Last One of the Year! /// Music Monday #66

Yes, we are on the last Music Monday post of 2019. It feels like it was just yesterday that I was sitting down to write the very first one of the year. Crazy how time flies, huh?

I know I ended last year with a longer, more emotional song ("Undertale" from the Undertale soundtrack, if you recall). I've decided to do that again this year with . . .

"Oliver Queen Suite" from Arrow: Season 1

Composed by Blake Neely

Okay, this is honestly one of the best musical pieces to come out of any TV show. Heck, I'd probably classify it as one of my (many) all-time favorite tracks. It captures so many emotions, starting with gritty electronic elements and ending with a triumphant twist on that. In between, it moves from heart-wrenching sorrow to a thoughtful, quiet happiness.

I don't know about you, but 2019 has been an interesting year. It's been one of success and failure, one of ups and downs, one of radiant light and heavy shadows. But you know what? We made it. We pulled through. That should be cause enough for celebration, wouldn't you say?

I love how the song ends on a hopeful note. It has swells and drops, and it takes a while to reach that end, but never does it stop building toward it along the way. Every note makes the song what it is; take out one, and what're you left with?

Right now, that's what the track is reminding me of. Everything that happens in life shapes who we are. It's inevitable that all of your victories and all of your failures help you to become the person you are. But just because not everything that happens to you is good, that doesn't mean that those things can't be worked for your good. Scars can become beautiful, and pain can morph into healing.

That's something I've really learned this past year. The people you encounter in life have all struggled, all fallen, all been cut and bruised. But all that can be used to help others. One soul can share in the brokenness of another and mend it. Never forget that you can always reach out to others for help, and never forget where you've come from when someone, someday, reaches out to you.

There you have it, the final post of 2019. What'd you think of the song, or my philosophical ramblings? (And don't forget that next week Monday is the start of the Music Monday 2019 Awards!)

NaNo 2019 Recap + Snippets

So you may or may not know that last month was this little thing called NaNoWriMo (commonly shortened to NaNo)--National Novel Writing Month. You might also know, or perhaps not, that I participated in said event. "How'd it go?" you might be asking. I'm hoping you did, because if you didn't, I might as well end the post right here.

NaNo was pretty good for me this year! I decided to be a rebel this time around and not aim for 50k. Let's be honest, that goal is a little crazy for us who are working full-time and trying to maintain social lives and also look after our mental health. Instead, because I hadn't really done much writing since Realm Makers in July, I decided to simply do at least 30 minutes a day. That way, I was making a habit of writing on a regular basis.

It ended up working out better for me than the lofty goal of 50,000 words last year. In 2018, I ended up feeling burnt out and very tired by the end of NaNo. That wasn't the case this time around. Being able to work at my own pace was a much-needed change from last year, and it was the reason why I enjoyed Camp NaNo in April and July so much more than regular ol' NaNo.

So what was my final word count? Just under 17k, which obviously isn't a lot. But every little bit counts--at least, that's what I try to tell myself. Just like last year, it was a little difficult to not play the comparison game when you see or hear people hitting 50k, 100k, or even 150k. That's one thing I really don't care for about NaNo. I know seeing other people hit these crazy awesome goals is supposed to be awesome and build a community spirit and should make you really happy for other people . . . but it's far too easy to become disappointed with your own work if you're not doing nearly as good. And I dunno if it makes it worse when people who have reached the "proper" goal tell that it's okay and everyone has different lives/writing paces?

On a more positive note, I had my best day of writing this year. On Sunday, November 17th, I ended up writing for about four hours (which I don't think I've ever done before), and my final word count for the day was 3,777 words. I've been recording my writing progress since the beginning of 2016, and my former best writing day was Thursday, December 28th of 2017, when I wrote 3,044 words. Finding that out made me so ecstatic! I was thrilled to discover that I'd beaten my personal writing record.

Unlike last year, I did not attend any NaNo write-ins at the library, nor did I attempt to go out to a cafe or some other such place to work on my story. I just felt too busy this November; I didn't have time to leave my house for writing-related purposes. Besides, my best writing tends to happen in my bedroom anyway.

Now I bet you're wondering what I wrote in November. If you're on Facebook, you would've seen my post talking about this very subject. If you didn't see it, I'll quickly explain now. I (initially) had planned to work on two projects: Shattered and the expansion of my Havok submission, From the Mind of the Dead. As it turned out, I became quite passionate about the latter story, so I focused on that all month.

When From the Mind of the Dead was published on Havok, I had a number of people telling me that they wished it was longer. I realized that expanding the flash fiction into a novel was a bad idea, because it would very quickly lose the tension and suspense the original version had. Whereas the flash fiction was a very tight piece of writing, a novelized version would become much looser.

That's when I had an idea: what if I were to write an anthology of novellas instead? The first story would be the expanded, though not lengthy, Havok submission. In it, Blake Lawrence is accused of murdering his girlfriend. He is brought to the Judgment Dome, the only courthouse in New Darglia City, where justice has become nothing more than a televised game show. Upon having his name cleared, Blake vows to help those who are wrongly accused and ensure that truth is sought out in the midst of the glitz and glamour. The rest of the stories would be about him becoming a detective, solving crimes with his partner, Niko, and facing off against a mysterious masked prosecutor in court.

I really love the ideas I have for this collection, which I'm calling The Darglia Unravelings. I was kind of obsessed with it last month, as it was often the subject of my thoughts. If you're interested, I'll share several snippets with you from what I wrote in November.

. . . Well, even if you're not interested, you're still getting them.

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I haven’t killed anyone, I swear.

But everyone else thinks otherwise. It becomes abundantly clear the instant I step into the Judgment Dome. Boos and catcalls are flung left and right, “Blake” being tossed around as if my name is a vulgarity. People are already using the computers at their seats to make bets. It doesn’t take a detective to figure out that they’re betting I’m guilty.

The bailiff nudges me forward, and I head for the center of the amphitheater. My surroundings blur together in a mess of loud noises and unfamiliar sights. I know enough about legal proceedings to get by better than the average person, but to actually be down here, on trial? That’s another story entirely.

I arrive at the heart of the dome, known as the Arena of Justice. In the waist-high fence, there’s a gate with a card reader next to it. The bailiff uses his card to let us into the Arena, and the gate seals behind us. I am brought to the defendant stand, which is next to the judge’s extravagant bench on his right side. The stand is angled so that I can not only get a good view of the whole circle, but so that I also don’t have to strain my neck to look at the judge.

Standing here, staring at the massive crowd, I have two thoughts. The first is, These handcuffs are going to become really uncomfortable by the time this is over. The second?

I did not murder my girlfriend.

I got up and was led to one of the rooms in the visitation wing. Another guard waited there with the person who had wanted to chat with me. I didn’t recognize him. He had to have been more twig than man; I wondered how he hadn’t been blown away by a strong gust of wind yet. His skin was sickly pale, even in the room’s vibrant lighting. From his hair color and hairline, I could tell that he had to be in his forties.

He smiled, though something seemed off about it. “Blake Lawrence?”

I simply nodded.

“I’m Patrick Higgins, a lawyer at Freeman Law Offices.” We shook hands. I would’ve been better off shaking a dead fish. “Please, have a seat.” He gestured toward the table and chairs.

I plopped down on mine while he gently lowered himself onto his, as though he was afraid his tailbone would shatter if he didn’t stick the landing. I decided to talk straight. “So you paid for the defense attorney ticket?”

He winced. “Not exactly.”

For a moment, I could do nothing but stare at him. “You mean the ticket agents came to you?”

“They did, yes.”

“What did they charge you?”

Now he squirmed in his chair. “They, uh . . . they just gave it to me. For free.”

I leaned back, the world around me muffled and cold. I had no words. Lawyers sometimes got discounts for tickets when no one was willing to pay the full price for them, due to the nature of the case. For free, though? Why hadn’t they come over and slapped me in the face while they were at it?

Alistair straightens his tie, even though it was already perfectly straight. “I call Detective Roscoe to the stand to give us the details of the murder.”

From the plaintiff lobby entrance walks the detective with one of the Dome’s many security guards. The bailiff opens the gate for them and takes Roscoe to the witness stand, directly across from McGrath.

“Your name and occupation, please,” Alistair says.

“Sir!” The man salutes, an unnecessary action, I think. Must’ve been engrained in him to respond to orders like that. “I am Detective Jacob Roscoe, sir! I work with the CSI in the New Darglia Police Department, and I specialize in murders such as this one.”

“Thank you, Detective. Can you please fill us in on what you’ve discovered?”

“That I can, sir!”

I wince. Who left his voice in permanent shout mode? What is he, an anime character?

This is going south faster than the coffee I drank this morning. At this rate, I’m going to remain behind bars for the rest of my life. Will anyone remember me? Anyone who actually cares, anyway? I doubt it. It’s obvious that my siblings and extended family haven’t thought about me. The few friends I have will move on. I’ll forever be an outcast.

The scariest part to me is the crowd itself. They represent the whole of New Darglia, gobbling up these trials as the best form of entertainment. To them, it’s all a game. Nothing is real. What happens in the Arena doesn’t affect anyone else. Even many of the judges, defense attorneys, and prosecutors are just a new breed of ditzy celebrities who don’t fully understand the ramifications of the Dome. How have we all become so calloused and uncaring?

I rub the back of my head, thankful that my hands are cuffed in front of me this time. That’s when an idea springs out of nowhere. It’s a desperate move, but I’m in dire circumstances. Besides, the people like some crazy twists and turns in their entertainment. I almost sneer at them all. You want drama? Then drama is what you’ll get.

“—no reason to carry on,” McGrath is saying. “I suppose I shall give my verdict.” He reaches for the button to freeze the bids and donations cycling through.

“Wait, Your Honor!” I cry.

Thousands of pairs of eyes flick over to me. Patrick seems unsure of what to do, and Alistair’s smug grin is looking a little less victorious. McGrath retracts his hand. “Yes, Mr. Lawrence? What is it that you would like to say?”

It’s now or never. “Your Honor . . .” I straighten my stance and say as boldly as I can, “I call upon Lillian’s memory bank as proof of my innocence!”

The door to the defendant lobby swings open, and Alistair strides inside. I can’t help but wonder, if we were the only two people in the room, would he exact personal vengeance for supposedly murdering his daughter?

“Blake,” Alistair growls, “you are a fool. What do you hope to gain from this cheeky maneuver? Are you trying to embarrass my daughter by exposing her private life to the world?”

“Embarrassment is the furthest thing from my mind, Alistair.” I sit up a little taller, wishing that I could stand right about now. At the moment, the prosecutor is looking down on me, but if I were on my feet, my height would turn that around. However, the guards would probably interpret that as threatening, so I let Alistair have the small win here.

“Then what is it you’re after?”

That’s easy. “The truth.”

He scowls, ruining the perfect vestige of control that he normally wears on his face. “The truth is that you choked my precious daughter to death.”

“When you met me, what did you see?” I ask. “A guy who would cherish Lillian with everything in him, or a guy who would, without any apparent reason, decide to snuff out her life?”

Alistair is quiet for a moment. Then: “People hide many dark secrets, Blake. You are not the first, and you are certainly not the last.” He hesitates, though for what, I’m not sure. He whirls around and marches out, not saying another word.

And there [Lillian and I] sat in silence. I drank in the moment, gazing into her eyes. I didn’t know what I did to deserve her, or how I got so lucky, but I was eternally grateful. Deep inside, I just felt like she was a piece of my life that I couldn’t afford to lose, either. She meant the world to me. What better way to show her than to propose?

My free hand reached for my pocket when a ringtone broke through our reverie. Lillian winced and grabbed her phone from her purse. “Sorry, I should’ve—” She froze. “I have to take this.” She answered the call with, “Hello?”

Something crossed over her face. Never before had I seen someone look so . . . horrified. And if I looked closer, I could spot a hint of terror creeping into her expression like a parasite. Eventually, she said, “Okay,” and hung up.

I furrowed my brow. “What’s the matter?”

“One of my key sources for my secret article . . . he’s dead. Someone snapped his neck.” She gathered her stuff together. “I need to go. I am so very sorry, Blake. I’ll try to make it up to you.” With that, she dashed out of the restaurant.

I sat there, stunned and unable to move. It was only when the waiter brought me the bill that I robotically stood, paid for the meal, and left. The ring mocked me from within my pocket. As I got into my car and headed home, Lillian’s words became an all-consuming thought:

I can’t lose you.

Freedom isn’t supposed to feel this empty. It does, though, and it’s because I played in a game show in order to prove that I was actually innocent. To the viewers, what does it matter either way? It’s not them on the defendant stand, so it’s nothing on their conscience. What a shame it is. You deserved better, Lillian.

“Stay safe and pursue the truth.”

That’s what she’d wanted me to do. That’s what she still wants me to do. If no one else is going to care about the truth, I will. I pull out the e-credit card, my prize for winning. Not thinking twice, I snap it in half. I would not take their money. As far as I am concerned, it’s the symbol of low the justice system has stooped.

I get into my car and start the drive home. Going after truth with such a passionate determination would continue to ensure that I’m an outcast. I don’t care. I’m beyond caring about that. This is about more people than just me.

As I navigate the busy streets, I say what will no doubt change my life forever:

“Lillian, I swear on your grave that no one else will suffer the same fate as you and me.”

I think that's all I will share for now, since I don't want to spoil everything from the first story. What'd you think of the snippets? If you participated in NaNo, how'd it go? Did you accomplish what you set out to do?

A Chilly Atmosphere /// Music Monday #65

Can you believe it? It's the second last Music Monday post of the year! Which means it's almost time for another Music Monday Awards . . . Crazy! It feels like I just did the last one. 2019 really has flown by, hasn't it?

I've got the perfect cold-sounding song for you today! It is . . .

"Forgotten Castle" from Spiral Knights

Composed by Harry Mack

I know I talk a lot about video game soundtracks having songs for winter levels/environments that just feel chilly. Somehow, the composer chose the right instruments to create a track that conveys trudging through deep snow, being blown around by freezing winds, slipping across icy terrain, and desiring for relief from the cold. Music is honestly incredible that way.

Now, today's particular song is a bit different. It plays in an area called the Scarlet Fortress in Spiral Knights, and it literally has nothing to do with snowy environments. Yet, whenever I listen to this outside of the game, it makes me think of the cold. I dunno if it's the instrumentation, or a weird idea that got lodged in my head that it plays in a wintery area, but I've always pictured that when listening to it. To me, it just gives off a chilly atmosphere.

It also sounds kind of . . . sad, or something. Like the reason behind the forgotten castle is heartbreaking. Could just be me, but that's always the tone it's conveyed to me as well. It stirs up some emotion in me, and it makes me a little mournful or wistful. At the same time, it's strangely relaxing as well. Most of the game's OST is like that. There's something about the musical style that puts me at ease.

By the way, that instrument or electronic sound that happens at about 0:32 and once or twice afterward has always stuck out to me. Don't know what exactly it is, but I like it. It's a good example of Harry's interesting musical flair for the soundtrack.

What're your thoughts on the song? Chilly or not? Sad or not? Have you played Spiral Knights? (Highly recommend it, if you haven't.)

Monthly HapPENings: November

So . . . November is over. That was a thing that happened. (Also yes, I know this is a week late, and I apologize for the delay.)

I had a few interesting things happen last month. Two of my sisters had birthdays, so we obviously celebrated those with great gifts and food and the like. I think they both felt loved, which is always the goal with birthday celebrations, right?

Two of my friends and I were planning to hang out in the nearby city on the first Saturday of November. One of them ended up not feeling great on the day of, and it looked like we were gonna have to cancel. As it turned out, my other friend could tell that I was really disappointed, and she said we could still go out for supper together even though she wasn't doing the best either. That was a good time.

All three of us did manage to reschedule for the last Saturday of the month instead, and we had such a fun time. It was great for just the three of us to hang out and do some shopping before getting supper. It's kinda funny, at one point I was shopping for some clothes for myself. It was a bit of a gender role reversal, if you will, because they had to hold my bags while I tried on stuff. One definite plus of having them along was their expert advice. I got some great clothes because of them!

On the second last Saturday of November, I bought a Nintendo Switch for myself. I'd originally been planning to buy it on Boxing Day, but then I was told Black Friday would have better deals. One of the stores in my city had a deal going on that, for the 23rd and 24th, you would get a free $125 gift card if you bought a Switch. I made a deal with my parents to take that amount off my room and board in exchange for the card, which would be a massive discount for me.

I'd initially planned to go after breakfast, but my mom recommended to go for opening time, 8am. I wasn't sure it would be necessary, but my youngest two sisters and I were there early enough. Once the store opened, we immediately headed for the electronics section. The two ladies ahead of us were also purchasing Switches, and I thought I'd heard one of the cashiers say that they only had two copies in. I geared myself up to be disappointed; when it was my turn, I asked for a Switch. The cashier went to where they were locked up behind the counter and said, "We have one left!"

That was very relieving to me, but the guy behind had been like, "Oh, that was the last copy?" He then left the store. Apparently, I'd misheard the cashier earlier, who'd said that they had two of the gray Switches and only one red and blue. I got a gray one, but honestly, color doesn't matter that much at the end of the day. I then swung by Walmart to pick up Pokemon: Let's Go, Eevee! for 50% off. I have not regretted my decision to buy the Switch, and I doubt I ever will.

Bookish HapPENings

I decided to reread this because I still hadn't gotten around to the sequel yet. Malice wasn't as good as I remembered, but it was still entertaining and enjoyable. I really do think the combination of the novel format with some comic panels and interesting formatting thrown in was a really cool idea. One of my complaints about it is that it attempts to do horror, but it sometimes falls a little flat. I feel like it could be scarier at some points. I'd still recommend it to anyone looking for a creative story, even if it isn't always as good as I'd like it to be.

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I thoroughly enjoyed The Copper Gauntlet! It took a different turn from The Iron Trial, which I was pleasantly surprised by. I'd thought it was going to take place in the school again, but the majority of the story didn't. Made for an interesting read! While it didn't have a big plot twist at the end like the first one did (or at least, not a plot twist on the same level), I still really liked it! I'm curious as to how the series will progress . . .

HapPENings on the Screen

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I've started watching S2 of Avatar, and it's awesome so far! I can already tell that the animation has seen improvements since S1, and even the cinematography has been more interesting at a few points. I can also tell that this'll be a bit more plot-driven than S1 was, and I'm very much looking forward to it. Watch this show if you haven't! It's well-worth your time.

So my youngest two sisters and I have been watching My Hero Academia a bit more frequently over the last month, and I can hardly believe we're over halfway through the first season! It somehow feels like we've seen very little happen, and yet, so much. It's a bit of a paradox. I feel like it's setting things up to get super intense and emotional later on, but I really have no clue what direction the plot's going to take. Can't wait to watch more!

How Attack on Titan seems to amp up with every episode, even with the "breather" episodes, I have no idea. But I'm absolutely loving it. I'm getting close to finishing the first season, and I don't know how they'll wrap things up--or if they even will at all. Honestly, I'm so thankful that I haven't really gotten any spoilers for this show, because I love experiencing it without knowing anything about the big plot points.

The Flash is another show where I'm nearing the end of a season--S4, in this case. It's been a really different season, and I think part of that is because the villain isn't a speedster like Barry. Don't get me wrong, though; this is a good different, not the bad kind. Despite the mixed things I've heard about this particular season, I'd have to say it's been very strong so far! I'm also rewatching the crossover section with my sisters, since we're further behind than I am on my own. But I think I've already expressed my thoughts about the crossover, so I won't repeat myself.

I'm finally finished the first half of S4 of Once Upon a Time, which means no more Snow Queen, so yay! But that means three new villainesses who look like they're trying too hard to be evil, so boo! Hopefully they'll turn out better than they initially appear. Again, I don't know anything about the second half of the season, but I'm hoping it turns out all right. Once doesn't exactly have a great track record when it comes to consistency in quality.

Trollhunters continues to both impress and entertain. Yet again, I am almost done the first season (apparently I'm going to be finishing a bunch of these around the same time). I've been really enjoying the plot of the second half of the season, and I look forward to its conclusion, which will no doubt be epic.

Gaming HapPENings

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How is it that I'm already on the final game in the original Phoenix Wright trilogy? And it's so fantastic thus far! The first case was really interesting and took a bit of a twist from the first cases in the previous two games. And the second case . . . my gosh, was that a thrill! I didn't expect such a complex and convoluted case to occur near the beginning of the case, but I'm thoroughly impressed that they chose that route. Also, Godot. That's all I need to say. Just Godot. (Play the game and you'll understand what I'm talking about!)

Writerly HapPENings

So NaNo went pretty well for me! As I said before, my goal for this year was simply to write 30 minutes a day, and I accomplished that goal. I ended up writing about 17k, which is decent. I haven't written at all this month yet, but it's been . . . interesting so far. Anyway, if you're interested in hearing more about my NaNo, I'll do a snippets posts or Christine's linkup, or both.

That was my month in a nutshell! What was your November like? For all of my American readers, how was your Thanksgiving? Are you done your Christmas shopping?

Let the Winter Tunes Begin! /// Music Monday #64

It's the most wonderful time of the year! The time where we find wintery music and listen to it while watching snow gently fall, or while cozying up by the fireplace.

Our first venture into this territory of tunes is . . .

"Mountaintop Secrets" from Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam

Composed by Yoko Shimomura

I have not played Paper Jam yet (still gotta finish Dream Team first!), but I do know it seems to get a fair bit of flack. I'm really not sure why, because the concept of the Mario & Luigi and the Paper Mario series colliding with each other sounds like a super fun idea. But whether or not the game ends up being good, one thing is certain: the soundtrack is excellent. Because Yoko Shimomura.

She created a track that sounds like a mysterious, snow-covered mountaintop, and the result is absolutely gorgeous. It's super calming and just a delight to the ears. For some reason, to me, it sounds like it would be from a Zelda game--particularly Skyward Sword--rather than a Mario RPG.

The instrumentation in the song is so on-point. The way the flute carries a good chunk of the song, but there's those nice strings in the background. (It's a harp, right? At some points, it almost sounds like an acoustic guitar.) And then are some instruments that give off a cold sound, if that makes sense. Like, if you could hear chilly air in music, that's what it would sound like. I dunno what it is, but I will keep saying that Ms. Shimomura is an absolute genius when it comes to music, especially the Mario & Luigi franchise.

Apologies for the shorter post, but I don't know what all to say when I don't know the context of the song in its source material. What'd you think of it? Is it a good way to kick off the winter tunes?

Definitely a Bop /// Music Monday #63

It is that time once again. That time where we celebrate the universal language of music. That time where we plug in our headphones and enjoy the tunes. That time is now. That time is called . . .

And today, our song is . . .

"Just Friends" from Star vs. the Forces of Evil

Remixed/covered by CG5 (feat. Caleb Hyles)

When I discover lyrical songs that I love, I tend to go through a season of listening to that song a lot. "Just Friends" was one of those songs for me. How I found it is kind of an interesting story.

So my friend Christine (you might know her by her full name, Christine Smith, formerly blogging on Musings of an Elf but now she has her own domain and everything with a cool blog that you should check out here) mentioned on Twitter sometime this year that she was watching Star vs. the Forces of Evil and loving it. I knew CG5 had covered some songs from the show, so I was like, "I should go listen to them and see if I should share them with Christine."

When I heard "Just Friends," I instantly fell in love--which is funny, because people have described it as being the "ultimate friendzone theme." And normally, I prefer the original over the remixes or covers when it comes to music, but this is not the case for this particular song. I think CG5's musical style and Caleb Hyles's voice are just a lot more powerful and captivating than the version from the show.

And yes, the song is a bop. I dare you to listen to it and not tap to the beat or bob your head or anything. Bet you can't. What makes it so interesting, though, is that the actual lyrics are not nearly as happy as the music. When you think about it, it's kind of a sad song. I'm not sure if this is becoming a trend, having the lyrics be emotional and the music itself be upbeat (like "Happier" by Marshmello and Bastille, for example), but if it is, I don't mind . . . provided it's done right. Like anything else in the world.

I'll let you enjoy the song and its video now! What did you think of it, or of the lyrics in particular? Do you agree that it's meant to be a sad song (because the original was also upbeat), or does the music detract from that?

One Final Spook /// Music Monday #62

Are you ready for one final spook for the season? 'Cuz lemme tell ya, having only two Music Mondays in October is not nearly enough for all the creepy songs. As I did last year, I'll borrow one of November's slots for another Halloween-ish track.

Our song for today is a lyrical one, called . . .

"We Want Out"

Composed by DAGames

Believe it or not, there are YouTuber singers/musicians who are actually really good at what they do. While I don't personally care for all of DAGames's stuff--partially because I'm not that much into metal--I do recognize that he has a lot of talent. And in this song, he pulls together other skilled artists, JTMusic, Dan Bull, BSlick, and InuTrash, to create a pretty darn awesome song.

Now, you may have heard about the popular Five Night's at Freddy's franchise, an indie horror series developed by one Scott Cawthon. The games have taken the internet by storm, inciting loads of reactions from fans. Some have gone on to create their own fan games, in which there are actually well-done and creative titles among mere copycats that try to ride on the fame. People have done loads of fanart, while others make songs based on the games. "We Want Out" is based off of the first FNaF installment.

This song somehow manages to be a bop while still having some unsettling music. The drills you hear in the background really do a lot to keep that mechanical atmosphere of the animatronics. The choir adds a lot to the main chorus, which, by the way, is super fun to sing along with. BSlick's voice is a nice contrast from the rougher tones of DAGames, JTMusic, and Dan Bull, and InuTrash's vocals are a great touch on the bridge . . . or whatever you would call the part of the song that she sings in.

Anyway, because this is a "proper" song with a lyric video for you to watch, I'll stop talking now. Don't want you to distract you from the music!

What'd you think of the song? Would you agree that these musicians are talented, or would you argue that they aren't? Have you heard of FNaF before, and if so, what're your thoughts on the franchise?

Monthly HapPENings: October

Whoever decided that we should be five-sixths of the way through the year, I'm gonna hunt you down, and I'm gonna . . . give you a stern talking-to.

I know I did some social stuff this last month, but I can't really remember everything that I did. I went out for coffee with a friend, had supper with two others, got supper and coffee/dessert with my cousin . . . Not sure what else I did. Oh yeah, there was Thanksgiving, with one family gathering and having one of my grandmas over for supper. Other than that, I don't really think I had too many interesting social or life events.

Bookish HapPENings

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So I've given a lot of flack to the Maze Runner series, because they just aren't as good as the movies are--in my opinion. I would, however, say that each book has been better the last, and The Death Cure is no exception. It's definitely the best book in the original trilogy, though it still suffers from some of the same issues of the other titles, such as the lackluster "Thomas felt this" or "Thomas felt that." The ending also felt a little rushed. Other than that, it was a pretty decent read.

HapPENings on the Screen

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When the Assassin's Creed movie came out, no one seemed to have anything positive to say about it. I was still very curious about it and picked it up for pretty cheap, even though I hadn't watched it yet. I finally got around to it, and I must say, it was a great movie! There wasn't anything incredibly stellar about it that would make me say, "You have to see this!" But I also wouldn't tell people that it wasn't worth watching. It's a pretty solid video game movie, as far as they go (Detective Pikachu is still the best one), and the soundtrack really stuck out to me and felt like it belonged in the AC universe. I also think Michael Fassbender really nailed his role; it almost seemed like he had less dialogue to feel more like a game character. Also also, I can really appreciate and respect that all of the historical scenes, which took place in Spain, had Spanish dialogue with no English to be heard. Go watch this and lemme know what you think.

Daaang, S4 of The Flash is getting SO good! I'd heard kinda mixed reviews about the season, but I'm thoroughly enjoying it. They're adding a lot of interesting plot points and making things even more difficult for the heroes. I'm still not sure where it's all leading up to, but I'm loving it.

ONE MORE EPISODE UNTIL I'M DONE S1 OF AVATAR AAAAHHHH! . . . Sorry, just had to get that out of my system. I'm enjoying this show way more than I thought I would. Things are definitely not looking up for Aang and the gang (ha, aren't I a brilliant poet?). I can't wait to see where the show goes from here.

Can I just say that Trollhunters is a great show and you should watch it? Because it is, and you should! I'm really digging the current plot structure of the show, which is the protagonists hunting down special items to help them complete their current "mission," if you will. And the villain, man, the villain! There's more than one antagonist, but Angor Rot in particular is both hecking cool and creepy! Add this show to your must-watch list.

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Since my youngest two sisters and I finished S7 of Ninjago, we decided to take a temporary break from it and start Nexo Knights. It's entertaining, to be sure, but I'm not entirely sold on it yet. I suppose I can't really say much, since I've only watched one episode so far. My favorite aspect is that the two villains, Jestro and the Book of Monsters, are voiced by actors from Ninjago. Considering their roles in that show, the dynamic between their characters in this one is extra amusing.

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When I started The Guardians, I found it difficult to get into. I mean, I've never seen a K-drama before, so this was a new experience for me. But now I'm hooked, and I'm really curious to see how the plot unfolds. I sense a vigilante group is going to form to take justice into their own hands . . .

Let me just come out and say it: My Hero Academia is the perfect anime show. It has fantastic and colorful characters, the plot is super intriguing, the humor is always on-point, and I definitely feel like it's going to kick in some really deep emotional stuff when I least expect it. And the best part is that I have a minimum amount of spoilers for the show, which makes me super happy, because I tend to stumble across lots of spoilers. Knowing nothing about what direction the plot is going to take is such a great feeling. I MUST WATCH MORE.

Okay, so I think Attack on Titan is the other perfect anime. I'm so hooked on it; even The Flash hasn't captured me the way this show has. Even when an episode doesn't do much to advance the plot, it's still super interesting. I think the reason for that is that the characters are developing even in those moments, and it makes you really invested in them. It's a good tip for writers: even if there's not much plot momentum, make sure that there's always character momentum. Also, did I mention that I love this so much that I've already bought the soundtrack for S1? I know, I'm a nerd.

Gaming HapPENings

I'm nearing the end of the final chapter of Justice For All. The last two cases in the first Ace Attorney game were pretty intense, and I knew the sequel had a lot to live up to. But it has definitely done the job, because things are getting so crazy. I can't really talk about it without getting into spoilers, but trust me when I say that it's very engrossing. I hope to finish up this weekend! (Not sure how long I'll be able to wait before I play Trials and Tribulations, though . . .)

Writerly HapPENings

I wrote nothing in October, which probably isn't a good thing. I did, however, get published on Havok with From the Mind of the Dead, which is definitely a good thing! So . . . I don't know where that leaves me overall. But I am doing NaNo this month, so you can expect more from me in this category next time.

Okay, I'm done. Tell me how your months went! Are you watching as many shows as I am? Have you finally got around to playing the Ace Attorney series yet? Because if you haven't, you should!

The Stuff of Nightmares /// Music Monday #61

OOOOoooooOOOOOOooooooOoOoOoOoOoOo . . . I'm a ghost! And I'm here with another spoopy song!

Our scary selection for today is none other than . . .

"Your Best Nightmare" from Undertale

Composed by Toby Fox

Unfortunately, this post is going to be short mainly for one reason: I can't talk much about the song within the context of the game. It's used for one of the final bosses, and to discuss the music in-depth or nerd out over how cool the actual fight is, with some of the lore it uses . . . well, that'd be venturing deep into spoiler territory. Sorry about that.

I will say this: Toby Fox is a remarkably clever composer. He took the character's theme--which is a very, very simplistic one, I might add--and used that tune and that tune alone to create this battle theme. It does have another part to it, for the last half of the battle, but I'll play that song a different time.

Everything about this track oozes darkness and evil. Well, save for those few breaks in-between, but I can't really discuss those segments either. As for the rest of the song . . . it's clear that you're fighting a monster here, a rampaging creature bent on destruction and bloodshed. You're standing between it and mass annihilation, so you have to give it your all and fight back. But you'll definitely be shivering with this song playing in the background. The laugh at the beginning just lets you know that you're dealing with true horrors here.

So yeah, I guess I'll have to stop there. Again, sorry that this is so brief, but I really don't want to spoil the game for you. I'm not doing the track or its source material justice, but what can you do?

What'd you think of the music, either within or without the game's context? Do you know who this song is for? If you don't, go buy Undertale right now, play it, then come back so we can be geeky together.

It's the Spookiest Time of the Year /// Music Monday #60

Would you look at the time? Halloween is but a few weeks away, which means it's time for some spooky songs again!

Our spine-chiller of the day is . . .

"Majora's Mask" from the album Children of Termina

Composed by Rozen

I have not played The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (because I want to finish Ocarina of Time first and have yet to do that), but I do know that it is hailed as one of the darkest Zelda titles. Rozen, who normally makes Zelda albums by pulling tracks from a bunch of the games, created Children of Termina with music just from Majora's Mask. Thus, it's a bit of a darker album as well.

One of the creepiest songs is the one named after the mask itself. It's unnerving both in the instrumentation and the initial melody. It quiets down in the middle, but it gets more bombastic and intense by the end of it, throwing some haunting choral into the mix. This mask is not something to be trifled with . . .

Also, have I ever mentioned that I absolutely love it when songs use big bells, like the ones at churches or town halls or wherever? At the two-minute mark, some of those bells kick in, and I can't get enough of it. It just adds something really powerful to the track.

. . . My brain is not exactly cooperating with me tonight, because I dunno what else to add. Sorry that this one is really short. Feel free to throw in your own thoughts, opinions, and ideas down in the comments!

Have you played Majora's Mask, and if so, how does it rank among the darker Zelda games? What'd you think of the song? Does it make you wanna check out Rozen's other music? (You should. He makes some epic stuff.)

Monthly HapPENings: September

Do we seriously have just three months left in the year? 2019 apparently has no intention of slowing down any time soon.

So, life stuff that happened this past month: on the 7th, a few of my coworkers/friends went to a corn maze in the evening. We first went on the sunflower expo, which let you walk through the sunflower fields and take one for free. One of my friends thought it'd be funny if she took a flower as tall as her--she's on the shorter side--so she chose nearly a whole stalk. Mine was the complete opposite, as it was the smallest flower in the group. Then we did the maze itself, though we couldn't find the actual exit. Then most of us went for a super late supper. It was quite the fun evening!

My sisters and I celebrated my parents' anniversary by making them supper: some kind of Mexican chicken, potato cubes with Parmesan cheese and some spices, and a tossed salad. My mom and dad appreciated both the supper and the cards, so I think it was a successful night.

Lastly, on the 28th, two of my friends, one of them bringing her 12-year-old son, went to a light festival of sorts. That was tons of fun, walking around and seeing all the exhibits. We grabbed milkshakes partway through; that extra thick strawberry milkshake had to have been one of the best I've ever had. Once we were finished, it was pretty late, so we stopped by McDonald's for drinks and headed home. That was a hilarious car ride if I've ever experienced one. I had my friends laughing so hard they could barely breathe. All in all, it was an absolute blast!

Bookish HapPENings

I did not finish any books this month. I've been too occupied with other stuff and haven't made much time to read. On top of that, I've done more listening to music on my work breaks recently, so that's also cut back my reading. Hopefully I'll finish a couple by the end of October.

HapPENings on the Screen

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I've started watching My Hero Academia with my youngest two sisters, and I'm so glad I bought it on a whim! It's a really fun show so far, with one of the craziest character casts (say that three times fast) you'll ever see and enough heart to keep you emotionally attached to them. So far, the plot isn't too complex, but that isn't lessening my enjoyment in the slightest. I can't wait to see where everything goes! I just want so badly for Deku to see his dreams come true.

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I also bought Attack on Titan out of the blue, and what an epic show it is! The animation style is a feast for your eyes, the characters are all very interesting and well-voiced (in the English dub), the action sequences keep you on the edge of your seat . . . There's also tons of emotion throughout. I've already cried several times, even when rewatching episodes. I have no regrets starting to watch this.

I've watched my other shows too, but I felt too lazy to put up all the pictures when I'm writing just the tiniest blurbs for each. The Flash is still enjoyable, but I'm just waiting for the crossover to be done, partially because there's both a lesbian and a gay couple present. Once Upon a Time is nearing the halfway point, and I've got one final episode with the Snow Queen (yay!). I'm almost at the end of S1 of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and it's so amazing! I have a feeling the ending's gonna be intense. I just finished S7 of Ninjago, and even though it happened on October 1st . . . it's still close enough to September for me. It concluded quite differently from most Ninjago seasons, with a cliffhanger instead of wrapping things up. It did feel a little rushed, but not overly so. Finally, Trollhunters is half over, and things are shaping up to be even worse for the characters, even as they achieved an important victory.

Gaming HapPENings

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The Ace Attorney series is one that I'm not ashamed to admit I'm addicted to. I've been playing Justice For All so much for the last month; I clocked in just over 13 hours, and I still have the majority of the final case to do. It's as highly entertaining and thrilling as the first game was, which is great. I hate it when any kind of series has that middle slump, where it's not as great as the beginning or the end. Phoenix Wright's games definitely don't seem to suffer from this, which is a definite point in their favor . . . as if they needed any more.

Writerly HapPENings

I wrote just 1,081 words in September, which was when I was working on another Havok entry. I don't think it was as good as my first one, but I hope it's still intriguing enough. Guess we'll have to wait and find out . . .

And yet another month concludes! Did you do anything fun and exciting? Have you seen either MHA or AoT? (No spoilers if you have!) Do you love the Ace Attorney franchise as much as I do?

Some Powerful Rap /// Music Monday #59

Heyo! It's time for another rapid-fire Music Monday post.

Our song for today is none other than . . .

"The Search" from the album The Search

Composed by NF

If you have never listened to any of Nathan Feuerstein's songs, have you even lived? His is some of the only music that I'd consider to be excellent rap. Most rap music these days use the same ol' trashy beats, with the same ol' curses flying everywhere and the same ol' messages about girls they've had sex with, how much money they have, what kind of cars they own, etc.

Not NF. A Christian rapper who prefers to be known as just a rapper (thanks to the pre-conceived notions that come when someone hears about a Christian musician), he appeals to both the religious and the non-religious with his deep, powerful, and sometimes dark lyrics. I don't mean dark in the typical sense when it comes to music and such, but rather, real and brutally honest lyrics about life and its trials.

The song I chose isn't one of his darker songs, but it's still crazy good. I just heard it for the first time a week or two ago, and it's probably one of my favorite songs of his now. First, can we talk about the actual music? Since when does a rapper rely so heavily on strings to provide the beat for his speedy lines? Then the way that percussion comes in and shakes the whole thing, including the camera . . . It's perfect! And the haunting choir, too! NF really knows his stuff.

The music video is also really well done. Filmed in Iceland, I believe, it uses the same color scheme that has been used for pretty much every one of NF's music videos, if not them all. Plus, there's a lot of symbolism here, which I won't take the time to explain. I'd like to see you draw your own conclusions first.

And the lyrics! This man is practically a poet, a master of the word. I think my favorite part is when he's talking about how we all have something that we try to drown, but it's always coming back to haunt us. Then he relates that to how our minds are so influential. The best stuff comes when he says:

"Just think about it for a second, if you look at your face

Every day when you get up and think you'll never be great

You'll never be great, not because you're not, but the hate

Will always find a way to cut you up and murder your faith."

That's a super deep and important message for people. Too often we slice ourselves at the knees with our misbeliefs and our poor self-image. And this is coming from a rap song, mind you. Like I said, NF is not like your average rapper.

That's all for today! What'd you think of the song and its music video? Any thoughts on the symbolism? Favorite line(s)?

Monthly HapPENings: August

So, uh . . . this was technically supposed to be up on the 6th, but that didn't happen. Whoopsie. At least it's here now, but I'll try to keep it a bit shorter.

In terms of life stuff, I thought August was going to slow down, since both my family vacation and Realm Makers were over. Both events had required a good deal of preparation that took up most of my June and July. Alas, August was no different. I was busy a lot of the time with various things--or at least, it felt that way.

There were a couple of notable highlights. The first was that my sisters and I spent one Saturday in the nearby city. We stopped by a book store and game shop, had lunch, rode a four-person bike in the rain (which got very tiring, since only two people could pedal at a time and some of the paths were gravel), got ice cream treats, then headed home. It was a lot of fun and a grand ol' time!

The second was that some of my coworkers and I went out for supper, since one of them was leaving the job. We had pizza and then ice cream later before taking a short walk. I enjoyed that so much. I loved laughing and hanging out with my friends, something that I can't seem to get enough of these days.

Bookish HapPENings

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This was the only book I read in all of August, which definitely isn't great. What was great were some of the stories in the anthology. There were several really good ones, ones that made me want even more from their authors. Others were fine. Like, they were good, but I didn't have a strong desire to see more added to that storyworld. Overall, I'd say it was a pretty solid collection! Now I just have 22 more books from RM to read . . .

HapPENings on the Screen

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Okay, Into the Spider-Verse was hecking amazing! This was definitely one of the best Spider-Man films to date. From the incredible visual/animation style to the colorful cast of heroes and villains to the crazy plot, everything was a masterpiece. And the soundtrack! Daniel Pemberton rocked the whole orchestral and electronic mix. I can't wait to see where they go from here.

I'm getting so close to finishing the first of S4, which I am very much looking forward to. I'm quite curious about what the second half is gonna be about, and I'm more than ready for the Snow Queen to get off the screen permanently. I do hope that Anna, Elsa, and (definitely) Kristoff stick around for longer, though.

S4 is still proving to be thoroughly entertaining, minus some parts of episode five. I really can't yet see why people hate on this particular season. I personally like where it's going so far.

Avatar has been a surprisingly great show! Like, I didn't expect it to be as awesome as it is. Always love it when stories take you by surprise and make you fall head over heels in love with them.

This is really shaping up to be quite the epic season. From the Time Blades that allow their users to control time in different ways, to the villains themselves and their army, to the twists and turns in the plot, it all works together to form a very engrossing S7.

Another show that is getting super good. The ever-thickening plot has certainly intrigued me, and it looks like things are going to become even more intense soon. I can't wait to see where it all goes! (Also, the last episode I watched used a TSFH song, which made the scene extra epic.)

Gaming HapPENings

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So I decided to get Minecraft for my Wii U, after watching Jacksepticeye's videos on the game (the PC version). It has been quite fun, and surprisingly creepy at times. I've died probably a couple dozen times already, raged at my continual deaths in a dark, underground cave next to a zombie spawn point with no light to speak of, and walked to the edge of the world. Overall, while it is a great game, I still wouldn't put it above Terraria. There are just certain aspects of that game that I really appreciate, and Minecraft doesn't have those. At least it's still enjoyable.

Writerly HapPENings

I've written 4,210 words in the month of August, all of which went to my personal Realm Makers journal. It was wonderful to mentally relive the experience, but it took me far too long to finish that sucker. I've taken a bit of a break from writing recently, but I need to work on a 90s submission for Havok.

Speaking of which, I found out that my 80s story is getting published with Havok on their online magazine! It's going to be up on October 7th, and you won't want to miss it. It's a court drama story with some wonderful twists thrown in. I'm quite proud of it, so be on the lookout for when it's published!

And that was my August! How was yours? Anything exciting happen? Fill me in on the great or not-so-great stories you've taken in this past month.

Beautiful Tragedy /// Music Monday #58

Well, here we go! Time for another song to kick off the week.

Our song for today is none other than . . .

"Faded (Restrung)" from the album Faded - EP

Composed by Alan Walker

I first heard this song at a sporting goods store, of all places. You would've thought that they would play the original, since that's got more of an upbeat, electronic style, but nope. They played this version. To be honest, I actually prefer this one. It's probably because I heard it first and/or because the music is more orchestral.

What do I like about this song? Well, first of all, the singer--Iselin Solheim--has such a magical voice. I don't know how one would describe the quality of her voice, but it's kind of airy, if that makes sense. I'm not sure what the right word for it is, but what I do know that she really captures the tone of the song.

Second of all, I sometimes like listening to sad songs, and this one just hits me right in the feels. The combination of her voice with Alan's piano playing and the lush strings, along with the lyrics themselves, make for an emotional-sounding song. For some reason, I really like the line in the main chorus where she says, "The monsters running wild inside of me/I'm faded." I dunno why; it resounds me with me somehow.

The third reason I enjoy the song is because it fits stuff for book one--or perhaps all--of the Titan Saga (the follow-up trilogy to the Portal Chronicles). I really can't say anything more than that, because then I would be venturing into heavy spoiler territory. You can rest knowing that it's going to be very, very feelsy.

I think I'll end the post here, since you're getting two of them in a row. I know, that never happens, but this week is special. Hope that's okay with you!

What'd you think of the song? What aspect of it is your favorite and why? Does it work for anything you've written, or anything you've been through in life?