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songbirdseung · 8 months

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staff only / park jongseong

Today was another busy day for you, a staff member that works for SBS Inkigayo. It has been 1 year since you got the job at the music program broadcast at the young age of 20.

As the clock struck 8:00 on that busy Sunday morning at SBS Inkigayo, I found myself in the midst of a whirlwind of activity. It had been exactly one year since I had landed my dream job at the music program, and every day felt like a new adventure.

Today was no different, with several K-groups already on site, ready to film their segments for the show. Enhypen, the group I had grown to admire over the past year, was among the early arrivals. They were here to promote their latest song, "CRIMINAL LOVE," which had captivated fans since its release.

My role as a staff member had me deeply involved in designing and preparing the stage for Enhypen's performance. Given the dark and alluring theme of "CRIMINAL LOVE," I had meticulously planned a set that would match the mood. The stage was adorned in shades of dark red and black, with subtle hints of mystery and romance.

I double-checked everything, making sure the lighting was perfect and the props were in their designated places. The anticipation was building, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride knowing that I had contributed to creating the perfect backdrop for Enhypen's performance.

As the time for their rehearsal neared, I couldn't help but steal a moment to catch a glimpse of the group members. They were busy going over their choreography and discussing their performance, their dedication evident in their every move. It was moments like these that reminded me of why I loved my job so much – the chance to be a part of something so vibrant and creative.

As I put the finishing touches on the stage, making sure everything was in its place and the lighting was just right, my attention was so focused on the task at hand that I didn't notice someone approaching from behind. Just as I was about to step off the stage to take a break, I felt a sudden collision.

Startled, I turned around, my eyes widening as I realized I had bumped into none other than Jay. His warm, brown eyes met mine, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.

"I'm so sorry," I stammered, my cheeks turning a shade of crimson. "I wasn't looking where I was going."

Jay flashed a charming smile, his hand gently steadying me. "No worries at all. It happens."

I couldn't help but feel a mix of embarrassment and admiration. It wasn't every day that you bumped into a K-pop idol, especially one as talented and charismatic as Jay.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his concern genuine.

I nodded, managing to find my voice again. "Yes, I'm fine, thank you. I was just caught up in making sure everything was perfect for your performance."

Jay's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Oh, you're part of the stage crew?"

I nodded, feeling a little more at ease now that the initial shock had passed. "Yes, I've been working here for about a year. It's been an incredible experience."

"That's awesome," Jay replied, his smile widening. "We really appreciate all the hard work you and the crew put into making our performances look amazing."

His kind words made my heart flutter, and I couldn't help but smile back. "Thank you, Jay. It means a lot to hear that."

We chatted for a few more moments, discussing the set design and the upcoming performance. Jay was genuinely interested in the creative process, and I was touched by his down-to-earth personality.

As our conversation came to an end, Jay extended his hand. "Well, it was nice meeting you. I'll make sure to give it my all on stage."

I shook his hand, feeling a rush of excitement. "I'll be cheering you on from backstage."

With a final smile, Jay headed off to prepare for the performance.

Sitting in my designated seat, I watched Enhypen rehearse their performance alongside the new camera director of SBS. The atmosphere was tense, as it had been ever since his arrival. Rumors had been circulating among my co-employees about his temper, and it didn't take long for me to see that they were not exaggerating.

As I observed the rehearsal, lost in admiration for Enhypen's talent and dedication, the tranquility was abruptly shattered. The music abruptly cut off, and the director's voice boomed through the megaphone, filled with anger and frustration.

"What are you doing? This is a live broadcast, not a child's play!" he shouted at the camera operator, pointing out a minor mistake that had been made.

My co-workers exchanged knowing glances, their faces bearing the weariness of dealing with the director's outbursts. It was clear that his harsh demeanor was taking a toll on the team's morale.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as the director continued to berate the camera operator, his words growing more scathing with each passing moment. Enhypen, on the stage, looked uncomfortable, their once-confident expressions now marred by concern.

Feeling a deep sense of empathy, I decided to take action. I stood up and approached the director, trying to diffuse the situation. "Excuse me, sir," I began, my voice as calm and respectful as possible. "I understand that we want everything to be perfect, but maybe we could address this issue in a less confrontational way?"

The director turned to me, his face still flushed with anger. "And who are you?"

"I'm part of the stage crew," I replied, trying to maintain my composure. "I've been here for a year, and I've seen how hard everyone works to make this show great. Yelling like this might not be the most effective way to communicate."

My words seemed to catch him off guard, and he took a moment to collect himself. Finally, he let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping. "You're right. I shouldn't have lost my temper like that."

Relief washed over me, and I offered a reassuring smile. "We're all here to support the artists and create an amazing show. Let's work together and make it happen."

The director nodded, and the tension in the air began to dissipate. The camera operator received some constructive feedback, and Enhypen resumed their rehearsal with renewed focus.

As I returned to my seat, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction in having helped defuse a difficult situation. While the challenges of working with a temperamental director were far from over, I knew that teamwork and understanding would be essential in creating a successful and harmonious broadcast.

As I settled back into my seat, relieved that the tense situation had calmed down, I couldn't help but notice Jay looking in my direction. His grateful smile warmed my heart and brought a genuine smile to my own lips in response.

It was a simple exchange, a silent acknowledgment of our shared moment of understanding amidst the chaos of the rehearsal. Jay's expression conveyed appreciation, and I felt a sense of connection, even though we had only briefly interacted earlier.

With that encouraging smile, Jay returned to his position, ready to resume the rehearsal with renewed energy and focus. The music started again, and Enhypen delivered a breathtaking performance, showcasing their incredible talent and the hard work of the entire team behind the scenes.

As I watched them dance and sing on stage, I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of pride and admiration for the group. And in that moment, I knew that all the challenges and long hours were worth it to be a part of this incredible world of music and performance.

The grateful smile from Jay remained etched in my memory, a reminder of the moments that made working at SBS Inkigayo so special, and a source of motivation to continue supporting and contributing to the success of K-pop artists like Enhypen.

Couples of hours have past and it is nearing 3:00, the time the show airs live. All the k-groups and soloist are in their respective waiting rooms while I was in the cafeteria on break.

As I sat in the cafeteria, savoring the last sips of my coffee and preparing myself for the live broadcast that was rapidly approaching, a friendly presence suddenly settled down in the chair beside me. I looked up, and to my pleasant surprise, it was Jay.

"Hey there," he greeted me with a warm smile.

I couldn't help but return the smile, grateful for the opportunity to chat with him again. "Hey, Jay. How's everything going with the the final take?"

Jay shrugged playfully. "Well, it's been a rollercoaster, but we're getting there. Thanks for stepping in earlier. You really helped diffuse the situation."

I chuckled, feeling a sense of camaraderie. "No problem at all. Sometimes, a little teamwork and understanding can go a long way."

We continued to chat, the conversation flowing easily between us. Jay shared some stories about their preparations for "CRIMINAL LOVE," and I listened with genuine interest. Despite his fame, he was down-to-earth and easy to talk to, making me feel comfortable in his presence.

As we talked, we also shared a laugh about the earlier incident with the director. Jay had a way of finding humor in even the most stressful situations, and it was contagious. The tension from earlier seemed like a distant memory as we enjoyed each other's company.

Before we knew it, the clock was ticking closer to 3:00, and the live broadcast was about to begin. Jay and I exchanged well wishes for a successful show, and he headed back to the waiting room with a promise to give it their all on stage.

Watching Enhypen perform later that day during the live broadcast, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride, knowing that I had played a small part in helping them prepare. And as I watched Jay's energetic and charismatic performance, I couldn't help but smile, grateful for the unexpected friendship that had formed over a cup of coffee in the bustling cafeteria of SBS Inkigayo.

(Later)

As I stepped into my house, looking forward to a calm and restful night after a long day at work, I was met with an unexpected rush of excitement. My roommate and best friend, Seo Lee, practically stormed towards me, her phone clutched tightly in her hand.

"Guess what just happened!" Seo Lee exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

I raised an eyebrow, curious about her sudden enthusiasm. "What's going on?"

With a mischievous grin, Seo Lee began to show me screenshots of articles and social media posts. My heart sank as I quickly realized what was unfolding before my eyes. The headlines and comments were all about Jay and me hanging out in the cafeteria earlier in the day. The photos from our casual chat had spread like wildfire across the internet, fueling rumors and speculation.

Rumors spread quickly in the world of K-pop, and it seemed that this was no exception. I felt a wave of guilt wash over me as I realized the potential consequences of our impromptu coffee break. Jay might have to deal with unnecessary scrutiny and rumors that could affect his image.

"I didn't think it would blow up like this," I muttered, feeling a mix of regret and concern.

Seo Lee patted my shoulder reassuringly. "It happens, don't beat yourself up about it. But you should probably reach out to Jay and explain the situation."

I nodded, realizing that was the right thing to do. However, the challenge was that I didn't have a direct way to contact him. My interactions with Jay had been limited to our brief encounters at work, and I didn't have his contact information.

Seo Lee must have read the worry on my face. "Don't worry, I'll help you find a way to reach out to him. We can draft a message together and try to get in touch through the right channels."

Grateful for her support, I agreed. We spent the evening crafting a thoughtful message, explaining the situation and my genuine apologies for any inconvenience our accidental interaction might have caused Jay.

As we sent the message off into the digital abyss, I hoped that it would reach Jay and that he would understand that the cafeteria incident was never meant to harm him or his career. It was a reminder that even small interactions in the world of K-pop could have significant consequences, and it was essential to handle them with care and consideration.

Meanwhile, Jay had returned home after a tiring day of rehearsals and the live broadcast, and exhaustion had taken over as soon as he had hit the bed. He had fallen into a deep sleep without even checking his phone, blissfully unaware of the storm that had brewed overnight.

The next morning, he awoke feeling somewhat refreshed, ready to tackle another busy day. As he stepped out of his room, he was met with an unexpected sight – his manager had a worried expression on his face, and he held out a glass of water along with Jay's phone.

Confused, Jay accepted the glass and took a sip of water before turning his attention to the phone. His manager didn't say a word, allowing Jay to read the message on the screen.

As Jay's eyes scanned the message sent by Y/N, a mix of surprise and concern washed over him. It detailed the incident in the cafeteria, the screenshots, and the growing rumors on social media. Y/N had explained the situation, expressed genuine apologies, and even offered assistance in managing the aftermath.

Jay's heart sank as he realized the magnitude of the situation. He knew that rumors and scandals could spread like wildfire in the K-pop industry, and he didn't want this innocent interaction to harm his image or cause any undue stress to Y/N.

He looked up at his manager, who was still watching him closely. "I had no idea this had blown up so quickly," Jay admitted, his voice filled with concern.

His manager nodded sympathetically. "These things happen, Jay. It's important to address them promptly. Y/N seems genuinely apologetic and willing to help."

Jay sighed, feeling a mixture of relief and gratitude towards Y/N. "You're right. I should reply and let her know that I appreciate her understanding and that there are no hard feelings."

With his manager's support and guidance, Jay composed a reply, expressing his gratitude for Y/N's message and understanding. He also reassured Y/N that he didn't hold her responsible for the situation and that they could move forward positively.

As he hit send, Jay couldn't help but feel relieved that he had the chance to clear the air with Y/N. He hoped that their communication would help put an end to the rumors and allow them both to focus on their respective careers without any unnecessary distractions.

Jay understood that addressing the situation publicly was the best course of action. He decided to go live on Weverse, where he could directly communicate with his fans and set the record straight. With a deep breath, he went live, and his face appeared on screens around the world.

"Hey, Engene," he began with a warm smile. "I hope you're all doing well. I wanted to talk to you about something that came up recently."

As he explained the situation in a calm and clear manner, Jay emphasized that the cafeteria interaction with Y/N was entirely innocent and unintentional. He expressed his understanding of the rumors and assured his fans that he they should not hold hard feelings towards Y/N.

"I know how passionate our fans are," Jay continued. "But I also know that misunderstandings can happen. Y/N and I have already talked, and everything's good between us."

Meanwhile, Seo Lee had been watching Jay's live stream as she got ready for work. She realized the importance of Jay's message, not only for Engene but also for Y/N, who had been unfairly dragged into the situation.

Seo Lee quickly grabbed her phone and sent a message to Y/N, along with a link to Jay's live stream. "You should watch this. Jay's addressing the rumors."

Y/N, who had been feeling a mix of anxiety and guilt since the previous day, eagerly clicked on the link and began watching Jay's live stream. Her heart warmed as she listened to his sincere words and saw the comments from supportive fans.

Seo Lee's message accompanied by Jay's live stream brought a sense of relief to Y/N. It was a reassuring sign that Jay was taking steps to clear the air, and she was grateful for his understanding and support.

As Jay concluded his live stream, he thanked his fans for their unwavering support and understanding. He hoped that this would put an end to the rumors and allow everyone to move forward positively.

Y/N, having watched the live stream, felt a sense of closure and appreciation for Jay's efforts to address the situation publicly. She decided to send him a message to express her gratitude and to let him know that she was relieved that things had been resolved.

The following Sunday arrived, and with it came the day of another SBS Inkigayo broadcast. Y/N had made up her mind to keep a low profile and avoid any interactions with Jay or any idol for that matter, not wanting to draw unnecessary attention or cause any more misunderstandings.

As she went about her work backstage, she couldn't help but notice Jay occasionally glancing in her direction. It seemed he had noticed her efforts to keep her distance and maintain a professional demeanor. Y/N couldn't deny that a part of her was curious about what he might want to discuss in private, but she was determined to stick to her decision.

During a break, as the bustling atmosphere backstage momentarily quieted down, Jay took the opportunity to approach Y/N. He walked up to her discreetly, careful not to attract the attention of cameras or onlookers.

"Y/N," he said softly, "can we talk in private for a moment?"

Y/N hesitated for a moment but then nodded. She knew it was better to address whatever was on Jay's mind privately rather than allowing it to become a public spectacle.

They made their way to a quieter area backstage, away from the prying eyes of the cameras and curious onlookers. Once they were alone, Jay spoke earnestly, "I've noticed that you've been keeping your distance, and I want to apologize if my earlier message and actions have made you uncomfortable."

Y/N sighed, her shoulders relaxing as she appreciated Jay's sincerity. "Thank you for understanding, Jay. It's just that I didn't want to cause any more trouble for you or Enhypen. I hope everything's okay now after your live stream."

Jay nodded, his expression earnest. "Yeah, everything's settled. I wanted to talk to you to make sure you knew that there are no hard feelings on my end. What happened was a misunderstanding, and I don't want it to affect our working relationship or your experience here."

Y/N felt a sense of relief hearing Jay's words. "I appreciate that, Jay. I also want to clarify that I hold no ill will towards you or Enhypen. It was an honest mistake."

They both smiled, a shared understanding passing between them. It was a brief but meaningful conversation that helped clear the air and strengthen their professional rapport.

As they returned to their respective duties backstage, Y/N couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards Jay for taking the initiative to address the situation privately.

As Jay reentered the waiting room, he was greeted by the playful banter of his fellow Enhypen members. Ni-ki couldn't resist a teasing comment, and Sunghoon added to the fun by fanning the flames.

"Trying to make moves, Jay?" Ni-ki teased with a mischievous grin.

"Trying to make the rumors, real?" Sunghoon chimed in, unable to resist a good-natured jab.

Jay chuckled, shaking his head. "Shut up, you guys. I just wanted to make sure things were okay."

However, the members continued to tease Jay in their own lighthearted and affectionate way. Their camaraderie was evident in their interactions, and it was all in good fun.

Little did they know that Y/N had passed by their room and overheard their banter. She couldn't help but chuckle at the playful exchange between the Enhypen members. It was clear that their bond was strong, and they knew how to keep each other grounded, even in the midst of the K-pop industry's whirlwind.

With a smile, Y/N continued with her tasks backstage, feeling a sense of contentment that the earlier misunderstanding had been resolved, and that both she and Enhypen could move forward with professionalism and mutual respect.

Jake's comment caught Jay by surprise, and he playfully raised an eyebrow in response. "Well, of course, she is," he admitted with a grin. "But that's not the point."

The other members couldn't help but laugh at Jay's response. It was all in good fun, and they knew that Jay's intentions were entirely professional and respectful.

"So you would?" Jake continues.

"Would what?"

"Date her?" Jake laughs at Jay's expression. Jay couldn't help but laugh at Jake's teasing persistence. "Well, Jake, let's just say that dating isn't exactly my top priority right now. I'm fully focused on our music and performances."

As the manager interrupted their playful banter and instructed the members to prepare for their stage performance, the conversation came to an end. Jake and Heeseung shared a laugh, and they all headed toward the stage, their focus shifting to their upcoming performance.

While on stage, Jay couldn't help but steal a glance in Y/N's direction, spotting her among the backstage crew. His smile was warm and genuine, a silent acknowledgment of their earlier private conversation.

Jake, ever the playful one, noticed Jay's smile and made a mental note to tease him about it later.

#enhypen #enhypen imagines #enhypen au #engene #enha #enhypen x reader #jay #jongseong #park jongseong #jongseong x reader #enhypen jongseong #park jay x you #park jay #enhypen scenarios

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thebaffledcaptain · 9 months

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Music of the Revolutionary Century: the Rogue's March

"We have a short way with mutineers, sir. We hanged all we could lay our hands on; ran ‘em up the yardarm directly, with the Rogue‘s March playing..." – Captain Jack Aubrey, in HMS Surprise by Patrick O'Brian

A fun tune this is, only because of its ironic air. I found this 1781 print, labelled "A Visit to Camp or the Rogues March" and subtitled "To T. Lamb Esq. Mayor of Rye, on being, what they call, Drumm'd out of Camp by the Sixth Regiment of Foot." We're not quite sure what this T. Lamb did to warrant his drumming-out, but upon seeing it I thought it was due time that I covered this tune, if only because of its popularity and its reflection of the borderline humorous traditions of the 18th century (though not entirely unreasonable ones).

The Rogue's March had a specific usage throughout the 18th century British (and Continental, seeing as they tended to adopt most of the same tunes) military as the tune to which offenders were drummed out of camp. The process of this was intended essentially to humiliate said offender as deeply as possible in that classic, over-the-top 18th-century style, and this period print illustrates several of the traditions: the person in question would be paraded along the regimental formation and out of the camp, all the while marching on to the Rogue's March, played by as many drummers and fifers as were available in order to make the spectacle all the more memorable. As if that wasn't enough, generally the offender's coat would be turned and worn inside out as a sign of disgrace, and some regiments were not above "the final disgrace of a farewell ritual kick from the regiment's youngest drummer," seen here in the front of the formation at half the size of his compatriots, presumably preparing to make his move...

There were, too, unofficial lyrics to this tune, probably for a drinking song, which would duly reflect the mood of the offender's resentment:

Fifty [lashes] I got for selling me coat, Fifty for selling me blanket. If ever I 'lists for a sodger again, The Divil shall be me sergeant. Poor old sodger, poor old sodger...

This is undoubtedly one of the more well-known military tunes of the period, referenced in many pieces of media set during the long 18th century, including (as seen above) in the Aubrey-Maturin series and evidently in the TV show Sharpe. You can find many versions of this tune but I've chosen this specific fife-and-drum version because I think it was intended to convey the scene we see in the print above: it is slow, deliberate, almost stately, in a deeply ironic way. You can imagine the feeling of shame it might bring to have your march from camp extended by the musicians' excruciatingly unhurried tempo.

youtube

As for the musical side of things, I have to say this is probably the only 18th century field tune I've personally seen that relies so heavily on this syncopated triplet rhythm. There are versions that substitute them for plain old eighths, but I find them so much less fun. If anything I feel like that amusing little rhythmic swing upward just makes the cheerful tone of this one all the more ironic.

#music #field music #folk music #music of the revolutionary century #amrev #revwar #american revolution #revolutionary war #british military #military history #18thc #18th century #aubreyad #sharpe #redcoatposting #Youtube #the captain's lectures #awi

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ask-healthy-light · 25 days

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Although the other three all glanced away, and Boom even covered Courage's eyes with his hooves, it did not take long before they all tried to sneak a peek at the two Dragonesses, whose fiery passion kindled great flames even in the coldest depths of their hearts; and as Inferno melted into Ember's embrace, bright blushes swiftly grew upon their faces, and they all struggled to hide their smiles.

Eventually, what felt like an eternity later for both Inferno and Ember, as well as for the others, who were now all sitting cross-legged before them, the two Dragonesses slowly ended their kiss, and nearly fell over in exhaustion, until the other helped them to stay upright; and when Inferno found her balance, she wandered over to grab her sword, which had deeply embedded itself into the ground.

After some time of immense effort, Inferno was finally able to pull her sword out of the hard rock, shattering the stone in the process, and causing pebbles to fly all over the place, forcing all the others to shield their eyes yet again; and she breathed a sigh of relief to find that her blade was undamaged, but she asked the others to remind her to sharpen it before they set off in the morning.

Fortunately, Shining quickly replied that he would let her know, as he figured he needed to sharpen his own blade, as well, before he turned to Nox and Boom to ask them if they needed time to fix any weapon of theirs; but when he realised that the two were both still staring at Inferno, Shining let out a sigh, and took a moment to shake them by the shoulders, before he repeated Inferno's request.

Only after Shining loudly called out to them did they awaken from their trance-like state, severely startling and terribly confusing them, until both Boom and Nox took a moment to wipe away the drool on their faces, and shake their own heads; and they quickly repeated in brief what Inferno asked of them, before they solemnly apologised for not paying attention to her, which made her laugh warmly.

In turn, Inferno put her greatsword back in its sheath, and just as she placed it down again, Ember flicked around the sword she was holding, which instantly turned back into the Scepter before their eyes, which she placed next to Inferno's sword, before the two sat down again, holding claws; but a few moments later, when the Dragonesses looked back at Boom, they told him to sing a song for them.

As soon as Boom heard their request, his eyes widened, and he wildly shook his head, admitting that he had not been able to think of any song to sing that did not cause him great heartache, but which would also not others feel hurt, either; but in response, as Ember grabbed a loaf of bread from one of the bags they had brought, she just repeated her request, adding that she already took his turn.

A chill ran down Boom's back as he struggled to think of a songs that would appease Ember, yet that would also not hurt any one of the group, nor cause the mood to change to what they all felt just a few moments ago, when the two Dragonesses were even closer together than they were now; but at that moment, Nox got up to walk over to Boom, where she quietly asked him how much time he still needed.

With a loud swallow, Boom asked her to give him as much time as she could give him, before he swore to her that he would sing for the entire group, as soon as he managed to remember any songs he knew how to sing; but Nox merely chuckled in return, before she let out an immense sigh, and told him he needed to be quick, as she could not stall the others forever, even if she spoke about her passion.

As he wiped the sweat from his forehead, Boom started mumbling to himself as he thought about songs he knew from long ago, while Nox got up, and stood right in front of him to speak for the others in his stead; and Nox teased that she was certain her Mother and Aunt would both love to hear him sing for them again, before she turned around, and told the group that she would do her best to explain.

"It has been a long time since I last showed this to anyone outside of my Family…"

(Thanks for reading! And if you enjoyed, please reblog! Thanks in advance!)

Send an ask or request! | Start at the beginning! | Next part!

Featuring: Nox Lunarwing from @nox-lunarwing Boomlord from @thedumbguywithaheart43

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scorpiongrassfield · 8 months

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You can’t not read it. It might be completely unrelated to you, it might not. But you need to know either way.

You… aren’t sure how well written the story is. But information is information.

After several days of sleet and rain, a body was found by the side of an Interstate in New York. The water had been collecting, pooling in the grass next to the road, partially submerging the body. The victim had been stabbed over and over. She had bled out before her body was dumped. Her face was intact, but the woman’s appearance and age didn’t match any known missing persons cases, so the identity of the body was never found.

It is said that after being buried as a Jane Doe, she was very angry about being forgotten.

So now, if you drive down that interstate in March, when it’s raining hard and visibility is low, you might meet her.

Forget-me-nots have started growing on the side of the road there, blooming unseasonally. If you notice her lying there amongst the flowers but don’t stop, she will follow you. She will be very angry that you didn’t try to help her, and will make sure you regret it. Constantly following you, driving you to paranoia. She won’t harm you directly, but she won’t let you rest either. Not until you return to her ‘body’ and apologize for leaving her behind. If you don’t, you might just die of fright…

If you stop and offer her help, you will find yourself she will ask you if you remember-

“I brought baklava,” Pat calls out in a sing-song voice as they open up the door.

You set your phone back down.

You feel sick. The room is swaying ever so slightly. Or maybe that’s just you?

“Uh. Kid? Are you okay?” Pat says, their good mood dropping like mercury in winter.

You don’t respond. Your ears are ringing.

The lighter is so hot in your pocket you think you’re actually getting burned.

“You’re as pale as a-” they bite off the last word as they rush over to you.

You still don’t move. This is all just a coincidence. That was just some stupid scary story.

Pat has their hand to your forehead, checking your temperature.

“You’re cold,” they say.

“Pat,” you say. Your voice feels strange in your mouth, small and wavering. “Was it raining the day we met?”

Pat frowns and blinks repeatedly. “The day we met…? I don’t think so? Why?”

You don’t answer them.

You do sigh in relief.

Pat didn’t find you in the rain. Whatever similarities there are between you and the girl in the story are coincidences. They have to be.

Pat is still hovering around you, worried.

When you remain unresponsive, they finally say. “Oh-kay. We’ve had a really long week, so I think what we’re going to do now is eat our gyros and dolmas, and then get ready for an early bedtime and watch one of your shows,” they say decisively.

“Okay,” you agree. You stand mechanically to help Pat unpack the food. Now instead of scared you just feel numb. You can’t even feel the lighter, though you suspect it hasn’t cooled down.

The two of you set the food and drinks out, then sit back down at the desk side by side. You briefly wonder where the second chair came from, but you suppose it’s not that important.

Pat instructs you to eat, and you do without any fuss.

Pat doesn’t ask you if you like the food. They don’t say anything at all, just watch you silently, almost forgetting about their own food.

You feel bad for worrying them.

And oh, you guess you aren’t so numb after all then.

You’re still not going to let yourself think about it too hard.

Once you’ve both finished eating, Pat clears off the desk.

“Have you gone to the woods again?” they ask.

You manage to shake your head no.

“But something happened?”

Nod.

“Am I going to be able to get you to talk about it right now?”

Shake.

Pat sighs. “Alright then. We’ll talk about it tomorrow. Right now it’s rest time. Do you wanna watch our show here at the desk, or get cozy in bed?”

You don’t know what you want right now.

Pat observes your silence for a moment and shakes their head.

“You’re shaking like a leaf. Coziness is probably in order. Let’s get ready for bed, then,” they say.

They get started on that, and you just stay seated at the desk.

You can’t do anything right now but pointedly not think about the thing you don’t want to think about.

You aren’t sure how much time passes before Pat comes back.

“Come on, kid. Up and at em,” Pat says. They offer you a hand to help you up out of the seat.

You take it.

“You think you can manage brushing your teeth?” they ask.

…You can probably manage that much.

“Get to it, then,” they say, nudging you towards the bathroom. “Even vampires have to worry about tooth decay… I think.”

You roll your eyes at that, but do as you’re told.

After a few minutes Pat knocks on the door frame to the bathroom, since you left the door open.

“Here, want to get into your pajamas?” they ask, offering the clothes.

You spit toothpaste into the sink to answer, “Sure.”

You take the clothes from them and shut the door.

There’s a mirror on the wall behind the sink.

You’ve been avoiding looking at your reflection. You aren’t sure why. Scared of what you’ll see, maybe.

You glance up, just for a second, as you get dressed.

No wonder Pat thinks you’re a vampire. You are indeed very pale. And very thin. Probably unhealthily so. You knew your hair was black, already, it’s almost in your eyes pretty much all the time, but you’ve never minded that.

You didn’t catch what color your eyes are.

You’ve never liked looking people in the eye, even with your own reflection you feel like that would be…

You don’t want to do it. So you didn’t.

You do have a lot of scars. Too many.

Pat said you shouldn’t have survived what happened to you.

What if…

No, you’re not thinking about that.

You finish putting your pajamas on and walk back out into the main room.

“Normally you’d get to pick the show,” Pat says as they get their laptop out of their suitcase. “But you don’t remember which shows you like. So. I’m gonna pick one I know you really liked, if that’s alright?”

“Sure,” you don’t see why not.

Pat nods and sets their laptop down on the bed and boots it up. They squint at the screen for a while before sighing and going over to their purse to retrieve their glasses.

“Don’t let me fall asleep with these still on?” they ask.

You nod.

Pat gets in bed with the laptop and you’re still just… standing there.

“Do you want to watch it at the desk after all? That’s okay you know, changing your mind is fine,” they say.

“No, it’s fine,” you say.

“Hop in, then. This show is a fun one,” they say, patting the bed next to them.

You manage to get yourself into the bed. Pat is sitting up with their back against the headboard. You do the same.

They have the laptop balanced on their lap and offset to the side to have it be a bit closer to you.

There’s a gap of space between the two of you. You suspect Pat is trying to respect your boundaries.

“Can you see okay like this?” they ask.

You nod.

“Good. Let’s go, then,” they say. They lean forward to hit the play button, make the video full screen, then sit back.

The show is… nice. It’s a comedy about a girl who has a crush on one of her classmates, a person who turns out to be a rather famous romance manga artist.

It’s very cute.

Pat comments on what’s going on every so often.

They insist that the love interest is nonbinary, and list out all of the evidence they see for it as said evidence is shown.

They make a compelling argument.

You like the show, but…

It’s a little frustrating.

Pat made it pretty clear this is one of your favorites. And you do have a lot of fond feelings for it. But. You don’t have the memories to place why you have those feelings.

Still, struggling with that sense of discord is better than confronting the other unpleasant feelings you have roiling inside of you.

You try your best to focus on the show, even as Pat falls silent.

After a few more episodes, you glance over at them.

Their eyes are closed.

“Pat?” you call gently.

They open their eyes again. “I’m awake,” they mumble unconvincingly.

“You should take your glasses off, before you fall asleep,” you remind them.

They hum and put their glasses on the side table. They turn off the light while they’re at it.

“You can keep watching if you want, I don’t mind,” they say as they hand you the laptop and lay down properly.

“Okay,” you say.

You try your best, but in the dark all the things you’re avoiding seem… closer.

“Hey, Pat?” you ask after a while, “Are you still awake?”

“Sort of,” they answer honestly, without opening their eyes.

“Can you… tell me a little more about urban legends?”

Pat opens their eyes to give you a look, their face lit dimly by the somewhat distant glow of the laptop.

“Is this related to why you’ve been so… out of it, tonight?” they ask.

You nod.

“Then we’ll talk about it in the morning. It’s too dark out for something like that,” they say.

“Oh, alright.”

“I’m sleeping for real now, kid. Goodnight,” they say, and close their eyes again.

“Goodnight,” you echo.

You decide to keep watching anime, since you’re pretty sure you won’t be able to sleep for real. You don’t want to go back to the woods right now.

Once the first show is over, you decide to find another one.

After a bit of searching on the site, you manage to find the one that your lock screen is from.

It’s… about a boy who dies and is stuck in limbo because there’s no place for him in heaven or hell. He has to solve ghost mysteries in order to get out of his predicament.

You decide you don’t want to watch this one right now.

You pick a random show off of the trending list instead.

This one is about pirates.

That’ll work just fine.

You keep watching, focusing on not thinking about anything else until light starts filtering through the blinds again.

#choose your own adventure #interactive fiction #writeblr #original writing

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titanicfreija · 10 months

Text

Showing off

"Hey."

Freija turned to her ghost, lowering her gun and tilting her head. "Yeah?"

This shell was new. Or was one of Freija's favorites and had been on a shelf since they got Sunny's discs. A classic angular one with pretty curls on it.

Sunny bounced along to the solid beat underlying the music she played, getting her time right for the first couple of bars before the bouncing melody started. The unknown instruments and language didn't hide the mirth from Freija, and it set the mood for Sunny's dance successfully.

The graceful motions following could only be dancing-- the bobbing got bigger, on a four count around nine points, and the shell petal flaps flew in measured distances away from her core body and spun around one another, whirling on different axes at varying speed.

The eight shell flaps turned into whole other shapes as she manipulated them individually and together- wheeling in countering directions, pulling all to the front and twisting them in their field, sending them flying out singly in time with the music, resulting in a twinkling star; she paired top and side sets to wheel two linked points together, spinning each on their own axes as she spun her core body.

For the two minutes of song, Sunny whirled around her dance field and put forth a dazzling display, finally showing Freija what Rex meant by 'good dancer'. The Titan tried to learn what she could, but she would need the petals to slow down a lot to follow those.

The song drew to a close and Sunny pulled her shell close and hovered still in the air, watching her Titan silently.

Freija struggled for several long moments. Sunny slowly sank in the air, and Freija knew she took it as a bad thing but she still didn't know what to say. Her helmet hid her face so Sunny couldn't see the slack-jawed awe.

"Hang on, I liked it, I'm just speechless," the Titan stammered weakly. "I can't even swear."

Sunny shot six feet over Freija's head with a shrill electronic noise, spiraling back down. "You can't even swear?"

"None of 'em are good enough. Not enough magnitude. Gonna have to look up new ones or something, I can only swear about how much I can't say anything, like. Uh. I can't do that and not even because I'm not a ghost. I couldn't do that if I was a ghost. Most ghosts can't do that, can they?"

Sunny's eye fuzzed around the edge and she swayed as if on a pendulum. "Ah. No. The ways I can manipulate my shell are pretty special. I practiced a lot. I got lucky and found music early on during my search, being... Nosy, like you call me, I would look through old databases and the like. And dancing itself came natural. You'll never relate, but it's like music makes me want to move, so in suitably empty places, I'd play the music and dance."

Freija nodded slowly, knowing her helmet only barely reflected the motion. "Okay, well, nine hundred years of practice pays off. Good to know."

Sunny bounced merrily. "You can be speechless, I don't want you to force it."

The ghost hovered past Freija and tried to lead her on, but the Titan stumbled over her feet as she turned. "Can you do that again? Is that a whole routine? Freestyle?"

"Steps are prearranged, arrangement of steps are, too, for this song, but I have other arrangements and I have other music I don't do that with." The ghost kept hovering ahead without looking back at her guardian, deliberately playing it cool.

"... Good job." The Titan shambled after her. "That was great. Did you change shells in my backpack?"

"Yep!" Sunny sent the shell into storage and 'matted her Hareball shell on. "You got me the disc shaped ones, I'll need to practice with those. They won't link in the same ways."

"Maybe get you a special Dancing Shell?"

@annieruok94

#destiny 2 #d2 #ocs #writing #freija #scribble #sunny #dancing #ghosts

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oldfashionedmorphine · 3 months

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⭐ Directors Cut on curating your soundtrack for On The Same Frequency. How was the process for that and incorporating them into the story? What was the writing process like incorporating the songs? No pressure of course to answer this.🫂

hi hello!

this is an interesting question for sure…

i have to say it evolved a lot over the duration of writing.

but first, here is the playlist for anyone who hasn’t listened to it yet:

okay so…

very early on i decided i wanted to pick instrumental songs for this story over songs with lyrics…at least, i wanted the playlist to feel like it could be a soundtrack to a movie because the story is inspired by a movie…and initially i only had a few songs when i first started writing back in august (mostly songs from the big giant circles album there came an echo—which was because of the song outside the realm that plays during the “crazy together” scene, and i also had some from the stranger things OST too)

but in between writing i would spend some time looking up songs, usually starting with similar artists to the songs i already had and honestly i have to say it was kind of a rabbit hole situation with how i ended up with most of them—though sometimes i specifically looked something up, like “synth style christmas songs” which is how i found joy to the synthwave world and holiday nights and i also added a lot of the OST songs from the movie archive because i watched the movie in october and thought they fit well.

and after doing all that i ended up with a playlist that was close to 8 hours long and made up of 126 songs (the unofficial version)…but i wanted to narrow it down so it wasn’t so long (official playlist is like 53 songs and 3 hours)…..and my main reason for doing that was so that (if you’re someone like me) you could have it play in the background while reading to set the mood….

and i narrowed it down by simply reading through each finished chapter while listening to the songs to decide if they fit the vibes for the scenes (a rather time consuming process, haha)—oh and i even created separate chapter playlists while i was figuring this all out too (which outside the realm being a song for ch 4 shouldn’t be too surprising lol) because i took it a step further and tried to keep the duration/length of each chapter playlist to the average reading speed for the overall word count of each chapter (if that makes sense…like ch 6 being 10k words meant that i tried to add songs until the chapter playlist was somewhere around 30-40 mins long…….) of course, it doesn’t work for everyone because reading speeds are different, but each chapter playlist is timed for average reader speed (although i messed around with the songs for ch 5 after posting the fic and idk if that one still times well to average speed since i haven’t gone back and checked it, oh well) but uh……it was honestly a super ridiculous thing to try and do and most people don’t even listen to fic playlists (and especially while reading) but i had at least one person appreciate it (shout out to bre @magentamee) so that’s good enough for me!! 😅

oh and it also felt kinda obligatory to start the playlist off with the stranger things theme song…and after listening to several remixes of it, i found one that had an “end credits” sort of vibe and so that’s how i picked the final song :D

FUN FACT: the song “nightsky” by tracey chattaway was added sometime in september or october and i listened to it on repeat while writing so many times that it ended up being my top played song for the whole entire year according to my apple replay lol (it’s not my fault she put drugs in that song)

which songs did you enjoy the most? 👀 and please, feel free to send me another ask if you want! ;)

#thanks for the ask! :)#on the same frequency: a byler fic

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carewyncromwell · 1 year

Photo

“We’ve got everything that we need -- We can be whatever we want to be! Nothing we can’t do... The skies are blue When it’s me and you, and you, and you!”

~“Life’s a Happy Song (reprise)” from The Muppets (2011)

x~x~x~x

Hogwarts was all in a tizzy as exam season approached in the spring of 1991. It was honestly rather predictable -- every spring, the fifth and seventh years classes would simultaneously lose their minds preparing for their OWLs and NEWTs, with at least one student from each ending up in the Hospital Wing after taking a bogus Wit-Sharpening Potion or collapsing in flat-out exhaustion. Panic attacks and sudden tears were also rather prevalent -- one poor fifth year Hufflepuff was so terrified about not acing her OWLs that Penny Haywood had to sit with her in the bathroom for close to an hour just to calm her down enough to stop crying.

For Carewyn Cromwell, though, however stressful the prospect of her NEWTs were, she actually found herself in a brighter mood than she had in a really long time. Part of it was because she’d finally managed to put R and the Cursed Vaults behind her once and for all the previous year -- but the other reason that this time around, she got to study for her exams alongside one of her favorite people in the whole wide world: her older brother, Jacob.

Jacob Cromwell -- a Ravenclaw alumnus who was widely considered a magical prodigy by just about everyone who knew him -- had actually been expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry nine years prior, due to him being forced into R’s service by his and Carewyn’s wicked grandfather, Charles Cromwell. With R dismantled and Charles now locked up behind the walls of Azkaban, however, Dumbledore petitioned the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, to let Jacob take his NEWTs that upcoming spring with the graduating class, so as to complete his Hogwarts education and help him start his life over. After being targeted by a magical criminal organization since his school days and getting trapped in a portrait for seven years, Jacob was rather in need of a fresh start. Fortunately, while waiting to take his NEWTs, he’d been able to find work as a barman at the Three Broomsticks...and so now, nearly every weekend, Carewyn would take a trip to Hogsmeade village to visit him.

This particular weekend, only one week before their NEWTs were set to begin, Carewyn walked to Hogsmeade by herself, her schoolbag at her side and bulging with books she’d borrowed from the library. Jacob would be done with his shift by the time she arrived, so -- she thought -- it’d be the perfect opportunity to do a proper Herbology review.

When she arrived at the Three Broomsticks, Carewyn found the place bustling with activity. Just about every table was full, with multiple people visibly and audibly intoxicated -- Carewyn even had to quickly sidestep one wizard as he stumbled across the room right in front of her, clutching her school bag that bit more securely up against her side so that none of the books would fall out.

Hogwarts’s Head Girl looked for Jacob at the bar, to find it unattended. A moment later, though, she caught sight of him. His long, messy black-brown curls were tied back in a messy ponytail to keep it out of his face, and he was levitating several trays of food over everyone’s heads and over to their respective tables with one hand while delivering the last by hand to the other far end of the room.

“Jacob!” Carewyn called.

Jacob looked up. His whole face, however pale and skull-like it had become over the years, lit up like a sunbeam at the sight of her.

“Hey, Pip!” he said cheerily. “Just finishing up now -- meet me at the bar, I’ll be right there!”

Quickly dropping the tray in his hand off at the table, he bustled back over toward the kitchen, presumably to pick up another round of orders.

Still a bit surprised by just how busy the pub was on such a sunny Saturday afternoon, Carewyn nonetheless headed over toward her usual spot at the far end of the bar. She’d chosen this spot so that when Jacob was on his breaks, he could pull up a stool beside her and they could talk a bit more quietly away from the other patrons.

Today, though, I think ‘quiet’ is off the table, Carewyn thought drolly. Oh well...at least we should still have relative privacy.

She climbed up onto the stool, swinging her bag up onto the bar, so she could start unloading the books she’d borrowed from the library. Goshawk’s Guide to Herbology...Magical Mediterranean Water-Plants and Their Properties...One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi...

“Hey, there, Cherry-Bomb,” came a sing-song voice to Carewyn’s left. When she looked up, she found a young man about Jacob’s age with broad shoulders had strode over to her, grinning stupidly at her as he slurred, “Yeh here alone?”

“Only presently,” Carewyn said very coolly.

The broad-shouldered bloke’s grin broadened. “Well, then, how’s ‘bout you and me share a drink, in the meantime? My treat -- ”

“No, thank you,” said Carewyn without looking at him.

"Oh, come on!” slurred the young man, his voice attempting amiability but coming across as way too sloshed to be anything charming. “You’ll love it! This new mix of Cromwell’s is mad brilliant...”

Carewyn cocked an eyebrow. “New mix?” Did Jacob start serving a new kind of drink?

Maybe that explained the number of customers -- and how many of them were drunk.

“I’m sure it is,” she said airily. “My brother’s always been brilliant.”

The sentence made the young man’s grin slide as cleanly off his face as if it had been wiped up with a handkerchief.

“B...brother?” he repeated, his drunken voice suddenly shaking with terror. “Y-your brother is -- ?”

“Too right he is.”

The young man just about jumped out of his skin upon realizing that Jacob was standing behind him. The young barman had discarded his apron, leaving him only in a white undershirt and jeans, and his bare muscular arms were crossed tightly over his chest as his skull-like blue eyes flared dangerously.

“Now bugger off before I contemplate whether to punch your lights out or Switch your head with your arse,” Jacob growled.

The young man needed no convincing. However intoxicated he was, or perhaps because of how intoxicated he was, he cowardly ran back to his buddies drinking at the other end of the bar, far away from both Cromwells. (His cohorts appeared just as drunk and were laughing their heads off as he rejoined them -- Carewyn got the feeling they’d set their friend up, daring him to buy her a drink while strongly suspecting that she'd reject him.)

“Thank you, Jacob,” Carewyn said lowly, relaxing noticeably. She then added a bit more reproachfully, “...You really shouldn’t have threatened him, though -- he is one of your customers.”

Jacob scoffed. “Not if he’s hitting on my little sister. You’re still in school, for Merlin’s sake -- ”

“He wouldn’t have known that just by looking at me,” said Carewyn, gesturing to her un-school-worthy casual dress.

“He would’ve if he bothered to notice the library books in front of you,” Jacob pointed out. “And frankly I don’t care if he thought you were older -- you weren’t interested, so he should’ve backed off.”

Carewyn smiled slightly. “You’re right -- he should’ve.”

She slid off her high stool and strode over -- Jacob, sensing her intent with no effort, immediately opened his arms and reciprocated the tight hug she gave him, squeezing her against his chest with a softer, brighter smile on his face again.

“Sorry I’m late, Pip,” said Jacob. “This place has been absolutely swamped today...Rosmerta ended up short-staffed, so I volunteered to help with parsing out the last round of orders before the night crew got in...”

“I don’t suppose your ‘new mix’ has anything to do with this huge crowd?” Carewyn said knowingly.

“Mm, might be partially to blame,” Jacob admitted with a sly grin as he climbed up onto the bar stool beside hers. “Rosmerta’s been happy about it, though -- I reckon a good fifty people showed up, just because she started telling folks in the village about my new drink. She said she might even have enough profits from this week alone to replace all the beds in the upstairs rooms...”

Carewyn’s eyes lit up as she returned to her stool. “That’s great!”

“Yeah,” said Jacob, his smile becoming looser and more sincere despite himself. “Rosmerta’s been wanting to do it for ages...I'm glad she’ll be able to now.”

Carewyn nodded in agreement. “Me too. And that your new drink’s doing so well too.”

Jacob’s face seemed to brighten that bit more, just seeing the pride in his sister’s expression.

“It’s really nothing that special,” he said modestly. “It’s just something I came up with randomly, while mixing stuff with Ashe and Liv, back in the old days. It was tasty then too, mind you, but...well, I kind of stopped making it, after...”

He trailed off, but Carewyn understood. She took his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze -- Jacob gave her a small, grateful smile.

“...Anyway, Liv stopped in this last Sunday and asked I’d mix one up for her, for old times’ sake,” Jacob explained. “So I did. And well, it was as good as we both remembered it. We even had to stop ourselves from drinking a third each, just so we wouldn’t end up as plastered as last time,” he added with a laugh. “Liv suggested I mix one up for Rosmerta sometime, to see if she’d be okay with adding it to her menu...and I thought, hey, why not? So I told Rosmerta about it, mixed up a drink for her...and she loved it! So here it is! The brand new VK.”

Carewyn raised her eyebrows curiously. “What’s the ‘VK’ short for?”

Jacob’s smile morphed into something more like an uncomfortable grimace.

“...Well, I tell customers it stands for ‘Verdigris Kamikaze’ -- verdigris for its color, kamikaze for its intensity. Its original meaning I don’t really want to use...I only came up with it while I was drunk and stupid myself...”

Seeing the encouraging and curious look on Carewyn’s face, Jacob bit the bullet and muttered under his breath, “...‘Vodka Kedavra.’”

Carewyn winced. “Oh.”

“Yeah,” Jacob agreed with a cringe of his own. “A bit funnier now that we’re not actively in a Wizarding War, but still...I felt like such a minge once I got my mind back, for even joking about something like that...”

Carewyn patted Jacob on the arm. It made Jacob smile a bit more brightly again.

“Anyhow! NEWT season at last! You excited?”

“‘Excited’ isn’t exactly the word I’d use,” Carewyn said lightly.

“Well, why not?” said Jacob with a grin. “It’s a great chance to share everything you’ve learned! Plus it gives us the perfect chance to review everything -- go over what we’ve forgotten, maybe even learn something new along the way...”

“Maybe,” said Carewyn. “But it is kind of hard to forget that these tests will ultimately decide your entire future in the Wizarding World.”

“Adults only say that stuff to scare you,” Jacob said reassuringly. “And really, only the super academic ones, at that. There are plenty of people who’ve found success in the Wizarding World without them...Newt Scamander, for instance...”

“The Ministry kind of requires them, though,” Carewyn pointed out.

“True,” granted Jacob. He grinned broadly despite himself, “I still can’t believe my little Pippa’s aiming to go to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.”

“What’s wrong with that?” asked Carewyn, crossing her arms.

“Nothing! Just strange to imagine you so grown-up is all.”

Jacob’s expression softened.

“...Honestly, I don’t know what I imagined you doing when you grew up...but I knew you’d be great, Pip. I always knew.”

Carewyn’s face spread into a warm, soft smile of her own.

It had been so long since she’d had her brother there to support her and her dreams...truly, after everything that had happened with R, Jacob being there for her again filled her up with more courage and determination than ever.

“...Thank you, Jacob,” she said softly.

You will be too, she hoped he could sense through their Legilimency, as she recalled their duel against Charles and their mother’s siblings together. I know you’ll be great. You deserve it.

Judging by the rippling emotion in Jacob’s sunken-in eyes, he definitely got it. He brought a hand up to rest on top of his sister’s head, gently mussing up her ginger bangs, before turning his gaze to the books Carewyn had checked out with a brilliant, starry look in his eye.

“Magical Mediterranean Water-Plants and Their Properties!” he consulted the books excitedly. “Oh gosh, I haven’t read this in ages...oh, and Garlick’s Complete Encyclopedia of Medicinal Herbs! She was a professor at Hogwarts back in the day, you know...smart as a whip, and beautiful too, from what I’ve seen of her portraits -- I haven’t found any that talk yet, unfortunately...”

“Did she teach Herbology?” asked Carewyn.

“Yeah! Near the turn of the 20th century, I think. She wrote that book in retirement, and then her wife donated her original manuscript to Hogwarts postmortem -- I remember Pince mentioning it when I first borrowed that copy, reminding me to be careful with it...”

Jacob gently parsed through the book, holding it open so that Carewyn could read over his shoulder.

“Here we are,” said Jacob brightly. “Dittany! Always a classic...”

Carewyn read over Jacob’s shoulder aloud.

“‘Dittany is a plant known for its powerful Healing and restorative properties. Sometimes known as the Burning Bush for its flammable vapors, it nonetheless can make fresh skin grow over old wounds and, if mixed with silver, can heal werewolf bites.’”

She raised an eyebrow. “...Hm. I didn’t know it was called the ‘Burning Bush.’”

“Yeah, even Muggles call it that, funnily enough,” Jacob said leisurely. “Though, truly, the Fire Seed Bush would be a more fitting choice for the name -- it literally burns as long as it’s alive. But the name’s derived from this essential oil secreted by dittany’s glands -- it’s so combustible that any exposure to an open flame can make the vapor over it immediately ignite. Though there is another non-magical shrub, Euonymus alatus, that’s also called the Burning Bush, though that one’s native to Asia...gorgeous foliage, actually...”

“I think I remember seeing some Fire Seed Bushes in Greenhouse Three,” Carewyn cut off Jacob’s rambling cleanly. “Professor Sprout said something about them being used for potion ingredients.”

“They are!” said Jacob brightly. He seemed perfectly unbothered by the shift in the conversation. “They’re used in the Antidote for Uncommon Poisons, most notably, though they’re also perfect for a good Fire-Breathing Potion.”

Carewyn nodded. That makes sense.

“They’re too hot to touch on their own,” Jacob added. “Most Herbologists and Potioneers find it safest to use Glacius on them before extracting them."

“Wouldn’t that douse their fire, though?” asked Carewyn.

“Not exactly. Fire seeds are incredibly combustible -- a simple Incendio would be more than enough to bring back their natural heat. They’re like pieces of coal -- just because you douse the flame doesn’t mean it’s hard to relight it. The difference is that fire seeds don’t eat away at any plants around it -- their flames burn internally, which, yes, makes them scalding to touch...but they don’t burn up their surroundings like an actual fire would.”

Carewyn considered this. “Hmm...yeah. I remember Charlie said something once about dragonologists sometimes gathering fire seeds and leaving them in areas where mother dragons can find them and collect them for their nests...they probably don’t even have to use Incendio, since the mother dragons can just use their fire breath to relight them.”

Jacob’s eyes lit up at the new information. “Really? I didn’t know that! What a groovy idea!”

His gaze rapidly drifted off toward the ceiling, as it often did when he was daydreaming.

“Wonder if one couldn’t apply that warming idea to other things too...maybe in the use of magical stoves! All the control of a gas stove, but safer and more environmentally friendly...”

Carewyn flipped through the book, parsing through other entries.

“‘Devil’s Snare,’” she read aloud with a cringe. Memories of being stuck in that very plant back with Rowan in her first year rippled over her mind. “Definitely don’t need any review of that...‘Gillyweed’...”

“Won’t need a review of that either, considering that bought us a one-way ticket to the Sunken Vault last year,” said Jacob with a huge grin.

Carewyn smiled too and nodded, flipping to the next entry.

“‘Moly,’” she read. “That’d be good for a review.”

“Oh, for sure!” Jacob said brightly. “That’s the plant Homer claims Odysseus used to counter Circe’s enchantments, you know.”

Carewyn blinked. “Really?”

She hadn’t known that. When she glanced down at the book’s entry, she found that information wasn’t included there either.

“I read about it in The Muggle’s View of Our Magical World: An Examination of Magical Allusions in Muggle Literature,” Jacob said eagerly. “Admittedly the Moly can’t undo Transfigurations, which is what Circe is best known for...transforming men into pigs, you know. But in The Odyssey, it’s also used to counteract Circe’s attempts to poison Odysseus, which the Moly absolutely can do -- it’s even used in healing potions...”

“Right -- Moly’s an ingredient in Wiggenweld Potion,” Carewyn recalled.

“Exactly! Muggles see the plant as mythical, due to wizards exclusively growing the plants in magical preserves and the like...Muggles of the past almost plucked them to extinction, you see, seeing them as some kind of divine plant. Anyway, most Muggles today presume the Moly was based off the snowdrop flower -- but even in the text of the Odyssey itself, it got its description exactly right.”

“A white flower with a black stem,” Carewyn surmised, indicating the picture accompanying the book’s entry.

“Yep! ‘The root was black, while the flower was as white as milk.’ Homer also claimed that mortal men couldn’t pick it, which is a bit ridiculous, but hey, I reckon that was a dramatic flourish, more than anything...”

Jacob paused. He glanced at Carewyn out the side of his eye almost hesitantly.

“What’s wrong?” asked Carewyn.

“Nothing,” said Jacob, and his face spread into a bigger smile than ever. “It’s just...I’ve never done this before.”

Carewyn frowned deeply. “What, you mean, study with someone?”

“Yeah! Well, no, I have, but...not like this. I’d study with Ashe and Liv plenty -- but usually when it was for class, we’d have to be quiet, and if it was for the Vaults...well, it was a bit more like this, but there was so much more pressure involved. We had to find the answers, and quick, if we wanted to help the school and protect everyone...”

Jacob’s grin was blazing.

“But here? I mean, I know lots of it already -- it’s more a review than anything...but talking about it with you, explaining it to you? Remembering things, telling you what I know...just enjoying learning, and magic...the whole Wizarding World?”

Jacob’s eyes crinkled up, leaking fondness.

“I know it might sound dorky, Pip, but...I love sharing all this with you. Every day I was at Hogwarts, I wished I could share the whole school and all of the new things I was learning with you. I used to hate so much sometimes that I had to eat dinner in the Great Hall and then go up to sleep in my dorm, rather than come home and tell you and Mum all about school over dinner, or while putting you to bed. I wanted to share everything with you, back then. And now...well, now I kind of can.”

Carewyn felt like her heart was being squeezed in a big, warm bear hug. Affection for her older brother flooded over her as she leaned her shoulder against his.

“...I really like it too, Jacob,” she said softly.

Jacob’s enthusiastic letters about Hogwarts had brightened Carewyn’s days, in that time when she had to spend so much time alone at home. It had made her look so forward to going to school herself -- mastering her magic and being a great witch by doing real good for people -- and it’d make her long so much that she could be there with him. Jacob had always encouraged her dreams full-throttle, and being apart from him so much of the year had been harder than Carewyn would ever have admitted. And when he disappeared so abruptly with no word, that loneliness was more crippling than ever.

But now -- in the end -- after everything they hadn’t foreseen and yet had to struggle through, here they were, not only set to enter the working world and live the way they’d always dreamed...but also ready to take their NEWTs and start this new chapter of their lives together, side by side.

What a mysterious and yet empowering thing life could be.

Carewyn and Jacob’s study session went well into the night, nearly until closing time. Rosmerta appeared rather reluctant to separate the two -- she was smiling too fondly at both of them to seem the least bit stern, when she told Carewyn she should head back to the castle before curfew. Carewyn proposed she come back the next day so they could do a Potions review too, and Jacob eagerly agreed.

“Try to check out a copy of Moste Potente Potions from the Restricted Section,” he suggested at once. “It may be a bit gruesome in places, but it does discuss advanced anti-venoms quite handily...Polyjuice Potion too! That’s bound to be on the NEWT. Maybe you won’t have Slughorn to give you a permission slip, but I’m sure Flitwick will be sympathetic, if you ask him...”

As Carewyn headed back toward the castle, her bag full of books at her side, she walked with a spring in her step.

She’d never truly forgotten how infectious Jacob’s enthusiasm was -- but she was reminded, once again, just how much sunnier and more promising the world seemed, after spending an afternoon seeing it through her brother’s eyes.

#hphm #hogwarts mystery #my writing #aesthetic #jacob cromwell #carewyn cromwell #madam rosmerta

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styleslistic · 2 years

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How it Turned Out - Harry Styles Fic Part 9

Y/N and Harry have a couple of stolen conversations during TPWK filming

Masterlist

Taglist: @theekyliepage @sleutherclaw @b-reads-things @mxltifxnd0m @lovurryy golden-hoax @spinningoutwaiting4ya @gothmingguk (just reply or send an ask to be added)

Y/N and Harry had gotten through their final day of rehearsals without anyone catching on to the fact that they had ended up spending the night in the studio.

But then Y/N had been flown off to play a massive show in Mexico, while the beginning of filming got underway. She wasn’t needed for all the scenes. So, once again, they were left wanting more, with only the question of when they’d be able to steal a moment together.

That said, when Y/N made it back to set several days later, it felt like they’d not been apart. Dancing felt easy alongside Harry. The two of them found it near impossible not to grin at one another when they caught each others’ eyes, even mid-way through a take. But luckily, the director seemed to absolutely lap this up, mistaking it for acting. So they took the opportunity to really ham up their interactions on camera, relishing the fact that although everyone else thought their playfulness was just for show, it was the realest thing going on in the room.

In a spare moment, when the crew was fiddling with the lighting, they found themselves sat alone at one of the tables on the set. Well, not alone, there were people all around them, but there was a degree of privacy to be found in the chaos surrounding them.

“I’ve been thinking, over the past few days,” said Harry. “I really think we can make this work.” His voice was quietly determined. “And I well, I don’t know much about what seeing other people or sleeping with other people but being together would look like, but I really like the idea of it. I think it’ll make the distance a bit less terrifying.”

“It is pretty terrifying isn’t it. If stuff does happen with someone else, do you want us to tell each other about it?”

“Yeah, yeah I think so. It’s better out in the open, and that way we’re already talking about it so if one of us feels weird about anything it’ll be easy to let the other know.”

“Smart, sexy and talented,” Y/N chuckled. “You’ve really got it all Harry.”

“Well, that’s why this is gonna work, right? Birds of a feather,” he winked.

“Smooth.”

“It’s kind of hilarious how right our fans were about us isn’t it?” Harry said.

“It is, imagine the field day they’d have if they knew.”

“Oh for real,” Harry said. “We would never hear the end of it.”

___

At the end of the day, the whole cast and crew celebrated the end of filming with a quick glass of prosecco. Harry and Y/N were trapped in separate conversations with excited crew members for the duration. Both lovely conversations, sure, but it meant precious minutes they could be talking to one another were lost.

Instead, it was only as Y/N was outside, waiting for her car, that they got a final moment to talk.

“Guess this is bye for now, then,” Harry said.

“Yeah, guess so. But we’ve got plans to make plans,” she chuckled lightly. “We’re gonna write a song, and I’m gonna come see one of your shows, I’ll make sure of it.”

“You wanna see my show?” Harry said, looking excited and a little hopeful.

“What a ridiculous question, of course I do,” Y/N said. “Top of my to do list. I wanna see you in your element. And it’s not fair that you’ve seen my show but I’ve not got to see you.”

“Okay,” Harry smiled. “Come see my show, and if you’re lucky I might let you come backstage afterwards.”

“Don’t start playing hard to get now, I think I might have already figured out you’re into me.”

Harry tutted comically. “Damnit, I thought I was playing it so cool.” They laughed together for a few seconds. When silence fell between them, the mood shifted. They both knew it was time to leave.

Harry stepped forward and pulled Y/N into a hug. She threw her arms around him, and buried her face in his chest, inhaling his scent for a last moment.

A throat cleared behind them: Y/N’s assistant.

“Car’s here,” they said simply.

Y/N gave Harry a final squeeze, then separated from him.

“Bye, see you soon yeah?” Harry said. His eyes looked a little glossy.

“Soon,” Y/N nodded.

She got into the car and shoved her headphones into her ears, staring stubbornly out of the opposite window as they pulled away so that she’d didn’t have to watch Harry fade into the distance.

___

SORRY I know this was a short one but it is what it is!

#harry styles #harry styles imagine #harry styles x reader #harry styles fic #harry styles fanfiction #how it turned out #musician!y/n

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the1northlanderprincess · 1 year

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Finale talk

Here we go again with my disappointment, and I won’t get into why; broken record and all that. I’m going to be keeping this shortish and to the point.

Arman's anger. So the first interaction of the night between Arman and Thony comes when she calls him about the shipment. When he picks up the phone, he has this scowl and he answers begrudgingly. He is so mad, not that I really blame him. I’m not sure if it’s a trust issue or communication issue. Probably both...on each of their parts. Last week, he didn’t pick up the phone, likely busy and being stubbornly prideful. She has seemingly forgot the things he did do earlier on when he didn’t have the best resources handy, anyway, he doesn’t really want to deal with her, but once he hears about Luca, you see his mood change. He is definitely feeling conflicted at this point, running his hand over his hair. He’s no doubt frustrated being put in this position, but he knows he can’t let Luca suffer. However, it comes with the stipulation that they’re done after this. I know they’ve been through this song and dance several times and not meaning it, but there was a little part of me that was struck with how final it was, even though he said it casually. She pushed it too far with his patience this time. It bothered me in the moment.

The shipyard: In this scene, you’d never know that these two are at odds with one another. Upon arrival, they are immediately in tandem. They walk in and meet the guy, Arman takes a pliers and hands it to Thony. He takes the content order sheet thing, and they set off to look for the container. One they do, the start opening each box. When hearing the squealing of tires, Arman is at first very calm, gently tells her it’s okay, and goes to check it out. He does a great job of not freaking her out. He does return, telling Thony that Kamdar’s men have arrived, and he tells her to hurry. So she rifles through the boxes as fast as she can, while Arman tries to fend the henchmen off. at one point, one of the guys gets into the container, and Thony narrowly escapes through the roof. She runs as she gets chased on top of it, eventually dropping her bag and jumping down to the ground across from Arman, who’s hiding behind another unit, exchanging shots. He signals for her to wait, in a rather collected way, but as soon as he sees a storage door open behind her, he yells at her to get down, and he shoots the guy coming from the box as she ducks.

Call me weird, but when he yells “get down”, I found it really hot. There was more to it than what you’d might hear from a regular shout. I mean, yeah, guns were going off. But there was this edge to it; a roughness, if you will. There was definite fear. I’d like to mention the fact that an ultimate level of trust was performed here. There was no hesitation on Thony’s part whatsoever. She didn’t know what was behind her, but she had to believe that Arman would make his target. That amount of trust continued when he finally thought it was safe enough to escape on the bike.

Saving Thony from herself: So everyone in this scene, Arman, FBI lady, Garrett, are all trying to talk Thony out of going to talk with Kamdar. Arman's tone and facial expression are incredulous as he predicts what would happen if he and Thony ever showed their faces to Kamdar again. It’s as if he’s saying, I knew this would happen; this is ridiculous. He’s just so done. Yet, he tries to tell Thony as civilly as possible to stay away from Kamdar. He tells her she doesn’t understand. Arman is a man just trying so hard to get her to see things clearly, because he does have a point. What they’ve done before/who they’ve dealt with was just nickels compared to Kamdar, especially now since they’ve openly stole from him. But, Thony doesn’t listen, and when Garrett later discovers she leaves with Kamdar, he alerts Arman. Arman doesn’t exactly freak out, but he definitely sounds stressed. But he speaks levelly to Garrett, who tells him not to go out to the junkyard. Arman just completely ignores those words. He’s like, yada yada, can’t hear you. He is very much a determined man in this exchange; only thing that matters is getting to Thony. Garrett scolds him when they meet, that he shouldn’t have come. But Arman essentially calls him out for not knowing better. It seems to be implied that Garrett is aware of the gravity of armony’s relationship. But I honestly don’t know for sure. In that car scene, Garrett never had a moment where he’s questioning arman, “oh my gosh, you’re in love with her” or with Thony in 2x11 as he’s yelling at her. Getting off track....anyway, so another shootout ensues, but bigger. The men team up to work their way to Thony, with Garrett getting to her first. He “holds down the fort” while Arman grabs Thony. Eventually all three of them are behind the tire barricade.

I would have really liked to see Thony and Arman react to Kamdar being arrested before Garrett collapsed. They could have easily filmed a little exchange of smiles. I digress. Arman looked very remorseful when Garrett took his final breath. He didn’t exactly care for him, but I believe he respected him for what he did for Thony/how important he was to Thony. For that, Arman was very sorry on Thony’s behalf.

The final scene: Thony arrives at La Habana, and Arman only has to turn around to see her. Her expression is one of disappointment and hurt, and, weirdly enough, there’s a strength in it, as well. He knows what she’s going to say as soon as he closes the door to his office behind them. He wears a heavy expression on his face, an apologetic one. Thony immediately unloads on him over Fiona’s departure. He tries to spin it into something positive, saying Fiona’s alive, but that’s not good enough for Thony. She practically spits in his face, saying he needs to “fix this”. His face darkens, turns away from her as he ponders it, and delivers the most mob boss line ever....well, since season 1. He does soften, though, when he tells her she needs to trust him. Her face contorts into confusion, iterating that she does, and always has. Could have fooled me, girlfriend. His wordless reply is one of....I don’t know, humility, wistfulness...? She pleas that she needs her family, and his response is a raspy “yeah”. Arman realizes how important Fiona is, and what family means to Thony. So, the final scene is of Arman leaning casually against the car, waiting patiently as Thony comes from dealing with Kamdar’s associates like a boss. Then they drive off into the sunset.

Okay, time for some complaining... What the actual heck? There was hardly any armony interaction, let alone Arman screen time. There was just a crap ton of plot, plot, plot; so much jumping from scene to scene. We need to have a breather every now and again; have more than 30 seconds of meaningful conversations. Speaking of, I would have really liked to see Thony and Arman to have an all-out, down and dirty shouting match. Goodness knows they need one, and have had many opportunities where it would have been appropriate. However, next season would probably have the same circumstances present themselves, which brings me to...

I am concerned that the show might be cancelled. I could very well see them looking at how Fiona being deported, Garrett being killed off, Arman and Nadia once again in charge of La Habana, and think it would be a fresh slate of closure. In other words, I don’t trust FOX one lick.

#armony #the cleaning lady

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h-worksrambles · 2 years

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Immediate thoughts on completing Klonoa 2

Thanks to the Phantasy Reverie Series, I finally had the chance to play Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil. And put simply, I loved it. It built on the first game mechanically in numerous ways that I found compelling. It had a solid difficulty curve from easy to surprisingly hard. The remastered visuals looked lovely, the soundtrack was excellent, maybe even surpassing the first game. It had endearing characters and a straightforward, yet engaging and well presented story Well, I say ‘straightforward’, but right now, I want to talk about my takeaway from that story, and especially the ending. To do so, I’m going to have to spoil both Klonoa 2 as well as the first game Door to Phantomile, so consider this your warning if you haven’t played these games (which you should).

First, I want to take some time to appreciate the core moral of Klonoa 2. We travel through four kingdoms that each guard an element of human emotion, Tranquility, Joy, Discord and Indecision. Four traits that, the game tells us, are what define how we live in harmony. The climax revolves around the return of the lost Fifth Kingdom. This turns out to be the Kingdom of Sorrow, the fifth emotion. This kingdom was rejected and sealed away, and Lunatea hid behind a veil of ignorance, forgetting that this sorrow even existed (hence the title). The main antagonist, the King of Sorrow, seeks to return and blanket the world in sorrow after it denied him and his people for so long. The game ends with Klonoa, wanting to help the King rather than destroy him, choosing to accept the fifth kingdom, because Sorrow is just as much an important emotion as any other.

I really like this message. Our ability to feel sadness is what allows us to appreciate the good times of our lives. If you bury your worst memories, your pain will only fester until it bursts out of control, as the King’s did. These feelings shouudn’t be shunned but accepted. Pixar’s Inside Out was applauded for including this important truth in a kid’s story in 2016, but Klonoa pulled it off in 2001, in a PS2 game no less. However, there’s a parrtcular aspect of Klonoa 2′s message I want to address. Specifically, how it links back to the first game. To do so, I need to touch on the Klonoa series’ approach to canon. In doing so, I risk exposing my own inexperience with the series, having played the first game years ago (and replaying it several times), experiencing the second only now, and only sort of knowing about the handheld games while trying to avoid spoilers. If I misunderstand the series, I invite Klonoa fans to correct me in the comments. To my understanding, the Klonoa games are not all directly connected. Klonoa’s status as a Dream Traveller coming to new realities and dreams in each game leaves every story mostly seperate. This is why Lolo can show up in Klonoa 2 and again in Dream Champ Tournament and Heroes with a different backstory. It’s the same person, but different versions over different dreams. And it’s left up to interpretation if Klonoa even remembers each one after he leaves. After all, do you remember all your dreams?

Anyway, that’s all just setting up context. Let’s talk about the level, The Kingdom of Sorrow in Klonoa 2 and how it completely recontextualised the ending for me. One of the final levels of the game, the music track here is called Hyuponia: Ruin of Sadness. It’s a hauntingly desolate track, that perfectly sets the mood for exploring this abandoned ruin that embodies the emotion of sadness itself, and I loved listening to it as I went through the level... And then I heard something very familliar. The Windmill Song from Door to Phantomile. And when I realised I wasn’t just hearing things, I got chills. Nor is this the only piece from the first game subtly integrated into the track. You can also hear the ending theme,The Song of Rebirth, and the intro theme And I Begin to Wonder, among others. Music that serves as a memory of Klonoa’s own sorrow. Anyone who’s played Door to Phantomile will doubtless remember that ending. Put simply: Klonoa learns that Phantomile is not his real home. As a Dream Traveller he was summoned there to save it from evil, and was implannted with fake memories of living there his whole life by his supposed best friend, Huepow, to motivate him to save the world. The game ends with Huepow guiltily revealing the deception, and Klonoa, horrified at this, being pulled from Phantomile back to his own world. Unlike later games where Klonoa seems to flit from dream world to another knowingly, here he was coerced and manipulated into it, and the act of leaving was crushing.

In Klonoa 2, while his role as the Dream Traveller is mentioned, Klonoa never mentions the events of the first game. One could speculate that he either doesn’t remember it, or only remembers it vaguely, like a half-forgotten dream. But even if it was a dream, those feelings were real to Klonoa, that’s the whole point of Door to Phantomile’s tragedy. Klonoa himself, therefore, has his own forgotten sorrow. Much like Lunatea itself. By integrating music from Klonoa’s past adventure into this level, the game imples that Klonoa is, on some level, confronting his own sorrow, and players of the first game will have that in mind as they learn the truth about the KIngdom of Sorrow directly afterwards, encouraging them to link the two in their minds (at least, that was my reaction). The lesson about accepting that painful things happen, that they shouldn’t be pushed down, that it’s ok to feel sadness so you can heal and remember the good times, is not only a lesson Lunatea as a world needed to hear, but so did Klonoa.

This comes full circle in the game’s final scene, when Klonoa says goodbye to Lolo. When Klonoa was seperated from Huepow he was devasted, refusing to accept the horrible truth that his best friend had been manipulating him, that his life in Phantomile was a lie. He clung to Huepow even as he was being magically wrenched out of the world. In the sequel, Lolo is this game’s Huepow analogue. She is Klonoa’s companion who powers his Wind Ring, she grapples with the responsibility of a lofty position, (a priestess rather than a prince), and parts ways with Klonoa at the end of the game. But look at the difference in how Klonoa reacts. He’s not crying, he’s not screaming in denial. He’s not being forcibily wrenched out of the world. He clearly knows what’s about to happen this time, that he has to leave. He lets Lolo cry and vent her feelings before giving her some important advice: “Lolo...I may leave this world..but we’ll always be...together. I believe that if you don’t forget the sadness of this moment, we’ll always be...together...Okay?” After these parting words, Klonoa walks away calmly. The dream world of Lunatea fades away around him, and the final shot of the game is him waking up back in his own world (which is also an analogue for the player, using their inputted name like in the first game). Klonoa has not only learned from his experiences with the King of Sorrow. He has, even if just on an subconscious level, processed his past suffering in Phantomile, and accepted his responsibility as the Dream Traveller. He’ll keep wandering from dream to dream, helping wherever he’s needed. Eventually he’ll have to leave each time, and that will always be sad, but instead of forgetting those experiences, he’ll endure that pain and walk away from it, remembering the good parts along the way. Maybe I’m just reading too much into it. Or alternatively, maybe this was super obvious, and Klonoa fans have been saying all this for years. But I wanted to write down how this ending, and this game for that matter, stuck with me. Klonoa 2 is a charming, yet thought-provoking game, that I’m thrilled I finally got to experience, and one I won’t forget anytime soon.

#also yes my images are from the ps2 version as they’re easier to find online #the remastered cutscenes naturally look great #klonoa #klonoa 2 lunatea's veil #klonoa phantasy reverie series #klonoa spoilers #ending thoughts #story analysis? i guess?

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thisishelena · 2 years

Text

"Are you done?"

"Not yet."

"It's been hours."

"Oh, don't be dramatic. I just started."

"Do you see the time?"

"Why should I? I thought you said you are free?"

"Yes, to spend time with you. Not being a hostage like this."

"Be quiet, do you want me to finish or not?"

"You should have finished hours ago."

"I told you, I just..." she finally raised her face from the sketch she was drawing to look at him with annoyance. He immediately broke into a grin, thinking how he has successfully goaded her. He is learning the small things that can rile her up for the express purpose of deliberately doing the very things. He likes to test her patience, ignite her temper, tease her to oblivion. She would always be throwing that look he has come to adore so terribly, brows knitted together, murderous eyes, lips either in a pout or pursed together, cheeks flushed with anger. And he is so glad this tempestuous beauty is his.

It has been 7 months after their marriage, and after a talk with his friend, it became clearer what he should be doing. He would woo her, seduce her, make her fall for him as how he has fallen so helplessly for her, no matter how long it takes. It might be a backwards way of doing things, but things have happened and he needs to be responsible for it. He lets her do anything she wants, tries to talk to her and would rejoice when she is not in a snippy mood. He was puzzled as to how he has been hearing stories of a jovial, kind girl from the others but he and Reese have been seeing a grumpy, hissing cat since the first night but then he realised that her behaviour depends so much on her first impressions of people. He was sorry they had met under such regrettable situation, but he is determined to make up for it.

He watched her hands deftly moving on a piece of paper, sometimes glancing up at him to take note of a feature or gesture, and she would bend down to continue her sketch. The sun room was quiet, save for birds chirping outside, a low song playing in the background from her playlist and the scratch of graphite on paper. It lulled him to remember a few months ago, when they had been avoiding each other the first week they live in the house as husband and wife. He knew he couldn't go on forever in that manner and one night, he decided to knock on her bedroom door. She had opened the door and when he saw that she just had her shower, he momentarily forgot what he wanted to say.

"Oh, sorry. Come in. I'm just dressing."

He stood like a statue. She was already turning away from the door but when there was no motion, she turned back and waited expectantly. She called his name.

That broke his reverie. "Sorry. I'm sorry. Excuse me."

"What is it? Do want to say something to me or anything?"

"Yes. I wanted to..."

"I said come in. I need to finish dressing."

Nobody had dared to instruct him in that manner, in any manner as a matter of fact. But he found himself obediently stepping into her room and closing the door behind him. He started to walk to her sofa set but stopped. This might be his house but this is her private space.

"Hold on." The girl walked past him, leaving a waft of rose in her wake. He watched her straightening out the coffee table and sofa, shoving aside books, blankets and skirts. "Sorry" she mumbled after she's done, and gestured for him to sit. He sat. And looked out while she continued to go in and out of the bathroom. Finally she settled on a sofa opposite him, putting several bottles on the table between them.

"Hope you don't mind," she said while nodding at the bottles. "I need to hurry."

"Why? Where are you going?"

"I'm supposed to be down in the kitchen in about an hour."

"But dinner is not that early."

"Yeah, I have to learn how to make ravioli from Cook."

"Have to?"

"Okay, maybe I dug that hole myself. I must have looked too enthusiastic about his ravioli that he insisted I must learn about it his way. He also said it's one of your favourite things to eat." At this, she looked straight at him. He just managed a "Hmm" because her eyes disarmed him, and also because she just took down her turban towel, letting thick tendrils of dark hair cascade over her shoulders. She rubbed her hair between a dry towel, while using her fingers to separate the locks and air-drying them.

"Sorry, I might look busy but I'm listening."

His attention snapped back at her. "No, I'm the one who should apologise. I didn't mean to catch you at a bad time."

"It's not a bad time at all, if you need to speak, then just speak. I'll listen." She is now brushing her hair with a detangler and leaned forwards, reaching out to a bottle of wet hair serum. He automatically grabbed it first, his arm being longer, and held it out to her. "Thank you," she said, looking at him.

"So I guess, I already know your answer for the question I came here to ask you."

She cocked her head questioningly.

"I wanted to ask if you would have dinner together with me tonight."

"Oh."

"But that's okay. We could do it any time."

"Are you sure? I can tell Cook that I..."

He chuckled. "Yeah, I don't think that can work. He already works here since before I was born, he has more authority in the kitchens than I have in the entire household."

She smiled at that. His heart broke a little. How he wish he could make her smile more often like that.

He continued, "Well, maybe next week then, because tomorrow I need to..."

"Why?"

"Sorry. "Why"?"

"Yes, why?"

He shrugged. "Because."

"You molested me the first time we are alone in the car, you ignored me for an entire week and today you finally came down from your throne to ask me to eat with you?"

There are a few times in his life that Julien was rendered speechless and this is one of those times. He opened his mouth to speak but no words came out in reply to her nonchalant question. She is still languidly putting serum in her hair, combing from root to tips with her fingers. The smell of rose permeated the air. She suddenly stopped, her hands dropped to her lap. He noticed she is wearing the lavender silk dressing gown that he bought as one of the new things to equip the room for his new wife. She lifted her head to look at the window on her left but she continued talking.

"I'm sorry. You're probably sick of hearing me say it, but I'm sorry."

He was still quiet, but his mind is racing with the unexpectedness of her.

"I am not trying to pick a fight, I promise. I don't want to fight," she sighed. "It just came out that way, I really need to think before I open my mouth next time."

"But... is that what you really think?"

"Even if it is, there are better ways to express it. I was being without manners, so I apologise."

Her refined upbringing is really showing up in this instance. She might be a spoiled princess with a bad temper but she has finesse and she knows when she is being inconsiderate. The key now is whether she will be contrite about her behaviour or not, and that depends on the person she is being extremely inconsiderate with. Julien gave a silent prayer of thanks that he is getting the contrite girl right now.

"Now, you are the one who might be sick of hearing me say this, but I am sorry too. I am sorry for that night, I am sorry for the week after, and I'm generally sorry for being the cause of this upheaval in your life. I know it has been a lot to you, and I shouldn't have disappeared. I was just... No, there are no excuses. I shouldn't have done that to you."

"No, you can tell me why."

"What?"

"I won't take it as an excuse." She trained her big, brown eyes at him. "You can tell me, why did you disappear?"

"Well, I..." He rubbed the back of his neck, flustered. "I upset you, didn't I? You must have hated me for what I did."

"I don't understand that word. I don't know how could I hate a person. I understand why you did it. I disapprove of it, of course, but that doesn't make you an evil person that I must hate."

He blinked at her.

"I'm not an idiot. I know the kind of life I'm born into and I accept the sacrifices I must make. So we are married. In less than favourable conditions, I might add, but I'm not going to throw a tantrum over things that I have no control over. Well, maybe a little tantrum now and then, if it's one of those days." She tried to lighten up the conversation but he didn't as much as smile. She 'hmph'-ed in her heart and continued, "So how do you want to do this marriage thing?"

"You think this is a sacrifice?"

She gave an audible sigh. "Okay, first thing, we might not last an hour without fighting if you're going to question every single word of my vocabulary."

Julien abruptly stood up, startling her. With one stride, he was in front of her and sat down on the table that was between them. He is much closer to her, and she became aware of the pleasant aroma of woodsmoke that reached her nose. He is quite handsome, she acquiesced. He is taller than her, she came just up to his chin so in this position, they can finally see each other face to face. From her father, she got to know he is several years older than her, but way younger than all the other old lions that sat at the same reigning table as him. He doesn't immediately garner their automatic respect but his presence and demeanour command it. He is silently fierce in his actions, preferring not to resort to violence as easily as his predecessor. Unfortunately that made the others mistakenly think he is soft, but more often than not, he shows that that is far from being the truth. His jawline is sharp, his skin clear and looks smooth except for a faint scar near the corner of one of this eye. His eyes are silver, and the year after his father's sudden death and his donning of the mantle has put a few grey streaks in his hair. A few locks of it fell to his forehead, giving him a boyish air. An image of her fingers raking his hair came unbeckoned to her mind's eye. It was her turn to blink at him.

He wanted to reach out to hold her hand but he is a little scared she will swipe him. So he controlled himself and clasped his hands instead.

"If..." Dear God, did he just croaked? He cleared his throat and tried again. "If you really think you have made a sacrifice, I will try my best to make you see that it is worth it. I hope you don't see it that way, I certainly don't want you to think about it like that, but if you do, I'll make it up to you. I promise."

"No, I misspoke. I didn't mean it that way."

"Selene."

She looked at him.

"I don't want you to be on tiptoes with me. Just say what you want to say."

"But I really did not mean to say that, I just wanted to..."

"Even if you do, it's okay."

"No! It's not!" she raised her voice. "If I say it isn't, then it isn't!" Her eyes narrowed into slits, her cheeks starting to get red. "You don't get to tell me what I mean and don't mean, I told you, we will not last an hour if you want to question my every single word and motive behind each syllable!"

Julien went silent. People say that you will get honesty in two situations, when someone is drunk or is angry, so he decided he should see how this plays out.

She leaned back, wanting to distance herself a bit from his intense gaze. "I know I make mistakes, but you don't get to decide if I should apologise for it or not. That should be entirely up to me! I have asked you, how should we do this marriage thing, and I haven't gotten a single answer from you! Instead, I have had every sentence out of my mouth questioned and probed! I was in a good mood, I didn't even set out to fight with you. You ignored me for an entire week and you think you have the right to intrude in my space at any time that is convenient for you?"

Her eyes are blazing, her chest heaving up and down. The wetness from her hair actually made her lavender silk robe damp and he couldn't help but notice the unmissable outline made by her luscious pair. He caught himself and quickly averted his gaze. Unfortunately, it was too late.

"I see." She said the sentence quietly, but utterly dripping with venom. "I understand now. Dinner, yeah right." She scoffed. She stood up suddenly and stormed into the bathroom. "I need to finish getting ready," she said tersely before closing the bathroom door. Julien was left sitting on the coffee table facing an empty couch, not given a chance to speak but even if he has, he has zero idea of what to say. He rose slowly and walked to the bedroom door. Before going out, he gave a glance at the shut bathroom door. He bit his lips, went out, and closed the door behind him, his mind a raging hurricane.

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mrows-fan-works · 2 years

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Chapter 41

Rating: Teen and Up

Words: 911

Tags: pls dont wack me

Chapter 40 and Chapter 42

Lunch was a simple affair. Elenor had added dried deer meat and several heart-shaped vegetables to the broth that had made the meal rather tasty. It was nearly half an hour before Abigail rose from her resting spot with a far more agreeable Kit. The path was simple, hugging the river that warbled to their left in the afternoon light. Abigail trotted without being led. Kit weaved to and fro between the three of them without a care.

Wind was so focused on watching Kit play that he barely noticed that Elenor had stopped. A decrepit wooden sign stood guard on the side of the road, right where two paths diverged. Elenor’s face scrunched, trying her best to decipher the text. The sun had fallen in their short trek to the bridge, it looked to be late afternoon. They would need to stop soon and make camp. Wind looked back from the setting sun, only to stop short. Bright golden rays illuminated barely visible behind the hills outlined the very top of Hyrule Castle. Its towers shone, a bright jewel in the distance. For a moment, Wind forgot about the evil festering inside. For a breath, that creature didn’t exist, the Calamity was null. He could feel the warmth of the sun radiate on him, lulling his senses.

He nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt a light hand on his shoulder, “Don’t look too long, it may just burn your eyes ya know.” Elenor said good naturedly.

“Sorry, I just…got lost in thought I guess.”

She patted his shoulder lightly, “Care to share?” Elenor fell into a comfortable stance next to him, watching the same view with nonchalance. Wind lingered on her face, the scars that splattered her left side. He could tell that she had trouble using that half of her face, even if she had gotten used to it. He had watched her eat using only one side of her face, and how the acid burns from the malice creature so long ago had not phased her.

“Mmmmm, not this time I think. Do you know where we’re headed next?” Wind deftly changed the topic before Elenor could protest.

“Weeeell, from my wonderful deduction skills, I say we need to cross this bridge. If what Daffy said is true, then this is Thims bridge, which we need to cross to stay on track.”

Wind gestured to the other path, “Where does that go?”

“Not sure, I wasn’t able to read the sign. I’ll be honest, I'd just be guessing right now.” Wind couldn’t help but snort a small laugh. Leave it to Elenor’s blatant honesty to quickly change his mood.

“Well let's go then. We’re gonna need to camp soon if we want dinner later, right?”

Elenor gasped, “AH, the apprentice is learning!” Wind laughed as they all crossed the rickety bridge. It swayed in the gentle breeze. Currents dance forcefully under their feet as Elenor skips ahead of him, singing an old folk song to “beguile and wonderize him.” A smile followed by a jovial laugh covered the sound of creaking wood as Wind walked at a leisurely pace. Ending notes disguised the telling signs of crackling wood underneath. A light feeling of contentment, a rush of air, and for a moment time slowed. Elenor was still singing her song, back turned. Golden rays filtered, leaves floated through the air, the same green as Elenor’s eyes. He felt so warm, so happy.

The river rushed to meet him, cold and dark, and Wind knew no more.

________________________________________________________________

Elenor had turned for one second.

One.

Elenor turned away to cross the bridge. She was just crossing the bridge. Wind had been right behind her. That didn’t matter, when she turned, the song finished, she was met with an empty bridge. Elenor called for Wind; searched the bridge; the bushes next to the bridge; the river’s edge. The wood creaked and moaned in with the strong current pushing through. No doubt the melting snow from further north had finally found their way south, overflowing the river. Why hadn’t Elenor noticed? She should’ve known better. Now Wind was nowhere in sight.

As a final ditch effort Elenor walked the bridge once more, searching for anything that might give clues to what happened while her back was turned. The bridge was still just as worn as when she passed it. Except the wood was newly broken, creating a new dent into the bridge. Wind hadn't been walking on the edge, but if he had walked on a weak board, as wide as the are, it wouldn’t have been impossible for him to fall and lose his footing. It was the only thing that made any sense. The bridge she crossed, the one she should’ve been paying attention to, broke under Wind’s feet. The waters swirled and gushed, concealing wherever he may be. She leaned over the side, contemplating on jumping. It didn’t matter that the last time she swam she was a little girl. Wind was down there. She cursed, stepping back, there was no point jumping now, Wind had long been swept away in her frantic search of the bridge and waters nearby.

Abigail and Kit watched as she walked up to them and mounted. The sun was touching the horizon now but it didn’t matter. She rode off downstream to try and find her son.

Behind her the moon rose a distinct red color painting its surface.

#true courage #linked universe #linkeduniverse #lu wind #linked universe fanfic #pls spare me and my dum angsty tendencies

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drew-mga2022mi6021 · 2 months

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Storyboards | Draft Animatic and SFX

The Soul Sri Lanka

Conceptualisation for this version of the film ultimately began during a brainstorm session, where I was listening to a song by a local band. That song was Optical Illusion by the local sensation The Soul Sri Lanka. I felt that the song captured the mood and feel of my film, even reflected in some of its lyrics, so I was determined to use it in my film in some way. But I was worried about the legal loopholes that would come with using it in my film.

So I just asked! Dave Free Roberts (bottom right, blue T shirt) is the lyricist and vocalist of The Soul. He also happened to be a creative director at Dilmah HQ, where I spent some of my time during my internship. Luckily, he saw no objections to my using the song in the film, so I was ready to set sail.

My film is quite reliant on sound to create immersion, so I wanted to have a certain level of control of the several aspects of this song such that it did not drown the important parts out. So, I did a little bit of digging and found the website Moises, which is free to use on the internet. The site essentially takes audio files and separates it into distinct channels (in my case, I only needed four); Vocals, Drums, Bass and "Other", which comprised of all the other instruments in the track (there was also a smart metronome feature, but that wasn't relevant to me, so I did not use it). Using this, I isolated the drums, bass and other instruments in the track and exported them as individual files.

Then, I exported my edited frames from Storyboarder as an XML to open in Premiere Pro. I did this in order to preserve the timing of my boards which would save time while I was editing them further. All the other sounds were those that I had downloaded from Pixabay. These, however, are not the only sounds that I will be using. For the final film, I intend on recording more specific sounds for specific scenes later on.

Here is the first draft of this animatic, which is indicative of most of the sounds that will be present in my final animation sans voice acting and a couple of others. I am decently satisfied with how this turned out, however there is room for plenty of improvement. For example, I feel that I can play around a lot more with the sound design for the impact frame during Katu's journey, and the same could be said for the Tuk scene. However, I do not want to muddy the animation with too many sounds. I'll have to look into this going forward.

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lgcsoyoun · 3 months

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Episode 2: Ideation + Moodboarding

ASTRID’S ATELIER EPISODE 2: Ideation + Moodboarding

This is the first time Soyoun gets to show off her designing process since she graduated from university, so she's both excited and nervous to see how this goes. She's in the comfort of her studio as she sets up the cameras for today's video.

"What's up? It's your girl Astrid and welcome to yet another episode of Astrid's Atelier! I'm glad you guys aren't sick of me yet." She winks at the cameras as she shows off the space around her.

"After I got all your votes, the most I got was for techwear, so we will be dressing up my mystery muse in that aesthetic. And honestly, you guys chose well. I can't wait to see how my lovely muse will pull this off." Soyoun winks at the cameras. "But before we can get there, I'm afraid we'll be going on a long and creative journey before we have an actual outfit."

Soyoun then pulls out the scrapbook which she uses for mood boarding. "Before anything else, the first thing I do is brainrot. As the designer, it's up to me to create a cohesive design. To do that, I have to organize my ideas and inspiration into a mood board." She then opens her scrapbook to reveal several mood boards she made back in college. "As you can see, I organized my past ideas and inspirations into a mood board so I didn't lose sight of the vision I had for those outfits. Though I tend to use digital mood boards more, some of my less tech-savvy professors wanted a physical mood board hey could touch."

Soyoun then shows all the material she already gathered for this mood board. "As with every mood board, I collect inspiration. I look at magazines, books, photos, nature, and social media for images. It doesn't matter where you find your inspiration. It's totally up to you where you find it. In fact, for this one, I turned to lots of sci-fi films." As someone who isn't a fan of the genre, Alize would know how much of a sacrifice this is for her. "But wherever you choose to find your inspiration, you should house it in one location you can easily find. It can be a P*nt*r*st or M*l*n*t* board, a notebook, an album on your phone, or in this case, a scrapbook."

Soyoun then shows off what she has so far. When the camera zooms in, the viewers can see screenshots from sci-fi films and outfits worn by female video game characters. Then the camera pans to runway outfits from designers who have done techwear, as well as photos of weapons, sci-fi aesthetics, and blurred photos of Soyoun's muse. There are also song lyrics and movie quotes to help set the mood of the outfits. Finally, sharp-eyed viewers will see blurred doodles of Soyoun's muse in various poses and positions.

After this, Soyoun fears she'll lose the viewers once things get a little bit on the technical side. "Now that I have enough research material, it's time to compile them all. I like writing down and sketching my ideas for a design, silhouette, construction, material, and color of the outfit. It's a bit more on the technical end, so I will do a separate video of that if I don't bore you." Instead, the video shows a sped-up version of Soyoun through out various days, sometimes, the venues changing from her private studio to the dorms, and sometimes even during schedules, writing copious notes and doing lots of sketches until she comes out with one she's satisfied with.

When that's done, Soyoun is seen back in the studio, standing in front of a huge corkboard as seen in those police films. "Today, I'll be showing you guys how I do my moodboards! I'm making them bigger than usual so it's fun to film. And i also like the whole vibe of it looking like those suspect boards we see on TV. You'd think we were committing a crime after this." Laughing to herself Soyoun then starts assembling her mood board with the images she found for the look. "I don't just confine myself to fashion images," she admits to the camera. "I also included materials I think I could use like leather, metal, and other things that would fit." She gestures to the part where several fabric samples are pinned, as well as a few metal chains. Even several keychains of anime weapons are displayed.

"As you can see, this techwear look I'm going for is a futuristic, cyberpunk with a hint of video-game badass female protagonist," she says with a laugh. "This is hardly my usual style, so I am curious to see how my final look will turn out."

"To see what happens next, I hope to see you in a future episode of Astrid's Atelier. In the meantime, I better clean up and head to practice, or else Yamapi will have my head!"

Chuckling, she throws in one more thing for the audiences. "While waiting to see what happens next, I am curious to see who you all think my muse is! Those who get it right will get a... uhm... I don't know yet, but I will talk about it with my muse and the powers that be known as the managers. I really gotta go now. Skrrt skrrt!"

#lgc:cyshow #msy;astridsatelier #msy;ideation+moodboarding

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