new label, old bottle

@stardustcasti you’re the only one who indicated interest so enjoy 😅😅

Abram’s Ode - lyrics

[verse 1]

You've got a mask but I know your tells

New to the game but I’m calling your bluff

You say you want nothing but I don’t believe it

Try to push me away but you can’t get enough

[pre-chorus 1]

All of your lines that people keep crossing

I saw them all from miles away

You tell me once and trust that I’ll listen

Now there are words that I’ll never say

[chorus 1]

Goin’ up in smoke but I’ll wait

Take whatever you’re givin’ today

Here on the edge by your side

You don’t have to hide, oh no

You don’t have to hide, oh no

[verse 2]

When I wanted to run you told me to stay

Gave me a key and called it home

Now your neck reveals things you aren’t willin’ to say

But your lips tell the truth when you get me alone

[pre-chorus 1]

All of your lines that people keep crossing

I saw them all from miles away

You tell me once and trust that I’ll listen

Now there are words that I’ll never say

[chorus 2]

Goin’ up in smoke but I’ll wait

Take whatever you’re givin’ today

Here on the edge by your side

You don’t have to lie, oh no

You don’t have to lie, oh no

[verse 3]

You were amazing and that was the truth

I never thought I’d let anyone in

Then I asked you to set me free

What’s another on this pile of sins?

[pre-chorus 2]

All of the lies I built to protect me

You saw through them all from miles away

My numbered days I tried to ignore them

All for the game I was dyin’ to play

[chorus 3]

Goin’ up in smoke and I’ll stay

Take whatever you’re givin’ today

Here on the edge by your side

‘Cuz I don’t have to die, oh no

I’m not crazy, they canonically go on a trail ride and as an equestrian that stayed with me.

Kevin and Andrew both give off “scared of horses” energy (i don’t think they trust like that) but Andrew would get on anyway

"In justice. In courage. In defence of the weak. In the face of the mighty. Through magic and wisdom and good." (to summon the Sword of Mages)

&

"I'm working on a Kishi Bashi song that my stepmother, Daphne, calls 'needlessly morose.'" (Baz's music has a vibe)

-- from "Carry On" by @rainbowrowell

Happy 10-Year Anniversary to my favorite book, and the start of my favorite trilogy!

This is unlike any other illustration project I've tackled, before. I wanted to illustrate them because... well, Simon's sword and Baz's violin are both iconic props in the story, and are wrapped up so thoroughly in each character's identity. I do love them so.

Close-ups:

Jean as a Coach would be everything a coach should be. He would remember Tetsuji's cruelty and would choose to embody Wymack's patience and Rhemann's compassion instead. He would remember broken toes and bruised bodies, but his players would only have broad smiles and tired laughs.

Coach jean moreau would not only be WILDLY sought after for his obvious fame and skill - he was the best backliner, he was Court, he was an EAU Raven before the Raven's combusted, he was part of Riko Moriyama and Kevin Day's inner circle Perfect Court, he is also somehow friends with Neil Josten who is now Kevin Day's other best friend who is boyfriends with Andrew Minyard, and the older he gets the more people will udnerstand about how absolutely insane that was. and ALSO, everyone knows that jean moreau is insanely intense about exy, just like his (media perceived) besties Neil Josten and Kevin Day and (and Jeremy Knox but Jeremy is america's sweetheart atp). EVERYONE is gonna want to be on Jean Moreau's team. Anyone who wants to play. Any parent who wants their kid to be the best. so his team is gonna be competitive as fuck.

but he's gonna be so kind. people are expecting brutal. not physical but just so strict and relatively unforgiving (think how kevin actually is irl) and what they're gonna get is jean squatting down to some kid (however old they are) and telling them, "if you refuse to stretch your muscles and rest your body when i tell you to, you will not see playing time at any point in this season. you are only as good as your body condition; do not squander your talent because you want more of it."

they're getting him blowing the whistle and stalking onto the court and snatching the ball out of the air only to drop it to the ground and demanding to know which of them is perfect? when nobody raises their hand, he says "none of you? none of you are perfect and flawless players? interesting. so why are you not acting like a team? why was i hearing bullying? why is nobody sticking up for the player getting made fun of? if none of you are perfect, should I start making fun of all of you? Well?" and they're shame-faced as they answer, "No, Coach". "I thought you wouldn't like that. You are a team; act like it. Drop your racquets and give me ten laps now."

they're getting him rushing onto the court as soon as the refs unlock the door so he can lift a hurt player up and take them off so they can be checked in private because injuries should not be a spectacle.

they're getting him having 30-minute periods at least one practice per week to work on homework, reminding his kids to sleep enough, sending his players off with 'go home and rest; i love you' because he knows that not all of them hear it at home.

they're getting a coach who anyone can come out to, bc he looks at them with a confused expression and says, "will it affect your game? no? okay. do you want to tell your teammates? okay. do your parents know? okay. do you need anything from me? okay. then get back on the court. Hey - wait, come back here." and he grabs them by the shoulders, looks them in the eye, and says, "I am proud of you, and I am proud of who you are, and I love you. You are a (insert team name), and I support you. Do you - need a hug? Okay. ...Now, get back on the court."