#he has such an immaculate vibe in the glory

[owladaptive]

Headcanons of your latest art, plz

The cool and funny thing about the addams au is that ducks don't need to change their core personalities in the slightest in order to fit. They're all just kinda Like That already.

They're just Like That already!!

They already get up to wacky, dangerous shenanigans. And other people not in the family look at it and go "that's a whole lotta weird". Individually, none of them are exactly normal.

All you really need to do to addamsify them is to take the most out of the ordinary aspects of each of their personalities and dial the notch up about..... 60 degrees.

Below are ramblings about their characters. Enjoy.

Scrooge is of course the patriarch of the family, an adventure capitalist and the richest duck in the world who loves dancing with danger. He's basically the most unchanged out of them all. But this Scrooge is... twisted. He covets the thrill of almost dying with the same fervor he covets gold. And he proudly, nay lovingly, exposes his kids to anything that brings them near the glory of death with reverence. The "other bin" is a personal museum of deadly monsters, fatal curses and dead things that he proudly lets his beloved family (and hapless guests) admire at their leisure. And he's always delighted to teach his kids anything they want to know. How to swordfight? Of course m'dear child, anything you ask. Here's the correct way you load gunpowder into a musket. Here's a fun way to give your wind-up clock bomb a little extra oomph. Want a turn in the iron maiden?

Bentina was a whole different kind of spy. I mean she was an assassin. In fact she was hired to string up Scrooge when they first met, instead he bought her off and had her dispose of her original contractor. They became friends of course, Scrooge admiring her line of work and Beakley begrudgingly respecting the sheer outrageousness of his admiration. And since coming back to his house to raise Webby (his family-oriented nature wore her cold exterior down over time until she caught the love bug) she vibes as his pseudo-sister once more.

Yeah Duckworth is still a ghost. He's been there since he died in his sleep and the whole family got together to drag his fading soul from the river styx and shove him back into the physical plain. (They worship the escape of death, that doesn't mean they want to be separated!) He doesn't say much. They love him still.

Webby is literally the same character. Only of course, her already-warped perspective on life after growing up in the shadow of Scrooge McDuck is warped all the more. To Webby, fighting, grappling, shooting arrows, firing (real) guns and stalking your friends through the shadows of night to scare the light from their eyes for a second isn't just super fun.... it's affection!! She's a creature of the night. She'll give her family so many hugs. She'll watch her loved ones while they sleep. She'll strangle them until they pass out (affectionate), she'll protect them from anything. She's everything the rest of the world is just ken.

Della is presumed dead, and nobody is particularly mad about it. This is a family that walks closely with death, after all, so while their love for each other is so strong that even a decade after she was gone they still mourn her, they would never cut her memory from their lives. Her portraits hang everywhere, her room kept immaculately covered in dust and cobwebs just the way she'd want it to be. They bring her up in conversations as though she'd just gone out to buy milk or something. And every single year, on the anniversary of her death, they hold a seance to attempt to summon her back (They already tried the thing they did with Duckworth). It never works, and Scrooge and Donald hug and cry and reminisce together and then life goes back to normal.

Donald is a faithful, doting and affectionate dad to his nephews and has told them stories of their mother since they were hatched. He loved his sister so very much, but unlike canon never blamed Scrooge for her death. Yes, she likely died in space, her spacesuit smashed open and her body freeze dried in the soul-sucking endless darkness all because Scrooge lovingly gifted her something that would put her life at risk. But she's only dead!! Nothing to estrange yourself from your family over. Donald and Scrooge are instead brought closer through shared loss. Donald in this universe is still a sailor, and is entranced by the glory of the deathly, stormy seas and all the creepy, slimy creatures within it. His anger is surprisingly mostly tamed by way of catharsis (fishing and killing the fish and cooking the fish with far too much axe chopping and knife brandishing than needed). That doesn't mean he won't lose it if someone insults his kids, his uncle or his dead sister.

Huey is a sweet, smart, helpful boy with a penchant for biting that's followed him since he first grew teeth and a rage-filled alter ego that's switched on a hair-thin trigger. When he's not flying into a mad frenzy like a gremlin ("you've got such a healthy temper dear boy, make sure to sharpen your teeth before bed now!") he's deconstructing anything he can get his hands on and building them back better and more explosive. Don't be alarmed by his muzzle - his brothers sometimes force it on him when they get tired of his biting (it makes for an unfair fight) and sometimes they kindly ask if he wants them to put it on for him when they notice he's being a little nonverbal or cranky. He loves them a lot and gives them lots of hugs.

Dewey is a melodramatic little weirdo who recites poetry and Shakespeare, adores making a spectacle of himself and hates being one of a set of three. Quite like his canon self! Unlike his canon self, he copes with feelings of resentment and middle child syndrome by way of bloodlust. It's all in good fun, of course. What child doesn't try to smother their siblings in their sleep now and then? Why, back when Scrooge was a lad, his sisters once dangled him in the path of a speeding train while he was sleeping! When his murderous urges take a backseat and he gives the booby traps a rest, Dewey's a fun-loving kid who would go to much more extreme measures to get take vicious revenge on anyone who would make any three of his siblings cry. His dream is to die suffocating in a vacuum like his mother did.

Louie, having grown up in the mansion instead of a houseboat, is no stranger to the wonders of luxury. Luckily for him, the Scrooge of this universe is wrapped around the collective pinky finger of his wee ones, and is much more doting than canon. Also luckily for Louie is that McDuck manor is built on an expansive graveyard where he can look for jewellery, trinkets and gold fillings to his greedy heart's content. When he runs out of graves at the mansion (he always buries them back, don't worry) there are always other graveyards in town. And other towns, too. And true, Louie's been dragged back home by the police every now and then, so he's had to get sneaky about his thrifting ways. He can pickpocket like a pro, filching off anybody who isn't Scrooge (who would always notice) and snatching any shiny thing that isn't nailed down and can fit in his pocket when he's out of the house. He's sneaky alright, but also sensitive. Don't touch his stuff or he'll stab you. "did the little dragon add anything to his hoard today?"

#addams au #ducktales #answer #dt17 #scrooge mcduck #dewey duck #huey duck #louie duck #webby vanderquack #bentina beakley #della duck

[pyrrhiccomedy]

ooo I love a Heretic lore drop! loving Bastian’s very christian take on the Hours situation, I’m assuming the order of angels the Sun In Rags fucked up became to literal devils from the bible. Question tho! The name Pyre-Hawk has come up before but they’ve never really gotten a lore post or any idea of what their vibe is. It sounds like a metaphysical orgy but what is their deal?

I love the Pyre-Hawk. He/she/it (gender-wise it is truly one of the 'anything goes' great powers; pick whatever pronoun you prefer. It presents itself as a 30-storey high flaming bird that is 100% always having the most fantastic time imaginable) is so not Bastian's vibe so he hasn't fucked with it much, but of all the Hours, it is unquestionably the most fun at parties. (Bastian's birthday party energy is just rotten.)

Orgiastic? Potentially. There is nothing inherently carnal about the Pyre-Hawk's exquisite energies, but you absolutely will see Pyre-Hawk cultists get carried away and fall into wild bacchanalia. But that's because getting carried away is what the Pyre-Hawk is all about! The Pyre-Hawk attracts worshippers who believes that experiencing the divine should be an overwhelming experience of liberation and joy. Dance! Sing! Scream! Speak in tongues! Throw yourself around the room! Make love! Handle snakes! See visions of a great light so radiant and compelling that the purest, truest expression of your soul is to throw yourself into it and become a part of it! Embrace abandon and love, throw aside ego and restraint! To approach the divine is to hurl yourself, ecstatically and with full consent, into self-annihilation! Drink from the cup of fire, drain it down to the dregs, and be free!

Many religions have ecstatic traditions, and Pyre-Hawk veneration can be found in nearly all of them. As 'a great burning winged figure that appears suddenly in the sky and fills everyone who sees it with stunning and forceful joy,' appearances of the Pyre-Hawk in the Christian West are almost always interpreted as visions of the Holy Spirit, or some congratulatory angel.

Bastian believes the Pyre-Hawk is the mantle of the Sun-in-Glory itself; the radiance of Lucifer, separated from Him in the fall. Outside of his little conclave of Emperor-Wolf venerators, no one really knows what the Pyre-Hawk is, or where it came from. It sits the Sixth Throne, on the shore of Candle Lake, which used to belong to the Wakefire, before the Vigilant Hour was slain by the Rending during the War of Intercalation. One day, without any warning whatsoever, the Pyre-Hawk erupted from the lake in all its burning radiance, flew straight to the empty Throne, and began binding it to itself.

Ordinarily some wholly unknown power laying claim to a vacant Throne might meet with some opposition, or at least interrogation; but the Pyre-Hawk was such a completely excellent vibe that pretty much the entire rest of the Calendar decided that this was a best-case scenario, and let it happen uncontested. The one reservation to be had about the Pyre-Hawk's ascension is that this immaculate bird appears to have no interest in maintaining the Wakefire's watch over the Emperor-Wolf's prison (also on Candle Lake). The Pyre-Hawk is not a cop, and has no use for cops, or even the concepts of 'crime' and 'punishment.'

The Pyre-Hawk can be petitioned through Lamp (vision, luck, foresight, knowledge, madness and insight) and Flame (the supremacy of personal will, the refusal to be limited, creative impulse, & the desire to seize the right to reshape the world).

#heretic #Hours Bastian will never petition because his vibes are way too rank #dice matters

[talenlee]

Story Pile: You Were Never Really Here

It’s entirely possible for an immaculate vibe to be of something that is, itself, rancid.

Content Warning: This is a movie with a lot of suicidal ideation and the sexual endangerment of children and teenagers. You don’t see anything but it’s absolutely part of the plot. I’m also going to describe things that involve the later part of the plot. If all you want to know is ‘did I like it,’ I liked it a lot and I consider it a very good example of a very specific kind of media I like.

You Were Never Really Here is a thriller movie with the plot of a reasonably brisk episode of Bounty Hunter. It’s a Law And Order SVU episode from an alternate universe. It is Hotline Miami real person fic. It is Drive’s uncool cousin.

It’s the story of a guy. This guy, right? His name is Joe. Joe has had a rough life. Joe’s life has featured an abusive dad, which wasn’t fun, and military service, which wasn’t fun, and traumatising events which were also not fun until he wound up in the New York of a 1980s exploitation crime film, fastforwarded to the 2010s. In this fantasy New York, there’s a network of elite child rapists who are entrenched in the police and the government. Joe finds out about this when he’s rescuing one of them, and then The Police come to steal the child back.

It’s a very realistic movie.

Telling you the narrative of this movie from beginning to end, it’s so brief. Joe is hired to rescue a child, he rescues the child, the child is kidnapped off him, he retreats to recover and finds his mother has been murdered, inters her body and considers suicide, but instead decides to go and rescue the child he originally rescued. He succeeds. This is a Jason Staham vehicle from the 2000s with a really long credit sequence to both fit in the licensed song in full and just barely scrape 76 minutes of run time. This is a knuckles-out action movie plot. It is a three-level indie game with screenshake and chunky, loud, combat sounds.

All that though, it’s executed with the grinding, painful pathos of a movie about reading a serial killer’s diary. Ambient sound is oppressive in this this space, where dialogue is overwhelmed by the sound of the soundtrack or just the haunting howl of the city Joe’s in. The sensory overload of presence in the city is then contrasted with the sensory deprivation of how it represents violence. The violence you see in this movie is grimy and unpleasant and close and damp. It’s sticky. This is a movie where a man fights with a ball hammer in the narrow corridors of a New York apartment house against evil sex criminals and their guards, and you almost never see a single moment of fuck yeah.

Like, you know what I mean right? If I mention Drive and you’ve seen it, if I say fuck yeah, you’re visualising the same moment right? The driver holding the claw hammer above his head? That moment. That moment that underscores that yes, this is grimy and violent but here there is a moment where you see the temptation of what the violence offers you. Not just the threat of it, but the glory. The fantastic hope that if I wield this, would I feel like this?

Not here.

Not in You Were Never Really Here.

No, this is a movie where the violence is almost all told through its aftermath. Moments of brutal violence are followed by the long, heaving stillness of seeing a prone body on the ground, the point of impact just out of sight, spreading pools of blood that flow slow, slower than you think, and it’s all you have to look at, while old timey music skips a little. There’s a sequence where a dying man bleeds out slowly whole holding the hand of the man who just killed him, singing a song he doesn’t quite understand as he loses control of his body and it aches every moment.

Joe hurts. Watching Joe hurts. Remembering how Joe hurts hurts. Joe doesn’t like hurting people, he doesn’t seem to be a sadist, or have a want for the violence that’s in him. It’s more like there’s an emptiness to Joe, something that says well, I can’t think of anything else to do, so violence is the only answer that might work. It’s the thing that makes sense. You can see it in how Joe employs violence on others, but importantly, how Joe plays violently with himself.

See, Joe plays with suicide in this movie, and I do mean plays. He toys with a knife fit to drop it into his throat and kill himself. He self-asphyxiates to calm himself down, to grapple with memories of abuse. He fantasises – vividly and actively – about dying.

This is an experience that suicide – its experience, and its potential promise to particular moments of emotional anguish –  bites at the edges of your mind for the rest of your life.

The final suicidal fantasy Joe has is particularly important, to me, for the tenor of the movie. It’s after he’s under stress, it’s once a lot of things have gotten better, it’s when he is, for lack of a better term, safe. And yet, even there, he still considers it, he considers the fantasy of just sticking the gun under his chin and blowing his head open from top to bottom, then slump onto the surface of the table…

… and nobody notices…

… and nobody cares.

That’s the purest part of the fantasy.

He’s not just fantasising about suicide, he’s not just fantasising about dying, he’s fantasising about in the context of it then not causing anyone else distress. It doesn’t feel like Joe is hoping for a death that even then, nobody cares about, it feels like the thing that keeps Joe on this side of dying is that he doesn’t want to cause harm or distress in the doing. Joe doesn’t want to exist, and the fantasy he indulges with the knife and the bags is what if it was convenient to just stop existing?

When he’s roused – he’s still got his head on the table. He’s playing at being dead. He’s got his head down, he’s enjoying that stillness, the fantasy of not being alive any more for that moment.

Check it out on PRESS.exe to see it with images and links!

#Media #Story Pile

[rayalahon]

season 7 is the quintessential hermitcraft season to watch

Admitedly, i’m not THAT old of a hermitcraft fan, ive only been around since s6 and will vanquish the Mic of Opinions to fans whove been around for longer, but what i CAN say to all the newbie hermitfans who want to get into the community is this:

watch season 7.

bc while hc s6 is regarded as the ‘turning point’ for hermitcraft and holds a lot of influence on the following seasons, its a fairly daunting task to backwatch and experience it in all of its glory and chaos. Its called the Season Sixfinity for a reason; it lasted nearly twice as long as any season before it, and is just not accessible for everyone. Scar alone has about ~100hrs worth of content on that season. What more if newcomers wanna backwatch the series of other hermits like xisuma, grian, falsie, etc?

And thats not even considering the fact that historical context is very relevant for this time. Season 6 was in 2018— the minecraft renaissance era was in full swing, and the minecraft community as a whole was going through a lot of changes. Its just a lot of stuff to take in for a new viewer. (in particular: new gen dsmp fans who are alr pretty burnt out by the concept of Multiple Povs I Am Obliged to Watch, and is a common reason why so many of them migrated to hermitcraft recently in the first place)

But season 7? It has the perfect balance of everything. If you comb through the hermits’ channels youd find that for most of them, their most viewed hermitcraft videos IS their s7ep1 bc thats simply how hype the season was!! Minecraft was on a good track of evolving as a game. The hermits were left flushed from the previous season and eager to ramp up their Minecrafting AND Youtubing skills.. Season 6′s main problem—immature discourse during server-wide events—began largely dying down and has become pretty much extinct by the time s8 came around (partly because grian’s clout began to bleed over to the other hermits and by the end of the season so many of them have finally, finally gotten the recognition they deserve and have passed/are so close to passing the 1mil milestone.) 

Season 7 was The Return of hermits like etho and xb. keralis and bdubs’ first full season in a while. wels’s return from burnout— it tied up Old and New hermitcraft with a neat little bow.  The vibes were simply IMMACULATE. 

Some ppl didnt even know that season 7 is where winged!grian became a thing. [EDIT: I meant the pesky bird!variety, he's been drawn w elytra since season 6 but s7 was when he began to have floofy feathery wings :>] or that this was when scar and grian really began becoming buddies (desert duo enthusiasts know your history!!) When mumbo began letting loose his loony side. stress’s pink cardigan becomes magenta, bdubs gains his anime eyes, and joe gets his bright neon green hair. It has a fair amount of historical events of its own: the Button. the mayoral race. the Turf War. the HCBBS. the boomers. the keralis secret-base games. the first hermits helping hermits stream. the first inclusion of proximity chat. the armor stand book. Decked Out and Amogus (tango popped off this season fr!!) and the BUILDS oh my god the world was so built up this season it was insane!! the absolute madlads on this server man.

and then season 8 is easy to continue on from there. lasted very short which is good for catching up on and the hermits whose s7 DID suffer (doc, who had his little one and jevin who also went through burnout) get their redemption in s8. the addition of gem and pearl. which then brings us to hc s9 where the hermits are on top of the world and going back to their roots, and being honest w themselves about what kind of balance they want to achieve w their content (mumbo, being currently on break and taking time to recharge and we love him loads <3).

The whitelist is now at top notch quality, full capacity. Theyre on top of the world, and theyve decided to take it chill for the while before returning to your daily schedule of hermitcraft shenanigans with a fresher outlook on life. A truly inspiring and satisfying emotional journey. 

tldr; dont know where to start? Start from s7. 

#hermitcraft #hermitcraft season 7 #hermitcraft season seven #hc s7 #hermitcraft s7 #hermitcraft season 8 #hermitcraft season nine #hc s9 #why r there so many formats for tagging hermitcraft seasons jesus christ #hermitblr #new hc fans pspspspspspssspsp come here #season 7 my beloved #i refuse to let your importance be forgotten!!! #grian #goodtimeswithscar #ijevin #tangotek #tango tek #ethoslab #keralis #BDoubleO100 #bdubs #xBCrafted #welsknight #docm77 #mumbo jumbo #stressmonster101 #ZombieCleo #joe hills #xisuma

[disfordevineaux]

Hello ! So if you finished watching season 4, could you share your opinion on it ? Did it meet your expectations ? Was the ending satisfying ?

HELLO! Yes, yes I have. Pretty much the second it came out I was watching it. I have pretty much been in a gif making coma for the last 3 days since its release, and I think the fact it's over has now just hit me.

I really liked s4. It was rushed, yes, but that's understandable considering the context. S4 was clearly not the initial plan. Not many Netflix aminated TV shows reach S6 or past that, so I have a feeling they were going for 6 seasons but had to cut it short. It's better than it getting officially cancelled. Which is most likely why season 4 was full to the brim with actions and character development. So I'm not mad at the quick end but I would have loved at least one more season to really flesh the development and plot points. No more so than the Devineaux development in regards to the new Julia and Chase dynamic.

Before I go into that I want to address the solo Chase-ness that was fantastic. Chase got his ass kicked like 5 times this season, once by a chair.

And was clocked by a frisbee for good measure too.

Oh, and landed on his car another time. The pain in his face... I- help this man.

But he got to kick some of his own asses this season too ofc.

Anyway, Chase really stood up and said ‘I am a Himbo’ this season and it filled me with joy. Just look. veryveryveryvery handsome as always I approve of this message.

Enough said.

Let me get on with the big thing I want to talk about. The Chase and Julia dynamic reinvention.

If I’m honest, it did feel quick, due to time constraints, but not out of nowhere. My expectations for Chase and his growth was blown out of the water. I was incredibly impressed with his physical display for admiration for Julia in the end. His way of officially apologising, (as someone said on a rb of one of my posts), Chase is a person of action and his grand gesture of giving Julia the spotlight, as well as a few glowing compliments and a callback and twist of what he used to say, was a great twist on just an ordinary apology. I adore how you can clearly see that he means it.

It was monumental, if a subtle display of respect that clearly struck a positive chord with Julia, and only could have with Julia. Just look at her face in the gif above, PURE. She clearly seemed as though she had decided to forgive his past transgressions after his help in her rescue.

Most definitely helping in her decision to return to ACME to be his partner again. Know she isn't alone and that Chase truly has changed for the best. I love how Chase was complete rapture that she had decided to return, even going for a hug. The guy really went from S1 striving to be stoic all the time, to allow himself to wear his emotions and expressiveness on his sleeves. Just, good vibes right there. It felt like the s4 Chase we got was always there but hidden by his ego and by himself deliberately.

Wholesome stuff my guys. My heart was FULL. I tell you. FULL. I slapped my hand to my chest in awe. He even asked: ‘But your academic career?’ and was happy to be finally able to hunt down real criminals with her, as, and I quote, a family. Adorable.

Don’t even get me started on the fist-bumping. I would throw myself into a pit of fire for them.

And those inside jokes? I could be here all day. Their dynamic now, if not nearly displayed a much as I wanted, was nourishing to my soul. Just LOOK

And that is just one scene.

After the first time jump of 3 weeks, they appeared to be finally enjoying one another company, a true team. Then after 6 months, it seemed even more natural, playful too. They trusted each other's abilities and opinions. Sharing their belief that Carmen was good as well as supporting one another as good partners should, especially Chase. They look so comfortable in each other presence it was immaculate.

They appeared content, and I loved that most of all. Chase was genuinely interested in Julia’s explanations and it was heartwarming to see. Julia appreciating it too. Watching them interact as close friends now was such a treat. The last 2-3 episodes, in particular, Chase even asking her to continue and adding onto her historical divulges. Awesome stuff. And Julia running into Carmen just as she was about to punch Chase’s lights out was pretty sweet too, as well as her getting one in on Cleo, GO GIRL GO. Julia this season had so much more depth. Loved it.

Also, finding out Chase’s name is in fact a self-given nickname was right on theme with the show. So many people with real names we will never know.

Back onto the expressions and his enthusiasm. I mean LOOK. This dude- AND THE CAT JACKET RETURNS!

He just loves his wordplay.

Anyway- The effect Julia had on him was profound and just fantastic to see. He wanted to be better. Chase will no doubt rub off some of his own flairs onto her in due time I'm sure.

Chase working with carmen and the small interaction we got were great as well. Still a little rigid, but full of intrigue.

Chase wanting to go and save Julia, because he earlier felt as though this was all his fault, was precious too. And the whole Tigress and Chase fight scene was amazing. He trapped her inside a casket, iconic. And Chase showing up as Julia is like ‘omfg Devineaux is that you?’ As he just all suave says ‘fashionably late as always’ and pushes his messy hair back like HOOO BOY you lovely little stinker I would die for you. He was ready to fight 1 v 3. No one has the same determination as a Devineaux. For an ordinary guy, he is really able to keep up with the best, if not behind a tad I MEAN UM. DUDE SLID DOWN THE STAIRS AND JUMPED RIGHT INTO A HOLE. No second thought THEN SWUNG HIMSELF OVER NO PROB? Who is this athlete of a man?

Like my man, you are not graceful at all please let carmen do it.

In the end, he really did save them both which was vindication, Speaking of vindication:

Okay, I really went off track and hardly said what I wanted to say. I got carried away with gifs. I think I said what I wanted to say? Right now my brain is still mushie.

To finalize: I was content with the end. Zack and Ivy joining ACME as Carmen has some time to go truly find herself was an interesting idea. The 2 year time jump at the end left a few holes but hey, I’ll take it. Shadowsan returning to his brother was so nice to see, and Player all alone in the restaurant kinda broke my heart. The entire storyline with Chase and Julia was absolutely, revolutionary. It was what we deserved, what they deserved.

I think my love for Chase really made me live for the scenes and moments we got of him alone and interacting with others. Season 3-4 really were his crowning glory. I'm proud of him.

Also, I want to mention the Zack/Turtle scene because I nearly died when I saw it the way the turtle wiggles and the way he rUNS I- okay goodbye.

#season4spoilers #im so sorry this post was so long and i dont think i even said what i wanted but oh well #i have so many inboxes to answer i #i do love em tho keep em coming #i am still in my gif coma as u can see by the 50000 gifs skjskdjs #sorry sorry #chase devineaux #carmen sandiego #julia argent #carmen sandiego netflix #carmen sandiego 2019 #disfordevineaux #disfordevineaux ask #cs chase devineaux #cs julia argent #chasulia #platonic and romantic #pick your poison

[hyperfixatinglove]

Kyle for the ask game! 💕💕💕

The last one was bit long already without my Kyle so here's long version for @sunshine-ships

What made me like them

Similarly to Deacon, how relatable he is. Kyle tends to say things anyone would in his situation, but not everyone would go to the lengths he goes to help others, on top of the danger to his own life.

He's also somewhat pacifistic in nature, he only ever kills in self-defense (unless you do every challenge in game, but in main story he does) which is rare in zombie genre as a whole, especially in video games.

Kyle does share this search for danger - if player chooses to do the additional night challenges - but in contrast to say Frank or mentioned Joel, Kyle gets into danger in order to help someone else, often as byproduct of him trying to help in first place.

He's just badass too, but not purely in combat, his strength lies in his agility, how good he is at parkouring and evading the enemy. This sets him apart from other protagonists who usually use just raw power to cut through anything (like Joel, Lee, Frank etc) and it's refreshing to see and as much as I love a strong man as romantic partner, there is certain allure to a man who relies on other kind of skill and talking to do the job.

His voice is so soothing, I just instantly trust guys who's voices I like, I'm sorry.

Also he's cute.

There's so many reasons I love him & what made me like him but some I've already discussed in detail many times or shown, like his interactions with children.

-My favorite thing about them

His compassion.

It's the force that drives him forward, this need to help anyone he can in any way that he can.

I know I put emphasis on the fact he's legend in Harran, but for me, the legendary thing about him is his compassion. Rarely a zombie genre protagonist is this close to outright saint, as close as you can get with this. I'd argue he is the closest to a saint you can be in the setting without dying. But even saints have limits, he's no pushover.

-Nicknames we have for each other

Kyle calls me ace. Because I like it and it validates me and he would say it. It sounds so Kyle thing to call someone he adores as such.

I call him braveheart, loverboy or Kyley if I want to tease him. The last one is rare for me to use and it's relatively new.

-A headcanon of our relationship

I think we'd have this calm and steady relationship, sort of like a haven in midst of chaos we live in, a resemblance of normalcy.

We aren't that disgustingly sappy, affectionate couple but you can tell we completely adore one another from the way we put each other first, through the looks we give and the vibe we just radiate.

Many of my ships involve some aspect of saving the other from pain or trauma or outright worship of another, putting them on pedestal. This ship of mine lacks that aspect and in my own opinion is one of the most grounded ones I have. We might start as emotional support to each other, reeling dangerously close to living emotional clutch, especially for me,but in the end I think we're one of the most stable couples my mind has conjured. We share same ideals, similar morals.

Kyle with me is just one of my favorites. Even if I don't talk about Kyle as much as say, Frankie or Blazkowicz.

-My favorite image of them

This purely because I get to see him in 3rd view glory in almost full-body shot. Whoever made this & how has my eternal thanks.

This is just chef kiss worthy of a photo also I don't think he even has this outfit but he looks so good in that orange. There he also goes being strategist.

This promo/official picture of him my beloved. I guess it's the stance he has or it's like one of only official pictures there is of him from the front this clearly, as others are usually from the back or incredibly far away to focus or has multiples of him because co-op.

Lastly this one. I love the angle this is shot from, like the viewer is looking him bit upwards. The stance and outfit are immaculate (though the outfit in game is missing the scarf around his mouth).

-Anything else!

I'll spite canon if Dying Light 2 does canonize his fate in anyway I don't like.

I tend to forget he's bitten even when the story does have some far apart reminders. In my canon he just isn't lol, it's too much hassle to guess whenever or not a kiss could turn you into a viral in Dying Light.

#hearts of gold #letters of love #sunny and jaska my mvps

[matpisound]

matpi’s 2020 top ten

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

10. ”約束” - Roselia

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

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

9. “Avant-garde HISTORY” - Roselia

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

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

8. “Ride” - Samuel R. Hazo

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

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

7. “Amaryllis” -  Shinedown

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

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

6. “FIRE BIRD” - Roselia

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

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

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

5. “Guilty All The Same” - Linkin Park

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

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

4. “LOUDER” - Roselia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. “Transcendent Journey” - Rossano Galante

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

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

2. “Nostalgia” - Rossano Galante

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

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

1. “The Catalyst” - Linkin Park

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

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

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

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

[malaysiankpopfans]

7 NEW KOREAN FILMS AND SERIES TO LOOK FORWARD TO ON NETFLIX

There’s so much amazing content to look forward to!

It’s an exciting time for K-content fans! In addition to currently airing popular shows Start-Up, Private Lives, and Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol, new must-watch titles will be coming soon to Netflix. The impressive lineup includes movies like The Call, Space Sweepers, and dramas like Run On and Lovestruck in the City. Check out more details below.

UPCOMING K-FILMS

Netflix is continuing to introduce best-in-class films made by Korean creators to the world. Minyoung Kim, Vice President of Content (Korea, Southeast Asia, Australia & New Zealand) at Netflix said, “This year marked an incredible milestone for Korean filmmakers with the triumphant of Director Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite winning the Oscars, positive reviews around Netflix film Time to Hunt, and the global popularity of #Alive via Netflix across the world. Netflix is at the forefront of changing the way entertainment is enjoyed throughout the world. We believe that great stories can come from anywhere and travel everywhere. We’re bringing Korean storytelling with the goal to entertain our members around the world.”

The Call

Popular actress Park Shin-hye and rising actress Jun Jong-seo team up in a mystery thriller that will have you guessing until the very end. When 28-year-old Seo-yeon (Park Shin-hye) loses her cell phone on her way to visit her sick, estranged mother in a rural area, she digs up a decade-old cordless phone from the junk closet of her childhood home. She suddenly gets a call from a woman named Young-sook (Jun Jong-seo) asking for her friend. Seo-yeon hangs up thinking the woman has the wrong number, but later learns that the call was coming from the same house 20 years ago.

Premiere Date: November 27, 2020

Cast & Creators: Director Lee Chung-hyun, Park Shin hye, Jun Jong-seo

Genre: Mystery thriller, Crime

Space Sweepers

Song Joong-ki and Kim Tae-ri star in this fun, space blockbuster set in 2092. Earth has become a bleak planet and 95% of the human race struggle to survive. The main crew work on the Spaceship Victory and live off salvaging space debris. It’s extremely risky, but with a genius space pilot Tae-ho (Song Joong-ki), a mysterious ex-space pirate Captain Jang (Kim Tae-ri), an ex-con spaceship engineer Tiger Park (Jin Sun-kyu), and a reprogrammed military robot Bubs (Yoo Hai-jin), Spaceship Victory surpasses all other space sweepers. After successfully snatching a crashed space shuttle in their latest debris chase, Victory’s crew find a 7-year-old girl inside. They realize that she’s a wanted humanlike robot, and decide to demand ransom in exchange.

Premiere Date: Q1 2021

Cast & Creators: Director Jo Sung-hee, Song Joong-ki, Kim Tae-ri, Jin Sun-kyu, Yoo Hai-jin

Genre: Sci-fi action, Space blockbuster

What Happened to Mr. Cha

Famous actor Cha In-pyo portrays himself in this tongue-in-cheek comedy. With the image of a gentle and perfect man, Mr. Cha enjoyed immense popularity in the 90s. However, he is now a has-been who reminisces about his glory days and waits for someone to cast him again. One day, Mr. Cha visits a gym to take a shower after a stroll. The building suddenly begins to crumble and he gets stuck in the pile of rubble. Will he be able to get rescued while maintaining his immaculate image?

Premiere Date: January 1, 2021

Cast & Creators: Director Kim Dong-kyu, Cha In-pyo, Cho Dal-hwan

Genre: Comedy

UPCOMING K-DRAMA

The Uncanny Counter

Featuring hot young talent like Cho Byeong-gyu and Kim Se-jeong, webtoon-based The Uncanny Counter is a satisfying tale of superheroes who hunt down evil spirits and also toil in a noodle shop. The dynamic story depicts the struggle between the evil spirits who come to Earth from the afterworld in order to become immortal and the Counters, each endowed with a special gift such as brute strength, psychometry and healing, who chase them down.

Jo Byeong-gyu plays the uncanny So Mun, a Counter unlike any other in history. So Mun is a hero-in-training who musters the courage to combat evil spirits after seeing a friend suffer injustice. Ga Mo-tak, a Counter with unrivaled brawn, is brought to life by Yu Jun-sang’s characteristic wit and acting skills. Kim Se-jeong plays the role of Do Ha-na, the human radar among the Counters with an infallible record of evil spirit detection. Her character exudes a detached vibe and shows serious action chops.

Premiere Date: November 28, 2020

Cast & Creators: Director You Sun-dong, Writer Yeoh Gee-na, Cho Byeong-gyu, Yu Jun-sang, Kim Se-jeong

Run On

Run On brings the highly awaited comebacks of young stars Yim Si-wan, Shin Sae-kyung, Choi Soo-young, and Kang Tae-oh. The series is a romantic drama about the intermingling of people who have trouble communicating, even while speaking the same language. It features people from different backgrounds who nurture relationships using their own languages.

Yim Si-wan plays the lead role of Ki Seon-gyeom, a former popular sprinter on the national team who is forced to retire due to a fateful event. Shin Sae-kyeong portrays Oh Mi-joo, who constantly has to retrace her steps being like a bridge between different languages as a movie translator. Choi Soo-young takes on the role of a sports agency CEO Seo Dan-ah, who is the only true heir of the Seomyeong Group by birthright, but on the account of being female, is forced out of the line of succession. Kang Tae-oh transforms into the role of Lee Yeong-hwa, a popular art student who likes movies and croquis drawings.

Premiere Date: December 16, 2020

Cast & Creators: Director Lee Jae-hun, Writer Park Si-hyeon, Yim Si-wan, Shin Sae-kyung, Choi Soo-young, Kang Tae-oh

Lovestruck in the City

Lovestruck in the City comes from Director Park Shin-woo of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay and writer Jung Hyun-jung who penned the In Need of Romance series and Romance is a Bonus Book, while starring popular actors Ji Chang-wook and Kim Ji-won. The romance drama is a realistic portrayal of young people who pursue love and happiness while struggling to get by in a busy, competitive urban environment.

Ji Chang-wook plays Park Jae-won who is an honest man, a passionate architect, and a lover of city alleyways. A romantic at heart, he cannot forget a certain woman. This thief of his heart and his camera had disappeared like a fleeting midsummer night’s dream. Kim Ji-won plays the freelance marketer Lee Eun-o, an ordinary woman who temporarily reinvents herself as the spontaneous and free-spirited Yun Seon-a. She takes off to a remote place on an impulse and falls in love with Jae-won under this new identity.

Premiere Date: December 2020

Cast & Creators: Director Park Shin-woo, Writer Jung Hyun-jung, Ji Chang-wook, Kim Ji-won

Recently Launched & Currently Streaming

Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol

Service Cadence: 10PM MYT, every Wednesday & Thursday, For Japan, all episodes will be available from December 3

No. Episodes: 16 episodes

Genre: Romance / Comedy / Drama

Creators: Kim Min-kyoung (Director), Oh Ji-young (Writer)

Cast: Go A-ra, Lee Jae-wook, Kim Ju-hun

Private Lives

Service Cadence: 10PM MYT, every Wednesday & Thursday. For Japan, all episodes will be available from December 3.

No. Episodes: 16 episodes

Genre: Romance / Comedy /Drama

Creators: Nam-Gun (Director) / Yoo Sung Yeol (Writer, My beautiful bride)

Cast: Seo Hyun, Go Kyung-Pyo, Kim Hyo-Jin, Kim Young-Min, Lee Hak-Joo

Start-Up

Service Cadence: 10PM SGT, every Sat & Sun

No. Episodes: 16 episodes

Genre: Romance / Youth / Drama

Creators: Oh Choong-hwan (Director), Park Hye-ryun (Writer)

Cast: Bae Suzy, Nam Joo-hyuk, Kim Seon-ho, Kang Han-na

#Netflix #TheCall #SpaceSweepers #WhatHappenedtoMrCha #TheUncannyCounter #RunOn #DoDoSolSolLaLaSol #PrivateLives #StartUp #kdrama #kmovie #article

[kdtheghostwriter]

Caped Up: A One Punch Man Recap [w/ Ch 92 Review]

DISCLAIMER

Massive spoilers under the cut, as I will be writing an overview of the series up to the latest update. Also note: this post does not cover the original webcomic produced by ONE, but the digital redraw authored in part by Yusuke Murata. Proceed at your peril and thanks for playing.

Imagine this scenario:

You are the world’s strongest hero... But also a bit of a dumbass.

No, not him.

There’s the guy.

Meet Saitama. He’s a hero for fun. After a life of being pushed around and exploited by an avaricious society, young Saitama abandons his search for an office job and begins a grueling three years of non-stop training and battle. With every monster he defeats he becomes stronger. All is well in Shonen Land until the Turning Point is reached and all the usual story beats end. When presented with the idea of this series being a Shonen parody, my first instinct was to say no, but Saitama most certainly qualifies.

Homeboy is strong. So strong, in fact, that we have no earthly idea just how strong he is. He hasn’t had to go all out in years. When he exerts himself even the slightest bit, stuff like this happens:

This is what I mean when I call Saitama a dumbass. He’s not actually a dumbass. He is, however, pretty socially inept with a very poor sense of time and direction. That often keeps him out of the fray for a convenient period of time as the other, higher-ranked heroes do battle with the monster of the week. It’s a classic formula, used for Superman all the time. The difference is that Superman is usually occupied with another separate disaster due to his compulsive need to save everyone he can. Saitama is mostly lazy.

The martial artist that he saves asks Saitama if the monsters (who were formerly human) were tough to defeat. He says he doesn’t know, as they all went down with one punch. This is our protagonist’s major malfunction. The thrill he once found defeating monsters has been replaced with a deep and unending boredom. Saitama is too strong for his own good. Gone is the excitement of finding uncharted ground. There’s no room for improvement - not when the Exodia cards have been slipped into your deck.

And so it goes for sometime. In the midst of invasions from the sea, earth and sky - and an increasing monster presence - that a professional league of heroes is founded to keep the civilian population safe and offer support to uniformed officials. The Hero Association and its operatives are divided into Classes based on rank. From S-Class, at the top, to the rookies of C-Class.

Saitama joins the Association (where he’s given the Caped Baldy tag lol) in hopes of finally running into the challenge he desperately seeks. Spoilers: he doesn’t. What he does find instead are dozens of colorful characters, friendly and otherwise. I’ll spare the whole list and give you the core four of the current arc.

Genos - Taken on as Saitama’s ‘student’; dubbed as S-Class hero Demon Cyborg upon joining the Hero Association. Unlike his sensei, he still has a fire lit underneath him. He is motivated by revenge for his childhood village which was burned to the ground by a crazy, murderous robot. He is supremely talented, but his over-confidence often leads to peril for himself and others.

Tatsumaki - Famous in memedom as a “sassy, lost child” she is actually the 28-year-old ‘Tornado of Terror.’ S-Class: Rank 2, she is the world’s most powerful esper. Her strength is matched by her ego, which is often and comically met with ambivalence. Due to a series of invasive and painful science experiments as a youngster, she has grown reclusive and over-protective of her little sister.

Garou - Our introduction to this martial artist sees him mow down a room full of criminals with his bare hands. Not long after, he sets out to grow stronger and take down any hero that gets in his way. That was Ch 70. At the moment, he’s in the middle of a Loser’s Bracket run for the ages, in the bowels of the Monster Association’s underground HQ, fighting for his life and humanity.

Bang - S-Class: Rank 3 and master of the Flowing Water Rock Smashing Fist martial arts style. As Garou’s former sensei, he holds himself responsible for the latter going rogue and vows to bring him to justice, proving his worth to the Hero Association.

These folks and more will be attacking the monsters’ base with dual objectives: save the child taken hostage and destroy the Monster King Orochi. Phew! I think that’s a fair recap for a manga with 141 updates. And I didn’t spoil too much, so new readers can discover the best bits for themselves.

One Punch Man | 92nd Punch: “Here We Go!”

The prior three chapters to this one were a roller coaster, as well as a chance for Murata to fully flex his artistic muscle. The Monster King Orochi took up most of the ink work and I implore you readers to take a look at the outrageous detail Murata put into these panels.

Art takes time, though, which puts June’s update into proper context. It’s a slower, more deliberate chapter focusing on character work and plot development. Saitama has already made his way underground to investigate the rumblings underneath the abandoned City Z where he lives.

The other pro heroes are gathered at H.A. Headquarters in the rebuilt A City to discuss their strategy for their impending invasion of the Monster Base. This should be fairly uneventful, and it would be if not for the Hero Association’s fatal flaw: an egregious lack of chemistry. The S-Class - and the top ranked A-Class hero Amai Mask - are inarguably powerful, but could hardly be called heroes. Even when slaying monsters, they rarely pause to consider anything outside of their own glory. This clash of personality leads to a lengthy, entertaining exchange as the team members present try to out-roast eachother.

Meanwhile King, the “World’s Strongest Man” S-Class: Rank 7, is approached by Bang about recruiting Saitama for the impending battle. These two are one of the few people who know the truth of Saitama’s strength. It is also key for King, who has no true power of his own, to have his best friend watching his back. And where is Saitama, you ask? Welp...

I’ll have fun posting on the next chapter. I know some people find action-heavy chapters tough to break down but I’ve come to trust Murata-san at this point to give us plenty to discuss. The art will be immaculate and the detail will be boggling.

As good as the story by ONE has been, a large amount of joy in reading this remaster of the series has come from seeing Yusuke Murata create literal works of art. And so quickly, too! Drop by his Twitter and send the man some thanks and encouragement. He sees them all for sure, and the good vibes gets him hype! He also streams his work here.

#opm spoilers #one punch man #saitama #genos #tatsumaki #bang #garou #king #zombieman #orochi #gyoro gyoro #mo meta #long ass post #haven't had one of these in a minute #oh and another thing #the fanservice #in this series #well...lol #let's just say #everyone can get it

[chwrpg]

You're asking me out? That's so cute! What's your name again? -- Birdie Stratford

A NOTE FROM ADMIN B: BINGO! The 10 Things cast is complete! What I like most about Birdie as a character is that she’s not a bad person, but with the way she’s so heavily motivated by her own self interest she’s not quite a good person yet either. It’s always about the growth of a character, and there is so much room for that with Birdie. You always bring it Erin, so we know this time will be no different!

OOC NAME/ALIAS, PREFERRED PRONOUNS, AGE & TIMEZONE:

if you don’t know me by noowww, you will never never never know me, (oooh)

DESIRED CHARACTER:

Birdie Stratford

HOW ACTIVE WILL YOU BE?

roughly 7 actives 

SECONDARY CHOICE:

<3

DESCRIBE THE CHARACTER:

Oooh boy do I live for Miss Birdie Stratford. A social climber without a heart of gold, out for her own best interest because who else is going to do it (I’m getting early Jenny Humphrey vibes on that front)? Her moves are calculated and almost always with the end goal of becoming more important, more notorious, just more. She’s not happy with simply accepting the reputation Rosewood wants to put on her shoulders like her sister seems to be. All of the less than ideal things (her mother very publicly running off with her fitness instructor, the weird no dating rule, the Kenya problem) that have followed her around all her life were distractions that just got in the way of who she was truly meant to be: someone. She has successfully overcome all of those early hurdles in her way and now she’s ready to take on more. She knows she has greatness ahead of her and she’s willing to work for it. 

SAMPLE WRITING:

When Birdie accepted Cohen’s invitation to be his date for the party that night she’d expected a certain chain of events to unfold. She’d arrive in her immaculate new mini courtesy of Christian Siriano. She’d tell anyone who complimented her on the dress what a sweetheart he was and how she couldn’t believe he’d sent it to little old her but that, of course, she was honored to take a picture with them. Chandler Solano’s envy over her having a James on her arm would only grow which, in turn, would continue improve her stock. She’d have a drink, maybe a dance with Cohen but she’d spend most of the night with her girlfriends assessing the other outfits in the room, who was dating whom, and so on and so forth. 

That perfect night was not the night she got. 

Chandler and the girls were nowhere to be seen. Once she realized they weren’t coming she nearly left the party. Honestly, what was the point of being there when no one who mattered would be there to see her let alone appreciate the look she’d put together. She looked over at Cohen, adorable in his obliviousness, really. A polite smile that didn’t reach her eyes. What was she supposed to do, hang out with him all night? What would they even talk about? He was sweet and all and Birdie loved the family name that came attached to him but beyond that? They had nothing in common. He had her on this angel-status pedestal which was understandable but like, not exactly sparking any flames in her. And he liked to talk about comics and arthouse movies that Birdie never understood. Either he’d come out of the night thinking she was an idiot or a complete bitch because it’d be so obvious by the end of the hour that they had nothing to talk about. 

To top it all off, it took less than an hour to come upon her sister having a full on nervous breakdown? She’d never seen Kenya acting out like this, she’d never even seen her dance after she stopped having dance parties with her in elementary school. She didn’t get drunk and let loose like this, ever. But of course she’d choose to come to the party Birdie was attending and embarrass her so thoroughly it would undo months of her hard work. The Stratford name was finally getting the respect it deserved but Kenya seemed determined to keep it in the mud. 

Birdie was already seething when Joey turned up. The gorgeous Calvin Klein model in all of his glory made her heart skip a beat and she was sure her night was turning around. She took in the moment, enjoying it until he started to talk about Kenya. Disrespectfully. She may have been mad at her sister but she was still her sister. In spite of her own rising anger she tried to diffuse the tension that had unexpectedly boiled up between Joey and Cohen. Seriously, why was Cohen defending Kenya? He didn’t know her and everyone in town hated her…

The punch that landed on Cohen’s face was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Birdie was sure it wouldn’t help her reputation a ton but she knew what needed to be done. She decked Joey Donner in the eye as hard as she could — which was pretty hard considering all the boxing and kickboxing classes she took at the gym — and she smirked at him on the ground. Honestly, what a baby.

“That’s for punching my date in the face, you asshole.” She checked in with Cohen, making sure he was alright before returning her attention to the beautiful sniveling loser on the ground. “And next time you want to talk shit about Kenya, maybe do it to someone who isn’t her sister. Moron.” Birdie tossed her long braids over her shoulder and took Cohen’s hand in hers. “Do you want to like, get out of here? I’m suddenly not in the mood for a party.”

ANYTHING ELSE?

19-19-1985

#accepted #submission

[misssophiachase]

Protection

25 Days of Klaroline + Tropes (I’m a little late)

When former first daughter Caroline Forbes and her former bodyguard Klaus Mikaelson have to part ways professionally can either of them deal with the imposed distance given their unresolved feelings and what will bring them back together again?  

I'll stand in front of you, I'll take the force of the blow. 

Daytona Beach, Florida

“This is Spring Break, Care, when are you going to start having some fun?” Her roommate Katherine drawled as they made their way from their hotel towards the packed beach. It wasn’t the first time she’d mentioned it that week and Caroline knew it wouldn’t be her last.

“I’m having fun…”

“Oh yeah, if fun means having your nose stuffed into a book,” she scoffed, placing her oversized sunglasses on her face. “There’s many things to be seen scenery wise but the inside pages of your pathetic, romance book aren’t one of them.”

“Trust me, your running commentary on the local beach talent has provided me with more than enough visuals, nose in book.”

“I only say this because I care,” she insisted. “Someone as hot as you deserves to have some fun at least…”

“I’m having fun...”

“The fact you keep repeating that you’re having fun means you’re really not.”

“Always looking out for me, aren’t you, friend?” She drawled. 

“Look, I know you still have feelings for him.” She stopped abruptly on the street, placing her hands on Caroline’s shoulders and spinning her around. “After eight years in that close proximity, I can understand. Although, I’m surprised you never ravaged each other senseless.” They’d only known each other six months but she was fast becoming acquainted with her roommate’s direct nature. 

“It wasn’t like that, what we had was purely professional...”

“Sure it was,” she drawled. 

“It had to be,” she conceded, slightly regretful she’d never made a move. “Fine, I’ll lose the book today.” 

A few hours later and Caroline was stretched out on a towel, soaking up the warm, Florida sun in her newly acquired, white bikini. Not that she’d ever admit it but Katherine had a point. It was supposed to be their term break so Caroline figured a bit of relaxation wouldn’t hurt.

Caroline was the type who needed to have a busy brain and schedule at all times and studying law at Harvard was the perfect excuse because if not other thoughts would creep in unexpectedly. Her life had been so different six months ago and Caroline was having a difficult time letting it go completely.  

6 months ago - Washington DC

“Caroline!” The young blonde had been a thousand miles away, staring out onto the wintery, Presidential Inauguration parade and only coming to when her mother broke her reverie by tapping on the cold, frosted glass window to grab her attention.

“Huh?”

“I know this is going to be difficult, darling,” Liz cooed, pulling her closer. “After eight years in the White House, life is going to be very different from now.”

Different? Caroline was extremely buoyed by the fact she would have a relatively normal life and wouldn’t have to hide behind Secret Service detail anymore. But at the same time she felt a heavy weight settle over her chest knowing it meant she’d never see him again, including those crimson lips which would frown in frustration whenever she argued back, those dimples that would flash unexpectedly when she thought he had no sense of humour and those dark, knotted, blonde curls that were begging to be touched.

Caroline had sent her mother the contrived smile she’d mastered over the years and one Liz was still yet to see through. Caroline made her way towards the front door, knowing it would be the last of her final duties as first daughter.  The relief was immense for the most part but the lack of his presence was eating away at her firm resolve.

“Someone looks like they’re going to a funeral,” he chuckled. Caroline would know that accent and know-it-all tone anywhere. Why was she going to miss him again? He looked immaculate as usual in his black suit and crisp, white shirt as he approached. “Going to miss me?”

“Urgh, you wish.”

“Don’t pretend you’re not going to miss my witty sense of humour.” Caroline didn’t respond, just rolled her eyes exaggeratedly. “I guess I’m only surprised about your expression because of all the times you fought me about your security detail.”

“What can I say? I don’t like pushy people,” she shot back. “So sue me.”

“Well, after today you are fully in charge of your own destiny and I for one am pleased to not have to put up with your…”

“My?”

“Uh, interesting character quirks.”

“You’re no longer responsible for me, Mikaelson, so just say it.”

“Opinions,” he answered, still somewhat diplomatically.  “Every single one of them in their bossy glory.”

“I’m not the only one with opinions,” she replied, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “You wear yours like a badge of honour.”

“As do you,” he quipped. “I’m not sure if the men at Harvard or the world are really ready for you, Victory.” Hearing him use her secret service codename was almost like a punch to the chest knowing it would be the last. 

“As long as they don’t tell me what to do, it will be fine,” she teased. “And I think you can call me Caroline now.”

“Force of habit,” he explained. “I think it took me five minutes to work out why you chose that codename. I’ve never met anyone more competitive and set on winning at all costs.” 

“I’m determined and tenacious, what can I say?” She huffed defensively. “Plus, I seem to recall beating you on a few occasions at pool, Mikaelson.”

“I suppose I can break the news now. It was only because I let you, princess.”

“A likely story,” she smiled, thinking just how much she’d miss their easy banter after being in such close proximity for eight years. “Maybe one day we can have a rematch and I’ll school your ass just like last time?”

“Maybe.” It was non committal but Caroline didn’t expect any less from her aloof, former bodyguard. 

He regarded her seriously and even though he was good at keeping his emotions hidden she swore there was something telling in his eyes. Almost like he was going to miss her as much as she him.  Time seemed to stand still, until she heard a car horn from the driveway. Her mother never was very patient. 

Then just as quickly as he’d appeared, Klaus had left, the only parting gift a knowing smirk and the flash of a rogue dimple before walking away, one last time. Knowing that he wasn’t coming back to protect her was more difficult than she thought. She’d been desperate for independence but now she wasn’t quite sure what she wanted. 

“Caroline.” She could barely hear her name it was uttered so quietly amongst the nearby chatter on the beach, an underlying growl accompanying it. Goose bumps formed over her naked skin and suddenly the hot, Florida sun was no competition for the shiver that rippled through her body. She’d know that voice anywhere. But why here and why now?

“Klaus,” she inquired, removing her oversized, floppy hat and peeling away her sunglasses, resting on her elbows to get a better vantage point to check she wasn’t dreaming. “What the hell are you doing here?” 

His good looks hadn’t faded in six months, that much she could tell in his tight fitted, navy polo shirt and an oversized pair of aviator sunglasses, his blonde hair curling over his ears teasingly.

“You have to come with me, right now.” His voice was low and decidedly urgent but Caroline never was one to give in easily, especially given he was no longer assigned to protect her.

“I’ll do no such thing,” she refused, suddenly feeling a little self conscious in her skimpy bikini. At least her awkwardness hadn’t diminished her stubbornness.

“Well, maybe you’ll come along for me then? Niklaus always has been a questionable sort of character.” Another familiar voice interrupted, she’d recognise that serious tone and chiseled jaw anywhere, even unusually attired in casual clothing.

“I almost didn’t recognise you without a suit, E,” she chuckled, her hand covering her eyes so she could see him amongst the bright sunlight.

“A suit on Daytona Beach? Not the kind of ensemble I was going for on this particular occasion.” Caroline looked between them, Klaus’ crimson lips were pursed and Elijah’s brow furrowed. This obviously wasn’t a social visit. She’d thought about Klaus a lot the past six months but never imagined their reunion being quite like this.

“What’s with all the chatter? I’m trying to suntan here,” Katherine murmured lazily, finally turning over onto her back to see what all the commotion was about. As soon as she cocked her left eyebrow approvingly, Caroline knew they were in trouble, even if it should have been the other way around given their profession. “Well, well, who do we have here?”

“Look, there’s no time for chit chat,” Elijah shot back. “We need to get out of here.”

“Charming,” Katherine drawled. “And go where exactly? You may be cute but the creepy, stalker vibe isn’t doing much for me, mister.” 

“Who’s your mouthy friend?”

“Katherine…” Caroline attempted knowing that if anyone could make a scene it would be her brunette best friend scorned by a gorgeous stranger. 

“Why don’t you do us a favour and buzz off,” she growled. Even though she was wearing sunglasses, Caroline knew that if looks could kill Elijah would be a hot pile of ash right now.

“Katherine, these are my friends,” she explained, albeit cryptically.

“Well, your friends need to learn some manners.” Although Klaus had been decidedly somber since his sudden reappearance, Caroline couldn’t miss the slight smile tugging at his lips. He did always like to see his uptight brother berated. Today was obviously no different. 

“They are my friends,” she continued. Caroline wasn’t sure of the threat but if it was nearby she didn’t want to cause more of a scene.

“Before…”

“Before I started university, you know when I was living at my former house.” Katherine seemed to be processing what she was saying and Caroline wasn’t sure what else she could say. 

“Oh that pretty, white one,” she mused, finally catching on. “Why didn’t you say so?” The girls gathered their belongings and made their way through the throng still unsure of the threat. Caroline couldn’t help but watch everyone around them. In one respect being in a crowd had its advantages but at the same time you didn’t know who was close by either. 

Katherine stumbled a little on some loose sand, stumbling forward slightly. Caroline noticed Elijah’s strong arms catching her before she fell. She steadied herself but not before slapping his hand away. 

“Get off me you oaf,” she growled, stomping ahead. 

Klaus gave Caroline a curious look, his eyebrows now firmly raised. “And you thought I was difficult, Mikaelson.” She didn’t bother to catch his ensuing expression. 

2 hours later

“Where the hell are we?” Caroline asked, looking around the impressive house. Shortly after leaving the beach, Elijah and Klaus had ushered them into a nearby jeep and driven them down the coast. 

“Your new home for the next few days.” 

“I’m sorry what?” Katherine whined, her brunette pony tail whipping around so fast they could hear its impact. “We have a home in party central on Daytona Beach and it’s been paid for upfront.”

“Well, I’m so sorry to ruin your plans,” Elijah groaned. 

“And we all know that this beachfront, private property is a hell of a lot better than your meagre accomodations in that questionable environment.”

“Wow, I never took you for such a snob,” Caroline accused, raising her eyebrows in Klaus’ direction. 

“Says the former first daughter,” he chided. It was as if they’d been transported back to their presidential days. 

“Were they always in the foreplay stage like this?” Katherine asked Elijah, looking between the two expectantly. Caroline felt her skin flush, choosing to divert her gaze downwards. Katherine always knew how to make a situation decidedly more uncomfortable.

“I didn’t work with the First Family but every time I saw these two together it was exactly like this.”

“Hey.”

“What can I say the annoying brunette has a point. Nik.”

“Annoying? Excuse me?”

“Do you ever do anything but complain? And here I thought the car ride and ten thousand questions was going to be the worst it would get.”

“Well, call me crazy but after you kidnapped us from the beach I feel like it’s the least we deserved and being Caroline’s former, secret service, hottie, detail doesn’t count.”

“Klaus was my former detail, he doesn’t work in the service anymore.” Caroline responded, her attention solely focused on Klaus. She’d said it before thinking about the consequences. 

“Have you been keeping tabs on me, Victory?” He grinned knowingly. Caroline may have done a little research over the past few months but never wanted his arrogant ass to know that. 

“You wish, Mikaelson.”

“Victory? Oh just great, so who exactly have I absconded with? For all I know you’re all part of some Government cover-up. I really should have listened to my mother when she said never go anywhere with strangers.”

“Someone’s been watching too much Designated Survivor. Will you be quiet for more than five seconds if we tell you what’s going on?” Elijah sighed, his frustration with the feisty girl at its absolute limit. 

“I’m not making any promises but start talking, broody,” she insisted, making herself comfortable on the oversized couch. Caroline took a seat nearby, careful not to be too close with Klaus, scared of the unresolved feelings it would evoke. 

6 hours later.... 

Caroline couldn’t sleep. She’d found her way into the kitchen around 3am and boiled the kettle knowing that the only thing that would help was chamomile tea. She’d never been a tea fan until Klaus had suggested its calming effects during a presidential tour of India when she was restless due to the jet lag. 

When Klaus had appeared from nowhere earlier, Caroline knew he wasn’t secret service but the urgency in his tone and the trust she still felt towards him was enough to leave in a hurry without much information. Finding out exactly why he was there was another and more terrifying prospect, hence her insomnia. 

“There’s been a very real threat made against your father,” he’d admitted. During his time as President, threats weren’t unheard of but now it seemed so unexpected. 

“But why?”

“The current President has made some comments about your father’s actions and time in the Presidency. His more extreme followers have taken them personally and are out for revenge.” Given just how unhinged his successor was, Caroline wasn’t surprised but the fact her father should suffer made her feel suddenly ill. 

“What? I need to be with him now...” She’d attempted to make it to the front door before he grabbed her round the waist and pulled her backwards. He’d touched her before but this seemed very different and decidedly more intimate. Caroline decided to blame it on her highly strung emotions. 

“Get off me! I have to see my father is okay.”

“Your father is in complete lockdown, so too your mother at their place in Houston. No one is getting to them,” he whispered, pulling her closer. She could feel his heart beating against her, his mouth lowered as his hot breath tickled her ear. “The best thing you can do is stay here until this is over. That’s what they want.” She stilled, knowing that it was probably true. 

“Why are you here though?”  

“After leaving the service, I started my own private protective company with my brothers. We still work as consultants for the Government.”

“And let me guess, my father insisted the consultant, who happens to be you, intervene?” He chuckled against her hair, calming her considerably. 

“He figured I was the only one who could get through to your stubborn self.”

“Sell out,” she growled, not bothering to pull free. For some reason being cocooned in his arms felt so right.  “If we get through this, I have every intention of raising this with him and kicking your ass, you can quote me on that Mikaelson.” 

“Why do I feel like this is deja vu?” He yawned, making his way towards the stainless steel fridge and opening the door, breaking her from her trance. The glow from inside cast light on his toned, not to mention bare, torso. From what Caroline could tell in her shock, the only clothing he was wearing was a fitted pair of grey boxer shorts. 

“Do you mind?”

“I’m hungry,” he muttered, rifling through the fridge. “And I figured you needed some lemon,” he said, placing one on the kitchen counter, just like in India all those years ago. “You’re welcome.”

“Do you always walk around half naked?” 

“I didn’t expect to run into you if you hadn’t noticed. And just so you know that singlet and short set isn’t completely innocent, sweetheart.” 

“Excuse me for being kidnapped at short notice with no proper change of clothes, unlike mister organised.”

“It’s bloody hot out, not that I owe you an explanation given I’m trying to protect you, Victory.”

“But in eight years together you were always clothed and professional but now you’re just...” She faltered as he turned to face her. If she thought the side view was impressive, front on was even better. Caroline had lost all sensible thought, her mouth dry. 

“Just?” Caroline knew two could play at this game, picking up the nearby knife and waving it in his direction to keep him at bay.

“I’m armed and dangerous and given my current emotional state you should be worried, naked boy.”

“If I knew my partially naked form would have created this reaction, I would have done it sooner.” 

“You smug ass,” she scowled, knife still well and truly poised. She was losing all resolve, the grip on the knife weakening with every second.  

“You conceited princess,” he growled, removing it from her grasp and pulling her towards him greedily.

“I hate you so much,” she panted, feeling every last shred of willpower slip away.   

“Well, luckily I hate you too,” he growled, his crimson, lips taking hers hungrily, his tongue finding its way into her hot and waiting mouth. It was as if eight years of pent up sexual frustration was playing out. 

His hands caressed her back, making their way lower to cup her taut ass, lifting her onto the kitchen counter, while not breaking their connection.  His hands found their way to the hem of her singlet, his fingers teasing the sensitive skin underneath. Caroline’s skin felt like it was on fire, her nipples tingling in anticipation of his touch.   

“So, this is what you two get up to without supervision?” Elijah asked, interrupting their frenzy. They broke apart like startled animals, albeit reluctantly. 

“He started it,” Caroline accused, licking her lips self consciously and attempting to push him away, her hands shaking. 

“No, it was definitely her, I mean she had a knife and....”

“Ooooh kinky,” Katherine whistled appreciatively appearing from behind. “Please don’t let us stop you.” She pulled Elijah away strategically and Caroline had to admit she was glad. The fact that those two might have been playing nice finally was a bonus. 

“I’m sorry, we really shouldn’t...”

“This might not be the best time but there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you for years, Victory,” Klaus admitted, pulling her closer and placing a chaste kiss on her temple. 

“And what’s that?” They were both silent obviously scared to admit their true feelings after such a build up. 

“How about a game of pool?” He suggested. “Each time we sink a ball we confess something and then...”

“Winner takes all?” Caroline smirked.   

On FF HERE

#protection #misssophiachase #klaroline drabbles #25daysofklaroline #day 3 #tropes #however long it takes

[talbottoshore-blog]

Stephen Shore Review - Agnes Bae

The Stephen Shore retrospective at the MoMA spanned nearly fifty years of image-making throughout Shore’s entire career--highlighting the progression of his artistic vision as well as detailing his own personal narrative that evolved alongside his creative one. While it is never easy to immaculately compact decades of an artist’s work into a single show, the ten-room retrospective felt like a curatorial success. The different rooms centered around various points in Shore’s career, in terms of medium, black & white film or color, as well as subject matter--succinctly laying out for the knowing and unknowing audience Shore as a photographer and artist. The exhibition itself experimented with different mediums of display, his more contemporary Instagram images being displayed on iPads, pointing to his ability to seamlessly transition and adopt, perhaps what has most effectively lead to his great success. 

My favorite room in the exhibition was his earlier work, when he was photographing for the Factory. The 1960′s in New York is a time I romanticize, even more so living here now as I am in my early 20′s, only a bit older than when Stephen Shore asked Andy Warhol to shoot in his studio, prompting him to drop out of high school. The Factory embodied “true artistry” back then, the exclusivity, the mixing of mediums, the constant flow and creation that took place in Warhol’s factory is something that yes, happens on a wide-scale basis now but lacks the quality and self-aware attention that is embedded in knowing one was part of a counter-culture, the us against the world attitude that just loses its appeal when everyone feels that way. Seeing Stephen Shore’s photographs of Lou Reed in Andy Warhol’s studio and knowing Shore was only a bit younger than I at the time he photographed now legendary, artists, not to sound dramatic or too overly-revering, was truly a fantastic trip to a different time. I feel that I am a scavenger for any insight into this close-knit community of artists and friends in New York during the 1960′s perhaps in a “Midnight in Paris” romanticization that I can feel as though I were apart of a time I feel I more belong in than now. 

The first image I’d like to discuss from the exhibit is Lou Reed and Andy Warhol, the Factory, New York, New York (1966-1967). Apart from the fairly large self portrait imprinted on the brick wall behind Andy Warhol, the most immediately noticeable aspect of this photograph are the fact that both Andy and Lou are wearing sunglasses indoors. True to their respective “rockstar” personas, the two artists pose nonchalantly, and indifferently, evident in their body language. Andy rests one arm along with his body weight on the back of the sofa, his chin slightly tilted upwards towards the lens, giving off an unbothered vibe to his overall demeanor. Lou Reed sits on the couch but does not even acknowledge Shore’s presence or his camera, as he gazes past the camera perhaps at some action happening behind Stephen Shore who stands close to them snapping the image. One can imagine the hustle and bustle that went on in The Factory at all times, and that this is truly just an off-hand, side glimpse of Andy and Lou in the midst of their endeavors at the studio, maybe in between silk prints for Warhol and Lou speaking to Nico in the background, sarcastically criticizing his own music playing throughout the studio. I imagine the action around them, that isn’t photographed, and the conversations that took place in The Factory between Andy Warhol and Lou Reed among others, and can picture the two self-confident artists debating the state of culture as well as fostering new ideas that would define a crucial generation in the art world in New York. On the other hand, while I view these images with a romanticization bias, due to the fact that they are images of a past and an iconic past at that--it is important to note the also mundane quality of Shore’s images of The Factory. He was just an 18 year old boy, who had come to befriend Warhol and his companions, and while his candid snapshots offer insight into the actual exclusive circle, they also reveal that these figures were too, at the end of the day--just creative friends hanging out. 

The second image I would like to talk about is Andy with Mirrored Disco Ball because it offers an environmental portrait of The Factory as well as Warhol himself so immaculately placed, (or not placed) in the photograph as if to say “Here I am in all of my glory.” This image pictures a mirrored disco ball to the left-center, that mimics the glamor that Warhol and his celebrity represented at the time. There is a wooden chair to the right of the center, empty and slightly even awkwardly placed dimensionally, as it is definitely closer to the camera than the actual primary subject, which is Andy Warhol in recline on a plastic-wrapped sofa slightly off-center in the frame. The background of the photo features various props, ladders, canvas, and other miscellaneous material used to create in the studio. And while the space is impressively spacious again evoking one’s imagination to picture the people that move in and out of it, there is almost a sad duality to the image as well, that Warhol is all alone in his world that he created. There is a sense of absence and emptiness with Stephen Shore having stepped back so far from Warhol and we are able to see the vast barren studio around the artiste himself. Given, Andy Warhol probably desired this particular image to be taken as such, and also chose to pose in such a way that would indicate that he embraces the isolation rather than implores it, however one cannot help but still take note of how small and solitary the man appears.

This gallery very much framed the rest of the galleries in the MoMA for me, because I was able to note how much more self-aware Shore probably became after spending so much time around The Factory. In that everything Warhol did, in art and in his public persona, was hyper-intentional, I could imagine a young, perhaps even a bit intimidated Stephen Shore silently taking mental notes and absorbing the way Warhol worked whilst taking photographs for the artists. Not to mention, he was also consistently around equally intentional, self-aware artists such as The Velvet Underground, the boisterous, loud personality of Edie Sedgwick and all the other magical personalities that would come to visit Warhol in his constructed world. 

[playthehits-blog]

Andrew Bird - Ace Theatre - 5.14.16

In the name of procrastination, it is yet again time for another posting in my impeding “Yesteryear” series of concert reviews. This edition will feature the magnificent “Dr. Stringz”, or Andrew Bird as he is most commonly known. That is also the name that his mother knows him by, simply because that is the name that she gave him at birth, so of course she would know him by that name. Anywho, Andrew Bird is a long-standing, multi-instrumental artist who has a very rich history that spans a time longer than many of his fans lives. This was the second installment of his that I have been fortunate enough to attend, and much like the first time, this may have been the most diverse crowd for a show that I have been present at. It featured everyone from hi-brow/fine-art/wine-and-dine elders to angst-infused teenage indie-folk newcomers, and everyone in between (including myself, who probably lies somewhere in the middle of both categories, with unfortunate similarities to both…). Thankfully, that’s one of my favorite things about Andrew Bird and his music; it’s entirely enjoyable to those of all groups and ages, while not being driven by popular modes of music. This is highly due to Bird being one of the most prolific violinists in non-classical music today. Being trained under the Suzuki philosophy since his childhood, Bird’s instrumentation often mimics his vocal inflection and melody. Pairing this with an abundant use of pizzicato, a technique used typically by stand-up bassist and cellists, Bird’s offering is unlike most in all of folk-rock. As you can imagine, Bird has long studied, showcased, and explored his violin talents for the better part of the last four decades, and his luxuriant display of talents do not stop there. Bird himself is also very well known for his embellished whistling, along with the ability to play nearly all lute instruments. His authority of all things strings coined him the aforementioned title of “Dr. Stringz”; a character he portrayed in a children's TV show (so cute). Take a peek through his thorough recording history, and you’ll find no room for doubt to strip him of this deserving (albeit childish) accolade. More so than this, what makes his offerings so much more engaging is his impeccable (and educational) ability to sing about the most peculiar subjects. Likely the smartest person in the room on any given day, Bird’s vast intellect of all things astronomy, biology, geology, neurology, and all other gy’s makes his clever lines and floating rhymes magnificently impressive. I consider myself a huge fan of his, yet often times I haven’t the slightest idea of what he is talking about. It’s equally as enlightening as it is frustrating, mainly due to my inability to understand his references. Either way, it makes the time spent with his music all the more an engaging experience, one that you won’t soon regret.

Moving on to the contents of the night (and to the context of which I mean to babble on about and waste your precious time on), this particular concert was to promote his most recent album (at the time of the concert, clearly not at the time of this outdated, shorthanded excuse for literature) “Are You Serious”. In the days leading up to this concert, there was much room in my existence for garnered excitement, as the previous time that I saw Bird was one of the most enjoyable nights for myself. This time differed as I had previously seen him in a smaller theater, whereas in this installment, Bird would showcase his talents at the Ace Theatre, which is a much larger setting with assigned seating. I’m sure many can agree that a setting such as this suits Bird best, as the acoustics of the hall allowed his previously mentioned talents to carry throughout the theater seemingly effortlessly. This beautiful display began with a brief excerpt from Alice Coltrane’s “Journey In Satchidananda” from a light-less stage. Going on for a few moments, the band broke into “Capsized”, the opening song from AYS [...”Are You Serious”. I like the use of acronyms that only I know the reference to. Makes things more fun for me, and more frustrating for you (??), which is subsequently more fun for me…unless of course no one reads this, which nobody does, nor should, so joke’s on me I guess]. As this song kicked in, so did the stage lights, and the night was in motion...literally… Some random woman who was vibin’ more than a noodle in boiling water (with movements similar to the likeness of such a noodle) brought it upon herself to interpretive dance in front of the stage. Throughout. The entire. Show….. I guess she had every right to do so as this song is pretty groovy, and I too was (potentially) feeling such vibe, but figured she was enough for all of those who were in attendance to experience. I could also benefit from saving myself the embarrassment of showcasing my equally freakish movements. In any case, Bird came ready to PTH (......play…..the…..HITS!!!…..no? k fine), and play those hits he sure did. He immediately moved to the decade old song “A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left” from 2005’s “The Mysterious Production of Eggs”, which features previously mentioned whistling (which is very much the case with many of his songs, yet widely iconic in this song).

From this, Bird stayed on the topic of visiting past songs such a “Tenuousness” (a song which lyrics are beyond all comprehension. I wasn’t lying when I said this dude was intelligent) and “Lusitania”. Following this, he then returned to the title track of AYS in (what other than) “Are You Serious”. While this song is on the softer side, it represents much of what makes his music so unmistakably himself. It includes all of his preceding musical characteristics; embroidered and flowery diction (which he knowingly instructs the listener to “get out your dictionaries”, in a very modest way, as pretentious as this does sound), plucked and strummed violin, and innocently clever storytelling. One of my favorite things about Bird is that while much of his lyrics are conversational, he often transposes them in the form of an actual conversation when performing live. I’ve seen quite a few artists follow this type of execution in their performances, yet none make it seem as nonchalant and natural as Bird does. He has a way of presenting it so purely that you feel as if he is conversing directly to you. It’s a truly wonderful addition to his already witty, virtuoso performance. Speaking of virtuosity, the band then played “Truth Lies Low”, which just might be my favorite off the new album (which is his best since 2007’s “Armchair Apocrypha”, in my very insignificant opinion). The longest and most intricate song (again, my opinion with all insignificance included) from AYS, “Truth Lies Low” acts as home to the most improvisation on the album and in this performance. When I think of Andrew Bird, I think of songs such as this. They’re so unapologetically him, and I mean that in a way that as all bands create their own sounds and personalities that make them “themselves”, Bird showcases his fearlessness to embrace himself in this song. Featuring two sections of improvised solos (including those by his band members as well) Birds immaculate abilities were put on display unlike I had previously experienced. Echoing into every nook and cranny of the theater, Bird’s luscious swells and sweeps swayed the crowd into delight. As I have made very clear through my oversupply of worthless words on this blog, I am a sucker for improvisation, and this display sure was one of the many highlights of the night for me (and others as well, I assume).

Following this, the lovely Fiona Apple made a guest appearance (as she does on the album) for the performance of “Left Hand Kisses”. Switching between violin and guitar, Bird’s (Dr. Stringz) inviting melodies paired with Apple’s vibrato showcased chemistry between the two as good as any duo in music. It was pure folk bliss. Bird followed this with again revisiting favorites such as “Plasticities”. Coming from “Armchair Apocrypha”, an album literally filled with hits, I felt both delight and dismay, as I knew that this would likely be the only feature of the album for the night. Nevertheless, I swooped in this offering with all nostalgia attached. Maybe his strongest (and most famous) demonstration of his pizzicato abilities, Bird pushed the tempo on this track, boasting (and rightfully so) his talents.

Shifting to his “Hands of Glory” acoustic project of past which features violin, stand-up bass, and (in this instance) mandolin, the band performed “Pulaski at Night”. Utilizing only one (50’s style) microphone, the trio sounded as gritty and stripped back as ever (that’s supposed to be a good thing...I’ve never been good at compliments). It would seem at this point that the night was starting to wane, and I could feel discontent of the nights imminent end beginning to build. This was quickly put to rest as, to my endless appreciation, Bird played my favorite offering of his. Discussing the potential set-list with my friend and colleague who I was fortunate to attend this concert with, I briefly mentioned that regardless the set-list, this show was destined to deliver. However if I could have one song featured, it would make the night more than glorious for myself. And to my endless appreciation (repetitive), Bird finished his initial set with “Armchairs”, fooling my previous hunch of him only visiting “Armchair Apocrypha” once. There are times where I find myself waiting, hoping, without any expectation, for moments like these. They are imaginary occasions in which my existence cannot fathom the effect it would have on me if it were to come to fruition. Yet, in those seven minuscule minutes, a lifetime of waiting for such a moment would be worthwhile (*yarf*). By far my favorite offering of his, and potentially one of my favorite songs in history, Bird’s display of this song elevated my spirits to heights that were previously seemingly unobtainable (*YARF*). As charismatic as ever, Bird played to the crowd with emotion that was completely and entirely himself.

Thoroughly elated from the act that was exhibited to us, Bird granted us further delight through the means of an encore that included more Fiona and covers of Bob Dylan and Neil Young. Bird then ended with the somewhat somber but otherwise lighthearted “The New Saint Jude”. A song likely referencing his wife’s diagnosis, battle, and eventual defeat of cancer, Bird brings light to the virtues of looking on the bright side of things. As this was the unfortunate end of such a splendid night, it left me to see things through a positive light as well: While all good things must come to an end (why), at least I got see one of my favorite musicians play one of my favorite songs. Unfortunately for you, you have just wasted 5-10 minutes of your precious, escaping lifetime reading this pointless review. But hey, look on the bright side; at least it’s finally (and thankfully) over....for now.

Setlist:

1. Journey to Satchidananda

2. Capsized

3. A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left

4. Tenuousness

5. Lusitania

6. Are You Serious

7. Truth Lies Low

8. Puma

9. Left Hand Kisses (ft. Fiona Apple)

10. Roma Fade

11. Three White Horses

12. Plasticities

13. Valleys of the Young

14. Pulaski at Night

15. Bellevue

16. Armchairs

Encore:

1. Harvest (Neil Young cover)

2. Oh, Sister (Bob Dylan cover) (ft. Fiona Apple)

3. Give It Away

4. The New Saint Jude

#Andrew Bird #Dr. Stringz #folk #folk rock #indie rock #musician #music #concert #review #concert review #PLAYTHEHITS #Play The Hits