#insert Time by Pink Floyd here

[iceagebaby]

let's say this is a celebration between Crowley Angst Day and the beginning of the pride month. As is of the cannon, Crowley is 7 years older than Halt. And in medieval times, lives were much more fragile, life spans shorter. — Halt doesn’t look like much at first. skinny, half-feral, beard already coming in despite being barely into adulthood. Crowley teases him from the start, and Halt bites back every time. It's immediate, electric, dangerous. They're on missions together and they’re bickering like an old married couple after a week. Neither of them is thinking about the far future. Why would they? They’ve got blades on their hips, arrows at the ready, and the certainty that they might not make it until tomorrow.

Crowley becomes commandant at 27. Too young, too burdened. Halt never says it, but he sees how the role chews at him. And even in their earlier years, before the burden, Crowley was always up before dawn, reading dispatches, writing reports, worrying about everything. It was natural for him to take this role, despite how much weight it was for one man.

Halt started going grey before he hit 30, which was ironic because Crowley, despite the years separating them, still had all his damn hair and it hadn’t gone even a bit silver yet. Halt grumbled about it but honestly? it suited him.

“You looked forty when you were twenty,” Crowley would tease him. But then Crowley starts aging for real, and it wasn't so funny anymore.

Crowley turns 45, and for the first time, he needs help up from the ground after sparring. It’s subtle, blink and you’d miss it. Halt didn’t. Crowley started to age hard and fast after 50. The job wore him down. Constant travel, constant conflict, constant stress. His mind remained as sharp as ever but his body started failing him, slowly, creeping in. His joints hated the cold, he got tired faster. Halt noticed him rubbing his knees after a longer travel. The jokes completely stopped by then. They only serve now as a cruel reminder. They were no longer funny. Not when Halt began to feel the time speed up. The years slipping like sand between his fingers. It was watching the person you loved age faster than you. It was knowing the ending long before you were ready to see it, and you were helpless to stop it. The years passed and Halt was still strong. Still deadly. The grey in his beard might've been white now, sure, but his hands were steady, his aim as flawless as ever.

And Crowley? Crowley was tired. When Crowley turned 60, Halt brought him a bottle of something sharp and expensive, and they sat by the fire in silence for hours. That uncharacteristical, unsettling silence from Crowly. They didn’t toast. They didn’t make speeches. Just at one point, Crowley said, almost offhand, “Never thought I’d get this far.”

Halt didn’t answer. He just reached over, poured them both another glass. —

It wasn’t fair.

After everything. The wars, the battles, the betrayals, the years of danger, it doesn't happen with a sword, not a fight, not even a fall. It happened quietly.

Crowley, in bed, blanket pulled up. eyes open. a faint smile on his face. Like he just remembered something funny and was about to tell Halt.

He just... stopped breathing. Gone. Just like that. The man Halt had loved for over forty years - forty, they’d marked that milestone just last year, sitting beside a fire, when for one brief moment Halt had dared to whisper, “I’m glad we made it.” The man he’d fought beside, lived for, bled for, let himself need, was gone. And all Halt could think was: he didn’t say goodbye. There was no hand squeeze, no final word, no look. Suddenly they ran out of time. Halt sat beside him for hours, didn’t touch the body. Just stared at him, because part of him, some stubborn, foolish, childish part, was still waiting.

Waiting for Crowley to blink, to twitch, to laugh and say, “I got you, didn’t I?”

But he didn't. He never would again.

Halt just sat there for hours. Hands still. heart pounding in his ears like war drums.

And the only thing, the only damn thought he had left in his mind was:

You’re alone now.

[stylesclarified]

A complete deconstruction: Louis Tomlinson is a terrible songwriter. Part III

So, we arrived at the last part.

Part I was a deconstruction of this idea that Louis wrote "most 1D songs" and "all the bangers." In part II we talked about how little involvement he had in terms of instrumentation, vocal engineering, melodies, etc, of his own albums. How he got given several songs that were already written, and of the other ones, they mostly came together from a melody someone else wrote.

So what's left in terms of songwriting? The one thing he pats himself on the back for, the one thing Liam gave him (partial) credit for, and the one thing he and hic co-writers agree he actually does participate in (participate is a key word): LYRICS.

[Two of his songs get special treatment you can find that post here]

To be fair, we did a little detour so I could analyze Harry's lyrics first and show you what I value and what I'm critical of in terms of songwriting. Keep in mind, opinion about art is meant to be subjective. This is my taste and my opinions, and you can absolutely disagree.

Initially, I intended to do the same breakdown I did for Harry but for Louis. I also intended to do four songs, and do the different points for each of them.

I had to give up halfway through. I analyzed Kill My Mind and We Made It (and I might post that elsewhere so you can see it). I also intended to do Bigger Than Me and Saturdays, but frankly, I'm simply not going to.

Why? It's just BORING. I'm sorry but it's boring as fuck. I do these posts because they entertain me. I LOVE talking about art more than anything. I love poetry, I love this shit. But Louis' lyrics suck the fun out of it. And no, I'm not being dramatic.

I found myself wanting to compare him with better artists who tackled the topics he did in a more interesting, more compelling way, just so I could stop reading his and analyze interesting art instead. I had to stop myself from inserting Adele, Olivia Rodrigo, The Weeknd, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, just to name a few.

I found myself irritated, rolling my eyes at my screen.

I had to take so many long breaks, to do literally anything else because the idea of having to analyze his lyrics for two more seconds pained me.

Here's the problem, and I'll break it down for you:

HE'S LAZY.

We're talking about an artist who:

Wears the same outfits and/or the same style of clothes over and over.

Doesn't seem to even brush his hair or do the most minimal effort to look better.

Takes zero care of himself, of his skin, of his hair, of his food intake and diet, of his health.

Doesn't even know his own lyrics.

Has had fourteen years to learn an instrument and to this day hasn't played one live for more than 15 seconds, despite calling himself a musician

Has regressed in terms of vocal capabilities. He could sing better at the beginning of his career with 1D than at the end. And he could sing better at the end of 1D than now.

Doesn't come up with his own melodies, or sometimes, even his own lyrics or concepts.

His idea of an image to project has been "Northern lad from Donny who smokes and curses and gives you the finger and Noel Gallagher and Arctic Monkeys and indie bands" for 8 years with literally zero nuance since then.

Even his photoshoots are lazy. All he does is smolder at the camera wearing some sort of sweatshirt and athletic pants.

His staging is ridiculous, three TVs showing his own zoomed in face in black and white.

He puts zero effort in his career, in his own person, in his own image. I'm 100% sure that I spent more time thinking about his lyrics in the past week than he ever did, and you can absolutely tell.

I tried looking at his rhyming schemes. I compared one song to another, I listened to them (it was painful) trying to find little assonances, and counting syllables to see if he mirrored anything, if he told any stories within them. ANYTHING.

I don't want to cherry pick the worst bits and present them here as a "see, he's bad!" I want my analysis to be fair.

But I simply can't put myself through that. Why?

I'm not going to tell you. I'm going to show you (a concept Louis has never heard of).

RHYMING SCHEMES, CADENCE

[Most times they're either A A B B or A B A B or some slight variation of that. I haven't found a single song where the cadence is thoughtful. To be fair, I'm taking the first verse of the first five songs off each album.]

Album 1, song 1, verse 1:

You're a nightmare on the dance floor And you hate me, and I want more You're a total distraction While I'm waiting for your reaction, why?

A A B B

Album 1, song 2, verse 1

On our way to Twenty Seven Got a place on the other side of London Doing better, doing better And I know you left a part of you In New York under your bed in a box But you're doing better, doing better

???

Album 1, song 4, verse 1 (skipping song 3 because he didn't write it)

Oh my, I remember those nights Meet you at your uni', cheap drinks, drink ’em all night Staying out 'til sunrise Share a single bed and tell each other what we dream about Things we'd never say to someone else out loud We were only kids, just tryna work it out Wonder what they'd think if they could see us now, yeah

A A A B B B B

Album 1, song 5, verse 1

I've been looking back a lot lately Me and you is all I've ever known It’s hard to think you could ever hate me But everything's feeling different now

A B A B

Album 1, song 6, verse 1

Nothing wakes you up like wakin' up alone And all that's left of us is a cupboard full of clothes The day you walked away and took the higher ground Was the day that I became the man that I am now

A A B B

Album 2, song 1, verse 1

Tell you I'm on my way Nothing could make me late Said I had a plan for us Time, it came and changed it all We had to disappear ’Cause nothing gets through here Through that circle 'round my heart Where the best of me should start

A A B C D D E E

This is just a variation of A A B B C C, it's just that two sentences don't rhyme, for seemingly no artistic reason.

Album 2, song 2, verse 1

When you don't want coffee in the morning I know I'm in a hole It's hard enough to get you sober Got no chance if I'm hungover I ain't even woken up yet Not nearly vertical All I know is I'm in trouble 'Cause the atmosphere's so cold, so

A B C C D E E E

Basically, just A A B B B, with some sentences not rhyming.

I will commend the last syllable of "vertical" rhyming with "cold" and the first sentence of "trouble" as well. But the fact that the only reason he added "vertical" was to make that rhyme, because it adds nothing to the song "I ain't even woken up yet" already conveyed the same thought, kinda ruins it for me. IDK

Album 2, song 3, verse 1

I didn't read the signs Walkin' different lines I know I took a left Tryna make it right

A A B A

I'll give him that "left" could be done for artistic reasons, like, the only sentence that doesn't rhyme and it's him talking about making a mistake. I don't know that he's capable of being this thoughtful, or that he could even come up with it. But let's pretend. This is also poorly executed and I'll expand later.

Album 2, song 4, verse 1

You give and give until it's gone away Just tell yourself you've got another day You've lived that life, you just don't see it yet I see how hard you've worked to be yourself

A A B B

Album 2, song 5, verse 1

Good and bad and right and wrong Are stories made up when we're young to scare us Love and hate are in-between Depends on your reality to see them

A A B B

---

EFFECTIVITY AND COMFORTABILITY OF THE RHYMES + NONSENSICAL AND NARRATIVE ELEMENTS

[I combined all of it together because I started doing just the rhymes and then I just got distracted by his nonsense. So have it all together. Also, I'm doing nearly every song and the ones I skip, I explain why.]

Kill My Mind

You're a nightmare on the dance floor

Cliché

And you hate me, and I want more

'Nother cliché.

You're a total distraction While I'm waiting for your reaction, why?

Distraction from what? Reaction to what? You just wanted to rhyme these words didn't you? Cause they look similar? Cause this makes no sense in context.

The devil in my brain

CLICHEEEEE

Whispering my name

Why is he whispering your name if he's already inside your brain? Wouldn't he be whispering something more interesting? Like, idk "do crime"? Or, given the theme of this song "do drugs"?

I can hear it sayin', "Ah, ah, ah"

The fuck does "Ah, ah, ah" mean? It doesn't make sense in the context of the song either.

Kept me living From the last time From a prison of a past life On a mission just to feel like When you kissed me for the last time, why?

I put the whole verse in just to be 100% fair. The last two sentences make sense by themselves, but the first three are nonsensical. He clearly just wanted to rhyme prison and mission, which don't even form a perfect rhyme (different consonants).

And ya won't let go of your hold on me And I don't know what I'd do without you now

Not criticism, but commentary, and I'm being completely serious. This is quite worrisome to write in a song that's seemingly about substance abuse. Just saying.

[I'm skipping DLIBYH because it's getting special treatment. He didn't write Two Of Us.]

We Made It

'Cause we made it Underestimated And always underrated

Underestimated and underrated mean the same fucking thing. This isn't an essay — you don't need to hit a specific word count. What's the fucking need to just pad these songs?

Now we’re saying goodbye Waving to the hard times Yeah, it's gonna be alright

Just unnecessarily splitting a single thought into two "We're waving the hard times goodbye."

If any of this was actually poetic instead of at the level of eighth grade lit class, when Ms. Smith tries to get her students into poetry and asks them to submit their own attempts, I wouldn't say anything.

It's just bad, juvenile. It's beginner levels. This man has been "writing" songs for over a decade, and he gets paid handsomely to do so.

I measure things by average pop song. He's significantly worse than that.

Like the first time Met you at your doorstep Remember how it tasted Looking into your eyes Baby, you were still high Never coming down with your hand in mine

And how did the doorstep taste, Louis?

Too Young

I've been looking back a lot lately Me and you is all I've ever known It’s hard to think you could ever hate me But everything's feeling different now

Verb tenses are kicking his fucking ass. It WAS hard to believe she'd ever hate you. In the past. It's not hard to believe now. Because she hates you now. And you are writing the song now.

["Me and you is all I've ever known" is a rampant cliché, but I'll overlook it]

Also how awkward is the wording "everything's feeling different now"? Everything feels different now?

Let me give it a whirl...

I've been looking back a lot lately Me and you is all I've ever known Would've never believed you could hate me But all the love you had for me seems to be gone

It's certainly not a masterpiece. I'm working with the constrictions of his metrics, melodies, rhymes, corny ass themes, and... I'm not a professional songwriter. Also, I'm not getting paid to do this. But at least this not only rhymes and fits the metric, but also... MAKES GRAMMATICAL SENSE.

Walls

Nothing wakes you up like wakin' up alone

Nothing makes you hurt like hurtin' who you love

Nothing makes you run, like running out of time

See? I can do it too.

It's giving, I'm 14 and this is deep.

Sorry, I know I'm verging on bitch eating crackers territory, but godddd this is so cornyyy

But these high walls, they came up short Now I stand taller than them all These high walls never broke my soul And I, I watched them all come fallin' down I watched them all come fallin' down for you, for you

The whole song is corny, which, whatever, it's a pop song. Pop songs are often corny. It's fine. Now, can I ask a question?

Why would walls break one's soul?

I would leave it as a funny quip, and be done with it, but I'll explain the problem with his simile/metaphor.

First of all, where did the walls come from? This is the first verse:

Nothing wakes you up like wakin' up alone And all that's left of us is a cupboard full of clothes The day you walked away and took the higher ground Was the day that I became the man that I am now

The chorus about the walls comes right after. Did she erect (hehe) Walls around herself when she left? Cause there's no other explanation as to where the walls came from. If the song was about him overcoming those walls and getting back with her, that'd be something that makes sense. Slightly overdone, but it'd make sense.

Well, it's not. The bridge seals it (we'll get that in a second). He's saying that because he overcame those walls, he became a better person. So did she erect (hehe) walls around... him?

Huh, little bit kidnappy. But let's roll with it. So he's using the metaphor of her, I guess building a wall around him, for some fuckass reason. A physical wall that he physically overpowers because he becomes taller and it's too short for him.

So how can a physical wall break your soul? The metaphor here would be switching from physical to spiritual. A metaphor that already doesn't make a ton of sense, now makes even less so.

The bridge, though....

So this one is a thank you for what you did to me

What did she do to you? You haven't said. All you mention is her leaving after you hurt her. Doesn't seem like she did much of anything TO you. It seems like YOU did this. Or are you actually claiming that she trapped you inside short-ish walls? If this song is attempting to be sincere and not sarcastic (I think it's sincere?) then wouldn't it be better to say "for what you did FOR me"?

Why is it that "thank you"s are so often bittersweet?

Are they? Since when?? Says who??

I just hope I see you one day, and you say to me, "Oh, oh"

You want her to say "oh, oh"? The fuck does that mean? After this comes the chorus, so he's the one talking about overcoming walls again. She doesn't say anything other than "oh, oh". Whatever the fuck that means.

[I just have to laugh because the rhymes, cadence, and rhyming scheme of this are piss poor, the melody is interpolated from three different Oasis songs (Acquiesce, Stop Crying Your Heart Out, and Cast No Shadow,) and the music video is directly lifted from a fourth, different Oasis music video for the song Live Forever. Add to that that the lyrics are completely nonsensical and you have the "Louis is a great songwriter and artist" bingo.

NO HE'S NOT.]

Habit

You're the shiver that I can't shake

You give me the time and the space I was out of control And I'm sorry I let you down I guess that I know what I already knew I was better with you And I miss you now

Not going to criticize this because it's just your run of the mill pop song, but I can't help it, this whole song is giving

Always You

I went to so many places Looking for you in their faces

He's INCAPABLE of show don't tell, isn't he?

By show don't tell I mean:

Woke up the girl who looked just like you I almost said your name

Show me that you see her face in someone else. Don't tell me.

Arctic Monkeys has a whole song about this:

I thought I saw you in the Battleship But it was only a look-a-like She was nothing but a vision trick Under the warning light She was close, close enough to be your ghost But my chances turned to toast When I asked her if I could call her your name

I'm not specifically talking about this lyric in particular when I say "show don't tell", btw. It's just that that's his vibe so much of the time and it irritates me. I'm not saying he never "shows". I'm obviously being hyperbolic, and I'm not saying you ALWAYS have to show instead of tell, either. I just think he misses a ton of opportunities to be a little more poetic that would very much elevate his lyrics.

Seeing your ex's face on someone else is a commonly used trope, which can become corny and cliché or poetic depending on how you communicate it. He chose corny and cliché.

Fearless

This is a lyrically sound song. No notes. I don't necessarily agree with his view of things — I think he has a very narrow view of what succeeding in life can be, but it's a well-written song. Lyrically, sonically it's BORINNNNG.

Perfect Now

If you are a fan of his and you're reading this... first of all, wow, that should count as masochism. Second of all, I hope you remember when I was very nice just now. Because I'm about to be a bitch.

You say to me your jeans don't fit

You don't feel pretty and it's hard to miss

'Cause everybody's lookin' at you now, my, oh my

I guess some queens don't need a crown

Listen, I'm no stranger to men writing weird ass lyrics about women. Harry did write "Couldn't take you home to mother in a skirt that short" after all (at least he tried to redeem himself with "but I think that's what I like about it"). But JESUS FUCKING CHRIST.

Not only is the jeans bit a weird ass fucking thing for a man to write that about a woman in the 2020s (to be frank, it was weird when Ed Sheeran wrote it in Little Things in 2012, so imagine now), but also, how cringe was it for him to still be doing that at almost 30?

Don't even get me started with the "Some queens don't need a crown" shit. That would've been corny and overdone if Elvis had sung it in the 50s.

Also

You never stop given half the chance

Cliché

Even when your tears are fallin' down Still, somehow, you're perfect now

Keep your head up, love, keep your head up

Cliché

You make me feel like being someone good to you

....? What? So it's up to her to... make you... feel... like being good to her? Is that not your default setting?

Every insecurity, like a neon sign, as bright as day If you knew what you were to me You would never try to hide away

No, yeah, I'm sure all her deep rooted problems with insecurity, which likely stem from patriarchy and the impossible standard women have to fulfill, would magically be solved if she understood that you like, REALLY fancy her. You're the center of the fucking universe, after all!

Throw this entire song in the trash. Burn it. Then bury the ashes. Jesus fuck, he's such a fucking asshole.

Defenceless

I come runnin' to you like a moth into a flame

This is the first sentence, y'all..

We're sleepin' on our problems like we'll solve them in our dreams We wake up early morning and they're still under the sheets

He probably thought this was so deep. Hell, his fans probably think this is deep too.

Obviously, the point is that you're not going to solve your problems if you sleep on them (double meaning because "sleeping on" something means ignoring it). My point is that it's the type of analogy your Uber driver makes at 3 AM when he picks you up after a night out with friends, and that's the only context in which this analogy sounds thoughtful in any way.

The main problem I have with this brand of lyric of his is that he takes it seriously and so do his fans. Nobody thinks "You can't bribe the door on your way to the sky" is Nietzsche or treats it at such. Perhaps it touches you personally and that's valid, but it's just a cool song, at the end of the day.

Never been so defenceless (Oh) Never been so defenceless (Ooh) You just keep on buildin' up your fences (Oh) But I've never been so defenceless (Ooh)

Tell me he didn't just rhyme "defenceless" with "fences"...

I've been holding my tongue but it's so fucking obvious that his first instinct is to rhyme words that visually look like they might rhyme. That's the level we're working with.

[He didn't write Only The Brave so we're skipping it too.]

The Greatest

Time, it came and changed it all

[Noun] [comma] it [did thing]

Abolish that sentence structure unless you're willing to make it interesting.

Also this is a cliché.

’Cause nothing gets through here Through that circle 'round my heart Where the best of me should start

The fuck does this mean?

It's you and me until the еnd

Cliché

Your face reminded me Of a love you cannot hide

It SHOWED you, not reminded you.

Writing a song "for your fans" is corny as fuck.

[Written All Over Your Face will get special treatment, so we're skipping it.]

Bigger Than Me

When somebody told me I would change

Who told you you would change? People in general? If it's people in general why not just say that? If it was a specific person why are you being vague?

I used to hide behind a smile When somebody told me I would change I was afraid, I don't know why

Something about the "I don't know why" rhyme is so fucking juvenile, but I can't put my finger on why.

'Cause so does the world outside, I've realised

Sorry, not a commentary on how good or bad the lyrics are, but is he saying "I was afraid of changing but I don't know why since the world changes too"?

His emotional intelligence is sub-zero isn't it?

I know I took a left Tryna make it right

Even hen he's trying to do wordplay he just smacks you in the face with it.

I'm not exactly a fan of Taylor Swift's, but Louis' fans often compare him to her, and...

The woman has many, many flaws as an artist (to be fair, all artists do), but when she wants to, she can write a mean lyric, and Louis CANNOT.

Everybody moved on, I stayed there. Dust collected on my pinned-up hair. They expected me to find somewhere, some perspective, but I sat and stared right where you left me. You left me no, oh. You left me no choice but to stay here forever.

THAT is wordplay.

Right and left but not meaning right and left in the directional sense

"I'm where you left me" meaning, in the physical place you dropped something

"You left me" meaning, you abandoned something, ended a relationship

"You left me no choice", meaning, I had no other option

Even a poppy Sabrina Carpenter song has more thought put into it:

We were goin' right, then you took a left Left me with a lot of shit to second-guess

She starts it off as lazy as Louis but she actually adds it a little something something.

When I say his music is worse than the average pop song...

I've woken up from my sleep

Cliché

[Blanket statements about me pointing out clichés. They're not necessarily bad. To some degree, they're unavoidable, especially with a large body of work. Unless I really go in on it, I'm just pointing out when he uses them to keep track of it. Like I said, having clichés, commonplaces, common tropes, etc, is normal. What's not normal is how often he does it]

All of these voices, all of these choices I don't hear them anymore

You don't hear the choices?

[Blanket statement about me pointing out small nonsensical elements. Pop songs tend to say some shit here and there. The problem is the frequency of his nonsense, and sometimes the levels of it. The lack of better elements is also a problem.]

'Cause, yeah, I mighta changed But everybody does

Do they? Oh wow.

Now I realise that the world outside Is bigger than me

Is it? Oh wow.

He made an entire song about realizing that the world is bigger than him.

This is what the song is supposed to be about:

As the lead single from Louis Tomlinson’s sophomore studio album, Faith in the Future, “Bigger Than Me” finds itself as an anthemic pop/rock song, on which Tomlinson sings about letting go of self-doubt, personal growth and shutting down the negative voices.

Lucky Again

If you believe that guy is Superman They're selling tickets at the cinema

Is he trying to say, like, "I have a bridge to sell you"? Cause nobody says it this way. I checked.

I'm so confused.

Whatever gets you through the darkest night

Cllché

Just find the light out in the madness, hold tight

Cllché

'Cause I'm a hard man to lose

Does this mean that it's bad to lose him? Or that he's hard to lose as in, he's got an airtag on him? A third thing I can't think of?

The rest of the verse doesn't help with context:

But I figured it out, then made my way back To a life I would choose We werе lucky once, I could be lucky again

Beforе the world, it got so serious

[Noun] [comma] it [did thing]

Before the time, it got away from us

This combination is lethal.

[Noun] [comma] it [did thing] + an incredibly overused idiom

Face The Music

Good and bad and right and wrong Are stories made up when we're young to scare us

No they're not???

Love and hate are in-between Depends on your reality to see them

Is this purposefully idiotic or am I just not getting it? Love and hate are not in-between. He's just saying things atp.

I just wanna stay in the moment the rest of my life

Cliché. A good excuse as any to listen to this awesome song:

I don't wanna face the music, but I still wanna dance with you

This is a cliché ("face the music") but the lyric is cute (and I'm not being facetious).

Close your eyes and count to ten If you're standin' on the edge of fallin' Open up and looking down Everything that matters is forgotten

Huh?

Chicago

They say bitter ends turn sweet in time

Who says that? This is the first time I ever hear these words put together this way.

You always made me feel much bеtter And I'll always be grateful for that

So many of his lyrics sound like he's texting (derogatory)

All This Time

I'm tryna find the words to say for ages

Cliché

It's not how you spend the time, it's if you waste it

Coooooorny ass cliché

And I keep on building mountains hoping that they'll turn to gold

Well that's fucking stupid. Why would mountains turn to gold? Where did you even get that they'd do that?

Also how are you BUILDING mountains? Who the fuck BUILDS mountains? Do you know what mountains are? And what "building" means?

It's the way we see ourselves through walls of trees

You guys, what the hell is he banging on about? What does this MEAN?

I keep looking up the things he writes just to see if I'm missing some context or some popular British saying. I'm not British! British people are weird! But no. It's just that he's writing nonsense.

Writing nonsense is FINE if that's your stylistic choice. I LOOOOVE Oasis and they write some of the most nonsensical garbage you could ever imagine, but

1- The music fucking slaps

2- It's not meant to be read as diaristic or biographical. It's also not meant to be read as a straightforward story or whatever. It's meant to be flowery and a little esoteric.

Louis went on and on about honest lyrics, and how little he liked metaphors, and how he didn't like exactly the type of lyric Oasis tends to write (all while claiming that Oasis wrote the type of lyrics he does like, because he's fucking stupid — I made a whole post about that).

It doesn't even feel like he's trying to be metaphorical and weird or flowery here anyway? It just feels like he's stupid and says stupid shit that doesn't make sense, all the while actively trying to make sense.

Also, Oasis' nonsense is more poetic, but it has it's own worldbuilding and logic. It's not outright dumb like "building mountains," so there's that.

Out Of My System

Take anything you can carry And leave everythin' else behind

Cliché

I am only half of what I think I can be

Are ya? Then why don't you try to better yourself? Cause that's my main issue with your entire existence. I personally think you're way too much for how little talent and hard work you put into things.

Gotta get it off of my chest

Cliché

I've lived a lot of my life already But I gotta get through the rest

Am I being too bitch eating crackers? Yes, Louis, you have to get through the rest. That is how life works.

Demons, I'm takin' all of my demons Putting them where I won't see them 'Cause I just wanna feel alive

This is such a confusing metaphor. What do you mean by taking? Taking them off? Taking them with you? What do you mean "putting them where I won't see them?" Like, what does it mean in the context of this metaphor? What do your demons have to do with feeling alive?

Having demons is a commonplace about struggling with stuff (it can be mental health, family issues, personality issues, a number of different things). It doesn't typically have anything to do with "feeling alive" or not.

I'm not saying these lyrics are necessarily invalid? I just think he could've taken a little longer to develop this metaphor more and make it click better and easier. I'm having trouble interpreting what he's trying to say here, and I don't think it's lack of trying or being pedantic. I think I'm being pretty fair, and in all.

[He didn't write Headline so I'm skipping it.]

Saturdays

I'm not supposed to be Feelin' dirty cheap on Silver Street At quarter to three

Why not? I mean, the feeling dirty cheap I get. Yeah, you're not supposed to feel that way. That's sad. I'm sorry that happened, bro.

But why aren't you supposed to be on Silver Street at a quarter-to-three? For the record, Silver Street is a street in Doncaster that's lined with a bunch of clubs. If you're ver gonna be on Silver Street, it's likely to be at a quarter-to-three. And I see nothing wrong with going clubbing once in a while.

Is he trying to say that he's not supposed to feel dirty cheap on Silver Street because he's out clubbing? But then why add the time? Would it be okay to feel dirty cheap when out clubbing if it was a little earlier?

I am being pedantic now, btw. Why? Because there are ways to write this that make it clear that the problem is with how he feels while being out with friends. Incredible songwriters, such as what Louis and his fans claim he is, would do that. Not just use the first combination of words that rhymes and fits the metric.

Hidden across my face In the crowd, I'm countin' up the days

What's hidden across his face? He never clarifies. Something is hidden. A feeling? A scar? A mole? A crowd can't hide across your face, and these sentences come right after the ones I just quoted, and are followed by:

In a haze I'm gazin' at the floor Somebody's got your trainers on The ones that you wore When you walked out the door

Still on the last two sentences: maybe he's trying to convey that him feeling dirty cheap is hidden across his face? If he's trying to do that, he failed.

The new bits I added now are alright. "In a haze I'm gazing at the floor, somebody's got your trainers on" is pretty good, actually. I personally would've said "the ones you had on when you walked out the door," instead of "the ones that you wore when you walked out the door." It just feels more sentence like. Because of the melody of this song, he tends to pause between sentences, so the way he wrote it feels like he's saying "somebody's got your trainers on, the ones that you wore." Which would be very redundant. What he's saying is that someone's wearing the exact shoes she wore when she left him.

Like I said, he suffers from chronic Not Taking The Time To Edit And Perfect His Lyrics. That's what I'm trying to point out here.

The feeling he's trying to convey is actually interesting and relatable, and the lyrics aren't necessarily BAD. They just aren't that good and can lend to confusion, especially given the cadence of the song. It wouldn't take a lot of work to make these lyrics be excellent and elevate the song, but alas...

Nobody stays the same No matter how much you want it Some things change

Cliché. And annoying at that.

Through my cigarette A shadow of you sticks me to the carpet Try to ignore it

??

Somethin' about the way The light catches the mirror in my brain It gives me shade

What?

Silver Tongues

Gettin' high on the amber wave

This is presumably about beer. You get drunk on beer, not high, Louis. If he's trying to wordplay like he's high (as in, physically) on the "wave" then he needs to find a way to close the metaphor. He could've said "getting under the amber wave." When you're drunk, you're under the influence.

Going deep for the ones who do the same

He could've continued the metaphor with this if he had used "under" instead of "high." You're under, and you get deeper. If you're high, you're not deep, because high means up. Yes, I am being bitchy. Thank you for noticing. I'm fed up.

Not to mention this sentence is confusing. What does "going deep" even mean in this context?

Air Maxes and silver tongues Settle in for another heavy one

Another heavy one what...? It's not clear in context.

You said love was a pretty lie And I choked when your smoke got in my eye Bad logic and empty cans

I can't decide if he's being clever or dumb. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt that he's saying "bad logic" because you can't choke from getting smoke in your eye, but he's said so much dumb nonsensical shit in his lyrics that I don't know.

Let's give him this one. This, that one sentence from Face The Music, and Fearless are the only lyrics of his that I find good so far.

I know nobody understands Me like you do

Cliché (tolerable)

You know, when I'm with you, I'm so much happier

Cliché (also tolerable)

You smile at me and say, "It's time to go" But I don't feel like goin' home

Cliché (tolerable)

You and me until the end

Cliché (alright cut it out)

Wakin' up to start again

Cliché (....)

There's nowhere else that I would rather be

Cliché, verging on intolerable with how many there are in a row.

Also excuse to put another huge and much better song

She Is Beauty We Are Word Class

Conversation is currency

Okay, interesting! Where is this going?

Shapes become a language

Uh... letters are technically shapes, and letters form words in multiple languages?

Square eyes and sunglasses

Is this a Keep Driving type of song? I can get behind those, but I'm not following right now.

Finding faces in the trees Fabricated fairytales Bring a new world to life Sit down, sit down in the space and time

I'm so confused.

She is beauty And we are world-class (Oh) Forever We let the feeling last

That's the chorus. Small tangent.

In Keep Driving, the first verse lists things that seem random until you hit the chorus.

A small concern with how the engine sounds. We held darkness in withheld clouds. I would ask "Should we just keep driving?"

Essentially, the engine sounds like it's about to break, and the darkness in the clouds show that there's a storm coming, but he stubbornly asks if they should keep going regardless. The part about darkness and clouds seems to indicate "a storm coming" isn't just literally coming in the real world, but also in the relationship.

The analogy is, driving in a car that's about to break, but not doing anything about it, and finding yourself stuck in the middle of a storm because you didn't act when you should've, and comparing that to a relationship.

Anyway, it seems that whoever he's talking to is as stubborn as he is, because he continues to list things in the second verse, particularly "pancakes for two" and "I will always love you."

The singing (the way he sings) gets a little more intense in the bridge. And the things he lists get more unhinged. It starts off listing things that makes it sound like a road trip ("passports in footwells"), which makes the parallel meaning of the song take even more form and makes the other things he listed in the verses make more sense (sunglasses, cameras, breakfast items, etc).

Continuing with the bridge, there are little things that allude to the summer of 2020, "tea with cyborgs" is most likely a reference to doing zoom calls with your loved ones during quarantine, and "Riot America" to the Black Lives Matter movement, which hit its peak in May-June 2020. "Life hacks going viral in the bathroom" is a literal thing that happened during quarantine, particularly on TikTok.

There's allusions to sex ("choke her with a sea view" and "side boob") and to substances ("puff pass" "edibles" "cocaine" "wine glass").

Then "tootache", "bad move", "just act normal" show us that something is going wrong. Following the theme of the song, he ends the bridge with "it's all good, hey you" and then the outro just says "should we just keep driving", signaling that, despite the fact that there's clearly issues, they'll continue to ignore them, and closing the metaphor fully.

I think Keep Driving is a brilliant song, perfectly executed. And if Louis were writing something like that, I'd commend him. Music and poetry within it gives you so many possibilities. Not everything has to be narrative-driven.

The problem that I have is that I just cannot make sense of this song at all.

This is the second verse:

Escape the inevitable Fade into light Soak up the empathy 'Cause I’m with you tonight

I'm sorry, but what is he talking about? There doesn't seem to be a thread that connects any of this.

Are we one or are we two? Are we me or are we you? Have we been all this before? Do you see what I see?

Is it a stream of consciousness type of thing? Cause I can get behind those too, but typically, the songs are, you know, better.

Like, I'm not gonna analyze this song super closely if that's what it's meant to be doing because I respect a stream of consciousness 100%, but I will judge the fact that the song is ass. If you're gonna do stream of consciousness you have to write a banger song.

This is one of my favorite songs by Oasis:

For those who might be reading this long ass essay out of curiosity and aren't familiar with Louis' song, well, I don't recommend it, but you can find it here.

Common People

I came from a good home A house full of terrace dreams That was enough for me You know, you had to see it to believe

"Gotta see it to believe" implies something unbelievable, weird. What is so unbelievable about a good home?

All the late nights, good times

Cliché

No deep pockets, but big hearts

Cliché

This song is pointless and boring.

Angels Fly

Nothin' really matters Nothin' really hurts We can talk about it It'll only make it worse

Jesus Christ, who pissed in your cereal? Not commentary on the quality of the lyrics, but my god.

If every star is an eye in the sky You'll see angels fy

Put the pain behind you now You don't need it anymore

BOOOOOO. Cliché

Holding On To Heartache

You said I wear it like a crown

Cliché

You should be starin' at the sky The birds just passin' by, love

This song is apparently about how much he misses being in 1D, which...

These two sentences I'm quoting do absolutely nothing to further the narrative and I'm not sure what the point of including them was other than not actually having to think and make an effor to come up with something relevant.

I can still hear a clock that's tickin'

Cliché

You know the party's over When you're standin' in an empty space alone

Not commentary on the quality of the lyrics, but yes, he's literally this meme (derogatory):

And time can always heal you If you let it make its way into your bones

Why'd you have to go and make things so complicated? Time can always heal you if you let it. End of. Why does time have to get into your bones? What kind of weird ass, unnecessary metaphor even is this? Just not wanting to think of a better, more compelling way to word things and sticking with the first sentence that fits the metric.

Nothing's ever easy

Plenty of things are easy. This adds nothing to the song or its meaning. You're just saying things.

[Writing this song three years after his admitted BFF said that he would've died if he had stayed in the band feels pretty fucking selfish. He's allowed to feel however he feels, but there was no need to externalize it constantly, especially knowing how much Liam was struggling...]

That's The Way Love Goes

Cool, simple song lyrically speaking. Nothing amazing and there are a couple of clichéd sayings, but it's fine! Lyrically one of his best alongside Fearless. It's a little boring musically speaking (better than Fearless, though), nothing to write home about, it could be better if he wasn't the one singing it. His voice really does ruin everything.

Change

This song is cliché o'clock:

Time of our lives

it's easy to see

We were just gettin' by

If you need, you can call on me

I'll be the friend you need

'Cause everything's changed outside, but I feel the same inside

The kids are alright

When we gonna realise we don't get another life?

I know it'll be alright

We've still got the rest of our lives

'Cause we're all the same inside

If he was trying to do a song full of idioms that'd be so cool. Like Better Than Words in 1D. But he's not trying to do that. There are a bunch of sentences here that aren't idioms. He's just fucking lazy.

The theme of the song is so boring too. Nothing's changed, I mean, some things changed, which I hate, but also I miss it, and I'm from Doncaster did you know?

----

Okay, I was gonna do High In California, but it's just a song about smoking weed, and I refuse to analyze that lyrically. I was also gonna do Miss You, Back To You, Just Like You, and Copy of a Copy of a Copy... I'm not going to. I'm bored and annoyed and I wanna be done with this.

You can find the analysis I mentioned of Written All Over Your Face and Don't Let It Break Your Heart IN THIS LINK.

---

FINAL THOUGHTS:

I think I have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that Louis is a lazy songwriter who doesn't put too much thought into his lyrics, which are the only part where he has any actual participation (going from what he and his collaborators have said about the process so far and the liner notes in his albums).

You can feel like the lyrics touch you or you feel represented by them or whatever, that's absolutely fine. I'm not judging that. What I'm judging is how apt of a songwriter he is technically speaking. I can't judge vibes. Vibes are personal.

Technically speaking, he's terrible. Like, downright one of the worst I've ever had the displeasure of listening to.

With that, I bid you goodbye.

PS I have not proofread this monster of a post. I might do it in the future. I've had this written for a few days, and decided to post it on New Year's as a gift for those of you (all five of you! haha) who enjoy my content. Thank you

[cottoncandy-cult]

Babification Octavinelle

INTRO/Dorm Selection Includes: Azul, Floyd, Jade

@azulashengrottospiano I finally did it! Now just 5 more dorms and 18 characters to go XD

Remember this is a fem reader insert with she/her pronouns

Azul had been in the Octavinelle dorm lounge with Floyd and Jade discussing work, it was one of their few days off and they were talking about some new renovations Azul planned to do to the monstro lounge. Floyd believed they needed some kind of gift shop, while Jade believed they needed a garden cafe. Azul had planned to consult with his sweet (Y/n), she had been lending him a hand in the creativity department for a while now. It helped that she seemed to know so many people, but given how deeply involved she has been in each dorm it isn't much of a surprise. As Azul was checking his phone had was also attempting to tune out the rambles of the tweels, Floyd trying to correct something that Jade said involving fashion as usual. Azul often tried to tune those conversations out, he couldn't understand a word Floyd said when he was talking about fashion. Though this chaotic peace had been interupted when Lilia just seemed to drop out of the sky infront of them, the twins near jumping behind the couch from the sudden and silent appearance. It took every ounce of muscle control in Azul not to do the same thing, he had an image he had to uphold and getting scared behind the couch was not something that helped said image. "Hello Lilia, to what do I owe the pleasure?" He had spoken to Lilia on occasion, especially since he often showed up to events in Malleus's place, but he never expected to see the short male in the Octavinelle dorm. The monstro lounge maybe, he did come in every now and then for a treat, but the fact that he was in the dorm lounge caused a few pink flags to pop up. Though those pink flags were soon crimson read as he spotted the child cradled against the male's chest, especially since the child was swaddled in an oversized ramshackle dorm uniform jacket. The fae male chuckled as he noticed the vague way the merman paled, tilting his head with a closed eye smile. "(Y/n) actually, is the reason I'm here. You see, this sweet little girl was the victim of small potionology accident." Azul quirked an eyebrow as the tweels were peaking down at the sleeping prefect in Lilia's arms, he himself was trying not to swear as he already knew where this was going when Lilia started retelling the events in class.

At the end of it Azul was squeezing the bridge of his nose, what God did she piss off to be in the middle of the most chaotic accidents EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. "Don't worry though, Professor Crewel is working with the headmage to fix this. He should be by soon with what he called a 'Baby bag' so that she can be taken care of in the meantime." Lilia carefully passed the sleeping girl to Azul, helping the tense male hold the small girl when he realized that he didn't know how to hold a baby. He then sat her school bag by Floyd, her other clothing articles were hidden inside because Lilia was a gentleman like that. "My number is in her phone; I've raised a few babies in my day so if you need some help just call."

-

It had been a few hours since then, the professor having come by to drop off the baby bag with a book borrowed from the college library about unplanned parenting for young adults. A book he never in his life thought he would EVER be reading; she has been the first of many things for him and at this point he was curious how she managed to create such a chaotic balance of experiences. He had relaxed a bit after getting used to holding her for a while and soon enough he found himself staring at her, he never thought about what she may have looked like as a baby even after she had seen some of his childhood photos. Currently he sat in the pool that was built into his dorm leader room, he was leaning back against the wall of the pool as he watched (Y/n). She had been awake for a while; he had thought that maybe she was aware of the situation because she had been fairly quiet and wasn't very fussy. Currently he was in his merform, something he had grown comfortable with her being around after their many trips to the beach. His sleek black tentacles held her in the water, she was in a little (F/c) swim dress and sat comfortably on his curled tentacles. Her tiny hands gently grabbing at the other tentacles that would poke her nose or tickle her sides or cheeks, he hadn't had any prior experience with human children, so he had found himself quite distracted by her reactions to him. He especially loved how her nose crinkled when she giggled, something he noticed before in her regular age but was much more obvious now in this form. "It isn't fair angel fish; how can you be so cute after causing so much trouble." He chuckled as he brought her closer, rubbing his cheek on hers as he rested her against his chest. It was a quiet night and all things considered he was in a content mood. He watched her tiny hands move against his pale grey skin, tiny eyes marveling at the odd texture. He felt so proud of himself, adoring just how curious she was about HIM. It was definitely an ego boost, he knew she cared for him and found him interesting but as an infant it was such innocent and blatant curiosity. And since she was a baby, he didn't have to feel embarrassed about anything! I mean who are you going to tell? The stuffed dalmatian toy professor Crewel had put in the baby bag? His eyes widened a bit when he felt her tiny hands grab his cheeks, laughing away at something he had no clue about. He didn't know how long it would be till she was turned back, but these moments would certainly make any hassle or stress until that point worth it. He went back to using his tentacles to help her play and swim in the water, buying him some time to think of the future. He found himself hoping, now more than ever, that his future would involve her for many years to come.

Floyd had been running laps at the start of gym class when Coach Vargas had called him over to his office, he noticed Lilia was sitting in front of the coach's desk and he could tell the male was holding something but didn't quite know what. "What's goin on? Why is Mendako here?" (Yes, I'm using the Japanese nicknames cause calling Lilia a flapjack octopus in English just feels insulting. LMFAO) Floyd put his hands on his hips, tilting his head slightly as Lilia stood from his seat. "Well, young Lilia said there was some sort of accident in potionology involving the ramshackle prefect. I'll let him explain, I got stretches to demonstrate!" With that Vargas had left the room, as if he didn't just stir something in the merman. Lilia seemed to sense Floyd's shift in behavior, approaching him with a jacket swaddled infant. "Don't worry (Y/n)'s just fine, she just a little…little." He chuckled as he motioned to the infant, watching Floyd squat to be able to look at her better. Lilia took the chance to show him how to hold her while he explained the situation, chuckling to himself at the end as he saw how Floyd had the small girl resting perfectly on his large forearm. "So, I'm just supposed to take care of shrimpy til Ishidai finds a way to turn her back?" Floyd's heterochromic eyes gazed down at the child in his arm, tilting his head. His shrimpy was already pretty small, but now she was TINY. He couldn't help but chuckle, her cheeks were just so chubby he couldn't help but poke them. Are all human babies so warm and squishy? Or was his cute little shrimpy just extra special like that? "Yep, that sums it up. Professor Crewel should be by to drop off a bag of supplies for her soon. For now, he just asked I bring this to you since he knows you would probably need your hands free." Lilia held up a black and teal harness, a little gold charm dangling from the zipper on the back. "Huh, I didn't know they made functional harnesses." The male was aware that they were sometimes worn simply as decoration for an outfit, but he didn't know humans had harnesses just for baby carrying. "Mhm, let me hold her while you put it on. Once we get her settled, I need to get back to Diasomnia before my own kids stir up trouble." He chuckled at Floyd's confused look, but true to his word once the sleeping child was comfortably snug to Floyd's chest the batty male had left for his dorm. Floyd had left the office and took his lover's stuff to where his own was, looking down at the small girl and wondering how long it would take to have his normal shrimpy back. He had already tried to talk to her 3 times, each time forgetting she couldn't talk back, and he really missed his shrimpy's voice.

Because he had the prefect in his care, he didn't have to do the daily exercises, instead being told to just walk around the basketball court until free time started. He could feel eyes on him as he walked around, he didn't really care because if they were smart, he knew they'd keep their mouths shut about him with his baby shrimpy. He slowly came to a stop when she started squirming, he rested his hand on her back as he watched her closely. Observing how her tiny (E/c) eyes opened with a whiny yawn as she soon began watching him back, tiny head tilting as she looked at him curiously. He chuckled a little at how her tiny hands reached up and padded at the bottom of his cheek, making him lean down as best he could so she could do her thing. He quietly observed with a lazy smirk as she tugged gently on his bangs and patted his cheeks, he didn't know if she was trying to communicate or was just being a curious baby, but he found it quite amusing in an adorable way. Though his moment was interrupted when professor Crewel approached him with a large bag on his arm, cartoon fish covering the outside of it. "Glad to see you aren't breaking down yet, surprising given how most of the students in this school would probably react in your situation." Floyd looked up to Crewel, chuckling some as he scratched the back of his head. "Well, she did just wake up, hopefully shrimpy will be a good girl until we can get back to the dorm." He followed Crewel after the professor motioned him to follow, watching as they made their way to the lockeroom. "Well, we hope to have her sorted out by the end of the week, till then I need to at least make sure you're prepared for childcare. Tell me, what do you know about diapers?" Crewel couldn't help but chuckle at the male's confusion, this was going to be an adventure. Thankfully Floyd was a quick learner, especially when it came to something he cares about. So, it wasn't long before he was returning to class, his shrimpy in a cute little mermaid jumper and the baby bag resting on his shoulder as he filled a bottle with some juice. Free time had started and those that weren't gathering things to take outside were now gawking at the tall male, especially those like Jamil and Riddle who were quite familiar with the male.

Riddle had been the very first to approach him at that, his curiosity getting the best of him. "So Floyd, who's baby is that?" Riddle tilted his head as he observed the child, something about her feeling oddly familiar. Floyd looked down at the little red head, chuckling as he held the bottle for her so she could have a drink. "My shrimpy had a little accident in potionology, so I've gotta watch her until Ishidai can turn her back." That made Riddle's eyes widen, he seemed so calm despite the fact his significant other had been turned into an infant. "That's certainly interesting, never a boring day with the prefect around huh?" This had been Jamil; he was standing nearby as he looked for a volleyball in the ball cart. When he finally found one, he stood up straight and approached the two as he looked at the little girl. The innocent look in her eyes reminded him of when Kalim was still real young, he was actually pretty cute back then in Jamil's opinion but that could have been because there wasn't much Kalim could do. "Wait if you're watching (Y/n)… Who's watching Grim?" This thought had Riddle freezing a bit, the group going silent before Floyd shrugged. "Idunno, not my problem though." And with a chuckle he walked away, the two male's making eye contact and agreeing to go see Crowley since they knew it wasn't wise to leave the fiery cat unsupervised.

The calmer leech twin smiled as he sat in the vip room of the monstro lounge, Lilia had brought (Y/n) to him earlier and professor Crewel had just left after dropping off the baby bag and teaching him a few things about human babies. He had the small girl cradled to his chest as he fed her, it felt oddly domestic to the male as he was usually helping Floyd deal with problematic people or trying to balance a busy schedule. He had always had a tendency to try and be much lighter handed and gentle since coming on land, it wasn't until now that he realized just how essential that was. She weighed practically nothing to him; he was almost concerned but trusted Crewel when he had said she was just fine aside from being babyfied. "What am I going to do with you darling? How is it you manage to end up in these situations even without Grim?" He chuckled as he poked her cheek, his smile widening as she grabbed his finger with a huff while still drinking from the bottle. He hadn't had much experience with babies before, especially not with human babies, so he was fascinated by everything she did. Trying to see what she does differently compared to when she is her regular self, as well as just enjoying her reactions to the things he has done and showed her. He had just brought her back from the giant fish tank in the lounge to feed her, the way her eyes lit up and her tiny hands gently touching the glass as she watched all the colorful fish had made him delighted. He knew no matter what he'd be even more attached to his sweet angel fish, for once she was completely reliant on him. He could spoil and care for her the way he wanted, and she couldn't stop him and didn't seem aware enough to feel guilty as she usually does when he tries to tend to her. Granted there were some things he wasn't looking forward too, but he understood the naturalness of it all and was more than capable of overlooking and forgetting about anything that may make her selfconscious. His goal was just to keep her healthy, safe and loved until she could return to her normal self. He reached over for his phone with a grin, quick to turn on the camera. He decided to make the best of the situation, and that included getting plenty of pictures of her cute pudgy face. He couldn't wait to show the pictures back to her, so he was careful and picky about the selfies he took with her and of the pictures he took of her as a whole. He wanted the absolute cutest ones to show her, and possibly any other poor soul who might be curious. Though he was quick to put his phone away when she pushed the mostly empty bottle away, which he moved to sit on the coffee table as he placed his legs together and rested her along his thighs. Crewel had showed him this video he claimed would be better for her than burping her like they do on tv shows, in which he was slightly moving her body and somewhat rubbing her stomach. This was supposed to reduce the chances of her spitting up and help her digest better so the milk isn't just setting in place in her stomach. It was a somewhat complicated explanation, but he understood that it was meant to be the better method and that was what he was going to do. Her little giggles made him chuckle, and the slight surprised face she made at her little burp had him slumping over a little as he laughed. Being an infant, she didn't have much conscious control over her actions or expressions, and he was absolutely loving it. "Always so interesting my little angle fish, you always manage to make my day so fun." He was careful as he lifted her to rest on his chest, leaning back some as he moved a small cover over her back. He rested a large hand over her body, observing how it covered the small space and taking note just how tiny she was compared to him.

"Come on (Y/n) it's nap time, you've been awake for a while now. When we get back to the dorm, I'll set up some toys for you to play with on the bed." He moved his other hand to gently cup the back of her head, smiling down at her half-lidded gaze as her tiny hands crumpled his shirt. Since it was her first day as a baby, he figured she may be pretty low energy, at least for a while after the transformation. Because of this he knew things may be a bit more hectic tomorrow, but Crewel promised to make the other teachers aware of the situation so he should be able to step out of class when she gets fussy or maybe even just pick up some notes and class work until she is back to normal. He'd make it work either way, after all she was turned on school property and in class, so they were technically responsible for this transformation. He knew Crowley wouldn't push his luck with the octo-trio, it would be bad for business as they say. Afterall Octavinelle does a lot in means of helping with school funding and events, and Azul was smart enough to find a way to get what he wants without jeopardizing himself. But that was nuclear level thinking, right now he just needed to worry about not falling asleep himself.

[courtofmatchups]

Hey, I'm here for our matchup trade! I entrust you to my self-insert turned oc also named Aurora (they/them). They actually transferred to RSA for their third year, but you can write them as a second year in NRC so you actually have options to match them up with.💀

Appearance: Fae, pointy ears, purple eyes, pale skin, skinny. Dress style could be masculine, feminine or androgynous on any given day (but they tend to prefer androgynous or feminine outfits more). Common aesthetics are alternative (lots of black, long sleeves and pants, fishnets, chokers, chains. think Lilia's club wear), cottagecore (pretty flowy dresses, pastel colours - usually pink or purple), and royalcore (they're part of a noble family).

Personality: Might give off the impression that they're quiet/introverted and reserved (somewhat true). Has a reputation for being unpredictable and chaotic. Doodles or falls asleep in class sometimes (for their first year, they slept in class with Silver. for their second year, it was Floyd), but they do well in exams. Tends to get into trouble in other dorms (to the point where Vil bribed them to stop. see: birthday voicelines). Usually laidback and playful, will get friendly with anyone they've spoken to once or twice (some even get nicknames). Loves to tease uptight people like Sebek. Gets along well with other troublemakers like Jade, Floyd and Lilia. Also more likely to cause trouble when they're around chaotic people. But can feel guilty and stop causing trouble for a while when someone mild-mannered and responsible asks them to behave, like Trey. They can get along well with anyone really, they know how to synergize with people. They just prefer to annoy people or catch them off guard.

Other hobbies: Reading (fantasy books), painting, playing musical instruments (piano and violin), growing flowers with magic

Likes: Practicing magic, making flower arrangements, flower meadows, ducklings, sweets, anime and manga, visiting aquariums, anything crochet, people watching, asking random questions to catch people off guard, starting debates

Dislikes: Stuffy rules, strict people, the idea of becoming the head of their noble family, when people ignore them/don't listen to them, formal events and outfits (particularly ties), spicy food, coffee and tea (unless it's fruit tea but it has to taste more like fruit)

Love languages: Giving - Gift giving and quality time, receiving - acts of service and words of affirmation

Fun fact: They carry gemstones around in their pocket and will give some to people for no reason

Here's their info page and an analysis on them.

Have fun writing! Thank you!

It seems to me, you've captured the heart of...

Rook Hunt!

Your chaotic, playful, yet elegant soul complements this silly huntsman quite well. And since you are a fae, you can bet he finds you quite fascinating as well.

Rook revels in observing and celebrating the unique qualities of others. He would likely find your chaotic energy, penchant for teasing, and unpredictable nature endlessly fascinating and exciting.

Both you and he have a playful, curious side that could lead to shared mischief and enjoyment of life’s little quirks. Rook's theatrical personality matches well with someone who enjoys catching people off guard.

With your shared interests in aesthetic pursuits—whether it’s flower arranging, painting, or creating beauty in the world—Rook would deeply appreciate and encourage your artistic talents. He’d be enchanted by your flower magic and the sentimental act of giving gemstones.

Rook's flamboyant and poetic nature would provide a dramatic counterbalance to your playful teasing and laidback attitude, while also keeping you intrigued. He could handle your troublemaking tendencies with enthusiasm, seeing it as part of your "beaute magnifique."

Since you dislike stuffy rules and strict environments, and Rook, being part of Pomefiore but with a free spirit, would understand and respect that. He’s a rule-bender in his own right, and he’d encourage their resistance to constraints like becoming the head of their noble family.

Rook's habit of lavishing poetic affirmations on others aligns perfectly with your preferred love language of receiving words of affirmation. He’d notice and appreciate your unique habits, from carrying gemstones to their teasing nicknames.

When you want a peaceful moment to read or people-watch, Rook would quietly admire you, perhaps reading alongside you or joining in your flower magic.

[manysmallhands]

Top Albums Of 2024: #6 - 'Imaginal Disk' by Magdalena Bay

There's a sense in which Magdalena Bay’s second album still sounds like you'd expect them to but in another it feels like we’ve gotten a long way from home. The same themes are here as on their debut - especially their obsession with bits of musical detritus and a playful dwelling on alienation in the modern world - but Imaginal Disk is executed with such an expansive approach that you could be forgiven for occasionally needing to stop to gather yr bearings. Their style remains as strangely ephemeral as ever and in some ways is only getting harder to pin down, but the hauntological ideas (tho not actual ghosts) scattered throughout are a big part of what makes this sound so striking. The embedding of disposable music elements from the past (jingles, computer soundtracks etc) into the tapestry of the songs is a recurring theme, one that codes into the songwriting itself but also just stuff that drifts in and out of the ether. "True Blue Interlude" for instance is a straightforward pastiche of an advertisement, while on melodramatic high point "Cry For Me", some of the incidental melodies feel like they’ve reemerged wholesale from mid 70s easy listening hits.

Many of the songs have an upbeat, advert-like twinkle, a purposeful ersatzness which is made somehow moving by the odd musical contexts within which they're introduced. 70s rock is a surprisingly big influence on Imaginal Disk: the pessimistic but sweet natured yacht pop of "Killing Time" doesn't necessarily sound out of place alongside their usual, more synthy material but also shares plenty of DNA with someone like Steely Dan, while the powerful and deeply strange "Tunnel Vision" starts recognisably enough before taking a turn and going full Pink Floyd thru the spacey final third. The conceptual framework extends into odd structural elements, so musical phrases start to re-emerge over time and songs like "Fear, Sex" operate more like themed interludes, rambling along as they try to hold it all together. And aside from all the experimental stuff, there are simply a lot of bangers here too - "Death and Romance", "Vampire In the Corner" and "The Ballad Of Matt And Mica" are just some of the songs which are beyond remarkable. But that part isn't really a surprise, that's just what they've always done.

While the album has some kind of lyrical concept, it’s fairly abstract and Mica Tanenbaum’s slurred girlish vocals do little to help you pick it up. Semi-ironic ideas of self improvement through retro consumerism float around throughout: the sleeve features a picture of Tanenbaum having a CD inserted into her forehead and it’s an image that informs much of what’s going on. In truth tho, yr going be struggling to keep up anyway and it’s probably better to just let it all wash over you. Tbh given all the flash and conceptual dazzle it’s a wonder that Imaginal Disk holds together at all: in an odd sort of way, the record it reminds me of most instinctively is Pink Floyd’s The Wall, tho with a much keener sense of humour instead of all the self lacerating misery. But while it’s undoubtably messy at times, there’s a force of will at the centre of the album, a clear idea of where it’s going and what it wants to do that more or less keeps you on board, even when they’re starting to ramble on a bit. And most importantly, that ambition is part of its charm - we may be a long way from "Killshot" and "Airplane" now but it's our memories of how far they’ve come that helps make Imaginal Disk feel all the more winningly out on a limb. 

[jackiehicks]

hi!

i haven’t done this in a LOOOONG time. i used to write on here under the url imaginesxyou when i was like 13, but i miss writing and shipping and general tumblr shitposting so bad. i figured i’d do a little introduction to let you guys get to know me, and i’ve put my fandom list here too so you guys know what stuff i might write for!!

so i’m jackie. i’m 20 years old and based in the uk. i’m queer and genderfluid (any pronouns) so i’m happy to write any lgbtq+ requests you guys have. i’m an apprentice travel agent at the moment, and a lot of my time is eaten up by work. however i’ll try and pop on here and answer some of your requests when i can!! my hobbies generally include writing, watching tv and movies, and singing! i sing at my local open mic night and i really love it. i listen to all kinds of music, but i perform strictly 60’s music at the moment. i’m hoping to branch out into 70s and 80s stuff too when i have time. i’m also autistic and my hyperfixations can change quite often, so i’ll likely close some fandoms on my list depending on what i’m fixated on at the time. I’ll also probably add stuff on too as time goes on!

i’ll be writing little drabbles and self inserts (i’m a sucker for all that y/n shit), but also ships! this was a big thing that i did back in the day and the people seemed to love it. you guys probably don’t need it but here’s a quick rundown on how to request!

SELF INSERTS:

just pop a fandom and character into my ask box and a description of what sort of thing you’re looking for - it can be as long or as short of a description as you want! i’ll do my best with the given material. there are some things i probably won’t write but i can’t think enough to have a list of those here. if your ask includes something i’m not comfortable writing i’ll just reply and let you know.

SHIPS:

similar process - pop a fandom and a description of yourself into the ask box, and once again it can be as brief or as detailed as you see fit. try to include stuff like looks, personality, interests, gender and sexual preference, etc.

as it currently stands, here’s my fandom list that you can request from! requests will be open for all fandoms to kickstart the blog a little. it’s split into movies, tv shows, and music!

TV SHOWS:

high school musical: the musical: the series (current hyperfixation)

grease: rise of the pink ladies

community

sex education

stranger things

ted lasso

mech x4

kickin it

heartstopper

julie and the phantoms

my babysitter’s a vampire

MOVIES:

disney’s zombies

harry potter (but not in a way that supports jk rowling obvs)

ferris bueller’s day off

young guns 2 (specifically the sequel)

sky high

the mighty ducks

newsies

dead poets society

undrafted

lord of the rings

top gun

everybody wants some!!

star trek (2009-2016)

the breakfast club

narnia

x-men

bottoms

metal lords

star wars (probably just the movies at the moment, i’m a little behind on the shows)

disney’s descendants

MUSIC:

the monkees

the hollies

the beatles

the byrds

wham

nct dream (the only kpop group on here - sorry!)

backstreet boys

the doors

tokio hotel

the jimi hendrix experience

pink floyd

don broco

queen

and that’s my introduction done!! requests are officially open! thank you guys so much, this is gonna be so much fun.

for the first time, this is jackie signing off!

[randomvarious]

Herold Jones - "The Dark Side of the Moon" This Is Trance-1 A.M. by Marc Sacheli Song released in 1993. Mix released in 1995. Trance

Today I've got this little, underappreciated banger that I randomly came across on a Miami-made mid-90s trance mix called This Is Trance-1 A.M. that was mixed by a guy named Marc Sacheli, who I think is a real estate agent now 🤔.

And what's a little strange about this whole mix is that, despite the fact that it was released on a couple different Miami labels, including the #1 label in the history of Miami bass music, Pandisc (?!?), every song on it actually originally comes from a Belgian label called DiKi Records.

But when you dig into the liner notes of this particular mix, you can immediately see why there's so much stuff from DiKi on it, because Sacheli wasn't the only one who had a hand in its track selection; another guy named Roger Samijn (spelled Samyn in the CD booklet) helped co-compile it too. And he himself owned DiKi. And one of DiKi's biggest contributors at the time was someone named Luc Devriese, who appears on nearly half of this mix under different solo monikers and as a member of some different groups.

Devriese's career appears to have begun on a different label, though, called Target Records, where he was involved in a slew of different new beat projects in the late 80s that were launched by the company itself. New beat was a short-lived genre in Belgium that started in the late 80s and had pretty much fizzled itself out in the early 90s. It took stuff from different strains of popular music at the time—new wave, hi-NRG, EBM, and hip hop record scratching—and fashioned a whole dance genre out of it.

But when new beat's popularity waned, Devriese appeared to be onto other things for the 90s, namely a different budding European dance genre called trance. And under one of his many aliases—in this case, Herold Jones—he released an acidic 12-inch called The Dark Side of the Moon, which was put out by DiKi, and then became one of many of his own contributions to this Sacheli mix a couple years later.

Now, "The Dark Side of the Moon," as far as I can tell, has absolutely nothing to do with Pink Floyd, but it definitely has a sort of intense and pumping, spacey sci-fi vibe to it. There's this stabby lead acid melody that's sort of reminiscent of 80s electro, which was, a lot of times, on a dystopian Afro-futurist sci-fi bent of its own. But more than that is the element that ends up tying the whole song together later on: the infusion of sweet, underlying string pads, which have this way of sounding like an alien ship is about to touch down on the plot of land that's right in front of you.

And this song is, really, by no means all that complex, but its overall execution is still pretty stellar, because, while pads are often inserted early into a trance tune—usually being one of the first things you hear along with some sort of percussive rhythm—Devriese ultimately chose to save them for last here. And, clearly, that was a great idea, considering how good this song manages to sound three decades after its original release.

And it appears that "Dark Side of the Moon" only actually made it out of Europe once, onto this pretty obscure mid-90s Miami trance mix that was weirdly and quietly just a showcase of one of Belgium's very own dance labels, and happened to feature a whole lot of tracks on it that specifically involved one guy, Luc Devriese. So, bit of a strange way to discover this one, but it still definitely goes, huh? 

[maybe-ill-catch-fiddle-faddle]

Welcome to My Comic Blog ! Intro + Info

Hi, my name is Shae ! This is my blog for sharing short (non-canon) comics featuring characters from my original novel trilogy, the Fireverse (Maybe I'll Catch Fire, This is a Film About You & Who Came After?). Since I'm not ready to share the actual plot and lore of the story just yet, I figured this is the next best way to practice characterizing and putting my lil' fellas out into the world. If you feel so inclined, feel free to send them an ask using the Askbox button, and I'll respond with a comic ! Anonymous and non-anonymous questions are welcome !

FAQ (or so I'd imagine): What the heck is the Fireverse ? - The Fireverse is a novel trilogy I'm developing and hope to actually start writing and publish sometime after I graduate college. I've been seriously working on it since I was around 15 and it's become a Christian story about overcoming tragedy and loss through Christ. A lot of it is symbolic of my real life experiences. While I'm not comfortable sharing the full plot, backstories and details (and probably never will be until the books come out), I do enjoy showing the characters themselves.

Who even are the characters ? - Great question ! Here's a list of all the characters (so far), their roles and the individual stories they come from (some info has been omitted or changed to prevent spoilers). Orange is Maybe I'll Catch Fire, pink is This is a Film About You, and blue is Who Came After?:

Jax - Main protagonist Maverick - Main protagonist Collins - Main protagonist Wade - Secondary protagonist Jolie - Secondary protagonist Felix - Main antagonist Alice - Recurring character Tom - Recurring character Salty - Main protagonist Margaret - Main protagonist Frasier - Main antagonist Crowsong - Main antagonist Barnabas - Secondary antagonist Tuesday - Secondary antagonist Dr. Brooks - Secondary antagonist Bernadette - Supporting Cherin - Supporting Junebug - Supporting Klaus - Supporting Gossamer - Supporting Webs - Supporting Florence - Main protagonist Floyd - Main protagonist

Obviously, WCA? is the least developed. If you go to the archive section of this blog, you can view the individual character tags to see comics featuring the characters that you're most interested in ! The stories all take place in different time frames (MICF in 2016, TIFAY in 1954, WCA sometime in the distant future), so it doesn't really make sense to ask characters from different stories to interact with each other, but this is all non-canon so I guess I can bend the rules.

Can I make fanart ? - Sure ! I doubt anyone will, but if you for some reason want to, I would be most grateful :>

What genre is the Fireverse ? - Kind of still deciding, but probably leaning toward psychological thriller for all three (and Christian). The comics won't follow the lore though, so they'll be casual/slice of life

What questions are off limits ? - NSFW obviously (I'm 18 but would still rather not sexualize literal animals thanks). I also would prefer no unnecessary violence or gore (ex. daring a character to hurt other characters just for laughs). Also no political or sociopolitical questions, please (ex. asking characters about their political alignments, asking characters about their opinions on "(insert group's) rights", asking characters to support a certain political or social movement, etc.). I prefer to keep politics out of my public art. Most other things are fine though ! I encourage asks of any tone - serious, goofy, chaotic, romantic. If it'll make for an interesting comic, then go for it.

Any important contexts I should know ? - Ummm, MICF takes place on a deserted island disconnected from civilization. That's about it. I'm not comfortable sharing the worldbuilding of the Fireverse until the books come out, but it's somewhat similar to America in terms of modern advancements and tech.

Where can I learn more about the characters ? - You can find detailed bios on my Artfight !

Alright, that's about it. If I think of anything else, I'll add it to this post. Thanks for stopping by !

[randomclam24]

Oh no we don't want what's below "Kill all those that insult Islam" comes less easily than my dad It used to be sleeping on things got my mind off, but it solidifies the constraint https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rb_o3Ijt-z0 Now that the precedent is set, you're supposed to eat up FNAFs like this to compensate that you really haven't experienced the presentation like this despite many fangames Might as well just insert the "right wingers are terrorists" - no I can't say it's a myth My father's a terrorist Bruh shit like below is a joke - they don't even post *After long dramatic pause for sucking in the dramatics* So yeah we need to accept the Lunar barrier

Update unrelated There was a video where Family Guy dancing is used to push whiteness, but they employ use of the word Hyperborean That yes Being white - even when I get online, it's not as bad as I think - I'm thinking having a platform is an automatic kike Deception https://www.universeofparticles.com/2020/08/30/how-pink-floyd-corrupted-the-optics-debate/ >I don't even know what people mean when they say White (as an insult) What I think is more sinister, as they are all - You only think "nothing ever happens" Update - Eats all of the cheese on the TV screenhttps://archive.is/Pd3P6

Update Manhood >In Smash Bros a more recent game, I caused the most damage to opponent but failed because others swept with good launch moves no you fail <am disingenuous because don't have launch move[In real life, they're *telling* you - don't have launc hove

Update POINT IN EXAMPLE

If we knew how to express these things without the sexual prefixation, you'd get at "whiteness - oh wait I just got flagged by my little sister memory "Over the Garden Wall" - that's what it means when I express - GET BACK

Update after two below Turns out, I have no interest in Gamecube

Update at 7:32! I didn't want to hear chocolate rain was about racism Also "the prisons make you wonder where it went"

Pretty much citing the vid below, this is not the time for the ultimate Update "Zoom the camera out", the meme from the Trump campaign, is about rae - race By this line, the thing gets hand-had - "astroturfing" - "not cool" or "[we're here to fuck you in the butt Update <"Countless people have had their lives ruined" - Quiet I'm breathing Update - My prefixation on trying to work what things are that we know or just lying

I have something I have to admit Brony pedos The whole vibe of the song's actual melody composition is just that meme "when you say you're fine but you're actually a spastic on the internet (i.e.?) o algo You're a pedo for shoehorning in to people's diaspora Update after Halloween So yeah when I started this on Youtube I had to go out and ask what instructions are for masturbation, and that's not actually written on the inetrnet Turns out that's supposed to be the HRT self production page it even tells you, it will render you infertile, so much so that you should consider sperm banking this is where they sit you still and have you walk through Update Basically the people who would resort to what I'm doing, they have no reason to have kids - really puts in perspective the diametric flip when you get on here

e

[tuesdaynightmusicclub]

For Brian Wilson (June 20, 1942 - June 11, 2025)

On this day 60 years ago, the 12th of June 1965, recording began for one of the most important albums in popular music history. Pet Sounds is one of the few records that, when you call it 'the most [insert adjective here] album', usually followed up with 'ever' or 'of all time', it's not hyperbole. Spearheaded by the now late Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, and aided by some of the best vocalists and session players of the day, Pet Sounds is monumental, so much so that lauding it as such feels practically redundant. Everyone and their mam has done so, including much better writers and appreciators than yours truly. Me doing this right now feels like throwing a penny onto Uncle Scrooge's money bin, to be honest. And yet, the work of Wilson and his brothers (and brother from another mother, Al Jardine) compels me to eulogise, redundant though it may be. I'll see what I can do.

It can be hard to appreciate what made Pet Sounds important. Why it's great is easier. You can give it a spin and behold a sequence of well-written, gorgeously-produced songs that are simply lovely, even a lifetime later. That's to taste however (but I will raise an eyebrow if you try to talk shite about this album). "Important" though? For this you have to consider its reach. At the time of its release, it was immediately inspiring to The Beach Boys' contemporaries at the dawn of the psychedelic era. Melody united with ambition and sparked a creative wildfire in that pivotal generation, across multiple scenes, genres, and eventually generations. The notion of the album as an auteur's artistic statement partly originates with this release.

Other acts would take this further: get deeper, weirder, more expansive, and sometimes just plain better. Part of why The Beach Boys became what they are is due to them being in the right place at the right time, when popular music was chomping at the bit, eager to grow, and much growth still needed to take place after their period of relevance was done. But Pet Sounds remains a touchstone, a turning of the key unlocking what pop could do, opening the door for others to breach. Its influence went beyond The Beach Boys' immediate audience and peers into the medium itself. Everyone from Pink Floyd to Crosby, Stills and Nash to The Ramones to Norman Whitfield to Aphex Twin to Jimi Hendrix to Daryl Hall & John Oates to Frank Zappa to Sly Stone (RIP) to The Who to Herbie Hancock to Lee "Scratch" Perry to The Beatles to My Bloody Valentine to every accomplice in the genre of 'yacht rock' can trace some level of artistic ancestry back to what this band did. The Beach Boys' music and aesthetic marked California as the place to be, inadvertently cultivating the west coast scenes that put the countercultural revolutions of the 1960s on wax (ironic perhaps, given the incredibly square image those lads never shook off). They didn't do it alone; Brian Wilson was not the first to write introspective pop songs, and the band wasn't the first to get freaky with their sound. But this is why Pet Sounds still gets brought up in Greatest Albums lists to this day, and frankly always shall be.

Speaking of Brian though... something I'm unfortunately glad to see after his passing is people acknowledging the harm done to him in his lifetime. For a long time, he's been romanticised as a broken genius, one who flew too close to the sun and fell for the rest of his days. As much as I'm fascinated by pop music legend, I try to resist such dehumanisation; a real person's struggles shouldn't be reduced to mythology the way Brian Wilson's were. The fact is, he was a man who was taken advantage of and mistreated by far too many people in his life. Abuse from family and bandmates, self-placed pressure to top his artistic efforts, psychiatric abuse, intense parasocial attention, and the pains of naivety in an increasingly cynical world were all factors in his personal collapse. No one should have to go through what he did, especially under such ruthless, unnecessary circumstances. Leaving aside words like 'genius' or 'casualty', he was simply a talented, vulnerable man. As great as his work could be, he was still only that. He was not treated well until his life was half over, and spent the rest of it ill at ease simply living it, but we can hope even that was better than what he previously had to live with. God, I hope it was.

To round off with a reminder of why we care, let's look at what Brian dubbed one of his self-written favourites, not just from Pet Sounds but from his whole songbook: 'Caroline, No'. This song demonstrates the qualities that set the album apart in 1966: the deliberate pacing, the unusual-for-pop instrumentation and chords, the wistfully melancholy tone, the gorgeously sensitive vocal performance and the themes of lost innocence and childhood's end. This is the sound of a beautiful heart breaking, a frail soul trying coming to terms with what this world does, and what life is. It would have been easy for this to be too maudlin, too indulgent to be great. And yet, at the peak of their abilities, Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys could tap into something bigger than themselves, some quality that went beyond sentimentality and naval gazing into a more profound realm. That is what the best art does; it suggests beyond its limits, encouraging deeper rumination than what a small painting, manga chapter, episode of television, or 3 minute song ought to provoke. The experience is brief, but when done right, never really ends. You could say the same of a human life. Brian Wilson's was not always well-lived, but because of the beauty he shared with us when it allowed, it will never truly end.

Thank you Brian. Thy eternal summer shall not fade.

Tuesday Night Music Club No. 98 - 'Caroline, No' by The Beach Boys

[stray-kaz]

Masterlist

Fandom works! So much here...

All reader inserts are female.

Marvel

Bucky Barnes

T.L.C.

Girl Dad

Reds and Whites

Not Even a Candle

Reparations - 18+

Prologue   One   Two   Three   Four

Snow & Ice - 18+

One   Two   Three   Four   Five   Six   Seven   Eight   Nine   Ten   Eleven   Twelve   Thirteen

Frank Castle

Kiss Cam

A Touch of Crazy

Brothers In Arms

Frank Castle x Family headcanons

Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner

Time and Time and Time Again - 18+

A Baby Shower for Frankie

Two Pink Lines

Two to Tango - 18+

Baby Talk

Paper Ring

Blooded

The Opposite of Soft - 18+

Gone Off Half Cocked - 18+

Butterflies On Fire

A Stitch in Time

Look Where You’re Going

I Do

Matt Murdock

On Blind Faith - 18+

ONE   TWO   THREE   FOUR   FIVE   SIX   SEVEN   EIGHT   NINE   TEN

Headcanons

Steve Rogers

I Love You, But... - 18+

Shadow and Bone

Jesper Fahey

A Better Distraction - 18+ - Completed

One   Two   Three   Four   Five   Six   Seven   Eight   Nine   Ten   Eleven Twelve

Kiss & Tell

A Good Shot

Ruse

Little Lantsov

An Unexpected Prince - sequel to Little Lantsov

Tender

Trigger

Swap With Me - 18+

He’s A Criminal and He’s Mine

Safe Inside, Out of the Rain

Laundry Day

The Law of Loss

You’re The Reason I Hate Champagne

There Goes My Life - An Assortment

One Two Three Four Five Six

Mal Oretsev

Twice Wounded - sorta 18+

Nikolai Lantsov

Patched - 18+

All Patched Up - 18+ - sequel to Patched

Monkey in the Air

Daddy and The Fox

To Be His Queen - 18+

Kaz Brekker

Stray - request prompt

A Murder of Crows - Miniseries

Part One Part Two

Memento Mori - request prompt

Green - request prompt

Love is a Battlefield

Set, Charge, Boom

The Magpie Verses - Completed

Take Off The Mask , Caught , The Crow and The Magpie , Unmasked

Aleksander Morozova

Trouble Just Walked In - sorta 18+

Matthias Helvar

Scrubbed Clean

Tolya Yul-Bataar

Awoken

Top Gun: Maverick

Bob Floyd

A Soft Landing - 18+

Red Flag Week

Baby. On. Board.

Jake Seresin

Out of Bounds I, II, III, IV, V, VI - 18+

Bradley Bradshaw

Jukebox Jive

Lockwood and Co.

George Karim

Death and Doughnuts

A Personal Experiment - 18+

Stuck in the Middle With You - 18+ - requested

Oh Dear Baby - fic idea from @the-biscuit-agreement​

Oh How Time Flies - sequel to Oh Dear Baby​

Ghosts I Get, People Are Crazy

Anthony Lockwood

Between a Tree and a Lockwood - sorta 18+

Honey, I’m Home - 18+

Delirium

His Mistake

The Invitation

Walt de Ville

The Flower and The Serpent - 18+

one    two   three   four   five   six   seven   eight   nine   ten

Little Women (2019)

Laurie

Sugar & Spice - 18+

one

two

Zombies (Disney)

Zed Necrodopolis

Awkward Question

Betwixt

Midnight Resolution - 18+

Leo Grande

Three Day Hire - 18+

One   Two   Three   Four   Five   Six   Seven

A Very Grande Christmas

Austin!Elvis

Sky High

The School for Good and Evil

Rafal Mistral

The Sky Is Falling

Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall

Under The Blood Moon - 18+

The Heirloom and The Heir

Evil, Be Mine

You Shall Be Loved

Rhian Mistral

The Storian’s Favour

Back from the Brink

Bubbles

To Sleep and Not To Wake

Ben Hardy Characters

Billy / Four

Hold Me Close, Don’t Let Go - 18+

The Witcher

Istredd

Chasing Fire - 18+

One Piece Live Action

Roronoa Zoro

Buoyant

A Book and A Nap

Starless - 18+

First Kiss, Last Kiss

Keeping Watch - 18+

Double The Bounty - 18+ - Part One  Part Two

Sanji

Tall Blond Pacifier

Sand and Stars

Wind and Rain - 18+

Monkey D. Luffy

First Blushes

Usopp

In The Moment

OPLA Men

Dance With Me

Christmas Drabbles 2023

Scent of Pine - Shanks

Neatly Tied With A Bow - Mihawk

Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice - Sanji

The Perfect Excuse - Zoro

Fullmetal Alchemist

Edward Elric

Happy Birthday To You

Rest and Recuperation - 18+

Tale of the Nine Tailed

Lee Yeon

Need - 18+

Sweet Home

Cha Hyun-su

Sunshine Part One - 17+

Let Me Do It

A Shop For Killers

Jeong Jin-man

Breathing

Time - 18+

Misc.

Ready or Not - 18+

Seven Minutes (Study Group)

Original Writing

Top Drawer

Quiet Peace

The Hat - 18+

Pirate Intro

Sweetness

Bandaged

To The Sea, My Love, To The Sea

The Uncanny Counter

So Mun

Oops!

Love & Pragmatism

To Spar or Not to Spar

Wong Yeok

Illicit - 18+

Weak Hero Class 1 & 2

Ahn Suho

Coma

Hands Off

Yeon Sieun

Sleep Study

The Sleepover - 18+

Na Baekjin

In The Mud and Dirt

Baku / Park Hu-min

Comfort Me Wrong - 18+

[alycias-wonderland]

Request: Riddle, Jamil, Azul and Silver reacting to m!S/O grabbing their butt.

Warnings: Was only meant to be slightly suggestive but I got carried away.

A/N:Hello my lovelies. Sorry for that absence but Twisted Wonderland was calling my name and now I'm back with headcanons.

Read under the cut.

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He had been bent over, playing around with the hedgehogs, ass positively begging to be grabbed. So technically it was his fault. Or so you reasoned.

At first he didn't react, his brain having come to a screeching stop. Before gradually his face reddened to the point you couldn't tell were his hair line began.

He swiftly turned around, scolding you on why you shouldn't do such things in a public place. W-What if Ace or Deuce or good sevens forbid Carter had seen that, he would never live it down. You would have taken him more seriously if he was stuttering less but the smirk on your face made apparent to the redhead that you found his reaction amusing.

Walking away briskly, he mumbled something about you being more clear about your feelings if you wanted to do things to him, causing a small blush to creep up your neck.

He was standing by the counter, plating Kalim's dinner when you grabbed his ass and gave it a squeeze.

At first, he turned to you giving you a look of annoyance, after all he had his duties to do. But when you hand still had a tight grip on his left ass cheek after a few seconds, he was starting to feel... things.

He guessed Kalim's food could wait. Turning to you he pulled you into a heated make out sessions, forcing his tongue into your mouth. Kudos to you if your taller and physically able to lift him. In a matter of seconds, you have him hoisted unto the counter;his legs wound tightly around you as your erections rubbed against each other, eliciting groans from the both of you.

"Jamil is my food ready-Oops! Sorry guys! You can continue!"

Well done for ruining the mood Kalim, you thought bitterly as your boyfriend pushed you away and hurriedly delivered his food to a waiting and slightly embarrassed Kalim.

I headcannon that this man has one of the roundest, most squishy ass out of all the twst boys, so it comes as no surprise to me you gave it a tight squeeze when he was walking past you to get to his office.

You saw him shiver and let out a cross between a moan and a gasp. Is it just you or is it getting hot in here? The octoman turned around to give you a scolding that died down in his through once he saw the smirk on your face.

Oh would you look at the time, Azul has a lot of work to do. He needs to go now-! Not so fast! You grabbed one of his arms and spun him around, connecting your lips in a kiss. He tried to push you away but you were stronger than him and in one motion you had picked him up, causing him to struggle to be put down; after all he was really, really heavy- shut up and accept your boyfriend's love Azul! You're beautiful. Once in his office you locked the door and laid him on the desk, making quick work of both your shirts as he laid breathtakingly beautiful beneath you.

Floyd and Jade however did not enjoy the sounds of your groans and Azul's whines of pleasure. but at least they had new blackmail material on Azul-

This man's ass was just as beautiful and delicate as the rest of him. So when you had grabbed a handful of it, it startled this gorgeous, beautiful man awake. Can you tell how much I love Silver? My No. 6 bae😩❤!

He was pleasantly surprised, shooting you a curious glance, cheeks tinted a pink color, wondering why you had grabbed hold of his behind. When you said it was simply because it looked so gorgeous and irresistible you just had to grab, he flushed a darker red and let you be going back to sleep.

When he awoke again, it was face down into the ground as you ate him out like a man who had been starved for 10 years. He moaned loudly as you inserted your tongue into his hole, one of your hands pumping his shaft as you did so, over stimulating him in the process. "S-Stop! What-! What are you doing?!" Abruptly you stopped and Silver instinctively whined, bucking his hips backwards causing you to smirk. "I thought you wanted me to stop?"

Your voice was teasing; amused. But you couldn't deny him for long, when he looked back at you with tear filled blue eyes, lips quivering in such an erotic position. Gosh Darn it was he sexy, is what you thought as you flipped him around and removed the top half of his clothing. Boy, oh boy was Silver in for a good fucking.

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All done! I hope you enjoyed that and feel free to send me requests! My ask box is currently open. Bye my lovelies! ❤

[fragilecapric0rnn]

made this playlist for my friend @cheatghost's BEAUTIFULLY wonderful fic show me the place where he inserted the blade. i put a lot of thought into the playlist and was talked into doing an analysis. I will be diving into each part of the fic by going over how and why the songs i chose for each section relate to the themes and events that take place. each part will have it's own post.

here is Part III. Searching

III. Searching

I rarely cry at my own writing, or when my brain is hard at work. But this section got me. This part is heavy. In the fic it's heavy, so of course, I had to make the songs reflect that. This line in the first part of chapter 2 really acts as the thesis of this part, and shows where Steve's headspace is:

"But now, another part of him is stuck in 1987. It’s a big part, the part that loved the hardest and felt the most free. It’s the part that had the most hope about the future. The part that finally, finally, belonged. And now it’s gone. Stuck. Steve can’t go back, can’t get it back, so he just has to make do with what’s left."

This part, Searching, that spans all of the second chapter and parts of chapter three, is the 11 years Steve spends searching, and waiting, and essentially building his entire adult life around finding Eddie. This is his way of coping with the loss of Eddie. And these songs dive into the coping, the loneliness, and everything else that comes to fruition in those 11 years.

I. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd

I started this portion with this song for a few reasons. One being that there were multiple callbacks to it during the fic (and in Lou's playlist). It also just feels like the embodiment of Steve during this portion of the story. The searching, the long years of searching, and the glimmers of hope that shine through the overarching ache of longing for something, for someone, when it feels impossible. Also these lyrics are the embodiment of this section -

We're just two lost souls Swimming in a fish bowl Year after year Running over the same old ground What have we found?

But also because it goes so well with this line from the fic: "Wonders if—it couldn’t be—but he wonders if it was a sign, maybe. From him. Somewhere." A scene taking place as this song plays, it sets the tone for what this portion of the story entails. As we will see further in the fic and in other sections, there are multiple occasions where it does seem like Steve is intercepting signs from Eddie. This song and other markers in the story serve as connections between the two of them, despite the amount of time that they're separated.

II. Lover, You Should’ve Come Over by Jeff Buckley 

AGAIN, would love to copy and paste the entire song! The longing and the waiting and the desperation in this song just feels like the song equivalent to Steve's heartache that envelops this entire chapter, and the years he spends searching.

Sometimes a man gets carried away When he feels like should be having his fun Much too blind to see the damage he's done Sometimes a man must awake to find that Really he has no one

Loneliness and isolation. It becomes clear as Steve is making this search his entire life, he feels how the other people in his life look at him, internalizes it and makes himself feel like he has to hide so he doesn't burden the others. Especially when it comes to Robin. He has convinced himself that he is holding back Robin and Nancy with his pain, inflicting pain on his people by

Yes, I feel too young to hold on And much too old to break free and run Too deaf, dumb and blind to see the damage I've done Sweet lover, you should've come over

His ears, his memory, the ringing. Not only is he stuck in this state of searching to cope, his body and mind are starting to age. So even if mentally he's stuck in 1987, his body is a constant reminder that time is passing. I also think apart of him will always feel guilty that he didn't try harder to stop this from happening, which is why this song fits so well with the story as a whole. He should've come over, he should've tried harder. Coulda, woulda, shoulda.

III. Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) by The Temptations

Another oldie by one of my favorite Motown artists, The Temptations. It's not so much directly connected through the lyrics, but through the sentiment and meaning of the song. This song is about falling in love with someone, picturing a life and future with someone, but in reality you don't know them, they are just a face you see but don't know.

With that knowledge, you know I had to put it on the playlist.

I tell you I can visualize it all This couldn't be a dream, far too real it all seems But it was just my imagination, once again Runnin' away with me

It just feels like Steve during this time. The helpless search and refusal to give up because of the life and future he imagined with Eddie. But in reality, he has no idea if he is going to find him. With every shot in the dark missed. Everytime a metalhead with long hair on the street doesn't have the right face, every trip in the pursuit of a lead that ends up with him coming back home alone. His future just lives in his imagination, and it's running away from him. He's not living his life, he's spending his time searching and waiting for a future that no one is even certain can exist for him.

IV. You’re Missing by Bruce Springsteen 

As their makeshift family gathers in California at they Byers every year, there is an elephant in the room in the shape of Eddie's absence in said room. I feel like this song is THE song for those trips to California. It's the yearly reminder that there will always be an empty chair, a person missing from their group.

Too much room in my bed, too many phone calls How's everything, everything? But you're missing, you're missing

"Everybody else is back in that rowboat with their jobs, their families, their lives. They’ve got pieces missing, like him, but they make do. They’ve moved on." And Steve hasn't.

And as we see, it's affecting them all. Hopper makes his own calls to try and lift the burden from Steve, which manifests in his own burden he bares. Max carries it in her inability to finish her book. The way Max is the one to rifle through his things to find the phonebook and yell "it's not your job." He's made it his personal burden to bare, but in that last trip to California, we see that everyone carries it.

God's drifting in heaven, devil's in the mailbox I got dust on my shoes, nothing but teardrops

I just loved that this song brought up the mailbox for this part because it is a nod to Steve's job, and the fact that Steve's job is tied into the life he has built around him trying to find Eddie. Everything in his adult life is tied back to Eddie.

V. Bullet With Butterfly Wings by The Smashing Pumpkins 

This song is seen twice in this chapter, in '95 and as the chapter closes in '98. The first instance, it's the originalz song and it immediatley reminds Steve of Eddie, as the cashier is "a teenager with a face full of piercings and a practiced glare to boot". Which causes him to drive by where the trailer used to be and listen to the song. Even when there is unforseen miles between them, even when 11 years go by without even a blip on Steve's radar, they are still so connected, and it makes me feel so ill.

Then someone will say what is lost can never be saved Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage

The lyrics themselves reflect Eddie's circumstances! Talking with Lou about the song choice and the meta of the song in comparison to Eddie, it's about feeling trapped by circumstance. Eddie is trapped by the MW persona that he's created as his way of shooting his flare in the dark to grab the attention of Steve in a way that doesn't jeopardize his situation.

VI. Black by Pearl Jam

Echoing what's stated above, this song just capture Steve's feelings over the course of the 11 years of searching. The song is about letting go, and though we don't see Steve letting go AT ALL in this section, I decided to end this portion of this playlist with this song anyway because, as the readers we know more, and we will soon see that all the searching, the waiting, the hope that's tangled up in the obsessive persistence with Steve's search, will have a pay off.

I know someday you'll have a beautiful life I know you'll be a star In somebody else's sky Why can't it be Oh can't it be mine

Also these lyrics above beautifully mirror the closing scenes of chapter two and the first part of chapter three.

He looks at Fawn and thinks he sees one of its stars blink.  Eddie blinks back.  Wonders if Steve will see. 

He looks at their constellation and slowly blinks. I’m okay. I’m safe. I love you.I love you.  

Eddie remembers. Eddie is waiting. Steve is blinking back at the stars, he's not going to stop, he is always going to have hope. And as we will see in the next installment, on the other side of the searching, there is hope.

[unabashegirl]

Pax Romana; Part II

Sequel to: Part 1

Author's note: I know I said this before, but I'VE WORKED ON HIS PIECE FOREVER. I started writing this on JULY 4, 2021!

They rested on their tummies on the sunbeds, soaking in the potency of the Italian sun. Catalina's arms were stretched above her head, leaving a small space under her arm to see him.

Their books had long been forgotten, discarded only a few inches away. It was relatively quiet, except for the sound of waves crashing onto the shore.

Harry turned his head to face her, noticing she had been listening to music the entire time.

“What are you listening to?”

His rough voice broke the comfortable stillness that had settled between them. Without a word, she took an AirPod out of her ear. Harry lifted his head, curious about what she’d do next. She leaned over the gap that separated their beds, attempting to reach his ear without wasting too much energy. Unfortunately, her arm wasn't quite long enough to reach the cheeky, smiling man.

Harry chuckled at her determination, then grabbed the edge of her tanning bed and, without warning, yanked. He pulled her close until their sunbeds collided—becoming one big one.

He had her right where he wanted her.

Catalina carefully and gently inserted the matching AirPod into his ear. By now, both of them lay on their sides, facing each other just in time to hear the start of Catalina’s playlist.

Her favorite mix included Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Elvis, Guns N’ Roses, and more. He was rather pleased to discover she had such good taste in music.

“Pink Floyd?” he asked after Wish You Were Here ended and Dreams by Fleetwood Mac began.

She cracked a nostalgic smile.

“It was my mom’s favorite,” she said softly, feeling the familiar knot beginning to form in her throat. She may have been wearing sunglasses, but Harry still caught her emotional state.

He scooted closer, just enough to catch a whiff of her suntan lotion, until the sides of their hands were touching.

“M’sorry,” he whispered as his pinky grazed the side of her hand. The small gesture was sweet and comforting.

“Don’t apologize. I like to be reminded of her. It keeps her alive.”

Harry doesn’t know what drives him to kiss her. Perhaps it’s the rawness of the moment, or how gentle her skin feels, or how intoxicating the smell of her suntan lotion is—but whatever it is, he gives in without a hint of remorse.

It’s gentle and delicate. His hand grazes her cheek on its way to the back of her head, fingers tangling in her long hair. The kiss they had both craved deepens with every second. They’d abstained from tasting each other for far too long, and now they were famished.

What began as a soft kiss quickly turned into a full make-out session—until Catalina gently forced them apart.

She pressed her forehead to his, trying to catch her breath and savor the moment. A moment Harry used to admire her up close, an unavoidable smile stretching across his face.

“Y’alright?” he asked, noticing her eyes still closed.

“Perfect,” she said softly, catching her lip between her teeth. Harry pecked her lips quickly before lying back down.

He took off his sunglasses and faced the sky, closing his eyes as the music transported him back to the moment he first met her. She didn’t know it yet, but Harry had already started writing about her—and he planned to keep doing so for a long time.

“Would you let me do something?” Catalina interrupted the tranquility that enveloped them. The corners of his lips twitched into a small smile, his cheeky nature surfacing.

“Depends on what it is, darling.” The endearment, paired with his thick accent, sent a wave of heat through her. She clenched her legs instinctively, praying he hadn’t noticed the effect he had on her. “And what’re y’gonna do for me?” He tucked his arm behind his head, which only made his muscles stand out more.

“May I take a picture of you?” He turned his head to look at her, confused. He was used to people snapping pictures without asking—used to being exploited for a payday. He didn’t understand why she’d want a photo when the internet was full of them.

“F’what?”

“I just want to capture this moment,” she replied honestly. It was a small hobby of hers. Her apartment in Rome had a dedicated room she'd transformed into a studio. It was the messiest place she owned, and no one was allowed in unless she invited them. It was her cave—her sanctuary. A space where she could create without outside opinions.

“Forget about it. It’s silly,” she mumbled, brushing off her own request after a few seconds of silence. She hoped she hadn’t annoyed him.

He just looked so perfect and carefree in that moment that the artist within her ached to preserve it.

“S’not, m’love,” Harry said as he edged closer, now lying on his side. “I just wasn’t expecting it.” The request felt foreign to him, but it was such a beautiful day—he wanted to remember it too. “Could I take one of you as well, perhaps?”

Catalina nodded enthusiastically before reaching for her bag and pulling out a Polaroid camera.

“How do you want me?” she asked, raising an eyebrow playfully. Harry let out a loud belly laugh—and that was when she captured the first of many photographs.

She took two more of his side profile. Catalina was fascinated by the sharpness of his jaw, how he looked as if he’d been carved by the gods. She could stare at him for hours.

“Hungry?” Harry asked, eyes still closed.

“A bit.”

“Where would you like to have lunch?”

“Are you asking me to go to lunch with you?” she teased, giggling as she lay back down on her side to face him.

“How else am I going to take your photo?” Catalina shrugged, pretending to be unaffected by the invitation—even though she was thrilled and already thinking about what to wear.

“I guess I’ll have to go, then.” Harry laughed and shook his head.

“I think you might need more sunblock, H.” She had started noticing the redness on his face. Without hesitation, she reached out to apply it.

“I’m fine!” he protested, grabbing both her wrists before she could lather his face. “I haven’t burned yet.” He kissed her knuckles in an attempt to distract her.

“Harry! Please,” she pouted, trying to win him over.

“I’m fine, m’love,” he insisted again, this time kissing the inside of her wrist before letting her go.

“If you say so.” Catalina made a mental note to pick up some aloe vera on her way back to the hotel. She had a feeling he’d regret it.

“I was thinking you could come to my house for lunch. Would that be alright? I just thought we’d have more privacy,” he asked, careful not to give the wrong impression.

“It’s not a problem,” the Latina woman said, still forgetting how famous he was outside their little bubble. “I just need your address.”

“I’ll text it to you.”

Catalina found herself running around her hotel room, searching for one of her sandals. She had decided not to wear heels this time—mostly because she didn’t want to embarrass herself like last time. On top of that, she had to catch a bus to get to Harry’s house, which was secluded from town.

She wore a green, polka-dot summer dress with her hair down. She had applied a bit of makeup but skipped foundation, knowing it would probably sweat off in the humid heat. Only the cool ocean breeze made it bearable to walk to his place.

His house was a decent-sized Italian villa, surrounded by olive trees, arched windows, and climbing vines, with a private beach as its backyard.

The interior was decorated minimally—he wanted open doors leading to the backyard. He already felt trapped in his other homes. This time, he’d been very particular with his demands. Harry had spent the morning at the local market, choosing the perfect ingredients to recreate a recipe he thought she would like.

While the food cooked, he paced around the house, worried and thinking about her. He was beyond himself. He couldn’t think straight, and it scared him. Harry wasn’t ready to have his heart broken again. The craziest part was that loving her might be the most exquisite way to self-destruct.

It was just after two-thirty when he heard a soft knock at the front door. It was more of a late lunch kind of thing. After all, they had both snacked most of the morning in the kitchen. He set down his glass of wine and eagerly walked to the door.

“Hi,” she smiled, instantly noticing the sunburn she had predicted. The funny thing was, it made him look even more irresistible.

“Hello.”

“These are for you,” she said, gesturing to the bouquet of flowers she carried. Sure—it wasn’t conventional for a man to receive flowers, but Harry wasn’t like other men. “And this, too.” Catalina handed him the aloe vera.

“Aloe vera, how fittin’.” He chuckled, revealing the dimples she had grown to love over the past few days. “For me?” She nodded eagerly. He was surprised—and even more attracted to her. No one had ever bought him flowers. It was sweet.

“They’re lovely. Thank you, darling.” Catalina smiled. “Please come in.”

Harry noticed how she took off her shoes beside the front door. Her gaze quickly shifted to the artwork hanging on the walls. She was respectful of his privacy and remained in the foyer. The last thing she wanted was for him to think she was snooping or felt entitled to wander his house without permission. She respected his space.

“Es hermoso y delicado,” Catalina whispered, staring at the small details the artist had captured with watercolor on a canvas hanging in the hallway that led to the rest of the house.

It was Harry’s first time hearing her speak in her native tongue, and he wished he could hear her speak Spanish more often. Her tone was softer and gentler than in English. To him, Spanish had always sounded like a song—a lovely melody, mostly because it came from her.

“I bought it in a tiny art gallery in Japan,” he shared, trying to make conversation. “It never fit anywhere else. Then, when I got the keys to this place, I knew where it belonged.”

“Well, it’s beautiful.” She stepped back and lowered her crossed arms as she continued inspecting the painting.

“Come.” He reached out for her hand. Catalina noticed his fingers were still bare. He was still the relaxed Harry she’d met that night at the restaurant. “Would you like something to drink?”

“What are you drinking?” she asked, holding his hand as he guided her toward the kitchen. Catalina hated being asked what she wanted to drink—she always copied the host. She knew it was silly, but she felt like she was bothering.

“Wine. Would you like some?”

“Yes, please.” Harry nodded and walked around the kitchen island to the small wine cooler. He also took the opportunity to check on the salmon cooking in the oven.

Meanwhile, Catalina stepped out onto the balcony to catch a glimpse of the view. It was breathtaking. The sea crashed against the rocks right below them. She felt a bit jealous of how comfortably Harry probably slept every night, lulled by the sound of the waves.

“You must sleep until the afternoon most days with the sound of the waves,” Catalina said, inhaling the fresh, salty air.

“I’m actually a morning person. I wake up around five most days.” She looked at him as if he had grown three heads. If there was one thing she enjoyed more than sitting in a museum for hours, it was sleeping. Her sleep was sacred.

“That’s awful. Espantoso. ¿Estás bien?” There it was—her Spanish shining through again—and Harry was captivated by it. She pressed her right hand gently on his upper back, as if comforting him through a tough time. Harry found it funny, and her touch was something he didn’t know he needed, but definitely did.

“I like to swim in cold water and meditate at least twice a day.”

“I can put up with the meditation, but not the swimming.” Catalina took the glass of wine from him. “Too bad this isn’t going to work. I hoped it would.”

“Too bad. Was hoping you’d join me.”

“The sea isn’t that cold at this time of year, H.” The sea temperature along the Amalfi coast rarely drops below 20°C in summer, so she couldn’t understand where and how he got his cold swims.

“All the more reason why you should join me next time.” Harry smirked mischievously. If it were up to him, he would have already asked her to move in with him.

“Maybe. Let’s see how this date goes.”

“So, this is a date?! It’s not just you putting up with me as a thank you for letting you take my picture. And may I add, free of cost.” Harry’s cockiness was unbelievable, but he was just being silly. He enjoyed teasing her. He slightly licked his bottom lip, a gesture that made Catalina’s knees weaken for a split second.

“Oh, did I misunderstand?” She attempted to frown. “I could just go. Right now.” Catalina took a step toward the front door, but Harry instantly wrapped his arms around her waist, preventing her from going any further.

“You aren’t going anywhere,” he laughed. “We’re having dinner.”

“Not a chance.”

Eventually, they sat outside after Harry insisted, noticing how much she enjoyed the view. They joked and poked fun at each other. Catalina even tried to critique his cooking techniques but failed miserably when Harry pointed out that she had eaten every last bite of the food he’d served.

Catalina and Harry even touched upon heavier subjects, like past relationships.

“You can’t tell me you haven’t had a serious relationship in how long now?”

“Four years.” She nodded, doodling absentmindedly on the condensation of her iced water, trying not to meet Harry’s eyes—especially knowing the power his gaze had over her.

“That bad, huh?” Harry noticed her shift uncomfortably in her seat and looked up at her.

“You could say he broke me; he took a piece of me.” She smiled, but he saw the pain behind it. Catalina couldn’t fool him. She had met Harry the summer before her first semester of college in Rome. He had every attribute and quality she had dreamt of in a boyfriend.

“Did you love him?” Harry wasn’t jealous, nor did he have any right to be, but he felt like saying a few words to the man.

Catalina lifted her glass to her lips and thought carefully before answering.

“I don’t think I did. I was definitely attached to him. He gave me the comfort and familiarity I’d always had from my family. But I wasn’t in love with him.” She shook her head. “I think it was how our relationship ended that hurt the most.”

“You don’t have to share if you don’t want to.” Harry wanted to know more but held back.

“How about you, anyway?”

“You could say my career’s the common denominator.” He was a hopeless romantic. Even after many failed attempts to find the one, he would keep looking. Harry wasn’t ready to give up on love. Plus, he was convinced there was someone out there for him.

“Seems a bit silly, though, when they all knew what they were getting into before dating you.”

“I guess it’s always too much. Plus, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I’m an arrogant son of a bitch.” Catalina laughed, shaking her head, understanding the reference to one of his songs.

“So you do listen to my music!” He said, as excited as a kid on Christmas morning.

“Fine. Just a few.” Catalina tried to hide her smile behind her glass.

“What are your favorites, and why?”

“You really are a narcissist!”

“Just a tiny bit.” Harry chuckled, noticing the sun starting to descend and the ocean looking more inviting.

“Let’s go for a swim.” He blurted, standing up from his chair.

“What?” She laughed, watching him unbutton his shirt.

“Let’s go for a swim. It’s so pretty.”

“I don’t have a bathing suit.” Catalina tried to reason with him, but just as the words left her mouth, Harry pushed his shorts off his legs, leaving him completely bare.

“Who said anything about bathing suits?” He winked before bursting out laughing and running toward the shore.

“Harry!” She laughed after him, rising to her feet and running to the edge where she could look down at the shore.

“Come on! The water isn’t getting any warmer!”

It was there, watching the man she liked jump into the ocean in nothing but his birthday suit, that Catalina reflected on her whole life. She’d always played it safe. Always thought of consequences before acting. She was a planner and hated it when anyone changed her plans—yet here she was, walking down the stone steps toward where the sea met the sand.

Harry came up for air and ran his fingers through his hair before turning to look at the shore where nervous, shy Catalina stood.

With the water up to his waist, he looked like a dream—hair slicked back, tattoos glistening from the water.

“Come here! The water’s delicious!” He wasn’t lying but understood her hesitation. She still felt shy around him. They’d only known each other for a few weeks. It made sense.

So Harry turned his back toward her, giving her a chance to undress if she wanted.

And it was then when Catalina took her first risk and started stripping. Once bare, she went straight into the water. Thankfully, her hair was long enough to cover her breasts, making her feel a bit secure as she walked up to Harry.

“You are insane, you know?”

“Hello.” Harry turned toward her with a big smile. “Look.” He pointed at the beautiful sunset and the different tones of light that dispersed through the sky. It looked like a painting, and to Catalina, it was overwhelming. The natural perfection and the tranquility she felt gave her the courage to confess why she had broken up with her ex-boyfriend.

“I was pregnant and lost the baby. He left the day I got discharged. He said he was going to pick us up something to eat while I rested, but never came back.” She shared this as she kept her eyes glued to the sunset and the sky. “I know you didn’t ask, but since we have been sharing,” Catalina shrugged, “I thought it was important.” She had never shared her miscarriage with anyone besides her aunt. She was over her ex-boyfriend, but the pain of losing an unborn child was something she would always carry.

Harry went cold because the way her ex-boyfriend left her told Harry everything. He felt pain for her. Catalina deserved a better goodbye.

“I blamed her for cheating and broke things up with her before I gave her a chance to explain. I was wrong all along and ruined a perfectly good relationship,” Harry shared. It wasn’t the same, but he wanted her to know something about him.

“Do you regret it?”

“No. I am a true believer that everything happens for a reason.” It was true. “Plus, I wouldn’t have met you.”

“Smooth dude.” She giggled.

He reached underwater for her hand and turned her toward him. His hands came up to her face. His thumbs caressed her cheeks as he looked down at her, and she kept her eyes closed, enjoying his touch.

“I am so sorry,” Harry apologized, referring to her miscarriage as if it were his fault, but Catalina only moved her hands to cover his with hers after kissing one of his palms.

And it was quiet as they remained still. They allowed the comforting quietness to surround them as Harry continued to hold her. The only sound was the crashing of the waves. Then Harry kissed her gently, trying to convey the same feeling he felt around her.

Harry realized that she felt the same when the kiss was reciprocated and her small arms wrapped around his neck. Catalina took a step closer, pushing their bodies against one another, feeling the heat that each felt toward the other.

His hands dropped down and ran down her naked back and the sides of her body, enjoying the softness of her skin against his fingertips. Harry pulled away to move his lips to her neck and jaw.

A soft “Harry” came out of her mouth as he pushed his body closer to hers.

“What, m’love? What do you want?” He said against her skin.

It was as if a switch had turned. Neither of them had noticed each other’s nakedness. Now, lust and desire had overpowered them. Catalina’s body called out to him, responding to his simple touch. Her body was enticing, and he knew that the moment he went down that road, there was no turning back. She would officially become his just as much as he would become hers.

“You,” she barely whispered with hooded eyes.

“Are you sure?” He asked, lifting his head from the crook of her neck.

“Yes.” Harry smiled and reconnected their lips.

And so Harry made love to her in the privacy of his home until both couldn’t get enough of each other—until both were drunk off each other.

Catalina woke up, wrapped in soft bed sheets in a bed she didn’t recognize at first. She was alone, but the other side of the bed was undone too—meaning it hadn’t been a dream. The soreness between her legs was also evidence of it.

She was surprised Harry was already out of bed. It was still dark outside. Still, with lots of questions running through her head, she got to her feet and started the quest of looking for some type of clothing.

The only article she found in his closet was his iconic sweater—my life is crap with the little sheep. She threw it on before heading out in search of him.

He sat on a couch facing the backyard, wearing only a pair of boxers. His guitar rested on his lap and a pencil was between his fingers.

“Hey, rockstar.” Harry instantly looked up from his journal with a gentle smile.

“What are you doing up?” he asked, dropping his pencil as he noticed her attire.

“I could ask you the same.”

“Just having a late-night writing session.” A lot had happened today, and he needed to decompress—he had already made love to her multiple times. “Nice sweater,” he pointed out.

“The bed is lonely without you.” Harry smiled as he quickly scribbled something. He loved feeling wanted, needed, and desired. “Got any room for me over there?”

“Come here.” He sat back and settled the guitar beside him.

Catalina smiled and strode over to him. She sat on his lap and ran her fingers through his hair.

“Close your eyes,” she commanded after pecking his cheek. Harry obeyed but pursed his lips, waiting for a kiss from her. Unfortunately, the only thing he felt was the coldness of the aloe vera Catalina had started spreading all over his face. The man looked like a shrimp. It needed to be done.

On top of that, Catalina couldn’t help noticing his skin was hot from all the sun it had absorbed. It had been like making love to a tiny radiator.

“Lovie,” Harry complained as he opened his eyes wide at her.

“It’s for your own good!” Her eyebrows furrowed in concentration as she made sure to cover every bit of red skin. “It’s also boiling hot.”

“I didn’t see you complaining about that when my dick was poundin—”

“Shush!” She laughed, covering his mouth with a hand. Harry laughed, and even though the aloe always left him sticky, he let her finish in peace.

���There you go. All nice.” She pecked his lips as she closed the container. “I guess it’s time for me to go, H. I’ve overstayed my welcome.” The Latina climbed off his lap as she lathered the leftover aloe vera on the sides of her thighs.

Harry sat up and gripped her waist, stopping her from leaving.

“What are you talking about, darling?” Harry couldn’t believe the words that had just come out of her mouth. “You could never overstay.” He smiled. “Stay the rest of the night.”

“Harry—I don’t want to overstep.”

“Why would you ever think that? Maybe I wasn’t clear enough about my intentions while I was making love to you,” he chuckled. “I love you, Catalina, and I want you around me all the time—or as much as possible.”

“What happens when you go back to your life and I have to go back to Rome?” She liked him a lot, but she had to point out the obvious.

Harry rested his chin on her lower abdomen as he looked up at her, wrapping his arms around her hips.

“We’ll take it day by day. We’ll live in the moment, and we’ll fix it when that day comes. Alright?”

It was hard for her to let go. It was hard for Catalina not to have a plan for the future. It was especially hard for her to cope with uncertainty. That didn’t mean she wasn’t willing to try. After all, she did go to therapy every fifteen days.

“I guess we could try.” Harry smiled and pursed his lips. Catalina giggled and kissed him.

“Now get your arse into the bedroom and get naked.”

[cloudcountry]

Hiiiiii~! It's me! I was the one that requested the Azul + "Please" for your previous event.. and here I am again in your inbox (Inbox? Askbox??) Hahaha Also, thank you again for doing my request! It was lovely!! 💖 And angsty? 🤣 But I still love it! ❤️❤️

Sooooo... I actually wanted to join in on your new mermay event >///////< I wanted to insert a picture of my OC but I don't know how. I'm using mobile 🥺 Anyways!!

OC ✨❤️

Name: (I can't think of another name for a character. I always struggle with naming hahaha I'm also feeling a *bit* shy of using the name I had in mind. Because it's in my Tumblr name 🤣) If this is making things difficult for you, please say so 🥺 And I shall come out!! Hehe~

Physical Traits:

- Peach-blonde hair

- Pink eyes!

- 5ft. 1in. (That's why she likes wearing heels, to feel *just* a bit taller hehe)

Main Traits:

- Cutesy 🥰 in the way she behaves, hehehe And looks, maybe? 👀

- Cheerful!! ☀️ Radiates positivity, Always there to give you a GOOD MORNING/DAY!

- Diligent 📚 Can be a serious person when needed. Is actually an Honor Student?! 😳

- ...a crybaby; shallow tears💧Like, she's watched "A Walk to Remember" a number of times, and still cries every time. (Or listening to a sad song, then gets *sooo* into it, becomes teary-eyed all of a sudden)

Likes: CHOCOLATE!! 🍫 Also, HUGS!! They're like greetings for her hehe (She's affectionate ❤️)

Dislikes: Veggies (She's picky, I'm sorry😭), Coffee (I'm sorry to the coffee lovers 😢)

Talent: Singing 🎶, Dancing 💃

Hobbies: Watching sunsets 🌆 Stargazing 🌌, Journaling ✍️

I guess that's it? I might get into detail and start writing her backstory 🤣 Or have I already gone into too much detail?! 😳

I'm sorry this is so long. And there's so many emojis 😭

Thank you for reading.. 🥺🥺 If you need anything else, let me know!

- ✨❤️anon

"sea piggie is so cute when she dances with me." floyd laughs.

the debtor smiles softly and flips through their notepad.

"floyd gave you this nickname because you're a very soft person and your eyes may remind him of the sea pig's pink color!! not unlike your sensitivity, these sea cucumbers will break apart if they're brought too close to the ocean's surface. crabs hitch rides on them sometimes, which may be a reference to how likable you are."

[two-gays-in-a-trenchcoat]

Osa’s 500 follower event: TWST mix-and-match it!

Hey guys!! I decided to do a TWST mix-and-match-it fic event to celebrate our 500 followers!! I will be taking 5 requests in total (perhaps more, if I get enough), each of them probably being 1k-3k words or so, so send those asks in!!!! I will guarantee that the first 3 requests submitted will be chosen :))) ive also left a detailed description of what these requests entail, so hopefully, there won’t be any confusion. Edit: please also make sure you put that your ask is addressed to osa bc she is the confused one actually (by fault of her own)

note: all fics will be reader-insert with you/yours/they pronouns used for the reader, and any angst will have a resolution.

Below, I’ve provided a list of dialogue prompts (DP), a list of things (T), and a list of tropes and conflict prompts (CON). In addition, I’ve also specified which characters I will be writing for. In each fic, there will be one main love interest (LI), and between 1-3 other characters (SC) that interact with the reader/LI throughout the fic.

To submit a request, you must choose at least two from dialogue prompts, things, and tropes for me to work with. This is where the mixing and matching comes in! I’ve come up with some interesting prompts, so I’m hoping you won’t have too terrible of a time choosing.

To make things simpler, everything is coded by an abbreviation and a number. For example, if you chose Lipstick (14) from the Things (T) category, it would be abbreviated as T14.

You also must select one love interest, and if you’d like, 1-3 supporting characters for me to add.

Here would be an example of a request:

DP13, CON20, LI Floyd, SC Ortho, Azul, Ace

Here’s a key to the abbreviations:

DP: dialogue prompt

T: things

CON: tropes and conflict prompts

LI: love interest

SC: side character

And now, onto the lists!!!

*note: crossed off items that may no longer be used

DIALOGUE PROMPT (DP)

1. “You know he’s in love with you, right?”

2. “How’s a taste of your own medicine?”

3. “I feel like this was supposed to be the other way around.”

4. “Yeah, about what I said before....”

5. “That sounds like a terrible plan. What time?”

6. “You’d better watch your mouth.”

7. “Shocker.”

8. “Y’know, that sounded a lot better in my head.”

9. “You’re kind of beautiful, actually.”

10. “I’m kind of an acquired taste.”

11. “I don’t care where you’re going, just take me with you.”

12. “Could you shut up and listen for one second?”

13. “Hear me out.” “Absolutely not.”

14. “I know what everyone says about me. It’s not true.”

15. “I’m not stupid.”

16. “Say that again, but slower.”

17. “Wishes are for people who don’t know how to make things happen themselves.”

18. “Are you crying?”

19. “You should’ve told me sooner.”

20. “In all honesty, I didn’t think I’d make it this far.”

THINGS (T)

1. Tarot cards

2. bubbling, pink potion

3. book from the library with a page torn out

4. magic broom

5. bouquet of assorted flowers

6. love letter

7. Stray animal

8. opaque water bottle

9. missing button

10. record player

11. Wedding dress

12. Seashells

13. Pain medication

14. Lipstick

15. Violin

16. Fish bowl

17. Wishing well

18. venomous snake

19. Stuffed animal

20. Journal

CONFLICTS AND TROPES (CON)

1. Miscommunication

2. Unrequited love

3. Enemies/rivals to lovers

4. Wiping away tears

5. Locked in a room together

6. Hidden feelings

7. Argument

8. Injury

9. Accidental partners/teammates

10. Taking care of a child

11. Tutoring

12. Mutual pining

13. Slow dance

14. Night swim

15. Overhearing something you shouldn’t have

16. Valentine’s Day

17. Love at first sight

18. Out of his league

19. Secret identity

20. Winning/losing a bet

LOVE INTEREST (LI)

- any NRC student, except Ortho

- chose one (required)

-I’m going to assume it’s romantic, but I can make it platonic upon request :))

*edit: the following characters may no longer be used, since they have been requested at least twice: Ace, Jamil

SUPPORTING CHARACTERS (SC)

- optional, up to 3

- any NRC student, including Grim and/or Ortho

Once again, you must submit at least two from DP, T, and CON (you can submit three if you’d like), one LI, and an optional SC, up to three characters.

Happy asking!!!!