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hollowedwing · 3 years

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Isekai-ed into Hawk's Life

Hawks x gn!winged!Reader

Warnings: ⚠️ Death!(at very beginning, it is an isekai), mentions of death throughout, some angst(??maybe not yet??), slight cursing

THIS WILL NOT FOLLOW A SPECIFIC TIMELINE IN THE MANGA

(so sorry i just, love, love, the idea of having wings)

(this is all my art, it is on IG, im just too embarrassed for people who know me irl to potentially find this xD Even though none of them have tumblr 👀 if you somehow recognize it...props to you?)

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tbh, I can’t decide if I want this to have more than 1 part.

Word count: ~1,800

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You were on your way home from a long evening at your part time job. Before that you had already taken 2 finals that morning too.

You dragged your feet, exhausted, as you headed towards the crosswalk. Stopping at the edge as the traffic light turned green, you decided to pull out your phone and decided to watch a speed paint from your favorite artist who recently released a new video.

It just so happened it was a Hawks speed paint 👀

The light turned red and you slipped your phone into your pocket as your started to make your way across the street

little did you know this would be the last time you'd cross the street

A wild driver came barreling down the road, no regards for civilians or traffic lights, probably drunk or high or just someone out for blood.

You stood there like a deer caught in headlights as your life flashes before your eyes

You can barely comprehend what's happening as you felt pain engulf your body and suddenly you were unconscious

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Keigo tiredly stumbled into his large apartment, kicking off his shoes and shrugging his jacket off by the door

He wants nothing more than to just flop down and pass out. The HPSC has been giving him hell lately about god knows what.

He let out a long sigh and headed towards the bathroom to do his nightly routine

As he finishes up, he drags his feet towards his bed and flops down face first into the comfort of his pillow and sheets

Keigo falls asleep almost instantly after getting into a comfortable position, worn out from a long day of work

What he wasn't expecting was a loud "thud!" coming from the main room. He jolts up from his bed, feathers ready to attack.

*******

Reader's pov(?)

*******

You groaned as you hit the floor. Your head was spinning and it feels like a truck just hit you

oh wait...

You suddenly became more alert, looking around in a panic, expecting to either be on the road and injured or in a hospital of sorts. What you didn't expect was a wooden floor inside of a random apartment.

You felt around your body for any signs of injury, but all you found were a set of wings on your back- wings?? Hold up. Why did you feel wings what kind of sick joke was this?

Your thoughts were racing as your breathing picked up. What was happening? Didn't you just get hit by a vehicle? Why are there wings in your back? Where are you even?

Feeling around in your pockets, you found your phone and whipped it out, trying for anything. You turned it on, the harsh light of it illuminating your face, you tried to send a text to your best friend, but alas, it wouldn't go through. Actually nothing on your phone seemed to work. You checked your location settings, for some reason it said Musutafu, Japan.

Wasn't....Wasn't that the location that most of Boku no Hero Academia took place?? This can't be right, this has to be a dream right? There's no way that you could have actually ended up here unless...

Then it hit you.

You read your fair share of isekai series back when you were alive in your realm. Mostly manhwas of characters getting reborn into another person's body, but, never actually reincarnating as yourself into another world.

That was the only thing you could think of. You must have been reincarnated into the Boku no Hero Academia world. Except as yourself.

In all honesty, this is not how you thought you'd go out. You didn't know what to expect after death, but this definitely wasn't it. After all, this was a fictional setting, wasn't it?

Well, not anymore because now you're living in it! Smh.

That would also probably explain the wings on your back. This was you now. You have a bird quirk.

Now, all you have to do, is figure out where the heck you are.

Just as you are about to stand up, feathers zip towards you, pinning you to the ground

You hear footsteps begin to come towards you. You don't know if you should be scared for your life considering you've already died once or ecstatic because, you knew for a fact, this could be none other than Hawks' apartment.

The winged hero finally emerges and stares down at you, crossing his arms over his chest.

He says in a low, gravely voice from sleep, "Who are you, and how did you get into my home?" You stare back up at him and nervously chuckle.

"I'm not sure you'd believe me if I told you." You nervously sigh out.

"Try me." He demands, sounding a little more irritated now. You sigh in defeat and start to explain your situation.

"Do...do you know what an isekai is?" You said sheepishly while turning your gaze away from his. He kind of gave you a confused head tilt and just a vibe that said “No”. You sigh again and explain it to the best of your ability. Hawks becomes more and more interested and confused as you talk, but nods a long slowly.

“So...you were reborn here, but as yourself? Wait- does that mean you died before!?” He asked, disbelief and fear ran through his eyes. You looked at him in bitter amusement.

“Apparently I did. The last thing I remember of my world was getting hit by some truck or car. The dude clearly did not know how to drive. I had the right of way I was pretty sure at least. I mean, the light was red, usually that means pedestrians can cross the street? And plus he was going wayyy over the speed limit,” you begin to ramble on, the reality of actually dying setting into you. Hawks noticed the panic beginning to set into you and released you from his feathers. He crouched down next to you and grabbed your shoulders gently.

"Hey, hey, hey, look at me, you're ok now, right? You're here, and not dying in the middle of the street still. You're here. In Musutafu," he said trying to calm you back to reality. Well, what was your new reality. Your mind was racing. Trying to put together a coherent thought.

You look up to him, with a panicked look still in your eyes, thoughts started to come out of your mouth as your brain was trying to catch up with the situation. "I'm... I'm in Boku no Hero Academia and, and you’re Keigo... standing... right in front of me..I have wings. I have wings? Jeezus I have fucking wings. And I’m dead in my own world. I don’t know anyone, well, wait, technically, I do know people, just-Oh gods! I’m so sorry, that name slipped out! I- I, I’m really sorry Hawks." Even in your wild state, you noticed Hawks tense up at the sound of being called Keigo by a total stranger, and were able to get out an apology. That was progress? You were slowly coming back to reality.

Hawks froze up a bit at the sound of hearing his real name mentioned. At first he wasn't sure if he believed your tale of the isekai situation, but after this he might have to reconsider it. He opted to shake off that weird feeling for now and focus on different matters.

" I-I don't know what I'm supposed to do now? I have nowhere to go or to stay. I'm in a whole different freaking universe! My phone doesn't even hardly work here. And I have a pair of wings on my back!" You puffed them out angrily. Hawks glanced behind you and his eyes widened a little. You in fact, did have a set of bird wings. Kind of owl like wings. Not near as big as Hawks', but definitely big enough to fly you around.

Before Hawks could process the words coming out of his mouth, he was already asking you, "Would you maybe like to stay with me? I can help with your quirk too." He glanced away awkwardly. You looked towards him in disbelief.

"Dude, are you sure? We literally just met like 10 minutes ago? I mean, I'm all for it, I have nowhere else to turn to, but if you really really don't want me here, I will politely step out of your life." You so badly wanted to accept his offer on the spot, but being the considerate, mostly sensible human you were, you gave him the option to back out. Hawks shook his head.

"No, no, it's alright. You can crash here. Uh- I mean- stay here! Sorry!" You giggled at his comment.

"Well thank you very much!"

"It's all good. I have a spare bedroom you can occupy for the time being. I'll give you some clothes to sleep in that'll hopefully fit. Accidentally bought a couple things in the wrong size without looking. " (a/n: just...just assume its your size, or oversized, whatever's comfy idk) He jumped up and headed towards his room to grab you the clothes. You still sat on the floor. Still amazed at everything that was occurring.

Hawks walked back into the room and tossed you the clothes. "Hey uh, you know, you can get up now, sorry for holding you down earlier.."

You blushed and scrambled to stand up, "Oh no! It's ok! I understand. This would definitely warrant that kind of action. Some random stranger crashes into your apartment at like 1am. I completely understand. Honest."

He let out a small laugh and wearily brushed his fingers through his hair. The adrenaline of everything finally wearing off. He could feel the tiredness setting into his aching muscles again. “Ah, well, I’m going to head to bed now. The room is down the hall at the very end that you can stay in. I’ll take you out training tomorrow evening if that’s alright?”

You gave a nod of understanding and followed him down the hallway. “Goodnight Hawks,” you sang as he walked into his bedroom. He gave a hum of acknowledgment and closed his door.

Making it into what was now your room, you changed out of your clothes so fast, eager to rid yourself of the past hours events.

Not gonna lie, you could not figure out how to properly get your new wings into the shirt, even with the holes and snaps in the back. Your mind was too exhausted to even process this new skill. So you ended up going to bed without the shirt on and just settled for putting the sweatpants on.

You figured it’d be good to just pass out asap. You were sure if you tried to recount the recent events, you’d spiral into a panicked mess.

You shut your eyes tightly, willing yourself to sleep, trying to only think of positive outcomes for the future. But to be honest, you didn’t know enough about anything in this realm to think rationally about anything good.

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I prooobably didn’t proofread this as much as I should have

#hawks x reader #hawks x gn!reader #hawks x winged reader #bnha x reader #bnha x gn!reader #bnha x gender neutral reader #keigo x you #takami keigo x reader #keigo takami x reader #ahHHHh i really hope this ok???#feedback might be nice? idk Dx #I'm still not in the flow of fanfic writing DX its been 5 years #geeeeZ #also I apologize for the amount of ellipses that i use #thats just how I text/talk kinda #isekaied into hawks life

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soofection · 5 years

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jenkai discourse in retrospection

(long post)

to take a slightly more light hearted break from all the updates regarding the burning sun case, I propose a discourse of jxk in retrospection after gaining all the new knowledge exposed by the media recently

dont read if you dont want to, if you read please dont come attack me for posting what I want on my own blog 🥰

In no way is what I type facts, and I am NOT comparing burning sun case with jxk (jxk is so insignificant and jxk is not a criminal case) yet I will make references to what the media and companies are capable of doing as proven by the exposure from the b. sun case regarding similar behaviours.

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we now know that the kpop world is not what some once thought - an ideal fairytale land where idols/ the media never lie to us.

The truth:

We finally realize for sure that in korean ent. industry, sexual favours (in exchange for sponsors, promotion via media manipulation, basically fame and safety), offering prostitutes services... all in all using SEX is commonly used in return for connections / power / protection from the 'higher ups'.

why did jxk happen?

I propose: to cover yg x jni sex/sexual activities and jni has sponsors rumours (updated). After knowing yg is to a certain degree (personal assumption: large extent) involved in B.Sun and gangnam clubs, it makes sense to suspect that the jni rumour could be real. look up yg's past history, how he obtained his wife (emphasis, obtain). 12 years older yg 'fell in love' the moment he saw his wife as a second year middle school girl, recruited her at 16, ruined her career and married her. who knows how exactly yg treats his younger girl employees? Who is there to protect them?

but its just a 'groundless' rumour why was yg desperate?

to propose reasons: 1) it could be real, if so he HAS to camouflage it before it blows up further. 2) even if its not real, he didnt want to put bp's and his own name's reputation at stakes since bp is his most money earning group right now 3) if he doesnt make a deal with dispatch, who ofc are capable of digging deeper and they hate yg (proven by their ability to obtain kkt chats and exposing b.sun evidences) to supply them a fake scandal to cover ygxjni... dispatch WILL expose him. (also keep in mind jni has other sponsor rumour that might or not be true). and 4) - suggested by anon: yg could be taking precautions before b.sun scandal blows up. As we know b.sun revolves around sex crimes, Yg must get rid of the 'boss had sex with employee' label before b.sun blows up. Or else he will get dragged, it would be like adding oil on fire.

this theory is reinforced by allshitpop stating a media outlet discriminately announced 'the yg x jni rumour was false.' why purposefully mention it when no one asked?

but why ji?

main reason: hes an artist from sm. Yg desperately needed a scandal impacting enough to satisfy dispatch (releasing small unconvincing sandals will discredit dispatch's liability and reputation. ) But what to do when none of yg's male artists are popular enough to create a fuss nor any male groups's careers mature and stable enough to withstand the scandal pressure from the general public? the obvious solution is ofc to beg other big companies - sm or bighxt.

Most popular boy groups atm is still btx and ekso. honestly yg wouldve prefered btx due to their crazy fame, and jni will be their first dating scandal... the reactions would be DRAMATIC. yet in contrast to ekso, btx didnt really need to take that risk in hopes for more popularity. (rmb there would always be adverse effects when being involved in a dating scandal despite positive reactions and large no. of supporters). Also, even if btx has any scandals to cover, bighxt's recent merge with cj-enm (described as 'a powerhouse' aka very huge powerful company) means btx's any potential scandals can be taken care of for now. so that leaves ekso.

Who in ekso fits ji's image the most?

(hence will recieve 'positive' reactions and make them more aesthetically believable. without a doubt, its ji and his on going promoted sex appeal.) Reasons for ji and not other members: 1. theres no harm in giving him a beard (personal belief, ignore point 1. if you think homosexuality/kaisoo pairing isn't plausible) 2. to raise his popularity for his potential upcoming solo. 3. if someone who was involved in dating scandal before came up again, they probably predicts the pairing to be more positively recieved --> more supportors and a more hyped response from the public.

but none of that happened, the scandal was managed poorly. The paris evidence was made in a rush (dates didnt match) park pictures were too ambiguous (again dates and time didnt match), even when dispatch posted a pic of ji in a carpark supposedly came back from hawaii to give jni presents after landing - we learned from ji's own ig live that the day he wore the outfit in the photo, he had already returned to korea a few days ago, was around town shopping and went no where near the airport. Besides these failed attempts there was absolutely no other proof that jxk is real.

why was it poorly managed?

bc this is a rare collab between two big rival companies. Yg was the one begging at the start yet sm wasnt able to take full control of this scandal. Conflicts and disagreements upon makng many decisions were highly likely to occur between these two rivals.

The break up

a lot of fans were shocked when jxk broke up just after 25 days. (brand new record). what else is weird?

sm personally confirmed jxk broke up abruptly. Usually when couples break up, fan rumours start to float around first. But not this time, no rumours surfaced yet sm all of a sudden definitively stated that jxk broke up. Back then I already predicted it maybe because yg or bp got into trouble hence sm wanted to distance themselves as far as possible. I still stand by that idea.

Sm must get away from yg and b.sun case for the sake of theirs/ekso's reputation. sm def dont want to be dragged into the mess. Remember, sm as a huge company themselves def have their own dirt to hide, getting dragged means huge consequences if the investigators target them.

so why did sm agree in the first place? I assume its bc altho sm knew that yg had dirt to hide, they did not know it was something as serious, severe and big as b.sun case / tax evading case. Therefore, what are the coincidences that sm announced breakup shortly before dispatch sparked reinvestigation into b.sun by posting crucial evidences? (the first chats)

its highly possible that dispatch warned sm, (which makes them sound like the good guys but no. remember sm is dispatch's source of money and partnered with them many times. b.sun indeed aint directly related to sm, (as for now) dispatch has no reason to ruin sm) Or, sm could have found out through other sources that b.sun case will blow up soon. they quickly cut their collab with yg early, and announced break up probably without telling yg first. (since telling them possibly means giving dispatch away).

this also suggests that dispatch hates yg but anyway.

The benefits of ji

Comparing the two, jni seems to be the one who gained more from the scandal. She got most of media and the public's attention. there is an explanation for this - shes the 'rookier' one, and the trendier one out if the two since bp is still rising when ekso has reached their plateau. However, ji did gain his own lesser share of attention (indicated by the gained followers on his ig).

I have always said that when idols agree to be involved in a scandal, they are likely to get a 'reward.' but now thinking about it, agreeing to scandals is part of ji's contract, rewards are bonus but not obligations. Besides, the scandal itself supposedly helps ji gain popularity for solo and gains a beard, sm didnt NEED to give him more bonus. Often when idols get more modelling jobs / solo etc after scandals is bc sm uses the risen populairty from scandal as an opportunity to maximise profit by giving them more jobs, it might not be bc sm wants 'pamper' them.

Plan cut short

unfortunately for ji who is not getting his solo soon, the jxk plan flopped due to poor management, and was cut short due to b.sun case. The scandal did not fulfill what it was supposed to do and ended prematurely . Followed by the apparent troubles in sm negotiating contract terms with ekso, (delayed ekso schedules),chxn suddenly getting a solo, and the blowing up of b.sun case, ji might have missed his chance again. Or hes simply still preparing.

to summarize i want to clarify a few things.

- none of these are facts, but an overall picture forming one huge speculation.

- I dont try to defame bp or shame them. i also am not trying to state that girl artists def had sex with the hihgher ups. b.sun has shown us that men always have more power over women, and they rarely get protection.

- I want people to realize the dark side of kpop. The kpop industry is full of conspiracies, media manipulation and lies. What you see on tv is not who your idols are portrayed to be on camera. Don't impose your ideal vision on them and hurt others when reality suggests otherwise.

side note: this theory conveyed reinforcement to statements I've made before

- conspiracies are real and true. Look at all the dark and shady events involved in b.sun case

- media play, mass manipulation exist and are common practice.

- dispatch and sm collab and are partners on a case by case basis.

- idols lie on interviews all the time, their tv persona is different from the real them.

- companies offer protection for their idols

- it is indeed common practice to use one scandal to cover another

ANYTHING can happen in the world of the k ent industry. dont lightly dismiss any possibilities. We must analyse the sum of the situations - the full picture of any events before believing anything we are told.

#kaisoo #jongin #jennie #jxk #analysis #myposts #jxk1 #jenkai

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g0ldxplated · 5 years

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My MANIA (era) experience

Now that all my FOB related shows are over and none are coming up in the near future, I thought why not look back on what has probably been one of the best years I was lucky enough to experience, all thanks to my favorite band and the people I got to meet through them.

It all began with the three small shows they announced in Europe. I had already booked a vacation to Japan, just two weeks prior to them releasing the dates. I already knew that I had to make it to at least one of them and while Berlin was out of the question since I wasn’t going to go to Tokyo just for a couple of days, I decided I would cut my vacation short and book another 16 hour flight from Tokyo to London, so I would be able to see them at least in Brixton. Prior to that, me and three of my friends had come up with the idea to design a flag, specifically for this show.

Basically, what we did was to put the wave that had come around by the beginning of the MANIA era inside of the crown FOB logo. Needless to say the show (01/11/2018) was an absolute blast and by the end of it, we had our flag handed to Ranel in hopes he would give it to the boys. It was such a good time, seeing them after what had been more than a year and in a setting that was way more intimate than the venues they usually play in. After the show we thought that this would be the last we would ever see of our little project, but months later we would come to realize it would turn into one of the greatest memories ever.

Anyway, the day atfer the Brixton show (01/12/2018), the boys were playing a short acoustic set in Kingston, in a venue even smaller than Electric Brixton. They only played 5 songs (HMTOD, Sugar, Uma, Mmrs and Centuries) but I enjoyed every second and they seemed to be in such a great mood. Not to mention that it’s not every day we get to hear the acoustic version of those songs.

After these two special gigs, I already knew the MANIA era was off to a fantastic start for me and the adventures along the way would become some of my favorite memories. Shortly after, MANIA was released and the boys announced their Wrigley Field show, so me and a group of friends immediately decided to visit the US for the first time, as we couldn’t miss out on such a special show (it had been my dream to see them play in Chicago, their hometown for a long time). Additionally, we planned to attend 6 shows of their EU/UK tour and I spent months being excited for all that was to come. They went on to play in New Zeeland and Australia and what came next truly blew my mind. I saw footage from the first show that would kick off their tour over there and came across a very blury video of Stay Frosty. During that time they didn’t have the backdrop for it ready so the background image they used was a logo. But not just any logo, it seemed awfully familiar and I immediately thought of the flag we had made months prior. I couldn’t tell 100% if it was what we had designed, but I decided to take a chance and tweeted Pete about it to ask him whether it was inspired by the flag we had given to them in Brixton. What happened next was probably one of the best things that ever happpened to me.

Hours later, the FOB twitter account responded me, followed me and sent me a DM. Me and my friends were ecstatic and they promised to send a package to me that would include stuff for all of us. Little did I know how generous they would be. They even included a picture of the logo and one with Pete in it in their reply to me. And I wouldn’t be disappointed. A short while before I was going to leave for my upcoming FOB shows, a gigantic package was delivered, including a signed copy of MANIA, the vinyl and Llamania for all of us and additionally stickers, bath bombs, a guitar strap, a Folie poster and the bobble heads. I couldn’t thank them enough for making this an absolutely incredibly memory for me to share with my friends, especially because they would use the logo as a backdrop during Church, meaning so many people got to see what we inspired and I had a chance of witnessing it with my own eyes during the EU/UK tour. The feeling of seeing it in person was incredible. Next, the EU/UK tour came up and I saw them in London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Düsseldorf. It was the best time I got to spend with friends, traveling to all these awesome cities and seeing our favorite band together.

It was bitter sweet when tour ended, but I knew I was going to see them again in Chicago and meanwhile decided to also see them at Leeds fest. I can’t thank my friends enough that always spent ridiculous amounts of time queueing with me, freezing with me, sitting through rain and cold wind, sharing stories and laughs together, only so we could rock out on barricade after. The whole experience was one I will always treasure. So up next was Leeds fest:

As always, the boys didn’t disappoint and Pete’s flame thrower bass made one of its first appearances. It was tough to last until FOB’s set, mostly due to how incredibly terrible some fans of certain artists behaved (I even cracked my rib from being crushed against the barricade as I found out once back home), but all the exhaustion was blown away the second they came on stage, opening with Disloyal Order, which had all of us emotional to say the least. Leeds happened around two weeks before our biggest FOB related adventure to date would begin and meanwhile I had started a small project months prior. I created a book filled with letters from fans all over the world, specifically about their very own MANIA experiences. I knew a lot of people wanted to be present for this big milestone the band was looking forward to, but couldn’t be, hence why I wanted to take a part of everyone with me to give to the boys. I had managed to snatch a Sunshine Riptide package for their Wrigley show, meaning I knew I was going to meet Pete and Andy at a m&g, so I thought I could hand the book to them in person.

This is us a couple of hours before getting on our flight to Chicago ♥

The Chicago trip turned into a little bit of a FOB tourist tour, meaning we went to the infamous Pick Me Up cafe and sat on the table they shot the cover of EOWYG on. The food was terribly delicious as well, so I can 100% recommend going there if you take a trip to Chicago.

All the days spent with so many amazing people in Chicago made the whole trip truly unforgettable. I’m so grateful for all of the friendships I’ve been able to make this past year.

I also got a tattoo done while there (not my first FOB tattoo but definitely one of the most meaningful):

What it means? Basically it’s inspired by Chicago Is So Two Years Ago, especially by the line “There’s a light on in Chicago and I know I should be home”. It just personally made a lot of sense to me to get a tattoo related to this song in this particular city. Inside the light bulb is part of the Chicago skyline and the coordinates are for Wrigley Field. Soon the big day came and I couldn’t contain my excitement, neither could my friends. I was stoked for the show, I was stoked to give them the book I had spent months on making. But mostly I was thrilled to finally, after 11 years of waiting, meet Pete and Andy. Especially Pete has been someone I’ve been looking up to for a long time, therefore I couldn’t believe it was going to happen on such a special day.

The m&g itself was rather short (sadly), though the boys were lovely and Andy said my KISS shirt was cool.

I can’t even express how much I enjoyed the show itself. It was emotional from beginning to end and I did shed some tears. I felt blessed hearing Chicago Is So Two Years Ago and Lake Effect Kid in this particular place. Despite having been to quite a few FOB shows, this one will always remain one of my favorites, without a doubt.

Amazingly enough, Wrigley Field wasn’t the end of our FOB adventures. Remember the book I was talking about? During the m&g I wasn’t allowed to bring it with me and therefore couldn’t hand it to the boys in person. Luckily a lovely staff lady took a hold of it for me. Once again, I thought I had seen the last of it. But I was curious whether they had eventually gotten it or not (also felt a certain responsibility towards everyone that had contributed), so I tweeted Pete. After the show when we got on our Lyft back home, my friend suddenly told me he had replied! Though he commented on my tweet and said the book was rad, rather than answering my question as to whether or not he had gotten it. Still, I was happy. A couple of days later I woke up to Pete having posted my book on his IG story! I couldn’t be more thankful, he’s truly a real one and made my heart super happy. So many people trusted me with their words and I decorated the book with my personal art, so it meant the world to me he cared enough to truly let me know he had gotten a hold of it.

The next day my friends and I had tickets for the MANIA experience. Yet another thing I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to say I saw in person. It felt like talking a walk through Pete’s head. We spent hours just hanging out, listening to the demos and songs they had available for people to listen to over headphones.

After the experience we decided to visit their old apartment, where everything pretty much began (the one where they also took the photo for their TTTYG album cover). This would be the last stop of our little FOB Chicago tour and probably the right place to visit last. I feel I kind of came full circle and couldn’t be grateful enough for everyone who made this trip truly special.

I pretty much thought that Chicago/Wrigley Field would be the last FOB related event I’d attend for this era/year, but then we figured out Andy was going on EU tour with his band SECT and immediately bought tickets. What can I say, no better way to let this era come to an end than meeting Andy at this show a week ago. We were the only FOB fans there so we got to talk to him for quite a while, which was refreshing since it’s pretty much impossible to spend more than 10 minutes talking to one of them unless you bump into them on the street. He was lovely, took a lot of time to talk to us, took pictures with us, signed my Wrigley ticket and even kept saying hi every time he walked past us. Once the gig was over he immediately came looking for us to hand all four of us one of his drumsticks. Andy is truly the sweetest and I’m so happy I was able to meet him in this very intimate setting (I don’t think there were more than 60 people). This year was certainly unreal and I can’t wait for next era.

Maybe it was all just a dream ♥

#FOB #Fall Out Boy #Pete Wentz #Andy Hurley #Patrick Stump #Joe Trohman #SECT #j #MANIA #MANIA era #The MANIA experience #MANIA experience #Wrigley Field

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frisbee-camp · 5 years

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Let Me Help

AO3 Link//Wattpad Link

Tj and Cyrus have been friends for a long time, but will that change after life comes crashing down and impulsive decisions catch up to them? (Angst, Ambi, love notes, slow burn, aged up so they're all in high school, god tier ships, mental health, and like a whole bunch more ladies! Let’s get this angst.)

Chapter 9 Unresolved

"What do you mean you saw them kiss!?" Cyrus had practically yelled, Nala jumped. Andi and Buffy had told Cyrus that they saw Jonah with Walker the entire night, practically attached to the hip. "He's been avoiding us a lot lately," Andi frowned and bit her lip. Buffy nodded and added, "Plus, Marty said there were rumors that Walker was dating a boy." "But, Jonah?" Cyrus said, slumped, "Jonah Hercules Beck is straight..." "No one's straight Cy," Andi said as they pointed between themselves and Cyrus, "we would know." "Yea, but..." Cyrus trailed off. He had totally believed Jonah Beck™ was 100% straight. But now that he knew he was with Walker, he felt a sudden urge of jealousy. He was the complicated one, he was the gay one, not perfect and popular Jonah Beck. Cyrus grimaced, his cheeks felt hot. "Cyrus?" Buffy said, "are you alright? It's OK to be jealous." "Yeah Cy, we all know you liked Jonah, it was pretty obvious," Andi said smiling, "but now that means you can focus on TJ! Who has a total massive humungo crush on you!" "Guys, I don't know why I said I liked him, I think it's because he defended me. It's because he defended me right? I mean no guy will ever like me," Cyrus said as his friends gave him shocked looks. "You've got to be kidding right! You've got the toughest guy in all of Jefferson basically in love with you and you don't even see it? You're all he sees Cyrus! D'you think he'd punch his longest friend over anyone? Don't be so oblivious," Buffy huffed, clearly over Cyrus' lack of self-esteem. After that, their conversation shifted to Buffy complaining about all of the girls that flirted with Marty and Andi complaining about never being able to see Amber because of her work schedule. Cyrus stayed silent for most of it, thinking back to when he woke up in his own sweater. Any other jock would have thought it was embarrassing or dorky, but TJ had kept it. His heart skipped a beat. Maybe he did like TJ? But, at the same time, he thought about how Jonah was going out with Walker, and that made his skin burn. It was worse than when Andi dated him, at least then he thought he had no chance, but now? Now that Jonah was, bi? pan? questioning? Whatever, Cyrus was still bitter. He envied Walker. What did he have that Cyrus didn't? Art skills? He could take a class. He's an artist! He'd won an award for his screenplay. Whatever, he thought, I'll just make Jonah jealous, we'll see how he feels then. When his friends had left after telling him that their "relationship intervention" was over, Cyrus received a text from TJ. From Cool Basketball Guy!!!: Hey Cy, hope you got home safe and everything, I'm sorry I punched Reed... Are we still cool? 😬 To Cool Basketball Guy!!!: Yes :0 thanks again,,,,,sry i was a mess lol. see you tomorrow? From Cool Basketball Guy!!!: Of course :) See you at lunch? To Cool Basketball Guy!!!: Yup WOOP WOOp 💥 Cyrus couldn't help but frown at his own text message. Ugh, I'm such a dork. He immediately texted Buffy and Andi for help. To GHC👩🏻👩🏾‍🦱🌈❣️: Cyrus 💕🕍✨: I think I just said I liked him because he defended me, so I'm overthinking it right? Like we're friends, so nothing will happen PLUS HES A HET!!1 ANDIII😽: cyrus stop overthinking everything, this happened with me and amber too remember???? BufFY 😩🙆🏽‍♀️: HE LIKES YOU DONT BE A DUMBBASSSSSS, THE ENTIRE SCHOOL KNOWSSSSSSSS LOOK AT THE VIDEO I DMD YOU ON IG GODDAMN ANDIII😽: Buffyyyy we weren't supposed to show him that.... BufFY 😩🙆🏽‍♀️: he needs to know Cyrus was never into social media, he only went on to comment encouraging things on his friend's new posts. He even had his notifications off, but once he opened the underused app, his screen was filled with dm's, new followers, and comments. He quickly scrolled through most of them. Many of them asked if he was Dating TJ?! One said Hi cy i know u dont know me but ur like really brave another said idk who ur kidding, tj is straight lmaooo and another said hey is it true? His heart raced, he suddenly needed to stand up. Where would people get such an idea? Sure, people must have seen TJ fighting with Reed, but he didn't think people would connect that to him. TJ was respected, Cyrus wasn't, why would Tj's actions be caused by Cyrus? Cyrus opened Buffy's direct message, which had been pushed to the bottom of his feed by the time he went looking for it. It was a dark video, but Cyrus managed to catch an out of focus TJ and Reed standing in Iris' living room. He turned up the volume, "-somewhere else!" He heard Tj say, he looked disheveled and sweaty. "GOD, What is with you. Do you like him or something?" Cyrus gasped at the same time as the camera person. Is this the source Buffy and Andi were talking about? "So we were right, you do like him! And now you're choosing him over us?! We've been friends longer than you have with that loser-" Cyrus' eyebrows raised as he saw TJ's fist come in contact with Reed's face. The rest of the video was a blur of curse words and drunk teenagers chanting "FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!" Cyrus sat down on his bed, unable to comprehend what had just seen. Now he knew why he was getting so many notifications. He didn't know TJ could resort to violence like that. Hearing about a fight is much different than seeing that. But, he smiled. TJ had defended him, plus someone liked him! Him! Anxious, depressed, confused Cyrus Goodman who hated loud noises and sports. He felt light and airy, but most importantly he felt needed, more needed than ever. He had almost wanted to come out to his parents right then and there. They were all there, of course, sipping their wine about twenty feet away. He had quickly texted his friends a shocked cat gif and turned off his phone as he walked out of his room with newfound confidence. "Hey Cy," one of his parents had called to him suspiciously, he didn't care which. TJ Kippen liked him and maybe he liked him back. "Hello parentals," Cyrus said cheerily as he sat in an empty dining room seat, they were still having brunch, which had now turned into wine and ice cream. Cyrus picked at the leftover grapes and popped them into his mouth grinning. "You look very happy today Cy, what did those girls do to you in there?" Norman joked. Cyrus shrugged and chucked uncomfortably. "Whatever happened to that girlfriend of yours Cy? Ilene was her name?" a mom said. "No Sharron, it was Ivy," Todd said. "No, I'm pretty sure it's Isa," Leslie said. "Guys, you're all wrong. It's Iris. And we were never really together and I don't want to talk about this with my parents right now," Cyrus got up to leave, but one of his parents called out to him. "Wait! Cy! Don't close us off so quickly. Just tell us, are there any new girls we should know about?" Shannon wiggled her eyebrows, Leslie nudged her side. Cyrus laughed a little too loud, "NO," he said, "no girls mom, never." "Never?" Todd said, quizzically. Cyrus stopped. Did I just out myself through a joke? Am I really boo boo the fool? "Cyrus?" His mom said, "do you want to tell us something we might already know? You know you can trust us." Cyrus thought about how his parents were trained in observing and analyzing. He knew that if he didn't answer, then they'd know he was hiding something if he answered too quickly they'd also know, and if he said anything at all they'd also know. He stood still instead, hoping that some being would impossibly teleport him to a different planet. Maybe Pluto? he thought Pluto is cute, and very far away from here. "Cyrus?" His parents called again. Cyrus stared at the wall behind them, unable to speak. He gave one last chuckle and turned to walk a little too quickly to his room. He put on his headphones, played his playlist titled I'M A BIG FAT HOPELESS ROMANTIC and looked at the messages left on his phone. They ranged from encouraging Bitmojis to angry girls telling him to back off. Oh my god, tomorrow is going to be hell. Cyrus spent the rest of the day nervously doing his homework in anticipation of tomorrow. Normally, he'd text TJ whenever he was nervous, but now that he was the reason for his anxiety, he stuck to his history notes. He had come out of his room only when he knew half of his parents were gone. Monday morning was relatively quiet, his parents had decided to not ask him about what had happened yesterday, which he was eternally grateful for. However, that was not the root of all of his worry. Once he got to school, Cyrus immediately knew something was different. For the first time in his life, people his age noticed him. Everyone's eyes followed him down the hall, to and from his classes, and even during the peak hallway traffic. Thankfully, he had Buffy and Andi the entire day to protect him. Sure, they could protect him from direct attack, but he could still see kids whispering and pointing at him. During lunch, Andi, Buffy, and Cyrus sat at their usual spot. "Okay you guys, things are different now, be prepared." Buffy had warned them both. Cyrus felt uneasy, he knew something was about to happen, but he didn't know what. They had been discussing how to address Jonah's new boyfriend without being overbearing. They decided to not bring it up. Just then, Marty and Amber walked up to the table and sat next to their respective partners, leaving Cyrus alone with his muffin for the millionth time. He thought about texting TJ, but he didn't know what to say to him. "Cyrus!" Amber said, "I'm glad you're feeling better. TJ should be here soon." Suddenly, the cafeteria doors opened and in came Jonah holding hands with Walker. Cyrus made a fist. They sat down a little too happily, Cyrus looked down at his tray. He felt tears pool in his eyes. "Hello there," Buffy eyed them. Cyrus tentatively looked over at Jonah who seemed grounded. There was something different about him as if a light he didn't know existed had been turned on. He watched as Jonah talked to his friends, he didn't listen to what they were saying, he was too busy looking at how Jonah looked at Walker every so often just to smile at him. Cyrus wanted that. He wanted someone who understood him, someone who grounded him in reality, someone that didn't make him feel so lost. "So," he heard Jonah say in his direction, "I heard that TJ likes you. I thought you guys were already together?" Cyrus thought he heard a twinge of jealousy in his voice, but it might have been his imagination. Cyrus suddenly couldn't handle it anymore, from the stares to the questions, to gently coming out to his parents, it was too much. He silently stood up. His friends eyed him. "I need," Cyrus started but couldn't seem to verbalize his thoughts. What did he need? Something, he needed something. "Something," he said, before quietly packing his things and walking towards the cafeteria exit. Before he could exit, he saw TJ walk in. Cyrus saw the confidence oozing out of him, his stomach churned. "Hey," TJ smiled at him, "Where are you headed? Lunch just started." "Oh, I was going to uh-" Cyrus looked up at Tj, Did his face get cuter? "I uh, was going to go sit with Andi and Buffy and them," he looked for an escape, but TJ was already turning him back around to join his friends. "Come on then silly, they're the other way," TJ grinned. Cyrus hid behind TJ for most of the walk back to the table, the whispers they were getting were becoming unbearable, he wanted to cry. He couldn't make himself look his friends in the eyes when he sat back down. "Is this the something you needed?" Marty chuckled, Buffy jabbed him with her elbow. Cyrus fiddled with a broken spork as his friends continued talking about Jefferson gossip. Tj had inched himself closer to Cyrus, he let him. He hadn't noticed how different he felt with TJ around. How much easier living seemed to be. Before he knew it, he and TJ were shoulder to shoulder, leg to leg. He still couldn't bring himself to look at his friends, but they were used to his daily mini meltdowns. TJ started to laugh at something Walker had said, Cyrus grinned slightly He fits in so well. He saw Tj look down at him worried, he gently pried the spork out of his hands, it had started to draw blood. Cyrus hadn't noticed. "What's wrong? Do you want to leave?" Tj softly asked him. Cyrus gave a small nod, his heart lurched. There were too many eyes on him. Tj quickly packed away his things and gave his friends an excuse. Before walking away, Cyrus saw Jonah frown at them. Cyrus didn't know where Tj was taking him, but he didn't really care. In the hallway, Cyrus thought he heard a noise. Once they rounded the corner, he saw Reed, Lester, and a couple other boys he didn't know. He gulped. TJ moved in front of him. "AYYYY look who it is!" Reed said, throwing his arms up. "Leave me alone Reed," TJ said, trying to walk through. "Bro, we're still bros. I forgive you for the other night. I know you were drunk and shit." Reed leaned in closer and said something to TJ that Cyrus couldn't hear, but made TJ look back at him. "Dude, leave him alone," Lester said, pushing on Reed's shoulder. "Hey, I just want to know what we're all thinking. So Teej, what is it? Are you still choosing this dork over your bros?" Reed said. The rest of the gang looked apprehensive, they didn't care enough to cause a scene. "Dude, just leave it," One boy said worried. "Shut up," TJ said quietly, "Just shut up." Cyrus saw TJ ball his fists and tense up. Lester moved towards Tj, but Reed stopped him with his arm. "Tell us," Reed said. TJ stayed still. "Teej-" Reed had said before Cyrus heard bodies hit the floor. He closed his eyes. There was yelling, sneakers hitting the floor, and eventually, he heard the voices of teachers. Someone pushed him against the wall, someone else called his name, someone else touched his hair. He didn't want to open his eyes.

#andi mack #tj kippen #cyrus goodman #ambi #amber brown #pandimack #andi mack fanfic #tyrus #tyrus fanfic #wonah #jonah beck #walker brodsky #muffy #marty from the party #reed with the weed #tw fights #kippen twins

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kmp78 · 6 years

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Kudos

Hi K, I’m glad you enjoyed the trip and the M&G and after all, thanks to the IG Live which I enjoyed as well ;) (THANKS for the fun!) also the show. Contrary to some of the opinions here, you can be a fan and still not agree with some things your fave band does, you don’t have to love all their songs, you don’t have to come in and face your idol (haha..;)) and be afraid to ask anything that Mr Perfect won’t approve of. That’s not even true in real life! Even Jerd himself said many times that he welcomes constructive criticism, so he has to know this album was half-assed and his passion for this band is also not what it used to be.

I, as a long-time fan, am happy that finally someone stood up and asked the questions we all wanted answers to, even if we haven’t gotten any answer after all->

Me: “So we´re never gonna get any explanation?”

Reni: “It´s a personal matter… And until he doesn´t decide… It´s not in our…”

This is self-explanatory and beyond. Although I don’t believe J or the band are in a place where they wouldn’t be able to tell us, let’s say, “Mars and T parted ways because of our creative differences” or something equally neutral, this happens all the time with other bands! - they just won’t say anything because any explanation would mean that T left on his own simply because he didn’t want to be part of this Murica shindig anymore, and that would be equal to admitting J did something wrong (aka not purrfect). Hence, a quiet, no.

Then they plugged Camp Mars (a few people had no idea what Camp Mars even is…) and lured us to buy with big promises of hangings with the band during the most magical weekend of the year.

“The band is also there all day.”

Duuuude! Telling a straight up lie in my customers’ faces, I would die of embarassment.

(I voted Tabasco. 🤗)

What song is that? :O ^^

His reaction both in words and in vibe (and the reaction from the room aka loud gasps, few hisses and cheers after he “lashed out” at me) was worth all the money I paid for that M&G, I don’t even mind telling you!

I can’t even begin to understand why the other M&G goers were hissing at you and cheering that he was mad! But yeah… this is Echelon. As an artist, as he likes to call himself, he should be prepared (and in his interviews he says he knows he won’t make everyone happy!) for criticism and he should be able to react to it. Or just freaking act like you know how to react to it, you got yourself an AA award after all. AA I mean Academy award, not A.Arquette btw… ^^

“It´s not a rock album.”

Followed by a LOOOOONG silence.

A silence which was only interrupted by SL going “Well, there you go!” in a triumphant manner. Echies of course applauded, and then suddenly JL picked up again:

“Don´t be fooled, we knew EXACTLY what we were doing. But let me just tell you something: we have NEVER gotten good reviews. Even when we made rock albums. So… Nothing really changes…”

Looord this is beyond hilarious. They got fairly good reviews on both ABL and TIW and imo, self-titled was still their best. I don’t remember reading such a scalding bad review of their previous records as some of those I read about Murica! Okay, maybe LLFD wasn’t a masterpiece either, and frankly I barely listen to any song from that one, but those reviews for Murica were outstanding!

JL said that “sometimes I´m not inspired” (REALLY? Never would have guessed…) and that “at that point you just have to rely on muscle memory and to just put one foot in front of the other and keep marching forward… Someone asks a question you don´t like (WHO?! WHO ASKED A QUESTION YOU DID NOT LIKE?! 🙊), you deal with it… You have to do some part of your job that´s tedious (like… the actual working part?), you push past it… I think a lot of times it´s just showing up… You can surprise yourself. You start a conversation, you start a concert, and before you know it you´re lost in the concert and you´re enjoying your time.”

Ugh. The vibe I get from this paragraph is that

- his creative spirit has gone dry but gotta make some dough bro (for bro)

- he’s snarky as hell

- people who don’t praise the ground he walks on make him uncomfortable

- being part of the band and travelling and dealing with fans annoys him

- concerns no longer make him feel happy/good/fulfilled as he always said they did

GRIM.

Seriously it was RIDICULOUS! Felt even faster and more North Korean than in Getafe! We all legit had no more than 2 seconds to pose and then we were pushed out! 😑

Total bs. No other way to put it. Treated like actual cattle

Isn’t meet and greet about being able to talk to the band like with regular folks? Since when this has become a lecture with given set of questions and seats assigned? Meh…

Also..

there were near-catastrophic incidents in Prague some days ago, some girls ran like cray and tripped and fell and created a domino effect and it was a mess…

JAAYYYSSUUUUSSS… :D :D

Thanks K! :*

***

your-little-scarlet-starlet - Thanks! 😘

Good observations! Agreed!

And yeah as far as an actual MEET and greet goes... Well, there is no meeting of any kind for 80% of the people present. Only those handful lucky ones who manage to get their question asked can actually say they kinda “met” the band. Everyone else pretty much just watched a theater performance in silence and ran through a photo session.

There is no way on earth to justify the price tag they have set for this event with what they offer back.

(Tabasco is Dangerous Night! You know... “Man on fire...” 😉)

(Disclaimer and rules)

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wristwatchjournal · 4 years

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The Collector’s Series – @edthezilla and his FP Journe Tourbillon Souverain calibre 1403

Instagram is a source of inspiration and it proves to be a superb platform to meet like-minded people. For me, this means an Instagram feed of watches, watches, watches, and… watches. It is also the perfect platform to decide who sees your posts and with whom you want to be in touch, it offers a lot of privacy if you want that. And getting in touch is easy, peer to peer, and only if both parties are interested in getting in touch. One of the persons I’m in touch with goes by the Instagram name Edthezilla. Now I’m typing his IG name, I realize that I never asked why on Earth he calls himself Edthezilla. Anyways, we discuss watches, both his and mine. He owns quite a collection, comprising some of the most desirable modern Rolex and Patek sports watches, some very nice vintage Speedmasters and F.P. Journe. Quite a few Journe’s actually and when I asked him to participate in our Collector’s Series he immediately told me that he wanted to talk about the FP Journe Tourbillon Souverain Calibre 1403.

One of the funny, or at least interesting, things is that @edthezilla shows some similarities with @Watch_Time_It_Is who talked about his McGonigle Tuscar Bánú and the various iterations in his watch collecting life. Now without further ado, let’s get to the questions and answers of @edthezilla and do make sure to follow him on Instagram!

Frank Geelen, MONOCHROME Watches – How did you come to buy a watch from FP Journe?

@edthezilla – To answer this question, we need to go back to late 2014. At the time, I was as a collector that was hit by a deep “depression”. By depression, I mean that no watch was tempting enough to buy. I had simply become both bored and disinterested to collect any watches. I had “completed” the Rolex catalogue, and I also got bored with Omega; the brand that actually kick-started my interest in horology.

I found the other established brands unattractive and conservative, so this was a real “depression” by all means. I was missing the good times when I got goosebumps from having a new Rolex on my wrist. Or the feeling of getting aroused when I saw and touched an Aquanaut, or even better a Nautilus!

I do remember the first time I tried on a Richard Mille on my wrist at Marcus Watches, and also when I tried an A. Lange & Söhne at Harrods. That feeling was great! So, I thought that there must be something that can give me the appetite for horology again. Richard Mille and A. Lange & Söhne are both great brands, so I do respect them, but unfortunately, both are not my cup of tea. Due to this, the journey and the hunt had to go on.

After some reflection and deep research of my feelings, I suddenly found what I was looking for and what I needed, from an independent watchmaker. I found the one who does not compromise with himself, and furthermore, he really put his soul into his work. Back in 2013, I came across F.P. Journe completely randomly through a friend of mine. I started to do some more research about the brand and the story behind François-Paul Journe. I was reading countless reviews about F.P. Journe watches, and the one that I did fall in love with was the soon to become the grail, Tourbillon Souverain calibre 1403. Finally, the good feelings were coming back, and I started to get a great appetite for a new watch.

I did also learn that the interest of horology is not about trading or what is called “flipping”. But it is to appreciate the workmanship and the art of watchmaking. This is something you can’t find in new mass-produced watches, like one of the not-mentioned super brands. Many of my previous impulse purchases have been about something completely else.

So, yes, I did see the light, and Mr François-Paul Journe was my saviour! The watch that matched my budget was the Chronomètre Bleu, so I felt like being in heaven. But in order to get an F.P. Journe, I reached out to Osama Sendi aka The Journe Guy. Osama is the one who probably knows the brand best of all the people I know. And if someone can get you a Chronomètre Bleu, this is the guy. We are now in early 2015, the Chronomètre Bleu had just started to get a big interested from collectors. Osama connected me with Shaun Metha of Watch4moi/Ginotti. After some emailing back and forth, he managed to get a Chronomètre Bleu.

This was my first taste of the brand, and the journey into the independent watchmaking of Haute Horology had finally started.

But actually you desperately wanted another F.P. Journe….

To get the watch that I really wanted, I had to save up and do lots of research for four years. The watch in question is the F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain calibre 1403 in platinum. The search is at least half of the fun of buying a new watch.

The watch I decided to buy was from May 2007, and it had all its paperwork and everything. It even had a service enclosed from some years ago. So, this was just a perfect match for me. I received the watch in May last year. And since then, it has been the watch I have worn most. I wear it during my bike rides around my hometown, or when I am off to London or Geneva. To describe the watch, the case is slim, and it works well dressed up, or casual with shirt and jeans. And with combination with some bespoke leather straps from Jean Rousseau, it’s suitable for all occasions. And why did I buy the tourbillon? That’s because this is the watch that got it all started!

I did see the light and Mr François-Paul Journe was my saviour!

What is it that you admire so much in Journe’s watches?

First of all, it is the man behind the watches. Invenit et Fecit (Latin “[He] invented it and made it”) What more can you say? He’s a genius, a master watchmaker, an artist, a true gentleman with a great taste for life and red wine. The watchmaker’s response to Tony Stark.

I do love the design of his movements; the dials are nothing like I have ever seen before. His watches tick all the boxes on my list.

Any more watches on the horizon for you? Or what’s next on your wish list?

The next watch that I would like to talk about is really something special and most personal. Something that has been like a new journey. This is almost like the journey with F.P. Journe, but in a different way if I may say so.

It all started at SalonQP 2017. A young man with a small table had a special watch that caught my eye. The case shape and design of the movement and dial was nothing like I had seen before. Nothing even slightly like this. It looked industrial but in a very beautiful way. It was The AkriviA AK-06.

This was the prototype N00. The watchmaker behind this company is Rexhep Rexhepi. A young gentleman, only 27 years old. But he had a passion and a spirit like I have never seen before. The AkriviA design is something that you need to process to understand and is not for everyone to love. For me, it was not love at first sight, but I did understand the design and I also fond some relations to 1920s and 1930s architecture. At first, I thought of the movie Metropolis from 1927. I will say that this watch is influenced by the finest art deco architecture.

Next time I saw Rexhep Rexhepi and AkriviA was at SalonQP 2018. This time there was a new watch that enchanted me. This was the prototype for the Rexhep Rexhepi Chronomètre Contemporain. This is a new line for AkriviA. The AkriviA is the main collection of the atelier. Rexhepi Rexhepi line is the second and more limited collection. For me, the Chronomètre Contemporain was love at first sight. So classy, elegant with a neo-classical design that I really love and adore.

The same year AkriviA won the Men’s Watch Award at the GPHG 2018 with the Rexhep Rexhepi Chronomètre Contemporain. This may be the catalyst for what we see today, as the great success and demand of AkriviA and Rexhep Rexhepi watches. To me, it is the connection and spirit I feel for the brand and the people behind it. What I find the most appealing with the brand, is the craftsmanship, devotion, passion and strong connection to the brand. For each day and month that is going by, my feelings and connections to AkriviA are growing stronger and stronger. I do hope that this is a relationship that will last a lifetime.

I added a picture from my last visit to Genève. Here is master watchmaker Rexhep Rexhepi with my FP Journe.

You can follow @edthezilla on Instagram

If you want to be featured and talk about a very special watch that you own, then send an email to [email protected]

The post The Collector’s Series – @edthezilla and his FP Journe Tourbillon Souverain calibre 1403 appeared first on Wristwatch Journal.

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#watches #luxury watches #wrist watches

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kuwaiti-kid · 4 years

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Exclusive: Ian Guerin Talks R&B and Dream Dinner Guests

Singer-Songwriter Ian Guerin is making a name for himself in R&B.

Mexican R&B/Pop rising superstar, Ian Guerin, is a force to be reckoned in the industry. Guerin has been writing and performing since he was nine-years-old and he burst into the music charts with his first pop album MADSEXY in 2012 before transitioning into R&B with his new album Irreplaceable which was released in 2019.

Since 2014, Guerin has won 9 BEAT 100 Awards in the United Kingdom and an Akademia Award for Best R&B Soul Song in the United States for his single “Cry”. He’s topped the BEAT 100 United Kingdom World Chart three times with his singles “Pop This Jam,” “Free Time,” and “Roll the Dice”.

Ian Guerin recently discussed his musical career with Your Money Geek’s own Maggie Lovitt.

Maggie Lovitt (ML): You have been writing and performing since you were nine. What first inspired you?

Ian Guerin (IG): The need to vent. I’ve always been very sensitive so I hurt harder than average. I found a way to quiet those voices in my head through singing very early on and then came writing.

I remember penning my first song and feeling immediately lighter. Then, when I sang it, I felt a sense of healing—like everything was going to get better, even though nothing had really changed.

ML: Your debut album “MADSEXY” was a pop album, what inspired you to create an R&B album?

IG: R&B has always been the genre I’ve felt myself with. After I made “MADSEXY” I was satisfied with the overall result, but something felt off—I knew I needed to be and sound authentic to really thrive, so when I made “IRREPLACEABLE” I aimed to be 100% genuine. No trend-following, commercial considerations, or outside inputs about what was “best for me,” my career, or my sound. I wanted raw truths and timeless music.

I wanted to do an album I was proud of in every regard. I grew up listening to artists that had total control over their work, and who wasn’t afraid to defy the odds. We’ve all been through the downfalls of love I talk about on “IRREPLACEABLE,” but most importantly I’m proud of it all as a body of work. People feel the words and the music because they’re free of false pretenses. “IRREPLACEABLE” is exactly the album I wanted to make since high school.

ML: What was the creative inspiration behind your music videos “Roll the Dice” and “Free Time”? Did you come up with the concepts?

My sister, who is a filmmaker, is the one who’s written and directed all my videos so far.

The idea behind “Free Time” was she wanted me to walk through iconic LA streets that featured notorious murals while reminiscing on the love I’d lost. She wanted it to feel as if I was wondering and walking with no apparent direction in search of answers—when she suddenly appears to put all I’m saying in the lyrics to the test.

IG: On “Roll the Dice” the idea was that I was friends with the model and I told her the story I tell in the lyrics about being in a failed relationship and being aware she had one too. Then, in the end, we come together to talk about our situations and fall in love because of that, which isn’t exactly how the song plays out, but people have to listen to it to hear the real story.

ML: Do you feel like R&B is your niche? Do you have plans to explore other genres with your next album?

IG: It’s definitely the genre I enjoy most and the niche I’ve been more embraced by fans. I’m totally me within’ R&B; however, I don’t feel my music has ever been constrained by genres. You hear multiple styles on “IRREPLACEABLE,” because I have multiple influences. Therefore, the new music I’m readying will feature a mixture of genres like 70’s Disco, Lounge & Soul. I truly have no fear of trying new things or of crossing over as many times as I need to, as long as that doesn’t compromise my essence. Because that’s what people have become attached to.

ML: A lot of your music was clearly written about people in your life. Do you feel like love and heartbreak are easy emotions to tap into? Is that where your inspiration comes from?

IG: They are most definitely where my inspiration comes from. However, I don’t know if they are easy emotions to tap into or if it’s just that I’ve grown accustomed to tapping into them to create and release them through song. Maybe it’s hard for people who aren’t used to diving into them, but I’m very introspective so it comes naturally for me.

ML: When you get an idea for a song, are you a pen and paper writer, or do you use an app on your phone?

IG: I’m definitely a phone person. I use my voice notes app to record melodies, harmonies, or lines yet my creative process is intricate.

My demos have to sound exactly like the final recording because my producer uses them as a reference for post-production and mix. I record everything twice in full. First during the demo stage and then during the final session.

What I do is I finish the demo and then play it back till I learn it by heart. I then go to the studio and lay it down with the flow and freedom only a song you know off pat has.

I don’t read off the paper during the final session—reading distracts you from feeling. You have to have everything encrypted in your mind so you can feel it in your heart, that’s what sets the greats aside from the average. They don’t focus on doing it right, they focus(ed) on expressing it naturally.

ML: How did you react when you got your first #1? Who was the first person you called?

IG: I literally jumped and did a celebration dance. I didn’t call anybody, because it was 4 AM. I remember posting the chart on Facebook so my fans were the first to know; I told my mom and dad first thing the next morning.

ML: In recent years the music industry has really been evolving, especially when it comes to musicians owning their own music. How important is it for you to have control over what you create?

IG: It is pivotal. In fact, I have a lot of reservations about releasing music I don’t own 100%.

I know master ownership is a make or break; thus, I only take on projects I don’t control when I’m really invested in them. Plus total control over your work guarantees the preservation of your quality standards. I don’t imagine a world in which someone tells me the kind of artist, musician, or songwriter I have to be to succeed. I know who I am and where I’m going; hence, I like to have the final word on everything that’s released in my name to get there. Again, that’s how the greats did and continue doing it. I think it’s the only way to create a legacy.

ML: Do you have any advice for aspiring performers? Is there anything you wish you had known when you first broke into the industry?

IG: I wish I’d known how long and how hard it would be to make it to those first relevant steps of the staircase. Therefore, my advice to them is: don’t waste time on wishful thinking, get to work. Listen only to the advice of people you respect. Don’t listen to people who tell you you need a backup plan. Stick to your artistic essence. Don’t try to be anybody but yourself. Everybody else is taken. There can only be one you so know yourself and your music well and take a leap.

ML: With COVID-19 turning everyone to social media, do you have any plans to do a live concert on your Instagram or special jam sessions?

IG: I did a jam session for fans in Australia with incredible performers from down under and the U.K.—I’m doing a second date on May 9th. I’m also planning a show on Instagram and another on Facebook in association with other performers. Plus I got word about the possibility of performing in support of gay homeless kids of America so I’m absolutely looking forward to that. Whatever I can do to help I’m open to doing.

ML: How have you been handling quarantine? Have you been working on new music?

IG: I’ve kept myself pretty busy. I’ve had a lot of interviews and meetings about different projects and collaborations. I’ve got over 6 collaborations pending or in the works and I’ve also been working on my new single which will be out the minute this is over.

I’ve been fortunate because a busy mind is a healthy mind and days have gone fast for me. There’s this one collaboration I was invited to do that’s got my mind blown and I think fans are really going to enjoy it—I don’t think they’ve heard me like this before.

ML: Are there any artists you would love to collaborate with?

IG: Yes, in the independent arena I’d love to work with Emma Gale. Her debut single is perfection. I’d love to sing a song of hers and this is a first for me. I usually sing my own material or offer to co-write, but when I heard her single I knew I had to keep my hands off of it and let her write it.

Mainstream-wise it’s got to be Tony Bennett, Ariana Grande, Mariah, or Will. i. am. I’d love to sing a standard with Tony and I’ve written songs I’d love to have Ari, MC, and Will on—they’re four different projects.

ML: Do you have any big dreams you’re trying to manifest into reality?

IG: Yes, I always do. I totally believe we are energy, and that we can hold in our hands whatever we see in our minds. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t like to discuss them, because I don’t want energy to dilute, as my mother puts it. I can tell you this: my heart is open for business and I’m ready to take the world by storm. I need these dreams to materialize so I can have a voice that can really make a change.

ML: You’re having dinner, who are the five people you’re inviting. They can be dead, alive, or fictional.

IG: Ariana Grande, Jack Nicholson, Charlie Chaplin, Judy Garland, and Bojack Horseman. I can totally imagine myself walking into the room holding hands with Ariana and Bojack third-wheeling while he gets angry at Charlie, we all agree with Jack and are mesmerized by his charm and Judy and Charlie tell amazing stories about the glamourous olden days when legends were active. God that would be out of control.

ML: What’s next?

IG: First and foremost, surviving the pandemic and helping others survive it too. Then my new single, my new video and hopefully press and concert tours. I can’t wait to meet my fans in person.

Follow Ian Guerin’s Career:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IanGuerinVEVO Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamianguerin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IamIanGuerin/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamIaNGuerin Website: http://ianguerinmusic.com/

Check out Your Money Geek’s Interview with Paul Guerra.

The post Exclusive: Ian Guerin Talks R&B and Dream Dinner Guests appeared first on Your Money Geek.

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theprettiestshit · 5 years

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Major Beauty Brand Collabs With A Witch For Newest Collection And We’re Totally Under It’s Spell

@bufferingbetty

Tú Me Hiciste Brujería

Some of us beauty lovers know that there is something magical about makeup and skincare. Another way to think about your beauty routine is to remember that these moments spent treating your skin and applying your makeup is a ritual. Smashbox cosmetics has teamed up with The Hoodwitch to create a crystal inspired collection.

This was the promo that stopped our hearts!

WHo is The HoodWitch?

Our long time readers will recognize the name right away. A few years ago, Pepper had the opportunity to interview Bri Luna, the woman behind The Hoodwitch.

Of course there is her body of work, thehoodwitch.com. Connect to yourself on a higher frequency with her intuitive guidance through reading her blogs. There are weekly horoscopes she features on a post called “Witch Tips and Horoscopes.”

You want to know about the power that comes from a New Moon or what the hell people mean when they say “Mercury is in retrograde,” this is a site that has the answers to all of those questions.

There is a shop that sells crystals and smudging tools. Definitely better than getting random crystals from companies like Urban Outfitters who are just chasing a buck verses genuinely nourishing your mystical knowledge and power. You can find a Bruja Bookshop as well!

Since so much discovery happens on Instagram, you’ve definitely seen The Hoodwitch’s iconic manicures that landed her a collab with Floss Gloss and a feature on Vogue.com. Even if you don’t run in zodiac or crystal loving circles, you would’ve come across her feed just for the sheer #nailinsp0 #nailenvy Bri Luna is always serving us.

But, of course!, so many people have learned of The Hoodwitch through her JAW - DROPPINGLY - GORGEOUS exhibit in Refinery 29’s 29 Rooms exhibit.

Our very own site creator got to experience it!

The real ones trust thehoodwitch.com for authentic bruja knowledge and tools.

What this collab is NOT:

A tacky bastardization of witchcraft and spirituality. We all remember the disrespectful disaster that The Pinrose Starter Witch Kit was. What is often forgotten when it comes to witchcraft is that for many of it’s followers, it is a religion. And Pinrose missed the memo. They saw a rise in the popularity of crystals and went after it with no regard, or basic research, before they launched this collection.

Because of the history of Pinrose, when I caught wind of the Smashbox collection, the first thing I thought I saw was ‘crystal themed sprays.’ I rolled my eyes and scrolled right past it. I thought, “Oh great, another bastardization of a minority culture that is mocked, misused, and then abused once some celebrity (Kim K) says they are suddenly just sooo into it.” I was ready to ignore it all together. I had just seen like 10 videos on IG of bloggers dunking rose quartz rollers into a jar of some expensive moisturizers and facetiously rubbing it on their faces. But then Pepper texted me a screen shot that showed it is being done with The Hoodwitch! Mood changed!!!

One, she is a practicing witch. Two, I am forever reading her blog. Three, I have purchased two of her sage bundles, one with sunflowers and the other with roses, and I genuinely believe in, and am intimidated by, there power. Finally: she is a woman of color! Yes, that always makes me swell with pride when I see all kinds of minority women getting a spotlight!

More than just my typical fangirling, which you know I always am, this collaboration is clearly well done. Of course, part of me believes that Smashbox is just cashing in on a trend. Colourpop has done crystal sprays, Kim K did a crystal fragrance, Sephora is selling crystal infused eyeshadow palettes, -I literally saw a sage bundle in a Cosmo Mag last summer and thought- this is going to get out of hand. It’s one thing to teach people about this culture and these rituals involving crystals and sage. It’s a whole other thing to steal from a culture. Without including people, like Bri Luna, who put in the work to educate others about their practices. It is irresponsible and offensive.

Bri Luna did an Instagram Live the day of the collection launch and talked about her collab. She was ready with a response to anyone who doubted her validity as a witch for working with a big company like Smashbox.

“…I feel like for all black and brown brujas - when you have that door of opportunity and when people who actually respect your work and they come to you and they hire you to do a proper collaboration, then that is up to you to say ‘you know what, this does feel like an opportunity to share my vision. …You have to know your truth and i think that you can properly collaborate and you can work with these bigger companies when know your integrity…. I was not willing to make a ‘witch kit.’ i was not going to put sage and crystals into a package. … I love crystals, i love minerals, i think that theyre beautiful but am i going to put an endangered plant into a package? No. that’s ridiculous to me. This is my real practice. this is my real life. I worked as a makeup artist for over 5 yrs. i love period makeup. i love history. i love alchemy, i love learning how minerals were used to create some of the first eyeshadows in egypt by using lapis lazuli, … These practices are not trendy. they are not new. This is ancient. these are ancient minerals. These are ancient stones that were created to make makeup. Makeup in itself was always seen as a form of sorcery and enchantment and magic. So I love glamour and that’s kind of why i felt as a Taurus, who is ruled by Venus, I felt very aligned with making a beauty collection. … I feel like everything I do in my life is intentional… So I think that even something as simple as doing makeup, you’re going in with an intention. Makeup allows us to be ourselves. and it allows us to create our own reality. … There is no right or wrong way to do your makeup. There is no right or wrong way to be spiritual… Do not allow yourself to be pinned down with labels. I feel good. I feel confident with what I’ve put into this world with what I’ve co created. I’m just so grateful.

Meet The Crystallized Collection

@Trendmood1 on instagram captured some stunning photos of these products and swatches.

Shopping this collection like:

Crystalized Always On Liquid Eyeshadow

The Hype: “long-wearing liquid eyeshadow that glides on brilliant, crystal-inspired shimmer & won't crease, flake or smudge” (source)

Need to know: 6 shades, $24 Avaiable at Ulta + smashbox.com Shop here →

How beautiful are the caps of these liquid eyeshadows!!

Makeup Mantra!

Our Skincare Editor, Kayla, did her own trendmood-esque unboxing of the goodies she picked up from this collection.

“Makeup Mantra: Spray & Say: “I am grounded”

On the lid of each box for this collection, there is a Makeup Mantra. Mantras help you focus your intentions. They can get your mind to focus on the task at hand or the overall goal. By collaborating with Bri Luna, Smashbox is able to bring these practices to people who otherwise might not have learned about it.

“Makeup Mantra: Spray & Say: “I am clear in my intentions”

Crystalized Highlighter

The Hype: “gel-powder highlighter that wraps your skin in radiance. Infused with crystals, its iridescent shade is inspired by spirit quartz.” (source)

Need to know: $39 Avaiable at Ulta + smashbox.com Shop here →

This is the crystal that inspired it all! Spirit Quartz

Kayla came through, again, with another gorgeous capture of the packaging! Don’t You love how the light plays with it!

Trendmood1 on IG gave us swatch envy. You can see there is a clear base with the peachy iridescent sheen. Reminds me a Colourpop’s retired Super Shock Cheek Highlighter in Highly Waisted. One of my favorite highlighters!

Photo Finish Crystalized Primerizer

The Hype: “2-in-1 shimmering primer & moisturizer that hydrates & locks on makeup in a super light texture. The rose quartz-inspired shimmer gives your skin a subtle pearl finish that can be worn with makeup or on bare skin” (source)

Need to know: $42 Available at Ulta + smashbox.com Shop here →

Crystal Inspo: Rose Quartz

Crystalized Photo Finish Primer Water

The Hype: “diamond-charged primer spray infused with fragrance inspired by rose quartz, amethyst & black tourmaline. Use it to hydrate skin, prep for makeup &a refresh your complexion & aura.” (source)

Need to know: $32, 3 scents Available at Ulta + smashbox.com Shop here →

Who doesn’t go overboard with their beauty sprays

Cover Shot Eyeshadow Palette: Crystalized

The Hype: “curated mix of 8 vividly pigmented, crystal-inspired shades with matte, metallic & foil finishes” (source)

Need to know: $29 Available at Ulta + smashbox.com Shop here →

Crystalized Gloss Angeles Lip Gloss

The Hype: “non-sticky, high-shine lip gloss that hydrates, makes lips look fuller & is infused with crystals to enhance your magic.” (source)

Need to know: $19, 3 shades Available at Ulta +smashbox.com Shop here →

Crystalized Shimmer Drops

The Hype: “moonstone-inspired iridescent liquid highlighter that can be used on the face or as a lip topper. It sets fast, stays in place & is infused with crystals to enhance your magic” (source)

Need to know: $25 Available at Ulta + smashbox.com Shop here →

Crystal Inspo: Moonstone

Share your looks and #getcrystalized! Everyone wants to see your beauty ritual!

Beauty Ritual Goals!

#the hoodwitch #hoodwitch #2019 #meetpepperb.com #smashbox #smashbox witch collection #why did smashbox work with a witch #@meetpepperb #@bufferingbetty #@thehoodwitch #crystals and beauty #beauty rituals #Danyelle Valentin

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