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roeroe-world · 10 months

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teach me.

starring: elindasan as shanice, devante swing as himself

set in 1993.

warning: not much plot, detailed smut, mentions of drugs, use of profanity

The lights in the musician’s home studio were dim as per usual. A clad of unique instruments of different colors, shapes, and sizes were displayed neatly within the spacious area. Being a part of the successful R&B band, Jodeci, means there were a lot of accolades. Gold and platinum records hung on the walls, showcasing the quartet’s hardwork and dedication.

Mistakenly, the young woman’s manicured index finger hits the wrong piano key. A snort is heard from her as she attempts to play the notes yet again. Her dainty hands pressed against the piano keys smoothly, finally playing the melody her boyfriend had been trying to teach her for the past two hours.

“There you go, baby.” DeVante sends her a nod of approval.

On this specific day, Shanice decided she wanted to learn to play the piano. Her boyfriend being a musician was a perk because he could literally teach her to play any instrument. But it wasn’t easy.

It takes a lot of patience when it comes to Shanice. She isn’t a fast learner like he is or wanted her to be. If she wasn’t his girlfriend, he would’ve given up before they even started.

Thinking she’d got it, unexpectedly, she hit the wrong key. A loud, abrupt sound meeting their eardrums, resulting in the couple to cringe. He scratches the back of his neck awkwardly, mentally thanking himself for smoking a blunt before returning home. “…Shanice, Shanice…” DeVante was growing impatient. “We’ll continue tomorrow. Aight?”

“Baby, I want to do this now.” She whines similar to a child earning a heavy sigh.

“Shanice, I just got home from the studio. I been working all day. I’m high, tired, and hungry.”

Despite possessing an at home studio, DeVante would work at another recording studio. He worked with a plethora of other artists so he couldn’t invite just anyone in his home anymore especially given that Shanice moved in a year ago.

With an eye roll, “You used that same excuse last time. To this day, you still haven’t really taught me to play your electric guitar.” She was gaining an attitude and so was he. Both were highly frustrated. “I know how busy you are but the least you can do is teach me the piano. Come on, D.”

His deep hazel orbs pierced into her direction, sending her a look infused with irritation and annoyance. She was a beautiful woman whom sure could work his nerves. Though, DeVante couldn’t help but think how funny life can be.

Shanice began to work as a receptionist at Uptown Records in ‘91. Her looks and hourglass frame garnered much attention from the male artists yet she never gave either of them a chance. He thought his chances were slim to none as well so he wrote a ballad inspired by her titled, Come And Talk To Me. If he couldn’t say it then he’ll write a song about it.

Before the track was released and became a worldwide hit, he let her listen and the expression etched across her captivating canvas read nothing but pure amazement. “Wow…” was all she could say.

A proud smirk was etched across his pink lips, “What you think?”

“I loved it.” She replied, fighting her smile.

He finally gained the courage to do what he’d been aching to do for the longest. “…love it enough to let me take you out?”

And so she did.

Two years later, here they were. Still a couple and living together. At times, he couldn’t believe he had ‘the fine receptionist’ in his bed. She was still as fine as ever and she was still his. He knew some of the guys at the label envied him because she was on his arm. He didn’t give a fuck.

Their relationship hasn’t always been perfect. Sometimes they were on, sometimes they were off. His feelings for her never changed in the midst of their issues. He loved her and he couldn’t say that for all of the women he’d been romantically involved with.

After moments of contemplating, “Aight. Imma show you one last time.” His plate in the microwave was calling his name. “This ain’t something you can learn overnight, baby.” He shoots her an arrogant wink.

Shanice’s dark brown swirling irises observed him lifting his arms to plant his long and thick crooked fingers against the keys to create a beautiful melody. The way he played the piano— any instrument was effortless. He could write, produce, play instruments, and sing. He was a genius in her eyes. DeVante inspired her in more ways than one and he didn’t even know it.

Observing his fingers closely, she began to scan the side of canvas. His eyelids were shut as his head moved from side to side, indicating that he was becoming engrossed in the melody he curated.

DeVante was a very talented man and on top of that, gorgeous. He had it going on. Women went crazy over him and she saw why, she saw it every day. She wakes up with him. Shanice was living every girl’s dream.

She too was engrossed… but it was for something else.

“D…” The young woman began, her tone of voice dropping and transitioning into sultry. Her left dainty hand sliding across his thigh to grip his member through his dark sweats.

Instantly, the musician stops what he’s doing. The moment his head turns in her direction, she plants a plethora of loving pecks against his lips. His masculine hands sliding along her back while hers gripped each side of his captivating canvas. Soon the pecks grew into a passionate kiss, their tongues dancing around one another’s harmoniously.

Shanice climbed onto his lap, her clothed wetness grinding against his hardened clothed member in a circular motion.

The musician disconnects their lips, “You ever made love against a piano?”

“Unh, unh.” She smiles brightly, her fingers twirling his little curls. They’ve made love countless of times, in many places, some strange. But on a piano? Never.

“Let’s change that.”

In a swift movement, he lifts her upward by her thick thighs as he stands to his feet and sits the beauty on top of the instrument. Her top row of pearly whites digging into her bottom lip, watching her boyfriend slide her panties along her smooth glowing chocolate legs. His hazel irises darkening in arousal at the sight of how wet she was and he barely even touched her.

Lustfully, she watches his tall frame lower between her widened legs. His arms wrapping around her thick thighs so she couldn’t run. Shanice was trapped into his tight embrace.

DeVante didn’t have to touch her for her to get turned on. All he had to do was give her that look and she would melt, willing to do any and everything in an instant. He had her wrapped around his finger and so did she. No matter how many arguments and fights they’d get into, they would never leave each other alone.

Soft and wet.

That’s how she felt in his mouth. Her taste was sweet like honey, essence dripping along his chin. “Mm,” His baritone groans against the woman, earning a plethora of soft moans before her lips widened growing speechless as two of his crooked fingers entered her warm walls.

“Shit, D…” Her manicured left hand grips his box fade as the other held onto the edge of the large black piano for balance. The musician was making her melt, inside and out, especially in his mouth.

“That’s it. Gimme more, baby.” His soaked fingers skillfully digging in and out of the woman’s tightness. He sucked, licked and kissed as if it was his most prized possession.

Shanice’s juices were never ending. DeVante’s hunger quickly diminished as she fed him, slowly grinding herself against his beautiful face. Her jaw agape, completely speechless. He was eating her like he hadn’t eaten in days, though, it had been hours since he’s had a meal.

Clearly, Shanice was his meal for now.

He couldn’t get enough of her. He never could. Her taste, her show-stopping love faces, her moans, the way her juicy lips would fall open as that little squeaky sound passed her throat. DeVante lived for every single moment of pleasuring his woman.

His piercing light orbs staring a hole into hers while she stared downward in his direction, perfectly arched eyebrows furrowing together while she threw her head backward occasionally. At times, her eyes would roll to the back of her skull, giving him a clear indication of how well of a job he’s doing.

“Fuck..” She releases the pent up sensation within her stomach without warning.

Smirking, he stands to his feet, “We not done yet.” Their eye contact intense. Though he could tell her orgasm left her a bit exhausted.

Soon, every single article of their clothing were on the floor. They were kissing on one another’s tattoos as DeVante gave her deep, breathtaking strokes. The sound of skin slapping, heavy breathing, and loud moans filled the musician’s spacious home studio.

“Look at me.” Gaining a tight grip onto her neck, he forces her attention on him. His deep voice meeting her eardrums immediately results in the young woman’s top row of pearly whites to dig into her bottom lip.

Her right leg upon his shoulder for more access, diving deeper much to her pleasure. She was in complete bliss, speechless. Glossy eyeballs peering upward at her man as he fucked her so good. His thick, long member always hit spots that left her eyes rolling to the back of her skull and screaming to the most high.

The feeling of her warm walls hugging his phallus drove him mad, his strokes grew increasingly rougher. As speechless as DeVante was making her, the pace of his hips were making her grow more vocal. She was growing louder and louder, screaming to the top of her lungs. Luckily, they were alone in their shared spacious luxurious mansion.

“You feel so good, baby…” He groans, pressing his sweaty forehead against hers.

“You too,” A helpless moan escaping her lips, caressing the skin of his back. “Fuck, fuck, fuck… ouu, fuck!” Shanice bends backward, back shivering at the coldness of the top of the piano as she laid against the instrument, taking him like a good girl. Her dainty manicured hands gripping her breasts, a fucked out expression etched across her canvas.

“D, ah…” The beauty loses her train of thought, completely and solely lost on the fact that his dick was diving in and out of her. He was so hard, long enough to hit that well needed gummy spot that left her legs shaking.

“Make a mess. Yeah, just like that, sexy.” His deep baritone encouraged her as she squirted uncontrollably, juices spilling along his pelvic area. She was so wet that she was dripping down his legs.

A plethora of high-pitched whines passed her widened lips and DeVante’s top row of pearly whites embedded into his bottom lip, observing the woman lying in front of his standing frame losing her mind. Her large breasts bounced intensely along with each stroke, her gushiness curating a prominent macaroni sound.

Shanice could feel him pulsating inside of her walls, indicating that he was close. “Gimme your babies, D.” Their eyes connected and the minute it did, the couple never looked away from one another. “I want every drop inside of me— shit—”

He knew that she wasn’t thinking clearly but he took what she said seriously.

“I love you, baby…” He breathes heavily, meaning every word he said.

“I— I love you so much. Hmm…” She drags out, eyelids shutting in pure pleasure before admiring the sight of where their intertwined bodies met. “Shit. I love this dick.”

Shanice was drunk off of the musician’s dick, letting out raunchy moans and pornographic screams before releasing yet again without warning. Meanwhile, DeVante’s pink lips hung open slightly as he focused on her reaction. Though, she’d gotten hers already… he wasn’t going to stop whether she liked it or not.

“Fuck…” He curses aloud, feeling his orgasm approaching. His strokes grew rougher and rougher earning several helpless whimpers.

“D… oh yes… come. Just come for me.” As encouraged, he did and spilled every single drop of his semen inside of his girlfriend’s warm walls. Both of their bodies shook at the sensation, their mouths falling agape in ecstasy in unison.

Silence falls between the couple until DeVante breaks it, his nasally baritone speaking, “You can have as many piano lessons as you want.”

Smiling weakly, “Electric guitar too?” Hope filling her low tone of voice.

“Acoustic, electric, whatever. You name it, baby.”

In response, Shanice just giggles. She was ecstatic that he was finally going to teach her.

#black love #black women #black men #romance #90s #devante swing #smut #elinda san #music #jodeci

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d-criss-news · 7 months

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Darren Criss Comes to Little Shop of Horrors with Disney Fandom and a Yen for an American Crime Story

“Suddenly Seymour” from Little Shop of Horrors is, of course, one of the great musical ballads. Beginning with feather-light piano and words of reassurance that are nearly sung-spoken, it grows and grows and grows—much like the plant the story revolves around—ending with a finale so rousing it could probably be heard in outer space.

If there’s one guy who knows his way around “Suddenly Seymour,” it’s Darren Criss. Among his countless performances of the song, he has sung it with Lea Michelle on Glee, on Carpool Karaoke and, most recently, on stage at Carnegie Hall. “There's never a point where I roll my eyes at it or go, ‘Oh god, I can't. I have to play this again,” he told Broadway.com Editor-in-Chief Paul Wontorek on The Broadway Show. The song is “bulletproof."

The number hits a little different lately. In January, Criss stepped into the role of the downtrodden flower shop assistant Seymour Krelborn in Little Shop of Horrors off-Broadway, with Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld, Across the Universe) in the role of the similarly put-upon Audrey. “‘Suddenly Seymour’ suddenly has a narrative context. It's not you and me at a piano bar having a couple beers singing our favorite song. It comes from a real narrative place. It's nice when you are doing the show in context, telling the story.”

Despite a deep love of the musical, Criss never thought he’d play the role of Seymour. “I can't say I ever sat around going, ‘Oh, one day I'll play Seymour'—I just never saw that,” he said. “But here we are and I'm doing my damnedest.”

Criss is especially delighted to be sharing the stage with Wood, a close personal friend. As Criss reveals, he personally asked Wood to join him in the show. "I can't take full credit for it, but yes, I may have nudged it," he said. A couple of weeks into their run, audiences are buzzing about the pair. “Listen, come for me. Stay for Evan Rachel Wood. She's the chef's kiss. I'm just the amuse-bouche that you forget about by the end.”

"'Suddenly Seymour’ suddenly has a narrative context. It's not you and me at a piano bar having a couple beers singing our favorite song." –Darren Criss

Not that long ago, Criss played Andrew Cunanan, the handsome and tormented real-life killer in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. Weirdly, Cunanan’s story is not worlds away from that of Seymour Krelborn—another killer feeding insatiable appetites (albeit those of a monstrous plant). “I seem to have a thing—I don't know what it says about me—about playing men that will go to extraordinary lengths to accomplish greatness,” said Criss. The stories of Cunanan and Krelborn “have the same sort of parable to them, of the consequences and cost of obsession. There's only so far you can go before really bad things happen to the people around you and to yourself.” Seymour Krelborn: American Crime Story, anyone?

The crucial difference is that Little Shop of Horrors is enormous fun and packed with catchy doo-wop tunes. A lifelong Disney fan, Criss is also enjoying reveling in his love for the late Howard Ashman who, as well as writing and directing the original off-off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors, was a central figure in the Disney Renaissance of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Before his death in 1991 due to HIV/AIDS, and in partnership with musical chameleon Alan Menken, Ashman brought tremendous heart and intelligence—and a Broadway sensibility—to The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin.

“As the kids say, he’s like my Roman Empire,” said Criss. (Chatting before the formal part of the interview, Criss suggests that “Mushnik & Son,” with its minor-key Klezmer vamp, is a prequel to “Poor Unfortunate Souls” from The Little Mermaid, while the fizzy frolic of “Closed for Renovation” anticipates “Something There” from Beauty and the Beast.) “I spend a lot of time thinking about Howard Ashman. My whole life, he has been such a North Star in the way that I think about creating things as an actor, as a writer, as a songwriter, as a lyricist—anything. I never had the pleasure of meeting him. But anytime people ask me: ‘Dead or alive, who'd you have dinner with?’ I always say Howard Ashman. I pretend he's in the audience every night—sort of as a barometer of what I think he would like or not like."

"'Being in this is my own little contribution to the altar of Howard Ashman." –Darren Criss

As an example of Ashman's exquisite dramatic instincts, Criss points to the well known video of Ashman directing Jodi Benson's vocal performance of "Part of Your World" for The Little Mermaid. "If this show [Little Shop] is like proto-Disney Renaissance—if this show is the beginning of Little Mermaid and Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast, which had such a profound influence on my life—then there are so many pieces of those things in the show that I'm tipping my hat to that it's hard not to feel connected to him in some way every night. It's an extraordinary legacy that I've been so obsessed with my whole life. Being in this is my own little contribution to the altar of Howard Ashman.”

Criss is already looking forward to sharing his love of Disney (and all things Howard Ashman) with his daughter, who turns two in April. “I'm praying she likes them. I'm pretty sure she will,” he said. “I mean, listen, you don't have to give me a reason to rewatch anything that I love, but now it's an even more elevated reason, to share it with somebody.”

With a second child on the way with his wife Mia, Criss also shared his thoughts on fatherhood more generally. Child-rearing, he explained, is kind of like creating a storytelling franchise: “Look, if you're a fan of storytelling—which, most of us that love Broadway are—the inevitable, most natural, logical sequel is having kids. Right? Because you now get to experience the same characters and themes with a brand-new character that isn't familiar with the prequel. In that person’s movie, it’s the first one.”

#darren criss #paul wontorek #broadway.com #evan rachel wood #howard ashman #acs versace #mia swier #bb criss #little shop of horrors bway #little shop of horrors #press #video #feb 2024

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writers-hes · 2 years

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Brown Sugar (e. munson x reader)

Two kids made it out of Hawkins but both came back, seeking comfort and rest only to find each other again. (friends to lovers, mutual pining, rockstar!eddie, baker!reader)

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On August 22, 1986, Eddie Munson left Hawkins, Indiana without a goodbye and a plan.

It was inevitable, really. He graduated high school months ago (it was his year after all) and saved up enough money from his drug dealings to escape the hellhole he called Hawkins in his beat-up van with nowhere to go. He decided that he had enough money for gas, food, and living expenses for a month in New York. All by himself, where the culture is. He found a pretty cheap hostel off the contact book and they were more than willing to give Eddie a discount and an allowance if he helped around the maintenance of the property. It was more than enough for him who just wanted out.

But a month turned into another week, and then another, and then a month. That month turned into months, until Eddie found a stable job as a tattoo artist in Brooklyn, sidelining with his band, Corroded Coffin, in a grunge-y bar in Manhattan, New York. He met his friends there, Gareth being one of his closest confidants. He wrote songs for the band—strumming his guitar with mindless melodies and playing the antique piano with chords. They started singing their own songs, more people coming into the bar until they landed a record deal with one of the most prominent record labels in Hollywood. They signed immediately with Eddie as their frontman. It was a pretty good deal, Eddie had creative control of the direction of the band and with the uprising of the grunge culture, it seemed like Eddie’s dreams had finally come true.

Sure, overly-conservatives called his music the devil’s music. Some people even suggested that he was a part of a secret society for the rich and famous. There was another rumor that he skyrocketed to fame because of a famous relative. None of it was true but it’s not like he minded. One thing that was good about being the resident Freak of Hawkins was not minding what everyone else thought of him. Devil music? Sure. Trailer trash? Nothing he’s ever heard before. It’s all water off a duck’s back—hey, that sounded like a good song title.

Another good thing that came out of his career was finally getting a house for his uncle back in Hawkins. It wasn’t the biggest but it was enough; a two-storey house in Lucas Sinclair’s street. Wayne never thought that there would be a day that he’d finally live in a house but his boy did it. Damn right, he did.

The band started with an extended play. It was a five-song album that contained their famous songs in Manhattan. Cinders by Corroded Coffin was a hit; a rock EP with different musical styles—pop rock, metal, ballad rock, classic rock, and contemporary. It showcased the talent and the potential that Corroded Coffin was and soon, Eddie found himself in North American tours that extended to Europe.

It was no surprise when, after two hectic years, Eddie Munson went back to Hawkins, Indiana for a break. Being on tour was tiring. Sure, everything paid off and he was more than happy but after a world tour, award shows, and a hit album, Eddie needed a break. Something to ground himself and what could offer that but his hometown, Hawkins? Everybody assumed that he was from New York anyway; always so secretive with his past and his private life—no one would suspect that the most sought-after rock vocalist was back home with an oversized hoodie and boxers, getting yelled at by his Uncle Wayne for not visiting enough.

Honeysuckle Rose by Thelonius Monk plays through the speaker of your bakery. It was rather a slow day and you busied yourself with an Italian buttercream for a cake order tomorrow. Steve Harrington just landed some corporate deal and needed a cake to express his gratitude to his staff. You didn’t know what his work was but if it meant that he would be more than willing to spend so much money for a ‘thank you’ cake, then you wouldn’t mind. The shop smelled like vanilla—not the fake vanilla essence that you get from the store but of a special order Tahitian vanilla paste that was so hard to come by in Hawkins. You smiled at the satisfaction. This was the life that you always wanted, a slow life filled with sweets and nothing else.

You looked around, muffins and macarons lined the display. Your French butter croissants were sold out just before lunch, a few pain au chocolats and kouign amanns here and there. You made it. You fulfilled your dreams and so did everyone else. Should you hire a staff and start serving coffee too? Einspänner, americano… You hummed lightly at the thought, it would be nice but tedious. You pride yourself in small batches of everything you have after all.

The bell by the door frame rings, indicating a new customer. You looked up from your station and smiled. It was Robin Buckley, another Hawkins High alumni.

“Hey, sorry but do you have cupcakes? Like, a lot of cupcakes,” she asked. She was trying to catch her breath and you watched her calm down.

“Um, I could check the back,” you replied before wiping your hands on your apron. Your memory recalled six cupcakes in the fridge. The genoise cake was flavored with coffee and hazelnut. A caramel buttercream would do good for the topping and you were lucky that you had caramel to incorporate into the vanilla buttercream you always had. You emerged from the backroom with six cupcakes and Robin almost swooned. She could smell the coffee from where she was, the glass panel be damned. “I have six coffee and hazelnut cupcakes. Would you like them? It would take me fifteen to thirty minutes to ice them,”

“Yeah, that’s fine,” she said. “May I sit?”

“Of course. Let me just wash my hands and get everything for your cupcakes,” you said before disappearing back to retrieve your tools. Robin watched as you neatly laid down a jar of caramel, a bowl of vanilla buttercream, and what looked like sprinkles.

“You’re from Hawkins High, right?” she asked.

“Yeah,” you nodded, without looking at her. You were busy setting your commercial grade stand mixer. “Do you want a pain au chocolat or a muffin? I baked them this morning. On the house,” you offered.

“Really?” she asked, looking at the display. Now that she really looked at it, everything seemed good. Sure, you were known back in Hawkins High as the baker girl who always had her cookies sold out but what you have now was like, light years away from your cookies. “Can I get a white chocolate and raspberry muffin?”

“Sure,” you replied before getting the requested muffin with a pair of tongs. “Do you want me to heat it up?”

“No, it’s fine. I’m really hungry and well, our friend just got back from the city after two years of little communication and I decided to get him cupcakes as a welcoming gift,” she said, standing up to take the muffin from you. “Oh, wow. This is really good,” she complimented with a mouthful of muffin. You laughed before going back to your job. You took a spatula and plopped a generous amount of caramel buttercream on the cupcakes before doing a swirl and then topping it with chocolate shavings.

“How have you been?” you asked, trying to make a light conversation. You never really talked to Robin in High School. After graduating, you kind of just left Hawkins to study in a culinary school outside Indiana.

“Good,” she replied. “Just started college since I took some time off but I’m taking Gender Studies in Indianapolis. What about you?”

“Oh, I finished my course and started my bakery,” you said. Robin could sense the pride that you held. Everybody knew that you were offered a scholarship at a prestigious culinary school and that you took it. It was the first time you got out of your comfort zone, the second was opening up your sweet shop, nobody knew what the next one would be. “Kind of lucky that Hawkins seems to like what I offer,”

“I mean, after you left Hawkins High, bake sales were never the same,” Robin laments. “Steve refused to buy other people’s cookies when he found out that you left but you’re here now.”

“I’m here now,” you repeated, finishing the cupcakes wordlessly. “I’m about finished with the cupcakes. Do you want a gift box for it?”

“Yes, please,” she replied. You nodded and told her the total price of her order and she gave you her payment.

“Let me just go to the back and fix everything,” you said. You washed your hands and carefully placed the cupcakes in a special gift box with your shop’s logo and phone number. You took another white chocolate and raspberry muffin and a salted strawberry cookie.

“Here you go, Robin,” you said, extending her a paper bag and the box of your cupcake. Robin looked at what’s inside the bag and she smiled.

“Free treats? Sweet,” she said. “Thank you!”

“Thank you!” you told her watching her away from the store and going back to tending Steve’s cake order.

“I’m here!” Robin announced, opening the door of the new Munson household. It was decorated nicely, Wayne’s mug collection the centrepiece of the dining room, while the walls of the living room were lined with pictures of Eddie, Wayne, and their friends.

“Welcome back, Robin,” Wayne replied. “How was your day?”

“Well, I got cupcakes for Eddie from this bakery in town. Hey, Steve, remember the girl with the best cookies from high school? She owns the place and she gave me a muffin and a cookie,” she rambled, going deeper into the house to see everyone there. Eddie ordered lots of pizza and soda for everyone while everybody else got small bits of what they considered as welcoming gifts. “Hi, Eddie! Welcome back. This is for you,” she said, before hugging him.

“Thanks, Robs,” he replied. Robin took him in—all tattoos and long hair. He looked older now but happier. Definitely happier. Eddie looked at the box and saw the cupcakes. “You know, I think I know her…the baker, I mean. She used to give me free cookies back in high school,”

“Yeah! Well, she has this shop now and she’s doing good,” Robin replied, sitting beside Steve.

“Anyway, how have you been? We were all shocked to know that you weren’t coming back after a month and the next thing we knew, people were lining up in the record store beside Family Video for a copy of your CD,” Steve asked. There was bitterness in his voice and Eddie understood. He knew that Steve was happy for him, though. He even attended one of his shows in Manhattan when they were small and then went to two shows after the release of the album. Eddie even brought him to his apartment, reliving what Hawkins used to be over scotch and beer. They had little correspondence over the years but that didn’t change the fact that Steve and Eddie were still close. They were just too busy growing up with their growing pains but it was alright.

“Really good but also, really tired.” Eddie replied. “Management gave us a four-month break before we go back to L.A. to write and record songs. We’re planning to release an album next year. But yeah, I decided to come back home for the break. It's been two years since I stepped foot in Hawkins and the first thing I hear is Wayne asking if I got him mugs from the cities I’ve been in,” he teased.

“Well, Wayne’s collection is as impressive as ever,” Nancy added. She has been talking mindlessly to Robin about her journalism classes, the two girls already concocting a plan to collaborate on a research paper.

“Thank you, Nancy,” Wayne said. Knocks at the door startled the group and in went a gaggle of children who all raced to Eddie, save for the lone adult in the group named Jonathan Byers.

“There’s this asshole,” That was Dustin.

“Hey, Eddie,” Max.

“Eddie!” Lucas and Mike.

“Hi,” El, Will, and Jonathan.

“Hey, guys!” Eddie smiled, standing up from the La-Z Boy. “How are you?”

Dustin tackled him into a hug. “You shouldn’t leave like that again, you hear me, asshole? Seriously, I was biking to and from the trailer park to see if you’d be back until you called to tell me that you’d be gone indefinitely,”

“Sorry, Dustin,” Eddie apologized, ruffling his curly hair. He meant it and he knew the bearing of being Dustin’s friend. “I know I shouldn’t have done that but it worked out well, huh?”

“Yeah,” Dustin nodded, breaking away from Eddie. Mike and the rest gave him half hugs while Max opted for a small wave. “We’re at the cool table now because I’ve been telling them that my friends, Steve Harrington and Eddie Munson will beat the shit out of them if they make fun of any of us,” he snickered, earning eye rolls from the two men whom he considered as his older brothers. Thankfully, Dustin’s anger for Eddie seemed to dissipate.

“How long are you here for, neighbor?” Lucas asked. He was even taller now and Eddie couldn’t quite believe it.

“Four months,” Eddie replied. “I’ll be here for four months.”

Four months was enough time, the group decided. The rest of the night was spent with soda, beer, pizza, and other junk food. It felt just like the old times, the kids taking digs at Eddie and Steve, Nancy and Jonathan curled in a corner, and Robin splayed out on top of her friends. Wayne took pictures of them together to hang on the wall. Jonathan said he’ll develop them.

“Yeah, do you think I can order single origin coffee beans and some coffee syrups? Your catalogue said that you offered coffee supplies? Yeah, I’ll have caramel, dark chocolate, and vanilla syrups with that too,” you said over the phone. An impulsive thought from last week turned into reality—you bought a commercial espresso machine and hung a “HIRING” sign on the glass door of your shop. “Next week? Okay, that’s fine. Thanks,” you said before hanging up.

The coffee supplies scattered across your workspace were free samples and you sighed, trying to make a coffee menu. Some people already applied for the job but nobody could quite make the cut yet. Nobody had the precision that you were looking for. The shop was quite hectic today and you really needed another helping hand. With baking, inventory, cleaning up, and everything else, your business was wearing you to the bone. You wouldn’t have it any other way; your business was slowly expanding, it’s just that help could really come in handy.

“Hey, can I get a dozen assorted cookies?” a voice asked and you turned.

“Oh, my God,” you gasped. “Eddie Munson from middle school, right?” Eddie smiled, glad that you remembered him. How could you not? You were hopelessly crushing on the boy since you laid your eyes on him in middle school. You may or may not have given him a batch of special cookies during bake sales to convey your feelings but you were so positive that he didn’t catch it. He’d always run off with a quick ‘thanks’ or a ‘see you later.’

“The one and only,” he replied. “How have you been?”

“Good…great,” you replied, heart beating loudly. You were so sure that you buried your crush after you graduated high school but it seemed like your heart had other plans. “You?”

“Great,” he replied as he watched you pick different flavors of cookies—chocolate chip, smores, cheesecake, tiramisu, salted strawberry, butterscotch, double chocolate, chocolate and peanut butter marble, chocolate crinkle, cashew raspberry, whoopie pie, and tagalongs.

“It’s been a while,” you replied, bagging the cookies in individual parchment paper before placing them in a box. Just like how you used to in high school.

“Years,” he said. “I went to your graduation but you already left. Wanted to say thank you for the cookies,” he revealed, making you pause for a moment. “and for being the single person in all of Indiana who gave me the time of day,”

“You did?” you asked, tying the box with a ribbon. “I didn’t go because it was the orientation week for the culinary school I went to. Here,” you handed him the box.

“How much?”

“It’s on the house. Let’s keep the tradition going with free cookies,” you smiled, looking at Eddie’s brown sugar eyes, sickly and sweet.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Yeah,” you nodded. “Don’t worry about it,” But you did have to worry about it because Eddie was here and as long as he visited, he’d get free cookies from you and you would probably run out of business but it was Eddie. Any rational thought was out of the window as soon as you saw him. He was more handsome now, bigger arms from playing the guitar, long hair more kept in place but still wild enough to be signature Eddie. There was a slight stubble growing on his chin, more confidence, more everything in the best way possible. He’d be the death of you, you realize.

“Come on. I have to pay for all the cookies you gave me back then,” he said. Eddie didn’t think he’d have this opportunity again but he did. Just like back then, he felt his heart thumpthumpthumping so fast that it was ringing in his ears. His palms were sweaty but if he was nervous, he made sure to show no indication of it. He coughed to clear his throat. “What if…what if I take you out sometime? Like, a friendly dinner?”

Friendly dinner. God, a friendly dinner with your long-time crush, surely you’d manage.

“Okay,” you smiled.

“What time are you free?” he asked.

“Not today…I have to test these coffee stuff because I’m adding coffee to the menu,” you said sadly but Eddie only beamed.

“You close at six p.m., right? I’ll be here with dinner and you can ask me for my opinions on coffee,” he said.

“You won’t sleep,” you warned him, a soft smile on your face.

“I don’t sleep anyway, sweetheart,” he said. “So, Italian? Chinese?”

“Any is okay,” you said. Eddie left with a wink after that and you had to physically catch your breath. Meanwhile, Eddie was freaking out. No greasy food in Hawkins was enough for you. Eddie knew from the get-go that you enjoyed—deserved fancy things and who knew fancy things like the back of his hand? Steve Harrington.

“Do you know any five star restaurant with take-out?” Eddie asked, alerting Steve in his office.

“What?” Steve asked.

“I went to the bakery because the cupcakes Robin got were delicious and I was supposed to buy cookies but she was there and she gave me cookies and I said I’ll take her for a friendly dinner,” Eddie rambled making Steve laugh loudly. Eddie was sure that Steve was probably wiping his eyes from the tears leaking out because how could a famous rock star be so nervous to ask a small-town girl for a date? “Shut the fuck up, Harrington,”

“Okay, okay!” Steve chuckled before telling Eddie about an Italian restaurant in town. It wasn’t the fanciest but the owners were Italian and they served the best risotto and pasta ever. Eddie took note of that, ending the call and then calling the restaurant for pick-up, ordering what seemed to be whatever the owner recommended and then setting up a delivery at his home at around 5:30 in the afternoon.

Eddie paced. He could’ve asked for a different day for that dinner but he couldn’t resist. What if this was the last opportunity for him to see you again? What if you had a boyfriend who wasn’t fine with a possible friendship with him? He looked at the wine collection that he had built for possible guests—Christ, who would’ve thought Eddie was ever going to have a wine collection? He sounded like a proper douchebag right now but all is well because he saw a bottle of red wine that he had many moons ago in Europe for a meeting with a designer. It was so impressive that Eddie bought some back home in America and sent some to his uncle in Hawkins. He took it and set it on the counter. Wayne was at work right now and Eddie was left alone. Should he change his outfit? Or would it be too forward if he showed up in a suit?

An angel in the form of Max Mayfield enters your shop, an envelope in hand.

“Hey, I’m Max Mayfield. I saw that you were hiring and well, I, uh, wanted to apply,” she said, unsure. You smiled warmly at her and told her to sit on any chair seat, asking her if she wanted anything to which she replied with a short, “Nothing.”

You sat in front of her before reading the resume that she gave you. Maxine Mayfield, student of Hawkins High, skills, etcetera, etcetera.

“Do you know what you’re applying for?” you asked her. “Before we go into the application process, I’d like to inform you about the responsibilities. You’ll have to man the coffee bar, help out with baking, inventory, and the cashbox. You’d also have to help me clean up but other than that, everything’s all me. Sometimes, I’ll ask you to do something of course but I promise it’s nothing too tiresome. The business has been expanding and I just really need help with maintaining the place,” you said. Max listened attentively, taking mental notes of what it would be like to work here. Robin offered her a job at Family Video and Steve told her that she could probably intern at his work. He was employed in some big-shot accounting firm in Hawkins while taking over his dad’s real estate business slowly but Max wanted to make it on her own. No help from anyone or anything.

“That’s fine with me,” she said.

“Okay? You’ll receive training from me and you get free pastries as long as you work here. We have lots of surplus baked goods from orders and whatnot. You can also have free coffee using the espresso machine, I’d have to teach you how to use that, too.” you said. One thing you learned from interning at a patisserie in New Jersey was how there will always be surplus. At the end of the day, you’d have to throw out anything that didn’t sell and it always felt wasteful. You didn’t like wasting food but surplus was inevitable; so you opted for ‘free tastes’ and freebies for big batch orders. Two-day old breads were turned into bread pudding or croutons that you sold. Extra cakes were turned into cake jars or cake pops. Leftover macarons were used as cake decor and so on. Cookies and cupcakes were your bestsellers.

“Does that mean I’m hired?” she asked and you nodded.

“Yeah,” you nodded. Out of all the applicants, it seems as though Max was the best one. You were happy you held out, Max seems responsible and intelligent. You were sure that you could rely on her. You told her about her salary which was more than what she thought she’d and she smiled. She could probably help with the bills at home and have enough for her allowance. “You start on Monday. The shop is usually closed on Sunday but Sundays are prep days. It’s the day I fix everything before another week. Saturday is inventory day, so I’ll show you that too. Just come here on Monday so we could start with training. Don’t worry, your training is paid. Just don’t forget to clock in and clock out. Standard working hours. Nine to five,”

“Okay,” she nodded. “I’ll see you on Sunday at nine,”

You nodded and stood up. “Good to meet you, Max,” you said, shaking her hand.

“Nice meeting you too. Thank you, by the way,” she said, waving her hand goodbye before leaving.

Eddie was sure that coffee and wine would not mix well together. He walked inside your shop at 6:05 p.m., ignoring the ‘CLOSED’ sign. You emerged from the back room with a tray of coffee supplies when you smiled at him.

“Sorry, I was late. How was the rest of your day?” he asked, wine and bags of food in his hands.

“Good,” you nodded. “You were just in time. The last customer just left. Where do you want to have dinner? Here or in the backroom? You can come in, let me just set up the coffee bar, so we could start after eating,”

Eddie nodded, pushing the barricade open before setting the food in the backroom. Your backroom was so unlike the one in Family Video where he used to waste the day away. Yours was a professional culinary kitchen—commercial stand mixers, ovens, a big refrigerator, a freezer, an island and a sink in the center with bar stools on the side. The place was pristine—spotless, even. Everything was so modern and just amazing but it still felt homey. There was a small room deep into the back where he could peek a computer, bag, and a shelf of notebooks and cookbooks.

“Hi, sorry,” you said, wiping your hands on the apron before discarding it entirely in the bin. “I’m done! Let me just get our dessert,”

“Our dessert?” Eddie laughed. “I thought this was my treat,”

“I know but it wouldn’t hurt to have some creme brulee, right?” you asked before sitting in front of him. You watched Eddie take out the food that he got for you, Steve’s recommendations of risotto, ravioli, and prosciutto and arugula pizza. He also brought with him what looked like expensive wine. “I don’t have wine glasses for the both of us but I have these mugs,” you told him, showing him kitsch bunny mugs with strawberries and flowers.

“That’s fine with me,” he said. “Let’s eat?” Eddie couldn’t describe it but it felt like God was playing soulful piano somewhere in the universe for the two of you. There was a gentle smile as you helped yourself with a serving of everything; splitting the plates between the two of you. Eddie poured wine on your bunny mugs, completely comfortable silence blanketing the back room.

“I was so surprised when I heard your voice on the radio,” you told him. “I mean, always knew you’d make it out of Hawkins but I didn’t even know that you left. I just didn’t see you anymore when I came back,”

“What did you think?” Eddie asked. For some reason, he was so nervous about what you could possibly think of him and his band. Maybe because he wanted to impress you so much because you were the only person who was kind enough to listen to him and lend him a drawing pencil when he was sketching the logo for Hellfire Club.

“I always knew you could sing and I don’t like rock at all that much,” you said bluntly, swallowing a large gulp of wine. “But you made it likeable for me. I’m not really all that informed in music but I don’t know. I really like it,” you said. Maybe it was one of the best records you’ve heard because it was Eddie and in your eyes, Eddie could do no wrong; but in all honesty, it was good. “I’ve collected your albums since,”

“You did, huh?” he asked, a teasing smirk playing on his lips.

“Yeah,” you nodded shyly. “I have to at least support a fellow Hawkins citizen for patriotism and all that, right? Need an autograph to show my friends,” Eddie nodded and you fell into an easy conversation. This was probably the longest time that you’d ever spent with each other; save for when you both sat beside each other during your classes. He told you about the world; the places he’s been in and what life must have felt like for him. Eddie Munson was one who’d always seize the moment and capture an opportunity—it was how he got his success.

“I was drunk out of my mind in Malibu when this actress came to me and said that she would love to have a tattoo of some lame drawing that I had,” he said. “I was drunk but I was no quitter; so, I took out my tattoo gun and tattooed a lame flower with like, four petals on her thigh. She was pretty drunk too, I guess because she called me the morning after asking why she had an ugly tattoo on her thigh.” He laughed and you chuckled at his theatrics. You, on the other hand, were tied down to this place. You left Hawkins for five years and then came back because you were so comfortable in it. It was your home—rolling hills, crunch leaves, bikes, and living life in slow-motion.

“Wait, you were in New Jersey for a year?” Eddie asked. “That’s a short travel from New York. I would’ve visited you and we’d be the kids who saw something more outside Hawkins,”

“Yeah, but we never really stayed in touch or talked outside school,” you told him. “I was too busy chasing scholarships and college and everything else that I never really had time for friends or anything like that,”

“But it worked out well for the two of us, right?” he asked. “And well, we’re out of school now, maybe it’s time for the two of us to go way past cookies and small waves,” he said, leaning forward in the chair; closer to you.

“I guess so.” you said. “So, we’re friends now?”

“This is a friendly dinner, after all,” Eddie replied, a toothy grin decorating his handsome features. He’d be the death of you, you realized. The crush that you tried so hard to bury was back and bigger. It clawed in your chest like a monster asking for your attention. It warmed your heart and you were sure that a few more smiles that lit up the place would melt your heart; coating his hands like honey because of this sickly sweet feeling.

Maybe it was the coffee that Eddie tasted but he was laid in his bed, wide awake. His thoughts were racing at least a hundred miles per hour and he was so, so, so, convinced that it was coffee. Coffee that you made. It’s why he was thinking of you and of going back to your shop and asking for more or else he’d have withdrawals. Maybe it was the sugar rush from the custardy creme brulee. Maybe it was the vanilla smell that wafted in the air. Maybe it was John Coltrane’s My Favorite Things playing on the speakers. Maybe it was something else entirely but one thing was for sure, he has to see you again. He doesn’t know when but it has to be soon.

“Eddie, you’ve been smiling on your glass like a goddamn fool for minutes now,” Steve called. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah,” he nodded, snapping back to reality. Robin and Steve sat across from him. He asked if they could all get together for drinks after work in his house and they both agreed.

“How was your friendly dinner?” Steve asked, a knowing smile on his lips. Robin’s eyes almost fell out of its sockets. Eddie Munson was dating?

“With who?” Robin asked, looking around for some clues when her eyes landed on a familiar box that looked entirely similar to the one she brought the other day. “Oh my God!”

“Right?” Steve asked, eyebrow raising. “He calls me during work hours and asks me for five star restaurants that serve take-out for a friendly dinner. Must’ve been so good for Eddie to smile like that at a glass of bourbon,”

“Shut it, Harrington,” he groaned, running a hand through his face. “I don’t know what this is yet, alright? But whatever it is you’re insinuating isn’t fucking real,”

“Okay, pretty boy. No need to get your panties in a twist,” Steve teased, holding his hands up in surrender. “Just make sure you get me some of the mini tres leches cake when you visit her next time,”

“You know, I heard from Nancy who heard it from Mike that Max was going to start working there on Sunday,” Robin said. “I don’t really know what to do with that information but you might, Eddie,”

“Nope,” Eddie said, shaking his head in artificial nonchalance. “Steve might,”

“Not me,” Steve said. “I’m not the one who called a friend for five-star lunch takeouts,” he replied, earning a laugh from Robin.

“Fuck you, Harrington. Your ass is grass when it’s your turn,” Eddie grumbled before downing his drink.

Turns out, Eddie knew exactly what to do with that information because on Saturday lunch, Eddie strolls around with the kids except for Max, who was busy extracting espresso.

“What can I help—“ Max greeted before seeing her friends. She groaned, they were her friends and she loves them but they could be a handful sometimes. It was even worse because Steve was there with his shiny credit card, telling everyone to get whatever they wanted. “Ugh, guys? Really? My workplace?”

“Eddie told us that he’d get us everything we wanted from this place,” Mike said. “And I’m not one to say no to grace,”

“Fine, what do you want?” Max asked, pulling out her paper and pen. She wrote their orders; coffees and an assortment of pastries for everyone.

“Get some for yourself too, Max,” Eddie replied. “Just swipe my card,”

“No, thanks. I get everything here for free. Employee’s perks,” she boasts. “If you’re looking for my boss, she’s currently outside with her friend having lunch,” She smirked at Eddie’s obvious disappointment. “Sorry, Eddie. If you want, I can pass her a message,”

“No, that’s fine,” Eddie said. “Hey, hey! Dustin, stop hitting Will!”

Max only laughed before swiping Eddie’s card and tending to the orders.

It was always chaotic when the kids all got together. Sure, they were probably as old as Eddie once was but in his eyes, the gang were still children. No amount of facial hair and genes would change that. He was busy talking to Dustin when he heard you laugh, and everything in his mind suddenly went thump, thump, thum, thump. Everything was suddenly even more chaotic than the party because why did Eddie suddenly close his mouth when he was in the middle of telling Dustin about his adventures? Dustin looked up to see what Eddie was pitifully looking at. You and another man. A friend? That’s what Max said, right?

“Eddie!” you greeted, a smile on your lips. “It’s nice to see you here,”

“Hey,” he smiled tightly, eyeing the man behind you. Was that your boyfriend? “Haven’t seen you in a while,”

“You saw me last week,” you replied. “But yeah, it’s been awhile. How are you?”

“Just taking the kids out for lunch,” he said. “Max apparently works here now too so, thought that it would be nice to visit,”

“Oh, yeah! Um, Max, you can take a break and hang out with them. I’ll take care of the rest, don’t worry,” you said, walking towards the cashier with Alex behind you.

“Are you sure?” Max asked and you assured her that it was fine. That it was her break time anyway. She smiled gratefully before stalking towards her friends with a croissant sandwich you made her last night. Eddie was preoccupied, distracted as he listened to Dustin complain about how hard it was to be away from his girlfriend. He was straining his ear to get some information on this guy you’re suddenly with.

“Hey, Alex, can you tend to the customer while I prepare the pick-up for today?” you asked.

“Sure,” was this asshole’s reply, as if you deserved a one-word reply.

“Thanks,” you smiled before disappearing into the backroom.

“What can I get for you today?” Alex asked, notepad and pen in hand. Eddie watched as Alex nodded, suggesting flavors and other products to a customer. This was what you probably wanted, right? You mentioned how you loved the slow-paced life in Hawkins. It was the reason why you returned, dreams and goals in hand.

“That’s Alex. They met in culinary school and he was in Indianapolis when he decided to come visit her in Hawkins,” Max said, wiping her mouth with a paper towel. “Don’t worry about him. They’re literally just friends,”

“I wasn’t asking,” was Eddie’s defensive reply, making Max frown.

“But I think he has a crush on her,” Max said, to get back at Eddie’s rude remark. She was just trying to help flesh out something that was so obvious. “I mean, who would drive from Indianapolis to Hawkins for lunch, right? He even got her stuff from his hometown. Stuff she said she misses but it’s not like you were asking, right?”

“Yeah,” Eddie nodded warily. “Not like I was asking,”

Eddie went back home that day, annoyed. It wasn’t because of Max’s snarky reply or anything. He just couldn’t place what it was. Maybe because he went there to see you and he didn’t. Or maybe he felt guilty. He didn’t know what it was but he was positive that there was something. Eddie knew that talking to Steve would probably result in some bullshit explanation like feelings. Steve was too much of a hopeless romantic to actually say a rational explanation for his troubles.

“Ugh,” Eddie groaned into his pillow before swiftly standing up. “What the hell,”

Eddie trudged down to the living room. Wayne was about to come home any minute now and he at least needed to prepare for dinner. He wasn’t the best cook so he decided to take his dear, old Uncle to a nice dinner in the city. Eddie looked around and a surge of gratefulness passed him. Who would’ve thought that Hawkins’ Freak would be able to afford a house for his uncle? That he could eat out three times a day, everyday and not think about how to pay for all of it? Who would’ve thought that he could afford things that seemed like literal lightyears away?

“Do you and Eddie have something?” Max asked, wiping the kitchen island. Alex, who was washing the trays, stilled and looked at you.

“Wait, that was Eddie Munson? The Eddie Munson? Rockstar Eddie?” Alex asked. “The same Eddie that you’ve been pining for since middle school?” Now, Max didn’t mean to, but she struck gold. She saw how Eddie was giving Alex the stink eye. Sure, she lied but she got good results. The ends justify the means, after all.

“Alex!” you hissed from the pantry area. “You didn’t hear anything, Max,”

“Oh, I heard everything. You’ve been crushing on Eddie since middle school,” she teased.

“Looks like the feelings are reciprocated, I can feel his eyes burn holes on my body,” Alex added. “Does he know you’re single?”

“Why does it matter?” you asked, moving onto the chocolate chips.

“Because you like him,” Max said, an all-knowing tone in her voice. “And he probably likes you back too,”

“I agree with Red over here,” Alex said. “You have to tell me everything, Max. I won’t be here again after a long time but I expect a weekly newsletter all about her and Eddie Munson,”

“Oh, God,” you groaned. You were lucky that you were facing away from them because they would easily see how bashful you were being. “You get together for a day and you’re all ganging up against me,”

“All towards the same goal,” Alex said. “How about we leave this place and have some Chinese food, huh? I’m sick of cleaning and quite frankly, I am not paid enough for this. Besides, it’s my last night,”

“Hey! I let you crash in my spare bedroom for free,” you complained.

“And I have to listen about your crush every night. So, really, I’m doing more work,” he countered. “Seriously, Red, we have to get her drunk tonight and you will see—he’s all she talks about. You know, when he first released his EP, she lined up at the record store to get it. I didn’t know why she suddenly wanted to listen to rock until I found out that Eddie Munson was the frontman of Corroded Coffin,”

“She’s still under twenty-one, Alex,” you reminded him. “What kind of boss would I be if I get drunk in front of my newbie?”

“I mean, Steve and Robin get drunk around us all the time,” Max said, shrugging slightly to show that she doesn’t care but she does. She really wants to see you talk about Eddie because you were so guarded especially when it came to your emotions. Sure, she felt at ease with you; welcoming smiles and warm words but she doesn’t know anything about you.

“See? It’s fine. Besides, it’s Sunday tomorrow. You deserve a hangover,”

“He said,” you hiccuped over bottles of beer and plates of Chinese food. “that he went to my graduation to congratulate me and say thank you for the cookies but I wasn’t in Hawkins anymore,”

“And then what?” Alex asked, equally drunk as you. Max had no way to go back home especially with two drunk adults in her presence but there were two things that she was sure of—one, you and Alex treated each other like siblings and two, you have a big crush on Eddie that you tried to bury.

“And then nothing,” you said, eyes clouded from the alcohol in your system. “We never talked again and he left Hawkins but we’re…” you tasted the word on your tongue, bitterness coating it and you weren’t sure if it was the shots of baijiu that you had or the word itself but either way, you found yourself reaching for the water to down it. “friends. We’re friends,”

“Eugh,” Alex expressed, an unpleasant look on his face. “That’s really…not cool. Hey, Maxie, what word is not cool?”

“Don’t call me that,” she said with a smile on her face. “Uncool?”

“Yeah, uncool. Not rad. Un-rad,” he said. “Oh, God, how are we going to take you home? Do you know how to drive?”

“No,” Max half-lied. Well, technically she knew the basics but after almost slamming Steve’s BMW into the curb, she decided to stay off the steering wheel and have someone drive. “I can call my friend, Lucas, and have him take us,”

“Oh, Lucas Sinclair?” you teased. “You’re out here—hiccup—teasing me when you have love problems of your own?” Alex looks at Max with a raised eyebrow.

“Now, who’s this Luke Sinclair and why do you know his home number?” Alex asked, an accusatory finger waving in the air.

“Guys!” Max scolded. “I’ll call him, okay? Don’t leave,”

“Okay, mom,” you both groaned before falling into messy laughter, finding it funny that you called your junior your mother.

“Hey, Eddie?” Lucas knocked. “Open up!”

Lucas hears a light jog towards the door that soon opened.

“What, Sinclair?” Eddie asked, a hand on his hip.

“Max called me and well, yourgirlfriendgotreallydrunk and now needs a ride home,” Lucas said. Eddie furrowed his brows.

“Wait, what? My girlfriend?” Eddie asked.

“Yeah. Max’s boss? She told me that you’re her boyfriend and well, I know how to drive but my parents are not at home and therefore, I have no car and no way of getting there so I came here to ask if you can lend me your really, cool, brand new van so I can drive to where they are and get them home?” Lucas rambled, his hands doing all the work to convince Eddie.

“Fine, fine. Let me get the keys and you can sit shotgun,” Eddie said, disappearing into the house. “Big rockstar but still a fucking babysitter for these nutjobs,” he complained, meaning for Lucas to hear all of it but Lucas only chuckled.

You were laughing with Alex when you saw a familiar figure in a pair of Ray Bans and a hoodie. He followed who looked like Max’s boyfriend and you smiled.

“Hello, Max’s boyfriend!” you greeted, earning a look of horror from the redhead. Lucas was obviously thrown off guard, a stuttering mess before you.

“She’s not my-uh, girlfriend,” Lucas defended, earning a glare from Max. “But I’m with—“

“Edward, Edison, Eduardo?” Alex asked, raising from his hunched over figure.

“All right,” Eddie clapped his hands. “Let’s go. Up, up, up,” he commanded before walking to you. “You think you can walk to the van, sugar?” he asked and you looked at him, his eyes pleading.

“Brown sugar,” you mumbled. Eddie tilted his head to the side slightly, to ask you what you meant. “Your eyes shine like brown sugar.”

You groaned, the sun hitting your eyes. You had more than to drink last night and you were pretty sure you couldn’t remember anything. How you and Alex laid sprawled on the couch was a mystery but you had to call Max to check if she was okay. You could remember fragments of last night; calling Max ‘mom’, telling them about your stupid crush…Eddie. Oh, God. Eddie was there last night.

Your head pounded and you looked at your coffee table with two glasses of water and a bottle of aspirin for your headache. You reach for it, downing the glass of water with a tablet of the medicine before preparing a bowl of ice cold water to dunk your head into. Wiping your face with a paper towel after you were sure that you were somehow awake, you called Max’s phone number.

“Hello?” she asks from the other side.

“Hey, Max,” you said.

“Oh, hello, Mrs. Munson,” she teased, making your face warm up. Somehow, that teasing brought everything back, ice cold water be damned.

“Max!” you groaned and she laughed. “I just wanted to call if you were okay? I’m sorry Alex and I got drunk last night,”

“Yeah, I’m good. Eddie and Lucas brought me back after we made sure that you were alright. It’s a good thing you gave me your address for emergencies. Are you feeling alright?” she asked.

“Yeah,” you nodded. “My head hurts but it’s fine. Um, I’m really sorry for being irresponsible last night. I promise I’m not like that everytime I grab dinner. But yeah. Take the day off so you could rest,”

“Okay,” Max agreed. “Thank you. Call me if you need anything?”

“Sure, Max,” you said. “Alex is leaving today. I think he wants to say goodbye to you but I’ll make him drive to you instead. Is that okay?”

“Yeah,” Max replied. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

The call ended and now you are thinking about your next set of problems—what did you say last night and did you embarrass yourself in front of Eddie Munson?

Eddie blushes at the sign of brown sugar, a bashful smile tugging on his lips.

“What’s gotten into you?” Wayne asked over breakfast. Eddie sighs happily and looks at his uncle.

“Nothing. Just…brown sugar is such a gift, huh?” Eddie asked. Reaching for the small jar of brown sugar for their coffee. Wayne looks at his nephew questioningly before going back to his breakfast. If breakfast meant Eddie talking nonsense, he’d rather have it in silence.

Eddie couldn’t forget last night. His eyes shone like brown sugar? That sounds like something right out of a love song. He couldn’t stop thinking about you—giggling at something Lucas said about irresponsible adults, head on Max’s shoulders, and you even touched him slightly on his shoulders when you saw him at the restaurant. Then, when he took you home, he saw the vinyl collection beside your television, all his records littering the area because it meant that you listened to his songs religiously. It didn’t help that you were smiling so prettily at him, so sweet and beautiful despite the chaos that Alex was causing in the backdrop. He had to look for a spare blanket but it was okay. You pouted when he tucked you in your couch but blew him a drunken kiss nonetheless. He was full-on grinning on the jar of brown sugar now, unbeknownst to him, his uncle was watching.

But what he couldn’t explain was how bright the stars were last night when you were leaning towards him closer, laughing at some stupid shit he said. How he always had to look for an excuse to come to your shop. How he doesn’t even have your number yet and how badly he wants to call you with no inhibitions and hesitations. He wanted them all and he didn’t care if he was being greedy. Christ, if he could put you in his pocket forever, he would.

“Fuck,” Eddie muttered. He’s caught the bug.

Sunday afternoon and Alex has left. You were in your shop alone, visibly stressed. Alex told you about how Eddie tucked you in and what the fuck—how were you supposed to recover from that? That only proved how sweet he really is. But it’s not like you needed any convincing. Eddie in high school was sweet to you but Eddie now was way sweeter and it was giving you such a rush.

You needed—really needed to be distracted with something else because this crush is clawing its way out, manifesting into more physical forms and you were scared that you wouldn’t be able to hide it anymore. Max caught on it quickly. You wanted to stay away from Eddie but how could you, really? He’s like a flame pulling you closer and closer. The sun to your Icarus until you fall.

Only, you were hoping that you stick your landing.

Lingering questions were stuck in his mind. If what he felt was true, would you accept him? What if he was reading in between the lines and that there was nothing actually there? Was he forcing something to happen? He couldn’t stop thinking about you; about high school, about the possibility of something happening.

“Steve, I’m telling you this girl…I just can’t fucking—I don’t know,” Eddie muttered. It was Sunday lunch with Steve. “It’s like, it’s like she’s all I think about and I’m not even sure what’s gotten into me,”

Steve Harrington was having a fun time watching his friend fall before him. He doesn’t even realize it and Steve won’t say anything. He’d rather bear witness to when Eddie’s eyes widen in shock, when the truth settles on him. So, rather than telling Eddie what he so desperately felt, Steve took a bite of his sandwich.

“Like, like, Alex was there, right? Her friend and I got so angry because he gave her a one-worded reply. The thing is, she doesn’t even deserve that. Yeah? Sure? Say your words big guy. You know? But I felt so stupid because when I got there last night, it was so obvious that they were only friends. Like, platonic with a capital ‘P’,” Eddie rambled. “And she’s always been so kind to me in high school. Way kinder that you ever were, by the way,” Eddie added, shooting Steve a pointed look.

“Cookies?”

“Not just cookies! She helped me whenever I got lost in a lesson, always pointing me to which part to read. Lent me her pencil and always gave me smiles. Like, who does that?” Eddie asked. “And last night, I was in her house and saw her vinyl collection. Corroded Coffin was littered, Steve. The EP was on the vinyl player itself. That must mean something right? But like, I don’t know. Maybe I’m just being stupid,”

“Is that her?” Steve asked, looking at something in the distance. Eddie’s head whipped to where Steve was looking and you weren’t there. Steve, on the other hand, was laughing so loudly. There was nothing to look for, obviously. They were in an empty parking lot after all. It was obviously a ploy. “Eh, looked like her,”

“Fuck you, Harrington. I swear to God,” Eddie groaned, his head falling on his hands. This feeling was so unfamiliar for him and he doesn’t know how to fucking—process everything. Steve was obviously useless for the advice that he was trying to seek but he didn’t even know what he wanted from the boy right in front of him.

“Look,” Steve said, swallowing his food. “Maybe…just maybe, Eddie Munson has a crush,”

Eddie peeks from his caging hands and then looks at Eddie. Reality hits him like a bucket of ice cold water on his face. Steve watches in amusement when Eddie opens his mouth only to close it again. He can see the gears in Eddie’s head working, knees jumping at high speed.

“I need to smoke,” Eddie suddenly said, lighting a cigarette from his pocket. He needs something to calm him down because what the fuck—what Steve said made so much sense. He had a big crush on you and he felt so childish; like he was in middle school again because if there’s something Eddie wants, he’d do anything to fucking do it. If there’s someone Eddie wants, he’d do anything to make sure that all their attention was on him.

“Can’t believe it took you some advice from old Steve Harrington to realize your feelings,” Steve boasts. “But hey, best man, right?”

On Monday morning, Eddie found himself knocking on your shop’s glass door hours before you even opened. You looked up from your coffee and your newspaper, surprised. He smiled once your eyes settled on him and you felt that warm, fuzzy feeling again. How was this gorgeous boy giving his smiles away for free? You stood up from your chair and walked over to unlock the door.

“Sorry, we aren’t open yet,” you said but opening the door wider for him to enter.

“I know,” he replied. “I’m not here for the pastries. I’m actually here for you,”

And oh my, God. Maybe you suppressed that feeling before—successfully; but Eddie went out of his way to come here for you. That ought to rattle the cage of butterflies in your stomach, right?

“Really? What for?” you asked. “Can I interest you in some coffee?”

“No, thanks. I just came here to see you. No other reason,” he said, sitting on your chair and reading over the news. “But I just wanted to ask how you were? I hope you didn’t sport a bad hangover yesterday, sugar.”

You didn’t actually. A headache in the form of the unknown has come to haunt you instead. Alex was pestering you about Eddie all day and you still couldn’t remember what you said to him. You didn’t like knowing but you didn’t want to ask Eddie, either.

“Nothing bad, really. Max said you took us home? Thank you for that,” you smiled, sitting in front of him and reaching for your coffee. “Um, look, if I said anything embarrassing that night, please forget it. I didn’t mean it.” Eddie’s smile only got bigger, if anything.

“Sure,” he nodded. “You didn’t really say or do anything,” he lied. How could he tell you that brown sugar can put him on his knees now? That would be embarrassing now, would it? Besides, you can say what you like—drunk words are still sober thoughts.

“Thanks,” you said, nodding. “I have to thank you for it sometime.”

“Think of that as a payment for your cookies,” he said. “No need to owe me. Besides, is this friendship really built on favors?”

“No, of course not,” you said before thinking. “but Eddie, if you ever need anything, just don’t hesitate to ask me for it, okay?”

“Yeah,” he nodded. “The same goes for you…Actually, I came here for something,”

“What is it?”

“I want to take you out on a date. Can I?” he asked. “Wait, hold on, bad wording. I would really, really love it if you’d let me take you out on a date. Would you let me?”

There it was. The question you’ve been dying for since high school. But how could you word that you were scared things would go well and he’d have to leave Hawkins and then you? That this was a big step for you because you wanted it so badly but you didn’t want to fuck it up because you really, really wanted Eddie Munson in your life forever? But what if this is your last chance to have a date with him? What if he finds someone more interesting than you and—

“Look, you don’t have to answer now,” he chuckled. “I can see the gears turning inside your head but just tell me, would there be like, a small sliver of ‘yes’ inside your head?”

“Yes,” you said without a second thought.

“Well, I’ll take that sliver of hope and have you focus on me until you say yes to our date,” he said; a statement bold and free of any doubts. Prepare to be sick of me,”

You were tired today. You had bespoke cake orders and God forbid, your client wanted to change everything last minute. Sure, she was willing to pay but the cake has been done. You didn’t have time and quite frankly, you were too stressed to even do anything. Maybe you’ll have cup ramen tonight. You didn’t even have the energy to wash the dishes.

You were on your way out to buy cup ramen at the nearest convenience store when Eddie jogs up to you. You looked at him, surprised. He could see the bags under your eyes and he just wanted to make it all go away.

“Hey, Eddie,” you smiled.

“Tired?” he asked and you nodded, scrunching your face in frustration; not wanting to let any of your anger out because what the fuck—that customer was so fucking rude to you for what? It was a long day and you just wanted to go home and curl up but no, she had the gall to demand good service because she was paying for it anyway. “Hey, hey, it’s okay. What happened?”

“I’m so tired,” you told him, visibly deflating and Eddie puts you on steady, hands on your arms. You lean into him and he accepts the close proximity. “Oh, God. Want to take a break for a while. Like, five minutes,”

Eddie nodded. “Do you want to go somewhere? Have you eaten?”

“No, I’m on my way to the store to get some cup ramen,” you admitted, hating the way you might seem to Eddie right now.

“No, that’s not going to happen,” he said. “Let’s go back in and I’ll order something for us, hm?”

“But the dishes…I have to clean the kitchen so I can start…”

“It’s okay. I’ll do the dishes while you rest before you do your big girl thing, okay? Let’s go back. Cup ramen won’t give you any nutritional value,” he says and you don’t hear any sort of chiding or mocking. He was genuinely concerned because you look so…drained. You allowed him to lead you back, his hand on the small of your back. You sat in silence as you listened to Eddie call for pizza.

“So, what happened today?” he asked, sitting beside you. He wasn’t teetering around anymore.

“There’s this customer and she’s like, I don’t know. Her husband is like a big time financial analyst and she asked me to bake a cake for her daughter. I did. I finished it, you know? Just like how she and I designed it. The birthday is tomorrow at noon and I’m not even halfway done with it. I can’t fuck up because I’m just starting my business and I’m so tired,” you choked, trying to keep your emotions at bay. “The kitchen is so fucking dirty and I’m not yet done. So behind schedule and I hate it,”

“It’s okay, honey,” Eddie smiles and you believe him. He had that effect on you. “After we have our meal, I’ll help you out to the best of my abilities. Won’t leave you until we’re both done,”

“Really?” you asked, peering up at him.

“Really, really,”

“Thank you, Eddie. I really appreciate it,” you said, laying your head down on his shoulder in exhaustion. He lets you but he was praying that you couldn’t hear how fast his heart was beating right now and you were praying for the same thing.

“I’m telling you. We had a moment,” Eddie said. “Like, she was so tired and she let me help her,”

“You’re so whipped,” Robin commented, scrunching her face in mock disgust.

“She laid her head on my shoulder. She made the first move and she said my eyes are like brown sugar.” Eddie shares. “Mark my words, Robin. I will be making her mine,”

“First of all, ew,” Robin said. “If there’s anything I learned in my gender class, women don’t belong to men. Okay? So, don’t say that and second of all, ew! We’ve been here in your house for like an hour and we haven’t heard anything other than your sweet, sweet girl,”

“You know what I mean,” Eddie said. “Steve knows what I mean,”

“Yeah but I’m having fun being single right now but yeah,” Steve nodded. “But…how sure are you that she’s into you?”

“I’m not sure but I can just like, feel it, you know?” Eddie asked.

“But you’re oblivious. You didn’t even give her a second thought back in high school,” Steve said but Eddie shook his head.

“You’re wrong,” Eddie replied. “This girl was the nicest to me. Of course, I’d remember her. It’s not like fear or disgust or anything. She’s just really…genuine.”

“Oh, God,” Robbin groaned. “You’re such a sap, Eddie.”

“Brown sugar, Robin! Come on, say it with me. Brown sugar,”

“Brown sugar.”

“Hello,” Eddie greets, leaning on your kitchen island. He has access to the back door now, that’s how close you’ve gotten since that night. Well, he was always there every night to help you out for prep work and orders. He’d wash the dirty trays, wipe the KitchenAid clean, and measure out ingredients. He’d help with the things that Max wasn’t able to finish too, surprising Max in the morning because who cleaned the nozzle for the espresso machine and why is everything refilled?

“Eddie,” you smile at him. It was another of those nights when Eddie decided to drop by. He’d always go in with a smile, sometimes with milkshakes and fries; sometimes with screw-top red wine. You didn’t mind at all—Eddie became a part of your daily routine somehow and he was always a joy to be around with. On his second night, you told him how he didn’t have to come back and help; that you were capable and he knows. He says he just wants to lift the weight off your shoulders. So, in your office, you keep a white board with the scribbling: Eddie’s Tasks. You thought Max didn’t notice it but with the big Corroded Coffin sticker on the corner begging for her attention, she did. Eddie checked his whiteboard, seeing that he only needed to mix your custom sprinkle mix. More blues than reds, less oranges than yellows, lots of pink, purple, and white. A little green. He watched as you silently worked on your station. He saw how you hid whatever you were making from him. He didn’t mind, he knows you’ll show it to him sometime.

“Eddie, can you do something for me, please? ” you asked. You felt bad for asking him for favors but this was something that you needed to do alone.

“Sure, sweetheart. What do you want?” he asked, shaking the big box of sprinkles.

“Can you come over here, please?” you asked sweetly and he found himself gravitating to you. You show him a tray of cookies he’s never seen before.

“A new flavor?” he asked. “Do you need me to take a taste test?” He picks up a cookie and you watch his reaction; his eyes doubling in size because these were so good. The best, even. “Wow, honey. I think this is the best one yet,”

“Really? I’m glad. I’m planning to give it to this boy I like,” you told him and he falters. “He’s in a band, likes red and black together. Do you think he’ll like it?”

Eddie caught on, pursing his lips.

“Yeah, of course. He’d be a fool not to,”

“Hey, Eddie, I made these for you,” you admitted and Eddie could feel himself blushing. “Red and black cookies. Do you think Corroded Coffin Cookies sound nice?”

“It does but you might have to take it up to the intellectual property office for a trademark,” he jests and you laugh.

“I’m glad I don’t have to do any of that, then. It’s for you only.” you said, emphasizing the word.

“Made this for me? All for me?” he asked, his body trapping you on the counter. Both of his arms were on either side of your body and you put the tray away carefully. Closer and closer.

“Yeah. 62% and 72% dark chocolate couverture, smoked flakey salt, raspberry sauce, and freeze dried strawberries.” you said. You look up at him to kiss his cheek and he laughs, not sure what to do. Is this really real?

“Thank you, darling,” he said, voice deeper and softer. “How can I repay you?”

“How about you take me out on that date?” A/N: Thank you for reading! Tell me what you think! I have a universe all laid out for Steve’s story too. There will be a part two and Steve’s story but that really depends on the response on this fic (aka if it flops or not hehe).

TAGLIST: @rayodesol97 @moistmocca @munsonology @sadbitchfangirl @bebe0701 @tayhar811 @aol19 @eddiesprincess86 @undeadgirlsworld @rosemarythl @rosemary_thl @eddiethesexy @sister-cirice @weaslyslut01 @himynameisjeff @captainweirdo42 @alyisdead

#eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson fanfiction #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson #rockstar!eddie #eddie munson fic #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson oneshot #fluff #angst #friends to lovers #stranger things

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fiveredlights · 1 month

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the oversharement of the author: a completely unnecessary post containing my multitude of thoughts on takes one to know one

everyone has been so kind and wonderful about TOTKO so here’s a very, very, very, long author’s note which is me just rambling about anything and everything as a thank you for all the love 🫶

background

for those aware of the fiveredlights lore you may remember in april i had to pause updates because of some weird arm/wrist pain... so that was carpal tunnel syndrome and idk what i did to invoke it this july/august but it came back with such a vengeance that i did not think i was physically gonna be able to write this. but maxiel would not shut up in my brain so i got my hot water bottles and got to work.

this whole idea began after i saw travis kelce go on stage on the eras tour and i went... max and daniel absolutely possess the right type of insane to do something like this.... you can see the original thought post here

the albums

i thought making the albums would take me like a day. literally right up until i hit publish i was still making changes to Sidelines, and i had convinced myself they were real tangible albums with the amount of times i hit albums instead of the playlist button on spotify.

Second Place

the easier album, finished this is a day. cut songs were killer by phoebe bridgers and loml by taylor swift. i was gonna do a whole thing where i was gonna be like “oh the relationship killed him so much he abandoned the guitar to sing a sad piano ballad” and then i realised moon song is rooted in piano. so uh that was cut.

there also was a whole thing where his ex was personified as fire — “can the killer in me tame the fire in you” (killer) with “our field of dreams engulfed in fire” (loml) parallel that i really enjoyed but unfortunately never made it in. also loml has a lyric “the coward claimed he was a lion” which is fun with max adopting the lion as his symbol….anyways

the titled second place comes from another SMAU i used to write for a different fandom (on twitter so it is long gone, rip), where ironically it was also a singer/famous au and i was clearing out my spotify playlists and found the fake album and was like huh. i like that name. luckily for me it worked for the album storyline as well so good times!

Sidelines

this album changed at least fifty times. for the first three weeks of me writing it was called 3 (THREE) because I’m annoying like that, but the more i looked at it i could not convince myself daniel would call it that. because yes, it is his max album but calling it thirty three is a tad too much (in my opinion anyway). sidelines was always on the album, but i was going through my tik tok maxiel folder and saw a daniel edit to sidelines and was like okay yeah that's a better name.

out of 11 songs, only 5 of the original tracklist made it in. cut songs included:

call your mom by noah kahan

apple pie by lizzy mcalpine

orange juice by alfie jukes & nell mescal

orange juice by noah kahan

ivy by taylor swift

science by niall horan

who we are by hozier

with ivy there’s a lyric “and i’ll drink my husband’s wine” which would’ve been the way max and daniel would’ve been like “we’re married lol” but it was cut because to ME ivy is about sapphics cheating on their husbands with each other and i just can’t rewrite ivy like that. here’s some deleted scenes on that:

jeanie 🤠 @/COTADANIEL · i’m sorry daniel WHO’S WINE ARE YOU DRINKING????? driccrodeos [Video: Daniel on stage singing the lyric, “And drink my husband’s wine,” looking offstage to Max, before turning back to the audience and smirking, continuing to sing.] category five event has hit the maxiel towers noah @/ricciardanielo · this album has actually killed me. like i’m not on this earth anymore. why? ivy: “And I’ll drink my husband’s wine.” peace: “Give you my wild, give you a child.” @ max and daniel do you have something you want to tell us or??? ric33stappen if you attend the next race with a ring on your finger and a baby in your arms i swear to god max and daniel i will fuck you up (politely) #like i respect their privacy or whatever but also what the fuck #you know what i mean like what the fuck

in sidelines almost every single song (except for you could start a cult) has a daniel3.jpg post pertaining to a lyric... i realise maybe i should've had someone in universe point it out because i now realise it's quite difficult to spot. whoops.

daniel’s sidelines: live from red rocks is inspired by phoebe bridgers punisher tour (she flicks through the pages of a storybook), taylor swift era’s tour (the lover house) and noah kahan (we’re all be here forever tour; watched live from fenway park specifically on how to write his concert). the whole concert idea was also written literally 5 hours before posting because i originally had a max and daniel article but i could not write it.

easter eggs

i feel incredibly pleased that so many of you picked up on the easter eggs like i get why taylor swift is so insane about hers because it's just so much fun! (spoilers for the rest of my fics...)

blue sweater (thank you to ataraxiaa on ao3 who commented because I didn't realise i had done it) -> glitter on the floor maxiel's communal blue sweater

matthew (rriicciiaarrddoo) & callan (callonmax33) daniel would make a great TP -> old habits die screaming

jake 3(3)81racers Can Max Verstappen fight? -> glitter the floor chapter 3 & 5 recurring plot line

daniel's july 2 2025 post (Photo 2: Max and Daniel sitting in front of a fireplace, the person taking the photo is behind them. Max has his arm around Daniel’s waist, whilst Daniel has his right arm giving the middle finger to the photographer and head turned to the left with an annoyed expression. Max has his head tucked into Daniel’s neck, laughing into his shoulder.) -> inspired by glitter on the floor's 2024/6/7 monaco dark laneway posts

rriicciiaarrddoo "are george and alex married" -> a future easter egg for the glitter on the floor galex sequel

daniel's august 10 2025 post:

A vase filled with tulips on a table with a white table cloth. -> glitter on the floor, last daniel3.jpg on 2023 has a vase full of flowers, was meant to signify that they got married

Two kookaburra garden statues, next to a rocking chair on a balcony. -> gary and steve from glitter on the floor

daniel's caption: The rumours are true, I am now in possession of half of Max’s WDC and they will be going on auction next week. -> fool me once

things five forgot to include because i have horrible memory but they canonically happened (this will absolutely be updated when i remember new things)

daniel ricciardo broke his hand whilst karting when younger which is why he gave up racing-> lyric in forever "broke a bone that never healed in my hand"

he gets into singing because grace and joe ricciardo put him in choir as a way for him to get out all his yapping and talking at least once a week so they can get a little peace (but it doesn't work because now he sings around the house)

real life references

sometimes i like to use a little reality so that the universe doesn't feel too far away and here's all the real life things i pulled from:

hair tuck max in f1tv japan interview: 2023 honda thanks day

daniel looking like darth vader in austin rain: 2023 monaco boat race

daniel wearing max's hat: 2017 baku podium

checo fought his way to finish p9: probably any race from the latter first half of the 2024 season

daniel ricciardo international relations expert: 2024 post belgium gp

twitter realises daniel ricciardo is hot actually: 2022 abu dhabi gp (the outfit)

daniel playing max's GP in his concert -> i saw adele pause her concert for the olympics womens 100m final so that's how that got in (also i did so much time zone math in order to make sure it was actually the right timing)

max and daniel escaping in a helicopter -> post 2024 belgium gp

#singer!daniel au #this will probably be updated as i remember new things for me to yap about

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autisticbokutoenthusiast · 6 months

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pit babe ep 6 stray thoughts

- its been a moment hasnt it

-oh.... babe believes in him.... its engraved with his name.... the way babe looks at him i might hav to punch my puter

- does babe just have no powers left or does he still have some... also thinking about the implications he could lose the thing that makes him special and no one will notice- like the implications could be so good for him or horrific

- charlie and dean should have banded together to block babe and then they both could have raced

- shoutout to whoever was actually racing those cars cause they sure are driving

- i think winner and dean should take out their frustrations on eachother- in whichever way feels most authentic to them in the moment

- does dean have a power

- on one: way with babe: 🥺

- has anyone done charliebabe as the autism creature yet has this been done yet

- oh wait its the sign apalogy scene SCREAM

- oooo is this the car sex scene 👀

- no it was in fact th sweetest scene

- hitting you with love confession, mpreg, bitching?, and mama papa back back. i knew what i signed up for tho good for them

- "mama wants to know if papa has devloped anything". okay.

- oh?

- i need to do atrocious things to that man pt 3

- the way soundtrack poppin off. yall know i love me a piano ballad

- northsonic!! UNPROVOKED?!?!?!?? like the whole tray too!?!??!? tf those screwdrivers ever do to dean??!?!

- man fuck dean for that abolutely uncalled for he shouldve been pushing winner against a wall about it

- alan like NOT in MY garage!

- "im angry at old people who like to annnoy me" what’s the actual age difference and please can it not be that much cause this is so funny

- babe really seems so happy now

- SCREAM the way jeff grabs babe and starts experiancing the agonies and babe is there like: okayyyyyy

- way over here like let me make sure everyone else is feeling miserable and awkward too

- northsonic are so real my little clowns

- jeff continuing to move throught the world like a prey animal

- interesting the way is mad that babe changed when babe seems so much happier now...

- way be like im planting seeds of doubt, im affecting your subconsious

- this way speech kinda making my insides hurt like why would he say that in front of me ouch ouch ouch also the song!!!

- WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY scream ouch

- A FUCKING FLASHA CK IM GONNA BE ILL

- MUTUALS HOW COULD YALL MOT WARN ME ABOUT WAY

pain.

#abe watches #pit babe the series

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cecilysass · 1 year

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Pause (2/11)

Read on AO3 | Tagging @today-in-fic

Chapter 2: Back in the Atmosphere

The drive to Alexandria is so second nature to her that she’s determined to watch out for changes, hints that might suggest how much time has passed. She scans her surroundings as she drives, her head darting left to right to see everything.

She notices a new, neon-bright exterior to a bar in Georgetown, as conspicuous as a tropical fish. On M Street there's a bike rental shop that she doesn't recognize. The bridge itself, the waters of the Potomac, the stone-lined George Washington Memorial parkway: these all look the same to her. Of course, it’s dark out, so she is limited by what she can see in the overlapping circles of streetlights.

A small billboard advertising a top 40 radio station catches her attention, but she can’t be sure whether that was there before. It’s amazing how much of one’s surroundings one doesn’t notice in everyday life, she thinks. However, the sign makes her realize she could give the radio a try.

Yes. She should turn on the car radio.

She fiddles with the console and tries a public radio station first, thinking there might be news of the day playing that could provide a date or other clues. That station seems to be running some kind of evening documentary program on the history of the Vietnam War memorial. Scully turns it up to listen more closely: “…and wanted to make something that allowed people to remember, but wanted to serve as a visual reminder that the dead did not come back.” It’s an account of events from years ago: not especially helpful now.

She hits scan, moving through the ripping static noises to other stations, listening for a moment to each one. Classic rock. Latin. A commercial for car insurance.

She remembers the call number of the top 40 station from the billboard, and she tunes into that, her eyes periodically darting back up to the road.

“…You’re listening to Washington’s hit music station, Z104.”

The deejay’s patter seems like it might reveal promising information. She turns it up, but the deejay quickly transitions into music. It’s some sentimental pop ballad with piano.

She sighs. It shouldn’t be so difficult to find out what the date is, should it?

Scully turns her attention to the song. It’s completely unfamiliar to her, but it’s not like it’s entirely unusual for her to fail to recognize pop music. On the other hand, she did have the impression that teen music was edgier than this. This song seems very soft. She remembers those teenagers in Oklahoma, that lightning case, the kind of angst-ridden, angry music they liked. Their music reminded her a little of the punk music she admired in high school.

The male singer of the ballad on the radio is very emotional. As she drives into Alexandria, she listens, with mild curiosity, to the lyrics. He seems to be posing questions to a woman returning from a long, otherworldly absence.

Tell me, he challenges her. Did you sail across the sun? Did Venus blow your mind? Did you see that heaven is overrated? Did you miss me when you were looking for yourself out there?

A chill again trickles through her, running down her limbs.

Did you fall from a shooting star?

No. She doesn’t like this song. Her heart has begun thumping again, so loudly she hears it in her head. She turns off the radio.

What she needs more than any half-ass clue hunting, more than this nerve-wracking guessing game, is to find her partner. He will tell her whatever she needs to know. She doesn’t need to deduce it from radio stations.

That sounds enough like common sense to calm her down.

Hegal Place and his apartment building don’t look any different to her, thank God. The interior still has that musty historical smell, with a dash of insecticide and Pine Sol. The numbers on the elevator buttons are still mostly worn off; the lighting in the halls is still tinged amber and curiously dim.

She moves quickly down his hallway, but hesitates at the spot where she remembers last speaking to him. When he was cupping her head with such tenderness. When he was leaning in with the most desperate, longing expression on his face. How long ago was that? she wonders? What happened next?

She examines the floor for evidence that she had landed there, unconscious, felled by a sting. But there is nothing to see there but dingy beige tile, worn and scuffed by too much foot traffic.

Scully swallows. She walks, determined, to #42 —and then stands there just staring at the closed door. Taking a fortifying breath. Steeling herself for the worst.

If it isn’t him, if he doesn’t live here any more, well, she’s going to be upset, but she’ll just go to the Hoover building next. It will be okay. She will be okay. She’ll figure it out. She can still find Mulder.

That’s all perfectly logical, and she’s aware of that. But she isn’t operating on pure logic here. Her heart just wants him to be here, in his pajamas, arms open, ready to order her some takeout. Please let him be here, she thinks, little tears springing in her eyes. Please let it be Mulder.

She knocks on the door. And waits, listening for any noise inside.

And then she tries again.

There is no response. She bites her lip, hoping she’ll still hear him any moment. What time it is shouldn’t matter. There’s no time of night that Mulder wouldn’t wake up hearing knocking on his door.

After a moment’s hesitation, she reaches into her pocket, fumbling a little, and she produces his key. All right. If it’s not his apartment, it won’t fit. And then she will know.

She notices the sound of her own shallow breathing as she pushes the key in.

It slides into the lock perfectly, same as it always has.

Scully presses her eyes closed and releases a long sigh. She turns the key, unlocks it, and pushes open his door.

The space inside is lit only by the mottled green glow of the fish tank, but she’s greeted by the unmistakable sight of Mulder’s familiar apartment. The couch. The patterned Navajo blanket. The art on the walls. She would know it anywhere. It’s as familiar as any place on earth to her.

Her knees almost buckle from relief. Whatever else happens, she is safe now, and at least has a place to sleep tonight. Not her own home, but nearly as close as she can imagine.

“Mulder?” she calls. “Hello?”

There's no answer, and the silence unnerves her. She flips on a switch, and the room is illuminated. She takes some tentative steps inside.

His place is very messy, even for Mulder. There are several meals’ worth of dirty dishes stacked on the coffee table, which isn’t typical for him. Papers and files are strewn over the desk, spilling haphazardly onto the floor. This paper chaos is more typical for him, although it seems especially out of hand.

She picks up a fast food wrapper off the floor and glances at some of the papers on his desk, which seem to be a mix of bills and old article clippings. Is he out of town? Or is he just out for the night, chasing down a source? She wonders why it’s gotten so messy.

The phone on his desk is peeking out from under a newspaper, but she's relieved to see it. Immediately she picks it up and dials his cell number. It goes straight to voicemail. She hangs it up and sighs heavily, standing still a moment. Taking in the information around her.

Where are you, Mulder?

She wanders into the kitchen. The clock over his stove top says 11:38, which answers one of her questions, although hardly the most important.

The kitchen is also in unhygienic disarray, with a heap of unwashed dishes resting in the sink, as though he hasn’t been bothered with them in quite some time. The garbage can is overflowing, to-go containers piled precariously on top. She crumples up the fast food wrapper and sticks it in the side of the can as best she can.

The room doesn’t smell particularly good, and this turns her already-vulnerable stomach. What’s more, Scully doesn’t like what she sees here. Not any of this. It sets her on edge.

Mulder often comes across as disorganized and scattered, but he isn’t dirty. He can actually be oddly fastidious, sometimes even more than her about select topics. She has never seen dirty dishes piling up in his kitchen before.

“Mulder?” she calls out again, more loudly, her voice a little shrill. She doesn’t know why she’s calling his name when it’s clear he’s not here.

She decides to look in his refrigerator for evidence he’s been here recently, and she braces herself for seeing and smelling a landscape of rotting food. Holding her breath, she throws open the door of the fridge quickly.

Much to her relief, it’s inoffensive. There’s very little inside, in fact—except a glass pan of lasagna covered in plastic wrap with a single square cut out. She slides the pan out a little to look at it, and sees a note taped to the top of the plastic.

Her breath catches.

The note is on familiar stationary, yellow paper decorated with little sunshines and daisies. The note has two sentences written in precise cursive in blue pen: “Please eat at least half this time. I’ll check when I come back for the pan on Sunday. -M”

The word “half” is underlined three times. It’s unquestionably her mother’s handwriting.

Scully slides it back into the fridge and closes the door.

She thinks about the last time her mother and Mulder took care of one another. She thinks about how this might relate to her memory problems— what Mulder would call “lost time.”

Did you sail across the sun? Did Venus blow your mind?

No. She is not ready to face this possibility. Not again. She feels tears prickling the corners of her eyes.

No. Absolutely not.

She turns to the sink and looks around for Mulder’s dish soap and sponge.

With grim determination she begins to work on his pile of dirty dishes, holding her breath against the smell. The hot water scalds her hands, but strangely, she finds the sensation not unpleasant.

The soap and water makes her left hand sting a little, and she considers again the cut there. It’s deeper than she first realized. She chooses to ignore it.

Because that’s what she’s doing right now. She’s ignoring things. And doing dishes.

Once she finishes the dishes in the sink, she goes into the living room and scoops up the dirty dishes off of his coffee table, and takes them into the sink next. It gives her a reassuring sense of control. At least Mulder’s goddamn dish problem is in hand.

When she’s done with that, she has created so many clean dishes they don’t even fit in his drying rack, so she spreads out some dish towels on his countertop and lets them rest there to dry out, too. She’ll get his help to put them all up later. Hopefully.

Next she finds his garbage bags, and she empties his overflowing garbage, carrying it down the hall of his building to the garbage chute, holding it out away from her body so she can’t smell it.

She returns to his kitchen to wash her hands. As she stands surveying her good work, she realizes she is starving.

Well. She knows there’s at least one thing to eat, and she trusts her mom’s cooking.

She pulls out her mother’s lasagna from the fridge, uncovers it, and slices herself off a giant slab of lasagna, much bigger than the tiny piece Mulder had apparently previously cut for himself. She places it on a freshly clean plate and heats it, watching it in the microwave.

I’m sorry, Mom, she thinks. No doubt Mulder should be taking your sensible food advice and eating this, but your daughter needs food, too.

It comes out of the microwave appealingly gooey and bubbly. Her stomach rumbles, and she wonders again when she last ate.

She finds a clean fork and takes an eager bite, humming in immediate satisfaction as she stands there clutching the plate. Her mother’s lasagna. Ground sausage and ricotta, a smidge of basil and garlic, generous mozzarella. It tastes like childhood, nourishing and wholesome. Scully feels suddenly desperate with the need to see her mother. Soon, she promises herself. After she talks to Mulder.

She decides not to sit down to eat, feeling too antsy. Instead, she walks around curiously as she shovels hungry forkfuls from her plate to her mouth. She peers at the detritus around the apartment for any hint of what might be happening.

On his kitchen table she leans over to stare closely at a pair of glasses Mulder has left sitting precariously close to the edge, deciding they are the same pair he always wore. Next to his computer, she tries to read the content of a receipt sitting out prominently, but the type is smeared.

She notices the door to his bedroom is cracked open, which surprises her. Normally he uses his bedroom as some kind of disastrous storage facility, with boxes of files he doesn’t keep at the office for whatever reason. As well as, no doubt, an impressive treasure trove of his pornography.

Hands full of her plate and fork, she nudges the door with her toe. To her surprise, it falls open easily. She sticks her head inside — and then lowers the plate, her eyes widening.

His bedroom is a normal bedroom. Cluttered, yes. Unmade bed. Clothes on the floor. But a normal bedroom, with a queen-sized bed.

She takes a step inside the room, aware that she is definitely snooping now. It’s always struck her as profoundly strange and sad that Mulder didn’t have a dedicated place to sleep. Or, if she’s being honest, to have sex. She isn’t sure how she feels to know that something about his life has changed this much. It should make her glad for him, but it also makes her uneasy.

She’s afraid to look too closely at the reading material piled around on the dresser and bedside table, but even a quick perfunctory glance tells her it’s not porn. A more systematic sweep of the room and she doesn’t see any of his magazines, actually, and that surprises her, too.

His bed is tousled and looks like it hasn’t been made for days, weeks, maybe ever. His pillow is slightly indented, and Scully has a very powerful impulse to go press her face down upon it, to inhale his scent, so familiar from routinely working in his aura: in motel rooms, in cars, on sojourns in the woods. From when they hold each other close after they’ve almost lost each other. The thought immediately embarrasses her. She should walk right out of this room right now. It’s not her business to be in here.

But her eye is caught by something vivid green laying on his bed, near his pillow but slightly obscured by a fold in his comforter. She takes a few steps forward to see it more clearly, resisting the urge to go pick it up.

She can see it now. It’s a sweater, a very small green sweater. She can make out its basic silhouette quite clearly. Way too small to be Mulder’s. Too small to be most men’s, truthfully, and cut rather slim.

She stands there unmoving, gripping the plate of her mother’s lasagna tightly, mouth gaping a little in disbelief, trying to take in the sight of that unfamiliar woman’s sweater on her partner’s bed.

Maybe this is the reason for the bedroom. Maybe he has a girlfriend. Maybe that’s where he is right now, somewhere out with his girlfriend. Maybe at his girlfriend’s apartment.

It gives Scully a sickening, vertigo feeling, like she possibly could throw up the lasagna. Is nothing what she expects now? Can she depend on anything? Does she even know this person — Mulder with a girlfriend? Is he the same man, the man she trusts and needs right now?

Immediately she shakes her head at herself in disgust. She’s being ridiculous; she knows she is. Mulder with a girlfriend is probably the same partner to her as Mulder without a girlfriend. Why shouldn’t he be? There’s no reason to feel so devastated, so empty. Mulder isn’t her boyfriend. He never has been.

It’s just that so much of this is not what she remembers. What she most clearly remembers, in fact, is him trying to kiss her. But that was one little moment, one tiny blip in time, and she doesn’t even know what happened after that.

She rotates around the bedroom, her eyes scanning his work shirts strewn on the floor. Truthfully, besides the sweater, nothing in the state of this apartment especially suggests to her a happy Mulder with a girlfriend.

Actually, there’s nothing that seems clear here at all. Nothing that adds up to a straightforward picture. It’s all contradictory and disorienting. She releases a quiet sigh.

She’s only eaten about half, but the lasagna has lost its appeal. She looks down at the plate wrinkling her forehead, deciding to throw it out. This thought process is interrupted when his phone begins ringing.

She follows the sound of the ring back into his living room, considering for a moment whether to pick it up. Probably not the wisest idea, given everything she doesn’t understand here. Before she talks to anyone else, she wants to talk to Mulder.

Sitting carefully on his couch, setting her plate on the coffee table, she listens to the rings, letting his machine pick up. His message is exactly the same message she has heard a thousand times, which makes her want to weep.

After the beep, the caller’s message begins. “Hey, Mulder.”

It’s Byers. Scully straightens up, alert.

“We’re just calling to make sure you…got home okay. Because you, uh, seemed a little off. It’s about 12:45 now, so it seems like you should be there by now…but perhaps you made another stop. Or something. Well. Just call when you get this.”

There is a scuffling sound, and then Frohike’s voice: “We worry, my friend. Please let us know you’re home okay. No more scares.” Beep.

Scully stares at the machine, processing this new information.

No more scares.

Seemed a little off.

Should be there by now.

She leans her head back on the leather of his couch, drained. She wonders if she should call the Gunmen back and try to extract more information from them. They could at least answer her most basic questions. Had Mulder been at their place? Where might he have gone from there? Should she be looking for him? What “scares?” Oh, and what year is it? And as far as they know, has she been anywhere unusual as of late?

Her eyes fall closed, and she is suddenly so unbelievably tired.

I could easily fall asleep, she realizes in surprise. Which seems preposterous, given the circumstances, the countless unanswered questions. But it’s just all so overwhelming, so impossible to parse. Her body and mind seem to have given up on her.

For a moment she lets herself drift, her limbs going slack.

The sound of a key scraping in the door startles her awake.

#the x files #xfiles fanfic #x files fanfic #dana scully #fox mulder #x files #my fic #pause

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doyou000me · 5 months

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if you get this, answer with your top 5 music artists and send it to the last 7 people in your notifications Rose💜

This ask was more difficult then I suppose it's meant to be, because I mainly listen to songs, not artists. A lot of the time, I find one or two songs from the same artist that I really like, and then I have no idea what else they've done, so answering this required some thinking. Thank you @my-rose-tinted-glasses for making me sit down and actually think about what artists I like, and not just what songs I happen to vibe with at the moment!

Spoiler: it's a lot of Korean music, and what makes me come back to an artist is most often their voice.

Isaac Hong I found him through the OST for Strangers From Hell (along with The Rose, The Vane and Yaori) and then rediscovered him when I watched the reality show Super Band. I love his voice and I love the way many of his songs swell and sweep me along. He's done a few more OSTs lately, so if you've watched a lot of kdramas, chances are you've heard his music somewhere.

Give Childhood Memories 내 기억 속의 소년, Close Your Eyes and Ruin a listen!

LeeHi This woman has an absolutely amazing voice and can do widly different songs. She's got a lot of great songs of her own and has done a whole lot of fantastic collabs with various artists as well.

1, 2, 3, 4, FXXK WIT US and Breathe are some of my favourites, but be warmed: Breathe never fails to make me tear up.

Iniko What a voice!!! (Have you noticed a theme yet?) Their voice is otherwordly and all it took was a few seconds of a short clip for me to get goosbumps and be absolutely blown away. Their acapella videos are a treat. Their music is different and powerful and I love it.

Luna, The King's Affirmation and Jericho are definitely recommended!

Woosung and The Rose As mentioned, I first found the indie rock band The Rose through the OST for Strangers from Hell, and then some time later I found the singer Woosung and fell in love with his voice - and then it took me an embarrassing amount of time to realise that Woosung is the singer for The Rose, and his solo songs are what he did to stay active while the rest of the boys did their military service. (Yes, this is the level of research/knowledge I usually have about artists. Virtually none, that is.)

Sorry, Strangers and Wonder are some of my favourite The Rose songs, while Phase Me and Face are some of my favourite Woosung songs! Psst! I have been told that the piano key he's hitting in the Face MV is the G note...

Bibi Once more, as with all of these: The Voice!!! Bibi has a husky voice coupled with a bit of an attitude that I can't help but love! I found her through a show called The Fan (where I also found Car the Garden and Youra) and she keeps delivering!

Long Time Ago, Animal Farm, Vengeance are some of her songs that I think you should check out! The MVs are delighfully bloody, but maybe go for a lyric video if you don't want to see heads roll.

Long list under the cut, because I can't help but cheat:

BTS: the group that first got me into Korean music in 2016, when I'd previously only been interested in Korean movies. They put out so much music I can't keep up and they're possibly the only group where I've listened to enough of their discography to have a favourite album: Wings.

Mamamoo: a group of fantastic ladies who are excellent performers and fantastic singers! They know how to put on a show and how to have fun on stage. They're also challenging Korean stereotypes and norms, which of course gives them extra points in my books.

Jessi: now here's a lady who isn't afraid to speak her mind and who breaks Korean stereotypes for breakfast. She's a girlboss who raps and sings and does both hard-hitting hip hop and emotional ballads.

King Mala: a recent find, but what a find! So many good songs that made me feel like as absolute badass, and the lyrics are great fun and often delightfully kinky.

GSoul: a warm hug and a sigh of relief as you relax. Close your eyes and lean back and give his RnB songs a listen.

Jeff Satur: his music videos with his many different alter egos have given birth to the #jeffcest tag - need I say more? This guy sure has a vision and he seems to be having great fun doing what he's doing and we get to have great fun enjoying the stuff he puts out, so what's not to like?

Ten: now this guy is mainly on the list becuase of his performances, but what performances he puts on!! This guy can dance, and I don't know how many times I've rewatched his Devil performance from Hit The Stage which he did when he'd only just debuted. Apart from his individual songs, he's also part of NCT, so he's part of a whole lot of songs in a variety of different languages.

#asks #asked and answered #music #isaac hong #lee hi #iniko #the rose #woosung #bibi

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atticsandwich · 1 year

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omg a fellow swiftie! can i ask what you think each character's favorite album would be (and why) i loved the songs you picked for each of them on your list!

THANK YOU FOR ASKING I LOVE YOU.

and so without further ado:

What I think each obey me character's favorite Taylor Swift album would be

(this is just for fun pls don't take it personally if you don't agree with my takes lol)

LUCIFER

Red. i think a lot of people would go with rep or folklore for him but Red is such an intensely passionate album overflowing with multitudes of emotions that it'd be the one he'd gravitate towards.

His favorite on the album would either be state of grace or treacherous, i think. both songs just encompass the feeling of an unexpected emotion/encounter that not only intensifies but also fundamentally changes you as a person.

acknowledges ronan and how it's a beautifully written memorial. however, he'll only listen to it if it's a particularly reminiscence-heavy day

MAMMON

he's a reputation girlie DEFINITELY. The almost grunge-like feel of the first half juxtaposed with the second's more romantic upbeat pop (and ends with a piano ballad? yeahhhhh) is something he would soooo eat up. Not to mention he already has a rep era outfit ready by way of his demon form lol

favorites are don't blame me and getaway car and by the time new year's day hits he's an emotional mess. "please don't ever become a stranger who's laugh i could recognize anywhere" he'd be projecting the hell out of himself in that situation and he'd start whining and demanding that you never forget him. as he does.

LEVIATHAN

1989. Listen to me. He's a pop music enjoyer to a T. He probably won't admit it though. He'll probably say his favorite genre is like alt but then secretly have emotion and 1989 as his spotify (devilfy?) top streamed. (outside of course, his animanga playlist)

Very much a deep-cut kind of guy. He can appreciate style and blank space but firmly believes i know places and you are in love are superior and majorly underrated. and he's right...!

SATAN

this one's easy. evermore. no questions. in my opinion it's taylor's most literary-driven album, even more so than folklore, which i feel like is more storytelling-driven (pls tell me u get what i mean even though they're kinda the same thing but also not 😵‍💫). evermore is just one of those album that you'll only get to fully appreciate once you start trying to understand the songs as they stand on their own, and not as an interconnected puzzle.

cowboy like me is his favorite. i mentioned in my list that it's also the taylor song i associate the most with him, but i feel like he'd fully understand the underlying kinship and desperation that encompasses the song, especially if he tries to relate it with how he sees you, and how you're the only one on the same playing field as him.

almost cried to marjorie. he's in his feelings like that. closure appreciator (aka he's got taste. he's got the vision).

ASMODEUS

you'd think it'd be 1989, but it's actually Midnights. he'd LOVE the sultry take on synth-pop, and it's an album he would constantly have on ritation when he's getting ready to go out, or if he just wants to feel it. There's something about midnights that's so dark yet so unmistakeably airy and light, romantic, devastating, and sensual.

maroon or karma would be his favorite. karma is more of his favorite 'feel good' song though, while maroon is his favorite because of its imagery and emotion.

BEELZEBUB

just like the list, he was the hardest to pick for 😵‍💫 i think it's mainly because Beel doesn't really strike me as someone who gets way into an artist, and generally vibes with whatever he can find. He probably has a gym playlist consisting of multitudes of different artists and genres. If i had to pick though, i think his favorite would be Red - it's actually a pretty good workout album in my experience.

his favorites are the lighter songs, like everything has changed and starlight. i think he's the type to enjoy those types of songs more - lighthearted, upbeat, sweet. will not listen to ronan. he can handle the more emotional songs, but ronan made him lose his appetite. (i get u beel i never listen to it too i cant)

BELPHEGOR

folklore. what better album to sleep to? he doesn't sleep to it because it's boring per se, but because folklore just has that soothing essence to it that's very calming despite how devastating a lot of the songs are

doesn't get why betty, james, and augustine can't all be together, though. ("if me, you, and beel can make it work, so can they," he says when you ask.)

favorites are the last great american dynasty (thinks rebecca is funny), peace, and hoax. peace is hit top pick though, he resonates with its themes of "you're too good for me, i've wronged you yet you chose me, i'd give the world to you if you asked"

DIAVOLO

oh this guy would LOVE Speak Now. it's such a magical, whimsical, yet also so emotional and nuanced all wrapped up in a ribbon of both love and heartbreak. there's a sense of childlike fascination in diavolo that i think would resonate with how humans process love, yearning, loss, uncertainty, and just living, and i think speak now encapsulates all of those perfectly.

he's a romantic, let's be real. his favorutes are sparks fly and enchanted, and he can't help but think of you and how he felt when he fully realized how he felt towards you. it's explosive, magical, and he just wants more.

would unironically suggest long live as a RAD graduation song

BARBATOS

another Midnights kind of guy. not in the way asmo is, though. while asmo loves midnights for both its romantic and sensual aspects, barbatos favors this album because of its overall thematic depiction of the progression of the emotional spectrum - be it love, longing, grief, and life is general. i think people forget that midnights is also very introspective of Taylor's career, with multiple callbacks and small references to her previous work, while also being an album of processing separate emotions in a set timeline of her life.

adores the 3 am tracks, labyrinth, and mastermind. mastermind specifically is something i feel like he can resonate with specifically if he associates it with you, although whether you're the mastermind or it's him, he's not entirely sure. all he knows is that he's glad everything fell right into place for you to be his, or vice versa.

SOLOMON

his favorite would be Lover, i think. for many reasons, but especially because it's specifically you he thinks about the entire time listening. there's plenty of different facets of love to explore too - the domesticity, the sensuality, even the absurd and blasphemous. of course, there's also a little inkling of heartbreak and angst in the record, but he's one to appreciate those, too.

favorites on lover would be... well, lover, the titular track. he loves the domesticity he feels with you and yearns for it. i think he'd resonate with ma&thp too, but mostly for its storytelling. death by a thousand cuts will start to make him sad if he ever thinks about the both of you in that situation, so he probably skips it often for his own sanity (and probably sygb too?)

SIMEON

FEARLESS.

honestly it was either fearless and lover again, but i feel like he's more in line with the "i love you but reality isn't always a fairytale. why do you always feel so close, yet so far away?" idk if yall realize this but fearless is such. a melancholic album?? look at the tracklist and tell me I'm wrong, u can't.

funnily enough. relates to white horse a lot, mostly because of his own insecurity with how he stands between your relationship with him vs. the brothers. do u get what im trying to go for here. for that same reason he also loves you belong with me.

LUKE

this precious angel is a debut appreciator. the naive, almost juvenile level view on love, while trying his absolute best to prove himself, cherishing every friendship he makes, and especially his friendship with you. He's still improving himself as an angel day by day so one day, he'll establish himself as someone you can fully rely on!

his favorite is i'm only me when i'm with you - everyday he spends with you is something he truly cherishes, and he's always looking forward for the next time he'll get to hang out with his best friend.

THIRTEEN

another reputation girlie. argue with a wall (jk)

listen, she just thinks it's fun, she loves the intense beats and synths, and loves to scream the lyrics. i don't really think she'll care much for the more romantic songs, but she can still appreciate how heartfelt they are.

special exception to dwoht - the depiction of a suffocating exhiliration of love gets to her. it's so dangerous yet so tempting, so bounded yet so freeing....

aside from the aforementioned, also loves ready for it...? and i did something bad. it's the anticipation and thrill and conniving facets that enthralls her.

loves 1989 just as much though. pop bible ftw

RAPHAEL

folklore enthusiast. loves how mellow yet emotionally nuanced and diverse it is. loves exploring the various depths of human emotion portrayed in the album. listens to it while he sews, it gives him a pretty steady rhythm.

if you mention loving the album, he'll make you a cardigan. (just like the one in the song, he'll say. he looks stoic but you can tell from the handiwork that he's spent an absurd amount of time and dedication to perfect the piece. wear it often. he loves seeing it on you. he won't say that outright, though.)

his favorites are the most emotional and introspective ones - my tears ricochet, mirrorball, this is me trying, hoax. again, mostly because he loves peering into human psyche and that spectrum of emotions in particular.

MEPHISTOPHELES

he'd say Speak Now because it's Dia's favorite, but it's actually Red, funnily enough. will never admit it though, because he knows it's also luci's pick.

the intensity in red's portrayal of passion and heartbreak is something he appreciates, and while not necessarily 100% relating to, he understands why anyone would feel that way. love is a very fickle yet powerful thing, after all.

there's an essence of longing in the album, both for what was and what will be. Sometimes he can't help but see himself and you in those situations; him knowing that associating with you would be too much trouble than worth, but also he can't help but want to deepen his relationship with you, yet he's unsure where he can comfortably place himself between the brothers and the others vying for your attention. he hides that insecurity in stride though, the less you know the better.

top picks are treacherous and holy ground, for reasons mentioned above.

ok that's all of them. that took way longer than i thought LMFAO thank you again for asking anon!! i hope i didnt disappoint 🫡🫡

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louisupdates · 1 year

Text

15 Tantalizing Tongue Songs features music courtesy of Billie Marten, Louis Tomlinson, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Three 6 Mafia, and XILLAN.

Be prepared for a lot of TONGUE 👅! That’s right, 🎧 15 Tantalizing Tongue 👅 Songs highlights the muscle 💪 in your mouth! A list that has been a long-time in the making, this musical compendium of tongue songs FINALLY sees the light of day. Keep in mind, the tongue plays a big role in life and in music 🎶 – it gets a lot of ACTION! Particularly when it comes to sex, that tongue 👅, well, it truly tongues 👅 it up 😈! Enough naughtiness and utter silliness! 🎧 15 Tantalizing Tongue Songs features music courtesy of 🎙 Billie Marten, 🎙 Louis Tomlinson, 🎙 Red Hot Chili Peppers, 🎙 Rêve, 🎙 Three 6 Mafia, and 🎙 XILLAN among others. So, get those taste buds on your tongue 👅 ready for an extraordinary musical treat! Even though tongues don’t hear, do they? And you can’t really taste music, even though we talk about musical tastes all the time… Hmm 🤔, mind blowing 🤯 🤯 🤯!

🎙 Louis Tomlinson, the handsome, former 🎙 One Direction hunk that he is, possesses 💿 Faith in the Future. WOO! That faith, of course, arrived in 2022. And amid that faith, on track 11, Mr. Tomlinson speaks in 🎵 “Silver Tongues” – can I get an amen 🙌? Anyways, Tomlinson brings expressive, nuanced vocals to the table. This comes as no surprise, given the fact he always possessed a sweetness to his pipes. Adding to the charm is the firm presence of his British 🇬🇧 accent 💪.

youtube

Of course, a tuneful melody, particularly during the centerpiece, the chorus, goes a long way.

“You know, it’s time like these

We’re so much happier

Nights like these

We’ll remember those stupid jokes

Only we know

You know, when I’m with you

I’m so much happier

Nights like these

We’ll remember those songs we wrote

Only we know

You smile at me and say, ‘It’s time to go’

But I don’t feel like goin’ home.”

Interestingly, “Silver Tongues” appears to be a ballad initially. This characterization, however, changes soon enough. It transforms into this driving pop/rock song with ample energy. There are some marvelous music cues such as the hard-hitting drums, prominence of piano 🎹, guitars 🎸, and a wall of sound. Given the fab backdrop, there are some nice instrumental moments between sections of the song. During the bridge, there is contrast to previous sections, yet it isn’t too different – balance, if you will. All told, “Silver Tongues” bears strong songwriting by Tomlinson, 🎼 ✍ David Sneddon, Joseph Cross (who also 🎛 produces), and Theo Hutchcraft. Faith in the Future, INDEED!

#louis press #louis tomlinson #silver tongues #15.9.2023 #Louis on the same list as RHCP 🔥

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ijustreallylikepirates · 2 months

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Here is some information on Alec's band because I have so much band lore.

They called themselves The Broken Records because they said their music was going to be so good that people will put it on repeat like a broken record.

Alec was lead singer, Rooney was bassist, Luke was drummer, Juan was guitarist. Luke and Juan could also play the synthesizer or piano if needed. Any percussion instrument really. Juan is just more into guitar, while Luke prefers percussion.

Their second album was everybody's favorite. It was called Ballad of the Beetles.

Some of their hit songs were Blister on my Heart, Rock and Roll Hyena, Girl You're Bad, and Dirty Minded. (These are all knock off titles of real songs because I can't think of new titles so if you can guess the songs, I'd actually be so surprised. I imagine the songs to sound relatively the same, but the lyrics are just tampered with.)

They only stayed together for 4 years and broke up before going to college, since they all went to different colleges. Luke stayed in England for college whereas the rest of the band went to the U.S.

They are still in contact, and I will include them sometimes in my fanfictions.

They don't make music or perform anymore.

I made a playlist on Spotify to kind of get their sound, and I also put some songs each band member might have individually released. It's titled ":)" because I didn't know what else to title it. The cover is that one meme of Alec that's like "shoplifters when the shop is too heavy." The description just says "ooga booga" for some reason. I'm under the name Eddie so if you decide to check out the playlist, I'd be greatly appreciative. Any likes or saves are appreciated. Also don't listen to my everything playlist titled "kiwi birds are really awesome." Shit is really random and you will regret hearing my music taste in further detail.

Anyways, yeah. That's really it. If you have questions, comment, reblog, ask, anything! I'm going to go write my Alenick fanfiction like I came onto Tumblr to do now. Bye, ily all !!! <3

#disventure camp #disventure camp all stars #odd nation cartoons

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sidworldfans · 9 months

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SID 20th Anniversary 「GRAND FINAL "The Place We Love Most"」 LIVE Report from Natalie music

The culmination of SID’s 20th anniversary and the start of the second chapter in their “place they love most”

SID held its 20th anniversary live concert 『SID 20th Anniversary GRAND FINAL ‘The Place We Love Most』at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, on December 27.

Formed in 2003 with Mao (Vo) and Aki (B) as the core members, SID has been active since 2004 with the current line-up including Shinji (G) and Yuuya (Dr). In 2023, which marked the 20th anniversary of their formation, the band has held a series of live performances and releases, starting with a fan-club-only concert at LINE CUBE SHIBUYA (Shibuya Public Hall) in Tokyo in January. The Budokan, where they have stood many times, was prepared as a place to conclude a fulfilling year.

New challenges on the 20th anniversary of the formation

A large chandelier and a huge pure white fabric draped from the ceiling to the floor. The first song was the ballad Ajisai (Hydrangea), a song about crazy emotions. “Wow!” was raised in joy and surprise.

After NOMAD, the band started with Anniversary, a fitting song for the day’s live. The band’s bright ensemble made the audience’s hearts skip a beat, and the mirror ball shone with glittering lights. The smiles on their faces on the screen told the audience that they were enjoying this stage to the fullest.

After performing a series of popular songs from their indies days, including Alibi, Wana (Trap) and Mousou Nikki (Delusional Diary), the members talked about their feelings on their 20th anniversary.

Then Mao said: “We’ve made a medley as a new challenge”, and Yuuya started stick-counting as a cue. Here, the hit songs Monokuro no Kiss (Monochrome Kiss), Ranbu no Melody (Melody of a Wild Dance), Uso (Lie) and V.I.P, which have represented SID since their major label debut, were delivered as “SID 20th Special Medley”, impressing the audience with the breadth of SID’s musicality.

Solos that appealed to the audience with their individuality

In the subsequent block, starting with Yuuya, the members entered the solo corner. While Yuuya performed a slow-paced performance using tracks, Aki excited the audience with his rock-inspired bass playing. Shinji played a hard-rock instrumental immediately after playing his smoldering guitar. The three players showed off their versatility with their three different performances.

Mao returned to the stage after receiving the baton from Shinji, and sings Kowairo (Tone of Voice) with special guest Hiroaki Hayama playing the piano. Hayama’s melody resonates close to Mao’s delicate “tone of voice”... At the climax of the song, Mao sings a cappella as if exploding with emotion. His singing voice, with all his heart and soul, was met with applause.

Immediately after finishing the song, Mao jokingly said: “It’s been a long time since I performed a cappella at Budokan. What you need to be able to perform this a cappella is courage.” Following his words: “Because it’s a big deal”, the five-piece lineup of SID and Hiroaki Hayama performed their new ballad Omokage (Vestige) which was just released as the opening theme song for the TV anime Heaven Official’s Blessing.

Aki’s provocation: “It’s going to get more and more intense from here on out, but can you all keep up?” was the starting point for the four of them to drop a rock number that revealed the aggressive expressions of SID. Before Propose, Mao charmingly declared: “It’s been 20 years, so it’s time to get married.” A loud cheer echoed through the venue.

The song that the four members prepared to conclude the main part was Yoshikai Manabu 17-sai (mushoku) (Yoshikai Manabu 17 years old (unemployed)), which was released 20 years ago. Mao, Shinji, and Aki dance in front of the rapt audience, and Yuuya supports them with a rock-solid rhythm.

A monolithic performance was etched into the Budokan, and the main part came to an end with a strong afterglow.

Mao’s confession: This is where I am alive

The four of them returned to the stage in response to the endless “Encore!” and continued with their new song Soyokaze (Breeze) which they wrote to express their memories of the 20th anniversary, followed by Natsukoi (Summer Love) and Dear Tokyo which have been loved since their indie days. They sang Natsukoi and Dear Tokyo with their fans, expressing the bond they have developed over the past 20 years in the form of a sense of unity.

Before the start of Ichiban Sukina Basho (The Place We Love Most) which is also the title of the live performance, Mao expressed his feelings in a hoarse voice:

“For the past few years, I’ve been going on stage thinking about things like whether I’ll be able to sing well or whether my throat will be okay, but I was really looking forward to today’s live show even before it started”, he says. “Of course it feels good to sing well, but no matter how good you sing, if you lack the feeling of having fun, it will be completely different. Today, I am thinking about how we can properly convey the footsteps of our 20 years.”

Looking back on the two-hour live performance, he said: “I sang with the only thought of whether I could deliver the love I’ve received over the years... It was a very satisfying live from the bottom of my heart.” He added: “With the support of many people, I was able to reach this stage. About two years ago, there was a time when I couldn’t sing an entire song or at all. That was due to technical issues, but it was also a time when I was struggling mentally. From then on, I started singing more and more songs. I’ve gotten to this point by increasing the amount and trying things out little by little. That’s why I think the second chapter of SID begins today”, he declared.

Mao then said: “This is where I am alive, and the place I like the most is this live stage. And I can’t do it without everyone there, and I can’t do it without all the members and staff. I'm going to sing from my heart without thinking about whether I'm good or not at the end," signaling the beginning of Ichiban Sukina Basho (The Place We Love Most).

Sparkling confetti fell from the ceiling as if to celebrate new beginnings of the four of them, and the live performance reached its finale in a gorgeous atmosphere. At the end, the members looked back on the days that passed through the anniversary year one by one and promised to reunite with their fans.

Mao standing in the middle of the stage, shouted “I love you!” with the mic off, and then wrapped his arms around the fans and hugged them tightly.

SID, that has entered the second chapter, will release a new single “Omokage” early in 2024. Furthermore, on May 18th and 19th, they will perform live “SID LIVE 2024 -Star Forest-” at Kawaguchiko Stellar Theater in Yamanashi. The Nippon Budokan performance will be broadcast/distributed on WOWOW in April.

Set list

SID “SID 20th Anniversary GRAND FINAL “The Place We Love Most” December 27, 2023 Nippon Budokan

01. Ajisai

02. NOMAD

03. ANNIVERSARY

04. Alibi

05. Wana

06. Mousou Nikki

07. SID 20th Special Medley (Monochrome Kiss ~ Ranbu no Melody ~ Uso ~ V.I.P)

08. Kowairo

09. Omokage

10. Junkan

11. Propose

12. park

13. Memai

14. Yoshikai Manabu 17-sai (mushoku)

15. Soyokaze

16. Natsukoi

17. Dear Tokyo

18. Ichiban Sukina Basho

The original article with images: https://natalie.mu/music/news/555701

#SIDWorldfans #SID20th #SID #シド

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deadcactuswalking · 4 months

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REVIEWING THE CHARTS: 25/05/2024 (Billie Eilish's HIT ME HARD AND SOFT)

Once again, despite hot competition, Sabrina Carpenter sticks to that #1 spot on the UK Singles Chart for a fourth week. Welcome back to REVIEWING THE CHARTS!

content warning: lesbian sex references, death

Rundown

As always, we start the episode with the notable dropouts, which are songs exiting the UK Top 75 - that’s what I cover on this show - after five weeks in the region or a peak in the top 40. This week, we have quite a few arguably predictable leavers as well as song longer runs. Overall, we bid adieu to, unless I’m missing anything: “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” by Baby Lasagna, “meet the grahams” by Kendrick Lamar, “Cry No More” by Headie One featuring Stormzy and Tay Keith (I expect a resurgence when the album comes), “Push Ups” by Drake, “Never be Lonely” by Jax Jones and Zoe Wees, “Saturn” by SZA and “Whatever She Wants” by Bryson Tiller.

As for our notable gains and returns, we have quite a few in the latter category, with Fleetwood Mac’s “Everywhere” at #75, “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers at #72, “Thank You (Not So Bad)” by way too many people back yet again at #64, really a lot of bottom-feeders blossoming pro-Eurovision. There are even more returns though, with Becky Hill seeing both “Outside of Love” at #74 and “Right Here” at #65, as well as a bit of a unique one: the hi-NRG classic “Smalltown Boy”, an anthem of queer persecution and liberation by the somewhat forgotten Bronski Beat is back at #63 - you might know their former lead singer Jimmy Somerville a bit better for his second band The Communards. “Smalltown Boy”, their debut single, peaked at #3 in 1984, blocked from #1 by two just as iconic tracks of the British 80s, “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go” by Wham! at #2, and “Two Tribes” by Frankie Goes to Hollywood at #1. It’s returned to low peaks before in 2013, but a viral TikTok dance seems to be what spiked this one up this time around. The band would reach the #3 peak several times again but they did not last past the 1980s. Their last top 40 hit was a 1991 remix of “Smalltown Boy” credited doubly to Bronski Beat and Sommerville, though sampling of the track has also bred some success, particularly in EDM. Of those who sampled it for hits, Real McCoy’s “Automatic Lover (Call for Love)” hit #58 in 1995, Steve Angello and Axwell of Swedish House Mafia hit #13 in 2006 with “Tell Me Why” under the name Supermode and even Killers frontman Brandon Flowers tried his hand with “I Can Change”, reaching #52 in 2015. None of them touch the original’s catharsis.

We also have yet another TikTok viral hit return this week, this one a bit more inexplicable because the song is no way near as iconic or good, but it’s “The Man Who Can’t be Moved” by The Script at #48. Now this one has actually been more of an intermittently successful since it peaked at #2 in 2009 - pipped at the post by Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” - having returned to the charts in every successive year until 2014, even reaching the top 20 again after a performance on The Voice in 2012. I can’t find much concrete on why this is back, there’s less media coverage than Bronski Beat because… well, frankly, it’s just not a very interesting song, is it? The Script tried to sue James Arthur for similarities between this song and his three-week #1 “Say You Won’t Let Go” from 2016, and gained a writing credit, as if they couldn’t easily have been sued by Keane if we’re validating small musical differences as actual plagiarism. The fact that not a single one of those songs is actually good shows you that these guys are fighting in court over scraps of dull piano ballad melodies, it’s really delightful.

Now after that, we have the healthy amount of gains: “greedy” by Tate McRae at #67, “Addicted” by Zerb, The Chainsmokers and Ink at #66, “Miles on It” by Marshmello and Kane Brown at #57 (kill me), “on one tonight” and “one of wun” by Gunna at #52 and #32 (postpone the killing), “Evergreen” by Richy Mitch & the Coal Miners at #49, “obsessed” by Olivia Rodrigo at #47, “The Door” by Teddy Swims at #45, “The Sound of Silence” by Disturbed and its brand-spanking-new and terrible remix at #39 (Jesus Christ), and finally, a song actually worth being happy for: “Love Me JeJe” by Tems at #36.

The top five on the UK Singles Chart this week starts with “MILLION DOLLAR BABY” by Tommy Richman at #5, “Too Sweet” by Hozier at #4, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey up to #3 and our big story, the highest of Billie Eilish’s three tracks, “LUNCH” at #2. Obviously, “Espresso” is #1, more on Billie later, for now, let’s hear the new entries lower down the rank… or, really, just the one.

New Entries

#62 - “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma” - Luke Combs

Produced by Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton and Luke Combs

Yeah, so again, unless I’m really badly missing something, which is possible, we only have one non-Billie debut and it’s from Luke Combs of all people. It’s not even a lead single, it’s just a cut from the soundtrack to an upcoming disaster film Twisters about, well, take a wild guess. Combs provides a heavy country rock rolick with a great lead riff even if a bit too cleanly produced against the drums to hit the exact smoky edge it should. His delivery feels just slightly off - he’s giving it his all, but it doesn’t fully function the melodies, especially the transition between the verses and pre-chorus, and that chorus is awkwardly unresolved-feeling, which absolutely is thematically on point given the natural disaster theme of the film and its use as an analogy in this song. The adrenaline-chaser in Combs gets to shine here and in a pretty simple, relatively heavy track, with an admittedly mostly boring guitar solo, it does its job, I suppose? I’m glad something that sounds like this is charting, and I imagine that build-up to the final chorus and the way it picks up the pace near the end absolutely hits in the context of whatever rural Southern US chase scene it’s used for in the film, but as a separate entity, I’m not really too impressed.

#9 - “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” - Billie Eilish

Produced by FINNEAS

So I haven’t actually listened to the new Billie Eilish album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, yet. I know, I know, I’m a chart reviewer, I should be paying more attention, I should be analysing the intricacies of Ms. Eilish’s new record instead of crying to Black Dresses or listening drunkenly to the new Sexyy Red mixtape - clearly a priority of mine - but that’s just the way it goes, sometimes I’m late to these things, and I won’t be able to fully comprehend these songs within their album’s entire context. It does help, however, that the songs debuting this week come one after the other in the tracklisting. This is the fourth track, “LUNCH” at #2 is the second, so this ship should run quite smoothly. This is a groovy track about everlasting love that seems to preoccupy so much of this lifelong relationship with her inevitable death, which is an interesting approach, especially since it’s almost a given in her lyrics that she’s dying first… or even soon, which makes it a bit harrowing and almost undermines that passion: it’s easier to love until the day you die if you know your death isn’t far away. The subtle wavy synths that decorate the flickering drums take that unique feeling into a slight uncanny valley that the sincerity of the flourishing dream pop guitars can’t really fully mask. Eilish’s performance is gorgeous and really convincingly emotive as always, especially in that second verse and pre-chorus which serve as a reassurance of their love to her partner having doubts. FINNEAS’ production here is absolutely killer in those final moments, with the screech in the right channel firstly adding to the blurry blend of vocal layers before they vanish and it becomes used to pre-empt both flashy synth blasts in the back of the mix and a careening “woo” vocal, I know this is a bit of a nerdy fixation but it really is genius production. I’m sure with the added context of the album’s narrative this hits even harder but even without, it’s fantastic.

#7 - “CHIHIRO” - Billie Eilish

Produced by FINNEAS

The third track on the record is in reference to Studio Ghibli’s classic anime film Spirited Away, and a lot of the content on this track, particularly Billie’s need for her partner to open up to them, an almost desperate need that she feels is suffocating her on the chorus if you take it in combination with the album cover. The No Face spirit wants to be let into the bathhouse by the main character, Chihiro, because of its admiration for her, and the doors of settings in the film overall hold a lot of meaning in regards to how the idea of freedom is approached in the film. This is not a film analysis blog so I will stop there but believe me, Billie and FINNEAS get nerdy songwriting-wise, especially with the “forget my name” motif - listen, it’s a liberal arts student’s dream, truly, but as far as it is sonically, this is also excellent. The murky funk groove leaves itself slightly unresolved-sounding with how bass heavy it is and how the tennis racquet-sounding percussion just flops into the rhythm, with meandering melodic loops and patterns, much of which is Billie’s own vocal improvising, patterned across the track but never leading to a true climax. The refrain where Billie’s voice gets into breathy, back-and-forth territory before landing in a really fantastic vocal performance and harmony that sounds damn impressive, is such a great moment because it comes as a result of such anxiety-inducing detail, yet doesn’t temper any of it - the vocal mixing and layering just gets more complex and echoing after, with glitching, cascading vintage synths arising in the distance over whispery vocals. By the time she’s belting, she’s so drowned out by the synths that it feels like nothing’s changed, she’s still just as muffled. Now I’m not fully convinced on the song once it fully gets into the rhythm of things, I would probably prefer if it ended with the second refrain on a pure sonic level even if narratively, that conclusion is necessary, I just don’t find the military march of the 70s synth anxiety as captivating the second time around. It’s still a brilliantly written and largely well-executed song though, so I can’t complain. Given its length, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the one that gets replaced by a fan favourite in the coming weeks, thanks to the arbitrary three-song stipulation.

#2 - “LUNCH” - Billie Eilish

Produced by FINNEAS

And this is the single, I guess and I think, because from what I’m hearing about the record and the two other songs here, it seems like a smash hit is both hard to find and not in this album’s wheelhouse. This is the most lighthearted of the three, however, and largely because it’s about casual oral sex. Lyrically, it’s pretty straightforward: she has a crush on a friend and wants to turn that friendship into if not fully a relationship, at least allowing for some benefits along the way. Musically, it feels pretty simple too, with its post-punk riffs over a bassy groove and drums that, admittedly, don’t really hit for me, they feel a bit rote and factorial for something so primal and human as… well, eating a girl out, I guess. Unless there’s some kind of industry producing conveyor-belt cunnilingus out there, and if there is, I stand corrected, and where can I email them? Jokes aside, it’s a fun song, not meant to be taken massively seriously, but has a lot of cool atmosphere regardless, a charmingly funny performance from Billie, and the obvious implementation of sensual breathing into the beat is obvious but works. I’m not wowed by it but if this is the single, whilst it’s far from great, it’s probably the only one that’ll work out as an actual pop tune for the summer, so beggars can’t really be choosers. I really need to listen to that album.

Conclusion

Well, there’s not much to choose from, is there? I think all of these songs are at least decent, I’d be insincere giving a Worst of the Week - my least favourite is probably “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma”, but it’s not at all by much. Consider that Worst of the Week if you want, but I’d rather say that Billie Eilish, of course, takes both the Honourable Mention for “CHIHIRO” and the absolute Best of the Week for “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”. What a brilliant song. As for what’s on the horizon, PinkPantheress, twenty one pilots and RM of BTS are all lined up to have some chart impact, I’m sure, but for now, thank you for reading, long live Cola Boyy and I’ll see you next week!

#pop music #uk singles chart #song review #billie eilish #hit me hard and soft #luke combs

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