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swearwolf-writes · 4 years

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Sunset Curve not Sunset Straight (pt. 7)

It’s still dark. Alex is still crying and the boys are about to lose their minds. They would speak up every now and again, trying to remind them that they were still together despite everything.

Then there it was. Their song. The music fills their ears, deafening them. They stand up only to find the floor no longer under their feet. And then they were falling, flashes of light blinding them after so long in darkness, their screams drowning out the song.

They hit the ground heavily, grunts of pain escaping them as Reggie groans loudly, Luke gasping for breath as Alex pulls his cap back on. They stand and turn, looking around in surprise at their old studio. “Whoa! How did we get back here?” Luke pants only to be cut off by loud screaming. They turn and see a girl- a screaming girl-?! How in hell is there someone there- They scream in response, jumping in surprise at seeing another person in God only knows how long. She continues screaming as she runs away, the boys still holding each other.

“What the heck-” Reggie exhales deeply, studying the room intensely but wishing he was at the pier and that this was all one long nightmare. One moment he was here then he’s there - Santa Monica Pier.

----------

Luke and Alex look around, wondering where the hell Reggie went. “Reggie!” They shout and grumble, wondering how on Earth he disappeared, wishing to hell they were with him. And then they were. They gaped at the bright lights, shivering as people walked through them.

“Dude,” Alex stares at the swarm of people, holding onto Luke and Reggie, “we’re ghosts.” “What happened to the pier-?” Luke walks across the boardwalk slowly, taking in his surroundings in confusion. “We need to get back, to that girl who can see us. Maybe she knows what’s happening.”

They close their eyes and poof back into the garage, finding the curly haired girl with her backs to them. “.... saw something. I’m not crazy.”, she says to herself, lowering her cross to her side. “Well, we’re all a little crazy.” Luke responds playfully making the girl turn around in surprise, screaming again and pointing her cross at them. The boys jump and raise their hands defensively. “Oh my God! Please stop screaming!” Alex yells back, a hand over his ear. She quickly closes her mouth, the cross still aimed at them.

Once the screaming ceased, they tried to explain their situation to her, about how they were just ghosts who were very glad to be home. Reggie was very happy at being called a cute ghost and they were all so confused about having been dead for an apparent 25 years. Then finding out they could still play? Even though no one could see them, it was pretty amazing knowing that people could still hear their music and see them when they performed with the girl with the curly hair. Julie Molina.

She was special. She couldn’t see all ghosts but she could see them and because of her, people could see them. She saved them from so much, from themselves and from Caleb Covington. She saved them somehow, helped them play the Orpheum. They don’t know how they survived Caleb’s stamp or why they didn’t move on but they were so glad to still be with her.

Alex has Willie and Luke has Julie. And Reggie? Reggie…. has himself?

It’s 2020 and things couldn’t get any better. Or worse. Reggie can’t really tell some days. Thankfully, it’s currently the former.

Reggie has once again stolen Carlos’ laptop, researching Pride after hearing about it from Flynn. His eyes widen as he scrolls through page after page. He beams and runs into the studio, taking the laptop with him and completely forgetting that if Ray walks by, he’ll see the floating laptop. Oh well.

“Luke! Luke, Luke Luke! Check this out!” He plonks himself next to Luke, flushing when he leans in close to see the screen properly. “It’s, uh- it’s a load of stuff about Pride and like, there’s a bunch of names and stuff for different people and I, uh, I think I figured it out. Me, I mean. I think I figured me out.” He avoids Luke’s proud look as he flushes and scrolls down the page. “I think that’s me. ‘Bi is an umbrella term used to describe a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards more than one gender.’ Fun fact: my parents refused to let me know that bisexuality was a thing so this,” he points excitedly at the screen, “is awesome.” Luke shoots up and takes the laptop from Reggie, ignoring his offended ‘hey-!’. “Wait, there are names for this stuff-?” “Well, yeah, what did you think I came to tell you?” “That you finally admit you like guys.” He grins, staring at the screen intently as he reads through the definitions. “Everyone has a name, there’s one for everything.” “Wait, did you not know-?” Luke looks up at Reggie, flabbergasted. “Wait, you did-?” He looks offended, pouting slightly as he continues reading. “My parents didn’t want me knowing so I obviously had to know what it was. I just didn’t know I was it.” He slouches, watching how Luke’s eyes sparkle at this new world. “I mean, I knew people were cooler with all this stuff but like it’s a whole thing! We have names and flags and- holy shit, this is wicked!”

“Language.” Julie sits at the piano, reading through some songs she and Luke were working on. “Sorry-” The boy grins sheepishly, Julie and Reggie chuckling at how cute he was. “But this is awesome. I like this one, look: ‘pan refers to a person whose romantic and/or sexual attraction to others is not limited by sex or gender’. I think that’s me.” He glances back at Reggie, smiling widely as Julie shakes her head fondly at them. “Hey, check this out.” Reggie rests his chin on Luke’s shoulder, looking at the screen and ignoring his burning cheeks. “‘Polyamory refers to the practise of, or desire for, intimate relationships with more than one partner, with the informed consent of all parties involved’. There’s a name for that-?” He stares, entranced.

“Is that a thing? With you, I mean?” Julie sets the song book down, watching the boys intently. “When I was 16, I had a crush on this girl-” “Oh, Marlene-!” Reggie laughs quietly as he remembers his friend’s pining. “-and I used to think that we would be cute together but I thought that she and Doug-” “Her boyfriend at the time.” Reggie adds helpfully, winking at Julie’s amused smile. “-that they looked cute together. And I was just like ‘are you supposed to think you’d look cute with your crush and her boyfriend’ and then a year later, I realised I had a crush on Marlene and Doug so….” He trails off, blushing at the pair’s smitten looks. “What?” “You’re just…. cute when you’re excited.” “This makes sense to be excited about! There’s names - names that anyone can find just by searching it - that’s awesome!” He’s practically bouncing as Alex and Willie poof into the room.

“Hey.” Alex looks at Luke, raising an eyebrow. “He looks like that time he had 6 packets of Fun Dip-” “He’s got Pride fever.” Julie explains, grinning. “He joined the pan squad.” Luke squints at her, tilting his head. “I joined a squad-?” “I’m pan too.” She continues, jumping at the boys overlapping questions about why she didn’t tell them. “I thought I mentioned it?” “Yeah, no - I would’ve remembered that.” Luke shakes his head in confusion. “I told Willie.” “Before your own bandmates-?” Reggie seems almost offended. “You can’t even see Willie.” Luke points out, his arms crossed. “Pen and paper.”

Alex turns to Willie. “How come you didn’t tell me?” “I was supposed to out your friend?” “Okay, fair enough. In which case, thank you for not telling me.” Willie chuckles at his strange not-boyfriend-but-more-than-a-friend. “You are the weirdest ghosts I’ve ever met.” “That’s fair.” Reggie nods, poofing into the corner when Carlos storms into the studio.

“Stop stealing my computer, man.” He whines, taking the device from Luke who gapes, whining when he turns the tabs off. “They’re your ghosts, they can steal your laptop.” He points at Julie, the young girl nodding seriously as she fights off a smile. “See ya later- or not- boy band.”, he calls, leaving as Julie and her phantoms burst into laughter.

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fandomstuff67 · 3 years

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Another fix it fic for 15x20

Hey guys! I’ve written another fix it and this time Cas comes to save Dean before he died. As usual read below or on Ao3

Bed of Roses Word Count: 1.8k

Dean could feel it, the rebar, digging deeper into his heart with every breath. He really hadn’t expected today to be the day that he’d bite it, but then again he’d always known he’d go out on a hunt, today was as likely as any other day.

“I need you to tell me…” he gasped out, gripping at Sam’s jacket, “it’s okay.”

It didn’t matter how many times he’d died in the past, he was still scared. He still didn’t know what awaited him in the afterlife, he didn’t know where he’d end up. He hated this, he hated that he hadn’t thought about the placement of the rebar in the heat of the moment, he hated that he was stupid enough to charge that vamp head on like that.

After everything, he didn’t want to go like this, he didn’t want to watch Sam slowly fall apart in front of him, he didn’t want to leave Sam with that grief, but it was his time and he was okay with that.

“Dean…” Sam choked out, tears dripped down his cheeks and Dean wished he could reach up to brush them away, to comfort his little brother in this moment, but he could barely keep his lungs working anymore, and his heartbeat was slowing. He just needed to hang on a little bit longer, just long enough to hear Sam tell him it was okay, he just needed to know it was okay. “It’s-”

Sam didn’t get to finish his sentence because he was interrupted by the unmistakable sound of wings fluttering in the air. Dean couldn’t see anything around Sam, but Sam turned to look and Dean watched surprise flash over his features. Footsteps brushed against the barn floor and Sam stepped aside so Dean could see who it was.

The pain in his chest was momentarily forgotten as shock and hope flooded through him. “Cas?”

Cas smiled, blue eyes shining as he stopped in front of Dean and placed two fingers on his forehead. “Hello, Dean.”

An overwhelming surge of grace poured into his body and he fell forward into Cas’ arms, who then pulled him away from the rebar as he felt the wound heal. He gasped into Cas’ chest and his fingers curled into the soft fabric of his trench coat, never wanting to let go.

“Is this real?” he asked as he held Cas tighter.

“Yes,” Cas replied.

“You’re alive?” he gasped out as what were once tears of pain became tears of joy.

“I am.”

Dean finally pulled away, just enough to look into Cas’ eyes. “How?”

“Jack,” Cas answered, a twinkle in his eyes.

“Of course,” Dean breathed through a small chuckle. He let his hands loosen just a little on Cas’ coat, enough for him to step back slightly. “Cas… when you… left… I didn’t… I’m sorry I didn’t say anything.”

“You didn’t need to,” Cas replied softly.

Dean shook his head. “No, but that’s just it Cas, I did need to, because I love you too.”

Cas smiled, it was just as bright and beautiful as it had been when he’d let the empty swallow him. “I never thought I’d hear you say it.”

“I’m sorry I never said it before.”

“You don’t need to apologize,” Cas replied.

“Yeah well, still, let me make it up to you.”

Dean let his hands make their way up to Cas’ face where they rested for a moment before he pulled the angel into a kiss. It was sloppy and desperate, but perfect and incredible at the same time, and when they pulled apart Dean couldn’t help but laugh, Cas joined in and then Dean was hugging him again, holding onto him like if he ever let go Cas would vanish in a shadow of black goo again.

“Um,” Sam cleared his throat and Dean suddenly snapped back into the reality where he realized his brother had been watching this whole thing unfold.

Dean turned away from Cas, but he made sure to slip his hand into the angel’s, still keeping that contact between them. “Sorry, Sammy.”

Sam only smiled. “Don’t be, I’m glad you both finally sorted your shit out and I’m happy you’re back, Cas.” Dean grinned and let go of Cas’ hand so he could pull Sam into a hug. “It’s all going to be okay now, Dean,” Sam said, a smile in his voice.

Dean nodded as he clapped Sam on the back and pulled away. “Let’s go get those boys out of here, huh?”

“Yeah,” Sam replied as he looked from Dean to Cas, “let’s.”

****

Dean shifted his feet on the hay strewn ground, his nerves were firing on all cylinders and he swallowed hard to dislodge the lump rising in his throat.

Today was the day he thought he’d never get to have, the day he was going to marry the love of his life. They’d thought it fitting to do it in the barn they’d first met in, and even though Dean had spent months trying to prepare himself for this moment, he was still shaking.

He could smell the white rose that was pinned to his lapels, the rose that Cas had insisted he wear. Cas had also insisted on Dean in a dark red suit while he himself wore a white one, with a red rose.

Dean looked over at Sam, who was standing proud beside him, with Miracle at his feet, a black bow tie around his neck, and gave him a nod, which Sam returned. “You’ve got this,” Sam whispered.

“I hope so,” Dean replied.

When the music started and Dean turned to look at the barn doors as the split open once again, as Castiel emerged, clad in his suit, a bright smile on his face, and walked towards him, Dean knew that this was going to be the beginning of the best years of his life.

Jody had graciously agreed to officiate their wedding, and when Dean took Cas’ hands in his, and let their eyes meet, he felt every bubble of nervousness pop within him. He was about to commit to spending the rest of his life with Cas, and he had never been more sure about doing anything in his life.

Their vows were simple, merely a few promises uttered to open air, solidifying the most profound bond to ever exist on Earth. Their kiss was magical, and applause ran out through the barn. When they turned around, hand in hand, and looked at their found family, the family they’d worked so hard to expand and grow, he was sure he’d never felt happier.

Music started up from speakers around the barn and everyone stood to move their chairs out of the way while Dean and Castiel faced each other for their first dance.

Bed of Roses, but Bon Jovi began to filter through the air and Dean let his head fall to Cas’ shoulder while Cas wrapped one hand around his waist and held Dean’s hand with his other.

The first verse passed with them just rocking to the music, Dean drinking in the feeling of Cas’ hands around him and the press of his new ring on his finger. But when the second verse began, Dean moved to look at Cas, letting themselves separate just slightly, so they could lock eyes.

With an ironclad fist, I wake up and French kiss the morning.

While some marching band keeps its own beat in my head.

While we’re talking, about all of the things that I long to believe.

About love and truth and what you mean to me.

And the truth is, baby you’re all that I need.

“You’re all that I need,” Cas said and Dean smiled.

As the chorus played and they swayed together, Dean began to hum to the music, and he let their foreheads come together, he let the air between them become the same, and he pressed a kiss to Cas’ soft lips.

He could smell the roses between them and the scent of his own cologne and Cas’, he could feel the eyes of their friends on their backs, but they soon melted away, and it suddenly felt like it was just the two of them, alone in this barn, the place they’d first met, the place where both their lives changed for the better, the place where it all began.

The next verse spun around them as they swayed.

Well I’m so far away, that each step that I take is on my way home.

A king’s ransom in dimes I’d given each night, just to see through this payphone.

Still I run out of time, or it’s hard to get through.

Till the bird on the wire flies me back to you, I’ll just close my eyes and whisper… Baby blind love is true.

“Baby, blind love is true,” Dean murmured, only loud enough for Cas to hear. Cas grinned and Dean grinned back.

“Yes, it is,” Cas agreed.

Once the song ended and they separated, the music shifted and everyone came onto the dance floor. Sam and Eileen came first, followed by Claire and Kaia, and Charlie and Stevie came after and Jody even got Bobby to dance. Donna had dragged Doug to the wedding and they were swaying beside Jody and Bobby. Pretty soon everyone was dancing to the music and Dean looked around the room in awe at just how many people had turned up.

Eventually, the dance partners switched up and Dean let Cas be pulled away by Claire, who demanded that she have a chance to dance with him. Dean swung Donna in for a loop and Sam pulled Jody in close as she let out a whoop of laughter.

“I’m real happy for ya, Dean,” Donna said.

“Thanks,” Dean grinned as he snuck a glance at Cas spinning Claire in close.

They danced the night away and tables were set up with food and drinks. It was nothing special, just pizza and cheap beer, but it was perfect and Dean wouldn’t want it any other way.

As the night wore itself out and people began to bid the newly weds goodnight, Dean and Cas lingered, locked in each other’s arms and when it was finally just the two of them, left to their own devices, Dean slipped his hand into Cas’ and led him from the barn towards where Baby was parked.

“Come on, let’s go for a drive.”

Dean drove them to an empty field, where they intended to watch the stars but ended up making out in the backseat where Dean fell asleep on top of Cas and Cas spent the night smoothing back Dean’s hair and kissing him softly as he watched over him.

****

It was a long life they led, spent with family and laughter, and when Dean finally breathed his last and entered Heaven, Cas flew up to join him. Sam and Eileen followed in their wake not long after and they spent the rest of eternity sipping beers in the Roadhouse, surrounded by all the friends and family they’d lost along the way.

Tag list (ask to be added or removed):

@anotherdowneyfan1 @tearsofgrace @quxxnxfhxll @rebelangel67 @professorerudite @adsdragonlover @wantstoflyafraidtofall @goblinwritergay

#Supernatural #spn #fix it fic for 15x20 #destiel #happily ever after #supernatural fanfic #spn fanfic #fanfiction #fanfic #deancas #casdean #bed of roses #fandom stuff on ao3 #my writing #fix it

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secretradiobrooklyn · 3 years

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Secret Radio | 7.24.21, 8.7.21 & etc.

“Better, Better, Back” Secret Radio | 7.24.21, 8.7.21 & etc. | Hear it here.

- Mort Garson - “Plantasia”

1. Jean-Pierre Djeukam - “Africa Iyo” - “Cameroon Garage Funk”

The main musician I think of from Cameroon is Beti-Beti, and this is a whole different thing. Endless props to Analog Africa for providing fiery track after track. This is the sweat from their newest collection!

2. Eyedress - “Jealous”

Paige hears something in this and when I unfocus my eyes I do too. (Literal?) high school skate kids gettin in their shallow feels. I will admit that the chorus “time-time” is killer.

3. Nahid Akthar & Tafo - “Takra We Gutt Bhar Le” (I think)

Nahid Akthar’s voice is so completely bewitching that the amazing arrangements almost sneak by. Tafo is the producer of this track I believe, and the narrative structure of the music is just so confident and encompassing. But then also: man, that VOICE. She’s right up there with Ros Serey Sothea in expressiveness and character.

4. Oruã - “Escola das Roas” - “Sem Bênção / Sem Crença”

My thanks to you, Marc, for pointing this band to us. I have fallen in love with this particular recording, it just gets more thoroughly better with every listen. Calvin Johnson mentioned this band in a recent K newsletter — they’re a Brazilian band who corresponded with Doug Martsch as mutual fans until at some point Doug decided his own band needed replacing and he brought them out as Built to Spill and also as Oruã. This track also has shades of Sonic Youth’s “Master-Dik,” one of my all-time ultra faves. It really hits me in the ’90s, and I rilly want to see how some of this music is performed live.

5. Jacques Dutronc - “Le Responsable”

I’m so thankful to have Jacques Dutronc in my life. His rock songs knock me into gear like nothing else — and the whole band has its own very specific flavor. It kicks!

6. Sleepy Kitty - “Alceste in Silverlake”

At very long last, there is a new Sleepy Kitty album on the way! It’s in line at the record plant as I type this. And this is a song from the perspective of a musician-seeking drummer in LA, crossed with the most brutally honest man in all of France.

7. Sakuran Zensen - “錯乱前戦ロッキンロール” (I Wanna Rock & Roll)

We only knew one song by this band (that we’ve played here) because the video was rad, but I looked to see what else was there and this song is just freakin great with me. The chords are really cool and his vocal delivery is just so over the top it’s impossible not to love. And the guitar solo is basically a full-on tonefest, which I appreciate more than a bunch of flying fingers. The video helps fill in the picture nicely too, I think, though I like the song while not looking at it even more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPCqT3e89SU

- Mort Garson - “Concerto for Philodendron & Pothos”

8. Clothilde - “Fallait pas ècraser la queue du chat”

All hail the French instinct for chamber music instruments as pop instruments, and then as a kind of technicolor weirdness. The orchestration of this song is a work of art in itself, and that doesn’t even account for her self-harmonizing melody. If you haven’t already, picture a brunette bob and deep mascara.

9. Public Service Broadcasting - “Spitfire”

I can’t remember now how I found this music, though I think it might’ve been from Josh’s playlist? This is from 2012, but they have a new album coming out almost exactly a month from now. In Bound Stems Tim and I got really into interlacing snatches of other people’s words into the music we were making, and this is very congruent with that interest. I feel like this song passes tests as it goes.

10. Shocking Blue - “Send Me a Postcard”

I first heard of this band when I was learning everything I could about Nirvana, and I’d heard both versions of “Love Buzz” and knew they were both great, but we only recently caught this track. It’s the bridge between “White Rabbit” and “Territorial Pissings.”

11. Metak - “Tetrapak”

Our favorite Croatian band! Everything about this song is delightful. I feel like if this song was in English I’d probably cringe at the lyrics, but in this format I can only hear how much fun the song is to play. I am one-quarter Croatian, which means I can’t understand any of the lyrics either but I do see little ghosts of myself in the pictures of the band somehow. It’s weird.

12. Katerine - “Louxor J’adore”

-Anything I could say about this song is eclipsed by this excerpt:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uD7QuV6f_MA

The performance to the cemetery knocks me out

13. Erkin Koray - “Seni Her Gördügümde”

Whenever we’re listening to Anatolian psych, the songs with the most creative ideas and satisfying riffs and great vocal passages are always Erkin Koray. The four-piece arrangements are so good, and then he doesn’t hesitate to step up with his guitar to narrate a passage. Also, I really like how Turkish rock sounds so Indian and also Arabic and also French.

14. WITCH - “Chifundo”

Zambian prog rock! I haven’t heard anything like this track anywhere else in Africa yet. The thing is, this version of prog includes the exact flavor that Yes totally lacks, and thus I really love listening to this track in a way most prog rock doesn’t hit me. The time switches and the lead part over the top are just so smooth!

15. Ezra Furman - “Psalm 151”

We’ve been listening to a lot of Ezra Furman’s music lately, and it’s only getting better and more engrossing with every listen. We toured with Ezra Furman’s band about 5 years ago and every night was a pleasure. They’re finishing up a new album, which makes this a great time to listen to the others. This entire album, “Transangelic Exodus,” is a masterpiece as far as we’re concerned, and I find myself thinking the whole time too about Tim Sandusky’s production. Tim’s such a home town for us, and to hear his full attention on this album is just such a pleasure.

16. Ralph Stanley - “White Light, White Heat”

It was one of my favorite musical influence moments ever when my dad’s bluegrass band, The Prozac Mtn Boys, played VU’s “What Goes On.” Knowing that there is a recording of one of my dad’s true banjo heroes playing “White Light White Heat” is just an endless blessing. And actually hearing it is even better.

17. Kim Jung Mi - “Ganadaramabasa”

I know basically nothing about this track except that she’s Korean and this is from 1973. She’s got a real Diana Ross thing going on, and her band has a real Supremes vibe too… but it doesn’t sound like one of their songs.

18. Penny Penny - “Yogo Yogo”

We just got this record recently, and based on this track I wouldn’t’ve necessarily pictured the remarkable-looking guy who actually made this music. This is from the album “Shaka Bundu.” I’m sure it’s been cranked up and sent through some great house remixes — how could this not be? — but I like how this tempo operates at its own pace. It’s so truly and thoroughly ’80s, very 20th century. In the 21st century this tempo is practically cerebral.

19. Baris Manço - “Binboganin Kizi”

More Anatolian action. It’s really interesting to me how Turkish stuff was always associated with psych music but I didn’t really know how except for the opium thing, and I now understand that it’s in the chord relationships, well, and a lot of the vocal melody and delivery. In that way, Turkish rock pretty much defines what psych music sounds like. Wow. And check out that keyboard solo, so next level!

20. The Velvet Underground - “Countess from Hong Kong”

People are always asking Beatles or Stones and the answer is Velvet Underground. (And the Beatles, and the Stones.) They were just operating along a different balance beam than those other guys — performing different tricks for a different audience. While the Beatles were defining pop music, the VU were destroying it… but then later, they reveal their deep affinity for Western music, even as they never drop in to the blues-centric reading of it. It’s truly punk. I guess they are to punk what the Beatles are to pop — the definition of pop is whatever flows to or from the Beatles; punk is whatever flows to or from the Velvet Underground. Certainly more than any single band in 1976 or 7 or whatever.

21. Bella Bellow - “Denyigban”

The piano phrase that kicks this song off is surprisingly close to the opening of Bound Stems’ “Appreciation Night.” We got that phrase from the demo mode of Radz’s keyboard, and it’s surreal to hear a high-overlap version in a song from Togo. Her voice is so clean in tone and pitch, and what’s strangest to me is that I register the instrumentation in an almost Disney mode — but then realize that’s because Disney will draw on Caribbean and African elements at times as they establish characters and settings. Such an elegant song though!

22. Rail Band - “Mouodilo”

One of the first insights that got us into WBFF was the realization that James Brown had even more fundamental influence on the music of the world than the Beatles did — certainly in Africa. Hearing how his delivery interrelates with so many bands from all across Africa is such a revelation. This track just keeps winding around you til you can’t hardly live without it.

- Asha Bhosle - “Salma Jarir Jhalak”

All I know about this is that it’s in Bangla and it’s from a movie.

23. Unknown - “Chemirocha” - from “Love Is Love”

Several years ago, when African records looked interesting but we literally didn’t know anything about them, we bought a record called Love Is Love, in part because it was a beautiful cover and in part because the music seemed mysterious and full of possibility. Now, when I go to look for it online, I see no sign — I think it’s just a really small pressing from a… pirate group, I guess one could say? But really I think just hardcore music lovers. Anyway, it has this song “Chemirocha” on it, and there’s a story about this song that is really probably just best to link to because it’s so amazing. I guarantee you will find the information in this article worth your read:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/chemirocha-how-an-american-country-singer-became-a-kenyan-star

24. Sparks - “Do-Re-Mi”

We’ve known about Sparks, but we’re late to a close listen. We’ve been listening a lot in anticipation of — not the band bio pic but “Annette,” the new film by Carax, one of our favorite directors ever. For that matter: make sure to watch “Holy Motors” by Carax. It’s probably best if you watch “Lovers on a Bridge” before that, but if you have to go straight to “Holy Motors,” dive right in. It’s amazing.

Meanwhile: This take on the Mary Poppins classic is TOO MUCH — I can’t stop smiling at the end, when the bells start tolling over the crashing drums and crescendoing vocal waves as their third finale fades away. How can anyone make this song, the very definition of not-rock, rock so fully?

- Mort Garson - “Ode to an African Violet”

25. Bob Reuter’s Alley Ghost - “She Brought Me to the Wire”

I will forever be glad that we not only landed in a city where we could find out about the person and the works of Bob Reuter, but that we got to know and work with him. Bob Reuter was one of the definitions of St. Louis to us, and when he passed, so did some of that city. But also, he left music and photos and stories in Eleven and chapbooks that I truly hope last forever. He was the hard-living romantic that you hope lives in the heart of every hard-luck case… and in his one instance, it was true. Bless your soul, Bob Reuter.

photos by Bob Reuter from The Pageant and El Leñador

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watusichris · 3 years

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Betty Davis: They Say She’s Different

It appears that everything anyone has written for the old Music Aficionado site has now disappeared from the web. A random Facebook post has prompted me to re-purpose this story, written in 2016, about my favorite funketress. **********

To this day, the name Betty Davis – Betty with a “y,” that is – remains best known to connoisseurs of Miles Davis minutiae and ‘70s funk obsessives. While it’s true that Betty played an important off-stage role in the career of the jazz trumpeter, to whom she was married for just a year, and she undoubtedly made some of the best hardcore funk records of her era, she deserves to be recognized beyond the relatively narrow provinces of the jazzbo and the crate-digger.

Uncompromising, intelligent, brazen, aggressive, and not incidentally gorgeous, sexually provocative, and a fashion plate always ahead of the curve, Betty was a prophetic figure. Spawned by the explosion of music, fashion, and alternative culture of the late ‘60s, and by concurrent leaps in black consciousness and feminism, she was a take-no-prisoners singer and writer who presented herself as something new, rich, and strange with her self-titled debut album in 1973.

There were some badass contemporaries working the soul and funk trenches– gutter-tongued diva Millie Jackson and one-time James Brown paramour Yvonne Fair leap to mind immediately – but they seemed to be adapting tropes previously worked by male singers in the genres. Betty still sounds like something new: a tough, smart, demanding woman who reveled in pleasure and insisted on satisfaction, unafraid to claim what she wanted.

Despite the fact that she was associated with some high-profile male musician friends and lovers – beyond Davis, the roll call included Hugh Masekela, Jimi Hendrix, Sly Stone, Mike Carabello, Eric Clapton, and Robert Palmer – she was no groupie or bed-hopping climber. Possessed of her own self-defining vision, she was producing her own records and leading a tight, flexible little band by the end of her brief run.

In 1976, after completing four splendid albums (only three of which were released at the time), she disappeared, not only from the music business but from the public eye entirely. What happened? It’s an old story that many women in the industry will recognize: Her record company didn’t know what to do with her, and wanted her to tone down her act. Betty Davis wasn’t having any of that, thank you, and she hit the damn road.

She was born Betty Mabry in Durham, NC, in 1945. She grew up country, and was exposed to down-home, get-down music early. On the title track of her second album, They Say I’m Different, she runs down the artists who served as inspirations: Big Mama Thornton, John Lee Hooker, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Howlin’ Wolf, Albert King, Chuck Berry. The blues, in one form or another, is the backbone of her style.

Her family relocated to Pittsburgh when she was young, but at 16 she left home for the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. There she was hurtled into the roiling cultural vortex of the Village. She took up modeling, working for the toney Wilhelmina agency, and began running with a posse of similarly disposed, equally beautiful women who called themselves the “Electric Ladies.” Sound familiar? One of her closest cohorts was Devon Wilson, for many years a notorious consort of Jimi Hendrix known for her freewheeling, outré sex- and drug-saturated lifestyle.

Mabry began to try her hand at singing, and cut a few self-penned singles. They were in an old-school mold in terms of structure, but her very first 45 hints at things to come. “Get Ready For Betty,” a 1964 track released by Don Costa (discoverer of Paul Anka and Trini Lopez and a key arranger for Frank Sinatra), is stodgy early-‘60s NYC R&B to its core, but its message is pointed: “Get out my way, girl, ‘cause I’m comin’ to take your man.”

She also made a stolid romantic duet ballad with singer Roy Arlington and, produced by cult soul man Lou Courtney, a homage to the Cellar, the New York club where she DJed. But she didn’t start reaching the upper echelon of the music biz until one of her songs, a hymn to Harlem called “Uptown,” was cut by the Chambers Brothers for their smash 1968 album The Time Has Come, which also included the psychedelic soul workout “Time Has Come Today.”

The Chambers association probably secured a singles deal for her at Columbia Records, and her first session for the major label was produced by her former live-in boyfriend, South African trumpeter Masekela, in October 1968. By that time, she had split with him: A month earlier, she had married a far more famous horn player, Miles Davis, whom she had met in 1967. Davis and his regular producer Teo Macero would head her second session for Columbia in May 1969.

Those two dates were released for the first time as The Columbia Years 1968-1969 earlier this month by Light in the Attic, the independent label that has restored Betty’s entire catalog to print over the last decade. While devoted fans can be grateful that the work is finally seeing the light of day, it does not make for easy listening, for it was clearly made by people groping in the dark.

Betty’s artistic persona was at that point completely unformed, and so her male Svengalis did their best to mold the clay in their hands, with feeble results. Masekela evidently completed just three tracks, two of which, “It’s My Life” and “Live, Love, Learn,” were issued as a flop single. The homiletic song titles give the game away; the music, straight-up commercial soul backed by a large group (which included Wilton Felder and Wayne Henderson of the Jazz Crusaders and Masekela), has nothing original to say.

The date with Miles is a bigger waste, if a more spectacular one. The personnel couldn’t have been more glittering: Hendrix sidemen Billy Cox and Mitch Mitchell; ex-Detroit Wheels guitarist Jim McCarty; bassist Harvey Brooks, studio familiar of Bob Dylan and former member of the Electric Flag; and Davis’ then-current or future band mates Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, John McLaughlin, and Larry Young.

But nothing jells. The material is either weak (Betty’s directionless original “Hangin’ Out” is the best of a bad lot) or incongruous (lumbering covers of Cream’s “Politician” and Creedence’s “Born On the Bayou”). Worse, the jazzers are unable to lay down anything resembling a solid soul-rock foundation, and even reliable timekeeper Mitchell blows the groove on more than one occasion. Miles gets impatient with his spouse at one point, rasping over the talk-back, “Sing it just like that, with the gum in your mouth and all, bitch.”

Apparently intended as demos, the failed tracks were consigned to the tape library. By late ’69, Miles and Betty’s marriage was history. She left her mark on his music: She appeared on the cover of his cover of his 1968 album Filles de Kilimanjaro and inspired its extended track “Mademoiselle Mabry” (based on the chords that opens Hendrix’s “The Wind Cries Mary”) and “Back Seat Betty” from his 1981 comeback album The Man With the Horn.

Moreover, she moved him toward the flash style that would dominate his music through the mid-‘70s, by exposing him to the slamming music of Hendrix and Sly and exchanging his continental suits for psychedelic pimp togs. Would we know Bitches Brew, On the Corner, and Agharta without Betty Davis? Maybe, maybe not.

For her part, Betty remained in the wings for a while. She collaborated on demos for the Commodores; in London, she modeled, worked on songs for Marc Bolan of T. Rex, and declined a production offer from her then-paramour Clapton. Drifting back to New York, she met Santana percussionist Carabello. They became involved romantically, and in 1972 she relocated to the San Francisco Bay area, where Carabello’s local connections led to the formation of a stellar band to back her on a debut album.

One reads the credits for Betty Davis in awe. The rhythm section was the Family Stone’s dissident, puissant rhythm section, bassist Larry Graham and drummer Greg Errico (who also produced). Original Santana guitarist Neal Schon, future Mandrill axe man Doug Rodrigues, founding Graham Central Station organist Hershall Kennedy, and keyboardist and ace Jerry Garcia collaborator Merl Saunders filled out the instrumentation. The Pointer Sisters, Sylvester, and Kathi McDonald were among a large platoon of backup vocalists.

Issued in 1973 by Just Sunshine Records, an independent label owned by Woodstock Festival promoter Michael Lang (who also released a set by another unique woman, folk singer-guitarist Karen Dalton), Betty Davis was one hell of a coming-out party. Since her abortive Columbia dates, she had developed a unique vocal attack that could leap from a velvety croon to a Tina Turner-like shriek in a nanosecond. The stomping funk of the studio band backed her up to the hilt.

Like Turner, she was one Bold Soul Sister. The lust-filled opening invitation “If I’m in Luck I Might Get Picked Up” announces that a new game was afoot. The statement of romantic/sexual independence “Anti Love Song,” the lovers’ chess match “Your Man My Man,” and the self-explanatory “Game is My Middle Name” offer up a startling, hard-edged new model of a hard-funking female vocalist.

The album’s most affecting track may be “Steppin in Her I. Miller Shoes,” Davis’ level-headed elegy for her sybaritic friend Devon Wilson, who sailed out a window at the Chelsea Hotel in 1971. “She coulda been anything that she wanted…Instead she chose to be nothing,” Davis sings, implying that route wouldn’t be one she would take herself.

“If I’m in Luck” grazed the lower reaches of the R&B singles chart and the album failed to reach the LP rolls at all, but Davis was undaunted. For 1974’s They Say I’m Different, she took the producer’s reins, which she would hold for the rest of her career. While the backup lineup is less glitzy (though Saunders, Pete Escovedo, and Buddy Miles, on guitar no less, appear), the support is still sizzling; crackling drums and burbling clavinet put over a set of songs that may have been even stronger than those heard on her debut.

No one who hears “He Was a Big Freak” is likely to ever forget it; it’s a startling dissection of a masochistic relationship -- inspired by Jimi Hendrix, and not, as many have assumed, by Miles Davis (“Everyone knows that Miles is a sadist,” Betty remarked later). Almost as notable are “Don’t Call Her No Tramp,” a prescient condemnation of what we now call slut-shaming, and the autobiographical title track, with slicing slide guitar work by Cordell Dudley.

Different and its attendant singles tanked, but Betty managed to maintain her profile with live gigs noteworthy for their uninhibited bawdiness, on-stage abandon, and the star’s Egyptian-princess-from-outer-space wardrobe sense. By early 1974 she had assembled a hot, lean road band that included her cousins Nickey Neal and Larry Johnson on drums and bass, respectively, plus keyboardist Fred Mills and guitarist Carlos Morales. This lineup would back her on her last two albums.

The end of Just Sunshine’s distribution deal liberated Davis, who, at the suggestion of then-boyfriend Robert Palmer, inked with Palmer’s label Island Records. The company released Nasty Gal in 1975, and it may be Davis’ best-executed work. The pared-down backing lets the songs shine, and there are good ones here: The shameless title song, the vituperative blast at the critics “Dedicated to the Press,” and the out-front ultimatum for sexual satisfaction “Feelins” get right up in the listener’s face. The most surprising track is the ballad “You and I,” an unexpected songwriting reunion with Miles, orchestrated by the trumpeter’s famed arranger Gil Evans.

It’s a tremendous album, and Betty supported it with live shows that ate the funk competition alive. A bootleg of an especially out-there set recorded at a festival on the French Riviera in 1976 literally climaxes with Nasty Gal’s “The Lone Ranger,” an in-the-saddle heavy breather that Davis wraps up by feigning a loud orgasm.

One should remember that at this particular juncture, Madonna was studying dance at the University of Michigan.

But Nasty Gal faded with hardly a trace, and Davis’ relationship with Island swiftly became fractious. It’s easy to see why the label declined to issue her final album, originally called Crashin’ From Passion and ultimately released, after years as a bootleg, by Light in the Attic in 2009 as Is It Love or Desire. The collection, which leans heavily on songs about sex, doping, and heavy drinking, includes “Stars Starve, You Know,” an outright condemnation of the games record companies play:

They said if I wanted to make some money

I’d have to change my style

Put a paper bag over my face

Sing soft and wear tight fitting gowns

They don’t like the way I’m lookin’

So it’s hard for my agent to get me bookin’s

Unless I cover up my legs and drop my pen

And commit one of those commercial sins…

Oh hey hey Island

And that was all she wrote. Until writers began to seek her out in the new millennium as her records became available again, Betty Davis was an invisible woman, one who had blazed a trail that other talents, such as Prince and Madonna, would blaze more profitably after her. She was definitively ahead of her time.

Asked by one writer what she had done since leaving music, Davis, who turns 71 on July 26, responded with the most tragic thing one can imagine any artist saying: “Nothing really.”

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whatareyousearchingfordean · 4 years

Text

Imperium Locus

Summary: Dean wasn’t supposed to feel the way he did about Donna Hanscum. On paper, the pair were never meant to be, but what happens when he dares to let his guard down.

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Donna Hanscum

Word Count: 5.7k+ (I’m so sorry)

Warnings: Language, show level violence, character death

Square Filled: Enemies to Lovers

Author’s Note: Written for @spngenrebingo. I honestly have no idea where this came from. Probably because I’m absolute Winscum trash. I have no regrets. Also, I’m not 100% sure this is even enemies to lovers. I tried though, therefore none of you can criticize me. I hope you all enjoy this, as always I love to hear what you thought. xoxo Alex.

Check out Alexandra’s Library for more works by yours truly!

A camera flashed outside the main door to Imperium Locus as clients flooded inside. The lights inside were low, reflecting against the crystal that hung from almost every open space of the club. There was chatter from the locals intertwined with the jazz that the band created from the stage.

“Mrs. Scott is a tramp, everybody knows that. Well, except for Mr. Scott.” Laughter rang out around the table as Dean was making his rounds. He made eye contact with his buddy at the table, squeezing his shoulder and bringing him up to stand next to him.

“Hey, Garth, how about we keep the gossip for the column, eh? People are trying to enjoy themselves tonight.” Dean patted down his wrinkled tie and raised a single brow at the journalist.

“You won’t have to worry much longer Dean. I’m working on something big right now, you’ll see.” Garth’s words were slurred as they came from his mouth. “They’ll all see!”

Dean once again patted his friend’s shoulder, leaving him to be with the group he had shown up with. Garth was always on about how he had some big story that he was working on, and it almost always ended up as some sort of fluff piece in the local paper. Dean had no worries about the strange fellow he called a friend, but it wouldn’t hurt to cut him off before he could no longer walk straight.

As he made his way to the bar, a shot was slid across the wood and into his ready hand. Dean tipped it back, allowing the whiskey to burn down his throat. Ash stepped down the way to wipe the counter in front of his boss.

“Only water for Garth from now on, okay? He can come to me if he’s angry but I don’t need him getting himself into trouble on my account.”

“Got it, boss.” Ash nodded his head once at the club owner before refilling his shot. Dean threw it back again without hesitation. “By the way, isn’t Jo supposed to be on by now?”

Both men turned their heads to the stage devoid of the Imperium’s star performer. Though it wasn’t unlike her to be a little late to the stage, her absence never sat right with Dean. He glanced down at the watch on his wrist and hummed, “Yeah, let’s give her a couple of minutes.”

As Dean spoke, the lights dimmed in the club as the stage lights grew. The head of his jazz ensemble came onto the stage to announce Jo’s arrival, and the crowd broke out into applause and whistles.

“What a dame,” Ash sighed from beside Dean.

“She gets ‘em every time.” Dean agreed. The pair of them watched the charismatic woman charm the crowd like she did every other night since joining the staff at the Imperium. Jo was the secret to Dean’s recent success with the club. Ever since the paper did a column on her show, people from all around the greater area were coming to see her perform. The small, spirited woman had a way with the music that captivated even the most skeptical and frazzled customers.

“Dean,” Ash’s face fell as he glanced towards the front door. Dean caught his gaze and followed it, only to be hit with the last thing he wanted to deal with tonight. His place was more packed than ever and more than that, he wanted a peaceful evening that didn’t end in a bloodbath.

Walking in the front doors of his club was none other than Fergus MacLeod, the notorious jackass that pretty much owned the town just a mile south of Lawrence. He was flanked by his usual henchman, Gordon Walker. None of that pissed him off more than the woman on his arm, Donna Hanscum.

Donna was a girl that had grown up right here with his little brother Sammy. Just a few years younger than himself. She was quiet and kept to herself in school mostly but what had always caught his eye was her beauty. Her soft blonde curls were always in place and her mother never failed to pick out a dress for her that didn’t bring out the amber in her eyes. She was a sweet girl. That is until she married Doug. Somehow, that was where it all went downhill for the young woman. Ever since her association with Doug, the pair had been attached to MacLeod’s side. Even after Doug left her, Donna stuck around the vile man that Dean assumed was less than human. They were the dynamic duo of Pleasant Grove, ironically enough. But everyone knew of the back door dealings they tried to hide. Not to mention all the trouble they have caused the Winchester family. Fergus wanted to take over Lawrence, where the real money was to be made, and he had tried to use John’s death as a means to get inside. Dean had been warned by his father of the MacLeod’s long before he was murdered, and had sworn to protect Lawrence from them at all costs. So that’s what he does, protects the town he loves from the evil they can’t even begin to comprehend, and now, here MacLeod was, in his late father’s club, and that pissed Dean off.

“I’ll take care of it, but call for Benny.” Dean tapped the bar with his knuckles before pushing off of it and leaving Ash to head to the back of the house. Dean licked along his lower lip, his eyes narrowed at the people in his house. Donna caught his line of sight, her head tilting up and a sly smile appearing on her lips when she realized he was staring at her. She pulled on her sky blue gown as she went down the steps into the lounge area, the slit in the satin reaching far higher than anything Dean had seen before.

Fergus gripped her elbow and guided her to a table behind Gordon. The henchman tapped the shoulder of the paying customers at the table and shooed them away with a tip of his hat. He pulled out the chair for Donna who sat down next to the man that was evil personified. Her eyes still on the green-eyed club owner.

“Well well, if it isn’t little Cassie Robinson.” Donna turned her attention away from Dean and towards Fergus, where he now had the arm of a young woman trapped in his grasp. “You have the money you borrowed from me?”

“Not yet, but I have something in the works.” She flashed him a brilliant smile, but one that was laced in fear and embarrassment. Her eyes averted back and forth, hoping no one in the area was paying any attention to her predicament.

“Not yet? Well, that was a glass of mighty expensive champagne I saw you drinking over there.” Fergus’ lips twitched into an evil smirk.

“Well, a lady has to keep up appearances.”

“Your appearance is gonna suffer if you don’t get me my money. Twenty four hours.” His voice dropped dangerously low and Cassie ripped her arm from his fingers. A frown fell onto her face as he sneered at her, the young woman stomping off without another word. Donna looked away as Cassie passed her, ashamed that she couldn’t help the poor woman. She couldn’t even save herself, so what was she to do for Cassie?

The young woman in trouble knocked into Dean’s shoulder as he passed on his way to MacLeod, and he watched her run off with a sigh.

“Can I help you?” Dean stopped next to Donna, his eyes on the man whose vile leached out into the atmosphere around.

“Wow, Dean Winchester. What a pleasure.” MacLeod did nothing to hide the sarcasm in his voice, a smile still on his lips. Dean pushed back his suit jacket and slipped his hands into his pockets as his gaze flicked to Donna for half a second. “You know I actually thought this was my club for a while, considering that’s my singer up there.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to inform you, but your club is down the road,” it was Dean’s turn to smile now, “The one lacking customers.”

“Hmm, funny.” Fergus pretended to ponder over his thoughts. “Give me my girl back, and I’ll let you live.”

“Jo is free to do whatever she wants, and she wants to stay here.” Dean turned as he spoke his next words, his forefinger pointing towards the main entrance. “You, on the other hand, are free to go.”

MacLeod laughed, an earnest chuckle, “You know this club had such class when your father ran it. You know it’s too bad your mother and John had such a horrific accident, I mean your mother was always so,” Fergus licked his lips, his eyes narrowing, “Hospitable.”

“I think it is time for you to get out of my club, or I will throw you out.” All hint of amusement was gone from Dean’s face. His blood was boiling underneath his skin, and it took everything in him not to sock the man staring up at him.

Fergus didn’t take his eyes off Dean, both men were intent to size the other up. “Gordon,”

Dean turned just in time to see Gordon smash a bottle against the table, holding up the jagged edges to the club owner’s face. Dean didn’t back down, his jaw ticking as he stood his ground. The music around them faded away as all eyes in the club had been drawn to the commotion. Even Jo stood watching with bated breath from the stage.

“Hey,” Benny now stood at the entrance to the club, his gun resting in plain sight on his hip. He was flanked by Dean’s other right-hand man, Castiel, who also was accompanied by his piece. “I think that’s enough for tonight.”

Gordon dropped the glass with a small nod from his boss, who stood then, taking his coat from Gordon and slipping it back on his shoulders. The three walked by Dean, all eyes on them as they made their exit. Fergus paused in front of Dean, looking out towards all the hesitant faces. “Thanks for the lovely evening.” He sneered before continuing out.

Donna stopped to watch him return to her, letting him pass by out the door. Her gaze landed on Dean one last time and he couldn’t help but wonder if he detected something in her eyes this time. Was it fear? Or maybe it was a concern? Either way, it set Dean Winchester on edge, and that was not an easy feat.

Dean followed them until the trio disappeared behind the doors, turning back around to his still silent club members. “Sorry ladies and gentlemen, round on the house!” Dean flourished his arm towards the stage. “Jo Harvelle!” He signaled towards the band to start up again, wanting nothing more than for the little scene with MacLeod to be over with. He took a deep breath as the attention turned back to his star performer.

The Mercedes rolled to a stop outside MacLeod manor as a fog settled in the small town.

“Give us a minute, Gordon.” Fergus caught the eye of his driver in the mirror and waited for him to exit the car. Donna turned her attention on the man, a confused tilt in her brow. Fergus took a deep breath and looked off out the opposite window.

“I saw you making eyes at Dean tonight,” he stated.

Donna forced a smile on her face and breathed out a chuckle, “I was doing nothing of the sort.”

“I know what I saw, don’t make a liar out of me.” Fergus gripped her bicep in his stubby fingers, his nails digging into her soft flesh. The pair exchanged equally heated stares, Fergus with his teeth bared and Donna on the verge of tears. “You are only still alive right now because you have been useful to me. The second that changes, you are done. Now go to bed.”

Fergus leaned over her to push open the car door. The blonde climbed out of the Benz without a word, her heart hammering deep in her chest. She knew his words were not just a veiled threat, but a promise.

Gordon pushed open the gate as he pulled the toothpick from between his plumps lips, “I believe you, Donna, I know you only have eyes for me. Sweet dreams,” he sneered, taking it upon himself to smack her behind as she walked past him without comment.

The crowd inside the Imperium was thinning as the night came to a close. Dean helped Garth out, making sure he headed in the right direction towards home before coming back inside.

“Last chance,” Cassie purred as she walked up to the eldest Winchester, handing over her fur shawl to him.

“Good night, Cassie,” Dean smiled as he helped her into her shall. “Oh and Cassie, those were nice days we had.”

“Sure they were,” she sighed. “Sorry I had to break your heart.” And with those teasing words, she was gone, her smile faltering as she exited the club.

“Are you sure you can still handle your whiskey, Chief?” Benny came up behind Dean as he watched the dark-skinned woman go.

“Yeah, I’m sure. Why?”

“Cause you just let Cassie Robinson walk out of here without paying her tab.” Benny held up the slip of paper to his boss, a quirk in his brow as he stared at the frowning man. Dean took the slip from between Benny’s fingers and ripped it in half. “Wow, I’ve been working with you for over ten years and I have never seen you tear up a bar tab.”

“Ah, she’s just down on her luck. Mark my words, Benny, someday Cassie Robinson is gonna change the world.” Dean patted his buddy’s shoulder and walked off to make sure his employees began their closing duties for the night. He slipped off his jacket as he set out to help clear the tables and go through some of the night's paperwork. He was leaning against the bar, rifling through his mail when the doors opened, revealing the long legs of Miss Hanscum. The club owner pushed off the bar and made his way to stop her before she could get too far inside.

“Sorry, but we’re closed.” He breathed out as he came up the three stairs to the foyer.

“I know,” she smiled. “My car broke down.”

“Right, so you can lure me outside and Fergus and his goons can work me over.” Dean cocked his head, stopping a safe distance from the woman before putting his hands into his pockets. He straightened his shoulders. “No thanks.”

As Dean turned to leave, Donna raised her voice, “Fergus isn’t with me.” she cast her eyes down to where her feet were planted, the silver of the straps a sharp contrast to the dark tile below. Dean turned back to her, an incredulous look in his eye. He did not believe the lady standing in front of him. He had seen all too well with his own eyes the things that those two got up to. “Promise.”

The two stared at each other for a second, though it felt like minutes to Dean. Donna had a glint in her eye that was making his stomach churn, but there was something about the upturn in her smile that calmed the storm inside him. For some reason, he believed her. “Let me grab my coat.”

Donna led Dean outside to the street just in front of the Imperium as he slipped his hat onto his head. A sleek black Mercedes Benz was parked right against the curb, identical to all the others that the MacLeod legion used. He assumed it was a loaner for her.

“Let me see what I can do, I’m not really the mechanic type,” He drawled as he lifted the hood to the car. The tall man bent over the engine, peering inside and fiddling with some things that seemed out of place to him. “The advancement of these things is amazing. How much did this set you back?”

“Oh hundreds,” Donna leaned against the cool metal, watching as Dean’s white button-down stretched over the muscles of his arms. Dean smiled to himself, knowing damn well this woman next to him had no clue how much the car in front of him truly cost. “What about you? What do you drive?”

“I don’t, not ready to give up on old fashion walking.” Dean turned to catch her eye as he finally succumbed to the fact that he truly had no idea what he was doing. A silence fell between the pair for only a moment before Donna spoke.

“You know, no one has ever stood up to Fergus like that before,” Her words were nothing more than observation but even she couldn’t hide the curiosity that lingered beneath them.

“That right?”

“Mhmm, and to be perfectly honest, I think that confrontation made him respect you. That’s how he judges people, you know, are they weak or are they strong? It’s his way.” Donna turned her back to where Dean was puzzling at the engine of the car, her gaze off in the distance down the road.

“It’s not my way. I’m a kind man unless you give me a reason to be otherwise.” Donna turned to look at him as he stood up straight, seeing the sincerity in his eyes as he spoke. A bashful smile replaced his serious face, “I’m sorry, my Uncle Bobby was the mechanic in the family.” Dean reached above his head and closed the hood of the car.

“It’s okay, leave it. But you wouldn’t mind a good old fashioned walk home, would you?” Donna mocked his earlier tone, offering him back his coat that she held in her arms.

“Sure,” Dean slipped the coat on, stumbling over his next words. “I can do that, where do you live?”

Donna peered behind her, her eyes going south down the main road in Lawrence. “That way.”

“Alright,” Dean agreed, coming to walk next to her as the pair made their way down the street.

The moon was high in the night sky as they made their way out of the sleeping town. There were no other pedestrians on the street as they reached the bridge on the outskirts of town, the last obstacle before leaving Lawrence. The string of lights hung along the white bridge, bringing the wooden walkway to life in the night.

“I don’t know how I feel about the war,” Donna mused as Dean watched his feet moving against the aging wood. “I mostly just worry about our boys. I could fight you know, or be a nurse. What do you think?”

“I guess,” Dean hummed. Donna wanted more out of Dean than one-word answers. The man that had always been an enigma to the young blonde. He had taken up duty looking after his city when his Daddy died and he did it well. It was like she had said, no one had ever stood up to Fergus as he had, not even John Winchester.

“Do you think I’m pretty?” She blurted out, hoping to God that he didn’t leave her alone on that bridge in her idiocy.

“I don’t think I know you well enough yet to say something like that.”

“Well, you certainly don’t talk much yourself. Why would you agree to walk me home if you weren’t going to talk?”

“Not much of the gabbing type.” Dean’s voice was even as the woman pushed him. Sure he had agreed to walk her home, but he wasn’t ready to open up his heart to the woman. After all, the only thing he was sure of was she worked for MacLeod. That meant that she was a threat.

“What’s a girl got to do for some interesting conversation?”

“Fine,” Dean stopped his trajectory and adjusted the hat on his head. Donna continued on a half step before she noticed he had stopped. She turned to look at him, the deep look in his eyes making her smile falter. “Tell me, why do you associate yourself with a guy like MacLeod? He’s scum. Everybody knows the types of things he gets into. People disappear around him. And yet, you let him own you.”

“Nevermind,” Donna husked out, a grimace now on her face.

“Oh no, now you said you wanted to talk. Here I am walking you home, against his wishes I’m sure. I’d just like to know.” Dean shook his head at the woman as she attempted to evade the conversation she had started.

“It’s a long story,”

Dean looked off to the road ahead of them, “I’ve got time.”

“I was in love once, Doug was my whole life. But he was also an idiot... and a dog. He got into trouble with Fergus, money trouble, and I being a naive young lady threw myself on the fire to save him.” Donna admitted without hesitation. It felt better than she could ever explain to tell someone how far she had fallen. The pair continued towards their destination as she explained to him the turmoils of her life.

“You’re a slave,” Dean stated.

“I’m an employee,” she tried to correct him but even she didn’t believe her own words.

“Call it whatever you like, a dog is still a dog.” Dean was fighting every instinct in his body telling him to reach out and touch her, instead choosing to ball his hands up inside his pockets.

“What is a girl supposed to do? I laid my life on the line for a man that ran off as soon as he thought he was free of me. I haven’t been free for most of my life.” Donna explained, the tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.

“I’m not sure if you expect me to help you with that,” Dean worried.

“I’ve made my bed, Dean. More than anything I need to feel the freedom of the wind in my hair, but I can’t expect anyone but myself to do that for me. I don’t need some-”

“You are,” Dean interrupted her tirade.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Earlier you asked me if you were pretty. You are.” The pair locked eyes as he said the words aloud. “But it’s your heart that makes you beautiful.

“Thank you,” Dean couldn’t believe himself that he had blurted out that admission. In the small amount of time it took him to walk her home she had somehow wormed her way into his heart. Maybe he bled for her a little, understanding the loss she must have been feeling, or perhaps it was the fact that he now understood every action she had ever taken since walking into Fergus’ life. Donna was a fool, but she was not a cold-hearted person. “This is me.”

Both of them stopped outside the apartment on Main street. It was just as quiet in this town as it had been in Lawrence. “No one else knows that story about Doug, not in the whole world. Just me, him, and now you.”

“I won’t say a word,” He promised. Donna gave him a soft nod back in thanks. “You know, there is a sign above the door in my club, it says ‘stay awhile, have a nightcap’. Maybe you and I could do that sometime?”

“Have a nightcap?”

“Whatever you’d like.” He mused. Donna and Dean shared playful smirks on their faces, both of them equally unsure of what had transpired though they may be for different reasons. But there was something stirring deep inside Dean’s belly, and he couldn’t have stopped his next words even if he had tried. “Would it be alright-”

“Shut up and do it already,” Donna chuckled and Dean had to shake his head at that. What more surprises could this woman possibly have in store for him tonight?

He leaned into her, Donna meeting him halfway in a pressed kiss. It was short, but it left something burning inside him. “Good night, Donna.”

Donna nodded, turning without another word to enter her home. Neither of them noticed Cassie Robinson in the shadows.

Three cars were parked across the bridge just outside of town, their engines running, ready for a quick getaway. The lights from their headlamps are the only thing illuminating the night.

“Just had to go snooping where you didn’t belong, kid. That’s what will get you killed.” MacLeod was standing in the middle of the bridge, eyeing up the scraggly reporter that was bound and stuck into a cement bucket. The henchman around him laughed at the horrendous snide, eager to appease their boss at whatever cost.

“Stop it! What is this?” Fergus turned his head as Donna came rushing towards him. One of his henchmen moved to halt her advancement. “Get your hands off me,” She shoved him aside.

“What are you doing here?”

“I followed you here. I had a feeling you were up to something, but I never fathomed…” Donna trailed off. Somewhere deep down she always knew the truly horrendous things Fergus got up to in the night, but she let herself believe it was all a lie so she could sleep at night.

“What about you? How’s Dean doing, whore?” Donna stumbled back from his words as if they had physically assaulted her.

“He killed John Winchester. I said I was on to something and I was right. He murdered him.” Garth spoke up from his confines, his mouth already bloodied. Fergus hollered to shut him up and the henchman obeyed, giving two swift punches to the gut.

“Is that true?”

“Go wait in the car!” Fergus ordered, but Donna was far too lost in her distraught, instead choosing to grab his arm.

“Is that true?!” She bellowed this time, only to be treated to a smack across her face. Donna stumbled on her heels, her hand coming up to wipe away the blood now on her lip. Fergus ordered her to the car again, looking back to his previous task. Donna took her opportunity and ran. She ran straight to the first person she could think of for help.

Dean was preparing his club for the night’s festivities when she came barreling through the door. The clicking of her heels on the tile caught both his and Benny’s attention.

“They have Garth, they’re gonna kill him.” She blurted out.

“What?”

“He found out that Fergus killed John.” Dean’s eyes went wide before his gaze was lost somewhere far off in the distance. “Dean I didn’t know, I’m sorry.”

Dean was fishing for something under the bar before she could even try to explain herself. He pulled out a small gold box, flipping the lid open to reveal a single revolver. “Benny, go. Find Cas and get back here.”

“Chief, what are you doing?”

“Let’s just go,” Donna whined.

“Listen to her. Cas and I can handle this.” Benny tried to reason with his boss.

“You’ll get hurt.” Donna tried again.

“He hurt me when he took my father away from me. He’s hurt everybody, including you. He needs to be stopped once and for all.”

“Oh, Dean,” Donna’s tears were making tracks in her makeup along her cheeks as she took in the one man that could help her even if she didn’t think that she needed it.

Dean looked back at Benny, nodding for him to go before walking past Donna and out of the club. But they were too late. A car came towards them on either side of the road effectively blocking their escape plan.

Gordon climbed from the car first, “Get over here, Donna.” He ordered. “Donna now!”

“She’s with me.” Dean stood his ground, blocking Donna from the man now stalking towards them. Gordon laughed a good laugh before reaching for his pistol. Dean was faster on the draw, pulling the trigger of his revolver before Gordon even knew what had hit him. He hit the ground hard, blood soaking his gold shirt as it poured from his wound. Dean walked over, kicking Gordon’s dropped gun from his reach.

“Why does everything always have to be so messy?” The sound of a car door closing had Donna and Dean snapping their attention to the other car. Dean aimed his gun at Fergus, unrelenting in his stance against the man.

“Alright,” Fergus put up his hands and turned around, an evil smirk on his face. “Not even I would shoot a man in the back, Dean. That’s not true, I’ve shot several men in the back. Most of them deserved it, but I wouldn’t recommend you do it. Cause I have a surprise for you.”

Dean’s attention was diverted to the car door opening again, this time revealing a grim Cassie Robinson. The confusion was all it took for Dean to let his guard down for a moment, giving Fergus ample time to reveal his own weapon. Dean was forced to relent, putting his hands up and dropping his gun.

“That’s a good boy.” Fergus laughed. “Alright Miss Robinson. Finish your job and your debt is clear.” He sneered as he offered the gun in his hand to her. She took the metal weapon with shaking fingers, continuing to keep it pointed at Dean.

“I’m sorry, Dean.”

“Cassie, we’ve all had hard times. You don’t have to do this.” He was stepping backward away from where she was shaking.

“Yes, I do. I should have done this a long time ago.” A smile etched itself across her face before she spun around and pulled the trigger on the weapon only to be met with thundering silence.

“Yeah, I thought so,” Fergus mused. He reached out and slapped Cassie, sending her barely onto the wet concrete below. Donna gasped as he turned back to her and Dean, another gun already in his hand.

“If you want something done right-” The sound of the gun being fired rang out in the small city street. Benny threw himself onto Fergus in that same moment, not having enough time to draw his weapon before Fergus had discharged. Dean flung his weight towards his gun to point it at Fergus. Both Benny and Dean had him in their sights, guns trained on his head when a small whimper of Dean’s name had him spinning around.

Donna stood there, clutching her abdomen where warm blood was now pouring out of. “Donna?” Dean reached for just as she collapsed, both of them falling to the ground. “I’ve got you, I’ve got you.” He tried to reassure her as her eyes no longer focused on anything. “It’s okay, you are gonna be okay.” She was gasping as she looked up at him, her body fighting to live.

“We are gonna leave, yeah, just you and me,” Dean had one hand pressed against her wound and the other was cradling her head, forcing her to look up at him as he spoke. “C’mon.”

Donna sucked in one last breath, uttering a soft exhaled “I love you,” up at the man cradling her in his arms. Dean dropped his head as the heavens opened up above him, letting down the rain that had been in the forecast all night. Her body was now limp in his arms and he no longer felt the need to fight the tears in his eyes. He leaned in to rest his forehead against hers, his eyes falling shut as he did so.

“You’re free now, Donna.” He whispered to her before a sob racked his body.

A hollered shout of his name had him snapping his head up, unaware of where the voice had come from. The thunder shook the world around before he heard it again. With the blink of his eyes, his little brother Sammy came into view, the world suddenly much brighter than it had been before.

“Dude, why do you even agree to watch movies if you are gonna fall asleep?” Sam had kicked down the footrest of Dean’s lounger. He had to blink a few more times to allow his surroundings to come back to him, the credits of the black and white film Sam had chosen for movie night still playing on the television.

“I wouldn’t have agreed if I knew you were gonna pic this boring shit.” Dean groaned, the reality now crashing over him. Sam frowned at his older brother before stalking off without cleaning up, leaving Dean to deal with the mess.

The eldest Winchester rubbed the sleep from his eyes, his heart pounding in his chest. There was this emptiness in the pit of his stomach that the dream had left behind, a nagging feeling that he knew all too well. Unfortunately for him, this wasn’t the first time Donna had found her way into his dreams, and he was sure it wouldn’t be the last.

The hunter wasn’t exactly sure when it had all started. Time had always been hazy to him, but now as he found himself lucky to live another day, time was meaningless. Maybe it was then that the plucky sheriff from Minnesota had found her way into his heart. Dean had let his guard down a long time ago, and with it went the walls around his heart. Donna had a way about her that never failed to make him laugh, and she sure knew the storms raging in his head before anyone else. Donna was a badass and everything he could see himself needing in a woman. The only problem was that he couldn’t let himself have her. Not when the universe's largest target, God himself, was out for his blood. No, she deserved far better than a broken hunter who likely won’t even be able to save himself in the end.

Dean stretched out his limbs as he climbed from his chair, his body creaking from years of abuse. The hunter couldn’t be bothered with what his brother had left in the movie room, instead, flipping the light off as he exited, his mind elsewhere as the black and white credits droned on in the now dark room.

Forevers: @polina-93 @22sarah08 @callmekda @hobby27 @tranquility-or-chaos @dawnie1988 @awesome-badass-cafeteria-sauce @sleepylunarwolf @stiles-stilinski-24-dylan @akshi8278 @superfanficnatural @malfoysqueen14 @deanwanddamons @waywardbeanie @emoryhemsworth @talesmaniac89 @winchest09 @katehuntington @flamencodiva @janicho88 @anathewierdo @ellewritesfix05 @mrsjenniferwinchester @jensengirl83 @lyarr24

#dean winchester x donna hanscum #dean x donna #winscum #dean winchester x donna #dean winchester smut #dean winchester fanfiction #donna hanscum #dean winchester #dean winchester fanfic #supernatural fanfiction #supernatural fanfic #supernatural fic #spn fanfic pond #spn fic #alex writes #mine #imperium locus

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angrylizardjacket · 4 years

Text

the band with no name {Douglas Booth} 2

A/N: 1654 words. A bit shorter, but we’re getting into things now. idk how i feel about it, please give me feedback.

[PART 1]

Flop of The Month, your band, has an instagram account with exactly two posts on it, and Douglas feels like both and idiot, and a creepy stalker, for the amount of time he spends flicking through the two photos without actually liking them, for fear of you realising who he was.

Colson, however, seemed to have no such reservations.

“Look, I’m on their story,” Colson’s grinning from ear to ear as the cast and crew break for lunch the Monday after they’d seen your band play, showing Douglas his phone, and your band’s instagram story. It showed their notifications, highlighting how Colson had liked both photos and followed them, and had the caption ‘how’d the rap devil find us?’ and ‘not complaining tho’.

“Bloody hell,” is all Douglas can bring himself to say, wearing a half-smile as they made their way to the costume department to get changed before lunch. It had been a low effort day, just jeans and t-shirts, but it was always safer to not eat in costume. Hair and makeup could stay and be touched up however.

Your band’s page had begun the day with 217 followers, and ended it with over a thousand. There wasn’t a link to your personal page, and so all he can do is scroll through your Facebook while waiting for Colson to be ready to go.

Y/N: weird question Y/N: also, hi Y/N: but yeh, weird question Y/N: was your friend last night mgk?

Douglas takes a moment to compose his thoughts before typing out his response.

Douglas: hi back Douglas: and yes.

There’s a few minutes of silence, and Douglas can feel his scalp itching beneath his wig, just a little, but he tries to ignore it.

Y/N: cool. Y/N: well it was nice meeting you guys!! Y/N: looking forward to seeing if ur band is real btw Douglas: probably wont be for a while Y/N: im happy to wait Y/N: if u want me there that is Douglas: if we ever actually play a gig, you’ll be the first to know

You send a blushing smiling emoji back, and Douglas finds himself strangely pleased.

“Is that her?” Colson asks, eyes shining as he pulled on his leather jacket; with his wig and makeup, he still absolutely looked the part. Douglas quickly slipped his phone in his pocket, knowing that a faint blush dusted his cheeks despite his best efforts. As he waffled his way through an affirmation, Colson’s smile just grew wider.

“I still don’t understand why you were being so vague; she probably would have jumped you there and then if she knew you were part of the Motley Crue movie, man.”

“Yeah,” Douglas said, his discomfort mounting at the insinuation, “that’s the problem, dude; first of all, I don’t know if she like the band themselves, or just the music, and if she does like the band,” he paused, shrugging a little, quietly embarrassed, “what if she likes them better than me?”

“They’re all married,” Colson says, like it immediately solves everything.

“Man, you know that’s not the issue,” Douglas sighed, but it’s clear he wasn’t done, and Colson just waited, eyebrows raised, “you know, girls who are like... like... how did you say it the other week? When that girl from Instagram was in your DMs every other minute?”

“Clout chasing,” Colson nodded sagely, suddenly understanding all too clearly his co-star’s apparent fears, “well she doesn’t know who you are yet.”

“Exactly,” Douglas exclaimed, glad the craft services tent was finally in view, feeling himself grow hungrier by the moment, “and I think I wanna keep it that way, just for now.”

“Better pray she doesn’t watch Jupiter Ascending,” Colson snorts, just as Douglas punches him in the arm.

The next day, he messages you first, sends a photo of himself and the rest of the band out of costume, but holding their instruments, all wearing heels to help make it easier to wear them around set.

Douglas: the band says hi Y/N: shit, you guys have instruments and everything Y/N: getting less sketchy by the minute

You follow it up with a winking emoji, and a photo of yourself, out in the sunshine, dressed impeccably, makeup dark and sharp, holding a stack of posters beside your head, advertising your band’s next gig; this Saturday.

Douglas: are you inviting me? Y/N: only if you’re saying yes

Your confident coyness amuses him, despite the way the shoes are pinching his toes, and he tells you he’ll be there.

The next day, you send a link to a band name generator, but more interestingly, you send it right around the time he’s getting his makeup done, early in the morning.

Douglas: early start? Y/N: my shop won’t open itself Douglas: your shop? Y/N: mini mall tattoo parlor hahaha

“She owns a tattoo parlor?” Daniel asks, reading over Douglas’s shoulder between takes, “you’d better make your move or Colson’s gonna go for her.”

“Go for who?” Colson himself calls across set where his makeup’s being touched up.

“You weren’t meant to hear that!” Daniel shouts back, though he’s grinning, and adds, “Y/N. She owns a tattoo parlor.”

“Really, shit man, Doug she’s cool as hell,” Colson muses, before snorting, addressing Daniel, “gimme some credit, I’m letting the man shoot his shot; he’s my bro, not my competition.”

“Thanks man,” with the slightest smile, Douglas puts his phone away as the scene is reset around them, and Colson joins him in the middle of the living room set.

“I expect free tattoos, however,” he says with a faux seriousness, “because if you like her, like really like her, I’m gonna wingman the shit out of you.”

“Seriously?”

“Absolutely, man,” he claps Douglas on the shoulder with a surprisingly sincere expression.

It’s Colson who suggests, the following day, sending a video of Douglas playing the bass, asking if you had any pointers. They’re at band rehearsals again, blasting through their repertoire, when they get to Take Me To The Top, and as the song dies down, Colson makes the suggestion.

“Why are you filming it?” Iwan asks, and Colson’s smile is all teeth where he’s holding Douglas’s phone, answering before Douglas has the opportunity.

“Tryna help impress that punk chick from the band last weekend.”

“You’re actually talking to her?” Iwan asks with a bright, almost incredulous smile, “after everything that happened? She must really like you.” He muses, and Douglas feels his soul leaving this mortal plane.

“Smart move; asking for advice from her, lets her know you think she’s talented, and, well, you know,” Daniel shrugs, wiggling his fingers with a casual air. Douglas frowns, but Colson’s nodding.

“Exactly what I was thinking,” he agrees, and finally Douglas clues in. Dexterous fingers.

“Don’t be gross, guys,” he sighs, already regretting letting Colson help at all, “just take the damn video.”

It only takes thirty seconds for you to respond in All Caps.

Y/N: ARE YOU IN A MOTLEY CRUE COVER BAND

“I’m fucked,” Douglas mutters under his breath, staring wide-eyed at the message.

Y/N: you play so well dude just relax your stance and shoulders Y/N: fkn love take me to the top Y/N: seriously a motley cover band??? Y/N: you just instantly got 100x cooler

“Okay, maybe I’m not fucked,” he concedes after a moment, quietly breathing a sigh of relief.

Y/N: now i have to see u guys play!! Y/N: if that’s alright of course

“Nah, you’re definitely a little bit fucked,” Daniel offers over his shoulder, and Douglas pushes his face away.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Douglas grumbles, and Daniel shrugs bemusedly.

“At least she thinks you play well,” but Douglas isn’t listening to him, he’s frantically tapping away on his phones, scowling, “what ‘re you doing?”

“Trying to come up with a name for our band -”

“Our fake band?” Iwan asks, arms crossed over his chest wearing an amused little smile, “do we have to play along with this too?”

“Not if you don’t want, just don’t... don’t tell her it’s fake is all.” Douglas offers, and the rest of the band nods.

“So how long are you going to play along with this bit?” Daniel ask, and Douglas heaves a sigh.

“Not sure; until I can trust that she’s not just in it to meet the actual band -”

“Which she doesn’t know you know,” Iwan interjected again, and Douglas nodded a little. After a beat, the rest of the band looked to each other, and seemed to share some sort of silent communication, before turning back to him.

“Okay,” Colson agrees easily, “if you’re serious about this chick you’ve known for five days,” he emphasizes, though Douglas doesn’t seem phased, “if we ever run into her, we’ll pretend we’re in a Motley Crue cover band.” He agrees, while Iwan and Daniel silently agree, though they look rather amused at the whole situation.

“There’s just something about her,” Douglas muses quietly.

“It’s the fact that she’s the coolest chick you’ve ever met,” Colson tells him with far too much authority, “and your little posh, school-boy brain wants to try something new.”

“Hey -” Douglas scoffed, though he was quickly talked over.

“She looks like she’d punch me in the face but I’d be okay with it,” Iwan adds, which, strangely enough, the rest of them agree to with various mischievous smiles. Douglas doesn’t exactly deny that he feels the same way.

“What’s our band name gonna be?” Daniel asks finally.

“The Fourskins,” Colson answers back immediately, grinning wide and proud of himself.

“Absolutely no-”

“That’s kind of genius,” Daniel snorts over Douglas’ protest, and so, on a three-to-one vote, their fake Motley Crue cover band is named The Fourskins, and Douglas kind of thinks he’d rather come clean there and then to you, rather than suffer through ever typing or saying that name to you. But he doesn’t.

He really hopes you’re worth it.

#Douglas Booth #douglas booth x reader #douglas booth imagine #colson baker #mgk #machine gun kelly #daniel webber #iwan rheon #The Dirt #the dirt cast #the dirt cast imagine #the dirt imagine #the angry lizard writes

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fairestevies · 5 years

Text

home isn’t a place, it’s a feeling | evie x doug

A few sweet moments in the months leading up to graduation, including Evie’s fashion business, “starter castle,” and Doug’s new band.

February

Evie sighed as she hung up the gowns she was working on for the night. She loved making dresses for everyone, but it was beginning to get a little overwhelming with graduation only a few months away. Not only was she focused on the gowns, but she still had a couple exams to study for, and had to figure out how to bring some of the other VKs over to Auradon. Needless to say, she was exhausted by the end of each day.

She flopped onto her bed, looking gloomily at Mal’s side of the room. It had been pretty empty recently, with Mal being just as busy as Evie. Being a lady of the court was no joke- she usually had a meeting of some sort every day, in different parts of Auradon. She hadn’t used her spell book once since the whole cotillion incident, and Evie was proud of that. Not to mention, Mal was getting to spend a lot of time with Ben.

Evie pulled out her notebook and added another thing to her to-do list: Talk to Doug about the proposal

Ben was planning to propose to Mal after graduation and asked Evie and Doug to be a part of the musical arrangements. Evie smiled to herself, she was so happy for her friends. Mal was going to love it.

She reached over to put her sketchbook back on her desk, but a few scraps of paper fell out. She knew exactly what they were before she even opened them. Her name was written neatly across each folded piece of paper, which she kept inside her notebook for whenever she needed to be cheered up. They were her notes from Doug, ranging from poems to inside jokes to silly stick figure drawings.

Evie smiled sadly as she opened up one of the poems. Along with Evie being busy with her business and school, Doug had been practicing late with the marching band most nights.

Evie turned to look at her clock- 9:55. Doug was usually finished around 10, so she should have a chance to talk to him as he walked back to the dorms. For now, she turned back to the poem she held in her hand. This was one of her favorites, but they were all really good. Not many people knew it, but Doug was super talented. He had a way with words, could play almost any instrument, ace a chemistry test in his sleep, and was the perfect business partner (and boyfriend, of course).

Just as she finished reading the note, her phone rang.

“Hi!” Evie chimed, as she answered Doug’s call.

“Hey Eve,” Doug smirked from the other end. “What’s up?”

Evie told him all about the dresses she was working on, and how she had crunched most of the numbers, which of course he offered to help with. Doug told her about his practice and the routine they were working on for the upcoming family events and graduation ceremonies. They liked to talk things out like this, as the other often had good ideas of what could be added or amended.

“I’m back in my room now, so I’m gonna go shower,” Doug explained. “I’ll come by tomorrow, and we can work on Evie’s4Hearts stuff?”

Evie agreed, chewing on her lip as they said goodnight. She got up and changed into her pajamas before laying back down on her bed. She couldn’t fall asleep yet, as she knew what was going to happen next.

A few moments passed before she heard a knock on the door. She answered to see a squeaky clean Doug with a smile on his face.

“You know it doesn’t count as a surprise if you come to kiss me goodnight every night?” Evie teased, gesturing for Doug to come in.

“Oh, so you want me to stop?” Doug teased back, grabbing her hand as he walked in and pulling her close.

Evie shook her head before hugging him back and burying her head in his chest, “Of course not.”

Doug smiled as he kissed the top of her head, something he could only do when she wasn’t wearing her usual heeled boots. They stayed like that for a minute, winding down after a long day.

Doug had noticed how Evie had been a little more down than usual. He sensed it had something to do with the talk of graduation starting to rise, but he wasn’t sure. What he was sure of, however, was that he was going to be there when she needed him. His nightly visits were his way of making sure she knew this.

Evie finally looked up and pressed her lips to his. “You should probably go before Fairy Godmother catches you out past curfew,” she mumbled.

Doug sighed and kissed her back one last time. “Goodnight Evie,” he said as he started to move towards the door.

“Night,” she followed, closing the door behind him.

She turned back towards her bed, noticing a new folded piece of paper on the floor, her name written across the front in the same familiar handwriting.

She rolled her eyes, and her smile widened as she picked it up.

She felt so lucky. __________________________________________________________________

March

Evie sat upright on her bed as Doug strummed his guitar from her desk chair. She couldn’t help but smile as she watched him, so focused on the notes. Ben had wanted them to take the song that he performed for Mal when he was spelled and slow it down for the proposal. Doug had been working on the arrangement for a while, and he was playing it for Evie’s approval before he taught it to the band.

“It’s perfect,” she admitted as he strummed the last note. “Doug, you’re so talented. MIT (Magical Institute Training) is so lucky to have you as their Drum Major.”

Evie’s smile fell slightly after she spoke. Graduation was approaching faster each day, and everything was changing so fast. Jay and Doug were heading off to separate colleges, Mal and Ben were embarking on a tour of the kingdom, and Lonnie was going to play R.O.A.R. as a professional, but thankfully Carlos and Jane would still be attending Auradon Prep.

Evie wasn’t exactly sure what her future was going to look like. She and Doug had spoken about this a little, but she didn’t really have a place to go. She wasn’t sure if she had enough money to buy a castle yet, but she wanted to stay in Auradon and continue working on Evie’s4Hearts and getting more VKs into Auradon Prep. She saw college as a possibility in her future, but for now, her top priority was getting kids off the Isle.

“And Auradon is lucky to have you as their number one fashion designer,” Doug added, moving to sit next to her.

Evie nodded, her smile back in full effect. “And the number one council member in support of the VK initiative.”

Doug smirked, “And you called me talented?” He threw his arm over her shoulder as they both giggled. “I was gonna wait and tell you next weekend.... but I have a surprise.”

Evie turned to look at him, curiosity dazzling in her eyes.

“I know you’ve been worried about having a place to stay next year, but I looked over the numbers again and Evie, I think we can make it work. I found this one place that I think could be really great-“

Evie cut him off with a kiss. “Thank you,” She exclaimed, hugging him tightly.

Doug pulled her over towards the computer, and as he typed, pictures of Evie’s perfect “starter castle” filled the screen. She stood behind him, arms hugging his chest and chin resting on his shoulder as they looked through the pictures, smiling and imagining the purposes for each room.

“I can’t believe it!” Evie cheered, standing up and twirling around her room. “I’m finally gonna have my own castle!”

Doug spun around and grabbed his guitar, strumming some notes and creating a silly “Evie’s getting a castle” song. They both laughed and continued to mess around until they heard a “Knock it off!” come from the hall.

They felt so alive.

__________________________________________________________________

April

“Okay so that’s 6 new dresses,” Evie spoke aloud as she scribbled the orders furiously in her notebook. With much of her money going towards a castle, her and Doug had been putting in extra work with Evie’s4Hearts to make up for it.

Doug stood by the clothing rack, tagging her recent creations with one hand and calculating the numbers in the other.

“Eve, you still have a month,” he reminded her, hoping to alleviate some of her stress.

“I know, I know,” she responded, even though a month really wasn’t that much time. She moved away too quickly, accidentally knocking her notebook onto the floor, sketches flying everywhere.

Evie let out a frustrated groan as she started to gather her sketches, Doug rushing over to help. She sighed and sat on the floor, back against her bed. “Maybe I need to take a lunch break...”

Doug smirked and sat on the floor next to her. “I think that might be helpful.”

She finally let out a small laugh and looked over at him, “When did our lives get so crazy? I swear just the other day our biggest responsibility was studying for Chemistry!”

Doug laughed. “It has always been crazy since you, Mal, Jay, and Carlos arrived to liven things up,” he joked. “Plus, you’ve always been crazy about your sketches,” he added, pulling one out from the pile he had in his hands.

“That turned out to be a pretty nice dress, huh?” She smirked, admiring her old design.

Doug nodded, “But this one has always been my favorite.” He pulled a sketch of Evie’s cotillion dress out of the pile.

She chuckled, her cheeks blushing when she remembered how much fun they had dancing that night. “Making it short was the perfect call considering the amount of water that ended up on the boat!”

They continued to reminisce over some of Evie’s old designs until Doug pulled out one of the poems he’d written. He smiled to himself, knowing she kept them in her sketchbook.

“Now we can admire your work,” she beamed, picking up her favorite one.

“Oh, it’s really nothing-“

“Doug come on, this is really good,” she urged as he looked over it. “Have you ever... have you ever thought about writing songs?”

Doug pondered her question for a second. “Not really, but a few of us were thinking about starting a band this summer, you know, to stay in practice before we head off to school...”

Evie’s eyes widened. “Doug that’s amazing!” She exclaimed, searching for more poems. “Here, take some of these. I know you could turn them into great songs!”

Doug couldn’t help but smile as Evie rambled on about what the band’s look should be. She was so excited to be able to support him in something, just as he had supported her these past few years. He took her hand and continued to listen, reading over the poems. Sure, they were some of his best work, but it’s who inspired them that really mattered.

He felt so loved.

__________________________________________________________________

May

“Wow, all that castle for such a small price!” Evie exclaimed as she faced her new purchase.

“And it’s not that far from MIT,” Doug added, taking the “For Sale” sign out of the yard and joining her to admire the starter castle.

“Now I know why it was your favorite,” Evie teased grabbing his arm. “But it is perfect, really.”

“I think Dizzy will like it too.”

Evie beamed just thinking about having Dizzy and other VKs staying with her here in only a few months, not to mention how excited she was for Dizzy to meet her friends at Auradon Prep, including Doug. “Oh, she’ll love it.”

Evie honestly couldn’t believe she was here, about to graduate Auradon Prep and now the owner of her own castle in Auradon. She had dreamed of this ever since she was little, although, at that point, she expected to marry a prince to get her there.

“I’m so proud of you.”

Evie looked at Doug, snapping out of her own thoughts and processing his words.

“I love- it!“ she started before catching herself, laughing off the word she almost said. “Let me show you my favorite part!”

Doug allowed himself to be dragged through the side door by Evie. There was a wing on the side of her new home with glass walls, letting in so much natural light.

“It’s the perfect new spot for Evie’s4Hearts,” she marveled, admiring the space.

“I can’t wait to see what you create in here,” Doug gushed, walking up to her from behind to put his hands on her shoulders and give them a squeeze.

Evie blushed, turning around to face him. “I can’t thank you enough for believing in me,” she blurted, almost unaware of the words that had come out of her ruby red lips.

“You don’t have to,” Doug soothed, pulling her close. “I’m your biggest fan!”

Evie giggled. “Mal might argue with you on that one,” she teased, “but I’m your biggest fan.”

Doug kissed her quick as they swayed in the middle of her new fashion studio. Evie’s friends would be arriving soon to check the place out, but for now, they enjoyed the peace and quiet that they knew wouldn’t last long in this house.

Evie was so excited, looking around the room and the halls beyond it. She could see the new VKs running through the halls, full of excitement and energy from trying ice cream for the first time. She could see Doug coming to visit for one of their movie nights, the two of them snuggled up on the couch. She could see Carlos and Jane coming over to share what’s new at Auradon Prep. She could see Jay coming to visit after one of his tourney games, and Mal coming over for girl time when she needed a break from being Queen. She could see this room full of her designs and creations that were still to come.

She knew this place was going to be special, but she didn’t know it would be where she would have to wake Doug from a spell with true love’s kiss later this summer, or where he would play her his first song from the poems he’d written in just a few weeks. She didn’t know it would be where they came to celebrate after Doug’s band’s first show, or where she received a school acceptance letter a few years down the line.

Although her starter castle allowed her to stay and make many new memories in Auradon, she knew it wasn’t just the house that made her feel at home, and for that, she was grateful.

They were home.

#descendants #evie x doug #doug x evie #evie #doug #mine #this was supposed to be about how it was Evie's idea for doug to start a band but it turned into... much more #shoutout the descendants books for giving us actual doug content #anyway I love them #listen they are each others biggest fans ok!!!!

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rockettransman · 5 years

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Rocketman Watch #4 Thoughts

i have so many MORE thoughts can you believe it wow here we go

(i wrote these as i watched it so they’re in order im p sure)

man, his intro monologue during group therapy is just as gripping as it was when I first watched it. And the transition to the bitch is back is so fuckin good. My palms are sweating.

There’s some commentary about forgiving and loving your inner/past child, but I don’t have the words for it at this moment. In the beginning he’s staring down, confused and scowling at his child self, but at the end, he embraces him in a way his father and loved ones never did.

Was he in therapy/rehab WHILE touring and doing music? Stomping into the room in his regalia would have me believe so. I know group therapy was a medium for storytelling. Was it just signaling the very beginning of his story, because we go through different stages through his actions and clothing changes?

Lmao I imagine it must take some pretty cool parents to allow their, like, six or seven year old child to be in this movie. He said bitch so many times.

Took me a hot second to realize the orchestra he’s conducting is playing Rocket Man. The violins are so pretty. Imagine being picked to be in the orchestra on set and getting smile up at the tiny little kid who played Elton. My heart would absolutely swell seeing a little kid being so fantastic at this really intense job.

Kit Connor did amazing in his role. He’s fifteen and he’s already done so much! Imagine growing up knowing you played Elton John as a kid. Getting to work alongside him and his husband and the dozens of incredible actors. Wowie. I’d never shut up about it.

I LOVE how 12 year old Elton is playing the piano SO HARD and is trying to rock out as hard as he can while playing classical music. The boy wanna ROCK dammit.

HE GLANCED UP THE TINIEST BIT WHEN THE MAN ASKED IF ANYONE HAD A FAG (slang for cigarette)

SATURDAY NIGHTS ALRIGHT GIVES ME CONSTANT CHILLS FROM THE START TO FINISH

WOOOW SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD ELTON IS CUTE AS HEEELLLL. The hair, glasses, and front tooth gap fit Taron so well. Goddamn I hope I look like 17 year old Elton some day.

The choreography for this number is absolutely breathtaking. You have to get that many people all in sync! We followed Elton running through the crowd and AAHHH it was a lot! The athleticism! And they did it in the rain! Wow I’m blow away.

Elton is JAMMIN in the back of the stage. It’s really sweet to see his smile and enthusiasm and his brain thinking and working.

That guy in the back peed a LOT lmao

I was wondering where thank you for all of your loving came in.

Charlie Rowe plays Ray Williams, and he also plays LEO ROTH from Red Band Society!!! The first time I watched the movie, I KNEW him from somewhere, but I couldn’t place it and it was driving me nuts. Man. RBS was a big crutch during the worst lows of my ED. Had no idea he was English.

Love to see how shy Elton was as a teenager. It’s a hot ass mood. Also, those silk scarves? Ascots? idk but they’re a LOOK.

“One frothy coffee, no froth.”

The acquaintances-to-best-friends montage set to Border Song *chefs kiss*

Rock And Roll Madonna Is A Perfect Song Send Tweet

Lmao Elton is NOT phased at all when he gets accused of being gay. He’s just like. “Nah. I’m like. Not.” Not overly defensive and surprised, like I’m sure other people would be lmaooo

STUMBLING HOME DRUNK WITH YOUR BEST FRIEND IS A MILESTONE IN TEENAGEHOOD!!!!!!!

“You are a ssSSHHIIIITT HOT piano player—”

So delicate of Bernie the way he politely denied a kiss from him. It wasn’t weird or tense at all. Just a gentle “love you, but not that way. It’s okay” Some people may not be able to handle it that well even today.

Taron’s got nice thighs. That robe & underwear getup is a nice look.

Love love LOVE hearing him experiment with Your Song on the piano to find a melody that worked.

Honestly what the shit do these songs even mean. Bernie sometimes these words don’t make any sense. Don’t worry, they still slap. “See I’ve forgotten if they’re green or they’re blue” like what

AMOREENA IS A PERFECT SONG SEND TWEET

Doug flirting with Bernie makes me snort every time. “Oh, really? That’s.. cool.”

THE TROUBADOUR OUTFIT IS GOOD AS SHIT!!!!!!!!

“NO, BERNIE. YOU ARE UNDERREACTING.”

Taron was right. The overalls do make his ass look massive.

A week ago before this movie I was sick and fuckin TIRED of crocodile rock but now I can’t get enough of it. The movie transformed a lot of old songs I was sick of for me.

Imagine being a kind of shy, nervous kid, terrified to go on stage, but two and a half minutes later the entire venue is LOSING IT because they love the jam YOU WROTE. how cool for Elton.

I want a best friend platonic cheek kiss :(

Hmmmmm I’m wondering if they used the studio recordings that went on the album for the movie or have different movie-specific recordings. Tiny Dancer sounds a teeny bit different in the movie version.

Goddamn I sure hope Taron got to keep that jacket.

“So you liked the song, then?” “Not as much as the singer” *Elton glances away in gay panic*

LMFAO John said some weird colorful words to Elton that barely made sense and he was like OH FUCK GOTTA KISS HIM GOTTA KISS HIM

I’ve talked so much about the sex scene I don’t need to go on about it here. Go search the rocketman tag on my blog for my extensive gay thoughts about it.

Now I know glasses come OFF during sex

oh oh oh I was wondering where Hercules fell in the movie. I love how the songs he’s writing or getting notoriety for is played over the transition scenes.

Elton’s hand on his hip, knowing smirk as John enters the studio. “Hello.”

Bernie is like “HELLO are we RECORDING or are y’all gonna FUCK in the CLOSET?”

*vibrating* Honky Cat Honky Cat Honky Cat Honky Cat

Damn, the flowy white button down with the red pants really is a LOOK

The gestures, staring up at each other, leaning into each other, hands on each other’s chests, damn it makes me feel some typa way. Maybe their love WAS good and fun and exciting while they rode the high of everything before it all went so so bad.

Elton searching John’s gaze while he’s talking and looking like he’s not really paying attention, just looking for a kiss on the couch.. GOD I remember the honeymoon phase of my relationships. So much fun.

His dad going “N-Not really my thing.” That was a metaphor for his SEXUALITY TOO, huh.

Damn. He went to his dad’s to come out to him and he never even got to get to that part. He was just like “....nice shoes....” and even after all this time, didn’t show any interest in his music. If he never was into what he did, how could he even talk about being gay? I’m sure during that scene there were a lot of metaphors to sexuality but I didn’t bother to think much about them.

The eyebrow quirk after his dad says “ah—no. Could you make it out to Arthur?” DAMN Elton was like .. “really. This is what’s happening? Okay. Awesome.”

“What do you have to do to get a fucking drink around here, eh?” *cuts to Elton drinking straight from a bottle*

“Elton—” “Elton!”

John saying “don’t you ever put your hands on me” when he was the one who yanked him from the phone booth AND directly after punching him... woof man. What a shitty dude.

Damn, just noticed John talking very quietly and closely to another man right before he goes on and plays Pinball Wizard. Was this the first sign of him having fun with other men when Elton was indisposed?

Pinball Wizard is absolutely intense and loud and fun, but it DOES carry the tone of “god im SO miserable” under it all. You knew Elton wasn’t having fun.

“It is next week.” Jeezus.

LMAO I just caught the “mom, you’re ON my GOWN” when he reluctantly complies to give the Anderson’s a tour.

Damn, flowy, loose dress shirts with the first few buttons undone is a LOOOOK.

How did they do the overdose scene, you think? Surely the pills Taron took had to be like. Empty. Or placebo affect drugs? Idk. He did take a big drink directly after stuffing his mouth with them. I don’t think he spit them out.

God, there is SOMETHING symbolic about how he meets his child self at the bottom of the pool. Rock bottom? Apologizing? Wishing he could be better? Telling him he’ll never be better?

OH I watched a behind the scenes cut about the pool scene, and none of it was CGI. Taron was weighted under his robe and a SCUBA diver was on standby to provide oxygen. The singing and bubbles coming out of his mouth and stuff underwater was all real.

Dying to know about the choreography around the second chorus, about the undressing and twirling and dressing and injection and handing off of the bat and stuff. That sequence was incredible.

Bennie and the Jets. Damn. It fucks. I listened to it almost the entire time on my run today. (Five miles; I felt like garbage the entire time but it was good anyway.) The scene is wild. He’s in the middle of a drug induced haze orgy. He SHOULD be having the time of his life but he’s so goddamn miserable. (Also, the juxtaposition between Chris Fleming’s Bennie and the Jets is so funny.)

Part of the problem was that John never understood Elton. But, Elton broke it off with John, not the other way around like he said it was. He wasn’t the victim in that regard. John did treat him like shit though.

Victim of Love plays right after that lmao

Renate and he aren’t even close when they do the duet to don’t let the sun go down on me. They’re separated in different rooms, mirroring literally how closed off their relationship was.

The shot with them waking up in different rooms.. damn

His shirt is so LOUD I’m going crazy

Watching Taron down that orange juice made me a little nauseous I gotta say

“Not really I’m gAy”

It’s CRAZY to watch Elton and his mom interact at the dinner scene. He gets accosted and accused of so much by his mom, claiming SHE’S the victim of his actions, making it all about HER and then he turns around and does and says the exact same shit to Bernie.

He yells “Oh, don’t be so dramatic!” at Bernie as he gets into a taxi. THE PROJECTION!! THE DEFLECTION!!!!

I know there’s only so much they can put in two hours, but I wish they showed more of Elton’s eating issues. He had bulimia for sixteen years before he got help. It’s Absolutely the Man With Anorexia in me, but seeing that even men deal with eating disorders quells the lonely aching something in me. I feel that much less alone, you know. Eating disorders aren’t a “woman’s disease.”

How do you think they did his hair? A wig adds more hair, not take it away. He didn’t get his hair cut for it did he?

Seeing Elton’s first love fall apart because John was such a selfish, heartless prick in reality makes me sad.

Elton hugs his inner child when he reconciled with everyone in his past. Goddamn. He found peace and forgiveness for himself, who he was, even after all that time.

When Elton asks him not to go, Bernie refuses, saying this is something he had to do on his own. Healing comes from within alone. No one can help you do it. People can guide you, but you have to work at it. It’s fucking lonely sometimes, but it’s so, so worth it.

I used to loathe I’m Still Standing since i heard it so much at work, but the movie changed my entire perspective on it. I love the slow build up as he exits the rehab center. You don’t get thrown into something so happy and fast paced and fun after a cathartic climax you need to drink in. And the pan to his hat with the rainbow stripe to his smile. I get chills every time. Elton feels so right and secure and happy in himself. At first I thought it was a bit cheesy, but accepting your sexuality, especially after all the hell he went through during his life, grappling with unresolved trauma and fear of abandonment, he absolutely should wear it loud and proud. It’s easy to think times are much easier now being gay, and it shouldn’t be such a big deal. Relative to 1975, it is easier. But it doesn’t mean it’s not such a rough personal thing to work through if you’ve been spit on and resented all your life. Being gay, coming out, and accepting and being comfortable with that fact must’ve been such a HUGE milestone in Elton’s recovery and self-esteem.

Love me again after I’m still standing is perfect. The credits make me tear up every time. Jeez. What a good movie. What a good movie. Hit me up if you wanna talk about Rocketman because I absolutely will with you.

#like if you read pls #noah.txt #rocketman #elton john #rocket man #bernie taupin #richard madden #john reid

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eleventhdoctorsangel · 5 years

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Can’t we be seventeen

Summary: This is the story of the future king ben’s little sister. A princess who is quite different from the others. While the other princess's would wear pastel colors she wore dark colors. While the others trying to find their true love she was worried about the future of the kingdom. Not that she didn’t want to find her true love because she did. She just wasn’t sure if her true love was in the kingdom or the isle of the lost.

The band started to play and other students started to cheer which told me that the limo was pulling up. I gave a small smile and waited for the limo park in front of us. Once it did Jay and Carlos fell out fighting over something. Then Evie and Mal climbed out. The music stopped and the three of us walked towards them. “Stop! You got everything else why do you want whatever this is?” Carlos asked. “Cause you want it!” Jay said putting his foot on Carlos's throat. “No!” Carlos yelled. “Give it to me.” Jay said. “Guys! Guys! Guys! We have an audience.” Mal said. “Just cleaning up. Get up.” Jay said pulling carlos up from the ground. “Leave like you found it! And by that I mean just leave it.” Fairy Godmother said. Jay threw the stuff back into the limo and then looked at me. “Hello foxy. The Name’s Jay.” Jay said as he walked towards me. I let out a small giggle. “Welcome to Auradon Prep. I’m fairy Godmother headmistress.” Fairy Godmother said as she leaned over blocking me from Jay’s view. “The fairy Godmother? As in Bibbidi bobbidi boo?” Mal asked as she made a wand motion with her hand. “Bibbidi bobbidi you know it!” Fairy Godmother said. “Yeah I always wonder what it felt like for cinderella when you just appeared out of nowhere with that sparkly wand and warm smile.” Mal said. “Oh.” Fairy Godmother said feeling touched. “And that sparkly wand.” Mal said again which seem a bit weird but I shook it off. “That was a long time ago. And as I always say Don’t focus on the past or you’ll miss the future!” Fairy Godmother said. Ben hooked my arm with his as He, Audrey and I walked in front of Fairy Godmother. I didn’t even have to look at Audrey to know that she was glaring at me. “It’s so good to finally meet you all. I’m Ben and this is.” Ben said before Audrey cut him off. “Prince Benjamin. Soon to be king.” Audrey said grabbing Ben’s arm and pulling him away from me. “You had me at prince. My mom’s a queen. Which makes me a Princess.” Evie said as she walked up to ben. “The evil queen has no royal status here and neither do you.” Audrey said hatefully. I gently shook my head. Audrey is a royal pain. “This is Audrey.” Ben said. “Princess Audrey. His girlfriend. Right bennyboo?” Audrey said grabbing Ben’s hand. “Well I’m Y/n Ben sister. Of course you would have known that already if he wasn’t so rudely interrupted.” I said glaring at Audrey. “Ben, Audrey, and Y/n are going to show you all around and I’ll see you tomorrow. The doors of wisdom are never shut! But the library hours are from 8:00 to 11:00. And as you may have heard I have a little things about curfews.” Fairy Godmother said then left.

“It is so, so, so good to finally meet you all.” Ben said as he walked up to jay. Which made jay hit him in the chest. I let out a soft laughed ignoring the glare that I knew Audrey was giving me. Then he went to shake hands with Mal. Those two totally had a moment. “This is a momentous occasion and one that I hope will go down in history. Is that chocolate?” Ben said as he let go of Mal’s hand and went over to Carlos shaking his hand that had chocolate on it. As Ben made he was to Evie she still was look at ben all dream like. “As the day our two people began to heal.” Ben said. “Or the day that you showed four people where the bathrooms are.” Mal said. “A little bit over the top?” Ben asked as he went back over to Mal. “A little more than a little bit.” Mal said which made both her and ben laugh. “Well so much for my first impression.” Ben said. “Hey! You're Maleficent’s daughter aren’t you? Yeah you know what? I totally do not blame you for your mom trying to kill my parents and stuff. Oh my mom’s Aurora. Sleeping.” Audrey said. “Beauty. Yeah I’ve heard the name. You know and I totally do not blame your grandparents for inviting everyone in the whole world but my mother to their stupid christening.” Mal said as she brought her hands together. “Water under the bridge.” Audrey said. “Totes!” Mal said as the two began to fake laugh. “ Okay! So how about a tour?” Ben said as he clapped his hands together than grabbing my arm only for Audrey to again pull him away from me causing to almost to fall but Evie caught my other arm before I could hit the ground. “Thanks.” I said quietly to her not making ben to look back and come to help me. Evie smiled sweetly and nodded. She offered me her arm and we linked arms as we followed the others.

“Auradon Prep originally built over 300 years ago and converted into a high school by my father when he became king.” Ben said as we stated to walk past dad’s statue. Ben looked at me and nodded. I unhooked my arm from Evie’s and clapped. Dad’s statue turn from his human form to his beast form scaring Carlos making him scream and jump into jay’s arms. “Carlos it’s okay. My father wanted his statue to morph from beast to man to remind us that anything is possible.” Ben said. “Does he shed much?” Mal asked as a joke. “Yeah mom won’t let him on the couch.” Ben said making Mal laugh. I again linked arms with Evie as we walked inside the school. “So you guys have a lot of magic here at Auradon? Like wands and things like that?” Mal asked. “Yeah it exists of course but it’s pretty much retired. Most of us here are just ordinary mortals.” Ben said. “Which is boring if you ask me.” I said. Which made Mal smile at me. “Who happened to be kings and queens.” Mal said. “That’s true. Our royal blood goes back hundreds of years.” Audrey said as she wrapped Ben’s arm around her shoulder. “Doug. Doug come down.” Ben said breaking away from Audrey to meet Doug at the bottom of the stairs. Audrey tried not to look embarrassed. “This is Doug. He’s gonna help you with your class schedules and show you the rest of the dorms.” Ben said. “I’ll see you later okay?” Ben said as he looked at Mal. “I’m going to hang out with Mal and Evie a bit longer. in case they need anything.” I said. “See you later sis.” Ben said. “And if there anything you need feel free to.” Ben said. “Ask Doug or of course Y/n.” Audrey said as she started to pull ben away. “Hi guys. I’m Dopey’s son? As in Dopey, Doc, Bashful, Happy, Grumpy, Sleepy and.... Heigh-ho” Doug said but stopped as he looked at Evie. “Evie. Evil Queen’s daughter.” Evie said as she walked up to him. Doug broke out of his daydream. “Okay. So about your classes. I put in the requirements already. History of Woodsmen and Pirates. Safety rules for the internet and Remedial Goodness 101.” Doug said as mal to walked over to look. “Let me guess. New class?” Mal asked as she put a piece of candy in her mouth. Doug nodded at her with Evie watching him while playing with her hair. “Come on guys let’s go find our dorms.” Mal said as she dropped the candy wrapper on the floor. The four of them started to go up the stairs. “Oh. uh yeah your dorms are that way guys.” Doug said pointing to the left. “I show the girls. If they don't mind.” I said as they came back down the stairs. Evie grabbed my hand excitedly as we made our way down the hallway to her and Mal’s dorm.

#descendents imagine #gil imagine #descendants gil imagine #mal #evie #Carlos De Vil #Jay #ben #kelsee's works #Do not reblog unless it's from me

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pennylane85 · 5 years

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Dead & Co - 2 Night Wrigley Field Run

June 14th & 15th, 2019

Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL

Dead & Company played the infamous Wrigley Field over the weekend. A mixture of songs between the two nights featured a tour debut, fan favorites and additions to the set list last minute. Here are some of highlights of my favorites from the weekend. I wasn’t able to take notes due to the rain. So I’m going off memory here and it’s mostly Mayer related b/c I can’t for the life of me remember anything else.

Night 1

The debut of “To Lay Me Down” featured Mayer on the steel guitar. You could tell he was a little nervous, but he did a wonderful job. I haven’t seen him play that before, as I know in the past on his 2013 Born & Raised Tour Doug Pettibone played it during a song, can’t tell you which one off the top of my head at the moment, but I do recall taking a photo of Doug. All the Deadheads kept asking me if this was something of the norm for him and I told them that I can’t recall ever seeing him play it, but doesn’t mean he hasn’t.

“Brown Eyed Women” is one of my favorites and I know they’ve played it already this tour, but I just love that tune.

The bluesy “It Hurts Me Too” was killer, Chicago Blues at its finest. It paid homage to the town and Mayer’s guitar solo was phenomenal. It reminded me of the first time I saw him play with the John Mayer Trio at the House of Blues in Chicago back in 2005. The kid was just getting his feet wet.

I’m a huge fan of “Althea” so I was happy to hear that, Mayer’s vocals shine on that song as well. During “St. Stephen” the flood gates opened from above, as the rain fell from the sky. The band fed off the energy of the crowd, especially Mayer and Jeff’s chemistry during “The Eleven.” We were getting soaked, but didn’t care, we sang, we danced the night away. Dead & Company ended Night 1 at Wrigley with “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.”

Night 2

Everyone loves a good “Terrapin Station,” I myself adore “Sugar Magnolia.” It’s my favorite Dead song. I knew they’d return at the end with “Sunshine Daydream.” I hadn’t heard “Mr. Charlie” live yet, so that was a treat. Oteil and Bobby shared vocals on “High Time,” “Friend of the Devil” another fave of my sounded a little off, the tempo couldn’t get figure out or something, in between fast and slow. It was a little weird. To be honest when I listen to the Dead I listen to the Grateful Dead, not Dead & Company.

“Bertha” was added last minute, which got the vibe of the show back on track and everyone dancing. I was excited to finally heard Dead & Co play Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried.”

The second set opened with “Spanish Jam” then another fan fave “Scarlett Begonias” was next.” I really enjoyed the “Help on the Way > Slipnot > Franklin’s Tower” segment. The great thing about jam bands is the way they transition to each song like it’s a part of the next song. I don’t know if the whole band has a say in what the set’s going to be like, but it all has to flow together. Sometimes I don’t notice the transition has even taken place until Mayer or Bobby start singing.

After “Drums > Space” I couldn’t see Mayer on stage as everyone came back out, turns out he was on the piano with Jeff playing “The Other One v.2.” I’m not sure if that’s happened before either. Mayer’s skill set has just sky rocketed since played with Dead & Company. He dabbles on the piano on Instagram Live (which to be honest I don’t watch the videos) and he has a few songs he plays piano on; but in the last two years or so since “The Search for Everything” he’s really taken that leap. I know he plays piano on “I’ll Be Found (Lost At Sea)” off “Paradise Valley” but he didn’t play it that much on the Born & Raised Tour, although I was able to catch one of the performances.

“Sunshine Daydream” ended the set with the encore of “Ripple” and “One More Saturday Night.”

I apologize to Jeff, Bill, Mickey, Bobby and Oteil. I know Jeff had a few times where he killed it on the keys and if I had a notebook I would have written it down, I still want a Jeff and Mayer collaboration. Oteil was jamming and getting lost in the music Saturday night, I was in front of him and really love his energy. Bobby’s been working out, sounding better than ever, this band is going to be here for years to come. Bill and Mickey do a great job as well, I just can’t see them from the pit and I wish I could b/c I feel like I’d have more of a connection with them if I could see what they were doing.

Sorry for the rambles of my review. There’s so much I want to say, express and attempt to describe that sometimes words fail me so just go listen to the shows. I hope you can feel what I felt this weekend. Thanks to Dead & Company for a few nights that healed my soul.

See you kids in Boulder!

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doomandgloomfromthetomb · 5 years

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Bob Dylan - Friends Will Arrive, Friends Will Disappear (Volume 1): Never Ending Tour Guests 1988-1998

Something special for you today — more NET madness. James Adams (follow him!) has dug into the weird/wonderful guest spots from the first decade of Dylan’s Never Ending Tour. Read on, and click the link above to listen ...

The thirtieth year of Bob Dylan’s Never Ending Tour (NET) just ended with a week of shows at New York’s Beacon Theatre and an encore performance that reopened Philadelphia’s Metropolitan Opera House. Thirty years! Let’s pause to recognize the enormity of that accomplishment. Since 7 June 1988, Dylan has played 2,987 shows. That’s about 500 more than the Grateful Dead played during their thirty trips around the sun. Even so, those figures ignore roughly half of Dylan’s career and what history will remember as his most important and influential years. Remember, Dylan was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame before the NET even started.

Some employers will give you a nice retirement package after thirty years. Not that Dylan has shown any signs of quitting or even slowing down. While attending a short run of shows in early November, I kept catching myself staring at Dylan’s boots tapping under his piano. It was ceaseless and driven by that same restless bouncing knee that you see in DONT LOOK BACK. Dylan was just keeping time with his band, but it was steady and hypnotizing, like a metronome driving everything forward: this song, the next one, this show, the next one, this tour, the next one. Onward.

Of course, the current version of the NET doesn’t much resemble the one that launched when Ronald Reagan was president. Things have changed, as Dylan has pointed out at the beginning of his shows for the last several years.

One thing Dylan did more often in the early NET was invite special guests onstage to perform. It didn’t happen at every show, or even every leg of the tour, but it happened often enough that it became a nightly possibility. In his fantastic NET chronicle “One More Night,” author Andrew Muir remembers being accosted at Dylan’s 19 October 1994 show at the Roseland Ballroom by a Deadhead excitedly speculating that Jerry Garcia would appear as a guest performer. That Deadhead should have known that Garcia was, at that very moment, playing with the Grateful Dead at Madison Square Garden. But the rumor was in the air, and it had happened before, and anything is possible. Right? It must have felt that way.

That possibility is what this homegrown mix celebrates: the unpredictable excitement of guest appearances during the first decade of Dylan’s NET. The collection is organized chronologically. By no means is it comprehensive. You could create an interesting survey of Dylan performing only “I Shall Be Released” with NET guests and it would feature the likes of Elvis Costello, Chrissie Hynde, Carole King, Jewel, Cheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks, and Van Morrison. Hell, you could make a whole disc of just Van Morrison guest appearances, although some (“One Irish Rover” from 12 June 1993 comes to mind) make you wonder what everyone involved was thinking (and drinking).

There’s a musical geography to these guest appearances that merits some attention. Part of it is simple proximity: Ronnie Hawkins in Toronto, Jo-El Sonnier in New Orleans, Van Morrison in Belfast, Carl Perkins in Tennessee—Dylan almost certainly linked up with those artists because he was in town and they lived nearby. But those musicians, and others featured on this collection, also earned a musical identity that is linked closely to a specific place on this earth. When Dylan passed through Austin, Texas he was in the land of Doug Sahm and Charlie Sexton. So, Dylan’s invitation to those artists to perform with him was, in a sense, an acknowledgement of their importance and contribution to the local music scene. Sometimes these performances feel like meetings of diplomats who represent countries with musical borders. Dylan was in town and acknowledging the local leadership.

This collection is not a proper survey of the first decade of the NET but it does capture the breezy rawness of those years. Like the shows and the tours these selections are taken from, this collection has moments of ramshackle noise right alongside passages of breathtaking beauty. Listening along, you get the feeling that anything could happen. Who knows what song they’ll play next? It might be transcendent. It could be a loud and lurching disaster. The varied quality of the audience tapes adds to that unpredictability. And hey, just about anybody could emerge from the wings and grab a spot by the microphone, or a guitar, and lend a hand during this next number.

Thanks to: Tyler Wilcox and the tapers responsible for preserving these performances.

Tracklist:

1. One More Night w/ Ronnie Hawkins (Vocals) – June 6, 1990 (Toronto, Ontario) 2. Across the Borderline w/ Flaco Jimenez (Accordion) – July 9, 1990 (Montreux, Switzerland) 3. Gotta Serve Somebody w/ Karl Denson (Saxophone) – October 19, 1990 (New York, New York) 4. Tupelo Honey/Why Must I Always Explain? w/ Van Morrison (Vocals) – February 6, 1991 (Belfast, Northern Ireland) 5. Maggie’s Farm w/ Jo-El Sonnier (Accordion) – April 19, 1991 (New Orleans, Louisiana) 6. Everything is Broken w/ Charlie Sexton (Guitar) – October 25, 1991 (Austin, Texas) 7. Dust My Broom w/ Martin Gross (Guitar) – November 12, 1991 (Detroit, Michigan) 8. Red Hot w/ Billy Lee Riley (Vocals) – September 8, 1992 (Little Rock, Arkansas) 9. Highway 61 Revisited w/ Derek Trucks (Guitar) – November 11, 1992 (Clearwater, Florida) 10. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat w/ Neil Young (Guitar) – October 9. 1993 (Mountain View, California) 11. Matchbox w/ Carl Perkins (Vocals) – November 10, 1994 (Jackson, Tennessee) 12. Ramblin’ Man w/ Dickey Betts (Guitar and Vocals) – September 30, 1995 (Tampa, Florida) 13. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues w/ Doug Sahm (Guitar and Vocals) – November 5, 1995 (Austin, Texas) 14. Dark Eyes w/ Patti Smith (Vocals) – December 14, 1995 (New York, New York) 15. My Back Pages w/ Roger McGuinn (Guitar and Vocals) – May 17, 1996 (Cleveland, Ohio) 16. Girl from the North Country w/ Nils Lofgren (Guitar) – October 20, 1996 (Mesa, Arizona) 17. This Wheel’s On Fire w/ Rick Danko (Guitar and Vocals) – August 18, 1997 (Wallingford, Connecticut) 18. Ragtime Annie (Instrumental) w/ David Bromberg (Guitar) – December 14, 1997 (Chicago, Illinois)

#bob dylan #the neverending tour #doug sahm #patti smith #Rick Danko #neil young #van morrison

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peoplediedrobert · 6 years

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The One With the Mondlerobron Wedding

Soooooo this idea sprang from a discussion I had with an anon about how the Robron wedding is hilarious when placed in context of the Monica Geller/Chandler Bing wedding in Friends. This isn't a "fic"--more like I've chosen some scenes from Friends and made it fit with Robron. I'm working a few scenes from the Mondler wedding and honeymoon but here's a glimpse into it! If you have an idea for a scene, let me know.This is absolutely self indulgent and I'll add a few more scenes this week BEFORE THE ROBRON WEDDING!

Dedicated to my beautiful Mondlerobron anon.

AO3

Chapter 1

I'm Engaged! I'm Engaged!

Aaron opens the front door and sees David waiting with a bottle of champagne. “Hey buddy, I just got a note on my door that said ‘Come to the Mill and bring champagne.’ What’s going on? Aaron gives him a big grin and says with obvious excitement, “Robert and I are engaged!” David pulls Aaron into a hug. “Oh my God, Aaron, that’s great—congratulations, man!”

David walks into the living room, nodding hello to Vic, Bernice, and Pete. He looks around, confused. “Where’s Robert, though?” Aaron rolls his eyes but can’t keep the soft smile off his face. “How did you miss him? He’s outside screaming ‘I’m engaged, I’m engaged’ at the top of his lungs.”

Everyone in the living room laughs. Pete takes David over to the window so he can see Robert with his arms raised, yelling at the sky. “Yeah he’s been out there for twenty minutes, I’m surprised you didn’t hear him on the way over.” “Ohhhh I thought it was just someone screaming “I’m gay, I’m gay” over and over. And, I just thought, ‘well that’s one way to come out I guess.’ Should we bring him in?” Bernice butts in and comes to stand at the window next to David. “Oh no, let’s let him stay out there. It’s sweet.”

They open the window, just in time to hear someone scream back at Robert, “SHUT UP SOME OF US ARE TRYING TO SLEEP.” Robert stops, considers things for a moment and yells back, “NO I WILL NOT SHUT UP. WHY DON’T YOU COME OVER HERE AND SAY THAT TO ME, HUH BUDDY?! YEAH, MY FIANCE WILL KICK YOUR ARSE.” At that, Aaron races outside and pulls Robert back into the Mill. “Ok, yeah, that’s enough. I’d rather not go to prison after this wedding day, thank you very much.”

Once they convince Robert to come back inside, Vic claps her hands together and practically screams, “Ok! Since the wedding party is all here, let’s start planning!” Robert jumps up and races upstairs, yelling over his shoulder, “Great idea, Vic! I have some ideas jotted down.”

Muttering to herself, Vic continues the wedding talk long after Robert has disappeared upstairs. “We’ve got a lot to do! We gotta think about the flowers, the caterers, the music…” At the word “music,” Aaron perks up. “Oh, I’ve got some thoughts on that. I was thinking…” Gently, Vic pats his arm and lets him down easy. “Whoa, Aaron, too many cooks.”

Aaron’s jaw drops involuntarily—is he not half the wedding couple? Robert returns a few seconds later and sets down a huge binder on the kitchen table. “Okay! Let’s get started!” Aaron stares at it, dumbfounded. “What the hell is that, Robert?” Vic runs over to the table like a child at Christmas. “The wedding book! I haven’t seen that in ages.”

Robert strokes the front of the binder with a fondness that could almost be described as seductive. “This baby has got everything. Take y’know, locations for instance.” He opens the binder and flips to the front. He runs his finger down the page and urges Aaron to look at his list. “First, organized alphabetically,” he flips the page, “then geographically,” one more flip, “then by square footage.” He looks self satisfied and a little smug and Aaron is rethinking every part of this engagement.

Trying to get in the spirit of things, Aaron points to the book and asks, “now, do I get to look at this book or is it just for people who are actually involved in the wedding?” Robert gives him a small shove. “Of course you can look at it, Aaron! Yeah, I want your opinion too! Here you go! What do you think about centerpieces? Roses or orchids?” He holds up a photo of each in front of Aaron. Aaron points to the left. “Definitely roses.” Robert and Vic exchange a look and try to smother a shared laugh.

“Well, I just think they’re a little more weddingy…” He trails off as Robert inches the picture of the orchids closer to Aaron’s face. Aaron rolls his eyes for what feels like the hundredth time since he and Robert got engaged earlier that day and gives Robert what he wants by agreeing. “But orchids are the clear choice!” Robert puts down the photos and gives Aaron a quick kiss. “Oh my god, it’s like we’re one mind, Aaron!” Aaron plasters a fake smile on his face as he nods his head vigorously, “Uh huh!”

——

After a long day at work, Robert walks into the Mill and sees Aaron and Vic huddled close together at the kitchen table. As he comes into the kitchen, he cradles his hand, moaning “Owwwwww” until Aaron looks up, eyebrows knitted in concern. “What happened? What did you do?” With a smirk, Robert replies “I don’t know. My hand feels weird. I guess it’s because I’M ENGAGED” and flashes his left hand up to Aaron and Vic. Vic lays her head in her hands and Aaron rolls his eyes. “How long before that gets annoying?” Vic’s muffled “Starts?” is met with a gentle smack on the head by Robert.

“What are you two working on so intently?” Aaron sits a bit straighter and says with pride, “We’re working on the seating chart, trying to narrow down the guest list. Let me show you. Here is where the band is,” Aaron points out to Robert. He moves his finger to the opposite end of the chart explaining, “and this is where the bar is. Vic, this is where you are.”

Vic quickly grabs her pin and moves it to the bar area. “Why don’t we just take me and put me with a Manhattan in my hand, talking to the cute bartender.” She gives a small laugh and looks up at Aaron, where she’s met with a steel blue gaze and her laughter dies instantly. “These pins aren’t for playing are they?” “No, Vic. This isn’t a game.”

Interest piqued, Robert asks, “Why are some pins red and some blue?” “I’m glad you asked, Rob. The red ones are my guests and the blue ones are yours. All the pins have people’s names on them.” He looks so proud of himself, but Robert immediately notices something odd and points at his pins. “This is so sad, I mean only have like ten pins, including Vic and Diane.” “Well, you also have Doug, Jimmy, and Nicola. Relax, it’s not a contest.“ He turns his head to Vic and loudly whispers, “well, it’s certainly not a close one.”

#robron #mondlerobron wedding #Robert sugden #Aaron dingle #I AM SO SORRY FOR THIS #myterriblewriting #robron fanfic #friends

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dterrero · 4 years

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My Night With Official Outcome

(From April 2015)

I decided to spend my Friday night at Weekend Willie’s in Naples. I’ve eaten there a few times before and I love it. I wish I could spend more nights eating there than at home.

I walk in, grabbed a seat and waited for a server to get me a drink. The band onstage is preparing to open up the night. They are playing as a quintet, but at the core of the band are Zac Sperry, 21, of Naples and Julia DeTomaso, 15, also of Naples. They are Official Outcome.

Weekend Willie’s was modestly busy that night given the time of year They started out the night with acoustic pop covers, including Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours”, Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud”, Luke Bryan’s “Play It Again” and “Hero” by Enrique Iglesias.

At the end of these songs, DeTomaso switched from acoustic guitar and sat behind the drum kit.

Their drummer Ryan Cathey takes up a djembe onstage as their keyboardist Garrett Cutler plays the Jeopardy song. They also make note that the Truth Custom drum set is brand new. Julia wasted no time making it sing. She hit that thing hard. I can’t even remember the song they played. I could only focus on that ferocious drumming.

Again, Julia and Ryan rotated instruments with the Jeopardy song playing. When they feel like the joke isn’t funny anymore, Zac starts playing a blues shuffle in E. I think to myself, “OK where is this going?” Once they got a groove going, Zac does the sliding Chuck Berry riff intro to “Johnny B. Goode”. Not kidding. It got livelier as more people trickle in. From there they go into “Rock Around the Clock” and blink-182’s “All the Small Things” before taking their first break. ______________________________________________________________________________ I remember when I got the invite to like their Facebook page. It said Official Outcome formed in December of 2012 at Center Point Community Church in Naples and listed their style as “Americana pop”. Right off the bat they started playing shows all across Southwest Florida and got recognition. Indie Artist Magazine even named them the 2013 Artist of the Year. Their original vocalist Sarajane Sullivan rounded them out as a trio, but left before a year had even passed.

Zac Sperry (left) and Julia DeTomaso (right) of Official Outcome performing at Weekend Willie’s Bar and Grill in Naples on April 24, 2015. Their debut album Never Take It Slow is in the post-production phase. Photo Credit: Daniel Terrero

During the first break, I got to sit and chat with Julia and Zac about what they had been up to. For the past year or so, they have been promoting their debut release Never Take It Slow through their Facebook and ReverbNation accounts. I started off by telling them what a great performance they put on. They responded with awkward silence and some awkward thanks.

“‘Official Outcome is rude, they don’t say thanks,’” Zac said jokingly.

“You guys have a new LP coming out soon, is that right?” I asked.

“Yes,” Julia replied.

“When does it drop?”

“That’s a good question,” Julia said.

“When you find out, let me know,” Zac said. “Um . . . I don’t know. That’s the only information I can tell you at this time.”

The record, titled Never Take It Slow, was set to be released earlier this year on Valentine’s Day.

Zac said that recording was finished, but there were some decisions being made over a song being featured on their release.

“How do you feel about this being your first LP?”

“I’m excited. I think Zac is too. It’s exciting to be able to get our music out.’

“But this is your first album too, so . . .”

“Wait, wait,” Zac said. “I have to clarify this. It’s only four or five songs, so it’s like a demo. It’s not full LP.”

“It’s not a full LP?”

“It’s an EP.”

At that moment, I was slightly disappointed. I was anticipating a long player at this point in the band’s history, or least for them to have enough material written for one. Everything sort of pointed in that direction. After all, they had put out a music video for their original piece “Tell Me That You Love Me” in 2013, when Official Outcome was still a trio. ______________________________________________________________________________ After the break, Official Outcome reconvened to the stage. Again, they returned with the mellow covers like “Secrets” by OneRepublic. They followed up with a tasteful rendition “Cruise’ by Florida Georgia Line and the more upbeat “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors.

They turn up the artificial reverb effects through the vocal mics and through the guitar amps.

Julia jokingly says, “Welcome to Earth.” They take their time making sure everything is set just right.

The spacey noise is so present at this point, Austin yells from the crowd, “Are we at Woodstock?” After Julia gets all the giggles out, she sings “Royals” by Lorde.

Near the end of the song, Zac hopped back behind the drum kit to drag the song out a little longer. I got distracted by two very awkward conversations between an elderly Minnesota man and some tipsy woman. Before I knew it, the second set was over and Official Outcome was on break. ______________________________________________________________________________ I’ve known Zac since the spring of 2009 during our sophomore year of high school. He was a home-school student who ran track and field with me for First Baptist Academy. We both signed up for spring football later that year. I figured he would go to Naples High School like told me he would, but his parents decided to enroll him as a full-time student at FBA. Since then, we’ve been friends. We had common interests in music and sports, and we shared a bizarre, offbeat sense of humor. Interestingly enough, our birthdays sit right next to each other.

Zac is also one of the few friends that stayed in Naples after high school. After two semesters at Florida Gulf Coast University, he decided college wasn’t for him. I, on the other hand, dedicated myself to just schoolwork.

I wasn’t too disappointed about the record or the release date. I asked Zac and Julia about the recording process. The recording took place at the Mix Factory studios in Bonita Springs, with production work from local artists Ray Nesbitt, Darrell Nutt and Doug Tracy, whom both refer to as “just Doug.”

“What was the recording process like? Did you already have songs going into the studio?”

“We had songs that were written before,” Zac said.

“Did you improve upon them or were they good to go?”

“No, we definitely improved upon them.”

“What have the guys at The Mix Factory taught you on the production side?”

My First Baptist buddies right before our high school graduation ceremony in 2011. Zac Sperry (pictured third from left) and I (far left) have known each other since we were 10th graders. (Photo Credits: Virginia Ruiz)

“I think they taught us about arrangement,” Zac said. “Arrangement is the biggest thing that I learned about writing songs.”

“What about aesthetics? What’s their production philosophy versus your production philosophy?”

“Something that’s going to stick in your head,” Julia said, “in a good way obviously.”

“They really like catchy hooks,” Zac said. “Julia has a knack for writing catchy hooks, so they don’t have to change a lot about that.” ______________________________________________________________________________ Official Outcome jumped back onstage once more and begin with a mashup of Miley Cyrus’ “We Can’t Stop” and Jessie J’s “Price Tag”. The muted instrumentation provides a great foil to Zac and Julia’s soulful delivery. As they drag out the song, Zac starts twerking onstage. Julia jokingly suggests photo editing Kim Kardashian’s butt onto Zac’s backside, which earns them a few laughs from the audience.

They can sense their limits coming on as 10 p.m. approaches, but they take it in stride. They throw an original and a hilariously censored version of Cee Lo Green’s “F**K You.” They end the set doing an extended jam on Sublime’s “What I Got”. They give credit to all the musicians onstage and opens up the musical space to let each of them solo. ______________________________________________________________________________ As far as future is concerned, Official Outcome’s plans are to keep playing shows like this in local bars and public spaces, and to seek more independence and a sense of adventure in their songwriting and production. It may sound modest, but Julia is still only a sophomore at Naples High School. She says she and has plans for dual enrollment at Florida SouthWestern College.

In Zac’s case, he��s recently completed his EMT training. Still, they have come this far since losing one member with lots of support from friends and family, and they aren’t too worried about the future. Their manager, Sheri Austin, isn’t worried either.

“As long as they are having fun and have the right attitude and remain humble and follow their dreams, that’s what’s important,” Austin said. “The minute it’s not fun anymore, it stops.”

Of course, in our shared sense of humor, I could not resist asking the very last question.

“Alright, very last question,” I said.

Zac laughs and asks “Is it like a ‘Dan Terrero-back-in-high-school’ question?” I do the best I can to tell him no.

“Do you have any guilty pleasures in music?”

“Brittney Spears,” Zac says. “Just kidding, just kidding.”

“He’s not kidding,” Julia says straight-faced. “He has that song ‘Circus’ on his phone. He knows every single word. I’m not even joking.”

“Ok,” Zac goes, “Circus’ is my guilty pleasure.”

“I’m trying to think, “I don’t know,” Julia says.

“’One Time’ by Justin Bieber.”

We all had a good laugh on that question, promised each other to stay in touch, said our goodbyes and headed home.

#livemusic #naplesflorida #indiemusic

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