#side note... nick also shows his liking for louis a lot | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

lovelylou · 3 years

Text

since 2020 is almost over, i thought i’d share (some of) my favorite fics that made my 2020 a lot better.

[note: not all of these fics were written/published in 2020, although most of them are, there are some that are older, but that i’ve read or re-read this year]

⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

tastes like summer, smiles like may by outropeace

“Is this true?” Harry grabbed the beta by the shoulders. “Bryce, where did you hear that?”

“There’s rumors going around the castle,” he smirked. “stories about his beauty and his cold attitude. They know he is an omega only because of his scent, but he has never had a heat.”

“Do you know what this means?”

Bryce smirk grew into a big smile. “He can’t give you an heir.”

A cold prince, an alpha with nothing left to lose and a kingdom with a secret.

⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

But It's Useless by thinlines

“Hey.”

Louis was even hallucinating now. He closed his eyes.

“Hey, you.”

He chuckled wetly, head still leaning against the door.

“Can you get out of the way? You're blocking the door.”

He exhaled sharply before slowly turning around. His eyes fixed onto muddy Nike trainers before it traveled up to impossibly short jogging shorts. The yellow color was atrocious, simply ghastly.

“What happened to being polite, Harold?”

OR Omega Louis would never guess that he would be trying to hack into Alpha Harry's Wifi. That is until everything changes when he tries to get to know his enemy.

⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

haunted by the ghost of you by missandrogyny

He’s tall—that’s the first thing that registers in Louis’ head when he spots him, standing with his hands behind his back. Tall, with curly hair, staring at them with the widest, greenest eyes Louis has ever seen. And wait, are those dimples? Louis didn’t know ghosts could have dimples.

Because he’s definitely a ghost, this boy. At first glance he looks normal, standing there pigeon-toed in a band shirt (The Ramones, Louis can’t help but note incredulously), dark jeans, and some boots, with rings on both hands, and tattoos littering his left arm—a sleeve made of anchors and names and roses and other completely unrelated things. But he’s also a little bit translucent; if Louis focuses, he can see the outline of the furniture, the design of the wallpaper through him.

“Hi,” the boy—the ghost—says to Louis. His face shifts; somehow his dimples dig deeper into his cheeks. His eyes flit from Louis, to Niall, to Liam, and finally to Zayn, and his face goes from shocked to elated. “I’m Harry.”

At in that exact moment, standing between three of his best friends and staring at a (quite handsome) ghost, Louis can only think one thing.

Nick Grimshaw was right.

⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

On the Edge by zanni_scaramouche

Figure skating is as vital to Louis’ identity as his DNA, so when his skates go missing right before the last Olympics of his career there may be a meltdown only vanilla bath salts can fix. Well, that and the stupidly charming hockey player he met on the plane.

Harry’s too old to be the wonder kid and too young to be taken seriously in the NHL. As an alternate thrown in at the last second, he fights to prove himself on the national team at the largest sporting event known to man. Or he will, once he gets off this flight and can focus on something other than the fussy figure skater and his stunningly blue eyes.

A baggage mix-up skews both of their perfectly laid plans for gold, forcing the two to work together as the clock clicks towards the minute they’re expected to shine on centre ice.

⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

even the best laid plans by falsegoodnight

“Anyways,” Louis stresses, narrowing his eyes, “just let me say it and then rate how terrible of an idea it is on a scale from one to ten.”

“Alright,” Zayn agrees, sitting up expectantly.

“I want to ask Harry Styles to take my virginity,” Louis blurts, holding his hands out for emphasis.

The way Zayn’s eyes bulge is almost comical. “Negative infinity,” he says, voice choked. “Negative infinity times negative infinity.”

“Technically, a negative times a negative is -”

“Really negative infinity,” Zayn corrects himself, shaking his head wildly. “Louis, what the fuck?”

Or, Louis wants to have sex with someone and decides Harry is the perfect alpha for the job.

⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

The Compulsion to Find Love by Toomanytears

The most prestigious English third-level institution, Candling University, accepts omega students for the first time and Louis Tomlinson applies with bright eyes and brighter ambitions. There he encounters personal obstacles, traditional mindsets and a beautiful boy who inverts every prejudice Louis has ever known.

⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

Mine Would Be You by crinkle-eyed-boo (KimmieRocks)

Louis blinks his eyes open, his eyelids fluttering as the room swims around him. He takes several gulps of beer once he confirms that he’s definitely not hallucinating, that the very first portrait Harry Styles ever painted of him is hanging on that wall.

Louis stares at the wall, his heart jackrabbiting in his chest as he realizes that there’s not just one painting of him, there’s five, the portraits lined up like they’re some sort of storyboard depicting the rise and fall of his deepest love. His greatest heartache. A pain that cut him so deep that he left the fucking country, severing all ties with his life in New York, now suddenly surrounding him as if he’d never left.

Fucking shit motherfucker fuck.

Louis returns to New York City five years after he left it – and the love of his life – behind. He didn't intend to see Harry again, but fate has a funny way of pulling them together, whether they like it or not. After making a begrudging truce, they both start to wonder: Would it be so bad if history repeated itself?

⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

UN(RE)SO LVED. by daddyharrie

The ghoul boys are back, but this time around there are some unresolved feelings involved. Harry is a skeptic, Louis is not. Watch them go on their ongoing investigation into the question: are ghosts real?

Or, BuzzFeed Unsolved AU.

⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

Hate to Smoke (Without Me) by louhazpride

“For fuck’s sake,” he huffs, grabbing the pillow and pulling it on top of his head in an attempt to block out the banging coming from the other side of the wall.

It’s the third time this week that his neighbour has woken him up in the middle of the night with his little ‘rendezvous.’ Honestly, he's quite sick of it. There’s only so much sex he can bear to hear in one week and he has already hit his limit. If he wanted to listen to someone having sex, he’d turn to porn.

As if the noises weren’t enough, Harry immediately becomes aware of the faint aroma of weed filling his flat.

“I’m going to murder him.”

Sleep. Harry just wants one good night of sleep. However, his neighbour has a thing for headboard-banging-against-the-wall-sex every night. After a secret set-up and a bet, Harry may finally get the sleep he so much desires.

⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

Three Days in February by writing_practice

“We have to get out of here, outside,” Harry whispered, turning his hand in Louis’s grip to hold on and pull them both to their feet.

“And how do we fucking do that?” Louis hissed, carefully rising and pulling Harry to his feet before Harry could do it. His gaze darted to the front then back of the arena. “None of the doors are where they’re supposed to be.”

“What?” Harry looked around again too, couldn’t see any doors, only knew that they must be there, somewhere. “How do you know?”

Confusion slid over Louis's features.

“Because we’ve been here before, Haz. It’s the O2.”

The show. It must be the first night of their tour. They were too late; they were out of time.

Louis is cursed after a night out with the lads and the five have just three days to figure out what happened and how to break it before Harry and Louis both lose their sanity and maybe something more. Louis can hear everything Harry thinks and Harry isn’t sure he can keep his feelings for Louis a secret from his own mind.

Ridiculous amounts of banter and angst, a lot of Harry and Louis alone together, a healthy dose of OT5 friendship, and one very magical weekend.

⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

Coming Up For Air by stylinsoncity

It's a long plane ride to LA but sitting beside Harry makes time fly.

⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

I'd Give Up Everything Just Ask Me To by Rearviewdreamer

They don't usually exchange Christmas gifts, but this year is different. This year, Louis knows exactly what he wants to put under the tree to make his boyfriend smile. He just doesn't know how he's going to get it.

⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

bruise you like a peach by falsegoodnight

There’s two reasons Harry despises Econ.

The first is that it’s boring as fuck. The second reason is a bit more personal, a bit more focused in a way. As in it’s focused on one specific thing, or in his case, person.

His name is Louis Tomlinson.

Alternatively titled 'the peach fic.'

⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

Sometimes You Just Know by 2tiedships2

“Dear diary. Today is going to be a good day, and here’s why...”

“What are you doing?” Louis mumbled as he bit into a piece of toast.

“It’s been almost two years and today Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson reunite. Louis is very excited about…”

Louis’ chair screeched along the kitchen floor as he flew up out of his seat, quickly grabbing the paper from Niall’s grasp. As he scanned the page he found it amounted to lines of nothing.

“What is this?” Louis asked again. “We’ve discussed how Harry Styles will never be spoken of in this flat. I don’t care how long it’s been.”

Niall snatched the paper from Louis and proceeded to draw a line across the page before writing.

“Today is the day that he-who-shall-not-be-named is coming to dinner.”

Or the one where Harry and Louis don’t believe in soulmates… until they do.

⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

eyes off you by soldouthaz

“Just promise me you’ll do whatever it takes to keep us all safe while we’re in there,” Liam says.

Through the crack in the door, Louis can just barely make out the broad curve of Harry’s back, the slope of his curls as they tumble down all sleep-soft and lazy, and the sharp twist of his arm - all leading down to where he’s got his pointer and middle finger crossed over each other behind his back.

“I promise,” he tells Liam firmly, “I promise.”

or; a charlie’s angels inspired fic where louis is the brains, harry is the charm, liam is the muscle, and niall drives the getaway car - and zayn is there, too. sometimes.

⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

Welcome to The Rivalry by 2tiedships2

“Welcome home!” Niall yelled, clapping his hands in excitement. “Isn’t it great?”

Louis looked between Niall and the house, unsure how to respond.

“I don’t understand,” Louis finally managed to say. “Aren’t we a little old to be living so close to campus?”

Niall scoffed. “You’re only twenty-four for fuck’s sake. There is still plenty of partying left for us to do. What better place than one street over from where a car was set on fire after the Michigan game last year?”

“Is there proof of that? Did the car have Michigan plates or something? Is there a photo I can send in a DM to Wolfie?”

As if on cue, a Twitter notification popped up on Louis’ Apple watch. He had tweeted again.

Or a reverse You’ve Got Mail au inspired by the Ohio State/Michigan rivalry. Featuring duplex neighbors, (kind of) enemies to lovers, and an anonymous Twitter feud between omega Louis and alpha Harry.

⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

Cold Little Heart by seducedbycurls

Louis is a soft omega with an abusive past and an alpha child

A few months after getting a divorce, Louis meets Harry, an ex-military alpha wolf that offers him something -odd.

In exchange for teaching him how to cook, Harry will babysit his son, Abraham

Louis really could use the help.

⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ⋆*+･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:*⋆.*･ﾟ+.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

#fics #fic recs #2020 fics #2020 recap #fav fics

108 notes · View notes

blouisparadise · 4 years

Photo

Here are some of the amazing bottom Louis fics that were posted or completed during the month of September. We hope you enjoy this list. Happy reading!

1) Hard Candy Dripping On Me (Til My Feet Are Wet) | Explicit | 1997 words

Louis gets fucked on a plane. That’s it.

2) Fucking Nightmares | Mature | 2151 words

Louis has a nightmare. Harry comforts him.

3) You Could Take A Lick (But It's Too Cold To Bite) | Explicit | 2469 words

“You look kinda thirsty.” Louis croons softly.

Harry leans back in his chair and tilts his head to the side. His eyes are covered by the pair of expensive shades, but Louis feels his eyes drifting down his backside as he lays on his stomach.

“Why don’t you bring me a bit of that ice cream, darling?”

Louis and Harry have fun in a summer day.

4) Interview With The Vampire | Explicit | 4135 words

Note: The fic pairing is Louis/Robert Pattinson.

Working at an alpha magazine wasn't always easy for an omega like Louis, but he's just landed his biggest interview yet with an A list actor who has asked for Louis especially. Unfortunately, the interview is with Rob Pattinson, the biggest pain in the arse alpha on the planet.

Inspired by Rob’s interview in GQ Magazine and not actually about vampires

5) Conozco La Vida | Teen & Up | 4761 words

Note: This fic contains no explicit smut, but since it’s omega Louis, we’ve included it.

"I have a son," he declared, there was a very thinly veiled layer of hesitation.

Harry was unaware in the direction which this conversation was heading but chose to stare at the man instead.

"He is an Omega," he dropped the pivotal piece of information.

Harry's attention was hooked now.

"He has been raised in an Omega convent all his life, he hasn't been in the presence of any Alpha who isn't his immediate family."

"I am still waiting for you to make a point."

"You could take him as an Omega."

Harry did not react, his face remaining perfectly free of betrayal of any sort of emotion and leaned back upon his chair, his leg crossed upon his knee. "You are selling your son to me?"

6) It’s Hard For Me To Go Home | Not Rated | 4890 words

Don’t call me baby again.

7) So Baby, Let's Keep It Secret | Explicit | 4638 words

“I’ll leave with you,” Harry said after a beat, sounding sure of himself.

“What!? No!, you can’t leave with me, Harry, you have a life here. You have a job and friends an-”

Harry kissed him in the middle of his rambling. “Which means nothing if I don’t have you.”

Into You Music Video AU.

8) ZOMOS | Mature | 5659 words

Is it easy to forget everything and start afresh? Is it easy being served with hateful glances and insults when all you wish for is to be loved? Is it easy to make it seem like everything is alright when in reality your world is crumbling into pieces with every breath you take?

Is it easy to be the omega who is unwanted by their alpha?

9) Your Biggest Fan | Explicit | 9075 words

Just like everyone else, Louis has a few habits that he can’t seem to break. Guilty pleasures, rather. His nails are perpetually short because he can’t quit biting them, the bottom of his shoes scuffed from tapping his foot constantly. Sometimes his leg gets a cramp from bouncing it so often underneath his desk. That isn't too bad, he reckons, just some average teenage coping mechanisms.And also, occasionally, minor instances of theft.

10) Making A Splash | Explicit | 9557 words

“You want this?” Harry muses, fisting his cock as he drags his hand lazily up his thick length. Louis eyes the motion and nods his head absentmindedly. “You want to show everyone at this beach how much of a slut you are for Daddy’s cock?”

“M‘your slut,” Louis immediately replies, inching closer, inching closer with his eyes glued on Harry’s glistening cock, precome shining under the sun as it dribbles out his slit.

Harry grins widely and stops the movement of his hand to grip himself at the base again, pushing Louis’ head down. “Show everyone how much of a slut you are.”

11) Hung Up High in the Gallery | Mature | 14006 words

When Harry’s best friend, Louis, comes to support him at his art show, he decides they need to do some celebrating afterwards. How fast do the lines between friends and lovers get blurred ... or better, get painted?

12) My Home Is Your Body | Explicit | 15341 words

Note: The fic pairing is Louis/Henry Cavill.

He had seen who had made his senses go haywire. His ex was in the front row, five feet in front of him. He felt his eyes on him even as he mechanically made his way to the end of the runway, hoping to God he didn’t look like a maniac. Everything was a blur. He somehow managed to walk the rest of the way without falling or emoting anything. Why was he HERE? Of all places.

...where Louis is a successful omega model and the last thing he expects is his ex to become the co-partner of the new company he works for....

13) There's Nothing Like It (Nothing At All) | Explicit | 15471 words

Note: This is a sequel to this fic.

His hands are outstretched on the mattress like he’s reaching out for something, reaching out for Harry. It makes his heart swell, almost bursting with affection and love. He only waits a bit longer before reaching over to turn off the light and pulling Louis to his chest, smiling when the omega immediately sighs in contentment, nuzzling into his skin happily.Tomorrow, he tells himself. Tomorrow, they’ll talk about it.-Or, Harry isn’t ready for things to change, and the end is just the beginning.

14) Seven Simple Words | Explicit | 15535 words

It’s not like he and Louis were a couple. No, they might have been a lot of things—best mates and colleagues with a seemingly convenient friends-with-benefits arrangement—but never a couple. It wasn’t Louis’ fault he didn’t feel the same way and couldn’t reciprocate Harry’s feelings in the way he’d wanted, the way he’d needed. Harry had allowed himself to get in too deep, his entire being aching to be loved back by the object of his affections. But in love, as in life, you don’t always get what you want.

15) Works Like A Charm | Explicit | 18061 words

Ever since Louis joined the team in fifth year, a few facts have become set in stone.

One: Louis is the best chaser in Hogwarts.

Two: Harry is the best beater in Hogwarts.

Three: They do not get along.

So it’s really unfair of Liam to think that forcing them to spend time together as Louis recovers from his injury will make them the best of friends. The last thing Louis would do is get along with that git.

16) The Way This River Runs | Explicit | 27417 words

It’d be so easy to just open his mouth and plead with Harry, to scream I’m sorry until his voice disappears, but he can’t. Be it his pride or his ego or his insecurities, he just can’t do it. The worst part is that he knows Harry would probably forgive him.

But Louis doesn’t want phony forgiveness. He doesn’t want Harry’s soothing words and pity embrace, thinks he might just break altogether if he was offered them. He feels like he’s made of glass recently and it’s to the point where he kind of wants to tip over the edge, just to see if he’d shatter. Just to see who’d be there to pick up the pieces if he did.

17) Give Me Love | Explicit | 41041 words

Louis doesn't feel like a good omega, Harry doesn't remember how to be an alpha, and they figure it out together.

18) Falling Out Of Fashion | Explicit | 42123 words

Harry Styles has been the established face of the Grimshaw House of Design for two years. It’s a prestigious and coveted modeling contract Harry took away from once-famed supermodel Zayn Malik. With the model transition Grimshaw’s designs went from a more urban, Zayn-forward aesthetic, to a Harry-favoring flowery, flowing femininity in the Grimshaw designs for men.

So when Harry sees a dress Grimshaw made for a famous Marvel actress, “only a tease”, Nick says, of the evolving look, Harry knows Grimshaw is shifting his aesthetic.

Harry wonders if he can pull off the look.

19) Three Days In February | Explicit | 189346 words

Ridiculous amounts of banter and angst, a lot of Harry and Louis alone together, a healthy dose of OT5 friendship, and one very magical weekend.

20) Boss Bitch | Explicit | 386901 words

Harry had always wanted to work for this successful mafia; the mafia that everyone knew, everyone feared. Led by none other than the pahntom

"L'eue Courante", whom everyone knew existed, but had no other clues who this person could be. The only thing known was a high heel the phantom once left.

So this person had to be woman, Harry assumend. And man, was he wrong.

Check out our other fic rec lists by category here and by title here.

You can find other monthly roundup fic rec lists here.

#bottom louis #top harry #blp fic recs #monthly fic recs #fic recs #blp #larry

218 notes · View notes

hlupdate · 4 years

Link

Variety’s Grammy-nominated Hitmaker of the Year goes deep on the music industry, the great pause and finding his own muses.

“We’ll dance again,” Harry Styles coos, the Los Angeles sunshine peeking through his pandemic-shaggy hair just so. The singer, songwriter and actor — beloved and critically acclaimed thanks to his life-affirming year-old album, “Fine Line” — is lamenting that his Variety Hitmaker of the Year cover conversation has to be conducted over Zoom rather than in person. Even via videoconference, the Brit is effortlessly charming, as anyone who’s come within earshot of him would attest, but it quickly becomes clear that beneath that genial smile is a well-honed media strategy.

To wit: In an interview that appears a few days later announcing his investment in a new arena in his native Manchester (more on that in a bit), he repeats the refrain — “There will be a time we dance again”— referencing a much-needed return to live music and the promise of some 4,000 jobs for residents.

None of which is to suggest that Styles, 26, phones it in for interviews. Quite the opposite: He does very few, conceivably to give more of himself and not cheapen what is out there and also to use the publicity opportunity to indulge his other interests, like fashion. (Last month Styles became the first male to grace the cover of Vogue solo.) Still, it stings a little that a waltz with the former One Direction member may not come to pass on this album cycle — curse you, coronavirus.

Styles’ isolation has coincided with his maturation as an artist, a thespian and a person. With “Fine Line,” he’s proved himself a skilled lyricist with a tremendous ear for harmony and melody. In preparing for his role in Olivia Wilde’s period thriller “Don’t Worry Darling,” which is shooting outside Palm Springs, he found an outlet for expression in interpreting words on a page. And for the first time, he’s using his megaphone to speak out about social justice — inspired by the outpouring of support for Black people around the world following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police in May.

Styles has spent much of the past nine months at home in London, where life has slowed considerably. The time has allowed him to ponder such heady issues as his purpose on the earth. “It’s been a pause that I don’t know if I would have otherwise taken,” says Styles. “I think it’s been pretty good for me to have a kind of stop, to look and think about what it actually means to be an artist, what it means to do what we do and why we do it. I lean into moments like this — moments of uncertainty.”

In truth, while Styles has largely been keeping a low profile — his Love On Tour, due to kick off on April 15, was postponed in late March and is now scheduled to launch in February 2021 (whether it actually will remains to be seen) — his music has not. This is especially true in the U.S., where he’s notched two hit singles, “Adore You,” the second-most-played song at radio in 2020, and “Watermelon Sugar” (No. 22 on Variety’s year-end Hitmakers chart), with a third, “Golden,” already cresting the top 20 on the pop format. The massive cross-platform success of these songs means Styles has finally and decisively broken into the American market, maneuvering its web of gatekeepers to accumulate 6.2 million consumption units and rising.

Why do these particular songs resonate in 2020? Styles doesn’t have the faintest idea. While he acknowledges a “nursery rhyme” feel to “Watermelon Sugar” with its earwormy loop of a chorus, that’s about as much insight as he can offer. His longtime collaborator and friend Tom Hull, also known as the producer Kid Harpoon, offers this take: “There’s a lot of amazing things about that song, but what really stands out is the lyric. It’s not trying to hide or be clever. The simplicity of watermelon … there’s such a joy in it, [which] is a massive part of that song’s success.” Also, his kids love it. “I’ve never had a song connect with children in this way,” says Hull, whose credits include tunes by Shawn Mendes, Florence and the Machine and Calvin Harris. “I get sent videos all the time from friends of their kids singing. I have a 3-year-old and an 8-year-old, and they listen to it.”

Styles is quick to note that he doesn’t chase pop appeal when crafting songs. In fact, the times when he pondered or approved a purposeful tweak, like on his self-titled 2017 debut, still gnaw at him. “I love that album so much because it represents such a time in my life, but when I listen to it — sonically and lyrically, especially — I can hear places where I was playing it safe,” he says. “I was scared to get it wrong.”

Contemporary effects and on-trend beats hardly factor into Styles’ decision-making. He likes to focus on feelings — his own and his followers’ — and see himself on the other side of the velvet rope, an important distinction in his view. “People within [the industry] feel like they operate on a higher level of listening, and I like to make music from the point of being a fan of music,” Styles says. “Fans are the best A&R.”

This from someone who’s had free rein to pursue every musical whim, and hand in the album of his dreams in the form of “Fine Line.” Chart success makes it all the sweeter, but Styles insists that writing “for the right reasons” supersedes any commercial considerations. “There’s no part that feels, eh, icky — like it was made in the lab,” he says.

Styles has experience in this realm. As a graduate of the U.K. competition series “The X Factor,” where he and four other auditionees — Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson — were singled out by show creator and star judge Simon Cowell to conjoin as One Direction, he’s seen how the prefab pop machine works up close. The One Direction oeuvre, which counts some 42 million albums sold worldwide, includes songs written with such established hitmakers as Ryan Tedder, Savan Kotecha and Teddy Geiger. Being a studious, insatiable observer, Styles took it all in.

“I learned so much,” he says of the experience. “When we were in the band, I used to try and write with as many different people as I could. I wanted to practice — and I wrote a lot of bad shit.”

His bandmates also benefited from the pop star boot camp. The proof is in the relatively seamless solo transitions of at least three of its members — Payne, Malik and Horan in addition to Styles — each of whom has landed hit singles on charts in the U.K., the U.S. and beyond.

This departs from the typical trajectories of boy bands including New Kids on the Block and ’N Sync, which have all pro ered a star frontman. The thinking for decades was that a record company would be lucky to have one breakout solo career among the bunch.

Styles has plainly thought about this.

“When you look at the history of people coming out of bands and starting solo careers, they feel this need to apologize for being in the band. ‘Don’t worry, everyone, that wasn’t me! Now I get to do what I really want to do.’ But we loved being in the band,” he says. “I think there’s a wont to pit people against each other. And I think it’s never been about that for us. It’s about a next step in evolution. The fact that we’ve all achieved different things outside of the band says a lot about how hard we worked in it.”

Indeed, during the five-ish years that One Direction existed, Styles’ schedule involved the sort of nonstop international jet-setting that few get to see in a lifetime, never mind their teenage years. Between 2011 and 2015, One Direction’s tours pulled in north of $631 million in gross ticket sales, according to concert trade Pollstar, and the band was selling out stadiums worldwide by the time it entered its extended hiatus. Styles, too, had built up to playing arenas as a solo artist, engaging audiences with his colorful stage wear and banter and left-of-center choices for opening acts (a pre-Grammy-haul Kacey Musgraves in 2018; indie darlings King Princess and Jenny Lewis for his rescheduled 2021 run).

Stages of all sizes feel like home to Styles. He grew up in a suburb of Manchester, ground zero for some of the biggest British acts of the 1980s and ’90s, including Joy Division, New Order, the Smiths and Oasis, the latter of which broke the same year Styles was born. His parents were also music lovers. Styles’ father fed him a balanced diet of the Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, the Rolling Stones and Queen, while Mum was a fan of Shania Twain, Norah Jones and Savage Garden. “They’re all great melody writers,” says Styles of the acts’ musical throughline.

Stevie Nicks, who in the past has described “Fine Line” as Styles’ “Rumours,” referencing the Fleetwood Mac 1977 classic, sees him as a kindred spirit. “Harry writes and sings his songs about real experiences that seemingly happened yesterday,” she tells Variety. “He taps into real life. He doesn’t make up stories. He tells the truth, and that is what I do. ‘Fine Line’ has been my favorite record since it came out. It is his ‘Rumours.’ I told him that in a note on December 13, 2019 before he went on stage to play the ‘Fine Line’ album at the Forum. We cried. He sang those songs like he had sung them a thousand times. That’s a great songwriter and a great performer.”

“Harry’s playing and writing is instinctual,” adds Jonathan Wilson, a friend and peer who’s advised Styles on backing and session musicians. “He understands history and where to take the torch. You can see the thread of great British performers — from Bolan to Bowie — in his music.”

Also shaping his musical DNA was Manchester itself, the site of a 23,500-seat arena, dubbed Co-op Live, for which Styles is an investor and adviser. Oak View Group, a company specializing in live entertainment and global sports that was founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015 (Jeffrey Azoff, Irving’s son, represents Styles at Full Stop Management), is leading the effort to construct the venue. The project gained planning approval in September and is set to open in 2023, with its arrival representing a £350 million ($455 million) investment in the city. (Worth noting: Manchester is already home to an arena — the site of a 2017 bombing outside an Ariana Grande concert — and a football stadium, where One Love Manchester, an all-star benefit show to raise money for victims of the terrorist attack, took place.)

“I went to my first shows in Manchester,” Styles says of concerts paid for with money earned delivering newspapers for a supermarket called the Co-op. “My friends and I would go in on weekends. There’s so many amazing small venues, and music is such a massive part of the city. I think Manchester deserves it. It feels like a full-circle, coming-home thing to be doing this and to be able to give any kind of input. I’m incredibly proud. Hopefully they’ll let me play there at some point.”

Though Styles has owned properties in Los Angeles, his base for the foreseeable future is London. “I feel like my relationship with L.A. has changed a lot,” he explains. “I’ve kind of accepted that I don’t have to live here anymore; for a while I felt like I was supposed to. Like it meant things were going well. This happened, then you move to L.A.! But I don’t really want to.”

Is it any wonder? Between COVID and the turmoil in the U.S. spurred by the presidential election, Styles, like some 79 million American voters, is recovering from sticker shock over the bill of goods sold to them by the concept of democracy. “In general, as people, there’s a lack of empathy,” he observes. “We found this place that’s so divisive. We just don’t listen to each other anymore. And that’s quite scary.”

That belief prompted Styles to speak out publicly in the wake of George Floyd’s death. As protests in support of Black Lives Matter took to streets all over the world, for Styles, it triggered a period of introspection, as marked by an Instagram message (liked by 2.7 million users and counting) in which he declared: “I do things every day without fear, because I am privileged, and I am privileged every day because I am white. … Being not racist is not enough, we must be anti racist. Social change is enacted when a society mobilizes. I stand in solidarity with all of those protesting. I’m donating to help post bail for arrested organizers. Look inwards, educate yourself and others. LISTEN, READ, SHARE, DONATE and VOTE. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. BLACK LIVES MATTER.”

“Talking about race can be really uncomfortable for everyone,” Styles elaborates. “I had a realization that my own comfort in the conversation has nothing to do with the problem — like that’s not enough of a reason to not have a conversation. Looking back, I don’t think I’ve been outspoken enough in the past. Using that feeling has pushed me forward to being open and ready to learn. … How can I ensure from my side that in 20 years, the right things are still being done and the right people are getting the right opportunities? That it’s not a passing thing?”

His own record company — and corporate parent Sony Music Group, whose chairman, Rob Stringer, signed Styles in 2016 — has been grappling with these same questions as the industry has faced its own reckoning with race. At issue: inequality among the upper ranks (an oft-cited statistic: popular music is 80% Black, but the music business is 80% white); contracts rooted in a decades-old system that many say is set up to take advantage of artists, Black artists more unfairly than white; and the call for a return of master rights, an ownership model that is at the core of the business.

Styles acknowledges the fundamental imbalance in how a major label deal is structured — the record company takes on the financial risk while the artist is made to recoup money spent on the project before the act is considered profitable and earning royalties (typically at a 15% to 18% rate for the artist, while the label keeps and disburses the rest). “Historically, I can’t think of any industry that’s benefited more off of Black culture than music,” he says. “There are discussions that need to happen about this long history of not being paid fairly. It’s a time for listening, and hopefully, people will come out humbled, educated and willing to learn and change.”

By all accounts, Styles is a voracious reader, a movie lover and an aesthete. He stays in shape by adhering to a strict daily exercise routine. “I tried to keep up but didn’t last more than two weeks,” says Hull, Styles’ producer, with a laugh. “The discipline is terrifying.”

Of course, with the fashion world beckoning — Styles recently appeared in a film series for Gucci’s new collection that was co-directed by the fashion house’s creative director, Alessandro Michele, and Oscar winner Gus Van Sant — and a movie that’s set in the 1950s, maintaining that physique is part of the job. And he’s no stranger to visual continuity after appearing in Christopher Nolan’s epic “Dunkirk” and having to return to set for reshoots; his hair, which needed to be cut back to its circa 1940 form, is a constant topic of conversation among fans. This time, it’s the ink that poses a challenge. By Styles’ tally, he’s up to 60 tattoos, which require an hour in the makeup chair to cover up. “It’s the only time I really regret getting tattooed,” he says.

He shows no regret, however, when it comes to stylistic choices overall, and takes pride in his gender-agnostic portfolio, which includes wearing a Gucci dress on that Vogue cover— an image that incited conservative pundit Candace Owens to plead publicly to “bring back manly men.” In Styles’ view: “To not wear [something] because it’s females’ clothing, you shut out a whole world of great clothes. And I think what’s exciting about right now is you can wear what you like. It doesn’t have to be X or Y. Those lines are becoming more and more blurred.”

But acclaim, if you can believe it, is not top of mind for Styles. As far as the Grammys are concerned, Styles shrugs, “It’s never why I do anything.” His team and longtime label, however, had their hearts set on a showing at the Jan. 31 ceremony. Their investment in Styles has been substantial — not just monetarily but in carefully crafting his career in the wake of such icons as David Bowie, who released his final albums with the label. Hope at the company and in many fans’ hearts that Styles would receive an album of the year nomination did not come to pass. However, he was recognized in three categories, including best pop vocal album.

“It’s always nice to know that people like what you’re doing, but ultimately — and especially working in a subjective field — I don’t put too much weight on that stuff,” Styles says. “I think it’s important when making any kind of art to remove the ego from it.” Citing the painter Matisse, he adds: “It’s about the work that you do when you’re not expecting any applause.”

#harry styles #variety #021220

57 notes · View notes

stop-breaking-my-heart-telltale · 3 years

Text

Top 5 Dumbest Things in The Final Season

I’ve played TWDG a lot, and I can confidently say that The Final Season is my favorite installment, and I’d argue that it’s the best of the series in terms of visuals, controls, characters, and storyline... but that doesn’t mean it’s a perfect game by any means. In fact, there are a lot of issues and inconsistencies you could pick out within the story and the arcs of our characters.

But today I don’t wanna tackle the big problems. The issues on today’s list aren’t a big deal and won’t ruin the experience of the game-- they’re minor and just really, really dumb. They’re things that you probably wouldn’t even notice during your first or second playthrough of the game. Honestly, most of these probably could be easily explained with “shhhh, don’t think about it.”

But I’m thinkin’ about them because they’re dumb. So, here's my Top 5 dumbest things in TFS. Do note that these Top 5′s are all in good fun, and they’re my opinion. Obviously.

[also, most of the screenshots used here are from @pi-creates-- if you haven’t checked out Pi’s blog, I highly recommend you do! :D]

5. Doors make no sense.

The doors in this game are dumb and make little sense. And you might be scoffing like, “Really? Doors?” and to that I say, “YES DOORS OKAY!”

If you’re like me, you like to look at everything in hopes of finding interesting details and maybe an easter egg. If you look at the all the doors after breaking out of the dorm in ep1, they all have different locks which... why?

Wait, shouldn’t Clem be able to open this one...? The lock is right there on the outside.

Why are they different? Also, why are the dorms lockable from the outside? Like, okay, I get it-- ya gotta lock up the troubled youth so that they don’t escape. Fine. Cool, I can accept that... except does this mean that someone had to go around and unlock all the dorms every morning before the apocalypse? What if you forgot a door and a handful got stuck in there for the day? What happens if you lock all these children in their rooms and a fire starts??

And don’t you look at me and try to be like “Pfft, there’s not gonna be a fire--” excuse me?? With Aasim hanging around, and Mitch for that matter, you’re gonna tell me that the odds of fire happening are 0%?

Well, y’know, fine. If there’s a fire, then the kids can just escape through the windows... oh wait--

Weeeeeell fuck the troubled youth, I guess.

But the dorm doors aren’t even the dumbest doors here-- no, no. That would be the god damn basement door that apparently locks from both sides because game’s gotta game and I guess Marlon has the key?? This dumb door makes no sense.

Again! I feel like this is a safety hazard?? Sure hope no one gets locked down there, otherwise, you’re fucked I guess?? because there’s no way to unlock or open it from the inside?? After Brody dies and Clem’s looking for a way out, you’d think that she should be able to just open the door at the top of the stairs now that she’s inside but nooooo-- game’s gotta game.

Ugh, dumb doors!

4. Abel’s magic shotgun

Did you guys know that Abel actually has a special shotgun? A magical shotgun, if you will?

It’s true, he does. He uses a shotgun that, when he fires it, the buckshot curves around to hit the target when the plot demands it.

It’s true! And it’s dumb!

I know this, because if you yell for Violet to shoot Lilly in ep2, Abel will throw AJ to the grab, pull the shotgun out of nowhere, and fire at both her and Louis.... but somehow--

--only Louis manages to get hit.

Soooo.... I guess the buckshot swerves around and above Violet to ONLY hit Louis? Like, I know she ducks a bit but I still feel like something should’ve nicked her as well?? At least?? Like, are lesbians immune to shotguns and that’s why nothing hit Violet?? Am I only learning this now??

Not only that, but it only got Louis in the arm?? H-how??

But that’s not all!

After Louis and Violet flee the scene, Clementine and AJ are on the run with Lilly and Abel shooting BEHIND them... sooo...

If Abel was behind them.... how is it that AJ’s shot in the FRONT of his stomach??

Like, I guess Abel could’ve been at an angle when he shot but they only ever show him behind them soo?? Do I just not know how shotguns work? Do they curve to hit people in their front rather than shooting straight forward?? Because what??

On top of that, how is AJ not dead?? I know, I know, protagonist powers and whatnot but?? the boy took a shotgun to the belly?? other characters have survived lesser things??

But y’know, the dumbest part about this is the fact that I can’t take Abel’s magic shotgun for myself after the Ericson crew capture him. I could’ve just finished off every delta member if the shots curve and travel to hit their targets.

Or maybe Abel’s the only one who can harness its power.

Either way, Abel’s dumb shotgun is dumb.

3.You can’t hug Louis and Violet during their romance routes.

Sigh.... Why?

Y’all know that I’m a clouis shipper, and now lemme tell you a fun story that isn’t actually that fun-- Do you remember when the trailer dropped for ep3? And we got some teaser screenshots, with one of them being a shot of Clementine and Louis hugging? Well, I was excited for a plethora of reasons, and that hug?

I could not wait for this hug.

Then I got through my first run of ep3 and... no hug? Wait, no hug? Why not? I thought--

Oh. Oh, it turns out... it turns out you can only hug Louis if you don’t romance him.

Ummmm. Huh. Wha- why?? Do you know how dumb that is?? What dingus who worked on this episode forgot to implement the hug option for the romance route?? Rather, what dingus thought it was a good idea to only give the Louis romance two options outside of doing nothing-- Slap Louis, or kiss him?? Where’s my hug?? Why is Clementine not allowed to comfort her boyfriend with a hug when he’s clearly anxious about everything that’s about to go down?

Look, the smooch is great and all BUT it’s not what Louis needs in this moment, ya dingus.

I’m sure if I asked Kent for answers about this, he’d do one of two things-- go into a long winded essay about how the lack of hug and slapping him totally makes sense within the context of Louis’ character arc and route because of this and that and this subtle detail here... or he’d give a shrug and say “I dunno, reasons??”

Ugh, okay, well maybe they let you have the choice in Violet’s romance route--

...Why??

Again, if I choose to romance Violet, why am I not allowed to comfort my girlfriend with a hug before we do this rescue mission?? Sure, I can reassure her that I’m not going anywhere, which is definitely a better option for a love interest than, oh I don’t know, slapping. But the HUG!

They could’ve implemented the hug option into the romance routes but they didn’t and that’s incredibly dumb.

2. Magic tree is magic.

Know what I don’t like? The dream theory. Y’know, the theory that the overly happy ending we got at the end of TFS was all just a dream in AJ’s head to cope with the devastation of the real ending-- the one where Clementine died.

Now, I can already hear you scoffing at me once more like, “Dream theories are dumb, CJ.” and this time, I do agree with you.

However, there’s actually some compelling evidence that could subtly point at this theory, such as the backward graffiti in the dorms that was present in Clementine’s nightmare, or the fact that Clementine is, y’know, alive despite being seconds away from death in the barn...

Oh, and then there’s this fucking magic tree.

Oh, you know... the tree that magically grows in in ep4! The one with the tire swing!

Episode 3 vs Episode 4

This tree is dumb and makes no sense. What, did they just... plant a tree there? Did they push the tree up that was on the ground and use some magical wood glue to fix it?? Clementine said that Willy helped her with the tire swing so like... is Willy some sort of tree whisperer??

Or is this just further evidence of the dream theory where AJ’s lamenting the fact that Clementine never got to push him on the tire swing back at the train station and now she never will because she’s fucking dead??

I don’t wanna think about it. In fact, I’m pretty sure that’s what the devs would tell me-- “Shhhh... don’t think about it.”

This tree is dumb!

1. What even is the greenhouse??

So.... the green house. It’s dumb. And inconsistent, both in the story and actual location of it.

First of all, as you can see in the concept image above, it should be within the walls of Ericson, yeah? And if you’re like, “Well, it’s CONCEPT art so it might not be totally accurate CJ.” and I say, “Fair enough, let’s look that the actual in-game map the characters use then.”

Look at that-- still within the walls of Ericson, though in a different location than the concept art. Make sense? Sooo....

Where the hell is it?

Because it’s not within Ericson’s walls. No, no--

It is WAAAAY the hell out here! You can see the bell tower in the distance so like... huh? Where are we?? This is a long as walk to the greenhouse!

Oh, and if the weird inconsistent locations weren’t dumb enough, there are different conflicting stories surrounding it, as well!

First, Marlon says that they had it functional with lots of vegetables, but then it became over grown so they don’t go out there anymore. Then, if you go fishing with Violet and Brody, Vi will tell you she worked in the greenhouse the day the twins were killed last year, which... doesn’t add up? Especially when we actually go there in ep2 and see that Ms. Martin died and became a walker inside, but she died a while ago??

Also, how did Ms. Martin get tied up like that? Did she get bit, barricade the doors-- wait, that doesn’t work because how did she barricade the science lab from the inside when there’s a shelf in front of the door?? In fact, shouldn’t the walkers that are inside be students that died??

“Sshhhh... don’t think about it.”

Ugh, nothing adds up about this greenhouse and that makes it the dumbest thing in TFS.

---

Honorable Mentions

AJ magically teleporting behind Marlon with the gun. Because plot.

The dumb padlock on the gate Louis/Violet/Tenn climb over in ep4 that they could’ve easily broken

Louis’ jacket that somehow holds Chairles

The padding on Violet’s boot that’s rendered useless because they put it on the leg she doesn’t use to kick walkers away

---

Those are my Top 5 dumbest things in TFS, do you agree or disagree? Do you have anything from this game that’s dumber than what I have listed? Let me know!

Next week’s T5F Top 5 Characters in ANF Who Would’ve Made Better Love Interests Than Kate

#twdg t5f #twdg #twdg clementine #twdg aj #twdg louis #twdg violet #twdg lilly #twdg abel #twdg marlon #twdg aasim #twdg mitch #twdg tfs

29 notes · View notes

hldailyupdate · 4 years

Text

This Charming Man: Why We’re Wild About Harry Styles

Variety’s Grammy-nominated Hitmaker of the Year goes deep on the music industry, the great pause and finding his own muses.

Styles has plainly thought about this.

Harry for Variety. (2 December 2020)

#harry styles #harry update #article #variety #hldaily #December 2020

48 notes · View notes

twopoppies · 4 years

Note

Hi Gina! I loved your 2019 ficrec! I was wondering if you knew of any other fics that focus on embarrassment kink (sonic sounds, only write by the moon, in this dress etc)? Thank you and love you!

Oh, thank you! I’m so glad you found some fics you loved! As for your excellent request, I don’t know if I have a lot, but I definitely have some that at least feature that kink.

Let’s start with the three you mention for those who haven’t read them:

Sonic Sounds by glasscushion (E, 6K) So, so smutty and such a sexy exploration of kink discovery.

Only Write By The Moon by glasscushion (E, 5K) This is basically pure smut, but this author has such a beautiful way with words…even smut sounds poetic.

in this dress by cabinbythesea (NR, 5K) Godddd…this one is really, really so gritty and sexy. I really loved the push and pull flirting Harry does in this one. And of course, I can’t resist a fic with Harry in a dress inspired by the Lights Up director’s cut. Side note, there’s some steamy smut, even though it’s NR.

And then some others that I hope give you a similar feel:

Allegro/Adagio by coffinofachimera (E, 9K) everything I’ve read from this author has been so beautifully written, and this is no exception. Yes, it’s filthy, but they give such depth to the characters’ reasons for the way they “play”. And this is one of the rare fics that really take us through the build up to the scene, straight through to aftercare. I really loved this one.

Hike Up Your Skirt (And Show Your World To Me) by Anonymous (E, 18K) make sure you read the tags on this one because it’s not exactly a “romance” and Louis is definitely super manipulative. But if you like the idea of secretary Harry in lingerie, CEO Louis, copious amounts of dirty talk, some power imbalance, and exhibitionism… this could be for you.

But When We Kiss… by @indiaalphawhiskey (E, 8K) At last this author has graced us with another fic and it’s a filthy, fantastic Sugar Baby Harry fic. Hallelujah! But seriously, their writing is so good, the dynamics are so hot, and Harry is just the perfect kind of desperate in this one. Go read it!

do you know me by heart by HappyPrincess / @pattern-pals (E, 7K) Read the tags on this one because it’s really visceral, raw, and real. The writing was intense in the best of ways, but this is not a fluffy fic.

i cannot reach your heart by HappyPrincess / @pattern-pals (E, 10K) This is the second part to the one just above and it’s equally as well written, and has just a hint more happiness for these characters.

come and lay down your shoulder by HappyPrincess / @pattern-pals (E, 4K) This was such a nice mix of sadness, neediness, and being with someone who understands you and whom you understand. Like, you know them so well, even if you’re not together anymore.

we can take the long way home by eleadore (E, 27K) Ok, this isn’t actually ABO, it’s a canon divergent future fic where Louis is a “carrier”, but I’m including it because it’s a little bit like ABO and it’s just SO good. It’s beautifully written (like everything this author does), so well-paced, and I just find the way their relationship is written to be so touching and realistic.

Hello Heaven (you are tunnel-lined with yellow lights) by objectlesson (E, 3K) Baby boyfriends discovering kinks. Lingerie, embarrassment, feminization….plus really good writing. Link is to a download.

Vinyl and Lace by objectlesson (E, 8K) Similar theme to the one above, but fleshed out more. Always excellent writing and pacing. Their smut is always terrific. Like is to a download.

use somebody by istajmaal (E, 5K) Oh I love this one, even if it involved a threesome with Nick Grimshaw. Mostly I love getting to see Harry and Louis’ relationship through his eyes. But also the smut is stupid hot.

leave you drowning until you reach for my hand by orphan_account (E, 17K) This one is actually one of my favorites because it goes beyond the smut factor of this kink and really gives you a taste of the needs and psychological factors involved. But don’t get me wrong! It’s still hot af!

that boy’s got my heart in a silver cage by orphan_account (E, 4K) Flustered, overwhelmed subby Harry just starting to figure out that what he wants most is to please Louis.

I’d Do Niall by alongthewatchtower (E, 8K) I know this fic isn’t for everyone and I also know it’s pure filth. But I love everything about it. Dirty talk, Harry in panties, overwhelmed Harry, Niall trying it and not knocking it, Dom Louis vibes…all the good stuff. LOL! This author also has a handful of others that I’m a big fan of.

honey is it time to spin by alongthewatchtower (NR, 4K) I mean…pure filth. Strangers to lovers, age difference, messy subby Harry. Filth.

skip a beat and move with my body by crybaby (E, 6K) I don’t even know how to sum this up. It’s a whole lot of Harry being used, talked about like he’s not there, doing his best to please, and having a threesome with Louis and Zayn. It’s a lot.

Lay So Still by yougotmetieddown (E, 3K) Basically just Harry wanting to be used and Louis giving him what he wants. Whew.

Born to Make You Happy by objectlesson (E, 26K) This author writes some of the best xfactor canon fic out there. The way they write Harry is in this one gives you such a real sense of him in all his awkwardness and intense infatuation for Louis. That Harry would do anything to make Louis notice him. Even if that means embarrassing himself. Link is to a download.

#Anonymous #embarrassment kink #humiliation kink #my fic rec #larry fic rec

328 notes · View notes

one-d-library · 4 years

Text

Highschool AU (2)

*sighs in july 23rd is over*

i’ll breathe your air into my lungs by blizzies {teen and up, 5k, punk!Harry, drama kid!Louis, fluff, established relationship}

five phases of their relationship in a world where harry smokes a lot and skips school and hates everyone except his boyfriend and louis is in plays and is loved by everyone and they work even though nobody gets how.

Skip A Heartbeat by fackinglouis {teen and up, 8k, pining, fluff, OT5 involvement/friendship}

He shoots Harry a glare over the rim of his cup and sneers. "Filthy hipster. Look Harry," Louis teases and swallows a mouthful of scalding tea. "I drank my tea before it was cool. Can we be friends now?" His tongue really hurts now, but it's definitely worth it when Harry scowls in return.

Or the one where Louis actually hates Harry Styles, but also sort of loves him too.

you and me were kings by ithacas (orphan_account) {not rated, 28k, football player!Harry, small town AU, OT5 involvement + friendship}

harry plays football in a small town in west texas. louis might be the only person that doesn’t give a damn. au.

little wings on my shoes by juliusschmidt {mature, 39k, OT5 friendship, coming out, homophobia, first time, smut, fluff}

You have C Lunch?” Louis asks, peering over at Harry's work. The problem Harry’s just finished is printed neatly, the correct answer circled. Harry’s finger marks the next problem in his book as he copies it onto the page. It doesn’t look like he’s stealing the answers out of the back. Nice.

He’s dimpled and smart.

And probably gay.

[The American High School AU in which no one is cool (except Niall) and Harry wears a rainbow bracelet.]

Just a Flower Boy by Larryruinedme {not rated, 70k, 15 chapters, homophobia, popular!Louis, nerd!Harry, secret crushes, pining, fluff, smut}

Harry Styles is a clumsy, flower crown-wearing, openly gay junior with only two true friends, Niall and Zayn. Louis Tomlinson is the school's attractive, straight football captain, with a small body and a big personality. As fate will have it, Harry has a huge, unrequited, utterly hopeless crush on Louis.

Fate is thrown out the window the day that Harry and Louis find themselves partnered up for a history project. Harry starts to receive notes from a secret admirer, Louis starts to get jealous of Harry's budding friendship with senior Nick Grimshaw, Zayn and Liam develop a thing for each other, and Niall is the best mate anyone could have asked for. And suddenly, Harry's crush on Louis doesn't seem so utterly hopeless anymore.

Baby Heaven’s in your Eyes by theboyfriendstagram {explicit, 120k, 24 chapters, highshool AU, punk!Harry, rich!Louis, hate to love, partying, homophobia, awakening, side ziam, smut, fluff, OT5 friendship}

They couldn’t be more different if they tried. Louis Tomlinson is 17 years old and in his last year of the most prestigious private school in Doncaster. If there’s one thing that completely annoys him, it’s that there is a poor community college right across the street.

Harry Styles is 19 years old, and (once again) in his last year of college. He goes to community college in Doncaster. He never shows up to classes and if he actually bothers to, he’s either high or drunk; sometimes both. His skin is littered with tattoos and if there’s one thing he absolutely hates, it’s the snobby students attending the private school right across from his.

Or a sixth form!AU where Harry is the fucked up bad boy with too many problems, Louis is the perfect rich boy with too much money and their schools are right across from each other. They meet at a party and that’s the last (and maybe the only) thing they need.

more fic recs can be found here!

#highschoolau

4 notes · View notes

taromilkmagic · 5 years

Text

Notes: Cursed Child NY 27 November 2019

My first time watching CC was in Melbourne during previews, and I had an amazing time. A few months later I absorbed myself in the cc fandom here and on twitter and I became more and more obsessed with the incredible casts and crew that are a part of this amazing production all over the world. So yesterday, I finally treated myself to a second viewing of HPCC, but this time with NY Cast 2. I was taking frantic notes in between parts because I wanted to unpack and reflect over it, but when I first saw the play I wasn’t as absorbed into the fandom, so there may be things that are obvious that I’m finding new. Anyway if you’re interested in reading my thoughts on this cast/performance and how I found it different to Melbourne I’ve dumped a rant below...

Part One

Act 1

Nick Albus looking at his family and smiling, so excitedly, when they are about to enter platform 9 3/4, is everything I need in my life. But it really is heartbreaking to watching Albus’s progression from excited and hopeful to isolated and resentful.

Everyone in the background at the station is captivated by Matt Ron’s trick. This time around, I noticed that they are all incredibly grossed out when Ron plucks Lily’s ‘nose’ from his behind (accompanied by a loud fart noise), simultaneously leaning away from the Potters and Granger-Weasleys. It’s these little extra details that really lift the comedy in the show for me.

Bubba Scorpius is anxious and tense, but in a quiet/soft way. While I remember Will having very frantic nervous energy, Bubba is much more reserved and closed in on himself—both emotionally, but also physically. He is permanently hunched over and withdrawn, and his movements are smaller—not as wild— and stiffer than Will McKenna’s (James Snyder does a good approximation of this in the Polyjuice scene). When Scorpius is being sorted, he clenches and unclenches his hands. Then, when the sorting hat declares SLYTHERIN! he slowly closes his eyes. Rather than going ‘oh, as expected!’ like Will does with his head tilt and eye-roll, Bubba Scorp seems a combination of relieved and resigned.

As a sidenote, Bubba was staring emptily in my direction at the start of third year while taking to Albus. So I was a crying mess, but I also felt extremely uncomfortable because it felt like he was looking directly at me with his sad eyes 😂

Something that struck me about Nadia’s and Jenny’s Rose and Hermione: the similarities in how they carry themselves and the way they speak. They both radiate fast-paced Type A energy and you can tell that Rose is every bit like Hermione by her brisk mannerisms and alert eyes.

Jenny’s Hermione has a mischievous streak that isn’t as obvious in Paula’s drier, authoritative Hermione (disclaimer: I love them both). In Harry’s office, the toffee line is sung in an enticing tone. Tof-fee? Translation: Are you sure you don’t want one? Apparently, Jenny was quieter than usual during this performance, but I have to say that I didn’t notice this at all. As my first introduction to her Hermione she was both vibrant and funny.

Nick Albus and Bubba Scorp are much more tactile than Will and Sean (at least compared to when I saw the Melbourne cast in previews). Some moments that stood out — Nick touches Bubba’s shoulders and back a LOT, including on the train at the start of their third year, and then at the start of fourth year when he escapes Rose’s efforts to (re) befriend him and plunges into Scorpius’ train compartment.

Another instance of cute Bubba-Nick Scorbusness in the visit to St Oswald’s. Scorpius stands directly behind Albus, turned toward the audience and away from Amos, for most of the conversation. He flinches away several times when Amos is talking, essentially sheltering behind Albus. Have I talked enough about how Bubba’s Scorpius really is adorably awkward? When Albus earnestly assures Amos that they know about the danger they’re about to embark on, Scorpius leans in to Albus and says “Do weee?” Albus turns around, and Scorpius immediately spins around and peers at the wall details—he even squeaks Oh LoOk!! (*in small twitter font). Overall, Bubba Scorp feels vulnerable—more vulnerable than Will!Scorp, who is a bit of a drama queen at times—and must be protected at all costs.

Right before drinking his Polyjuice, Bubba did his trademark forehead shzzzzap, and it was art.

Act 2

When Albus and Scorpius decide that Delphi should not travel back to the first task with them, and Delphi is storming off after kissing Albus, Sara and Bubba do that thing where they both almost run into each other and block each other, then feint/dodge in the same direction as each other twice. Bubba Scorp says “OHkay!” in an exasperated voice before going around her. It was an incredibly awkward and funny moment and you could feel the tension between Scorpius and Delphi.

The Edge of the Forest scene was beautiful, as always. I didn’t notice this but at stage-door Nick told me that he stuttered and struggled to say “Look-L-look its-look it’s Hogwarts.” And then he said that Bubba was side-eyeing him like >_> the whole time. Bubba definitely seems like the sort of person who would passive-aggressively judge you at your worst moments, but I love him anyway.

Interestingly, the lighting is different here compared to the Melbourne production. The theatre is lit up with soft golden lights which make it sort of look like golden hour, casting everything in a comforting glow. In the Princess theatre, they go for a more literal Hogwarts-through-the-trees, with gorgeous dappled shadows on vibrant blue and orange stained glass windows. Both of these work wonderfully.

In Dragons, James Romney’s Slytherin student being in the wrong House section and having to squish through everyone was very funny. Kevin Reyes as [Craig Bowker Sr?] was doing something funny in the crowd during the first task as well but I can’t remember it for the life of me sadly. But it made me realise how amazing and constantly on point every single member of the cast is, even when the spotlight isn’t on them. Sitting in row D was a massive change from being in the balcony in Melbourne, and it made me realise and appreciate the actors who are carrying out their own stories in the background.

Nick’s Albus looks both a little put out and surprised when Hogwarts’ audience has a mixed response to Harry in the first task.

Interestingly, James Brown III’s Bane is more human than horse here than Melbourne Bane (MelBane?), who would neigh and snort every few sentences. The only horse noise he makes is a loud snort as he backed away into the shadows.

Albus was having nightmares in the hospital wing during Harry’s conversation with Dumbledore. Several times, he mumbles “Dad?” in his sleep as he tosses and turns. It’s actually kind of heartbreaking.

James Synder and Nick Podany both pretend to eat the chocolate. The chocolate itself is fake and a Lie. I just thought everyone should know that.

There is a noticeable difference between Paula’s Hermione and Jenny’s Hermione in the first AU, particularly the DADA classroom. Jenny is much more aggressive and explosive, getting in Ravenclaw girl’s face with a loud nOOO??!!? Her soft, dangerously cold voice was terrifying and a different take to Paula’s terse, irritated, authoritative tone. This AU Hermione seems angry and vindictive, rather than just disillusioned and bitter. In Melbourne, Paula presented her AU Hermione as a possible version of the same person—someone who could grow more and more unhappy with the world over the years. Jenny’s AU Hermione was different; her energy simply felt so wrong and at odds with her usual character, and I think this performance emphasised how unnatural and completely off the new timeline itself is. It definitely made me empathise with how shocked and bewildered Albus would have been, and it reminded me of my experience reading the script for the first time as it gradually dawned on me how messed up the timeline had actually become.

Staircase Ballet in New York made me just as emotional as it did in Melbourne. I don’t think that scene will ever get old for me. Bubba did some incredible face-acting that I was glad to be able to see from my seat. His Scorpius really looks completely broken and despondent as he stares downwards and then, later, at Albus.

Sara’s Delphi is soft (wait what?? I know...) when she speaks to Scorpius about him and Albus. Madeleine Jones had more of a “silly billy, of course you should just talk to him, he’s your best friend!!” big sister vibe when I saw her in Melbourne—gentle, but talking down a little bit (still in a friendly way). This Delphi is much softer, which only makes the reveal more shocking and upsetting when she later reveals her real motives.

Bubba Scorp blowing Polly Chapman a kiss twice in a row to distract her from Delphi under his cloak was so LOUD and breathy and cringe that I may have died from second-hand embarrassment.

The library confrontation! Incredible! @lumoshyperion observed something about Melbourne’s Louis!Scorp in her (incredibly detailed and poetic) review/recap, where he falters and holds himself back at the end of each sentence or phrase during the library confrontation. This was definitely true of Bubba as well! He would sort of trail off and fade away as he spoke, rather than crescendoing continuously to a shout.

When McGonagall came into the library and the two boys were hiding, Nick SKIDDED across the stage and FELL flat on his face, knocking a chair over. It looked really painful and I was like 😶. I asked him about this at SD after, and he said he was okay but that he and Bubba immediately started laughing while they were hiding under the invisibility cloak. After McGonagall left, Bubba casually put the chair back up right before he sat down.

The two boys were both vigorously wiping their eyes during the library confrontation. When Nick hugged Bubba, Bubba made a 😬 and stuck his arms out straight.

When Draco said “The girls’ bathroom on the third floo...ooorwhat on earth would they be doing there.......”, it was so ridiculously deadpan and disappointed and exasperated all at once. I haven’t written many notes on him but Jonno truly is an amazing Draco.

Being from a close seat this time, I was able to see the second task. It definitely didn’t look like a projection this time and that made it feel much more dynamic and engaging.

Bubba Scorp gets immediately self-conscious after the “Consider me engorg-impressed” joke and steps quickly back from Albus and the sink (where he was casually leaning), wrapping his robes around him tightly.

Lauren Myrtle was hilarious as I assume is usual. Lauren’s Myrtle did that thing where she poked at Harry with her foot with every word she said. He flinched back every time, it was hilarious. Diane did a full flinch and staggered back four feet from Myrtle’s hISSSS.

Lauren looked upside down—DIRECTLY at Albus—when she said the “....and BOYS” line, and Albus immediately started fidgeting with his hair, with his hands behind his head. HE KNOWS THAT SHE KNOWS. In general, Lauren’s Myrtle was just as hilarious as Gillian, although a lot growlier. There was, as there was in Melbourne, a large round of applause as the second task began, presumably for Myrtle!

I realise I have zero notes about any of the 'adult’ characters but they are just all-around excellence anyway so there’s not that much to say. Matt Mueller is a fantastic Ron, but very different to Gyton. He’s just as cheesy and cheerful, but not as jolly and laidback (if that makes sense...it’s a little hard to describe). Diane Davis as Ginny is Soft™, and very clearly understanding and caring. It’s easy to see that Harry depends on her as a source of advice, wisdom and emotional support. She generally doesn’t “roar” like Lucy Goleby’s Ginny does, so when she shouts it tends to come out in one angry punch—i.e. “My son is missing!” “SO is MINE!” (as opposed to SO!!! IS!!! MINE!!!!). As for James Snyder’s Harry, his anger and frustration in the alternate timeline is scarily believable, and it’s upsetting to see how it affects Albus and Ginny. It made me think of Angery Harry in Order of the Phoenix (I’m not @ing the people who say Cursed Child Harry is OOC, but...maybe I am). His American accent popped in a few times, but I barely noticed it and he was such an incredible Harry that I did not care in the slightest. The woman next to me was marvelling at how much he resembled Daniel Radcliffe, but to me this wasn’t even a fraction of why he felt like an authentic and well portrayed Harry.

Part Two

I have much less notes for Part 2. Part of this is because I was too much of a weepy mess being swept up by the art of Bubba and Nick’s Scorbus and part of it is because my phone died. I hope you enjoy what I DO have though!

Act 3

After being assigned this investigation, I can report that I am pretty sure I saw Bubba drool (?????) in the Dark AU office scene and I don’t know why or how or what... I didn’t even know this was a thing that happened on the daily but yes, yes it did. If anyone can provide more information on this... And yes, Bubba did look amazing in the Dark AU outfit. Thank you for the warning. I was still unprepared.

Spinella Snape was great! He has the deep voice down, and the dryness was Dry. Something interesting that happened in the Snape classroom scene is after he opens the secret passage in the chalkboard, Snape takes Scorp by the shoulders and gently guides him toward it. It’s a surprisingly protective and ~mentorly~ action and it reminded me a little of Snape getting in front of the Golden Trio in the PoA movie. ~Obviously~, Snape is a terrible person. But I guess he’s also capable of looking out for others! Stephen Spinella did an incredible job at actually endearing his character to me.

Ron fumbling with the wand for ages before pointing it at Scorp in the Dark AU. Unlike Gyton (and the script), Matt didn’t point it at himself this time. But he fumbled with his jacket a ridiculous amount before finding his wand and it got a lot of laughs, including from me!

Bubba was so out of breath after getting out of the pool that he had to take a long pause between the first “Harry!!!!” And “HARRRYYY POTTERRRR!”

Fiona Reid’s Petunia, in the graveyard scene, was visibly emotional. You could hear her voice getting choked up as she thought about Lily. I didn’t pick this up the first time I watched the show, but here I got it and I even teared up a little.

The jump scare GOT ME.

During the Slytherin Dorm scene, Bubba Scorp leaned over the top of Albus’ bed and yelled directly over his face to wake him up. This was both hilarious and adorable. And Malfoy the Unanxious: this whole scene was pure gold. Bubba doing weird hip-swaying dances in the air on tippy toes. Bubba waving his hands in weird and wild gesticulations (a contrast accentuated by how stiff and closed up he was prior to this). Aaah. He must be protected at all costs.

Bubba said the ‘It’s time that time turning became a thing of the past” line very solemnly, and leaning in very close to Albus’s face (!) rather than standing (sitting?) next to him and gesturing proudly, which is what I remember from Melbourne. It’s an interesting take and a more serious one. It’s also more Scorbusy, so I’m not complaining.

When Harry and Ginny and Draco walk in on Ron and Hermione kissing, Diane Ginny said OH! really loudly and, without a pause in her stride, immediately circled around and started to leave 😂

Jonno Draco acted so disgruntled when Specialis Revelio didn’t work. It was hilarious how grumpy he sounded when he said it was worth a try

Sara’s Delphini was much more menacing than I remember from Melbourne. I think what Madeleine did great in Melbourne is make Delphini seem like Ralph Fiennes’s Voldemort — powerful, ambitious, confident, a little bit dramatic. She DECLARED her lines: it was very Shakespearean. Sara was more sneaky and sinister. You get a sense of how she easily tricked Albus and Scorpius. Also, when she was mocking Albus for being naive, she did the little leg-kick dance that she did when she was saying he was becoming quite some wizard. I don’t remember if this is something that always happens with her or with other casts, but this is the first time I was paying close enough attention to notice it and I got CHILLS at the return. Sara’s Delphini is just that sinister and bone-chillingly terrifying.

Act 4

I have a lot of Feelings about Part 4, but not many details, sadly. Mostly because I was too absorbed by the incredible acting by everyone on stage.

James Snyder jumped around a lot when he said “Clever boy left me a message!” and it was such a pure and adorable move compared to his previous Angst that the audience laughed and cheered.

Jonno was wiping his eyes a LOT in the scene in Harry’s office. Several times, as Draco spoke about Astoria and her death, he got so choked up that he had to pause and take a breath before going on. It was a teary scene for all involved and a great testament to Jonno’s acting ability.

Since we’re on Jonno, his delivery of “Look at the thatched roofs.......and......is that a farmer’s market?” SENT ME. He genuinely sounded kind of intrigued, interested and hopeful. I guess Joward Draco isn’t the only one who loves a good farmer’s market.

When Draco and Scorpius hugged in Godric’s Hollow, they hugged for a long time. He held onto Scorpius for a long time after, repeatedly craning his neck to be closer and holding him close as if afraid to let go again. Throughout subsequent scenes, Jonno kept his hand firmly on Bubba’s arm/inner elbow. You can see how shaken Draco was at losing Scorpius, and how fiercely protective he is now that he has his son back.

When Nick hugged Diane from her side, sitting on the bench in St Jerome’s, he knocked her down a little and she said oH! as she lost her balance. It was such a spontaneous moment and showcased the bond between Albus and his mum.

In the second to last scene, and perhaps most importantly in this entire recap...When Nick Albus says: “You better ask Rose if that’s the right thing to do!” (in response to “this new version of us”), Bubba keeps his hands firmly gripped on Nick’s arms, and stares at his face for a full three seconds before going “oh-ahaha...yeah!” and laughing awkwardly. Then, when he goes off and the stairs start spinning to bring Nick into the Nice Day scene, Nick keeps his head facing to the side where Bubba had exited—Albus’ gaze lingering distantly on Scorpius. Not saying Scorbus is canon (I really am), but Bubba Scorp’s last scene presented him as a very believable Confused Bisexual.

Finally: Nick and James rushing into a hug right as the lights went down.

“We almost broke like four times” — Nicholas Podany, 2019, on his scenes with Bubba. We are so blessed to have them.

#ccsquad #harry potter and the cursed child #cursed child #cursedchildnyc #albus potter #scorpius malfoy #scorbus #nick podany #bubba weiler #jonno roberts #draco the penguin #nadia brown #cursed child review #broadway #jenny jules

42 notes · View notes

blouisparadise · 4 years

Photo

Here are some amazing bottom Louis fics posted or completed during the month of August. We really hope you enjoy this list and that you give these fics a lot of love.

Happy reading!

1) Move Out | Explicit | 1525 words

Harry and Louis are moving in together, so they might as well make the most of Harry's apartment.

2) Take Off Your Business Suit | Explicit | 3082 words

“Yes, let me get another chair.” Louis said, leaning up off of the desk. He stood up but before he could leave the office to get another chair, Harry was grabbing his hand.

The words that came out of Harry’s mouth made Louis’ knees weak and heart beat quicken. “Just sit on my lap.” Harry said. Whatever he said afterwards didn’t make it into Louis’ ears as he was moving quickly over to Harry and placing himself on Harry’s lap.Louis would take anything Harry wanted to give him; hand touching, lap sitting, all of it.

Louis hadn't realized he was holding his breath until it came out in a quiet sigh. “Okay so th-this one will be slightly different right?” He asked as he pointed at the sheet of paper in front of him.

3) So Good, It's Making Me Drool | Explicit | 3364 words

He kept his back turned to Harry, whispering the few words he knew that would make Harry go absolutely wild. “If I’m only yours, maybe you should take me to bed and teach me who I belong to.”

4) What I Like | Explicit | 4245 words

Note: This fic has mentions of BH.

Harry gets tired of the "older women" jokes and the incessant teasing from Louis.

5) ll Belong To Your Creation | General Audiences | 4349words

Louis had always thought it was impossible to do so. Thankfully, upon doing research he learned that he still can as long as there are no complications throughout the whole pregnancy. He also stumble upon a birth vlog where a mum was able to give birth naturally even after going through c-section with her first and second pregnancy.

6) An Axolotl and the Fake Date | Explicit | 5976 words

Harry runs a stall at a farmers market every weekend and Louis comes by one day with an odd request.

7) Feels So Right | Explicit | 8804 words

The one where Louis is Troy, Harry is Gabriella, and we find out what really happened after karaoke at that ski resort...

8) Giallo! | Mature | 9776 words

Louis was a mess. A stuttery mess of weak knees and grass stains on his fresh linen clothes, his cheeks blooming a natural pink that matched his sunburnt nose. Upon his return from University, his family abandon the bustling city of London to bask in the comfort of their summer villa. With such a property came maintenance, Louis' father hired a strapping young fellow with tanned skin littered with ink and a charming smile aided by dimples in both his cheeks. Between reading, baking and painting, Louis stares at Harry, he couldn't help it. They grow close under the sun of Greece in 1989.

9) Interlude: One Night in March | Explicit | 10671 words

Note: This is a sequel to this fic.

“Said I would, didn’t I?” Harry let his hands roam over Louis’s bare back, his muscles rippling with that same frenetic energy he always had, swirling just beneath the skin, just beneath Harry’s fingers. “May come a time I’ll have to carry you again.”

Cupping the back of his head and burying his fingers in Louis’s hair, he pulled Louis back into another deep kiss, moaned a bit when Louis squeezed his chest again, harder this time, like he wanted the shirt off. But instead he drew his hand down Harry’s side and tugged at the hem, as though to say best keep this on, before he licked into Harry’s mouth, drew Harry’s tongue out to play only to pull back enough to speak.

“May come a time I’ll actually fucking let you.”

10) Hate To Smoke (Without Me) | Mature | 12164 words

11) Call You Mine | Explicit | 12755 words

“I have a request.”

That’s what Louis Tomlinson says to Harry when he opens the front door a bit too aggressively. The latter feels justified after a round of annoyingly incessant knocking that was much too loud in the drowsy sludge of early Saturday morning.

“Zayn’s asleep,” is Harry’s tired, hoarse reply, irritation prickling at his skin. Less than a minute ago he was in bed, feeling perfectly content sprawled out on the mattress with the chilled air from the fan cool against his bare skin. And now he’s leaning up against the wooden door frame in nothing but his briefs because Zayn’s best mate decided that showing up unannounced at seven in the fucking morning was a brilliant idea.

“I’m not here for him,” says Louis curtly.

12) A Vivid And Wistful Melody | Explicit | 13128 words

"Slowly, he takes his violin out of its case, listens for a few more minutes to Louis’ flute, before joining him as best as he could. The flute stops for a few seconds, and Harry imagines Louis blinking cutely, taken aback, before huffing with a smile, and starting to play again, on a suddenly far happier tune. Harry closes his eyes as he twirls around the living room, violin in hand and music filling the air. He pictures Louis doing the same in his own flat while being careful as to not step on his cat.

Somehow, even with heavy eyes and tired limbs, this is the happiest Harry has ever felt in years."

In which they are neighbours stuck at home and they happen to start talking through a wall with a piano, a violin, and a flute. They end up writing the soundtrack of their own love story.

13) Until This Blood Runs Cold | Explicit | 13685 words

In a town as small as Louis’, everybody knows everybody and gossip spreads faster than the wildfires that rage on just outside their backdoors in the sweltering heat of summer. When something happens here everyone knows about it within seconds. Neighbors call neighbors and notes are left on doorsteps, old telephone lines ringing until there isn’t a single person who is left in the unknown.

So it’s definitely hot gossip when a vampire moves in across the street from him, the very same one who’s just become Louis’ boss.

14) A Road To Hope | Explicit | 18280 words

Note: There is no explicit smut but its implied BL.

“We’re far from the people and their issues, don’t hold back. Please.”

It’s true. They are far away from anything that could stop them, the middle of nowhere being the safest place on Earth for them to fall in love. The sacred land where sacred love is created. However, Louis is certain that even if they weren’t safe, he wouldn’t resist the sight of Harry, his pleading eyes, his warm skin beneath his touch.

15) Your Eyes Of Blue, Your Kisses Too | Explicit | 21785 words

When they get out onto the streets away from the crowds Niall turns to walk backwards, “So did you get any leads?”

“Well- uh.”

Niall shakes his head, “Too busy kissing that pretty boy onstage, I see. Gonna blow the whole case for a piece of ass?”

16) Thinking About Peaches | Explicit | 23724 words

Note: This fic is a sequel to this fic, which is #18 on this list.

Eight smutty drabbles following the events of bruise you like a peach.

17) Quiet People Have the Loudest Minds | Mature | 38065 words

Broadway shows were one of the few things that could keep Louis’ attention for a full two hours without needing to move about. But not tonight.

The alpha next to him was both infuriating him and practically turning him on at the same time. He needed to leave. The alpha, that is. Louis was staying.

18) Bruise You Like A Peach | Explicit | 40694 words

Note: The sequel to this fic is #16 on this list.

There’s two reasons Harry despises Econ.

The first is that it’s boring as fuck. The second reason is a bit more personal, a bit more focused in a way. As in it’s focused on one specific thing, or in his case, person.

His name is Louis Tomlinson.

19) Falling Out Of Fashion | Explicit | 42123 words

Note: This fic is locked and can only be read by AO3 users.

So when Harry sees a dress Grimshaw made for a famous Marvel actress, “only a tease”, Nick says, of the evolving look, Harry knows Grimshaw is shifting his aesthetic.

Harry wonders if he can pull off the look.

Or could Grimshaw be looking for a new face?

20) Secretly Dating | Mature | 43615 words

Lottie groaned, looming over Louis with a glare. “If we’re late, Mum and Dad will never let Harry see me – ie. see you.”

It was the first time they openly addressed the fact that Harry saw more of Louis than Lottie on their supposed ‘dates.’ He supposed he knew as much, but it still startled him. “You’ve been setting us up!”

Lottie snorted, cocking out her hip and brushing her blonde hair over her shoulder. “Honestly, Harry. You’re so dense. To be fair, it was at Louis’ request.”

Louis’ mouth gaped like a fish as he jumped to standing position, wobbling only slightly. “Don’t sell me out!”

Lottie rolled her eyes. “Come on lovebirds.”

21) You’ve Got My Devotion (Hate You Sometimes) | Mature | 95417 words

Harry was in the biggest boy band in the world. He was also one half of the best (or worst, depends on who you ask) kept secret relationship in the music industry.

Now, almost five years on, after One Direction has broken up, and Harry and Louis' relationship has as well, a video threatens to put everything at risk.

One determined Irishman, a massive publicity stunt and two begrudging exes are all it takes to bring One Direction back to life and maybe, just maybe, Harry and Louis' mangled love life too.

22) The Healing Song | Mature | 111851 words

Note: This fic is locked and can only be read by AO3 users.

Louis was carrying the large stuffed elephant like it was a baby, it’s trunk hanging over his shoulder and down his back and it’s front legs were resting around his neck, like it was hugging him. Said elephant was a present from Louis’ close friend Steve, who had thought Louis needed something to hug on bad days and had gifted him with a stuffed elephant the size of a one year old.

Steve had been right. Some days Louis did need something to hug, and this elephant was as good as anything.

Louis was having one of the rougher days. The harmonious state of the anxiety free life of a fearless Louis had ended the week after he met with Harry. It ended as abruptly as it had started. It was like pushing a button. Lights out. Almost as if the universe said “You’ve had your fun, crazy one, now go be sick” and slammed the door in his face.

Check out our other fic rec lists by category here and by title here.

You can find other monthly roundup fic rec lists here.

#bottom louis #top harry #blp fic recs #monthly fic recs #fic recs #blp #larry

260 notes · View notes

takemedancingmaine · 5 years

Text

A Competitive Streak

It had gotten ridiculous how good we were at this.

It had become almost routine.

Ana had grown so suspicious that the second time we did it, she made us put all of our phones face down in the center of the table the whole time, just in case.

Between me, Harry, and Niall we were dominating. Harry knew the classical, the big band swing, and everything in between, along with technical questions, because he was a music teacher. Niall and I had classic rock, old school pop, and current popular music covered between the two of us.

Then there was the fact that Cleo and Louis were helpful with random questions from things they’d read on Twitter moments or seen on Instagram. Not to mention that Liam was a massive R&B and rap fan, so he had us covered there.

Ana didn't believe we knew all that we did, and I had a suspicion that some of the other teams were in disbelief as well, but we were playing fair and square.

It was our third music trivia night, that really sealed the deal for us. We were the champions all three nights. Liam and Cleo were thrilled. They hadn’t stopped bragging, even to the rest of us, about each of the wins. It was mildly annoying but also too endearing for any of us to say anything or be properly annoyed.

Each bar was different, had different rules to the game and different types of questions. After we’d won our first three weeks ago, we had kept our eyes out around the entire upper half of the city and found two more music trivia nights to attend. Liam, with all his prepping and planning, was loving scouring through Facebook and Instagram posts to try and find each one. He would send the link to the group and we’d all start making plans to attend immediately. It was fun, kind of like an ongoing test of knowledge.

Niall and I really did know a lot about music because of our dads. It was kind of a given that Harry would be good, he literally taught the subject of music for a living and played eight different instruments. But I was most surprised by Louis knowing all of the alternative bands that apparently he’d listened to in college. I always thought he just put them into playlists for the bakery and didn’t bother learning song names of band names or anything like that, but I’d been proven wrong. Even Niall was surprised by his knowledge, and they had lived together for four years.

Ana was sour about the whole thing. She was excited for us and glad to be part of our team, but she was feeling a bit inadequate. She didn’t know much about music aside from the fact that she listened to it and that Harry taught it. She loved music and could sing any song from any animated movie made in the last thirty years, but beyond that, she wasn't too big on the subject.

Despite this, we all considered her an important part of the team in terms of morale and general spirit. I mean, she did do really well when it came to pumping us up and getting our drinks refilled. Or calling over a waitress when Louis wanted another round of fries because Niall had eaten most of his first batch. (Niall, for his part, felt no remorse about this and even attempted to eat from the second batch).

Ana was our real MVP. We love her, and she’s great, just not when it comes to knowing trivia. She was good at her own things. Especially when those things were getting wine drunk and making scrapbooks or shopping for cute sweaters and skirts and talking about our little sisters together.

We had just finished the third and final--for now--music trivia night. We’d been tripped up more than a few times, and we’d come close to losing the second night, but we’d pulled it out by wagering the exact number of points in the final lightning round. I didn’t have to be an economics major to figure that math out. It was risky, but in the end, had served us well.

Tonight was the first trivia night of the three that was being held on a weekend and we’d gotten properly excited about it. It was a Friday night. The teachers didn’t have to worry about class, and even Louis was free for two days. He was thriving with his extra day off a week. It gave me so much joy to see him really living and experiencing and not always be so engrossed in his business. Even though he loved it, it was a lot of work and it took its toll on him. You didn’t have to look too closely to know he was doing better with the added time off.

The bar we were in had decided to open up an impromptu karaoke night. Liam and Harry were buzzing because they were signed up to do a Backstreet Boys song.

I was being berated.

Cleo was begging me to do something just as ridiculous with her, but I was holding steadfast on my personal no singing karaoke rule. Ana and Louis were signed up to sing some Taylor Swift song and Niall had decided to go solo, although he wouldn't tell anyone what song he’d chosen. Apparently, it was a surprise. Cleo said that if I didn't sing with her than she'd dedicate a sexy rendition of ‘happy birthday’ a la Marilyn Monroe to me.

I knew Cleo was breezy and confident, but I was going to take my chances on her not going through with it in the end. I did not sing.

I would not sing.

“I just need to get another drink in you,” Cleo said. “Then you will sing like a canary.”

“I don't think I've ever seen three-drink-Ruby,” Harry said, intrigued. He was getting a little impatient to sing and it was showing.

“I have.” Louis smirked from across the table. I narrowed my eyes and gave him a look. He was unaffected by it.

“And?” Ana asked.

“Oh, three-drink-Ruby is a firecracker.” Louis winked. I threw a napkin at him. He shook his head at me in disdain and Liam gave us each a look. We really were like kids when we were out together, Louis and I.

“No, she’s not,” I said, finality in my tone.

“She's just terrified of a hangover,” Louis said. “Did you ever notice she drinks two glasses of water for each drink she has?” He asked.

Liam looked down at the table in front of me. Sure enough, a glass of water was right beside my whiskey glass.

“I don't think I ever did notice.” Liam looked pointedly at the side-by-side glasses now though. Even after three years of being friends with them, I’d been so sly about my habit that the only people who knew were Cleo and Louis.

Louis only found out because he saw me drinking straight from the kitchen tap one night at his apartment when I couldn’t find a clean cup. It was very, very early on in our friendship. I was not proud of that moment.

“She started doing it in college,” Cleo said. “She was afraid to dehydrate and get a hangover and so she started drinking water for each alcoholic drink she had. Once she passes three drinks though, it gets a little uncertain that the rehydration tactic will work completely and effectively.”

“Passes three drinks though. So four drinks.” Harry said.

“Correct.” Louis nodded.

“So why stop now instead of after three?” Harry asked.

“She's afraid.”

I narrowed my eyes at Louis again.

“He’s not wrong.” Cleo shrugged.

I cut my gaze to her and she shrugged, unaffected. She even threw in a small smile for me.

“If you think calling me afraid will get me to drink a third to prove you wrong, it's not going to work,” I said.

There was a pause as she looked me over, studied my face.

“It was worth a shot,” Cleo winked before finishing her drink and asking the table who needed another round. Ana followed her to the bar to help grab the drinks and over the screeching sounds of someone attempting to sing Whitney Houston, Liam and Harry were talking excitedly about their turn and when it would be.

“So have you ever had a hangover or is all the water because you had a really bad one and vowed never again?” Niall asked. Beside me, he had been distracting me all night.

We’d almost missed a few easy questions, one about when Roger Daltrey had left The Who because I’d been distracted by Niall tracing circles on the back of my left hand as I was trying to write with my right hand. We’d almost missed another asking about when Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham joined Fleetwood Mac because he was leaning his head on my shoulder and the smell of him was paralysing to me.

“I've never had a hangover.” I turned to look at him just in time to see his shock regarding my words.

“Never?” He asked, his eyebrows were raised so high that they almost disappeared into his hairline.

“I mean… I’ve been groggy the day after drinking, but I’ve not had a headache or upset stomach or anything. I don’t have to lie in bed half the day with a bottle of Advil.”

“You’re like a unicorn.” Niall smiled at me and shook his head in disbelief.

“Except I’m real.”

“You are.” He nodded and reached down to grab my stool and pulled me closer to him before wrapping his arm around me. As if by touching me he was proving to himself that I was, in fact, real. I shivered under his touch as his fingers slid under the hem of my shirt and met the skin of my waist.

The Whitney Houston impression finally, mercifully, ended and as luck would have it, it was Liam and Harry’s turn. Which meant everyone in our group would be going soon because they'd all signed up in succession. Liam walked to the karaoke machine confidently while Harry whooped and bounced his way over, looking back at us every few seconds, waving his arms in excitement.

I looked over at Ana. She was watching her fiancé with nothing less than adoration in her eyes. The two of them were absolutely precious. Louis turned and followed my gaze, and the two of us looked back at each other and smirked. The two of them were so predictable when it came to each other.

We watched as Liam and Harry picked up their microphones off the table in front of the machine, and we all cheered as the opening notes of ‘I Want It That Way’ came through. Liam smirked at us and then started them off. Liam was sneaky good. Looking at him you’d expect him to just blow it off, just something about his character, but he held his own when it came to singing.

Harry stuck to the higher part harmonies while Liam flowed underneath and to their credit, they had the patrons of the bar on their side. It could have been their song choice. It could have been the fact that when singing together, they're actually pretty good.

When the song ended, our table erupted in thunderous applause. Cleo and Louis drummed in the table while the rest of us clapped and we all cat called and whooped. As soon as he had stopped singing, Liam blushed, immediately embarrassed by all the attention he was getting. Gone was the confident man who’d walked up there and sang without inhibitions. He had been replaced by a bashful boy, flushed and embarrassed.

Niall was up next. Not even Louis knew what was going to happen when Liam handed Niall the microphone he had been using. Harry, to everyone's surprise, kept his microphone as the music started. Apparently, Harry was up for another duet, but this time it was going to be with Niall.

When the music started I, along with the rest of the table, collectively gasped.

“No forking way!” Cleo and Louis said simultaneously. Ana’s face was full of so much excitement.

“Who's singing who's part?” Liam asked, looking around at all of us, genuinely curious. He was met with flummoxed and flustered, blank stares.

We all just started laughing at when his question sunk in. Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait long. It looked like Niall would be singing Elton’s part, because he started off and Harry quickly followed. ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ was a classic, and we were all going to enjoy this very much.

“Of forking course he’s good at singing.” Cleo looked at me before turning back to watch Niall as he sang.

Louis laughed at her comment before the five of us all started singing along with the other two with microphones.

Ana and Louis were absolutely miserable when it was their turn. Not emotionally, of course, but their singing was causing dogs in other states to start barking.

Neither of them took it seriously, but that was the best part, seeing them have that much fun. They weren't up there to show off, they were just singing to each other, and singing through their giggles. They were so precious.

Niall had stopped by the bar on the way back to the table and was offering me a glass of water as he held onto one of his own.

I raised my eyebrows at him.

“You can sing.” It wasn't a question.

“I dabble.” He blushed.

“You've got water.”

“I do.” He took a pointed sip.

I just smiled at him.

“I'm trying to see if it'll work,” he said eventually.

“I think you started too late in the night,” I said. “But at least you're trying,”

“I think it might help alleviate some of the damage. I still drink the way I always did, but I don’t handle it the same way I used to.”

“Because you're old?” I couldn't help the smirk that slipped into my face as he narrowed his eyes at me.

“Rude.”

I giggled.

“Well, at least I know you’ll spare my feelings for the sake of the truth,” he said. I felt a sting in the back of my mind as I thought over the one big thing I was keeping to myself, but I kept my emotions off my face.

Wiping my hands on a dishcloth I reached across the counter to grab my phone and see who was calling.

I groaned when I saw it was a video call request. I knew the reason she wanted to video chat. She was hoping to see Niall. She was hoping she could get information out of him about me, or use him as possible blackmail material with our parents if they ever found out she was less than perfect.

All that she knew was that I was seeing someone. She literally knew nothing else. She didn’t know his name. She didn’t know he was Irish, she didn’t know he was white. She didn’t know he was an old friend of Louis’ from college. I told her I was seeing someone about a week ago when she’d been berating me again about using dating apps and getting myself back out there. I had shut her down before she could get anything else out of me though.

I was surprised she had held out this long.

Niall, thankfully wasn’t here, so I even though I was annoyed at my sister for not so subtly trying to find out more, I rolled my eyes and answered the call. I put my phone down on the counter, propped up on a glass, and kept doing the dishes. I was almost done anyway.

“Hey!” My sister beamed through the phone. As annoyed as I was at her motives, seeing her face did make me happy. It had been a really long time since I’d seen her. Probably around six months since we’d been in person together and maybe three since we last did a video call. We talk constantly but we’re so wrapped up in our own adventures and lives that we rarely did this.

“Hi!” I called back as I scrubbed my breakfast bowl. “What’s up?” I asked, already knowing.

“Is your boyfriend there?” She asked in a sing-song voice that made me want to gag. I did actually, for the benefit of her viewing. She flipped me off.

“So I’ll take that as a no,” she huffed. “Well, it was worth a shot.”

I rinsed and then put the bowl in the drying rack and picked up a mug and started scrubbing that as well. It was cold, rainy Saturday afternoon. I planned on curling up on the sofa with Moggy to binge watch some television shows I’d been neglecting for probably three seasons now.

“Is that the only reason you called?” I asked. She ran a hand through her hair and I caught myself thinking about how similar we looked. Watching her run a hand through her hair, one of my ticks that I was always doing, it was like looking in a mirror. I put the mug on the drying rack and after dying my hands I picked up my phone.

“I called because I wanted to talk.” She defended herself as I went into my living room and laid down on my couch. Moggy looked up at me from her spot on her chair and with a yawn, she jumped down and started making her way over to me.

“Oh, you want to talk?” I asked with a smirk on my face.

“Shut up.” Mehar rolled her eyes at me and I bit my lip to hide my smile. Moggy was settling down on my legs with the most content look on her face but just looking at her I realised I’d be stuck in this position until she decided she wanted to move.

“Just because I didn’t catch him hanging out with you doesn’t mean I can’t ask about your new boyfriend. It’s been over a week since you told me and I’ve been patient and respectful and now I want to know literally everything about him and about the two of you.”

I laughed and nodded.

“I need his name, what he looks like, where he’s from, what he does... How old is he? Is he tall? Does he like Moggy? How did you meet? When did you meet? How long has this been going on that you haven’t told me? I need to know everything, Ruby.” My sister literally counted off questions and requests off on her fingers. I was sure my face was a mixture of mild amusement and distress.

“Holy crap, Me,” I gasped. “Did you write those down or did you memorise all the necessary ones?”

“Both.”

I closed my mouth to keep from responding unkindly and just nodded.

“So…” she waved a hand to prompt me.

“His name is Niall,” I said and I saw her face distort. “Before you say anything he's Irish.”

“Irish as in from Ireland or it's just a family name because historically his family is from Ireland?”

“He's from Ireland.” I pulled a blanket across my midsection, careful to not disturb Moggy, and snuggled my top half underneath it.

“He came here for college and lived with Louis for a while. He moved back to Ireland after that, but he's back here again for good. And that is how we met. Through Louis.”

“You've got more questions to answer,” she said. I watched as she inspected her cuticles, trying to look bored. I knew she was loving this. She was so thrilled to be hearing all about Niall. But she wasn’t going to let me off easy.

“He's about Louis’ height, so he's taller than me but not too tall. Um, he's twenty-nine… I'm sorry what else was there?”

“Does he like Moggy? How long has this been going on? How’s the sex?”

If I had been drinking anything I would've spit it out in shock. As it was I sputtered out my next words.

“I don't think that was one of the initial questions!” I coughed, embarrassed. My cheeks flushed.

“I'm asking it now!” She shrugged, nonchalant. My little sister really could get to me like this. Ever since she'd started having sex in high school, she'd been fairly open about it. And about teasing me. She was consistently trying to make me feel uncomfortable. I never shied away from it, from sex, but my sister always made it as awkward as she possibly could for me.

“He loves Moggy. He's great with her,” I said. “We’ve been dating for about a month.”

“And?”

“And we haven't had sex yet so shut up and stop asking.” I slammed my head back against the sofa. Mehar giggled at my actions and then she just stopped abruptly. I looked at her, scared as to what was about to happen.

“Wait. A month?” The screech my sister emitted was cringe-inducing, almost inhuman. I felt my ears ringing.

“Me,” I groaned.

“Two things there. One: you've been dating a month and haven't told me. And two: you've been dating for a month and haven't had sex!”

She was reaching decibels only dogs could hear.

“First of all, I told you a week ago. I didn't tell you earlier because I didn't want you to freak out if nothing came from it. And second, no. We haven't. It's not a big deal. Or any deal. We just haven't.”

“But you want to, right?”

“Mehar.”

“Ruby.”

My sister stared at me. And I was silent. Until she narrowed her eyes and the expression unnerved me.

“Fine. Yes, I want to. Okay?”

“Good,” she said. “I just wanted to make sure you hadn't lost your mind or anything.”

“Shut up.” I rolled my eyes.

“Is he hot?”

I blushed. Of course he was. He has broad shoulders and those unbelievable blue eyes, his hair does that little wispy thing… He was gorgeous. But that wasn't the only reason I would want to sleep with him.

I wasn't interested in Niall for just his looks. Sure they were a part of it, but I loved that we connected intellectually and we had similar interests and that we could just watch Moana twice in a row while cuddled up on my couch with tea and coffee--which was something we’d done last Sunday afternoon.

Being with Niall was more than just physical. Although, to be fair, when we have been physical it's been undeniably great. It's like we just know each other’s ticks and know how to work each other up. Nothing has happened past some pretty serious making out, but I had a feeling we’d still be great at it if and when we did take it further.

I trusted Niall. That was something I was still coming to terms with. I trusted him to make me feel safe and to not hurt me and to not destroy our friend group or our relationship foundation. I trusted Niall to tell me the truth and to treat me with respect. I trusted him to be alone with my kitten, and to make my tea the way I like it, and to keep my secrets and to not make me feel silly for my quirks and silly thoughts.

I liked being around him. I genuinely enjoyed laughing with him and watching him laugh. I liked getting him to try new food and introducing him to beer other than Guinness. I liked talking about music with him, new and old. I liked that he was invested in my likes--baseball. And I liked that he was patient with trying to get me to understand golf--we’d watched a bit after the second go-through of Moana. It was his turn to pick and he was trying to explain it to me.

I liked that Niall was genuine. He laughed loudly and smiled often and spoke with purpose. He was always wholly and completely in a moment, never distracted by his thoughts or lost somewhere in a conversation. He was always present and invested in the people around him, no matter who they were.

I was attracted to Niall because he was physically handsome, but I was also attracted to Niall because of his character and his personality and how he made me feel: confident and strong and present in every moment.

I didn't try to tell Mehar all this now. Instead, I just shrugged off her question as if it wasn't a big deal. As if what I had just realised about my feelings for Niall didn't make me warm inside.

“Hey, tell me all about school and that scooter guy who almost ran you over that you ranted about on your social story.”

“Oh yeah!” I'd effectively distracted my sister from her conquest for answers. Immediately, she started in on and embellished a story about a guy on a scooter that did actually end up knocking someone down.

It took ten minutes, but once Mehar finished her story about scooter-douche as she had dubbed him, we started talking about normal things. I asked her about classes and homework, and she asked me about what I'd been up to.

I found out that she loved her abnormal psychology class and that she was looking forward to the woman's studies class she's gotten into for next semester. I found out that she had started reading the news every day as an assignment for class, but had actually kept up with it even when it wasn't required. I found out she liked being up on current events and was actually invested in learning more.

In turn, she heard about our many music trivia nights and the karaoke experience from last night. I told her about Ana and Harry finally getting a venue they wanted for the date they were hoping for and how Ana was going to let her bridesmaids choose the cut of their own dresses. I even told her about how Niall had walked me home and how we listened to Somewhere on Fullerton whenever we were on the train together.

We had been on the phone for two hours at this point talking about contestants on the latest series of Bake Off, when I yawned and felt exhaustion seep into me from staying out late last night, my early morning run in the bitterly cold rain, and cleaning my apartment. Mehar laughed at me.

“You're like a grandma,” she said.

“Hey, when you're older you'll understand,” I snuggled further into my blanket.

“You're not even that old, Ruby.”

“I know,” I sighed. “But if you think being an adult after college is any less exhausting than being an adult in college though, you're wrong.”

“You're telling me I'm only ever going to get four hours of sleep a night?”

“Well maybe if you trimmed your nightly activities you'd sleep a little more.”

“I think I'll be just fine either way,” she laughed, not having to specify that she thought she was fine without changing. “Seriously though, want me to let you go so you can nap?”

“Yes please,” I mumbled.“This doesn't mean I don't want to talk to you. I'm just really sleepy and the sound of the rain is like a lullaby. I can't help it.”

“Okay,” Mehar nodded. “I did want to say though, that Niall seems like a really good guy. Even when you were telling me stories about the whole group he seemed to be there, making an effort. And you said he even watched baseball for you. I don't even watch baseball for you.”

“I know you don't.”

“Not even butts in baseball pants are enough to get me to watch it,” she said wistfully. I rolled my eyes as she kept going.

“I think--and I know I haven't met him, but I trust Louis’s judgement--that Niall will be good for you. You do need to send me a picture, though. I need to see him.”

“I don't have any,” I admitted.

“Well get one, or I'll just FaceTime you at unpredictable times until I get actual image verification that you're not making someone up just to screw with me.”

“That would take so much effort,” I huffed. “I mean, it would be worth it to see your reactions, especially because you're so gullible, but I'm feeling really lazy at the moment.”

She flipped me off.

“Hey, can you do me a favour?” I asked.

“What is it?” She looked intrigued. My sister loved people owing her things. If she did me a favour, I’d owe her. Of course she’d be intrigued.

“I know you're home for Thanksgiving break soon. Can you not tell mom and dad about Niall? I don't think I want them to know about him. Or me dating anyone. Or y’know, anything to do with my personal life. Not yet at least.”

“You want me to keep your personal life private from our parents?” The amusement was easily read on her face, even through my hooded eyes.

“I know,” I nodded, “it's going to be hard for you. I mean, it's not like you have any practice at keeping secrets like that.”

She flipped me off again.

“Besides, I’m pretty sure dad is still convinced that Cleo and I are together. If I tell him I’m dating a boy, I think I’d give him a heart attack and I’d like for him to make it through the holiday.”

Mehar laughed.

“I’m serious,” I whined. “Any time Cleo is brought up he immediately goes rigid and looks so uncomfortable. He looks for any excuse to leave the room.”

Mehar laughed harder. She knew I was right. My dad was convinced that because we’d lived together and because I’d later moved to Chicago--where Cleo lived--that we were secretly together. I mean, I loved my best friend. Just not like that.

“Yeah, I'll keep your secret,” she said finally as her laughter subsided.

“Thank you,” I sighed. “I love you baby sister,” I cooed into the phone. She made a face.

“Love you too, Ruby.”

When we hung up I let my phone drop gently to the floor beside me and closed my eyes, quickly falling asleep.

I was walking down a street. I wasn’t sure what the name of the street was, or where I was at all, really. I just knew it looked vaguely familiar but just strange enough to keep my nerves somewhat at attention.

It was dark, probably late evening, judging by the lights from the houses illuminated around me. I couldn’t be sure though, because when I looked down at my wrist, I realized that I wasn't wearing my watch. Which was strange. I love my watch. It’s got the planets on the watch face and the soft suede band looks like the stars.

It was then that I noticed footsteps behind me, which is not unusual as I live in a city with almost three million people. Someone else on the sidewalk was something that was bound to happen. Except when I glanced over my shoulder there was no one there and the echo of footsteps there wasn’t my own, stopped.

Just like I’d been taught by Brian, I continued walking but varied my pace to make sure if someone was following me and trying to match my footsteps I’d trip them up. I pulled my hair out of the ponytail it had been in and I even slipped my phone into my left hand, my finger resting on the power button in case I needed to push it to send it to panic mode.

I tried to slow my heart rate and breathe evenly. I knew, thanks to Brian, that my knowledge and ability to read a potentially dangerous situation were invaluable in that I could be confident and that confidence would more than likely be enough to stop whatever would happen.

If I was being followed. Which, from what I could tell, I wasn’t.

I wasn’t.

I check behind me again, looked across the street and down the block in both directions. No cars passed, and no one else was on the street. I was fine. I was in control of myself and aware of my situation. I ran through what I would have to do if something did happen if I did have to defend myself.

It didn’t matter though, because I wasn’t being followed.

I would feel more comfortable though if I knew where I was. The vague familiarity of it all was suddenly not enough to calm my nerves and I could feel the hair on my arms and the back of my neck stand at attention.

I looked around again and I was still alone on the street. Trees lined the sidewalk on one side and front lawns lined the other. I was fine.

Until I wasn’t.

The sound of a second pair of footsteps echoed around the silent street again and I felt my heart leap into my throat. Quickly, and as subtly as I could, I looked around myself.

Again, there was no one.

When I looked forward again, started walking again, the sound of footsteps behind me started again as well and as I turned to look around once more my blood froze in my veins and my breath caught in my throat.

I was surrounded by faceless figures in black, hoods pulled up. They lined the entire street, seemingly endlessly, and every single one was fixated on me. Literally everywhere I looked, every direction I turned someone was there, facing me ominously. My breath unlodged itself and suddenly I was breathing much too fast and far too shallow.

I knew. I knew that I needed to remain calm and use everything Brian had taught me, but the fear was gripping me and keeping me still in this particularly vulnerable, open position. I couldn’t even think to scream, even though I knew how dangerous that was, too.

I felt tears well up in my eyes and suddenly all the faceless figures started moving closer, the circle they’d formed around me tightening and I squeezed my eyes shut as the tears started rolling down my cheeks and I pleaded in my head to just be away from here, to be anywhere else, to be safe. I opened my eyes quickly and all the figures were mere feet away.

I squeezed my eyes shut in fear again and suddenly I hit something hard.

I was in my house. I was on my floor next to my couch. I was pretty sure my left elbow was going to be bruised.

I heard Moggy made a disgruntled sound from being thrown to the floor by me when I’d fallen, and I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the cool floor.

I was safe. I was home.

I kept repeating those two facts over and over again in my head as I worked to slow my breathing. I was sweaty and felt like I’d just run a marathon in terms of exhaustion both physically and mentally.

It had been two months since I’d been attacked. I’d never had a dream--nightmare--about it before.

“Shirt,” I breathed out slowly as my head stopped spinning.

I felt around for my phone and checked the time.

It was half-past four in the afternoon.

With shaky fingers, I opened my messages app and texted the only person I could think of in my heightened emotional state.

Ruby: Are you free? I’m not okay.

#yeah... i really did that #sorry not sorry!#we're moving along now!#things are really starting to happen here #1dff #fic: oth #fic: only ticket home #OTH12

14 notes · View notes

yaz-the-spaz · 5 years

Note

Thoughts on scripted?

hey nonnie, so i’m so so sorry i kept you waiting for like four days for this but i just really needed some time to properly process and collect my thoughts (cause i have a lot on this) and take my time to get them down in a coherent way, i still feel like it’s a bit jumbled and unclear at times but i tried my best to explain my thoughts as best i could. i hope it’s sufficient...

My Thoughts on Scripted

so i wanna preface this by making it clear to everyone who may read this that this is strictly my own interpretation of things and my own opinion on what zayn’s trying to convey in this song. personally, i think this song is very much about public images, narratives, and stunting, and sticking it out through all of that, so that’s the direction/theme that a lot of my interpretations of the lyrics in this song are gonna lean towards. you don’t have to agree. in fact, if you disagree that’s fine and i welcome and any all rational and fair/polite discussion on different interpretations of the song and certain verses or lines within it. i’m in no way trying to convince anyone to see anything a certain way (and my own interpretations and thoughts/opinions on this may even evolve or change with time), but i was asked by this nonnie to share my thoughts (currently) on the song and so that’s what i’m doing, and if anyone has a problem with any of the opinions or interpretations stated here i just ask that you address me about it respectfully :)

ok now onto the song analysis:

Blurry TV screens

Fuzzy broken scenes

Finding words don't have flow

Blurry TV screens

Fuzzy broken scenes

Hold her close finding love

so this verse to me seems like it could be meant to have a double meaning, as in 1) the scenes or roles they [he and liam and/or the other boys] have to play out (i.e. stunts, fake dates, scripted interviews, etc. that they feel like they’re playing out like a scene in a movie/tv show - mgmt telling them hold her hand this way, hug/kiss at this angle so it looks more intimate, ok now let’s take this pic/video and then we’ll do another angle; making sure to only show pieces of the story like scenes and only the pieces and angles that fit the narrative they wanna sell, etc.) and/or 2) the time they get to themselves which often feels like only snapshots that go by too quickly and are like a blur/fuzzy in their minds (stolen moments together in between stunt outings and shows and things where they have to perform/are expected to put on and keep up their usual act for the cameras before they can go back to being themselves again/have some time alone together to just be again, etc.), and the “finding words don’t have flow” part could mean because he doesn’t know how to talk about it or express how he feels about it cause he just has so many conflicting feelings (or even just that he can’t talk about it cause he’s not allowed)

Hearts don't feel the same

And the names we like to say

Change with time and age

so this seems to clearly be referring to feelings changing - though not necessarily in a bad way, maybe just maturing and growing together and changing as people, as in the infatuation is gone and you love each other differently than you did when you first got together but there’s still so much unconditional love there it’s just a different (like a more serious or maybe even a deeper) kind of love, or could be referring to friendships (whether between him and the boys or other people from his personal life) and those friendships changing or even fading with time, or even feelings about a situation changing over time; it could also be taken a bit more literally too of course as well and have a negative meaning as in we don’t love each other anymore/don’t feel the same way about each other anymore/aren’t as close anymore (again whether between friends or a romantic partner, or even not feeling the same way about a situation anymore, etc.), it’s all up to interpretation i guess and how you choose to see it but i think it can be thought of in lots of different ways

for the names thing i think this can also have multiple meanings, like maybe it could be referring to names he and liam and/or the boys call each other (friendly nick names, pet names as a couple, etc.) and/or the names they’re made to mention/promo in interviews, like how some periods we would get a bunch of louis and zayn mentioning each other or niall and zayn mentioning each other lilo or niam mentioning each other, etc. and then other times they’d be promo-ing other random people (like liam mentioning charlie puth every 2 seconds for a while, etc.)

[fyi i’ll be skipping over any repeating refrains/verses since there’s no real need to re-hash things over again or take up unnecessary space with lines that have already been talked about]

So I

I don't wanna say what's scripted

Whether you are or aren't with it

I know what I need

'Cause I

I don't wanna say what's scripted

Whether you are or aren't with it

I know what I need

this part i think is pretty obvious (and i think a lot of people agree) that it’s most likely referring to having to say scripted lines in interviews and things of that sort and that’s why he avoids it so much, he doesn’t wanna be forced or used to sell the narratives they want him to sell and say the company lines they want him to say, he “knows what he needs” and that’s to stay away as much as he can from engaging in all the bs

but again i think it could also have a double meaning in that he maybe doesn’t wanna say or do generic things either and this can be in regards to life in general or more specifically with his romantic partner, like he doesn’t wanna say or do what he’s expected to say/do, he wants to be different and to do things differently/do things in his own unique way (in life in general, but also maybe in his relationship like finding other ways to say “i love you” or to show his love, finding other ways to be together that don’t necessarily follow “traditional” paths which also could be a nod them being in a [conventionally-speaking] “untraditional” relationship, which a lot of people would consider a same-sex interracial interfaith relationship between two huge self-proclaimed dorks lmao to be)

i think it’s important to note that he also includes a snippet of an interview shortly after this part in which he talks about sex not being as meaningful anymore with this generation and how that was a part of what he was trying to convey on ‘let me.’ which begs the question why? why draw attention to this specific interview (one that references ‘let me’) out of all the interviews he could’ve chosen? why draw attention back to such a romantic song (and to the idea of meaningful sex and meaningful relationships) in the middle of this dark part of the album that seems to (imo) mostly be about the negative sides of the industry? we’ll get back to my theory on that in a moment but in the meantime…

there’s also the fact that the melody of song is very somber through most of the song and i think that’s intentional because it kind of serves to evoke the pain and sadness he feels over his situation and i think he wants the listeners to feel and understand that as well and to understand why, to understand all the little things about his whole situation that make him so sad and the main thing seems to be that he has to “say what’s scripted” when he doesn’t want to and isn’t truly allowed to be himself or say or do what he wants as much as he would like. BUT—here’s where we get back to my theory on why he suddenly calls our attention back to such a romantic song and to the idea of meaningful relationships

not long after this point in the song (after the chorus repeats again) the melody suddenly changes, all of a sudden it feels less somber (at least to me), i would almost even characterize it as kind of tentatively hopeful/tentatively optimistic if i had to put a label on it, my theory is that he’s setting for the stage for what comes next, getting us ready for a change in tune (literally but also figuratively as in a change in theme) and then we get this

You'd still remember my eyes

Even if the Men In Black flashed

Their light into your eyes

For the second time this night

It feels right when it's, only you and I

so this seems to be a nod to a huge recurring theme on this album which is this idea of always remembering each other/always being fated to find each other (through space and time and making it together through all kinds of obstacles, etc.)—aka SOUL MATES—which so many songs on this album seem to reference over and over and over again…and which as an aside always reminds me of that moment in an interview (sorry i tried but i couldn’t find a link to it) where i think they’re talking about what would have happened in an alternative universe/timeline if they hadn’t gone on txf and weren’t famous or something like that and zayn says he’s not sure if he would’ve met liam cause “i don’t tend to do much in me own time” and liam’s like “but you might have” and zayn’s like “yeah but maybe” not and Liam Not Having Any of It Payne insists “but then again you might have”

but anyway all that to say that i think it’s clear by this recurring theme that zayn’s definitely since come around to the idea lol and has even adopted him for himself and decided to make into a running theme on the album and not only that but clearly he’s come to believe that the romantic partner (i.e. liam) he keeps alluding to in so many songs on the “icarus” side is his soulmate and they can make it through anything

[but again, as with a lot of the other lines in this song (and on this album in general) i think there’s a small chance this verse could also be have a double meaning as well, possibly as a reference to the fans and how mgmt/1dhq has repeatedly tried to basically do a madagasar penguins ‘you didn’t see anything’ move on us and act like the shit we know we saw never happened by panic-deleting videos and releasing bs articles and manipulating the boys’ twitters; it’s a rather flimsy theory i know, esp given that all the other lines surrounding it suggest that it’s more likely in reference to a personal relationship than a more general reference that could be applied to fans but it’s just something that’s been in the back of my mind ever since i first heard the song so just putting it out there]

Oh, you and I

do i even need to say anything about this?

he repeats it five times which…interesting number first off 😏 (and also separates out the other four from the first one which again - interesting)…but also makes it pretty evident that this is a line that’s being very much emphasized, that has serious meaning, that he wants you to pay attention to, that much is obvious not only in the repetition but the fact that it deviates from the composition of the rest of the song - the music changes/falls away to just a very simple (piano?) melody and beat, the focus is mostly on just his voice and it’s the ever enigmatic “you” that he’s singing to (that also seems to be a running theme on both albums, as he often—not necessarily always but often—seems to differentiate between this “you” and other people/pronouns/things referred to in his songs) in a slightly sped up but very similar style to the style of the harmonies in you & i, a song in which he had very notable harmonies with liam (that’s possibly regarded as the most unequivocal ziam song) that they often romantically and openly serenaded each other with (like specifically turned to each other just to sing to each other), that liam said was his favorite song off the midnight memories album, that liam got a line from (“i figured it out”) permanently tattooed on his arm right below the feather that was widely believed to be the missing feather from zayn’s then chest tattoo (and which many believed being with zayn was the “thing” he figured out), a song that liam cried during the first few times they performed it without zayn, and a song that’s about nothing be able to come between two soulmates people in love who are destined to be together and that clearly had a lot of special meaning to them both (and that the fandom knows and that i’m sure they also know is widely regarded as a ziam song because as liam said on many occasions they see what we say about them, they know what goes on and what we think about the stuff they do/say) - all of that leads me to believe that this was a calculated and very obvious/deliberate move by zayn to emphasize this part in the song so clearly, a [huge] red herring if you will, and i would argue that it has even more significance not only just because of all that’s mentioned above but also because of the fact that he chose to include these lines in a song on the “falls” side of the album, the side that’s supposed to be the more negative/dark side (and the side that i believe is largely representative of his feelings and experience with fame and the entertainment industry). which to me suggests that the overarching message that he’s trying to get across/convey with this song is basically that everything may be shit with how things are being run and the stuff he (and the other boys) are made to do and say but he’s always gonna go his own way and regardless of what gets thrown at them he and liam (and the rest of ot5) are gonna make it through together

#asks #anons #scripted #my thoughts #i hope this makes some amount of sense to some people #and doesn't come off just as just an incoherent mess #and all over the place nonsensical ramblings lol

47 notes · View notes

jlf23tumble · 4 years

Note

Hi! I've seen you rec fics before and I'm wondering if you have any recommendations for Harry Styles fics that deal with gender. Like Harry being either nonbinary or that being the focus of the plot in some way. Thanks!

I have GOT YOU, my friend! I answered a similar ask a long time ago, so I’ll bring those recs over, plus add newer ones, just to keep us up to date. Same caveat as before, though--these fics delve a bit deeper into the genderfluid side of the fine line rather than just the “harry in panties” side because I think you’re more interested in the former, but if I’m wrong, let me know! Enjoy!

Us, Me, We, @homosociallyyours, 2.3 (Harry/Harry, Harry/Louis). Featuring Harry trippin’ balls and truly seeing “her” in the mirror.

you make me wanna (how deep is your love), orphan_account, 2.5k (harry/louis). As the notes say, “straight up porn,” featuring trans Harry.

Friendly Fire, @vondrostes, 2.6k (Harry/Ny). Look, you’ll see a lot of Terran here, I had to hold *back*, but he writes tons of pairings, so there’s something for everyone, and I rec it all! In this case, Harry learns an important lesson about why he shouldn’t date straight women.

No Control, thegirlwthekittentattoo, 2.6k (Harry/Louis). The dialogue here is EVERYTHING, it’s cute and hot and emotional yet still funny, like Harry’s bra being named Christi with an “i”, and I loveeee how much is packed in here.

Silent Night, @sulkingroom, 2.7k (Harry/Xander). I’m 99% sure this is Melissa, not orphan_account, but she’s another author who writes stunning fics that play with gender, this one featuring trans Harry at Christmas.

She, Myself, and I, @vondrostes, 3k (Harry/Nick). Angst city, with Harry telling Nick exactly who “she” is.

Every Drop of Rain, haemophilus, 3.3k (Harry/Taylor). Told through Taylor’s eyes, a fascinating look at Harry and his gender journey. (I highly rec this author’s work in other pairings for similar vibes!)

if they find out, will it all go wrong? blankiexrry, 3.4k (Harry/Louis). Gender exploration behind the scenes when the D played MSG, plus extra kink added!

The Assassination of Harry Styles’ Dignity, wishforwishes, 3.5k (Harry/Nick). This one was in the pubefest, and it’s gryles angst hours gorgeously done as Harry ponders shaving past and present (highly rec this author for gender exploration in other pairings, too).

She Feels So Good, Zedi, 4k, and its sequel, Turns Out She’s a Devil In-Between the Sheets, 3k (Harry/Louis). Mannnn, this universe is so good! Part one is behind the scenes of the Late Late Show after Kiwi, and part two is sexi times in Italy. I utterly adore how this Harry shifts right along with her pronouns.

Fertile Ground, Blake/ @newleafover, 4.4k (Harry/Louis). Jesus wept specifically at this story, CHRIST, so much dysphoria-related angst!! The sheer number of moments guaranteed to make you stare at the wall for one (1) hour, help!

into joy i’m sailing, @hereforlou, 4.6k (Harry/Louis). The tenderness LEAPS off the screen in this one, Harry forgets he’s wearing a dress when Louis comes over for dinner, and I peel my heart out of my throat every time.

weird honey, orphan_account, 5.4k (Harry/Louis). I’m a big lurker in fic comments, and these ones give me joy because big names from a time when this Harry drew even more hate than today are here, spreading love and support--who was this author? This story is so GOOD, I’d love to know what else they did! (In this case, a sex toy helps Harry deal with not having a vagina.)

violence of my own touch, 14hrflight/ @got2ghost, 5.2k (Harry/Louis). Chi is yet ANOTHER author to read for spot-fuckin’-on genderfluid characterization (here, it’s alpha/alpha with all kinds of bdsm, dysphoria, angst, and more).

it’s you i want to take apart, orphan_account, 5.9k (Harry/Louis). This author--in the year of our lorde 2012--watched the nail polish interview and created a work of art that went even deeper, their MIND!!! What else did they foretell??!!!!!

Love at Home, @vondrostes, 6.9k (Harry/Xander, Harry/Zayn/Xander). This fic is HYPER-current, like, mid-quarantine, and it features some Zarry history, some pregnancy-related dysphoria, and so much more, plus horses!! (The horses aren’t actually all that involved, I just love to see ‘em.)

Vinyl and Lace, objectlesson/ @alienfuckeronmain, 7.5k (Harry/Louis). This one kills me because it’s XF days, and you get the full-on sensation that this is meant to be kinky play funtime, but it’s going to end up being something much bigger on so many fronts, we love to see it!

Are You Gonna Be My Girl? LoadedGunn, 7.5k (Harry/Louis). EASILY my fave fic this author wrote, basically, Louis talks about his first time with a girl, Harry decides to be that girl, and the dirty talk hits different in the end!

call me anything you like, but my name is, wishforwishes, 9.9k (Harry/members of CHASM). [muffled internal screaming whenever I think of this fic] It starts with BSE Veronica/Zayn and ends with Harry Veronica/Zayn, and so much revelation happens in between, goddddd bless.

fallin’ and laughin’ at the drinks we spilled, enbyharry/ @non-binharry, 14k (Harry/Louis). Asia’s description in the notes kills me, but #vanlife Louis runs into proud Harry in some bar and shenanigans ensue is the upshot!

But She Doesn’t Know Who I Am series, jaerie, 15k (Harry/Louis). I love that one of the tags here is “louis asks inappropriate questions” because that’s honestly most of what happens!!

o/o angst series, HappyPrincess/ @pattern-pals, 17k (Harry/Louis). I miss Nina’s writing like a phantom limb, and I doubt they’ll return to this universe, but I swear, I will read (and rec) ANYTHING they produce when the muse visits them again! This one is as its title says, and it doesn’t disappoint, heavy sigh.

Grenadine Sunshine, objectlesson/ @alienfuckeronmain, 18k (Harry/Louis). This fic is a peach of a pearl written as a gift for one of this fandom’s best authors, and it perfectly captures the Mood of that author, with so much softness, makeup, gender, and tender.

Alpha Louis/Alpha Harry series, 14hrflight/ @got2ghost, 22k (Harry/Louis). SO MANY GENDER ISSUES EXPLORED HERE, WOW!! College roommates come to terms with their identity, and, mannnnn, do I love it when a/b/o gets unstraightened, if you will, chef’s kiss all around.

Nothing You Can Do (But You Can Learn How to Be You in Time), Teumessian, 28k (Harry/Louis). Also known as the pinterest fic, this one is just so soft and lovely, an identity story told through hair (among other things).

genderfluid!harry series, istajmaal, 33k (Harry/Louis). This entire series hits just as hard today as it did when it was written in 2013, a time when people were aggressively trying to make fetch frat boy Harry happen (some of ‘em still are, lmao). Anyway, this is another author I highly rec for all their other fic, but this one does an A+ job of describing Harry’s gender exploration mid-D madness.

Amor Victorious, HappyPrincess/ @pattern-pals, 38k (Harry/Louis). Another brilliant work from Nina, you feel like you’re on this journey with them, PLUS it dives deep into gender identity struggles, PLUS it throws a/b/o for a loop, all of which equals a big yes from me!

hush., wankerville, 41k (Harry/Louis). One of my all-time faves, this one tackles so many phobias, all while being set in a small-town America high school AU and managing to be the softest, most gorgeous, most hopeful thing in spite (because?) of that.

Time Passed, coffinofachimera/ @belialsmiracles, 66k (Harry/Louis). LISTEN, I WILL NEVER, EVER SHUT UP ABOUT THIS FIC, I can only hope the author will bless us with a timestamp or something else entirely, it’s so beautifully done, it makes you think of nothing else for days, it RUINS you for other fic (I highly rec the author’s other work, too). You’ll never look at Tokyo Harry the same way again (or listen to “She” or “Fine Line” without getting more than a little misty). GOLD STAR!

Made of Lightning, @vondrostes, 74k (Harry/Louis, Harry/Liam, Harry/Louis/Liam). Just...the tags on this don’t do full justice to the journey of it, to the imagination of this specific timeline! I adore how Terran writes trans Harry!

Second Spring, @vondrostes, 103k (Harry/Louis). Speaking of Terran writing trans Harry, this one covers all the ins and outs of her surgical transition, how she recovers, and how she and the people around her deal with puberty no. 2.

#fic rec #gender #harry styles #whew it's a long one!!

115 notes · View notes

a-brighter-yellow · 5 years

Text

Annual Self Writing Evaluation

Thank you for the tag, @disgruntledkittenface, mwah!!

list of works published this year:

All My Friends Are Here

High enough for you to pull me under

When all this gets old

Sometimes Fires Don't Go Out

work you are most proud of (and why)

I feel proud of each of them for different reasons, and all of them because I just started writing fic this year and just didn’t think I could be that person. I guess I am?? Or I made myself be.

All My Friends Are Here was an original idea, a tight one-shot that came out better than I’d hoped. High enough for you to pull me under is the AU I’ve been dreaming about for years, and it challenged my ability to plot and to create relationships that evolved and changed. When all this gets old is my heart’s song, and it’s really okay that it’s nobody else’s. And Sometimes Fires Don't Go Out was obviously a labor of love for @crinkle-eyed-boo — a STRUGGLE to keep a secret, and my first time interpreting someone else’s prompt.

work you are least proud of (and why)

I beat myself up a lot WHILE I’m writing. Especially while I’m writing and reading other people’s incredible stuff at the same time. But I’m happy with everything that’s posted, as it is, even though I personally can sense a huge difference in my confidence between the first half of HEFYTPMU and the second.

a favorite excerpt of your writing

This prelude to the smut in When all this gets old delights me:

Nick is fairly certain that there must be some kind of public decency law that they’re breaking, or maybe it feels filthier than it looks. Trapped below denim as they are, their cocks graze against each other every time they swivel their lower bodies, and it’s swiftly becoming a problem Nick won’t be able to control. Game over, won, and in the post-show, he chances a look into Liam’s eyes and finds his pupils blown to hell, teeth sinking into that damned pouty lip. Nick is about to drag him by the sash into the nearest toilet when something vibrates against his upper thigh, too close to his dick to be strictly polite.

“Fuck.” Liam startles, extricates himself from Nick the necessary amount, and goes scrambling for the phone in his pocket. When he sees whatever the notification is, he lets his arms flap dramatically to the side, then whirls around looking for someone. Nick follows his gaze as it lands on Louis, standing at the edge of the dance floor and holding up his own phone triumphantly. And as he’s never said he was anything but a nosy bastard, Nick also rises to his tip toes so he can see Liam’s screen from above.

It’s an Uber gift card for 20 pounds. In the notes section are three eggplant emojis, two peach emojis, the water droplets, and one tongue.

“Wanker!” Liam shouts over the music. Louis mimes that he can’t hear him, though his shit-eating grin suggests otherwise.

And this highly charged pinball game from High enough for you to pull me under:

“How’d you rate your pinball skills?” Harry asks as Louis feeds the machine. “Scale of one to ten.”

“Like a negative eight?”

Harry lets out a low whistle. “That’s poor, Louis. That’s very poor indeed. But I’m going to coach you. The key to pinball is patience. If you slam on the buttons for no reason, you’ll miss your shot. So all you have to do is pull that lever back as far as you can, then wait for the ball to hit the middle of the flipper. And if you get a bonus, Gomez will say something nice to you.”

“Gomez is nice to everybody, Harry. He’s a gentleman.”

Amusement spreads across Harry’s face. Louis’s smartarsery still doesn’t faze him.

“How could I forget. Go on then.”

Louis grasps the red lever and pulls it back as far as the tension will allow. It snaps back into place with force, and the ball sails into play. He and Harry look on silently as it makes its way down the incline, pinging back and forth on bumpers and ticking up Louis’s score. Finally, the ball starts to roll steadily toward the bottom, with only Louis standing between it and the abyss. He waits and waits, just as Harry showed him. It’s ridiculous, how his blood pressure is rising. There’s absolutely nothing riding on this game. It doesn’t matter at all. Still, Louis’s heart is beating right between his ears as the moment of truth comes closer. Then the ball is there, and Louis finally taps the flipper button. For a fraction of a second thinks he made his move too late. But it connects, and the ball goes flying back up the slope. He doesn’t chance a look at Harry, only hears him whisper an excited “Nice.”

share or describe a favorite review you received

I treasure every comment, so it’s impossible to choose a fave! Accept this, from High enough for you to pull me under, as a sample:

Dammit, this was amazing! I didn't get anything done today that I was supposed to do, because I couldn't stop reading this during all of my down time. I love the way you drew the inside of Louis' head - so funny and caring.

a time when writing was really, really hard

I really struggled through about the first third of HEFYTPMU, because I psyched myself out, as I am prone to do. I didn’t think I’d have the follow-through, and I worried that life would get in the way, so every part of that was painful. As soon as I had some momentum and got used to taking it ONE chapter at a time, it became much less stressful.

a scene or character you wrote that surprised you

This is such the easy answer, but I was not at all planning on having Nick and Liam get together in HEFYTPMU. But what can I say, they had a vibe!! And that vibe led to my first porn-with-a-sort-of-plot, so I’m grateful to fic them for being so horny for each other.

Also, I knew I wanted Niall to be Lucas in the Empire Records AU, but I couldn’t even fathom before I started how fun it would be to write for him.

how did you grow as a writer this year

In literally every way possible??? I haven’t written a STORY since probably high school, since I (an English major) avoided creative writing like the plague in college. I’m locating muscles I didn’t even know I had, and I’m having so much fun doing it. (When I’m not cursing myself.) I also love being a part of a community, both in my little fic clique (I LOVE READING EVERYTHING YOU WRITE), and the larger one here.

how do you hope to grow next year

I don’t have any specific goals - just to get stronger, and try more things.

who was your greatest positive influence this year as a writer (could be another writer or beta or cheerleader or muse etc etc)

I can’t pick one, you can’t make me. @crinkle-eyed-boo, @disgruntledkittenface, and @uhohmorshedios are my sounding boards, for all things good and bad. They’re honest and supportive and kick my ass when they need to. I basically started my first fic because I was so awed by what Kim and Maggie were doing, and wanted to be cool like them. And Maggie and G SAVED MY LIFE when I had to compose a whole fic from start to finish without Kim being the wiser.

anything from your real life show up in your writing this year

The Louis from HEFYTPMU is me in a lot of ways. I was moved up a grade in school and I always felt smaller, more innocent, more naive. It’s been a chip on my shoulder my whole life, even if other people can’t see it. So I understood his fish-out-of-water mentality.

I hosted pub trivia for four years, and though no one ever flirted with me via answer sheet (forever alone!), a lot of the mechanics are from my experience.

The Harry in my WIP is already VERY ME. Frighteningly so.

any new wisdom you can share with other writers

TALK TO PEOPLE. Just talk stuff out. It’s not cheating, and it WILL make your work better.

any projects you’re looking forward to starting (or finishing) in the new year

I’ve gotten a decent start on my fic for @onedirectionbigbang, and it’s probably the best and happiest I’ve ever felt when actually writing. I’d originally had a movie AU planned (that I might do down the line, stay tuned), but dropped it to write about novelist Harry and witch Louis. And I have to say, they’re adorable.

tag three writers whose answers you’d like to read

I think everyone has done this, but please consider yourself tagged if not!

#me #fic stuff

5 notes · View notes

louis-sottficrec · 6 years

Text

Fluff

Just A Flower Boy by Larryruinedme, 70k.

CUTE, FLUFF, YES.

Summary: Harry Styles is a clumsy, flower crown-wearing, openly gay junior with only two true friends, Niall and Zayn. Louis Tomlinson is the school's attractive, straight football captain, with a small body and a big personality. As fate will have it, Harry has a huge, unrequited, utterly hopeless crush on Louis. Fate is thrown out the window the day that Harry and Louis find themselves partnered up for a history project. Harry starts to receive notes from a secret admirer, Louis starts to get jealous of Harry's budding friendship with senior Nick Grimshaw, Zayn and Liam develop a thing for each other, and Niall is the best mate anyone could have asked for. And suddenly, Harry's crush on Louis doesn't seem so utterly hopeless anymore.

You’ll Never Know by inmyrosegarden, 56k.

Again, the fluffiest of fluffiest fics. You might want to select ‘entire work’ as I felt that it read a bit smoother that way.

Summary: Louis is the overachiever who’s too shy to approach the boy he likes. Harry is the popular athlete who tries to help him get the attention of said boy. Little does Harry know that he’s the one Louis is crushing on.

Before I Fall Too Fast by xxSterre, 6k.

Summary: ‘Hey Lou, want to hang out after work? Order in some curry?’ He’s slightly surprised, because, well. “Didn’t you just say you had plans?” Harry’s cheeks flush as he shrugs it off. ‘I just wanted them off my back. Truth is I’m gonna be terribly single and alone, but I thought we could be single and alone together - maybe we could make a proper night off of it? Play some FIFA, watch Grease...’ He trails off with an impish grin, and Louis is pretty sure that his own face shows just how easy he is for his favourite musical. “Fine, I can’t say no to Danny and Sandy. That’d be mean of me.” It’s probably a really bad idea to spend Valentine’s Day with the guy that you’re actually crushing on, Louis knows that. However, it’s also really hard to say no to spending the most romantic day of the year - supposedly - with the one guy you’ve been crushing on for almost a year.

Shy Eyes by isthatyoularry, 2k.

I’m a sucker for coffee shop au’s, so this is just 2k of pure fluff, it’s cute.

Summary: Coffee Shop AU where Harry is 21 and famous and he has been in love since the moment he saw those cerulean blue eyes.

Four Letters, Seven Points by LibbyWrites, 20k.

Coffee shop and scrabble makes for the perfect fluff fic!

Summary: Louis was pretty sure that a nerd who plays Scrabble as a hobby could only be boredom personified. Harry proved him utterly wrong.

Apples Always Fall (As I Do For You) by rainbowsandgucci, 54k.

This has created even higher reaching expectations of the dream life. I want to live on this apple orchard and fall in love now.

Summary: ”Due to unforeseen circumstances, help is needed here at the orchard for the impending apple season. Looking for someone able to start within the next week or two at the most, is willing to do whatever miscellaneous tasks are needed, such as picking & packing apples, running the cash register, and other handywork that may need to be done. Must be good with customers, and able to lift up to 50lbs. Help will be needed until at the least the end of October. Please contact the number found on this page, or come out to the orchard and ask for Harry. All the love xx” Louis is staying at his Aunt's farm in a small town in Minnesota for four months. To deal with the boredom that sets in a week into his stay, he starts working at the local apple orchard, owned by twenty six year old Harry Styles. Louis quickly finds himself falling in love with the orchard, and he finds a family in Harry's friends Niall, Liam, and Zayn. He also starts to fall in love with Harry. Falling in love with him turns out to be the easy part.

Make It Everlasting So Nothing’s Incomplete by supernope, 9k.

Flowershop and lots of Valentine’s fluff, what more can a person ask for..

Summary: Trying to be conspicuous so he doesn’t startle him, Harry sidles up to Louis and asks, “How’s it going?” “Alright,” Louis muses, turning his head so he can smile at Harry. “I wish there were explanations about what each of the flowers mean on labels or something, though.” A thrill runs up Harry’s spine, and he can’t quite temper the grin that spreads across his face as he asks, “Well, I could tell you, if you’d like?” “Oh, only if you have time, I don’t want to keep you away from your work -” “Louis,” Harry laughs, gesturing around the empty shop. “There is nobody here and, as luck would have it, there is literally nothing I would like more than to talk to you about flowers.”

i’ll bring the bread because boy, you’re the jam by snagnetism, 8k.

Summary: Just when he’s about to stop clicking the next button and claim defeat, maybe put some posters up around town, he’s met with a picture of white cardstock lying on a table, words written in black Sharpie with careful, deliberate strokes. “Hiiii,” it reads, “if you’re reading this, you’ve found my camera! I’d love it if you could contact me so I can get it back. It’d be the nice thing to do.” Or the AU where Harry loses his camera. Louis finds it. They fall for each other via email.

Blend into my favourite colour by rainbowninja167, 19k.

Very fluffy and lots of pining between two (or four) oblivious boys.

Summary: Harry often wonders if they’ll ever meet in real life. And if Harry will recognize Tommo the instant they see each other, like somehow their souls will just know. Or maybe Harry’s soul is shouting “Louis!” too loudly for any other signals to go through. Harry is a barista with a secret Werewolf High fan blog, a desperate crush on a customer named Louis, and a best friend on Tumblr who always makes him laugh. Louis can't figure out why the barista at his favorite coffee shop keeps creepily staring at him, and to make matters worse, he may be slightly in love with a friend he met online. A love square involving two boys, one TV fandom, and one food fight.

Found My Missing Piece by styleandsin, 16k.

Very cute and fluffy bloggers AU. Lots of pining, ergo lots of goodness.

Summary: ‘“@harrystyles followed you.” “@harrystyles liked your tweet.” “What?” He whispers in astonishment, because there’s no way. But he clicks on Harry’s profile and sure enough, the little grey “follows you” appears by his name. After taking a second to just stare at the screen, he quickly takes a screenshot and sends it to his sister. Lottie is one of the few people who would understand his shock. Niall would certainly just make fun of him for it.’ Louis and Harry are both fashion bloggers. Louis' been following Harry for years. Harry and his blog really gave him the confidence and the push to make his own. His sister and best friend have been making fun of his silly little crush on him ever since. But that's all it is, a silly, harmless crush because there is no way Harry knows who he is. Or does he?

Both Sides by louiesunshine, 10k.

Two oblivious friends = a lot of pining.

Summary: ‘“What’s one thing that Harry doesn’t know about you and that you wish to tell him?” Oh, fuck. This is just fantastic, if Louis learns that Niall and Liam purposely threw this question for him, they are going to wish they never met him. Because of course there is something he wishes to tell Harry, but he can’t. He can’t because he’d run the chance of ruining their friendship and that cannot happen.’ Or, the one where Louis has been in love with Harry for years and hasn't told him. However, his friends Liam and Niall maybe provide the little push that he needs.

Not the Desperate Type by lululawrence, 6k.

Summary: “First of all, I’d like to tell you how disturbing it is that you’re this familiar with your neighbor’s sex life,” Liam said, amusement lacing his tone. “Fuck off,” Louis said, laughing. “Second, that is really very sad. How bad is the stomping? Are you sure your neighbor doesn’t like it fast like that?” “With the amount of cleaning the guy does, I think he’s taking out his sexual frustration on the cleanliness of his apartment. I can’t imagine the guy makes enough mess to require daily vacuuming.” It sounded like the guy was actually moving furniture above him as he was sweeping now. Damn. Did Louis miss the seven minutes in heaven or was the guy angry because he didn’t even get that much pleasure today? “I’m kinda afraid with the amount of noise he produces while cleaning that one day I’m gonna look up through my ceiling and be able to see him.” “Tell him we wish him a better sex life and that we’re rooting for him if you do.” Or the one where Louis' neighbor has a series of unfortunately short sexual experiences and Louis can hear every. Single. One.

Slow Hands (Slow Days) by LadeLondonderry, 9k.

So much fluff and animals and oblivious boys!

Summary: Louis Tomlinson is the new vet hired on at Payne Veterinary Practice, in the middle of the Yorkshire countryside with nothing but rolling hills and farms for miles. Harry Styles is a resident farmer, with pigs and sheep and beautiful green pasture and a, confusingly, completely empty milking parlour. Maybe Louis is putting too much thought into this, but he really, really thinks Harry should have cows. And Harry really, really seems to disagree.

In the end I started thinking about the beginning by infinitelymint, 21k.

I had tears filling my eyes at the end of this.

Summary: When Louis returned from Malaysia to attend his best mate Zayn's wedding, he hadn't expected their wedding planner to be Harry Styles. Over the next two weeks Louis learns that maybe staying in one place permanently isn't so bad, as long as you have someone to stay with.

Warm Me Like Sunshine by rainbowslovehl, 45k.

Not strictly, but it was very cute and warmed me up inside. Recommendation: read with a good cup of tea and a cozy blanket (extra: include fairy lights).

Summary: The pictures weren’t as surprising since Louis had seen him around with a giant camera hanging off his neck, and occasionally clicking passersby. What surprised him were the written parts, occasionally spread out between his photos. They ranged from random song lyrics, a few of which he recognised, mixed in with quotes, that he claimed he wrote himself. They were haikus or poems, mainly about love and longing for someone. And of course he wrote poetry, Louis shouldn’t be surprised. He did seem to be the type of person who are just perfect in every aspect. Or alternatively, Louis accidentally discovers that Harry, the boy who he likes, has a tumblr account. He thinks it’s a chance to talk to him online without actually talking, getting to know him before they converse in real life. But things don’t go according to the plan when he finds that Harry is pining over someone who seems to be perfect. It gets worse when Harry starts talking to him in real life as well, since now he has to hide from him that his online friend (Tommo) is the same as his real life friend (Louis).

Force of Nature by Holdmyhalo, 25k.

Cue the tears people, this will have you sobbing when the applause starts.

Summary:Louis is a shy, young musician who doesn't want to go to Harvard. Harry is a confident, second year athlete who likes to have a good time. When their paths cross while their families are vacationing at the same lake resort, what begins as a summer of fun becomes a defining journey that might just change everything.

Check Please by zedi, 2k.

Sugary sweet.

Summary: Louis has a shit date. Harry offers to cover the bill. They maybe fall in love.

Whether Clouds or Clear Skies by onewasturning, 25k.

Summary: “You, young Harold, are a baker among curry houses and vintage clothing stores,” Louis says, and it forces a bark of surprised laughter out of Harry. “I’m a— sorry, what?” “Harry,” Louis says, “last night I had an experience bordering on profound.” “You’re making it sound like you did something sexual with my muffin,” Harry says. Or, Louis gets into the habit of stealing baked goods while Harry’s busy keeping tabs on the weather.

Tis The Season For… Love? by AFangirlFantasy, 27k.

Summary: Harry seems to have it all: A successful career as a pastry chef, a Victorian home in London, and a dedicated boyfriend who he's been with for years. One day he stops by his boyfriend's apartment to surprise him and finds out that he's not so dedicated to Harry after all. Shocked and too depressed to celebrate, he decides to skip Christmas and on a whim leaves on a plane to New York. In New York he meets Louis… Or...Louis might just be what Harry's needed all along. (cheating, not HL)

Learning To Eat by photo41, 28k.

A lot of fun and cheekiness.

Summary: Celebrity chef Louis Tomlinson has a problem. He’s opening his first restaurant in 9 weeks, and he has yet to hire a pastry chef- apparently people think he’s ‘standoffish’ and ‘rude’ and ‘quick to temper’. Whatever. He ends up saddled with an annoying, happy-go lucky rookie who also happens to be obnoxiously good looking. His tv presenter and pop star best friends only add to the drama, and for fucks sake would everyone please stop quoting Julia Child?! Kitchen AU where Harry helps Louis re-learn how to eat. (METAPHORICALLY)

This Wicked Game by cherrystreet, 70k.

I’m not sure where to put this fic, category-wise, but it is pretty fluffy with a little ‘angst’. You’ll understand what I mean if you read it.

Summary: An AU in which The Bachelor is gay, Louis is a contestant, Harry is the bachelor, everyone drinks a lot of champagne, the entire world gets to watch them fall in love, and no one plays by the rules.

Don’t Unplug Me Or Shut Me Down by slashter, 7k.

Summary: Louis scowls. "He's a photography student. He works with gorgeous models and probably breaks hearts with his smile. I'm a nerd. I earn my money fixing broken crap, and for some stupid reason, I like it. He wears short skirts, I wear t-shirts, he's cheer captain and I'm on the bleachers, et cetera, et cetera." Louis sighs. "I swear, the coolest thing I've ever done is wear contacts." Basically, Louis is a self-proclaimed nerd who fixes things and Harry seems too perfect to keep breaking as many things as he does.

#fic rec #my fic rec list #larry fic rec #fluff #larry fluff #hl fluff

34 notes · View notes

lululawrence · 6 years

Note

Hoping you will share your thoughts about the Nick/Greg switch. I'm a huge fan of both of them and I think this is a great move.

some of the thoughts have to do with the timing of the announcement and not really being surprised by it. i mean, i was surprised (and kinda sad that i won’t be able to listen to greg anymore outside of his podcasts) because it wasn’t like i was expecting it, but like, once i heard i was like ohhhh yeah well, that makes sense. ya know? like, i’m currently writing a completely 100% self indulgent radio 1 fic where harry and louis aren’t one of the djs there, but louis’ an intern so it’s got all the djs doing their thing outside of that, ya know? and part of that was because i love greg, ant, grace, and chris and their dynamic and wanted it in a fic. i wanted to be able to have scott and chris show up and refer to them. i wanted grimmy doing his thing as he does. i didn’t want any of them replaced. but that meant that i had to research info about their time slots, how long they’d been in them, when they started with radio 1, etc so i could accurately describe how harry came to listen to them and be so attached etc and while doing this reading i learned a lot about the details behind the numbers for the breakfast show since grimmy took over.

this got entirely too long, because when did i ever answer something in a few words when i could use a shitload? so beneath the cut are the rest of my thoughts lol

i mean, i think a lot of people knew that the numbers for nick on the breakfast show have never been what the breakfast show used to and is accustomed to pulling, but the big wigs at the bbc were constantly supporting him and backing him up, spouting things like “well the numbers for the older demographics don’t matter for us anyway because we’re looking to up the number for the younger demographic”, which it has done but not to the extent they were hoping for i would imagine. (please note all this is just my opinion and understanding of what i read, as an american mother whose degree was in english education and nothing to do with media or broadcasting lol) that being said, the numbers weren’t POOR. they just weren’t good or as high as was i think anticipated.

also please keep in mind though, that grimmy has a very specific appeal. the same reasons that a lot of people don’t like him are exactly why those who do are so faithful to him. he also rubs elbows and runs in friend groups with people who are well known and hold a certain appeal because they’re seen as the trendsetters, right? there is a lot that can be gained for bbc by having someone who is in that group because it’s all about who you know and who is on your side. those connections aren’t going to want to be thrown away.

greg, meanwhile, pulls exactly the demographic that the bbc bosses have said they wanted to increase for the breakfast show. when listening to newsbeat during scott mills’ show today, one of the radio 1 bosses had an audio clip saying that it’s the perfect time to announce for greg because after his success with pedal for the peaks in conjunction with sport relief and then going out there and doing interviews at biggest weekend with the top names in the music industry (i laughed this was included because greg is still getting clapback on twitter for telling taylor to her face she needed to take a shower) that he’s just been gaining momentum and making a good name for himself which just goes to show that he’s the perfect person for the job.

here’s the thing with greg. he’s quirky and funny and not afraid to make an arse of himself and that makes people kind of instantly love him. he’s witty and funny and intent on making his show a safe space for him to be himself as well as his listeners. that doesn’t mean he won’t make fun of you, but it’s all done without the intent of being cruel. the time slot he’s in currently also allowed him to build a rapport across demographic lines because he’s on during the drive home for the uk which also means kids are out of school, studying, etc. by building up popularity amongst the demographic where it is understood the bbc wants to have a higher listenership for in the mornings, and then switching him at what appears to be the height of his name recognition, to the morning show is a fantastic move for them. it will hopefully do everything they want it to while also giving greg a chance at a slot that many djs aspire to have.

back to nick. a lot of times, when djs reach the morning shows for their station, they either stay there because they’ve finally reached their goal, until they find something bigger to move onto, or they’re retired when it’s determined they are old news and no longer viable or sent to a less desirable sister station. that…is not happening with nick. he’s staying with radio 1, he’s just going to be doing the drive home instead. now, was it actually fully his decision? fully, probably not. partially, maybe. recently the other bbc radio stations moved to manchester (i stopped by just to look in while i was there since i missed getting a peek at the bbc studios in london). if grimmy were moved to radio 2, as often happens with the djs who are no longer pulling the demographic desired for radio 1, then the bbc would lose out on his social circles that are centered in london. not only that, but nick does still draw a crowd and is popular with younger demographics, so the move to radio 2 just doesn’t make business sense for them. plus nick very likely would not find that move appealing for career reasons.

so, this whole long winded post is just to say it makes SO MUCH SENSE that these two are switching slots for a lot of reasons and when i heard it immediately settled and was like ah. yeah. alright then.

NOW ME AS A LISTENER AND LOVER OF THEM?!?! i’m ecstatic for greg. i’m happy to not lose nick. i’m SO EXCITED i get to hear nick’s lovely northern voice more often since he’ll actually be on when i’m awake now lol but that means i won’t get greg’s soothing voice while i’m taking my kids to various appointments anymore, and that makes me a bit sad. i hope that greg keeps doing his weekly podcasts. i wouldn’t even mind if he did like scott and did daily. (i would be so happy i could cry, actually lol). i don’t want nick to stop doing his podcasts. i would love if he started doing them more like he used to rather than his once weekly “here’s my star interview of the week” podcast, which i don’t mind but preferred his older ones. i’m worried that grace and ant and chris won’t be going with greg to the breakfast show because they are as important to me and the dynamic greg has as greg himself. i’m sure chris won’t go, since he’s the news, but grace? ant? sigh. oh gosh i just caught up on nick’s insta and saw the post about fiona leaving the show too. THE TIMING OF IT ALL MAKES SENSE BUT I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT DETAILS HERE! sl;akdhg;alskfj

so yeah. i’m sure you’re regretting it by now, but these are my thoughts and feelings regarding the announcement this morning lolll thank you for asking!

#opinions #grimmy #greg james #i'm entirely too invested in this shit lol #i also hope greg doesn't check his tag on tumblr #i'm guessing he doesn't since he doesn't seem to be very active here #but all the same #if you're reading this greg #i love you and hope grace and ant and chris know i love them too #and grimmy and scott and chris and fiona #and annie #and just everyone really lol #Anonymous #asks #mine

7 notes · View notes