#not all the lyrics from the song remind me of Oz

[merp-blerp]

Gaylor/Kaylor and Oz: Parallels and Theories 🌼🌈❇️

CW: Light Spoilers for L. Frank Baum's Oz book series (books 1-15) and major spoilers for Return to Oz (1985). And this post is very late-stage-Kaylor-specific, so if that's not up your alley, that's chill.

Overblown Analysis Under the Cut ↓

As a huge Oz nerd, I and many others have noticed many Oz media parallels in Taylor's music. I wanted to piece together some I've seen mentioned and some I've noticed myself. More things could pop up as time goes on, so I could imagine me editing or making a second part to this post if necessary.

Part 1: Rainbows 🌈

In the 1939 film, Dorothy's home, Kansas, is portrayed as a dreary sepia or greige color, that way the contrast to the gorgeous technicolor of the land of Oz could be even more effective on the audience. Somewhat surprisingly I guess, this sepia color is reflected in the book, with Kansas being described as "the great grey prairie" and even W. W. Denslow's original illustrations of Kansas being colored in greige; the pages don't include more color until Dorothy is swept into the cyclone on her way to Oz.

So many of Taylor's lyrics describe events turning her world from colorless to colorful or vice versa. "The rest of the world was black and white // But we were in screaming color" from "OOTW", "You showed me colors you know I can't see with anyone else" from "Illicit Affairs", "If all you want is gray for me // Then it's just white noise, and it's my choice" from "BDILH", "Like a rainbow with all of the colors" from "ME!" turning into "I'm just... in shades of greige" from "The Prophecy", etc.

For TTPD, from a gaylor perspective, the sepia and greige theme of the album is supposed to reflect that for Taylor the closet is colorless and sad. It also invokes old Hollywood and how closeting is an old-fashioned practice figuratively and literally. Closeting is a practice based on outdated mindsets and fears and it's been a practice since Hollywood as we know it today was beginning to be established. MGM Dorothy actress Judy Garland was in at least one lavender marriage and might've been queer herself, but the latter isn't as confirmed as other victims of closeting of the time like, say, her husband Vincente Minnelli. Taylor often utilizes vintage imagery in her music, romanticizing it, but the song "TTPD" (and other points in the album) calls her out for it with her lover having to remind Taylor that they are living in modern times despite being held down by old-fashioned ideals. The Wizard of Oz (1939) film is arguably the epitome of old Hollywood nostalgia, so it makes sense for Taylor to use it as a way to tell the story she wants to tell, especially if it's a queer one since Oz is very special to a lot of queer people.

For what it's worth, Ashley Park performed the film's song, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" on The Drew Barrymore Show in what looks to be the Christian Siriano rainbow dress. Fun! Curiously, I can't find a video of this performance, I just happened to stumble upon this GIF on giphy.com and an article talking about the performance.

As an extra tidbit, in the Oz books, the rainbow is personified in the character Polychrome, the youngest daughter of the rainbow. She happens to be featured in one half of a certain famous quote from The Road to Oz. Polychrome comments, "You have some queer friends, Dorothy," to which Dorothy responds, "The queerness doesn’t matter, so long as they’re friends." This quote is theorized to be the inspiration for the phrase "friend(s) of Dorothy" in queer slang. And it's nice to have a friend like Dorothea, of course. Speaking of which...

Part 2: Dorothy and Ozma 🌪️🌺

Dorothy Gale needs no introduction, but I will give Princess/Queen Ozma one since she's a more niche character. Ozma is the rightful ruler of Oz. The "Wizard", Oscar Diggs, was not meant to rule over Oz. He went to great lengths to usurp the throne from Ozma's father, Pastoria, and hide Ozma away as a baby, dumping her on a witch named Mombi, who enslaves her and disguises her as a boy named Tip so she and others won't know her identity. She learns the truth about who she is and takes back her throne in book 2, The Marvelous Land of Oz (This backstory is why Ozma is a trans icon, along with a sapphic one). Ozma and Dorothy meet each other in book 3, Ozma of Oz, and are inseparable from there on. A common queer interpretation of Oz sees Kansas as like the closet and Oz as being out and free. A part of why the queer interpretations of Oz work particularly well in the books is because in The Emerald City of Oz, Dorothy and her Kansas family move to Oz permanently when Kansas stops being liveable for them. So Dorothy becomes the second ruler of Oz and Ozma's "constant companion" at Ozma's "proposal", as L. Frank Baum describes it. Dorothy is the only person allowed in Ozma's bedroom unannounced, which is cutely domestic. Baum's story and John R. Neil's illustrations of the two often depict them as being very close, holding hands, and kissing. It's not really knowable if Baum intended for it to be seen this way, but many modern Oz book fans see them as a couple.

Naturally, there's the theory that Taylor's song "Dorothea" is about Karlie, as well as the fact that Karlie dressed up as Dorothy for Halloween 2023 and did a partly-Oz-inspired photoshoot in 2010, among other Oz-themed things. Also, after the first book, Baum had a falling out with Denslow and appointed a new illustrator, John R. Neil; Neil's design of Dorothy sports a blonde bob, which reminds me of the "Karlie Kut" a bit, even if that's coincidental. Since the Karlie as Dorothy theory is pretty well established, I want to forward a theory about Taylor taking on the role of Ozma.

For starters, Taylor wears a gingham green dress in her music video for "Karma (ft. Ice Spice)" as she skips and sweeps down a yellow brick road in red shoes, looped braids, and lemon beret. This outfit is a bit perplexing, as while it seems very Dorothy-inspired, it actively makes itself just different enough from how Dorothy is illustrated in the first Oz book and seen in pop culture. It could be suggested that this is for copyright reasons since 1939 Dorothy is not in the public domain yet and using that likeness would require making a payment. However, thanks to the book specifically describing/illustrating Dorothy as wearing blue and white gingham and pigtail braids, these features can still be used, as all of Baum's Oz novels are in the public domain. Oddly, the only potentially copyright-able aspect of Dorothy's costume is the one that Taylor kept, the ruby slippers exclusive to MGM's '39 film, since in the book Dorothy's shoes are silver. So why were all these unnecessary changes here?

My main theory is that Taylor is subtly invoking Ozma in a way that would still be recognizably Oz-ian, as I don't think most people would catch on to the Oz reference if Taylor dressed as a more accurate-looking Ozma. Hence why the gingham and red shoes are present even though Ozma is never described as wearing anything like that. Ozma is often depicted in long flowing white or green dresses. And while Ozma's hair is usually free in Neil's illustrations, her hair is sometimes tied into a bun, and Taylor's looped braids seem to be in the same family as a bun (I don't know how else to say that, I hope you get what I mean...). The lemon beret is hard to explain. As far as I know/can recall, lemons have never played a major role in any Oz media, so my guess is that the hat is meant to match the yellow brick road or maybe slightly invoke the fighting trees from the film and book. Since Taylor's outfit is similar but not the same as Dorothy's, it could be interpreted as Taylor dressing as someone adjacent to Dorothy, or a friend of Dorothy's, and Ozma would definitely fit that title. Ozma is also a fairy, so this also lines up with my Taylor is the beast to Karlie's beauty theory, since a fairy is a creature. And as the small, coincidental cherry on top, Ozma was originally described as blonde like Taylor in the story's text, despite the fact that Neil always drew her as a brunette. Dorothy's appearance outside of her clothes is rarely if ever given, that way anyone could see themselves in Dorothy, her design not mattering too greatly. The only clue to her physical looks is in the illustrations, but the consistency changes over the Oz series when it comes to Dorothy's design, so again it doesn't matter. Kind of like how, whether a song has male pronouns or not, it’s always describing Karlie, the "design" of the muse not mattering. And it actually does make some sense for Ozma to have the ruby slippers, even though she never had them in the books, but more on that in the next part. If Karlie is Dorothy, Taylor is Ozma.

An alternate, more flimsy idea is that Taylor is dressed as Dorothy in her green dress returning to the Wizard with the wicked witch's broom as proof that she melted her. However, this doesn't quite work for me personally, as in the film, Dorothy never got a green dress from the Emerald City. And while book Dorothy did get a "green" dress, she never had to bring the witch's broom to the Wizard and her dress wasn't actually green but white; it only appeared green in the Emerald City due to the green spectacles everyone was tricked into wearing by the shamming Wizard. And of course, book Dorothy's slippers weren't red like Taylor's, but silver. Maybe I'm being too particular, but to me, the details of the two titular versions of Oz make this idea weak.

Another idea is that Taylor is dressed as an amalgamation of Dorothy and the witch, which is definitely an interesting thought. In the 1st book, both Dorothy and the witch have no magic of their own and need to obtain magical items, like the silver shoes or the golden cap. But the difference is that the witch uses her power to do evil while Dorothy doesn't know the power she has, even by the time the shoes get her to Kansas again, as they presumably could do way more than that. The idea of Taylor combining the two is interesting, but again the red shoes put me off.

I think the Ozma theory works the best (and I think it's the cutest).

The story of Ozma being unrightfully taken from her throne and hidden away from everyone and herself reminds me of many stories told through Taylor's music. Lyrics like "I (I) don't (don't) like your kingdom keys (keys) // They (they) once belonged to me (me) // You (you) asked me for a place to sleep // Locked me out and threw a feast (what?)" from "LWYMMD" and trapped imagery in MVs like "Willow" feel somewhat reminiscent of that story.

Taylor isn't any kind of genderqueer as far as anyone publicly knows for sure, but Taylor definitely seems to have no problem with aligning herself with masculinity and taking on male roles. Take things like the wonderland photoshoot (Lordy! 🤭), Taylor semi-confirming she's Folklore's JaMEs, "The Man", "Peter", and maybe etc. Ozma being a girl but forced to present as a guy for years could be seen as similar to Taylor having to paint some of her songs about women as being from a male perspective, or some songs never being officially said to be from a male perspective being assumed to be so anyway, like "Question...?"

One more small parallel between Taylor and Ozma: Ozma is often pictured as wearing two poppies, one on each side of her head, seemingly in her hair or connected to her crown. Reminds me of "Say a solemn prayer, place a poppy in my hair" from "The Great War".

Part 3: Return to Oz 👠

Return to Oz (1985) is an unofficial sequel to The Wizard of Oz (1939) made by Disney. It takes the stories of The Marvelous Land of Oz and Ozma of Oz and combines them into an original story. At least in America, this is the only feature-length film to feature Ozma and attempt to vaguely adapt the novels more closely. (Context for RTO photos in the image descriptions, which is the case for every image and GIF on this post because why the hell not)

Return to Oz adds a setting that wasn't featured in any of the Oz books: a mental hospital. Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, concerned that Dorothy isn't sleeping and won't stop insisting Oz is real, send Dorothy to a mental hospital in an attempt to get her help (not out of malice). As we know, TTPD features the theme of asylums prevalently. The treatment chosen to help Dorothy is electroshock therapy, similar to Taylor receiving electroshock therapy in the MV for "Fortnight". In "Down Bad", Taylor says, "They'll say I'm nuts if I talk about the existence of you", just like how Em and Henry thought Dorothy needed psychiatric help when she talked about Oz being real.

When Dorothy stays over at the hospital for treatment, a character named Nurse Wilson (Kansas doppelganger of Mombi) escorts her to her room; Nurse Wilson wears a black dress very similar in style to Taylor's black dress from "Fortnight".

When the power goes out and the electroshock therapy isn't given a chance to begin, a fellow patient revealed later to be Ozma helps Dorothy escape the asylum by freeing her from the bed she's strapped to and bolting with her. Ozma and Dorothy slip into a river while running away, in which Ozma finds an abandoned chicken coop for Dorothy to ride through said river to Oz, Dorothy fearing Ozma drowned during the process until the end of the film. This is similar to Taylor and Post Malone's character escaping the asylum after Post cuts the power in "Fortnight". Ozma unstrapping Dorothy from her bed is similar to the nurse who unchains Taylor from the bed in "Fortnight", theorized to be played by Karlie herself. And Ozma finding the coop for Dorothy to ride away on is reminiscent of Taylor clinging to her piano in "Cardigan". Clinging to something when in rough water is common imagery, so it could definitely be coincidental, but I thought I'd mention it.

In this film, Ozma is trapped in a mirror by the witch Mombi, reminiscent of Taylor depicting herself as trapped behind glass closets in numerous MVs. After Dorothy saves Oz, she is the one to free Ozma from her glass prison by touching her hand and guiding her out of the glass, similar to Post and Taylor in the last scene in the "Fortnight" MV. Ozma in the mirror behaves like Dorothy's reflection, which reminds me of Taylor having Post's tattoos when she wipes her face in the mirror as if to say she's a reflection of his character.

Dorothy gives Ozma the ruby slippers before leaving Oz (Disney paid for the right to use them). That could help to explain why Taylor wears the ruby slippers that Ozma never had in the books if she's truly dressed as Ozma. And notably, when dressing up as Dorothy for Halloween, Karlie wore a full Dorothy costume, except for the ruby/silver slippers, arguably the most important part. As if Karlie was in "Kansas" and gave Taylor her shoes.

Dorothy chooses to return home in the end, but Ozma gifts her a way for them to communicate: through her mirror. This way Ozma can watch over her and when Dorothy wants to return to Oz, Ozma will make it happen. I've mentioned the parallels with the glass closets, but this also reminds me of "A tiny screen's the only place I see you now" from "Dorothea". In the book and '39 film, Dorothy uses her shoes to get back to Kansas, but in RTO, they are presumably going to be used to get Dorothy back to Oz when the time is right. So maybe after Taylor potentially comes out she will use Karlie's ruby slippers to sweep into the rescue and save Karlie from Kansas/the closet and back to Oz/freedom with her. Outside of RTO, it could also work the other way, with Taylor using the shoes to go home, especially with all the lyrics Taylor's had about returning home to/with her lover. Kansas doesn't represent anything bad in the original story, so it's possible that Kansas isn't a debilitating cage/closet, just home where you feel safe with the ones you love. Ozma also encourages Dorothy to keep their communication secret. Dorothy wants Aunt Em and Uncle Henry to know of Ozma, as she calls for Em to come and look as soon as she summons Ozma. But Ozma seems to see it as best kept quiet, no exact reason given to the audience from what I can tell, but it's understood by Dorothy and Ozma themselves. Pretty similar to Kar and Tay maintaining their closet for reasons we gaylors don't fully get to know, at least not yet.

(I didn't know where to put this little factoid, but in this film, the only times Ozma really smiles is at Dorothy. It's not important, just a bit cute and sad.)

And as a bonus for you Spade riddle fans out there, when Dorothy meets Ozma in the hospital, Ozma gifts Dorothy a pumpkin because "it's Halloween soon". The pumpkin is a Kansas doppelganger to an Oz character called Jack Pumpkinhead, who calls both Ozma and Dorothy "Mom" because Dorothy saved him from Mombi and Ozma built him and brought him to life. A bit reminiscent of Karlie and Taylor having Levi and Elijah if you ask me. I'm admittedly not a huge riddles person because it goes a bit over my talents, but I think they're intriguing and I'm curious if the riddles and Oz/RTO together would mean anything.

There's debate on whether Post's character is supposed to represent Taylor working with herself to get free or Karlie. I think it could be either or even both in a convoluted way. I like both theories. If "Fortnight" is based on RTO, the roles of Ozma and Dorthy seem switched, with Dorothy rescuing Ozma from the asylum. However, the tattoo mirror scene suggests that Taylor is mirroring Post's character, or playing him, and if that's Karlie, maybe the MV could be seen as Taylor playing Karlie in a sense since they're "twins" whose pasts are "parallel lines", while Post is either playing Taylor or Karlie; they are one and the same. The MV is really interesting to ponder in general.

Part 4: Miscellaneous Oz Connections ❇️

Lightning round (filled with tons of reaches)! ⚡️

In the "ME!" MV, Taylor and Brandon running up to the green building with a rainbow beam on it whilst in green marching band outfits looks similar to Dorothy and her friends running toward the Emerald City in the '39 film.

The all-pink soldiers in the marching band scene of "ME!" remind me of Glinda's all-female red army in the books.

In "loml", Taylor sings "The coward claimed he was a lion", a reference to the cowardly lion.

The men in the "ME!" MV falling from the sky with umbrellas reminds me of Dorothy and her cousin Zeb falling through the sky with an umbrella down to Oz in Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz.

Taylor might've been in a Wizard of Oz play at her school in 2006. The linked post doesn't give too much evidence admittedly, but I think it's worth saying that the play at least happened at her school.

I wasn't sure where to put this mini-analysis, but I think it's interesting that Taylor associates Dianna Agron with Wonderland and Karlie with Oz and the differences that could suggest. Alice and Dorothy go through similar adventures, but the two go about them very differently. Dorothy adapts to Oz very quickly and loves it there, enough for it to be her second home. Meanwhile, Alice certainly doesn't enjoy Wonderland as much as Dorothy loves Oz, itching to get out and stay out. Dorothy is very active in her role, making friends and changing Oz forever, while Alice passively goes through the motions and lets things happen before escaping to the next thing. It seems like Baum wrote the Oz books to give children lessons on friendship, feminism, and more, while Lewis Carroll wrote the Alice books with the exact purpose of saying nothing and giving birth to the genre of "nonsense writing". And Wonderland is definitely a dream in the original two novels while Oz is a very real place in the books. I know the associations seemingly have to do with the muses’ actual taste in fairytales, but I wonder how the differences speak to the story Taylor’s spun in her music about them. Assuming both Oz and Wonderland are freedom to some degree, does Wonderland being temporary speak to Taylor and Dianna as a couple, while Taylor and Karlie are still ongoing IMO, just like the Oz book series to this day (Canonical Oz books are still being written by different authors. There’s 40+ of them)? Is there something in the fact that Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is an English fairytale and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is considered the first American fairytale, and Karlie convinced Taylor to stay in America and live in New York rather than London where Dianna was? Do Alice and Dorothy’s different reactions to their discovered worlds speak to how both Karlie and Dianna feel about closeting vs being out or maybe how they feel toward Taylor in some way? I genuinely have no clue, but it's some interesting food for thought. (This isn't Dianna, Swiftgron, or Alice's Adventures in Wonderland slander btw, I don't know enough about Swiftgron besides the basics to do that.)

In Conclusion 🌼

I have no way of knowing if Taylor has even read the Oz books, seen Return to Oz, and knows all this information, but I think it's fun that these connections are there. If there are more connections you thought of or ones that you think I missed, let me know!

Thanks for reading!

[hanafubukki]

'Open arms' from epic reminds me of levan and lilia, right about when the fae vs human war was starting. Like levan talking about coexisting and Lilia being skeptical about it

Any musical songs that you connect with book 7, Hana? I would love to hear your brainrots ;)

Hello Anonie 🌺🌷💕

Open Arms is such a good choice for them Anonie. Even the…I guess upbeat tune? Kind of gives the feelings of both Levan and Lilia. We don’t know much about Levan but I can see him having this calming and yet nonchalant demeanor. Who better to get along with Meleanor and Lilia right? (Someone needs to be the logical one in the group 😆)

The lyrics that really hits is “I know your tired of war and bloodshed, look at how you grip that sword, why take when you can give?”

This is exactly what levan was trying to do, he was trying to reason with the humans; the whole reason for his departure on that diplomatic mission.

He taught the fae the human tongue and he kept Lilia’s NRC letter.

He really wanted Lilia to trust others by lowering his guard (Lilia always thinking about others), he wanted to show that “life is amazing, greet the world with open arms, that kindness is brave”

All actions Lilia was able to experience because of the sacrifices of his friends: he was able to travel, he was able to attend NRC, he saw the kindness of humans first hand, he was able to experience the love of two little ones. All of this, because of his family. 🥹😭💞

It might be a bit surprising given how much I love the Epic series but, I don’t know that many musicals besides this one. Not even some of the popular ones like the wizard of oz one.

The ones I do know is the Epic series, Hamilton, and the Phantom of the Opera…from the top of my head.🤔

From Hamilton, for sure I see “History has its eyes on you” for Lilia to his boys.

Another one is “who lives, who dies, and who tells your story” this song I feel is a great song in a lot of combination. Malleus and Silver to Lilia and their parents. The Knight of Dawn and Princess Leia. Lilia and his childhood friends. Just endless combinations.

For the KOD for this song specifically, I feel Eliza would be perfect for both Leia and Silver. I’ll focus on Leia because I fully believe that the King’s Road is based on KOD and who better to spread all the good he has done except Leia? And of course, their son through his actions.

For the Epic series. Yes. Just, yes.

Some songs that I love are:

The Horse and the Infant

I also think that the Underworld saga represents Diasomnia wholly.

No Longer You is a great KOD song as well as discussed here.

So many songs and so many ways Diasomnia and the rest of the twst chatacters can fit?? The potential is chef kiss.

For the Phantom of the Opera, I need to listen to the songs again. Right now, I correlate the Phantom with Malleus because Kazuki Kato’s role 🤣

But of course, the general premise fits Malleus well. The lonely soul who just wants a companion, for someone to understand and love him as does our dragon fae.

Thank you Anonie for sending this in 💞🫂 I’m always happy to know people love to hear my brainrots 🥹🫂💚 it means a lot to me 💕

[demonic-silver-and-gold]

‘Kay it’s been twelve hours here’s my thoughts on GLOOM DIVISION by track-

In short: holy shit, new IDKHOW, hell yeah Dallon, 11/10

In detail:

DOWNSIDE - Absolutely captivating intro, instantly hooked on the album

GLOOMTOWN BRATS - Still a great song, so captivating and made me stim so part of my favorites now

INFATUATION - For some reason, this song hit me a little too hard emotionally but in a good way, something something new obsessions and getting too into things or whatever. Not my favorite song out of them all but still good.

WHAT LOVE? - Great vibes, starting to sense a bit of foreshadowing just by looking at the titles coming up. Thinking back it’s pretty much there in the previous songs but it hit me more on this one.

SPKOTHDVL - The fact the guitar(? Bass?) sounds like it’s singing “speak of the devil” is just SO GOOD and the LYRICS - love at first sight (listen) for me

SIXFT - So this is the one where he says fuck! Cynical and bitter over a less aggressive melody, very much like I’ve been feeling so it’s up there in my likes for this album

FIND ME - Ominous again, love it! Reminded me a bit of Mx Sinister and Social Climb but not in a “oh it’s similar” but in a “I can see the progression from A to B” and I like it!

KISS AND TELL - I love a good heartbreak song when there’s a bit of pettiness and I’m very much a “you break my trust and we’re done” so this is fantastic

A LETTER - Solid recording of this song, glad to have heard the Brobecks version of it live several years ago. It really fits well with the album and it resonated with me a bit

SATANIC PANIC - Another one that made me stim so up there it goes. Halfway through it fucking hit me (“I wonder what this song is about” YEAH THANKS I got it SATANIC PANIC) so yeah I think this is number one in terms of lyrics for me, iykyk

SUNNYSIDE - Oooh an upbeat one lovely! It’s a little further than my usual taste but it’s a nice refresher after all that happened before this one. I also love a good dissonance between lyrics and music so the third verse was my favorite

iDIOTS OF Oz - great song to vibe to, misheard the lyrics in the way it was intended too so it really was a good song to end the album with

In general, this album’s really good and I hope it gets the attention and recognition it deserves! Please, if you’ve got any thoughts I wanna see them!

[42bakery]

For the 3 songs ask: 3, 7, 20 and 29!

Hi Alaine 👋👋👋👋👋 I didn't forget about you. I just was in a place where I couldn't take some time to answer this properly. Without any further delay, my answers.

3. three songs you were recently obsessed with DIE ANOTHER DAY by Blind Channel ft. RØRY, care less by davvn and Nein! from Nik Nocturnal and Timo Mirage (vocalist from Our Mirage and Alleviate

7. three songs you didn’t expect to like but eventually loved 10 Years Today form Bullet for my Valentine, to be honest I wasn't expecting to like this band at all after I heard one song from them but I glad I keep listening. PHOBIA by Blind Channel because the concept of the song is a sickness from the sickness perspective (it's twisted). And Granny In Da Club by Nik Nocturnal and Timo Mirage because it's supposed to be an Electric Callboy song recreated and I'm not a huge fan. Also the song is about a sassy old lady in a club (she rocks it!).

20. three songs that remind you of the person who sends this one Fantasy by Alice Nine (their old version, not the new one), and it's not for the lyrics, it's the feeling of calmness that transmits me. H2Oz by Mägo de Oz (ft. El Sevilla) because it's about keeping fighting and not giving up. Thank You for the Pain by Blind Channel because all the work you are putting to be a nurse, but people won't see/recognize

29. three songs that influenced you most (some songs change or save lives) The first one is Road to nowhere form Bullet for my Valentine. I was in a pretty dark place, and that song just reminded me that what was happening is just a bad moment in the road. Never been in love by Will Jay changed my life in the sense that made me realize that it was really okay to not want the dream of a house, kids, a wedding, etc. It really made me see I'm aro. The anime /(and short version) of Zettai Unmei Mokushiroku/Absolute Destiny: Apocalypse. It's from the anime Shōjo Kakumei Utena (Revolutionary Girl Utena) it showed me that it's possible for me to be anything I wanted.7

And yes, Blind Channel is one of my favourite bands so it not a coincidence there are so many song about them

[lovesongbracket]

Reminder: Vote based on the song, not the artist or specific recording! The tracks referenced are the original artist, aside from a few rare cases where a cover is the most widely known.

Lyrics, videos, info, and notable covers under the cut. (Spotify playlist available in pinned post)

As Long As You're Mine

Written By: Stephen Schwartz

Artist: Idina Menzel & Norbert Leo Butz for Wicked (OBC)

Released: 2003

This song takes place after Fiyero finally tells Elphaba and Glinda that he has feelings for Elphaba so, ending his relationship with Glinda, Elphaba and Fiyero run away together. Elphaba finds it hard to believe that a man like Fiyero could care about a girl like her since all of Oz finds her dangerous and different. Just like in the novel, Elphaba and Fiyero fall in love with each other. But in the novel, the two end up having an intense love affair. While the song greatly reduces the explicit, mature nature of their relationship that occurred in the novel, it hints sexuality.

[ELPHABA] Kiss me too fiercely Hold me too tight I need help believing You're with me tonight My wildest dreamings Could not foresee Lying beside you With you wanting me And just for this moment As long as you're mine I've lost all resistance And crossed some border line And if it turns out It's over too fast I'll make every last moment last As long as you're mine [FIYERO] Maybe I'm brainless Maybe I'm wise But you've got me seeing Through different eyes Somehow I've fallen Under your spell And somehow I'm feeling It's up that I fell [BOTH] Every moment As long as you're mine I'll wake up my body And make up for lost time [FIYERO] Say there's no future For us as a pair [BOTH] And though I may know I don't care Just for this moment As long as you're mine Come be how you want to And see how bright we shine Borrow the moonlight Until it is through And know I'll be here Holding you As long as you're mine [FIYERO] What is it? [ELPHABA] It's just… For the first time… I feel… Wicked!

we fell in love in october

Written By: girl in red

Artist: girl in red

Released: 2018

“we fell in love in october” is about girl in red and her relationship with another girl. The song is about how they fell in love during fall and Marie’s (girl in red’s) feelings toward her. In an interview with The Fader, Marie states that there was a lot of drama between the two and that she struggled accepting her. After a while when everything began to settle in, she accepted her and created this song as a tribute. This song is a prequel to girl in red’s “forget her”, which is about the two breaking up. “we fell in love in october” is girl in red’s most popular song on Spotify to date.

[Verse 1] Smoking cigarettes on the roof You look so pretty and I love this view [Pre-Chorus] We fell in love in October That's why, I love fall Looking at the stars Admiring from afar [Chorus] My girl, my girl, my girl You will be my girl My girl, my girl, my girl You will be my world My world, my world, my world You will be my girl [Verse 2] Smoking cigarettes on the roof You look so pretty and I love this view Don't bother looking down We're not going that way At least I know, I am here to stay [Pre-Chorus] We fell in love in October That's why, I love fall Looking at the stars Admiring from afar (My girl, my girl, my girl) [Chorus] My girl, my girl, my girl You will be my girl My girl, my girl, my girl You will be my girl My girl, my girl, my girl You will be my girl My girl, my girl, my girl You will be my world My world, my world, my world You will be my girl

[katherinemckay]

welcome back to niche moments in the wicked score that i enjoy today’s topic is the parallels between popular and wonderful’s scores :)

i was looking closely at the piano/vocal score for wonderful today and was surprised how much it reminded me of popular’s. these songs felt pretty unrelated to me at first because i never listen to wonderful, until i thought about how the themes discussed in both numbers are actually very closely linked: both songs discuss how power and opportunity are given primarily through cultivating a good public image and perception. here's some of the similarities that stood out to me musically:

besides the fact that they’re both in the same key, both songs consistently switch from swung to straight eighth notes, which is notated in both scores. they also start with slower, almost dramatic/theatrical notes that follow the singer colla voce (also notated in both scores), until they each pick up to the regular, faster tempo.

then, when it gets to that tempo, both songs utilize a heavily syncopated rhythm. here's some examples:

looking even closer at that last image of the popular score, the pattern of triplets leading into the next beat also shows up in wonderful:

the one that stood out to me the most is at these moments, where the eighth note patterns are extremely similar for a couple measures before they both have a descending melody:

looking at the lyrics at these parts, while g(a)linda is singing about heads of states being popular instead of having "brains or knowledge," the head of oz is singing about how being called wonderful makes him actually appear that way. he's actively proving glinda right: this whole song is the wizard admitting that he's only powerful because the people of oz see him as wonderful, so it's what he's become. the wizard is exactly the kind of person glinda is referencing in popular, so the music for these songs being similar in key, rhythm, and general patterns helps emphasize that idea.

i think these connections highlight how smart glinda really is, even at the start of this show: her outlook on the world as a teenager is shown to be the harsh reality of how people in oz get to power. while popular often comes across as just a fun, flashy song for glinda to give elphaba a makeover, it's so interesting and complex when you really examine it as a glimpse into how glinda views the world around her. her understanding of the importance of popularity within her school and social circle translates politically into how the wizard understands that the ozians' perception of him as wonderful is all he needs to continue being powerful. the subtle parallels to popular in the wizard's big act 2 number show how glinda realizes and acknowledges the corruption in her society earlier than it's actually revealed in the show to the audience, or even understood by any of the other characters.

[ravenkings]

I thought the "don't watch the wire" was a knock on the TV show I was glad to see it was a line in a song. What does it mean to you?

oh no, not at all! i've never even watched the wire, though i've heard it's very good lol.

i mean, in the context of the song and the part of the lyrics where the phrase appears:

To the cabaret, from the pantomime Watch the angel, not the wire Wait for it to snap, see her hit the ground Watch the angel, not the wire

i kind of see it as an ironic but also sort of poignant attempt at a reminder the speaker is giving themselves to suspend their disbelief and ignore the reality behind the fantasy or the "seedy underbelly" of the spectacle as it were in order to participate in the shared illusion that constitutes society or the idea of consensus reality.

the part where it says "wait for it to snap, see her hit the ground" makes me think of if you've ever seen stage performances where people are supposed to be "flying," but in reality they're attached to a wire hanging above the stage. as someone watching in the audience, you know in reality that it's all an illusion, but you suspend your disbelief in order to appreciate the spectacle. i think the speaker in the song kind of can't help but anticipate an extremely jarring (and potentially disturbing or violent) intrusion of "reality" into the spectacle, so they tell themselves to "watch the angel, not the wire." i kind of see it as similar in meaning to "pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!" from the wizard of oz.

in terms of why it's my blog title, i guess it's a sentiment i identify pretty strongly with, both in its pessimism and distrust but also in its potentially futile desire for things to be better than they are 🤷‍♀️

[samtheflamingomain]

the zen art of teaching boomers to sing

The bar I work at does karaoke on Saturdays.

Before I really get to my point, let me set up our main characters. Believe me, the story is worth it, I'm making this post in a rare state of optimism for humanity.

There are about 10 regulars that always come in for karaoke night. It's been about 6 months. At the beginning, it was only me and Deb the bartender who would sing.

Today, every one of those regulars has at least one song they will do at karaoke. But they also just fuckin jam out, absolutely get hyped by anyone singing.

Not to jerk myself off, but I truly am a part of how 10 sing-shy boomers went from "never, no way, not singing" to "WHOSE BED HAVE YER BOOTS BEEN UNDER?". There's 2 mics. If someone is ready to give it a go, I say "I'll sing with you if you want."

I never really realized until karaoke started that I have a lot of songs memorized without trying. To go back to Shania's Boots, it's Mary's song. I knew it more or less the first time we sang it. I knew there was a key change coming despite only every hearing it rarely on the radio. I don't particularly like her (or hate her) but I heard the song enough over my 29y that I could predict the key change and also warn her of it.

We get a few bars of rest and I say into her ear because it's loud and I'm quiet: "The next line is a key change. You'll have to sing a little higher".

And she nails is. Which reminds me, none of our singers are bad. Not even close.

Roy, 60s, "Can't You See" - his voice is raspy and loud and it works great.

Janice, 55, Shania, but also "Dog Days Are Over" - she's fast with the words and has a lilted voice that really mimics Florence well.

Mary, late 60s - Shania, but also "American Pie" start to finish no lyrics. I can too, but I made an actual effort on it.

Art, 50 - Nirvana. I love me some Smells Like Teen Spirit. We can both do the raspy, grungy voice needed for the chorus.

Don, 60s - Sorry, 63 - his favorite is "When I'm 64" by The Beatles. And Love Me Do by The Beatles. And I'll cut the joke here cuz quite literally, he will only sing their songs. But he gives so much passion into it that it makes up for not always being on-key. His performances are just as enjoyable as anyone else's.

Dar is Don's wife and is the only one who won't sing becaus she had throat cancer and we don't press her because I personally don't think she could get thru a quick "Hit the Road Jack". But she's a goldmine for requests. Tonight she said, "Hey Sam! What's the song from Wizard of Oz?"

"Somewhere Over The Rainbow."

"Can you do that?"

Sure can. I nail it. She bursts into tears halfway through. She sang it when she did the high school musical in 1970 and that's how Don fell for her. I had no idea.

I learn so much about all my friends through the very basic, natural human phenomenon of sharing song.

I've made 90% of my point, but here's the last little feel-good-hit for ya.

Tonight we had a rando table of 6, 3 adults 3 kids. After they ate and got used to the fact that a bunch of old people are trying to sing the one kid said can I have a turn?

I happened to be out front sweeping and she was very iffy about it. The regulars were like "you can do it!" as they always do when new people want to sing. But I can imagine it being a bit overbearing in her shoes.

Deb is really good at getting a song out of someone. "Who's your favorite singer? Favorite song? We can put lyrics on the iPad for you." (Tangent but how adorable is it for a boomer to explain the concept of an iPad to a gen Alpha lolll)

"Um. Flowers?" (Miley). Deb's eyes glaze over and I take control of the machine and boot it up. I put the ipad in front of this 11-13yo girl with dozens of eyes on her and she goes "nevermind no I can't no nevermind sorry no sorry sorry"

I say, "What if I sing it?" She'd already heard me do a few songs so she knows I Can Sing. I made a point to say that I'll sing, she doesn't have to. But she held onto the mic, so she could either jump in anytime or not and I'll just sing it, no pressure. Her dad said "You can do it!" And the regulars cheered her on.

I started the song by myself, she's beet red in the face. I almost got the sense that this would actually be traumatizing instead of helpful for this poor kid being pressured by a bunch of adults--- oh okay she's COMING IN.

This kid outsang me by far. I'm not 100% confident in Flowers but holy fuck this kid had pipes and put me to shame and I made that clear as soon as she dropped in. I purposely sang quieter to let her shine. By the end, she was doing a little dance, just moving around a bit, making eye contact and letting loose.

I dislike children, but I believe it takes a village and I'm a part of that village so I will treat children with respect even if they annoy me. I got lucky with this kid who was very respectful and I genuinely enjoy seeing children enjoy themselves.

(Tangent: I go to lots of local hockey games, lots of kids. Deb always takes me and she always gets annoyed when kids do dumb shit. It's a fuckin hockey game not a library, let them get crazy. In general, I like seeing people be happy - and I used to not. But now I see someone on the big screen doing a dumb survey for a hat and I will legit clap when they win, I've learned to love seeing people having a good time even if it's a better time than I'm having if that makes sense)

Then this girl went onto "The Climb" just a great range. I held my mic but I only sang when she didn't seem able to reach the note or understand the key. She still did just fine, got thunderous applause.

I was personally tipped a cool 50$ bill from her father as they left. And this is the quote that made my night and made me write this: "She's been really in a shell since Covid started. That was the first time she's really faced a crowd like that... I think she'll have a nice memory of tonight because of you." I was close to tearing up. A pause. "It's been a long time since I've seen her that happy." Aaaand the tears go.

I truly appreciate the gift I have, being adaptable and being able to bring people out of their shells. It's like giving v receiving gifts - giving always feels better.

Use whatever you have to help others. Boom, point landed.

Stay Greater, Flamingos

[theangelofangst]

Baby, oh, I'll make you know, I’ll make you know.

Back at it once more with a song edit, this time it was me listening to Toxic by BoywithUke.

Some of the lyrics just really reminded me a lot of Ozpin when it comes to the scenes during beginning of Volume 6. Like look at my boi Oz literally on his knees crying while these teenage girls invalidate his trauma.

[kaypeace21]

Idk if this is possible or not or if you've done it already but could you list all the rainbow references in the show?

Haha- talk about pandora’s box. Sure, personally i think the rainbows have multiple meanings -3 meanings to to be exact

1) Rainbows being associated with psychics + Will’s powers plot twist

*We see in the stranger thing novel 'suspicious minds' when overusing powers you may hallucinate rainbows (which are also associated with the void/ monsters in the series) .

Terry: “Spots bloomed behind her eyelids. Every color … as the sunlight turned to rainbows” ( p44-45), “streaks of rainbow appeared (p47)”,“The rainbow stayed with Terry for a long while, but eventually it faded and in its place: darkness. A pit.”(p. 48). 

Alice (who sees visions of the future) : “Snarling, snapping monsters,RAINBOW LIGHTS playing in the air around them” (p. 121).

cough Will being in the upsidedown/being chased by “monsters”. And Joyce communicating with Will  via “rainbow lights.”

The rainbow room (from s2) also has a rainbow on the door- according to the novel kali drew that rainbow. Similar to Will's rainbow drawing. Kali in the book also creates a rainbow allusion with sunflowers (Terry ref).

Kali: “field of yellow sunflowers  grew up around them. A rainbow arcing over the golden tops.” (p. 139).  “He noticed she’d drawn up there, a rainbow with her colored pencils. Maybe he’d suggest that for the playroom” (the rainbow room we see in s2) (p. 298)

I also already talked about how Terry saying "breath, sunflower, rainbow " is actually a reference to s1 Will- here (in link including pic of Will and Terry being told to “breath”.

*El in s3 also thinks of papa, her mother , and the rainbow room- cause she sees a cereal box with a rainbow (on it).

Dustin and susie sing a song from the film adaption of the book "never ending story". Which indicates how Will is subconsciously creating the supernatural creatures & people in the series . Before they sing, we also see  susie is next to a ‘wizard of oz’ posters & she reads & talks to Dustin about the book "wizard of earthsea'. 2 of the 3 examples have  rainbow-related songs (in their film adaptions) & all 3 hint at Will’s powers.

* wizard of earthsea:

It’s about a pre-teen wizard named Ged who has a bowl cut (Will) who casts a powerful spell, but the spell goes awry and instead he releases a shadow creature (by opening a portal between the living & dead- Will is a zombie boy remember?)! The new Archmage, Gensher, describes the shadow as an ancient evil that wishes to possess Ged. But the ‘shadow’ turns out  to be a representation of the darkest aspects of his personality. It’ only when he calls the shadow monster by his own name “Ged”(cough mf=will the wise) does the monster stop acting out. The only way to save the world is for ged to then  merge with the shadow(and for Ged to accept himself-and “become whole”).This also reminds me of the “Jungian shadow” 

* never ending story: 

Bastian ( who has a bowl cut- and is from single parent house hold) subconsciously creates a fantasy world being over run by darkness (symbolizing the loss of hope and dreams). One of the characters he creates is Atreyu (El). Atreyu ( was the child deemed the ‘chosen one). “Atreyu is knocked into the sea of possibilities. There he wakes on the shore of abandoned ruins. And Gmorick (mindflayer) then latches his jaws onto Atreyu’s (El’s) leg.”Pretty much what happened to El.”The Empress in the story later tells Atreyu, that despite being told he was the chosen one (he never was). And that it was always Bastian (Will) who was the chosen one-since his imagination created Fantasia (so he’s the only way to stop the darkness from over -running it).”

Will has mental health issues and  accidentally writes a “story” about the shadow monster (reflecting his tra*ma). Bastian is depressed (over his parent) and subconsciously creates a story about darkness over-running everything. Like how Hopper describes his depression- like a black hole.

song Dustin & Susie sing:

 “Written on the pages is the answer to a never ending story” (cough the books susie referenced - are explaining the answer to what’s causing the mindflayer/upsidedown/the lab...this story )

“DREAM a dream. And what you DREAM will be” ( Will’s imagination making his nightmares come true)

“Rhymes that keep their secrets Will unfold behind the clouds.And there upon a RAINBOW Is the answer to a never ending story.”

(the lyric “rhymes that keep their SECRETS” purposely pans to Will both times the song is sung). Because the ‘SECRET’ is -he’s causing everything. And thus he’s the only way to stop it- or they’ll all be stuck in a never-ending story. The only way to stop it is for Will to face his shadow/the mindflayer (aka the other Will) who is always shown within the STORM CLOUDS . Will needs to create a RAINBOW (out of those storm clouds). Like rainbows that show up AFTER a storm.He’d do this by accepting himself , his tra*ma/mental health relating to his dad, and or his gay identity- then the story will be able to end.Dustin even says “ defeat his RAINBOW of DARKNESS” (and later says a “rainbow is the answer ”(to the story). st book:”The RAINBOW stayed with Terry for a long while, but eventually it faded and in its place: DARKNESS. A pit.”AKA: Will has to face his symbolic darkness and the storm/and than create a rainbow from it- for the story to end...

When Dustin says ‘rainbow of darkness’ he talks about my little pony- where one of their friends became a dragon.  in d&d wizards can become dragons &Bastian also summons a dragon with his imagination powers in ‘never ending story’. And Will is associated with dragons: s1he  has dragon comic & drawing, s2 Will has dragon poster in his room + watches his friends play dragon game. And again... dungeons & dragons.

Also tw for s.a/parental ab*se (so skip to ‘wizard of oz’  if you prefer ). In the 4th book of wizard of Eathsea (20 years after the original, where ged was the protagonist). The new main  protagonist - was r*ped and burned by her father as a child (and in the sequel she became a dragon as a form of empowerment ). which goes with my lonnie theory-sadly.

*wizard of oz: 

it’s about a Dorothy creating a mythical world based on people she both likes and dislikes . Dorothy sings in the movie a song about a ‘RAINBOW’ and references ‘DREAMS’ coming true in a mythical land -much like the ‘never ending story’ song (referencing “rainbows”/”dreams” coming to life).

“There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby Somewhere over the RAINBOW, Skies are blue, And the DREAMS that you dare to dream, really do come true...”

We see in s1 Hopper cop-partner calls the lab “emerald city”. Murray in s2 says people “don’t want to look behind the curtain” (to see what’s causing the supernatural -in the film what was literally behind the curtain was a wizard-cough like Will). We also have -lion, tiger, and bear stuffed animals (as a ‘lion, and tigers, and bears-oh my!’ quote )from the film. And David harbor (Hopper) when referencing the s4 rainbow room (quotes the song)  and he also quotes a speech from Dorothy-when posting about the cabin the mindflayer destroyed.

2) Rainbow cups (hinting at Lonnie’s return) 

We see 2 rainbow cups in the series. 

in s2) when Mike & Will are sitting together & saying they’re “crazy together” . This cup next to them says “happy birthday” in rainbow. Later that season- they talk about Will’s birthday-rainbow drawing, Mike&Will meeting & Lonnie leaving. And in s2, we also see in Will’s room a card that says “sorry, I forgot your birthday”(most likely from Lonnie). So both Lonnie & Mike are associated with Will’s bday.

in s3) We see a woman yell “I don’t want her in my house!” (while she sits next to a rainbow cup). reminiscent of Joyce saying to Lonnie “get out of my house”. We also know there are rumors s4 takes place during Will’s birthday & Lonnie’s actor may have been spotted on set.  Along with the fact (it’s pretty much confirmed) Mike will be visiting the Byers in s4. However, the woman (next to the rainbow cup)  also says “2 visitor only. 2!″

THE 2 VISITORS ARE MIKE &LONNIE (for Will’s b day). 

Also, in s3, when El is drinking from cup- she sees a rainbow. And what’s the first word she thinks of? “Papa.”

so rainbow+cup= shitty dads (lonnie & brenner) probably returning

*And of course if that’s the case -Lonnie (the same guy who called Will h*mophobic sl*rs) will not be supportive of Mike & Will’s “friendship”. And will not be nice to Mike (to say the least). Like... imagine Hopper in s3 - but we know he’s not bluffing and the audience won’t have the option to take it as a joke... and yes the s4 movies hint at that...

3) gay symbolism

First we have Mike wheeler. He in s1 has rainbows sheets, rainbow bedroom blinds , and in his basement there’s a heart propelled by a rainbow. This is like how in s3 Mike kisses El and there is a drawing that says "Mike'. And on the drawing is a heart propelled by a rainbow. I already explained how its symbolic of him trying to be straight/fighting his feelings for Will, but wherever he goes a rainbow still follows (even when he tries being romantic with El). He’s trying to hide his “rainbow heart” by dating  El- why in s3 (the rainbow-heart in his basement) mysteriously disappeared from his room (but a similar symbol follows Mike even when he kisses El). 

Even in s2 when talking about Will (in the AV tech room): Mike is placed in the center of 2 objects : an object with 11 on it & on the right a rainbow apple (this apple is supposed to be an ode to the gay father of computers- but also about the forbidden apple). Hinting at the love triangle of Mike (with El/Will). PLUS, in the ST book ‘worlds turned upsidedown’ they literally show Mike in the AV room- and  put the caption “FALLING IN LOVE- with tech” (and placed rainbow flags next to the caption). And of course we have Mike & Will pose next to the rainbow apple- in the AV room.

 We also see when Mike and Will says they’re “crazy together” (aka LOVE-as Flo stated) and they’re next to a rainbow cup that says Happy birthday .

And later that season they ref the rainbow ship Will drew for his birthday-which Joyce was "proud" of.  And while dancing with a girl (Will according to the script was looking at Mike instead of her) . That girl is wearing a rainbow heart hair pin. This is essentially a parallel to Mike . Will (next to a rainbow heart) is dancing with a girl, but is secretly thinking of Mike. Mike (next to a rainbow heart) is kissing el but secretly thinking of Will (and immediately goes on a movie double date with Will after this). The lyrics of both these scenes indicate they're not happy pretending to be straight. The lyrics for Will are "every smile you fake". And Mike while kissing el is "just a little uncertainty can bring you down" (and during this lyric is when El puts her hands on him-and he removes her hands from him *aka he’s not as confident in the relationship as he pretends to be.

We see in s4 bts that the rainbow heart hair pin (worn by the girl Will dances with) is also worn by nancy while standing next to Robin (who is gay). So being near a  ‘rainbow-heart’ is prob a hint a character is gay. Aka robin & Will & Mike.

tumblr user “awhstrangerthings” pointed out the nancy -hair clip detail.

In s1 when troy is calling Will h*mophobic sl*rs (in front of Mike) he wears a rainbow shirt. And max while often critiquing m*leven (in s3) (to Mike) often wears rainbow shirts. I talked about how I thought Troy and max subconsciously remind Mike he isn't straight - so they're associated with the rainbow iconography-post here. Like we see Max with rainbow sheets (like Mike) and than she immediately talks to him on the phone. I mean she could be queer- but I lean to that theory at the moment. 

The whole being near rainbows when associating with a queer character makes sense (it’s like a ‘gay-dar”). Similar to Nancy’s hair clip when being near Robin/ that Girl having the same rainbow hair clip when dancing with Will. If we assume this theory than see a pattern with other characters (when speaking about/being near queer coded characters)....

it’s similar to how : When lucas (via subtext) criticizes m*leven- he is also next to a rainbow (in Erica's room). I explained here- why it’s about m*leven.

or when Jonathan says he’s going to hang out with Will (it’s near a rainbow).

This Jonathan moment -Is similar to when Steve ( who has a rainbow bandaid-from the Byers’ house) calls Mike “Nancy” (which is slang for a gay guy)

*another addition: you see in the comments of this post ghostgirlsatin mentioned Dart has a rainbow blanket. But, I noticed a couple of other things. 

notice Dustin says "we have to talk- its about my friend ,Will". As Dustin is near rainbow lights and a rainbow bed sheet. Like how

A) rainbows are associated with the supernatural creatures + Will

B) rainbow lights associated with Will

C) rainbows near straight characters when talking about /near queer characters... similar to how Jonathan is near a rainbow when talking about Will

*also can’t tell if that is a ‘rainbow ship’ poster?

We also see Erica has a sunflower & rainbow drawing in her room... at the moment not sure if its just a random easteregg , foreshadowing something supernatural we're not aware of yet? or just for the m*leven diss?

(although given the fact i think some characters were created by Will- and given all the Max &Billy/Will & jonathan parallels ... the rainbow stuff may be a hint Will created them? I mean they even made a Troy comic just to show his dad is a bully.) But, at the moment, i still lean to (some) characters having rainbow iconography because they’re referring to/are near a queer character.

[frankierose]

its valentines day.

you know what that means!!!

thinking (and writing) about all my favorite btvs ships and the songs that remind me of them!!!!! *heart shaped confetti flies in the air and pollutes your brain*

this is going to be a hell of a long post so i'm cutting it off in case you dont want to scroll for 20 hours. lets get started!! (there's no specific order for the ships btw. i did not feel like organizing them)

Willow/Tara

Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? by She & Him Why don't you sit right down and stay a while? / We like the same things and I like your style / It's not a secret / Why do you keep it? / I'm just sitting on the shelf

i could go on and on about this song its SOOO FUCKING GOOD, but overall it just reminds me very much of willow as a whole tbh. i think it fits both willow/oz and willow/tara, but certain lines just work better with the latter so thats why its under tillow! it just fits the homey little sweet vibe that the two of them have. also the lines I think you're just so pleasant / I would like you for my own reminds me of this ICONIC scene between the two of them I LOVE THEM SO MUCH YOU GUYS

Spring Cleaning by Jack Stauber You don't wanna listen / You just wanna always sing the words I say / So you can tuck them all away (way) / And save them for a spring cleaning day

yes i said i love them and yes this song is terribly sad and angsty. it just makes me think of the fucking flower that willow uses in a spell on tara to make her forget about being angry at her, and then the whole tabula rasa thing......... AHH :(

Xander/Anya

Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) by Edison Lighthouse She talks kinda lazy / And people say she's crazy / And her life's a mystery / Oh, but love grows where my Rosemary goes, and nobody knows like me

xanya is actually not one of my fav ships simply because i cant STAND what xander did to her at their WEDDING in front of all those PEOPLE. BUT. this song literally fits them so well - it's about an average joe (like xander) being positively absolutely in love with a girl who's said to be weird and crazy (like anya!) but hes okay with the crazy because nobody knows her love like he does the lines I'm a lucky fella / And I just gotta tell her / That I love her endlessly make me melt because xander would totally fucking say that AAGGHH its such a sweet song and i think it highlights the nicer parts of their relationship

Willow/Anya + Willow/Cordelia

Puppy Princess by Hot Freaks Hold me / Hold me, I'm your bunny / Tell me I'm not funny / Tell me I'm legit

i couldn't decide if this fit willow/anya more or willow/cordelia more so i'm putting it in BOTH. in my mind the song is from the perspective of willow, trying her best to ignore her feelings for anya/cordelia when they're in their relationships with xander, but she ends up fantasizing about being with them in the chorus and its very messy because she knows it'll never happen :( also, i think the bunny line is funny because of anya's inescapable fear of bunnies. anyways all of xanders exes (if you could call willow an ex?) should be dating. WLW FTW WOOOO YEAHHH

Darla/Drusilla

Always Forever by Cults You know you've got me in your pocket / You don't just have to wait around / You know I've got you in my locket / Just come here and we can settle down

i actually don't have much to say about this one LOL. i just think the lyrics fit them really well as per usual the eerie, sort of unhealthy and vaguely codependent vibe of the song reminds me of them! thats all!

Buffy/Angel

When the Day Met the Night by Panic! at the Disco So she said, "That's okay / As long as you can make a promise not to break / My little heart or leave me all alone / In the summer."

i think i've spoken on here about my distaste for bangel but sometimes it does manage to enthrall me (like dracula) and this is definitely one of those cases i am just a sucker for moon/sun parallels dude - while normally angel would be the moon and buffy would be the sun imo cause... yk, creature of the night, blonde fiery kickass lady; they're switched in this song (which i also feel oddly fits them?) but honestly if you haven't listened to this song before i suggest listening to it rn because you'll see what i mean when it reminds me of bangel ITS SO BANGEL-Y. just look at these lyrics: Well, he was just hangin around / Then he fell in love / And he didn't know how / But he couldn't get out you can't tell me that that doesn't remind you of angel and his curse!!!! you cannot i won't believe you

Faith/Buffy

Twilight by Bôa Your feelings and mine are all holy but / You know and I know it's untrue because / When day dawns, you're there lying with me / And the dawn can fly away

i made a fuffy post with lyrics from this song a few days(?) ago so i think this was kind of to be expected but OH WELL i THINK the song is literally about a girl who's having an affair??? with a man who's in a relationship with a woman. he loves his spouse/girlfriend, but he also loves the singer (and the singer loves him back) thats what i gathered, it's a kind of confusing song BUT i read it as faith singing about buffy, who takes the place of the 'man' in the song, dealing with her feelings for buffy and being jealous of angel because buffy seems to love him more than she may love her. it's gay and angry just like faith! very good song All I Wanted by Paramore Think of me, when you're out, when you're out there / I'll beg you nice from my knees / And when the world treats you way too fairly / Well, it's a shame, I'm a dream

i just cannot help but imagine faith screaming this song at the top of her lungs i think the song's about a break up but to me it's about faith missing out on her chance to become (girl)friends with buffy because she sorta. yk...... was evil and killed people she just wanted someone who understood her :( buffy was her best shot at that considering they had the whole slayer thing in common, but everything got messed up AND ITS SAD

Spike/Buffy (buckle your seatbelts people. these bitches are gonna have a lot)

First Love / Late Spring by Mitski One word from you and I would / Jump off of this ledge I'm on, baby / Tell me don't so I can crawl back in

is mitski an obvious and stereotypical choice for spuffy? yes. am i writing about it anyway? also yes because AAGHGHHRHGHHJJJJAH this song is actually in my buffy playlist because a lot of it just feels like HER and not spuffy, but i'm obligated to put it here because it is spuffy...esque. the chorus makes me think of buffy trying desperately to cut things off with spike in s6 but she keeps being pulled back. for example: Please hurry, leave me / I can't breathe / Please don't say you love me these lyrics remind me very much of that one scene (i cannot remember what episode it was from for the life of me) where spike starts to say i love you, but buffy cuts him off because she just can't bear to hear it very spuffy-y. thats all

Introduction to the Snow by Miracle Musical A part of thee in the key of what we know to be every part without me / Knows only two can make it light / You'll live forever tonight

That Scene in chosen. do i have to explain myself any further than that

No Children by The Mountain Goats And I hope when you think of me years down the line / You can't find one good thing to say / And I hope if I found the strength to walk out / You'd stay the hell out of my way

i contemplated putting this in the spangel category for a moment but then i thought nah. this is spuffy at its core, at its rawest moments if you haven't listened to this song before once again i suggest you listen to it because i don't think it needs much explaining once you hear all the lyrics hand in unloveable hand you guyyyys :(

The Masochism Tango by Tom Lehrer Bash in my brain, and make me scream with pain / Then kick me once again / And say we'll never part / I know too well, I'm underneath your spell / So if you smell something burning, it's my heart

the joke is that buffy beats spike up and he probably gets off on it. buffy knows this.

Spike/Angel(us)

Tear You Apart by She Wants Revenge I want to hold you close / Skin pressed against me tight / Lie still, close your eyes girl / So lovely, it feels so right

originally i thought of this as an early spuffy song (i still kind of do, esp with the lyrics It's only just a crush, it'll go away - very spike-y) but then i thought about it in a spangelus sort of way and i was like. yeah. the song is about wild evil sexy .... sex. angelus and spike definitely had Relations we all know this and i think their relationship would be wild and evil and probably dangerous!!!! that's it that's the whole segment

Cordelia/Willow

Giving Into the Love by AURORA Someone out there is trying / To find somebody whole who is not dying / But everybody cries and nobody comforts / The television lies and now my mind hurts

i love this song and this ship so fucking much for me the way the song could be interpreted as wildelia is that they're both letting their walls come down together and giving into the love, not caring about anything anymore or how they could be perceived by the world cordelia, as we know, before she gets with xander, is very conscious about her social status and always wants to be wanted and loved, even if she doesn't have any real friends. she was very lonely willow was also very lonely for other reasons - she was unpopular and practically just another face in the crowd - her only friend was her childhood friend, xander and i think they could bond over that loneliness! i think together they could be free!! like the lyrics say: I've never had the world, so why change for it? it could also be interpreted as them understanding the fact that they're both queer and have feelings for each other. at first its scary and confusing, but eventually they get together and are the happiest they've ever been :]

She by Dodie And I'll be okay / Admiring from afar / Cause even when she's next to me / We could not be more far apart

to me this song would be sung by a crush-ridden willow who is so annoyed at herself for falling for her biggest bully, cordelia she tries to convince herself it's nothing but she can't help listing off all the things that make her beautiful in her head. eventually they'd become quiet allies and even friends, and her crush just grows, even though she knows it will never be requited :( (OR WILL IT?!?!?!?! DUN DUN DUN)

The Way I Feel Inside by The Zombies In your mind / Could you ever be, really close to me? / I can tell the way you smile / If I feel that I / Could be certain, then / I would say the things I want to say tonight

basically the same premise as the previous song! i think it could be taken as either cordy or willow singing though OR BOTH OF THEM! they're gay and they don't think either of them like the other that's the idea i'm going with

Joyfulthought by Mom I know it's weird / To say you changed me / But things have been really hard for me lately / I don't need anything, just when you talk to me / I can't believe anyone would ever be that nice to me

i LOVE this song, it makes me think of cordelia singing about/to willow it starts out as this sort of reluctant like... 'you make me feel so weird but it's a good weird' feeling for her whenever she's around willow, and then she starts to realize that she loves her, and she really enjoys spending time with her and that she's made her a better person even though she didn't think she needed it. and then they kiss and muah muah muah and they love each other happy endings for all

Buffy/Tara

Chiquitita by ABBA Chiquitita, you and I cry / But the sun is still in the sky and shining above you / Let me hear you sing once more, like you did before / Sing a new song, chiquitita

this song makes me think of tuffy because of the pure happiness it brings me just how tuffy does :D /hj for reals though, it's about the singer comforting their 'chiquitita' - which is spanish for 'little one' - but it reminds me of when tara comforts buffy semi-regularly in.... i THINK season six. its a sweet and kind song just like tara! it makes me imagine them dancing in a field and laughing and now i'm tearing up cause i just love them so much!!! arrhghhghhh!!!!

Spike/Xander

If We Were Gay by Ninja Sex Party You know, a lot of people come up to us and say / "Hey Danny Sexbang Xander and Ninja Brian Spike / You guys wear a lot of spandex and live together / Are you gay?" / Pfft, I have to laugh

could you imagine that? if they were gay??? i love spander very much and i think that xander would totally sing this to show his 'support' to a very embarrassed but grateful willow and also make fun of his boyfriend spike that's literally all the reasoning i have

Buffy/Willow

Ugly by Nicole Dollanganger You said they make fun of your body / Humiliation in your eyes when you told me / Well I'm gonna find them, don't you worry / I'll make sure they're really fucking sorry

this would be really early billow, like s1. buffy is really protective of her best friend who she totally isn't in love with and knows how much shit people give willow at school and she's this close to bashing all their skulls in another tidbit of lyrics from the song that really sounds like buffy: Anything that is beautiful / People want to break / And you are beautiful, I'm afraid

We're Going To Be Friends by The White Stripes Walk with me, Suzy Lee / Through the park and by the tree / We will rest upon the ground / And look at all the bugs we found / Safely walk to school without a sound

this could also be a willow/xander song but i do not like willow/xander i think they're much better as friends so BILLOW IT IS! this song just makes me feel all cozy like buffy and willows friendship :] i just think they're neat! it's a very cute song for very cute ladies

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that's all i've got for now but i may post more songs later if this post does well and you guys enjoy it!!! happy valentines day :D

[lovesongbracket]

Reminder: Vote based on the song, not the artist or specific recording! The tracks referenced are the original artist, aside from a few rare cases where a cover is the most widely known.

Lyrics, videos, info, and notable covers under the cut. (Spotify playlist available in pinned post)

Work Song

Written By: Hozier

Artist: Hozier

Released: 2014

Alternate version included: Live in America, 2015

This is the only song on Hozier’s self titled album to have a title that is not entirely composed of lyrics from the song. The song is about the love of a worker’s life lending him strength during a hard day’s work. The song encompasses indie with strong influences on folk, blues and negro spirituals.

[Verse 1] Boys, workin' on empty Is that the kinda way to face the burning heat? I just think about my baby I'm so full of love I could barely eat There's nothin' sweeter than my baby I'd never want once from the cherry tree 'Cause my baby's sweet as can be She give me toothaches just from kissin' me [Chorus] When my time comes around Lay me gently in the cold dark earth No grave can hold my body down I'll crawl home to her [Verse 2] Boys, when my baby found me I was three days on a drunken sin I woke with her walls around me Nothin' in her room but an empty crib And I was burning up a fever I didn't care much how long I lived But I swear, I thought I dreamed her She never asked me once about the wrong I did [Chorus] When my time comes around Lay me gently in the cold dark earth No grave can hold my body down I'll crawl home to her When my time comes around Lay me gently in the cold dark earth No grave can hold my body down I'll crawl home to her [Bridge] My babe would never fret none About what my hands and my body done If the Lord don't forgive me I'd still have my baby and my babe would have me When I was kissin' on my baby And she'd put her love down, soft and sweet In the low lamplight, I was free Heaven and hell were words to me [Chorus] When my time comes around Lay me gently in the cold dark earth No grave can hold my body down I'll crawl home to her When my time comes around Lay me gently in the cold dark earth No grave can hold my body down I'll crawl home to her

As Long As You're Mine

Written By: Stephen Schwartz

Artist: Idina Menzel & Norbert Leo Butz for Wicked (OBC)

Released: 2003

This song takes place after Fiyero finally tells Elphaba and Glinda that he has feelings for Elphaba so, ending his relationship with Glinda, Elphaba and Fiyero run away together. Elphaba finds it hard to believe that a man like Fiyero could care about a girl like her since all of Oz finds her dangerous and different. Just like in the novel, Elphaba and Fiyero fall in love with each other. But in the novel, the two end up having an intense love affair. While the song greatly reduces the explicit, mature nature of their relationship that occurred in the novel, it hints sexuality.

[ELPHABA] Kiss me too fiercely Hold me too tight I need help believing You're with me tonight My wildest dreamings Could not foresee Lying beside you With you wanting me And just for this moment As long as you're mine I've lost all resistance And crossed some border line And if it turns out It's over too fast I'll make every last moment last As long as you're mine [FIYERO] Maybe I'm brainless Maybe I'm wise But you've got me seeing Through different eyes Somehow I've fallen Under your spell And somehow I'm feeling It's up that I fell [BOTH] Every moment As long as you're mine I'll wake up my body And make up for lost time [FIYERO] Say there's no future For us as a pair [BOTH] And though I may know I don't care Just for this moment As long as you're mine Come be how you want to And see how bright we shine Borrow the moonlight Until it is through And know I'll be here Holding you As long as you're mine [FIYERO] What is it? [ELPHABA] It's just… For the first time… I feel… Wicked!

[boldlyvoid]

Amoreena | Chapter Nine

chapter nine

main summary: Heaven is a real place and it's located exactly 14.6 miles away from the FBI, Quantico Headquarters. Off behind a small park, under a fantastical willow tree surrounded by wildflowers, in every colour young minds can imagine.

Don't forget, heaven also comes with angels.

Chapter Warnings: date night!! this is very fluffy, very emotional and extremely horny. edgar allan poe is rolling in his grave at what they did in his enchanted garden

exhibitionism, public sex (no ones there tho), drug mentions at the end (let me know if I should tag anything else!!!!)

word count: 5.4k

from the beginning <3

He spent all of Thursday afternoon with Penelope in Richmond, setting up for his date that night.

Stringing lights on the trees, mowing the grass and trimming the flowers back, the staff ensuring that the museum was in pristine condition for them tonight, it was perfect. The cats were brushed, there were rose petals the fountain and the most beautiful picnic set up in the garden.

Penelope packed their dinner for them, keeping it in the museum fridge for when they finally arrived, it was the only thing Spencer needed to remember.

Y/N: just got home, about to get ready! Can’t wait to see you at 6 ♥︎

Spencer smiled at his phone, about to text her back when Penelope laid a hand on his back, “change into your suit and head back to her, traffic might be bad?”

“Thank you, for everything. You’ve always been my best friend, more of big sister actually,” Spencer pressed his lips together tightly as to not get emotional. “You’re wonderful Penelope, thank you.”

“Awe!” She swooned, wrapping him up in a big hug. “I will always love you, Spencer, you deserve all of this and so, so much more, now go before I cry.”

He laughed, pulling back, hand lingering on her shoulder as he walked into the museum. They let him change in the backroom, it felt incredibly strange to be putting on a suit inside Edgar Allan Poe's house to go pick up his wife. Not too long ago he dreamed about bringing a girlfriend here someday, life was moving too quickly, he needed a breather.

He kept his suit jacket folded and on the passenger seat as he drove home, where he lived with his family. Even just thinking that as he paid attention to the road made him smile. The wind hitting his face, his hair blowing in the breeze, he felt free at last.

He was where he was supposed to be, all roads lead to here.

Travelling up her driveway with a smile on his face as the dust followed him to her doorstep. She was waiting in a red dress on the porch, Amoreena and her nanny eating pizza on the steps as they waited for him.

Stepping out of his car, he straightened his tie and pulled his pants up more, looking at his wife like she was a star plucked from the sky, landing in this Virginia field for him.

She stood then, her satin dress flowing and exposing a leg as she walked down the steps to him, “Is this what you wanted?” She twirled in front of him to show it all off, her hair getting stuck in her lipstick and making her laugh.

“I love you,” is all he can say as she leaning in with a wide grin, surpassing the smile to kiss him gently, using her thumb to get all the lipstick off his bottom lip and chin.

“Love you too, cutie,” she winked, taking his hand and turning back towards Amoreena, “listen to Nanny, remember we love you and we will see you no earlier than 7:30 tomorrow, okay?”

“Yes ma’am!” She saluted, mouth full of pizza.

“And what are the new rules about coming into our bed in the morning?”

“Knock first, wait till you respond, don’t come in unless you say it’s okay,” Amoreena replied, sticking her tongue out at her as she remembered it all.

“Smartie pants,” Y/N smiled at her, “come give us a hug, don’t get pizza on my dress, please.”

Amoreena wiped her sleeve over her mouth before running into her mother's open arms, they shared goodbye kisses before it was Spencer’s turn. She held him so tight it felt wonderful, “goodnight Lovey, I’ll see you tomorrow morning, have the best sleep ever for me?”

“I’ll see you in dreamland,” she replied, kissing his cheek gently before she pulled back.

“Have fun!” Nanny called from the porch as Amoreena skipped back to her.

“We will,” Spencer replied, taking Y/N’s hand and leading her to the passenger side, he opened her door and helped her inside, insuring her dress was inside before closing the door.

Jogging back to his door, he got in and put on his seatbelt. He threw the car in reverse and turned around by the barn, heading down the driveway, not saying a single thing as Y/N stared at him.

“You’re really not going to tell me anything?” She shook her head, licking her lip before biting it as she huffed.

“We’re going to Richmond, Virginia, to read,” he gave her one hint.

“Hmm,” she smiled, “I’m sure you won't tell me the title, so Mr. I can remember every book ever, what’s a random line in it?”

“You’re smart,” he teased her, “but for the brilliant green of the huge leaves that spread from their summits in long, tremulous lines, dallying with the Zephyrs—”

“We’re going to the Edgar Allan Poe Museum!” She cut him off with a cheer.

He slows down on the barren dirt road, mouth wide open as she got it right, he turns to her as they come to a complete stop, “how the heck did you get that?”

“Yes!” she laughed, tossing her head back as she clapped and kicked her feet a little, so proud of herself, “I’m a librarian, Spencer! Did you think I wouldn’t know Eleonora?”

“That’s the most random sentence in the whole poem?” Spencer was shocked, she recalled it faster than he thought he would be able to if she read a line to him.

“My brother’s first motorcycle was a Zephyr,” she smiled at him, raising her eyebrows. “My brain is kinda like a filing cabinet, if you give me a word I can remember everything I’ve ever heard with that word included.”

He started to drive again, shaking his head as he paid attention to the road but still astounded by how amazing she is. “Amoreena gets that from you then, she could have both our eidetic memories together, that would be very interesting to see.”

“Eidetic memory?” She questioned.

“It’s what most people call photographic memory,” Spencer explained. “You can remember everything you hear which is why you and Amoreena are able to recall songs, books and movie facts so fast, while I can read back to you anything I’ve read without having to see it again, it’s forever in my mind.”

“So we’re both geniuses, cool,” Y/N smiled at him again, “sorry I ruined your surprise.”

“You just know where we’re going,” he reminded her, laying his hand on hers, interlocking their fingers as he drove.

They had an hour alone before the real date started.

So she showed him all of her favourite songs, including some of Amoreena’s playlists so he could get familiar with them before their trip to Rhode Island. Her voice was impeccable, she knew all the words and harmonies, often opting to cove background voices he wouldn’t have even known were there if it wasn’t for her.

She loved music in a way that intrigued him, she enjoyed music with a story. Much like the reason she loved books so much, she enjoyed picturing the happy places in her mind that the songs were able to take her to, they filled her with glee and hope as she sang to her heart's content. Taking short breaks to explain the meanings of songs, to recite the best lyrics and why the songs are close to her heart.

“Do you want to hear the song that reminds me the most of you?” She asked between songs, pausing so that nothing else would start.

“Sure,” he blushed, nervous for what it could be and how she imagined him in her mind, hoping he could live up to it.

“I'm perfectly fine I live on my own, I made up on my mind, I'm better off bein' alone. We met a few weeks ago, now you try on callin' me, baby, like tryin' on clothes,”

She stares at him with a beautiful smile as she waits to see his reaction to the opening, finally singing when the beat drops, dancing softly in her seat as she belted the words out to him.

“So prove to me I'm your American Queen, and you move to me like I'm a Motown beat, and we rule the kingdom inside my room,” She brushed her hand across his jaw, teasing him as the words flow from her lips to his ears, she loves him and he can feel it with every syllable.

“And all at once, you are the one I have been waiting for, King of my heart, body and soul, ooh whoa! And all at once, you are all I want, I'll never let you go King of my heart, body and soul, ooh whoa,” she sings so softly, with a purpose, turning it down a little so that he can talk to her.

“I love you,” he reminded her, “so much it hurts sometimes.”

“It’s like your heartstrings are tugging on each other, right?” She agreed, “like they want to jump out of our chests and run to each other.”

He nodded with a soft smile, reaching for her hand again holding it as he brought it to his mouth for a kiss, “queen of my heart.”

“Hmmm,” she thought over his words, “I’m pretty content with being princess still, Lady Amoreena is in line for the thrown, it’s part of her namesake after all.”

“Does the kingdom have a name?”

“You know the Elton John song Goodbye Yellow Brick Road?” She waited for his nod, “my grandma called it Ozellous so it’s like wizard of Oz but I added the 'ellous' because people always said they were jealous of our farm.”

He’s trying his best to keep his eyes on the road when all he want’s to do is look at her smile, to see her pupil change as she recalls the loving memory, it’s his favourite thing to do. Better than any movie or play, seeing her face was better than looking at the most expensive art piece. He was so in love with all of her.

“Were you like Amoreena as a kid?”

“Oh yeah,” she laughed, “bullied hardcore for it too, kids always told me to shut up cause I’d add facts to conversations I wasn’t a part of.”

“I would have loved to listen,” Spencer replied softly, knowing the feeling all too well.

They were only a few minutes away now, turning into the small town and passing quaint little homes and cottages. “Amoreena would love this drive, these are some interesting townspeople homes for her imagination, we should come back sometime this summer.”

His heart was going to actually explode, she was everything he never knew he needed.

“I’d love that,” he added as they pulled into the museum. “I’m a museum member and I’m a patron, so sometimes I donate rare pieces I find, they love me here.”

Her mouth opened to speak, but her eyes got caught on the twinkling lights in the distance, mesmerized by everything. Old cobblestone streets, brick buildings and wooden gates, it was straight out of the 1800s and absolutely fantastical.

“And it’s all ours for the night,” he put the car in park and turned to her, “wait here?”

She nodded, speechless as she continued to look out the window at everything. Spencer got out of the car, opening the back seat to grab and put on his jacket, straighten out his suit before opening her door and extending a hand to help her out.

“Princess,” he extended his arm for her to tuck her own under, he closed her door and escorted her through the gate and towards the garden.

The sun was just starting to set, 7 pm in early June being the most beautiful time of year in rural Virginia, the sky was a perfect purple as he leads her through the stone arches towards the picnic.

Her eyes sparkled with all the lights, wide and pupils blown as she took it all in. It was a fairytale, she was in a princess dress, he was the king of her heart and this was just the beginning of happily ever after.

“Spencer, whatever your middle name is, Reid,” she gasped, swatting his arm lightly with a smile growing on her face.

“It’s Walter,” he smiled right back.

He let go of her hand then and walked over to a table, turning on the record player and dropping the needle in the right spot. He did his research into some Taylor Swift songs, finding one that reminded him the most of Y/N and how much he loved her.

“May I have this dance?” He asks as she notices the all too familiar guitar strumming.

He reaches a hand out for her, pulling her in as she takes it, “I was so so lost before I found you in the park,” he explains the first verse, barely a whisper beside her ear as they start to sway.

There I was again tonight forcing laughter, faking smiles Same old tired, lonely place Walls of insincerity Shifting eyes and vacancy, vanished when I saw your face

“All I can say is it was enchanting to meet you,” he whispers once more, feeling the goosebumps bursting on her bare arms.

He spun her around, extending both their arms as she twirled out and then back into his embrace again with a giggle. She swayed back and forth, dancing with him like the night they got married in her field.

Your eyes whispered "have we met?" Across the room your silhouette starts to make it's way to me The playful conversation starts Counter all your quick remarks, like passing notes in secrecy

“And it was enchanting to meet you, All I can say is I was enchanted to meet you,” he sings them this time, spinning her out again as the chorus hits, her eyes widening as she began to smile wider than he’s ever seen before.

They sang the words together as they danced, smiling and laughing as they moved around the cobblestone. Finding a rhythm so perfect, so them, it was silly and not on beat in the slightest, mostly spinning, it was a spinning song if the album cover was any indication.

This night is sparkling, don't you let it go I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home I'll spend forever wondering if you knew I was enchanted to meet you!

“The lingering question kept me up, Two a.m., who do you love? I wonder till I'm wide awake! Now I'm pacing back and forth, wishing you were at my door, I'd open up and you would say, hey! It was enchanting to meet you, all I know is I was enchanted to meet you,” Y/N’s voice softer than ever as she sang her anxieties into his ear, remembering the day at the museum where she wondered if she could have him all to herself.

This night is sparkling, don't you let it go I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home I'll spend forever wondering if you knew This night is flawless, don't you let it go I'm wonderstruck, dancing around all alone I'll spend forever wondering if you knew I was enchanted to meet you

Spinning around in circles she leaves his grasp, dress circling in the wind and he watches her. She takes both his hands and spins around with him in a tight circle before pulling back in, their chests bumping as they laughed, happier than he’s ever been in his entire life, and she’s made him pretty happy in the last few weeks.

The girl of his dreams, dancing around him with a smile like she was making her own music video. This was a dream of hers he didn’t know, making it come true as it became a dream of his own.

He places his hands on her cheeks as he stares into her eyes, “this is me praying that this was the very first page, not where the storyline ends. My thoughts will echo your name until I see you again. These are the words I held back, as I was leaving too soon, I was enchanted to meet you,” he whisper’s the words, barely singing, more talking.

“Please don't be in love with someone else. Please don't have somebody waiting on you. Please don't be in love with someone else. Please don't have somebody waiting on you,” she sings right back to him, staring into his eyes as they stand still in the garden.

She pulls him into a kiss, breathing in deeply through her nose as they hold each other’s cheeks, unable to get closer as they kissed. Pulling away with a loud smooch sound, smiling before taking her hands in his, once more.

Spinning her around again as the beat drops once more, her smile more beautiful than the first time he saw it. He was so madly in love, he firmly believed he was in heaven.

This night is sparkling, don't you let it go I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home I'll spend forever wondering if you knew!!

This night is flawless, don't you let it go I'm wonderstruck, dancing around all alone I'll spend forever wondering if you knew I was enchanted to meet you!

Please don't be in love with someone else Please don't have somebody waiting on you

“Now go stand in the corner and think about what you did,” Taylor Swift's voice cuts into the beautiful moment as her songs change and the mood drastically changes.

Y/N bursts out in laughter, jumping lightly as she enjoyed the song, head-banging along as she danced by herself until Spencer turned the music off once again, “you’re so cute.”

“Thank you,” she bowed, “this is cute!”

“There’s a picnic basket in the fridge inside, and some wine if you think that’s a good idea?” Pointing towards the main house, she followed him towards the door.

“Oh, hello?” Her voice changed as she noticed the two black cats on the window, letting Spencer head inside for the basket as she talked to them.

“That’s Edgar and Pluto, the groundskeeper found them in the shed in 2012,” Spencer explains as he comes back out, basket in hand but she’s too busy with the cats to notice.

Petting both their faces, they stretch into her reach and bask in the feeling of her nails on their skin, Spencer would agree it felt nice. He loved the feeling of her hands in his hair, he must have been a cat in his last life.

“Amoreena wants her own indoor cat,” Y/N smiled wide at him, “she always wanted to call him Hercules like the Elton John song, almost like she knew you were her dad all along.”

She took his free hand then, following him towards the blanket in the grass, “how?”

“There’s a line in the song about Greek gods, but it says Hercules on her side and Diana in her eyes, and she does have your mom's eyes, right down to the colour of her iris,” Y/N looked at him like he was everything to her.

Spencer couldn’t speak, he just set the basket on the ground and ushered her to sit down beside him. She held the skirt of her dress up so she could sit crisscross applesauce on the blanket, draping her dress over her legs so she didn’t show anything off just yet.

“Every time I look at you I understand all her quirks and her facial expressions,” she added like she was trying to make him cry, “I’ve been looking at her for almost 8 years now, wondering who you were and now I know, and you’re so much better than I ever imagined.”

“Would you have looked for me when she turned 18?” Is all he can ask through his sniffles, trying to hold it together for her.

She nodded, “I was going to tell her soon anyway, she asks a lot of questions I’m not sure if you noticed.” Her giggle was priceless, “she had lots of questions when the goats were born this year and that meant her asking more about making human babies and I just said a special man helped me make my dreams come true, and she thought it was Rumpelstiltskin.”

Spencer couldn’t fight the laugh that erupted from him, leaning forward as he chuckled, making her laugh too. “Does she even know the whole story?”

“She’s only seen the 4th Shrek movie with him, she has no idea that he also takes the babies,” Y/N placed her hand on his knee gently, “If I get pregnant again, I’m going to tell her about how it all works as simply as possible, I want her to feel included in this and she’ll be less jealous if she sees this as a learning opportunity.”

“That’s a good idea,” he agreed, “I still can't believe she almost punched Michael for hugging me.”

“Oh, I can,” Y/N laughed again, “she was being bullied last year by an older kid and I said if someone upsets you or hurts you, sometimes it’s not that bad to hurt them back. Make them know you’re not weak and you care about yourself, and she gave a kid a black eye for tugging on her braid.”

Spencer couldn’t stop smiling, “that’s my girl.”

Y/N opened the picnic basket then, taking everything out with a smile as Spencer stared at her, thinking a million different thoughts about future kids, how Amoreena would grow up, seeing her as a big sister to hopefully many.

They both leaned forward and kissed softly, smiling as they pulled back, “so you like charcuterie?”

She laughed, “Amoreena called it shark coochie once, I can’t not think of that now.”

“How many kids do you want?”

“Have you ever read cheaper by the dozen?” She teased him. “As many as I can have, I have the funds thanks to my job and the farm and not having to pay a mortgage, I was going to have another baby next year anyway, I had an appointment and everything scheduled, I even tried to get them to contact Amoreena’s father for another sample but they said they couldn’t ask you outright for me.”

“They asked me if I wanted to give another sample when I asked if I could know my kids,” Spencer remembered the words exactly, “she said ‘You have four offspring so far, none of the other samples used have produced a child, the women were all IVF as well so it wasn’t your swimmer's fault if you wanted to donate again.’”

“I don’t want to know the truth, are you okay if we let her decide if she wants to find out at 18?” Y/N asked softly, “I’m content thinking you’re her father, I don’t want to know if it’s some other tall who-lookin’ genius, okay?”

“That’s perfect actually,” Spencer agreed, “and on the kids front, you don’t mind me being in my 70s when they all start going to University?”

“My dad is 68 with no signs of stopping, and he’s still fantastic with his grandkids,” Y/N always had a fact to combat his anxiety. “You have a lot of life left in you, I’ll take good care of you so that they have the best dad ever for as long as possible.”

Spencer was so in love with his family he felt like he was floating, laughing and smiling all meal long as they shared facts back and forth about their lives. Getting to know each other more and more as the seconds passed, he imagined it would be like this forever. She was like a bottomless pit of information, facts, stories and secrets. He loved every single one she shared with him.

She poured herself a second small glass of wine, “you know they say that one glass of wine every once in a while is actually good for the baby?”

“It doesn’t work that fast,” he reminded her, more like he reminded himself. He didn’t want to hope in the chance it didn’t happen right away.

“I had a nightmare last night for the first time in a long time, so I think it worked,” she teased him. “I won't know till June 10th, that's when my next period would be.”

“Nightmare?” It was the only part he picked up on, worried for her and wondering why she didn’t wake him up.

She nodded softly, “I found out I was pregnant and you never came home, and I got lost in the forest looking for you and then I remembered I could wake up.”

He rests his hand on her knee, rubbing his thumb against her bare skin softly, “I’m always coming home to you.”

“I know, when I got pregnant with Amoreena I had bad dreams in the first few weeks too, mostly about giving birth to nothing and being alone all over again, the subconscious and pregnancy hormones are mean as fuck when they hang out,” she laughed away the pain, “I know none of it is real.”

“Good,” he whispered, not knowing what really to say, he wasn’t used to soothing other people yet. Most people didn’t want his facts or concernment when something happened, just a hug normally.

She took a deep breath, pushing everything away, “good news, either my anxiety disorder is back in full swing or something’s working in here,” she laid her hand over her stomach, “either way, I’d like to try again tonight?”

He laughed, “we don’t need to make a baby every time you want to have sex?”

She got onto her knees then, crawling over the blanket and sitting right in Spencer's lap with her hands on both of his cheeks, “I want all your babies.”

He held her waist, pulling her in closer to his chest, “right now?”

She nodded, moving her dress out of the way to undo his belt, “no one is here right? It’s not like anyone would know?”

“Mhmm,” he agreed, kissing her neck as she unzipped his pants, moving his underwear out of the way just enough to free his hardening cock, she stroked it right there in the middle of the garden, staring down between their bodies in awe as he came to life.

Sitting up on her knees more, the slit of her dress made it a lot easier for her to show him her underwear. She was wearing just a thong, perfect for pulling to the side as she lowered herself onto him, ever so slowly.

She fixed her dress around them, completely calm and composed as he was fully inside of her, “you’re okay with this?”

He huffed a laugh out of his nose, dropping his forehead to her shoulder so he couldn’t buck into her and ruin the moment she was making, his hands moving to her hips, guiding her back and off him slightly before back down again, making her gasp.

“I thought you wanted to read?” She teased him as she started to ride him more, moving her hips in a way that took him in and out of her at just the right angle, her hands on his shoulders as she bounced on him lightly, he couldn’t even think straight. “Go on, read to me.”

He took a second to remember the words, mind totally somewhere else and not interested in a book at all when her boobs were right in his face.

“I am come of a race noted for vigor of fancy and ardor of passion,” the first sentence slipped past his lips as she kept going, he took a moment to kiss right under her ear before continuing.

“Men have called me mad; but the question is not yet settled, whether madness is or is not the loftiest intelligence—whether much that is glorious—whether all that is profound—does not spring from disease of thought—from moods of mind exalted at the expense of the general intellect.”

“Shit,” she moaned, pushing his hand down towards her clit, “you can multitask, smartie pants.”

His thumb was on a mission then, rubbing small circles against her pleasure point, she tossed her head back with her eyes closed as she continued to ride him, “I don’t hear you reading?”

He moaned softly in her ear at the feeling, and the fact she wanted to get off to hearing him recite something from memory, it was more euphoric than he could have ever imagined.

“They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night. In their gray visions they obtain glimpses of eternity, and thrill, in ah- awakening, fuck,” he was trying his best to stay as composed as she was when he really just wanted to lay her against the blanket and fuck her into next week.

“to find that they have been upon the verge of the great secret,” Y/N whispered the end of the sentence, grinding down on him harder than before.

“In snatches, they learn something of the wisdom which is of good,” she whispered into his ear, biting his earlobe softly with a moan and he kept rubbing her clit, “you’re so good, Spencer, so so good," she paused to enjoy the moment before whispering in his ear once more, "And more of the mere knowledge which is of evil. They penetrate, however, rudderless or compass-less into the vast ocean of the "light ineffable," and again, like the adventures of the Nubian geographer, "agressi sunt mare tenebrarum, quid in eo esset exploraturi.”

Her words softer than ever and they were never going to get to the end of this poem, he'd never know how the rest of the words sound on her tongue, she pulled him into a kiss then, moaning into his mouth as they ground against each other, finding a perfect rhythm to bring them to the end.

“There, yes, fuck,” she whispered against his lips, pushing against him as she arched her back slightly, slipping away from his mouth as she did so.

He slammed into her then as he chased her lips, making her whimper one last time before she was shaking in his lap, her legs quivering as she finished on him, sending him over the edge and stilling as he came with a shudder. He held her so close, both of them breathing into each other's mouths as they came down, kissing and smiling as they stayed connected.

“We’ll name her Eleonora,” Y/N teased, pulling off him and laying back against the blanket.

He made sure her underwear was back in the right spot before covering her with her dress again and sliding himself back into his underwear.

“Amoreena and Eleonora have a good ring to it, we just need 10 more names,” he teased right back.

“Hopefully we have a little boy one day too,” she smiled as she tugged him down beside her, cuddling into her side as they stared up at the newly dark blue sky and the array of stars that decided to join them this evening.

“Even if it’s just Amoreena, I’ve never been happier in my whole life than when I’m with you,” he whispered. “Thank you.”

“For what?” She asked, purely to keep hearing his voice.

“Making me want to get up in the morning again, giving me a reason not to buy drugs for something euphoric to happen to me, showing me real love and proof that happiness is possible if you just chose to be happy,” he gave example after example.

“I thought I learned everything the world had to offer, but you’ve been showing me new little life hacks that make the world so much better, I see a future of bright colours and happiness and laughter for the first time ever, so thank you.”

She held him closer, “it’s been a pleasure falling in love with you, together, you deserve to love yourself. You’re so wonderful Spencer, it breaks my heart to know that anyone has ever made you feel the opposite.”

He couldn’t speak anymore, turning to kiss her neck and cheek so he had something to do that wasn’t crying. He loved her so incredibly deeply that he felt like he was an anchor, dropping to the bottom of her deepest ocean, without a single plan to leave.

tag list: @shemarmooresfedora @spencers-dria @spookyspence @reidsfish @manuosorioh @mochionly @samuel-de-champagne-problems @jswessie187

[hadesisqueer]

Okay my initial thoughts on the soundtrack and my take on them:

Trust Love: Fucking loved it. That's it. I loved the reference to This Will Be The Day.

Touch the Sky: “A BLAKE SONG”. My first thought was that. Yeah, it could be about the whole team or just Weiss (the mirror part made thought about it too, but Bad Luck Charm mentions mirrors too you know what I mean), but I think it applies the most to Blake. It even has her piano riff and everything. I think it's about her finally overcoming her trauma, leaving her past behind and finally enjoying her freedom. I feel like, just like This Time was a response to From Shadows and Nevermore was a response to Lionize, this one is a response to Wings, about her finally becoming the person that the POV of Wings (Yang) knew she could be. It also has a line that made me think it also could be a response to Shine (I love the Arkos and Bumbleby parallels). If it's not just Blake at the end, it's a really good fucking team RWBY song.

Hero: “Is this Phantom of the Opera” and “IRONWOOD WHY”. That's it, that's what I literally said. I fucking love Caleb's voice and I hope he comes back to next volume. Now, this song kind of reminds me of Lionize. Lionize is one of my favorite songs of all the soundtracks (I might have hated Adam's abusive ass and cheered when he died but I thought the guy was an interesting and realistic villain and the song was FIRE) was about how Adam's sees himself. The abuse he endured (which doesn't justify anything), his hate and spite have turned him into a monster, and the song is about how he views himself as a hero and a saviour who deserves to be adored. Now, Hero is about how Ironwood sees himself as well. Ironwood is nothing like Adam though, I've got to say it first. Ironwood is probably one of the best characters in the entire show, but “I'll be your hero”, “I am might, I am power, I'm due process, I will smite”. That's not something you want to hear from someone who's in head of the military lol, just like you don't want to hear “I'm here, I'm your saviour, I'll be lionized” from a revolutionary leader. I believe Ironwood genuinely was trying to help, that he is a good person, but his paranoia, his distrust, his fear and yes, his arrogance, have taken the best of him.

Brand New Day: QROW SONG. QROW SONG. QROW SONG. I love how the song it's exactly the opposite of Bad Luck Charm, and leaving behind his toxic life I'm so proud. Now, when it comes about who's singing Casey's part, I have no fucking clue lol. Like it's probably the whole team RWBY, but first I thought it was Weiss because “claim this life as mine” but the “branch out” part made me think about Yang or Blake, and the haircut and cliché made me think about either Ruby or Blake, and then I said “Ruby definetely why would Qrow sing with Blake lol” but the part about branching out again and the “self-destruction” (Blake has always been the most self-destructive of the team, with the whole running away thing, thinking and hoping everyone would hate her for it, and the fact the she was almost suicidal at some points in the comics or the show. She was the most affected by the Apathy c'mon) and “luck's been bad” (she would be a black cat singing with a crow I gotta laugh) made me think “okay maybe it is Blake”. I mean it's 90% a team RWBY and Qrow song but if not it's about two emo bisexuals becoming less emo and I love it.

Let's Get Real: Renora man. Renora. What can I say. It's Boop part two bro I love it. I really like how the music is really fun, but just like Boop, the lyrics are a different story. Boop was like “Damn it I don't know how but I've fallen in love with you and now I don't know how to tell you how I feel” and Let's Get Real is “I know I love you and I'm ready to tell you now and talk, so please stop avoiding me and tell me if you feel the same for fuck's sake”.

War: MY FAVORITE I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO STRESS HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS SONG HOLY SHIT. That's it that's my take because if I get started with this one I may never end.

Celebrate: This is the perfect party song. Catchy and funny. The “everything is fine oh shit it's not fine” song. Lamar killing it as always. Also most of the lines are like shitty tries of flirting and now I can't help to imagine Blake and Yang singing to each other and dancing with team FNKI and I'm laughing I love the idea we were robbed.

Until the End: I cried with this one. At first I thought it could be about Ozma and all his lives, and the part “I'll picture me beside her” was about how, even after how horrible Salem has been to him, how toxic she is, Oz still remembers that girl he found in that tower and he still loves that girl, which is fucking sad. But listening to it again I thought it could be about Summer and Ruby and now it's even more sad like holy fuck.

Fear: Now this one is definetely about Oscar/Ozpin. It even has their leitmotif like c'mon. It's about their perspective of Ironwood's actions, about everyone's actions, and I really love this song. Besides War, it might be my favorite.

I May Fall (Acoustic): What can I say except that I cried.

Nevermore (Remix): Usually I don't like much the remixes but this one was a surprise. I still like the OG version more but now I can't help to imagine the Bees dancing it too and I'm laughing. Also it sounds like SuperMario music I love it lmaooo.

[pinknerdpanda]

Muddle Through Somehow

Word Count: 1,643 Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader Warnings: Angst, Fluff, 2020 (even though I don’t say it specifically...you’ll see) Beta’d by: @princessmisery666 - I’d be lost without you. xoxo

A/N: Written For @arrowsandmixtapes for my Merry Manda’s Christmas “Drabbles”. I was so excited when I saw your request, Kansas. This is my favorite Christmas song and it couldn’t be more fitting for this year. I specifically reference the OG version by Judy Garland with the original lyrics, but if ya’ll haven’t seen the video of Adam Lambert singing this song, you need to. It made my ugly cry. But like...in a good way? (video is here) Hope you enjoy this lovely!

Muddle Through Somehow

It wasn’t necessarily the soft sound of footsteps approaching that startled y/n. It was the fact that said footsteps came from a person who usually made no sound at all. If she could hear him walking, it was because he was letting her.

Somehow that made the whole situation worse, which made y/n cry. Again. 

Y/n buried her face in her hands, shielding herself from view and trying to muffle the sound of her tears. It didn’t work. Instead, the sound of feet grew closer more quickly. A heavy, metallic hand landed on her shoulder, tugging her shoulder until she was facing him.

“Y/n?” Bucky’s voice sounded strained and rough - tired even. “What’s the matter doll?”

On a good night, Bucky got very little uninterrupted sleep. Judging by the creases in his right cheek, the squint of his eyes and the mussed hair on one side, tonight had been somewhat of a “good night.” Until she woke him up and robbed him of what little rest he had been enjoying. Y/n sobbed harder.

Bucky’s arms, one warm flesh and the other cool metal, wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her against him. The gentle vibrations of his soothing words tickled her cheek where it lay on his chest. Bucky’s fingers skimmed the length of her back as she held onto him like a life raft.

Eventually the tears dried, leaving y/n red-nosed and sniffing against Bucky, whose firm, reassuring grip on her never wavered.

“I’m sorry, Buck. I didn’t mean to wake you.” Her voice was hoarse and sounded painful as she mumbled the words into the cotton of his now tear-stained t-shirt.

Bucky pulled back then; only enough to look into her face while his hands found her waist.

“Sweetheart, you have nothing to apologize for.”

His stormy blue eyes searched hers as though he was trying to etch the sincerity of his words into her corneas. Even in the dim light, y/n could see the furrow of his brow and the concerned pinch of his lips as he regarded her. 

Before she could argue or respond, Bucky was guiding her into the kitchen. Pulling out one of the stools at the counter, he motioned for her to sit while he set about making them each a cup of tea. The silence that stretched on was comfortable despite the occasional punctuating sniffle. 

Turning, Bucky produced two steaming mugs and handed y/n the one with Snoopy dressed as Santa on the front. His own mug featured Woodstock donning an exceptionally long stocking cap. He took a sip and leaned across the counter, elbows resting against the cool granite surface.

“Now, you wanna tell me what’s the matter?” One corner of Bucky’s mouth twitched upward as he readjusted his grip on the mug. 

Y/n tapped her nails against the side of her mug, eyes trained on the steaming cup, as if she were concentrating on the tinkling tune against the ceramic. She screwed her mouth up to one side, trying to find the words to explain. 

The soft clink of ceramic on granite stirred her from her thoughts as Bucky placed a finger under her chin and nudged her gaze up toward him.

“Come on sweetheart. You can always talk to me.” 

His voice held a nearly undetectable tone of uncertainty; worry even. 

“I know. It’s not that. It’s just…” she sighed again, leaning into his touch as his hand slid to cup her cheek. “I’m just...sad. I feel like everything is upside down.”

Bucky frowned, his hand dropping from her face and she instantly felt a chill at the loss of his touch. Rounding the small counter between them, Bucky turned the stool she sat on to face him and held both of her hands in his.

“Have I…” Bucky inhaled sharply. “Did I do something?”

Y/n sighed, silently berating herself for making him think he’d done anything wrong. She squeezed his hands.

“No, baby. Not at all. You’re wonderful.” Y/n sniffed and pressed her forehead against his. “It’s just this damn year. It seems like everything that could go wrong has. I mean Christmas is what...a week away? We have the tree decorated, the stockings hung...everything looks so normal from the outside. But it’s not. It’s like all the things that bring me so much joy every year are just making me so infinitely sad.”

Y/n’s voice cracked on the last syllable and Bucky wrapped his arms around her again.

“I think it’s just really finally hit me that I’m not getting to spend Christmas with my family. And I get it; it’s safest to stay away, but it’s breaking my heart.”

“I know, doll.” He pressed a sweet kiss into her hair. “I know and I’m so sorry.”

Y/n pulled back and offered him a watery smile. “If I didn’t have you, Buck, I don’t know what I would do.”

Bucky pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear and tilted her head up slightly. He returned her smile for just a second before kissing her gently. “I feel the same way, sweetheart. I’m the luckiest man alive. C’mere.”

Grabbing her hand, Bucky pulled y/n out of the kitchen and into the living room. Stooping down, he plugged in the tree and all at once the room shimmered with the warm lights meticulously wrapped around every branch. Y/n’s breath caught in her throat at the sight; just like it did every time. There must be some form of sorcery that went into Christmas lights that made them constantly emanate peace and joy no matter how sour her mood; y/n was sure of it.

Bucky then moved to the record player and dropped the needle, the faint scratch echoing softly as he returned to stand before her. 

“Dance with me?” Bucky held out his hand, eyebrow arched and a warm smile stretching across his face.

There was no hesitation as y/n moved easily into his arms and tucked her face into the crook of his neck. She breathed deeply, inhaling his warm scent just as Judy Garland began singing.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas Let your heart be light Next year all our troubles will be out of sight

Tears burned at the back of y/n’s eyes and she clutched onto Bucky tightly as he led her in a slow circle.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas Make the yuletide gay Next year all our troubles will be miles away

“This is my favorite Christmas song,” y/n sniffed. Bucky hummed above her in agreement.

“Reminds me of being a kid,” Bucky chuckled.

Y/n looked up and found a dreamy, bittersweet look cross his face. 

“I thought this movie came out after the war?” 

There was a time when Y/n avoided asking questions about the war and Bucky’s life before HYDRA. She hated seeing the pain in his eyes at the memories such things brought back. But over their years of being together, they’d both realized that avoidance only made the inevitable remembering hurt more. It was important for Bucky to retain those memories, even when they were painful.

“Yeah I think it did, but I may or may not have had a little crush on Judy Garland back in my day.”

Y/n scoffed, her eyes twinkling in the soft glow of the Christmas lights. “Really?”

Bucky grinned. “Yes, really. The Wizard of Oz was one of the first movies I ever saw. Dorothy from Kansas? She was a real looker. Those big doe eyes,” he whistled lowly and chuckled. Sobering quickly though, he leaned in, lips against her ear, and whispered. “But trust me, she ain’t got nothin’ on you, doll.”

Y/n shivered as he kissed her temple and pulled her in close again, continuing to lead her in a slow, graceful sway.

Someday soon we all will be together If the fates allow Until then we'll have to muddle through somehow So have yourself a merry little Christmas, now

As the song changed, the pair remained wrapped in each other’s arms, not caring if their steps matched the beat of the music. Between Bucky’s embrace, the warm glow of the lights and the soothing crackle of the record player, y/n began to feel the wealth of sadness that had been building inside her ebb away. 

Eventually the music faded completely, only the occasional scratch and groan from the record filling the air. Everything felt still and lovely and for the first time in a while, y/n felt whole.

Maybe this year has been nothing but trash heaped upon trash and the holidays wouldn’t be what they once were. But she had Bucky and the hope that someday soon things would go back to the way they were. And right now, that was all she needed.

“Bucky?”

“Hm?”

“Thank you. For everything. You said before you were the luckiest man alive and I don’t know about that. But I know for a fact that I’m the luckiest woman in the world. If I’m gonna have to muddle through somehow, I’m glad I get to muddle through it with you.”

Bucky smiled as he leaned down to capture y/n’s lips in a slow, sweet kiss. 

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, sweetheart. I love you.”

“I love you too, Buck.”

Their lips met again for a brief moment before a yawn overtook Bucky, forcing them apart. He grimmaced, sheepishly.

“Come on, old man. Let’s get you back to bed.” Y/n grinned and pecked Bucky’s lips once more before dragging him back toward their bedroom. 

“Old man, huh?” Bucky smacked her on the ass, making y/n jump and giggle. “I’ll get you for that, my pretty. And your little dog, too.”

Like what you see? Want more? My SPN Masterlist is here, and MCU is here. Thanks for reading! :)

I am using my new and improved taglist. If you want to be added, Send me an ask with the list you’d like to be on. Weirdos are for everything, Heroes is MCU and Hunters is for SPN.

Weirdos: 

@hannahindie @amanda-teaches @ellen-reincarnated1967 @feelmyroarrrr @masksandtruths @princessmisery666  @jamielea81 @foxyjwls007 @becs-bunker @super100012 @shy-violet-soul @emoryhemsworth @impandagrl @donnaintx​

Heroes:

@arrowsandmixtapes​ @bethbabybaby​

[milfified]

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Wicked

It appears I’ve been living under a rock, because it took until this past summer for me to listen to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John all the way through. Somehow, I guess I’d never heard it before. I fell for the song instantly, and it’s still one of my favorites. Obviously, the song is primarily tied to Dorothy and her journey from Kansas to Oz to the Emerald City, all along the Yellow Brick Road. The song is one giant metaphor and not really inherently about The Wizard of Oz, but whatever allusions to the franchise made by the song are centered around Dorothy. However, my brain immediately jumped to Elphaba’s life, its end, and the absolute tragedy of it all.

“When are you going to come down? When are you going to land?” I drew this parallel to Glinda and Fiyero’s relationships with Elphaba, and how they were prematurely cut short due to Elphaba’s insistence on rebelling against the Wizard, the drastic measures she took to defend and preserve Animal rights, her attempts to assassinate Madame Morrible, and other acts of her own stubbornness and subconscious belief that she wasn’t worthy of these relationships on the basis of her self-proclaimed state of being “soulless.” There are endless tracks of “What-could-have-been”s for Elphie, Glinda, and Fiyero, had she not cut herself off from the possibility of her relationships progressing further.

“It’ll take you a couple of vodka and tonics to set you on your feet again” was WAY too reminiscent of the many stops Elphaba made leading up to her death, each of which she encountered a person she met at Shiz University. She meets Boq and his family, and proceeds to have drinks with Avaric before flying off again.

“This boy’s too young to be singing the blues,” is rather straightforward, as it can be interpreted as Elphie’s lack of innocence and a proper youth, or Liir’s unconventional circumstances. Throughout all of the chaos of their lives, he still remains with his mother until she meets her demise, but she is, for a mother, uncharacteristically cold to him and refuses to acknowledge that he came from her. Liir grows up in the eerily loveless Kiamo Ko, previously operated and inherited by his deceased father. There is something so painfully macabre about Elphaba and her son living with the late Fiyero’s family. They are all together, but the man responsible for their affiliation with each other is dead (which, of course, Elphaba feels responsible for)...Son of a Witch adds a grimmer connotation to this lyric, as he is alone, without human or familial connection, searching desperately for his half-sister, and traveling with his “speculated” (at the time) mother’s cape tied around his neck, giving into the occasional urge to weep and grieve for Elphie.

The “Ahs” during the chorus don’t hold any direct significance, as they do not serve any lyrical substance, but there is something so haunting about them. The first time they hit, it brings me to when Elphaba shrieks in terror upon realizing Dorothy is standing before her, in the same predicament as herself when she came to meet Sarima. The second most common instance I think of is one of my unfortunate favorites; Elphaba spots Dorothy and her friends on the Yellow Brick Road to assassinate her as per the Wizard’s (let’s remind ourselves, her father’s orders), and she scrambles to devise a spell to bring Fiyero back to her.

“’Fiyero didn’t die,’ she said. ‘He was imprisoned, and he has escaped. He is coming home to Kiamo Ko, he is coming home to me, and he is disguised as a scarecrow because he doesn’t yet know what he will find.’” To me, this is the single most heartbreaking moment in any piece of literature. I know that, in her heart, she believes this to be true because she is so desperate to meet her lover again. The notion that “he is coming home to me” implies that she believes she can build a life filled with maternal love and normality with both Fiyero and their son, Liir. I am a Gelphie shipper through-and-through, but this part of the book really sold me on being able to accept and even hope for a fulfilling, storybook end to Fiyeraba’s existence (i.e. the Scarecrow really being Fiyero; Elphie can find closure, rejoice in knowing she didn’t inadvertently have her love murdered, and they can raise their son together at Kiamo Ko).

I don’t know. I could be taking this a bit too far, as half of my followers are bots and the other half probably won’t see this or acknowledge it ;-;. It just felt good to get this out. I can’t help but think of Elphie’s life each and every time I hear this song.