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stirlingmoss · 2 years

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17 How to Read Science and Mathematics

The title of this chapter may be misleading. We do not propose to give advice on how to read every kind of science and mathematics. We will confine ourselves to discussing only two kinds: the great scientific and mathematical classics of our tradition, on the one hand, and modern scientific popularizations, on the other hand. What we say will often be applicable to the reading of specialized monographs on abstruse and limited subjects, but we cannot help you read those. There are two reasons for this. One is, simply, that we are not qualified to do this.

The other is this, Until approximately the end of the nineteenth century, the major scientific books were written for a lay audience. Their authors—men like Galileo, and Newton, and Darwin—were not averse to being read by specialists in their fields, indeed they wanted to reach such readers. But there was as yet no institutional specialization in those days, days which Albert Einstein called “the happy childhood of science.” Intelligent and well-read persons were expected to read scientific books as well as history and philosophy; there were no hard and fast distinctions, no boundaries that could not be crossed. There was also none of the disregard for the general or lay reader that is manifest in contemporary scientific writing. Most modern scientists do not care what lay readers think, and so they do not even try to reach them.

Today, science tends to written for experts by experts. A serious communication on a scientific subject assumes so much specialized knowledge on the part of the reader that it usually cannot be read at all by anyone not learned in the field. There are obvious advantages to this approach, not least that it serves to advance science more quickly. Experts talking to each other about their expertise can arrive very quickly at the frontiers of it––they can see the problems at once and begin to try to solve them. But the cost is equally obvious. You––the ordinary intelligent reader whom we are addressing in this book––are left quite out of the picture.

In fact, this situation, although it is more extreme in science than elsewhere, obtains in many other fields as well. Nowadays, philosophers seldom write for anyone other than except other philosophers; economists write for economists; and even historians are beginning to find that the kind of shorthand, monographic communication to other experts that had long been dominant in science is a more convenient way of getting ideas across than the more traditional narrative work written for everyone.

What does the general reader do in these circumstances? He cannot become expert in all fields. He must fall back, therefore, on specific popularizations. Some of these are good, and some are bad. But it is not important to know the difference; it is also important to be able to read the good ones with understanding.

Understanding the Scientific Enterprise

One of the fastest growing academic disciplines is the history of science. We have seen marked changes in this area within the past few years. It was not long ago that “serious” scientists looked down upon historians of science. The latter were thought of as men who studied the history of a subject because they were not capable of expanding its frontiers. The attitude of scientists to historians of science could be summed up in that famous remark of George Bernard Shaw’s “Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.”

Expressions of this attitude are seldom heard nowadays. Departments of the history of science have become respectable, and excellent scientists study and write about the history of their subject. An example is what has been called the “Newton industry.” At the present time, intensive and extensive research is being undertaken in many countries on the work and strange personality of Sir Isaac Newton. Half a dozen books have recently been published or announced. The reason is that scientists are more concerned than ever before about the nature of the scientific enterprise itself.

Thus, we have no hesitation in recommending that you try to read at least some of the great scientific classics of our tradition. In fact, there is really no excuse for not trying to read them. None of them is impossibly difficult, not even a book like Newton’s Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, if you are willing to make the effort.

The most helpful advice we can give you is this, you are required by one of the rules for reading expository works to state, as clearly as you can, the problem that the author has tried to solve. This rule of analytical reading is relevant to all expository works, but it is particularly relevant to works in the fields of science and mathematics.

There is another way of saying this. As a layman, you do not read the classical scientific books to become knowledgeable in their subject matters in a contemporary sense. Instead, you read them to understand the history and philosophy of science. That, indeed, is the layman’s responsibility with regard to science. The major way in which you can discharge it is to become aware of the problems that great scientists are trying to solve––aware of the problems, and aware, also, of the background of the problems.

To follow the strands of scientific development, to trace the ways in which facts, assumptions, principles, and proofs are interrelated, is to engage in the activity of the human reason where it has probably operated in the most success. That is enough by itself, perhaps, to justify the historical study of science. In addition, such study will serve to dispel, in some measure, the apparent unintelligibly of science. Most important of all, it is an activity of the mind that is essential to education, the central aim of which has always been recognized, from Socrates’ day down to our own, as the freeing of the mind through the discipline of wonder.

Suggestions for Reading Classical Scientific Books

By a scientific book, we mean the report of findings or conclusions in some field of research, whether carried on experimentally or in a laboratory or by observations of nature in the raw. The scientific problem is always to describe the phenomena as accurately as possible, and to trace the interconnections between different kinds of phenomena.

In the great works of science, there is no oratory or propaganda, though there may be bias in the sense of initial presuppositions. You detect this, and take account of it, by distinguishing what the author assumes from what he establishes through argument. The more “objective” a scientific author is, the more he will explicitly ask you to take this or that for granted. Scientific objectivity is not the absence of initial bias. It is attained by frank confession of it.

The leading term in a scientific work are usually expressed by uncommon or technical words. They are relatively easy to spot, and through them you can readily grasp the propositions. The main propositions are always general ones. Science thus is not chronotopic. Just the opposite; a scientist, unlike a historian, tries to get away from locality in time and place. He tries to say how things are generally, how things generally behave.

There are likely to be two main difficulties in reading a scientific book. One is with respect to the arguments. Science is primarily inductive; that is, its primary arguments are those that establish a general proposition by reference to observable evidence––a single case created by an experiment, or a vast array of cases collected by patient investigation. There are other arguments, of the sort that are called deductive. There are arguments in which a proposition is proved by other propositions already somehow established. So far as proof is concerned, science does not differ much from philosophy. But the inductive argument is characteristic of science.

This first difficulty arises because, in order to understand the inductive arguments in a scientific book, you must be able to follow the evidence that the scientist reports as their basis. Unfortunately, this is not always possible with nothing but the book in hand. If the book itself fails to enlighten him, the reader has only one recourse, which is to get the necessary special experience for himself at first hand. He may have to witness a laboratory demonstration. He may have to look at and pieces of apparatus similar to those referred to in the book. He may have to go to a museum and observe specimens or models.

Anyone who desires to acquire an understanding of the history of science must not only read the classical texts, but must also become acquainted, through direct experience, with the crucial experiments in that history. There are classical experiments as well as classical books.

The scientific classics become more intelligible to those who have seen with their own eyes and done with their own hands what a great scientist describes as the procedure by which he reached his insights.

This does not mean that you cannot make a start without going through all the steps described. Take a book like Lavoisier’s Elements of Chemistry, for instance. Published in 1789, the work is no longer considered to be a textbook in chemistry, and indeed a student would be unwise to study it for the purpose of passing even a high school examination in the subject. Nevertheless, its method was revolutionary at the time, and its conception of chemical element is still, on the whole, the one we have in modern times. Now the point is that you do not have to read the book through, and in detail, to receive these impressions of it. The Preface, for example, with its emphasis on the importance of method in science, is enlightening “Every branch of physical science,” wrote Lavoisier,

must consist of three things: the series of facts which are the objects of the science, the ideas which represent these facts, and the words by which the facts are expressed….And, as ideas are preserved and communicated by means of words, it necessarily follows that we cannot improve the language of any science without at the same time improving the science itself; neither can we, on the other hand improve a science without improving the language of the nomenclature which belongs to it.

This was exactly what Lavoisier did. He improved chemistry by improving its language, just as Newton, a century before, had improved physics by systematizing and ordering its language––in the process, as you may recall, developing the differential and integral calculus.

Mention of the calculus leads us to consider the second main difficulty in reading scientific books. And that is the problem of mathematics.

Facing the Problem of Mathematics

Many people are frightened of mathematics and think they cannot read it at all. No one is quite sure why this is so. Some psychologists think there is such a thing as “symbol blindness”––the inability to set aside one’s own dependence on the concrete and to follow the controlled shifting of symbols. There may be something to this, except, of course, that words shift, too, and their shifts, being more or less uncontrolled, are perhaps even more difficult to follow. Others believe that the trouble lies in the teaching of mathematics. If so, we can be gratified that much recent research has been devoted to the question of how to teach it better.

The problem is partly this. We are not told, or told early enough so that it sinks in, that mathematics is a language, and that we can learn it like any other, including our own. We have to learn our own language twice, first when we speak it, second when we learn to read it. Fortunately, mathematics has to be learned only once, since it is almost wholly a written language.

As we have already observed, learning a new written language involved us in problems of elementary reading. When we underwent our initial reading instruction in elementary school, our problem was to learn to recognize certain arbitrary symbols when they appeared on a page, and to memorize certain relations among these symbols. Even the best readers continue to read, at least occasionally, at the elementary level: for example, whenever we come upon a word that we do not know and have to look up in the dictionary. If we are puzzled by the syntax of a sentence, we are also working at the elementary level. Only when we have solved these problems can we go on to read at higher levels.

Since mathematics is a language, it has its own vocabulary, grammar, and syntax, and these have to be learned by the beginning reader. Certain symbols and relationships between symbols have to be memoized. The problem is different, because the language is different, but it is no more difficult, theoretically, than learning to read English or French or German. At the elementary level, in fact, it may even be easier.

Any language is a medium of communication among men on subjects that the communicants can mutually comprehend. The subjects of ordinary discourse are mainly emotional facts and relations. Such subjects are not entirely comprehensible by any two different persons. But two different persons can comprehend a third thing that is outside of and emotionally separated from both of the, such as an electrical circuit, an isosceles triangle, or a syllogism. It is mainly when we invest these things with emotional conniptions that we have trouble understanding them. Mathematics allows us to avoid this. There are no emotional connotations of mathematical terms, propositions, and equations when properly used.

We are also not told, at least not early enough, how beautiful and how intellectually satisfying mathematics can be. It is not probably not too late for anyone to see this if he will go to a little trouble. You might start with Euclid, whose Elements of Geometry is one of the most lucid and beautiful works of any kind that has ever been written.

Let us consider, for example, the first five propositions in Book I of the Elements. (If a copy of the book is available you should look at it.) Propositions in elementary geometry are of two kinds: (1) the statement of problems in the construction of figures, and (2) theorems about the relation between figures and their parts. Construction problems require that something be done, theorems require that something be proved. At the end of the Euclidean construction problem, you will find the letters Q.E.F., which stand for Quod erat faciendum, “(Being) what is required to do.” At the end of the Euclidean theorem, you will find the letters Q.E.D, which stand for Quod erat demonstrandum, "(Being) what is required to prove.”

The first three propositions in Book I of the Elements are all problems of construction. Why is this? One answer is that the contractions are needed in the proofs of the theorems. This is not apparent in the first four propositions, but we can see it in the fifth proposition, which is a theorem. It states that in an isosceles triangle (a triangle with two equal sides) the base angles are equal. This involves the use of Proposition 3, for a shorter line is cut off from a longer line. Since Proposition 3, intern, depends on the use of the construction in Proposition 2, while Proposition 2 involves Proposition 1, we see that these three constructions are needed for the sake of Proposition 5.

Constructions can also be interpreted as serving another purpose. They bear an obvious similarity to postulates; both constructions and postulates assert that geometrical operations can be performed. In the case of the postulates; the possibility is assumed; in the of the propositions it is proved. The proof, of course, involves the use of the postulates. Thus, we might wonder, for example whether there is really any such thing as an equilateral triangle, which is defined in Definition 20. Without troubling ourselves here about the thorny question of the existence of mathematical objects, we can at least see that Proposition 1 shows that, from the assumption that there are such things as straight line and circles, it follows that there are such things as equilateral triangles.

Let us return to Proposition 5, the theorem about the equality of the base angles of an isosceles triangle. When the conclusion has been reached, in a series of steps involving reference to previous propositions and to the postulates, the proposition has been proved. It has been shown that if something is true (namely, the hypothesis that we have an isosceles triangle), and if some additional things are valid (the definitions, postulate, and prior propositions), then something else is also true, namely, the conclusion. The proposition asserts if-then relationship. it does not assert the truth of the hypothesis, nor does it assert the truth of the conclusion, except when the hypothesis is true. Nor is this connection between hypothesis and conclusion seen to be true until the proposition is proved. It is precisely the truth of this connection that is proved, and nothing else.

It is an exaggeration to say that this is beautiful? We do not think so. What we have here is a really logical exposition of a really limited problem. There is something very attractive about both the clarity of the exposition and the limited nature of the problem. Ordinary discourse, even very good philosophical discourse, finds it difficult to limit its problems in this way. And the use of logic in the case of philosophical problems is hardly ever clear as this.

Consider the difference between the argument of Proposition 5, as outlined here, and even the simplest of syllogisms, such as the following:

All animals are mortal; All men are animals; Therefore, all men are mortal

There is something satisfying about that, too. We can treat it as though it were a piece of mathematical reasoning. Assuming that there are such tings as animals and men, and that animals are mortal, the the conclusion follows with the same certainty as the one about the angles of the triangle. But the trouble is that there really are animals and men; we are assuming something about real things, something that may or may not be true. We have to examine our assumptions in a way that we do not have to do in mathematics. Euclid’s proposition does not suffer from this. It does not really matter to him whether there are such things as isosceles triangles. If there are, he is saying, and if they are defined in such and such a way, then it follows absolutely that their base angles are equal. There can be no doubt about this whatever––now and forever.

Handling the Mathematics in Scientific Books

This digression on Euclid has led us a little out of our way. We were observing that the presence of mathematics in scientific books is one of the main obstacles to reading them. There are a couple of things to say about that.

First, you can probably read at least elementary mathematics better than you think. We have already suggested that you should begin with Euclid, and we are confident that if you spend several evening with the Elements you would overcome much of your fear of the subject. Having done some work on Euclid, you might proceed to glance at the works of other classical Greek mathematicians––Archimedes, Apollonius, Nicomachus. They are not really very difficult, and besides, you can skip.

That leads to the second point we want to make. If your intention is to read a mathematical book in and for itself, you must read it, of course from beginning to end––and with a pencil in your hand, for writing in the margins and even on a scratch pad is more necessary here than in the case of any other kinds of books. But your intention may not be that, but instead to read a scientific work that has mathematics in it. In this case, skipping is often the better part of valor.

Take Newton’s Principia for an example. The book contains many propositions, both construction problems and theorems, but it is not necessary to read them all in detail, especially the first time through. Read the statement of the proposition, and glance down the proof to get an idea of how it is done; read the statements so-called lemmas and corollaries; and read the so-called scholium, which are especially discussions of the relations between propositions and of their relations to the work as a whole. You will begin to see that whole if you do this, and so to discover how the system that Newton is constructing is built––what comes first and what second, and how the parts fit together. Go through the whole work in this way, avoiding the diagrams if they trouble you (as they do many readers), merely glancing at much of the interstitial matter, but being sure to find and read the passages where Newton is making his main points. One of these comes at the very end of the work, at the close of Book III, which is titled “The System of the World.” The General Scholium, as Newton called it, not only sums up what has gone before but also states the great problem of almost all subsequent physics.

Newton’s Optics is another scientific classic that you might want to try to read. There is actually very little mathematics in it, although at first glance that does not appear to be so because the pages are sprinkled with diagrams. But these diagrams are merely illustrations describing Newton’s experiments with holes for the sun to shine through into the dark room, with prisms to intercept the sunbeam, and with pieces of white paper placed so that the various colors of the beam can shine on them. You can quite easily repeat some of these experiments yourself, and this is fun to do, for the colours are beautiful, and the descriptions are eminently clear. You will want to read, in addition to the descriptions of the experiments, the statements of the various theorems or propositions, and the discussions that occur at the end of each of the three Books, where Newton sums up his discoveries and suggests their consequences. The end of Book III is famous, for it contains some statements by Newton about the scientific enterprise itself that are well worth reading.

Mathematics is very often employed by scientific writers, mainly because it has the qualities of preciseness, clarity, and limitedness that we have described. Usually you can understand something of the matter without going very deeply into the mathematics, as in the case of Newton. Oddly enough, however, even if mathematics is absolutely terrifying to you, it absence from certain works may cause you even more trouble. A case in point is Galileo’s Two New Sciences, his famous treatise on the strength of materials and on motion. This work is particularly difficult for modern readers because it is not primarily mathematical; instead, it is presented in the form of a dialogue. The dialogue form, though appropriate to the stage and useful in philosophy when employed by such a master as Plato, is not really appropriate to science. It is therefore hard to discover hat Galileo is saying, although when you do you will discover that he is stating some revolutionary things.

Not all of the scientific classics, of course, employ mathematics or even need to employ it. The works of Hippocrates, the founder of Greek medicine, are not mathematical. You might well read them to discover Hipprocates’ views of medicine––namely, that is the art of keeping people well, rather than that of curing them when they are sick. That is unfortunately an uncommon idea nowadays. Nor is William Harvey’s discourse on the circulation of the blood mathematical, or William Gilbert’s book on magnets. They can be read without too much difficulty if you always keep in mind that your primary obligation is not to become competent in the subject matter but instead to understand the problem.

A Note on Popular Science

In a sense, there is a little more to say about reading scientific popularizations. By definition, these are works––either books or articles written for a wide audience, not just for specialists. Thus, if you have managed to read some of the classics of the scientific tradition, you should not have much trouble with them. This is because, although they are about science, they generally skirt or avoid the two main problems that confront the reader of an original contribution in Science. First, they contain relatively few descriptions of experiments (instead, they merely report the results of experiments), Second, they contain relatively little mathematics (unless they are popular books about mathematics itself).

Popular scientific articles are usually easier to read than popular scientific books, although not always. Sometimes such articles are very good––for example, articles found in Scientific American, a monthly magazine, or Science, a somewhat more technical weekly publication. Of course, these publications, no matter how good they are or how carefully and responsibly edited, pose the problem that was discussed at the end of the last chapter. In reading them, we are at the mercy of reporters who filter the information for us. If they are good reporters, we are fortunate. If they are not, we have almost no recourse.

Scientific popularizations are never easy reading in the sense that a story is or seems to be. Even a three-page article on DNA containing no reports of experiments and no diagrams or mathematical formulas demands considerable effort on the part of the reader. You cannot read it for understanding without keeping your mind awake. Thus, the requirement that you read actively is more important here than almost anywhere else. Identify the subject matter. Discover the relation between the whole and its parts. Come to terms and plot the propositions and arguments. Work at achieving understanding before you begin to criticize or to assess significance. These rules, by now, are all familiar. But they apply here with particular force.

Short articles are usually informational, and as such they require less active thinking on your part. You must make an effort to understand, to follow the account provided by the author, but you often do not have to go beyond that. In the case of such excellent popular books as Whitehead’s Introduction to Mathematics. Lincoln Barnett’s The Universe and Dr. Einstein, and Barry Commoner’s The Closing Circle, something more is required. This particularly true of a book like Commoner’s, on a subject––the environmental crisis––of special interest and importance to all of us today. The writing is compact and requires constant attention. But the book as a whole has implications that the careful reader will not miss. Although it is not a practical work, in the sense described above in Chapter 13, its theoretical conclusions have important consequences. The mere mention of the book’s subject matter––the environmental crisis––suggests this. The environment in question is our own; if it is undergoing a crisis of some sort, then it inevitable follow, even if the author had not said so––though in fact he has––that we are also involved in the crisis. The thing to do in a crisis is (usually) to act in a certain way, or to stop acting in a certain way. Thus Commoner’s book, though essentially theoretical, has a significance that goes beyond the theoretical and into the realm of the practical.

This is not to suggest that Commoner’s work is important and the books by Whitehead and Barnett unimportant. When The Universe and Dr. Einstein was written, as a theoretical account (written for a popular audience) of the history of researches into the atom, people were widely aware of the perils inherent in atomic physics, as represented mainly but not exclusively be the recently discovered atomic bomb. Thus that theoretical book also had practical consequences. But even if people are today not so worried about the imminence of an atomic or nuclear way, there is still what may be called a practical necessity to read this theoretical book, or one like it. The reason is that atomic and nuclear physics is one of the great achievements of our age. It promises great things for man, at the same time that it poses great perils. An informed and concerned reader should know everything he can about the subject.

A slightly different urgency is exerted by Whitehead’s Introduction to Mathematics. Mathematics is one of the major modern mysteries. Perhaps it is the leading one, occupying a place in our society similar to the religious mysteries of another age. If we want to know something about what our age is all about, we should have some understanding of what mathematics is, and of how the mathematician operates and thinks. Whitehead’s book, although it does not go very deeply into the more abstruse branches of the subject, is remarkably eloquent about the principles of mathematical reasoning. If it does nothing else, it shows the attentive reader that the mathematician is an ordinary man, not a magician. And that discovery, too, is important for any reader who desires to expand his horizons beyond the immediate here and now of thought and experience.

#P249 #How to Read a Book: How to Read Science and Mathematics #Mortimer. J Adler and Charles Van Doren

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themaribatpit · 3 years

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Fiasco At The Wayne Gala

Author’s note: This story was written by DC Fanboy and proofread by Maribat fangirl, as a reaction to Style Queen. Maribat fangirl has been hard at work on Chapter 6 of “Hanging by a Thread”, while DC fanboy needed a break from the angst. This is the result, enjoy.

Content warning: A dash of Chloe salt, mostly Audrey managing to piss off everyone. Ships: Jason Todd / Marinette Dupain-Cheng, Dick Grayson / Barbara Gordon, Cassandra Cain / Stephanie Brown, Tim Drake / Bernard Dowd (mentioned), Bruce Wayne / Selina Kyle.

Fiasco at the Wayne Gala

Jason stood at the driveway to Wayne Manor, bored out of his mind as he waited for Marinette to arrive. Another Wayne Gala was underway, with Gotham’s elite pouring into Wayne Manor. Marinette said she would be arriving with her roommate, Zoe. He took out his phone and messaged his girlfriend asking where she was. He was interrupted from his thoughts when a rude woman cleared her throat in front of him. Jason was just able to look up from his phone before he was berated for not paying attention to her.

“You! Valet! How dare you play on your phone when you should be attending to us guests?” the woman screeched. Jason cringed and immediately placed his phone back into his pocket, just as he was about to argue with this banshee that he wasn’t a valet, he was rudely interrupted again with another screech. “How unprofessional! Notify Bruce Wayne that I, Audrey Bourgeois have arrived,” she waved her hand as if to shoo him away. “Now go and park the car before I fire you.” She tossed her keys to Jason, before promptly walking away with her chin held snobbishly high.

Jason looked down at the keys in his hands. He looked at the woman walking away and then towards her car, a jet black convertible. He walked around the vehicle, admiring the exquisite European sports car. A mischievous grin grew on his face as he looked back at the keys in his hand, he jumped in over the door into the car and started its engine. It roared to life, Jason couldn’t resist stamping both his feet on the accelerator and brakes at the same time. The tyres screeched from the friction, spewing smoke behind him. He then spun around, performing a doughnut around the driveway. He left behind a trail of black tyre markings on the asphalt below. Jason stomped his foot onto the accelerator, all the way to the bottom. The engine roared in response with an immediate burst of power, rocketing him out of Wayne Manor, speeding off into the distance.

Meanwhile, Dick waited for the cloakroom attendant to return. In his hands he held Barbara’s coat. Him being the gentleman that he was, he volunteered to bring it to the cloakroom for her. As he patiently waited at the counter, he heard a throat being cleared behind him. He chose to ignore it but then the voice grew louder. He elected to ignore it again, but the person behind him then shouted “You!”

Dick turned in surprise, he looked around to the source of the voice, a woman wearing a black, white and gold ball gown with a white fur coat in her arms. Beside her was, what he assumed to be, her daughter. She wore a matching dress and an entitled look on her face. He looked around, thinking and hoping she was trying to talk to someone else.

The woman then threw her coat at Dick, it draped over his head completely. He looked as if he was wearing an expensive ghost costume, as the coat hung over his head. The rude woman continued, “Now put this in the cloakroom, bring me the ticket when you are done and make sure nothing happens to it.” Dick didn’t say anything at that moment, he hadn’t fully registered what had just happened. “It is an expensive Arctic Fox coat, if anything were to happen to it I will make sure Mr. Wayne fires you.” She stomped off with her daughter in tow, the two walked past Barbara with Haley napping on her lap. The two scoff in disgust at the sight of the dog, “Disgusting, don't you think?” Audrey asked her daughter.

Chloe repeated the sentiment, “Absolutely, Mother.”

Audrey nodded towards her daughter in approval before turning back to face Barbara, “Now get that mangy, misshapen mutt out of here before we file a complaint and get that thing put down!” she threatened before walking away.

Haley whimpered from the scary lady’s yelling, Barbara’s eyes narrowed as her hands moved to cover Haley’s floppy ears, “Oh no you did not just threaten Haley.”

“Where did she go? I can’t see.” Dick asked, the coat still covering his head.

Tim stood near the food table, enjoying canapés and several other hors d'oeuvre while waiting for his date, Bernard, to arrive at the gala. A loud voice caught his attention mid bite, “Is that you Timothy? Oh it is you.” He looked up from his plate to see an obnoxious woman wearing sunglasses indoors, at night.

“Do you remember me? I’m your Aunt Audrey.” the woman spoke.

Tim cringed internally, remembering the woman from past events. A horrible woman if he remembered correctly, always sucking up to his parents, pretending to be their friend. Most of all he remembered the constant attempts at matchmaking, doing whatever she could to pawn her daughter off to the Drake family to gain their favour. He quickly swallowed the appetizer in his mouth and answered “Hello Aunt Audrey.” with a strained smile. His mind was in a flurry, trying to think of a plan to get rid of her.

“Oh how handsome you’ve grown, why don't you spend time with my daughter? I brought her here today.” she suggested, her voice devoid of any sincerity.

Tim slowly backed off, looking around the room hoping to think of a plan to get her to leave him alone. “Well...you see…” he tried to stall for time. He then spotted a familiar plume of blonde hair standing near the performing band and rushed towards her. “Steph! You gotta help me!” he croaked.

She turned in surprise, “Tim? You okay? What's wrong?”

“Pretend to be my date” he blurted out.

“What?” she cried incredulously, “No, I’m dating Cass. What would Bernard say?” she responded angrily.

“Please, I’m begging you. At least until this crazy woman leaves me alone,” Tim explained, “she’s been trying to hook me up with her daughter for years.” Tim grabbed on to her arms and gave her a shake.

“What is this, some kind of fake dating storyline? Did I wake up in one of your K-Dramas?” She answered in a voice dripping with sarcasm. She then peered over his shoulder to see two women in hot pursuit, shoving guests aside. She was already feeling her mood sour from their presence.

“You owe me for this, understand?” Stephanie said, her fingers jabbed Tim in the chest before she pinched the bridge of her nose.

“Thanks, I’ll pay you back some day.” Tim then held out his elbow for Stephanie, which she held on to.

Tim and Steph slowly walked up to Audrey, “Aunt Audrey, I’d like to meet my girlfriend Stephanie Brown.” He gestures towards his friend. Stephanie then kissed Tim in the cheek, trying her absolute best to not show just how irritated she was at the whole situation.

Audrey’s eyes twitched at the sight, but it was unnoticeable under her sunglasses. “Nice to meet you too Stephanie.” she greeted, venom dripping from her voice. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I will attend to other guests. It was nice meeting you again Timothy.” She then stomped away with Chloe in tow.

The two then breathed a sigh of relief as they were left alone, “I need a drink” groaned Stephanie, as she held onto her forehead. “I just hope that Cass didn't see....that.” She turned around to see Cassandra Cain right behind the two, a frown on her face.

Both Tim and Steph both held up their hands, attempting to placate the girl in front of them. “Tim needed a fake date to get rid of a crazy old hag.” explained Steph, as quickly and concisely as she could. Stephanie gave Tim the evil eye, thinking of all the ways she would hurt him if his fiasco cost her her relationship with Cass.

Cass spun her finger on the side of her head. Tim and Steph released a breath they both had been holding, worried of what Cass’ reaction would be. Fortunately for them, Cass was able to see the whole thing. From watching Tim’s desperate plea, to the subtle signs of discomfort as the two spoke to Ms. Bourgeois.

Damian clung to the edges of the party, he detested these events. However, as the son of Gotham’s Billionaire he had no choice but to attend. He wandered around, hands in his pockets, he hoped he could find a familiar face in a sea of strangers. Perhaps Gordon or Grayson would let him pet Haley, it would at least help pass the time better.

For someone unaware of who he was, one could possibly mistake him for a delinquent. Then again, he was the grandson of the Demon. He spotted the dog on Gordon's lap, and made his way towards her. He was then intercepted by a raging woman pointing her finger at him and calling him a trespasser and an intruder.

The gall of this woman, he clenched his teeth and yelled back. "Shut up you hag, I live here!"

The woman expressed a loud gasp, "How dare you call me that? Do you know who I am? I am Audrey Bourgeois, director of Style Queen."

Damian rolled his eyes, "What? A magazine giving fashion advice to shriveled old hags like you?" he shot back.

Audrey Bourgeois snapped, she yelled at the boy at the top of the voice "How dare you!"

Damian shouted back "How dare YOU! Do you know who I am?"

Their shouting match had drawn the entire attention of the ball room, eyes drawn to the argument unraveling before them. Tim and Dick walked closer, hoping to get a clear view of what was happening, and to intervene if necessary. Who knows what would happen with Damian around?

Alfred ignored the chaos unraveling around him as he pushed a food trolley through the ball room. However, a young woman with blonde hair rushed in front of his trolley. "May I help you?" He asked.

"My mother is being harassed by some miscreant, go get rid of him." Chloe growled towards the butler.

"Very well." Alfred complied and began walking to the two shouting their lungs off.

Damian spots the two former Robins approaching and calls out to them, "Grayson, Drake, tell her who I am and get rid of her."

Both Tim and Dick narrowed their eyes, annoyed about how all attention was now on the two of them. The two looked at each other, annoyed at their younger sibling.

Tim had a plan to redirect that attention and knock Hell Spawn down a peg, "Who are you?" he asked.

This infuriated Damian, he roared "Traitor!" and was about to throw fists at Tim before Alfred stepped in between them.

"Please, let us all calm down and enjoy this fine evening." Alfred attempted to calm the entire situation.

"Not until you get rid of him!" Audrey yelled, pointing her finger accusingly at Damian.

"I'm afraid I can't do that Madam." Alfred deadpanned.

Audrey stomped her foot in anger, then she pointed threateningly at Alfred. "You're fired!" she yelled.

Alfred sighs and answers in a monotone voice "Madam, with all due respect, I don't work for you. I work for Master Wayne, and in turn I also work for the young Master Wayne." He gestured to Damian, who stood there angrily with his arms crossed.

Audrey Bourgeois recoiled in shock, she attempted to come up with a retort. Alfred continued, "As per the young master's wishes, please leave the premises immediately."

Audrey gritted her teeth, "Fine. Call the valet to bring my car over." She commanded before marching off.

Alfred and Damian looked at each other, intrigued at the request for a valet. "Pennyworth, we don't have a valet for this evening, do we?" asked Damian.

"No Master Damian, though I suspect we may have a case of grand theft auto on our hands. I shall go check the cameras for our culprit.” Alfred furrowed his eyebrows and left for the Batcave.

Marinette and Zoe stood near a window. Marinette was worried, Jason was supposed to be at the party. He did not answer any of her calls or reply to any of her messages. She paced about, worried Jason was away dealing with an emergency.

Zoe on the other hand was red with embarrassment and shame. She was unfortunately related to the two wrecking balls tearing their way through the gala. She hoped to any and every deity above that they would prevent her mother from noticing her. However, this was to no avail as Zoe was spun around forcefully.

"...Zoe! Why did you not greet your dear mother?" Yelled Audrey.

Zoe began sweating bullets trying to think of an answer while being berated by her mother and half-sister. "I-I uh, I just got here." She shakily attempted to explain herself.

"What are you doing here Marinette?" Growled Chloe, annoyed at how such a clumsy girl would be even invited to this event.

Marinette put the phone back into her purse, "I was supposed to be here with my boyfriend, but I can't find him and he won't answer the phone."

Chloe laughed at the girl's plight, "Who would even date a loser like you? Any sane person would leave you."

Marinette gritted her teeth and clenched her fists, much to Chloe’s delight. Her contained rage and shame were interrupted as Audrey began complaining about a valet.

"Where is my car? Where is that damn stupid valet?" Audrey shouted.

Zoe and Marinette looked at each other, confused at the mention of a valet. "There was a valet?" Marinette asked nervously.

"Of course there was." Audrey told her.

"Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous," ranted Chloe, "He did not even dress properly and now he can't even deliver mother's car. Where is the idiot with the white streak of hair?"

Marinette and Zoe raised an eyebrow at the specific mention of a white streak of hair.

"At least it explains what Jason is up to." Marinette thought to herself, "They won't be getting the car back for a while, if at all."

Alfred had reviewed footage of the driveway earlier that evening, and had discovered Jason was the culprit. Alfred sighed as he picked up the telephone and attempted to call Jason. Just like Marinette, Jason was not answering his calls. Alfred then contacted Jason through his Bat Communicator.

"What's the emergency, Alfred?" Answered Jason.

Alfred could hear the sound of a roaring engine and wind whipping through the air over the communicator. "Master Todd, you are the emergency. Please return the automobile to the manor.

"Alright, I will if you bake me two dozen cookies. Just for me and no one else." Negotiated Jason.

"Very well, Master Todd." agreed Alfred "Now please return the vehicle." Alfred closed the call and made his way to the ballroom.

Jason turned the steering wheel of the car harshly, sending it to a tight drift, making a turn back towards Wayne Manor. "Alright you two, we're getting cookies!" he yelled to his passengers beside him.

"Yaaaaay" cheered Roy along with Lian on his lap.

Back in the ballroom, Alfred asked the guests to quiet down for he was making an announcement. "Esteemed guests, allow me to introduce Bruce Wayne.'' He stepped aside and gestured to Bruce atop the stairs with Selena Kyle. The two slowly walked down the stairs, and thanked each of their guests for attending the gala.

Audrey Bourgeois pushed past several attendees to get a closer look. Other guests gave her space, not wanting to incur her wrath. As she reached Bruce Wayne, she shoved Selena aside and wrapped herself around Bruce's arm. Taking extra attention to make sure her chest rubbed against his arm.

Zoe sped to the bathroom in absolute shame after watching her mother attempt to flirt with Bruce Wayne. Marinette remained by the window, waiting for Jason’s return. She was then approached by Alfred, holding a small basket of fresh cookies. “Good evening Ms. Dupain-Cheng, I just spoke to Master Todd, he is on his way.”

Marinette glanced at Audrey Bourgeois still attempting to flirt with Bruce, “the sooner he gets here the sooner she leaves.” she comments. She notices the cookies in the basket. “Can I have a cookie?” she asked, salivating at Alfred’s baking. Tikki peeked out from her small bag, enticed by the smell of the cookies.

“I’m afraid you’ll have to ask Master Todd, I made these in order to entice him to return the car. Undamaged, I hope.” Alfred explains.

Fortunately Jason arrived at that moment, with Roy and Lian in tow, their hairs were messy from the wind. Alfred gave Marinette the basket of cookies and asked her to give them to Jason while he notified Ms. Bourgeois that her car had arrived. “Jason, where have you been? I've been trying to call you all night!” Marinette yelled.

Jason scratched the back of his head, “about that, some crazy lady thought I was a valet.”

Marinette crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, “I heard. But that doesn't mean you can take her car.” she huffed.

“ ‘Sup Little Wing,” Dick greeted Jason, “heard about your joyride from Alfred. How was it?”

“Awesome,” Jason replied, reaching into the basket of cookies. Roy, Lian and Tikki were already enjoying their share.

“Now that you’re back, that crazy woman can now go.” Dick said

“What did she do?” asked Jason curiously, hoping there would be a good story.

“For starters, she thought I was the cloakroom attendant. She threw her coat over my face, she pissed Babs off by calling Haley a ‘Misshapen Mutt’. Then she tried to hook her daughter up with Tim. On top of that, she managed to royally piss off Damian.” Explained Dick.

Jason’s jaw dropped while chewing his cookie, a few crumbs landing on the floor. Before doing a spit-take with the cookie in his mouth, he burst out laughing.

Meanwhile Alfred walked up to Audrey Bourgeois, who was still clinging onto Bruce Wayne as if her life depended on it. “Ahem, Madam Bourgeois, your automobile has arrived. Please kindly leave the premises.” interrupted Alfred.

“Come now, Brucie Darling. Are you really going to send me away after all we have been through?” Audrey asked coyly.

Bruce took a deep breath, “Ms. Bourgeois, please leave. As you can see my date, Ms. Kyle, has been very patient with you.” He points with his thumb behind him towards a glaring Selena.

Audrey growled loudly, “Fine, we are leaving.” She stomped out the front door. “You, Valet! What took you so long?” she demanded an explanation from Jason.

Jason spoke to her with his mouth full, spewing crumbs everywhere. “Having dinner, what's it to you?”

Audrey and Chloe recoiled at Jason’s bad manners, as a force of habit Audrey yelled back “I’ll have you fired for this.”

Jason continued undeterred, still answering with his mouth full of cookies. “Well shit, too bad.”

Frustrated at his aloof response, the two quickly got into the car and drove off. Everyone but the two Bourgeois noticed a large scratch and several dents along the side of the sports car as it drove away. “Yeah, uh, forget you saw that. Let’s get back to the party shall we?” suggested Jason. Everyone laughed hysterically at the wild night, now that the human wrecking ball had left.

As Marinette walked back into the manor, she pouted at Jason for keeping her waiting. “Come on now Pixie, are you still mad at me?” Jason asked.

“Yes, you stole someone’s car, drove off to who knows where. You didn’t answer any of my messages or calls. I was really looking forward to enjoying the Gala with you.” Marinette complained.

Jason ran in front of Marinette, stopping her in her tracks. “Look I’ll make it up to you Pixie, I promise. How about a dance then? The night is still young.” Jason said, offering his hand to Marinette.

Marinette contemplates for a moment before reaching out to hold his hand. “Fine, but this doesn’t mean I forgive you yet.”

The two then walked to the centre of the ballroom and danced the night away.

#jasonette #maribat chloe salt #maribat #ml x dc #dc x ml

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tiesandtea · 3 years

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An in-depth & really interesting review of Head Music’s various - often forgotten but actually brilliant - b-sides. Originally posted on The Vapour Trail London blog on 20 November 2019.

The folklore of early Suede and the B-sides compilation ‘Sci Fi Lullabies’ would lead the casual observer to believe that the band had peaked creatively to the point that post-1997 B-sides would not be worth investigating, however I believe differently and now, thanks to the reissues of ‘Head Music’, these can now be easily accessed for wider reappraisal.

Full article under the cut.

Coincidentally coinciding with the recent release of Brett Anderson’s second memoir ‘Afternoons with the Blinds Drawn’, Suede have issued the 20 year deluxe edition of their fourth album, ‘Head Music’. Their final number one album to date was issued in May of 1999 to much fanfare, following in the footsteps of their classic ‘Coming up’ in 1996, a record that spawned no less than five top ten singles and saw them achieve astronomical fame across Europe and Asia (indeed, Anderson remains a genuine celebrity in parts of Scandinavia as a direct result). Whilst ‘Head Music’ was a hit, its making has gone down in the annals of history as being even more fraught and littered with personal scandal than even that of their second album, ‘Dog Man Star’, the record that infamously served as original guitarist Bernard Butler’s swan song. The chief reason was Anderson’s spiralling addictions to heroin and crack, which in the eyes of the singer served to influence what he and many others deem the patchiness of the record. Indeed, when Suede first reissued their heyday albums back in 2011, Brett would include within the sleeve notes his own rewritten track listings in each, citing Suede’s fervent devotion to ensuring that their B-sides were up to the same quality as their singles and album tracks, thus costing the associated albums some potential improvements. Songs from the album that often raise debate amongst its makers and listeners include ‘Asbestos’, ‘Elephant Man’, and the almost universally-derided title track, a scrappy, crappy exercise in suggestiveness that even producer Steve Osborne initially refused to have anything to do with.

Perhaps due to all of this, the resultant B-sides of the album’s singles have been lost in time somewhat. Whereas the B-sides associated with the first three albums reached legendary status in such a short space of time that the band issued a compilation double album of nearly all of them in 1997, ‘Sci Fi Lullabies’, their 1999 counterparts are rarely spoken of within the same reverent breath. I would argue that this is vastly remiss to the point of sacrilege as, taken in one listenable chunk, they serve to create what on its own would be an incredible record.

But before we investigate further, it’s worth exploring the genesis of Suede’s musical direction at this point. As Brett and the band have noted many times over the years, Suede sought to follow each album with a record almost diametrically opposed to its predecessor stylistically. The kitchen sink gutter glam of their groundbreaking debut was consciously followed by an ambitious, widescreen and darker ‘Dog Man Star’, the pretension and bluster of which was then followed by a strict album of ‘ten singles’ in ‘Coming Up’. Each time, at least one B-side would serve as a blueprint for what would follow; 1993’s ‘High Rising’ and ‘The Big Time’ served very much of signposts for what would follow in 1994, and then again in 1995, Richard Oakes’ sexy glam pop of ‘Together’ would point the band towards ‘Coming Up’ in 1996. Here, they would seek to expand upon the sonic direction of Mat Osman-penned ‘Europe is Our Playground’, a song they so loved they reworked its arrangement live and subsequently re-recorded for the aforementioned B-Sides compilation of 1997. Caked in icy synths and led by a dub-inspired bass line, it signified something cold and electronic, the desolate melancholy of ‘Dog Man Star’ reimagined by Kraftwerk or Berlin-era Bowie. The band promised this new direction in interviews and the public’s appetite was whetted.

Early in 1998, as part of a Pet Shop Boys-curated tribute to Noel Coward’, the band released one of their prime hidden gems, a suitably synthetic and clinical version of the great writer’s ‘Poor Little Rich Girl’. Unfortunately this was shown to the masses on television via a mimed performance that saw an utterly wasted Anderson grinning inanely with zoned out eyes whilst trying not to fall off a chair. This performance distracted from the impressive song (also featuring the highly talented Raissa, who had supported Suede on their Coming Up tour, on vocals) and seemingly left no impression on anybody.

And so to fast forward to the album. The making of the record has been documented extensively not only in Anderson’s second autobiography but also in David Barnett’s authorised biography ‘Love and Poison’ and Mike Christie’s recent documentary set ‘The Insatiable Ones’. If you’re not familiar with the story, it is a jaw dropping tale of decadence, debauchery and depression, the likes of which have seemingly and thankfully been removed from the culture of music making today. Indeed, there’s not a lot of money around now for bands to blow on endless recording sessions fuelled by endless drug abuse. But what emerged was a flawed but often brilliant record that has stood the test of time well and honestly sounds as fresh as the day it was released. The album’s track list can and will continue to be debated but ultimately, had they shaved off two of the more superfluous numbers (I would argue that the title track serves no purpose as does the turgid closing track ‘Crack in the Union Jack’), it would likely be held in the same high regard as the vast portion of their other records. But we won’t dwell on that here.

First single ‘Electricity’ was accompanied by no fewer than five b-sides, all of which carry some merit. ‘Popstar’, a concise lyrical study of the relationship between fan and band, contains the kind of crystalline synths and dubby bass that the band had sought to highlight with their two musical blueprints prior to the album. Richard Oakes’ guitar parts are sparser than ever before but serve the song well, and the chorus is cold and epic in a way that takes the song from good to great. ‘Killer’, complete with a lyric that seems to expand upon the ficitonlised femme fatale of ‘Coming Up’s ‘She’, is more impressive still; a dark, brooding slice of electro-noir that slinks and stalks in the manner suggested by the song’s lyric. It builds and builds to a desperate crescendo and brings to mind the best of Depeche Mode at their ‘Violator’ zenith. ‘See That Girl’, complete with yearning Anderson vocals lamenting ‘this dog shit world’, is less impressive but still good. A real undersung high point of the time is the Neil Codling-written and sang ‘Waterloo’, an electronic folk classic that sees some beautifully melodic guitar lines almost acting as choruses, and a tenderness rarely reached by the band. The fifth and final b-side (it was on the minidisc – yes, minidisc – version of the single), is ‘Implement Yeah!’, an old co-write with Justine Frischmann where Brett parodies Mark E Smith to amusing effect over a gutter-punk thrash that the band premiered with Justine at the 1997 Reading Festival.

‘She’s in Fashion’ followed in 1999 and quickly became one of the band’s better known songs via endless radio play that perhaps contributed to it being their first single since ‘New Generation’ in 1995 not to reach the top ten. Looking back, I imagine the fact that you could walk into any shop at any time during that Summer and be exposed to it as one reason why fewer people bought it than they might otherwise. The B-sides rank among the band’s very best. ‘Bored’ continues where ‘Implement Yeah’ left off with a Stooges-like guitar thrash adorned by sweet synths and a classically anthem Suede chorus. During an interview at the end of 1999, Mat Osman threatened a harder, rockier direction for the next album which never did come to fruition and it’s possible that this would have been one of its blueprints. ‘Pieces Of My Mind’ is better still, and a rehearsal recording of it sounding very different can be found on the new reissue. Taking its cue from ‘Europe is Our Playground’, it is a dreamlike wander through almost psychedelic electronica and its lilting chorus imprints itself on your mind immediately. ‘Jubilee’, a Codling creation, is one of the best of the era and would probably have made for a better first single than ‘Electricity’, a romantic epic that chugs along like ‘Trash’ and bears a dramatic and addictive chorus that would surely have been incredible live. Perhaps the lyric was somewhat off-putting to the band, a blank retread of other songs including the ‘run with me’ hook of the ubiquitous ‘Europe’. If so, this is a shame as if we are to be honest (and Brett has said so numerous times himself), the entire era was marred by some seriously autopilot lyricism that was charming in places in its framing of the Suede lyrical lexicon of language, and just plain boring in others. The single is rounded off by the gorgeous ‘God’s Gift’, a simplistic piano piece aided and abetted by swirling synths and understated bass that had been written by Brett about Justine many years before. As with a few of Suede’s records (most notably the first album), the spectre and influence of Ms Frischmann lurks around the songs of this era but in perhaps a much more positive way; the two had rekindled their friendship prior to the making of the album and it was Justine’s love of new wave that inspired some of the music.

‘Everything Will Flow’, the great lost ballad of the era in the same way as ‘The Wild Ones’ had been five years prior, saw an interesting bag of B-sides attached that differed in style in a far more pronounced way than the two earlier singles. ‘Leaving’, which Brett sees as the ultimate casualty of this period, is prime Suede in its romantic portrait of a girl departing relationship for a new life, although the underlying sentiment is entirely opposite of that of ‘Another No One’ in 1996. Although still featuring synthesised textures, its abundance of gentle guitar and piano is much more organic and not only serves as an appropriate backing to the not dissimilar ‘Flow’ but also as a subtle nod to where the band would go next. ‘Weight of the World’ is entirely a Neil Codling construction as with the earlier ‘Digging a Hole’ on the ‘Lazy’ single of 1997, however here he is eschews piano in favour of nylon strung guitar. Ruminating on the idea of his own demise, the song finds Neil in introspective form and perhaps shows a window into how he must have been feeling at the time, his health suffering significantly during the making of the record resulting in a chronic bout of ME of which he would never fully recover. It is sad and beautiful and at the time I wondered whether he would one day make a solo record. To date, he never has. ‘Seascape’ is up next, an ambient instrumental piece at odds with the majority of Suede’s output (indeed I believe this is Suede’s sole instrumental within their canon). Pleasing and dreamy in a subtly Eno-esque way, it lures you into a false sense of security for what would follow. The final song of the ensemble is the shocking and brilliant ‘Crackhead’. Noted by Q at the time for its outlandish appeal, it remains one of the most captivating songs in Suede’s history. Built around a staccato electronic motif, it lurches and grinds in a manner the band never achieved before or since, as a hoarse Anderson vocal tears apart his own addiction to the ice with suitable ice. At the time, Brett was in recovery, however this sounds like an isolated howl from the depths of dependence. It roars and builds to a final shrieking chorus of ‘you can’t give it up’ which says all that really needed to be said.

The final single of the era, ‘Can’t Get Enough’, another candidate for what should have previewed the album in place of ‘Electricity’, limped to number 24 in the charts but boasted perhaps the greatest array of B-sides of all the singles. In archetypal Suede fashion, ‘Let Go’ cut an honest precursor to the musical way forward, which would culminate in the predominantly folky ‘A New Morning’. Three-layered harmonies and melodic acoustic strum back one of Richard Oakes’ finest guitar performances, chiming and chugging riffery that would be revisited on later single ‘Obsessions’. Brett’s lyrics convey an all-pervaying positivity minus the bland triteness of the single of the same name, capping off an irrestible euphoria that would be deemed suitable for release as an A-side in their commercial home from home that was Sweden. It’s a shame that they were unable to replicate the feeling of the song across the subsequent ‘A New Morning’ album, however upon reflection the fault may lie in the fact that said album would be over-produced to the point of clean-cut nothingness by the otherwise accomplished Stephen Street. Next song ‘Since You Went Away’ is folkier still and retains much of the same charm, with Brett lamenting the feeling of loss felt in the aftermath of a realtionship break-up. Again, this is truly lovely stuff and acts as a further blueprint for album number five that would never quite be capitalised on. Heading over to CD2, ‘Situations’ is powered by a synthesised Eastern motif and ponders the ‘lonely minds’ and ‘vacant stares’ typical of Anderson’s lyrics of the time. While slightly over long, it would have worked on ‘Head Music’ had it been the more darker record the band initially promised, and even to these ears sounds somewhat influential on final Suede single (at the time), 2003’s ‘Attitude’. The very final B-side of this era is the brilliant and biting ‘Read My Mind’. As with ‘Crackhead’, it reveals a starker, harsher sound complimented by the blank words defining a phase of depression, most likely revealing the way the writer was feeling at the time. The chorus harmonies add to the relentlessness of the piece and once it’s over, you’re honestly left wanting more.

So these B-sides make up the lost record of 1999 whilst also pointing towards Suede’s final record of their first run. The rockier record that Osman hinted at was surely influenced by the likes of ‘Bored’, ‘Crackhead’ and ‘Read My Mind’, whilst the likes of ‘Let Go’, ‘Leaving’ and ‘Since You Went Away’ were very definitely influences on what eventually did surface. The folklore of early Suede and the B-sides compilation ‘Sci Fi Lullabies’ would lead the casual observer to believe that the band had peaked creatively to the point that post-1997 B-sides would not be worth investigating, however I believe differently and now, thanks to the reissues of ‘Head Music’, these can now be easily accessed for wider reappraisal.

#suede #head music #happy HM anniversary!#head music review

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whatdoesshedotothem · 3 years

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Saturday 11 April 1835: SH:7/ML/E/18/0016

8 20

11 55

No kiss. fine morning F48° at 9 5 am at which hour breakfast and at downstairs reading till 10 50 from p. 181 to 195 Philip of Idiopathic fevers - John took before breakfast my letter written last night as above to ‘Messrs. Jonathan Gray and son solicitors Petergate York ppd’ - out at 11 5 sometime with Charles H- and John Mann in the joiners’ shop - talking about the Spiggs coal pit - then had Charles planning a granary over part of the new coach house and bottle cratches and lumber etc cupboard in the laundry - had Mr Freeman from about (before)12 to 2 20 - out with A- at 2 35 left her at the Cliff Hill gate close to the house- walked leisurely back by the old highroad - paid Charles H- senior for the compass I had from him sometime ago - went up to Walker pit - told Joseph Mann to try and agree with Pickells for a gin horse for a few days or a week by the day and to send Holt’s horse home for fear it should die with us - have had 4 days - then giving orders to John - to get his brother to come and what jobs to set him - then giving orders to Charles Howarth and set out railing in Allen car for Richard Woodhead to do in my absence - then up again at Walker pit to lock up the gin shafts with a padlock from home Holt having promised but failed to get one - came in at 6 10 - wrote the last 6 lines - and wrote 4 pages of ½ sheet and 3 or 4 lines on envelope (what I wrote on Thursday would not do) and wrote under the seal small and close to Lady VC- of what I wrote on Thursday - dinner at 7 - sent off at 7 ½ my letter to ‘the honourable Lady Stuart 21 Grosvenor Place’ and enclosed with it my letter to ‘the Lady Vere Cameron’ both undercover to ‘Lord Stuart de Rothesay 3 Carlton house Terrace London’ - Mr Washington waited about ½ hour till we had done dinner - A- with him while I came up to dress and went down again to coffee at 7 55 - Mr Washington staid till 9 ½ - with my aunt ¼ hour till 10 10 - had just before going to her had letter from Mr Jonathan Gray to say he would be at home and would call on us at 6 pm on Monday and kind letter one ½ sheet full from lady Stuart de R- skimmed over the London paper came upstairs at 11 ¼ - fine day F49° now at 11 ¼ pm - Mr Freeman came about Barber’s information against the 2 young men - all against B- said he had informed against these two youths tho’ he confessed he had seen Gill come in the right and fetch trees away and had never told because he was afraid if he had Gill would have murdered - I said if Mr F- would stand to this it was reason enough to turn B- off said I was going from home - would meet Mr F- in the wood and have B- before us on my return - F- had been much hurt fancied I was offended against him - quoting the conclusion of my note (vid. line 6p. 19 - explained that) merely meant that whoever was wrong Gill had beaten both F- and me and that tho’ I was absolutely in want of stakes and buildings at the time I could neither get them from Gill nor get any value from them from any one - luckily consulted Mr F- about an architect and engineer - it seems Mr. Bradley had nearly got out of F- £300 and in the same almost swindling sort of way for £1500 out of Wentworth’s and Chaloners’ bank

SH:7/ML/E/18/0017

at Wakefield - Bradley not a man to be depended on - very idle - never right in his estates - not fit to be an architect except a soft stone country - not fit for stone like ours - once gave F- an order for a portico (Corinthian capitals etc) estate £20 and F- told him he could not get the work done under £25 let alone price of stone - I said this would never do for me - mentioned my intention of making Northgate house into a good Inn - F- thought it would answer very well - he mentioned Johnstone of Lichfield, and also Potter an elderly man (also of Lichfield) very clever who built Stafford jail and infirmary - but Mr. Bernard Hartley aetatis about 55 of Pontefract (employed for the country) one of the most honest men to be found - he might be interested implicitly - Jesse Hartley of Liverpool brother to Bernard also an architect - Mr. Thomas Lees of Cheetham hill, Manchester, a very clever man, but not quite to be taken of his word - F- did not know of any engineer - said Rag Covers from 4 to 6 in. thick enough to be carted by Mark Hepworth e.g. and delivered (from F-‘s Northowram quarry) at Denmark engine pit at 2/3 per superficial yard - 9 square ft. = 1 superficial yard .:. a goit 5ft. wide (i.e. requiring bottoms of 6ft. long) would take 1 ½ superficial yards per yard in length - therefore my 5ft. wide goit will cost ¾ ½ per yard in length for bottoms - suppose the goit costs 12/-

Bottoms per linear yard = 3.4 ½

Tops ditto ditooo = 3.4 ½

Side walling stones = 1.0 ?

Labour walling and digging = 4.0

11.9

per yard – and the arched part might not cost more for F- would have me buy field wall stones (by the lump) for it

this hearing about Bradley is terrible - but it is well, nothing is absolutely began - I must look about me for somebody else - what a pity so much time has been lost! - note this morning from Mr Parker with my bill and cash account and papers of my field purchased of Mr S. Washington and a deed relating to the Staups purchase - ‘Mr Mitchell called this morning and proposed fixing a price upon the lower George when he had seen Mr Bateman’ - I should have returned some answer this evening as Mr P- is going to London tomorrow but for matter escaped my memory - nice letter from lady Stuart de R- impossible to say what will be done - Lord Grey has failed to make a ministry ditto Lord Melbourne - ‘if Lord Lansdowne excludes Lord Bingham and chances to give office to O’ Connell, I think he will be more mad than the ex. chancellor’ - Lady S- de R- will be out of London at Easter for a week ‘and then must be back to present Louisa! who is really grown up I hope, or she will be too tall - she and Charlotte and papa all desire kind remembrances and believe me very truly yours E. Stuart de Rothesay’ -

my letter to V- merely a kind letter of congratulation on the birth of the young laird - and my letter to lady Stuart merely thanks for her telling me so immediately of V-‘s confinement and affectionate inquires after and hopes about Lady S-‘s own health - her letter had alarmed me and prepared me in some sort for the melancholy political news of the resignation of minsters -

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sepiadice · 4 years

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DiceJar Campaign 0.2: ‘It sticks its nonexistent tongue out at you.’ (2020/01/31)

Shorter session this week, and also down a NavyDie due to work and him being a boring adult.

The section of the module I had prepared has four combat encounters, only one I could reasonably cut. I was trying to think of some way to abstract one down, since even two combats is a stretch.

Fortunately, we only got through half of the material I planned, so the third can be saved next time, with only one other fight left on the current floor (and I might be able to cut that one).

I also felt a lot less stressed this time. Players taking an active interest in when the session was happening, actually getting a second session, and having notes prepared put me in a better mindset. So that's a good thing to know about myself!

Probably need to come up with a team name. Probably should ask the players to devise one.

Cast

Mogui (IndigoDie): Druid. Sponsored by Lord Grey to go on this rite of passage. Indigo is an old pal from High School. Yot (LimeDie): Cleric. Mercenary that finds himself in Kassen often. Lime is a newer pal from an Improv Club. Delilah Dunford (VermilionDie): Rogue. Daughter of nobles, volunteered for this mission by her butler. Vermilion is someone I knew during high school, but the age of our pal-ness is vaguely defined. Bernard 'Bean' Dipp (NavyDie): Ranger(?). Young man forced to grow up quickly in light of his father's affliction. Navy is an Improv pal, and was also absent this session. Game Master (SepiaDie/me): Environment (mostly skeletons). Dungeon is a crypt where something spooky might be happening. Sepia is me, and thus probably my greatest enemy.

Session Two

I opened with two quick prose bits that Lime described as ‘Loading Screen’ text. Which is accurate, I suppose. Both were from travel guides, one formal, the other what I intend to be my Hitchhiker’s guide. It’s a fun narrative device I picked up from Dice Friends[1]: in-setting exposition and world building.

The party starts where they left off: standing outside the crypt, looking at some dead horses.

Delilah investigates the saddlebags, identifying the maker mark of the town leather worker, Mr. Shepherd, a pleasant if quiet elf man.[2] The bags contain blunt arrows, travel rations, and two pillows. Curious.

The party enters the dungeon proper, and I have to actually use the Roll20 application for more than doodling[3] and tracking relative locations.

In the first room is two fresh corpses, two heavily broken skeletons, and six less-broken skeletons.

The fresh bodies are two friends of Kassen’s mayor. What a tragedy. Why are they here, though?

Six skeletons rise up to fight the interlopers. Combat begins!

I think the fight went well. Three players kept a fair clip as compared to, say, seven to eight. Six skeletons focused on just attacking whoever is closest or draws their aggression. The skeletons have low health, so they were dispatched quickly. As a GM, the fight didn't feel like it dragged.

Skeletons now rendered dead, again, our heroes are now able to take a breath and take in the scene. A mural of Kassen driving off a horde of enemies decorates the opposite wall,[4] a reasonable amount of dust coats the various surfaces, and a wailing echoes through the hallowed halls.

I failed to indicate the direction the wailing was coming from (the southeast exit), so the party elected to do the logical thing and go through the northwest door.

This room held a pool of water, fed by a fountain depicting a woman crying over a dying Kassen. Kassen’s head had worn off, however, a detail to concern the players with its possible meaning.

A voice Booms ‘Magic is the Key’.

At the bottom of the forty foot deep pool lays hundreds of keys. A tough, complicated puzzle to…

Yot cast light on a pebble, dove in, and cast Detect Magic.[5] One of the keys is radiating magic. The module didn’t say what type of magic it was, so I just shrugged at clarifying questions and admitted it didn’t really matter.[6]

The key unlocks one of the doors in the room, which leads to a hall flanked on either side by statues of Kassen holding swords. The utter dedication to this one guy is starting to get a little silly. Surely there were other members of his mercenary band that… might deserve…

Anyways, ignoring the fun change to the narrative I could make,[7] the party progresses and accidentally steps on a pressure plate, which drops the swords onto… mostly just Delilah, who was leading the way, the other two standing in the gaps between the statues.[8] Luckily, the trap has to be manually reset, so they can just use acrobatics checks to pass now that the swords are down.

Next room: multilevel chamber, with a giant statue standing before them, holding two shields, one reading ‘Home’ and the other ‘Family’.

And yes, the statue is of Kassen. So much Kassen decoration. So many tax dollars wasted on glorifying a founder in a location most people would never visit, with the Mayor being the only one confirmed to visit more than once in his life. They could’ve used the upkeep costs on fixing potholes, or making a park, or expanding Kassen.

The nice thing about being a Game Master is you can address such fridge logic.

Mogui descends the stairs to the lower level first, activating a wood golem! It steps off a pressure plate, which turns the stairs into a slope.

Initiative is rolled, and the wooden golem crits on Mogui, knocking him into death save territory. Whoops.

Yot follows him down, slipping on the slope and landing prone. Delilah prepares a rope down before shooting the enemy with her bow. Critical failure. She throws herself off balance and slides down to the lower level.[9]

Yot attempts to battle the wood golem, ignoring his companion rolling dice to not die right next to him. Meanwhile, Delilah climbs onto the wood golem in a sneak attack. While up there, she spots an odd keyhole on the back of its neck.

Luckily, she just happened to have a magic key. Which she uses to turn off the boss fight, causing it to move back to its podium and restore the stairs to a usable state.

Mogui is also healed to standing.

Were it not for the golem scoring two (2!) critical hits on my players, I’d say it was a pretty good fight design. The room had levels, lending interesting positioning options, the puzzle of the staircase-to-ramp mechanism, and despite the golem having high hit points for the player’s level, it also had a discoverable ‘off switch’ to give more of a puzzler solution. Fights are better when designed as puzzles instead of a series of dice rolls.

Puzzle design can be hard, though. However, combat might also be a case of a little work going a long way to just make the mechanical showcase more interesting.

This session held one straight fight, a puzzle, then a puzzle-fight. It felt like a good session composition, though it would have been nice to have some role-playing.

Oh wait. I’m in charge here.

The party takes a moment to take a breath. They decide they need a break. Their GM sits, knowing the door they’re standing right next to goes to the prize room. They just need to… go in…

Instead, the party backtracks to the fountain-and-keys room for a short rest.

Maybe I’m not as in charge here as I’d hoped.

As players start asking for an end of the session, I play the ‘We’re so close to a big moment’ card, and gently tell them to go through that door.

Now, the module as written has the party enter the room to find a masterwork weapon[10] or other item, and a potion for each party member, and a note saying how proud their families are. A gift from the community for their new adults. Nice, but lacks a certain punch.

So, I give them their potions and non-masterwork items. Because usable loot is good to have. But you know what’s rarely utilized? Trinkets! Things with no mechanical value at all!

So Mogui, whose player I workshopped with for this specific moment,[11] found a Family Tree prepared for him by his employer, Lord Grey. I also took the note of pride and turned it into a letter from Lord Grey. Then I made Indigo tell me what the letter says.[12] Mogui was sent to work for Lord Grey in exchange for his family receiving a noble title, and this family tree was the needed evidence for his family to claim their title. The letter essentially thanked him for his service and Lord Grey’s pride in having him.

Next was Yot. He didn’t have family in town, so how do I work him into this? Well, honorary adoption, of course. The widows and mothers of Kassen have knitted him winter clothes like a hat, socks, and gloves.[13] The starter I gave for his letter was small notes from the community thanking him for his help. When I turned Lime loose, he wanted to add indictments from loved ones he let die in the field. And, as important as it is for a GM not to invalidate player choices, it’s important for the GM and player to workshop. Because such things wouldn’t have reasonably gotten on that table, instead I suggested that they were forgivenesses for those deaths, which Yot nevertheless took hard.

The final present party member, Delilah, received two gold coins from her parents and a bag of her favorite sweets from her butler. I just dictated the parent’s letter as them just giving her her allowance, not fully understanding what their daughter volunteered for. Her butler’s letter, however, I let Vermilion handle. She turned it into an apology for fibbing about how involved her parents were in allowing her to join this rite of passage mission, but he is proud of her, and hopes she enjoys the candy.

For Bean, who was following behind but was likely too scared to be of any help this session,[15] there was a hand carved figurine of a dog, made by his father, as well as a letter from the same. I’ll have Navy get his fair moment to do his letter.[16]

Thus ends the session.

I felt more confident leading this session, and the actual contents felt meatier than just travelling to the crypt. I’ve started adding my own material, and no one’s told me they’re unsatisfied,[17] so let’s call it a successful session!

Actually combatting my nature and making a point-by-point break down on what happens in each room and how it works went a long way to keeping me confident and cool. I don’t need to impress anyone. And I put in good work.

I was especially proud of the trinkets. I feel like the players engaged with them, it provided a chance to trick the players into exposition, and it was a role-playing moment. Every session is better when you write open ended chances to role-play.

The actual walking through the dungeon and traps still needs work, though. Certain traps activate when a player steps on a certain space, and I’m still struggling with how to perform trapfinding checks without making everyone cautious. Making players check every space with a check would get tedious, doing a check behind my screen on behalf of a player feels blasphemous as players should roll their own dice, and just having them doing it once they enter the room just feels narratively disconnected. I’ll need to think on that hall with swords and statues.

Also figure out what happened to fountain Kassen’s head.

And on why there’s just… so much Kassen around the place.

Anyways, I had fun with it. The session got a puzzle and a half, a combat and a half, skill checks, and roleplaying! Getting better as a GM! I feel it!

Now to achieve a session good enough it fills my players to yearn to talk to me about it outside of the session! The after session decompression and discussion was always my favorite times during the high school games.

I have a patreon and ko-fi if you wish to support me. Financial support will set me on my path to an actual play show and making a living writing and creating.

Until next time, may your dice make things interesting.[19]

[1]Specifically Kathleen DeVere’s Bylaws and Order and Cameron Lauder’s After the Flood campaigns. I look forward to having a go-to newspaper to reference like Kathleen’s. [2] I don't recall if I ever gave Trix's father a first name, but this is he. Trix is in Kassen somewhere. [3] Advice: maintain a separate page to play around with. Wards away graffiti on the actual map, and gives you a landing page to transition into the game time mindspace. [4] Presumably in a similar manner to Martin the Warrior's tapestry. [5] Which he probably shouldn’t be able to do while holding his breath, but also making him get out, cast the spell, then dive back in is nitpicking. [6] Yot can worry about getting cancer from diving into a reactor cooler later. [7] Unless, in the incredibly likely event I just forget, I don’t implement this. [8] Should’ve alternated the placement of statues so every square has one. So everyone has an equal chance at pain. [9] Is it possible that the party is just so bad with declines that I can retroactively justify messing up on the hill during session one? Maybe. Maybe. [10] Non-existent in Fifth Edition. [11] I couldn’t come up with an obvious prize, so I just asked. Benefit of experience playing with the guy and trust that he won’t cheat. [12] I would’ve made Navy go first were he there, since Navy has both my trust and improv experience to set a good example. [13] Ms. Shepherd didn’t finish her scarf in time, since it took a bit to source the wool from her family’s flock.[14] [14] I really need to play Trix again… [15] Navy can get final say on justification. [16] The ideal sequence would’ve been experienced improv person who’s trinket I’m confident in, then the player who I had dictate his trinket, then the improv player with the shakier trinket, then the player who I’m new to playing with. Turns out that last one knocked it out of the park, which is affirming. [17] Outside one player’s continuing dislike of D&D. I’ll probably do GURPS for the next one. Unless I need to punish everyone. In which case, Maid RPG.[18] [18] Actually, on a serious note, if you can look past the… tone and anime-ness of everything else, Maid RPG has a mechanic that would be a great tool to understand the shut-downs of Autustic Students. If there was literally any way I could pitch that to my higher-ups at work. [19] Confession: still not completely sold on this sign-off, but Kataal kataal isn’t for this context.

#SepiaDieGMs #crypt of the everflame #Dungeons and Dragons #Fifth Edition #NavyDice #IndigoDice #limedice #VermillionDice

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katherinewilliams221b · 4 years

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Gonna shoot some questions right back at you 🖤 For the fanfic ask - 3, 9 (AND 18+19) bc I'm always fascinatied with all those gems sitting on the disc like that xd And also 12, 13, 24 and 25. Sorry for the number but I am a curious creature 🤡

3. Favourite line/scene you wrote this year

a) “I’m always on your side, you’re my best friend!” “Then why are you bein' such a scutterin' gobshite!?”

b) “To family, blood or not. To the ones we love and love us back, to the ones we lost but will always be in our hearts. And to the holidays, that give us the opportunity to be together once again.”

9. longest wip of the year

The Datura stramonium series. I have mixed feelings with that. Something that makes the inspiration fluids flow is reading the books. I like putting mc’s life in parts of the Harry Potter series that are not mentioned or vague, maybe some plot holes that I can fix (a little bit arrogant for my part but). I started writing when I was reading the Goblet of Fire, and I thought ‘What if mc was in the Quidditch World Cup but wasn’t mentioned in the books because she wasn’t with Harry?’. The thing with Datura stramonium is that the story has no relation to the Harry Potter books, it’s completely independent and I don’t know what to do with it. There are no restrictions because I can do whatever I want with the characters because they are ocs. And that blocks me in a way. I wasn’t enjoying it anymore and I put it on hold. I intend to finish it next year; I have an outline, a purpose and I know how I want it to end, I just need some time to figure things out and decide how Kate’s going from point A to point B without being boring or tedious.

12. favourite character to write about this year

I knew from the start that Kate must have had a complicated family history, when I used to play HogsMyst, I noticed that mc’s parents where hardly mentioned. I didn’t want Kate to have horrible parents that hate their daughter and that she blames them for everything. I didn’t want that kind of drama. To solve this, the logical solution was that they were really invested in jobs that were of international business (making them travel a lot, and generally being absent). I didn’t want to make Kate a loner either, she needed a relative completely opposite to her parents. And Bernard Walsh happened. A grandfather/mother as a role model was perfect. His personality and backstory came to me so naturally, it felt right. I also wanted to create a cool grandmother as well, but it was then when I added the drama factor: it’s only natural to lose the people we love, and that would make it more realistic.

Bernard is such a wonderful man, I am for sure going to write more about him.

13. favourite writing song/artist/album of this year

I started to make a Kate/Charlie playlist, not of their lives only, just songs that reminded me of them. Here’s a few:

I Bet My Life – Imagine Dragons

Like Gold – Vance Joy

Fiddlers Green – The Kilkennys

This Afternoon – Nickelback

Hail Rain or Sunshine – The Script

Oh, What a Life – American Authors

The Story of Tonight – We The Kings version

Thank God For Ireland – Tyrone Wells (THIS ONE REPRESENTS EXACTLY HOW I IMAGINE WHAT CHARLIE THINKS ABOUT KATE LIKE IT’S JUST PERFECT IM FANGIRLING RN)

Memories – Maroon 5

Simple Life – Young Rising Sons

18. current number of wips

So, we have Datura, and all the random pieces, scenes, dialogues I haven’t written because I don’t know what to do with them. I also have a secret document that someday will see the light of day, when it’s long enough, of a compilation of moments that I cut out from fics because I didn’t want to make them too cheesy).

19. any new fics to start next year

Okay, *cracks knuckles*, since I am currently reading the Order of Phoenix the majority of the fics are going to be “mission oriented” (because of what I explained in point 9). This is the forecast:

- Finishing Datura series

- Missions for the Order: a dangerous trip to Albania and also a mini series about a mission in Drumstrang school (I want to explore first person POV again because I enjoyed it tremendously).

- I also want to explore the time when Charlie went to Romania. I want to discuss how they felt, how they coped with a long-distance relationship, what were the challenges there etc. Also changing the format, maybe through letters or mixing POVS, 2020 is going to be a year of practising different styles for me. So yeah, a few fluffy pieces are in the horizon.

That’s the plan. If I get creative and write other things so be it, and if I get frustrated and I end up not writing, that’s okay too.

24. favourite fic you read this year and 25. a fic you read this year you would recommend.

I read a lot of magnificent fics this year, there’s a lot of talent out there and that is amazing to me. I will always, always recommend At All Cost series by @ardentmuse. That fic is exquisite; the way its written, the plot, her Charlie… that’s the fic that inspired me to start writing.

Thank you @eldritchscreech for being always there, commeting and tagging me in fun picrews to make. You are amazing and you have no idea how much I appreciate your support <3

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sweetfirebird · 5 years

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If you ever have any interest in doing so, I would find your self-publishing experience super interesting to read about, especially if you talked about vulgar things like cost.

I don’t know if I am the average self-publisher. I sort of... went into it with no real thought or uh, proper concern, at the time? Which I think is partly because I started out in fandom, with fanfiction and then “Original Slash” as it was known then. Where you just... posted large, novel-length stories for free on LJ or free websites because it wasn’t like anyone was going to *pay you* or it was serious or anything.

(Yes, I am laughing at that now.)

So I was, technically, a published writer long before all of this started I just didn’t think of it that way.

I also... I first wrote and submitted a story to an mm publisher in the first place because I wanted to be PUBLISHED in a tangible way before I hit thirty. Also I was unemployed at the time and thought extra money might be nice. (FYI, I made about 30 dollars the first few quarters that Let There Be Light was published. In case anyone has glamorous dreams here.)

Maybe because it was a short novella, or maybe because I just, didn’t think of it in serious career terms, I think I submitted another short story eventually but I had no plan. That’s why I’m telling you this part. Everything I did, especially at the beginning, was casually, with no plan or forethought. The fact that I have even a tiny foothold in the mm or queer romance market now is basically just timing. I got in fairly early, and, to their credit, Dreamspinner did let me write whatever.

(I mean, within their limits They are a gay male romance publisher. There is a reason Zazzie and Bernard don’t get their own story, for example. But yeah, DSP let me do an anthology of the Beings verse, which genuinely surprised me.)

My first self-published stuff was short stories I’d written before for friends for fun, and I put them up for free. They were not edited or anything. They didn’t have covers. I knew HTML and stuff from years ago, so eventually, so I worked on formatting and primitive covers. I made blog posts on LJ, sometimes, when I remembered. Facebook I forgot about because self-promotion is the worst. Then someone made fun of me for never posting there. (Self-promotion is serious, guys. Awkward af but serious.) Important sidenote: I made almost nothing from Smashwords at the beginning. Maybe once a year I got $75 or so. Again, most people start very small.

As I started to think of it as something serious, I tried Goodreads and talking to other authors (this was a disaster but perhaps that is just me. But yeah. I don’t really talk with other authors now. It could be the rejection sensitive dysphoria, but my impression is they want nothing to do with me.. However, I think networking is important and if you can and like it, you should do it. I miss out on A LOT of info and chances and free promotion stuff because I don’t talk to people.)

Also, Amazon, at the beginning of all this, was helpful. (I mean, they are evil and their help comes at a cost, but they were helpful and I will acknowledge that. I think KU is ultimately harmful to authors, but it has given a lot of authors a boost as well.)

Okay. All of that out of the way. I started self-publishing casually, as I said, but I did it seriously for the first time with A Little Familiar. I think that was the one that I planned out and thought about, though not as well as I should. I was on a very tight budget so it got no proper editing, just proofreads and an editing program. But I released it in early October and I made it cheap.

--Pricing is the devil of a post-KU writing world. People do not seem to want to pay what a book is worth. Putting an entire novella--a month or longer of work--for sale at 99 cents tends to help it sell but how much the author gets out of that depends on cover costs, editing costs, sensitivity reader costs, and advertising if they pay for that. Not to mention things like websites and domains, or con visits, and the swag that apparently readers expect at cons, those cost money also. Also authors have to buy the copies of books they sell at cons, guys. Those are not free.

(I don’t do conventions because well, overstimulation aside, people don’t like me and I am not... an open, friendly people person. I have no knowledge of how directly con appearances affect sales. BUT they can help networking, and they might be useful. Con costs include travel, lodging, booth rental, and swag, plus food. PLUS time off work for some writers. Again, talking hundreds if not thousands.)

Advertising costs... BookBub, Amazon, Goodreads (owned by Amazon) offer paid promotion services. So does Facebook. The more you pay, the more they suggest your work to people. If you think a couple hundred dollars will get you noticed, think again. They want thousands or more before they will remotely plug your stuff. (Yikes) Some authors pool their money for this.

IF you network enough, you might get a bunch of reviews or likes from authors who are also readers. You can also get promoted through Amazon if you get enough reviews (you need sales to get sales, it’s very chicken/egg). It used to be 25 reviews, but now I think it’s 50.(Yiiiikes)

Editing is hundreds of dollars, minimum. Audiobooks look to be about the same, though I’ve never handled that for my self-published stories. Cover art... the most expensive cover art I’ve had was almost $200. It’s cheaper if it’s ebook only, though.

I also use a paid editing program, which isn’t perfect. And Adobe, because sometimes people want PDFs. I try to keep my costs as minimal as possible, so basically I rely on a lot of word of mouth to get my stories out there. But again, I’ve had a long time to slowly, ineptly, build a brand of sorts. I have no idea how someone would do that now, except to advise them to make friends.

Also the rules are changing. It used to be don’t interact with critics, now it’s polite to thank the professional reviewers. (I know! A shock for me). There are podcasts and things too. But I know nothing of those. I am a cave troll.

So, yeah, say you have a novella you want to self-publish. It’s... idk. 115 pages maybe. It’s two months or longer of work. (Less, if you are one of those speedy writers or don’t have a day job). You pay up front for editing and cover. Let’s say one round of edits and not two. You are out... idk... let’s say $400, maybe more maybe less. (More if it’s a good edit. Some people don’t pay editors enough, some editors aren’t as good, whatever. You also have internet costs etc... ) You promote it and your other work at a con, that’s several more hundred dollars, though maybe you share a room at the hotel with a writer friend.

You can now post it on Amazon. $2.99 or $3.99 seems reasonable, you think, for a few hours of entertainment for someone. Less than a frappuccino. But then someone complains that the cost is too high, and several people seem to agree, so you end up making it $1.99. You get 70% of the royalties plus some KU money if you sign up for that. KU makes you Amazon-exclusive but being in their lending library means you might get new readers. Then, IF your story cracks the top 100, IF you get enough reviews, in a few months, you will get international payments of several cents for your story and domestic payments of--if you are lucky--a thousand or more.

Seems like, well not the stuff that dreams are made of, but still a lot. But then you take out the operating costs (and oh, things like rent and copyright fees and writing guild fees) and you are left with... not much.

That all sounds really discouraging. This is a very rough and disorganized explanation, because sitting still is hard for me today. But really I guess my point is, it’s slow work to build an audience. It’s hard. It’s a bit easier if you already know some coding and formatting stuff (and probably way easier if you know graphic design). My biggest problem really is trying to keep up with industry news, and looking into new things (like translations or audiobooks or agents. Some people have agents?) while also writing and working my other job.

But you do get more freedom. You can write what you want. You can publish what you want. (Well, you can. But you still have an audience to please, and they have expectations.) And there are less people to take cuts of your money. (And frankly, if they aren’t promoting your book anyway, or supporting you as you write, which are the traditional jobs of the publishing house, then why should they get so much money? They are supposed to make things easier for writers, not harder. But if one did that for me? I’d probably jump at the chance.)

Uh so yeah. Thank you for coming to this messy-ass TED Talk.

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guldageroverby8-blog · 5 years

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Golf Sphere Netting.

As a local business owner, the last thing you intend to do is put your customers or staff in danger. Nov 17 (Reuters) - A UNITED STATE judge has actually disregarded a claim looking for to need the 30 Major League Baseball teams to prolong netting at stadiums farther down the very first- and third-base lines to protect fans from injuries brought on by busted bats and foul rounds. The following netting panels are in stock and ship within one business day, we provide small sections of nylon netting without any boundary ropes in addition to PolyPro netting panels in both Golf as well as Baseball dimensions that have rope approach sides. This was essential to make note-off, since, we do not have many accounts of our background from our perspective that abound in the Viral soup, as well as in many publications. The several publications covered us by immigrants, are just that: Hour background as told by immigrants. In this case, as in the Hub above, this is our tale and also background as we see, and also have experienced it-as we Africans do-also, as Biko had explained above concerning the distinctions between Western thinking and our own indigenous method of seeing points, that, it is not a matter, as some have actually mentioned, people attempting to relieve or resolve background, only. Yes, it's just what I am expressly doing that, restoring our past to life to life in the Hub above. African Songs in South Africa. This dynamic is replicated in much of South African art as well as is reflected in exhibits, where the majority of the art can still be separated along discrimination lines, nearly as if looking at cultural diversity via a magnifying glass. Nebraska Medicine-Nebraska Medical Facility (Omaha). Nebraska Medicine, which is the key professional companion of College of Nebraska Medical Center, has more than 1,000 associated medical professionals, and also its specialists see clients from all 50 states and from 47 nations. U.S. News & World Report rated Nebraska Medicine, which includes 809 qualified beds at its 2 medical facilities, the No. 1 hospital in Nebraska for 2017-18. In 2017, Nebraska Medicine got the Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Top Quality Leadership Award from Vizient. I would love to read centers regarding the Voortrekkers composed by you. I am aware of the fact that I recognize only one side of the story and I am truthfully thinking about the accounts of the Africans. Tenet Mutwa's publication, My People", is in reality my only offered recommendation - in addition to the journals that were written by my very own ancestors as well as the censored history that were fed to us by the Apartheids Division of Education. By the 1980s, protestors frequently arranged themselves right into soccer teams to dumbfound the regime. They can take a trip quickly across worldwide boundaries, and matches represented an useful resource of loan for below ground anti-apartheid organizations. Peter Alegi, a historian and also writer of African Soccerscapes, informed me that as early as 1944, the earnings from soccer suits was being handed over to the ANC. Patson Banda, a former player for the Orlando Pirates, keeps in mind one game that was played throughout the border in Zimbabwe in front of greater than 100,000 paying fans. Again, the ANC obtained the profits collected at eviction. St. Jude Children's Study Health center (Memphis, Tenn.). Families obtaining care at St. Jude Children's Research Health center never ever obtain a bill for treatment, travel or housing costs; treatment is instead moneyed largely through donations. Public contributions cover 75 percent of St. Jude's operating costs, which complete $2.4 million each day. The medical facility is just one of 69 National Cancer Cells Institute-designated Cancer Cells Centers in the United States, as well as UNITED STATE News & World Report ranked St. Jude as the No. 1 hospital in the country for pediatric specialty treatment in 2017-18. 1997mBafana Bafana receives the Globe Mug finals for the first time with a 1-0 victory over Congo in the beginning National Financial institution stadium. Manning Rangers crowned the initial PSL Oliphant becomes the 3rd head of state of SAFA since its, South African Football Athletes Union (SAFPU) wases established. I have a response that does this put-down on Africans on this Center. It is more so the reason I am blogging about the society of African people and also at the same time attempting very difficult to bring them around-to get on one page-as to the nature of these assaults, as well as exactly what this Hub performs in lessening the anxieties of the bad and inadequately informed individuals, that is, pushing back harder compared to they are striking, maybe the self-confidence as well as growth have to review on these problems as a collective for African individuals will materialize itself as well as come to be a way of living as well as seeing. We can not desire and wish that we ought to be approved by our opponents as just humans without our identity of being African always the first thing the opponent sees. golf practice nets can not wish for approval into a society of consuming, of mosting likely to their churches, of drinking their culture by just specifying that we do not see shade, neither acknowledge shade. This is an uphill struggle, however we are in it, on it and also at it. We have books that deal as well as explain our culture created as early as the 1800, where we can cull whatever we need for the 21 century, and make them match the objectives and also goals of our communitiesI have actually mentioned a few above. We are writing initial write-ups such as this set to gradually bring to the leading edge the value and also success of African societies in South Africa.

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tiesandtea · 4 years

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Suede: prima donna Brett about Head Music (OOR, May 1999)

By Raymond Rotteveel Magazine: OOR no. 9, p. 34-37, 1st May 1999 (cover) Scanned by @kalluun-patangaroa (full article here) Translated from Dutch by Miriam, SuedeNation Scrapbook (source)

A short report on the London Astoria fanclub gig (27 March 1999) and the preceding press conference, followed by an earlier original interview with Brett about Head Music, its creation, influences and lyrical approach.

Head Music is not a reaction against Coming Up. We made this record without thinking about our past.

On paper, it looks like fun, but in real life, press conferences can be pretty disappointing. In real life, the five members of Suede are sat on a small podium in the London club Astoria, blinking their eyes because of the bright spotlights and they can see nothing of the about a hundred journalists that have flown in from all over the world. If the band is then confronted with – to say it mildly – backward questions like 'What do you think about Bernard Butler', it isn't very motivating and a corny atmosphere sets in.

Singer Brett Anderson, sat in the middle, at first answers the questions cooly and businesslike. 'No, I haven't heard BB's album yet, but the split was the best that could ever happen to me. We are both happy, so...'. And: 'No we did not choose Electricity as the single, a group of idiots did that.' Anderson wants to stress that he feels happy: 'Yes, even I have all the emotions a man can have, and being happy is one of them', and that for him, the evolution of Suede is best expressed in his favourite song Savoir Faire. 'It came to be through a new way of songwriting, but it also has the dark edge of Suede in it'.

If about 10 minutes later Ludwig from Austria (magazine unknown) asks when the single will be released – the Astoria is wallpapered with posters saying 'Electricity, new single out on April 12' – the party is over. 'Speak to your local Sony', Brett snaps back and announces the last question. The planned time for our questions is thus reduced to 15 minutes.

A few hours later the Astoria is filled with about 1500 people for a special fanclub-only gig.

The concert has, even before it's started, all the ingredients to become special. It is the first one in London since a long time and it’s especially for the real fans and therefore an appropriate test case for the new material. From opener 'Can't Get Enough', a raw straight-forward rocker, Brett is in his element: gesticulating, clapping his hands and dangerously waving his microphone about, he moves across the stage like a male diva, all the while arousing the audience with sensual hip-wiggling moves. "I feel now walking like a woman and talking like a stone age man", he wallows in his well-known cracking voice. Those who see him like this understand why he was once called 'the man who brought style back to British music by slapping his arse'. Other things that catch attention are that the now short-haired guitarist Richard Oakes is given a lot more space live than on the album and that is for the good of the sound.

The melodramatic 'Down', the ballad 'He's Gone' and the Eastern-tinted 'Indian Strings' are the highlights of the new songs tonight, while of the older material the sublime B-side 'Europe Is Our Playground', the hit 'Trash' and the encores 'Beautiful Ones' and 'Saturday Night' are way ahead (of) the rest. From the first two albums, no songs are played.

Two weeks earlier in a hotel in Notting Hill, the area where most Suede members live.

The band has just finished mixing HM and tiredness is written across Brett's face. 'Pff, yeah, we have been mixing till late last night and it has been pretty intense. It's been hard labour, but then it always is. I have never made a record that was not difficult, but that's part of it. It is not meant to be relaxing to make a record, in my opinion. It always has to be a difficult process. It's always hard work and there's always a moment where you think 'Fuck, this is going completely wrong'. I have experienced that with every record. You have to doubt the things you are doing or create. Unless you are a total idiot, you have to doubt to be able to create'.

Head Music. A record that isn't half as easily digestible as preceding million-seller CU, but that isn't as heavy as for example DMS. A record that, also through attracting producer Steve Osborne (of the remix team Perfecto Records and known for Happy Mondays and U2), was announced in the British press to be a dance album.

Unjustly, Brett says: 'There are a lot of dance elements in it, drumloops, electronics, samples, that sort of thing. A lot of songs have been written from a certain groove or rhythm. In that, Steve had an important part. But the fact that we sound like this now, has also to do with the fact that we wanted to change our sound. To do so, we chose Steve and it worked out very well. But it's not a dance record, no. No, I've never really understood those notices in the press. I mean, I wish it was that easy, that you could say ‘Come on, let's do a dance record'. But that's not the case. It's kinda stupid to say something like that. If you say that upfront, it will never sound like a fucking dance record. It's a Suede record with elements from dance music. Suede will of course remain a rock & roll band and will not change into some sort of dance act because we happened to work with a producer who produced that sort of record in the past. It’s true that there are more songs now that you can really move to, that are in a way very danceable.'

HM sounds very different from the light-footed CU. How did that come about? I have been listening to a lot of different music over the last years, to music that has not been written from the starting point of traditional songwriting. Things like Tricky, Asian Dub Foundation, Audioweb and Prince. Furthermore, there has been a sort of musical revolution within me. I used to write songs from a melody, usual the singing melody, while now I see music more as a whole. I have learned to experiment with different instruments, I have learned to play new instruments and have even become a reasonable guitarist. There are, by the way, a lot of other songs on HM, songs with a heavy punk-like guitar. Can't Get Enough can be regarded as a punk song, but then (in) Suede style. People often regard punk and dance as two totally different styles, but that's not the case. The best punk has a groove, and the best dance sounds agressive. We have tried to use the best of both styles.

I think Neil Codling, your keyboard player, has had a big part in creating the new Suede sound. That's right. Neil has incredibly developed himself technically over the last year. He is a real sound wizard, yes. It's also because Neil is now more part of the band. At the time of CU, he hadn't been around for that long. Neil was to HM a sort of pre-producer. He's had a big influence. For instance, he convinced me that we had to go into the studio (in) a different way this time. That we had to be able to write on the spot from 2 chords or a rhythm, that everything didn't have to be set beforehand. You should see his flat. It's stacked with recording equipment, effects and computers. You can't see a thing and he's working in there all day.

Could you compare HM to the previous records already? I must say, I haven't heard the record as a whole yet. Only the individual songs and they sound really good. At this moment, I still see HM as a collection of songs. As an album, I cannot value it yet. If I listen to the songs, I must say, I feel the record sounds more diverse and universal than the three previous ones. The band is more balanced and you can hear that on HM.

How do you regard previous Suede albums now? I really like some songs on CU. I can still listen to them. From DMS, Wild Ones is pretty much the only song I can still listen to. The album as a whole I find too dark. Of course, my taste has changed over the years. DMS has a certain emotion that I really enjoy, but at the same time, the album is too heavy and too personal for me. The album has a brilliant spirit, but there's also something immature in it. That doesn't matter (though), I think it's good to look back on things and to conclude it wasn't all perfect.

DMS made me feel claustrophobic. Claustrophobic, that's the perfect word to describe DMS. The stress and the weird atmosphere in the studio during recordings, the heavy drug use and the near-constant tensions in the band, between me and Bernard especially – DMS reflects that all. Yes, I was pretty fucked up at the time.

And CU was a reaction against that? Yeah, that's the big difference with HM. With CU, we more or less made (it) as a reaction to the melancholy of DMS. It was, in a way, a relief, I think. HM is not a reaction against CU. We made this record without thinking about our past. That also has to do with us being more balanced as a band than ever before.

And you personally? There are even stories going around that Brett has sworn off drugs? Eh, well, it's not as extreme as before. But I still find coke or xtc enlightening from time to time. It's not that I have to take something at all costs now, but when I have taken a pill I do think: "There's nothing wrong with this". Xtc has always been one of my favourite drugs and I'm not going to say now that I'll never take it again. But it has been a while since the last one, yes.

You once said, your lyrics would become less personal and more observing. I think I succeeded in that. The only rule that I applied for myself was that I shouldn't sound emotional all the time. I even wanted to sound distant and cold. They aren't condescending observations, I keep singing about my life and my friends in a way. But my lyrics are now less emotional and through that more honest, I feel. There is something dual in that: you are prone to think that when a lyric is more emotional, it’s more honest. But that is not always the case. I could sit here and cry dramatically and that would come across as very emotional to you, but it wouldn't necessarily be sincere. I have tried to be less complicated this time. As a person, I feel less complicated and less dramatic now. This is an evolution I have undergone as a human being. I like to see myself as an evolving person, on an emotional level as well. I don't want to be the same dramatic person all my life. That would make things very boring, don't you think?

‘Crack in the Union Jack’ sounds like a political song, a kind of negative view of Britain that is going through difficult times even under Labour. If you use words like Union Jack in a lyric, it’s almost immediately regarded as a political song, eh? But it’s about feelings of human disillusion and about people who hide behind the wrong kind of nationalism. It is a negative song, but not against Labour. It's far too easy to say that Labour is making a mess of it just like the conservatives. Labour also makes mistakes, but I feel it's still better for our country that they are in power. That's not how I feel all the time though, it was more the reflection of a mood. See it as a negative snapshot of Great Britain.

#brett anderson #suede #head music #oor 1999 #article translations

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grailacademy · 5 years

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Welcome To Grail Academy - Chapter Seventeen: Night Sounds Loud

“Hold you tongue, Clover!” A lanky man yelled and rose out of his chair. His burgundy pinstripe suit bore the insignia of the city of Calicem on his lapel in the form of an enamel pin, and below it hung four ribboned metals. Madehold glared at him from where she sat, her fingers drumming on the table that separated them. Ms.Divine stood behind her with a hand on her shoulder. They were in an office, an unfamiliar one that had a dome-shaped ceiling and windowless walls. It was lit like a hospital, harsh lights illuminating the alarmingly sanitary white floors. It was the office of Calicem’s governor, a portly old man with a pair of gold-rimmed glasses that reclined in his matching gold-plated chair. The tall man who yelled peered at the mayor, waiting for him to stand to his defense. The rest of those sitting at the table were the department heads of the school, Kismet, Pearl, Choi, and other old men in suits and ties who worked in the government.

“We lose more students each year that we don’t address the problem! They’re getting suspicious.”

“They’re children, Clover.” The golden-eyed man chortled, “So a few of them get upset. That’s what teenagers do!”

“They’re not just kids, you old dunce!” Madehold argued, continuing her speech before the man in the suit could yell at her again. “You are aware that the school is training highly skilled hunters, aren’t you?”

The tall man growled and gestured to a line of police officers in armored uniforms waiting by the door. “And we have our own highly skilled workforce. Our men are toiling night and day to uncover their whereabouts. You should mind your manners in front of the governor!”

Kismet murmured from the corner of his mouth to Miss Pearl, “What a twat.”

“Buh-I HEARD THAT!” He cawed out.

“You were supposed to,” Kismet hissed.

Madehold rubbed her knees impatiently with the palms of her hands, directing the conversation to the governor. “Voshkie, I can’t in good conscience sit and wait for you to cover this up while people gather pitchforks and torches against me. We have to go public.”

“In time.” The corpulent politician straightened his cufflinks, motioning for his slender counterpart to sit down. His paunchy hands combed through a thick mane of grey hair. Voshkie appeared much more relaxed than everyone else in the meeting, judging by the lazy posture in which he rested. “While I appreciate your passion for this project, I have to take the state of my voters into consideration. The city is fragile enough as it is, the last thing we want is to cause panic.”

“Sir. With all due respect, diplomacy hasn’t exactly been one of Calicem’s strong suits.”

“There is a vast difference between statesmanship and riots in the streets.” Voshkie shifted in his chair as he talked, and the other men in suits nodded along to every word he said. “The border is still protected, the Hedge Witches haven’t made a single public attack, and our people are safe. Let me do my job, and I’ll let you do yours.”

Being outdoors gave Yorick a much-needed breath of fresh air. The factory, though it was as large as the school, felt stuffy. There was a vast space of rolling fields behind the structure, overgrown with tall stalks of grass. He ran his hands over the blades of foliage during the time that he crossed the meadow. Sable stood a few yards in front of him. “Semblances are a core facet of our beings. They make us who we are.”

She brushed a stray hair out of her face, stepping back. “Your semblance is connected to your aura, like a defense mechanism. It’s an adaptation.”

“It feels more like a self-destruct button to me.”

“That’s not your fault, Yorick. It’s only nature!” Her bare feet crunched under the dirt and sticks scattered on the ground, keeping her head high. She called out to him, “Humans are still animals. We simply happen to be a bit smarter than dogs and birds.”

Yorick wrung his hands apprehensively. He didn’t understand the lesson she was trying to teach, but at least he was away from the factory. “Close your eyes. Focus. Your powers react to your stress and feelings, so dig deep. Think about a time when you felt raw emotion. Use those memories, center in on them. Clear your mind of everything else. You are living in those moments.” He did his best. Squeezing his eyes shut, Yorick balled his fists and thought back on his life. On everything.

His grandmother. His school. Esmerelda. Bernard. Nico. Rettah.

He couldn’t feel anything. “I-I can’t do it. It’s too much!” He opened his eyes and looked across at his mentor, who was slowly inching farther away. “Breathe, Yorick! Block it out!”, Sable shouted. He took a sharp gust of air into his lungs and held it. He was trying so hard, but deep down he knew that he didn’t want to face what would be left if he pushed everything away. He heard Sable’s voice ring out again, “You have to confront it, Yorick.” He let the air leave through his nostrils, shutting his eyes again.

His mom. His dad. Buck.

Sable watched him intensely. His hands were clenched and shaking, a tear rolled down his pale cheek, steam began to rise off his shoulders. “Good.” She remembered the newspaper clippings about Azora Navyn. A bull of a hunter who barreled through Remnant like a wildfire. She was headstrong, almost all the articles that were written about her were reporting the millions in property damage she costed cities when she was on missions. But she got the job done. Her notoriously explosive abilities placed her at the top of job lists, and landed her plenty of celebrity interviews on late-night talk shows. She even had her own superhero comic book series, The Blue Inferno. If Sable could get Yorick to control that power, she would be unstoppable.

“Now, find a point to anchor that stress to. Hold it in one place. Don’t release it.” Yorick pictured the energy flowing from his chest to every corner of his body, and he could feel the back of his throat get hotter. All was still, he managed to contain it. Sable smiled with mirth, clapping. “That’s great! Let it spread throughout you, but don’t let go of it.”

Yorick came to a realization. His semblance was still a major part of him, but it wasn’t who he was. He never hurt anybody. His power did. He was not his mistakes. Unexpectedly, his stomach gurgled. Lunch before training might have been a bad idea, He thought. He clamped his lips shut, but it couldn’t stop the raucous belch that burst from within. Following the burp, a stream of blue fire leapt out of his mouth like a flamethrower, scorching the portion of the meadow that he was facing. Sable dove out of the line of fire just in time, dropping down with her hands on top of her head. When she rose from the protection of the dry grass and gazed at the long patch of black earth next to her, she purred, “It’s a good start, at least.”

“You want me to WHAT!?” Nico hollered, pausing in his sparring match with Bernard mid-punch. They were training hand-to-hand in the tournament hall that was once again empty after Prom. His opponent swept his leg and knocked Nico’s feet out from under him, and he fell on his bottom with an “oof” sound.

“It’s the perfect opportunity. The exams are done off-campus, all you need to do is distract the professors while we sneak away to investigate Madehold’s office.” Esmerelda leaned over the railing on the bleachers, guarding her friend’s belongings while they fought. Nico grunted and patted the dust off his pants, and Bernard put his guard back up, elbows close to his chest. “Listen, you know I’m always down for delinquency and teenage mayhem.” Nico swung a high kick, but Bernard caught his foot in the air and stopped it from connecting, “Anarchy is like, my whole thing!” He arched his free hand in a right hook and slugged Bernard in the shoulder, though Bernard didn’t show any sign that he was hurt by it, “But I can’t afford to flunk this test. It’s my last chance at a passing grade!” Bernard turned his wrist and flipped Nico over, sending him falling to the floor a second time.

Esmerelda bit her lip, displeased. “He’s your teammate too, darling.” Both boys twitched at that, and Bernard helped Nico up before he reproached, “So was Yale.”

“Yo. Dude.” Nico took his partner by the forearm and gave him a concerned look, using the worry in his eyes as a warning. The flood lights flickered, making the circular shape from the skylight above quiver. “This is different.” Esmerelda’s palms squeaked against the cold metal railing, jumping over the bar into the arena. She carried herself like an animal on the prowl, and Bernard puffed his chest out when she walked up to him. “This time we know the who, why, and how.”

“So you’ve given up on Yale, then?” He folded his arms as she got closer, pointing her chin up to him as if it were a dagger. Nico attempted to interject, “Don’t talk about her like that”, but it was no use. Esmerelda and Bernard were locked on one another.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what did you mean?”

“I just,” Esmerelda threw her hands up in exasperation, “Whatever! You don’t want to help, fine. I’ll do it myself.” She turned tail and left in a huff, flipping the collar on her coat up to shield her face from the wind outside as she crossed the quad back to their dorm.

“Bernie?” Nico spotted the other boy leaving in the opposite direction, gathering his things and throwing his bag over his shoulder. He was torn, glancing from Bernard to Esmerelda on their ways out. “Uhhhhh, crap crap crap, uh….” Frantic, he finally made a choice and snatched his jacket.

“Esme, wait up!” He ran after her, pausing to pant once he caught up to her outside. She seemed less than happy about the situation. “What, are you going to scold me as well?” She spoke through gritted teeth, walking so briskly that Nico had to jog to keep up with her.

“No, enough with the tantrum! What is going on with you lately?”

“My partner was abducted by terrorists, and nobody is doing anything about it. That’s what is going on.”

“You think we don’t miss Yorick too?” Nico craned his neck to make eye contact with Esmerelda, but she refused to look at him. He stepped in front of her and started to walk backwards, making himself an unavoidable line of sight. “You think Bernard isn’t worried sick about him? You think I bruised my ribs for FUN?” He did kind of enjoy the fight at the hotel, but that wasn’t the point. “We all want him back. And we’ll find him! But we can’t get anywhere if you’re throwing people to the beowolves left and right.”

“I’m not-”

“You’re our leader! We need an actual plan.”

“I do have a plan!”

“That was not a plan, babe.” He placed a hand on her shoulder. “That was a recipe for disaster.” Esmerelda took a minute to consider all the possible ways her idea could go awry.

“Okay….maybe you’re right.”

“I know I am~”

“But I won’t apologize to Bernard. In fact, he should be the one saying sorry.”

“Oh, come on!” Nico punched the air in frustration, complaining “Why do I have to babysit you guys!? I’m supposed to be the irresponsible one!”

She laughed quietly, finding some joy in Nico’s protests.

“I’m the Devilishly handsome bad boy! The out-of-control party animal!”

“That’s debatable, darling.”

“I don’t wear a helmet when I ride my bike! I sit in chairs backwards! I eat ice cream even though I’m Lactose intolerant! I leave my shoes untied! I stole chapstick once! I brush my teeth and drink orange juice after I’m done! I’m crazy!”

Esmerelda couldn’t help but smile, knowing that her friend had done his job in cheering her up. “Alright, alright. I’ll talk to him.” As they strolled to their dorm, crossing the shortcut on the grassy quad, she sighed and saw the small puff of fog that was her breath swirl in the cold night air. “....We shouldn’t have brought up Yale like that. I’m sorry.” He smiled at her to show he appreciated the apology. The act of silently forgiving her warmed Esmerelda’s heart.

With Nico and Esmerelda cooling off in their room, Bernard rummaged through his backpack for his scroll. 3 missed calls from his mother. That couldn’t be good. He tapped her icon and waited for the ringing to cease. “Mamá ¿Estás bien?”

Long after all the students went to bed, albeit somewhat earlier than usual because of the new curfew, the headmaster slunk through the empty hallways of the school. She was tired, she had been working late into the night. Madehold snuck over the quad and stood at the base of the menacing clocktower. It loomed over her and the academy like the shadow of a great beast, its grey stones and bricks serving as a grim reminder of their mortality. She pulled a off a key tied with a ribbon around her neck and inserted it into the old wooden door. The sounds that the structure made as she moved through it, the aches and moans of the door’s hinges and the rickety stairs, echoed inside the tower. A low, green glow shone through the cracks and holes between its stone walls, and although nobody noticed it, the hands on the face of the clock slowly stopped ticking.

#rwby #rwby oc #grail academy #welcome to grail academy #ebny #team ebny #fanfiction #fanfic #rwby fanficton #rwby fanfic #oc fanfiction #oc fanfic #rwby oc fanfiction #rwby oc fanfic #punk #esmerelda #bernard #nico #yorick

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vexdrolo · 5 years

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MY BABIES, INCLUDING TWO COMING SOON TO A THEATER NEAR YOU.

please give me all the plots, just hmu and we can talk things. (especially for the two new ones bc i don’t know what i’m doing with them yet.) if you click on their names i added links to their pinterests because that’s where i do most of my character development.

LUELLA MAE “LUE” NASH. 22. artist. creek.

a plain white tee shirt covered in dried paint, honeysuckle, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, skipping rocks, the sound of leaves rustling in the breeze, stargazing, messy blonde hair catching sun rays, lemon and honey, love letters spritzed with perfume, floral sundresses and floppy hats, power ballads, holding a butterfly on an outstretched finger, accidental bruises and band-aid covered knees, blowin’ big pink bubblegum bubbles until they pop, pinky promises, hushed bedtime prayers.

Literal god damn ray of sunshine. Painting is her drug of choice, thank you very much. And wine. Her tolerance is non-existent though. Likes trashy romance novels, pretty things, and people liking her. Sheltered and naive and extremely unworldly. A burnout, but like, a classy burnout. Also an orphan. The apple of her brother’s eye and he will protect her at all costs. Has been in slaughter for the last four years and was really angry about it at first but like it’s not the worst. Teaches beginners painting classes at Vino and Van Gogh and cries a lot for various reasons.

ANGELINA OPHELIA “ANGEL” BOOKER. 24. tour guide. bone.

angelic ○ shimmery eye shadow and highlighter dusted cheekbones ○ cocoa butter ○ spearmint gum ○ velvet scrunchies ○ eyes that roll back in her head so far all you can see is the whites ○ theatrical hand gestures ○ bong hits and acid trips ○ ripped jeans and silky camisoles ○ cheap costume jewelry ○ poetry about flowers and the burden of existence ○ the worn down spine and dog eared pages of a beloved book ○ sun kissed skin ○ wishbones snapped in half ○ a smile that never reaches the eyes

[ tw: drugs]

Angel, doesn’t the name say it all? Grew up on the old Booker Salvage Yard, the youngest of a large brood who word hand-me-downs until she left for college. Majored in English Lit at ASU, now gives enjoyably theatrical tours through old town Slaughter. Seems nice, but is she really though? Seems chill, but is really dramatic as fuck. Seems like she isn’t really what she seems. Just wants to get high, trip balls, and write about her own existential dread. Extremely articulate and well read, but still calls everyone “bro”, “dude” and “my guy”, (regardless of gender).

IMOGEN MATILDA “GINNY” BEAUFORT. 27. guidance counselor. mist.

wrinkled button down’s with the sleeves rolled up ○ perfume covering up cigarette smoke ○ the creak of an old floorboard in an empty house ○ a screeching forgotten tea kettle ○ wilting bluebells ○ scratched out words in a journal ○ dark red lipstick feathering at the edges ○ photoalbums collecting dust on a shelf ○ color coded sticky notes on a wall calendar ○ worn brown leather ○ fingerprints on a fog covered mirror ○ night terrors and cold sweats ○ the evenly paced clicking of a flat heel ○ a thousand yard-stare ○ cut-out obituaries held together with an alligator clip ○ broken porcelain dining plates ○ the flickering light of a candle you swear you blew out .

[ tw: death ]

Que Yoav’s cover of Where Is My Mind playing in the background. Haunting and a bit peculiar - with a deep love of button down shirts dark wash and brown leather shoes. May or may not be convinced that she sees ghosts, and that’s really none of your damn business. Smokes like a teenager worried her parents are gonna catch her doing it - but they can’t, because they’re dead. Depressed, afraid, and emotionally constipated. But she’s mostly a good person, and has a really cute dog named sable to make up for it. Came back to Slaughter about a year ago (and some change), currently trying to deal with the newest in a long string of deaths in her family.

NADINE MARIE “NADS” BERNARD. 22. fashion student. iron.

double-breast trechcoat; cat-eye sunglasses; a passport with too many stamps / monogrammed paper shopping bags hanging from each arm / bleach-stained washcloths; lysol wipes / pencil skirts with thick white stockings / a piano scale / milk & honey; champagne kisses / words of ice; temper of fire / tennis bracelets and silk blouses / the cut of skates across fresh ice / pale lips; pale skin; dark eyes / a silent scream.

nadine is one of my unfinished babes so i don’t have her entirely fleshed out. but she’s a little carrie bradshaw and a little miranda priestly, and a pinch of serena van der woodsen. she’s taking a break from fashion school to look for her half-sister, manon, which is why she’s in slaughter.

DARLA JANE “DJ” AUERBACH. 26. cam girl. rot.

oops don’t have an aesthetic thing written for her yet, please see pinboard.

darla is also unfinished and yet again i do not have her entirely fleshed out. but idk she’s fiona gallagher meets effy stonem with a super tragic backstory. she’s one of a set of co-dependent triplets. an actual train wreck. yes she’s a cam girl but is she a successful one? not really, she doesn’t enjoy men telling her what to do. :/

#crowskinrp

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callunavulgari · 5 years

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Scrapbook 2019 | Pt. I

Goals are: read one hundred books this year, finish five video games, write something novel-length and write something original. These last two goals CAN be combined.

MOVIES

January

(Kingsman: The Golden Circle)

Pitch Perfect 3

February

(Big Hero 6)

March

Geostorm

Captain Marvel

(Thor Ragnarok)

(Avengers: Infinity War)

(Pocahontas)

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Venom

April

(Brave)

(Flipper)

(Spirited Away)

(Breakfast at Tiffany’s)

How To Train Your Dragon 3

Crazy Rich Asians

Matilda

The Death Cure

The Mummy (2017)

(Monster’s University)

Avengers: Endgame

May

Detective Pikachu

Bohemian Rhapsody

The Rim of the World

June

(Zombieland)

Rocketman

The Secret Life of Pets 2

Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse

July

Spiderman: Far From Home

Truth or Dare

(Coraline)

BOOKS

January

Ender’s Game | Orson Scott Card [Fin]

The Poppy War | R.F. Kuang [Fin]

Turtles All The Way Down | John Green [Fin]

Challenger Deep | Neal Shusterman [Fin]

The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden [Fin]

Shards of Honor | Lois Mcmaster Bujold [Fin]

(Throne of Jade | Naomi Novak) [Fin]

The Wicked King | Holly Black [Fin]

Vengeful | V.E. Schwab

Elantris | Brandon Sanderson

February

Vengeful | V.E. Schwab [Fin]

Elantris | Brandon Sanderson [Fin]

(Black Powder War | Naomi Novak) [Fin]

(The Amulet of Samarkand | Jonathon Stroud) [Fin]

Once Upon a River | Diane Setterfield

(The Golem’s Eye | Jonathon Stroud) [Fin]

(Ptolemy’s Gate | Jonathon Stroud) [Fin]

The Screaming Staircase | Jonathon Stroud

March

Once Upon a River | Diane Setterfield [Fin]

The Screaming Staircase | Jonathon Stroud [Fin]

The Girl In the Tower | Katherine Arden [Fin]

The Whispering Skull | Jonathon Stroud

(Empire of Ivory | Naomi Novak) [Fin]

The Two Towers | J.R.R Tolkien

Winter of the Witch | Katherine Arden

Saga, Vol 1 | Brian Vaughn

Saga, Vol 2 | Brian Vaughn

Saga, Vol 3 | Brian Vaughn

Saga, Vol 4 | Brian Vaughn

Saga, Vol 5 | Brian Vaughn

Saga, Vol 6 | Brian Vaughn

April

The Whispering Skull | Jonathon Stroud [Fin]

The Slow Regard of Silent Things | Patrick Rothfuss [Fin]

The Two Towers | J.R.R Tolkien [Fin]

Winter of the Witch | Katherine Arden [Fin]

Forest of a Thousand Lanterns | Julie Dao [Fin]

King of Scars | Leigh Bardugo [Fin]

The Hollow Boy | Jonathon Stroud [Fin]

Mistborn | Brandon Sanderson [Fin]

The Well of Ascension | Brandon Sanderson [Fin]

The Creeping Shadow | Jonathon Stroud [Fin]

The Empty Grave | Jonathon Stroud [Fin]

May

Hero of Ages | Brandon Sanderson [Fin]

Everything I Never Told You | Celeste Ng [Fin]

The Kiss Quotient | Helen Hoang [Fin]

The Two Towers | J.R.R. Tolkien [Fin]

The Near Witch | Victoria Schwab [Fin]

The Trials of Apollo | Rick Riordan [Fin]

Alloy of Law | Brandon Sanderson [Fin]

The Gentlemen’s Guide to Vice and Virtue | Mackenzi Lee [Fin]

Shadows of Self | Brandon Sanderson

The Dark Prophecy | Rick Riordan

Sabriel | Garth Nix [Fin]

June

Shadows of Self | Brandon Sanderson [Fin]

The Dark Prophecy | Rick Riordan [Fin]

(Victory of Eagles | Naomi Novak) [Fin]

Warbreaker | Brandon Sanderson [Fin]

(Tongues of Serpents | Naomi Novak) [Fin]

The Bands of Mourning | Brandon Sanderson [Fin]

What If It’s Us | Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera [Fin]

A Court of Thorns and Roses | Sarah J. Maas [Fin]

Carmilla | Kim Turrisi [Fin]

The Alchemist | Paulo Coelho

The Eye of the World | Robert Jordan

The Hundred-Foot Journey | Richard C. Morais

Three Dark Crowns | Kendare Blake

Mistborn: The Secret History | Brandon Sanderson [Fin]

The Eleventh Metal | Brandon Sanderson [Fin]

July

The Alchemist | Paulo Coelho [Fin]

The Eye of the World | Robert Jordan

The Hundred-Foot Journey | Richard C. Morais [Fin]

Three Dark Crowns | Kendare Blake [Fin]

Saga Vol. 8 | Brian Vaughn [Fin]

Saga Vol. 9 | Brian Vaughn [Fin]

Codename Villanelle | Luke Jennings [Fin]

Borne | Jeff Vandermeer [Fin]

Crucible of Gold | Naomi Novak [Fin]

The Time Traveler’s Wife | Audrey Niffenegger [Fin]

The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy | Mackenzi Lee [Fin]

The Wise and the Wicked | Rebecca Podos [Fins]

Sweetbitter | Stephanie Danler [Fin]

Blood of Tyrants | Naomi Novak [Fin]

PODCASTS

January

Adventure Zone Ep 1

EOS 10 s4 1-4

February

EOS 10 s4 4-7

March

The Penumbra Podcast

April

Adventure Zone Ep 2

May

Welcome to Night Vale Eps 30-54

The Bright Sessions -Bonus Eps-

June

Welcome to Night Vale Eps 54-59

The Penumbra Podcast (Second Citadel eps + last two Juno)

July

Welcome to Night Vale Eps 60-

The Magnus Archive Eps 1-11

TV SHOWS BY SEASON

January

Voltron s8

The Flash

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch

February

Happy

The Umbrella Academy

The Flash

Black Mirror

Russian Doll

March

The 90s

The 2000s

(Sailor Moon)

Maniac

The Dragon Prince

(Inuyasha)

American Gods

April

American Gods s2

Voltron s8

World’s Weirdest Homes

Game of Thrones s8

Brooklyn 99

The Bold Type

Cupcake Wars

May

Schitt’s Creek s1-3

Game of Thrones s8

June

Schitt’s Creek s4

Good Omens

The Terror

Chernobyl

Black Mirror s4

July

Rick & Morty s3

Stranger Things s3

Schitt’s Creek s4

VIDEO GAMES

January

Pokemon Go?

(Kingdom Hearts: DDD, 54 hrs) [Fin]

Pokemon Let’s Go Eevee

Detroit: Become Human [Fin]

Kingdom Hearts 3 - Monstropolis, 20 hrs

Life is Strange, Episode 2, 4 hrs

February

Kingdom Hearts 3, 56 hrs [Fin]

Pokemon Go

Life is Strange, Episode 5, 20 hrs [Fin]

Life is Strange -Before the Storm- Episode 1 complete, 5 hrs

God of War (3 hrs)

March

God of War (35 hrs) [Fin]

Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey (40 hrs)

April

Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey (43 hrs)

(Final Fantasy XIII)

Portal 2 [Fin]

Final Fantasy 15 - Episodes Prompto, Ignis, Gladio, and Ardyn [Fin]

May

Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey (70 hrs)

Life Is Strange -Before the Storm- Episode 2 complete, 15 hours

June

Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey (120 hrs) [Fin]

Rime (1 hr)

Final Fantasy XII: Zodiac Age (1 hr)

Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD (2 hrs)

July

Rime (25 hrs) [Fin]

Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD (35 hrs)

Witcher 3 DLC: Hearts of Stone [Fin]

Witcher 3 DLC: Blood and Wine (10 hrs)

DELIGHTFUL FIC

January

What Dreams May Come by Lenore | Crimson Peake | Edith/Thomas | 5k | Ghosts are real, and there are things that tie them to this world. Sometimes it's because they want to linger, and sometimes it's because they are trapped. Sometimes ghosts need the help of the living before they can be truly free.

and prove your body wrong by paperclipbitch | The Defenders | Matt Murdock/Jessica Jones | 1k | Neither of them can read minds, but they both fake it for their day jobs.

these roads will take you into your own country by notbecauseofvictories | American Gods | Shadow/Laura, Gen | 5k | Here’s a joke for you: a Muslim, a zombie, and a leprechaun walk into a bar in Misery, Indiana. No one stares, because no one in the puckered, shitty asshole of Misery, Indiana gives a fuck. The Colts are playing.“Fucking new gods,” the leprechaun mutters, hunching his shoulders almost up to his ears. “Gridiron and Pepsi commercials.”

Small Step For Man by Toft [archived by yuletide_archivist] | Greek Myth | Artemis/Apollo | 4k | "It's all right, sister," Apollo whispers, and his arm is warm around her shoulder. She forgets, he is her twin, he is her other half; he knows her almost as well as she knows herself. "We're still the same."

learning curve by Yuu_chi | Detroit | Hank/Connor | 15k | “While sexual activity is not my default purpose, I do possess the capability,” Connor says without so much as batting an eye, unaware that he’s completely shattered Hank’s world view in one single sentence.

machine learning by kriegersan | Detroit | Hank/Connor | 31k | “This kinda shit doesn’t go away overnight. It’s only been a few months, Connor. We’re only just starting to know what this is gonna look like.” Lt. Anderson throws back his beer.“You think I don’t know that?” He sounds defensive. He tempers his voice. “I’m simply processing.”

eighteen wheels on an uphill climb by blackeyedblonde | Detroit | Hank/Connor | 73k | Hank is going to die. He’s going to die right here in Kentucky, 53 years old, halfway to broke, and tragically sober. Survived only by a nine-year-old St. Bernard and the 31-year-old twink who delivered the fatal blow.

Fuck pride (pride only hurts, it never helps) by ImogenGotDrunk | Detroit | Nines/Gavin | 40k | What Gavin cannot deal with is Connor’s replica; two inches taller, blue-eyed, and with a mouth that Gavin doesn’t know whether to punch or take between his teeth. The RK900 model has been assigned as his partner for the foreseeable future.

linguistics, semantics by pseudoanalytics | DBH | Hankcon | 49k | "So, what? Cyberlife gave you a preference for ugly, old, washed-up bastards?" Connor intentionally allows himself to appear unamused. "Absolutely not." He waits for Hank to look at him again before delivering his punchline. "I believe I developed that for myself."

Skin Deep by bughnrahk | DBH | Hankcon | 50k | Hank is 53 years old. He's never had a soul mark, doesn't have a soul mate. And he's fine with that. He cheated the system once and it cost him everything he had. Never again.When August 2038 rolls around and the number '313 248 317 - 51' appears on his arm in perfect Cyberlife Sans font, exactly where a soul mark should be, Hank wants nothing to do with it.

Watch Me, Watch You by elefseus (oscillos) | DBH | Hank/Connor | 82k | WIP | "How do you go about living when everything you've ever known changes? Can you?"

the most formidable lies by fshep | DBH | Connor/Gavin | 15k | WIP | Gavin is given an ultimatum: agree to give his mother’s coworker’s son a chance, or introduce his family to his new boyfriend, Connor, who isn’t his boyfriend at all.

February

and we'll figure it out by consumptive_sphinx | Temeraire | Lawrence/Tharkay | 1.5k | Everyone is born with their soulmate's name written on their skin, somewhere. Laurence has two names. Neither of them are in a script he can read.

Propriety and Fate by esama | Temeraire | Lawrence/Tharkay | 3.5k | It isn't as if one can go and talk about such things

Watercast by Fishwrites | Voltron | Keith/Lance | 205k WIP, Chapter 15 | Shiro has been a Galra prisoner for over a year; with his flight feathers clipped and unable to fly. Desperate to escape, he jumps overboard while being transported to the capitol on a Galran ship. Lance is a merman who saves him from drowning. Keith thinks Shiro is about to become mermaid dinner. Hunk just wants Lance to stop going to the surface all the time, dammit!

Afterlife by jaegermighty | Haunting of Hill House | Gen, Luke-centric | 6k | Leigh and Steve name their daughter Eleanore, with an 'e' on the end which is more old-fashioned, they say. Eleanore Olivia Crain. Lots of dead people in that name; Luke's not a fan. Not that anyone asked his opinion.

in memoriam by oxymoronic | Bartimaeus | Gen | 1.5k | Kitty Jones has but a little strength left in her body, and she has decided on this lazy summer's night to spend it on the question which has plagued her for half a century.

March

Second Chances by rootbeer | Teen Wolf | Sterek | 2k | "A lot of times the ‘markings’ were common, simple things you said to strangers all the time. 'Excuse me'; 'thank you'; 'hello'. Some got extremely romantic things like 'it’s you isn’t it? I’ve been waiting for you' or 'Wow you’re really pretty'. And they were always the first words their soulmate would ever say to them.Of course, having 'You are the fucking worst kind of person in the world' tattooed down your side, didn’t bode well.

have your cake and eat it too by keskasi | Naruto | Naruto/Sasuke | 7k | “What’s it like to give a blowjob?” Naruto asks.

Timing it Right by DragonBandit | The Bright Sessions | Mark/Damien | 14k | Damien's gold rises at Whitney. Mark tries to make things right.

April

and maybe you'll find a way to keep me a floating when i can't by LazyBaker | Stranger Things | 3k | Billie’s tough. Nothing but sharp edges with sharper teeth. She’s all bark and all bite.

A thousand by Ever-so-reylo (Ever_So_Reylo) | Star Wars | Reylo | 3k | “I’m going to kill you, now.” The problem is—really, the crux of all of Rey’s problems at the moment—he actually thinks he means it.

He Who Is Made Of Iron by MayContainBlueberries | The Queen’s Thief | Gen, Costis centric | Tea reminds Costis of his childhood.

May

for my wild by vixleonard | GOT | Arya/Gendry | Set post 8x04, Arya tries to find out who Arya Stark is now.

Almost Cool by blacktofade | Buzzfeed Unsolved | Shane/Ryan | 30k | While filming the Yuma Territorial Prison episode, Shane gets bitten by what he thinks is a bat. Spoiler alert: it's not.

Two Worlds Collided by blacktofade | Buzzfeed Unsolved | Shane/Ryan | 10k | There's a new guy at work and Ryan belatedly realizes they've actually already met once before.

Keeping Out the Cold by blacktofade | Buzzfeed Unsolved | Ryan/Shane | After a strange ghostly encounter, Ryan and Shane begin sharing visions via a telepathic bond. AKA: the In Your Eyes AU that no one asked for.

Bringing Things Together by blacktofade | Buzzfeed Unsolved | 7k | “Look,” Shane says over the phone. “Mistakes were made.”

Pride by astolat | Game of Thrones | Jaime/Cersei/Brienne | 22k Jaime didn’t understand why Cersei suddenly insisted on trimming his hair and shaving his beard, but he also didn’t care to fight her on it, even though he’d just as soon have kept the beard: it was bitterly cold in the small tower room with its arrow-slits. At night, even curled together under the two blankets they’d been allotted, it took the better part of an hour before their bodies could warm the bed enough to sleep.

L'aura è tua messaggera by Rosyredlipstick | PJO | Nico/Will | 9k | Or, how the Stoll Brothers accidentally got Nico di Angelo and Will Solace together.

June

Competition by astolat | GoT | Jaime/Brienne | 11k | Almost the instant Brienne was out of earshot, Bronn turned to Podrick, jerked his head towards Jaime and asked, “Has he fucked her yet?”

Skin and Scales by Ernmark (M_Moonshade) | The Penumbra Podcast | Arum/Rilla/Damien | 17k | The man glares, and this time, Damien is certain it isn’t a trick of the light: those eyes are violet as amethyst. He wears disdain like a second skin–- or, perhaps, like the scales that he is missing.“Lord Arum?”

I will become yours and you will become mine by spiderwebsitar | DBH | Reed900 | 24k | After an argument with his new partner, Gavin Reed wakes up five years in the future married to an android who won’t stop making fucking waffles.

Numerology by Hth | Schitt’s Creek | Patrick/David, Sebastien/David | 20k | Still, it's true that Patrick can have his shy side. He likes to be a gentleman – Mr. Order Whatever You Want I'm Paying and Mr. Here Let Me Fix That For You and Mr. No David Not In the Backseat I Want It to Be Special – so David can't entirely rely on Patrick's willingness to charge forward for the greater good.

someone you like by caela | She-Ra | Adora/Catra | 5k | catwithabat u think ur so hipster but u just look like a lesbian 27m she_ra @catwithabat bc… i’m a lesbian. lmao 5m

Ugly Words and Pretty Things by Ias | The Terror | Crozier/Fitzjames | 4k | There are words for a man like that.

Sands of Time by tirsynni | LoZ | Link/Ganondorf | 97k | Link awakens in the desert with no idea how he got there, to encounter his worst enemy...except it was the King of the Gerudo, not the King of Evil, he faced.

death shall be no more by Ias | The Terror | Fitzjames/Crozier | 5k | "I'd rather we leave our tents behind and sleep two to a sack like the orphans we are, than to leave one man alone with last burdens."

and then redemption by spidermooned (softlyblue) | Marvel | Spiderman & Loki | 7k | "Kid," says Tony Stark wearily, "Please gimme a reason Loki's been spotted talking to Spiderman that isn't 'I wanted to be his friend'. Please. Tell me you can do that."

so many ways to talk about longing by lymricks | Stranger Things | Harringrove | 3.6k | Steve wakes up--in a pool lounger--to Billy Hargrove looming over him. Billy pushes his sunglasses down and Steve thinks sleepily that it must be so that Steve gets the full impact of Billy’s narrow-eyed glare. “Harrington,” Billy says. “We’re fucking closed.”

sun gutters by lymricks | Stranger Things | Harringrove | 5k | Steve can feel Billy’s eyes on him. “You should get here early,” Billy says, casually. “Tomorrow. At six.”

Finders Keepers by blacktofade | Buzzfeed Unsolved | Ryan/Shane | 3k | Ryan wakes with a hangover and an empty bed, and only one of them he expects.

Back Room by forthegreatergood | Good Omens | Aziraphale/Crowley | 5.6k | Aziraphale actually does have quite an extensive collection of pornography in the bookshop. Like most of the questionable things in Aziraphale’s life, it’s Crowley’s fault.

killed with kindness by veterization | Persona 5 | Akechi/Akira | 52k | Goro can't quite figure out why so many people keep acting like they're his friend.

July

On mandated uniforms and workplace entertainment by Thei | Stranger Things | Harringrove | 2k | Robin loves this job. Besides an income, it also provides her with quality entertainment. Especially when she's working with Steve, and Billy Hargrove shows up.

paper thin by sarcasticfishes | Buzzfeed Unsolved | Ryan/Shane/Sara | 9k | Shane’s new neighbors are a morning-sex kind of couple.

your love is three times better by sarcasticfishes | Buzzfeed Unsolved | Ryan/Shane/Sara | 14k | Ryan grimaces as he types out the words, >It’s Valentine’s Day. Don’t you want to do romance stuff?

you, through half-shut eyes by brawlite | Stranger Things | Harringrove | 8k | Two parts sugary sweet summer vibes, one part snarky instagram stories, and three parts mutual pining.

damn.nation, now available on itunes by antistar_e (kaikamahine) | Good Omens | Crowley/Aziraphale | 11k | When lowly tempt-pusher Amphora (formerly of Stairwell 7B North, before she Fell,) gets the notice that end times are nigh, she gleefully quits her job and cancels her Netflix subscription and takes her place among the legions of hell.This, it turns out, was a bad plan.

The Dragon and Her Wolves by hapakitsune | Game of Thrones | Sansa/Dany/Jon | 60k | When the truth of Jon's birthright is revealed, control of the North and Daenerys's claim to the Iron Throne are both called into question. To preserve their tenuous alliance and secure her rule, Daenerys puts aside her personal feelings to arrange a marriage of political convenience between Jon and Sansa Stark.

Bonded by softestpunk | The Witcher | Emiel/Geralt | 13k | Regis is punished for Dettlaff's assumed death, Geralt comes to the rescue, and the two of them gain something neither of them would ever have dared hope for.

Something We Were Withholding Made Us Weak by triedunture | Good Omens | Aziraphale/Crowley | 17k | "Yes, exactly. Retire." Aziraphale reaches for the last remaining tartlet brimming with summer berries. "Somewhere along the south coast, perhaps."

something happens and i'm by brawlite | Stranger Things | Harringrove | 10k | Billy loves his job as at the Hawkins Community Pool. It's even better now that Steve Harrington's a lifeguard, too.

break up with your girlfriend ('cause i'm bored) by thecopperkid | Stranger Things | Harringrove | 15k | @umissedconnections: Bambi eyes. m4m. i was rippin cigs in the sae p-lot. u made urself puke 2 make room 4 more beer. incredible? ur my hero PLS say ur into guys

I’m Gonna Keep You in Love with Me (for a While) by beethechange | Buzzfeed Unsolved | Ryan/Shane | 22k | “Okay,” Shane says finally. “Okay. Here’s what we’re going to do. We’re just going to—we’re going to be married. The only way out is through.”“Um,” Ryan says, because this plan strikes him as counterproductive to their shared goal of not being married.

YELLOW SQUARE by dejavu (suggcest) | Buzzfeed Unsolved | Ryan/Shane | 16k | “Since being the scene of those two, grisly double homicides in the early 1950’s, the Bringle House Bed and Breakfast has sat empty, waiting for the next couple stupid enough to try to stay all four nights.”

darling it's a faded notion by varnes | Buzzfeed Unsolved | Ryan/Shane | 28k | Ryan and Shane get cursed by a ghost, and now they can't be not-touching. It's ... not great.

Things That Go Bump in the Night (and 7 till 12 at weekends) by HoopyFrood | Buzzfeed Unsolved | Ryan/Shane | 4k | Shane works at a Haunted House. Ryan is Ryan. Things go about as well as you'd imagine.

Everything's Weird and We're Always in Danger by beethechange | Buzzfeed Unsolved | Ryan/Shane | 15k | “It won’t go away,” Ryan says miserably. “I’ve been like this since we got here, basically, and it won’t fucking—”

Muscles Better and Nerves More by beethechange | Buzzfeed Unsolved | Shane/Ryan | 26k | “I’m serious,” Ryan says. “Don’t go fucking up my body. I want that shit back in the same condition I left it.”

DELIGHTFUL FANVIDS

January

(Marvel) Avengers | True North

A Sad Man With A Box

►Dance to 2018

Collab Parts (2016-2018)

just a machine? [Detroit: Become Human] *HBD Pteryx*

【Detroit｜Become Human】Way Down We Go

She-Ra AMV | I'm Just Your Problem (Catradora)

multifandom || 2018 (the way I remember it)

Detroit: Become Human || Paralyzed

in the end | connor & hank | detroit: become human

BELIEVER - Connor ( Detroit:Become Human ) GMV

who are you? | Connor | Detroit: Become Human

Detroit Become Human - Connor ~ Blood in the Water

Connor - I'm So Sorry by Imagine Dragons [Detroit: Become Human] GMV

» whatever it takes (connor; detroit become human gmv)

Detroit: Become Human / Connor and Hank / Uptown Funk

Would You Kill?| Connor RK800 [Detroit: Become Human]

Rude Boy | Connor | Detroit: Become Human

hold on | connor & hank | detroit: become human

Interstellar | STAY

sabrina spellman *:･ﾟ✧ [look what u made me do]

Stranger Things || Blood in the Water

February

(GoT) Margaery Tyrell || The Queen

Kingdom Hearts 3 EPIC AMV/GMV - Part of the Journey is the End

My Hero Academia AMV - The Greatest Show

Endgame | The Man Who Killed The Avengers

MARVEL || Not Today

March

Marvel/DC || FRICTION

Luke & Nell || There's no without

MARVEL || Blood On ME

What is a STORY?

TUA | Swallow Us

(SW) Obi-Wan Kenobi | Whispers of the Past

Quentin & Eliot || Beautiful nothing

queliot; peaches + plums

Way Down We Go | Red Dead Redemption 2

Marvel || Together

steve x bucky || answer

part to act on [Harry Potter]

April

marvel || supercharged

(Marvel) Avengers || The Big Three -- Iron Man/Thor /Captain America

Guardians of the Galaxy

CAOS || Welcome To The Jungle

Marvel || Rise or Fall

Avengers | Sacrifice [4K]

(Marvel) Tony Stark | I love you 3000

May

(Marvel) Captain America || I Stand Alone

(GoT) Daenerys Targaryen | See What I've Become

Ser Jaime Lannister

Arya & Sandor // Thank You [+8x05]

Kingdom hearts 3 |Dearly Beloved| AMV |

June

(GoT) Cersei Lannister || The Queen Of The Seven Kingdoms

(GoT) The Dragons || They're My Children

(GoT) Melisandre || A Champion Of Light And Life

Bioshock & Infinite - Never The End (Epic and Beautiful Fanmade Video)

Bioshock Infinite : Constants and Variables : Music video/Tribute

Crowley & Aziraphale ][ Don’t Stop Me Now || Good Omens

Crowley ][ Rebel Just For Kicks || Good Omens

i'm the bad guy | villanelle.

mission accomplished • connor RK800

The Haunting of Hill House || Empty hands

Mad World ✘ The Umbrella Academy

July

(GoT) Daenerys Targaryen || The Last Dragon

Steve Harrington [Burn The House Down]

max&eleven | my blood.

Billy Hargrove [Bury a Friend]

Max Mayfield [Rebel Just For Kicks]

billy hargrove | gasoline.

Stranger Things | Heroes

✥ STEVE HARRINGTON ✧･ﾟ: * HANDCLAP {+S3}

billy hargrove | lovely.

stranger things 3 | blood in the water.

Steve Harrington; I Need A Hero

Kilgrave ][ Bad Guy

billy&steve [harringrove] || a little death (+s3)

Avengers | Sacrifice [4K]

Stranger Things || Shelter

Kilgrave ][ Rule The World || Jessica Jones

Ben & Rey | What do you see?

Billy Hargrove - RIP to my YOUTH

a thing about life.

(SW) Obi-Wan Kenobi | Whispers of the Past

The Avengers | Unreachable Star

Steve Harrington || Another One Bites the Dust

DELIGHTFUL MUSIC

January

Dark Night - Kara | Philip Sheppard

Carousel - Kara | Phillip Sheppard

They All Look the Same - Connor | Nima Fakhrara

Curse of the I-5 Corridor | Neko Case

Way Down We Go | Kaleo

Gasoline | Halsey

Sleep All Summer | Neko Case

Hold On, Hold On | Neko Case

Dreaming at Daybreak | Ann Licater

Can’t Leave | Whiskey Charmers

Voodoo Mon Amour | Diablo Swing Orchestra

Undo - Transviolet

Xuanzang - Gareth Coker

Almost - Hozier

Movement - Hozier

Dancing in a Room - EZI

Snow Dancer - Antti Martikainen

Burned Out - Dodie

Epic (pt 2) - Anais Mitchell

Mercury - Honey and the Sting

February

Spanish Sahara - Foals

Obstacles - Syd Matters

If You Still Believe - SIE Sound Team

The Expanse - Through Juniper Vale

The Woods - San Fermin

Sophie - The Altogether

Tom Thumb - Bitter Ruin

Wolves of the Revolution - The Arcadian Wild

Mitchell: Epic III - Cast of Hadestown

Hamilton soundtrack

The Spine - Transistor soundtrack

Don’t Think Twice - Utada Hikaru

Face My Fears - Utada Hikaru

Take On Me - Hidden Citizens

Moonlight Sonata - Hidden Citizens

Waves - chloe moriondo

Alligator Teeth - Mother Falcon

We All Become - Darren Korb

Ashes - Bear McCreary

Journey and Transistor soundtracks

March

The Sailor Song - Autoheart

It’s Quiet Uptown - Kelly Clarkson

Fernando - Cher

Dinner & Diatribes - Hozier

The Fly By Night - Taktsugu Muramatsu

Wake Up, Moving On - Kevin Penkin

April

Austin Wintory Radio

Resurrections - Lena Raine

Fight For You - Hidden Citizens

Mine - BazziIn the Flame - Darren Korb

Paper Boats - Darren Korb

May

Thedas Love Them - Trevor Morris

The Dawn Will Come - Trevor Morris

King - Blue October

Lemonworld - Ocean Alley

Still Feel - Half Alive

Carry On - Kygo

Longshot - Catfish and the Bottlemen

Call Off Your Ghost - Dessa

Sucker - Jonas Brother

Power Over Me - Dermot Kennedy

A Hole In the Earth - Daughter

Lunatic Fringe - red Rider

June

Ummah Oum - Kaya Project

The Fortress - Kaya Project

Good Omens Opening Title - David Arnold

A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square - Tori Amos

A Future for the Krogan - Christopher Lennertz

Ганджу - brain tumor

last piece | Lykke Li

Bite - Charlie Cunningham

Wait For Me - Hadestown

Nightmare - Halsey

Kaya Project albums!!!

Birds - Imagine Dragons

Crazy - Patsy Cline

Can’t Help Falling in Love - Elvis Presley

in waves playlist

July

in waves playlist

Rime soundtrack

2017 soundtrack

bury a friend - billie eilish

bored - billie eilish

the seed - aurora

how do you - elderbrook

quicksand - x ambassadors

what’s up danger - blackway

bad guy - billie eilish

sunflower - post malone

scared of the dark - lil wayne

elevate - dj khalil

be still, my tongue - snorri hallgrimsson

dark matter - les friction

must’ve been - chromeo

magnets - disclosure, lorde

secrets - the weeknd

feels like summer - childish gambino

the hunter’s mark - erutan

johanna in space - stephaen sondheim

POSTED FIC

January

N/A

February

children of dust and ash | Bartimaeus | Bartimaeus/Kitty(/Nathaniel) | 1,801 words | Kitty summons Bartimaeus on a chilly fall day in her thirty-eighth year.

March

sweet music playing in the dark | DBH | 1,102 words | “I noticed some time ago that you seem to have an appreciation for jazz.” Connor pauses, his fingers hesitating over an old Billie Holiday album. “I’d wondered if that meant you enjoyed dancing as well.”

April

N/A

May

Radio Ga Ga | Stranger Things | Harringrove | 1,143 words | There’s always another party in Hawkins, Indiana. It would be almost boring if it weren’t for Steve Harrington.

June

Sunlight | Marvel | Loki/Thor | 765 words | They aren’t quite out of the solar system when Loki appears at the arm of Thor’s chair, hair shorn short and a furious snarl on his face.

July

like the bough of a willow tree | Detroit Become Human | Hank/Connor | 1,214 words | There’s a human lost in his woods.

knocking on heaven's door | Stranger Things | Harringrove | 1,748 words | “Just, get in the fucking car. I’ll drive you home.” Billy looked at him, very seriously, and said, “What if I don’t want to go home?”

WIPS | UNPUBLISHED | ORIGINAL

January

like the bough of a willow tree | DBH | Hank/Connor | 1,286 words | There’s a human lost in his woods. Fae!Connor

hankcon valentine’s exchange fic | DBH | Hank/Connor | 985 words | slow dancing and kisses in the dark basically

February

N/A

March

N/A

April

Sunlight | Avengers | Loki/Thor | 746 words | They aren’t quite out of the solar system when Loki appears at the arm of Thor’s chair, hair shorn short and a furious snarl on his face.

May

N/A

June

Untitled Original | Ghost + rain | 817 words

July

Reverse BB | 5.6k

FANMIXES/GRAPHICS

January

N/A

February

N/A

March

June

in waves playlist

#heather says what #scrapbook

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