#I haven't even been to a concert in over a decade probably

[hussyknee]

Just found out that the baby baked in an oven thing Zionists accused Hamas of doing is actually something Zionists themselves did during the Deir Yassin massacre of 1948. And the fetus cut out of the pregnant woman's womb is something that was done in the massacre of the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps by Lebanese militants in concert with Zionists. We already know that they rape women and children in detention. I think the only other huge fucking lie about Oct 7th was the beheaded babies, and I'm legitimately afraid of learning whether or not that was also just something Zionists themselves did at one point.

I mean it's not even improbable because this type of unfathomable cruelty is par for the course with genociders, that only happen when the dominant group has so much disproportionate power in the region that there is only mindless hatred and perfect impunity. (The Brits used to use native infants as crocodile bait.) The reports of IOF ripping babies from their mothers arms, shooting them dead, throwing them aside and dragging the mothers off in front of witnesses were numerous even before this. I've also heard reports of young parents being dragged off and abandoning their toddlers and infants on the roadsides (saw a video of it and I'm going to be haunted to my grave). So those premature babies being left to die of starvation at the hospital was shocking but only surprising because there were so many eyes on the situation due to the efforts of the aid workers and journalists. We thought that Western governments wouldn't pull this shit with the whole world watching. As it turned out, the only reason the last twenty-odd premature babies at Al Shifa Hospital survived was because the director of the place refused to leave them until they were safely shipped off to Egypt (unaccompanied, God knows if the parents will ever get them back. Egyptian governments refused to let the few critically injured people allowed safe passage by the US to go through without visas and passports so they died in the ambulances). Then the IOF kidnapped the director right afterwards. He's still missing.

The organ harvesting thing is also true btw. We've been talking about it ever since they made off with those dead bodies at Al Shifa Hospital. Whether they were going to use them to stage their own propaganda, harvest their organs and skin, or just did it to deprive their families of giving them a burial. Probably all three.

I'm so tired of you people refusing to pay any attention to the news streaming out of Gaza via their own citizen journalists and Al Jazeera and Quds News and families of activists and then accusing us of spreading conspiracy theories! "There's so much misinformation" just say you don't trust Palestinians to tell the truth about their own genocide with your whole chest. Say that your charges of antisemitism is about how much you fear Black people and Muslims. Say that you don't reblog calls for the Jewish community to interrogate their whiteness and their enmeshing with Zionism over the decades because you feel like "it's not your place" to amplify Black and brown people challenging whiteness. Say that you shut us down and police our language about Zionists because you're philosemites who believe Jews could never be as genocidal and bloodthirsty as every other group on the world given the same power. Say that you still don't think Zionists are "as bad as" Nazis because they haven't murdered enough people yet.

I'll take the Zionists cheering over the deaths of people we're mourning over all the hidden polite lethal racism you're hiding under your white liberal tongues. I can't take this death by a thousand cuts shit anymore. Seriously why are you scrolling past? You think we aren't talking about you?

#tw child murder #tw body horror #sabra and shatila massacre #deir yassin massacre #al nakba #palestinian genocide #gaza genocide #war crimes #tw child harm #tw rape #colonization #white supremacy #anti zionism #antisemitism #racism #islamophobia #free palestine #october 7th attack #IOF #i/p #knee of huss #palestine history

[rainbowsky]

Anonymous asked: Hey Rainbow! I’m sorry to hear you are going through a rough time right now. Please don’t take this the wrong way, I don’t mean anything bad from it. Genuinely curious… isn’t it wrong for us to think outside forces (i.e, so/os, mgmt) are forcing dd to do these things? As a turtle ofc it’s sad that they photoshopped that… but dd has always been someone who does what he wants to do. It just feels wrong to assume other people are making him do this.

First of all, you come across as an anti based on your entire ask, but I will address the part that I'm willing to.

This reflects poor reading comprehension. I never at any point said DD was 'forced' into anything. Of course we have to accept the likelihood that he agreed to the things we're seeing. But we also can't pretend that the forces at play (fan pressure, stakeholder pressure, industry pressures) have nothing to do with it. That would be a bizarre leap of logic to make, since those are the few things we actually have information on.

If we're really turtles, then we will of course reflect on all of the pressures that both GG and DD are under, and recognize those as real factors that are at play. If we're really turtles, we will of course consider the likelihood that GG and DD appreciate and value turtles and the support they give. They have repeatedly shown that through their behavior over the years.

So if we're really turtles, then we won't try to remove all BXG context from the situation and talk like an anti.

Yes, DD probably was in on the decisions that have been made, but his options are likely extremely limited at this point, and his hands are likely tied on certain fronts. It's also possible that he agreed to some things in a bargain to prevent others. We don't know.

He will also have been given a lot of advice through all of this, and some compelling points might have been made to support giving in to the fan demands. After all, he's about to go into promo for One and Only, and if his toxic solo fans (who are behaving like antis, frankly) are willing to boycott the YH concert - the only opportunity they'll likely have to see him perform live all year - then of course it only follows that they might be willing to boycott the film.

DD obviously wants to do films, so what choice does he really have, here? Any non-disingenuous person has to admit that these are all factors he will have had to consider, and if backers are nervous and starting to think of him as a risky prospect, he has absolutely no choice in the matter if he wants to continue to get film opportunities.

It's just like when he split with Nike and had to remove all the GG-related Nike posts from his account, including the sneakers and ice cream post. He would have agreed to that. He would have agreed to splitting with Nike, too, but let's not pretend it would have been easy for him, or that he would have done so eagerly and with enthusiasm.

I'm going to address an angle I haven't yet addressed, and that is the angle of how this all impacts DD's image among fans and passersby, because that is another factor in all of this.

Anyone who isn't a deeply brainwashed or dishonest BXG-anti knows that CQL is DD's most representative work to date, even now 4 years after airing. Unless you're trying to gaslight the world, it's plain and clear that CQL is an important work that has been central to his career success.

In those little bio tidbits on Weibo stars tend to pay homage to the moments in their career that 'made' them the star they are. It's customary for artists to honor those moments in that little bio, even decades later.

The removal of CQL from DD's bio isn't in keeping with that tradition. To some people it makes him look ungrateful and disrespectful.

Also, a dear friend pointed out that listing as 'representative works' a film that hasn't even aired or been evaluated by audiences - One and Only - is also strange in this context. It is a bit odd and comes across as premature to list it as a 'masterpiece' (because the phrasing is 'representative masterpieces' or something along those lines), and makes him look arrogant because of the phrasing.

It would have been better for him to remove 'representative masterpieces' entirely and just said, "Film actor, works including:" instead.

There are apparently also quite a few solos who are upset and disillusioned by DD's caving to the demands, and are voicing discontent on Weibo. In their eyes he's the guy who does what he wants and 'never backs down', and this has completely reconfigured their understanding of who he is as a person. They are unhappy about it.

Fans have unrealistic images and expectations of their idol, and getting upset when they don't meet those expectations is fairly common. Most of us can probably agree that's pretty messed up, but it is what it is. And that image issue only becomes worse, not better, when fans think he was the one who chose to cave to fan demands rather than being forced by management.

Point being, these are not 'neutral' choices. These choices have consequences, including consequences that weren't foreseen. That's the nature of decision making. But pretending the context doesn't exist doesn't serve any purpose but that of the antis. 👋🏻

It seems pretty clear he's giving in to solo demands. Those demands have been extremely aggressive for nearly a year now. The fact that he held out that long is information we should consider as well.

(This is in reference to a previous post.)

#ggdd controversies #solos belong to moling su sect #fandom reflections #ask

[purplesurveys]

1752

Who’s the last person you were angry with? My brother for not doing shit around the house.

What was the last video game that you beat? I've never beaten a video game before; I've always been terrible at them haha. I remember taking a shot at a Resident Evil game, but even though my gameplay was set to the easiest available level I still struggled to get past the tutorial stage. I still love video games though and for the most part I enjoy watching walkthroughs – it's just I can never actually play them.

When was the last time you ate Pop Tarts? No idea. It most probably would've been pre-pandemic years.

Have you ever hyperventilated? Yes. Terrible experience.

Have you ever had lice? Yeah when I was like 10. Fortunately it never became a recurring thing because I know other kids had it much worse.

Colored or black-and-white photo? Colored. Never was a big fan of the black and white effect; to me it takes the life out of what the photo could've said.

Do you believe in astrology? Not in the least.

Who did you last give a piggyback ride to? I don't think I've ever given anyone a piggyback ride. It's always been the other way around as I'm quite petite.

Do you like Lady Gaga or does she try too hard? I have never thought of Lady Gaga as a try-hard, even in her earlier years. I always saw her as daring and experimental which I really admired. I especially enjoyed how much she pissed off conservatives and I LOVED seeing the news of all the Christian groups protesting when she came to Manila 13 years to hold a concert haha.

What’s the ugliest trend you’ve ever seen? I think most dance challenges are cringey so there's that. As a whole I think I'm just not the target audience for TikTok, lol.

Would you ever keep your favorite animal as a pet? I already have two of them. :))

What would you do if you were stuck on a boat in the middle of the ocean? Do my best to attract attention, but otherwise be also accepting of my fate. The ocean is a ruthless place so I wouldn't at all be surprised if I don't end up making it.

When was the last time you played Guitar Hero? More than a decade ago.

Where did you last wear a bathing suit? I think it had been in Zambales last December when my family went out for a quick beach trip.

Who did your last notification come from? My sister.

Do you feel more comfortable with a male or female doctor/nurse? Tbh I don't mind either way. In my experience, both have been kind and gentle and it's actually female staff who have tended to be frank and judgmental on occasion, so I keep a neutral stance altogether.

Ever cried so much you threw up? A few times, yeah.

Are you completely over your last relationship? I'll feel resentful from time to time but otherwise it barely crosses my mind anymore as I have long moved past it.

Have you ever gone to a beach? Yes.

Have you ever suspected anyone of cheating on you? No.

What do you usually order on a pizza? I always get either the four-cheese or barbecue option. I never get anything else.

Have you ever done volunteer work just because you wanted to? I haven't yet but it's something I frequently think about. I just never have the time to do so. I'd love to volunteer at an NGO for strays.

The last time you washed your hair, did you use conditioner? Yes, I have to. I can bathe without shampoo, but I can never not use conditioner. It's the one thing keeping my hair from being a stiff nest.

Would you ever visit a psychic? Never. Ick.

Have you ever had a stick insect as a pet? Nope. I don't think I've ever even seen one before.

Has anyone ever called you stuck-up? I don't think so; at least not to my face.

Had sex at school? Within campus grounds, sure.

[TW: ABUSE] Abusive relationship: leave him/her or keep it a secret? Leave is the ideal option of course, but it's never as easy as it sounds.

What recently happened that made you proud of yourself? Drove by myself in a completely unfamiliar route to a completely unfamiliar city. I stick to my usual highways as much as possible but my destination last Wednesday deemed that routine virtually impossible, so I was terrified all morning. But I made it in one piece!

[TW: DRUG OD] Ever have a drug overdose? What did you OD on exactly? I have never OD'd on anything before and the thought horrifies me. I hope it's something I never experience.

Are both of your blood parents still in your life? Yes.

Have you ever made out on a couch? Sure.

Someone asked you what you wanted, what would you say? I would love to be in the position where it's like, I get an offer for a new job but it doesn't start til like 3-4 months from now, so I get that long a break to just rest in the meantime.

When’s the next time you’ll be drinking? Mid-October at Kaye's birthday party which I'm apparently invited to. She didn't even give me a heads-up haha, she just immediately added me to a groupchat with all the other invitees. Not that I'm complaining about it – the idea sounds very exciting and I'm looking forward to mingle with new faces.

What are you doing on Halloween? No clue.

Have you ever been drunk at school or work? There was one time in college where I was, yeah – but at that time, I only drank once I was done with my classes. It's just that I had an org meeting later that day, and it was that meeting I attended partially buzzed. I'd never attend actual classes or a workday drunk.

Do you own any Sims games? Which ones? I'm pretty sure we have one of The Sims games on the PS4 (I may have even been the one who bought it lol I just can't remember??), but I haven't touched it in years.

What are you listening to at the moment? There's faint music playing in the parking lot where I'm currently staying in.

First letter of the names of everyone you have kissed? G.

If you could take back saying anything to anyone, what would it be? Genuinely don't think there's anything. If there's one thing I'm most careful about, it's the words I say. I know what it's like to have cruel words stick to me, so I always filter no matter how pissed I am.

Do you do anything regularly that could damage your body? I've been obsessed with food with considerable fat in it (pork belly, bangus belly, etc) so that worries me a bit. Also, vaping. And having only one meal a day.

When were you the saddest in your life? Directly after my previous relationship ended. I had been in a very rough shape for a few months when that happened, but then I found BTS along the way and they helped me find my footing again.

If you have siblings, have they moved out or do they still live with you? We all still live together.

Have you been outside today? Yes. I'm at Feliz right now because I volunteered to drive my sister to her Bumble meetup lol – partially as a protective sister, partially as an excuse to be outdoors. I was at Starbucks earlier but felt bored after an hour or so, so I'm now in my car at the parking lot for some quiet time.

Did you know you wanted to be in a relationship with the person you are now when you first met him/her? I'm not with anyone.

Would you rather live in Alaska or New Zealand? New Zealand.

Is there anyone in your life that knows right away something’s wrong with you? Sure.

What would you do if you walked into your house only to find your boyfriend and your mother making out? I don't have a boyfriend but I imagine this would horrify and piss anyone off? How else am I supposed to feel hahahaha.

What if you found out your partner had a previous sex change? I don't have a partner but if this ever happened, I'd allow myself the time to absorb the shock, and I'd like to think I'll simply have a talk with my partner and be accepting of the update.

Have you ever dated someone in the military? Nope. But I am currently waiting on three men who are currently in service :') :') :')

When’s the next time you’ll have to buy a gift for someone? Pretty soon as it'll be Christmas in three months.

List the last ten people that texted you. That sounds so exhausting. I don't feel like checking my phone now lol sorry.

What color is your favorite eye shadow? I don't like makeup.

What’s your favorite hairstyle on a guy? Whatever it is you call Namjoon's hair at the moment. Buzzcut is it? It looks so neat.

Who was the last person to call you beautiful? No idea, I haven't heard that word in a while.

Who was the last person of the opposite sex to Facebook message you? JM.

Do you know how to make origami? No. I've always been terrible at origami.

Who is your hero? I don't really think of anyone in these terms. I find inspiration from certain people, but that's it.

How would you like to be proposed to one day? Never really given that much thought.

When was the last time you saw your brother? Last night.

Is your ex a complete loser? No; badmouthing her, now that's such a loser thing to do tbh. I don't see the point. The relationship ended forever ago and even though I allow myself to harbor resentment every now and then, I don't, like, actively think ill of the person.

What does the shirt you’re wearing look like? It's a white sleeveless top that has a cute polka dot-ish design.

Do you like to cuddle? Sure.

Is the last person of the opposite sex you texted single? Nope.

Would your parents disown you if you got pregnant? At this point I don't think they will, but if it happened before marriage I would imagine they would feel majorly disappointed. They wouldn't disown me though.

Any baby names you think you might name your future kids? I have a few favorites but I don't think children are ever going to happen for me.

Think back to your most important relationship, was it all your fault it’s over? No.

Has anyone seen you naked in the last 6 months? Nope.

[survey--s]

642.

What is the color of the last towel you used? Like a sea green type colour.

Are you listening to music right now? If so, whatcha listening to? The Winner Takes it All by Meryl Streep.

Would you rather have a hippo or rhino dropped on you? I mean, I'd be dead either way lol.

Do you walk a lot? I mean, it's my job to walk dogs so yes, lol. I'm normally walking for 4-5 hours a day (during the week, anyway). Weekends are much lazier.

If you’re still in school, what number is your locker? What color is it? I haven't been in school for over a decade lol. My locker was dark blue, though I don't remember the number.

Do you have any super silly nicknames? Yep.

Have you ever heard of the Japanese snack Yan Yan? Nope. You can't really get many Japanese snacks here which is a shame as they all look amazing, haha.

Do you watch sports? Which ones, if any? Not really. Sometimes I watch Wimbledon but that's about it.

Do you enjoy the great outdoors? I do as long as the weather is good. I'm not one of those people who will go out in all weathers just to get outside, lol.

Do you like cream soda? No, it's too sweet and leaves a funny aftertaste.

Is there anyone who hates you? Probably.

What color is your cell phone? Blue and black. How does your hair look right now? It's just tied up in a messy bun.

Are you on any medications? No.

What is the last piece of mail you received? How about e-mail? Mail was some photos I ordered for work, and e-mail-wise, it was just a confirmation that my order of cat litter had been sent out, lol.

Who is your 15th contact in your phone? I have no idea, my phone is on the side charging.

Name something you like about school. Leaving at the end of the day.

Do you eat meat, or are you a vegetarian? I eat meat.

Have you ever cried in front of a teacher? Yes.

Have you ever cried BECAUSE of a teacher? Yes, that too.

Do you do a :) or a (:? Both ways, depending on my mood. Normally :) though.

Do you have a facebook? Do you go on it often, if you do? Yes, and daily.

What is the closest gas station to you? There's one about a quarter of a mile up the road.

Who did you last see in concert? I don't remember, honestly.

What grade are you in? I left school 16 years ago.

Granny smith or delicious red apples? The only apples I really like are Pink Ladies but even then I don't really eat them very much.

If you could meet one famous person, who would it be? How come? Neil Gaiman, just because he's awesome.

Are paper clips fun to play with? They were when I was a kid, sure.

Can you speak any other language? French and some German.

Do you prefer mechanical pencils or regular pencils? Regular ones.

Do you have a job? What’s your job? Yeah, I run my own pet care business.

Do you take advil, tylenol, or ibuprofen? Ibuprofen or paracetamol.

Why is the sky blue? Oh, I really can't be bothered to look that up lol.

Do you enjoy classic rock? If I'm in the right mood, sure.

Have you ever heard of the band Citizen Cope? If not, look them up, they’re really good. I have but I've never heard their music and I'm not going to look it up now.

Is your alarm clock set right now? No, but it will be before I go to bed.

What kind of music do you listen to the most? It depends - lately it's been country.

Are you itchy right now? No. Oh, actually, I am now you've mentioned it lol.

Do you like pine trees, or do think the sap is too annoying? I mean, they're nice enough - they do smell nice.

Mountains or beach? I'm lucky enough to have both within five minutes of my house.

What is the closest purple object to you? A jumper.

Are your walls blank or covered with pictures/posters? They're mostly blank but there are a couple of paintings up.

Have you ever tried veggie burgers? Yeah, loads of times.

Do you have anything on your wrists? Nope.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I don't really think that far in advance.

Do you have a mirror in the room you are in? Yeah, there's one above the dresser.

Have you ever had corn nuts? I have no idea what those are.

Do you smoke? I don’t.

#survey #surveys

[bl6ckr0s3]

Tennessee, Our New Home

During the whole road trip to Tennessee, me and Josh stopped in Sun City, AZ to visit his parents for a day. It was always pleasant to be with them and spending time with them. We left California on Mar. 15 evening and went straight to Arizona. We left the very next morning after spending a day there, and drove none stop through New Mexico & Texas until we reached Louisiana. We stopped by to see his biological dad and grandparents for a night. Joshua hasn't seen his grandparents for a decade and his grandma has not really been doing too well with her health, so it was best to see her while she's still around. I was amazed by how beautiful the land they lived on was. It was so beautiful and so foresty there. Of course that's why there's going to be tons of bugs and animals you got to watch out for, but I wouldn't mind living over there. The town of Benton is a very small town so there ain't much going on with live shows or nothing. Bossier City was pretty nice to drive through as we were in that town getting food to eat and getting some necessities from a pharmacy store.

We left the very next morning and continued our drive down through Mississippi. We stopped by Elvis' birthplace and museum in Tupelo as well as the park nearby where he originally played one of his concerts in 1956. Mississippi is beautiful, too. After checking out those historical sites and having lunch at a small burger joint, we continued our road trip through Alabama until we finally reached Tennessee.

The night we arrived in Nashville was on a Saturday night. I'll share my review that I left for the hotel that we originally was suppose to stay at as things got fucked up when we didn't get a chance to check in our rooms that we reserved a month in advance for.

I already began writing a negative review for the Drake Inn motel since this is the place we are currently staying at until we get to a better place. I'm not going to post it until we know for sure we will not have to end up back at this motel because I am currently having mail sent here. This motel is kinda bad as the conditions of the place is not well kept at all, it's entirely outdated and dirty or disgusting to anybody that is staying in this very room we are at.

Josh applied for jobs at 3 places and got a job at the Johnny Cash museum in Downtown. They were paying the same rate and there's some cool perks with his job that probably Graceland wouldn't be able to give. Graceland is where Josh really wanted to work for, but it's not realistic for us as we are currently sharing 1 car and my job right now is here in Nashville. It's only 12 minutes away from the Drake Inn.

I started my new bid with my company just last week. It took almost the whole week for me to get my ID badge. The night I received it, it wasn't activated so I wasn't able to use it for the doors until the next day. I haven't received my time card yet, but I'm happy that I have my ID badge so that I don't have to bug people to help me come in or out of the building. I'm assigned at the RCS 2 machine so this facility still uses these robots. They have talked about it at my old facility as it being ancient and outdated technology. Here in Nashville, they still use them and it's old as hell, but it's kept up in good condition. I dunno how much longer they will be able to continue to use these machines, because there's so much cons to them. They got their LCUS work areas which is where I would rather work. I hate working this machine because the trays of mail will jam easily such as when trays are properly strapped down, or overloaded with letters and the letters will come out or spill out or fall over, the 1/2 trays will turn sideways or the wrong way and won't be read correctly, and I would have to keep watch on the top rolls where trays travel and to make sure to clear any jams up there if they are not moving.

Mail Handlers here are able to use scanners. I have to make sure the labels are scanned and closed out when we dispatch the outgoing mail by 2:30am. People normally take their 30 min lunch break by 3am. Since i'm on this machine, I can't take my break like I use to. I'm pretty much stuck on the machine majority of the time and I don't use my head set for music since I have to be fully alert for the sounds from the machine when there are jams that I gotta fix or clear. The place is pretty regular sized and not huge like what I was use to. I know where to go to get a scanner, I know that the main break room is right by the entrance/exit doors. I still need to find out where the union office is. The guy never answered me back about whethere there is a union rep on tour 1 available. They post up bids on their wall monthly so that's where I'm gonna start looking for better bids so I can bid out of the machine area. It's really boring and miserable and I prefer to work manually like what I was use to. I can stay more busy that way and time can go by quicker. I can get the job done faster by myself wasting time to unjam and set up machines. I need to do what makes me happy. I dread going back to work having to deal with the stupid machine every night now, but at least now I know what to do around the machine.

There's a one day rule where me and Joshua will have to check out for one day after staying at the motel for a month. If we decide to check in a different weekly hotel, we will do it because this place is just in horrible condition. The place we want to stay at is closer to my job, so if Josh ends up having to use my car for a job or what not, I will be able to get to work by walking there because that's how close it is to it's location. I'm currently focused on finding the next best bid and bidding out of my current position and do something I can be a bit more happier with.

[highendphasers]

For the music ask gsme

All of them

You heard me.

you asked and you shall receive motherfucker

questions under the cut

can't stop listening to hesitant alien. i'm on the 10th most listened on lastfm for gerard way.

either the glow pt. 2 by the microphones or bullets i think. the first time i listened to the glow pt. 2 it had been just nearing sunset and by the time i finished the last track it was dark out and it immediately became one of my favorite albums ever

had to look thru my spotify liked for this one but i miss that feeling by tennis is super good i just haven't really listened to anything else by them

FUCK uuhmm. from age of adz by sufjan stevens, i walked, bad communication, and now that i'm older tend to be my least favorites but that doesn't mean they're not very good

hesitant alien by gerard way

are you kidding me. from hesitant alien i don't even KNOW. i guess if i absolutely had to i would take off juarez, no shows, and get the gang together this is horrible im so sorry gerard...

MY CHEMICAL FUCKING ROMANCE

sufjan stevens, ultimate dream

either nick drake or david bowie

i think it had been the trans-siberian orchestra? but the first concert i remember going to had actually been somewhat recent, twenty one pilots

drowning lessons is the one they actually don't perform live but. demolition lovers. fuck.

god this one's hard. for the sake of being able to see tbpid i would say the black parade, buttt i think genuinely it would probably be either revenge or michigan by sufjan stevens (can you tell who my two favorite artists are yet)

definitely gerard way. i would tell them how much their own exploration of their identity in hesitant alien formed my own identity and my relationship with gender and how it feels as an autistic person to be so attached to what they've created. and i would also ask them for a hug

mmmmmmnot really? not counting people like. brendon urie or morrissey, i dont have a particular hate for any band or musician

nobody comes anywhere thats within an hours distance from me so yea

i've been right behind barrier during car seat headrest

frerard fight prorev date unironically i need to be a witness and have a camera

i think that assigning a decade towards the best music is counterproductive and i think great music is being made every single day and all decades arguably had good and bad music (i think it started getting Better in the sixties though imo..)

girard..

cant answer this one

fire escape by foster the people

here comes the sun by the beatles

if i cleaned everything by teen suicide

bloodhail by have a nice life

love my way by the psychedelic furs

fantastic bastards by death spells

inside out by duster

futile devices by sufjan stevens, pictures of you by the cure, motion picture soundtrack by radiohead, pure morning by placebo, summertime by my chemical romance, the owl and the tanager by sufjan stevens, love in the time of socialism by yellow house, 19th nervous breakdown by the rolling stones, lola by the kinks

nancy boy by placebo. can't stand the way brian says lube

in the aeroplane over the sea by neutral milk hotel

hmmmm. wish you were here by pink floyd

crush 40 :(

literally all i wear are band t shirts. i like it sometimes! usually only if its a visible mcr fan though otherwise i get awkward

(mcr) winter - cancer, spring - i'm not okay, summer - s/c/a/r/e/c/r/o/w, fall - early sunsets over monroeville

MCR AND SUFJAN STEVENS. PLEASE GERARD WAY COVER THE OWL AND THE TANAGER

#near answers #god this was long

[tellmethisisnottumblisnextfuckup]

Gabiiii hello. I am just catching up what’s going on. Help. I don’t know where to start. Have you got a list of all the things happened because I wasn’t able to watch the show online like I always do.

Also,can I rant here for a bit in your Asks inbox because I need these out of my chest for the people who seemed to have needs proof every second and the people who seemed to have forgotten hot to look after themselves. So apparently Louis pointed into the Larry sign and every one freaked out? If there are millions of people who believe in Larry for more than a decade and never stopped talking about it, I don’t think you still need some proofs or something. Just get on with it, it’s already real. What more could you want? For them to have to have sex in front of you? Any of them doing larry thingz that are just incredibly loud should not even be surprising anymore just like the millions of times they’ve done it.

Additionally, I am all for signs. But please, just keep it Louis focus because this is his tour. He had been waiting for this for years and he shall recieved our full attention without having to do this and that if larry is real. He knows that half of the people in the venue he is in every night are Larries, the biggest drive why that Louies (and Harry’s) fandom is so welcoming and like a pride parade all the time because Larries believe in two gay men being in a relationship, so antis or whoever the fuck you are, you can go suck your own dicks.

Last thing, it is our responsibility to look after ourselves therefore HYDRATE YOURSELVES AND EAT.Louis is not your mother nor is he your father that he has to look after you all when you are old enough to be in fuckin concerts. It is very disappointing, disrespectful and egotistical on the fans part that he has to stop every show because you didn’t drink. I get that it is excitement crowding all your common senses but if you have to buy a drink, go into the side and have to get yourself together, Do it. It is your responsibility as an individual to look after yourself first and if you can’t anymore, that’s where venue staff are there for.

It is just cringe and weird how every night he has to stop his show because you all are falling like flies in the venue during concerts. Get yourselves together people, this is just madness. It disrupts the flow of the show and it ruins every thing else. There are people who paid a lot for it to have a show that does not constantly being stopped all the time. Also, it’s the staff who has to deal with delays and every thing. So let’s just get it together, yes?

Also can I add how middle fingers should be tamed unless he starts doing it or when doing photos? Because in my family, we do not do that. It is offensive and highly disrespectful. I do not get that and have never considered it as a “love language”, it is more of a “piss off” language. Seriously would never see me doing that to anyone no matter the reason; or is that just a Western culture thing that I don’t get? There are better options, probably send him some blown kisses because like that one video, he was all giggly and shy and blushing. It is much more beautiful.

❗️HYDRATE AND EAT ❗️

Let me sum it up for you, ah I miss these pizza guy-what did I miss posts haha, those good ol' 1D touring days!

It was a great show, from what I could catch the show had to be stopped as people again kept passing out, and Louis even left the stage while those fans got water to regroup.

The signs are something we'd never have control over, they existed at all 1D concerts, it's the boys' choice to react, thumb them up, alas encourage them. I'm a bit torn at what to think, on one hand he didn't seem annoyed so why should I - on another hand we're not 12 anymore. I still haven't made up my mind. But I think it would be super entitled of me to complain when he himself the artist it was directed at not only didn't seem annoyed but he thumbed it up.

So yes, we have video of this sign "Sing Walls if Larry is real" which he acknowledged with a smile. The sign was huge, it's without a doubt he could see it and read it just fine. And it was yet again his decision to acknowledge it and point to it with a smile on his face

And we also have another acknowledgement of a sign, which had 2 cute Larry pics.

And god yes, people, EAT and DRINK. Please. I get it there's no AC, I get it they're overcrowded as the venues could be overbooked, but please try to help yourself, Louis is not your target when you feel sick. Security is there to help, others are there too. Louis has enough to worry about at a show: his own health, working the crowd and keeping up the spirits, technical glitches etc. Just try to do the maximum you can before entering the venue.

And our lovely content provider already uploaded the full show on Youtube.

And that's what you missed on Glee.

#and yes the middle finger too #just respect him #lt1t wash #biggest larrie #signs #2022

[hanoella]

Affettuoso- With Feeling (Part 8)

Pairing: Bucky x Pianist!Reader

Set after the events of TFATWS: In an effort to start over and make a home in Louisiana, Bucky meets a friend of Sam’s who ends up being his landlord. With only a driveway to separate them, he finds that he’s not the only one looking for a fresh start.

Series tags/warnings: Slow Burn, Eventual Bucky x Reader, Mentions of Domestic Abuse, Canon Level Violence, PTSD, PG-17 Romantic Content (oooooh), talk of sex

Part 8 Word Count: Just under 8k

A/N: It's starting to heat uppppppp👀. I always sort and curate the music so that you can listen to the music as you read the story and match the tone, starting from where I insert the song. Unfortunately, tumblr is being idiotic, and now I can't post the songs to play in-app for some reason. Sorry guys😭 If you haven't given it a try, I highly recommend!

Once again, thank you for all your support! Every heart and comment motivates me and is just so wonderful.

Taglist!: @vicmc624 @officiallykuute @undiadeestos @tailsoflightning @buckys2thicc @mischief-siriusly-managed

Winter

Bucky looked in the mirror nervously, mussing his hair up. It was a bit longer than when he had first come to Louisiana, and he had been overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices when it came to men’s hair products. He thought it looked okay, using the man on the front of the packaging as reference. It was a good thing you two were taking your car. He wasn’t sure if his work would’ve survived the motorcycle helmet. Glancing over the rest of his ensemble, he gave himself a nod of assurance. It was concert weekend, and also the day you were going on your first date. After contemplating on when to go, you had suggested a late night dinner after that weeks second concert and Bucky had thought it was a fine idea at the time. Though, now, he realized that he would have to sit through the concert first.

He picked up the bouquet of flowers he had gotten with the hair product the other day and headed to the door. Before leaving, he bent down to pet a sleepy Alpine, who was currently dozing peacefully in the last rays of the sun for the day.

“Wish me luck.” He said to the cat, who purred in response.

He left and crossed the driveway to your house. Knocking on your screen door, he waited expectantly.

“Come in!” He heard you call from inside.

He opened the screen door and crossed the threshold. He’d done it plenty of times before, but this time felt different. Seeing that the living room and kitchen were empty, he headed down the hall to your bedroom, where the light was filtering out of. Cautiously opening the door, he saw you sitting at the vanity, dressed in your typical rehearsal outfit of a blouse and slacks, and putting on the final touches to your makeup. You blinked to adjust to the mascara and turned towards him, a smile spreading across your cheeks.

“Hey!” You stood up to hug him and then take him in. “You look great, Buck.”

“Thanks, you too.” He replied, still coming across rather stiff from the nervousness. You looked up at him, slightly amused but keeping it to yourself. After a moment of gazing at your features that were complemented by the makeup you had just put on, Bucky cleared his throat and gifted you the bouquet.

“Oh, these are beautiful. Thank you so much.” You said as you admired the large white peonies, accented by bundles of pink hydrangeas and various types of eucalyptus. A green satin bow held the stems together as you felt the velvety petals between your fingertips. You grabbed his hand afterwards and squeezed it as you held the bouquet to your chest. “Thank you,” you repeated as you looked up at him. Bucky felt slightly more at ease, giving you a small but genuine smile.

“Of course.”

You set the bundle down gently before going over to your bed and unzipping the garment bag and holding the dress out for him to see.

“Is this too much to wear for the concert and then dinner? I figured I’d dress a little simpler so I don’t stand out too much at the restaurant.”

Bucky stepped closer and touched the luxurious navy blue fabric. The dress was cut so that it had a slight halter neckline, exposing minimal shoulder. It wasn’t until he saw the bottom end of the dress that he caught a glimpse of what you normally liked to wear. Flowers and greenery adorned the bottom half of the skirt, detailed in such a way that it looked like they had been painted right on the dress. The soft pastel brushstrokes formed rounded petals and long wispy leaves.

“It’ll look great on you.” He said with affection in his tone. “But you don’t have to change anything for me. All the gowns that you wore before looked great too, but what really makes them is the fact that you’re wearing them.”

It was your turn to blush, turning slightly to try and hide the pink on your face. You thanked him softly before excusing yourself to the kitchen to get a vase for the flowers. As you were filling the vase with water, you held your hand to your cheek in an effort to cool down your face. Coming back to your room, you put the flowers in water and turned to Bucky, who had sat himself down on the edge of the bed.

“Ready to go?”

---

Bucky sat on the green velvet couch in your dressing room, reading something on his phone as he listened to the rustling behind the room divider behind him.

“How do I look?” You asked, coming out from behind the divider and into the room. You were dressed in the gown from earlier, now with black flats and earrings that mimicked flower petals falling in the wind. You had decided on a more romantic look for your hair, settling on large loose waves, one side pinned back with a dainty silver bar clip.

He couldn’t help but smile.

“Beautiful.”

Who knew one word could give you such a fluttering in your stomach.

“Thank you.”

You sat next to him, folding one leg underneath of you and leaning against the couch, facing him.

“Are you going to be okay up in that box all by your lonesome?” you teased, reaching across and grabbing the tips of his fingers with yours.

“I hope so. I’ve got a date tonight.” He replied playfully. He always felt so warm, so comforting. You looked at him with affection before your eyes flitted to the clock behind him.

“I should probably get to the stage.” You sighed while you said it, reluctantly starting to get up and pull your hand away. Before you could completely escape his grasp, he squeezed your hand slightly.

“You’ll do great. See you after?” His look was slightly reminiscent of a puppy. You smiled wistfully and squeezed his hand back.

“See you after.”

You separated in the hall, you going one way to the stage and him going the other way to the box. Before he stepped inside, he realized he didn’t have a program. He made his way to the front and found an usher with a stack of programs.

“Can I have one of those?” He asked, coming off slightly more gruffly than he meant to.

“Sure, sir.” The usher handed him one and Bucky thanked him before turning. Halfway down the hall, he picked up the whispering of another usher who had come up to the one that had the programs.

“Is that Ms. Novikov’s boyfriend?”

“No way, is that who that was?”

“He always sits in her own personal box. It has to be.”

Boyfriend. Such a funny word. Bucky hadn’t been anyone’s boyfriend in decades. It almost felt silly to be dating somebody. It was like someone blowing all of their money on something they couldn’t afford. It felt reckless to invest so much feeling and time and emotion when he had so little of those things on his own. Yet, what little he had, he gladly spent on you.

“He is so hot. I would just let him-“

Bucky’s eyes widened as he heard several terms he didn’t understand. Clearing his throat, he walked a little faster back to the box.

---

You had laughed so hard that you were crying as Bucky tried to repeat some of the stuff he had overheard. Deciding to check on him during intermission, you had popped up to the box for a minute. After complimenting you on your playing, having performed what Bucky thought to be amazingly, as you usually did, he couldn’t stop the face he had made as his mind thought back to the usher. Needing to sit down, you had sat in one of the seats in the box, doubled over in a combination of laughing and crying.

“It’s not that funny!” Bucky whisper-yelled at you, as you gasped for breath, face in hands. He turned around to see that the next several boxes were looking over to see what the commotion was. One particular look on an older woman’s shocked face made him turn around quickly and try not to laugh.

“It’s not funny!” He said again, though now he was obviously trying to hold back his own laugh, which just made you laugh even harder.

Starting to calm down, you leaned back onto the seat, still clutching your stomach. Letting out some deep breaths, a burst of giggles fell out of your mouth, evolving into full on laughter again.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” You said, regaining some semblance and wiping your eyes carefully as to not ruin any makeup. “That is just hilarious. I love it.” You concluded as you sighed and closed your eyes.

“You are just… something else.” Bucky replied, a huge smile overcoming his face despite the fact that he was shaking his head. The lights flickered overhead to signal the end of the intermission. You got up, straightening out the skirt of your dress and giggling.

“You can meet me at the dressing room after.” You said, waving your fingers at him. He had the same smile on his face as he watched you sweep aside the curtains and disappear. As embarrassing as it was, Bucky was thankful that it had broken the ice, no longer leaving him feeling awkward, nervous in your presence. As he was turning back to face the front, Bucky made eye contact with the same old lady in the box next door. Quickly, he cleared his throat and settled in his seat, adjusting so that he was sitting up straighter.

Several minutes went by before the conductor came back out, followed by you. He gave his usual introduction of the piece, explaining the history and the background behind the melody they were about to hear. This one was another piano feature- this time by Chopin.

The opening note was long and forceful, followed by a back and forth of a set of notes on your left hand that quickly sped up into an impressive speed. Your right hand entered the melody, quickly flitting back and forth to the end of the keys. The quickening of the keys sounded desperate, like a hare running frantically to safety from the jaws of a predator.

Both of your hands ran down from the higher keys to the low ones, somehow managing to hit very precisely on each intended note on the way down. Once in the lower octaves, the melody slowed. Your hand movements were graceful, body language and tone changing to one of peace. You spent some time exploring the gentle melody, conveying a feeling similar to the quiet after the storm. Just as Bucky expected the end of the melody, what would’ve been a period in the phrase of the major key, turned into a comma. The minor key from before took control of the music once more, somehow more desperate than before. The pace of your breathing sped up as you put more force behind the fleeting notes. The minor key evolved into a more complex intertwining of notes before unraveling into a major key once again, saying its last words and taking its last breath before dissipating into the auditorium.

Applause burst forth from the crowd, conveying more than Bucky could ever put into words about how incredible your performance was. How incredible you were. Still catching your breath, you stood at the conductor’s prompting, stealing a glance at Bucky, who was standing as he clapped, before bowing in acceptance of the praise.

---

After the concert, he drove you to New Orleans. At the restaurant, you were sat at a table on the edge of the dining room behind a low privacy partition. It was dimly lit, the small candle in the middle of the table creating a very intimate atmosphere. You sat across from each other at the two-person table, browsing the menu. Yours was laid flat on the table as you leaned over it, resting your chin on your clasped hands. Bucky’s was held up, serving as a way for him to sneak glances at you. The candlelight gave your hair an ever-moving sheen. It was nothing compared to how it lit the color of your eyes as you met his eye and smiled.

The romantic piano music played softly in the background as he set the menu down and let a gentle smile overtake his features. Your eyelids slowly lowered. You loved the little crow’s feet that appear by his eyes when he genuinely smiled.

“How’d I do on the first date setting?” You asked. The cozy restaurant had been your pick.

“You hit it out of the park. It’s very nice.” Bucky replied, leaning in a little closer so that he could cross his arms slightly onto the table.

“Isn’t it? There’s a few of them across the country. I used to at the one in New York while I went to Julliard. Can you guess what I did?” You chuckled as you pointed your head in the direction of the live piano music coming from the stage.

“Hmm… Dishwasher? No wait, valet?”

Bucky lives for the smile that comes across your face when you try not to laugh at his antics.

“Absolutely. Always wanted to be a valet. It’s my dream job.” You joked back with a twinkle in your eye. The waiter came up to the table, causing you both to lean slightly back. After introducing themselves and setting two glasses of water down, they asked for your drink order. Bucky nodded for you to go first, ever the gentleman. You turned your head towards the waiter, your gaze lingering on Bucky before giving full attention towards them as you spoke.

“What are some of the best whiskeys you have to recommend?”

Bucky could’ve spit out his water. This place could not be cheap. His suspicions were confirmed as the waiter started listing off various whiskeys that were at least a decade old. About three whiskeys into the list, you saw Bucky tilt his head out of the corner of your eye. Glancing at him, you raised your eyebrows as if to ask if he was interested. He raised his eyebrows and gave a small nod.

“We’ll have that one please.” You said, stopping the waiter when he finished the description. You had selected the sixteen year old single malt with notes of plums, apricots, white truffles, honey, dark chocolate, and hazelnuts. As soon as the waiter turned around, Bucky leaned in and gave you a look of incredulousness.

“Doll, I am all for the finer things in life but that whiskey has got to be a pretty penny.”

You leaned in as well, with a dreamy look on your face.

“Well, if it gets you to call me ‘doll’ then I’ll buy the whole bottle.”

---

Bucky actually did end up liking it so much that you ordered a bottle to take home. He had tried to stop you from paying for it, but you insisted, saying this whole date was on you.

“Just pay for the next one. I picked the fancy place, so I should pay! Besides, you do so much for me all of the time.”

Eventually, he caved in and let you, the assurance of a second date placating him. Dinner had been equally as delicious and sprinkled with easy conversation. Dessert was set on the table with two spoons to share. The entire night was going wonderfully. At this point, with a few bites of dessert left, both of you were lounging while listening to the gentle music as he held your hand across the table.

A group was getting up from the table across the divider when one of them glanced over and recognized you.

“Irina Novikov!”

Your hand left Bucky’s instinctually as you looked in the direction of the voice. Easing when you realized it was a concert goer, you smiled as the group came over to your table.

“We just came from your performance, you did an excellent job. We’ve been coming all season and it’s wonderful to be able to talk to you in person.” A middle aged man said as the rest of his group nodded enthusiastically.

“The pleasure’s all mine. I’m so happy that you enjoy the music that we perform.” You said, shaking his hand.

“Would you, perhaps, be willing to sign our programs?”

“Absolutely.” You said, as you took the pen. You paused slightly before writing the signature. Bucky could tell that you hadn’t thought about it before- how to sign the new name. You signed everyone’s program, making sure to ask for their name and including a short thank you for their support.

“I look forward to seeing you in the audience the next time you’re able to visit.” You said as you handed back the last program and pen. They graciously thanked you and walked away, leaving you to look at Bucky, who was admiring you.

“What?” You asked, cheeks flushing.

“Nothing. You’re just so good to them. Does that happen often?”

“I try to be. I’m sure if I had more people always coming up to me I’d be less patient. To answer your question, it happens occasionally. It happened a lot in New York when I played with the symphony up there. But that was a long time ago.” You looked down wistfully, thinking of the past. Then, you looked up and grabbed his hand.

“But I’m pretty happy where I am now. Don’t doubt that.”

Bucky felt a fluttering in his chest.

After settling the bill and giving Bucky the bottle of whiskey, you put your coat on and held Bucky’s hand as you walked to out of the restaurant. On the way home, he drove as you hummed along to the radio, watching the road signs and the streetlights pass. Eventually the highway turned into main streets and main streets turned into side streets. Maybe if he drove slower, the night didn’t have to end.

Parking in the driveway, Bucky signaled for you to wait before he jogged around the front of the car, opening your door and holding out a hand.

“Oh, what a gentleman.” You laughed as you took his outstretched hand and stepped out of the car. Taking his arm, you let him walk you to your front door. You turned the key and opened the door, turning on the lights before facing him again.

“Well. This was wonderful. I had such a good time.” You said, hugging him around the neck. He wrapped his arms tightly around your waist.

“Me too.”

You pulled back, letting your hands run down his arms and holding his hands in yours.

“I think it’s safe to say that there will be a second date.” You stated teasingly, squeezing his hands.

“I would say you’re right.” He said, boyish charm coming through. You wondered if this is what he was like back before the war. Smiling, you looked into his eyes.

“Thank you for taking me out. You’re so lovely to be with, and it feels unreal to be with you. I think I’ve wanted this for a long time.” Affection was laced throughout your tone.

Bucky opened his mouth to say something and nothing came out. He squeezed your hands once, as if to make sure you were real, and shook his head.

“You took the words right out of my mouth. That’s exactly how I feel about you.”

There was a slight pause before Bucky closed the gap between you. Your bottom lip was between his and you closed your eyes as your hands held his face to yours. You felt your fingertips scrape across his stubble as he held you in his arms, hands supporting your back as he deepened the kiss. After a few moments, you pulled back, a flush over your face and the cold air exposing your breathlessness. He let out a quiet breathy laugh and you did the same.

“You have… no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.” He said as he softly put his forehead to yours.

“You took the words right out of my mouth.” You repeated his phrase with amusement. Reluctantly, you took your arms from around his neck and trailed them down to his hands, grabbing both. You took a moment to appreciate how perfectly his hands felt in yours, vibranium and all.

“Goodnight, Buck.”

He squeezed your hands lightly before slowly letting go of your hands.

“Goodnight.”

Putting his hands in his pockets, he waited for you to exit the house, reciprocating your wave as you softly shut the door. Letting out a deep breath, he walked leisurely across the driveway and up to his apartment. He loosened his tie with one hand as he greeted Alpine with the other. She followed at his heels as he got ready for bed, hopping up onto his chest when he finally laid down. Curling up into a ball, she purred as he scratched her neck. Alpine fell asleep almost immediately, but Bucky lay awake, the image of you laughing at something he said across the candlelit table occupying the forefront of his thoughts.

---

The second date had to be rescheduled due to business that Sam and Bucky had to take care of, once again, in D.C. Reluctantly, he had texted you to reschedule.

Have to go to DC tonight with Sam… Go out when we come back?

Bucky watched the bubble type.

If you don’t want to go out again, just say so

He felt like vomiting.

KIDDING! Of course we can.

Taking a deep breath, he typed out a reply.

Not funny. Almost gave me a heart attack. You gonna be okay for a few days?

I’ll be fine, just take care of yourself and be safe, please.

Will do, doll.

A little heart emoji you sent back made Bucky smile before he tucked his phone away and boarded the plane.

---

After a few days of cut-and-dry investigation, they were done by Saturday night. Since they were flying commercially, they had one more evening to kill before the next flight. Bucky was standing idly outside of the crowded comic book store that Sam was currently in. AJ had called Uncle Sam, asking if he could check for a specific volume of a comic that he liked. Happy to oblige, Bucky had told Sam that they could make the stop. Though, once seeing how crowded it was, Bucky opted to stay outside. Feeling a buzz in his pocket, he took out his phone to see a text from you pop up on his home screen. You had sent him a picture of Alpine curled up on the bed next to the dress you were going to perform in.

Alpine has approved my dress selection this evening!

Smiling at his screen as he sauntered down the sidewalk, he typed out his reply.

I agree with Alpine. Very nice selection.

He sent the text and paused, standing in place for a moment before sending a short addendum.

Sorry that I can’t be there.

It’s okay, there’s plenty others :)

Bucky looked up and saw that he had wandered a few stores down from the comic book shop. Craning his head, he didn’t see Sam yet. Turning back to the store in front of him, he glanced at the window display. A set of earrings on the edge of the display caught his eye. The soft pearls and winding gold took him back to another time. It was very reminiscent of the fancy jewelry that adorned the movie stars during his youth.

Glancing back down to the comic store, he had yet to see Sam out front. He took the opportunity to slip into the jewelers. There was a well-dressed couple looking at specific pieces of jewelry but otherwise, the store was empty. An unoccupied salesman approached Bucky warily.

“Can I help you sir?”

“Yes, um… I was interested in getting something from the window display.” Bucky said in a low tone as he gestured to the front. He was overly aware of how ‘rough around the edges’ he looked.

“Which one?” The salesman asked as Bucky followed him to the front. After the earrings were pointed out, the salesman took them out of the case. He gave a little background as he handed Bucky the set.

“This is from our vintage-inspired collection. Modeled after jewelry from the post-art-deco era in the 1930’s, these earrings are the perfect modern gift with a vintage twist.” They dangled on the velvet earring holder as Bucky took a closer look. They were perfect.

“How much?” Bucky asked.

“They’re a bit expensive sir- four hundred dollars.” The salesman said uneasily.

“I’ll take them.”

He paid for the gift and stepped out onto the street, stuffing the earring box into his pocket. No sign of Sam yet. Making his way back up the street, he checked his phone to see that you had texted him a link. He sat on the bench and tapped on the link, which took him to a video that you had uploaded of the opening piece from the night before. He smiled as he saw that you had recorded it from his usual spot in Box One. You walked across the stage on screen, doing your usual bow and taking a seat at the bench. He put the speaker of the phone up to his ear and waited for the playing to start.

“What’re you listening to?”

Bucky almost dropped his phone as Sam cackled.

“Are you finally done?” Bucky said, annoyance seeping out his tone.

“Yeah, c’mon.” Sam said, smirk still on his face.

That night in the hotel room, as Bucky was settling into bed, he played the video once more, this time actually getting to listen. It was a soft melody, warm and deceivingly intricate, lulling him to sleep.

---

The second official date was up to Bucky to plan, since you had gotten to plan the first one. It wasn’t anything extravagant, but he wanted it to be a surprise.

Dress code? You had asked.

He texted back to wear something comfy and casual. He had gone back to his roots, opting for dinner and a drive-in movie. Remembering your favorite snacks from grocery shopping, he made sure to stock up beforehand, stealing your keys and tucking them into the trunk of the car along with a cozy blanket.

He straightened out the wrinkles in his light grey long-sleeve shirt and checked to make sure his jeans and sneakers didn’t have mud on them from the driveway earlier. Satisfied with his appearance, he snagged his leather jacket and went to warm up the car.

Several minutes after he had gotten in the drivers seat and started the car, you stepped out of the house. Your white headband kept the hair out of your face as you locked the door behind you. You had put your hair into two braids that fell against the fuzzy crème sweater. With your outfit completed with light-wash jeans, white sneakers, and a small cross-body bag, Bucky thought you looked absolutely adorable.

“Hey.” He greeted you with a huge smile.

“Hey!” You replied as you messed with the seatbelt. After it clicked, you looked up at him, allowing Bucky to get a better look at you. You had put on a more natural set of makeup that just enhanced your already present features- your eyelashes curling just at the tips, your lips glossy and tinted-pink.

“Where are we going?” You asked.

“You’ll see.”

A coy smile came upon his lips as he shifted the car into drive. It was a longer drive and you made easy conversation as the sun started to set. It always set so early in the winter, making it feel way later than it was. Bucky exited the highway and you perked up curiously, looking to see if you recognized anything. Eventually, he merged into the turn lane, waiting for the light so that he could turn onto the street with a huge sign that read Drive-In Movies, This Way.

“Are we going to a drive-in movie?” You questioned excitedly. Bucky laughed at your enthusiasm and nodded his head.

“Yup. We are.”

You looked forward excitedly as the light turned green and he turned onto the road. Bucky pulled up to a toll booth and rolled down the window. A man peered into the car momentarily before ringing up the register.

“Twenty four dollars please.”

Wordlessly, Bucky pulled out his wallet and handed the man the cash. Letting his left arm hang out of the window while he waited for the change, he took his right and cupped it against the side of his mouth in a dramatic fashion.

“I remember when these used to be a dime.”

Your mouth twisted in an effort to hold back your laughter as Bucky thanked the man for the change. As you pulled off, you couldn’t help but snort.

“Okay, that was cute.” Bucky teased, getting the crow’s feet in the corner of his eyes that you liked so much. You gave him a wide smile as he pulled into the last row. Your eyes grew wide at the trailers playing on the screen.

“Wow, this is amazing. I’ve never been the a drive-in before. The screen is huge!” You turned your head. “And there’s a snack bar!”

“Hold on,” Bucky said as he popped the trunk and exited the car. He lifted the bag out of the trunk and came back around to the door, ducking his head so that he could see you.

“I’ve got some of your favorite,” he said as he passed you the bag of snacks, “and a blanket to stay warm in.”

Your eyes lit up as you looked through the snack bag. He had gotten a variety of candy he’s seen you eat, as well as chips and a bucket of kettle corn.

“Of course, if you want anything else, you can still go to the snack stand.”

“No, Buck, this is great. You’re amazing.” You said as you shook your head, still ruffling through the bag. He laughed and got back into the car, throwing the blanket into the back seat and pushing his chair back. As you got situated, the sun set fully and the movie began playing.

---

There were about thirty minutes left in the movie, and you and Bucky had finished up with the snacks and settled into your seats. The action on the screen did little to distract you from the way Bucky’s thumb rubbed the top of your hand. You stole a glance at him and he met your gaze with an easygoing smile on his face.

“Do you like the movie?” He asked when you did not turn back.

“Oh, yeah, I like it. I’ve actually seen it before. I just really like being here with you.” You propped your elbow up on the center console and rested your chin against your palm, looking at Bucky with a dreamy look in your eyes. “Am I distracting you from the movie?”

Bucky leaned closer to you with an amused look on his face.

“Yes, but I have also seen this movie before.”

It only took a few moments before his lips met yours, parting slightly to taste your strawberry lip gloss. His hand came up to softly hold your face, his thumb brushing against your jawline. When you came apart, the expression on your face made him swallow thickly. Hooded eyes and slightly parted lips tempted him beyond his means. This time, you leaned in to meet him in the middle, no hesitancy behind your actions. You captured his bottom lip, giving it a little kitten lick before gently sucking on it. Bucky let out a small groan into your mouth unintentionally, making your breath hitch.

You kissed for a while, small noises escaping both of you as you tilted your head occasionally to deepen the kiss. Bucky felt something stir in him that hadn’t in a long, long time. It was absolutely intoxicating, being with you like this. All he wanted was a little more. Breaking the kiss, he pulled back just a little, slightly breathless, just as you were. You let out a breathy laugh, cheeks warm and lips swollen. A beat passed before Bucky said something that made you almost choke.

“If we’re going to keep kissing, you should come over here and sit on my lap.”

You turned your head, looking through the car windows. There was no one parked particularly close to you, and your windows were tinted anyway. With an excited grin on your face, you scooted backwards over the center console until your back was resting on the driver’s side door. You were angled slightly to face him, your outstretched legs over his lap and on the center console towards the backseat. You hooked your arms around his neck and giggled. You hadn’t done anything like this since you were in high school.

He chuckled with you before closing the gap. You felt each others smiles as you kissed. Slowly, the kiss deepened. His arms wrapped around your waist as he tilted forward, leaning over you and giving him better access as you opened your mouth to let his tongue in. His hands moved to support the back of your head and your lower back, causing you to groan slightly and shift in his lap.

Bucky opened his eyes in surprise, panicking silently. You hadn’t noticed, eyes still closed as you continued to kiss him. He cursed in his head, shifting you up slightly so that your leg wasn’t resting right on his crotch. Thankfully, he was wearing jeans and you hadn’t given any indication that you had noticed. He chastised himself in his head.

C’mon man, you’re not fifteen anymore. You can’t go around getting stiff every time you kiss a girl.

The bright lights cut back on, startling you and Bucky apart. You squinted your eyes and looked out towards the screen. The credits had just finished. Looking back to Bucky, you both laughed before kissing once more.

---

Afterwards, he took you to a classic diner, treating you to dinner and dessert. There was a jukebox in the corner that you and Bucky had looked at, racking up a few songs. You had danced slightly in your seat when your favorites came on, making him grin like a love-struck fool.

The diner had been close to the drive-in, so the drive home was still pretty long. Full and content, you had dozed off to the tune of the radio playing softly in the background. Choosing to let you sleep, he drove back silently, looking over at you with a smile every once and a while.

He pulled up to the driveway and parked the car, gently leaning over to rub your arm.

“Hey,” he said quietly, “We’re home.”

You hummed in acknowledgement as you yawned and let you eyes adjust to the lights in the car.

“Mmm. Sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

“It’s okay, it’s late. Let’s get you inside.”

You slowly got up and out of the car, gravel crunching underneath of your shoes. Bucky walked with you up to the front door.

“Goodnight, Bucky.” You said groggily, leaning forward to kiss him. He met you halfway, pecking you on the lips.

“Goodnight.”

He watched you cross the threshold, giving you his usual three-fingered wave when you turned back to wave goodbye.

---

For the third date, you had told Bucky to wear his suit and tie. He had no idea what to expect. Hearing thunder outside, he took a peak through the blinds. The wind was really starting to pick up. Grabbing his phone and wallet, he gave Alpine a quick scratch before heading out. The wind was harsh, even for Bucky’s standards. He jogged across the driveway and up the porch, knocking on the door. A few seconds later, you answered, stepping out onto the porch.

“Hey, I wasn’t expecting the weather to be like this. I got us a reservation at the museum’s restaurant but I don’t think it’s a good idea to travel that far in the rain.”

You looked out at the sky as the wind whipped your hair around your face. Bucky took the moment to admire how attractive you were. You had on an emerald satin cowl-neck dress that had a slit up the side. Dainty gold earrings matched the shimmering tennis bracelet you on. Your heels gave you some height and made it look like you were showing off an ungodly amount of leg.

“I’m sorry Buck,” you started, looking back to him. “I think we’ll have to go out some other time.”

“I understand. You look beautiful, by the way.” He said as he grabbed both of your hands.

You thanked him with an affectionate smile before getting a thoughtful look on your face.

“Would you like to come in for a drink?”

---

You padded back to the living room with two glasses, heels discarded at the door. Bucky, sans coat and tie, had opened a bottle of whiskey. Tucking your leg under your knee, you sat close, facing him. You held out the glasses, letting him poured a small amount in each. He sat the bottle down and you held out your glass to clink it to his. You took a sip of liquid courage, trying to steel your nerves. You held your drink in your lap and put your arm up on the back of the couch, leaning your head on your hand.

“It’s strange how, once we started seeing each other, how much of a rush it feels. Does it feel like that to you?”

“I do. It feels like… I just can’t get enough.” He said with a chuckle.

“It’s quite nice.” You smiled softly. “To find someone you have an understanding with.”

Bucky nodded as he sipped on his drink. You’d only known each other for half of a year, but if he thought about it harder, you had spent a lot of that time together, especially during the last few months. Bonds are also strengthened during trials and tribulation- you were both people looking to start over, to live happily, to do what you love and have a sense of fulfilment.

“I just think you’re amazing. I think it’s amazing that you want to be with me. I went through so much for so long, and now I finally remember what it feels like to have a sliver of happiness. So thank you. It’s been a long time since I’ve wanted to be with anybody,” you started, looking down at your drink, “-and I would imagine it’s been the same for you.”

“Yeah. Since before the war.”

“There’s been nobody since?” Your face changed to one of empathy. Bucky took another sip of his drink.

“Nobody. Except you.” He glanced at you with a look of resolution and longing. Gently, you smiled back at him.

“I must be one lucky gal to catch you this late in the game.”

You looked at each other affectionately and kissed. It wasn’t rough, but still filled with passion. After a moment, you pulled apart. You looked up at him through your eyelashes and bit your lip. Bucky swallowed thickly.

“How… fast do you want to take things?”

He blinked in surprise at your words. He hadn’t expected a straight forward discussion about it, but then again, dating in this age was much different. It did make things refreshingly simpler.

“I, uh…”

You looked at him expectantly and he cleared his throat and apologized.

“Sorry. This is all new for me.”

You set a hand on his thigh encouragingly and offered to go first.

“I can start. I… haven’t been with anyone, physically, since my last relationship and you know how that ended. He could be a little… forceful, and that aspect of our relationship has proven to be one of the hardest things to heal from.”

At this point, you were looking down at your hand, tapping a soothing rhythm from muscle memory onto his thigh.

“… I’m sorry. That must be extremely painful to deal with. Nobody should have to go through that.” He put a hand onto your knee reassuringly, rubbing it with his thumb. You shook your head quickly.

“It’s in the past. I’m happy with where I am now. At the end of the day, that’s what matters. Or at least that’s what I keep telling myself… Either way, I guess what I’m trying to say is… I’m not completely sure what I’m ready for, and I might not know until the opportunity presents itself. Please, be patient with me as I figure this. It’s not because I don't trust you or think you'll hurt me, I just...” You trailed off.

“Of course. Whatever you need. Don’t be afraid to tell me if you’re uncomfortable,” he assured you. “If it makes you feel any better, I haven’t been with anyone… ever.”

“Really? Like, you’re not just saying that to make me feel better?” You looked at him in a way that implied that he better not be messing around.

“I mean, I’ve gotten a little handsy before,” he said in slight defense, lightening the tension. “but I’ve never been with anyone like that. We didn’t talk about stuff like this in the 40’s. It was expected that you… you know, wait until marriage. People still got together physically, but it was way less common back then. Believe it or not, Steve wasn’t the only gentleman out there.”

You nodded your head and looked at him, clearly impressed.

“No, I totally believe that. Wow. Playboy Sergeant Barnes, waiting for the right girl. You know they write about you like you basically invented premarital sex.”

“Pfft.” Bucky couldn’t hold back his laughter. You both fell apart into a round of giggles. You took another sip of your drink and tried to settle down, wiping your eyes and letting out a deep breath.

“So, are you waiting? To be married? It’s totally fine if you are, I’m just curious.”

Bucky shrugged his eyebrows, now bringing his arm to rest against the couch behind you.

“Not anymore. I think I might’ve then, but that was a lifetime ago. I think what matters most is how comfortable I feel with the person. Besides, it’s rude to keep a lady waiting.” His tone changed, wearing a teasing smile on his face. You rolled your eyes, though still smiling, and put a hand on his chest lightly.

“Very funny, Buck. I’m glad we got to talk about it.”

“Me too.”

The rest of the night was filled with cooking together and watching a movie, only to be distracted by each other. You had been making out with him for quite some time before you separated from him, yawning and stretching your arms over your head.

“Alright, I’m tired. Wanna sleepover?”

“What happened to taking things slow?” He half-teased.

“Well, I figured since you’ve already slept over here once, it wasn’t anything new. Plus you are so warm and it’s so cold.” You bantered. Changing to a more serious tone, you reiterated- “Only if you want to.” Bucky squinted his eyes as he thought and then mentally shrugged, getting up off of the couch.

“Sure.”

He followed you down the hall. You padded lightly to your room, pulling your hair to the front of your shoulder.

“Do you need clothes?” You asked as you started unzipping the top of the dress. Instinctively Bucky looked aside.

“No, I’m good, thanks.”

You responded “okay” as you stepped into the bathroom, shutting the door behind you to change in privacy. He looked around before unbuttoning his shirt and shrugging it off, leaving him in a plain white t-shirt. He did the same with his pants before getting in bed on the side you don’t sleep on. Bringing one arm up under the pillow to prop himself up slightly and resting the other on his midsection, he let out a deep breath, getting comfortable. The sheets were extremely soft, and they smelled like you. Hearing the door open, he watched as you came out in a loose long-sleeve t-shirt and soft flannel sleep pants.

“Comfy?” You asked with a smile, hanging up the dress on the door.

“Yeah.”

You got into bed on your usual side and laid on your stomach, propping yourself up on your forearms as you looked down at him. Your hair created a curtain, blocking the light from the lamp and creating your own little bubble.

“Goodnight.”  You smiled at him sleepily.

“Goodnight.”

He kissed you softly before settling back down. You turned off the lamp and scooched up next to him. He sighed in contentment and moved his arm so that he was holding you to him. With your head resting on his shoulder, he fell into the best sleep he had had in years.

---

The next morning, Bucky floated back up to consciousness to what felt like bliss. Stirring awake, he blinked his eyes open to find the source of the comfort- you. You were still asleep, curled up next to him, face against his arm. Carefully, he slid out of the bed so as to not disturb you, and went to the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee. He breathed in the morning as he looked out at the bare landscape. After experiencing cryofreeze and the depths of Siberia, the cold couldn’t phase him.

What did phase him, was the warmth he experienced with you. His entire life up until this point had been frigid. Losing his family, his friends, his life, his willpower. Everything around him was nothing but cold to the touch. Then, you came in with a burst of red warmth, thawing him out and letting him feel again. Feel something other than pain and confusion, anger and abandonment. The feeling of actually being happy, which was new and overwhelming.

He hadn’t noticed his breath growing heavier. Putting a hand to his chest, he tried to slow his breathing. Being happy also meant that it could now be taken away. He hadn’t had anything to lose in a long, long time.

The creaking of the floorboards caught Bucky’s attention, and he was able to calm himself down with the distraction. He poured another cup of coffee as you walked into the kitchen. Turning around, he saw you stretch your arms above your head before settling down on the barstool at the counter.

“Good morning.” You greeted him with a sleepy smile, slouching over the counter to watch him pour the exact amount of cream and sugar that you liked into the cup.

“Good morning.” He echoed, handing over the mug and leaning against the counter across from you. “I’m sorry if I woke you up.”

“You didn’t. The delicious smell of coffee did.” You took a sip and sighed. “And maybe the cold did too.”

You reached over the counter for his hand. The warmth of his palm brought much needed heat to the tips of your fingers. He squeezed your hand slightly tighter than normal and you thought nothing of it. You lifted the mug to your mouth by one hand and took a longer drink before settling back in your chair. Your unbrushed hair framing your face as the light of the winter morning lit up your eyes.

Bucky’s breath sped up slightly as he looked at you, completely enamored and terrified of the feeling that was swelling in his chest.

#bucky x y/n #bucky barnes x you #bucky barnes angst #bucky x you #bucky barnes fluff #bucky x reader #bucky barnes fic #bucky imagine #bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky barnes x reader

[the-kipsabian]

what're your resolutions for the 2020s?? (also hi mads we haven't talked in a while but ily and i hope you're doing good (and if you're not i hope you'll feel better later on))

I S2G I WANTED TO REPLY TO THIS SO LONG AGO BUT I KEPT FORGETTING IT CAUSE I WANTED TO DO IT WHILE I WAS ON THE LAPTOP CAUSE REPLYING TO ASKS ON MOBILE IS HOT GARBAGE AND NOW IM SUPER LATE BUT AKSNDKJANSKDA (also hot wild tag @ @coughedfeathers cause you also sent an ask about these ty bby

but since im on my last three hours of this decade, let us roll forward and do this thing finally woo ~

in no particular order, things im GOING to do in the next ten years;

1. im gonna get a job, a REAL JOB, for at least a while if its not gonna be a fully permanent and steady one. which basically ties in together with the next point of

2. getting myself into a spot mentally where i can actually. do such a thing. this whole decade has been huge ups and downs with my mental health, but its also been the beginning of my healing arc that i hope continues even stronger to the next ten years and i can actually get my anxiety etc., in check enough to be like. somewhat of a fully functioning adult in todays society

3. i also wanna go back to school and get another degree in something, something that i would actually use for something and to get work with etc. i have few plans, but we’ll see how things change over the years as more and more spots and opportunities do open as time goes on so. ye

4. i wanna move. out of town. where exactly, or possibly out of country, idk. im fairly sure this one is most definitely gonna happen sooner rather than later, considering its probably the easiest one to do, but yeah. i want my own life and distance myself from the toxic fam and things and ye

5. im finally gonna. get that first novel done, finished, and published. the first two are the easy things, the last bit is the hardest part but no matter how, its gonna get there. ive been procrastinating on this for abouttttt six years now so its about time in the next ten to do this LOL

..i guess i could also put this here but 6. i wanna. at least script a game if nothing else? maybe probably possibly a visual novel. but thats really in the backburner and will probably be for a while, but its a thought, and another thing ive wanted to try to do for a long while now tbh

as just misc stuff in general, i wanna experience more concerts (i still have two more on my list of dream concerts that im hoping i can tackle in the upcoming years! [those two being fozzy and natewantstobattle]), i wanna travel some more (uk and us are on the top of my list cause squad baes that i need to meet aaaaaa), go to more wrestling shows (my first one this year was a bLAST), and ohhhh meet my heroes. like actually MEET MEET people. talk to them. tell them how much i love them. finALLY SHARE SOMETHING I WROTE WITH LEIGH DANIEL AVIDANIEL. you know, the usual LOL

i guess thats it? this is probably really generic stuff but welp yeah, here we go yay ~

#ty for asking babe ily <33 #blue-bismuth #thank you for asking! <3

[auskultu]

Yardbird Jimmy Page says, 'Open Your Mind'

Hit Parader magazine: WHEN YOU were a session man, were you playing bass or lead guitar?

Jim: Lead guitar.

HP: Was it difficult to switch to bass when you joined the Yardbirds?

Jim: It was at first because I tended to play it like a guitar. With the bass you just play a sort of root thing. I was just leaping around all over the place with great speed and I had to stop doing that. I managed to simplify it. But at first I was playing far too quickly.

HP: I read somewhere that you were going to play lead soon?

Jim: I already have because Jeff was taken ill. Chris took over bass.

HP: Who were some of the other people you have accompanied?

Jim: Them, the Kinks, Georgie Fame, I did some stuff for the Rolling Stones. Actually, we just did a lot of things for fun for Andrew Oldham. In fact, it really was good fun. But I've never been on any of their records. I was on the Who stuff. Petula Clark, P.J. Proby. Nearly everybody who didn't have their own backup group.

HP: How would you describe your style of guitar playing?

Jim: My style has always been very similar to Jeff Beck's. We knew each other for about 9 years. We've always liked the same music and we had the same tastes. As a result, it's been quite easy to fill in for him. When we get the two lead guitars going, it should be pretty good. Because it'll be like two identical people playing together.

HP: What's your opinion of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band?

Jim: I haven't seen them live. But their album is pretty good. As a harp player, Butterfield is really great. He's better than anybody in England. Lots of people speak of Mike Bloomfield, but there are a lot of guys in England who play that stuff.

HP: Beck is an excellent guitarist, but why isn't more of his solo work heard on records?

Jim: How far can you go? We've been told our latest album is too far advanced. There's too much electronic stuff on it. But I think it's all basic. We cut a single with Jeff. It's a Bolero thing. It's very exciting and strange. It's either going to be a monster or a bomb. It's an instrumental based on the classical Bolero piece. Beck's guitar-playing is exploited quite a bit there. But how much can you do that the public will accept? You either make a commercial record or a musicians' record. You've got to draw the line somewhere.

HP: Are there some good blues bands in England?

Jim: There's one called John Mayall's Blues Breakers. Mayall himself is terrible. And then Eric Clapton is good, but he's in the Mike Bloomfield bag, and that's that. And there are lots of good guitarists in minor bands.

HP: Would you say blues is still a big rage in England?

Jim: No, not really. It's still got a market; it's the same thing as in America.

HP: Are you basically a blues guitarist?

Jim: Before the Indian thing was exploited, everyone said I played like an Indian. Mainly because I was interested in the music so many years back. I had the albums and I sent to India for a sitar. I had one long before George Harrison. I tried to learn the actual classical music. It's very difficult. There are so many sides to it. I tried to adapt that to my guitar playing.

HP: Why have musicians latched on to these Indian sounds?

Jim: Because it's so esoteric. Everybody thinks they understand. They get a new sound and they say this is it. But really, they don't know what's going on, I'm sure. I've heard people in groups playing sitars and they don't know what's going on. They don't even tune them up right. Apparently, George Harrison has become deeply interested in it. He plays a sitar on their new album and he was getting along very well. People like Brian Jones just got it for the one record and I doubt if they'll ever use it again.

HP: There are a lot of Indians living in London, aren't there?

Jim: Yes, there are quite a few. Strangely enough, when you speak to them of Indian music, they don't seem to know anything about it. The only thing they know is the western music or the Indian film music, which is completely different from the classical. When you ask them about it, they recommend you to the Asian society or something. I met Ravi Shankar and that's how I got my information on how to tune up the sitar.

HP: Will you be writing material for the Yardbirds now?

Jim: With them, not for them. When one of us has an idea, we all chip in on it until it's finished. I wasn't on the last two, but 'Shapes of Things' and 'Over, Under, Sideways, Down' were all made up in the studio.

HP: What kind of equipment do you use?

Jim: When Chris is on rhythm guitar, we use any old amplifier because it isn't that important, but on bass we have a big set-up with 2 or 3 speakers.

On this tour, we've been given Jordan equipment. It's all transistorized equipment. We're sort of experimenting with it. It hasn't worked out properly on the lead guitars. But it's been sufficient on the bass. On bass, we've got 6 speakers to 8 speakers. In England I've been using a Showman Fender amplifier. And a Fender concert amp which is a smaller one with 4 ten-inch speakers. I link them up together so I get double the power. Through one you get the bass frequencies and through the other I use feedback and the treble frequencies. This is about the best set-up I've had so far. But Jordan is working on some new equipment which should prove to be great. I play a Gibson Les Paul guitar, Chris has an Epiphone bass and there's another Gibson floating around. Eventually, it will be all Gibson because we bought them and never bothered to change them. They're quite adequate.

HP: How did you finally end up with the equipment you've got now?

Jim: We just worked on it. I've been playing guitar for a few years now and I just work on this certain line. You do as best you can. The only problem being we blow up quite a few amps. We did one show and I had 4 amplifiers all linked up. It must have been about 400 watts all together. Those were Vox amps. They just can't take the volume. The speakers blow and then you don't get any sound at all. The Jordan ones didn't blow up, but they don't have enough volume. I've never broken a guitar, but I've been through nearly every make. I've never found a guitar which is exactly what I want. At the moment, I'm happy with this Gibson. I've also got a Fender Telecaster. I find every guitar's got a sound of its own and you can use them all and get something out of them. I haven't used the Telecaster on stage yet. Actually, all my guitars are in England because I came over playing bass. I switched to Jeff's guitar. His is very close to mine because they're both Les Paul models. Normally, we all travel by plane and the equipment goes by van. We have two road managers, one for the equipment and one for us.

HP: Have you found a big difference in British youth and American youth?

Jim: The Americans are a little more narrow-minded. The English, at the moment, are completely broad-minded. This wasn't the original concept of the English, was it? You can shock people in America very easily. If people are shocked, that's their bad luck. They should open their minds. In England, you could walk around in the nude and you wouldn't shock anyone. They'd think you should be put away, but they wouldn't beat the guts out of you. Also, the age of consent is 16. You can marry at 16. The attitude over there is completely free, just like the attitude toward clothes.

HP: Are you really that concerned about how you look?

Jim: I'm not really concerned with clothes. People put that on my shoulders. In actual fact, I'm pleased to see people walking around in outrageous things. They're throwing off the chains of a society that was. It's probably making England completely decadent, but so what. Billy Graham was just over there in England and if you walked around with him, you'd have seen it look all pretty decadent. I'd have to agree. He didn't make any impact at all. Actually, it's a forecast of the end of society. But I don't care because I'll be dead before it ends. If we've come this far in five years, it should really be something in another five. I'd like the new society to be a peaceful one but it won't be, because violence seems to be the answer to every problem. Every fringe society must be experiencing this. We walk around with long hair and someone shouts something, so you give them an answer back which is a little sharp and which they don't quite expect. Then they can't give you an answer, so they come to fists. What sort of mentality is that? I can't argue with a person like that.

It must be terrible for someone to have to fight in a war. I haven't had to think about wars. It's just something I haven't had to contend with, really, I hadn't realized what a big problem it is. I've just seen the horrors of it.

HP: Well, England doesn't have any big thing going now.

Jim: No, this is it. We have no conscription whatsoever. I'll never be drafted or anything.

HP: They won't send you over to Africa to beat up some people or anything?

Jim: Well, they don't do this. People wouldn't do this. If they had a mass conscription now, I dread thinking how many people would go. Because it would only be 40% of those who would have gone before they dropped conscription. People don't want to know about it anymore. They think, well, why should I waste two years of my life and probably lose my life in the process. They just don't want to know anymore.

They've got a regular army where you join and you jet paid every week for doing it. And you just do maneuvers and things.

HP: They have that here, too!

Jim: Yeah, sure, but yours is more of a reality because they get drafted over to Viet Nam. Basically, I must be a coward, but I just couldn't shoot someone. I guess it's different if they're looking at you with a gun and you're looking at them with a gun. You'd have to do it, though. I'd just be violently sick afterwards. I'd never forgive myself, anyway. I'm not the sort of person who's the violent type. I've never never had a fight in my life. I've never put my fists up to anybody. I've never needed to. Only, as I say, through the long hair problem people have said things. But it's never developed. Even if you say come on then, they still won't do anything. Basically, they've still got no guts. But even if they did, I'd run a mile. It's funny because you think, well, what are they going to do, and they don't do anything. So they just wasted the whole time laughing at you. Perhaps they just laugh to reassure their own masculinity.

HP: Why do you think there's such a big concern with clothes?

Jim: I don't know. It's a projection of one's character, I suppose.

HP: Is Carnaby Street a real madhouse?

Jim: It's so easy to send that Carnaby Street thing up. It really is. It's really a street with lots and lots of clothing shops. It's quite a revelation if you've never seen anything like it before, and I'm sure nobody over here has. There's nothing like that. It's just teen-age fashions, bizarre styles. You go there on a Saturday and the kids are there spending money. This is all part of the game, I suppose. Yeah, they spend a fortune on clothes. I don't know where some of the young ones get it from. You see them walking around and they must have spent twice what they've earned.

HP: Do they have things like charge accounts over there?

Jim: No. Not on Carnaby Street, anyway. They won't take checks or anything, not from the kids. Not unless they know you. But there is a big leaning towards clothes and fashions. It's an extension of their character. People have become more aware of the fact that, if they dress up and they look really elegant, I'm not saying Carnaby Street, but if they've got a very clean-cut suit on and still look pretty hip with it and not just sort of middle class, it has the affect on a girl.

HP: What's the biggest thing you dislike about America?

Jim: You see, the only thing that I've seen is violence, but I've only been doing concerts. I don't get out to walk around and meet people very often. If I was walking around the street, I probably wouldn't see any violence whatsoever. So, it's difficult. You see, I haven't seen much of America on this tour. But, when I had my holidays before in Hollywood, I enjoyed it. I thought it was great.

HP: You spent your holiday in Los Angeles?

Jim: Before I joined the group, I spent my holidays for the last couple of years in Hollywood.

HP: What are some of the things you enjoyed in Hollywood?

Jim: The weather. The weather's pretty bad in England. I met quite a few people and made some good friends. I liked the Sunset Strip; there's quite a bit happening there. I got to see groups I could never see in England.

HP: If you had a choice, where would you like to live?

Jim: Miles away from anybody. That's what I'm going to do when I get back. I'm buying a house. It's about a half a mile from anybody else. It's got a river, five bedrooms. That's for when the group slows down a bit. But we'll be working hard for the next year. There's so many things I'd like to do that I don't have the time for now. Things which are very important to me, like painting. But it's best to work now and make all the money I can.

HP: What kind of books do you like to read?

Jim: I used to study religion when I was in art school. But I stopped.

HP: Was that how you got interested in Indian music?

Jim: It may have been subconsciously. But I didn't just read about it and then go onto it. At the moment, I read sort of very strange things like I, Jan Cramer. Things which are a social comment. This Cramer is a beat painter in Holland. I like Henry Miller, too.

#yardbirds #jimmy page #hit parader #1967 #1960s #sixties #60s