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wild-aloof-rebel · 3 years

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Some Favorite Fics from 2020

Like last year, I want to end 2020 by highlighting some fics that have become favorites over the last twelve months. Before I dive into it though, I just want to take a minute to send some love to all of the authors writing in this fandom.

As of the end of 2019, there were about 8.8 million words of fic on AO3 for this fandom. This year, more than 450 authors have added another 15 million more. That’s so incredibly impressive, especially in a year this difficult. Thank you, thank you, thank you to every single person who contributed to that, whether you wrote one fic or a hundred, a drabble or a novel. Thank you for giving this fandom the gift of your creativity and voice. Your work is so, so appreciated, and you’ve helped to create joy in a year where it was often in short supply. 💗💗💗

Okay, on to the fics. I’ve limited myself to no more than one work for any individual author to spread the love around as much as possible, and I’ve bumped up the number to 25 this time around because there was just too much fic this year for me to cut it down any further.

So here we go. These are 25 fics I loved this year, and what I love about them...

Your heart is keeping time with me by yourbuttervoicedbeau • rated E • 33k+ confession before i start: i’ve never actually seen 50 first dates. but i thought this AU based on it was delightful. patrick’s love for david is so big, right from the start, and i love seeing david lean into trusting himself (and patrick) over and over again

will this ever get old? by startswithhope • rated T • <1k i just like seeing them domestic and soft and happy, okay? and while most of dee’s fics are like that, this particular one is a fave because of them thinking about their future and how they’ll change over the years but love each other right on through

Just to Hold the Hands I Love by DesignatedGrape • rated T • 20k+ it’s like a warm christmas hug, full of musical trolling, gentle pining, domestic nights in, and careful attention to fashion details, which are all absolutely the kinds of things i appreciate

A Case of You by DoubleL27 • rated T • 6k+ patrick is an absolute menace in exactly the way you would expect every valentine’s day. it’s funny and sweet and ends with them in exactly the kind of future we all want for them

Dulce by another_Hero • rated T • 1k+ original characters can be hard to do right. they have to be compelling enough to fit in with these characters we already know so well, and dulce is the kind of character who grabs you from the start. the whole series is lovely, but this first interaction with ronnie is my favorite of them

Tea-Kettle Love by ArabellaStrange • rated G • 5k+ even though this coda to “the pitch” isn’t technically canon compliant now, it still feels a lot like it is. it’s about the sacrifices we are and aren’t willing to make for the people we love, taking the new york discussion into more depth than we get in the show and still arriving in largely the same place

Vanquished by Codswallop • rated G • 3k+ if you’re looking for soft, fluffy sickfic, this is not it, lol. patrick is sick here but won’t let anyone take care of him. he’s stubborn and basically minor chaos ensues. it’s funny and sweet but not schmaltzy. the characterization is 👌, and it feels like the kind of thing that fits perfectly into the world of the show

To Come Out the Other Side by unfolded73 • rated T • 4k+ • warning for major character death i don’t want to read sad things about david and patrick very often, but sometimes the mood strikes. this one is definitely sad right from the start, but there’s hope and resilience through grief, and i think this year especially, there’s something to be said for stories that can make you feel like there is still good to be found after the bad

Hold Me Like You’ll Never Let Me Go by moodlighting • rated T • 21k+ i never would have thought that a fic would make me WANT to be trapped in an airport, but it’s 2020 and anything is possible, lol. this is what meet cute dreams are made of

Your mother keeps a spreadsheet by upbeat • rated G • 3k+ obviously i love a good spreadsheet, so this one was up my alley from the start, lol. but really it’s moira and patrick bonding through the cataloguing of her wigs (and all the stories that go with them) that makes this one an easy favorite

keep me in the pulses, keep me in the sound by dinnfameron • rated G • 2k+ this sweet little slice of a summer vacation made me ache to be with friends. plus, sometimes you just need some overwhelmingly happy david rose. he deserves it, and so do we

eggs and the flour, no higher power by withkissesfour • rated T • 1k+ i’m pretty sure this fic is the definition of sweet, in more ways than one. it’s a short piece, but the writing is lush and indulgent in all the right places, just like the cakes being described

sustineo by rockinhamburger • rated E • 10k+ before i was even done reading this fic, i wanted another 50k words set in this universe. the conversation between david and patrick is sharp in all the right ways, and because this david has such a hard shell to crack after being hurt in such a horrible and heartbreaking way, it’s that much more satisfying watching patrick break through it

All-Natural Care, Locally Sourced by Siria • rated T • 2k+ siria’s fics are always funny, with banter that’s so perfectly on point, and that’s certainly true here. but there are also care packages and photos and just so much love. it’s a perfect balance, just like the show

hold on to me as you go by helvetica_upstart • rated T • 3k+ i love a good look at just how long patrick has been head over heels in love with david and how much he was in this for life all along. this fic does just that through the framework of times that they saw their new house before they bought it, and it’s everything that you would want that concept to be and more

Exposed Brick by swat117 • rated M • 9k+ this is such a lovely look at david and patrick a few years into their marriage, steady in all the right ways, even when old fears try to rise up between them. it gives david a chance to be the solid and supportive one in the relationship, something i never get tired of reading

We Could Turn the World to Gold by middyblue • rated T • 27k+ as someone who also did c25k at one point, i def empathize with david’s plight in this fic, lol. as much fun as that part of the story is, it’s really the house and everything related to that part of the story that makes this a favorite in my book. this was posted very early in s6, so it’s not the house from canon, but it’s beautiful either way to see them so excited about building their future together there

Waiting on the Day by High-Seas-Swan • rated E • 22k+ this is another fic that makes me absolutely ache for things i couldn’t have this year, namely my favorite local brewery and all the nights spent there with friends. beyond that, it’s just a very sweet AU, and the scene with their first kiss and the rest of that night live in my head rent free

Pot o’ Gold by ahurston • rated E • 22k+ where is the leprechaun/love of my life who’s gonna take me out to eat all of the best foods that my city has to offer? this one is a slow burn but their relationship is so much fun to read right from the start that you definitely don’t mind taking your time getting there. also, the palm reading scene. good grief.

there is no design by the_hodag • rated T • 12k+ this fic gives us a look at some of david’s art, and all the loneliness and love that inspires it. it’s poignant and painful and hopeful and sweet in turn, and i think it does a marvelous job of capturing so many of the facets of david’s past that have made him who he is

A Little Broken, A Little New by nameless_bliss • rated G • 3k+ i’ve read this fic several times now, and david and johnny having a conversation about their own relationship through the guise of talking about patrick and his parents never fails to make me cry

Une très bonne table dans sa catégorie by cromarty • rated T • 23k+ just the concept of this one alone would have sold me on it—like, hello? michelin reviewer and chef? sign me the fuck up—but it’s written with the kind of attention to detail i always expect from claire’s writing, and the fact that it practically starts with a first kiss but then pulls back makes for a delicious dynamic as they build a friendship over that foundational attraction, both tempering and intensifying the wait for them to find their way back into each others’ arms

happy golden days of yore by blueink3 • rated E • 17k+ i literally stopped in the middle of this fic, sat down on my kitchen floor, and had a good cry. i hate thinking about them ending up divorced in the first place, but even as exes, they’re so careful and gentle with one another and so, so clearly still in a forever kind of love. that makes it bearable to see them apart because even if it weren’t tagged for a happy ending, there’s such a feeling of inevitability to it, you know exactly how it’s going to end and just get to enjoy the devastating ride it takes to get there

Fifteen Hundred Miles by MoreHuman • rated M • 30k+ this is one of those fics where everything comes together just right and achieves a perfect balance of introspection and action, courage and fear, despair and hope, forthright honesty and cautious reservation... MoreHuman makes it all look easy, which says so much about all the care that had to have gone into the planning and writing. this fic does everything well, and it’s an absolute pleasure to read from start to end

840 Havenwood Road E by Distractivate • rated E • 10k+ we barely see david and patrick’s new house in the show, so it shouldn’t be possible for me to be as emotional about it as this fic makes me, every single time i read it. but it’s the home they chose, the place they decided to build a life together, and getting to see flashes of that life through the years and how much love they clearly had for each other within those four walls just makes me cry again and again

#schitt's creek #schitts creek #fic recs #long post

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thewritingstar · 4 years

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Star’s Master Fic Page!

Updated: 11/19/2020

This is where you can find all of my fics!!!

Current Fic Count: 200

Original Content Count: 6

Fandoms: Fairy Tail, My Hero Academia, Miraculous LadyBug, The PowerPuff Girls, The Promised Neverland, Ducktales, Gravity Falls, Original Works

Bold are Chapter fics!

My asks are always open for requests!!

Commissions are open!!

Fairy Tail

1. Lying - Gruvia

2. It Should Have Been Me - Gruvia

3. Of All The Colors: 1 - 2 - Gruvia

4. Blue Skies -Gruvia

5. My Savior - Lucy and Aquarius

6. Little Notes - Lucy and Aquarius

7. Movies - Gruvia

8. Books - Gajevy

9. Candles -Nalu

10. The First Snow -Nalu

11. Letting Go - Gruvia

12. Written In The Stars Au. 1 2-Nalu

13. Fine- Gruvia

14. Reassuring- Gruvia

15. Melt for Me- Nalu (Candles pt 2)

16. Marshmallows- Nalu

17. Book Shelves- Gajevy

18. Flower Crown- Gruvia

19. Sweatshirts and Coffee- Gruvia

20. Bloody Smile- Nalu

21. Water Body- Gruvia

22. Balloons- Gruvia

23. Marriage- Gajevy

24. Can’t help falling in love with you- Nalu

25. The Siren Song- Gruvia AU. 1

26. Mario Kart- Nalu

27. Beating Hearts- Nalu

28. Mint- Gajevy

29. Can you feel the love tonight?- Gruvia

30. Clock- Nalu

31. Show me whats behind your back. -Nalu

32. Just Smile- Gajevy

33. Can we?- Nalu (Adult Content)

34. Broken- Gruvia

35. Immortal- Gruvia

36. Russian Roulette -Gruvia

37. Sit Down -Gruvia

38.Don’t Cry- Gruvia

39. Water Lily Wedding- Gruvia

40. Cycle Of the Rain -Gruvia

41. Lost -Gajevy

42. Forgiveness -Jerza

43. Auto Shop Hearts -Gajevy

44. Valentines Day?? - Gruvia

45. Music- Gajevy

46. Past and Future -Gajevy

47. Leave me alone -Gruvia

48. Valentine Exchange -Nalu

49. Cold Feet -Gruvia

50. Silence -Nalu

51. You’re Hurting Me- Gruvia

52. Magic Trick- Nalu

53. Damp Skin- Gruvia

54. Mall Adventures- Gruvia

55. I prefer blondes- Nalu

56. The Secret Admirer- Gruvia

57. Forgiving- Gruvia

58. Missing You- Gruvia

59. Ill Keep You Warm- Nalu

60. Ive Got You- Gruvia

61. Adventures In Lush- Fairy Tail Girls + Others

62. The Anniversary To Remember - Gruvia

63. A Chance Meeting- Gruvia

64. Do You Have A Ride Home?- Nalu

65. I Can’t Trust You- Gajevy

66. You Could Have Warned Me! -Nalu

67. SnowBalls- Gruvia

68. Stuck In The Elevator- Gruvia

69. Labor- Gruvia

70. Rescued- Gruvia

71. Liquid Locket- Gruvia

72. Very Happy- Gruvia

73. Gruvia Week: Proposal

74. Gruvia Week: Surprise

75. Gruvia Week: Devotion

76. Gruvia Week: Sport

77. Gruvia Week: Heartbreak

78. Lost- Gruvia

79. Mortifying Merch- Gruvia

80. Never Stop- Gajevy

81. Blind Date- Gruvia

82. Fates Desire- Gruvia: Chap 1 Chap 2

83. Stairwell Kisses- Gruvia

84. Stolen Shirts- Nalu

85. “Kiss Me”- Gruvia

86. Happy Birthday- Nalu

87. Enough- Gruvia

88. The Moment- Nalu

89. Are You Safe- Gajevy

90. Bruises- Gruvia

91. The Ex Boyfriend- Gruvia

92. Double Date: Gruvia/Nalu

93. A Royal Heart- Gruvia (Big Bang Event)

94. One More Time: Gruvia

95. Deserving of Love- Gruvia

96. Kiss As a Lie- Gruvia

97. To Ignore the Rain Would Be A Pity: Gruvia Chap 1 Chap 2

98. Go Get Your Happiness- Gruvia

99. Death n Diamonds- Gruvia

100. Drabble- Gruvia

101. Silver Shorelines- Gruvia

102. Gruvia Day 2019

103. Fire n Water- Navia

104. Starsoba Fictober- Candy- Gruvia

105. Chained With Love- Nalu

106. A Years Difference- Gruvia

107. Grains Of Purple- Gruvia

108. Truly Beautiful- Nalu

109. Dress- Nalu

110. Back to those Summer Days- Gruvia

111. The Legend of The Lake- Gruvia

112. Upon the Frozen Lake- Gruvia

113. Waiting in the Rain- Gruvia

114. Only A Fairy tale- Gruvia

115. Learn to Love Again- Gruvia

116. Toxic in Trade: Chap 1 Chap 2- Gruvia

117: Gruvia Week 2020- Day 1

118: Gruvia Week 2020- Day 2

119: Within The Darkness- Gruvia

120: By Your Side- Nalu

121: A Touch of a Hand- Gruvia

122: Scars- Gratsu

123: Promise Me- Gruvia

124: Ice Ice Baby?- Gruvia

125: The Melody of Loving You- Gruvia

126: Holding You Close- Lucy x Juvia

127: Gruvia Day 2020

128: Beautiful Revelations- Gruvia

Miraculous Ladybug

1. Why Can’t You Just Love Me Back?- LadyNoir

2. Fallen Heroes -LadyNoir

3. Regret -Adrientte

4. Lights- LadyNoir

5. Not the Time -Adrienette

6. Reason to Live - LadyNoir

7. Indigo Tears -MariChat

My Hero Academia

1. Credit Due -Kiribaku

2. Angry Kiss -Kiribaku

3. Tell me you need me- Kacchako

4. Bath- Kacchako

5. 3 A.M - Kacchako

6. Sick Days- Kiribaku

7. Dance Dance Revolution- Kiribaku

8. A Confession- Kiribaku

9. The Assassin Code- 1

10. No Time To Waste- KiriBaku

11. KiriBaku Week: Dance

12. KiriBaku Week: Scars

13. KiriBaku Week: Support

14. KiriBaku Week: Soulmate

15. My New Dream- KiriBaku

16. 90’s- KiriBaku

17. Best at Boasting -KiriBaku

18. My Everything -Kacchako

19. StarSoba Fictober: Pumpkins-KiriBaku

20. Gift Swap- BakuDeku

21. Gift Swap: ROCKin Around the Christmas Tree- Kiribaku

22. What It Could Be- Kiribaku

23. Sleepover Secrets- Jiroumomo

Powerpuff Girls

1. Own Escape- Blossick

2. Up In The Clouds- Blossick

3. Pretty Sparks- Butchercup

4. Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince: Chap 1 -Blossutch

5. Green Light District- Butchercup

6. Enchanted For a Moment- Chap 1, Chap 2 -Blossick (orphaned)

7. Valuable Possessions- Butchercup

8. Bite my Tongue- Blossutch

9. Tease-Blossick

10. Cute- Butchercup

11. Come Get Me: Butchercup

12. Hair Twirling- Blossutch

13. I’m a Mess- Butchercup

14. Stay- Blossick

15. Fireworks- Butchercup

16. Shields and Sparks- Butchercup

17. The Talk- Butchercup

18. Spa Night- Butch and Bubbles

19. Roomies- Butchercup

20. Desperate Hugs- Butchercup

21. Incinerate- Blossutch

22. Bounce House Blues- Brickercup

23. Bruises- Butchercup

24. Tender Kisses- Butchercup

25. Like Ashes We Burn- Blossick

26. Little Red Bow- Blossutch

27. More than you Think- Butchercup

28. When The Night is Still Young- Prinbrute

29. Like the Weight of the World- Blossick

30. Enchanted For A Moment (Revamped) Color Code- Chap 1

31. Falling Back to You- Blossick

32. The Freedom of Being Yours- Blossick

33. Until My Heart Stops Racing-Mike x Mitch

34. Blue With Envy- Boomubbles

35. Drawn That Way- Blossucth

36. Don’t Panic, I Got You- Boomer and Blossom

37. In The Depths Of The Deep Sea- Blossutch

Duck Tales

1. Drive Thru- Fentonald

Poems/ Original Work

1. Red

2. A Fateful Friendship

3. Head Held High

4. Turn Your Back on Me

5. Ashamed

6. Like A Rainbow

The Promised Neverland

1. To See Her Smile- RayEmma

Gravity Falls

1. Mystery Mom- Wendy’s mom commission

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taste-in-music · 4 years

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My Most Anticipated Releases of 2020

Now that 2019 is behind us, it’s time to look into the oncoming year for exciting new releases to come!

Manic by Halsey (January 17th): Halsey’s music is a mixed bag for me, but even I can’t deny that she’s got some real gems in her discography or that listening to Badlands makes me nostalgic to no end. The singles Halsey has released so far for this project are a mixed bag in my book. “Without Me” doesn’t click with me and “Nightmare” is messy and gets grating quickly. However, I like the others quite a bit, especially the synthpop euphoria of “Graveyard,” which I’ve returned to quite a bit over the past year. If the rest of the album leans more in that direction, I can see myself liking it quite a bit.

High Rode by Kesha (January 31st): Hearing Rainbow back in 2017 was one of the most exciting pop album listening experiences of the 2010s. Not only did Kesha deliver a confident, spirited, self-assured message, but she also blended together a slew of genres, such as folk, rock, and country, all of these qualities culminating in a exhilarating and touching record that I still return to to this day. The singles she’s dropped so far see a continuation of these elements into her next era, with “Raising Hell” and “My Own Dance” being dance-pop bangers while “Resentment” shows Kesha’s softer side.

The Slow Rush by Tame Impala (February 14th): After five years, the wait is finally over! I’d call myself a casual fan of Tame Impala, but even I can’t admit that Kevin Parker and crew know their way around indie rock hooks with a psychedelic spin, (as far as I’m concerned, “The Less I Know The Better” is a modern classic.) Singles such as “Patience” and “Borderline” show that this quality hasn’t lessened in the slightest, while the sprawling soundscape “Posthumous Forgiveness” shows that experimentation is still in store. Also, it’s being released on Valentine’s Day!

Cape God by Allie X (February 21st): I don’t think I can express how excited I am for this album. I think this is my most anticipated album of 2020 right now. All of the singles released so far been amazing. The eerie synths on “Fresh Laundry” make it the perfect spooky bop, Ms. X and Troye Sivan work great together on “Love Me Wrong", “Rings A Bell” goes OFF with its chorus, and bassline on “Regulars” makes for one killer groove. Not only that, we’re also getting a Mitski feature? I’m calling it for the collaboration of the year. Allie X's discography has been near flawless so far, so let’s just say that I’m hyped. 2020 better be the year she gets the recognition she deserves.

Notes On A Conditional Form by The 1975 (February 21st): As I’ve mentioned before, I have no expectations going into this album because I have no idea what it’s going to sound like. All the singles so far have been so drastically different, one being a speech set to music, another punk, and another pop. Regardless, they’ve all been good, so I’m not complaining. The 1975 are always dependable when it comes to delivering danceable bops with philosophical tidbits peppered throughout.

Miss_Anthrop0cene by Grimes (February 21st): How am I going to survive February 21st? I’ve been awaiting a new project from Grimes since falling in love with the sugary hooks, eccentric production, and hellish flair on Art Angels years ago. The singles so far have been a mixed bag, but it looked like we’ll see Grimes tackle themes of technology and artificial intelligence on this album, which is bound to be interesting.

Masochism by Sky Ferreira (TBA): This is assuming that we’ll even get an album at this point. Has it really been 7 years since Night Time, My Time dropped? Of course I’m kidding, however long Ms. Ferreira takes on this album will be well worth it, and I’m all for artists taking their time to refine their projects. We got some crumbs last year, both with her Charli XCX collab and the lush, baroque pop single “Downhill Lullaby.” I’m willing to patiently wait for whatever this alt-pop songstress will dish out in the coming months.

Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa (TBA): Dua Lipa was a breath of fresh air in the pop scene of 2017-2018. Her debut album provided not only hit singles that were some of the best on the radio but also great deep cuts that showcased her strength as a vocalist and songwriter. The debut single from this album, “Don’t Start Now,” has been on a loop for me over the past few months, and the melding of past and future aesthetics in her recent videos and music is panning out in a really interesting way. I’ve also heard rumors of Frank Ocean, Miley Cyrus, and Normani possibly being featured on this album, but I don’t have an official source for that, so it’s just speculation, (but can you imagine though?)

Watching You EP by Robinson (TBA): Robinson is an artist I don’t remember I love until I realize that I’m hours deep into marathoning her music and singing along to every line. She’s got a knack for a catchy hook and fun pop production. “Don’t Say” was one of my favorite songs of 2019, and it’s reported to be a debut single from what will be her first longer project. I’m stoked.

White Hot Forever by Lana Del Rey (TBA): I’d love to get another Lana album so soon after NFR!, but I have a similar concern about this as I did with thank u, next, that it would end up sounding rushed or not as fleshed out as it could be. Still, NFR! was my favorite Lana record to date, and I’d love to see if she’d continue the aesthetics of that project onto this album or start a completely new thematic and visual cycle. It’s also unclear as to whether this would be her spoken world album that’s also been announced? I guess we’ll just have to see.

The Archer by Alexandra Savior (TBA): Alexandra Savior won me over with her femme-fatale crooner of a debut, Belladonna of Sadness. The debut single from this album, “Crying All The Time,” is a swooning, fuzzed-out ballad that won me over instantly. This woman knows her way around a sensual vintage aesthetic, I’ll tell you that.

Other artists that have either announced or teased dropping albums this year include HAIM, Dominic Fike, Hailee Steinfeld, Oh Wonder, Lauren Jauregui, The Killers, Noname, Orla Gartland, Normani, Madison Beer, Ava Max, Conan Gray, Donna Missal (!!!) and, (good god, if we are worthy,) Fiona Apple.

It’s still very early in the year, so I’ll likely update this list in the months to come. What albums are you excited for this year? I’m always open to listening to new artists, so make sure to let me know.

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cadrenebula · 4 years

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FFxivWrite Masterlist (All Years)

FFxivWrite Masterlist for Every Year that I’ve taken part in. (It’s gotten to be a long post now with 7yrs of writing so tucking it behind a read more.) Each entry is tagged with the character and year. Should be by Prompt Word(s) as well.

Prompt #1: Enoy (Nebula 2023) Cross (Lancefer 2022) Foster (Stefan 2021) Crux (Alfarinn 2020) Voracious (Alexois 2019) Submerged (Alexois 2018) Specter (Destiney 2017)

Prompt #2: Bark (Jesse/Ronove 2023) Bolt (Keaira 2022) Aberrant (Alfarinn 2021) Sway (Valentin 2020) Bargain (Alfarinn 2019) Silenced (Marielle 2018) Synthetic (Stefan 2017)

Prompt #3: Extra Credit (Jesse/Ronove 2023) Temper (Alfarinn 2022) Scale (Alexois 2021) Muster (Adelena 2020) Lost (Alfarinn 2019) Sanctum (Stefan 2018) The Twelve (Lancefer 2017)

Prompt #4: Off the Hook (Alexois 2023) Extra Credit (Aryn 2022) Baleful (Stefan 2021) Clinch (Keaira 2020) Shifting Blame (Stefan 2019) Saving Time (Valentin 2018) Self Editing (Alexois 2017)

Prompt #5: Barbarous (Alexois 2023) Cutting Corners (Aryn, Stefan & Ronove 2022) Extra Credit (Asher 2021) Matter of Fact (Stefan 2020) Vault (Alexois 2019) Show of Hands (Adelena 2018) Prank (Stefan 2017)

Prompt #6: Ring (Jesse/Ronove 2023) Onerous (Ronove 2022) Avatar (Alexois 2021) Extra Credit (Alfarinn 2020) First Steps (Alexois 2019) Free Day (Did not Complete 2018) Identification (Stefan 2017)

Prompt #7: Noisome (Destiney & Nebula 2023) Pawn (Nebula 2022) Speculate (Lancefer 2021) Nonagenarian (The Shroud Witch 2020) Forgiven (Lancefer 2019) Serendipitous (Alexois 2018) Broken Leaf (Destiney 2017)

Prompt #8: Shed (Aryn 2023) Tepid (Alfarinn 2022) Adroit (Destiney 2021) Clamor (Asher 2020) Free Day (Marielle 2019) Crag (Adelena 2018) Shadows (Lancefer 2017)

Prompt #9: Fair (Stefan 2023) Yawn (Ronove 2022) Friable (Alexois 2021) Lush (Destiney & Evelyn 2020) Hesitate (Valentin 2019) Dense (Alexois 2018) Linkpearl (Stefan 2017)

Prompt #10: Extra Credit (Alfarinn 2023) Channel (Valentin 2022) Heady (Asher 2021) Avail (Lancefer 2020) Foster (Stefan 2019) Coward (Keaira 2018) Slap (Destiney & Stefan 2017)

Prompt #11: Once Bitten, Twice Shy (Stefan 2023) Extra Credit (Destiney, Stefan, Lancefer, Alexois, Aryn, & Alfarinn 2022) Preaching to the Choir (Stefan 2021) Ultracrepidarian (Stefan 2020) Snuff (Alexois 2019) Free Day (Did not Complete 2018) Mercy vs Justice (Alexois 2017)

Prompt #12: Dowdy (Destiney & Stefan 2023) Miss the Boat (Stefan 2022) Extra Credit (Valentin 2021) Tooth and Nail (Alex & Shadow 2020) Fingers Crossed (Asher 2019) Accolade (Lancefer 2018) Caste (Alexois 2017)

Prompt #13: Check (Stefan 2023) Confluence (Stefan 2022) Oneirophrenia (Lancefer 2021) Extra Credit (Stefan 2020) Wax (Valentin 2019) Results (Stefan 2018) Wounded Animal (Lancefer 2017)

Prompt #14: Clear (Nebula 2023) Attrition (Nebula 2022) Commend (Lancefer 2021) Part (Asher 2020) Scour (Stefan 2019) Validation (Alexois 2018) Wit (Destiney & Stefan 2017)

Prompt #15: Portentous (Nebula 2023) Row (Nebula 2022) Thunderous (Adelena 2021) Ache (Marielle 2020) Free Day (Alfarinn 2019) Plateau (Marielle 2018) Doppelganger (Destiney & Alexois 2017)

Prompt #16: Jerk (Alexois & Lancefer 2023) Deiform (The Elder 2022) Crane (Keaira 2021) Lucubration (Stefan 2020) Jitter (Alfarinn 2019) Bond (Dest, Alex, Lance, Valen, & Mari 2018) Ceruleum (Destiney 2017)

Prompt #17: Extra Credit (Stefan 2023) Novel (Stefan 2022) Destruct (Alfarinn 2021) Fade (Destiney & Evelyn 2020) Obeisant (Alexois 2019) Without a Trace (Valentin 2018) Fate (Destiney 2017)

Prompt #18: A Fish Out of Water (Nebula 2023) Extra Credit (Keaira, Valentin, Marielle, Asher, Adelena, & Nebula 2022) Devil’s Advocate (Destiney & Evelyn 2021) Panglossian (Alfarinn 2020) Wilt (Destiney 2019) Marked (Alexois 2018) Self Control (Alexois 2017)

Prompt #19: Weal (Lancefer 2023) Turn a Blind Eye (Asher 2022) Extra Credit (Stefan 2021) Where the Heart Is (Alexois 2020) Radiant (Lancefer 2019) Gelid (Destiney 2018) Battle of Wills (Destiney & Lancefer 2017)

Prompt #20: Hamper (Alexois 2023) Anon (Aryn 2022) Petrichor (Marielle 2021) Extra Credit (Adelena 2020) Bisect (Stefan 0219) Two Birds One Stone (Lancefer 2018) Blending In (Stefan 2017)

Prompt #21: Grave (Cedrik 2023) Solution (Destiney & Stefan 2022) Feckless (Stefan 2021) Foibles (Valentin 2020) Crunch (Keaira 2019) Repast (Destiney, Stefan, & Lancefer 2018) Wind (Destiney 2017)

Prompt #22: Fulsome (Valentin 2023) Veracity (Lothaire 2022) Fluster (Alfarinn 2021) Argy-Bargy (Destiney, Evelyn, Stefan, & Lancefer 2020) Free Day (Keaira 2018) Free Day (Did not Complete 2018) Monster (Alexois 2017)

Prompt #23: Suit (Ronove 2023) Pitch (Alexois 2022) Soul (Valentin, Evelyn, & Destiney 2021) Shuffle (Adelena 2020) Parched (Valentin 2019) Alms (Valentin 2018) Free Day (Did not Complete 2017)

Prompt #24: Extra Credit (Leandra/Valen’s Mother 2023) Vicissitudes (Nebula 2022) Illustrious (Lancefer 2021) Beam (Keaira 2020) Unctuous (Alfarinn 2019) Undertone (Destiney 2018) Standing in Line (Did not Complete 2017)

Prompt #25: Call it a Day (Asher 2023) Extra Credit (House Aurifore 2022) Silver Lining (Marielle 2021) Wish (Lancefer 2020) Trust (All 2019) Free Day (Did not Complete 2018) Obsolete (Did not Complete 2017)

Prompt #26: Last (Aryn 2023) Break a Leg (Stefan 2022) Extra Credit (Keaira 2021) When Pigs Fly (Alfarinn 2020) Slosh (Alfarinn 2019) Not a Weapon (Lancefer 2018) Sacred (Did not Complete 2017)

Prompt #27: Sole (Ronove & Aryn 2023) Hail (Adelena 2022) Benthos (Adelena 2021) Extra Credit (Destiney & Evelyn 2020) Palaver (Marielle 2019) Fling (Did not Complete 2018) Foot in Mouth (Did not Complete 2017)

Prompt #28: Blunt (Lothaire 2023) Vainglory (Valentin 2022) Bow (Asher 2021) Irenic (Alfarinn 2020) Attune (Alexois 2019) Echo (Did not Complete 2018) Rivalry (Did not Complete 2017)

Prompt #29: Contravention (Keres & Atropos 2023) Fuse (Alexois 2022) Debonair (Asher 2021) Paternal (Stefan 2020) Free Day (Alexois - AU Broken Lighthouse 2019) Dote (Valentin 2018) Prophecy (Did not Complete 2017)

Prompt #30: Amity (Ronove 2023) Sojourn (Aryn 2022) Abstracted (Alexois 2021) Splinter (Alexois 2020) Darkness (Alexois & Lancefer - AU Blood Brothers 2019) Close (Alexois 2018) Frost (Did not Complete 2017)

FFxivWrite 5th Year Anniversary Prompt #31: Surprise Extra Credit (Stefan & Destiney 2021)

#FFxivWrite Masterlist #The master list of all the years I've taken part #Long Post #Will update every year I take part

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lushuponatime · 5 years

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Open Your Heart Bubble Bra from Lush

Here's my review on the Open Your Heart Bubble Bra from @Lush @LushCosmetics

Back in 2017 Lush released the Golden Pear soap as a part of their Winter line. Ever since the Golden Pear soaps release the Lush community have gone wild for its scent, due to its popularity Lush have gone on to create several more products that share its scent.

Lush’s 2019 Valentine’s Day line features the Golden Pear scented Open Your Heart Bubble Bra. No, that isn’t a typo… it really is…

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#2019 #February #love #Lush #Lush Cosmetics #POTD #review #Valentine&039;s Day

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holisticpassport · 3 years

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My Covid Story

Apologies for any spelling errors, I’m on a time crunch. I’m a few hours out from leaving for my first flight since July 2019 (and before that, March 2018). Heading out to Sydney, I’m a mix of anxiety and absolute excitement. In January of this year, our sublet was almost up in Eltham and Cam and I had plans to pack up the car and begin doing workaways around Australia to help rebuild communities devastated by the historic wild fires (doesn’t that feel FOREVER ago?). When our sublet became available for a full lease transfer, we changed our minds to stay in our space, so that was the first instance of travel being knocked out of the picture. Then we had Valentine’s weekend open to go visit some friends in Tasmania, so we booked tickets and upon waiting in the airport, our flights were cancelled due to inclement weather. DAMN. Mid-march came around and it was Cam’s birthday, so we wanted to get out for a weekend of camping in our big bell tent, find a gorgeous spot in the woods out east near Warburton. When we arrived, every camping spot for an hour’s dive any direction was either full or completely not open at all. We picked a spot off a random road and spent one night there, but some rangers came by and said we couldn’t stay there due to the possible danger of logging trucks not seeing us. So that was a bust.

Then as you’re aware, this time frame leads up to the very tumultuous third week of March when Melbourne officially went into its first lockdown due to COVID. I documented this time in journal entries which I will add at the end, but ultimately the lockdown went until June, and the state reopened too quickly/had a fiasco with quarantined cases getting out of a hotel, thus sparking the second wave. We had flights booked to California for June to see my family and then planned to travel around Mexico for a few months, but that dream was quickly squashed when flights out of Melbourne ceased to exist at all. Months later, I had a flight booked in July to go to Sydney where I was to have my eggs extracted for donation. The day before I was to fly out, second lockdown went into effect and the flight was cancelled (thus forcing me to have the procedure done in Melbourne and cause a huge, historic controversy between Melbourne IVF’s CEO and the medical director of IVF Australia about how to transfer frozen eggs over a closed border!).

I’m struggling to comprehend just how important and meaningful my ability to travel today is. To think back to the first time in history, watching borders around the world close, flights become grounded, and witnessing a global pandemic unfold whilst in a foreign country—I remember thinking at the beginning how unfathomable the scale of it was. When people talk about things not seeming real or like it’s a dream you can’t wake up from, that’s exactly how it felt. I questioned whether I needed to go back to the U.S. in fear I might not see my family for years or be with them if they got fatally ill. Would I be able to even go back if that happened let alone would I be able to re-enter AU (the answer was no). And thank god I didn’t go back considering the absolute cluster fuck of a mess Trump made of the pandemic. But also, thank god my family has been healthy and safe. The level of fear for their safety was at an all-time high as civil tensions grew when the riots around the country kicked off in conjunction with the pandemic. I wrote to all of them to have a plan to escape to Mexico and get their passports if Trump won the re-election. This was a genuine fear I’ve never experienced before.

The level of frustration, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, self-hatred for lack of productivity during lockdown, and uncertainty about so many facets of life weighed down on me during this time. But I know how much worse our time could have been. I was immensely grateful for the fact that we had a home and incredibly gracious landlords who were human and understood the financial difficulties of this unprecedented time when so many became homeless as job loss skyrocketed. We were so fortunate that I was able to continue working even 2 days a week through the lockdown as a barista and Cam was able to get government support for six months as a NZ citizen who lived in AU over 10 years when so many other New Zealanders were forced to return to their country because of the time limit stipulation for support. We only had two family members contract Covid and were young and healthy enough to survive when so many families will be without a member at the holidays this year.

And I acknowledge my privilege in that my identity is so closely entwined with the ability to travel, that while it felt suffocating to not even have the choice to travel anywhere outside of a 5km (3mile) zone, I fully empathize with those in parts of the world where they could not walk more than 50 meters from their front door or people who didn’t have windows/balconies in apartment buildings who were going out of their mind. All of that does not diminish the struggles I faced with not being able to travel, but it does always keep my perspective in check. My trip today signifies how a city and a country came together during the most difficult period of our lifetime, followed strict government guidelines, and came out after 120+ days in full lockdown on the other side of a pandemic, now able to cross state borders without isolation or quarantine. To go to a live music show, have drinks on rooftop bars, walk around outside without a mask on, and see people going about their daily lives again on public transport and see a city bustling with energy—the months of mental hardship and growth was all to get back to a post-Covid world. Even though a vaccine is not out yet and we need to be cautious, the level of hopelessness has diminished significantly, and I’m not terrified my trip might be cancelled in two hours. I’m actually going this time!

There is also a whole other facet to my time in lockdown and that of course is the personal development and mutual growth in my marriage! That’s a whole separate post though which I hope to get out soonish. But here’s a bit of something I started a few months ago. Enjoy.

********

I remember when it first started in the news; like a minor blip of a story flashing at the bottom of the screen: some mutant virus had infected a couple dozen people in some random city in China. I was working solo in a café serving the employees of a major shoe distribution company in the warehouse district of Collingwood, Melbourne. The TV was on in the cafe but muted the first few weeks of January as the main stories were about the most devastating wildfires in the history of the world, and we all just felt a communal helplessness. As the numbers grew in China and the story became a daily headline, the first case was announced in Queensland on January 25th. Everyone stuck around a few minutes longer each day after they were handed their coffee. I think back to the moment when Wuhan, the epicenter at the time, reported 1,500 cases and I thought surely there can’t be much more than that. This is just media sensationalizing something small. This whole story will blow over in another week or two.

If only.

It was summer in Australia, and my husband and I were planning what to do after our sublease was up in mid-March. I commuted daily from a suburb 50 minutes north called Eltham, a creative and eco-friendly heritage town. We lived in a triplex made of adobe mudbrick, surrounded by native forest, a communal garden, and enjoyed huge artisan windows that brought in natural filtered light through the towering trees. Our little studio was a quiet haven away from the chaos and constant flurry of people in Melbourne, especially during summer as it brought travelers from every corner of the globe. There was no way we could have possibly known that this little paradise would feel like a prison after six months in the world’s longest lockdown due to a global pandemic caused by that little virus in some random city in China now known worldwide as COVID-19.

As the weeks passed by in February, more and more countries began reporting cases. I did not understand how pandemics worked as the last one I was alive for and could remember was H1N1 in California, and I was about 17—far too consumed with college applications and boys to think about world affairs. The Spanish Flu was never something that was particularly emphasized in our history classes, so it didn’t even occur to me to compare what was happening now to that point in time. Then again, this was incomparable because in 1912, the world was a less globalized economy and there were no commercial flights transporting thousands of passengers across the globe daily. By the first week of March, my daily rush-hour commutes became the first real difference I noticed. The number of morning passengers on the train platforms dwindled from 50 to 25 to 5, and eventually, to just me. As the train stopped at over 30 stops from where I lived to the city, my carriage wasn’t even remotely full at 7 a.m.

There was less foot traffic in the city. Flinders Street Station, one of the two largest hubs that saw thousands of people daily, was eerily quiet and empty. We were two weeks out from leaving Melbourne to go travel, planning to go to New South Wales, AU to help rebuild communities that were ravaged by the bushfires. I was desperate to travel this year, and we were so close to leaving. I had picked up some other barista work in an advertising agency closer to the city. But day by day, office workers were being told to work from home if they were able to. Hand sanitizer became readily available in the café, bathrooms, and around the office. I remember staring out the window of this high rise building that overlooked the lush green stretch of Albert Park and thinking it looks so normal outside. Every day, I looked at the news in Australia, which I had never really done before. Industries were shutting down, and the panic was setting in for thousands of casual workers in the hospitality industry as it was only a matter of time before we would be shut down too.

Melbourne is a cultural hub filled with travelers who typically come here on a Work and Holiday Visa which gives them 1-2 years to work and live in AU. Most find work in hospitality as there are over 40,000 restaurants and cafes in this region. You couldn’t go a single day without meeting someone from another country which is why I fell in love with this city. I worked as a freelance barista through agencies that called for workers to be able to step in if someone called out sick or quit unexpectedly and they found themselves short. But my agencies had gone completely silent in the week leading up to the industry shutting down. There was no more work and travelers were finding themselves stranded. I journaled daily in the lead up to my final day of work in the city as I knew something big was happening, and I wanted to be able to recall when it all began. I also knew we would not be travelling anytime soon, around Australia or otherwise, when national and international borders began closing around the world.

March 17th, 2020

All that’s being talked about is COVID-19. Entire countries are closing borders and going into complete lockdown. Italy has been inundated with patients in hospitals and now have to choose who lives and who dies. AU isn’t taking nearly as intense of measures, but the general atmosphere is not normal. All events with over 500 people have been cancelled. Those who have traveled anywhere must self-quarantine for 14 days or face a huge fine. Some people still don’t take it seriously, thinking/acting like it’s just a normal flu when in reality its ability to be passed on and even re-infect someone a second time is much higher than the rate of a simple flu. In the states, my family says all the restaurants and schools have closed, even the Hollywood entertainment industry has closed down. So many independent contractors, myself included, are without means to live because there’s no emergency government funding in place. It shows what’s truly flawed with the system. Luckily Cam has full time work still, but for those people who have kids and no daycare options? No partner or family? Those who are traveling and can’t get back home? This is devastating for all of us, but them in particular. Supposedly, there are rumors that the virus dies with the warm weather, but AU is headed into winter. It could be why the virus isn’t as big in places like South America and Africa (*note* countries from these two continents are now in the top 10 most infected places as of September 2020) Europe is completely shut down as is New Zealand. I have flights to California in June, so I’m hoping I can still go. For how weak my immune system is, I’m surprised I’m not more concerned because I’ve been continuously reassured the virus only attacks those with underlying conditions, mainly in the elderly population. Even in calm, tight-knitted communities like ours in Eltham, we’re seeing the best and worst of humanity come out with people hoarding resources, but also there are those offering rides for people to stores or grocery drop offs to their homes. I’m very interested to see how the next three months progress all around the world. Right about now, it’d be nice to hide away in a beachside house in Mexico. (*Mexico is also among the top 10 most infected countries now*)

March18th, 2020

The government should announce today whether hospitality industry will close, potentially putting Cam and I both out of jobs. Luckily our landlord is being highly accommodating. Trump is giving Americans $1,200 and has postponed tax season by 3 months. Only seems he does something decent when it’s to keep the economy from tanking and his money is protected.

Cam and I both have throat annoyances and headaches. We should try to stay home, but can’t afford it. Today, they’ve dropped gatherings of 500 down to only 100 people, yet shopping centers and public transport remain open, which I would think are the riskiest places for transferring infections. It’s been stated this is a once in a decade event that will change the course of history.

March 19th, 2020

Amidst all the chaos from morning to night, people are finally taking time to nurture their interests and creativity. I’m taking two courses on sustainable fashion and fashion in design. I’ve also applied to be a mentor for women trying to gain work and leadership experience at an NGO called Fitted for Work. They have stylists that help women to prepare business outfits and tailor their resumes/do mock interviews. I’ve looked into an MA program I’m interested in at Warren Wilson College back in North Carolina. I think looking forward is the only way to keep the fear down about how long these shut downs may last possibly through June. The world economy is going to see some extremely confronting realities it hasn’t seen since the Great Depression. For the moment I’m looking into teaching English online which I’m already certified to do, just to try and earn some money. I’ll be interested to see all the art that comes out of this period and the photojournalism that captures this historic time.

March 21st, 2020

We went over to Williamstown (Cam’s parent’s house) as Cam had two shifts out that way. Restrictions in cafes are now 1 person per 4 square meters, so in the 100 person limit already imposed, it’s now down to 25. I’m nervous for Cam to keep working and going on public transport. It’s high risk and unethical in terms of coming in contact with people we could transmit it to without knowing (asymptomatic) because it takes 14 days to even show symptoms. We made the choice to start self-isolation come Monday as we can see in the next week or two the same spike will be here in Melbourne as we’ve seen in Italy and most likely soon to see in the U.S. Reading other peoples’ accounts about how they continued life as normal as though nothing had changed in Italy is exactly where AU is projected to head towards.

March 25, 2020

As of Monday, AU took drastic measures to ensure safety and closed many non-essential businesses with a series of daily updates for more and more businesses to shut or only stay open for takeaway. Overnight, nearly 80,000 people in hospitality work were laid off or lost work, Cam and I included. A stimulus package of 66 billion dollars was announced and Cam qualified for government payments through Centrelink because he’s a kiwi who’s been here over 10 years. Other kiwis who haven’t been here that long are completely without any kind of support from the AU government, even though in NZ, Aussies are supported. A very backward, selfish system who told them to go home.

We went to Centrelink on Monday at 7:45am in Greensborough (suburb over from Eltham). By 8:30 am when the doors opened there were over 200 people in line. The government has been terribly confusing with their messages out to the public, highly unprepared. People are confused about what they can and can’t do, what businesses are remaining open, who is eligible… it’s a mess. Why are liquor stores and hair salons considered essential?? There have been spikes in young people getting this virus as young as 18, and they are dying. The virus coats your lungs like a jelly ultimately blocking oxygen. We did what is hopefully our last grocery shop because being in the store is just as contagious as a café. There’s no safety or hygiene measures in place. We had gloves on and people were dancing around each other in the aisles to maintain 1.5m social distance.

The U.S. is becoming the new epicenter with horrific rapid spreading, particularly in New York. Flight around the world, including as of today AU, are being stopped and we can no longer leave the country at all.

To Be Continued…..

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trackmag · 4 years

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Turtle Doves And Pigeon Shit

Romanticism And James Blake`s Can`t Believe The Way We Flow

Romanticism could be argued to be outdated, but once we look beyond the clichés and grasp the ideas behind it, we become aware of its relevance today; In how we live, in what we believe in and argue about.

James Blake released the album Assume Form in 2019. He so far has released 5 Music Videos alongside it, one of which is the video for “Can`t Believe The Way We Flow” directed by none other than Frank Lebon. Frank`s approach to his videos and work so far has been a lush and somewhat wild mixture of techniques and media, leaving him with a massive pot of footage and tools for the hours he spends editing. To some degree even this approach of mixed media is in a sense very true to the fashion, believe and tradition of romanticism. This and many other aspects of the video, is what I hope to discuss and further investigate in the following TRCKMG entry.

Still 01, Can`t Believe The Way We Flow, 2019.

A Short Introduction To Romanticism

Romanticism. I am not referring to roses, boxes of chocolates and the numerous red silk bows we see on valentine`s day. I hereby am referring to an epoch also known as the romantic period. Speaking roughly of romanticism we think of a time between the end of the 18th towards the end of the 19th century. This slice of our history is marked by many very major political and cultural events across Europe and the globe. Some worth mentioning here would be the French revolution (which is often believed to be a starting point of the French romanticist movement) and the industrialization, marked by heavy machinery, steam engines, factories and therefore factory labour. We do, however, believe that the origin of romanticism as a term and way of thinking lies in Germany. Friedrich Schlegel, a German philosopher, author and poet first used the term “romantisch” believed to be in reference to the word “Roman” which is German for novel. Romantic therefore being “novel-like”.

From there on romanticism spread fast across Europe supported by the events described earlier. More than just a fashion moment, romanticism describes a different way of thinking in direct contrast (and perhaps in protest) to the inhumane labour happening in factories caused by the industrial revolution. People needed to believe in something, in more relevant things, in nature, in purity, in emotion and in beauty. So not surprisingly romanticism manoeuvred like a wave, spreading across fine art, literature, poetry and even medicine. What we can see in many paintings of that time, are vast and lush landscapes. Nature at its most triumphant, often alongside a tiny human figurine, humbled by mother nature, reminding the human of his place and scale in this world. This emphasized by the Lyrics in the song: “I`m finding I`m a smaller piece than I thought. Oh no I really am”. Even back then, the immediate threat facing the natural world was carefully depicted in William Wordsworth`s poetry with the arrival of factory buildings and nearby compounds of living quarters for the workers.

Painting by Hans Gude, “Fra Hardanger”, 1847.

With this surface level introduction to romanticism, we now can take a closer look at the actual Music Video for “Can`t Believe The Way We Flow”:

Act One: Red Lit Couples

Still 02, Can`t Believe The Way We Flow, 2019.

The Video starts off with a zoom into a mirror. The reflective image reveals James sitting on a bench. The continuation of the zoom is made with invisible cuts while dark silhouettes pass by, covering James for a mere flash of a blacked out frame. He appears closer and closer after each such black-out. Meanwhile you can hear the pigeons take flight, signalling a start to the song and video - take off. And with the first pigeon shit landing on James` cheek, it`s clear the video with its main plot now begins and the subjects appear.

The 2nd time we hear Can`t Believe The Way We Flow in the Lyrics, the lips of the red lit couples meet. The images flashing by are fragments of their lives in relationships. We aren`t meant to immediately understand who they are, where they`re coming from and maybe more importantly what exactly they`re up to. We only see aspects that should be familiar to anyone who`s ever been in a relationship. For instance, being the most intimate during breakfast where spontaneous conversations can leave you happy as ever or absolutely gutted and devastated, maybe also depending on what occured the night before.

Another place where we find a kind of intimacy where the shared space really gets noticeable to us as lovers, is the bathroom. Apart from the hints of breakfast scattered throughout the video there`s also the toilet. Waste. The toilet which stereotypically always seems to spark arguments. Flush the damn thing, put the seat down, put it up and then down. But it`s also the same space in which we share our toothpaste, standing in front of the mirror before bed. Leading conversations whilst getting ready to go out together. The point being, these images are highly familiar and highly emotional to us. The small window in which Frank lets these images flash across our screens is enough for us to recognize and connect. These are couples in their banalities. We aren`t meant to understand how they got there and where they`re going. We`re supposed to draw from our own experiences, our own relationships when seeing these fragments and glimpses into their lives. It`s a reflection. We still are looking into that same mirror from the first shot of the video, remember?

Still 03, Can`t Believe The Way We Flow, 2019.

Cut between the kisses is a 2D animated kiss, in the same style as the quick drawing we saw flash by on a table earlier. It might be a glimpse into the Storyboard for the video, adding another layer and texture to the visuals. This approach alone can also be read as a nod to romanticism as there was a high exchange between different media and artists. Poets and painters, novelists and sculptor. All echoing and responding to eachother`s work.

Throughout all of this we see James remain seated on that same bench, from the very first frame of the video. An observer. In romanticism, as a response to the capitalist mentality, the flâneur describes a person seen wandering around with nowhere to be or go. Observant, most likely unemployed, playful and sensitive to his surroundings. James is very likely maintaining this role in the video. The careful bystander, observing the beauty around him. Beauty that lies hidden for most others in their hectic lives.

Act Two: Pigeons, Cupid and a Gun

Still 04, Can`t Believe The Way We Flow, 2019.

A culmination of shots of pigeons (and some seagulls) in flight. Close-up of a pigeon`s face, slowly revealed to be sitting on someone`s head. This someone is Frank Lebon`s dad, photographer Mark Lebon. Here he`s also cupid. A cupid who has aged and traded his bow and arrow off for a knotted sniper gun.

Cupid is often described as a winged, nude, young boy armed with bow and arrow. He`s usually depicted as somewhat cruel and mischievous, very aware of what emotional turmoil he can cause in people. Cupid as a figure derives from roman mythology and is considered to be the god of love, or rather the god of being in love. The roman cupid is also understood to be somewhat based on the Greek god Eros, who some believe was a son to the goddess Venus. Eros and Cupid can`t be defeated, any- and everyone falls victim to them and their power. In the following painting, artist Julius Kronberg captured Cupid in his full demeanour in 1885, so towards the end of classic romanticism:

Painting by Julius Kronberg, Cupid, 1885.

Now in comparison to Frank`s take on Cupid we immediately notice the age difference. The world in many ways has become what romanticists had feared; Industrial, concrete, consumerist. Perhaps Cupid had to adjust to survive? Lose his wings and grow up. Wrapped in what seems to be a pvc jacket, not unlike the medical protective suits we currently see a lot. His outfit also contains sketches and scribbles of genitalia. Colours white and red, famously used in the medical field, also symbolizing purity, lust, sin and romance. He`s also wearing red earrings and cufflinks decorated with a more traditional depiction of cupid.

The gun on the other hand, knotted, could also be a nod to the Non-Violance sculpture by Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd, which is in New York. Perhaps a rather twisted musical reference, as that sculpture was made in remembrance of John Lennon. The seemingly unusable gun however, does hold a heart shaped scope through which the absent minded and complacent looking Cupid is aiming to find his next victims.

Enrolling the pigeons to take over the flying and firing arrows part, they soon after take flight once again and a montage of numerous pigeon shit landings are shown, including another drawn Animation of the pigeons` droppings turning into a falling human figurine. Perhaps falling, as in falling in Love, falling for you. Cupid bringing or rather dropping this person into your life. This sequence is concluded by acts of violence followed by tenderness. A slap, a hit, like when love “hits” you. Shortly followed by a gentle caress of the cheek, as though nothing ever happened. So in love that you`re not aware of the violence and force it potentially holds. Another short Animation, single flower turns into a tree, which transforms into a couple in love, a heart in the middle.

Act Three:

Cut to seagulls instead of doves above James. Perhaps accentuating him to be different from all others around him, once again emphasizing his role as flâneur? Or maybe it`s just a subtle teaser for his following music video for I`ll Come Too, which was the next release, featuring a penguin and an albatross.

The couples, still lit in red are holding hands, and then facing the camera. Every individual on their own, staring into the lens, or at their partner. Keeping the mirror in mind from the beginning, this is another very common way for cinema, film and video to become reflexive (film with self-awareness) challenging the viewer in their passiveness and voyeurism.

Still 05, Can`t Believe The Way We Flow, 2019.

The doves once again present by appearing as illustrations on the cushions of one couple. All the people involved appear in lettering over the faces of the couples, including a cameo by the director. Another beautifully added layer to this multimedia approach that lends it`s charm and texture to the entire complex romantic experience.

There`s so much more to see and discover in the video than what I have tried to contain in this analysis. I do hope you`ll go on a search yourselves. The video for James Blake`s song Cant Believe The Way We Flow is linked below:

youtube

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