#*to the tune of heroes by bleachers* all my ships are the same

[francesderwent]

ughhh I don’t think you underSTAND, she says his evil self expressed certain desires, which is the PERFECT OPENING for him to say “yes, indeed, he was acting on pure biological instinct, therefore he is not me because I am a full human person” but he DOESN’T?? she says “desire” and he comes out of nowhere with “feelings”. “Lex your evil self said he was attracted to me” “that wasn’t me” “are you sure?” “yes, I’m in love with you but the purity of that love means I would never ever act on it” MADMAN

[grownups-are-the-real-monsters]

reddie 20

Your song is ‘You Gotta Be a Football Hero’ by Ben Bernie !!!

(Send me a Stephen King ship + a number & I will shuffle my music that many times and write you a little one-shot!!!)

Beverly Marsh found out about the empty backyard pool from a classmate named Deborah Hat. Her mother was a real estate agent and in the middle of trying to sell the property (which was not going well). So young Debbie used it as a quiet place to smoke with occasional partners.

Bev was invited when Deb found out the girl had an endless supply of cigarettes & was kind enough to share. Showing her gratitude, Deb welcomed the teen to use the pool as a hang-out place for herself & her weird friends.

Though no one blamed Deb for thinking weirdly of Richie considering the idiot used the same pickup line on her every-time they crossed paths. 'May I try this hat on for size?'

He didn’t even mean it. He just thought it was clever as hell.

: : : : : : : : : : :

Knowing where it all went wrong doesn’t mean a person posses the capability of fixing the situation. Hard to swallow pills didn’t come after a prescription, sometimes they just ended up in the usual round-table of Eddie’s medication. Usually after days of spiraling thoughts about his life.

He was sitting coldly on the last step of the ladder leading to the pool, legs dangling over the side. The Tozier boy was sitting, legs spread out, on the pool floor. His A&W Root-Beer shirt folded as he hunched over to get a sip of Stan’s soda.

“Y’know, you don’t need to wait thirty minutes after you eat to get in this pool.” Came Mike’s voice from above. With a crack of his neck, Eddie glance up to see his friend bent over the round handles.

Eddie grinned & hopped down to the ground so Mike could climb down. He clapped his back gently and made his way towards Bill & Bev who were digging into their cheeseburger meals. Richie had suggested they stop for a bag of fast-food before headin’ out.

“Need a lift, Ed’s?” Richie wiped grease down his jeans as he stood to make his way over.

“Please.” Eddie decided to let that nickname pass for now and instead he happily enjoyed Richie plucking him from the ground. He placed the smaller boy back on his spot on the ladder with a genuine grin.

His thin fingers snaked around the cool metal and suddenly those scary thoughts of the future were dismissed. Because it was always the age of cartoons & comic books when Eddie looked into Richie’s wonderfully crazy eyes.

“You still mad at me?” Richie tried to act casual but his voice cracked in the tiniest way which nearly broke Eddie’s heart.

His nose scrunched when he shook his head. “No. You were just trying to help me.” He reached out to push Richie’s glasses up for him. “Besides, my mom started it.” He tried to smile but found it hard when he remembered that day.

Because that was just Richie, he understood and planted a tiny kiss on Eddie’s cheek. “Would you tell me to go fuck myself if I gave ya something kinda sentimental?” Anxiety was clear in his tone.

Eddie shook his head, hair tickling under Rich’s chin. “Never.”

Richie grinned and shook something out of the pocket of his jacket. “I want you to wear this as a promise ring, ok?” He smirked, still hiding the actually prize in his palms. “Screw it, right? We don’t know our plans but we do know one thing & what’s that Ed’s?”

Eddie smirked, reluctant to do the little routine but amused all the same. “We go together.” He mumbled, half-embarrassed considering all the Losers were now looking at them.

He hummed happily. “No matter how scary our future may seem, we’ll be brave!” Richie fell victim to another character performance, Eddie watched happily. “I mean, are we men or are we mice?”

From behind him, their friends erupted “We’re mice!”

Richie’s eyes glowed as he watched Eddie chuckle as he joined them. Instead of saying more, he opened his hands and held out the present.

“Holy Shit!” Eddie hopped off the ladder with wide-admiring eyes laying upon the greatest little trinket he thought lost years ago. In the hill of Richie’s palm was a nostalgic little Captain Midnight™ Decoder Ring. “Dude, I thought I lost this like a million years ago.” He swiped it and slipped it on just as easily as he used to when he was eleven.

Those elated eyes of Richie continued to beam with admiration. “Yeah, I found it buried in my old sandbox.”

“Why were you digging in your sandbox?” Mike asked from behind them.

Richie took an amused expression. “My dad said he was excellent at finding lost shit so I buried his keys!” He laughed at the memory and looked back at Mike before turning softly. “So, you like it?”

Eddie grinned, holding his hand close to his chest. “I have such a crush on you, Dick.” He giggled at his useless words but there truly wasn’t a better way to describe it.

“Don’t embarrass yourself!” Richie whistled to distract from his blush.

                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A paper boat did not float so easily on dampened brown mush but on this day the air was heavy with thick wind and the ground was seeping with foul rainwater. Nobody’s child would be out, in fear of catching their death from the wet air.

Inside the warm car, a cheap paper cup spilled droplets of Root-Beer piss down into Eddie’s cupholders. Not an easy place to clean. His eyes burned a little just from watching the liquid bounce & pour over as the car moved.

“I’ll be back in like...” Eddie spoke with exaggerated relaxation. “five minutes or so-”

He was abruptly cut off when Richie held up his hand. “Wait, we’re having a transcendent moment, Eds. Let it play out...” He leaned the front seat back and Eddie attempted to hush his snort.

Somewhere beyond Eddie’s car, a chain-link fence rattled and someone’s lost umbrella blew in the wind like a tumbleweed. “In the pharmacy parking lot?” He chuckled and flicked a quarter off his thumb & into the air.

Richie hummed.

“I want my ibuprofen, Dick.” Eddie shook his head and reached for the door handle again. “If were going to the homecoming game, I need to be prepared for the headache that always comes with it.”

Richie just smiled and leaned back in his chair, looking at his boyfriend. “You should be excited, Ed’s.” He finally turned the vehicle off, letting Eddie know he intended to join him inside even though the trip would only take a few minutes.

“All the football heroes putting on a great show for us losers in the bleachers. I can suck down a hot-dog with you sitting on my lap. My hands between your knees...” He reached over and took Eddie’s free hand.

Eddie rolled his eyes but felt reluctantly joyful. “Those are basically the lyrics to Jack & Diane...” He raised his brow.

“Well, we’re the gay Jack & Diane, remember?”

Eddie chuckled. “You’re the only one who calls us that.” He slid free from Richie’s grip. “Jack, he's gonna be a football star...” Eddie mocked a singing voice. “Doesn’t really sound like you does it?”

Richie huffed. “I’m Diane, asshole.”

Eddie giggled. “Of course, sorry.”

“And who says you gotta be a football hero to get along with a beautiful fella, anyway?” Richie whistled the tune of that old song. “The sentiment is what we are, Ed’s.”

“Highschool sweethearts?”

Richie shrugged. “To put it bluntly, yeah.” He took a long sip of his disgusting soda. “But we go on. Like the song itself, baby!” He smacked him lightly. “Annoying thousands with our staying power and radio-play.” He smiled.

“You’re ridiculous.”

Richie just hopped out of the car, again starting the whistle of ‘You gotta be a football hero’ as he walked....

[19mrs-barnes17]

The Move

Summary: You have moved in with your Aunt in Queens and are starting at a new school

Pairing: Peter Parker x reader

Part: 1/2

Warnings: anxiety?

Word count: 2,273

A/N: This is my submission for @beckzorz 1k writing challenge! Idk where this went lol, but, I had fun writing so enjoy! (Shoutout to @asphalt-cocktail for helping me out)

You were absolutely pissed. Why? Why do you even bother?

Your parents decided they were going to ship you off to Queens, instead of letting you get a job to help out so you could stay in Chicago. Now, you stood in front of  an apartment building, suitcase growing heavy in hand. There was dread in your heart.

Making friends isn’t easy when you have social anxiety. With friends you could switch from chatter box to complete silence fairly quick.  Sometimes within the same conversation. It was almost as if you had a social fuel tank and the more you socialized the more it depleted.

You’d have to explain yourself all over again, find a new lunch seat, and new places to belong. This made you anxious.

Nerves were spiking and your annoying 13 year old cousin, Alec, was not helping in the slightest. He was playing some game and shouting into his mic. You rolled your eyes as you unpacked, your room was right next door. Paper thin walls. Great.

“Dinner!” Aunt Clarissa hollered from the tiny kitchen. You were still unused to being cooked for, it was almost always you making your own meals. Chicken Alfredo to a cup of ramen. The result varied.

Dinner was quiet, fueled by awkwardness that you felt responsible for, and ended rather quickly. Alec was soon back on his game and Aunt Clarissa began to wash the dishes. You sat in silence, alone. This felt normal. But somehow with people in the room it became colder, more isolated.

Your first day began with a tour from Liz, who you assumed was that girl  everyone just knew. And then, lunch. Liz offered for you to sit with her and while you were grateful, it felt odd. It wasn’t where you belonged. They talked of homecoming and boys, while you doodled in one of your many sketchbooks. You were no mega talent, but, you had always had this itch to create something. Anything.

“That’s really good (Y/N). You should take art here.” Liz was leaning in to study your sketch of a table across the room, all you had so far was one boy. “You should talk to him.”

“What?” It was the first word apart from ‘hi’ that you had spoken all morning, and she seemed surprised. A small smile danced upon her lips.

You turned back to your sketch, filling in details and outlining the boy next to him so Liz wouldn’t think you were obsessed. When you could feel her eyes leave your work, your pencil gravitated back to detailing the first boy’s face. He had kind eyes. What Liz may or may not realize, was that they were on her and not you.

Class felt slow, introductions were not needed since it was second semester, and you were behind on all subjects. So much for relaxing this weekend. Thank  god you had Gym next, at least no homework could stem from that. Though, you wouldn’t be surprised.

Somehow the slow day was better. At least something was going on, now you sat a little apart from Liz’s group on the bleachers. You were currently doing your best to ignore their gossip until you heard a familiar name.

“Spider-Man? Isn’t that the guy who shoots webs?” Liz smiles, but her friends roll their eyes at your lack of knowledge.

“Yeah. He’s like our neighborhood’s personal  hero.”

“And Liz is totally in love with him.” Liz shoved her friend playfully as she laughed and confirmed the statement. The others began to throw questions at her and you started to tune out until a boy, one of the two you began sketching at lunch, shouted across the room.

“Peter knows Spider-Man!” His friend was quick to his feet, stammering over an explanation.

Now this, is interesting.

Peter, who was the only complete part of the sketch you had elected to move on from, tried to cover his friend’s mishap. It was clear he didn’t want anyone knowing about his internship with Stark Industries. You grew curious. Liz invited him and his ‘supposed’ hero friend to her party.

“Oh. And you’re welcome too (Y/N).”

Fuck.

You were the opposite of a party person. You were always in the corner on your phone, no one electing to talk to you. You were not a dancer and knew maybe four people there at least 90% of the time. But with her looking you straight in the eye so sweetly, you found yourself having trouble saying no.

“Yeah, sure. Text me the address and I’ll be there.”

Your Aunt was surprised that you had already had an invite to a party, but didn’t have a car to take you there. You were furiously texting Liz in your last class of the day while the teacher brought up the PowerPoint. 

Liz: Try asking Peter Parker.

You know the boy you were sketching at lunch?

I think he might live around your area.

Great. Now she was just enjoying matchmaking. You replied with a tongue sticking out emoji before pulling out a notebook and pen.

Peter’s locker was directly across from yours, but your nerves began spiking. How the hell do you just approach someone like this? What do you even say?

“Um, excuse me? You’re Peter right?” He was so distracted he nearly jumped at the sound of your voice behind him.

“Yeah. And… you’re, uh, (Y/N). Right?” He seemed to have the same nerves he had around Liz and you suspected he was the same with all the girls.

“Yup. Um, you’re going to Liz’s party right?” He nods. “Do you think I could tag along? My Aunt doesn’t own a car.”

“Oh, uh, sure. My Aunt May should be okay with that.”

“Cool. Uh, here’s my number and address. You’re a lifesaver.”  He slipped the paper in his pocket as you walked  away.

Over Your shoulder you shot him a small smile and a wave before heading to your bus. When he began to follow you nearly facepalmed, recalling that Liz said he lived by you. You sat in the empty second seat, right side of the bus, blocking the other half with your bag. Peter and his friend sat behind you. Your headphones were in, and the rest of the ride passed in a blur.

God certainly wasn’t short on humor.

Peter seemed equally shocked that you were both approaching the same lobby door, curious as to how you missed one another.

“I missed the bus this morning.” He stated, as if answering your thoughts. “May drove me.”

“Ah. Oh, Thanks.” You nodded and walked through the door he held open.

Outfits lay spread out on the bed, your mind doing calculations a mile a minute. Settling on black leggings and a Harry Potter t-shirt (Marauder’s Map), you began debating a jacket. When a knock sounded at the door you gave up and tied one around your waist, just in case.

Peter stood awkwardly in the living room/kitchen, your cousin bugging him relentlessly. He looked like a tomato. You chuckled at the sight.

“Is he your boyfriend? He won’t say anything but ‘um’. Is he why you moved here?” Now you were rendered speechless.

“I-uh. Oh Jesus, just go play your game, will ya?” You rushed Peter out the door, grateful  Alec lost interest. “Sorry about him.”

Peter shakes his head like its no big deal before glancing down at your shirt.

“My eyes are up here Parker.” His eyes widen and somehow turns a darker shade of red.

“I-I was just admiring your Marauder’s Map shirt.” You giggled at his frantic mumbling, shaking your head.

“Only kidding. Shall we?”

The ride is only quiet when Peter’s Aunt pauses or runs out of questions. She is an extrovert in every way and you wish some of that would rub off on you before you entered the party.

“May this was a mistake. Maybe we should just drop (Y/N) off and go home.” There was no way you were letting this kid ditch. If you were going, then at least you’d have company in that corner you always ended up in.

“He’s so stressed out lately.”

“What helps with stress is going to a party. So, we should go to the party.” Ned was anxious to get inside and he was the only one.

The three of you stood on the lawn, gazing at the already raging party within. You glanced at Peter and saw your own nervousness reflecting back at you.

“Not a party person?” Peter leaned over and whispered.

“Not even close. I'm terrible at saying no.”

Inside the noise was  pounding off the walls. Kids stood with actual red solo cups in hand like it was a teen movie.

Some kid was already picking on Peter and it's not even 2 minutes in.

“Hey. You're the new girl, right?” The stranger flickered a smirk  as you nodded. “I'm Flash.” His wink had you staring in disbelief. Why would you be interested in someone who literally just insulted a person right in front of everyone on a mic.

“And I'm, not interested. C’mon, let's go get a soda or something.” Peter and Ned did their best to hide smiles as they passed him by.

“That was great. Can you do that again cause I wanna sell tickets to that show.” A girl leaned against the wall, a small smirk on her lips. “I'm Michelle.”

“We could have a Ted Talk on how to not be an ass.”  You couldn't help but laugh with her at the thought. “I could do it in like two lines.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. It would go something like ‘Don’t be a dick. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.’”  Peter nearly choked on his soda.

“You alright there Peter?” Liz appeared from around the corner, a look of confusion plastered on her face.

He smiles and nods, cheeks flushing. What a dork, you thought.

“Okay. Well... I'm glad you guys could make it. Have fun.” She was gone as quickly as she had arrived.

“I feel like my Ted Talks would have no chill though. I'm told I'm too open about topics that make people uncomfortable. Like periods and such.” Michelle glanced at you, smile growing.

“I think we'll get along just fine.”

It took you a few minutes to notice Peter and Ned had migrated toward the back door. You followed, sending Michelle a wave as you went. They became aware of your presence and their hushed mutterings ceased.

“Its okay if you leave us. Just so you know. You don't have to stuck around. We can find you later.” Peter didn't look you in the eye as he said this, instead opting to stare a hole in the floor.

“Oh.” That stung. You aren't sure why considering you hardly knew them. However, something had you feeling like this might've been your place. Ned. Peter. Michelle. You were a squad of misfits that seemed to piece together.

“He didn't mean it like that. You're more than welcome to hang with us.” Ned sent a sympathetic smile your way before leaning closer to whisper, loud enough that Peter could still  hear. “He’s just nervous.”

“What? Why? Cause of the party?” Ned shook his head and pointed at you. “Me? What did I do?”

Peter shook his head. He really was nervous. His hands were constantly on the move, in his hair or smoothing his clothes. His feet kept shifting his weight from one to the other.

“It's not something you did.”

“He just likes you.”

“Dude!”

“Is that true? Peter?” You felt bad because he clearly wanted to tell you himself. But, you couldn't help but smile at the fact that Peter had a crush on you.

Though you weren't quite friends, you could tell he was a good guy. You now knew the lovesick stares he had sent from across the room were directed at you, he had jumped at the opportunity to drive you, and personally came up to your apartment to escort you to the car.

“Peter…”

“I um…. I'm gonna get some air.” And just like that he disappeared out the back door.

You could see him pacing the yard, looking as though he was chastising himself. It was hard to contain your smile.

“I should go talk to him.”

“No. I'll talk to him. You enjoy the party Ned. Rock that hat with confidence.” He beamed as you stepped out into the yard and gave you a double thumbs up.

Peter's head whipped around at the sound of the door, face flushed.

“Hey.”

“Hi.” Your voice was small. Now you were the nervous one. “You okay?”

“Yeah, fine.”

“Liar.” He chuckles at this. A smile dances on each of your faces. “Is it true?”

Gulp. He nods.

“Peter…”

“Its okay. I get it. You don't feel the same. It's not like we've been friends for years. We're strangers.”

“Not for long.”

“What?”

“Well, Ned basically invited me into your friend group. So I'm not going anywhere. Because, for the record, I think you're a great guy. Also, I expect a seat at your table. Yeah?” Peter's smile widens at the prospect.

“Really?” You nod.

“I'm afraid you're stuck with me Parker.”

“I think I'll live.”

Something, whether it be adrenaline or courage,  gives you the strength to grab his hand and lead him back to the party. Or more specifically, the dance floor.

This was only the start. Maybe the move wasn't such a bad idea after all.

[edream93]

I’m Hooked On All These Feelings (Harry of Auradon AU) Part 2

Hello, hello! Remember that Harry of Auradon AU thing I did awhile ago (here’s the link for Part 1)? Well, here’s an update! Enjoy and of course let me know what you think either on here or on AO3 or FF.net. 

The sun shined down on the picturesque view of Auradon Prep students enjoying their day off from classes. Sitting on the bleachers, Uma tried to tune out the Tourney team’s coaches loud yells and whistleblowing as the group of boys ran drills. She pushed up the sunglasses that she had found (stolen) back further up her nose as she allowed herself to soak up the sun’s rays.

“And you’re sure this’ll work?” a timid voice asked next to her.

Uma spared a glance over to her side causing the pastel colored princess next to her shift nervously as she gazed at him over the rims of her glasses.

“Well, it’s no love potion, but it’ll definitely give you a bit a luck and confidence to help raise the odds in your favor with asking out whatever pretty face has caught your attention,” Uma shrugged turning her gaze back to the sidelines of the Tourney field where Gil was waving happily up at her from where he stood amongst the other cheerleaders. Uma gave a slight nod of acknowledgment which seemed to satisfy the boy before he began to talk excitedly with some other cheerleader. Audrey, who had apparently made it her mission to watch all the Isle kids scowled up at her from her place near Gil before shouting instructions at the others around her to get into position.

Uma rolled her eyes, glad that for the most part, Audrey focused most of her attention on Mal.

“O-okay. How much do I owe you?” the princess asked, drawing the sea-witch’s attention back to him.

“Not much,” Uma shrugged again, nonchalantly, moving her braids over her shoulder. “Just your voice.”

Biting her lip to hold back a laugh, Uma watched as the girl nearly toppled out of her seat, looking extremely pale.

“Kidding!” she plastered on a sickening sweet smile on her face. “Just kidding. It’ll be ten-fifty, angelfish.”

The girl smiled awkwardly, handing over the money before quickly scampering away, a small bottle in her hand.

Uma sighed, smile quickly melting on her face as she flopped back into her seat, tucking the cash into her boot.

If she sold a dozen or so more of her “luck in a bottle” - which was mostly just boiled sandalwood, ginger, and a few other nice smelling things Gil had managed to find (These idiots would believe anything you gave them when you had a mother who was infamous for her potions) - then she would be able to get one way bus tickets for herself and Gil to the furthest kingdom from Auradon. Shit was going to hit the fan, whether or not Mal and her crew got the wand and she wanted to make sure she was far far away from it all.  

She was nearly all packed up and ready to go to what was quickly becoming her corner in the library when she heard a now familiar voice shout out her voice from the field. Uma refused to acknowledge him, making her way quickly down the bleachers, ignoring the way she felt his gaze burning on her back.

The sea witch’s daughter had just made a few steps away from the bleachers when she heard the sound of someone running after her.

“Uma!” Harry jogged up next to her, slightly out of breath but sporting his usual boyish grin.

“You know,” Uma began, never slowing down. “Maybe this is a cultural difference but I’m pretty sure you’re stalking me.”

Harry snorted, gently grabbing her hand and placing another one of his too gentle, too passion filled kisses on her hand as he always did in greeting. “I’m sure a beautiful lass such as yourself is used to men, and perhaps even women, chasing after your affection, darling.”

Uma paused, unbeckoned memories right after Mal’s betrayal coming to mind, when people thought she was too weak and too defenseless to slash at their throats with a rusty kitchen knife of her mother’s. She had shown them.

Removing her hand from his grip, with an expressionless mask, Uma asked, “So that gives people the right to invade my space and do what they want with me? Because I’m a beautiful lass ?”

The boy took a step back, as if he was slapped before his face contorted into rage, something that Uma had never thought was possible for a person born in Auradon to make. She should have been scared but something within her told her that his rage wasn’t directed towards her. (And it would never be.)

“Uma,” his voice was firm, the accent he tried to hide growing heavy. “If I am bothering ye, then I’ll stop. Ye won’t see neither hide nor hair of me. I never meant-”

She put a hand firmly against his chest, stopping his rant. She should just say, “Yes, go away”, knowing that he would keep his word and leaving her with one less thing for Mal to nag on her about. No good came from the son of Auradon’s most celebrated and decorated hero taking an interest in the sea witch’s unwanted daughter. After all, no matter how his attentiveness made her feel like she was riding the crests of the tides, he would always be seen as a hero and she, a villain.

She was going to say that, to hiss and curse at his name, at people like his father who were the reason why her mother and everyone else’s parents were revived and forced onto the Isle. Why she had grown up not knowing her heritage or how she wasn’t given a chance to be seen as anything more than a sea witch’s daughter or Mal’s favorite punching bag.

“Stay,” her traitorous mouth uttered surprising both herself and the boy across from her.

“Stay?” he questioned, hesitant hope found in the corners of his mouth ( No, no, stop thinking about how soft his lips look , she mentally scolded herself).

Uma of the Isle rolled her eyes, a mischievous look in her eye as she grabbed the front of his jersey, tugging him firmly in front of her, ignoring the way that at this close distance she saw his gaze briefly linger on her lips and the butterflies it gave her.

“If you’re not afraid of the big bad sea witch stealing your voice,” she smirked.

A deep chuckle escaped his chest before he smoothly went into a kneel, taking her hand once again. Though his rage has passed, his voice was lulling in its unfiltered gruffness. She found she preferred it that way, wild and passionate, just like him.

“Well seeing as yer ma is safely behind a barrier and I only see a beautiful goddess before me,” he murmured, kissing her fingers almost reverently to the point where Uma forgot to breathe. “I’ll take my chances,” he winked up at her.

Unaware to the two, eyes were watching them. One of an untrusting princess afraid that history would repeat itself and villains would once again reign. Two other pairs of eyes looked worriedly between each other on the Tourney field, wondering who would be the one to tell a certain half-fae of this new development…

—

“Audrey says she’s bad news.”

“You’ll have to be a bit less vague as to who you’re referring to, little sister of mine,” Harry murmured into his phone. “Audrey says a lot of people are bad news, including you.” He kicked off his shoes and flopped back onto his bed.

Practice had finished hours ago and he had just returned from a small sailing adventure with one of Auradon Prep’s newest residents.

“You’ve lived amongst pirates, some of whom despite their morals were the best sailors of their time and they didn’t teach ye anything about sailing?” Harry had questioned incredulously. She had told him that she had lived on the side of the Isle amongst the wharfs and pirate ships, many belonging to scoundrels such as Barbossa and Blackbeard.

“Oh, some of them taught me many things,” Uma said with a casual flip of her braids over her shoulder that momentarily distracted him as he watched how the sun highlighted the blues and the greens and the white in her hair. His head snapped up at her though when he finally processed her words. She laughed, flicking his nose before leaning back into the sun warmed patch of field that they had found, away from the hustle and bustle and curious and always watching eyes of their classmates. “Harry, chill. They only taught me how to fend for myself. My mother may not give a shit about me but some of those pirates prayed to Poseidon, her father, before they were stuck on the Isle and are a superstitious lot. They might pillage and steal but they do have a Code.” She closed her eyes. “Besides, pirates were the last things I had to worry about on the Isle. Traitorous dragons on the other hand…” she sighed trailing off and he saw the way she clenched her fist tightly.

He wanted to ask her more, to know everything about her, but very early on he realized that if she wanted to tell him something, she would on her own time. He remembered when Audrey or Chad would withhold information from him when he was younger and how they always ended in a shouting match due to Harry’s quick fuse. But with Uma, though he still didn’t like it, he followed her lead.

“Well,” he sighed getting to his feet. “We’ll need to change that.”

“Change what?” Uma questioned opening her eyes to see Harry standing above her with a mischievous look of his own as he extended a hand down to her.

Tugging her to her feet, Harry grinned when she stumbled slightly into him. He gave her a devilish grin, which she rolled her eyes at but didn’t push away from him. “Well, can’t have a lovely sea goddess who doesn’t know how to sail. What kind of man would her sailor be if he didn’t help her fix that?”

He watched as Uma looked thoughtfully into his eyes, searching for something. After a moment, she stepped back with a soft smirk, something that he knew was filled with vulnerability rarely shown.

“Teach me then. So that there will always be winds in your sails,” she spoke softly, power in her words. Unintentional magic, but magic all the same.

A goddess’s blessing.

“Harry!”

The boy snapped out of his thoughts suddenly, hearing Calista Jane, or CJ as she preferred to be called, practically fume on the other side of the phone. (She hated to be ignored, even for a second.)

“The Isle girl,” his sister sighed frustratedly. “The one you’re smitten with and apparently daydreaming about in the middle of phone calls, dear brother. And don’t try to deny it. I’ll call and badger Ben or Jane for info. They’ll both sing like canaries, those two.”

The boy scrubbed his face tiredly. Though he loved his younger sister dearly, Calista Jane was already tiring him and he had only been on the phone with her for a moment. At least it wasn’t Harriet. (Seven seas, if it was Harriet this would have been much, much worse, he knew.)

“Manners, ya little fairy,” he chidded. “You’re still in trouble for badgering them when they wouldn’t tell you what I got you for birthday gift. And the Isle girl has a name you know.”

“And I’m waiting for you to tell me it. Come on, I’m all on bated breath and everything. Your attempts to seriously woo anyone will surely bring laughter to my ever so dull life,” CJ drawled dramatically on the other line before breaking out into giggles.

Harry had to pity her. Both of his sisters had been homeschooled back on Neverland, though they came to the mainland often enough. Harry, as his father’s heir had been sent off to Auradon Prep a decision that he still wasn’t sure how he felt about.

“Always know how to boost a man’s self-esteem, don’t you, Callie?” he groaned, waiting for his sister’s gigglings to subside.

“S-so,” CJ finally said, calming down. “What’s her name?”

Harry closed his eyes, unaware of the little smile that played on his lips as he thought of her. “Uma,” he breathed reverently, his mind calling up deep brown eyes and presence that could be as calm or as fearsome as the sea.

“Geez, you really do have it bad,” CJ laughed always perceptive of his emotions. And Harry would fully admit he did.

As soon as she had stepped out of the limo from the Isle, he was fascinated by her, pulled to her like the moon pulled the tides. She wasn’t anything like what he had been warned she would be like by the adults, the heroes who didn’t even know Uma but only knew her mother, Ursula.

She was a sarcastic lass with a sharp tongue and even sharper kitchen knife (he had learned that last bit when Chad had tried to flirt with Uma to get her Chemistry answers a few weeks ago. Harry wished he had recorded it. Chad nearly peed himself).

But Harry also knew that Uma, despite her cool exterior, was passionate and protective of those she deemed worthy. He had watched as she spent hours searching the library for books on how to help Gil with his reading difficulties so that no one here could look down at him. Watched as she fretted over him when he had a slight cold a week ago (he had initially thought her worry was hilarious until Gil had clued him, in that unassuming way that he always did, that many died from colds on the Isle).

And he watched (and hated) as that vibrant personality of hers dimmed in Mal’s presence. (Harry loved Ben like a brother but the other boy was too damn naive and smitten himself with Maleficent’s daughter, despite already being taken with Audrey. Why, even bother when the Mal sneered at him like she had stepped in something a dog left behind? Harry never really liked being in the same place with her for too long.)

“Is she, ya know, the girl? The one you’ve been dreaming about for years?”

Harry pushed himself up from his bed, needing to move, bare feet padding back and forth in front of his window.

“Now don’t go bringing that up, Callie,” he sighed trying not to think about the dreams he had since he was wee lad but it was already too late.

There had been dreams where all he heard was a haunting voice, demanding, urging, pleading for him to say something, a specific something that in his dream he knew and proclaimed with reverence but when he woke up he could never remember. There were some dreams where all he could hear was her crying, his heart breaking at the sound, at not being able to comfort her. Those dreams he hated the most because  he would often awaken to find strange bruises around his wrist, torso, and sometimes even around his neck like something long and flexible had been trying to squeeze the life out of him. (He had remembered the first time he had that dream, he had been six and it had taken Harriet hours to calm him down and reassure that it was nothing more than just a night terror.) And then, recently, there were some dreams where he was embraced by warmth, by her. He would feel a calming hand run through his hair, soft lips pressed to his cheek, his eyes, his jaw and neck, and then finally they would press against his lips and he felt like he was drowning in her with no regrets… (It was often horrible when he had those dreams at home where Harriet and CJ could walk in without warning. They would never stop laughing if they saw how…aroused a simple dream could make him.)

Harry leaned his forehead against the glass of his window thoughtfully, his frown melting away into a wistful look when he caught sight of a familiar teal head making her way to the dorms from the dining halls where had last seen her. His gaze followed her until he saw her safely enter the dorms, Gil trailing, as always, happily behind her.

“Maybe,” he finally supplied. “But she’s more than just a dream…She’s…she’s…real.”

CJ made a snorting noise, but thankfully didn’t comment picking up the tender and soft qualities in her brother’s tone. However, she asked something worse, something that Harry had been trying not to think about despite it’s approaching date.

“So, are you going to introduce your little Isle girlfriend to father and Harriet when we come to Family Day?”

[analyzingtaylor]

Reputation: a review (sort-of)

I’ll be blunt….

This is the best Meghan Trainor album yet!

(heheheh, I kid, I kid)

This album is better overall than I expected.    The lyrically and poetically obsessive fans may not feel fulfilled here, but what you get is someone daring to be more direct, and in this case, more honest than ever. 

Now for the hot take (it’s a hot take, but I am being real)

So here we have unprecedented bluntness in honesty.   However, in all of its sass and stories of romance in the elite class, it’s a total celebration of hot young woman privilege, and everyone should acknowledge that to give it some context.  Hey, that’s her life now.  We can only sit here and appreciate that honesty, and think we know her a lot more today than yesterday (even if some moments suggest how shallow she can be).

It wouldn’t be surprising if this became the most popular album ever with supermodels and trophy wives.  They have now received a set of new anthems that perhaps many people can relate to, but they will relate to it first and foremost.

OK, enough of that.    

All of that aside, there are some incredibly great pop melodies here, things that stand out above the massive pop productions…..melodies that should last into future eras, even if the lyrics turn cringey when she settles down (if that happens).   And her voice is very well-produced on this.  Maybe it got better and/or maybe they found all the coolest effects.  The live performances will have to match.

Ready for It:  Even if you like this track, I hope you don’t want it to kick off the live shows. 

End Game: Cultural appropriation via Rihanna-esque sassiness early on here, but guess what - the rap parts are really good!  I can’t believe it.  This Future guy has a future!   Ed Sheeran delivers on being Ed Sheeran, combining his rap and melodies. 

I Did Something Bad: Taylor seemingly confirming she has become the Blank Space character.  Is it about ditching someone to be with someone else?  Or is it about secret affairs that people don’t even really know about?

Don’t Blame Me: Hozier meets Lorde. Lots of black clothes were worn that day.

Delicate: Lovely melody, sincere.  Again, more proof how it pays to be an exotic pretty boy in this world of beautiful people, who are lonely for some reason.  

Look What You Made Me Do: This song will never be good, but you can appreciate the sassiness once you realize its coming from a real place.  The song now has context, but it’s still meh.  Great video, though.

So It Goes: Again….wow, some guys really have that svengali effect.  Teach me, Obi Wan.

Gorgeous: “OK, Matt….here is step one to having that svengali effect on women - be gorgeous.”  (Because that’s literally the only thing the guy does in this song to get the girl.  Man, the real world is tough.)

Getaway Car: Finally, we get that beautiful orgy of emotion that only Bleachers seems to deliver nowadays!  Sadly, it comes wrapped in a message where our hero is admitting being all about the rebound.  Gotta love the honesty.  At least she mentions that they’re both sorry.   That may be the only reason that an objective person may not see her as the villain here.   Musically, this should be given the peak of the live show.

King of My Heart: OK, so this pretty boy seems to bring something emotional and genuine to the table, (along with being so gorgeous).   Things as simple as drinking beer out of plastic cups and sitting on the roof looking up at the stars might represent a genuine, sincere comfort for such women used to the trappings luxury than the rest of us.

Lets hope this particular tune is one she will always have reason to keep playing.  I like that they have some depth in their relationship.  She is giving fans no choice but to ship them.

Dancing With Our Hands Tied: A lot of fans are going to have a favorite thing on the album.  My favorite thing on the album is a weird one……for me, it’s when the keyboard riff gets going in this track at 1:24, starting the second verse.   It feels very Daft Punk.

It seems like the point of this track is that our gorgeous guy does not care about what the world says about him and his girl.

Dress: Wow, our pretty boy completely OWNS this woman.  I absolutely love the emotional honesty here, but we need to find a way to avoid having children singing this chorus in the crowd at live shows.  Maybe have a sign for a suggested children’s pee break?

Carve your name into my bedpost ‘Cause I don’t want you like a best friend Only bought this dress so you could take it off Take it off (ha, ha, ha, ha)

This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things: Sassy overload - but I give it more of a pass than I’d give to the first two singles.  EDIT: When I was listening, the background of the chorus reminded me of something and I just realized what: https://youtu.be/_zPlr-o-YEQ?t=1m2s

Call It What You Want: Very nice.  A glimpse at substance that our pretty boy brings.  New Years Day: Here she proves there’s still greatness there, beneath the hype and the overproduction.  

One of the best things she has ever done, and the live taped performance telecast last night backs that up.

I’m biased, but this one just reaffirms my stance that she needs Ryan Adams to reach the next level.  Maybe she just needs a deliberately stripped-down era.  Once this era is out of her system, there should be a freedom to be truly experimental.   Perhaps she can grow beyond letting any media drama affect her the same way again.  

But for now, we all know that the truth is that she has some justifiable sassiness to get off her chest, and some drama….and some newfound happiness to talk about.

Feel free to give me your take.