#‘the more you say the less I know wherever you stray I follow I’m begging for you to take my hand’

[seagreenstardust]

Who was going to tell me that Taylor Swift was actually writing about bkdk all these years

[rynwritesstuff]

Willow

Pirate!Kylo Ren x Reader

Warnings: Gentle yearning, longing stares, they love each other but Kylo is oblivious and moody

Word count: 710

Summary: Captain Kylo Ren appreciates the sunset (and other beautiful things.)

*Edit is not mine, credit to @kyloremus​ !!*

“I’m like the water when your ship rolled in that night. [...] The more that you say, the less I know, wherever you stray, I follow. I’m begging for you to take my hand, wreck my plans, that’s my man.” - Willow, Taylor Swift 

The ship rocks back and forth as it sails through the sea. Captain Kylo Ren stands on the deck of the ship, looking out at the blue waves and appreciating the beauty of the sunset reflecting on the water. He is a quiet man. Quiet, and solemn, and hard to understand. 

You love it. 

You come up behind him and put your hand on his shoulder. He glances over. Then, saying nothing, he looks back out at the orange, yellow, and pink hues that fill the sky. You know he likes it when you touch him, though. He leans into you ever so slightly, pressing his body closer to yours. 

You follow his line of vision, then smile softly as you squint at the brilliant display of colors. 

“You’re deep in thought,” you state. It isn’t a question. The Captain looks down at you, and you offer him a knowing smile. “What’s troubling you?”

He glances down at your chest for just a moment, looking at your breasts and silently enjoying the way they look in the dress he bought you just a few days prior. 

“Nothing,” Kylo says. “Can one not simply enjoy the sunset?”

You chuckle. He’s difficult. Always so fucking difficult.

“You may,” you say, nodding up at him. “Of course you may. I just thought that perhaps you would enjoy some company.”

Kylo says nothing, which you have come to understand means: Stay. He looks out at the water again. He loves it here at sea. You, not so much. It is easy to get seasick this far out, and you often long to plant your feet on solid ground, but when you have the Captain, you find that it’s a bit easier to endure. 

You are his companion, his woman. He has his men, most certainly, but none of them matter as much as you do. You are beautiful in his eyes, like a sculpture that the Gods took their time molding. He is not good at expressing his affection or admiration, but he enjoys these moments in which it is you, and him, and the sea. 

“The colors are wonderful,” you say, looking at the reflection in the water. Kylo is still staring at you. 

“Yes,” he says. “They are.” 

He takes note of your complexion, your hair, your eyes. Everything. Of course, he has done this many times before, but you look striking in the warm light. He tucks a stray piece of hair behind your ear, and you look up at him. 

“Do you want me tonight, Captain?” you ask softly. “Yes,” Kylo says. He likes it when you call him ‘Captain’. 

“When?” you ask. You do not make it a habit, asking him when he is going to fuck you, because it all depends on his fluctuating moods, but right now? He is staring at you hungrily, drinking you in like a man dying of thirst, and you think that perhaps he will tell you to go to his quarters now.

“When I have finished looking at you in this light,” Kylo says, his hand moving from your hair to your cheek. He pulls you forward, and you must admit that this behavior is surprising but very, very welcome. 

“Do you enjoy looking at me, Captain?” you ask, your voice barely above a whisper as you lean into his touch. 

Kylo looks at your lips and begins to long for you, then leans forward and presses his lips against yours so as to not deny himself the simple pleasure of kissing you. His mouth works against yours delicately, gently, far gentler than you would think for a man like him. 

Your hand finds his hair, and you give it a gentle tug. 

“I would very much – mm – like to – mm – take you, Captain,” you tell him. The smallest of smiles tugs at the corner of Captain Ren’s mouth, and he pulls your body flush against his. 

“Well, who am I to say ‘no’ to such a beautiful woman?” he asks.

[imcreatingchaos]

I’m going crazy about ts wrote willow for lawlight.

And if it was an open-shut case

I never would've known from that look on your face

The more that you say

The less I know

Wherever you stray

I follow

I'm begging for you to take my hand

Wreck my plans

That's my man

Head on the pillow, I could feel you sneaking in (they literally slept together)

As if you were a mythical thing

Like you were a trophy or a champion ring

And there was one prize I'd cheat to win

Life was a willow and it bent right to your wind (oh)

They count me out time and time again

Wait for the signal and I'll meet you after dark

Show me the places where the others gave you scars

Now this is an open-shut case

Guess I should've known from the look on your face

Every bait and switch was a work of art

[proxductions]

“Our Illicit Love”

summary: You love him, and he loves you. But some things aren’t just meant to be.

pairings: Draco Malfoy x ! fmuggle reader

wordcount:_

warnings/notes: angst. sorry I haven’t been posting much lately. I’ve been studying a lot but now I can post as much as I did before. I’m going to create this story and relate it to Willow by Taylor Swift. enjoy 🖤

“Illicit love is like a flame, Burning bright but causing pain.”

__

The secret glances gave it away. You thought. Or was it the fact I’ve always smiled at him for no reason?

I'm like the water when your ship rolled in that night

Rough on the surface but you cut through like a knife

And if it was an open-shut case

I never would've known from that look on your face

Lost in your current like a priceless wine

.

Your gaze shifted to the left, and you noticed him. You both met each other's eyes, and there was a moment of unspoken connection.

He made a gesture that seemed to say "meet me outside before midnight."

“The more that you say

The less I know

Wherever you stray

I follow

I'm begging for you to take my hand

Wreck my plans

That's my man

It was time. You knew you had to leave before the clock struck twelve and you knew Draco wasn’t a patient person.

Life was a willow and it bent right to your wind

Head on the pillow, I could feel you sneaking in

Under the cover of darkness, you crept out of your dormitory and made your way down the spiral staircase.

As if you were a mythical thing

Like you were a trophy or a champion ring

And there was one prize I'd cheat to win

You slipped past the portraits and made your way towards the entrance hall. The castle was eerily quiet. You paused at the entrance hall, listening for any sign of movement before pushing open the heavy wooden door and stepping out into the moonlit night.

The more that you say

The less I know

Wherever you stray

I follow

I'm begging for you to take my hand

Wreck my plans

That's my man

The cool air hit your face, and you took a deep breath. Savouring the fact you were all alone.

Or so you thought.

You know that my train could take you home

Anywhere else is hollow

I'm begging for you to take my hand

Wreck my plans

That's my man

“Hi,” Draco had said breathily. He practically came out of nowhere and he seemed out of breath.

“What happened?” You had questioned the moment you saw him. You the both started to walk down a steep step.

"Watch yourself," Draco said distractedly. He held your hand and lifted you up so that you wouldn't slip into a muddy puddle.

Life was a willow and it bent right to your wind

They count me out time and time again

Life was a willow and it bent right to your wind

But I come back stronger than a 90's trend

"Thank you, but what happened?" you repeated.

"Peeves," he answered, looking back at you as he walked. He gave you a small, stupid grin that conveyed everything you needed to know.

Wait for the signal and I'll meet you after dark

Show me the places where the others gave you scars

Now this is an open-shut case

Guess I should've known from the look on your face

Every bait and switch was a work of art

"Oh, did he catch you? What did he try to do now?" you laughed breathily.

"He created this loud noise that almost got me caught," Draco said, slightly mad about the fact but glad you found it funny. He brought the tip of his index finger and thumb together, which resembled a small O, indicating how close he was to getting caught.

"If he had caught me, I wouldn't have spent any time with you," he said teasingly. You both found a nice place to sit, and Draco waited for you to sit first before sitting beside you.

The more that you say

The less I know

Wherever you stray

I follow

I'm begging for you to take my hand

Wreck my plans

That's my man

You then nudged him in the ribs and muttered, "Oh, shut it," before laughing. He rubbed his ribs and gave you a look, and everything went quiet.

You know that my train could take you home

Anywhere else is hollow

I'm begging for you to take my hand

Wreck my plans

That's my man

"Draco?" you muttered quietly, your hair moving with the gust of wind that was growing harsher.

Draco hummed, listening.

“How long are we going to hide like this? when will your parents accept me?”

Draco sighed. You both had this conversation often.

The more that you say

The less I know

Wherever you stray

I follow

Begging for you to take my hand

Wreck my plans

That's my man

"You know my parents don't accept Muggles or half-bloods. Purebloods only, remember? If they ever found out, they would never approve. This is an illicit love, and we would be forced to end things," Draco said before snaking his arm around you.

You know that my train could take you home

Anywhere else is hollow

Begging for you to take my hand

Wreck my plans

That's my man

You looked down at your distorted reflection from the lake right next to you and sighed.

"We can't be like this forever, Draco. I want to be with you. We can't keep lying and just say we're friends. You know I don't like that," you said, your voice tinged with sadness.

“I’m sorry,” he had said quietly.

Hey, that's my man

That's my man

Yeah, that's my man

Every bait and switch was a work of art

That's my man

Hey, that's my man

Draco kissed the top of your head. Illicit love was like a flame, it burned bright and it caused pain.

I'm begging for you to take my hand

Wreck my plans

That's my man.

[christine9601]

“The more that you say

The less I know

Wherever you stray

I follow

I'm begging for you to take my hand

Wreck my plans

That's my man….”

(No background and Sketch progress under the post)

Hoping the quality ain’t that shitty- I had another leosagi brainrot and my brain kept thinking that one fic I wrote where Leo takes Usagi from an arranged marriage scenario for the Usagi clan kinda wanted to post it on here but ngl writing isn���t my best suit- hope the captions are alright I don’t know exactly how to use the alt captions I’m still learning. Anyways I talk a lot like always hope everyone is having a great day/night as always hearts and reblogs are very much appreciated and my ask box is always open for suggestions/asks/rants.👾👾

[weareapackofstrays]

Stray Kids Members as Taylor Swift Albums

Bang Chan | Folklore

"You drew stars around my scars, but now I'm bleedin’. ‘Cause I knew you, steppin' on the last train marked me like a bloodstain, I...I knew you tried to change the ending, Peter losing Wendy, I...I knew you leavin' like a father, running like water, I...And when you are young, they assume you know nothing. But I knew you’d linger like a tattoo kiss. I knew you'd haunt all of my what-ifs. The smell of smoke would hang around this long, ‘cause I knew everything when I was young."

Lee Know | Lover

"My love was as cruel as the cities I lived in. Everyone looked worse in the light. There are so many lines that I've crossed unforgiven. I’ll tell you the truth, but never goodbye. I don't wanna look at anything else now that I saw you. I don't wanna think of anything else now that I thought of you. I’ve been sleeping so long in a 20-year dark night and now I see daylight, I only see daylight." Changbin | Evermore

"I'm like the water when your ship rolled in that night. Rough on the surface, but you cut through like a knife. And if it was an open-shut case I never would've known from that look on your face. Lost in your current like a priceless wine. The more that you say, the less I know. Wherever you stray, I follow. I’m begging for you to take my hand. Wreck my plans, that’s my man." Hyunjin | Fearless

"I miss screaming and fighting and kissing in the rain. It’s 2 a.m. and I'm cursing your name. I’m so in love that I acted insane. And that's the way I loved you. Breaking down and coming undone. It’s a roller coaster kind of rush and I never knew I could feel that much. And that's the way I loved you." Han Jisung | Midnights

“I find myself running home to your sweet nothings. Outside, they're push and shoving. You’re in the kitchen humming. All that you ever wanted from me was nothing. Industry disruptors and soul deconstructors and smooth-talking hucksters out glad-handing each other. And the voices that implore, 'You should be doing more' to you, I can admit that I’m just too soft for all of it." Felix | Speak Now

"This night is flawless, don't you let it go. I’m wonderstruck, dancing around all alone. I’ll spend forever wondering if you knew I was enchanted to meet you. This is me praying that this was the very first page. Not where the story line ends. My thoughts will echo your name, until I see you again. These are the words I held back, as I was leaving too soon. I was enchanted to meet you." Seungmin | Reputation

"All my flowers grew back as thorns. Windows boarded up after the storm. He built a fire just to keep me warm. All the drama queens taking swings, all the jokers dressin' up as kings. They fade to nothin' when I look at him. And I know I make the same mistakes every time. Bridges burn, I never learn, at least I did one thing right. I did one thing right. I’m laughin' with my lover, makin’ forts under covers. Trust him like a brother, yeah, you know I did one thing right. Starry eyes sparkin' up my darkest night." I.N | 1989

"You got that James Dean daydream look in your eye and I got that red lip classic thing that you like. And when we go crashing down, we come back every time ‘cause we never go out of style, we never go out of style. You got that long hair, slicked back, white T-shirt and I got that good girl faith and a tight little skirt. And when we go crashing down, we come back every time ‘cause we never go out of style, we never go out of style."

-----------------------------

I was inspired by a reel/tiktok I saw of Stray Kids being assigned a Taylor Swift song. As well as a Minsung reel featuring a Taylor song and I just felt like Lee Know gave me Lover vibes and Jisung gave me Midnights vibes and I ran with it. Just my silly opinion. All for fun. Definitely see her albums being interchangeable for any of them. Graphics by @saradika-graphics!

[youraveragetorturedpoet]

Lyrical Analysis: "willow" from evermore

What up, my fellow friends, Swifties and people on the internet! This is my lyrical analysis for “willow” by Taylor Swift from the evermore album. I am not affiliated with or am sponsored by Taylor Swift in any way - these are just my own individual thoughts about the lyrics to one of my favorite songs. 

I hope you all enjoy it! Feel free to share your own thoughts/insights with me at the end of the post. If you like it, please reblog and follow, because there are more of these coming!

So, without further ado, here’s my lyrical analysis of “willow.” 

I’m like the water when your ship rolled in that night

Rough on the surface, but you cut through like a knife

The imagery in this song is vivid and stunning: a ship cutting through water at its arrival during the night. As for what kind of ship and what kind of waters, that’s up to individual interpretation (I personally like to think it’s an old wooden ship cutting through a wine-dark sea against a midnight sky, but that’s just my opinion). 

Taylor/the narrator further elaborates on how she is like the water: “rough on the surface”. This implies that the most common first impression people see of her is someone that is kind of unapproachable, or someone that looks like a grumpy loner when she is really soft and tender. The imagery of someone cutting through her “like a knife” seems to me like this particular person saw through all of her facades instantly. 

Additionally, when a sharp knife cuts through something, it is a clean cut. 

And if this was an open-shut case

I never would’ve known by that look on your face

An “open-shut case” is any kind of case where the evidence/the facts of the case is so strong or obvious that there is no questioning what happened. This could be a nod to Taylor’s love of true crime (as will be shown in her song “no body, no crime” feat. HAIM). However, she follows up this lyric by emphasizing that she never would’ve known by the look on her love’s face. This to me implies that this love interest of hers is someone who acts ignorant of their effect on her.

Lost in your current like a priceless wine

Back to the ship and water imagery! Ships that shipped wine across oceans were highly valuable due to what they were carrying. When a shipwreck happened, the wine would age for years (possibly centuries), which only made the wine better in taste and quality. When such wine is recovered, it is very expensive and my guess is that only the insanely rich can afford it. This adds to the imagery that this type of love is rare and precious. 

“Current” is a play on “currant” (at least I think so), which is a fruit that has been used in some wines instead of grapes. 

The more that you say, the less I know

You know when you are in love with someone/are insanely attracted to someone, and you hang out with them or even talk with them for a while, and you’re so twitterpated/fascinated by this person that common knowledge and sense seem to go out the window, and then you go home and are feeling so in love that you might stop breathing and nothing else matters? That’s this line. This line is vulnerable and honest. The more that the narrator and the love interest interact and talk, the less the narrator is sure of what she wants. 

Wherever you stray, I’ll follow

Devotion. Complete, unyielding devotion. Even if this love interest were to stray from the path in any way, she’d follow him without question. It could also be read as a statement of slight desperation - the feeling of being so in love with someone that one would declare that they would follow them anywhere, just to be with them. 

I’m begging for you to take my hand

Wreck my plans

That’s my man

Taylor has referred to this song as “casting a spell,” and these lines show it. She’s so in love with this person, and isn’t sure if the love interest feels the same way (or if we want to get REALLY spicy it could be interpreted as the love interest not feeling the same and the narrator, in desperation, casts a spell to make the love interest fall in love with her). Regardless, these lines are almost like a chant: “take my hand, wreck my plans, that’s my man.” 

Whereas before the narrator is less and less sure of what she wants, at this point she does know: she wants to be with this person no matter what, even if it changes carefully detailed plans that had already been set in motion. The last line could be portrayed as possessive: “that’s MY man”, or with adoration: “that’s my man!” or in any other light. 

Life was a willow, and it bent right to your wind

THIS. LINE. HAS HAD ME. IN A CHOKEHOLD. FOR YEARS. 

A willow tree is also known as a “weeping willow,” because its beautiful branches droop like tears (I’m sure there’s more to it than that, though). If life for the narrator was “a willow,” then her life may have been pretty sad or depressing before she met this person. A tree bending to the wind is nature, you can’t really stop it. Therefore, meeting this person was inevitable. Not only that, but the willow bending to the wind is the narrator and the love interest’s chemistry - it’s like he’s a magnet, pulling her towards him.

Random side fact - I just found out that the species name for Weeping Willow is salix babylonica. “Now you hang from my lips like the gardens of Babylon…” Coincidence? Possibly, but I think not.

Head on the pillow, I could feel you sneaking in

It’s common at nighttime to daydream (or would it be called nightdream?) to help oneself fall asleep. The narrator could either be thinking about him before she falls asleep, or she could already be asleep and he invades her dreams. “Sneaking in” implies secrecy, a promise to see each other, or some kind of mischief. But this line could also suggest that the narrator is trying hard to not think about him, hence the “sneaking in” done by him. 

As if you were a miracle thing,

Like you were a trophy or a champion ring

Trophies are pretty common among sports, but a champion ring? Those are reserved for the best of the best in baseball, basketball, football and hockey. You don’t see someone wearing one of those everyday. Like how the narrator is a priceless wine to the love interest, the trophy/champion ring is the love interest to the narrator. He’s valuable, rare, and earned by hard work. 

However, if you REALLY want to spice things up, this could be taken in a negative light: the love interest could be a “trophy” to the narrator in the sense of she likes to show the love interest off for her own gain. 

There was one prize I’d cheat to win

Cheating in sports is forbidden, but that definitely doesn’t stop it from happening. Unfortunately, it’s the same in relationships – cheating is not okay, but it doesn’t stop people from doing it. This shows the lengths the narrator would go to for this love interest, even as far as cheating (I’m taking it as a metaphorical cheating, not literal cheating, but y’all can think whatever you want).

You know that my train can take you home

Anywhere else is hollow

We kind of get a flashback to “cardigan” here, with James “stepping on the last train,” which is a nice throwback to the folklore album. This to me feels like a gentle kind of coaxing - “hey, I can take you home, everywhere else sucks.” Taylor has mentioned in many of her songs before that a significant other is “home”. By saying she is taking him “home,” she is implying that she is the one for him. 

Then it’s a repeat to the chant: “I’m begging for you to take my hand, wreck my plans, that’s my man.”

Life was a willow, and it bent right to your wind

They count me out time and time again

Life was a willow, and it bent right to your wind

But I come back stronger than a 90’s trend

Since we’ve established the meaning of the first line, let’s focus on lines two and four. “They” could refer to any group of people who have made the narrator/Taylor feel ostracized. It could be the media, the press, people that she once trusted, etc. By following this with the repeat of the willow line, it’s almost like the narrator is saying something like, “yeah, that happened, but it led me to YOU.” Finishing it off with the self-empowering line of coming back stronger, and the message of the willow line becomes even more meaningful: because she met the love interest, she can rise above the situations that broke her. 

Wait for the signal, and I’ll meet you after dark.

Show me the places where the others gave you scars. 

The first line implies secrecy, or perhaps….an “illicit affair?” For whatever reason, the narrator doesn’t want other people to see this relationship. My guess is that the relationship is secret because so many other relationships have fallen by the wayside due to publicity and the media. She wants to keep this one secret, because it’s the most valuable one she’s had. 

The second line is about vulnerability and trust. Showing someone scars - literally or metaphorically - means that there is not only trust, but a willingness to be open and vulnerable. She’s asking the love interest to show her his scars as a way of building their relationship (whether the love interest did or not is up to speculation). 

Now, this is an open-shut case

I guess I should’ve known from the look on your face

Every bait-and-switch was a work of art.

“This” = the relationship. It’s become so obvious to her, there’s no way she can deny that she wants this person. 

A bait-and-switch is an action of advertising goods which are an apparent bargain, with the intention of substituting inferior or more expensive goods (thank you, dictionary.com for helping me with this one). Interestingly, when Taylor did an interview with Rolling Stone in 2019 about her “downfall” and when she met Joe Alwyn, she used this phrase. She described reputation as a bait-and-switch: rep is a love album, while at first glance it looks like a “revenge” album, or a very “dark” album. (And yeah, it’s true that rep has some very angsty songs, but almost all of the songs on the album are about being in love). 

Then the choruses are sung again, twice. Now more than ever does it give the imagery of casting a spell, and a plea of desperation.

IN SUMMATION

To me, "willow" is a song about a girl - a lonely, sad, numb girl, who's life has recently had a series of misfortunes. She's obviously grieving in some way, or in a state of melancholia. She's a girl who feels rejected by others, perhaps because others see her as something she is not. She's just moving through life on auto-pilot. Then.....she meets someone. Someone who sends a spark of life back into her. And then she slowly starts to come back to life. Just like the line in State of Grace - "I never saw you coming, and I'll never be the same." This girl has found someone, perhaps The One, and she is pleading for it to stay. Perhaps she is so desperate in her wish that it casts a spell.

"willow" is a song of desperation, of love, of sadness, of deep deep loneliness. It's also a love song, beautifully written with the metaphors and haunting melody that only Taylor can give.

[notoriousbeb]

I don’t know about you, but my dash is…less than fun right now. SO I decided to do some lyrical analysis, which always distracts me and cheers me up.

Specifically, I noticed Folklore and Evermore have some very strong themes…

Fantasizing About a Path Not Taken / Pining

“As if you were a mythical thing/Like a trophy or a champion ring/And there was one prize I’d cheat to win/The more that you say/The less I know/Wherever you stray, I follow/I’m begging for you to take my hand/Wreck my plans/That’s my man” - Willow

“What must it be like to grow up that beautiful/With you hair falling into place like dominoes/My mind turns your life into folklore” - Gold Rush

“Eyes like sinking ships on waters so inviting I almost jump in” - Gold Rush

“I see me padding across your wooden floors/With my Eagles t-shirt hanging from your door/at dinner parties I call you out on your contrarian shit/And the coastal town we wandered around had never seen a love as pure as it” - Gold Rush

“The old widow goes to the stone every day/But I don’t, I just sit here and wait/Grieving for the living” - Ivy

“Write this down/I’m staying at my parents’ house/And the road not taken looks real good now/And it always leads to you and my hometown” - ‘Tis the Damn Season

And a subset of the same theme: Dreaming about Someone She Thinks She Shouldn’t

“I can’t dare to dream about you anymore” - Gold Rush

“Head on the pillow, I could feel you sneaking in” - Willow

“I can’t stop you putting roots in my dreamland” - Ivy

Personally, I think all this longing and wondering coincided with one of Taylor and Joe’s “rough patches.”

Then, we get Midnights. These feelings haven’t disappeared, and now they’re being channeled into autobiographical reliving of sleepless nights.

Three of these, I believe, are about the same person: Harold.

Many people, myself included, believe Maroon strongly points to him, based on their shoeless karaoke session in a red-toned room in NYC, the hickey he put on her collarbone that a bunch of people saw, her iconic red lipstick, Harry’s god daughter being named Ruby (this one might just be me, but I stand by it), and the fact that a person left behind on an island is called a maroon.

But I haven’t seen anyone making what I call “the rosé connection” to The 1.

Maroon: “Your roommate’s cheap-ass screw-top rosé, that’s how”

The 1: “Rosé flowing with your chosen family”

You know who had roommates like chosen family? Harry.

Also, I have some observations about why Snow on the Beach could be about him, which I haven’t seen before:

“One night a few moons ago, I saw flecks of what could have been lights/But it might just have been you/Passing by unbeknownst to me” - He used to drive by her house in LA at night

“This scene feels like what I once saw on a screen/I searched ‘aurora borealis green’/I’ve never seen someone lit from within” - Reference to green eyes

All that to say, it appears to me that girl spent at least some of 2020 in a heavy state of confusion/longing (that she channeled into some really great fictional settings) and then went on to just lay it all out there in Midnights.

[ap-kinda-lit]

An InuKag Playlist

Uwu - chevy

Oh, but you don't know how I feel, mmm / It's like everyday I'm runnin' uphill / Oh, why can't I just spit it out and tell you right now / That you're the one I want out loud?

On Melancholy Hill — Gorillaz

Up on Melancholy Hill / There's a plastic tree / Are you here with me? / Just looking out on the day / Of another dream / Well you can't get what you want / But you can get me / So let's set out to sea, love / 'Cause you are my medicine / When you're close to me / When you're close to me

Meet Me Halfway — The Black Eyed Peas

Can you meet me half way (I'll meet you halfway) / Right at the borderline / That's where I'm gonna wait, for you / I'll be looking out, night n' day / Took my heart to the limit, and this is where I'll stay / I can't go any further than this / I want you so bad it's my only wish / I can't go any further than this / I want you so bad it's my only wish

Willow — Taylor Swift

Life was a willow and it bent right to your wind (oh) / Head on the pillow, I could feel you sneaking in / As if you were a mythical thing / Like you were a trophy or a champion ring / And there was one prize I'd cheat to win / The more that you say / The less I know / Wherever you stray / I follow / I'm begging for you to take my hand / Wreck my plans / That's my man / You know that my train could take you home / Anywhere else is hollow / I'm begging for you to take my hand / Wreck my plans / That's my man

Until I Found You — Em Beihold & Stephen Sanchez

How could / We ever just be friends? / I would rather die than let you go / Juliet to your Romeo / How I heard you say / I would never fall in love again until I found her / I said, "I would never fall unless it's you I fall into" / I was lost within the darkness, but then I found her / I found you

Everywhere — Fleetwood Mac

Something's happening / Happening to me / My friends say I'm acting peculiarly / Come on, baby / We better make a start / You better make it soon / Before you break my heart / Oh, I / I want to be with you everywhere / Oh, I / I want to be with you everywhere / (Wanna be with you everywhere)

Never Getting Rid of Me — Waitress The Musical

I'm gonna do this right / Show you I'm not moving / Wherever you go, I won't be far to follow / Oh, I'm gonna love you so / You'll learn what I already know / I love you means you're never, ever, ever getting rid of me

My Life Would Suck Without You — Kelly Clarkson

Maybe I was stupid / For telling you goodbye / Maybe I was wrong / For tryin' to pick a fight / I know that I've got issues / But you're pretty messed up too / Either way I found out I'm nothing without you

Wasted Time — Vance Joy

Why do you go wasting your time on me / You're so beautiful now / There's so much that's left for you now / Oh yeah, babe / And why / Why do you go flashing those eyes at me / You know that I'm eager to please / I've always been eager to please / Oh yeah, babe

For The First Time — Mac DeMarco

Know she won't be gone forever / There are many times I find it feels that way / And I'm not trying to forget her / Just understand how I'll be feeling on that day / It's just like seeing her for the first time again

line without a hook — Ricky Montgomery & mxmtoon

And in my eyes, there is a tiny dancer / Watching over me, he's singing / "she's a, she's a lady, and i am just a boy" / He's singing, "she's a, she's a lady, and i am just a line without a-" / Oh baby, I am a wreck when I’m without you / I need you here to stay / I broke all my bones that day I found you / Crying at the lake / Was it something I said to make you feel like you're a burden, oh / And if I could take it all back / I swear that I would pull you from the tide

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough — Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

Remember the day I set you free / I told you you could always count on me, darling / From that day on, I made a vow / I'll be there when you want me / Some way, somehow / 'Cause, baby, there ain't no mountain high enough / Ain't no valley low enough / Ain't no river wide enough / To keep me from getting to you, babe

Stay — Two Steps From Hell

I like the way your eyes look into mine / I like how it feels when you smile / I like the way you watch me when I walk away / Say you'll stay / I like to feel your breath on my face / I like to swim around in your good grace / I like how your lips taste / Say you'll stay

I Choose You — Sara Bareilles

We are not perfect / We'll learn from our mistakes / And as long as it takes / I will prove my love to you / I am not scared of the elements / I am under-prepared, but I am willing / And even better / I get to be the other half of you

[pvffinsdaisies]

HETALIA SHIPS AS SONGS OFF OF “EVERMORE” BY TAYLOR SWIFT

WILLOW: Denmark x Norway

“The more that you say, the less I know, wherever you stray I follow. I’m begging for you to take my hand, wreck my plans, that’s my man. You know that my train could take you home, anywhere else is hollow. I’m begging for you to take my hand, wreck my plans, that’s my man.”

The first song on the album, and the lead single off of Evermore, Willow tells the tale of a couple with their fair share of ups and downs, who always find their way back to one another in the end. The song strikes me as being told from Norway’s perspective, who finds himself still enamoured with Denmark despite what he puts their relationship through. Lyrics such as, “I’m like the water when your ship rolled in that night, rough on the surface but you cut through like a knife.” And the second part of the bridge, “wait for the signal and I’ll meet you after dark, show me the places where the others gave you scars. Now this is an open-shut case, I guess I should’ve known from the look on your face; every bait and switch was a work of art.” Really sell this as being a strong pick for DenNor for me.

CHAMPAGNE PROBLEMS: France x Scotland

“‘Cause I dropped your hand while dancing, left you out there standing crestfallen on the landing, champagne problems. Your mom’s ring in your pocket, my picture in your wallet. Your heart was glass, I dropped it. Champagne problems. / Dom Pérignon, you brought it. No crowd of friends applauded: your hometown skeptics called it champagne problems. You had a speech, you’re speechless; love slipped beyond your reaches and I couldn’t give a reason. Champagne problems. / and hold your hand while dancing, never leave you standing crestfallen on the landing with champagne problems. Your mom’s ring in your pocket, her picture in your wallet: you won’t remember all my champagne problems.”

One of the most beloved songs on this album by fans, I actually wrote a one shot inspired by this one- but with SveNor instead. Champagne Problems is a song about the end of a relationship, exploring the perspective of a woman who’s just rejected her boyfriend’s proposal, and the feeling of guilt and lack of understanding as to why she wasn’t ready. At the end of the song, her ex finds a new partner, who gives him the love she never could. Maybe it’s the strong theme of champagne throughout this song, but it gives me serious France vibes, and I debated between both EngFra and ScotFra for this, but ultimately, Scotland and his intense longing for independence won me over. Maybe England is the person France ends up with 👀

GOLD RUSH: France x Germany

“What must it be like to grow up that beautiful, with your hair falling into place like dominoes? I see me padding ‘cross your wooden floors, with my eagles t-shirt hanging from the door. At dinner parties, I’ll call you out on your contrarian shit, and the coastal town we wandered ‘round had never seen a love as pure as it. And then it fades into the grey of my day-old tea, ‘cause it could never be. / What must it be like to grow up that beautiful, with your hair falling into place like dominoes? My mind turns your life into folklore: I can’t dare to dream about you anymore. At dinner parties, won’t call you out on your contrarian shit, and the coastal town we never found will never see a love as pure as it, ‘cause it fades into the grey of my day-old tea, ‘cause it will never be.”

My personal favourite song off the album, “Gold Rush” is about falling in love with someone who is desired by everyone, who you see as out of your league, but knowing it can’t happen because you don’t like the fame that would come with the relationship. This song is heavy GerFra vibes from me, told from Germany’s perspective. I believe lines like, “everybody wants you, everybody wonders what it would be like to love you” could easily reflect France, and lines like, “I don’t like anticipating my face in a red flush” and “I don’t like that falling feels like flying til the bone crush” could reflect Germany’s shyness and lack of confidence surrounding the idea of love and falling in love. I did consider EngFra for this song too, considering the tea motif, however I believe Germany to be more shy around both the idea of love and fame.

‘TIS THE DAMN SEASON: America x England

“We could call it even, you could call me babe for the weekend. ‘Tis the damn season, write this down. I’m staying at my parent’s house, and the road not taken looks real good now. Time flies, messy is the mud on your truck tires. Now I’m missing your smile, hear me out, we could just ride around, and the road not taken looks real good now; and it always leads to you in my hometown.”

The story of a love you chose not to pursue, and constantly coming back to it every time you return home, I think this song fits almost perfectly for America and England. A pursuit of fame over genuine love, the song talks about this connection between the main character and her former lover being unlike any other. I’ll be completely honest, it was the lines, “so I’ll go back to L.A. (…) and wonder about the only soul who can tell which smiles I’m fakin.” That fully sold me on using America and England for this song, and the idea of England still living in (and very much being) America’s hometown was a little too good to ignore.

TOLERATE IT: Lithuania x Belarus

“And I wait by the door like I’m just a kid, use my best colours for your portrait, lay the table with the fancy shit and watch you tolerate it. If it’s all in my head, tell me now, tell me I’ve got it wrong somehow! I know my love should be celebrated, but you tolerate it. / Break free and leave us in ruins, took this dagger in me and removed it, gain the weight of you then lose it, believe me I could do it! If it’s all in my head, tell me now, tell me I’ve got it wrong somehow. I know my love should be celebrated, but you tolerate it.”

I’ll be honest, LietBela was not a ship I expected to be here, but upon listening to the song, I could help but draw parallels to Lithuania’s canon crush on belarus, who definitely doesn’t feel the same way. Tolerate it is, pretty obviously, about being desperately in love with someone who merely tolerates it, and at the end finding the inner strength to leave. I find the lyric, “I take your indiscretions all in good fun.” Reminds me especially of Lithuania’s one sided crush. Plus, I appreciate imagining Lithuania standing up for himself at the end, finding the strength he maybe thought he had lost over the years. The Baltics are tougher than they look, damn it!

HAPPINESS: Sweden x Norway

“There’ll be happiness after you, but there was happiness because of you, both of these things can be true. There is happiness past the blood and bruise, past the curses and cries, beyond the terror in the nightfall, haunted by the look in my eyes that would’ve loved you for a lifetime. Leave it all behind and there is happiness. / there’ll be happiness after me, but there was happiness because of me, both of these things I believe, there is happiness in our history. Across our great divide, there is a glorious sunrise, dappled with the flickers of light from the dress I wore at midnight. Leave it all behind, and there is happiness. / there’ll be happiness after you, but there was happiness because of you, both of these things can be true, there is happiness in our history. Across our great divide, there is a glorious sunrise, dappled with the flickers of light from the dress I wore at midnight. Leave it all behind, oh, leave it all behind. Leave it all behind, oh, leave it all behind and there is happiness.”

In my opinion, Happiness is Taylor’s most mature break up song, as it centres around making peace with the end of a relationship you were in for years, and learning that no one is to blame. Just wishing well for both you and your now ex. So, it sees suitable to give it to Sweden and Norway, who had a pretty caring marriage and managed to become best friends afterwards. There is a repeat of the line “you haven’t met the new me yet” which also becomes, “I haven’t met the new me yet” which I think could be a beautiful way to express norway finally getting his independence after centuries of longing for it.

IVY: Hungary x Prussia

“Oh, goddamn, my pain fits in the palm of your freezing hand taking mine, but it’s been promised to another. Oh, I can’t stop you putting roots in my dreamland. My house of stone, your ivy grows and now I’m covered in you.”

Considered one of the best songs on the album lyrically, at its core, Ivy is about falling in love with someone whilst you’re already married to someone else. Does this one really need an explanation? There aren’t too many stand out lyrics in this one for me to identify it as PruHun, as they mainly focus on the risk of this affair and how the main character has gotten bored of her current husband, however, I will identify the line, “so tell me to run or dare to sit and watch what we’ll become and drink my husband’s wine.” Which I think very well reflects how in canon, Prussia doesn’t seem to care too much that Austria is in the picture, it reflects his boldness and cockiness in continuing to pursue Hungary. Also, I briefly knew someone from Austria who said their region specialised in white wine, so 👀.

COWBOY LIKE ME: America x Russia

“You’re a cowboy like me, perched in the dark, telling all the rich folks anything they want to hear, like “it could be love.” I could be the way forward, only if they pay for it. You’re a bandit like me, eyes full of stars, hustling for the good life. Never thought I’d meet you here; it could be love. We could be the way forward, and I know I’ll pay for it.”

Cowboy Like Me pretty obviously had to go to a ship involving America, and I’ll admit I’m not too sure on AmeRus (could be because I personally dislike this ship 😅), but I’m comfortable enough in the decision. Whilst this song is obviously about two cowboys, it also reflects two people with dark pasts who did what they could to survive, eventually falling for one another even though they’re doomed to fail, perfectly reflected in the lyrics, “and the skeletons in both our closets plotted hard to fuck this up.” And “now you hang from my lips like the gardens of Babylon. With your boots beneath my bed, forever is the sweetest con.” Which are also the lines that I think reflect how this song could work for AmeRus. They’re both away they’ve done bad things, and they’re both aware this can’t last too long, but it feels nice in the moment.

LONG STORY SHORT: Norway x Finland

“And I fell from the pedestal, right down the rabbit hole, long story short, it was a bad time. Pushed from the precipice, cling to the nearest lips, long story short it was the wrong guy. Now I’m all about you.”

Honestly, I think this could work for almost any norway ship, because I find this chorus pretty well depicts Norway going from his glorious viking days, to suffering in a marriage with Denmark, and moving onto his marriage with Sweden, before finally being able to be with someone he truly loves. I debated between both ScotNor and FinNor for this, but ultimately decided on FinNor because of the lines, “And you passed right by, I was in the alley surrounded on all sides.” And “and he’s passing by, rare as the glimmer of a comet in the sky, and he feels like home.” I think it could so easily apply for FinNor as, despite being literal neighbours, they have relatively little history together. In a sense, they did just pass right by one another. Besides, I also think the lines, “and we live in peace, but if someone comes for us this time I’m ready.” Fits way too well with Finland’s perspective on this relationship to ignore, really.

CLOSURE: Finland x Russia

“Yes, I got your letter. Yes, I’m doing better. It cut deep to know you, right to the bone. Yes, I got your letter. Yes, I’m doing better. I know that it’s over, I don’t need your closure.”

Now, I did also heavily consider Ireland x England for this one, because as much as it works for RusFin, it works for them too. However, I chose this one for the sake of them not being brothers, plus the history is less recent. Still, you can imagine my points for both. Closure is a song about an ex who treated you poorly, attempting to reach out and befriends with you. I believe it would be told from Finland’s point of view, perfectly told from the verse, “don’t treat me like some situation that needs to be handled, I’m fine with my spite and my tears and my beers and my candles, I can feel you smoothing me over.” And also reflected on more modern relationships, where they awkwardly tiptoe around keeping on positive terms so as not to piss one another off, “I know I’m just a wrinkle in your new life, staying friends would iron it out so nice.”

EVERMORE: Norway x Scotland

“And I was catching my breath, staring out an open window, catching my death. And I couldn’t be sure, I had a feeling so peculiar, that this pain would be for evermore. / and I was catching my breath, barefoot in the wildest winter, catching my death. And I couldn’t be sure, I had a feeling so peculiar, that this pain would be for evermore. / and I was catching my breath, floors of a cabin creaking under my step. And I couldn’t be sure, I had a feeling so peculiar, this pain wouldn’t be for evermore.”

A fourth Norway ship, but to be fair, when a song mentions both wild winters and a cabin? It has to be used for Norway. This one hurts, but I’ll persevere. Evermore is a breakup song, about a woman trying to piece together the end of her relationship with a man she cared so deeply about, who she loved so dearly. Another line that ties this to Norway is, “writing letters, addressed to the fire.” I definitely have a headcanon that when a feeling is too strong, Nor writes it out in a letter that he then destroys. Usually by fire. Later on in the song, the ex boyfriend in question comes in, singing, “Oh, can we just get a pause? To be certain we’ll be tall again (…) I’m on waves, out being tossed. Is there a line that I could just go cross?” Which indicates to me the breakup would’ve been Scotland’s inability to stand Norway constantly pushing him away due to his intense fear of commitment. Lastly, some more lines I would like to point out, sung by Taylor, would be “and when I was shipwrecked, I thought of you. In the cracks of light, I dreamed of you. And it was real enough to get me through.” Which, whilst in the song I believe is supposed to show her getting through the break up, I think it’s definitely reasonable enough to show Scotland and Norway’s allyship, and Norway’s longtime pining. And hey, it’s not unrealistic to say Norway’s been on shipwrecks near the coast of Scotland before.

There we go!! All done! Now, I did leave out Coney Island, Right Where You Left Me and It’s Time to Go, I couldn’t think of ships for them 😅 so, if anyone has any recommendations for those ones, pls add it in reblogs! I’ve been wanting to do another post like this after the midnights one, glad to finally get this one up and posted!!

[andichoseyou]

the more that you say, the less i know / wherever you stray i follow / i’m begging for you to take my hand, wreck my plans, that’s my man

willow—taylor swift (2020)

[riacte]

i am really sorry because i do genuinely associate this song with treebark because what else fits a cringe ass line as “that’s my man” but “every bait-and-switch was a work of art // the more that you say, the less i know // wherever you stray, i follow // i’m begging for you to take my hand, wreck my plans” is also genuinely just canon falseren sorry

[shelivesinhermind]

The more that you say The less I know Wherever you stray I follow I'm begging for you to take my hand Wreck my plans That's my man You know that my train could take you home Anywhere else is hollow I'm begging for you to take my hand Wreck my plans That's my man (x)

[cowboylikeekatie]

here’s reddie lyrics: evermore edition!! (ahh i can’t believe this series thingy is almost done i’ve had sm fun!) if this post is super long don’t make fun of me this is my fav taylor album EVER i’ve annotated every song it’s just so easy to find quotes

“the more that you say, the less that i know, wherever you stray, i follow , i’m begging for you to take my hand, wreck my plans, that’s my man” - willow (eddie’s pov)

“show me the places where the others gave you scars” - willow (richie’s pov)

champagne problems is if eddie divorced myra after pennywise round 2

“your hometown skeptics called it champagne problems” - champagne problems (okay idk if this makes sense but myra’s pov?????)

“so inviting, i almost jump in” - gold rush (richie’s pov)

gold rush plays into my eddie kaspbrak when emma falls in love theory thingy idk

“at dinner parties i call you out on your contrarian shit” - gold rush (eddie’s pov)

ALL OF TIS THE DAMN SEASON

“and it always leads to you in my hometown” - tis the damn season

“i parked my car right between the methodist and the school that used to be ours” - tis the damn season (richie’s pov)

“so i’ll go back to L.A, and the so called friends who write books about me, if i ever make it, and wonder about the only soul who can tell which smiles im faking, and the heart i know i’m breaking is my own” - tis the damn season (POV DOESNT MATTER THIS IS THEIR BRIDGE. AHH)

“there’ll be happiness after you, but there was happiness because of you too” - happiness (richie’s pov)

“honey when i’m above the trees, i see this for what it is, but now i’m right down in it, all the years i’ve given” - happiness (richie’s pov)

“i can’t see facts through all my fury” - happiness (richie’s pov) (like when the losers wouldn’t let richie take eddie because they knew he was already dead)

“it’s never too late to come back to my side, the stars in your eyes shined brighter in tupelo (metaphor for derry??), and if you’re ever tired of being known for who you know, you know, you’ll always know me” - dorthea (richie’s pov)

“i’m sitting on a bench in coney island wondering where did my baby go” - coney island (richie’s pov) (i heard this live so i have to include a quote)

“id meet you where the spirit meets the bone” - ivy

“forever is the sweetest con” -cowboy like me

“takes one to know one, you’re a cowboy like me” - cowboy like me

(cowboy like me is my all time fav taylor song)

“i tried to pick my battles till the battle picked me” - long story short (eddie’s pov)

“pushed from the precipice, clung to the nearest lips, long story short it was the wrong guy” - long story short (eddie’s pov) (because he’s in love with richie not myra) (after leaving his mom, he CLUNG to the nearest person who made him feel at home)

“every scrap of you would be taken from me” - marjorie (richie’s pov)

“if i didn’t know better, id think you were still around” - marjorie (richie’s pov)

“what died didn’t stay dead” - marjorie

“it cut deep to know you right to the bone” - closure

“don’t treat me like, some situation that needs to be handled” - closure (eddie’s pov) (but about his mom not richie)

“this pain would be for evermore” - evermore (richie’s pov)

“guess i’m feeling unmoored, can’t remember, what i used to fight for” - SO EDDIE CODED (eddie’s pov)

“catching my death” - evermore (eddies pov)

“strangers get born and strangers get buried, trends change rumors fly through new skies, but i’m right where you left me” - right where you left me (richie’s pov)

“did you ever hear about the girl who got frozen, time went on for everybody else, she won’t know it, she’s still 23, inside her fantasy, how it was supposed to be, did you hear about the girl who lives in delusion?" - right where you left me (fits both of them in different ways)

" or that moment again, he's insisting that friends look at each other like that" - its time to go

"sometimes giving up is the strong thing, sometimes to run is the brave thing" - its time to go (eddies pov)

“he’s got my past frozen behind glass, but i’ve got me” - its time to go (eddie’s pov ab his mom)

[luna-writes-stuff]

Day 22: Willow, Eddie Munson

Song link

Fanfic, fem! sinclair! reader

Fluff, idiots in love

Word count: 3222

Tw: Use of Y/N, DnD, that’s it???? Not proofread

Summary: You had known Eddie through class years ago. But after seeing him when bringing your brother to his DnD club, something changed. And Eddie has been laying his eyes on you the second you set a foot through that door. Now, his next step is to actually ask you out. Something easier said than done.

“I'm like the water when your ship rolled in that night Rough on the surface but you cut through like a knife.”

“Hurry up, Lucas!” You yelled from the bottom of the stairs, car keys dangling in your hand. “Erica’s movie is starting in ten minutes and she is not taking chances!”

“We can leave without you!” Said girl shouted from beside you, grabbing the keys from your hands. “Shotgun.”

Rolling your eyes, you closed your jacket, checking your watch impatiently. The parents were out for a night, so you were to taxi Erica to the cinema and Lucas to his D&D night. Him and his friends had managed to convince the gym teacher to gather in the sporting hall, but there was a time limit on it. And within four hours that limit would be over.

“And if it was an open-shut case I never would've known from that look on your face Lost in your current like a priceless wine.”

“Coming!” Came the reply finally, followed by things falling over, and the groan of your brother.

And then, at last, he ran out of his room, papers stocked under his shoulder as his vest was falling off his shoulders.

“Erica called shotgun.”

“That’s not fair! I am older than her!” He protested, shoving the documents in your hands as he adjusted his jacket.

“You shouldn’t be talking to me about it.”

“It’s your car!”

“Mom’s car,” you corrected, already walking outside. “I only get to borrow it for the night.”

A mumble along the lines of ‘whatever’ escaped the boy’s throat as he followed you begrudgingly, closing the door behind him.

“The more that you say The less I know Wherever you stray I follow.”

“If I am going to miss my movie because of your nerd night, I will drop glitter all over your pillows.”

“Erica!” Lucas complained, sliding into the backseat.

“Just saying.”

“Will you two quit it?” You intervened, starting the car after grabbing them back from Erica. “I could have spent the entire night on the couch watching MTV, but now I’m stuck driving around town for the two of you. If anyone gets to complain, it’s me.”

“Yes, I apologise for having a social life.” The youngest uttered, a taunting look on her face.

You opened your mouth to speak up, but decided against it. Instead, you dropped in your favourite record, turning the volume on louder.

“Oh, come on!”

“Change it!”

“Driver gets to pick the music!” You shouted over your arguing siblings, smiling to yourself. “Don’t worry. The sooner you’ll get out of the car, the sooner you’ll get rid of me.”

“I'm begging for you to take my hand Wreck my plans That's my man.”

“Drive faster!”

Whoever’s clever idea it was to place the school and cinema on the complete opposite sides of Hawkins was going to receive a good word from you. It was only a five minute drive to the cinema. But from there, it took another fifteen minutes to get to school.

You would have let Lucas take the bus; he was old enough for it. But your parents would never let you hear the end of it if they found out. And they would.

Thus, you parked the car in the empty parking lot, stepping out in the freezing autumn air. There were no lights on, save for the lanterns outside.

“You sure it was here?” You questioned, folding your arms as you put the keys in your pockets.

“Eddie said he’d be there.”

“Outside? Or in the halls?”

Lucas only shrugged, leading the way to the sports building. You followed him doubtingly, scanning your surroundings for any of his friends. Mike and Dustin you knew, and you remembered Eddie vaguely from your history classes two years ago. The other members of the party were complete strangers to you. The least you could do was make sure he would be around familiar faces.

“Life was a willow and it bent right to your wind Head on the pillow, I could feel you sneaking in As if you were a mythical thing.”

The door to the gym had been open, much to your surprise. You slowly became convinced they were playing a joke on Lucas, but they seemed sincere as mumbling was heard bouncing off the walls.

Turning the lights on, you looked at Lucas, silently questioning him if the voices seemed familiar. He nodded at you, following the noises as you continued to turn on the lights you passed.

Loud laughter echoed through the otherwise empty halls, and you raised your eyebrows at the sound. It wasn’t until you heard Dustin’s trusted cackle, that you started following Lucas more intently.

Rounding the last corner, you came face to face with a huge table, covered in maps, character sheets, dice and miniatures. And one big carton wall blocking off view from the other places.

“Sinclair!” One of the boys called, grinning widely. “We were thinking you forgot us.”

“Sorry,” he grinned sheepishly, taking the empty seat beside Mike. “Erica had to be dropped off for a movie.”

“Hey Y/N!” Dustin waved, flashing his braces at you. You smiled in return, offering him a wave as well.

“Like you were a trophy or a champion ring And there was one prize I'd cheat to win.”

“Sinclair, I told you we were full for the night.”

Judging from his hair and voice, you recognised Eddie, locking your eyes on his.

“Oh no,” Lucas dismissed quickly. “She’s my sister. She was here to drop me off.”

“Didn’t know you had a sister,” Eddie acknowledged, walking up to you and holding his hand out for you to shake.

“Eddie Munson,” he introduced.

“Y/N Sinclair,” you returned, shaking his hand briefly. “You’d know if you ever paid attention in history class.”

“‘85?” He asked, grimacing uncomfortably.

“‘84,” you corrected. “But I didn’t take it personally.”

“Good,” he nodded. “You shouldn’t.”

“Still in the run for that diploma?” Even though you already knew the answer, you settled for the small talk.

“Oh yeah,” he answered. “But this is gonna be my year. I can feel it.”

You snickered at him, looking at Lucas.

“Twelve, correct?”

He smiled at you widely. His parents would never allow him to be out after ten, but he knew you’d make exceptions. He liked you a whole lot more than Erica, who he was sure was going to tell.

You’d have to bribe her somehow.

“The more that you say The less I know Wherever you stray I follow.”

“Leaving already, Sinclair 2?” Eddie frowned, sitting down on the bigger chair.

“I have a tv waiting on me.”

Loud groans erupted from the crowd, Lucas running his hands over his face.

“Boring,” Eddie dismissed. “Why watch tv, when you have a live-show right here?”

“Miniatures and dice? I know better ways to spend my Friday night.”

“A tv.” Eddie repeated.

“You can sit with me! I could explain it to you.” Dustin offered, pointing towards the empty chair in the corner.

“Thank you, Dustin,” you nodded, smiling at his offer. “But I’d best leave you. Lucas would sink in his shoes in shame.”

“Tough luck,” Eddie shrugged. “I am the dungeon master, and I demand you stay. For at least half an hour. Besides,” Then, he reached down in a big bag, before pulling out a bag of popcorn. “We have snacks.”

“I'm begging for you to take my hand Wreck my plans That's my man.”

You knew better than to let them convince you to stay. But the group seemed pretty adamant, even those you did not even know.

You were aware of how the game worked; Lucas had tried to explain it to you countless times. Hell, even Erica played it now, but with a different group. And you were not to speak of it. She’d know. And she’d do hellish things.

“You’re kidding!” Mike objected loudly as the D20 rolled on four. “My investigation is -1.”

From beside you, Dustin laughed loudly. “Who puts their investigation so low?”

“You look around, but find nothing. Except for some gravel underneath your feet, with occasional grass sticking from it.” Eddie narrated, ignoring Mike’s audible protests.

“That’s great, Mike. Dustin rolls terrible investigation.”

“Hey!”

“You know that my train could take you home Anywhere else is hollow I'm begging for you to take my hand Wreck my plans That's my man.”

Dustin was up next, and the party seemed desperate to know more about the woods. But no one seemed to roll quite right. And you had seen Dustin’s dice. He wasn’t exactly doing well.

“Can I?” You tried, holding your hand up for his dice.

“Yes, sure.” He mumbled defeatedly, placing the object in the palm of your hand. “We have +2, so please don’t roll anything under 8.”

Rolling your eyes at his warnings, you grabbed the d20, toying with it in your hand before ultimately releasing it. All eyes were focused on the dice as it kept rolling, bouncing off of sheets and books. Until it finally landed on a 20.

“Nat 20!” Dustin cheered, holding his hand up for you to high-five him.

“Our bard has an angel on his side,” Eddie began, shooting a wink towards you, which caused your eyes to fall back on the table directly, avoiding eye contact. Eddie noticed it, but remained quiet about it, a slight grin appearing on his face, even though he tried to fight it. “As he seems to be the only one in your company who spots the footsteps in the mud only two feet away from him.”

“Life was a willow and it bent right to your wind They count me out time and time again Life was a willow and it bent right to your wind But I come back stronger than a 90's trend.”

This went on for another hour. Eddie would shoot you compliments hidden within his narrations, Dustin would count them as compliments to him, but you caught them. And you seemed to be the only one.

You had found it flattering at first, and had grown flustered at it the first ten minutes, but the longer he kept talking, the more you decided to simply settle for it. Eddie wasn’t a bad guy; you’ve had worse people flirt with you.

But after all his tales, you finally stood up, shooting Dustin a final tip.

“Are we boring you, Sinclair 2?” Eddie teased, raising his eyebrows at you in humour.

“Erica,” you started, waving your goodbye to your younger brother. “Her movie will be done in ten minutes. Gotta pick her up or I’ll have my parents on my ass for another month.”

“Troublemaker much?”

“Not at all,” Lucas interrupted. “They just love Erica.”

You laughed at him, shaking your head as you reached for the car keys. Holding them up, you silently told them goodbye.

“You should join us next week!” Eddie called after you. “You’re a great Jiminy Cricket for our bard!”

“Wait for the signal and I'll meet you after dark Show me the places where the others gave you scars.”

After that night, you began to spend more time around your brother, growing more interested in the game with each thing he had explained to you. To him, most of it was repetition, but unlike last time he tried to talk with you about DnD, you actually seemed to pay more attention now.

You got involved in their weekly meetings as often as you could. You figured it was the enthusiasm of the group that lured you in, but deep down you knew that wasn’t the fact.

Deep down you knew it was because of that very particular person sitting at the head of the table, his face hidden behind his board for most of the game.

“Now this is an open-shut case Guess I should've known from the look on your face Every bait and switch was a work of art.”

“Hello there, gorgeous.” That all-too familiar voice spoke up as you got out of your car.

“Have you been waiting for me here?” You asked, slamming the door behind you.

Eddie’s lips formed into a thin line, his weight shifting onto the balls of his feet. “Maybe…” he mused.

“Maybe,” you repeated, copying his tone.

“Lucas said you’d be here today.”

“You wanted to see me?” Surprise took over your features. Sure, you had been dropping Eddie hints all over, and he had been returning them, but you never figured something would actually happen. Even more when he said Lucas sent him here. You figured he’d try to stop this whole debacle, but clearly not.

“Needed,” The boy corrected, tailing you as you walked to the grocery store.

“The more that you say The less I know Wherever you stray I follow.”

“You see, I have this bet with my band,”

“You have a band?” You interrupted, smiling at the revelation.

At your smile, Eddie’s face seemed to light up, as he stopped walking momentarily. When he saw you were still walking, he ran up to you, grinning gleefully.

“Corroded Coffin,” he introduced. “I play the guitar.”

“Awesome.”

“Yes,” he nodded enthusiastically. “I’m….” Words seemed to give up on him as he tried to recall his words. Why was he standing there again?

“I’m sorry,” he chuckled. “You made me forget my words.”

Your face seemed to heat up at those words, but you kept walking, trying to maintain your composure as you entered the store.

“I'm begging for you to take my hand Wreck my plans That's my man.”

“I was, um….” He tucked his lips together twice, trying so desperately to remember his words.

“You had a bet with your band?” You tried to help.

“Yes!” He clapped his hands together. “Yes; they told me, we’d never sell 50 tickets to our first, paid, gig.”

“How’s that going?”

“It’s tonight,” he explained. “And we sold 49 tickets.”

His hands reached into his jeans pockets as he seemed to look for something.

“I have,” he trailed off, still fighting with the denim. “One ticket,” finally, his hand came back out, carrying a double folded piece of paper in his hand. “Right here.”

“Technically, I’m not selling it to you,” he ranted on, trying to overcome his anxieties by mere rambling. “I’m giving it to you. But 50 tickets is 50 tickets.”

“You know that my train could take you home Anywhere else is hollow I'm begging for you to take my hand Wreck my plans That's my man.”

You took the paper from his hand, inspecting it carefully.

“9 o’clock?” You asked.

“Yes,” he breathed. “But if you want to come over earlier to have a sneak peak at the band at work, you can always do that.”

“A meet and greet with the band?”

“I heard the guitarist really likes you.”

You laughed at that, tucking the paper into your coat. “Does he now?”

Leaning over the fruit aisle, the boy stared at you, his face dangerously close to yours.

“Rumours, you know.”

“The more that you say The less I know Wherever you stray I follow.”

You froze at the realisation, swallowing thickly. As always, you tried to play along. As if his interactions hadn’t left you incredibly flustered and speechless.

“I’ll have to return the favour then, I believe.” You remarked. “What do you want for a free ticket?”

“Your presence is all I could ask,” he winked, before standing up straight again, grabbing the cart from you, letting you lead the way.

“And maybe, one night to change your mind.”

“About?”

“Me.”

His eyes were almost pleading, and you would find yourself insane to say no to these. But you could have a little fun with it. It had been a while since anyone asked you out. Even though he was more suggesting you’d ask him. The effort altogether was much appreciated.

“Begging for you to take my hand Wreck my plans That's my man.”

“Well maybe,” you began. “I am free tonight. And maybe, I heard there is this great film playing midnight. Unless you’re scared of horrors.”

His eyes lit up at your words, his mouth running dry. Unbeknownst to you, he had trouble maintaining his posture as well. As he was falling in more deeply with every word you said to him. Every look you granted him.

“You wish, princess.”

“If it gets really scary, I might even let you hold my hand.”

“I might actually take you up on that.”

“You know that my train could take you home Anywhere else is hollow Begging for you to take my hand Wreck my plans That's my man Hey, that's my man.”

After groceries, he had insisted on walking back to your car with you, carrying the bags as you were left with a mere can of milk.

“Just place it in the backseat.” You mentioned, opening the door for him as he followed your request.

When he stood back up and closed the door, his arms leaned against the top of the car, staring at you with an absent minded look. Somewhere between admiration and anxiety.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to pay for that ticket?”

“It’s only five bucks,” he waved off. “I won’t miss it.”

You grinned at him, your hand wandering to the piece of paper tucked in your coat pocket. Something about his eyes on you seemed so relaxing. Without a single care in the world, as cheesy as that might sound. It was absolutely soothing. You hadn’t even realised you had frozen on the parking lot, and Eddie had begun to doubt himself even more.

“That's my man Yeah, that's my man Every bait and switch was a work of art.

“So, I will see you tonight?” He tried, his hands finding each other behind his back.

“Definitely,” you answered quickly. “You will, yes.”

“And afterwards?”

“For the movie, yes.” You rambled, taking your hand out of your pockets. “I’ll make sure we can get in.”

“‘Right then,” he smiled, a wave of relief washing over him. He’d be teased for this at Hellfire night later, he could already smell it. But for once, he found himself unbothered by it.

“See you tonight, princess.”

An awkward wave was thrown your direction as he hesitantly began to walk away. You didn’t miss the slight skip in his step when he turned around.

“Bye, Munson.”

“That's my man Hey, that's my man I'm begging for you to take my hand Wreck my plans.”

Had Lucas known this would start a string of terrible DnD nights and countless accounts of Eddie wandering around in his house with an extra key - gifted by you -, he might have never told his friend you were out getting dinner for that night.

Had he known his sister would drive him to school every single day after that just to see her boyfriend , his close friend, instead of being nice for her brother, he never would have said a word.

Yet, he still seemed to enjoy the two of you getting along nicely. Even as if screwed with his initial perception of the two of you. He took pleasure in teasing you for it.

And you took pleasure in accepting it.

“That's my man.”

[variationix]

excuse me i need to SCREAM about some of these evermore/good omens moments:

• the more that you say the less i know/wherever you stray i follow / i’m begging for you to take my hand / wreck my plans, that’s my man / you know that my train can take you home / anywhere else is hollow

• you knew the password so i let you in the door / you knew you won so what’s the point of keeping score/ you knew it still hurts underneath my scars from when then pulled me apart / but what you did was just as dark

• how’s one to know / i’d live and die for moments that we stole / on begged and borrowed time / so tell me to run / or dare to sit and watch what we’ll become SO YEAH IT’S A FIRE IT’S A GODDAMN BLAZE IN THE DARK AND YOU STARTED IT YOU STARTED IT SO YEAH IT’S A WAR IT’S THE GODDAMN FIGHT OF MY LIFE AND YOU STARTED IT

• you left them no choice but to stay here forever… BOO AZIRAPHALE YOU WHORE

and it’s not just evermore:

• false god, ALL OF IT, but: i know heaven’s a thing / i go there when you touch me / honey hell is when i fight with you

i could keep going this is just the tip of the pain iceberg