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#dancing in silence the orchestra late
medicinemane · 1 year
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There are so many songs I like where, and it's important to note that I enjoy them as they are, where they have these really killer lines or sections and... the rest of the song doesn't quite... back it up the way I need it to
Like I legitimately enjoy the song, and I like this version of the song as it is... but hmm... just... I have to take that line in isolation and can't really work with the rest of it for what I want that line for
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dilemmaontwolegs · 5 months
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Harmony || CL16
Summary: Being a musician isn't the easiest way to make ends meet. Aside from being in the local orchestra, you balance being a tutor and a tuner - one Charles hires to tune his piano. Warnings: none, fluffy WC: 1.2k F1 Masterlist
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Of course the city would be busy when you were running late. As much as you might have tried to run, or at least power walk, you didn’t want to damage the precious cargo you were carrying. You managed to make up some time at the sacrifice of your lungs and you were still recovering when you reached the address of your last appointment.
“Sorry I’m late, Mr Leclerc, my violin lesson ran over.”
“That’s okay, and it’s just Charles,” he corrected as he opened his door wider for you to enter his home. It was easy to see where you were going to be working so you headed straight to the upright piano in the light and airy living room. After placing your violin case on the floor beside his coffee table you shrugged off your backpack and opened your tool kit.
“May I?” you asked as you reached for the memorabilia balanced on the top you needed access to.
“Oh, right, sorry.” He rolled his eyes at himself for not preparing the piano for your arrival and helped you clear it off. “Is there anything else you need?”
“No, thank you, Mr- I mean Charles.” You opened the top lid before removing the front panel and sat down on the bench. First you tested the keys and pedals to see if any were sticky but they were in good condition, and you listened to each key to determine how much work was needed. 
“How long have you been learning to play the violin?”
You looked away from the keys as Charles took a seat on the sofa near your instrument. “Oh, no, I teach it. Well, I suppose I am still learning, because there is always room to improve, but my lesson was with a student.”
“So violin tutor and piano tuner,” he said with an impressed nod. “That is quite the niche market.”
“Not as niche as yours,” you pointed out as you pulled a tuning fork out of your tool kit. “There are certainly more than 20 of us in the world.”
The racer cracked a smile that was quite disarming and you had to return to your work as your cheeks warned. “When was she last tuned?”
He chuckled nervously and you winced before he even answered. “When I bought it, two and a half years ago.”
You suppressed the sigh that built and grabbed the adjuster to start moving all the keys up in pitch. “Without regular tuning, you’ll likely find she needs fine tuning again in a few weeks.”
Charles smiled sheepishly and nodded. A comfortable silence fell as you continued your work, moving with confidence through the motions until you were satisfied the piano sounded perfect. Replacing the front panel and closing the top, you took a seat again for the final test. There was already a page of sheet music on the stand so you placed your tablet next to it and opened the app that picked up notes and confirmed if they were in tune or not.
Your eyes scanned the sheet and you heard the melody in your head before you let it flow into your fingers that started their graceful dance across the keys. One page was more than enough to check your work was done but you were a little disappointed that you weren’t able to hear the remainder of the song as you closed the lid.
“I haven’t heard this before,” you said as you picked up the sheet but it had no markings on it. “Who is the artist?”
Charles rose from the sofa and took the page with pink cheeks. “I, uh, I wrote it.”
“It’s beautiful, and sad.” He frowned at the strange compliment and looked away before you placed your hand on his shoulder. “There’s nothing wrong with sad music. It is meant to be a way of expressing oneself so it doesn’t fester inside. I tell my students it is a good thing.”
His frown softened and his grip on the paper eased before he reached past you to place it back on the stand. “I wanted to add some other instruments once I recorded it, but I wasn’t sure which ones.”
You nodded to yourself as you replayed the sonata in your head, your fingers drawing invisible notes that could accompany the melody. “Hmm, I think I can help…if you want?”
“Please,” he said as he watched you grab your violin case and unlock it. The lid opened with a creak and his eyes widened as he saw the logo for the Monegasque Royal Orchestra in the velvet lining. “You play for the orchestra?”
“Second chair,” you hummed with a proud smile. “We are playing for Prince Albert’s birthday this weekend.”
“I guess I will see you there.”
Of course he would have an invitation to the Prince’s birthday, all the important people in the principality would be there. “That’s one way to make me nervous. I’ll try not to mess up for you.”
“I think you’ll be great,” he said with a grin as he sat at the edge of the bench and watched you raise the delicate violin to your neck.
“Do you want to play and I will join you?”
“Uh, sure.” He was the one who seemed nervous now and he cleared his throat as he turned on the bench seat, his toes hovering over the pedals. “Here we go, I guess.”
His long fingers were elegant and his wrists remained loose as he began to play. You let the first eight bars open before you closed your eyes and drew your bow across the strings in harmony to him. Charles stumbled over the key as the higher octave caught him by surprise but he recovered with a quiet apology and soon the piece rose into an emotive crescendo that had your chest aching before the last note died out.
You let your arm relax and the warmth from the rosewood rest cooled on your skin as you lowered the bow and violin to your sides.
“That was…incredible,” he said as he turned in his seat.
“You are a very talented man, Mr Leclerc,” you said as you carefully laid the violin back into the bracket and locked it up. “A lot of people can play the piano but very few have the creativity to write their own music.”
His blush spread from his cheeks to his neck and he fidgeted with the ring on his finger. “Thank you, for tuning my piano and playing with me.”
“It was a pleasure.” You packed up your tools and shoved them into your backpack before picking up the violin case and looking at the door. “I hope you enjoy the concert.”
“I’m sure I will,” he said with a genuine smile as he walked with you to the entrance way. “Maybe we can have a drink together afterwards?”
You clutched the handle of the case tighter and tried to control your excitement with a small nod, but your smile was uncontrollable and bright. “I would like that.”
“I’ll see you Saturday.”
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pnk-berri · 11 months
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Ensnared - Eros Vasilios
by any means necessary, he shall claim you as his own
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Content Warning: The following text contains explicit and violent content. Reader discretion is advised.
The grand ball at the Imperial Palace was a sight to behold. The lavish decorations, the elegant gowns and tuxedos, and the symphony of laughter and music filled the air. Eros, as the host, radiated an aura of grace and charm as he greeted his noble guests.
Among the crowd, you stood out like a rare gem. Ever since that initial encounter in the distant past, you instantly captured Eros's attention. Dressed in a stunning gown that highlighted your every curve and complimented your features, he couldn't take his eyes off of you as you moved gracefully across the ballroom floor.
As the evening progressed, Eros finally approached you during the waltz, extending his hand with a charming smile.
"May I have the pleasure of this dance, my lady?" he asked, his voice a deep velvet that resonated with a touch of intrigue.
You graciously accepted his invitation, placing your hand in his. The moment your fingertips touched, a jolt of electricity shot through your veins, leaving you momentarily speechless. As the orchestra began to play, the two of you glided effortlessly across the polished marble floor, locked in a dance that seemed to transcend time and space.
Eros, an impeccable dancer, led with a firm yet gentle hand, guiding you with synchronized ease. His eyes never left your face, a mixture of admiration and desire sparking within them. The chemistry between you was undeniable as if the universe conspired to bring you together.
The ball continued, and the night grew late. As the guests bid their farewells and began to disperse, leaving the palace, you made your way towards your carriage, ready to head home. Little did you know that danger lurked in the shadows, waiting for the perfect opportunity.
Suddenly, before your very eyes, a group of masked figures emerged from the darkness promptly incapacitating the coachman. With their faces hidden, they moved swiftly, surrounding you and blocking any escape route. Panic surged through your veins, your heart pounding rapidly in your chest.
Eros, who had been observing from a distance, watched with smug satisfaction as the kidnapping unfolded. His grip on his emotions tightened as he suppressed a grin.
As you were whisked away, a single glimmer of defiance flickered in your eyes, a promise that you wouldn't go down without a fight. Unfortunately for you, the odds were not in your favor, for Eros Vasilios excelled in carefully crafted strategies and meticulous plans.
The struggle was fierce, the fight for survival evident in every scream, every kick, and every bite that marked your desperate attempts to resist. But despite your valiant efforts, it was all in vain as they overpowered you, their strength overwhelming. The last semblance of hope dwindled as they bound your hands tightly behind your back and secured a gag over your mouth, silencing your cries for help.
The carriage ride seemed to stretch on endlessly, each bump and jolt increasing your anxiety and fear. Finally, the wheels came to an abrupt halt in front of a secluded cabin tucked away in the depths of the foreboding woods. This was to be your prison, the place where unspeakable horrors awaited.
The boss, a sadistic man consumed by evil, took pleasure in the torment he inflicted upon you. His hands were instruments of pain, each slap, kick, and bruise sending waves of agony coursing through your body. Spiteful and cruel words dripped from his lips, latching onto your mind, embedding themselves deep within your consciousness.
There was no escape from his depravity as he violated you, using your body for his own twisted pleasure. Each invasion of your most intimate being served to further degrade, humiliate, and break the spirit you fought so hard to protect. Time seemed to lose all meaning as the minutes turned into hours, your consciousness fading in and out, a fragment of your shattered identity clinging to the small threads of reality.
Just as darkness started to encase your battered body and shattered soul, a glimmer of hope pierced through like a ray of light. Eros, the wings of the empire, arrived with his imperial guards, ready to play the role of savior. His expression feigned concern and anger, a mask expertly crafted to deceive.
The guards descended upon your tormentors with swift and brutal force, apprehending them with ruthless efficiency. To any onlooker, it would seem that Eros had come to save the day, that he was the hero in this twisted tale. In truth, his role as your captor was a secret only he knew, and he fabricated this opportunity to exploit your vulnerability, further deepening the web of dependency he sought to create.
As you regained consciousness, bruised and broken, the sight of Eros surrounded by the guards offered a deceptive sense of security. It was the perfect illusion, a play of power and control. His eyes, once filled with desire and manipulation, now simmered with a calculated concern, an act performed flawlessly to captivate your trust.
With carefully chosen words, he ensured that your wounds will be tended to, even as the memory of the pain lingered in the recesses of your mind. Eros would be your caretaker, your protector, while covertly relishing in the thrill of his deceptive game. Behind his noble facade, drank in the hope and longing that emanated from you.
Eros Vasilios, the master of deceit, had woven a web so intricate that it will ensnare not just your body, but your very essence. And as you clung to his salvation, unbeknownst to you, you had fallen into his grasp, a mere pawn in his dangerous game of power and desire.
"Is it truly you, Your Highness? Have you come to rescue me?" I murmur, exhausted from the relentless torment I've endured.
Eros cradled your broken body in his arms, his touch gentle yet seething with hidden malevolence. As you murmured your disbelief and questioned his sudden appearance as your savior, he looked down at you, his silver eyes shimmering with fabricated sincerity.
"Yes, my dear, it is me," he replied softly, his tone laced with false concern. "I received word of your unfortunate plight, and the very idea of you enduring such suffering in the clutches of those monsters is intolerable. I am here to protect you."
A faint smile danced at the corners of his lips, concealed behind a mask of apparent empathy. On the inside, however, Eros relished in the perverse joy that coursed through his veins, knowing that his meticulously crafted plan was unfolding flawlessly. You, vulnerable and shattered, were the perfect blank canvas for him to manipulate. A sense of complete control washed over him, making his every nerve tingle with sadistic glee.
In his twisted mind, you were clay waiting to be molded, ready to be shaped according to his whims and desires. He cherished the opportunity to have you at your most vulnerable, to claim dominion over your bruised soul and shattered innocence. Soon, the intense bond he sought to establish would be unquestionable, ensuring he held your heart and mind captive under his influence.
"All will be well, my dear," Eros murmured, his voice a low, honeyed whisper. "I promise to keep you safe from harm, to heal your wounds, and bring you back to the person you once were."
With every pledge uttered, he caressed your battered cheek tenderly, his touch belying the inherent cruelty that resided within him. As he conveyed a facade of compassion, his mind churned with the endless possibilities that lay before him, delighted in the game of manipulation that awaited. His sadistic glee simmered just beneath the surface, obscured by the elegant facade he projected. 
"I can't express my gratitude enough, Your Highness.  My life is forever indebted to your grace."
Eros held you tenderly in his arms, his expression a mask of concern and compassion, his true intentions buried deep within his eyes. Upon hearing your plea to leave the nightmarish cabin behind, he nodded solemnly.
"I understand, my dear. The Imperial Castle will provide the best care for you," he replied, his voice gentle and reassuring. "Rest assured, you are safe now. I will personally see to it that you receive the utmost care and attention."
"Please, I desperately want to escape from this place."
With that, he carried you towards a waiting carriage, the guards falling in line to accompany you on your journey. As they opened the carriage door, Eros carefully settled you onto the plush velvet seat, attempting to make you as comfortable as possible.
Inside the carriage, the soft glow of lanterns bathed the interior, casting a warm, intimate atmosphere. Eros took a seat across from you, his eyes fixed upon your bruised form, a semblance of worry etched on his features. His voice softened as he spoke, his words designed to further solidify the dependency he wished to cultivate.
"Rest assured, my dear. You have my full protection," Eros reassured, his silver gaze locked with yours. "Once we arrive at the castle, you will receive the best care available. I will personally oversee your recovery."
The subtle flicker of anticipation danced in his eyes, a cruel delight at the thought of guiding you through the healing process. "I will make sure you never have to endure such pain again," he continued, his voice laced with feigned sincerity. "We will see this through together, my dear. You will become stronger, and I will be there every step of the way."
The passage of time brought with it physical healing, as your body gradually mended under the watchful eyes of the castle's medical staff. Eros, ever-present and attentive, ensured that you received the finest care available, his role as protector and confidant firmly established. As the days turned into weeks and then months, you felt yourself drawn closer to him. The impenetrable walls of the palace grounds became your sanctuary, a cocoon where you felt undeniably safe in Eros's presence.
But on this gloomy day, when the weight of your past torments bore down upon you, the illusion of safety began to shatter. In the sanctuary of your room, positioned conveniently next to Eros's own chamber, tears stained your cheeks, your vulnerability laid bare in the solitude that only darkness could provide. The guards stationed outside your quarters remained ever vigilant, yet unaware of the storm brewing within your heart and mind.
Every sob wracked your body as the realization of the atrocities you had endured washed over you. The pain, once carefully concealed behind a facade of strength, now erupted with unyielding force. The tightly guarded walls that protected your emotions had crumbled, exposing you entirely to the raw, unadulterated anguish that engulfed your shattered soul.
And in the room adjacent to yours, Eros's acute hearing caught the faint sounds of your despair. A brief flicker of concern flashed across his features before it was swiftly replaced with a cool calculation, his mind already formulating a plan to exploit your emotional vulnerability for his own gain. Guided by an insatiable curiosity and a sadistic inclination, he crossed the threshold into your room without hesitation.
As his eyes met your tear-streaked face, a semblance of empathy washed over his features, his gaze betraying a hint of genuine concern. Taking measured steps toward you, he knelt beside your trembling form, his voice a soothing murmur in the tempest of your anguish.
"My dear, what troubles you so?" Eros inquired, his tone carefully pitched to convey both support and curiosity. "Do not bear this burden alone. Share your pain with me. Let me help you carry it."
Inside, however, a wicked thrill rippled through Eros's core, knowing that the cracks in your emotional armor allowed for further manipulation. With every tear that fell, he recognized an opportunity to deepen your reliance upon him, an opportunity to claim not just your body but your shattered psyche as well.
Knees sinking into the plush carpet, he reached out to brush a gentle hand against your cheek, his touch seemingly tender yet tinged with an undercurrent of possessiveness. Behind those silver eyes, a fire burned with a sadistic desire, a craving to exploit your fragile state for his personal gratification.
The torrent of tears streamed relentlessly down your face, a testament to the indescribable pain that ravaged your soul. Eros listened carefully to your anguish, his silver eyes fixated on your trembling form. Though you bared the depths of your shattered psyche, the words that spilled from your lips only seemed to increase his appetite for control.
His gaze softened, an empathetic façade plastered across his features as you sought solace in his embrace. As your trembling arms encircled him, a hollow pit formed in his stomach, replaced with a surge of satisfaction at the depth of your desperation. He relished in the power he held over you, knowing that your vulnerability made you malleable to his every whim.
"I understand, my dear," Eros whispered, his voice a gentle caress of reassurance. "You have been through unimaginable horrors, but remember, you are safe now. I saved you because I couldn't bear to see you suffer."
His arms wrapped around you in a feigned display of warmth, offering you the illusion of sanctuary within his embrace. A subtle smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, hidden from your tear-filled gaze. He derived a perverse pleasure from your confession, reveling in the knowledge that your trust and dependence on him reached such profound depths.
"You are not alone," he murmured, his voice low and intimate. "Regardless of the circumstances. I'll always be there for you. I’ll be the one to care for you."
But deep within Eros, a sadistic satisfaction simmered, rekindled by your open vulnerability and the revelation of the unspeakable acts forced upon you. The knowledge of your torment gnawed at his conscience, even as he dissected it through the lens of manipulation. The darkness that stained your past would serve as the foundation upon which he would build his own empire of control.
In that moment, Eros relished the power he possessed, intoxicated by your unwavering belief in his ability to mend your shattered soul. The tendrils of his influence tightened around your heart, ensnaring you further within his grasp. As you clung to him for comfort, he basked in the echoes of your pain, preparing to exploit them to their fullest extent.
A twisted smirk danced across his lips. Your plea for help and guidance resonated within him, triggering a wicked desire to possess you in ways unimaginable. Yet, he skillfully masked his ulterior motives, portraying himself as a beacon of solace in your darkest hour.
As your grip tightened around him, he reciprocated, his arms enveloping you in a deceptive tenderness. His lips brushed against your ear, his voice a velvet murmur laced with desire, tailored to further seduce your already fragile state.
"Let me be the one to cleanse those stains, to rid your body of their touch," Eros whispered, his breath hitching with a feigned vulnerability. "In the intimacy we share, I will wash away the sins of the past, replacing them with a love that transcends pain and anguish."
His words cast a spell, drawing you further into his snare. His touch, once comforting, now ignited a flame of desire within you. The boundaries between prince and subject blurred, giving rise to a hunger that thrived within the depths of your souls.
Eros gazed upon your tear-streaked face, his silver eyes filled with a mixture of longing and possession. In that moment, he became both your salvation and your damnation, a deity that demanded worship and offered salvation.
"My dear, there is a way we can find solace together," Eros murmured, his voice thick with unspoken promises. "Through this sacred act of love, I can help you cleanse yourself of the haunting touch of your past. I can show you a world where the connection between two souls can transcend the darkest of memories."
With a calculated elegance, Eros led you toward the plush confines of your bed, his hands trailing sensually along your body, guiding you to a place where desire and intimacy intertwined. The scent of forbidden pleasure permeated the room, thick with anticipation as your bodies embraced, entangled in a dance choreographed by wicked desire.
Within the intimate confines of your room, Eros orchestrated a symphony of passion and power, claiming you in a frenzied entanglement of limbs and whispered promises. His touch, skilled and possessive, sought to erase the lingering stains of your past, to inscribe upon your body the indelible marks of his dominance.
In that sacred moment, pleasure mingled with pain, and the twisted dance of power and vulnerability played out with every breathless gasp and fervent moan. Eros indulged in the depths of your surrender, crafting an illusion of ecstasy that would forever bind your fates together.
As the room dissolved into shadows and the lines between right and wrong blurred, you found yourself caught in the irresistible spell of Eros - the enigmatic Crown Prince who promised salvation through sin, love through manipulation, and a shattered soul made whole through twisted desire.
The sunrays cascaded through the parted curtains, casting a golden glow upon the aftermath of the night's fervent passions. Eros, reclining amidst the disheveled sheets, watched with a smirk as you stirred from your slumber. Satisfaction flickered in his silver eyes, for his elaborate plot had, yet again, yielded fruitful results.
Your delicate features, softened in the morning light, elicited a mixture of amusement and possessiveness within him. It pleased him to see the last night’s traces etched upon your skin, a reminder of his claim and the power he held over you. His desires were fulfilled, he now turned his attention to the next stage of his Machiavellian plan.
As you fluttered your eyes open, your gaze instinctively sought out Eros, the man who had claimed your body and awakened desires you never knew existed. The electric chemistry between you both still lingered in the air, a tangible reminder of the night's passionate union. With a calculated charm, Eros extended a hand to you, inviting you into his world of unspoken promises and shared secrets.
"Good morning, my dear," Eros greeted, his voice as smooth and alluring as ever. "Last night was... extraordinary. I hope you found solace in our intimacy."
His words carried a deeper meaning, conveying his intent to bind you to him in a way that surpassed physical desires alone. Eros saw the opportunity to further solidify his dominion over your entire being. And in his grand plan, the final puzzle piece was to make you his crown princess, forever chaining you to his side.
With careful precision, he pressed on, his gaze unwavering as he unveiled his intentions like a prized possession. "My dear, our souls are beautifully entertained, and I cannot help but envision a future where you are forever by my side as the jewel of the Vasilios Empire. Will you do me the honor of becoming my crown princess?"
Eros's proposal, wrapped in the guise of love and sanctity, held implications far beyond the realm of genuine affection. His intentions were clear - to manipulate your desires and seal your fate within the halls of power. The notion of being bound to him for eternity, wearing the title of his bride, would serve as the ultimate shackle, ensuring your obedience and quelling any doubts of escape.
The weight of his proposition hung in the air, the gravity of his words fueling the sudden realization of the depths of your entanglement. Eros, the Crown Prince, the orchestrator of your life, sought to complete the cycle of possession through the sanctity of marriage. There would be no escape, no rebellion left unquelled. You were to be forever tethered to him, bearing the title of his bride and eternally subject to his will.
As your heart hammered within your chest, conflicted emotions rose to the surface. The remnants of pleasure from the previous night intertwined with apprehension and uncertainty, creating a tumultuous storm within you. Eros awaited your response, fully aware that the pull he had on your heart would guide you toward the answer he sought.
Images of a future merged with his flashed before your eyes, visions of opulence, power, and privilege intermingled with the darkness of manipulation and control. The choice before you, though veiled in the guise of love and commitment, was one founded upon a foundation of chains and servitude.
As you took his outstretched hand, an unspoken agreement settled between you. The path forward, fraught with struggle and sacrifice, was irrevocably set. In accepting his proposal, you sealed your fate as the Crown Princess of the Vasilios Empire, forever bound to Eros's will and the tendrils of his intricate web.
In the wake of Eros's proposal and your acceptance, the palace walls buzzed with fervor and delight. The news of the union between the Crown Prince and a rescued noblewoman ignited the imaginations of the Vasilios Empire's inhabitants. To the masses, it was the epitome of a fairy tale romance, a symbol of hope and unity.
Eros, ever the master manipulator, ensured that the public perception of your impending matrimony aligned with his carefully constructed narrative. He orchestrated a delicate dance of whispers and half-truths, painting your love story as one borne from pure intentions. And the empire delighted in your tale, eagerly embracing the illusion of a union destined by fate.
Preparations for the grand wedding unfolded swiftly under Eros's meticulous eye. The palace, adorned in regal opulence, buzzed with the frenetic energy of men and women working tirelessly to bring Eros's vision to life. Rich fabrics, expertly crafted jewelry, and intricate floral arrangements adorned every corner, a testament to the grandeur that awaited.
You, the future crown prince (or rather, empress?), were guided through the preparations with grace and poise befitting your newfound status. Every detail, from the selection of your wedding gown to the intricate choreography of the ceremony, was curated to reflect the magnificence and power of the Vasilios dynasty.
As the days turned into weeks, you became a treasured pawn in Eros's grand game of control and manipulation, skillfully maneuvered to satisfy his every whimsical desire. Within the confines of the palace, he orchestrated your life, molding you into the perfect counterpart to his inflated ego. You were suffused with etiquette lessons, political briefings, and the nuances of courtly life, all with the underlying intention of binding you tighter to his side.
Amidst the whirlwind of preparations, Eros savored in the power and control he exerted over your future. The allure of becoming an emperor, of you being the one who stood beside him on the throne, seemed like the ultimate prize in his grand strategy for dominion. And he would have it all - your body, your mind, your soul, and now, your unquestioning submission as his betrothed.
The days danced by, the eve of your wedding drawing closer with each passing moment. As the sun dipped beneath the horizon, and the moon illuminated the night sky, you stood on the precipice of a new chapter. The walls of the palace whispered with an air of anticipation, carrying the weight of a future forged in subjugation and absolute power.
The empire held its breath, eagerly awaiting the day when the Crown Prince would unite with his chosen bride. As the preparations reached their climax, you could feel the weight of the crown pressing upon your brow. In the echoing halls of the palace, the final masterstroke of Eros's web of manipulation was set to unfurl, and you were caught in its intricate threads, forever entwined with the enigmatic prince who sought to possess your very essence.
The waves crashed against the shore as the moon hung high in the night sky, casting a silvery glow upon the beach-side villa where Eros had chosen to spend your honeymoon. The opulence of the surroundings bespoke Eros's insatiable desire to indulge in every whim, drowning you in a sea of luxury and decadence.
Within the walls of the villa's plush chambers, Eros reveled in his newfound power over you, his crown princess – his wife. With a sadistic smile that danced upon his lips, he devoured the sight before him – your trembling body, bearing the marks of his possession and desire. He had reduced you to a quivering, needy slut, a manifestation of his dominance and your submission.
Eros chuckled lowly, savoring the taste of power as he watched your dumbfounded expressions, your once-composed self diluted in a mix of pleasure and vulnerability. To him, this was a conquest, the ultimate manifestation of superior control. He wallowed in his ability to make you beg, to reduce you to the most primal and raw form of need and desire.
His satisfaction grew as your body writhed beneath his touch, your cheeks flushing with a mixture of pleasure and embarrassment. Eros was a master of manipulation, both emotional and physical, and he knew precisely how to push you to the brink of ecstasy. Each moan, whimper, or gasp that escaped your lips fed his insatiable hunger for power and left him thirsting for more.
Dominance and desire mingled in his eyes as he watched his little doll succumb to his every whim. Every stroke, every demanding thrust, was an act of possession, reinforcing the depth of his control over your body and soul. And in the midst of this rapturous dance, Eros basked in his physical superiority, a stark contrast to your smaller, subservient frame.
As waves of pleasure crashed over both of you, your bodies intertwined in a symphony of pain and pleasure, Eros relished the sight of your complete surrender. It was in these intimate moments that he felt alive, truly connected to the world around him. The power he derived from reducing you to a quivering mess resonated deep within his being, filling him with a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
As the night wore on, the sounds of your shared passion echoed within the secluded villa, a testament to the indomitable force that bound you both. Eros, the cunning architect of your destiny, reveled in the sight of his precious doll, broken and remade to suit his every desire.
Amidst the prevailing sense of stability and contentment, a devastating event cast a long shadow over the empire. The passing of Eros's father, the former emperor, came far too swiftly, leaving whispers of foul play lingering in the air. The funeral, a somber affair steeped in tradition and decorum, marked the end of an era and the ascension of a new ruler. Eros coronated as the emperor, stepped onto the throne, a symbol of unrivaled power and authority. And you, his empress, stood beside him, an ethereal presence radiating elegance and a quiet strength that commanded the respect of court and commoner alike.
Yes, the passage of time had brought forth both joyous triumphs and heartbreaking sorrows within the confines of the imperial palace. The birth of your children, Anteros and Hedone, gifted you and Eros with a taste of familial bliss amid the tumultuous undercurrents of power and control. The empire rejoiced in the knowledge that the dynasty would continue, the heirs of Eros Vasilios were instilled with greatness from birth. They were the embodiment of the empire's hope and future
As your children grew, their laughter filling the halls and their curious eyes exploring every corner, the empire thrived under Eros's rule. The Vasilios Empire prospered under his deft hand, as he navigated the complex maze of politics and power with an unyielding determination. His subjects, blind to the darkness that roiled beneath his composed exterior, adored their emperor with unwavering loyalty.
You, too, had become the epitome of grace, embodying the regality expected of the empress. You, the once lowly noblewoman, stood by Eros's side, an impeccable figure of regality and grace. The years had refined and honed your abilities, transforming you into the perfect counterpart for the cunning emperor. Together, you ruled with an iron fist concealed by velvet gloves, manipulating the chessboard of power with strategic precision. Every movement, every word, an expertly choreographed performance that garnered reverence and admiration from all who beheld you. Eros, ever the orchestrator, maneuvered you into a position of power, a figurehead that commanded respect and awe.
Amidst the political machinations and the dance of power, a passionate night gifted you with your second daughter, Calypso. With each child, the familial bond between you and Eros strengthened, forging an unbreakable connection that neither time nor circumstance could sever. They were the blossoms of your love, reminders that even in darkness, there existed traces of light.
As time passed,  the sheer strength of Eros’s strategic mind allowed the Vasilios Empire to flourish, its citizens reaping the benefits of his calculated governance. Under the watchful gaze of its emperor and empress, intricately woven threads of control and manipulation strengthened Eros's rule. The darkness that loomed beneath his facade remained hidden, his subjects blissfully unaware of the depths of his cunning and ruthlessness.
Little did they know, as they celebrated the empire's prosperity, that Eros's ambitions extended far beyond the borders of power and control they could comprehend. The intricacies of his grand design continued to unfold, ensnaring both friend and foe alike. Within his heart, a consuming hunger burned, his thirst for divinity as insatiable as the power he sought to wield.
As the empire basked in the glory of its emperor and empress, fate spun its wicked webs, quietly guiding the future of the Vasilios lineage and beckoning Eros toward the precipice of his dark desires.
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mimilind · 5 months
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A Magical Classmate - Part 5
Pairing: Draco Malfoy x Reader
Rating: T
Chapter Word Count: 3200
Parts: [ < Previous Part ] [ Next Part > ] [ Masterlist ]
Full story: [ AO3 ]
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You have two magical evenings with Drake.
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5. Classical Music and Dancing
The first lecture after Christmas, Drake strolled inside very much like the day he first joined your class. A bit late, looking elegant in suit and tie, and paying no attention to the teacher. This time, however, he paid all the more attention to his classmates. Nodding, smiling, giving little waves, and to your increased delight he took his seat next to you.
Sitting beside him, you were reminded of how much you had missed him. Every day of the holidays you had thought about him and even counted the days until uni would start again – highly unusual, for you. 
“How was Christmas?” you whispered.
“Dull.”
“Were you in America with your family?”
“I was here in town, not doing much. I learned to bake gingersnaps… and practiced my Swedish. Oh, and I memorized the textbook for the new semester if there is anything you want explained.” 
Your chest grew tight. Had he been alone all through Christmas and New Years? Poor him… You wished you had known, then you could have come to visit. 
He poked you playfully. “Don’t look like that, it wasn’t too bad. I listened to a lot of music which was fun. I even bought CDs with that loud, noisy junk you guys listen to.”
You couldn’t talk more because of the ongoing lecture – people nearby were frowning at your whispering – but his grateful smile made you feel better. You were glad that Catrine suggested you buy him a present, and even more glad you had chosen something music related.
At lunch, Drake gathered everyone around him. “I have a belated Christmas gift for you.”
“You didn’t have to,” said Catrine.
“I wanted to.” He unfolded a glossy folder with the title ‘The Barber of Seville’. He explained it was an opera by Rossini, and that he had tickets for the entire class to the Sunday performance.
You were thrilled to get an evening in Drake’s company – even if it was together with everyone else. But when Sunday arrived, you became nervous. Opera seemed so fancy; what would you even wear? Should you bring a snack? Probably not popcorn and soda like when going to a movie… 
After changing clothes several times and spreading the contents of your wardrobe all over the room, you at last picked your most proper outfit, and brought no snacks. 
You arrived at the opera house half an hour early, and found Drake already waiting in the lobby. When you joined him, you decided to be bold. “I have never been to the opera before. Can I sit with you, so you can explain if I don’t understand?”
That was an excuse, of course; you just wanted to be near him.
“Sure.” He didn’t seem to suspect anything.
When everyone had come, you went to your seats together. They were at the third balcony, right in front of the stage. Ascending the stairs, you looked out through the panorama windows and admired the view of the Göta Älv river gleaming pink and orange in the evening sun. A sheen of frost was covering its calm surface.
You entered the narrow balcony and took your seat. When you peeked over the railing you saw how far below the floor was.
“Afraid of heights?” asked Drake amusedly.
You weren’t, but you didn’t mind if he thought so. “Very. You must comfort me!” 
“I don’t believe you.” He grabbed your shoulders, jokingly pushing you forward. 
You gave an undignified squeak as the sheer drop before you made your belly tingle. “Asshole,” you giggled, though you were secretly pleased with his teasing.
“That’s me,” he acceded unashamedly.
You took hold of his arm, leaning against him. “Now you made me even more afraid.”
“Liar.” But he didn’t push you away.
A sound began; the orchestra was tuning their instruments in the pit below the stage. The murmur of the audience silenced expectantly as everyone took their seats, and then the lights went out and the music began. 
Drake whispered in your ear: “This piece is called the overture. It’s an intro to the opera.” His breath tickled your neck and you shivered.
His arm was warm under yours and his perfume drifted to you. Did he think you could focus on the music under such circumstances?
But to your surprise your attention was soon caught by the unfolding drama. They sang in Italian, but there was a thin monitor above the stage with the translation. The singing was beautiful, and you found that you cared about Rosina and Count Almaviva. You wanted them to have their happy ever after, despite how stupidly the count went about his wooing.
Drake kept whispering explanations to you, because the storyline was often confusing and not very realistic – though still entertaining – and in doing so he sat so close to you his leg was pressed against yours. You still held his arm and contemplated taking his hand instead, but you were too afraid. What if he pushed you away? Hand-holding was quite something else than just sitting close. He might not be as into you as you hoped… and you didn’t want to risk losing his friendship.
Instead you decided to be content with what you had and enjoy the pleasant evening.
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The following weeks, the lectures and labs continued as usual, and as time passed you became more and more convinced you had to do something about your crush on Drake. You couldn’t keep pining like this; it had a bad effect on your studies. And your appetite, and sleep, and mostly everything else, too…
On top of it all, there was talk on your campus about the upcoming spring ball, a very grand prom hosted by the technology university. One of your classmates had a contact who was a student there and could get you tickets.
None of your friends were going; Catrine found it too expensive and Martin didn’t like parties with a dress code. Andreas was not in town that weekend, and Drake seemed unaware of the event.
But you were intrigued. A ball… it sounded luxurious and exotic, like being in a fairy-tale. But in order to go, you needed a date, and the only date you wanted was Drake.
If you asked him, he was sure to suspect why.
After pondering about it through many sleepless nights, you finally decided to ask him after all. A prom meant classical music and classical dancing – you could make it sound like you asked him because he might like it, not because you wanted to go on a date with him. 
And if he turned you down, then at least you would know. Then you could forget him, and the way it felt now that would almost be a relief.
Despite your sound reasoning, bringing the subject up the next day made you a nervous, fluttering mess. You could only pray he wouldn’t notice how badly your fingers trembled.
“So, eh, did you hear? There’s this ball coming up at Chalmers, with fancy clothes and music, and waltzes and everything. Right up your alley. Wanna go?”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. I bet you are good at dancing, and I need a…” You had meant to say ‘date’ but changed the word at the last moment. “Uh, a friend to go with.”
For some reason, being called “friend” always made him look pleased, but he still seemed ambivalent. It took a while until he replied, during which your heart pounded so hard you feared he could hear it, and the trembles in your fingers worsened.
“Sure, why not?”
Nearly staggering with relief, you fought the urge to make a victory dance. “Good. That’s settled then,” you said as calmly as you could.
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The day arrived at last. When you went out to the waiting taxi, you for once felt beautiful and attractive. Your outfit was rented for the occasion and fitted you perfectly, like it was made for you.
Drake had asked you to order the taxi, since he – strangely – had no phone. But he said he would pay for it, which was a relief; after buying the ball ticket you were rather broke. 
When the car drove up his street, you became nervous, but in a good way. Drake and you were going on a date! Or, not outright a date, but it still felt that way. You fidgeted with the fabric of your fine clothes as your heart beat faster and faster.
You saw him from far away where he stood waiting. He wore a black dress suit with tails again, with a green bowtie and matching pocket square, and he had combed his hair differently. It fell over his forehead in a side parting that suited him much better than his normal slicked back style.
As he entered the car, he looked around curiously as if he had never been in one before, and patted the leather upholstery appreciatively. “Nice.” Then he turned his eyes to you and stopped his motions. “You look great,” he said after a brief pause. It sounded like he had meant to say more.
You felt at a loss for words too. He was so handsome it almost hurt you physically just looking at him.
“You too,” you managed.
Then the taxi started and the intense moment was interrupted by Drake’s excited exclaim: “Wow, look how fast we’re going!”
The driver chuckled. “Fast? This?”
The car was in fact going very slowly, yet Drake seemed mesmerized by the ride, his face glued to the window like an eager retriever. 
After a while, he seemed to remember something and managed to tear his gaze away. “This is for you.” He put a small box in your hand.
“For me?” Surprised, you opened the box. There was a bracelet inside, with alternating green and silver beads. “Oh my God…” you breathed, toughing it with awe. “It’s beautiful.”
He pulled up his sleeve, showing an identical one on his wrist. “I wanted us to match tonight. Here, I’ll help put it on.” 
As his finger touched your arm, a shiver went through you. The bracelet felt cool against your skin.
“Thank you. I love it!” You probably ought to say that it was too much, and he shouldn’t have, but for once you held your tongue. He wanted you to have this and obviously could afford it. You didn’t want to make him feel bad.
When you arrived not long afterwards, you ascended the stairs to the banquet hall together. Observing the other finely dressed students, you saw Drake was easily the most handsome man there, looking so much like a prince you again wondered whether he was one for real. A prince in exile. 
Walking on his side, you felt like royalty too. 
On top of the stairs, a photographer offered to take a picture of you together. You were about to say yes but Drake swiftly said: “Nej tack,” in heavily accented Swedish.
As he pulled you away, you gave him a quizzical look.
“We will remember this night without a photograph, I am sure,” he said smoothly.
You nodded. There was no way you would ever forget such a magical evening, and then it had not even begun.
The banquet hall was amazing. Chandeliers spread a mild, warm light over the many tables, decorated with spring flowers and confetti. You found your seats next to each other, with your names written in gold letters on neat cards. Drake pulled out the chair for you before taking his own.
Drake and you were surrounded by technologists, who turned out to be both nice and funny. They didn’t mind speaking English for his sake. 
Thanks to them, you were taught the customs of a formal dinner. There were many toasts – to the spring, to women, to men, and other toasts just because – and each time you were supposed to say “skål”, raise your glass, and meet the gaze of first your date, then the person on your other side, and lastly the one opposite to you.
You loved the toasting. Looking deeply into Drake’s large, pale blue eyes gave you flutters each time, and you thought he might be similarly affected. The way his pupils grew slightly wider made you think he actually felt something more than friendship too. 
The evening progressed most pleasantly. You ate, one tasty course after the other, sipped sparkling wine and cider, listened to speeches and classical music, and of course talked to Drake a lot. He told you about formal dinners he had attended in his boarding school, and what his favorite foods were, and named all the classical pieces the orchestra played in the background.
He treated you most attentively, politely refilling your glass, and actually standing up when you had to go to the bathroom, and again when you returned so he could pull out your chair. You had never before felt so indulged and cared for.
When the dinner was over, the tables were moved aside to make space for dancing. Drake bowed to you. “May I have this dance?”
You readily accepted, your chest becoming full of butterflies, even more so as he took your hand and led you onto the dance floor. His hand was larger than yours, warm and calloused. 
The first dance would be a waltz as was the spring ball custom. You stood facing him, placing one hand on his broad shoulder and the other in his hand. Again feeling his warmth, his scent, meeting his gaze as he held you.
When the music played up he took the lead and elegantly moved you along the circle of pairs, dancing like a professional. His steps were so graceful you at first felt clumsy, despite how much you had practiced at home, but when you began to relax in his arms you soon found his skill helped you. Following his lead, you waltzed in unity, feeling light-footed and uncommonly gracile.
Others were looking at Drake and you with admiration, and no wonder. He was outshining the entire dance floor and it spilled over to you.
“Where did you learn to dance like this?” you asked breathlessly, both from the exertion and his closeness.
“I learned it as a boy. My parents often hosted balls and other social events before the war and I was expected to dance with all the old hags. I didn’t mind the dancing as such, but the stink of Chanel and mothballs nearly became the death of me.” He made a mock suffering grimace.
You frowned in puzzlement. “What war?”
“Did I say war? No, I meant before the… eh, bad times. You know, when uh…”
Even more puzzled, you tried to figure out what bad times those might be. Something financial, maybe, if it had put an end to balls and social events? “The nineties’ recession?” you suggested.
“That’s the one, yeah.” He spun you around a few turns and you had to focus on your steps instead of talking.
But you couldn’t help wondering a little. It felt like he really had meant to say “war”, but if so, what country was he from then? Somewhere in the Middle East? Perhaps his family were oil billionaires from Kuwait or something. Though, with his hair- and eye color he didn’t look very Arab… unless he was adopted? 
Either way, his casual comment had managed to increase your curiosity about him even further.
After the waltz finished, more followed. You danced until your feet hurt and you became hot and out of breath.
“Shall we catch some air?” Drake suggested, offering his arm.
You went down to the street outside, joining a small crowd of other tired guests, letting the fresh spring night air cool you off. When Drake removed his suit jacket and vest, you had a hard time taking your eyes off his shapely torso hinting through the shirt he wore underneath. You wished he would button it down, but this time he didn’t.
You drifted closer to him under the guise of moving away from a woman’s cigarette smoke. 
“I have had a magical evening so far,” you told him.
“Magical?” He grinned. “Glad you think so. I’m enjoying it too; great food, great music, and it’s been nice to waltz again. Been a while since the last time. Thanks for asking me.”
His smile was irresistible and you returned it. “Thanks for accepting.”
You returned inside and were thrilled when Drake hung his jacket on a chair first. Now when you put your hand on his shoulder in the dance, you could feel the warmth of his skin under the thin fabric. It made your heart throb quickly.
Your dancing improved steadily; you learned from his confident lead. It felt like being in a dream. You were allowed to be in his arms for a whole night… to continuously keep eye-contact. To feel his muscles move under your hand resting on his shoulder, and feel his hand holding yours… 
The final songs were slow and romantic. Drake drew you closer until you were practically dancing in a hug. As you leaned your head against his chest, the surreal feeling increased. This was too good to be true.
But soon it would end, and despite everything you still didn’t know how things were between Drake and you. Was this only friendship, or had it become more? He was your prom date and you had danced all evening, but he said himself he had even danced with old hags in his childhood so that didn’t necessarily mean anything. Maybe he just liked the dancing itself and didn’t care who he did it with?
You needed to see him again, just the two of you, but the next ball was a year away. What could you suggest instead?
The music stopped. Time to say something… 
At the last moment you had an idea. “You know, now that we tried your kind of entertainment with that opera performance earlier and now a classical banquet and a ball, we ought to try my idea of a night out,” you said lightly, trying to act casual.
He looked amused. “What might that be? A student pub with bad music and getting wasted on cheap drinks?”
Your face grew hot as you were reminded of how you followed him home, drunk as a skunk. “No, but what do you say to fast food for starters, then watching a movie and eating lots of popcorn, and afterwards sharing a few drinks in the park?”
“Together with the rest of the class?”
You looked down, fidgeting with your sleeve. “Or just the two of us? Would be less, uh, crowded…”
He hesitated before replying, and when he did he sounded a bit guilty: “I’ve never seen a movie… it couldn’t hurt, I suppose.”
“What?” You forgot your embarrassment. “You never saw a movie? Not even renting a VHS and watching it at home?”
“My parents were very old-fashioned,” he said uncomfortably, and now it was his turn to avoid your gaze. 
“That explains a lot,” you said, thinking about how he always struggled with technical appliances, and didn’t even have a phone or a TV at home.
Not until you were getting into the waiting taxi a while later, did your brain catch his choice of tense. My parents were very old-fashioned. Were. Had they died?
Maybe you could ask him on the next date.
The thought filled you with a new swarm of butterflies. He had accepted! This was not the end; soon you would go on another date! And perhaps after that one, you would finally know what his feelings for you were.
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A/N:
In case anyone wonders what the reader’s outfit for the ball was, it’s a bit difficult to say because it depends on the reader's gender and style. But google “spring prom” and check images, and pick the most beautiful dress or suit you find – that’s what you were wearing. :)
Translations: Nej tack = no thanks, skål = cheers
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Parts: [ < Previous Part ] [ Next Part > ] [ Masterlist ]
Full story: [ AO3 ]
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kozpine · 5 months
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Temnota
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diluc x reader, part 1 of ?
1 2
-
You searched frantically in his eyes for any hint of remorse, anything but betrayal and anger. “I didn’t-” You couldn’t speak. Blood pooled on his chest as his hands held your knife inches away from his chest, slicing into his fingers.
You wanted to stop. Needed to. But the vision at your side hummed and coursed through your entire being. It was never meant to go this far.
The door to the balcony swung open.
Jesus Christ.
“Does it have to be this tight?”
The maid only looked at you callously and continued the puzzle that was your dress. The black ribbon pushed up all the right parts and squished what wasn’t desired as it tightened. You sighed in annoyance and gripped the top of the chair tighter. 
It took what seemed like forever for her to finish pleating your dress exactly how it was made to look, soft satin contrasted in its deep maroon stain.
A black veil was clipped to the backline of the bustier, hiding your contorted back. She finished and quickly exited the excessively glamorous room you’d spent the last few hours in. 
The heavy doors creaked shut. Looking over your shoulder, you removed the black mask from the vanity and placed it gently over your face, adjusting your hair to accommodate. It had been put up, much to your disdain- however this wasn’t the time for you to rebel. 
-
“Master Diluc! So nice to see you again.” The loud voice echoed over the nearby orchestra as a white haired man covered in medals waltzed towards a nearby group of minglers.
The man of the hour turned, emotionless face quickly replaced with a smile. He bowed his head to the nobles around him, and they turned to strike conversation elsewhere. “General Adalgiso. I’m glad you could make it all the way from Inazuma.” The general laughed. 
“Yes, well it is much easier now that the travel ban has been lifted. We’ve been able to acquire some much needed goods for our forces.” Diluc nodded. 
“It’s been beneficial to have such an open relationship with that nation. Turns out they love having a bigger supply of wine.” He grinned as another approached, wine glass nearly empty in her hand.
“It is a celebration for him, after all.” A blonde woman in a bright blue dress removed her white mask, holding it on an elegant metal rod. She spoke to the general before walking closer to Diluc. 
“Master Diluc, you look wonderful tonight.” She attempted to adjust his coat before he took a step back. "It's wonderful to see you. I hear your husband has acquired a large amount of ships recently, from Liyue." She rolled her eyes.
 "Him and his ships. That's all I ever hear about from him," she paused, looking him up and down.
 “Oh, how I wish he was more like you. You're still a bachelor, correct? I have some family members who would love to meet you.” He nodded. “Thank you Madam Ilse, but I'm too caught up in work at the moment. We'll be in touch- excuse me, I have some things to check up on.”
He bowed and turned off, leaving the two to discard their cups and pick up the nearest glasses of wine. The woman sighed and took a large sip.
Archons. Only an hour in and I’ve made no progress.
He exhaled and toyed with the broach on his coat pocket before adjusting it to lay even. The next group on his list was some businessmen who’d recently returned from Snezhnaya. He’d only taken a few steps before a booming voice rose over the music.
“Now introducing Miss Y/N Petrova.” 
“Who would come in so late and demand an introd-” He quieted as he looked towards the sound of the servant. A woman in a deep red dress was hidden by a black mask, yet he could feel her eyes looking directly into his. He watched in silence as she began to descend the steps, and it seemed as if all eyes were on her.
 Her dress contrasted everyone around her, the only one wearing red being Diluc. The orchestra faded back into his ears as she approached. A deep curtsy was all she did before extending a gloved hand. “Do you dance?”
-
He looked down, then slowly back up to your face. Or at least what he could make out of it. “It’d be my pleasure.” He took your hand before you led him to the floor. A new song began, and you felt his overly warm hand place on your waist, not daring to drop any lower. 
“I believe we haven’t met before.” He started. “No, not likely. This is my first time in this nation.” You smiled softly as he dipped you slightly. Bringing you back up, you looked around his face, him being the only one without any covering. “Where do you hail from?” He asked, still trying to figure you out.
“I lead my father’s business in Snezhnaya. I mostly work in other nations- establishing different locations along the way. This is my last stop,” you explained, “and I heard of this ball and hoped to connect with you.”
“Connect?”
You laughed and felt his eyes on you. “In a purely professional way, of course. I mean to set up a location in your nation’s capital.” As the music changed, the partners around you swapped; yet he didn’t let go of your waist, only pulling you in closer.
“What kind of location?” He asked, twirling you.
“We mainly provide places for businessmen like yourself to meet and discuss important matters- in an elegant way.” You coated the word elegant in such a sarcastic way that Diluc had no way of making sense of it. “I do see how that’d be of interest to me. So you’re saying you want me to invest?”
You pursed your lips longingly. “Perhaps. However I do need someone to show me around, help understand where to put the location.” You tilted your head. His expression shifted to a slightly colder one, one that wouldn’t have been noticed if you weren’t trained to notice such changes. 
The song ended. You curtsied, and he bowed slightly in response. Before he could speak, you interrupted.  “Please excuse me. I’m going to go chat.” You almost tripped before catching yourself as you took a deep breath.
 He was surprised at how informal you were, excusing yourself for such an unimportant reason. Diluc watched you as you walked off, noticing how the black tulle shielded your figure. 
-
As soon as you were out of sight, you rushed to the bathroom. You locked the extravagant door behind you, finding yourself in a dimly lit room. 
Your hands gripped the sink as you heaved. Looking up, you saw the conflict in your own face before ripping a gold-shrouded gem from the bust of your dress where it had lay under the fabric.
“Gods, this thing is going to kill me.” You’d been feeling the item draining your energy for the past few hours, and had finally caught up to you. The delusion flickered in your hand, the electro sigil burning through. Pain coursed through your hands, placing the vision on the edge of the sink. You backed away, looking at yourself in the mirror. 
I’m the only one in red. You scoffed. They really thought of everything to make me stand out. 
You felt at the sort of cape you wore. Your own addition, as the back of the dress dipped low.. Too sultry for a first meeting. The Fatui just loved to go too far.
-
A carriage awaited you as the night grew darker, with more and more drunken nobles hobbling into their own rides. You quietly joined them before reaching out to the horse pulling your carriage. You felt eyes on you, looking back to meet the red-haired man you’d danced with hours ago. 
There was no discernable look on his face, and he murmured something to a nearby servant before turning his back and walking into the giant manor.
The ride into the capital was much shorter than you’d anticipated. Looking outside, you remembered how he’d looked under the lights of the dancefloor, warm hues illuminating his fiery hair. His very presence sent heat to the touch. You shook it off, attributing it to the common side effects Pyro visions had on the user’s body. 
A small village passed by in a blur, allowing you glimpses of the lights dimming in the town’s houses. The long grass whistling in the wind was barely heard over loud gravel and horse huffing. 
At long last, the carriage pulled up to a tall, leaning building that blended with the surrounding city. “Your lodge, miss.” The footman held a hand out to you. You ignored it.
“It’s just us here, Ivan. You don’t need to pretend.” You offered a grim smile.
 He rescinded and sighed. “I’ll be back in a month. The supreme has requested updates every week. Please work fast.”
You scratched the back of your neck. “As fast as the gods allow me to be.” 
After bidding your farewell, you entered an elevator with your things and another unnamed man closed the iron door before it rose. The apartment you’d been placed in was sleek, filled with local items from home. As much as you’d been told to blend in, did it really help that the entire room reeked of Snezhnayan wealth? 
Whatever. It was only temporary anyways. It was better not to get used to it. You’d already untied the puzzle of ribbons on your waist, slipping off the dress for it to lay on the ground. Your sides ached from the tightness, and you couldn’t understand why people would willingly subject themselves to such torture. 
The plush bed felt like nothing as you climbed under its heavy covers. Your eyelids felt oh so heavy as the darkness of the night pooled into the room. 
The last thing you thought of was those deep eyes looking into yours, feeling his touch graze your skin.
-
an actual series! sorry bout my inactivity :)
-lilah
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an-aura-about-you · 3 months
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Quick little etiquette thing because I'm at the ballet and I've seen some rude behavior today:
-Try to be on time. I know life and extenuating circumstances are a thing, but if you're "didn't get here until the middle of Act 2" late, coming in to be seated instead of waiting until intermission is pretty distracting. It's not just rude to your fellow audience members but the performers who have been on stage for quite some time.
-The overture is not last minute talking time; it is actually the start of the performance. We are past the era when the ballet and the opera were the places where the well-to-do socialize. The overture is your cue to silence your cellphone and drop your conversation until intermission.
-You applaud after solos and feature dances, and knowing how long to might take practice. If it's live music, as long as you like is fine because the orchestra is used to it, but you have to keep it tight if it's a pre-recorded soundtrack.
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aww-alice · 2 months
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"The Academy" Chapter 3 - [The Empress]
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As the days passed at the prestigious academy, [Y/N] adjusted to her new surroundings. She attended her classes diligently and explored the never-ending grounds of the academy.
One evening, as [Y/N] wandered through the moonlit gardens, she found herself at a stone fountain beneath the branches of an ancient oak tree. The air was heavy with the aroma of night-blooming flowers, their petals dancing in the darkness.
On a moss-covered stone, she saw the silhouette of a lady illuminated by the silver light of the moon.
"Good evening," She said, voice breaking the silence of the night. "Mind if I join you?"
The lady looked up in surprise and curiosity as she gestured for [Y/N] to take a seat beside her. 
“Good evening. I'm Siyeon." She answered with a captivating, alluring voice. Her long dark hair complimented her feminine features like thin brush strokes on a masterpiece of a painting that could cause a Renaissance.
“My name is [Y/N]. It’s a pleasure to meet you.“
“Likewise.”
They sat in silence, the only sounds being the piercing flow of leaves in the wind and the pages of Siyeon’s book. At that time, [Y/N] was gazing at the violet flowers that adorned the garden.
“Do you like the flowers, [Y/N]?” Siyeon asked in a curious tone, not looking away from her book.
“I do.” She answered. “I find them enchanting.”
“Try to not get deceived by their beauty.”
Siyeon extended a gloved hand to pick a single violet flower. 
“These flowers are poisonous… One petal on your lips is enough to accompany you to the underworld.” 
The wind carried her voice through the garden like an orchestra.
Afterwards, she locked her eyes with [Y/N]’s. 
“Do you like them still?”
At that moment, [Y/N] swore she could hear her own heartbeat. Their conversation was embraced by a moment of silence…
And that’s when [Y/N] elegantly grabbed the violet flower from Siyeon’s gloved hand. 
“Pretty and powerful. I absolutely love them.” She playfully twirled the flower in her delicate fingers. “I’m grateful for your advice, Siyeon.”
Although [Y/N] couldn’t see the playful smile that danced along Siyeon’s lips, she could hear the chuckle that sounded like a hundred snowflakes twinkling.
“It’s late. You better get going, [Y/N].” Siyeon’s voice had an ambiguous presence of concern in it that pleasantly surprised [Y/N]. 
“Good night, Siyeon.” 
“Good night, lady [Y/N].”
And with that, their silhouettes disappeared into the seemingly endless darkness of the night.
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nalascat · 2 years
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I don't know if the drabble reqs are still open but something revolving around the fact that Renee is a musician and Aramina is a dancer and just that dynamic. Or just the dynamic between the two in general yk. I don't know if there's anything you can do with that so aksdhjkfeel free to ignore
they'll be open until i fall off of the barbie hype train (not for a long time lol)
but anyway! I can definitely try this! i ADORE the musketeers, so YES.
I also need more content for the ladies and need to write more Renée
This also molded into something a little more than what you requested, but it starts mainly with Renée and Aramina 💖
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Renée was the first one at the castle.
Sort of.
There were other girls who had come and gone, all a part of the palace staff. None of them wanted to deal with Madame de Bossé and would leave after a few months. Some girls stayed for a long time, some left after a few weeks. But often, it was only Renée left behind.
It didn't much matter to her. She had been silently training herself to become a Musketeer, aside the whole training to get into some of the bigger orchestras around Paris. (There was one group that often played during dances- she had managed to play with them once or twice, but their membership changed way too often.)
It was a while before the others really came into play. She had seen it all, though. Girls who needed this job for food or room, who used it as a stepping stone for a better job, or even ones who wanted to get close to the royal family, specifically the prince.
Aramina came in when Renée had ended up alone in the palace staff. After about a week or two of silence in the halls, though.
She stumbled in, nervous and a bit of a mess, but she was excited. She spoke of dancing, getting the chance to be in something big. Her excitement slowly made its way onto Renée, and the two of them quickly became close.
Part of it was the music.
"Do you play?" Her exploration of their sleeping quarters was quick but thorough. She had found the violin that sat in front of her bed quickly, the case gathering dust. She hadn't had the time to since she had become the only one to be cleaning the castle, other than Heléne.
"Yes I do," Renée hummed, "It's been a little while, though. I've been so busy lately."
She didn't reveal that her free time went to practicing with the handmade bow and arrow out in the woods near the castle.
"Could you play for me?" She asked, then paused, "Ah, no, I shouldn't have asked that-"
"I can," Renée smiled. She moved and retrieved the violin from its case, feeling the familiarity in the worn clasps. She took the bow and began to play, softly at first. She didn't play anything specific, only a tune that rested in the back of her mind.
When she finished, Aramina was enthralled, animated about the music. She showered her with sudden praise and excitement.
"May I dance?"
This became something normal to them. After they finished cleaning for the day, and it had long passed sundown, Renée would play and Aramina would dance along. Sometimes, after Renée was finished playing, Aramina would pull her up from her chair and get her to dance along to a nonexistent song, one they could only hear in their heads.
Renée wouldn't give it up for the world.
It was later that Viveca joined the two of them, becoming a natural part of the routine. She would sit out and listen until Aramina would decide she had enough and pull her up to dance along with her.
Renée improved her playing more than she could ever imagine.
But she could not comprehend leaving them and finding somewhere else to go.
Constance came and went with little to say, to change. They remained the same.
Corinne started the Musketeer spiral, pulling them into training and away from the routine. Renée found it to hurt a little bit, losing the time spent with Aramina and Viveca, to train to be a musketeer, even though it was one of her biggest dreams.
The night before the ball for the coronation was stressful. Viveca was working as quickly as she could to make the dresses and Aramina slowly brought Corinne through every dance she knew. Renée lost herself in designing and perfecting their weapons- ones that could be concealed and then brought out at a moment's notice.
It had been a particularly stressful moment in trying to get the necklace to clasp together when Aramina laid a hand on her shoulder.
"I think we should take a break." Her eyes trailed toward the violin, and Renée grinned.
She played the same tune, the one at the back of her head that night. Aramina pulled Viveca away from her work as they twirled around the room.
Corinne still had to learn how to dance, though.
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Dancing with Hershel Layton
You had been invited by your parents to visit them and attend the ball they were holding, and of course you had brought along your dearly beloved husband, Hershel Layton
Yet the only problem with that was that your parents did not care much for him, he was of a lower social class then you and because of that they hated him for “dragging you down to his level”
After getting the “pleasantries” out of the way you quickly excused yourself and had decided to stay in the gardens for the rest of the night
"Ah, here you are my love. I was wondering where you had gone." You heard the familiar voice of your beloved, and as you looked up you saw him smiling at you before going to sit beside you
"You know, I'm amazed you can still hear the orchestra all the way out here." Hershel chuckled before standing back up to tip his hat at you and offer his hand as soon as he put the hat back on
"May I have this dance my dear?" Layton bowed his head and you smirked standing up to take his hand and place his hands on your body to perform a waltz
"You're really something, love." You raised an eyebrow starting to sway with him and started to get lost in the music
"I could say the exact same about you, my dear." He replied looking at you with such adoration that a rose hue had started to form over your cheeks
You both had decided to spend the rest of the evening dancing in silence, but the kind of silence that meant “i love you so much, i don’t need words to illustrate that point”
You got a grand tour of the gardens all while waltzing, never taking a moment to stop and admire the scenery or even rest
Yet as you reached the fountain you had decided to take a small break and sit by the water, Layton quickly accompanying you, placing your hand in his
"Hershel… I would like to take a small break to apologise about earlier. How they treat you, it's so unfair!" You started to raise your voice and so before you could shout your lungs out Layton had quickly placed his lips on yours
"It's not your fault, and I don't mind how they treat me. Whatever they do, it can't change my mind. I promised to spend the rest of my life with you, and I have every intention of keeping that promise." You started to choke up, finding him to be so sweet and kind it was almost painful
But before you could shed a tear you had stood up again and this time you were the one to other your hand, wanting to lead and spend the rest of your night in his company, as well as the rest of your life
As you both spent the rest of the night basking in the love you had for each other, and as the night got late you had placed your head on his chest prompting him to call a cab, and as you drove back he smiled down at you, surely you were the best thing to have ever happened to Hershel, he'll have to thank you tomorrow
Fin
comments/reblogs are always appreciated!
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soulmusicsongs · 1 year
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Soul Around The World in 34 songs
Soul Around The World: Soul music became popular around the world, influencing countless artists across the world. We’ve put together a list with 34 songs
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Ain't Sittin' Down Doin' Nothing - The Drive (Drive Unlimited, 1975) - South Africa
Aries - Ahmad Nawab (Ahmad Nawab, 1979) - Malaysia
Arrêté Mal Palé - Fair Nick Stars (Fair-Nick Stars, 1978) - Guadeloupe
Atrakegne - Bizunesh Bekele (Atrakegne / Eneramed, 1977) - Ethiopia
Aw'ye Douba Ke - Cissé Abdoulaye (Les Vautours, 1978) - Burkina Faso
Bej Ge Le - Polish Radio Orchestra, Peter Sander And His Players – Melody And Rhythm Volume 10, 1976) - Poland
BRC's Groove - Blue Rhythm Combo(Magumba , 1972) - Barbados
Cataluña Rag - Conjunto Olivino (Cataluña Rag / Nostalgia Belga / Eco Castellano / Sobre Tu Sien, 1973) - Spain
Cool Money - Prine Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz International (Cool Money, 1979) - Nigeria
Dolana Ay Dolana - Mustafa Özkent (Gençlik İle El Ele, 1973) - Turkey
Drugstore - Saori Minami (Cynthia Street, 1978) - Japan
Etuei - CK Mann Big Band (C. K. Mann Big Band, 1976) - Ghana
Gowa - Afro National (Tropical Funkmusic, 1978) - Sierra Leone
Hametegnaw - Seyoum Gebreyes (Hametegnaw / Yehagere Gegna, 1973) - Ethiopia
Harari - The Beaters (Harari, 1975) - South Africa
Instant Groove - The Belles Combo Of Dominica (Instant Groove / Un May Que, 1973) - Dominica
Just because You are a Woman - Frances Kuboye (The Black Way - La Mémoire Du Peuple Noir, 1979). - Nigeria
Kamo Aho - Simon Randria (Kamo Aho / Tsy Ho Ela, 1976) - Madagascar
Loose - Group Meeting (Daybreak, 1976) - Italy
Lost Island - Gökçen Kaynatan (Gökçen Kaynatan, 2017) - Turkey
Man With A Gun - Funkgus (Man With A Gun, 1974) - Singapore
Money Is - Pepe Lienhard Sextett (Happy People, 1973) - Switzerland
Nasze Kung Fu - Kram (Biała Sowa, Biała Dama, Biały Kruk, 1976) - Poland
Ngon Engap - Olinga Gaston (Ngon Engap / Be Ngon Ya Nnam Ewondo, 1977) - Cameroon
El País de las 1000 Danzas - Alex y Los Findes (El Pais De Las 1.000 Danzas = Land Of 1.000 Dances, 1967) -
Never Too Late - The Apostles (The Apostles, 1976) - Nigeria
Le Petrole - Ambroise Bia (Le Petrole / Je Cherche Une Femme, 1975) - France
Razbila Bom Ure - Alenka Pinterič (Hanibal, 1968) - Yugoslavia
Silence - Roxy Robinson (Silence / Movies, 1976) - Italy
Spouge Explosion - Aubrey Mann & The Lunar 7 (Here I Am Come And Take Me / Spouge Explosion, 1976) - Barbados
Tei-Egwu - Afro Funk (Body Music, 1975) - Ghana
What'cha Gonna Do - Lynne Randell (Lynne Randell Presents, 1966) - Australia
У мельницы - Оризонт (Оризонт, 1978) - Moldavia
Zigarillo - Botho Lucas Singers Und Die Sound-Masters (Dannemann Tanzparty, 1972) - Germany
Soul Around The World
Soul Around The World in 27 Songs
Soul Music Around the World
Soul Around The World in 19 tracks
Soul Around The World in 13 tracks
Soul Around the World in 20 tracks
Soul Around The World in 22 tracks
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thedawnbeauty · 1 year
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“ I take it, there a story.”
It was the opportune moment for Caspian to move to the dance floor. The orchestra had chosen a simple routine ; the Almain. As he stood facing Aurora, taking both of her hands in his. He slowly moved in a semicircle to the left, and then right, as he turned on his heel to carry only her right hand, watching as she followed his movements.
“ Right before I went to the palace, I was planning to surround myself. I had a terrible feeling about it, my maid was missing. My grandfather wasn’t aware of my plan. So, I set Dante on a task, to return to Rovan and give me safe harbor. He and I, were in the talks of forming a relationship.” She kicked up her left heel, when he twirled her around. As he remained silent while she explained
“ I had given him my mothers favorite pendant, as payment. To show that I was of noble birth to his parents. Only, I never received anything back. When I went to the palace, I was ambushed by my grandfather, and things took a very drastic turn. I barely escaped alive.. hadn’t not been for some help. And no, I can’t tell you who helped me, only that you know them.” She answered quickly “ Now, I’m here.. and it’s a little disappointing to feel forgotten.” She would turn again on her heel, as both of her hands would meet his again to turn in semicircles.
“ of course, a letter could have been sent and your grandfather made sure you never got it. I’ve had one or two experiences where my letters are kept from me.” Caspian would answer, as he bent his knee forward twirling Aurora around him. “ We leave in the morning, you should seek the truth.”
Every other gentleman that night had to wait for Caspian permission and nod of approval to go near Aurora, by the time the sunrise came. Her heels were aching, and her cheeks were sore from smiling. She had changed into a more modest dress, now that they were leaving for a new destination, and as she stepped out into the hallway, there. Dante was waiting for her.
Her eyes were quick to spot Ella was also in the same hallway, as Ella approached and tried to offer an escape. Sensing a rather uncomfortable stance between them. But Aurora was collective cool, as she spoke with no nerves in her tone“ I’ll be there in a minute, you go on without me.” She instructed Ella to leave, as she wanted a few minutes alone with Dante.
“ your highness.” He addressed her as she took a step forward and offered an explanation, as to the mysterious man, she arrived with.
“ My cousin, the king. Find me untrustworthy and decided to bring me. His late wife just passed, and he prefers not to be alone, having someone like me, gives him a edge, I suppose” Atleast she could explain now why she was arriving on the arm of Caspian. As she took another step forward, as he began to apologize for his rudeness on the way he presented Yumi.
Her shoulders lowered, as did her defensives “ I didn’t hear from you, I sent you to find my refuge and I didn’t hear from you. I had to send my maid, who then also disappeared, so I didn’t have any choice. I went to the palace to surround myself, and when I did my grandfather was there, and he turned my own plans against me. I barely survived without help, but I need you to swear to me your silence, if I tell you the truth do you swear to me, your silence.”
But Dante didn’t swear his silence, instead he offered his apologies and spoke of writing her that it was safe for her to come to Rovan. When he didn’t hear back from her, he assumed she had chosen a life with Alfonso. She quickly had to take step back realizing her secrets were not safe with him. She offered a nod understanding “ I imagine because my grandfather did not have my best interest he kept your letter from me. Alfonso, has never made an actual move, you and I however were a planned arrangement. “ she had to shake off her the urge to cry, as she pushed her thumb against her eyes quickly “ But, you have something of mine, I would like back.”
Dante revealed within his palm, the pearl pendant he had kept on him, though he didn’t know why. As she collected it, pinning her back on her sleeve “ I wish you happiness Aurora, and know you have a refuge here.” He genuinely whispered to her .As she looked up to him, her eyes soften whispering a thank you, before her shoulders were pushed back and her head held high.
“ We both know, I would have driven you crazy.” She smirked, as she walked away from him. There was a hole that had been punched in her stomach, as she turned around offering him a reassuring smile, she was going to be alright. As she returned to the boat, Caspian stood there waiting for her extending his hand out to her, to help her onto the ship.
“ Did you get what you needed” he asked, looking at her sleeve at the pearl pendant, as he caught her sorrow expressions as well. “ Should I have a few words with them?”
It the first time, he showed any kindness towards her. As she squeezed his hand, stepping over the planks, into the ship.
“ There is no need.” She tossed her hair back behind her ear “ We should leave.”
Caspian nodded as he released her hand, giving the signal to the captain, as he watched Aurora move to sit next to Ella, remaining silent.
Carrying the secrets of Edward, and what had happened to Samira with her.
@theheartofrovan @my-sensorium @caspianmaxson
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Count Basie LIVE concerts
Count Basie LIVE concerts
https://www.youtube.com/embed?listType=playlist&list=PL2QBk93EadFJO7quwDc6BZAZdgstuD_Aj&layout=gallery
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American jazz musician William Basie, (b. Aug. 21, 1904, Red Bank, N.J., U.S.—d. April 26, 1984, Hollywood, Fla.) popularly known as “Count,” was noted for his spare, economical piano style and for his leadership of influential and widely heralded big bands. Basie studied music with his mother and was later influenced by the Harlem pianists James P. Johnson and Fats Waller, receiving informal tutelage on the organ from the latter. He began his professional career as an accompanist on the vaudeville circuit. Stranded in Kansas City, Mo., in 1927, Basie remained there and in 1935 assumed the leadership of a nine-piece band composed of former members of the Walter Page and Bennie Moten orchestras. One night, while the band was broadcasting on a shortwave radio station in Kansas City, he was dubbed “Count” Basie by a radio announcer who wanted to indicate his standing in a class with aristocrats of jazz such as Duke Ellington. Jazz critic and record producer John Hammond heard the broadcasts and promptly launched the band on its career. Though rooted in the riff style of the 1930s swing-era big bands, the Basie orchestra played with the forceful drive and carefree swing of a small combo. They were considered a model for ensemble rhythmic conception and tonal balance—this despite the fact that most of Basie’s sidemen in the 1930s were poor sight readers; mostly, the band relied on “head” arrangements (so called because the band had collectively composed and memorized them, rather than using sheet music). The early Basie band was also noted for its legendary soloists and outstanding rhythm section. It featured such jazzmen as tenor saxophonists Lester Young and Herschel Evans, trumpeters Buck Clayton and Harry “Sweets” Edison, and trombonists Benny Morton and Dicky Wells. The legendary Billie Holiday was a vocalist with Basie for a short stint (1937–38), although she was unable to record with the band because of her contract with another record label; mostly, vocals were handled by Jimmy Rushing. The rhythm unit for the band—pianist Basie, guitarist Freddie Green (who joined the Basie band in 1937 and stayed for 50 years), bassist Walter Page, and drummer Jo Jones—was unique in its lightness, precision, and relaxation, becoming the precursor for modern jazz accompanying styles. Basie began his career as a stride pianist, reflecting the influence of Johnson and Waller, but the style most strongly associated with him was characterized by spareness and precision. Whereas other pianists were noted for technical flash and dazzling dexterity, Basie was known for his use of silence and for reducing his solo passages to the minimum amount of notes required for maximum emotional and rhythmic effect. The Basie orchestra had several hit recordings during the late 1930s and early ’40s, among them “Jumpin’ at the Woodside,” “Every Tub,” “Lester Leaps In,” “Super Chief,” “Taxi War Dance,” “Miss Thing,” “Shorty George,” and “One O’Clock Jump,” the band’s biggest hit and theme song. It had continued success throughout the war years, but, like all big bands, it had declined in popularity by the end of the 1940s. During 1950 and ’51, economy forced Basie to front an octet, the only period in his career in which he did not lead a big band. In 1952 increased demand for personal appearances allowed Basie to form a new orchestra that in many ways was as highly praised as his bands of the 1930s and ’40s. (Fans distinguish the two major eras in Basie bands as the “Old Testament” and “New Testament.”) The Basie orchestra of the 1950s was a slick, professional unit that was expert at sight reading demanding arrangements. Outstanding soloists such as tenor saxophonists Lucky Thompson, Paul Quinichette, and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis and trumpeters Clark Terry and Charlie Shavers, figured prominently. Singer Joe Williams, whose authoritative, bluesinfluenced vocals can be heard on hit recordings such as “Every Day I Have the Blues” and “Alright, Okay, You Win,” was also a major component in the band’s success. Arrangers Neal Hefti, Buster Harding, and Ernie Wilkins defined the new band’s sound on recordings such as “Li’l Darlin’,” “The Kid from Red Bank,” “Cute,” and “April in Paris” and on celebrated albums such as The Atomic Mr. Basie (1957). The 1950s band showcased the sound and style Basie was to employ for the remainder of his career, although there were to be occasional—and successful—experiments such as Afrique (1970), an album of African rhythms and avant-garde compositions that still managed to remain faithful to the overall Basie sound. Throughout the 1960s, Basie’s recordings were often unremarkable, but he remained an exceptional concert performer and made fine records with singers Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Frank Sinatra. When jazz record producer Norman Granz formed his Pablo label in the 1970s, several established jazz artists, including Basie, signed on in order to record unfettered by commercial demands. Basie benefited greatly from his association with Granz and made several recordings during the ’70s that rank among his best work. He recorded less often with his big band during this era (although when he did, the results were outstanding), concentrating instead on small-group and piano-duet recordings. Especially noteworthy were the albums featuring the duo of Basie and Oscar Peterson, with Basie’s economy and Peterson’s dexterous virtuosity proving an effective study in contrasts. Many of Basie’s albums of the ’70s were Grammy Award winners or nominees. Suffering from diabetes and chronic arthritis during his later years, Basie continued to front his big band until a month before his death in 1984. The band itself carried on into the next century, with Thad Jones, Frank Foster, and Grover Mitchell each assuming leadership for various intervals. Basie’s autobiography, Good Morning Blues, written with Albert Murray, was published posthumously in 1985. Along with Duke Ellington, Count Basie is regarded as one of the two most important and influential bandleaders in the history of jazz. Read the full article
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chrancecriber · 1 year
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Radio SunLounge Romania (March 13, 2023)
3:56 Max Melvin - Whatever 23:53 Sollover - Train Of Love 23:48 Fenena Garcia Mijas - Anja (Dream With Me Knee Edit) 23:47 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 23:41 Lo Seen - When I Close My Eyes 23:34 Voom:voom - Best Friend 23:27 Xemplify - Always You (Acoustic) 23:22 Jeff Bennet's Lounge Experience Feat. Alexandra - Sympathy 23:16 Achillea - Desndame 23:11 Electrix - Spicy Sand 23:05 Club Camarillo - Outside 23:01 Kled Mone - Tensegrity 23:00 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 22:56 Triangle Sun - Tonight 22:54 Deeper Sublime - Buddha Cafe (Original Mix) 22:48 Schwarz & Funk - Fallen (Bossa Mix) 22:45 Garden City Movement - Slightly All The Time 22:39 Aqua Red - The Bomb 22:35 El Rubello - It's Not Unusual 22:30 Trinah - Every Day 22:26 Lemongrass - For All Seasons (Five Seasons Lotus Remix) 22:20 Airily - Harmonize (Original Mix) 22:16 Slackwax - Midnight 22:11 Svendaq - Cosmic Sweeper 22:07 Merge Of Equals - Back To Where We Were 22:02 Jeremy Russell - Rainforest 21:56 International Pony - Superyou 21:52 351 Lake Shore Drive - Ocean Blue 21:47 Lemongrass - Something True 21:47 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 21:44 Bebel Gilberto - O Caminho (Guy Sigworth Mix) 21:38 Marga Sol - Buddhanima 21:34 Opensouls - In Your Hands 21:31 Sabrina Waters - Sardinia Paradise (Wet Island Mix) 21:28 Navasa - Timeless Visions 21:24 V Dimension - Silence Of The Mind 21:20 Flight Facilities - Waking Bliss 21:16 Lemongrass - Without You 21:16 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 21:12 Andrea Revel - White Noise 21:07 Velvet Dreamer - The Fall (Feat. Yvonne Ambrée & Tim Gelo) 21:02 Atb - We Belong (Feat. Roberta Carter Harrison) 20:59 Mr Vaud - Digital Inspiration 20:54 Left - Under The Water (Feat. Sethe) 20:50 Redlounge Orchestra - Reserver 20:45 John South - Working Late 20:41 Gelka - Open (Feat. Sam Brookes) 20:36 Steve Osaka - Lazy Day 20:33 Vincenzo - Today 20:29 Schiller Mit Heppner - Dream Of You (Fernseh Fassung) 20:23 Man In A Room - The Confidential 20:23 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 20:18 Sunset Boulevard Project, Marc Hartman - Sweet Freedom 20:15 Tosca - Lone Ranger 20:10 Faro - Language Of The Stars (Remake) 20:06 Have A Good Time - Photo In Lounge 20:00 Takt 3 - Cut The Lawn 19:56 Federico Aubele - La Esquina 19:50 A Guy Called Gerald - Fever (Black Dog Mix) 19:45 Gary B - My Love 19:40 Marga Sol - Goodbye (Pianochocolate Remix) 19:34 Euphonic Traveller - Caf5 Champs Elys5es 19:30 Marco Sandero - Winter Piano 19:25 Blank & Jones - Days (Cantoma Dub Mix) 19:20 Jens Buchert - Wendy 19:14 Sky Sergeant - Holograms (Electric Slide Mix) 19:10 Above The Sky - India (Original Mix) 19:06 Jazzistic - Lifestyle 19:06 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 19:00 Mind Conventions - Sweet Fever 18:54 Lover Unconvered - Truby Trio 18:50 Michael E - Be As One (Michael E Remix) 18:46 Chillamor - Dancing In The Moonlight (Tropical Radio Edit) (Ft. Rainfairy) 18:40 Afterlife - Breather 18:36 Hiatus - Save Yourself 18:31 Santerna Feat. Vadim Kapustin - Feeling Like A River (Chillout Mix) 18:26 Weathertunes - Parfum De La Provence (Original Mix) 18:20 Florzinho - Maha - Amba 18:17 Francesco Digilio & Andrea Accorsi - Oblios 18:14 Beanfield - Chosen (Feat. Ernesto) 18:07 Lounge\andreas - The Outlands 18:02 Gaba Milani - Open Your Eyes (Original Mix) 17:55 Delor - Lost Senses (Sunshine Reggae Mix) 17:49 Esonic - Mellow Swing 17:46 Castlebed - Lonely Ghost (Original Mix) 17:46 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 17:42 Demetrio Da Soto - Marrakech (Original Mix) 17:39 Israel Medina - Stepping Out 17:34 Stendahl Feat. Jama - Follow Me (Original Mix) 17:30 The Strike Boys - Playtime Theme 17:30 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 17:27 Marga Sol - Imagine Me 17:22 Smooth Deluxe - Uesta Del Sol (Paradise Bar Edit) 17:16 Mads Arp Feat. Julie Harrington - Alive 17:12 Orbitell - Dive (Ibiza Beach Mix) 17:06 The Man Behind C. - What Can U Do 17:00 Aware - En Busca Del Sol 16:56 Club Des Belugas Ft Anna Luca - The Road Is Lonesome 16:51 J Boogie-'s Dubtronic Science - Golden Nectar 16:50 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 16:46 Korte - Schwebende Gedanken 16:42 Camelphat & Elderbook - Cola (Simon Mills Full Sugar Mix) 16:39 Luis Hermandez - Nightflight 16:34 Aria Nova - Pop 16:31 Olivia Broadfield - Silence 16:27 Catching Flies - Daymarks (Green Relax Edit) 16:21 Miriam Kappert - Remember This Time 16:16 Sunyata Project - Ko Samui Nights (Extended Mix) 16:12 Beautiful Air - Promise Land (Original Mix) 16:04 Djibooti - Shadows And Voices (Tom Tom Mix) 15:59 Lemongrass - Mermaid 15:55 Ikarus - Ocean Of Joy 15:51 Klangstein - Within You (Feat. Nosie Katzmann) 15:48 Lung - In Bloom 15:44 Rapsody Featuring Angelique Kidjo & David Whitley - A Child Is Born 15:40 Gail Summerset - Ultracruise 15:36 Living Room - Karma Ocean 15:31 Yppah - Shot Into The Sun 15:25 Bloomfield - Rendez-vous À Paris (Original Mix) 15:22 John Legend - Wanna Be Loved 15:16 Aquarius - Clue To A Mystery 15:11 Noel - Chalito (Ibiza Chillhouse Lounge Mix) 15:05 Jurij Gianluca Ricotti - I Need You (Original Mix) 15:01 Urban Phunk Society - Siesta 14:57 Superhumanoids - Bad Weather (Tropics Remix) 14:53 Dj Maretimo - One Night In Rio (Ipanema Beach Mix) 14:45 Eguana - Long Trip To Nowhere 14:42 Josif Imen Puerta - Early Beach 14:41 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 14:36 Simon Bareilles - The Sound Of Silence - Guitar Lounge Mix 14:32 Mark One & Kevin Shawn - Between The Lines 14:29 Mashti & Jean Von Baden - Love & Happiness (The Remix) 14:24 Albo - Superstrings (Part I) 14:20 Cut Groove - Yedeka 14:14 Jeff Spooner - The Sun (Spooners Del Mar Mix) 14:09 Mystic Diversions - Wave A Little Light (Feat. Wendy Lewis) 14:05 Jive Ass Sleepers - Horizons 14:04 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 13:59 Solanos - Estranha 13:53 Maritime (Caribic Flow Mix) - Cafe Americaine 13:48 Carmen Mcrae - How Long Has This Been Going On (Mj Cole Remix) 13:45 Steen Thottrup - Something To Say (Feat. Lunamila) 13:44 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 13:41 Louise Rademakers - Nostalgia (Original Mix) 13:35 Jane Maximova - Morning Bird 13:32 Lemongrass - Forest Spirit 13:26 Brook Sapphire - Welcome The Sun (Remastered) 13:20 Schwarz & Funk - Nebu (Original Mix) 13:17 Curly Brown - Lost In Space 13:12 Soma Sonic - Rien 13:08 Mòzâmbîqúe - Healing Touch 13:05 Menik - El 13:00 Medsound - Love In Your Attic 12:56 Dolphin Boy - Shake It Loose 12:52 Stargazer - Don't Lose Heart 12:47 Vargo - Talking One Language 12:41 Smooth Deluxe - Estoy Loco Por Ti (Ibiza Vs Miami) 12:38 Twentyeight - Wake Up Call 12:33 Clinton Affair - Amber 12:28 Lemongrass - Falling 12:23 Dj Maretimo - Cosmopolitan Cocktail (Feat. Cafe Americaine) (Mix La Nuit) 12:19 Roberto Sol - Nube De Agua 12:14 Bessie Boni - Mystic Revelation (Feat. Gianna Partner) 12:13 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 12:08 Michael E - Promise 12:04 Levitation - More Than Ever People (Alex B. Smoove Remix) 11:58 Koolsax - Beyond The Sunset 11:53 Future Loop Foundation - I Love Her More (Part 3) 11:48 Tom Schlueter Feat. Valery Brusilovsky - Stadtillusion (Experience 20 Mix) 11:44 Dreamhunter - Oude Centrum (Original Mix) 11:40 Martina Topley-bird - I Still Feel 11:31 Monodeluxe Feat Paola - Night Moods 11:26 Michael E - Southern Comfort 11:22 Chilleando - Sunshine (Californication Mix) 11:18 Velvet Lounge Project - Hidden Treassure 11:12 Deeper Sublime - Femme Fatale 11:12 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 11:07 Perfect Sin - Mamadi 11:03 Adani & Wolf - On The Edge 10:58 Reference T - Bad Raider 10:54 Fobee - Sun Goes Down 10:54 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 10:48 Shakes Seven - Angel 10:44 Sofya - Hari Om 10:39 Marga Sol - Feel The Sun 10:34 Marga Sol - My Dream (Original Mix) 10:33 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 10:28 Simon Le Grec - Feelings (Piano Mix) 10:24 Jens Buchert - Habitatmodul (Original Mix) 10:19 Roberto Bronco - Home 10:16 Blank & Jones - Flaming June 10:16 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 10:12 Sebastian Davidson - Freefallin' (Tariq Pijning On Sax Mix) 10:09 Meadowlark - Headlights (Original Mix) 10:04 Pnfa - Underground River (Original Mix) 10:00 Lemongrass Feat. Skadi - Habla Mi Corazon (Original Mix) 09:56 Jazzamor - Tonight 09:52 Gary Butcher - Make It Happen 09:47 Stefan Reh, Kara - Unknown 09:42 Sky Sergeant - Orion Trail (Eclipse Mix) (Eclipse Mix) 09:37 Frank Borell - Angels And Angels (In Heaven Mix) 09:32 Blue Pilots Project - Reboot 09:26 Baghira - Streams Of Love 09:21 My Island - Maledives Beach Lounge (Palm Garden Mix) 09:21 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 09:15 Bee Side - Twilight 09:09 Rodney Hunter - Electric Lady (Elektrische Bidde Mix) 09:04 Pet Shop Boys - Invisible 08:59 Norman Doray - Chase The Sun (Musica Feliz Ibiza Beat Remix) 08:59 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 08:54 Five Seasons - Sky (Original Mix) 08:49 Sigh - Kemi Blues 08:44 Merge Of Equals - Don't You Know 08:39 Dejamove - Warmin' 08:32 Fresh Moods - Rhythmbreeze 08:26 Thievery Corporation - Amerimacka 08:21 The Shapeshifters - Lola's Theme (Lola's Loungin' Mix) 08:17 Lemongrass - Mystery 08:17 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 08:12 Schwarz & Funk - -missing Rudi- 08:08 Trillian Miles - Summerdust 08:03 Karnaval Blues - Please Go Slowly 07:58 Aandra, Soul Sista Shakti - Songs Of The Sea 07:58 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 07:52 Jonas Kroon - Her Er Eg (Xerxes Remix) 07:47 Afterlife - Dub In Ya Mind (Beachclub Mix) 07:43 The Diventa Project - Impossible Dream (Ibiza Chillout Mix) 07:35 Nor Elle - Desert Storm 07:29 Ian Pooley - Balance (Ian Pooley Bar Lounge Classics-mix) 07:24 Jens Buchert - Sparkling Mind 07:20 Fancy Vienna - I'll Follow 07:15 Max Melvin - Underneath 07:15 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 07:10 Cafe Americaine - Mango Muffins (Yachtclub Cut) 07:05 Moe Turk - What I Feel Like 07:01 Pat Appleton - Ageless 06:58 Pete Dingon - L-'amour Est Mort 06:58 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 06:53 Yann Dulche Ft. Dinia - Faith 06:48 Gabrielle Chiararo - Million Stars 06:43 Lazy Hammock - Deep Sunday Bliss (Original Mix) 06:40 Lotus - New Day Rising 06:36 Plasma - Spring 06:31 Mirage Of Deep - More Than I Can Bear 06:27 David Tort - Chase The Sun (Musica Feliz Ibiza Beat Remix) 06:22 Cafe Americaine - L Amour 06:21 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 06:18 Luis Hermandez - Thru The Night 06:14 Weathertunes - Champs De Lavande 06:08 Blue Wave - Closet 06:03 Naoki Kenji - Let It Flow (The Jazz Mix) 06:03 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 06:00 Juzhin - Wonderful 05:56 Jens Buchert - Fly With Me 05:50 Nux - Feel The Vibe 05:48 Belloq - De Longpre 05:48 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 05:44 Duo Varial - Mo'jazz 05:39 Schwarz & Funk - Endless Blue 05:32 Christa Vi - Small Way Through (Cosmonaut Grechko Version) 05:28 Villablue Feat. Juanita Grande - If I Could Tell You 05:27 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 05:22 Lux - Indica 05:17 Tanga - Sink 05:11 Chicane Present - Looking Down (Drax & Goodings Room With A View Remix) 05:07 Lemongrass - Spintop 05:01 Dadamnphreaknoizphunk - Powerless (Feat. Virag) 04:57 Index - Noon Hour Blues 04:52 Hotplay - Turn Around (Guitar Del Mar Mix) 04:48 Olivia Broadfield - Don't Cry 04:44 Latin League - La Princessa Del Marte (Original Mix) 04:40 Urban Phunk Society - Siesta 04:34 Superstar - Apres Le Mans 04:30 D. Batistatos - Downtown 04:26 Marcel - Love & Desire (Feat. Jen) 04:21 Blackfish - Hidden Shore 04:13 Desert Dwellers - Point Of Awakening (Androcell Remix) 04:09 Ricky Martini - Noale 04:04 Nightcruzer - Lazy Day 04:00 Direct Lights - Deeper (Original Mix) (Original Mix) 03:58 Enigma - Piano Moods 03:52 Approaching Black - The Night Before 03:52 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 03:46 Chimaera - Fly Away 03:41 Lazy Hammock - Tomorrow Is A New Day (Original Mix) 03:37 Seven Dreams - Seven Dreams 03:33 Poldoore - The Northern Compass 03:33 Jingle - Radiosun.ro 03:30 Darwins Dream - Lonely By The Beach - Cafe And Sand Edit 03:24 Seductive Souls - Love Theme From Seductive Souls 03:18 Aqualise - Coco Summer 03:13 Weathertunes - Parfum De La Provence 03:08 Crproject Feat Leila Pantel - Energia 03:04 Castlebed - Cold Moves (Original Mix) 02:58 Boot Cut Rockers Feat. Mica Wanner - Sunflowers 02:54 Minty-'s Style - See The Light 02:51 Olegy - Slow Confusion 02:47 Avalounge - Confessions On A Lounge Flow (Smooth Sax Edit) 02:36 Bobby Deep - An Onion Can Make People Cry 02:32 Sunbeams - Uko 02:28 Demetrio Da Soto - Marrakech - Original Mix 02:26 Luke B - Matucu (Original Mix) 02:20 Dj Riquo & Dj Bertrum - Absolutely Captivating 02:16 Sweatson Klank - Brilliant Blue 02:13 Five Seasons - Une Rose 02:08 Dj Maretimo - Sun Addicted (Pure Beach Cut) 02:02 Afterlife - Falling 01:57 Stonebridge Ft. Therese - Put 'Em High (Claes Rosen Lounge Mix) 01:52 Fight The Feeling - Pnfa 01:48 Carsten Gronholz - Do What You Like 01:42 Sunyata Project - Sudden Moments (Extended Mix) 01:37 Deja-Move - Warmin' 01:33 Velvet Dreamer - Your Game My Love (Five Seasons Remix) 01:27 Midnight Stroll - Nux 01:23 Eddie Silverton - Untouched Beach 01:17 Potlatch - Poll To Poll 01:09 Deep-dive-corp. - Borderland 01:05 Luke - Heaven's On Fire 01:00 Ian Pooley - Since Then 00:56 Asheni - Butterfly (Original Mix) 00:52 Cous - Careless Whisper (Original Mix) 00:46 Jean Mare - Everything (Original Mix) 00:41 Mathieu & Florzinho - Echotales 00:37 3 Balearos - Summer Breezin 00:32 Cullera - Sun And Sea (Balearic Breeze Chillout Mix) 00:28 White Noize Project - Good Time (Sungroove Mix) 00:23 Emili Birdy - What You Gonna Do (Soul 2 Sax Mix) 00:20 Dc Lounge Theme - Vienna Dc 00:16 Lemongrass - Riddle (Feat. Jane Maximova) 00:12 Blank & Jones - I Love You (Late Night Mix) 00:07 Sine - Smooth Relaxation 00:02 Middle - Warm Sunset (Original Mix)
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medicinemane · 1 year
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Dancing in silence, the orchestra late
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polarishat · 2 years
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Clean bandit symphony amazon
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In November 2021 the song, performed by Strictly Come Dancing's house band, was used on the show to accompany a dance by Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice. It was covered by BAFTA-winning actress Suranne Jones, accompanied by a choir from the Youth Theatre group of the Half Moon Theatre, for a 2019 Children in Need charity album titled Got It Covered. They were broadcast on BBC One during December 2017. Notable uses Īn edited version of the track was used in the BBC's Christmas 2017 short film and idents celebrating spending Christmas together.
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On August 14, 2017, a live performance of the song at the Teen Choice Awards 2017 event was uploaded on the band's YouTube channel. Ī performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon followed on 21 April 2017. Live performances Ĭlean Bandit and Larsson gave their first live performance of the song on The Voice UK on 18 March 2017. Īs of November 2021, the video has over 1.1 billion views on YouTube. The conductor is played by Michael Akinsulire and his deceased partner / boyfriend is played by Josias Bertrand. The video ends with him looking out into the crowd while his deceased partner looks on proudly. By the end, he has composed a beautiful symphony in his late partner's memory. He also begins to write music again as we find out he is a composer and his late partner was his inspiration. The surviving partner paints the departed partner's bike white all-over and fixes it somewhere nearby where the fatality happened. Subsequent scenes show the man and his partner engaged in various activities, intercalated by scenes of the surviving partner grieving and visiting the spots they used to go together.
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At the hall, during a hiatus, Zara's gaze lowers as sirens penetrate silence from faraway at the static crash cordon aftermath observed by an aerial view. The video begins at dusk near Rotherhithe, accompanied to sound of an orchestra tuning up meanwhile a young man packs away his Mac and briskly rides away, with no lighting, on a pedal bike. The conductor leads the symphony orchestra that are part of." Singer Zara Larsson has spoken about why they wanted to specifically feature a black gay couple in the video and she has said that she finds it ridiculous that people continue to illogically read the couple as being brothers or father and son. The directors have explained in the "Making of" video and in interviews that the video features a gay couple and "tells the tragic story of a conductor who loses his boyfriend in a bicycle crash. It was directed by Clean Bandit's members Grace Chatto and Jack Patterson and features Larsson in a glittery dress backed by Clean Bandit and an orchestra while an emotional story plays out. The song's music video was premiered the same day the song was released, on 17 March 2017.
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lilithissad · 2 years
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𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴;
You are the flowers that grow in my head; the wildflowers of memories that submit this lonely lost child into a place of honest laughter. Masks don’t exist in the garden, and tears are only used to water life into ours. 
We sobbed throughout the week, extending our times together as if the world would end and there would be none of us left. It was escapism at its finest; no matter how tired or emotionally drained we all were every text and phone call was answered. Speeding down roads to farther streets, exploring places we barely knew all to forget the fact that soon it’ll all be gone. 
We were reckless kids that rejected reality, living in the shadows of the wildflowers that bloom in our heads. We know it’s not healthy, and neither are any of us. But we inhale fumes to last our tired bodies through the inconvenient nights. The fire burns our eyes, stinging the tears and involuntary emotions away for a moment and letting the noise in the background take over. 
It was a tradition; our feet found themselves on the same hill after every long day. Smoke pours out of our lungs with every dry hit and cough and finally, the laughter spills out, letting the pain of the day go even if it's for the moments the fire crackles and pops. When the silence sets, the sky becomes our haven. We loved a world that hated us, staring into the scenery that felt like it could only be there for us to see. We praised the good weather and loved the rain that follows after. Under the same set of stars, the polluted sky wouldn’t stop us from these feelings—the terrifying feeling of change.
We drink lukewarm beer with our smoke and dance to songs we used to listen to alone. Sometimes we’d scream the words out, letting the lyrics float their way into our hearts as some would sit there and stay in the dark forest of our thoughts. 
If the world gave me the time, I would’ve gathered a million stars in the sky worth every emotion they made me feel. As if that would be enough to thank all of them for the times we had—it wouldn’t and I know that. As if the world was that fucking generous. 
I hadn’t known them for that long, some I’d only met a few weeks prior, but I know that I owed more to our group of rebels without a cause and in ways they would never understand. I would give up everything for them. Sacrifice the world for their lives. I can only think of how to repay them for all they did in the time I had left. It wasn’t like I’d never see them again, but a few months might as well be years. 
I hear the laughter parading through the memories in my head, the only times I could smile without fear. I can see the walks home, dripping wet from the pour. I see her smile as she passes me a lighter, waiting as we corrupt our young bodies with drugs we shouldn’t be taking. But we do, counting down for each other as we suck away the little remaining particles of our lives. We always smoke together. We did almost everything together. Black-stained tears glide down her glowing face as the feeling of sorrow withers my heart. I see the ghost of a smile painted on her sorrowed expression and the times of chaos circle back to me like waves atop sand. 
She turned back to look at me, her lips moving upwards into a grin as we pass by narrow walkways surrounding people with no matter to us. I knew that smile, all too well in fact. Strutting down hallways and sidewalks as if we ourselves were amongst the gods. For a few moments in time, I lived in it; her and I taking over the world. 
I feel the warm hugs, his arm over my shoulder like a big brother protecting his sister as we step down the sidewalks late at night. Melodies echoed through glass planes and dark walls–an orchestra of emotions flooded into my head all at the same time. It’d only been curiosity that lead me to this point. I would sit there for hours and listen to him play. I could likely say the same about the boy in awe that sat beside me. I never knew I could feel so much simply with a few notes. Tears flow down my face endlessly as the sound drifts and become all I know.
I feel the emotions he pours out when we’re alone, speaking on things I can only listen to; things I will never feel the same as he did. I can see his light-hearted smile as he crosses the fields to see us, holding out kindness in his hands. Gentle, like soft piano tones against his fingertips. His kindness was everything to me. 
I hold their hand down the streets, manically laughing as we watch the life around us. They scream corny love songs, blasted through shitty laptop speakers. I can’t lie, I join them; dancing through our own cruel summer. They’ve been around me the longest, and know every little thing about me. My grip on anxiety faded into their infectious laugh in seconds. There wasn’t anything to worry about around them, just pure happiness. 
It worried me that would never be able to hold them when they cry. Hearing their heart-breaking sobs will always be better than not having them at all. That was the only thing I feared around them; that they wouldn’t need me anymore. That their life would be gone in a flash and wouldn’t be there to stop it. 
I didn’t know who he was at first, named only a few times in my life. He was a stranger to me months before; a name only brought up by a girl that broke my heart. Honestly, I thought I would’ve hated him, the mere syllable of his name would break my heart in seconds. I regret those feelings, even to this day. I never thought he’d be any more than the guy she chose instead of me. But he was too sweet to be that person, too soft to even hate. I’ll hate that part of my head, wished we’d been friends much sooner. 
Speeding through stop signs without a care in the world–music blasting through our ears as his car shakes uncontrollably stopped at a light. He gives the most thoughtful hugs and the warmest smiles. There hadn’t ever been so much in myself in someone else before; he was comfort of the purest kind. His happiness mattered more than my selfish inconvenient emotions. My best friend, even if I’m not to him.
We chased lights down different roads, lonely ones. Speeding through streets and burning so intensely like wildfire. Our merciless world crushed under the palms of those who’ve only brought pain. But that’s what attracted me to them, their wildfires. 
There were good people in the world and I hated it so much I couldn’t see it. I continued to hate the world around me and the people that surrounded it. I wasted my life, trapped within closed corners in my mind. I’d finally found life itself within people I never thought would notice me; within those who I thought wouldn’t waste their time with someone like me. Before I knew it, it was too late. Leaving them was inevitable, and our summer dreams were crushed. Plans were only mere daydreams, letting our imaginations get the best of our summer beast.
It was just that, all the things I never knew I needed. It was the steeped tea, broken pipes, sudden empty thoughts, pianos, and random adventures; speeding through stop signs, bad beer, smudged liner, and playful flirting. This group of people, the gang of misfits, outcasts with no place to call home–was all I never knew I needed. A place to belong–something that feels like home. We'll be alright. Change; as terrifying as it sounds, isn’t all that bad. We cry over what we aren’t used to, things we take for granted, or the minutes that countdown before loss. These are the times we’ll hold when our memories fade, the wildflowers of memories we cherish. 
It's the end of an era. Whether or not the daydreams we share become a part of our reality or we fall out of each other’s minds in a few months; nothing is completely forgotten. You’ve never actually forgotten somebody, it just takes a bit more time to remember. The stories we’ll tell of the lives we once lived will forever stay engraved, saturated within our subconscious till the end. I could only hope that I’d forever be sewn into your minds, even if it's simply by memory. I hope to be the wildflower you’ll never forget.
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