Daily OpusEverything I write is freely rebloggable. Just keep the source and tell people about my books :D [Until I decide otherwise, my pronouns are Ze/Hir/Hirself. As in "Ze went to the shops to get hir medication hirself". Thank you for the respect.]
"Ko Au A Moana (Waiata a Nga tipuna)" by
Rachel House, Jaedyn Randell
Here’s an older & intentionally messier one [link]
Holy shit. This is amazing. People yell and scream like just overlapping two songs that don’t do anything is the best thing ever but this is on an entirely different level.
Promotions didn’t happen often amongst the Elven portion of the NWPD, so Snocoun’s ascent upwards in the ranks was reason to throw a huge party. Sno hadn’t wanted any kind of public attention, so Avi had arranged literally everything. The venue, the caterers, and the entertainment.
Everything had been arranged by text. Email, messaging systems. He hadn’t known…
He hadn’t known the Bard would be so lovely.
Avi was staring. He knew he was staring. He could feel the blush starting in his cheeks. He could imagine quite a number of interesting futures with that man on the dias.
All dependant on his being able to talk to him first.
“You’re drooling, Burnsides,” Sno murmured in his ear. “See something you like?”
Avi swallowed and quickly looked away from the violinist. “Who? Me? What makes you say that?”
Sno quickly picked up on where Avi was pointedly not looking and smiled like a shark. “Oooh… Lust at first sight… The Bard?”
“Shut up,” he mumbled.
“I think you li-ike him. You want to ki-iss him. So go and hu-ug him…”
“Shut up…” The blush crept outwards from his cheeks.
Sno took a deep breath and fortified herself. “Welp. It’s about time I took a bullet for you. We’re buddies. It’s about time I did you a good turn.”
Avi, who knew exactly how awful Sno was at interpersonal relationships, cringed and blushed harder. “Sno, no…”
“Sno, yes.”
Avi could only whimper and attempt to hide in the crowd. He rolled a nat 1 on his stealth check.
*
Johann had been quietly eyeing the guy who’d hired him half the night. He knew that Elves - even half-Elves like himself - had a certain effect on Humanmen. He was living proof. As the night progressed, the dude was turning increasingly interesting shades of red.
Uh-oh. Here came the partner. Johann had heard the others here calling her ‘the cold front’ half the night and ‘the big chill’ the other half. Judging by the look on her face, she was about to be up to shenanigans. Probably something like requesting Freebird or Louie Louie. Junk like that.
“Hey. Bard…”
“Name’s Johann.”
“Yeah. Uh. Do you, like… have somebody?”
What? This was not what he anticipated. Not at all. He and Redguy had been chatting for a while. Maybe Red was that colour because he knew she was this awful. “Whut?” he said.
“You know like…” her hands juggled invisible balls between them. “A life partner. Significant other. Snuggle buddy. Whatever. Do you come home to a flesh person on the regular?”
Flesh person. Holy shit, that was awful. No wonder Red, over there, was turning vermillion. “…no?”
“Are you looking for someone?”
Gods. She was making it worse. "Uh. Lady. I’m not… You’re not my -uh- cuppa tea…“ How to back outta this gig without being arrested or whatever? Over in the corner, Red was trying to hide inside his own hands.
“What?” she said.
“What?” he said.
“No! I mean. I’m not into you. Not like that. Um. A friend'a mine… he’s been… Look. Do you like guys?” This whole situation could not get more awkward even if they were having an awkward contest.
“This conversation is getting harder and harder to follow,” Johann confessed.
“So… my partner. Not partner-partner, but like, on the job partner? He thinks you’re cute.” Her face twisted weirdly and after a moment, Johann realised she was trying to smile. “He’s my buddy and I’m trying to do him a solid, here.”
Across the room, now valiantly attempting to hide in a corner despite the lack of cover, Red yelled, “DAMNIT, SNO!”
Buzz around the room increased significantly. Johann knew that buzz. Bets were being laid. More than that would be being laid, if he played his cards right.
“That’s him,” said Sno.
“Oh. Yeah.” Johann was certain he was failing to pretend he hadn’t noticed Red. “Kind’a cute…” especially when he was red-faced and cringing in anticipation of imminent disaster.
Sno turned and yelled, “HE SAYS YOU’RE CUTE!”
Gods, it was amazing the poor fellow didn’t spontaneously combust. If the path to true love was paved with soul-crushing mortification, this lady was the gods-damned entire road works. “Lay off the poor fellow, huh. I don’t want him to die before we get a chance to talk.”
“His name’s Avi Burnsides and I will figure out a way for you two to talk to each other tonight if it kills me.” She had a slip of paper ready and tucked it into his shirt pocket. “But just in case, that’s his number.”
Ah shit. “M’kay. Real quick. Favourite song?”
“Istanbul Not Constantinople by They Might Be Giants.”
“Cool.” He pitched his voice to carry. “This next number is at the request of the celebrant…” and then proceeded to play the living fuck out of Istanbul.
*
Meanwhile, over in the corner of Avi’s eternal shame…
“I hate you and I want you to shrivel up and die,” said Avi.
“No you don’t,” Sno handed him another Redcheek Cider. The strong stuff, since they’d either be walking or catching a cab home. Besides, her buddy obviously needed some Dutch Courage. “He said you’d have to pay him in person? Someone’s been stealing his mail.”
Avi didn’t believe it for a second. “We already have each others’ emails, and I can pay him by e-transfer.”
“Nope. You can’t do it. There’s been a SNAFU with his bank. They’re taking too long to give him money people send him. Dude’s running a bit short. He needs to pay rent y’know?”
“Ahuh,” said Avi in his this-is-a-cartload-of-horseshit voice. “What kind of SNAFU?”
_Ah, crap…_ “Uh. Like. You know on Paypal when you get too many payments, too fast? They -uh- freeze your account? It’s like that, only they’re auditing every e-payment. It’s a pain in the ass.”
“Huh. Never heard of that,” he said. “Shouldn’t be a big deal to hand him a cheque.”
“And thank him for a marvellous job at playing tonight?”
“Especially that one. I didn’t know you were into They Might Be Giants.”
“Who isn’t?”
“Sno…”
“I panicked. It was the only violin piece I could think of.”
He patted her arm. “Honesty’s very important between friends, Ton, Sno.”
“I’m letting you get away with that tonight, Burnsides. Thin ice,” she growled. “Drink your cider.”
She sipped lightly - not that alcohol had a lot of effect on Elves - and tipped up his elbow a little to encourage him to drink more.
“You’re an ass, Sno,” Avi coughed, having had some of the cider go the wrong way.
“Yeah, and you’re the only one who can handle it. Drink up. You’re gonna talk to the man.”
“Okay.”
“Tonight.”
“Okay.”
“And say more than two words in succession.”
Now he looked stricken. “Aw, come on…” He was back into turning a fine shade of crimson. “I can’t do that.”
“Not yet, you can’t,” she had a bottle of his finest, richest home brew. “Follow that with some of this, and you might be able to say a few words to him before the end of the evening.”
Avi whimpered.
“Or…” she said. “I act as your go-between all night.”
Avi sank the rest of his Cider in a sudden and desperate thirst.
*
Johann took a break for food and something non-alcoholic. Two more sets, tops, and ninety percent of these cops would be so pie-eyed, they’d be pouring them into their cabs and ubers.
Uh oh. Here came the lady of the evening. Shoving her partner towards Johann with a great amount of reluctance on his part.
“No, no, no, no… I still can’t do it… Sno-o-o-o-o-o…”
“Say ‘hello’,” coached Sno.
Avi, halfway sloshed and very red in the face. “Uhm. Hi? You play real good.”
“Thanks,” said Johann. “I practice daily.”
“Say, ‘I think you’re cute’,” coached Sno.
Avi went even redder. “That… um… youroutfitlooksrealnice…”
“Close enough.”
Johan was starting to feel a little pink around the cheeks, himself. “Yeah, the entertainment company makes me wear it.”
“Say, ‘maybe I should see you out of uniform’,” said Sno.
“NOT LIKE THAT!”
Johann snorted. “Yeah, I wouldn’t mind seeing you off the clock, either. You free weekends?”
“Alternate ones,” said Sno. “This coming weekend is completely free.”
“…eeeeeeeee…” said Avi, cringing in mortification.
“Saturday or Sunday?” said Johann. “You a morning person, cutie?”
“…kyeeee…” Avi gasped. “…yousaidI’mcute?”
“He’s a very annoying morning person,” said Sno. “Pick a day.”
“Saturday’s cool,” said Johann. “I know a great breakfast place on Swine Row. One thirty-four. Know it?”
Sno had picked his pocket and was plugging details into his phone. “He’ll find it. I’ll make certain he doesn’t freak out and dash.”
“I got a quicker way,” Johann said. “Want some motivation, sweetie?”
Avi just kind of squeaked.
Johann leaned over and kissed him. A friendly smooch on the cheek, but he put a lot into it. “See you Saturday? About nine in the morning?”
“…uh huh…?” Avi squeaked.
“Fantastic.” He was a lot red in the face, now. “Got any favourite songs? And please don’t say ‘Istanbul’.”
“Um. Day in the Life by the Beatles?”
“Aw shit yeah,” Johann grinned.
Sno dinged her champagne glass with a fork. “Everyone? Everyone raise your glasses for Officer Burnsides… because he has a date this weekend!”
The entire room cheered as one half paid some money to the other half.
[TAZ Prompts Remaining: 11]
[Be sure to visit internutter (dot) org for details on how to support this artist]
YEEEEESSSSSSS
You are correct. Gimmie a mo’ for a very important addendum:
Sno helped Avi clamber drunkenly on top of a chair, hooting, “SPEEECH!” as he went.
Avi raised his glass. “You’re all assholes and I love you. Especially Officer Ton, you rat fink.”
Cheers and raised glasses all around.
Johann saw it coming and got into position before Avi tipped the wrong way and fell off the chair. He caught him before he could get hurt. “Hey,” he said.
“I gotta stop fallin’ for ya like this,” said Avi, apparently just the right amount of drunk.
Okay I’ll admit this the was really awesome and a really well matched to the song and edited
That’s fucking tight.
ting ting TING TING TING! TING! *panting out of breath gasps in time to the beat*
I LIVE FOR THIS STUFF
fun fact a few months ago I showed this video to my 4 y/o brother and to this day he asks me to play the song (glitter and gold) because he is convinced it is “The Avengers Song™”
Thought it was about time to post this up publicly- The Kiss of the Demoness, a comic I made earlier this year. Set in a Steampunk Philippines :b
I decided to post this because- guess what- I made it as a finalist with this comic at the first ever Prism Awards, for the short form category. I hope you all enjoy, I’m really proud of this~
[ID: A sketchy pencil drawing depicting an older elf woman and two young, elf kids (Taako and Lup). The three of them are sitting on a bench in the rain. The older woman is wearing a very large-brimmed pointy hat and a baggy robe and dress. Her hair is long and frizzy. Her hands are folded in her lap and she has a mildly amused expression. On the right side of her sits young Taako. He has short hair with curly ends and freckles on his cheeks. He’s leaning close to her so he is out of the rain, and he is looking across the woman and smiling at young Lup. Lup is sitting on the right side of the woman. She has short pigtails and freckles on her cheeks. She is wearing a dress with long sleeves. Lup is also leaning close to the woman and smiling at Taako. End ID]
I’ve done a lot of thinking about Taako and Lup’s aunt but just finally got around to doodling some comics about her while I was at a cafe! We don’t know much about her besides the fact that their time with her was short but positive, and she taught Taako how to cook.
[ID: A sketchy pencil comic. The first panel depicts young Taako and Lup’s aunt gesturing in front of them. She says “Well, here’s your room. I know it’s not much but-” She is cut off when the twins yell “Whoa!” In the next panel, the twins have plopped onto a bed. Lup yells, “This bed is so soft!” Taako yells “I can’t believe we get our own room!” The next panel shows Auntie pointing at a bed on the other side of the room. “Kids… you know there’s another bed?” she asks. We then see the twins lying on the first bed, looking at the other bed with amazed expressions. In the last panel, the two of them have switched to lying down on the second bed. Lup yells, “First we can sleep in this bed, and tomorrow we can sleep in that bed!” Taako yells, “I can’t believe we get two beds!” Auntie is looking at them with a slightly confused expression. End ID]
But wait there’s more! Comics! And headcanons! Under the Read More! vvvvv
You have this… friend. Really nice bloke, buys you a beer when you’re feeling down, kills the people who’ve wronged you, etc. You don’t actually know his name though.
You watch him make his way through the crowded bar, clapping seemingly random people on the back and shaking his head at others. One woman leans forward and plants an enthusiastic kiss on his mouth. He responds by spinning her to the pub’s music and releasing her with a good-natured smile.
You wonder if she knows his name.
The pint in your hand is cold and exactly what you need right now. You can’t get the image of your husband’s body lying broken on the ground out of your head. You think you should be angry or scared or sad, at the least, about his death, but all you can drudge up is a mild sense of relief.
You drink half the pint in one go and the bartender looks a little more approving of you. You’ve proven that you’re not just a well-dressed woman in her mid-thirties who’s out of her depth in this dive bar. You’re a well-dress woman in her mid-thirties who’s out of her depth in this dive bar who can drink. That makes all the difference.
You actually don’t remember when you and he became friends. You didn’t know him in high school which is where you met your husband. Ex-husband. You didn’t meet him in college either, you would remember if anyone had died then. Surely you would have?
You are no longer sure. You don’t even know his name.
You see him on the other side of the bar, talking lowly to a rough looking group in the corner. They all seem friendly, nearly worshipful, of your friend. He’s clearly asking them for something, a favor maybe, and no one seems to be denying him. They look happy, glowing under his regard.
You know the feeling.
When he comes back, he’s smiling comfortingly. “My friends will take care of the body. I know that you can’t afford the police involvement right now, not with Senator Hudson’s reelection so close.”
Somehow my boss’ seat at the table is the last thing on my mind, you almost say. But you don’t because, as usual, he’s right. Police involvement right now would be disastrous and would make it so that you never worked on the Hill again.
“You’re always looking out for me,” you say, looking down into your almost empty pint. You are actually no longer sure that that’s true. In fact, the more you think about it, the more sure you are that it’s not true.
He pauses for a moment, head cocking. “I want to look out for you. I’m happy to do it. I think there’s something else on your mind, though. Wanna talk about it?”
There is a chill working its way up your spine. it tells you that your…friend must not know that you have doubts about his ‘looking out for you.’
