#i wanna go back to the era of good game shows with no prize

[therealmichaelangelo]

whatever happened to total wipeout? i feel like those were simpler times

[shoichee]

Hey! I read your Kise imagine recently and I adore it, it's rare to see someone write about manga!kise and I really loved it. Furthermore your writing is so so good to read 🥰 I wanted to ask you Kise x reader prompt 1! I would really like to read about him in such a situation ☺ Thank you Iain advance 😘

WAHHH TYSM ANON <33 IM SO HAPPY HEHE, and phew yall thought asshole kise was something but... have yall heard of TEIKO-era asshole kise??! NO?? dw, bc he’s debuting here // i wanted to really showcase his dual sides through more of dialogue (so we won’t really see what’s in Kise’s mind for this), so here it is hope you enjoy this anon! 

Kise x Reader

Prompt: “We’re not just friends and you fucking know it.”

Word Count: 2120

prompt list here

»»—————　☼　—————««

“We’re not just friends and you fucking know it, Kise.”

“Huh?” he mocks with a condescending tone. “I didn’t peg you as someone who’d pull shit out of their ass like my last ‘ex-girlfriend.’ Just because I let you hang around me doesn’t mean you can parade around campus with an inflated ego.”

Your hands shake furiously at your sides, trying not to punch the basketball player square in the face.

“Me? With an ego? Look who’s damn talking!” you seethe. “I’m tired of the fact that we keep playing this stupid flirting game for months, only for it to go absolutely nowhere!”

“Have you ever stopped to use your brain and think about how flirting inherently is done in good casual fun?” Kise explains slowly, implying that you were the immature one in the situation. “Meanwhile, you have the audacity to get mad at me when you’re the one who’s using me for your own selfish gain!” Kise sends a heated glare but his eyes were tinged with betrayal.

“What the hell are you even talking about? Are you out of your mind?”

“Fuck this,” he scoffs, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. “I’m leaving, I’m not dealing with this shit anymore. If you want attention, I’m not gonna entertain you anymore.”

“No, you will not leave!” you yell, trying to stop Kise in his tracks. He merely ignores you as he holds up a hand to do a wave with his back to you. “You’re going to explain what the hell you were talking about!”

You sprinted and held onto his sleeve to tug him back to face you, only to be met by the most bone-chilling gaze from him. You would’ve absolutely cowered in his presence if it wasn’t for the fact that you were irrationally angry from the false accusations Kise threw at you prior. You can definitely tell that Kise was biting his inner cheek to keep himself reasonably calm.

“Ryōta,” you say.

“Don’t call me by my first name anymore,” he says flatly.

“Where did you get the idea that I was using you?”

“Hah! Why? Does it matter? Are you gonna go to them and try to threaten them after? It’s so clear from the way you’re talking right now that you only see me as a prize to show off.” You inhale a huge breath to stop yourself from saying something you’ll regret.

“I never saw you as some object, Ryōta,” you mildly scoff. “Let me make myself clear. All I wanted was a clear answer from you every time I asked you if you wanted something serious, but every single damn time, you changed the subject or never answered the question!”

“It’s all done in good fun. Does it really need to be serious?”

“But I want something serious with you!”

Kise merely turns away in silence, but you can see his body slightly tremble.

“... Ryōta?”

“Don’t lie to me like that…” he says, slightly sucking a breath. “... Look, if you really wanna use me to boost your popularity, just… just come clean, okay? I’ll go along with it if you tell me now. After all, we’ve been… good friends.”

“Lie? Why would I lie? I never thought once of using you or having any motives other than to get to know you personally as a friend, Ryōta,” you say, looking down on the grip you had on his sleeve still.

“What reason is there to know someone like this other than to activate a ticking time bomb while playing a game to pass that time? Isn’t that how it’s always been? Isn’t that what we are right now?”

Your senses tell you that something deeper beyond this surface argument has been troubling him. You slowly let go of his sleeve, before turning away with a sigh, leaving Kise absolutely confused.

“I think we both need to cool our heads,” you sigh. “We’ve both said too much, and… just… forget what I said, okay? And I’ll forget about what you told me.” Kise’s eyes widen at your statement.

“(y/n)-cchi…?”

“We can still do light-hearted banter like we always do the next time we see each other, okay Kise?” Your fists on your sides tremble before you hold up your head to give him a cheerful smile that’s eerily all too familiar to his own. You turn to walk away, but his heart squeezes painfully at the sight of your back to him like this. You’re so far from him. So far.

“Hold it, now…” he says, slightly sprinting to catch up to you. He grabs your hand, still balled tightly by your side. “You’re cruel, you know that? Demanding me not to leave but then leaving the conversation on your own accord? You’re a hypocrite.” He spins you around to see your eyes barely struggling to hold back fresh tears. Little did he know that your countenance was a mirror to his own.

“... Our heads aren’t in the right place, Kise. You should probably let go.”

“I probably should, huh…” he says, but still giving no sign that he was actually going through with it.

“Knowing you, you’d really hold my fist until someone has to actually separate you from me.”

“And knowing you, you’d probably punch me before anyone else had the chance to do so.”

“You know me so well, hm?” you muse, a tiny curl of your lip a different world than the one you gave moments before.

“... No,” he says with a slight frown. “I don’t think I know you well enough.”

“I don’t know you enough either, Kise.”

Silence falls between the two of you, frail as thin ice, before you eventually break it.

“... You’re right, this whole friendship we have right now… it’s a time bomb. It’s bound to fail and fall apart.”

“W-Wait,” Kise slightly says in shock. “That was… I didn’t mean it like—”

“No healthy relationship of any kind would last if we keep dancing around each other like this. I wanna be honest with you for once… I… don’t wanna do this banter anymore. I don’t wanna do these flirting games. I’m kinda tired of it. Especially when you always keep me at a distance.”

“Pfft, (y/n)-cchi,” he snorts loudly, flashing his sunny smile. “I’m practically so close to you holding your hand!”

“You know exactly what I mean,” you sigh, and you avert your gaze away. “You feel so far. I just… you feel so out of reach even when I’m in the same room as you… even as of now. I just want to know where we’ll end up.”

You firmly shake his grip off you, watching his hand falling back to his side as he does nothing but stare at you. You don’t know if he’s angry, offended, or shocked, but whatever his expression was, you couldn’t tell, not when you still stared at the concrete to the side rather than at him.

“Of course I wanna be friends with you,” you continue. “But can you blame me for believing that there’s something more between us when we do romantic gestures and flirting for months on end? If we’re just going to be friends, that’s fine, but I’d prefer if you’d also stop addressing me with -cchi, just to draw a clear boundary between us.” You finally look up to see Kise, but to your own shock, he looks quite bitter.

“You say that you’re confused about what we are, but then you go prattle to everyone else that you’re my significant other when we haven’t even talked a single thing about being a serious thing. You’re so fucking confusing.”

“I… did no such thing?” Your eyes, still puffy from the tear ducts, shine in genuine bewilderment.

“You… didn’t?”

“Are you kidding me? Are you fucking kidding me right now?”

“I… um… oh…” All he could do was to stand there completely stupefied, mouth gaping as multiple realizations suddenly hit him like bricks. He rubs his neck as he shamefully looks away.

“So tell me,” you slowly say, giving him a more bone-chilling gaze than the one he gave you. “What exactly have you been hearing in the hallways?” You both stand there in silence again as Kise struggles to think of a way to explain it without sounding completely dumb.

“Okay, look… I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have listened to the rumors so easily, especially since I despise them too, but… they were about you, and I just couldn’t help myself…” he mumbles. “I don’t know, I… the thought of you getting close to me to use me really, really hurts.”

“And you thought just cutting me off on the spot was the most reasonable decision you can think of?”

“H-Hey…! Don’t put it like that! I thought I knew you well, but when I heard what people gossiped, my mind just went somewhere, and I thought maybe I misread you at some point. If you really did have ulterior motives, cutting you off wouldn’t be as easy as that other girl. Because I… w-wait! Where are you going?!”

“Home, Kise,” you flatly say. “It’s after school after all.”

“At least hear what I have to say!” He tries to catch up with you, but you only speed walk to outpace him. “Let me explain myself!”

“Hypocrite~” you say, using Kise’s mocking voice. “I don’t recall you letting me explain myself in the beginning.”

“(y/n)-cchi, I’m sorry! I’ll pay for all the outings we’ll do this week! And um… I’ll always talk to you if something’s bothering me—don’t ignore me!”

“Didn’t I tell you not to use -cchi?” you sigh, stopping abruptly, causing Kise to accidentally bump against you. “I’ll forgive you, but we’re still only friends. I guess I’ll apologize for assuming things on my end, too.” Kise drops his head on your shoulder from behind, and you only roll your eyes in amusement at the familiar contact. “Oh dear, Kise. I didn’t think you were the type to be so clingy after a fight.”

“Okay, I’ll ‘fess up,” he says, voice muffled by your uniform blazer. “Even though we’ve always gotten along so well, there’s always been a part of me who’s been on the lookout for any possible signs that you only saw me for my reputation. While I enjoyed having you around, I had always been ready to cut you off if I saw anything suspicious, but… lately the thought of letting you go ached so much… and then I heard what the other students were talking about… how you were acting the entire time… how you somehow screwed over other people before… couldn’t really think properly after that.”

“Boo hoo,” you huff. “Do you want a kiss to make you feel better?”

“... I actually do.”

“I think our heads haven’t completely cooled down. I’m going ahead.” You were about to walk away, even though you very much enjoyed his head on your shoulder, but his arms wrap around you to stop moving any further from his side.

“You said that you wrongly assumed what we were…” he whispers. “But you’re actually right. We’ve been more than friends for a while without me really acknowledging it,” he chuckles at your groan, “I guess you really do know me well… I’m really attached to you… but it’s not fair that you’re so collected even when I’m hugging you like this.”

“Kise, you’re an idiot, do you know that?” you snort. “How are you hugging me but not noticing how fast my heart is beating?”

“H-Hey! Can you call me by my first name again? I said it without really thinking, okay? It hurts me every time you do that.” He gives the most comical pout, but you only punch the top of his head on your shoulder before walking ahead.

“I’m still mad at you. I’m going home.”

“(y/n)-cchi, w-wait! Let me walk you home, then!”

“Don’t call me that either. I’m still mad at you.”

“But aren’t we dating now? I can call you that if we’re a thing.”

“But I’m still mad. You still said all those horrible things, and that stung. You think you’re the only one hurting right now?”

“I’m really, really sorry! I’ll make it up to you, and I won’t say anything like that again, and…”

“You’re not being really convincing.”

“I know I was being immature and the one with the inflated ego, and I said things that aren’t remotely true—”

You sigh before you turn back to a panicking Kise behind you.

“Then you better make it up to me by cuddling me and telling me some sweet nothings, because I can really use that right now, Ryōta.”

[feminist-propaganda]

Single Mothers Will Probably Cry During Every Episode Of Queen’s Gambit - Episode 6

“Men are gonna come along and wanna teach you things” predicts Alice at the beginning of Episode 6. “Doesn’t make them any smarter” she continues. “In most ways, they’re not. But it makes them feel bigger. They can show you how things are done. You just let them blow by and you go on ahead and do what the hell you feel like”.

 Little Beth listens carefully. 

“It takes a strong woman to stay by herself in a world where people will settle for anything just to say they have something.”

As she finishes her sentence, the camera zooms out and we see her finishing the embroidery of Beth’s name onto the dress. Beth smiles, and her mother says “There we are”. She’s almost finished her project.

Episode 6 : Learn From Straight White Men

To survive under capitalism, it is necessary to learn from those who created it, ie Straight White men. Many feminists might want to avoid capitalism all together, and avoid the mentorship of White men, which they don’t find useful. But Beth’s mother understands that to truly extract oneself from the oppresive system she is in, Beth first needs to navigate that system. 

In the first part of the episode, we see Beth ride with Benny to New York. He seems good for her. He doesn’t let her drink. He improves her chess. He introduces her to his friends. 

A bunch of people don’t know this, but New York’s original name was New Amsterdam and it was founded by the Dutch. 

The city, like Mexico, is symbolically chosen in the mini-series, as it is the epicenter of modern day capitalistic activities.

The Netherlands was a poor nation swamp up until the 1600s, when the Dutch figured out that they could trade goods, ensure the boats that transported the goods they traded and then eventually created the stock market. To this day, Amsterdam remains the international capital of financial technology. Every year, hundreds of higly skills migrants from countries like India, Turkey, China or Greece come to Amsterdam to develop faster robots to trade at higher rates for trust funds and billionaires.

Trading changed the Netherlands forever. It launched what some history books still call the “Golden age” which is now being deconstructed as a racist era, where the Dutch played a key role in organizing the trans-atlantic slave trade. 

Even though modern day Dutch society likes to downplay the role the Netherlands played in the slave trade, it is proven that the Netherlands became immensely rich thanks to the slave trade. They were experts in importing the coffee and sugar that was grown by the slaves and trading it inside of Europe.

New York, is the projection of the Dutch dream in the West. It is the home of Wall Street, where we find the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as well as the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ), which is the same as the stock exchange only this time we let the robots to the high frequency automatic trading for us (yup).

In 1904-1905, right when Einstein was discovering the photoelectric effect in Germany, a man called Max Weber coined the phrase “the protestant work ethic”.

According to the theory of the “The protestant work ethic”, it is believed that there is something in protestant culture that encourages protestant communities to work very hard. As a result, a great deal of “ excess” is produced, and these goods can then be traded. According to this theory, the inventors of capitalism were just very hard working people, who accidentally made too much of something, and started selling it in a very organized way (the stock market). Then they became rich.

Martin Luther King disagrees:

“We have deluded ourselves into believing the myth that capitalism grew and prospered out of the Protestant ethic of hard work and sacrifice. The fact is that capitalism was built on the exploitation and suffering of black slaves and continues to thrive on the exploitation of the poor — both black and white, here and abroad.”

As the car pulls up in Benny’s street, and looking at these ever so simple Brownstone houses, I am reminded of the myths that protestants like to perpetuate about themselves. “We work so hard!” “We’re such simple people” “We eat stew” “My grandfather used to raise pigs”.

The never ending lies that protestants propagate about their work ethic serves an important purpose in White Supremacy. It tries to convince us that the wealth isn’t unequally distributed. That the privileges that the ruling class have are deserved, rather than stolen.

Benny is the ambassador of these White Men. He lives ever so simply. He offers Beth a mattress to sleep on the floor. He lives in a basement. There is no decoration on the walls. There are only the prizes he’s won at his competitions and tournaments, and some magazine covers. Again, the underlying subtext here is that Benny works hard, lives frugally, and deserves all of the awards he’s won.

Instead of resenting Benny, Beth accepts to learn from him, just like her mother told her to. She looks around his house, but doesn’t say a word, doesn’t judge. She’s here for a purpose, she’s here to take everything that he has in his head, and bring it with her to Paris to win against the Soviets.

She seems dissociated from the situation most of the time. The only time we see her getting a bit excited is when she meets the French model. Again, it’s the high fashion that seems to attract her, as if it’s a sign, an indication of something grander and more appropriate, something that she needs to follow. 

An adjournement in Chess, which is also the name of the episode, is when a player secretely puts his move into a sealed enveloppe after 5/6 hours of game. The players resume their play the following day. 

Towards the middle of the episode we find Beth right where we met her: in Paris. She plays her matches and makes it to the final with Borgov. Unfortunately, on the day before the final, she meets the French model from Benny’s, drinks and is so hangovered the next day she makes a fool of herself. Not even the two tranquilizers she takes before coming down from her hotel room can help her.

Losing to Borgov in Paris destroys Beth. She goes back to Kentucky and drinks her life away. By the end of the episode she looks sick. 

She’s probably discouraged because she’s gotten to the end of her mother’s advice for this episode. She followed the White Man, and all of his advice. She met him in the capital of capitalism, learned everything that was in his head. She even met his friends. She copied his cool. She became him. When she meets the french model in the hotel, they are themselves being the men they seek. They smoke, they drink pastis, they casually talk about fucking.

It’s also worth noting that by losing to Borgov, Beth isn’t failing Benny. He never won against Borgov either. Her presence at these tournaments is already the best that he’s ever achieved for himself. This is also why Benny’s teachings alone won’t get her past Paris, beyond the iron curtain, to Moscow and beyond. He’s never been where she needs to go, where her mother wants her to be. How can he take her there?

A single mother will tell her children to learn from the White Man, but she isn’t telling them to be the White Man. The White Man is probably the reason why she’s single in the first place, why she’s alone. The single mother tells her children to learn the White Man’s way to survive in his world first and then to unbuild it.

Single mothers are often poor, so they understand capitalism very well.  They understand that often times money does buy happiness. It gives you security. Strength even. And joy. Beth can’t extract herself from Kentucky, the deep south, segregation and the feminine mystique if she doesn’t have cash.

After she comes back from Paris, Beth finds Mr Wheatley is looking for her. He needs money and wants the house back. She buys his share from him and calls him pathetic. it’s another sign that she’s outgrown the men she used to learn from.

Now there is nothing else but the void, the emptiness beyond her, and she doesn’t know where else to go. It can be overwhelming and Beth copes with alcohol. Who could judge her?

[ughh-m]

Tag Game

rules: answer 10 questions, tag 10 mutuals to answer 10 questions you write

Thanks babeee @xiaocity 💓

1. color that describes your personality?

Probably blue? yeah i guess it’s blue!

2. a book, movie, or tv show whose world you wanted to be a part of?

WOW! ALOT! no seriously too many, but there’s this book, one of my friends recommend me cause the main character reminded him of me, called Hopeless. and he was right it was like reading myself in another life.

3. what is a childhood trait of yours you wish you still had today? 

Innocence. 

4. your most favorite or treasured piece of clothing?

My class’ senior year hoodie♡

5. if you had to give your life so far a title, what would it be?

Hopeless? Void? idk smth along those lines 

6. top 3 songs right now?

Love like that - Lauv Mayday - Victon Those were the days - Mary Hopkin

7. what is a food you have a good memory with and why?

Koshary. a local dish and it’s alwaaaaaays accompanied with good memories, cause it’s always messy and full of laughs when we have it.

8. what au do you think you would be a part of? 

Vampire au , soulmates au , enemies-to-lovers au

9. what color would you associate with happiness and why?

Blue! cause like, it’s pure, bright and full of vibrant energy, signifies hope, color of the sun, the oceans, it’s soft but powerful and just HAPPY!

10. if you could change your hair color to literally anything with no damage, what would it be and why?

I.WANT.TO.TRY.ALL.THE.COLORS!!!! but if i had to pick only one, i’d go with silver cause idk i’ve been wanting that for long!

Tagging @randomgirlwriting @lilyunhowrites @the-impossible-bitch @itsakpopalypse @dubiouscomfort if you guys want to! (i really need to make more friends omg😅)

1. What’s your favorite flower?

2. If you could have only one superpower, what would you want and why?

3. What’s your favorite animated movie? does it have a certain significance to you?

4. Do you have any objects or traditions that are passed down throughout your family?

5. List three of your favorite memories.

6. If you could go back in time, what era would you wanna live in?

7. Create a playlist that you'd associate with 'rainy days'.

8. What are your biggest pet peeves?

9. What is your most prized possession?

10. Recommend five underrated songs that you love.

[theresaplatypuscontrollingme]

Lover Review (Long Post Warning)

Now that I’ve listened to the complete album six times today, I feel qualified enough to review it. Spoiler Alert: I FUCKING LOVE IT. 9.4/10

1. I Forgot That You Existed (10/10)

Favorite Lyric:  

And I would've stuck around for ya Would've fought the whole town, so yeah Would've been right there, front row Even if nobody came to your show

Favorite Vocals: I’m obssesed with how she sings “ And I thought that it would kill me, but it didn't” in the last chorus. Love it so much 13/10

Overall Thoughts: I love this song. It’s catchy and was the one that was stuck in my head after finally going to bed at 2:30. I get excited every time i realize it’s coming back on next.

2. Cruel Summer (10/10)

Favorite Lyric: “I don’t wanna keep secrets just to keep you”

Favorite Vocals: When she shouts “he looks up grinning like a devil” is a religious experience. So into it.  

Overall Thoughts: It’s fun and sounds very 1989.

3. Lover (10/10)

Favorite Lyric: “Have I known you 20 seconds or 20 years”

Favorite Vocals: “Swear to be over dramatic and true to my lover And you'll save all your dirtiest jokes for me” my favorite lines to hear and sing.

Overall Thoughts: gorgeous song. If I ever get married I would play this at my wedding. very romantic

4. The Man (10/10)

Favorite Lyric:

“They'd say I hustled, put in the work They wouldn’t shake their heads and question how much of this I deserve” (YOU DESERVE ALL OF THIS TAYLOR ilysm)

Favorite Vocals:  

“What's it like to brag about raking in dollars And getting bitches and models? And it's all good if you're bad And it's okay if you're mad If I was out flashing my dollars I'd be a bitch, not a baller”

Overall Thoughts: I was kinda worried about this song before hearing it but I’m obsessed. Beat: amazing. Lyrics: fantastic and so truthful. vocals: fabulous.

5. The Archer (8/10)

Favorite Lyric:

“All the king's horses, all the king's men Couldn't put me together again 'Cause all of my enemies started out friends”

Favorite Vocals: “I say I don’t want that but what if I do”

Overall Thoughts: it’s pretty. I love synth pop so i’m very into the sound of it. It doesn’t strike me as a true track five though. Not enough of a story for me. All too Well was so descriptive and had such raw emotion that you can just feel listening to it. This definitely has the emotion but lacks to the description to really transport me somewhere.

6. I Think He Knows (10/10)

Favorite Lyric: “I am an architect, I'm drawing up the plans”

Favorite Vocals:  

“Lyrical smile, indigo eyes, hand on my thigh We could follow the sparks, I'll drive ‘So where we gonna go?’ I whisper in the dark”

Overall Thoughts: This is the other song that was stuck in my head from my first 2 listens. Dress was a sultry “sexy” song and this is playful af. Definitely gonna be dancing to this in my kitchen until to the end of time.

7. Miss America & The Heartbreak Prince (10/10)

Favorite Lyrics:

“ You play stupid games, you win stupid prizes”

American stories burning before me I'm feeling helpless, the damsels are depressed Boys will be boys then, where are the wise men? Darling, I'm scared (Ah)

Favorite Vocals:  

It's you and me, that's my whole world They whisper in the hallway, "She's a bad, bad girl"

and when she sings

“just thought you should know”

Overall Thoughts: WOW. this song is fantastic and every time i listen I find something else I love about it. also same to “darling I’m scared” because America is terrifying right now. The lyrics and vocals are both so strong. this song also reminds me of another song but i can’t put my finger on it yet. at first I thought it was a little gwen stefani(hollaback girl) and then i was thinking cher llyod and then i was like maybe it’s pink(the Truth About Love)? Still can’t think of the song it makes me think of but I’ll figure it out sometime.

8. Paper Rings 30/10 Just kidding that would throw off my scoring but (10/10)

Favorite Lyric: “ I hate accidents except when we went from friends to this”

Favorite Vocals:  “ In paper rings in picture frames in dirty dreams”

Overall Thoughts: I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this song. I’ve listened to it 6 times and cried 3 out of the six. This song is so reminiscent of the fearless era to me that it just reminds me of being 15. I feel like I’m 15 again listening to this. it’s like I’m transported back before all the bad shit in my life really started to happen. Then it makes me think about all the teens who are 15 now and getting to experience this song and this feeling and then i cry for 10 minutes lol. I cried typing this.

9. Cornelia Street (10/10)

Favorite Lyric:  “We bless the rains on Cornelia Street”

Favorite Vocals:

I hope I never lose you, hope it never ends I'd never walk Cornelia Street again

Overall Thoughts: I was so happy to hear this song! this is the RED type of soundtrack that I spent months wishing for. (im very happy with what we got but red is my favorite album in existence so i’m hoping for more of that some day.) It gives me major RED vibes and reminds me of starlight a little bit. I love the imagery as well. I’ve never been to Cornelia St but i can picture it. I’m transported. MORE OF THIS PLEASE.

10. Death By a Thousand Cuts (10/10)

Favorite Lyric:

“I look through the windows of this love Even though we boarded them up”

Favorite Vocals:

“My heart, my hips, my body, my love Tryna find a part of me that you didn't touch”

“Our songs, our films, united we stand Our country, guess it was a lawless land”

Overall Thoughts: I loved it from the first time I heard it and I really love the arrangement of this song. I also just found a quote saying that she wrote it about Someone Great and that makes me love it even more because I’m totally obsessed with that movie. Whenever I have a conversation about Tv with someone, I’m alway like “HAVE YOU WATCHED SOMEONE GREAT????? Why not?/? What are you doing with your life because it’s perfect.” This song is also perfect.

11. London Boy (10/10)

Favorite Lyric:  

“They say home is where the heart is But that's not where mine lives”

Favorite Vocals:  “ Just wanna be with you Wanna be with you”

Overall Thoughts: This sweet. I know nothing about London geography but I’m rooting for Taylor and her London Boy. Their relationship is adorable and I’m glad they’re happy! This song is gonna be really fun at tour.

12. Soon You’ll Get Better (Featuring the Dixie Chicks) (10/10)

Favorite Heartbreaking Lyric:

“And I hate to make this all about me But who am I supposed to talk to? What am I supposed to do If there's no you?”

Favorite Melody:

“I'll paint the kitchen neon, I'll brighten up the sky I know I'll never get it, there's not a day that I won't try”

Overall Thoughts: so many emotions. When we got the Dixie Chicks easter egg, it was the song i was most excited for... until I realized that the song they would be featured on was this one. I was expecting Goodbye Earl and I got Traveling Soilder. OUCH. This breaks my heart and I really hope that Andrea does get better. losing someone is terrible and I’m praying it’s something Taylor and her family don’t have to experience for many many many years. I’m not religious but praying for you.

13. False God (4/10) oww sorry

Favorite Lyric: ?IAMCONFUSION.

Favorite Vocals: the whole thing sounds great.

Overall Thoughts: I don’t really like this song? it’s just kinda meh. it feels jarring to hear after Soon You’ll Get Better and I DON’T GET IT? like it makes me feel dumb. I’ve listened to it 6 times and still don’t know. When I heard it the second time I was like Oh I Forgot That You Existed. Then I was just confused.  What is the false god... is it her.. is it new york city, is the love? I don’t know. Why is she singing from the point of view of the city? This song stresses me out which is a really bummer because I love how the vocals sound but then i listen to the lyrics and get frustrated. Also the only song I wanted to skip all six times. I think part of it is just placement though. after soon you’ll get better i’m not in the mood for this especially when I know there are better songs coming up and I want to hear them now. Someone explain this to me if you get it because i’m lost.

14. You Need to Calm Down (10/10)

Favorite Lyric:  

“Say it in the street, that's a knock-out But you say it in a Tweet, that's a cop-out”

Favorite Vocals:  “Why are you mad when you could be GLAAD? (You could be GLAAD)”

Overall Thoughts: Love it. Such a jam. Loved the music video.

15. Afterglow (10/10)

Favorite Lyric: “Meet me in the afterglow”

Favorite Vocals:  

“This ultraviolet morning light below Tells me this love is worth the fight, oh”

Overall Thoughts: I love this. One of my favorites on the album. It’s like a more pop sounding Back to December with a possibility of a positive outcome. Back to December was like i’m sorry i wish i could take it back and this is like I’m sorry can we fix this and meet in the afterglow! Meeting in the afterglow sounds so poetic and light. It brings imagery and peace to my mind and I’m all about it.

16. ME! (Featuring Brendon Urie) (9/10)

Favorite Lyric: “Livin' in winter, I am your summer”

Favorite Vocals:

“I know that I went psycho on the phone I never leave well enough alone And trouble's gonna follow where I go”

Overall Thoughts: I liked Spelling Is FUN. fight me. still gonna yell it at tour. I would have liked a little more complexity in the lyrics though... while keeping spelling is fun.

17. It’s Nice To Have a Friend (9/10)

Favorite Lyric:

“Light pink sky, up on the roof Sun sinks down, no curfew”

Favorite Vocals: the whole song is my favorite vocal because it’s amazing and it sounds great. (I said this like how craig from parks and rec said this is my friend madison she amazing and SHE DROVE ME HERE. it��s very important that you read it like that because that’s how I meant it. IT’S GREAT)

Overall Thoughts: Apparently every one at secret sessions didn’t like this song but I love it. Also saw a couple people describe it as creepy sounding which WHAT? are we listening to the same song??? I think it sounds romantic and gives me the imagery I want. I can picture this love. it’s innocent and wonderful. Very light and very airy sounding. Kinda gives me a Marina vibe which I love. Only complaint is I wish it were longer.

18. Daylight (10/10)

Favorite Lyric:  

“I wounded the good and I trusted the wicked Clearing the air, I breathed in the smoke”

Favorite Vocals: I’m living for the entire bridge.

Overall Thoughts: YES YES YES. This should have been track 5 but I also understand having it at the end as a valid choice as well. ALSO SHE MENTIONED RED. okay je suis calme but this song is beautiful and i’m just so happy and so proud of you Taylor. I cried at the end. “You are what you love” I have loved her music since I was 12 and now at 25 it still means so much to me. it’s been a vital part of my life and honestly the only reason i’m alive right now.  Thank you.  

OVERALL THOUGHTS: if you’re still reading by now bless you because I’m rambling. I truly love this Album. it’s got some solid bops and some beautiful poetic songs. I think my favorite songs so far are

I Forgot that you existed #1BOP

Paper Rings #1emotioninvoking

Daylight #1lyrics

170 out 180 which means that this album is a 9.4 in my opinion!!!!

Taylor if you read this, I love you. Your music means so much to me. It’s gotten me through so much. I really hope your Mom does get better.  ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡  

[themurphyzone]

Mayor Murphy Ch 4

Don’t think I’ve forgiven you, Coco....I’M REPLACING YOU WITH A TEAPOT ELEPHANT! SEE HOW YOU LIKE IT!!!!!

Ahem. There’s been some...drama in my personal town. 

Oh, and I finally have the T&T Emporium.

Ch 4- The Official Mayor

“Let the festivities begin, everybody!” Isabelle shouted, the other animals cheering. They swarmed the buffet table, knocking paper plates and utensils over as they scrambled for food. 

A white dog twirled a record on his paw, slipping his shades down and scratching out a beat. “Who is that?” Zack asked an alligator as he grabbed slices of cheese. “He knows how to make some really awesome beats!”

The alligator froze, a toothpick hanging in his mouth in surprise. “Humph. Don’t tell me you’ve never heard of K.K. Slider before, gronk.”

“Uh, where I come from dogs don’t usually DJ. And my name’s not Gronk. It’s Zack,” Zack said awkwardly, holding out his hand.  

“Right. You’re one of the mayor’s buddies. Name’s Del,” he said gruffly, giving a curt handshake. 

Zack quickly pulled a letter from his backpack. “Oh, so you were my pen pal then. Nook also said I’d be rooming with you.” 

Del scarfed down a sandwich, burping. “So you’re Zack. Can’t say you look like the musician type.” 

Zack laughed. “I get that a lot. I take it you’ve never heard of the Lumberzacks then?” He piled a delicious looking salad on his own plate, then topped it off with croutons. “Just about everybody back home sings our songs.”

“Never mentioned any lumber in your letter,” Del said. “Tell ya what. Show me one of your songs sometime and I’ll introduce you to K.K. Slider’s greatest hits.” 

“Deal.”

The white doe from the train station sat next to Melissa, her legs curling to the side in a ladylike fashion. “Pardon. Your name is Melissa, correct? I am Diana, named for the goddess of the hunt from ancient times.” She sipped her tea, setting the cup down on a floral-patterned saucer with a soft clink. 

“Uh, yes?” Melissa raised an eyebrow. “I’m from Swamp City. Named for, um, I have no idea.” 

“Well then, Melissa from the faraway land of Swamp City, you are to be my roommate for the next several moons. I sincerely hope we can form the greatest of kinships in Crossing Valley.” Diana enunciated each syllable carefully, her high-pitched voice raised slightly so Melissa could hear over the music. 

Melissa smirked at the odd diction. “Is that how you say friendship around here? Because I hope so too.”

Diana laughed, a polished hoof covering her mouth. “Oho! Yes dearie, that is merely my personal way of, as you say, establishing a friendship. Now, I must admit that I am curious about this Milo you always wrote about in your correspondence. Is he your boyfriend, no doy?” 

Nearly spewing her lemonade from her mouth, Melissa choked and quickly swallowed. “No, Diana. We’re just friends. We’ve known each other since elementary school.” 

Not skipping a beat, Diana asked, “Is the boy talking to Del your boyfriend?” 

“Again. We’re friends. That is all,” Melissa said plainly. “Nothing more, nothing less. So I’d appreciate it if you didn’t try to matchmake me over the summer.” 

“Duly noted,” Diana replied. “I deeply apologize for asking those silly questions.” 

“It’s cool,” Melissa said. “So you’re the oldest child, huh? What’s that like?” 

Diana tilted her head back, a handkerchief held to her forehead. “Absolutely chaos! Why, let me tell you what Deirdre did when she was but a tiny fawn. It started when I made the mistake of letting her into my prized makeup bag....”

“Oh my gosh! I’m actually rooming with a real ape! I can put together a Time Ape cosplay for you. But first I’d need the right kind of fabric and some felt for the stopwatch head!” Sara squealed. 

“I’ve always wanted to cosplay,” Cesar said, awed. “I don’t know how to make my own outfits though.”

“I’m thinking I could just make it like the hat Milo’s got,” Sara mused. “I wouldn’t want to cover up your mustache.”

Cesar preened, stroking the pointed end with a large finger. “It takes a lot of time and a generous dollop of mustache wax to maintain this beauty, highness.” 

Sara nodded. “I’ll bet. And that goatee is perfectly trimmed too.”

Cesar flicked his hand at her. “Flatterer. I’m glad SOME people recognize perfection when they see it!” He raised his voice, glaring at Coco, who was ladling punch nearby. “See, bunny? She knows my facial hair is the epitome of manliness!” 

Red liquid dribbled down Coco’s face as she drank the punch. Sara stuffed her mouth with crackers, trying to ignore the creepy atmosphere that just radiated off Coco.

“There is another who boasts a mustache far more fabulous than yours,” Coco intoned. Cesar went blue with shock, dropping to his knees. She turned to Sara. “Hello, I don’t think I’ve ever heard your name.”

“Um, Sara Murphy,” she chuckled nervously, extending her hand as a friendly gesture. Coco grasped it slowly, and it took all of Sara’s willpower not to pull away as she felt every dry pore and crack on Coco’s hand. “Enjoying yourself?” 

“Oh yes,” Coco said. She let go of Sara’s hand to refill her cup. The song changed to a jaunty salsa tune. “This is one of my favorites! You wanna dance?” 

“No, but thanks for the offer,” Sara said. Coco danced, though her face didn’t change as she abruptly changed from swinging her hips to a more formal dance.

Sara bent down to help Cesar up. The ape was surprisingly light, dusting gravel off the bottom of his t-shirt. “If I ever find that guy who supposedly has a better mustache than me, he’s gonna get the Cesar Crash treatment!” he exclaimed, pounding his fist into his palm. 

“What’s the Cesar Crash?” Sara asked. 

Cesar gasped. “You don’t know my signature move? It’s only locally famous! Yo, Del! I need to demonstrate the Cesar Crash for my new roomie!” he called to the alligator, who snapped his jaws in irritation. 

“No, Cesar. I refuse to be on the receiving end of your ridiculous move,” Del growled, ignoring Cesar as he pleaded even further.

Milo looked up from his conversation with Marshal. “If it helps, I have a dummy you can demonstrate with so nobody gets hurt.” The top of his backpack burst, a giant inflatable platypus popping out. It settled on the ground, its mismatched eyes facing Cesar. “I meant to do that.” 

“Thanks a lot!” Cesar gave a hard slap to Milo’s back, sending him sprawling. “Uh, sorry bout that.” 

“No worries!” Milo grinned. “It’s not every day I get to talk to a gorilla, or a chimp, or whatever ape species you are.” 

“RIGHT!” Cesar bellowed. He tore off his shirt, beating his hairy chest. “LISTEN UP YOU GIANT BEAVER DUCK! HOW DARE YOU INSULT MY AWESOME MUSTACHE! PREPARE FOR THE ULTIMATE MOVE, THE MOTHER OF BEATDOWNS, THE HUMILIATION OF THE ERA-” 

Diana sniffed. “It is always uncouth no matter how many times he does this.”

“I take it this is a frequent occurrence?” Zack asked. 

“Last time this happened he destroyed all my Ms. Nintendique magazines!” Isabelle pouted. “I’ve collected those since puppyhood!” 

“-A ONE APE ARMY, THE CATALYST TO END ALL CATALYSTS, THE CESAR-”

Cesar drummed on his chest one more time, then stomped his feet before squatting. Narrowing his eyes, he barreled towards his opponent. “-CRASH!” He slammed into the bill of the platypus, bouncing off the rubbery material. Smacking his back against a nearby tree, he groaned. 

“Right, so now that we’ve settled that, it’s time to plant the tree!” Isabelle clapped her hands, pushing Milo towards the dirt mound in the center of the Plaza. 

Milo looked out towards the crowd. Marshal, Coco, and Cesar could barely contain their excitement. Diana and Del nodded, their happiness much more subdued. 

“I packed a spare fire extinguisher,” Sara said, holding up a red container. 

“And I have the masks and hoses,” Melissa said. 

“And I’ll be over there,” Zack gestured to a peach tree he could run and hide behind, but before he could get far Melissa grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled him back. 

Isabelle bowed and presented a small sapling to Milo. He cradled it carefully, dirt and roots crumbling in his hand. “Dear animals of Fortuna and our welcomed guests, it is our pleasure to plant this tiny sapling so that it will blossom and grow into a tall, beautiful tree to symbolize the growth of Fortuna! May you find fresh fruit and great catches for many months to come! Milo, step forward and plant the sapling with all your heart and soul,” Isabelle declared.

Everyone was waiting. This was it. He had new responsibilities ahead of him and new friends to make. Milo bent down to plant the sapling. 

As soon as his fingers brushed the topsoil, the leaves caught fire. Sara quickly put it out with the fire extinguisher. 

“The ceremonial sapling!” Isabelle shrieked, her paws flailing. “Ahem, it’s okay! Just a freak accident, folks! We’ll just use the backup ceremonial sapling!” She handed another sapling to Milo. 

“Okay, let’s see-yes, welcome one and all, metaphor for starting all over-we all know the drill,” Isabelle looked up from her cue cards. “Milo, if you’d please.” 

The backup ceremonial sapling was planted, but as soon as Milo stepped away, an angry mole popped out of the ground. Isabelle slumped over the remains of the sapling, a heavy cloud hanging over her. 

“Melissa, I think we found one of those mole people!” Milo called. “Hi. Me. Milo. Me. Friend. Made. Isabelle. Sad.” Each word was accompanied by grand hand gestures. 

The mole could only stare in shock before screaming his head off and twirl his pickaxe around. “OH, LOOK AT ME! I’m a surface dweller! I have opposable thumbs and good eyesight!” he mocked. “RESETTI’S my name and scolding’s my game! And since this WORM eating, brimstone crushing time stream got all wonky, it left me without a regular job! I used to YELL at humans who messed with the time stream too much without the PROPER precautions, but look at this poor mole now! Nothing to show for it but DIRTY hands and squinty eyes! So, new mayor, have a heart and give this poor, washed out soul his job back.” 

Isabelle turned around, her eyes a bright, flaming red. There were no pupils, just a soulless bloody void ready to devour whoever tried to oppose her. “YOU. HOW DARE YOU THREATEN THE NEW MAYOR!” she screamed, flames surrounding her in a beautiful, fiery vortex. Sara sprayed the contents of the fire extinguisher on her, but it simply dissipated in the flames. “LISTEN UP, CLOD! YOU DO NOT GO INTERRUPTING OUR CEREMONY AND YOU ESPECIALLY DO NOT DESTROY MY PLANTS! IN THE NAME OF SQUEAKY BONES AND TENNIS BALLS, I SHALL PUNISH YOU!” 

A wand with a bell on the tip appeared in her paw. She kissed it before stepping in front of Milo, tapping Resetti’s nose with the tip. “The belle of the ball stands out from all the rest to capture the heart of a handsome prince. I call upon her powers to bestow the same luck into banishing the party crasher! BANGING BELL BOOM!” 

Everyone covered their ears as a cacophony of invisible bells rang together to herald Resetti’s impending doom. A giant pair of wedding bells materialized out of the sky, the hollow end charging up and firing a giant yellow laser at Resetti. 

“THIS ISN’T THE LAST YOU’VE SEEN OF ME!” he screamed, ducking into the hole before the laser could engulf him. “DON’T MESS WITH THE TIME STREAM, YA HEAR?” His complaining faded away. 

“Oh my gosh!” Sara squealed. “Do you know what this means, Milo?”

“That the true secret to getting rid of moles is an angry canine secretary and bells?” Milo asked. 

Sara thought for a moment, then shrugged. “Well, yes. But also that we know a magical girl now! Dog? Magical animal? The real question is, what kind is she like? Senshi? Pretty Cure? Miraculous? I hope it’s not the kind that turns into giant monsters when they’ve been overwhelmed with despair.” 

“Actually the correct terminology is Fabulous Fauna!” Isabelle declared. Now that she had calmed down, Milo could see clearly that her outfit had changed into a golden crop top and skirt decorated with tiny bells. Pinned to her ears were several bluebell flowers. “We don’t really have secret identities. But enough about me. Plant the sapling, Milo!” 

Milo obliged, successfully planting the sapling this time. As a precaution, Sara roped off the area with police tape. Everyone clapped and cheered.

“Swing by Town Hall tomorrow so we can get you started on developing Fortuna,” Isabelle yawned. “I’ll be taking my leave now. Good night, Mayor Milo.”  

“We also need to talk to Nook tomorrow,” Sara said. “I can always sic Isabelle on him if he doesn’t cooperate.” 

“First it was the talking animals. Then the whole mayor thing. And now anime cliches,” Zack muttered. “I’m done for today. Night, Milo.”

It took Milo half an hour to say good night to everybody and lie down in his tent. He could hardly wait for the summer to begin! There were adventures waiting in Fortuna and Crossing Valley. 

There was definitely more than meets the eye. 

Isabelle the magical girl everyone. 

Cesar is just as nerdy as Sara. 

Coco is really sweet. I’m still mad at her for leaving...