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aro-comics · 3 years

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Fashion

Fashion, 1/1 - I’M NOT DRESSING UP FOR ANY MAN UNLESS THAT MAN IS A POTENTIAL EMPLOYER AT A NETWORKING EVENT 😤😤

Ok but in all seriousness, like I mentioned in the disclaimer, this post was originally meant to be a lighthearted joke about this idea all too many of us (especially people who were perceived as girls growing up) have been told time and time again – that you’ll grow up and “fall in loooooooove” and then suddenly you’ll be transformed into the heteronormative ideal of a woman who’s hyperfeminine 🙄 … Yeah, I can’t stand it either, it genuinely makes me cringe to even type this 😫

But as I kept working on this, I realized that … this whole situation goes deeper than just aromanticism and proving your parents/guardians wrong about how you would be when you grew up. This entire joke, and my experiences, are tied with so many other things. There are so many factors to consider, like sexism, classism, environmental impacts, ableism, racism (just to name a FEW). And as usual, if I let myself start rambling this description is going to be waaay too long, even by my standards.

So I’ll summarize my general thoughts in the comments, but if you’re interested in this subject I’ve actually written (… and don’t judge me, PLEASE 😳) a 12 page informal essay covering everything from social factors to my personal speculations on where Aro fashion might go, which you can find a link to on my carrd or on my Tumblr (which will also have some extra art, btw 👀)!

NOTE FROM ARTIST: Since this is the tumblr, I will be posting the essay in parts here shortly!! There have been a few logistics issues (since the essay is VERY long) but I promise I will try to get all the parts up and linked to each other shortly. Sorry for all the chaos ^^” If you’d like to see the whole thing all at once, though, you can always read it in the original google doc!

(And as one last note: due to some hand problems – though I’m getting better now thankfully – I’ll be responding either on my computer or with voice to speech! If my responses read differently that’s why 😅)

[Image Description:

Slide 1: “When I was a kid, I hated the idea of fashion, makeup, and dressing up.”

Young Celia grimaces “ewww no!” as she tries to push away a lilac coloured dress being offered to her by an adult off screen, who asks her “Can you try it on please?”

Slide 2: “And all the adults would tell me –”

Shot switches to Celia’s back as she looks at two women in her family. The younger/taller woman who holds the dress says, “oh you’ll dress up one day, when you fall in ~looooove~”. Celia is unimpressed, and annoyed, very firmly stating “Never!!”

Slide 3: A flash forward through Celia’s life growing up, where she does not care much about looks/fashion. The panel is split into 3.

The top third is labeled age 7. She’s running into the forest, saying “Eh, it’s appropriate –” wearing a plain orange t-shirt layered over a light grey long sleeved shirt. Her hair is wild and unkempt and a written note says “Running around like a little gremlin”.

The middle third is labeled age 11. Celia is shown hiding in the shadows in the corner of her school building on the playground. She says: “Well, it’s BETTER if I look plain. It’s easier to blend in!” A piece of context is given to the side: I was an avid manhunt player and my strategy was hiding until late in the game.

The bottom third is labeled age 15. She sits hunched over at a desk with short, messy hair and bags under her eyes. It’s late and she’s still working on some assignment.

“Dressing up? That’s … a luxury that nobody has time for,” she says. A note to the side says: Unhealthy work habits from school.

Slide 4: “And I hate to admit it but … they were right about wanting to dress up eventually” Celia ponders with a slight bit of embarrassment now, at her current age. Her outfit is an orange tank top paried with matching orange barrettes.

Slide 5: Note at top of slide: “At a special networking event”. Celia stands bewildered as she stares into the room of the networking event. A projector slide shows the event is called “Climate action lab”. In the distance, two well dressed young professionals talk.

Slide 6: Celia shown from the front now. She is wearing a very plain/somewhat weirdly cut long sleeved plain shirt with old black jeans (in essence. Not something you would wear to a business casual event). She looks a bit uncomfortable, and says “Oh shit, I really gotta up my fashion game …”

In the background two other people (who are also, appropriately dressed for the event) talk. The shorter man says “actually, I’m an environmental scientist to a tall girl who responds “that’s cool!”

Slide 7:

A montage. At the top left, Celia is shown immediately after the event on her phone, making a note to herself to research business wear when she gets home. Then, in the center right, she is seen typing furiously as she researches on pinterest with a notebook open to her side. At the bottom left, she has already gotten a haircut, has some new hair clips and her now ubiquitous turtleneck top with a green gemstone ring strung on a necklace (which is split in orange and white). She is holding up a spring green puff sleeved blouse with white collar/sleeve details.

The sentence “I WANT TO BE A PROFESSIONAL” is written between all of these scenes.

Slide 8: Celia drawn shrugging nonchalantly now. “It really would have been a lot easier if my parents just told me as a kid “it’ll help you get a job you like”]

#RegularComic #Fashion #FashionComic

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natromanxoff · 3 years

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How prog were Queen?

By Dave Everley

On 9 January, 1971, Kevin Ayers and Genesis played a show together at the Ewell Technical College near Epsom in Surrey. Ayers was 18 months out of Soft Machine, and making a name for himself as a psychedelically-inclined art-folk rake. Genesis had released their second album, Trespass, a few months earlier, and were carving out a place in the vanguard of the burgeoning progressive rock movement.

There was a third band propping up the bill that night, a bunch of transplanted Londoners calling themselves Queen. In contrast to the wilfully artful approach of the headliners, their music was more straightforward: a heavy, if ornate blend of Led Zeppelin’s earthiness and the flights of fancy of Yes.

Not everyone in the small crowd watching them was impressed, but they caught the attention of one person. After the show, Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel pulled Queen’s blond-bombshell drummer Roger Taylor to one side. Gabriel’s band were about to dismiss their own drummer, John Mayhew, and were looking for a replacement. Was Taylor interested in joining Genesis? The reply was instant: thanks but no thanks. Taylor was utterly dedicated to Queen – there were gigs to play, places to go, and many musical adventures to embark on.

Had Taylor accepted the offer, the course of music – and specifically prog – would have been very different. Genesis would have flourished with Gabriel upfront, though whether they would have survived and prospered as they did without a Phil Collins to step into the breach after their talismanic singer’s departure was another matter.

The knock-on effect on Queen would have been greater. Taylor was an essential part of their carefully balanced four-way chemistry; a chemistry that would go on to throw up some of the most ambitious and game-changing music ever recorded. While Queen weren’t a capital ‘P’ prog band, they were infused with the spirit of the movement, combining its forward-looking values with its absolute disregard for the existing rules. Taking their cues from the likes of Yes, Genesis, Van der Graaf Generator and even Pink Floyd, their flamboyantly cavalier approach would go on to inspire such modern masters as Dream Theater, Queensrÿche and Muse. And, in Bohemian Rhapsody, they ensured that one of the biggest-selling singles in history was, at heart, a prog song. Forget the luxuriant moustaches and sawn-off mike-stands that would come to define them: if the prog ethos meant avoiding the expected, then Queen were definitely a prog band.

“Diversity was probably their greatest asset,” says former Dream Theater drummer and confirmed Queen devotee Mike Portnoy. “From song to song, they could be so different. You could have something that was folk followed by something that was rockabilly followed by something that was metal. And that’s one of the biggest things about prog, having that open-mindedness.”

Queen’s schooling in prog came early on. Brian May’s very first band, 1984, played a 4am slot supporting Pink Floyd at the Christmas On Earth Continued all-nighter in 1967. A year later, his next outfit, Smile – also featuring Roger Taylor – played with Floyd again, this time at London’s Imperial College. By the time of their gig opening for Kevin Ayers, Smile had changed their name to Queen and recruited Freddie Mercury. Collectively, they admired Yes, Van der Graaf Generator and especially Genesis. “Foxtrot is a prog rock classic,” Roger Taylor later wrote in the sleevenotes to Genesis box set 1970-1975. “Arrangements were highly complex in these early days, setting a benchmark for the style of the times.”

When it came to finding someone to produce their debut album, Queen’s first choice was John Anthony, who had worked with both Genesis and Van der Graaf. With Anthony and co-producer Roy Thomas Baker behind the desk, the eponymous album trod heavily in Led Zeppelin’s footsteps. But there was another, altogether more visionary band straining to spread their wings: My Fairy King was a filigreed slice of flamboyant rock’n’roll, while Liar metamorphosised through several different time changes and timings.

Those wings were fully unfurled on the follow-up, 1974’s Queen II. The title was the most prosaic thing about the record: the music inside was as fevered and baroque as rock gets, informed equally by Zeppelin, Yes and crazed Victorian artist Richard Dadd, whose 1864 painting The Fairy Feller’s Master-Stroke inspired one of the album’s most prog-leaning tracks. It may have been rooted in the heavy rock of the times, but its cavalier approach and sheer sense of scale pegged Queen as a defiantly progressive proposition.

“Queen weren’t like Yes, who had a dualistic role of guitar and keyboards, where both shared the terrain,” says Yes guitarist Steve Howe, supported by Queen at Kingston Poly in early 1971. “Brian had the terrain to himself. The remarkable thing was that he was the front and the back man. It required him to come up with more than guitar solos… He had to come up with a semi-thematic approach to play the guitar. And what he did was keep colouring.”

Queen’s prog inclinations would be deeply woven into the fabric of their early albums, from the audacious multi-part theatrics of Queen II’s March Of The Black Queen to the schizophrenic attack of the two-part Lap Of The Gods from 1974’s Sheer Heart Attack. Even in their more commercial moments, they marched to the beat of their own drum. What other band would have dared serve up something so unusual as Killer Queen?

“It was their diversity,” says Mike Portnoy, who first heard Queen as an eight-year-old in the mid-70s and covered many Queen songs while in Dream Theater. “Their albums took the prototype that The Beatles laid down with the White Album, where you had four different artists bringing in very different styles. Every song was so diverse. You get to A Night At The Opera, and you had this giant multi-layered epic like Bohemian Rhapsody next to something like Seaside Rendezvous or Love Of My Life.”

A Night At The Opera was Queen’s grand artistic statement and their most unashamedly prog album. Pitched around the epic twin tentpoles of The Prophet’s Song and Bohemian Rhapsody, it married their far-reaching vision to a distinctly British barminess. Taken on its own, the eight-minute The Prophets Song, with its incredible ornate a cappella middle section, would be enough to grant Queen access to the Prog Hall Of Fame. But even that sits in the inescapable shadow of Bohemian Rhapsody. Time and success might have lessened its impact, but that song remains the most dazzlingly unique piece of music ever to sell five million copies.

“There are epic things that come along every so often,” says Steve Howe. “There’s Sgt Pepper, there’s Bridge Over Troubled Water. And there’s Bohemian Rhapsody. I don’t know when I first heard it, but once it was there, it was such a formidable thing. You’re thinking: ‘How many tracks did they need to do those vocals? How did they write it? Who invented it? It really was astounding.”

Bohemian Rhapsody encapsulated one of the key things that gave Queen such a distinct identity. Like The Beatles and Beach Boys before them, they used the studio as an instrument – not least when it came to their vocals. And Bohemian Rhapsody raised the bar about as high as it could go.

“They sang each of those parts and triple-stacked them,” says Mike Portnoy. “You heard all three of their voices singing in all three vocal ranges. That’s what made the depth of their music so complex. It wasn’t the instrumentation, it was the vocals. That’s unusual for prog music. When I think of my favourite prog music, it’s always the musicianship that draws me. But with Queen, it was the vocals. It was so deep.”

For all its success, A Night At The Opera would be Queen’s grand kiss-off to their prog roots. Later albums streamlined their sound into a more conventional format. Much like Genesis, the 80s found them swapping experimentalism for chart rock.

It wasn’t until the end of their career as an active band that Queen would again sound so adventurous. During 1989 and 1990, the band began work on their penultimate album, Innuendo, in London and Montreux. In the summer of 1990, Yes guitarist Steve Howe paid a flying visit to the Swiss city, where a chance encounter with a former guitar tech found him being invited to Queen’s studio to hear the album as a work-in-progress.

“Inside, there’s Freddie, Brian and Roger all sitting together. They go: ‘Let’s play you the album,’” says Howe. “Of course, I’m hearing it for the first time: I Can’t Live Without You, I’m Going Slightly Mad. And they saved Innuendo itself until last. They played it and I was fucking blown away.”

If that was surprising, then what happened next was utterly out-of-the-blue. The members of Queen asked if Howe wanted to play on the title track. The Yes man politely suggested they’d lost their minds. It took the combined weight of Mercury, May and Taylor to persuade him.

“They all chimed in: ‘We want some crazy Spanish guitar flying around over the top. Improvise!’” recalls Howe. “I started noodling around on the guitar, and it was pretty tough. After a couple of hours, I thought: ‘I’ve bitten off more than I can chew here.’ I had to learn a bit of the structure, work out the chordal roots were, where you had to fall if you did a mad run in the distance; you have to know where you’re going. But it got towards evening, and we’d doodled and I’d noodled, and it turned out to be really good fun. We have this beautiful dinner, we go back to the studio and have a listen. And they go: ‘That’s great. That’s what we wanted.”

Released as a single in January 1991, Innuendo gave Queen their third Number One single. Like Bohemian Rhapsody 25 years before it, it was as unlikely as hit singles get: a six-and-a-half minute musical jigsaw, complete with flamenco runs, classically-inclined orchestral overloads and maverick 5/4 timing. Queensrÿche covered the song on 2007’s Take Cover album, while you can hear its echo in Radiohead’s Paranoid Android and Muse’s more elaborate sci-fi epics.

“In the world of rock, Queen stands out as a good example of the clash between guitar and piano in songwriting,” Muse’s Matt Bellamy has said. “I think that’s where you stumble across those more unusual arrangements and chord structures.”

Today, Queen have left a bi-polar legacy. They’re arguably best known for their pop hits – Radio Gaga, I Want To Break Free and of course, Bohemian Rhapsody, that ultimate prog Trojan Horse. But their spirit of adventure remains unmatched by all but the boldest of their peers.

“There was no rulebook for Queen,” says Mike Portnoy. “They broke most of the rules that existed, and then they wrote a new set.”

#queen #queen band #roger taylor #freddie mercury #brian may #john deacon

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gaemkyuu · 3 years

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Of Kings & Queens (Part One)

Warnings: none! A/N: Here’s the first part! This is mostly context to the story, with a sneak peak of Prince Charlie! I’ll upload a little more tomorrow! AU!Prince Charlie Gillespie x Fictional Character Disclaimer: This is a FICITONAL writing piece! In no way do I claim characters in this piece act this way in real life.

Masterlist *now taking requests ;)

Part 1/Part 2/Part 3/Part 4/Part 5/Part 6

Four Kingdoms stood strong. North, East, South and West. Four Royal Families would unite the land. The Blood of Gillespie would rule the cold North, bountiful with forestry and game. The Blood of Shada would rule the Eastern coast and land, mastering the stormy seas and its’ treasures. The Blood of Joyners would rule the hot Southern lands, gathering the resources for petrol that kept the Kingdoms running. The Blood of Lee would rule the golden coast of the Western lands, providing crops and livestock to feed the people. In each Kingdom, a Ruler to bring prosperity and peace to all its’ people.

Dawn was breaking and people were already moving busily about the Western Kingdom. As more people woke, the excitement in the air increased, for today was a special day. Festivities would start early in the day and go late into the night as the Western Kingdom celebrated the coming of age the Princess. Not only was it the Princess’ birthday, it also signified that the Princess was now officially on the Royal Market, searching for a partner to become King of the Western Kingdom. Tonight’s celebration at the castle would bring people from all over the nation, including the royal families from the Eastern, Southern, and Northern kingdoms. Farmers harvested and packed their crops and livestock, Bakers made fresh delights by the dozens, Florists put out their best and brightest flowers and the Merchants polished their wares. This special occasion would bring people from all over the Four Kingdoms to their stores in celebration and vacation. All the work that was being put into the celebration brought the citizens together and united them on this special day.

Well... At least the citizens were excited...

The Princess was awoken by her best friend and handmaiden, much to her displeasure. She groaned and pulled the covers over her head as the curtains in her room were parted, trying to ignore the hustle and bustle going around her. She knew what day it was, and this made her want to stay in bed for much longer. She even debated not getting up at all. As her handmaiden made herself busy and gave directions to other servants that had entered her room, the princess pulled a pillow over her head, trying to make it clear that she had no intention of getting up. With a heavy sigh, her confidant gave the other servants orders and ushered them out before shutting the door softly behind them.

“Liv. I love you and you know how I feel about today, but I would really appreciate it if you would cooperate so we don’t have the queen on our butts this early” the princess groaned and her best friend pulled the covers off her body. She flinched at the bright sunlight streaming into her room.

“I’m not getting up today Sav. It’s not happening” Savannah shook her head and rolled her eyes at her friend. She knew that Olivia could be quite the drama queen, but today she needed her to cooperate so that she wouldn’t fall behind schedule. Savannah glanced at the clock, already knowing that the extra 15 minutes she allotted was now gone.

“Liv, unless you want to bathe in a cold bath, you will get up or so help me I will dump ice water on you myself!” Olivia groaned and finally sat up looking at her best friend with disdain. “Listen, I know you don’t want to do Today. I get it. But you don’t need another reason to get on the nerves of the King and Queen today” Savannah’s voice sounded slightly distressed and Olivia felt a little guilty at her dramatization this morning.

Olivia and Savannah were best friends ever since she could remember. Savannah was the only friend she had growing up in the palace and was the only friend her parents let her have that wasn’t Royalty. Sure, there were the Duchesses and Countesses of the smaller lands in the Western Kingdom, but Olivia always found them snooty or rude. Savannah’s family had been helping the royal family for generations and they were integral parts of the inner workings of the palace. Naturally, when Savannah’s parents were busy at work Savannah would wander the halls until she found Olivia. The two were like sisters and the King and Queen appreciated the hard work her family put in to serving the Royal family.

And while the Royal family paid them handsomely while providing them lodging, Olivia couldn’t help but feel a little guilty at times when the difference in their status showed. Olivia rarely wore the same dress twice, while Savannah had a very modest and small wardrobe. Olivia had a private instructor, while Savannah went to the school with other children. But Savannah never really cared and that’s what Olivia loved about her. She was a true and honest friend who Olivia felt safe confiding in.

“Sorry Sav. I didn’t mean to make this any harder on you than it already has been” Olivia offered her friend a smile, patting the spot beside her on the bed. “Think you can spend a few minutes off your feet? Debrief me on the day if you will?” Savannah greatly accepted the spot, giving her a knowing look and a big sigh.

“Well Princess-” Olivia glared at Savannah at the title. “You need to get into the baths and get clean so I can do your hair and make up before the lady the Queen hired arrives. There is no way I’m letting you face the neighbouring nations’ heirs with makeup and hair that I don’t approve of.” Olivia laughed at Savannah’s possessiveness.

“Do we know if the royal families are coming or just their heirs?” Olivia gave a stretch, preparing herself to start the day.

“To my knowledge, just the heirs... But I hear that Prince Charles is quite handsome!” Olivia rolled her eyes as Savannah winked at her. “What? I can’t help it! You hear the chitter chatter in the palace halls. They arrived yesterday and some of the other servants have already been gushing about him. He’s apparently really charming and great husband material” Savannah saw the look of defeat briefly cross her friend’s eyes, before covering it up with an annoyed sigh. “But enough of that. Let’s get you cleaned and dressed and ready to greet our guests.”

***

“Alright Liv, take a deep breath and hold it, I’m pulling up the zipper!” Olivia did as she was told, while Savannah pulled up the zipper to her dress. She was already dreading the fact that she would have to wear the elaborate garb for several hours. Although the light blue gown was absolutely stunning and represented her fashion sense too, she didn’t expect it to come in several pieces. After putting on two layers of skirt, she had a separate top that needed to be zipped up and a cape draped over her shoulders. She could already feel the weight of the material weighing her down a bit and she sighed at the fact that they hadn’t put on her jewelry yet. Savannah and her helpers busied themselves about putting on a bracelet here and a necklace there. Another girl was putting on her earrings while the other made small hems to her dress. Olivia felt like the dolls that her and Savannah played with as little girls.

“Voila! I’ve outdone myself!” Savannah exclaimed, admiring her bestfriend’s transformation, stepping away from her so that she could see herself in the mirror. As much as Olivia didn’t want to like this moment, she couldn’t stop the smile that graced her face. Her best friend had listened to her every request about her dress. Her mother insisted that her first dress be floor length, modest and a Queen Ann neckline. She requested that the dress be midnight blue with the lace accents to be gold. Her mother criticized her colour choice, saying that dark colours were for the evening, not the morning. Olivia argued that if she had no say in the dress at all, she would go naked, a response in which her mother glared angrily at her. However, as she looked at herself in the mirror, she realized that Savannah had taken her mother’s requests and her requests and blended them together. She had a high waisted, A-line skirt that held the princess look her mother wanted, but it wasn’t so big that Olivia felt like a pastry. The Queen Ann neckline was a dark blue mesh with gold lace accents that extended into long sleeves for her arms. Her bodice held very little decoration as the bottom of her dress held all the royal ornate details. The velvet floor length cape was held together by a golden broach.

As per tradition, Olivia wore her family jewels. The gold diamond festoon necklace sat proudly upon her collar and the gold and sapphire earrings were prominent but not over done. A small dainty gold bracelet sat on her wrist and her family ring decorated her right hand. Her hair was neatly pulled back into a loosened braided low bun with the occasional curl framing her face.

“You’ve done a fine job Savannah” the girls jumped at the voice of the Queen. Quickly turning around, Savannah curtsied to her majesty and Olivia followed with a smaller curtsy. “Savannah, could you please grab the tiara out of the case?”

“Yes, your majesty” Savannah hurried over to the velvet case on the vanity and presented it to the Queen. The small but simple gold tiara sparkled in the light of the room. As the Queen gently picked the tiara up, Olivia bowed, lowering her head, a gesture she was all too familiar with. Her mother placed her tiara upon her head and held her face in her hands. She kissed her daughter on the head, careful not to get any lipstick on her.

“The gods have been great to bless me with a daughter as beautiful as you.” Olivia smiled at her mom, not expecting the sudden emotional tenderness she displayed. “Happy Birthday my dearest. Promise me you’ll try to behave yourself today?” Olivia scoffed and rolled her eyes.

“I’ll try” her mother chuckled softly.

“Just like your father... All I ask is that you give today a chance to be great. You might be surprised at the unexpected events that may present themselves to you” Olivia could never see herself being as polished as her mother. She knew her mother had her best interest at heart, but Olivia couldn’t help but feel like her mother was forcing her to fit into traditional roles of the Kingdom. “If you’ll excuse me, I must be on my way to the throne room. I shall see you shortly Olivia. Savannah, please ensure that the Princess does not stall. I would hate to have her tardy for her grand entrance.”

“Yes your highness!” Savannah curtsied as her mother and the remaining servants exited, leaving the two of them in the room. “Ready to go my lady?”

“Savannah, you know you can drop the formalities around me.” Olivia stepped off the round fitting platform, Savannah catching her arm as Olivia stumbled for a moment, not used to wearing heels. “It makes me feel weird!”

“I know, but we are going to be around tons of people today and most of them would probably have my head if I called you by name in front of them. I’ll be at your side the entire time, but when others are around, you have to remember I’m your attendant” Olivia sighed in slight disappointment, but she knew her friend was right.

“How is it that you’re not the Princess and I am? You’d be way better at this than I am” Savannah giggled at her remarks and dusted her dress off before they opened the door. They knew that her royal guards were right behind it and that as soon as they exited the room, their dynamic had to change.

“Please, I can’t hide my feelings as easily as you. When I think someone is an idiot, it’s clear all over my face and I don’t even notice it!” they shared a laugh as they opened the door and officially started the day.

But they didn’t expect to see a brown haired man zoom by them in hysterical laughter as a taller blonde man chased after him.

“Charlie! Get back here with my crown!” and the two disappeared around the corner. Olivia blinked in shocked, trying to process whether the scene in front of her happened or not. As her and Savannah shared a look and shrugged their shoulders, they realized that today was going to indeed be very eventful.

tag list: @ifilwtmfc

#charlie gillespie #charlie gillespie x reader #charlie gillespie fanfiction #charlie gillespie imagines #owen joyner #jeremy shada

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putschki1969 · 3 years

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Wakana Covers ~ Anime Classics ~ Release

It’s officially the 9th of December in Japan which means it’s the release day of 『Wakana Covers ～Anime Classics～』! BANZAI! The album is now available for purchase in digital format in Japanese stores.

❗Please SUPPORT Wakana and BUY her album❗ ❗BUY a PHYSICAL COPY on CDJapan❗ ❗BUY it digitally on MORA JAPAN ~ TUTORIAL (no OTOTOY this time)❗ ❗Check your local iTunes store and Spotify after midnight❗

Here’s a quick REVIEW

THIS IS A GREAT ALBUM. I LOVE IT!! The tracklist is not what I would have hoped for but then again, I only know a handful of old anime songs so it’s really no surprise that none of them made it onto the album. I wasn’t really familiar with any of Wakana’s chosen songs but to her credit, she made me fall in love with almost all of them. The only tracks I do not like are “Yatsura No Ashioto No Ballade” and “Rain” but that’s not Wakana’s fault, it’s just that I do not care for those types of songs. Wakana’s vocals are really solid throughout the album, her voice was made for classical arrangements like this and I am forever grateful we are getting a full album and a concert on top of that. There are just a few sections here and there where I am not too happy with her choice of singing style but it doesn’t take away from my enjoyment. Question: Is it just me or are the instruments (strings in particular) overly loud sometimes? Occasionally they seem to almost drown out Wakana.

Detailed review below the cut〈(•ˇ‿ˇ•)-→

1. 時には昔の話を (Toki ni wa Mukashi no Hanashi wo) Arranger: Sin; I understand why they chose this as the leading track to promote the album. Everything about it is absolutely beautiful, Wakana’s vocals, the arrangement, the lyrics, the PV (from what we have seen so far). I have mentioned it before but her “hashitta” in the second chorus(?) kills me every time. And the way the strings build up in the first and last chorus. Ahhh, be still my heart I cannot take it. Btw, I am still not sure if you consider those two last lines in each of the three verses a proper chorus or if the song just consists of three elaborate verses..? But for the sake of this review, I will call them choruses XD 2. やさしさに包まれたなら (Yasashisa ni Tsutsumareta Nara) Arranger: Miki Sakurai; Gorgeous arrangement (especially with the added tin whistle). Kinda reminds me of the Concerning Hobbits theme from LotR. I am a big fan of Celtic and folk-ish elements. Miki Sakurai apparently is a big fan too. After all, her “Yakusoku no Yoake” which she wrote for Wakana’s first album also had strong Celtic vibes. My favourite part of the song is when Wakana sings that final “meseeji” in the last chorus, the arrangement here is beautiful. Still think Wakana’s vocals are a bit too cutesy but hell, it’s a cute song so I guess it seems fitting. 3. Rain Arranger: Shu Kanematsu; Wakana sounds great but the song doesn’t do anything for me. T_T 4. いのちの名前 (Inochi no Namae) Arranger: Shu Kanematsu; OMG, this brought tears to my eyes. SO SO BEAUTIFUL. The way her voice just blends with the strings. Her vocals are a tad quiet though compared to the instruments. Or is it just me? 5. やつらの足音のバラード (Yatsura No Ashioto No Ballade) Arranger: Sin; I can’t put my finger on what exactly I don’t like about this but I can’t seem to get into it. I guess it sounds a little too jazz-y for me...or is it blues? Either way, not my cup of tea but I can see why Wakana would like it this way. And hey, she does pull it off perfectly so who am I to complain? On a side note, those lyrics are just so perfect for Wakana, she doesn’t often get the chance to sing about dinosaurs :P EDIT: Future!Sarah is coming back to revise her opinion. After listening to the album on repeat for hours on end, I now LOVE this song. It’s charming. 6. Get Wild Arranger: Sin; One of the coolest arrangements on this album!! The strings are just PERFECTION. And Wakana SLAYS!! Who would have thought she can pull off a song like that. I mean, we already knew from gettign that teaser video but this is on a whole other level. Too much awesomeness. 7. 風のとおり道 (Kaze no Toorimichi) Arranger: Miki Sakurai; Ahhhhh, so precious and mystical, such a gorgeous arrangement!! I love how we start with just Wakana’s vocals. And then Miki Sakurai adds her magical touch again by inserting all those Celtic elements. The tin whistle fits perfectly. A couple of Wakana’s high notes no longer sound good to my ears here but overall I enjoy her singing. 8. 君をのせて (Kimi wo Nosete) Arranger: Sin; The arrangement is utterly charming, both the piano as well as the strings are perfect here, Wakana’s vocals in the verses are literally flawless. I kinda find myself wishing she had sung the chorus with a different voice though. Mind you, I don’t hate the one she is using here but it’s bordering on being a teeny-tiny bit too shrill and thin for my taste. It’s still solid (and nothing at all like her strained “ring your bell” voice let’s say) but it’s not what I personally enjoy most from her. Either way, I think she is hitting her notes just fine (as far as I can tell at least) and the style fits the overall sound of the song. Pus, they made up for the slightly thin vocals by adding a little harmony layer which I appreciate. 9. 愛にできることはまだあるかい (Ai ni dekiru koto wa mada aru kai) Arranger: Sin; Most of you may know this already but I am a HUGE fan of the cello so I am happy we have such a strong cello presence here. Those cello parts are so cool. Anyways, this turned out to be one of my favourite tracks even though I didn’t think I would ever like this song based on the YouTube teaser we got a while back. There is just so much raw emotion and fierceness in Wakana’s voice, towards the end she is hitting me right in the feels. I just can’t help but be drawn to the song. I am surprised by how well she handles songs that are originally sung by males. Her covers of this and “Get Wild” are just exceptional imo. They bring out a new side of Wakana which I really love. 10. 夢のゆくえ (Yume no Yukue) Arranger: Shu Kanematsu; While I didn’t know this song before listening to Wakana’s cover version, the melody reminded me a LOT of the old anime songs I used to like back in the day. The feeling of nostalgia is super strong in this one so naturally I enjoy it quite a bit. It’s not an outstandingly beautiful song or anything but the arrangement is lovely and Wakana’s vocals are on point.

»»—— CLICK ME 🎁 CLICK ME ——««

FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, if you have the means, support Wakana in any way you can. Order a physical copy of her album, purchase it in digital format. Stream it legally on various streaming services. au

#kalafina #wakana #review #Wakana Covers ～Anime Classics～#wakana cover album #thank god today is a holiday so I can focus solely on her album #can't believe how excited I am for this release #obviously I love Keiko and Hikaru and their releases #but THIS is my jam #I AM IN LOVE #audio

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k-fiction-therapy · 5 years

Text

Into The Night (Version 5 - Hyungwon)

Moodboard by Admin Scar

Starring: Chae Hyungwon & Reader

Includes: Vampire!AU, Night Life & Vague TB References

Rating: 18+

~*.*..*“It was just supposed to be a night out, but this...this was a night in hell--and how beautiful the devil was.”*..*.*~

A/N: Hello, all! This is the fifth installment of “Into the Night”, a series that highlights seven very different Vampire!AU stories, each involving a different member of Monsta X as the main male lead. <3 I hope you enjoy them. I have been obsessed with Vampires since I was a child, and my attraction to them only grows the older I get~ I do hope that my take on these different vampire tropes tickles your fancy as it has mine.

Version 1 - Shownu

Version 2 - Wonho

Version 3 - Minhyuk

Version 4 - Kihyun

Version 5 - Hyungwon

Version 6 - Jooheon

Version 7 - Changkyun

Asks Open for Feedback, Comments, Kudos and Thoughts. <3

Dust settled in your bones as you unpacked boxes in the living area of your new house, the layout open, making the home look far bigger than it actually was. Eyes traveling over the furnishings, you found yourself with a bittersweet taste in your mouth. You remembered that moving out on your own represented independence and new opportunities, it also shed light on the things that life had ripped from you—the very things that pushed you to move in the first place. In the dust and peeking sun rays that dotted the tops of marked boxes your memories were written; forcing you to take a moment’s pause.

He had run into the arms of someone else as if he had loved them all his life, crushing your heart beneath his heel. You could have strangled him to death for what he had done to you, but despite the pain he caused you and the knife he put in your back, you still kept his clothes and smelled them while you sobbed as if you were in grief of a wondrous love lost. He was poison, but damn did the apple taste so sweet. He had another heart to mangle, and you were left with no one. You felt utterly alone, and regardless of your best friend telling you that you were a ‘catch’ and that they would help you ‘get back out there’, you still felt the pangs of hopelessness tug on your broken heart.

Sighing, you dropped down into your floor and leaned against the couch, your legs crisscrossing comfortably. The wind pushed from you, and particles burst from the vintage cushions, the sofa groaning as if it were commiserating with you. You couldn’t allow yourself to wallow. What good did it do? None. What would it heal? Nothing. Perhaps you should take your friend’s advice and get back out there—but where would you go?

A club had been suggested, only about a half hour train ride from where you lived, but the notion made you laugh. It wasn’t that you were against clubs, it’s just that you weren’t exactly up to the task of being thrust into such a physical environment. Truth be told, you weren’t exactly the club-goer, and when you thought of awkwardly gyrating on the dance floor, you wanted to facepalm. If you were already embarrassed of yourself, how did you expect to manage actually doing it?

Your phone chiming broke your concentration, and you quickly picked it up, secretly hoping it was a Snap from your bestie, goading you into attending tonight—but what you got was a social media notification…for him. You had forgotten that you had tapped that bell, that every time he posted, you were going to see it—and there they were, arm in arm, lips close and eyes lovingly focused on one another. You could have crushed your phone, a tear rolling down your cheek. Anger became you, and you quickly unfollowed him, closing your phone before dropping it onto the couch behind you. Forcing air from your nose, you cracked—

“You know what? Fuck it. Let’s go.”

***************

The night was cold, and with you scantily dressed, the warm color of the pink neon was doing nothing to stop the chill of your exposed skin. You walked down the sidewalk towards the blacked-out doors of club ₩onder, your best friend by your side, stumbling a bit as they fixed their makeup in a compact; and you found yourself curious of where they were going to stash it, sure it would leave an odd shape in those spandex hot-pants. Honestly, the thought of it gave you a much-needed laugh.

Prodding you because you were laughing, they knocked against your arm and smiled wide, locking fingers with you to pull you along, quickly moving into the line. Glancing to the other patrons, you felt immediately out of place. Black leather, lace, and chokers galore, you swore you had stumbled onto the Gothic underground. Honestly, you weren’t dressed badly, but you felt like you should have been warned so that you could have worn black and blended in—no one likes to stick out because they’re one blue smudge in a sea of ash.

“You should have told me it was a bondage club, I would have dressed the part.” You whispered to your companion, leaning close to them, your ass perked and back arched, catching the attention of the bouncer, who did his part to move the line along.

“₩onder is not a bondage club, it’s…artistic.” Your friend said, waving a hand.

“There’s literally someone in a leather puppy mask, and another with a horse tail butt plug.” You gestured towards a few people not far up in the line from where you stood. Honestly, the horse tail had you mesmerized, but you found yourself wondering if they straightened, or brushed it. It looked so soft as it moved, perfectly contrasting the rubber tail of the puppy a few spots further up the line. Said puppy was on all fours, moving their hips back and forth obediently, making their tail wag, as their master gripped a leather leash and gently pet their snout, making cute little sounds pour from their lips. A part of you found it oddly cute, and you might have smiled, but you couldn’t shake the scene.

“Come on. Keep an open mind!” Your bestie said, swatting at your arm playfully, before winking, “—or would you rather go home to your vibrator?”

“Hey, don’t bring Kai into this!” You could have put them in a headlock, but someone here might have taken it the wrong way. They just deserved a punch for saying something like that out loud. So embarrassing–you might have been blushing, but your layers of makeup saw to it that it didn’t see the light of day.

“I can’t believe you named it that.” They rolled their eyes so dramatically that you swore you heart them turn in their head, “You’re so sad.”

You wrinkled your brows and shook your head, gesturing to the line and towards the club, though the volume of your voice didn’t raise. You didn’t want to call attention to yourself, “You are the one that is looking for love in a place like this—”

“Oh, I’m not looking for love. Unless it’s thick, and deep…Mmf.” They said, running a hand down their front, giving a half-hearted, trashy body roll. You laughed behind your hand, but they didn’t stop there, moving their ass like a bitch scorned, “You should stop thinking about ‘marriage’ and ‘eternity’, and all that shit. Focus on the here and now.” Their fingers pointed to the ground before they made an obscene gesture, tongue in their cheek, “You need to get laid.”

“Well, that’s your opinion—” Crossing your arms, you looked away, pretending to scan the place, mostly because you didn’t want to talk about it anymore. It wasn’t that you were sensitive about your lack of recent carnal vocation, but rather because you felt like the odd one out for not jumping on the first cock you saw.

“Mhm. The right one. Fill up your empty hole.” They twitched a finger back and forth, grinning from ear to ear.

“Why are we friends?” You huffed.

“Shut up, you love me.”

The bouncer moved a hand from side to side, gesturing for you both to move forward. He was a tall man, and quite dense in muscle. His shirt was rather tight, and he seemed perpetually flexed, waiting for someone to pick a fight with him. There was a real masculinity that radiated from him that made you feel both safe and terribly insecure at the same time. Checking your IDs, he waved you in, taking a moment to roll his eyes down the line of your spines—and it sent uncomfortable shivers across your bare shoulders as you pushed into the place.

Pulsing with rhythmic pop and dance music, ₩onder truly looked like an undulating mass of Gothic intrigue, the mass of people making it hard to tell where one ended and the other began. Trying to get into the swing of the place, you wound through people, keeping as close to your friend as you could, heading for the bar. Looking over the drink list, you wrinkled your brows—they were all named after blood types and the like.

Glancing to your companion, who had already ordered and was smelling their drink curiously, you assumed it was just witty word play, and ordered a “O+ Passion”, which was handed to you in a crystal glass, and was as deep red as the night was black. You sniffed at the rim of the glass, the copper bloom of the liquor filling your nose, making your eyes water. What the hell. Taking a drink, you immediately spit it back into the glass, trying to do so behind your hand so as not to offend anyone, especially the bartender.

You felt as if the liquid had stained your teeth, so you licked furiously at them, feeling as if a film had been permanently placed atop your canines. What an odd drink. Turning to the dance floor, you glanced up to make sure no one had seen you—and over the crowd, from the front of the room, eyes like pale-blue, lavender ice gripped you, cutting straight to your heart. Plush tiers of rose down, and porcelain skin held your gaze, making you shake where you stood—you were lucky you hadn’t dropped your drink in awe.

He must have been many meters from you, across the dance floor, but he felt like he was standing right in front of you. Seated in a baroque style throne atop a pedestal, white yet reflecting pink from the lights of the club, he exuded power and dominant sensuality. His legs were as long as you could see, and his arms matched, hands resting delicately, and fingers flexed. He was somehow the most dominantly severe and beautifully soft thing you had ever seen in your entire life. A fire lit within you, and suddenly, you needed to know him at the deepest parts of your soul—to have him fill you with all that he was, and use you as he liked; twist you into a gorgeous pretzel.

***************

On your knees in front of him, like King and peasant, your back arched, chest heaving as it begged for him, his energy having taken you over, as if his power was wrapping around your nerves and guiding them to act. You didn’t know how you got here—you didn’t remember walking to him, and you certainly couldn’t recall kneeling as if he were your king. You didn’t feel in control of your faculties, much less your own limbs, and when your lips peeled open, your primal desires dripped from your tongue.

“Tell me…why are you here, mortal?” The male didn’t speak, not one word, but his voice was so loud in your mind that it made your ears ring. His eyes never left you, their intent obvious in the shift of color within their spreading iris.

“I want you to take me…” You said aloud, and no one in the room seemed the wiser. Your friend, lost to the crowd, was bleeding from major pulse points, being fed on by multiple patrons who had ensnared them, their body shaking in orgasmic death, clawing for release on the dance floor, the sound of the music drowning out the sound of their voice.

“You want to be mine? Hm?” His hand lifted, grazing the long earring in his left ear before trailing down over the layered lace choker he wore, the top a glinting silver that read “Appelle-Moi”, the necklaces beneath it falling down his chest, accentuating perfect skin as it dipped into a low shirt. The veining of his skin was like a sensual road map, and each time your eye caught sight of a new shade of blue, it trembled. Soaked.

“Take me.” You whimpered, your lips remaining open as if held by strong fingers.

“Obedient slave, I like that.” He nodded, and smiled, but his lips formed no shape, “…Call me ‘Master Hyungwon’. Say it.” He commanded, his mental tone deeper and quite a bit more even than before. You shook as you remained still, his lips peeling apart slowly, showing long fangs, making you quake with pleasure at just the sight. How had this happened to you? Kneeling and wet, you begged for him.

“Master…Hyungwon…” You croaked.

“Mmnn…Good…” He lifted his chin and raised an arm, pointing off towards a velvet covered doorway to the left of where his throne sat, “Go. Through there. Crawl.”

“Yes, Master Hyungwon.”

***************

Hand fisted in what he could grip of your hair, bare hips forced against your tear-streaked face, your throat taking his cock as deep as it would as he face-fucked you, your nose hitting soft pubic hair with each strike of that thickened head to the depths of your slender esophagus. The glide made your throat bulge visibly, but he only pushed deeper, breathing heavily through his nose, thrusting himself harshly, the welcoming muscles enveloping him, making your eyes roll back in your head and your gag reflex act up.

Snarling, he kept himself controlled, but his hips jerked back and forth several times vigorously before he pulled from your throat, saliva stringing from your mouth to his girth, the thick of the veined member bobbing in the dense air of the room. Staring down at you, he brought your face forward once more, rubbing the mushroomed, red head against the shape of your lips, swirling the glistening precum against your mouth.

Your lids fluttered open at the feeling of that cock against your lips, a submissive expression taking you as you stared up at him, opening your mouth slowly, your tongue slipping forward to press to the thick underbelly of that girth, the tip flicking, silently begging for more. Hyungwon licked the expansive curvatures of his lips, bringing the hand that had once been in your hair forward, gently petting over your crown, “…Mm…so hungry…” He finally spoke aloud, though it was no more than a whisper, and as he watched you, his lean abdominal muscles flexed visibly, making you feel weak. Your hands ran down your thighs and you moved your head forward, that thick tip popping into your mouth, and he gave a moment’s pause just to watch you before gripping the back of your skull a second time, slamming his cock into your mouth once more, arching to keep it deep, “A-ahh…suck…harder.”

You found yourself unable to defy him, even with the painful stretch of your throat nearly taking over your ability to breathe. His hips moving again, he would roll them, starting a slow, hard rhythm, grunting deeply from how you stimulated him. Picking up the pace, he snarled, gripping your hair a second time, this time harder than prior, fucking your throat as if he was a man starved. Your nails dug into your thighs and you tried to keep yourself stable, tears rolling over your cheekbones, the stretch nearly too much.

“A-ah, I’m close. Yeah, just like that.” He groaned lewdly, his head tipping back and body tensing hard as he chased his orgasm, “Fuck…” Jerking his hips forward a handful more times until he slammed himself deep and stilled, shooting thick, immense, cum into that throat, against your nasal passage and second gag reflex, the white fluid forced from your nose, your throat spasming around his throbbing girth, which pulsed hard against your tongue.

You closed your eyes tightly until he pulled back, popping free of your lips once more, cum flooding from your bottom lip, dripping from your chin and covering the bottom half of your face. You stared up at him, messy and broken in the most beautiful of ways, used by the vampire for his more carnal needs, you had somehow found yourself feeling far more alive. Staring up at him again, you knew that your pants were soaked from your own arousal, and you wiggled in your spot a bit, whining needily.

Dropping a hand down, he would tip your chin up, staring at you, his fingers slicking with his own seed, though he kept your face level, staring down at you, “Mm…You listen so well. I’ll keep you around for a while…use you for blood…and sex…” He bit his lip slowly, letting his teeth drag from the plush of his bottom tier, “…you’d like that wouldn’t you?”

You couldn’t help but nod, the sound of the club outside the curtains still pulsing with music, the other patrons none the wiser that your face had just been fucked senseless. Drowned in his power, you wanted him, and you wouldn’t dare think of leaving his side, or disobeying, so you merely answered, “Yes, Master Hyungwon. I would very much like that.”

Dropping a hand, he would hook a finger in the choker you wore, pulling you up as if you were leashed. Staring into your eyes, he bore his teeth at you, and you could feel your blood pulse as if it were begging for him to drain you, and in many ways, it was. You knew he could so easily kill you—and one day, he just might. You swallowed hard, your throat moving against the finger that pressed against it. You had never felt more alive than with this undead King, never more full in heart and mind. He hissed through his teeth, hungry for more of you—every inch.

“Alright…then together we shall become entwined, deep…

…Into the night.”

Admin Death

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wilhelmjfink · 5 years

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The Great Divide - Chapter 5

A/N: i thought we were on chapter 4 but i already posted that so here we are...!

Previous Chapter • Next Chapter

Riley had observed the workers as she was led — or dragged, more or less — blindly through a maze of dirty alleyways and dark corridors. Old brick buildings, dilapidated and crumbling walls to structures getting patched up and rebuilt were everywhere, and each one had a small crew of people struggling to keep up with it. Some women, some men, some even children, all of them emancipated and filthy, covered in soot and bruises, bags under their eyes from exhaustion, frown lines permanently etched on their faces that gave even the youngest ones the appearance of having lived through a lifetime of struggle.

Up until then she had been trying to quell the fear twisting in her gut telling her it was nothing she couldn’t handle, but every corner she turned held more and more reason for her to worry.

She wasn’t even sure where she was — she had heard the words “pit” and “divide” thrown around frequently in the chatter and spotted a couple of makeshift signs with those words painted sloppily on them among others all with arrows pointing different directions.

Men were shoveling piles of coal into furnaces, stacking gigantic steam beams on top of one another or hoisting them up with a pulley to sit steadily against the towering walls of thick, heavy corrugated metal sheets that bordered the city endlessly, sealing the rest of the world where it belonged — outside of the fences. The wall around her was constructed of endless laborious tasks, it seemed.

It was like a different world, an alternate universe that Riley had fallen into against her will, almost like she was living in a movie. Watching it through a big screen before her eyes except she could feel every little piece of it: every wave of heat from the roaring furnaces, every spec of dust that floated around her that she blinked into her eyes or inhaled dryly, every time the person pushing her from behind tightened his grip threateningly to remind her whose control she was under should she get any ideas, gloved fingers bruising her pale skin.

Stumbling up some concrete stairs she was shoved harshly through the shipping entrance of a looming factory building, covered in a thick layer of dust that settled on all of the unused machines and full of heavy duty chains that hung from the tall ceiling, bulky and rusty hooks dangling from the bottom links and over her head.

While she was engulfed in the horror movie vibe she was getting her captor pressed her against one of the cold, steel walls and held her there securely, patting her down as if she was being searched by a cop or by security at TSA. She growled to herself, not fighting back just yet, but already formulating a plan in the back of her mind of how she was going to get the hell out of this place and the demons that walked it; she knew it held nothing but long, painful days ahead for her if she didn’t leave as soon as possible.

“This one’s good.” The voice come from behind her, muffled as if he was talking through some sort of mask — hell, he might’ve been, she hadn’t even seen him yet. Her right cheek was still digging into the cold steel wall and pinching her flesh as she was held there, biting her tongue and squirming uncomfortably, tasting the blood as it seeped out from the cuts she was causing.

The pressure was released off of her and she seized the opportunity of freedom to whip around to get a good look at the mysterious stranger. It was just as she’d expected: he had the leather armor with the same spikes as the last few, a gas mask covering his face, and a large axe strapped to his back. He was tall, solid, and any inclination she had to turn and run completely melted away into nothing. He was intimidating and she stood stupidly. “Clothes off.”

She blinked. “I’m... w--what?”

“Clothes off!” She was already shaking, her fingers lightly grasping the hem of her dark green jacket before she peeled it off slowly, eyeing the other strangers that were being ushered in in a similar fashion that she had been brought in with curiously. One girl was crying, one man cursing and flailing. Others just wept and did what they were told. The lone man’s protests didn’t last, because when they reached the wall adjacent to her his captor shoved him so forcefully into it that Riley could hear the sickening crunch of his nose breaking and he fell to the floor in a heap at the guys feet.

She wasted no more time kicking off her boots and jeans down to her bare feet where she stood what would’ve otherwise been awkwardly and exposed, not even minding her lack of coverage considering all that was going on around her, shivering despite the intense heat in the room, and standing as still and quiet as she could for fear of being next in line to have her face smashed in.

All of the other civilians were just as scared as her and none of the uniformed guards and soldiers offered her any information about what was going on. They buzzed around her like bees, talking amongst themselves, low rumbles of laughter erupting from deep inside their dark souls, surely about some of the misfortune of the people that stood by Riley. And she knew it would be coming for her soon.

Once they were all unclothed, they stood shoulder to shoulder, Riley first, and three more people to her right.

Soldiers with face paint and intimidating large guns stood in front of the only visible exit and another guy, this one covered by a welding mask, rolled in what looked like a wood stove, several steel rods on its side that Riley recognized as tools used to poke and supply fires with. It squeaked obnoxiously as he or she followed it in, rusty wheels grinding against each other like nails on a chalkboard.

Riley wasn’t sure how much farther her heart could drop down into her stomach at that point and all she knew for sure was that, whatever was about to happen, she was first in line for it.

Dread and crippling terror took over the rest of her body in waves as one of the rods was taken from its metal shelf, the metal cross-shaped tip of it glowing a menacing shade of red, the man holding it dawned in heavy duty gloves and chuckling to himself as he made his way to her.

She couldn’t be sure, but she thought it was his laughter that finally got to her.

She started pleading incoherently as the first man from before had flipped her over, his large hand holding her face down against the metal wall behind her, the other pinning her wrists easily in its grip above her hand. She spiraled quickly into a panic as her brain put the pieces in their place and she realized what exactly was about to happen:

“What — no! No, no, no! Please!”

Her begging was ignored and she could hear her skin sizzling before she could feel it.

Oddly, the metal felt painfully cold before it turned into a singeing heat, crippling her like she was struck by a bolt of white-hot lightning, a blood curdling scream tearing from deep inside of her unintentionally as she tried to push herself into the wall in hopes that maybe she could melt through it and escape the unbearable pain.

Death would have been a nice alternative. She writhed, struggling underneath the crushing iron grip in her body as all her senses just blended together into a blinding overwhelming agony. And it weighed down on her, crushing her until it was the only thing she could see or hear or feel in her little world.

Riley wasn’t sure how long she was forced to stand there, held upright as her kneels buckled underneath her with the fire digging into the flesh in the middle of her back, disfiguring her permanently and forever reminding of her terrifying time here that had yet to even begin. She embraced the darkness as it welcomed her into its arms.

Riley leaned with her head against the cold cement wall, shoulder digging into the coarse stone, a dull and welcomed pain as opposed to the debilitating burn on her back that throbbed against her skin. It heated her entire body up, despite still being mostly unclothed and shivering in the cool night air. She hugged herself, striving to remain as still as possible as to not disturb her burn, biting her lip to stifle her cries.

She assumed the makeshift cell that housed her was that of an actual prison; a small holding cell in a small city hall before, dark and quiet and holding nothing but a small cot and a toilet in the corner keeping her company.

She’d only woken up when they tossed her in there carelessly — paying little attention to the fresh wound they’d caused her — and she screamed in pain as she’d fallen, and since then the tears haven’t been able to stop. Her lip quivered as she whimpered, trying to withhold her sobbing, trying to be strong, but failing miserably as a combination of the pain and fear and despair smothered her and the reality of her situation became very real very fast.

Angry. She was angry that she had gone after that asshole Warner — if that was even his name — and angry that she believed him. She was upset with herself for trusting people so easily, still, even after Daryl had reprimanded her more than once for it. For as bitter as she could be, she couldn’t turn down the idea of helping someone... even if the reward was her own life. So stupid.

“Oh god, Daryl, please come help me...”

She wondered what he was doing. No idea of the time of day, no idea of how long it’d been since she’d last seen him, no frame of reference for any of it. It felt like years but she knew in reality it probably been twenty-four hours, if that. It all blurred together in a big mass of headaches, fear, yelling, vivid dreams of piercing blue eyes and a low, rough voice somewhere far away from her promising her she would be okay.

Fuck, she missed him.

So much so that it brought a physical pang of emptiness and loss to her heart and caused her to choke out another sob, longing for him to come find her and save her or at the very least just make the fucking hurt go away. He was good at that. At that moment, it felt like she would be able to withstand anything that shithole threw at her, so long as Daryl was there with her.

Did he know what had happened? How would he? She’d felt like she’d disappeared from that world without a trace, leaving nothing behind but a memory, something so light and delicate that it hardly even mattered anymore and could disappear in the blink of an eye and it would be like she never even existed in the first place. Should’ve just followed the plan. Should’ve listened to Daryl.

Did Tara and Aaron make it home? God, she hoped so.

Also, she hoped that Daryl wasn’t too upset; that maybe he’d found comfort in Rick or Carol’s arms, accepting the support and help. Maybe he’d be upset for the first night or two but she was sure Carol would’ve stayed with him had that been the case and he was probably fine now, coming to terms with the loss and moving on.

But she hoped, prayed to anything that was out there listening, that all of that was not the case and, in fact, he was out there searching for any sign of her. She needed that faith to latch on to -- to know that somewhere, he was following any sort of hint or clue that came up and was on his way there to rescue her, just like he always did, and wouldn’t rest or even sit until he reached her.

That’s usually what Daryl did. He wouldn’t rest until he had answers. Christ, she remembers when he’d lost Beth and later told her how he just ran and ran and ran and looked for her, refusing to give up until his knees literally collapsed underneath him in sheer exhaustion. The thought broke her heart even more and she scratched at her tired, damp eyes.

“Please, Daryl...” Tears streamed down her cheeks and burning her chilled, scraped skin. Please come find me. Please don’t give up on me. Please help me.

:-(

next chapter, we’ll see how daryl is doing after running into mr-they-took-my-wife.....

@crossbowking @jodiereedus22 @apossiblegentleman @mtngirlforever @sourwolf-sterek32 @winchester-angel @qrangr @cole-winchester @the-bottom-of-the-abyss @twdeadfanfic @crazyaboutnorman @deliciousassafrasssandwich @bunnymother93 @96ssi @fireeyes-on-teller-dixon-grimes

cover image source: background daryl i am the girl on the right lmao

#the walking dead #the walking dead fanfiction #the walking dead fanfic #daryl dixon #the walking dead daryl #the walking dead daryl dixon #daryl dixon fanfiction #daryl dixon fanfic #daryl x oc #twd #twd daryl #somebody better guess this fucking game soon or so help me #i'm disappointed yall

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kpoptarotvibes · 5 years

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This is for every Army who thought I was just saying BTS album is bad just to be mean or didn’t like the musical style. Nah here goes your 5 page essay you wanted. I use to make music for fun. I know how to break down music and a song. Here is in detail why I do not like this album. I’m not trying to mean or malicious I just really want more from BTS because I know they can do better than this. They been 4 plus years in the game with they production team. Like we can and need to do better since they got people spending they hard earned money on these pre ordered albums. I’m not settling for less I don’t care who it is. Have good goddamn evening….

Intro: Persona: Besides the fact that I thought this was great because it reminded me of old school BTS but…. Everything fit. He had bars not just bars he hit you with a catchy hook and chorus.

I like the beat on this one. I like the rock guitar with it. See this is what I’m trying to say about the Dionysus song there's a way you can add a good rock guitar and blend it with a good beat instead of having everything stacked on each other and you can’t hear no instruments so it just sounds like noise.

This song and production was great to me. The message was great.

Boy with Love: Let’s talk about the arrangement on this song. I didn’t like it all the raps felt misplaced. I don’t know why they waited until the middle to the end of the song to finally add the rap parts. The song itself is repetitive and boring because the beat is so basic behind it. It does nothing to make the song pop. If they would have sprinkled the raps around evenly the song would of have something different added to it. So the listener wouldn’t be bored hearing the same melody over and over.

I figured out why I’m so bored with this song when I listen to it. The hook and chorus is so repetitive with no melody changes that would make it much more of a interesting listen. I don’t know who mixed this but it seems like they blended Kookie’s vocals into the song instead of letting his voice stand away from the music. I felt like they did that with Jimin vocals too.

I also felt like this song would do good with a beat change somewhere to keep the music interesting but nope the beat just stops and starts and that’s it. Like I said before this song sounds like something I’ve already heard before. I really wished that Halsey would have written them a better song. I hate how they think your going to add something to your song when you sing rap real fast in Migos style. Sorry it just didn’t work for this song at all. Didn’t save it.

Mikrokosmos: This was a boring listen for me here is why. First of all I hate to say this but these lyrics came off as corny and redundant. When I read them I don’t know how many times I read blinking light and shining light. Like come on I know yall can write better emotional songs then this with better lyrics. Like I get what they were trying to say I understood the message but.

I wish they would have added to what they were saying. Changed the melody of the hook and chorus up a bit to make the song pop more. This type of style song has been done over and over before. I really wished they would have added more strings in the background. More acoustic guitar riffs. Do you know if they had a pretty string intro I would have been here for this song. They could have did more of their twist and take on it. But they didn’t it was just left bare and repetitive. As great as all they vocals sounded on this track they just couldn’t save it for me.

Make It Right: Even though I like this song. My only problem with it is it sounds like what every American Pop or RnB male artist has already done before. They have already sung in this similar melody and style. Again my big problem with the album is that all of it sounds like what I’ve already heard before and it’s boring. This song for me at the end gets boring here is why because they have no changes in the melody no chord changes everything's the same redundant chorus part. Nothing is added or changed to make it pop more. Other then that I like the beat on the song. That’s about it.

Home: I really enjoyed this song. It had everything I wanted to keep me entertained. To keep me listening without being bored. Why because it had everything I asked song and production wise. I wanted a catchy melody changing hook got it. I wanted a catchy chorus part got it. I wanted melody changes and beat changes got it. The arrangement of the song was perfect the raps was placed in there just right to keep me entertain and still listening. This was a very well balanced song even though some of it got a little repetitive that was okay why because they kept the melody so interesting that you wasn’t even paying attention if it was repetitive. I wanted this caliber of song and music throughout the whole album I just felt I didn’t get it.

Jamais Vu: JHope rap was great wouldn’t change a thing. But I don’t like the singing parts of this song because of the same reasons of the melody sounds the same and repetitive. It turns into a boring listen. I really wish they would have changed up the melody and added more variety of what was being sung. That same piano chord like seriously we couldn’t change that up a bit like I’m already bored. Then when Jhope part comes on it gets my attention again. Like I’ve heard a song like this soooo many times in Kpop of this and last year.

Dionysus: I said this song sounds like noise. Here is why I don’t know who mixed this song. But music wise it sounds like everything is layered on top of the guitar, bass, and drums. All at the same volume. In most rock songs in order to hear all the melodies of each instrument they will play with the volume of each instrument so you can hear everything coming through. In this song I didn’t hear that I just heard everything being dumped on top of each other. It was hard for me to listen to and catch the rhythm of the song.

Song wise everything sounded rushed. The hooked sounded rushed the chorus sounded rushed to me. I did not like the lyrics I felt like they could have found more clever ways of expressing being drunk or wanting to drink. Then shots and drink up drink up drink up. You did name the song after God of Wine right. I felt like the screams was unnecessary because it wasn’t even that hard of a rock song. I do not feel like they balanced out the rap and the singing parts because the singing parts were so fast paced. It sounded all over the place to me.

If they would have been more heavy on the guitar riffs and pulled the beat back some. Let the vocal line sing more then added the raps in between and at the end where they are trying to hype people up. Then I would have felt like the rock screams would be necessary.

Like I said on my live we have heard this style before. We have heard songs similar to this with American artist already. I was wanting something different something more back to BTS style. Something where the music would have more thought and creativity put into it. But I did not get that it was boring and not good to me. I felt like I did not get what I wanted or need on this album at all. I felt like they really didn’t have time to do more. I wish they slowed down so they could have done more than this. This was a lack luster album compared to all the other great albums they put out. That’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it. You can’t force me to like what you like. I would never do that to you. Please don’t do that to me. If you felt like this was a good album cool gurl go do you. But as for me and my house it’s a “no” for me.

#my personal album break down

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stopreadingthisanddance · 5 years

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2018 top albums

Okay, so hopefully you read (& enjoyed listening to) my top EPs list, this one is a little longer, and hopefully a little prettier. They’re ranked 10 -> 1, with my honourable mentions up front here. I hope you enjoy at least some of the music I loved this year, and don’t find my writing unbearable. Once again, I’ve included spotify links for each album if and youtube links for my favourite tracks of each album.

honourable mentions:

alison wonderland - awake/remxies

standouts: good enough & no (umru & kid froopy remix)

This was really tough for me to place, it would have likely made it onto the top 10 list had it not been for how much I loved the remix album that accompanied this album, and including both felt like cheating. Despite her trap banger roots, Alison Wonderland manages to hit that dance/cry sweet spot over and over on this project, from the manic banger Good Enough, with her gorgeous cello backed by an anxiety inducing rising bassline, to the anxious "is it good enough!?" ringing out, to hip-hop influenced High, to the big room trap banger that is Happy Place. It's got all of that and more on the base album, and the collection of remixes that were done afterward by her contemporaries managed to even further diversify the track list, while still keeping enough of the original to be recognizable. Even if you don't like electronic music, listen to No (umru & Kid Froopy Remix) and tell me that xylophone lead isn't catchy as all hell.

ross from friends - family portrait

standout: pale blue dot

A mainstay in the lo-fi house scene, Ross From Friends released his first full length project this year, and it gave everything I had hoped. Lovely, danceable grooves, ace production, and the feeling of being transported, if momentarily, to another plane of existence. If you have even the slightest inclination towards electronic music, check out Pale Blue Dot.

joji - ballads 1

standout: rip

The transition George Miller aka Filthy Frank aka joji has made throughout his young career is pretty spectacular. From absurdist comedy to the angsty, low key R&B on this project is pretty amazing, and while he certainly exhibits a lot of similar traits to the S A D B O Y aesthetic that has taken over mainstream hip-hop the last few years, he does it with enough of his own flavour that it's hard to discount that it is his. RIP and Attention are two of the most overtly sad songs I've heard in a long time, both in lyrical content, as well as production and the slurring and gravely vocal delivery. While tracks like Can't Get Over You throw in some needed dancey beats, while still maintaining that raw emotional delivery and content that defines this project so much.

top 10:

jizue - room

standout: grass

I can't explain this album, I've spent the last 30 minutes attempting it, and I just can't. It's an instrumental album from Japanese group jizue that blends elements of jazz, math-rock and hardcore into...whatever this project is. I love it, but it's just the right side of complex and listenable to serve as the perfect background music, and still manage to stand on it's own. Check it out, maybe someone can explain it to me.

anderson .paak - oxnard

standout: brother's keeper

It took a while for Anderson .Paak to hit it big, but even back when I first heard his stuff, it was pretty apparent that it was only a matter of time before he hit it. Not only are his producer chops on display in full effect here, from rattling kicks and afro-soul influenced melodic leads, to the heavy jazz influences, all layered with a touch of 90s hip-hop. Dr. Dre helped with production and executive produced, and the influences of that era shine through heavily. Speaking of, .Paak's vocal performance is entirely different from what I had come to expect, and covers a wide array of topics, from the politically charged 6 Summers, to the sensual The Chase, that feels a lot it needs to be halfway an action scene in an 80s movie, to the savage Pusha-T feature Brother's Keeper. While .Paak himself is more a singer than rapper, his voice and flow fits the aesthetic of this project, and the brilliance of the production variety while still maintaining the feel of a cohesive project. From the all star feature list, to the frequent use of beat change-ups midway through tracks, back to front this project demands your attention.

rl grime - nova

standout: ucla

My first listen of this album resulted in me thinking "eh, this is just a bunch of electronic tracks", they weren't bad, but I didn't really feel it until my 3rd or 4th listen. RL Grime's ability as a producer has never been in question, and his live shows the stuff of legends. Throw into that with his yearly, highly anticipated Halloween 7 mixtape, featuring a vocal open by Shaq, he didn't need to come through with a project as diverse as this, and yet here we are. He manages to flow easily from big room trap Feel Free and Pressure, to the more housey Shrine and the emotional Atoms and the manic instrumental Rainer. It was really hard for me to pick just one favourite because of how cohesive this album has ended up feeling for me, like being taken on someone else's emotional roller coaster ride. But I've settled on the trashy, trappy R&B UCLA, where the lyrics manage to come across a little insecure, while the beat makes up for it with astounding bravado, and massive trap drops.

chvrches - love is dead

standout: deliverance

I've written before how vital live music events are to my enjoyment of certain genres & music acts, and if I'm being honest, this album wouldn't be on here if I hadn't had the chance to see CHVRCHES live this year at the Commodore. It's a good album, don't get me wrong, it's got all polish of their previous two albums, and even more varied song selection with the more typical synth-pop bops with Miracle and Heaven/Hell, there's a huge change up with the moodier God's Plan and the incredibly sad and moving instrumental ii. Even Get Out, one of the lead singles from this project is laced with a lot darker subject matter and musical elements. Seeing Lauren Mayberry dance under neon lights to the intro rift of Graffiti will stick in my mind for years to come, and that feeling is what this kind of music is all about.

soccer mommy - clean

standout: cool

My musical tastes have been diverse for as long as I can remember, but this style of grungy, lo-fi bedroom pop-rock has never really been on my radar before. That being said, Nashville native Soccer Mommy has a lot of what I look for in music, catchy hooks, lyrics brimming with emotion and someone willing to take risks. While it's undeniable that this is far from a production masterpiece, which I don't understand in 2018 honestly, the great song writing and Sophie Allison's distinctive voice and nonchalant delivery gives me that summer feeling no matter what time of the year it is. Cool is one of my most listened to songs of the year by a long shot, with it's upbeat music and sad lyrics, it sounds like what teenage regret felt like. Scorpio Rising on the other hand, covers a lot of the same topics, but it manages to do to it in a very different way, sort of in a Slow Dance On The Inside by Taking Back Sunday kinda feel.

rezz - certain kind of magic

standout: teleportal

Even with my list this year being highly varied, I think this might be the least approachable album on either this or my EP list. Rezz has managed to create a cult of personality around herself in a way very few electronic musicians ever manage through her phenomenal set construction, heavy emphasis on showmanship with lights and video during her live sets, and brilliant production. Add on top of that very few artists are making this style of music anywhere close to this caliber, and you end up with a dominant force of heavy basslines and dark aesthetics. If you have ever had any interest in dubstep, be it the traditional UK variant or the trashy late 2000s-era bedroom-produced bangers, you will likely love this album. It's no surprise that deadmau5 signed her in 2016 given that her style of building up layers and layers of effects and sonic elements, only to cut them all out to isolate a heavy drop or gorgeous orchestral melody is very reminiscent of the house legend himself.

hinds - i dont run

standout: tester

Spanish all girl quartet came out of no where for me, but once I was into their vibe, I didn't look back. They sing in English (mostly), but their accents taint all their lyrics with just a little touch exotic flavour, giving their cacophonous musical style one more element to throw into the mix. They sort of sound like a mix of The Velvet Underground, and the Strokes, with a modern pop twist, and the fact they're women making, or more accurately, fighting the transition from care free 20s, to the reality of their 30s comes through in spades. The variety of their voices, and their writing styles gives this album a distinctly personal touch, but not so much it's impossible to relate to. This album is perfect for sitting in the sun on a lazy afternoon and letting the entire project wash over you, if I had to pick just one track though I'd go with Tester, a track about navigating complex, undefined personal relationships, and coping with it however possible.

let's eat grandma - im all ears

standout: it's not just me

I knew that PC Music wouldn't stay off my list entirely this year, the entire label seem to be steering pop music on the whole, and the production influences from SOPHIE fly in pretty fast on the glitchy-noisey delicious mess that is Hot Pink, the opening track. They follow that up with my favourite track of the year in It's Not Just Me, with the angsty lyrics, the way they seem to just float over the top of the beat that manages to be both groovy (dig the dance moves in the music video) and still challenge the listener with complexity and a touch of cacophony. While these two 17 year old girls from some random town in the UK might only be releasing their second project, and the lyrical content is for sure written by 17 year old girls, they show a capacity for having a vision for a track and getting it across in a truly astonishing way. They manage to blend genres, topics and feelings seemingly effortlessly, and I can't get enough of it!

the midnight - kids

standout: america 2

The nostalgic, synth-pop, retro-wave duo The Midnight came through with an ode to the 80s and 90s, laced with modern sensibilities. Stick these tracks over some 90s action movies, and they won't feel out of place, nor will they as your cruise into the sunset of 2018. With lyrics that are wistful for the past, and aware of the fact it will never come back, they manage to make you want to groove along, while slightly pricking that part of your brain that says "hey, is there where you thought you'd be when you were 12?". The whole project is laced with news clips from the 80s and 90s, talking about how exciting, and how terrifying the future looked. It's easy to forget even in those less connected times, sometimes all you could do was blast the stereo, drive into the night, and hold onto the best parts of your past, and try and be optimistic about the future.

brockhampton - iridescence

standout: tonya

Brockhampton is one of those music groups that is such a cultural phenomenon, it'll inspire kids making music in their bedrooms for a long time. No hip-hop group has made such a massive impact since Wu-Tang, and we all know they ain't nuthin' to fuck with. Both the group and each member manages to display astonishing range as they move from emotional ballads like the brilliant Tonya to bangers like New Orleans, they manage to make you want to dance to the driving basslines and clever lyrics, only to snap change to the slow and deeply emotional tracks like San Marcos. From Kevin Abstract's masterminding, to Dom's undeniably amazing bars, to the dreamy Matt Champion and the angst filled bearface, it's easy to see why this album is so diverse. What's harder to understand is how cohesive they manage to blend it all together, trappy vocal effects on top of acoustic guitar, the gospel influences, it's all mashed together into perfection. Tonya was on heavy rotation this year, with it's haunting vocals, brilliant piano melodies, and the change up it's so hard not to feel the heart that went into this project.

annnnnnnnd we’re done! I hope you listened to a shit load of good music this year, and I hope some of this resonates with you. Happy Holidays, have a good New Year, roll on 2019.

#2018 #music #aoty

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the-knees-of-the-bees · 6 years

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Tomorrow Only Knows [Chapter 4] - Ignis Scientia x FemReader

ALRIGHTY, over a month again and I’m finally posting this chapter. There’s a topic in this one that I’m hoping I addressed correctly. It’s partly based on my own experiences with the subject and I hope it’s something that can either inspire or relate to. Also, this is my favorite recipe for that very reason (and I’m still searching for the perfect brand of ingredients...)

Chapter 4 Warnings/Themes - SFW, fluff, body image, self-consciousness, body positivity Word Count - 5,114 Chapter 4 Recipe - Tenebraen Berry Opera (Dark Chocolate Tofu ‘Cheesecake’) Series Master List - Tomorrow Only Knows Screen shot by @dizzymoogle

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You undoubtedly slept like a rock that night, a particularly loud rock at that. A bellowed snore escaped your throat as you sprawled over your sleeping bag with your arms lounged above your head. It was such a relief to peacefully dream for once; the surreal nightmare you had experienced the previous night had made you reluctant to fall asleep. Amongst the hazy clouds of your mind, you envisioned the group sitting along the countertop at Takka’s Pit Stop in Hammerhead, Ignis had turned to speak to you but his words suddenly became muffled as you fervently tried to listen. As the edges of your vision began to blur, the sight of Ignis faded and was quickly replaced with… Ignis?

You opened your sleep-deprived eyes to see the advisor at your right side leaning over you, his hand gently shaking your forearm. You propped up on your elbows, searching the interior to discover that the darkness of the night still surrounded the tent while the other three were sound asleep.

“Iggy, is everything okay?” you whispered.

He replied in a hushed voice, “My apologies for waking you at this hour, but I was wondering if you might accompany me for a moment.”

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CONTINUE TO CHAPTER 4 ON AO3

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Keep Reading for Tenebraen Berry Opera “Ulwaat Opera” – Dark Chocolate Tofu ‘Cheesecake’

I’m not really sure if this is supposed to be a traditional French Opera cake since the in-game render kind of looks more like an entremet? Opera cakes usually have visibly distinguishable layers as part of its aesthetic appeal BUT since this is a Prompto recipe I wanted to share a guilt-free alternative to chocolate cheesecake! (I may actually make a version of this but I thought making a healthier version would fit in better with the story) This recipe uses tofu as its cream while the dark chocolate helps to drown out the tofu taste. It also does not use any butter in the crust! Finding the right brand of tofu is KEY as some brands have a very noticeable taste while others do not. I have yet to narrow down my #1 brand but I lately have been gravitating towards the non-organic House Foods brand from Sprouts.

You can prepare this dessert a couple of different ways, I like to use either a mini-cheesecake pan with removable bottoms or a regular cupcake pan with liners. The ratios of the ingredients are still the same. If you find a vegan chocolate this can be a vegan dessert.

Ingredients

Crust

½ cup Raw unsalted almonds ½ cup unpitted medjool dates (roughly 5-6 dates) 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder Pinch salt 1 - 2 tbsp water

Filling

1 package of extra firm tofu (12 ounces) – pressed to remove as much water as possible 1.5 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder 1 tsp vanilla extract 150 ml unsweetened almond milk (or non-dairy milk) Pinch of salt 3.5 to 7 ounces of dark chocolate bar (depending on how strong a chocolate taste you want) 3 – 4 tbsp of Stevia or low-calorie sweetener

Toppings

Whipped cream Berries (Raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, etc) Mint leaf for decoration

Kitchen Tools

12 count cupcake pan with cupcake liners OR 12 count min-cheesecake pan with removable bottoms Food processor or high speed blender Microwaveable bowl 1 small bowl Measuring tools Acetate sheet strips (if not using cupcake liners) Spatula

1. Add dates to food processor and blend until it forms a sticky ball or mostly diced. Remove from blender and set aside

2. Add almonds, cocoa powder, and salt to processor and blend on high speed until forms an almond meal (partly ignore my photo, I forgot to add the cocoa powder when I took the pic lol)

3. Add dates to processor and blend all together until forms a meal

4. Pour into small bowl and add 1 to 2 tbsp of water, just enough to moisten it, too much can make it TOO sticky. Press a small amount between your fingers to test

5. Evenly divide mixture amongst the pan. Press down with your fingers or small glass until forms a firm crust. If using acetate sheets, insert into each cup and gently press into crust (not all the way down, just enough so that it sticks to the crust, otherwise the filling will seep past the acetate) **I was trying a muffin liner in the first pic to see how they would hold up, second pic is the mini-cheesecake pan

6. Combine all filling ingredients except for chocolate in food processor. Blend on high speed until forms a pudding like consistency.

7. Break up dark chocolate into several small pieces and place in microwaveable. Heat in 20 second intervals, removing bowl to stir until completely melted. **Alternatively: Melt via a double boiler

8. Pour melted chocolate into food processor and blend on high for several minutes until completely smooth. **Depending on your food processor or blender, you may get a very smooth texture or a slightly granular consistency. Blend to your preference but the smoother the better for presentation purposes (you can see in this batch it’s pretty grainy still)

9. Scoop and divide evenly into pan, smooth tops out with the back of a spoon. If using acetate sheets, cut a small piece of acetate sheet and scrape down sides as you most likely will get filling all over the place LOL. Once you scrape down the sides, smooth out with the back of a spoon

10. Place pan in refrigerator and chill overnight or at least 3 to 4 hours

11. Remove from pan (and remove acetate sheet if using) and decorate with toppings.

First pic is example of using a regular cupcake liner

Example if you use acetate liner (cake collar) - I got a little lazy and didn’t press down to get the air bubbles out

#ignis scientia #ignis scientia x reader #ignisscientia #ignis x reader #final fantasy xv #final fantasy 15 #ffxv #ffxv fanfiction

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iseultsdream · 6 years

Photo

Mar 15, 2018 - The Ides of March ...and a very long story -photo taken Jan 11, 2018

Years ago when I was in my 20's I almost died in this pond. The memory of that day has stayed with me as vividly as if it had happened yesterday. I think having a near death experience sears that event into your memory in a way that you wish other memories could be retained.

This pond sits in a isolated spot which is not accessible by vehicle. It is usually approached on foot, by by bike, or on horseback. The land around it is slightly elevated, giving it a bowl-like appearance. There are a couple of houses now on one side, mostly hidden from view in the woods above the pond, but back when this story takes place there were none.

Back then I lived on a small farm, about 1/2 a mile from the pond, in a house without electricity, which was located down a long, mostly rough dirt road, a mile from the main paved road. It was a simpler time on the Vineyard then, so this was not as unusual as it might sound. On my farm I had a small herd of Nubian dairy goats, a few Muscovy ducks, a flock of chickens of various breeds, a couple of hives of honey bees, and an old horse named Jinx who had been left on me to care for which turned out to ne for the rest of her life. I shared the house with a couple of cats, 4 Afghan Hounds -2 adults and 2 puppies- and a now ex-partner of mine.

Across the dirt road from the house was the big farm field, the same one I now walk around on an almost a daily basis. Back then the fields were unfenced, and for a time no one lived on that farm, so it became, in a sense, an extended part of my little farm. I would let Jinx graze out there freely, and the dogs could run around in the field, although usually under my supervision, since being sighthounds their keen eyes were always seeking the far horizon and what exciting adventured might lie out there.

Spring is slow to come to the island due to the moderating effect of the cold ocean that surrounds it, but that sunny March morning there was a hint of early spring in the air. As I did some spring prep in the garden, the puppies were playing together in the near-by field. I was keeping an eye on them as I worked. One of the times I looked up, I noticed that they had wandered further out into the large farm field.

When I caught up to them, they were near the top of one of the low hills that surround the pond. They were excitedly hunting for mice in the clumps of dry winter grass, and almost didn't look up when I reached them. I watched them for a moment, while I lingered there in the beauty of the field, enjoying the warmth of the sun on my face. After a bit, I lifted my gaze to the pond below. The pond still retained a good portion of ice cover with an inch or two of snow covering the ice. The edges had started to melt back, and the open water had reached about 4-5 feet from the shoreline in most places. As I looked down on the pond, a hole near the center of the pond caught my eye, and I wondered what had caused that, but that thought broke off quickly when I was shocked to see something move in that hole. With growing horror I recognized it as a distant neighbor's dog, a large white German Shepherd. Initially, the white dog had blended in with the snow-covered ice. For a few seconds I took in this dreadful scene, and then quickly I rushed to gather up the puppies, and took off racing across the rough field back to the house. Thankfully, my partner was at home. Out of breath, in a frantic voice, I described the situation. In trying to think of what to do, all that came to my mind were ladders and ropes.

Well..this was the point when a different decision should have been made, but neither of us considered any other option.. We couldn't call for help. There was no phone in the house, and there certainly weren't any cell phones back then. To get help it would have required driving a mile over the rough dirt road out to the main road, and then somewhere further to find a phone. It felt like by then the dog would be dead. Besides I always consider myself good in a crisis, so I felt it was something I could handle. When I look back on it all now, and that happens every single time I encounter a frozen pond, or hear on the news of an ice rescue, I realize how little I understood of the extreme dangers that lay ahead, in that moment of youthful enthusiasm and determination.

So, we took off in his truck withe a ladder and ropes, straight across the bumpy, still frozen field. Upon reaching the top of the hill above the pond, we jumped out, grabbed the ropes and the long ladder, and with great difficulty hauled it all down to the shoreline.

In the time it had taken for me to get back to the house, the weather had changed. March is always a mercurial month here. The feeling of spring had dissipated. The sky was now darkly overcast, and a cold wind from the ocean had come up. Standing next to the edge of the pond, it felt like we had been plunged back into winter.

We could now see the Shepherd clearly, clinging to the edge of the hole with her front paws. Her eyes now intently fixated on us. It seemed the only way to reach the main body of ice would be to get into the water and hike yourself up onto it. Time was running out, so, without thinking further I found myself chest deep in the coldest water I had ever experienced. I was totally unprepared for the sudden shock of that icy water which seemed to suck all the air out of my lungs. It was almost impossible to breathe at all. Despite that, I continued on, but when I reached the edge of the ice, piece after piece broke off in my hands. It became quickly apparent that this was not going to be the way to reach the dog. After getting back out, we noticed that on the far side of the pond( which in the accompanying photo is across the pond to the right of center) there was a section of ice still attached to the shore, so we dragged everything over there.

Here is where we made our second, and most serious mistake. I had the idea of sliding the ladder onto the ice, and tying a rope to it, then I would move along the ladder to the hole and then somehow get hold of the dog's collar. In writing this now, it all seems crazy, but in an emergency situation like this, if there is no other help, you go into it figuring that you can do it, or at least you have to try. Somehow though, in the midst of this rushed effort to get out to the dog, we forgot a very important element. We had tied a rope to the ladder, but forgot to also tie another rope to me.

I moved along the ladder by straddling it in an almost prone position, and then pulled myself along it. As I slowly approached the hole in the ice the dog became more animated. She had started to whine, and was making more desperate attempts to reach me. When we had laid the ladder on the ice, we found it was too short to reach the hole, so we came up with the idea of once I was almost out there my partner would try to slide the ladder forward a few inches at a time towards the hole. Each time he pushed, I had to hold on tightly, so as not to fall onto the ice. We progressed forward little by little, but just before I reached the edge of the hole, the ice suddenly gave way under me, causing the ladder to upend and send me plunging into the hole with the dog, who immediately grabbed hold of my shoulders with its paws and held on. The ladder plunged into hole also, and disappeared quickly under the ice, dragging the unsecured rope with it.

This happened so suddenly that the shock and horror of my situation didn't register immediately. At first I just tried to get back up on the ice around the hole, but as with my previous attempts from the shoreline, the ice kept breaking away. I could see the fear and shock in my partner's face who had plunged himself into the water at the shoreline trying to reach the edge of the ice to get up on it, only to run into the same breaking ice problem.

I remember treading water, since it was well over my head. I was cold of course, but I think the wool vest, and felt-lined boots I had on may have slowed a bit the dangerous chilling of my body. I remember feeling a brief moment of panic, which fortunately didn't last too long, as our desperate attempts to get me out kept failing. No one knew we were there, and at that time of year it would only be by chance that someone would happen onto us.

As the situation began to feel more hopeless, I began to realize that I just might die there. In my head I started seeing newspaper headlines about two foolish people and a dog who happened out onto to March ice, for whatever imagined reason, and were found dead. In my desperation, after more futile attempts to get onto the ice, for a very brief instant I though maybe I could swim under the ice to the open water since it wasn't that far, but thankfully something stopped me from considering that in any serious way. I was told later that I would most definitely have died if I had tried that.

I remember there was a point where I wasn't as aware of the cold anymore, and almost felt euphoric. As I treadled water, wondering how I would ever get out of there...or if I would..I started to feel very tired. I remember so clearly watching a large flock of Red-winged blackbirds, just having returned for the spring a couple of weeks before, suddenly flying in and alighting in one of the near-by trees filling the air with their loud,distinct and welcome spring song. I remember feeling absorbed for a few seconds in the exquisite beauty of the sight and sound of those birds. As icy water slipped through the layers of my clothing, I knew time was running out and hypothermia was setting in. I remember wondering if the sight and sound of those birds would be the last thing i had a sense of before succumbing to the cold water. Perhaps that may have been part of what suddenly pushed me into a renewed effort to try to get out.

With waning strength I returned to trying to heft myself up onto the ice, as it continued to break away. All the while the dog held on, digging its claws into my shoulders. And then one of those times I got a bit further up on the ice, and the buckle on my belt caught hold of the ice, giving me just enough traction to get my whole body all the way up onto the ice. For a moment, I couldn't quite believe I was out, but quickly realized I was not out of danger since the ice could break again at any moment. I looked back at the dog who was paddling frantically now at the edge of the hole, and without thinking, I quickly reached back, grabbed her collar, and somehow, with a strength I never would have guessed I had, I dragged this big, heavy, wet dog up out of the hole and onto the ice with me. When I think back on that now, I am still amazed that I was able to do that.

Fortunately, the frozen surface held as I slid myself across the ice, dragging the dog with me. We had to get back into the water where the ice had melted back from the shore, and then finally with incredible relief, we were back on land. I could hardly stand at all,and my hands felt like useless clubs. The dog couldn't stand at all. The truck was at the top of the hill, so my partner carried the dog, while I, with great difficulty, struggled up the hill behind them.

We got the dog back to its home, just as the owner of the dog was arriving home with groceries. We were soaking wet, and I had almost lost my voice completely from the chilling in the icy water so it was difficult trying to explain what had happened. We told her that she needed to help the dog get its temperature back up to normal. She seemed a bit confused about all of that, and so casual, that I realized that she wasn't taking in how dire a situation it had been.

The dog survived and was fine for a while. I'd occasionally catch a glimpse of her in the neighbor's yard, or trotting up and down the dirt road. It made me happy to see her. I was saddened to hear many months later that she had died hemorrhaging while giving birth from an unplanned pregnancy.

I took my temperature when I go home and it was 92. If it had dropped anymore, and I had still been in the pond, I most likely would have become unconscious, and then drowned. I got in a warm shower, which I found out later, is apparently not the safest method to use to warm up from hypothermia, but I didn't know that at the time. I just wanted to get warm. For about a couple of weeks afterwards, I felt very weak and had no energy for anything. I felt as if I were recovering from a long, debilitating illness. For a few months, I had terrible recurring nightmares which always consisted of me trying desperately to get out of a hole in an ice-covered pond. Thankfully, I don't have those anymore.

Side note: Not many people have heard this story, except for family and a few friends. I realize no matter how many times I tell it, I am unable to find the right words to truly and vividly describe what it really felt like to be trapped in that ice cold water, with a feeling of no escape, and the sense for a bit that I just might die there. The local newspaper would have covered the story, probably using it as a warning to others as what not to do, if they had been told.

After that experience, you couldn't get me out on an ice covered pond ever again, even if I was reassured that the ice was thick enough. And in case, you might wonder what t do in a situation like this. First of all, if you are able, call for help. Don't try this alone. But if you accidentally fall through ice,and are stuck in a hole as I was, apparently, the best thing to do is relax your body and let it float up into a more prone position in the water, and then start kicking your feet which should propel you forward onto the ice. Stay prone, and try to slide yourself forward until you reach more solid ice.

#pond #ice #near-death experience #falling through ice #survival #island #martha's vineyard

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edsbrak · 6 years

Text

sixteen weeks (chapter 4)

pairing: reddie chapters: 4/? rating: explicit tags: college AU, FWB

read on Ao3

Summary: Eddie and Richie are roommates in college, and after the events of one drunken confession they both agree it wouldn’t hurt to start casually hooking-up. Things go about as well as expected.

warnings: nsfw content

a/n: sorry for the long wait guys! holidays and whatnot, but i hope you enjoy this one, the plot thickens oooo

Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

In the weeks following since their helping-hand-sex-agreement, Eddie was actually feeling pretty good about where things were going. Maybe it had something to do with the factor of he and Richie not being close that allowed them both to feel as cavalier as one can about suddenly bedding your roommate several times a week. Therapeutic, some might say, because you weren’t necessarily obligated to get to know this person as you share these intimate moments with them.

That’s not to say Eddie had made a stance on keeping their lives separate; that idea seemed to be becoming harder to ignore as the days passed, but to no real shock.

Mostly everything Eddie had observed about Richie’s habits and personality traits in the beginning of the school year still remained true. He did seem to hang around their room a bit more now, though – perhaps after having someone’s dick in your mouth any previous hesitancy went out the window. But Eddie still had trouble reading him from time to time.

He had also hung out with Richie’s friends several more times since their gig that night. Eddie liked to watch them all bounce topics off each other, to see how well they all blended so fluidly and how welcoming they were to have Eddie join them. It was nice, and most often Eddie would wonder how it took him this long to actually find decent people to hang out with.

Richie was quite different around his friends, and more specifically, with each of them individually.

Around Stan, he seemed to enjoy spouting any nonsense that came to mind, but it was clear he held Stan’s opinion higher than the others. Stan seemed to laugh the most around him.

With Bev, he grew louder. She seemed to challenge him socially and politically. Occasionally they would drag the others into their heated discussions as well, and Eddie could see the amount of respect he held for her in the smiles Richie would try to conceal.

And Ben’s Richie appeared mostly the same, only with an ease of familiarity, like two friends finding each other again and again in each new lifetime.

So Eddie pushed himself to join in, throwing around opinions and titbits and instantly welcoming the pleasant rush of people actually caring about what he contributed to the table. There was no special treatment to atone his new-kid status in the group. He’d just slipped in, like it was nothing.

“Hey, Eddie, you hang out with anyone else here at school?” Bev had asked one afternoon in the library. They’d started meeting up for study sessions together now that finals were coming up.

Eddie had shrugged. “No. My best friends went to another college, so.”

“That sucks,” Bev had smiled sadly and tilted her head. She never said things like oh, I’m sorry or I know how you feel, and it was strangely refreshing to Eddie. “Well, hey, you should invite them out with us one night. We’d love to meet them.”

Stan, who was sitting with them also, had given Eddie a small nod from behind the extraordinarily large book he had in front of his face.

Eddie had made a surprised noise, but took the offer in stride. Typically, trying to blend friend groups together was impossible, but for some bizarre reason Eddie felt as if this time it might actually work. And even if it didn’t, he would be gone from this school in a year, anyway, and none of this would matter.

It was now Saturday again, and Eddie had work in two hours. All morning he wondered if anything with Richie was going to happen today, finally landing on a no, but then the guy had walked into their room as he whistled aimlessly, his drum sticks in his back pocket and a Redbull in hand.

“Well, if it isn’t Jeff Porcaro reincarnate,” Eddie says lazily from where he sat on his bed.

Richie quirks his brows and chugs the rest of his drink. Eddie watches the movement of his throat. “What are you up to?”

Eddie looks down at his lap. “I really should be studying, but I’m watching Parks and Rec instead,” he pushes the nagging guilt down with a stick until it eventually wins over, so he shuts his laptop with a sigh.

“So, nothing important then?” Richie asks.

Eddie squints at him. “I’m curious to know what you think is important,” he says, thinking about Richie’s non-existent study life.

“Saving the polar bears,” Richie clicks his tongue as he begins removing his shirt. “Bees. The postal system.”

Eddie bites his lip. “Sure, reasonable. Anything else?”

“Dicking-down ‘n dirty,” Richie shimmies off his pants unceremoniously. He looks down at himself when he’s done. “Yep, my dick definitely has importance.”

“You think very highly of yourself,” Eddie muses, following Richie’s dark happy trail until it disappears below the waistband of his boxers.

Richie shrugs. “Someone has too.”

“So, you’ve got a package for me, then?”

“That was bad,” Richie tells him, but his tone is clearly proud.

“Fine,” Eddie fakes disinterest and picks up a book near him and starts reading at a random part. “I guess I won’t sign for it.”

“Ah, see now…” and then the book is being lifted out of his fingers and Eddie’s face is now dangerously close to Richie’s crotch, so he angles up to find Richie’s gaze. “When I said that was bad, what I really meant was you’re a comedic genius and also signing the package is required by law.”

“That’s so not true.”

“Whatever, I don’t get lawyer stuff,” Richie says flippantly, and then he’s leaning down to place each hand behind Eddie’s head along the wall. Eddie smiles coyly, gesturing expectantly for Richie to act first.

“Eds, c’mon, you gotta meet me halfway,” he practically whines.

Eddie sighs dramatically. “Fine, you insatiable horndog.” It had been a great night when he’d discovered how fun it was to tease Richie with the metaphorical carrot.

So he grips his hands in the curls at the back of Richie’s neck and hauls him down for a deep kiss. Richie fumbles along the wall briefly before he finds his balance, and soon he’s tugging at the clothes still on Eddie’s body, like they were personally offending him. Eddie swallows down his laughter and pushes himself up, their lips still attached as he shrugs off the first layer with some difficulty.

Richie helps by undoing the buttons of Eddie’s jeans, and Eddie jerks slightly when Richie’s hand dips into his underwear.

“Fuck, dude, your hand is freezing,” Eddie scolds and slaps his hand away.

“Sorry, Redbull can,” Richie offers before he makes an effort to warm them up.

As he does, Eddie’s chest is now bare and he hops down from the bed to strip completely. It strikes him sometimes how easy this all has been since that first day. Sure, Eddie has his off days, not quite feeling the mood or liking how he looks – he’s only human. But Richie always seems to understand. He’s never pushy, and seems to read the vibes Eddie puts out quite well.

The hands are now back and circle around his waist, and there’s no temperature shock this time, and soon Eddie finds himself relaxing back onto Richie’s chest. It had the capacity to appear as a sweet moment, maybe, if Richie’s dick wasn’t currently fitting in the cleft of Eddie’s ass as he whispers “Time to put the mail in its slot,” into Eddie’s ear.

“Dude, the ear,” Eddie grouses. “Also, really?”

“Eh, seemed fitting,” Richie laughs. “In more ways than one.”

“No.”

Richie laughs again. As much as Eddie hates his stupid as shit voices, his laugh is actually quite nice. They move over to the bed, and this time Richie lays down on his back while Eddie settles nicely on top of him. Eddie likes this position, for reasons previously stated in the beginning, but it has its bonuses when he gets to stare Richie down into sexually charged silence.

They end up going slow for a while. Eddie remembers how he’d said foreplay was a hit and miss for him, and as it turned out, Richie was a surprising hit. Something about his touch, the care he must put into for his partners sparked something in Eddie he was glad to greet.

Eddie keeps up a rhythm as he grinds their dicks together. It was a nice build up, but never enough to come close. Richie was growing restless, trying to speed things up by manoeuvring Eddie around faster with his hands.

“C’mon, I’m gonna die of old age here,” Richie groans pitifully.

“Oh, so when you stall that’s okay? You can only dish it out?” Eddie badgers him.

“Okay, fine,” Richie huffs. “But that’s only when I—” Eddie silences him with his tongue, shoving it so far in Richie’s mouth he can lick the roof. He snaps his hips forward roughly, relishing the choked sound from Richie that gets stuck between their lips. Just as Eddie is about to give Richie exactly what he wants, his phone beeps on the table next to them.

He pulls back and eyes it for a moment. Richie’s hands grip at Eddie’s thighs desperately as he groans again.

“I feel like God is punishing me somehow…”

Eddie ignores him and stretches out to pick it up. It’s work, and they want him in an hour earlier. Eddie hates to say no to more money. He throws Richie a sheepish look once he’s done typing.

“We’re gonna have to speed things up, shift got changed,” Eddie says.

“That I can do,” Richie challenges, or at least, it sounds challenging. He flips them, so Eddie is lying on his side with Richie lined up along his back, chest sticky with sweat. Eddie had planned to shower after work, but he might have to have one before, instead.

“I’m not sure we have much time…” Eddie starts.

“I’m pretty worked up, don’t worry,” Richie assures him, reaching over to grab the bottle of lube out of his bedside drawer. Richie nips along Eddie’s back as he slicks himself up.

Eddie’s about to say he hasn’t prepped, but then Richie is murmuring “Squeeze your legs really tight.”

Eddie does, and catches on quick. Richie lines up and fucks between his thighs as he works hurriedly with Eddie’s own foreskin. Eddie’s only ever done this once before, and it wasn’t exactly a success, but Richie has enough determination for the both of them. It works Eddie up, has him panting wetly into the pillow in minutes, and Richie bites into the junctures of Eddie’s back. Nails dig into Eddie’s skin, and Eddie reaches back blindly to grip Richie’s hair. Richie begins to rut faster and Eddie feels hot all over from the force of it, the slick sound of Richie slapping against him doing wonders.

“A-ahh, fuck—”

His release catches him off guard this time. Richie pumps him through it, still going himself, and Eddie tries to centre his energy into squeezing impossibly tighter around Richie. Finally his roommate follows, grunting lowly and hips spasming, and Eddie slowly drops his hand as he waits for his breathing to calm down.

“Customer feedback means a lot to us,” Richie rasps, and Eddie can feel his grin pressing into his skin like a carving. “Our promise to deliver packages on time is what we aim to achieve. We hope you’ll use our service again in the future.” Eddie full on hates him.

“Shut. Up.”

Eddie had ended up taking a shower after their little impromptu round of fun.

He’d then rushed out of their dorm building with a half-eaten muesli bar in his mouth, forever thankful he didn’t have to take public transport to get to his work. He speeds walks the few blocks there and circles the building to walk in the back way instead. He throws his loose items in an available locker before tying off an apron at his back.

He spots his manager first who tells him to take orders at the register. Eddie holds back his scowl. He both hates it when his manager works the floor with them and when he has to type in all of the ridiculous ways people can think of when it comes to ordering coffee.

There’s already a line waiting for him when he walks over, so Eddie plasters on his best greeting face and calls the next customer over.

The small café was packed out, so Eddie could understand why they needed him to come in sooner. Although, he also blames how hopeless his management were at planning out decent rosters for everyone.

Greta was busy pumping out coffees to his left. She was arguably their best at it. Eddie likes to steer clear of her whenever she got into her ‘zone’.

Eddie steps out from behind the counter when there was a break to clear away the empty mugs on the tables. There were mostly people his age occupying seats, in groups or alone. At one table sat a guy by himself, books open in front of him and glass empty, so Eddie walks over to collect it. Typically, Eddie prefers to avoid attention and just go about his job, but with a slip on the floor he unwillingly catches the eye of the – admittedly – attractive guy with striking green eyes.

“Thank you,” he says with a smile.

Eddie fumbles momentarily. He clears his throat once. “No worries.”

He’s still smiling and Eddie is still staring awkwardly, and then a distraction presents itself when a customer approaches the register.

When he has their order done with and passes it along to Greta, Eddie looks up to see Bev step inside the café. Her hair is done up in a high bun, and Eddie watches as she wipes her combat boots on the mat by the door. She walks over immediately after, and a grin stretches out her lips when she spies Eddie.

“Eddie, hey!” she says once she’s close enough. Luckily there’s no line now, so Eddie doesn’t have to push her along in a rush. “I didn’t know you worked here.”

“Yeah, hey,” Eddie smiles kindly. “Just here weekends, mostly. Gotta pay these loans somehow.”

“I hear ya,” Bev nods as she grabs her purse. “Man, I just love the caramel lattes here. But now’s the only time I can get them.”

“Really, why?” Eddie frowns. He presses some buttons randomly when his manager eyes him off for slacking.

“I get so hyped up on coffee. I try to only have it around finals,” she laughs whimsically. “Kinda like a reward, I guess.”

“Smart…” Eddie hums, and punches in her order. He also adds an extra free pump of caramel for her. “Did you want something else?”

“No, no,” she says, holding up a hand. “If I come back for more I’ll need you to escort me off the premises.”

Eddie gives her a look. She laughs again. “I’m kidding. No, but really. Don’t let me have more than one.”

“Okay,” Eddie says, eyeing her warily. He’s sure she’s kidding. Almost.

Bev steps off to the side as she waits for her order to be made, and Eddie busies himself for a moment with restocking the sugars and napkins at the milk station. He’s only been here for an hour and already he wants to finish up. Of course he had to pick a job in a 24 hour café. Bev takes a sip of her coffee when it’s done and makes an appreciative noise before whipping out her phone. Eddie makes to go back to his post, but is stopped short when a throat clears behind him.

“Uh, hi again.”

Eddie turns to see the same guy from before. He was even taller than Eddie pictured he was; broad shouldered, arms almost as big as Eddie’s head. There was a scar than ran from his ear down underneath his shirt. Normally not Eddie’s type, but somehow it works?

“Hi. Sorry, did you need help with something?” Eddie asks, basic protocol.

“Um, maybe?” It was striking to see a guy of this size sound so nervous. “I was just wondering – and I hope it’s not too forward… but, would you be interested in maybe… going out sometime?”

Eddie blinks rapidly. He’s sure Bev has lowered her phone and is now not-so-subtly listening in. This had quite honestly been the last thing he was expecting to hear. What was happening?

“Oh,” he says, his hand gripping tighter on the sugar bag. Eddie tries to recall the last time he was asked out like this. “That’s… really nice of you to ask. Um…”

The guy’s look turns a touch disappointed. “Ah, I’m sorry. You’re not…?”

“Oh, no, I—” Eddie waits a second for his nerves to settle. “I am. I… sorry, I was just caught off guard for a second there.” He smiles encouragingly.

“Okay,” the guy chuckles lightly, relieved, before extending a hand. “I’m Jacob.”

Eddie watches his hand almost disappear in the strangers own. “Eddie.” When the touch lingers, Eddie hears Bev cough loudly off to the side, so he pulls back hastily. “Right, so… yes. To answer your question.”

Jacob practically beams. His eyes crinkle up, and Eddie is endeared. “That’s great. Really. Um, okay, so. How about tomorrow night?”

“Yeah, that works with me,” Eddie smiles.

“Alright,” Jacob nods several times. “How about we meet here. At eight? We can find some other place to eat.”

“Sounds nice.” Eddie hopes this isn’t all some elaborate punk’d situation.

“Cool, well,” Jacob says and backs away slowly. “I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”

“Yeah,” Eddie bites his lip. “Bye. For now.”

Jacob grins and turns to leave, but not before giving Eddie one last look as the door closes behind him. All at once Bev is sliding up next to him to sling an arm around his shoulders. Eddie is aware he should be working, but, fuck, he really couldn’t care less right now.

“Damn, he was a looker,” Bev whistles unabashedly. Eddie is instantly reminded of Richie.

“I didn’t think stuff like that still happened,” Eddie says honestly.

“Really?” Bev looks at him. “You’re a catch, Eddie. I don’t blame him for not resisting.”

Eddie tingles from the compliment. Suddenly Greta is yelling at Eddie in the most professional way possible to get him back to work. Funny, Greta should really take over as manager.

“I have to get back,” Eddie says. Bev pats his shoulder and steps away to leave like Jacob had.

“Sure, sure. I might see you tomorrow?”

“Yeah,” Eddie nods, remembering the looming mountain of paperwork that is finals week.

“Thanks for this!” she jingles her coffee by the door, and then she too is gone.

Eddie stands still for a moment longer, mind processing. A bone chilling voice finds him eventually.

“Eddie, I swear if you don’t move that little ass of yours I’m gonna wear it like a hat.”

Eddie moves his little ass immediately.

It had been along shift, so Eddie was glad to finally return to his room to fall face down on his bed. But he thinks of Jacob and his delighted smile, and figures it was worth it.

Stan is in their room when he walks in. He’s the one actually doing homework while Richie appears to be talking his ear off about something as he lies on his bed throwing a ball in the air.

“Hey,” Eddie says through a yawn.

“Hey Eddie,” Stan waves. Richie bounces the ball off Eddie’s arm in greeting. “I’ll finish up soon so you can sleep.”

Eddie waves Stan off. “Nah, it’s fine. I think I can sleep through anything right now.”

“Ah Eds, doing the lords work by giving the people what they want,” Richie pauses his rambling to say.

“What do they want?”

“That sweet, sweet cocaine. I mean – caffeine.”

Eddie snorts. He leaves to go and brush his teeth down the hall, and when he comes back, Richie has fallen into discussion of what would be considered the perfect superpower to have. Eddie wonders if Stan is capable of writing out his work and listening to Richie simultaneously, or if he’s simply just ignoring his friend entirely. It’s hard to tell.

Eddie settles into bed, and as he’s considering putting in his earphones, Stan turns to him.

“Eddie, we’re seeing a movie tomorrow night. Wanna come?”

Eddie hums tiredly and closes his eyes. “Can’t. Got a date, actually.”

“Oh?”

Eddie isn’t sure if that was Stan or Richie, his mind is too tired to differentiate the two.

“Well, well. Look at ol’ Eds getting some.” That was definitely Richie. Eddie peaks open an eye to see Richie now sitting up in bed, and he gives Eddie a seductive wink. “So, who asked who?”

“Not that it’s any of your business,” Eddie tries to put energy into glaring. “But he did. Seemed nice.”

“Oh, I bet,” Richie brings his hand up to make a blowjob gesture. Eddie scowls.

“Alright then,” Stan, apparently not bothering to catch any of their exchange, says with a shrug. “I hope you have a good time.”

Eddie hopes so too.

He ends up falling asleep to the sounds of Richie describing, in perfect detail, the death scene of Tony Montana, to which Stan eventually began hitting Richie repeatedly with his book.

Tag list!: <3 (lemme know if u wanna be added!) xx

@sleepykaspbrak @richietoaster @reddietofall @michiyo-onosaka @hufflepuffkaspbrak @babybyelers @alrightbluer @wintersember @lolahood @r-richie @s-s-georgie @multishippinghoe @richie-kaspbrakk @colorful-dodie @not-reddie @80sdenbrough @jem-carstairs-is-perfection @musicalsaftermusicals @lonewolfhard @edstozler @nintxndos @loverboykaspbrak @s-s-stutteringbill @tozier-boy @its-stranger-than-you-think @welctothelosersclub @hemmotional--wreck @eddierichietozier @theemilyxx @spacedouthomo @burymestanding @youvegotdirtonyournosebytheway @im-reddie @ineedreddieformylife

#reddie #reddie fic #sixteen weeks #my fics #i hope these tags still work i have no idea #im sorry if they dont ahh!! :((

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kvndeathmusic · 4 years

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#8: Fetch - Melt-Banana (2013)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#1: WORRY. - Jeff Rosenstock (2016)

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

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

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

#music #top 10 albums #2010s

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kalvigroup-blog · 4 years

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Web Development Trends 2020

Here is the list of web development trends and techniques that will gonna rule in 2020.

1. Modular Design

Modular design- Lets developers re-use components and modules to create web pages. Modules are reused. Using modular design, developers can dynamically envision content with dedicated blocks that makes creation more scalable, quicker, and cheaper.

On the other hand, it is important to remember that a web page's modular design is similar to assembling a Lego set, it is crucial that each piece is perfectly interlocked with another. When you place a three-layer module next to a six-layer module, the room is uneven. This leads to overrides of multi-level CSS, or irregular white space. Finally, the web page template isn't going to make sense. The use of modular design is the right choice for neglecting these struggles. Carefully plan and check your pages to prevent this, before you go online.

2. Mobile-1st Website Design

The mobile-first strategy is the product of the continual growth of mobile traffic. More than half of all Web traffic came from mobile devices in 2019, according to the report. It is estimated that by 2025 approximately 73 % of all internet traffic will come from mobile devices. For this reason, Google introduced a mobile-first indexing methodology strategy in which Google uses the website's mobile version to assess the rank and rating of the web page.

Similarly, mobile-first architecture is now key to generating traffic on site. Your websites should be accessible across all mobile and desktop devices, and the use of responsive images means that your media blends into every mobile device screen automatically. Consequently, responsive design enhances the page's efficiency and user experience by viewing the content in a comfortable manner.

3. Chatbots and Customer Support

Chatbots are increasing in popularity, particularly in colloquial (Conversational) trade. Conversational trading is when services or papers are offered by web chats, messaging apps, or voice assistants. To emphasize, existing websites are diagnosing the chatbots ' ability to embellish online sales.

Amazon's home assistant Alexa, for example. This conversational UI app will smartly send commands to purchase stuff on Amazon that will create a personal shopping experience. In 2020, more than 80 % of businesses are projected to adopt some kind of chatbot network.

As a result, having chatbots on your website furnish assistance whenever needed facilitates online sales and can solve customer queries. Creating a chatbot to communicate with humans and developing conversational UI is an on-going web development demand to note that.

4. Accelerated Mobile Apps (AMP)

Accelerated Mobile Apps (AMP), an open source library designed to create web pages. AMP's main goal is to enhance the mobile user experience by providing instant page loads. In addition, the AMPs on any computer are lightweight, stable, appealing and sensitive.

The explanation for AMPs ' fast load is that they render mobile web pages with minimal HTML / CSS and JavaScript. Although Google caches AMPs automatically compared to standard mobile sites, they provide faster load times from Google search.

Likewise, AMPs will result in a massive increase in website traffic, with more time spent on your pages. As a result, businesses will leverage AMP's advantage in improving mobile websites and further providing a better user experience.

5. Searching Speech

Spoken language scan, using the spoken language to questioning search engines. The fact that modern smartphones are already fitted with a digital voice assistant such as Siri and Google Assistant is well known. Furthermore, efficiency is improving with AI-based smart speakers like Apple Home Pod. At the same time, the conventional text-based search has replaced some assertions of voice-based question.

When people familiar with this technology, web developers include more voice search methods to find out. There are different kinds of resources that you can use to include these approaches that also include voice recognition APIs and pre-constructed widgets.

6. 1st Design of API

New related technologies, such as IOT systems, smart homes, driverless cars, wearable tech, and smartphones, are all focused on tremendous use of APIs where users will benefit greatly. But it becomes a bit tricky to establish such relations. Developers usually start the concept from the user interface. The API integration is performed after the front-end framework has been developed.

Creating a system for testing the API requires a great deal of time and planning, where the development of the front end holds back end development. API-first architecture, however, allows developers to create the API, and then build the software on top. This can speed up development and eradicate the need to rewrite code.

7. Motion UI

Motion UI-The specific approach to support transitions and animations in web development. On the other hand, it's an innovative way to increase the conversion rates for your website. Developers can use motion UIs to build live graphics in native device settings.

Companies that deviate from how users work in web development through motion UI with their brand and storytelling. In fact, the Motion UI is a great way of activating user emotions and can greatly enhance regular user activity. As a result, developers came to realize the benefits of motion UI, and tools such as Lottie became more popular.

Summary

Hope, you've now understood the improvements that will arise in modern web design and what you can look forward to. Knowing the acquired tools to ensure that your pages deliver the best experience and efficiency to users. Through keeping your skills sharp and being aware of these trends, you will gain a significant advantage through sticking with the best web design and development company in 2020.

#Web Development Trends 2020

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birdsofchristmas · 4 years

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Chapter 6: The Swinging Christmas Tree

The oddest thing about most of the Christmas TV specials I watched growing up was that almost everything talked- animals talked, people talked, snowmen, ornaments, trees, toys, squirrels - everything seemed to have an opinion on Christmas and a desire to express it verbally.

It makes sense then that when my parents told me we were going to a singing Christmas tree I thought they were talking about an actual tree that danced and sang. For days I pictured an anthropomorphic green giant with sticks as arms, standing gleefully singing holiday tunes. My imagination even stretched into scenarios where the tree became disgruntled from years of imprisonment, breaking free of the 4-peg metal stand holding it in place then terrorizing the horrified audience of mostly attractive young parents.

I was in awe of the thing when I first beheld it at age 8, but even before the singers were ushered into its branches I was sitting in the padded seats of the church thinking “what’s it going to look like when it starts dancing?”

I learned that night that the term “singing Christmas tree” is a complete misnomer. For those who have never seen one the singing tree is a large choir performance of holiday tunes accompanied by some kind of live theatre performance. Actors, a running plotline, props and scenes, the whole lot.

The tree itself is a series of podiums stacked one by one, the widest at the base with gradually narrowing levels ascending to the ceiling of the church, decorated with all manner of lights and green fabric. The choir would be lined in rows with 20 on the first layer and less as the tree progressed higher, with a few lucky individuals perched on the very top level.

It became a family tradition to see the tree every year, and as the years progressed my interests shifted from cap guns and action figures to music and performing, and so my appreciation for the performances of the tree deepened with each attendance, extending even to my first Christmas returning home from college.

You might be balking at the idea that a giant plywood tree with choir singers would have any mass appeal, but these things are wildly popular. One church in Vancouver sees around 20,000 attendees over the course of six evenings every year, with reserved seats disappearing faster than Backstreet Boys tickets in the 90s!

It wasn’t like trying to see a Tyler Perry movie in theatres- if you didn’t show up on time seating would be highly scarce, and being that my family was never the type to be in a hurry finding a good spot was always a bit of a crap shoot. Quite often we’d show up minutes before the curtain call and have to be seated in various single chairs throughout the church, only seeing each other again after the performance.

This year was different because I insisted on driving, and because I lied about what time the show actually started. “6:30,” I shouted throughout the house to my parents, “It starts at 6:30! We can’t be late!” We’d leave the house at 6:38 and arrive at the church by 7pm, well ahead of the the 7:30 start time.

When it came to picking seats my parents were the most indecisive people you could ever imagine, regularly shifting seats at Nanaimo Clippers hockey games and even during movies, sometimes after the movie started! Hockey games are fair enough, but playing musical chairs during a movie was just terrible. I was always more of a settler than a nomad, content to find a good seat and sit comfortably without the anxious thought there there was always a better seat out there somewhere.

My parents started their 2 Stooges routine as soon as we arrived at the church, with “Oh, we’re really on time” and “oh, where should we sit? The balcony? I don’t want to sit too close to the stage, no not here, over there”, but I wasn’t having any of it. I strode with bold confidence into the foyer, stopping only to receive a program being passed out by the ushers, right into the auditorium, down the aisle sitting down almost immediately into the first decent enough looking seat I could find.

Twenty minutes later the director of the play approached a microphone to give his opening welcome. It was at this point I started to casually flip through the program, stopping in my reading tracks when I saw a statement in bold lettering that said “please note, there will not be an intermission for this performance”. In my rush to get a good seat I’d forgotten the golden rule of seeing plays and movies- always go to the bathroom before you sit down.

Another twenty minutes later minutes nature started calling, and calling very loudly, and I started to regret the venti peppermint latte I’d picked up on the way. The choir was singing beautifully, the acting was engaging, but I was too distracted to fully enjoy the show. At one point I looked down at the empty coffee cup sitting on the ground in front of me, thought about it for a second, then said to myself, “no, that’s a really bad idea, I should just get up”.

I shuffled down the pew awkwardly and proceeded to the exit in search of a restroom. I couldn’t see it anywhere and walked almost the entire perimeter of the foyer until I spotted a small restroom sign. When I was leaving the restroom I noticed another sign in an adjacent hallway. It had an arrow pointing left and it said “choir members, this way”.

I have to admit most of my bucket list has something to do with Christmas- celebrating the holiday in Australia for instance, or driving a Shriner car through the Santa Claus parade, or building a life sized edible gingerbread house, or proposing to my future wife by wrapping myself in a giant box with a bow, then jumping out with a ring proclaiming “marrying you is the best gift I could ever ask for babe!”

As I stood in front of the arrowed sign I felt it was a golden opportunity to cross “singing in a giant Christmas tree” off my list, and I’d be a fool to pass it up.

I followed the sign to another sign at the end of the hall, then down another another hall like a mouse in a maze. I was surprised a security guard or a spinster hasn’t stopped me at this point. You know these people, there’s a few in every church- they’re the self appointed vigilantes and guardians who adhere strictly to the rules and expect others to do so as well. If you look slightly out of place they’ll stop you and ask “excuse me sir, can I help you?” I’m always tempted to reply with “why yes, you can! I need a ride to the airport next week, would you mind driving me??”

At last I scurried though a tall purple curtain with another sign that said “performers entrance” into a room strewn about with jackets and purses and a rolling clothes rack full of empty wire hangers. At the very end of the rack there was a long, green sparkled gown I recognized as one of the choir uniforms.

It was an awkward fit at first, and it smelled like hadn’t been washed since Christmas 1998, but I managed to get the robe on. There was a tag on the neck that said XXXL and a zipper on the back with a long string attached to it, which I assumed was an emergency escape cord in case of a fire or an earthquake. I took 2 steps and immediately stumbled, tripping on the excess fabric. It felt like I was wearing an open parachute. As I fumbled about I sang a quick vocal warm up, “Maaaaaaaaaahh, maaaaaaaaaay, meeeeeeee, muuuuuuust be santaaaaa…”

The entrance to the tree was an obvious arched entryway, beside that a final and definitive sign- “the Lord bless and keep you” with a diagram of the tree. I searched the sign until I found “Baritones: third level” and made my way into the tree’s hallowed plywood branches.

The choir was mid-song as I shimmied onto the platform, bumping into a guy who was as tall as me but about 100 pounds bigger. He looked like he’d make a great Santa in about 20 years time if his career in the CFL didn’t pan out. I whispered to him “sorry I’m late, I forgot my sheet music.” He whispered back in the lowest bass tone I’ve ever heard “s'ok, borrow mine”.

The thing I wasn’t expecting was the lights- red lights, yellow lights, green lights, lights beaming in my eyes hiding the audience from view, lights beaming from the ceiling and from the stage floor.

There were even spotlights on all sections of the choir as individuals took turns preforming solos. I sang happily through three carols, partway through the 4th I heard the low voice next to me say “bub, your parts next”. I froze with fear and looked around nervously, then I noticed there was a tiny black bauble on a long black string a mere foot in front of where I was standing. With the realization this was a microphone came the realization that my voice was going to heard well and clearly by every member in the audience!

When I thought about sneaking into a singing Christmas tree I was expecting to be just a single needle in the tree, unnoticed as an individual. I thought maybe I’d blend in, and if I was off key no-one would really notice. But now I was about to become an entire branch, to be tested by the mighty winds of high expectation to see if I could stand up to the pressure.

The spotlight hit me and I belted out the solo, giving it my best with gusto, summoning courage usually only possible after a double gin & tonic. Then I heard a giant applause with hooting and whistling from one corner of the church. The Pentecostal youth group I’d volunteered with for 5 years before leaving for college was attending in almost full force, taking up an entire section! They recognized me and cheered me on in full Pentecostal fashion, laughing and buzzing long after my solo. I imagine part of their excitement may have been them thinking I was speaking in tongues, because I only knew half the words to the solo.

I stayed on for the rest of the performance, by the end sweating profusely but filled with unimaginable joy. I didn’t stay in the tree for the standing ovation, instead sneaking back through the mouse maze hearing the cheering reverberate throughout the church before returning to my seat. I sat down as the ovation continued and breathed a sigh of relief. I’d gotten away with sneaking into the tree and besides my former youth group the crowd was none the wiser.

It was then I felt a hand on my shoulder, a grip so firm I knew it could only have belonged to a police officer. I felt the same grip one year at my old high school when I was setting off fireworks in the back field. The same grip I felt on my arm after jumping into the outdoor pool in Bowen Park late at night. The same grip I felt on my shoulder when I was caught sneaking into the walk in freezer at summer camp trying to steal ice cream. The jig was up, there was a security guard after all, and I’d been caught!

I turned around and to my surprise the grip belonged to a sweet elderly woman, with glittering eyes and a cheerful smile. I leaned down towards her and she said in a kind sounding voice “my that was very well done, thank you very much”. She had recognized me from the choir because I was still wearing the giant parachute choir robe, and I responded with a very embarrassed “thank you so much”, turning as red as a Christmas poinsettia. Her grandson, and more importantly her granddaughter, were smiling at me as well saying “yeah that was great, thanks”. This was followed by more undeserved thanks from several other grandmothers and their granddaughters while I inched towards the foyer doors.

I thought I was finally in the clear when I heard a shout from the stage, as one of the members of the choir said “Hey, aren’t you coming to the afterparty?” My parents were standing at the front door holding their coats. I put my hands up in an “I dunno” position. My dad nodded at me with a smile, winked at me, and off my parents left for home while I walked down to aisle, back to the stage, through the mouse maze, to the after party happening in the church’s library with a stack of pizza boxes in the shape of a Christmas tree.

One of the choir members approached me saying, “I don’t recognize you from practice, were you part of the tree?” And the guy with the bass voice came over and said “hey of course he was, this is Daniel, he was filling in for Mike!”

And so for the remainder of the night I was Daniel, and I was Daniel again for the following three years of returning to sing in the Christmas tree. The third year I sang on the very top level, which only lasted a few songs because I’m afraid of heights. I’ve been singing on the 2nd level ever since.

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