Rob Masters

Originally published at  https://aus.social/@rdm/113674412653690387 . Content warning - mention of bullying. The headmistress stalked the halls of the school. One of the second grade teachers had reported that one of his students was missing, and had been present earlier in the day. As she passed a storage cupboard, she heard a small noise and stopped. A quick check showed the door was locked. Interesting. A quick wave of her hand, and there was a "click". She opened the door. Inside was the missing student, Britney Butler. She had clearly been crying, and her clothes suggested that she'd been manhandled into the cupboard, not climbing in.  "There you are, Miss Butler. Out you hop, and let's go and have a little chat." "Mrs Aitkins ... I'm sorry, it ..." "None of that now. Come along, you are not in any trouble." The little girl climbed out, and the headmistress closed the door.  "This way, please". And started down the hal...

This week I have a simple story for you: one of a centaur and a mermaid; and also a pegasus, a kraken, and some giant scorpions. Simple, right? Well once again you can rely on metal to deliver a very cool music video, so rock out to this track from Coheed and Cambria, from 2011. It is "The Suffering".

Au Revoir Simone are a band I have a great fondness for. Releasing albums only rarely, they are a treat for the ears. Tending towards low-key and downbeat lyrics, they counterpoint them with bright and cheerful tunes rendered on old-school synths. This is one of their early works, and one that has distinct fantasy elements.