#(maybe my subconscious remembered seeing it trend on here tho)

[melusthings]

You know what I would love to see?

Buck and Eddi accidentally getting way to close to each other and then staring into each other’s eyes and just kind of realizing what’s going on or at least finally feeling the tension that’s been there for years already.

And that’s how you can tell that I’ve been watching way too many kdramas lately

[partyinthemysterymachine]

hi! been reading goomt and got to the end of ch62 - i was kind of sad about james being so mean to harry and his weight in it tho :[ is that something that needs to be in there? i wasn't sure if you might revise things at all! i want them to kiss but poor harry!!!! anyway, can't wait to read more! hope ur well! :D

hello!!! :3c and thank you SOOOO MUCH for reading GOOMT!! i REALLY appreciate your time reading it and also coming to ask me a question!! 👀 thank you so so much that means a lot :3!! but oooh you've gotten to the library arc i see >:3c!! you're in for a pretty dense smattering of chapters (in case you haven't maybe noticed LOL) and i hope you enjoy them (as well as pack a snack and remember to hydrate, LOL)

to answer your question and concern: yes - i'm sorry to say - it does need to be in there.

(quick note: i'm gonna sound all formal pretty soon here, and as such, my tone may come across as kind of stiff, defensive, or upset to some, and i just want to quickly say that i am NOT upset, stiff, defensive, or intending to be at all LOL. really honestly deeply we are soooo super chill here, it means a LOT to me that people feel comfortable to come forward with questions and concerns like these and i just want to try to answer as best as i can!! this is me taking u seriously as well as this topic and just trying to get my words out good and comprehensible LOL.)

now believe u me!! i DID have some hesitation. i've thought very hard on how and why i depict the characters the way i do. they are each their own mess of roses and thistles and thorns and black widows. but i don't want to do myself any injustice as a writer by holding back on character traits and my developmental intents with the character just because the character is doing something i personally do not condone, and know might make some readers uncomfortable. it's unfair to the story i'm telling, unfair to myself, unfair to readers, and unfair to the entire process of growth and my choice to tell the story as a glacial slowburn in general to withhold the ugly side of a person.

because GOOMT is an enormous glacial slowburn. it's a transformative piece in the effect that the characters are going to need so much time to learn, to practice, to confront, progress and regress, stifle and bash barriers, and all in order to transform themselves - and it is a constant battle.

James is not the same person as he was all those years ago. to say the town changed him is a gross understatement. his ongoing trend of fatphobia towards Harry is 100% intentional from me as a writer, and from him as a character. this is an ugly piece of James that i thought hard on before including, and wouldn't remove.

cuz see, i've done my deep dive masters thesis on the psychology of James Sunderland GOOMT, but this stupid blond sad wet idiot doesn't know a gat dang thing!!! LOL

James sucks. he's kind of a shitty person. and there are reasons for this. MANY reasons, MANY factors, and many that are interconnected intricate!! but one thing to remember is this one piece of complicated, albeit common human nature:

people are mean. they will think mean things about other people, or even say it to their faces with the intention to hurt. there can be any sort of reason WHY they are mean, too.

James is thinking hurtful fatphobic thoughts about Harry because that's how he feels about Harry on the surface level. he's fat: it's disgusting. it's a reason not to like him. has he always felt like this about fat people? who knows :) is this something that has subconsciously altered him with origins that can be connected back to Eddie..?

oh.. who knows? :) ;) but the fact of the matter is that James himself is only taking this on surface level. he's thinking mean things to be mean. it's distancing behavior; and it's absolutely crucial to his character development that i show his ugliness.

all in all, these threads go deeper and farther than simple fatphobia for James. it's superficial and it's stupid and it's so mean and so ugly and it's crucial character and human development to have, and then work through.

i understand and totally sympathize, as well as respect, any opinions that this would seem out of character for James, or would turn anyone off from him or the story somehow, or any other characterization choices i've made in GOOMT thus far. total respect!! this fic is a whole 'nother partyinthemysterymachine in itself and there are totally likely to be plot points and pieces of character development and/or portrayal that could have some people going :\.

and that's totally normal and natural, even if it sucks all around.

but just want to make a quick note here too that should anything in GOOMT ever not jive anymore, that i 100% encourage, and 100% prefer people who are not enjoying GOOMT, or find something that turns them off at any point, to stop reading.

hit the brix!! unbookmark!! never click it again! that's all perfectly okay with me, because your enjoyment factor of what you read or consume should be more important than trying to stick with something just because of whatever. i'm not bothered. i'd be sad to see anyone go, but MUCH happier knowing that they bowed out for themselves. there is no reason to read GOOMT if it doesn't jive or hits the wrong notes on a topic or if the story takes a turn that feels too much to bear.

anywhoo. so maybe we got A Lil Serious at the end there LOL, BUUUUT i really like to make sure i just. Clarify Things sometimes LOL and like. just let you and other readers know that we're all just here to have fun, maaaaann...... we're all just here to boogie :3c!

ALL IN ALL THO DON'T WORRY LOL, and thank you SOOOOOO SO SO SO much again anon for this ask!! 🥺🥺💖💖🙏🙏🙏 it means so fuckin much to me that you sent it. i hope that i have explained myself and my intents coherently and well, and if there's anything else u might have questions or concerns about PLLSSS don't hesitate to let me know!!

stay healthy and happy and safe and hydrated out there, and mayhaps i'll see you later in the fog!!! :3c!!!!

[shahidiwrites]

CONFETTI RANKING NO ONE ASKED FOR <3 But firstly can I just say their team literally said so what girl group era are yall taking inspo from? And little mix literally just said yes <3 UISDJOKOISADJ THE I N F L U E N C E S ON THIS ALBUM AHHHHHHHH i think it also sucks that c**** definitely took a toll on the album and i honestly think it was supposed to be released sooner BUT nevertheless it’s here now and i was sO PLEASED AND IM SO PROUD OF THESE GIRLS living their past life having all the fun with this album so let us go!!

1. Confetti. A powerful feel good song. Like this is THE Bad bitch anthem, like I can’t wait to be driving at night with my girlies blasting this. IT’S SO FUCKING GOOD. I love when the instrumental strips away on jade’s verse and it’s just the snaps BEAUTIFUL. Some of the melodies in here were definitely a shout out to girl groups like cherish and destiny’s child and holy fuck it WORKED. T H A T BRIDGE. LIKE. UGH. Vocally it’s a lot more stripped back than the rest of the album, and yet it’s still my favorite?? I think that speaks so much to Little Mix’s musicality. They don’t need insane vocals (even though they DEFINITELY HAVE THEM) to make a good song, like they know what works and they prove it every single time.

2. Sweet Melody. This song is so fucking clever. I know everyone has already talked about the way the instrumental literally follows the words, but IT’S SO CLEVER I’M MENTIONING IT AGAIN. Jade’s verse will forever be my favorite. She really set up the story with her verse. I love how the first part of the chorus is literally a sweet melody before it goes into the edgier chorus UGH SO GOOD. Not to mention this video gave us the first choreo heavy music video since fucking Salute ad that is a blessing in and of itself.

3. Happiness. “Remember I, I was mine. Before I was yours.” Honestly what else do you need? That line was so fucking iconic. The melody is so fucking beautiful, the nod to past girl groups was very strong in this one. It’s a different sound for them but at the same time extremely them??? I love the lyrical content SO MUCH. it’s such a feel good powerful song. The bridge of perrie belting and then the beautiful quick breakdown before they go back into the chorus ugh so fucking good. 

4. If You Want My Love. This song punched me in the face the second it started with Jade and didn’t stop until the fucking end. This was SUCH a spot on nod to past girl groups and they fucking nailed it. The chorus gives me CHILLS every time. It literally DEMANDS your attention in the same way the lyrical content is demanding to be treated right. The bridge had me meltING. PERRIES BUILD UP BELT?? Reminded me of About the boy which iconic we love growth. The melody is so fucking good AND THE ACAPELLA AT THE END??? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING??? so damn good. Everyone say thank you little mix.

5. Rendezvous. Honestly this top five is literally nothing but non-skippable B O P S. The fucking sway sample is ICONIC. It’s giving such motivate vibes and we all know how much of a banger that one is. Trying to imagine the choreo to this song is physically paining me and i’m so fucking pumped to see IT. I love how they have been consistently taking ownership of their bodies and flipping the gender expectations around. “i ain’t trying to fall in love with you” JUST ICONIC. Also reminds me of bloodline by ariana grande and also FUCKING ICONIC.

6. My Love Won’t Let You Down. This song needs to be longer. It’s so fucking beautiful. The lyrical content had me crying by the first line. It reminded me a lot of don’t worry by the 1975 but a lot more personal, it’s a very pointed song so it hits so differently than the 1975 one does for me. But holy shit it’s so beautiful, they have all grown vocally so much. “We can sit at the edge of your bed, tell me all of the fears in your head, and i’ll sing you your favorite song” This REALLY got to me bc idk it just felt like they were speaking to their fans i that moment and I know that alone can mean so much to so many people. It really did for me.

7. A Mess (Happy 4 U). I was not expecting them to start so deep, i literally felt like i was being let in on a secret it was so cute. And then the slip into that head voice, it was so airy and so pretty. And the drums in the background were very reminiscent of nothing feels like you which was a GREAT trip down memory lane for me. I also just love the message behind the song and the lyrical content is cute. AND THE FUCKING D R O P. U G H. THE FACT THAT THIS SONG ISNT HIGHER SHOULD SPEAK VOLUMES AS TO HOW GOOD I THINK THE OTHER SONGS ARE.

8. Holiday. WHY DOES THE FANDOM HATE THIS SONG SO MUCH??? IT’S SO GOOD. THE PRE-CHORUS ALONE !!!! EYE!!! It’s really upsetting to me and my homegirls why Holiday gets so much slander. The music video..... anyway the S O N G. It’s so good. So fun. A tune.

9. Nothing But My Feelings. Idk what this trend is of singing complete FILTH to the cutest little melodies but i’m here for it. This song took me by surprise tbh but i loved every second of it??? ESPECIALLY, the cute little adverbs in the background holy shit. They’re so much fun. And little mix + trap influenced is probably my new favorite thing so i need them to continue doing trap influence for my own sanity.

10. Not A Pop Song. I’m glad the girlies get to sing their truth at LAST. I also love the melody in this song and the “not a pop song” harmonies in the background near the end. I do think the verses are too short but i love leigh’s prechorus so much i’ll let the verses be shorter so i can get to her sooner. Also perrie kILLED that bridge are we surprised? no not at all.

11. Break Up Song. idc man this songs still slaps lmao. IT’S CUTE. But i’ve heard it enough it can’t compete with the new bbies on the album, but that intro gets me hype every time. And I still have fun dancing to it months later, but i’ve had it so long it’s been celebrated enough.

12. Breathe. I just feel like the verses were so much prettier than the chorus, like the lyrical content is so beautiful. Maybe it’s the instrumental??? But i think it would have been so much prettier had the chorus not been so intentionally choppy. The verses alone tho almost saved this song for me and made me put it higher but there’s just so many better songs on the album so it is here.

13. Gloves up.... is this controversial? There’s just a real disconnect between??? everything??? it sounds like three different songs tbh?? I love the lyrical content and the breakdown in the pre-chrous and jesy’s pause before perrie’s power vocals come in, but the instrumental is just kind of all over the place to me. idk maybe subconsciously i was comparing it to salute because that’s the writer they wrote it with but idk just not for meeee