#i am straight up annoyed at your pessimism at this point

[demadogs]

david harbour really said “will is not interested in el he’s interested in someone else in the group” and then proceeded to bring up how will wants to spend the rest of his life with mike and some of yall are still like “trying not to keep my hopes up. this is probably just a gimmick to get people to watch 😔.”

#i saw someone actually say that verbatim #i am straight up annoyed at your pessimism at this point #mike could fucking kiss him and i feel like some of you will be like ‘i think hes actually gonna realize hes str8 and get back with el :(’ #stranger things #byler #1k

[lunarblazes]

i made a desertduo playlist and then decided to be a nerd and write explanations for all the songs! like a nerd!

playlist link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5ZGylutQpyTbgX7MY7Lrzz?si=t8_kBwBHSYG5kxTvZoIrTQ&dl_branch=1

QUICK DISCLAIMER: i am aware that a lot of these songs may have or imply romantic connotation! i would really really like it if these were not read as though those romantic connotations carry over to scar and grian. even if we’re just talking about the third life characters, i would prefer not to ship them or imply romance between them on this post. thank you so much and keep reading if you’d like to see the playlist analysis!

and now that that’s out of the way, PLAYLIST TIME!

•

passerine- the oh hellos

“you were the song that i’d always sing/you were the light that the fire would bring/but i can’t shake this feeling that i/was only pushing the spear into your side again”

this song really just... firstly, it’s one of my favorite songs, and the line i chose there pushes home the sort of terrified devotion i think the desert has. plus there’s a fun line about the cold wind blowing in from the north in the ending bits that i think very much fits their conflict with the red army, and a lot of legally obligated flight imagery that i need to have in every possible song because i’m a fuckin nerd.

•

no children- the mountain goats

“i hope that our few remaining friends/give up on trying to save us/i hope we come up with a failsafe plot to piss off the dumb few that forgave us”

i will admit that no children isn’t a perfect fit, but the general vibe of sort of defiant pessimism and betrayal fits very well with them! it’s very triumphant in its death, and i think that is very desertcore, because what’s more triumphantly dead than being the last duo left alive?

•

skulls- bastille

“when all of our friends are dead and just a memory/it’s always been just you and me/for all to see”

okay like this entire song is SO MUCH DESERT VIBES? LIKE SO MUCH. if i were to ever make an animatic for them i’d do it with this song. “a match is our only light, it’s day of the dead i’m indiana jones, yeah,” “i hope you can make me laugh six feet under when we’re bored of each other,” “i don’t want to rest in peace, i’d rather be the ghost that annoys you,” IT JUST KEEPS GOING. i think this song would work well with any third life duo, honestly, but these two in PARTICULAR just because of how it ended with them literally ‘buried’ next to each other, and again, the chaotic death vibes.

•

freaking out- mystery skulls

“i just keep out of my tongue/til all you want is done/and you just wanna leave me, oh yeah”

this song is a very third life grian song to me in particular! it could be my bias because of my little headcanon of grian burning on his red life, but seriously, this song is very reminiscent of the back and forth of loyalty that grian has with scar. the above line is sort of representative of the betrayal on red, and of course grian’s life debt.

•

night running- shin sakiura

(this song is in japanese! these lyrics are the rough english translation i found on google.) “someday we will stand at this place once again/for sure we will stand up again and again/we will watch it will the end/i want you to live freely”

this song is actually the ending theme for the anime bna, which i adore, and i just added it on a whim before looking at the translated lyrics. but um. holy hell the lyrics hurt me because they’re about running in search of someone, running for no reason, looking for something, and it just really hit, because the desert never really had a goal! they didn’t expect to survive, they were trying to survive, but what was their longterm goals? nothing. so that sort of endless search felt fitting for this. plus the song is a parallel for the two estranged best friends of the show so! perfect.

•

summer nights- siames

“it’s summertime/singing al green in your car/heading to a party/and the night air feels alive”

okay again, i will admit this song is mainly on here because i absolutely love it, but i also do think it fits well. it’s also about healing/estranged friendships, with a very distinct feeling of nostalgia for a happier time. maybe for a time when this was all a game, when there was no blood or betrayals on their hands. little canon divergent, but it’s fun for me, so into the playlist it goes!

allies or enemies- the crane wives

“are we allies or enemies/this will be the death of me, this will be the death of me/all’s fair in love and war but i can’t fight with you anymore”

. i just. points to that lyric. it literally led to both of their deaths. are they allies or enemies? it also fits with scar still wanting grian to be his friend even after he’s no longer indebted with the line “what happens now? do we have another go, do we bow out?” another very good animatic song that i’ve considered heavily. i listen to this playlist a lot

•

burn him down- kitsch club

“you must destroy, oh you must destroy, beyond all recognition/you gotta burn him down, you gotta burn him down, beyond all recognition”

this song just has a lot of fire and arson and high energy vibes. my little war criminals look at them go

•

rose- the oh hellos

“what's true is like a sickle/it'll cut you to the middle/your rose is without a thorn/but no, my mouth don't taste of metal/from the pot here to the kettle/i think we got a lot we gotta learn”

this one is like the exact opposite vibe of burn him down. the oh hellos are so poetic and this song just... feels like the healing potions after a battle. many of the metaphors here fit, i think

•

lone digger- caravan palace

“hey, brother, what you thinking/that good ol' sound is ringing/they don't know what they're missing/(they call it lonely diggin')”

okay this song is straight up just a dance song. i added it because i like it and also for some reason it feels ominous to me? i’ve got no idea why, it’s seriously just a club song, but it’s a banger and it’s in this playlist because i said so

•

feed the machine- poor man’s poison (suggested by my friend argonaughtkeene!)

“somethin’s goin” on, just look around/fear is on the rise, and there’s blood all over the ground/let’s all just blindfold the poor, we all know what’s in store/ we got ‘em now, just break ‘em down a little bit more”

this song is a VIBE for both desertduo members. there’s parts for both of them. it’s ruthless, gritty, very maniacal, perfect. listen to it and you’ll immediately understand why i added it.

•

sweet tooth- scott helman

“i hold hands with cosmic entities/i’ll take this two-ride if i please/i got this sweet tooth baby, yeah i got this sweet tooth baby/i exploit my opportunities/some broken hearts, some cavities”

sweet tooth is super upbeat and bright with these strangely dark lyrics? like i’m pretty sure it’s about addiction. in any case, i thought the “i hold hands with cosmic entities” very funnily fitting for both of the desert boys. it’s a banger!

•

necromancin’ dancin’- bear ghost

“when i’m necromancin’, everyone’s dancin’/nobody can stop me, i dare you to try/the dead are infused with insatiable groove and they’re coming for you, there’s nowhere to hide”

necromancin’ dancin’ just. bastard vibes. there’s not much more to say it’s just huge villain song vibes. i adore it.

•

crazy = genius- panic! at the disco

“if crazy equals genius/then i’m a fucking arsonist/i’m a rocket scientist/if crazy equals genius/you can set yourself on fire/but you’re never gonna burn, burn, burn”

i. yeah. y. yeah. more bastard vibes. also shoutout to an artist i saw (i think it was strifesolution?) who made a desertduo piece to this song because i have not stopped thinking about it ever

•

sweet bod- lemon demon

“i’m diggin’ up your coffin/and pouring out the contents/your sexy, sweet solution/is ripe for distribution”

you know how i said freaking out was a grian song? this one is a scar song. it’s my favorite lemon demon song and also it has the total macabre capitalism vibe that third life scar NAILED. more bastard vibes good for him <3

•

drunk- the living tombstone

“feel so much better than usual/i feel indisputable, oh/but now i’m feeling so beautiful/don’t wake me up from this spell i’m under, if i’m still breathing/i know that i will be ugly when i feel like myself again, oh/but right now i’m feelin’ so beautiful”

the descent of this song, starting off with a polite gathering and ending with a gasping drunk in the parking lot gazing at the stars that he can barely see? yes. yeah. mhm. i used a line from this song for a fic, actually, it fit so well.

•

oh no!- marina

“one track mind, one track heart/if i fail, i’ll fall apart/maybe it is all a test/cos i feel like i’m the worst so i always act like i’m the best”

bubbly pop track about false confidence, the ruthlessness of the pop industry, and the influence of the media? you know why this is here. it vibes. it rocks.

•

do it all the time- i don’t know how but they found me

“we’re taking over the world/a little victimless crime/and when i’m taking your innocence/i’ll be corrupting your mind/no need to cry i’m only doing everything i want to do because i do it all the time”

EVEN MORE BASTARD VIBES! SOMEHOW THERE IS MORE! this playlist is half villain songs and half heart-wrenching ballads and that’s the real desert experience i think.

•

the phoenix- fall out boy

“i’m gonna change you/like a remix/then i’ll raise you/like the phoenix”

BATTLE SONG BATTLE SONG! i’ll be honest i partially chose this song because i am a huge sucker for phoenix grian imagery in particular, but it’s also just a very good war song for them. villain song no 18372948 except this one originally had a hero vibe and now it’s changed specifically for them?? wild. their power

•

the other side- the greatest showman

“right here, right now/i’ll put the offer out/i don’t wanna chase you down, i know you see it/you run with me/and i can cut you free/out of the treachery/and all you keep in”

scar and grian’s desert monopoly conversation went exactly like this canonically because i said so fuck you <3

•

icicles- the scary jokes (suggested by my friend demizorua!)

“icicles don’t soften when they die/so why should i, why should i?/oh, icicles don’t soften when they die/they sharpen into sabers and they stab you in the eye”

this song actually has specific parts for both grian and scar! my cool epic friend mx demizorua pointed both of them out to me and i adored it so much. it’s a very spiteful song, just like the desert boys. also it feels vaguely murderous. perfect

•

problems- mother mother (suggested by my friend demizorua!)

“i’m a loser, a disgrace/you’re a beauty, a luminary, in my face”

literally this entire song fits them. particularly their relationship with the flower husbands, to me, honestly— the whole “when we meet at the pearly gates/you’ll get the green light/and i’ll get the boot in the face” reminds me a lot of them hdksjdks

•

tongues and teeth- the crane wives

“i know that you mean so well/but i am not a vessel for your good intent/i will only break your pretty things/i will only wring you dry of everything”

h. yeah. this song is literally gaslight gatekeep girlboss and i attribute it to the desert for that reason alone. songs to commit murder to!

•

you’re nobody til somebody wants you dead- saint motel

“you’re nobody til somebody wants you dead/and the list, it grows, and grows, and grows/it grows, and grows, and grows/and grows, and grows, and grows/until it’s everyone you’ve ever known”

this one is very self-explanatory. enemies pogchamp

•

curses- the crane wives

“there’s a fire in my brain and i’m burning, love/oh my, oh my/keep running to the sink, but the well is dry/oh my, oh my/every word i say is kindling/but the smoke clears when you’re around”

okay again! this one has two very specific parts for both of them. grian’s the first verse, which is above, and scar’s the second verse!! i really do like my fire imagery for these two don’t i? well, i blame them for having a fuck ton of tnt on them at all times and literally burning their enemy’s banners as a final act of defiance.

#3rdlife #grian #goodtimeswithscar #3rd life smp #3rd life smp playlist #third life smp #desertduo #simply think that they <3 #Spotify

[imomomi]

       AN: I imagine it goes a little something like this....

         The moment Kiyoomi agreed to meet Suguru for drinks he had regretted it. The ex-Nohebi captain had a talent for getting him to drink far more than he expected. Every time they hung out, Kiyoomi would end up stumbling home, pink cheeked and slurring his words.

          A beer bottle was pushed in front of him as Suguru flipped the sizzling pork-belly. Kiyoomi lowered the mask, thankful that they were situated in a corner booth and far from the students loitering in the middle of the restaurant. The slightly bitter aftertaste rushed in his mouth, chased down by a piece of pork belly so crisp it was almost burnt.

          As much as he grumbled about Y/N’s band of misfit cheats, he didn’t mind having a break from the fame that surrounded his life as a pro-player. Suguru was never hesitant to poke fun of him or cut him down for a bad game.

          “How’s the new team?” asked Suguru, in between bite of food.

          “Atsumu is as much of a pig as he was in high school and Bokuto is just as loud as ever,” answered Kiyoomi. A dark look crossed Suguru’s face at the mention of Fukurōdani’s former ace forcing a laugh out of Kiyoomi.

          “You shouldn’t have cheated. You might have gone to Nationals, if you hadn’t. Though, from the way Nohebi played, you wouldn’t have made it very far,” said Kiyoomi.

          “Shut up. It’s not like we had a top ace on our team.”

          “Which is why you should have practiced more.”

          “Yeah, let’s end this right there. Hearing this from a V-1 player is just depressing.”

          “I beat you in college, too.”

          “You’re an arrogant bastard,” Suguru muttered.

          “If you put enough effort and practice regularly and with care, anyone can be good. It’s not so much arrogance as an acknowl-“

          “Okay, you need another beer and more food,” Suguru said, cutting him off. He waved down a waitress, ordering far more stuff than either of them would eat. There was an unspoken rule that Kiyoomi would pay. It was payback for the money that Y/N regularly forced Suguru to cough up as compensation for being mean to her.

          “I wonder what would have happened if you guys met during our last qualifiers,” Suguru mused. Kiyoomi tilted his head in confusion.

          “What?” he asked.

          “Your second year. We were your opponents during the Spring Qualifiers.”

          “I remember. We won in straight sets.”

          “Did you really need to mention that?” Suguru grimaced, inhaling a mouthful of beer, “Y/N was injured, so we played without our manager. But, I’m pretty sure we dodged a bullet not having her there. The first time we lost, she spent an hour making fun of us afterward.”

          “How did she get injured? Where? How bad was the injury?” Kiyoomi asked in a rush. Had he been paying more attention; he would have noticed the gleam that entered Suguru’s eye.

          “It got hot in the gym and they were renovating the central air, so the floor was slick with sweat. You know how Y/N is, she didn’t bother looking and slipped. Broke her collarbone and was yelling at us about it for a month,” Suguru said. He grinned at the memory. Though there’d been some worrying and tears when it initially happened, the scowl that Y/N wore for weeks after the accident had been an endless source of amusement for everyone on the team.

          “Open or closed fracture?” said Kiyoomi sharply. Suguru raised a brow, finger tracing the rim of his bottle.

          “Don’t remember to be honest. Just ask her later.”

          “What are you doing?” asked Y/N. Her feet were propped on the couch, hands steadily applying a thin layer of pink nail polish to her toes. Kiyoomi’s fingers hooked around the collar of her shirt, pulling it down slightly so he could see the sharp edge of her collar bones. Y/N inched backwards, looking at him with wide eyes.

          “Ummm, can you wait until after I finish my nails?”

          “I never noticed this scar,” he murmured, eyes glued to the silvery line that cut across the bone. Her brows drew together, teeth scraping her lip, as she considered her answer. Kiyoomi fixated on things at random times, like different players or an illness he’d heard about on the news. Unlike his cleaning habit---something she was endlessly thankful for after years of being told she’d make a bad housewife---his pessimism was endlessly amusing to her. In college, she’d often lied awake by his side as he hunted down videos of opposing teams and found out everything he could about their players.

          “It’s almost gone, I’d be surprised if you did,” said Y/N, at last. Kiyoomi leaned back, towering over her with a scowl on his face. His brow wrinkled and she fought the urge to smooth it out.

          “How often did you get injured before we met? Were you a clumsy child?”

          “Not particularly, but I had trouble sitting still.”

          “I thought so,” muttered Kiyoomi. He turned sharply, disappearing down the hall. Y/N watched his back in bewilderment, before turning back to her nails. Whatever it was, he’d tell her later.

          She put up with it for three days. Three days of Kiyoomi spotlessly cleaning and drying the floors whenever he was home. Of him ensuring that her shoes are double knotted and tight enough to suffocate her feet whenever she left the house. Of him hovering over her whenever she gets up in the apartment. Once, he’d explicitly told her not to move from the bed when she wanted water and had rushed to kitchen to get it for her. Half of her wanted to laugh, the other half was ready to kill him.

          “What happened and why am I being baby-proofed?” asked Y/N, folding her arms over her chest.

          “Nothing,” mumbled Kiyoomi. His lips pursed, forming a pout as Y/N leaned over the table and took his hand into hers.

          “I’m not stupid, Yoomi. Something’s wrong. What did Suguru tell you?”

          “You broke your collarbone,” he said. Y/N fell back into her seat in surprise, before she started to laugh loudly. Kiyoomi’s lips twitched reluctantly, the sound fanning the embers of affection that thrummed through his body.

          “You didn’t even know who I was back then and even if we did, you went to a different school?” Y/N said.  

          “All the more reason, we should be cautious now and prevent any injuries.”

          “I don’t play sports. An injury isn’t going to end my career,” said Y/N.

          “That shouldn’t prevent you from taking proper care of your health.”

          “When have I ever been sick?” she asked in exasperation, “Only once in the five years we’ve known each other. If I get injured, I’ll get better. Worry about me dying when we’re old, okay?”

          He nodded and turned the conversation toward Hinata’s latest attempt to push his debut up. Y/N let him, but her mind lingered on his concerns. Kiyoomi might not have been the most affection person in the world, but he cared far more than people realized. He did everything with care as if it would break in his hands if he handled it too roughly.

          Later that night, they’re resting in bed. Kiyoomi was warm and bright beside her, lips tracing the scar at her collarbone. Teeth nipping at the skin.

“I hope I die before you,” he whispered.

“Don’t say stuff like that,” Y/N said sharply.

“Hmm,” he rose up on his elbow, and rested his head in the palm of his hands. His fingers traced an invisible pattern on her ribcage. “It’s true. It’d be easier not to worry, if I’m dead.”

“You’re so annoying. If you’re lucky, I’ll kill you in your sleep,” she promised

“Wait a couple years, will you? I’d like to make it to the Olympics first.”

Y/N let out a breathy laugh, shaking her head at his absurdity. She wondered briefly what he’s be like if they decided to have children. Overprotective to a fault, but unfailingly awkward when it came to voicing his affection. Blunt as baseball bat when it came to pointing out someone’s mistakes. She rested her hand over his squeezing all her fondness of him into the touch.

#Sakusa x reader #Sakusa reader #sakusa kiyoomi #haikyuu x reader #haikyuu #Sakusa kiyoomi x reader

[torn--and--frayed]

The Recall

josh, donna, an unnamed and totally fictitious governor, and the california recall

Donna is dozing lightly on the chaise in her office when the sound of the office door opening and closing causes her to stir. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” she groans, trying to shake off the last of her sleep induced haze.

“Do I need a reason?” Josh smirks as he gazes down at her.

Donna hums and grabs his wrist to check the time. “Are you guys getting ready to head out?”

“Yeah, any minute now.” Josh sighs, dropping his backpack unceremoniously on the ground, and collapsing rather forcefully onto the couch next to her. “Just waiting for the agents to page me.”

Donna bites back the urge to remind him—again—that he needs to sit more carefully. You’re going to ruin the springs, Josh! This is just how I sit, Donna!  “And you thought you would come see me before you left?” She smiles as she props herself onto her elbows.

Josh lets his entire head roll as he turns to look at her. “Well not if you’re going to make a big deal about it. What are you up to?”

“What do you mean?” Donna gestures down at her still prone position on the couch. “I’m working.”

“Clearly.”

“Growing human life is hard work, Josh.”

“Yes,” he nods dumbly, “and you’re doing amazing at it. I shouldn’t have cast doubt.”

“Good boy.” Donna reaches out, her hand grasping out for his. Once he’s pulled her upright and she’s re-situated herself with a pillow, now—mercifully—taking the pressure off her lower back, she continues, “So, California?”

Josh is looking at her as if she were made of thinly blown glass, ready to shatter with the slightest movement. Normally, it would annoy her—I’m pregnant Josh. It’s hardly a terminal condition—but her illicit afternoon nap has her feeling slightly more magnanimous. Besides, he seems to shake himself from his trance after a moment. “That’s the plan,” he sighs, letting all the air out of his chest.

“You should be more excited. It’s seventy-two and sunny where you’re going. The rest of us are stuck in this humid swamp.”

“For your information,” he rolls his eyes, “it’s more like ninety-two, and it would be sunny if the entire place wasn’t suffocating in smoke.”

“Details. Details. It’s still Cal-i-for-nia.” She says, sounding out each syllable as if he were missing something obvious.

“California is fine, I mean I don’t understand what the big deal is really—Sam and C.J. act like its—I don’t know—”

“Disneyland?”

“Funny.” Although he’s looking at her like it’s anything but. Finally, he gives a frustrated yell and lets his head fall into his hands. “I just hate that we’re going out there for him. I almost would rather have Vinick as Governor.”

“Don’t you let Politico hear you say that.” Donna tuts. “He’s one of the few blue governors we’ve got, we should be thankful.”

“Are we going out there to fend off this stupid recall or not?” He bites impatiently. They’re on the precipice of passing landmark—not to mention bipartisan—legislation and all the Washington press wants to talk about is if the President plans on flying in to support the embattled governor. Josh has half the mind to let the man fend for himself. What kind of so-called democrat can’t hold on to California of all places? Although, they’ve had a republican Governor of California before and—Josh shudders at the thought. “I just can’t wait until this entire thing is over and we can go back to criticizing him again.”

“Well, the election is in two days,” Donna says lightly, “and the last polling I saw was very favorable. I’ll bet the talking heads will have seen enough in less ninety minutes and call it. Then you can have a field day.”

“And it’ll take about ninety-one minutes for those idiots on Fox to start crying fraud.” Josh whines.

It’s Donna’s turn to roll her eyes. They’ve been having the same conversation for two weeks and she’s, frankly, tired of his pessimism. “I’m sure, but it’ll be hard to dispute 75-25,” she sighs. Josh looks like he’s ready to argue, but she continues, eager to forestall another one of his rants, “Speaking of Fox, you know who he used to be married to?”

Her rapid change of subject seemingly short-circuits his brain and the argument he was gearing up to dies on his tongue. “No, why would I know that?”

“Kimberly Guil—.” Donna waives her hand absentmindedly rather than completing the thought.

“That bobble-head? The one that’s dating—”

“The very same.”

Josh cringes. “If I didn’t question the guy’s judgement already.”

“Well, and you know how he met his current wife?”

“Have you been reading, like, Page Six all day or something?”

“Everyone knows these things, Josh.” Donna says dismissively, “It was hot gossip.”

They sit in silence for a moment. Donna knowing, no doubt, that curiosity would get the better of him eventually. “Fine, I’ll bite. How did he meet her?”

Donna smiles like a cat that’s caught the canary. “She was married to his best friend. They’re cheaters.”

Josh cringes again, the new information seeming to make him physically ill given the look on his face. “Why are you telling me all this? I’m supposed to meet them with the President tomorrow. How am I going to look the man in the eye?”

“I’m just warning you,” Donna defends, “You know, in case you fall victim to his charms.”

“I think I’m immune.”

“You never know, he’s very handsome.”

Josh scowls at her, “You just finished telling me all his sordid life details, and now you’re going to call him handsome?”

“In a Jack Kennedy, philandering sort of way,” she smiles. When his face doesn’t change, she tries again. “I’m only joking. Hey,” she says, grabbing his head between her hands and kissing him chastely, “I promise you; you are better than the Governor of California.”

“Damn straight.” Josh smiles and takes the opportunity to tilt her chin up and kiss her again. This one less chaste than the one before.  

His hands are tangled in her hair, and he’s just about to slip his tongue into her mouth when his beeper blares, interrupting their moment. He curses under his breath but doesn’t move his forehead from where it’s pressed against hers. “That’ll be the agents, I’ve got to go. You’ll call me if you need anything?”

“Josh, we’ll be fine.”

He pulls back. “I’m serious, I’ll charter a plane if I have to.”

“It’s two days,” Donna tries again, but seeing he’s not to be deterred, she relents, “Yes, I’ll call you.”

“Thank you.” Satisfied, Josh stands and collects his bag, swinging it boyishly over his shoulder and pointing at her while he walks backwards out of her office, “I’ll see you two on Monday.”

“You better not come back here with slicked back hair and a new wife!” She calls.

“Hey, it’s the California trip!”

#my new fic #my new fic is dropping #is dropping #tww fic #josh x donna #josh lyman #donna moss #tww #the west wing #fanfic

[2ynjns]

cat in a trap || lee minho

day 3 of 31 days of christmas

pairings: lee know x reader

genre: fluff

warning: just soonie, doongie and dori and profanity.

you angrily stomped on across the hallway walking towards your apartment door since you had a bad day at school. you had an argument with your project partner, han jisung, because he was slacking and you caught him chatting with his friends instead of revising your project together, which is due tonight at 12 am.

you scratched your head and unlocked your door and was mentally ready to spend at all-nighter for the project, you also planned on excluding jisung’s name from your project when you turn it in.

“gosh, university is so fucking complicated.” you muttered to yourself and opened the door wide open.

you threw your backpack across the living room and threw your shoes to the side, and doing the same with your coat. without looking, you kicked the door close behind you and unlocking it while you put on your house slippers.

you walked straight to your kitchen to make yourself a cup of coffee at 6 pm, preparing your physical body, to stay up and murmuring positivity to yourself to emotionally and mentally prepare your brain.

letting out a deep sigh, you closed your fist and hit the counter. “GODDAMN YOU HAN FUCKING JISUNG.” you screamed on top of your lungs. you took out your phone and opened your messages.

fuck you, you typed and pressed send. sending the message to jisung.

after making the perfect coffee for yourself, you sat on your dining chair and reached for your laptop. opening 3 tabs for your research project.

you admired your christmas tree that you put up by yourself in your living room before starting on your project to suck in positive christmas energy before your pessimism kicks in again. “good luck to me.” you said and paid your full attention to your laptop.

about an hour in, you felt your tiredness kicking in. you’re having the urge to take a quick nap but you knew that if you do, you’re not gonna have enough time to finish your project on time.

after 10 minutes of fighting with yourself, you decided to take a quick nap. “just a short 15 minute quick power nap.” you convinced yourself, thinking that you need energy to work on your project anyway.

you closed your eyes and buried your face on the table. you were about to doze off when you heard scratching in your living room. you immediately looked up with confusion. you looked around and started questioning yourself if there’s a ghost living with you.

“what kind of christmas ghost is this now?” you whispered to yourself, but you ignored the sound and went back to your dream land.

the scratching continued for about 3 more minutes and that is when you’ve had enough. you stood up from your chair and scratched your head. “i swear to god if there’s a ghost here i’m gonna sue-- whO THE HELL??”

you saw cream and white colored cat playing with your already fallen christmas balls on the floor. your jaw dropped wide open, so did your eyes.

“uhm-- wait, aren’t you minho’s cat?” you asked the cat. “meow.” it answered.

“okay ming ming, you need to go home to your own apartment. i’m not gonna rage that you messed up my decor but you needa get out.” you pointed at the door and walked towards it. you opened the door widely and looked back at the cat, who is now staring at you, laying on the floor with the all in its’ paw.

“meow.”

you chuckled annoyed and glared at it. “are you gonna leave or what?” you said.

you and the cat played a staring game for a minute before answering you, “meow.”

you hissed at it as you put your arms on your waist. “okay ming ming, im not playing around anymore. i’m calling your owner.”

your left the door open and walked towards the apartment door right across you. you stomped angrily, again, and a series of thud startled minho on the other side of the door.

“hoLD ON I’M LOOKING FOR MY THIRD CAT YOU CAN WAIT!” he screamed. you frowned and knocked louder.

“WELL I HAVE YOUR CAT DUMBASS!” you screamed back, and with no time the door sprung wide open.

“doonGIE! WHERE’S MY DOONGIE?!?!” he screamed at your face, you squinted and scanned his face and the apartment behind him. 

oh god he has two more cats.... and jisung??? you said to yourself, making a more obvious, deeper disgusted face. 

you pointed at jisung, who is behind minho holding the brown cat, “do your shit or else i’m not putting your name on the paper.” you said and jisung’s eyes spread wide open, dropping the cat and garbbing his laptop.

facing minho you sarcastically smiled and pointed at your wide-opened door behind you, showing his cat chilling in your living room with more balls around it.

“collect your cat because this is not a cat-pount, and plus he messed up my christmas decors. teach your cats to listen to people.” you rolled your eyes and walked to your door.

minho ran to enter your apartment and carried his cat. “doongie! why did you go to a stranger’s place? you shouldn’t you that! you made appa scared.” he cooed at the cat, making you cringe.

he finally faced you and bowed. “sorry about that, uhm, i can help you fix the decors my cat messed with... and about jisung, i already lectured him, he’s gonna do your project...” he bowed again.

you just gave him a sigh and smiled, you tapped his shoulders and smiled, teasingly.

“teach your cat, and your wanna be cat. and thanks but i can fix my own decor.” you said as you were about to close the door behind you, but he was quick to hold the door open.

“how bout uhh... coffee tomorrow morning? as an apology?” he offered. you smiled awkwardly.

“i’m having three cups of coffee tonight. maybe next time.” you said and held the knob.

“or lunch! tomorrow? or dinner? i just want to treat you out, been meaning to ask you, out, y’know. without the cats of course.” you stared at him with awe.

i mean, he is cute, minus the cat. i guess i’ll take it.

“you’re really not letting yourself lose, huh.” you smirked. “fine, dinner tomorrow. im probably not gonna be awake by 3 pm tomorrow anyway. see ya. and NO CATS!” you giggled and closed the door behind you.

maybe, having your neighbor’s cat paying you a visit and messing your christmas decor wasn’t so bad.

#lee know's christmas #christmas series 2020 #stray kids imagine #stray kids #skz #stray kids imagines #stray kids fluff #stray kids drabbles #stray kids drabble #stray kids scenarios #stray kids scenario #skz imagines #skz fluff #skz drabble #lee know #minho #minho imagines #minho fluff #lee know imagines #lee know fluff #31 Days of Christmas with Berry

[365daysofmikayuu]

June 17th, 2018

Title: Sugar

Author: hyakuen-gel

“Stop!”  I unsheathed my rapier.  “Who goes there!?” 

A boy who could have been around my age blinked owlishly at me, before a patient smile curled upon his youthful face.  Fashioning a marvelous black-brimmed hat and a woven cape of black licorice, the mysterious stranger set his walking cane sturdily in front of him.  His red eyes settled on me but without challenge.  “Why, tis only I, dear Sir.”

I rose my weapon higher to convey my sincerity.

The corner of his mouth crackled up into a grin.  “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Shuffling up the bank, I vigilantly paced towards the cloaked figure, eyes never leaving his bold, concealed stance.  Once on the same plane, I held my rapier low but at an upwards angle, my stance still assuming and hesitant.  Tilting my head I inquired, “Who are you?”

An eyebrow lifted at me.  “Might I ask you the same thing—?”

“I am the Peppermint Prince Mikaela, your sovereign and crown prince.”

All of a sudden, he whipped his cape grandly towards his side, the fabric fluttering and partially turning inside out to reveal a blood red lining.  Instantly caught off guard I readied to strike at the surprise attack, but he astounded me by elegantly descending into a gracious kneel.

“Ceaselessly infinite apologies, Your Royal Highness,” he chimed with a revered bend of his head.  “Please forgive my ignorance; I meant no grave disrespect.”  Feeling more surety from the sight of subservience, I took several steps back and sheathed my sword.  Meanwhile, he fumbled behind him, supposedly in a pocket or two, until finally producing a rolled up parchment tied with beautiful red and black licorice cords.  He held the scroll out and stated calmly, “I am en route to the Lollipop Castle; I have been summoned to appear in Her Majesty’s court there.”

I fiddled with the nice ribbon and opened the paper for inspection.  “Duke of Licorice Land, Yuuichirou.  Her Majesty Princess Lolly requests His Grace to serve as chancellor of Her Majesty’s court, presiding over trial number 784: Grandma Nutt v. Peanut Brittle Real Estate.”  Pursing my lips, I concluded, “Sounds pretty serious.  Rise.”

He pushed himself back up, adjusting his flung-over cape into a permanent position over his shoulder to create a visually appealing splash of color to a rather monochrome outfit.  Grasping his cane once more to situate himself, he smiled patiently as I rolled up the parchment, tied the ribbon back on as best I could, and handed it back to him.

“May I be so rude as to inquire what His Royal Highness is doing all alone out here on the Gumdrop Pass?  I see no escorts about you.”

The confirmation of his position and title put me more at ease, so as such I strolled back to my original position down the bank to where green, yellow, red, orange, pink, and blue gumdrops lined the pass’ steep edge. Sighing a chilled puff of air, I pushed my hair out of my eyes and explained myself.  “I’m currently running away from home.”

“Oh?”

I was about to sit down, except the duke coolly yet frantically unfastened his cape to lay out for me.  Its fiery red contrasted harshly with the spring green gummy grass, but I plopped down onto it nevertheless.

Realizing he was still standing respectfully and at alert, I rolled my eyes, scooted over to make room for him, and patted the fabric beside me.

“Sit.”

Cordially, he did as he was told.

I busied to separate my sword from my belt as I continued illustrating.  “Well, I’m not really running away.  I think.  I just needed to take a breather.  My mother’s latest obsession in finding me a suitor is both vexing and tolling.”

He chuckled politely at the complaint.  “Ah, suitors, hm?”

Setting my sword aside, I tossed myself back onto the cape and reveled in how sparkly the sky was today.  My arms bent behind my head to prop it up some, and I sighed loudly again. “They’re all so annoying, really. And what’s so dreadfully wrong living the life of a bachelor?  I can have anything and anyone I want—I’ll pick someone whenever I damn well please. Nothing is gained by wasting time courting people I never liked in the first place.”

“What?  You don’t like the fawning over or the throes of affection?”  He stretched his legs to cross them and casually lean back on his arms. “I think it’s admirable.”

“I take it you’re a fellow bachelor.”

“I am—and happily so.  Imagine: limiting yourself to one when there’s plenty to go around.”

We both heartily laughed at the sentiment.

“But alas, we’re stuck with duties and running obligations,” I hummed, the tone dampening a bit through my somber mood.  “Our choices are irrelevant if at all material.”

The duke guffawed at my pessimism and it instantly made me feel embarrassed for it.  “Oh come on: that’s no fun!  You ought to know more than anyone that your happiness should always come first!”

Suddenly, he bounced up onto his feet, brushed himself off several times, then extended his hand out to me.  I tilted my head at the gesture curiously.

“Here—let’s go hang out at my place.  You know: to get your mind off stuff.”

“What about your subpoena?” I checked.

“What about your awaiting suitors?”

My eyelids fell to flash a testy expression, and he got impatient and went straight ahead to grab my hand and hoist me up himself. Out of nowhere, with a tender yip he yanked his hand back dramatically.

Understanding the typical response, I wiggled my fingers on both hands playfully.  “Sorry, cold hands.  Peppermints and all, you know?”

“Yeah yeah I get it,” he matched my grin.  Professionally he reached for his cape and shook it out some before slinging it back on.  “Though, you should be more careful next time: this pass isn’t exactly the safest place for a prince.”

Retrieving my sword to re-attach it to my side, I dismissed the caution easily.  “I can handle myself.”

As I fiddled with it, he made it a point to lightly smack my sword with his cane and our smirks fed off each other’s again.

“Is that so.  Care to take me up on that offer?  I’ve got a dueling arena at my house.”

I bit my tongue sneakily as we began our ascent up the bank. “You’re on.”

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#365daysofmikaandyuu #mikayuu #yuumika #yuumikayuu #drabble

[eldritchsurveys]

151.

What would you do, if you encountered a Dalek? >> I have no idea. I haven’t watched nearly enough Doctor Who to know the proper thing to do in case of Dalek.

Do you enjoy good food or do you prefer to constantly watch what you eat? >> I definitely choose my food based on taste and enjoyment as well as nutritional value; it’s basically a good thing that I gravitate towards more nutritionally robust food naturally, because otherwise I’d probably be in the same boat as a lot of people (letting nutrition fall by the wayside in pursuit of That Good-Food Feel). It’s an understandable boat to be in and I don’t begrudge people their junkfood/fast-food habits at all.

Is there any snow where you live? And where do you live, exactly? >> Not right now, thank god.

Are you excited that spring is on its way? >> It isn’t.

Is there a website you frequent the most? >> I guess this one.

What would you most likely do, if your computer suddenly froze? >> If it BSODs, then I just let it do its thing (it restarts itself in that case). If it just freezes in place, then I wait a minute and if nothing happens (and I can’t get a response from Ctrl-Alt-Del or anything else), force a restart with the power button.

Which OS (operating system) are you using? >> Windows 10.

Have you ever seen the inside of a computer? If yes, can you name any of the components? >> Yeah, because I open it up to clean the fan out every so often. I can point out a few of the components, but not all of them.

What is your favourite gaming console/system? >> I prefer PC gaming.

If you only had one week to live, what would you do? >> I don’t know. I can’t imagine that situation.

Do you know what IRC is? >> Vaguely.

If you were stranded on an island, what one object would you want with you? >> I mean... I’m just gonna say a ship. I know that also comes with complications (no crew, etc), but I’m not really in the mood to be serious about it.

How often do you listen to music? >> Pretty often.

If you could get a new phone right now, would you/which kind? >> I’d really rather not.

Have you ever cut your own hair? >> I cut my own hair regularly.

Could you live without a TV? >> Sure.

Back to the very first question, do you even know what a Dalek is? >> More or less.

Is there someone special in your life? >> There are several.

Do you want to get married one day? >> It’s in the plan, either way.

Is anyone close to you pregnant right now? >> No.

Do you want children? If yes, how many and why? If not, why not? >> One would be fine, I suppose.

If you could spend the rest of your life with someone, who would it be? >> Sparrow.

What is the most important thing in your life? >> I don’t know, I haven’t really thought about it like that.

What would be your dream job? >> None.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grow up? Do you still want to be that? >> I had some vague ideas, but nothing serious.

What is your biggest dream? >> I don’t have one.

What are some of the things on your Bucket List? >> I don’t keep a bucket list.

Do you have any pets? If yes, what? If not, why not? >> No. Sparrow has a cat and that’s quite enough, tbh.

If you could go anywhere in the whole world, where would you like to go? >> Anywhere, I suppose. I’m not picky.

What has been the worst thing that's happened to you? >> I don’t know.

If you had the chance, would you start your life entirely over? >> No. That concept gives me the hives.

What is your view on abortion? >> I support legalised abortion.

What about birth control? >> I support free/affordable birth control.

Over-population? >> I am not knowledgeable enough about ecology and biodiversity and related disciplines to know exactly how dire human overpopulation is.

Racism? >> I think it’s absurd and I am quite tired of dealing with it.

Homophobia? >> Ditto.

Bullying? Have you ever been bullied yourself or have you bullied someone? >> I was bullied as a child. I think it will continue to be a problem until adults start taking it seriously (and focus more on teaching compassion and consequences for anti-social behaviour rather than teaching bullied children that “bullying just happens and you should just ignore it”).

What do you think of people, who choose NOT to have children? >> I think that’s great, and they should have their choice respected.

Do you think euthanasia (assisted suicide) is acceptable? If not, why not? >> I do think it’s acceptable.

What about suicide? If not, why not? >> I think that’s ultimately acceptable too, as a fact of existence -- obviously that’s a loaded answer, and I’m not at all suggesting people just kill themselves, but I don’t think it helps anyone (including suicidal people) to stigmatise it. If someone’s pain is so great that they can’t imagine living with it, then that’s something that deserves attention -- if their pain is unable to be mitigated, then what do you suggest they do, keep living with it for the sake of other people? It’s just... such a complicated issue.

Do you know anyone with a severe mental illness? >> Yes.

What is your view on teenage pregnancy? >> I don’t have an opinion. It happens, and the teens in question should be supported in their time of need instead of kicked out of their homes and burdened with guilt and shame.

What about sex before marriage? >> Fine with me.

In your opinion, what is the ideal age to start having sex? >> I don’t have an opinion on this.

What about the ideal age to start drinking? >> Or this.

What do you think of smoking? >> I don’t really think about it. It’s just another thing we humans do.

What about people, who listen to their mp3-players in public? >> Most people use headphones, so it’s fine.

Are you afraid of global warming? If yes, why? If not, why not? >> I’m not afraid of climate change, because it’s difficult for me to conceptualise in the long-term. But I understand the anxiety.

Do you believe the world will end in 2012? Why/why not? >> Hah!

Aren't surveys, that ask favourites, this'n'that etc. questions, annoying? >> No.

Aren't you just as tired as me writing all your basic info in surveys? >> No.

What's the most important factor for you when choosing a survey to take? >> Whether I’ve taken it in recent memory.

Have you ever made a fool of yourself in front of someone you like? If yes, what did you do? >> I mean, maybe at some point, but I sure don’t remember it now. As it goes.

Don't you think that sunglasses they sell today look ridiculous? >> No.

What is something that annoys you very, very much? >> The super-bass some people have in their vehicles. I can feel it in my bones and that’s an experience I’d rather choose to have (like at a concert), not have forced upon me.

Do you like long car rides? If yes, what makes them fun? If not, why not? >> I used to like them a lot more, but now I get really antsy and stifled-feeling after a while (especially if the windows are closed). I’m just not as used to the long car ride experience anymore.

Have you ever been on a plane? If yes, where did you go? If not, why not? >> Yes, quite a few times.

Have you ever been on a cruise ship? If yes, how many times? If not, why haven't you? >> No. Because it’s not affordable and I don’t regard it as a priority anyway.

Do you know any of your neighbours? >> No.

Do you ever shop online? If yes, which stores? >> Sure, Etsy and Amazon and the like. Sometimes other places.

Are there any animals or insects that absolutely scare you? >> Probably, but I can’t think of any right now.

If you could have absolutely anything right now, what would you want? >> I’m fine.

What is the most stupid thing you have ever heard anybody say? >> I don’t know.

Are you allergic to anything? >> Nope.

Have you ever done anything that would be considered illegal? >> Yep.

Did you ever go to kindergarten? >> I did, for half a year. (I started out in pre-K at the typical age, and then halfway through the year they were like “this kid is too advanced for pre-K so we’ll just bump them up to the kindergarten class now” and that’s how I ended up being consistently younger than my peers for the rest of my school career.)

Did you/do you like school? When did you/will you graduate? >> I did not enjoy school. I graduated in 2004.

How do you handle a situation you desperately want to get out of? >> It really depends on the situation. For most of them I just find my way out (I’ve definitely straight-up walked out of places before, in the middle of things, because I couldn’t deal with it.)

Who is the weirdest person you have ever met? >> I don’t know.

Would you say your family is ordinary or somehow crazy? >> I don’t know how ordinary they are. I will say, if they’re ordinary, then that’s pretty depressing.

If a stranger asked for money, would you give them any? >> Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. 

What do you think of 90s girl- and boybands? >> I like some of them.

What about today's pop music? >> I like some of it.

Do you enjoy any form of art? >> Of course.

What would be absolutely the worst job ever? >> I don’t know.

Do you need a daily caffeine fix? >> No.

Are you a Pepsi or a Coca-Cola person? >> Neither.

Are you a cake or a bisquit (cookie) person? >> Neither.

Do you see the positive or the negative side of things mostly? >> I’m more inclined to optimism than pessimism, unless I’m depressed.

Do you ever boycott anything popular? >> No.

Do you still live with your parents or have you flown out of the nest? If you've flown out of the nest, when did you move out from home? >> I left home the first time at 17, and officially left at 18.

Do you live on your own or with someone else/do you share a room? >> I live with Sparrow.

How old is the eldest member of your family? >> I don’t know, probably in their mid-eighties or early nineties.

Who in your entire family do you get along with the best? >> ---

Do you enjoy reading books? >> Yes.

Or do you prefer magazines? >> I also like those, I just read them much less frequently.

What do you think is the biggest waste of time? >> I don’t know, I don’t really think of things like that.

What is the most disgusting thing you've eaten? >> I’m not sure. Hospital food? Ha. (The two hospitals I stayed in in North Carolina had pretty good food for being hospitals, though, I must say.)

Do you still have any of the stuffed animals you had as a child? >> Nope. I can’t even imagine what it’s like to still have stuff from childhood.

#surveys #survey #random survey

[scared-aquarius]

me being (very) brutally honest with the signs

Aries- You’re such a goddamn hothead all the goddamn time. Not everyone likes to be constantly doing something every second of every day. You get angry with people for the smallest and most trivial reasons but god forbid someone take a dig at you. You’re such a hypocrite and it’s annoying as fuck. You act like an edgy teenager that’s constantly throwing a tantrum. You also boss people around and expect everyone to just follow your lead and if they don’t, you get pissed at them for having a mind of their own. You seriously need to take a look at your life and stop seeing everything as a fucking challenge that’s rigged against you. My god, I get tired just being in your presence. 

Taurus- You’re a lazy fuck and way too materialistic and possessive. You literally have no desire to do anything because you love to sit on your ass. You take “treat yourself” to a whole new level and not in a healthy way whatsoever. It seems like every chance you get you cause arguments and then you contradict whatever the other person is saying just because you can’t look at anything from a different point of view. Even if you get to the point where you realize you’re in the wrong and the other person is right, you’ll just continue to argue for the sake of arguing and god forbid your ego take even the slightest blow. It’s irritating as shit like you really think you know best when in reality you’re just a stubborn bitch. What a bore.

Gemini- Look, I know you guys get a lot of flak. But take this into consideration...... it’s because most if not all of it is FUCKING TRUE. You have so many different personalities I don’t know which one is even real. You gossip 24/7 and flip-flop between who you talk to and who you talk about. You’re completely unreliable and unpredictable and also clingy as fuck. Seriously, I feel like I can’t get away from you. I just want to go to the bathroom, I don’t need to hear the story right now about how Sarah said that Dylan said that Kimberly found a sock in the dryer that wasn’t hers. Literally no one cares. Another thing that you do is once you get tired of someone, you just throw them away like garbage. (Also Trump is a gemini, and I know you guys can’t control that but like come on. Of course he’s a gemini.)

Cancer- You really need to stop being so whiny or I’m actually going to lose it. Everyone has problems so stop acting like such a victim all the goddamn time. You’re so moody all the time and you act like a small child that needs to have their diaper changed. You also cling onto people as soon as you meet them and cry if someone doesn’t answer your text within 5 fucking minutes. Don’t you have your own life to live? Oh wait, I forgot you spend every second in a dark room and refuse to come outside unless it’s to answer the door because you ordered shitty takeout. You consider changing your clothes adventurous and honestly it’s so boring. Introverted doesn’t even describe you, you’re more like a complete hermit (CRAB. HA!)

Leo- Hey leo, wow, are you actually reading this? I’m kind of shocked because I never thought you’d ever stop looking at yourself in the mirror. Seriously, you’re probably the most vain sign out of all of us. So much so that if someone criticizes you in even the smallest way, you get so offended and act like you’ve been shot in the chest. You think so highly of yourself, and while it’s great to have confidence, you take it to the next level, which is extreme arrogance. You love to have the conversation focused around you. You’re the type of friend that if someone is telling you about their problem or just their day in general, you’ll interrupt them and start talking about yourself and it’s DAMN ANNOYING. How do you still have friends?

Virgo- I’m gonna tell you right now, you’re not as perfect as you think you are. You’re so quick to critique other people that you write them off as not good enough before even getting to know them. You’re the type of person that would tell their friend that they were breathing too loudly. For fucks sake, you’re such an over analyzing pedant it makes me want to slap you in the face with my fucking asymmetrical hand. Your pessimism is damn near blinding, I probably wouldn’t want to hang around you for more than 10 minutes or you’d make me feel self conscious about how I fucking walk or some shit. You can’t take or make a joke. You’re skeptical about everything and you’re completely inflexible. You like to think of yourself as an intellectual but really you’re stuck up, narrow minded and someone I constantly find myself rolling my eyes at.

Libra- You are manipulative as shit. You’ll tell someone they look good without even looking up from your phone. You lie all the time and don’t really give a fuck if you hurt other people’s feelings because you really only look out for yourself. You’re also a huge fucking coward. When your friends need you to have their back and actually be there for them, you run and hide and say, “Oh sorry I just didn’t want to get involved!”. What a lame fucking excuse for ditching your friend in their time of need. You’re also extremely indecisive to the point where it’ll take you 3 hours just to choose where you want to go eat. It’s tiring as fuck. Just MAKE A CHOICE FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE. Have your own fucking opinion. You’re like a goddamn sheep.

Scorpio- Why the FUCK are you so aggressive for no fucking reason? You manipulate people just for the fun of it. You get jealous so easily and usually you don’t even have a reason to be jealous. You just are. It’s pathetic. You like to think that you’re so cool and mysterious but in reality people just see you as a moody and brooding asshole that no one really wants to bother getting to know. I mean, why would they? What’s the point? Every time someone even tries to get close to you, you completely brush them off and act like you don’t care about them because keeping your “mystifying” aura is soo important to you. And if you do let someone in, you treat them like they’re your possession and it’s creepy as hell. You obsess over them and you want to control them. God forbid they hang out with someone that isn’t you and then you resent them for no goddamn reason other than having a life of their own. Do me a favor scorpio and don’t talk to me.

Sagittarius- Honestly if a sag is reading this, you’re just straight up getting a taste of your own medicine. You’re tactless as shit and it makes me not want to be around you, ever. You’re inconsiderate of others and impatient with everyone. If someone isn’t moving up to your standards you will become agitated and aggressive and then you take it out on the person. You constantly need to be doing something else because your attention span lasts about 2 fucking seconds. You act like an 8 year old. You’re also really superficial. You don’t bother getting to know the deeper layers of a person because, like I said, you’re impatient and also just plain lazy. You take people for granted and are careless when handling the feelings of people closest to you. You’re also a really self-obsessed know-it-all. Go climb a fucking tree, sag.

Capricorn- Four words. Lighten. The fuck. Up. You are by far the most power-hungry of all the signs. You take everything so completely seriously that I don’t even know if you understand what “fun” even is. You always have to have two feet on the ground at all times and you can never ever be spontaneous and it’s so fucking dull. You’re conservative and disdainful nature can be so overbearing at times that even your friends need to get away from you. That is, if you have friends. You’re a complete pessimist so who knows if anyone can actually tolerate that. You constantly have to be the most successful person in a room, and you make sure you reach this level of success through abusive and controlling behavior towards the people around you. Your selfishness grosses me out.

Aquarius- I asked you what time it was. I didn’t ask you if I was afraid of time passing or the fact that it’s a manmade construct. For fucks sake, just shut the fuck up about this deep shit for once. I don’t want to contemplate how large the universe really is at fuckin 8:30 am on a Monday. You’re rebellious even when it doesn’t matter and honestly all it does is piss people off. You’re constantly trying to deviate from the norm that you make the same fucking mistakes that other people already made, but you don’t fucking learn from other people’s mistakes because you always have to go your own way. Maybe listen to other people for once? You’re the most detached sign out of all of them and you hurt people by acting aloof all the fucking time but you don’t care because you chalk it up to “this is who I am!!! I need my freedom!!!!”. You need to actually think about how your actions affect people you care about because if you don’t, you’re REALLY gonna end up alone and you won’t be able to do a damn thing about it. 

Pisces- You need to stop feeling sorry for yourself all the time and get it through your head that you’re not always the damn victim. You don’t take responsibility for your actions and you always find a way to blame it on someone else because you’re NEVER in the wrong, are you? Poor little pisces. You’re not as innocent as you want everyone to believe. You’re constantly daydreaming and it becomes really annoying when I’m trying to talk to you and you just completely zone out because you love living in your little imaginary world. You’re the WORST at solving your own problems and conflicts because instead of dealing with them you just avoid it all together and end up leaving the mess for someone else to clean up. You’re really nosy- you love to get in other people’s business. But you don’t go to the person directly, you have to be sneaky about it and gather rumors from other people. You’re also very over-sensitive. Out of all the signs, you’re by far the most likely to respond to this post saying how this isn’t true and that I’m just a “big fat meany!!!” and then add a bunch of angry/crying emojis.

(disclaimer: Don’t worry, I don’t really hate your sign (unless you’re a  * * * * * * ... lmao). This was just for fun and I know it’s harsh. Don’t take it too personally. You’re an individual and ultimately you determine who you really are. Except for you, * * * * * * . Fuck you.) 

#signs #the signs #signs as #the signs as #zodiac signs #zodiac #zodiac signs as #astrology #horoscope #horoscopes #the stars #aries #taurus #gemini #cancer #leo #virgo #libra #scorpio #sagittarius #capricorn #aquarius #pisces #brutally honest #honestly #i hate everything

[iloveshippingkitty]

Prinxiety - Camisado

Okay so this is inspired by the P!ATD song of the same name Human College AU

Trigger Warning: ABUSE (PARENTAL ABUSE OF CHILD), HOSPITALS, BLOOD, BEING PHYSICALLY SICK

IF ANY OF THOSE WILL UPSET OR TRIGGER YOU DON'T READ PLEASE

The IV and your hospital bed, this was no accident, this was a therapeutic chain of events. -

Roman sat by his grandmother talking to her, she had had a fall but was okay. Only a twisted ankle but she was old enough that they made sure she was okay with each fall.

His grandmother, Julie, was great company and they talked about college.

“How is your thesis going, Prince? Good?” Julie asked and Roman nodded, the nickname he wore like a badge came from his grandma distracted from the actual question, “Is that a lie?”

“Yes.. I have slept 4 hours in 2 days.”

“I wish you’d get more. But when does your thesis have to be in?”

“Two weeks.” “You’ll be around for Pumpkin Pie after and then we can have your special hot chocolate.” Julie said. This wasn’t a request.

“Yes I will.” He confirmed thinking fondly on special hot chocolate (hot chocolate with Magic Stars and whiskey in to help him sleep). Then he saw someone get rushed down the hall on a gurney, a guy he thought he knew.

“Anyway, Prince, how’s that friend of yours?” Julie decided to distract a morbidly curious Roman from checking out whoever it was.

“Which, grandma? I do have more than one.” Roman looked back at her with a slight snark to his look, knowing exactly what she was doing and not quite minding but in her hastiness had been vague.

“You know, that Jason boy.”

“You know that isn’t his actual name don’t you? It’s a nickname to do with Heathers.” Prince laughed. Someone regularly nicknamed as Anxiety (and not so often nicknamed JD/Jason from Heathers) was what he would class as frenemy in his college. They had a thing for competing to be heard when they had opposing opinions which what he later found out was quite a surprise to other people. They had only ever known Anxiety to be fairly quiet but with a quick wit. Roman liked that he made Anxiety come out of himself a bit more even if it annoyed him that the guy went on an entire rant of why optimism was ‘dangerous’. And annoyed him even more that he caught and called Roman out on the fact he was looking at him a lot and blushing during an argument. Not like he liked him like that. No. Not at all.

“Oh, what is his name then, sweetheart?”

“… Actually I don’t know. We all call him Anx for Anxiety.” He responds to which Julie gives him a pointed look, “What? We don’t know his name. It’s what he introduces himself as. He really sets himself up for pessimism. You know what he said in a debate against me the other day? That optimism is ‘dangerous’. I mean can you believe it. He has so much he could feel good about. People would kill for hair like his. He’s born with a talent for picking up stuff, he’s witty, people don’t dislike him by any means and he’d have more friends if he only spoke a little more.” 

Julie’s pointed look intensifies but as he doesn’t notice she realises the poor Roman must have quite the crush. Unaware to his own ranting and her attitude, she laughed.

That’s when he finally looked at her, “He’s right you know, Prince. Optimism, while definitely necessary, can be dangerous. You don’t know his home life, sweetheart. You were incredibly lucky to be born into a family that you never even had to come out to, that we’ve all been lucky enough to not struggle through losses and diseases more than our family can take. And even when my Alan died, rest his soul, he died quickly and peacefully. And I know you know that but I think you sometimes forget that not everyone will have all those things. His family may not be nice, he may be or have been ill. Felt loss to such an extent that it takes his initial optimism and crushes it. Because sometimes life does that to people.” 

Roman had known his fair share of difficulties but a great support network he had always been lucky to have. He had not thought of those things before and his heart went out to Anxiety, suddenly curious to know his actual name …also whereabouts to see if he was okay.

The distraction although slightly upsetting to Roman had worked ….up until the screaming started.

Down the corridor, 4 doors down across from them, loud screaming started instantaneously, echoing.

A code and a name was said over the tannoy and more professionals made their way into the room and sitting up straight, he gave a wide-eyed look to Julie. Julie, knowing his chivalrous side had felt the call to someone so distraught and wanted to fix it. That’s all he wanted to do. She put a soft hand on his and knowing what it meant he sat back more relaxed, even if a little forced.

A minute or so later the screaming stops and a further 5 minutes after that Julie nudged him to urge him to go see who it was. The look she gave he knew he was to follow the rules of “be quick, non-intrusive and at least attempt to keep to himself”. Quietly he gave her a soft smile and walked away down the corridor to look through the door window. There sat a half-laying, shaken, head over a disposable sick-bowl was undoubtedly Anxiety. Roman had seen him earlier that day, he swore he could feel his heart breaking as he realised it had been him screaming.

He nearly walked in then remembered how worried his grandma would be if he didn’t go back and tell her why he was going to be a while so off he headed back.

“It’s Anxiety, grandma, he’s here. He was the one screaming. I have to make sure he’s okay.” He quickly told her and with a nod each he headed back then knocked on the door, wanting to enter but not wanting to intrude.

Anxiety looks up and it takes a moment for Roman to recognise him. His face is swollen on one side, he’s bleeding a lot from a few different cuts and his fear is evident upon his face until he recognises the knocker. Then he lets tears fall and indicates him to come in.

“Suppose there’s no hiding this is there.” Anxiety groans, his words slurred. Then he realises the tears are of shame. Whatever has happened to Anxiety, it happens to him on a regular basis. Enough that rather than his worry being about his own health, he worries that Roman will tell the others almost like he’d tell them and.laugh. To that Roman’s heart drops into his stomach.

“No, Anx. No there’s not.” He replies solemnly. There’s something about Roman’s tone that makes Anx look up. He can tell even without his saying so that Roman won’t tell people, there was just no more hiding it from him. This was backed up by him asking, “How? Who? What? Why? When? Where? …. Okay, no.. I’m back with my brain. Who did this and where can I find and vanquish them?”

“Okay, I don’t think anyone has used the word vanquish since the 19th Century.” Anxiety barked out a laugh seeped with pain then continued, “It’s pretty obvious how, if it’s not evident I got beat to a pulp with anything in reach I think he’d take a second stab at it. As for why, it’s because he had a ‘woman of the night’ around which I obviously knew nothing of and so when I showed up at home he wanted to teach me a lesson. Which is ironic considering he’s beat me for going to college too so there seems to be no end to the madness. But honestly? I think it’s cos when mum died my dad had had nothing to do with us and would rather it had stayed that way. Now that I know what he’s like, me too.”

Prince felt figuratively sick to his stomach. Anxiety was literally sick.

The initial worry for Anxiety had not only been correct but the reality of it all was far worse. He wanted to hold the poor guy until everything was okay again. But he couldn’t. He felt helpless. Then with a moment of maturity he realised there was no point worrying how he could be of help without asking Anxiety exactly what he needed.

This is when Anxiety’s face conveyed only horror and he shifted back whilst sat in the bed. It made him look more like a terrified child than a worried young man.

“What’s up?”

“He doesn’t know where I am, does he?” He finally uttered.

Prince gawped like a fish.

“He does, he does. He’s going to come up and finish me off. Please Roman. Keep me safe.” Anxiety grasps his hand and stares him in the eyes.

While trying to calm him down, a nurse walks in, looks over them and walks to another patient. Roman can feel his skin crawl from the look but he can’t tell if the nurse is judging them or is analysing Anx. Both make him feel uneasy.

Brushing his thumb on the top of Anxiety’s hand seems to help him feel calmer. Then the nurse finishes with a patient and the day collapses in on itself.

“Due to your medical insurance running out, you are going to be transferred. Expect your bill within 30 days.” They say apathetically.

Roman can’t help himself.

“WHAT?!” He shouts. To which Anxiety tenses and he realises what he’s done wrong and turns to him.and apologises, “I’m sorry. I won’t be loud again.”

“It’s fine, I want to shout too. But my ribs are broken, thanks dad, and I don’t know how much damage it will do.” Anx smiles softly then adds, “so quoting Professor Lin, ‘indoor voices please’.“

They quietly laugh at that. They turn to find the nurse having left. The worry seeped from Anx and he gave Roman’s hand a small squeeze. At that he looked back at Anxiety meeting each others eyes. He could drown and stay stuck in his amber eyes.

“So…”

“I can’t afford another hospital bill.”

Roman thought on it all a moment, “…Mum’s a surgery GP so if you want you can stay at mine until we can find you an apartment.”

“You mean till I feel better?”

“…No. Not really. I mean, until you get an apartment. I’m not letting that guy back into your life.” Roman said, knowingly.

“I wouldn’t want to take your space,” replies Anxiety, looking at their hands instead.

“You wouldn’t.” He defends then pauses and thinks about how and why he may feel like that, “I mean if you feel like that we can find elsewhere or a friend is moving out the flatshare so you could always join. If you want?”

“Really? You wouldn’t hate it?”

“Hate it? I’d love it, Anx.”

With that, Roman tries to help him up. Unfortunately with the hospital gown it shows all the scars on his back, arms and legs. His heart went out to Anx and he tried his best to be gentle. As Anx tried to stand he could feel the pain radiating over his ribs and his mind flew back to his dad. The big bald man standing over him, surrounded by glass, in the fetal position, with his big boots stomping on the side of his torso. Again. And again. And again.

“Anx?” Prince asked softly. Half way up Anx had stopped in a daze. Then flinched a few times and he knew he would have to bring Anx out of it. Anx could hear him but he couldn’t find the ways to respond “Anx, look at me.”

When he knew Anx was trying but couldnt do it he brought hisself down to be eye to eye.

Roman put a hand through the young man’s soft hair, pushing it away from his eyes as he told him, “I will protect you. I promise. I promise I will. You’re amazing and brilliant and the highlight of my day but you need someone to take your fights. And we can do this together. I promise.”

Very slowly Anx’s eyes stopped glazing over and he looked more with it and after processing what was said he blushed and without a word rested his forehead on Roman’s and hummed. Finally, he spoke, “You’re like a knight.”

“Excuse me, I’m quite obviously a prince. A disney prince at that.”

“Haha, fine, Princey.. Wait, I’m the highlight of your day?”

Roman blushed deeply, “I mean, yeah. I.. Uh.. Think you’re great.”

Anxiety actually laughed, “I think you’re great too.. Princey.”

“Lets get you dressed and discharged shall we? Then we can talk about how great you think I am.” Prince finally remembered where they were and very slowly and a few winces involved, they stood properly. “So, how great do you think I am?”

“You haven’t got any confidence problems, do you, Roman?”

“The cutest guy I know told me he thinks I’m great, how could I possibly have a problem with that?” They smile at each other then Roman goes to tell his grandma that he’s taking Anx home to which she winks as Anx gets the clothes from the bedside table and goes to the bathroom to change.

Meeting him out in the hall, Anx leans on Roman and intertwines their hands once more as they head out.

#me #iloveshippingkitty #prinxiety #prince x anxiety #sanders sides #thomas sanders #human au #abuse #abuse tw #hospitals #sick tw #i'm sorry #roman sanders #anxiety x prince

[anotherlifefic]

Chapter 40: Rebecca Ice-Born

A/N: To anyone still reading this fic: Hello! Thank you for coming this far. I have started this fic a little less than a year ago and should have probably finished it with chapter 38. But I am a little bitch who can't stand things ending, so I will continue and from here on out, I will experiment with this fic a little. Expand on the universe with more things from other Zelda-games, including spin-offs like Hyrule Warriors, some (and I only do mean SOME) elements of My Inner Life and my own stuff, too. If that isn't your cup of tea, just pretend the story ended with chapter 38. I will also probably post another, alternate ending that I had planned but scrapped, at some later date. To anyone else: Feel free to stay and have fun! I know I do! 

_______________________________________________

„You know who we are?“, I asked. Gareth was looking at the figure intently. „I know many things“, the guardian replied, rising from its seated position. „It is not often that Hylia‘s people come here. You have strayed far from the light of your Goddess, young one, and even farther from the influence of the three Golden Ones.“ „Hylia? Like the lake? And why do you speak of a single Goddess only?“ The guardian chuckled quietly. „Ah, what miserable times in which Hylia has become forgotten. She, the one who serves and the one who protects. She who gave up her divine form to seal the nameless one‘s evil away.“ The guardian came closer, though it left no imprint on the floor and no footsteps were heard. „But I am certain that you are not here for a history lesson, are you, child? You come to ask me to show mercy to the Rito. To spare the fledgelings, and ease the burden of the adults. Is that not it?“ „Indeed“, I confirmed. „But I would also like to know what they did to deserve this in your eyes.“ The guardian hummed thoughtfully. „What did they do? It‘s not about what they did. It‘s about what they did not do.“ The guardian stretched out its arms, billowing the cloak to make it look like wings of an owl poised to strike. „I am the guardian of this region. And yet I am treated like legend and hearsay. I refuse to suffer the same fate as Hylia; I will remind the Rito that their lives are in my hand!“ Then it lowered its arms again. „And you, Rebecca Ice-Born? What would you do, if you were in my position?“ „Why do you keep calling me that?“, I asked, slowly getting agitated. I did have a naginata of my own now, and I had it with me, but I couldn‘t fight while carrying Gareth. The guardian stopped and looked at me curiously. „You have no idea, do you? You do not know of your heritage, or the powers that dwell within you.“ Now it looked up to the ceiling of the cave, almost wistfully. „Once, there were many of my kind. God-like beings that guarded Hebra and ruled it. But some of them began to mix their blood with that of other creatures. New bloodlines sprung from these connections, and though most of them have been extinguished with time, there is one that remains.“ Behind the eye-holes of the mask, a pair of seemingly colourless eyes began to glow. „Yours. And while my people dwindled, driven to their deaths by despair over the passing of their mortal lovers, I remained here in the mountains, bound to my duty and the land that my people once called home. Waiting for the one that survived. Waiting for you. And, by extension, your son. Do you not feel it? How the snow welcomes you? How the howling winds caress you? You were born of snow and ice, like all of us. Rebecca Ice-Born, descendant of the Glaces.“ I took a few steps back. „This can‘t be. I have always been able to feel cold. It‘s only now that I can‘t anymore.“ „Yes, because now is the time for you to awaken.“ I took a deep breath ot gather myself again, then shook my head. „You know what? It doesn‘t matter. Instead, let me answer your question: I would not let my pride drive me to make innocent people suffer.“ „Pride...“, the guardian repeated. „What do you know of pride, Rebecca Ice-Born? How could you possibly understand the years of toil and loneliness I have gone through? And how SICK I am of keeping peace with a race that will not even remember my NAME.“ What followed was a tense silence, only interrupted by the ice around us crackling with the guardian‘s fury. „Then tell me your name“, I demanded. „Tell me, and I will remind them.“ The guardian laughed bitterly. „Remind them? So they can forget me again?“ „Or you could remind them yourself“, I retorted, becoming annoyed. „Of course they will forget you if you keep hiding here. You showed yourself to me and my husband; why not show yourself to the Rito? You are speaking to me, why not speak to them?“ „If only it were that easy“, the guardian sighed. „I have never actually left this place. What you saw outside of the cave was merely a projection, a play of light, unable to speak, only to show itself. I am bound to this cave, for better or worse, for the souls of our people buried within the ice covering this cave are keeping me alive.“ Now it looked up. „...but I see that your intentions are pure. Hylia and the three Golden Ones must smile upon a soul so kind. Very well then. I will stop the blizzard plaguing Hebra and open the entrance of the cave again. Your beloved hero should be waiting there for you. Return to Rito Village and tell the Rito of Yverna, the guardian of Hebra, and how she has been guarding the region all on her own for thousands of years.“

I went back the way I came, only to find Link standing with Epona and Glory at the open entrance. Once he spotted me, he ran up to me and kissed me, mindful not to crush Gareth between us. „Rebecca, what happened?“, he asked, voice rough probably from calling for me so much. „You were gone all of a sudden, and then I found Glory standing here all on her own, but for some reason I couldn‘t enter the cave to go look for you. The storm stopped… did you talk to the guardian?“ „I did“, I replied. „And you won‘t believe what I learned...“

„...and Yverna has remained like this, confined to this cave, guarding the region, to this very day“, I ended the account of my encounter with the guardian. After returning to Rito Village, we had gone straight up to the Elder to tell Yverna‘s story, and had told every Rito we encountered on the way to come along and listen. In our audience, I spotted Ano with a small, light-brown Rito girl on his shoulders, and his wife, a beautiful Rito with cream-coloured feathers sitting beside them. „She must have been so lonely“, one of the younger Rito whispered. „Mommy, can we go visit the guardian and say hello to her? Maybe she won‘t be so lonely anymore“, another asked. And while the Rito eagerly made plans to try and include Yverna so she would not turn Hebra into a frozen hellscape again, I was thinking about what she told me about my heritage. Could it be that I was truly of her kind? A Glaces, a spirit of ice and snow? Meant to guard… to protect. But what? And if I was… what would that change? What would it mean for my life… and for the lives of my family? My parents? My husband and son? If I was a Glaces… and so was Gareth… then that meant so was either my mother or father. Link had not said much about the revelation. Did the thought abhor him? But why would it? He was friends with so many people of so many different races… It was certainly just my usual pessimism that struck again, so I tried to distract myself. Forcing positive thoughts. How much I loved him. How much light his presence had brought into my life. How I adored the way he smiled at me when he was feeling comfortable and relaxed; the smile of a kind man who loved life. And how losing him surely would destroy me.

We stayed in Rito Village for two more days, stocking up on supplies… and barely talking to each other. Link had become so distant. And as much as I hated to admit it… I understood why. Ever since my meeting with Yverna, it was like I saw a stranger every time I looked into a mirror. He still was very caring towards Gareth, though. Taking his turns holding him, cooing at him and talking to him. Never thought I would ever be jealous of my own son. And once we were back on the road, Link and I still didn‘t really speak. It was beginning to frustrate me. I hated this silence. A silence left behind by things that should have been said, but weren‘t. Someone had to start the conversation. So after a few hours of riding, I spoke up:„What‘s wrong?“ Link stopped Epona, staring at his hands that were tightly gripping the reins. „I don‘t know. This whole thing about you being the same as the guardian… I don‘t know what to make of it. A few days ago, I didn‘t even know that the Glaces existed. And now I am married to one of them? It‘s just… it takes some time to get used to the thought.“ „But Link, nothing changed. I‘m still who I always was.“ I couldn‘t banish the unmistakable sound of approaching tears from my voice. „I‘m still your Rebecca.“ „I know that. It‘s just...“ He gestured helplessly. „I don‘t know. Just… give me some time, okay?“ I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood. „Fine.“ Once Link had spurred Epona again, I let myself fall back, stubbornly riding behind him, where he could safely ignore me.

This went on for days. Link and I never spoke more than absolutely necessary. I let him sleep in the tent with Gareth while I slept outside, closer to the campfire, even though I did not need its warmth. A week after our departure from Rito Village, we saw the glistening sea on the horizon, lit up into a dance of yellow, orange and red by the rising sun. The Great Lebian Coast. I had expected to feel euphoric upon seeing the sea for the first time. But I just felt drained. I wanted to return home. This whole journey had been a stupid idea. If only I had surpressed my urge to go adventuring and had remained a nice, loyal little housewife. Of only I had… It was at that point that I realized that I was slipping out of the saddle. I wanted to pull myself up again, but my vision began to blur. The last thing I heard before unconciousness took me was Link calling my name.

When I awoke again, my mouth felt like I had swallowed a handful of sand, and my throat wasn‘t much better off. I was curled up on my side in the fetal position. And I felt hot and clammy. It had been a while, but I remembered the feeling. Fever. I couldn‘t open my eyes, or move much. „Will she be alright?“, I heard a voice ask softly. „This kind of sickness usually comes from a lot of stress. Did anything happen to her lately that could have caused this?“ A moment of silence. „We fought. And she gave birth to our son less than half a year ago, so he is still a bit of a handful. And… some other things.“ „I see. Well, she will certainly recover. She‘s young and strong. Take good care of her… and try to keep her magic under control.“ Magic?, I thought. I didn‘t know how to do magic. This person couldn‘t possibly be talking about me. Then I heard the quiet rustle of fabric as someone sat down next to the bed I was resting on. Then the person took my hand, and when he spoke again, I finally recognized him. „Oh Rebecca… I‘m so sorry. Had I known what would happen, I wouldn‘t have ignored you like I did. No… I shouldn‘t have done that, period. I‘m so… so sorry.“ A squeal temporarily distracted him. „Just a moment, Gareth. Daddy has to take care of Mommy.“ Another squeal. „Okay, fine.“ Link got up, but returned a few seconds later, playing a small, warm bundle onto the bed next to me. „Becca, Gareth was worried about you, too.“ And truly, the small bundle… my son… nestled himself close to me chest, tiny hands gripping the fabric of my shirt. I wanted to say something, but I was still so tired. I wanted to just sleep, with the comforting weight of my little boy clinging to me, and Link‘s gentle voice echoing in my head.

#The Legend of Zelda #Another Life #fanfiction #OC

[voguingtodanzig]

EXPLODED VIEW FEAST ON DISCOMFORT AND GROUND CHICK PEAS (10 months ago on Clyrvnt)

By Raymond Cummings

What a difference a half-decade makes. Working in concert with Bristol-based BEAK>, Annika “Anika” Henderson cut Anika, her 2010 debut album — a skeletal, singsong-y satchel of covers and originals — in a mere 12 days. The LP felt equally alien, familiar and out of time, a scuffed reinterpretation of numbers by Bob Dylan, Yoko Ono and Lynn Ripley. Stiff and stark and somewhat Nico-esque, Henderson’s vocals leaped out from the production’s knotted beats, guitars and synthesizers like a sigul in a black and white Magic Eye image.

Four years later, the U.K.-born, Berlin-based musician would spend weeks recording what would become a very different album in Mexico City with a new group of collaborators. A year later, they’d realize that they had something special on their hands, and a year after that, they’re ready to unveil it. “Gothic” might be the right watchword for Exploded View’s eponymous first album, though it’s home to a broad spectrum of darknesses: the muted, gorgeous “One Too Many”; mesmerizing drone-poem “Lark Descending”; the trundling, bleary bleep-sweep of “No More Parties in the Attic.” On “Disco Glove,” the quartet locks into an industrial, No Wave groove that suggests a badly wired, breakdancing robot; “Orlando” rides thermal, ascending / descending scales and shredded drums into a quasi-New Wave blaze of glory. And at the center of it all is Henderson, her vocals increasingly incisive, malleable and emotive — reminiscent, at moments, of Natalie Merchant in 10,000 Maniacs’ earliest days — and her sentiments insistently, painfully personal in almost political ways.

A few weeks prior to the release of Exploded View, we interviewed the band via Skype; early in the day they’d performed at the Green Man Festival in Wales, and we spoke just before they took the stage at the Exchange in Bristol, U.K.

How did Exploded View become a band? Martin Thulin (drums/guitar/production): We’re actually on our way to becoming a band, you know? Because this actually started as a job, with us rehearsing for Anika’s gig in Mexico City in 2014. It happened very naturally, with us trying to recreate what we played together. Annika “Anika” Henderson (vocals/synthesizer): Yeah! I like that; it’s true.

Exploded View has a monolithic sound that's multifaceted — sort of industrial, sort of organic, a melodic gloom but with a lot of colors. I’m aware that improvisation was key here, but this album was recorded straight to tape and has a very defined musical point of view. Was there a particular vibe that you were trying to capture? MT: No, not really; I think it just happened. We just started playing, and I think everyone was doing their part. [Exploded View] is what came out. AH: Yeah, there was definitely no aim. We were never intending on releasing anything; it was just jamming for the sake of jamming, playing for the sake of playing. Hugo Quezada (bass/synthesizer/production): The intention was to adjust to the technical limitations we had — like not using more than eight channels.

In the lyrics, there are a lot of elements at play — politics, sociology, personality, relationship dynamics — and an intimate darkness that suits the music. But overall there is an encouraging self-awareness, pushing listeners to take stock in themselves. There’s pessimism, but also encouragement. What inspired this album? AH: A lot of unresolved personal issues and anxieties. The band brought me to this place and helped me work through it — it was a very personal, intimate thing in that I wouldn’t have shared my deepest, darkest secrets with just anyone. Because it was the band, I was somehow able to do it. Some of the songs brought out certain things that I’d been struggling with for years. So, it definitely wasn’t a contrived album; it wasn’t trying to be political, but these were things that were on my mind and came out with the music. I didn’t want to edit things. Hugo and Martin, when they were editing this stuff, they weren’t editing [words], but just cutting out sections of what we recorded. Some of this stuff, I felt like it was a bit too personal, a bit too close to home — and they were like, “Come on, come on, just leave it in!” It’s very rare that I feel that comfortable, that I’m able to write that freely. I wrote everything on the spot. I’m never aware of what I’m writing when I’m writing it; if I ever am, then it’s wrong.

Annika, you were previously a political journalist. Do you view music as another form of reporting? AH: No, not really. I feel like it’s more of an artistic relationship with the world. It’s not just a reflection, but it’s a reflection through your eyes. Good, honest journalism should be impartial and it should be balanced, but as an artist you’re able to digest it and express it in a different way that’s more understandable for people. You’re not just directly putting across events that happened; you’re working through the emotions you feel when you see these events, and hopefully in doing that, you can help other people get some kind of release. Music can be for enjoyment, to help you get through a breakup, whatever. I think with this album, personally, I was working through a lot of stuff; hopefully it can help other people. It’s very different [from] journalism. I am politically engaged, though.

"Disco Glove" is my favorite song on the album: this mechanized, grinding, clanking beast. How did that one take shape? HQ: That song and “No More Parties In the Attic” were the first ones we actually recorded. We met at my place — I have a small, home studio in my house — and started fooling around with instruments. I just set up this really old sequencer, and we built things around that really fast, annoying click track. Amon Melgarejo (synthesizer/guitar): It was like this through the whole album; we were reacting to what was happening. This was one of the two most “bad vibes” songs on the album. AH: I found it quite painful to listen to! While we were recording, I hated it; that’s why I sound so stressed, kind of angry, passive-aggressive. MT: For me, on the drums, on that particular song, I had one reference; it’s a song by Second Wave called “Courts or War.” They used a drum machine; I tried to play on the live drums as if I were a drum machine.

For each of you, what is your favorite song on Exploded View, and why? HQ: I guess for me, my favorite one is “Stand Your Ground.” The day we recorded that song in particular, Annika was cooking some falafel. AH: [Laughs] Really? HQ: Yeah! I started playing some chords on the Mellotron, and then the bass for the whole song started coming. I remember very clearly that Annika came into the room with the falafel, and started singing this melody. It was a really beautiful moment, as friends and as musicians. AM: For me, it would be “Lost Illusions.” We were playing all day, and everything was shit, and we’d played and played, and nothing came. Hugo went to his guitar, his head against the wall and started playing that woooooo-woooo-wooomelody, and all of us joined in. And it was the first time I realized that we had something. I really love the whole structure of the song. MT: “No More Parties” is probably my favorite track, because that was not a track I was particularly keen on when we were mixing it. It was really frustrating to work with that song, because I thought the other songs were really easy to mix. We spent a long time on fixing the mix. When I listen back to it today, I can say that is my favorite track because it really worked out nicely; it’s nice when you have a song that you’re really frustrated with and you put in some effort to make it work. There are also a couple ballads, like “Lark Descending,” that I find extremely beautiful. The music works in a very pointed way with the lyrics; it’s like a painting. AH: I also quite like “Stand Your Ground” because it was really the core of my issues, in their most uncoded form. It was the unconscious completely laid out there, complete vulnerability in a way where I wasn’t hiding anything.

When and for how long a time was Exploded View recorded, and what was the process like? AH: It was at the end of 2014; I think I stayed a couple of weeks. MT: It’s set up in Hugo’s house, which is also his studio, and we were the producers — me and Hugo — so we had a lot of equipment there. Everything was centered around this tape recorder, an eight-track, which limited the whole thing because we were recorded everything live. You really had to think about what you were doing because you didn’t have 500 tracks to do whatever you wanted. When you work like that, you have to work with the limitations; I think that was really important. The fact that it was recorded in a house with a kitchen made it more like an everyday thing; it wasn’t like going to a studio.

So, in a way, there was more humanity to it. HQ: Yeah. AH: This was more of a friendship; it wasn’t just a recording session. That’s what made it so special. Personally, I’ve been working with people in Berlin for two years, and I never really got that environment of trust. There were these strange scenarios that were very forced, and [there was a lot of] talk about money and when everyone was getting paid for the session; it just became very uncomfortable. What was nice about this session is that no one wanted anything. MT: When we were recording, there was a lot of frustration going on within the session between the band; it’s really uncomfortable, not very nice sometimes, but it also makes it very special. I think that frustration is all over the record. Maybe now that we’re more comfortable with each other, that we’re friends, we don’t need to make another album the same way.

As a listener, I’ll say this is a strong, fantastic record. Even if it didn’t feel the best while recording it, everything came out great in the end. MT: To be honest, we left it to rot. [Laughter] For several months. AH: At least a year! MT: When we listened back, we thought, “Wow, this is interesting.” To be honest, I didn’t expect anything. When I started working with it, we had some really cool songs. I was amazed that it turned out more song-based than long jams; I thought we’d just had really boring jams. AH: It’s strange, because I really wasn’t comfortable with releasing it for a long time. It was only at the end of last year that we started talking about it again. I think sometimes when something is so close to home, it’s too personal; you don’t really like it. It’s only when you’re really through those traumas that you can see an album as something separate from yourself.

When you perform these songs now, are you taken back to what these sessions were like? Or is it completely different? HQ: We try to regain the structure of the songs, but not the feelings, because everything is totally different. I guess we’re reinterpreting the songs. AH: I don’t bring back that frustration because it’s not necessary. I’m through it, we’re over it, it’s not still there. We don’t need to relive that every time we play. MT: I’m now the drummer of the band; I’d never played drums ever in my life before this record. We’ve been switching roles. Maybe something that’s different, when we play live, is that for good or for bad — I don’t know — I’m actually becoming a better drummer. That could be good or it could be bad, because one thing about the record is that it’s extremely sloppy. Like amateurs. AH: But that’s cool — it’s post-punk. [Laughter]

Sacred Bones released Exploded View in early September.