On November 9th, 2011 Nikolai T. Peashka was taken from this world with a swiftness no one anticipated. He is survived by his beloved Athaleon, his delightful mother and sister, and so, so many friends that have come out of the woodwork to grieve, to celebrate, and to remember Nik. A month has gone by, and those who loved Nik the most are gradually gathering the fragments of their shattered lives and learning to live anew.

I never got as close to this person as I had wished, but like a mysterious star, too far for eyes to see, the impact he made on this world was made present by the effect he had on the space and the people around him. Behind the lulz was a quiet, brilliant individual who suffered terrible pains, both emotional and physical. Stories of exceptional compassion--far beyond anything I could imagine doing--belied his brash exterior. I feel glad I was able to call him a friend, if only so briefly.

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My recording studio is in a bit of a transitional phase right now, but I just wanted to share this to mark the month gone by. The lyrics and chords are below. Comments are always welcome, and thanks again for listening.

In response to--and hardly doing justice to--this:

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/6848749

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Bm A Em7 (x2)

Bm A Em7 G
I've heard some say…they never knew you
Bm A Em7 G
I've heard some say…they were nothin' to you
G D A Em7
But to those who say otherwise
D F#m7 A
Find it so hard to say goodbye
Bm A Bm
To a friend, raise a glass, to the face behind the mask



Some people called you a troublemaker

Some people called you a risk-taker

But to those who you've now left behind

Could never repay you in kind

For the laughs, for the tears, for the memories of the past


F#m7 G
To the villain who put us all off of our feed
F#m7 G
To the hero who loved us in our time of need
F#m7 G
The time was so precious, and we though it would last
Em7 A Bm
And we never thought it could be gone…so fast


F#m7 D A
Aahhhh, won't you take it off for me?
Em7 Bm G A
Ahhhhh, won't you let the world see?



There's some who might say you were angel and a saint

In the twilight of their years, you washed away their pain

And to those who saw your heart as it was

Know the world is better off because

Of the mind, of the care, of the truth behind the mask




Like the novel unfinished, like a page left unturned

You faded so quickly, but brightly still burned

And the one thing you left me was the kindness I'd earned

And a chance, to see past, beyond the mask