#This is how me and Dez became friends :) | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

x-ceirios-x · 1 year

Text

I THINK I'M OKAY

desmin and dominic go on their first official date and struggle to figure out exactly what their relationship means to each other

cw: smoking, mentions of alcohol, mentions of homophobia & historical homophobia. hurt/comfort & angst things but nothing horribly heavy

Desmin glared at himself in the mirror. This wasn’t right. He shouldn’t be going on this stupid date, but there was no backing out now. Dominic had pulled him in, and he had no other choice than to go along with his plans for the evening.

He told his sister for the hour leading up to dinner he’d like not to be disturbed, which she respected. Unfortunately, it left him alone with his thoughts for a while. He tried to focus on his music playing through his phone speaker on the counter instead, considering his hands were shaking when he tried to hold them still.

He cursed, checking the now bloody cut on his jaw. This is what he gets for doing things the mundane way like Eleanor suggested—to unwind a bit before Dominic arrived. Apparently, he was loud enough she noticed, because there was a knock on the bathroom door.

“Dez?” Eleanor asked on the other side of the door. “You okay?”

He sighed. “Fine, yeah,” he said, opening the door for her. “I nicked myself shaving. I’m good.”

She stuck her lower lip out, mock-pouting, then smiled at him. “You poor boy,” she teased, running her hand over the cut. With a couple sparks, the pain ceased and the mark was gone. “All fixed.”

He could tell she was still worried about him. Rightfully so, possibly, but he didn’t need her doting while he was so nervous.

“Thank you,” he said plainly. He didn’t want to be rude, so he was careful about his next words. “Can we…go back to the original deal for the night?”

“Are you telling me to buzz off because you don’t want me to bother you?”

“Maybe a little.”

She chuckled and nodded. “I’ll leave you be. Just know that it’s a quarter till, alright? And Dom’s so nervous I expect him to be punctual.”

He hums in acknowledgment and she backs out of the bathroom. Again, he’s left with his music and thoughts.

Dominic.

He hadn’t cared about anyone like that in a long time. Maybe decades were like the blink of an eye in his age, but he still regretted everything with Fabían. Now, he was probably going to lead himself down another path to heartbreak. It inevitably happened. After a while, being immortal became boring—when he was young, stupid, and power-hungry, he knew he had all the time in the world. But now all the time in the world meant losing friends and loves that he’d never see again.

The song changed and caught his attention. He remembered a time, just a few weeks ago, after a long night with Dominic when he’d sang him a quiet lullaby of a rock version to sleep. The next morning, he made breakfast and woke him up with eggs, toast, and coffee before he had to return to the institute. They spent the morning talking and laughing with each other on the balcony—he couldn’t remember a time when he was more relaxed. For a while, he managed to forget all the things he didn’t want to think about.

That was what Dominic did to him. He made him forget anything troubling and let him be. The time he spent with him was the happiest he’d been in years, despite how desperately he tried to hold onto his ill-tempered demeanor around him. Even Eleanor mentioned he seemed to be smiling more lately.

So when Dominic asked him out, he said yes. And now he was on his way.

He heard the front door creak open and Eleanor chat happily with someone, though he couldn’t hear what she was saying. Desmin opened the bathroom door and stuck his head through, and Dominic’s voice rang clearly through the hallway.

Or, he was here now.

Doing himself a favor, he decided to fix his hair and clothes with magic, fixing flyaways and wrinkles faster than it would be if he fought with hairspray. He smooths his shirt and steps into the hallway, mentally preparing himself for the surprise evening Dominic had planned. He wasn’t a fan of surprises, but he trusted him.

He walked into the living room with as much confidence as he could muster and tried his best to smile.

Dominic sat up a bit from leaning against the doorway and stared at him for a minute. “You, er– you clean up nice, Dez.”

He smirked—if he had the opportunity to make fun of him a bit, he’d be less likely to psych himself out. “I wear a suit most of the time.”

His face turned a few shades pinker and tried his best to come up with a comeback. “I– you–” he started, failing miserably. “You knew what I meant! Take the compliment.”

Desmin laughed. Actually, he laughed harder than he thought he would (which was a low bar), but he started to fall into the usual routine with him.

Eleanor stepped through the kitchen, glass of wine in hand and blanket around her shoulders. When she saw her brother, she all but squealed and dropped the blanket, pulling out her phone. “I want a picture! You two look so cute!”

“El, please, no–”

“Ah, come on, you and I both know she won't leave us alone until she gets it,” Dominic piped up.

He glared at the encouragement. “I am not a teenager going to prom, Eleanor.”

“Hey, we went to prom that one time!”

Dominic looked up at him quizzically. “When did you go to prom? Weren’t you around before that even was a thing?”

He pinched his nose. “I was a teacher in the ’70s for a bit and chaperoned, I never went to prom.”

“A teacher, huh?” Dominic asked, sliding his arm around his waist and pulling him tightly next to him. “Maybe I’m-”

“If you say ‘hot for teacher’ and start singing the damn song, I will kill you.”

He laughed and Eleanor snapped a couple of pictures of them—not necessarily pretty ones, but ones of them laughing and smiling.

“You boys have fun!” she said on their way out the door. “And text me if you need me to visit Magnus tonight!”

She slammed the door after them and Desmin, more embarrassed than he wanted to admit, pulled at the sleeves of his shirt, ensuring everything was sitting flat and straight as it should. It was a nervous habit he started eons ago.

He noticed and took his hands, keeping him from anxiously fidgeting. “Hey,” Dominic said gently, squeezing his hands for a moment. “No pressure, alright? She’s just teasing.”

“I know.”

“I told you before, tonight’s about you. I made the plans, but if you don't want to do something, I want you to tell me, okay?”

He nodded, smiling slightly when he kissed the back of his hand. A part of him felt guilty—Dominic had no idea why he was so anxious about a regular date, and he didn’t know how or what to tell him. But he was understanding as ever, and that was quite a bit of the reason he even agreed to go with him tonight.

“Shall we?” he asked, dropping his hands and offering his arm.

Desmin felt rather silly but put his arm through his and followed his lead, taking off down the streets of Brooklyn.

***

The two return to the twins’ apartment in the early hours of the morning, with Dominic walking him to the front door of the building. He had his hand in his and felt incredibly comfortable in the leather jacket he’d borrowed (since he didn’t think to bring a jacket—the evening was much colder than he thought it would be).

It surprised him—Dominic was quite the gentleman. He’d been on dates in his time, but never ones where he was the one treated to a night out (though he did insist on paying for dinner, much to his dismay). So there they stood, on the steps leading up to the building, not wanting to leave each other’s presence quite yet.

“I–I had fun tonight, Dominic,” he said quietly, hoping he wasn’t embarrassing himself too terribly. “This was…nice. I can’t find a better word right now.”

He chuckled. “Don’t sweat it.”

He shifted to take off the jacket but was soon stopped by a hand on his shoulder. “Keep it,” Dominic said, a cheeky grin growing on his face. “Means I’ll get to see you again pretty soon, right?”

“You can always come over to visit Eleanor.”

He held a finger up to his lips and shook his head. “You’re so literal, Dez. I want to see you again, alright? Keep the jacket.”

“Okay. Then, ah, goodnight.”

“Night.”

He turned with a final smile, heading inside the building so he could get to bed. It was much later than he thought, he noticed, when he checked his watch. When he finally got upstairs, he looked around for his sister and noticed her outside on the balcony through the glass door.

He made himself a quick drink and headed out, leaning against the banister with her.

“That’s not yours,” she says, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. She sounds tired—not tired like she needs to sleep, but like there’s something wrong.

He doesn’t want to push, but he’s worried about her. “Dominic’s,” he says, now noticing the cigarette between her fingers. He sighed, knowing there was no point in starting an argument about it now. She’d been without for a few days, he thought, but she was always sneakily clever. “You alright, El?”

She nodded, though it didn’t make him feel any better. She took another drag and put it out. “Just thinking a lot, is all. Tell me about your date.”

“Tell me what you’re thinking about first.”

She sighed deeply and shook her head, turning to lean against him. He hugged her in return, one arm around her and the other ensuring his drink didn’t fall. “We can talk in the morning,” he says gently, knowing better than to push her right now. “I think it’s time for you to go to bed.”

Eleanor didn’t put up much of a fight, which made his life a little easier. He got her tucked into bed and sat on the edge, brushing a bit of hair out of her face. “You get to sleep, alright? I’ll make breakfast in the morning and then we can talk. If you're ready.”

She nods at his words and catches his hand before he can leave. “You had fun, right?” she asked. “With Dom, I mean.”

He smiled and leaned over, quickly kissing the top of her head. “I did. I’ll tell you more tomorrow.”

Satisfied with his answer, she rolled over and got comfortable. He turned her lights off for her on his way out and returned to the balcony where he’d left his drink and where he was sure she’d stashed her cigarettes. It didn’t take long for him to find them considering she was horrible at hiding things from him) and took one, leaving the box where it was. He lit it with the lighter left there. Usually, he tried not to get back into habits like these, but he felt like tonight he deserved it. He leaned back in the chair on the balcony and took a long drag, trying to think about what the next morning would hold and reflecting on his evening with Dominic.

It was then his phone buzzed—speak of the devil and he shall text, he guessed. He read the following few texts with a small smile.

Dominic Blackweather

heyy des

thanks again for coming out with me tonight. I could use the night off

plus what’s better than a pretty piece of arm candy with me all night huh?

really I had fun. hope you did too 😘

Desmin smiled and rolled his eyes at him. While he still wasn’t sure how to feel about the night’s events, he knew Dominic could always make him smile.

go to sleep, it’s late

Dominic Blackweather

oh you do care! with that cold stare I can never tell :(((

you’re eternally a pain in my ass, Dominic

Dominic Blackweather

I could be 😉

Desmin had to set his phone down to process that joke, finding himself somewhere between embarrassed, frustrated, and a touch disgusted. When he picked it back up, he noticed more messages.

Dominic Blackweather

eh, I’m just teasing. I gotta go shut down a jace n rowan fight again so I’ll catch ya later. night!

Knowing he was busy with those two, he decided to put his phone down. Between stories from Dominic and Magnus, he knew just how horrible those fights could turn. Sometimes even physical.

Nephilim, he thought. The kids of trouble they get into.

What kind of trouble was Dominic going to get him into—at least, what he hadn’t already?

***

Dominic didn’t understand what was wrong.

Four days had passed since he’d had the best night he’d had in a long time—a date with Desmin Rige. No longer just sleeping together when someone wanted to blow off some steam, but something real. He’d been burned before, but he didn’t think Desmin would do that to him.

Maybe he was wrong.

The following two days after, things proceeded as normal. He hadn’t had time to go visit since then because of missions at the Institute, but he didn’t seem any different over text. Everything seemed normal, if not, a bit better. Then Desmin stopped answering his phone, and Eleanor wouldn’t say why. Not to mention the fact that Magnus hadn’t heard from either of them in a few days, so he wasn’t any extra help.

He sat around the institute pouting, checking his phone, then pouting even worse (in Rowan’s words). They’d gotten tired of it and said he should go get his jacket back, at the very least. Maybe he could do some digging while he was there.

So he went to visit, and Eleanor let him in with no hesitation, like usual. She was fine but was cleverly avoiding talking about her brother.

“Cosmo?” she asked from behind the counter, mixing herself a drink. “Or anything else you want?”

“My jacket from Dez would be great. He home?”

She sighed, looking down and picking at her nails. “He’s in his room, but I wouldn’t bother him. He’s in a mood.”

“What’s that mean?”

She was quiet for a long moment before she glanced back up at him. “I don’t know what’s wrong, but he hasn’t talked to me…well, since yesterday, probably.”

“What happened yesterday?”

Eleanor obviously did not want to answer that question based on the way she drank about half of the glass in front of her without flinching. “We got into a fight,” she mumbled over the rim of her glass. “He doesn’t wanna talk about it.”

It wasn’t often that the twins fought, he knew. They’d been together for so long that, for the most part, they’d worked out all their pet peeves with each other and got to a point where they knew how to exist without driving the other crazy. It reminded him of himself and Isabelle if they had another thousand years or so under their belt.

“Can I give it a shot?” he asked. “Maybe…maybe he just needs another point of view, y’know?”

She hesitated; he didn’t know why. They’d worked out plenty of Desmin-related issues together in the past, this would be a no-brainer! Something about it made her worried, though, and that had him concerned as well. “You’re welcome to try,” she said, waving her hand and refilling her drink. “Good luck.”

She left for the balcony and he turned down the hall. Whatever was awaiting him there, he wasn’t sure, but it might mean he’d take Nora up on her offer for a drink.

He knocked on the door and cracked the door open. The moment he did, he was blasted in the face with some of the loudest rock music he’d heard (and he knew loud music very well). So loud, in fact, that it took him a moment to adjust to it and even notice Desmin laying on his bed.

For the chaos coming from non-existent speakers (or at least not ones he saw right away), he looked strangely peaceful. He laid there, body straight and rigid, and his hands folded over his middle. He had a neutral expression on his face—Dominic thought he looked rather pretty like that.

He walked around to the other side of his bed without being noticed and found the speakers that were trying to make his eardrums burst in his head. On top of them sat his phone, silenced and on do not disturb (which made sense as to why he wasn’t answering his texts). He tapped the screen and paused it, sitting in the desk chair next to them.

“I was listening to that,” he said, monotonously and with more of a bite in his words than he’d heard before. “Turn it back on.”

“What’s wrong, first?” he says, knowing full well how stubborn he is and that the truth won’t come out without a fight. “Nora said you’ve been in here since yesterday.”

“I have, and I plan on staying here until I come to a conclusion about everything.”

“What’s everything?”

“Nothing that concerns you.”

“I think it does.”

“I will tell you what you need to know when you need to know it.”

Dominic sighed. This wasn’t going anywhere. He stood from the chair and sat on his bed, trying to decide if touching him was going to be a good or much worse idea. “Des,” he said softly, placing his hand over his—it was all or nothing at this point, and he decided it was his best bet. “Talk to me. Please. You were my friend before we were anything else.”

He slowly opened his eyes and twisted slightly, pulling his hands away from him. “You were Eleanor’s friend before we were anything else.”

He froze for a moment. What was his deal? What had he done to deserve him being such a prick? He was trying to help! “You don’t have to be a–”

“I do because no one will leave me alone.”

“Because I care about you, you ass!” Dominic felt tears prick his eyes and he curled in on himself, letting his head rest on his knees. He buried his face there, trying to make himself calm down before he spat anything else out. After several beats of silence, he looked up again, to see Desmin sitting up against his headboard.

He spoke when he knew he had his attention again. His speech started slow and decisive, as always, like he very explicitly chose each word to convey exactly what he meant. But the longer he spoke, the less he held his composure. “I’ve spent my entire life pretending I’m something—someone I’m not because what I am has been frowned upon in societies and histories around the world.”

“Des, what are you–”

“You wanted me to talk, so let me talk,” he said, shooting a glare at him before looking away. “I watched people—friends get killed or worse simply for…for being who they are. So I buried that. And then I met Fabían, and he-“

His voice sounded tight, then cracked, and Dominic witnessed Desmin cry for the first time since he’d first met him. There was something that clicked, that finally convinced him to talk. And he didn’t want to ruin that.

He took a deep breath and wiped the tears from his eyes. “My point is—“ he sniffed, trying to get his breathing under control again— “centuries of being told there’s something wrong with you doesn’t go away with twenty or so years where it’s acceptable. I’ve spent my entire life believing there was something wrong because I never had an interest in romance, then I realized it was just romance with women.”

Dom stared at him for a long time. So many things made sense, yet he opened up so many more questions. All this was about the fact he was gay? Seriously? But he wasn’t wrong—despite the clave, mundane society was pretty accepting (or at least tolerant) through most of his life. But then why didn’t that matter when they were sleeping together, and it just mattered when they’d been on a date?

On top of that, who was Fabían? Eleanor or Magnus had never mentioned that name, let alone tell any stories.

“You can ask,” he mumbled, looking almost as if he was a kicked puppy. “Whatever you want. You know the worst of it.”

He tried to find his words, especially gentle ones, considering how broken he looked at the moment. “I don’t…well, I have one. For now.”

Desmin gestured for him to continue, so he did.

“Do you care about me? Can you see your future with me, even if it’s a close one?”

He was quiet for a moment, then nodded. Dom smiled.

“Then let me show you that nothing’s wrong with you.”

Desmin looked at him with wide eyes, but this time didn’t pull away when he reached for his hands. He took his hands slowly in case he wanted to pull away but smiled when he didn’t.

“I like you, Des. I have for a while. I’m glad I met you every day, but I need you to trust me. Can you do that?”

He slowly nodded and squeezed his hands. “I can…I can try. I’ll do my best. But I trust you more than…well, more than I thought I’d ever trust anyone besides Eleanor.”

“Perfect,” he said with a small laugh in his voice, bringing his hand up to his lips and kissing his knuckles. “I trust you too, y’know? Just in case you didn’t know.”

For the first time that day, Desmin smiled. No longer angry, no longer tense—he smiled, content with their conversation and feeling much better. It was small, but he knew it was progress.

“I gathered, Dominic.”

“Good.”

@kade-is-gay thank you for the help w him n for creating dom i love him.

7 notes · View notes

tricksytrinity · 1 year

Text

Time for a change... [update]

So, I've been thinking about changing my Tumblr username. You see, when I first came up with it, I had gone back to using my birth name due to the household I resided in. The "dez" portion is the shortened nickname from my birth name, and the "dystopian" because it's my favorite genre of fiction. And, the thing is, I'd gotten so used to my birth name being all anyone would acknowledge me as that I became desensitized to just how much it just didn't feel like me. In fact, I'd lost myself nearly completely in that environment.

Since leaving that place I've begun to find myself again. There are still parts that haven't fully returned, and others that are lost entirely. But, the parts that have resurfaced don't identify with that name (or username) anymore. It started small with close friends making the switch in my name, but it's gotten bigger now with even my daughter, boss, and coworkers using my chosen name.

It feels good to reclaim myself in the ways I have, but the feeling I get when I see my username is proof that it's not quite enough yet.

I haven't been able to come up with a new username yet, sadly. But I just wanted to put all this out there so you're all aware that a change will likely be made soon. So, keep an eye out. I can't wait to meet you all as me finally.

PS: My icon will not be changing. So, yes, you will at least be able to recognize me by that once the change is made.

Y'all in the future if you don't read:

#update #DEZspeaks

2 notes · View notes

deztincoric · 2 years

Text

Glass Closet

in honour of pride month...just kidding this is just 1k words of me severely projecting onto Dez bc I’m coming out to my parents in less tha 48 hours, its 3 am and my anxiety about it is so bad that i cannot sleep and i have been hyperventilating randomly for the past 2 weeks

It wasn’t that bad. He was ready, he had been prepping for this exact moment for years now and even more so once he had decided on the day would happen. He had done all he could. He had already had practice with this, he told Austin, Trish, and Ally nearly two years ago. But now that he was face to face with the gif he had prepared and the prewritten message he had made for his family group chat, his thumb lifted over the send button, he wasn’t ready. Dez knew why he was anxious, he wasn’t a stranger to that. Yet, the situation in front of him made him feel like he was standing on the edge of a roof three hundred feet in the air. He sat there, unblinking. He could feel his breath speed up shallowly and his mouth became dry. He had expected his anxiety to spike. It’s not like coming out is an easy thing, no matter how obvious he thought it had seemed. He wanted to send the text, he really did. Yet, every morsel of his being was screeching against the thought. His family was supportive, in theory, he knew that for sure. His mom would consistently bring up random gay tiktokers and influencers, she knew what the flags looked like and was a strong ally. His dad, while not nearly as vibrant in his support for the community, was an ally from the context clues he could pickup. He never really talked about gay and trans stuff, but he was against anti-LGBTQIA+ so Dez figured that he would at least tolerate his identities once he was out. And Didi, god, did he envy Didi. He was proud of her, extremely so, but it also struck a nerve with him. While Dez was barely coming out to his best friend of a million years Didi had gathered enough courage to tell their parents she was a lesbian. So obviously, his entire family would be supportive. But at the same time, he *was* killing two birds with one stone with his announcement. Bisexual and nonbinary. Dez hadn’t changed his name and really wasn’t planning on it and his pronouns had stayed mostly the same expect for the addition of they/them and xe/xyr added onto his already existing he/him set. So what was he so goddamn scared of? He figured it was the change in their perception of him. He wanted them to think nothing else of him than they already did but coming out as transgay? It would impact his life. Yes, they were in ways he wanted them to but still. He wasn’t exactly content with the double life he was living with his friends versus with his family but he tolerated it enough to become a comfortable routine.

So, he caved. He deleted the message. He didn’t send it.

The second time he attempted to come out was the beginning of every coming out cliché. They were sitting in the car, they were driving home from somewhere, he couldn’t really remember where. It could’ve been Sonic Boom, it could’ve been Austin’s house. What was important though was that he was in the front passenger seat and his mom was in the driver’s. The subtle noises of the engine were starting to sound a lot like subliminal messages, and he almost did it.

Just do it. Just say it. Mom, I’m bi and nonbinary. Mom, I’m a homo and also I’m not a guy haha. Fucking say something. Anything, just let it go already.

He glanced over at his mom and contemplated her reaction. He opened his mouth to say something but the pilot must’ve made their way back into the cockpit of his brain because once she turned her head slightly to glance at him, he whipped his attention to the Miami sunset glowing outside his window. Times similar to that had passed by. Sitting at the dinner table, silent moments while watching t.v, getting in trouble for coming home late, even just coming home from school started to seem like opportunities. Dez never took them, he instead settled for the watered down version of himself at home and waiting to express his full identity when he was with Austin and the girls. It had started to seem like a secret and the differences in his life were becoming harder to differentiate. He started slipping up, correcting misinformation you would need first hand experience to know about, making oddly homoerotic jokes from time to time, hyperfixating on a movie starring an mlm relationship; He needed to tell someone in his life other than his friends and he needed a change to be made. Now.

He contemplated coming out to a a teacher via an essay or some shit but then quickly realized he didm’t want any of his teachers to know more about him than they had to. He thought about just chucking it in the fuck it bucket and post some coming out thing on the Instagram account his family members followed him on. He thought about revising the first attempt, but he knew there was only one way he was going to be able to force himself to come face to face with his lives and finally blend them. So he prepared. Again. He let his anxiety build up all day. He got support from the rest of his friends. It really hadn’t helped though, once he had thought about it. Out of the three of four of them that were LGBTQ+...only one had already come out. Trish. And her advice was less than stellar. He was barely able to pay attention in class, running the millions of dialogue options in his head along with realistic (and some not so realistic) reactions to him. He had a plan. Wait until dinner was over so that everyone was home for sure. Call a family meeting in the living room. Then, just tell them. So simple. Yet so fucking difficult. Dez hung out at Austin’s house for a little while after school to attempt to calm some nerves. They had been dating for a few months, although nothing really changed between them. Austin hadn’t come out yet either. He really didn’t have any advice but watching a couple of the Zalien movies took his mind off of the inevitable for a few hours at least. He went home around 7:30. He called Trish the second he got in his car. She gave him some helpful advice and some not-so-helpful advice. “Remind them that you’re still the same person so they don’t feel like they’re meeting someone new,” and “It’s extremely likely you cry so don’t film it,” weren’t really enough to calm him down. He pulled into his driveway, receiving a ‘good luck’ text from Ally. He smiled at the message, took a deep breath and walked inside as collected as he could. Dinner had just finished cooking when he walked in. And so it starts. He ate pretty slowly, not on purpose, but his mind was trying to prolong the meeting. He was less than chatty, he assumed his parents had noticed, at the very least his sister did, but no one said anything about it. When everyone was done eating, dishes were washed, and the time felt as right as it could. He texted the family group chat, this time sending the message.

can I talk to everyone in the living room rq? :)

It took a couple minutes, but eventually, everyone was in their places. Dez had never understood why Ally had such bad stage fright but now that he was in front of his family, vulnerable like this, it was as close as he ever felt like he was going to get.

“You gonna tell us why you called us down here or what?” Didi broke the silence. “Uh-, yeah. I got you.” Dez took a deep breath, “I’m sure it’s not all that surprising but, I’m bisexual and nonbinary.”

#austin and ally #austin moon #dez wade #dez austin and ally #disney channel #haha im so anxious #im bi and trans so thats why dez is #i mean i also hc him as bi and enby but you get my point #bisexual #coming out

6 notes · View notes

highratedkudi · 2 years

Text

10 Years of Austin & Ally ❤️💫

I'd had a bad day at school. I missed getting the highest score by one mark, I'd had a huge fight with a friend, my teacher changed my place and moved me away from my friend; basically, nothing had been going right that day.

I was lazily surfing through the channels on my television at home when I happened to stumble across a show I found interesting.

"Guess who got a job at the-"

"-the clown store?"

"No, at the make-up kiosk. They pay us in free samples. And really? You're making clown jokes dressed like that?"

Now that really got my attention. I laughed out so loud that my chest hurt. My mother was surprised. Five minutes ago, I was crying to her about school and now, I was laughing my head off at the TV.

You see, such was the beauty of this show. One would forget everything that was bothering them as they immersed themselves into it.

Austin, Ally, Dez and Trish became my new best friends. The characters were so beautifully developed that I actually related to them. I believed that they were real and I'd hang out with them every day after school. Dez and Trish became the best friends I never had. Their constant bickering made me forget all my problems and laugh my lungs out.

The music of this show was simply amazing, with the lyrics being on a whole other level. I'm not lying when I say this, but Austin Moon was legit my second most streamed artist on Spotify in this year's Wrapped. The show had a song for every emotion a young teenager might experience. I conquered my insecurities, my fears, my demons, only because of this show's songs. That's how powerful its music was.

I especially related to Ally, being a shy, introvert nerd. Our only difference lied in the fact that she was an aspiring songwriter and I was a budding writer, eventhough we both would eventually find just the right words to express ourselves. Watching Ally evolve over the seasons of the show made me realise that I could evolve too. I could shed my inhibitions and grow. I could leave my insecurities behind and overcome my fears. If Ally could do it, I could do it too. After all, we had so much in common. And that is how I mustered up my confidence. About my art, and about myself, in general.

Also, I wouldn't be lying if I said I wanted someone like Austin. And I'm pretty sure that's what all Auslly fans would say too.

"Chuck Prince Charming. We want Austin Moon!"

Austin taught me how to keep my feet on the ground, and how your friends (and pancakes!) were worth getting into 'treble' for. He taught me to dream big, and that risks were worth taking if you truly cared about your passion.

Austin Moon was the ideal partner-turned-bestfriend-turned-boyfriend. And I hate Disney for having set my expectations so sky high 😭❤️

Austin & Ally taught me to follow my dreams, and become who I really wanted to be. And that's one advice I've been following for years, as a tribute to the show I've loved so infinitely much.

All in all, Austin & Ally was an incredible show and I'm pretty sure there never was a better show, there isn't a better show and there will never be a better show! 🎸🎵❤️

#austin moon #ross lynch #ally dawson #laura marano #trish de la rosa #raini rodriguez #dez wade #calum worthy #austin and ally #10 years of austin and ally #i'm crying #disney #disney shows #auslly #austin & ally #gifs by highratedkudi #gifs by aisha

100 notes · View notes

things-happens · 3 years

Text

As the World Caves

Annie Leonhart x F! Reader

If you don’t mind me asking, could I get 6 and 31 from the normal prompts with Annie?

“I’m a monster” “no, you’re not.”, “I choose you.” “Why me?” “Literally everything.”

Prompt List

Mastlister Warnings: None

Words:603

The snow blew the young kids around. Making their noses burn with each breath, they pushed through the freezing temperatures thick jackets protecting them. Eren and Mikasa walked in front with the others scattered behind them. Jean and Marco together, Bertholdt and Reiner then Armin, Y/n, and a silent Annie.

“Some of you are doing so well, I probably lived in the hottest part of the walls,” Y/n said into her hand trying to keep her nose warm with her breath.

Armin looked up to Mikasa and Eren, “Right, some of us aren’t built for this.” He chuckled. “but I’m going to join Mikasa and Eren, bye!”

Armin pushed a little faster to meet with his friends. Y/n looked over at Annie. Seeing she had no problem with the freezing weather. Annie had her normal straight face, blue eyes glowing with the moonlight.

“Dez isn’t doing too well…” y/n spoke to Annie, they both looked back. Christa and Ymir pulling him along.

Annie sighs looking back ahead, “If Christa doesn’t drop the hero act soon, she’s going to end up six feet under with him.”

Y/n turned her head to Annie “Well I don’t think it’s an act! She’s a sweetheart looking out for everyone even Ymir even though she’s a bit of a bitch…” Y/n leaned down to Annie’s height, hands still covering her nose, “but you didn’t hear that from me.”

Annie gave Y/n a side look, smirking slightly find her amusing. Y/n winked at the smaller girl, smiling. Annie’s face became a flush red, but barely visible because of her freezing face.

“Ooooh, fire!” Sasha yelled as we are walking in the cabin, y/n sat on her knees beside her. Pulling her gloves off warming her hands then putting her hands on her face warming her nose eyes and ears.

Annie watched from the other side of the cabin, she thought it was cute how she really couldn’t handle the cold. A small smile grew on her face again, she watched the only person she had grown close to since she, Reiner, and Bert had gotten here. Annie looked at her feet, she knew soon she would have to distance herself from her, she was a monster.

“No, you’re not.” Annie jumped looking from her to the girl before her. E/c looking into her soul, as if she was seeing her deepest memories, “You’re not a monster Annie, I know you’re reserved and closed off but that doesn’t make you a monster.”

Y/n went to grabbed Annie’s hand, only for her to take two steps back. Annie shook her head walking into the back rooms, Y/n quickly following her.

“Annie…” y/n whispered holding onto her shoulder.

She turned to Y/n one tear rolling down her face only to be brushed away. Y/n pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her head into her chest and placing her mouth onto her head.

Y/n began to sway with Annie in her arms and sang a song she knew from her true past.

“And here it is, our final night alive…” she whispered “and as the earth runs to the ground, oh girl it's you that I lie with as the atom bomb locks are… Oh, it's you I watch TV with. As the world… as the world caves in” Y/n rubbed Annie's hair as she trembled in her arms.

“I choose you, Annie. I love you.” Y/n pulled back looking into the eyes she loves so.

Annie frowned “Why me?”

Y/n pulled her hands to her face, Annie still holding into to her and wiping her tears away she said. “Literally everything”Annie

143 notes · View notes

thejudgingtrash · 3 years

Note

Can you explain to me how Rachel was annoying in the series?

Well, I’ll try to keep myself short for this one (lol no, this took an hour to write). Also, let’s not forget that they’re all kids, but I’m basing this off from when I read the series as a fourteen year old because my opinions haven’t changed much (for better or for worse).

I’m not the biggest fan of Rachel. I have to admit that portrayals of her by Simi, Kit, Logan, Apollo and all the others helped to shape her into something cooler than what she had been in my foggy memories but I actually went back to take a look in the books (well, TTC + BOTL so far) to refreshen my mind about events that have happened.

Also, you should browse through @blackjacktheboss's blog as she’s a) hilarious and b) says whatever I say in like a single sentence lol. But your ask is about me and my opinions so here we go:

What I didn’t like about Rachel was that she’s rude and bold (DON’T GET ME WRONG, I love that in female characters!!!), but she doesn’t have Annabeth’s excuse of survival of the fittest (literally running off as a traumatized seven year old) and introducing us into the world of the Riordanverse.

Percy was on his way, had shit to deal with and Rachel pretty much interrupted him from the get-go and thought getting her answers was more important than letting Percy just rush forward. Yes, this is Rachel’s entrance into the series and the net Riordan threw into the sea, to make us little fish adapt to her. But it still didn’t sit right with me, probably because I would never interact that way.

I get why she did that, but it’s the way how she did it that’s just making me go ???

Even if I was seeing weird things, I wouldn’t set out to distract/interrupt someone who is incredibly busy to get my way. Rachel’s dick move seems like a Karen boomer type of thing to pull off, but guess that’s up to you.

If I were her, I’d either film/try to photograph the monsters via phone (if that’s possible) or internet stalk enough to find the other person (note: despite Riordan’s stupid rule of not being able to use phones, demigods still can use computers/the internet, I guess). Percy was national news like a year or two ago in the timeline, so it shouldn’t be that difficult to find more stuff out about him, even in like 2008 or so. Let him have a spot on Perez Hilton's shitty gossip blog, for the OGs reading this.

Annabeth was used as a tool of exposition to introduce us to CHB, the demigod life and how things roll around there. She barged into Percy’s mission as a nuisance first but a necessity second in TLT.

However, in comparison to Rachel, Annabeth was transformed into a fully-fledged protagonist within a span of a chapter or two. Rachel needed another separate book after her first appearance, so we don’t just know Annabeth better, we know that she’s an important constant throughout the story as of Rachel seems… almost random? Is she truly necessary as a character?

This doesn’t come from a shipper perspective, this is coming from a character design perspective and adds to the feeling that the way she has been introduced to me as a reader just seems off.

Yes, BOTL makes sense with her as a reborn Ariadne, but technically Sally could’ve done the job as she’s a clear-sighted mortal as well lol. Then again, Sally is an adult, went to college, had a job, was unfortunately probably working it up with Paul, did the cha cha slide with him and had overall better shit to do.

Then Rachel as the oracle, which is just super weird in general. Wasn’t Apollo himself responsible for issuing prophecies in the OG myths? Or did he both, have the oracle of Delphi as his spokesperson and issue important stuff to Team Olympus? Am I mixing things up? I’m getting sidetracked, my bad.

Either way, this oracle gig might be the only time I’d say Rachel might be important in the future (badum tzz), but Riordan fumbled the bag in the follow ups series so there’s that. Did she even appear in HOO? Can’t remember and also don’t care.

Rachel is used as one out of three choices in regard to his love life that Percy can make. Calypso literally got introduced into BOTL and was admittedly Percy’s biggest what if… But the general gist doesn’t sit right with me. We have three possible routes with Percy and the others:

Rachel: somewhat normality in the mortal realm

Annabeth: the danger and thrill of the demigod life

Calypso: ambrosia and nectar. a hint of immortality

(On one hand, literally why but on the other hand, mad props for Percy who has literally three romantic leads in the same book.) I’d cancel one of them at least out and since Annabeth isn’t going anywhere, I’m taking Rachel. Sally could literally been Percy’s anchor to a normal mortal life as she had intended until it didn’t work out anymore when he became twelve and his monster alerting scent grew stronger.

Calypso and Annabeth would’ve been the perfect opposites where each of them had a strong case. The demigod life within the realms or mortal or the demigod life ascending to Olympus/immortality. Sounds cooler and is way simpler. Three people is way too much, this truly feels like a shonen anime harem thing and it’s defo not my cup of tea (and while some Annabeth sideships aren’t my thing (Lukabeth go cry in the corner, no one likes you, WTF, Connabeth you fugly), it’s super unfair that Annabeth solely has Percy (fuck off Luke) to rely on in regards of romantic endeavors).

Rachel almost feels redundant? The option to walk away from all of that… which isn’t really true as Rachel really tries to push and insert herself into the story the very first time we meet her? But that’s just me, I’m certain that others are saying they’d kill off Annabeth or kick Calypso (I mean yeah) into the curb.

Big ALSO:

Why does Percy need another white and uber-rich love interest?

I semi-joked on Dez’ post (@sawasawako) with this response about Annabeth needing to keep up with powerful Rachel, but the core still stands.

We already have an affluent Annabeth (granted, we don’t know exactly how the Chase’s riches are divided, whereas it’s clear that Rachel can just make anyone drop dead by saying who she is. Annabeth needed that weird lotus casino credit card to make that happen, so Miss Harvard Legacy doesn’t wield that Dare schmoney. Also don’t think Annabeth can just up papa’s money and go…? Idk).

Why do we need another person needing to upstage this?

Like Rachel has to triumph in regards to standard and prestige as if it were a badly written Jane Austen AU. For what reason…? Why not make Percy friends and acquaintances with someone who comes from a normal household for once, not super rich brats (Piper, Annabeth, Rachel, technically the Graces with their TV starlet mother amongst others).

Moreover…

Important question: why should Percy actually be impressed/attracted to that? He’s dirt poor and has been sent to (boarding) schools filled with stupid rich people since he’s been twelve, probably even younger than that. As if that’s the very first thing Percy would look out for or be wowed or something. He’s used to rich douchebags. I think he’s more surprised that someone used their money for his benefit for once and not to crash daddy’s new Mercedes again.

Like seriously… Rachel did that weird art project thing in BOTL with her covered in gold and posing like it’s a super normal thing to do? Even for rich snobbish kids standards? That sounds weird to me. I don’t know, maybe Riordan’s been streaming the new Gossip Girl reboot on HBO Max on repeat and thought this girl is on fiyah (performed by Alicia Keys).

Rachel trying to separate herself from her money just comes off as super hypocritical when she’s using the very same funds to finance her lifestyle. I get it, trying to make amends and make a difference with the damage you have done but... your father still doesn't give a shit about the environment or YOU, sweetie. Kick him in the balls for once! Then you can go out about your art projects.

The concept of Percy having friends in the mortal realm is cool, but why does Rachel almost have to compete with Annabeth with her wealth and art stuff?

No seriously, the comparisons are constantly there, out and about. Roaming freely on the finest grass, needing to be feed delicious locally sourced carrots and stuff.

Annabeth is Athena’s kid. Athena is the goddess of wisdom, weaving, justice, warfare yada yada and arts and crafts. So definitely something which would affect Rachel, right (someone write that Athena messing with Rachel because she can AU and tag me please!)?

Annabeth wants to become an architect which translates to fancy building designer who is driving engineers like Leonardo Eugenio Valdez Cortes insane irl because the maths and physics don't work like that in the working field trust me I'm an engineer, which could/should be considered an art form.

They even shared some common ground while talking about architecture and design in BOTL!

Furthermore, they both share broken homes with absent parents (granted that all demigods go through that). Wealthy families at that as well. Shitty fathers that don’t care about their daughters well-being. Rachel however, is super powerful and influential in an unseen level in the mortal world. She isn’t like Matt Sloan (?) who truly messes up by destroying shit to get his father's attention, but she’s still in that circle and can easily demonstrate that. Making deals with her father and what not. We rarely see Annabeth doing that. Did y’all forget the fucking helicopter Rachel brought along in TLO?

Pan saying Rachel is just as important as her father has multiple meanings to me…

(Sidenote: I do think it’s hilarious that Annabeth is jealous/annoyed of Rachel that her remarks were she’s cute right and Percy went??? Or when Tyson said Rachel’s pretty? Or that time when Annabeth actually defended Luke and his weird behavior (because Kronos was slowly taking over, don’t forget that kids!), because f that rich artist nepotism kid that Rachel seems to be, right?)

Another note: Percy thinks Rachel is annoying in BOTL for a while and it took a while for him to admit that and he spent way more time being annoyed/jealous (for once, Lordy) at Luke for him to even notice lol.

I guess it’s really hard for me to exactly pinpoint what’s bothering me. I believe Rachel's persona just doesn’t seem to hit right, because it feels like a knock-off Annabeth who just simply isn’t a demigod, yet has two cool powers, but in even richer who still needs to be part of the story for exactly what reason?

The jumping around from the richest in the series to the poorest in the series is kinda bothering me as if the middle class doesn’t exist, like I’ve stated earlier. Why didn’t Riordan mix it up with Rachel, giving her more nuance the minute they met, not towards the end? Have her be Percy’s platonic friend from the get go. No weird oh wait she is kinda cute in the middle bullshit.

This kinda drifted more into a Perachel vs Percabeth essay, which really wasn’t my intention. Don’t worry kids, I’m criticizing Annabeth (and her stans) enough already.

And I do think that others in the fandom have softened my views on Rachel as a person like I’ve stated in the beginning. So friendship!Perachel is popping! But I do think that there are some valid points that I’ve made.

Also not gonna lie, Rachel issuing the new prophecy in TLO kinda dampened the end of PJO series but that’s more Riordan’s fault than hers.

TLDR: I’m just not a huge fan of this overbearing, uber-rich, excessively flaunting being that Rachel sometimes displays. She’s flawed, she’s broken at times, has a semi-interesting background story (although it has been done over and over again throughout the series and should be changed up for once) which is great, but it is still annoying.

We don’t need an anti-Annabeth who feels like a weird caricature of the real Annabeth.

Also if this seems super incoherent, repetitive, or whatever, I'm sorry, massive headaches + mental health going down the goo lagoon does this to ya, I hope I made somewhat sense!

#Mel answers #pjo #percy jackson #rachel elizabeth dare #rachel dare #Annabeth chase #percabeth #pjo Meta #percy jackson and the olympians #pjato #ttc #botl #tlo

40 notes · View notes

sulphuryasecretcloset · 3 years

Text

What if...10b

Okay, so this ‘epilogue’ became... a monster. I decided to split chapter 10 into two parts because it was already so big, and, uh, yeah, now I’m splitting 10b into three parts. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ENABLE ME, PEOPLE. Your lovely comments, your kind reblogs and support turned this from what was supposed to be no more than 4 chapters into 90 000 word ramble.

*ahem*

So part 10b is Dulcy POV, 10c is chaotic everyone POV, and then there will be a bonus part for someone who didn’t get to join Dulcy and Dav’s little family.

What if Dulsissia hadn’t died, what if she had grabbed Corin and fled? What if she met Davarax? What if…

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10a

Epilogue; Dulcy

“We’ll be back later, dad!” Corin exclaims from where he’s standing next to Din in the doorway, eager to call Davarax that at every occasion he can find.

Davarax nods and gives a light wave to the two teenagers about to step out of the house they have rented on this obscure, little planet and head into the nearby town. (Having picked up a bit of Motti credits makes things a lot easier.) “Duly noted, son.”

The slight smile on his face tells Dulsissia that Davarax is well aware of Corin’s need to constantly reaffirm their new relationship and indulges him with never-ending patience. But what she also notes is how Din hesitates half a second while Corin turns to leave and she sees there is hurt in his dark eyes as they linger on Davarax.

That evening, while Barthor wraps up his conversation with his father via the holo-communicator, Davarax holds Raga back until the boy is done and the line is free for her to call her parents.

Dulsissia glances after Barthor shuffling back towards their house, helmet held low and shoulders slumped. Just like during previous calls, his parents show close to no interest in their son and he is equally disappointed every time. “Dav?”

Davarax turns his attention away from Raga and over to Dulsissia. “Yeah?”

“Why don’t you adopt the others too? Like you did with Corin?” Her heart breaks every time she sees these children with sadness in their eyes and Davarax is the one who always brings smiles to their faces.

Sighing, Davarax leans against the door frame. “It’s not that easy…”

“Why not?”

“For one thing, Paz and Raga have their families. The Saxons are… unique, but they love her. And Dez, well, I hope that maybe he’ll come to his senses.” Davarax looks over at Barthor’s retreating shape as well. “Barthor… I might have to talk to him about it.”

Dulsissia frowns as he doesn’t mention the most obvious one of all; “What about Din?”

“Din…” Davarax looks down at the floor. He looks guilty. “I messed that up. Big time.”

“He’d forgive you in a heartbeat.” Dulsissia declares. “He worships you.”

“Maybe.” Davarax replies, not sounding convinced. “But I don’t deserve his forgiveness. And after what he’s been through, I think Din needs to be allowed to hold on to his roots before another adult tries to pressure their identity on him.”

What that boy needs is a father, Dulsissia thinks, but before she can voice her thoughts she’s distracted by someone shouting. Looking over, she sees Raga’s mother in the holo-projector screaming at someone out of sight before turning back to focus on her daughter again.

“What was that, Raga? You said something about how many push ups? You’re up to what now?”

“Fifty-”

“PUT THAT DOWN!” Raga’s mother bellows to her right and then makes a frustrated grunt and reaches out to grab someone. “Here. Talk to your brother. I have to murder your other two brothers for a bit.” She steps away and a smaller Mandalorian with a green helmet takes her place.

“Raga. Still ugly I see. You really should have kept the helmet on.”

“Sioben. Still a moron, I hear. I was kind of hoping dad had followed through on his threat to dropkick you into space.” Raga counters. “Paz taught me some new tricks. I’m going to kick your ass when I see you again.”

Sioben shakes his head. “I don’t know why he puts up with you. He could have anyone he wants, he’s a huge badass ‘and’ a Vizla. I can’t think of a single reason why he lets you stick around.”

“Don’t hurt your brain trying to think.” Raga snarls.

“At least I have a brain. Unlike you.” Sioben fires back.

A hand appears and smacks into Sioben’s helmet and he goes toppling out of sight and Raga’s mother appears again. “Listen, I have to go. I’m a bit busy here. Say hi to Davarax from me. Be careful out there, Raga. Byebye.” The woman’s holo-image dissolves and she’s gone.

When Raga walks out of the room, Dulsissia reaches out and touches her shoulder. “I’m sorry, baby.”

“What for?” Raga asks with a huge grin. “Didn’t you hear that? She didn’t yell at me once!”

Dulsissia looks over at Davarax with a look of slight belief while the girl walks away, humming happily and he can only offer a weak shrug in return.

And on the subject of Paz and Raga...

While there are still sides to the Mandalorian culture that are still a mystery to her, Dulsissia remembers more than enough about what it was like to be a human a teenager to see what is happening there.

The two have been drawn together as friends since they were small children, as far as Dulsissia understands. They always gravitate towards each other. If you see one, odds are good that the other is nearby or about to appear. And Dulsissia feels both compassion and amusement as she sees the growing awkwardness as a different kind of attraction between them starts to enter the picture.

Dulsissia tries to hide her laughter when she sees Raga pretending to need a water break but only so she can let her gaze roam all over Paz as he continues his intense training next to her. Raga has always been climbing him like a jungle gym, but these days it brings a flush to her cheeks when he holds her close or play-wrestle with her, and Raga even smiles in her sleep the times she drowses off with her head resting on his chest. It’s a shame she seems unable to voice what she feels.

This leads to the seething anger in Raga’s eyes when Paz mindlessly flirt with the local girls and basks in their attention. An anger which causes her to pick fights with Din and the others, violent fights that always ends badly for at least one of them and Davarax has to patch them up while trying to calm Raga down.

At the same time, with a stealth worthy of admiration, Paz’ gaze discretely seeks out Raga with an interest and longing he doesn’t show any of the local girls desperately trying to hold his attention. His attention trail along her curves, he flushes at glimpses of her skin and it is kind of cute how he’s only happy if Raga is happy.

Unfortunately Paz seems too insecure, which is absurd, to actually show how her how he feels.

His temper is as bad as Raga’s, though, which causes Paz to one day actually punch a hole in a wall. He flat out refuses to explain why he’d done it, even when Davarax wraps up his bleeding hand and asks in a frustrated voice what is going on with him, but Dulsissia accidentally overheard earlier when Raga agreed to go out on a date with a suitor of her own and suspects that is why.

“I’m going to help them.” Dulsissia declares one morning after Raga had managed to draw both Din and Corin into a vicious brawl the previous evening, just after Paz had gone out to meet some girl.

Davarax grunts, half-asleep on his stomach with his face partly burrowed into the pillow. “They’ll figure it out eventually.”

She sends him, or his back to be more precise, a dry glance. “Are you kidding me? Those two? If someone doesn’t help them along, it’ll take yeeaars.”

Davarax snorts a laugh. “At your own peril, cyare.”

Dulsissia thinks about all her excellent work as a matchmaker back on Seswenna. That included family ranks, politics and enough credits to buy a minor planet. These are two teenagers. She’s got this.

It’s a delicate mission. First Dulsissia establishes through a little research that there is absolutely no doubt that these two feel the same and are just too emotionally constipated to do something about it, then she goes to work on them separately. Hints, questions and light nudges.

It takes a surprisingly short time for them to admit to her what she already knows, but neither is willing to make the first move.

“Why not go for it?” Dulsissia eventually asks..

“I don’t think he/she thinks of me that way…” Raga/Paz replies. Her face bright red as she half-heartedly trains defensive moves with Dulsissia one sun-soaked day. Him with quiet sadness when Dulsissia delivers some clean laundry to his room one evening.

“I think you’d be surprised.” Dulsissia teases and winks.

After that, they become a little braver. Instead of just friendly bickering, Raga and Paz both add a little intent and teasing to their interactions, and that eventually develop into outright flirting.

During training Davarax sends Dulsissia a dry look when Paz, instead of following through with his attack, merely keeps his hands against the wall, fencing in the grinning and uncharacteristically passive Raga and hovers there with a slight smirk of his own. Davarax rolls his eyes when Raga, after flipping Paz over and have him land on his back, simply straddles his stomach and pretends to hold him down with her hands on his shoulders instead of following through with her attack and Paz, also uncharacteristically passive, looks like he’s enjoying himself more than anything else.

Dulsissia regrets nothing.

Barthor is in heavy denial, Din wrinkles his nose and Corin is incredibly oblivious as Paz and Raga keep inching their way closer to what they both dream about having. They push things as far as they can go and then some, before one of them finally dares to cross the line...

Sitting next to each other on the stairs behind the big battle arena, Paz and Raga had decided to sneak outside the building instead of staying with the others to watch the final game. Usually they both live and breathe for such big fights, but for some reason it seemed more tempting to sneak off like this.

They sit in this dark back-alley, her shoulder bumping lightly against his upper arm, talking.

It’s silly. They see each other every day, they talk every day, and yet they struggle to look at the other right now. Words tumble a little awkwardly. Hearts thump hard.

Then there is a huge cheer from the crowd inside the arena and Paz looks over at Raga. She looks back over at him, and after a moment of hesitation, he cautiously leans towards her.

Raga’s eyes light up. Oh. But just as she lifts her chin a little to meet him, giving him an unspoken invite, Paz abruptly loses his courage and quickly withdraws to stare down at the ground again.

Raga exhales, disappointed. Suddenly her eyes flare with angry annoyance and she thumps her shoulder against his arm, and when he looks at her, she quickly leans over and presses a brief, hard kiss to his lips. After that, she’s the one to turn to stare at the ground while heat burns in her face.

Stunned, Paz stares at her. He stares for what feels like a small eternity, then he slowly reaches out his hand, touches by her jawline and eases her into facing him again. And that is when he finally has the courage to lean over, his fingers still resting on her skin, and ever so softly touches his lips to hers.

It’s a gentle, trying thing. Raga draws a shivering breath, her lips trembling a little as well but soon they move to meet his as he cautiously coaxes a response from her.

After a little while, Paz pulls back and scans her face for her response.

Raga grins.

That makes him smile as well.

Dulsissia is obnoxiously pleased. Declaring herself the matchmaking champion.

Davarax only regrets not stopping her when stolen kisses in secret between the two becomes public make-out sessions. Truth be told, he wouldn’t have minded if had taken yeeeaars before he had to see that.

But he draws the line of having to watch it in their house. Entering the living room and finding them at it again, Davarax kicks at the sofa, making them jump apart. “Tongues in separate mouths when I’m around. Not negotiable.”

Paz flushes deep red. Raga glares.

And Dulsissia wonders who she can match up next...

While Dulsissia’s stop on Seswenna had resulted in them having a nice amount of credits to use on their family, Davarax knows they won’t last forever and he’s too used to support his family to stop, so he takes on the occasional job. And it’s easier now than before Dulsissia came into his life.

It’s strange not be be constantly exhausted. It’s even stranger not to have nightmares any more but wake up in the mornings with a sigh of satisfaction or even a smile on his face.

His favourite jobs are the ones where Dulsissia joins him. She’s come far from the helpless beauty he’d met what feels like a lifetime ago. Now she’s a deadly beauty. And the sight of her in Mandalorian armor is the best bonus he’s ever gotten on a job.

This is an easy contract. Just head up to a damaged cargo ship floating just above the planet, pick up the shipment and bring it to the owner on the surface. It’s the rumours of pirates in the area that makes them want to hire a couple of Mandalorians.

The ship is where it’s supposed to be, there are no signs of pirates, and Davarax does the mistake of thinking this mission will go without a hitch. He and Dulsissia board the ship and walk towards the cargo hold to secure their target.

It is years of experience combined with quick reflexes that saves Davarax’ life when something drops from the ceiling in the hallway. He jolts backwards and sparks fly as something sharp slides across his breastplate. Davarax tries to lift his blaster to fire at his attacker, but a boot kicks his arm and the shot goes wide.

It becomes a wild dance of attacks launched at him, sparks flying again and again when his armor takes the brunt, and he frantically back-pedals to stay alive. A streak of yellow spins in front of him and Davarax gets his arm up just in time for the vibro blade to impale it instead of his throat. The pain rages through him and instinct makes Davarax turn to the best weapon he has in such a close encounter; a harsh kov’nyn.

His opponent collapses while he stumbles backwards and clutches his arm. The blade is still vibrating and sending waves of agony through him while tearing more of his flesh. He yanks it out, fighting back the intense urge to scream with pain, unable to respond right away despite hearing Dulsissia calling out his name in fear.

Once his eyes clears again, Davarax realizes Dulsissia is by his side and trying to make him let her look at his arm and he sees the crumpled shape on the floor.

A skinny Twi’lek youth around Raga’s age. Her skin under layers of dirt looks to be pale yellow, her clothes are rags and even unconscious she looks angry.

Well, that was unexpected.

“She’s just a kid.” Dulsissia whispers with quiet disbelief, wrapping his arm.

“I was too busy trying to keep her from cutting my throat to notice.” Davarax rumbles, twitching slightly when Dulsissia tightens the bandage. His heart softens. “I wonder what her story is...”

Her name is Zev’sonya and she’s anything but friendly. Sure, his own kids have a habit of baring their teeth every once in a while, even at him, but this one? She’s outright hostile and extremely dangerous. And while his kids’ trust in others has been severely damaged, hers is non-existent. Whatever her story might be, she’s not telling them anything beyond her being on her own.

Davarax has absolutely no idea how Dulsissia manages to persuade the girl to come with them.

It takes over a standard week to make her stop trying to kill and rob them. A lot longer for her to actually trust them, especially Davarax.

Zev’sonya and Raga end up in a fist-fight two minutes after the initial introduction. Paz watches her with some cautiousness but he’s not unfriendly. Barthor avoids her like the plague. Corin is terrified of her and claims she keeps stealing the blades in the house. (Dulsissia knows he’s right as she keeps retrieving them from the twi’lek’s room.)

The only one she instantly connects with is Din, who seems to share her way of communicating in as few words as possible and have no fear of her scowls.

They renew their rent on the house and Davarax recruits Din to help build a couple of sheds and do some repairs on it.

After a scorchingly hot day, emerging from the refresher room, Dulsissia saunters over to the big bed in their room where Davarax is reading something on his datapad. She crawls into the bed and rolls over to face him with a dramatic sigh. “Dav? Cyare?”

“Mmh?” He replies, not looking up from his datapad.

“I’m hungry…”

Davarax lowers the datapad and reaches out to run his hand gently over her hair. “What are you in the mood for?”

“There’s leftovers from dinner...”

She rarely asks him to bring her things because she knows he will stop whatever he’s doing and get it and she doesn’t want to abuse that kindness. But this is a special occasion. After he’s padded out of the room, she slides the medical scanner out of her pocket and places it on his side of the bed.

A few minutes later, Davarax comes back with two plates. “Food for my love. And I brought some sweets for dessert too. Might as well make it a proper meal when we’re dining in bed.” He hands her one of the plates with flourish.

She leans up and gives him a kiss, which he is very pleased to accept, and waits as he circles the bed to get in on his side.

Davarax frowns a little when he sees something in his way, reaches down and picks it up so he can settle in his spot again. “This yours?” He holds it out to her.

Sighing, Dulsissia fails to hold back a smile. “Look at it.”

He studies the device but the numbers on the screen doesn’t make sense to him. Davarax glances over at her again, now a little worried. “A medical scanner? You’re not sick, are you?”

She shakes her head, losing the battle against a bubbling laugh. “No. Look at it, silly.”

Davarax looks again. “I’m looking, but what am I supposed to…” Finally the information on the screen makes sense to him and what it means. His gaze snaps back at her. The plate in his other hand is completely forgotten. “Y-you’re…? Are you…?”

Taking a bite of her food, Dulsissia nods and her cheeks hurt from smiling so much. “I’m pregnant.” It’s almost funny how happy she is with this fact. After Corin was born, the mere thought of having another baby offended Dulsissia after she had come to realize that was the only reason why Macero wanted her. But that was in the past. Things are so very different now.

Davarax nearly drops his plate, only his quick reflexes prevents him from spilling it all over the bed. He cautiously, but as quickly as possible, places his plate on the night-stand so he can hold on to the medical scanner with both hands, reading the information once again. “You… You’re sure?”

“You’re looking at the evidence, mister. I scanned ten minutes ago.” She takes another bite, endlessly amused by the whirlwind of emotions visibly rushing through him. He keeps wobbling back and forth between intense happiness, paralysing fear and blind excitement. It is so painfully sweet to see how much he wants this. “Breathe, baby.” Dulsissia advices.

Davarax gulps down some air, then puts the scanner aside and turns all of his focus on her. “Are… are you okay? Do you need me to do anything? What do I do?”

Laughing a little, even more charmed by him being so uncharacteristically clumsy and helpless, Dulsissia glances over at him. “I thought Mandalorians were experts on children. They didn’t teach you about how this is going to work?”

Davarax hesitates and then he reaches out and touches her hand. “Sort of, but all I care about is what you need me to do. Weapons and flowers, remember?”

Dulsissia feels the usual wave of warmth and adoration when Davarax is his sweet self and she curls her fingers around his. “I remember. And we’ll work this out as well.”

That seems to reassure him and his shoulders relaxes a little. Enough so that she lets go of his hand and goes back to eating. Maybe it is just knowing she’s pregnant again that makes her so hungry, but at least it is a very valid excuse to indulge.

Davarax is silent. Too silent.

After a while, Dulsissia has to laugh again as she realizes what he’s doing. He’s staring at her stomach. “There is nothing noticeable going on there quite yet. It’s too early. You’re going to have to be patient for a while before things get exciting for you.”

Davarax gives a tiny shake of his head. “This is already one of the most exciting things I’ve ever been a part of.” He looks like he’s about to say something more but loses courage.

“What?” Dulsissia asks, taking another bite of her food.

“Can I…?” He lifts his hand a little in a mute request.

Stars above, she loves this man more than she thought was possible. Dulsissia lets out a soft laugh. “There’s nothing much to feel right now, like I said, but… if you want to, go ahead.”

Davarax inches closer, reaches out further and cautiously places his hand on her stomach, below her bellybutton. His hand is warm and so very careful and lingers there for a while. “Hey, you…” Davarax eventually says in a quiet voice, a little strained with emotion. “Welcome to the family.”

Dulsissia doesn’t make a sound as the first tears trail from her eyes, overwhelmed by how right this feels, how much she loves him and their unborn child and their beautiful family. This time, she knows, this time everything will be perfect.

When Dulsissia tells him, Corin is incredibly excited to become a big brother. Paz declares he’s mighty pleased their clan is growing, sounding like the adult he now looks like despite still not having enough years on his back to deserve that title in Dulsissia’s eyes, and the other Mandalorian youngsters eagerly agree with him. Davarax looks a little awkward when they start talking about how they can create a Covert of their own at the pace their clan is growing.

Half an eternity later, when the evening comes where she feels the first barely noticeable change, Dulsissia calls Davarax over and slides his hand over her stomach. She feels him shiver and he looks at her with breathless awe. She has to laugh and then kisses that look off his face.

A little over six standard weeks after that, Davarax feels the first curving before she notices herself, on a sleepy morning when he, as usual, runs his hand over her stomach.

Corin and the other boys hover near her with innocent curiosity and watch the development with bright fascination, while Raga and Zev’sonya stay a little more in the back and observe with cautious interest.

When Dulsissia really starts showing, that is the point where Davarax’ self-control starts slipping. He has tried his hardest to act normal, yet now he becomes downright clingy. Others might have gotten a bit annoyed with the man’s behaviour, but Dulsissia knows the sadness of going through this with someone who doesn’t care, who can’t even bother to be there, so she happily suffers through his tactile presence.

Dulsissia even has to hide tears one evening when he inches close, runs his hand over her stomach yet again and softly hums a Mandalorian lullaby to their restless child.

Then she gets even bigger and Dulsissia realizes she’d forgotten this part. She gets grouchy, her feet aches, her back aches, everything aches, she has to pee all the time, she can barely get up if she does the mistake of sitting down, she can’t sleep like she wants to, and Dulsissia decides the thought of delivering the child isn’t all that bad if she can just get back to normal, please!

It is all worth it when the time comes after seven hours of hard work and sweet, sweet pain killers, and Dulsissia gets to meet her daughter as she’s placed in her arms.

She is absolutely beautiful and perfect in every way and so very, very loved!

Looking up at Davarax by her side, Dulsissia is both crying and laughing at once. “Isn’t she beautiful?”

Davarax, pale as a sheet, nods with a look of awe on his face.

Allowing herself another moment of holding their child, admiring her, kissing her, Dulsissia makes herself look up at Davarax again. “You want to hold her?”

To her surprise, he hesitates and looks like he’s about to take a step away. Catching himself, Davarax remains where he is and tries to remember how to speak. “I… Are you sure?”

Laughing a little, Dulsissia is far too exhausted to untangle the mystery of his mind at the moment. “Of course I’m sure. She’s your daughter too.”

“It’s just…” Davarax reaches out a cautious hand only to withdraw it before he can actually touch the wailing baby. “I don’t know how. I mean, I don’t want to hurt her. I-I’ve never held a baby before. She’s so tiny, Dulcy.”

“She’s tougher than you think.” Dulsissia replies, then turns a little to make it easier for him to pick up the baby. “Support her head, careful with the neck, like that, yeah… Perfect.” She leans back, exhausted and strangely enough a bit hungry, but for the time being she is satisfied to just take in the sight of her husband and their child connecting.

“Hello, ik’aad.” Davarax looks nervous, awkward and absolutely devastated by the intense adoration he feels for the still screaming bundle in his arms. The baby really do look tiny in his embrace, fragile even, but that doesn’t prevent her from aimlessly raising her tiny fist in what looks to be a threat.

Mandokarla from the birth.

Dulsissia sees how tears well up in Davarax’ eyes and he leans down to place a feather-light kiss on the baby’s head.

Corin is staring wide-eyed at the baby and eagerly reaches out when his mother eases her over into his arms.

“Say hello to your new sister.” Dulsissia says in a quiet voice, hoping not to wake the sleeping baby.

Din hovers over Corin’s right shoulder and reaches out to ever so gently run his fingers over the dark tufts of hair on her head. “She’s cute.”

“So tiny…” Paz observes, hovering over Corin’s left shoulder, sounding a bit worried.

“She’ll get bigger, idiot.” Barthor mutters, tilting his helmet as he studies the baby too.

“Are… are you okay?” Raga asks Dulsissia while the boys block the view to the new arrival.

Smiling, reaching out a hand and curling her fingers around Raga’s when she takes it, Dulsissia gives her a reassuring nod. “I’m fine, baby. Corin gave me a lot more trouble than this one.”

Corin blinks and looks up to focus on her for a moment. “I did?”

Dulsissia nods. “Yeah, you were not inclined to come out to greet the world. It took over two days to persuade you.”

“Two days?” Raga blurts out, with no small amount of horror.

“It sounds worse than it was.” Dulsissia reassures her. “Without the pain meds I’m sure it would have been a nightmare, but with them, it’s mostly just uncomfortable and boring.”

“Two days and you still decided to have another child?” Davarax asks from where he is hovering in the background.

“Well, yeah.” Dulsissia shrugs. The amount of joy her son has given her was well worth it. And without him she would never have broken free from her golden cage, so, no, she had not hesitated to do it all over again. Her daughter is already worth it too. “Zev. Baby. Come say hello. Don’t just hide over there.” She waves the Twi’lek over and fails to see everyone there stare at her with the kind of awe saved for the most impressive of Mandalorian warriors.

They call the baby Nemi.

#the mandalorian his son and the storm trooper #What If #Dulsissia Motti #Davarax #Teenage Corin #Fearsome Four #Mandorin AU

52 notes · View notes

exn0bisstudios · 3 years

Note

As a preface: no need to answer if you don’t feel comfortable with it,I know people sometimes don’t like these questions so no pressure if you’re one of them! Who likes kids, who would like to be a parent (if their partner also wanted that of course!), and who is good with kids? Thank you!

Well, firstly, thank you for your concern! I'm okay with these topics so long as it's not about me personally, so don't worry! That said, though, I'll put this under a cut since the topic might be uncomfortable for some people.

CW for: talk involving conception, infertility, pregnancy, miscarriage

Edited 5/16 - Changes to include more inclusive language. My apologies!

Since we're talking about the ROs and kids, let us talk about MC too for a sec.

It should be noted that it is typically challenging for a Seer to bear children/impregnate someone. The corruption that comes with their Void powers usually renders them infertile, or at least close to. However, it's not unheard of for a Seer to have children. Still, it usually results in a difficult pregnancy and can be dangerous to both the carrier and the child. Additionally, any child born from a Seer (either parent) would be Dream-touched.

That said, as we know, MC is a very special Seer. Canonically, their powers have not rendered them infertile, though their kid would still end up Dream-touched. However, I will be leaving it up to players to decide if their MC can or can't have biological kids for other reasons. And, obviously, adoption is also very much an option!

Now on to the ROs!

Mira

Mira likes kids well enough, and they're usually very good with them. They struggle a bit with dealing with noble children. Still, Mira's kind and empathetic nature tend to have children warming up to them regardless. They used to help take care of the young recruits back at the Order, both daily routine stuff and some training.

They would absolutely love to have a family one day, but it's something they kinda push to the back of their mind and try not to think about. Their lifestyle doesn't lend itself to the stability and safety necessary for raising children, considering they could be killed in action any day. They think it would be grossly irresponsible to have a family, then end up dead somewhere and leave them hanging. Mira was an orphan themself, and they know firsthand how hard life is for kids on their own. They have no desire to contribute to that lifestyle or put their own potential child through that.

If there ever came a time where they could lay down their weapons for good, though, then yes. They'd want to start a family in whatever way they could. Though not opposed to having biological children, both masc & fem Mira would prefer to adopt. Again, being an orphan themself, they would choose to take in a child. Mira would ideally like 2-3 kids so they can have a big family to grow old with, and they'd be a very supportive and doting parent. They'd probably struggle with discipline.

Nova

Children confuse the absolute shit out of Nova, and the way mortals procreate admittedly terrifies them. Nightmares are not born in the same sense that mortals are; they just kinda pop into existence fully formed. When Nova first learned about mortal procreation, they had a minor mental breakdown. The idea of another, smaller living thing growing inside someone strikes them as distinctly horrific. They've done their best to accept the idea at this point in their life, but mainly they cope with it by ignoring its existence. They see a pregnant person and basically go, 'suddenly I have no eyes.' Babies and children continue to confuse them despite their best efforts, and they have no idea how to interact with them. You put a child around Nova, and you're liable to hear them genuinely asking the kid why they are so small and dumb.

Nova's mortal body is also infertile by design. They chose this shortly after they realized they actually enjoyed sex and would do it again. They don't know if it would be possible for them to become pregnant/impregnate someone, considering they're not actually mortal. Still, they didn't want to risk it.

The only time Nova would consider starting a family is if it was something their partner(s) really, really wanted. They'd sit down and have an honest talk about how it's something that they know nothing about, that the process scares them, and that they are absolutely going to need help learning how to handle it all. But, if their partner is willing to accept all that, Nova would be willing to try. Though again, they don't know if they can procreate with a mortal, so they'd probably recommend going for a surrogate or adoption. Eventually, Nova'd grow into a good parent, very supportive, and surprisingly level-headed.

Stella

They don't have too much of an opinion on children, which shows in how they don't really know how to interact with them. Stella feels super awkward around kids, and they're more likely to tell them to shoo. Their own childhood has tainted their views, and being around children brings up things they'd rather not think about. Honestly, the fastest way to make Stella disappear is to put a child nearby.

Deep down, though, they like the idea of starting a family. It would take a lot of encouragement to get them to admit that. It'd take even more to help them process long-ignored family-related trauma and unlearn a whole lot of unhealthy habits. With the proper support from their partner(s), though, they'd really like to give things a try. Fem Stella wouldn't mind carrying a child. Still, both fem & masc Stella generally don't care if their kid is biological or adopted.

Stella would make for a very nervous parent, and they'd be absolutely terrible at discipline. They'd probably helicopter and be overprotective and would have to be reminded by their partner(s) that things will be okay.

Désiré

So a bit of history: Dez is one of the only two ROs who already has child-rearing experience. His best friend and second-in-command, Alix, was born and raised in the brothel with him. While he grew up to be an errand boy and bodyguard, she became one of the courtesans. He took up smuggling and worked his ass off to get them out of there, but unfortunately, Alix became pregnant before they could escape. Alix's son, Dimitri, was born in the cabin of the first ship Dez ever owned.

Alix eventually married Catarina, the crew's healer, who has acted as Dimitri's other mother. Thus, while Dez is 'officially' Dimitri's uncle, he has always been his only father-figure. Dimitri is 14 by the time of the game and is still a very active part of Désiré's life. You'll actually get a chance to meet him in-game since he's got a place on Dez's crew (he's the cabin boy)!

Now that history is managed, it's safe to say that Désiré would love to start a family one day. It doesn't matter to him how, though going the biological route, let it be known he's excellent at tending to pregnancy needs. He's a wonderful parent, generally gentle while supportive and encouraging, and is comfortable being stern when it's called for.

Vittore Simone

Sadly I can't get into the specifics of Vittore Simone's thoughts on kids and family without it becoming a spoiler. However, I can say that he vowed when he was young that he'd never have kids and has never thought of it since. Going forward, it would never be something that crossed his mind unless brought up by his partner and would be something he'd defensively refuse at first. Later, he'd come back with apologies and to have a more open conversation on the matter to express his reservations and fears.

Suffice to say that the idea of being a father absolutely terrifies him, and he has always taken great pains to avoid it ever happening. Even just the thought is enough to send him into panic attacks. His partner will need to be patient with him and accept that this is something he may genuinely never be able to do for the sake of his own health and any future child's. It would take a lot of time, reassurance, work, healing, support, and understanding before Vittore Simone ever agreed to give parenthood a shot. It will not be an easy road for him or his partner. It would likely be a road that never truly ends, and he'd need to be sure that they can both accept that without damaging their own relationship. He would try, though. He would do his damnedest. And, thankfully, there will never be any doubt that he genuinely does love his kid.

As a father, initially, he would constantly be terrified he was hurting his kid somehow. He would struggle with being overly permissive & overprotective at the same time. He's liable to have a panic attack any time the kid cries for the first several years. His partner will have to help him get through 'I'm a terrible father, this was a mistake' breakdowns periodically. Slowly, though, he'll build some confidence and be more comfortable interacting and expressing himself with his kid. He'll always be supportive, and he'll work his hardest to be sure his family knows he loves them unconditionally. His partner will have to accept the role of disciplinarian, though. That's never going to be something he'll be able to do on his own (but of course, he'll be there to support them in those conversations. He doesn't want to make them the 'bad guy' by any means).

Andrai

The other RO with child-rearing experience! Andrai has 15 younger siblings (yes, you heard me correctly) and absolutely adores them all. They're all grown now, but he loved taking care of them when they were little, and he still dotes on them whenever he can, in his own way. In general, he loves kids. He just thinks they're adorable. And, despite appearances, he's excellent with them. Kids love this man, they flock to him, and he has no problem with that. It confuses most onlookers.

The idea of starting his own family turns him to absolute mush. And, he'd love to, so so much. Adoption, biological, and surrogacy are okay with him. It would be up to his partner to limit exactly how many kids they have since Andrai would just say he wants them all. He makes an excellent dad, albeit quiet, and is unwaveringly supportive. He's comfortable with discipline and is the type to encourage self-assessing behavior. He's excellent at giving advice and genuinely just likes spending time with his kids and being involved in their lives.

He's probably not the one you would peg as the 'domestic bliss' type, but he absolutely is.

Vzridmi

She's very comfortable with kids since communal rearing is very common in ork communities, and she'd love to have a family one day. Some kids unused to orks might find her a bit intimidating just because of her size, but in general, children think she's fun to be around. She doesn't necessarily think about it too much, though, at this point in her life. It's not something she sees as being on the table for quite some time - she has research and exploration to be doing, after all.

Whenever she was ready to settle down for a family, she'd be comfortable with carrying a child herself, surrogacy, or adopting. She would really like to have at least one biological child if possible, though. She would make for an entertaining mother, excited about her child's life and ever-supportive of their interests and pursuits. She's comfortable with all the aspects of child-rearing. Still, She would definitely need her partner's advice if they ever discovered their kid was dealing with bullying. She'd need to be reminded by her partner not to be overprotective - she's not above threatening others with her war-hammer if they upset her baby.

#none of the ROs would be bad parents and they'd all love their kids #but some will definitely need more time adjusting than others #Anonymous #answered #TTO: Main Tag #TTO: Lore #TTO: Answers #TTO: RO Asks #Mira Twilight #Nova Dreamreaver #Stella #Désiré Desrosiers #Vittore Simone Armati #Andrai Freestrider #Vzridmi Ri'kho've #pregnancy cw #infertility cw #miscarriage cw

42 notes · View notes

darkqueen74 · 3 years

Text

-Dez-

Was this some kind of recompense for having died in front of her? This was the second time his former best friend was laid out prostrate and seemingly dead in front of him. Dez couldn’t say that this time was any more enjoyable than the last time. At least this time he knew that she could not go into stasis and that her becoming whatever it was that she truly was now meant that she couldn’t die. Neither of those things meant it was any easier to watch, and maybe that was his punishment. Who knew? The fates and gods were fickle bastards after all. Knowing that Mithos and Thinius were extremely powerful and that Brie had been able to obtain some talismans that amplified their healing abilities did help to reassure Dez that things would soon be put right again.

Movement off to his side caught Dez’s attention as the three who were trying to heal Brie were doing their “thing”. As soon as his head turned and got a full look at Leandre’s face, he knew exactly what was going through the other male’s mind. Since his “return from the dead” and reintegration into those in Brie’s confidence, he had watched them all. He knew that there was some kind of special bond between her guard and Brie, and the look on the Demonic Nephilim’s face now said that their friend’s current state had the male in a murderous rage. Dez also knew that if there was a murder, when Brie woke up she would be in an even worse mood than just having been knocked clean out.

“Leandre, why don’t we take a moment to think.” Dez’s eyes darted back and forth between Thenasus and Leandre. From the look he saw forming on Thenasus’ face, the larger man was seeing what Dez was. Dez slapped his hand into the middle of Andronicus’ chest to get his attention too. He wasn’t sure he was going to be able to head off the coming confrontation on his own, no matter how much more powerful he was than he had been before.

-Andronicus-

Andronicus felt the stupid Grigori’s fist hit his chest and was about to show him that while he may not be as powerful he could make the male hurt when he caught sight of his friend, Leandre. Instead of putting Dez on his ass, he joined the Grigori in trying to keep Leandre and Thenasus separated. In normal circumstances Thenasus would be the one that most would have bet on to win a purely physical confrontation between the two males, but this was far from normal circumstances. Andi knew that there was something between the Queen and Leandre. He’d never pushed or pried, Leandre was after all known for keeping his own counsel in most things. The past had made Leandre circumspect about sharing details of his life, let alone his thoughts. Recent events with Talia only served to reinforce why this was smart.

“Lee, it was an accident. Come on now, let’s not add more violence to this day.” Andi moved to put himself between Leandre and Thenasus. He needed to keep them separated till the others were able to heal Brie enough for her to wake up. If she was at least awake, maybe Lee would be distracted enough not to kill Thenasus.

-Leandre-

“Get out of my way Andi, I don’t want to have to hurt you.” Leandre’s jaw was set and his eyes were hard. He was going to make Thenasus hurt for not being careful. Yes, they were supposed to fight all out in sparring but there were certain rules when there weren’t full healers present.

Fingers curled into fists then straightened with each step that Leandre took towards Thenasus. The taller male was backing up, trying to avoid a confrontation, but Lendre wasn’t going to let him escape that easy. Now, if Andi would just get out of the way so he had a clear path to get things done.

-Dez-

Why did it always seem to fall on him to solve things? He had to be the one to explain that Thiniu was Talon and Talia’s dad, he was the one that had to explain the whole “Brie could have more than one mate” thing because she was a demi-godess thing and they had weird connections to things, he had to be the one to know things that were coming and to tell anyone, and now he was going to have to be the one to head of this disaster before it became an epic cluster fuck that no doubt he would get to clean up.

“Leandre, calm your tits, boy, It was an accident. I doubt Thenasus set out to bash his Queen’s brains in. Rarely does a member of the royal guard wake up in the morning and think ‘Gee, I wonder how I can piss everyone in Imperium off in one fell swoop? I know! Try and kill the Queen in training!’ Come on boy! Do not make me put you in a cell to calm your ass down.”

-Leandre-

There were few things that Dez could have said that would have gotten through the rage that had been all encompassing in Leandre’s mind; but the Grigori had found one of those things that cut through everything and had the Demonic Nephilim spinning around and now coming at him. Now all of the rage that had been directed at Thenasus was focused like a laser beam at Dez. Without knowing anything about Leandre’s past, he had found the one thing that would trigger Leandre into even greater violence than injuring Brie.

“You will NOT put me in a cell.” Lee started now to advance towards Dez. The normal blue-green of his eyes started to have a red ring around the iris. He didn’t know if he could defeat the Grigori, but Lee would die before he ever let anyone put him in a cell again.

-Dez-

“Then calm your ass down, Leandre.” Dez, unlike Thenasus, was not backing down. Someone had to stand up to Leandre and get him to listen to reason. Otherwise there was going to be a lot of violence and bloodshed, and the worst part was going to be that it would be from friendly fire. “I do not want to have to put you in a cell, but I will if I have to. Don’t make me do it, Lee.”

While Dez’s stance was set, his entire countenance speaking of resolution to stop Leandre from whatever violence and retribution he was seaking; on the inside, Dez wasn’t as assured. He knew exactly where he would teleport Leandre if he had to, but he’d prefer if the other male would just stop for a minute and realize that Mithos, Thinius, and Orpheus would have Brie patched up before too long.

-Leandre-

A vibration of power filled the air and Leandre barely felt it as Andi tried to stop him from advancing on the Grigori. Lee had developed tunnel vision and all he saw, all he heard, all he could acknowledge in the room was the smartass Grigori who was threatening him. He might end up in a cell, but he was going to make th male hurt first. Fuck going back in a cell and being anyone’s prisoner.

He reached Dez and grabbed the front of the dark button down shirt, pulling the other male til their faces were almost touching. When he spoke, his voice came out a growl, “I said that I will not go back in a cell.” He tightened his hold on the other man’s shirt and his voice dropped even lower. “If you try, you are going to hurt, and hurt bad for it.”

-Dez-

There was going to be no talking to Leandre. It was too bad, he had really hoped to be able to. That meant he was going to have to contain him. It was clear that containment was not going to go well. Dez would just have to deal with the fallout with Brie later.

“Just remember this wasn’t my choice, bro. All you had to do was calm the fuck down.” With that, Dez teleported them to the prison realm that he’d been confined to when he was “dead”.

@darkknightl

@gregoriusimmortuos

@74hybridangel

#LeandreDemonicum #DezDeangelo #BrieEngel #LifeInImperium #DeathRiderDown #ThereIsGoingToBeAFight

3 notes · View notes

seoschangbin · 4 years

Photo

Hi hi, it’s ya gal Rachel! To start off, this isn't really a follow forever but more of a mushy love fest. I was going to do this back in October when my blog hit 2 years but then with everything that happened... 😞✌ figured it wasn’t the best time! But since it’s the new year, I just wanted to spread some love to start off the decade, especially towards all the lovely people who have made my 2019 a little bit happier ♡ Thank you to everyone for making this such a fun & amazing year; thank you for supporting my gifs & graphics and interacting with me; overall, thank you for making Tumblr fun again! So to all my moots and followers, I’m wishing you all a very happy and wonderful 2020!

I wanted to take some time as well to write some messages to all my mutuals - seeing you guys on my dash + all your work (if you’re a cc) is such a joy and I admire all of you very very much! Thank you for putting in the time to making gifs/graphics/fic/etc. and I hope you won’t mind if I gush about you a little, even if we’ve never spoken hehe! Under the cut in alphabetic order.. she’s a long one sorry!

@00hj | karen!! angel!! first of all, everything u make is just the cleanest cutest thing ever, i truly want your brain!.. u are such an incredibly talented gfx creator and i get heart palpitations every time i see ur work!! i adore u so much n ur tags are also so full of sweetness n purity and 😞💕 i just want to give u a hug!! + the way u always say hi to ccs in ur tags when u rb their stuff. cute!! pure!!

@01degree | joanna!! first of all... thank u for filling my dash with so many groups, some of which i almost never get to see 😌💕 ur brain being multi af like me.. chefs kiss! also! you make such clean and nice gifs please don’t ever doubt that laskjd!! 2020 joanna stops saying her gifs suck! idk how u make them so clean but legends only! bls remember to be kind to yourself this year! 💕

@1095 | nicolle!! i haven’t seen you around recently but i hope everything is okay and you’re doing well! i have to say that your graphics are absolutely INSANE i don’t know how you do it!! the colours.. how it all comes together.. amazing! ur career as a graphic designer will be a good one 😌👍 secondly your urls are always so cute nd nice!! and thirdly back to number 1.. i just love everything you make so so much bls come back to us 😖

@3noracha | falak.. ur the fandom’s gem.. the sharpening on ur gifs takes my breath away everytime + the colouring.. omg chef’s kiss!! i didn’t know you before you came back earlier this year but i’m so so glad you did come back bc u are so full of love 😳💗 you make the cutest graphics as well and are just radiate so much positivity 💞

@bamgchan | henri! still my confident car selfie king!! so glad i found you through sagey.. i love all your content (ur graphics.. always so well put together!) and the way you interact with people is so full of energy and positivity and i adore that! i hope 2020 treats you well 🥰

@banghans | ollie!! all of ur content.. ur gifs! amazing.. wonderful.. iconic thank you for providing so much hq content for the rest of us peasants 😌💕 your love for chan and jisung is also so pure n cute when u rave abt it 💞 bls stop being so hard on yourself and i love reading about how you’re always striving to be better to yourself! i hope 2020 is a good year for you 💖

@binnieseason | emily.. a loss for binnie stans that you’re gone 😔 anyways i hope to see you back sometime because you make such nice gifs + the colouring on them.. so pretty and clean.. how to be you! i hope things are okay with you and that you’ve been well!

@cb-97s | miss li! y/a novel protagonist herself!! li you’re a burst of sunshine in my day and i love chatting w u! your love for chan.. too pure 😭 every time i talk to you i’m like.. dang.. she’s real.. ppl get to see her for real! might force u to meet me irl 🤷‍♀️ also queen of gfx.. always so clean.. 😍 i know it’s been a stressful year for you but i hope 2020 brings you happiness and love 💞 love u!

@changbeanie | hi ruby! ur graphics are always so intricate n pretty + the colouring on ur gifs.. so pretty 😭💖 thank you for providing like 90% of the changbin content nd keeping me well-fed 🥰 ur always so sweet to ur anons as well and are just a lil ray of sunshine ☀️

@changbinie | jo.. what even is there to say abt u.. still can’t believe i got u into skz.. CAN’T!!! thanks for suffering w me and dealin w me wakin u to talk abt middies.. + changbin arms.. i love u a little i think (?)

@channie | hi fishy! ur one of the very first skz blogs i ever followed back in 2017.. we ancient 😌🤙 i know you’re not too active anymore but all of your gifs have like. the prettiest colouring ever idk how you do it! i hope you’ll come back to us

@elfminho | min! i love the way u tag skz in your tags.. so cute 😭 star boy!!! cute 😭 ur gifs are also lovely as well 🥰 i think ur one of the first skz blogs i followed when i starting using this blog again n i’m glad i found ur blog bc i adore u 💞

@glowsvt | grace.. my little baby! i wish i could just !! get into ur brain how lovely nd wonderful of a human you are.. have more confidence in yourself! 😣 you make wonderful graphics.. ur style! cute! and you have such a sweet and good heart!! i love when you ramble about things and always appreciate how you take the time to reach out to me despite how busy you are 💕 thank you for being a real-life angel, i hope 2020 is good and kind to you 🙇‍♀️💞

@hanjisungz | britt!!! nerd squad let’s go!! you’re such an angel, the way you treat everyone who talks to you with so much kindness and positivity makes me want to cry!! ur truly just the cutest sunbeam and just such lovely lovely human!! thank u for puttin up with my late replies and how boring i am 😭 i also adore your gifs and icons.. which you know.. but always.. chefs kiss to them!

@huiracha | marie... first of all skz AND ptg? great, amazing, fantastic combination... galaxy brain 💞 secondly, u make such SUCH nice gifs 😭 ur prob one of my fav skz ccs and all ur pretty chan comp sets.. always look forward to them! thank u for also bringing me ptg content i never see enough of them 💕

@hwang-hyunjin | agnes!! ur topaz settings r always insane and they make your gifs look amazing!! + the colouring u do is always so beautiful!! the combo rly makes ur gifs so distinctive nd pretty💞 ur edits too!! just lovely 🥰 also the fact that we’re also moots on our mx blogs.. amazing.. i love a staybebe!!

@hyunjins | godleigh???? still one of my fav gifmakers ever!! perfect colouring.. sharpening.. best brain! 💞 rmbr ur skz x prince series... still think abt it sometimes.. wish i could be half as brilliant as u! i’m so glad we started talking bc u are incredibly funny and fun to talk to and i love witnessing ur breakdowns even though they’re probably way funnier to me than they should be 😭 love that u vibe w me and we can be mean together 😭 thank u for giving me this url 😭 thank u for being my friend, u truly are like. half the reason i enjoy being on this blog 😭 you’re wonderful and i love u a lot! sorry for clowning u sometimes! i hope everything sorts itself out soon bc u deserve some peace nd happiness 😩 and i wish u nothing but the best for this year and hope that the next year will be filled with good things 💖

@ifbin | mikaela.... u know i could talk abt you forever right???? ur graphics.. bro 😭 literally my fav gfx ever on this site.. u have such a vibrant + clean style it’s so sexy 😭 literally am in love with everything u make.. every time i see it i’m like 😳💖 also you’re such a sweetheart in your tags i can’t with you... spare friendship miss 💍

@jeonginz | bri! honestly.. i think you’re my oldest mutual from when we first started our blogs during survival era #ogs? 😳 when i found out you were nctmark... mind blown... anyways all your content is AMAZING even though u dont make as much for skz anymore msdg but ur dedication to all ur sideblogs.. galaxy brain 😌

@jinlix | kelly...!! still gazing at u across the river i love love love u!! how to purchase friendship? ur just the purest snowflake and a wonderful person with the cutest tags... ur love for hyunjin.. CUTE 💞 all your graphics are so pretty and clean as well.. dragonlix gfx never forgotten.. 😳 and you’re rly just a little angel!! 💞

@kim-woojins | emma, i know that you’re gone and closed pretty much but if you come back to this! just wanted to let you know that you were my fav woojin cc and i hope you’ll consider coming back someday 💖 your gifs.. always amazing! plus, you’re such a kind person and i hope everything is okay with you and things have settled a bit! sending you lots of love 💕

@kittylixie | moon.. honestly one day i just started seeing ur content everywhere.. ur gifs are so clean and pretty and just! mwah! you’re always so quick to gif as well i don’t know how you to do it! all the stuff you choose to gif as well.. best moments 💖

@kmwoojins | sagey.... still don’t really know how i came to be following you! 😩 but i’m so happy i am because you are so pure and sweet and i adore adore adore you!! 💞 love how welcoming and lovely you are as a human and still laugh every time i think about how shocked you are about jo and i... 😌 anyways i adore your graphics and you, thank you for just being such a lovely human, you were a wonderful part of my year 💖

@leeminho-s | hi lia! i know we only became moots recently but all your gifs.. so pretty 😳 and we never have enough minho content.. thank you for providing 😫 i’m sorry i don’t know much about you yet but i just wanted to say i admire your gifs so much and hope you have a wonderful start to the new year!

@minknows | hi thien! first of all.. your name.. so lovely 😳 secondly.. the colouring on your gifs is always so pretty and good 😭❤ the sharpening too.. 😔 just!! chefs kiss to it all, would take a class on how to gif from you 🙇‍♀️

@nochous | dez!! we haven’t interacted much on this sb of mine but hehe i loved our convo on my sf9 blog.. still always thinkin abt you calling kun daddy 😭 you’re such a fun person to talk to and i hope everything is okay with you since you’ve gone on a semi-hiatus! i hope we’ll have another chance to talk soon, sending you some good energy for 2020 💗

@prodskz | hi neha! i feel like you took a hiatus sometime this year (??) where i didn’t see you on much but i’m happy to see you a little more active on here now!! u provide such nice content + for some reason i rly rly love your icon 😭💗

@realstraykids | miss em.. secret santa FATED us 😔💕 anyways i adore you, we are the core of fantastay culture and this will forever unite us 😌 i’m vibrating at the thought of their comeback 😖 ANYWAYS you are such a friendly and lovely person and i enjoyed getting to talk with u so much over the past couple of weeks 💖 you’re one of my fav gifmakers honestly your mv aesthetics swap.. as i said.. 😭 amazing iconic showstopping! + the colouring on all your gifs.. so pretty 😭

@seungminhos | to quote you. you are far too funny to be a gifmaker 😣 but then who would provide all the good seungmin content.. 😞 you’re such a force of nature on my dash and i love reading all your thoughts bc you are Funny.. and your love for seungmin + how you always want the best for him is pure!! our sporadic interactions too.. always enjoy them 💕 even though i know you’re stressed about being on here sometimes, i want you to know that you’re wonderful and i appreciate all you do to bring more seungmin on our dashes 💗 pls stop threatening to delete your blog, i would be devastated 😫

@seungminsmile | aurora!! the one time i was about to have a seungmin breakdown and went to you... hehe you’re such a cutie and very grounded person (imo!!) and you make the cutest little graphics.. the little doodles.. how do you do that!! 😳 and now that you’re making gifs.. Queen! i hope your first semester went well! 💕

@seunie | hello nia!! i know we are still new moots but you are such a pure soul.. just ur blog title.. angel! you radiate so much love and sweetness 💞 your gifs are always so vibrant + colourful as well and bring a bit of colour onto my dash just like you! hopefully we can speak in the coming year, i wish you the very best! 🥰

@skzbffie | rayana... all ur gifs... bro.... how to start a rayana religion... amazing 😍 ur gifs are always so clean + i can recognize them by the subtitle font you use.. u always choose the best moments to gif honestly how to be u! honestly ur tags are fun to read too don’t judge me i am just an admirer and fan of u 😭

@skznta | miss sierra! idk how to put it into words but you... goddess of goodness? you truly radiate so much positivity and happiness and it makes me so.. uwu (for lack of better words).. you’re so so cute over all your love for science and i’m glad we got to bond over that! the way you’re always striving to learn more + improve yourself.. u inspire me 😳 you are also an incredible cc and thank you for bringing so much joy into the fandom and my life!! i feel very grateful to have gotten to know you a little this year 💞

@thechanboys | jem.. u are a GEM... 😭 the way i got u for secret santa i’ll never get over it!! you are just such sunshine and so fun to talk to and 😳💞 if u ever wanna abandon bin for me.. 😌 my fav number one chan/bin stan..! i’m so happy you got into skz this year and i’m gonna try my hardest to get you into some other groups hehe 🤧 anyways, you are incredible, lovely, wonderful, amazing i love u jem!! 💖

@tinyjisung | bea! honestly.. we are moots on like 3(?) blogs our multi selves.. galaxy brain... i know ur more active on ur ateez blog but i wanted to write abt you here anyways because I CAN! 😌 but i love all that good san content you provide + you just seem like a very calm n fun person 💕

@virgolix | nina. you’re such a cute person filled with love and you just spread so much positivity and good energy! you treat everyone with so much kindness and it’s so nice to see 💖 and if i can rave about your gifs for a minute... they are unreal 😫 the sharpening.. colouring.. always so amazingly clean + pretty + vibrant!

@wonstal | hi hi! okay.. i adore all your content, you have the cutest colouring ever!! + topaz settings.. so pretty 😖💞 even though we started off as moots on my mx blog, i’m so glad you got into skz and ateez + will be on your sweet merry way to sf9 soon 🤞 i’m glad we’ve just started chatting a bit because you seem super fun and i’m excited to get to know you better! i hope 2020 treats you well darling 💖

@yongbells | iana.. hope everything is okay with you always and sending you lots of love! i miss seeing you on here but i hope you’re taking good care of yourself 💗 also.. gfx queen... 😖 you’re SUCH a ray of sunshine.. the way you always tell people how much you love their creations is so kind and all of your own gfx are some of the most beautiful things ever 💖 we are so blessed to have you in this fandom 😩

#rachel.txt #oh man.. this took me a while to write but i hope u guys are oke w my messages 😭#i adore u all v v much and sending u all warm wishes for the new year + new decade!!#thank u all for making this my fav sideblog #+ to my followers i love u all and wish u the best year yet as well 💖#if i missed anyone.. bls feel free to shoot me in the head #if we're moots + ur not here i missed u bc i am an idiot. bls dm me immediately so i can tell u how much i love u

124 notes · View notes

berlysbandcamp · 3 years

Audio

Force Majeure is an uplifting suite of real, soulful comfort music – an album that cathartically encapsulates an all-too-familiar human experience of 2020. Featuring 11 pieces performed by bassist Dezron Douglas & harpist Brandee Younger across a series of live-streamed shows from their living room in Harlem, NY, the album was self-recorded by the duo using just a single microphone. The same day Governor Andrew Cuomo shut down “non-essential” businesses throughout the state of New York, Douglas & Younger set up a window to the world that would prevail as a weekly musical reprieve over the devastating weeks and months to come. As the early effects of covid-19 plagued the citizens of New York City, Douglas & Younger did as we were all ordered to do — shelter-in-place. From their apartment in Harlem, their reflex as players and community-builders was immediate. Broadcasting via social media and spreading the word to friends and family, the duo hosted “Force Majeure: Brunch in the Crib with Brandee & Dezron,” a Friday morning live stream where they performed songs, said “hi” to friends tuning in, and passed a digital tip jar. The name “force majeure” — known to diligent contract-readers as a seldom-invoked bit of legalese that voids commitments in event of “extraordinary circumstances” — was, for Douglas & Younger, a reference to the sudden loss of livelihood that they and their musician peers suffered in the wake of covid-19. “We vowed to become a part of the resiliency of this city,” says Douglas. “You can take the work away, but you can’t stop musicians from being creative. Live streaming is just a part of it. The world as a whole saw that arts & entertainment is an integral and vital part of this ‘service’ city. We, musicians and creatives, are as essential to this city as the MTA is. The NYC community responded with love and honesty on a high level. Expression became vital for people to make it through the day and, at the same time, listening and watching expression became vital.” The success of Douglas & Younger’s initial live streams turned their series into an ongoing weekly ritual for a fast-growing audience of supporters. For most, it was a momentary musical break that helped ease the stressful weeks of lockdown, even as the weeks turned into months and the re-opening date extended further and further into the future. In late May, as the country erupted over the compounded murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and countless other Black Americans, Douglas & Younger continued to connect from their Friday morning platform, uniting with more and more people through the healing power of playing, sharing, and listening. The series got attention from NPR, The Wall Street Journal, Boiler Room, Downbeat, and others; but regardless, finding the creative energy to devote to the project was a regular challenge for the two musicians. “Sometimes it was hard to be creative because the mood in the world was so dark, but every Friday we felt compelled to give back and allow GOD to heal through vibration,” says Douglas. Not only was the human connection vital, the duo felt a responsibility as stewards of music’s future. “Whatever the next thing is, I will make it a point to be involved because Music saved my life, saves lives, and must be taken care of.” The repertoire that Douglas & Younger performed began with standards they knew and music they wanted to learn (or “get inside of,” as Douglas often said), but evolved on a week-to-week basis to incorporate shifting emotions, milestones, and special requests from friends and family. Younger recalls: “In choosing the repertoire we played, it was definitely more organic and personal. When we realized a birthday of a certain artist or holiday was coming, we'd do something in dedication… Sometimes we'd pick the rep based on our mood. On those very dark days that Dez mentioned, we'd play “Sing" to perk up the mood. Something about that song just brings smiles all around. It was very hard to fake when the mood was dark, though. Marvin Gaye helped us out a lot during that time, as did some spirituals.” With what became their brunch staples they covered a broad range of memories and sounds, including classics by The Stylistics, The Jackson 5, Alice & John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Kate Bush, Sting, and The Carpenters, as well as a co-written original composition with which they ended every set, “Toilet Paper Romance.” From the earliest sessions, the duo worked alongside International Anthem to review the weekly recordings; together they compiled, edited, and eventually arrived at the stream-to-songbook of Force Majeure. Between the choicest takes of tunes chosen for the final album sequence, they put excerpts of their sometimes cute or comedic, often profound banter. Notably Douglas’s voice ends both side A and side B with off-the-cuff variations of: “Black Music cannot be replicated, it can only be expressed.” Like poetic bookends for Force Majeure, his words could also serve as foundational principles for the work, underscoring the importance of authenticity and integrity in music. Douglas elaborates: “Black Music, no matter what genre, is exactly what it is — Music created by Black Musicians for the sake of vibrating on our own frequencies of understanding and empathy. I love all music, but I also recognize that music is a cultural and regional vibration. You don’t have to be Black to play Black music, but if you are out here making money off of Black Culture and have no empathy for the People and the Culture then you are even more part of the problem. Black Lives Matter because for a long time our lives didn’t matter and it was Normal — normal to society and normal to us as Black humans. What’s different between then and now is the fact that the Virus has given people time to focus on the current social media platform used to document evil in this world. The filming and documentation of the loss of human life to evil is more powerful than Politics and Government. It’s LIFE showing us how Inhumane we are as a Human Race. Yet we still haven’t figured it out yet. Let’s hope we aren’t the catalyst for this planet to implode. That would be unfortunate considering we have the chance to fix it. We have the chance to do right by Mother Nature and we have the chance to do right by each other. We always have a chance. Change is inevitable, but is evil and selfishness and self-righteousness a part of change? Certainly! Is Love and Empathy and Humanity a part of change? Most definitely! What side are you on? We are on the side of Love.” Douglas & Younger understand that the revolution begins with a transformation of the heart. And for the heart to be transformed, it must be lifted up. “This album is a testament to the power of music to uplift us through the most challenging times,” says friend, collaborator, and fellow International Anthem recording artist, Makaya McCraven. Force Majeure is an uplifting suite of real, soulful comfort music – a spiritual salve, emanating warmth from the hearth of a Harlem sanctuary. - bio by Joe Darling & Scott McNiece - Bassist, composer, bandleader, and educator Dezron Douglas has established himself as a major force in contemporary creative music. A protégé of the great Jackie McLean, the Downbeat Magazine 2019 Rising Star is known for his work with Pharoah Sanders, Ravi Coltrane, Cyrus Chestnut, David Murray, Louis Hayes, and also with piano legends George Cables, Eric Reed, Mulgrew Miller and Benny Green. Douglas has recorded on more than 100 albums, contributing to the artistry of numerous bandleaders and maintaining an integral presence in the sounds of his peers, which include Keyon Harrold, Jonathan Blake, Melanie Charles, and Makaya McCraven. He is an active music educator, currently on the Jazz Studies faculty at NYU Steinhardt. He has released 6 albums as a lead artist and maintains a variety of projects that he uses as platforms for his compositions. His band, Black Lion, released their latest single “COBRA” in October of 2020. Harpist, composer, educator, and concert curator Brandee Younger is known for her work with Ravi Coltrane, Moses Sumney, Lauryn Hill and producer Salaam Remi. The New Yorker has described her instrumental craft as “radiant playing ... as cogent on hip-hop and R&B albums as it is set against classical and jazz backdrops.” Her work often extends to illustrious heights, featured by Beyoncé in Netflix’s concert documentary Beyoncé: Homecoming as well as Quincy Jones and Steve McQueen in 2019’s “Soundtrack of America” series. She recently joined the harp faculty at NYU Steinhardt and the New School in Manhattan. When Alice Coltrane passed away in 2007, her son Ravi Coltrane asked Younger to perform at the memorial. Her performance “moved me and everyone in attendance from the first glissando,” Coltrane told the New York Times. “No harpist thus far has been more capable of combining all of the modern harp traditions — from Salzedo, through Dorothy Ashby, through Alice Coltrane — with such strength, grace and commitment.” Younger recently signed to Impulse! Records, with whom she has a new album planned for release in 2021. Douglas & Younger are long-time companions in life and in music. The two East Coast natives met early in life and have accompanied each other, personally and professionally, through equally prolific careers. “Brandee and I met in college, University of Hartford, Hartt School of Music, back in 2001,” remembers Douglas. “Her practice room was across the hall from mine. We began a friendship instantly through music and Black culture. We would jam a lot in college when she wanted to practice ‘Jazz.’ She was a Classical Harp and Music Business double major and she was heavily influenced by Jazz and Black Music so I sort of became an outlet for her to walk on the wild side in the eyes of University and Classical politics.” To this day, Douglas and Younger often accompany each other in the ensembles they lead, respectively. The two have played together in the Ravi Coltrane Quartet, with The Baylor Project, and in sessions for Makaya McCraven’s 2018 release Universal Beings, on which they are both featured artists. Force Majeure is their first release as a duo.

#jazz #cosmic #black music

1 note · View note