#and neglecting to think there might be a fucking watermark

[piratewithvigor]

POV: It's 1941 and your husband, Eddie Kingston, has been missing in action for 14 months so on one rainy, lonely evening, you put on a record and dream of him

[missytearex]

No idea how I managed to read so much this month, but I had a lot of fun. Check out these great fics and remember to leave a kudos/comment if you do. Under 10k fics are under the cut.

🍇 I'll Fly Away by @juliusschmidt --- [fic post]

larry | 122k | explicit

Harry and Louis grew up together in Lake County, Harry with his mom and stepdad in a tiny cottage on Edward’s Lake and Louis in his family’s farmhouse a few minutes down the road. But after high school, Louis stuck around and Harry did not; Harry went to Chicago where he found a boyfriend and couple of college degrees. Six years later, Harry ends up back in Edwardsville for the summer and he and Louis fall into old patterns and discover new ones.

ft. One Direction, the local boyband; Horan’s Bar and Grill; families, most especially children and babies; Officer Liam Payne; many local festivals and fireworks displays; and Anne Cox, PFLAG President.

🍇 won't you wear my watermark by @bottomlinsons --- [fic post]

larry | 90k | explicit

The new Earl of Harrisson is a young man, an impulsive romantic, forced to shoulder too much responsibility far too soon. He is also Louis’ soulmate, but there’s nothing to be done about that. At least, as far as Louis is concerned.

The Earl, it seems, will take some convincing.

(A slow burn Regency AU featuring secrets, seduction and, our favourite, soulmarks.)

🍇 His and Mine by @kissyboystyles — [fic post]

larry | 66k | mature

Harry is adopted by a wealthy family, soon to be cleared of his connection to his soulmate without discussion on his twentieth birthday– a gruesome rite of passage. For the past eight years, Harry has been staring at one name: Louis. But what happens now that his heart starts fluttering for a stranger, helping him remain strong at his weakest points? Harry feels he should be cautious; what kind of person goes by the name Tomlinson anyway…

OR Harry legally isn’t supposed to meet his soulmate– he’s rendered physically unable to recognize him even if he did– but yet, of course, he does.

🍇 try to not remember (rather than forget) by @hereforlou --- [fic post]

larry | 59k | mature

Harry hadn’t left, not really. He had been right there the entire time. And that’s what had made it worse, knowing that his body was within touching distance but his mind, everything that made Harry Harry, was lost somewhere Louis wasn’t able to reach.

He hadn’t left, but that’s what it had felt like most of the time. Just as if one day Harry had up and left him.

(Or, the one where Harry wakes up.)

🍇 Loyal Knight and True by @rainbowninja  --- [fic post]

larry | 51k | explicit

In contemporary Oxford, Harry Styles and Niall Horan run a magical bookshop, unbowed by an entire academic establishment that insists magic doesn't even exist. Sometimes, Harry finds, it's much easier to have faith in magic than in himself. Louis Tomlinson is a classically trained poet who needs something to believe in, and Liam Payne longs to be a part of something magical.

But when the lines between reality and fiction - poetry and magic - start to blur, can they trust each other to keep track of what's true?

🍇 Love's Truest Language by @smrwine --- [fic post]

larry | 48k | explicit

The first part was meant as a joke. He didn't really expect Harry to buy anything. It was just Louis’ way of softening the ‘get the fuck out’ blow.

“Where's your order forms, then?”

“I don't want your flowers.” Louis chided before directing all of his attention to the arrangement in front of him.

Harry laughed under his breath as he stood to his full height, “Who said anything about them being for you, love?”

🍇 of unpublished rhyme by @broken-drums --- [fic post]

narry | 33k | explicit

Seven days over a 1960s New York winter. Harry loses his coat, Niall’s playing for tips and they’re both just trying to scrape something together.

🍇 And I’d Marry You Harry (Because You Forced Me) by @2tiedships2 — [fic post]

larry | 24k | not rated

The Proposal AU featuring Harry as Sandra Bullock, Louis as Ryan Reynolds, and all the fun a fake relationship and forced engagement can bring.

🍇 written in the stars (that's you and me) by @fackinglouis --- [fic post]

larry | 22k | explicit

Louis pushes himself up on one elbow and stretches enough to just barely trace his fingertips over Harry’s jawline. Harry’s eyes drop to track his movements as he does it again. “D’you feel that?” he whispers.

To him, it feels like all of the universe’s magic lives just beneath his skin when he touches Harry with intent. It feels like something special. Louis watches Harry’s lips part and wants to touch that too. He almost does, but then Harry shakes his head. “Feel what?”

Written for the prompt: Louis is a funny and bratty psychic and Harry is set on proving he's a scam.

🍇 Into This Mess by @ireallysawanangel --- [fic post]

larry | 20k | explicit

The first day of Louis’ promotion is going well, far better than he expected. That is until his new partner shows up, who just so happens to be the guy who stumbled half-dressed out of his flat that same morning.

Or the enemies to lovers detective AU.

🍇 We'll Be Alright by @jaerie --- [fic post]

larry | 19k | explicit

It started with things Harry could easily explain away. Having moved across the country for law school, feeling exhausted was something everyone around him was feeling. It was a heavy workload with pressure and stress but it was nothing Harry couldn’t handle - until he couldn't. In and out of hospitals for months, it isn't until the final hours that a diagnosis is made. After that, it's up to experimental treatments and will power to overcome the symptoms that he'll have to deal with for the rest of his life. Every step of his recovery is a struggle, but it's nice to have a therapist devoted to his well being, even if it forces him to make some decisions against his code of ethics. At least, in the end, he has hope.

🍇 Restless Lane by @jaerie --- [fic post]

larry | 14k | explicit

Louis had grown used to his boring life back in Mississippi as a stand-in father figure to his siblings. He never expected his childhood friend to show up on his lawn with the heat of summer or that he would remind Louis how much of himself he'd tucked away and neglected. He also never expected to find himself caught up in a tangled web of feelings or secrets that just might break him. Maybe he had never known Harry at all.

🍇 Shine by @jacaranda-bloom --- [fic post]

larry | 13k | explicit

the one where Louis has a thing for the sun and Harry is more than happy to indulge his sunshine boy.

🍇 still feel the same around you by @gaycousinlarry --- [fic post]

larry | 13k | explicit

Twenty-five years is a long time to fall in love with someone, to learn all the ways a person can fit into one's heart. It’s also an awful long time to lie to one of the most important people in your life.

The Act My Age Girl Direction AU.

🍇 i don't want you to leave (will you hold my hand?) by @megabreadboi --- [fic post] --- *read the tags*

tomlinshaw | 12k | explicit

The call isn’t on speaker, but Nick can hear Harry’s voice anyways, voice ten times higher and panicked. “Have you seen the news?”

There’s a zombie apocalypse; Nick, Harry, and Louis must fight to survive.

🍇 Foolishly Laying Our Hearts On The Table by @runaway-train-works --- [fic post]

larry | 11k | explicit

The one where Harry is in love with his best friend Louis but doesn't think he stands a chance until some wisdom teeth and a rather unusual confession might just change his mind.

🍇 Keep it to Yourself by @illbefineline --- [fic post]

zarry | 10k | general audiences

Harry is a popular true crime YouTuber, Zayn's a detective on the case Harry desperately wants to solve

🍇  Fire and Ice by @louandhazaf --- [fic post]

larry | 9k | explicit

Harry really wants to come at the same time as Louis. Or, four times they misfire and the one time they get it right.

🍇 Constant Star by @graceling-in-a-suit --- [fic post]

larry | 5k | teen and up

Louis had been through the grinder since her days of being the ‘loud’ one in a cutesy girl band; she’s had her two years of fame, her three Disney original movies, and then fell off the face of the earth. She still released music, though. Her albums were dark, angry country—there was none of that blue jeans, cold beer, tractor ridin’ boot scootin’ for her; she sounded pissed as hell about the way of things and she only had three minutes and a guitar to tell you why.

But none of that explained what she was doing on Harry’s bunk.

((Inspired by Fools Gold.))

🍇 Hail Harry, Full of Grace by @homosociallyyours --- [fic post]

larry | 5k | teen and up

Louis never thought she'd end up at a religious retreat over a long weekend, but then she never expected to fall for a girl who's really super Catholic, either. The theme of the retreat is love, so maybe it'll come together in the end? There's nothing she wouldn't do for Harry regardless.

or: Harry loves God and Louis loves Harry. And they still figure things out.

Inspired by Girl Almighty

🍇 Storms Don’t Last Forever by @writingstylinson — [fic post]

larry | 5k | mature

After being away for an entire week to promote his new movie, Harry arrives home thinking he’ll be attacked in endless amounts of affection. Instead, he finds a dark apartment that looks the same way he left it.

🍇 The Sun Doesn't Shine, The World Doesn't Turn by @londonfoginacup --- [fic post]

larry | 4k | teen and up

Everybody wanna steal my girl Everybody wanna take her heart away Couple billion in the whole wide world Find another one 'cause she belongs to me

This song is about vampires.

🍇 Somebody to Move Me by @becomeawendybird --- [fic post]

larry | 4k | teen and up

Harry Styles has decided after her latest breakup to take some time to herself. She never expects to meet Louis Tomlinson.

🍇 Heart that I Let Down by @louandhazaf --- [fic post]

larry | 4k | general audiences

Where do broken hearts go? Louis took Harry’s with him when he went to LA, now Harry’s on a mission to find him.

🍇 if you said goodbye (would that be a lie?) by @foliealou --- [fic post]

lilo | 4k | general audiences

Liam and Louis are broken up, until Liam needs a date for his family Christmas Party

🍇 The Waiting is the Hardest Part by @louandhazaf --- [fic post]

larry | 4k | explicit

Harry is stressed waiting for his final semester grades to come in. Louis has a plan to help him relax.

🍇 Sank Into Your Dreams by @silveredsound --- [fic post]

hitch | 3k | explicit

What if Harry and Mitch had met before Ryan pulled him into the studio that day.

🍇 For a lifetime I’ll be by your side (I do) by @sadaveniren --- [fic post]

larry | 3k | mature

Five times Louis proposed to Harry and One time Harry proposed to Louis

🍇 It’s About Time by @kingsofeverything --- [fic post]

larry | 3k | general audiences

Best friends and roommates, Louis and Harry have been through a lot together, including law school for Louis, marriage and divorce for Harry. Their imminent eviction forces them to admit their feelings.

🍇 The Cowboy In Us All by @taggiecb --- [fic post]

larry | 3k | general audiences

Louis and Harry are used to living their lives under the glare of the spotlight. But when the real pain of trouble in their relationship gets to be too much they turn to the one thing that they can control; the messages in the songs they sing onstage.

🍇 Even at my worst, I'm best with you by @kingsofeverything --- [fic post]

larry | 2k | not rated

Louis thinks Harry knows he's going to propose and tries to throw him off by insisting he's not interested in marriage. It backfires.

Based on Monica and Chandler's proposal from Friends.

🍇 40 Weeks by @harryincamp --- [fic post]

larry | 2k | teen and up

Harry is 40 weeks pregnant.

He is overjoyed. He is scared. About the complexity. About the duality of experiencing the most momentous yet most natural thing in the world. The absurdity of this feeling of not wanting to let go, never letting go. The way he’s holding on too tightly already. The rawness of missing someone, while still there, so close to his heart, in his heart.

Balance is key, but there’s just this unsettling feeling of walking on a tightrope, balance off, that he might fall.

🍇 sad sex is... no by @disgruntledkittenface --- [fic post]

gryles | 2k | not rated

A gryles AU based on Harry’s iconic quote from the Jools Holland interview.

🍇 Celebratory Electrolytes by @rainbowninja --- [fic post]

larry | 1k | teen and up

Louis is releasing new music, and he's totally relaxed about it. The other boys...not so much.

🍇 Strangers Again? by @realmenwearpuppypants

gryles | 365 | not rated

Nick and Harry at the BRITS 2020.

🍇 Aftercare by @louandhazaf --- [fic post]

larry | 100 | mature

New to their D/S dynamic, Louis takes care of Harry after a scene.

[jlf23tumble]

Top 10 Niche Interests

Fixations? Obsessions? This is incredibly hard because I have wayyyy too many niche interests, so instead of stressing about it, I tried to channel the 10 things that immediately speak to me and maybe aren't so obvious from what I post here, like how much I'm obsessed with wigs, doll furniture, incredibly specific blogs, all forms of clothing with pockets, swimming pools, whimsical bus stops, over-the-top bathrooms, etc. etc Instead, I opted for some specifics that feel a little more evergreen and long tailed, like, so LIFE-long tailed that it's tough to nail down when or how they became part of the national psyche. I thank @alienfuckeronmain​ for the initial tag, and I'm tagging her AGAIN for round two because I know she has a billion additional niche things, and she'll post them, and I'll scream because it'll trigger five other things I neglected to post here, and I'll probably post my own round two, arggggh, insert aggressive sighing. Anyway, I tag ANYONE who wants to do it, just tag me so I can see! 

1. Indoor Trees

I have no idea why this concept PULLS so hard because houseplants are kind of meh to me, but you want to plant an entire-ass TREE indoors, in the place where you live? Me, too, and I'd add a conversation pit plus a combo gold/red bathroom, among other things, and, bam, we're in my imaginary dream home, which I have literally, constantly ALWAYS mentally constructed from the time I was about six or so. (If you're curious, it has multiple themed rooms, and the closest I've seen to it recently is the outstanding Dita von Teese AD feature, but Amy Sedaris’s apartment comes close, too). There are two (2) 1960s houses in Long Beach with magnificent indoor trees, but I can't find them online, so have this modern interpretation and cry with me about how I can't visit the multi-story fake tree inside Clifton's Cafeteria for a good long while:

2. Conventions of Fans of Any Kind

One thing that I don't think I'll ever lose is how much I *love* people who are fans of SOMETHING, people who have a passion and create something about it or cosplay it or simply gather to celebrate it and connect to other people through it. The Internet provides in all kinds of ways, but I'm talking specifically about IRL conventions and the way my heart pitter pats when I first walk in those doors, SWOON! And it doesn’t matter how big the convention is or how random, I've been to smaller events like CatCon and the My Little Pony convention all the way up to biggies like WonderCon and Comic Con, and I have yet to be disappointed. I might know jack shit about what I'm walking into, but I want to see the merch, hear about the panels, and check out the people who are fucking PUMPED to be there. Sadly, I think it's gonna be a lonnnnng time until these come back, but I can live vicariously through my old photos, sigh:

3. Dutch Wax Fabrics and African Fashion

I'm not the snazziest of dressers, but textiles, colors, and patterns have been an obsession that has soothed my visual soul for as long as I can literally remember. Wax fabric marries all three of those touchpoints, plus throws in a healthy dose of style, and I count myself lucky to have seen two big exhibits on the subject (this was one of them), oh, how I wish there were more! For sure, there's a fucked up underlying colonial/imperialist history here, but there's also humor and color and vibrancy, a reclamation of sorts, and multiple levels of fashion that take my breath away. I cannot do the different patterns justice at all, but the fan motif is one of my faves:

4. Hearst Castle vs. Madonna inn

These two fall into my #home tag because they're where I'm from, and they speak to me as equally sublime and ridiculous, camp and kitsch writ large and small, different (yet similar!) versions of Xanadu that two rich white men built as shrines to their own personal "taste." And the irony is that a lot of people shit on Alex Madonna for being tacky (the Madonna Inn is...uh, something else), yet praise WR Hearst for all the high-class art and architecture, most of which is fully lifted from desperate churches between and after world and yet they're both more or less the same concept (lodging for weary travelers, self-aggrandizement, questionable taste-mixing). Hearst Castle edges out slightly for me because it's bigger and has spectacular scenery and history, plus it gives me doses of LA noir thanks to the way Hearst killed a guy in a jealous Charlie Chaplin-related rage and Hedda Hopper covered it up, all kinds of old Hollywood shenanigans happened up there, etc. But I'm low-key an expert on both houses of the holy, I'm OBSESSED with both, and we can leave it at that. I mean, come on:

5. Snow Globes

I had to cull my personal collection slightly just to fit it all on the dedicated shelf in my bathroom, and I seriously need to refill all the water lines, but nothing beats a snow globe in terms of memorable souvenir, especially when you put it in a bathroom. The majesty!!! The jewel of my collection is the one from Sherwood Forest because WHY NOT celebrate a historic place and moment in the basic way?? He robbed from the rich to give to the poor, and the gift shop about 100 feet from the tree he hid in does the same! The circle of life! The irony of all the watermarks on this blessed image...protect:

6. Highly Specific Museums

Look, we can all agree that the more venerated museums in the world are a form of garbage in terms of what they represent, what they've done, and who runs them, but I'm here for the museums that collect and celebrate things that tend to get overlooked. There are too many to list that I love that are still thriving, so I'm going to say goodbye to four recently departed faves. RIP to the Pez museum, I'm so glad I saw you and purchased your stale candy souvenirs. RIP to the museum of terrible food, you were a pop up when Phoenix and I saw you, and I will forever think about the worker describing people literally vomiting during their visits. RIP to the currywurst museum in Berlin, I've had currywurst exactly once and it was not for me, but I respect the Journey you took me on, including obscure east German TV shows that helped make you so popular (??). Finally, RIP to the velvet painting museum, there's no way to mince words, the person who owned you was crazy AS FUCK and had zero clue how to run a business, but I'm so glad I saw you multiple times and purchased my own velvet treasure (not this exact one, but remarkably similar):

7. Liminal Spaces: Grocery Store Edition

Confession time for those who don't know me all that well, I'm a big time voyeur, and nothing fills my heart with joy like a walk at 7 or 8 pm, the witching hour when people haven't pulled the curtains, and I can scope out their decorations/furnishings without it being "weird." Another confession is how much I unabashedly adore grocery stores in other countries and will spend at least an hour wandering aisle by aisle, falling in love with how much everything is different yet completely the same:

8. Agatha Christie Novels:

As a child, I was a fairly compliant reader--I had to read something for school? Okay! For my mom? Sounds good! But the books that sparked the initial fire for me to read something purely for myself were second-hand (probably fourth- or fifth-hand, judging by cover art) Agatha Christie short story anthologies, which were the gateway drug to full Agatha Christie novels, then other mystery novels, and so on. But getting back to Agatha, I obviously loved all the stories, but every decade spawned incredibly good cover art (like, exceptionally good), and this particular artist's are right up near the top for me (I go back and forth on a lot of the '50s and '60s ones):

9. Scopitones

I link my obsession with scopitones both to my love of music videos in general and a shop in Austin, TX, that sold DVD compilations of them in particular, but either way, they're underappreciated and kitschy all in one! Francoise Hardy and the rest of the ye-ye's are my forever girls for this medium, but seemingly every country cranked them out, both actual set videos and "live" performances? If you don't know what they are, scopitones were machines that played music videos in French cafes in the '60s (??), so it was sort of your proto-MTV way to see your faves sing and dance. Oh, Francoise...so moderne!!

10. Cover Songs

I have so much patience and love for cover songs of any stripe, the more genre-bending and/or surprising, the better! My only minor beef is the trend in slooooooooowing down songs to make a point, but even those ones have a special place in my heart if they're effective. Live Lounge feeds my hunger the best, but my meta fave for representing this concept is Pulp's Bad Cover Version, which was already lyrically INSPIRED, a song about bad cover versions in terms of relationships, but then they did a video that was a visual "bad" cover version, with actors lip synching over an audio "bad" cover version, and all of it just worked? The cover for the single is someone in the band as a boy, making his own bad cover version of a Bowie album cover, it's meta meta meta, and I love love love, here's the video, if you're curious. In the more sublime cover category, I'm absolutely addicted to all of Orville Peck's covers, I truly hope he officially releases them sometime soon, but I wholeheartedly support any artist who does it: