#PJ Harding Lyrics

[dontyoufinditstrange]

People Don't Change Lyrics That Alter My Brain Chemistry

Dear August:

"why's the morning come so slowly when i got no one to hold me through the dark?" "they tell me that love is patient but it never wants to wait on my drunk heart" "so i'll take all of my wasted love, and turn it into wine in my cup" "tell me that there's light at the end of all this starless night" "cause i don't know where this road is headed anymore" "i spend every evening praying for the dawn" "looking for someone to save me"

You Belong To Somebody Else:

"maybe regret is a weakness" "all the jealous gods can burn me down and start again" "you belong to somebody else" "and i didn't want to but i couldn't help it" "i know its wrong to call this sweet hell upon myself" "its easier to let a heart wait than make a heart break for you" "i gave you pieces of my secrets like religion to believe in"

Cannonball:

"your disappointment stings like an ointment" "cold indifference, boredom and bitterness" "i can't keep doing this night after night" " i don't want this anymore" "my heart's a cannonball dragging me under these waves" "people don't change" "boys can be poison and still be rose-scented" "so i'll wash you off me, cocaine and coffee"

The Best Of You:

"the world is at your feet, so what you gonna do?" "oh my love, that's not the moon" "were singing old sad songs the whole night through" "as the stars look on, im just looking at you" "when the words do come, they feel heavy as the truth" "the best of me are just the pieces of the best of you"

Slow Train Comin':

"paints a funeral, so beautiful, to the memory of us" "a slowly breaking heart that knows you're gonna make me lonely when you go" "i sold my heart for stolen gold" "i played my heart so i suppose" "still got miles to go but even so, i feel the shaking still"

The Worst Of You:

"handed you another chance to disappoint me and again you did me wrong" "we're barely even trying anymore" "it feels like all i ever do i pay for your excuses to buy a little time" "you're never gonna change, hell, you're never gonna try" "why am i still tryna prove that i can love the worst of you? "living fast and dying slowly just two cold and lonely bodies nothing more" "i'll always love the worst of you"

[oooohno]

[juicyfrui2]

[clivechip]

Song Lyric Sunday: July

Song Lyric Sunday: July

For today’s Song Lyric Sunday Jim has invited us to play a song by an artist who has famous musician parents. He tells all about it here in his post Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From The Tree. My chosen artist has one musician parent, who is also an actor, and her other is an actor, producer and director. She herself has been a child actor since she was just 3, and is still only 22. Her famous musician…

[lowkeychenle]

Empire State of Mind [PJS/LMK] (M)

Description: Life with Jisung is almost perfect. He loves you, and you love him. But when you run into your ex, Mark Lee, you realize the one thing you've been missing all along is him.

Genre: Angst/SLIGHT fluff (like you REALLY have to squint)/SMUT

Content Warnings: LOTS OF rough, explicit unprotected sex (don't do this LOL), counter sex, car sex, use of pet name 'Princess' (Jisung), use of pet name 'pretty girl' (Mark), INFIDELITY (reader), do not read if infidelity is a trigger for you or if it pisses you off. It pisses me off too, I just like drama. Also, neither man knows the other exists so do with that what you will.

Word Count: 7,158

Pairing: Park Jisung x Reader // Mark Lee x Reader

Juliet's Masterlist | Requests

Author's Note: Is this what I'm supposed to be working on? no of course not, however, I do think this is pretty good so no one judge, also HELLO FIRST JISUNG FIC??????? AM I OKAY (no)

In a city as busy as this one, it’s normal to wake up to music playing loudly outside. The not-so-gentle melodies flood through the window, the faint lyrics of Empire State of Mind just barely enough to pull you out of your slumber.

Things weren’t like this before. You remember a time, somehow far off, where you were happy. When simple things like this didn’t bother you. When waking up meant you woke up next to him, too.

Now you’re next to another, but it’s not the same. It’s never the same.

Days blend together. Weeks become months. Honestly, you have a good relationship with Jisung. He’s loving. He takes care of you. Loves you in ways you’ve never been loved before. But something is different. You didn’t start out comparing him to your ex—even though you don’t call him that.

Mark is more than an ex. He’s the first person you truly loved, so of course, it’s normal for him to have a place in your heart, right?

Even two years after your break up, however not-painful it was, you find it’s hard to go an entire day without thinking of Mark. You sit on your shared couch with Jisung, playing with his hair while his head rests in your lap, and you’ll be thinking of him. The movie passes by as unwelcomed background noise.

When your eyes flutter open, you groan and blink a couple times, seeing the city skyline on the horizon. You’re far up here, but you’ve never felt more at rock bottom than you have lately. Maybe it’s the gradual descent into perpetual sadness that has you clinging to Mark. Maybe it has nothing to do with him, and everything to do with who you were when you were with him.

Jisung’s arm is slung over your waist, but his soft snores tell you he’s still fast asleep. The extensive noise of the city bustling around on a Saturday morning doesn’t bother him in the slightest. You gently remove his grip on you, and swing your legs over the side of the bed. The hardwood floor is cold against your feet, but you welcome the feeling.

It is a feeling, after all. You don’t get very many of those lately.

The full length mirror sits directly across from you. Jisung has insisted you two find a better place for it, but the tiny apartment doesn’t exactly give you many options. You stare at your frazzled hair, at the way the sun gleams off your skin.

You look tired. Sad. Like life is passing you by. And at this point, it really is.

Jisung is good to you. He makes you happy, but the happiness you feel with him always seems…temporary.

Sighing to yourself, you get out of bed, grab a pair of shorts from your clean laundry basket, and tug them up your legs. Jisung’s T-shirt sits too large on your frame, and as you brush your teeth, you take notes of the subtle marks he left on the conjunction of your neck and shoulder from last night.

He’s a good lover. An even better boyfriend, but everything is so monotone. The world has been drained around you, and the only thing you can blame is him.

You run a brush through your hair, and then you put your shoes on. One thing that’ll always make you feel better is sunshine, even though there’s a slight lack of it in the city due to the high-rise buildings lining the street. You pay them little attention. As you leave your apartment, head into the elevator, and eventually make your way to your freedom, you take a deep breath of air.

You don’t know how life became bland. No part of it makes sense to you, but you don’t fight it. How can you fight it? Instead, you let it engulf you, and you know Jisung is hurting because of it. You wonder how long he’ll be able to put up with it.

Walking through crowds of people somehow relaxes you, as you know you’re nobody to all of them. Not a single person around you expects anything of you. In a world full of disappointment, expectations, and emotions, it’s nice to be a small speck of dust on a much wider spectrum.

You find your usual coffee shop, pushing the door open and waiting in the little line that’s accumulated. After you order, you wait off to the side, frowning when you feel your phone vibrating. Looking down at your screen, you recognize your friend, Jiyoon, is calling you.

“Hey,” you answer, putting the phone between your shoulder and your ear. “What’s up?”

“I’m so sorry,” she starts off quickly. “I wasn’t supposed to work today and they just hit me with this giant assignment, I can’t do coffee today.”

She’s already late. Not that it matters.

“That’s okay.”

“I’m sorry,” she repeats. “(Y/N), seriously. You know I love you, and if I didn’t have to do all of this bullshit, I’d never miss out on one of our coffee dates.”

“It’s fine.” You nod, accepting your drink from the barista with a smile. “There’s nothing to worry about. I’ll see you next week.”

“Alright! I’ll make it up to you. I’m buying next time.”

“Ah, yes, thank you for offering to pay for my three dollar coffee, that’s quite an extravagant—” Your smile falls as you turn around to exit. The sight almost has you dropping your cup, too. “I gotta go.”

You scramble to hang up your phone as you make eye contact. It’s been at least a year since you’d seen him last, but he still looks the same. Mark’s eyebrows slightly furrow as he recognizes you, his head tilted to the side. And that’s when a smile breaks out on his face. The smile that still has your heart plummeting into the depths of your stomach. Attached to the man that you spend everyday thinking about.

Your lips part, almost as if you’d be bold enough to say something, but you snap them shut equally as fast. You have no idea what he thinks about you, what he must be feeling at this moment, but your relationship didn’t end horribly.

Things weren’t right. You both wanted different things.

“Wow,” he says, resting the small of his back against one of the booths. “You haven’t changed a bit.”

You’re speechless. How do you say anything to him, when he’s as perfect as he was, and the remnants of the past explode across your mind like fireworks? Your heartbeat is much faster than normal, hands fidgeting. What the hell are you supposed to do?

“Sorry, was that bad?” Mark scrunches up his nose and crosses his arms over his chest.

“No, not bad.” You shake your head. “I wasn’t expecting to run into you today.” Or ever.

“Honestly, I usually take a different way to work, but I put the first coffee shop I could find into my GPS.” He shrugs.

“I see you still try to brave the big bad city with a car, huh?” A real, genuine smile tugs at your lips.

He bites back a laugh. “Not as much as I used to.”

“Ah, so some improvement has been made,” you tease him. The tone of your voice surprises you, as you actually sound light-hearted. When’s the last time you spoke to someone this way?

“You know what they say. Time does wonders.” He tugs his fingers through his hair.

“Well,” you begin, dropping your hand against your side. “It was nice seeing you, Mark. Really. I’ve gotta get back.”

“Right, of course.” He nods and gestures toward the door. “I don’t mean to keep you.”

You sip your coffee and make your way past him, and as you reach out for the door, you hear his voice again.

“(Y/N)?” He waits to continue until you look at him. “My number’s still the same, in case you wanted to catch up.”

You shouldn’t want to. Jisung gives you everything you could ever ask for, and even strives to be better every day. He brings you home flowers, he cooks for you. Even after all that, you’re thinking about how nice it would be to be in contact with the man in front of you again. Mark was everything to you at one point, and now you’re meant to feel that way for Jisung.

You don’t say anything. Instead, you give him a warm grin, turn, and leave the coffee shop behind. As embarrassing as it is, you do have his contact saved. And you know he wants to hear from you, so it’s only going to make this nagging feeling worse.

As you walk back down the sidewalk, a new sort of happiness is awoken. For the first time in a long time, you finally feel like yourself again. You’re practically skipping down the street. When you get home, Jisung’s in the kitchen, leaning on the island while he finishes his buttered toast and takes a drink of his water.

He regards you warmly as soon as he sees you. “You left early this morning.”

“Sorry, Ji,” you say, approaching him and kissing his cheek. “I woke up pretty late and wanted to make sure you’re getting rest.”

His arm wraps around your waist and tugs you flush against him. He delicately chews on his bottom lip as he scans over you. There’s so much love contained in his pretty brown eyes, you find yourself wishing you could get lost in them.

“Have I ever told you how good you look in my clothes?” he hums, tugging the bottom hem of the T-shirt.

“Maybe once or twice.” You beam and tilt your head to the side. “I think I look better when it’s off, though.”

The shock is clear on his face—between the way his eyebrows jump upward and the slight parting of his lips. You never say things like that to him. Typically, you wait for Jisung to initiate, and he’s most likely always written it off as you being shy.

You’ve never had a problem being attracted to Jisung, so sex isn’t your issue. He reaches spots inside you you never thought possible, and he seems to know what you want before even you do. And as you hoist yourself up on the counter, you wonder if your sudden craving for Jisung has anything to do with him at all. Guilt pangs briefly, but the second he’s between your legs with his gray sweats sitting low on his hips, you fend off any sort of bad feelings. 

Jisung chuckles, cupping your cheek and stroking it with his thumb. “What’s gotten into you today?”

“Is it so wrong to want my boyfriend?” You quirk an eyebrow at him, tracing your finger down his chest. “I’m just wondering what it’s gonna take to get you to fuck me on the counter.”

“If this is how you’re gonna come home to me, I’m sending you out with Jiyoon more often.” He wastes no more time, leaning in to kiss you. You sigh against his lips, rolling your hips toward him.

You feel him starting to harden through his sweatpants. His hands move down to your thighs, his long fingers gripping you roughly as he pulls you to the edge. You secure your legs around him, grinding the growing heat between your thighs against his length. He lets out a quiet groan and thrusts toward you.

“Fuck me like this, Ji,” you whisper, kissing down his neck. “Just like this.”

“I gotta take these off.” He tugs at the bottom hem of your shorts, leaning his head back.

“Takes too long.” You shake your head and nip on his skin. “Please.”

His breath shudders, and before you know it, his hand pushes the fabric aside, touching along your entrance through your panties.

“Shit, princess, you’re so wet,” he groans and presses against you, fingers grazing your clit.

You rub along his clothed length, squeezing him and shuffling closer to him. At the end of the day, you know Jisung deserves better than this, but the second he moves the sticky fabric covering you to the side, any regret or guilt fades quickly. You can’t see him taking his cock out of his pants, but you note the way a sharp breath passes through his lips and his gaze darkens when he jerks himself slowly.

He lines up with you, tip already applying pressure, and kisses you roughly before pushing inside. You tighten your legs around him, head falling back against the cupboards at the sensation. He’s already throbbing, the thickness of his length stretching you to your limits. Reaching up, you grip his hair and roll your hips.

“Fuck,” he curses under his breath, gently rocking back and forth. “Hear that, princess? So fucking wet, I’m sliding right in.”

As soon as he deems you adjusted to him, he thrusts. His cock rubbing against your walls at this pace has you trying to find something to hold onto to ground you. Your mind is completely blank other than your pleasure.

And when your eyes roll back and you close them, the last thing you expect is to see Mark through the darkness. Oh, God, if you weren’t in such heaven right now, you’d feel horrible. Between the slick sounds of your wetness, his thickness stretching you to your limits, and the soft grunts falling from his lips, you allow your brain to put the other man in Jisung’s place. As long as you’re staring at the back of your eyelids, it’s Mark fucking you on the counter.

And for some reason, that thought has you skyrocketing toward your high. You dig your nails into his shoulders, and like he knows what that means, his hand reaches between you two and his fingers find your clit with ease. Your hips jolt, the feeling borderline too much for you.

With Mark on your mind, you finish so much faster than you usually do.

You even have to bite your lip to stop his name from escaping you. Instead, you force Jisung’s out, whining as your vision blurs. He fucks you through your orgasm before his own pace becomes erratic. He lets out a long moan, and one more thrust has him spilling deep inside you.

Finally meeting his gaze, you give him a fucked-out smile, wishing away how bad you feel about imagining your ex fucking you instead of your boyfriend.

He kisses you sweetly, humming. “What spurred this on?”

“You just…look really good today,” you mumble and press your lips to the tip of his nose. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” He grins and gently pulls out of you. 

After he adjusts himself in his pants, he scoops you up off the counter, bringing you to your shared bedroom. He cleans you up with a towel, but not without admiring the way his load leaks out of you.

“There’s something I wanted to talk to you about,” Jisung says, grabbing you a new pair of panties and shorts.

“What’s that?” you ask, accepting the new items and changing into them.

“What do you think about getting married?” he whispers, brushing your hair behind your ear. “I mean, in general. Nothing definitive with us, but I just want to see where your head is at before I get ahead of myself, you know?”

You should’ve expected it, honestly. With the couple years you two have been together and the way you’re not getting any younger, you’re more than sure his parents have been pressuring him into marrying you. Your heart sinks further in your chest when your mind immediately jumps back to Mark.

“I guess I’ve never really thought about it,” you tell him.

It’s not entirely a lie. You’ve just never thought about marrying him.

“Would being married to me be a bad thing?” he continues, gaze scanning over your face for any sign of emotion.

“No, of course not.” You shake your head, rubbing your thumb against his cheek. “Nothing about you is bad, Sung.”

“But?”

“I don’t know if I’m ready for something like that.”

The pang of hurt flashes across his features so quickly, you almost miss it. He recollects himself, as if he wants to hide the emotions from you in the first place.

You’re sure after that, everything will return to normal. For a while, you hoped the sighting of Mark and its effect on you were a one-time thing, if not for your sake, then for Jisung’s. It’d crush him to learn how much Mark’s presence threw you off course.

Things almost worked out in your favor. Almost.

Until you went back to that coffee shop and saw him again. It was odd that you’d gone so long without seeing Mark, and now he’s suddenly in your favorite place in the city almost every time you’re there.

It has to be on purpose, but the last thing you’ll do is correct him.

The second time you saw him, you stayed to talk to him a bit longer. You somehow convinced yourself you weren’t doing anything wrong, considering he was the one showing up to see you.

After the third time, you caved and began texting him. You weren’t sure if he knew about Jisung, but you never brought it up. All you were doing was talking—there’s nothing wrong with talking to Mark, right?

Maybe that would have been the case if you told Jisung about him. If you’d told him that you were texting someone else daily, almost instantaneous replies. But every day you physically saw Mark, it awakened something in you.

But it’s okay because you never planned to see him…right?

Jisung was still in bed when you got back from getting coffee. He smiled at you as you walked in, and when you tossed your phone aside and straddled his lap, he didn’t even hesitate. Something about seeing Mark had your insides turning, and Jisung was an outlet. It didn’t help that every time you closed your eyes, you pictured Mark filling you instead of Jisung. It got worse and worse as time went on.

You sink down on Jisung’s length, throaty groans falling from his lips as his hands grip your waist. Giving yourself a few moments to adjust, you let yourself loose after that. You ride him desperately, the feeling of him deep within your walls making you delirious. He didn’t even need to guide you, your excitement allowing you to ignore the ache in your thighs as your wetness drips down them.

Jisung has no idea what’s gotten into you lately, but he fucking loves it. He’d gotten used to the way things were, and seeing you take charge and want him was doing things to him, too. You’d had more sex in the past few weeks than you had in the months prior, and Jisung was living for it.

But he doesn’t know.

God, it should make you feel bad, but at this point, all it does is send another burst of wetness down your thighs. He reaches behind you and squeezes your ass, watching you in a form of awe as your tits bounce in his face and your nails leave crescent-shaped imprints on his shoulders.

You close your eyes, imagining it’s Mark’s fingers connecting with your clit. Mark’s cock fucking into you as you sink down. Mark’s face contorted in pleasure. The sight in your brain is enough to have you shattering, your orgasm ripping through you at an impossible intensity. You scream, Jisung—Mark—sitting up just in time to catch your crumbling body.

He thrusts two more times before he’s filling you to the brim, chest heaving as he cradles you to him. Gently scratching up and down your back, he kisses your temple.

You’ve been insatiable lately, but you can’t deny how much better life has been. Mark has made your life better, even with short conversations and texts. Not to mention the guilt has all but disappeared. There’s no harm in talking.

You pull back to kiss Jisung, a quick peck on his lips while you grin widely. “I’m gonna shower. Good morning.”

“Good morning.” He chuckles. “Have fun, my love.”

You grab new clothes and your phone and head toward the bathroom, sending one more smile his way over your shoulder before you lock the door behind you.

The next morning, you’re awoken by the pleasant surprise of Jisung’s head between your thighs. You weave your fingers through his hair. While he’s under the blanket, he’s Mark. And that thought makes everything melt around you.

“Wh—what are you doing?” you breathe out as his tongue flicks your clit.

“You’ve been so good to me lately, princess,” Jisung mumbles against your thigh. He nips your skin. “Figured I’d return the favor.”

You shouldn’t let him, but the way his mouth works expertly against you has any logical thought escaping you at a record speed.

So, instead, you close your eyes and pretend the man between your legs is the one you’re yearning for, and you fade into the pleasure. You grind up against his face, chasing a high that’s never too far off when Mark is on your mind.

This goes on for months. As much as you hate to admit it, you see Mark at least three times a week. You’re not the one going out of your way to see him, and you’re not setting up meetings, so it’s still okay. You’re not doing anything wrong. Jisung wouldn’t even be mad at you.

Things start to fall apart for you when your perfect illusion of everything crumbles. When Mark begins asking to see you, and you still oblige. You make excuses to Jisung about why you’re out more, saying Jiyoon invites you over. He never questions you. Jisung trusts you, and you use that to your advantage.

Being around Mark erases the uniformity of life, and the monotonous days are far, far gone. He makes you feel alive again. Like you can do anything, and like happiness isn’t too far out of reach.

You love Jisung. You love the way he treats you and you’re happy with him, but something’s missing. That something is this—the brief time you spend with Mark, as innocent as it may be. He never touches you or tries to kiss you or anything like that, you just sit and talk. Your soul has always vibed with Mark’s. Something about him has every part of you alive and thriving.

Mark lives in the same apartment building. When he invited you over, you were hesitant. You walk in with the resolve that it’ll be like any other time you’ve seen him, that being alone instead of in public won’t change the way you interact with him.

He hugs you, and you nearly melt into the scent of his all-too-familiar cologne. You’re surprised by the way you want to linger. This whole time, you thought your feelings and actions with Mark were innocent, and that they didn’t affect the way you were with Jisung. The slightest warm touch from the tips of Mark’s fingers are almost enough to send shivers up your spine, almost enough to ignite a fire in the pit of your stomach.

Why are you here? Why did you agree to go to his place?

He hands you a glass of wine before sitting on his couch. You join him, sitting on the opposite end. He doesn’t speak for a moment, and you’re seconds away from telling him about Jisung.

“It’s nice to see you again,” Mark says, swirling his wine. “Like this, I mean. You’ve always looked good in here.”

You sip the red liquid. “You’re just saying that.”

“Not true. Walking away from you was a mistake, (Y/N). It’s been years and I still think about you and how hard you tried. I’m really sorry I wasn’t enough back then.” He scoots closer to you, dangerously close. His scent infiltrates your last barrier, and his brows pinch as he scans over your face.

“Mark.” You let out a weak chuckle. “You can’t say things like that.”

“Even if I mean them?”

“Especially if you mean them.”

His chest deflates. He purses his lips and gulps. “How else do I tell you I want you? We could be like we were before. Better, even.”

Your heart races in your chest. You scramble for words, knowing you should shut him down immediately, but nothing comes out. You don’t want to.

Jisung. You have to think of Jisung, and you have to get the hell out of Mark’s apartment. Jisung would be hurt if you entertained this. The talking he could handle. He’d brush it off without a worry, but this? You being so close to another man and aching to—

“Don’t you agree?”

“Mark…” Yes. You agree. You’ve never agreed with something more, but you can’t. You can’t.

“What’s holding you back?” He grabs your glass from you and sets both on the coffee table before coming back, cupping your cheek with that warm fucking hand. “You don’t have to be scared. I won’t hurt you again.”

“M-Mark…” That steel wall suddenly becomes kinetic sand, and it’s crumbling fast.

“You wouldn’t have come here if at least some part of you didn’t want me.” His thumb strokes your skin.

Your chest constricts, and right when you feel the last brick tumble, your phone vibrates in your pocket. Springing away from Mark, you grab the device and look at the screen.

Jisung: hope you’re having fun with jiyoon! i’m going to sleep. love and miss you

Tears well in your eyes and you jolt up off the couch, tugging your fingers through your hair. Mark follows you, reaching out for your wrist. You jerk your arm away and shake your head.

“I need to go.”

As you rush out of his building, everything hits you all at once. Everything you’ve been doing is wrong. Talking to Mark at all should never have happened, especially without Jisung’s knowledge. You’re barely able to breathe by the time you make it to your car. You rest your head against the metal. If you hadn’t left when you did, you would’ve caved. Who knows what would’ve happened? Would you have slept with Mark?

Right before you get in, Mark is behind you, grabbing you and turning you to look at him. You gasp, but as soon as your lips are parted, his mouth is on yours. Instantaneously, you melt, wrapping your arms around his shoulders and holding him close. When his tongue slips into your mouth, you’re surprised by how right it feels. It makes the guilt you were feeling disappear once more.

Suddenly, Jisung doesn’t exist anymore. It’s just you and Mark, and the craving for him you’ve always had. You whine into his mouth, and the next thing you know, his jacket falls to the cement with a quiet plop. Pulling away from him, you stare in shock, stunned you would even do something like that.

“Come back upstairs,” he whispers, panting. “I need you so fucking bad.”

“In the car,” you say. “Get in the car.”

His eyes darken, and he steps back to open the backseat for you. He glances around before following, and then you lock the doors. Climbing on top of you, he kisses you gently. Mark has always fit perfectly between your legs, and you were convinced back then that he’d been made just for you, and having him in this position again makes you start to think that again.

“You’re beautiful,” he mutters, soft gaze trailing over your face.

You reach up and trace along his cheek, humming when the faint blue light of the night around you two shrouds him in a graceful hue. He’s the only thing on your mind. The only thing that matters.

He grips your leg and lifts it over his hip. Pinning it to the seat, his hand trails under your skirt, tapping gently along your thighs. The simple touch sets you on fire, and you know your panties are embarrassingly soaked and only getting worse. You’ve never needed someone like you need Mark Lee.

He rubs you through the lace, sighing. “Fuck, I knew you wanted me, pretty girl. So fucking wet and I haven’t even touched you.”

“Do something.” You seal your fate with those words, but when he slides the fabric aside and slides his fingers inside you, you don’t even have time to think of the consequences. He catches your whine in his mouth. The slow pace drives you crazy.

Slick sounds fill the car, and you’re glad he left your skirt on. It’ll hopefully stop too much from getting onto the upholstery.

“Mark.” You put your hand on his shoulder. “I need you right now.”

He lets out a shuddering breath, and once he retracts his hand away from you, you hear the tell-tale sound of him unbuckling his belt. You hear the zipper and him pushing down the fabric, and the next thing you know, his cock is lining up with your entrance.

“Are you sure?” he asks, leaning down to kiss your cheek, your forehead, and then the tip of your nose. “We can take things slow.”

“Please,” you say. “Please.”

You moan as he slowly pushes inside, and you relish in the fact that you don’t have to close your eyes to see him. This really is Mark on top of you, really the one between your legs, and the one who’s stretching you to your limits.

“Fuck, you’re tight,” he groans, rocking his hips gently. 

He stops when he’s completely seated inside you, the feeling already making your thighs shake. His hips push against yours, and you wish more than anything you could be naked and in his bed. He’s so deep in you, your head lolls back and you push up toward him.

You repeatedly whisper his name, tangling your fingers in his hair and pulling him down to kiss you. Despite the situation, it’s been so long since someone made love to you. Your activities lately had all been rough with quick endings. Mark gives you time to enjoy him inside you while he gets lost in the constant flutter of your walls around his still cock. He doesn’t move. All he does is kiss you, the motion sweet and soft.

When he pulls back, you whine both from the slide of his throbbing length against your walls and the loss of him so deep. He intertwines your fingers, smiling as he truly begins. His pace is slow, but mind blowing nonetheless. You feel every inch of him, every twitch once he’s buried inside.

You’re floating on a cloud, gripping his hand like your life depends on it. It’s rewarding, as if everything you’ve gone through in your life has led you to this moment, to this backseat with Mark.

This is what you’re missing. Life has been off because you don’t have Mark, and now you know you can do anything. All you need is him.

He sits up on his knees, pulling you closer by your hips. With one hand gripping you firmly, the other moves to rub circles on your sensitive clit. His thumb teases you, and then his thrusts pick up speed. He’s proven how he feels, and both of you are ready to finish even if you never truly want this to end.

You hold onto the seat, but every thrust has your head smacking into the door. It has your mind whirling and your high looming scarily close. Your back arches as you shatter around him, and a scream pours from your mouth. He curses, hips stuttering before his hand slams into the window. The glass is fogged, and as his palm slides down, a squeak follows.

He pushes deeper, so, so deep, before spilling his load inside you.

You sit there with Mark a bit longer than you should. Once he pulls out of you, you truly realize what you’ve done. You kiss him, letting him know you have to get home. He tries to clean you up the best he can, but you reassure him you’ll be okay. With one last kiss, he leaves you alone in your backseat after you promise you’ll text him.

You lay there for a moment, tears pricking your eyes as you slap a hand over your mouth. Jisung will take this car to work tomorrow. The back smells of sex, Mark’s hand print is on the window. Your skirt is most likely ruined, not to mention the lace of your panties. Another man’s cum drips from your entrance while your boyfriend is sound asleep at home.

You drive yourself home in discomfort, quickly doing all you can to get rid of any evidence. The windows are down on the way back, the cool air doing little to help you. You fix your hair as much as possible once you’re parked. Straighten out your skirt. Check the mirror to see if your makeup is smudged. You wipe the excess lipstick, tears flooding down your cheeks. How could you let this happen? Everything was innocent. Nothing was supposed to happen with Mark.

When you walk into your apartment, all the lights are off. You have to walk through your bedroom to get to the bathroom, and you desperately need a shower. Quietly, you try to get through your bedroom without waking the peaceful, sleeping Jisung. He’s innocent in all of this. He deserves better, but you won’t tell him. You can’t hurt him like that.

Right as you think you’ll make it to the bathroom, he stirs. Luckily, he can’t see your state through the dark.

“Hi, baby,” he hums, voice thick with sleep.

“Hi, Ji.” You try your best to hide anything other than neutrality. “I’m just getting in the shower before bed.”

“You’re not gonna kiss me first?”

If you don’t, he’ll find it weird. He may even wake up fully and figure you out in an instant.

If you do, the guilt will tear you apart limb from limb. How could you kiss Jisung right after Mark’s tongue was in your mouth?

“Sorry.” You fake a chuckle. “Of course I will.”

You make your way over to his side of the bed and lean down to press a quick kiss to his lips. He closes his eyes and smiles at you, intertwining his fingers with yours, the same ones that latched with Mark’s a mere half an hour earlier.

“I’m so glad you’re going out and having fun,” he mutters. “Love you, babe.”

Your breath hitches. “I love you, too, Ji. Always.”

You get in the shower, furiously scrubbing your skin as if it’ll erase your actions. Silently, you cry until the tears no longer form. You sit on the tile, legs clutched to your chest as you rock back and forth.

This is all your fault. You let it get this far, and now Jisung will be the one to face the consequences for it.

Unless…

Unless he never finds out.

You’ll stop talking to Mark, and it’ll be like none of this ever happened. Jisung will never know, and you can continue your life with him as it has been.

You calm yourself down, get out of the shower, and get in bed with Jisung.

Even then, you wish it was Mark.

The next morning, Jisung goes to work before you wake up. Your resolve to ignore Mark fails as soon as he texts you. Mark is everything you’ve ever wanted or needed, and regardless of anyone’s feelings, you feel an overwhelming connection to him. But you can’t leave Jisung. You just can’t.

Over the course of the next few months, you continue to see Mark when you can, and Jisung stays unaware. There are some nights where you sleep with Mark, and then come home and sleep with Jisung. Oddly enough, your life feels complete this way. Everything is good, and the guilt of sleeping with another didn’t last. Jisung doesn’t know about Mark, and Mark doesn’t know about Jisung.

Or so you thought.

A few months with both isn’t long enough for you, but one night, when you go to Mark’s, you’re not expecting to find Jisung awake when you get home. Not only is he awake, but all the lights are on, and he’s sitting at the kitchen table. You frown, setting your purse down.

“You’re not in bed?”

“No, (Y/N), I’m not.” His face is cold, not a single emotion portrayed. “Where were you?”

“I was with Jiy—”

“Don’t fucking lie to me.”

Your heart sinks, and you let out a shuddering breath. You’ve been so careful. How did he find out?

“I…” You gulp, fists clenching at your sides.

“Who’s Mark?” That one question has your world burning down in flames, and the tears well in your eyes before you can stop them.

“Ji…”

“Don’t lie to spare my feelings.” He laughs bitterly. “I’ve seen the texts. Not to mention the fact Jiyoon told me a while ago that she hasn’t seen you in weeks.”

“I’m sorry.” Your voice cracks, and a tear rolls down your cheek. “I’m so sorry, Ji, I really never wanted it to go this far—”

“What the fuck did you think would happen?” He scoffs, hands slamming against the table. “What did you honestly think talking to a random fucking guy would turn into? Clearly, you had some sort of idea because you never said a damn word about it to me.”

“I’ve just been…I was sad, okay? Everything was so boring, and—”

“Oh, right, so you cheating on me for months is because I’m boring you. Got it.” His jaw quivers, but he quickly sets it. “And what is it, exactly, about him that gets you so fucking excited?”

You’re silent, but more tears pour down your face.

“Now you want to be shy? You want to feel remorse? Answer the fucking question. What could he possibly fucking have that I don’t?”

“It’s not like that, Ji, you’re not lacking.” You approach the table. “I’m so fucking sorry, none of this is your fault.”

He holds his hand up to stop you from getting closer to him. “Something else I noticed. You know, I wondered what had gotten into you before, when you would get home and immediately jump on my dick. It was unlike you, but looking back after reading those texts, the dates are just…oddly similar.”

“That’s not fair—”

“No, (Y/N), what’s not fair is learning how my girlfriend has been f—” His voice breaks, but he shakes his head and continues, quieter this time. “How my girlfriend has been fucking someone else behind my back because she finds me boring.”

“Please, let me fix this. I need you, okay?”

“No.” He wets his lips, taking a deep breath. “I was a little skeptical at first when Mark came up to me, you know. Didn’t want to believe you could do something like that. But then he showed me the texts. All the times you told him you love being with him. In a few months, you were ready to tell him you wanted to marry him, but after two years with me, you’re not ready?”

You open your mouth to speak, but he doesn’t give you the opportunity.

“The texts before you got physical with him were all reminiscing about your past relationship, and how much you miss it. How much you wish you could have it again, your life’s so bland, blah, blah, blah.” He chews on his bottom lip, hurt finally showing in the swirls of his brown eyes. “All my stuff is gone already. I wanted to tell you that I at least had the decency to leave you instead of leading you on while I fucked someone else. When I walk out of that door, I don’t want you to fucking text me or call me or anything. I want nothing to do with you anymore.”

“Jisung, please…”

“Go ask Mark. You’ve apparently asked him for everything else the past few months. Although, I don’t think he’ll be too keen on answering you either.” Jisung stands, palms still flat on the table. “I fucking gave you everything, and you think it’s boring. And I hope you realize everything you’ve just given up.”

He reaches into his pocket and tosses a small, black box on the table. 

“I bought that months ago. Months ago. You can keep it. Not like I have any fucking use for it anymore.” He leaves you standing in shock as he walks to the door and puts his hand on the knob. “Fuck you. I hope the rest of your existence is even a fraction of how miserable I feel right now. I deserve better than this.”

As he slams it shut behind him, you fall to your knees. Tears pour down your face. Mark told Jisung? How did Mark even find out about Jisung? Why would he do that to you?

You pull your phone out of your pocket, frantically typing out a message to Mark. It doesn’t even reach delivered status. You call him one, two, three times, and each one immediately sends you to voicemail. Time passes as you sob to yourself against the hardwood, but you’re unsure how long you’re truly there for.

You’re not sure which hurts worse—the sting of Jisung’s words or Mark being the one who told him everything.

You eventually make it to your feet, and you grab the black box. When you open it, more tears fall. Jisung asked you how you felt about marriage because he wanted to marry you. He’d bought a ring before that conversation, and he’d been holding onto it ever since.

You ruined him. You chewed him up and spit him out all in the name of keeping Mark in your life.

And now, they’re both gone.

That night, you crawl into bed—the one that still smells of Jisung and his cologne—and stare at the ceiling while you sob. Despite him telling you not to, you also try texting and calling Jisung, but those don’t go through either. Even Jiyoon doesn’t answer.

You don’t sleep. You can’t.

And as the sun rises and light infiltrates your windows, so do the faint lyrics of Empire State of Mind.

This time, there’s no Jisung. There’s no Mark. No arm around your waist, no plans to go get coffee. Your face hurts from crying so much, and it hits you then: you did this to yourself. Nobody’s at fault except for you, and you must reap what you sow.

Maybe life was boring before, but at least you hadn’t been alone.

As more tears form, you stare at the ceiling and whisper an apology to Jisung, words he’ll never hear.

He’s gone.

[bewareofthenewphannie]

what was your fave part of tit?

would it be to sappy to say meeting everyone?

you know, there was something so profound about seeing all of these people you usually only see as blogs (or in dnp's case as pixels on the screen) in real life and interact with them.

okay but from the show itself...

the moment sister daniel enters the stage and everyone just absolutely looses it every single time

phil's solo section in antwerp. it was the first time in years that he was alone on stage in front of an audience that adores him so tangibly. it felt so sincere and so very real, i'm not sure how to describe it but it was so special somehow

the tour bus silence in antwerp (along with a few other similar moments) where everyone was simply too shocked to say anything

the fact that pj and sophie built them the dioramas??? incredibly sweet

okay, unironically I love the part where they just yap about something for a minute? which is exactly contrary to the point they're trying to make but it's so much fun. also, I've noticed that dan very purposefully lets phil talk during that section (I mean, he obviously also says things but i've noticed a few times that he very specifically asks phil to say something, so that's cool!)

oh shit, you asked for my fave part (singular). sorry, I can't choose

I also love the song!!! I think it's such a cool idea to make it into a party thing and let everyone stand up and dance at the end! such an energetic way to end the show. I really hope we'll get to a point where people know the lyrics and sing along (which I feel like is already starting to happen?). in fact, that's the one thing that lowkey makes me want to go to one of the later shows.

overall, the vibes during the show are simply soso good. it's hard to put into words but we love them so much and they do love us as well. and there's this awareness in how they provoke reactions from us and we tease them for things and it's just overall such a wonderful thing, I love our parasocial little family :,)

[roanniom]

Feeling festive so: Steve being an absolute dork (and a little bit of a horndog) about mistletoe kisses 🫠 Steve making stupid jokes about “unwrapping his present” while reaching to take off your matching Christmas pjs that he pretends to hate 🫠 Steve and you being more than fashionably late to the holiday party because you just looked to good in your green velvet dress 🫠 I’m sad now

🎄🎁🎄🎁🎄

Stevie, Baby 🎶

Steve Harrington x Fem!reader

Warnings: NSFW, 18+ ONLY, strip tease, dry humping, PIV / unprotected sex

“I won’t wear them,” he says definitively.

“But Steeeevie,” you whine, twirling around so he can see the garish green and red button down sleep shirt and matching pants that you were wearing from all angles. “Why not?!”

Steve frowns at the matching pjs in his hand.

“It’s just so…so…dorky,” he finishes weakly.

“So you think your girlfriend is dorky?” you ask, hands on your hips. Steve rolls his eyes.

“Right now? Yes. Yes, very much.”

You stare at him really hard for a minute, before the Christmas album that’s on in the background clicks to the next song and you get an idea.

“Santa, baby. Just slip a sable under the tree, for me,” you sing along to the music, swaying back and forth, emphasizing the swing of your hips. Steve’s eyes widen for a second before his brow furrows skeptically, arms crossing over his chest.

“Is this supposed to be less dorky?” he asks over your singing.

“Been an awful good girl,” you continue the lyric, unbuttoning the first few buttons on your pj top to reveal the bright red lace bra underneath, pushing your tits together just right.

Steve’s jaw drops on the floor.

“I’m sorry, what?” he breathes, hands unconsciously reaching out for you, but you step back out of his reach, climbing up to stand on the couch, your back to him .

“Santa, baby. So hurry down the chimney tonight.” You slide the pj top off your shoulders to hang in the crooks of your elbows, exposing the straps of your bra and your bare back beneath. You wink at him over your shoulder and are pleased to find him staring at you dumbfounded.

“Santa, baby. A ‘54 convertible, too, light blue.” You mime turning a steering wheel back and forth, swiveling back and forth at your hips. “I’ll wait up for you, dear.” You beckon him forward with a crook of your finger and Steve steps up to you, a slow smirk beginning to form as his facial expression makes it clear that you’ve gotten your point across. You hook your finger under his chin to force him to look away from your swaying tits and up at your face. “Santa, baby. So hurry down the chimney tonight.”

“Okay fine. So dorky isn’t the word I’d use to describe you,” he says begrudgingly as you step down from the couch and around him. You ignore his words and brush his hands off when he tries to grab at your waist. He huffs in frustration and follows you to the doorway of your shared bedroom.

“Think of all, the fun I missed,” you sing, draping yourself dramatically and sensually against the door frame. Steve joins you on the threshold and leans against the opposite side of the frame, folding his arms and humoring you with a long suffering smile.

“Think of all the fellas that I haven’t kissed.” You slink up to him and walk your fingers up from his chest to his lips. They part automatically and you feel him take in a sharp breath.

“Next year I could be just as good,” you sing, getting up on your tippy toes and pulling him down to you, bringing your lips close together. Just as he slides his eyes shut in expectation of the kiss, lips puckering just slightly, you pull away, leaving him leaning to chase you.

“Hey!” Steve pouts, watching you saunter to the bed.

“If you check off my Christmas list,” you giggle along to the lyrics. You hold your hands out to him and he takes them, letting you pull him over to stand in front of the bed.

“Santa, baby. I want a yacht and really that’s not a lot,” you shake your head teasingly, pushing him down on the mattress. Steve bounces and sits up straight to watch you.

“Jesus…” he mutters. But he can’t keep pretending to be annoyed when you stand in front of him, pulling the pj top fully off and moving it across your chest as if it were a feather boa in a cabaret show.

“Been an angel all year,” you sing, tossing the shirt to drape over Steve’s face. He pulls it off and can no longer suppress a grin.

“Not sure ‘Angel’ is what I’d call you but ok…”

“Santa, baby. So hurry down the chimney tonight,” you step between Steve’s legs where he sits up on the bed and run your hands through his fluffy hair.

“Alright fine I get the point,” Steve begins but you go right into the next verse.

“Santa, honey. One little thing I really need.” You grab the pj top from where it was laying on the bed beside him and put it behind his neck, holding onto it on both sides. “The deed to a platinum mine.”

“You’re ridiculous,” Steve mumbles, rolling his eyes. They widen, however, when you use the top to pull his face into your red lace-clad breasts.

“Santa, baby. So hurry down the chimney tonight,” you sing out, dropping down to straddle his lap.

You’re immediately met with the feeling of Steve’s obvious erection beneath you. You raise an eyebrow at him and he shrugs as if to say ‘what do you expect.’ You begin gyrating your hips, making him groan.

“Santa, cutie,” you coo along to the music. Steve’s hands grip your hips, wrinkling the fabric of the cheesy pj pants he’d criticized. “And fill my stocking with the duplex and checks.”

Steve wrenches you closer and mouths at your throat.

“I’ll fill your stocking alright,” he says against your skin. You squeal with a laugh, pushing at him to give you space to continue singing, bouncing in his lap with more fervor.

“Sign your x on the line,” you sing, breathless now. Steve groans as the friction becomes even better.

“C’mon baby…”

“Santa, cutie. And hurry down the chimney tonight.” You suck a mark into his neck, fingers gripping his hair, during the instrumental break between verses.

“Christ…” Steve breathes, bucking his hips up into yours.

“Come and trim my Christmas tree,” you sing, finding it harder to stay on tempo as you begin grinding faster, chasing the delicious feeling of rubbing your aching clothed clit against his erection. “With some decorations bought at Tiffany’s.”

“How long is this fucking song?!” Steve cries out, scooting back further up the bed and yanking you along with him. You laugh but keep singing.

“I really do believe in you.” You push Steve down so that his back presses against the mattress and crawl on top of him, grinding down.

“Fuck.”

“Let’s see if you believe in me.” You slide your hand down the length of his chest, abdomen, and then close it over the bulge in his sweatpants which presses between your thighs.

“Okay! Okay, fuck!” Steve cries out. His hands grip your waist with bruising strength. “I’ll wear the fucking pjs.”

“You will?” you ask brightly, missing the next verse for the first time since the song began. Steve looks up at with his tousled hair and flush-splotched skin.

“Can I fuck you first and then wear them at least?” he negotiates. You laugh and climb off of him, much to his dismay. “Wait wait wait. Or I can fuck you with them on, whatever you want! Christ.”

You slide the pj pants and your underwear down in one fluid motion before climbing back on top of Steve, maintaining eye contact as you work the waistband of his sweatpants down. Exposing his hard cock to the air and your hungry gaze.

“Oh Stevie…” you hum as you slide your wet cunt up and down the underside of his length. “You can wear the pjs afterwards.” After unhooking your bra and tossing it away, you lean down to bring your lips to his ear just as you snake a hand between you to line his tip up with your entrance. “But I’ll be the one fucking you, Stevie baby.”

🎄🎁🎄🎁🎄

[muns0nslov3r]

eddie is a RAGING virgin, this man jerks off hell 3 to 4 times a day. he’ll jack off about a commercial he saw on the tv, where he got a glimpse of a girl’s cleavage. then his mind wandered while working on dnd stuff, fantasying about a chick having sex with him after he defeated vecna.

then when he was getting ready to go hang out with steve, he got a boner.. embarrassed by how horny he had been in just a single day, stroking his dick raw. sometimes his hand will get to much for him, he’ll desperately hump a pillow of his. folding it in a way so it’s like hugging his dick, humping that like a dog in heat.

he’ll jerk off while listening to music, maybe for the fun of it or maybe the lyrics or sounds in it got him distracted. he almost got caught one time, thinking he was home alone that wayne had left right away.. mid stroking and moaning sesh.

“eds?” wayne’s voice would be heard on the other side of his door, eddie thought wayne didn’t hear anything.. until when he came out after a while, wayne was staring him down before shaking his head.

every time eddie sleeps, he gets a boner, or cums himself in his sleep because of his hand would go down to sleepily adjust his pj pants, and his boxers would rub against his tip so perfectly that he cums. hell even after seeing steve’s hairy chest, eddie finds himself jerking off to the thought of steve’s chest.. his mind wandering else where about where else is hairy.

he couldn’t look at steve the same after a while because the thought would keep coming up, and he’d get a hard on right away. poor boy just needs to fill a pussy or ass up with his cum :(

[roses-r-rosie3]

Hiya there! ♡🦊

How are you doing?

I would like to request a gender neutral!reader x Wally West! (I read your pinned post but if things changed and you're now comfortable only with male reader I am absolutely up for it as well)

I am horribly in need of fluff, soft moments, etc. So, if you're willing to write something about reader and Wally moving in together, learning even more about each other woth that, wearing each other clothes to relax at home, etc. If that's something you're up for as well!

All in all thank you for what you already wrote, I am having a blast! And as an enby (who tries very hard to look more masc because nature was mean to me) it's really lovely to read things that are more aligned with me, than usual fem readers where reader is so hyper feminine that it makes me nearly dysphoric haha.

Take care and have a beautiful week ahead! ♡♡🦊🦊

Only

Wally West x GN!Reader

Warnings: Fluff

A/n 1: Hey anon! I’m seriously so glad that I could make you feel comfortable! This really means so much to me 😭❤️🫶

A/n 2: This request was also so genuinely fun to write😭

f/f = Favorite Food

Quote: “Well, I love you to the mountains and back. To the far, far hills and around Europe and Australia back to the states, China and all the way back to Korea. And I love you to the clouds and through the universe, across Mars all the way to the sun and back”

✁ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

You and Wally have been talking about moving in with each other since the day you first started dating. You couldn’t help but imagine how fun it would be to live with Wally. He was sweet, caring, loving, funny, and goofy! Why wouldn’t you want to live with him!

But now that your dream was actually becoming a reality, you couldn’t help but to feel giddy. You and Wally had saved enough money for 5 years and finally found your dream home. The two of you had everything planned out, from what to your living room, kitchen, bedroom, backyard, and even your bathroom would look like!

You and Wally packed all your stuff and belongings into some boxes (with some help of both of your parents and friends of course) and packed it into the moving truck. You and Wally said your goodbye to your family and friends before going into your car and driving to the house.

The trip there was a blast. You and Wally played music in the car, practically screaming the lyrics to every song as you drove to your dream house. Both you and Wally had seen the house before, but seeing it together made the both of you speechless.

The both of you walked inside, exploring the house together. Yep, this is definitely where you wanted to spend your whole life with Wally. A few days later, the moving truck finally arrived. After everything was set up and complete, the place finally felt like home.

The first day you and Wally spent in the house, you both decided to cuddle together on the couch, eating some snacks while watching tv. Wally snuggled his head close to your chest, taking in your scent as a warm blanket covered the both of you. The two of you eventually fell asleep on the couch, in the middle of some random romcom.

When the two of you woke up, the popcorn bowl had somehow spilled all over the blanket and Wally’s hair. Wally was a bit whiny when he found the pieces of popcorn in his hair, but when you decide to eat the piece of popcorn from his hair, the two of you started laughing your asses off.

That day, while Wally was watching the tv, you decided to surprise him with a dinner date. The two of you ate the (f/f) that you had made, while laughing and talking about random stuff. This time, the two of you didn’t sleep on the couch, and actually slept in your shared bedroom for the first time.

The moment you and Wally changed into your pjs and went into bed together, and fell fast asleep. When the you woke up, you found Wally snuggling against your chest with his arms wrapped around your body. You were originally planning to make Wally breakfast in bed but with him lying on you like this, you didn’t know if you could even try!

You slowly tried to move but each time, Wally would pull you closer, his grip seeming to get tighter with each attempt. But when you finally got out of his grasps, he let out a whine.

“Y/n come back to bed and snuggle with me” Wally complained.

“Oh come on you big baby, I’m making you breakfast in bed” you laughed.

That seemed to shut Wally up, because he fell dead asleep, while hugging the pillow you were laying on. When you finally got done making breakfast, you set it on a tray (idk what to call it) and walked into your shared bedroom. When you opened the door you saw Wally sitting upright on the bed, seemingly to have waited for you to be done.

“Finally you came” Wally giggled.

“Did I not make the kings breakfast fast enough?” You teased.

“No you did not” Wally said jokingly as you set down the tray of food in front of him.

“Oh, then I guess I should leave while the king eats his food then…”

“No wait! Stay in here with me! I wanna talk to you while I eat” Wally whined.

“Fine, but just let me go get my plate” you smiled.

After you got your plate of breakfast, you quickly joined Wally in your bed. Wally immediately started to talk about some new movies that were about to come out as he shoved some food into his mouth. You couldn’t help but to laugh a hit at Wally’s energy. His bright smile, his gleaming eyes, his dimples… sometimes you wonder how you got so lucky.

When the two of you finished your breakfast, Wally even helped you clean up. You and Wally sat down on the couch, finishing up the tv show you were watching. Wally snuggled next to you once again while the two of you were watching. You ended up learning that Wally had a habit sniffing your clothes, to calm him down even more than he already was.

By the time the two of you finished your tv show, it was already lunch time! So you quickly decided to make some grilled cheese (if you don’t like grilled cheese just replace that with whatever you like). After the two of you were done eating, you decided to take a long nap, that lasted until dinner time.

For dinner, you and Wally decided to order some takeout. The two of you decided to take a quick little shower together while you waited for the food to arrive. After the two of you were done showering, you thought it would be funny if you and Wally could switch clothes.

When you mentioned it to Wally, he was immediately esthetic and said yes instantly. As soon as you put Wally’s shirt on, it felt like heaven. Not too long later, the takeout arrived and the two of you sat on the couch and immediately dug in while watching yet another movie.

“Wally” you said.

“Hm?”

“I love you so much, dating you was one of the best decisions of my life” you smiled.

“Well, I love you to the mountains and back. To the far, far hills and around Europe and Australia back to the states, China and all the way back to Korea. And I love you to the clouds and through the universe, across Mars all the way to the sun and back” Wally smiled back cheekily before pulling you in for a kiss.

(AND YES THAT WAS A ROSÈ REFERENCE)

Live footage of the reader after Wally said that:

YEP THIS WAS THE MAN YOU WERE DEFINITELY MEANT TO BE WITH.

[peepslibrary]

Introducing~ Lay Bankz

This is probably one of the funniest things I've ever written. I guess this qualifies as a song fic? If you've been on tiktok a couple months ago, you'd probably recognize this song.

Synopsis: What would happen if the LU boys heard the song Ick?

Warnings: Explicit lyrics, mentions of sex

Y'all can thank @trippygalaxy for this.

... Why is there a portal right outside the camp?

Why is there

a

PORTAL-

You're fairly confident the whole town heard your sigh and the chain's groans as y'all packed everything up and linked hands to go through the stupid portal. The other side of the portal was - in fact - NOT another Hyrule. It was a stadium. A stadium filled to the brim with people, a gigantic stage, and multicolored lights moving all around. Ok wait- the portal might've been the least of your problems.

The group looks around with emotions varying from confused to overstimulated. Honestly, if you squint you could see their braincells work together. You turn around, doing a quick headcount. “Wait, where’s Wind?” You count again and… nope still 9 including you. Fuck

I don't mean to judge off a first impression. Or his part-time job at 7/11. But he's a broke-ass peasant ask-

You feel your eyebrows furrow. Where do you know this song??

(ick) and he's got bad credit (ick) and he got a foot fetish (ick) DNR, but he tryin' paramedic

Shit... that's where you recognize this from. Tiktok

You're quick to move and cover Sky’s ears, making a silent prayer to whatever poor soul is listening. You need to get everyone out. You guys need to find Wind and you're fairly confident that everyone present will get red in the face when they register the lyrics.

"Time." Thankfully he managed to hear you despite the current situation. You see him angle his head up for a milisecond. Just subtle enough for you to reply with a tilt of your head towards an emergency exit. He doesn't hesitate to nod, moving to Wars and Twilight to help move everyone along. It's not a stretch to think that he's overstimulated with the environment. Has any of them ever heard this much noise so close?? You wouldn't wish that on your worst enemy.

Actually... Dink can kiss your ass. He's literally the one that pulled you into this craziness in your pjs. Like... dude coulda waited until you were decent t-

“Hey, what’s going on?” You curse and look up at the question-er. His eyes stuck looking at the ground, his ears lowered under your hands while his playing with the fabric of his sailcloth. “Sky I’m trying to get you guys out of-“

(Ew) Lady boner gone (Oh no), He dry humpin' me and huffin' like a dog (Hah, hah), And he whispered in my ear did I get off?

You didn’t think it was possible to cringe laugh *this* hard. But oh boy, the collective faces made shouldn’t have been that funny. Red in the face and trying to move everyone faster - incredibly hard considering they’re all standing like statues - are Time, Wars, Legend, and Twilight. Sky, Wild, Four, and Hyrule have moved to cover their own ears, with some crouched against the floor.

Somehow everyone is able to leave the stadium with only their innocence (or lack of thereof) injured, only to find Wind standing with a security guard eating a string cheese and a can of soda next to him.

“There you guys- what happened?” Wind makes his way to y’all and you use that chance to check for visible injuries, making sure no one injured him.

“Although it’s likely they would be the one injured.” Your brain supplied helpfully.

“Uhh…” you look at the group’s states, “let’s just say they weren’t expecting what was inside the stadium.” Wind nods in understanding, “Yeah, Sam wouldn’t let me in because it was ‘for adults.’” You spare a glance towards the guard, who gives a humored nod and sends you guys on your way.

[mooseyspooky]

Moz Solo was already on it @lovely-lady-fox! FamousWhenDead posted the whole thing:

Johnny Marr: How could Meryl Streep agree to be in Mamma Mia?

The guitarist lets us into his cultural life, from his love of David Hockney to making his friends watch a Joan Didion documentary

My favourite piece of music For a long time now, it’s been My Goal’s Beyond by John McLaughlin. Like his work with the Mahavishnu Orchestra, it is in a genre entirely of its own. It’s unquantifiable and makes me feel a certain way, no matter what happens in the outside world.

The lyric I wish I’d written “You’re going to reap just what you sow”, from Perfect Day by Lou Reed.

The instrument I wish I’d learnt Piano. I can play it, but only in amateurish fashion. I should say though there are guitar players who play the piano nicely like Neil Young, Paul McCartney and David Bowie. They play it as a means to an end and do wonderful things with it. But I would like to be a few levels up from there.

The music that cheers me up Any good pop music, which by definition usually means contemporary. There are things from my past that of course make me feel good. But there’s something about hearing music that’s fresh, upbeat and represents the modern world — it makes you feel that everything is OK.

I’m having a fantasy dinner party, I’ll invite these artists and authors Gary Oldman, Muhammad Ali and certainly Marilyn Monroe.

And I’ll put on this music Spirit Power: The Best of Johnny Marr.

Overrated I don’t tend to like shitting on people, but Mamma Mia!, for God’s sake, or We Will Rock You or any of those sorts of musicals. How did it get to that? We’re supposed to go along with the idea that they’re good. What was Meryl Streep thinking she was doing starring in that film, and Julie Walters? What were they thinking? There are a lot of things culturally that we’ve just gone along with and they really must stop.

Underrated

Blindboy Boatclub, the artist and musician from Limerick, is best known as one half of the Irish comedy hip-hop group the Rubberbandits. He’s amazing, has such an interesting way of thinking and also hosts the brilliant series The Blindboy Podcast too. One of the best books I have ever read is his Topographia Hibernica. I can’t recommend him or it enough.

My favourite author

Aldous Huxley. People would assume I’m thinking about Brave New World orThe Doors of Perception, but I’m actually referring to his work after he moved to the United States in the second half of his life. His essays and lectures are even better than his earlier work. I rediscovered him in the Nineties and he is my actual hero. Everything you read of his is an education.

The book I’m reading

Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson. It’s a trip, moving around from style to style. The novel is loosely based on Greek mythology, but set in modern times. It’s relatable and super interesting. PJ Harvey introduced me to Carson, an intriguing cross between an essayist and a poet.

The book I couldn’t finish

The Perennial Philosophy by Aldous Huxley. Just couldn’t do it.

The book I’m ashamed I haven’t read Ulysses by James Joyce. It just sounds so hard going. I love the idea of it and feel genuinely bad that I haven’t read it, but I do also feel like I know so much about it already. I admire it enough, without feeling the need to put myself through the hassle of reading it.

My favourite film Sergio Leone’s film Once Upon a Time in America. When it was first released, I went to see it a few times and decided then it was the best thing I’d ever seen. I recently saw The End We Start From, starring Jodie Comer. It’s so good. Amazingly, I came away from it with this feeling of triumph of the human spirit. It says a lot about what it means to be human and what we fundamentally need, which is compassion, connection, love and understanding. And Comer is just so believable in the role.

The box set I’m hooked on I’m rewatching Nurse Jackie. There’s so much good stuff out there that whenever I occasionally revisit old, great stuff, you forget how much it stands up. I like anything Edie Falco is in. I also have just rewatched the documentary Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold. I’ve watched it at least three times and whenever someone comes to my place that hasn’t watched it, I watch it with them.

My favourite TV series It has to be Mad Men. One of my friends is eagle-eyed and noticed that when they put an album on a turntable, it has the correct label from the Sixties. That’s crazy.

The film I walked out on

There are loads, often stuff I take my kids to see and they don’t even notice I’d left. I didn’t enjoy Baby Driver — I didn’t like the music in that at all.

I wasted an evening watching Manchester City play in the Champions League final in 2021.

The last movie that made me cry These days I can cry at almost anything so I can’t remember.

The place I feel happiest Running around Brooklyn, over the Williamsburg Bridge. Or around Portland, Oregon. Whenever I’m at those places, I always run unless I’m injured. I’ve done a lot of things in my life, but nothing quite beats that.

My guiltiest cultural pleasure Cheese and onion pasty, chips and peas. Anybody who says that’s not a culture doesn’t know what they are talking about.

If I could own one painting it would be We Two Boys Together Clinging by David Hockney. Any of his work would be a dream to own. Even the iPad stuff is beautiful. I went to see David Hockney: Bigger and Closer at the Lightroom and it was great.

FamousWhenDead's post of the article

[mackmp3]

I’d love to hear you talk about PJ Harvey and queerness, if you’re so inclined!

OH MY GOD ANON I LOVE YOU reveal yourself so i can kiss you /joking and platonic (unless...)

this is gonna be really long so TL,DR, A Lot of PJ's work can be interpreted to be about a sapphic and/or gender non conforming experience.

OKAYYYYY SO

PJ Harvey, despite having never actually said she isn't straight, has written some Very Queer music, both in subtext and fully in the lyrics.

a few examples -

Dress could be interpreted to be about feeling the pressure to be a stereotypically girly girl and trying to navigate social situations where it's expected you have a boyfriend -

'Must be a way that I can dress to please him It's hard to walk in the dress, it's not easy [...]

Filthy tight, the dress is filthy I'm falling flat, and my arms are empty Clear the way, better get it out of this room A falling woman in dancing costume'

but failing to do so because it's just not you. feeling uncomfortable in a dress, trying and failing to have normal interactions with guys - which of course cishet girls can feel as well, but hits particularly hard as a queer, gender non conforming, girl adjacent person

O Stella, while the symbolism makes it about a religious idol, could be interpreted to be about idolising an older girl. Oh My Lover is about being totally fine with a partner's hypothetical polyamory.

Man-Size is a big one, before i even knew the term gender envy i was Deeply Aware that that was what man-size is about (in my opinion, at least) - wanting to things that guys do but not being able to cos you're a girl.

'Good Lord I'm big I'm heading on Man-sized got my leather boots on Got my girl and she's a wow [...]

I'm man-sized no need to shout Let it all, let it all hang out / out out out'

fantasising about a reclaiming of power while presenting in a more masculine way - WITH A GIRLFRIEND I MIGHT ADD - before going back to feeling as though that is unattainable -

'Silence my lady head Get girl out of my head Douse hair with gasoline Set it light and set it free'

like, 'get girl out of my head' is a pretty queer thing to say, yknow?

and 50ft Queenie -

'Hey I'm one big queen No one can stop me [...]

Hey I'm the king of the world You ought to hear my song Ah come on measure me I'm twenty inches long'

which is at the same time using male terms - even though the song is called Queenie, and that word is used a lot, she specifically calls herself King of the world, and proceeds to make fun of the perceived importance of a particular male organ, while at the same time saying she's better than them

more songs with gender and lesbian undertones - Yuri G, Catherine, to a degree A Woman A Man Walked By / The Crows Knows Where the Children Go (that one's quite explicit, word of warning if yu haven't heard that one before) - and songs that are covers of songs written by men without any pronoun changing - Shake Your Hips and I Can't Get No Satisfaction are two notable examples of that.

and then there are her songs that are just sapphic without being specifically gendery - My Beautiful Leah, Claudine the Inflatable One - i first thought that Down By the Water was about sneaking out to meet a sapphic lover under the bridge in the dead of night, a doomed romance, but there are lots of better and far more likely interpretations than that.

Polly herself has also said a lot of things that just kinda read queer. Like Patti Smith before her, she has said that she writes her songs from a place 'beyond gender', and just writes them as stories, sometimes from a male perspective. But of course, to a queer audience, you can hear her singing and *know* she's singing from a male perspective, but also can't help but to hear it as queer as well.

bit of a quote to go with that -

You've said that you don't like to think in terms of gender when it comes to music. Why do you think the gender issue, especially the concept of you being a feminist, is constantly mentioned with your work?

'I can only presume that, especially in the early days and early those labels tend to stick, but I know that I really played with gender in my lyrics, and I might sing in the shape of a man or I might sing in the shape of a woman. Or I might be dressing women in a loving way as a man or as a woman, or sometimes as neither. Sometimes more as just an essence, a feeling or an atmosphere. And I think that feels quite natural to me, but I think for some people it's not natural, and that's where the gender issue seems to become quite important.'

she was also adamant that she didn't want to be seen as part of riot grrrl, but rather as part of grunge - grunge was a very very aggressively male genre, and i don't think she thought riot grrrl had the right idea about how to go about empowerment - she took herself more seriously than that i think. she didn't want to be called a feminist, because she didn't want to be called a 'female artist', but rather just an Artist.

her gender presentation, moving from fairly neutral in 1992 (big black leather jacket, black boots etc, to the hyper-feminity of the To Bring You My Love era, 1995, also comes into play - she was showing femininity to be a performance, while also using it to her advantage, she didn't actually dress like that normally, no one wears that much eyeshadow, it was closer to a drag show than an actual outfits, a lot of the stuff she wore on stage. which is another one of those things that makes sense to a cishet girl, but gains more complexity as a queer person.

there's probably a lot more i can say on this, but that's everything off the top of my head! i cannot tell you how excited i was to get this ask, PJ Harvey is so much of how i've explored my own gender and sexuality, i could talk about this for a very long time!

[moonchild-in-blue]

went outside to let one of my kitties play in the snow while the train was passing, the neighborhood was very peaceful and quiet. 💚

(i dressed appropriately for the cold, I promise)

Like street lamps, we glow so dim Like four walls, you've shut me in

I took a while to reply to this because I got weirdly emotional (what a surprise, pathetic wet cat girl is crying again), and rambled waay too much, so I'll spare you all and keep this under a cut.

Warning, this is Long and makes very little sense - I drafted it earlier this morning but wanted to get a picture of that ^ before posting. Also ignore my mistake lol, I should've double checked the lyrics beforehand.

You, know I spent a very long time last night looking at this picture. Something about the orange glow on the white layer of snow that is just... so peaceful and melancholic. I have a weird attraction to street lights - can't really explain why, but something about them makes me weirdly emotional (when I say I easily cry at the weirdest things, I'm not kidding in the slightest).

And then the snow.

Where I'm from, where I live, we don't have snow. Ever. Save for a small part of the very north of the country, the rest of us never get it - plenty of hail, and 5 minutes of barely-snow during a particularly cold day if you're extremely lucky, but never the real deal.

The first time I saw real, white, fluffy snow was during the autumn of 2016, right after moving to the UK for my studies. I was 19. It was such a beautiful moment - me and a bunch of other students from the dorms went out in our pjs at like, 4 or 5am to play in the snow. The first heavy snow I experienced was 2 years later, November 2018.

For the few years I lived there, I got to live through some wonderful snow days. It was amazing to wake up, look out my apartment window, and see the whole street covered in white. It's the one thing I genuinely miss about the UK.

Seeing this picture, the cars covered in white, the golden orange light, the night, dark and silent and peaceful, brought back so many memories of my early 20s nights. Getting home at 1am, exhausted and on the verge of tears, after a shitty shift at work. Me and my flatmates singing on the streets after one too many drinks at our favourite pub. 3am runs to the dingiest takeaway possible for oily chips and disgusting pizza.

So much of these seemingly ordinarily experiences are things that I will never get to live again. And that's fine and expected - I can't be 22 forever, and thank God I'm not! But I do get nostalgic about those times.

Sometimes I feel like it was just yesterday that I was waiting on the cold for a taxi after a house party, annoyed at myself for not kissing the guy I had a crush on. Sometimes they feel so distance, like forgotten memories belonging to someone else. And I don't know, this kinda brought back so many emotions, I had to take a moment to sort them out.

This also reminded me of a Midwest Emo album cover. Like, I can 100% see this picture on the next Real Friends / The Wonder Years / American Football / whatever band cover.

In particular, it reminded me of these two songs (aside from that first song I shared. Which btw I can't reccomend them enough). They're a bit sad (no surprises there), and not really related to your photo at all, but uhhhh yeah. I'm sharing anyways. Because why not.

Something about midwest emo/pop-punk bands that just puts you in a hyper contemplative mood 👍

If you read this whole nonsense ramble, I apologise. Once I get sentimental, it's hard not to pour over. I will never not be a sad emo girl, no matter how much time it passes lol 💙💚

Here's a nice cookie for your troubles 🤲🍪

[yourtouchismidas]

could we get a blurb of matty dropping off the tickets to mila? did he always plan on giving them to mila, or was it just a coincidence? how did that go?

yes yes yes i've been meaning to do this for a while!

matty is nervous. shit scared even, let's call it what it is. after the fight, he was broken, he needed to do something, he needed to fix this, make it right, or he didn't know how he would... he can't even think about it.

so he made a plan. he is going to sing her the song. he will sing her ruins and she will understand. that this is what he was doing that day when he wouldn't answer her calls. that this is what he was doing night after night, day after day, forming lyrics, scribbling, dotting tabs on paper, mixing, ever since he met her, ever since she said those words to him about him ruining things, and he couldn't stop thinking about it, or her. he wanted to ruin her life. but only in a good way.

so, he has the tickets in an envelope. the same way he did when he tried to get her to his manchester show. he clutches them, tightly, in one hand, creasing it a bit, but caring less about that than he does about losing it. it's cold out, too cold for this time of year, and the wind is biting. he is warm under his coat but his cheeks are red with it. its dark.

when he gets to the house he hears crying. one of the kids. the only lights that are on in the house are the upstairs ones. the rest of the house is dark. his heart twists a bit hearing the crying, wondering which child it is and knowing that you will be up there trying to calm them down, holding them, speaking softly, you're own heart breaking for them. matty wants to go up and help. support you. hold you. but he knows, you wont look at him, you wont speak to him. you dont know. you dont understand. how much he wants you. yet.

he reaches slowly out to the door and pushes the envelope into the letter box. it gets stuck. it's one of those stupid goddamn letter boxes with the furry stuff inside and the envelope is thick and it won't go in and he is wriggling it, as quietly as possible, but it won't go and so he pulls it back out to try again and that is when the door swings open, and he looks up, knowing he is going to see you and your face, heartbreak all over it, knowing he hasn't fixed it yet, and....

there isn't a face there. except yes there is. it's just lower down. smaller. eyes wide. gleaming. it's mila. she is wearing pjs and a dressing gown. she opens her mouth. matty quickly puts a finger to his.

he doesn't know what she knows. about the situation. about matty and you. but she closes her mouth again. nods silently.

"hey mila," matty says, barely a whisper.

"hi matty," mila says back, matching the volume, exaggerating the movements of her mouth.

"listen darling," matty says.

"what's that?" mila says, interrupting, pointing at the envelope.

"i was dropping it off."

"you're not coming in?" mila says, her face falling.

"no darling," he says, sadly.

"it's not a surprise?" she says.

"oh," he says "it is a surprise, but just not like that. the surprise is in here." he taps the envelope gently with his finger.

mila's face lights up again. she shivers.

"it's cold darling," matty says, "you need to go inside. you want to give this to her for me?"

she nods, hard, grinning.

"don't tell her i was here okay?"

"what shall i say?"

"say you found it on the floor. came in through the letter box okay?"

"okay. what's the surprise?" she says, raising her voice a little too loud again and matty has to shh her.

"oh you can't ask me that," he teases her, "it's a surprise for you too baba."

"for me?!" mila says, pointing at herself.

"of course! okay i've got to go darling but..."

"matty?"

"yeah."

"do you love her?"

matty pauses. taken aback. this little girl is looking at him, eyes shining, and when he doesn't answer she looks down at the envelope, turns it in her hands.

"hey?" he says, chucking her chin so she looks at him. "i love her. i love her so much okay?"

"i knew it!" she says, "you need to tell her!"

"i am darling. i'm going to. just. keep it a secret now for me okay? promise?"

she nods again. he puts a finger to his lips. she does too. then he goes. the cries have settled down in the house. he looks back and the door is closed. he doesn't knows what will happen in there now. but he knows what he is going to do. what he has to do. what he just promised mila. tell you, in the best way he can, that he loves you. so much.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Song of the Day - “Is That All There Is?”

55 Years Ago Today, Peggy Lee recorded “Is That All There Is?” At the Capitol Tower recording studio in Hollywood. This was one of Peggy’s biggest hits. It hit #1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart and was fairly high up on the Hot 100. The song was written by the famed songwriting duo Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller, and is a lament of a disillusioned soul with the hard facts of life, going through a lifetime list of events which were supposed to be special but which were in fact disappointments. The song was inspired by Thomas Mann’s book “Disillusionment”. The verses’ lyrics are spoken rather than sung, and only the refrain is sung. The song was first recorded by British singer Georgia Brown and Leslie Uggams before Peggy took a crack at it. It would later get covered by Tony Bennett, Chaka Khan, and PJ Harvey, among others… but it is Peggy Lee’s tune. Something about her voice and her vibe are the perfect match for the lyrics… On the recording, the orchestral arrangement was composed and arranged by future famed songwriter Randy Newman, who, in addition to conducting the orchestra, also played the piano on the track. It was done in a Kurt Weill swing style. It’s such a strange song… but it was a “thing” when it was released… and delivered with Peggy’s sexy voice, it just kinda worked… a little oddity….

Mary Elaine LeBey

[krispyweiss]

Old Crow Medicine Show at KEMBA Live!, Columbus, Ohio, Jan. 25, 2024

Old Crow Medicine Show ain’t sellin’ no snake oil. No, Sir and Ma’am. Their music is a proven elixir for all that ails at the end of a long day.

And the septet has no problem transforming a bluegrass-country show in to an arena-rock extravaganza, making Ketch Secor’s greeting of: “Let’s get ready to rock ‘n’ roll” entirely plausible despite denim, cowboy hats and mostly acoustic instrumentation.

For just as the balmy, rainy Jan. 25 weather made the Columbus, Ohio winter feel like spring, the Medicine men proceeded to make the rural rock - hard - on the show-opening “Tell it to Me,” delivered as it was with the exuberance of a final encore as the band members danced around the stage like youngsters overdosing on caffeine. That the music inside KEMBA Live! was as tight as the players were loose is just another part of Old Crow’s irresistible appeal, even as cheesy faux-preacher asides and incessant references to Ohio and its Buckeyes college football team grew tiresome over the course of the two-hour gig in front of a respectable-for-a-Thursday-night-sized audience.

The engine-revving continued on the aptly titled “Alabama High-Test” and - despite the occasional balladic breather - across the set that chronicled OCMS’ sonic evolution from the 2004 Bob Dylan leftover-cum-huge-hit “Wagon Wheel” to the social commentary of 2023’s “Louder than Guns.”

And by the time the rambunctious, early-set “Carry Me Back” screeched to a dime-stop close, the audience was crackling with as much electricity as the band. The glorious transfer of energy from stage to floor and back continued all evening, whether the band members were arrayed at their individual mics singing two- to seven-part harmonies or lined up at the lip of the stage tossing harmonicas and guitar picks in to the audience.

This was one of the first Old Crow gigs of 2024. And while the band is looking forward to what’s about to unfold, the players spent a portion of the show arrayed around a single mic and looking back at the musicians lost in 2023 with a medley that included Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” CSN’s “Teach Your Children,” Gordon Lightfoot’s “Early Morning Rain” and Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville.”

Performing in front of a circus-tent backdrop emblazoned with their name, Old Crow Medicine Show traded instruments and swapped lead-vocal duties, making themselves sound like a different band on various songs. Working as one, the seven Medicine men, Secor (fiddle, keys, harmonica, guitar, banjo, ukelele); Cory Younts (mandolin, melodica, banjo, keys, harmonica); acoustic and electric bassist Morgan Jahnig; PJ George (banjo, accordion, mandolin, fiddle, guitar, drums); Mike Harris (guitar, mandolin, banjo, Dobro); Dante’ Pope (drums, percussion, keys); and Mason Via on guitar, guitjo and mandolin - transformed CCR’s “Proud Mary” into a hybrid soul-grass revue with dueling fiddles; presented “Tequila” as a drunken barn dance with a guest spot from the sax player of Bird and Byron, whose homecoming opening set served to help the neo-soul group develop before a large audience; and unrolled C.C. Rider as a piano-driven blues as Pope took the keys and mic while George held steady at the kit.

Shades of the big-“B” Band. But this small-“b” band of brothers, is, despite lots of covers - including an angry rendition of “Ohio” and its celebratory antithesis “Hang on Sloopy” with Ohio- and Old Crow-specific lyrics added - its own singular thing. This is what makes an OCMS show one of the only places on Earth a concertgoer can find himself in the 1950s singing to “Great Balls of Fire;” straddling the distant and recent past while dancing down the middle of “Dixie Avenue” and lustily cheering Secor’s taunting of Ohio’s fearmongering Statehouse.

“Trans kids can dance here, too.” he declared.

No snake oil here. Just the healing and the facts, Ma’am and Sir.

Grade card: Old Crow Medicine Show at KEMBA Live! - 1/25/24 - A-

See more photos on Sound Bites’ Facebook page.

1/26/24