#all these throwback makes me nostalgic...

[serenvde-art]

☆the heaven and earth beetles☆

[tricksterlatte]

Yearning for another fandom historical event that makes me feel the way I felt when they confirmed Tracer was a lesbian. Please...it was so triumphant

[lilblueorchid]

Sun-bathed memories

...of places that are no more.

Throwback to some of my first pleinair paintings of my childhood home garden. The garden doesn't look like that anymore at all though - so it feels like these paintings are just memories now, they make me nostalgic.

[transform4u]

Hey...I'm sorry to bother you but I had a request, your stories are quite hot and amazing, and I want to know if there would be any possibility of you doing a story where the individuals love each other? I mean not physically but sentimentally. Something like a romance story.

As the ping of a text message interrupts the quiet around you, you feel a sharp pang in your head as loud snaaaaaapppp echoes in your mind. The ache intensifies as a series of incoming texts from an unknown number disrupt your peace. The first message is a flood of heart emojis—red hearts, pink hearts, and even a few purple ones. The screen lights up with a new message: “OMG babe! I can’t wait for our date tonight.”

Confusion swirls in your mind, mingling with the throbbing pain in your head. You had been on Grindr earlier, but this isn’t from that app. Your body feels strange, like it’s being reshaped from the inside out. The ache becomes a tingling sensation as your muscles and body undergo a remarkable transformation. Fat melts away, revealing a youthful, tan, and lean physique. Your body becomes more defined, with a noticeable cut to your abs and a cute, perky butt.

Your hair lightens to a sun-kissed blonde, shimmering in the light. Your once full beard and facial fat dissolve, giving way to a fresh, preppy look with a cute, slightly upturned nose. Your biceps and triceps become more toned, and a charming, polished appearance emerges.

Your phone pings again, and you look down to see that the contact name has changed to “BAE.” Another message appears: “Hey cutie 😘 I hope your day’s going well! Can’t wait to see you tonight. I’ve got a little surprise planned 😍”

Your heart skips a beat, a fluttering sensation filling your chest. The messages continue, each one sweeter and more endearing than the last:

“Thinking about you all day 💕 Every time I look at my phone, I hope it’s you texting me!”

“Can’t believe how lucky I am to have you in my life 💖 Your smile just lights up my world.”

“Got something special for you tonight 🌟 Can’t wait to hold you close and make some amazing memories ❤️”

As you read each message, a warm, tingling sensation spreads through you. Your fondness for this person grows with every word, each message filling you with a sense of joy and anticipation. You feel a profound connection, a deepening affection that resonates with your very being. The thought of your upcoming date and the affection behind these messages makes your heart swell with happiness, filling you with a radiant sense of love and excitement.

As the name “BAE” on your phone transforms into “BAE, GWEN,” a wave of clarity washes over you, reigniting your memories of Gwen. She’s not just anyone—she’s your high school sweetheart, your confidante, and the love of your life. The initial confusion melts away, replaced by a profound sense of recognition and affection. You and Gwen are inseparable, a pair that has been head-over-heels in love since the first time your eyes met. Now, as you both navigate college together, your relationship is the epicenter of your universe, and your social media presence reflects that devotion in the most exuberant and heartfelt way.

Your TikTok account is a testament to your unrestrained affection and commitment. Each video is a mini celebration of your relationship, overflowing with Gen Z enthusiasm and Christian faith. Mornings start with you both performing synchronized lip-sync routines to the latest Christian love songs, complete with playful winks and loving glances. The backdrop is always set to cozy, sunlit mornings where you both look adoringly at each other, often holding a devotional book between you, a symbol of your shared faith.

Under the hashtag #BlessedLoveStory, you post a steady stream of content chronicling your journey from high school sweethearts to college couple goals. The posts are a vibrant mix of nostalgic throwbacks, from your first awkward date at the local diner to those tender moments when you realized you were each other’s forever. Your feed is filled with clips of you both singing worship songs in the car, tears of joy mixing with laughter, as you both immerse yourselves in the magic of each moment.

Every viral “couple goals” challenge gets a Christian twist from you two. Whether it’s mimicking dance routines or answering relationship questions, you both infuse each video with your infectious love and devotion. You always end on a high note, quoting your favorite Bible verses about love and reminding your followers of how blessed you are to have found each other.

In every post, your love for Gwen shines through, a radiant beacon of devotion that captures the hearts of your followers. Your social media presence is a blend of sincerity and exuberance, a celebration of the deep, abiding love you and Gwen share. Your relationship is not just a part of your life—it’s a vibrant, public expression of your joy and faith, making every moment together feel like a blessing.

[cherrygirlystuff]

The Soundtrack to Your Indie Nostalgia: Iconic Tracks from the 2000s You Forgot You Loved 🎧

Hey there, babe! 💖 Ready for a blast from the past? We’re talking about those unforgettable indie tracks from the 2000s that totally defined an era—songs that you might have forgotten but definitely need back on your playlist. Whether you were dancing in your room to them or discovered them on a mixtape from a crush, these tracks are pure nostalgia gold. So grab your headphones, get cozy, and let’s dive into the ultimate indie throwback playlist! 🌟

1. "Maps" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Let’s kick things off with a song that’s equal parts raw emotion and indie cool. “Maps” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs was that track you’d play on repeat when you were feeling all the feels. Karen O’s voice? Pure magic. This song has that bittersweet vibe that perfectly captures the indie spirit of the 2000s.

Why You Loved It: The simplicity of the lyrics paired with that haunting guitar riff made this a must-have on any playlist. It’s the kind of song that makes you nostalgic for nights spent staring at the ceiling, thinking about love and life.

Bring It Back: Play it when you need a good cry or when you just want to feel all the deep emotions. Trust me, it still hits hard.

2. "Young Folks" by Peter Bjorn and John

Remember that whistling? 🎶 “Young Folks” by Peter Bjorn and John was the indie anthem that you couldn’t get out of your head—and honestly, who would want to? It’s catchy, fun, and instantly takes you back to carefree summer days.

Why You Loved It: The whistling intro was iconic, and the lyrics were all about youthful freedom. Plus, it had that cool, laid-back vibe that was perfect for any chill hangout.

Bring It Back: Add it to your playlist for road trips, picnics, or just when you’re feeling nostalgic for simpler times.

3. "Banquet" by Bloc Party

If you were into the indie scene, “Banquet” by Bloc Party was probably your jam. It’s high-energy, danceable, and has that edgy, post-punk feel that was everywhere in the mid-2000s. This track is perfect for when you’re in the mood to get up and move.

Why You Loved It: That infectious beat and Kele Okereke’s intense vocals made this song an instant classic. It was the kind of track that could get any indie dance floor going.

Bring It Back: Perfect for your workout playlist or when you need to get hyped before a night out. It still has that irresistible energy.

4. "Such Great Heights" by The Postal Service

Ah, “Such Great Heights”—the song that probably played during your most introspective moments. This track by The Postal Service is a beautiful blend of indie pop and electronic sounds, making it a standout from the era.

Why You Loved It: The lyrics are poetic, the melody is dreamy, and it has that hopeful yet melancholic vibe that just gets you. It’s like a warm, sonic hug.

Bring It Back: Play it when you’re in the mood for some self-reflection or need a soundtrack for a rainy day. It’s the perfect mix of chill and emotional.

5. "Heartbeats" by The Knife

You might remember this one more for the José González acoustic cover, but the original “Heartbeats” by The Knife is where the magic started. It’s a synth-pop gem that was ahead of its time, with an otherworldly sound that’s still mesmerizing today.

Why You Loved It: The combination of Karin Dreijer’s unique voice and the dreamy electronic production made it a standout. It’s one of those songs that feels both nostalgic and futuristic at the same time.

Bring It Back: Great for late-night drives or when you want to lose yourself in the music. It’s a track that transports you to another place.

6. "Sleepyhead" by Passion Pit

“Sleepyhead” by Passion Pit is like a sugar rush in song form. It’s high-energy, with shimmering synths and falsetto vocals that make you want to dance like nobody’s watching. This track is pure indie electro-pop joy.

Why You Loved It: It’s impossible to feel down when this song is playing. The infectious beat and whimsical production made it a favorite for parties and spontaneous dance sessions.

Bring It Back: Perfect for your feel-good playlist or when you need a little pick-me-up. It’s like musical caffeine!

7. "We Are Your Friends" by Justice vs. Simian

A track that’s basically synonymous with indie sleaze parties, “We Are Your Friends” by Justice vs. Simian was the anthem for any night out. With its repetitive, chant-like vocals and heavy beat, it was the ultimate party starter.

Why You Loved It: The simple, catchy lyrics made it easy to sing along to, and the beat was impossible to resist. It was all about that collective energy—something we’re all missing a bit these days.

Bring It Back: Throw it on at your next (virtual) hangout, or just blast it when you’re getting ready to go out. It’s the ultimate hype track.

8. "Crystalised" by The xx

If moody, minimalist indie was your vibe, then “Crystalised” by The xx was definitely on your playlist. This track is all about atmosphere, with its sparse instrumentation and haunting vocals. It’s the kind of song that makes you feel things.

Why You Loved It: The xx had this incredible ability to say so much with so little. “Crystalised” was a masterclass in creating emotion through simplicity.

Bring It Back: Perfect for late-night listening or when you’re in a reflective mood. It’s a song that draws you in and doesn’t let go.

9. "Time to Pretend" by MGMT

“Time to Pretend” by MGMT is the ultimate indie anthem about the highs and lows of rockstar life. With its soaring synths and bittersweet lyrics, it’s a track that perfectly captures the feeling of dreaming big while staying grounded in reality.

Why You Loved It: It’s nostalgic, aspirational, and a bit melancholic all at once. The contrast between the upbeat sound and the introspective lyrics made it a standout.

Bring It Back: Play it when you’re in the mood to reminisce about dreams and realities. It’s a great track for reflecting on life’s ups and downs.

10. "First Day of My Life" by Bright Eyes

Finally, we couldn’t end this list without “First Day of My Life” by Bright Eyes. This track is pure indie folk magic, with its simple acoustic guitar and heartfelt lyrics. It’s the kind of song that feels like a warm, comforting hug.

Why You Loved It: The sincerity in Conor Oberst’s voice and the simplicity of the arrangement made it a favorite for anyone who appreciates raw, honest songwriting.

Bring It Back: Perfect for those cozy, introspective moments, or when you just want to feel a little bit of indie nostalgia.

Final Vibes, Babe: Bring the Nostalgia Back

There you have it—ten iconic indie tracks from the 2000s that you probably forgot you loved, but totally need back on your playlist. These songs aren’t just music; they’re memories, emotions, and a whole vibe that defined an era. So go ahead, dive into this playlist, and let the nostalgia wash over you.

Which track are you most excited to rediscover? Let me know in the comments, and if you have any other forgotten indie gems, drop them below! Let’s keep the indie nostalgia alive, babe! 💿✨

[cheynovak]

Echoes and Shadows - Part 9 

Soldier Boy x F/Reader Y/N             

Warnings: Throwback memories, hurt, angst, jealousy, sexual tension,

Words: 3400   

 

*Does not follow the boys storyline * 

-- 

In the 1950, Soldier Boy had to train a train a young girl supe named Y/N, she had a "nice girl next door" persona. Soldier Boy hated it at first, until they started to work together, he seemed to start to like this kid.     

But will they overcome all the secrets and pain they had collected over the years?

-- 

Y/N sat on a bench in the park, it was almost night fall, she couldn’t believe him. No, she couldn’t believe herself, why, why did she believe him, all he ever did was pushing her buttons or hurting her.  

His sweet words lingered in her head: "I never hated you, on the contrary some nights I wanted you so much it was hard not to break down your door. But I knew that good catholic school girl in you wasn't ready for me yet." 

“Well fuck you, asshole, all you did was holding me back!” Y/N looked around realising she said that out loud. Luckly the park was almost empty. When she looked up to the moon, she felt nostalgic, thinking back to the first time Ben showed how possessive he was and she still stayed.  

-- 

Y/N's mind drifted back to a fight she had with her ex-boyfriend, the date was November 1952 and she had just turned 20. They had been dating since she was 17, and for a while, everything had been perfect.

But when she was forced to live with Ben, trouble started brewing. Her ex-boyfriend had never liked the fact that she lived with another man, no matter how much she tried to convince him it was just a job.

She remembered the night everything fell apart. They had been arguing in her room, her boyfriend’s jealousy flaring once again. "I don’t like you living with him, Y/N, there has to be another way." he had said, pacing back and forth. "It's not right."  

She had sighed, trying to stay calm. No matter how often she asked her boyfriend over or said they stayed in the separate rooms. This is my job, you knew I had to work with him. Ben and I are just partners, nothing more. I asked to live in another apartment but Vought made it clear, it was either living with him or they replace me." 

Her boyfriend had scoffed, shaking his head. "You expect me to believe that? Besides, I know what men are like. He's probably trying to get into your pants every chance he gets."  

Y/N had felt her frustration boiling over. "You're being ridiculous. Ben made it very clear in the past he likes older women. And he calls me kid, he doesn't see me like that!" But then Ben had walked in, smirking as he leaned against the doorframe.  

"Trouble in paradise kids?" he had asked, his tone mocking. Y/N's boyfriend had glared at him. "Stay out of her room, asshole." Ben had shrugged, but his eyes had gleamed with mischief. "Just trying to... lend a hand.” he looked her up and down his eyes staying a little to long on her bare legs.  

“Besides, Y/N doesn’t need a man, she makes way more happy noises when she's alone playing with herself, than when you're with her." Her boyfriend’s face had turned beet red, and Y/N had felt a rush of humiliation and anger.  

The argument had escalated after Ben left, and by the end of the night, her boyfriend had stormed out, leaving her relationship in ruins.  

She had been angry at Ben for his comment, but deep down, she knew he had only spoken the truth. Her ex-boyfriend's insecurities and jealousy had been a ticking time bomb. Which only translated to arguments and him giving her comments on how she should cover up nobody wanted to see her fat ass. 

After their breakup she decided it was time for some ‘healing’, needing to settle for a real man instead of a boy. The air outside was cold and the city lights shimmered against the darkened sky as if trying to outshine the stars themselves.  

The city was alive, and for once, Y/N wanted to be a part of it without the weight of her superhero persona, break up or the bad tension with Ben hanging over her head. The last years of her partnership with Soldier Boy made her realise what kind of manchild the great hero was.  

A void that could never have enough booze, drugs and sex. She lost count on the times she walked in on him with one, two or multiple women, she had begged him to at least stay in his room, but he liked to shock her.  

"Kid, are you sure you can handle this superhero life?" Ben would often say, his tone dripping with condescension. He rarely called her by her name, opting instead for 'kid' as if she were a child tagging along on his grand adventures.  

Y/N hated it, but she bit her tongue. Tonight, though, was different. She had slipped out of her usual superhero outfit, trading it for a tight-fitting dress that hugged her curves and accentuated her figure.  

Her hair was done up in soft curls, and her lips painted a bold, defiant red. She admired herself in the mirror, feeling a surge of confidence. As she stepped into the living room, Ben looked up from his mirror filled with coke, his eyes widening slightly before he masked his surprise with a smirk.  

"Aren't you a bit too young for that kind of makeup, kid?" Y/N rolled her eyes, refusing to let him dampen her spirits. "I'm going out for a bit." was all she said. He leaned back in his chair, eyeing her critically. "You trying to catch some dick tonight? Men won’t be able to keep their hands to themself.”  

Y/N was glad her back faced him, those semi-concerned/ complimenting words made her fluster. "Pretty sure I can handle a night out, thanks." She shot back, her voice laced with irritation. “Besides you bring back a girl ever night, what’s wrong with me bringing a man home?” she turned to face him now.  

Ben's eyes darkened for a moment, a flicker of something she couldn't quite place crossing his features. But he said nothing more, just watched as she walked out the door, the sound of her heels clicking against the floor echoing behind her.  

The night was young, and Y/N was determined to savour every moment of it. She found herself drawn to a bar with live music, a place she had heard about from some of the other younger employees at Vought.  

The atmosphere was electric, the energy palpable as the band on stage belted out tunes that made the crowd go wild. She slipped into the bar, her tight-fitting dress turning heads as she made her way to a small table near the stage.  

The music was loud, the bass thumping in her chest, and for the first time in a long while, she felt free. The usual pressures of being a superhero, of living up to the expectations set by Vought and by Ben, melted away with each beat. 

As she ordered a drink, she couldn’t help but let a smile creep onto her lips. The lead singer’s voice was raw and powerful, and the guitarist’s riffs sent shivers down her spine. She tapped her foot to the rhythm, immersing herself in the music and the vibrant crowd around her.  

-- 

Meanwhile, back at the Vought building, Ben was restless. He had tried to focus on the tv, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Y/N. The image of her in that dress, the confident way she had walked out the door, lingered in his mind.  

Finally, he gave in and went to searching for her. It didn’t take him long to find her. The bar was buzzing, and through the crowd, he spotted her instantly. She was a vision, completely in her element, and for a moment, he hesitated.  

He had always seen her as the kid, his sidekick, some pain in his ass, someone he didn’t need but had to tag along because of Vought, but she grew on him, and so he demanded to Vought she stayed with him.

He grew to love her girl next door persona. And even though he wouldn't admit it, she did calmed him down in a way, made him feel less alone. He never thought he would be sexually attracted to her. But when he heard her sweet moans on the other side of the wall... it took everything not to break down her door and show her how it's done.

But tonight, she was different. Confident, vibrant, and utterly captivating. She was sitting with a couple of soldiers in uniform, their presence commanding her attention. One of them poured champagne into her glass, the bubbles catching the dim light and adding to the sparkle in her eyes.  

The other soldier leaned in, whispering something into her ear that made her laugh, a genuine, carefree laugh that Ben hadn’t heard in a long time. A surge of fury coursed through him, catching him off guard.  

He clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he watched the scene unfold. The sight of those soldiers trying to charm her, making her laugh, ignited a possessive anger within him that he didn’t fully understand. Pushing through the crowd, he made his way to her table.  

Y/N looked up, her laughter fading as she saw the storm brewing in Ben’s eyes. The soldiers turned to him, their expressions shifting from surprise to mild irritation. “Y/N,” Ben said, his voice a strained attempt at calm. "A word" he demanded. She raised an eyebrow, sensing the tension in him. “Ben, I’m in the middle of something.”  

The soldier who had poured the champagne leaned back in his chair, eyeing Ben with a smirk. “Hey, buddy, why don’t you relax? We’re just having a good time.” Ben ignored him, his gaze locked on Y/N.  

Y/N sighed, setting her glass down. One of the soldiers, the one who had been whispering to her, asked, "Who’s this guy?" She stood up, giving the soldiers an apologetic smile. “Excuse me, gentlemen, seems like my boss is being unreasonable.”  

The soldiers exchanged glances, amusement flickering in their eyes. The one who had poured the champagne leaned back in his chair, giving Ben a once-over. “Boss, huh, looks more like your dad.” Ben ignored the jab, his eyes fixed on Y/N. “We need to talk. Now.”  

Y/N rolled her eyes but obliged, leading him away from the table. “What the hell, Ben?” she hissed, crossing her arms. “I was having a good time. You think just because you’re Soldier Boy, you have the right to control my life?” 

He took a deep breath, his anger giving way to a different, more vulnerable emotion.  I don’t want to see you get hurt... ever since that shitty boyfriend broke up you’re not yourself.” Y/N’s expression hardened slightly. “ First off, he broke with me because of your fucking comment. And second, I can take care of myself, Ben. I’m not some helpless kid. Do me a favour and find yourself some who can suck your dick tonight and leave me alone."  

Y/N returned to the table with the soldiers, a forced smile on her face as she tried to shake off the confrontation with Ben. She wasn’t about to let him ruin her night, and if he wanted to play the overprotective boss, she’d show him she wasn’t just some kid to be controlled.  

Ben, on the other hand, didn’t leave. He stayed at the bar, his presence a constant shadow in the corner of her eye. He ordered a drink and started flirting with every other woman around, his charm on full display.  

But his green eyes kept drifting back to Y/N, watching her every move with a mix of irritation and something deeper, something he couldn’t quite admit to himself. Y/N noticed him, of course. The more she drank, the more the situation started to feel like a twisted game.

She chatted, flirted and laughed with the soldiers, but her gaze frequently met Ben’s across the room, a silent challenge passing between them. She leaned closer to one of the soldiers, letting him pour her another glass of champagne, her finger moving over the spilled drop on the side or the glass, lifting her finger towards her perfect painted lips, licking it.  

The music grew louder, the bar more crowded, but the tension between her and Ben was almost palpable. She could feel his eyes on her, dark and intense, and it sent a thrill through her. Deciding to push his limits, she leaned in and kissed the soldier next to her. 

The kiss was brief but deliberate, and she kept her eyes open, locking onto Ben’s as she did it. The soldier, surprised but pleased, deepened the kiss, oblivious to the undercurrent of the moment.  

Ben’s reaction was immediate. His jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing with fury. He fought to control himself, trying not to react impulsively. But his ease was interrupted by the sight of the other soldier looking at her hungrily. 

Y/N’s hand grabbed the back of the soldier’s head, pulling him closer kissing him as well. Both men moved over to her neck and shoulders, making her bit her lip. Ben felt his anger rising. He couldn’t stand seeing her like this, used as a plaything by these men.  

One of the soldiers moved his hand under the table, and Y/N moaned softly, a sound so quiet that no one in the bar noticed. But Ben did. He knew exactly where the soldier’s hand was, and the knowledge ignited a fury inside him that he could no longer contain. 

His vision narrowed as he marched across the bar, his anger radiating off him in waves. He reached the table, and without a word, he grabbed the soldier’s wrist, yanking it away from Y/N with a force that made the man wince.  

“Hey!” the soldier protested, but Ben’s glare silenced him. “What’s your problem?” he asked standing toe to toe with him. “My problem,” Ben growled, his voice low and dangerous, “is that you’re crossing a line.”  

Y/N looked up, startled by the sudden confrontation. “Ben, what are you doing?” He didn’t answer, his eyes never leaving the soldier’s. “Get up. We’re leaving.” The other soldier tried to stand, but Ben’s presence was too intimidating.  

“Come on, man, we were just having fun.” Ben's voice was a menacing rumble. “It’s over. Get up, Y/N.” His hand gripped the soldier's neck, pinching the last breath out of his lungs. The soldier's eyes bulged in fear and pain, his hands clawing at Ben's iron grip.  

Y/N hesitated, torn between defying Ben and the growing realization that he might just kill this man on the spot. She could see the fury in Ben’s eyes, the unrestrained rage that made her shiver. She stood up slowly, her eyes flicking between Ben and the soldiers. 

“I’m sorry, guys.” The other soldier raised his hands in a placating gesture. “Hey, man, let him go. We don’t want any trouble.” Ben’s eyes flickered towards the soldier who spoke, his grip tightening momentarily before he finally released the man.  

The soldier gasped for air, collapsing onto the table, his face pale with fear. “Out,” Ben commanded, his voice cold. “Now.” He said while pushing he out the door. “What the hell, Ben?” she demanded. “You didn’t have to do that.”  

“Yes, I did,” he replied, his voice still tight with anger. “You were letting them use you, Y/N.” - “You don’t get to decide what I do,” she shot back, her voice trembling with emotion. “I’m not your possession.”  

Ben's anger flared, the words spilling out before he could stop them. "If you make a man so fucking horny, you better be prepared to fuck him too!" he shouted, his face flushed with a mix of rage and something more primal.  

Y/N laughed, a bold, defiant sound that echoed in the night. "Who said I wasn't? You pulled me out of there you ass!" For a moment, they stood there, the air between them charged with tension. Ben’s breathing was heavy, his fists clenched at his sides. Y/N’s eyes were bright, challenging him, daring him to close the distance between them.  

Without another word, Ben grabbed her wrist, pulling her towards him. Their bodies collided, the intensity of the moment crackling like electricity. Y/N’s breath hitched as Ben’s mouth found hers in a fierce kiss.  

Ben pushed her in the alley behind the club, her body pushed against the brick wall. The hit making her let go of a small breathy moan from her lips. Only then fully realising what they were doing. 

She was still angry, the suddenness of his actions only fuelling her frustration. She shoved him away with all her strength and slapped his face. Ben’s head snapped to the side from the force of the slap, but when he turned back to her, he was smiling, a dark, knowing smile.  

“See? You’re not fucking ready for a man.” Her chest heaved with emotion, her hand still stinging from the slap. "Is it so hard to believe not every woman wants you between her legs? You're disgusting." She said whipping her lips.  

Ben's smile faltered at her words, his expression flickering with hurt. He opened his mouth to speak, but Y/N walked away from him and left towards their home in the Vought building.  

-- 

Y/N stood in front of the bathroom mirror, her reflection softened by the steam from the hot shower she just took. Her mind raced with thoughts of the argument with Ben earlier, the sting of her own words still lingering.  

She hadn't meant to lash out like that, but his actions had crossed a line, and she had reacted out of frustration and anger. As she stepped out of the bathroom, towel wrapped around her, she hesitated before opening the bathroom door.  

The apartment was quiet, but she knew Ben was still awake. She had heard him in the living room earlier, he refused to look at her still angry with her. But she needed some form of reassurance, some sign that she wasn't just too ugly, too fat, probably going to regret her next move.

"Why would those men be interested in me?" she asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty. Ben scoffed, his frustration evident. "Because you were being easy. Any pussy would be good for them." She took a step closer, her eyes searching his face.  

"So that means he was right. I'm too fat, no man will ever think I'm beautiful." She referred to her ex. "No one wants me long term." Ben's expression shifted from anger to confusion. "Where is this coming from?" he asked, his eyes flickering down to her towel-clad body that barely covered her up.  

Before he could say anything else, Y/N let the towel drop to the floor, standing before him completely bare. "Do you... think I'm too fat?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. Ben swallowed hard, his eyes moving over her body unable to look away, taking in every inch.  

After a few minutes he walked closer, his gaze intense, before kneeling down and picking up the towel. "You're beautiful, Y/N," he said softly. "

But you're also drunk, and you need to go to bed." Her fingers moved through his hair, pulling him closer, his head against her thigh, making it hard for him to concentrate.  He turned slightly so that his cheek was touching her flesh.

He pulled himself away from her and stood up, draping the towel gently around her. But she didn't take it, so that he had to hold her close. The moment was charged with a mix of emotions: desire, concern, and a deep, unspoken connection.

"Y/N," Ben said softly, his voice filled with both tenderness and frustration, "You don't want this." Y/N looked up at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You really think I'm beautiful?" Ben cupped her face in one hand, his touch gentle.  

"I do. And you deserve more than to be treated like some easy target." She nodded, a tear slipping down her cheek. "Thank you, Ben." He pulled her into his arms, his touch strong and reassuring.  

"Let's get you to bed," he murmured, guiding her towards her room. As they walked, Y/N felt a sense of shame wash over her. She turned to Ben, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.  

"I really just flashed you, didn't I?" Ben's lips twitched, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Yeah, you did." Seeing her shame, he added quickly, "But it was the finest body I've seen in years."  

He winked at her, trying to lighten the mood. She giggled and swatted his chest playfully, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips. He chuckled, the tension between them easing slightly. "Get some sleep, kid."  He said kissing her head.

-- 

By the time Y/N got out of the memory she realised it was already pitch black at the park.  “He had aways done that.” she talked to herself. Complimented her when she needed it, but then again, it felt more like saying what she needed to hear so he could work her over. 

He probably wanted her to invite him in to her bed that night, yes, that could be the only reason he did that. He was as jealous of the soldiers like had been with Noir. “I’ve only been seen like his possession.” she whispered while she got up and walked back home.  

------

Please like, share or comment when you liked the story. If you liked this, please check out my masterlist for other stories.

Tag list:-> If you want to be added let me know what you like to read! If anyone feels like you're tagged too much, also let me know please. :)

@suckitands33 @mostlymarvelgirl @globetrotter28 @jackles010378 @hobby27

@call-me-mrs-winchester @muhahaha303 @deangirl96 @bitchykittenconnoisseur @loving4ngel

@cevansbaby-dove @n-o-p-e-never @demodemo909

[anqelsweep]

JUDY, South Korea’s Sweetheart, makes her long-awaited comeback with the 10th mini album FALL IN LOVE. The extended play features twelve tracks, including the title track FALL IN LOVE (with you). The EP was released on July 12, 2024, containing ten tracks, including the title track.

Promotion for the EP began July 5 with the pre-release single LOVE IN (Summer Nights) featuring Hiraeth’s Poppy. The single debuted atop the South Korean music charts, keeping the number-one spot for nearly two months. LOVE IN (Summer Nights) made history for the soloist, as it achieved a perfect all-kill. Promotions for LOVE IN (Summer Nights) lasted two weeks and seamlessly transitioned to FALL IN LOVE (with you) promotions.

⏤ TRACKLIST

INTRO: Oh My Goodness!

FALL IN LOVE (with you)

BEAUTIFUL NIGHT

Lay Low

come with me, my destiny

LOVE IN (summer nights) with Poppy of Hireath

so addictive

comet

Miss You

APHRODITE

focus

OUTRO: i’ll dream of you

⏤ MUSIC VIDEO LORE.

FALL IN LOVE (with you): FALL IN LOVE, visually, is reminiscent of a previous release by Judy; LADIES NIGHTS. The music video has a dream-like haze over it, once again using the ‘is this real or all a dream’ theme. The music video paints a simple story, one full of fear and worry that her relationship will end in heartbreak; bursting like a balloon.

⏤ CONTENT.

PERFECT HEART VER: OutBox ( W 165 x H 225 mm ), Photobook ( W 150 x H 210 / 93pg ), CD + ENVELOPE ( W 118 x H 118 mm | W 125 x H 125mm ), PhotoCard ( W 55 x H 85mm, Random 2 of 5 ), Sticker Sheet ( W 150 x H 210 ), Folded Poster ( W 520 x H 750 mm ), Lyric Book ( W 720 x H 124 mm ), Heart Locket ( perfect heart ver.)

APHRODITE VER: OutBox ( 150 x 230 x 30 mm ), CD ( W 118 x H 118 mm ), Photobook ( 125 x 180 mm / 80pg ), Lyric Paper ( 80 x 180 mm ), PostCard ( 70 x 120 mm, Random 2 of 5 ), heart locket ( aphrodite ver.)

MY DESTINY VER: OutBox ( W 56 x H 87 mm ), PhotoCard ( W 54 x H 85 / Random 2 of 5 ), Concept Sticker ( W 36 x H 46 / 2 ea ), heart locket ( my destiny ver.)

IN LOVE MUSIC BOX: Music Box ( 1105 x 88.6 x 60.5 mm ) + PhotoCard ( 85 x 55 mm / 1 ea )

⏤ ERA NOTES.

It’s not a Judy release unless it’s connected to some kind of anger or fear, or grief with love huh…

A VERY fun era for Jude! she was more active than usual on tiktok and instagram!

Compared to Killing Me Softly she looked like she actually enjoyed this era and was promoting it! She was all smiles the entire duration!

Many SongBird’s were nostalgic for her earlier eras with this EP. The tracklist reminded them of Love Letter, which was released in 2016. The music video was reminiscent of the mv for Purple Nights, while the fits were somewhat similar to Lover Girl’s outfits. Due to the throwbacks fans received, many began to worry and speculate that this would be her last release and that she’d be retiring from the music industry. However! Daphne squashed the rumors saying; “Namjoo is already planning her next release. There’s no way she’s retiring anytime soon. So, stop worrying and speculating.”

so addictive landed on itself at number 10 on Spotify’s Global Top 50 chart! And Fall In Love at 7 on Billboard’s Top 100 chart!

Fall In Love reached 70 million views within the first 24 hours of its release.

⏤ ERA STAGE STYLINGS.

⏤ CREDITS.

WRITING. Daphne Choi, Judith Song, Poppy & Goldie Anton

PRODUCTION. Daphne Choi, Judith Song, Poppy, Hwang Handuri “Diaz” & Yeo Chunja “Eris”

STYLINGS. Elise Jung & Kim Sooyoung

⏤ NOTES.

notes. i’m SO fuckin happy with this like u have no idea!!! I love the tracks and styling— everything truly <33

characters. diaz for production of fall in love belongs to @starbcrnes , so does eris, who helped produce aphrodite! poppy belongs to @almostyours obviously she produced and wrote summer nights with jude!

[rattycattyfanfic]

(you drive me) crazy

for @mirroredmemoriez's prompt!

1.) Lynn or Amanda reacting to one another’s music tastes! Can keep it broad and just have it as looking at a genre or pick a specific song. Setting wise it can be anywhere, such as oh I’ve bought this CD and sliding the disc in the car.

a shocking 1,521 words! no real warnings except mentions of mandy brain. can kinda sit in bark like a god verse? but doesn't have to.

if anyone would like to submit some simple easy prompts that i can deal with in 500-700 words ideally (although im finding these are spiralling out of control!) my inbox is open :)

One thing Lynn hadn’t anticipated about Amanda, but finds herself continually pleasantly surprised by, is all the strange little commonalities they share. Amanda’s music taste is not particularly vast or varied, but her taste for the alternative overlaps with the soundtrack of Lynn’s own youth in a nostalgic way. 

She remembers the first time, back when they were new and slightly tense – the relief of a common ground in the form of a familiar song playing faintly on the radio. The Cramps, she thinks it had been, but she couldn’t for the life of her name the song. She had simply known that she’d worn it out in her late teens, and that this strange girl was now in her living room bobbing her head along to the same song, oblivious. “I used to love this one,” Lynn had said, breaking the comfortable quiet and hating herself for it. But then Amanda had looked back, up, at her with this odd expression, something akin to surprise or respect, and it had felt easy. She’d smirked, said something snarky, a bit rude, and Lynn had laughed, and it had been a rare easy moment for them amidst all the turmoil.

It’s nice. Unexpected, but nice. Lynn welcomes the throwbacks to her undergrad days, and the insight that the day’s music choice provides into Amanda’s strange head. Her thoughts are still a mystery to Lynn some days, but the music – it helps shine a light on whatever Amanda is thinking that day.

Sometimes, she finds the girl in an oddly energetic mood, spinning Bikini Kill or Blondie whilst she busies herself with household tasks. Often she’ll be bent over some gadget in the backyard, taking the thing apart and putting it back together – the VHS player, or the old bike in the garage that hasn’t been used in years, or some other currently unidentifiable pile of scrap metal and electronics. Lynn can’t even be mad about it. Amanda always puts them back together in perfect, or better, working condition, and so she’s content to hang in the doorway, watching curiously until Mandy perks her head up and notices. 

“Was it too loud?” she says, with grease on her cheeks and a look somewhere between defiant and owlish. 

And Lynn says, will always say, “No,” and then usually, “I love this album. What are you working on?” Amanda grins and launches into an explanation that goes straight over Lynn’s head, however similar metal and electronics and flesh and nerves might be. She furrows her brow and nods attentively, and thinks that she loves Amanda like this, almost childishly excited and hyper-focused to the bright tones of Eat to the Beat.

Similarly, Lynn can tell when it’s a bad day. She knows that when she hears Fiona Apple, Hole, even the rare occasion of Patti Smith whining from Amanda’s oversized headphones, she needs to tread a little more carefully, treat Amanda with a little extra care. That brain of hers is still a mystery to her, especially days like this when she doubts even Amanda can make sense of her tangled thoughts.

She gets this, though, the appeal of quietly enraged vocals, angsty guitars and pianos, fast or slow but equally intense either way. She remembers listening to Revenge as a teenager and how it had spoken to her, soothed emotions she hadn’t even realised she’d had, and she thinks she gets it a little bit. So she sits down on the back porch next to Amanda wordlessly, and lays her head on the girl’s shoulder to catch the odd angsty refrain leaking out of the headphones. She says nothing about the edgy look in those dark eyes, or the raw pink of her sharp cheeks and wrists from where she’d scratched and rubbed restlessly. Lynn sits silently with her, until Amanda lets out a shuddering breath and relaxes just an ounce. 

Today she unplugs her headphones and allows Lynn to listen with her fully. She leans against her shoulder heavily, allows the tenderness of backrubs or fingers combing through her hair. Other days, the headphones stay on and Lynn remains a voyeur, held at arm’s length, the vulnerability of unplugging simply too much for Amanda to bear. Either way, Lynn tucks these shared moments away inside herself and thanks whatever god there is for the safe catharsis of rageful nineties singers. 

Amanda is not a good driver. This is the main, overarching reason Lynn will give if asked why she always prefers to be in the driver’s seat of her own car. She can drive, legally, and does so without accident, but she is not good at it, and Lynn spends most rides with Amanda holding onto her fucking seat wondering if this was part of her torture repertoire when working under John. But then, she supposes, her victims would’ve been unconscious during transportation, and so all the swearing and sharp veers must be either unintentional or for the sheer thrill of it. 

That is the reason Lynn will give for not getting in Amanda’s car if she can help it. The reason she will not give, is that Amanda’s baseline – and her favourite driving music – is largely completely fucking unlistenable industrial metal. Nine Inch Nails, Nitzer Ebb, and Ministry take pride of place in the driving fast and badly playlist. It all sounds like construction site noise to Lynn, and only adds to the distressing experience of being driven around by someone she has to remind herself is criminally insane. 

Her car is in the shop, though, and they need groceries. And so, Lynn is white knuckling the seat of Amanda’s beaten up shitbox while KMFDM screeches through tinny speakers. She thinks there’s probably never been such an intense fucking drive to the grocery store in all of history.

She’s about to say something bitchy, maybe ask her to turn it off or down at the very least, but when she looks over, she snorts. Amanda has her sunglasses on and is nodding to the beat, tapping her fingers rapidly against the steering wheel, looking fully in the zone whilst she swears at another driver for daring to obey the highway code. “I can’t believe you like this shit, Mandy,” she says instead with an exasperated laugh, and gets a bright grin in response. 

“It’s fun,” Amanda defends lightly, and glances back at the road, veering around another corner way too fast. “It’s fast. I like it!” 

Lynn rolls her eyes. “‘Kill motherfuckin’ Depeche Mode?’ That’s fun?” She doesn’t see the appeal, honestly, but it fits Mandy she supposes. Erratic, brash, angry in a gleeful way. It fits her perfectly. She’ll grin and bear it, maybe even learn to love it like she had Mandy, despite all the ways she had infuriated her at first. 

Amanda opens her mouth as if she’s about to respond, but the song fades out and into the next, and she turns a soft pink instead. She reaches out awkwardly towards the dashboard to skip the song, but Lynn is fast too. Lynn knows her 00s pop music – put it down to having a young daughter and nothing else, nothing else. She grabs the girl’s slender wrist and stops her in her tracks, and the song continues. A grin spreads across Lynn’s face, and Amanda groans.

“Lynn–” 

The unmistakable intro to Toxic plays out through the speakers at the same volume as the heavy industrial stuff, and there’s no hiding from it. Amanda goes a deeper shade of pink, as if this is somehow the most embarrassing thing Lynn has learnt about her to date. 

It must be her growing sadistic streak, but Lynn can’t help but dig a little. She holds Mandy’s wrist still, hovering inches away from the skip button. “I would never have pegged you for a closet Britney fangirl, baby,” she teases, and delights in the way Amanda flushes and splutters. 

“I don’t know how that got on the playlist, Lynn – fuck – Lynn, skip it,” she stammers. 

“No, I like it,” Lynn says smugly, and sits back, entwining their fingers together and effectively stopping her from skipping it lest she crash them both into a ditch. “And so do you, apparently – keep that hand on the wheel.”

Amanda groans, but stops fighting. She squeezes Lynn’s hand hard, digs her nails in a little viciously, but keeps her other hand on the wheel and lets the bubbly pop keep playing. Even as she flushes, loudly proclaims her embarrassment, Lynn can see her knee subtly bouncing to the beat. She looks one second from whispering the lyrics to herself.

One last dig, for the fun of it. Lynn feels high on the silliness of the moment, a bubble of unfamiliar giggliness in her throat. “Do you know the dance moves too?”

“Oh my god!” Amanda exclaims, throwing her head back. She steps on the pedal in exasperation and the car surges forward. She really shouldn’t be allowed to drive. A minute later, when she finally manages to swallow down the worst of her humiliation, Amanda mumbles, barely audible above the autotune. “...Yes.”

Lynn laughs out loud.

[spaceyderg]

Something about the way you do shading gives me such a throwback to my Monster High days, and honestly I am so in love with it.

Makes me feel all warm and nostalgic, such comfort 💗

Wahh this is such a sweet message! That makes me happy to hear my art makes you feel nostalgic! Sorry I took a while to reply I've been over the moon reading your message

I doodled a Draculaura for ya, thank you so much for the kind words!

[haggishlyhagging]

Were anti-porn feminists being hysterical? Censorious prudes? In the age of internet porn, DVDs and video cassettes, let alone centerfolds and seedy theaters, can be joked about as nostalgic throwbacks. It may seem to some, looking back, that feminist anti-porn campaigners must have been overtaken by anxiety about a mass culture that was becoming more open about sex, and that was quite capable of separating fantasy from fact. Feminists, anxious about sex under patriarchy found it easier, a group of pro-porn feminists wrote in 1983, “to attack the picture of what oppresses us than the mysterious, elusive . . . thing itself.” The implication is that anti-porn feminists were overestimating the power of porn: they had lost perspective. But what if the true significance of the perspective of anti-porn feminists lay not in what they were paying attention to, but when? What if they weren’t hysterical, but prescient?

It was my students who first led me to think about this question. Discussing the "porn question" is more or less mandatory in an introductory class on feminist theory. But my heart wasn't really in it. I imagined that the students would find the anti-porn position prudish and passé, just as I was trying hard to make them see the relevance of the history of feminism to the contemporary moment. I needn't have worried. They were riveted. Could it be that pornography doesn't merely depict the subordination of women, but actually makes it real, I asked? Yes, they said. Does porn silence women, making it harder for them to protest against unwanted sex, and harder for men to hear those protests? Yes, they said. Does porn bear responsibility for the objectification of women, for the marginalization of women, for sexual violence against women? Yes, they said, yes to all of it.

It wasn't just the women students talking; the men were saying yes as well, in some cases even more emphatically. One young woman pushed back, citing the example of feminist porn. "But we don't watch that," the men said. What they watched was the hardcore stuff, the aggressive stuff—what is now, on the internet, the free stuff. My male students complained about the routines they were expected to perform in sex; one of them asked whether it was too utopian to imagine sex that was loving and mutual and not about domination and submission. My women students talked about the neglect of women's pleasure in the pornographic script, and wondered whether it had something to do with the absence of pleasure in their own lives. "But if it weren't for pornography," one woman said, "how would we ever learn to have sex?"

Porn meant so much to my students; they cared so much about it. Like the anti-porn feminists of forty years ago, they had a heightened sense of porn's power, a strong conviction that porn did things in the world. Talking with my graduate teaching assistant after that seminar (she was a handful of years younger than me), I realized what should have been obvious from the start. My students belonged to the first generation truly to be raised on internet pornography. Almost every man in that class would have had his first sexual experience the moment he first wanted it, or didn't want it, in front of a screen. And almost every woman in the class would have had her first sexual experience, if not in front of a screen, then with a boy whose first sexual experience had been. In that sense, her experience too would have been mediated by a screen: by what the screen instructed him to do. While almost all of us today live in a world where porn is ubiquitous, my students, born in the final years of the last century, were the first to have come of age sexually in that world.

My students would not have stolen or passed around magazines or videos, or gathered glimpses here and there. For them sex was there, fully formed, fully interpreted, fully categorized—teen, gangbang, MILF, stepdaughter—waiting on the screen. By the time my students got around to sex IRL—later, it should be noted, than teenagers of previous generations—there was, at least for the straight boys and girls, a script in place that dictated not only the physical moves and gestures and sounds to make and demand, but also the appropriate affect, the appropriate desires, the appropriate distribution of power. The psyches of my students are products of pornography. In them, the warnings of the anti-porn feminists seem to have been belatedly realized: sex for my students is what porn says it is.

-Amia Srinivasan, The Right to Sex: Feminism in the Twenty-First Century

[colorisbyshe]

April's Monthly Music :3

I try not to recommend the same artists but Snow Stripper's "So What If I'm a Freak" really feels like a triumphant output. This song feels like watching strobe lights glint off the edge of a knife. Entrancing EDM. Sexy and threatening.

"Alter Ego" Doechii, JT. A club banger. Work your knees and waist and then swing at the girl next to you to assert dominance.

"Somewhere Near Marseilles (Sci Fi Edit)" Utada Hikaru. Despite being a remix, it feels more raw and vulnerable than the original! If you were scared off by the OG's 12 minute run time, this is is an easy and breezy 4 minutes. She has released a full anniversary album full of many of her songs reimagined, remastered, remixed! There is a new song "Electricity" but I think SNM is more interesting.

"Nightmare" and "Killjoy !" Nia Archives. Nia just released a whole album and I've talked about the lead singles before. There is a rawness from an artist who has only begun to ascend to greatness but Nia's twist on drum and bass and jungle can't be missed. She's destined for great things.

"Bye Bye" Ayumi Hamasaki. I don't think this is her best output but I just remembered she exists and it's incredible she's going and her sound is still so... her? Energetic Jpop that isn't very cutesy.

"Gaucho" Alex Anwandter. Chilean dance music with a flair for the sensual and a rhythm that pulses up and down your body. A nostalgic, familiar sound innovated into an entirely new beast.

"Impossible" Riize. Listen... I'd rather die than promote a new gen SM group and yet... Shinee girls... listen to this. Vibrant EDM. Kpop... isn't a lost cause? Maybe.

"L.A.M.N" Crossfaith. More Japanese metalcore from me. Lyrics are full English, so if you wanna thrash AND sing along... you need not speak Japanese. High velocity screaming.

If you want the Japanese language music back in the Japanese music, give "Endroll" by Raon. This song is somewhere between Yoasobi and Queen Bee.

Quick shout outs:

"Nasty" Tinashe. "Neverender" Justice & Tame Impala. "Candy Crush" ARTMS. "Girls Night" Loossemble. "Hollow Skies - Midgar Region -" Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. "Time" Kiskadee. "En" ENTH.

Throwback (not 2024) recs:

"What's Luv?" Fat Joe. "Calling All Cars" Senses Fail. "As I Longed For" Tatsuya Kitani & Yama. "Make Love" Daft Punk. "Extinction" THORNAPPLE. (Got that one off my dash recently!!! THANK U TUMBLR.) "XXXX" Chungha.

[nhasablogg]

I have this Idea™ that maybe no one will care about and if you don't I need you to tell me before I put a bunch of effort into it, BUT since I've been getting a lot of asks about my old fics (which I still can't access because they have been deleted unless they're on ao3) and have been very nostalgic about my old interests and fandoms I was thinking of doing like a throwback week? where I post seven fics from seven fandoms I used to write a lot for back in the day and try to make them very typical N fics to kind of pay homage to my old blog (which I created in 2013 so it's basically the 10 year anniversary!!)

would this be of interest? like at all? I'm uncertain because I wrote for a few older fandoms for last year's tickletober and I thought they woud do better than they did, but at the same time everyone's dashes were being flooded with content so I'm sure things just went under people's radar. but also I'm afraid people care more about the old fics (which I get, they're part of a particular history) than me writing new ones and also I probably would only write that one fic for the throwback week and maybe that's mean to lowkey tease something that I won't give more of? and also I don't want to put effort into something if people don't really care because I'm not just gonna ASSUME they do. idk let me know lol

[foxes-that-run]

Paper rings

Paper Rings is about love over wealth and luxury. Paper rings are simple and unglamorous, but also can be fragile. Paper being temporary and disposable. The song mixes good and bad to say that Taylor choses an imperfect life with this person. Taylor described it as not having modern influences when it does and being punk, a word that fits this song better than reputation but Taylor used in Time. It's was hinted at on Reputation which makes me wonder if it was a Reputation vault track. It copies the sound of Hilary Duff's 2015 Breathe In Breath Out which Taylor mentioned on Tumblr:

Paper Rings was hinted at in the Me! Lyric Video with a Paper Ring with two polaroids (it mentions photo frames) and has a Spotify Story:

"I wrote "Paper Rings' with this idea of throwback sounds. We didn't want to use any sounds that were very modern on this song. This song talks about true love, and if you really find true love, you probably don't really care what the symbolism of that love is. Material things wouldn't matter to you anymore if you found someone that you just wanted to live your life with. "

In the iHeartRadio Secret Session (Audio in the video above) Taylor said:

[...]"imagining that I was a wedding band at a reception, playing the love songs that the bride and groom wanted to hear in, like, 1978 or something. It's called 'Paper Rings.' The whole song is just basically reminiscing on fun memories. [...] there's some fun, kind of, punk, like inspired by punk girl groups and the way they used to sing, shouting them in a really unapologetic way. [...]

A 1978 Wedding Band is a very specific reference. So thinking of songs from 1978... This wedding blog lists a few like Just What I Needed – The Cars, released in 1978 and one (H tweet) and was also in The Wedding Singer. Blondie is a clear reference for the Lover aesthetic and the song. Blondie released One Way or Another in 1978. (Before the 1D cover). The Ramones Blitzkrieg Bop is an earlier influence for it.

...also did she say Punk? as in the 2023 Time Magazine:

When was it written

Like all of Lover it is copyright 2019 for its release. It was Easter egged in the Call It What You Want Lyric video on 2 November 2016 and in the Reputation magazine hinting pretty strongly that it was at least partly written with Reputation.

It was recorded at Conway, LA, & Metropolis in London. London Boy was also recorded in both. Taylor didn’t record reputation at Metropolis but KOMH and a few lover songs were at Conway.

Live performances

Paper Rings was a surprise song in Minneapolis on 23 June, 2023, the other surprise song was If this was a movie. Taylor also performed it as a mash up with Stay Stay Stay on 21 July, 2024. It was not played the few Lover promo shows.

Rings

The Spotify Visual features a huge ring, pearls and beehive. When talking about the song Taylor talked about not caring about a ring if you truly loved someone, and the lyrics 'I like shiny things, but I would marry you with paper rings'. So why this visual with a huge ring and perfect life? To me this is about giving those things up, which fits the 'unapologetic' punk feel. This idea is also in the LAWYMMD video. Maybe rejecting a proposal with a shiny ring for a more youthful love.

Lyrics

The moon is high Like your friends were the night that we first met Went home and tried to stalk you on the internet Now I've read all of the books beside your bed

In the iHeartRadio intro Taylor said the song was reminiscing on fun memories which these first verses are. These are the sections which match Breathe in Breathe out. which has lines that start with “I remember..” while Hilary was looking back on a lost love Taylor is reminiscing on a current love, it sounds both nostalgic and new.

Some fans do gymnastics to make them about a specific muse but they are very generic but I’ll add that Joe was not with friends at the Met Gala, he was with a costar that knew Taylor better.

The wine is cold Like the shoulder that I gave you in the street Cat and mouse for a month or two or three Now I wake up in the night and watch you breathe

This verse continues the reminiscing, I like the use of cold shoulder and street compared to the intimacy of watching someone breathe. Also this line reminds me of the Hilary Duff song title.

Kiss me once 'cause you know I had a long night (Oh) Kiss me twice 'cause it's gonna be alright Three times 'cause I've waited my whole life (One, two, one, two, three, four)

This verse is the most like a wedding band, and one Taylor mentioned when talking about the song that Jack does the count in. Taylor has not used ‘be alright’ very much:

22 - Everything will be alright, if you keep me next to you

Shake it off - Saying, "It's gonna be alright."

Call it what you want - They took the crown, but it's alright

The Archer - But what if I'm alright, right, right, right here?

Death by a Thousand Cuts - I ask the traffic lights if it'll be alright

The 1 - And it's alright now

Fresh Out the Slammer - But it's gonna be alright, I did my time

I look through people's windows - Does it feel alright to not know me?

I like shiny things, but I'd marry you with paper rings Uh huh, that's right Darling, you're the one I want, and I hate accidents except when we went from friends to this

The refrain is where Taylor would chose a simple paper ring over a fancy ring or wedding. When talking about the song Taylor described this as the ring not mattering, but to me paper is more temporary, it’s not a wedding but a tentative commitment of sorts. Taylor also describes the relationship as non traditional with “this” an ill defined situationship.

Uh huh, that's right Darling, you're the one I want In paper rings, in picture frames, in dirty dreams Oh, you're the one I want

The one I want implies again there is someone Taylor is choosing this person over, she’s forgoing something shiny for this relationship. Yet the theme of reminiscing implies this is not a new relationship. Darling is not used a lot.

Picture frames are also uncommon in Taylor’s work, only HYGTG, Run and this song have a framed picture to mean a relationship. The Me! Lyric video had 2 Polaroids with the paper ring, very 1989/reputation-esque, one of her holding a cat and one with friends.

How You Get The Girl: With pictures in frames of kisses on cheeks

In the winter, in the icy outdoor pool When you jumped in first, I went in too I'm with you even if it makes me blue Which takes me back To the color that we painted your brother's wall

Taylor will follow this partner anywhere even when it’s not always easy or pleasant. More on the wall and icy pool below.

Honey, without all the exes, fights, and flaws We wouldn't be standing here so tall, so

In this verse their relationship has some history of "exes, fights, and flaws" they’ve overcome. Similar to “one I want” this is not a simple we met and went from friends to this, they have history.

Icy outdoor pool

I have a post on the icy pool. Which is something Harry has been known for (also in Hampstead Heath Pond) long before Joe did handy exposition for this. Taylor said on 2 June 2018 in Chicago ( Harry was in the City) "2 New Years Eve's ago I found myself in the midst of a very like incredible 3am moment where you think you are invincible and you end up like jumping in a pool in the winter and you feel super untouchable in that moment" Taylor Nation cut this part out.

The house Taylor rented in Hampstead in December 2016 has a pool and she included photos in the Rep Magazine. A post on that.

Blue Walls

I have a post on this blue wall line and that it is a metaphor for being emotionally isolated. She also referred to blue painted walls in:

Everything Has Changed - And all my walls stood tall, painted blue

The Lover photoshoot hints that it is metaphorical:

If you think these rep book photos are of Taylor actually painting a wall and not a photoshoot I have some ice to sell you.

I want to drive away with you I want your complications too I want your dreary Mondays Wrap your arms around me, baby boy

In the bridge Taylor tells how she wants good and bad, a similar idea to on New Years Day about wanting someone to clean up bottles after the party, or dreary Monday’s here. Again with complications, this is not a fresh relationship between 2 single people.

Drive is a Haylor theme also and this line reminds me of Style’s “let’s get out of the town” and finally taylor calls the muse “baby boy” .. perhaps she is singing about someone who’s ‘younger than her ex’s but acts like such a man, so.

[beesmygod]

So I looked up lunacid and yeah it's a loving homage but i feel the level design is missing that fromsoft anticipation precipice that helps you orient yourself and help figure out where you wanna go. It feels like the game could be helping you anticipate challenges a bit more. Or providing a more telegraphed intended level progression.

I do like the ps1 style models, tho. Helps with the overall retro throwback to kings field style dungeon crawly rpgs flavor and I respect a game with a specific artistic direction and aesthetic goal.

the lack of vantage points or coherent level design makes it impossible to navigate anything without feeling like im fucking around a windows screensaver. i feel bad for ragging on it bc its clearly a labor of love, to some degree. it looks great, the boss fight (i guess theres only like 2??? er) was a hoot, tying game events/powers into the real world lunar cycle is a neat idea, and the music is really good. the models for NPCs and enemies are great except the demon girls have terrible designs lol. there's a "game manual" in the style of a 90s game manual that's aesthetically delightful and a great way to make the player work for information in a nostalgic style.

but it wont commit fully to either being a "kings field" inspired game with modern conveniences or conventions or a strict adherent to the format, warts and all. as a result, its a game that feels like a completely modern take but inexplicably has some of the worst gameplay mechanics for seemingly no reason other than "because old games did that". there are so many mechanics that exist seemingly for the sake of having the mechanic but with no rhyme or cohesion. mimics that only appear in one level, no way to sell or store items i wont be using, menus that are truly annoying to navigate, i literally just found out theres a compass thats turned off by default (????).

its missing refinement and struggles under the weight of the better games its clearly riffing on. dont remind me that i could just be playing bloodborne the whole time im playing the game

[redpiperfox]

it's that time again~

Album listen-thru of Ive's Switch~

All in all, the aesthetics in color of early 2000s (bless, they didn't follow the mainstream sound of how people are categorizing early 2000s nostalgia alsdjkfhklasjdfh), the Ive elegance woven into a bright, spring album, A+, 10/10, much enjoyed!

Now song by song:

해야 (HEYA)

What a fun song~! Absolutely won me first listen, definitely has that ethereal dusky wind-in-your-hair backlit euphoria to it, riding on top of a little high-heel, chin-up confidence. Powerful and pretty, in a stunning sort of way.

Yujin's part in the second verse runs rent-free on loops through my head, and the pre-chorus to chorus Ascends, I love the little transition/nod sound between them, and the way everything bursts into the chorus-- and that even that eruption of sound still outdoes itself and explodes in the final chorus, high note overlaying and all.

Visually, what a pretty mv! Exactly the sort of thing I expected from the teasers we got, and captures a sort of aesthetic that perfectly fits and conceptualizes Ive's niche. The set reminded me of that one Twice set in Scientist, but perfectly set it in a cultural and very specific nostalgic-reminiscent mood that I absolutely adore. Pastels and clouds and all. And tying it in with the lyrics? Absolutely beautiful, love!

Accendio

I won't lie, the first line set me off a little XD Why are we talking about priests, what's going on girls lol BUT THEN-- the actual ascension in the chorus outro? Those harmonies and chord building coming out? Hello there~!

Lyrically, it perfectly encapsulates the entirety of the album, and I think the chorus achieved the perfect balance in catchy and elegant that Baddie was setting them up for last comeback. I also love that I could catch this battle between evil and good in the production before the mv dropped-- the second verse drops you straight into a basement of bad intentions, and retrospectively makes that opening line confession make so much sense. It gives the pre-chorus the desparation before the chorus comes in with it's commands-- it's spells of protection almost.

And then the mv!!!

Oh what an mv. Everytime a storytelling mv graces us, I want to put it on a pedestal and run a presidential campaign for it because THISSSS WE NEED MORE OF THISSSS~~~

I love main character Gaeul, I love the girls power up moments into Sailor Moon-esque heroines, and then battling evil versions of themselves, (shoutout to the stylists, oh, keep doing what you're doing!!) I loved all the fight sequences, I loved the quirky plot of keeping this wand safe and then losing it, I love the ambience and color of the whole story-- it supported the music so well? The fast moving parts, the scenes where we could gasp as Yujin slammed her hand into the glass and beckoned us back, the throwback into the timeline, the fight sequences~

Really well done, Ive. A beautiful mash of elegant into a fun turn-of-the-season summer comeback.

Blue Heart

Heyo, Wonyoung written beauty!

The production draws straight from the lighter parts of Accendio, in that protective but smiling, fun image, in a spell, a promise of letting you come close but never as close as you want. It fits perfectly between Ice Queen and Accendio, in a heroine protecting herself, floating just above it all, but when she drops into the mess of it in the chorus, it's fully armored and confidently winning. And I do love the verses and the ascension in the bridge where it really does feel above the clouds and touched in the pastels of a free sky, and how perfectly it contrasts with the chorus.

Lyrically, I'll let her speak for her own song, because there's something really precious and admirable about the work she put into this song (end of the article):

tldr; She writes it as a tribute to female idols in a harsh industry and the image and personality they chose to put out in comparison to their inner strength to protect themselves.

I also want to include lyric analysis by @aidollze on twitter, with a special shout out to Ms Wonyoung for her legal work in bringing down a youtuber for defamation against kpop idols:

Ice Queen

Sent me right back to Hypnosis from their full album, instant love.

Musically, the production is like a bubbling, clear and fresh bubbling spring in the verses that freezes into the chorus, sharp angles and prisitine edges. It's sea-curly hair and curious smiles over the shoulder into combed back buns under a tiara, looking down their noses, critical, moving from level playing fields to a power play.

The lyrics only supported the imagery it gave me, and even added this undertone of the daughter of Halsey's Castle, especially if coupled with Blue Heart's message, which? Gives me all the brainworms? But anyway XD

Wow

How fun~ This feels like a run through a water park or summer vacation in a theme part in the chorus, and the sit-back and reminisce breathlessly in the verses and bridge.

It's funny how the lyrics talk about being opposites but attracting so well, because it gives me that rush of planets spinning frantically and almost out of control when together in the chorus, and then throwing each other out of their orbits to observe and wonder from a distance, only to be thrown back together for the thrill of it again.

Reset

"Kiki, do you love me, are you riding--"

Sorry XD A little more in the brightly colored jungle, in the weeds and unknown of things, before that lovely little astronomically intrumental production into the chorus, where you're stuck to this fun beat, childish in it's fun, almost. I don't know! This song is somewhere between the jungle rhythm and the intergalactic kids ride! And then it finishes and drops abruptly, like it's only there to quickly pass you by before you can hop on and join.

A very fun and chill ending to a bright mini album, that leaves you feeling light!

Ive always has my attention, and if the sheer vocal talent between Liz and Yujin isn't enough, their commitment to their niche of elegance while being able to try and sort invent concepts, has me tuning in each and every time.

Would love to hear thoughts people had on this comeback or on Ive in general!!

[twentyfivemiceinatrenchcoat]

Hi ari 🤍 brought you a question. Again 😋 Which ghibli movies or characters best suit different jjk characters? Mention non ghibli anime too if u want :D include the heartbreaking film - grave of the fireflies if you have seen it. Gotta sleep bye!! Have a nice day 😁

hi toruuuu :333 thank you for the question!!! I LOVE STUDIO GHIBLI SOOOOO MUCH i actually haven’t watched grave of the fireflies tho 😭😭 i’m most familiar w the miyazaki movies but i’ll include some others for this question too !! most of these are entirely vibe-based LMAO

satoru - howl’s moving castle

do i even need to say it ???? gojo is howl. howl is gojo. they’re soooo similar and this movie in general just reminds me of him sm :(((( i think he’d love it a lot!!! the star motifs, the war, the breakfast and kindness in sophie’s found family…… howl who is so strong and out of reach. who views himself as a monster. but he finds love in so many ways and he gives love to so many people….. sob. he makes me so emotional. he’s also a pathetic loser which is very gojocoded <3333

suguru - spirited away

I HAD TO PICK IT . I HAD TO. throwback to my childhood friend!sugu and his queer awakening being haku LMAO……. i just think this movie is so unbelievably sugucoded with all the yōkai and ominous vibes…. but then also those little bits and pieces of family as a theme :3 obv he reminds me a lot of haku. with the dragon form and everything… the devotion….. think sugu would love this movie a ton and i think nanamimi would adore it. they force him to watch it all the time hehe

shoko - castle in the sky

CHOOSING ONE FOR SHOKO WAS TOUGHHH but eventually i landed here ….. this one is entirely vibe-based but. just. the plot…. the pirates and planes and high-speed chase scenes and the castle in the sky with all its advanced technology….. especially the castle. the robots!!!! the retrofuturistic style in general is soooo shoko…. and obviously the war themes but that’s kind of a given for any of miyazaki’s works. honestly i think porco rosso is very very shokocoded too but i had to give that to another one of my blorbos….. this movie just makes me feel so nostalgic and i think the themes fit shoko a ton :3

honourable mention to the ghibli lupin movie that i Have Not Seen but i just KNOW shoko would love it. trust. anything detective/phantom thief based makes me think of her

kenny - the boy and the heron / nausicaä of the valley of the wind

I COULDN’T DECIDE 💔 nausicaä was another big contender for shoko’s movie but i just think it’s too weird and freaky to give to anyone but kenny. that movie TRAUMATIZED me as a child. and i think kenny would love it. also just???? the creepy bugs????? nature vs humanity?????? those themes feel so kenny. he’d like the protag a lot i think!!

as for the boy and the heron…. it’s just Vibes. the heron reminds me of kenny!! and i think he’d love the movie a lot…. the depictions of war and the fantasy world, the blend between comedy and violence….. i just feel like there’s such a strong contrast between the bleak realism and the colourful fantasy elements. and that makes me think of kenny!!! i want to watch this movie w him so BAD bro i know his commentary would be the best 😔😔

toji - porco rosso

IT FITS HIM SO WELL. I FEEL INSANE. porco rosso is one of my Absolute Favorite ghibli movies andddd i think toji would love it / it’s just so Him!!!! porco rosso is genuinely him. a literal pig who smokes cigars and flies jet planes….. this movie is so special to me and it’s just giving toji vibes :3 the cigarettes and planes and beautiful gorgeous women…. the macho men. etcetc. but also the grief and the tender scenes….. i’ll never forget that One scene with all the planes of the people who died ascending up into the sky :(((( yeah. this movie is so good and so underrated and i think toji would love it sooooo damn bad

nobara - whisper of the heart / the cat returns

had to give my best girl the best movie <333 being whisper of the heart. but since the cat returns is connected to it and also very nobaracoded i thought i’d go with both!!!! the cat returns is just so funnnn and since nobara is a cat person i think it’s perfect for her!! i can imagine her watching it as a kid and having a crush on both the protag AND the baron lmao. she watches it for comfort now n then <33

and whisper of the heart…. my favorite ghibli movie Of All Time <333 it’s sooo nostalgic and coming-of-age as a genre is very Her. there are so many fun lovely scenes that i think noba would like :((( idk if she’d actually like romance movies bUT. shizuku’s journey with writing and growing up and finding more control in her life feels very nobara. she’s true to herself!!!! i think nobara would hateeee seiji tho rip to him 💀💀 these movies just bring me soooo much comfort and nobara does too <333

megumi - ponyo

THIS ONE IS JUST SO. yeah. the nature themes?? the sea???? the fishes?????? everything is so megumi i could see him loving this movie soso much :(((( he’s embarrassed to admit it but it’s his comfort movie. he loves the scene w the ramen…. idk the vibes here are just very gumi. again!!! the sea!!!! the sea rising to the surface!!!!!! all the underwater scenes are so vibrant and pretty….. ALSO THE ABSENT FATHERISM? yeah. megumi is ponyocoded. he loves it so much <33 watches it with yuji and nobara and feels so cozy. baby boy.

mai - kiki’s delivery service

you know i had to give this one to her <333 momo and miwa and her watch it for sure. ANOTHER one of my Absolute Favs btw and it’s just!! yeah. it’s mai. what can i say. the witches and cats and also just the whole theme of being thrust into a completely new environment??? having to adjust???? and the difficulty kiki has with that…. her eventual burnout :(((( it just reminds me a bit of mai’s life. i think she’d love to run away to a completely different country… find a place where she feels wanted and loved. sniffle. i love this girl w all my heart :(((( i like to think that her and maki watched this one as kids…. maki likes the more action-leaning ghibli movies more but she would watch it to make mai happy. i love them.

takaba - pompoko

aaaand finally!!!! a silly movie for a silly meowmeow :3 NO BUT ACTUALLY THOUGHH CAN WE PLS TALK ABOUT THIS MOVIE . I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO LOVES IT RIGHT…. it’s just so funny and sooooo weird but also soso heartfelt and that’s takaba down to a tee!!! the japanese mythology elements made me think of kenny too….. this movie is both kenny and takaba coded i think. they’d both love it. BUT YEAH I JUST THINK THIS MOVIE IS VERY HIM…. the tanukis and their lil adventures :3 but also the spooky scenes. and the struggles they face!! when humans destroy their homes!!!! takaba would watch this movie and he would cry. sweet sweet puppy of a man.