#it rhymes with speedy

[ell-arts]

PMATGA Headcanons: Surnames

This thing has been a headscratcher for as long as I have been a fan of the show. Or it might be just me-

But I've always struggled to imagine what some of the characters' surnames/last names could be. Especially the main trio. Mostly because it's tricky to come up with surnames that would fit them, and something in line with the show's running theme of naming things after geometry or character-specific quirks.

We know that Stratos' last name is Spheros (derived from stratosphere) and thus it's also Betrayus' surname. We know of Mr Strictler, who only revealed his surname and never his first name, so we can deduce that Sherry's last name is Strictler (she's his daughter). Then there's Mr Dome, Ms Globular, Sir Cumference, etc. But other than these characters, we never really heard of any other surnames mentioned in the show.

There is Spheria Suprema, and hey it could be probable that that is her surname, but I'm leaning a bit more towards the idea that it's her celebrity name/Pac-Pong champion title/nickname rather than her actual given surname. The chances of Spheria being given a name that rhymes with a descriptive title such as 'Suprema' at birth is a little slim if you ask me (this is just my rationalisation, don't come at me xD)

So that leaves us with the rest of the cast. I've seen some really creative attempts from the fandom to give the characters their surnames. So much so that I can't really come up with any good ones in comparison xD

But hey, these are the best I could come up with, along with some headcanons or reasons for why I chose them. Subject to change!

-

Pac Orbon (Yellow Orbs, duh...)

Cylindria Eden (based on the Garden of Eden, and sounds hippy-ish)

Spiral Logarith (based on the logarithmic spiral in math)

Elliptica Spheros (her mother kept her last name)

Sir Perimet Cumference (his first name is based on perimeter (of a circle), which can be shortened to 'Peri' but he still prefers 'Sir C')

Trayus Rotundin Spheros (he changed it to Betrayus Sneakerous Spheros as part of his rebellion-turned-revolt)

Zac Orbon (again, yellow orbs...)

Sunny Orbon (maiden name was Sunny Solari - a play on sol and solar, from the sun - which is also round and yellow)

Spheria Solari (tends to go by Spheria Suprema, her celebrity name, since that's what many people know her as)

Specter Eidolon (greek for 'idol' or 'phantom')

Blinky "Shadow" Scarlos (based on 'scarlet')

Inky "Bashful" Whimson (based on 'whimsical')

Pinky "Speedy" Chacier (Old French for "chase/hunt")

Clyde "Pokey" Oren (just based on orange, but can also have different meanings depending on the language)

[The Ghost Gang's names are a combination of lore that I've found relating to the original Pac-Man games. For example, Inky's original name in the retro games was Bashful, and his Japanese name is kimagure, which means 'whimsical', hence Whimson.]

#pmatga #pacman and the ghostly adventures #pmatga headcanon #pacster #cylindria #spiral #betrayus #zac #sunny #spheria suprema #ghost gang #inky #blinky #pinky #clyde #specter

[searchingforserendipity25]

Hold His Own | on ao3.

Elros and his family, for @nolofinweanweek.

Elros left his children the tools and the means to commit all the mistakes of his forefathers, and new ones besides; and he was not sorry for it in the slightest. (All of them come to him in the dark once at least, crying and seasick, wanting to be held and sang to quietness. There was a wave, little Vardamir said it first; and his children after him, too, weeping and afraid as he had vowed they never would be. A wave, and it was angry, and it came for everything).

In his old age, Tar-Minyatur looked little older than his grandson's children. Silver was in his hair, and the silver of his eyes a little dulled; but his mind was sharp still, and eager. He walked the quays every day, and bent his back on harvesting seasons. 

Only his son's growing weakness kept him from venturing out on the fishing vessels that scoured Ulmo's realm for fat tunas and rich whales - and all his children and their children were raised more on tales of the first eventful seal-hunting expeditions up and down the shores of Númenor than on tales of Beleriand.

 Sirion, Doriath, Gondolin and Hithlum - those came later, when they learned their letters and their histories. His brother, in love with lore and the keeping of lore, would argue against it, and no doubt rear his children in the wisdom of Melian's line and the solemnity of eternal memory.

Elros was mortal. He raised his people to love themselves first of all, their cities and language and ways. They sang new songs every season, composed new and useless rhythms with dizzying speed - and the king of Elenna, who had grown among enemies, and made war on Melkor, delighted above all things in this speedy work, the restless pettiness of every day's effort.

The work of one's hands was rarely more beautiful than when it was raised up to protect against wind, hail and spray - than when towers were raised on strong foundations, and around them cities raised on beautiful lines.

He wrote his deeds and thoughts in treatises and decrees, the lore made to be read by lore masters in centuries to come. It was important to keep the past alive, and prepare for the future, study portents and ignore not foresight - Yet not, Elros wrote in the letters he tossed at the waves, Mithlond-bound, at the expense of this year's seaweed nurseries.

Vardamir was hungry enough to learn, and Tindómiel cared mostly for the business of the ships and the studies of the stars - Atanalcar went pearl-diving most of the summer, every summer of his life, and Manwendil liked riding best of all, and was a friend to the sea-birds that brought him small tokens of sea-glass and feathers.

Elros left his children the tools and the means to commit all the mistakes of his forefathers, and new ones besides; and he was not sorry for it in the slightest. 

(All of them come to him in the dark once at least, crying and seasick, wanting to be held and sang to quietness. There was a wave, little Vardamir said it first; and his children after him, too, weeping and afraid as he had vowed they never would be. A wave, and it was angry, and it came for everything).

He soothes them all. Lullabies, half-forgotten and half-improvised, sweet with Menegroth's lilting rhymes; a few tries at the harp, and their little heads rested trustingly on his shoulder, asleep without fear again.

Dreams were only dreams, in the morning. None of them saw bloodshed before their coming of age; none of them would shed blood unjustly, for greed.

Tar-Minyatur knew this, because they were his children. He knew also that their children were like to have children themselves, and for all the friendship of the sea, an island was only so large and plentiful as the number of its people allowed them to be.

The gulls brought gifts to him, too. Perhaps they would do so to his descendants, too, five or ten births down the line, if not twenty. Did birds lose the keenness of their memory, as old men did?

The king's windows were always open, to the fresh star-lit light of the evening, when the weather allowed. In his last years, his bones turned into tyrants even on warm nights, but Tar-Minyatur found time to evade his minders, to bring out his bowl of seaweed and dumplings to the parapets of his towers and speak to Gil-Estel all the same.

All the old people of the island did, when they were soon to die. That last bearing of witness, some of the Edain held, was what stars were for, and this one most of all.

They may choose to tear them down in time, and build them anew, wrote Tar-Minyatur, silver-haired and trembling with the cold of an open window, young still in a way his brother would never be again.

He had taken to reading old philosophical texts with his son's grandchildren, now that they were old enough to be interested in these things, to know death and be a little angry at it, and petulant about the old king's way of teasing them. They went off to complain to Vardamir, who explained everything a little better, a little more sensibly.

No one had called him Elros in many years. All the same, the king wrote: Let them be as they would! That will be their choice! But they shall choose, and choose to look onwards, not back into the unalterable past. The best gift I can give them is to give them some stone and soil to stand upon, and the will to go onwards as they would, with the years they have to live.

 Tar-Minyatur raised his children to know this. Great and terrible things came of that, and he foresaw many, if not most; but then, one must think of this day's effort most of all. The future would come, as certain as the tides and the summer storms. It was enough to leave behind strong foundations, and something of estel to pass onwards. All wise old men in Elenna knew this, and held it to be true.

#elros #elrond #vardamir #tindomiel #silm fic #nolofinweanweek #nolofinwëans #the fall of numenor #my fics #tolkien fanfiction

[sterlingarcher23]

An "eye-opener"

This quite literally opened her eyes... Oh, foreshadowing. Nachtigall ick hör dir trappsen.

"Let me see" (If "I hear you" while listening to the radio forshadows blind Max, the "Let me see" forshadows the opposite.)

Why? Because both Lucas & Erica are connected to the 8.

You know... Kali. The dice could have shown any other number in slow motion but it's the 8 before it's a 20 (the ElMax & Lumax patterns both equate separately to a specific number once the final verse happened: 20)

Lucas speaks directly to her inability to see and feel and he says "We're gonna get you some help". Not for the resurrection, he speaks to her condition, her loss of sight and unable to feel/been paralyzed (the dying/resurrection is addressed after this) - Some don't see her paralyzed forever but blind definitely? That is inconsequential. (Seriously, you can't just flat out say one part is probably not the case but the other is. - It's both or nothing. That's why it's in this scene.)

A supernatural genre show and you truly believe everything is going to be normal?

Blind girl...

...um, psych.

Blind girl connected to her friend - when she grabs Els hand, she pulls off her glasses.

"Rhymes that keep their secrets will unfold behind the clouds", Neverending Story

So behind Max's clouded eyes "rhymes that keep their secrets will unfold". We still have to see this, don't we? S4 didn't gave us this.

Angel by Madonna, in its final line, says "Clouds just disappear". One shouldn't overlook this line of the song when everything else IS in the show.

And how? You know how. Brenner explained it even to us. We just misunderstood who was actually meant.

You know "taking abilities & memories".

Well she IS alive, ergo she will see another day even though it won't be her "eyes" that she'll use. It doesn't get more obvious than in this line - not only for this episode but in whole since this scene is a forshadowing of both her death and resurrection (I think there's the clock sound at the 20 minute mark?):

IF Max lives (Yes & Yes), she will SEE another day (Yes and logically Yes again! + "In your hand/s the birth of a new day"). And Lucas & Erica will get her some help as Max demanded "Let me see" via the 8. (which is btw the shape of the binoculars too)

El will be Max's eyes. Yes, I agree. Literally. This scene here is meant literal. You remember Phineas Gage? No? Go watch the scene. 😉

I'll talk about Gage in another post but there's a case of a woman that was blind after an accident. She was diagnosed with brain damage ; you know the thing Max doesn't believe is a thing...and she's right in her case. That woman wasn't blind, it was a misdiagnosis as it turned out many years later. The woman had something else... similar to Gage's symptoms but the correct diagnosis wasn't brain damage.

Max is blind...but she isn't at all. Because she'll consume. The silver cat feeds. Abilities. Memories.

The Talisman which Lucas reads from passage refers directly to Speedy. Speedy Parker whose alternate version, Parkus is a gunslinger, a knight. There's a third character with the name of Snowball (Seriously!) a blind musician who, although never directly confirmed, the protagonist of The Talisman, Jack, identifies as Speedy Parker. Snowball is extremely good in identifying other people himself even though he "can't see" - but if he is indeed Speedy, how can he be blind and be able to see at the same time? The Talisman - a healing object like the Grail - doesn't answer this oddity, it can be interpreted as a case of multiple identities/versions. However it is obvious why the Duffers chose this reference: Max is "Speedy" and therefore Snowball. That's why the "Snowball" happened. Blind yet not blind at all.

Plus: El literally removes blindness where he blinds the kids.

Oh, and about that brain thing...wait for a space walk that's been foreshadowed too when Max is introduced to the class.

#elmax #max mayfield #stranger things #el hopper #elmax is endgame #stranger things analysis

[herrmannhalsteadproduction]

500 Miles (Chapter Eleven)

Summary: This is Part Nineteen of my series A Herrmann/Halstead Production. It is an AU where Christopher Herrmann's mom had an affair with Pat Halstead resulting in a baby. The series follows this OC character (Rebecca "Bex" Herrmann) as she grows up and gets to know her brothers and the various Chicago teams. It is very much an AU, just to underscore that. It doesn't follow the same timeline and characters will follow different paths.

Click here for the Series Rundown where you can find the links to read all of the previous installments (which I highly recommend you do so that this one makes sense.)

Rating: Teen and Up

Relationships: Christopher Herrmann & Original Female Character, Jay Halstead & Original Female Character, Will Halstead & Original Female Character, Jay Halstead & Will Halstead, Greg 'Mouse' Gerwitz/Original Female Character, Will Halstead/Connor Rhodes, Assorted OC Couples

Warnings: Light Angst, Emotional Conversations, Dealing with Past Trauma, Minor Character Injury, Swearing, Implied Sexual Content, Kissing, An Unholy Amount of Fluff

A/N: To underscore my previous note, this is an alternate universe so things have unfolded differently. This will not follow the canon arcs exactly by any means. But I hope you'll still enjoy it!

Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Bex

Bex’s guitar case bounced against her back as she jogged into Med on Wednesday afternoon. Tracking down Maggie, April, and Ethan to give them their thank you cookies (or protein balls as the case may be) for helping out at the Grudge Match was easy enough. Dr. Abrams, however, wasn’t anywhere to be found around the ER. That meant it was time for…

Hospital field trip adventure!

A little nosing around and she figured out where his office was located. Even if he wasn’t there, she could at least leave the cookies on his desk. Who didn’t love a cookie surprise?

“Cookie surprise,” she sang under her breath as she made her way down the hall. “Sneaking around for a cookie surprise. What rhymes with sur-pri-i-ise? Cookie surprise is the best…no lies. Cookie surprise is…better than pies.”

Hm. It could use a little more workshopping.

She was so focused on testing out different -ies rhymes that she almost walked into Dr. Abrams as he was leaving his office.

“Ms. Herrmann,” he said with a nod.

“Dr. Abrams.” Bex nodded back.

Maybe this would become their thing. Cool, succinct nodding.

Bex offered up the cookie container to him. “Thank you for helping out with the Grudge Match,” she said. “We really appreciated you stepping up to the plate.” Sportsball jokes. She’s got ‘em.

He gave her a flat look as he accepted the cookies. Meh. He’d appreciate it more once it sank in a little.

"Fair is foul and foul is fair,” Dr. Abrams said solemnly before flashing a grin so quickly she almost missed it. “My suggestion for next year’s canteen t-shirts,” he explained. “I quite enjoyed the one’s for this year.”

Oooh, that was—that was good. She liked that. “You and me, doc,” she said, motioning between them as he headed back into his office. “Same wavelength. This friendship is going places. I can feel it.”

He closed the door on her.

But not before she caught another little smile on his face…and heard the snap of the container being opened behind the door.

“We’ll catch up later,” Bex called, patting the door as she headed down the hall.

Her cookie deliveries had been speedy enough that she was a bit early for her volunteer shift in Peds. All of the kids were highly entertained by her photos of Kol playing in the Grudge Match and everyone agreed he needed a uniform next year. Good. The more votes on her side the better.

After some mildly chaotic music and art time, Bex’s shift was up and she made a beeline for the coffee cart outside the hospital. A caffeine boost was required to carry her through the rest of the day.

Blinking at the bright sun as she exited the building, she laughed when the cart came into view. Great minds think alike. “Will! Connor!” Bex called out, waving at them when they turned around at her voice.

“Hey!” Will grinned at her as she joined them at the end of the line. “How was volunteering?”

“Awesome,” she said, leaning into him for a little side hug. “Everyone’s doing well so they had tons of energy and went nuts over the pictures of Kol from the game.” Which reminded her…

“I’m been thinking.” Bex turned to look up at Will. “What do you think about training Kol to be a therapy dog? I’d love to be able to bring him in to volunteer with me someday.”

Will’s eyebrows flew up as he thought that over.

“He’s got the temperament for it,” Connor said, stepping forward to place their order.

“Let’s look into it,” Will said. “If he likes it, I’m not against pursuing it.”

Bex cheered. She used her happy dance to maneuver her way in front of Connor to pay for the three of them against their immediate protests. “Too slow! Deal with it!”

“We’re in charge of dinner tonight,” Will countered. “We’ll be home before you anyway.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Bex gave them both a smooch before leaving. She smiled to herself on the way to her car. Connor had been over at their place more often than not lately and it was actually pretty nice. The four of them having family dinners. Fighting over the bathroom.

Bex like the noise and the coziness of it all.

Of course, it wasn’t going to last long with Emery moving out, but Bex was trying not to think about that and just enjoy herself in the meantime.

She arrived at the Tin Can and fought with the sticky door to get inside. Plenty of time to zip home to take Kol out and then meet up with Jay for her lesson.

The Tin Can coughed as she tried to start it.

And tried again.

One more time and the engine finally caught. Hah. “Who says I need a new car, Christopher?” she cackled under her breath. Bex backed up, turning up her music to cover the strange clanky noise from the rear that kept happening and rolled on out of the parking lot.

***

Jay

Jay jogged down the stairs, done for the day and ready for a training session with Bex. She’d already texted a bit ago that she was on her way.

“Mini Halstead’s here,” Platt said as he walked by the desk, not even looking up from her paperwork. Jay glanced around and Platt shook her head. “Not inside yet, but everyone in a five-mile radius heard her car squeal its way into the parking lot.”

He held up a hand at the pinched look she sent him. “You try convincing her to get a new car because we’ve tried.”

Platt tilted her head, pondering that challenge and Jay almost felt bad about possibly setting her on Bex, but not if it was the thing that actually pushed her to get a new freaking car.

As if on cue, the door to the precinct swung open and Bex came rushing in. “I’m here!” She flashed a grin and a wave at Platt before linking arms with Jay. “Hi, Trudy!”

“Mini-Halstead,” Platt snorted. “Get going for your mini-badass lessons. You’re cluttering up my area.”

Bex scrunched her nose at her. “Bye, Trudy,” she said, tugging Jay down the hall.

Hailey, Julie, and Sam had just shown up themselves when Bex and Jay arrived at the training room. Bex eyed the four of them as she started her stretches. “So…what’s the plan for today?”

Jay heard the underlying question clear as day. Was he going to be as stubborn as he was on Monday? No, okay? He’d listened to Bex and Hailey and now they were all here and he was just going to do his best to let them run this session however they needed to.

Hailey met his eyes and he gave her a nod that he hoped conveyed all of that.

“The plan is,” she began. “Jay and Sam are going to leave and come back in an hour.”

Wait.

“I can help—”

“An hour, Jay,” Hailey said, firmly. “It’ll give Bex and I a chance to talk and see where we’re at.” She raised her eyebrows at him, waiting, and Bex stood there watching him like she expected him to argue.

Whatever they needed. He could do that.

Jay smiled at them and then jerked a nod at Sam who followed him out. They stood in the hall while the door shut behind them.

Now what? He probably couldn’t get away with spending the hour with his ear against the door.

“Wanna go get a coffee?” Sam shrugged at him.

“It’s a million degrees outside,” Jay grumbled.

…maybe he was a little frustrated about not being allowed to stay in the room.

Sam, easily the most mellow of all of Bex’s friends, rolled along easily with it. “How about one of those icy, fruity drink things from café down the street,” he offered with a grin. “My treat.”

Jay stared at him.

And sighed.

“Yeah, okay.”

***

Hailey

Hailey waited a beat to see if Jay was going to come busting back through the door, but somewhat surprisingly, it stayed shut. She turned to Bex and Julie. “Let’s talk.”

The three of them sat cross-legged on the mats, facing each other. Bex looked a bit nervous and Hailey could hardly blame her. It wasn’t like they knew each other super well.

But they had at least this one thing on common.

Julie too, sad as that was. She and Hailey had compared notes earlier in the day to get on the same page for how to handle this training session and a few details had been hesitantly shared over a cup of coffee and some stale donuts.

It made Hailey ache to think of how many women had this in common.

“What are we talking about?” Bex asked, cutting through her thoughts. “I thought maybe we were going to dive into things today…”

“We’re definitely going to train today,” Julie said. “But we’re not going to dive into it.” She held up a hand when Bex opened her mouth to protest. “We need to talk first. If we’re doing this, we’re going to be safe and smart about it.”

Bex sat back with a nod, seemingly satisfied by that answer for now.

“Jay filled me in on things,” Hailey began. “But I’d like to hear from you, if you don’t mind. What is it that you want to accomplish here, Bex? What are your goals?”

“I want to be able to defend myself,” she said immediately. “I know we’ve worked on my freezing and getting out of holds and blocks and stuff, but it doesn’t—it doesn’t feel like enough. I want to feel like I could handle myself if—if someone came after me. That I could hold my own.” Her shoulders crept up as her voice got tight. “With what happened with Ty…” Bex took a deep breath. “If Jay hadn’t been there, he would have hurt me and then he would have hurt Emery. I want to know that I won’t let something like that happen again.”

Ah.

There it was.

“Bex,” Hailey said gently. “You know what happened wasn’t your fault—”

That got an immediate eyeroll. “I know that—”

“Okay, well, then if you know that,” Hailey said. “You also know you don’t have to redeem yourself.”

Bex stared hard down at an invisible spot on the mat, not saying anything.

“You did nothing wrong,” Hailey continued. “You reacted in an understandable way to a terrifying situation. I’ve been there.”

“Me too,” Julie added.

That had her looking at them finally.

“Different situations,” Hailey said. “Same result.”

“We know what it’s like to feel helpless, Bex.” Julie reached out to squeeze her hand. “I understand wanting to have tools at your disposal. I just don’t want you going into this thinking you have anything to make up for.”

“I—” Bex sighed. “I’m working on remembering that. Really.” She met their gazes with wide eyes. “Can we still work on punching in the meantime?”

Hailey laughed. “Yeah, but we need to talk about that too,” she said, holding up a hand. “Let’s manage our expectations here.”

“Manage how?” Bex frowned.

Being blunt was the only way to get through this part. “The odds of you winning a full-on fight with someone the size of Ty are slim to none,” Hailey said, giving it to her straight. “A guy like that has a greater muscle mass, more force behind his hits and he’s got a longer reach.”

“Even with training, it would be difficult,” Julie agreed. “But winning a fight isn’t our goal.”

Confusion coloured Bex’s face. “Okay, I guess I get that, but then what is?”

“Two things.” Hailey held up her fingers to tick off the points. “First is to be able to react quickly if you’re hit or knocked down. The first moment is crucial and leaves you vulnerable.”

“That’s definitely something I wanted to work on,” Bex agreed.

“We’ll knock you down until you’re able to pop right back up,” Hailey said, getting a smile out of her for that. “The second thing is ways to quickly cause maximum damage with minimal effort.”

“Also known as how to fight dirty,” Julie chimed in and earned them another grin.

“We’re going to teach you how to incapacitate your assailant for long enough to try and get away,” Hailey continued. “That’s always the goal, Bex. Strike hard and get away so you can call for help. It’s the best way to stay safe.”

“Okay.” Bex nodded, her chin set with determination. “How do we start?”

“On your feet.” Hailey scrambled up and motioned for Bex and Julie to do the same. “No matter what happens, you have to always remember to breathe. The sooner you can focus yourself, the sooner you can get back on your feet.”

“Breathe,” Bex repeated. “I can do tha—”

Hailey swept her leg out, kicking Bex’s legs out from under her and she landed on the mats with a thud.

“Jesus fuc—”

“Breathe.” Hailey leaned over her. “And get back up. You stay down, you’re dead. It’s as simple as that. Get up, Bex.” She held a hand out for Bex who took a deep breath and grabbed it. Hailey hauled her up to her feet.

Julie stepped in to lay a hand on Bex’s arm, checking in, but Bex waved her off with a little smile.

“Again.”

***

Jay

“You were right,” Jay said, taking a final slurp of his drink. “I didn’t think I’d like mango and pineapple, but that was pretty dang good.”

“Devon is the smoothie king of our house.” Sam grinned at him, just a tiny bit smug. “I’m well versed in all of the best flavour combinations.”

He might have enjoyed their drink expedition despite himself, but Jay had still been keeping one eye on the time. They were headed back to the station with eight minutes to spare. Sam dropped off a drink for Platt at the desk. ‘How do you think Tay and I keep getting the nice squad car?’ being the faultless logic behind that.

They chucked their own finished drinks in the garbage and went down to the training room. The shouts and slams coming through the door were not making him feel great about agreeing to this whole thing.

Jay pushed the door open and stepped inside—

To see Hailey slamming into Bex and taking her down to the mat with a thud.

“What the hell, Hailey?”

Julie got in his way before he could rush over to them. “Give her a second,” she said and sure enough, Hailey was already on her feet, chanting at Bex to get up. And Bex was…scrambling up on her own, looking exhausted.

And breathlessly excited.

“Did you see that, Jay?”

“I sure did.” He raised an eyebrow at Hailey. “Thinking we need to buy about a thousand ice packs on the way home.”

“That’s actually not a bad idea,” Hailey said, pointing a finger back at him. “We’re ready to take a break on this part and move on to phase two.”

Julie straightened up from where she’d been digging around in a bag and threw two somethings in his and Sam’s direction. They both caught them. Sam groaned while Jay took a minute to process what he was holding.

A freaking groin guard.

“Seriously?” He held it up and glared at Hailey.

She smiled back at him, big and wide as she shrugged. “Bex needs to learn how to strike and, uh, where,” she said, holding up a pair of helmets. “You gonna help or not?”

He exchanged a look with Sam and they both sighed, resigned. Of course they were…on one condition. “We signing Ruzek and Atwater to help with this next week, right?”

“Among others,” Hailey said.

“Okay, then,” Jay said, twirling the cursed jockstrap in his hands. “Let’s do this.”

***

Bex

On Thursday, the only thing that kept Bex moving was knowing that Jay was probably as sore as she was, if not more. And that was in service to helping her so she really couldn’t complain.

But also, ow.

Hailey didn’t mess around.

Not that Bex wasn’t grateful! Because she was. She really was. Yesterday’s lesson had been so helpful and Bex was actually looking forward to more. Everything she learned was making her feel more competent and sure of herself. The weight training with Sam was paying off too.

There’d definitely been some oomph behind her hits on Jay and Sam.

Which she obviously felt bad about.

…but kind of badass at the same time.

Bex’s grin turned into a grimace as she attempted to bend over and attach Kol’s leash to his collar. He whined and stretched to lick at her face. “I’m okay,” she said. “Just dying a little bit. Mostly in the gluteal area.”

Kol barked once, sharply.

“I’m not cancelling!” She straightened up carefully and grabbed her bag. “Mouse walks are non-cancellable. I’ll survive.”

They slowly, very slowly, made their way down to the parking lot and made it to the park right on time. Mouse was waiting, but he rushed over once he saw her getting out of the car. Her winces must not have been as well hidden as she’d thought.

“Hey,” he said, taking Kol’s leash and hovering while she reached back in to grab her bag. “Jay told me about yesterday. We can reschedule today if you’re not up to it. I don’t want you to hurt yourself or pull anything or—”

“Mouse.” Bex laid a hand on his arm and smiled up at him. “There’s no possible way that I could pull anything any further than it’s already been pulled.

His face screwed up at that. “Was that supposed to be reassuring? I’m not reassured, Bex.”

“I’ll be fine,” she laughed. “It’ll be good to stretch things out and we’ll make sure we go slow.”

Mouse didn’t look fully convinced, but he took her bag and kept a hold on Kol so Bex’s arm wouldn’t get pulled and then started them down the path at a ludicrously slow pace.

“Okay, we can speed it up a little bit, seriously,” Bex said and Mouse shook his head.

“Nope.” The edge of his lips quirked up. “This is good. Leisurely. Gives us a chance to really take in the scenery.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

He just offered his arm and Bex looped hers around his elbow. They continued down the path, taking in the scenery, and even Kol seemed content with their snail’s pace.

“Aside from the fact that you’re apparently a walking bruise today,” Mouse said. “How did yesterday go?”

“Really great, actually,” Bex said. She tried to figure out how to put it into words. “It’s hard, but it’s the good kind of hard, you know? I feel more…centered, I guess.”

Mouse hummed softly. “I’m glad it’s helping,” he said. There was a quiet beat and Bex felt his arm tense under her hand as he took a quick breath. “I could help. If you want.” He raised a hand to drag it through his hair before remembering it held Kol’s leash. “It’s just, uh, I know a fair bit about hand-to-hand and uh, I could—if you want—I could, uh, I could help.”

“Jay did mention that,” Bex said. “I just—I don’t want to practice my fight skills on you. Not when—”

“We’re working on figuring everything else out?” Mouse guessed.

“Yeah.” Bex sighed, glad that he got it. “Exactly.” She perked up. “Besides, beating up Jay is actually kind of fun. He used to always win when we wrestled, but I’m getting better. I think I can take him and I’ve got like, fifteen years of losses to make up for.”

Mouse laughed. “Well, I obviously can’t stand in the way of that.”

“Did Jay ask you to volunteer?” She side-eyed him. “Was he complaining after yesterday? Is he being a big baby?”

“No,” Mouse shook his head, laughing even harder. “I swear he didn’t.”

Bex grinned as she kept pushing, making jokes about Jay’s face when he saw the groin guard. Mouse didn’t often let loose like this. She liked seeing it.

They kept walking, talking about the rest of their week as they meandered down the path. It was nice and relaxed and…normal. As weird as that sounded. But they hadn’t had a lot of that.

She knew these walks were about sharing all the red flags Mouse seemed to think he had, but in her mind, this was also their goal. Having the chance to just be and enjoy each other’s company. They’d both shared plenty last time and it was hard. Good, but hard.

If Mouse didn’t feel like bringing anything up, she wasn’t going to push it. She wanted him to go at his own pace. And honestly, she was tired enough today that she was happy to take it easy both physically and emotionally.

Even without discussing anything ‘big’, the conversation flowed easily, punctuated by more laughter. Mouse was gratifyingly appreciative of her Dr. Abrams impression.

“Should Sam be worried about not being your favourite Sam anymore?” he joked.

“Pssh,” Bex waved a hand. “They’re in totally different categories. It’s fine.”

Mouse snorted. “There’s categories?”

“Yeah, of course,” she said. “And I’d never base them on names.”

“Obviously not.”

Bex ignored his smirk. “Aside from the Med category, I’d put Dr. Abrams in my grumpy old man friend category.”

“Ah,” Mouse nodded. “So, it’s Olinsky and Voight who should be worried.”

“See? You get it.”

“Yeah, no, I’m seeing the vision,” he said. “What are some of the other categories?”

The rest of their walk devolved into semi-hysterics as they sorted everyone they knew into increasingly ridiculous friendship categories. They were almost back to the parking lot when Bex’s speed slowed to a near crawl.

Okay, so she might be more than a little stiff.

“Hang on.” Mouse moved to step in front of her and crouched down. “Okay, hop on.”

“Another piggy back ride? Are you sure?”

He looked over his shoulder at her. “It’s a limited time offer.”

Bex hopped on.

The three of them managed to make it back to the car without Kol tripping them up and Mouse deposited her carefully onto the ground.

“Thank you,” she said. “I’m going to need to do some serious stretches before my shift tonight.”

Mouse’s eyebrows flew up. “You’re actually working at Molly’s tonight?”

“I finally got Emery to agree to come out and I want to introduce her to more people,” Bex explained. “It’ll be fine. I’ll talk Otis into doing most of the moving for me.” He could be bribed.

“Well, I guess I’ll see you later tonight then,” Mouse said.

She grabbed his arm before he could step away. “Thanks again,” she said. “For today. It was really fun.”

“It was.” Mouse gave her that small, soft smile and she couldn’t stop herself from pulling him into a hug. He went easily, wrapping his arms around her.

“You know I read a thing today that said you need eight hugs a day?” she said into his shoulder and he made a little noise of surprise against her hair. “And that’s just like, for maintenance.” She leaned back to look into his face. “How many have you had today?”

The smile made a reappearance. “Not eight.”

“One more for the road then.” She gave him another squeeze before reluctantly letting go. They parted ways with a wave and she headed home.

After a long soak in the tub and stupid amounts of Voltaren later, she emerged in time to scarf down some food and remind Emery of her promise to swing by the bar. Sam, Isaac, and Devon had promised to bring her so Bex was sure she’d come, but now she was extra sure.

She managed to rope Otis into doing most of the gopher work for the night after promising to make him an ungodly number of cookies. Then she parked herself on a stool and let people come to her for their orders.

Although she almost made Jay go to Chris when he kept laughing at her pain. As if he wasn’t also walking around like…well, like someone had recently repeatedly smacked every sensitive part of his body.

She gave him a few rounds on the house.

Emery did show up and Sam took care of taking her around to meet people. She’d already met a fair amount of their gang, but this was a more thorough introduction. If she was going to be moving out, Bex wanted her to be safe in more ways than one. That meant widening her circle. With good friends and good people.

The biggest moment of the night was when Chris finally let everyone know that he and Cindy were expecting. Apparently, they’d been to see the new doctor that Connor had recommended earlier in the day. Her name was Dr. Gupta and both Cindy and Chris loved her. She was kind and sensitive and best of all, she said everything looked good so far.

Chris stood up on the bar and broke the news, declaring one drink on the house for everyone to celebrate. Cheers of “Firehouse Baby” nearly brought the place down.   

Bex was totally going to look into making a Canteen Crew onesie.

***

Connor

Saturday afternoon found Connor and Will lounging in Connor’s living room as they watched a movie. They didn’t usually hang out there, but Bex and Emery were going to be swinging by with some things for the storage locker. They’d been shopping up a storm to find stuff for Emery’s new place. A couch and a bed frame had already been deposited in there and Connor may have snuck in a nice dresser that he’d come across.

And a bookshelf.

And a coffee table.

They’d fit the aesthetic of everything Emery had been looking at! What was he supposed to do? Not buy them?

Maybe he should have asked first.

He chewed on his lip as he sat snuggled in beside Will. Money was an occasionally touchy subject between them all. He’d wanted to chip in since he was spending so much time at Casa Herrmannstead, but it had been a battle to even be allowed to buy some groceries.

It wasn’t like he was offering it as charity or anything. More like, he had the money so why shouldn’t he help out? It made him feel like he was…not a guest. Connor was never sure if that part of it came through in his discussions with Will. He never wanted to overstep so most of the time he just let it go.

A chime from his phone pulled him out of his thoughts. He picked it up and read through the text from Bex. “They’re downstairs and are requesting extra arms to carry everything.”

“Must have been a successful trip,” Will said as he got up and stretched, smirking when he caught Connor eyeing the strip of skin his rising t-shirt exposed. “Help first and then we’ll shoo them off.”

Connor had to love a man with a plan.

They hurried down to the parking lot and saw that it had indeed been a successful trip. Even with four pairs of arms, they only managed to empty half of the Tin Can’s load on the first trip. Trooping back inside, Connor led them down to the storage locker.

Emery, Bex, and Will froze when he opened the door.

“Um, I feel like…things have multiplied?” Emery poked her head in and looked around.

“I may have come across a few things that I thought you would like and would fit in with everything else you’ve been picking up,” Connor said, scratching at the back of his neck as he avoided all eye contact.

“Connor, that’s—” Emery stepped over to him, grabbing him in a hug. “That’s so sweet, seriously, thank you.” She sighed. “I really can’t accept all of this though.”

But— “Why not?” Honestly, he didn’t get it. “It’s a gift. I’m happy to do it.”

Emery scrunched up her face as she let him go. Will and Bex stood behind her very carefully not saying anything. “I’m supposed to be doing this on my own. Standing on my own two feet.”

“You are though,” he said softly. Didn’t she see that? How proud they all were of her? “You have done this for yourself, Em. You’re moving out to your own place. You’re doing great in therapy and you’re getting back out into the world. You are doing all of that. For yourself.” He waved a hand at the storage locker. “This is just some stuff.”

Will coughed quietly as Bex squeaked. Emery just smiled at him fondly. “Really freaking expensive stuff,” she said. “I don’t need—”

“I know you don’t need it,” he said. “I know you can get perfectly serviceable stuff on your own, but—” Connor sighed, trying to figure out how to say what he was feeling without accidentally pissing one of them off. “It’s doesn’t have to be just serviceable stuff. This is your new beginning and I would like to help make it a beautiful one. If you’ll let me?”

“Well, crap,” Emery huffed out a laugh as she wiped away a tea. “How can I argue with that?”

“You don’t,” Connor said with a grin.

“I’ll accept it if you promise me that this is it,” she said, waggling a finger at him. “Don’t buy anything else.” The finger waggle turned into hands on the hips when he hesitated.

“I will do my best,” he said.

Emery threw her hands up. “Okay, fine, we’ll deal with it as it comes,” she said. “But I’ve got my eyes on you now, Rhodes. And there will be a thank you coming your way. A big one.” She and Bex moved into the locker to start moving things around; Bex laughing at the look on his face as she walked by.

“Why did that sound like a threat?” Connor whispered to Will.

“I kind of think it was?” He shrugged. The bastard.

They helped unload the rest of the stuff and successfully shooed the girls off before heading back upstairs. Connor couldn’t help but notice how quiet Will had become since the storage locker surprise.

“Are you upset about it?” Connor finally asked as they worked together in the kitchen, preparing dinner.

Will played dumb as he chopped peppers. “Upset about what?”

Connor turned down the temperature on the stove and turned to face him. “Me spending money on stuff for Emery’s new place.”

“It’s your money,” Will said evenly. Staring pointedly down at the cutting board.

“It is.” Connor stepped over to him and set a careful hand over his, stilling Will’s movements. He waited until he finally looked up at him. “I want to be able to spend money on the people I care about and that includes—it includes all of you, Will. What’s the point of having it if I can’t share it? I know it’s weird for you—”

“Yeah, it is,” Will said shortly, dragging a hand down his face. He left it there for a moment before heaving out a sigh and turning to Connor. “But that’s my own baggage. I shouldn’t put it on you. If you want to buy tables and shit—”

“And shit,” Connor laughed. “He calls a real walnut dresser ‘and shit’.”

Will rolled his eyes before reaching out to reel Connor in for a kiss. “Everyone is happy for you to contribute how you want to contribute,” he said. “Whatever makes you happy.”

“It does.” Connor leaned in to give him another kiss. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me,” Will said. He shook his head. “I’ll work on not being weird about it. I promise. I just—”

Connor kept his arms around Will’s waist, both to not let him run away from the conversation, but also to give him silent support while he gathered his words.

“I also worry about you feeling like you have to contribute this way,” Will said.

This man. Honestly. Warmth spread through Connor at Will’s words.

“I mean,” Will continued. “I really hope that you know this by now, but none of us care about your money—”

“You’ve made that pretty clear.” Connor bit back a smile and Will ignored him, clearly on a mission.

“We—me especially, but all of us, we love having you around Connor,” Will said. “Having you in our lives for you. Not your money. Not what you can buy. Just you.”

“So now is a good time to tell you that I blew everything on that table?” He ducked the piece of red pepper that Will threw at him.

“I was being serious,” Will exclaimed, pelting him with another piece. “And heartfelt and this guy’s got jokes!”

Connor caught the next piece and popped it in his mouth, grinning at Will. “I appreciate it,” he said. “It’s nice having people like me for me.”

“I’m reconsidering it now,” Will sniffed.

“Uh-uh, no take-backs,” Connor said. Will muttered something about him hanging out with Bex too much so Connor poked him which devolved into wrestling which turned into dinner being very, very late.

It was worth it.

***

Mouse

Mouse sat on his couch, exhausted after a long meeting with his group. They’d been full of tips for how to handle his next talk with Bex. He’d put it off long enough. He had to tell her about the rest of his past. Every time he tried to picture it though, a thousand worst case scenarios ran through his brain.

He started tidying up his apartment, hoping to stop his mind from spinning for a moment or two. In the middle of gathering up a pile of junk mail for recycling, a small flyer fluttered to the ground. The title caught Mouse’s eye.

A craft street fair. Bex would love that.

Tomorrow was the last day.

Maybe…maybe he could put their talk off for one more walk. Mouse kind of liked the idea of taking her on a proper date, even if they weren’t calling it that. Have one to remember before he told her everything and risked her walking away.

That would be nice.

Mouse picked up his phone to see if Bex was up for a change of plans.

***

Bex

Mouse had been extremely cryptic in his messages. He had a plan, but she wasn’t allowed to know what it was. All she knew was that it involved a change in venue.

He’d sent her instructions to park at a specific lot at one pm on Sunday and to wait for her there. So, there she was, waiting with Kol beside the Tin Can, and keeping an eye out for Mouse.

…who was currently jogging down the sidewalk toward them? With a giant grin on his face?

“Hey!” Mouse bounded up to them, leaning down to give Kol a scratch before grabbing Bex in a hug. “You made it.”

“We did,” Bex said, unable to stop a smile of her own from spreading across her face. “Now do we get to find out where we’ve made it too?”

“Follow me,” Mouse said, grabbing her hand and pulling her down the sidewalk. He was so excited; he was like a little kid. Bex let herself be tugged down a couple of side streets until they emerged onto one filled with people and vendors up one side and down the other.

“Oh!” Bex’s eyebrows flew up in surprise. “This is the craft fair! I totally wanted to go to this, but I didn’t think it would work out.” Her week had been jam packed and she’d resigned herself to missing it.

“Bex,” Mouse said softly. “Why didn’t you say anything? We could’ve planned it for today.”

“I didn’t want to miss our walk.” Bex bumped her shoulder into his. Their walks were too important. There would always be other craft fairs. “Besides, you found it anyway and you brought me here.” And wasn’t that just…delightful. Bex turned to smile at Mouse, reaching up to smooth at his forehead when she saw he was frowning. That was less delightful. “This is great, Mouse,” she said. “Thank you.”

“I always want you to tell me about this stuff,” Mouse said, intensely earnest as he looked down at her. “I want to know what you’re interested in and do things you want to do. I don’t—I don’t ever want you to miss out on things because of me.”

“Okay, well, first of all, we’re here because of you,” Bex pointed out. “Because you somehow found out about this and knew it was something I would enjoy which is amazing and lovely and I really appreciate it.” He relaxed ever so slightly at that. “And second of all, this is a two-way street, buddy. I want to know what you’re interested in and do things that you want to do.”

“I mean,” Mouse shrugged, “I’m also pretty pumped for this craft fair.”

“Right!” Bex tugged on his arm, pulling him out onto the street and into the flow of the fair. “The needlepoint! I get it now. There’s been an ulterior motive this whole time.”

“It’s a shared experience,” Mouse corrected her. “We’ll enjoy it together—does that sign say Battlestar Galactica patterns?”

Bex cackled as his head whipped around. “Let’s go find out.”

And they did. Hours of wandering from stall to stall and checking out the wide variety of offerings. Stuffing their faces with way too much food. Talking and laughing.

It was kind of perfect.

Bex kept blushing every time Mouse caught her watching him, but that didn’t stop her. And she caught him watching her just as often. She found herself wondering if he was having the same thoughts that she was.

This is what it could be like. This is what we could have—if we let ourselves.

Click here to read Chapter Twelve. Click here to read Chapter Thirteen. Click here to read Chapter Fourteen. Click here to read Chapter Fifteen. Click here to read Chapter Sixteen.

Click here to read 500 Miles on ao3:

Here is the tag list (let me know if you wish to be added or removed):

@sorry-i-spaced, @thegirlwhowishedeveryonelived, @ivyalmighty, @thewannabewriter, @lexhalstead3, @multifandomgrl08, @sensitivemallysix, @thebejeweledwatercat, @emme-looou, @trulylavandedarling, @onechicagochoicesbutterfly

#A Herrmann/Halstead Production #one chicago #chicago fire #chicago pd #chicago med #jay halstead #will halstead #christopher herrmann #oc character #rebecca 'bex' herrmann #a herrmann/halstead production #alternate universe #not canon #not beta read #romance #light angst #fluff #building relationships #shenanigans #team as family #family feels #friendship #healthy relationships #SO MUCH FLUFF

[catt-nuevenor]

A Happy New Year to everyone!

I'm still on holiday until tomorrow, but I thought I'd briefly drop in and say hi.

This year's going to be a busy one, lots to write, big word counts to try and hit. The target for January is 40,000. The traditional fiction story will be taking priority, at least for the first few months. We're over 80,000 words in now, and my prediction is it will likely be over 120,000. But I have a speedy writing speed, and some fantastic Beta Readers, so I am optimistic that the project will be nearing completion by mid-March.

I'll put up a full post later in the week with more details. In the meantime, if anyone has any requests for lore details, or ideas of what you'd like to see in the first bit of this year post wise while I'm tapping away at the full prose, do let me know. To my fellow Brits, I hope you're enjoying your bank holiday, or at least are getting extra pay if you're working. To everyone else around the world, all my best to you and yours for the coming year!

PS. I was given a Rhyming Dictionary for Christmas. You are all doomed to more poetry, this I guarantee.

#TBC CM #MyrkMire #writing update

[afrobeatsindacity]

Rema, The Prince Of Nigerian music

Rema and Selena Gomez's "Calm Down" continues to shatter worldwide records as it advances its claim for 2023's Song Of The Summer, and indeed for every other season—it has in fact completed a year on the Billboard Top 100 chart, and even now continues to chart in the Top 20. And as its impact has been far reaching, so also have the accolades. The most recent of these came only a few days ago, when the song officially crossed 1 billion streams on Spotify, crowning it the first African song to reach this feat, and also one of the 500 most streamed music tracks of all time. Before this was the MTV Video Music Award ceremony, where a charismatic Rema received an award for the maiden 'Best Afrobeats Song' category. Before calling on his co-creator to say a few words of thanks, he paid homage to Nigerian music icons that paved his way to the world's biggest stages—names like Fela, pioneer of Afrobeat (no 's'); D'banj and 2Baba, prominent figures who ruled through the 00s; Don Jazzy and D'Prince, his mentors at Mavin and Jonzing, his record labels; and of course Nigerian music royalty Wizkid, Burna Boy and Davido.

It is fitting that he makes such acknowledgements at a time when he too is progressing towards a career of this status. Nigerian music's growth, like he succinctly put, has come slowly but surely off the back of these creators, so that now, "Calm Down"'s worldwide acceptance does not draw the surprise it deserves from the Nigerian audience; exploits of the last two years appear to have numbed its citizens to what is possible. Two years ago, Essence, the Wizkid-Tems sultry collaboration that got a Justin Beiber touch for its remix, was having its moment in the sun with each new step applauded by the country, and it is important for context that Rema’s song has already amassed five times as many Spotify streams as its predecessor.

For many, this moment was always going to arrive for Nigerian music, the day when we would no longer need tags like "For an African artist" to qualify a new win; we would compete with parity against music from anywhere in the world. And for a tiny subset of these believers, it was always going to be Rema at the forefront of the vanguard effecting this cultural revolution for Nigeria. For the artist, born Divine Ikubor, has always borne a mark of divinity.

After catching the eye of D’prince, CEO of Jonzing record label, via a cover of his song, "Gucci Gang" that he posted on Instagram, the Benin-based singer got an invite to come to Lagos for a proper audition, after which he was signed to Jonzing, a Mavin record affiliate. At the age of 19 he made his entry via a self-named EP, a Mavin tradition, that highlighted in only four songs what Rema was set to bring to the industry. His euphonious vocals were for many the biggest and most prognostic highlight, but they masked other crucial aspects of his artistry—the depth of emotion he channels on "Why", and his dexterity in balancing this beside the fast-spinning Afropop bangers, "Dumebi" and "Iron Man".

A few months later, he made his reprisal, but in a new apparel—Trap music. His Rema Freestyle EP projected speedy delivery, snappy trap beats and rhymes about money, as Rema displayed another aspect of his artistry. Most noticeable was his sparsity of romantic themes on the new project, the substance with which he propped up his earlier effort. His third project, Bad Commando, found the balance between these two extremes, placing confident statements of self-aggrandisation (Dem know say I be bad commando”, he sings on Bad Commando) side by side with affecting professions of infatuation (The moment I see you na up NEPA, he begins on “Lady”), while he switches between Trap and Pop on the production side of things.

Releasing this project meant it was a very busy debut year for the singer, and at the 13th edition of the Headies he was awarded the Next Rated award—earmarking him as the next big star. In January he picked up a similar plaque at the Soundcity MVP Awards, and together with his City People Award for Revelation Of The Year, these plaques underscored how outstanding his debut year was. In 2020, though, it was time for the next stage of music release strategy, and this time he worked by releasing singles, as he tried to establish his sound as a balance of his Afropop, Trap and Arabian music origins. His first effort of the year was the two single pack of "Rainbow" and "Beamer", and the latter was the significantly more successful song, featuring Jamaican producer Rvssian who incorporated traces of the Dancehall genre.

These songs, along with his June release, "Alien", were drawn chiefly from the Trap corner of his artistry, but to properly dominate a country like Nigerian, he would need to create for a dance-loving audience, and with his next two singles, the melodious, groovy "Ginger Me" and the explosive "Woman", he sought to do exactly that. With the latter, Rema’s material also took on a sultry turn—“I too like woman, me I no dey gboran”—that he reprised with his next single, the Don Jazzy–produced "Bounce". Already Rema’s profile was growing exponentially on a national level as he sought inroads into the global market.

2022, for Rema, was the time to crystallise this three-year dominance in Nigeria's industry into a recognisable global profile. He released "Calm Down" in February, melding Afropop, Arabian and Dancehall influences for a track that was still authentically Nigerian—"Girl you sweet like Fanta", he says, reworking a popular Nigerian children's rhyme into a missive of playful adulation—and yet lent itself to foreign acceptance. To advance its entry into foreign markets, a stroke of collaborative genius brought a Selena Gomez remix, pouring fuel into the fire of the song's momentum so that it sauntered into the next gear of its worldwide ascent. With this remix has come multiple broken records, a couple of awards (including one for Rema as Headies Best Male Artist), and certifications that continue to roll in by the day.

As Rema continues to break new grounds both historically and geographically,—as in his recently-completed Indian tour—the next sets of doubts will centre around whether he can extend this fame beyond "Calm Down", and insert himself properly in world stardom. But that should be no problem. A combination of his astute singing talent, evocative writing and undeniable star power should ensure Rema fulfils his promise as prince of Nigerian music.

This article was written by Afrobeats City Contributor Ezema Patrick - @ezemapatrick (Twitter)

Afrobeats City doesn’t own the right to the images - image source: Instagram - @Scrdofme

#Afrobeats #AfrobeatsCity #Afrobeats article #Rema #Africa #African music #Afrobeats UK #UK Afrobeats #Afropop #Afrofusion #Calm Down #Selena Gomez

[the-mouse-joust]

Mouse Joust List

Hi everyone!

I’ve put together the list of mice participating in this tournament. There will be 48 mice competing!

I’ll be posting the bracket itself separately, along with what matchups you should expect to see first and when.

Without further ado, under the Keep Reading is our list of competitors, ordered alphabetically:

Algernon from Flowers for Algernon

Angelina Ballerina from Angelina Ballerina

Basil of Baker Street from The Great Mouse Detective

Cartesian from The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins

Celestine from Ernest and Celestine

Chrysanthemum from Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

Click the Mouse from Between the Lions

Danger Mouse from Danger Mouse

Daroach from Kirby Squeak Squad

Despereaux Tilling from The Tale of Despereaux

Diddl from Diddl

Fieval Mousekewitz from An American Tail

Gadget Hackwrench from Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers

Geronimo Stilton from the Geronimo Stilton books and cartoon

Gus and Jaq from Cinderella

Jerry from Tom and Jerry

KiracChu from Kiratto Pri☆Chan

La Souris Verte from “Une souris verte” (French folksong)

Maisy Mouse from Maisy

Martin of Redwall from the Redwall series

Maus from Deltarune

Mickey Mouse from Disney

Mona from Super Lesbian Animal RPG

Mouse from The Gruffalo

Mouser from Super Mario Bros. 2

Mrs. Frisby/Brisby from Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH/The Secret of NIMH

Ms. Mowz from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Oliver from Purrgatory

Pinky and the Brain from Animaniacs

Poppy from Poppy and Ragweed (The Tales Of Dimwood Forest)

Quill from Moss (Video Game)

Quinley from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

Ralph S. Mouse from The Mouse and the Motorcycle

Ralph Stilton from Bojack Horseman

Rastamouse from Rastamouse

Reepicheep from The Chronicles of Narnia

Roquefort from The Aristocats

Speedy Gonzales from Looney Tunes

Squeak from Garfield

Stuart Little from Stuart Little

Tandemaus from Pokémon

The Mouse from Froth on the Daydream (L'Écume des jours)

The Mouse from “The Giant Turnip” (Russian folktale)

The Three Blind Mice from Shrek/Nursery rhyme

Tutter from Bear in the Big Blue House

Warehouse Mouse from Imagination Movers

Wemberly from Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes

Wooden Mouse from “Tomcat Disposables” by Will Wood

#mousejoust setup #mousejoust tournament #mousejoust character list

[hopelesslyromanticshark]

Dear Covey,

I am just now finding out there's other ways people say your name? I've always said covey rhyming with lovey, I didn't know there was another way 🥲

So sorry to hear you've been ill! Wishing you speedy recovery and sufficient revenge against the microbes that did this to you.

-🌻

dearest sunflower anon!!

wait wait guys is there a third way??? bc lovey sounds like LOVE-IE like LOVEY DOVEY okay okay so that would make CUVE-IE kinda like CUBBIE but with the v and all that shit. GUY WHAT- IS THIS A THIRD WAY OR IS THE DYSLEXIA ROTTING AWAY AT MY BRAIN😭😭😭

also, side note, thanks for checking in on my health! we shall ride at dawn (MY dawn not yalls) to seek revenge on the microbes that DARE infiltrate my body

#return to sender ౨ৎ #all my love ౨ৎ

[ssreeder]

*taps mic*

*screeching synth noise*

hem hem

first of all

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

now that we have That out of the way

SREEDIE YOU’RE SO SPEEDY (that’s an awful rhyme I’m so sorry) ARE YOU READY TO HEAR MY EVERY THOUGH WHILE READING THIS CHAPTER (once again I’m so sorry But not sorry enough to spare you bc I’ve gotta keep being annoying to remind you why we got divorced)

yikes it really must be lowkey terrifying on katara’s end rn… like it’s pretty much the whole They Died And Came Back Wrong trope except sokka only died in theory and yet came back wrong anyway. I feel so bad for her :((

SLAY TOPH keep an eye on iroh please

not katara suspending her disbelief regarding jet being heroic T-T

this is actually a really interesting dynamic change for katara and sokka bc even though katara was always caring for everyone else in the show, sokka was always the one person who was always looking out for katara, so to have him be the sibling that needs taking care of is like… damn yk

okay maybe this means absolutely nothing BUT I feel like jet losing his arm and therefore his ability to wield dual blades has the potential to cause even more tension with zuko bc jet will not only hate him for being fire nation but now they won’t even be evenly matched in a fight and he’s gonna resent the fact that zuko still has both arms. and that’s ASIDE from the fact that it’s gonna be a gruelling healing process before jet even gets the chance to Think about picking up a blade again

jet: is literally on his deathbed

suki: I’m looking respectfully-

“how did sokka handle that” well katara isn’t that the money question, and unfortunately the answer is always Not Very Well

oh katara sokka has also stabbed a man to death with a stick so uh,, yeah while amputating jet’s arm was unideal, alas it is far from the most gory shit sokka has done

perfect girl but sokka wants a boyyyyyyyy~ (these bitches gay)

yes sokka let’s try to keep the house hacking to a minimum shall we

okay definitely nothing has been solved but crying on the bathroom floor is actually very therapeutic not that I’m speaking from personal experience or anything haha HOWEVER I do think sokka needs to cry for longer for the catharsis to work properly. so that’s my note sreedie. MAKE HIM CRY MORE

fuck dude there’s just.. Nothing like sibling relationships. like obviously katara and sokka are (were?) really close siblings but even when siblings are estranged to whatever extent it’s still just so different from any other kind of relationship you have with other people so it’s like… if Anyone would be able to help sokka it would be katara. idk how to express it but not even zuko would be able to help sokka the way katara (though he would Understand it more) bc sokka needs to know that he has people that have enduring love for him and the only person he’ll be able to trust to give him that initially would be katara and I just AHHHHH

YAY MORE CRYING YOU LISTENED TO ME

ugh sokka stop LYING you LIAR

zuko IS an asshole and I love that about him <3

not katara’s bluffing about yue- absolutely appalling effort folks, katara this is the funniest thing you have ever done

sorry I know it was a very intense and somber situation but I just find it hilarious that the solution to zuko being stubborn and refusing to cooperate (however much that is understandable given the circumstances) is just to straight up knock him out. like night night kiddo

ah shit I wish iroh weren’t the one undressing zuko. actually I wish nobody was undressing zuko this is just shit

ZUKO PLEASE YOU’RE DYING WHY ARE YOU STILL AWAKE

speech impediment zuko my beloved <3

ZUKO WHY ARE YOU A MENACE literally first thing out of his mouth that’s not defensive in an attempt to protect himself is to fucking insult jee I can’t T-T

JEE YOU SAVAGE ily

zuko bit jee I forgot omfg this is hilarious (even though it’s actually very sad but shhh we’re ignoring that)

jee the emotional support bestie reporting for duty bc he is the only emotionally stable adult in this household

iroh: is indescribably furious about the fact that zuko has been tortured

also iroh: my this boy has a mighty strange haircut going on

ah fuck here we go. it’s SA discovery time >:/

sreedie did jee break something accidentally bc he was in shock or did he smash something out of rage

rasu fashion icon <3

dragon of the west popping off with the murder plans

when a blind girl and a human disaster are left alone in the kitchen-

oh okay so he Did break a table. slay.

jee in dad mode <3

SOKKA JUST FUCKING TELL PEOPLE PLEASE THIS IS FRUSTRATING AND SAD AT THE SAME TIME WTF

I’m sorry but not jee thinking sokka is a bigger pain in the ass than zuko. alas, he does have a point

OHIHOHOHHEHEHEHE ITS CHANG BITCHES AND HE’S IN HIS GIRLBOSS ERA

nvm chang is in his struggle era actually

lots of layers LIKE AN ONION-

OH SHIT REHO RECOGNISES CHANG

“little wet-noodle” PLEASE I adore chang

for once in her life, slay ara, now the story is finally fucking getting a move on (no shade to you sreedie <33)

lmao bato is so right both about sokka AND about teasing hakoda despite being in the midst of a very tense wartime situation

omg in relation to you an: pls let zuko fuck up all of sokka’s lies accidentally bc this boy cannot lie for shit LET ALONE when he doesn’t realise he even needs to lie and is also high as fuck from iroh drugging him so that he doesn’t bite people

OR sokka is gonna see zuko on his sickbed and immediately his whole world is gonna narrow down to just zuko (understandably) and everyone else in the room is gonna figure out what’s going on pretty quick and effectively sokka just exposes HIMSELF à la love for zuko spewing out of him alongside guilt and regret and fear and relief (essentially the full emotional gambit)

in review: sokka needs to cry more, zuko should bite more people, zukka needs to reunite, I love jee, I love chang, hakoda is gonna need a head massage after all the mental gymnastics he’s gonna be subjected to next chapter. THE END.

love you So much TOODLES *mwah*

LEEEEEEKI BELOVED!!!!

I’m sure you’re like wtf ex lover why aren’t you answering my ask & I’m innocently over here cherishing every word and sniffing it until it loses your smell….

Yes, I’m weirdo. But you keep coming back for me so HA…. ;)

I know some people in the comments were like “I can’t believe Sokka just DID THAT!! no way!!”

& it’s like what’s worse? Stabbing someone in the neck 30 times with a jagged stick you found on the ground while pretend shitting or cutting off your kind of enemy kind of whatever guys arm to save his life??

(There was also the warden situation too… so idk I think Sokka is pretty desensitized at this point and is so emotionally constipated that he doesn’t know HOW to feel about ANYTHING right now ((except Zuko))))

Jee: Zuko is the most difficult person

Jee meets Sokka: I stand corrected

Haha I enjoy your reviews, & I can’t wait to see you soon!!

#leekie leeeeeeek LEE!!! #you’re always so wonderful #& I think your reviews are like how I would read my own work haha #CHANG IS GOING TO MAKE SHIT HAPPEN #don’t worry haha #things are coming together just before they pop off again #but we are one chapter closer to it being over haha!! yippieee!! #not that I’m rushing but it would be nice to be done eventually lol #ALRIGHT LEEKIE I WILL SEE YOU NEXT CHAPTER!!! #i love you leekie #leekie tag #leekieeeeee #liab #itf #ask

[ot3showdown]

So, my partner and I were watching Mythbusters last night (as we've been doing for most of the past week during our covid quarantine whoo) & they were re-testing the arrow-splitting myth — aka one of the sexiest things an archer can do, one of the sexiest examples being Errol Flynn's Robin Hood in the 1938 film "The Adventures of Robin Hood" — and because we share the same two (2) braincells, we immediately thought of him, and lo' and behold, the show had the same idea and were specifically trying to replicate that movie scene. So obviously we must pause and rewatch it, right? Right.

As my partner was totally, assuredly looking for a super legal way to watch it, I had the wonderful epiphany — and because I came across this poll from the eldest sibling tournament last week, and very enthusiastically got my partner involved in nominations, we love this poll, having so much fun. So ALL I had to say after I legit gasped was "OT3 BRACKET" and he was like 🤯🤯🤯 "YES"

Because how could we fucking forget our favorite polycule of Sherwood Forest?? It's Robin of Locksley and his ride-or-die bf Will Scarlett fighting and flirting their way into gathering more people into their 'cule, in skin-tight tights & funky lil hats, no less. I immediately went to submit 2 more throuples, our faves, for your consideration:

Lady Marian/Robin Hood/Will Scarlett

and

Little John/Robin Hood/Will Scarlett

Sorry that was so long & not terribly convincing propaganda for them, I just woke up, but they're all just so delightfully queer and in love, okay? Okay.

P.S. I know this poll has taken its toll (ha, rhymes), so I hope you're doing okay! 🫂 We're both really, really excited about this one, so showering you will all the kudos and well wishes!! Keep on being fantabulous, you got this! 💖🤟🫶💪

ohmygod. i love the entire story you've given us to come to your conclusion of: robin hood Fucks. and he sure does.

sorry to hear yall are down with covid, hope yall have a speedy recovery. and sincerely this was very kind and nice to read after a long week. i really appreciate it, thank you. <3 good luck to your faves and im glad to have yall aboard

#asks #ship propaganda #ot3 showdown #robin hood #and the fact yall are rewatching mythbusters. BIG MOOD i should slap on an episode while im countin #tori grant and kari were. a bisexual awakening of sorts. durin my yougin days. theyre tucked away in my heart somewhere #either way: you stay fantabulous as well

[famoushbooks]

Urdu dictionary with meanings in Hindi & English | Rekhta Dictionary

Rekhta Dictionary is a new initiative of Rekhta Foundation for the promotion and preservation of Urdu language and literature. Since 2011, the Foundation has been running multiple websites including Rekhta, Sufinama, Hindwi, and Aamozish.

The Rekhta Dictionary is a comprehensive collection of Urdu words with their meanings in Urdu, Hindi and English. The words can easily be accessed in three scripts through a high-functioning search engine. Along with detailed meanings, it gives the list of synonyms, antonyms, proverbs, idioms and much more.

This trilingual Urdu dictionary is designed as a resourceful tool for the researchers, poetry-lovers, and general readers irrespective of their familiarity with Urdu script.

Rekhta Dictionary is the world’s largest trilingual Urdu dictionary with meanings of Urdu words, idioms, and phrases in Urdu, Hindi, and English. Build your Urdu vocabulary with everyday features on Word of the day and Proverb of the day. The app updates daily with a list of Urdu words which are in trend each day. Rekhta Dictionary App has the largest collection of Urdu words with detailed meanings and definitions including word origin, correct pronunciation, usage, rhyming words and more. Download the App now to build and enhance your Urdu vocabulary. APP Features:

Meanings in Urdu, Hindi and English

Multi-lingual search facility

Audio pronunciation

Word origin and root words

Synonyms, Antonyms, Compound words, Rhyming words

Urdu Muhaware

Reverse Dictionary with Urdu counterparts for the English word Additional Features:

Dark Theme

Offline browsing

Save Words

Features Convenience and Accuracy being the primary objectives, Rekhta Dictionary has been designed to include all features that make finding meanings easy and speedy. Rekhta Dictionary is the result of high-tech interventions combined with the hard work of a competent editorial team. Some of the noteworthy features are listed below;

Easy Search in Three Languages Simply type your word or phrase in Urdu, Hindi or English script to search meaning

Reverse Dictionary Type English word to find its multiple meanings and usages in Urdu language

Word Origins and Other Details Trace the root of a particular word and find other details like pronunciations, synonyms, antonyms, proverbs.

Examples from Urdu Poetry Find word practically demonstrated in Urdu poetry making it easier to understand layers of meanings

#word meaning #definition #pronunciation #usage #synonym #antonym #idiom #proverb of Urdu words.

[embervoices]

@shiny-speedy-devotee’s

Polytheism Asks

What’s your least favorite myth? I don't really look at it that way. I'm certainly not fond of the ones involving consent violations.

What’s your favorite myth? Again, I don't really look at it that way. I suppose I like the ones that are just plain weird.

What pantheon(s) do you worship? I'm effectively an omnitheist. Depending on how one itemizes pantheons, I've had at least brief contact with more than I'd like to try to count. But the pantheons I relate to consistently enough to have permanent marks on my body for are: Vanir, Aesir, Orixa, Loa, Irish, Welsh, Hellenic, Kemetic, and an infinity symbol for the Whole That Is Divine. I'm also an animist.

Who is your least favorite ancient poet/philosopher/old guy who said “smart” things? Probably Thomas Aquinas. Not that he had much to say about my faith, really. But I had to read some of his work in my Religious Studies and Philosophy classes in university and am definitely not a fan.

What’s your favorite snack to share with the gods? (Curtesy of @luminarycanary) Honey is sacred to nearly all of them. I collect varietals.

Do you pray daily? If so, do you have a prayer schedule? I don't have a schedule. I have everyday prayers, but I say them as the impulse arises, not literally every day. They go well before a meal, and before undertaking ritual work. But they're specifically centered on the Vanir, who are Family/Home to me, so I have other set prayers/songs for other purposes, as well as whatever extemporaneous expression arises.

Do you do any rituals or celebrate any holidays/festivals? Yes. Many. MANY. I should make this its own post.

How often do you make offerings, and what is your most common offering to give? The most common offerings are a candle, a libation, or a song. Candles happen several times a week these days, if only for the Community Well Being Altar. Libations are less common. They used to be several times a month, but the reasons for that have fallen away over the last few years. Still, at least monthly. Songs are connected to specific prompts, which have also fallen away over the last couple years. Those, too, are closer to monthly right now.

How many altars do you currently have up, if any at all? Uhhhhhh *counts* 8-12, depending on how you count altars, I think? Some people distinguish between altars and shrines, at which point I'd have to say most of those are shrines. If I itemize the individual deities, I have easily dozens, but they’re mostly clumped together by pantheon or domain. I have one, maybe two working altars going most of the time lately.

Have you ever made a travel altar? In the sense of making a specific small portable altar/shrine thingy, no. In the sense of packing up a small box of whatever it seems like I might need for travel, many times. I’m not opposed - it sounds like a fun craft project. But what I need with me varies a little too much, beyond what I carry in my purse all the time anyway.

What deity do you think your taste in music best represents, regardless of who you worship? Probably Brighid. With a side of Ghede.

What has been your favorite interaction with a deity so far? I have absolutely no idea how to answer this.

What is your favorite devotional act? Singing!

Would you say there’s a certain “type” of deity you follow? Or are you more broad, without rhyme or reason? Most of the gods I work with at all frequently are on the Life/Death axis, or are Tricksters. But I will work with almost any deity who drops by, if there's a reason for it. Magic is also a pretty common domain around here.

Have you ever worked with a deity? As opposed to what? Well, regardless, by just about every definition that might have been meant by this, yes. Working with deities is pretty well my job. I'm ordained Vanatru clergy, a spirit worker, dreamworker, oracle, and witch.

Have you ever been to a religious site (for your deities)? Several. It seems like every time I get to go on vacation, the Powers find a way to turn it into a pilgrimage. Gamla Uppsala in particular was wonderful.

Do you have any UPGs? Quite a few. Mostly about the Vanir.

What is your favorite way to communicate with the gods? Possession trance is extremely helpful, but there's a lot of places to introduce error into the process, and it can be damaging to handle it poorly. Still, ecstatic trance states in general are a major focus of my practice, when possible.

Do you just worship deities, or do you worship heroes, spirits, etc. as well? My practices include animism and ancestor reverence. I tend to focus less on "heroes", and more on personal connections, and general interconnectedness.

What’s something new you want to try in your worship? Herbalism. Fragrance blending. The overlap between my list of craft interests and my list of worship interests is very high.

What would your ideal practice look like? I wish I knew! The last few years have changed a lot, and I'm frankly at a bit of a loss now. It's been exhausting. I can't keep up what I had to build during lockdown, and the extended community practices that supported me before don't work anymore. Figuring out what I and we need to do henceforth is a big, big task on my plate right now. More than I can really address, yet.

Have you ever received a dream/a big sign from a deity? I'm a dreamworker, so my sense of scale for this is probably skewed. But yes, several times.

Are there any new deities you want to contact? I already have more deities on my list than I know what to do with. I won't refuse newcomers, but I'm not seeking them out.

How do you define devotion vs worship? “Worship” is the expression of love for divinity. Forms of worship correspond to "love languages": praise, offerings, services, etc. “Devotion” is a deeply personal relationship with a specific entity. They’re different points on a continuum. Roughly the emotional difference between enjoying a party to honor a member of your community you think well of but don’t necessarily hang out with much personally, vs. paying personal attention to your best friend, lover, sibling, etc. Either way, the point is the relationship.

What is your favorite symbol of your deity(ies)? I am rather fond of the Vanatru Boar symbol. 

#vanatru #relational polytheism #devotional polytheism #polytheism #interview meme #polytheism asks

[martianbugsbunny]

OUAT Thoughts Pt.56--Episodes 2-3

I have watched through S6E3; spoilers DNI. Also, spoiler warning for anyone further behind than I am.

—That Renaissance-y ballroom Monte Cristo had was so pretty. If I had a house that cool, I wouldn’t throw parties or care about revenge, I would just stay home and stare at the decor all day.

—Regina’s outfit at that ball was lovely. She has the best embroidery on her Evil Queen clothes.

—Zelena and the Evil Queen working together is going to be a huge pain in the neck, I can just feel it. Zelena’s annoying and the Evil Queen is…evil. It’s a very bad combination.

—Belle is low-key full of crap. She never really tried to make things work with Rumple. (Disclaimer, he didn’t really try much either.) She A) didn’t have realistic goals for their marriage and B) didn’t really do the whole communication thing too well. She could at least have the good grace to admit it instead of acting like the marriage not vibing is entirely Rumple’s fault.

—Very cool how extremely normal it’s played for Emma to go to counseling. And I love Hook even more for being supportive of her, and encouraging her to go. Their relationship is actually one of the most plausible, realistic, healthy relationships in the show. I mean, not that I know much about that kinda stuff, but that’s how it comes across to me.

—Why is Monte Cristo so speedy? I know the gist of the original story, but none of the details, so I’m not going to know which traits are derived from the original and which are cool new ones. Which is a lil sad for me, because I love being able to compare.

—I like the Evil Queen’s hairstyle except for the loose hair. When you’ve got a perfectly chic updo, why ruin it with having some hair not make it in?

—Archie is still v handsome. I wish he was wearing more sweater vests right now, but jackets and ties are cool too. I 💖 his glasses, btw. So cute. And he’s a listener. Oh, gosh, listeners slay me.

—Regina’s new haircut is cute.

—Hook and Henry sword fighting with branches is cute. I love that they get to have a good relationship. And I love when Hook gets to show his playful side.

—Monte Cristo makes me sad. He wanted revenge, but not at any cost. When he died, yes Regina was defending her friends, but he wasn’t trying to hurt them of his own free will.

—Rumple’s Scottish came out in full force when he was reading that nursery rhyme for the baby. Like damn, I’m still kinda starry-eyed over it. 

—It’s an interesting take on Cinderella to also have one of her stepsisters be a victim of the stepmother’s scheming. I’ve seen Cinderella where the stepsisters are willing accomplices and Cinderella where none of the stepfamily is evil, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen this before. Well done.

—I also like that Gus got to go to the ball with Cinderella in his human form. He can eat so much more cheese as a human!

—David’s verging on dumbass here. Seriously, this whole family needs to take a communication workshop. Something important happens? Somebody’s gonna die? Well, no need to discuss with the loved ones, they’ll find out soon enough!

—Speaking of, Emma not telling her family about her impending death is very David-in-Neverland. She’s really her father’s daughter.

—I have seen the light. The light is Dr. Frankenstein x Dr. Jekyll. They’re both kinda mad scientists and the way Jekyll was all ‘it’s an honor to meet you’??!?!!? YES! Plus they aesthetically work, because one looks a little bit more sinister and one of them looks pretty non-threatening, which reflects their personalities. Put them together and they just 🌟vibe🌟 in every possible way!

—Also I would like to point out that Frankenstein is low-grade smoking, what with his blonde hair, mad scientist lab coat, and little bit of dark eye makeup. Dr. Whale? Not so interesting. Dr. Frankenstein? Oh yes.

—I am gonna be obsessing over Jekyllstein (IDK) for at least another week. Maybe longer. If I get some decent footage of them working together in Frankenstein’s garage lab, it’s gonna be a month.

—Speaking of eye makeup, Hook’s was on point in episode 3. His eyeliner just stood out so well for some reason. And gosh does it highlight his eyes!

—He and Emma are finally moving in together! YAY!

#once upon a time #ouat #the count of monte cristo #regina mills #the evil queen #zelena #dr. Archie hopper #Emma swan #Captain Hook #captainswan #cinderella #wicked stepsister #prince David charming #rumplestiltskin #belle #dr. frankenstein #dr. Jekyll #jekyllstein #martianbugsbunny reviews

[red-the-dragon-writes]

🚧 this is not finished and there will be adjustments! 🚧 please do not reblog this post! 🚧 

Hi, I'm Red. Welcome to my writing blog. I use he/him, they/them, ne/nem, and fuck/fucker pronouns, and this is a sideblog. I follow and interact from @bitegore. I'm bi, trans, aro, polyam and above all Queer.

I write primarily Transformers fanfiction and, rarely, original fiction as well. I like dragons and I like robots, and I will put one or the other (or sometimes both!) into everything I do. I consider myself to be a horror writer, and I typically try to lean in toward whatever shitty implications I can come up with rather than lean out.

I have a particular love of in-universe documents and pastiche of things like current event news articles and sociological papers. I also love gore, death, horrific power dynamics, and bad sex that hurts everyone involved. I love when characters do bad things to one another and I want them to be awful.

I fully intend for everyone reading my stories to get some sort of rubberneck-style voyeuristic fascination out of everything I write. My smut is bad and I hope it makes you want to peel your skin off. My humor is pitch black and I will rhyme lying with dying and try to make you laugh about it. I do my best never to shy away from the edge and I want you to stare down at the pitch-black hole I've dropped my characters into and acknowledge the abject depths of their suffering and then be forced to admit that actually that's kind of funny anyway.

But i promise i'm chill as, like, a person and I want to give you the tools to read or not read that at your leisure and all that.

Current Ongoing Wips:

Transmissions from Cybertron - a letter-based epistolary fic about a transformer who goes on a weird mission and gets his brain fried super duper hard by it. Currently in its last few stages, I think, I just have to get it DONE.

Fortress Maximus v. Big Sword Studios - a pastiche of the ongoing "censorship is good/censorship is bad" debate from the beginning of modern media's existence set on Cybertron and in regards to deliberately provocative politically-charged pornography about (in-universe) war crimes. About half done. I have to kick it into high gear and I don't feeeeelllll like it i want to write stupid shenanigans instead.

Dedication - my take on the Tarn and Pharma Have A Child thing, wherein everything is bad, Pharma is currently dead, and the kid has never had a single positive adult in his life thus far. and also hasn't got a name yet. i just need to finish what i have written so i can get to what i want to write. this one also only needs a couple more chapters and then it should be done. Also Transformers fanfiction.

"You really wanna know where I'm from?"  - my beloved transformers oc Bait lies about her background to a bunch of people for fun and profit. A personal project and on the back burner.

some speedy pilot sharpshooter, or something - same beloved transformers oc takes a hit out on one of my friend's favorites and gives him a complex via torture, but I lost the other guy's voice and so I haven't gotten back to it yet.

laser core - Vortex (a transformer) wants to kill someone by fucking their battery until they die so bad he blows his dick up like fifteen times. Stuck in progress because I don;'t know enough engineering to make it work.

Crystal Clear - A Star Wars/Transformers crossover where Megatron and Optimus Prime are ancient jedi and Sith dug up out of the ground. I have no idea wher I was going with this but I want to get back to it someday.

Closerverse Main Story - Original fiction; a two part story that starts with a fucked up child soldier/member of a military cult discovering that non-human people (this is one of those high fantasy worlds with like shapeshifters and shit who are very much people) are still people and killing them is bad. and then falling in love, or at least good friends, with a dragon shapeshifter who also rather likes her. and THEN we take a hard swerve into grimdark territory and do bad things to our beloved dragon shapeshifter and hit him with a curse and do bad things to our ex-child soldier and THEN they go ahead and burn down the old world order and build a kinder one in its ashes. This one needs a prety comprehensive re-plotting but the bones are good; but also there's some awkward eeehhhh shit about what is essentially me processing my hashtag jewish-in-2022 feelings through making shapeshifting lizards be an oppressed culture and people that I don't want to take out because I want to be a shapeshifting lizard so bad i could cry but also the antisemites. they do that too. im not with them

no other serious origfic stories at this time smh

Housekeeping:

Tags in Use: #tag game - tag games (where I'm tagged/pinged by username) #ask game - ask games (asks sent in that I respond to) #wip thread - a long "thead" where i post snippets from one particular wip, usually short fanfics I intend to wrap and post within that week #tf writing - tag to specify Transformers writing #cls writing - tag to specify Closerverse-universe writing (changed 3/25/22) #ff writing - tag to specify other (non-Transformers) fanfiction #origfic writing - tag to specify other (non-Closerverse) original writing #others' writing - tag to specify that someone else wrote this and i just think it's cool #advice - advice #aesthetic - pretty pictures, usually just to fill up space #cn: sexual violence - "content note: sexual violence" - umbrella category for rape, noncon and dubcon #cn: gore - "content note: gore" - for body horror and "extreme" violence #cn: self-harm - "content note: self-harm" - for written descriptions of self-harm, including slightly less traditional ones like starving oneself #cn: death - "content note: death" - for stories dealing in large part with death. Note: not ones where it's incidental or background- stories where major charcters die or deal with grief.

I don't have a taglist for any wips because I have very few serious ongoing projects. If you'd like to be tagged for discussion and workshopping of Transformers fics, or for original works, please let me know which. Transformers taglist: - General TF taglist: - - Transmissions from Cybertron: - - Dedication: - - Crystal Clear: - - General Bait (OC) fic: - Origfic taglist: - General Closerverse Origfic: - - Closerverse Main Story: - - General Non-CV Origfic: -

#writeblr intro #housekeeping #tags

[luuurien]

DOMi & JD BECK - NOT TiGHT

(Nu-Jazz, Neo-Soul, Jazz Fusion)

Two of jazz's brightest prodigal talents link up for an energetic, if one-note collaborative project that attempts to bottle their explorative, technically complex playing styles into a cohesive album package. NOT TiGHT never quite figures out what it wants to be, but Domi Degalle's eccentric keyboard work and JD Beck's frenetic drum grooves keep things moving smoothly nonetheless.

☆☆☆½

I get why NOT TiGHT has gotten so much attention, but that's also part of my problems with it. Anyone who has been engaged with the contemporary jazz scene over the past few years has seen videos of Domi Degalle and JD Beck performing at one point or another, whether it be behind Thundercat and Ariana Grande on a cover of Them Changes, or the two of them making covers of   Madvillainy tracks, their incredibly impressive chops - Degalle performing on both keyboards and bass and Beck on drums - and ear on the pulse of hip-hop and electronic sounds that people love most made them two of the most relevant and talked about up-and-comers right now. On their debut project together NOT TiGHT, released on Anderson .Paak's own Blue Note imprint APESHIT, attempts to bottle their explorative, technically complex playing styles into a cohesive album package. At times, the magic of NOT TiGHT shines incredibly bright, but they pull themselves back so much throughout that oftentimes the album fails to be more than colorful, noisy wallpaper. While I don't find comparing artists to one another a particularly useful way of pointing out issues with an album or song, NOT TiGHT's sound sits at an intersection of modern jazz that can only be drawn out knowing the people on either side of it. There's the off-kilter, lo-fi haze of artists like Jacob Mann, riding on beds of fuzzy synthesizers and plucky electronic drum loops, and there's the explosive, colorful stylings of nu-jazz groups like Ebi Soda and High Pulp blending improvisation and rich jazz harmonic language into fast-paced grooves pulled from drum 'n' bass and alternative rap. NOT TiGHT's sound sits somewhere between those two styles, and Degalle and Beck, for the most part, do quite the stellar job at making expressive and intense jazz warm and accessible to a larger audience. The mixing is warm and focuses on a thick low-end and softer high tones, and Beck's fluffy drumset never smacks the mix too hard, always keeping things plush and mellow while having enough presence to provide forward movement - if there's one thing NOT TiGHT does best, it's tonal consistency. There's a certain pull to how tracks like WHATUP and U DON'T HAVE TO ROB ME so beautifully blend bubbly, bright jazz melodies into speedy, yet soft drum breaks, nu-jazz madness that still leaves room for you to breathe. It's intricate, but NOT TiGHT never gets so tangled that Degalle and Beck lose the sense of charm and personality within their demanding compositions. When they bring collaborators into the mix, things only get better: the aforementioned Thundercat brings his gooey basslines for two consecutive tracks on BOWLiNG and the title track, letting Degalle focus more on her keyboard work rather than trying to manage both melodies and a bassline; indie rock golden boy Mac Demarco hops aboard for TWO SHRiMPS; jazz legend Herbie Hancock appears drenched in vocoder for MOON while beloved guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkle brings smooth lovely guitar work to WHOA; Anderson .Paak appears on both the neo-soul highlight TAKE A CHANCE and posse cut PiLOT alongside Snoop Dogg and Busta Rhymes. There's tons of different ideas floating around NOT TiGHT, but Degalle and Beck have the focus and might to pull it all off. It never goes much further than that, though, and that's where many of my frustrations with NOT TiGHT lie. Everything sounds nice, and there's no song on here that's especially bad (SMiLE and TWO SHRiMPS are both repetitive and bland, but that's about it), but it never strays far from its low-key, playful jazz fusion, and it leaves NOT TiGHT as a full, 44-minute listen to feel underwhelming and unfulfilling by the end of things. Sure, it's nice to listen to, but apart from the few jumps in energy given by collaborative tracks like TAKE A CHANCE and PiLOT, there's not much of a difference in how they move from cozy nu-jazz to breakneck improvisation on WHATUP and SNiFF, or on the title track and WHOA, or any other combination of two songs here that check all the same boxes in different orders. It stops feeling exciting watching them go all out by the end of the album when it's already happened so many times before - a cool party trick someone's already done twelve times that night - and because of their constant reliance on that energetic, fast-paced nu-jazz style every time they need to pick up the pace, NOT TiGHT loses a ton of leverage it gets from having two of the strongest musicians out there today working together. They know their instruments well, but they're still figuring out exactly what that looks like in an album context, the looser environment of live performance allowing them to mess with things and react to things more organically than when trying to carve out the defined peaks and valleys of U DON'T HAVE TO ROB ME or MOON. By all means, NOT TiGHT's sound is a fantastic one, but it begins to wear thin as the slickness of it all gets rid of the antics and goofiness that makes watching them perform together at a concert or in a YouTube video so electrifying. It's the biggest thing keeping NOT TiGHT from going from being just a well-performed album to one that is both well-performed and consistently thrilling all the way through. Degalle and Beck have what it takes to keep moving forward together and take things further than they already have, and just because NOT TiGHT has trouble expanding on their sound doesn't mean the album isn't a successful outing in the slightest. More often than not, it's fun to listen to, easy to connect with, and with enough surprise turns to suck you back in when things start to get a little mushy. It might be missing that layer of grit needed to take things to the next level, but there's no denying just how exciting a start this is for the two of them, coming right out of the gate with a distinct sound and the concrete proof that their sound will never get old when it's this impressive to listen to. At the core of NOT TiGHT, it's two friends putting their all into making music that they love together, and that passion beams through everything they do here, no matter how exhilarating or banal things get.

#domi & jd beck #not tight #apeshit #electronic #experimental #idm #jazz #jazz fusion #jazzstep #neo-soul #nu-jazz #2022 #7/10 #album review #2022 albums

[seeksloganadvice]

A Step-by-Step Guide to Designing Pizza Slogans That Sell

To create pizza slogans that truly resonate with your audience and drive sales, you must delve into the core of what makes your pizzeria unique. By understanding your brand's identity and pinpointing the exact needs and desires of your customers, you can start crafting slogans that hit the mark. But that's just the beginning. The real magic lies in the process of brainstorming, where creativity meets strategy to produce slogans that stick in the minds of hungry pizza lovers. Stay tuned to uncover the rest of the steps that will help you craft pizza slogans that sell like hotcakes.

Guide For Designing Pizza Slogans

Understanding Your Brand and Audience

To effectively design pizza slogans that sell, start by understanding your brand and audience. Your brand identity is the heart of your marketing strategy. Consider what sets your pizzeria apart from the competition. Is it your secret family recipe, your commitment to using fresh ingredients, or your speedy delivery service? Understanding these unique selling points will help you craft slogans that resonate with your target customers.

Next, get to know your audience. Are you catering to busy families looking for a quick dinner option, or are you targeting pizza enthusiasts who appreciate artisanal creations? Tailoring your slogans to speak directly to the desires and values of your audience will make them more compelling and memorable. For example, if your pizzeria prides itself on offering a wide variety of vegan options, a slogan like 'Satisfying Cravings, Nourishing Souls' could appeal to health-conscious customers. When you need special info about pizza slogan, click over here.

Brainstorming Creative Slogan Ideas

//www.youtube.com/embed/dlWpSnpdZQo

Engage in a dynamic brainstorming session to generate creative slogan ideas that captivate your audience and drive sales for your pizzeria. Start by gathering your team or even involving some of your loyal customers in the process. Encourage everyone to share their thoughts freely, no matter how wild they may seem at first. Sometimes the most unconventional ideas can lead to the perfect slogan.

Consider the unique selling points of your pizzeria and what sets you apart from the competition. Do you offer a special type of crust, unique toppings, or speedy delivery service? Highlight these aspects in your slogans to make them memorable and appealing to potential customers.

Think about the emotions you want to evoke in your audience. Whether it's nostalgia for a traditional family dinner or the excitement of trying something new and bold, tailor your slogans to resonate with your target market. Keep the slogans short, catchy, and easy to remember. This will ensure that they stick in people's minds and encourage them to visit your pizzeria.

Crafting Memorable and Persuasive Phrases

Crafting memorable and persuasive phrases for your pizza slogans requires a deep understanding of your unique selling points and target audience preferences. To create a slogan that resonates with your customers, focus on highlighting what sets your pizza apart from the competition. Consider what makes your pizza special - whether it's the fresh ingredients, unique toppings, or a secret family recipe. Incorporate these elements into your slogan to capture the essence of your brand.

When crafting your pizza slogan, keep it short and catchy. Use words that evoke cravings and emotions, enticing customers to try your pizza. Consider using alliteration or rhymes to make your slogan more memorable. For example, 'Cheesy goodness that melts in your mouth' or 'Satisfy your cravings with every bite.'

Remember to tailor your phrases to your target audience. If your pizza is aimed at families, focus on themes of togetherness and sharing. For a younger audience, use trendy language and modern references. By understanding your unique selling points and knowing your audience, you can craft pizza slogans that not only sell but also leave a lasting impression.

Testing and Refining Your Pizza Slogan

When refining your pizza slogan, focus on gathering feedback from your target audience to ensure its effectiveness. Start by conducting surveys, focus groups, or online polls to gather opinions on your slogan. Listen to what your audience has to say and pay attention to their reactions. Look for common themes in the feedback you receive, such as what resonates with them and what doesn't.

After collecting feedback, make necessary adjustments to your pizza slogan. This could involve tweaking the wording, changing the tone, or emphasizing different aspects of your pizza offerings. Keep in mind that the goal is to create a slogan that not only captures attention but also entices customers to try your pizza.

Test your refined slogan in different marketing materials such as social media posts, flyers, or advertisements. Monitor the responses and track any changes in customer engagement or sales. Be open to further refining your slogan based on the ongoing feedback you receive. Remember, the key to a successful pizza slogan lies in its ability to connect with your target audience and drive them to choose your pizza over competitors.

Conclusion

Now that you have followed this step-by-step guide to designing pizza slogans that sell, it's time to put your creativity to the test.

Remember to stay true to your brand, understand your audience, and craft compelling phrases that resonate with them.

By testing and refining your slogans based on feedback, you can ensure they effectively showcase what makes your pizzas irresistible.

Get ready to attract more customers with your catchy and memorable pizza slogans!

#Pizza Slogans #Slogans