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scaponigifs · 10 days ago

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Free Fallin by Tom Petty is so Jackie and Hyde coded it hurts

Great song! Great musician (gone too soon 💔).

For me, the lyrics don't fit J/H perfectly. But this kind of thing is subjective. People's musical tastes, favorite songs, and interpretation of characters and their relationships create a myriad of opinions and connections for an individual. No one is "wrong" when they say X-song is Y-shipper coded. For that person, they feel a connection between the song and the ship. It's an intimate and innate feeling that can't be debated.

Then there are songs with lyrics that are more objectively a match. They're chosen with a writer's mind rather than a shipper's heart.

For instance, the show choosing, "He Stopped Loving Her Today" by George Jones as one of the songs Hyde listens to after Jackie dumps him in season 5 and why is absolutely on the money for Hyde's character and complex feelings in that moment. I generally don't enjoy country music, and this song isn't one I listen to. But the lyrics reveal Hyde's subtext (because he is almost all subtext) as text. He's listening to the song because it matches and reflects his mental-emotional state, something so many of us do.

I'm going to post the lyrics with commentary about how they fit Hyde's character in that specific point in time and since his romantic relationship with Jackie began.

He said, "I'll love you 'til I die."

She told him, "You'll forget me in time."

Hyde is so deeply in love with Jackie that it scares him. Because of his childhood wounding of parental abandonment and betrayal, he doesn't trust someone he loves that much will stay. So he, unlike the protagonist of the song, doesn't verbalize his feelings of love. That would make him too vulnerable to loss, he believes. Instead, Hyde demonstrates his love through actions and indirect / misdirecting dialogue. But the song reveals his true feelings nakedly: he'll love Jackie as long as he lives.

The next lyric illustrates Hyde's understanding that his protection mechanisms have led Jackie to believe she doesn't mean much to him. He never expresses directly that he loves her and bridles against her attempts to have him verbally confirm his feelings.

Then he doesn't trust or respect her enough to ask her why she's seemingly cuddling with Kelso on the Pinciottis' sofa but rather assumes the worst -- because of his childhood wounding and expectation of abandonment and betrayal -- and sleeps with another woman to break up with Jackie a) in a hostile way he hopes will hurt her as much as he believes she's betrayed him and b) to ensure they won't reconcile because he hasn't stopped loving her and might go back to her again (as he does after the "Get off my boyfriend!" break-up), and his act of cheating will be unforgivable to her.

Jackie's belief as described above is confirmed a few episodes after Hyde listens to the song when Jackie explains to Eric and Donna that she needs Hyde but Kelso needs her. She thinks Hyde can walk away from their relationship easily and will "forget [her] in time." He's given her this messaging when the truth is the opposite, as the song's next lyrics demonstrate.

As the years went slowly by

She still preyed in his mind.

He kept her picture on the wall,

Went half crazy now and then

But still loved her through it all,

Hoping she'd come back again.

Hyde is heartbroken, and he envisions his future without Jackie: remaining in love with her, the fact they're not together messing with his mental state, and always hoping they'd reconcile and resume their relationship, even if it takes years.

Skipping ahead in the lyrics to the last two stanzas:

You know she came to see him one last time.

Oh, and we all wondered if she would.

And it kept runnin' through my mind

This time he's over her for good.

He stopped loving her today.

They placed a wreath upon his door,

And soon they'll carry him away.

He stopped loving her today.

The lyrics come full-circle from the man saying to the woman, "I'll love you 'til I die," to the lyric, "He stopped loving her today," because he died. The "wreath upon his door" is on his casket door. The end of the song reflects Hyde's depression and lack of belief Jackie will forgive him. He can't imagine loving someone else as much as he loves her, and he'll die loving her. He hopes she'd care enough to go to his funeral, the irony being that she returns to him only once he's dead.

The depth of Hyde's love for Jackie, although present in the subtext throughout season 5, is laid bare in this song. It's a brilliant choice by whoever chose it for the show. Its specific details match Hyde's inner self and his relationship dynamic with Jackie one-to-one in an analogous way.

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scaponigifs · 11 days ago

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This was so good

⁹¹⁾ six missed calls

if you’re still taking them

sorry for the delay sam!

☎️📱📞☎️📱📞☎️📱📞☎️📱📞☎️📱📞

(1)

(Missed Call - Lexi Howard)

“Hey Fezco. It’s uh. It’s me. Um Lexi. Howard. Uh in case you didn’t realize that. Sorry. Um, so I know we talked after Mr. Jacobs left but you told me to let you know when I got home and I was going to text you but then I walked into my room and I realized I totally blanked on half the reason I wanted to stop by the Dairy to begin. Your sweater, from New Years, the green one? I have it. Which might sound weird but like, you took it off with such care before you went after Nate so I don’t know, I thought it was important. So um. Yeah. That’s all. Uh. Let me know how I can return it I guess? … bye.”

It’s not like Fezco missed Lexi’s call on purpose. It’s more that his phone started ringing and he saw who was calling and he thought that there must have been a mistake happening because why on God’s green fuckin’ Earth would this girl be hitting up his line a coupla hours after she was almost victim of a shoot out in his goddamn shop at the hands of her classmates deranged pops?

He’s not even thinking when he immediately calls her back after listening to the voicemail. Okay, listening to the voicemail for the tenth time and properly saving it for later. You know, just in case…

“Hello?” her sweet voice says quietly into the line. “Fezco?”

Surprised at how quickly she answered, all he can do is respond dumbly. “Yo, uh. You called?”

(2)

(Missed Call - Lex 🩷)

“Since you won’t answer my calls, guess I’m left with no choice but to do this here. If you and I are going to work, you can’t fucking freeze me out when you’re pissed about something. It’s not fair to me at all Fezco. If you can’t talk shit out with me, what are we even doing here?”

She pauses there long enough that Fez thinks that’s the end of the message. Honestly for the first time since he asked Lexi to be his girl last year, things feel bleak, like they won’t make it after all.

Just as he’s pulling his phone away from his ear he hears a deep intake of breath and instantly feels like more of an asshole than he already did because he can tell Lexi was fighting tears.

“I don’t want that. I love you too much to end this. Please call me back.”

The message was from a few hours ago and despite the way the moon hangs overhead, Fezco calls Lexi, knowing she would be awake.

“I’m not going to apologize,” she begins, foregoing any greeting. “So don’t expect one.”

Fez sighs, tipping his head back onto his headboard. “Nah baby. This one is on me. I’m the asshole here an’ I’m fuckin’ sorry.”

“And?”

“Imma be better at communicating witchu. Icing you out ain’t cool.”

“That all?”

“I love you Lex. I’d rather we talk this shit out in person though, if you wanna come over.”

He can practically hear his girls smile - knowing she’s going to grab his olive branch with both hands.

“Gimme fifteen minutes. I gotta snatch the keys from Suze.”

(3)

(Missed Call - Lex 👩🏻‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏼)

“Fezzzzzcoooo! Why didn’t you pick up? Didja know I’m drink… drunk? I went to a party like you said. Are you mad at me? Pleeeease don’t be mad at me. I would hate that. I’m just drunk ‘cause I miss you. And your dick. I really, really miss your big dick. It feels so fucking good inside me, Imma ride the shit outta you when you visit next week swear to god. After you eat m-“

The drunken rambling voicemail abruptly ends but not soon enough because it’s 7am and Fez is fully hard in his boxers. Lexi is in college, a sophomore, and spending a semester across the country in a theater intensive. The distance sucks, both the physical and timezone one, but they’ve managed to make it work.

Plus Fez is boarding his first plane next week to visit at Lexi’s halfway done mark. The course is only twelve weeks, but it’s about eleven weeks too long in his opinion.

Looking at his straining erection, Fezco chances it and calls back his girlfriend, praying she’ll pick up even if she’s hung over.

“Please tell me I didn’t leave a voicemail while trashed,” Lexi moans into the receiver. “I only remember like, part of it.”

“Which part?” he asks, sneaking a hand down his boxers to squeeze at his dick. “The part where you said you missed my cock or the part where you was practically begging to ride me?”

“Fuck.”

“Don’t get shy now pretty girl,” Fez grunts, stroking his cock. “Got me hard as fuck an’ I know yo’ panties are soaked jus’ thinkin’ ‘bout it.”

“You couldn’t possi-”

“Nah, I do,” he continues, pushing his boxers down over his dick finally, gripping it harder than before. “Gonna need to get to work if you gon’ catch up.”

Lexi lets out a sudden gasp before he hears some rustling over the line. Without asking he knows she’s stripping out of whatever bottoms she has on to play with her pussy for him. The sound of Lexi’s breathy moan fills his ears and it’s all he can do to not come on the spot.

(4)

(Missed Call - Lexi Howard 👩🏻‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏼🆘)

“Oh my god Fezco, please don’t laugh at me when you get this message. But like,also like call me back ASAP. Cause umm… Wenny snuck out the door as I was letting myself in and I dashed outside to grab her and Ion know? I left the keys on the counter or sumn and locked myself out. Again. So I’m just sitting against the door holding the cat. Yeah. Uh. Please call me back, this is so embarrassing. Love you bye.”

“Imma have to get a key for under the mat or sumn,” he teases when Lexi picks up on the second ring.

“Even I know that’s a break-in waiting to happen,” Lexi snorts. “And I wasn’t the one between the two of us that ran a criminal enterprise.”

“Taught you well,” Fez replies as he slips into his car. He’s about fifteen minutes from their new apartment building, fresh out of class. “That cats a menace baby.”

“Wednesday has never done anything wrong in her life, thank you very much,” his girlfriend replies haughtily. “She’s been framed!”

“Lex, baby. She’s given you the jump like, six times now.”

“Yeah but it’s only the second time I’ve locked myself out.”

“This week.”

“I’m not taking her back to the shelter,” Lexi sniffs, knowing that’s not what Fez is suggesting at all. “It’s an adjustment phase.”

“I know ma, that’s why I ordered her an AirTag for her collar. So next time she gives you the slip you don’t have to chase her down the hall before you lose eyes on her. Can set yo’ shit down an’ grab yo’ keys.”

Lexi absolutely will not not do that, but it’s worth the try. Her refusal to acknowledge his response tells him as much.

“How far out are you?”

“See you in five baby.”

(5)

(Missed Call - Lexi Howard 💍🆘)

“Hey so, I was going through all these bridal magazines that my mom and Cassie brought over and I got to thinking. Weddings are expensive and planning one sounds exhausting. So we should just elope… Think about it. Love you.”

The thing is, Fez knows Lexi is just blowing off some steam. When they got engaged four months ago his girl was chomping at the bits to plan her dream wedding, but that was before moms and big sis got involved.

“Did you think about it?” Lexi asks as she picks up his call. He can hear her typing away on her keyboard.

“I did,” he replies, leaning up against the wall outside the building of his next class. Fez is off in a far corner with the rest of the students with a nicotine habit. “And it’s a terrible fuckin’ idea Lex. You know I’ve dealt with some scary ass motherfuckers but Ion wanna take no heat from Suze.”

“But if we tell her it’s your idea, she’s gonna love it,” Lexi protests. The Howard sisters have long complained that Fezco is Suze’s favorite child. “And then we don’t have to do any of this shit!”

Wedding planning does seem hella complicated, but high key Fez has been thinking about what it would be like to marry Lexi Howard since she sat her ass down beside him at Virgil’s party. So yeah, fuck it, he wants the big ass party and having all they friends there.

“Maybe I want a wedding, have you thought about that pretty girl?”

“Do you?”

“Wanna see my girl walking her fine ass down the aisle to me in some white dress that’ll make her look like a princess? Fuck yeah Lexi. Want all that shit forreal.”

“I. Um,” Lexi stammers, speechless. “Okay. Yeah. We can have a wedding.”

—

(+1)

(Missed Call - Fezco O’Neill 💍🆘)

“Shit ma, usually it’s the other way around ain’t it? You prolly gettin’ yo’ beauty sleep already after you got done pouting that I wouldn’t sneak into yo’ hotel room tonight. I know I ain’t the picture of traditional, but I want the first time I see you tomorrow to be when you’re walking to me ready to become my wife, you feel me? Pretty sure I’ve loved you since the first time I laid eyes on you Lexi Howard, knew I wanted to wife you up nearly as long. Can’t wait to spend forever witchu baby. See you tomorrow pretty girl, I’ll be the one waiting at the altar.”

Lexi’s already bursting into tears and her alarm doesn’t go off for another three hours. Fezco was right when he said he figured she was asleep, she’d pretty much zonked out as soon as she hit the bed after the rehearsal dinner. Wedding planning had somehow been both a marathon and a sprint all at the same time. But here they are, almost husband and wife.

Finally.

She listens to her almost husbands sweet words once more for good measure before she decides to return the favor, fully intending to leave her own voicemail for Fezco to wake up to. So it’s a huge surprise when he picks up his phone at quarter after four in the morning.

“You good baby? No cold feet?”

“No, they’re nice and toasty.”

“Then why you awake gorgeous? It’s early as fuck.”

“I could ask you the same.”

Fezco yawns loudly in her ear. “My phone started ringing goofy. I was passed the fuck out.”

“I had to use the bathroom, and then I saw your voicemail,” Lexi replies easily, honestly. “Pretty sure I loved you since that first night too, in case you're curious.”

“Yeah?” Fez asks, voice full of wonder. “How about that. Finally got proof there is a God.”

Lexi lets out a tired giggle. “What do you mean?”

“The Big Guy had us fall in love on the same night Lex, that’s on some soulmate shit.”

Lexi hums tiredly, in no mood to argue Fezco’s so called proof. “Whatever you say handsome. I’m gonna go back to sleep. I love you.”

“I love you too. Meet you at the altar?”

“They couldn’t keep me away if they tried.”

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