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you-can-call-me-wanda · 3 years

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Fake Dating

Pairing: Nikki Sixx x Reader

A/N: I hope you guys enjoy! Thanks for reading :)

When you first started dating Nikki Sixx, it was all for the money.

Now dating someone for money may sound cruel and awful to most, but in your case, it was a little different. Dating Nikki was literally your job.

You had been reached out to by Nikki’s management close to eight months ago and were offered the job of becoming his fake partner. Mötley Crüe had gotten into some sort of scandal once again that had the public upset and protesting their work. It really wasn’t anything that bad that the band had been up to, just their typical hotel shenanigans, but it happened right before their new album release and their label was desperate to change the opinions of any upset mothers to try and increase album sales.

So, they had reached out to you. Why? Because you were exactly what they needed to get the public back on the side of Mötley Crüe. You were a small-time actor and pretty much universally liked. Having gotten most of your fame from starring in a recent and popular children’s movie, you were recognizable to children and parents alike. You were relatively new to professional acting, so there was no sort of rumors or nasty gossip associated with your name. Not to mention, you were young and beautiful and, even better, had no criminal record. You perfect for the role of Nikki Sixx’s significant other.

You were hesitant to accept of course. Sure, you had heard rumors of celebrities with fake or hired partners before, but never had you been asked to be in on one of those schemes. It felt wrong, to be lying to so many people, but the pay was too good for you turn down. You were in between gigs at the moment, having had no job offers since your big movie role. Maybe it was wrong to have ever accepted, but you had, and there was definitely no turning back now.

To everyone’s surprise and Mötley Crüe management’s absolute glee, the tabloids and press was obsessed with your and Nikki’s relationship. After just one “date” out with Nikki, a no-expenses lunch courtesy of Elektra Records and lots of well-timed hand holding and pecks on the cheek, paparazzi photos of the two of you could be seen on virtually every teen gossip magazine’s cover. When people mentioned Mötley Crüe now, they were talking about you and Nikki, not the fact that they got banned from the Hilton or destroyed over fourteen thousand dollars’ worth of property at their last hotel stay on tour.

Like you were, Nikki had been hesitant to play along with this fake relationship. It was weird and the whole thing was uncomfortable in the beginning. You were a complete stranger to him and now he was expected to kiss you in public and take you out on dates? It was awkward to say the least. But over time, the two of you warmed up to each other and your roles. With every staged date, you two got closer and closer and got to know each other more and more. Things got easier, and you actually began to enjoy the company that Nikki provided when you saw him, and the two of you even began to hang out sometimes even when it wasn’t scheduled by corporate.

“Hey (Y/N)!”

You turned around where you stood to see Nikki and his best friend and bandmate, Tommy, running towards you.

“Hey,” you said, smiling widely at the two boys. “You guys ready for your big show?”

Today was the last night of Mötley Crüe’s tour and it was the biggest show yet. You had been invited by management since the show was to be filmed with some backstage footage as well. And since Nikki was your fake boyfriend, it only made sense for you to be there with him.

“Hell yeah!” Tommy cheered, twirling his drumsticks in his hands. “Tonight is going to be killer! You’re gonna be watching from side stage, right?”

“Of course I will,” you said. “You know how much I love seeing you guys play.”

And it was true. The best part about your newest acting role besides getting to hang out with Nikki, was watching his band perform on stage.

“That’s why you’re the best,” Tommy said, ruffling a hand through your hand and bounding off down the hall on the venue excitedly. “I’m going to go warm up!” he called over his shoulder. “Don’t chicken out on me Sixx!”

You turned back to Nikki with a confused smile.

“That boy is all kinds of weird,” you laughed.

“Tell me about it,” Nikki said with an eye roll.

“What does he mean about chickening about?” you asked. “You nervous for the show or something?”

Nikki had never seemed nervous before a performance before. He was normally excited, but maybe since this was his biggest gig yet, the stage fright was getting to him. You examined him carefully. He did look a little nervous. He was tapping his fingers to an irregular rhythm against his leather-clad thigh and biting his lip just slightly.

Nikki sighed through his nose and attempted to look non-chalant. The real reason he was so nervous was because tonight was the night he had decided would be the time when finally he told you that he loved you. He had stupidly mentioned it to Tommy who in turn had told Mick and Vince and half the crew. Now, almost thirty people had wagered money on whether he would actually go through with it or not. Somehow, thankfully, you had been left blissfully in the dark to all of this.

“No,” Nikki said. “I’m not nervous. It’s nothing really. Just Tommy being dumb like always.”

“Oh, okay,” you responded. “As long as you’re okay. By the way, Mick said you wanted to talk to me earlier.”

Nikki cursed under his breath. Of course, Mick would intervene. He had bet a hefty amount of cash on Nikki being brave enough to confess his feelings to you.

“He did? Oh, well, it’s really nothing important. It can wait until later,” he said, swallowing thickly.

In reality, Nikki was genuinely terrified to tell you that he loved and ask you out. Normally, he was confident in matters like this, but with you, he felt like he was diving headfirst into the unknown. He felt a connection with you, and he was sure that his feelings for you were true, but he had no idea if you felt the same. In any other situation, he could probably figure out if someone were interested in him based on how they interacted, but with you that was near impossible. You were literally being paid to date him. How was he to discern between your acting and what you really thought? For all he knew, you could hate his guts and just be putting on a show to keep getting your monthly check.

And if he told you that he loved you, and you didn’t feel the same, he wouldn’t know what to do. Not only would he be heartbroken, but he wouldn’t be able to hide from you. You would still be invited to events and he would still have to pretend to be your boyfriend. He couldn’t imagine anything worse than having to kiss you knowing that you didn’t and had never had any feelings for him.

“Are you sure?” you asked. “There’s plenty of time to talk now. You’re not on for another hour at least.”

“I just uh, I just- I don’t know,” Nikki stammered.

“Sixx,” you said with a laugh. “Just tell me.” You placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “You’re my fake boyfriend, remember? I love you,” you joked.

Your words pained Nikki because he knew you were only teasing.

“Do you really though?” Nikki asked quietly, finally finding the strength to make his move.

The smile slipped off your face.

“What?”

“Do you actually love me?” Nikki repeated louder, looking up at you. “Do you really love me?”

You were caught off guard to say the least. That was not what you had been expecting Nikki to ask you. Did you love him? Of course you did, but why was he asking? Had he figured out that you were secretly harboring feelings for him, the boy you were supposed to be fake dating? Had he realized that your acting was getting to be too realistic, that you couldn’t possibly be faking this well?

“Why are you asking me that?” you said, avoiding answering his question.

“Just answer me,” Nikki said. His eyes searched yours for an answer.

You could feel your heart hammering away in your chest. Did he know? You were panicking, trying to think of something to say. Should you deny any feelings you had for him? It would be unprofessional to admit that somewhere along the line, you had begun to really love him.

“(Y/N),” Nikki said, realizing you weren’t going to answer him. “(Y/N), I don’t want to be your fake boyfriend anymore.”

You felt like he had punched you in the gut. All the air left you lungs. So, this was it. He had figured you out and was ending things. He didn’t want to see you anymore now that he knew.

“You- what?” you asked, unable to hide the disappointment in your voice. “Why?”

“I don’t want to be your fake boyfriend anymore because I want to be your real boyfriend (Y/N),” Nikki said. His eyes turned downcast, too nervous to look at you. “I don’t know when it happened (Y/N), but I’ve fallen for you. You’re just- you’re everything I’ve ever wanted. You’re smart and witty and fun. You can make me laugh and get me out of a bad mood. You know how to party, but you also can just sit and have an honest conversation with me. I love you and I want this to be real, what’s going on between us.”

You were speechless yet again. You gazed at him in awe, shocked by what he had just admitted.

Nikki took your surprised silence as rejection and his shoulders sagged visibly.

“Are you mad at me?” he asked eventually, daring to look up at you now.

“I, uh- I mean, no. I’m just surprised is all,” you managed to spit out. “You really mean all that?”

Nikki merely nodded.

“Nikki, I- oh my god. I love you too,” you said, finally finding the words you wanted to say back to him.

Nikki looked skeptically hopeful.

“You do?” he asked hesitantly. “You really mean that?”

“Nikki,” you started, breaking out into a grin. “I have loved you for months now. I thought you could never feel the same, so I didn’t say anything. I thought you would hate me if I told you.”

“I could never hate you,” Nikki said, lips curling up to match yours. “God (Y/N), I really love you. Can I- will you- would you be alright if we started dating for real now?” he asked. “No more staged dates or kisses. Just you and me actually doing this.”

You nodded excitedly.

“Yes,” you agreed quickly. “Yes, I would like nothing better Nikki.”

Nikki let out a relieved laugh and quickly threw his arms around you in a tight embrace.

“Can I ask you one last thing?” he said, as you hugged him back.

“Of course,” you said, pulling back to look at him.

“Can I kiss you now? For real this time?”

#nikki sixx #nikki sixx x reader #nikki sixx imagine #motley crue x reader #motley crue imagine #motley crue #wanda writes

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yanderepuck · 4 years

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The mansion in the 21st century

For the sake of our sanity we are going assume they are all still alive in the 21st century since we don't know when everyone was turned (just that Will was first)

We're also gonna pretend that Sebas is still around(I don't think he'd accept being a vampire???? But for the sake of this he's gonna be here)

Arthur is his full whore self and is with guys and gals. He put the bi in bitch

Leonardo is also bi(historically there's no record of him ever being with a woman)

Imagine the shit posts on social media

Arthur has an Instagram and he posts about everyone's life, even using their names, but no one takes it series

A few times a week Arthur does something called "where is Leonardo sleeping today?"

Vincent uses tiktok for art

Theo has been able to get in contact with more artists all over and be able to sell their art. It's made it a lot easier for him and even though it's a lot more work he enjoys it

Dazai is also a shit poster, only he asks weird things that keep you up at night

But Dazai also publishes short stories. Probs has a blog.

I could also see Dazai basically running an animal shelter in the back yard. He gives off Disney princess vibes. Only it's like ducks, a bunch of birds. A horse or two and some sheep.

Will has probably moved back into the mansion since everything he has done has been forgotten by society.

He finds it odd how kids in schools study is plays and have to analyze it. He's just like "everyone's gay and every other line is a dick joke???" But he still doesn't speak normal.

LEONARDO GOT BACK INTO PAINTING.

Leonardo and Vinc would both have a tik tok and Instagram to show off their work and their hella popular

Isaac wanted to keep a low profile, but since the internet isn't face to face with people, he's able to publish his findings without having to actually deal with society. He's just social awkward okay

Sebastian also has a blog. He calls everyone his roommates and he's like "you'll never guess what my roommate did today"

Arthur collects mugs.

During that Italian hand meme, everyone paid more attention to Leonardo to see how often he does it

He does it too often and he doesn’t realize it

At some point Dazai HAS yelled “DO IT FOR THE VINE”

He was probably yelling at Theo

Want to know whats really dangerous?

Shakespeare learning modern slang

No one in the mansion knows what he’s talking about in the first place. Then suddenly he goes “For never was a story of more woe. O bard Alexa, play us Despacito”(I will not take credit for that. I remember reading that phrase LONG ago)

Isaac says “Me” “Same” and “Mood” a lot

He sees garbage on the ground and goes “It’s me”

Dazai is into anime don’t @ me

Also. Napoleon is also bi as all hell

Drunk or not him and Sebas have made lip contact at least once

Imagine what Mozart could do with music now.

He still loves his piano. Nothing is better than physically playing an instrument

He probs went viral for a hot minute when Arthur posted a video of him playing piano

Comte is even more of a tired mom.

HE’D SO BE A PINTEREST PERSON

You know how people make board for their friends?

He does that with everyone in the mansion

I honestly know nothing about Jean and Napoleon. I’m sorry for their lack of content. Plz add things for them.

Imagine everyone playing Mario Kart

Not every week because they all have lives outside the mansion. But at least once a month they have a game night

None of them are really TV people. They’ll watch movies but that’s about it

They’d all watch documentaries on themselves, and point out everything that is wrong, and even be like “where the fuck did they get that from?”

Because I have watched documentaries on him. Often a Da Vinci documentary will mention was arrest with sleeping with another guy. The rest of the guys are waiting for him to call that bullshit and he’s just sitting there eating popcorn.

Meanwhile Will is in the back like “Eyy! Me too!”

“Did that really happen?”

“What? Me getting arrested? Yeah”

“No, well yes, but did you sleep with another guy?”

“Yeah”

“Was he worth it?”

“I don’t know which one their talking about”

Chaotic bisexuals everywhere

Arthur however has watched the BBC Sherlock series.

Arthur and Dazai would probs watch the most tv out of all of them.

I say this cause Dazai would be into anime and Arthur got hooked on NCIS

Arthur write quite a bit of short stories that he’s gotten published

Will would love that goddamn Leonardo DiCaprio version of Romeo and Juliet. I hate that movie with a passion

Also, I can’t imagine how many jokes they’ve managed to come up with about Leonardo DiCaprio to Leonardo.

If Arthur and Mozart can stay up for days with coffee, imagine what an energy drink would do to them

All of them in modern fashion???? HOT DAMN

Will likes the Titanic

I see Theo being the one that’s into MARVEL and DC movies

Imagine showing Vinc Bob Ross

Leonardo and Isaac are Tony Stark(Ironman) and Bruce Banner(Hulk)

Everyone in the mansion is into conspiracy theories .

Comte himself is a conspiracy theory

One night Napoleon is like “Guys. Look. Aliens” and they all watch conspiracy theory videos.

It’s the one thing they can all agree on that they have in common

Vinc and Leonardo also enjoy pinterest because of all the art/crafting/diy things they find.

Arthur 100% listens to ebooks

THE MANSION IS A POKEMON GO GYM. But they aren’t all on the same team so battling can get serious some days

They all still have pets

Honestly. At any point in time, not just modern. They made fun of each others accents.

Lets be real. Will would end up liking anime too

SNapchat filters on the guys?? The dog filter on Theo??? Flower crown on Vinc??? Face swapping everyone with everyone???

One of them is bound to have a candle obsession and I want to say its Comte. Only he buys them and doesn’t burn them. Sebas ends up slowly taking candles from the stash and burning them in a few rooms.

The music room smells like chocolate but Mozart can’t find the candle.

Leonardo's room is even more cluttered. He has too many hobbies.

Vinc making his own paint??? I’d love.

Theo and Arthur cried a little when their favorite bar shut down.

Masterlist

#this is a long one but i know its gonna have a second part #there's no way i'm done with the guys in modern day #too many possibilities #also sorry about no Napoleon and Jean #I don't know their personalities at all #I only interacted with NApoleon in isaacs route #and i've never interacted with Jean #ikemen vampire #ikevamp #cybrid #ikemen series #plz add your own hcs #i like to read them

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vincess-princess · 3 years

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Valentine’s Special

a belated present from me for the Valentine’s day and at the same time a completed request for @cometsnix <3 sorry for making you wait so long, dude, i hope you like it :)

Fandom: Motley Crue Rating: T Pairing: Mick Mars\Nikki Sixx Word count: 1990 Warnings: lovestruck Nikki and an unhealthy obsession with blue eyes Summary: What do you do when you have no money and a local bar sells Valentine’s specials at a discount? Right, you and your friend pretend to be a couple. Author’s note: basically a little silly ficlet :) haven’t really written fluff for a long time, so this one was fun to do.

“Ew,” Nikki kicked a cardboard heart that was displayed at the entrance of the bar. “The most stupid holiday in existence. Who even came up with that bullshit?”

“Some gay priest or something,” Vince shrugged. “Dunno, man, girls like it. I tell you, your chances of hooking up on Valentines are way higher than usual. If you know how to act, of course.”

“For you, maybe,” Nikki waved his hand. “But I’m not gonna pretend to be romantic and all that stuff just for a hook-up. They gotta accept the real me, you see?”

“Nobody wants the real you, dude,” Vince laughed. “Especially girls. Anyway, are we entering, or?...”

“I’m in if girls are in,” Tommy smiled widely.

“That’s my boy,” Vince patted his shoulder. Nikki wanted to laugh at how he had to rise on his tiptoes to do that, but then he noticed Mick, who was following them silently, as he always did. He was looking at the cardboard heart lying in the dirt by the bar door. His face was devoid of emotion, but his eyes glinted strangely in the dim light of the bar’s neon sign.

Then he raised his head and looked straight at Nikki, and Nikki felt goosebumps running down his back. He quickly picked up the cardboard heart and put it back in its place.

“What, is our badass Nikki Sixx afraid of getting caught?” Vince, of course, had to comment, but Nikki didn’t even hear him. He turned away from Mick and pushed the door, trying to shake off the strange feeling a second of eye contact with Mick had given him.

The bar was almost full, mostly with couples whispering to each other and laughing too loudly at each other’s jokes. Vince spotted a couple of girls sitting at the bar and eyeing every man who entered, touched Tommy by the shoulder and nodded at them. Tommy’s face lit up. The girls weren’t even that pretty, but those two could fuck whatever moved and what didn’t move they would move themselves and fuck as well.

“Pick a table, guys,” Vince said to Nikki and, pulled by Tommy, headed to the bar, not looking back even once.

Mick and Nikki looked at each other and rolled their eyes in unison.

“I swear, they only think about one thing,” Mick murmured. “Let’s go find a table.” He turned around and looked over the bar. The only free places were either at the counter or at little tables for two. Damn it.

“Looks like someone will have to move,” Nikki said mischievously, nodding at the closest booth. The couple inside was in the middle of a passionate kiss.

Mick raised an eyebrow, and Nikki immediately felt like an idiot. Mick was very good at that.

“They can kiss perfectly well at a table for two!” he began, but Mick stopped him with a wave of a hand.

“Go on, hero,” he only said, but Nikki could see a smile in the corners of his mouth. Something warm as though spilled into his chest. Mick didn’t smile that often.

The couple didn’t stop kissing even as he appeared at the table, only letting each other go when he grabbed the guy’s shoulder. “Hey, lovebirds, time to move. Me and my friends need a table.”

The girl looked at him misty-eyed, probably still processing the kiss. The guy, though, understood everything perfectly well and began to go red with anger. Nikki couldn’t measure his height while the guy was sitting, but his shoulders were way wider than his own.

“We were here first!” the dude began.

“Yeah, yeah, heard that,” Nikki interrupted him. In these situations, being outrageously impudent was sometimes the best choice. Sometimes. “You two can move to that table ri-i-ght there,” he pointed at a small table in the corner with dirty plates still on it. “Atmosphere, privacy, music, it’s perfect! Come on, come on,” Nikki pulled the guy out of the booth by the shoulder. For a second he thought that the couple would actually move to that table, but then the guy flexed his muscles threateningly and grabbed Nikki by the collar of his jacket. Well, damn, this bar surely could use a little shake-up today.

Nikki’s back slammed against the wall. The girl screamed “Jordan!” behind their backs. The guy let go of one side of Nikki’s collar, but only to clench his hand into a fist, which then would certainly collide with Nikki’s nose.

But then a thin palm with long, delicate fingers landed on Jordan’s arm and grasped it firmly, holding it in place.

“Hold your horses, Jordan,” Mick said calmly. He looked absolutely relaxed, and only Nikki and the guy himself could notice how deep those fingers dug into his skin. “Be considerate for once in your life and move to that goddamn table.”

Jordan slowly turned his head and looked Mick in the eye, and Nikki realized with a shudder that Mick was way shorter and slimmer than the guy. Why did he even interfere, knowing full well he wouldn’t be able to fight him off since Nikki, with his six-feet height plus four-inch heels wasn’t intimidating enough for him?

Nikki could handle getting beaten, it wasn’t the first time and it wouldn’t be the last, but he somehow really didn’t want Mick to get hurt because of him.

Seconds passed. Jordan looked at Mick and Mick looked at Jordan, with his icy blue eyes that always left Nikki slightly uncomfortable, and Nikki kept expecting Jordan to punch Mick and the fight to begin. He could already feel his fists clenching at the thought of the guy hitting Mick, and the goosebumps of anticipation running down his neck and back.

Then Jordan’s grip on his collar weakened.

“Okay,” he said, and Nikki only now realized he was holding his breath. Jordan released him and moved to the table in the corner, his girl following him unconfidently and repeatedly shooting glances at Mick and Nikki.

“Wow,” Nikki mumbled, turning to Mick. “How’d you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Well, calmed him down like that,” Nikki felt stupid under Mick’s unblinking gaze. “I thought he was gonna break my nose for sure.”

“Not everything has to be solved with violence, Sixx,” Mick waved his hand. “Now, are you waiting for someone else to occupy that hard-earned table?”

“Yeah, sure,” Nikki hurried to the table probably way faster than was necessary, but he wasn’t ready to undergo something similar again for a damn table. Though if Mick was going to save his ass again… oh, nevermind, he cut himself off. He was perfectly capable of defending himself. Even from guys like Jordan.

Mick followed him, though maybe with more dignity, and they finally settled in the booth, sitting next to each other on a soft couch. An almost irresistible urge to move closer to Mick washed over Nikki, the urge to feel the warmth of his arm against his own. But then Mick would probably look at him with his staggeringly blue eyes full of contempt, and say quietly but very distinctly “Knock it off, Sixx”, and everything would be ruined. So Nikki stayed in his place, almost afraid to even turn his head to look at Mick.

“Whatcha waiting for?” Mick reached out to take a menu from the other side of the table. “Are we gonna eat today or not? I’m starving.”

“Yeah, yeah, sure,” Nikki laughed nervously and took a menu handed to him by Mick. Their fingers brushed, and Nikki almost had a heart attack. He opened the menu on a random page and pretended to read the description of the dish.

What the hell this goddamn holiday was doing to him?

“Hm, Valentine’s special?” Mick said, moving closer to look into the menu. Turned out the page Nikki randomly opened had a special offer for couples on the Valentine’s day – fifty percent off for the second dish if those ordering it were a couple. “Look, it’s pretty cheap.”

“Yeah,” Nikki rasped. “Only we’re not, hm, a couple, y’know. Also we’re both dudes, just saying. They won’t believe us.”

“Well, if you keep being such a sissy, you can as well pass for a girl,” Mick snickered, and this was something Nikki absolutely couldn’t handle. He – a sissy? Fucking watch me.

“Hey!” he waved to the waitress to attract her attention. She was a good-looking girl, but now Nikki didn’t have time for that. As she approached, a notebook in hand, Nikki pointed at the Valentine’s special. “Could we have this, please?”

“Um,” the waitress stammered, “this is only for couples.”

“Yeah, we know,” Nikki nodded. “We are one.”

“You’re trying to prank me, aren’t you?” the waitress laughed nervously. “Sorry, guys, but we don’t give out special offers to anyone who asks.”

“But we’re not ‘anyone’,” Nikki insisted. Mick watched him from the side with those piercing blue eyes, and Nikki could practically feel his heavy gaze on his skin. “We’re a couple. We deserve to get the special offer. Or are you being homophobic? Do you want your establishment to be claimed as such?”

“What? No, no!” the waitress waved her hand, her cheeks flushed. Nikki even felt pity for her. But he needed to prove a point. “But we can’t just give it to you without- without proof-“

“Oh, you need proof?” Mick suddenly said. Nikki turned to him and almost flinched: Mick’s face was so close to his he could see his nostrils moving with every breath he took. “You’ll get it. Come here.”

He wrapped his arm around Nikki’s waist and pulled him closer.

And then he kissed him.

It lasted only a few seconds, a mere brush of their lips together. It was endless, infinite, and at the same time too quick, and over too soon. Mick’s lips were warm and dry, and his hand on Nikki’s waist firm and confident. Nikki wanted to dissolve into his arms, merge into his body, become one with him, breathe his air and- wait, that was getting a little weird.

Mick broke the kiss, and Nikki felt like a part of him had been taken away with it. He blinked a few times, still trying to process what happened.

“See?” he heard Mick’s voice as though from a distance. “Was it enough proof for you?”

“Yes, yes!” the waitress hurried to write the order down in her notebook. “Anything else?”

“Four beers, please,” Mick said, and he was talking so calmly, so casually, like a life-changing event hadn’t just happened to him. Maybe it really didn’t. Maybe he kissed his friends regularly, Nikki just didn’t notice-

“Hey,” Mick turned to him, “are you alright? Was that okay?”

“Er,” Nikki raised his gaze and looked Mick straight in the eyes. How was he supposed to say that was the best thing that happened to him in his entire life? “No, no, it- it was okay, don’t worry. Maybe we could- we could- do it again? Maybe some other bar has Valentine’s specials…”

“Maybe,” a little smile appeared in the corners of Mick’s mouth. “I wouldn’t mind, actually.”

“Me too,” Nikki murmured. His hand, acting on his own, found Mick’s and entwined their fingers. With every second passing Nikki expected Mick to move his hand away, but Mick never did.

They released each other’s hands only when Tommy and Vince came back to their table and plopped down on the other side of it. The girls at the bar looked at them with dreamy eyes.

“They aren’t supermodels, of course,” Vince nodded at them, totally oblivious to the blush that covered both Nikki’s and Mick’s cheeks, and the fact that they were sitting way too close to each other than friends usually do, “but could use some company, if you know what I mean.”

“I’ll pass,” Mick shook his head. His hair tickled Nikki’s cheek.

Nikki shot Mick a quick glance and said, “Me too.”

#did this in two days and i know it's not a lot of words but im still proud of myself for completing it (almost) in time #motley crue #motley crue slash fanfiction #motley crue fanfiction #mick mars\nikki sixx #marxx #fanfiction #warning: this is cheesy and absolutely unrealistic but that's what fanfiction is for right

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asoulofstars · 3 years

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A Meal

I got obsessed with Code Black, and I started shipping Riona/Mario. So, y’know, here’s their first date. Takes place between 2x07 and 2x08; they’ve known each other for about a year. This is really just. Lots of fluff. I love it.

Riona had another morgue pickup, and she was walking down the hospital halls. She tried to keep her eyes peeled around corners, as every time she stepped foot in this hospital, she or Mario would end up crashing into each other. She heard him behind her, calling out to someone, and she turned around to say hi. Except he kept walking backwards, and Riona squeaked.

“Mario!”

He turned, tripped on his own feet, and fell into her. She laughed as she landed on the floor beside him.

“Hi,” she said.

“We almost managed to not have a collision.” He offered her his hand.

She took it, and he pulled her to her feet. But he didn’t let go. He shifted and gave her a small smile.

“You want to get some food with me? My shift’s almost over, and I’d love to take you out.”

Riona flushed, and she smiled back at him. “Dr. Savetti, are you asking me on a date?”

“I am,” he replied. “I really like you, Ri. My shift’s done about now, as long as no patients code on me, so call me when you get home, and I’ll come pick you up.”

Riona grinned. “Okay. I’ll see you soon.” She rolled up on tip-toes and kissed his cheek.

“Great.” Mario grinned back.

Riona couldn’t help but toss a glance over her shoulder as she made her way over to the morgue, and she saw him touching his cheek where she’d kissed him. He glanced over at her, and she smiled wide when she noticed the deep red stain his neck when she met his eyes. She was still pink from his tenderness, but it was such a good, fluttery feeling. She skipped away.

~*~

Riona got home, showered, and found a nice sun dress and cardigan outfit. Purple for the sun dress, and a magenta-y color for her cardigan. It was a light-weight cardigan, perfect for the warm evening in Los Angeles. She called Mario when she was ready, and she sat with Freyja. She felt like she was going on her first date all over again. She ran her fingers through Freyja’s fur, trying to calm her nerves.

He came up and knocked when he got there, and Riona jumped up and opened the door. She blinked in surprise, as he held a bouquet of flowers.

“Morning Glories,” she said. “What made you choose these?” she asked.

“They’re purple, look like stars, and I was told they convey affection.” He shrugged. “They fit for us.”

“They do.” She kissed his jaw. “Let me put them in water before we leave. Come inside, meet Freyja.”

Freyja meowed and went over to investigate, and Riona watched as she sniffed at Mario and then meowed louder. Freyja walked over to Riona and sat at her feet, and Riona giggled.

“What was that?” Mario asked.

“That was her acknowledging you. Better than the last date that I brought home. She peered at him from the couch and grumbled. You got approval. Not affectionate approval, which I’ve yet to see with anyone but Aislinn, but approval.”

“So her opinion counts, then.” Mario crouched down. “You care about her, huh?” he asked the cat.

“Mreow.” Freyja blinked at him.

“She’s pretty amazing,” Mario agreed. “Did you know she has pictures of you that she shows off to people?”

Freyja tilted her head and nosed at Riona.

“I do,” Riona told her. “You behave now, okay? Mario and I are going out. Don’t wait up.” She scritched Freyja between the ears.

“Mreow!” Freyja called.

Mario offered Riona his arm. “You look really nice.”

“Thank you. So do you.” She took his arm. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you not in scrubs.” She tugged him to a stop outside the car, just drinking him in.

He was wearing a black leather jacket with a gray t-shirt and some dark jeans. It was casual, but it was a good look. It worked with his scruffy beard, and she liked seeing him out of the scrubs. He carried himself the same way, confident and steady, and she melted a little.

“Like what you see?” he asked.

“I really do,” she said. “You are amazing.”

Mario laughed. “Come on, I’m starving.” He opened up the passenger door for her.

Riona smiled and slid into the car. She took in the interior of the Impala, immaculately kept up and put together. She could tell he cared a lot about the car.

“This is a nice car,” she said.

“Yeah. Linda said my dad would want me to have it.” He started the car up.

Riona put a hand on his knee. She knew that the funeral wasn’t that long ago. He took her hand and gave it a squeeze.

“You’re not a vegetarian, are you?” he asked.

“No, and I have no allergies, either.” She smiled.

“Great; I have the perfect place.” He made a turn, and there was a bump.

Riona watched as the little figurine on the dash bent over, flipping her skirts up, and she started giggling so hard she snorted. Mario laughed, too.

“You like that?” he asked.

“That is fantastic,” Riona replied. “I love it.”

Mario brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her knuckles. Riona flushed once more.

“Dad used to run over potholes just to make me laugh. You have anything like that?”

Riona nodded. “Yeah. When I was little, Papa taught me how to dance. All sorts of dances. Waltz, Foxtrot, and the Quickstep were his favorite. I would stand on his feet, and Mama would take pictures. When I was a little older, we’d dance with me off his feet to entertain Soll.”

“Ever done swing dancing?” he asked.

Riona shook her head. “No, I didn’t do a lot of dancing after….” She trailed off.

“I’ll teach you,” Mario said.

Riona beamed. “We haven’t even eaten yet. You’re that confident?”

“Mmhmm. You keep smiling and blushing.” He grinned and made another turn. “And we’re almost there.”

“Good. I’m hungry, too.” She squeezed his hand.

Mario pulled the car up to Vince’s Spaghetti. Riona giggled.

“Italian for our first date? Very nice.” She kissed his cheek.

“Well, I’m not going to cook for you yet. Besides, spaghetti is one of the best meals to share.” He turned off the car.

Riona nodded in agreement. The pair headed inside, and Riona found his hand. He gave her a squeeze as she intertwined their fingers, and he pulled her into his side. They got a table, and Mario pulled her chair close to his. She put her head on his shoulder.

“I like being able to do this,” she said.

“I like it, too.” He kissed her temple. “It’s nice to actually have time with you. It feels like the last year or so has been a collection of stolen moments.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean. But it’s the best moment I get in a work day. You help me ground myself and take a breath.” She nosed at his shoulder.

Mario played with her hair, and when their waiter came over, they both jumped a little. They ordered their drinks and the big platefuls of spaghetti that this place was known for. When their food arrived, Mario pushed their plates close together and used his fork to push a meatball from his plate to hers, like in Lady and the Tramp. Riona giggled and found a nice, long noodle. He caught the other end, and their noses bumped as they met in the middle. She severed the noodle with her teeth, and she pressed her lips to his.

When their waiter came back around, they were still cozy and sharing their food, and Riona looked up at the waiter.

“Thank you,” she said.

“How long have you two been together?” the waiter asked.

“Tonight’s our first date,” Mario replied.

“First of many,” Riona agreed.

Mario grinned. “Told you.”

Riona giggled and pressed her lips to his again.

#otp: find my way to you #v: code black au tbd #written in the stars (my writing)

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yesloverboy · 5 years

Text

Is There Love on Mars? (Iwan Rheon!Mick Mars x Reader)

Requested: Anon!

“I have a request, could you please do reader drunkenly confessing to Mick and him taking care of her the rest of the night and them getting together after ❤️ I absolutely love Mick and I'd love to see your take on it if possible”

Note: The Mick request is finally here! Writing for Mick is honestly so much fun and I’m super thankful that you requested this. I hope this is what you had in mind!

word count: 3,399

By the time you were finally able to arrive to the show’s afterparty, it was already in full swing. As a bartender from the venue, it wasn’t often that you got invited to hang with the bands who played while you worked. Mötley Crüe, however, was an exception. The boys were back in town after a long tour, and they’d be damned if they weren’t going to invite their favorite bartender out.

When you first met, the boys had been regulars just like everyone else– a group of scruffy punks looking to start a band that would take over the world. The usual L.A. stuff. Really you hadn’t thought much of them, and appreciated the fact that they would come around every so often just to see you. The three boys flirted relentlessly, always claiming that they would remember you when they finally got a guitarist and became big rock stars.

Much to your amazement, they actually did. When the boys finally found a guitar player, the first thing they did was come to your bar to celebrate. Considering Tommy and Vince were still teenagers, and Nikki in his early twenties, you were surprised to see them dragging along a slightly older guy with shaggy black hair and a bored expression. Of all of the band guys and aspiring musicians you had met during your time behind the bar, you had never seen a guy quite like this one. Tommy introduced him to you as Mick Mars– a name that quickly rolls off the tongue. A name you wouldn’t mind saying over and over again.

As the night went on, Tommy, Vince, and Nikki eventually ended up getting jerked out of the venue for causing a brawl in the middle of the dancefloor. You figured that Mick would end up leaving with them, but instead he took a seat in front of you at the bar. That was the night the two of you started talking. He had been reluctant to hold a conversation at first, but after realizing you had no interest in the mainstream trends, he quickly warmed up to you. The two of you had talked about everything from your favorite music to your most embarrassing childhood memories. You eventually learned that Mick wasn’t as cold as he seemed around the other guys, he just cared about his craft so much that the rockstar lifestyle didn’t interest him in the same way.

Mick wasn’t like all the other wannabe rockstars that rolled in and out of the club every night, in fact, he was the opposite. He was all talent and no talk rather than the other way around. With Mick being the missing link, Mötley Crüe became a reality. Pretty soon the boys weren’t just visiting you at the bar, but playing the actual venue. Unlike everyone else, you weren’t shocked to find that Mötely Crüe was dramatically breaking the mold. The three younger members already had the drive to do something amazing, all they needed was a guy like Mick to balance them out.

With Mötley Crüe becoming increasingly more popular, you ended up seeing the boys less and less. Although you missed their chaotic visits and flirtatious banter, you found yourself missing their shy guitarist most of all. Unfortunately, you didn’t realize your feelings for Mick were becoming more than platonic until it was too late. When you caught the news from Nikki that Mötely Crüe was embarking on a six month tour, it felt like an icy stab to your gut.

That night, Mick had stayed with you long after all the leathered up punks had left, offering kindly to walk you home when you’d finished closing up shop. The walk home had been pleasant, and you did your best to pretend that this wasn’t going to be the last time you’d see him. Obviously he wouldn’t be gone forever, but it was difficult for you to believe that he’d actually remember you after seeing what the rest of the country had to offer someone with his level of talent.

When it had been finally time to go inside, you noticed a softness in Mick’s eyes that he only seemed to reserve for your late nights and long conversations. You wanted to invite him inside, but felt it was too risky. Not only were you unsure if he felt the same way, but you felt as though he deserved better than to have a bartender holding him back.

For the following six months, you deeply regretted not suggesting that Mick come inside. The longer he was away, the more you discovered that Mick was truly irreplaceable. When your boss had told you that the Crüe boys would be returning to L.A. to play a homecoming show after their tour, you were over the moon with excitement. You vowed that, no matter what happened, you would tell Mick about your feelings. The way you saw it, you pretty much had nothing to lose– he would reject you, go back on tour, and you could try to forget it ever happened. Simple as that.

Except that, now, as you step onto the law of the house where the afterparty is being held, it feels a lot more complicated than that. You wade through the small crowd of partygoers gathering on the lawn and step tenatatively through the front entrance. The place is teeming with band groupies and musicians, each pining hopelessly for the attention of the Mötley Crüe boys.

As you scan the living room’s smokey haze for a familiar face, a loud and enthusiastic voice calls to you from the kitchen.

“Hey Y/N! We thought you’d never show!” Tommy beams from behind the kitchen counter, holding a bottle of Jack Daniel’s up to the ceiling triumphantly.

Nikki gives you a wry smile as you approach the terror twins, holding a glass of whiskey in your direction. “Straight up– just how you like it, boss,” he winks.

“You’re too much,” you chuckle, feeling grateful that things still felt normal between you and the guys despite their newfound fame. “Where’s Vince?”

“Oh you know, just getting to know some of the fans,” Nikki replies, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

It was no secret that Vince had always been distracted by whatever was bright and shiny, especially if the glittering object of his obsession happened to be a pretty woman. Tommy and Nikki were no exception to going crazy over any girl with a pulse, but they liked to at least break in the evening a little more first.

“Aren’t you gonna ask about someone else?” Tommy shoves your shoulder with a large hand, looking like the cat that swallowed the canary.

Eyes wide, you nearly choke on a sip of neat whiskey. The alcohol burns almost as much as your face does at Tommy’s question. How the fuck does he know?

“Oh, you mean Mick?” you ask, trying your best to play it as dumb as humanly possible. Nikki and Tommy exchange an incredulous look– apparently your acting isn’t as good as you initially hoped.

“Yeah nice try, Y/N,” Nikki taunts, “we might be a bunch of morons, but we aren’t that stupid.”

“Speak for yourself, Nik,” Tommy snorts, apparently not feeling too keen on being called a moron. Although, you’d argue he probably deserves that title the most.

Nikki bulldozes over Tommy’s concern and continues to grill you about Mick. “Anyways, we’d noticed that Mick had been a particularly mean bastard all tour–”

“And we figured it’s because he misses you!” Tommy finishes, in true twin fashion.

“Oh yeah? And what makes you think I missed him, huh?” you challenge, refusing to believe that it looked like anything had been going on between you and Mick. You certainly want there to be, but there’s no way he actually feels the same way, right?

Tommy and Nikki instantly burst into a fit of laughter, holding each other like two schoolboys and gasping for air. You down the rest of the whiskey in your glass to keep from completely losing your fucking mind. If you don’t keep yourself occupied somehow, you just know you’ll end up punching on of them in the throat.

“You’ve–you’ve gotta be fucking kidding me,” Nikki pants, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes.

Tommy refills your glass as a form of a peace offering. “Isn’t is obvious, Y/N? You two aliens are totally fucking in love. I know it when I see it.”

You consider your options, reminding yourself that you had, in fact, made an internal promise that you would tell Mick how you felt– no matter what the outcome may be. There’s a possibility that if you tell Nikki and Tommy the truth, maybe they could help you. The prospect of Mick actually reciprocating your feelings becomes far too enticing, and you find yourself relenting before you can even give the matter a second thought.

“Okay,” you begin, eyeing the boys carefully, “say I was, ya know, in love or whatever . . . how would I tell him?”

“Yes!” Tommy exclaims, jumping into the air with both fists raised victoriously, “I knew it, I fucking knew it!

Nikki high-fives Tommy and sticks his head around the corner and into the hallway. “Hey Vince! You owe us 100 bucks!”

Your mouth falls open in complete and utter astonishment. “Vince, too?!”

“Hell yeah, dude,” Tommy shrugs, “We’ve been betting on it since we brought Mick around to the bar. You’re both clearly Martians.”

“You motherfuckers,” you hiss, “does Mick know?”

“Oh of course not,” Tommy raises his hands defensively, not really knowing how to handle your frustration, “Mick may be a smart guy, but he wouldn’t know a pretty girl flirting with him if it smacked him in the face.”

“He ignores us, mostly,” Nikki adds.

“What the fuck am I going to do now?” you groan, truly believing that this may be one of the most humiliating nights of your adult life.

“You have to tell him!” Tommy insists, practically shaking your shoulders with urgency. “If you don’t we will.”

“You honestly can’t be sure he’s even interested in me! Like you said, he ignores you guys.”

Nikki looks at you, his eyes sparkling with a deviousness that you’re all to familiar with. “I have an idea . . . how about you party with us tonight, and if you can keep up, we won’t say a word. It’ll be your choice.”

Tommy opens his mouth to protest Nikki’s offer, but Nikki elbows him hard in the stomach. Keep up with Mötley Crüe? You’re a bartender, so it’s obvious that you can hold your liquor pretty well, but drinking with the boys felt like self-assured destruction. On the other hand, you wanted to be the one to tell Mick and you desperately didn’t want these loudmouths to jeopardize your chances even more.

“Deal,” you say, not allowing yourself another moment to second-guess your decision.

“Let’s get this party started,” Nikki proclaims, grinning wickedly.

Looking back, deciding to drink alongside the two wildest members of Mötely Crüe was a bad idea. They say hindsight is 20/20, and now that you’re six drinks and two shots in, you’re really starting to feel the consequence of your stupidity manifesting in your sluggish movements and watery vision. Regardless of Nikki’s obvious scheme to sabotage your ability to make good choices, the boys seem to be happy having you out from behind the bar for once. You had been so used to seeing them at work that you nearly forgot that the Crüe boys had become actual friends.

As a part of your penance for agreeing to drink with Nikki and Tommy, they had ended up dragging you out to backyard to build a makeshift bonfire with some other scrappy musicians from their tour. While the boys are occupied, you see it in your best interest to go inside and get some water. The night isn’t even close to being over, and if you are expected to hold your own against the terror twins you might as well try to increase your chances.

The walk to the kitchen is treacherous, to say the least. Walking around on the verge of being absolutely wasted is definitely an activity you found yourself being deeply out of practice in. As you eventually round the corner to step into the hallway, your body rams into another person accidentally.

“Oh my god, I am so sorry–” you start apologizing profusely, but are stopped dead by a familiar, glacial stare. Mick Mars is standing in front of you and, if you were being honest, he looked less than happy.

“Mick I–I am so fucking sorry I didn’t mean to,” you stumble over your words frantically, wanting to touch his arm but finding yourself afraid he might burn you.

Suddenly, Mick’s eyes soften with recognition as he realizes who exactly almost knocked him over. “Y/N, what are you doing here? I thought you had to work.”

You let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding and propped your unstable form up on the wall next to him, allowing all your weight to fall on your shoulder.

“My, uh, boss let me close out early and, uh–uh I made a deal with Nikki that I would drink with him and Tommy. . .” you trail off, noticing that your drunken brain has already given away far too much.

“A deal? A deal for what?” Mick raises an eyebrow inquisitively, clearly untrusting of his bandmates’ motives. “You know, you don’t have to do anything those idiots–”

“No!” you practically shout, unable to control the volume of your voice, “It’s nothing, er, nothing like that– actually, I should probably get going now.”

Against your better judgment, you turn to exit and end up spinning around far too quickly for your impaired motor skills to catch up with your brain. Stumbling forward, you fall to the carpet in a heap of regret and humiliation.

“That’s it,” Mick sighs, “you’re coming with me.”

Mick takes you by both of your wrists and hoists you up off the ground and onto your feet. You hiss under your breath as you notice the rugburns forming on the knobs of your knees, not remembering falling quite that hard. Mick pulls you to his side, throwing your right arm up over his shoulder so he can support you properly.

In all the time the Crüe boys had visited your bar, you had never gotten this close to Mick. You try to remain calm, but your heartbeat thuds violently in your ears. Eventually, you and Mick end up in the empty bedroom that he’d apparently been hiding out in for the night.

“Sit,” he says firmly, resting your unsteady body onto the bed. You comply, feeling far too embarrassed and nervous to attempt anything else in your current state of being. Mick mumbles something under his breath and ducks out of the room for a brief moment. Your head is swimming and your feels face is flushed from a night of heavy drinking and acting like a fool in front of, quite possibly, the loveliest man in the world.

God I am so fucking stupid, you chastise yourself, burying your face in your hands. Your pity party is soon interrupted by the sound of Mick coming back into the room, the music and commotion from the ongoing party leaking in for a brief moment before being shut out once again.

Mick holds out a glass of water and painkillers for you to take. “For you,” he says, attempting to give you a reassuring smile.

You accept, feeling more than grateful that Mick isn’t actually mad at you for completely disrupting his night. “M’ sorry,” you mutter, popping the pills into your mouth and gulping down some water.

“It’s okay,” Mick’s words are sincere and your heart nearly skips a beat as he plops down next to you on the edge of the bed. “But, you have to tell me why Nikki and Tommy were making you do this.”

You cringe at the hint of hostility that returns to Mick’s voice at the mention of Nikki and Tommy. Sighing, you set the glass of water down on the nightstand beside you and flop backward onto the bed. The springs bounce in protest under your dead weight, and for a moment you hope that they may launch your body through the ceiling and into outer space.

“If I tell you . . . you’re not gonna be happy.”

Mick lays down next to you, his movements gentle and calculated. “Try me,” he finally replies, turning his head in your direction.

“Well, they wanted to tell you something about me but I uh . . .” try as you may, you can’t quite make the words come out like you want them to.

At last, you turn and face Mick, becoming instantly mesmerized by the man before you. From where you are lying, it seems as though he holds the entire galaxy in his eyes; their depth and beauty equally unfathomable. It could be the alcohol racing anxiously through your bloodstream, but something about the tenderness in Mick’s face tells you that everything is fine. It’s always been fine.

“I–uh. . .” you try again, still feeling as if you heart might jump right out of your throat and run out the door. “I think I love you.”

Mick suddenly gives you a broad smile that you didn’t know he was even capable of, and you find yourself wishing you had the opportunity to put it there every day.

“I know,” Mick pokes your stomach playfully, sending you into a fit of giggles.

“Oh come on!” you laugh, “Did everyone know but me?”

Mick just rolls his eyes affectionately and pulls you to his side. You snuggle into him and rest your head on his chest, taking in a deep breath. His scent is sweet and comforting, like a warm wind at the beginning of autumn.

“I know I love you,” Mick says, kissing the top of your head.

That morning, you awake to the feeling on Mick’s fingers combing gently through your hair. Letting out a hum of satisfaction, you bury your head into the crook of his shoulder, not ready to come back down to earth. You aren’t sure when exactly you’d fallen asleep last night, but felt thankful that Mick had stayed at your side regardless of your drunken behavior.

“Good morning, you,” Mick continues to pet your head subconsciously, holding you close.

You are just about to reply, when a sharp pain in your head pierces right through your thoughts and digs directly into your brain. “Jesus fucking Christ,” you hiss, using your free arm to grab at the side of your head protectively.

“Not quite, but your close,” Mick chuckles, unable to resist the opportunity to tease you after the stunt you pulled the night before.

You roll your body on top of Mick’s in protest, doing you best to crush him beneath your weight. “You’re so much hotter when you don’t talk,” you bite back, recalling all the times you and Mick would tease each other during your long nights at the bar.

Rolling atop of Mick put you only a few inches away from his face, making your heart stop as your eyes made contact with his. As you stare at Mick, you notice the way that his eyes begin to wander towards your lips as a subtle flush of pink colors his pale cheeks.

Realizing this is your moment, you gingerly lean in and allow your lips to meet his. Mick kisses you back, the movements of his mouth hesitant and shy as both your hearts pound audibly against one another. You can help but smile into the kiss, feeling delighted in the fact that you could make Mick just as nervous as he makes you.

When the both of you finally separate, Mick is gazing up at you as if you were the one responsible for the sunrise that morning.

“So, what happens now?” you ask, already having a pretty good idea of what the both of you want.

Mick smiles wistfully, “I guess we fly off to Mars.”

Grinning back, you pull Mick into another kiss, feeling the happiest you had ever been in your life. If you and Mick ever end up leaving this bedroom– you’d have to thank Nikki.

Masterlist

#i'm actually v happy with this #but pls let me know what you think!#it's my first time writing for mick so i hope it's okay #mick mars #mick mars x reader #iwan rheon mick mars #iwan rheon #motley crue #motley crue imagine #motley crue oneshot #mick mars imagine #vince neil #nikki sixx #tommy lee #writing #the dirt #the dirt requests

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arnold-layne · 6 years

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faith, i’m so excited, material girl, you shook me all night long, thriller, ghostbusters, walk like an egyptian, just can’t get enough, you spin me round (like a record), we built this city, nothing’s gonna stop us now, come on eileen, living on a prayer, sweet child o’ mine, pour some sugar on me, in the air tonight, like a virgin (I know you already answered this previously, but surely you have more than just ONE controversial opinion. In fact, now you gotta post TWO more, for the poor anon!)

u cruel, mischa! anyway, thank you for the ask, i really enjoyed it :*

faith: when was your first kiss? didn’t have one yet

i’m so excited: where was your first kiss?…same. sorry i’m a boring person

material girl: are you sentimental?it depends :D there are days when i can start crying when seeing a cute kitten, and there are days when i’m a toUGh roCkER

you shook me all night long: are you seeing anyone at the moment?already answered!

ghostbusters: how far do you believe in the paranormal?usually i don’t at all, but at night, especially after watching a scary movie, all this stuff suddenly starts to seem pretty fucking real

walk like an egyptian: favourite song currently in the charts?dude i’m oldschool as fuck, i don’t even listen to modern music x) the most recently released song i like is greta van fleet’s highway tune, not sure if it’s still in the charts

just can’t get enough: what’s your guilty pleasure?y’know, it’s called guilty because you don’t want everybody to know that ;)…anyway. there’s a new pairing, vladislavik, you probably know, the one with vk stickers, and i enjoy it immensely

you spin me round (like a record): favourite modern cover of an older song?i LOOOVE the Sweet cover by Vince Neil - He’s a whore, amazing song! honestly i liked the cover even more than the original one

we built this city: if you were president, what would your first ruling be?increase salaries for doctors and teachers so that my mom won’t struggle with lack of money anymore

nothing’s gonna stop us now: what’s been the biggest hurdle you’ve faced in your life so far?my social anxiety and inability to normal communication with people. this rly makes me depressed and doesn’t allow me to show my full potential, but i’m not able to change things

come on eileen: have you ever written a song? if so, what was the genre?ughh, don’t think so, even though i’m thinking about trying something like this

living on a prayer: which was the song of your childhood?harry potter soundtrack because i’ve been obsessed with it until like 13 and have seen all the movies numerous times

sweet child o’ mine: describe your perfect first date.weeell, we get something to drink, then go to a roof to watch sunset, when it gets dark we are going to a beach and sit on cool sand and listen to the sea and talk quietly about things and look at the stars and

pour some sugar on me: turn ons?hehe ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) hmm, i really like when people have beautiful hands with long fingers, if ya know what i mean… also long hair on men and short hair on women, girls in long skirts and girls with thin armsahem

in the air tonight: do you enjoy flying?yeah!! the feeling when a plane lifts off the land and goes up and leaves the ground behind with buildings getting smaller and smaller… ahhh

like a virgin: share a controversial opinion.alright, let it be two x)1) reading/writing about rape, violence, incest, pedophilia, abuse and so on doesn’t make you a bad person. nobody’s hurt, so what’s the problem with that? also in a writing it doesn’t always being approved, it’s like forbiddening to read uncle tom’s cabin because of mentionings of racism there2) there are only two genders + nonbinary

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gunpowderfics · 6 years

Text

Caught In The Way You Got Me - Chapter 2

Warnings: None Rating: T+ Pairing: Momota Kaito/Ouma Kokichi Other: Fake Dating AU Note: Chapter 2 aka In Which Ouma Keeps Running From People. This took longer than I expected. Depression punched me in the face and I started an internship at a 3D printing business where I'm currently redesigning the website. So I've been left pretty exhausted. But! Here we be.

Also if you're looking for some sweet oumota jams my partner Vince made an A+ playlist

Constructive criticism and feedback are always appreciated!

Kokichi blinks slowly, lazily, letting the morning light spilling in through the kitchen window blind him in an attempt to feel more awake. He inhales, and the rich scent of coffee reaches him, enveloping him in a familiar comfort. Utensils click against each other as his roommate prepares them breakfast.

“I thought we talked about the whole no pants thing,” Shuuichi says, finishing up the omurice, being a little too careful about how he swirls the ketchup on, Kokichi notes.

“Ugh but it’s so hooot, ” he whines, pressing his face against the blissfully cool countertop. “Besides what does it matter. Not like you got the hots for me or anything.”

He can hear how the plate thuds against the counter, can almost picture Shuuichi just barely miss putting it down properly, and is sure that if he lifted his head he’d see the faintest pink on his roommate’s face.

“Nyeheheh. With reactions like that, Shuuichi, you really make a guy think otherwise.” Kokichi looks up at him, a big old grin on his face, but he was right. There’s a faint blush. “But I know, I know. You’ve got your heart set on that pianist from your English class and you still haven't thanked me for that elaborate plan so you two’d bump into each other at that party.”

“I, ah, yeah. Thank you, Kokichi.”

He sticks his tongue out at him before snatching the plate out of his hands and pulling it towards himself. “So, anyway , guess who I met at that shindig I went to last night.”

“Someone interesting?” Shuuichi offers, smiling awkwardly.

Kokichi pokes at his food. “Well duh why else would I tell you? Since when do I talk about boring people?”

“I guess you have a point.”

“It’s actually another person you’re kinda obsessed with.”

Shuuichi chokes on his food. “I-I don't obsess over people. You.. don't think I’m obsessing over Kaede do you?”

Kokichi rolls his eyes. “Of course you’re obsessed with her, you’re totally in love with her to the point it’s disgusting. But, nooo I’m referring to your little YouTube celebrity crush.”

He starts to shove the food in his mouth as he watches Shuuichi really think about who on Earth he can possibly mean. It’s always fun watching him think, the way his brows knit in concentration, his eyes intensely focused on one spot, his mouth slightly open. Kokichi sometimes wonders if, maybe in a different life, in a different universe, the feelings he used to hold for his old friend had actually resulted in a relationship.

But that's boring to think about.

“I’m.. at a loss, I’m afraid,” Shuuichi finally responds, bringing Kokichi’s attention back to this reality.

“Pfft, how poorly do you know yourself?”

“Cut me some slack, ok? I’ve been focused on school and--”

“Kaede”

Shuuichi frowns but keeps talking. “And I haven't really had time to keep up with my interests, so I guess I’ve.. kinda forgotten?”

Kokichi rolls his eyes and sighs. “You are so impossible sometimes, Shuuichi. You’ve even got some dumb motivational poster of his.”

The realization slowly hitting his roommate is almost as good as the desperation he was able to witness last night with “Kaito Momota.”

“Ding ding ding!” Kokichi dramatically throws his arm up with fork in hand, and does an over the top motion before pointing the utensil at Shuuichi. “We have a winner!”

Shuuichi is staring down at his breakfast in disbelief. “I knew he lived close to the area but I never thought…” He looks up at Kokichi and his hyena grin, and frowns. “No. You’re just trying to pull my leg.”

Kokichi’s face falls flat. “Boo you’re no fun.” He pokes at his rice omelet before pushing the plate aside. “But whatever! I’m gonna go out to eat. I’m like so bored of this food.”

“Kokichi wait--”

But he’s already dashing off to his room in search of pants.

In truth, he didn't mean to be rude to Shuuichi like that, he reflects as he takes the long way to his favorite café. It had just been so disheartening that his very first assumption was that he was lying to him. Sure, he has a habit of embellishing about his adventures, but when it came to things and people he cared about, Kokichi did his best to be genuine. They’re childhood friends after all. What does he gain from lying to him? He’s not even sure why he didn't just push through and go on with recounting last night. It wasn't the first time Shuuichi didn't instantly believe him.

“Stupid Shuuichi,” he mumbles to himself, kicking at some gravel that’d spilled onto the sidewalk. “Stupid Kaito.”

He spends the rest of the walk not really thinking, numbing any connection he feels to himself and the outside world, hardly registering the sun on his skin, or who he’s walking by as he makes his way to his favorite café. The only thing that breaks him out of this spell is the loud greeting he receives upon entering the café.”

“There ya are you tiny freak,” Miu calls out, leaning across the counter, pulling in the attention from the few customers there not only from the volume of her voice, but the volume of her chest threatening to spill from her top’s low cut. Kokichi’s sure if her manager was here she’d be fired, but the manager never seemed to come in. “Gawd what took you so long? Were you and your roommate jackin it together huh?”

“Only in your dreams, Miu~” He replies, forcing a smile. “Should you even be talking like that? You can't afford to get fired with a face like that.”

“Ah, cut the crap. No one here cares, right?”

None of the customers respond.

“Hey! You dumbshits! I’m talking to ya!”

Kokichi snorts, and before he can ask his usual question of how on earth she got this job, someone is tapping his shoulder. “Ugh what is it, don't you know it’s rude to--”

Kaito is standing behind him. Never before has he understood the phrase “knees weak, arms spaghetti” until this very moment. The innocent, clueless look on his face makes him burn with something that he can't quite pin down as anger or attraction.

“Is she bothering you?” Kaito asks.

Miu responds. “Pft as if! He’s my best fucking friend. Who the fuck are you?”

“Seriously? Have none of you heard of me? Kaito Momota, Legendary of the Stars, Astronaut in Training, Youtuber?”

“Oh! You’re that ugly bastard Kokichi’s roommate is obsessed with.”

If the floor could open and swallow him whole that’d be great right now. But instead he gives both of them a nice, big, fake smile. “Ahaha, well, I guess I should get going~! Got a biiiig day planned and I’ve already wasted too much time talking to you losers.”

He tries to make an exit for the door, but Kaito grabs onto his wrist. The contact sends a jolt through his body and every fiber of his being is screaming at him to run.

But he doesn't.

“You haven't ordered anything yet,” Kaito points out. “And I still owe you for yesterday. I don't break promises you know. So I’ll buy your drink and then I’ll pay you.”

Kokichi sighs, and pulls free from the other’s grip. “Ugh fine.”

Every second drags on. The sound of their order falling from Kaito’s lips thuds heavily against his eardrums. Miu’s insults and weird innuendos drip like molasses over the situation. The exchange of wadded up cash and movements of hands is like watching paint dry. Jitteriness and the need to escape drench Kokichi’s senses.

When Kaito hands him his drink, he let’s go of the breath he didn't realize he was holding.

“Everything ok?”

“Yup!” He gives Kaito yet another big old smile. “Thanks for paying for my drink but I really gotta get going. Big day, like I said.”

“What about paying you for last night?”

Kokicihi thanks his lucky stars Miu is busy with another customer. He’s sure that she’d make a comment about him having a new side hustle as a whore. As if he’d sleep with someone as idiotic as Kaito Momota.

“Kokichi? Did you hear me?”

“Huh? What? Oh the payment.” He grins slyly at him. “That was a lie! Just like how I lied about not knowing who you are. That's what I do, you see. I’m a liar.”

Kaito’s stupid dumb purple eyes feel like they’re boring into him as the big stupid idiot stands there, staring at him, as if that's the hardest information he’s ever had to process. Kokichi loudly sips on his coffee, burning his mouth but ignoring the pain, but keeps himself rooted firmly in front of Kaito. Why aren't you running! Now’s your chance. You got a free drink now fucking leave before he starts--

Kaito opens his mouth. “So, why then? Why help me?”

Kokichi rolls his eyes. “Ugh I told you at the party, numbnuts, I was just bored ok?”

“You.. weren't using me were you?”

He snorts. “Oh that’s rich, coming from you. You’re the one who used me if we’re gonna go that route. Pretending to be gay cus you can't properly turn a girl down or tell her how you really feel. I bet you lied to me about how demanding she was because you didn't have the heart to be directly mean to an adoring fan, even though deceiving her like that is like waaay worse.”

“Why the fuck would I lie about that? The fuck is your problem?!”

Kokichi shrugs, and he’s not sure if it’s the coffee or the rush he’s getting from lashing out at Kaito, but he feels great . “Why wouldn't you lie about that? I don't know you, Kaito. Your own persona could be fake for all I know, though that honestly wouldn't surprise me. I mean, what internet celebrity isn't fake as fuck nowadays.”

Kaito’s snarling at him now, his drink dangerously close to being crushed. “Who the fuck do you think you are to be flinging this verbal shit at me, you fucking pipsqueak.”

“Why, I’m Kokichi Ouma, Legendary of Lies, and I’ll be leaving now. Don't bother me anymore. Enjoy your little fake celebrity life. I hope you get swallowed up by a black hole in space.”

With that, he turns on his heel and walks through the door, curious if Kaito is going to follow him. He’s on edge in anticipation, waiting to hear a shout, to feel a fist colliding with his back or his face, because Kaito Momota looks like a puncher, but nothing happens. The excitement, the adrenaline, all boils down to nothingness with each step toward home he takes, with each step that doesn't have Kaito hot on his heels.

There’s nothing but an empty feeling and a cold coffee.

#ndrv3 #new danganronpa v3 #oumota #faking dating au #citwygm chapter

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heff88 · 6 years

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20 albums and 1 EP: my 2017 in music.

Hello all and welcome to my favourite records of 2017!

2017 has been quite a year for many reasons and musically is no different, as this has been one of the strongest years for new music in some time (which may or may not have to do with the current president in the white house and for one of these at least, Brexit). It has been a particularly great year for female voices in music - just under half the acts here are, or include, women or at least are female fronted, with Björk surely to join them - and I'm not sure there has been a time where women have been so well promoted. It is a stupid thing to have to say of course, but it is at least encouraging that change is happening in a positive way. It is also encouraging given the latter half of the year socio-politically has largely been concerned with how much assault and sexism women have to put up with in a very public but important manner (although again, this doesn't seem to be deterring the president, yet anyway.)

This year, I have chosen 20 (and 1 EP because I like to cheat) albums to feature, something I don't think I've been able to do before. This probably has much to do with this being my first full year as a (semi)-professional journalist, something I feel I really marked properly this time last year when I was sent to Prague to interview The Lumineers, which was a fairly mad-yet-incredible experience. However, it's not like I wasn't paying attention before, and I have made a playlist including 50 different records from 2017 I have enjoyed in some capacity and a more concise one for this list.

Since that Lumineers interview, I've had the opportunity to cover from great events and records in 2017, as well as meet a whole load of very welcoming and great people to whom I must say thanks (especially as today is Thanksgiving). To Derek of Drowned in Sound, Tallah from The Skinny, Caitlin from Uproxx and many others, thank you for your continued support and friendship, I couldn't have done it without any of you. In 2017 I got to:

Cover the BBC6 Music Festival in Glasgow, which was a really rather special weekend in my spiritual home. Interview some really excellent people, including: Jeremy Bolm, Touche Amore Angus Andrew, Liars Barry Burns, Mogwai Alex Cameron And finally, Joe Casey of Protomartyr (twice) which was by far the most difficult one, but ended up being pretty great.

I also got to keep travelling in the name of music journalism (what a trip!) by covering Mikkeller and The National's inaugural HAVEN Festival in Copenhagen (a city long overdue a visit - I loved it!) and got to see Iggy Pop be the absolute boss-man, and drink SO. MUCH. GREAT. BEER.

And even more crazily, I got sent out to CALGARY, ALBERTA CANADA to cover Sled Island. There I got to see the likes of Low, Mono and Waxahatchee play in a church, Converge play in a weird British Union Vets centre, Wolves in the Throne Room and Daughters in a dive bar and I got to see The Rolling Stones' mobile studio (which my parents visited just before I was born.) It was an amazing week I will never forget, full of incredible music and new friends, and while I didn't find Bret Hart I did get to tour the city's rather amazing beer scene, which I'm still in disbelief about, to be honest.

I also got to see and have many special live experiences this year less further afield, such as The XX's triumphant show outside SWG3, Glasgow, getting to see City of Caterpillar (!) after all these years in Berlin, Julien Baker play one of my all-time favourite songs, St. Vincent transcend mere mortal status, Mogwai play in a famous Berlin gay club for TV and Thee Oh Sees play in a tiny, cramped basement this summer.

And finally, I RELEASED MY OWN ACTUAL, PHYSICAL ALBUM THIS YEAR!!! It was tough and stressful at times, but I am immensely proud of it and owe so much to my boys Kenni and Joe Campbell who make up FRAUEN, as well as the people around us who supported it, including Lewis Glass, Gary Taylor, Kyle Wood, Sean Campbell, Louise Grace Kenny (& Owen) my wonderful partner Ann-Christin Heinrich, and everyone who put on shows and came out to see us in our favourite haunts of Glasgow, Manchester, London, Brighton, Leeds and Newcastle (to name a few!) put us up for the night, drove us, bought a record, said a nice thing and generally were awesome.

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So, onto the list. As a result of my year, I've decided to order this in release order rather than ranking, although I will point out the top five. A quick glance at this suggests that September was an absolutely ridiculous month (it was) and no I didn't forget LCD Soundsystem, whereas I have nothing in May (Do Make Say Think and Slowdive were... fine but nothing special.) I am currently catching up on stuff I missed as I am writing this, so to Julie Byrne, Aldous Harding, Kelly Lee Owens, SZA, Big Thief, Idles, Sampha, Jlin, Jay Som, Lorde, Vince Staples and as mentioned, Björk you could all find yourself making up your own list in a month's time.

A glaring but now expected omission is Science Fiction by Brand New, which up until a couple weeks ago I ranked as one of my top three records of the year. While of course, everyone should be wary of what we read online, Jesse Lacey's frankly embarrassing and vague response to the matter has, quite likely, put a disastrous end to a previously remarkable and canonised career which was setting itself up for a glorious and perfect ending in 2018. Now, it's very difficult to separate the art from the idea that this is an unsavoury at best, psychopathic at worst, white male who took advantage of his status and the surrounding scene towards young girls and called it a "sex addiction" which is highly troubling. Even his movements towards a "perfect end" to the band now feels slightly chilling, and at the time of writing, it seems as though he will (rightfully) not be rewarded with that. What a horrible turn of events for an artist and a band who have meant so much to so many people for well over a decade, the one band many have kept with them since their adolescence only for it all to go up in flames in an instant. The one (pyrrhic) positive from all this is that the continued conversation is finally giving victims a voice, and that is the most important matter which should never be forgotten.

OK, that unpleasantness behind us, let's get on with the list:

Priests - Nothing Feels Natural (January) *4th

So, just to completely undermine my ordering here, I slept massively on this band and album until the summer, almost six months after release. Thankfully, I caught them just in time to see them play live in Hamburg this June shortly after moving to Germany (oh yeah that happened too, what a year eh?) after seeing they were playing that week at the legendary Hafenklang venue. I checked out 'Jj' and was immediately bowled over, something a completely new artist to me hadn't done for some time. There's a moment in that song, a couple minutes in, where the sensation of "lifting off" occurs both in the music and listening experience, it is a thrill, to say the least. The rest of the album thankfully stood up just as highly (especially it's title track) and I admonished myself for not checking out this band clearly designed for my exact tastes. Live they were a force of nature, each member bringing something exciting, while collectively they reminded me of a tougher version of ESG's "dance-punk". So while I may have missed the boat initially, this record has quietly grown and grown in my estimation, to one of the year's standouts, and will be excited to see what they do next.

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Thundercat - Drunk (February) *2nd

The absolute boy does it again. Anyone who knows me knows Thundercat is one of my all-time boys, he'd be in my wrestling stable without a shadow of a doubt. I've been largely obsessed with Stephen Bruner since his fantastic turn on Flying Lotus's Cosmogramma and he has just got better ever since. For the first half of the year, Drunk was comfortably my favourite album of the record, knowing it would take something special to knock it off its perch (it did, but we'll come to that later). This is, paradoxically, both his most cohesive and chaotic album yet, detailing the wide range of emotions a drunk night on the tiles can elicit while also being his most confident statement musically yet. On top of that, Kendrick Lamar returns the favour for that 2016 Grammy win Bruner played a part in winning for To Pimp a Butterfly, the legendary Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald show up on the lead single, and in the album's clear highlight, Bruner completes his Tron suite with an ode to his cat of the same name.

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Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - The French Press (March) - EP of the year, for whatever that's worth.

Australian music, from Melbourne especially, is in a pretty impressive state right now. Along with the above, Alex Cameron, Royal Headache, Julia Jacklin, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and Total Control (to name a few) have in recent years created a formidable scene down under, making them a globally recognised force to be reckoned with in the music world. Despite the slightly annoying name, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever hit the BBC Radio 6 Playlists around March (though sadly not the Glasgow Music festival at the time) and with the song 'The French Press' turned many heads. The song gave 'Cause = Time' (a song somehow nearly 15 years old already) by Broken Social Scene a most welcome reboot while maintaining their own charming style. One would be forgiven for thinking this EP of the same name is just a vehicle for that one single, but no, to those who went out in search for more were rewarded with an excellent six tracks from top to bottom. This was only their second release after last year's Talk Tight so it will be very exciting to see what their first full-length LP brings us, hopefully, next year sometime.

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Kendrick Lamar - DAMN. (April)

What can I say, it's Kendrick. Like Priests, I took a strangely long time to get round to DAMN. and not even really for any particular reason other than... just listening to other stuff and quietly knowing this would be great when I did finally come around to it. Though DAMN. for me doesn't quite meet the insanely high mark of Lamar's previous two albums, it's still a very, very strong album from one of the best artists of the generation. While this may have the bombast of Good Kid or the sheer scale of Butterfly DAMN. still shows Lamar's incredible skill as a storyteller, dropping the listener into a fully realised world, largely because it's his reality. On top of this, he manages to write a song featuring U2 and it not be the worst thing ever! Outside of that, however, James Blake gets to return on his sparse roots on 'ELEMENT.' ahead of their co-headline tour next year, which singles 'HUMBLE.' and 'DNA.' prove Lamar's chops as an artist able to step back from his bigger concepts and make his point in three-minute bursts.

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Timber Timbre - Sincerely, Future Pollution (April)

One of the most perennially underrated bands out, Canadian creepers Timber Timbre had one of the most quietly solid records of the year with Sincerely, Future Pollution. I've never been sure why they haven't quite caught the wider imagination as some of their peers, such as Grizzly Bear for instance, who sonically have had a very similar trajectory from lo-fi "freak-folk" to a more electronic indebted sound. Whatever it is, in a year where everyone and their dog were (understandably) wanting to comment on the state of things in a post-Trump/Brexit world, Timber Timbre took a more subtle approach (a word that perfectly describes the band overall) as they brought up 80's, Reagan-era sleaze into a modern context, with a healthy dose of Lynchian nightmarish images and structures. Through 9 feverish trips to the classical image of the decaying (in this case, swamp-ridden) city, we see the toxic nature of contemporary Western society poisoning everyone who embraces it, all soundtrack to lounge-jazz samples. It is perhaps the darkest, most sinister record of the year, a prevailing sense of creepiness and uneasiness permeates every beat, every noise, every line of frontman Taylor Kirk's deadpan delivery in a completely different way to say, Alex Cameron's multi-coloured coke-ridden characters. As the album's alluring cover suggests, this is all your favourite black-and-white 70s paranoia films come to life.

Listen: Sewer Blues

Hey Colossus - The Guillotine (June)

Speaking of underrated, how the hell did everyone sleep on Hey Colossus this year? Perhaps they overshot themselves on their epic 2015 double albums In Black & Gold/Radio Static High, but this for me was the best British album of the year and one of the only to really address the mess the UK has got itself into. While the sludge/psyche rock act may not be quite as chaotic or as heavy as some of their earlier output, this is easily their sharpest to date, pinpointing the rage, anger, frustrating, sorrow and even humour in the current idea of being an "Englishman". This is a loose concept album, based on very similar themes and sounds as Timber Timbre's (albeit heavier) which skewers the current public conscious, but also provides genuinely breath-taking moments on songs like 'Calenture Boy'.

Englishman

Fleet Foxes - Crack-Up (June)

Robin Pecknold's triumphant return to music and to Fleet Foxes has been one of the major stories of the year, though he received mixed responses for it. In preparation for this album, Fleet Foxes' third and first in 6 years, Pecknold debuted a few of these songs, solo, supporting Joanna Newsom last year. At the time it was just good to know he was still writing songs, but the sheer ambition and kaleidoscopic scope of Crack-Up is incredible, for a band largely known for kicking off the folk resurgence in earnest. This record is rather like an intense, feverish, psychedelic vision in which Pecknold leads our hand, a singular voice in the void, while the music moves from madness to calm and back again across 11 beautifully composed tracks. The first time opener 'All That I Need' kicks in, it takes the listener completely off-guard, washing them away in the oceans and the incoming storm on the album's artwork sleeve, and the only hope is to try to ride it out and hope you survive. It is a genuinely impressive return to form, one I'm not sure many people thought Pecknold and Co still had in them.

Fool’s Errand

Sheer Mag - Need to Feel Your Love (July)

It's not often where a band, especially as politically fierce as Sheer Mag are, just consistently put a smile on your face and make you raise a fist and shout "YES!" But that's the Philadelphia punk-via-70s-radio-rock band do in spades. They manage to elicit a feeling in their music of so-called "simpler times" while simultaneously bludgeoning you in the face with the bullshit attitudes that were just as much of a problem in the 70s as they are today (in fact, an era partly responsible for them). Led by perhaps one of the best frontpeople in music today, Tina Halliday and guitarist co-writer Matt Palmer, Sheer Mag are the quintessential punk band in everything but their sound, one which the original punks would have openly mocked at the time. The irony, of course, is that those original "punk" acts, The Ramones, Sex Pistols, Clash etc. took largely from 70s glam-rock, they just sped up the songs and make the themes and lyrics angrier. Sheer Mag in many ways remind me of Fucked Up, another punk-band obsessed with 70s revivalism. Both bands understand with loving care and passion that to create truly great punk music, one has to look outside the obvious influences, while keeping an ear open for a catchy hook to couple with prescient themes on oppression, race, sexism, homophobia, police brutality which still plague us today. We need acts like Sheer Mag in these troubling times to remind us, there is another way.

Suffer Me

Waxahatchee - Out in the Storm (July)

Processing a rough break-up is one of music's classic tropes (hell I did it on that album I put out this year - I promise to shut up about that now) but if the recent re-evaluation of the early-to-mid Emo/Pop-Punk scene has taught us anything, it's that even these so-called "sensitive" boys can be just as much of the patriarchal problem as more aggressively "macho" acts out there (and in some instances, actually worse). This is a round-about way of saying, traditionally, we rarely get to hear the female side of the story, and if we do, it is often met with patronising audiences of "poor little girl" syndrome. So what a breath of fresh air it has been to see Katie Crutchfield's Waxahatchee project break free of the shackles of a somewhat suffocating relationship that involved both her romantic and music life and create an album that deconstructs relationships and toxic masculinity in such brilliant fashion. Over the course of these 10 songs, Crutchfield proudly wears her battle-scars and reflects upon where she was and where she is now on Out in the Storm. I saw Crutchfield twice this year, first in the aforementioned church in Calgary, solo, essentially introducing this album to a new audience, and then later, all-female live band featuring her sister Alison (who also supported and is an excellent talent in her own right) and British guitarist Katie Harkin (Sky Larkin, Sleater-Kinney) who really helped make this album shine. Every song here is a stunner, but in 'Sliver' we have one of the best songs of the year, an anthem of defiance that neatly sums up this great, great album.

Silver

Grizzly Bear - Painted Ruins (August) *5th

One of the big narratives of music in 2017 was the "comeback" of mid-to-late 2000s indie-rock having a resurgence. Along with the aforementioned Fleet Foxes, we also had return records from The National, Wolf Parade, LCD Soundsystem and Liars, for instance, most of whom will show up later in this list (because I'm a nostalgic mark apparently). Grizzly Bear have been one of the most consistent acts in that world and with their 5th album Painted Ruins only continued to prove that. While I'm not sure they'll ever top my personal favourite, Yellow House, in fairness, the band made a statement that they were moving away from the more lo-fi, freak-folk and more towards chamber pop on Veckatimest. Grizzly Bear remain an amazing and consistently surprising act who reveal themselves with every listen, a tactic they've still not lost in over a decade. They can do a big pop song 'Mourning Sound' and the more subtle 'Neighbors' but they still after all this time have the ability to pull the rug from underneath you 'Three Rings', 'Four Cypresses'. While this certainly was a great year for "indie" music (whatever that really means) but Grizzly Bear remain the torchbearers.

Neighbors

Liars - TFCF (August)

I'll admit it, this album may have eluded me if I hadn't been commissioned to interview Angus Andrew this summer. I've never been a huge fan of Liars, but I've always liked their style and ambition to always try something new with every record, even if with varying results. But man, I am glad I had that experience with Andrew, because TFCF, striking artwork and all, is a mini-career benchmark for him. Liars is now just a solo act, after Andrew's partner in crime Aaron Hemphill suddenly departed from the band when recording sessions for TFCF began initially in Los Angeles. Andrew's world was turned upside down by this revelation, so his reaction was to move back to his native Australia, and become a hermit in the bush in New South Wales, outside of Sydney. The result is an album where Andrew fully immerses himself in his surroundings, using field recordings of the natural world he is currently living in as the background sound for him to write songs over. It's an intriguing experience, especially as I don't believe Liars' music have ever really been described as "emotional" before leading TFCF to sound almost like The Moon & Antartica-era Modest Mouse in places. This isn't the only characteristic though, as Andrew jumps around from genre to genre, all unified by this... buzzing of the bush that sits underneath it all. While not quite Andrew's peak of records like Drum's Not Dead or the self-titled album, this is a small renaissance in his career, and it will be interesting to see where he goes next.

Cred Woes

Mogwai - Every Country's Sun (September)

Yeah, it's another Mogwai album, which at this stage feels like a warm cup of tea and a hug, but there's no denying they keep on keeping on. In recent years Mogwai have slowed down their studio album production, favouring soundtrack work for TV and Film in recent years - such as last year's Atomic and Before the Flood, but they remain a solid act and for my money the greatest Scottish and further, British, act outside of Radiohead. Every Country's Sun is a mere reminder of the band's consistent greatness in a year where similar acts Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Do Make Say Think also had strong entries. While there are some familiar tropes on Mogwai's latest, their 9th studio album, they did add one of their poppiest songs ever 'Party in the Dark' and a more subtle use of the Carpenter-esque electronics that characterised Rave Tapes on tracks like 'aka47'. The best is indeed saved for last, however, as the album's excellent title track that closes the album is perhaps one of the band's most epic yet, one I wouldn't be surprised if featured at Celtic or Scotland games in the future.

Party in the Dark

Alex Cameron - Forced Witness (September)

Well, this one came from left-field. Again, like Liars, I may well have missed this one had I not been sent to interview him, and even then, my enjoyment wasn't assured given Cameron's retroactive sound and questionable lyrical content. However, when it quickly became apparent that Cameron is playing a role lampooning the toxic masculinity his characters exude which is seemingly openly everywhere in 2017. While some fans were disappointed Cameron moved away from his singular, lo-fi sound of his debut Jumping the Shark, his move towards 80s sleaze-pop, like Timber Timbre, is an excellent vehicle in which his rather pathetic characters exist. It's an intriguing idea, as rarely do musicians or artists "play the loser", something that only tends to exist in the world of acting. In many ways, Cameron is a performance artist, although in seeing him live (in his semi-hometown Berlin where he recorded the album) he unmasks and speaks about his songs candidly. Whatever it is, Forced Witness is an excellent album full of excellent, catchy ditties, especially his duet with Angel Olsen, who plays her own interesting role in the background of this album, that explore some fairly dark themes with a sense of humour and irony that stay, just about, on the convincing side.

Stranger’s Kiss (duet with Angel Olsen)

The National - Sleep Well Beast (September)

Another year, another solid National album. The National will, it seems, always have a spot on my list, though Sleep Well Beast didn't crack the top 10 when I was voting in my respective publications. Sleep Well Beast, The National's seventh studio album, sees the band try and mix things up with the seemingly inevitable turn towards electronic music that basically every guitar-based band eventually dabble in. The results are mostly successful, though in many ways this isn't as much of a departure as first suggested, remaining very much a National album. The one disappointment, in fact, is that it _doesn't_ go further in it's "electronica" as tracks like 'Guilty Party' prove there are some legs there, but towards the end, they become a bit over-reliant on pretty much one style which gets a little trying. In fact, Sleep Well Beast is probably their most piano-based record as opposed to guitars or electronica, which leads to beautiful opener 'Nobody Else Will Be There'. Meanwhile, the band step back into their older territory on tracks like 'Day I Die' and the somewhat unfairly maligned 'Turtleneck'. It's nowhere near the band's best, but The National are like a familiar friend you can not see for years and dip in with and catch up like no time has passed and will always be welcome to visit. (Fun fact, Ann and I were present for the shooting of the ‘I’ll Still Destroy You’ video as it was at their HAVEN festival, however sadly we didn’t get in!)

I’ll Still Destroy You

Chelsea Wolfe - Hiss Spun (September)

Chelsea Wolfe has slowly been getting better and darker throughout her career. Personally, I'm a little surprised Hiss Spun hasn't featured on more end of year lists, as it is a star turn from the still young LA-based goth, aided massively with Kurt Ballou's MASSIVE production and guitar chops from Queens of the Stone Age's Troy van Leeuwen. Perhaps its because she's fully embraced her "metal-side" that critics have been a little allergic to it, I'm sure there would have been a few raised eyebrows at Aaron Turner (ISIS/Old Man Gloom)'s roar at the end of the excellent 'Vex'. Either way, this is an album from an artist clearly in the ascendancy, and may well prove to be a stepping stone to a masterpiece in the future. Of all the artists currently out there, she's certainly got the most potential for it.

16 Psyche

Wolves in the Throne Room - Thrive Woven (September)

Continuing on with Metal, here is by far the heaviest entry on this list (though Converge, of course, run them close) from Olympia, Washington's Wolves in the Throne Room. I had the pleasure of getting to see the American Black Metal legends (I think we're good to give them that title now) this summer in Calgary and it was an overwhelming experience. To those who don't know, it may seem at odds to describe extreme, heavy metal as "beautiful" but that is Black Metal. Its atmosphere achieves a sensation that is transcendent when done right and WITTR are masters of it. From the second 'Born in the Serpent's Eye' begins, the listener is immediately fully submerged. From there on, this is yet another masterpiece in the band's already exemplary canon and it is good to have them back to winning ways after the disappointing left-turn 'Celestial'.

Born from the Serpent’s Eye

Protomartyr - Relatives in Descent (September) *1st place

Head and shoulders above, this is the best album of the year. Protomartyr have been quietly getting better and better with every record, and almost achieved a perfect record in 2015's The Agent Intellect, a record that has aged incredibly well since its slightly underrated release. Now, there's no avoiding it, the band's first album for Domino records is seeing a much bigger audience for the Detroit post-punk band who next year could well see themselves at the higher end of many festival slots. Simply put, Protomartyr are the most exciting punk act in the world right now. No one is doing anything as interesting, exciting, challenging as Protomartyr, their heavy, philosophical themes mixed with their highly original sounds. Just listen to the opener 'A Private Understanding' and see. Who else would dare open an album and a lead single with one of the weirdest drum-beats every committed, an off-key guitar line, frontman Joe Casey delivering the line "Not by my own hand/Automatic writing by phantom limb/Not with my own voice/Pleurisy made to stand on two legs". While Casey is pretty humble and coy about his band's success and journalists (myself included) who wanted to impose mad theories about "BUT WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?" when really the answer is "truth is a slippery thing, just listen to it." Sage advice indeed, when the music is this good.

A Private Understanding

Wolf Parade - Cry, Cry, Cry (October)

Wolf Parade's triumphant return last year with an EP and Tour was one of the highlights of 2016. Their show at the Scala was one of the best of the year, a renewed vigour that was clearly waning by the end of the previous run was back and they looked fresh and happy to be here. It is perhaps no surprise then that they were able to translate that to the follow-up LP, 'Cry, Cry, Cry' (which came out on my birthday this year). Yes, it's a cleaner more polished sound, but goddamn they can still write a song. In 'You're Dreaming' and 'Valley Boy' we have great pop songs from Dan Boeckner and Spencer Krug respectively, but it's when the album goes BIG that it really shines, on such epics as 'Flies on the Sun', 'Baby Blue' and 'Weaponized'. Of course, 'Cry, Cry, Cry' isn't close to their incredible debut, but that's an impossible standard to meet, so the band don't even try it, instead streamlining their later sound into something more confident and coherent (see: 'Am I an Alien Here') and it's a very welcome to have them back.

You’re Dreaming

St. Vincent - MASSEDUCTION (October)

A bit like Alex Cameron's Forced Witness, MASSEDUCTION is very much a response to celebrity and paparazzi. Though Cameron doesn't really sing about that (it doesn't really fit with the character) the title and artwork certainly do allude to it, while one of the major themes of MASSEDUCTION is on this. Annie Clark had a very public break up with Cara Delevingne which also takes up much of the record, but you can't really pin this album on any one particular event or theme, other than Clark's re-evaluation and sexual freedom. MASSEDUCTION is an experience worth seeing live, which made the album work for me, which I was initially a little tentative about. I saw glowing reviews but didn't quite match them up to the music. Then, seeing Clark "live" (which has caused much controversy), everything made sense. After a first half set where she ran through her greatest hits in release date order, the second half saw her perform the album in full and it really was a performance. Then everything clicked, in what could be Clark's best record to date, which is an already very high benchmark to clear.

New York

Fever Ray - Plunge (October)

Speaking of sexual liberation, (what a segue!) a couple weeks after St. Vincent's album, Karin Dreijer Andersson, better known as Fever Ray, surprised fans with a new album which plays on similar themes to Clark's. While Dreijer's not quite in the public eye the way Clark has become, she instead crafts an album about sexual politics which is dangerous-yet-endearing and seems particularly pertinent in this current spate of highly public reportage of sexual assault incidents currently ongoing. As ever, Dreijer proves why she is such a force of nature in composing these tracks, which are challenging and danceable, poppy and angry etc. with 'To the Moon and Back' she has a defining statement, a manifesto and a rallying cry, carrying on the theme's from The Knife's possible final record Shaking the Habitual perfectly.

To the Moon and Back

Golden Teacher - No Luscious Life (November)

One of Glasgow's best bands, Golden Teacher's debut full length has been waited on for some time. Really, this sextet are best experienced live, as every show immediately becomes a party. It can be difficult sometimes for highly-energised acts to capture that on record, but thankfully Golden Teacher manage it with the help of Emily McLaren & Stuart Evans at Green Door Studios. Golden Teacher are for me the quintessential Glasgow band. They exist in a liminal zone that links the city's art-punk scene with the world-famous electronic scene, hence their inclusion on the legendary Optimo's label. The record mix funk, world and electronic music with a punk energy and are an absolute thrill to experience, it would be impossible to not put this record and not feel the groove.

Spiriton

Converge - The Dusk In Us (November) *3rd Place

And finally, rounding out this excellent year are one of my all-time favourite bands, Converge. While I don't really listen to much heavy music these days, Converge are the exception to the rule in many ways. They exist in their own space within music that is fiercely inventive and original. I recently had an argument with a few people about what genre to classify Converge as and simply put, it's an impossible and unnecessary task. Converge simply don't fit into any easy genre classification, they are just Converge. What is a surprise was that, though Converge have never really had a dip in quality, the fact they have been able to produce such a career highlight this late into their salad days is nothing short of remarkable but also typically them? The Dusk in Us is an incredible achievement by all involved. It is perhaps Ballou's best production job to date, Newton and Koller's most controlled performance and, crucially, Jacob Bannon's most assured vocals to date. It seems ridiculous that the 25-year-old band keep finding ways to better themselves, but here we are. Kudos to you Converge for remaining such an inspirational figure not just in the heavier genres, but music as a whole.

A Single Tear

Thank you for reading! Have a happy new year and great festive season.

#Best of 2017 #music #albums #Converge #priests #thundercat #protomartyr #Grizzly bear

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tylerhoechlin · 7 years

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Dylan O'Brien Talks Recovery, Death Cure & American Assassin

Dylan O'Brien is going to blow audiences away with his gritty performance in American Assassin. His turn as Mitch Rapp will be mentioned in the same breath as Matt Damon's Jason Bourne and Daniel Craig's James Bond. He shreds the screen with an intense, physical ferocity. The role would be demanding for any actor. It's astonishing to think that Dylan O'Brien shot American Assassin seven months after his headline making injuries on the set of The Maze Runner: The Death Cure last March. He suffered life threatening facial fractures and body lacerations from an ill-conceived stunt.

The Maze Runner: The Death Cure halted production until Dylan O'Brien could recover. The accident also endangered the rights to American Assassin. The rights for the film would revert from Lionsgate and CBS Films back to the estate of author Vince Flynn if not completed that year. American Assassin is one in a series of books about CIA hit man Mitch Rapp. The script had been around Hollywood for a decade, where at one point Chris Hemsworth was attached to star. Once Director Michael Cuesta took over the project, he wanted to make the character younger and more vulnerable. Cuesta was committed to O'Brien as his lead. The actor had to fast track his return in order to make the film.

American Assassin is a story of vengeance and patriotism. Mitch Rapp watches as his fiance is brutally murdered by terrorists. He becomes obsessed with finding the man responsible, thus turning up on the radar of the CIA. The film costars Michael Keaton as Rapp's uncompromising mentor and Taylor Kitsch as his seriously bad-assed adversary. It's wall to wall with extreme, graphic violence. Dylan O'Brien needed to heal, get back in shape, and then do months of martial arts and weapons training.

My interview with Dylan O'Brien was remarkable. It took place in New York City at the office of his publicist. I was able to sit with him and have a detailed conversation about the last year of his life. He was quite candid about the accident, preparing for American Assassin, and what the film means for his career. It was a life changing experience that tested him in every way. O'Brien made sure to thank the people who helped him through the recovery process. He was in a fragile place, but wasn't going to let the injuries derail his future. It was a fascinating conversation. Please read below our exclusive interview with Dylan O'Brien. He discusses the accident, his new American Assassin movie, completing The Maze Runner: The Death Cure, and his future ambitions as an actor.

How long was it from your accident on The Death Cure to filming American Assassin?

Dylan O'Brien: I was severely injured. It was really soon. I started filming seven months after the accident. I wasn't allowed to do anything for three months. Then about a month after that, I had to start early training. I had a lot of limitations at that point still. It was just breathing and stretching stuff, just getting back on my feet at first. Then we were able to ramp up the training once it got to the fifth and sixth month removed from surgery. I was able to do more strenuous stuff. But mentally, man, that was the biggest battle. The physical part was one thing. Whatever, I broke my face, that'll heal. The mental aspect was the biggest shock to the system. You just don't know how to experience stuff like that. You don't have any control over it either. It's just how your body and brain reacts to something like that happening. The psychological battle was really emotional and difficult. I struggled in a lot of ways. It took a lot of work to get back and do this movie. That six months, in a way, it feels like a lifetime. For every one of those days, the accident still felt like it was yesterday. So it was odd. It's absolutely the toughest thing I have ever experienced.

I saw American Assassin cold. I was blown away by the grittiness and intensity. It's really hardcore. Your fans know you from Teen Wolf and The Maze Runner series. You transcend here into a hardcore, ass-kicking action star. Coming off the accident, did you have any trepidation that you could do this role?

Dylan O'Brien: Oh yeah man, it was a lot. But I pushed through it. I ultimately felt that it would be good for me and it was. There were so many doubts I had. Physically, all the limitations I had, I was so stressed out. (laughs)

Your MMA fighting is incredible. How on earth did you get through that training and filming after such serious injuries?

Dylan O'Brien: F**k yeah man, it was INSANE. It was a lot. There so much in me that didn't think I'd be able to push it and get myself in shape in time. I didn't want to feel pressured when my doctor was telling me I wasn't ready. There was a lot I was balancing. There were multiple days where I would freak out and panic. I wanted to jump ship. I can't f**king do this. I can't handle what I'm going through right now. And then balancing the stress of going to the f**king gym every day. It was overwhelming. I had multiple days where I had to be talked down from the ledge.

I give you major credit. Nothing in your previous work even hints at how ferocious you are in this film. Did the bond company for American Assassin have strict limitations as to what you could and couldn't do? I can imagine they were really nervous after what happened on The Death Cure? How did Michael Cuesta (director) handle that stuff?

Dylan O'Brien: The producers, Cuesta, everyone knew what I was coming from. Everyone was overtly mindful at that point. There was nothing we were going to do...that was the big piece of the puzzle early on. I was a couple months out of surgery and met with the stunt coordinator in LA. I wanted to make sure he understood what happened to me, that I was in a fragile place, physically and mentally, and really wanted to make sure he had my back. From the get go, he really did. The biggest thing I can say about the stunt coordinator, Buster Reeves, was that he set me up with a trainer that could not have been more perfect for me at the time.

Dylan O'Brien: This guy became everything, way more than a trainer to me. He's how this whole process started for me. Even leaving my house, I was so isolated. I didn't want to see anybody, even when I could. He became so much more to me than a trainer. He became my friend. He was someone I went to with a lot of my issues at the time. He also experienced a lot of my freak outs, and episodes of doubt, panic. I was completely overwhelmed. I just wanted to run. He became someone who was really instrumental in getting through that time. And also getting me in shape, getting me to the movie, educating me on the fighting styles. Taking me to a ju-jitsu gym twice a week. He educated me on the martial arts he was expert in, movement, speed. He even showed me how to fight for camera. And he'd talk me down from the ledge when I would show up at the gym hyperventilating. This guy was everything. I had a lot of support on the movie. My dad went out with me, which was huge. Roger is my trainer. I don't think I would have been able to get on that plane without my dad and Roger.

Great to hear man, let's get off the injury tangent. Audiences are going to be putting you in the Bond and Bourne category once American Assassin is released. Where you aware of the Vince Flynn books and Mitch Rapp character before signing on?

Dylan O'Brien: No, I wasn't. The first thing I read was the script when it got sent to me. I liked it, felt connected to it. I then learned about the books, that there were fifteen of them at the time. This was the eleventh book. But no, I was not aware of the books before this got sent to me.

So when the script got to you, they were already making Mitch Rapp a younger character?

Dylan O'Brien: Yes, it had been around for a decade. They were definitely going to do the American Assassin book. They were starting with him young. The question being how young. In the book, he's twenty-three, they were still deciding between making him early twenties or early thirties. But they were set on Assassin being the beginning.

You're signed for multiple films? You're definitely playing this character long term?

Dylan O'Brien: Yes, if we keep going.

The film is no holds barred. There isn't a shred of decency to the villain. The bad guy, Taylor Kitsch, is so awesome. The film has you both an a track to an epic showdown. Talk about the climactic boat scene? Taylor told me that you guys beat the crap out of each other.

Dylan O'Brien: Oh yeah, the forearms (laughs), the jumping around was done by rigs. You mean when we're getting tossed around on the boat right?

Yes.

Dylan O'Brien: I loved that sh*t. The fight was designed in three sections. They were divided by when the boat moved. We would go into our hits, then had pull systems with wires. That fight was exhausting. We even added more to it, which was great. It really helped the fight. It lengthened it and gave it more of an arc. But it added more days. We beat the crap out of each other. You do get bruised and beat up in those scenes obviously, but we were also really careful. We both wanted to get it. We wanted that scene to be brutal and intense. You're finally getting to see these two guys go at it. We wanted it to deliver. That really mattered to us. Taylor is really dedicated. We gave it everything. F**ck, the next day, I couldn't even move, my forearms, from all the blocks, you're actually connecting. You get beat up, but it was great. We were both really happy with how that came out. You never want to pull any punches. You want that stuff to be as real and as vicious as possible.

Michael Keaton is also on a different level here. Audiences have never seen him like this. What was it like working with him?

Dylan O'Brien: It's the coolest thing ever. It was a trip. I would just sit back sometimes. He was a huge reason I signed on. I dug the character, I dug the script, I loved my conversations with the director, Michael Cuesta. I felt something was there, that we could be great. It was a beneficial business decision and something that could fulfill me as an actor. You have to try to balance both. When I heard Keaton was on, I was like, I'm in. He's great. He truly is one of my heroes. I grew up watching him. I grew up loving him as a kid, genuinely, even before I was an actor. I'd love to accomplish what he's accomplished, in terms of his versatility. He always f**king shows up. He raised his kid on his own. He had his own personal life. I just dig him. I dig everything about it him. It was a dream working with him. I really learned a lot from him.

Going back to The Maze Runner series, you have completed the last film, The Death Cure?

Dylan O'Brien: Yes, it comes out January next year.

And Teen Wolf is in its last season, so you're done there as well?

Dylan O'Brien: Yup, that's done and The Death Cure is done.

So you're untethered?

Dylan O'Brien: Yes, for the first time ever.

You're waiting to see how American Assassin does before you choose your next role?

Dylan O'Brien: Yes, I wanted to take some time. I've got this coming out. I wanted to chill for a bit, have the fall, have the holidays. Then be selective about the next thing I do, make sure it's with a filmmaker that I love and trust. It doesn't have to be anyone who's known. I just want to be selective and have it be something I'm passionate about, connected to. I want it to be different, a new challenge. I don't know exactly what that's going to be, or what it looks like, but that's how I'll go about it.

[source: movieweb]

#dylan o'brien #mitch rapp #american assassin #the death cure #amas #amas promo #movieweb #article #tdc

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salty-dracon · 6 years

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SECRET Heroes- The Traitor Revealed

During the SECRET branch meeting, two mysterious figures break into the site of the meeting. Val then proceeds to be a loser and Brid stabs someone that should have gotten the Caesar treatment like twelve years ago.

There was no poster advertising the event. However, all of the guests knew exactly where they were going.

“Come on, we’re going to be late.“ A young man dragged his elder colleague into a large room, apparently a conference center.

“Let’s begin with a head count.“ Miss T’s eyes traced the entire group, seeing that all of the circular tables were filled. “Reps from every base in the States should be here, of course. Yes, I am receiving facial recognition data on everyone here. Good.“ She walked up to a podium onstage. “First, I would also like to welcome our guests from Europe, specifically from the bases in Paris and Amaroca. Welcome, Chairmen Marinero and Roi de Cartes, as well as agents Astro and Marcherd’eau. It was a miracle they were able to be here tonight, actually- their trip was intercepted a number of times by villains. I was considering changing the venue last minute, but.. ” she sighed briefly, “Cirrus told me he’d take care of it. I doubt we’ll experience any more attacks. Moving on, the agenda for tonight is to begin with-“

Her words were interrupted by the sound of a glass plate shattering.

“I’ll go check.“ A young female hero stood up and zipped out of the room at superhuman speed. A few seconds later she returned. “A mirror in one of the bathrooms fell off the wall.“

“Well, that’s reassuring. As I was saying, the agenda for tonight is to begin with a discussion on the rise of political crime in Europe. Our European delegates will help facilitate this discussion. Recently, there has been a large wave of crime occurring in Northern Europe and the United States. It seems to be a fanaticism that has spread like a wave all over the region. To all who live in this country, it is election season. Campaign scandals and political slander are rife during this time. However, there has been a strange trend over these past few months-“

A loud ZAP.

“-of prominent politicians, or even political hopefuls, turning into monsters of some kind. These monsters have come in many forms. Some were insectoid, reptilian, arachnid, mammalian... they were basically giant abominations that caused intense destruction to their home cities. Thanks to the efforts of superheroes, most of these creatures were destroyed without many casualties, but the question still remains- why? Is there a connection between the many attacks? According to SECRET’s top analyst Cirrus, there is none. No connection between the source of campaign funds, no connection in connections, no connection in background. Which begs the question- is this a growing trend to be fearful of? And if so, what is the-“

“Not today!“ someone shouted from the hall. A few seconds later, an armed guard tumbled into the room, apparently knocked out.

“Do we have intruders?“ Miss T asked, as some of the other heroes stood up. “No, remain in the room. By power of numbers-“

Above Miss T, a portal opened. A woman with wings dropped down from it. As all of them turned their gaze to the intruders, a bright purple light flashed through the room.

“Freeze!“ The intruder’s command was clear. A gunshot then rang through the room.

By the time that the hypnosis spell was broken, she was lying facedown on the ground, a pool of blood under their body.

The entire room was silent, until someone yelled, “Bridget Shao?!”

That someone was Miss T, who was leaning against the podium, her eyes wide and her hand covering her mouth. The one holding the gun was none other than Cirrus, whose face was that of calm determination.

Suddenly, a hand appeared from a portal appeared behind Vince, pulling the gun from his hand and disappearing. Another portal appeared onstage, from which a man in white stepped out, holding the gun.

Val stared at the crowd for a few seconds before stuttering, “Um... we come in peace...?” He gently nudged Brid with his foot. “Please help me out if you aren’t dead.”

Brid’s seemingly dead corpse suddenly moved. She pushed herself off the ground.

“That... hit a little harder than I thought it would, sorry... “

“Are you going to be okay?!“ Val asked. “You look like you’re in really bad shape!“

“Just need a moment to catch my breath.“ She collapsed again. “Go on, tell them.“

“You just got shot!“

“Tell them. Isn’t that why you wanted to come here?“ She smiled weakly. “Go on. This is what you wanted.“

“You’re dying.“

“I didn’t die for you to not spill the tea, bro.“

“... Shit. Fine.“ Val stepped up. “Listen, I’m Amplify, and I’m a freelance SECRET agent working in Europe. She“ -he pointed to Bridget- “is Bridget Shao, and she facilitated my entire journey here. Um, it’s kind of a long story, and we’re good friends, and she doesn’t want to hurt anyone, I promise, we just... needed your attention. Also this is her first time using her hypnosis in, like, six years, so... yeah, cool! We’re both kind of badasses.”

“What the hell are you doing?!“ Vince shouted, pulling another pistol out of his pocket. “Get off the stage and turn yourself in before I shoot you.“

“Cool your tits, Kraus! Anyway, I’m sure Chairman Marinero can corroborate my story, uh... monsieur president, noun sommes amis, n’est-ce pas?“

“If I couldn’t speak English-“ a man shouted from one end of the room.

“Right, right, sorry, sir! Um, the thing is... you’re being lied to. All of you.“

“What?!“ Layla shouted.

“I was on an assignment from... an anonymous tipper. Basically, I was to investigate a series of monster attacks. The ones that happened in Europe. And Miss T insisted that there were no connections... but she’s wrong.“

Vince’s finger twitched. “Keep spouting those lies, and-“

“I said calm your tits, Vince! I also talked to this other analyst in Europe. Agent Naga. Y’know, the really good one. I had my suspicions from the kind of data I collected in the first place, which gave more in-depth results than Miss T just offered. Naga confirmed my suspicions. Like, for example, all of the monsters in Europe had two distinct types of symbots floating in their blood. One was an injection type and one was a integration type. We found the exact same model of symbot in all of the monsters. And later, in Rubicon City and Pineville, we found similar symbots in the monsters that attacked then. They weren’t symbots available on the market. We looked carefully. They were all homemade.”

“So?“ Vince shouted. “Maybe there’s some black-market source you don’t know about.“

“They’re all homemade. I know that for sure. Because I saw them being manufactured. I traced the European politicians to a mysterious source of funding directly to their families. The source was a person that’s been assumed dead for about six years now. But I did find a way to contact her, and from that, a base of operations. It was an airship, in which I found a number of mutated creatures and the aforementioned symbot factory. I stole a drive from that place, too, and Agent Naga confirmed that it had information on the politicians she had paid. So... yeah. There is a connection between all of the attacks. It’s this one organization called the Ascended Empire, run by a lady named Dr. Amelia Victoria Fisher, I think. Brid, is that right?“

Brid, still lying facedown, gave a thumbs-up.

“Yeah. Anyway, we both went after her minions, and we learned she’s kind of planning to destroy all of America with like, giant bombs and stuff. And then cause a war with a giant mutated army. So... yeah. She was also the one behind the destruction of Soleil, by the way. That singularity bomb was all her. Brid kind of helped me fake a terrorist attack so that we could get everyone to escape and then defuse the bomb. Uh... it worked, so that’s cool. I mean, Soleil got destroyed, but like... only nine people died, so at least we managed to save most of the city.“

“Eleven,“ Brid muttered.

“Eleven.“

“What’s your point?!“ Vince shouted.

“Okay, if we’re really going to skip past the whole story... “ he sighed. “I mean, I was going to give a timeline, but okay. I guess SOMEONE“- he gestured wildly at Vince- “wants to hear the main point. First, you’re going to be attacked by Genetika any moment now. Second, there’s a traitor in the room, who also informed Genetika about the location of the branch meeting.“

“Genetika?“ Miss T asked. “Who’s Genetika?“

“Did I... not say?“

“Nope.“

“... Oh. Genetika’s just Dr. Fisher’s alias. But seriously, she’s about to attack this place and kill everyone. Like, we need to get out of here. Now.“

“And the traitor?“ Miss T asked.

“Oh yeah. Well, I was hoping to reveal it in a more dramatic fashion, but... eh, whatever.” He pointed into the crowd. “The traitor’s Vince Kraus, A.K.A. Cirrus.“

The entire room turned their eyes towards Vince.

“That’s bullshit and you know it, kid!“ Vince shouted.

“Well? You’re the one who handled the job in America. I’m pretty sure most of the branch heads recommended a study into... y’know, the monsters? The thing is, you’ve had a recent history of shouldering work off the other branch analysts. If I recall, it was Baltimore that originally had the assignment, right? They must’ve been glad to have someone else do the work for them. Of course, you didn’t intend to expose the empire, so you just gave a few facts as to why it couldn’t be an organization of any sort and tossed it aside.”

“I’ll have you know I take my job very seriously!“

“And so do I. The fact also remains that your name was mentioned at least four times in the drive. Along with some more interesting information about you. For example, prosthophile. I’m sure if we take a look at your left shoulder, we’ll find a unique bronze alloy plating. Genetika happens to love the stuff. Somehow, she also knew about your obsession with self-augmentation. Maybe she offered you some cooler tech in return for your service.“

“Bullshit!“

“Well, there’s one real way to figure it out, right?“ Val shrugged. “Brid, please, do the honors.“

He attempted to nudge Brid’s body with his foot, only to find that she wasn’t there... and nor was the pool of blood she had been lying in. Suddenly, Vince gave a scream. Brid was on top of him, pointing her weapon in its deadliest form directly at his chin. It hovered an inch above his throat.

“My master hated you,“ she whispered. “Because in your own way, you made me suffer. I also heard you just went after three more kids, am I right? Three more innocent children that have no reason to feel the pain that we did. My master hated you for it... and so do I. You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to make you pay.“

“Brid, I saved-“

“You saved lives, yes. But at what cost to us?“

“Fine then.“ Vince tilted his chin up. “If you’re so pissed off that I saved lives, then kill me.“

“You’re letting me kill you, Vince?“

“Yup. No tricks, no gimmicks. You can even tear apart my dead body if you want with that oversized Swiss Army Knife of yours. That’s a cool little toy, by the way. As soon as we find your master, I’ll be sure to ask him about it. He designed it, right?“

The entire room watched as Brid’s face grew furious and the room lit up with purple light. The next second, the weapon stood impaled inside Vince’s chest.

“God damn it, Brid... “ Val muttered. “Killing him was the one thing you weren’t supposed to do!“

Brid shushed him. She motioned to his serenely calm face, and then kicked his head.

“Ow!“ Vince’s eyes opened. “The shit? What am I... “ He glanced at the weapon impaled into his chest. “What is... “

“I’m not just a killer, Vince. I’ve used this device as a sort of portable life support. Right now, there’s a series of artificial symbots keeping your blood flowing and your body running.“ She gripped the end of the weapon. “Your expression said everything, Vince. You, the man who was so bent on staying alive throughout the whole Angel ordeal, and even on keeping his job after all of it, dared me to kill you. It’s almost like if you die, you’ll escape the situation you’re in right now.“

“Oh yeah,“ Val said. “Don’t you have a second clone back at Genetika’s airship? So that if Brid kills your body here, your memories will be transferred away?“

“Shit.“ Vince tried to struggle up, but found he couldn’t move.

“Paralytic agent,“ Brid said. “You aren’t going anywhere until you tell us exactly where she’ll be attacking next.”

“Well, you’re right about one thing,“ Vince muttered. “She’ll be here in a few minutes, and she’s hell-bent on killing us all. Next... well, is it really my place to tell you?“

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#vince gets exactly what he deserves.txt #secretagents

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