consequences of leaving, but of course, with the heart of gold he had, he didn’t care. Vincent could only imagine what Luke was thinking when he left to go after Joey, to bring her back, to help her get better, but he could also imagine the guilt if Joey wouldn’t come back.

Vincent was too familiar with such guilt.

As he turned another corner, he saw someone pacing a few steps before turning around and pace again. This person looked rough. They were shivering like crazy and mumbling to themselves as they walked back and forth. Vincent stopped the car and parked it before stepping out.

It was Luke.

And he had no shoes on.

His face was scratched and bruised.

His lip was busted.

He looked terrified.

“Luke...?” Vincent’s voice was soft, almost as if he didn’t trust himself to break the man before him out of the trance he was in.

He stopped pacing, his back was turned to Vincent as turned his head slightly before wincing at the slow movement. Then, Luke carefully turned around, with his shoulder shaking as he took quick strides towards Vincent. “V...Vincent,” he said breathlessly.

Vincent met him halfway, and pulled Luke into a hug, wrapping his arms around his torso as he pulled him close to his body. Despite being beaten up only a few hours ago and having half a foot on the shorter man, Luke melted into Vincent’s touch. Luke tucked his head into Vincent’s neck and gave him a firm squeeze, like Luke was scared Vincent would evaporate into thin air.

“I-I’m so s-so-sorry,” Luke mumbled out into Vincent’s neck as he unwillingly pulled away, bringing a hand to rub the back of his neck. “I didn’t... I... I... I... I couldn’t... I couldn’t... I couldn’t help her... I couldn’t... I couldn’t help her...”

Vincent felt his heart sink into his stomach at the sight of Luke Crain in a stuttering mess, with words that were barely coherent. He made sure to keep his hand on his even if it was shaking... no, it was shivering.

“And I'm so... I'm so... I'm so cold. I didn't... My arms and legs are stiff. And... And I... I... It's... It's... It's... It's like... It's like withdrawal, but... But I... I... I didn't use. I wa... I wasn't using, but... But I... But I feel it anyway. It's... You... You believe me, right?“ Luke continued to rub at the base of his neck, everything aching and feeling as if he could just drop dead to the group with the weight in his bones. And even then, despite his own physical pains, he was more worried about Vincent and what he thought of him right now.

“I believe you,” he gently sent a reassuring squeeze to his hand and made sure that Luke was able to see the candor in his eyes. “Luke... I don’t...” Vincent sighed quietly as his dropped his gaze from dark eyes. But he had to look at him, so he knew that what he was saying was nothing but the truth. “It’s your sister, Nell.”

Luke was silent, staring at Vincent as he waited for an answer.

“She’s... dead.”

Masterlist

#the haunting of hill house #luke crain #luke crain x male oc #luke crain x vincent navarro #original character: vincent navarro #nell crain #eleanor crain #theo crain #shirley crain #steve crain #hugh crain #olivia crain

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snarkyoracle · 8 years ago

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FAITH AND THE FUTURE FORCE #1 (of 4) Written by JODY HOUSER Art by STEPHEN SEGOVIA and BARRY KITSON Cover A by JELENA KEVIC-DJURDJEVIC Cover B by KANO Variant Cover by MARGUERITE SAUVAGE Variant Cover by FELIPE MASSAFERA Blank Cover Also Available

A SPECTACULAR SUMMER EVENT! This summer, every second counts when acclaimed writer Jody Houser (Mother Panic, Star Wars: Rogue One), explosive artist Stephen Segovia (NINJAK, Action Comics), comics legend Barry Kitson (Fantastic Four), and special surprise guests push Faith into a centuries-spanning fight for existence alongside the greatest heroes of the Valiant Universe…past, present, and future!

Faith “Zephyr” Herbert – former member of Unity, current Harbinger Renegade, and Los Angeles’ #1 superhero – is the universe’s last, best chance at survival! Centuries from today, a devious artificial intelligence has unleashed a blistering attack on the very foundations of time…one that is unwriting history from beginning to end! Now, with her options exhausted, Neela Sethi, Timewalker – the self-appointed protector of what is and will be – has returned to the 21st century to recruit Earth’s greatest champions of today and tomorrow to oppose this existential threat…and she needs Faith to lead them! But why Faith? And why now?

This July, fly to the farthest edges of the future in a death-defying race to save time itself, as Faith leads the charge alongside Valiant’s greatest heroes…and becomes a new legend for the ages!

$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On Sale JULY 26

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HARBINGER RENEGADE #5 (ALL-NEW ARC! ALL-NEW JUMPING-ON POINT! “MASSACRE” – PART ONE) Written by RAFER ROBERTS Art by DARICK ROBERTSON Cover A by DARICK ROBERTSON* Cover B by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI Cover C by CLAYTON CRAIN Wraparound Variant Cover by MARC LAMING B&W Sketch Variant by DARICK ROBERTSON Gold Foil Linewide Variant by MONIKA PALOSZ

Harvey Award-nominated writer Rafer Roberts (Plastic Farm) and superstar artist Darick Robertson (The Boys, Transmetropolitan) begin THE ROAD TO HARBINGER WARS 2 – Valiant’s seismic 2018 event – right here with a bang that will reverberate throughout the entire Valiant Universe…and claim the life of a major hero!

Toyo Harada’s former protege – Alexander Solomon, a “psiot” with the ability to predict and analyze potential futures – has been waiting for this moment. With the Harbinger Renegades – Peter Stanchek, Faith, Kris Hathaway, and Torque – now reunited as a result of his covert manipulations, his ultimate gambit can now begin. But he’s not the only one who has been watching. Major Charlie Palmer has just re-assigned a new division of the militarized psiot hunters codenamed H.A.R.D. Corps to active duty…and they’re about to bring a torrent of blood and calamity roaring into the streets of a major American metropolis for an all-out firefight.

The Harbinger Renegades. Livewire. Alexander Solomon. Generation Zero. Toyo Harada. Secret Weapons. Imperium. None of them are safe…and, when the smoke clears, a pivotal Valiant hero will become the first sacrifice of the massive Harbinger War that is to come.

*All covers for HARBINGER RENEGADE #5 will ship with a special advisory overlay.

$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On Sale JULY 12

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SECRET WEAPONS #2 (of 4) Written by ERIC HEISSERER Art by RAÚL ALLÉN with PATRICIA MARTIN Cover A by RAÚL ALLÉN Cover B by MARGUERITE SAUVAGE Variant Cover by ROBERTO DE LA TORRE Variant Cover by BEN TEMPLESMITH

Fully charged!

Oscar-nominated screenwriter Eric Heisserer, writer of the international sensation Arrival, joins forces with Harvey Award-nominated artist Raúl Allén (WRATH OF THE ETERNAL WARRIOR) for the next electrifying chapter in Valiant’s latest prestige format epic!

$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | VALIANT PRESTIGE | On Sale JULY 19

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X-O MANOWAR (2017) #5 Written by MATT KINDT Art by DOUG BRAITHWAITE Cover A by LEWIS LAROSA Cover B by DAVE JOHNSON Interlocking Variant Cover by RYAN BODENHEIM X-O Manowar Icon Variant by NEAL ADAMS

Cosmic coup d’état!

New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (DIVINITY, Dept. H) and blockbuster artist Doug Braithwaite (BLOODSHOT U.S.A.) send X-O Manowar charging into a visceral new battle as “GENERAL” continues to transform Valiant’s master warrior!

$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | VALIANT PREMIUM | On Sale JULY 26

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BLOODSHOT’S DAY OFF #1 Written by ELIOT RAHAL Art by KHARI EVANS Cover A by KANO Cover B KHARI EVANS Variant Cover by BEN TIESMA Variant Cover by RENATO GUEDES NINJAK VS. THE VALIANT UNIVERSE Variant Also Available

Even killing machines need a day off!

For the first time in over 30 years, two nanite-enhanced soldiers once controlled by Project Rising Spirit – codenames: “Tank Man” and “Viet Man” – have finally earned their freedom and some government-sanctioned downtime, courtesy of Uncle Sam. After enduring a lifetime of war, blood, and fore, all these two semi-retired commandos want is a little vacation. But how long can this pair of highly trained tourists unwind and enjoy the sights of New York City… before they find trouble in the city that never sleeps?

Leave the selfie stick at home as rising star Eliot Rahal (DIVINITY III: ESCAPE FROM GULAG 396, The Doorman) and Harvey Award-nominated artist Khari Evans (HARBINGER, Harley Quinn) give these old soldiers the danger-filled day off they deserve…and celebrate Bloodshot’s silver anniversary with an action-packed tribute to the original BLOODSHOT #12!

$3.99 | 32 pgs. | ONE-SHOT | T+ | On Sale JULY 5

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RAPTURE #3 (of 4) Written by MATT KINDT Art by CAFU Cover A by MICO SUAYAN Cover B by J.G. JONES Character Design Variant by RYAN LEE Variant Cover by FELIPE MASSAFERA B&W Sketch Variant by MICO SUAYAN NINJAK VS. THE VALIANT UNIVERSE Variant Also Available

Beware the lords of the Deadside!

Ninjak and Shadowman have launched an all-out assault against Babel – the ancient being determined to breach heaven – on the dark and decaying battlefields of the Deadside. But are the combined might of sword and shadow enough to stop this biblical force of nature…or will they need the help of an ancient and weary warrior whose power transcends their understanding? And as oblivion inches ever closer to Earth, Tama the Geomancer and Punk Mambo must step out of the darkness and halt Babel’s forces from infiltrating the land of the living as Valiant’s Shadowman-driven standalone event fight on!

$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On Sale JULY 19

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BRITANNIA: WE WHO ARE ABOUT TO DIE #4 (of 4) Written by PETER MILLIGAN Art by JUAN JOSÉ RYP Cover A by DAVID MACK Cover B by JUAN JOSÉ RYP Variant Cover by LEIF JONES Variant Cover by ADAM GORHAM Variant Cover by DAVE JOHNSON

Death and the deity!

The horrifying truth behind Rome’s grisly string of murders has finally come to light… but will Antonius Axia and his mysterious new partner – the gladiator Achillia – be able to stomach it? It’s a race against the clock to stop a serial killer – who may very well be the vengeful spirit of Apollo himself — before it strikes again! But should Antonius and Achillia fail in their mission, they’ll condemn not only Rome…but those Antonius holds dear as well.

Visionary creators Peter Milligan (Shade, the Changing Man) and Juan José Ryp (BRITANNIA) bring the latest case for history’s first detective to a chilling close…and forever alter the history of civilization itself!

$3.99 | 32 pgs. | VALIANT PRESTIGE | T+ | On Sale JULY 19

NINJAK VOL. 6: THE SEVEN BLADES OF MASTER DARQUE TPB Written by MATT KINDT with KEVIN MAURER Art by STEPHEN SEGOVIA with MARC LAMING and CAFU Cover by FELIPE MASSAFERA

Darque destinies!

Master Darque – the sadistic lord of death and resurrection – yearns to be free once again, but first he must fight for his life. Darque is a target, his powers are weak, and his enemies know it. Now, Darque’s own former pupil and Ninjak’s ruthless arch-nemesis – the lethal assassin known as Roku – has gathered the Shadow Seven together again for the sole purpose of putting Darque down for good. And the only thing holding their uneasy alliance together is a mysterious benefactor from the shadows… someone who also goes by the name Darque…Everything has led to this… Out of the ashes of BOOK OF DEATH, Ninjak and Master Darque will collide in a punishing circle of death, destruction and hellfire!

Join New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (DIVINITY III: STALINVERSE) and blistering artists Marc Laming (Planet Hulk) and Stephen Segovia (UNITY) here for a steel-hardened jumping-on point that will leave Valiant’s seven-time Harvey Award-nominated series forever scarred!

Collecting NINJAK #22–27.

$19.99 | 160 pgs. | T+ | On Sale JULY 12 TRADE PAPERBACK | ISBN: 978-1-68215-211-9

GENERATION ZERO VOL. 2: HEROSCAPE TPB Written by FRED VAN LENTE Art by DIEGO BERNARD with JAVIER PULIDO Cover by JUAN JOSÉ RYP

Zeros to heroes!

Generation Zero managed to survive their first mission, and now duty has called on them to venture deep inside a perilous dimension only known as the Heroscape to see the world through a new set of eyes! They’ll discover their friends’ biggest secrets, their enemies’ darkest fears, and their town’s sinister connection to this imagination-fueled reality. But just because the Heroscape is imaginary, doesn’t mean it can’t kill you… And, from anime-inflected zombie hordes to psychedelic sci-fi warriors, all of Rook, Michigan’s most deeply buried fantasies are about to come roaring out of your daydreams!

Dream big because New York Times best-selling writer Fred Van Lente (IVAR, TIMEWALKER) and acclaimed artists Javier Pulido (Daredevil) and Diego Bernard (X-O MANOWAR) are gearing up to send Valiant’s temperamental teenage time-bombs blasting out of the suburbs and into their most grisly adventure yet!

Collecting GENERATION ZERO #6–9.

$14.99 | 112 pgs. | T+ | On Sale JULY 19 TRADE PAPERBACK | ISBN: 978-1-68215-209-6

X-O MANOWAR DELUXE EDITION BOOK 5 HC Written by ROBERT VENDITTI with JODY HOUSER, MATT KINDT, and FRED VAN LENTE Art by JOE BENNET, ROBERTO DE LA TORRE, ROBERT GILL, and CLAYTON HENRY with TOMÁS GIORELLO, ADAM GORHAM, MIKE MCKONE, PERE PÉREZ, and JAVIER PULIDO Cover by MARCOS MARTIN

It’s here! The seismic final volume of X-O Manowar from New York Times best-selling writer and longtime scribe Robert Venditti (Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps) and extraordinary artists Robert Gill (WRATH OF THE ETERNAL WARRIOR) Joe Bennett (52) and Roberto de la Torre (Daredevil), alongside an all-star battalion of writers and artists from across X-O Manowar’s landmark run – now in deluxe, oversized hardcover!

For centuries, the sacred X-O Manowar has stood unrivaled as the universe’s most powerful weapon. Today, will it equal Earth’s doom? An unthinkable alien race known only as The Torment has come to our world in search of the armor’s secrets. Now, they stand opposed by Aric of Dacia – former slave, noble warrior, resolute king, and current master of the armor’s near-limitless capabilities. But are one man…and one weapon… enough to repel a force capable of leveling a thousand civilizations? A whole new era for X-O Manowar begins here…and you won’t believe what’s coming next!

Collecting X-O MANOWAR #43–50, X-O MANOWAR: COMMANDER TRILL #0, X-O MANOWAR 2016 ANNUAL #1, BOOK OF DEATH: THE FALL OF X-O MANOWAR #1, and 4001 A.D.: X-O MANOWAR #1, along with more than 20 pages of rarely seen art and extras!

$39.99 | 368 pgs. | T+ | On Sale JULY 26 OVERSIZED HARDCOVER | ISBN: 978-1-68215-215-7

For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, on Twitter, on Tumblr, and at ValiantUniverse.com.

For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com

Valiant Solicitations for JULY 2017 FAITH AND THE FUTURE FORCE #1 (of 4) Written by JODY HOUSER Art by STEPHEN SEGOVIA and BARRY KITSON…

#2017 #4.20 #July #Solicitations #Valiant

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cbilluminati · 8 years ago

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Valiant Solicitations for JULY 2017 – FAITH AND THE FUTURE FORCE #1 | HARBINGER RENEGADE #5 (NEW ARC! “MASSACRE”) | SECRET WEAPONS #2 | And More!

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$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On Sale JULY 26

SPOILER WARNING!

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*All covers for HARBINGER RENEGADE #5 will ship with a special advisory overlay.

$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On Sale JULY 12

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Fully charged!

$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | VALIANT PRESTIGE | On Sale JULY 19

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X-O MANOWAR (2017) #5 Written by MATT KINDT Art by DOUG BRAITHWAITE Cover A by LEWIS LAROSA Cover B by DAVE JOHNSON Interlocking Variant Cover by RYAN BODENHEIM X-O Manowar Icon Variant by NEAL ADAMS

Cosmic coup d’état!

$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | VALIANT PREMIUM | On Sale JULY 26

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Even killing machines need a day off!

$3.99 | 32 pgs. | ONE-SHOT | T+ | On Sale JULY 5

#gallery-0-27 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-27 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-27 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-27 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Beware the lords of the Deadside!

$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On Sale JULY 19

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Death and the deity!

$3.99 | 32 pgs. | VALIANT PRESTIGE | T+ | On Sale JULY 19

NINJAK VOL. 6: THE SEVEN BLADES OF MASTER DARQUE TPB Written by MATT KINDT with KEVIN MAURER Art by STEPHEN SEGOVIA with MARC LAMING and CAFU Cover by FELIPE MASSAFERA

Darque destinies!

Collecting NINJAK #22–27.

$19.99 | 160 pgs. | T+ | On Sale JULY 12 TRADE PAPERBACK | ISBN: 978-1-68215-211-9

GENERATION ZERO VOL. 2: HEROSCAPE TPB Written by FRED VAN LENTE Art by DIEGO BERNARD with JAVIER PULIDO Cover by JUAN JOSÉ RYP

Zeros to heroes!

Collecting GENERATION ZERO #6–9.

$14.99 | 112 pgs. | T+ | On Sale JULY 19 TRADE PAPERBACK | ISBN: 978-1-68215-209-6

$39.99 | 368 pgs. | T+ | On Sale JULY 26 OVERSIZED HARDCOVER | ISBN: 978-1-68215-215-7 For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, on Twitter, on Tumblr, and at ValiantUniverse.com. For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com

Valiant hits us in the feels with their July 2017 Solicitations!

Valiant Solicitations for JULY 2017 – FAITH AND THE FUTURE FORCE #1 | HARBINGER RENEGADE #5 (NEW ARC!

Valiant hits us in the feels with their July 2017 Solicitations! Valiant Solicitations for JULY 2017 – FAITH AND THE FUTURE FORCE #1 | HARBINGER RENEGADE #5 (NEW ARC!

#Valiant Entertainment

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outright-geekery · 8 years ago

Text

Valiant Solicitations for JULY 2017 – FAITH AND THE FUTURE FORCE #1 | HARBINGER RENEGADE #5 (NEW ARC! “MASSACRE”) | SECRET WEAPONS #2 | And More!

$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On Sale JULY 26

SPOILER WARNING!

*All covers for HARBINGER RENEGADE #5 will ship with a special advisory overlay.

$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On Sale JULY 12

Fully charged!

$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | VALIANT PRESTIGE | On Sale JULY 19

X-O MANOWAR (2017) #5 Written by MATT KINDT Art by DOUG BRAITHWAITE Cover A by LEWIS LAROSA Cover B by DAVE JOHNSON Interlocking Variant Cover by RYAN BODENHEIM X-O Manowar Icon Variant by NEAL ADAMS

Cosmic coup d’état!

$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | VALIANT PREMIUM | On Sale JULY 26

Even killing machines need a day off!

$3.99 | 32 pgs. | ONE-SHOT | T+ | On Sale JULY 5

Beware the lords of the Deadside!

$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On Sale JULY 19

Death and the deity!

$3.99 | 32 pgs. | VALIANT PRESTIGE | T+ | On Sale JULY 19

NINJAK VOL. 6: THE SEVEN BLADES OF MASTER DARQUE TPB Written by MATT KINDT with KEVIN MAURER Art by STEPHEN SEGOVIA with MARC LAMING and CAFU Cover by FELIPE MASSAFERA

Darque destinies!

Collecting NINJAK #22–27.

$19.99 | 160 pgs. | T+ | On Sale JULY 12 TRADE PAPERBACK | ISBN: 978-1-68215-211-9

GENERATION ZERO VOL. 2: HEROSCAPE TPB Written by FRED VAN LENTE Art by DIEGO BERNARD with JAVIER PULIDO Cover by JUAN JOSÉ RYP

Zeros to heroes!

Collecting GENERATION ZERO #6–9.

$14.99 | 112 pgs. | T+ | On Sale JULY 19 TRADE PAPERBACK | ISBN: 978-1-68215-209-6

Valiant hits us in the feels with their July 2017 Solicitations! Valiant Solicitations for JULY 2017 – FAITH AND THE FUTURE FORCE #1 | HARBINGER RENEGADE #5 (NEW ARC!

#Valiant Entertainment

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