#lyrics are from Chris Isaak’s ‘Wicked Game’

[greasby]

its strange what desire will make foolish people do

#feeling cringe for this one tonight folks but i like how it looks so whatevs #enjoy it sniperspy nation. stay frosty #tf2 #team fortress 2 #tf2 fanart #spy tf2 #sniperspy #my art #sniper tf2 #lyrics are from Chris Isaak’s ‘Wicked Game’

[paradox-n-bedrock]

A Gentlebeard Playlist

Tracklist (and specific lyrics that make me think of these babes):

imagine - Ben Platt Your eyes give life a new meaning / It's like I found the north light / I never knew what I needed / Until I felt your hand holding mine

Remind Me - Emily King You remind me of something / Something that I used to feel myself /Something that I used to feel / Like a heartbeat racing / Like a new beginning

Wicked Game - Chris Isaak The world was on fire and no one could save me but you / Strange what desire will make foolish people do / I never dreamed that I'd love somebody like you

On + Off - Maggie Rogers Take me through this wild time / Stay with me through all of time / I'm drenched in madness, dangled blue / Won't you, won't you? / Take me to that place where you always go

Hungry Eyes - Eric Carmen One look at you and I can't disguise / I've got hungry eyes / I feel the magic between you and I / I wanna hold you so hear me out / I wanna show you what love's all about

Can't Help Falling In Love - Perfume Genius Like the river flows, Surely to the sea / Darling, so it goes / Some things are meant to be / Take my hand, take my whole life too

I'm Your Man - Mitski You believe me like a God / I destroy you like I am / I'm sorry I'm the one you love / No-one will ever love me like you again / So when you leave me, I should die

First Time - Hozier Remember once I told you 'bout / How before I heard it from your mouth / My name would always hit my ears / As such an awful sound

The Stranger - Melissa Ferrick So let me in now / I am ready to move / And here comes fear and resistance from you / And for once I am willing and now what i've got to wait?

I'll Be with You - Pawns or Kings Spend too much of my time alone / wondering about my friends back home / thinking if they are having more fun / without me

Thirsty Dog - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds I'm sorry about all your friends / I hope they'll speak to me again / I said before I'd pay for all the damages / I'm sorry it's just rotten luck / I'm sorry I've forgotten how to fuck / It's just that I think my heart / and soul are kind of famished

10,000 Emerald Pools - BØRNS I'll dive in deeper, deeper for you / Down to the bottom, 10,000 emerald pools / Under water / Time is standing still / You're the treasure

j's lullaby (darlin' i'd wait for you) - Delaney Bailey I'd give you the sun if you asked me / You could have all of the time / You could have the stars and the trees / When dividin' up the universe / You could have mine

To Bring You My Love - PJ Harvey I think my time is near / And I've traveled over / Dry earth and floods / Hell and high water / To bring you my love

Hold You in My Arms - Ray LaMontagne Weapons of war / Symptoms of madness / Don't let your eyes refuse to see / Don't let your ears refuse to hear / Or you ain't never going to shake / This sense of sadness

Grow as We Go - Ben Platt If to change is what you need / You can change right next to me / When you're high, I'll take the lows / You can ebb and I can flow / And we'll take it slow

First Light - Hozier One bright morning goes so easy / Darkness always finds you either way / It creeps into the corners as the moment fades / A voice your body jumps to calling out your name / But after this I'm never gonna be the same / And I am never going back again

#our flag means death #blackbonnet #ofmd #gentlebeard #edward teach #stede bonnet #ed x stede #my odd mix of 90s and current as usual #the nick cave was too perfect though #feel like I need a beta for playlists #like tell me if the flow makes sense to anyone who's not in my brain #let's see if this actually shows up in the tags #forgive the double Hozier and Ben Platt #the unofficial musical sponsors of this ship #Spotify #playlists #paradox playlists

[otemporanerys]

A playlist for my species swap Shakarian fan fic set during Mass Effect 2

The playlist | The fic

Liner notes below the cut (tw discussions of suicide)

Happiness is a Warm Gun - The Breeders

I always like to start my playlists with something to set the mood - this is definitely an atmosphere song. I also like using covers for species swap, and a different one kicks off the ME3 playlist lol if I ever get around to writing that. The defamiliarisation sets up the AU

2. In the Wake of Your Leave - Gang of Youths

OK so technically tracks 2 and 3 are cheating because they're actually for Interregnum, leave me alone

Anyway! Sad bangers are my jam, and I wanted something that conveyed the grief of losing someone, but giving the energy a bit of a kick after the Breeders song

3. I Don't Smoke - Mitski

I'm a basic bitch who loves Mitski, what can I say?

No, this song is for the Gareth sad spiral (TM) and for the fact that sad smoking is cool, actually (don't @ me)

4. Peel - Weakened Friends

This is a Shepherd song, you know, the beginning of her terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad nervous breakdown.

There was an earlier version of LBEL which was much more actively about Shepherd trying to bring Cerberus down from the inside: but actually now I think the lyrics speak much more to Shepherd feeling like she always has to fit the mold of the pragmatic, practical soldier

5. Toy Soldier - The Menzingers

This is thee Garrus song, sorry I don't make the rules. The lost friends! Carrying on despite that loss!!! Dutyyy

6. Wicked Game - Chris Isaak

Gareth is kind of an old soul, which is why his songs lean slightly more retro - and just the deep well of yearning in this song always gets me. It's very much his feelings after Shepherd saves him, loving her and wishing he didn’t

7. Born to Lose - Sleigh Bells

I primarily associate this song with Shepherd being discarded by the Hierarchy and the struggles she has with knowing protocol is to kill herself

8. You've Got to Hide Your Love Away - The Beatles

Gareth: conceal, don't feel 😢 I have always loved this song and it's very much Gareth knowing that he can't be open about his feelings

9. Quitter - Weakened Friends

More good mental health time for Shepherd, excellent. I don’t mind repeating artists in my playlists but I do tend to keep it to one

10. Bullet with Butterfly Wings - The Smashing Pumpkins

The one thing I am actually a snob about with playlists is not using too many "popular" songs, but I did like this one for Horizon. Shepherd's really starting to spiral here, folks

11. Anybody (Stripped) - Dead Sara

Horizon sex, Shepherd POV. She's so lonely in this fic, really longing for connection, and this song is the words she doesn't know how to say

12. Baby I Got the Death Rattle - Los Campesinos!

Horizon sex, Gareth POV

This is one of those songs that doesn't start as a blorbo song, but if you tell me you've heard a lyric that's more "Garrus Vakarian down bad" than "Baby I got the death rattle and baby I got it bad | I've been digging my own grave for quite some time when I'm not digging up the past" then I would love to hear it

13. Bedroom Eyes - Dum Dum Girls

One of my favourite bits of LBEL is the quiet intimacy that Gareth and Shepherd have when they're sleeping together, and this song reflects that

14. Hopeless - Screaming Females

Shepherd dumping Gareth because she likes him too much 😭 I'm fine. The lyrics and the vocals are so plaintive, again the emotions Shepherd won't allow herself to express

15. Something Bigger, Something Brighter - Pretty Girls Make Graves

This isn't a terribly literal inclusion, it's a good angsty-sounding song for where Shepherd's at post-breakup

16. Heavy Metal Heart - Sky Ferreira

This is just. Shepherd's song 💖 I love it, and her

17. Apocalypse Now (&Later) - Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers

This is a great Mass Effect 2 song more broadly but man is it perfect for Gareth and Shep reuniting just before the suicide mission!!!

18. The Hand That Feeds - Nine Inch Nails

Fuck Cerberus, part 1. There just is not a better song for being done with someone else's bullshit

19. Search and Destroy - Peaches

Fuck Cerberus, part 2 (or, how Shepherd got her groove back). Peaches always has such brilliant swagger and I adore this cover - Shepherd coming back into her own power and recognising how dangerous (and unpredictable) she can be

20. I Would Find You - Oceanator

I adore this song, the softness and kindness at the end of the world. It's really the thesis statement of the fic, and a promise for Gareth and Shepherd going forward, even through the hard times. It was the perfect grace note to end on

#shakarian playlist #mass effect playlist #shakarian #mass effect #my playlists #species swap

[zeroducks-2]

To the anon who sent their sladin song recs to you - first of all, how dare u have such accurate taste in music. Second of all, zero I’m curious now.

What song recs do u have for ur fave saucy ships?

I agree, the other anon has impeccable taste. I especially am being feral for Bruno is Orange. But thank you for asking Anon ♥ Here's the abridged versions of my OTP playlists (with handy links for easy listening if anyone is interested!)

Sladick

Mr.Kitty - After Dark Coldplay & The Chainsmokers - Something Just Like This Franz Ferdinand - Walk Away Alice Cooper - Poison alt-J - Tessellate Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know? Arctic Monkeys - Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High? Lady Gaga - Sinner's Prayer Kavinsky - Nightcall Passenger - Let Her Go Mumford & Sons - White Blank Page Chris Isaak - Wicked Game George Ezra - Hold My Girl

Eobarry

Apparat - Goodbye Besomorph ft. Rielle - Scream Nightwish - Feel For You The Bravery - Hatefuck MISSIO - Sing To Me MISSIO - I See You Gorillaz - El Mañana (acoustic version with changed lyrics) Meg Myers - Desire Of Monsters And Men - Wolves Without Teeth Foo Fighters - Everlong (acoustic version with changed lyrics) Motionless In White - Another Life Mumford & Sons - Broken Crown Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart (taken directly from Joshua Williamson's Eobarry playlist!)*

*by the way folks. Have you ever felt awkward for creating a playlist for your blorbos, or maybe for your favorite ships? Maybe you even felt cringe about it...? Well rejoice for Joshua Williamson, one of the writers for Flash comics, created an Eobarry playlist and used the song titles as titles for the chapters of one of his arcs, Running Scared, shamelessly and right under the nose of the editorials!

Therefore, BONUS! Joshua Williamson's Eobarry playlist for who's interested ♥

Roy Orbison - Running Scared Lionel Richie - Hello The Beatles - Run For Your Life The Police - Every Breath You Take Blondie - One Way Or Another Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart

#my asks #sladick #eobarry #song recs

[genvieve-of-the-wood]

Chris Isaak and Climate Change Cocktail

The world is on fire,

no one will save us from

fossil fuel.

Strange how desire for

billions makes

Big Oil so cruel.

I never dreamed

of the sea temp

hitting 102-

And I never dreamed

of the lies

we believed were true.

No, I don’t want to

overheat or drown-

(this world is only gonna

burn or flood)

No, I don’t want to

blow away or starve

(this world is only gonna

burn or flood)

with you.

What a wicked game

to play,

to ignore climate science

today-

What a wicked thing

to do,

to treat the Earth

like a giant loo-

What a wicked thing

to say,

this hellish heat

is just another day-

What a wicked thing

to do-

only oil money dreams

matter to you.

And I don’t wanna to

overheat or drown,

(this world is only gonna

burn or flood)

with you.

Nobody

loves

what we’ll

become.

@genvieve-of-the-wood August 6, 2023

Based on Lyrics to “Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak

#writerscreed #spilled ink #spilled thoughts #poem based on lyrics #climate crisis #wicked game #genvieve-of-the-wood

[kebriones]

Alcibiades music playlists

Okay here it goes!

There are 2 english playlists and 1 greek. Note 1: so some of these are very self-indulgent and might not make sense but at the very least maybe you'll find a new song you'll like. this was really hard to do because evey song reminds me of him. I tried to make sure all the lyrics fit him somehow, might've failed at that, and the order is completely random.

Note 2:

a (v) next to a song menas it has a music video I reocmmend checking out,

a (s) means it is heavily socrates/alcibiades focused rather than just alcibiades.

Note 3: Feel absolutely free to add your own suggestions!

ENGLISH PLAYLIST (part 1) -Anger (sleeping at last) -Young and beautiful (lana del rey) (s) -Because the night (Patti Smith) -Cellophane (FKA twigs) (s) -i dip (Sawn Wasabi) -All Eyes on Me (Or3o) -Heavy in your arms (florecne and the machine) (s) -The first disciple (tamino) (v) -Grown Ocean (fleet foxes) -Dots and Dashes (Silversun pickups) (v) (s) -Never look away (vienna teng) (s) -Behind blue eyes (L'Orchestra Cinematique) -Ever fallen in love (Pete Yorn) (s) -Neo Surf (GENER8ION, 070 Shake) (v) -The greatest show ( -everything I wanted (Billie Eilish) -i wanna be your slave (Måneskin) -we have it all (pim stones) -accidentally in love (counting crows) (s) -the shrine/an argument (fleet foxes) -Eros and Apollo (studio killers) -S&M (rihanna) -Scream until you're coughing up blood (against me!) -Addicted to bad ideas (the world/inferno friendship society) -Wicked game (chris isaak) (s) -Everything at once (lenka) -Your younger man (the world/inferno friendship society) (s) -The rifle's spiral (the shins) -two men in love (the irrepressibles (s) -the weight (amigo the devil) (s) -Desire (champs) -Rich (andrea vargas, cosmo sheldrake)

ENGLISH PLAYLIST (part 2, songs that i'm on the fence about kinda) -I'm so sorry (imagine dragons) -Bad Karma (Axel Thesleff) -Mountains (Socrates) -Sugar boats (modest mouse) -Not strong enough (Apocalyptica) (s) -Everybody knows my name (Harley poe) -dear fellow traveler (sea wolf) -Who are they (Danai Nielsen) (v) (half is in greek) -Revenge, and a little more (unlike pluto) -No good (kaleo)

GREEK PLAYLIST (with commentary, some translated lyric bits are in purple . If anyone wants a full translation of any specific one, let me know! songs are linked on the titles for your convenience)

-φρονιμα κουκλα μου (behave yourself, doll, I tell my soul. Everything will happen as we have planned it, there's a flirtiness towards the soul there that UGH idk) -μαγιατικο (every other lyric in this song is so alcibiades coded I am losing my mind) Newly brought spring, my red fate Awaken to speak your dreams Awaken and hold close The most beautiful things, the most distant, with stubborness and bait The haze from the perfumes, your youth's load I woke you up suddenly, I know You'll see I'll turn the wreath twice on my head, my mind is the warp and the weft is the world's daze -αναθεμα σε (the socrates/alcibiades mood here :''') shout out to my best friend, this is their favorite singer ) -κατω στης μαργαριτας τ'αλωνακι ( the overall vibe of the song gives me something alcibiades-like, also: their sleep smells like wildfire, the sun writhes on their teeth) -τα μπλουζ της αγριας νιοτης ("the blues of wild youth") -δεν χωρας πουθενα ("you don't fit in anywhere", but the phrase for fit in is here literally means not fitting in due to size, like something that doesn't fit in a box because it's too big, not because it doesn't match.) -με γελασαν τα πουλια (the birds tricked me and told me I would never die, so I built my house taller than the rest) -κοκκιν' αχειλι (traditional love song, there's some desperate feeling underneath it all that reminds me of alcibiades. also half the sun and the whole moon turns red after a kiss how crazy imagery is that) -ελα ψυχουλα μου (okay so I really fought with myself for this one because I think it's cringy as a song but some of the lyrics scream socrates/alcibiades and that made me put it on the list. I am sorry. I debated this for days but if I have to hear this and think of them, you have to as well.) -σιμουν (everything went wrong and everything is beautiful, along with "sends ships off the cliff, fades the shade and turns me into brushwood, but me, I don't care gives alcibiades) -καιγομαι και σιγολιωνω (again, socrates/alcibiades I am also partial to this version of it) -σπιρτο και βενζινη (tell me this isn't an alcibiades song with soc/al undertones i dare you) -γιορτη (set fire to what burns you, what eats at your soul, the streets outside are breathing, thirsty, open. Love is a trip from celebration to celebration. live with me in the wind, the fire, the rain, empty days and fractured skies await us, love is a trip from wound to wound) -παντα θα ξημερωνει (I'll become a thorn in your throat, dust in the eye, a whisper in your ear and shivers on your back, a splinter on your certainty) -Κρασι, θαλασσα και το αγορι μου ("wine, sea and my boy". a eurovision song from the first time greece took part in it.) -μη χαμηλωνεις τα φτερα (turn your heart into stone, and hold onto the stone)

#alcibiades #alcibiades/socrates #you better appreciate this you have no idea how hard I worked on it okay #okay #enjoy <3

[femcelhood]

Stolen prompt: shuffle your likes or your favorite playlist and post the first ten tracks

I’m doing my on repeat playlist since I don’t trust my actual everything playlist…plus you gotta talk about the song and I can’t do that with the hundreds of random music I saved because I sort of liked it…

The Rain - Smash Into Pieces. One of the few vent songs I play when mommy issues flare up lol…also I always love songs that use the sun as a goal, to finally feel it after years of darkness and cold. It goes hard.

Dreams Without a Future - Sabled Sun. Beautiful piano but it’s the title that really punches me. I can’t articulate it. Just let it sink in. Dreams without a future, hopes with no hope, yearning for what is forever out of reach. Consider that the song is part of a project about a dying, overindustrilaized earth and…

The Blood is Art - Pastelle. This is one of my main ship songs uhhhh so to spare everyone…I really enjoy the singer’s voice, she nails the ethereal and angelic, and hearing it with such angry lyrics and sharp turns in notes is really interesting. And I adore the ending, just haunting vocalizations that are seeped in regret and sorrow…

Pottle - Bengalfuel. For once I cannot wax poetic about an ambient song. It’s just really calming and relaxing, 10/10 noises.

Love You (When You’re a Mess) - Jadudah. found this song during a really lull era where I wasn’t finding any new good music so I became so obsessed. The guitar riffs go crazy. Also I found this song when I was first getting into my stupid ship so 😅

Island - Bengalfuel. This is from the same album as 4 so…still applies. Nice noises, I like it a lot more for having reverb and longer notes.

Wicked Game - Chris Isaak. Quintessential post-hang out song. I use it mainly to relax but still want something more song-like than ambient. Again, I love guitar, and the strumming in this is really something.

Your Eyes Open - Keane. Another thing I really love is unconventional instruments together. So I really enjoy how the piano is used alongside drums and vocals. And again, I really enjoy long notes which the vocals easily supply.

(I skipped a song because it was another BENGALFUEL ALBUM ONE) Into The Unknown - Starset. I actually used to hate this song haha. But then it grew on me. Did you know there’s piano in this too? You can only hear it with good headphones, buried in the chorus. But, starset has my favorite hard rock/metal guitar riffs, hence why they’re like…my #1 band. I paid $140 to get my albums signed 🤨

Secret of Life - Lord Huron. The chorus would help me reach like 20mph on my bike it went so hard. Also reminds me of one of my favorite OCs…I should really go back to writing…oh well.

Tagging…..!!!!!! @umbralundertaker @nightfuryqueen @nightfuryqueen @prussianmemes @prophet60091 @stoplookingformee @imgoingtoputscorpionsinyourmouth and do it if you want even if you’re not tagged Teehee

#sorry Birdy I’ve been stealing your personality in the meantime #I’ve picked up a few Huron songs they’re pretty good…..

[theworldwalkersdiaries]

20231124 | The Dance (Wicked Game)

Image Description: pencil drawing, waist up. Astarion slow dances with Winter (a tiefling). Astarion's back is to the viewer, his face in profile, looking to the right. Astarion is in the follow position, with his right hand is on Winter's shoulder, and his left is held in Winter's right. Because of the angle, none of Winter's defining features are visible, except for the tips of his horns, his ponytail, and his claws. It is clear from the angle only that Winter looks to the viewer's left; he and Astarion are looking opposite directions. Both men are in camp wear, with their shirt sleeves rolled up to their elbows. Astarion's expression is troubled, his brow furrowed and his lips curved down. His eyes are angled low but are open. Along the borders of the image are lyrics.

Top: No, I don't wanna fall in love Bottom, left, smaller: (This world is only gonna break our hearts) Bottom, right: With you

These lyrics are adapted form Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game," a song Neil Newbon, the voice of Astarion, included on his Astarion playlist.

Image description end.

Chris Isaak was a staple in my household growing up, and I hadn't listened to his dulcet tones in years. It was a joy rediscovering him through Neil's playlist!

#bg3 #astarion #tavstarion #Tav: Winter #mads makes stuff #doodles

[omgkalyppso]

For Étoile/Astarion please:

🍰 What is 'their song'? Officially or unofficially.

🩷 What is the sweetest thing they've done for one another?

🤎 How do they comfort each other?

💋 What is their favorite place to kiss their partner? Do either enjoy 'leaving a mark'?

For Étoile/Halsin please:

🩷 What is the sweetest thing they've done for one another?

🤎 How do they comfort each other?

♪(^∇^*) Thank you for the ask!

Étoile and Astarion

🍰 I'm not sure what officially and unofficially might mean in this context.

A song from their playlist which I wouldn't give them awareness of even in modern fic is Hot Tea by half-alive. Sharing a lyric video because the official video of the song is weird and I am not a fan of the interpretative dance in it fdhtdfghgdf :

A song I'd be willing to give them awareness of in a modern setting is Wicked Game by Chris Isaak which I'm inspired to take off of Neil's Astarion playlist. It has very strong vibes of one of the last songs played at an event where people are inebriated and tired, swaying slowly; or could just be something that Astarion turns off on a radio for being a little too on the nose; or fits the mood of an intimate scene like the love scene in Dirty Dancing to me. Anyway:

🩷 <- I can copy and paste this but I can't see this emoji, whatever it is.

I suppose it depends on your definition of sweet, because I imagine I could think up some gifts and surprises, recollections and whatever else. Instead, I'll pick pivotal moments of "sweetness," which I think if I remember right I told some various friends on discord but aren't exactly me repeating myself here.

Raphael's pronouncement of victory is something I hope to one day explore in fic for Étoile. Initially I'd speculated that it could have happened even the very same night as the long rest after the netherbrain, with Astarion's last scene before the credits. But now there's the epilogue and to honour something like it, that means it's at least six months later — I'll probably place it nearer 2 years post-canon, with Raphael's intended return 10 years post-canon.

Étoile's anxiety loses some of it's bite this way, but to re-iterate. They (are and) feel so responsible, and they feel that as a result of this that they are and will be so alone in having to sound out a solution and / or battle plan to face Raphael. They expect that if a solution can be found that this time stopping the person who wields the Crown will demand their life. They won't be able to picture the vampire spawn's recent, precarious alliance, living situation, lifestyle, can handle both their and Astarion's sudden departure. They imagine themself hindered in travel and resources trying to come up with an answer, and Astarion being unable to follow, whether across the Material Plane or at least into Baator, where they don't even know if there's a night-day cycle or whether the fires that burn are ones that a vampire could stand in the presence of. If it's hard for them to admit to all this other shame, it's easy for them to be vulnerable in conversation with Astarion about how they wanted this life with him, with his their people, and how after a few hundred years if it hadn't come up that they would have asked if he'd wanted to turn them, which is as much as a commitment as either of them could make.

Anyway, it's sweet of Astarion to hold back an "I told you so" for more than a week, to reassure Étoile that their people will be fine with the pair of them coming and going because they will have to be, among any other number of reassurances he makes. It is sweet of him to recognize that he could take this as a cue to step away from "an adventurer's" problems (with all the problems of community, politics, lifestyle and "inheritance" that he has had to deal with since the end of the Gate's last disaster) and away from all semblance of "commitment" that had been so alien and chafing and frightful and difficult in this relationship; and instead decide that even this impossible challenge and all the other problems were perhaps just as rewarding (if not moreso) than the domestic rewards — never as an elf nor as a vampire had he ever wanted an unremarkable life.

For Étoile's moment of sweetness, I may have spoken before about how I have dialogue for a "mirror scene" blocked out. I waffle on whether it'll get written not just because I have so many wips, but also because I worry Everyone who writes Astarion has written a mirror scene and so I worry I bring little new to the table. Even so, my mirror scene has Astarion's final moment of "Just tell me I'm beautiful and we can call it a day" result in anger. Astarion whining, exasperated, "It doesn't feel good. Why doesn't it feel good? Is it because I asked?" And this resulting in an extra conversation in the shadow-cursed lands before the hug scene, where part of my blocked dialogue includes the following; they are laying spooned together:

Astarion: [after a breath] When you called me beautiful … it was the first time in two hundred years that it wasn't said by a victim or someone … looking to take advantage. Whose words meant nothing and were … an expectation. Part of a process. An undignified one. It was the first time in two hundred years the word wasn't Cazador's. To call me beautiful while I was flayed open, or bleeding from the mouth, or— [he tenses, not quite ready to cry. Étoile squeezes and slowly takes his hand] Étoile: Your body is your own. [They bring his fingers to their lips for a kiss, Astarion chooses to follow the movement to face them] My words are mine. I don't want to make you feel like that. Astarion: I know. Étoile: [Releases Astarion's hand to put their hand on his chest] I'm glad you know. I want to say these things anyway. [Astarion strokes back some of their hair] I want you to hear them.

And how this scene would fucking fly to the forefront of Étoile's mind in addition to their moments of sexual intimacy during the hug scene. They would have the knee-jerk reaction of those moments having been all lies, of themself and their body being revolting to Astarion for an unknown how-long, until it's more obvious to them that Astarion's point is that these moments weren't as repulsive as they should've been, and far more sincere than he could have stomached without coming forward. It is these moments of communication and respect which endear Astarion to Étoile and earn his shaky trust.

Also shout out to Astarion for being "sweet" enough to travel across four countries with Étoile for them to see their home (and their mother?) one last time with living eyes before vampirism. (Even knowing this was going to be difficult as all hell if Aranea's still living on her mountain.)

🤎 While this is kind of answered in the last emoji, I feel like this is extremely conditional. Étoile needing to be comforted in grief is not the same as them needing to be comforted after being slighted publicly. Astarion needing to be comforted because of the oppressive weight of days of earth overhead in the Underdark is not the same as needing to be comforted because one of his siblings (Violet) trying to kill one another (Yousen). Sometimes it's an embrace and conversation, sometimes it's threatening to eviscerate one's enemies (sometimes it's following through). A lot of the time for them it's space and an invitation of their presence, whether that's a cup of tea or distraction like paperwork / letters / a reminder of life outside of what ails them.

💋 Étoile far prefers to be marked than doing the marking, but that doesn't mean their lovers don't end up with the occasional fading signs of intimacy. Their own most obvious such marks are more permanent even before vampirism anyway, and all from Astarion; scars of bites, technically sources of feeding but also signs of play, on the right side of their neck, on their left breast up close to their breast plate / center of their chest, on the inside of their left thigh. Indicative of Astarion enjoying where he can, or could once pre-vampirism, feel the pulse under their skin loudest. Other such bites didn't scar, and others still were not for feeding and healed even more swiftly. Étoile would say their favorite place to kiss Astarion is his mouth, both for the pleasure of his lips and the danger of his teeth; if needing to select somewhere "more interesting" then in public they'd say at the center of his brow, and in private they'd still flush in embarrassment about how they think it's somehow rude to choose his ass.

Étoile and Halsin

🩷 The sweetest thing Halsin does for Étoile (and Astarion), besides keep them in his heart, is construct an underground shelter (the first of many) in his Moonrise Village to alleviate the burden of the far more numerous population in their care, even by a few bodies, even temporarily.

I repeat myself a lot, but I think Étoile's sweetest gesture to Halsin is near the end of his long life, counselling on what an unlife could be, offering to turn him either within the laws and context of their vampire community or secretly otherwise, with reassurance that they would happily accept him into their home if all beasts and men turned from him as a decree from his Oakfather for the abberation of vampirism, and the sentiment "if I meet you in hell then it's not hell."

Prior to that I think a visit from Étoile (and Astarion) to Halsin's Moonrise Village: an appointment kept despite how others in the Village might be absent on their own adventures or lost to time, would be the sweetest thing in Halsin's biased opinion. Six days travel (twelve both ways) just to see him? Not for healing, nor counsel, nor to take on more people or projects of druidic magic or infrastructure. Not a plight of adventure, not a disappointment for it being just him. Just a visit, to share his company and whatever that entails; when they could have just stayed home, rescheduled until others returned and the visit felt of greater worth.

🤎 I stand by comfort being highly conditional, but I do think Halsin is far more susceptible to words of comfort. Étoile talks to Halsin in the context of faith, while theirs is for Auril and his is for Silvanus. It helps. Étoile is comforted by how earnest Halsin is; he was very critical when they first met, and remains just as free with his criticisms when people lose his respect. There are oceans of time between the moments of Halsin's impatience with Étoile, and there were times where he was more forgiving than he should've been because scenarios were simply beyond his ability to distinguish the kindest path (like with the Crown and Raphael). But even so, Étoile is reassured when Halsin offers comfort or advice, trusting that he would still be straightforward if their grief or embarrassment or frustration was otherwise unworthy of them.

#long post #oc tag: étoile #baldur's gate 3 spoilers #blood tw

[thatsgoodsquishy0]

Song List Tag Game

🎶 when you get this, list 5 songs you like to listen to. then, tag your followers to play along, too 🎶

tagging: YOU, because most people I would tag have already tagged me, so take this as a sign to do it.

Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want -- The Smiths (a total in-your-feels song about just wanting something good in life to happen, for once, because lord knows it would be the first time)

The Killing Moon -- Echo & The Bunnymen (OOO WEEE this song, this song right here feels as though the void is calling me to the woods for a fire dance underneath the moonlight, and some great entity will possess me as I dance. Seriously, this song is incredible (also was featured in Donnie Darko))

Kiss The Ladder -- Fleshwater (The best way I can describe this band's sound is Deftones, Lana Del Rey, and Chevelle all got together. this song is super short and about disassociating)

Wicked Game -- Chris Isaak (a classic. this song makes me feel as though i'm caught in the middle of a toxic love affair and the only way out is heartbreak. it's slow, sexy, and fits any toxic relationship playlist. The Trevor Something cover is also quite nice.)

Take A Picture -- Filter (this song makes me wish I was at the beach contemplating my entire life up until that point. for nostalgic purposes, this is a also a song I rediscovered from the many jams by mother played in her mini van when I was a small thing.)

Change (In the House of Flies) -- Deftones (probably my favorite band. this song OOZES sex and backroom drugs and the chorus just makes me feral. also featured in Queen of The Damned (a very, very sexy vampire movie)

505 -- Arctic Monkeys (another sexy song. the visuals they create as so good, with lyrics like "i'd probably still adore you with your hands around my neck"? absolutely incredible. that's not the only lyric that deserves recognition; the whole song is a sexy masterpiece. the bassline also tickles my brain (as a fellow bass player, it's probably one of my favorites))

Thank you for the lovely tags: @aro-pancake, @fangbangerghoul, & @bearlytolerant. smooches!

#Isn't music just grand?? this was fun!! #004. | do i look like i know what a jpeg is? (games)

[bloodied-serpent]

hiiiiiii :33333333333333

for zaz 5, 9, 24. for that ask game

Hi <3 5. What's the first song that comes to mind when you think about them? Wicked Game by Chris Isaak What a wicked game to play / To make me feel this way / What a wicked thing to do / To let me dream of you / What a wicked thing to say / You never felt this way / What a wicked thing to do / To make me dream of you

I think the melancholy of the melody fits him well, and the lyrics describe the vicious cycles he traps himself in by choosing violence instead of honesty when it comes to the people who'd rather devote themselves to him than be their own selves. When his sire's vitae didn't quite... enamour him with her (Unbondable <3) the lesson he learnt was that he just needs to become worse.

Zaz had the opportunity to choose to be a better man, but why would he ever do that when he has a PhD in Manipulation! So he just became more fucked up, and when he ghouled Luke, he sort of... took out all his unresolved relationship problems on the poor guy. He's so normal... They're both so normal... 9. Could you be roommates with this character? I actually don't know. I think it depends on whether the autisms/personality disorders would be compatible. Tentative yes because I understand his organisation methods and I think we'd have great sex. 24. What other character from another fandom of yours that reminds you of them? I hadn't thought about this, but Long John Silver from Black Sails. Erasing or rewriting their histories to fit the occasion, transforming to be what they need to be to survive, constantly an amorphous mass that is forced into whatever mask the situation requires but always to further their own interests, to see their own goals come into fruition.

#tysm for the questions I love my blorbo #zaz #melbynight #asks

[look-at-the-soul]

Hi Mar! I hope you’re well and that the year has been good to you so far! I’m here with a rather random question….

What have you been listening to? Do you have any fave songs on repeat?

I haven’t found any new music lately, so I thought I’d ask around and see if I can find some!

Thanks much! ☺️

Hello K! I’m doing fine thanks 😊 what about you?

I’ve a couple of stories from you in my reading list, I’ll probably have more time during the weekend to catch up :)

I’m afraid to share some of the music I’ve been listening to lately because I know you’re younger and also my musical taste isn’t even from my “age” 🤭😂 but here it is!

On repeat is Kyrie by Mister Mr. I’m obsessed with the story and lyrics, it’s so calming!

Also here are some songs I added recently to my playlist-please note is not new music- 🤗 but it be new to you!

Since you’ve been gone by Outfield

Take me high enough-by damn Yankees

Wicked game by Chris Isaak

Love bites by Def Leppard

I wanna be yours by Artic monkeys

You make it easy by Jason Aldean

I actually love this idea! Would to hear your recommendations once you get new music 🤗 I hope you can find something you like in here xx

[lkeke35]

Interview with the Vampire Playlist:

This was just a short list of songs I came across on my phone, (after watching episode 5), and when I heard them they just attached themselves to specific characters in the series. I especially love Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers because it so perfectly matches how Louis thinks of Claudia! I picked a love Song for a Vampire for Lestat because those lyrics are exactly the mack Lestat laid on Louis before he turned him! And Claudia naturally gets You Don’t Own Me, as it’s a perfect fit for her, and I can even see her singing this!

Breath of Life - Florence and the Machine (Louis)

Wicked Game - Chris Isaak (Lestat)

Love Song for a Vampire - Annie Lennox (Lestat)

System - Akasha’s Theme from Queen of the Damned (Lestat)

No One Believes Me - Kid Cudi (Daniel)

Sucks to Be You - Saint John (Lestat)

Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City - Bobby Blue Bland (Lestat)

Ain’t No Sunshine - Bill Withers (Louis)

No One - Alicia Keys (Louis)

Ana Oulache - Cheb Mami (Rashid)

You Don’t Own Me - Lesley Gore (Claudia)

#interview with the vampire #louistat #louis #Lestat #Claudia #Rashid #music #playlists #vampires #tv shows

[casualtydept]

experiencing a particular sense of derangement today so how about an annotated walkthrough of my zeroskull playlist

there's a sort of progression to this that i intended to span their relationship as i portray it so keep that in mind. i hope you like 80s music.

this charming man - the smiths

this man said "it's gruesome, that someone so handsome should care"

my very first zeroskull fic has zero call him handsome and i shamelessly stole the idea from here. oh the romanticism of somehow finding yourself involved with an older english man who knows so much about these things...

2. unloveable - the smiths

i don't have much in my life, but take it - it's yours

sorry for all the morrissey it's not my fault he's also depressed and sexually complicated. i haven't written late 50s skull face in a while and this makes me miss him. oh you poor messed up thing.

3. love my way - the psychedelic furs

a kiss in not enough in love my way, it's a new road i follow where my mind goes

would you look at that another song about being gay. a comfy dreamy sort of feeling of falling for that older man that encourages him just to give in to all these terribly complicated feelings

4. later tonight - pet shop boys

and you wait 'til later, 'til later tonight 'cause tonight always comes

"the most gay song we've ever written" says neil tennant. i'll leave it at that

5. jack the ripper - morrissey

your face is as mean as your life has been crash into my arms, i want you you don't agree, but you don't refuse i know you

oh fuck he's back. anyway haha hope you enjoyed the sweet stuff here's one in which i compare zero to a serial killer. the "nobody knows me" lyric at the end fills my head with many thoughts. it's not zero if it isn't at least a little bit fucked up and morally questionable.

6. shake the disease - depeche mode

here is a plea from my heart to you nobody knows me as well as you do

hope you like this band as much as me or you'll be sick of them by the end of this. oh the desperation. ow oof the mortifying ordeal of being known.

7. in your room - depeche mode

i'm hanging on your words living on your breath feeling with your skin will i always be here?

be thankful i only quoted the chorus here. zero is a powerful man.

8. vampires - pet shop boys

say what you like i'll do what you want me to do you're a vampire, i'm a vampire too

the inherent romanticism of becoming strange and offputtingly wicked men who operate largely at night together

9. master and servant - depeche mode

domination's the name of the game in bed or in life, they're both just the same except in one you're fulfilled at the end of the day

i could have just quoted the whole song here. it's a lot like life!

10. stories of old - depeche mode

but we won't sacrifice anything at all to love

tfw you're totally in love but not enough to make you stop caring about controlling the global population/destroying the english language [delete as appropriate]

11. lovesong - the cure

whenever i'm alone with you you make me feel like i am whole again

i love pain and suffering.

12. love will tear us apart - joy division

love, love will tear us apart again

from the mgsv soundtrack itself. oh the misery.

13. wicked game - chris isaak

the world was on fire and no one could save me but you

[chanting] DIVORCE ERA DIVORCE ERA DIVORCE ERA. the bitterness... the longing.... the knowledge that the guy you essentially spent the last decade or more giving your life to is obsessed with some other guy and has ambitions that directly conflict with yours/make you want to murder him

14. diamonds and rust - joan baez

it's all come back too clearly yes, i loved you dearly and if you're offering me diamonds and rust i've already paid

[skull face voice] oh joan baez we're really in it now. music to drink heavily to after making a certain phone call, thumb running over the scratched metal of an authentic pin badge...

15. no children - the mountain goats

i am drowning there is no sign of land you are coming down with me hand in unlovable hand and i hope you die i hope we both die

oh you know i had to.

anyway hope you enjoyed this glimpse at what drives my insanity, i might do this for my (multiple) skull face playlists sometime but one is full of edgy bullshit + hungarian metalcore and half of my other one is just ennio morricone's dollars trilogy soundtracks lol.

#not art #words #far too many words #put me and skull face in a Talking Incessantly contest i swear i could beat him #playlists

[mllekurtz]

This is a very self indulgent post, but I have been putting together a playlist for my shadowgast evil au series birds of prey which has some very idiosyncratic vibes (and Coldplay back when they were still sad and mopey), but it's my fic and my playlist and my music tastes, so if you'll allow me to inflict them to you... you're welcome?

Porcelain, Men I Trust // Kyoto, Phoebe Bridgers // Trouble, Coldplay // The Cost, Gordi // Numbers, Daughter // No Sound but the Wind, Editors // Hearing Damage, Thom Yorke // Wicked Game, Chris Isaak // Bite the Hand, Julien Baker/Phoebe Bridgers/Lucy Dacus // Thrones, The Dears

(my musings about the lyrics under the cut)

(darkness, detachment, numbness, all waiting to be shook up)

(an excellent rec from @rainydaymonk; that's it, that's the dynamic)

(Essek has made mistakes)

(Essek would love to forget about Bren, but does he?)

(I couldn't copypaste this whole song but I would have loved to. It's a dysfunctional relationship, baby)

(love obsession makes you blind, and leads to even more mistakes)

(@rainydaymonk once told me this was the quintessential birds of prey song and she was right)

("your hands are gravity while my hands are tied" is basically a fic spoiler; plus, as @bittcrblue said once, this entire album has evil shadowgast vibes)

(they only have each other /tragic)

(#enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers... they're going to go through this again)

#birds of prey 6 is underway and it's going to be a long one! i'm procrastinating on that with the playlist #i have listened to a couple of these for an unhealthy amount of times while writing. porcelain and the cost in particular are load bearing #my fics #fic: birds of prey #critical role #shadowgast #fic playlist #Spotify

[glenrocklibraryteens]

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Book Review: The Secret History

The Secret History by Donna Tartt Genres: fiction, psychological fiction Page number: 576 pages Rating: 5 Stars

The story follows Richard Papen, a young man from California as he admires and eventually meets an elitist group of college students attending Hampden College in Vermont, his new school. It’s with these students who, through the encouragement of their eccentric classics professor, escape the bounds of morality and end up murdering one of their own. (This isn’t a spoiler, as the book even opens by talking vaguely about the murder of Bunny [Edmund Corcoran]) All in all, the story is less about who killed who, but rather about how the murder came to be.

Considering this isn’t your typical murder mystery, most wouldn’t care to read on. Not to mention, The Secret History is particularly a very controversially reviewed novel. Some praise its intellect and skilled writing, while others bash it for its extreme romanticism or absurdity. Personally, I completely disagree with the latter. It is its drastic and grotesque events, as well as the details of the inner workings of the characters Richard admires so much (Henry, Charles, Camilla, Francis, and Bunny), that give the novel its signature touch. Through their “rose” colored glasses, we are shown the classical world our protagonists live in in all its splendor and academia. However, as the reader, we are also taken on a twisted trip of what happens when one becomes much too obsessed and intertwined with their study material and muse. All in all, the thing I love most about this book is that Donna Tartt shows us the world of the elite of New England with the addition of unique, pretentious, and most likely disturbed characters, who inevitably plunge themselves deeper and deeper into their downfall. And most importantly, we’re entertained every step of the way as we watch the chaos ensue.

The Secret History playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4xRacqrklArqDIsNDOxUMb?si=xfMCilYSRNCwdc5MKIXXwQ&pi=u-zdig7-3PRpCc

Wicked Game by Chris Isaak

The title and mood of the song perfectly embodies The Secret History and its characters.  

Who is she? By I Monster

I feel like this song not only reminds me of the story because of how it sounds but its lyrics are symbolic of how Richard admired and wondered about the others, specifically Camilla.

Gnoissene: No. 1 by Erik Satie

With this song, I can imagine a group of classical students studying in a dusty library. Or a song that they’d listen to in their free time.

Reflections by Toshifumi Hinata

This song as some know is widely considered the classic dark academia song, so I consider it to be perfect for this novel.

Young and Beautiful by Lana Del Rey

I think the obsession with the aesthetic, as well as the romanticism of it and the academia that the protagonists have is embodied in this song.  

Paris, Texas by Lana Del Rey

The song describes someone packing up their things and moving somewhere completely different because they wanted to be in the moment without the genuine approval of the people around them, which is exactly what Richard did. Not only that but the entire song is very serene and whimsical sounding which reminds me of the beginning of the book.

La Solitude by Joshua Kyan Aalampour

This dark-sounding classical-like song embodies the book very well, by the feeling alone.

Old Money by Lana Del Rey

With the title alone, the group of “friends” Richard has, are accurately represented. Especially Bunny is the picture of old money and the lavish life that comes with it.

The World We Knew (Over and Over) by Frank Sinatra

The lyrics, passion, and mood of the song all depict the middle to end of the story, and I imagine Richard singing to it.

#book review #fiction