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buckyownsmylife · 3 years

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Make it back to me - Andy Barber smut

The one where Andy fulfills his promise and gives you a future together.

Warnings: smut, daddy kink, insecure!Andy for a minute there, divorce, talks of infidelity because reader was the other woman, breeding kink

A/N: this is technically a follow-up to this drabble I wrote during kinktober!

Andy’s P.O.V.

My heart was pounding against my chest even before her beautiful face appeared from the office’s door. It was clear that she was confused, but I was too excited about it to even be able to verbalize what had happened and what we were about to do. So the plan was to just show her.

“You know, I usually like surprises, but this one is freaking me out,” she commented, and I laughed, throwing a glance at the rearview mirror before taking us out of the firm’s parking lot. I rubbed my thumbs on her knees, squeezing it in a hopefully reassuring gesture while I hummed a random song that had been stuck in my head since earlier.

I still couldn’t believe it.

I thought that maybe she would have connected the dots when I parked in an apartment complex’s garage, but by the inquisitive look she threw me, it was clear that wasn’t the case at all. So I laughed when I held her hand, kissing the back of it before pulling her along with me, up the stairs to the front hall.

“Andy, are you crazy? We can’t be holding hands in public like this. What if someone from the firm lives here and sees us together?” She whisper-shouted, and an euphoric feeling took over my chest at the realization of just how incredible my life was.

“Someone from the firm does live here,” I conceded, hugging her from behind and leaning down to fit my chin on her shoulder. “Me.” Saying it out loud only made it feel even more real, especially since she whipped her head to try to get a look at me, in an effort to understand just what I meant.

“What?” I only laughed, reaching out for her hand again and giving it a squeeze when the elevator doors opened, immediately stepping out to look for the door I held the key to. “Andy, what do you mean?”

I only smiled, patiently opening the door before letting her walk in and following behind. “Sweetheart… Meet my new apartment.” Once more, her head whipped around to stare at me, interrupting her visual exploration of the new environment.

“Andy…”

“I’m divorced,” I interrupted, effectively shutting her up. “It was finalized this morning. I talked to Laurel the day after that party. The day you got your promotion. I didn’t tell you before because I wanted it to be a sure thing,” I immediately explained when I saw her open her mouth to interject, but then she closed it, nodding as she accepted my justification.

“So while I waited for it to be processed, I bought this place. Do you like it? I was hoping you’d move in with me, I can’t wait to christen every room of this apartment.” Once again, she seemed surprised by my words, stopping her evaluation of the living room to stare at me with eyes twice their usual size.

“But you just… Andy, you just got divorced. Quite literally. You can’t tell me you want to immediately jump into the routine of a relationship again.” Frowning, I stepped forward, in her direction, arms reaching out to hold her hips so I could keep her in place while I tried to understand her emotions.

“You don’t want to be in a relationship with me?” My heart ached at the prospect, but she only huffed, rolling her eyes at me. Immediately, I felt somewhat comforted, although still confused about what was going on through her head.

“Of course I want to be in a relationship with you, you dummy. I just… I fear you’re jumpin too soon into this, and that you’ll grow to resent me. I don’t want to lose you.” Hearing her voice my own fears only made the need to have her closer rise within me, so before I could even realize what I was doing, I had her face cradled between my hands and our lips were connected again, as they always should be.

“And I don’t want to lose you,” I decided to voice it, so she could understand exactly where all of this was coming from, how it wasn’t simply a spur-of-the-moment gesture, any of it. “So what do you think I should do? Keep our relationship without strings, fearing that any moment now someone else will come and sweep you off of your feet? I don’t want to fuck anyone else, sweetheart. And I’ve been dreaming about living all of this domestic shit with you for a while, now. My marriage with Laurel didn’t end because I suddenly despised my ring, it ended because I didn’t love her anymore. But I love you. And I want this with you. Only you.”

Y/N’s P.O.V.

Now, what else could I possibly say? This was everything I had dreamed about, everything I’d been wishing for since day one, since my eyes connected with Andy’s and we shook hands in the office. And here he was, offering me a future together on a silver platter and I couldn’t find it in myself to fight against it anymore, even if the rational part of me thought this was a mistake.

Or maybe it was only my anxiety speaking, trying to get me to chicken out, to run away, convince me that this isn’t real and I’m not worthy of all of this love. Because the truth was, I was scared. Scratch that, I was downright *terrified. Because somewhere between the stolen kisses and the longing glances, I’d fallen head over heels for the man standing in front of me, who just poured his heart out in search of mine, and I never wanted to lose him.

“Okay,” was all I managed to say, instead, all I could get out. “Okay, let’s do this.” But still, maybe because Andy really was my long-lost soulmate, he seemed to understand. He managed to read between the lines, hear my devotion and my love in those simple words. I knew it because his eyes lit up, and just like that, I was being embraced by those delicious arms again, held like I was the most precious thing he had ever encountered and the only thing he needed to be happy.

He was everything to me.

“I love you, sweetheart.” Everything felt different, every pet name, every touch. It was sweeter, purer. There was no overwhelming pressure of rushing through this, trying to escape the sin, the guilt. This man was mine, now. I could finally relish every single second of this experience.

“I’ve wanted you since we’ve met,” I finally managed to admit it, making sure to look him in the eye so he could see just how serious I was about this. “I’m just so happy we finally get to be together, like… like a real couple.”

His soft smile was the reason for my heart faltering at times, and when he paired it with light brushes over my cheekbone with his thumbs, it was powerful enough to make me weak in the knees. Still, because it was Andy, after all, he couldn’t help but to tease me - I knew I should expect it from the mischief in his eyes.

“So, everything we did before, it doesn’t count?” I huffed at the same time he started laughing, barely seeing me rolling my eyes at his childish behavior since he had tears in his. And despite how much I wanted to be annoyed at him for ruining such a beautiful moment, I could only feel warm inside from seeing him this happy, and being here to share this new beginning of his.

“You know what? No, it doesn’t, daddy. You’re gonna have to get me reacquainted with your cock all over again. Are you up for the challenge?” He laughed out loud at this, beautiful face suddenly looking boyish as his eyes closed for a moment. so that he could fully enjoy his happiness.

Andy’s P.O.V.

“When you look this fuckable? It won’t be a challenge at all, darling.” I watched with perverse pleasure as she shivered from my words, eyes suddenly darkening with lust as she bit her lower lip. “Now c’mon. Let’s start christening this place.”

My first step was the bedroom, of course. I had bought a new bed with the sole intention of ravishing her on it. Sleep was secondary. “Take off your clothes,” I commanded as soon as we were inside the new room, quickly taking off my shirt before sitting on the mattress. “Slowly,” I added when I saw her initially run to obey, but then a small smile painted her beautiful lips as her movements became more fluid.

“Someone wants a show,” she teased, revealing her perfect body little by little, each new inch making the anticipation rise in me. Damn right I wanted a show. But any amount of time I got to spend with her was a spectacle of itself. She was the muse I once believed I would never find. “Like what you see?”

“Fuck yes. Come here.” She approached me slowly too, soft hands I knew too well running over her own body and making me desperate to be the one that was touching her. “I want to worship your body the way that you deserve it, after waiting for me for so long.”

I saw her eyes soften at that, her hands cradling my face when she was close enough to hop on my lap. “I’d wait even longer if I had to.” It made me happier than anything else, knowing that she was as happy with me as I was with her.

So I pulled her to meet my lips again, groaning as I got my taste of her - but it was enough. It would never be enough, especially now that I knew I was hers and hers only. And then she inadvertently started grinding against me and it almost had me falling back against the bed. “God, you’re hot,” I moaned as I watched from under my eyelashes the way that she moved for me and only me.

“I love when you talk dirty.” Her giggles were the sweetest sound I ever heard, and I loved to be the cause for them. But my need for her was so pressing, that I ended up cutting them short by pulling her for another kiss, while adjusting her until she was sitting on one of my thighs.

“That’s nothing, darling. You know just how dirty I can be, and you still haven’t seen everything I got up my sleeve. Come on, move those hips for me,” I directed, helping her ride my thigh by the grip I held on her ass.

“You know what I want to do to you?” I asked, my voice dropping a tone as I whispered in her ear, needing to see her cum for me for the first night that night. “I want to lick all over your skin without the fear of being interrupted,” I started, reminiscing about just how many things I wanted to experience with her now that we were officially together. “Do you know how great it will be now that what we’re doing isn’t improper?”

Y/N almost laughed, but it came out as a gasp as I flexed the muscles underneath her, making my thigh a bit harder for her to rub her sweet cunt against. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, we’ll definitely keep doing some pretty improper stuff…” I forced her to quicken her movements until she was cumming before my eyes, sweet, sweet whimpers falling from her lips as she struggled to catch her breath. “... I just won’t have to feel guilty about them anymore.”

As I turned us over to lay her body on the mattress, our lips dancing together once more, the realization that this was my life now making my head feel light with all the happiness inside of me. This was my bed, this was my woman and it was only just beginning.

Y/N’s P.O.V.

“Well, that’s a relief,” I teased, taking advantage of the little break that he had given my lips as he slowly but surely laid kissed around every inch of my chest. “For a second there, I thought you wouldn’t want to do dirty things to me anymore.”

That earned me a laugh, muffled by the way his lips were pressed against my neck and making me laugh by reflex, since his beard kept tickling me. “Oh, believe me, pretty girl… There’s a lot of dirty stuff I want to do to you. And I won’t lie, some of them are probably still going to happen in my office.”

I tried to swallow back a whimper that made its way to my lips as Andy licked a stripe up my neck, only stopping to nibble on my jaw before admitting to his plans. “After all, I really can’t control myself when you wear those tight skirts to work. But I don’t think they can really be blamed.”

Pink lips wrapped around my nipple and a gasp did escape me, my hands flying to hold Andy’s locks to keep him attached to my chest, but he had other ideas. “I just can’t seem to be able to be near you without desperately wanting you,” he finished, eyes connected to mine and mouth glistening with the saliva he had spread over my breasts. “You’re just too much of a temptation.”

Now, of course, after such a declaration, what can a girl do? I didn’t seem to find the words to vocalize just how I felt about him too, too busy trying to control my heart and clutching his shoulders while he sucked lovebites all over my exposed body. We didn’t really have to worry about them now, even if they would seem terribly unprofessional for some of the senior partners.

“Tell me what you want, sweetheart,” he urged, and I swallowed dryly before finally voicing, “I want your cock in my mouth, daddy. I want to make you feel good.” Andy audibly groaned at my request, quickly rolling off of me and discarding his pants while I assumed a familiar and very comfortable position between his legs.

My mouth watered at the sight of his already fully hardened member, and I reached out to replace his hand that was slowly jerking it off with mine, leaning down to give the head a small kitten lick just like I knew he liked to be teased.

“Fuck, darling,” he moaned, and I could feel myself growing wetter at the pure power that I felt at having this man so fucking needy for me. When I slowly started to suck on the head of his cock, making my way further down inch by inch, the signs of impatience that became evident in his body only made my desire grow.

“C’mon, pretty girl,” he half begged, half ordered, leg twisting behind me in an effort to control himself. “Take it all on your own, like you always do. Make me proud.” Shit, he knew just what to say to have me quickly gagging on his cock out of my own free will.

I didn’t even think twice before going down on him until my lips met his navel. If anything, the strangled moan he tried to stop, the way his hips instinctively raised up and blocked the air from my lungs, making my eyes water, only served as incentives for me to keep going, up and down, up and down, licking and swirling and sucking until my jaw started to hurt and still, I didn’t want to stop.

Andy’s P.O.V.

It was always a battle between allowing myself to spill in her delicious mouth or perfect pussy, but today, I had other plans - and they involved me having to exercise incredible restraint as I pulled her away from my member by her hair, chuckling at the whine she let out.

“Lay down,” I ordered nodding towards the bed, and she quickly did so, crawling on her hands and knees towards the center of the mattress, but just before she could reach it, I pulled her by her ankle and turned her around myself.

“Can’t wait to fill you, sweetheart.” I was impatient, that much was obvious, but I don’t think she minded by the way her hips thrusted back to meet my fingers as I fucked her open with them, using my thumb to rub her throbbing little clit. “Do you want that?”

She nodded, managing to hold eye contact but not capable of saying anything, her bottom lip held tightly by her teeth as she struggled to swallow the whines I begged to hear. “Beg me for it,” I ordered, picking up the pace and curling my digits until I was able to hit her sweet spot every time I thrusted into her tight channel. “I want to know how badly you want me, I want to see if it even *comes close to my own desire for you.”

A gasp was still all I received as a response, and I had to contain my smile as I slowed down my movements, making them sweeter but deeper. I knew what was holding her back, and it wasn’t the weakness of her desire when contrasted to mine. “It’s alright, darling. You can scream, you can cry out my name as loud as you want. We don’t have to be quiet anymore.”

When her eyes met mine again, I could see that she understood, but it was still hard for her to fully let go. So I picked up the pace of my fingers, leaning over her to suck a bruise on her collarbones before whispering in her ear, “C’mon, pretty girl. I’ve always loved to see you squirming, trying to keep those beautiful sounds in, but right now, I’m dying to hear you moan.”

Her orgasm was what finally made her lose control, cumming while screaming my name, making me grin from ear to ear and keep the pace of my digits until her hand covered my wrist, a silent plea for me to let her calm down. I allowed her that, pulling away from her with a brief kiss on the forehead before turning my attention to myself, curling my fist around my cock that twitched with only that slight stimulation, probably because of the debauched scene before me.

It didn’t take long for her small hand to cover mine, forcing myself to jerk the throbbing member as a sign that she was ready for more, now. And so I pulled her even closer, forcing her legs to open wider before I rubbed the head of my cock between her lower lips, gathering some of the moisture there.

“You ready?” Pushing into her for the first time was always incredible. Often, it’d take me back to that long night we’d spent trying to work on a difficult case, when it all became too much for both of us to handle and I gave into temptation, bending her over my desk before burying myself inside of her.

The way she gasped so prettily at the feeling of my cock stretching her open was still the same, and it mirrored the way I groaned at how her tight walls squeezed me as I tried to bottom out inside of her. “So fucking tight,” I noted, arms resting on each side of her face as I waited for us both to grow used to the feeling of being connected again.

I kissed her once more before starting to move, losing myself in the taste of her while she messed up my hair, running her fingers through it to hold onto the locks when I did start to fuck her against the mattress. The feeling of her hands traveling further south, until suddenly I felt her nails running down my back, had me jerking abruptly in surprise, the realization that now she could leave marks on my body only leaving me more desperate for her, to make her mine once and for all.

Y/N’s P.O.V.

“Fuck.” The way he gasped against my mouth was so pretty, I wanted to keep hearing it for the rest of my life. “You’re mine now, sweetheart. This is where you’ll spend the rest of your life, right here, getting filled by my cock over and over again.”

It didn’t seem like a bad future to have, especially when he squeezed my hips so tight, trying to control himself so this wouldn’t end so soon. “Fuck, no one can make me feel as good as you do, darling. No one.”

My body felt warm, like a fire had been lit inside, and the only thing that made it simultaneously more controlled and brighter was kissing him, feeling him connected to me, from his forehead to his toes.

I loved this man. God, I loved him, and it felt so good to be able to feel this way, without having any guilt attached to this wonderful feeling. Knowing that he was now mine and only mine, that I could give my whole heart to him without any fear, because he’d given me his.

It felt different this time, regardless of the dozens of times I’d had him inside of me. It was like we were both stripped to our very soul, finally getting to introduce them to each other, and there was a connection, a certain recognition that I just couldn’t put into words - especially not when he was fucking me this good. We just worked. It’s like despite how it all began, we were meant to be.

“Fuck, I love you so much.” And it was that declaration of love that had me clenching around him, reaching the high of desire that only he could show me. It didn’t surprise me that as soon as my orgasm began, he started to lose the rhythm of his thrusts, until he was groaning, “I’m cumming, I’m gonna cum inside of you, just like I promised, pretty girl.”

The reminder seemed to awaken every single nerve end on my body, and I gasped as I felt another orgasm building as his movements grew more frantic. “Don’t you want it? Don’t you want my cum? Say it, sweetheart. Say you want my cum.”

The reality of the situation hit me then, serving as an added stimulation to my already overworked body. He really wanted this. We were really doing this. “Yes, of course I want it. I want your cum, daddy.”

That was it for him. I watched as Andy threw his head back, eyes closed in bliss while his biceps bulged in an effort to keep him from falling on top of me. “Yessss… Make me a dad, Y/N,” he roared, suddenly pushing himself away from me to hold my legs open even wider, fingertips buried on the flesh of my thighs.

I felt his release paint my insides, and our eyes connected just then, acknowledging the weight of the moment between us. His hand reached out to stroke my chin before he carefully rolled us over so I could rest on his chest without him leaving me.

“I can’t believe we get to stay here for as long as we want,” he suddenly spoke, breaking the comfortable silence that had fallen between us. “No more excuses, no more hiding. Just you and me, and this big and comfortable bed.”

“I can’t believe I get to fall asleep next to you…” I whispered, lightly tracing over his jawline until he turned to meet my eyes, hand holding my wrist tightly to catch my attention - as if it wasn’t already on him.

“I can’t believe you think you’ll be getting any sleep tonight.” And with that fortunate prediction into my future, I knew it would be full of giggles and satisfaction, just as long as I got to have Andy by my side.

#andy barber smut #smut #andy barber #my fics #andy barber reader #andy barber reader insert #andy barber x reader #andy barber x y/n #andy barber x you #andy barber fanfiction #andy barber oneshot #andy barber imagine

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yolo1650 · 3 years

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Animal Crossing One Shot- Your Love (ReddxReader)

Summary: After a stressful outing with your family, you decide to let loose and spend the rest of the night with your most recent hookup.

Word Count: 3170

Warnings: This one definitely is rated M for mature just to be safe, talk of sex, slightly smutty, angst, especially at the end, inappropriate drinking, mentions of drug use, two adults being bad examples, reckless behavior, has adult language, minors please do not read

This was inspired by the song “Your Love” by the Outfield. I also recommend you guys check out the PostModern Jukebox cover of the same song, the vibe really fits this fic’s atmosphere

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Thankfully the streets were nearly empty around this time, which made the trip there quick and smooth. The street lights and buildings flew past you at accelerating speeds as you neared your destination.

*ping*

You didn't even have to look at your phone to know who it was that texted you, or what it said. Knowing him, it was probably his usual smirking emoji, or an eggplant one if he was feeling particularly frisky today.

Not that it mattered, because after what you had to go through earlier, you were honestly down for anything.

It was only after stepping outside of your modest 2012 Honda Civic did you realize you forgot to change out of the clothes you wore to the party. The combined sale value of your outfit and the wine set in your hands had to equal at least triple the sale value of the car alone. Thankfully it was only two in the morning. So no one was around to witness you, the walking oxymoron, lock their rental car before walking across the street.

In all the months that you have done this, this would be the first night where you were reckless like this. You assured yourself that it would also be your last.

The door in front of you opened to a shirtless, grinning fox with a lit cigarette in hand. He was a little bit younger than any of your previous hookups. But you didn't mind, and the sex was definitely much more playful and addicting because of it. Perhaps that was why you found yourself standing in front of his door almost every week for the past three months.

He whistled a low whistle.

"You know if you wanted to go out and have dinner, you should have picked a more reasonable hour to meet me."

Trying your best, you repressed a bittersweet laugh. Dinner did sound nice. Then the two of you could remotely feel like a normal couple. Only, you weren't a normal couple. You quickly changed the subject by raising your hands, one which held a wine bottle, and another which held two wine glasses and a wine key.

"No worries, I have all the dinner we need right here."

Handing him the bottle, you saw his eyes light up in intrigue and excitement.

Redd never asked you to spend money on him and neither did you, as the two of you knew damn well that these meetings had to leave a paperless trail. If anything suspicious showed up on your credit card statement, your parents were sure to find out and it would be bad news for the both of you. It also did his ego some good too, as there was no way he could ever do better than this fancy bottle of wine.

You only started bringing a complimentary drink this past month, all usually from your family's cellar. Not that Redd was complaining or anything. You were already one hell of a main course, why not spice it up with a nice little appetizer?

So what was it this time? A deep, mature Merlot? A fun, fruity Pinot Noir? Maybe it was one of those simple and bold Chardonnay he liked so much last time. He put out his cigarette before turning the bottle over and examining its label.

"Ahh, you know, I've always wanted to try-" The length of the name alone was enough to stop him mid-sentence. "Mmm, sorry sugar, I can't accept any gifts with names I can't pronounce."

You chuckled and moved next to him to see for yourself. As you took the bottle from his hands, you gave no protest when he pulled you closer with his hand at your waist. You grinned at the sight of the familiar label.

"It's Pinot Noir," you explained. "More specifically, a Maison Leroy, 1989."

Redd couldn't help but feel his heart flutter at the sight of that mischievous twinkle in your eyes.

"My parents are so going to hate me when they find out that this is gone."

Your own eyes met with his own, which held an expression that made your heart stop.

"Rough day, huh?" He asked.

"You know it, handsome," you whispered into his ear. A pleasant shiver ran down his spine.

As you went off to prepare the drinks in the tiny kitchenette he had, Redd closed the door and leaned against it. Usually the pet names were more or less his sort of thing. But every once and a while you would throw in a few of your own and every damn time, it would always drive him crazy. Everything about you drove him crazy. Your soft hair. Your lively eyes. Your amazing body. Your beautiful smile.

Watching you open the bottle with a little pop, he felt something stir within him. A want to hold you closer than ever before and never let go. A desire to wake up with you curled against him, instead of seeing you walk out the door. A need to share with you his heart, his soul, and his everything.

But the two of you weren't in that kind of relationship now, were you?

Still deep in thought, Redd didn't even see that you were already carrying your drinks to the bedroom.

You looked back to his piercing, half-lidded gaze and, after interpreting it for a lustful one, flashed a sly grin in return.

"Well come on then, I didn't come here to be drunk and alone tonight."

To Redd, those words only confirmed what he already knew, that you were only here for a good time.

~~~

One of the first lessons your parents taught you, as their only child and heir to one of the world's richest corporations, was to be very selective of who to trust. It wasn't until recently that you realized that anyone who gave that advice were the ones that should be distrusted the most.

How ironic.

It seemed like from that point on your entire life was defined by irony. You were the most alone when you were surrounded by your family. The deadbeat apartment of a stranger’s was more like home than the pristine mansion that you grew up in. Your most treasured memories were held within the cheap fabrics of a futon. And as you sat on top of the lap of a criminal, next to a half-empty bottle of wine, you swore you've never felt more safe than when he wrapped his arms around your waist.

Your own arms have found the perfect spot on Redd's shoulders. It brought his face nice and close to your own, which not only made kissing his lips easy, but also his jaw and neck as well. Hot breaths tickled the inside of your ear, causing you to giggle uncontrollably.

"Redd, you're so drunk," you said as you rested your forehead against his own. Your own words were just as jumbled as the nonsense you heard before. "Whaddjiya say?"

Looking at his flushed face, you watched as his lips curled into a lazy grin as he hummed. His eyes were half lidded and full of adoration. Being this close together, you were sure he could hear how fast your heart was beating.

You didn't even know Redd for very long, or really knew him at all for that matter, and yet with one look he was able to send your heart racing. Well, you knew he was an artist, not only well adept in the visual arts but the art of conning as well. But that never bothered you. You've known some family members who've done far worse, scamming people out of their own pride and disgust for the poor. Redd only scammed because he needed to, and that made him the most honest person that you've ever met.

And the best part was that you could actually be yourself around him. Without the judgmental gaze of your family or their friends, there were no rules, no worries, no box to be squeezed into. It was just you and Redd, and he has never judged you once for it.

He pecked your nose with a gentle kiss.

"I said, ya look beautiful darling, being all dressed up like that and all."

Even after two full glasses, you still felt a new wave of heat rushing into your cheeks. You gave a small, strained smile before locking lips with him once again. The kiss, slow and full of longing.

At first you liked seeing Redd a little bit drunk. He would get a little more cuddlier, and a little bit more direct with his flirting. With that, it was like you could pretend for just a few moments that you were more than just a hookup. But now it just made your heart throb as you were reminded of the events that brought you here in the first place.

Pushing those feelings down a familiar one rose up on top. Cupping his face with your hands, you deepened the kiss as you adjusted yourself to sit right on top of his growing erection. As you moved your hips back and forth, Redd moaned underneath you. He moved his hands from your waist, down to grip you from behind, pushing you into him more. After breaking away, the two of you shared a moment of reprieve, as your breaths came out in short pants. You grinned a devilish smile before speaking.

“While I’m glad you like the outfit, I was hoping you could rip it off me, sport.”

Redd flashed his canines, displaying a sinful glee of his own.

“Feeling anything in particular today?” He asked.

You leaned in and whispered hoarsely into his ear. “Just surprise me.”

A low growl came out of Redd's mouth as he pushed you down on top of the futon, making you giggle. You’ve seen Redd’s body on top of you like this dozens of times. But this time, there was a nervous fluttering inside you as his fingers skillfully undressed you. At first you just chalked it up to the excitement of having sex with him.

But the butterfly sensation remained even as he deeply kissed you. His hands caressed your body, its touch was gentle, leaving every square inch aflame. When your eyes locked with his, the nerves came back stronger than ever, and deep down you knew the real answer. It left only one question in your mind:

Was it possible to be in love with someone you barely knew?

~~~

By now, Redd already knew all of your sexual preferences. Usually you liked it a little on the rough side, some days more than others, depending on how stressed out you were. On the occasion when you were in a really good mood, you'd like something more on the teasing side. Him on the other hand, well, he wouldn't say he really had a preference. He always enjoyed sex with you. It wasn't every day where he met someone who's stamina rivaled his own, and the challenge that provided was something Redd was always down for.

But this time, your request was to "just surprise you," and at that moment he knew he wanted to do something new and different. While you were the same smart, confident and snarky person who walked into the bar and captured his interest months ago, things just felt different now.

Even though you never outright said much about yourself, you never really had to. Whatever you left unsaid you would say it ten times louder with your actions. He knew you came from good money, even your more modest clothes were well over how much he made in a year. But you've never acted like any other booshi he's known. No empty promises and pity looks, no flashy speech to protect your ego and to talk down scum like him. You didn't even bat an eye when he told you how he makes most of his money. In fact, he's never met anyone who yelled "fuck the rich" as loudly or as proudly as you.

The two of you were kindred spirits. Left bitter by the betrayal of the world and yet still managed to find each other. Tonight was the night where he'd show you that, using his whole body to do it.

At the end, only breathless gasps were uttered between you. Both of your cheeks were colored red, despite the alcohol having already left your systems. Your backs were leaned against the only pillow that he owned. You were the first one to speak.

"I don't know if it was the Leroy that did it this time, but that was probably the best sex I've ever had."

Redd swung his arm around your shoulder and pulled you close. He looked at you with a prideful grin.

"Oh yeah? Care to explain?"

That would have been the second time he's seen you blush like that tonight, like a spark of kitsunebi. Its beauty flashed briefly before disappearing once again, a trick in the light. Your eyes had trouble meeting his gaze. They constantly flitted back and forth between him and your lap as you struggled to find the words.

"If felt..."

Were you embarrassed? You, the one that openly admitted and pursued your alcoholic tendencies. You, the one who, after wrecking a bar because one sleaze couldn't take a hint, nonchalantly left a six figure check into the manager's hand and walked away. You, the one that shamelessly banged as many people as paintings he's forged. Unbelievable. Redd's smile only widened as he witnessed your tongue-tied condition. Eventually you sighed in defeat and turned away. Your answer was just barely above a whisper.

"...I don't know, just different. But in a good way."

He reached out and gently grabbed your chin, turning your face back to him. Your faces were close enough for a kiss. But really, he just wanted to get a good look at that flustered face, and damn did you look adorable. He could just stare at it all day.

The words came tumbling out of him before he even knew it.

"Is it crazy that I might be in love with you?"

For just an instant, he saw it. That look of dread, that face that someone made when everything went wrong. It left as quickly as it came because soon enough your hungry lips crashed into him, and he was reminded of the first night you were together. The kiss was forceful, not once giving him time to breathe. Before he knew it, you had him pushed against the wall with an arm on either side of his face. In the next second you had released your hold on his lips and looked down at him with half-lidded eyes.

"Yes," was your only response before crashing in on him again.

Well, that certainly wasn't the answer he was expecting. He remained stiff and motionless underneath you, unsure how to respond. But the feeling of you on top of him was tempting, to just melt into your touch was too easy. He kissed you back. That look that he thought he saw earlier was probably just his imagination, and what you probably meant to say was that you liked crazy people. Good thing they called him Crazy Redd.

When you bit down on his lower lip, it sent small tingles of electrifying excitement between you two and he pulled you closer. It just felt so right to have you in his arms, he was sure you felt it too. Why else would you be on top of him right after he told you he loved you? As you traced teasing kisses down his stomach he could tell you were asking for a second round. His expectant gaze being the only confirmation you needed to keep going. Any fears he had before ceased to exist once he looked into your eyes, full of passion and confidence. He loved you, and deep down, he knew you loved him too.

Right?

Hearing Redd's soft snores next to you was your cue to start getting dressed. You tried your best to be quick and it wasn't because you were about to be late for work. Grabbing all of your things, including the Leroy, you head towards the door. But before you reached for the doorknob, you dared to turn back at Redd’s sleeping body.

Even though you've seen his peaceful face countless time, every time, even now, it still felt like it was the first. You felt your heart swell along with the gentle rise and fall of his chest as you walked closer. Looking down, you tried your best to memorize every square inch of his serene face, its slender shape, a cute, twitchy nose, high cheekbones and thin eyebrows, You were even close enough to place a kiss right between those eyebrows. It wasn’t like he was going to wake up, especially after last night. Just a sweet little kiss goodbye before you ever saw him again.

You breath hitched and you pulled yourself away from his face, suddenly remembering yourself. As you made your way back to the door, you tilted your head back, taking a few gulps of last night’s wine. You urged yourself forward. Redd’s face wouldn’t look so sweet if you stayed any longer. You imagined his fine eyebrows, strained as they knit together in anguish, his bright eyes now simmering embers, and his lips sealed tight into an uncharacteristic frown. Stealing one last glance at the Redd behind you was like comparing day and night. You were doing yourself a favor by having your last memory of Redd’s face be this one, and not the one you’ve been fearing all night.

Finishing up the last of the wine, you left the apartment as the memory Redd's confession last night replayed in your head. If Redd was crazy for just loving you, you had to be downright mental to be driving away like this.

As you bit your lip and clenched your shaking hands onto the steering wheel, you deeply wished the ache in your chest would go away. You wished he didn’t confess to you tonight, of all nights. You wished you didn't go to that party with your family before coming here. You wished you had the choice to just be happy, because in just a few months you were going to marry someone you could never love. The only one you did love you've just left alone in his futon, and you were never going to see him ever again.

After getting on the highway, you weren't sure whether to feel surprised, agitated or indifferent when you felt hot tears prickle at the corners of your eyes. You swallowed a hard lump in your throat. Unfortunately you’ve just finished whatever alcohol you had on you and your Vicodin was in the other car. Your only condolence was the fact that there was always more time to cry in the shower after you got home.

——————————————————————————

Kitsunebi-also commonly known as foxfire. Used in folklore as a means to lead travelers astray

Ohhhhh booyyyyyyy. I told ya’ll this one was going to be a doozy.

But also, wow! My first (kind of) songfic! I decided to leave out the lyrics throughout the fic, it just messed up with the flow too much. Especially since I added so much background info, the reader here is just half a step away from being a full fledged oc XD

If you liked reading things like these, I’d recommend Friends with Benefits (a Hetalia fic), by YourHero213 on Wattpad. (It actually has a happy ending lol)

If you’re looking for something with more substance, more unrequited feelings and more romantic tension, I’d highly recommend I’m a Fool to Want You (a Hazbin Hotel fic) by DisneyFanatic2364. I’ve linked the one on AO3, but it’s on fanfction.net as well.

Both of these writers are a big inspiration for my own writing. So I hope you can show them some love too!

Let me know what you guys think, constructive criticism is especially welcome here :D

-(･ω･)v

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lavendertwilight89 · 4 years

Text

What You Like-- White Day Speical

Hope this makes up for the lack of Valentine’s Post :)

Thanks go to @keichanz for her fic “Selfie” that inspired parts of my fic

@lemonlushff @clearwillow for hosting White Day!

@dangerouspompadour @akitokihojo @bearpluscat @kaze-ranna @xfangheartx @sarah-writes-stories

Enjoyyyyyyy

She awoke with a start. It wasn’t the first time this had happened since she moved out of her family’s shrine. It had only been a month maybe since it had become a permanent move. She got a nearby one-bedroom apartment; she needed her own escape—she meant place! She gathered her surroundings and realized she was completely alone… like usual… until she noticed the sound of running water…

What. The. Fuck. Happened???!? She remembered she hit the sauce pretty hard last night. Last night marked four of the longest years of her life. Four long years without her friends from the other side of the well. Four years without the love of her life. Four years of pure misery… Ugh her head was going to split in two from her careless actions or probably the worst hangover she had ever had…

Since her quick departure from the Feudal Era four years ago, she couldn’t shake her rampant and monstrous dreams. They caused her frequent disruptions throughout the night and drove the need for alcohol (well, to be honest, that wasn’t the only reason for her to start drinking). College had been not the best experience—especially when she had to share a room with a roommate. She knew her dorm mate didn’t care for her; in-regards-to: well-being, modesty, or just all around courtesy. She often had a pillow (sometimes heavier objects) thrown at her if she was screaming or crying in her sleep to wake her up, had her food ate without permission, or had her privacy violated…But the worst thing was—her roommate was what one would have referred to as ‘loose’. And by that, she didn’t care that she entertained men. No, she understood. Your body, your rules. Kagome didn’t care about what or who she did that with… She did, however, care her roommate did it when she was in the same freaking room!!!!

She often had to find refuge in Yuka and Eri’s room. Ayumi had decided to travel abroad her year having taken extended courses in high school of German to prepare her. But their second year, the four of them got a suite style apartment and things worked out better. But the nightmares never faded. She started to sleep with a nightlight, kept her bow close, started drinking before bed... Her friends felt for her, but they had their own lives, their own boyfriends. They still hadn’t heard the full story of what happened to Inuyasha… They just knew he was gone. They tried to reset her up a couple times with Hojo… But she refused when she knew it was a date-like-thing. She was determined to always wait for Inuyasha to find her. He always found her… He would always come for her…

She could have started screaming because not only did she hear the shower running, but she looked down at herself and she was FUCKING NAKED. And she was extremely sore down there. FUCK. DAMNIT ALL. UGH. Tears started to form in the corners of her eyes from her own stupidity… Four long years of not ever having a boyfriend, no random make-out sessions or anything… and she lost it on a night she blacked out… Actually, she could kind of visual some of what happened, so not completely blacked out, just some parts were missing… Think! Think how did I let this happen!?!?

She had been out with the girls and their boyfriends. She didn’t have to work, for once, on the weekend in the Emergency room. She usually was always worked weekend shifts with her being so new and willing—because obviously she didn’t have anything else to do. No boyfriend. She avoided home because of the reminders of her past, didn’t want to be alone in her new apartment... An excuse to avoid people in general… But when her friends called her, she reluctantly agreed as she hadn’t been out with them since graduation…basically a full month ago… whoops…

They had bought her shots all evening and kept trying to get her to make a move on Hojo because they knew she was upset about this was year number four without Inuyasha. They were at the newest club down the street from her apartment. They’d made her wear a black pencil skirt and a forest green sleeveless tank, sheer, but she insisted she had a black camisole underneath so no one could see anything inappropriate. She had been nicknamed the prude of the group. She didn’t care though. She didn’t care what anybody thought. She would stay a virgin her whole life if she had to. She would wait for him… Her friends assumed she was just nervous… Pfffft. Don’t get her wrong, she pleasured herself enough at home, but no one excited her. No one sang her that sweet erotic song like the owner of those amber eyes had. Call her prude, nervous about the idea of someone down there, whatever—bottom line was she wasn’t easy. She refused to just sleep with someone who didn’t even appeal to her. Maybe if someone had come along that inspired those feelings… Those wants… But no, no one had. Ever. There was no one who made her feel like that. She was doomed to become the crazy cat lady who fucked herself with her fingers.

But she also reluctantly, refused to give up hope. She could have decided just to more or less poison herself with shot after shot and pray Hojo would finally look okay enough to just ‘bang it out’. But no. Barf. Nope. Sorry, he had been the most boring person she had met. She’d prefer Koga. Koga. Even then, if Koga appeared right there in front of her, she’d still say no. Because it wasn’t him. Still didn’t have that beautiful silver hair that fell to his waist, those sexy little triangles that sat on top of his head, furrowing dark brows, sultry smirk…

After she lost count of shots, she snuck away and paid her tab. She didn’t really remember signing her name or how much she tipped, but that was neither here nor there. She made enough to support herself, her habits, and then some. She dipped out before her friends tried to get her to dance with Hojo. Nothing had ever turned her off less than them dancing together. She’d prefer to dance with her brother. Ok, she admitted, that was kind of crass, but still—that’s what she equated a dance with Hojo with; like her brother trying to make move on her. Barf. Hojo had just become that constant reminder to her how boring her life had become once she returned from the Feudal Era. A reminder of what she really wanted… Oh Gods, she thought she was going to be sick. Nope. Nope. She needed to make it to the apartment.

She walked noisily up the stairs. Staggering around and laughing at herself, she knew she looked like a drunken idiot. The only person who she knew who lived here was Jiro, her across the hall neighbor. She didn’t mind him. He was okay looking. He had black hair, kinda longer than most but wore it in that trending man-bun. He had bright blue eyes. Brighter than Miroku’s. It was weird because he looked similar to her old friend... But he was nice and not at all handsy. He listened to some of her college stories. Listened to her cry. Watched movies with her as she passed out from her drinking too much in an evening. He was nice guy. He never took advantage. But it probably did help she made it clear nothing would EVER happen.

She finally got to the fifth floor (the thought occurred to her why hadn’t she taken the elevator? Oh yea, she couldn’t figure out the buttons hahahaha). And he was standing there. She had to be crazy. It wasn’t him. Demons were gone. They hadn’t been around in ages. She searched, researched, tried to find any clue that they could be around. That he could be around… That they’d just gone into hiding… Nothing… She clearly was delusional at that point. Drunk. Yea, definitely that. She had what… four shots bought for her? No, probably like six…eight? Not including the two drinks she had herself?

But this was the first time she felt like she could actually sense him. His demonic aura… She hadn’t given up all her hopes yet. But she resigned herself and just smiled sadly thinking her mind was playing tricks on her though; it was their four year anniversary of being separated after all.

“Heyyyyy… Why you up so late, Jirooooooo?” She sang drunkenly.

His face changed from sheer awe to confusion. His head titled as she approached him stumbling in her heals. As she watched his ears twitch, wow she had a very active imagination, she tripped and gasped but his arms caught her easily. She giggled and hiccupped turning up to face him.

“Opps, sorry ‘bout that! Probably had like, four too many tonight…I blame the girls though. They bought more than half, said stuff about ‘no pity party’ or sumthin’…” she felt her face heat as his hands didn’t move away nor did he say anything… probably just thought she was being crazy and had been helpless like usual when she was absorbed in her bad influences. She turned away from his chest to the purse in her hands to grab her keys but unfortunately spilled the entire contents onto the floor with only her keys and purse intact.

“Ugh *hiccup*darnnnnnnnn! Jiro, lemme go, I need to pick all this up and climb into bed,” she slurred.

He still didn’t release her and was breathing unsteadily. What had gotten into him? “You’re acting all weird ‘n stuff Jiro, everythin’ ok? I’d ask if you wanna talk but it’s late and I’m pretty sure I’m not gonna remember at this *hiccup* point,” she drowsily turned to face him.

Goddddddddd[AR1] [AR2] . That FACE was still staring back at her with those amber eyes, silver hair, fluffy ears, dark brows, tan skin…

“Uhm… Jiro? I know this sounds kinda crazy… but—you have a different face on ya. For real, I need to go to bed. I’m losin’ my mind.”

“Whose face do I have, Ka-Go-Me?”

Her eyes widen and her breath hitched. She swallowed uneasily. That…that voice… Maybe this was a sign—she should just give into her needs and just fuck this dude already that now took on Inuyasha’s form. For whatever reason, the universe, the Gods, her imagination were finally making her see, hear, smell, and touch “Inuyasha” again… She had refused to entertain those ideas anyway just in case Inuyasha did manage to come along… Well not just because that. The attraction thing was huge. But she hoped if he had lived 500+ years he didn’t wait for her… She just knew his sense of smell would put him off if she fooled around with someone not special to her, but he could probably forgive her for not waiting... Wait—was that why she didn’t find any one attractive? For the off chance he finalllllllllly appeared, he would smell her? What was she saying? Thinking? God, all her thoughts were jumbled. She didn’t need to play counselor to herself right then. Maybe she should’ve just stopped waiting… He was gone… This wasn’t him. No, she couldn’t allow her heart to be shattered again…

“Wh—uhm—” she cleared her throat, blushed having heard her name said like that. It’d been since she started traveling with Inuyasha since her name was pronounced like that. She was beyond flustered. “Ji-Jiro uhm, it’s late, I may be drunk but—but—I’m waiting for someone. If you know what I *hiccup* mean. Go home,” she said flailing her arms towards his apartment.

His eyes softened, “Who are you waiting for?”

He had been acting so weird and clingy! So unusual for him. He would have usually just leave her, let her stumble—he respected her independence. Even though sometimes in the morning she wondered whyyyyyyyy he would have left her in the state she was in. But he remained steadfast—his arms still around her. She figured he could come in for bit… He was always respective… He wouldn’t have tried anything… Grabbing her keys she leaned forward against his chest, resting her head on his shoulder—had he gotten taller?—reaching around him and put them in the door and twisted. Even with heals, she probably would’ve been able to meet his head… He wasn’t that tall… Who knows, she was obliterated. What was she thinking about anyway? His arms slightly increased their pressure around her, and she swore he took a giant whiff of her hair.

“Well come on in; I probably can’t walk anyway without you’re help. The girls thought it’d be ‘sexy’ to wear these disastrous shoes… but I’ll tell you a story Jiro *hiccup*. About the man I fell in love with…that one’s new right? I know I’ve been refusing to share, but I’m probably numb enough to share tonight.”

He bent slightly and picked her up bridal style causing her to shriek a little in startlement and her to wrap her arms around his neck. Wow, his hair was really that long? She wove her fingers through it… Jiro’s hair isn’t this long, there’s no way I’m that creative with my imagination… Nope—nope don’t let your hopes get raised. You’re just crazy. Crazy. Yep. He paused at her ministrations looking down at her as she turned back to face him… Her heart was racing… She swore she saw him eye her lips and lick his briefly but then placed her on the couch gently before turning away. She immediately missed the intimate contact. He returned to the door and picked up all her things from the floor outside putting them back in the bag for her. Dude, he was such a nice guy. She felt bad to burden him with her problems…

He closed the door behind him and stopped midstride having caught an eye of a picture she had by the front door. The picture of her and Inuyasha taking a selfie in the feudal era. Where she was encompassed between his legs smiling radiantly into the camera and he had his handsome cocky smirk on his face. She giggled drawing his attention back towards her.

“That’s the guy you look like right now. Liquor is a cruel bitch like that, I guess. His name is…was… Inuyasha… I met him when I was fifteen… We uh… knew each other for three years. He was in love with someone else, for a while there… but I couldn’t stop how I felt. If anything, the love I had for him just grew stronger. We had so many moments I really thought, ‘he feels the same’… Like one time he made me cold medicine, he had told me he was scared to lose me but that he needed me by his side, different battles, uh, things happened to have those words fall from his stubborn crass mouth, but he’d also give my his haori even if it meant he’d be more vulnerable… Kisses on the cheek…Temple… A couple on the…” she lightly touched her lips remembering the sensation. “I was eighteen when we got separated by time, literally, and I’ve been searching for him since. Today made four years...FOUR. Can you believe that?? But I’m still lookin’. Even though I don’t think I’ll ever find him… I-I…”

He came and sat by her and looked at her worriedly.

“I’m not crazy—not some childish girl lovesick on some crush she had in high school! I love him! It was real! I’ll find him! I’ll prove everyone and even myself wrong! He can’t be gone! He-he can’t…H-he always has come for me…I-I can’t give up on him,” she started crying. Sobbing actually. Hysterically. How embarrassing. God she was pathetic; she’d been so good about keeping her secrets about her broken heart. Her resistance to move on. Her lack of enthusiasm of seeing the people she still had in life. She always just cried and said she didn’t want to talk about it… Jiro never had pried further. But she apparently lost her last shred of dignity and bawled like a child. “You should leave. Please, don’t judge me. Please! I-I can’t lose you as a friend. I lost all my closest friends then too…The ones that mattered. I-I just miss him so much!”

He grabbed her hands from her face and looked into her eyes with those beautiful rich golden eyes…

“Kagome…It is me…I-I’m not Jiro. You aren’t seeing things—it really is me.”

She stared at him disbelievingly. “It-It can’t be…”

“It is though, Kagome. You’re not just seeing things. I’m here! I’m real,” he steered her hands to his ears. Oh God, she swore he started purring as she massaged them.

“It—I—this isn’t possible…”

“I’m sorry it took so long for me to get to you. I tried to find you but the first time I came by you had left for college… I should have just told your mom who I was when I came by, but I didn’t want to distract you from your future or what you wanted… You were still so young and I wanted to give you time to grow still… The next time she said you had gotten a job at a hospital nearby, but you didn’t come by often. She was reluctant to tell me where you live, and I couldn’t blame her for wanting to protect your privacy—but I actually got a call from Jiro before I could actually tell her who I was while I was with her. He was certain it was you. I told her I was a friend of yours and swore everything would make sense after I talked to you… I-I just wanted to make sure you still wanted to see me. To be in my life before I said anything to her, I just had to see you… I came here and I-I found…” he trailed off. This had happened earlier that very day… He had just left her mom’s house and came here. She had unpacked those pictures since she had the time and Jiro came by and had lunch with her. Her mom had called her three times while she was out… and she stupidly ignored all three. He had waited here for her for hours... And found her stumbling up the stairs laughing to herself drunk as fucking skunk. Nope! He wasn’t real! No God was that cruel. He was for sure an illusion.

“No, no, no, no, noooooo….P-Prove it! Prove to me, you are who you say you are then; prove you’re real,” that extra hiccup at the end made her realize how unserious she sounded—but she thought she sounded pretty desperate at least.

He slightly cringed but appeared to be willing to play her little game, “Ok… ask me anything you’d think I wouldn’t be honest about…anything you want…”

“Mk fine I will! *Hiccup* How did we meet?”

He got up and got her a glass of water and returned handing it to her, “You broke the seal on me. The one Kikyo placed…You broke the arrow, and I attacked you for the jewel. The subjugation beads were placed on me and we began to travel together after you shattered the jewel.”

“What about, how did I get back and forth?”

“The stupid fucking well…You came and went to be with your family and for those stupid tests at school…I should’ve smashed that thing when I had the chance before it separated us.”

She blinked… It couldn’t be… There was no way…

“Ki-kyo…” she said brokenly hoping he would know what she was asking.

“Sigh…I know we never really addressed this. Hopefully this will be enough. I loved Kikyo. We both sought each other out on loneliness. The problem was, we didn’t trust each other. She didn’t trust me because of my demonic heritage. She wanted me to become human using the jewel… I hesitated because I wasn’t sure that was something I wanted. But she said as long as the jewel existed, she could only be a shrine maiden. A priestess. She wanted to be ordinary—in order to be a normal woman with a normal life, the jewel had to be used... I agreed, because I was done being alone, and couldn’t take it if she wouldn’t be with me if I was a half-demon… but in the end I didn’t trust her to believe she wouldn’t try to kill me. After all, I was a dirty half-breed. Then I met you; you taught me to trust, work with others, befriend others… care about other people…

“When she was resurrected, I had already started to fall for you. We were beneath that tree in the village when I tried to kiss you and you pushed me away. But with Kikyo back among the living so shortly after that, my duty to avenge her, save her from the person she had become… it was too much. I couldn’t stop myself from falling for you, but I refused to let you know. Because I was stupid, stubborn, afraid you didn’t feel the same. Even once I did hear that you did love me, the idea that anyone I loved died, it drove me away from you… It didn’t stop the little moments between us. I-I couldn’t help it. Knowing you actually did love me… I just—I wanted to wait until it was all over before we could actually figure out what was between us.

“Kikyo will always be my first love; but Kagome, you had always and will always have my heart.” He took her hand and placed it on his chest. Oh Gods… this—this—

“Th-that picture…” she continued. She had to hear more.

“You brought your cell phone back one time and you took pictures with all of us… So that you had something to remember us by just in case…We were awake after the others fell asleep… I asked you for another one to be shot because the other one we had taken before wasn’t good enough. I wanted… I made you believe it was something you wanted, a better picture with just us… We took a couple. The last one I surprised you and kissed you.”

She swallowed. She knew she was going to start crying again. Stupid drunken images. He couldn’t have been real. But it reallllllly seemed like he was. She didn’t normally see him when she was wasted... Even though she really wanted to. She thought it would numb her pain. Make her forget. But there he was—right there in front of her. On her navy couch. Red button-down shirt, grey suit pants, long silver locks uncut, blazing amber eyes… Oh Gods… this wasn’t real… She wouldn’t allow her hopes to be raised. They had been shattered so soooo many times, she couldn’t allow herself to allow the deception in.

“Where did you find me after the final battle?”

“In the jewel…”

“And we…”

He grabbed her face and kissed her softly which made her melt into his body. She finally let herself go. Who cared? No one could or even would blame her. Even if it wasn’t Inuyasha, she had proved her loyalty to him and then some. She climbed into his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck and tried to pull him as close to her as humanly possible. His hands found themselves on her hips. She felt it. They were both hungry. Hot. Aroused. Needy.

He still smelled of pinewood, forest, musk. God, she had butterflies swirling in her stomach, heat spreading to her lower regions. If this was a dream, an illusion, or just a drunken image, she couldn’t have stopped it even if she wanted to. She needed him. Or whatever he was. Right then. Right there. She shifted and started to slowly grind on his hips, moaning all the while she started to unbutton his red shirt... His hands found hers and he pulled away. She whimpered loudly in disappointment.

“Kagome—God—You don’t know what this means to me. Seeing you, finding you again… But—but you’re drunk. You’re not thinking clearly.”

“Don’t care,” she tried to start kissing him again only for him to have kept her still.

“I’m not going to take advantage of you like this. We just found each other again. I—I can’t—”

“Inuyasha—it’s been four years for me, five-hundred-four for you…Just—shut up” she plunged forward and finally was able to recapture his mouth and he seemingly reluctantly resumed kissing her. Her hands started their handy work again until she shoved off his shirt down his fucking ripplin’ muscles. God, he was more built than he had been before. She swore she could have cum just from the sensation of her fingers touching his warm god-like body, or even having kissed him and him kiss her back in such fervor probably only they could have ever knew.

She moaned as she kept rubbing herself against his very present hardened length. Her skirt was basically no longer a skirt as it was so pushed up exposing her heat. She felt bad knowing that his pants probably were just as wet as her panties. If this was a fantasy she had conjured up, whew boy was it an amazing one. But each kiss, each brush of their tongues, each moan, growl, pant had begun to break down her walls to let her start believing it was reality. He was groaning but clearly hadn’t lost himself completely yet. If this was a dream, she wouldn’t have had that! He was going to fully enjoy this just as much as she planned to. It just then it became a plan of how to get him to unwind.

She moved from his lips, which did cause her to whine a bit but kissing her way down his jaw to his shoulder, to his pecks, Godddddddd. She was beyond wet. She was so horny it was unbelievable. She had never felt like that with anyone. She needed him more than she needed air. But he clearly refused to undress her or be an active participant aside from kissing her. Fine; she admitted she was drunk. But she didn’t care. She maybe would have regretted this in the morning, but the alcohol was definitely convincing her to not give a shit right then. If this truly was Inuyasha, she would have zero regrets… She dropped to the ground between his legs and laughed. Which in turn caused her to hiccup making her only laugh harder.

She turned her eyes back to his face who was flushed but gazed down at her with concern.

“I waited for you, ya know? I couldn’t find anyone who was even half the man you are…I’ve never done…anything…” she trailed off while her hands moved along his thighs which caused his muscles to tighten and forced him to let out a low groan. She reached his button and unbuttoned while she maintained eye contact. She then pulled down the zipper. Slowly. Teasingly. Testing.

“Ka-Kagome—”

“Sh, sh, shhhhh. I’m going to prove this isn’t just about me…Inuyasha…I need this for myself too…Please…” Her skipped a beat when she uttered his name. She tugged down his pants to which he seemed hesitant but still willing complied to her nonverbal commands.

After a long look into his unsure hazy eyes, she turned to look at his twitching hardened cock. This had to be real. Even her imagination couldn’t have made this kind of thing up—the details were so…explicit. Mouthwatering. They made her body burn with excitement. She slowly wrapped her fingers delicately around it and stroked up gently. He jumped and growled. Mmmmm how she missed that sound.

She bent forward and took him in her mouth. His hands shot out to her shoulder and he tried to push her off; but she clenched one hand onto his bare thigh to steady herself and reassure him. Her other remained stroking in time with her taking him as deep as she could in her mouth, covering what she couldn’t contain. Clearly his resolve was weak enough at that point as it kept him from completely over-powering her. Or her fantasy she was stronger. Whatever it was.

He started panting and moved his hands into her hair, but he did not push her down or try to control the speed. It was like he just enjoyed having her tresses in his hands, between his fingers—she didn’t mind either. The sensations only added to her desires. He still rumbled through his gasped breaths, deep from his chest. She felt him twitch in her mouth and his grip tightened as he tried to pull her away but she held firm; she swirled her tongue around the tip, softly grazing him as she would bob up with her teeth and then encase him with her tongue on way the back down. She wanted to know how he tasted or wondered what her imagination would dream up. She was determined to keep going no matter how fucked up she would feel tomorrow. She had to know if in that very moment he was real…

“Kagome—I’m gonna—" She looked up at him and it caused him to hold his breath. His flushed face, tremoring body, God, she started praying to all the Gods she hadn’t spoken to in years that this wasn’t a dream or some drunken made up illusion.

He howled when he released, and she drank him up like she was parched and stuck in the desert, unsure when she would see water again… He was her savior. Her light. Those golden eyes bore into her own chocolate orbs heating her like she was laying on the beach in the middle of summer. She pulled back once she felt him stop pouring into her mouth and remained kneeling.

He grabbed her by her upper arms and drug her back up to him and kissed her hard. His tongue pushed back her lips and she let him taste himself in her mouth. He growled in approval and embraced her hard. He pulled back for them to catch their respective breaths again and locked eyes with her before he kissed her forehead gently.

“Kagome… I-“

“Inuyasha… Please…”

“Grrrr, you’re still the same stubborn wench from five-hundred years ago.”

“Hehehehe, you can say that. Please, I just… I want to believe you’re real… That you’re really here… Please…” she implored stroking her hand on his cheek.

He leaned into her hand sighing. He was still holding back. For whatever he was, real, fake, in between, he was uneasily wavered. Her hand moved subconsciously to his ear where she started kneading it in her finger. He more or less purred (she would never tell him that if he had been real) and kissed her again. She melted in his arms as he picked her up letting her wrap her legs around his bare waist and was carried to the bedroom. She actually didn’t remember that very clearly, she was still in a drunken haze, and only felt she was becoming more intoxicated by that man’s tongue working every angle of her mouth while her own grazed his sharp fangs. Was it possible to get high on this feeling? If so, she was.

He sat her on the bed and moved to unbutton her top but, yet AGAIN, paused. She exhaled irritably and earned a chuckle in addition to the resumption of his fingers delicately unbuttoning her top. She released his shoulders so he could push her top down her arms. She pulled her own camisole over her head and unzipped her skirt letting it fall loosely to her bottom and legs. She sat in just her under garments—lustful eyes set on him. Pleading. Begging for his touch. He slowly cupped her breast which caused a very unexpected sound to escape her own mouth. His mouth moved to her neck and his tongue laved its way to her shoulder.

Her walls were almost broken at that moment. This was a million times better than any fantasy she had dreamed up. She couldn’t have controlled her panting or her withering body at his ministrations even if she had tried to. Her images started to get harder to remember from the night before. Ughhhh noooooo! Keep thinking stupid!!!!

Her bra came off, did she take it off? Or him?

She remembered lifting up her hips for him to pull down her skirt while his mouth suckled on her nipples. That wet hot mouth on her breast made her mewl loudly. She was putty in his hands. Her underwear met an unfortunate fate, while she didn’t see them being removed, she heard a very distinct tear and the sensation of lace went missing…

She had been lying flat on her back as he crawled above her; he took her lips in her gently and lovingly. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and lightly brushed her fingers over his back and then threaded her fingers in long silver hair. He pulled away and started to trail his way back down her body, nipping, licking, kissing, hands brushing against every surface his face passed.

Fire. She was on fire. She was desperate for her release. She had never been so achy in her life. She was brokenly saying his name over and over pleading for him to understand what she wanted when she felt his tongue lick between her folds against her core.

She wailed and locked her hands on his head. Pressing him, if possible, further into her. His pace was torturous. She could tell he was learning her smell and taste all over again. She heard him mumble about how amazing she smelled and he had so many dreams about tasting her—none of which stacked up to that moment.

“Please Inuyasha… Pleaseeeee…”

That was what broke him—he began to set a better, fast rhythm. He used one hand to keep her hips steady (which she hadn’t been aware they were apparently out of control) and the other had started pumping a digit in and out of her. She had already been spoiled. She could never go back to her own fingers. No. Never. They would never stack up.

She was sooooooo close. The coil in belly was pulled tight. She wasn’t even sure if she had been panting or breathless at this point. She remembered trying to buck her hips in time with his fingers (wait, he added some??) but he still held her hips still. But the moment his mouth clamped down on her nub she was gone. Literally and figuratively. That was it.

The shower turned off and she heard the sound a towel being wrapped… She was scared. She figured she might as well check herself into a mental institution… That or AA. She knew she had issues. She shivered in revulsion pulling the cover up to her breasts and closed her eyes when the bathroom door opened in the hallway.

“Kagome?”

Th-that voice… She dared peek and… it really was him. He was standing there, wrapped in a towel hanging from his hips, hair dripping from the shower, concerned eyes on her. She threw the sheet off, stumbled out of bed, and jumped to embrace him. He caught her easily and held her close as she sobbed into his chest brokenly weeping his name. He started to stroke her hair then picked up her and carried her back to the bed. They remained like that for some time until she finally calmed down.

“I-I’m sorry, Kagome.”

“What?” she asked as she lifted her head from his chest.

“I said I’m sorry… I… I took advantage of you…” his ears were flat on his head and he trembled slightly.

“Inuyasha, what do you mean?”

“I let you talk me into going further than I had planned on. I knew you were drunk and I tried to stop, I tried to stop you, but you were so persistent and I—I missed you so much, your scent was driving my instincts wild and—”

“Inuyasha,” she pressed a hand to cup his cheek which he leaned into. “I wasn’t—I didn’t—uhm…honestly I’m embarrassed to say I don’t remember everything from last night. But I know you wouldn’t have taken advantage of me. I actually have never been with anyone before and the fact I was so desperate in the parts I do remember, I’m not surprised I made us have sex,” he opened his mouth but she pressed a finger to it. “Wait, I want to finish. The parts I do remember I know you made me feel alive, for the first time in years. Just like when we traveled together. I’m not sorry last night happened. I love you so much, Inuyasha. I always wanted to be with you. I had been waiting for you, trying to find you since the well closed. I-I just hope… you’d be willing to do it again while I am sober and that I didn’t ruin our chances at that...”

He nipped her finger lightly and she squeaked and pulled it back blushing like mad. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but…” she braced herself for him to tell her he regretted last night and that there would be no repeat. She couldn’t have said she would have blamed him. She had been stupid. She shouldn’t have been that drunk. She was seriously going to start a sober streak after today. Hopefully she could win him back…

“We actually didn’t have sex.” She blinked. Twice. Did she hear that right? They…did not? But why was…

“Why don’t you tell me what the last thing you remember, Kagome.”

“Uhm… you-you had just finished, uhm—” she blushed like mad, just remembering what his tongue had made her feel heated her up. She noticed he stiffened beneath her, sniffing the air, and he growled sexily. She tried to swallow but before she could, he had her pinned underneath him, lips pressed to hers hotly. She moaned from the contact and let his tongue enter her mouth while she used hers to reacquaint herself with those fangs. He pulled away and started kissing down her jaw rumbling deep in his chest as she struggled to breathe. Her body was in flames. Clearly, she was always going to burn with him. She was so hot, so needy, she had never wanted anything more than his mouth to go lower. She wanted to jump into the flames with him.

“Let me—refresh—your memory—Ka—Go—Me,” he said brokenly as he kissed all down her chest and took her nipple in his mouth. She mewled, gasped, moaned, she had no control her body or the sounds it produced for him. The alcohol had not been a source of fuel—her body and mind apparently craved him so much that any touch would send her over the edge. But she had zero cares about being so wanton because it seemed like it just egged him on more. She arched herself into his mouth and massaged his ears as he thoroughly refreshed her memory. After each of her breasts for fully loved, bitten, suckled, he continued his quest south. He knelt to the ground between her legs allowing the towel to drop as he gave her a teasing lick. Her hands latched onto his head, entwining her fingers in his hair while she moaned his name.

“Oh Gods, Inuyashaaaaaa!” her hips rocked in rhythm with his tongue, she was aching. Yes, she had this pleasure last night, but at that moment, she knew she would never get enough from him. Ever.

He pushed two fingers into her folds and started pumping in and out of her while the other hand reached up and started to knead her breast. His mouth found purchase on her sensitive nub and she about lost it right there with a desperate cry until he drew back—damnit!!! He’s a fucking tease!!!

“We stopped right after you came last night. You more or less passed out mumbling not to leave you again… Let me tell you something right now, wench…” he started pumping his fingers faster, harder, making her cry from pleasure but still not enough to release for him. “I have no intention of ever letting you out of my life again. We were born for each other, Kagome. I waited five-hundred years for this moment; and I was not going to mark you while you drunk out of your fucking mind. But Gods, did I want to, I’m struggling for control now.”

“Th-Then stop—take me—pleaseeeeee—ahhhhhh! Inu-Inuyasha please!”

“Don’t gotta ask twice,” he smirked his mouth engulfed around her jewel and sucked hard. She came hard crying out loudly, soaking his fingers and the edge of her bed. She didn’t get a moment to recover as he rose to his feet and steered her fully on the mattress then climbed over her. Their mouths locked and her legs swung and wrapped themselves around his hips while her arms swathed his shoulders. He lined himself up at her entrance but paused.

“Inuyashaaaa—” she whined pathetically.

“Do… you do know this is a ‘forever’ kind of thing…right? Demons, we don’t just go and do this with anybody… We either need to sire an heir…or we plan on mating forever. I won’t be able to stop my inner demon if we start Kagome—it has been screaming since last night to take you. Claim you. But—I know as a human, you need to know, that you will watch your friends die. Your family. Time will become almost nonexistent… Are you sure this is what you want? I—I am just so thankful to have you back. I want anything you want.”

“Inuyasha… if I’m with you, I will always be whole. I will never regret this decision. Four years was enough for me to know I could never be without you. I want to be with you… Always,” she reached up to cup his face and pulled him down for a tender kiss. As their lips were locked, he pushed forward gently. She felt herself slowly being stretched but it felt so amazing to feel this complete, it overrode the slight pain and discomfort. She was so wet, it made it easy for him to slide in. She suspected he was restraining himself to not just shove himself fully in her. Or this felt completely overbearingly amazing. His face was pleasure ridden she couldn’t tell one reason from the other.

He rested his forehead against hers once he was fully sheathed in her. He was likely trying to control himself, but she refused to have any of that. She needed him. All of him. Demon, Human, Half. That wall of disbelief was shattered last night and almost lurked its ugly head back again when she had woken up—she was vulnerable and demanded to be filled by Inuyasha. This was real. He had come for her.

She bucked her hips causing them both to gasp and moan out their pleasure. He took his cue and began slowly driving into her. She met him thrust for thrust—encouraging him to go faster, deeper, harder. He gritted her name through clenched teeth, his fangs elongating. She reassured him by cupping his face then slowly moving her hands to stroke his ears. His growl vibrated her to the core, and he began to plunge in deeper and faster. She could barely keep her eyes open let alone not grasp his ears tightly; before she could have harmed his little furry appendages, she dropped her hands onto his shoulders, stabbing him with her blunt nails, no longer able to match his pace. She was just along for the ride and this was the best roller coaster she had ever rode.

She was mewling, crying out his name and probably a God or two, begging for more. She was so close. So close. She heard him cuss under his breath and opened her eyes see his purple strips present on his cheeks. She felt his claws prick her hips. He had finally lost whatever battle he had within himself. But his amber eyes shined through.

“I-I’m close, Kagome.”

“Me-Me too! Ah! God!”

“When I release, I’m going to mark you. Here—” he dropped his head and licked the junction of her shoulder and neck and pulled back up to make eye contact.

“Okay—Inu-Inuyashaaa, pleaseee…”

“Yea, Kagome? What do you want? What do you neeeed?” he purred.

She couldn’t articulate what she really needed—but she knew what she wanted. She knew one way to finish them both. She looked up to make sure he was watching as she let go of one of his shoulders and dropped her hand to rub her overly stimulated nub. He sucked in a breath and almost closed his eyes, but he looked too entranced to look away. His thrusts became harder and he resumed his previous pace before having paused to tell her about the mark. She cried out his name as her coil snapped, her core seized around him, pulling him in, trying not to let him go, milking him for all he had.

He roared her name as he came pulling her up to his mouth and bit down. She whimpered in pain but didn’t fight him. She wanted this. Craved this closeness. Absorbed his demonic aura into her body happily without hesitation.

He pulled his fangs from her first and swabbed the blood with his tongue then pulled out of her slowly. He released her hips and lowered himself back down to the bed gently next to her. She immediately closed the gap clambering to rest her head on his chest. He chuckled and wrapped his arm around her pulling her body close, leaving his hand on her bottom, stroking it gently.

“So… if we didn’t have sex last night…” she peered up to look him in the eyes. He placed a pillow under him so he was elevated so he could look down into her eyes with ease.

“We didn’t. I would have never take advantage of you when you were that far gone. Marking you and having explain everything after? Yea, if the beads still worked, I would have been sat to Berlin.”

“No, I wouldn’t have been mad, but—why was I sore between my legs when I woke up?”

“You were sore… Oh! I forgot! You wiggled your way out of my hold last night complaining about having to pee and you fell hard straddling the toilet. I came in but you shoed me out… I waited outside the door only to hear you fall in the shower—you’re lucky you didn’t bust your head open.”

“OH… God…” she covered her face with her hands. “Why you would still want me to mate with me after last night?”

“Kagome, when you came up those stairs you reeked of liquor and sadness, all I wanted to do was make the pain stop. Jiro said for the month you’ve lived here all you’ve done is drink yourself to sleep or cry. He said you refused to open-up and he didn’t want to push you in fear you wouldn’t let him learn who you really were. After hearing about your nightmares and everything else, it tore me up to know this was how you had been living… I thought it was best you decide on a future for yourself; I didn’t realize how much you would suffer alone like I had though, and I’m so sorry. I understood why you had been drinking the way you had.”

“Inuyasha, you didn’t know. It’s ok. We’re together now. That’s all that—wait a minute, how do you know Jiro?”

“You really don’t see it?”

“That he kind of looks like Miroku? Yes, I do. But I didn’t…how…I know you’ve lived for hundreds of years… I just have so many questions! What are you doing now? What—what happened from then to… now?”

“The short version is Sesshomaru and I run a technology cooperation together, he’s still Lord of the freaking West, regions are still divided into four. Two jackasses run East and South that I try to refrain from every having to interact with and Koga is head of the North. He mated Ayame, have a giant pack of little nasty flea-bags—” she elbowed him in the chest and he rolled his eyes. “We’re fine now. He’s mated. He actually doesn’t know I have been lookin’ for you. I can’t wait to see his face.”

“But he’s with Ayame now. Why would he be upset?”

“That dumbass wolf, even though he is mated to Ayame and is a loyal mate, has never given up looking for you. He still cared about you. Yes, he has grown to love Ayame and would never abandon her, but he was convinced I let you die… never heard the end of it. All this shit about he would have never allowed that to happen, how I let you down… not that he isn’t a total moron for thinking that but…”

She reached up and cupped his face and he kissed the inside of her palm. She crawled her way to lay on top of him and took his lips with hers. It was slow, loving, patient kiss. She tried to convey all her emotions, gratitude, love, longing, anything she felt to show how there was no anger or grudge she could have held. Slowly the kiss turned more sensual, not that she was trying to start anything again, but Inuyasha was there, lying beneath her, naked, and she was fairly certain she felt a certain piece of anatomy poking her thighs. His wrapped his arms around her back slowly rubbing up and down until his hands found purchase on her ass and squeezed. He slowly rubbed himself on her and she moaned into his mouth allowing his tongue to reacquaint itself with her taste. She felt herself growing warm again and pulled away slightly gazing into his eyes. He stared back at her with all the love she had ever dreamed he would have for her.

Still breathing raggedly, she pressed as she started using her hips to aid his hands in their little dance of rubbing her core on his length, “What else?”

“Hahaha… you would be a talker… Sess’ and Rin mated when she was eighteen, I—we have three bratty nieces and one asshole nephew.”

She dipped her face to lick his nipple causing his breath to get caught in his throat, “Shippo?”

“Shippo is mated to some fox demon he met at the that stupid inn we went to. They’ve been mated for about three hundred years… Couple kids. Technically our grandkids—adopted—fuck Kagome—” She had bit his neck and started kissing up his jaw to his mouth again.

“I-I know they’re gone… but what about…”

“Miroku and Sango lived long full lives. Eight kids. Lech wasn’t exaggerating about wanting a big family. Kirara actually lives with me for now; she was traveling to each descendant of Miroku and Sango for a while. She still will visit them here and there—but they usually come to visit us because it’s easier that way. Family reunion shit. Ugh,” he grabbed her hips to steady her a bit. She knew she was teasing him, but to be fair, she owed him from keeping her so on edge last night and this morning. “J-Jiro is one of them, probably the closest to their original heirs—the story is passed down in the family and they just refer to me as ‘uncle’. J—God damnit you’re trying to kill me—” her hands were rubbing the base of his ears and she was dipping her wet opening just at the tip of him. She was impressed he was still talking as coherently as he was, but he was speaking extremely fast.

“I’m sorry? You got cut off… what about Jiro?” she smirked with another twist of her hips almost letting him in fully.

“Son of a—if this is the punishment I have to have, I guess I’ll take it,” he smirked back at her as he reached one hand between them and grabbed her mounds, fingers dancing before twisting and pinching her nipple. Her breath caught as he chuckled, “Jiro runs a dojo his family started years ago we helped fund. He technically works for me and we are as close as the monk and I were. He said he saw the pictures we took put up in your apartment yesterday and finally put two and two together—” he moved his over hand and started rubbing her jewel. She moaned and finally couldn’t take anymore torture and pushed back letting him be sheathed within her. He remained still for her to adjust—both panting having endured what seemed like hours of teasing. She finally tested to see what it be like to move forward and push back. HOLY. FUCK. RIGHT. THERE.

He sat up and she immediately grasped his shoulder raising herself up to push herself back down and didn’t expect to feel him thrust up. She gasped and withered from the sensation. She was already almost there. He was so hard she imagined he probably was too. But she didn’t care. She would’ve rode him all day. They had years of catching up to do. She remembered she was off all weekend too and mentally did a happy dance as she bounced up and down literally on his cock.

“Do that again,” he said huskily.

“Wh-what?”

“Touch yourself. I want to feel you,” he whispered into her ear, licking the shell and grabbing the lobe in his teeth.

She didn’t falter her pace and did as she was told. He leaned down and took her nipple in his mouth sucking, nibbling. She froze and crashed down on to him crying her release, trembling, holding onto him as she tried to ground herself. She felt like she was soaring through the skies like they used to do—traveling on his back. Free, carefree, just enjoying the scenery. Together.

His hands on her hips guided her to lie back as he resumed their previous pace as she came down from her high. His mouth found her mark and re-pierced it with his fangs, sucking hard on her skin.

“Fuck!! INUYASHAAAAA—” she was already restrung ready to snap again when she felt him stiffen and grumble her name as he growled loudly letting himself go causing her to wail as she felt her walls crash down on his length buried within her. He crashed down on top of her, completely spent, head resting on her chest as she languidly brought her arms around him.

She was exhausted. She felt sleep edging its way faster and faster through her consciousness but she wouldn’t allow it to claim her yet. Four years. Over five hundred for him. She needed to be with him. She didn’t want the connection to be broken just yet. She swallowed and softly asked, “How are you here…? I mean, why haven’t I been able to sense any demons? It sounds like there are plenty around here…”

“Mmmmm,” he reached one arm up tilting his head to find the strand of hair his hand began to twirl through. “We have charms. Like the fuyoheki Naraku used. Made it easier to be less noticeable; blend in and have less trouble amounting power. The demon council that had been established knew we couldn’t keep killing humans who would wage war on us, and humans would never fully accept us. We often had to change identities, move to different countries for awhile until people who knew us and would have realized we didn’t age passed, but all in all it hasn’t been too hard to amount wealth and stuff. Make life more comfortable.”

“You never… you never took another mate?”

“Never found one I loved. You were always in my heart Kagome. Don’t be mad, but I did try. I really did because I knew you expect me to; but no one ever came close to how I felt about you. I told you for demons sex is just—different. Even though I am only half, my demon half refused to allow us to go around fucking anyone who gave me any attention. It only desired you. It knew you would be back… My human half recognized that too. My love for you made me refuse to move on…I also felt no need to sire any descendants of my own. I had Shippo. Adopted or not, he is our son.”

“I’m so sorry you spent all these centuries alone… It—it’s all my—” Inuyasha leaned up and took her lips to cut her off.

“Shut up. You won’t let me apologize for making you wait, then you aren’t allowed to blame yourself for being my mate.” She blushed hotly and averted eye contact. “Shippo is probably going shit himself when I tell him I found you.”

“What does he do now?”

“He’s actually a teacher—Chemistry. You know. Has a thing for burning shit and all,” he winked at her causing her to giggle.

Her phone began chirping from the living room. She groaned and patted his shoulder to move. He jumped off the bed after a quick peck to her temple, grabbed the phone and returned to lay by her side instantly. She had to blink to realize he had even actually moved before looking at the caller id. “MOM” it read. She answered, “Hello?”

“Kagome! I’ve been trying to reach you all evening! Are you ok? Your friends said you disappeared at the bar and they weren’t able to reach you either! Jiro didn’t answer his phone and someone has come by looking for you twice at the shrine! He wouldn’t say who he was, only that he was a friend! What is going on??”

“Mom, mom, calm down. I’m ok. I’m great actually.”

“Kagome—you had us so worried! We thought something happened to you!”

“Mom—I’m really fine. I promise. I—”

“Kagome this behavior has to stop! I’ve let it go long enough but—”

Inuyasha grabbed the phone from Kagome, “Mrs. Higurashi?”

“—enough—You! You were at my house yesterday!”

“Yea, I found her.”

“Kagome!!!!”

“Owwwwww—not so loud. Hurts the damn ears.” Kagome grabbed the phone back shaking her head at him and massaged the abused appendage.

“Mom, he is a friend… Well, more than that actually,” Inuyasha snaked the arm his head wasn’t propped up on around her waist.

“What do you mean Kagome? You said you haven’t been seeing anyone since you came back from the Feudal Era! Why didn’t you tell me the truth?”

“Mom, I didn’t lie. He found me. Yesterday. It’s Inuyasha,” he lowered himself to rest his head on her chest again as she stroked his ears.

“Kagome—Are—Are you sure??”

“Doggy ears and all,” she said with a giggle flicking the said appendage making him growl in annoyance.

“Oh my gosh! That’s wonderful news Kagome! So, when will you be getting married and giving me grandchildren? OH! Will they have his ears?!? Are you coming over tonight for dinner still?? Bring him!! I can’t wait to actually see him again without that disguise he was wearing!”

Inuyasha nodded yes to the question on Kagome’s tongue, “Uh—yes, we will be there tonight.”

“Ok my darling, have fun!” she could literally hear the smirk and wink from the phone. “Be safe—no grandchildren until after you’re married!”

“MOTHER!”

“Love you!” she heard a click and held the phone away from her. Completely mortified. Inuyasha snickered in response.

“Keep laughing dog-boy and you won’t have to worry about kids,” looking at her multiple missed calls and texts and quickly responding without being totally forthcoming to her friends.

“Right, as if you could hold out on me—don’t forget who had to be the one to tell you no,” his mouth engulfing her breast.

She sucked in her breath and shifted her hips a little, “Ah! Mk, you’re right.”

“Besides, not to be gross, but I can smell when you’re in heat.”

“That’s not surprising; if anything, it explains why you act the way you would. Extra moody and pushing me to go home because I was ‘bothering’ you,” she smirked realizing it wasn’t actually a lie. “Oh, the girls want to go out again tonight. They want to know who finally ‘met my standards’... But I think I’m gonna pass…”

He rolled his eyes as he trailed kisses up to her collar bone, neck stopping to lave her mark again, then made his way to her lips.

“We should go after dinner with your family,” he breathed on her lips.

“W-We? Y-You wanna go to a club? Really? But—I didn’t think you’d—”

“Keh, I think you forget I’ve lived five-hundred years since we last saw each other. My nieces, while they can kick anyone’s asses, all enjoy that scene. ‘Someone’ said one of us has to watch them. Protective Uncle is better than Asshole Dad. I’ll warn the fucks, Sess would just kill them. Also, not to make you jealous, but enough women I dated wanted to do that kind of shit… But there’s only one person I ever wanted to grind on,” he winked as he came back down to smoother her in kisses as she giggled.

“Uhm… Ok. I guess we can go. I’m sorry in advance if they bring Hojo.”

He laughed, “I’d actually love to kick that scrawny fuck’s ass if he tries anything while I’m there. But,” he started to rub his hands along her body, lingered on her curves and then settled for massaging circles in between her folds, “Why don’t you tell me what you’ve been up to Ka-Go-Me?”

She groaned internally. How could someone invoke such intense feelings out of a person? How could he make her so desperate with barely any effort?? After being fully dated multiple times already.

“College. Sucky roommate. Friends still pushy. Graduated. Nurse,” she informed through each kiss exchanged with their as he teased her.

“Heh, impatient are we?” he smirked down at her as she was already breathless. He leaned closer to her ear and whispered, “Why don’t we go shower together this time and then get breakfast?”

She nodded vigorously and he laughed as he edged off her allowing her to the lead the way…

At dinner, Inuyasha filled her family in on his five-hundred years between when he saw Kagome last to now. He apparently worked for Takashasi Enterprises and was directly under Sesshomaru as the COO. His identity was currently Yashiko Takahashi and went by “Yash”. She recognized the name immediately and was shocked how well-known he had been and she never realized it was him. But he told her that had been the point. He couldn’t risk his younger self ever catching whiff of him and his presence. He was, up until four years ago, opening the new branch of their company in Berlin to avoid them.

He had an apartment near where his work was but also owned properties around the world. He maintained his human disguise originally until Sota and her mother begged to see his ears again. It all had been so surreal… He was really there—eating dinner with them again, holding her hand under the table, he had given her his old haori when they stopped at his place to change before dinner, and she had decided to wear it over her cocktail dress she picked to wear for when they went to the club again. She realized she had never been happier. More complete. As she looked into Inuyasha’s eyes, her mate, her life, she realized the feeling was mutual.

Still debating on maybe a part 2? Epilogue? We will see

#inuyasha fanfiction #white day #inuyasha white day #inuyasha x kagome #inuxkag

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matpisound · 3 years

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matpi’s 2020 top ten

With this crazy year finally being thrown to the wolves, I thought I’d share some of my favorite songs. Usually I rank songs based on my mood, but I thought long and hard about this list to make it as accurate to my tastes as possible. In addition to the musical elements, I’ve also considered my personal experience with each song. With that said, get ready for a list that defines the phrase, “all over the place.”

10. ”約束” - Roselia

Translating to “Promise,” this Roselia song rounds out the list with its dynamic highs and lows and metric complexities. Combine that with Roselia’s signature sound and you have yourself a straight up banger. There are a lot of feel changes, with sections of 3 against 4 polymeter, steady rock groves, and a double time chorus, and this keeps the song interesting and super fun to listen to. Not to mention the powerful lead vocals, courtesy of Yukina Minato, played by the insanely talented Aina Aiba, as well as the occasional trading of vocal lines with bassist Lisa Imai, voiced by Yuki Nakashima, allow the song to really shine.

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQS0LZfXRCs&list=OLAK5uy_l6KyKKWX1j8vHY-PjK6yJHkIZpOV0WMrE

9. “Avant-garde HISTORY” - Roselia

Going up the list now we have another Roselia song. This song is marked by its progressive rock influence in the intro, with a lack of adherence to a single key or time signature, all while remaining an epic intro to the majestic 6/8 rock ballad that follows. Combining rock with orchestral elements is a recipe for greatness, and Roselia really pulled through here. The lead vocals are supported by a chorus of the other members in a really significant way in this song, contributing even more to the sheer glory that it exudes. Add in some huge drum fills and epic buildups between sections, and it creates this absolute work of art.

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nakW_Ziciik&list=OLAK5uy_lImYujueVzq7DDMrRc2TX8qnp1ZzMlHKM&index=6

8. “Ride” - Samuel R. Hazo

No, this is not the twenty one pilots song, nor is it a cover. It’s a wind ensemble piece chock full of the good stuff. Spicy harmonies, giant fanfares, fast runs, solos, time signature changes, heavy yet tasteful use of percussion, what’s not to love? I really wanna play this in band one day, because aside from being fun to listen to, it’s a real challenge to play, especially with a large ensemble. Wind ensemble pieces in general are really cool because they are light-years ahead of most modern music in terms of dynamic contrast, and "Ride” has a ton of it.

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au4geHy_S_0

7. “Amaryllis” - Shinedown

I honestly don’t know how to describe why I like this song so much; I just do. It’s a really nice song. The amaryllis as a flower is extremely beautiful, sporting vivid reds and pinks in its petals, and that imagery really shone through with its lyrics and 6/8 ballad feel. I’d like to mention the key signature as well. The key of D♭ just feels like a beautiful key signature, and here that beauty was thoroughly reflected.

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixltBz9IENw

6. “FIRE BIRD” - Roselia

Back again with another Roselia song. First of all, this song is great because of the story of the Phoenix. I always thought an immortal bird of fire rising from the ashes was such a glorious thing, and this song captures the essence of this tale perfectly. A quiet start with just piano and vocals gives way to a ginormous sounding intro as all the band members sing as a choir, which then leads into a crazy double-time groove which persists throughout the song. Combine that with Roselia’s sound and you get a triumphant anthem that’s sure to energize anyone and anything.

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_F7l7n_oP8&list=OLAK5uy_lImYujueVzq7DDMrRc2TX8qnp1ZzMlHKM&index=4

and here’s a live version because the visuals are IMMACULATE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AwP7S9f3A8

5. “Guilty All The Same” - Linkin Park

Off of one of the greatest rock albums in my opinion, “Guilty All The Same” is nothing short of a masterpiece. A nearly 6-minute song, and it’s never boring for a second. The unique drum grooves and use of 3 against 4 polymeter are what make this song so damn interesting to listen to, and lead singer, Chester Bennington’s, vocals are nothing short of spectacular. Rakim’s verse in the bridge combined with the sick guitar riff and the drums backing them up makes it one of the best combinations of rock and rap that I’ve heard.

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEaEdLQbAFM

4. “LOUDER” - Roselia

This being one of the first Roselia songs I’ve listened to, it has a really special place in my heart. But musically, it’s super awesome too. At a blistering 195 BPM, it’s one of the fastest songs on here, meaning it’s also super fun to play on the drums. It also changes keys between the verses and choruses from D minor to D major and back. And of course, who could forget lead vocalist Yukina Minato guiding the song through her soaring melodic lines. All in all, it’s a great song that managed to top my Spotify Wrapped.

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYSXZQ2b1-c

Now before we get into our top 3, let’s look at some honorable mentions:

“A DECLARATION OF ×××” - RAISE A SUILEN: A song inciting revolution, this combination of rock and EDM is a straight up vibe. We also get some djent as a bonus! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=713nCe8LLa0

“DIVE!” - Setsuna Yuki: Rock music in the world of anime idols is a foreign concept, and to me it’s a welcome one. It seems, however, that others disagree... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXXxW8hEF3o

“Neo-Aspect” - Roselia: I swear this is the last Roselia song, but it was way too good not to include here. A powerful song filled to the brim with expression. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snp_DT9EqiQ

“カレンデュラ“ - RONDO: “Calendula” for those who can’t read Japanese, this heavy song carries a lot of weight in it’s lyrics as well. Overall a really epic song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRnaYwx2fH4

“Daybreaker” - Waterflame: Made fairly recently by a producer who made music that was a huge part of my childhood, this song just vibes so fucking hard. Fun fact: it was released on my birthday! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLomCDE7E50

3. “Transcendent Journey” - Rossano Galante

Now we’re talking about the true bangers of my music taste. I love Galante’s music because it’s always so dynamic always with super melodious lead parts. This piece is no different in that sense. It really feels like a journey. Fast woodwind runs supporting soaring brass lines, quiet woodwind melodies, blazing fanfares, and varied tempo make this piece of music really feel like a spiritual journey. There’s so much about this piece that I just can’t put into words so you just have to listen for yourself.

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuMi2z2F3io

2. “Nostalgia” - Rossano Galante

Another wind ensemble piece making the top 3? Well, aside from being a beautiful piece musically, it brings a lot of good memories for me personally as well. We played this for my band’s spring concert when I was in 8th grade. As 8th graders, our ensemble included the high school band students as well, and that was the year one of my favorite seniors was graduating. He was such a big role model for me, and the entire concert was extremely emotional. This was my favorite piece we had programmed that night, and it’s made its way into my favorite songs of all time.

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qaq_WKsatg

1. “The Catalyst” - Linkin Park

This was one of those songs. You know those songs that you fall in love with as soon as you hear it for the first time? Yeah, this was that. With every listen, I only liked it more and more, and it crawled its way to the top. It starts off soft, but it just keeps building. Everything builds and builds and becomes increasingly chaotic until it all collapses in the second half of the song. From there, the repeated lyrics “Lift me up, let me go” carry this song to its epic finale, in which we feel the culmination of all that chaos from earlier. Not only does the song work so well as a standalone track, its use as the penultimate track on “A Thousand Suns” (my favorite album of all time) serves as the final climax before resolving the intricate story weaved by the album. This is a perfect song if I have ever heard one.

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sBjZBn3DQU

Well, folks, there you have it. A playlist of the best songs that got me through this forsaken year and will hopefully empower the next. I wish you all a better and happy 2021, and I’ll catch you at the double barline!

#music nerd #music #top 10 #top ten #music analysis

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sujus-girl · 6 years

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Disclaimer: This is just for fun, so please don’t take it too seriously. This is not an official profile or anything like that!

A GUIDE TO PENTAGON

I actually had a lot of fun making my guide to JBJ, so I was like?? What other group do I love that doesn’t get the attention they deserve? …. PENTAGON

Are y’all ready to cringe? To sigh? To question what is going on with these children? Then, without further ado, I present to you: Pentagon: My Shitty Guide to 10 Toddlers

Group Name: Pentagon

First appeared on a show called Pentagon Maker, which was called a survival show, but SPOILER ALERT: Cube decided to do the right thing and debuted all 10 members together

If I’m going to be 100% honest, I still dk where to find the full episodes, but there are a ton of clips on youtube, and, honestly, I was satisfied with just watching those

ALL OF THEM HAVE REALLY GOOD VISUALS? LIKE, I SAY THIS WITH EVERY GROUP, BUT SERIOUSLY, PENTAGON HAS SOME A+++ VISUALS

Beware because they’re very. Very. very. Loud

The fandom name is universe and i just think that’s so cute OKAY?

Ofiicial Music Videos: Gorilla, Can You Feel It, Critical Beauty, Pretty Pretty, Run Away, Like This, Violet

Personal Favorite Non-Title Tracks: Thank You, Beautiful, You Are, Spectacular, and Lose yourself

Aight, we have ten members to go through this time, so BUCKLE UP, MY FRIENDS

Members:

Jo Jinho

The oldest member of pentagon

Vvv smol baby. Is only 5’6”

Is scared very easily lmfao

May be smol but has A HELLA SET OF LUNGS

High note king that leaves almost everyone shook

Used to be in SM the Ballad, but left and became a trainee again under cube entertainment

Had trained for EIGHT FRICKIN YEARS, DO NOT SLEEP ON MY BOI

I guess he gave vocal lessons to cube trainees like Yoo Seonho (someone pls KINDLY let me know if i’m wrong)

Drops a bunch of covers and spoils Universe with his voice, thx boo

Usually gets paired with hongseok for stuff?? Idk

Has a room by himself in the dorms, lucky boi

ALSO A MUSICAL THEATER ACTOR?? ALL SHOOK UP REALLY HAD US ALL SHOOK UP

Videos to Watch: (1) (2) (3)

Lee HwiTaek (Hui)

The leader of this mess

Got pretty popular after the song Never was released, then continue to leave people quaking after Energetic was released

Is an A+ Singer and Producer, we love a talented man

Is vvvv scared of everything and also has a lot of tears (we love a man in touch with his emotions)

A former JYP trainee

Got7’s JB said that one time, Got7’s Mark got into a fight with him, Hui, and B.A.P.’s Youngjae and Day6’s Brian had to translate the argument LOL

Also in a subunit called Triple H that consists of him, E’Dawn and Hyuna

Also has a room to himself

HONEY SOCKS

Has a fanboy named Yoo Seonho that loves him vvv much, and they even went to vietnam together

also appeared on this variety show called hyena’s on the keys and flaunted his composing SKILZ

Videos to Watch: (1) (2) (3)

Yang Hongseok

A former YG trainee

Was on the show that created iKon, and it was…. Oof

He was new at the time, so it was kinda awkward and tense, but it got better

Is obsessed with working out, and has the abs of a greek god as a result

Reads books in his free time, and enjoys studying foreign languages

He moved around when he was younger, so he can speak Mandarin and English (we love an intelligent man)

Apparently the mom?? Cooks and cleans for the babies in the dorm

Shares a room with E’Dawn

Also really likes Iron Man… and Jinho

The members say he’s the worst at dancing in the group LOL

It’s okay though, cause he’s vvv talented in other aspects

Videos to Watch: (1) (2) (3)

Kim HyoJung (E’Dawn)

“I have no fear” not even two seconds later *HIGH PITCH SCREAMING*

Can reach an octave i didn’t think human possible

A little weird, but that’s okay!

Is also in Triple H with Hui and Hyuna

Hongseok’s roommate

Is really good at dancing, wow

Kinda looks tired 24/7, but we’re pretty sure that’s just his face. Like you know how some people have resting bitch face? E’Dawn has resting tired face.

TATTOOS!

Sry, i just really like tattoos, lol

But yeah! E’Dawn has multiple tattoos! Since it’s like 1 in the morning and I’m kinda tired, I’m not gonna try and think of all of them, but they should all show up if you just google e’dawn tattoos lol sorry

Videos to Watch: (1) (2) (3)

Go Shinwon

Has trouble keeping his clothes on apparently

Like for real, just casually pulled his pants down and took his shirt off multiple times in pentagon maker

Is scared of animals because one time because… um…. let’s just say that there was an unfortunate incident with his pet hamster when he was in like middle school... yeah

Was eliminated during Pentagon maker, but four remaining members broke into cube late at night and put up posters saying they wanted pentagon to debut as ten

Gets mad real easily

Has broad shoulders… Like real broad. Edawn and yanan fell asleep on his shoulders and they were comfortable

Shares a room with Kino

Also really likes Mcdonalds?? Like, this boy put on a burger hat and ate a mcdonalds burger.

Really hates bugs LOL

Videos to Watch: (1) (2) (3)

Yeo Changgu (Yeo One)

Has a visual that a lot of foreigners seem to really like? That’s just something I noticed, I know it’s not the general consensus

Is also an actor, he appeared in a webdrama called Spark and was the main actor for a historical drama not too long ago

Shares a room with yanan

Is yanan’s biggest fan

Has a laugh that can revive wilting flowers tbh

Talks a lot too

Sucks at table tennis

He and hui put ducktape on their legs and ripped it off

GIVE HIM MORE LINES PLS

Videos to Watch: (1) (2) (3)

Yan An

“MADE IN CHINA!”

“Annyeong chingudel”

He’s from Shanghai

Hella model vibes, amirite or amirite

He injured himself when preparing for the Ceremony album, and he had to sit out and everyone was vvv sad and vvv worried

Got better and is back, and more random than ever

Sometimes says things that are real funny, even if he doesn’t intend for it to be

“What are you talking about, this is plastic”

“You… You’re in big trouble!”

“Korean name is Yanan. Chinese name is Yanan. English Name? Yanan.”

Also once called Jinho a foreigner, even tho Jinho is Korean and they were in Korea?

May be tol and handsome, but he’s really just a big toddler

Scared of roller coasters

Roommates with yeo one who loves him v much (yeo one has the right idea, y’all)

Videos to Watch: (1) (2) (3)

Adachi Yuto

“YUTODA”

A japanese prince

AN ATHLETE! Played baseball and used to do soccer

A former JYP trainee

Good friends with Yuto (U) from ONF because they both used to be JYP trainees and also NCT’s Yuta

Shares a room with Wooseok and will laugh at anything he says

Milk couple

Can’t eat spicy food for shit

Hella tall

Also appeared predebut at ISAC 2015 for futsall

A bby that is afraid of many things. Especially the dark. On pentagon maker, the crew turned off the lights and he real cutely went “pd-nim~” and i almost cried it was so cute

“What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?” “Ice cream.”

Says he can’t do aegyo, but he hella cute already, so it’s okay

Also once danced shirtless and i almost sued, you a child Boi (i say as I am younger than him)

Videos to Watch: (1) (2) (3)

Kang Hyunggu (Kino)

A whole cutie

I legit that he was my age or younger cause he was just so adorable

Only 4 days younger than yuto and 4 days older than wooseok, but he a whole baby

They did a vlive for wooseok, yuto, and kino’s birthdays and when they were getting into teams, hongseok was chosen to be in kino’s team but he said it so emotionlessly that kino got all pouty LOL

A dancing king

“I was going to go easy on you, but you called me Hyunggu”

Has a lot of friends in k-pop, he vvv popular

Shares a room with shinwon

A laugh that motivates me to be a better person

Saved the entire world by eating watermelon in front of cameras BLESS

“Get it Kino Beauty”

Proceeded to destroy yanan’s face with makeup RIP

Makes funny faces that i sometimes screenshot and send to my friends at 2 in the morning

ALSOALSOALSO, he had this little dance solo in Critical Beauty and I was LIVING for it

Videos to Watch: (1) (2) (3)

Jung Wooseok

The baby of the group

HELLA TOL??? LIKE WTF, IF YOU LOOK AT PHOTOS OF JINHO AND WOOSEOK STANDING NEXT TO EACH OTHER HE LOOKS LIKE A FREAKING GIRAFFE

He was sleeping backstage once and yuto put a chocopie in front of his mouth and he sleepily tried to eat it and i was :((((( he was so cute

Really likes yuto, they’re usually paired together for stuff. Like dorms

Really likes anime, legend has it that if you play samurai heart at exactly 1:23 AM, wooseok will appear behind you and sing along

Imitates an opera singer and achieves an octave that i would imagine isn’t humanly possible for someone with a voice as deep as his

Has a fanboy names Lai Guanlin from wanna one, and he will not let anyone forget about his precious Wooseok

Once did an eating broadcast with super spicy food and accidentally got some in his eye and the rest of pentagon thought it was the funniest thing ever RIP

Videos to Watch: (1) (2) (3)

That was a journey! We’re almost done, though!

Videos Of Pentagon to Watch! Weekly Idol with Victon and Momoland! (X) This crack (?) series that I live for (X) The VLive that was all sorts of mess (X) Triple H Weekly Idol (only Hui and E’Dawn) (X) This clip from Pentagon Maker that was all sorts of mess, even with only 4 members (X) Hui, Wooseok, and E’Dawn trying to cook (X) This other VLive that was all sorts of mess (X) Pentagon Heyo TV (Mafia Game Cut) (X)

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT! A VERY SHORT, SHITTY GUIDE TO PENTAGON! I hope this helps anyone wanting to get into Pentagon, or even just makes an Universe smile! Now go and bask in the glory that is Pentagon’s craziness! Bye!

#pentagon #jo jinho #lee hwitaek #hui #kim hyojung #e'dawn #yang hongseok #yeo changgu #yeo one #yanan #adachi yuto #kino #kang hyunggu #jung wooseok #triple h #cube #mine

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justanothercinemaniac · 7 years

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Epic Movie (Re)Watch #219 - Anastasia (1997)

Spoilers Below

Have I seen it before: Yes

Did I like it then: Yes.

Do I remember it: Yes.

Did I see it in theaters: No.

Format: Blu-ray

1) The prologue.

The very first few musical notes of the film’s score establish a key element which we will see throughout: a light and playful darkness which helps to accent the film. It fits the fairytale tone well, for that is what Anastasia is: a fairy tale. I’m not too familiar with Imperial Russia or the revolution which marked its end, but as I understand this film is FAR from historically accurate. I think that decision works well for the filmmakers, as making this more of a fairytale with fantasy elements allows for more room to play around (while also not being beholden to history).

Another reason the prologue works - other than setting tone - is that it establishes all the necessary backstory the film needs in a sleek and easily digestible way. We understand what happened to Anya/Anastasia, we understand Rasputin’s anger/motivations, we understand the pain that Anastasia’s grandmother will feel, we see Dimitri’s role in it all, everything comes through clearly. I like that.

2) Okay, question: Why does Rasputin only care about killing Anastasia and not her grandmother if he vowed to kill all of the Tsar’s family? Wouldn’t the grandma be a part of that equation?

3) Here is how it went the first time I saw this film:

[Music builds to a swell as we see St. Petersburg] Me [sarcastically]: “Oh GREAT, a song about how wonderful communist Russia is.” Lyrics: “St. Petersburg is gloomy, St. Petersburg is bleak.” Me [after a moment]: “Oh.”

4) “A Rumor in St. Petersburg”

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Whereas the prologue established the world of the past, this song establishes the environment the characters are currently in. We understand really quickly the stakes which motivate Dimitri, why he wants to get out of St. Petersburg, and just how much of a hubbub is around the rumor of Anastasia’s return. Beyond that though, the opening is an appropriate first taste of the film’s original songs. St. Petersburg is a big opening number befitting of a Broadway show (which this film now is) and is greatly enjoyable, much like the rest of the songs will be.

5) Anya/Anastasia.

When it comes to the performance of Anya (I’m just going to call her Anya moving forward since that’s what the film does), the credit must go in equal parts to Meg Ryan and Liz Callaway. As her dialogue actress, Ryan is Anya’s actress the majority of the time. The actress is able to infuse her character with warmth, humor, heart, strength, resilience, and a little bit of sadness all in a captivating way that fits the character design. But Callaway must get the credit she deserves as well, for she is able to take all of the qualities Ryan gives Anya’s dialogue and match it in her singing. This is no easy task, as sometimes having two performers doing voice and song CAN be distracting. But the pair blend beautifully and are able to support the character to the her fullest.

6) “Journey to the Past”

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As “A Rumor in St. Petersburg” acts to set up Dimitri’s motivations, “Journey to the Past” sets up what drives Anya. Her search for who she is, for who she was, and any family that may come with that. While that subject matter (Anya confronting the unknown) could be bleak, the song is wonderfully uplifting and inspiring. You ROOT for Anya because of it. You’re invested in her and honestly I think its the best song in the piece. I just love it.

7) I get “Frosty the Snowman” vibes from the ticket seller saying, “No exit visa, no ticket!” Is that just me?

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8) Dimitri.

With much less singing (and certainly less solos), John Cusack plays much more of Dimitri than Jonathan Dokuchitz. Dokuchitz contributions are crazy important and well done, something which he deserves due credit for, but it is Cusack who has the responsibility of developing Dimitri more. Cusack’s through his voice is able to expand on Dimitri’s lovable rogue quality, but when he develops into a much more caring person it seems natural. Cusack through his performance is able to blend these two aspects perfectly, showing Dimitri’s heart and vulnerability in an interesting way as the film continues.

9) “Once Upon a December”

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A hauntingly beautiful number, this tune always felt befitting of a ghost story to me. As at home in Phantom of the Opera as Anastasia. This is one of the songs which best demonstrate the dark flavors this film dabbles with and it fits perfectly with the rest of the soundtrack. Its wonderful, slightly creepy, and very fascinating.

10) The chemistry is great between Anya and Dimitri, specifically when they’re bickering. Their initial bickering is wildly fun to watch and it translates into trust, love, and respect much more than some live action film couples. It’s an important aspect to nail in getting the audience behind their relationship and the filmmakers do this well.

11) Kelsey Grammer as Vlad.

I like Kelsey Grammer in most things, and this film is no exception. As both the speaking and singing voice for Vlad, the experienced actor gives the rotund figure an incredible amount of life which helps us as the audience get invested in him. I just like it.

12) Hank Azaria as Bartok.

It’s Hank Azaria for crying out loud, what more do I need to say? The veteran voice over and character actor enables the lovable henchman to steal every scene he’s in. Bartok doesn’t even interact with any of the main heroes, just Rasputin, but that alone gives him enough comedic material for Azaria’s vocals to carry us away. All in all, it is an incredibly fun and entertaining part.

13) Christopher Lloyd as Rasputin.

Back to the Future is my favorite film, so having Christopher Lloyd in anything is a treat for me. His vocals as Rasputin are INCREDIBLE! He’s playful evil, having a ton of fun in the part which means the audience has fun too. Rasputin is a brilliantly entertaining villain (especially considering he’s stuck on the sidelines for most of the movie), with the physical humor brought about by his decaying corpse leading to some gross/great comedy bits! Rasputin is one of my favorite non-Disney animated villains of all time (if not my favorite). He’s great and has an incredible villain song!

14) “In the Dark of the Night”

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Lloyd doesn’t song this song, instead its performed by legendary veteran of voice over work Jim Cummings (Darkwing Duck, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Ed from The Lion King, Ray from The Princess and the Frog, and MUCH more). Cummings KILLS IT with his vocal work, making Rasputin both fun and threatening in the number. The tune is dark, epic, and evil throughout. One of the best villain songs in animation because - more than above else - the threat just amplified considerably. We understand Rasputin is not someone to mess with and this song establishes that in a wildly entertaining way. I love it.

15) The scene which best shows Anya’s and Dimitri’s chemistry has to be when they’re on the train.

Anya: “Dimitri, do you really think I’m royalty?”

Dimitri: “You know I do.”

Anya: “Then stop bossing me around!”

Vlad: “She certainly has a mind of her own.”

Dimitri: “Yeah, I hate that in a woman.”

16) I really enjoy this film, but one of the things in it I found odd is that the main protagonists go almost completely unaware of the supernatural elements which threaten them. Not until Anya and Dimitri face Rasputin at the end are they conscious of it. If I were to change one thing in the film, it would be that.

17) I always found this little bit of dialogue funny, because Dimitri does think Anya convincing people she’s Anastasia is a lie but we as the audience know better.

Dimitri: “You don’t know if it’s a lie! What if it’s true!”

18) “Learn To Do It”

The Pygmalion elements of the film could easily have been dull filler until we reach the end, but by condensing it to a charming and fun number Anya’s evolution into Anastasia is an interesting and integral part of the story. The number is one of pure joy, life, and entertainment, speaking to the relationship this trio develops on their long journey to Paris. It holds up against the other song quite well.

19) The waltz between Anya and Dimitri is a key turning point in their relationship. It’s the most vulnerable they’ve been with each other up to this point. I like that.

20) Anya’s dream.

There’s a nice sense of heightened reality in the dream’s visuals which (with a unique color palette) helps make it feel beyond reality. While cheerful in appearance, mixing the scenes with Newman’s score means we understand there’s danger even before we see the monsters in Anya’s head. The way the film cuts between dream and reality also works well, as the flow of the scene is never disrupted. All in all, it just works.

21) Angela Lansbury as the Dowager Empress.

Our first encounter with the Empress in modern setting shows her off as grumpy, jaded, and impatient. But what’s important is that we understand WHY she’s this way. The audience sees the tragedy in her not only through the film’s prologue but also through Lansbury’s performance. That heartache is wonderfully present throughout and when it turns to joy at finding her Anastasia the effect is wonderful. But more on that later.

22) Bernadette Peters as Sophie.

A broadway legend, Peters actually objected to Sohpie’s curvy appearance since she herself had actually lost weight. Despite this, the actress (much like Grammer with Vlad) breathes a wonderful amount of life into Sophie. It’s hard to imagine anyone performing the charming and energetic character since she just feels so natural/alive. While relegated to the third act, Sophie is definitely a memorable part of the film and Peters’ performance is an important part of that.

23) “Paris Holds The Key To Your Heart”

In terms of how the tune serves the story, it stands to set up Paris as a location much like “St Petersburg” did in the opening with its titular city. But beyond that, it allows us to juxtapose how far the characters have come. This is it, their final destination, which results in a joyous night on the town. Anya is the happiest she’s been in a while and Dimitri has grown up a lot, ready to let go the woman he cares for so she can have what she wants. Like many of the others, the tune is wildly entertaining and just takes you on this wild night in Paris wonderfully.

24) The fallout between Dimitri and Anya when she finds out his INITIAL motivations is particularly heartbreaking, largely because those are no longer his intentions. For the first time in his adult life he’s actually trying to do the right thing, which creates incredibly high stakes for him (which we see when he freaking KIDNAPS THE DOWAGER EMPRESS! Also in how he turns down the reward for finding Anya). It’s a wonderful if painful moment.

25) When the Empress first meets with Anya she’s guarded and dismissive, which makes sense. It’s self preservation at this point. But that just means it is all the more wonderful when she realizes it IS Anya, that neither of them are without family anymore, and she can finally let herself be open to happiness. (Although, it’s kinda weird that all of Anya’s memories come back at once.)

26) If I ever go to a high school reunion (which I don’t plan on doing), I gotta use this line.

Rasputin [upon seeing Anya]: “Look at what the years have done to us. You a beautiful young flower, me a rotting corpse!”

27) I talked about this a bit more in note #16, but I wish Rasputin took a more active role in the plot. That there was more interaction between him and the heroes. I really like the action of the climax, where Anya and Dimitri go at it with him, but I wish I’d had a bit more of that in the film.

28)

Rasputin [thinking Anya died]: “Finally, the last of the Romanoffs dead!”

You know, except for her grandma.

29) I love happy endings which aren’t really endings (when they’re done like this, not so much when they’re cliffhangers).

Sophie [when she learns Anya and Dimitri eloped]: “Its a perfect ending!”

Empress: “No, it’s a perfect beginning.”

Anastasia is one of the more underrated animated films out there. It’s got all the hallmarks of a classic - great music, memorable characters, an awesome bad guy, strong voice acting, a strong story - but not nearly the following of Beauty and the Beast or Aladdin. If you haven’t yet, I would recommend putting in Anastasia.

#Anastasia #Anastasia 1997 #Don Bluth #Meg Ryan #John Cusack #Animated Movies #Epic Movie (Re)Watch #Angela Lansbury #Christopher Lloyd #Liz Callaway #Jim Cumming #Kelsey Grammer #Bernadette Peters #Hank Azaria #Movie #Film #GIF

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averyconjurorpaul-blog · 6 years

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G-EAZY INVITED ME.

Anyone who knows me personally, knows that Logic and G-Eazy are my two biggest inspirations and favorite rappers. To be more specific, lately I would say Logic is my favorite rapper but G-Eazy is my favorite artist all around. That’s a topic for another time though. I started listening to both of them in 2013.

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Back in November, G-Eazy picked a few cities to have his fans listen to his new album, The Beautiful & Damned, early. The seven cities he went to were Albuquerque, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New Orleans and Minnesota. Because I live on Long Island, I went to the NY one at the Mezzanine. But you’re probably wondering, “How the fuck did you even get invited?!” Well, before he even announced these listening parties he released a bunch of pre-order bundles for the album. I bought the $50 one he had that came with a physical copy of the album, a hoodie, a bandanna, a key chain and a hat. I wanted the cop the autographed version but it was already sold out when I went to buy it. I also bought a poster. Like a week or two after, he posted on his Instagram that he’s going to do something special for the fans who pre-ordered the album early. The next day he announced that he’ll be having fan appreciation parties for the first 500 fans who pre-ordered it in each city. On that post, there was link to a form that had you put down your name, age and screenshotted proof that you pre-ordered the album. Once you clicked submit they said you would receive an email like 2 days before the event. Not expecting to get picked at all, I filled it out and sure enough I got an email with an invitation. I was hyped. Luckily, my boss let my take off work that day to go. I didn’t actually tell him why I took off. I just said “something kinda came up.” I think he thought something bad happened because he was genuinely concerned and asked me a few times if everything was alright. I never called out before that or took off from work prior to this either. It pays to be a hard worker.

Now being invited was cool enough and I was thankful for that already but what happened the day of the event was just the icing on the cake. So I drove to the city, parked in a parking garage and walked to Mezzanine. When I found the place, I saw the line and walked all the way to the back. I made it just on time. Not even like 2 minutes on the line, one of G’s organizers came up to me and asked me, “are you the last one on line?” I looked behind me and said “Uhh... yea.” Then he asked if was by myself and I said yes. He handed me a wristband and said “alright, come with me.” My dude put me on the VIP line. I didn’t even know there was VIP prior to getting there. Oh that wristband I got? When he gave that me and brought me to the other line, I figured it just lets them know you were a VIP. Apparently, it just meant that you were allowed to drink. I’m only 20. One of his other organizers ID-ed me and was like, “You’re under 21, why do have a wristband?” I pointed to the other organizer who gave it to me and said “Oh, he gave it to me.” He obviously took it away but I still got to be one of the first ones in. I don’t even drink anyway so I really could care less.

Lowkey thought they were going to send me back to the other line.

Being the first ones in, we got first dibs on the free food and those of us who were allowed to drink got access to the bar and were able to try Stillhouse (a brand of whiskey that G-Eazy partnered with a few months back). It was a nice intimate setting too. Since I had early entry, I was able to be close to the stage. It was pretty dope. It was different compared to being in an arena or outdoors with a big stage. The stage itself was small and you were basically just below eye level with anyone on stage.

When everyone finally made it in, they put on the short film that went along with the album. It was a nice visual to further explain the concept of the album.I thought it was cool. It kind of sucks that’s it’s only available on Apple Music. My son really needs to drop that opening track from the film though. I completely forgot about it until someone pointed it out on Twitter when the album officially dropped. After we were done watching, the GOAT himself came out and everyone started cheering. He came out and opened with his song “Shake It Up ft. 24 Hrs, E-40 & Madeintyo.” You can check out some of the clips of the night in my video above. He talked about the album, how some of the songs came about... some songs he performed while others he just let them play while he signed things for fans in the crowd. I wanted him to sign my copy of his Must Be Nice mixtape but I was just out of reach. It was basically a mini concert where you got to interact with the artist if you were lucky enough. Unfortunately, I was not able to actually meet him because it was just hard to push through the crowd. I’m just grateful to have been there and experienced all of it. I know one day I’ll meet him and you know damn well I’ll be making a blog post about it when I do.

Opinion of “The Beautiful & Damned?”

I love this album. I have literally been listening to it since the day it dropped. You can even say I have been listening to album before that too because I would listen to some of the leaked snippets on YouTube almost every other day leading up to the release. I was waiting for this album to drop for a long time. I was hyped as all hell for it and for me it delivered. Can’t lie though, I am a little salty that some of the snippets I heard didn’t make the album. I really wanted to hear the full versions of the “What Else is New?” and “Crazy Love” (probably not the official names) snippets that were supposed to be on his cancelled Endless Summer 2 project. Still salty about that too. I really hope one day he releases them. Before The Beautiful & Damned, his debut album, These Things Happen, was my favorite project of his as well as my favorite album... well... ever. It was my favorite album of all time. One of my tattoos are lyrics from the song “Opportunity Cost” that was on that album. He somehow managed to top These Things Happen for me. You might be asking, “What about When It’s Dark Out?” I thought When It’s Dark Out was okay. At first I kinda liked it but I really did not enjoy it as much. However, I liked the meaning behind the album which is probably why I still appreciate it. It’s weird too because it had that dark, villainy type vibe that G-Eazy has in some of his songs that I usually fuck with, but I just wasn’t feeling it for some reason. Of course I liked some of the songs on it. “Random” is still one of my favorite songs after all.

I feel like The Beautiful & Damned is the perfect mix of These Things Happen and When It’s Dark Out. I think that’s why I love it so much. It’s also the first album in awhile that I can sincerely say that I love every song but my favorite song is definitely “Charles Brown.” There is that deep conscious rap that I adore as well as hype tracks. Also I love the whole duality concept between G-Eazy and Gerald because I can relate to it. I can’t relate to whole partying, drugs and drinking lifestyle part because that just has never been my thing. I more relate to having two sides of me. Conjuror and Avery. I briefly went into that in my first blog post but I’ll talk more about that another time.

I always see people saying G-Eazy changed and all he raps about is drugs, partying, girls, sex and money instead of meaningful shit. If you think about it though, he always rapped about all of those things. Maybe not the money so much because... well he obviously didn’t have much at the time but go listen to his older mixtapes and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Go check out, Must Be Nice, Endless Summer, The Outsider, Big and you’ll see.

Honestly, getting invited to listen to your favorite artist’s new album early is just a dope experience all around. Especially one that you look up to so much. I’m so thankful and it will always be a moment I’ll never forget. The only thing left to do now is to actually meet the guy and one day I will... I just know it.

Connect with me:

Twitter: @CONJUR0R

Instagram: @conjur0r

Snapchat: ave_theconjuror

YouTube: AveTheConJuRoR

Twitch: CONJUR0R

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thesinglesjukebox · 7 years

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CHARLI XCX - BOYS [6.72] Who's looking for a good time?

Eleanor Graham: Video game noises will only ever be cute. They will never be evocative in the way that a synth line, a "woah" or even a "hey" can be. They may serve once or twice as punctuation but they cannot, aided only by a one-syllable word, carry a hook. But I do like the languorous glitter plod of this. And the sugar rush of bridge: "I was miles away, yeah!" I love to have fun, honestly. I'm just bitter because the video coerced me into a crush on [redacted]. [5]

Anthony Easton: The video is a masterpiece, a weaponized, high femme, millennial pink reworking of the ironic/not-ironic gender trouble of Collier Schorr -- made even more disturbing by finding out how hot I find Charlie Puth. The song, with its hint of Super Mario coins like a wink against capitalism, with the minimal drum beat like blood flowing from the heart to more southern regions, that laconic kind of delivery that suggests a louche moral decadence. Plus, how she sings the phrase ring tone, is almost as good, as ear wormy, as the perfect hook line of "I'm sorry, I missed your party." [10]

Nellie Gayle: 'I need that bad boy to do me right on a Friday/ 'And I need that good one to wake me up on a Sunday/'That one from work can come over on Monday night/ I want em all.' Never have the bubblegum archetypes of boy toys been so clearly joyously articulated as in Charli XCX's newest single. A pop star who clearly enjoys taking the piss out of that title (when once asked about why she liked her single 'Break the Rules' in an interview, she replied 'I like that it's so . . stupid'), Charli revels in the stereotypes of boy crazy, partied out girls. The many 'types' of girls have been outlined throughout the pop cannon - there are crazy girls, there are fun girls, there are dirty girls. In one way or another, Charli XCX has inhabited all of these personas for the sake of great, EDM-laced pop. In the video for 'Boys', she takes her own routine objectification (which she usually handles with amusement more than anger), and casually tosses it back to pop culture's finest dudes. Stormzy munches on some fruit loops, Joe Jonas licks his ice cream mustache, Diplo should presses some poodles. Saturated in bright colors, these visuals will come to mind every time you relisten to 'Boys.' It's a wink to gender roles that is cuter than it is inflammatory, and like all of Charli's best moves, it's best described as 'fun.' [8]

Maxwell Cavaseno: Functional to a certain level of flatness that Charli's wound herself around to the point that I'm never sure if it's her strength or her weakness. Still for the sake of all this melancholy gazing, and the spry little chip-tune punctuations, that bleakness serves as a complimentary sense of boredom, an audible fluster of the lips and sigh at something that feels more frustrating than it ever needs to be. Odd to find something so disappointed in itself could be so satisfying. [6]

Dorian Sinclair: Charli XCX sure is a chameleon, isn't she? There's a sort of dreamy wistfulness here we haven't heard from her too often, and with a different performer I suspect it could quickly become saccharine. But the wryness she brings to most of her performances is here as well, and that combined with the humour in the lyrics (and that adorable chiptune sample) has ensured that, since I first heard it, I've been busy thinkin' bout "Boys." [8]

Alfred Soto: Chirping wistfully like Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder, the synths and Charli XCX turn "Boys" into a tuneful flutter. Who wouldn't get wistful at the thought of absent boys or the boys we can't have? [6]

Julian Axelrod: Once you get past the instant-classic video (and lord knows I haven't) you realize "Boys" is a work of pop genius. The chorus is one of those brilliantly simple, universally relatable, deliriously catchy gems every songwriter wishes they'd thought of first. But the real magic is in the verses, as Charli reveals her thirst has left her friends out to dry. "I wish I had a better excuse like/I had to trash the hotel lobby" is such a perfect line, adding nuance and depth to both the song and Charli's party monster persona. (Which makes it all the more fascinating that she doesn't have a songwriting credit here.) The song becomes more resonant the more you listen: Who among us hasn't abandoned (or been abandoned by) a friend for some fleeting affection? That's what makes "Boys" so sublime: Like all great pop songs, it's really about friendship. [9]

Crystal Leww: Much fuss has been made about this music video, but the song itself is so dreamy, conjuring images of sunshine and grass fields. I am not sure if Charli XCX will ever get to be a huge pop star, but I don't care; her music feels so atmospheric and familiar, like it sits in the bottom of your stomach and wriggles through your brain and body. "Boys" has stuck with me for days, whisking me away from sweaty subway cars in the morning back to the weekend afternoons in the sun. [8]

Thomas Inskeep: I really hope that the viral popularity of this video leads to "Boys" going overground and Charli XCX becoming a real, big pop star in the US (I know that "Boom Clap" was a top 10 single three years ago, but that was three years ago), not only because she's one of our best purveyors of pop right now, but because "Boys" is relentlessly, charmingly cute. It's purposefully underproduced, and thus sounds very low-key and almost quiet, in a highly endearing manner. And besides, who of us isn't guilty of missing ______ because we were "busy thinkin' 'bout boys"? [8]

Joshua Copperman: A song about the female gaze and a video for the male gaze. Well, to quote a show that this might fit well on, it's a little more nuanced than that - there's nothing here that suggests that she's attracted to masculinity or manliness, unlike, say, "he's so tall and handsome as hell", and Charli's narrator is more in love with the idea of BOYS! than actual boys. (Swap out boys for "girls" and it's a Mary Lambert song, but that might be part of the point.) It's an interesting step after the #1 Angel mixtape managed to blend the PC Music stuff she was doing with something more accessible - this is full-tilt accessible, but with just enough edge from Charli's breathy performance to ensure that it stays true to her weirder side. [7]

Anjy Ou: I was surprised that Kero Kero Bonito didn't write or produce this - "Boys" hits that sweet spot between mainstream pop and Japanese bedroom pop that she's so good at, especially at the beginning. Charli, ever the pop chameleon, gives this sound her own self-indulgent twist, with lyrics about ditching a hard-partying lifestyle to swoon over her many suitors. Its blips are cute and sweet, and she cruises languidly through the song, like she wrote this the morning after while still in her pink cloud of peak crush. It would be a bit too basic for me, but someone set this song to a video of my favourite k-pop boy band and suddenly everything made sense. [7]

Katherine St Asaph: I mean, I too have had a crush on every boy, but this is just the languid parts of "Grins" severed from the exciting ones, or "What I Like" without the specificity and sex, or "I Don't Like Anyone" with trap vocals, Super Mario Bros. coins and emotional anemia. It's not that the older Charli XCX grows the less mature her music does -- that's too easy -- but the more detached she grows from anticipation or euphoria or danger, all those things boys can do. I suppose it's novel that the video's full of cutesy-alluring boys rather than cutesy-alluring girls to distract from a lack of substance, but there too, I prefer men. [4]

Stephen Eisermann: Anyone has ever felt "boy crazy" probably had the same mixture of nostalgia and anxiety while listening to this song for the first time. My first thought was immediately, "omg Stephen, don't overplay this song or say you relate, just be cool, even if this is a blog straight from your now deleted Tumblr," but it quickly became "damn Charli... you get me." Charli makes efforts to disguise or explain herself for this all too common phase and instead simply admits that, yeah, she was thinking about dudes. This willingness to be vulnerable, because yes, admitting you think about the gender you are sexually attracted to often is showing vulnerability, plays well against the quiet composition, and the bell/high pitched sound that plays after every time Charli says Boys perfectly sums up the feeling of butterflies that often accompanies those thoughts. All in all, a terrific effort and only made better by a simple yet colorful video that shows all the different kinds of boys we are attracted to, even if I could've done with a bit more brown goodness in the video. [8]

Will Rivitz: There's so much to love about "Boys," but I think the part most telling of Charli XCX's genius is the utter perfection of its chorus. It's quintessential Charli: though superficially inane, it captures in four perfect lines her bittersweetly self-reflective ethos. She doesn't really have any excuse for blowing her friends off -- she wishes she did, it'd make things a lot easier -- but the swell of life and love and just everything worth caring about got in the way, so she let things happen. It's a beautiful perspective, "stop and smell the roses" restated freshly and eloquently in the face of a neon facade Charli doesn't really care to hold up at the moment, the one people usually think of when they think of her. Charli XCX juggles personas adroitly, but I don't think that's so much a function of her skill inhabiting multiple characters as much as it is her skill at expressing the complexities of human experience as, y'know, complexities, as opposed to hammered-down stubs which fit a general narrative arc too cleanly. Here, she discards the party-girl aesthetic of Number 1 Angel for a more passive outlook, but the beauty of "Boys" is that the two attitudes never feel contradictory. No matter who a person is or what they act like, sometimes it's ok for their head to be in the clouds. [9]

Will Adams: That Charli XCX has done the hyper-crush premise many times before shouldn't be a deterrent -- it's where she excels. The problem with "Boys" is that it replaces the textured sonics of True Romance with tinny snares and overused GameBoy switch-ons and the ebullience of "Boom Clap" with the dead-eyed stare of "After the Afterparty." [4]

Edward Okulicz: Eh, I preferred it when Charli XCX was a whip-smart songwriter who made cool, indelible, effortless pop. Now her effort seems to end with the concept, because beyond its catchy monomania and shareable video, there's not anything else here. [3]

Jonathan Bradley: "Boys" wafts like a daydream: it's an insular and domestic song, a pastel doodle in a diary's margin or a decorated bedroom wall. Kitty Pryde knows how effectively these rough drafts can invoke the intensity of little infatuations. Charli's rough draft is very rough though, and the chiptune chirrups of "Boys" are aggressive in their flimsiness. It gets old to be reiterating this with each new single Charli puts out, but PC Music's conviction that it constitutes a clever deconstruction of pop to make a kind that sounds deliberately shoddy is not an interesting one, and Charli's embrace of their approach has squandered her talents. Here, she dials up her natural insouciance -- a playfulness fitting for the subject matter -- to the point it seems she can barely be bothered delivering the lyric. The performativity undermines the persona; this isn't a song about crushes on boys, but a song about Charli knowing how much we all want to enjoy a song about crushes on boys. [4]

Joshua Minsoo Kim: It took a dozen listens before I realized the song's ephemeral, almost nondescript nature works strongly in its favor. This is the sound of an instinctual sigh that appears while daydreaming, and Charli XCX captures that perfectly when she intonates "boys." The subtle details here -- the water samples, the ticking, the ringing phone -- never feel intrusive, thankfully. Which means that for these short three minutes, the fantasy never dies. [7]

[Read, comment and vote on The Singles Jukebox ]

#Charli XCX #Boys

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cathousemelbourne-blog · 5 years

Video

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Joshua Harry Hall interview

Short interview with audio visual artist and producer Joshua Harry Hall as a preview for Berlin Calling LIVE techno this 23rd of March at The Sub Club Melbourne.

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Joshua Harry Hall. I guess I would categorise myself as an Audio-Visual artist. Biggest interest is in music, but even when I am just focussing on audio there is always a visual aspect whether it’s like film clip stuff or visuals for live. So, that’s what I like to do.

Tell us a bit about your music career and what influences you:

I actually grew up on metal and hardcore, I came from an area that was pretty dominant. Actually, I used to yell at people [laughing], I used to front a progressive hardcore band. I play guitar, so came from writing music, but for some reason ended up yelling at people.

How did you end up making your way to electronic music?

Outside of performance, I was always interested in sound design, how music comes out. I think alternative/heavier music has a lot more freedom for it to be much more experimental, because you don’t have mainstream society directing the outcome of the music. I think metal is a really good gateway to hearing songs that have a lot of content in the highs, mids and lows - really rich, and that’s found in electronic music as well.

I love almost everything. If it interests me, I don’t care what the genre is. Like psytrance, drum'n'bass, techno.. they all have their ways to present a platter of music, even if it’s minimal or there’s a lot going on, there’s more focus in sound design, so that's always attracted me. That’s what I was always interested in recording; how to make something sound good. When you’re used to metal where there’s a lot of tracks, you’re trying to fuse it all and make it sit well, from like really heavy vocals, complicated drum patterns, how you get the bass and these crazy kicks to come through multiple guitars.. trying to get a perfect mix, to me, that inspired me listening to electronic music cause it’s like people sitting in their rooms being fanatic about sound. Also, I just like heavy stuff.. there’s a lot of heavy electronic music!

What's your motivation behind playing live and not as a DJ?

I really respect DJ's, they're artists in terms of curating a whole set and taste making, taking an audience on; but for me, probably because of a background with tangible instruments, I never got interested in DJing.

I went through a time with electronic production everything was in the box. I guess financially, especially when you’re younger or whatever, just pirating stuff and having all those palettes to play with was interesting, but then I never felt connected or wanting to perform that music, even though I loved getting on stage and interacting with other artists in a band context, and delivering that to an audience. For me, creating something [...] in a studio, I can get really into creating songs - now I just want to play the songs. Seems a bit weird but I have no interest in grabbing all the other songs that I did and mixing them together. Not because I don’t like the format, I think I just respect it - people already do that. I’ve poured enough hours into other aspects of music to then go DJ.

That said, I like using the format of a DJ mixer even with live machines. I’ve got effect pedals in my chain, I’ll actually put them into another channel, [...] you can create loops and extended reverb and treat them like a different channel in the mix. But the more I got into sound, I bounced to asking 'what is the hardware?' or 'where are these sounds coming from?' I just got obsessed with synthesis.. as obsessed as finances allow!

Which has been your best live gig, where and why?

Aside from this kind of music, it was actually to like 40 people somewhere in W.A. just with a guitar [...] at a time the band I was in was going pretty well; but that set for some reason, even though it was super tiny, it was just a really humbling moment & realisation that I'd rather the emotional response of just one or two people, just destroying their world, or making their day or whatever, as opposed to pleasing a lot of people.

I’d already done that with the band as a way to not get shy if the crowd was very big; just sort of pick one person or a couple of people that were engaged, even before playing to just be like 'cool..it’s for that person' ..try to develop like a one on one relationship [...] then the rest of the crowd would feel it. But this gig.. there was this middle-aged lady and she was in tears when I was half way through a song, and by the end of it I realised most of the rooms energy had shifted like crazy. I literally walked away from that and within a week had plane tickets booked and had flight cases with all my gear ready. I was like: actually, there’s nothing holding me here anymore, this band is going really well but I wanna re-evaluate what Im doing with music, is it affecting people? And realised that particular project wasn’t able to get people the way I wanted.

That’s where I'm at now, unfolding and sort of presenting what I've been going through musically and trying to share that with people, just starting at the bottom again. If I can’t affect one or two people in an intimate setting then I don’t have much desire to make some crazy song in my studio and give it to a DJ to go play everywhere. I wanna effect people on the spot. I think that ties in to why live is important; engage in your present and you can have an idea of a song and go into it but maybe the way it comes out is totally different. If you’re actually engaged with the people there, or if you’ve got that one or two people that are really present then you’re having an intimate experience. It can shape the way that song comes out, then you get this really beautiful thing you don’t get in a studio. That song is the best! The opportunities in live are greater, and scarier.

What is your opinion about the techno scene in Melbourne and how do you see it in the future?

Techno in Melbourne is interesting. I think it’s thriving as much as it’s not. It’s confused a little bit. There’s definitely like a scene that isn’t confused, and is sort of pile driving a certain movement. But on a whole, I think there's a greater lot of people that hear the word 'techno' then have completely different ideas of what’s going on. [...] I think a lot of clubs and events in the south are really shallow and not in the pocket for the right reasons - not saying they’re not good and there aren’t people having the times of their life every single week again and again and again - but [...] it unfortunately doesn’t help the more intentional events because you have others that might actually like some forms of techno that just hear the word and think of ‘typical Revs' or something; or what techno offered 5 years ago or something. They recoil like “nah, that’s shit” or they might not connect to a certain stage or festival that they think signifies techno.

I don’t know, I know that’s going off on a tangent, but I think there's some really beautiful shit going on and unfortunately some people will never go to those gigs because they have another idea of what techno can be. Then on the other side, there is this whole facade of people that think they are going to these epic techno events that're actually detrimental and not good for the culture and the scene at all.

I can’t really talk too much about where I’m at with techno because there’s a million more people that are out in the front of the field [locally], like people I work with on a weekly basis for Sub Club and I wouldn’t say "I'm a techno artist" but [...] there's a lot of subsets of music that I do like to make, and get lost in - like ambient and drone - that's more accepted in the techno community.

For the future: I'm really interested to see what happens this year, cause a lot of venues have closed down for one reason or another. Really iconic places, or places that haven’t existed for that long but have created amazing atmosphere and communities around them. There’s actually a whole bunch of more challenges for any new places to pop up too. Like, insurance [for nightclubs] just went up by about 4 times this year. Not to mention the music licensing changes with One Music Australia that will impose astronomical costs for places that are venues for live music, from band rooms to clubs. So, on one side you got all these iconic places shutting down, on the other you’ve got this tidal-wave of reasons that it’s gonna be impossible to start anything low-key or left-field. If it was like that 5 years ago for Sub-Club, it wouldn’t exist. [...] I think, unfortunately it’s gonna be really hard for an authentic, small-scale, genuine club to open, but it’ll happen and I’m excited to see where the pieces lay.

Otherwise, it could be that downfall where all these amazing artists and gigs are pushed to clubs that generally play pretty shit stuff, but at least they can pay the bills every other night of the week and then therefore have these great intimate, awesome gigs happen there as well. But then, that’s weird because then you’re in an environment that usually has harassment and all the other stuff..

What do you think of this only-live techno concept and what would be your set-up for Berlin Calling Live night?

I think there should be more live electronic music in general in Melbourne. I think there’s heaps of artists out there that don’t see that as a viable thing because they don’t see it enough at gigs, or something. Like, people might have equipment but they’re more focused on “I'll finish this up as a track and play it in a DJ set” ..if more [live artists] are included lineus then [...] there's more people comprehending actually playing live, then it becomes normalised.

I think having set a whole night built around it being live is also awesome, especially at the moment if there’s smaller amount of people in your genre-umbrella then it means it’s not gonna be confined to just one sound [...] you have 6 artist who’re gonna be slightly off because of the gear they use, because of their own taste and stuff, I think it's a really good idea. I definitely wanna see it more in different venues around the city cause it opens the door for more collaborations.

Logistically it’s hard to balance if you don’t have the right people behind it, and the right idea of how it’s going to work. [...] It’s easier to have a whole lineup of DJ's and maybe one live set to start and one thrown in somewhere else. But hopefully there’s more full-live set ups. Personally, I really wanna see live setups with different artists all collaborating and playing a set together and that won’t happen until [we] start being normalised to gear [...] whether that’s someone through their laptop, there’s still that live interaction, doesn’t have to be all analog gear. That said, I love seeing modular, it’s beautiful - someone interacting with this whole beast, but I wanna see everyone come together, play together and go off with each other and take that time, the whole night [...] and taking the whole audience through. Hopefully a night like what you’re doing is gonna help pave and get us closer to maybe more people who want to do that.

I’ll be using a balance of digital and analog gear. I'm not gonna be taking too much. I think a Moog and a Deepmind, an Octatrack is gonna be the main basis of it and an iPad for looping stuff and my mixer. I actually use a mixer as an instrument a lot more, and a Strymon delay pedal [...] I like having like an aux send on the mixer that goes through the pedals, so with any instrument I can choose what gets affected and that comes back through a seperate channel, so if I turn that channel down, nothing is wet. I can bounce an idea or a certain sound to the effect pedals and have it turned down and be able to create that soundscape and move on, but know that the pedals are still stuck in that world and I can pull back to it. I really like looking at a mixer likes it’s an instrument as well, as opposed to something that controls volume.

Whereas the synth house project that I’ve done for festivals is like a whole cabin with everything that’s in [my studio], and guitars and other instruments I have; all in one big thing. I won’t be able to do that in the club. That setup takes a 22 channel mixer.

Berlin Caling LIVE techno:https://www.facebook.com/events/385381668931138/

Video editing:

Melissa Rodriguez

https://www.instagram.com/melipeggi28/

https://vimeo.com/user40165237

#techno #melbournetechno #berlincalling #cathousemelbourne #technofamily #deeptechno

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theparaminds · 5 years

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There is no beginning, there is no end. There is only growth, there is only improvement. This has become the ongoing mantra stupid rich kid revolves his artistry around, the ideology he answers his anxieties with and the philosophy he’s used to open more doors than he could’ve imagined possible. It was often unnatural for his truest self to be reflected within his work, feeling as though he needed to fully understand the complexities of the human existence before speaking on any of them. Yet now, he knows his understanding, and subsequently, his highest art will come by overcoming the entrapping stagnation, expressing all he intakes with unflinching, beautiful confusion.

Coming off the heels of a new EP and on the cusp of a brand new album, stupid rich kid has a new pathway at his fingertips, a chance to subvert his past mistakes. A chance to create the narrative surrounding his work. By pairing his wise-beyond-its-years lyricism with the lush auditory playground he’s established, stupid rich kid is teaching as he learns, finally living life without the fear and distractions that woke with him in the morning, and stayed with him as he attempted to sleep at night.

It’s, above all, stupid rich kid’s endless pursuit for artistic truth, and therefore personal bliss, that explains the core of essence. Like a beach in winter, it doesn't always make sense, but it’s the alluring contrast between confusion and beauty that builds a musical landscape like no other. His commitment to progressing himself towards the promised land of artistry is to be admired, to be cherished. While he may not know the end, and often wants to disregard the beginning, it is the present which he has grounded himself within, living with a joy previously unknown and a passion ignited brighter than ever.

Our first question as always, how’s your day going and how have you been?

I've been real good, real tired though, but staying busy.

Yesterday you were posting a little of being at Laneway fest, how was it to be around that creative atmosphere and see a lot of the scene come together?

It was good, just cool to have good fun. It was nice to see people having a good time and I really had a nice day.

It's a crime not to start with the most obvious thing, you just released a new EP. What’s kinda been your reflection on the reception and have you gotten the peace you hoped to achieve from it?

I haven’t been too proud of anything I’ve released up until this EP. When I was 15 and super young, I was also naive and had no idea what I was doing, especially when I released Girl, which I’ll be taking off of streaming. With next to no self-confidence or ability in music, I spent a whole year staying real low key and just working on myself as an artist, searching for my sound. I think the singles I released over 2018 were cool and I was starting to find my sound a bit more for sure, but still didn’t sit right. I don’t know, I guess I wasn’t happy with who I was, how I got there or where I was going, which is something I talk about quite a bit on the EP and album. The EP is definitely a truer reflection of my sound and vision, and 2 years later, I’m feeling a lot more comfortable as an artist. I never have any regrets, because regrets are just mistakes you’ve made that you haven’t done anything to fix. Definitely made a few mistakes at the start of my career, but I’m slowly patching them up and learning along the way. I’m still young, I just turned 18, and I’m just trying to constantly prove and improve my artistry to everybody and more importantly, myself.

In your mind, you talked about it being a prelude to the album. How do you think it'll compare between the two projects and what can people expect from the next one?

In my mind, I don't think I’ll be as surface level on the next one. I know that I'll talk about things I usually don't but need to explore in depth much more.

Is it key to you to always challenge yourself and not allow yourself to stagnate?

Yeah exactly, I look back at the EP already and wish I changed certain things. That's why it's good practice though, every song is different and it teaches me what people do and don't like and it surprises me as well, as their ideas sometimes differ from mine.

The songs are very different on the project, but you also talked about how you made the project in a couple months, so has it been just a month of learning and experimentation?

I had Attitude and Sonar in the works already, with Libra sign already out there, so it wasn't hard to put together, but to get the songs to the level I wanted was a little more difficult and it was just good to finish something completely.

As the last two months have gone, even though it's a short span, is there art, music or movies you've found yourself drawing from that really shaped this EP?

Taylor Swift generally shaped a bit of it, I don’t know why, shoutout to Taylor Swift. Skate 3, like the video game, that had a lot of impact on it. And generally just my friends and all that helped a lot.

What would you say then is your favorite video game?

I have like every Assassins Creed so probably that, I haven't played them in years, but honestly probably that.

While you did have a lot of collaboration on the EP and with past single releases, is that something you hope to continue with the album or do you want to become more singular?

I prefer working with people 100%, I get the best product of myself if I’m working with other people. I always end up pushing them, which ends up makes them push me and then we get something stronger out of it. The more somber songs I like to be like a cat and just take my time and stroll around.

When you're working with people it’s not competitive though, is it? It's more wanting to just create the best art possible from what you're saying.

I've felt both before and I'll tell you that I've never released anything that I’ve felt was competitive just because it's terrible and not why I make music. I always say that talent is not based on streams, and people need to see that.

Well at times it does feel like the New Zealand scene doesn't get the recognition due to location and whatnot, and it seems like you have a strong understanding that fame doesn't equal success. Which poses the question of what you do see as success if it isn't fame or fortune?

Honestly in some respects, as long as I’m happy I’m successful. I want to work with my idols. Success looks like changing the name for New Zealand and showing that we make really cool, special stuff.

If you could hold a show anywhere on the planet, with money not being a restriction, where would you do it at?

Pink Floyd played it once back when they made Echoes. It’s this like Roman amphitheater, that one is unreal beautiful and I’d go there in a heartbeat.

As you're prepping for this album, what personal goals do you want to achieve beyond music and art?

I guess staying really happy. I always talk about happiness like a wave that goes up and down, I always got scared when I was younger because when I was happy I knew it would go downhill and I’m at that point now, so I don't want to fear it going back down.

In your process, when you created a set of songs and you're trying to cut it down, how do you filter out what's artistically necessary?

It has to all flow from start to finish, it has to be like a Pink Floyd album. It’s like how you don't want to watch a movie with the scenes all out of order. It should be like a rollercoaster.

When you create, do you feel as though you have a goal to resonate with certain listeners or is your output more so for you and something you're just happy others relate to?

I don't know, whenever someone's asked this always just says ‘that outcast kid’ they want to connect to, and I for sure feel that. But instead of just the outcast kid and saying I've been you before, I want to do that for everybody. I played a show not that long ago where there all types of vastly different people in one room, but they were all cool with each other and enjoying the same songs.

One aspect you haven’t fully delved into is the visual side to your art. Is that something you hope to build more on leading to this album?

Yeah, I have an art director now, so we’re planning a lot of crazy visuals and I think the rollout for the album will be very visual based and something unique.

On that note, what’s your favorite music video you’ve ever seen?

Nikes by Frank Ocean for sure. I remember that was such a great roll out. I had Endless on a tab in my computer at all times and was just listening whenever I could. I also spent all money on the Boys Don’t Cry Mag and both his Vinyl.

Wow, you're a legend for having all of that. What in your mind is the biggest inspiration you draw from Frank and his work?

Well, I'm not super inspired by him in a musical sense. I actually feel I don't draw anything in that way. But I've always loved his elusiveness, the fact he's so big and no one knows him. I also just love that he's always challenging himself.

As a final question, what is the memory that at the end of this year, you hope to create for yourself? The one you want to leave this year knowing you got to experience?

I want to see myself having heaps of fun, just with my friends, ones I have and haven’t met yet. Making all the music in person and seeing it all come to fruition in person is my biggest vision for sure.

Do you have anyone you want to shout out or anything you want to promote? The floor is yours.

Shouts out everyone on the EP; so that’s Garrett (Postcard Boy), Seungjin, Maxwell (Young). Tom (Verberne) as well. Oh and then also Yuki (Hugo) and James Thorrington!

Follow stupid rich kid on Instagram and Twitter

Listen on Spotify and Apple Music

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musicmapglobal · 7 years

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Insight: Marbella (Alvaro Tobar - Third Culture)

The city of Marbella, nestled halfway down Spain’s Costa del Sol, is famous for being one of Europe’s most popular resort destinations, providing sun, sea, sand and cerveza to a large seasonal flow of wealthy foreign visitors. What it hasn’t generally been famous for is its music scene. Fortunately, Marbella’s Third Culture collective is flipping that impression on its head.

Comprised of producers, performers, promoters, DJs and a range of other creatives, Third Culture’s aim is to nurture a distinct, organic music scene that can make its mark beyond Marbella and compete with the big foreign acts that tour the region. By supporting some of Spain’s most exciting emerging artists, it seems they are starting to succeed. We got in touch with Alvaro Tobar, Third Culture’s ‘cultural agitator’, to find out why the Spanish hip-hop scene is finally fulfilling its potential, and how Marbella’s artists are providing alternative routes for itexpansion…

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In ten words or less, how would you describe where you live?

A melting pot of international cultures with a unique lifestyle.

What got you involved in the local music scene, and what is your role within it?

What got me involved in the ‘scene’ was pretty much wanting to create one, a real one. We’ve had amazing venues & international superstars performing here for years – singers, DJs, rappers, etc – but that only happens in summer with the inflow of tourists. Other than that there’s no actual scene in the foundations. The venues, promoters, audience, they all just follow and copy each other based on what makes money. Nobody really cares about the actual music, its culture or what it’s spawning in the younger generations that soak it all up, in my eyes there’s a lot of raw talent here that keeps getting bypassed.

People just need inspiration, a sense of belonging to something bigger, let them know what they do is appreciated because it’s contagious, it spreads a message, it allows people to drop their fears, judgements, etc and to go for it, whatever it may be. It will push the next person to go out and do what they love, when you have a lot of people doing that, you have a healthy scene, a community and that’s when amazing things begin to happen.

I recently found out that the city of Atlanta (without the metropolitan area) has a smaller population than the city of Málaga which is the closest capital to Marbella. Now think about trap and all the music that has come out of the city of Atlanta in the past years that has shaped the sound of hip-hop and even pop music in the entire world: Outkast, T.I., Gucci Mane, Migos, Young Thug, 21 Savage, the list is endless. That is all because of the scene they had there, it’s been thriving for decades, people push one another to create and support each other, that’s when things flourish.

I started Third Culture as a monthly event that allowed all the creators here to gather in a relaxed atmosphere and experience something new; music (DJs and concerts), art, fashion, etc. A place to praise open-mindedness and creativity, something they couldn’t experience anywhere else locally and that actually made them feel like they were somewhere else, in an underground venue of a big city or metropolis for example. I’ve been told by people at our events that they feel like they’re in Shoreditch in London, or in Soho in NY, etc, anything but Marbella and that’s the biggest compliment.

My role within it is always through Third Culture. There I’m an MC, DJ, promoter, booking agent, designer, I do it all, so I wouldn’t really know what to call it. Recently in an interview with a local TV [station] they called me a ‘cultural agitator’ for the city, and I’m not mad at that, I’m here to shake the shit up until people realise, or at least until the right people do.

What are the dominant music styles in both Marbella and Spain as a whole, are there any exciting new music trends currently emerging?

In Spain the explosion in the modern hip-hop/trap scene has been insane, we’ve had hip-hop here for decades but it has always been marginalised and pushed aside, I think because it was never daring enough, it was just there to fulfil the ‘rap in Spain’ category. It never went mainstream aside from 2 or 3 acts unlike the UK or France that had a full scene with their own distinctive sound, but what’s happened here in the past 3-5 years is crazy. The level of artistry has gone through the roof, not only the acts and their music, but also visuals, merchandise, even marketing strategies, you see some very unique proposals that are already giving American & foreign artists huge competition, a lot of these Spanish acts have better numbers than established acts in the US (sales, YouTube views, followers, etc). This is mostly because Spanish acts are finally tapping majorly into Central and South America which are HUGE markets for them.

Marbella is different because this place is a bubble that is always ruled by international influence before Spanish influence. The ‘scene’ here is always looking at the international charts, but it’s better than ever in my opinion because every single venue now has at least one night a week dedicated to hip-hop, trap & urban beats, most of them with huge live performances. It’s definitely exciting to see how this is all developing considering there are more venues every year which allow for many more opportunities for the scene to grow and keep establishing itself.

Who are the key local acts we should be listening to right now?

Sandro Jeeawock: local producer who has collaborated with big names in Spain like Pimp Flaco, Kinder Malo and Dellafuente. Imagine if Atlanta’s 808 culture got all loved up and had a night of debauchery with the early Neptunes’ sound… His debut album Golden Boy was released early this summer via Ocean Club which he presented in a set at this year’s Sonar Festival. He will be back in BCN on the 26th of August playing in TRILL. Don’t miss it.

GXNZX: Picture a mysterious bearded cavalier majestically riding a Roland SP-404. Now you can listen to him. Lo-fi expert, dope sample choppa, if he gets on some pads, keep an extinguisher close. Shit will burn.

Olarte: A staple in the local scene, he has one of the most ample ’90s hip-hop libraries I’ve come across and you can tell on his production, the man is dipped in jazz (literally he has portraits of jazz greats tattooed all over his body) and his drums will make your neck snap, a deadly combo.

Rjay: In my opinion, the best male vocalist round these ends, London bred, Marbella based, with a great knack for songwriting. From trap to R&B, give him any beat and hell have a solid track in no time.

K:Miss: Powerful female vocalist, lead singer of soul band ‘Soulbelle’, she hasn’t left any genre untouched: house, jazz, rock & roll, and she keeps going. Her upcoming material with a modern hip-hop twist to it will definitely make heads turn.

Space Hammu: The out of town homies, hailing from the east-side of Malaga, this collective of MCs & producers is about to shake the scene in spain: Delaossa, Raggio & Carrion are 3 of the livest spitters I’ve heard come out the south, JMoods could flip a tank with his beats and Kas.Rules keeps it all sounding tight & crisp. Its a rap dream team and we can only help them push further, although they don’t need it.

What’s the live music scene/nightlife like in Marbella?

The majority of it is based in upmarket clubs, VIP bottles, etc, so whatever genre it’s always going to be somewhat commercial, but the appearances get bigger every year. So far the biggest acts we’ve had this year are: Lil Wayne, Tory Lanez, Tyga, Trey Songz, French Montana, Ja Rule, Fat Joe, etc. There’s also a very solid UK sounds scene, grime, garage, DnB, etc: Craig David, Tinie Tempah, J Hus, Giggs, Krept & Konan, Kano, So Solid Crew, DJ Luck & MC Neat, DJ EZ, etc, they’ve all been here this season. Now because of a sudden inflow of French tourism you also see huge names from the French scene stop by like Booba or Maitre Gims.

Other than that you can see full concerts in places like Starlite (Elton John, Ben Harper, etc.), Puente Romano Hotel for most of the oldies (George Benson, Billy Ocean, Chaka Khan, etc) or the brew pub La Catarina, the home of all the Third Culture events for the past two years where we’ve had the biggest names from the Spanish scene, like Bejo, BNMP, Nathy Peluso, Fanso, Jesse Baez & the list goes on.

For anyone visiting, what should they see and what should they eat and drink?

Marbella’s Old Town is beautiful with loads of tapas bars and great restaurants. If you want high end restaurants the square in Puente Romano has pretty much anything you could ask for. If you’re looking for something cheap & cheerful with a good vibe, I would definitely recommend Bao Garden, a relaxed hang-out spot with awesome Asian street food. Seafood here is a must, there’s plenty chiringuitos with espetos de sardinas, boquerones, pil-pil and all that good stuff.

The whole summer lifestyle here is what beomes the biggest sight if you ask me, but if you like the outdoors, the Paseo Maritimo that joins Marbella centre with Puerto Banus is an amazing walk by the beach, especially during sunset. Hike up La Concha mountain whenever it’s not too hot for the best views of the whole coast. El Chorro, Tarifa, El Palmar are also beautiful nature spots that are very close by.

What one song, past or present, sums up Marbella best?

If I had to chose a present track it would probably be Travis Scott’s ‘Butterfly Effect’ because the ambience of the track matches the setting, plus people here love to stunt. A lot of people come here JUST to stunt. You see them on Facebook working their butts off the rest of the year, looking all focused and then they come here to wile out & have fun, ‘for this life they cannot change’.

What are the biggest challenges faced by musicians in Marbella right now?

Without a doubt having work all year round, it becomes very alive in the holiday season, and some opportunities and openings arise, but after there’s simply not enough audience, so it’s down to the artists to move around and try find gigs. Other than that, during the holiday season most big venues have very very limited availability if any at all as they have most of their resident acts, DJs, etc, closed months in advance, there it’s simply a matter of having good connections and a good product.

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veosullivan406 · 7 years

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The Long Weekend

Posted on Wordpress on May 20, 2017 by V. E. O'Sullivan

I arrived in Big Timber on the afternoon of April 27th. I spent that evening with friends, cutting up and sipping my glass of wine and finally allowing myself to relax. After rushing the week prior to my departure, it was strange to be sitting still without anything on my list screaming to get done or a destination I had to make it to by a certain time. I was in Montana and I had two and half days before the short trip to Big Sky and my new home at the 320 Ranch.

It was still rainy and overcast and cold. 37 degrees cold. I knew better than to just pack everything up in the totes. Thankfully, I had packed plenty of layers and a nice warm hoodie in my travel bag. And I needed every layer.

Driving up to Sojourner Ranch was wet and windy. The Krug’s cows were out and about and I had to navigate around them to get to the gate. Babies were everywhere sleeping and playing and staring at me in wonder. The grass was eaten down; the irrigation ditch was off; gates I didn’t know existed were shut and required hopping out to open and shut them quickly. I hadn’t been out that early in the year before, and it almost looked and felt like a different place.

I thought I would be excited to reach my grandparent’s gate… But the thought of them being back in Georgia and not on the hill waiting for me dulled my emotions. I snapped a picture and sent it to her. When I pulled through, Banjo and Koda were in the bottoms eating and raised their heads in curiosity when they heard my truck. Realizing I had come alone and without any four-legged friends, they resumed grazing.

I crested the hill and the McKenzie Flats opened up around me allowing me full visual access to the Beartooths to the south and the Crazies to north. Immediately to my right and left, however, were the buildings my grandparents built with their own hands – with the help of several Big Timber folks kind enough to lend a hand and spare some of their time. But my grandparents weren’t there. I was the one making the initial trip out, keys in hand, to open up the house and the barn. Even if it hadn’t been in the 40’s, it would have still been cold – almost uninviting. Strange how a place gains life with the presence of its tenants and loses it in their absence.

I pulled around to the back of the barn to unload my tack and rearrange my stuff with the extra room it allowed. It began to spit ran on me as I was finishing and I made my way to the house to check off my list of things to do there. It was a hesitant walk up the stairs and to the door. In times past, I’d be sprinting up the few steps and flying in the door to embrace the nearest grandparent. Not this time. It was just me there – and all the lovely birds and their droppings. I slid the key in the lock and turned it. I’d be the first one in this year.

Plastic covered the furniture and there were dead flies scattered under the windows. She’d told me what to do with those – fold the plastic and put it all in the closet; vacuum the floors – but it was a foreign place to me in that state. I set to work getting the house “opened up” and was finished relatively quickly with the plastic folding and putting away. I decided to leave the flies until the next day. Now for the outside tasks: move the benches to their designated sides of the porch. The east-, north- and west-facing sides were easy. But the south side has one larger bench and required a little extra time and maneuvering. Soon I was finished with that and headed back down to the Krug’s to relax.

I spent a long while doing nothing and letting my body rest. But as I sat and the hours passed, I was getting hungry. A quick text and I had plans to eat at The Thirsty Turtle.

I met my buddies for a “sammie” and the Thirsty Turtle’s amazing sides – fried pickles and sweet potato fries. And a vodka tonic to top it off. I don’t usually eat fried foods, but there are a few exceptions and those are at the top of my list. Especially when you dip them in their secret Cajun ranch. By the end of our meal, we had grown from three to four and we meandered over to The Grand for an additional drink. With few places to end up in Big Timber on a Friday night, our party of four grew to a lively bunch of eight. Our poor waitress had her hands full with our antics, but we kept the noise in check and had a merry time.

Word reached us of the 90’s night across the street, and with the rest of the patrons at the Grand staring in our direction of a good time, we decided to slide over to the Timber Bar. After walking in and feeling the room close in around me, I made my way back out the door to collect my nerves. I don’t care for small spaces and a big crowd. I really don’t even like big spaces and a big crowd. Too many people and things going on at once, and I end up with an uncomfortable sensory overload. Luckily, I didn’t enter that establishment alone, and I nestled in among my buddies in a spot I thought was a safe haven. One stiff squeeze on my shoulders and a foreign body against my back and I was even further in amongst my friends. Reason number 73894759589 why I hate big crowds: my personal bubble is invaded by strangers!

An honest mistake of persons on their part and any crisis was averted. I still kept my back to the bar from that point, just to be safe. We hung there for a long while. Music I’d never heard blared from the speakers and a few I thought I’d heard before played here and there. Several happy people shared a song or two with a partner on the dance floor, but the majority of the patrons gathered around the tables and the bar. We snagged an empty table at some point and used it as a people watching station. Very entertaining. Which was before I became the object of someone else’s people watching. I was convinced to “try my feet” at country swing dancing. Thankfully, I had a gracious teacher who didn’t mind repeatedly doing the move over and over again. I think I grasped the concept by the end.

Someone mentioned they had chocolate cake back at their house. It was about midnight, why not have cake? So we drove across town for chocolate frosted cake a few last laughs. A quick bite and a drink turned into an extended outing with old friends and new friends and a heck of a fun time.

I went to bed in Montana for the second night worn out and happy.

Saturday broke with a clear sky and fairly warmer temperatures than the day before. Driving up to the house was less dreary than Friday, and I took my time getting started and tried to soak up all the sunshine that I could. Vacuuming didn’t take long, and I had the whole morning to waste. I sat on the back porch, with my coat still on, and closed my eyes in the warmth of the sun. It was fantastically quiet, save for the wind which lent a chill to the air. But I didn’t mind. I was just happy to be there, right where my feet were.

We had plans to meet up at The Fort for a trip to Billings. My buddy needed replacement saddle parts and I had asked to tag along. Even though I traveled back the way I had just come, it was a better ride than the one I’d had on the way in. Accompanied by my friends and riding along under the clear Montana sky was invigorating. We grabbed my buddy’s saddle parts and headed over to Scheels – which was hands down the coolest sporting goods store I’ve ever been to. A little meandering around both stories of the store, we headed for home and dinner. Lonestar Pizza called our names and we order three pizzas for a good judge of their work, of course. What is pizza night without a good scary movie, right? On the way back to the house, we grabbed Sinister and settled in for a good scare.

Which I missed out on. Pretty sure I passed out about 30 minutes into the movie. Oh, well. It had been a great day with great company, but I needed the rest.

Sunday came too early for my tired self. It was another beautiful day and I had a church service to make. I gathered up all of my crap and re-loaded the truck with the things I had taken out of it: plants, travel bag, cooler, and laundry bag. I stopped at the Fort for one last cup of their coffee and headed to Big Timber Evangelical Church. I was a little late, but luckily the back row was open and I slid in an empty seat. After the service, I said hello and goodbye to surprised friends and told them my grandparents were on my heels.

Not sure if it was the Spirit moving on my heart, but I struggled to keep my composure whilst conversing. I wanted to breakdown and cry. I’ve always found it funny, and really almost perfect, that God uses the time I spend in services to really work on my walled-up heart and stifled thoughts making His presence known. It isn’t always in a church building; He moves on my heart even at any given point in my day. And I suppose He does that to everyone who chooses to come before Him, but in that instance His gentle calling was digging up more than just my adoration for Him. All the emotions I had shoved down about leaving were coming up, too. I had barely made it out of there before the tears started seeping out. I was raw and exposed and my heart was calling out for a comfort and a peace that I couldn’t conjure for myself.

Nothing a still moment in the truck with a little Phil Wickham couldn’t salve. Ha. Yeah, right. Nothing a little worship couldn’t dissolve my walls and containers any better. I’m not complaining. Who better to cry to than the One who’s always with me? It was time to let go and feel again. I backed out and headed west on I90 again.

I couldn’t go through Bozeman without having lunch at Dave’s Sushi. It was my last “vacation” treat. Once I got to the ranch, I knew I had to transition into “real life” and I wanted to end my trip with a nice treat. For any sushi lovers coming through Bozeman, from that experience and past ones, I highly recommend Dave’s and the Twin Fin, Widespread Panic, Street Taco and the Jack Sparrow rolls. Totally satisfied my sushi craving. And just like that lunch was over and it was time to hit the road again.

For the drive out I had Spotify repeating and shuffling my road trip playlist. Which had worked perfectly up until I hit Big Timber and then I was over my selections. But I had been given a series by Andy Stanley to listen to before I left, and I had forgotten up until then that I had it. I stuck disc one in of “Taking Responsibility for Your Life: Because Nobody Else Will”. Perfect, right? It couldn’t have been more perfect once he began his message and it’s a series I recommend highly.

The first disc ended a little before Big Sky, and I switched it out for disc two as carefully as I could. Andy talked me all the way to the bridge over the Gallatin river that takes you into the 320 Ranch. I pressed pause and parked in front of the office. Carla met me to show me over to my new home and I changed back into “go mode”. Time to unpack all the crap I’d transported from Dawsonville, GA to Buffalo Horn Creek Rd, Gallatin Gateway, MT. (The ranch is 15 miles south of the census-designated area of Big Sky.)

I met a few of my bunk mates, who kindly helped me with the two large and cumbersome totes strapped in the bed of my truck, and set to work unloading and putting away my clothes, shoes, bedding, and toiletries. Once I was through, I ventured back down the hallway to the kitchen where I could hear the voices of my bunk mates carrying on.

I’m an introvert by nature, but because of my prudent mother and my line of work, I’ve made it a habit to practice being an extrovert. I put on my social hat and dropped my anxieties at the door. Instantly, I could tell this bunch was going to be a blast living and working with. Each of them was welcoming and cool and nonchalant. I had come in at quitting time and they were already letting their hair down. What better way to break the newbie in than a little game of Gentleman’s Beer Pong – sans beer? I was a little rusty and I think I might have made a total of 8 cups, but it was fun and a great ice breaker.

I turned in early, happy and less anxious than I had been upon my arrival. Tomorrow was the first day of work and I was excited to begin.

05.19.2017

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