#darktides

Foxpalmer's "That Way" And The Intricacies Of Unspoken Affection Foxpalmer, the London-based artist known for her compelling fusion of rock, indie, and Americana-style folk, has once again graced our ears with a track that resonates deeply within the human experience. "That Way," her newest song, is a deep reflection on the difficulties of love that is not returned. It is a quiet echo of feelings that are held close but never fully expressed. After the success of her previous songs "Forever" and "Wanted," "That Way" solidifies Foxpalmer's unique place in today's music scene by showing how well she can turn personal weakness into art that everyone can relate to. "That Way" is all about being honest without any filters. Foxpalmer looks into the feelings of want and sadness that come up when love is not returned. This isn't a tale of dramatic heartbreak, but rather a nuanced portrayal of an internal world, where a person becomes an almost fantastical obsession. As Foxpalmer herself articulates, the song emerged from deep, unexpressed feelings for someone, feelings that, though not rooted in a tangible reality, were overwhelmingly powerful. This honest assertion makes for a hearing experience that is both personal and broad, encouraging the listener to think about their own private dreams and hidden loves. "That Way" is a great example of Foxpalmer's unique musical style. With her signature emotional words and complex acoustic guitar work, she makes a sound that is both delicate and strong. The arrangement allows the emotional weight of the lyrics to breathe, never overshadowing the narrative but rather enhancing its depth. There's a delicate balance at play here: vulnerability is presented not as weakness, but as a source of profound strength. This characteristic balance has become a hallmark of Foxpalmer's music, distinguishing her from many of her contemporaries. The production, handled by the renowned Greg Chandler at The Priory Recording Studios, ensures that every nuance of Foxpalmer's performance is captured, from the subtle inflections in her voice to the resonant strum of her guitar. Exploring the inner struggle that comes with unrequited feelings is what makes "That Way" so intriguing. Foxpalmer recognises that anger can build up in these situations, but she quickly shifts to a place of understanding and letting go. https://youtu.be/o3AhR5nvOh4?list=OLAK5uy_kP2nWS9ZyrMcP27drcGsR_OLUSko98QMY This self-awareness elevates the song beyond a simple lament, transforming it into an act of emotional catharsis. It's a reminder that even in the most personal of struggles, there's an opportunity for growth and acceptance. Foxpalmer's journey as an artist is further underscored by the anticipation surrounding her upcoming album, "Dark Tides," slated for release in 2025. "That Way" serves as a poignant precursor, hinting at the thematic richness and emotional depth that listeners can expect from the full-length project. Her live performances, which have garnered acclaim across the UK, further demonstrate her captivating presence. Having supported notable acts such as The Bluetones' frontman Mark Morris and the chart-topping UK Indie Rock band Dodgy, Foxpalmer has proven her ability to command a stage and connect with diverse audiences. Her recurring appearances at festivals like Cambridge Rock Festival, Glasgow’s Celtic Connections, and the Godiva Festival speak volumes about her growing influence and the widespread appeal of her music. [caption id="attachment_60413" align="alignnone" width="2000"] Foxpalmer's "That Way" And The Intricacies Of Unspoken Affection[/caption] Currently, Foxpalmer is in the midst of a fourteen-date UK tour, promoting both "That Way" and the forthcoming "Dark Tides" album. This tour, which follows three successful jaunts with the award-winning Prog duo Blackheart Orchestra, culminates at The Water Rats in London this December. Audiences across the nation have the opportunity to experience the evocative power of "That Way" live, and to witness first-hand the artist's most vulnerable work to date.

Wukong paused before looking at the ape in confusion. "Huh?"

"Make the joke." Macaque rolled his eyes. "'So, your type is muscular blue demons with ginger fur'or 'were you and Azure actually fighting over me or badly flirting with each other' just... get it over with."

"...Actually, I was just gonna say I'm happy for you and Sandy." Wukong admitted before grinning. "But what you said is way better! HAHA!"

Macaque, right before punching Wukong:

If I may request a half awake Macaque curling into Sandy’s warm soft arms and dimly realizing that he feels safe for the first time in years

Meanwhile Sandy is petting Macaque like one of his cats and gets pleasantly surprised by the shadow monkey erupting into purrs just like a feral cat that needed a little extra love to feel at home.

(And of course Macaque stretches and curls up just like a cat as well lol)

It was over.

It was finally over.

Macaque sighed as he watched the last gleams of gold magic disappear from the sky. The last remaining magic in the air was around Qi Xiaotian, currently being laid on a sleeping bag by the dragon girl and the king. At that moment, Wukong looked up.

He gave him a silent nod.

He was alive.

Macaque nodded back. Wukong’s eyes moved down to the bundle in his arms. The girl, the lady’s host, was out of it. But he could feel her heart slowly beat, returning to a human heart rate, her soft breaths, the last remainders of the Lady Bone Demon’s chi fading from her systems. He nodded to Wukong, signaling that she was alive. The king nodded and then turned back to Xiaotian.

Macaque didn’t push and instead looked around. The others seemed to be focusing on building a fire and pitching tents. Except for-

“Right here, Mr. MacQuack.” The big blue river demon said. He had laid out another sleeping bag from…somewhere with a little pillow. Macaque sighed but didn’t say a word about the name as he drew close.

The sleeping bag was soft and insulated on the inside. Between that and the fire, the girl would warm up soon enough. Still, the moment he pulled his hands away and the girl made a little noise, it took all of Macaque’s strength not to scoop her back up. Instead, he zipped up the bag, stood up, and felt his legs turn to jelly.

He couldn’t help it.

Exhaustion was suddenly hitting hard. Not for the first time, Macaque realized he was running on fumes. Had been for a while. So now, his body was throwing a fit and making him-

“Whoa there!” Warm arms wrapped around him. Macaque blinked and looked back, right into the beam of the river demon. “Careful there. We don’t need you hurt too.” Before he could figure out how to respond to that, the big guy sat down and pulled Macaque into his lap. “You’re probably exhausted.”

Macaque finally managed to string together a chuckle. “Aren’t we all?”

The river demon nodded, looking around. Wukong was sitting now, meditating next to Xiaotian, an arm wrapped around the dragon girl on his other side. DBK’s calf settled next to them, looking exhausted. Then the girl wrapped an arm around him and pulled him into a lean. On the other side of the camp, Prince Nezha was meditating while the pig was doing the same lean pull on the scholar.

“But I think you especially.” A warm hand was suddenly on his head. For once, however, the touch didn’t startle him. Especially when those fingers began to softly pet. Macaque’s mind went blank as it focused on the touch. He nearly didn’t hear his own purr over the chuckle of “Don’t worry, buddy. Get some sleep.”

Sandy doesn’t mind and maq now has the nickname of “scarf” because he frequently falls asleep on and around Sandy’s chest/shoulders

Sometimes, Macaque fell asleep draped across him.

Sandy didn't mind. It was clear the shadow needed it, based on the bags he sometimes saw when Macaque was applying glamors. All he did really was adjust Macaque's position so he didn't roll off.

Sometimes, however, it led to situations like this.

"Hey, Sandy, have you seen Macaque?"

At Bai He's question, there was a sleepy groan. "What?" Macaque grumbled, pulling his face up from Sandy's back. With the angle and the way he was draped, he had looked just like a scarf.

Sandy seeing Macaque’s glamour slip while asleep. Macaque wakes up and doesn’t notice at first. When he does he panics and scrambles to redo them, paranoid that Sandy thinks differently of him

Sandy just takes his face in his hands and tells him that he’s beautiful

Sandy’s boat was…peaceful.

Which wasn’t really a surprise, considering how chill the river demon was. Whenever Macaque arrived to get his monthly boost from Bai He until a new power source could be found, he was welcomed with tea and dinner. The cats didn’t seem to like him, but they were content to leave him alone. Sandy was warm and welcoming despite his known dislike of Macaque having to steal a bit of Bai He’s power. The boat was warm and comfortable.

All these variables added up.

So Macaque couldn’t help but be surprised when he opened his eyes and saw morning sunlight drift through the windows. He sat up with a groan, noting the blanket thrown over him. He had nearly fallen asleep here hundreds of times. Made sense that he would slip up-

A flash of white snagged his eye.

Macaque looked down.

“Holy-” 

He scrambled away from the sight of white fur. The couch let out an alarming creak under him and he stilled. His thoughts thudded in his head, over and over again.

His glamor had slipped off.

Shit. Had Bai He seen? Had Sandy seen?

He didn’t want to freak out the girl, but he wasn’t sure why his heart ached at the thought of Sandy seeing…all of him.

The white fur. The six ears. The massive scar reaching across his eye. “Morning!” Macaque squawked at the sudden voice and grabbed the blanket, ducking under it. “Oh!” Sandy’s voice was gentle and concerned. “Apologies. Did I wake you?” Macaque’s ears twitched at the sound of a tray gently being placed on the coffee table. “Sorry about that. Bai He tried to be quiet when leaving for school-”

“Did she see me?” Macaque didn’t mean to ask, but it had sort of snapped out of him.

A warm hand rested on his head. “No,” Sandy said, so simply that he couldn’t help but believe him. “I made sure he didn’t.” That was a nice gesture. But it still meant- “You’re beautiful, by the way.”

Macaque’s heart stuttered. He peeked out and Sandy smiled at him, without a hint of lie or shame.