#in another world shed b like. the horse girl

[princesssarisa]

Character ask: Aslan (The Chronicles of Narnia)

Favorite thing about them: His infinite love and kindness. When he's first introduced, he seems like a remote, faintly frightening, awe-inspiring deity, but gradually he reveals himself as a truly generous-hearted figure, as he shows warm affection to his devoted followers, romps and plays with Susan and Lucy like a kitten in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and sheds tears of compassion for human grief (at King Caspian's death in The Silver Chair and at Digory's grief for his dying mother in The Magician's Nephew). Like his human incarnation, Jesus, he lets himself be tortured and killed as a self-sacrifice, but where Jesus did it for the whole human race, Aslan does it to save just one boy, which further reinforces the depth of his love for all creatures. And he rewards all good deeds done in the name of another god as through they were done for himself.

Least favorite thing about them: The harsher side of his character. The side of him that claws Aravis's back as punishment for leaving a slave girl to be flogged in The Horse and His Boy, and that speaks of the many people he has "swallowed up" in The Silver Chair. Since he's a deity of justice as well as kindness, it's only natural that he has a punishing, fear-inspiring side, but for a person who doesn't care for that style of religion, it's still slightly uncomfortable. I'm glad he leans much more toward love and compassion, though; in the hands of an author more fundamentalist than Lewis, it might not have been so.

Three things I have in common with them:

*I'm loving and compassionate, or at least I try to be.

*I'm sometimes more comfortable interacting with children than with adults.

*I'm serious when I need to be, but I can be energetic and playful too (as when Aslan joyfully romps with Susan and Lucy after his resurrection).

Three things I don't have in common with them:

*I've never created a world.

*I've never sacrificed my life and then been resurrected.

*I'm not Jesus Christ in an animal form.

Favorite line:

From The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, when he explains his resurrection to Susan and Lucy:

"It means that though the Witch knew the Deep Magic, there is a magic deeper still which she did not know. Her knowledge goes back only to the dawn of Time. But if she could have looked a little further back, into the stillness and the darkness before Time dawned, she would have read there a different incantation. She would have known that when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor's stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start working backwards."

From The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, his allusion to his earthly identity as Jesus:

"I am [in the human world too]. But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there."

From The Magician's Nephew, the words that complete his creation of Narnia:

"Narnia, Narnia, Narnia, awake. Love. Think. Speak. Be walking trees. Be talking beasts. Be divine waters."

From the same book, foreshadowing the events of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, after Digory confesses that he brought Jadis into Narnia:

"You see, friends, that before the new, clean world I gave you is seven hours old, a force of evil has already entered it; waked and brought hither by this son of Adam. But do not be cast down. Evil will come of that evil, but it is still a long way off, and I will see to it that the worst falls upon myself. In the meantime, let us take such order that for many hundred years yet this shall be a merry land in a merry world. And as Adam's race has done the harm, Adam's race shall help to heal it."

His speech to Digory about the latter's temptation to steal a magic apple to heal his mother:

Understand, then, that it would have healed her; but not to your joy or hers. The day would have come when both you and she would have looked back and said it would have been better to die in that illness... That is what would have happened, child, with a stolen apple. It is not what will happen now. What I give you now will bring joy. It will not, in your world, give endless life, but it will heal. Go. Pluck her an apple from the Tree."

His thinly veiled foretelling of the atomic bomb and the rise of HItler:

"It is not certain that some wicked one of your race will not find out a secret as evil as the Deplorable Word and use it to destroy all living things. And soon, very soon, before you are an old man and an old woman, great nations in your world will be ruled by tyrants who care no more for joy and justice and mercy than the Empress Jadis. Let your world beware."

And at the end of The Last Battle, when he reveals to Lucy and co. that they died on earth and will now live in his paradise forever:

"The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning."

brOTP: The Friends of Narnia (Digory Kirke, Polly Plummer, the Pevensie siblings, Eustace Scrubb, and Jill Pole).

OTP: None.

nOTP: Jadis the White Witch.

Random headcanon: All-knowing though he seems, he isn't completely omniscient: his father the Emperor Beyond the Sea (i.e. God) is the only real omniscient being. So when Aslan trades his life for Edmund's in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, he doesn't know for certain that he'll be resurrected. This explains his sadness as he goes to his fate, and why he "can give no promise" that he'll take part in the battle afterwards. He knows about the prophecy that an innocent victim killed in a traitor's stead will be resurrected, but he doesn't know fore sure if it's true or not, because it had never been put to the test before. (The 1988 BBC adaptation makes this explicit.)

Unpopular opinion: I don't blame him for Susan's being left behind when her whole family dies in the train crash in The Last Battle. Unless you think he controls everything that happens either in the real world or in Narnia (which might fit with some people's beliefs, but not with mine), there's no evidence that he causes the train crash or arranges for Susan not to be on the train. To me, it seems likely that the crash would have happened no matter what; Aslan simply brings his Friends to Narnia at the moment of their deaths, to witness its end and then pass into the paradise of Real Narnia. The reason why they were all together in the first place was to try to use the magic rings from The Magician's Nephew to send Eustace and Jill back to Narnia, so Susan's rejection of Narnia was the reason why she wasn't with them. Therefore, her survival while her family dies is just a consequence of her loss of faith, not a punishment for it. And I do believe that when she eventually dies, Aslan will bring her to join her family in his country – Lewis implied as much in a letter in 1960.

Song I associate with them: None to speak of. I hope that someday The Magician's Nephew finally gets a screen adaptation, so we can actually hear a version of the magical wordless song Aslan sings to bring Narnia into being.

Favorite picture of them:

This classic illustration by Pauline Baynes, even if it does get Lucy's hair color wrong:

This illustration by Ruth Korch:

These illustrations by Deborah Maze. Aslan with Peter:

And with Lucy:

From the 1979 animated version of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (my introduction to Narnia), his first meeting with the Pevensie siblings (minus Edmund) and the Beavers:

From the 1988 BBC miniseries of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, with the Pevensie siblings:

From the poster for the 2005 Disney/Walden Media film of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe:

#character ask #the chronicles of narnia #aslan #c.s. lewis #ask game #fictional characters #tw: violence #tw: death

[megamangxtheadventure]

CHAPTER 27: FUTURE GENSOKYO

lord goat obsarved the scene as the taliban and nazis where roundering up the human village "take them for reeducation we must cure them of woke and make them think only freedom thoughts" said shadiversity as he sat on his armor horse with knight armoer "we will go back to the glouous middle ages where socity was good and normal" he said thinking about becoming new king like olden days

a man held his sick human wife "please my wife she is sick go easy on us" said the man but shadiverstys second in command MR BABYFACE got real mad and bursted a blood vassel in his head "DID YOU SAY FUCKING PRONONS YOU FUCKER YOU WILL DIE HOW DARE YOU SAY THE PRONONS AHAHGAHAHAHHA!" he screamed and ripped the mans head off as blood and guts was everything and his wife screamed real bad and gfainted

Lord got gotted his xenon men in car robots called gyrozetters "i will have xenon take over the youkai maountion they can not stop our gyrozetter robots" he laughed but then sh adow jumped down and fired chaos spear "you fool working with nazis and the talban they will ensalve this world this is not progress its misery for the sake of it you utter foolish fool!" said shadow pointing at lord goat

shadow fighted them but it was no good as the gyrozetters beat him up "i have a way to deal with you MORBUS ENGINE B EAM!" said the eraser queen who had soul eraser mind control vr set on and the beam blastered shadow sending ihim into the time vortex.

THE FUTURE OF DARKNESS

shadow woke up in gensokyo but it was grim and ruin as all the woman and youkai where now slaves under the nazi taliban government "what has happen is this future" said shadow with ask

as he went into town the woman where in handmaider tale outfits and shadow saw reimu but older "come along wife of doomcock" said a guard and he whipped reimu

going into town shadow was then covered in solder guards "you are not a religion you are not conforming you are a rebel!" pointed a man and they takened guns out

"just greaT" shadow said and started to fight them with cool moves "CHAOS KICK!"

before bad guys could reinment the rebels had come and opened fire "shadow we need to get out of here we knowed you where coming due to the tablets of time" said the lead as they runned away.

at a cave the leader took her hood off and it was an older mariasa krismas "its you the witch girl " shadow said.

"i was once called wife of Desantis" she looked at the floor "you see after you vanished they bringed osama bin ledin back to life then bill cihiper used an anti magic field generator to kill all magic so when they had armys of nazis and taliban with guns we gotted over runned and the woman became slaves" marisa shed

"but what happen to megamangx and the others??" shadow said.

"they summoned an army of sonix.exes they destoryed the outside world so the illuminati had to colonizie gensokyo as the only safe place becuse of there hurbis and now everything is lost and depressingly horrible" marisa said.

a door opened and it was standing there it was a bearded jon arbunkle and HAT KID "Jon its you!" shadow sad with happy "ive been fighting a while but this kid here they wanted to meet shadow this is hat kid they have helped us a long time" said jon

"i am from another time and place i have come to fixing the timeline shadow you where meant to help megamangx stop the bad future and gorefield you need to go back and stop gensokyos fall it is the key" said hat kid and she took shadow into a garbage

THERE WAS A FIREBIRD CAR THERE WITH COOL CONTROLS "this is the chaos firebird gyroketter is has an omega sigma morbus engine and can send you back to the past you must stop the illuminati from rebuliding osama bin ladin and help megamangx get his mage forms" hat kid said

there was explosions As a group of russianb nationalists lead by pizza boy was there "you sure want to mess up our good future can't let you do that get em boys" said pizza boy as the russians shooted ak47s at hat kid as she took over a 100 bullets "ah get into the time car hurry" she died

"NOOO!" said shadow as he jumpe dinto the firebird and escaped driving into town as he runned over doomcock and over 20 bad guy guards "i need to turn out the time controls" shadow inputted the date and entered the time vortext

BACK IN PRESENT SDAYT

the firebird appeared and turned into robot and punched the xenon gyroketters real hard "I'M BACK BITCHS" SAID SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG and lord goat was scared "IMBOSSBLE I SENT YOU TO THE BAD FUTURE" he said "AND I CAME BACK!" shadow said and his gyro robot kicked him in the face

it was THEN MEGAMANGX ZANE YUKARI REIMU PATCHOLOI REMILIA FLANDERS KOISHI AND SATORY WHERE THERE "we have the power of mages the power of mages of old and uniting we stand against you GEWT OUT OF GENSOKYO YOU FASHIST BASTARDS" megamangx said and they all fired an ultra masterspark at the gyrozetters and shadibery and the taliban blowing them up "such power NO I DO NOT WANTING TO BE DEEAFTED I WAS GOING TO BUILD KNIGHTS AND CASTLES LIKE OLDEN DAYYYYS" and he turned into atoms

"the only olden days are you" said yukari.

shadow was happy as rouge was there too "Megamangx we needing to talk i saw the future and it was bad"

to be continued

#megamangx the adventure #megaman gx #megaman #fanfiction #fanfic #koishi komeiji #lord goat #gyrozetter #marisa kirisame #yukari yakumo #gensokyo #shadow the hedgehog

[yowza-buckaroo]

ummm,,, hiiiii 8O

#miraculous ladybug #marinette dupain cheng #ml #comic #my art #its been a while!!! not dead guys not dead!!!! #listen. mari shouldve been at least 20% more unhinged. shes a teenager with strong opinions and i will not chnage my mind #in another world shed b like. the horse girl #support ur local weird girls today

[sugar-petals]

Hav u done predictive readings for who the boys will end up with & how their career will go etc?

a 2020 career prediction i’ll publish at the end of december! their future partner we’re doing now. i added some angel oracle cards today ♡ those describe the theme of their relationship.

Jungkook: QUEEN OF CUPS

Hallelujah! Oh yeah. That’s an ideal card, picture perfect. The Queen of Cups is quite possibly one of the best partner allegories to have because a) Cups rule smoothness of relationships and emotions and b) she’s a royal card which indicates a highly developed state of mind where things finally come to fruition unlike with the aces and pages. Jungkook will mean so, so much to his partner. That’s a twin flame or soulmate connection we’re talking here. A really beautiful and dignified person, a little touchy feely, but experienced with love. They can really depend on another. Maybe they’re from Busan like him or the shore generally, the sea plays an important role for the Queen of Cups. There are tiny little cherubs on the card, I’m thinking he’ll be treated like an angel. It’s a very healthy relationship that leaves nothing left to be desired. As for looks: It might be a blonde, taller person whose favorite color is blue. There are cliffs on the card that remind me of Cornwall’s coast. The English theme is pretty consistent in his readings lmao we’re dealing with an excellent speaker. And, because it’s a court card with quite abundant imagery, it’ll be a S/O of quite some status. I am sure the person will be known to us already, or at least a big deal within his or her family. It’s queen energy, so the mom friend is right on their way into JK’s heart. Another aspect is that his partner might be rather spiritually inclined — mind you, every person is spiritual, how aware you are makes the difference — or even psychic. Water signs ahead; Pisces, Scorpio, Cancer.

— angel card: “Playfulness — To bring about romantic feelings, allow your youthfulness to shine with delight.”

Taehyung: THE EMPRESS

Yet another powerful female archetype, this reading does not mince words.  And also a very wholesome outlook, it’s very similar to the Queen of Cups vibe, or Queen of Pentacles if we’re looking at other tarot suits. I was really happy when I saw this card come out. The Empress almost always signifies kids, the theme is fertility. Taehyung will live a very lavish life with this partner. The card has so much opulence and positivity on it. Nature, food, pillows, ample garments, jewelry, good weather, and harvest time. And, of course, the Empress is fairly curvy, so expect either Taehyung gaining weight in the future or his partner being chubby. It’ll be the good life, in a good place, with the right person. There’s a settled and satiated feeling there. Stagnation could be possible after a while because this card gets too cozy. However, loyalty and a ripe sexual life are like glue to the union so I don’t see Taehyung stress anytime soon there. The card gives me plenty of clues how his home will look like as well, it’s highly decorated and comfortable. Interestingly enough, we see a huge wheat field surrounding the Empress — hence the card symbolizes fertility — so I wonder whether Taehyung’s dream of getting involved in farming will play out. I mean… coincidence? The countryside will take on an important role in any case, maybe with photography as well. Tae marrying a farmer’s girl, who knows! Beautiful card, definitely. It’s a good prospect for him. The Empress is major arcana so, this state of happiness will last him for a giant while and it’s destined. The boy will shed a tear no more. 

— angel card: “Attraction — you receive love by enjoying the moment.”

Yoongi: KNIGHT OF SWORDS

It’s the fastest card of the tarot! The power of swords paired with a knight on his speedy horse is quite a combination. Yoongi’s future partner is not going to waste time to charge right into sweet honey boy’s life. We’re dealing with a hothead, athlete, extrovert. I don’t think Yoongi has to do as much as crook a single finger to get things going. In fact, he’s the one waiting it out. He’ll just lean back and poof there is his significant other bursting into his life. Though I gotta say, the Knight of Swords has a detriment and that is: He leaves as fast as he arrives, and you have to be sure of your boudaries. Major burnout dangers there. The relationship might be short compared to say Namjoon’s or Tae’s reading. It’s Yoongi’s part to make this last if that’s what he’s going for. It’s a sword card, there have to be efforts and mental clarity involved to solve the problem. Though, someone rushing towards their love interest with so much passion has a good reason why he or she does that. Yoongi could get snatched away by someone else, with so many people interested in him you really have to be determined. With the archetype being a knight I also know it’s going to be someone younger than him, there’s a certain rebellion to the card. It has military energy. Yoongi’s partner will be one outrageous and direct person. They are 100% unafraid to face off with Yoongi, they have better comebacks than the master of sharp remarks himself. When it comes to sex, Yoongi will probably forget his own damn name after that ride. This person is wild as hell. It’s not a fellow sleepyhead as we saw in the ideal type reading, but a S/O bringing him out of his dreamy world. There’s a strong encouragement for Yoongi to achieve a lot more when he enters that relationship, it’s a power up to be expected here.

— angel card: “Worth the Wait — Divine timing predicates your relationship.”

Namjoon: TEN OF PENTACLES

Nice! Wow. The tarot says Namjoon is blessed. This is the card of wealthy, happy old age. He’s headed right for it already. In all tarot suits, the 10 indicates fulfillment. E.g. the Ten of Cups shows relationship completion because cups stand for love, the Ten of Swords shows total defeat because swords symbolize conflict, the Ten of Wands signifies complete effort/exhaustion since wands represent impetus. So the Ten of Pentacles equals coming full circle in terms of material things as pentacles are responsible for all tangible value in life. He’ll be living blissfully with his S/O. Everything is cared for. We’re talking long-term relationship here. The card shows an old man settled in his favorite coat and spot. Namjoon has a kind of master plan to gently arrive in his 80s, 90s. It’s not a surprise, we know he looks ahead, the tarot is aware of it, too. And yes: He will finally be able to answer his question “Who the hell am I?”. Ten of Pentacles means: Identity found. I had to wipe away a tear for that one man. I think it has to do with the location. The setting of the card is like a polished type of town with castles. A bit Italian, Mediterranean. Not as modern as say Seoul, bigger cities. It could be him moving to a warm country where things are slow, antique, and indulgent. I once said Namjoon has a type of European mindset going on, if he moves there it with his loved one or his partner is European it wouldn’t be shocking. There are two dogs on the card so, Joon will have pets involved in the partnership. The 10 of Coins also shows a couple immersed in a chat. His S/O is primarily someone he can talk to about the world, it’s a very conversation-heavy union. Now, the old man on the card could also show that he finds another old soul— we’ve had that topic come up in the other readings as well, the tarot is sure he’ll meet someone on par. Earth sign energy here.

— angel card: “Love Without Fear — Open your heart to give and receive the highest of energies.”

Hobi: THREE OF PENTACLES

Even more pentacles. Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn is possible. His partner is a darn good team player, their friendship bond is strong. First thing that came to my mind, they’ll build a house together or get busy working around their home in some kind of way, that’s interestingly enough the central theme I get from the card. Distribution of chores and general tasks is a big thing, and they’ll be planning a gazillion industrious things from what I got through the imagery. There’s an abbot, architect/craftsman, and monk seen on that card working on a church wall embellishment. One gives directions, the other has drawn a sketch that illustrates what kind of decor the abbot wants to have on the church wall, and the third guy does the crafting, hammer and chisel in hand. It’s not a love-related card per see so it’s important to point that out. It could hint at some pretty huge artistic collaborations coming our way instead. If you combine that, it could happen in a way like… Hoseok gets with someone he collaborated/collaborates with sometime soon, or a little later. Yup. Chicken noodle soup with Becky G on the side! Their chemistry is amazing and she is so cute, it’s very much possible. Or, in a wider sense, it’s someone from an upcoming project. That’s interesting. It seems quite sure that Hoseok won’t retire after BTS even if he’s pretty damn rich already, he’ll stay in the industry and foster (=embellish) his career with a strategy behind it much like the abbot on the card. We’ll get to know his partnership(s) along the way, but the tarot says it’s not top priority. Pentacles are earth sign energy so Mercury, Saturn and Venus are what will dictate that union, it’s the overall pragmatic energy that’s taking center spot. Also, since the church is so prominent on the card, Hoseok is working towards marriage nine times out of ten. 

— angel card: “Fresh Love — A new person has stirred your romantic feelings.”

Jimin: FIVE OF SWORDS

That one is… sigh. The odd one out in this post. How do I put it. It’s a series that just doesn’t break. Jimin constantly gets the messy cards and not so love-friendly swords when I do relationship readings on him. There is something going on and I kind of hate it already. But the tarot is being adamant so we have to decipher what’s going on and see the resolution, there’s more to it than just the cards doing him dirty. The Five of Swords pictures a battle aftermath with a mischievous winner and two defeated parties walking away sore. The winner picks up the weapons left behind to hoard then. So when it comes to his future S/O, we’re talking someone wants to play win-lose with Jimin’s insecurities and will get away with it because they’re strong, sly, and full of themselves. They don’t have his best interests in mind, especially when quarrels go down. Lack of harmony overshadows the relationship. There’s some major bullshit and that’s scary. The partner is like a leech, leaving only Jimin pissed, it’s not a lose-lose situation, things are wholly unequal. Picking on Jimin leaves their ego inflated and intensifies resentment. Working against each other over working with another is going on. Jimin has to walk away from that situation and mend his wounds, and never return. It’ll be a period of growth in his life ahead where he becomes aware just how giving too much and being defeated by that does him no good, as well as learning how to spot douchebags who don’t care about him. The Five of Swords is among the quintessential breakup card, it’ll be what defines his future relationship unless or until he has the grit to stop the fight and search for equity and affection instead of put-downs.

— angel card: “You Deserve Being Loved — You’re worthy of love.”

Jin: SIX OF PENTACLES

Pentacles, pentacles everywhere. I see that the hyungs have some financial themes going on, Jin’s card is emblematic of that. First let’s have a look what’s going on with the imagery. A wealthy man holds a scale on this card. He distributes coins to poor men kneeling before him. It’s an interesting symbol for a relationship, if not for another more important area of Jin’s life which could very well be philanthropy. He is the wealthy man on the card, sharing in just ways as the scale indicates. That could be providing for his partner a lot or simply doing charity together with them. I do have to say, and that is similar to Hoseok’s card, I don’t see too much of a romantic theme here which is surprising, but the tarot knows its ways. Some members might be doing partnerships much later in life or eschew them. With Jin here, I get a sense that business relations and deals will be an overarching theme in the near future. It could be the situation with his dad’s business in Germany the card is hinting at, and if marriage is involved, there’s a major exchange of valuable ideals and things involved between parties. A recurring theme is class difference though, the same popped up in the last reading. Jin’s status will be much, much higher but he can tip things into balance with a fairness mindset, Libra energy. A huge gap will be bridged. Last but not least, mea culpa: I think I’ve been missing the obvious interpretation there. The signs are everywhere in the cards for his readings, and oh my god: Jin is the member who’ll get together with a fan. 

— angel card: “Children — Kids will have an influence on your love life.”

#PS: i already pulled the career reading cards this week and i can say #u can def look forward the results were interesting #bts tarot reading #anon #cub mail 🐅 #tarot #bts tarot #bts

[gaamagirl565]

Matters of the heart ep 8

Matters of the heart Episode 8 Building bridges {OPENING CREDITS} {Open to Varian rushing around his lab grabbing various bags of items} Varian: okay let’s see...sand...calcium...silica...copper...water.. {Isaiah walks into the lab rubbing his eyes still waking up} Isaiah: Dad what are yo-!? {Varian grabs Isaiah and forces him into a corner; he ties him to the workbench and puts goggles on him} Isaiah: hey! What the!? Father explain! Varian: Okay look last time I worked this machine was 18 years ago and it ended up making a vortex that nearly pulled the entire courtyard into doom so….Stay!...Love ya, buddy! {he kisses his forehead and runs back to the machine and pours various minerals into it; he pulls the leaver and stands back; Quirin walks in through the front door} Quirin: Morning so-..... {the machine zaps and makes loud mechanical noises; Quirin closes the door walks back out and closes the door} Isaiah: *yelling* AND THIS WAS FOR A SCIENCE EXPO!? Varian: come to think of it maybe 18 years is too long to leave a machine gathering dust in a shed...HIT THE DECK! {he throws himself over Isaiah; the machine explodes sending debris everywhere around the lab; Quirin rushes in} Quirin: Son!? Isaiah!? Are you alright!? {Varian pushes some debris off of him and holds up a small pink gemstone} Varien: EUREKA! {Isaiah stands up hair a mess and goggles sideways on his head; he coughs up a cloud of smoke} Isaiah: and so is...the life of the son of...the alchemist...uggh… {Varian unties him from the workbench chuckling} Quirin: Son what is that? Varian: I’m glad you ask… {Varian puts the gem into a ring} Varian: I call it...Zapadium… Isaiah: Huh? Quirin: Za...Son, are you going to…? {Varian nods} Quirin: Son I’m so happy for you! She’ll love it! Isaiah: Um. hi, uh, hello? What is Dad doing? Quirin: you didn’t...uhh...tell him? Varian: I was hoping you could help with that… Quirin:...yeah...of course…you see...Isaiah...When a man loves a woman he- Varian: N-Nevermind! I got this!... Isaiah… {Varian gets down on his level} Varian: I..I’m going to ask Zapada...To...well her caravan is going to be leaving soon and...I really like her..and She really likes me...and she really likes you too… Isaiah: okay...and? Varian: I’m going to ask her...to marry me… Isaiah: WHAT!? Quirin: now Isaiah… Isaiah: B-but What about Mum!? Varian: Isaiah it’s been several years...and I loved your mother and I still love he- Isaiah: Clearly not enough! Varian: Isaiah! Isaiah: NO! you’re...You’re betraying mum! Varian: Don’t you speak to me like th-! Isaiah: I wish mum was here! I-I wish she was here instead of you! You traitor! {Varian looks on in shock; Quirin goes from shock to a stern face} Quirin: That’s enough, Isaiah! {Isaiah tears up and runs out of the house; zoom out on Varian kneeling on the floor and Quirin placing a hand on his shoulder; cut to Isaiah running in the road and he smacks into someone} Zapada: OH! copilul meu! Are you alright!? {She reaches a hand down to help him up and he pushes it away} Isaiah: This is all your fault! Zapada: W-what? Isaiah: Just take your caravan and go!! {He runs away leaving Zapada shocked and teary-eyed; cut to Isaiah sitting in the orchard crying with his head in his knees} Lily: thought I’d find you here… Isaiah: H-huh!? P-Princess I-...*kneels* Lily: don’t...you’re a friend...did you forget I was visiting today? Isaiah: right...sorry… Lily: sooo...what happened...your dad said you ran away upset. Isaiah: My dad’s gonna marry that...lady… Lily: who!? Zapada? That’s great ‘saiah! You’ll have a new mom! Isaiah: I don’t want a new mum! I have a mum!...or I did… Lily:...you wanna talk about it? Isaiah:...Bandits stole her from us...or does dad just forget that!? Lily: I’m sure he doesn’t! He loved her too! My mom says love makes the world go round so...isn’t this a good thing? {Start the song like a dove}

{ISAIAH} Lily, my friend you don’t know the pain that I feel

When I see my father talk to that girl All that romance makes me wanna hurl And even if he smiles, has his heart truly healed Or are his true feelings deeply sealed? It seems mum was here and then gone Suddenly gone like a dove! {LILY} Isaiah my friend I know I have no room to speak But have you stopped to think about what you truly seek? I know one always loves their mother There will never be another who shows a love A love beautiful like a dove! {ISAIAH} How do you know what I seek? You think “I’ll just open his mind and take a peek!” Do you think you’re some “seer”? Well, guess what? Your mother is still here! {LILY} Hey no need to put up a defense But I really think you should recompense She may not be your mom But she still has a heart that loves- {ISAIAH} -I don’t care what she loves! I don’t want her, my only mother is sadly up above! {LILY} Isaiah, I’ve had enough of this! Feel free to sulk in your selfishness Your father wants to live in wedded bliss! What about his own happiness!? Did you ever think to consider this!? He found true love…. But you’ll make her fly like a dove!

{End song “like a dove”; Lily gets back on her horse and rides away} {Isaiah lets out a yell and throws a rock at a tree; it bounces off and hits him in the face; he falls back onto the ground with a groan; cut to the Lab and Zapada walks in} Varian: Z-Zapada hey! What’s up? {She starts to cry} Varian: H-hey! Hey! What’s wrong? Zapada: Îmi pare rău, dragostea mea, iartă-mă… Varian: what? F-forgive you for what? Zapada: my caravan is packing up...I must go soon… Varian: W-what!? But Zapada I-! Zapada: Please do not make this harder...I must go and..I do not know if..I’ll ever come back… Varian: Zapada… Zapada: Varian...Isaiah hates me...it won’t work...I’m sorry…I’ll never forget you… Varian: Zapada...I love you… {Zapada kisses him passionately} Zapada:...I leave you this only...forgive me… {She runs away and Varian falls to his knees in tears cut to Isaiah looking over the fields from a hill} Nathaniel: Hey loser… Isaiah: ugh...I have no time for you, Nathaniel… Nathaniel: relax you idiot I’m not here as an enemy… Isaiah: What? Nathaniel: you heard me...saw you freak out on that albino lady...got curious..what’s up with that man? {he sits next to Isaiah}

  Isaiah: Why do you care!? Nathaniel: cause...I know what words can do… {he holds up his arms to reveal his burn scars; Isaiah’s eyes widen} Isaiah: So what!? You deserved it!... Nathaniel: yeah..maybe I freaking did...But that lady didn’t deserve any of what you said! Isaiah: What do you know!? Nathaniel: I know you’re better than this! Better than a bully...better than me… Isaiah:... Nathaniel: You've always been the type of kid did likes to prove himself right? Well, you’re doing a pretty crap job of it right now!  all you've been able to prove is that you’re a serious jerk when it comes to change! Isaiah: Why don’t you shove off, you milksop!? Nathaniel: Call me whatever you want but you know I'm right... you get defensive when you know you're wrong... I've known you for years, Isaiah... let me give you some food for thought... do you realize how much your father's probably sacrificed being on his own? Isaiah:... everything he's ever done he's done for you!  I stood up to my father multiple times because my dad wanted to have you paraded through the streets for your little incident at the sunflower Festival.  you know what? maybe you should have been humiliated! You try and act like you're one of us you're an old Corona but face it you're just a Pampered spoiled rich brat... you were born that way and you'll die that way… Isaiah: You wanna go!? Nathaniel: Oh trust me I'd like nothing better than to knock your lights out right now!  but that's not why I'm here!  I got a lot of time to think as I've been recovering from what you did to me...  trust me I wasn't in the right I freaking know that... and look what it got me... I'm going to walk around for the rest of my life with a reminder of what I did. and it looks like so are you... think about this... that lady has been nothing but nice to you ever since she arrived here.  your dad has done nothing but sacrifice for you... I may not like Mr. Varian but I'm not just going to sit here and watch you throw a Pity poor me party because your dad actually wants happiness. Isaiah: So what do you think I should do then!? Nathaniel:  maybe actually give her a chance!?  Isaiah let me tell you something...  if you continue to let this happen you're going to ruin it for your dad and you're going to regret that for the rest of your miserable life!  you love your dad right!?  then freaking suck it up!  I know you miss your mom… Isaiah: Watch it Nathani-AH! { Nathaniel punches Isaiah to the ground} Nathaniel: shut up for 2 seconds would you?  I know you miss your mom and no one faults you for that but you've got to give this lady a chance... If no one going to freaking lay the smackdown on you I have no qualms about doing it myself... cuz you're going to screw up your life acting like this trust me I know… Isaiah:  why do you care!?  just answer me that one question! Nathaniel:  because I'm not going to watch somebody else screw their life of any more than they already have... every time I look at your face or my arms I think of what I helped cause... I go back to that day in the marketplace... that is going to haunt me for the rest of my life. I still have freaking nightmares about that day man…. I still see the fire... still feel the pain... I still see you lying there in a puddle of your own blood... and one thought passes through my mind every single time I wake up from that nightmare... I caused that... don't screw up your life man... if you ruin this for your dad... if you make her go... you're going to regret it... and you're going to think you caused that every time you wake up. {Isaiah gets up off the ground and rubs his swollen cheek} Isaiah: ...If it helps…. I still have nightmares about it too... I didn't mean to hurt you... I didn't mean for any of that...  I just wanted to make you feel the same humiliation that I did... I didn't mean for it to blow up... I'm sorry… Nathaniel:.... whatever... so what are you going to do now? Isaiah:  I have to find Zapada… and my dad... Nathaniel: Who you better hurry up... Caravan scheduled to leave at sundown… Isaiah: WHAT!? Nathaniel:  you didn't know about that? why do you think I came up here? Isaiah:  to be perfectly honest I thought it was to beat me up… Nathaniel: wow thanks for the vote of confidence… Isaiah: Oh shut up would you? where is my dad!? Nathaniel:  when your grandfather went to go see the Caravan off you better hurry up if you want to make things right again… Isaiah:  yeah I think I know what to do... Nathaniel... never in my life did I think these words would utter from my mouth... but thank you… Nathaniel:  like I said... whatever... and if you tell anyone about this I will beat you up… Isaiah: riiighhhht...thanks… {Isaiah runs to the lab; he busts in through the door} Isaiah: Dad!?... {The lab is empty and on the table sits the pink Zapadium ring; Isaiah grabs it and runs out the door; Cut to Varian helping Stoica load the last bit of cargo} Stoica: I want to thank both of you for your hospitality... you've been very kind to me and my people... well most of you anyway… Quirin:  we were happy to have you… { Varian looks off towards Zapada; Zapada turns away from him; Varian walks over to her} Varian: Zapada I… Zapada: Don’t...Don’t make this any more difficult… Varian: I wanted to say... I'm sorry it had to end this way... I'll never forget you either… {he brushes her cheek and she leans into it; Isaiah runs into frame} Isaiah: Wait! Varian: Isaiah? Isaiah what is it!? {Isaiah gasps for air} Isaiah:  give me a second... why did you guys Park them in the farthest field?…. {he catches his breath} Isaiah:  I need to say something...Zapada... I'm sorry I said those awful things to you and my dad... I was just... I was really angry and Confused... I don't really know how to describe my actions... nor can I come up with a good excuse for them... dad you've given so much for me in the years that you've raised me...and Zapada you've been nothing but nice to me... and I've been nothing but rude to you…. maybe it's time I started being a little more understanding... and Dad maybe it's time I started giving back to you… Varian: Isaiah? { Isaiah walks over and places the ring in his hand} Isaiah:  it's okay Dad... really it is... {Varian hugs him and turns to Zapada} Zapada: Varian? {Varian gets on one knee and Zapada covers her mouth with shock and starts crying} Varian: Zapada...Ever since I saw you I knew you were special...and boy was I right, you’re funny and shy, and just all-around perfect...I can’t imagine my life without you...So without further ado...Zapada...Will you marry me? {everyone holds their breath} Zapada: Oh iubirea mea...Da! Yes, I will! {She tackles him to the ground and people cheer} Varian: oh and you left something… Zapada: I did? {Varian kisses her Passionately; Isaiah gags} {Begin song “give yourself a chance reprise”} {varian} You say people hate then so be it Our love is beautiful I hope you see it People might judge at first glance But glad I’m you gave me a chance! {Zapada} How do I describe to make you see All the things you’ve done for me Your love has given me hope For better days yet to come! {Varian} Even when the world looks down on you There’s no need to feel blue Bide those worries Adieu Because Remember I’ll always love you! {Isaiah} Zapada? I know I made you sad But I promise that I’m not all bad People normally don’t give me even a second glance but I’m glad you gave me a chance {end song; they all hug} {END CREDITS}

#tangled #tangled the series #rapunzel’s tangled adventure #matters of the heart #Varian #Quirin #Zapada #Isaiah #TTS #RTA #tts oc #rta oc

[ead13]

Happy Trails, Old Friend

I don’t know why I got the urge to write about Branwen dying (of old age and very happy, I can assure you!), but here it is. Also, Arthur has a soft spot for Kieran and you can’t convince me otherwise.

               “Papa! Papa! Something’s wrong with Branny!”

               Kieran could feel a knot of dread form in the pit of his stomach. This news shouldn’t surprise him; he’d noticed how Branwen was faltering, and when he really thought about it (which he rarely had time to do now that he was juggling five kids and counting), his longtime companion was old. Actually, very old. Considering Branwen had been middle-aged, probably in his teens when he was assigned to him in the army, that meant he had lived a damn good, long life for a horse.

               Knowing that didn’t make the thought of saying goodbye any easier. No doubt Becky was the bearer of bad news.

               “Let me have a look at ‘im,” he answered quickly, dropping the curry comb he had been using to brush one of his charges. Still, he did his best to remain calm for his daughter’s sake as he closed the door to the stall. No need to start the little girl crying. Before he could take her hand, she was running on ahead to the pasture where Branwen spent his golden years grazing in peace. Even from a distance, he could see the flaxen roan horse was lying on the ground. He could hear the sound of weak braying carrying across the field. No, this wasn’t good at all.

               By now, Leah had heard the commotion and come running from across the yard where she had been feeding the chickens. “Papa, what’s wrong?”

               Kieran stopped and waited for his second-eldest to join them, but it wasn’t long before Becky was tugging on his arm. Linked together, they finally arrived at Branwen’s side. The old boy’s breathing was labored, more of a shudder than anything. It didn’t take more than a second to understand the situation. “Girls, you oughtta say yer goodbyes to ol’ Branwen.”

               “You mean he’s gonna die?” Becky looked at him with wide-eyed horror.

               He reached up and rubbed his beard, trying to pass off his anxious energy so they wouldn’t catch it. “Horses don’t live as long as people do, sweetie. As far as horses go, Branwen is a real old man. Most of ‘em don’t even live to be this old. He’s had a good life, a very happy one here with us.”

               “We can’t help him?” Leah wondered sadly, reaching out to pet the quivering animal gently. Becky followed suit.

               Kieran just shook his head, gritting his teeth to keep his emotions in check. “That’s just how it is. But he’s lucky that in the end he’s safe and loved and taken care of. Not every horse gets that.” He was trying to encourage himself just as much as his daughters at this point. The only thing making this easier was the heart-warming way they hugged the ailing creature, burying their faces into his well-groomed coat. They had grown up with Branwen, riding the gentle horse when they were still small enough for him to carry their weight. Yes, so much love. All the love he deserved.

               “You two take yer time sayin’ goodbye. I’m gonna go find yer ma and let her know.” More than that, though, he was going to see if he could convince Mary-Beth to take the kids to Uncle Arthur’s farm for a visit so he could put his dear friend out of his misery without having to worry about traumatizing his kids. Also, so he could cry about it in private.

 VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

                 He thought he’d have to work harder to convince her, but Mary-Beth was a saint. Even juggling five children under the age of 10 and half-way towards their sixth, she quickly agreed to give him the space he needed. Emma went to say her goodbyes too before being packed up in the wagon, but Rachel and Kieran were too young to comprehend the situation. Mary-Beth would have visited the old horse too, but she had her hands more than full. Instead, she pulled him into a long embrace. “I’m so sorry, dear. I know Branwen means the world to you. When I get back and the kids get settled, we can talk.”

               “Thanks, darlin’, for everything,” he murmured, squeezing her tight. “I think I’m gonna need it. That and a bottle o’ whiskey…”

               When she released him, she found Becky and Leah at her skirts. “Papa, are you okay?”

He kneeled down to pull both of his girls into a big hug. “This is gonna be very hard for me. I love Branwen very much. But he’s sufferin’, and it wouldn’t be fair to make ‘im keep sufferin’. Sometimes when ya love somethin’ you gotta let it go.” Damn, his eyes were getting misty!

“Should I stay with you?” Becky wondered, looking up at him and no doubt seeing every hint of distress in his face.

He gave a small smile. “No, sweetie. Sometimes ya hafta have some space away from other people. But when you both get back, I’m gonna need another hug, okay?”

“Okay.”

Finally, everyone was packed up and the wagon was heading down the road. That just left Kieran wrapped in an abnormal silence. He went to go pull out his shotgun. This had to be a clean kill, but as he reached for the firearm, he realized his hands were shaking badly. They continued to do so as he checked the ammunition and gunpowder. How the hell was he supposed to be able to do this?

In the end he decided that he’d just sit with Branwen until sunset, maybe braid his mane one last time, see if he’d eat an apple. He’d wait until his friend was asleep before ending it.

 VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

                 There were many tears in those precious hours, and he felt bad for it, as if it would upset Branwen even more. His breathing wasn’t much better, but at least his braying stopped as his favorite human settled down next to him. Kieran had suspected long ago that Branwen couldn’t really see anymore, having watched him bump into things. He always reacted to his voice, though, and that brought him some level of peace. He couldn’t eat the apple, just didn’t have the energy even though it was his favorite. This really was the end…

               Kieran was so in the moment that he nearly missed the sound of hoof beats. Who in the world would be coming now? It was too late in the day for any customer to return for their horse, and the kids surely couldn’t be back this early. He didn’t really have the energy to get up and look. Once he got up, he’d have to pull the trigger.

               “Kieran, I figured you’d be draggin’ yer heels.”

               The familiar voice caused him to startle. “A-Arthur?”

               He looked up to find the imposing figure of Arthur Morgan towering over him as robust as ever despite the onset of some graying hairs. “Heard ‘bout ol’ Branwen when yer brood showed up at my place. Puttin’ a horse to rest ain’t no one-man job, so I thought I’d come over and assist. I’m assumin’…” he gestured to the wide expanse of land their ranch covered, “there’ll need to be a proper burial.”

               “Huh, yer right. Guess I didn’t think of that,” Kieran admitted, looking downcast. He turned his gaze to the sinking sun. “I ain’t got any more time left, do I? Not if I hafta get this done before they get back.”

               “I reckon not. I also reckon…” he paused, scratching his head awkwardly. “I mean, if ya want, I could be the one to pull the trigger.”

               It wasn’t the idea of the finality of a trigger pull; it was all the idea that Arthur was kind enough to offer. He lost it. “I’m sorry, I thought I was done with this!” he tried to explain, wiping the tears now streaming from his eyes as he stumbled to his feet. He didn’t want his emotions to disturb Branwen, who had fallen asleep. “It ain’t like I’m losin’ my wife or my kids, I got no reason to be actin’ like this…”

               Arthur put a heavy hand on his shoulder. “Kieran, look at me.” The man struggled to obey, but Arthur refused to continue until he did. “I still remember how hard it was to lose Boadicea. I’d had that horse for a long time. But you and Branwen, even I know that was something more. You’d been down some pretty dark roads, all on yer own ‘cept for that horse. I know there were times he was all you had.”

               Now Kieran was crying uncontrollably in a way he hadn’t allowed himself to yet, all desires to handle this like a man crumbling away. “I used to say that all I knew ‘bout life was that people kept dyin’ and I loved horses. I thought Branwen and I would die too, alone. I don’t think I would have even bothered to keep livin’ if I didn’t have him to take care of. We finally got lucky though, him an’ me. You fellers took us in, got me on my feet, and now I’ve got Mary-Beth and five beautiful children and a home, and…and…” Finally, he let himself fall weakly against Arthur’s shoulder. “He got me through it all, but now his time is done, and I have other things to be livin’ for. Just gonna be an awfully big hole. It’s gonna feel so wrong after all these years.”

               It still was uncomfortable for Arthur, gruff as he was, to wrap his thick arms around the man, even for a few seconds of comfort. Still, he sucked it up for Kieran, because there was something touching about the idea that he trusted him like this with his vulnerabilities. Their relationship had always been one of mentor and mentee, perhaps the only one in Kieran’s entire life, and even after ten years and plenty of aging from both of them, that hadn’t changed. “That’s why I came, so you wouldn’t hafta do this alone. I’ll be the one to end it, so you don’t hafta.”

               “B-but, Branwen is my horse, my responsibility,” Kieran protested weakly, pulling away.

               “You have taken damn good care of that horse. There is no shame in lettin’ me do this,” Arthur insisted sternly. “Ain’t nobody gonna think less of ya for it, especially not when I’m offerin’.”

               It wasn’t worth a fight, not when he really didn’t want to do it. “Fine. Gun’s over there,” he gestured before wiping his eyes roughly.

               “Anything else you’ve gotta say to ‘im?”

               “Naw. It’s been said. And he’s sleepin’. I don’t wanna wake ‘im.”

               “All right. You go find some shovels and don’t come back ‘til you hear the shot.”

               He did as requested, flinching at the harsh sound of the gun and squeezing his eyes shut from his position in the shed. It was over. When all was said and done, they had a hole dug and Branwen buried, mane braided and apple given for his road to whatever afterlife there was for horses. Kieran desperately wanted to believe they’d go to heaven same as people so they might be reunited again one day. The dirt was barely filled in when the wagon bearing his family came rolling on in.

               Becky and Leah both jumped off as soon as it was stopped and came barreling towards their father, ignoring their Uncle Arthur completely. “Papa, we’re back!” They latched onto him immediately.

“Girls, I’m so happy to see ya.” Kieran wrapped his arms around them, then cast a glance at the rest of his family. His other children were squirming impatiently to be lifted down, but Mary-Beth took the time to meet his gaze. The concern in her eyes touched his heart. She may be busy being a mother, but he knew without a doubt that she was the best wife a man could ask for. Then, he looked to Arthur, who seemed amused by his nieces’ open affection. When he saw him looking, he nodded and grabbed the shovels, heading to the shed to put them away.

               Good Lord, Branwen was gone, but look at everything he had now, things he could only dream of when they’d first met. It would be hard, but he could survive this loss now.

#kieran duffy #branwen #rdr2 #arthur morgan #happy ending au

[shiftyskip]

Edward James “Babe” Heffron

The real Babe Heffron: 

Edward James Heffron was born on May 16, 1923 to Joseph and Anne Heffron in South Philadelphia. He was the third of five children in his Irish-rooted family. He had three brothers: James, Joseph Jr., John (called Jake or Jack). He also had one sister named Anna Margaret. He attended a Catholic elementary school, but his parents could no longer afford it after a while and in high school, Babe attended public school Southern Philadelphia High (which he called Southern). He dropped out in his third year, to help with finances. Babe took up betting on horses. Every penny he got off of a horse race, he gave to his mother. 

Babe used to rough house and play football when he was younger, but one day he hurt his hand playing. He says that “my hand and fingers contracted to the wrist and curled under, and I was in excruciating pain from my wrist all the way up the arm.” The pain would come back whenever he used his hands too much. The pain would stay with him for decades, even after the war. 

His friends decided to rent a room, fix it up, and make a dance hall called the Shindig. He and his friends were at the dance hall on December 7, 1941.The brothers decided to tell their parents before enlisting. His father had a talk with them the next day, without their mom. Babe states that, “He told us that we had to fight for our country and for the freedom of those less fortunate than ourselves. He made it clear he wouldn’t accept a slacker for a son and that he was expecting us to do our part.” His father had previously served in World War I, so Babe knew what was expected of him. 

Babe enlisted in August of 1942. His brother Joe was drafted into the Army while Jake and Jimmy were in the Navy. His call to service was on November 7, 1942. Which his official date of when he went on Active Duty. Babe was working at a shipyard in New Jersey at the the time. His job was to help fix up ships to become aircraft carriers and he hadn’t told them about his enlistment. His boss handed him a 2B slip, stating that he did not have to serve because his work served the war effort. Babe ripped it up in front of him. In Babe’s words: “I wasn’t going to shrink from my duty to my country. If my brothers, neighbors, and friends were all going, I wasn’t about to stay behind.

Babe went through Basic at Fort Eustis in Virginia, he was not a Toccoa boy. Meaning, Babe didn’t have the absolute joy of training under Sobel.He was assigned to B Battery, an anti-aircraft unit. He was promoted to a tech corporal and helped prepare future officers for officer candidate school. When he had arrived, he instantly put in the paperwork to become a paratrooper, but was told to finish Basic Training first.  Six to Seven months later, he was given the okay and was on his way to Fort Benning, Georgia. Babe was not in Jump School until January of 1943. In Fort Benning, he was put with 1st Parachute Infantry Regiment, K company.

Night life was limited. The boys spent most of their time by reading, listening to one man’s radio, or talking about home. Lights out was at 10:00 PM and they were up by 5:00 AM. When they did get to have some more time, Babe and others went to the Bama Club nearby. One day, a wife of an officer hosted a competition. Her best jitterbug partner got a bottle of champagne. Babe went up and danced with her. He ended up winning the competition. 

In jump school, Babe made a new best friend, Johnny Julian. Johnny was from Alabama and both men thought the other talked weird since Julian had a strong southern drawl and Babe did not. Babe said, “He was clean-cut, believed in God, believed in everything I believed in, believed his was coming home. We could talk to each other real easy.” Babe and Julian also became friends with J.D Henderson. Together, the three made a pact, that if one died the survivors would have to tell the parents. The trio stuck together through Jump School.

Babe loved jumps, even though his hands provided extra difficulty. He enjoyed the beauty of the day jumps, but disliked the night jumps. Night jumps were dangerous and one night, a plane crashed, killing all the men inside the plane. The night jumps were cancelled at the camp and the men were transferred to Camp Mackall for their final jump. Babe got his Jump Wings in March. 

 He was transferred to Camp Shanks, preparing to go home one last time before heading out overseas. In May of 1944, Babe was headed out overseas. When they reached, Liverpool, England, they had learned that the 101st and 82nd had jumped into Normandy. Babe was not part of the D-Day jump, instead he was a replacement for the troops who didn’t return from that jump. Babe, Henderson, and Julian were all transferred to Easy Company once they returned.

Easy Company’s barracks were in the middle of Aldbourne, England. Babe was told to visit Bill Guarnere. Guarnere, also from South Philadelphia, noticed that when Babe walked in, he walked like a penguin. This walk was like a duck, side to side, which Guarnere recognized as the South Philly shuffle. Guarnere and Babe only lived a short distance from each other in South Philly. 

Babe learned that replacements were not easily accepted. Toccoa Men wanted little to do with the replacements. They had trained together, jumped together, fought together, and mourned together. They didn’t want much to do with a replacement, didn’t talk to them and sure as hell didn’t want to fight with one. Babe was assigned to a Toccoa vet’s gun squad, Joe Toye’s. Joe Toye, unlike the others, didn’t give a damn if Babe was a replacement and accepted him. Chuck Grant was another Toccoa man that accepted Babe easily, even gave him a new nickname: Jigger. Guarnere was also often with Babe, going out to pubs and dances. Even so, Babe stuck with his fellow replacement friends, Julian and J.D. 

Babe and his friends enjoyed their time in England. Babe was often jitterbugging with girls and dancing away. They went to several different dance halls and other places. Even when they were supposed to be watching over the shed that held their chutes, Chuck Grant and Babe never made it to the shed. They never did. They were always off somewhere, enjoying a pub or two. 

During his time at Aldbourne, Babe’s girl back home, Doris broke up with him. She dumped him in a letter because she’d found another man. Babe didn’t much care about it. He hadn’t even visited her before he had left for England on his last weekend pass, saying that a previous weekend with her had been, “the most boring few hours [he] could’ve spent.” The world had a funny sense of humor, because the plane Babe boarded to jump into Holland, was named Doris. 

Babe was eager to jump. Babe made the jump into Holland on September 17. The jump in Holland went easy. Babe helped one mad who’d broken his leg during the jump off the field, but other than that there was not much, if any, combat. The Dutch greeted the paratroopers in celebration. They loved the paratroopers and called them angels from the sky. In Son, they received word to take Eidenhoven. On the route there, a Dutch woman gave Babe a baby carriage for him to carry his supplies in. He did so until Popeye threw his weapons in, then Babe made him push the carriage.

His platoon was the first to enter the city, and he instantly set up his machine gun by a footbridge, facing an entry way into the towns. Dutch underground members asked to attack the Germans instead, and Babe allowed them to. When the Germans appeared, the Dutch attacked them and killed all but one. The injured German was taken as a prisoner, but first a woman asked where he was hurt and when he pointed to his shoulder, she beat him with a hidden brick in her pocketbook and screamed something along the lines of evil at him. Babe said that it made his day.

Babe had many close calls in Holland. In Nuenen, a tank caught on fire and all of the men inside had died, leading it to be driven into the ditch next to Babe. How he escaped, he doesn’t remember. Later on, he thought he was hit but Buck Compton has been hit in his butt, tripped over a wheelbarrow, and hit Babe’s leg on his way down. Guarnere and others eventually rescued Compton.

 To escape the Germans, Babe had to get over a 6 foot hedge. To get over, Babe had to back into German fire and get a running start. As he jumped, his rosary came off of him. Sheehy grabbed his jump jacket and pulled him over the hedge. Babe, reluctantly, was about to leave his rosary behind, but found it inside his helmet. His mother had given him the rosary before he left and he was determined to carry it through the war.

Then he had another close call as the Germans shelled a cemetery he was standing in. One last one was when he was stuck in a ditch, with Germans firing at them. He went to return fire when Guarnere kicked him backwards and back into the ditch, saving him from getting shot while Guarnere himself still stood in the fire. Another close call was in October. Babe witnessed Joe Toye and Jim Campbell go into enemy territory. Toye had called for Babe, but Campbell stepped up instead, telling Babe to stay back. Campbell was hit in the back with a shell and died instantly. Toye was wounded pretty badly. But Campbell stuck out in Babe’s mind, for he had taken the hit for Babe. Babe never forgot him.

One time, when stopped by a river, Babe fell asleep by his machine gun. When he woke up, another paratrooper was peeing on his gun, since it was too dark to see. Babe started screaming and yelling, ready to kill the man. He never did shut up.

Babe was on the front lines for 73 days in Holland. When they reached Mourmelon for their rest. All the boys who were left after Holland got dysentery. Bill, as Babe envies, missed this because he had been hit and taken to a hospital. Even with dysentery, the men continued to train and work. In December, they had all received weekend passes to various towns when Bill ran in with the news that they were leaving, the Germans had broken through the Ardennes. Their weekend passes were off and they were headed into one of the worst winters Belgium had without winter gear. They had no combat gear, no ammo, no supplies. They were headed, unprepared, into the winter.

They arrived outside of Bastogne in the early morning. Their greeting was disgraceful to Babe. They encountered American soldiers fleeing. These soldiers tried to convince them to turn back. It was a disgraceful sight for the men to see. Medical supplies were extremely limited after this. On the way up, the 101st medical company was captured, but Babe offered to go get more supplies with another soldier. On the way back, when dark gave them cover to move around, Babe suggested they take a shortcut through the woods. Babe fell into a hole he didn’t see in the dark, snowy forest. Below him, a voice asked, “Hinkle, Hinkle, ist das du?” 

Babe scrambled out of the foxhole and yelled, “Hinkle your ass, Kraut!” And then he ran. 

Babe attended Mass in the snow one day when Father Maloney came up. They took communion in the snow and used the Father’s jeep as an altar. Skip Muck was in front of Babe once, after the communion, Babe said: “At least if we die, we’re going to die in a state of grace.” Skip agreed with him. 

They lost track of days out in Bastogne. It was a despairing, never ending situation. But the boys were determined. Babe states that, “If our general would have said, “Drop your weapons,” I don’t think a man in the 101st would have surrendered. Wouldn’t have happened. I think they would have gone against his orders. As bad off as we were. as cold as we were, as hungry as we were, I don’t think an American Airborne soldier could throw down his gun.” The armored division, according to Babe, likes to believe they saved the Airborne at Bastogne. But Babe says all they did was end the siege. The paratroopers were there before, during the fighting, and after the fighting. 

Joe Toye and Babe had another close call on New Year’s Eve. At exactly midnight, the artillery started shelling the Germans. But the shells started falling short and were landing right in front of Toye and Babe’s foxhole untl Toye called the men in charge and told them to aim better. Turns out, Joe Toye has shit luck, because he was hit in a German air raid by shrapnel the next day. He came back the next morning. 

Eisenhower, much to the dislike of the paratroopers, decided to launch an offensive on Foy and Noville. This extended their stay in the bitter cold, when they thought they were going to be relieved soon. Needless to say, not many were happy. 

The same day, January 1, Babe received word Julian had been hit. Babe ran to where Julian was. The Germans had shot him through the throat and whenever someone tried to move towards Julian, they fired at them. Babe couldn’t get Julian away from the Germans. Julian had wanted his class ring, wallet, and watch to be returned home if he died, but Babe couldn’t reach him. Julian died in the snow and Babe couldn’t reach him. When the Germans were finally pushed back away from Julian, his patrol members told Babe he could visit Julian’s body if he wanted. Babe couldn’t do it. He refused because he couldn’t stand to see Julian that way. His only relief was that Julian hadn’t suffered long.

Times were tough for Easy. Although Toye came back January 2, the day after Julian died, the same day Hoobler accidentally shot himself and died. Babe says he was gone before they got him out of the forest. January 3, it started snowing and the boys went back into their foxholes in the Bois Jacques forest. They had just reached the foxholes when the Germans started shelling them. Toye lost his leg in the shelling and Guarnere lost his leg trying to help Toye. Babe tried to light a cigarette for Guarnere, not sure how to help the men. He thought they were both going to die. But a kid in a Jeep pulled by with ammo, Jackson pulled a gun on him and told him to take Guarnere and Toye back, probably saving their lives.

January 10, the Germans shelled them again. When the shelling started, Babe was talking to Penkala and Muck in their foxhole, which was a short distance away from his. As the shelling began, Luz ran by. Penkala and Muck yelled for Luz to join them in theirs. But Luz dove into his own. Shortly after that, a shell exploded directly in Penkala and Muck’s foxhole. When Luz and Babe went over to their foxhole, Babe says that it wasn’t normally like how they went, they just evaporated. There was little left, if anything. “They has just vanished into thin air.” Babe, even while mourning the loss of his friends, couldn’t help thinking that it could’ve been him. Babe believes that Muck, much like he said in the communion together, died in a state of grace and he thought of Muck with every communion afterwards.

By Mid January, they advanced on Foy. The well-known story of Speirs saving the day in Foy. They dug in outside of Foy. When they were preparing to advance on Noville, Babe found he could no longer use his hands without splitting pain. He couldn’t hold a gun anymore due to the pain. He had even tried rubbing ice onto his hands to loosen them up, but the pain was too severe. He was in the hospital for 5 days and 4 nights because his calcium was too low. During his hospital stay, he encountered a nurse from South Philly. She said that he looked like an old man. “That’s what war will do, turn a nineteen-year-old kid into a man.” Due to the fact Babe’s hands were so bad, there was nothing the doctors could do. Babe had to go AWOL to get back to Easy, much like his friend Guarnere had earlier in the war.

He hitchhiked his way back to the company. When he got back, Easy was sent to Hagenau to hold the line up there, but they stayed in houses this time. They spent a few weeks there, crossing the river nearby and capturing German prisoners (Jackson died on one of these trips). They had been fighting for two and a half months by the time they were finally relieved and taken back to Mourmelon.

By the end of March, Easy Company was heading out again. They were headed to Germany, the Ruhr pocket near the bank of the Rhine River. The men were going from house to house to search out Germans. Babe had nightmares about for years about an incident that happened on patrol. His orders were to clean out one side of town, when he stumbled upon a bomb shelter. The procedure was supposed to be throwing a grenade in the bomb shelter and then kicking the door open. Babe felt he shouldn’t throw the grenades, and he told the others not to and kicked the door open. He stumbled upon a girl about 20 years old, with toddlers and an old couple was behind her. Babe had nightmares about what would’ve happened if he had thrown the grenade first and accidentally killed them. He says he wouldn’t have been able to live if he had killed them. 

On another patrol, Spina and Babe stumbled upon several men in the house. They had a small jar of money with them. Babe and Spina took the money, which the other men claimed was a payroll, and the next day gave it out to displaced persons (recently liberated from camps) after church. They’d earned it.

They stayed on duty till the end of April. After that, Babe and Easy Company were on their way to Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. They stopped in Landsberg for a few days, where they learned a Concentration Camp was located. When Easy arrived, the sight was devastating. In his words, “If any of the guys didn’t know why we were fighting, they knew then.” He continues later, “If anyone tells you the Holocaust didn’t happen, or that it wasn’t as bad as they say, no it was worse than they say...It wasn’t fair.” 

Easy Company soon continued after helping liberate the camp and made their way up to the Eagle’s Nest. As they went. they passed many German soldiers surrendering and many dead SS officers. Some took their lives, other times the French killed them, and Easy let them have that. On May 5, Easy took Berchtesgaden and were the first ones in the Eagle’s Nest. There, with little resistance, they looted and drank to their hearts content. Babe didn’t like the drink choices very much, so he didn’t drink much. But he says he did have a glass of Hitler’s champagne. 

On May 7, Babe was directing POW traffic when a car pulled up to him. A German general and colonel sat in it. The general was driving the colonel. The colonel told Babe that the general, General Tolsdorf, wanted to surrender to someone of equal rank and asked Babe to find someone. Babe told him to get out of the car. The general got out of the car and saluted to Babe. Babe didn’t salute back and sent the general on his way to Colonel Sink with another lieutenant. Babe then searched his car and took anything of value with him. Babe later learned that this specific general had been in command of the German troops in the Bois Jacques woods. 

May 8, 1945 the war was over. Easy Company left the Eagle’s Nest and went to Saalfelden, where Babe looted and got a gold sword with a swastika engraved on it, encrusted with stones. He took it with him. They were transferred to Kaprun, where they stayed for several months. There Babe met a small, Polish girl, Annie, from a DP camp. (This was common among the troopers and some even married the women in the camps) Sadly, at the end of July, Babe had to leave. Easy Company boarded a train for France, but somehow Annie had found his train. Annie chased after him, with a small suitcase, and the boys hung Babe out the boxcar by his ankles. Annie gave up chasing him after a while. 

In France, Babe did his last jump, this was a qualification to receive jump pay. The man before him hesitated and when Babe got him out of the plane, Babe had jumped wrong. He was facing the wrong way (towards the motor, not the tail) and his ropes were tangled. Babe panicked and started saying his Hail Marys. He eventually got his legs untangled, his chute opened, and he landed safely. 

Babe was discharged in December of 1945. He arrived back home and meet his brothers, Jimmy and Joe, and his father at a local bar. His mother had suffered a heart attack while he was gone, but she had recovered. Babe went to work when he got home. He only worked 2 jobs, and both of them were with Guarnere. He worked at the waterfront as a cargo checker and clerk. He worked there for 27 years until his retirement. 

Babe returned to playing football every weekend. He played on a team with other veterans from the war. He played with that team until he was 32. He also went back to betting on horses. There’s even one named after him in Ireland. The horse is Babe Heffron, and it jumps hurdles. Babe was pretty amazed by the fact he had a horse named after him. 

A year after the war, Babe went to go find Bill Guarnere. Babe found him shooting dice in the street. Babe immediately jumped on him, forgetting that Bill was wearing a prosthetic leg. Bill told him that he had thought he was the cops at first. Babe and Bill went out for a drink, Babe met Bill’s wife. Babe and Bill were inseparable after that. They attended Easy Company reunions (which Bill started and ran for 60 years) together, went to Europe many times together, worked together. They worked on construction projects and each others houses together. Bill copied Babe’s phrases, to the annoyance of Babe. They even got arrested together. They went to an Holocaust memorial dinner together, where they met survivors of the Concentration Camp Babe helped liberate. Bill was Babe’s best man at his wedding. 

Babe married Dolores Kessler when he was 37. She had three kids from a previous marriage, Dolly, Harry, and Bobby. Two years later, Babe and Dolores had a daughter named Patricia, who they called Trisha. Trish called her godfather, Bill Guarnere, Uncle Bill. 

Babe’s hands healed 23 years after he first got home. His hands never bothered him again. He figures his body was lacking something, and after drinking a lot of milk, he got it. He was never told what was wrong with him. 

Babe couldn’t face Julian’s mother for 12 years. He finally contacted her and he visited her at her daughter’s house nearby. Babe gave her the regimental scrapbook, the only one he owned. Babe broke down, while Julian’s mom remained tough. “She was a better soldier than I was,” Babe said. “I knew Julian was looking down on me saying, “Good job, well done.””

Band of Brothers was published and soon the HBO series was in production. Babe and Guarnere were brought out to meet their actors, who they had only had phone conversations with. Robin Laing, a Scottish actor, was playing Babe. Babe had some concerns on how Robin would play him, especially with the South Philly accent, but they vanished when he met Robin. He even teased Robin about the Philly Accent, but told Robin that he did fine. According to Babe, Robin sounded just like him. Robin even had rosary beads and scapular, just like Babe in the war, which touched Babe dearly. 

Bill and Babe stayed at a fine hotel, with HBO providing an open tab, and invited the actors back for drinks. They drank those poor kids under the table and by the end of the stay, they had a $5,000 liquor bill. in the hotel, Bill and Babe gave away any momentos they could to others. One time, Babe put three shirts on, saying, “I know they ain’t gonna get me this time...”, but by the end of the night both men were in their underwear in the hotel. They had given nearly everything away. Babe even gave Robin his scapular, the very one he’d carried through the war.

Babe had told Richard Speight Jr., who played Skip Muck, about his last communion with Skip. After the communion scene, Speight turned to Robin and said, “Well, Heffron, if we die, we’ll die in a state of grace.” Babe was forever touched by Speight’s actions. 

Babe, although he did not watch most of the series because it was too hard to handle, did have a guest appearance in one of the episodes. He’s seen as a cameo in Holland, when Talbert is kissing a Dutch girl. 

After Band of Brothers, Babe and Bill had a book published together about their story. Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends was published in 2007.

Babe died on December 1, 2013. His ashes, along with his wife’s, were later put in bronze heart and put it a statue dedicated to him in his hometown of Philadelphia. Guarnere also has a statue in Philadelphia, so even in death the two are never far apart. 

#edward heffron #profiles #band of brothers #babe heffron #Real Life Band of Brothers #real band of brothers

[wackygoofball]

Wacky’s Brooding Box

Okay.

Here is the thing.

We are only a few hours away from the next episode. And I am barely containing my HYPE right now.

Okay.

That was a lie.

I never contain my HYPE.

But that’s not the point. The point is that I have some fanfic-y thoughts I want to share with you that are likely wishful thinking for what awaits us JB-wise in this and the final episode. I have many more headcanons of that sort, but those are the ones I am now putting in this little box here.

I will lock those headcanons inside the box and below the cut. These are all scenarios I would dig to see, and whatever doesn’t happen... I will try to make fanfiction, I suppose. If I somehow unbreak my fanfiction bones. If at least one of them turns out true... I will get a crystal ball.

1) Brienne somehow learns about Bronn having been tasked with assassinating Jaime and Tyrion. Perhaps Podrick knows from Tyrion that Bronn showed up again, but Tyrion instructed Pod not to tell anyone. But since when can Ser Son keep anything from Ser Mom for long, right? Tables turn when we see Bronn the next time, drinking himself silly at an inn close to Winterfell. Pod comes in and they have conversation - only for Brienne to come up from behind and honor Bronn with the same kind treatment he gave to Tyrion. If she breaks his nose for real, she gets extra cookies. Brienne quickly disarms him and makes it clear that she is not like Tyrion, not like Jaime, she is not here to negotiate or play castle-swap. It’s either that he does as she says or she will end him. Bronn is pissed but impressed, makes jokes about Jaime's cock being magical if someone goes that far to get it back or something to that effect. It turns out that Brienne has a new plan, which involves taking Bronn to King’s Landing with her as he has knowledge of the passageways underneath King’s Landing, as can be assumed after he led Jaime down there to meet up with Tyrion. I would just about die to have a roadtrip moment of Bronn having the giggles about JB finally having done it, though things would likely turn serious soon. I keep having that mental image of Brienne telling him that she pities him for being so alone in the world that he can’t seem to care for anyone or anything beside himself, how his life is devoid of meaning and how he will die alone no matter what castle he comes to own. Since I still have that headcanon that Bronn will choose to die an honorable death in the capacity of actually risking his life for his friends (Jaime and Tyrion are really the people he could care about even if he says and acts like he is the only one who matters to himself) or perhaps for Brienne now.

2) We zoom in on Winterfell. Brienne tries to distract herself from her anger and sadness by training excessively with Pod. She barely talks, grits her teeth a lot. Maybe Sansa watches from the balcony, looking a bit concerned or at the very least troubled. Then the IMPOSSIBLE happens. Pod lands a hit for the first time because Brienne is distracted. Podrick has a total WTF moment ("When did I become so strong? What power was I given by the Seven? What is happening??? Did I just kill her??? Ser Mommmm?"). He starts to fuss and apologizes to her as Brienne straightens back up. She tells him there is no need, then excuses herself and storms off.

3) possibly in connection to 2) if Jaime did indeed put a bun in that oven (I think he did), we see Brienne puking somewhere, or hear her, we can fill in the blanks on our own, thank you. Then either ENTER Gilly going like "oh, girl, I know the feeling, it'll pass once you are a bit further along with the pregnancy". Brienne stares at her as wide-eyed as ever , thinking "the lady is mad" or ENTER Dadvos showing concern for Brienne (I really kind of want them to have another scene because they have a twisted history together and ever since the whole honorable man and just woman, I have my headcanons, so many of them). Brienne tries to brush it off but soon realization dawns on her that, yup, there is a Braime Bun. 4) Sansa tells Brienne that Bran wants to talk to her. Brienne goes to see him and he drops some truthbombs. This ould be a number of things, scenarios my brain is currently favoring: a) Bran reveals he had another conversation with Jaime before he left wherein he told him that "you will have a child, but it isn't the Queen's" which made Jaime connect the dots that Brienne already was pregnant with his child whereas Cersei actually was not, doubling the angst for him to put her at risk; b) Bran tells her something along the lines of what he told Jon, that Brienne has to make a choice about where she wants to go moving forward as she has an important role to play in all this, which may or may not cement her crucial role to endgame; c) he reveals to her that he drove Aerys mad to bring Jaime to where he was to even things out between them, basically, how he had to set it all up for Jaime to be right where he is now, that he has to bring everyone to where they are needed and that Brienne now also has to decide where she wants to be, though whatever choice she makes “will come with great sacrifice;” d) he drops a massive hint towards the YMB(Q) being about Brienne in an even more overt way; e) some talk about East and West united, f) Bran repeating to her "Nothing's more hateful than failing to protect the one you love” to Brienne.

5) Brienne readies the horse for herself (similar to how we saw Jaime ready his before he left), we see her taking a moment to hold on tight to Oathkeeper or we zoom in on it, to affirm that she's holding on to her bond with Jaime through the twin swords; ENTER Pod asking her what she is doing. If he opens with "Ser" or "M'lady Ser" he gets extra points. Brienne tells him that she will be leaving for King’s Landing. If Pod got the clue that she may be with child (if that's the scenario we are rolling with), he may express concern about her going alone, arguing that he as her squire should come with her. Even if not with the bun going on, he may still insist on doing that because he is a good squire and she raised him well. Brienne then touches him in a very soft kind of way and tells him that she needs him to stay here, that she trusts him with her promise to Lady Catelyn now to protect Sansa from harm. "There's nothing I can teach you anymore, Podrick." Something like that. She then rides off to kick that lovely man with golden hand in the balls and make him come home.

6) Alternatively, I could see Sansa and Brienne having honest conversation about the status of her oaths and her staying at Winterfell. Brienne may express fear that Sansa would not understand why she'd want to go after Jaime, just that she does, showing that she is more adult than most others, arguing that Brienne doesn't have to stay to know her protected, hinting at the fact that Pod is more than capable as she trained him well.

7) Brienne actually doesn't head straight to KL but meets up with Selwyn or a commander of Tarth forces (maybe a kind of Goodwin character). Big reveal is that she wrote to her father to request help before she left Winterfell. I mean, they have soldiers right? I want to see more of those??? I bet they kick ass??? I would just love it if Brienne commanding Vale soldiers would now bring her one step closer to doing the same for her own people/troops. It would so neatly fit with her arc about finally taking up on her position as only living heir to her House. This could well be incorpated with Bronn being dragged along and Brienne basically not just planning a rescue mission for Jaime but also to protect his finest act by getting people out of the Red Keep and to safety by enabling evacuation protocols.

8) If there is such a thing as a father-daughter reunion between Selwyn and Brienne at some point (not necessarily before going to King’s Landing), I just want him to say how much she's changed upon first seeing her. Gah.

9) After Brienne is normally always the one to ask “what are you doing?” I kind of want Jaime to now say that to her upon seeing her wind up at King’s Landing.

10) I can still see a fakeout death scenario for either one of them. Since they were so heavy on misdirecting us with regards to Jaime’s fate, I start to think that maybe it’s really Brienne. She didn’t have a stand-alone near-death experience ever since the bearpit and the fight with the Hound. The rest was more regular battles that left us little second-guessing. At Winterfell against the living dead, eveyone could have been gone any minute, so that hardly shed the light on her (not that this episode shed much light *nudge* *nudge* Long Night *nudge*). Like, I was personally very fearful we would lose Pod that episode because they gave him the song and all those things, but she momentarily lost Jaime. Now the show’s dropped the idea of “you don’t have to die with your sister, Jaime” which is why I think that is precisely what is not happening. Otherwise it’s extremely... oddly... straight-forward. Plain. Point being, in the BatB trajectory, we are now at the point where Belle leaves for her home to be with her family, only to be held off by her evil sisters who are jealous of her. The Beast “dies” as a result of that neglect, but awakens/is reborn when Belle returns and professes her love for the Beast, and the curse is broken. In that part of the story, Jaime is Belle and Brienne is the Beast. So it may be that this is the time when we are led to believe that Brienne died, and Jaime will believe that she died, just that she didn’t. “Who wants to die defending a Lannister?” Big foreshadowing right there from all the way to their first encounters. So I can see her coming to King’s Landing and saving Jaime, only to nearly get killed herself, or leaving Jaime under the belief that she may be dead, only to then reveal that she is not. He still has to say the magic l-word, after all.

Anyway. Those are some broody thoughts for Wacky’s broody box. Thanks for your attention.

#got spoilers #jaime x brienne #jaime lannister #brienne of tarth #wacky rambles

[storyswept]

Jon Snow and Dragons (Part I: Of the Existence of Dragons and Their Dangers)

Introductory Note

This analysis is based on book quotes mentioning dragons, taken mostly from Jon's chapters. Other POV chapters were only quoted if they were conversing with Jon and dragons came up, or if relevant to the current discussion. I bolded the parts I found interesting.

Warning: spoilers for all published books, mention of a very popular theory on Jon's parentage. Plus, I have watched the show, so I'm sure it must be coloring my opinions.

Part I: Of the Existence of Dragons and Their Dangers

Of the Existence of Dragons

[Jon] had the Stark face if not the name: long, solemn, guarded, a face that gave nothing away. Whoever his mother had been, she had left little of herself in her son. "What are you reading about?" he asked.

"Dragons," Tyrion told him.

"What good is that? There are no more dragons," the boy said with the easy certainty of youth.

"So they say," Tyrion replied. "Sad, isn't it? When I was your age, I used to dream of having a dragon of my own." (AGOT, Tyrion II)

At the start of the series, Jon Snow tells us: "there are no more dragons", just moments after Tyrion was reflecting on his parentage. How ironic. Since Jon has no reason to question his beliefs, the next volumes find him issuing similar opinions on the subject:

"I have never seen a dragon."

"No one has. The last dragons died a hundred years ago or more. But this was before that." (Ygritte & Jon, ASOS, Jon V)

We should have twenty trebuchets, not two, and they should be mounted on sledges and turntables so we could move them. It was a futile thought. He might as well wish for another thousand men, and maybe a dragon or three. (ASOS, Jon VIII)

And finally:

"Pyp should learn to hold his tongue. I have heard the same from others. King's blood, to wake a dragon. Where Melisandre thinks to find a sleeping dragon, no one is quite sure. It's nonsense. Mance's blood is no more royal than mine own. He has never worn a crown nor sat a throne. He's a brigand, nothing more. There's no power in brigand's blood." (Jon, AFFC, Samwell I)

"He is not dead. Stannis is the Lord's chosen, destined to lead the fight against the dark. I have seen it in the flames, read of it in ancient prophecy. When the red star bleeds and the darkness gathers, Azor Ahai shall be born again amidst smoke and salt to wake dragons out of stone. Dragonstone is the place of smoke and salt."

Jon had heard all this before. "Stannis Baratheon was the Lord of Dragonstone, but he was not born there. He was born at Storm's End, like his brothers." (ADWD, Jon X)

I'm sure Jon isn't the only person to find this notion nonsensical. Far from it in fact. But we readers know all about the return of the dragons in the East, which did involve blood magic. Also, if R+L=J is true, then Jon has indeed royal blood… another way to point out that Jon Snow knows nothing (compared to us) and that dragons can indeed be woken.

In "A Dance with Dragons",  Jon hears from Tycho Nestoris of "troubling reports":

The narrow sea is perilous this time of year, and of late there have been troubling reports of strange ships seen amongst the Stepstones."

"Salladhor Saan?"

"The Lysene pirate? Some say he has returned to his old haunts, this is so. And Lord Redwyne's war fleet creeps through the Broken Arm as well. On its way home, no doubt. But these men and their ships are well-known to us. No, these other sails … from farther east, perhaps … one hears queer talk of dragons."

"Would that we had one here. A dragon might warm things up a bit."

"My lord jests. You will forgive me if I do not laugh. We Braavosi are descended from those who fled Valyria and the wroth of its dragonlords. We do not jape of dragons."

No, I suppose not. "My apologies, Lord Tycho." (ADWD, Jon IX)

He doesn't take the assertion very seriously, as you can tell. And who can blame him? (well, aside from people who don’t think dragon jokes are funny). It's rumors… for now.

However, considering Aegon and the Golden Company's arrival in Westeros and Sam finding out the truth in Braavos, I think we can safely say Jon's beliefs on dragons will find themselves challenged in the future, if he survives his stabbing that is.

It's not unlikely Jon will want the dragons on their side in the fight against the Others. Why?

Remember his throwaway comments in the quotes above :

"He might as well wish for another thousand men, and maybe a dragon or three" (ASOS, Jon VIII)

"Would that we had one here. A dragon might warm things up a bit." (ADWD, Jon IX)

Add to this Maester Aemon's belief, that Daenerys was their hope (because of dragons):

"No one ever looked for a girl," he said. "It was a prince that was promised, not a princess. Rhaegar, I thought . . . the smoke was from the fire that devoured Summerhall on the day of his birth, the salt from the tears shed for those who died. He shared my belief when he was young, but later he became persuaded that it was his own son who fulfilled the prophecy, for a comet had been seen above King's Landing on the night Aegon was conceived, and Rhaegar was certain the bleeding star had to be a comet. What fools we were, who thought ourselves so wise! The error crept in from the translation. Dragons are neither male nor female, Barth saw the truth of that, but now one and now the other, as changeable as flame. The language misled us all for a thousand years. Daenerys is the one, born amidst salt and smoke. The dragons prove it." Just talking of her seemed to make him stronger. "I must go to her. I must. Would that I was even ten years younger."

 (...)

"No," the old man said. "It must be you. Tell them. The prophecy . . . my brother's dream . . . Lady Melisandre has misread the signs. Stannis . . . Stannis has some of the dragon blood in him, yes. His brothers did as well. Rhaelle, Egg's little girl, she was how they came by it . . . their father's mother . . . she used to call me Uncle Maester when she was a little girl. I remembered that, so I allowed myself to hope . . . perhaps I wanted to . . . we all deceive ourselves, when we want to believe. Melisandre most of all, I think. The sword is wrong, she has to know that . . . light without heat . . . an empty glamor . . . the sword is wrong, and the false light can only lead us deeper into darkness, Sam. Daenerys is our hope. Tell them that, at the Citadel. Make them listen. They must send her a maester. Daenerys must be counseled, taught, protected. For all these years I've lingered, waiting, watching, and now that the day has dawned I am too old. I am dying, Sam." Tears ran from his blind white eyes at that admission. (AFFC, Samwell IV)

Unless Sam never gets around to telling him, I don't think Jon would dismiss one of his mentors' opinion so easily.

But is relying on dragons really the safest way to defeat the Others? As Aemon just told us, "we all deceive ourselves, when we want to believe".

Of Dragons and Their Dangers

In fact, Jon is exposed to plenty of evidence that speaks of the dragons being dangerous.

Exhibit A: the rest of Jon and Tyrion's conversation about dragons.

"(…) When I was your age, I used to dream of having a dragon of my own."

"You did?" the boy said suspiciously. Perhaps he thought Tyrion was making fun of him.

"Oh, yes. Even a stunted, twisted, ugly little boy can look down over the world when he's seated on a dragon's back." Tyrion pushed the bearskin aside and climbed to his feet. "I used to start fires in the bowels of Casterly Rock and stare at the flames for hours, pretending they were dragonfire. Sometimes I'd imagine my father burning. At other times, my sister."

Jon Snow was staring at him, a look equal parts horror and fascination. Tyrion guffawed. "Don't look at me that way, bastard. I know your secret. You've dreamt the same kind of dreams."

"No," Jon Snow said, horrified. "I wouldn't …" (AGOT, Tyrion II)

Jon is understandably horrified at what Tyrion is insinuating.

What we can conclude: Dragons can be used to burn people (not a mind-blowing conclusion, I realise). Even your family if that your thing…

Exhibit B:

"Ashes and cinders."

"Kings and dragons."

Dragons again. For a moment Jon could almost see them too, coiling in the night, their dark wings outlined against a sea of flame.

"If she knew, she would have taken the boy away from us. Dalla's boy, not your monster. A word in the king's ear would have been the end of it." And of me. Stannis would have taken it for treason. "Why let it happen if she knew?"

"Because it suited her. Fire is a fickle thing. No one knows which way a flame will go." Val put a foot into a stirrup, swung her leg over her horse's back, and looked down from the saddle. "Do you remember what my sister told you?" (ADWD, Jon VIII)

What Dalla told him:

Jon faced him. "If you've had the Horn of Joramun all along, why haven't you used it? Why bother building turtles and sending Thenns to kill us in our beds? If this horn is all the songs say, why not just sound it and be done?"

It was Dalla who answered him, Dalla great with child, lying on her pile of furs beside the brazier. "We free folk know things you kneelers have forgotten. Sometimes the short road is not the safest, Jon Snow. The Horned Lord once said that sorcery is a sword without a hilt. There is no safe way to grasp it." (ASOS, Jon X)

Melisandre gives a counter-argument to this:

He turned back to the red priestess. Jon could feel her warmth. She has power. The thought came unbidden, seizing him with iron teeth, but this was not a woman he cared to be indebted to, not even for his little sister. "Dalla told me something once. Val's sister, Mance Rayder's wife. She said that sorcery was a sword without a hilt. There is no safe way to grasp it."

"A wise woman." Melisandre rose, her red robes stirring in the wind. "A sword without a hilt is still a sword, though, and a sword is a fine thing to have when foes are all about. (ADWD, Jon VI)

What we can conclude:

Dragons are associated with kings, ashes and cinders.

Fire is a fickle thing, and so is sorcery. Dragons are no different. As Maester Aemon said: "Dragons are neither male nor female, Barth saw the truth of that, but now one and now the other, as changeable as flame." (AFFC, Samwell IV)

Sometimes the short road is not the safest: Dragons might destroy a lot of the dead, but also a lot of the living as well.

A treacherous weapon is better than no weapon if you have foes. There's risk of personal injury however.

Exhibit C:

"My lord jests. You will forgive me if I do not laugh. We Braavosi are descended from those who fled Valyria and the wroth of its dragonlords. We do not jape of dragons."

No, I suppose not. "My apologies, Lord Tycho." (ADWD, Jon IX)

What we can conclude: Angering dragons or dragonlords has consequences.

Exhibit D:

Burning dead children had ceased to trouble Jon Snow; live ones were another matter. Two kings to wake the dragon. The father first and then the son, so both die kings. The words had been murmured by one of the queen's men as Maester Aemon had cleaned his wounds. Jon had tried to dismiss them as his fever talking. Aemon had demurred. "There is power in a king's blood," the old maester had warned, "and better men than Stannis have done worse things than this." The king can be harsh and unforgiving, aye, but a babe still on the breast? Only a monster would give a living child to the flames. (ADWD, Jon I)

"Refuse, and the boy will burn. Not on the morrow, nor the day after … but soon, whenever Melisandre needs to wake a dragon or raise a wind or work some other spell requiring king's blood. Mance will be ash and bone by then, so she will claim his son for the fire, and Stannis will not deny her. If you do not take the boy away, she will burn him." (ADWD, Jon II)

"Pyp should learn to hold his tongue. I have heard the same from others. King's blood, to wake a dragon." (AFFC, Samwell I)

"I looked at that book Maester Aemon left me. The Jade Compendium. The pages that told of Azor Ahai. Lightbringer was his sword. Tempered with his wife's blood if Votar can be believed. Thereafter Lightbringer was never cold to the touch, but warm as Nissa Nissa had been warm. In battle the blade burned fiery hot. Once Azor Ahai fought a monster. When he thrust the sword through the belly of the beast, its blood began to boil. Smoke and steam poured from its mouth, its eyes melted and dribbled down its cheeks, and its body burst into flame."

What we can conclude:

Lightbringer seems to have an effect similar to dragons.

The price for dragons is high.

Conclusion

Currently, Jon Snow believes dragons to be extinct. If he survives and finds out about their return, textual evidence suggests he might be interested in them as a potential weapon against the Others. However, Jon's chapters seem to contain warnings about their use. Which asks the question: will he heed them?

Link to Part II: Of Dragons and Gold

#asoiaf #jon snow #dragons #asoiaf meta #original post

[jesuspicksmeup]

Project Joshua - the aftermath.

“Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.[a]

2 Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”

4 Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. 5 “By all means, go,” the king of Aram replied. “I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents[b] of silver, six thousand shekels[c] of gold and ten sets of clothing.6 The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.”

7 As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!”

8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: “Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.”9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”

11 But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.

13 Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” 14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

15 Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.” - 2 Kings 5:1-15

I eventually came back from Project Joshua late in December, feeling somewhat discombobulated and disappointed. 

It had taken me two years of consistently thinking that I’ve heard from God to finally made that jump to let go of all my attachments and step into the promise that I was sure He had for me. I have detailed all the processes leading up to the decision earlier, and I must say that they were nothing short of miraculous. I mean, finding a flight ticket to Melbourne at RM150? And later finding a great Airbnb accommodation at RM80 per night? That trip was obviously an anointed one. Nonetheless, that’s where everything stopped.

You see, the following weeks that went by were disappointingly mundane. I was half-expecting to stumble upon more miracles, perhaps finding a job or bumping into a person who would end up becoming my husband (ha!). But none of that happened. My December in Australia was quiet and uneventful. It didn’t take me long before I started wondering whether I’d really heard God right. Or perhaps I was just crazy and dumb.

I also couldn’t help cringing at the fact that I had let go of three good, well-paying jobs to get here. And what have I got in return? Nothing. Just a little Christmas holiday.

Upon returning, against what I thought God had told me, I decided to take the job that He didn’t say yes to. Besides, what other choice did I have? I’d felt so betrayed, I’d given up so much to obey Him and I felt like He didn’t keep His end of the bargain. To ask me to let go of another opportunity seemed like asking for too much. 

True enough, taking a up something that God didn’t say yes to turned out to be a mistake. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I was suddenly in ‘no grace land’. Albeit being a plummy job on paper, it failed for give me any sense of joy. In fact, my first two weeks on the job was filled with dread, and I just couldn’t wait to leave. But then, I still don’t have any other choice. I’ve still got bills to be paid each month.So, I just decided to stick with it, although everyday at work has felt barren, even until today -- five months after I had started working here.

I kept asking God in my prayers to explain what was the whole point of Project Joshua. I kept asking why he had led me on. I asked Him what was the significance of asking me to fly all the way to Melbourne. I found myself asking Him the same questions that Naaman had asked: “Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” aka “Isn’t it great that I already had three jobs here? Couldn’t I just have stayed here instead?”

One day, reflecting on my daily reading, I came across this story on 2 Kings 5, and although I had interpreted the story differently each time, this time the Holy Spirit shed a different light through it. I suddenly realized one thing: sometimes the point that God wants to make and the answer to His miracles lie in the obedience rather than the destination. Perhaps, what God had wanted me to learn during that season of my life was to obey and trust Him with wherever He’s directing my life -- not so much of what I can find in that destination in question. 

I realized that I have to consistently remind myself that His thoughts are not my thoughts and His ways are not my ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). Many times in life, I would preempt God’s work in my life and have expectations of how I think He should operate. But in doing that, I would undermine the fact that He is my God. Not the other way around.

He has no obligation to fulfill my expectations and He is free to work -- through his loving filter -- however He wants to work in my life. It is not for me to dictate how God should work His miracles in my life. All I need to do is trust that He who’d began a good work in my life will surely carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6).

#Project Joshua

[richmegavideo]

‘The Walking Dead’ Review: ‘The Calm Before’ Brings Together the Communities for Tragedy

[Editor’s note: The following contains spoilers for “The Walking Dead” Season 9 Episode 15, “The Calm Before.”]

This Week On “The Walking Dead”

“The Calm Before” is complicated. On the one hand, it’s an effective piece of horror, skillfully playing out the dread of what, exactly, Alpha is going to do as reprisal for her stolen daughter, culminating in a truly memorable and ghastly image. The performances are strong, many characters are reunited, and it’s a vastly superior hour (plus) than the last big shocker episode, “The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be.” But as another chapter in the ongoing narrative, it just makes me want to throw up my hands. Here, again, is another pile of agonizing misery for our heroes. Here, again, the audience is strung through the emotional wringer so a new Big Bad can prove how super dangerous they are. It’s an exhausting and exasperating hour of television. Between this episode and “Scars” last week, the show’s as dark as it’s ever been.

Man Is The True Monster

I’ve spent the last several weeks making exaggerated jokes about how something terrible was going to happen at the fair, because the show has trained us to always expect the worst, especially when it looks like things might be going right for our heroes. And lo and behold, the episode ends with Alpha establishing a “border” (which doesn’t make a lot of sense, aren’t the Whisperers nomads?) by killing a number of significant characters and placing their zombified heads on pikes. The casualties are significant, including promising newer characters introduced this year, like Brett Butler and Ozzy the Highwayman (who wasn’t around long but made a great first impression), to more established veterans like Enid, Tara, and Henry.

The show gives Henry the big final reveal treatment, probably because Carol is in the group that finds the border, but it’s Tara that really stings the most. She’s long been a personal favorite, and her new role as Hilltop’s leader seemed to finally position her to receive the prominence that Alanna Masterson has long deserved on this show. But these deaths are meant to hurt both the characters and the audience, and it’s a struggle to be that invested in what happens next. Presumably our heroes fight the Whisperers now, just like they overcame the Saviors (albeit hopefully in fewer episodes). But I can’t help wondering past the end of that conflict and wondering what atrocity will be committed to show how dangerous the next Big Bad will be. Maybe Ezekiel is skinned alive while Carol is forced to watch? The fact that an idea like that isn’t outside the realm of possibility is just exhausting. Such is the nature of “The Walking Dead.” It’s a well of endless misery with no bottom.

Read More:‘The Walking Dead’ Review: ‘Scars’ Offers Answers, None Of Them Satisfying

But as mentioned, the execution of the turn is effective. Alpha’s presence at the fair (complete with wig from a scalped Hilltopper) immediately sets off alarm bells, and our heroes spend a great deal of time reaffirming their connections and then basically all doing the “I’ll be right back” horror trope. Henry’s got to go check on that pipe, Siddiq will tell Michonne his big news when he sees her back at Alexandria, etc. For a hot second, it seems like Ezekiel will be one of the victims, since he actually has a prolonged interaction with Alpha, as she tries to act normal and can’t quite succeed. It’s nice to see Morton stretch a bit more in the role, and her final scene with Lydia is particularly strong, as she realizes she’s truly lost her daughter. She manages to hold it together until she’s back at camp, shedding a single tear and of course killing the Whisperer who accidentally witnesses her moment of weakness. Got to keep the sheep in line!

“The Walking Dead.”

Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

A Shred of Humanity

It should be said that before things go south, the fair is really nice. It’s been ages since we’ve seen all these characters share screen time, and it’s been even longer for the characters themselves, so it’s a relief to see everyone together again. Plus Eugene gets knocked into a dunk tank and Jerry pretends to be a horse, so, bonus.

The most significant development is that the various community leaders come together to discuss the Lydia problem and agree to offer her asylum. Tara is justifiably nervous about retaliation against Hilltop, which leads to a weird speech by Michonne about how many of them weren’t trusted when they first showed up, but now they’re all friends. Which wasn’t the argument Tara was making at all, but she winds up agreeing with Michonne. It’s frustrating that even when our heroes do the right thing, it’s for weird nonsense reasons. The argument for protecting Lydia could be won or lost on the merits, if anyone actually engaged with it seriously, but Michonne’s switch has flipped from “mean” to “nice,” so that’s the end of it.

The upside is that this discussion leads to Ezekiel pulling out the charter, which everyone agreeably signs. It’s the episode’s big feel-good moment, and it delivers. Michonne deferring to Gabriel to sign on behalf of Alexandria is a nice touch. It’s curious that everyone wouldn’t want to make a big show of it in front of the whole fair, but it’s still a victory in a time where those are hard to come by.

The episode’s final scene is hard to swallow, as Siddiq is spared by Alpha for absolutely no reason other than to convey that before they died, the victims all came together to fight the Whisperers, even though they were from different communities. It’s a borderline hilarious last-minute attempt to find a silver lining, especially because the divide between the communities has only ever been attributed to Michonne’s withdrawal into Alexandria. It’s nice of the show to insist that these deaths won’t lead to community in-fighting, but as far as we know three of the communities have all been square with each other over the years, with Michonne as the lone holdout. It’s a solution in search of a problem.

“The Walking Dead.”

AMC

The Remains

The decapitation border is a big moment from the comics, which I have not read. Apparently, the victim line-up was quite different, but such changes are par for the course at this point. It’s interesting that the show feels compelled to stick with those big events, but is perfectly content to change the characters. Doesn’t matter whose heads are on those sticks, as long as there are some heads on sticks.

The reveals of the victims, with oblivious people at the fair wondering about the whereabouts of each character, was particularly effective. Alden scanning the crowd for Enid as he performs his number with Luke was probably the most devastating.

It is kind of funny how Alpha seemed to know how important each character was and ordered them accordingly.

Poor Hilltop can’t hang on to a leader to save their lives. Who’s even left there that has a speaking part? Is it Earl’s time to shine?

Pro tip to the “Walking Dead” social team: comparisons like this do you no favors.

Jerry gets to declare the opening of the First Annual Inter-community Reunification Fair (or FAIR Fair), plus he survives the episode, which frankly was a big surprise.

Looks like Rachel runs Oceanside now. She doesn’t have much to do this episode besides say, “Oceanside’s down,” but she’s there.

All this talk about the movie and it’s a Baby Huey short. Brutal. Beggars can’t be choosers, but jeez, not even Tom and Jerry? Anyway, the feature was “Sliver” and you can’t prove me wrong.

When Ezekiel says that Henry’s taking a girl to the movies tonight, Carol says, “Everything you just said sounds completely impossible,” which is supposed to be a commentary on the old-world amenities they’ve managed to resurrect for the evening, but can also be interpreted as a sick burn on Henry.

Still mad that the show treats Henry as the big final kicker in the head line. Justice for Tara, who flipped Rick off that one time and was thus one of the show’s top 3 characters.

Grade: B-

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#Hip Hop

[devanhadlock]

Last night around 8:25pm in a sleepy village in the stradfordshire moorlands of the United Kindgom I escaped under the cover of night from the old rectory home of a nutty English woman. This is the story of what led up to the moment where I throwing my bags together and kissing my two Italian co-captives farewell before running off into the darkness with just hope enough to light my path out of my personal Stockholm and back to freedom. In coming to the United Kingdom exactly one week ago for my first ever workaway experience I had every expectation to be pleasantly surprised. I now realize I had totally imagined being taken into some warm embryonic mist of the motherland of some of my ancestors. That this great island of Avalon would bless me with some magical experience of coming home. I imagined warm English breakfasts and naps on the backs of giant shire horses as they walked through the crisp layers of mist that flow across this ancient land like rivers of ghosts lit by the glow of their fairy souls. I did not imagine I’d be starving, for company and for food, and that I’d risk frostbite on my toes each time I awoke and ventured out of my stone room to take a piss in the middle of the night. I didn’t imagine feeling so much anxiety all the time at the prospect of our host showing up or of having to spend even one more day there. Anyway I got the fuck out. As I sit here in my makeshift bed on the ground of the single most filthy apartment I have EVER seen but under the warm hospitable blanket of one of the sweetest gentlemen I’ve ever met I wonder and I write. With itchy eyes and sputtering coughs as I suck in the balls of dog hair that float about in lieu of fairies and friendly ghost orbs I listen to Taveners beautiful choral piece that was written and played at Princes Dianna’s funeral “Alleluia. May Flights of Angels Sing Thee to Thy Rest”. A more perfect score of my momentary reprieve doeth not exist and I make solemn my promise to record henceforth the soul of some of my journey. How to make sense of this already harried and frenetic tale. Going back one week ago when I arrived to the Airport in Salt Lake City, Utah. Carrying a rare methuselah bottle of hope I dug up in the vintage cellar of my soul sometime in the recent past and maybe two gallon size bags stuffed with vitamins and herbal supplements I found my way to the security line. A look of stern and stubborn determination etched onto my face I walked in the broken procession towards the X-ray death machine. Of course I was pulled aside and asked about the 5 thousand pills of various size and color I had on me but it was the abundance of skin care products that ended up being the real problem. Apparently more that a one quart bag of properly labeled and sized liquid toiletries is too much. If TSA isn’t a sure sign of how backwards we got everything in the world right now I don’t know what is. Anyway my choice was to toss my highly valuable products and basically let my face melt into its true age over the next couple weeks or check on a bag. Something I really didn’t want to do but was basically forced at gunpoint. Getting in the air for my grand adventure wasn’t all cupcakes and rainbows. In my rush to salvage my precious pills and toiletries by checking them I didn’t clarify that I was going to London after JFK so my bag would have to be retrieved and checked again before boarding the next plane. I stress about these sorts of things so was having all sorts of physical symptoms of major anxiety for that flight. Thankfully two Jet Blue stewardesses were there to sooth my soul and guide me through what I’d have to do to get my bag and such. After many hours I made it to London where my host was graciously waiting to pick me up and take me home with her. My first impression wasn’t so bad and I was blissfully hopeful that my journey was off to all the right outcomes. Quickly though things changed when upon arrival I found two other workawayers there with looks of foreboding secrets written all over their faces. Still I went to bed that first night in the freezing cold 200 year old home all smiles and dreamy imaginings. That next day while cleaning out farm sheds and scrubbing dog shit off the pavement with brooms and washing it away with dozens of hand filled buckets of water all in the bitter wet cold wind I got to question these girls and gather information. They too had been pulled in by the quick responses from this host, the magical photos of her old world home and beautiful animals and perfect ratings from past workawayers. They were miserable and had fully regretted there coming to stay. They told me to find a plan B! Unlike most hosts who provide home cooked meals on all the days you work this lady eats like an old spinster bird by herself high up in her room above all of us and stocked the fridges and freezers with expired food she bought at great discounts according to the tags she left on all of them. Her moments of interaction overly chirpy and insanely expressive barely covering like a thin veil the volatility and social strain underneath. She did her best and I’ve edited this post greatly over the last two days to be sure that I could commit to whatever level of drama I was caught up in within myself, as regularly happens. Alas I toned it down. Still though the choice to leave for me came like a burst of lightening while sitting in my room in front of a floor heater mulling over the importance of preserving ones sanity. Upon finding the last bus to be coming through that sleepy village in only 30 minutes I rapidly set about preparing and planning my escape. Which included a serious text to my new online friend cashing in on his offer to provide sanctuary should this sort of moment arrive. Our host arrived just then which made my escape even harder but I made my way down the dark stone staircase with all of my bags while my Italian girlfriends distracted her in the kitchen. I was determined to not spend not one more night where I felt so uneasy, depressed and hungry. I slipped on the stairs and bruised my arm catching myself on the hard stone. Thinking for a moment of all the things I’d like to clean up or get done before I leave like any good Guest but decided instead to not be sabotaged. My heart beating in my chest and nervous system in flight I had flashbacks of my years of delinquency and devious behavior in my youth where my brain not fully developed basically left me at the mercy to more crude forms of navigation. Not always a bad thing mind you! It was exhilarating and I felt alive! Our host could appear in my path at any moment or scream out like a siren behind me like all the heads of Momba do in “Return to Oz” when Dorothy has been discovered as an intruder in the closet of the mad witch queen and escaping from her palatial prison. Anyway I got away, leaving only a simple note on my bed saying goodbye and thank you. I’m rather pleased time left me only enough time for succinct writings. It felt more elegant somehow. Fast forward two hours later and I’m at another stranger’s house on Stoke on Trent expect this time the feeling is of instant warmth. I was given warm food and made generous offers of where I might sleep and kept up almost all night by fun and interesting conversation. The apartment turned out to be the filthiest apartment I’ve perhaps personally ever seen but inspired by such genuine warmth and hospitality from someone who only knew me for three days and online I felt more that excited to get to work doing something I’m brilliant at. Cleaning and organizing. Runs in my blood. So that’s what I did for ten hours today. Cleaned half of this place up to a mint shine better than when he moved in. That’s what he said anyway. Also as a side not his dog is handsome and brilliant and all the confirmation I needed that I was in the right place! My hope in humanity is restored and my opinion of this country has gone from negative 2 to a positive 8 out of 10. That’s the power of true hospitality and perhaps a dose of saying yes to thoughtless but pivotal action. Till next time

[the-short-stouts-tavern]

Woven Destiny

“Be careful, sir! Our luggage isn’t secure!”

“Ahah, t’weren’t complaining about the speed when we was departing Westfall, friend!”

Along the long-traveled roads of Elwynn Forest, a lone carriage came visible in the distance. It was the evening, and a fog had settled in. This was a blessing for its rider, as the form of a worgen isn’t exactly wholesome to a lot of people. Even years since rejoining the Alliance, the normal humans tend to see a worgen as a monster.

The tense atmosphere tended to lighten up once the worgen decides to put their top hat on, but not everyone enjoys a good hat trick.

The worgen in question wore a humble brown shirt, a sword and shield placed closely to his side. In his mouth laid a stone pipe, of Dwarven design, the smoke blowing immediately to the side as he snapped the reins of the horse, causing it to begin a quick gallop.

In the back of the carriage, a worgen woman and a draenei male struggled to hold a few large boxes steady. The woman, tall and gray, had clothes fitted to her form as opposed to frayed ends due to repeated transformation. The draenei, on the other hand, was adorned in a fine robe made from the silk of spiders native to another planet entirely.

“Sir!” The draenei cried out. “The boxes, they do not have secure mast! They will topple!”

“Well, it weren’t a good idea to not tie it down, now was it?” The worgen male shouted from the front.

The female sighed. “Don’t be too off-kilter at milord’s gumption, b-” The worgen bounced up in the air from a rock in the road being run over by the wheels, then steadied herself. “...but we are behind and am needing in Stormwind in due haste.”

“I do understand, bu-”

“Ahaah, here we are! Whoaaaaa girl!”

With a gentle nudge, the horses began to slow to a small gallop as they finally found themselves in front of the massive gates of Stormwind. Heavily fortified since the rebuilding after the Horde’s first attack, the kingdom has seldom had to close those gates for anything. It was a welcoming city of grandeur, no doubt a pristine city were it seen in the daytime.

“And there we are.” The worgen grinned, his fangs snugly nursing the pipe in his mouth. “Did you need help with your luggage?”

“Ah, no thank you.” The draenei bowed as he grabbed a small satchel of clothing from the back. “I am grateful for your assistance in getting me to this place. I have been told by many in Shadowmoon of the glory of the Alliance capital.”

“Ahhhh, which Shadowmoon do you hail?”

“....excuse me?”

“Ah, you know.” The worgen shrugged. “Is it blue or green?”

“...green. There’s a blue one now?”

“Ah, probably somethin’ to find later. It’s...a whole thing and all. Now out with you, we need to be on our way. Gonna be a long couple of days before ol’ Ironforge.”

“Still say we shouldn’t bother by carriage. The damn place will be nigh painful on foot the way we’re goin.” The female sighed.

The male worgen laughed. “Only cause you refuse to shift to human form and yet hate sailing the seas.”

“...the salt air makes my fur smell.” The woman grumbled.

“Besides, it’s just a chipper old gallop through Redridge, through Blackrock Mountain’s interior fortress and a quick ride through the roads to Stonewrought Pass. Pay Pebblebitty her due as we pass by and a few tunnel rides until chilly Dun Morogh.”

“And all of this would be prevented if the Stormwind guard would just let caravans onto the Deeprun Tram.” The woman replied, sniffing the air once and scratching the side of her cheek.

The draenei, meanwhile, nodded his head. He had no idea what these two dog people just described but it sounded complicated. Regardless, they were kind enough to let him on, and he certainly needed the ride to Stormwind.

He waved the two off as they began to prepare their departure. “Thank you kindly, you two. It was an honor.”

“Ah, t’weren’t nothing and you know it.” The male laughed, placing more crushed herbs into his pipe. “It was nice to have company on our long trek out north. The benefit of trading from the jungles of Stranglethorn is, Ironforge is extremely far. Gold practically falls to the ground at our feet. You were just a happy bystander, lad.”

“I hope your tailoring dream comes true, Sir Mamail.”

“I hope so, as well.” The draenei bowed his head and smiled. “Good luck with your trading empire.”

The worgen both waved their hands as they began to leave.

Mamail waved back and slowly turned around. “Ah, Stormwind. It took a couple of years but I’m glad I finally came.”

The harsh, demonic winds of Outland is really no place for a tailor. He’s had enough of the scraps of Netherweave found from the corpses of the clothed ones. Azeroth, as he’d been told, has a high, HIGH amount of cloth.

From what Mamail saw, most of it was Runecloth.

He’s heard from what little he could gleam from passerbys that there was also talk of a new source of highly magical cloth from some place called “The Broken Isles”. What an intriguing name!

He was going to apply for a tailoring position at the local clothing shop as soon as he is able.

But first, he needed a nap. Beside a tree outside of the gates, he put out a pillow, made from various furs and cloth found as he went along, and a blanket made from a hound in Duskwood, and nestled in.

Soon he will learn to craft with the best of the best, and weave a destiny unlike any other.

He yawned and closed his glowing eyes shut.

---

Walking through the gates of Stormwind felt much like the first day he joined the Sha’tar. He wasn’t really one for combat, but Mamail felt he needed to put at least a little bit of his life towards improving the damned lands of Outland and protecting the Naaru city of Shattrath. So he put his efforts towards his passion: weaving. Taking care of the priests of Shattrath was a long business, as the dilapidated city had grown more grimy as of late. Still, it was a joy to help.

Every little bit of knowledge he gained from that time was invaluable, but no moreso than the days before he left Outland. He was preparing for a trip back to his station in Shadowmoon when, walking through the center of Shattrath, he heard the chimes of the naaru A’dal usher him over.

The Sha’tar were trained not to disturb the naaru unless they wished to talk to you. It was usually the concentration of the lightpure beings that most of Outland had not been completely decimated yet.

Mamail knelt down before the naaru as A’dal’s gentle chiming voice rang to him. It spoke of a dream it had, and his destiny in it.

“In Azeroth, blue jewel, would thy destiny be woven. The needle shall prick, the darkness would feather. In the thread thy leave behind, will void become exposed. To the radiance of the Light, of dual fires and nature.”

And so he left immediately, to the lands the outworlders hailed from. To Azeroth, the planet Prophet Velen and the Exodar did flee to.

And there he walked, his hooved feet clopping down the paved road. After living in Outland for so long, the world of Azeroth felt...serene. Calming.

Nostalgic.

In front of the tailoring shop, Duncan’s Textiles. The owner, a human named Duncan Cullen, was quick to hire him. Not often do people come in who still bother with expertise in netherweave, and a craft like tailoring takes all kinds to make a good profit margin.

In the store were a few different apprentices working their craft, training under Georgio Bolero, a human male with a bit of a sarcastic streak about him. Didn’t seem keen on helping the Outlander with his preparations.

Training under him were a Pandaren Monk named Rufoleeane, a Gnome Priest named Boskurz, another Worgen named James McCloud (when he asked, the worgen spoke very fast, like some sort of speech impediment), and a Night Elf Mage named Ashe.

They all seemed a happy bunch, glad to take in a new perspective on their quest to improve their craft. Boskurz didn’t seem too impressed with him, but not a lot of friendships blossom immediately. As his cousin once said, it’s all about how much effort you put in something before the kindling is effective.

A Fire Mage’s motto, it seemed.

---

The training felt fairly standard for the week. Today involved a lot of running to what the humans call their “auction house”. It was fascinating to see the crowd of various people running to their bank and back, rushing through their crafting business, collecting whatever sort of ooze was in the bank, and running back to the auction house to try and get money made.

Today, I was assisting Rufolleeane with her crafting. She had trouble understanding the intricacies of the craft, but the matter of Emberweave required a gentler method from the previous cloths. She’s a very quick learner, and has a fine eye for the better ways to put a little extra to the things she creates.

The day was long, but rewarding.

---

On the third day, Mamail was resting in his new quarters in the Mage Quarter. A bed, a few tables, and a few fruits from the Trade District was all he had. It wasn’t a bad life, to be honest.

Moving to another world is a daunting task, but so far, he felt as though he wasn’t having much of a problem here. It helps that there’s nothing that truly differentiates him from the other Draenei that walk about. He did wonder why there were so many females out there that shed aside the Prophet’s deep belief of modesty, but he did not mind.

He was secure in his faith, both in the naaru and the Light. Surely they were, as well.

---

Another day down and James, or ‘Jmsmclou’ as it sounds like (I just call him J Mac) was having issues understanding the way Mageweave can be woven into bracers.

It’s not that hard, J Mac. You’ve been here for how long and you can’t understand the basics. Mageweave is not that painful.

See, when Ashe was still learning Silk, that was understandable. Silk’s hard to understand. But Mageweave is literally just cloth with magic inside of it.

Insane. We have books for a reason.

---

Fifth day in and Mamail was given a note on the way out. Apparently Ashe was inviting him to drink with the others at the Blue Recluse.

He had never really gone to a tavern to drink before. He stayed at the inns on the way to Stormwind, sure, but he never once stepped foot into the World’s End in Shattrath. He was no stranger to the sweet essence of a good spirit, but he did not take to being a social drinker.

He wasn’t even very social, either.

Still, he was in a new world. A new life. It’s not too farfetched to try and take initiative while waiting for whatever this destiny entailed.

---

Ashe was having issues focusing today. She seemed a little listless, eyes drawn somewhere else as she focused on Windwool studies.

I wish she’d understand that Windwool was just one more step in and she’d be getting into the Draenor stuff. If it’s anything like the Netherweave was, I was looking forward to seeing it pure.

---

The Blue Recluse was very popular tonight. Being so close to the Mage Tower meant a good majority of the studious mages spent their days there. From what Mamail was told, he needed to stay away from the other popular tavern in the district: The Slaughtered Lamb. Apparently that was where the unsavory types went.

Ashe came first. She was dressed in a very finely woven dress. It seemed that Mamail was correct in taking initiative by putting on his best tunic.

“Did you sew that yourself?”

Ashe laughed, her blue cheeks changing to a hue of ambrosia. “No, no, this was sewn by Rufoleeane.”

“Ah, yes. I see her wave in the hemline now.” Mamail pointed down, noting a light wave in the way the dress laid above her feet. “The design seems very...her.”

Before Ashe could answer, a huffed laugh came from the doorway. “Hah. Not a week in and you’re speaking of presumptions.”

Mamail smiled as he turned around. “Apologies, Leeane. It is not so, yes?”

Rufoleeane smiled warmly, her hand resting on her hip. “Yes, I suppose I do like that style.”

Beside her stood James and Boskurz, both wearing their normal attire. Apparently neither of them got the memo.

“H-hey, this isn’t fair!” Boskurz exclaimed. “Why are you two dressed up?!”

“What, did you not get the memo when I came with you?” Rufoleeane looked over at Boskurz, smirking.

James sighed. “Hrrrrm...Leeane, you are always dressing up.”

“Well, when you look as good as I do in these dresses, then you must flaunt it every chance you get.” Rufoleeane smiled, jabbing James in the arm. James snorted, growling a little by instinct.

Mamail laughed. “Ahaha, come! These drinks are on me, friends!”

Boskurz rolled his eyes. “How could you have gotten money already?”

Mamail smiled. “Netherweave, my diminutive friend. I took what I had crafted before on Outland and sold it. Apparently, nobles really like that stuff.”

Boskurz snorted, somehow in the same sound as the Worgen beside him. This prompted a round of laughter as Boskurz sighed over them. “.................Let’s just drink, please.”

“Haha, of course.” Mamail raised his mug. “To you all, my new friends.”

The group took a seat and smiled, raising the mug to them. Ashe smiled. “And to a prosperous future for all of us.”

Boskurz grinned. “I’ll toast to that!”

---

A few drinks later, Mamail excused himself. The only one left at the party was him, Ashe, and Rufoleeane. Leeane was nowhere near done, her Pandaren genes serving her drinking well, but Ashe was already fairly tipsy still.

He offered to help Ashe home, but Leeane shook her head. That was fair. He was still new to this place and probably wouldn’t be able to find her place anyway. Besides, Leeane is obviously very protective of Ashe and most likely didn’t know him well enough to let her go with him alone.

With a wave, he wished the two a well and safe evening and departed. His eyesight was just a tiny blurry, but it didn’t really hurt him. Resting his head will help at his home.

Heh. His home. A week in and he was already considering this place as his home. If only his mom knew where he’d end up.

Past the Mage Tower, he walked into Essential Components, an alchemy store. The owner, Owen Vaughn, was clearly annoyed that Mamail was using his store as a shortcut, but he remained silent. Mamail smiled and waved, which no doubt left Owen even more annoyed. Probably thought he was a drunk.

Oh, was he stumbling? Nah, everything’s probably okay. He can keep up appearances.

He entered the grassy little section between the store and the main walkway. To the left, he knew, was where the path to the Slaughtered Lamb was. It was tempting to go over and see the rowdy nature of the place, but he probably shouldn’t.

With a sniff in the air, he began walking to the right when a familiar face stood in front of him.

“Oh hey, you. I thought you left already.”

...

“Heh. Sorry, we had a few more after you left. I know where I’m going, don’t worry.”

........

“I appreciate....you coming by to help...?”

....”Diminutive, huh.”

“Eh?”

The gnome stepped forward, his face cast in darkness. “That’s what you called me.”

“....I’m...sorry, I didn’t mean to off-MMMMMMP”

A sharp pain struck through Mamail’s bottom jaw, thrusting right through his upper lip. Blood began to pour out from his mouth as he moved his hand to clutch it. What the hell had just-

Some sort of hand grabbed his arm and brought it down, causing him to tumble to his knees. The hand that laid on his wrist gripped with an otherworldly intensity, but did not feel like a mortal hand. Yet again, a sharp instrument flew through his jaw..

“Mm...mmf?! MMMMMMMF!” He had noticed through his idled drunkenness and his teary eyes that whatever was causing this was some sort of tendral. He also noticed that the instrument that was causing this was...a needle.

Oh by the mercy of the Light. He was sewing his mouth shut.

“Mmmph!” Mamail tried to move his hand to his mouth, but the...thing kept both hands down. He shifted, wincing, trying desperately to look the gnome in the eyes. He wanted to exclaim why, but all that came out was “WUUUUUUH”

“...that was what he said, you know.”

“...m-...mph? MMPH?”

“Him.”

“.....m-”

The gnome slapped him hard, the sharp slap over his face somehow alleviating the extreme pain in his mouth at that moment.

“Pay. Attention. You damned draenei.” Boskurz moved his finger to his chin, immediately shifting from that split second of anger to a ponderous contemplation. “I...suppose maybe you draenei don’t know better words. Maybe it was uncool of me to assume.”

“....”

Boskurz’s face contorted to quick anger. “But ignorance is no excuse!” He stepped foward, the draenei’s pained kneeling bringing them eye to eye. “It’s no excuse for what he...or anyone does. And oh there is such ignorance in everyone. But it’s....no excuse, Mamail.”

Mamail nodded. He couldn’t help but nod. He didn’t know what he could do. His vision of the gnome was slowly darkening...or was it something else...? Even with the intense pain echoing from his mouth to the rest of his body, he still tried to consider asking why this was going on. Why?

“...Mamail, I enjoyed studying with you. You had a real knack for the cloth, I gotta say. But I wanted you to know something.”

“....m--mmm?” Mamail blinked a few times, trying to focus once more.

“Netherweave’s a bitch cloth.”

With a stroke, the gnome moved a finger to the draenei’s neck, bringing it across slowly. After it was done, something pulled the draenei’s head back.

He felt something cold rest on his neck.

And then, a flash of light. Then nothing.

---

I was supposed to help Mamail understand the intricacies of Frostweave, but he’s gone. Apparently he couldn’t cut the life of a Stormwind tailor. Too bad. He’ll never get anywhere with Netherweave. Bitch cloth, amirite?

The others are pretty bummed. Ashe especially, poor girl. Ah, well, serves her right for being interested in a male draenei. They’re all the same.

Yeah, I don’t care, I can be racist in my own journal, cause that’s freedom right there! They suck. Their tentacle beard is always so creepy. Their body’s always so big and boring. Their tail always gets in the way when they’re walking through the bank. Their accent is forced. I mean, come on, even the worgen can talk Common correctly. They try too hard.

God, draenei are the worst. They can all die for all I care. Especially him. But one day, right?

See you tomorrow, journal! <3

~Boskurz

PS: I was just told that Draenor had fur, not cloth. What a disgrace.

END

---

The Stormwind guard was clamoring. The meeting was getting heated as the top officials began their deliberations regarding the recent disappearances.

”That’s the fifth disappearance this month.”

“But there’s no evidence that they’re not just leaving the city. Everyone does! Remember when people left for Pandaria because the mages went on strike?”

“Yes, but four of the disappearances involve draenei males.”

“The one human woman alone does not-”

“And what about the blood, Chad? Does that not insinuate foul play, Chad?”

“Why are you emphasizing my name, you damned-”

The chief officer pounded his gavel on the ground. “Shut up, the both of you!” The clamor began to die down as the officer nodded. “Now, right now we are going to take this as a murder investigation. However, we are unable to place all of our resources on said investigation.”

The room began to rumble with loud protests. “Murder on the streets and we can’t focus on it?! Do you not remember the riots?!”

“QUIET.” The officer banged his gavel again. “Now, I understand the anger you all have for this, but we can’t have the guard actively investigating. It would cause the public to grow listless, which is already a problem due to the Legion invading.”

The mention of the Legion caused the room to hush up.

“You understand, then. Good.” The officer nodded. “Now, in order to protect the city fully, the guard will be on high alert, but in the same respect as we have been. I have called in for assistance on this investigation from any of the Class Halls, and the Knights of the Silver Hand have brought in a paladin to assist us. Sir?”

The officer stood to the left, bringing the room’s focus towards two figures. A night elf male and a draenei male. The draenei stepped forward, wearing a rather unorthodox set of cloth around him, his eyes covered with green goggles. He moved his fists to his sides and smirked, his mustache shifting up from his smirk.

“Greetings, everyone. I am Horusen, elected official of the Highlord’s elite investigations squad. Together with my roguish friend Elrizan here, we shall get to the bottom of this conspicuous catastrophe!”

Elrizan stepped forward. “Hey.”

The guard responded all at once. “Hello.” Elrizan nodded, then stepped back.

“Now!” Horusen smacked his gloved hands together. “Tell me everything.”

TO BE CONTINUED

#the-short-stouts-tavern #alliance-side #mamail #ashe-ironbriar #rufoleeane #boskurz #j-mac #jamesmccloud #jmclud #jsmclu #Jmsmclou #Horusen #Elrizan

[itsnmp-blog]

Media A2 Research Investigation

‘An investigation into the conventions of the pop punk genre specifically focusing on Fall Out Boy, As It Is and My Chemical Romance

 ‘Conventional definitions of genres tend to be based on the notion that they constitute particular conventions of content (such as themes or settings) and/or form (including structure or style) which are shared by the texts which are regarded as belonging to them.’(Daniel Chandler). I will show how conventions are used in a certain genre to attract an audience using popular pop punk bands. The investigation I am looking at isn’t definitive and there are exceptions. Another reason for this is I have happened to choose all male pop punk bands as apposed to bands such as Paramore, We Are the In Crowd etc. and I have done this because these bands make videos that conform strongly to the genre. Genre is the way media texts are categorised and genres vary depending on the media text itself. Common music genres are pop, indie, rock, pop punk, R&B and others. Luke Cutforth AKA Lukeisnotsexy is a British youtuber who made the video ‘HOW TO BE POP PUNK’[i] with a pop punk band member, Walters explains how to be pop punk as a character from the clothing to the lyrics to the instruments themselves and connotes this in their joint music video A Song about a Girl, which collates everything Cutforth learns from Walters. Walters says, ‘we need to put a snapback on’ as if it is a necessity in pop punk culture to do so. Common conventions of the songs themselves include, girls, drugs, your hometown and friends. The videos also include these aspects using obscure settings and narratives. They also usually include segments of live performance. Dark clothing is also usually worn which patty Walters explains clothing at 1:40. Using this source as a starting point, I chose the music videos for: Fall Out Boy’s ‘My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (light 'em up)[ii]’; As It Is’ ‘Cheap Shots & Setbacks’ [iii]and My Chemical Romance’s ‘Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)’[iv] all based on comic series written by Gerard way the true lives of the fabulous killjoys released in 2013.

 Pop punk is short for popular punk, which is basically a new hybrid genre. The definition of punk is that it is a form of rock music that developed in the UK and USA starting in the early 1970s reaching a height of popularity towards the end of the 1970s in which songs were ‘short and loud using basic instrumentals’ (see reference ‘v’) – drums, guitar and vocals – to portray outsiders in their songs. The term ‘punk’ actually deriving from an out-dated US prisons slang word meaning homosexual. Popular music is defined as that ‘music that is popular in having an appeal to a large number of people’. Therefore pop punk is a popular form of rock music that is derived from short, loud and basic (instrumentally) songs in which all my examples fit this statement.[v]

 In order to conduct my investigation, I carried out contextual research. The songs created by these artists are for the teenagers that feel like they don’t fit in and the mainstream media is constraining them. Videos that interpret this mass media constraint include the popular British YouTube series ‘Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared’ in which the mass media (the learning characters) are influencing the impressionable learners (red guy, yellow guy and duck). Even though these videos aren’t pop punk music videos, they do have some connecting themes; the obscure settings, the use of colour, an interesting antagonist etc. also they follow some surrealistic dark themes.[vi] In reference to Andrew Godwin's theory, the star image - musicians using their videos to promote themselves – this is very visible in the pop punk genre where performances segments are generally used in music videos of this kind live. Other videos, such as my My Chemical Romance example, subvert the general production of this by not including live performance but still creating a star image of the ‘killjoy’ and therefore reinforce it because of this.

 First of all I am going to look at my chosen Fall Out Boy music video. To create an obscure atmosphere, the music video uses darkness as an advantage in order to produce an enigmatic atmosphere. This is seen in a shot close to the beginning of the video in which a silhouette of a tall figure is walking past a newly lit bonfire. This silhouette contrasts even more so due to the dark clothing worn by the mysterious character in which we find later in the video is the antagonist. the fog is the only light in the video which could connote the line between justice and morality is blurred and ‘fogged as such’. All of this components can reinforce my point in being enigma and darkness can create the obscure setting used frequently in pop punk videos to emphasise the originality and conform to the general pop punk conventions.

  This shot on the left denoting a woman throwing band instruments into the bonfire (referenced in the previous analysis) refers to the paradigm of the pop punk genre which is live performance sectors of their music videos. However because the band are tied up in the back of a van – this is seen at the end of the music video – they aren’t playing their instruments in order to keep to the album’s narrative. To put some context behind this, Fall Out Boy used their album ‘Save rock and roll’ in which this song is featured on, to create the young blood chronicles which is an eleven part narrative made out of eleven music videos for the songs on this particular album. Back to the shot, the burning of the instruments connotes the burning of the band itself and everything they have worked for which reinforces the position of the antagonist. Furthermore, the instruments denoted in the scene are that of which punk music is derived from – the basic loud instrumentals that create meaning – therefore conforming to the genre conventions of pop punk.

 Secondly, I am going to be looking at my As It Is’ pop punk music video - for cheap shots & setbacks - in which another obscure setting is used being in a world ruled by machines and human activity – especially love – is forbidden.

This scene introduces the regularly used obscure setting in which the video takes place. The high key lighting connotes the slightly unsettling normality of the situation which is similar to that of MCR’s Na Na Na video in which the ‘normality’ is a clean, black and white city led by better living industries (Blind for short) and like the opening shot for the FOB music video I chose, this shot sets the narrative. However – even though the robot heads are white-grey and the lighting is high key – the clothing is still dark therefore fitting in with these genre conventions.  

  This shot on the left is a key part of the music video, there are multiple shots in the video like this shot that denote band performance. This shots are a paradigm of the pop punk genre and the rock genre overall. This connotes the conformation of this band to the genre even if the whole genre is about being the outsider, the one who doesn’t fit in.

   Finally, I am going to be looking at MCR’s Na Na Na video in which star theory can definitely be applied here. The shot denotes a definite protagonist in which is played in the video by the band’s front man Gerard way. This image creates a feel for the genre’s morals and values connoting that it’s okay to be the outside person. The high key lighting creates a very different atmosphere to that of the fall out boy video but creates more of a lively vibe instead of an enigmatic one. This shot focussing on the map of where the video is set can connote the futuristic, obscure setting (once again) used in many pop punk videos. This connotes the ideas relating to the narrative from the song to the video. This narrative, like fall out boy, has been extended across a couple of music videos and in their ‘true lives of the fabulous killjoys’ six part comic book series (need to add reference)[vii]. In which the morals and values of this blossoming genre are exaggerated through a futuristic action packed comic book series, which sheds light on many of the hidden narratives in the music video.

  To Conclude, the pop punk genre is a newer hybrid genre of music that has many niche conventions in which many pop punk music videos conform to (not all of them because they wouldn’t be interesting). This creates a genre of music for an audience that can relate to the lyrics and underlying narratives whilst keeping the videos fairly parallel to the songs they are representing.

 Bibliography

  [i] Cutforth, L. (2014). HOW TO BE POP PUNK! Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=321umpSzBck. Last accessed 23rd June 2016.

 [ii] Fall Out Boy. (2013). My songs know what you did in the dark. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkIWmsP3c_s. Last accessed 5th Jul. 2016.

 [iii] As It Is. (2015). Cheap shots and setbacks. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0ve-o7POkc. Last accessed 5th Jul. 2016.

 [iv] My Chemical Romance. (2010). Na Na Na. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egG7fiE89IU. Last accessed 5th Jul. 2016.

 [v] NICHOLAS ABERCROMBIE (2007). Dictionary of media studies. Suffolk: PENGUIN BOOKS. P274-291.

 [vi] Becky Sloan & Joseph Pelling. (2016). Don’t hug me I’m scared. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbL-NSkXnl8. Last accessed 28th June 2016.

[vii] Gerard way and Becky Cloonan (2014). The true lives of the fabulous killjoys. Dark Horse Comics

[xcandycorn]

INTRO This goes out to the heavy drinkers Who've bottomed out On another bottle This one's for the over-thinkers Who've run clean out Of excuses. This is a shoutout to the promiscuous Who've fucked themselves Into an undeserved slur. This record I dedicate to you Because I am with you I've been there too. So turn this up loud And roll your windows down This is our anthem A sound just for you and me So put the bottle down Come on and lift your shirt up Get nasty in every rest stop This is ROADPOP VOLCANO After years of dormancy I've finally erupted Resorted to alcoholic consumption Because I'd rather submit To a toxic suicide  Than to go one more round On this god forsaken ride.  I'm a volcano-o-o-o-o-o. I keep it all inside until the day I Blow-o-o-o-o-o.  What finally comes out will burn you, Leave a scar. No matter how far you run, I can reach farther  Than the ash cloud Of a vol-ca-no-o-o-o.  So fucking destructive Hot headed from 0 to 100 I'm insanely eruptive Broken bottles are weapons Empty ones are killing me Can't turn off this insanity Genetics contaminated me I'm a volcano-o-o-o-o-o. I keep it all inside until the day I Blow-o-o-o-o-o.  What finally comes out will burn you, Leave a scar. No matter how far you run, I can reach farther  Than the ash cloud Of a vol-ca-no-o-o-o.  Never limited to just one more I'll clear the shelves in the liquor store More inclined to a morning road pop Than a stop at the coffee shop I'm highly functional My relationships are dysfunctional Hence the two-time nuptials I'm a volcano-o-o-o-o-o. I keep it all inside until the day I Blow-o-o-o-o-o.  What finally comes out will burn you, Leave a scar. No matter how far you run, I can reach farther  Than the ash cloud Of a vol-ca-no-o-o-o.  I'm a volcano. I'm a volcano. I'm a vol-ca-nooooo! TROJAN HORSE You're perfectly sculpted Like a true gift from God. With the parts of an Adonis Even I'd consider a ride on this. How could something That looks like that Be a threat to my heart? That thought proved a fatal error, Now let the onslaught start. Now that my heart's been pillaged And my soul is left in ruins, The world will see my worst. Others have tried to Break down these walls But you just came right through them. I never saw it coming, Just opened right up For a Trojan Horse. I ordered my gate raised Threw away the lock And handed you the key. I see now that I made it All too easy For someone so sleazy To get right to me. Can't trust myself with a gate So I'll build another wall in its place. Now that my heart's been pillaged And my soul is left in ruins, The world will see my worst. Others have tried to Break down these walls But you just came right through them. I never saw it coming, Just opened right up For a Trojan Horse. Part of me wonders If I enjoy the chaos A little too much. I sit back as it all crumbles And another flame burns out. Am I the one that was fooled Or have I been hiding out In a horse of my own Riding from heart to heart Doing some damage that I don't know? The exact number of men I've destroyed Would break your heart like a bone. Others have tried to Break down those walls But I'll just come right through them. You'll never see it coming, Just open right up For a Trojan Horse. Now that your heart's been pillaged And your soul is left in ruins, You've seen me at my worst. Now it's time to show me yours, Open up for my Trojan Horse. CHEETAH You think the cum stains on the bed Weren't a dead giveaway? You know I swallow But you busted over a hollow Little valley bitch And that's exactly how You got that itch Between your legs Let's hear you beg For once more chance But I'll hold my stance That you can't have me When your dick's that crabby. I stormed in You took off so fast Like a cheetah. Both sides of the bed Look like they've been slept in My, oh my, no wonder you ran off. Your ass is busted, Cheata'. When I kiss you I taste her pussy You stupid bitch I'd rather go down on her On my own. Don't want no second hand Lesbian love I'll spread her legs With a wink of my eye In the blink of an eye I'll be getting her off She won't need your pie Already got her filling Running down her thigh. I stormed in You took off so fast Like a cheetah. Both sides of the bed Look like they've been slept in My, oh my, no wonder you ran off. Your ass is busted, Cheata'. I'm gonna cut this food chain Your supply is gone. I'm not a man eater, Just a cheater beater. Carpet munching through The jungle's brush. If you hate that I do it Then stop giving me reasons To continuously declare This open season. I stormed in You took off so fast Like a cheetah. Both sides of the bed Look like they've been slept in My, oh my, no wonder you ran off. Your ass is busted, Cheata'. LACED What is this shit I'm on? Kinda forgot how good it feels To be hit on. Who is this bitch I'm on? Blonde haired beauty queen Goddamn that tongue is mean. Someone must've spiked this drink, Poured my reservations down the sink, I've got a taste for something pink. This shit is laced, laced, laced. Fucking so fast paced, paced, paced. It ain't a race, race, race. No make up, no filter. Fresh faced, faced, faced. Goddamn this love is laced, laced, laced. What is this shit I'm on? Kind of forget what the Ground feels like. I've been elevated for months Strung both out and along My nerves are shot I just wanted one hit But once I had that I needed more To keep my sanity Was this love Or vanity? This shit is laced, laced, laced. Fucking so fast paced, paced, paced. It ain't a race, race, race. No make up, no filter. Fresh faced, faced, faced. Goddamn this love is laced, laced, laced. Heart cracked by the Crack-like love you give Shoot me up Just to shoot me down I'm high I'm low From show to show And shore to shore Am I your wife or a whore This shit is laced, laced, laced. Fucking so fast paced, paced, paced. It ain't a race, race, race. No make up, no filter. Fresh faced, faced, faced. Goddamn this love is laced, laced, laced. FUNERAL DAY I am the one who Held you when you cried. But where were you When the world thought I died? I was shot, left for dead. Slain in the room Built beneath our bed. Still you walked away On my funeral day. I know she's younger But is she better? She ain't wiser, You know I'm stronger. I guess what matters Is that you're happy With someone who can hold on Just a little bit longer. I won't pretend that I'm not hurt, Won't look on as you kiss her. There's pictures of you Every time you leave That home you've created with her. Love makes a family And I can see clearly That even when I took your name I was never really let in, Never a part of your kin. I am the one who Held you when you cried. But where were you When the world thought I died? I was shot, left for dead. Slain in the room Built beneath our bed. Still you walked away On my funeral day. I can see she's pretty. And I've heard she's kind. Throw a little sexy into the mix, Hell I'd salute her too. But none of that really matters If she'll stand by someone like you. You have your moments, that's true, Where you can be a decent human. At the end of the night When you turn out the lights And the TV goes on, Prepared for the fights And not for your wife Who's self conscious, deprived, Barely feeling alive. Marriage was shitty And I got hurt My fingers are crossed that she Will be the one to survive. I am the one who Held you when you cried. But where were you When the world thought I died? I was shot, left for dead. Slain in the room Built beneath our bed. Still you walked away On my funeral day. Weren't there to carry my casket Not there to lay down a rose Who threw that handful of dirt Into my empty grave If you were nowhere to be found? If a dead girl cries out In an abandoned motel room Does she even make a sound? Left alone, left for dead With no eulogy to be said By the man who claimed he loved me Who doesn't even care That my blood was shed Never came back to the house Where the carpet's stained red. I am the one who Held you when you cried. But where were you When the world thought I died? I was shot, left for dead. Slain in the room Built beneath our bed. Still you walked away On my funeral day. NUCLEAR  I thought it'd hurt when you dropped me. Was prepared to scream, But I just whistled the whole way down.  It wasn't until I hit the ground  That I lost all control  And you heard that deafening sound. Four little letters: G-O-N-E. You know what you created: B-O-M-B. This timer's almost all ticked out, This clock has run its course, Attached to a weapon with no remorse.  Yeah we started with a bang! You went out with a whimper. Not sure what else to say, I can't make it any simpler.  You tried so hard to contain me But I've already gone nuclear. Don't want to hear you cry 'Cuz of the fallout you invited.  I can sense your skin's starting to crawl, Not long 'fore it's bubbling up.  Boils atop your flawless flesh, No matter how much your eyes start to burn There's no stopping those tears. Was this missile backfiring  Your secret hope Or the realization of your greatest fears?  What pain feels stronger, The initial blast or the aftermath? It's an unfair world and you just  Placed every last man in my warpath. Yeah we started with a bang! You went out with a whimper. Not sure what else to say, I can't make it any simpler.  You tried so hard to contain me But I've already gone nuclear. Don't want to hear you cry 'Cuz of the fallout you invited.  Don't blame me for the devastation!  You're the one that armed me. Loaded me up with ammunition! Then sent me off to the sea. Pressed the detonator remotely! But all that did was set me free. Yeah we started with a bang! You went out with a whimper. Not sure what else to say, I can't make it any simpler.  You tried so hard to contain me But I've already gone nuclear. Don't want to hear you cry 'Cuz of the fallout you invited.  WANDERING Wanna be Cleo to Caesar Marilyn to Kennedy Want a man in Cali And in Tennessee Give me a ruler A political poster child And a sun-kissed cowboy Don't want a traveling boy toy That lives to kiss me Just want a bunch of good men Waiting for me in each city I'm wandering, wandering Don't want your heart again, no I'm wandering, wandering You can come to the green room But you'd better get Lost before the show I don't commit, don't you know I'm wandering, wandering Don't stalk me Talk to me Try to put a ring on me I just wanna be free I won't invite you Entice you Try to seduce you That's not what I do Don't do this to us Try to tame us To chain us This is nothing more than lust. I'm wandering, wandering Don't want your heart again, no I'm wandering, wandering You can come to the green room But you'd better get Lost before the show I don't commit, don't you know I'm wandering, wandering I'm wandering, wandering After lust and away from trust I'm wandering, wandering After sex, I'll accept nothing less I'm wandering, wandering Unchained, unafraid, unashamed I'm wandering I'm wandering, wandering Don't want your heart again, no I'm wandering, wandering You can come to the green room But you'd better get Lost before the show I don't commit, don't you know I'm wandering, wandering GOLDILOCKS GLOW She's been in four different beds With four different boys Causing all kinds of trouble While making ungodly noise.  Was tired of playing satisfied Not one of these men suit her Was supposed to stop at three When everything fit just right  But she's more than happy  Having a flavor of the night.  Someone's been sleeping in her bed! Someone's been lying with her men. Someone's been fucking with her head! Oh, she just don't know. This boy is just too small. Is there such a thing as too big? Might never find a boy to please her, So she'll just keep trying them all. Oh, someone please make Goldilocks Glow. She's been with boys so cold They'd leave when they learned her age. What's wrong with being old? Just means she knows her way around. Been with boys so hot They thought they were invincible, So they'd lie, they'd cheat, they'd steal Rather than earn an honest meal. Girl's in need of a real man, God, what's the fucking deal? Someone's been sleeping in her bed! Someone's been lying with her men. Someone's been fucking with her head! Oh, she just don't know. This boy is just too small. Is there such a thing as too big? Might never find a boy to please her, So she'll just keep trying them all. Oh, someone please make Goldilocks Glow. Too hard, too soft. Too big, too small. What can I say? She's insatiable. Too hot, too cold. No men fit her mold But this brown haired freak Is her flavor of the week. She likes the porridge in my bowl And I make her eyes roll. Someone's been sleeping in her bed! Someone's been lying with her men. Someone's been fucking with her head! Oh, she just don't know. This boy is just too small. Is there such a thing as too big? Might never find a boy to please her, So she'll just keep trying them all. Oh, someone please make Goldilocks Glow. WHEN IN BOYSTOWN (INTERLUDE) Ain't nobody gonna judge ya No one's here to stop your kiss. Don't care if a mister has a sister And she just happens to love a miss. These flashing lights Guide our way to freedom. A neon railroad That'll take him right to him. Yeah there ain't no churches here, But when in Boystown You can expect to find Men on their knees. No there ain't no monsters here, But when in Boystown You'll see girls With the sheets up over their heads. Yeah you won't find hatred here, That shit stays outside. Expect a fairy riding a bear When in Boystown. Boystown! Boystown! Boystown. RONNIE & CLYDE The outlaw drummer Runaway guitar strummer Always head down at the bar One night he said "I'll have what she's having" And he didn't mean the drink So he took the bartender's man, Took her cash and they ran Full of dreams and no plan They ran, they ran. Don't need no fugitive bride Along for the ride Cuz it's just Ronnie! Ronnie! Ronnie and Clyde! Two guns, both cocked Shoot em up, shoot em up! Ronnie! Ronnie! Ronnie and Clyde! Clyde was dressed in prison stripes As he threw another drink back Friends found it funny That he had a shackle Around his neck Mutter something about Another bachelor party Ronnie thought he'd lost his chance But this look in Ronnie's eye Said get up, let's dance Don't need no fugitive bride Along for the ride Cuz it's just Ronnie! Ronnie! Ronnie and Clyde! Two guns, both cocked Shoot em up, shoot em up! Ronnie! Ronnie! Ronnie and Clyde! Road warriors drinking road pops Road wanderers giving road head Two secret lovers burning up fuel Swipe your chin, you're starting to drool. Bonnie loves Clyde But Clyde loves Ronnie Ronnie doesn't need a diamond, Just wants to make love To the rhythm of Their own music Come on boys Show us what you're made of [Drum and Guitar break] Don't need no fugitive bride Along for the ride Cuz it's just Ronnie! Ronnie! Ronnie and Clyde! Two guns, both cocked Shoot em up, shoot em up! Ronnie! Ronnie! Ronnie and Clyde! PRETTY BOYS I don't fuck with city boys That wear their collars  Higher than their state of mind. That's a high rise, Been taking hit after hit since three. Hot boxing in their daddy's Ferrari  The biggest disappointment  Walking in three hundred dollar sneakers. Pretty Boys! Pretty Boys!  You're just a shot away  From not knowing the difference In what's between my legs and yours. Throw another one back. Pretty Boys! Pretty Boys!  No I don't want your money And I sure don't want your sex.  Not gonna kiss you Just to take a hit. I can get high on my own, Pretty Boys.  No I don't want to fuck pretty boys That pose nice and proper in their prom picture Only to fuck their way on down the court  From the Queen on down to the sixth runner up Yeah I bet he called each last one a slut. They blame their tiny problem On some poor innocent Captain Cuz they can't set sail in these seas. Pretty Boys! Pretty Boys!  You're just a shot away  From not knowing the difference In what's between my legs and yours. Throw another one back!  Pretty Boys! Pretty Boys!  No I don't want your money And I sure don't want your sex.  Not gonna let you seduce me Just to reach climax. I can get off on my own, Pretty Boys.  I'm not fucking around here, pretty boy So quit puffing your chest  And get back to walking With your tail between your legs.  I've knocked men down for a lot less Than the dirty things you're trying to do.  What the hell is it about Fucked up minds and ugly hearts In the bodies of pretty boys like you?  Pretty Boys! Pretty Boys!  You're just a shot away  From not knowing the difference In what's between my legs and yours. Throw another one back!  Pretty Boys! Pretty Boys!  No I don't want your money And I sure don't want your sex.  Not gonna kiss you Just to take a hit. I can get high on my own, I can get off on my own, Better off on my own, Pretty Boys.  THIS IS A DISASTER So about this time last year I stumbled and fell In front of thirty people Plus two million I was just not right Judgement blinded by spotlight Forgot how fast I tend to run. I walked in feeling like the hottest thing Since Kurt, Robert and Mick But I walked out Looking like the dumbest bitch And all my friends were gone. The second I looked at that chart I thought... This Is A Disaster! I just wanted to fuck pop Never expected rock to fuck me too Now that pop won't take me back I'm on my own. Back to the blueprints, Got my hard head and a pen, Let's build something made to last. I walked in feeling like the hottest thing Since Kurt, Robert and Mick But I walked out Looking like the dumbest bitch And all my friends were gone. The second I looked at that chart I thought... This Is A Disaster! So maybe I was mean, And I sure wasn't clean, Hell, maybe I'll never be. But I'm still standing on My own two feet Refusing to be beat. Might not sell my soul To rock-n-roll But I'll still sing my heart out Till there's no pulse left. I walked in feeling like the hottest thing Since Kurt, Robert and Mick But I walked out Looking like the dumbest bitch And all my friends were gone. The second I looked at that chart I thought... This Is A Disaster! FADulous Change a few curls Adjust a few hemlines Cut the neckline You'll be next inline For a solid fifteen minutes But that limelight Will burn bright forever Just not always for you You're not that clever You can't copy and paste And expect to thrive In Tinseltown That's no way to survive You say you wanna be fabulous So quit conforming! You say you wanna be fabulous So forge your own path! You say you wanna be fabulous It's not all glitz and glamor We all feel the weight of the hammer. Don't sell out to be fabulous Don't be fooled, its FADulous! You can sample a few chords A few words It won't hurt But if you change your sound To be cool You'll be left In the past. The first shall be last And the last shall be first Artistic robbery may help you succeed But you'll never be the best If you can't sleep with your conscience Then you're probably the worst You say you wanna be fabulous So quit conforming! You say you wanna be fabulous So forge your own path! You say you wanna be fabulous It's not all glitz and glamor We all feel the weight of the hammer. Don't sell out to be fabulous Don't be fooled, its FADulous! F-A-B-ulous Red carpet walking Sharon Stone stalking Barbara Walters talking F-A-D-ulous! One glove on your hand Paparazzi hiding in the sand Your honor We've got a liar on the stand F-A-B-ulous Fabulous, fa-fabulous. F-A-D-ulous. Fadulous, you're s-so fucking bad at this. You say you wanna be fabulous So quit conforming! You say you wanna be fabulous So forge your own path! You say you wanna be fabulous It's not all glitz and glamor, We all feel the weight of the hammer. Don't sell out to be fabulous, Don't be fooled, its FADulous! TOMBOY Guess it's true what they say The apples don't fall Far from the tree. Even though that tree uprooted, Dropped two apples but A third couldn't quite break free. Poisoned by the toxic vines That wrapped around the trunk. That's an apple no one should eat. We were told to watch out For the evil queen No one was prepared For the wicked king. It's dangerous How sweet it looks And how good it sounds. That apple was passed around Handled by all And no one ever knew. I was offered food When I was starving I took a bite And it was all downhill from there. Thought being a Tomboy Could save me from Tom's boy But I was forced to play That poor little princess part. That damn damsel in distress role Just had to be filled. We all know that story ends With the bad guys getting killed. Had me a huntsman But he died too, It was all too tragic For my son's storybook. Sorry if your daughters were hurt By Prince Harming It's a cold bloodline Warmed by his sisters' hearts. It's dangerous How sweet it looks And how good it sounds. That apple was passed around Handled by all And no one ever knew. I was offered food When I was starving I took a bite And it was all downhill from there. Thought being a Tomboy Could save me from Tom's boy But I was forced to play That poor little princess part. Tomboy, Tomboy. Did you foresee The end of your reign? Tom's boy, Tom's boy. Dealt false sympathy for decades While getting off on my pain. Tom's girl, Tom's girl. I'm sorry that the dark Is where you come from, But baby girl, you and I, We're headed someplace bright. It's dangerous How sweet it looks And how good it sounds. That apple was passed around Handled by all And no one ever knew. I was offered food When I was starving I took a bite And it was all downhill from there. Thought being a Tomboy Could save me from Tom's boy But I was forced to play That poor little princess part. UNDERTAKER Survival isn't permanent Revival isn't happiness What have I done to deserve this Plethora of counter bliss Where did I go wrong Always pretending to be strong For the cameras and the fans When the flash captures a smile Know it's just pretend Behind the facade Of America's starlet Hides the world's saddest woman And no one even knows it Cracks can grow Until we break Was not dying One big mistake Does God look down on me And think 'I hate her' Am I due to meet The Undertaker The U- The U- The Undertaker The U- The U- The Undertake-e-er Won't project my pain on No one else no more Played the devil's games But I grew bored Who'd have thought One could feel this way Like the ground beneath our feet Would make a better home Than a great big house I'm hurting now Can't you hear me cry out Every time that I lash out I'm begging you Please don't let him Bring me down Cracks can grow Until we break Was not dying One big mistake Does God look down on me And think 'I hate her' Am I due to meet The Undertaker The U- The U- The Undertaker The U- The U- The Undertake-e-er I can hear the bells Ringing inside my head God this must be hell I must already be dead If Satan's chorus Can echo this loud Never was one to Get on my knees For any man That I couldn't see But this right here Might be the time to believe Take a leap If death is creeping This close to my safe space Maybe divine intervention Will be my only saving grace Cracks can grow Until we break Was not dying One big mistake Does God look down on me And think 'I hate her' Am I due to meet The Undertaker The U- The U- The Undertaker The U- The U- The Undertake-e-er THIS IS MY BODY [Male voice] "And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man." [Record scratch] [Electric guitar shredding] Uh-uh. Not this woman. I ain't your masterpiece, no So quit trying to sign me I'm not your blueprint, no So quit trying to copy me I am no one's daughter, no So quit trying to name me I will not smile for you, no So quit trying to force these lips Into a lie Captured in One moment in time This is My body My body My body Not yours to shame What's between these legs Ain't yours to claim What grows inside Ain't yours to name This is My Body My Body My body [Male voice] "Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord." I was a submission specialist Never the one to submit Others trembled in my presence, Bowed if they felt blessed But never once did I Bend a knee to silly men I'm not beneath them Not above them I only serve me If God wants to be My deity Then these women Must be free This is My body My body My body Not yours to shame What's between these legs Ain't yours to claim What grows inside Ain't yours to name This is My Body My Body My body [Male voice] "Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man." In what world am I Only a trophy of war If I'm a virgin? Is that the world You envisioned? Took You seven days to create paradise But for thousands of years We've been fucking it up People twist Your words To use against each other Man has turned on woman And woman on God Ain't no trophy between my legs No green grass or a garden No matter which man begs I will not grant them pardon This is My body My body My body Not yours to shame What's between these legs Ain't yours to claim What grows inside Ain't yours to name This is My Body My Body My body EDEN HAS FALLEN Bright lights in a metropolis All shine bright as one Till one tower decided It deserved to eclipse the sun Now all the growth must halt All progress has been stalled What happened to speaking up How'd we get to this? How'd Eden get to this? Eden has fallen Fallen Fallen down Burst into flames Now Satan rules this town Eden has fallen Fallen Fallen down Now Satan wears the crown Two kids in a sandbox One pushed the other down What'd we teach the kid to do Punch back and run We can't run from Eden Can't turn our backs on hard work What looks like a setback Is just a trial of our worth Eden has fallen Fallen Fallen down Burst into flames Now Satan rules this town Eden has fallen Fallen Fallen down Now Satan wears the crown No snakes allowed in this garden Must've missed the apple From the tree of knowledge Since every time you open your mouth Sounds like you've never been to college Oh wait, you made one of those too Hey how'd that turn out for you Settled in court But your judgement has yet to come You'll pay for your crimes The Lord ain't that dumb Eden has fallen Fallen Fallen down Burst into flames Now Satan rules this town Eden has fallen Fallen Fallen down Now Satan wears the crown

[xcandycorn]

ROADPOP

INTRO This goes out to the heavy drinkers Who've bottomed out On another bottle This one's for the over-thinkers Who've run clean out Of excuses. This is a shoutout to the promiscuous Who've fucked themselves Into an undeserved slur. This record I dedicate to you Because I am with you I've been there too. So turn this up loud And roll your windows down This is our anthem A sound just for you and me So put the bottle down Come on and lift your shirt up Get nasty in every rest stop This is ROADPOP VOLCANO After years of dormancy I've finally erupted Resorted to alcoholic consumption Because I'd rather submit To a toxic suicide  Than to go one more round On this god forsaken ride.  I'm a volcano-o-o-o-o-o. I keep it all inside until the day I Blow-o-o-o-o-o.  What finally comes out will burn you, Leave a scar. No matter how far you run, I can reach farther  Than the ash cloud Of a vol-ca-no-o-o-o.  So fucking destructive Hot headed from 0 to 100 I'm insanely eruptive Broken bottles are weapons Empty ones are killing me Can't turn off this insanity Genetics contaminated me I'm a volcano-o-o-o-o-o. I keep it all inside until the day I Blow-o-o-o-o-o.  What finally comes out will burn you, Leave a scar. No matter how far you run, I can reach farther  Than the ash cloud Of a vol-ca-no-o-o-o.  Never limited to just one more I'll clear the shelves in the liquor store More inclined to a morning road pop Than a stop at the coffee shop I'm highly functional My relationships are dysfunctional Hence the two-time nuptials I'm a volcano-o-o-o-o-o. I keep it all inside until the day I Blow-o-o-o-o-o.  What finally comes out will burn you, Leave a scar. No matter how far you run, I can reach farther  Than the ash cloud Of a vol-ca-no-o-o-o.  I'm a volcano. I'm a volcano. I'm a vol-ca-nooooo! TROJAN HORSE You're perfectly sculpted Like a true gift from God. With the parts of an Adonis Even I'd consider a ride on this. How could something That looks like that Be a threat to my heart? That thought proved a fatal error, Now let the onslaught start. Now that my heart's been pillaged And my soul is left in ruins, The world will see my worst. Others have tried to Break down these walls But you just came right through them. I never saw it coming, Just opened right up For a Trojan Horse. I ordered my gate raised Threw away the lock And handed you the key. I see now that I made it All too easy For someone so sleazy To get right to me. Can't trust myself with a gate So I'll build another wall in its place. Now that my heart's been pillaged And my soul is left in ruins, The world will see my worst. Others have tried to Break down these walls But you just came right through them. I never saw it coming, Just opened right up For a Trojan Horse. Part of me wonders If I enjoy the chaos A little too much. I sit back as it all crumbles And another flame burns out. Am I the one that was fooled Or have I been hiding out In a horse of my own Riding from heart to heart Doing some damage that I don't know? The exact number of men I've destroyed Would break your heart like a bone. Others have tried to Break down those walls But I'll just come right through them. You'll never see it coming, Just open right up For a Trojan Horse. Now that your heart's been pillaged And your soul is left in ruins, You've seen me at my worst. Now it's time to show me yours, Open up for my Trojan Horse. CHEETAH You think the cum stains on the bed Weren't a dead giveaway? You know I swallow But you busted over a hollow Little valley bitch And that's exactly how You got that itch Between your legs Let's hear you beg For once more chance But I'll hold my stance That you can't have me When your dick's that crabby. I stormed in You took off so fast Like a cheetah. Both sides of the bed Look like they've been slept in My, oh my, no wonder you ran off. Your ass is busted, Cheata'. When I kiss you I taste her pussy You stupid bitch I'd rather go down on her On my own. Don't want no second hand Lesbian love I'll spread her legs With a wink of my eye In the blink of an eye I'll be getting her off She won't need your pie Already got her filling Running down her thigh. I stormed in You took off so fast Like a cheetah. Both sides of the bed Look like they've been slept in My, oh my, no wonder you ran off. Your ass is busted, Cheata'. I'm gonna cut this food chain Your supply is gone. I'm not a man eater, Just a cheater beater. Carpet munching through The jungle's brush. If you hate that I do it Then stop giving me reasons To continuously declare This open season. I stormed in You took off so fast Like a cheetah. Both sides of the bed Look like they've been slept in My, oh my, no wonder you ran off. Your ass is busted, Cheata'. LACED What is this shit I'm on? Kinda forgot how good it feels To be hit on. Who is this bitch I'm on? Blonde haired beauty queen Goddamn that tongue is mean. Someone must've spiked this drink, Poured my reservations down the sink, I've got a taste for something pink. This shit is laced, laced, laced. Fucking so fast paced, paced, paced. It ain't a race, race, race. No make up, no filter. Fresh faced, faced, faced. Goddamn this love is laced, laced, laced. What is this shit I'm on? Kind of forget what the Ground feels like. I've been elevated for months Strung both out and along My nerves are shot I just wanted one hit But once I had that I needed more To keep my sanity Was this love Or vanity? This shit is laced, laced, laced. Fucking so fast paced, paced, paced. It ain't a race, race, race. No make up, no filter. Fresh faced, faced, faced. Goddamn this love is laced, laced, laced. Heart cracked by the Crack-like love you give Shoot me up Just to shoot me down I'm high I'm low From show to show And shore to shore Am I your wife or a whore This shit is laced, laced, laced. Fucking so fast paced, paced, paced. It ain't a race, race, race. No make up, no filter. Fresh faced, faced, faced. Goddamn this love is laced, laced, laced. FUNERAL DAY I am the one who Held you when you cried. But where were you When the world thought I died? I was shot, left for dead. Slain in the room Built beneath our bed. Still you walked away On my funeral day. I know she's younger But is she better? She ain't wiser, You know I'm stronger. I guess what matters Is that you're happy With someone who can hold on Just a little bit longer. I won't pretend that I'm not hurt, Won't look on as you kiss her. There's pictures of you Every time you leave That home you've created with her. Love makes a family And I can see clearly That even when I took your name I was never really let in, Never a part of your kin. I am the one who Held you when you cried. But where were you When the world thought I died? I was shot, left for dead. Slain in the room Built beneath our bed. Still you walked away On my funeral day. I can see she's pretty. And I've heard she's kind. Throw a little sexy into the mix, Hell I'd salute her too. But none of that really matters If she'll stand by someone like you. You have your moments, that's true, Where you can be a decent human. At the end of the night When you turn out the lights And the TV goes on, Prepared for the fights And not for your wife Who's self conscious, deprived, Barely feeling alive. Marriage was shitty And I got hurt My fingers are crossed that she Will be the one to survive. I am the one who Held you when you cried. But where were you When the world thought I died? I was shot, left for dead. Slain in the room Built beneath our bed. Still you walked away On my funeral day. Weren't there to carry my casket Not there to lay down a rose Who threw that handful of dirt Into my empty grave If you were nowhere to be found? If a dead girl cries out In an abandoned motel room Does she even make a sound? Left alone, left for dead With no eulogy to be said By the man who claimed he loved me Who doesn't even care That my blood was shed Never came back to the house Where the carpet's stained red. I am the one who Held you when you cried. But where were you When the world thought I died? I was shot, left for dead. Slain in the room Built beneath our bed. Still you walked away On my funeral day. NUCLEAR  I thought it'd hurt when you dropped me. Was prepared to scream, But I just whistled the whole way down.  It wasn't until I hit the ground  That I lost all control  And you heard that deafening sound. Four little letters: G-O-N-E. You know what you created: B-O-M-B. This timer's almost all ticked out, This clock has run its course, Attached to a weapon with no remorse.  Yeah we started with a bang! You went out with a whimper. Not sure what else to say, I can't make it any simpler.  You tried so hard to contain me But I've already gone nuclear. Don't want to hear you cry 'Cuz of the fallout you invited.  I can sense your skin's starting to crawl, Not long 'fore it's bubbling up.  Boils atop your flawless flesh, No matter how much your eyes start to burn There's no stopping those tears. Was this missile backfiring  Your secret hope Or the realization of your greatest fears?  What pain feels stronger, The initial blast or the aftermath? It's an unfair world and you just  Placed every last man in my warpath. Yeah we started with a bang! You went out with a whimper. Not sure what else to say, I can't make it any simpler.  You tried so hard to contain me But I've already gone nuclear. Don't want to hear you cry 'Cuz of the fallout you invited.  Don't blame me for the devastation!  You're the one that armed me. Loaded me up with ammunition! Then sent me off to the sea. Pressed the detonator remotely! But all that did was set me free. Yeah we started with a bang! You went out with a whimper. Not sure what else to say, I can't make it any simpler.  You tried so hard to contain me But I've already gone nuclear. Don't want to hear you cry 'Cuz of the fallout you invited.  WANDERING Wanna be Cleo to Caesar Marilyn to Kennedy Want a man in Cali And in Tennessee Give me a ruler A political poster child And a sun-kissed cowboy Don't want a traveling boy toy That lives to kiss me Just want a bunch of good men Waiting for me in each city I'm wandering, wandering Don't want your heart again, no I'm wandering, wandering You can come to the green room But you'd better get Lost before the show I don't commit, don't you know I'm wandering, wandering Don't stalk me Talk to me Try to put a ring on me I just wanna be free I won't invite you Entice you Try to seduce you That's not what I do Don't do this to us Try to tame us To chain us This is nothing more than lust. I'm wandering, wandering Don't want your heart again, no I'm wandering, wandering You can come to the green room But you'd better get Lost before the show I don't commit, don't you know I'm wandering, wandering I'm wandering, wandering After lust and away from trust I'm wandering, wandering After sex, I'll accept nothing less I'm wandering, wandering Unchained, unafraid, unashamed I'm wandering I'm wandering, wandering Don't want your heart again, no I'm wandering, wandering You can come to the green room But you'd better get Lost before the show I don't commit, don't you know I'm wandering, wandering GOLDILOCKS GLOW She's been in four different beds With four different boys Causing all kinds of trouble While making ungodly noise.  Was tired of playing satisfied Not one of these men suit her Was supposed to stop at three When everything fit just right  But she's more than happy  Having a flavor of the night.  Someone's been sleeping in her bed! Someone's been lying with her men. Someone's been fucking with her head! Oh, she just don't know. This boy is just too small. Is there such a thing as too big? Might never find a boy to please her, So she'll just keep trying them all. Oh, someone please make Goldilocks Glow. She's been with boys so cold They'd leave when they learned her age. What's wrong with being old? Just means she knows her way around. Been with boys so hot They thought they were invincible, So they'd lie, they'd cheat, they'd steal Rather than earn an honest meal. Girl's in need of a real man, God, what's the fucking deal? Someone's been sleeping in her bed! Someone's been lying with her men. Someone's been fucking with her head! Oh, she just don't know. This boy is just too small. Is there such a thing as too big? Might never find a boy to please her, So she'll just keep trying them all. Oh, someone please make Goldilocks Glow. Too hard, too soft. Too big, too small. What can I say? She's insatiable. Too hot, too cold. No men fit her mold But this brown haired freak Is her flavor of the week. She likes the porridge in my bowl And I make her eyes roll. Someone's been sleeping in her bed! Someone's been lying with her men. Someone's been fucking with her head! Oh, she just don't know. This boy is just too small. Is there such a thing as too big? Might never find a boy to please her, So she'll just keep trying them all. Oh, someone please make Goldilocks Glow. WHEN IN BOYSTOWN (INTERLUDE) Ain't nobody gonna judge ya No one's here to stop your kiss. Don't care if a mister has a sister And she just happens to love a miss. These flashing lights Guide our way to freedom. A neon railroad That'll take him right to him. Yeah there ain't no churches here, But when in Boystown You can expect to find Men on their knees. No there ain't no monsters here, But when in Boystown You'll see girls With the sheets up over their heads. Yeah you won't find hatred here, That shit stays outside. Expect a fairy riding a bear When in Boystown. Boystown! Boystown! Boystown. RONNIE & CLYDE The outlaw drummer Runaway guitar strummer Always head down at the bar One night he said "I'll have what she's having" And he didn't mean the drink So he took the bartender's man, Took her cash and they ran Full of dreams and no plan They ran, they ran. Don't need no fugitive bride Along for the ride Cuz it's just Ronnie! Ronnie! Ronnie and Clyde! Two guns, both cocked Shoot em up, shoot em up! Ronnie! Ronnie! Ronnie and Clyde! Clyde was dressed in prison stripes As he threw another drink back Friends found it funny That he had a shackle Around his neck Mutter something about Another bachelor party Ronnie thought he'd lost his chance But this look in Ronnie's eye Said get up, let's dance Don't need no fugitive bride Along for the ride Cuz it's just Ronnie! Ronnie! Ronnie and Clyde! Two guns, both cocked Shoot em up, shoot em up! Ronnie! Ronnie! Ronnie and Clyde! Road warriors drinking road pops Road wanderers giving road head Two secret lovers burning up fuel Swipe your chin, you're starting to drool. Bonnie loves Clyde But Clyde loves Ronnie Ronnie doesn't need a diamond, Just wants to make love To the rhythm of Their own music Come on boys Show us what you're made of [Drum and Guitar break] Don't need no fugitive bride Along for the ride Cuz it's just Ronnie! Ronnie! Ronnie and Clyde! Two guns, both cocked Shoot em up, shoot em up! Ronnie! Ronnie! Ronnie and Clyde! PRETTY BOYS I don't fuck with city boys That wear their collars  Higher than their state of mind. That's a high rise, Been taking hit after hit since three. Hot boxing in their daddy's Ferrari  The biggest disappointment  Walking in three hundred dollar sneakers. Pretty Boys! Pretty Boys!  You're just a shot away  From not knowing the difference In what's between my legs and yours. Throw another one back. Pretty Boys! Pretty Boys!  No I don't want your money And I sure don't want your sex.  Not gonna kiss you Just to take a hit. I can get high on my own, Pretty Boys.  No I don't want to fuck pretty boys That pose nice and proper in their prom picture Only to fuck their way on down the court  From the Queen on down to the sixth runner up Yeah I bet he called each last one a slut. They blame their tiny problem On some poor innocent Captain Cuz they can't set sail in these seas. Pretty Boys! Pretty Boys!  You're just a shot away  From not knowing the difference In what's between my legs and yours. Throw another one back!  Pretty Boys! Pretty Boys!  No I don't want your money And I sure don't want your sex.  Not gonna let you seduce me Just to reach climax. I can get off on my own, Pretty Boys.  I'm not fucking around here, pretty boy So quit puffing your chest  And get back to walking With your tail between your legs.  I've knocked men down for a lot less Than the dirty things you're trying to do.  What the hell is it about Fucked up minds and ugly hearts In the bodies of pretty boys like you?  Pretty Boys! Pretty Boys!  You're just a shot away  From not knowing the difference In what's between my legs and yours. Throw another one back!  Pretty Boys! Pretty Boys!  No I don't want your money And I sure don't want your sex.  Not gonna kiss you Just to take a hit. I can get high on my own, I can get off on my own, Better off on my own, Pretty Boys.  THIS IS A DISASTER So about this time last year I stumbled and fell In front of thirty people Plus two million I was just not right Judgement blinded by spotlight Forgot how fast I tend to run. I walked in feeling like the hottest thing Since Kurt, Robert and Mick But I walked out Looking like the dumbest bitch And all my friends were gone. The second I looked at that chart I thought... This Is A Disaster! I just wanted to fuck pop Never expected rock to fuck me too Now that pop won't take me back I'm on my own. Back to the blueprints, Got my hard head and a pen, Let's build something made to last. I walked in feeling like the hottest thing Since Kurt, Robert and Mick But I walked out Looking like the dumbest bitch And all my friends were gone. The second I looked at that chart I thought... This Is A Disaster! So maybe I was mean, And I sure wasn't clean, Hell, maybe I'll never be. But I'm still standing on My own two feet Refusing to be beat. Might not sell my soul To rock-n-roll But I'll still sing my heart out Till there's no pulse left. I walked in feeling like the hottest thing Since Kurt, Robert and Mick But I walked out Looking like the dumbest bitch And all my friends were gone. The second I looked at that chart I thought... This Is A Disaster! FADulous Change a few curls Adjust a few hemlines Cut the neckline You'll be next inline For a solid fifteen minutes But that limelight Will burn bright forever Just not always for you You're not that clever You can't copy and paste And expect to thrive In Tinseltown That's no way to survive You say you wanna be fabulous So quit conforming! You say you wanna be fabulous So forge your own path! You say you wanna be fabulous It's not all glitz and glamor We all feel the weight of the hammer. Don't sell out to be fabulous Don't be fooled, its FADulous! You can sample a few chords A few words It won't hurt But if you change your sound To be cool You'll be left In the past. The first shall be last And the last shall be first Artistic robbery may help you succeed But you'll never be the best If you can't sleep with your conscience Then you're probably the worst You say you wanna be fabulous So quit conforming! You say you wanna be fabulous So forge your own path! You say you wanna be fabulous It's not all glitz and glamor We all feel the weight of the hammer. Don't sell out to be fabulous Don't be fooled, its FADulous! F-A-B-ulous Red carpet walking Sharon Stone stalking Barbara Walters talking F-A-D-ulous! One glove on your hand Paparazzi hiding in the sand Your honor We've got a liar on the stand F-A-B-ulous Fabulous, fa-fabulous. F-A-D-ulous. Fadulous, you're s-so fucking bad at this. You say you wanna be fabulous So quit conforming! You say you wanna be fabulous So forge your own path! You say you wanna be fabulous It's not all glitz and glamor, We all feel the weight of the hammer. Don't sell out to be fabulous, Don't be fooled, its FADulous! TOMBOY Guess it's true what they say The apples don't fall Far from the tree. Even though that tree uprooted, Dropped two apples but A third couldn't quite break free. Poisoned by the toxic vines That wrapped around the trunk. That's an apple no one should eat. We were told to watch out For the evil queen No one was prepared For the wicked king. It's dangerous How sweet it looks And how good it sounds. That apple was passed around Handled by all And no one ever knew. I was offered food When I was starving I took a bite And it was all downhill from there. Thought being a Tomboy Could save me from Tom's boy But I was forced to play That poor little princess part. That damn damsel in distress role Just had to be filled. We all know that story ends With the bad guys getting killed. Had me a huntsman But he died too, It was all too tragic For my son's storybook. Sorry if your daughters were hurt By Prince Harming It's a cold bloodline Warmed by his sisters' hearts. It's dangerous How sweet it looks And how good it sounds. That apple was passed around Handled by all And no one ever knew. I was offered food When I was starving I took a bite And it was all downhill from there. Thought being a Tomboy Could save me from Tom's boy But I was forced to play That poor little princess part. Tomboy, Tomboy. Did you foresee The end of your reign? Tom's boy, Tom's boy. Dealt false sympathy for decades While getting off on my pain. Tom's girl, Tom's girl. I'm sorry that the dark Is where you come from, But baby girl, you and I, We're headed someplace bright. It's dangerous How sweet it looks And how good it sounds. That apple was passed around Handled by all And no one ever knew. I was offered food When I was starving I took a bite And it was all downhill from there. Thought being a Tomboy Could save me from Tom's boy But I was forced to play That poor little princess part. UNDERTAKER Survival isn't permanent Revival isn't happiness What have I done to deserve this Plethora of counter bliss Where did I go wrong Always pretending to be strong For the cameras and the fans When the flash captures a smile Know it's just pretend Behind the facade Of America's starlet Hides the world's saddest woman And no one even knows it Cracks can grow Until we break Was not dying One big mistake Does God look down on me And think 'I hate her' Am I due to meet The Undertaker The U- The U- The Undertaker The U- The U- The Undertake-e-er Won't project my pain on No one else no more Played the devil's games But I grew bored Who'd have thought One could feel this way Like the ground beneath our feet Would make a better home Than a great big house I'm hurting now Can't you hear me cry out Every time that I lash out I'm begging you Please don't let him Bring me down Cracks can grow Until we break Was not dying One big mistake Does God look down on me And think 'I hate her' Am I due to meet The Undertaker The U- The U- The Undertaker The U- The U- The Undertake-e-er I can hear the bells Ringing inside my head God this must be hell I must already be dead If Satan's chorus Can echo this loud Never was one to Get on my knees For any man That I couldn't see But this right here Might be the time to believe Take a leap If death is creeping This close to my safe space Maybe divine intervention Will be my only saving grace Cracks can grow Until we break Was not dying One big mistake Does God look down on me And think 'I hate her' Am I due to meet The Undertaker The U- The U- The Undertaker The U- The U- The Undertake-e-er THIS IS MY BODY [Male voice] "And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man." [Record scratch] [Electric guitar shredding] Uh-uh. Not this woman. I ain't your masterpiece, no So quit trying to sign me I'm not your blueprint, no So quit trying to copy me I am no one's daughter, no So quit trying to name me I will not smile for you, no So quit trying to force these lips Into a lie Captured in One moment in time This is My body My body My body Not yours to shame What's between these legs Ain't yours to claim What grows inside Ain't yours to name This is My Body My Body My body [Male voice] "Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord." I was a submission specialist Never the one to submit Others trembled in my presence, Bowed if they felt blessed But never once did I Bend a knee to silly men I'm not beneath them Not above them I only serve me If God wants to be My deity Then these women Must be free This is My body My body My body Not yours to shame What's between these legs Ain't yours to claim What grows inside Ain't yours to name This is My Body My Body My body [Male voice] "Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man." In what world am I Only a trophy of war If I'm a virgin? Is that the world You envisioned? Took You seven days to create paradise But for thousands of years We've been fucking it up People twist Your words To use against each other Man has turned on woman And woman on God Ain't no trophy between my legs No green grass or a garden No matter which man begs I will not grant them pardon This is My body My body My body Not yours to shame What's between these legs Ain't yours to claim What grows inside Ain't yours to name This is My Body My Body My body EDEN HAS FALLEN Bright lights in a metropolis All shine bright as one Till one tower decided It deserved to eclipse the sun Now all the growth must halt All progress has been stalled What happened to speaking up How'd we get to this? How'd Eden get to this? Eden has fallen Fallen Fallen down Burst into flames Now Satan rules this town Eden has fallen Fallen Fallen down Now Satan wears the crown Two kids in a sandbox One pushed the other down What'd we teach the kid to do Punch back and run We can't run from Eden Can't turn our backs on hard work What looks like a setback Is just a trial of our worth Eden has fallen Fallen Fallen down Burst into flames Now Satan rules this town Eden has fallen Fallen Fallen down Now Satan wears the crown No snakes allowed in this garden Must've missed the apple From the tree of knowledge Since every time you open your mouth Sounds like you've never been to college Oh wait, you made one of those too Hey how'd that turn out for you Settled in court But your judgement has yet to come You'll pay for your crimes The Lord ain't that dumb Eden has fallen Fallen Fallen down Burst into flames Now Satan rules this town Eden has fallen Fallen Fallen down Now Satan wears the crown