The inspiration for this muse came in bits and pieces since I made him in 2019: some of these details were based on the real-life counterpart of his face claim. But Simon Dove is very much my own unique creation. He's foremost a paradox to himself, particularly when it comes to his feelings, and yet he's also very principled and passionate about causes that matter to him. A creative at heart, he is gifted not only with the power of music but also the ability to transform sound to many other forms of energy and vice-versa. And in spite of being analytical and perceptive, the contents of his own heart will forever elude him.
Name: ＳＩＭＯＮ ＴＡＬＩＥＳＩＮ ＤＯＶＥ
Birthday: January 25, 1978
Simon in Hebrew means ❝Hᴇ Hᴀꜱ Hᴇᴀʀᴅ❞
Taliesin in Welsh means ❝Rᴀᴅɪᴀɴᴛ Bʀᴏᴡ❞
Height: 5 feet 7 inches
Weight: 120-140 lbs
Race: Welsh, Italian, and American
Skin Type: Pale, sometimes tanned
face claim: Billie Joe Armstrong
Ｈ Ａ Ｉ Ｒ Ｓ Ｔ Ｙ Ｌ Ｅ
He has strawberry blond hair that's curly and wild. Over the years, it had been dyed alternately between blond and black. It's often with streaks or highlights of neon-color variety (green, blue, red and pink). He slathers it with gel to keep the curls tame because he's a little insecure about them.
Ｅ Ｙ Ｅ Ｓ
He has the brightest green eyes, like the color of a precious jade stone. They're slightly droopy but also very round and sad-looking if he's not smiling. Nowadays, he doesn't have perfect eyesight anymore and wears prescription glasses. He also puts on thick eyeliner on occasion especially when performing onstage, which prompted a significant other later on to bless him with the pet name, 'soft panda papa'.
ＦＡＣＩＡＬ ＳＴＲＵＣＴＵＲＥ
He has a rather pleasant cherubic face since he doesn't have a pronounced jawline. This gives him a youthful countenance, and he tends to get a stubble than a full beard to avoid looking too masculine. He used to have crooked front teeth after an accident with a guitar, but he has since gotten them straightened out.
ＤＩＳＴＩＮＣＴ ＦＥＡＴＵＲＥＳ
Simon has tattoos on his upper torso, the most prominent of which is below his clavicle in cursive writing that says 'ʙᴇ ꜱɪʟᴇɴᴛʟʏ ᴅʀᴀᴡɴ', a quote from a poem that he read in high school which resonated with him; also encouraged him to pursue music even if he had to drop out of school.
The tattoo sleeve on his left arm is a full-portrait depiction of his mother, Adara Dove, as the mythical Selkie. It runs from his bicep and wrist. This was exclusively in black ink surrounded by blue to serve as the ocean. His right arm sleeve is composed of a series of images for his son Machete, styled as a vertical collage in six frames so far, starting from infancy. They are colorful and eye-catching.
On either side of his hips, he had the date of his wife Amy passing her bar exam on the right, and Machete's birthday on the left, which he considers two of his proudest moments as a family man.
His fingers also have small tattoos; a skull of the middle digit on his left hand while a heart with 'XX' on the other.
On his left wrist several inches below the pulse are the Tagalog words,'ᴍᴀʟᴀʏᴀ ᴀɴɢ ᴍᴜꜱɪᴋᴀ'.
He also has a few dozen white scars that peppered his chest, souvenirs from when his mutation first manifested. It's scar tissue that never healed.
✪ Simon Taliesin Dove is a forty-two year old semi-retired musician and a native to Berkeley, California, who had been working as a talent representative with his own private-owned independent label.
✪ Raised in Oakland, he dropped out of high school two months before getting his diploma in order to become a professional musician.
✪ He was a child out of the wedlock, borne from a Welsh immigrant mother (Adara) and an American-Italian successor (Cezare Napolitano). Sadly, his parents never married, so Simon is an illegitimate son and has a complicated relationship with his younger half-sister Cheryl Astor. It was revealed that the mutant gene was on his father's side, but the Napolitanos kept it under wraps.
✪ His home life had been less than ideal; he often stayed in several friends' houses, especially since he didn't like the men his mother married over the years, except for a third stepfather whom he shared a bond with.
✪ Simon grew up in the beaches of his hometown Berkeley and learned to surf the waves before he even rode a bike.
✪ He married his high school sweetheart, the Jewish girl next door named Amelia Broskovich, who later on finished law school while he's busy with his music career. Amy was his only serious relationship for decades. They proved to be incompatible and got divorced five years ago.
✪ They have a fourteen-year old son, Machete Danger Dove, born on October 12, 2006 and whom he will do anything for. His son, too, is a mutant.
✪ He was known as the frontman for the indie punk band 'Atomic Frequency' during his twenties. They released a self-titled record with 13 tracks and had a strong presence for seven years before the band took a hiatus due to creative slumps and differences behind the scenes.
✪ Simon was a rebel who dedicated his younger years making music, smoking pot, and committing petty theft to support his band's exploits. Now a wiser man in his forties, he may still have retained his has passion for music, but fatherhood has become his top priority, especially since he's raising a mutant child in secret.
✪ Due to exposure to his mother's stormy romantic relations, Simon learned to become a realistic about his goals regarding marriage and family, and was highly sensitive to the needs of his partners, in which he prioritizes loyalty and stability. That said, it's not easy for him to be emotionally vulnerable, and that is the ultimate challenge for anyone who loves him and wants to make a relationship work.
✪ He's usually unassuming during first impressions and a little awkward around new acquaintances. However, Simon can be shockingly extroverted on stage because giving an unforgettable performance is his primary goal as an artist. His truest and most confident self only comes out there and, yes, in the bedroom with a worthy partner.
✪ The man has a soft spot for children and animals. Prone to displays of paternal gestures especially to anyone below twenty-five, Simon will be reliable during stressful situations so that the younger person can feel at ease and protected. It's because he's learned to embrace the 'dad' identity more comfortably as time passed by.
✪ Simon also possesses a streak of non-conformity nevertheless and will stand up for people who need it. However, when this man gets angry, his blood doesn't boil--it turns to ice. He can employ severe tactics like silent treatment and even cutting off the other person altogether any access to his life.
✪ Simon is kind and compassionate towards strangers when they are troubled or discriminated against. However, he has a tendency to be cold with loved ones, out of fear he's losing control and agency over feelings.
✪ Instead of communicating his feelings with someone he cares about, Simon would shut down or pretend his emotions don't even matter in favor of giving way to his partner's, or worse, out of a need to punish himself.
✪ He still considers his divorce as a symptom of his ongoing flaw in character which was his inability to fully be with someone emotionally without sabotaging the relationship. Simon struggles to open up and connect. No matter how fun and comfortable he could be with a friend or lover, he still has the tendency to hoard personal details regarding his life because he just doesn't consider himself a 'sharer'.
✪ It's not that he doesn't want to share emotions; he merely often believes his own inner world is secondary to the other person's own. Simon could potentially neglect his own needs, due to how emotionally frugal he lives his life, so an attentive partner is required to help him express said needs which he can be ignorant about.
✪ In later years, he's finally sought therapy and found a psychologist named Sef Corin (@WINTERNTHESHADE) whom he developed a strong platonic kinship with.
✪ He might consider himself sensible, Simon can be very intense when it comes to his significant others and has a tendency to sabotage a relationship if something about it could set off his insecurities.
✪ That said, this man is quite a demonstrative romantic so long as the right person can bring out that passionate and very playful side. He loves to seduce and play silly little games while considerate of his partner's boundaries in the process.
✪ Simon is very monogamous, given that his only serious relationship went back as far as childhood and led to marriage. While most men would brag about how many women they've been with, Simon took pride on the fact he managed to stay loyal to one woman, even with passing temptations during the height of his musical career.
✪ He can never have casual sex. Because he's guarded, he rarely feels attraction. When he does, he would have to decide whether or not to pursue. And the moment Simon does, he would slowly yet surely turn it into a relationship. He's far too old at this point to fuck around.
✪ He is also bisexual and has come out as one since high school. After his divorce, he began hooking up with men but did not find anyone appealing enough so far to establish an emotional connection with. Simon leans female on his attraction in the bisexual spectrum, although trans and non-binary people can and will certainly turn his head.
ＭＩＳＣＥＬＬＡＮＥＯＵＳ
✪ Simon is trilingual. Aside from American English, he speaks Italian and Tagalog moderately well. He learned the latter from his mother's former business partner who's a Filipina.
✪ He tries to quit smoking but finds himself finishing a pack when stressed. As early as fifteen, he's done weed, meth, and a bit of cocaine on the side. At the moment, he's fifteen years sober although his divorce almost became a trigger.
✪ He doesn't like to talk about family matters, whether about his father's family or his ex-wife.
✪ He has gone to all of Dazzler's concerts (some even abroad) and learned to hone his powers through observing hers. There might actually be a familial connection between them, which he learns later on during his stint at Mojoworld.
✪ Simon used to be in touch with the other members of his band, Mitchell and Frank, but obligations to their families made them drift apart. He currently works for an independent record label that is doing well for itself, where he produces for upcoming bands in his local city. As long as he's making music, he is happy.
✪ One of the more well-known bands he's producing is an all-queer band Desolate Wild, whom he treats like second sons. He tours with them every now and then. His latest prodigy whom he's grooming to become a more successful act is twenty-three year old Viola Lancaster (or Viola Rosalie). She has a brother named Fred whom Simon gets along with.
✪ He hates cucumbers, chandeliers, and fire pokers. No real reasons why.
✪ Simon once contemplated joining the X-Men to make something of himself and his powers, but when his then-wife got pregnant, he abolished that ambition. However, when called into action such as participating in uprisings to overthrow the oppressive regime in Mojoworld, he will do and had done his part.
✪ Simon can be political and outspoken against hate groups and any other form of bigotry. He staunchly supports mutant rights but remains on the sidelines. His character alignment is NEUTRAL GOOD, and this makes him driven towards setting things right when wrong, and regards individual freedom of utmost importance.
✪ As long as a person does more good than harm, then individuality must be chosen over conformity. He's naturally suspicious of institutions of power and authority figures, and yet Simon actually possesses qualities of charisma and diplomacy himself that could make him lead someday.
✪ He's in considerable good health for his age and is conscious about diet and exercise. However, he's not consistent about either and may splurge on junk food and marijuana if the whim suits him.
Cacophonies are imbued
in the poetry of his genes;
he could hear all hearts as
they pulsate and break.
From a crackle of sound
to specter and finally fury,
he had the touch of music
that knows no forgetting.
Ｃｈａｒａｃｔｅｒｉｓｔｉｃｓ
✪ Sound energy is the primary source of his mutation. It might have something to do with his musicality, or perhaps his mutation's feature is the reason why he was drawn into becoming a musician in the first place. In any case, they now go hand-in-hand together, as his conversion powers seem to respond more to musical arrangements such as in songs. He can cause the vibrations found in sound waves to manifest as lights, similar to Dazzler's though he later on would unlock other possibilities.
✪ Simon can also use sound waves to configure heat or thermal energy. Once heat is formed, it could also be turned into lights, though they may appear smaller and condensed in appearance, similar to dust particles. Whereas with music, the light fusion is far bigger in scope, often transformed to fireworks-like manifestation which is harmless and pretty to look at.
✪ He also has the ability to absorb electrical energy through digestion. In fact, this kind of power affected Simon's diet as he prefers to consume raw energy like this by draining battery packs or (in extreme cases) power boxes. He's slowly learning to turn the electricity he absorbs into something of a solar variety that could power appliances. He's attuned to alternative current, which is the sound created with higher voltage in wires and devices.
✪ The most dangerous form of his conversion would be nuclear energy. In fusing atoms, sound is louder and more potent in such a volatile transformation, so in theory (which is soon put to practice), Simon can also absorb radioactivity. Learning to control it to the point of increasing or decreasing its toxic effects, however, is something his alter version, Nobody of Mojoworld, has learned more effectively after undergoing extensive genetic testing and therefore reaching an Omega level as a mutant.
✪ Simon might possess the skill to absorb nuclear power but not to the point that his body can hold it any longer than half an hour. He's mostly immune to long-term effects associated with radioactive poison, but he must be quarantined for a few days to ensure he's safe enough to be in contact with the world again.
✪ Another ability he has is hearing heartbeats and even the ability to ascertain a person's blood pressure. Over the years he's figured out how to read these vitals signs to glean when someone is telling the truth of has something to hide just by listening to their heartbeat. He often trusts what he hears then rather than the person's facial expression. People to him also don't sound alike where the heart is concerned. At seven, he actually heard a 'weird sound' in his father's heartbeat months before he was diagnosed with heart complications and cancer.
✪ At an early age, Simon perceived sound through a range and scope beyond the normal human hearing but he used to think it was just a fatasy. It wasn't until he was sixteen that his powers awakened due to a catalytic incident in a club where he was performing music while inebriated. His powers manifested and made almost half of the audience deaf by accident. He has since NEVER used his powers unless in private, though he experiments on them quite a bit.
✪ It was revealed during the reading of his paternal grandfather's last will and testament that he got the mutant gene on his father's side. It tends to skip generations. So far, he and his one year-old niece Ayesha (daughter to Cheryl) are the only ones who possess abilities. Not to mention his son.
✪ Simon had no interest to make something out of his powers at this point, especially after he witnessed the persecution of the singer known as Dazzler after she came out as a mutant. He followed her career since, inspired by her bravery and lived vicariously through her being out and proud.
✪ As a mutant, he has the power of Sound Transduction, which is the conversion of sound into other energies, though he prefers light, much like Dazzler. Nowadays (after undergoing a series of experimental trials) he can channel this same ability in reversal where other energies (heat, light, electric, and nuclear) can be turned into sound.
✪ He would have gone his entire life never caring about the mutant cause and simply pretending he's a normal human, until his son manifested his own powers during a camping trip. What they know about the boy's powers so far is that they are are nature-based, affecting the growth of foliage on earth and other land-based formations. They agreed to keep it a secret from the boy's mother the boy comes of age.
✪ With an ongoing custody battle, Simon has no idea how to help his son and so made the decision to finally go to the Xavier Institute to possibly enroll as a student. He also hopes he could tell his ex and she would agree to help their son learn more about his mutation instead of suppressing it, especially in these troubled times concerning mutant rights.
✪ Some time after his divorce, Simon had been abducted and taken to a hostile planet called 'Mojoworld' and was forced to sign a contract which binds him to perform as a musician, recording artist and occasional actor in the bastardized 'Mojofornia'. It's interesting to note that mutants like Longshot and Dazzler had been reluctant residents long before. He would describe Mojoworld as 'like the Hunger games, only depressingly dumber'.
１９９４
It took Simon a few tries to climb the summit that was the stage inside the overcrowded club of 89 Miserab Blvd, because he had drunk not only five beers that night, but also some shots of bourbon, of which he lost count of.
The combination was made worse by the fact that he drank on an empty stomach, and his teenage mistake gurgled unpleasantly inside him, like a raging fuck-you to the intestines.
Other than that, he was happy. The elation wasn't solely because of the alcohol buzz but also due to the humbling fact that he's surrounded by his favorite sounds in the world. He has unnatural hearing for as long as he could remember, and he swore that the people's hearts below him matched the tempo of every song that was played tonight.
This was home, and it swathed him in warmth like his own personal cocoon. He basked on it, with all the booze, adrenaline and punk rock imbibed in his pores, making his blood run hot that he's perspiring it all.
Simon eventually settled on the stage, barely coherent and functional, all while his eyes were closed and he's grinning like an asshole. Someone even had to help him strap on his neon green electric guitar. In a mindless gesture of gratitude, he planted a kiss on their lips. He's so fucking happy to be back in his element that he started playing a surge of power chords unrelated to the song he's supposed to be doing. His friends on stage with him with their own instruments (and drunkenness to contend with) didn't care.
He did start singing two minutes into a frenzied guitar solo no one asked for. The song he picked was 'Cherry Bomb' by the all-girl band The Runaways. Because why the fuck not.
Bright lights from bulbs too hot to touch which hung from the ceiling highlighted every flaw in his complexion, and the way his skin glistened with sweat, as he enunciated with a husky, albeit nasal, delivery:
'hєllσ, dαddч. hєllσ, mσm.
í'm чσur ch-ch-ch-chєrrч вσmв! hєllσ wσrld!
í'm чσur wíld gírl.
í'm чσur ch-ch-ch-chєrrч вσmв!'
He also tried to feminize his voice for effect on certain lines. Bouncing on his feet with the unexpected grace of a ballet dancer, Simon commanded his body like it was just another extension of the guitar he's grasping, whose strings he's fiddling in a mad pace like he had never fingered a girl or guy before. He's both hyper-aware and ignorant of the cacophony closing in on him, as each note he struck was amplified by the noises happening around the mosh pit.
All of these sounds clashed, a meeting of titans that could rip apart the fabric in reality, or at least that's how it felt for Simon. He always felt like that when he performed.
'hєч, strєєt вσч, wαnt sσmє stчlє?
чσur dєαd єnd drєαms dσn't mαkє чσu smílє.
í'll gívє чσu sσmєthíng tσ lívє fσr.
hαvє чσu αnd grαв чσu untíl чσu'rє sσrє.'
Is it possible to taste sound, to take it with your own two hands and squeeze until it transforms into flesh and bone, a writhing, screaming mess, who's swearing and hurling lyrics towards a strung-out, drugged-up crowd of teens and twenty-somethings? Because Simon felt like that; a resolute sound that took the form of a young man with blue-dyed hair and frosted tips, wet mouth pressed too intimately on the microphone, so ravenous to engulf this entire club in tidal waves of music that was not of this world but on a different plane of reality altogether.
Fuck, was he so drunk and full of himself! Simon laughed at the hilarity of his feelings, blaming the fantasy of invincibility on the puberty and hormones.
'í'm чσur ch-ch-ch-chєrrч вσmв!'
His paradise was cut short soon enough when he picked up a conflicting exchange from an otherwise cooperative symphony. Simon found it easily, given the precision of that hearing of his. The glare of the lights on stage made it hard to see anything clearly, so he had to rely on that hypersensitive sense in question. He never stopped strumming his guitar until he became certain of the incident unfolding among the great masses below him.
A man with a Mohawk had just punched a girl. Simon instantly recognized the hollow sound of his knuckles connecting with her jaw. It was followed by a few more words that are definitely a form of verbal abuse, as he forcibly tried to remove her. She scratched him. Simon heard her nails digging onto the fabric of his shirt. Her heartbeat was erratic, like an animal facing death but still hoping it could escape.
"Hey, fucker!" With an abrupt swipe of hand, Simon stopped playing and held the guitar's handle away so he could shout some more into the mic, "Yeah, you Mohawk cunt, I'm talking to you! How were you raised, huh? Are you a goddamn savage, hitting a girl like that?"
His friends slowed down on their own beats to blink wearily across the commotion Simon was addressing.
"You think I'm afraid of you? I ain't scared of no pussy who would punch a girl!"
The crowd was growing restless and confused. On one hand, they want the band to keep playing. On the other, they're just as curious and pissed at whoever was being accused of assault within their ranks. Some who were standing beside the arguing couple did witness the confrontation too and were jeering alongside Simon, shoving the Mohawk guy away while a few were kind enough to shield the girl for protection and out of solidarity.
Bouncers were finally called to settle the fight, but Simon didn't let it end there. He took off the strap of his guitar and cast the instrument aside in reckless anger.
"You wanna fight someone, bitch? I'll fight you! I don't care if you're seven feet tall because of your ugly-ass hair!" He approached the mosh pit, glaring down at the other guy who was also swearing at him. Simon tuned it out, which was helped by the fact that his heart was rattling against his rib cage, a booming thunder that could not be silenced.
Five foot-seven and sixteen years old, Simon didn't look intimidating except of course when he's all fury and threats. He's gotten into heated arguments before, mostly about stupid things concerning his band and his failing grades at school, but nothing of this scale before. He was enraged by the audacity of this dude to come here and ruin Simon's best live performance yet; and to ruin it by being an abusive pig at that? Fuck no!
An innocent girl got injured, which was all that mattered to him right now. With his hyper senses, he could still hear her muffled weeping, the haunting melody of it lost there among the sea of spectators. Simon had no idea a heart breaking into pieces could sound this devastating. It made his blood boil tenfold.
He took a few steps back, making the audience think he didn't mean his threats.
They were wrong.
In one startling moment, he jumped, as high as he usually did whenever he rocked out, with one leg spread out. It was rather fortunate that he got the angle right, because his shin made contact with the Mohawk guy's head as soon as he fell into the swarm. To describe what happened in the next instant as utter chaos will be downplaying it. So many arms started grabbing at him, either to aid him to drag him down. Simon had to ignore everything going on so he could listen solely to his own strength of conviction as he laid it all out on his target.
He swung and punched, not caring whether he missed or not. All the alcohol in his system kept him viciously upright when earlier it made him dizzy and giddy. But pretty soon the intensity became too much. His ears were ringing, growing hot and numb all at once. The cacophony of the club which he had considered a lullaby before now turned against him. Soon enough his vision dimmed and his movements got sloppy. Midway through either puking or passing out, he saw Mohawk guy (his nose now bloodied and broken) grab a fistful of his shirt as he pulled his other arm back, no doubt to pound him with it next.
Simon snapped, like a string on a guitar bound too tightly around the tuning post, and where one too many plucks would cause it to unravel.
Something happened to his body he could not explain then, and it still lingered many years from now whenever he would have bad dreams about that night in 86 Miserab Blvd.
He cannot pinpoint precisely how it started, but Simon remembered how his veins just burst, like something of a large entity was crowning out him. And there were...stars? No, more like lightning bolts shooting out of his pores. Now that can't be right. He must have dreamed that part.
But Simon had a dozen tiny scar tissues across his arms and legs since that night, all the evidence he needed to understand it had happened. Not failing to mention how everyone within the vicinity suffered tremendous hearing loss for the next fifteen minutes. That aftermath was even more awful, and Simon was right at the heart of it.
Bruised and stunned, he could only watch in helpless agony as everyone screamed together in unison, mouths agape, with the fear carved into their faces, making their own veins pop...
...but there was only the punishing silence.
Simon wouldn't know until a few weeks later that it was all because of him. With his righteous anger the trigger, he detonated on the one place he called home, and he's never truly forgiven himself for that.
It would take another month before he could accept that he had a mutation. He wasn't imagining the things he felt onstage after all. Something in his biology can sense sound very differently than the average human. The worst part of it all was that he had weaponized it to hurt others.
➷
A decade had passed before he even stepped foot inside Miserab again. He's long abandoned dreams of stardom as a rock star at this point, though he never stopped making music even only as a hobby he and a few other close friends can appreciate. For how could Simon propel himself to pursue those heights, knowing he won't be able to disguise his abilities for long once the spotlight is on him, and sooner or later the wrong crowd could fall victim to what he can do. He didn't loathe having his powers per se, just the deal breakers and inconveniences that came with them.
Hell, he couldn't even tell Amy, his soon-to-be bride, though she suspected he was changed forever after that incident and not just because of the usual trauma.
Simon now stood on the same spot where it happened. Miserab was empty during noon, with only the staff and crew around as they prepare for the line-up of performances every night. He eyed the ground warily for a minute or two before he looked up at the stage. The has-been rocker tried to imagine his teenage self propped up there, a smug little shit who cared so much about things that shouldn't matter and didn't care enough for those that did.
And he smiled. For all the misgivings and bad memories, Simon still loved this punk rock scene. And 86 Miserab Blvd was an enduring snapshot of a fierce boyhood he was proud to have lived and now tell tales of to aspiring kids who listened to his band's EPs and bootleg copies of live concerts at some point, and decided they want to be a part of that too.
Who could blame them? There's an electricity to this kind of music you will never find in any another genre; it's raw and hungry and terrible at making apologies and growing up.
But Simon had, ultimately, and it was only then that he can finally let go.
༺ ᴡᴇ ʟɪᴠᴇ ɪɴ Ｔｒｏｕｂｌｅｄ Ｔｉｍｅｓ ༻
Simon was punishingly sober today, of all the days, as he swerved his car towards the spacious pathway surrounded by lawns found only in country clubs or, in this case, a ten-acre estate for the very entitled and elite.
The greenery stretched seemingly for miles before he at last parked close to what can easily be assumed was the grand entrance. Imposing doors made of fine wood came to view as soon as he swung his car door open and exhaled like he'd rather hurl bile on the ground. Those same doors had never been tarnished or weathered by time, much like the arrogance of the family who lived here. It wafted in his direction immediately as he dared step foot inside these premises.
He didn't go in just yet and instead stared at the expanse of the mansion's facade through his dark shades before giving it a well-deserved grimace. This could have been comical, coming back here after so many years, if it wasn't so much of a tragedy at his expense too.
"Jesus, this fucking place..." Simon muttered while patting his jacket's front pocket so he can take out a single stick of cigarette. He didn't light it just yet and merely pushed it through his hair to rest on the curve of his ear.
Afterwards, he climbed an arching staircase forged in some type of fancy marble, carved by a well-known mason from Sicily or whatever. He knew someone told him about it once, but he never retained the information. The craftsmanship was beautiful though, something Simon can appreciate even though he hated everything this kind of wealth is usually associated with.
He was in the middle of wondering whether he should knock or click a button (he was sure there was a button the last time he and his mother were asked to come here), but then the butler appeared, pushing the doors wide open just as Simon almost placed his hand on the knobs.
"Good afternoon, Signor Dove," he spoke in that familiar clipped accent his boyhood self can recall even after almost three decades.
In spite of himself, Simon was suddenly nervous but he managed a cheeky smile and responded with, "What's up, Giovanno. Do you remember me then?"
Such a stupid question only earned him an amused silence on the senior man's end. With a gracious bow of his head, the butler Giovanno answered instead, "Refreshments are already available in the parlor, signor, in case you are parched or have not yet eaten. Come this way. Everyone's been waiting."
"Yeah, sure," Simon removed his shades and started taking out his prescription glasses from another pocket, all while strolling down the halls with Giovanno. He didn't even notice the cigarette slipping from his ear until they've arrived to the parlor, and the butler has picked it up along the way and handed it back to Simon at the last moment.
He counted at least twelve people who were gathered in the parlor. Three women were sitting down while the rest formed small groups among themselves. They stopped to raise their eyes towards the direction of the new guest, the one who never fitted into the paradigm of this social hierarchy to begin with, let alone have a permanent place in it.
Simon was not going to be intimidated, however. He sauntered forward, with one hand adjusting his glasses while the other pushed the cigarette back on the same spot it was perched in previously.
One of the women on the couches was his half-sister Cheryl. She was holding onto her belly which had become more rotund since he last saw her. Gently, he leaned towards her, with a hand resting on the ledge of the couch.
"What's going on? Why was I invited to this..." he glanced around the parlor and saw that almost everyone was now staring at him, like they were personally offended for Cheryl's behalf that she's forced to talk to him. Assholes.
"...what the fuck is this anyway?"
Cheryl calmly leveled her gaze with his, blue eyes less icy than he remembered. She genuinely looked concerned about something. Her own hand circled around his on the ledge without warning. Simon almost flinched away, not only because of the fact that they're not even close, let alone ever treated each other as family, but also since her skin was rather clammy.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Still, the instinct to be a real brother came out anyway, and he squeezed her hand back, reluctantly at first, adding, "Can I help you with something? Is that why I'm here?"
"No, listen, okay?" she rose to her feet now and let his hand go before she urged him to follow her next, right towards the open bar where she feigned at serving him a drink whilst they talked in hushed tones.
"Nonno has passed last month," she explained. And then she took a bottle of bourbon and poured it into a shot glass for Simon. It was a pretty strong choice of booze at this hour, but they both knew somehow that he would not put up with any more of the crushing hypocrisy of this situation if he wasn't at least drinking.
So he took the shot glass and finished it in one gulp, ignoring potential judgment from the cynical pieces of shit who are were around them. He placed it back on the table, "Yeah? I mean, sorry for your loss. My condolences and...all that."
Cheryl glared, "Look, he was your own blood too, you know. You can at least try better with the grief."
"Hm," Simon gestured for her to pour him another shot, "Blood means nothing without love. And who would love a bastard borne by a middle-class, high school dropout like my mother, huh? You've always considered her the strumpet who seduced a Napolitano heir, one obviously way out of her league. So why should I give a fuck about any of this?"
"Don't start," Cheryl stopped pouring midway and pushed the shot glass away from his reach instead. "And keep your voice down. They already don't approve of you being here."
He was almost tempted to turn around and flip everyone off, but he somehow found the grace and restraint to keep it to himself. Perhaps there was also that mild though lingering curiosity, as to why he was asked to come here, especially when nobody aside from Cheryl seemed to be okay about it.
As if reading his mind, said woman cited, "By now, you probably want to know why you've been invited to this somber event, right? Well, Simon, you had been named in Nonno's will."
It took him a few moments to process that, and even then he didn't care. To express that disinterest, Simon took the bottle of bourbon from Cheryl and drank straight from it.
"Did you hear what I just said?"
Wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his jacket, he answered, "So? Tell them they can have my share then. That's it, right? We're done now? Listen, I don't want anything from you or your people who had time and time again never showed any hint of sympathy or regret for the shit they've put my mom through."
Simon was already on his way out, not even bothering to put the bottle down. He would at least take it with him.
But Cheryl had grabbed him by the elbow just in time, and the only reason he didn't push her away was because she's pregnant and still his goddamn sister, even if they never grew up together or even lived in the same house. Simon was learning to care for her though, in spite of telling himself not to, and it was all because of that one road trip they took there several years back during college...
Against his best judgment, he stayed, with one hand clenched on his side and the other gripping the bottle as if he was ready to smash it against a wall. These turbulent waves of emotions were not entirely unlike him, given his quick temper, but Simon also considered himself a pretty level-headed guy, one who's driven by a strong sense of right and wrong. He always aimed for fairness even when tested and drained by the people who least likely deserve his graciousness.
Cheryl kept holding onto his elbow and beseeching him with her eyes. at the moment, which made it even harder to leave. She leaned close and uttered something equally intriguing too: "Trust me, if it was just a matter of money, I never would have invited you here. The kind of valuable restitution you need is never going to be monetary, Sy. I know that. But there's something else in that will you might want to hear. Please stay. And listen."
That pang of curiosity was back again, itching on the surface of his mind. He loosened his hold on the bottle and stared at it, as if contemplating another sip. Cheryl decided otherwise for him when she snatched it away before enfolding her hand on his again. After she placed the bottle back on the bar, she led Simon towards the other guests, the aunts and uncles and other relatives he never knew by name, just by face and through reputation.
"I'm not going to bother with introductions because you already know who he is, and he's here because I wanted him here," his half-sister tucked a few loose strands of dark hair that have fallen from her conservative bun. She then straightened her back, clutching both her belly and Simon's hand for fortitude, adding, "And so did Nonno. So whatever opinion you may have about anything, please keep it to yourselves. Respect Nonno's wishes, including what he's laid out on his will and testament."
Shockingly, no one spoke up. A few glared daggers at Simon, while the rest dismissed him with a tight smile. That was charming enough, so he returned their hospitality by making himself comfortable on the couch next to Cheryl. He hoarded the space a little too keenly, which forced the two other women to move away or just pick another furniture to sit on.
"Are you sure about this?" It was Cheryl's husband (a Chad or a Lucas, Simon can't recall) who squeezed her gently on the shoulder to inquire, "This is almost an act of war with these folks. And would you really risk alienating them from now on, because of...a brother you hardly owe a damn thing to?"
Douchebag knew Simon could overhear, and he almost retorted with something as equally mean, but Cheryl responded with, "This is my family first, so I get to make my own decisions when it comes to that. Right now, more than anything, what Nonno wanted was to include Simon for the reading of his will. So sit down and just support me on this."
She kept her hand closed around Simon's for a few more moments, which no doubt irked Chad/Lucas as he sank to a nearby sofa on his wife's right side.
The next thirty minutes or so was a blur, at least as far as Simon is concerned. It was the usual garbage he expected to hear; properties had been curated down to the very last detail, as well as to whom they were being endowed among the kin who attended this meeting; then this was followed by inane discussions concerning other properties that were not explicitly disclosed; all while they sneered at Simon every now and then for the audacity of his presence.
None of them, except for Cheryl, wished for an outsider to witness their personal politics and greed on full display. This collective disdain aimed at him was so entertaining and made the entire thing bearable, even if it's still as soul-crushingly stupid as ever. Simon made sure he even had a shit-eating grin each time he caught the eye of some fuming relative.
Finally, one of the three lawyers scanned the rest of the documents again before he met Cheryl's eyes discreetly. She nodded, all while she cultivated a more serious expression. Simon, meanwhile, was quick to pick up on the tension and gravity of this new situation, as the air around them seemed to change, like a harbinger of potentially bad news.
Nonno's parting words engulfed the parlor with the heavy weight they bore. In them he revealed that the Napolitanos, going as far back as seven generations, have a genetic defect, the one now deemed as the mutant gene. It skipped every few generations, which meant that the old man possessed it yet his heirs did not; including Simon's father and two other siblings. However, it's still possible that there may be a few kin in the ongoing lineage who could acquire a mutation, and Nonno emphasized that he had options for those family relatives, just in case.
"What sort of options are we talking about here?" One of the distant uncles raised that one question in everyone's minds.
The lawyer cleared his throat before reciting, "There are two options in particular; one is a chance to become eligible for beta-testing which had made breakthroughs so far in curing the mutant gene. It was a project your grandfather funded a decade ago alongside other interested parties in other foreign countries. This would allow the kin in question a chance for a normal life, by neutering the infection before it progresses into a more fixed state."
A chill swept across Simon now, almost making him break into a cold sweat. He couldn't describe how he felt except that it was beginning to take over him like the most unpleasant mixture of nausea, anger and disbelief.
He couldn't stay quiet anymore. "And what's option number two?"
Everyone turned to look at him, as if they've forgotten in that small window of dread and confusion that this outsider was still very much a part of this debacle.
"Well, if the infected kin insists on living with the mutation then..." the lawyer scanned the piece of paper again, trying as hard as he could to stay neutral whilst he delivered the contents, "...Napolitano offered a private island of undisclosed location where he or she could live off the rest of their unnatural life, confined to this place without becoming a burden or inconvenience to the family and the world at large."
Cheryl gripped Simon's hand tighter. Of course, she would, because she knew about Simon and his powers. She knew since college and agreed to keep it a secret. And now she brought him here, her estranged half-brother, to see and hear the truth for himself regarding how much danger he could be in; that the biggest threat to his survival are not strangers but those of his own blood.
"That sounds about right," another relative quipped, "It would be this family's greatest shame if people find out that we have a mutie in our midst."
Simon's head was about to burst. His neck was flushed, chest constricting like he was about to have a panic attack right there and then. But he kept his features schooled, knowing that as much as these bigots deserved his wrath, he still wouldn't risk exposure. He had Chet to think about, even Amy. Their divorce papers may had just been finalized months ago, but they're also still in the middle of a rather complicated custody battle.
He had to so much to lose, more so than his temper in this very moment.
"It's rather cruel of Nonno to only inform us about this on his death. Can you imagine? Any child we may have or have already...could be genetically predisposed to...that hideous freakishness we read on the news lately?"
"I'm telling you, Jane, if Richard has this gene then we are going to ensure he takes every test and cure before we enroll him into prep school next semester."
"Yes, I heard that this mutie thing can manifest during adolescence! And even earlier, if they are triggered by stressors."
"These are troubled times we are living, Sheldon. I cannot bear seeing our daughter having this thing to haunt her for the rest of her life. She's only four! Promise me we will take Option One if it ever comes down to that."
Simon slowly rose to his feet, careful not to call attention to himself while everyone was absorbed in their own personal drama. He slowly disentangled his hand from Cheryl's, muttering, "I need to go. I can't be here anymore."
But his half-sister was in the middle of her own spat with Chad/Lucas. She did, however, glanced towards Simon's direction as he made his way out of the parlor. It took all of his strength to keep himself upright and walking. He wasn't sure if he was more fearful or more furious, and that limbo of polar emotions is ripping through his very core right now, like badly played, out-of-tune chords.
He half-ran through the halls and managed to reach the doors--these bulky, finely-crafted inhibitors of escape. They wouldn't budge, no matter how hard he pushed or turn the knobs. He would have shouted for Giovanno when he saw Cheryl rushing towards him first.
"No," Simon turned away and stared at the wood still blocking his exit with a stubborn yet mournful look. Times like this he wished he has laser eyes, like the X-Men's Cyclops. Why couldn't that have been his mutation?
"Sy, I'm really--"
He cut her off by facing her abruptly, "You could have warned me, you know. I'd have appreciated some sort of a coordinated preparation between us instead of just being tossed into that cesspool of fuck-all that is your money-grubbing, close-minded bigoted family!"
"You!" Cheryl grabbed a portion of his shirt, crumpling it with her first as she stared back wildly at him, "You are my family too. And I'm really sorry the rest of us had been such a shitty disappointment, Simon, but I don't have...I don't have anyone else I can trust. Not even Sean."
With furrowed eyebrows, he almost asked 'who's Sean' when he realized that /that/ was the her hubby's name after all.
"Trust? What are you talking about?"
"You heard what Nonno said," she sniffed once as tears began to gather in the corner of her eyes, "This gene skips generations in our family and...you had it. And maybe..." she looked down at the belly she's cradling, protecting at all costs.
"Yeah," Simon was growing impatient, and his desire to take it out on Cheryl outweighed every bit of restraint he still had, so he took a deep breath before he could say anything next which he will truly regret.
"Tell me," he inched closer, holding her gaze, "...if you had a child with a mutation, are you going to have it neutered or just exiled? Because those are the only options you have as a Napolitano."
Cheryl raised her hand and Simon flinched immediately, but the slap never made contact because she had more restraint than him.
"Neither," she said through gritted teeth and tearful eyes, "You know fucking well I will love my baby no matter what, and that if he or she will be someone like you, then I would have loved them even more."
Simon frowned at that, even though he appreciated the sentiment and conviction in her words. He didn't like what else she meant by it though, especially when the hand she would have slapped him with instead cupped his cheek.
"You're a hero to me, Sy," she admitted but it was also through a whisper, a secret that was too precious for anyone else to learn. "And I just wish you would stop hiding what you can do especially since I know you want to do so much more with what you were given. So why don't you, big brother?"
"Don't do that," Simon encircled a hand around her wrist and lowered that from his face, "Don't say it as if you've ever seen me as anything but a bastard."
"But it's true. You are special, Sy. Daddy was right," Cheryl was staring up at him with so much love and hope that he stepped away, scared shitless, with his back almost resting against the doors. For some reason, Giovanno was suddenly there, and he's already opening them to allow Simon a chance out of there, at long last.
And he took it and never looked back.
While driving halfway through the road that led away from the mansion, he slowed down and lit the cigarette from earlier using the small socket on his car. He breathed it in with a long puff that almost singed his throat. But, as soon as he exhaled, all the tension that has curled in his gut faded away like a tendril of smoke.
She was wrong about him. They all were. And Simon will never step foot into that horrid place again.
There was so much to lose now and plenty more reasons to hide.
[Ｃａｎｏｎ Ｃｏｎｔｅｎｔｓ]
This page features the story ideas I have that would serve as canon for my Simon. Some of these have played out in collaborations I've written with people while a few are still in the process of being explored someday. The biggest piece of plot that's tied to the X-Men mythos would be the inclusion of Mojoworld and conflicts that will arise in connection to it. I also have a few alternate versions of him. The rest usually deal with his paternal family, his career as a musician, and the work he does as a talent representative. I'll be adding more to this page as my Simon continues to grow and develop.
Ｍｏｊｏｗｏｒｌｄ is an extradimensional and extratemporal realm inhabited by the semi-humanoid Spineless Ones. It co-exists with Earth-616 and several other earths.
Ｇｅｏｇｒａｐｈｙ: In some parts of Mojoworld, certain places float around in each place; along with some broken statue parts of Mojo. There are many caverns and mountains, along with rivers and oceans. Plasma storms also appear in the futuristic cities found on the Mojoverse.
Ｃｕｌｔｕｒｅ: Due to their world's unique nature, radio and television signals from Earth were distorted and sent through time to early in the Spineless Ones' existence, bombarding their brains with alien images. This has affected their mental state, giving them an intense love of televised entertainment but immense disdain, fear and awe towards humans.
✪ Simon has yet to learn the truth that this was his actual birth place.
✪ While his mother Adara was pregnant with him, the overlord Mojo had ordered mothers who are expecting mutant babies to be abducted and brought to their world. They wanted to implant a tracking device in these babies to monitor the progress of their mutation as they grow up. Afterwards, the mothers were let go.
✪ Adara had another month before she was due, but the intergalactic travel put so much strain on her body that she gave birth already while still on the alien planet. She was then transported back to Earth 616 with no memories of Mojoworld. A doctor on said earth, who was indebted to the Spineless Ones, was tasked to falsify hospital records to legalize his delivery.
✪ Almost three decades later, Mojoworld began abducting artists, actors and musicians to force them to work in the entertainment industry of their planet. Simon was one of them. His participation was not random like with the others, however. Because he was technically a natural-born citizen of Mojoverse, Mojo handpicked him to become a disciple, unbeknownst to Simon the the entire time.
✪ Simon then joined a few uprisings in an attempt to overthrow Mojo. Nobody has yet to figure out that Simon is a lot more instrumental in the revolution since he could challenge Mojo's leadership during a fair election. There's also a strong faction of younger Spineless Ones who had been conspiring to impeach Mojo and replace him with a more benevolent ruler.
✪ Once Mojo understands that Simon's loyalty could not be bought and he stands in solidarity with fellow humans and mutants, he would be hunted down and killed--all the way back to Earth 616.
ABOUT NOBODY UNDER CONSTRUCTION
ALTER PERSONA: @FATHEROFFXCKERS
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
ABOUT SIMON NAPOLITANO
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
ALTER PERSONALITY: @ATOMICCLEF
I often include NPCs in my major storylines. Here is the growing list of the ones that appeared so far:
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
↳ ADARA DOVE; His mother;
↳ Simon has had a complicated dynamics with his mother growing up. She was always someone he admired and respected because she raised him all by herself and nurtured his musical creativity. She was also a hardworking businesswoman. However, her one weakness is men, and she sure knows how to pick 'em;
↳ The greatest hurdle and source of anguish between mother and son are her failed relationships with abusive men. Eventually she married a good one, Simon's fourth stepfather who was also a Welsh immigrant like Adara.
↳ His mom has returned to Wales after she was widowed. Simon visits every other holiday.
↳ face claim: ruth jones
↳ AMELIA BROSKOVICH; His ex-wife; high school girlfriend and mother of his son. Theirs is a classic story of next-door friends becoming lovers and eventually tying the knot, in spite of the volatile chemistry of their pairing;
↳ Unfortunately, they proved to be incompatible in the long run. But since he still has a shared custody with her, Simon can't completely cut ties with this woman, and every now and then he tends to rely on her out of habit and a refusal to grow from the past they shared as childhood sweethearts.
↳ face claim: selma blair
↳ MACHETE DANGER DOVE; His only son;
↳ Recent events brought them closer after Chet starts manifesting elemental mutation in which he can control earth, wind, water and fire. Simon wants to enroll him to the Xavier Institute but since Amy doesn't know the truth yet, they're still figuring out things. Chet had just turned thirteen last year and already very opinionated but comparably still less neurotic than his old man.
↳ face claim: jakob armstrong
↳ CHERYL NAPOLITANO ASTOR; His half-sister. They don't always see things eye-to-eye but Cheryl feels a connection to Simon which he often doesn't want to admit he shares. She often entrusts him to care for her children Jonathan & Ayesha, the former being Sy's godson.
↳ face claim: norah jones
↳ MITCH PRIOR and FRANK BOGGS;
↳ His oldest friends and bandmates;
↳ Mitch and Simon met when they were in middle school and have bonded over music as they both tried to escape from their domestic troubles. Their kinship took a turn the more their band got coverage and gigs. Pretty soon they just stopped being there for each other, including their respective divorces. A lot of unresolved conflicts have made their band reunions tense, but they can still play together and keep it civil.
↳ Simon was involved with Frank during their road trip across America post-high school. Aside from playing music along with Mitch, these two enjoyed each other's carnal company. They still maintain they are friends first, so any feelings stayed platonic on both ends. Nowadays, Frank is the only one of the trio who stayed married. The women in their lives know about their history but aren't threatened.
↳ face claims: mike dirnt and tre cool
↳ The epitome of sunshine and good vibes whom Simon never have foreseen falling in love with (due to his hang-ups and own damn pride)
They met during a random day on the street after Simon noticed how attractive they are. His pick-up line was insufficient since Nik hardly gave it thought or processed it as one. Given their upbeat personality, they still talked to him until the pair ended up agreeing on a first attempt to hang out.
They were supposed to make hash brownies together originally, but since Simon's infant niece Ayesha (and a passed-out Cheryl) suddenly visited unannounced inside his apartment, they were forced to bond in other ways. This included Simon opening up about his family on the father's side, Nik consoling him through breathing exercises, and Simon realizing later on that he was way more into their bodies touching than he needed to be. Not even a baby could prevent them from fooling around afterwards.
Fortunately enough, Nik reciprocated the attraction. so they agreed yet again to hang out, but this time on a real date, romantic-styles.
↳ Nik is supportive but also often too kind.
While Simon has only ever dated one woman and stayed married to her for twelve years (though it's hardly idyllic), Nik has had seven other serious relationships, each with a unique version of heartbreak. The ten-year age gap between them isn't necessarily insurmountable, but they also have different preferences and perspectives about relations and the world overall.
The pair does have shared values, however, which have something to do with their traits of intense devotion to loved ones and varying degrees of extreme emotional expression that complement each other's yet still clash if not kept in check.
They're also creative people separately, who enjoy their own brand of sustainable independence. As a couple, they are still in the process of learning how to communicate properly in which they can meet halfway.
↳ Simon finds himself growing emotionally with them. Being with Nik forces Simon to re-examine his damage as he struggles not to carry the baggage from his divorce and into this new relationship. He undoubtedly sees a future with Nik and excited and dreadful to get there.
Ｓｔｏｒｙｌｉｎｅ
ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ ＯＮＥ
ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ ＴＷＯ
ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ ＴＨＲＥＥ
ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ ＦＯＵＲ
ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ ＦＩＶＥ
INTERMISSION | TEXT CORRESPONDENCE | BONUS
AU scenario: Chapter 01 | Chapter 02
summary for each chapter coming soon
↳ A strange woman challenges Simon to a staring match where the prize is free lunch. She cheats unexpectedly and he's forced to concede, only because she was intriguing and he's bored. Months later they meet again and everything becomes a lot more enticing but also worth fighting for.
"She was ｓｕｍｍｅｒ while he was ｒａｉｎ, and perhaps that contrast was always meant to complement, for how else could Simon explain the way she drew him out from the harsh cold and into her ever-burning hearth? In the same breath, how can she even chase after a storm and still call it beautiful, let alone promise to capture it for one frozen moment in her canvass? The poetry of their coming together is far too heady to dwell on for this afternoon, so Simon instead snuggles closer to Lee and inhales her scent mixed with the jasmine oil.
He was so content that he could hardly remember a time he was even lonely to begin with—the boy from a broken home, unclaimed by the father and raised by the mother alone. He forgets he had loved one woman for a long time that when she left he didn’t think any of the cold places that stored her memories could ever thaw. He forgets all of that now—his dead father—the temptation of drugs skating on the fringes of his desperate times—and other worries of a man approaching middle age. ꜰᴏʀ ɴᴏᴡ ʜᴇ’ꜱ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɢɪʀʟɪᴇ, ʜɪꜱ ʟᴀᴅʏ, ʜɪꜱ ɴᴇᴡ ʙᴇꜱᴛ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ, ᴀɴ ᴀʀᴛɪꜱᴛ, ᴀ ᴠᴜʟɴᴇʀᴀʙʟᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇᴍᴀʀᴋᴀʙʟᴇ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ."
Ｓｔｏｒｙｌｉｎｅ
ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ ＯＮＥ
ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ ＴＷＯ
ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ ＴＨＲＥＥ
ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ ＦＯＵＲ
Ｉｎｔｅｒｌｕｄｅ: Birthday: Girlie
Ｉｎｔｅｒｌｕｄｅ: Christmas
Ｉｎｔｅｒｌｕｄｅ: Birthday: Simon
Ｉｎｔｅｒｌｕｄｅ: Valentines
ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ ＦＩＶＥ
Ｉｎｔｅｒｌｕｄｅ: Wedding Plans
summary for each chapter coming soon
↳ Two loners collide as they cautiously connect and find solid ground in kinship, but due to baggages from each other's past, it might take a while to surpass the walls that were put up.
"Kate is truly beautiful, not just in face but in the most vibrant parts of her aching soul. Simon doesn't know how to label this yet, but he wants to stick around for her long enough to get to that point. And so he grips one of her hands and faces forward. He commands the waves yet again to form in a high tide towards their surf boards, but this time he controls the currents so he can steer them towards the end of the shore that's right ahead.
It was symbolic for them to do this in the ocean, being both Ａｑｕａｒｉａｎｓ. Because of the name, too many people forget they are of elemental air. However, water is strongly connected to the Aquarius, the cup bearer, who served Zeus and other gods. They are sensible people with surprisingly high ideas, able to govern the tempests by holding them inside a vessel. Aquarius is the master of self-control because of this and yet in entrapping the waters they had also guarded their hearts from own emotions, the very definition of 'bottling things up inside'.
Simon and Kate have a lot to learn from each other ʙᴜᴛ ᴀꜱ ʟᴏɴɢ ᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴄᴀɴ ᴅᴏ ɪᴛ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴛɪᴅᴇꜱ ᴡᴏɴ'ᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴏᴠᴇʀᴡʜᴇʟᴍ ᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ."
Ｓｔｏｒｙｌｉｎｅ
ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ ＯＮＥ
ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ ＴＷＯ
ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ ＴＨＲＥＥ
ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ ＦＯＵＲ
ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ ＦＩＶＥ
ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ ＳＩＸ
ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ ＳＥＶＥＮ
Ｉｎｔｅｒｌｕｄｅ(s)
summary for each chapter coming soon
♒Ａｑｕａｒｉｕｓ Ｓｕｎ
He is enthusiastic, witty, affectionate and social. However, he will not get emotionally close to people easily. He will maintain some distance. But once he is sure of things, he will go out of his way to help friends. He has a major problem with commitment as he doesn't like to compromise on his independence. This reluctance to commit may pose a hurdle, especially when it comes to romantic relationships. Simon has a temper, but he doesn't express it outwardly; rather, he forms judgments and makes snarky comments.
His heart, though loving, is subject to change without notice. Like a lightning bolt, his entire world can change. He needs human contact and intimacy, but it is too easy for him to distance himself and harder to reach out. He is not an introvert but he shies away from interaction, preferring the role of observer. Despite his misanthropic bent, he is generous and kind to strangers.
♌ Ｌｅｏ Ｍｏｏｎ
If you’re young and hot, or either one, that’s a big turn-on for him. He loves both the chase and the catch, and he will catch you if he desires you. His emotions may be up and down, linked to his ability to express. If he can’t do this through sex, he may do it with art. In love and relationships, he can either be too indifferent or affectionate. It depends on the partner he is with. He can be very affectionate. This side of him will be brought out by someone who has a positive attitude. They must love him without any greater expectations.
His pride makes him shield his true feelings when he really likes someone. He might test a potential new friend or love, with demands, mainly for attention. He loves the sunny side of life and people, as long as everyone remembers who’s the alpha of the pack. Simon is probably not conscious of this, but his need to be admired underpins the very heart of his relationships. For the compatibility with the other person be at its best, he needs to feel not just loved but ADORED.
He will pretend not to like it but really does. When he feels slighted, he can be dramatic in his emotional displays. When his pride has been hurt, he's given to big scenes and sulking. He does not like to ask for help, because he wants to appear to his partner like he has everything under control. When he loves, he loves intensely. He can be counted on for loyalty and level of support. It's important that he finds a partner who is demonstrative, and pays attention to his emotional needs.
When partners take the time to make him feel special, he opens up. Spending time with children helps open up his own creativity and sense of fun. He may also find that life only feels complete for him when he finds ways to express his ‘inner child’. In this way, he is dedicated to being a father and oftens acts as a best friend to his son.
♋ Ｃａｎｃｅｒ Ｒｉｓｉｎｇ
No matter how much he projects otherwise, he's sensitive and vulnerable, which he carefully conceals under his shell. He wants to protect himself from adversity and disappointment, so many people end up perceiving him as an impregnable fortress. And he keeps it that way. But with close acquaintances, he reveals himself completely different—deep, open and sentimental. An independent and strong spirit, he's a man who really values close relationships. His emotions, sometimes, go off scale, which makes him capricious and unbalanced.
His protective shell, under which he hides each time when getting hurt, can’t be that good for his own wellbeing. He often needs to learn how to put his sensitivity to good use and not get overwhelmed by it. And this is why a creative outlet becomes necessary for him. It's possible for him to also be amazed by the intensity and number of his own emotions, considering on the outside, he's rather cool and composed. When able to freely express, he will feel at ease. In all other cases, he will withdraw into his shell in no time.
Make no mistake though—he will have a lot going on inside and it’s not in his nature to be introverts: it is just the way he's been designed to guard against danger at all levels.His need for security is so intense that he'll get it at the expense of sacrificing freedom. He will often cling to things, people, and situations that hold emotional significance in his mind. As a consequence of all the above behaviors, he often fails to dwell in the present moment but will continue living in the past. He relives past emotions long gone.
MBTI PERSONALITY:
ＩＳＦＰ － Ｔｈｅ Ｃｏｍｐｏｓｅｒ
"The work of his hands is usually more eloquent than anything he has to say."
Ｓｔｒｅｎｇｔｈｓ
✪ Very aware of his environment
✪ Practical
✪ Enjoys hands-on learning
✪ Loyal to values and beliefs
Ｗｅａｋｎｅｓｓｅｓ
✪ Dislikes abstract, theoretical information
✪ Reserved and quiet
✪ Strong need for personal space
✪ Dislikes arguments and conflict
This is a person who is energized by time spent alone (Introverted), who focuses on facts and details rather than ideas and concepts (Sensing), who makes decisions based on feelings and values (Feeling) and who prefers to be spontaneous and flexible rather than planned and organized (Perceiving).
Simon is quiet and unassuming, and may be hard to get to know. However, to those who know him well, he is warm and friendly, eager to share in life's many experiences.
He is tolerant and nonjudgmental, but is deeply loyal to the people and causes that matter to him. He endeavors to accept and support other people, but is ultimately guided by his own core values. He will typically look for ways to be accommodating and may have difficulty dealing with others who are not willing to do the same.
Simon may initially appear distant or aloof, but if you watch closely, you can observe his caring in the thoughtful things he does for others.
Naturally considerate and respectful, he does not force his views and opinions on others. Unfortunately, his gentle non-imposing nature is often misunderstood and interpreted as weakness and lack of direction. Thanks to his reluctance to express himself verbally, Simon can be one of the most mysterious men you will ever meet. His reluctance to speak isn’t a lack of ability but disinterest. Unlike many other personality types, the ISFP prefers to express themselves through action, often through art.
Simon has a very personal set of morals, which he holds very dear to his hearts. It's crucial that he follows what he believes is right and does not break away from that. This can cause Simon to hurt himself at times, since he cannot live up to his own expectations. When an ISFP fails to follow his internal morals, he can become harsh on himself.
This means Simon will feel guilty and as if he has failed to be a good person and might withdraw for a while in order to cope. He wants to be good person and desires to make a difference in the world.
It is important for him as an ISFP to accept his own mistakes and learn from them, and to realize that he cannot be perfect all of the time.
As a friend, Simon gets along well with other people, but he typically needs to get to know you well before he can really open up. He is rather light-hearted and fun, but he is also quite intense at times. Recognize that there will be times when he wants to share and times when he will want to retreat to a more personal space. This is also the same in romance.
+++
CHARACTER ALIGNMENT: Ｎｅｕｔｒａｌ Ｇｏｏｄ
Simon is a divorced dad in his forties whom no one will ever guess had volatile life experiences in his youth. A lonely childhood and stormy teen years tempered him as an older man over the years, but I would still say he's the Actively Good subtype of the Neutral Good.
He's the type who 'wants to do good, to go out and have adventures and to right wrongs and fight evil, but might be unprepared for the harsh realities he has to face, though he will probably have strong enough principles and beliefs that this will not stun him for long'. The only reason he didn't pursue a higher calling when he's always wanted to use his mutant powers to further the cause is because of fatherhood. He didn't want to endanger his family.
But that will soon change after he got abducted and was taken to Mojoworld later on. He is pragmatic and moderate in applying his sense of justice, so he can work with the Bad Guys if it means he can ultimately reach a good ending that benefits the lives of others and his. Simon may have personal baggage but this will never dull his empathy and courage.
+++
TAROT CARD: Ｔｈｅ Ｈａｎｇｅｄ Ｍａｎ
I associate Simon Dove with this tarot card because the imagery of a man hanging upside down invokes the universal symbol of self-sacrifice and a state of inner harmony or enlightenment. The man in the card is suspended but not bound. He looks relaxed in spite of the seemingly uncomfortable placement.
In relation to Simon, this could have some bearing in his choice to keep his mutation a secret. At first it's a sign that he lives in life in fear of persecution and isolation. In truth, especially the more he got older, this choice is merely because he has come to terms with what he can do as well as the limits of these powers. And he does not feel obliged to share who he is to the rest of the world just yet.
✦ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴏᴏᴅ
He looks for intellectual connections with other people rather than physical ones. His radiance comes from his autonomy and willingness to sacrifice for a greater cause. He has the ability to take his time so as not to get overwhelmed with changes. In the stillness of waiting, he can hear his inner voice more loudly.
✦ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀᴅ
He may feel apart from the world, unable to communicate who and what he is. There's a tendency for to much idle contemplation and for allowing things to pass him by instead of seizing opportunities.
My version of this band combines several facts from the real-life band it was based on (Green Day) including face claims and discography. Other information enclosed in this section is for the purposes of my headcanon in RP.
••••❌ Ｈｉｓｔｏｒｙ | Ｍｅｍｂｅｒｓ
Atomic Frequency was a punk band founded in Berkeley, California originally comprised of a core three plus two touring members in later years. They enjoyed commercial success from the late eighties to early 2000s yet chose to maintain underground roots in the indie scene. The band formed during high school years with frontman Simon Dove and bassist Mitchell Prior, who shared a dream to pursue music together instead of going to college. After going through drummers, they found Frank Boggs (stage name 'd' Bastard'), and the band just clicked.
Atomic Frequency maximized the Do-It-Yourself mantra (alongside upcoming acts then in the Bay Area) and accepted gigs that came their way to put their music out there. After dropping out of high school, they performed on the road across several states in the span of a year. In a previous live show two years before, Simon Dove, age 16, manifested mutant powers during an altercation between an audience member who was harassing his girlfriend. Dove interferes, and with the accumulation of rage and alcohol, he unleased hell.
The road trip provided a fresh start for the frontman and the band itself. It also earned them a record deal with a semi-major label. In the next three years leading to the release of their self-titled album, the trio worked tirelessly to perfect their sound and the songs. All three men married their long-time girlfriends just after the album received praise and recognition and gained a following that will later be known as the Atomika Fanclub. Dove, age 22, married childhood sweetheart Amelia Broskovich in 2000. They had a son six years later.
Atomic Frequency tried to release a sophomore album but due to massive creative slumps and some tension and arguments among band members, they took hiatuses on and off until they amicably disbanded in 2011. Prior and Dove also got divorced in 2007 and 2015 respectively. Prior and Boggs formed bands outside AF but never found momentum nor the same commitment as before. Occasionally, they still perform with touring members Kevin Cho and Whitey Jacobson.
Dove became a talent manager and record producer for his privately owned label GRAFFITIA.
••••❌ Ｔｒａｃｋｓ | Ｆｏｏｔａｇｅ
This section will feature the 13 tracks from Atomic Frequency's self-titled record. I've selected them from a wide range of GD songs and according to what fits with my fictional account of events in Simon's life and musicality. Will provide footage and story behind each track.
🎼 TRACK 01 ＣＨＲＩＳＴＩＥ ＲＯＡＤ
WATCH HERE
• During middle school, childhood friends Dove and Prior would hang out a lot in an abandoned railway station on Christie Road, as the title of the song goes. They have many fond memories together in that place that even after it's demolished years later, it has a special shrine in their minds.
"If there is ᴏɴᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ɴᴇᴇᴅ
that makes me feel ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇ,
So I go to Christie Road
It's ｈｏｍｅ, it's ｈｏｍｅ, it's h̤o̤m̤e̤"
• Both are loners and outcasts so discovering a passion for music together became sanctuary. This was the first song they wrote
🎼 TRACK 02 ＨＩＴＣＨＩＮ' Ａ ＲＩＤＥ
WATCH HERE
• During their post-high school tour across the country, Dove, Prior and Boggs did 5 shows a night in 28 states. They got through the fatigue by sheer will and dedication and the aid of booze.
• This song was about alcohol poisoning that each of the guys had during that trip.
"There's a ｄｒｏｕｇｈｔ
at the ғᴏᴜɴᴛᴀɪɴ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜᴛʜ
And now I̤'̤m̤ d̤e̤h̤y̤d̤r̤a̤t̤e̤d̤"
• Over the years, Dove would wrestle with alcoholism until he has gotten clean and stayed sober during his marriage (2000-2015).
• He stated drinking again but in moderation.
🎼 TRACK 03 ＲＥＤＵＮＤＡＮＴ
WATCH HERE
• Because Dove and his then-girlfriend Amy have distinct lives (he was on tour and she was in college, aiming for law school), their relationship have a lot of ups and downs.
• The long distance helped things put in perspective as they tried to make it work and meet halfway.
" I cannot speak, I lost my voice
I'm speechless and redundant
'Cause I̤ l̤o̤v̤e̤ y̤o̤ṳ'̤s̤ ɴᴏᴛ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ
I'm ｌｏｓｔ ｆｏｒ ｗｏｒｄｓ"
• After finalizing this track in recording, Dove proposed to Amy, realizing that even with their baggage, he still wanted to be with her.
🎼 TRACK 04 ＴＲＯＵＢＬＥＭＡＫＥＲ
WATCH HERE
• It was an open secret that Dove and Boggs had been romantically linked especially during a cooling period with their respective girlfriends.
• Dove was already out as a bisexual in junior high but it was with Boggs (a pan) that he first explored his sexuality with.
"I w̰o̰ṵl̰d̰n̰'̰t̰ say I'm s̷t̷r̷a̷i̷g̷h̷t̷ 'cause
I'm ｂｅｎｔ ｏｕｔ ｏｆ ｓｈａｐｅ
From now till death do we
party just before it's too late"
• They were casual and eventually returned to the women they will later on tie the knot with, but neither regrets what happened.
🎼 TRACK 05 ＳＨＥ
WATCH HERE
• SHE is an intimate song for Dove who dedicated it to the three women in his life whom he drew inspiration from creatively.
• First was his mother Adara whose series of bad relationships affected his perception about love. Then Amy, who will always be his first of everything.
"Waking up this time to ｓｍａｓｈ
the รเℓεɳcε with the b̤r̤i̤c̤k̤ o̤f̤ s̤e̤l̤f̤ c̤o̤n̤t̤r̤o̤l̤"
• Finally, the pop star known as Dᴀᴢᴢʟᴇʀ who came out as a mutant. He vicariously lives through her bravery as a musician.
• All these women shaped him as a person.
🎼 TRACK 06
ＷＥＬＣＯＭＥ ＴＯ ＰＡＲＡＤＩＳＥ
WATCH HERE
• When Atomic Frequency were signed, they released five music videos in total, with one of them for a song that never made it to the album.
• The video captured the essence of what the band was supposed to be; fast-paced tunes with catchy riffs and disarming thoughtful lyrics.
"Some call it ｓｌｕｍｓ
Some call it ｎｉｃｅ
I want to take you through
A ᴡᴀsᴛᴇʟᴀɴᴅ I like to call m̤y̤ h̤o̤m̤e̤"
• Dove wrote this on the road and had gotten into a fight with his mom. He later came back when she married the only stepfather who was good to them.
🎼 TRACK 07 ＫＩＮＧ ＦＯＲ Ａ ＤＡＹ
WATCH HERE
• A song composed once again while Dove and Boggs are hooking up on the side during tours. They used to play dress-up with women's clothes both in bed and stage..
• Riotous and a crowd pleaser, the band loves doing antics while performing this track, especially the two men.
"S̤ṳg̤a̤r̤ and s̰p̰ḭc̰ḛ and everything nice
Wᴀsɴ'ᴛ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴏɴʟʏ ɢɪʀʟs
Just wait 'til all the guys
g̤e̤t̤ a̤ l̤o̤a̤d̤ o̤f̤ m̤e̤"
• The band said that this was about rejecting gender norms of masculinity especially since 2 of the trio are queer. This is their anthem.
🎼 TRACK 08
ＰＯＰＲＯＣＫＳ ＡＮＤ ＣＯＫＥ
WATCH HERE
• This was released as a music video with candid footage of the band during photo shoots and recording.
• A standard friendship song made bittersweet since Prior revealed that they all got into a big fight that almost led to a disbandment two months after the track's release.
"Ａｍｏｎｇｓｔ ｔｈｅ ｌｉｅｓ
You know I̤'̤l̤l̤ b̤e̤ t̤h̤e̤r̤e̤
Ｉ'ｌｌ ｇｏ ａｎｙｗｈｅｒｅ
So I̤'̤l̤l̤ s̤e̤e̤ y̤o̤ṳ t̤h̤e̤r̤e̤"
• Boggs opened up in an interview that this was the one track he couldn't play anymore live because it was way cheesy and 'dishonest' for him.
🎼 TRACK 09
ＲＥＳＴＬＥＳＳ ＨＥＡＲＴ ＳＹＮＤＲＯＭＥ
WATCH HERE
• Since it took 3 years before they even released the record, tracks that were later composed were added in such as this one.
• Touching further on the subject of substance abuse, Dove used his traumatic experiences with three stepfathers who were all users to pen this song.
"You're a v̷i̷c̷t̷i̷m̷ of y̤o̤ṳr̤ s̤y̤m̤p̤t̤o̤m̤
You are ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴏᴡɴ ᴡᴏʀsᴛ ᴇɴᴇᴍʏ
Ｋｎｏｗ ｙｏｕｒ ｅｎｅｍｙ"
• This became resonant in later years post-divorce when Dove almost trekked the same path of of self-annihilation.
• He goes to meetings every now and then.
🎼 TRACK 10 ＦＡＶＯＲＩＴＥ ＳＯＮ
WATCH HERE
• Dove would never reveal the inspiration behind the track since this was the only song he composed in relation to him being an illegitimate son.
• To this day he has bad blood with the Napolitanos, except with his half-sister Cheryl.
"A c̤l̤e̤a̤n̤-̤c̤ṳt̤ All-American,
Really ａｉｎ'ｔ ｓｏ ｃｌｅａｎ.
His royal auditorium,
Is a ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ sᴄᴇɴᴇ."
• Dove expresses in here frustrations against the elitism and prejudice his mom went through when the Napolitanos found out about her involvement with his dad.
🎼 TRACK 11 ＬＡＤＹ ＣＯＢＲＡ
WATCH HERE
• One of the few tracks Prior wrote first then collaborated with Dove next, this was an elusive track regarding a mystery woman whom neither man wants to talk about.
• Both their ex-wives suspected a case of infidelity but left it to empty speculation in the end.
"She gives me ᴄʜɪʟʟs and f̰ḛv̰ḛr̰ b̰l̰ḭs̰t̰ḛr̰s̰
She's serving sᴘᴇʟʟs and v̰o̰o̰d̰o̰o̰ s̰h̰a̰k̰ḛs̰"
• Boggs considers this his favorite track and adds he likes to play this back-to-back with TROUBLEMAKER.
• Also another crowd favorite during tours.
🎼 TRACK 12 ＢＲＵＴＡＬ ＬＯＶＥ
WATCH HERE
• An earnest slow-rock ballad about ending toxic relationships once again inspired by the men Dove's mother had been with.
• This was featured in an indie film called JEZEBELS WEEP produced by Prior's then-wife. The track was later added three months before the record's release.
"Turn up the ｓｉｌｅｎｃｅ
The h̤e̤a̤r̤t̤a̤c̤h̤e̤ of your life
ᴅᴀɴᴄᴇ ғᴏʀᴇᴠᴇʀ
Under the lights"
• Prior said this was the most emotionally-charged songs he and Dove wrote together.
• Boggs revealed it always puts Dove under a trance and he gets more melancholic after.
🎼 TRACK 13 ＳＡＹ ＧＯＯＤＢＹＥ
WATCH HERE
• This was a track that was released with an animation video five years later.
• The band claims it was their first socially aware song. Their politics lean towards the liberal side since they did grow up during the radical movement of the punk scene which rejects conservatism.
"Kɪɴᴅʀᴇᴅ Sᴘɪʀɪᴛs sing
For the s̷i̷c̷k̷ and s̰ṵf̰f̰ḛr̰ḭn̰g̰
The city of d̤a̤m̤a̤g̤e̤ c̤o̤n̤t̤r̤o̤l̤
This is ｈｏｗ ｗｅ ｌｉｖｅ"
• Dove actually expressed his observations and sentiments here about being a closeted mutant as well as the fight for mutant rights.
••••❌ Ｓｉｄｅ Ｂ (unreleased)
This thread will feature the unreleased tracks from Atomic Frequency. Once again selected from GD songs. Most of them have been included into the main ship SLs in which Simon dedicated said songs to Nik, Girlie, and Kate. Will provide footage and story behind each track.
🎸 ＭＩＮＯＲＩＴＹ
WATCH HERE
• This was a song they played a lot on tour a lot but never recorded. It showcases their liberal leanings yet again, naming even a right-wing movement they are against.
• After meeting @ModernMafias, Simon and Frank will release this track in open support for mutant rights.
🎸 ＷＨＥＮ ＩＴ'Ｓ ＴＩＭＥ
WATCH HERE
• After a tumultuous start and a falling-out, Simon reconciles with @AcidicReflux and sings this song for them as a birthday present.
• This is also Simon's way of saying that he's in it for the long haul, which is why the next chapter has Nik introducing him to their parents.
🎸 ＴＨＥ ＤＥＶＩＬ'Ｓ ＫＩＮＤ
WATCH HERE
• A fun song Simon wrote for @AcidicReflux in an alternate universe storyline in which SyNik met while Simon was still married to Amy, but they're in an open relationship so he was allowed to hook up and date Nik.
• He would perform it regularly during gigs.
🎸 ＭＡＣＹ'Ｓ ＤＡＹ ＰＡＲＡＤＥ
WATCH HERE
• This was a song Simon composed and produced by himself and in which he played all the instruments. He hasn't allowed anyone to hear it except @ArtisticCore after they met again.
• Its lyrics reflect his views on the consumerist and materialistic society we live in.
🎸 ＭＩＳＥＲＹ
WATCH HERE
• Yet another song Simon allowed @ArtisticCore to hear. This was the band's real effort (decades after their first album was released) to experiment on a new sound.
• Simon describes it as a dark cabaret. He was pleased Lee appreciated it esp. since he's proud of the piece.
🎸 ＬＡＳＴ ＮＩＧＨＴ ＯＮ ＥＡＲＴＨ
WATCH HERE
• After Simon and @ArtisticCore finally admit they have fallen in love, Girlie then showcases her talents as a painter while Simon spends some time composing this on his head within that same day.
• He serenades her with this as she draws on a canvass, further binding them.
🎸 ＲＥＶＯＬＵＴＩＯＮ ＲＡＤＩＯ
WATCH HERE
• In the SL with @ArtisticCore, Simon resolved most of his childhood trauma with the help of @WINTERNTHESHADE so he's making music again with Mitch and Frank.
• He performs this during a gig after revealing to @InkedDemoness that he's the frontman of her favorite band.
🎸 ＳＯＭＥＷＨＥＲＥ ＮＯＷ
WATCH HERE
• Before performing this song, he announces to a club full of fans that he's marrying @ArtisticCore.
• He dedicates this song to his bride and future sister-in-law, @InkedDemoness, much to the girl's shock and delight.
🎸 ＢＯＵＬＥＶＡＲＤ ＯＦ ＢＲＯＫＥＮ ＤＲＥＡＭＳ
WATCH HERE
• During the Moonreaver Festival in which @OfTechAndCodes attended, Simon whisked her away backstage so he can play this song he composed with Mitch. This was the first song they did together after Restless Heart Syndrome.
• He dedicates this to lonely people including Kate.
🎸 ＯＲＤＩＮＡＲＹ ＷＯＲＬＤ
WATCH HERE
• He sold the rights of this song to Viola Lancaster, his protégé. However, they still share credit and he often performs this on gigs with his own band, usually as an acoustic encore.
• This was the song that made him admit to himself he's in love with @OfTechAndCodes.
