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bastardsunlight · 3 years

Note

Question for the mun: who are your favorite FCs for some of your muses? Can be canon or OCs

//I'm wiggling with delight

so, given that I'd chosen Sanada for Scorpion before the film was like, announced officially, I'm tickled that worked out. He just feels right, idk.

I actually built Merlin around using Dan Avidan as a faceclaim. He just has a really fun, goofy look and I wanted Merlin to be as unassuming as possible. He's this old wizard who's like a gazillion years old and is kind of the definition of true neutral, as far as alignment goes.

Lucy Liu as Shang Liu Kang just tickles me all over. I think I was talking to @sxvethelastdance when I came up with that one. She has that refined look which suits a daughter of the big bad sorcerer. Her resemblance to Raiden comes out in other ways.

Keanu Reeves as Serenity is just fucking great 'cause I woke up one day and said to meself "I want a Unicorn OC who looks like Keanu Reeves" and then I made it happen--he's also my live-action Batman FC, but secretly ShhhHhhh

Song Jiyang as Bi-Han was a stroke of genius in my humble opinion... Or just a fuckin' stroke. I'm just in love with that gorgeous face, plus I wanted to give Bi-Han a different backstory than the usual... or y'know, give him a solid one AT ALL. He never really gets much and we never ACTUALLY see his face (aside from the 2021 film where he is, ofc, portrayed by the talented Joe Taslim).

Sonny Moore has such an interesting face and I've had my OC, Toby, for literal years. Tiny, ancient Syrian vampire from The Line of Cain(tm), but he's also friggin' goofy-lookin' as hell??? Win.

I can't forget Allister, ofc. Rob Swire just has one of those faces I love to look at, but also is kind of odd-looking??? His eyes are gorgeous, which doesn't hurt and Allister's mannerisms/speech patterns very much mimic his FC's.

Shifting between Jeff Meek and Christopher Lambert for Rayden is fucking hysterical. 'Nuff said. Meek is taller, so I do lean more toward that one, plus he straight up has more screen time, being from a series, rather than a film.

Today is love on my OCs day 'cause my absolute favorite, most adaptable, rarely-used-because-I-suck OC is pretty much Russian old man Henderson. Nasty's FC is actually a French house artist, name o' Vincent Belorgey, but maybe BETTER known as Kavinsky.

Frank Iero for Floyd Morales (in all verses save Call of Duty, wherein he's Michael Raymond-James) is another one I've had for years and I just frickin' adore him.

I think I'll cap it off with Ahura Mazda (Ormazd), my God AI OC for a world that was really only ever half-built by a former friend o' mine. I kept her 'cause I liked her so much. Eva Green has such a Look(tm)... I cannot describe it but... y'all know

#so here are some OCs #hahha #asonedoes #response

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louloubabys1992 · 3 years

Text

Ask for writers

Tagged by @theisolatedlily thank u babe xoxo

1. describe how you first started writing and when you first posted:

I got so into the 1D fandom that I opened a tumblr account and found loads of fics about Harry and Louis. I got hooked. I go way back as a fan. am one of those who started reading fics from tumblr accounts and livejournals. I know a lot still read from those until now, even me, until ao3 became the basis of fics. I read so many fics that i wanted to write my own as well. my first ever fic, officially, was an apocalypse/zombie au called Nothing Can Come Between You and I. I say officially because I posted a couple of fics before this one but they were edited fics from a writer who took down his/her fics for reasons I don’t wanna get into. I asked permission to post them and edit them. That’s when I started joining up as a beta as well :D

2. which of your characters do you typically resonate most closely with? do you base any characters off of yourself?

I typically write in Louis’ narrative but I don’t usually base it on any perceptions I have of him, even if it’s canon. most of my fics are inspired by circumstances I see around me in my day to day life or by events that one can relate to because they do happen.

3. where do you often find inspiration?

I read a lot of fics as I’ve mentioned before and each and every one of them has left an impact on me that made me the fic writer I am today. Whenever I lack inspiration, I just open my bookmarks on ao3 and read. And then, a bulb lights up and voila, inspiration hits

4. has quarantine helped or hindered your writing process?

helped a lot! i wrote more during quarantine than I do now even though am somewhat working from home. but when corona was at its peak back in March, everything was on hold and I turned to writing.

5. do you listen to music/noise while you write or do you prefer silence?

silence. Am sadly not one of those people who could write in a corner in a cafe even though I wish I could do something like that.

6. what is your biggest writing pet peeve in your writing or in general?

word vomit. not into that.

7. describe your ideal writing setup:

after midnight, laptop on a cushion on my lap, neck pillow for my neck, my bed, and a quiet house where everyone is already sleeping and my mind is brimming, racing faster than my fingers could type hahahaah

8. favorite time of day to write?:

after midnight. it mostly has to do with the fact that I am not available during the day but even before when I wasn’t working, i would find myself procrastinating all day or totally lacking inspiration and then come night time, and my mind comes alive hahahaha

9. favorite genre to write + one you’d like to try writing in the future?

Canon fics

10. do you struggle with writer’s block?

I mean, who doesn’t, right?

11. what is the easiest part of your writing process and the most difficult?

easiest is after I’ve day-dreamed the scene because when I day dream, its detailed to the tee, down to the words and the dialogue but the most difficult is when I postpone an idea I had in my head. If I don’t write it down instantly, it never turns out the same and that’s quite frustrating

12. how do you come up with original characters? (

I do insert a lot of original characters in my fics and they are sometimes inspired my real people but only in terms of appearance not by character or name. so, if am describing an original character in any of my fics, know that he exists but his character is not the same in real life hahahaha

13. what is your favorite and least favorite word? f

wow, this is random. um. fav would be scars and least would be veggies

14. what is one thing about your writing that you’re really proud of and one thing you hope to continue working at?

I don’t think it was something I was proud of at first but a lot of people who comment on my fics say that they like my pacing and the dialogues. so maybe that? I would say I think I need to work more on my originality. sometimes, i find myself drifting to a fic I’ve just read, especially if its the same trope and am like, wow, that’s not mine at all.

15. what work of yours has your favorite ‘verse/world building? how did you come up with it?

definitely my first abo fic Hang there like fruit, my soul/Till the tree die. I love that au and I’ve always wanted to put my own tiny twist in it. am really proud of how it came about and am massively humbled by the comments and support it received :D

16. what font and size do you write in? single spaced or double?

arial, font 18 and sometimes bigger because I don’t have good eyesight

17. what is a typo(s) you find yourself making consistently?:

names, because sometimes the names I choose are apprarently just not cool with microsoft word for some reason....sighs

18. (if applicable) do you separate fic writing from fandom?

yes, but its not intentional, it just happens

19. what emotion is your favorite to write? which is the most difficult?Angst because that’s just me hahahaaha. the most difficult? hmm, emotional love confessions maybe or the transition from friends to lovers. yeah.

20. what is one thing you hope readers always take away from your works?

the passion behind it maybe?

21. what is the best and worst writing advice you’ve ever received?

best advice is to sleep on it because I do come up with scenes for my fics when I am about to sleep ahahahah. the worse one I got came from someone who obviously doesn’t know a thing about writing. he said, ‘’just don’t write it and do something else.’’ I mean, really?

22. which one of your works would you most want to see turned into a film/television show?

nope, not happening.

23. do you write scenes chronologically or out of order?:

most of the time in order.

24. how do you handle criticism?

quite well I think.

25. what is the advice you would give to someone who is looking to start writing?

Go for it. Writing is not a silly hobby. if it’s really something you wanna do, even if its just for fun or to pass the time or to make new friends. go for it, There are so many fics in this fandom that until this day, are still ingrained in my mind because they were so touching and moving to me. you never know what your words could do for someone or how much your words could make a person’s day a better day

26. what kind of feedback on your work always makes your day?

the comments posted on my fics in ao3 always make me happy. I feel like its the best to find out if my work is worth someone’s time, you know? even though I do write for myself most of the time, the validation is nice sometimes :D

27. which fic ‘verse of your own would you most like to exist in? which fic’s characters would you most like to befriend?

wow, all of them?

28. what do you always enjoy getting asks about/wish people would ask about more?

hmm, I mean people could ask what they want so am cool with anything. am not picky. I get asked about plot lines or what would happen next when it comes to cliffhangers and I do my best to answer them without revealing too much :D

29. what has writing added to your life? how has it changed you?

I definitely made new friends through it and it’s been great :D

30. why do you write?

it’s my favourite thing in my entire life. It’s the one thing that no one in my life knows about, as in the people that I work with, my friends, even my family, none of them have ever read anything I’ve ever written and am fine with it. I feel like writing is purely for me and it’s something I’d like to keep as a part of me you know?

boost yourself + tags!

1a. share the last sentence you wrote:

Harry smiles despite himself. Three years together, since he was nineteen, and it shouldn’t be a surprise that Louis knows him so well, can tell by the sound of his voice if he’s okay or not, nervous or not, happy or not.

2a. describe the wip you’re most excited about:

the one am writing for the harry/men fic fest

3a. share the piece of dialogue from one of your works you’re most proud of:

‘’You’re being really quiet and I don’t like it,’’ Louis points out.

‘’Just a bit tired,’’

‘’Stay here then,’’ Louis pats the bed. ‘’Sleep next to me,’’

‘’Are you sure? I don’t want to mess with anything by accident or…’’

‘’Harry?’’

‘’What?’’

‘’I won’t get a wink’s worth of sleep if you’re even an inch away from me,’’ he says firmly. ‘’And I’ll go on a limb here and say neither will you.’’

‘’But…’’

‘’No buts, I’m serious.’’ Louis cups his cheek, his blue eyes big and beautiful, like an entire fucking galaxy. ‘’I missed you something terrible these past few days,’’

‘’Lou…’’

‘’Be here with me, Haz. Please?’’

Harry hums before he pushes himself forward. He cannot stop it, cannot keep himself from gravitating towards Louis, taking what he wants, what he needs to make it through the night. He cups Louis’ face and kisses him but even then it’s not enough and he skates one arm around Louis’ small shoulders and tugs him closer, careful not to jostle Louis too much and kisses him like Louis’ a mermaid and he needs his air or else he’ll drown.

It eases an ache in him he didn’t know was trying to get his attention the moment he entered the room, something deep and visceral, calming down with the way Louis’ molds his lips against his, with the shape of his mouth fitting with his own, with the way his body is trying to align with his, like a constellation, each star coming together to mean something greater than they can ever grasp, something more infinite and vast.

‘’I love you,’’ Louis whispers into his lips.

‘’I’m never letting you go,’’ Harry says before he reaches for another kiss. ‘’Love of my life, fucking best thing to ever happen to me, you know that?’’

‘’My rock,’’ Louis kisses him back. ‘’My fortress,’’ and kisses him again, ‘’my strength,’’ and again and again. ‘’I love you so much. Would be dead without you,’’

‘’Don’t say that,’’

‘’It’s true,’’ Louis gasps as Harry devours his mouth, trying to stop him from saying another word. ‘’I would’ve crawled out that room right to your feet, Haz. I would’ve…’’

‘’Shh, just me kiss, babe. Just kiss me,’’ Harry pleads.

And so they do.

4a; line from my fics that I am most proud of:

hard to choose really

5a. link the last fic you read:

bang bang (my baby shot me down) by thepolourryexpress

6a. link the last work you published:

Ellen's haunted house by louloubaby92

7a. link to your ao3 (if applicable):

https://archiveofourown.org/users/louloubaby92/works

8a. someone that inspires you

Louis Tomlinson

9a. a comfort fic/work that you’ve been grateful for this year:

bruise you like a peach by falsegoodnight

10a. other writers that you’d like to tag!

@falsegoodnight @twopoppies @mediawhorefics

#this was nice

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maggiesroger · 4 years

Text

The story of Reputation

Aka how I think the tracklist should’ve been

1. ...Ready for it?

It’s a really good opener to the album and introduces Tays Reputation as a persona. This person is ruthless and knows it. They’re a serial dater and it’s very very similar to the blank space persona. Tay begins the bridge with “Baby let the games begin!” It could be just a line used for opening the album, but it could also mean “Let this happen. I’ll never let you go, but I’ll play games the whole time (according to my reputation).”

2. I Did Something Bad

Tays Reputation (what I’m calling the persona on this album) got with this guy, and started playing games but she likes it. The verses are what seem to be the bad things she does (possibly the things in her dreams from rfi). People say she did something bad, but it doesn’t matter to Tays Reputation. It felt good to her. “They’re burning all the witches even if you aren’t one. So light me up” is probably one of the most important parts of this song, and where Real Taylor happens to shine through. Real Taylor isn’t a witch, but her reputation is. But maybe it isn’t so bad that she’s getting burned (at least they were electrified?).

3. Gorgeous

Who is that? Is that.. is that a gorgeous guy? But.. but I’m with this other guy I’m playing games with... Oh gosh I’m gonna die if I can’t be with this person. Maybe I’ll invite him over if he’s single... no that’s honestly worse. (Aka this song is crush central but also frustrating crush central where you want to leave your boyfriend for this guy but that’s really bad to do. This is also where Real Taylor starts to come in on the album.)

4. Getaway Car

Taylor does it. She leaves (presumably) Tom for Joe. The most prominent line that follows this narrative is “I wanted to leave him, I needed a reason.” Joe is her reason for leaving/switching to the other side. This song also is one of the few that includes a key change, which represents her “switch to the other side.” It could also just be for drama in the bridge but we know taytay better than that.

5. Delicate

In keeping with the track five theme, I think delicate should stay here. Delicate is when Real Taylor is the most prominent and vulnerable. She got into an actual relationship but it’s not Official™️ yet. This is the delicate stage of the relationship, and where Tay has anxiety over whether or not Taylor’s Reputation is what Joe really thinks she is. She’s scared that he might leave her because of her reputation, and rightfully so. She spent two whole songs saying all the bad things Taylor’s Reputation has done. But is it cool that she likes him? Is it chill that he knows her deepest darkest secrets? Because it’s really delicate and she doesn’t want it to break. The bridge explodes into her hoping and praying that the relationship works. “Sometimes when I close my eyes I pretend your mine all the damn time!” Because she likes him. Like a lot.

6. King of My Heart

Okay okay Tays relationship has officially begun and holy. shit. This is the honeymoon stage but Taylor has decided that he’s the king of her heart already because she’s been waiting all this time for someone who finally is what she needs and he is that. She fell in love fast and all at once, but it isn’t so fast that it’s dangerous like Red. The tour visuals (and daylight) confirm that this relationship is golden (like a crown). This kind of explains some of her anxiety too, since she’s afraid that it might turn out like Red did (hi Cornelia Street). He’s the King of Her Heart, Body, and Soul and that’s enough for her.

7. So it Goes...

I think this one is about the ~sexy~ times with the king of her heart, and finding out that Joe is really really good at the ~sex~ and together they’re really good at the ~sex~. I think we see a little bit of Taylor’s Reputation in the chorus in the line “I’m not a bad girl but I do bad things with you.” But above all, I think she hints at how much everything aligned perfectly for both of them to get together, and it uses sex to symbolize that. Specifically, I see this in the line “All the pieces fall right into place.”

8. Don’t Blame Me

Taylor’s Reputation comes back for a bit, but she’s changed a little. She found a lover and won’t let it go because it’s her drug. To be honest, this one seems a little self-explanatory. Don’t Blame Taylor’s Reputation for this magnetic force pulling her in so strongly. I also think this has a possibility of being a sort of undercover Blank Space, but the guy is the one that “traps” lovers into a relationship just by the way he is.

9. Endgame

If I could throw away one song, it would be Endgame. It doesn’t quite fit here, but I’m not mad at where it ended up. Endgame is another self-explanatory song, but Taylor and the other featured artists make the verses a really powerful love song. Tay has found her endgame, the person she wants to be with forever. He’s made such an impact on her life that she’s ready for the endgame.

10. Dress

Another sexy song, but Dress has a hidden layer of a really sweet love song underneath it. In the bridge, Taylor sings “Even in my worst times, you could see the truth in me.” He stayed when no one else did. This is a “flashback” song, looking at the past details and explaining how Taylor is so vulnerable and herself around this guy. She bought that dress for him to take it off, even if it makes her nervous and her hands start shaking. She can’t explain it but he made her feel that way.

11. Look What You Made Me Do

The return of Taylor’s Reputation!! But this time it’s in a really complex and sort of meta way, where she looks at writing rfi and idsb (and tiwwchnt) as the thing the drama made her do. The verses are simple and take control of the narrative of the story. She doesn’t like his titled stage and how he gets away with everything, so she tells him. The bridge is another explosive moment, ending with one of the most iconic lines Taylor has ever written. She says in the voice of Taylor’s Reputation that she killed the old Taylor (the Real Taylor), for what I’m assuming is the clap back of the century. It’s sort of like “In the Death of her Reputation, she felt Truly Alive” but the opposite. Taylor’s Reputation had to kill Real Taylor to save herself and take control of the narrative. All in the context of a phone call.

12. This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things

Taylor’s Reputation is again still here, but she’s helping explain to those who hurt her why she’s here, and why she had to kill Real Taylor for a moment. She’s been burned and had to save herself after they rained on her parade. Again, the bridge is where Taylor is talking to the people who really stood up for her. Her real friends, her baby, her momma, and even the people who hurt her. It’s kind of a “Thanks for making me tougher.” and an ironic “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

13. Call It What You Want

Taylor’s baby is really what kept her sane through all of that mess, and call it what you want is his thank-you note. Everything came crashing down (They took the crown but it’s alright) but he built a fire just to keep her warm while they hid from the world. She fell in love with him and found real golden love in spite of the fears and hate she was getting. Also I just really love this song and could write an entire book on how perfect it is and also it’s track thirteen

14. Dancing with Our Hands Tied

If Call It What You Want is the fire keeping Taylor warm inside her hideout with her lover, Dancing with Our Hands Tied is the dark and cold outside world. Taylor explains her anxiety best in that January Third diary entry (I’ll try to link it if I remember). She dances with her lover with their hands tied because the outside world is so so so toxic for her that she just wants to cuddle up and ignore everything but her lover while she waits this out. He represents safety and security in the trying times.

15. New Year’s Day

This simple piano ballad is a beautiful closer to the album. It symbolizes new beginnings with the person that will be with Taylor through it all. She’s confident that he’ll be there to help her on New Year’s Day, after the metaphorical chaotic new year’s eve party and the real-life shit storm that was her life in 2016/2017. He’s gonna have her midnights and will also be there to help clean up the mess afterward. Vulnerable Taylor also makes an appearance in the line “Please don’t ever become a stranger whose laugh I could recognize anywhere.” Overall I think this metaphorical New Year’s Day clean up time is a perfect end to a complex album that showcases Taylor’s amazing lyrical skills and her ability to twist her struggles into art. Reputation is obviously my favorite album, and I tried to explain the way I listen to the album and understand it’s complexities. This is my longest post ever, so thanks for reading it all the way through!

-Claire

#reputation #lyrical analysis #best album of all time

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sparrowofthesands · 4 years

Note

mine and quib's

SEND A URL AND I WILL ANSWER THE FOLLOWING;

@voidhunting

Do I Follow Them?: Nah, just search ‘em up any time I wanna see what’s going on

Why Did I Follow Them?: Cause I like Kai’Sa as a character, and you got heavily involved with Quib’s Sivir

Do We Role Play?: Yes! Though due to slowness on my part, not enough

Do I Want To Role Play With Them: Always!

An AU Idea For Our Muses: Answer at the bottom cause it’s tied with Quib’s

A Song For Our Muses: Asking me to find music that actually fits a single character, let alone two, is asking for disaster, but I think this kinda works? https://open.spotify.com/track/4UshuF9jEc2QzGjUrAYckO?si=PTbJDBTCQqibf2odB5Bqhg

Do I Ship Our Muses?: Platonically. Kai’Sa has a sister role, though big or little depends on the verse.

What I Think About The Mun: I don’t talk to you anywhere near as much as I’d like, but when it comes to initiating conversation I’m about as good as a bucket of mud. However, from everything I’ve seen, they’re a very nice person, with a gentle heart, and if you hurt them I’ll throw rocks at you.

Overall Opinion: A super quality blog with a clear voice in both traditional and modern/K/DA verses. Very well thought out headcanons, super clean definition of character, writing that feels better than official.

Blog Rate: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

@heroesgohungry

Do I Follow Them?: Strangely, yes.

Why Did I Follow Them?: SHURIMA! Also, there’s like no other active Sivirs, and I love the dynamic.

Do We Role Play?: When the planets align and the blue moon rises on the summer solstice.

Do I Want To Role-Play With Them: Always. Quib’s one of the reasons I stick around on Tali.

An AU Idea For Our Muses: See the end of the post.

A Song For Our Muses: Again, asking me for character-based music is asking for trouble, but this might not be too bad. https://open.spotify.com/track/5vvoqX0jVbOgaAwdJPwoP9?si=5nY-qOl9Q4-UOhNwElpDEA

Do I Ship Our Muses?: Platonically. Sivir is the grumpy older sister. Taliyah is the optimist trying to get her to smile once in a while.

What I Think About The Mun: The Quibbleflux is a mysterious force, coming and going at random times... Also a huge nerd and someone I should talk to more often.

Overall Opinion: Quib’s got some quality writing, and I try and learn what I can from them at every turn, as well as read their headcanons and stories since they’re very well thought out.

Blog Rate: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

The AU Idea: Been on a kick recently, and these three actually fell into fairly clean terms fairly easily. Sivir is, of course, a smuggler/bounty hunter. Nothing extreme on the hunting side, but easy credits aren’t ignored. Smuggling is the main gig.

Kai’Sa is a Gray Jedi, or what passes for one in this new canon. Exiled before Order 66, she wasn’t afraid to use Dark Side powers to hunt down enemies of the republic and the Jedi. She was actually tried and exiled in absentia, because she knew what would happen, and decided that what she was doing was too important to stop.

Taliyah is a Force-sensitive girl found and hidden from the Empire by Kai’Sa, and smuggled off her world with Sivir’s aid. Of course this hardly worked as intended, and the three wound up stuck together, evading the Empire and other hazards. She learns from them both, but usually gets in trouble because she can’t properly control her emotions or her force abilities, and attracts too much attention.

#voidhunting #heroesgohungry #this took longer than I expected #mostly due to the musics

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improbablecarny · 5 years

Text

The Best Good Parts of Angel of Babylon

As according to me

Third time’s the charm, though there’s been plenty of charm to go around in our journey through The Wicked Trilogy so far. Now the tale comes to an end... well, this tale, anyway. With a grand finale of heavy metal duets, spooky ghosts, and some fun surprises, on wings of fire... it’s Angel of Babylon!

Storyline: Is the Scarecrow truly past the point of no return? Your guess is as good as mine!

Quick Notes:

Not much to say here that I didn’t already say during The Wicked Symphony, as the notes there mostly apply here given the albums’ simultaneous release.

This album REALLY feels like the Jorn & Tobi Show at times. That’s not a complaint, and the other guest vocalists rule too, you’re just gonna hear these two interact a lot.

Here’s the official YouTube link, as is tradition!

Stargazers

Though not as long as The Wicked Symphony, we’re still treated to another long, dark n’ smoky opener for this one.

The entire mysterious, starry landscape painted here is 😩👌

Lots of Russel Allen doing his thing. Symphony X fans, sound off!

“Take me AWAY........” GUITARS

The instrumentals on this one are nuts. REALLY vibe with what’s going on under the verses.

The plucked notes that sound like falling stars... I LIKE this SOUND PICTURE

“WE’RE SAILING...ON GENTLE WAVES...” and then YOU FEEL A CHILL AS IF TIME STOOD STILL later on

“I CAN SEE THEYRE NAAAAILED TO THE CROSS”

The whole CRAVING DEVOUR ME breakdown

When the outro gets all heavy and chunky

BABYLON... the fire will REMAIN...

Angel of Babylon

Another fun upbeat Tobi/Jorn vocal duel

I don’t have much to say because it’s pretty straightforward, but that’s not a bad thing. It’s a super energetic and fun song.

Your Love is Evil

The chorus is really catchy

I have nothing else to say about this one either lmao oops. it’s like, negaverse Carry Me Over

Death is Just a Feeling

Hey it’s time for our second Sinister Theatrical Evil Guy song! This time with Jon Oliva playing a dead guy singing some wacky evil circus music

Tobi once referred to Avantasia as “the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s mean little brother” and... yeah

Seriously the whole entire first part up until the first chorus rules

The chorus also rules

Rat Race

The almost anachronistic “1...2...3...4!”

The heavily-distorted vocals in the prechorus

Down in the Dark

“YOU’RE RUNNING FROM THE disdain... YOU KNOW this time...”

“...WHOA-OH!”

“NEVER AGAIN, NEVER AGAIN...”

Blowing Out the Flame

Aw yeah power ballad time, get your lighters ready

“Can anybody tell me is THIS”

“THE WAAAAY IT’S MEAAANT TO BE” 😭

The guitar in the chorus... BEE woo BEE woo BEE woo

Symphony of Life

This one is a complete anomaly in that it is the only studio Avantasia song (excepting the instrumental interludes) without Tobi. Instead, Cloudy Yang takes the lead and hits it out of the park.

If you like dark, gothy symphonic metal this one will be right up your alley.

Those high notes in the chorus... “RUSH toNIGHT”

Alone I Remember

Another weird one, going for a much more Edguy hard rock/country-feel ft. Jorn, which like, super mega rules actually

“I’ve been walking down this road / with a suitcase full of dreams” 😎

Listen to the intro/first verse WITHOUT doing a cool guy walk down the street. That’s right. You can’t.

“You WANNA TURN YOUR BACK ON ME?! Condemn this PLEASURE DOME”

“Be sure you won’t REGRET MIstaAAKIN Friend For FOOooOoe - OH!”

The keyboard thing... bew doop doo, DEW doop boo

Promised Land

This one’s a fan favourite for reasons that are immediately clear upon listening to it

The driving pace, the vocalist tradeoffs, the energy...

“God gave his word just to let us down / where is he now?”

Jump Up and SING that chorus, baby!

“You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours” fuck yeah

“You gave YOUR word, you let me down / what AM I NOW?”

An army of SCARECROWS LIKE ME

LIKE MOTHS TO A FLAAAAME

When the guitars align after the solo

The Tobi/Jorn/Kiske alt and the Eric/Jorn live versions also rule

Journey to Arcadia

You thought Runaway Train was custom-tailored to make me cry? Well. Here’s Me Crying II: Cry Harder

The string intro

Bob Catley yet again getting me fucked up

“OooooooYEARN TO SEE”

And

“JUUUUUUST WIIIITH A DREAAAAM”

“JUSTWITHA DREAM AND WITH A SONG”

“Dogs run barking...” this whole verse 🥺

“Your EYES” the choir 😱😭

“Life will stop telling lies” with the drums...

Russel’s lead-in to...

“LEARN TO BREATHE / LEARN TO FALL / LEARN TO STAND / WALK AND CRAWL”

LEARN TO LOSE, AND TO LOVE

LEARN TO BELIEVE RISE ABOVE LOVE IS MORE THAN TO LOVE

(My heart can’t take this shit wtf)

And there you go. 3/3, the Wicked Trilogy complete. Hope you enjoyed the ride because the next leg of the journey only gets better.

Cast List:

Tobias Sammet as The Scarecrow Jorn Lande as Mephistopheles Michael Kiske as Mentor Russel Allen as Inspiration Bob Catley as Conscience Cloudy Yang as Other Jon Oliva as Madman

#avantasia #angel of babylon #music #metal #avantasia breakdown blog #sorry the album art is deep fried i'll pop in a better version if i find one

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blackwatchstray · 6 years

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Rules for everyone not able to see the actual side, click on the tiny thingies, etc - and for me, if the browser crashes while I edit them to fit the thing

Basics

Don't be a scumbag.

What does that mean? No random witch hunts out of personal vendettas, no starting wars about ships of any kind, no hating on Ocs (duh) or the insulting/hating on the portrayal of other people – simply put, I don't wanna be pulled into a war, especially yours. Your character can be the biggest piece of shit on the world, I really don't mind, go ahead but I really have little to no time to deal with people who make fun of others just to feel better with themselves.

Drama-Llamas:

If you want to pick a fight, you won’t have any success here.

Godmodding:

No, thank you. However I'm perfectly fine if you decide to write what would happen if the plan of your character succeeded to lengthen your posts. I do that too after all.

As it stands – do not control my character. Unless agreed upon or for scenery changes aka moving from one place to another. For the sake of timeskips, scene skips, etc this is fine.

Relationships:

Don’t just assume a certain relationship to my character. You can always ask me and I’m totally fine if your character knows mine, especially if you're Black – or Overwatch, just don't expect them to be official lovers, friends or family. Everything else? Is fine. I won't forbid you to have a purely visuals based crush on Feral, for example. He has one on a certain Blackwatch member too, so there's that.

Please don't be intimidated by me. I'm as scared of you, as you are of me – probably more even.

On writing

Selectivity:

I'd love to write with everyone but my anxious mind and horrible self-perception causes me to turtle and avoid reaching out. Even more so if a try for interaction ends in being ignored. So, if you want to write with me – are interested in Feral, by all means, come at me, send a meme, as random as it may be as long as it isn't romance or smut related I'll figure something out – and likely return to bother you later on. Still, all things combined I can be counted as semi-selective.

Universes/Alternative Universes/Crossovers

Given Feral is already – in one way or another – an AU version of my main RP character I'll limit interactions to the Overwatch universe and/or my AU verses listed under verses. If your character still works in these scenarios – as in for Overwatch a somewhat dystopian futuristic setting that I always feel hesitant to call Cyberpunk, you're more than welcome! Just please don't be upset if Feral might call your Robot character an Omnic.

More on verses

As it is now I operate on the following principle: Each version of Feral has one main verse. What this means? Everything that happens in the Blackwatch Era is in one Universe, everything that happens in the Recall universe is also one universe, and so on.

Duplicates

If I ever happen to get into the situation to RP with duplicates of canon characters, I'll break the former rule and set up multiple verses to the time era. I might then set up Mains though.

Activity

Hi, I'm slow and my mental health is giving me hell. Together with my other problems I tend to not get myself motivated to write, so when I say I'm slow, I mean I'm really, really slow. My sense of time is all kinds of fucked up and 90 days can feel like a week to me when it comes to writing. I'm sorry about that. I'm not disinterested, just fucked up.

Length:

From one line to paragraphs it really depends, on my mood, the alignment of the moon, how much something triggers Feral basically. Most of my writing is his thoughts because I like exploring those, so if you are one of those 'If I can't hear it anyways it doesn't belong into the RP' kinda people, you won't be happy here. You don't have to match my eventual wall of text anyways – as long as it feels like you put effort into it, that is.

Memes | Starters | and so on

Are free for everyone unless stated otherwise, or if they are smut. But please don't like starter calls if you will ONLY write ONE single reply and ignore the thread from there on. I hate that. Also don't like starter calls if you will never answer on the offered post – or at least tell me you don't know what to do with it. Otherwise you'll only shatter my motivation to write anything.

If you reblog a meme, please send something in or reblog from the source. I can understand if you don't wanna leave an IC meme but if it's just informative asks towards the character? It takes a second to send one random symbol in and save the day of a person.

Ocs:

I like Original Characters, more than canon ones at times. The universe has enough space for unknown relatives, other former Overwatch members, civilians, random passerbys, superheroes and so on. Ocs give a universe more life and I like that. So you're welcome here.

Minors:

You are welcome here but I am not responsible for you. If you choose to look at content not suitable for you, it's not my fault. But I'll do my best to make avoiding it easy.

Everything nsfw will be tagged! Innuendos and gross flirting however will not. Everything going beyond that, naked skin, descriptions, getting turned on by danger and or violence will be tagged by my nsfw tag. Everything getting a definitive mature/R-rating gets my tag AND the nsfw tag, just to be sure.

NSFW:

I am of age. Feral is of age. Still, given not a single nsfw thread (smut) of mine has EVER been finished. I'll just resort to accepting the unsaid truth that I just suck at smut rp and I will probably not pursue them any further. Allow me a second of salt here: Thanks past people, I got it now.

Violence, innuendos, invitations for sex will be here plenty. Feral's young version has a very twisted worldview that drives him towards a very promiscuous, risky and unhealthy lifestyle. Whatever it takes to not having to sleep alone.

And that should be enough warning for:

triggering content:

Feral's past is a mess ranging from child abuse, cannibalism, violence, murder, twisted worldviews, mutilation, body horror and other things. His future, aka Recall Feral isn't any better. And both will mention snippets of their life from now and then.

I'll do my best to tag those. Due to my vast uncertainty what might be triggering to people, I'll put a general 'dark places' tag on everything I deem eventually uncomfortable to people.

Shipping:

Shipping with Feral?

Is easier than you might expect – and oh so much harder than it will seem. He crushes easily, if you're after bedding him? Just be nice and he'll offer himself up anyways just to make your character stay. Pursuing romance however is a completely different deal. Your muse will have to work for it. It takes time, understanding and care. At least for the Blackwatch version. And due to the timeline of the blog, he will have lost your character one way or another in the Recall verse. Which is likely rather unlovable.

As a general note? Shipping is only enabled for Blackwatch Feral but I won't deny you the fun of trying to get Recall Feral back if you managed to win over his younger version

multiple partners?!

Feral is polyamorous. So if you're fine with polyamorous ships? Great! He likely won't have a problem with it. If you are not. Your character will have to explain it to him. So unless that conversation has been held, all ships will be in the same verse! Unless with duplicates of course.

How to pursue a ship:

See if the characters work out, just let it flow. Be courageous. If your muse tries to make a move on Feral and he doesn't want to, he will let you know. While it's really nice that people come to me and ask “would ship xyz work?”, I kinda feel like it's betraying the character. I'd rather let Feral have the choice than me.

Other blabla:

Feral's opinions aren't mine. Seperate RP from real life – meaning, if he hates your character, we could still be good friends.

I'm really awkward. I have a hard time talking to people unless they clicked with me or it is about one of my obsessions. Those being shadowrun, megaten, dragon age and some random animes I watched. But even those might not work at times.

English isn't my mother tongue and I suck at grammar. His fucked up accent during dialogue is intended though.

Also, hey, if you feel better with showing you read those, why not Like this?

#mobile rules #also me cheating to get the html code

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recommendedlisten · 4 years

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The extended play didn't come easy in 2019, and that's not at all surprising since the format has a way of giving us years where it seem to leave no shortage of noteworthy listens, where as others require listeners to dig a little deeper to find them. This year was of the latter, but with that comes opportunity for discovery and breakouts, which we found out heavily favored the continued impressiveness in excellent hardcore releases from the scene's DIY undergrounds on both sides of the coast. More established artists used the EP in 2019 as an extension of the work they created in the past year while others continued to evolve their sound in ways which can predict more intriguing ideas to come in the future. At the top of the list is arguably the year's only unanimous rap highlight, which is a strange realization considering it only clocks in around 15 minutes. That said, the 10 Best EPs of 2019 are worth every minute...

10. Bodega - Shiny New Model [What’s Your Rupture?]

Last year introduced us to the wry spun cynicism of Bodega, the Brooklyn post-punk band led one fashionably abrasive Ben Hozie. Their debut EP Endless Scroll saw them take on the spoils of modern consumption and many of the toxic architectures found within our society these days, and it made for a promising jumping off point for the quintet. A year has made for a bit of a shakeup both creatively and personnel-wise for the better with another short-form release in the full-fleshed Shiny New Model EP. Rethinking the wheel of rock and modern art in one collective body, the animated collective of Hozie, lead guitarist Madison Velding-Vandam, stand-up percussionist Tai Lee, bassist Heather Elle and the band’s art director/vocalist/sample master/hi hat quadruple threat Nikki Belfiglio zag away from the dance-worthy wire frame of Endless Scroll EP into terrain that’s more lush and pop-minded. Throughout it all, they remain fixated on the gritty NYC social and culture cues that make Hozie’s think bubbles burst out loud.

9. TØRSÖ - Build and Break [Revelation Records]

TØRSÖ are a band who lay a simple claim to a complicatedly-spelled name in dubbing themselves as “all ages hardcore.“ Their latest EP entitled Build and Break sees them recording the effort with Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Joyce Manor) and thus, resulting in them kicking a lot of the mud out of their sound to make way for clear-as-cut-glass hardcore hyper-aggression. Much of the songs on this collection of quick-hitting gut checks pit self-doubts and despair against survivalistic instincts. At times, there is nothing but a bleak note left remaining even though there’s no surrender in the energy of TØRSÖ’s defense. The Cali DIY scene fav’s vocalist Mae screaming against a pile-on of guitar rash and d-beat adrenaline is confirmation f that. If anything, she and the band’s will to push-back against all odds will be what sees them claw their way toward the light at the end of the tunnel.

8. Anxious - Never Better [Triple B Records]

Anxious seems to have figured a new chemistry in melodic hardcore that homages the genre’s late ‘90s static as well as particles of punk-pop anthemry and early Aughts screamo. Now that the Boston-based hardcore label Triple B Records has recognized them as one of the warmest fires burning in the scene’s underground by signing them to their roster, it's time to experience their heatsaeeking spread in real time. With their debut EP Never Better, the Connecticut band stands a chance to one day have their name be heralded in the same sentence as Title Fight and Lifetime, as this collection of four songs doesn’t look bak in winding up melodic hardcore with abrasive edges and the occasional huge emo hook amid general mixed up emotions on everyday existence. Anxious seem more than ready to grate themselves against the odds, and Never Better is a promising first impression in that energy.

7. One Step Closer - From Me to You [Triple B Records]

Following their 2017 self-titled EP and a three-song promo last summer, rising Wilkes-Barre scene heroes One Step Closer are another 2019 success story off of the Triple B Records roster. The release of their latest EP From Me to You is a temultuous 17 minutes of six tracks that harkens back to the ‘90s Northeast youth crew scene bands like Have Heart and Verse pushed through the modern lens of boundary pushing in experimental wavering. The band’s collective energy switches between maximum and minimal flows, allowing self-torment and existentialism to consume the air as well as be the cause of One Step Closer’s cycling back into a nervous frenzy. Purists of raw hardcore energy will find satisfaction in the moments where they align themselves with more traditional outlines of the yesteryear as well. If One Step Closer can continue to mining all that they contemplate and feel while corroding the hardcore blueprint into something they can call their own, they're imprint will be permanent.

6. Portrayal of Guilt - Suffering Is a Gift [Closed Casket Activities]

One of the better expressions of pain in various forms as an artistic teaching tool to the listener was channeled through the charred screamo of Portrayal of Guilt on last year’s breakour Let Pain Be Your Guide. From the personal to the political and all facets in between, the Texan hardcore chameleons sense emotion in a way where it’s reflective off the surface of their sound. They are most certainly abrasive and crude to the touch, though even in just a few short moments, the shape of those shards can change from being something melodic to grinding to altogether undefinable in the ever-expanding heavy music universe. That brings us to this year’s Suffering Is a Gift EP. Thematically, the listen is a counterpart to Let Pain Be Your Guide’s lessons in embracing what awful realities life may deal you, and turning them toward your favor. Portrayal of Guilt are truly ascendent in their rallying against the odds, as they gnash metallic clusters between their teeth, and spit out the remnants into a dust cloud atop volcanic peaks. The more weight that bares down on them, it feels like their energy only intensifies.

5. Channel Tres - Black Moses [Godmode Music]

Channel Tres has had quite the year since his breakthrough eponymous EP landed him at the #1 spot of the year among extended listens. His cool-smooth energy that pulls in influences of house lights, R&B futurism and hip-hop bravado instantaneously gave him a recognizably singular sound that’s still going unrivaled a year later, and that the likes of sonic visionaries Vince Staples and Robyn dubbed him the honors of being their opening acts on their recent tours says a lot about where his lane is. With his Black Moses EP, Channel Tres glides into his fame and celebrity with cruise control, and that isn’t a bad thing. The beats here aren’t concerned with sizzling the floor with Tres’ charismatic fire, as this collection of five tracks is intended for when the lights go down and the temperatures drop. Even when Tres is driving in the slower lane, he’s still that stealth energy.

4. Charly Bliss - Supermoon [Barsuk Records]

For those looking to connect the dots between Charly Bliss’ adored debut Guppy and this year’s sophomore follow-up Young Enough, Supermoon offers closure on that while turning the page in the right direction at the same time. The first brick laid in that road was set down well before the latter’s official single “Capacity” arrived in February when the Brooklyn indie pop group dropped “Heaven” last year, a swirling, romantic ode in full-on euphoria that juxtaposed so many of the sour notes on romance heard on the band’s breakout debut Guppy. Subtract the static electricity from the equation, “Heaven” and the rest of these songs can be seen as the moment where vulnerability opened up pathways for the band to sparkle across waves of glittered keys and and choruses gliding around smooth corners. Unlike many post-album cycle EPs comprised of songs from its same sessions, Supermoon is beyond B-side quality with five tracks in A-side form that stand out as their own chapter in the band’s creative growth spurt.

3. Ava Luna - Pigments [Self-released]

Ava Luna eccentric layers play a huge part in the Brooklyn avant-pop group being able to create a remarkably singular sound moving its way in many colors and shapres through the universe. Few other acts showcase the ability to turn a chorus’ corner or find a groovy pocket in the discovered placs they do, and it’s that strive for new discovery within their collective energy’s that makes their music an allure. Not even a year removed from the space age smooth moves of their great third LP Moon 2, those eccentricities again resurface in perhaps the band’s most intentional offering yet in the short form format Pigments. The four-song EP reflects a change in the air through compositions of warm woven acoustic arpeggios, dub percussion in rippled water effects, and keys warped inside the solar system. Felicia Douglass and -- in what would be her final bow with the group -- Becca Kauffman are at their coolest wrapped within the ultraviolet beats, and the conversational guests stepping in and out of view only add more fascination to Ava Luna’s colorful cosmic scene.

2. Guerilla Toss - What Would the Odd Do? [NNA Tapes]

Undefinable and unpredictable are succinct descriptors of Guerilla Toss’ work, as the New York-by-way-of-Boston collective has grown a reputation organically in the underground the hard-earned way through by refining a singular sound with an intense, complimentary colorful live show that affirms why we stay alive. Through the obscurities of ther motions, Guerilla Toss has dealt with some shit too, just like any of us does in plain sight. With their What Would the Odd Do? EP, they don’t mask their personal demons in their music any longer. If anything, those demons give a different kind of life to their sound, bearing over it with existential-driven themes of isolation, dread, and joy in tandem, born out of frontperson Kassie Carlson’s own experience with overcoming addiction and health issues. She expels internal chaos through radiant disco-punk beams formed by the branches of drummer Peter Negroponte, guitarist Arian Shafiee, bassist Stephe Cooper and keyboardist Sam Lisabeth. Each and every sense spilling over the canvas, Guerilla Toss in their latest form are what true sanity sounds like.

1. Earl Sweatshirt - Feet of Clay [Tan Cressida / Warner Records]

In a year where hip-hop and rap either took the year off or mostly failed to deliver, it’s the game’s reluctant star and anti-hero Earl Sweatshirt who saves the the day in just about 15 minutes of gristled, Frankensteined sound collages and prose mosaics covered in his straight-to-the-bone flow a year after delivering a grief-stricken art-rap album for the ages with last year’s Some Rap Songs. Feet of Clay is also an effort primarily helmed by Thebe Kgositsile as well with occasional studio appearances by The Alchemist and ovrkast, giving the short run a harder-earned rawness to it than its predecessor, which found the space to experiment beyond the usual darker headspace in free jazz lumination and hypnotic interludes. Though the background noise is often grainy or downright inacessible, Sweatshirt’s words in rhyme rise above the ruins. Confusion could be what permeats these moth-pocked holes through the soundboard, with Sweatshirt still finding himself in a different phase of loss’ throes. There’s not so much any resolve to these quandries, and with that is Feet of Clay’s statement of intent: He’s given us a look inside his head. It’s no more brighter, yet we see the wreckage clearly.

#best of 2019 #bodega #torso #anxious #one step closer #portrayal of guilt #channel tres #charly bliss #ava luna #guerilla toss #earl sweatshirt

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ima-start-a-riot-blog · 7 years

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In Response to the Inauguration

Not So Common Sense

To Whom This May Concern,

(Which would be ALL of us)

I write to you, not as an angry citizen looking for a way to stir things up. Nor to fan the flames of rage and frustration within our community. Rather as a resident of this community who wishes to do what they can to help bring healing to this community and ultimately to this country.

The average person might look at me and see a 24 year old woman who still has yet to learn about the way “the way the world works”, but if there is one thing I can be sure of – it is the reality that:

No healing can truly begin

until the core wounds have been addressed

If one is unable to successfully determine and address where the wound is, any efforts to heal said wound will amount to the equivalent of placing a band-aid on a gunshot wound.

Now you may wonder how we expect to bring healing to the community through a protest. We have come together in protest and demonstration to bring your attention to the societal wounds that MUST be addressed. The illness festering under the surface that has been ignored for decades:

When anyone is in a position of authority operates from a place of pride, prejudice, “us verses them”, ultimately the “Ego”; that attitude in turn validates the beliefs within the collective that are rooted in fear. Fear is ultimately the soil in which ideologies such seeped in racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, nationalism are rooted in. Thereby infecting the community with fear.

Ultimately, we understand that there is much fear circling around within our country. So much uncertainty has developed from the results of this most recent presidential election. However, we are lying to ourselves if we choose to believe that all of this fear is about Donald Trump. That all of this hatred came out of nowhere.

In reality, the fears (on all sides of this situation) have been festering under the surface since the semi-culmination of the Civil Rights Movement. All of THIS started unfolding the day the US government openly called out blatant forms of racism, ableism, sexism etc. for what they are:

Fear in action

People who spent most of their lives being validated and supported in their hatred (fear) of those different from them; who had placed their sense of value and self-worth, ultimately building the foundation of their identity, from the perspective of being “better” because they are separate….they felt as though their government, their country, turned its back on them.

This disruption of their identity has left them feeling: bitter, hateful, and resentful to this day. That is what led to this. Hundreds of thousands of Americans who felt no one would listen to them, voted for the person they believed would bring their concerns, their fears, and their own struggles to light.

As painfully damaging as their beliefs and actions may be, the feelings behind them are still valid. As valid as yours or mine. While our country started slowly moving in the right direction, we forgot one vital piece of the puzzle – we forgot to listen.

We who had been silenced our entire lives, and for centuries back, stopped listening. We became the silencers, unintentionally. We made our silencers feel silenced and so they retaliated. That doesn’t make their beliefs and actions any less detrimental or misinformed, BUT how can we expect to have a solid foundation to build on when we are not allowing all sides of this equation to be addressed.

No one can be taught the truth

with ears that are closed.

But ears will never be truly opened

if the person does not feel they are being listened to.

All sides of this reality must come together before any forward movement can take root.

This is where you as an elected official come in.

Whether you choose to recognize it or not, your responsibility is to represent your community in all aspects. Not just in committees or at court houses, but also within the community.

We chose you to be the mirrors of our community. Not just to reflect one side, or only the “good”. You are meant to be a mirror to the community that shows us all aspects of ourselves. Even the parts that make us cringe.

That is what you signed up for.

By creating safe spaces and opportunities for “opposing forces” to come together you serve your community. When all sides can come together – voice their truth, hear the other perspectives – all sides will be able to come together and find a more authentic truth. Sometimes one side of the situation will be misinformed, “wrong”,…but how can they understand they are wrong and be re-educated unless they are allowed to be “wrong”; to misspeak.

You are in the position where you can create opportunities

for the community to evolve and grow.

Through this process our community will come to a better understanding of itself. We will be able to make decisions that are more aligned with our community’s “truth”. Which will in turn make your job representing us in the legal systems that much more positively effective and impactful.

So please understand:

This protest was not an ‘attack’ on you or the president or the country. Nor was it meant to intimidate you.

We are trying to wake you up! To the reality that things cannot continue in the way they have been.

We must all do our part to find new ways to bring together our community so that we can reach our full potential as a community.

Sending you all love and light

#inauguration #presidential election #president trump #donald trump #aclu #rise up #bernie sanders #protest #missouri #springfield

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raisingsupergirl · 4 years

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Faith in God, Not Man (My Supernatural Courage, pt. 2)

"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians." This was the quote from Gandhi that echoed in my mind after I came to the conclusion that I couldn't support BLM because of some of the extreme actions associated with the movement. How could I, in good conscience, say such a thing when I held Christianity at the core of who I am? There aren't many labels that I mind, but hypocrite is by far the worst. I can't tolerate it. And so, a lot of reading, prayer, conversation, and quiet thought ensued. And, well, I've come to at least some sort of conclusion. But lets talk about the journey before we get to the destination.

First, there's the reading. And the Holy Bible seems like a good place to start. A couple verses in the Old Testament (Leviticus) stood out to me, which stated, "You must not pervert justice; you must not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the rich; you are to judge your neighbor fairly," and, "The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God." Of course, these verses are nestled among the "old" laws commanding things like don't eat the meat of an animal with the blood still in it, don't tattoo your body, and don't shave your sideburns, all of which I violate. So, while they're great advice on treating EVERYONE equally, maybe they're out of date. Maybe we should be looking toward something a little newer...

How about 500-1,000 years newer? That tends to be new enough for most Christians, even though the New Testament was written a little over 1,900 years ago. And if you read it, it feels a lot more in line with current Christian standards (trust Jesus, love your neighbor, have faith and hope for the future, etc.). Unlike the Old Testament, which cautions the early Jews from mingling with other cultures and religions (because of their tendency to adopt literally every belief they encountered, be it outlandish sexual practices, child sacrifice, or just worshiping wooden poles), Jesus encourages Christians to interact with all peoples. We're to find our strength and courage in Christ, being bold and unafraid in order to share the Good News without reservation. In an ancient culture where racism and slavery were not only commonplace but also praised, early Christianity seemed incredibly inclusive. All that to say there's no credible basis for racism in Christ's gospel.

And those tenets of racial equality are ingrained in my heart and my head, so... why have I had any trouble at all with fully supporting the Black Lives Matter movement? Well, as I said previously, I've actually never had a problem with the sentiment. If someone said to me, "Black lives matter," I'd proclaim, "They absolutely do!" But if someone asked me to hold a sign and march on Washington, I would probably pass because of the controversial tactics and outcomes I've seen associated with BLM. And seeing reports of people like Terry Cruse cautioning against idolizing BLM and letting it go to far, only to have people condemn him as a white supremacist in black skin, well... it's a little unsettling.

Then again, maybe he IS biased against black people. How am I to know? Perhaps the statue-tipping, syrup-condemning protesters are right. Perhaps our society needs to be torn down in order to build up something greater. But... just kidding. There IS no "but." I can't see the future. I can't fully separate myself from the zeitgeist veil in order to perceive all things clearly. But (okay, maybe there IS a "but") neither can you. Oh, did I mention that I'm an extreme skeptic?

"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians." Maybe Gandhi was on to something, except... there's no real evidence that Gandhi said it (skepticism has its perks when paired with Google). An Indian philosopher said something similar in the 1920s, and it could be said that Christians in the 20s look a lot different than they do today. And even if it was Gandhi, that was just one man's opinion at the current time. I love Christianity. It is the fuel that drives me to be a better person and gives me hope during uncertain times. And despite the fact that there are plenty of professing Christians who spread nothing but pain, fear, and discord in the world, I have no problem wearing the Christian label myself. Then how in the world can I profess a love of equality and a condemnation of racism if I don't fully buy into the BLM movement? Well, I was confused on the topic for a while, but now I have my answer.

It's because I follow Christ, not Christians. I have a gold standard. Christ never changes. His immortal words never change (I have plenty of evidence to support that claim). There are those who will always start fundamentally evil things like the Crusades and the KKK in his name, but ultimately, there is no corrupting his gold standard. He was God incarnate, and he spoke only truth. Unfortunately, there is no human institution that can make the claim to have that same, unchanging fail safe, BLM included. Some will argue with this sentiment, pointing out that the BLM website offers a central belief structure that makes their righteous intent clear, but I'll challenge those people to seek out the evolution of that creed. It now hits extensively on topics that reach far beyond the original focus, and who determines how much it will change in the future? Is it divinely inspired by God? Doubtful, since the creed shows no evidence of any spiritual or religious affiliation (I'm not saying it should. I'm only stating that it doesn't). Another potential gold standard for BLM might be Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but even he wasn't infallible, and there are even some in the BLM movement who condemn him for not being inclusive enough (due largely to the fact that he was a Christian).

Gosh, this is a hard topic. It's hard to write about. It's hard to think about and pick out all of the threads. I'm probably not right (in fact, I KNOW I'm not 100% right). Maybe I'm completely wrong. Do I believe black lives matter? Yes. Do I believe proclaiming, "Black lives matter," is more helpful right now than proclaiming, "All lives matter?" Absolutely. Black men and women need to be lifted up. The community needs to be shown extra love and support in this time of healing and restructuring. And I'll have no problem affirming those things for the foreseeable future, which (at least for now) I think is enough. I can support the black community without aligning myself with the official BLM organization. It's the same reason why I don’t claim a specific Christian denomination, political party, or cola brand. I'm free to hold many beliefs in common with other people without holding them all. I'm free to wholly follow Christ without wholly following all Christians. And that's what I'll continue to do.

Lastly, it truly makes me sad that many will read this post and either agree blindly or condemn wholeheartedly. These are MY thoughts and beliefs. They should stimulate beliefs of your own, which may or may not be the same as mine. But even if they're not, they probably won't be much better or worse in the grand scheme of things. Don't die on an obscure hill, please. I wish you followed after Christ as hard as you could (since he's my only source of infallibility), but you don't HAVE to. That's the beauty of it all. I can love you, lift you up as an equal, and even praise the spirit of what you're doing without supporting all of your actions or life choices. And the reverse is also true, so I ask for your grace and respect as we continue to navigate these uncharted waters together. I don't know what path our future will take, but I know the ultimate destination, and even if I occasionally stumble or veer off course, I have complete faith in the compass at the center of my life.

#blm #black lives matter #black lives are precious #christianity #Religion #civil rights #equality

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