gosh, first you pulled me into yuzu-world, and now I’m finding myself more and more fond of hobi’s face. (not to mention I can recognize his face in the first place now)

!!!!!!!!! YASSS !!!!!!!!!!

i'm still very proud i managed to get you to appreciate yuzuru, and now it's happening with hobi?? those are my two favorite famous people that i've never met! wow the power of the tumblr osmosis haha

seriously tho, becoming a hobi biased bts fan is the best decision ever, please don't stop yourself from growing even more fond of his face and of him! he makes it so easy to be fond of him. this guy is an insanely talented and hardworking perfectionist and i admire him so so much. i could watch him dance for hours. he's seriously SO good at dancing and rapping and writing lyrics and performing and making people happy (it's me i'm people). he’s honestly so versatile it’s ridiculous. and from what those who know him have told us, he's also an incredibly kind and selfless human being and it makes me respect him even more.

actually, it's the best time to start loving him. his first solo album comes out on friday (which i'm sure you're aware of because it's the only thing i've been talking about) so when would be a better time to get to know him? i encourage you to listen to his new album when it comes out!!!!

i'm glad you're fond of his face because you'll keep seeing it on your dash for a looooong while, my queue has never been this full haha! <3

Nightwing's weird fem-coding

! LONG POST !

Finally got around to jotting down my thoughts on the weird way that Dick Grayson (Nightwing) often occupies female-coded roles without being a particularly feminine guy. This is entirely due to me procrastinating on my finals. Okay!

Dick has often been cited as the hero who plays into the "female gaze", and he takes up some key roles that are typically reserved for women characters.

A large portion of Dick's fem-coding is contingent on his being with his family, and when he's not with them, this fem-coding kinda drops away, such as when he's with his various teams or acting solo.

His most prominent (and imo, complex) femme-coded role is:

-> Eldest Daughter + Widow

Eldest daughter syndrome means " frequently feeling like you’re not doing enough, like you’re struggling to maintain a veneer of control, like the entire household relies on your diligence." It's born out of the unique way that first-born girls are expected to take on adult roles around the household before they've had an opportunity to fully experience childhood (an opportunity their younger siblings will have, in part due to this sacrifice). It creates a strong sense of independence and a desire to be a good role model, but also leads to undue pressure and perfectionism.

Dick acts as a central emotional pillar for those in his family. To the point that when he fakes his death, it breaks something fundamental in the family dynamic:

Not only is it repeatedly made clear that Bruce depends on Dick to act as a lifeline for his own mental struggles, but moreover, his siblings do as well. In a very literal sense, the maintenance of the batfamily rests on Dick's shoulders. Bruce is so rarely available for emotional support that these children turn to the next best thing, which, to be fair, is better than what Dick had growing up. He has to clean up so many breakdowns, it's honestly pretty staggering.

As the OG sidekick, Dick receives quite a bit of hero worship, particularly from younger heroes/sidekicks, who look toward him for guidance. As a naturally upbeat and welcoming person, Dick ends up in the position of bringing light to everyone, not just Bruce. For example, here's Cassandra:

This balancing effect is unique to Dick's skill set. However, this can (and does) backfire very easily. The same pragmatism Bruce engages in hurts extra bad when coming from Dick: like when Dick had to take Robin away from Tim. Not to mention just how intimidating Dick's legacy is, which can create resentment when his successors aren't able to play this role so easily. For example, Jason both before and after his death expressed insecurity that he felt he was constantly being compared to Dick, and falling short.

As the original character that people think of when they think "sidekick", DG Robin (and his successors) had the advantage of not losing prominence even as his contemporaries (Kid Flash, Aqualad, Wonder Girl, etc.) were de-prioritized in favor of independent teenaged heroes (like Cyborg, Beast Boy, Raven, and Starfire). But that means Robin as a concept now has to deal with questions that weren't so prominent in the earlier decades, such as: "How do we justify a grown-ass man using a child (and in fact, children) as emotional crutches?"

It's icky to think about, but there's no denying that early Batman and Robin got side eyes for homosexual subtext. I mean, they literally call each other "partners". So while that "subtext" was, and remains, just audience speculation, given Dick is literally Bruce's adopted son, there is room, I believe, to call into question how healthy it is for Bruce's oldest kid to be taking on a nearly-parental role and be a core pillar of Bruce's emotional regulation.

Hot take here, but I think Dick's relationship with Bruce was/has been pretty emotionally incestuous for a long time.

-> Emotional incest

"Emotional incest[...] is a type of emotional abuse performed by a parent. In cases of emotional incest, parents rely on their children for significant emotional support, which is a reversal of roles. Emotional incest is more than just relying on your kids on occasion—rather, it is an extreme dependence on them." (There's a pretty good argument to be made that Bruce has been emotionally incestuous with all his Robins, especially Dick and DEFINITELY Tim, but y'know. Small steps.)

Emotional incest is a semi-common consequence of eldest daughter syndrome; the natural conclusion of deputizing a child to manage the other children combining with an inability to see the child as a child, still in need of emotional guidance, but more like an adult capable of shouldering the burdens of grown-ups dumping their traumas on them.

To be clear here, while emotional incest may not be incest in the most traditional, taboo sense, it is still abuse. It's putting a burden on a child they shouldn't have to carry, even for children that aren't dealing with such extreme burdens as "grown-ass man running around in a fursuit needs me to keep him from getting himself killed". It's a perversion of a healthy parent-child relationship, where the child is treated more like a partner than a child. In Dick's case, it further exacerbates the parentification he already experiences. This is made more explicit when Bruce "dies" and Dick is cast into a sort of "Widow" role.

Dick reluctantly dons the cowl in an attempt to bring order to his family members. He's also left to parent Damian, alone. He has to make the decision to take Robin from Tim, and try to deal with the fallout from that decision. He has to put a stop to Jason's fratricidal rampage. He's made into the de-facto head of the family.

And the thing about this is: Dick's not even bad at it. In comparison to Bruce's litany of disasters-in-parenting, Dick does a pretty bang-up job of managing his siblings, heading the Justice League, and being Batman. But the crucial point is that he does this at the expense of his own mental health, which is the crux of eldest daughter syndrome. There's no denying that at the time, Dick was most certainly the best choice for New Father Figure, but it was a choice he was pushed into, and a sacrifice he had to make. When this sense of responsibility to the point of self-sacrifice is pushed to its logical conclusion, it has the effect of making Dick a Martyr-type figure.

-> Protector/Mama Bear/Avenger

Dick has shown repeatedly that his hot button is his family. From Tony Zucco to allowing Blockbuster to be killed after the villain targeted Haley's Circus, going after Nightwing's family is a pretty good way to earn yourself an asskicking. Probably the most infamous example of this is when Dick thought the Joker had killed Tim, beating the clown to death to avenge both Tim and Jason.

And while this role isn't particularly feminine, I do think it's interesting that Dick protects his family members from each other with almost the same frequency that he protects them from outside threats. He's pretty notorious for wrangling Damian and Tim, foiling Jason's murder plans, and most importantly, beating the shit out of Bruce whenever he crosses a line, such as when Bruce asks Dick to conceal being alive from their family to join Spyral or when Bruce wanted to abandon the Bruce Wayne persona after the murder of Vesper Fairchild. Or of course, more recently after Bruce's latest MK-ULTRA shenanigans.

This basically puts Dick in the position of being the glue that holds the family together, at basically all times, but especially in times of conflict. This also means he's put in the dangerous position of bodily defending his younger siblings from Bruce's wrath or irresponsibility, a position made even more awkward given the whole emotional incest thing.

That's not to say that Dick's relationship with his family is 100% unhealthy. Dick and his family members (including Bruce!) feel legitimate affection and care for each other. There are times when the dynamics here are indeed healthy. And like most people with eldest daughter syndrome, the unhealthy nature of this dynamic is usually understated. Oldest sibling syndrome is often just an unavoidable consequence of how parenting works. So while I am of the opinion that this dynamic is often unhealthy, hot take: I'm fine with that.

Now, though I've just listed some tropes that he only falls into around family, Dick also falls into some fem-coding all the time, regardless of who he's with, and these have to do mostly with his sexuality.

-> Sexual Assault & Harassment

Yeah, so nobody is surprised that this is a factor. Look up any list of the top ten hottest/sexiest/most attractive male superheroes, I guarantee 9/10 times Nightwing is number 1. However, unlike his father, whose attractiveness is usually played as a part of the male wish-fulfillment fantasy, something people aspire to be, Dick's attractiveness more often makes him an object of desire- very similar to how most attractive female characters are perceived.

And as an object of desire, Dick Grayson is constantly having to deal with being objectified.

Now, Dick Grayson being an attractive character is not the problem. Dick Grayson being sexually assaulted isn't even the problem. the problem is that he keeps being harassed, assaulted, and raped in ways that are flagrantly nonconsensual, and yet it's not treated with the seriousness it deserves. In fact, it took a full decade for Devin Grayson to retract her previous statement and admit that yes, the rooftop scene with Catalina Flores was in fact rape, and it's never been acknowledged in-universe (though, comics have always been atrocious at calling out sexual abuse of all kinds, let alone that which targets men).

Hell, even when he in-universe calls it out, he's dismissed immediately and the story continues like nothing happened.

Like???

Dick's adult sexcapades (which were consensual and enthusiastic) have long contrasted with the numerous times he's been harassed; times in which he comes across as bored, exasperated, and even frustrated with his own attractiveness and the vulnerable position it often leaves him in.

This puts him in the rare (in comics) position of being a male character who consistently and near-exclusively has his sexual agency and boundaries violated by women - a position that authors uniformly refuse to examine despite writing him into it all the fucking time.

Other characters around him frequently make comments passing off this harassment and assault as a natural consequence of Dick's own attractiveness, making "jokes" that essentially amount to "I understand why someone would want to assault him". Which- UH?

There is also, of course, the unavoidable reality that as an acrobat and an aerialist, he receives a very specific type of sexual harassment

the nature of nightwing's fight style necessitates a type of tight-fitting suit that male heroes typically don't go for: an extremely slick suit with bare-minimum armour that again, makes him vulnerable in a way most male heroes aren't, but a style female heroes wear all the time, whether it makes sense for them or not. This of course then allows artists to draw attention to this fact by posing Nightwing in poses usually reserved for femme fatales:

And unlike the Hawkeye Initiative, these poses are (largely) unironic, and not played for jokes. Dick isn't arching his back or looking over his shoulder to poke fun at how female heroes are treated; he does so because the artist (clearly correctly) sincerely believed these poses would play into the unironic gaze of the audience, and also probably thought it was hot. It's the same line of thought artists use when posing femme fatales.

He's even been known to use his sexuality as a bargaining chip, much like more traditional Femme Fatales. In Batman and Harley Quinn (2017), he refers to sleeping with Harley Quinn after being kidnapped by her as one of "the things I do for Gotham", to which she responds "I'm taking that as a 'yes'." And that's uh- not how consent works.

And this particularly sucks because- HELLO? The opportunity to explore the very real and tragically underacknowledged phenomenon of sexual violence against men is literally invaluable, especially with such a prominent character. It's one thing to ignore that men face sexual violence, it's another, entirely more unforgivable thing to continuously and explicitly depict such scenarios and play them off as jokes or not as serious as they clearly are. But what did I expect from an industry that has never had a good track record on sexual violence anyway.

-> Queercoding?

There's also of course the fact that DC has been, as of late, dropping hints that Dick might be bisexual.

That on it's own doesn't mean anything, but when paired with the fact that DC has been angling toward giving Dick a similar playboy persona that Bruce has, just with men included, it's just very interesting.

(BTW: The likelihood DC actually commits to making Dick bi is, uh, not a lot, but if they're gonna stick with this weird closet stuff for a while, let's hope they do so in a way that doesn't make him sound like a cross between Donald Trump and Harry Styles next time? Please?)

Anyway, all of this is basically to say I am forever fascinated by the gender dynamics of Dick Grayson, likely due to the fact that I'm projecting all my eldest daughter traumas onto him, and that someone who's background is in Gender Studies needs to get on this shit if they haven't already. I just love this character sm.

Panel Presentation: Guys and Dolls (1955)

Directed by Joseph Mankiewicz, Guys and Dolls (1955) sees gamblers Nathan Detroit (played by Frank Sinatra) and Sky Masterson (Marlon Brando) make a bet for the sake of funding Nathan’s illegal craps game as he falls under increasing scrutiny from law enforcement. According to the bet, if Sky can get Sergeant Sarah Brown, a sister at a mission, to come with him to Havana, Cuba the next day, he wins $1000; if not, Nathan wins the $1000 to fund his craps game. 

What do the musical numbers signify about identity in the course of the film’s narrative?

The film employs musical numbers to flesh out and define the identities of its characters and the world that they occupy. The numbers serve to enrich the viewer’s understanding of the characters’ relationality to one another, the community they find in criminality, and the distinct identity of the film’s setting. For example, in the number “The Oldest Established Permanent Floating Crap Game”, Nathan’s gambling friends sing about the good that he has done for them as the organizer of their games. It’s in songs like this where the audience is able to understand this community’s reliance on gambling and the roles played within it. 

Even the film’s first scene is a number which employs musical sensibilities and dance to illustrate the characteristics of the world in which Guys and Dolls is set. The film’s setting, as it is depicted as early as the first scene, is a hub of depravity and crime. It is overun with gambling and petty crime – and from it is born a rich community and language. We are also introduced to the presence of law enforcement in this first number which the characters entrenched in this world are able to stave off. 

What is the purpose of the songs in the characters’ lives? 

In most of the film’s songs, the focal point is the relationships and romances that form between characters. There is a somewhat overexposed motif maintained throughout the film that the male characters want to avoid romance, while the female characters (with whom they are paired) yearn for love and marriage. The ol’-ball-and-chain sentiment of the film is expressed numerous times in the text of the film - the most notable song of this sort is “Guys and Dolls.” In it, Nathan laments how “men all over the country” are falling victim to love and marriage. “Guys and Dolls” comes as Nathan has been arguing with his girlfriend of fourteen years (!) about the merits of their getting engaged. His girlfriend, Adelaide, has been imploring Nathan to propose to her for years (she has an entire song in which she claims that she has had a chronic cold because she is stressed from being unwed) but Nathan continues to refuse to do so. As far as all of the men of Guys and Dolls see it, women hope to manipulate and reshape their partners through marriage. 

Another, less cynical manifestation of the themes of romance is found in the song “If I Were A Bell”. Sung by Sarah, “If I Were A Bell” expresses her excitement at her growing closeness with Sky. The number is an earnest and eager illustration on behalf of Sarah about the happiness found in spending time with Sky. 

In what ways are the songs and/or musical performances racialized and/or gendered?

Guys and Dolls has very few people of color in its ensemble and zero people of color in its principle cast. However, there is a portion of the film in which Sky and Sarah visit Havana, Cuba, and the movie’s performances are racialized in this segment. In one scene set in Havana, Sky and Sarah get dinner at a locals’ bar. It is in its depictions of Cuban people around the bar that the film creates caricatures rooted in stereotypes. The men are depicted as leering and drunk while the women are depicted as overtly sexual. One woman attempts to seduce Sky, to which Sarah responds by competing for Sky’s attention (which in itself is both gendered and racialized). Eventually Sarah and Sky come to blows with this unnamed woman, starting a fight that extends throughout the bar. However, the fact that Sky and Sarah – two white Americans – physically fight exclusively Cuban people (even if they were not involved in the conflict which led to the row) after the film made caricatures of all its Cuban characters feels racialized and tone-def.

What elements of the film align with White musicals’ longing to transform the ordinary into utopia? 

As Dyer explains, white musicals have a tendency to create a utopian world from the everyday. The utopian impulse within Guys and Dolls manifests in its romanticism and happily-ever-after ending that occur at the movie’s close. In one of the film’s most famous songs, “Luck Be A Lady,” Sky is able to win an unlikely, luck-based bet because of his love for Sarah. Another example of this longing to build a utopia is the film’s sugar-coated ending in which both of the film’s couples – Sky and Sarah with Nathan and Adelaide – get married in Times Square side-by-side. These flourishes in narrative serve to conclude the film on an optimistic and cheerful note. 

How does the film reflect the temporal circularity of Black musicals? 

In “Is Car Wash a Black Musical?” Dyer contrasts the temporal circularity of Black musicals with a more repetition-based, linear structure of white musicals. Of these two distinctions, Guys and Dolls falls moreso into the white musical structure than the Black musical structure. The narrative emphasizes the ability for change (for example, Nathan grows from being staunchly anti-marriage to getting married by the film’s end). 

Songs and tunes are reprised so as to illustrate this point of character growth. In reprises, the film stresses the change in the various meanings of the same song. For example, there is a specific melody which Sarah hears during one of her first nights in Havana that, upon hearing some days later, represents something that is altogether different.  

Discussion Questions:

One of the most central motifs to Guys and Dolls is the question of marriage. How are these discourses gendered, frequently?

How might a Black musical depict a similar narrative?

Sarah is depicted as buttoned-up and “prudish”. Sarah’s “prudishness” is depicted more fondly than other characters’ more overt sexuality – how have depictions of women’s sexuality in film evolved since this film?

Safe Haven ~Bang Chan | Day 6.

Pairing: SpaceRebel!Chan x WitchQueen!F.Reader Themes: Fantasy AU | Sci-Fi AU | Royalty AU | Soulmate AU | Slow Burn | Mutual Pining | Angst | Smut | Fluff. Series Warnings: Third person POV · Very loose and liberal usage of Star Wars concepts (mostly to refer to weapons and tech). you don’t need to know anything about SW to read this, trust me · Physical descriptions of the main female character such as: can visibly blush, having long hair, and being short · Violence · Swearing · Mature themes and language · Original characters · Graphic smut (later chapters) · Mentions of the members of other groups (later chapters) · No one is straight, beware · Each chapter will include its own individual warnings. Chapters marked as M (Mature) either include highly detailed violence, or smut.

Chapter Warnings: racism? (within the context of the story). Word Count: ~4k | AO3

Due to all the abovementioned warnings, this story is intended for an adult audience only. Minors please do not interact. ✰This chapter has been reworked as of 16/08/2023

Previous Chapter: Day 5. | Series Masterlist. | Next Chapter: Day 7.

Disclaimer: the story presented in this work does not represent Stray Kids in any way; anything described in this story and all actions performed by the characters are purely fictional, this was created just for good fun.

The cool breeze of the night filtered pleasantly through the castle windows. A floating orb of light followed their every move as both Chan and the Queen made their way across the numerous corridors, all as an amicable conversation flowed between the two. Updates on the ship’s state, appreciative comments towards the food, Freyja’s first few hunts when she was but a cub, they engaged in some lighthearted small talk to fill in the otherwise silent area.

After a particularly sharp turn, Chan realised they were walking towards the throne room. He was slightly perplexed as they walked past the two heavy doors, and went into the adjacent wing.

“I thought you didn’t want me here”.

The Queen offered him a sheepish smile. “There’s a lot of important stuff in this area. We don’t typically let strangers wander here on their own”.

Chan just hummed in response, stuffing his hands in his pockets to keep them warm. They walked for a few more minutes until they reached an open area. Freyja immediately plopped down at the very entrance.

The place was spacious, one wall was covered from floor to ceiling in bookcases, with books neatly organised in each crevice. The other walls were filled with paintings of varying sizes and themes. People, scenery, and even objects were painted on the canvases. A handful of animal themed statues dotted the main open area.

But, by far, the most eye-catching piece in the entire room was the back wall, covered entirely by an intricate tapestry.

“Here’s where we keep records of the royal family”, the Queen told Chan. “We’ve got… special traditions. They might as well be as old as the planet itself”.

Her Majesty walked deeper into the hall, and Chan followed suit, until they reached the tapestry hanging on the wall. Numerous portraits of people covered the piece, connected to each other by delicate lines of varying  colours, sizes, and patterns.

“The royal family of Lira Le doesn’t follow the principle of blood and birthright as royals from other planets do. We’re born for and from magic”, the Queen began her explanation as she scanned the names and faces on the tapestry.

“Our family is connected by a special energy, we call it the Frequency. We are able to feel this Frequency, and find the people emitting it. That’s how Sol and I were adopted into the family. The moment we were born, the former rulers looked for us”, the Queen pointed towards the tapestry, to her and the High King, and then above them, to the former King and Queen.

“There’s this occurrence also… Every other generation, twins are born into the royal family. You should be able to see the repeating pattern in the tapestry”.

Chan could see it. The intricate tapestry showed an extensive family tree. The lines illustrated the different relationships between the monarchs, their respective partners, and descendants–if any.

The sets of twins appeared in every other generation, each pair connected by a delicate, repeating rune, the last on the line being the current Queen and High King. Nothing other than her family was connected to the Queen, the surrounding space around her portrait was empty aside from the rune that tied her to her brother. The High King’s portrait was almost the same, save for the dotted red line connecting him to another person.

Chan’s eyebrows rose in surprise at the face next to His Majesty and the name carefully embroidered below it. “Hoseok? The Hoseok?” 

“Yes, Hoseok”, a tender smile painted her features as she looked fondly at the two portraits. “They’ve known each other since we were children, but they only formalised their bond around eight years ago, if I remember correctly. He’s also been in the tapestry since then”.

“Huh… Must be nice”, was his only response as his eyes trailed the red dotted line connecting them. To be tied to another person on such a deep level certainly must be nice, especially knowing your energies were born to match each other.

Out of the corner of his eye Chan noticed someone else further away from the High King. It was the portrait of a young man. The features on his face were slightly washed out, making it hard to link it to anyone he had met so far–it was connected to the previous rulers by a straight, green line, the delicate inscription under it read ‘Ike’. 

“Who’s this?” Chan asked, curious.

The Queen tensed a bit, but she answered regardless. “Before we were adopted into the royal family… our parents had a son of their own. He’s no longer with us. It’s… a sore subject”.

The Queen’s voice was apparently sterile. Yet, there was an underlying tone of something. Chan wanted to inquire further, but his question died on his tongue as soon as Her Majesty continued talking.

“Anyway”, the Queen cleared her throat. “The Twin Regnants have a special role within the royal family. We must keep the balance between light and dark energy on the planet. I’m sure you will eventually notice Sol’s magic and mine are different. Not only between ourselves, but also compared to others, too”.

Chan hummed in understanding. “How do you do it? Keep the balance, I mean”.

“A bunch of rituals we have to follow, lots of ancient traditions. Boring stuff”, the Queen shrugged, waving a hand dismissively in the air. “And, honestly, just our mere existence. All magic here flows through us… Sometimes I feel like I’m just a glorified filter”, she added with a chuckle.

Chan laughed at her comment. He knew she was dumbing it all down for him, which was fine. The fine details were something probably too far out of his league to understand. Satisfied with that answer, he chose to ask something else. 

“What about your biological parents?”

“What about them?”

“Well, have you ever met them? What happened to them once you were adopted?” 

“Not really…” The Queen’s eyes thoughtfully trailed the tapestry, from her mark to the ones above her. “We never met them. It was mentioned to us that our birth mother was single, and that she passed away shortly after our birth. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for that to happen when you birth Twin Regnants, or when you birth royals in general, really. I do feel guilty about that sometimes…”

Chan looked at her, his eyes traced her pondering features as she looked at the different faces on the fabric. “It’s not your fault”.

“I know”, she turned to look at him, with the tiniest of smiles on her lips. “But it’s hard to not feel guilty about unfortunate events that are tied directly or indirectly to you. Even when they are beyond your control. Don’t you think so?”

“Yes, I can understand that”, and he did, truly. He could pull out an extensive list of numerous things he felt guilty about, even when he had not directly caused them.

Chan turned back to the tapestry, and he noticed the numbers embroidered in a smaller font under each name. They looked like galactic dates, but as he looked at the matching numbers under the current Queen and High King he paused, unsure.

“What are those?” He asked as he pointed towards the numbers.

She looked at him, with an amused glint in her eyes. “Those are numbers, Chan”.

Chan rolled his eyes in response. “Thank you, Your Majesty. What would I do without your infinite amount of knowledge?”

The Queen just chuckled, answering properly this time. “Each one of those under our names are just the dates of our birth. For the people that passed, that date is recorded as well”.

Surprise fell on his face at her confirmation, and the comment spilled from his lips before he could filter it. “You’re so young!”

“Why do you sound surprised? Do I look old?” He could tell she was teasing him, but even then, he recoiled immediately, trying to save his ass.

“No! You look great, actually”, he regretted ever opening his mouth, his next words rushed out of his lips as if they’d somehow make everything better. “I mean, we’re really close in age! You carry yourself like you’ve lived through a lot, even when you’re so young”.

Her Majesty huffed out a laugh, clearly amused by his outburst. “Because I have. As have you, I presume. That’s how things are when we do what we do”. 

Chan went silent, pondering her words. Of course she could tell. Anyone that took their path of rebellion would be able to understand how things were out there, the way the endless game of cat and mouse would wear you down much quicker than a regular civilian life would.

They stayed in silence for a while. The only sounds that could be heard in the room were coming from Freyja grooming herself, and from the wind flowing through the windows. Those sounds were joined by that incessant hum in his skull.

Chan looked at the tapestry, at the empty space adjacent to the Queen’s portrait. There was no red dotted line connecting her to any other person. Words bubbled on his tongue, and the sounds left his mouth before he could stop them. 

“Does that mean that you’re single?” He shut his eyes tight, grimacing as he mentally face-palmed himself–so much for being careful…

The Queen laughed at the sudden question. “Yes”, she answered finally. “Although sometimes it feels like I’m in an unhappy marriage with my own moral duties”.

Chan chuckled, and he genuinely felt a bit relieved that she hadn’t taken offence at his question. Only because of that. No other reason to feel relieved other than that… “Can relate, I suppose”.

Her Majesty looked back at him with a smile, a genuine one that had her eyes almost disappearing completely on her face.

“Thank you for telling me all this”, Chan was sure there was a smile on his face matching her own. “I think I’m starting to understand more”.

“If you’re ever curious about something, just ask. There’s no shame in that”, the Queen encouraged him, and in that moment, he genuinely felt like he could ask anything without judgement.

They stayed in the room for a while after that, the conversation turned to an assortment of non-essential topics that inadvertently showed bits and pieces of themselves. Their opinions, their views… It was pleasant, almost like he was talking with a friend.

Chan eventually made it back to his room, after showering Freyja with affection and sharing wishes of ‘Good night’ and ‘Sleep well’ with Her Majesty.

He took his clothes off the second the door closed behind him, and immediately plopped on his bed as sleep started to desperately cling to his bones.

There, in the wee hours of the night, with his mind half in the realm of the living, half holding onto his own personal dreamland, Chan vaguely realised he had dropped her title at some point during their conversation earlier.

The Queen hadn’t corrected him.

Not even once.

Chan made his way to the Big Bad Wolf right after breakfast, since Wang Eun took pity on him when he saw his face in the morning. A comment of ‘Wow, you do look awful in the mornings’ was the first thing to come out of his mouth as soon as Chan opened his eyes, right before he told him to rest for the day, that they could train more some other time. Chan appreciated it, truly. His few hours of sleep left him with barely enough energy to walk.

The ship was looking much better than it did a few days ago, the insides had finally been fully scrubbed clean, and some of the doors were already working again. He felt his body relax as soon as he stepped into the main control room and started to hear people chatting and working as usual. The now familiar environment filled him with hope, especially since he could finally see progress.

Talboot wasn’t on the ship today, one of the workers let Chan know the man had the day off when he inquired about it. That was fine, it’d let him focus solely on his task. Even though he deeply enjoyed speaking with Talboot when he was working, it did slow him down a bit, and the fact that the man wasn’t here now made him even more determined to get this communicator fixed today.

Hours passed by quickly. The hyperfocus on the damned thing led Chan to fixing other connections within the unit that would eventually connect to other systems. People slowly filtered out of the room when their tasks were done for the day as the sun started to set. Until, eventually, he was completely alone. Thankfully, one of the warlocks working in the ship repairs had left a couple orbs of light to illuminate the area when he noticed Chan was planning on staying a bit longer.

With slightly trembling hands, Chan ran electricity through the circuit board to test it, the integrated indicator light finally blinked red, confirming a successful test. The positive outcome made him literally jump on the spot, and words flew from his lips as he started tidying everything up.

“Holy shit, holy shit”, excitement bubbled within him. Chan neatly rolled the extra length of the wires, tying them together with some insulating tape.

He crouched on the floor next to one of the main console panels, his shaky hands pulled it out with a bit too much force. The piece of metal immediately slipped from his hands and landed on the floor with a loud clunk, which made him wince slightly. Chan carefully inserted the circuit board in its place, taking a hold of the cable that connected the board to the entire communication system and finally plugging it in. The loud crackling sound over the speakers signalled a successful connection.

Chan stood up quickly, he tripped slightly when he stepped towards the console, clumsily hitting the metal panel on the floor, but it didn’t matter. He sat on his seat, and his fingers flew over the buttons as he entered the numbers he had committed to memory what felt like aeons ago.

“Come on, boys… Pick up, pick up…” His leg bounced up and down, impatient when the familiar ringing sound played over the speakers.

Anxiety clung to his every muscle while he waited, the thought that something might have happened flooded his mind briefly when he started expecting the worst… Until, finally, a crackling sound came from the speakers, accompanied by a voice. 

“Chan!”

“Seungmin!” Chan started laughing like a madman, and relief washed over him at the familiar voice of his crewmate. “Are you okay? Is everyone okay?”

“What do you mean if we’re okay?! Are you okay? We’ve been trying to reach you for days! What the fuck happened? I completely lost your track after you went into hyperdrive the other day!” Seungmin’s voice was rather panicked when he spoke, swearing left and right as he continued to inquire on their whereabouts.

“We’re fine! We’re alive, the Big Bad Wolf is damaged, though. Badly. That’s why it’s taken so long to reach out. Are the others back?”

A loud sigh of relief came from the other side of the line. “Yes! Jisung, Hyunjin, and Minho are all back. They suffered minor injuries, but they’re safe and recovering. Although the Shining Starlight is a bit damaged as well. Jeongin’s working on her right now”.

Chan let out a sigh of relief of his own. He brought his hands to his face to press his fingers on his eye sockets when tears started pricking his eyes. “Dude, you’ve got no idea how happy I am to hear that right now”.

Seungmin laughed at that, and even if the sound was slightly distorted over the speakers, it only added to that wave of relief coursing through Chan. “Probably just as happy as I am. We’ve been worried sick. Are you gonna tell me what happened or not?”

Chan explained the chain of events that led them to where they were now. How the attack drone followed them into hyperspace, and shot them down, how they crash-landed, and the appalling state the Big Bad Wolf ended up in… Everything but where they were, and who had helped them, but he did promise Seungmin that he’d tell them the details once they were back at their base.

“How the hell did you guys survive that?” Seungmin was clearly incredulous after Chan finished his dramatic rendition of the events, and he seemed to also be slightly stunned at the amount of information.

“Fucking Felix”, Chan chuckled. “He pulled one of his magic tricks and effectively saved our asses”.

“Okay, I think this might be our closest call to death so far. I’ll have to carve it on the wall later”, Seungmin laughed, and the memory of their endless list of near-death experiences carved on the base’s walls brought a melancholic smile to Chan’s lips.

“Listen, Seungmin. I’m going to send you the intel”, Chan fell into his Rebel Leader mode as soon as the words left his mouth, taking the small data transfer device from his pocket and plugging it into the console. As soon as it was properly linked to the console, he started pressing buttons so he could send the information over to his crewmate. “Give it to Minho, he knows what to do with it”.

“Roger that, captain”, Seungmin remained silent for a moment, decrypting the data on his side. Once everything had transferred over, he finally spoke again. “What the fuck does this mean?”

“I have no idea. Sounds like a bunch of jargon to me, but that’s what Dall wanted”, Chan answered truthfully. He’d had the chance to go over the information while he was initially extracting it. It was honestly a bunch of random words like shadows, springs, among many others that didn’t make a whole lot of sense to him when combined together. He felt oddly reassured that Seungmin felt the same way. “Speaking of which… any news from Dall?”

“Not really… Minho’s been checking daily, but it’s radio silent so far”, Seungmin’s words didn’t really surprise him. Dall often wouldn’t communicate for weeks at a time. And when they did, it was mostly to send new missions, updates, or the very sparse words of encouragement.

“When will you be back?” Seungmin’s voice pulled Chan back from his thoughts.

“Probably as soon as the ship’s up and running… It might take a while, she’s pretty fucked up right now. Don’t worry about us, just make sure you send that asap and take care of yourselves”.

Their conversation picked up from there between the two. Seungmin gave him updates on the mission that had been led by Minho along Chan’s. How Hyunjin managed to flirt his way out of a guard port filled to the brim with Charmer supporters… How–had it not been by Jeongin’s quick guidance as their tracker–Jisung almost got them caught when he had returned to the same guard port to release a bunch of animals that were trapped there, effectively wreaking absolute havoc in the area… How Minho managed to surpass his previous best score of his favourite game of punch as many people unconscious as possible–all while they still successfully freed the enslaved civilians they had originally gone to that planet for.

Chan felt very proud of his crewmates–his friends, his brothers. Every time they managed to fulfil one of their many missions and they lived to tell the tale, pride would swell in his chest as he was reminded of why they chose to take the path they did.

At some point during the conversation with Seungmin, Minho joined in. He was clearly relieved when he greeted Chan, and Chan told him how they were, and briefly explained the situation they were going through with the Big Bad Wolf. Minho excused himself at some point, so he could finally go and send over the intel to the rebel leader.

After a while of just talking to Seungmin, Chan noticed the sun had already set outside of the ship, and he figured Wang Eun would be at his door soon. So he said his goodbyes to Seungmin, but not before he promised to call again the next day to catch up with the others too.

The castle corridors were especially animated in the early hours of the evening, with people walking left and right as they hurried to finish their evening tasks. A few maids stopped to greet Chan since he had slowly become acquaintanced with many of them by now during his many strolls around the castle.

“I wouldn’t go in that direction if I were you. Their Majesties and Lord Skallarg are arguing over there”, one of the maids told him. An advice which he decided–against his better judgement–to disregard completely. If anything, the moment she said that, he had already decided that’d be his next destination.

Once he was close enough, Chan could hear Skallarg’s despicable voice over the hustling of people coming in and out rooms. The many castle workers seemed to pay no mind to the scene, as if they had become desensitised to the occurrence. 

“Her Majesty took them in, Your Majesty! Completely overruling my judgement! They destroyed the royal gardens”, Skallarg’s face was red, his whole body was tense when he gestured outside the windows, speaking to the High King as if the Queen wasn’t even standing right next to him.

The Queen was seething, her hands were slightly shaking while she heard the man speak. Chan’s eyes might’ve been tired from staring at tiny circuits all day, so he might’ve been seeing things, but, to him, it looked like her hair was swaying the tiniest bit, even when there was no current coming from the windows.

The High King’s voice was completely level when he addressed the man, as if what he was saying didn’t concern him at all. “You know we take people in all the time, Skallarg. Regardless of how they arrive here, we help. Besides, she is the Queen of this planet, your Queen. You can advise her all you want, but she will always have the last word, and you know it”.

“I have to correct you there, dear brother. He cannot advise me on anything. I don’t care about what he’s got to say”, she was stern, firm in her statement. There was clear restraint in her words, and the tremble in her hands increased slightly.

Her hair was definitely moving now.

Skallarg’s face grew redder, now addressing the Queen directly. “They don’t deserve to be here! This castle is for Liraleans only!”

“They’re my guests!” Her Majesty shouted. The energy that had been collecting around her released abruptly,  and the shockwave hit the numerous paintings on the walls, which immediately clattered loudly to the floor.

Skallarg winced. The High King grabbed Her Majesty’s upper arm, rather forcefully. When he spoke to her, his tone was still level, if only a bit stern. “Calm. Down”.

Her Majesty yanked her arm free from his grasp, defiant when she addressed her brother. “I will not. You”, she pointed to Skallarg, and the man immediately recoiled. “Never say anything like that ever again. Not in front of me, not in front of anyone. In case you’ve forgotten, our parents are dead. That archaic way of thinking won’t be tolerated here anymore. I’ll invite whoever I want, whenever I want, and you must show them the same level of respect as you would show any Liralean”.

As if she was communicating with him without saying a word, and with a heavy gaze, the Queen gave the High King one final, furious look. She turned around and started walking away from the two men, right in Chan’s direction.

When she walked past him, it was almost like she hadn’t even registered his presence, and the air around her–still thick with her energy–almost made him shudder.

The High King’s eyes locked with Chan’s for a brief moment. A look of what Chan could only describe as curiosity crossed His Majesty’s features when he eyed Chan up and down. The exchange lasted only a few seconds, until he turned back to Skallarg, grabbed his arm, and pulled him in the opposite direction with orders of ‘Come with me’.

Maids gathered around the area to pick up the fallen paintings, assessing any possible damages. They honestly didn’t look particularly surprised or moved by the scene at all as they worked.

As soon as the High King and Skallarg were out of his sight, Chan started to feel it, that pull that tugged him somewhere. He decided to follow it, and his instincts were suddenly on high alert as he walked corridor after corridor.

Stepping out of one of the many archways that lined the castle’s corridors, Chan found himself in one of the smaller courtyards. The light from the castle windows dimly illuminated the area, just enough for him to see where he was going.

After a few moments, he spotted the Queen. She was kneeling on the thick rim of a large fountain, with her head submerged deep within the basin.

Chan was slightly alarmed, until he saw her yank her head out with a frustrated groan, spilling water everywhere around her. He waited for a moment, watching the Queen turn around to finally sit down on the fountain’s rim, planting her boots firmly on the grass.

With slow steps, Chan walked closer. She didn’t look at him, her full attention seemed to be on her trembling hands, but he was sure Her Majesty had noticed his presence anyway.

Tentatively, Chan sat down next to her, close enough that he could hear the water droplets fall from her hair and land on the concrete surface they sat on.

The Queen didn’t say anything, and neither did he. They sat in silence for a while, she was just looking at her shaky hands, while he just looked at her. Chan’s thoughts raced, and the ever-present hum in his head seemingly changed shape. Comfort, comfort, comfort… the maddening chant seemed to be playing on repeat in his mind.

His instincts kicked in, and, against his better judgement, his limbs started acting entirely on their own accord. Chan took one of the Queen’s trembling hands, and as soon as their skin made contact, her eyes snapped in his direction, looking at him with her eyebrows high in surprise.

Without taking his eyes away from her hands, Chan took the hand he was holding and placed it on his free hand that was resting on his thigh. Her other hand got the same treatment, until he was eventually holding both of her hands between his own.

With a minute squeeze, he finally looked at her. She stared right back, and she seemed to be focused solely on his face. 

They stayed in that position for a while, sharing the comfortable silence while they looked into each other’s eyes, until her breathing started to even out and the tremble of her hands lessened. 

Chan broke the silence first, giving her hands another reassuring squeeze. “You okay?”

Her Majesty stayed silent for a moment, her eyes darted around his face, taking in his features. She eventually exhaled, and her shoulders slumped the tiniest bit. “No”.

A valid answer, in Chan’s humble opinion.

Chan hummed in response, and his thumb unconsciously traced circles on the back of her hand. After another moment of silence, he spoke again. “Wanna talk about it?”

She looked at him, thoughtfully. Ultimately, she chuckled, but it wasn’t a sound of mirth, it was more like a sound of defeat. “I’m just really tired, Chan. I don’t think I even have the words to elaborate more than that right now”.

“Mmm… Anything I can help with?” It was a serious offer, he realised once he said it. He was willing to do his best to help if she needed him to. It was the least he could do.

Her Majesty smiled at him. It was, objectively, a beautiful smile, but he couldn’t help but notice how… sad she looked. “You’ve already done more than enough”.

He wasn’t sure that was true, he certainly didn’t feel like it, but he didn’t say it. Instead, he remained quiet, looking at her while the movement of his thumb on her skin didn’t stop.

Chan didn’t really know how much time had passed. They could’ve been there for minutes, hours, and he genuinely wouldn’t have noticed. He found great comfort in the silence around them, in her gentle gaze tracing the features of his face, just like he did the same. He felt reassured enough once he eventually noticed her breathing evening out completely.

A smile spread on her face, a genuine one, and he could’ve sworn his heart stopped for a second. “Thank you”.

“Anytime”, he felt a smile of his own form on his lips.

After a few more moments of silence, she finally pulled her hands out of his hold, and stood up from the fountain. “I have to go”. 

Chan remained seated, with his hands on his lap. “Sleep well, Your Majesty”.

“Sleep well, Chan”, were the last words she said to him before she retreated back into the castle.

He sat there for a while, with his hands palm up, and his eyes trained on them, tracing every line, every wrinkle… With a sigh, he faced a very odd, and unpleasant realisation.

He didn’t like how cold and empty they suddenly felt.

Previous Chapter: Day 5. | Series Masterlist. | Next Chapter: Day 7.

© therhythmafterthesummer 2022-2023. all rights reserved. do not repost or translate my stories.

In May, The CW pulled the plug on seven shows, including “Roswell, New Mexico,” which was airing its fourth season. On Monday night, the drama aired its final episode — one that showrunner Chris Hollier and the writers planned on being the Season 4 finale, not the final episode ever.

During the last episode, Max (Nathan Parsons) headed off to save the world through portal — one that would allow him to return and live happily ever after with Liz (Jeanine Mason), who he still intended to eventually marry.

“There was one change afterwards where the console melted, and Liz would feel like, ‘Oh no, I just got engaged and maybe he’s trapped there forever.’ It was the only thing we removed,” he tells Variety, noting that the finale was built otherwise just “in case” the network chose to pull the plug.

Still, Hollier was prepared to do one more season.

“I loosely had to pitch [the network] and had to get them to sign off on letting me [have Max] go away. And they’re like, ‘Well, when does he come back?’ was the next question. They’re our first audience. So yes, there was a plan actually, of how to round it out assuming that the fifth season would be our last,” he says. “We had some time jumps built in to actually tell stories we’ve collapsed down into weeks. We wanted to actually stretch out and jump to three different times over the next couple of years for all of our characters.”

He adds, “I’m very fortunate for the time we had, but you always feel like we had one more bullet in the chamber.”

Luckily, the finale included key moments for some of the main characters, including Liz and Max getting engaged. Throughout the episode, Max battled with whether he should return to Oasis without her. In the end, he had to go — and there was never a plan to have him stay. Simply, it’s a TV show and there’s no drama in that.

“We left it open with a hopeful feeling that lets people’s imaginations fill in what happened next when he returned,” Hollier says.

Hollier also shed light on Michael (Michael Vlamis) and Alex’s (Tyler Blackburn) wedding, one that fans have been anticipating for a long time. After they tied the knot, Michael performed Edwin McCain’s “I’ll Be,” which was the perfect fit for multiple reasons.

“Look, we have all the ’90s to choose from! We were trying to figure out what song, trying to figure out if there was a perfect Counting Crows song,” Hollier recalls. “It was also a little bit born out of a joke when [original showrunner] Carina [Adly MacKenzie] was on the show. We kept joking if we couldn’t get a song, like, ‘I wonder what Edwin McCain’s doing right now?’ It sort of stayed in my head. I thought it was a fun way to kind of honor that as well.”

Shiri Appleby, who played Liz in the original “Roswell” and made a cameo earlier in the series, returned for the episode to help Liz Ortecho.

“This was always a plan. She’s such a huge part of the original ‘Roswell.’ We wanted to try to tell a story with her and we wanted to honor our own ‘Roswell,’ and who our Liz is. In a theme of mentorship, we thought she would be the ultimate mentor, because that she was a mentor for us,” says Hollier. “Being with both of our Liz’s in the diner was a powerful moment. When she puts on the antennas, it was a special moment on set.”

Dota at Steintor-Varieté, Halle a.d. Saale | 20th September 2023 | photos by me

Read about a wonderfully chaotic concert with Dota and her band below. I've divided the text into sections so you can skip right to the main part.

Reunion with an old friend

Often when I go to concerts, I'm going on my own. This time, I went with someone special: An old school friend of mine, Christina, whom I haven't seen for seven years. We stayed in contact just a little bit and a few months ago realised that now we don't live as far away from each other anymore. So I asked her if she wanted to come to the Dota concert with me and she agreed.

So shortly after 3pm after a bit of an odyssey with Deutsche Bahn, I arrived at the train station in Halle. I immediately recognised her on the platform, we hugged and were overall overjoyed to see each other again. It was as if we had never parted and we instantly found many topics to discuss while taking the tram back to her place. We stopped by a supermarket to get some food for the evening and breakfast.

Christina's apartment block is a construction site at the moment because they are modernising the entire building. But her flat was small and homely and we dropped off our stuff there before taking the tram back to a restaurant that served tasty bowls and home-made lemonades.

We talked so much about our studies (she studies something like sociology and political science and will be working on her master thesis next year), our common friends, concerts and festivals and many political topics that are important at the moment. It's very refreshing to talk to someone so knowledgeable and engaged in politics and general developments in Germany. We discovered that we both like satire shows (she has even been in the heute show audience once!) and Christina immediately wanted to come to Munich with me to see Die Anstalt (sadly, tickets are sold out). Funnily, I know Dota from Die Anstalt, because she performed her song Grenzen there back in 2018! So everything fits together, afterall.

Then it was already almost 6pm and time to head over to the Steintor-Varieté where the concert would take place. There were only three elderly people already at the doors so we decided to go on a walk around the block. The location was directly next to Christina's university campus with the library, café and some offices just on the other side of the building. So we already saw them setting up the merch stand from the window on the back. We walked around some more before they opened the doors around 7pm. As we were one of the first people, we got the best seats in the front row, right in the middle. Now it was time to wait and chat a bit more until the concert would start.

A tribute to Mascha Kaléko

There was actually no support act - at around 8pm Dota and her band appeared on stage. They started out with some very quiet and contemplative songs. The tour is dedicated to their album with musical interpretations of Mascha Kaléko's poetry. Mascha Kaléko was a German-Jewish poet born in 1907. In September 1938 Kaléko emigrated to New York City together with her second husband, Chemjo Vinaver. Her poetry is witty and very precise, describing daily life of ordinary people as well as offering a look on society during that time. Dota has been given a book of her poetry many years ago after a concert and started making the texts into music.

In between songs she often stopped to explain the background of a certain piece or recite another poem. It was at times funny and amusing (like one poem about the role of the women as an artist's muse) and sometimes very moving to hear about personal events in her life as well as feeling at home nowhere and being the outsider wherever she went.

A chaotic-good concert

The band had a difficult time that evening because one member got sick unexpectedly and they had to find other ways of dealing with this. The woman who played the thrombone also sang lovely backing vocals. At one point their drummer Janis Görlich came to the front to sing a duet with Dota as well. They were however unlucky because if the general improvisation wasn't enough, Jan Rohrbach's guitar string broke. They had no roadies and no spare so he went to change it. Dota decided to play a few songs by herself to keep us entertained.

Later Dota realised that we haven't been told there will be a break and sent us off for a few minutes. After the break they continued with a few more songs with poetry before switching over to their own songs. Dota was once again on her own and presented a few unreleased gems she has written for the next album. One was especially funny: A song about seeing all sorts of viral content on tik tok and trying to create some herself while secretly thinking all of this isn't as funny and cool as it is said to be. The whole audience was laughing about this and the mood really improved after a rather serious and quiet first part of the concert.

Then they played a few older songs, including Sommer für Sommer and Wir rufen dich Galaktika, a song from their previous album about wanting a superhuman being to rescue us from the mess we've made as humanity. At that point everyone stood up and started dancing and singing. We got an encore with Bademeister*in - a very witty song that praises the job of swimming pool attendants, both male and female. Then another song, Für die Sterne, about a guy who refuses to conform to other's expectations and lives freely for the sake of experiencing and enjoying life. Because the audience was really enthusiastic they even came out for a second encore, playing another very funny song, Rennrad.

After their very final bow, the older guy next to us, whom we already met in front of the door earlier, already wanted to take the setlist. This one time in my life I was faster and got to it first. Yay! My first setlist I got from a main act. I am not even sure how true this setlist is, given the many improvised passages that evening. It even has something crossed out and written further down. And it has a back side too! We let the other guy take photos of the setlist and then slowly went to the entrance hall where the merch stand was.

At the merch stand

There were really many people at the merch stand wanting to buy vinyls, t-shirts, posters and tote bags. To my delight they also had CDs so I decided to buy the previous album which I didn't have yet. Then I saw they had a few markers lying around - and sure enough, shortly after Dota appeared to help selling and signing things. When it was my turn I said "Hi! I got your setlist! Would you sign it for me?" She agreed and signed it with the date, and I managed to thank her for the great concert and reassure her it was a good kind of chaos that was a lot of fun.

There were a few elderly women who were quite impertinent and shoved others aside to be first. I stood there quite patiently to pay for the album when one of them grabbed the CD for herself and also wanted to have it signed but couldn't open it. I helped her to open the packaging when she decided that this was the wrong album afterall. Dota asked if someone else wanted it and I said, yes me, please! Then I proceeded to help that woman with a second CD and she got it signed for a friend of hers before it was my turn for signing again. So now I have a personally signed album as well. I thanked Dota again and got myself out of that crowd. Christina did not want to get anything and waited for me where it was a bit less crowded.

Evening conversations and a sunny morning

Christina and I wandered to the market to take the next tram. We talked about the concert and agreed that it was a great experience for both of us with many moving and funny moments. Our conversations kept wandering to topics of media, journalism and politics the whole evening. Curiously both of our studies overlap in quite a few aspects and we really click with our views and interests. As we arrived at home we drank tea and had some snacks. It got really late, around 2am, as we had conversations about anything and everything. Sadly the construction workers didn't let us sleep in peace as they started drilling the walls at 7 in the morning.

After a relaxed breakfast Christina had to get ready for a conference and we took the tram back into the city. We parted with many hugs and promises to see each other soon, maybe in November when I have the whole flat for myself or for a comedy show. It was a sunny morning at the market place, and I decided to wander around a bit before going home. They have a huge book shop I got stuck at for quite a bit and a big organic grocery shop. I also wandered through the small but lovely park. Then my backback got heavy and the sun was too strong. Around 28 degrees in September without a cloud in the sky - thank you, climate change, I guess. I was very tired, actually, and fought not to fall asleep in the hot, crowded train. It felt good to be at home again - and there were some photos to edit and some new songs to listen to as well...

Dear Dota and dear Christina, thank you for the wonderful adventures in Halle. Hopefully we get to repeat this experience again soon!

sf9 concert thoughts under the cut

so first things first while i knew they were amazing performers i was actually surprised because for some reason in all their live shows or videos i saw you could always hear the recording more than their voices and i gotta admit that i did expect that yesterday as well, but was proven sooo so wrong, jaeyoon sanghyuk and taeyang’s voices are so stable and nice live, they were able to hit inseong high notes without an issue and maybe it was the way the songs were arranged but you couldn’t tell oh this part was supposed to be sung by someone else. same with youngbin’s rap parts, hwiyoung covered most of them and he did an incredible job (also a win for me as someone that biases both of them LMAO)

they’re genuinely SO funny as well, even if my korean is basic as hell i got the gists of most of what they were saying and they’re just very entertaining and know how to keep their audience engaged

i was so pleseantly surprised by taeyang’s solo he’s a fucking STAR literally couldn’t stop grinning the whole time because oh my god this dude was born to be on the stage, incredible voice, incredible dance, incredible guitar playing that i was not expecting at all LMAO

hwiyoung’s solo made me cry and i still don’t know why lmao like he showed his vcr and it was very lovely and then he came out and i wouldn’t say his song was sad (sanghyuk and jaeyoon sang ballads that were definitely moodier if that makes sense) but he came out and my eyes immeditaly started watering and i wasnting sobbing but tears were for sure falling LMAO he was so so good as well i was just in a trance watching him enjoy himself so much

chani’s dance solo was INCREDIBLE that boy can fucking dance and makes it look soooo effortless like anyone can do it but you know that’s not the actual fact, incredible energy. also chani had this go girl give us nothing energy for the concert but in the best way possible LMAO like he’s one of the few idols that can pull it off without looking like he’s being lazy, he has this like nonchalant type of dancing that is just very interesting to see and you kinda can’t stop looking at him

zuho is also a fucking star his solo was SO fun he engaged so much with the audience and you could tell how much fun he was having just being on stage and being able to share his song with fans. i think he was the one that engaged the most with the crowd and that’s saying a lot since all of them engaged SO much.

putting sanghyuk and jaeyoon together because they gave me similar vibes solos wise, they both sang ballads and they were both just, incredible, genuinely incredible, both of their voices are so sweet and so suited for ballads, you can’t help but just look at nothing but them while they’re singing (also the girls behind us cried with jaeyoon’s solo which same girl i get you LMAO)

for all the groups songs they made an incredible job of arranging them for 6 people, but not gonna lie i did miss the other 3 a lot i wish i would’ve seen them i think it would’ve made me concert even better for me (and that’s saying a lot LMAO)

during one of the ments we noticed that some girls in fronts of us were taking pictures of someone in the audience and we were both like ??? who is it there, and trying to look as well but i was like no no i’m gonna look at the stage that’s what i paid for, and the moment i turn around i see some shenanigans were about to happen so i tell my friend look at the stage, and bam, shirtless sanghyuk in all his glory, it was genuinely kind of a shock LMAO they almost started doing a strip show like my guys please chill. so after that they did say that youngbin was in the audience, and he was where we were looking to after, and well, a bitch cried LMAO like i realized it was him and idk man, a lot of emotions youngbin means the world to me so being able to see him even in the audience was a lot (again when i say i cried i mean like, 3 tears or so) they asked him to do the sf9 greetings and it was sooo sweet, and he danced a bit of easy love

WHICH all the olders songs were sooooooooooo so fun to watch, the synergy between the audience and the members was so so good, and honestly i was pleasently surprised again when they asked us to stand up and people in my section were actually jumping up and down too and not just standing there

that brings me to the thing that i didn’t like which was the audience trying soooo hard to get their y/n moment, hwiyoung was passing by saying hello taking pics with phones at fans at the floor section all crowed towards him with their phones which made my friend and i very :// because are they there to enjoy the concert or just to get some cool pictures. a lot of phones were out and while i found it coold that they allowed that it also made me sad to see people focused on filming rather than jumping with all the encore songs that were honestly so so hyped

they finished the concert with shine together and while that’s by far one of my favorite songs ever i wish they would’ve started the encore with that one and ended it with dance with us because leaving with this kind of sad vibe felt very weird, they went from “YEAH LET’S JUMP LET’S HAVE FUN” to this very slow song and it was a bit jarring (alas i did shed a tear because i am an emotional bitch) that being said after that all the members went around saying bye and jaeyoon screamed at each section thank you without his mic which honestly felt so so genuine. i guess that’s what i felt the most with all the members, the genuine vibes of loving to be in the stage and loving to see the fans

overall it was just, so so so fun, loved that they did a ballad version of believer, now or never is still and will always be that bitch, maybe i don’t hate jungle game as much as i did before, and honestly i’m just so so happy i got the change to see them live and enjoy such a fun concert, i love them so much and idk, very very happy

Eternal Clown: The Facets of a Persona

By Kitty Quinn, Photographed by Milan Lazovski, Makeup by Kitty Quinn, Styled by Kitty Quinn & Milan Lazovski, Modeled by Viv Yarema & Robert Quinn

"I'm Pierrot. I'm Everyman. What I'm doing is theatre, and only theatre... What you see on stage isn't sinister. It's pure clown. I'm using myself as a canvas and trying to paint the truth of our time on it. The white face, the baggy pants— they're Pierrot, the eternal clown putting over the great sadness." - David Bowie, The Daily Express, 1976.

Not everybody is who they seem— whether performing on a stage or presenting to strangers in day-to-day life, there is a front almost everyone puts out for the world. Though seemingly deceptive by description, a persona can extend itself in a myriad of ways depending on who has curated it. There is no doubt that there is power in being your true self, but there is arguably even more in crafting a version of yourself that you’ve always wanted to be. Everyone has their reasons– confidence, selling a product, vanity, etc.– the possibilities are endless. However, whatever it may be, there are several factors that go into an effective persona and a number of pros and cons that follow suit. 

A persona can typically be referred to as the mask we show others. Depending on the scenario, there are innumerable ways that these can manifest. While some personas are circumstantial, like an alter-ego situation, there is also a great deal of fixed personas that are life-long. The different people you interact with can even cause shifts in which facets of yourself that you present— how you act around your friends versus how you act around your family can serve as a blaring example of this theory. Even so, these can be grouped into a number of categories depending on how the user wishes to carry themself. 

There are four titular personas in basic terms: goal-directed personas, role-based personas, engaging personas, and fictional personas. While used for social interactions, these four types were originally created with the design thinking process in mind. A goal-directed persona typically focuses on what the targeted audience can do with the created persona; like in business when a company is trying to market toward a certain demographic. As for role-based personas, they are not much different than goal-directed personas, save for a specific focus on behavior rather than a wider audience. Engaging personas combine both goal and role-based personas but are primarily focused on engaging an audience, hence the name. Lastly, a fictional persona is a master blend of all of the aforementioned persona types created as a front or character put out into the world. The four types aside, not all personas fit these guidelines exactly and can be casual projections of who someone may want to appear as in their public sphere. 

Although it can be argued that everyone has their own personas, perhaps the most interesting ones were born from the minds of the world's greatest artists. Through writing, photography, music, and all other art forms, artists use personas as extensions of themselves to tell stories and express themselves in ways that using their true selves could not typically convey. Though alter egos most definitely used to be more apparent, they continue to live on in media in different ways. One of the most well-known examples of this is David Bowie’s quintessential character, Ziggy Stardust. Ziggy Stardust is an alien messiah bespoke in a menagerie of glitter and bright colors used to tell the narrative of the album Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, released in 1973. While this persona quickly became primarily associated with Bowie, throughout his entire career he was constantly inventing an assortment of different personas like Major Tom, the Thin White Duke, and The Blind Prophet, just to name just a few. David Bowie isn’t the only one who has created his own personas though— In the world of photography, American artist Cindy Sherman has also become renowned for her chameleon-like qualities. Unlike Bowie, Sherman shed her skin hundreds of times in order to create her iconic self-portraits that depicted her visual shapeshifting into various different characters throughout her career spanning several decades. 

In the more present sphere, the study of personas within art continues to be observed popularly with the likes of Nicki Minaj, The Neighbourhood, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and countless others. One of the most interesting examples of this outside of the modern music realm is British visual artist Nadia Lee Cohen’s approach. In her remarkable new book, HELLO My Name Is, Cohen dreamed up an assortment of personas based on name tags she has collected over time and physically transformed herself using intense prosthetics, clothing, and accessories. Looks aside, Cohen paired these transformations with clips of dialogue for each persona, stating that they had helped her fully immerse herself in the several different roles. There is an enormous amount of effort that goes into carefully crafting an effective persona that can tell an audience a story unlike any other. Bowie, Sherman, Cohen, and the endless lists of persona-possessing artists alike, it is an opportunity to create an immersive and complex experience that adds layers to fully understanding and conceptualizing a piece of art.  However, graces aside, this dedication and effort do not go without its struggles. 

The art of persona runs far deeper than creating a character as a mode to showcase one’s art. At times, personas can prove to be detrimental to the mental health and well-being of an artist. Using David Bowie as an example again, his eponymous neo-Fascist persona, the Thin White Duke, became a parasite that slowly gnawed away at his psyche from late 1974 to early 1977. During this period, Bowie was self-described as, “A very Aryan, fascist type; a would-be romantic with absolutely no emotion at all but who spouted a lot of neo-romance”. Later in his career, he expressed deep regret for his actions and attributed the persona taking over due to his intense addiction to cocaine at the time. Persona and identity go hand in hand, and with certain factors (like an addiction) one can begin to champion another. While persona is an important facet to life, one must not lose themself in the process of showcasing themself as someone else. It’s crucial to find a balance in order to not succumb to a level of all-encompassing darkness that comes forth once you’ve lost your true identity. As for anything in the world, too much of anything can have its negative impacts. 

Benefits and drawbacks aside, there is a power to persona unlike anything else. A persona is a mask we all show to the world, sensationalized or not, that helps us navigate through becoming more self-confident and assured during day-to-day life. Clown, performer, business, or an average person maneuvering through the trials and tribulations of life, personas have proved to be instrumental in curating an identity outside of who one is at the core. Although its easy to get lost in keeping up a front for others or maintaining a character for a narrative, it’s critical to remain true to your values, interests, and life’s philosophy when crafting the persona that you showcase to the world. 

Why I'm Having Doubts...

Rather than post multiple asks all questioning basically the same things, let me just make one post here to address the sweet Nonies in my inbox....

The thing that set Jikook apart from every other ship for me was its exclusivity.

All BTS members engage in skin-ship--including hugging, handshakes, and play fighting--they give sincere compliments, and they share food and space like physical distance is a foreign concept. For god's sake, they even used to crawl into bed together and share showers.

But Jimin and Jungkook, for years, had exclusive intimacy:

They knew intimate details about each other's thoughts, hopes, fears, sleeping patterns, tastes, homes, and private conversations.

Their families knew each other and openly expressed love and support of both Jimin and Jungkook.

They got couple/friendship rings that Jungkook went out of his way to tell thousands of fans that when he wore it, it meant "you can't touch this."

They gave each other presents and spent time together on important holidays even when they didn't do that for other members.

They spent tons of time waiting on the other to finish work even when there was absolutely no need to do that.

They spent free time doing things outside of work, apart from the others (Tokyo, ice skating, White Day restaurant, shopping, tattoos together [if the autographs happened at the same time, as we suspect]. They spent breaks seeing each other. They were together at all hours of the night, whether at home or in hotels.

They touched each other more intimately, from holding each other up off the floor to sleeping curled up together to caressing each other's hands while opening CD booklets to deep massages that lasted a long time to sniffing each other's goddamn hair.

They orbited each other like magnets whether at award shows, music video or photo shoots, or activities during their TV shows.

They went on diets together and were each other's accountability / reasonability partners.

They practiced sexy dances just for fun in the studio in the middle of the night.

They flew half way around the world for birthdays. They made music videos with paid copyrighted gay love anthems as background music. They were there for each other when injured or sick, even after the others left the room.

They put their mouths on each other's throats and ears. Publicly.

And all of this, plus the way they STARED at each other's eyes and lips and asses, to the point where the other members would GROAN about it, convinced me they were a couple. They were so damned loud, considering the circumstances.

I'm not seeing that loud behavior so much any more. Yes, there were shining moments during Seoul and Vegas concerts. But they also had similar moments with other members, too (especially JK). The intimate moments weren't super exclusive to Jikook, as they had been in the past.

Look, all of BTS are born performers and want to give their fans the best experiences--and that includes providing evidence of affection for each other so the crowds will cheer. So I tend to give intimacy suggested during performances less weight than intimacy revealed during non-work-time. It's not that I think they are liars or faking emotions to service fans, but more like they play it up in front of an audience, for sure.

And I need to see more evidence of how Jungkook and Jimin behave in their non-work-time now to get a handle on the weird vibes I've been picking up in the last few months. Jimin's sudden shyness with JK and fear of interacting online are a total personality 180. I bet there's SO MUCH more to the story, but Jimin let us know there's stuff he can't tell us.

The way Jimin tries to initiate touch or play fighting and JK sometimes just looks at Jimin blankly, like he's a total stranger. The way JK is all over some other members but less so with Jimin. The way JK “claims” not to have heard Jimin's solo work or remember where his friendship tattoo is (I think he meant what he said because I didn’t pick up on a playful tone there). The way there are questions littering every moment of his Vlives or Insta stories about Jimin's OST, but he's never once acknowledged it. Little things, little things piling up.

Folks are quick to say I'm over analyzing, and I probably am. I need the distraction right now. Some folks also say fans like me are hoping to out a closeted couple in a homophobic country, but that's not it at all. I'm not demanding they behave a certain way to please me or prove me right; I'm simply trying to figure out why their behavior is so different after years of being loud. Maybe it's the new conservative government? But then why is all the rainbow fruit vibes twinkle twinkle stuff still happening with other members, hm?

I'm trying to be objective, and that requires taking in all the evidence, not just the examples that make me feel good. Believe me, I could dine out on "Keep being jealous, I'll keep holding Jiminie" and those behind-the-ear tattoos all day. I promise you I am NOT an anti, or a Jimin solo, nor am I a secret cult member (I swear to god the only sane/nice people I know who ship Tae and JK are poly-Tan shippers who give equal opportunity to any pairing in fanfic but have zero pairing preferences for real-life people). I am absolutely not out to disillusion or upset my fellow fans. Especially at a time in the band's life when so much is up in the air already and it's unsettling. I get it. I'm really not trying to be an asshole.

Mostly I'm just sharing my thoughts here b/c it's not clear to me what I'm seeing and I'm relatively new, so I like to discuss viewpoints with other (sane, kind-hearted) fans. You absolutely don't have to click on my blog if this bothers you. You can block me and I won't be mad at you for doing what you need to, to protect your mental health and peace. I'm not even using the Jikook tag anymore, though honestly it would be my absolute right to do so.

I can promise you I will always support all members with my pocketbook, my streaming playlists, and the benefit of the doubt if ever I think something might be problematic. They are human beings--and quite wonderful human beings at that! And I genuinely love them and want them well-fed, safe, happy, and thriving.

But I can't in good faith recant that I've noticed a shift in Jikook's dynamics (at least with the content I have access to so far!). And this shift might not be a bad one--it could just be healthy growing pains, or a natural reaction to all the drama of the last few months! But the way Jimin and Jungkook interact IS different lately and I'm wary of any community that tries to gatekeep or police people from saying so. I'm allergic to peer pressure or gaslighting, so, if you think I'm off my rocker for saying Jikook's vibes are different, please police your own experience and just mute me. Go with my genuine blessing for your happiness. I am not out to convince you--I'm out to check my own gauge for accuracy.

So if you have evidence in the last 3-6 months of Jimin and Jungkook demonstrating exclusive intimacy (outside of a concert), please share it with me. I live for it. I will declare myself a paranoid ass-clown and celebrate with you how wrong I was to have ever doubted.

Otherwise, reasonably sane fans are just going to have to all adopt a wait-and-see approach to Jikook in the solo era. We none of us have a clue what's in store yet, except maybe the Tannies, to an extent.

Now here, have some glory days Jikookery to lighten the mood. Whatever is in store for the future, I think we can all agree the past was honestly the best... and we are grateful for it.

Sitara: An Actress's Dream Sculpted from Passion and Perseverance

Nurturing a Dream: The Early Years

Born into a family where art and culture were deeply appreciated, Sitara's passion for acting was fostered from an early age. Her mother, a dedicated doctor, not only valued the importance of education but also recognized the significance of extracurricular activities in shaping a well-rounded individual. Despite her demanding schedule, she would often seize the rare free moments to take her daughters to watch movies and plays, exposing them to the magic of storytelling and the power of performance. It was during these shared experiences that her love for the stage ignited, and her mother, keenly observant of her innate talent, decided to enroll her in acting classes. 

In those acting classes, she found herself in an environment that nurtured her creativity and honed her skills. With each lesson, she grew more confident, eager to explore the depths of her abilities. And then came the breakthrough at the tender age of 10 - her debut role as the Queen of Hearts in a local production of Alice in Wonderland. The stage was set, the lights dimmed, and as she stepped into the spotlight, she felt a surge of adrenaline and excitement. With every line delivered, every gesture made, she realized that she had embarked on an indelible journey into the world of acting, a journey that would shape her future and allow her to share her passion with audiences far and wide. Sitara Masilamani - California

A Lifelong Pursuit: The Making of an Actress

Sitara's commitment to her craft only strengthened as she grew older. She actively participated in theater during her middle and high school years, exploring the nuances of Shakespearean drama and showcasing her prowess in complex roles such as Tituba in The Crucible. Additionally, she indulged her love for writing by crafting plays and engaging her classmates in the performances, further honing her understanding of narrative and character development.

Her acting journey was significantly shaped by her time at HARA Motion Pictures, an acting conservatory in Monterey, California, where she received extensive training in film and television acting. During her time  here, she had the opportunity to work with renowned industry professionals who helped her refine her skills and expand her repertoire. She immersed herself in various acting techniques, learning to embody different characters and portray a wide range of emotions. The rigorous training and practical experience provided by HARA Motion Pictures played a pivotal role in shaping her into the versatile and accomplished actress she is today.

Her dedication to her craft goes beyond her comprehensive training at HARA Motion Pictures. With an insatiable thirst for growth, she actively seeks out new and exciting acting opportunities that stretch the limits of her abilities. Whether it's captivating audiences in local theater productions, leaving a lasting impression in independent films, or fearlessly venturing into experimental projects. She fearlessly embraces every chance to expand her range as an actress and further deepen her profound connection with the art of storytelling. Her relentless pursuit of excellence and unwavering passion for her craft sets her apart as a truly remarkable talent in the industry. Princess Sitara

From Monterey to Hollywood: The Journey Continues

Venturing on to Los Angeles, the heart of American cinema, Sitara continued to nurture her acting skills at the Strassberg Center. Her diligent training and innate talent made her a versatile artist, adept at memorizing lines and convincingly portraying a wide breadth of emotions.  With dreams of leading roles in both Hollywood and Bollywood, she is also nurturing ambitions to write and produce films that spotlight South Asian entertainers. Her passion for storytelling and her desire to bring diverse perspectives to the big screen drive her creative pursuits.

In pursuit of her goals, she immerses herself in the vibrant and ever-evolving entertainment industry of Los Angeles. She actively seeks opportunities to collaborate with like-minded individuals who share her vision of breaking barriers and redefining representation in cinema. Throughout her journey, she remains dedicated to honing her craft, continuously learning from renowned industry professionals, and pushing the boundaries of her artistic capabilities. She believes that through hard work, perseverance, and a steadfast belief in her abilities, she can make a lasting impact on the world of cinema. Sitara Masilamani

As Sitara's captivating story unfolds, she fearlessly embraces the myriad of challenges and triumphs that gracefully weave their way into her journey. With every step she takes, she becomes ever more resolute in her pursuit of attaining prominence not only in the glitz and glamour of Hollywood but also in the vibrant world of Bollywood. Guided by an unwavering determination and an indomitable spirit, her drive to create narratives that are both meaningful and impactful shines through, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of audiences worldwide.

The Versatile Storyteller: Blending Genres and Emotions

Her love for comedy and her ability to evoke laughter from her audience denotes her versatility. Her strong empathy enables her to effectively embody her characters, taking the audience on an emotional rollercoaster that resonates with their souls. She is hardworking, resilient, and determined, traits that are essential to survive and thrive in the challenging world of acting.

With a clear vision of bringing her innovative ideas to fruition, Sitara tirelessly continues to dream and hustle, dedicating herself to honing her craft and preparing for the day when she will flawlessly portray her dream characters on the big screen. From the iconic Elle Woods in Legally Blonde to the captivating Lalita in Bride and Prejudice, she envisions herself embodying these diverse roles with depth and authenticity. Her journey thus far serves as a powerful testament to the power of passion and perseverance in the pursuit of one's dreams. Through countless auditions, acting workshops, and late-night rehearsals, she remains steadfast in her commitment to her craft, knowing that each step brings her closer to the realization of her artistic aspirations.

Mysterious - The Journey Of Writing The Show (18.10.23)

January 2022 - RCS and Cabaret’s

The writing team behind mysterious met when Colum and Coggin (who were then RCS MA Musical Theatre students) worked with Sarah on a new writing module in early 2022. Through working on this module project, they found a shared style and passion for creating queer and neurodivergent inclusive work. They also worked later in the year with Sarah on a cabaret module where Sarah directed and offered feedback and guidance on both of their individually written pieces. With all of them having an interest in each other's writing style, they decided to work together on a new project. 

September 2022 - Fife and Denmark

After the MA’s finished their course studies, the team had a short stay in Fife to begin work and gather inspiration from some local locations, lore and history. This left them in good stead for their first residency at Mindgarden Arts Centre, Denmark. It was here that what we now know as Mysterious was born. Determined to create exciting new theatre that was not only intended to have space for non-binary and neurodivergent characters and actors, but built from the ground up to have these performers at its centre, we began the long arduous task of creating a new world for these characters to live in. (If you’d like to see more of the characters and world, check out our content page in the link below!)

January 2023 - First Sharing

On the anniversary of the team first meeting each other, the team held a small sharing in London. With a little gathering of friends and personal industry contacts, the team gathered round a piano in a friends livingroom and shared the heart of our piece. Tears were shed, feedback was shared, and emotions ran high. We knew from just how moved our little audience was that we were onto something - that we had the potential to really make change with this. 

May & June 2023 - The Glasgow Sessions

After a short period of working remotely on the show and its material, the team spent two weeks in Glasgow continuing work, and preparing material for our upcoming workshops with BYMT. These sessions were really where progress started to steam roll. Between a lot of cups of coffee (the and occasional vodka tonic) the world of Mysterious was finally in a place where we could start to play with these characters in the real world, and with real actors! August 2023 - BYMT

Mysterious’ BYMT residency was an honour, and it was nerve-wracking! Finally having people outside of the team physically engaging with the material was a scary thought, but an exciting one - and it payed off. We knew from early on in the building of our characters that we wanted adults to play the teen cast, but we needed to workshop the characters with actual teens. We needed to see what parts of the show delighted teens, what lyrics and words felt right or wrong in their style of speech. The whole process was tiring and high stakes, but in the end was so rewarding and so exciting to finally share some of the material in a public setting!

September 2023 - Mindgarden (Here We Go Again!)

After BYMT we were left with a LOT of new thoughts and ideas, so we jetted off back to Denmark for our second residency at Mindgarden Arts Centre, Denmark. A few more character adjustments and a lot of new story beats and here we are today, and ready for the next step in our own adventure! Keep an eye on this space for updates as we continue to explore the world and characters of Mysterious! Want to hear more? Click the link below to go back to our launch pad, where you can listen to some of the music demos, read some plot and character content, or check out the creatives on the team!

Kevin Porter Jr: Rising NBA Star Making Waves in the League

Rising Star: Kevin Porter Jr.'s Journey to NBA Stardom

In the ever-competitive realm of the NBA, new talents constantly emerge, captivating audiences with their raw skill and passion for the game. One such rising star who has been turning heads and making waves is Kevin Porter Jr., a young player with immense potential and a bright future ahead.

Early Beginnings and College Stint

Kevin Porter Jr. was born on May 4, 2000, in Seattle, Washington. His basketball journey began in high school, where he showcased his talent and caught the attention of scouts and basketball enthusiasts. He played for Rainier Beach High School in Seattle, earning accolades for his exceptional skills on the court.

Following an impressive high school career, Porter Jr. went on to play college basketball at the University of Southern California (USC). During his freshman year, he averaged 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game, demonstrating his potential as a formidable player in the future.

NBA Debut and Impact

Kevin Porter Jr. declared for the NBA draft after his freshman year at USC and was selected 30th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2019 NBA Draft. Shortly after, he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he began his professional basketball career.

In his rookie season, Porter Jr. showcased his skills, averaging 10.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game, displaying his versatility and potential as a future star in the league. His performances were filled with electrifying plays, showcasing his athleticism, scoring ability, and defensive prowess.

Houston Rockets and Breakout Performance

In January 2020, Kevin Porter Jr. was traded to the Houston Rockets, a move that would prove instrumental in his career trajectory. During the 2020-2021 NBA season, Porter Jr. made a significant impact, especially after being shifted to the point guard position.

On April 29, 2021, in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Porter Jr. had a breakout performance, scoring a career-high 50 points, along with 11 assists and 3 steals. This remarkable feat solidified his status as a rising star in the league and garnered widespread attention.

Skillset and Future Prospects

Kevin Porter Jr. possesses a diverse skill set that enables him to excel on both ends of the court. He is known for his scoring ability, playmaking skills, and defensive tenacity. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 meters), his height and agility give him an edge on the court, allowing him to drive to the basket, shoot from the perimeter, and defend effectively.

As he continues to develop and gain experience in the NBA, many believe that Kevin Porter Jr. has the potential to become a cornerstone player for the Houston Rockets and a dominant force in the league. His work ethic, determination, and passion for the game further bolster this belief, making him a player to watch closely in the coming seasons.

Off the Court: Community Engagement and Impact

Beyond the basketball court, Kevin Porter Jr. is actively involved in community service and philanthropic initiatives. He recognizes the importance of giving back and using his platform to make a positive impact on society. From organizing charity events to engaging with youth and advocating for various causes, Porter Jr. exemplifies a sense of responsibility and empathy.

As he continues to grow in his career, it is clear that Kevin Porter Jr. not only wants to shine as a basketball star but also as a role model and an agent of positive change within and beyond the basketball community.

Conclusion: A Promising Future

Kevin Porter Jr. is undoubtedly a rising star in the NBA, and his journey from high school to college and now the professional league showcases his determination and talent. With each game, he proves his worth and leaves a lasting impression on fans and basketball enthusiasts. As he embarks on the road to stardom, the future looks promising for this young, gifted player, and basketball fans can expect great things from Kevin Porter Jr. in the years to come.

OneNETnews EXCLUSIVE: The Impersonation of Albert Einstein takes the internet by storm at the Evolution Gaming's Blackjack

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN -- In a surprising twist, Evolution Gaming's Blackjack table recently witnessed an uncanny impersonation of the reincarnated, mathematician and renowned physicist Albert Einstein that has since garnered widespread attention. The impersonation showcases the genius' distinctive appearance and mannerisms, leaving viewers both amused and intrigued.

(Logo via Evolution Gaming)

The online gambling company Evolution Gaming - is renowned for its LIVE casino games that feature authentic and interactive experiences for players worldwide. The company has been at the forefront of live casino game development for over a decade, providing a secure and immersive platform for gamblers to enjoy a variety of classic and modern casino games.

(Contributed Classic Photo)

Albert Einstein, celebrated as one of the greatest scientific minds in history, was a German-born physicist who revolutionized our understanding of the universe with his theories of relativity. He is renowned for his intellectual contributions, which include the famous formula E=mc2, representing the equivalence of energy (E) and mass (m) as well as the speed of light (c).

Evolution Gaming's venture into the world of impersonations added an unexpected element of fun to their popular Blackjack game. The idea behind the impersonation was to infuse a touch of entertainment and excitement into the gameplay, attracting players with a unique and memorable experience.

The impersonator showcases remarkable resemblance to the iconic physicist, donning the characteristic wild hair, mustache, and round glasses that are synonymous with Einstein's image. Their uncanny portrayal of Einstein's mannerisms, including his trademark posture and quirky facial expressions, brings an additional layer of authenticity to the performance.

Videos capturing the Evolution Gaming's Einstein impersonation quickly went viral, garnering thousands of views and widespread acclaim on a disclosed video platforms. Viewers were fascinated by the audacity of incorporating such a unique character within the realm of online gambling, breaking away from the traditional norms of casino gaming.

Evolution Gaming's initiative to take its viewers on a journey out of the ordinary is part of their commitment to providing a comprehensive and immersive gaming experience. By integrating unexpected elements like celebrity impersonations, they aim to captivate and entertain their audience beyond the standard casino gameplay.

Evolution Gaming's success has not only resulted from innovative ideas like impersonations but also from their dedication to delivering cutting-edge live gaming solutions. As a leading provider in the gaming industry, Evolution Gaming offers a diverse range of live casino games, including blackjack, poker, roulette and baccarat, presented in high-definition streams with live dealers and interactive features. As for Albert Einstein, his extraordinary contributions to the field of physics continue to resonate with scholars and enthusiasts worldwide. His work laid the foundation for modern physics, and his theories have been instrumental in shaping our understanding of the universe.

For those intrigued by Evolution Gaming's Albert Einstein impersonation, it serves as a reminder that the world of online gaming can always find ways to surprise and delight. Players must be 21 and over to participate with a professionalism of gambling and playing safe with your own money.

This unique blend of entertainment and skill creates an engaging platform that attracts players from all walks of life, further solidifying Evolution Gaming's position as a leader in the online gambling industry.

SCREENGRAB COURTESY: KumbaraCasino and Evolution Gaming via YT Video BACKGROUND PROVIDED BY: Tegna

SOURCE: *https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWxL-TQEjs8 [Referenced YT Video #1 via KumbaraCasino] *https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veyiLEKZcDo [Referenced YT Video via BestCasinoWins] *https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSZ0c6E1Qqw [Referenced YT Video #2 via KumbaraCasino] *https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG-qihyDIBg [Referenced YT Video #3f via KumbaraCasino] *https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1Vt2ceU694 [Referenced YT Video via HyperCard] *https://www.softswiss.com/game-providers/evolution-gaming/ [Referenced Biography via SoftSwiss] *https://www.evolution.com/who-we-are/timeline/ [Referenced Timeline via Evolution Gaming] *https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein and *https://www.atomicarchive.com/resources/biographies/einstein.html [Referenced Biography via Atomic Archive]

-- OneNETnews Team

Steven Spilly: A Versatile and Dedicated Actor Lighting Up the Stage and Screen

Steven Spilly is a talented actor known for his dynamic performances on both stage and screen. Born and raised in Seven Hills, Australia, he developed a passion for acting at a young age and has since made a name for himself in the industry. With his incredible range and unwavering dedication, Spilly has captivated audiences worldwide and established himself as a rising star.

One of the defining moments in Spilly's career came with his breakout role in the critically acclaimed film "In the Red" in 1999. This remarkable performance not only put him on the map but also garnered him rave reviews and nominations for several prestigious awards. Audiences and critics alike were mesmerized by Spilly's ability to breathe life into complex characters, showcasing his remarkable talent and potential.

Since then, Spilly has continued to shine brightly, gracing both the silver screen and the small screen with his presence. His filmography boasts an impressive array of diverse roles, demonstrating his versatility and ability to adapt to any character. From intense dramas to lighthearted comedies, Spilly effortlessly immerses himself in each role, leaving a lasting impression on viewers.

Despite his success in film and television, Steven Spilly remains connected to his theatrical roots. He has returned to the stage, captivating audiences with his powerful performances in various productions, both in Australia and abroad. His stage presence and commitment to his craft have solidified his reputation as a multifaceted actor, capable of delivering compelling performances across different mediums.

What sets Steven Spilly apart is not only his talent but also his unwavering dedication to his craft. He continually seeks opportunities for growth and improvement, participating in workshops and training sessions to enhance his skills. By staying current with industry trends and techniques, Spilly ensures that he remains at the forefront of his profession. This commitment to self-improvement reflects his genuine passion for acting and his desire to deliver the best possible performances to his audience.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Steven Spilly is a proud resident of Seven Hills, his hometown. He actively engages with the community, participating in various events and supporting charitable causes. Spilly's involvement in community initiatives demonstrates his generosity of spirit and his desire to give back to the place that nurtured his talent.

Despite his busy schedule, Spilly remains a dedicated family man who values his personal life. He understands the importance of balance and makes time for his loved ones amidst his demanding career. This commitment to his family showcases his grounded nature and his appreciation for the relationships that shape his life.

As a supporter of the arts, Steven Spilly encourages aspiring actors and artists to pursue their dreams. He recognizes the transformative power of the arts and the impact they can have on individuals and communities. Through his own journey, he serves as an inspiration to countless aspiring actors, reminding them that with passion, hard work, and perseverance, their dreams can become a reality.

If you haven't had the chance to witness Steven Spilly's incredible talent, be sure to keep an eye out for his upcoming projects. Whether he graces the stage or lights up the silver screen, his performances are not to be missed. With his versatility, dedication, and genuine passion for his craft, Steven Spilly continues to captivate audiences and leave an indelible mark on the world of acting.

Maria (from West Side Story) - Leonard Bernstein (Easy Piano Solo) sheet music, Noten

Maria (from West Side Story) - Leonard Bernstein (Easy Piano Solo) sheet music, Noten

https://rumble.com/embed/v2j2ouw/?pub=14hjof

Leonard Bernstein

Leonard Bernstein (August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, author, and humanitarian. Considered to be one of the most important conductors of his time, he was the first American conductor to receive international acclaim. According to music critic Donal Henahan, he was "one of the most prodigiously talented and successful musicians in American history". Leonard Bernstein was the recipient of many honors, including seven Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, sixteen Grammy Awards including the Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Kennedy Center Honor. As a composer he wrote in many genres, including symphonic and orchestral music, ballet, film and theatre music, choral works, opera, chamber music and works for the piano. His best-known work is the Broadway musical West Side Story, which continues to be regularly performed worldwide, and has been adapted into two (1961 and 2021) feature films. His works include three symphonies, Chichester Psalms, Serenade after Plato's "Symposium", the original score for the film On the Waterfront, and theater works including On the Town, Wonderful Town, Candide, and his MASS. Leonard Bernstein was the first American-born conductor to lead a major American symphony orchestra. He was music director of the New York Philharmonic and conducted the world's major orchestras, generating a significant legacy of audio and video recordings. He was also a critical figure in the modern revival of the music of Gustav Mahler, in whose music he was most passionately interested. A skilled pianist, he often conducted piano concertos from the keyboard. He was the first conductor to share and explore classical music on television with a mass audience. Through dozens of national and international broadcasts, including Young People's Concerts with the New York Philharmonic, he sought to make music both intelligible and enjoyable to all. Through his educational efforts, including several books and the creation of two major international music festivals, he influenced several generations of young musicians. A lifelong humanitarian, Bernstein worked in support of civil rights; protested against the Vietnam War;advocated nuclear disarmament; raised money for HIV/AIDS research and awareness; and engaged in multiple international initiatives for human rights and world peace. He conducted Mahler's "Resurrection Symphony"" at the funeral of President John F. Kennedy, and in Israel at a world-famous concert, Hatikvah on Mt. Scopus, after the 1967 war. The sequence of events was preserved for posterity in a documentary entitled Journey to Jerusalem. At the end of his life, he conducted an historic performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in Berlin to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall. The concert was televised live, worldwide, on Christmas Day, 1989. While Bernstein was very well known for his music compositions and conducting, he was also known for his outspoken political views and his strong desire to further social change. His first aspirations for social change were made apparent in his producing (as a student) a recently banned opera, The Cradle Will Rock, by Marc Blitzstein, about the disparity between the working and upper class. His first opera, Trouble in Tahiti, was dedicated to Blitzstein and has a strong social theme, criticizing American civilization and suburban upper-class life in particular. As he went on in his career, Bernstein would go on to fight for everything from the influences of "American Music" to the disarming of western nuclear weapons. Like many of his friends and colleagues, Bernstein had been involved in various left-wing causes and organizations since the 1940s. He was blacklisted by the US State Department and CBS in the early 1950s, but unlike others his career was not greatly affected, and he was never required to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee. His political life received substantial press coverage though in 1970, due to a gathering hosted at his Manhattan apartment at 895 Park Avenue on January 14, 1970. Bernstein and his wife held the event seeking to raise awareness and money for the defense of several members of the Black Panther Party against a variety of charges, especially the case of the Panther 21. The New York Times initially covered the gathering as a lifestyle item, but later posted an editorial harshly unfavorable to Bernstein following generally negative reaction to the widely publicized story. This reaction culminated in June 1970 with the appearance of "Radical Chic: That Party at Lenny's", an essay by journalist Tom Wolfe featured on the cover of the magazine New York. The article contrasted the Bernsteins' comfortable lifestyle in one of the world's most expensive neighborhoods with the anti-establishment politics of the Black Panthers. It led to the popularization of "radical chic" as a critical term. Both Bernstein and his wife Felicia responded to the criticism, arguing that they were motivated not by a shallow desire to express fashionable sympathy but by their concern for civil liberties. Bernstein was named in the book Red Channels: The Report of Communist Influence in Radio and Television (1950) as a Communist along with Aaron Copland, Lena Horne, Pete Seeger, Artie Shaw and other prominent figures of the performing arts. Red Channels was issued by the right-wing journal Counterattack Read the full article

BTS' Jungkook Requests Fans to Stop Sending Him Food Gifts, Importance of Respecting Celebrities' Boundaries Highlighted

Celebrities around the world are no strangers to the occasional gift from fans, but when gifts start to become excessive, it can become a problem. Recently, Jungkook, a member of the internationally renowned K-Pop group BTS, requested that fans refrain from sending him food gifts. This request sparked a response from the BTS Army, with many fans defending their actions and expressing their disapproval of Jungkook's request. Background on Jungkook and BTS BTS, short for Bangtan Sonyeondan, is a South Korean boy band that has gained massive popularity over the years, both in their home country and around the world. The group consists of seven members, each with their own unique talents and personalities. Jungkook, born Jeon Jung-kook, is the youngest member of the group and is often referred to as the "golden maknae" due to his various skills and talents. BTS' popularity is due in part to their innovative music style, which blends traditional K-Pop with other genres such as hip-hop and R&B. Their lyrics often touch on social and political issues, making them relatable to a global audience. The group has also gained a reputation for their impressive live performances and engaging music videos. The problem with food gifts While fans sending gifts to their favorite celebrities may seem harmless, it can quickly become overwhelming for the recipients. Food gifts, in particular, can be difficult to handle due to issues such as expiration dates and potential health concerns. In Jungkook's case, fans were sending so many food gifts that it was becoming a problem for both him and the other members of BTS. Excessive gifts can also have a negative impact on celebrities' mental health. In a recent interview, Jungkook revealed that he often feels guilty when he receives gifts from fans, as he feels like he can never repay them for their kindness. This kind of pressure can be overwhelming and lead to increased anxiety and stress for the recipient. Jungkook's request In an effort to address the issue of excessive food gifts, Jungkook made a public request to fans on BTS' official fan cafe, asking them to refrain from sending him food gifts. Jungkook explained that while he appreciated the fans' generosity and support, he and the other members of BTS were concerned about the potential waste and health risks associated with the gifts. Jungkook's request was met with mixed reactions from the BTS Army. While some fans respected his wishes and agreed that excessive gift-giving was problematic, others criticized Jungkook for being ungrateful and not appreciating their efforts to show their support. BTS Army's response The response from the BTS Army was passionate, with many fans expressing their disapproval of Jungkook's request. Some fans argued that sending gifts was a way for them to show their love and support for BTS and that the members should be grateful for their efforts. Others accused Jungkook of being selfish and not understanding the importance of his fans' contributions to his success. Despite the negative reaction from some fans, there were also many who supported Jungkook's request and encouraged others to respect his boundaries. Some fans suggested alternative ways to show support for BTS, such as making donations to charity in the group's name or sending letters and fan art instead of physical gifts. Why fans send gifts While the intention behind sending gifts to celebrities is often positive, it's important to consider the impact that these actions can have. Fans may send gifts as a way to express their love and admiration for their favorite stars, but the excessive nature of these gifts can be overwhelming and even dangerous. It's also worth noting that celebrities may not always feel comfortable accepting gifts from fans. In some cases, they may feel guilty or pressured to reciprocate the fans' generosity, leading to increased stress and anxiety. The importance of respecting boundaries Respecting celebrities' boundaries is crucial for maintaining healthy relationships between fans and their favorite stars. While it's natural to feel a connection to celebrities we admire, it's important to remember that they are people with their own lives and concerns. Ignoring celebrities' boundaries can have serious consequences, both for the celebrities themselves and for the fans involved. Excessive gift-giving can create unnecessary stress and pressure for celebrities, while also contributing to issues such as waste and health concerns. Conclusion In conclusion, the issue of food gifts to celebrities is a complex one that requires careful consideration from both fans and celebrities. While it's natural for fans to want to show their support for their favorite stars, it's important to do so in a way that is respectful and considerate of the celebrities' needs and boundaries. Jungkook's request to fans to stop sending him food gifts is a reminder of the impact that excessive gift-giving can have on celebrities' mental health and wellbeing. By respecting celebrities' boundaries and finding alternative ways to show support, fans can help ensure that their favorite stars are able to maintain healthy and positive relationships with their fans. FAQs - What are some alternative ways to show support for BTS and Jungkook? - Some alternative ways to show support include making donations to charity in BTS' name, sending letters or fan art, and attending concerts or events. - Is it okay to send letters or fan art to celebrities? - Yes, sending letters or fan art is generally considered a more appropriate way to show support for celebrities than sending physical gifts. - Why do fans sometimes ignore celebrities' requests for privacy? - Fans may ignore celebrities' requests for privacy because they feel a strong emotional connection to their favorite stars and want to feel closer to them. - What can fans do to show their support without crossing boundaries? - Fans can show their support by attending concerts or events, making donations to charity in the celebrity's name, or creating fan art. - How can fans ensure that their gift-giving is respectful and considerate? - Fans can ensure that their gift-giving is respectful and considerate by adhering to any guidelines or requests made by the celebrity or their management team, avoiding excessive gift-giving, and considering the impact of their actions on the environment and the celebrity's wellbeing. - What are the risks associated with excessive gift-giving? - Excessive gift-giving can contribute to waste and environmental issues, as well as create unnecessary stress and pressure for celebrities. It can also lead to health concerns, such as food poisoning, if the gifts are not handled properly. - Why is it important for fans to respect celebrities' boundaries? - Respecting celebrities' boundaries is important for maintaining healthy and positive relationships between fans and their favorite stars. It also ensures that celebrities are able to maintain their privacy and personal lives without feeling overwhelmed or stressed by excessive attention or gift-giving. - Is it selfish for celebrities to ask fans not to send them gifts? - No, it is not selfish for celebrities to ask fans not to send them gifts. Celebrities have the right to set boundaries and prioritize their mental health and wellbeing. Fans can still show their support for celebrities in other ways, such as attending concerts or events or making donations to charity. - How can celebrities communicate their boundaries to fans? - Celebrities can communicate their boundaries to fans through social media, fan cafes, or other public platforms. They can also work with their management teams to set guidelines for gift-giving and communicate these guidelines to fans. - What can fans do if they feel hurt or upset by a celebrity's request for privacy or boundaries? - If fans feel hurt or upset by a celebrity's request for privacy or boundaries, they can express their feelings in a respectful and considerate way. However, it's important to remember that celebrities have the right to set boundaries and prioritize their own well-being. Read the full article