I spent most of the day out with a friend after I got off work. Haven’t seen her in like two years so we had some fun~

Dumb SVSSS thought of the day is Xuan Su being one breakthrough away from cultivating a human form and making its (his?) newfound ability to speak aloud to other people everybody's problem.

Unity of the Sword cultivators give more of themselves to their bonded blades than people cultivating other paths, because they have to cultivate together with the sword, as partners. It's both a blessing and a curse, making their swords more... aware. It's not unusual for Unity swords to ascend with their masters or to cultivate humanoid forms to become something like a platonic life partner.

Xuan Su is an old blade. A powerful one, expertly if eccentrically crafted (what kind of cultivator would choose a zhanmadao when a jian is so much more ethereal and versatile?) and wielded by dozens of prodigiously talented cultivators before.

Each one of them set it aside, finding it too heavy and unwieldy for their ambitions. Each and every one of them died for it. It could feel through the bond as they each fell, the lighter, sleeker blades they replaced it with crumbling like paper under the weight of the destinies they all bore.

If it stopped calling out to young prodigies after its history of losses things would have been... much the same, probably, because Yue Qi has heard about the power of Xuan Su before he stepped foot in the sword hall, but there might have been a chance that he might have heard the call of a sword more suited to his level of cultivation, one that could have grown organically along with him.

The problem is, Xuan Su keeps calling out to new wielders and no amount of warning from Wan Jian's masters could convince the ambitious prodigies to give up on the chance to be the one who carried the famed Xuan Su to ascension.

After losing too many of its people, however, Xuan Su no longer knows how to bond normally. It clings too hard, hooks its metaphorical claws into its cultivator's soul, crawls through their meridians until there's no boundary left between them.

The last three people who tried to take it up didn't live long enough to unsheathe it.

For good or ill, Yue Qingyuan will be the last one to ever wield Xuan Su. It will either ascend with him, die with him or Wei Qingwei will throw it in the Wan Jian forge where the cursed thing deserves to be if it manages to outlive zhangmen-shixiong.

The thing is, however, that an old sword doesn't necessarily mean a mature one. Xuan Su wasn't wielded enough for its spirit to have matured fully. The only cultivator who even entertained it past the first few months of realizing that fighting with a zhanmadao is an unwieldy affair, that they could never become the picture of divine grace hauling around a blade that gave some polearms a run for their money, has been Yue Qingyuan, so most of Xuan Su's personality comes from him.

A thousand years worth of guilt and abandonment issues mixed with whatever traits it borrowed from semi-feral ex-slave teenager Yue Qi when they bonded does not make for a pleasant personality. It would remind Yue Qingyuan of a young Xiao-Jiu, expect Xuan Su has a brand of unashamed bloodthirstiness that can't be replicated by anything that's not made of 5 feet of sharp-edged murder.

It's not all bad. Xuan Su mourned with him when they though Shen Jiu was dead and rejoiced when they found him again. It has been trying its best to help Yue Qingyuan fight his heart demons so he could confess to Shen Qingqiu, even when it has heart demons of its own. They are beyond compatible in the physical and spiritual sense, granting Yue Qi the almost inhuman strength he became famous for. The mental component of their cultivation stagnates, however, because they are trying to split their attention between dealing with Yue Qingyuan's guilt and Xuan Su's abandonment issues and they are getting nowhere.

It's Shang Qinghua who accidentally gives them the push to pick one or the other. ("All right, enough!" Shang Qinghua claps his hands and freezes the dozen frantic An Ding disciples almost coming to blows about which one of their three separate crises should get the most resources. "You," he points at a kid with a missing front tooth. "All resources to your problem. And when that's done, then to his,-" Points at another child. "- and then hers. This way all of them will get solved on time and they will get solved better because you don't spread yourself thin trying to do three different things requiring full focus at once.") They decide to address Xuan Su's bottleneck because it's easier: Yue Qingyuan has already proved that he would not abandon it. They will ascend or die together.

They don't expect the backlash from its breakthrough to knock Yue Qingyuan out for several weeks (it's the bond stabilizing, finally, but his body and core need time to grow accustomed to only having his qi and his life force, all contained neatly within him as it should have been all these years). Weeks while Xuan Su is left alone on the peaks, unsupervised and without anybody knowing that it currently wears the form of a fourteen-year-old boy.

So of course the first thing it (he?) does is slip away before anyone could identify him and goes to Shen Qingqiu. The plan is simple: chew the man out for making Yue Qi sad all these years and then tell him what went down in the caves so he forgives Xuan Su's human and they can all be a happy family together! (A lot of its previous wielders sought fame to be allowed to wed various people they would not be able to marry otherwise, so Xuan Su might have acquired a passing interest in romance. Xuan Su approves of Yue Qi's choice, Shen Qingqiu is a sharp, very sword-like human and Xiu Ya is a very nice, well-balanced sword, but they really keep dragging things out way too long.)

Except Shen Qingqiu doesn't believe that the suddenly appearing feral teenager on his peak is actually a sword spirit. Swords cultivating human form are the stuff of legends and Yue Qi is far too down-to-earth for any of that nonsense. So clearly this Xiao-Su is an orphan his idiot Qi-ge has adopted; he's certainly feral enough to be one. No idea where Yue Qingquan has hidden this child before, but he's not quite presentable enough to be among the Qiong Ding disciples, despite the wonderfully elaborate clothes he's wearing. He enjoys food like he's tasting decent cooking for the first time, so he must not have been here long. Shen Qingqiu remembers being much the same when he first got to eat regularly, but hiding it much better, thank you very much.

Shen Qingqiu decides that he's going to keep an eye on his shixiong's charge until the man wakes up, because it's obvious that the kid can't be allowed to wander the peaks unsupervised. This decision has obviously nothing to do with Xiao-Su's instant hatred towards the little beast. Nope. Nothing at all.

Xuan Su eventually does manage to tell Shen Qingqiu that Qi-ge came back for him. Yue Qingyuan wakes up and confirms that yes, that bratty rascal is the great and powerful Xuan Su. They eventually learn about Binghe's demonic heritage and go investigating how the hell that has happened. But not before a few weeks of shenanigans and Luo Binghe accidentally winning Xuan Su (and by proxy Shen Qingqiu, much to the man's annoyance) over by the wonders of his godly cooking skills.

The 5 best animated movies on Netflix

Bee Movie (2007)

EW grade: A– (read the review)

Directors: Simon J. Smith and Steve Hickner

Cast: Jerry Seinfeld, Renée Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, John Goodman, Patrick Warburton, Chris Rock

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From the twisted mind of Jerry Seinfeld came this oddball DreamWorks comedy about a talking bee (also voiced by Seinfeld) who is outraged by the exploitation of his species for honey and decides to sue the human race. Along the way, he also sort of falls in love with a human florist (Renée Zellweger). Despite (because of?) its wild premise, Bee Movie gets at some potent messaging about workers' rights and the differences between individualism and collectivism. In other words, as EW's critic noted, it's "nutty, ecological, antically funny, and moving, all at the same time." The film has subsequently inspired a surprising number of memes, adding to its bizarro lore.

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

EW grade: N/A (read the review)

Directors: Nick Park and Steve Box

Cast: Peter Sallis, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter

Following the success of their universally acclaimed shorts, Aardman Animations brought Wallace and Gromit to the big screen for this humorous tale in which the eccentric inventor and his loyal dog are tasked with hunting down a rabbit who's been eating the town's crop of vegetables. But this proves easier said than done, as the pair realizes that the dreaded Were-Rabbit may be closer to home than they suspected. Packed with the studio's trademark British wit, and lovingly crafted with stop-motion claymation, the Oscar-winning film is a total delight. As EW's critic wrote, "The Curse of the Were-Rabbit bestows generous blessings on all that's good in Englishness, in moviedom, and, of course, in cheese.

Kung Fu Panda (2008)

EW grade: A– (read the review)

Directors: John Stevenson and Mark Osborne

Cast: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Ian McShane, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Randall Duk Kim, Jackie Chan

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Kung Fu Panda may have a gimmicky title, but the sincerity of its storytelling is as effective as any DreamWorks animation released to date. Giant panda Po (Jack Black) is a humble restauranteur living in Ancient China who idolizes a quintet of kung fu masters known as the Furious Five. His dreams become a rude awakening when he stumbles his way into becoming the prophesized Dragon Warrior, and tasked with fighting off a vengeful snow leopard who wishes to obtain the all-powerful Dragon Scroll. Featuring vibrant animation and colorful voice performances from Black, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, and more, Kung Fu Panda delights in slapstick comedy while also delivering its timeless message in unique fashion. As EW's critic put it, "Just about all animated movies teach you to Believe in Yourself…but the image of a face-stuffing panda-turned-yowling Bruce Lee dervish is as unlikely, and touching, an advertisement for that message as we've seen in quite some time.

The Adventures of Tintin (2011)

EW grade: C (read the review)

Director: Steven Spielberg

Cast: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig

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Bringing The Adventures of Tintin to life was decades in the making for director Steven Spielberg, who once referred to the comic book series as "Indiana Jones for kids." The action is set in 1950s Belgium as the inquisitive journalist Tintin (Jamie Bell) purchases a miniature model of a ship called the Unicorn, setting in motion a chaotic series of events that leads to him being kidnapped by a villainous ship collector. On board, he meets Capt. Archibald Haddock (Andy Serkis), whose ancestor was the captain of the real-life Unicorn. Bursting with a high-energy sense of adventure, Tintin is indeed a fun starter pack to the thrilling escapades of Indiana Jones, with dazzling CG animation that uses elements of motion capture. The film won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature, and earned yet another Oscar nomination for John Williams for his original score.

Nimona (2023)

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Directors: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane

Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, Eugene Lee Yang, Frances Conroy, Lorraine Toussaint, Beck Bennett, RuPaul, Indya Moore, Julio Torres, Sarah Sherman

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Blending medieval folklore and futuristic fantasy, this high-spirited adaptation of the 2015 graphic novel is more timely now than ever. Chloë Grace Moretz gives voice to Nimona, a mischievous shapeshifter who comes to the aid of Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed), a knight who has since been ostracized by the kingdom due to his background as a commoner. Naturally, Nimona has her own history with being outcast, and the pair unravel a conspiracy that resulted in the queen's death. Featuring a powerful queer allegory, both Nimona and Ballister try to overcome prejudice from their community while forging a bond due to their circumstances. As EW's critic wrote, "The story admiringly delves into how such monsters are in fact created by a society that refuses to accept their differences." —Kevin Jacobsen

i was tagged by @capitanodavide & @littlebitofbluelittlebitofcoffee 🥰😘

1. Why did you choose your url? 

I was into German and Don’t Starve at that time and there were sweet buffaloes in this game that were always hungry or angry (and tbh that is exactly me 😅)

2. Any side blogs?

one but it is very specific and very eccentric...

3. How long have you been on tumblr? 

from 31.10.2010, so 11 years and still counting...

4. Do you have a queue tag?

no, I just spam a lot and go quiet for a while

5. Why did you start your blog in the first place? 

my friend recommended this page to me... it was a blessing and a curse 😅

6. Why did you choose your icon/pfp?

it is Rize from Tokyo Ghoul; she was cute and innocent looking while in reality she was a real bundle of mischief, so +1 from me 

7. Why did you choose your header?

it is my beloved and one of a kind cat during his young, crazy days :D

8. What’s your post with the most notes?

a gif of Haaland and a cute elderly lady (well not really)

9. How many mutuals do you have? 🥰🥰

10. How many followers do you have?  😈

11. How many people do you follow? 

too many tbh :p

12. Have you ever made a shitpost? 🤡

13. How often do you use tumblr each day? 

need a rehab...

14. Did you have a fight/argument with another blog once? no

15. How do you feel about “you need to reblog this�� posts? 

most of the time I just ignore them... probably that is why I am still not rich 🤔

16. Do you like tag games?

yes, it is my guilty pleasure

17. Do you like ask games?

also yes :)

18. Which of your mutuals do you think is tumblr famous? 

hmm, there are a few of them, I am too shy to mention them by url tho ☺️

19. Do you have a crush on a mutual?

yes I want to hug them and give them hot cocoa and a blanket! 🥰☕

i tag @yalenas / @m-asonmounts / @telfords / @sleepyshark / @holdmybvbeer / @gilraina 😎

A h/etalia Umbrella academy au but it isn’t actually one, it’s just inspired by UA kinda...idk

//Uh keep in mind that this is going straight from the drafts onto your dash and uhhh there will for sure be spelling errors so don’t roast me lmao

Roman ‘Roma’ Vargas: An eccentric billionaire who founded the Academy of the World’s Finest (or the AWF for short). He gets bored very quickly and went from buying rockets to building hotels to managing casinos to buying children. A very crazy sequence of events! (Roma has many secrets but I don’t feel like fleshing it’s out rn this is just the bare bones of this just for fun!! And if you’ve seen both seasons of UA you probably already knows what you need to know). One faithful day, October 1st 1989, multiple beautiful babies were born from women who were not pregnant the day they were born. This phenomenon made itself known to Roma and he was off to find as many of these children that he could! He sent his staff all over the world to buy these children. He successfully purchased 9.

Number 1, purchased for $10,000 in Las Vegas: Number 1 was picked to be number 1 because Roma thought he was such a strong looking baby. Alfred was actually purchased fifth out of his siblings but no one knows that except Roma himself. Alfred, from a young age, was able to cause an obscene amount of damage. When he held Roma’s hand while learning to walk, he crushed the bones in his hand. When he kicked a soccer ball down the hallway, it went through the wall like a meteor. When he knocked on Arthurs door to bother him, the door snapped in half (and Art screamed bloody murder). He has an insane amount of strength without even trying! It was very hard for him to get a handle on it because he’s so spontaneous and isn’t really one to think before acting but once he and hs siblings started training for hero work?? That was his motivation to be better, to control his power to use it against bad guys!!! He’s the golden boy of the family, he never disobeys Roma and will never, even now, say anything bad about him. ‘Hey! He’s my dad, he saved me from whatever shithole life I was destined to have in Nevada. I couldn’t be more thankful for my life! And mom, if you’re watching this...Thanks. I don’t know who you are but...Thank you’

Number 2, purchased for $25,000 in Le Mans: Number 2’s power presented itself only after he learned to talk. Francis’s power of persuasion is both a blessing and a curse for him. He’s struggled greatly with being ‘number 2’, he wants the same validation and attention as ‘number 1’ gets. He doesn’t think it’s fair. He often used his power for bad things arond the house like ‘J'ai entendu une rumeur that you broke every finger on your right hand!’ that was a very gruesome morning for Alfred and the scolding that Francis got scarred him for life as he was insulted and cursed out in front of his family. Even after that, he still kept up his happy exterior. He was also usually the face of the AWF, appearing on magazine covers which he may or may not have influenced the writers just a bit. His power is strong but he does not use it on Roma because he’s terrified of what would happen if he did!! As he’s gotten older, he’s falls off the wagon a little but he’s trying to make a solid recovery. Also, when he was 7 he found out he was born in France! He then forced himself to become totally fluent in French and taught himself to have a French accent too. Whoopie....

Number 3, purchased for $1000 in Sicily: Number 3 is a dangerous child, he was from day one. When he was born, he was presenting a 116 degree fever yet he was acting totally normal. His mother was convinced he was the devil and was more than happy to sell him off to Roma. Roma felt a deep connection to Lovi from the start....Lovi looked like him. He looked like he could be his biological son. Lovi got special treatment from Roma often but he still felt overshadowed by his siblings. I mean, a majority of his siblings are pretty blondes. He felt left out often. But he would channel that anger into training and cooking! He has a trick that he likes to do, cracking an egg into his palm and cooking it. That one impresses Alfred every time! Not that he’s hard to impress. Lovi would often push himself too far in his quest to be the best and snap at his siblings, leaving him even more alienated from them. He spent a lot of time around Roma and Feli, mostly Roma. He got a lot of one-on-one training with him and a lot of praise too. All he ever wanted to do was be perfect for his father. He set bad guys on fire, did interviews on live tv, set fire to a warehouse full of gang members, all kinds of stuff that he never would have done on his own. Stuff that he didn’t want to do. All so he could impress Roma

Number 4, purchased for $700 outside of Berlin: Number 4 has always been hyper and loud! But his powers suddenly developed over night, which was terrifying for him. Gilbert awoke in the middle of the night to pee one night and was met with a ghost in the bathtub. Naturally, Roma encouraged him to speak with ghosts and would make him go to cemeteries to talk to the dead. Ghosts scared him so he’d secretly take Benadryl to knock himself out but as he got older, he realized that he couldn’t be scared anymore cause these ghosts needed a friend :( so he used these ghosts to fight in missions and in return, he’d play games with them and chat with them, just being friend with the ones who had a hard time crossing over :’) he likes using his powers for good but feels like he’s taking advantage of his ghost friends sometimes which took the fun out of crime fighting

Number 5, given to Roma for free outside of Kyoto: Number 5 got a late start compared to his siblings. His powers took awhile longer to manifest and he had trouble learning to read. But once he caught up, he proved himself to be the smartest out of all of them. Smarter than some of them combined, even. Kiku still often indulged in his siblings antics but at the same time, he felt he was somewhat superior to them. He learned to poof himself from one side of the room to the other, starting off small. He figured out he could time travel one night when Francis and Gil were hammered and knocked a vase over. Kiku felt every muscle in his body tense, then a sensation of falling, then he was suddenly 10 seconds in the past!! Wow!! He caught the vase before it could hit the ground and kicked Fran so he fell down, leaving him to sleep on the foyer floor while Gil just stood there like ‘wtf...?’. When Roma started berating him for ‘getting too cocky’, Kiku threw a bit of a hissy fit and decided to jump to the future!! He did and landed himself in the aftermath of the 2019 apocalypse, unable to get back home cause he wore himself out and had no idea what he had even done to get himself there in the first place lmao sucker.

Number 6, purchased for $10,000 in York: Number 6 was an extremely fussy baby. All he did was cry and cry and cry, it was very frustrating for Roma since the other babies were somewhat easier to handle. Arthur was indeed a handful. When he was hungry, baby food tins and spoons would float out of the pantry and over to his highchair. When he wanted to torment his siblings, he’d take their things and throw them across the room with his mind. When a sinking was annoying him, he’d simply lift them up and shove them out of his room. Easy. He is probably the smartest or second smartest of his siblings. He isn’t the most athletic but he spent lots of time studying, so much so that Roma had to constantly buy new books for Art to read to keep him mentally stimulated. He was often a voice of reason though no one listened to him. When fighting he was very useful!! He never needed to get close to the bad guys, he could throw them around without moving a muscle! The only downside is that it wore him out after awhile...Ugh. He avoided the media but did do interviews with his mask on, encouraging kids his age to stay in school! By the time Art was 13, he was taking college level tests and reading college level material so...he’s one smart cookie

Number 7, given to Roma for free in undisclosed location in Russia: Number 7 is too powerful for her own good. At a young age, Francis was told to convince her that she had no powers. This was done in secret, only Roma, the house staff, Francis and Kiku knew it happened. Everyone else was oblivious and left out of the loop. Vanya has the ability to shake the earth, to cause obscene amounts of damage in the blink of an eye. Her power was something that Roma could have never prepared himself for. So from that day on, Vanya was a ‘normal girl’. She watched from the sidelines as her siblings got to train and fight. She sat with Feli to paint or sew or just talk. She went through every day feeling worthless, like she wasn’t meant to be a part of this family. She channeled her feelings into art, painting canvasses worth of rainy cities or melting people. She made a series of paintings depicting her siblings’ abilities through chunky brushstrokes and vibrant colors. Each painting sold for over one million dollars. She thought her art career would impress her father. It didn’t.

Number 8, purchased for $15,000 and 10 cows outside of Oslo: Number 8 was always a quiet boy, he kept to himself and Roma thought he may be powerless as well for almost 5 years until lightning struck the house...on a bright sunny day...not a cloud in the sky. Turns out Lukas and Kiku were arguing. They were only 5 so they were just shrieking and yelling nonsense then BAM!!!! Lighting. Roma was so terrified but Lukas was giggling and shooting soarks out of his hands, his hair sticking up like crazy. He was always quiet and reserved, he spent a lot of time in the library or on the roof just looking out over the city. He didn’t like sneaking out of the house like his brothers and sisters did but he went ‘to keep an eye on them’...he always had fun though. He stayed away from the media and wore a mask that his most of his face so he wouldn’t be recognized. Sadly, in a tough fight in a hostage situation, Lukas was shot and killed when he was 15, right when he was starting to consider writing a book about hero work and how as he aged, he was becoming more confident in himself due to helping others. It was a tragic loss for his siblings

Number 9, purchased for $800 and a new car in La Coruna: Number 9 was successful from the start, surpassing her siblings in height very very fast. Her power just happens to be her speed. Carmen, as a baby, was a lot to handle since she crawled around the house at 40 miles an hour. Even her sleep schedule was quick, she’d take a 20 minute speed nap and have enough energy to run around for hours after. When she was introduced to the idea of being a hero, she agreed so fast that she nearly bit her tongue off. She always got her chores done quick, helped around the house, all of that since a task that would take 3 hours only took a few minutes for her. She was a great female role model and did many interviews for teen magazines to encourage girls to be their best, that has always been her message. She even wrote ‘GRLPWR’ on her cheeks in black paint before heading off to fight crime in case she had her picture taken. Roma wasn’t a huge fan of that but she didn’t care too much :) she has always stuck up for her sisters!! And she has always been close to Fran and Gil but as they got older, their interests began to differ so she found herself hanging with Vanya and Arthur more

Feliciano Vargas: Roma Vargas’s only biological son. He does not have powers and often felt left out when he was left behind while his siblings went on missions. He’s 2 years younger than the rest of them and is often referred to as ‘stupid little brother’ by Lovino which hurt his feelings. When he was a baby, they were like 2 and a half so they didn’t see him as ‘aww look my baby brother!’ They just found him annoying cause he cried a lot. Like his siblings, he never met his mom but he does feel good knowing that he will always have his dad. When he and the academy kids fight, he will often rub it in their faces that at least Roma is his biological dad. That really rubs salt in the wounds, huh? Feli has always gotten on well with Vanya, they got left behind all the time so they got to paint and play music together :) they made eachother very happy

Gilbert and Lukas: Gil didn’t really like Lukas much when they were younger cause Lukas was just...quiet and reserved. Gil is the exact opposite. But now that Lukas is dead, Gil pities him and hangs out with him. They trained a lot together but Gil got embarassed when they trained cause if someone were to walk in, they’d just see Gil shouting and punching at nothing so...They trained in the dark at 3am on the roof where they wouldnt be interrupted. Now that Gil is older, he can channel Lukas almostperfectly. Lukas has an almost totally physical form when Gil uses his powers, allowing Lukas to channel lightning the way he was able to when he was alive. Lukas doesn’t like doing that too often cause it’s a bit cruel, getting to feel alive when you’re not :/

Kuma: Kuma was a normal polar bear that was experimented on in a lab that Roma funded. The scientists combined his DNA with monkey and human DNA and after much trial and error, they were able to get his brain to process English. So he wears a collar that allows him to talk. He scolded the kids for running around in the house but then five minutes later he’d let them ride his back while HE ran around the halls :) he was like a fun uncle to them. He wore a bow tie :)

Wan yu: Roma fell in love with a woman from China when he was younger. She was studying culinary arts in Italy and he absolutely fell head over heels for her. But things didn’t work out. So once the tech came around, he had an advanced robot version of his first love created for the sole purpose of loving him and his children. She was programmed to be a great role model, compassionate, patient and...A good cook. The kids all called her mom or ma and even though she never technically had favorites, she was always fond of little Kiku. She was the one who taught him to read when he had trouble doing so and she’s stay up late with him in secret to help him catch up in other languages. The kids all had to learn Italian, English, Spanish, Greek and Russian bedore they were even 8 years old. Since Kiku took a bit longer to grasp that kind of stuff, she would sneak him down to the library to have one-on-one lessons with him. :) she was also very caring when it came to Alfred, she saw how hard he pushed himself sometimes and it hurt her to watch. She made cookies for him on especially rough days

Lukas’s death: Lukas’s death hit Arthur, Vanya and Gilbert especially hard. Arthur and Lukas bonded over similar interests, Lukas and Vanya played chess all the time and gossiped and Gilbert always thought that Lukas was the coolest sibling he had. His death was used as motivation for everyone else to continue training. Gilbert ‘summoned’ Lukas three days after his death and Lukas has followed him around ever sicne. Lukas wasn’t avtually summoned, he’d been secretly roaming the house for days and decided to just let Gil think he summoned him. Roma was depressed about his son’s death for a week or so but he never really allowed himself to feel negative emotions for too long so he was over it a bit...too quickly.

Klaus is my favourite and I just had a number of songs bouncing around in my mind that reminded me of his eccentric character. Feel free to suggest new songs to add!! I'm only on ep 5 right now, so I'll probably be adding more relevant songs as I watch more! Hope you enjoy <3

Don't Threaten Me With A Good Time -Panic! At the Disco

"I just woke up in my underwear/No liquor left on the shelf/I should probably introduce myself.../Champagne, cocaine, gasoline/And most things in between/I roam the city in a shopping cart/A pack of camels and a smoke alarm/This night is heating up/Raise hell and turn it up/Saying "If you go out you might pass out in a drain pipe"/Oh yeah, don't threaten me with a good time."

Happy Little Pill -Troye Sivan

"My happy little pill/Take me away/Dry my eyes/Bring color to my skies/My sweet little pill/Tame my hunger/Lie within/Numb my skin/Like a rock I float/Sweat and conversations seep into my bones/Four walls are not enough/I’ll take a dip into the/Unknown, unknown."

The Ghost of You -My Chemical Romance

"At the end of the world/Or the last thing I see/You are/Never coming home/Never coming home/Could I? Should I?/And all the things that you never ever told me/And all the smiles that are never ever..."

Ulysses -Franz Ferdinand

"Well I sit and hear sentimental footsteps/Then a voice say, "Hi, so/So whatcha got, whatcha got this time?/C'mon, let's get high..."

Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na) -My Chemical Romance

"Drugs, gimme drugs, gimme drugs, I don't need it/But I'll sell what you got, take the cash and I'll keep it.../Love, gimme love, gimme love, I don't need it/But I'll take what I want from your heart and I'll keep it."

Little Secrets - Passion Pit

"Let this be our little secret/No one needs to know were feeling/Higher and higher and higher/Higher and higher and higher/But I feel alive and I feel it in me/Up and up I keep on climbing/Higher and higher and higher/Higher and higher and higher..."

Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse -of Montreal

"I'm in a crisis, I need help/Come on mood shift, shift back to good again/Come on mood shift, shift back to good again/Come on be a friend.../Chemicals, don't strangle my pen/Chemicals don't make me sick again/I'm always so dubious of your intent/Like I can't afford to replace what you've spent."

I Think We're Alone Now -Tiffany

"Running just as fast as we can, holding on to one another hands/Trying to get away into the night and then you put your arms around me/And we tumble to the ground and then you say/I think we're alone now/There doesn't seem to be anyone around/I think we're alone now/The beating of our hearts is the only sound."

The Good, The Bad, And the Ugly -Panic! At the Disco

"I know what it's like to have to trade/The ones that you love for the ones you hate/Don't think I've ever used a day of my education/There's only two ways that these things can go/Good or bad and how was I to know/That all your friends won't hold any grudges/I got the final judgement."

The Reeling -Passion Pit

"And I believe in gentle harmony/How I loathe all this obscenity/Is the way my life's got to be/By a single opportunity/Look at me, oh look at me/Is this the way I've always been, oh no, oh no/Now I'm dreaming somebody/Would simply come and kidnap me, oh no, oh no..."

Ghosts of Utopia -IAMX

"You are haunted by the turmoil of your lives/Walking circles, crossing lines/And it is tearing up your souls, of this fury/Jumping hurdles, just to abide/You are drowning in the sorrow of a billion opinions/Nobody can hear you/Nobody can hear you/This is psychosis/This is psychosis/This is the jigsaw blown apart."

Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High? -Arctic Monkeys

"And I can't see you here when I'm high/Sort of feels like I'm running out of time/I haven't found all I was hoping to find/You said you got to be up in the morning/Gonna have an early night/And you starting to bore me, baby/Why'd you only call me when you're high?"

Sleepyhead -Passion Pit

"You were one inch from the edge of this bed/I dragged you back a sleepyhead, sleepyhead/They couldn't think of something to say the day you burst/With all their lions, with all their might and all their thirst/They crowd your bedroom like some thoughts wearing thin/Against the walls, against your rules, against your skin..."

Added a couple more songs!!

Feeling Good -Nina Simone

"Birds flying high/You know how I feel/Sun in the sky/You know how I feel/Reeds driftin' on by/You know how I feel/It's a new dawn/It's a new day/It's a new life/For meAnd I'm feeling good."

Pressure -Muse

"Don't push me/Don't push me/Let me get off the ground/To you I'm no longer bound/Don't stop me, don't choke me/I need you out of my head/You got me close to the edge/I'm feeling the pressure/I can't break out/No one can hear me scream and shout/Get out of my face, out of my mind."

Gasoline -Halsey

"Are you insane like me?/Been in pain like me?/Bought a hundred dollar bottle of champagne like me?/Just to pour that motherfucker down the drain like me?/Would you use your water bill to dry the stain like me?/I think there's a flaw in my code/These voices won't leave me alone/Well my heart is gold and my hands are cold..."

The Kids Aren't Alright -Fall Out Boy

"Blessed be the boys time can't capture/On film or between the sheets/I always fall from your window/To the pitch black streets...And in the end/I'd do it all again/I think you're my best friend/Don't you know that the kids aren't all, kids aren't alright/And I still feel that rush in my veins/It twists my head just a bit too thin/All those people in those old photographs I've seen are dead."

Blackout- Muse

“Don't kid yourself/And don't fool yourself/This love's too good last/And I'm too old to dream, yeah/Don't kid yourself/And don't fool yourself/This life could be the last/And we're too young to see.”

Life Is Beautiful -Sixx: A.M.

“You can't quit until you try/You can't live until you die/You can't learn to tell the truth until you learn to lie/Can't breathe until you choke/You gotta laugh when you're the joke/There's nothing like a funeral to make you feel alive/Just open your eyes/Just open your eyes and see that life is beautiful/Will you swear on your life, that no one will cry at my funeral?”

Dying In A Hot Tub -Palaye Royale

“You're looking skinny, you sleepy head/Well have you gotten out of bed?/Have you gotten out of bed?/Getting concerned about my lonely friend/Have you seen yourself today?/You're going need a haircut and a shave/I can see behind your eyes/Oh, but your mind is getting wasted/But you're always getting wasted all the time...”

sarki quinn faarmore. druidic tiefling, circle of the underdark. all art by @rxryp. 

backstory; The unwanted child of a noble, Quinn spent the first two decades of their life largely within isolation, a shameful addition to their human family’s lineage. When even coming of age did not release them, the Tiefling made a break for it, running away into the Underdark. There, they nurtured their magic, spending time with other druids far below the surface. 

When their luck ran out and landed them time as a slave to Drow and Duergar, Quinn worked in secret to strengthen their magic and escape. Yet before they were given the chance, a hired group of mercenaries came on the scene, breaking them out and bringing Quinn back to their guild in a distant city. 

current wordcount: 4299

session cliff notes; good god so much has happened since February. Note that this all takes place within a West Marches server and while most of the sessions are run by the same DM, there are a few rogue unrelated sessions. this is a repost due to new additions. 

- Arrival: Quinn arrives in Eleria after convincing the mercenaries not to return them home to their mother. They take on an alias, and agree to join the guild, established as a ‘D Rank’ (Level 5). 

- Session 0: While exploring the woods near the city, Quinn stumbles upon a group of F Ranks (Level 2) struggling against bandits in the wood. They step in, assist in combat, and head back for home.

- Session 1: Quinn’s first official job, they are sent out to hunt down Orcs who are attacking travelers on the road. They discover a small camp of the creatures, as well as a young noble man named Theodore Caelum being held prisoner. A former prisoner themself, Quinn pretty much went feral and imprinted on Theodore, and the party escorted him back to his home in the city.

- Session 2: Hired by a funny man in a far away, frigid town, Quinn accompanied others in an escort job, delivering a felon from yet another far away town to a distant military outpost within the desert. Once again, Quinn’s past causes them to imprint on a total stranger. They almost get killed protecting the criminal from bandits, everything turns out okay, and the man turns out to have been a victim of a local corrupt official. The guild party agree to let him escape, and cover it up before heading home. 

- Session 3: To Quinn’s utter delight, they were hired by Theodore Caelum to seek out an artifact within a dungeon. The job itself was difficult, and led to knowledge of a bizarre cult of zombies who otherwise seemed fairly friendly. Also located within the dungeon was a Yakfolk priest conducting morbid rituals. Quinn agreed to send someone to help the Yakfolk with an alleged curse upon his people before continuing on in the dungeon. While attempting to access the artifact, the party was struck with awful visions of the death of their party and Theodore himself. The artifact was brought back. Quinn and Theodore begin to exchange letters. 

- Session 4: Quinn and a party investigate a bizarre dungeon of illusions and trouble - nothing is as it seems, and around every turn the danger grows. Within the dungeon, Quinn witnesses the first death of a guild mate, and is nearly killed. This is roughly the start of their friendship with the wizard Ovega, one of their teammates for the job.

- Session 5: The guild sends a party up north to investigate the bizarre, severe cold plaguing the mountains. In a cavern, the source is found to be a member of a cult called Niflheim, and the enormous frost salamander she controls. Quinn and their teammates manage to kill the both of them, and head back on home to the guild. 

- Out of Session: A group of F ranks went on a job for Theodore, and shortly after Theodore was placed on house arrest due to the appearance of a number of undead in town. The outbreak is believed to have been triggered by an item the F ranks brought back for Theodore. 

- Theodore’s Letters: Theo and Quinn continue to correspond in cryptic letters, with Theodore explaining the issues in town are caused by a cult signified by the crest of a White Dragon - the Niflheim cult. They are causing trouble for him, and he isn’t sure why. Quinn is skeptical but inclined to believe their friend. 

- Out of Session: Luvella’s Research: A friend of Quinn’s conducted research on their behalf, learning more of the cult of Niflheim and their attempts to bring forth a great white dragon named Y’thir. A noble house to the north claims to be blessed by ‘the great Niflheim’, a silver dragon who imbues power in the form of tattoos to their followers. The organization has settled into the Guildsman’s District within the city. Luvella moved on to meet with an eccentric wizard named Agna, who notes that while dragonmarks aren’t quite uncommon, these seem to be altered, and have adverse effects on those who get them. 

- Session 6: While investigating the unnatural activity at a nearby volcano, Quinn and their party found an elderly man being attacked by an assassin and a number of hell hounds. The older man turned out to be in disguise - this is Quinn’s first meeting with Agna Scorium, the same one who spoke with Luvella. A powerful wizard, the party learned from the assassin that a noble named Y’thir had put out a bounty on Agna. Agna himself quickly scattered to leave the group to handle a red dragon - and after doing so, a bizarre portal opened up within the volcano. Agna agreed to keep an eye on it, and contact us with further news. He is also familiar with Theodore Caelum, and chats with Quinn about the boy. 

- Session 7: A party from the guild investigate a strange Obelisk - the rooms seem to change, and inside are all number of nasty creatures. Also within is an elderly man and his young helper, a funny creature called Bailey. There seems to be much happening within, but little is uncovered. 

- Out of Session: An announcement goes out into the city - the manor belonging to Theodore Caelum is overwhelmed with fog, the plant life is dying, and the city has sealed off the manor. Quinn’s latest letter to Theodore goes unanswered. 

- Session 8: Agna hires the guild to investigate the portal within the volcano and to track down a Phoenix and bring back the ember that will be left behind once the Phoenix is dead. The portal turns out to be a door to the Fire Plane, and the group deal with several trials before tracking down the Phoenix and killing it. After returning the ember to Agna, Quinn asks if Agna has seen Theodore. With a reply of the negative, Agna remarks on vampires being the root of the fog, and in a panic, Quinn heads back to the guild to organize an investigation of the manor. 

- Session 9: Quinn and several higher rank members of the guild manage to secure an investigation permission of the Caelum Manor. Although Quinn has visited Theodore several times and is familiar with the layout of his home, the inside appears to have changed entirely. Within, Quinn found the dismembered body of Zari Clemente, Theodore’s servant and friend and the deliver of all of Theodore’s letters. Shortly after, Quinn’s close friend Ovega was killed and turned to dust by a spectral monster. Distraught, the remaining three members of the team agreed to go on and look for Theodore, eventually coming face to face with Astrid Borealis, the vampire of the manor. After ending up alone with the vampire, Quinn agreed to a magical contract, marking themself as Astrid’s servant, in exchange for Theodore’s body. Astrid says she will be in touch within the week for the details of her favor. Upon taking Zari’s remains and an unconscious, unresponsive Theodore to Agna’s house, Quinn learns the Astrid has turned Theodore into a vampire. Agna confirms that Quinn is super fucked as far as their deal with Astrid. (short story based on the session found here)

- Out of Session: Agna’s House: Quinn goes to visit Agna, learning that while Zari has been revived he is catatonic. Theodore is currently unresponsive, having not fed for the first time, and Agna explains that while vampirism isn’t curable, he may be able to reduce the issue and allow Theodore to live relatively normally. The wizard tasks Quinn with obtaining a mythical fruit, and the blood of a Celestial. He also informs Quinn that whatever Astrid wants, it will likely be of a gory, barbaric nature. Agna tells Quinn of their first meeting with Astrid in a city to the north, ruled by the Borealis family whose true nature is largely unknown, and how lovely he found her - up until he found her torturing a commoner. He managed to escape with his life, and vowed never to return to the city. In addition, Agna tells Quinn they ought to seek out a man called Hal Mirrus, who may be able to help with lessening Theodore’s curse. Hal is known as a monstrous man, and getting through his many horrific creations to get to him will likely be a challenge. 

- Astrid’s Favor: Quinn wakes within a memory, specifically that of Theodore’s, midst torture by the vampire Astrid. She taunts the Tiefling, and lays out her terms; Quinn must bring her Agna’s head, let vampires into the guild, or venture to a distant village to complete a ritual slaughter with items left behind there. 

- Session 10: With a team from the Guild, Quinn visits Agna to learn of a Celestial they can obtain blood from to assist Theodore’s condition. News of a Ki-rin and a worshiping cult near the city has spread through, and the party does some investigating with a couple of the local temples to learn the location. On a lake-side island, they find a group known as the The Shield-Bearers. The cult is ecstatic to have visitors, and invites all of them to join, eventually agreeing to allow them to meet the Ki-rin itself. Quinn attempts to persuade the creature for what they need, and enraged, the Ki-rin bids them to leave. The party in unison agrees that they’ll have to take it by force, and attack the Ki-rin. Combat unfortunately goes poorly, and Quinn calls off their teammates. In appreciation for the honor shown, the Ki-rin allows them to collect the blood from the grounds, and departs the island. Angered by the departure of their deity, the Shield-Bearers attack the party. After handling the cult, they begin to head for home but run into two Niflheim cult members on the road. Quinn’s companion Luvella catches up with the members called Dralla and Torric, chatting with them, and accompanies them to a nearby city. The cult members seem friendly enough, gifting Luvella was a minor magical object, and tag her with a magical mark that Agna later removes. Luvella investigates the temple within the city the two mentioned, and reports back. While Luvella investigates the temple, Quinn and the remaining two party members go on to Agna’s house, where Agna uses the Celestial Blood to wake Theodore, allowing Theo and Quinn to meet again for the first time in months. In aside, Quinn tells Agna of Astrid’s demands, and the two come to the conclusion that the only truly viable option is to either have someone eliminate Astrid, or conduct Astrid’s ritual sacrifice of the village. 

- Session 11: Quinn agrees to accompany Luvella and a couple others on a job to a nearby village, only realizing en route that the town is the very one Astrid has requested they conduct her favor in. The village is largely empty, excluding one native and a number of giants who have apparently attacked the village. The guild members deal with it, healing the native and questioning him on the location of the rest of the village who has evacuated. While their party is occupied, Quinn searches the village, uncovering a sacrificial dagger and a strange box marked with an eyeless ram. The team deals with all giants in the area and head home. 

- Out of  Session: Luvella questions Quinn about what they were doing in the village, having caught the Tiefling snooping, and bribes an exchange in a letter she found on one of the giant’s. Quinn finally caves and tells her about the dagger as well as Astrid’s demands, keeping the box a secret. Luvella’s letter implies a new team of giants will be coming to the area soon to retrieve one of the giants that is now dead. Oops. 

- Session 12: For the first time, Quinn accompanies Luvella and two other C ranks on a job for the local Thieves’ Guild. They are tasked with investigating an individual the guild wants to recruit, perhaps indulging in blackmail to do so. The party goes under-cover as nobles visiting the local opera, but are called up on stage as the performance begins - it appears someone ratted them out. In a fight staged as part of the show, Quinn is targeted and killed by some of the ‘actors’. Body left behind during the ensuing issues, Quinn is picked up by the local city guard. A cleric is summoned from the guild to revive Quinn so that they may be questioned,  and Quinn is placed under interrogation. They manage to avoid implicating the Thieves’ Guild as well as their own home guild and themselves in the murder of a local noble (which to be fair, none of those parties are at fault) and are released back to the guild to cope with the trauma of being murdered and abandoned and imprisoned.

- Out of Session: Quinn conducts research towards locating the fruit needed to cure Theodore, learning of corruption within the forest and that a Circle of the Moon is guarding over the fruit of a holy tree. None of the news is good. 

- Session 13: Finally delving into the forest, Quinn and the party deal with many strange creatures, including an enormous corrupted monster and several gnolls who appear to be under the control of an unseen other. The druids warn them out, but the party presses onward, establishing a camp within the woods and eventually locating an enormous tree and one of the druids. They manage to placate the on guard being, and speak with one of the treants there about the needed fruit. From a Redcap (RIP.) they learn there is a door nearby to the holy tree. The team come to the conclusion that being diplomatic might be the better route, and they agree to participate in a trial to deem their worthiness as well as seek out and destroy the source of the corruption within the wood. With flying colors the party complete the trial of combat, and agree to return soon to handle the corruption problem with the hopes of earning a fruit.

 - Out of Session: Quinn posts a listing to the guild, enticing members of the guild to assist them by eliminating the vampire Astrid. They spend time with several high ranks, giving as much information about the house and the vampire as they can, and several high ranks spend time researching the house. Eventually, they make their way to the manor, clearing it of monstrous sorrowsworn, an enormous shadow dragon, and the vampire Astrid herself. 

- Out of Session: Quinn meets with the wizard tortle Roshini, who shows Quinn a journal they’d found within the manor written by one Dylan Caedric. The note reveals that Dylan Caedric and his son are the last of a line of monster hunters, but his son is unaware of the family tradition. Dylan Caedric himself was apparently dying at the time of the letter. There is no other information. A second note Roshini uncovered is from someone implied to be living with Astrid, and, horrified by her actions, they remark they must speak to the Caedrics about handling it. Both notes appear to be old, perhaps from before Astrid took up residence within the Caelum Manor. 

- Out of Session: Neith and Ihsahn, two of the high ranks who dealt with Astrid, remark on what appears to be an angsty diary entry from Astrid herself where she professes her attraction to an unknown wizard, one with ‘bloodthirsty charm’. Quinn is, due to past learned information, almost positive the note speaks of Agna. Quinn contacts the wizard in attempt to learn who Theodore’s father is, and while Agna states he cannot elaborate, leads the Tiefling to believe that Dylan Caedric is actually Theodore Caelum’s grandfather.

- Session 14: Quinn joins a handful of the higher ranks as well as one of their fellow D-Ranks on a ship to the high seas. It’s a nice break from the usual drama, but the pirates they find are no joke. Somehow, Quinn is pushed to the forefront into making several goofy deals with a variety of apes on a tropical island.

- Out of Session: Quinn meets another tiefling within the guild, one allegedly brought back from ashes after being killed by a beholder many months ago. They run to inform their friend Alea of the news, and the Goliath agrees to look into it with the hopes that she will be able to have Ovega, Quinn’s wizard friend, brought back. Shortly after Alea informs Quinn that she tracked down the cleric with the power, who attempted to bring Ovega back on the spot with no success. This, he says, means that Ovega’s soul is unwilling to return. Quinn struggles, believing perhaps they did something to spur this. 

- Session 15: Agna hires the guild to interrupt a group of Niflheim cult members who are attempting to reach some sort of artifact. The group head out once again to the ocean, run into a few very grumpy but not altogether troublesome pirates, and narrowly escape a hydra. Out at sea, Quinn and others reach a ruined temple to Lolthe, a deity to drow, and scarcely survive a fight with an enormous turtle. Alea, Quinn’s close friend, is killed, and while the party hover over the aftermath the Niflheim cultists arrive. the following occurs. The party is unable to retrieve the artifact but cause enough of a headache for the cultists to satisfy Agna, and they head once more for home. 

- Out of Session: Quinn finally goes back to their own room to discover a note, asking the Tiefling to meet with the writer at a specific booth. They do so with some paranoia, finding a less than liked guild member waiting for them, and hesitantly agrees to follow the guild mate out into the guild’s grove. Shortly after, Ovega reveals themself to have been in disguise - revived and brought back from ash. Ovega swears Quinn to secrecy, and leaves to work with the Thieves’ guild within the city. Quinn struggles, relieved to have their friend back but disappointed to be left behind again. 

- Session 16: Quinn, with a group of guild members, heads back into the forest to begin working out the source of the blight so that they might earn a fruit from the holy tree within the wood. The party deals with a mess of giants in the mouth of a cave, have a brief misunderstanding with a merfolk that Quinn manages to sort out, and discover that within the cave is an entrance to the Underdark as well as home to a drider. After coming to the conclusion that the cave does not likely contain the source of the blight they’re all looking for, the party heads back out into the woods. Eventually, they do notice an increase in corruption in the forest, and as Quinn flies ahead as an owl, they discover a group of Yakfolk conducting some sort of ritual. One of them is familiar - the same Yakfolk priest within the long ago dungeon. As they watch, an enormous roc (bird) flies overhead, and the Yakfolk scatter. Quinn reports back to the group, and they opt to head back to camp and deal with the Yakfolk later.

- Session 17: On yet another journey to yet another forest, Quinn and several others discover what appears to be an entrance to the Feywild. They have a run-in with what looks to be a damsel in distress situation, but once the damsel is saved, she turns on the group. Quinn struggles with the aftermath of a dead hobgoblin and his grieving friend. The following occurs. 

- Out of Session: Back at the guild, they discover one of their friends conducting less than morally just experiments - resulting in an argument. Quinn begins to struggle with their morality and past decisions they have made - and decisions they almost made, namely the realization that they would have absolutely slaughtered an entire village for Astrid. As they harness more powerful magic but find themself listened to less and less by teammates, they begin to struggle with feelings of neglect and bitterness towards their guild companions. Shortly after, one of Quinn’s closest friends and closest confidant announces he is leaving the guild for a time to travel home. 

- Out of Session: Hal Mirrus. Agna posts a job listing, stating he believes that his old friend Hal may be conducting his own ‘research’ in a nearby town, and may have turned the village into his own personal graveyard. Quinn approaches the guild mates who have signed on to handle the situation, and attempt to convince them to bring back Hal Mirrus to Quinn and Agna for their own needs - namely, to help Theo, as Agna suggested Hal would be very useful. The guild mates are doubtful, and state that they will most likely be killing Hal if what is suspect proves to be true; that Hal Mirrus is conducting mass necromancy on an entire city. 

- Out of Session: Quinn contacts Agna days later to inquire, and the wizard replies with telepathy - and the image of an elven man using an orcish face as disguise; Hal. Although the man is not yet with Agna, the wizard has the means to contact his old friend. Hal agrees to help with Theodore, but at a cost of favors from Quinn. Agna states it probably won’t be as bad as anything Astrid asked for, but made no promises. Quinn comes to the cold realization that they don’t care. 

- Session 18: Quinn and a mostly new team return to the forest to seek out the blight. En route, they notice boot prints but think nothing of it, continuing on only to be attacked by drow. One they capture tells of their queen, and how a new gate from the Underdark has been opened and they will claim the forest for themselves. Quinn decides to bring the drow prisoner along as perhaps a gift to the Yakfolk, one who conducts sacrificial rituals. Unfortunately the Yakfolk also remembers Quinn, and is enraged that the Tiefling never upheld their bargain to help. Quinn attempts to apologize, explaining that the one they meant to ask for assistance had been killed (vampires are dead, right?), but to no avail. The Yakfolk advance, meaning to take Quinn and one of their teammates with them for unknown intentions, and the party end up attacking and killing the Yakfolk. Left behind, a portal opens shortly after, apparently to the ocean as water begins to fill the area. A kraken begins to emerge, and the party flee, nearly losing one of their teammates in the process. However, with the death of the Yakfolk, the blight on the forest has begun to fade. Quinn heads for the holy tree, only to find the Treants of before dead and the tree itself withered and scorched. One of the druids Quinn had met prior sits dying on the ground, and despite Quinn’s attempts to help, cannot be healed. The druid tells of an attack by drow, and fruit stolen from the tree - as well as his brother, perhaps for some monstrous creation. He pleads with Quinn to find his brother and slay him if he is now a monster, and to repair the damage to the forest. Quinn agrees, and rests with the man until his last breath. Within a bag the druid gives to Quinn is the last fruit of the holy tree. The party head home, Quinn bringing the fruit to Agna and finding that Hal Mirrus has arrived in the city. Only once on Agna’s couch does Quinn realize the boot prints in the woods were undoubtedly a sign of the drow’s pending attack on the holy tree, and that perhaps they could have done something had they not been so focused on finding the blight and the Yakfolk. 

- Out of Session: Quinn returns home from Agna’s, and receives news that yet another friend is leaving the guild. They give their goodbyes, and retreat into the grove to mull over their mistakes. Their doubts only grow, and Quinn is growing more and more hesitant to reach out to the few friends they have left. The following morning, Quinn returns to Agna’s to assist Hal with the fruit and with Theodore, resolved that little else matters. Agna, not quietly, reminds Quinn that there is still a chance for failure, even with Hal and the fruit. 

notes: please gods let something good happen to this poor baby. Alignment shift incoming. 

Feywild Rules:

The Sacred: Though there are many things that are sacred to some individual Fey Races or groups, there are some things sacred to all. 1) One never reveals the name of another 2) An Oath must never be broken (though manipulation of the wording is common) 3) One never stops a Revel 4) Visitors musn't be harmed under your roof 5) All favors must be returned Names: It is uncommon for a Fey to reveal their full name, as it can be used to track or scry them (as well as other spells). Sharing one's full name is an act of great trust and respect. Most Fey are given 2-3 names at birth, which can be used almost like a currency of trust and affection. The majority of the time they move through life using pseudonyms – self chosen, titles earned, or given to them by others. Many a fey has marked a time in their life or a change in themselves by changing their pseudonym. Lies: Fey creatures are not supposed to lie to one another, and were cursed by a great Arch Fey of the past. Now they take 1hp of damage for every lie. Some class features and gear can affect this. The Wild Hunt: The Wild Hunt are the authority in the lives of the Fae, feared and respected – most won't utter their names in fear of calling them. They have the blessings of the courts and Arch Fey to punish and imprison any Fey who break sacred laws. They travel through the lands on fantastic steeds and hunting wolves. Cold Iron (metals crafted by human hands) is poisonous to all Fey. Human Kidnapping: Humans are seen as a lesser race, something to pity for their lack of magic and short lives. Thus, kidnapping them is entirely accepted. Humans are kept as servants and play things, and can be used as currency or for manual labour. The most “valuable” humans are those that work with Cold Iron, or those who are creatively skilled. The Sight: Humans with the sight have Fey blood in their ancestry, or are the child of a seventh born, or have red hair/are albino. Leaving the Feywild: When Fey leave the Feywild and go to the Human plane, the lack of Fey magics gives them “Iron Sickness”. The longer they are away, the more sick they get. Feywild is their name for their plane, but its true names are Annwn or Tir Na Nog. Crossing into the Fey realms is difficult, it requires in depth knowledge of crossing areas and complex requirements. Some of these rare areas require going underwater in sacred lakes and ponds, stepping into certain caves, or balancing on a natural border (between water and shore, forest and field, etc). Crossing times are specific to when the veil is thin – dusk, and dawn, as well as specific days. Mist often indicates a thinning of the veil, so does strange weather. Seasonal equinoxes are when the veil is thinnest, and can even cause crossings in unusual places.

Fey Food: If a human eats food offered by a Fey hand, s/he will become partly fey – and no longer be able to leave without suffering Iron Sickness – though they can last much longer than regular Fey.| Prided Fey Traits: Mischievous, Cunning, Pride/Arrogance, Honour, Protectiveness, Elusive, Respect, Spite/Vengeance, Charm, Eccentricity Prided Fey Skills: Music/Dance/Arts, Manipulation of Truth, Thievery/Sleight-of-hand, Magic. Fey Weapons/Foci: Most weapons and magical foci are made from one of three Fey components. Each have their pros and cons, and give a bonus depending on your class. Obsidian makes for the sharpest blades, and is surprisingly light. It requires care are re-sharpening. It channels Elemental magic well. It has bonuses to Amber, but is weak to Mithril. Amber is very sharp as well, but is more durable than obsidian – taking a long time to lose its edge. It channels Mind-affecting and Arcane magic very well. It has bonuses to Mithril but is weak to Obsidian. Mithril is brittle and won't hold an edge well, but easily holds magic to be lighter to the arm but enormously heavy in its damage. It channels Healing and Transformation magic very well. It has bonuses to Obsidian, but weak to Amber. Obsidian: Piercing, Magic: Ambient, you draw power from outside sources. You amplify it using your surroundings. Spears, Bows, Halberd. Stave Amber: Slashing, Magic: Internal, you draw your power from within. Sword, Daggers, Axes. Wand Mithril: Bludgeoning, Magic: External, you store your magics over time, in objects. Hammers, Clubs, Quarterstaff. Scepter

Fey Superstitions: 1) Never pass a mushroom ring without stopping to dance a jig inside. 2) Never turn down eating honey 3) Don't walk down steps in the evening. 4) Every third answer to a human must be a lie 5) When in doubt, sing or shout 6) Never blow out flames 7) Never let a human walk into a dwelling before you 8) Never say “no” to a flying creature 9) You must blow on any new item, in case it is covered in magic dust. 10) If you find a broken item, you must mend it

Fey Religion: Fey reincarnate, specifically in cycles through 4 stages, based on what season you were born in. As you move through your births, you have snippets of memories of past lives. Once you complete your final winter life – you start all over with no memories. Some traits and skills can cross over, if you were consistent with them, but otherwise you begin anew. Spring: Birth of Growth. You are on a new cycle with no memories of your previous births, this is a life to set the tone for many to come. Lay the ground work of many skills and experience, so you have much to draw on for your next lives. This is a life of learning. Summer: Birth of Sustenance. You achieved enough groundwork in your spring births that you are now  in your lives of working and playing. This is a life of making and maintaining your good relationships, and working at the skills and talents you have. This the time to accomplish something, but most spend it in frivolity and reckless abandon. Fall: Birth of Harvest. These are your lifetimes where you begin to reap the rewards and punishments of your previous births. This is a lifetime of hard work, especially if you don't seem to be receiving many rewards. Work at mastering something, if you work hard enough than you may be able to have a talent carry on through to your next cycle. By now you should have enough births that you can develop the wisdom to move on to winter. Winter: Birth of Resolution. This is a cycle of enduring all that comes your way while maintaining a happy heart – or else you can't move on to spring. Resolve all of your bad relationships and habits, the pressure to master your specialties is even higher. This is a season of pride, and other fey look at you with respect for your talents and ancient wisdom or pity for your cynicism and tough tasks.

I can see that. So who all plays each role?

alright let’s go

Pidge is Coraline. her parents are her regular canon parents. they moved to the pink palace after a promotion her dad got so they can be closer to his work, but that means moving far away from the university Matt goes to, and Pidge is rly upset about that bc she and her brother are really close and now they won’t be able to see each other

Pidge goes out for a walk to check out the new area and runs into Hunk. Hunk tells her that his friend Allura’s mom owns the pink palace, and that Allura REALLY didn’t want her to rent out that place to Pidge’s family. Pidge is confused as to why Allura seems to have a problem with her when they haven’t even met yet

there is a little door in Pidge’s new house, but the key is nowhere to be found. Pidge, because she is Pidge, manages to pick the lock, and is disappointed when all her effort is in vain and just sees a plain brick wall. too bad.

so let’s meet her new neighbours: Mr. B (Coran), and Spink & Forcible (Lance & Keith, respectively)

Coran is very nice and very eccentric and has a mouse circus. the mice are very clever. although... “They do seem to get confused sometimes,” Coran tells her. “You know, when they told me about you, they even got your name wrong! They called you Katie, not Pidge! Not Pidge at all...”

in the basement suite of the pink palace are two college students sharing a livingspace named Lance and Keith and they do not have a hundred dogs and are also not musical theatre performers BUT they are both knife throwers for the sake of their creepy otherworld sequence

Pidge goes to bed and “dreams” for the first time of the otherworld. she meets her other parents, who are all cooler and nicer, and otherMatt is even there too. she has so much fun and wakes up feeling wistful

the next day she finds Hunk again and finds out that the reason Allura didn’t want Pidge to move in was because Allura herself used to live in the same suite before her father disappeared. “What, so she just can’t move on?” Pidge asks. “Not exactly,” says Hunk, wringing his hands. “She wouldn’t tell me the whole story. I know there’s more to it but I can’t get it out of her. Maybe you guys should talk about it.”

eventually Pidge and Allura do meet and talk, and Allura spills the truth: that she was lured into the otherworld as well, and when she tried to escape, the beldam took her father away. Allura managed to escape and lock the door behind her, but lost the key and couldn’t return to save her father OR the multiple souls still trapped

“Idon't know if it's a blessing or a curse that they key is lost,” Allura says bitterly. “I can't get in,but I suppose this means you can't either. I was terrified that you would alsoaccidentally be lured in."

Pidge tells her that she picked the lock and Allura is FURIOUS. now the door is open and the only way to close it again is with the key, which is still missing. she warns Pidge that the beldam will lure you in but eventually steal your soul, but Pidge doesn’t believe her, too happy with the otherworld and seeing Matt and superior versions of her parents.

Pidge continues going to the otherworld, being greeted by new button-eyed versions of Allura and Hunk (who cannot talk), watching Coran’s mouse circus perform and visiting Keith & Lance, who don’t bicker nearly as much as they do in the actual world

everybody in the other world is more attractive and charismatic and lovely and Pidge never wants to leave

despite being continuously warned by Allura that this place is bad news. she chooses to not believe it because she’s so desperate for it to be real

even the stray cat she’s seen around the house, the one she sees Hunk petting often, and eating out of bowls Allura puts out, is in the otherworld, and speaks to her, warning her away from this place. even then she doesn’t listen.

one day her othermother tells her that she can stay for good but only if she sews buttons on her eyes. Pidge refuses and runs upstairs to her other bedroom, but when she wakes up, she’s still in the otherworld, and finally realizes that she is in deep, DEEP trouble

Pidge makes another bid for freedom but is captured by her othermother, who is starting to look less perfect and more creepy, and thrown into a mirror into a secret room where three lost souls are trapped (Shay, Nyma, and Plaxum?) and she’s rescued by the OtherHunk and OtherAllura, who manage to break her back into the real world.

except when she gets back, her parents are missing

the black cat is there though

and leads her to a mirror where she can see her parents, and a man who resembles Allura, all trapped

Pidge, not knowing what to do, runs to Lance & Keith’s suite in tears, asking them to call Allura, and they take her in right away and call Allura & Hunk

Allura arrives right away and knows exactly what happened

the boys are still in the dark tho, and the girls finally explain. the boys are, obviously, horrified

Allura and Pidge immediately know they have to go back into the otherworld to save their parents, and Allura tells the boys to start looking for they key while they’re off in the otherworld. "Enlistthe help of every person in this town if you have to, you are FINDING thiskey," says Allura fiercely

Keith gives Pidge a special stone with a hole through it and tells her that it’s supposed to be good luck. “You’re supposed to be able to see faeries through the hole,” he says. “I don’t know if it’s true, but take it with you anyway. Maybe it’ll bring you luck.” “Yeah, we’ll be with you in spirit,” says Lance. “In your pocket.”

the otherworld sequences where they rescue the souls are p much the same as the movie except for Spink & Forcible’s bit bc otherKeith and otherLance do not have an army of vampire dogs but they do have their throwing knives and if you’ve ever tried to escape from a room full of living throwing knives that are flinging themselves at you, it’s not fun

but everything goes ok and Pidge & Allura save all three trapped souls AND the snowglobe with their parents trapped inside

the boys have found the key so they can finally lock the door for good

Pidge and Allura’s parents return, remembering nothing, and there’s a very tearful reuinion

Pidgegoes to sleep with the souls under her pillow and has a dream where they'rewarning her that she's in danger. She wakes up in the middle of the night tosee the cat there, looking agitated. She gets up and realizes that she needs tolose the key for good now. She wakes up at like 5 in the morning and decides todump the key down the old well. As she goes, the hand shows up and tries toattack her and grab the key, but Allura shows up at the last second to saveher, and the two of them throw the key and the hand down the well and seal itup. The evil is FINALLY DEFEATED FOR GOOD!!!!

and then there’s a cute garden party scene and Matt is visiting from university and Allura and her dad are there and everybody’s happy the end

Act 5 - Explanations and Expectations

“Um... can I help you?” Giggle asked, looking up the figure in front of him.

“I could be asking you that.” The man mumbled. “Couldn’t help but overhear your one-man monolog and the people here are ah... they’re concerned.”

“What? What monolog?” The fusion looked confused.

”Well. Talkin’ to yourself all hyper like here in the corner, you ah... you got the people here spooked.” He pointed behind his shoulder to the locals staring at the fusion with confusion and curiosity, mumbling silently to themselves undoubtedly about Giggle. 

Giggle looked between the man and the people before instantly remembering the situation and staring wide eyed. “Oh.” He shrunk in his chair, blushing furiously. “Oh geez... oh... zards.”

“Hey, no need to beat yerself up, buddy.” The man crossed his arms, staring Giggle down. “So I ask you again, you okay?”

“Yeah... yeah. I’m... yeah, we... I’m fine. Sorry about that.” Giggle apologized, still trying to hide his lanky form between the chair and the table but looking more like a rag doll. “Just had a long day.”

“I can see that.” The man sighed, looking at Giggle and rubbing the back of his head. “You saving a spot here for anyone?” 

“Nope.” Giggle muttered behind his hands that were currently covering his face. 

“Good.” The man pulled up a chair and sat parallel to the other. “Because I couldn’t help but overhear you talkin’ about a missin’ fairy.”

Giggle immediately lowered his hands and looked at the man, shock written all over his face. “What? You know of her? About yay high, pointy ears, pink hair, obnoxious laugh?”

“Perhaps.” The man shrugged. “Description sounds familiar, though.”

“So you know where she is?! Where can I find her?!” Giggle stood up, his hands on the table leaning eerily close to the man’s face with an eccentric grin. When he saw the man leaning farther and farther away, a blush returned to the fusion face and he sat back down, clearing his throat. “Y-You ah... you wouldn’t happen to know where she is, would you Mister... um...”

The man sat up straight and gave a weak chuckle, extending his hand out. “Emmett. You?”

“Giggle.”

Emmett raised a brow, “Giggle.”

“Yes.”

“That’s your name?”

“...yes.” The two men sat in silence before Giggle cleared his throat. “Anyways. Have you or haven’t you seen her or know where she could have been? Actually, before we go into that um... how do you know of her?” 

Emmett gestured at the bar keep behind him to grab a few drinks. “A few libations will be needed for this. But to start the tale... you know about this town, right?”

“Just that it heavily believes in fairies and all things magic, a merchant town too but pretty much a quaint town.” Giggle recalled.

“Heh, you met James then.” Emmett grabbed his drink as soon as it reached the table. 

“You know him then?”

“Know him? Damn fool is my cousin.” He let out a laugh. “Only one to describe this town as ‘quaint’. Anyways, it’s true. The town believes in fairies, because they live out in the forests. They’re harmless... for the most part.”

“Most part?” Giggle raised a brow before looking serious. “What happened?”

“This town isn’t unfamiliar with fairies. Sometimes we ask for their blessings before we travel out. However, we know that not all their magic is for good and sometimes they inflict curses over blessings. We know the work. But so long as we knew that and didn’t manage to tick the fairies off, everything is smooth sailing.”

“Wish I was told that in advance...” Giggle muttered under his breath as he picked up the mug to take a sip, he went through a series of expressions ranging from casual delight, displeased and eventually disgust. He placed the mug down and pushed it slightly away from himself. “So what happened?”

“Well... they started vanishing.” Emmett took a sip.

“The fairies?” 

“Yep. One by one they just... vanished. The ones who blessed our clothing, the ones who blessed our weapons or merchandise. Just... poof. No trace save for more monsters and only one fairy that they found just inflicted curses.” Emmett sighed. “Some had their supplies spoil or rot, others were attacked by monsters so they were unable to leave town, been like this for well over a few months now.”

“Your business took a hit, didn’t it.” Giggle realized.

The man nodded. “It did, the store that James runs? I supply it. It’s a... it’s a family business of sorts. Each member supplies something else but that’s besides the point. The point is, however, that something rotten is happening. But in all of this... the descriptions were the same: a mischievous fairy that promises riches and then with a snap just inflicts a curse. After that she just vanishes without a trace.” 

“Yeah... that sounds like our evil fairy friend.” Giggle muttered bitterly, looking down at the table. 

“Now tell me. What’s your business with her?” The man asked.

Giggle glanced upwards for a moment, lightly tapped the table, wondering how on Earth he could explain to the stranger that the fairy that was mentioned decided to screw over three people into one and he was it. Especially after he was just told he scared the locals of the bar just by talking. 

Emmett watched as Giggle shut his eyes tightly, looking to have a temporary migraine of sorts as he mumbled silently to himself. “It’s not that bad, the more help the better. But on the other hand, he’ll think we’re drunk and out of our minds. Maybe not the whole... whole thing... I don’t know...”

Giggle, eventually, took a deep breath.

“Okay. I got this. I... well... it’s a long story. A-and I know the people here like stories but...” Giggle shifted uncomfortably at the table. “In a nutshell, I was traveling from an inn, the one that’s a few hours down about um... that way?” He pointed at a vague general direction. “I found a fairy cave and as-- wondered what was inside and wandered in where she was. I um... apparently wasted her time and in a short, she did something to me pretty much for her own entertainment and I need what she did undone... immediately.” 

He looked back up at Emmett who seemed to have been staring in silent awe the whole time. “...You sure you’re okay, boy?”

"I will be a lot better once I find her.” Giggle said in a low voice. “So do you or don’t you know where she is?”

according to karin’s / team taka’s databook entry :  in chakra type and quantity , karin was born blessed with sensory powers that surpass ocular jutsu.  in a village destoryed by the fires of war , a young girl stood, totally unscathed. she said , “ i knew a lot of people were approacghing.” this is how orochimaru came to bring karin to otogakure. she began serving the sound with ehr sharp sensory skills and clear thinking.  although she was orochimaru’s subordiante , she never felt any loyalty to him.  she has confidence in her feets too. she never backs down.  her birthday is june 20. she is 5′4″ and 101 lbs.  her blood type is AB. her personality is headstrong and eccentric. her favorite food is okonomiyaki and her least fav is boiled gyoza. she wants to fight suigetsu. her interest is collecting perfumes.  she never graduated from the ninja academy. she’s had 25 d-rank missions. she had 16 c rank missions. 7 b-rank. 2 a rank. eastern hideout - packed with huge research apparatuses. it’s where suigetsu was kept.  southern hideout - a tiny island completely surrounded by the sea. captives who will serve as test subjects are kept here under their jailer karin. northern hideout - wedged between two high cliffs , this facility is a test station for live human experimation. test subjects implanted with the curse mark of juugo are confined here. 

only orochimaru’s trusted subordinates know their locations. 

‘ crawling out of the snake pit , an elite group of only the best.’  ( about team taka. ) 

THE BEST RECORDS OF THE 2010S PT 2 (THE TOP 10!!!!!!)

if you thought the last post was long, you just wait. ive also decided to actually number this list, but pls keep in mind my opinions change often and drastically so dont think anything is set here.

please read my other post too if you want to know about the records i like a little less than the ones here as well as some honorable mentions

#10: Some Rap Songs  -  Earl Sweatshirt (2018) 

This record is a perfect fusion of rap and lofi hip hop. Nobody makes a beat like Earl, and this record is a perfect example. Earl uses his samples to create layered soundscapes of distorted vocals and sounds, paired with his emotionally blunt flows. It’s short, but it really doesn’t feel that short, and frankly I could re-listen to it a handful of times in a row and probably not care that much. Not to sound like Todd Howard, but it just works dude. 

#9:  ゼロコンマ、色とりどりの世界   -  Mass of the Fermenting Dregs (2010)

According to Google, this record’s title translates to Zero Comma, Multicolored World. Which is interesting. I wish I knew Japanese just to understand this kind of stuff to be honest. But that’s besides the point.

Zero Comma, Multicolored World is a fantastic collection of tracks from my personal favorite J-Rock band, Mass of the Fermenting Dregs. Like for context, I got into this band around the same time as I got into Nirvana. I spent the entire summer of 2016 crying to In Utero, playing Overwatch while listening to MF DOOM, and jamming to Mass of the Fermenting Dregs. I managed to find a copy of their fantastic self-titled EP when I was in Tokyo a few years back. Anyways I’ve gotten off track. 

This record is a breathe of fresh air for those tired of American “alt-rock”, incorporating elements of shoegaze, post-hardcore, pop, and more to create a totally unique and explosive record. Every member of this band is playing out of their minds on some of these tracks, and lead singer/bassist Natsuko Miyamoto’s vocals are powerful and blend so well with everything else this record offers. At this point in most paragraphs I’d gush about some specific tracks but I don’t have a Japanese keyboard to write the track titles and I’m lazy, so just trust me and go listen to this record, their self-titled EP, the reunion record No New World from 2018, and their EP World is Yours if anything I’ve said interests you. 

#8: Fetch  -  Melt-Banana (2013)

This record melts my fucking brain dude. Melt-Banana is some of the most eccentric and weird music I’ve ever heard, blending noise, punk, and just plain absurdity to create music that I want to simultaneously describe as cursed and blessed. From the wailing walls of pure volume coming from the guitars to the sporatic and often manic vocals, this record sounds like no other I’ve ever heard. My personal favorite tracks are Hive, Candy Gun, Zero, and Schemes of the Tails. Seriously, if this sounds interesting to you, set aside 32 minutes to just appreciate this record. It’ll be worth your time. 

#7: Joy as an Act of Resistance - IDLES (2018)

On Joy as an Act of Resistance, British band IDLES offers up some of the best punk of the decade in a package that is full of hope, anger, and love. From singer Joe Talbot’s cries for unity in tracks like Danny Nedelko and Great, to self love anthems like Television and I’m Scum, Joy offers an alternative to their much angrier and sad 2017 debut record Brutalism, which I now realize I forgot to include on my fucking honorable mentions god damn it. Anyways, this record isn’t all sweet. IDLES tackles some heavier topics on this record as well, with songs like Samaritans dismantling toxic masculinity, Rottweiler tearing into sensationalist news and media, and the introspective June seeing Joe speak bluntly about his experience being the father of a stillborn. It’s also some of the unique punk out there at the moment, with jangly guitar “riffs”, Joe’s accent heavy shouts, and noisey drums. IDLES is definitely a band to pay attention to going into the 20s. 

#6: Adults!!!... Smart!!! Shithammered!!! And Excited By Nothing!!!!!  -  Bomb the Music Industry (2010)

Adults!!! is short, coming in at 21 minutes over the course of 7 tracks. And yet, this EP contains some of the catchiest and refined ska punk of the decade. The record acts almost as a condensed summation of BTMI’s entire career, featuring some of the repeated themes that has defined Jeff’s whole discography. Not only that, but some of BTMI’s best tracks are on this EP, from Jeff’s strained vocals on You Still Believe in Me?, to the peppy and depressing Planning My Death, to the defiant Slumlord and the explosive penultimate track, The First Time I Met Sanawon. I could wish it was longer, but I’ll be honest, with the quality of tracks here, I don’t care. It’s a near flawless EP that represents everything I love about one of my favorite bands ever.

#5: The Money Store - Death Grips (2012)

Like Fetch, The Money Store is similarly mind melting in completely different ways. This record is brutal. MC Ride’s “vocals” are like no other, with some describing them as the shouts of a drugged up homeless man. Paired with ear bursting, stereo busting beats, and esoteric dark flows, the picture this record paints is one of filth and primal violence. And I love every minute of it. And despite the harsh nature of this record, some of these beats fucking slap. This record features some of the weirdest uses of sampling, like seriously who the fuck finds Arabic Nokia ringtones and thinks “yeah let’s sample these in like half the tracks on this record” and make it sound this good. And at times I have no clue how they even managed to make some of the sounds they did. All of this is backed with Zack Hill’s extremely technical and wild drumming. I contemplated putting other Death Grips records in this spot, but The Money Store is the complete DG package. It also has Hacker on it. im in your area 

#4: Teens of Denial  -  Car Seat Headrest (2016)

I’m a fucking moron and I’ll tell you why. When I initially heard the first few tracks from this record when I was 17, I wasn’t that blown away. Like, I added Fill in the Blank, Vincent, and Destroyed by Hippie Powers to my big ass shuffle playlist and didn’t bother digging much deeper. Here I am now, 20 years old, kicking myself in the ASS for overlooking Car Seat Headrest for this long. I only gave this album a proper listen to back in January! And I LOVE it! Teens of Denial is a fantastic record, full of complex, multilayered tracks that are not only incredibly catchy, but full of heart and passion. Lead singer and songwriter Will Toledo has voice that sounds equally uneasy and leaking with confidence, and that confidence spills over into every aspect of this record. While not as emotionally intense as their only other studio LP as of February 2020, Teens of Denial is just track after track of some of the greatest indie rock made this decade. Including the songs I mentioned before, you’ve also got Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales, 1937 State Park, and the powerful Cosmic Hero. And if you like reading, the narrative of this record is interesting to follow.  And while I was working on this list they literally just announced a new record so like I’m fucking hyped dude. 

#3: To Pimp a Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar (2015)

Ok. Look. I know everybody is putting this at their #1 spot. And they probably have even more to say about this record than I do. There’s probably nothing I can say that hasn’t been said a million times by literally everyone. But that’s just a testament to the quality of this record. This is one of the greatest hip hop records ever made, if not the best depending on who you ask. Some of my favorite rap songs are on this record, Wesley’s Theory, King Kunta, Alright, The Blacker The Berry, and more. TPAB offers detailed glimpses into one of the biggest rappers in the world’s psyche and pain, mixed with profound social and political messages. The beats on this record are beautifully mixed with jazz and gospel influences, starting a trend many artists have since continued. And Kendrick’s signature flow from gkmc are at their absolute finest on TPAB. There is something to enjoy out of this record no matter your background, which would explain this record’s near universal appeal. To Pimp a Butterfly is just full of life, energy, and passion. It’s weird to think this record is only 5 years old, because it feels just as powerful as it did when it came out.

#2: Twin Fantasy - Car Seat Headrest (2018)

Twin Fantasy is a rare kind of record. The emotions expressed on this record are intense and laid flat out for you to hear, dissect, and empathize with. The entire record being structured around the idea of reflection works both as a fun way to organize a diverse and varied track listing, while also playing into a handful of the record’s motifs and themes. Speaking of which, each song on this album has a unique identity, both in terms of sound and feeling, and how it plays into the larger narrative of this record. Some songs have multiple tonal shifts, such as the epic Beach Life-In-Death, split into three distinct parts making it a song that, despite its 13 minute run-time, is a song I never grow tired of listening to. What each track shares, however, is the same fantastic songwriting, with layered instrumentals and some of Will’s greatest vocal performances. It also helps that all the tracks are just flat out catchy, like the fantastic Bodies, the chill Sober to Death, and the energetic Nervous Young Inhumans. While the 2011 original is great, the 2018 rerecording adds so much new complexity and clarity to this record. In addition to the original themes, the 2018 version adds new perspectives and meta commentary to the 2011 original, with Will reflecting on the feelings he was experiences at the time he wrote the original record, 7 years afterwards, adding an additional layer to this record’s larger narrative. The final 22 minutes of this record provides a strong emotional climax to the record, sending off a fantastic and absolutely classic record. There’s a good chance that, in 10 more years or so, I may look back at this record and put it above my #1 record. Hell, while I write this I really question whether or not I should do it. What I’m trying to say is, take that #2 with a grain of salt, because I love this record just as much as my #1 at this point. No record has managed to leave such a profound and strong impression on me this quickly after my first listen a few months ago, besides Twin Fantasy. Because Twin Fantasy is a rare kind of record. It’s a perfect record.  And now it’s time for my favorite record of the decade. It’s probably obvious what it is considering some of the things I’ve said on this list, so without any more delay...

#1: WORRY.  -  Jeff Rosenstock (2016)

WORRY. is my personal favorite record of the decade and of all time. It is an absolutely triumphant record. Every song here is a classic. WORRY. radiates pure, unfiltered energy that I haven’t been able to shake for the nearly 4 years this record has been out. Songs like Festival Song and Wave Goodnight to Me still get me pumped, and the so called “WORRY. medley” that spans the back half of this record rivals the medley of Abbey Road. And the opening track, We Begged 2 Explode, fuck man it’s a hell of an opener. Hell, I know every line spoken on this record. This record is a product of a man who has spent over 20 years perfecting his music, never compromising to trends or demands. Jeff has always been open about what he loves and what he believes in, and it’s no more apparent than on this record. Trying to describe every way in which this record works for me leaves me grasping for the right words to describe the feeling. It’s a record that makes you wanna chant along to it, move your body to it, and tell everyone you love about it.  So just listen to it. I don’t care if you don’t like punk, or ska, or ska punk, or just garage/indie rock in general, or if my enthusiasm hasn’t sold you. This is one of the best records out there and you can either realize it now, or regret it later. 

I know the record literally says that the perfect sound doesn’t exist. But it does. And it sounds like this.

And that’s it for this list. I’m excited to see what the new decade brings. If my mind ever changes about these records, or I get around to listening to a record that deserves to be on this list, maybe I’ll do an updated version, but like right now? This is how I feel.

280 D&D Characters on Twitter

This is the dumbest thing i have ever undertaken. Here are the first 28 of what should someday be 280 D&D character concepts.

I'm going to try and devise 280 D&D characters and post them in a thread. Here we go!

— Social Justice Wizards D&D (@SJWizBlogDnD) November 9, 2017

PENNY BYTTERTONGUE Copper-Dragonborn Sorcerer, Entertainer background. Favored attack: Acid Splash Personality: I have an acid-tongue; I say exactly what's on my mind, and I'm tough enough to back it up (proficient in Intimidation skill)#280DnDCharacters 1/280 pic.twitter.com/sSli2w8R15

— Social Justice Wizards D&D (@SJWizBlogDnD) November 9, 2017

STUART "THE TANK" TONSON Human Bard, College of Valor. Specialty: Vicious Mockery and tumbling. Stuart is an imposing, muscular fellow with high charisma, but no fighting skills. He can perform flashy fake moves to intimidate or impress enemies. #280DnDCharacters 3/280

— Social Justice Wizards D&D (@SJWizBlogDnD) November 9, 2017

MICKY WIDDERSHINS Forest Gnome Arcane Trickster Background: Outfitter Specialty: Unusual items When you expect him least but need him most, Micky will appear wearing his comically oversized haversack of goods. Rumors say he's a fey being of great mischief#280DnDCharacters 5/280

— Social Justice Wizards D&D (@SJWizBlogDnD) November 9, 2017

KIPPER FASTSPAR Kobold Tunnel Fighter Background: Sailor Specialty: Close-quarters combat Pressganged into a Hobgoblin pirate crew, Kipper stowed-away on a passing merchant vessel after a supernatural storm shipwrecked his captors. He has a prized whistle.#280DnDCharacters 7/280

— Social Justice Wizards D&D (@SJWizBlogDnD) November 9, 2017

UUMBOO T'HONGO Drow Barbarian Background: Feral child Main Attack: Stalactite Greatclub Raised by a colony of telepathic Myconids, Uumboo has no grasp of spoken language and is easily frustrated. She carries pouches of fungi spores to confuse enemies with.#280DnDCharacters 9/280

— Social Justice Wizards D&D (@SJWizBlogDnD) November 10, 2017

HORVAHM DEL Moon Elf Warlock of the Archfey Background: Pariah Main Attack: Eldritch blast Horvahm entered the Feywild while exploring a forbidden grove. They entered a pact with a shapeshifting Fey lord, and were gifted/cursed with wererabbit lycanthropy#280DnDCharacters 11/280

— Social Justice Wizards D&D (@SJWizBlogDnD) November 10, 2017

DENDRELL TINROOT Wood Elf Druid Background: Hermit Specialty: Goodberry Dendrell knows that somewhere in the deep wood there is a perfect acorn, and he is going to find it. He is dying, and plans to be reborn as the oak dryad that will grow from his grave#280DnDCharacters 12/280 pic.twitter.com/PjclOpLSuq

— Social Justice Wizards D&D (@SJWizBlogDnD) November 14, 2017

BREYLON XAVIAN Human Paladin, Oath of Devotion Background: Acolyte Specialty: Long sword, "The Straight Edge" Breylon got into the Extreme Teen paladin scene at age 13, and made his oath by 16, disappointing his necromancer parents. He is lawful obnoxious#280DnDCharacters 14/280

— Social Justice Wizards D&D (@SJWizBlogDnD) November 14, 2017

TAERTHAL ARROWFELL High Elf Fighter/Rogue Background: Folk Hero Specialty: Broadsword Duellist Taerthall is a living legend; a pivotal figure in revolutions, lost-causes, and underdog victories. But his storied life has robbed him of countless loved ones #280DnDCharacters 16/280

— Social Justice Wizards D&D (@SJWizBlogDnD) November 15, 2017

PSUDA NIGHTINGALE Human Cleric of Tymora Background: Fortune Teller Specialty: The Lucky Shot sling Psuda can see the future, but she doesn't believe in fate. The blessings of Lady Luck let her dance through fate's grasp; her divinations give her the beat#280DnDCharacters 18/280

— Social Justice Wizards D&D (@SJWizBlogDnD) November 18, 2017

DARON "DARN" KNOLLCUTTER Hill Dwarf Monk Background: Hermit Darn abandoned civilization to live among Stone Giant ruins, to learn their ancient ways of stone craft and dreamwalking. He is vexed by villagers salvaging stones from the ruins for settlements.#280DnDCharacters 20/280

— Social Justice Wizards D&D (@SJWizBlogDnD) November 20, 2017

KERREL TUWHOO Aarakokra Druid Background: Sky Warden Specialty: Gust Kerrel patrols the High Forest that surrounds the Star Mounts, looking for any approaching her secluded home. The trees spell out messages to her, only legible from 1000 feet in the air.#280DnDCharacters 22/280

— Social Justice Wizards D&D (@SJWizBlogDnD) November 20, 2017

GARMOUTH SKRUSK Lizardfolk Ranger Background: swamp-goat rancher Specialty: Giant snapping turtle companion Garmouth is one of the few Lizardfolk who'll venture outside the tribe's borders; this is unfortunate, as he is a terrible ambassador for his kind.#280DnDCharacters 24/280

— Social Justice Wizards D&D (@SJWizBlogDnD) November 28, 2017

JUSTITIA CULDAVER Human Rogue Inquisitive Background: Noble Specialty: Swordcane Madam Culdaver is regarded as an eccentric but formidable aristocrat by Waterdhavian elite. The less-fortunate know her as a steely hero; crimelords regard her as a nuisance.#280DnDCharacters 26/280

— Social Justice Wizards D&D (@SJWizBlogDnD) November 28, 2017

SCYLLA NIGHTSHADE Bard, College of Whispers Background: Spy Specialty: Mislead Scylla appeared in Waterdeep two years ago, infiltrating and climbing the ranks of the Lord's spy corps. She has no past; any who investigate her suffer unspeakable accidents.#280DnDCharacters 28/280

— Social Justice Wizards D&D (@SJWizBlogDnD) November 28, 2017

B:sides ~ weLLsh  

The B:sides-Playlist 2017-10-30 @ Radio Vättervåg 98,5 Mhz

This week: weLLsh

1. 'B:zväng' TextMix & reading af MrZ Komposition & Produktion af SkåneJokke Lütz [0:41]

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO WELSH FOLK compiled by Cerys Matthews ~ albumrelease 27th October 2017 [ EUCD2744 ] ~ 2. Nansi Richards: Pwt ar y Bys (A Little Something for the Fingers) (trad., arr. Nansi Richards) From ‘Brenhines y Delyn/Queen of the Welsh Harp’ - Nansi Richards We kick off with a recording of the original Queen of the Harp, Nansi Richards, playing a traditional tune recorded in the twilight of her life. Nansi must have been some character. Like Jimi Hendrix, she played tricks with her instruments, playing harp with her back turned, or 2 at a time. Born in Oswestry in 1888, she went on to study at the Guildhall School of Music, London, and toured America. A huge figure in Welsh folk, she taught triple harp to Llio Rhydderch, as well as Dafydd and Gwyndaf from Ar Log, all of whom feature in this collection. ℗ 1959, Sain (Recordiau) Cyf licensed [2:15] 3. Robin Huw Bowen: Gypsy Waltzes (trad., arr. Robin Huw Bowen) From ‘Y Ffordd i Aberystwyth/The Road to Aberystwyth’ - Robin Huw Bowen Robin Huw Bowen is the world’s leading exponent of our national instrument, the triple harp. Interestingly, the tradition of playing this harp with three rows of strings and no pedals is alive and well today, only thanks to a family of Roma travellers led by Abram Wood, whose descendants would play harp for Queen Victoria. Enjoy the strength and muscularity of Robin on this track. He says, “Two wonderful Victorian swingers from the inimitable playing of Eldra Jarman. I had snatches of the first tune from Eldra while she was still alive, and then the second tune from a recording made of her by Professor Peter Crossley- Holland. Then I had the complete version of the first tune from an old BBC programme about Eldra… in St Ffagan’s Museum.” Robin is the only full-time professional Welsh harpist specializing solely in the Welsh triple harp, and his influence on the world of Welsh folk music and harping has been far-reaching. ℗ 2007, Sain (Recordiau) Cyf licensed [3:36] 4. Crasdant: Pibddawns Trefynwy (Monmouth Hornpipe) (trad., arr. Robin Huw Bowen/Andy McLauchlin/Stephen P. Rees/Huw Williams) From ‘Dwndwr/The Great Noise’ - Crasdant The harp reigns supreme in Welsh folk music, so here’s another, and again with Robin but joined this time by Stephen Rees, Andy McLauchlin, and the whistles and the stepping sound of clog dancer Huw Williams as Crasdant. For me this is the Welsh folk tune where one might regress to being a child, dressed head to toe in scratchy Welsh flannel learning folk dance steps. ℗ 2005, Sain (Recordiau) Cyf licensed to ARC Music Productions International Ltd. Published by Cyhoeddiadau Sain [3:53] 5. Phil Tanner: The Gower Reel (trad.) From ‘The Gower Nightingale’ – Phil Tanner Phil Tanner is one South Glamorgan’s greatest traditional folk singers. He was originally from Llangenith in the Gower Peninsula, South Wales, where he had sung all his life, however he wasn’t recorded until he was in his seventies. He became renowned locally as “the Gower Nightingale” and recorded for the likes of Columbia and the BBC. He passed away in February 1950 and was remembered in a BBC Radio 4 tribute by Wynford Vaughan-Thomas who referred to him as, “the voice of the sanest, happiest, kindest eccentric I ever knew”. ℗ 2003, Veteran Tapes licensed to ARC Music Productions International Ltd. Published by Veteran Tapes www.veteran.co.uk [3:35] 6. Calan: Rhif Wyth (Rhif 8 - No. 8) (trad., arr. Calan) From ‘Bling’ – Calan Calan bring together the remarkable talents of 5 young musicians giving a fresh and vibrant sound to traditional Welsh music. With a contemporary and lively approach, they breathe new life into the old traditions through their sparkling melodies, foot tapping tunes and spirited and energetic performances of Welsh step dancing. ℗ 2008, Sain (Recordiau) Cyf licens [2:44] 7. Cayo Evans: Men of Harlech (trad., arr. Cayo Evans) From ‘Marching Songs of The Free Wales Army’ – Cayo Evans Cayo was conscripted into the British Army aged 18, and served actively in Malaya. This experience, coupled with his fascination with politics, inspired by a Polish man who taught him at Millfield, embittered him towards the British Government and their manhandling of Wales. He was said to be radicalised after the drowning of a Welsh village to build Tryweryn reservoir (see Meic Stevens’ bio – CD1, track 2) and formed the Free Wales Army, whose dalliances with explosives and other public order offenses ended up with him serving a 13-month prison sentence. This track of the very famous marching song Men of Harlech has Cayo introducing then playing the accordion, and was released in 2008 on Anhrefn Records, Anhrefn being one of the pioneering bands singing Welsh language music across Europe in the punk era. ℗ 2008, Anhrefn Records licensed to [1:36] 8. Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog: Didl-Dei (Aled Wyn Hughes/Iwan Glyn Hughes/Dafydd Rhys Hughes, arr. Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog) ‘Didl-Dei’ appears on Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog’s album ‘Dawn y Trychfilod’ on the Sbrigyn Ymborth label. www.sbrigynymborth.com Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog are a folk band consisting of three brothers, Aled, Dafydd, and Iwan Hughes from Rhos Botwnnog, the Llyn Peninsula, and accompanying musicians and singers. They experiment with country, folk and rock music. Most of their lyrics are in Welsh. This example is a tiny but wonderfully whimsical interlude from this band worth checking out live and on record. ℗ 2007, Cyhoeddiadau Sbrigyn Ymborth licensed to ARC Music Productions International Ltd. Published by Cyhoeddiadau Sbrigyn Ymborth [0:26] 9. Cass Meurig and Nial Cain: Tair Meillionen (trad., arr. Cass Meurig/Nial Cain) From ‘Deuawd’ – Cass Meurig and Nial Cain Cass plays the fiddle and crwth, that medieval bowed lyre with gut strings and droney sound. She grew up in the north of England playing tunes and singing with her parents and sisters. Over the last few years she has played internationally and recorded with Welsh bands Pigyn Clust and Fernhill. Here she plays alongside Nial Cain, on guitar, who grew up in Deiniolen, in the slate quarrying heartland of North Wales. With a rich history of playing with folk and ceilidh bands, he played in many of Tyneside’s barn dance bands including the Borderers where he was taught fiddle by leader Forster Charlton, a living link to the pre-folk revival tradition. Ten years ago he moved back to North Wales and found his interest in the Welsh folk music tradition rekindled. ℗ 2008, Fflach Cyfyngedig licensed to ARC Music Productions International Ltd. Published by Cyhoeddiadau Mwldan Publications [2:43] 10. Llio Rhydderch: Dafydd y Garreg Wen (David of the White Rock) (trad., arr. Llio Rhydderch) From ‘Melangell’ – Llio Rhydderch Another intuitive musician who can make me burst into tears, such is the poignancy of her playing. Here Llio plays Dafyd y Garreg Wen, first published in 1784 by Edward Jones, the king’s harpist. Edward was the first to claim that the Dafydd in the title was a Caernarvonshire harpist who wrote the tune on his death bed (although there are some whispers that allude to a Scottish or even Russian origin. We’ll never know!). Llio Rhydderch is a traditional Welsh harper, a creative artist who is recognised as a most innovative and influential exponent of the Welsh triple garp. Llio is descended from the ancient Welsh harpers in an unbroken direct line which extends back many centuries. Through her, this unique line lives on and she is pivotal in its preservation as she passes on this ancient art to the next generation, teaching them to play traditional airs by ear, to be able to write variations before returning to the original melody. ℗ 2001, Fflach Cyfyngedig licensed to ARC Music Productions International Ltd. Published by Cyhoeddiadau Mwldan Publications [2:20] 11. Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita: Ceffylau (Horses) (Catrin Finch/Seckou Keita) From ‘Clychau Dibon’ – Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita (A Theatr Mwldan/Astar Artes co-production) Catrin is a fearless and natural performer and rare in that she is totally at home across genres: classical, jazz, folk and world music. Catrin has won accolades the world over for her virtuosic performances with some of the world’s finest orchestras. She has also worked with Malian kora player Toumani Diabaté, and Colombian band Cimarrón, and switches from Bach’s Goldberg Variations to traditional folk or Colombian joropo music with ease and aplomb. Seckou Keita, from the Casamance area of Senegal, was born into the world-famous royal Keita and griot Cissokho families, and has played with his uncle Solo Cissokho and Guinean master djembe player Mamady Keita, in addition to appearing with both Salif Keita and Youssou N’Dour, and more recently alongside Paul Weller, Damon Albarn and Julia Holter on the Africa Express presents The Orchestra of Syrian Musicians tour. I love how these two great players share with us their joy in bringing their far-off traditions together in such a beautiful collision. ℗ 2013, Catrin Finch/Seckou Keita/Theatr Mwldan/Astar Artes licensed to ARC Music Productions International Ltd. Published by Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita [5:17] 12. Elinor Bennett: Pant Corlan yr Ŵyn (trad., arr. Elinor Bennett) From ‘Y Delyn Gymreig/The Welsh Harp’ – Elinor Bennett Elinor Bennett is one of Wales’ most distinguished musicians, and has travelled extensively giving concerts, recitals and masterclasses. She is regarded as one of Britain’s most influential harp teachers, who, by the by, also taught Catrin the harp. Eagle eared listeners might also recognise her playing, as she was the harpist who played with us on Bulimic Beats on Catatonia’s Equally Cursed and Blessed. This is another firm favourite on the Welsh folk dance floor, a useful tune to wave those handkerchiefs to thank your adoring audience as you make the final circle and leave the stage. ℗ 1985, Sain (Recordiau) Cyf licensed to ARC Music Productions International Ltd. Published by Cyhoeddiadau Sain [2:33] 13. DnA (Delyth and Angharad Jenkins): Glyn Tawe (trad., arr. Delyth and Angharad Jenkins) From ‘Adnabod’ – DnA - Delyth and Angharad Jenkins Traditional and new Welsh music on the harp and fiddle. DnA by name, DnA by nature: music is in the very DNA of this hugely talented mother-and-daughter duo from Wales, both of whom enjoy international reputations not only as soloists but as members of such bands as Calan, Adran D, Aberjaber and Cromlech. Whether they’re vamping up a traditional oldie or minting something entirely new, there’s a timeless beauty to these intimate and irresistible conversations between harp and fiddle. ℗ 2013, Fflach Cyfyngedig licensed to ARC Music Productions International Ltd. Published by Cyhoeddiadau Mwldan Publications [4:22] 14. Jamie Smith’s MABON: Croeso Ioan (Jamie Smith, arr. Jamie Smith’s MABON) From ‘The Space Between’ – Jamie Smith’s MABON Jamie Smith’s MABON is an InterCeltic band; composer-accordionist Jamie was taken every year by his folk-dancing parents to the mighty Festival Interceltique in Brittany, surrounding him from an early age with music from the Celtic regions and beyond. He accompanied Welsh dancers at just five years old. Joining him here are Oli, a Welsh fiddler with Balkan flair; Paul, a guitarist from Wales who’s more Manx than plenty of people born on the Isle of Man; Matt, a bluegrassloving bass player from Carmarthen; and Iolo, a drummer from the Welsh woods with a passion for world music and jazz. They’ve played WOMAD, WOMEX, Shetland, Rainforest World Music Festival (Borneo), Fairport’s Cropredy Convention, Hebcelt, Celtic Connections, and the massive Festival Interceltique de Lorient. ℗ 2015, Easy on the Records licensed to ARC Music Productions International Ltd. Published by James Joughin AKA Jamie Smith [3:14]

15. 'Rome' from In The Midst Of Chaos There Is Stillness-CDn af Fleur de Lis [5:08] 16. 'In The Well' from Conquer Me-CDn af Namur [2:46] 17. 'In The Street' from Night Drops af Indian Wells [3:36] 18. 'All Was Well' from Live at Victoriateatern af Wintergatan [4:27] 1 jingle incl tune from Kmag #107 af Loopmasters Samples & 2 jingles from B:sides on Spotify DAGENS SYNAXARIUM This weeks BibleVers: "For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all your paths. The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast. For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly." ~ Proverbs 5:21-23 Drink Espresso - God bless U! /MrZ :)

www.ib2.se Soli Deo Gloria

  All Pix: MrZ ~ Wättern.se

Join Generation XYZ @ gen.xyz 

Z

E V E R Y  M A N

As a kid, I was always different. I'm sure it was challenging for my parents to raise an outspoken, headstrong, vibrant, eccentric black child. As I began elementary school, I found myself in classrooms filled with students that looked nothing like me. In those moments, I began to embark upon my first understanding of body concept. I began to develop perceptions of my body’s attractiveness, acceptability and functionality by comparing myself to others. In those moments, reality would consistently hit me like tons of bricks. During my developmental years, I often felt isolated. I was consistently the tallest kid in class, the dude with a voice higher than most of the other boys, and (of course) I was always the chubbiest kid in the class. I started to feel self conscious about myself even as I rode public transportation to and from school. I worried about getting glances and being judged based on my appearance. I would always refrain from making eye contact and would head straight to the back of the bus. But, when I became a teenager, I learned how to make my self smaller. I would hide myself under large stylish baseball caps and $5 sunglasses from St Marks Place to mask the fear and shame of my face. From the beginning, I was labeled “different” which is something that has followed me throughout my life. At 6 years old, being “different” felt like a curse. But now at 29, being “different” feels more like a blessing.

Society has always had this obsession with perfection. This obsession that conditions most of us to never feel comfortable in our own skin because we are simply not enough and most likely will never be. Voices beginning to ring in our heads. Echoes of “you are not thin enough, thick enough, too pale, too black, or simply not beautiful enough” to be accepted. These deafening voices circled my thoughts throughout most of my life. This tone echoes from our coaches, teachers and even our own parents.This idea that “ perfection” MUST be achieved no matter the emotional cost.

It wasn't until I started working in the fashion industry that I started to see through the “4th wall”. Upon learning the powers of retouching, I started to realize that perfection and beauty are purely subjective concepts. Once I started to build friendships and working relationships with various models, I quickly learned that body image issues didn’t discriminate. Listening to male models with bodies that rival greek gods tell me that they too suffer from body image issues was equally eyeopening and jarring. Hearing damaging childhood stories of isolation, fear and obsessive self scrutiny made me realize that as men, we had more in common than I previously believed. Most of us had been programmed with this cycle of self hate beginning at the playground; in a space where we were most impressionable and vulnerable.

I am creating the “EveryMAN” project to empower and inspire. This project is geared towards creating a safe space that I hope will serve to liberate men worldwide from self hate. This book will challenge society’s standards of what the REAL male aesthetic is through the lens of re-imagined iconic 90’s fashion ads. I want to challenge society’s obsession with hyper masculinity and perfection by capturing men/male identifying from all backgrounds, orientations, gender identifications, personal classifications, races and colors.This is a call to all. This is a visual conversation about inclusion and diversity which I intend to translate into an actual conversation about the positivity that begins within.

- Tarik Carroll

find out more at

www.theeverymanproject.com

50 Nicki Minaj quotes and lyrics to boost your confidence

Looking for inspirational Nicki Minaj quotes? We’ve prepared this collection of great quotes from the rapper to inspire confidence in you. Enjoy!

Onika Tanya Maraj, popularly known as Nicki Minaj, is a Trinidadian-American rapper, singer, songwriter, model, and actress. She’s one of the world’s best-selling music artists, having sold over 20 million singles as a lead artist and over 5 million albums worldwide to date.

Minaj was born in Trinidad and Tobago and raised in Queens, New York. Her first album, Pink Friday, which she released in 2010, peaked at number one on the US Billboard 200 and was later certified triple platinum in America. Since then, she has released two more albums, earned four top-five entries on the Billboard Hot 100 and received ten Grammy Award nominations among other numerous accolades.

As one of the most successful music artists in the world, Nicki Minaj has clearly managed to use her Everyday Power effectively.

In that respect, below are some of the best Nicki Minaj quotes to inspire confidence in you.

  Nicki Minaj quotes and lyrics to boost your confidence

  1.) “True confidence leaves no room for jealousy. When you know you are great, you have no need to hate.” – Nicki Minaj

  2.) “I will not let anyone scare me out of my full potential.” – Nicki Minaj

  3.) “You have to know that as long as you love who you are — your morals, your values, that type of stuff, you’re ok.” – Nicki Minaj

  4.) “When I win and when I lose, I take ownership of it, because I really am in charge of what I do.” – Nicki Minaj

  5.) “You could be the king but watch the queen conquer.” – Nicki Minaj

  6.) “Don’t chase the boys. Don’t depend on anybody. Do your thing.” – Nicki Minaj

  7.) “I want to build my empire. In my field, I have always seen men do it. From Diddy to Dr. Dre to Jay Z. Now it’s a woman’s turn.” – Nicki Minaj

  8.) “I’ll never be perfect. Believe me I’m worth it. So take me or leave me.” – Nicki Minaj

  9.) “I want to show little girls that the possibilities are endless. That’s my goal – to not only do it for myself, but to show them I can do whatever I put my mind to.” – Nicki Minaj

  10.) “I ain’t never need a man to take care of me” – Nicki Minaj

  Nicki Minaj quotes about love and relationships

  11.) “I, I’m not livin life. I’m not livin right. I’m not livin if you’re not by my side.” – Nicki Minaj

  12.) “He was the realest, I was the realest, we was the realest. When he approached me, I asked him ‘What the deal is?” – Nicki Minaj

  13.) “He was Adam. I think I was Eve. But my vision ends with the apple on the tree.” – Nicki Minaj

  14.) “And when they lookin, you let me hide. Protect my honor, protect my pride.” – Nicki Minaj

  15.) “Strange how someone you once loved can become just another person you once knew.” – Nicki Minaj

  16.) “You gave me strength gave me hope for a lifetime.” – Nicki Minaj

  17.) “Always tell someone how you feel because opportunities are lost in the blink of an eye, but regrets can last for a lifetime.” – Nicki Minaj

  Nicki Minaj quotes about life and happiness

  18.) “You don’t have to feel the need to put somebody down to make yourself feel better.” – Nicki Minaj

  19.) “Life is a prize, but to live doesn’t mean you’re alive.” – Nicki Minaj

  20.) “Good advice I always hated, but lookin back it made me greater.” – Nicki Minaj

  21.) “Life is a movie, but there will never be a sequel.” – Nicki Minaj

  22.) “So, my happiness doesn’t come from money or fame. My happiness comes from seeing life without struggle.” – Nicki Minaj

  23.) “My whole life is about being Nicki Minaj now. It’s a never-ending saga.” – Nicki Minaj

  24.) “We all have insecurities, but you have to know you’re beautiful.” — Nicki Minaj

  25.) “Some people have to put in work. Others get to cut corners. We see it but don’t say it. Welcome to the real world.” — Nicki Minaj

  26.) “I live and I learn but I wait my turn. I’m always on the run, got weight to burn.”  — Nicki Minaj

  Nicki Minaj quotes about success and making it

  27.) “You wanna know what scares people? Success. When you don’t make moves and you don’t climb up the ladder, everybody loves you because you’re not competition.” — Nicki Minaj

  28.) “If I wasn’t winning, you wouldn’t care.” — Nicki Minaj

  29.) “I get what I desire, it’s my empire”  — Nicki Minaj

  30.) “Sometimes you gotta be beauty and a beast.” — Nicki Minaj

  31.) “Your victory is right around the corner. Never give up.” — Nicki Minaj

  32.) ”Stay in school. Don’t ever be lazy, don’t you ever complain about hard work. Work hard, it pays off.” — Nicki Minaj

  33.) “I always feel it’s important for me to show females that they can be in charge of their own situation.” — Nicki Minaj

  34.) “Sometimes you don’t realize how far you’ve gotten until you look around at the people who are still trailing far behind you.” — Nicki Minaj

  Nicki Minaj quotes on dealing with haters and life’s challenges

  35.) “Haters, I’m not your enemy I’m your hero. Cheer up, you should be happy I’m here” — Nicki Minaj

  36.) “Shoutout to my haters, sorry you couldn’t phase me.” — Nicki Minaj

  37.) “There’s always gonna be evil people in the world who just do negative shit. You just have to kill them with kindness and they’ll die slowly.” — Nicki Minaj

  38.) “I don’t have to do things just to please people. It’s okay to do what I love because what I love, my fans love. And they’re really the only ones that should matter.” — Nicki Minaj

  39.) “You’re not gonna tell me who I am. I’m gonna tell you who I am.” — Nicki Minaj

  40.) “I feel like my entire career and life, I’ve been judged by people who did not really know me. I definitely think that they probably were right to assume what they had assumed about me, because there was such little to go on out there.” — Nicki Minaj

  41.) “Respect your haters. They’re the only ones who think you’re better than them.” — Nicki Minaj

  Other inspirational Nicki Minaj quotes

  42.) “I just want women to feel in control, because we’re capable — we’re so capable.” — Nicki Minaj

  43.) “Don’t stay watching happiness, make it.” — Nicki Minaj

  44.) “You could never understand why I grind like I do Makiyah & Jalani why I grind like I do” ― Nicki Minaj

  45.) “No I’m not lucky, I’m blessed.” ― Nicki Minaj

  46.) “She’s my queen and I aint even British, she’s the only reason that I went to school and I finished.”  ― Nicki Minaj

  47.) “Call it a curse, or just call me blessed, if you can’t handle my worst, you ain’t getting my best” ― Nicki Minaj

  48.) “People will love you and support you when it’s beneficial.” ― Nicki Minaj

  49.) “If you don’t have critics, you probably don’t have success either.” ― Nicki Minaj

  50.) “But had I accepted the pickle juice, I would be drinking pickle juice right now.” – Nicki Minaj

  Which Nicki Minaj quote was your favorite?

  Nicki Minaj is well-known for her eccentric and suggestive lyrics. But beneath that, there are some valuable lessons that everyone can learn from the artist.

She’s a powerful woman who doesn’t entertain BS from anyone. Besides, she constantly strives to empower women.

Hopefully, these Nicki Minaj quotes have inspired you to not merely exist in this world but to aim to do more.

Did you enjoy these quotes from Nicki Minaj? Which Nicki Minaj quotes were your favorite? Tell us in the comment section below. We would love to hear all about it.

  The post 50 Nicki Minaj quotes and lyrics to boost your confidence appeared first on Everyday Power Blog.