#I’m sitting in a tree D Y I N G

[delicatefalice]

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE X HOW YOU GET THE GIRL X NEW ROMANTICS AND HOW DID IT END????

[wingedblooms]

Elain Archeron, member of The Tortured Poets Department

i’m hearing voices like a madman - so high school

i’m seeing visions / am I bad or mad or wise? - guilty as sin?

you can mark my words that I said it first / in a mourning warning, no one heard - cassandra

and for a fortnight there, we were forever - fortnight

leaving me bereft and reeling / my beloved ghost and me / sitting in a tree / d-y-i-n-g - how did it end?

i saw in my mind fairy lights through the mist - so long, london

i cry a lot, but I am so productive, it's an art - i can do it with a broken heart

but my bare hands paved their paths / you don't get to tell me about "sad" - who’s afraid of little old me?

so I leap from the gallows and I levitate down your street / crash the party like a record scratch as I scream / "who's afraid of little old me?" / you should be - who’s afraid of little old me?

i hate it here so I will go to secret gardens in my mind - i hate it here

one slip and fallin' back into the hedge maze […] i keep recalling things we never did - guilty as sin?

these fatal fantasies / giving way to labored breath, takin' all of me / we’ve already done it in my head / if it's make-believe / why does it feel like a vow we'll both uphold somehow? - guilty as sin?

wise men once said / "one bad seed kills the garden" / "one less temptress, one less dagger to sharpen" / locked me up in towers / but I'd visit in your dreams / and they tried to warn you about me - the albatross

a rose by any other name is a scandal / cautions issued, he stood - the albatross

i spied the catch in your breath - i look in people’s windows

what if I roll the stone away? / they’re gonna crucify me anyway / what if the way you hold me is actually what's holy? - guilty as sin?

"stay away from her" / the saboteurs protested too much - but daddy i love him

crashin' into him tonight, he's a paradox - guilty as sin?

it’s happenin' again / how did it end? / i can't pretend like I understand - how did it end?

this cage was once just fine / am I allowed to cry? / i dream of crackin' locks - guilty as sin?

thought I caught lightning in a bottle / oh, but it's gone again […] please / i’ve been on my knees / change the prophecy / don't want money / just someone who wants my company / let it once be me - the prophecy

cards on thе table / mine play out like fools in a fablе […] poison blood from the wound of the pricked hand / oh, still I dream of him - the prophecy

lilac short skirt, the one that fits me like skin […] and I'll tell you one thing, honey / i can tell when somebody still wants me, come clean - imgonnagetyouback

i, i hear thе whispers in your eyes / i’ll make you wanna think twice / you'll find that you were never not mine / (you’re mine) - imgonnagetyouback

'cause the sign on your heart / said it's still reserved for me / honestly, who are we to fight thе alchemy? - the alchemy

i'll tell you something right now / i’d rather burn my whole life down […] i'll tell you something 'bout my good name / it’s mine alone to disgrace / i don't cater to all these vipers dressed in empath's clothing - but daddy i love him

if long-suffering propriety is what they want from me / they don't know how you've haunted me so stunningly / i choose you and me religiously - guilty as sin?

[speaknowworldtour]

“i tell you that i think i’m falling back in love with you” // “who’s gonna stop us from waltzing back into rekindled flames if we know the steps anyway”

“stitching ‘we were just kids, babe’. i said ‘i don’t mind it takes time’”// “and you said you’d come and get me but you were 25 and the shelf life of those fantasies has expired”

“starry eyes sparking up my darkest night” // “i thought i was better safe than starry eyed”

“your touch bought forth an incandescent glow” // “i felt aglow like this never before and never since”

“i’d die for you in the same way, if i first saw your face in the 1500s off in a foreign land… we would’ve been timeless” // “if you know it in one glimpse, it’s legendary”

“and when we go crashing down we come back every time” // “never quite buried”

“you paint me a blue sky and go back and turn it to rain” // “you lowdown boy you stand up guy”

“but it lies and it lies and it lies a million little times” // “you said i’m the love of your life about a million times”

“clear blue water high tide came and bought you in” // “who’s gonna tell me the truth when you blew in with the winds of fate”

“for a moment i was heaven-struck” // “and told me i reformed you”

“your integrity makes me seem small. you paint dreamscapes on the wall.” // “when your impressionist paintings of heaven turned out to be fakes”

“if you never looked my way i would’ve stayed on my knees and i damn sure never would’ve danced with the devil” // “well you took me to hell too”

“and all at once you are the one i have been waiting for” // “and all at once the ink bleeds”

“forever is the sweetest con” // “a conman sells a fool a get love quick scheme”

“you showed me colours you know i can’t see with anyone else” // “but i felt a hole like this never before and ever since”

“i like shiny things but i’d marry you with paper rings” // “and i wouldn’t marry me either” // “give you my wild give you a child” // “you shit talked me under the table talking rings and talking cradles”

“you would’ve been the one if you were a better man” // “i wish i could unrecall how we almost had it all”

“but if he’s a ghost then i can be a phantom” // “dancing phantoms on the terrace” // “my beloved ghost and me sitting in a tree d-y-i-n-g” // “can we watch our phantoms like watching wild horses”

“it must be counterfeit. i think there’s been a glitch” // “i can’t get out of bed cause something counterfeit’s dead”

“in my defence i have none, for digging up the grace another time” // “should’ve let it stay buried”

“the coward claimed he was a lion” // “you said i needed a brave man then proceeded to play him”

“i’m combing through the braids of lies” // “was any of it true?”

“you see me in hindsight tangled up with you all night burning it down” // “our field of dreams engulfed in fire your arsons match your somber eyes”

“and i’m never gonna love again” // “and i’ll still see it until i die you’re the loss of my life”

[spade-riddles]

Submission: Death/Dying/Mortality & The Jack-O-Lantern of it all.

The first 🎃 was sent on May 13, 2023.

#4. 🎃 “Speaking of, I love Halloween, don’t you? I’m already counting the days until October.”

#11. 🎃 “Imagine this. It is 3 am and Halloween is over"

All Saints Day, while exact origins are uncertain, was originally most commonly celebrated in May (like, a LONG time ago. ~300-600 A.D). Specifically…MAY 13. The night before All Saints Day was called “All-Hallows Eve”, which is what we now know as Halloween. (I acknowledge that is through the Christianity lens, as I know there this is a holiday with pagan roots as well). 

This is a celebration dedicated to remember the dead. I believe the use of the pumpkin/jack-o-lantern and the references to this celebration were easter eggs for the direction of TS11, before we even KNEW a new album was in the works. Furthermore, someone sent in a post identifying May 13 as the first documented date of JK & KK, which was also linked to the original spade riddles about MAY. 

Now that it has been a few days since the release of TTPD, I’m shocked to see just how many references there are to the concept of death, dying, endings, resurrection, etc. Here is an incomplete list of all of the references to this theme throughout the TTPD rollout and release:

TN easter egg

“We hereby conduct this post-mortem” - AKA….after death. This was ultimately revealed to be lyrics from “How Did It End?”

Track 4 - Down Bad

“I might just die, it would make no difference.”

Track 5 - So Long, London

“My white knuckle dying grip holding tight to your quiet resentment.”

“I died on the altar waiting for the proof.”

Track 9 - Guilty As Sin

“One slip I’m falling back into the hedge maze, but what a way to die.”

Track 10 - Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?

“If you wanted me dead you should’ve just said. Nothing makes me feel more alive.”

Track 12 - loml

“Are they second hand embarrassed that I can’t get out of bed, cause something counterfeits dead?”

“And I’ll still see it until I die, You’re the loss of my life.”

Track 14 - The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived

“Were you sent by someone who wanted me dead?”

“I would’ve died for your sins, Instead, I just died inside.”

Track 16 - Clara Bow

“I’m not trying to exaggerate but I think I might die if it happened, die if it happened to me”

Track 17 - The Black Dog

“Old habits die screaming.”

“Now I wanna sell my house and set fire to all my clothes, and hire a priest to come and exorcise my demons, Even if I die screaming, And I hope you hear it.”

Track 19 - The Albatross:

“She’s the death you chose”

Track 21 - How Did It End:

“We hereby conduct this post-mortem”

“Say it once again with feeling, How the death rattle breathing, Silenced as the soul was leaving, The deflation of our dreaming, Leaving me bereft and reeling. My beloved ghost and me, Sitting in a tree,D-Y-I-N-G”

Track 23 - I Hate It Here

“I dreamed about it in the dark, the night I felt like I might die”

Track 25 - I Look In People’s Windows

“I had died the tiniest death.”

And finally…resurrection (note: I am not a religious person, I’m writing about this from a literature/contextual perspective).

Track 9 - Guilty as Sin:

What if I roll the stone away? They’re gonna crucify me anyway. What if the way you hold me is actually what’s holy? If long suffering propriety is what they want from me, they don’t know how you’ve haunted me so stunningly. I choose you and me, religiously

propriety (noun) - 1: the quality or state of being proper or suitable, 2: conformity to what is socially acceptable in conduct or speech, fear or offending against conventional rules of behavior especially between the sexes.

🫚 - 2/5/2024

Frost untouched, Conformity wins fights.

This 🫚 message seems to convey the message that conforming to what what society and the media, her fans, etc expect of her and will tolerate from her, is the only way she could gain enough traction to move forward. But in Guilty as Sin, she finally asks the questions “what happens if I roll away the stone?” Rolling away the stone, in a biblical sense, would reveal an empty tomb. An empty tomb was EVIDENCE that Jesus had risen from the dead.

So my thought is, what does rolling away the stone mean for Taylor? What are the implications of her asking, “What if I just give them all the evidence revealing my truth? They are going to judge me no matter what, so I might as well. If they want me to suffer my entire life by conforming to societal standards, they don’t know how impossible of an ask that is.”In Summary, 🫚 & 🎃 have absolutely proven themselves credible in foreshadowing the themes of this album and overarching story. And I’m sure as we continue to decipher their messages, we are going to find so much more.

[taylorswiftandx]

Taylor Swift and Myth/Legend/Fantasy

Note: huge thank you to @meandmypagancrew who collaborated with me on this post! This one is very subjective - I ultimately chose to include references specifically relating to the story elements of religion/myth/legend/fantasy/tales, in order to determine what to include here versus what appears on TS and Religious Words/References. TS and Literary References may also be of interest.

'Taylor Swift'

Picture to Burn: State the obvious, I didn’t get my perfect fantasy

'Fearless (Taylor's Version)'

White Horse: I’m not a princess, this ain’t a fairytale

The Best Day: Don’t know if Snow White’s house is near or far away

The Best Day: It’s the age of princesses and pirate ships and the seven dwarves

Today Was A Fairytale: Today was a fairytale

'Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)’'

Long Live: I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you

Superman: I watch superman fly away

'Red (Taylor's Version)'

State Of Grace: These are the hands of fate, you’re my Achilles heel

'1989 (Taylor’s Version)'

You Are In Love: You understand now why they lost their minds and fought the wars

Now That We Don’t Talk: You part the crowd like the Red Sea, don’t even get me started

Suburban Legends: I didn’t come here to make friends, we were born to be suburban legends

Suburban Legends: I had the fantasy that our mismatched star signs would surprise the whole school

'reputation'

I Did Something Bad: They’re burning all the witches even if you aren’t one

'Lover'

(no myths/legends)

'folklore'

invisible string: Isn’t it just so pretty to think all along there was some invisible string tying you to me?

invisible string: A string that pulled me out of all the wrong arms right into that dive bar

mad woman: And women like hunting witches too

'evermore'

willow: As if you were a mythical thing

champagne problems: Your Midas touch on the Chevy door

gold rush: My mind turns your life into folklore

ivy: I wish to know the fatal flaw that makes you long to be magnificently cursed

cowboy like me: Now you hang from my lips like the Gardens of Babylon

'Midnights'

Anti-Hero: Sometimes I feel like everybody is a sexy baby and I’m a monster on the hill

Labyrinth: Lost in the labyrinth of my mind

Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve: I would’ve stayed on my knees and I damn sure would’ve never danced with the devil at nineteen

Dear Reader: When you aim at the devil, make sure you don’t miss

You’re Losing Me: I’m getting tired, even for a phoenix

'The Tortured Poets Department'

So Long, London: I saw in my mind fairy lights through the mist

But Daddy I Love Him: Screaming, "But, daddy, I love him"

Guilty as Sin?: These fatal fantasies giving way to labored breath

Guilty as Sin?: If it's make believe, why does it feel like a vow we'll both uphold somehow?

Guilty as Sin?: What if I roll the stone away? They're gonna crucify me anyway

Clara Bow: Beauty is a beast that roars down on all fours demanding more

The Albatross: Locked me up in towers, but I'd visit in your dreams

How Did It End?: My beloved ghost and me, sitting in a tree, D-Y-I-N-G

I Hate It Here: And in my fantasies I rise above it

thanK you aIMee: I pushed each boulder up the hill

thanK you aIMee: So I pushed each boulder up that hill

The Prophecy: Cards on the table, mine play out like fools in a fable, oh, it was sinking in

The Prophecy: Poison blood from the wound of the pricked hand

Cassandra: So, they killed Cassandra first 'cause she feared the worst and tried to tell the town

Cassandra: I was in my tower weaving nightmares

Peter: Forgive me, Peter, my lost fearless leader

Peter: And the shelf life of those fantasies has expired

Peter: Lost to the Lost Boys chapter of your life

The Bolter: But none if it is changing that the chariot is waiting

The Manuscript: He said, "No, just a good samaritan"

Other Songs written by Taylor

Beautiful Ghosts: Is this hope just a mystical dream?

Crazier: I was trying to fly but I couldn’t find wings

Official Alternate Releases

Cassandra (Clean Version): When it's "Burn the witch" they're shrieking

[cookie-de-baunilha]

Not that anyone cares, but I got obsessed with the possibility of a How Did It End? x exile mashup and decided to combine the lyrics to see how they would fit together (this is just written, since I don’t have editing skills lol).

I hope she does something like this until the end of the tour because I NEED this 😭

How Did It End? x exile

[Uh-oh]

We hereby conduct this post-mortem

He was a hothouse flower to my outdoorsmen

Our maladies were such we could not cure them

And so a touch that was my birthright became foreign

I think I’ve seen this film before

And I didn't like the ending

You're not my homeland anymore

So what am I defending now?

You were my town

Now I'm in exile, seein' you out

I think I've seen this film before

How did it end?

[Ooh, ooh, ooh]

[Uh-oh]

We were blind to unforeseen circumstances

We learn the right steps to different dances

And fell victim to interlopers' glances

Lost the game of chance, what are the chances?

I think I’ve seen this film before

And I didn't like the ending

I'm not your problem anymore

So who am I offending now?

You were my crown

Now I'm in exile, seein' you out

I think I've seen this film before

So I'm leavin' out the side door

[Uh-oh]

Say it once again with feeling

How the death rattle breathing

Silenced as the soul was leaving

The deflation of our dreaming

Leaving me bereft and reeling

My beloved ghost and me

Sitting in a tree

D-Y-I-N-G

I think I’ve seen this film before

It’s happenin’ again

And I didn’t like the ending

But I can’t pretend like I understand

How did it end?

You’re not my homeland anymore

So what am I defending now?

You were my town

Now I’m in exile seein’ you out

I think I've seen this film before

So I'm leavin' out the side door

So step right out

There’s no amount of crying I can do for you

All this time we always walked a very thin line

And you didn’t even hear me out

I gave so many signs

And you never learned to read my mind

You couldn’t turn things around

But I gave so many signs

So many signs, so many signs

You didn’t even read the signs

I think I've seen this film before

But I still don't know

How did it end?

[taylortruther]

I’m always intrigued by the bridge of How Did It End ending “my beloved ghost and me, sitting in a tree D-Y-I-N-G” when the song it’s alluding to escalates to marriage and babies in cradles after the sitting in a tree part. Especially in context of the whole album it’s such a good juxtaposition of her hopes and dreams with the lonely ending

YEP. she should be singing a song about kissing in a tree, getting married, having a baby. instead, she's left with her memory of a dead relationship.

also, i love that the title/message of the song is about the ending of a story, of gossip, of relationship. "how did the story/movie end? how did your relationship end?" and she brings in a well-known nursery rhyme that everyone knows, and twists it. how did it end? no one knows.

[kristiemewisstan]

The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology Review (or me slowly going from spiraling in excitement to madness to sadness in 1 hour):

The Black Dog-

SO GOOD THIS IS SO GOOD IM YELLING THIS HAS MY FAV PRODUCTIKN THUS FAR I STILL XANT BELIEVE IT EITHER TAYLOR WHAT TGE FUCK | listen 2 cause I was to hype to truly listen, the magic fabric of her dreamin’ 🥺, oh the original father cheated song, DO YOU HATE ME? ooooof the fact that she felt made fun of by him and still went on to do her shit is so strong and I love her, your honor

imgonnagetyouback-

This one is VERY GOLD RUSH and I’m in love (I’m so sorry I’m not gonna be able to be unbiased rn because I’m too fucking excited), the ahh ahhhhs are so GOOOOOOODDDDD

The Albatross-

“One less temptress one less dagger to sharpen” OOF I feel like I’m in terrible danger of a heart attack, Taylor, I-I Love This Song So Much it’s so folklore

Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus-

THIS IS SO GOOOOOOOOOD TAYLOR WHAY THE FUCK MAN, Certified Horse Girl, I’m gonna need to be medicated after this

How Did It End?-

I HEREBY CONDUCT THIS POSTMORTEM IS SUCH A HARD LINE TO START A SONG WITH, the amount of piano overall in these pleases me IMMENSELY, SITTING IN A TREE D-Y-I-N-G yeah Taylor that’s what YOU ARE DOING TO ME

So High School-

THIS IS WHAT I WANTED THE WHOLE ALBUM TO BE, 💯 made to vibe like a coming of age story, “YOU GONNA MARRY KISS OR KILL ME” I LOVE HER, bridge goes HARD

I Hate It Here-

scared to go outside, OH MU GOD JUST THE WHOLE SONG I KEEP WANTING TO WRITE LYRICS DOWN, so folklore, this ones it, ITS IT I LOVE IT SO MUCH

thanK you aIMee-

Oh so we cheated okay Joe I see how it is your days are numbered, SING FUCK YOU AIMEE, HELL YEAH TAYLOR, ID WRIT A THOUSAND SONGS THE YOU FIND UNCOOL, ITS ON SIGHT, OH ITS HAPPY NOW YAY

I Look in People’s Windows-

Okay stalker much lol, this one is sad :(, very pretty though I’m sorry I can’t focus on the lyrics I’m too hype, very folklore so very sad

The Prophecy-

THIS SOUNDS LIKE ANOTHER SONG BUT I CANT PLACE IT it’s gonna kill me, “who do I have to speak to about if they can redo the prophecy” rip my heart out my god, DONT NEED MONEY JUST SOMEONE WHO WANTS MY COMPANY, also a very sad one

Cassandra-

snake mention 🐍, THE ALTO UNDERLAY OH MY GOD, I normally am not the largest fan of vocal layering when it’s this obviously but this is absolutely lovely, this one tells a VERY GOOD story, “BUT THEY NEVER SPARED A BRICK FOR MY SOUL” OOOOOOF

Peter-

the piano started off this song and I immediately smiled and it ends up being such a bittersweet song, “promises oceans deep but never to keep” these songs rip my heart more and more and more, CAUSE LOVES NEVER LOST WHEN PERSPECTIVE IS EARNED this really hurt me, this longing hurts me

The Bolter-

She’s a runner she’s a track star! THE CHORUS ugh I love it Taylor why do you have to be so good, yeah this one was very good and I relate to being scared of commitment after heartache SOOO MUCH

Robin-

“Strings tied to lovers” IM CRYING, “ALL THIS SHOWMANSHIP TO KEEP IT” JOSEPH YOU FUMBLED SO HARD, THE INVISIBLE STRING RIFF IM ALREADY CRYING YOU DIDNT NEED TO DO THAT TO ME, i will never be able to listen to this song and invisible string in the same day I think it’s genuinely break me

The Manuscript-

the opening piano made me close my eyes and take a deep breath in, New Year’s Day vibes BUT SAD, oh god you know what I’ll kill him, I’ll take the hit, she knew what the agony had been for 🥹 fuck

First Listen Overall- 10/10

I have no notes it was everything I dreamed the actual album would be Taylor please let me buy this on vinyl I need to have it in my grasp also please give me the lyrics written out so I can analyze it plz

I don’t have a favorite they are all my favorite you could pay me to choose

[queenmeriadoc]

Sorry I’m in my Tortured Poets era:

Sitting in a tree

D

Y

I

N

G

It’s happening again

[loch-genesis]

elaborating on my previous post:

i’m gna focus on the tortured poets department right now but i can do this for midnights and folkmore too if the need arises. let’s begin. (under the break cuz this is A Lot)

imgonnagetyouback: a harryanthe banger

the entire bridge of this song is just the Ianthe pov chapter of htn like:

“Say you got somebody, I'll say, "I got someone too" Even if it's handcuffed, I'm leaving here with you”

and also “Told my friends, "I hate you but I love you just the same" Pick your poison, babe I'm poison either way”

is soooooo my evil girl

I Hate It Here: Harrows river AUs

the song is all about escapism but specifically when she says

“I hate it here so I will go to lunar valleys in my mind, When they found a better planet only the gentle survived, I dreamed about it in the dark The night I felt like I might die . . . I'm there most of the year Cause I hate it here”

but most of all “Nostalgia is a mind's trick, If I'd been there, I'd hate it, It was freezing in the palace”

Guilty As Sin?: i am gay and love this song

but also the bridge is soooo harrow and the body, to the point that i think taylor has read these books

“What if I roll the stone away?They're gonna crucify me anyway. What if the way you hold me is actually what's holy? If long-suffering propriety is what they want from me, They don't know how you've haunted me so stunningly. I choose you and me religiously”

like hello?

The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived: why i hate jod

“And I don't even want you back, I just want to know, If rusting my sparkling summer was the goal, And I don't miss what we had, but could someone give A message to the smallest man who ever lived?” jod when i find you jod. when i find youuuu.

“I would've died for your sins, instead, I just died inside. And you deserve prison, but you won't get time” taylor and i are gna help Mercy with her acid prison i’ll tell you that much

bits and pieces:

“Beauty is a beast that roars down on all fours Demanding more. Only when your girlish glow flickers just so, Do they let you know. It's hell on earth to be heavenly” Coronabeth my beloved i love you

“I just don't understand. How you don't miss me in the shower and remember how my rain-soaked body was shakin', do you hate me? Was it hazing? For a cruel fraternity I pledged and I still mean it. Old habits die screaming” gideon in htn

“Say it once again with feeling, How the death rattle breathing silenced as the soul was leaving. The deflation of our dreaming leaving me bereft and reeling. My beloved ghost and me, Sitting in a tree, D-Y-I-N-G” :( griddlehark

“Please. I've been on my knees Change the prophecy” me when i’m 200 dead babies

“By all accounts, she almost drowned When she was six in frigid water. And I can confirm she made A curious child, ever reviled By everyone except her own father” ME WHEN IM 200 BABIES

[strangeswift]

abby i’m going crazy over the how did it end? bridge. “the deflation of our dreaming” is SO SAD OH MY GOD? oh my god

NO BECAUSE SHE WAS SO INSANE FOR THAT. “the death rattle breathing” really gets me. the imagery has me running around like a hamster on a wheel, its so fucking visceral. and when she follows it up with “silenced as the soul was leaving, the deflation of our dreaming” the deflation evokes the image of a final breath being taken and the lungs deflating. LEAVING ME BEREFT AND REELING??? and “my beloved ghost and me, sitting in a tree d-y-i-n-g” the ghost is obviously their relationship personified, which just took its final breath and fucking died, and the idea of her sitting with that ghost is so heartbreaking already.. but when you add in the play on sitting in a tree k-i-s-s-i-n-g it’s such a devastating reminder of the often childlike excitement that comes with falling in love and it absolutely turns that concept on its head because she is D Y I N G. the entire bridge is being SLEPT ON so thank you for this opportunity to ramble. and the fucking end of the song. HER asking how did it end. how did we get here, how did it come to this. i’m gonna rip all of my hair out actually.

[speaknowworldtour]

“i didn’t choose this town. i dream of getting out.” // “and this city reeks of driving myself crazy”

“lord save me my drug is my baby i’ll be using for the rest of my life” // “florida is one hell of a drug. florida can i use you up?”

“well me and my ghosts we had a hell of a time” // “my beloved ghost and me sitting in a tree d-y-i-n-g”

“i can’t go back i’m haunted” // “yes i’m haunted but i’m feeling just fine”

“no body no crime. i wasn’t letting up til the day he died.” // “and your cheating husband disappeared well no body asks any questions here”

“i need to forget so take me to florida” // “i hate it here so i will go to secret gardens in my mind”

“well if they call me a slut you know it might me worth it for once” // “tell me i’m despicable say it’s unforgivable”

“all i know is that you drove us off the road” // “i’m telling him to floor it through the fences” // “what a crash what a rush fuck me up florida”

[onlyhereforangst]

Hello, Grace! Gotta say, the “I wish I could un-recall…” gif set was even more amazing than I’d imagined when Taylor first shared the lyric and I ran to your inbox. How you manage to make gifs with more emotion than some movies, I don’t know.

If you’re still taking requests, I would love to see Chenford with any of the quotes below. I wanted to give you lots of choices, but you 100% don’t need to do any/all of them. Thank you for the wonderful gif sets you make and I’m hoping for much more Chenford angst for you (and me)!

loml: If you know it in one glimpse, it's legendary/What we thought was for all time was momentary

Chloe of Sam…: So if you want to break my cold, cold heart/Say you loved me

How Did It End?: My beloved ghost and me/Sitting in a tree/D-Y-I-N-G

The Prophecy: Hand on the throttle/Thought I caught lightning in a bottle/Oh, but it's gone again

omg anon hello!! "more emotion than some movies" i'm 🥹🥹🥹 one of my favorite compliments ever i'm framing it in my mind. glad you liked the set! won't lie i was wondering your thoughts might be! shockingly my second favorite gif in that set is the "had it" part i could stare at the silhouette blending of them making out for days she says as if she didn't have to ask @timlucys which eps they kiss in 💀

anyways LOVE those options! particularly cssm and the prophecy onessssss. i've got another chenford x so long london set in the works as of last night bc i can't help myself but DEF adding a couple of these to my list!!!

[meaningtotellyou]

I’m so stupid that I just realized the part in how did it end with d-y-I-n-g is a play on sitting in a tree k I s s i n g 😭

IT IS!!

[quodekash]

All The Times They Haven't Kissed - FINAL UPDATED VERSION

(keep in mind this is subjective, it's just parts of the show where i reckon they couldve plausibly kissed but couldnt due to unfortunate circumstances)

(and as time goes on those "unfortunate circumstances" are more and more because they just. didnt kiss.)

Episode 1: standing close together with the flyers

Episode 3: Tinn's unsuccessful imaginary scenario #1 (tutoring)

Episode 3: Tinn's unsuccessful imaginary scenario #2 (earphones)

Episode 3: Tinn's unsuccessful imaginary scenario #3 (printer) (sponsorship induced kiss #1)

Episode 3: Tinn's unsuccessful imaginary scenario #4 (cooking)

Episode 3: Tinn's unsuccessful imaginary scenario #5 (the rice wiping)

Episode 3: Gun wiping rice off Tinn's face

Episode 3: dancing at the pool (pool, part 1)

Episode 3: p r o l o n g e d e y e c o n t a c t

Episode 4: the tree lift part (you know what im talking about)

Episode 4: Gun fixing Tinn's bowtie

Episode 4: "you mean the cake?" (no but seriously what WAS that??) 12.5. Episode 4: Gun cleaning Tinn's face (sponsorship induces kiss #2)

Episode 4: the photo

Episode 5: "I'm on your side"

Episode 5: the interview thingy

Episode 5: the end of the episode. you know what i mean. they were SO CLOSE (pool, part 2)

Episode 6: the very start (cont. #16 THEY WERE SO FLIPPING CLOSE) (pool, part 3)

Episode 6: "this is called maintaining eye contact" (WHAT WAS THAT)

Episode 6: Umbrella scene

Episode 6: mv filming

Episode 6: at the pool (pool, part 4)

Episode 6: that seductive aggressive-eye-contact chicken eating scene was weird. i feel like it would've felt less weird for everyone involved if they just kissed instead (sponsorship induced kiss #3)

Episode 7: at any point during the flirting montage

Episode 7: Romeo and Juliet "practicing their lines"

Episode 7: Tinn taking photos of Gun

Episode 7: taking the qr code photo together (unsuccessfully)

Episode 7: hand-eating shark nom nom

Episode 7: the end of the episode (pool, part 5)

Episode 8: Gun "cooling down" (pool, part 6)

Episode 8: while they're swimming (pool, part 6 cont.)

Episode 8: after swimming (pool, part 6 cont.)

Episode 8: walking around school, alone, in the dark, under the stars

Episode 8: sitting after walking around

Episode 8: Tinn cleaning Gun's face (sponsorship induced kiss #4)

Episode 8: FOREHEAD KISS??? (THEYWERESOCLOSE)

Episode 9: THE OISHI ICE TEA PART (sponsorship induced kiss #5)

Episode 9: Gun telling Tinn that he'll tell the world about them (he's literally standing on his tip-toes and holding the back of Tinn's neck)

Episode 9: sitting alone at night and Tinn asks to kiss Gun

Episode 9: sitting alone at night again but this time Tinn chickens out

Episode 9: notebook kiss (*cough*soundwindiditfirst*cough*)

Episode 10: standing outside Tinn's house

Episode 10: standing outside Tinn's house: hand kisses

Episode 10: standing outside Tinn's house: cheek kiss

Episode 10: standing outside Tinn's house: JAWLINE KISS???

Episode 10: Tinn feeding Gun in the music club room :]

Episode 10: "I just went to get you some food and drink. In case you're hungry." (YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO ONLY HUG HIM, GUN. THERE WERE OTHER OPTIONS.)

Episode 10: Sprinkle water (*cough*soundwindiditfirst*cough*) (sponsorship induced kiss #6)

Episode 10: standing outside hot wave (ngl tho that hug looked like a very comfy hug)

Episode 11: at the pool (pool, part 7)

Episode 11: we didn’t see this scene in the episode, but they probably could’ve kissed while they were getting the drinks after the big fight

Episode 11: the end of the episode part 1: the music box thingy (idk what it’s called)

Episode 11: the end of the episode part 2: “it doesn’t say anything about winning” THEY CAN BE TOGETHER NOW SO KISS

Episode 11: the end of the episode part 3 (look they had a lot of opportunity at the end of the episode): THEY LITERALLY LEAN IN AND THEN THEY DON’T

Episode 12: their legs were kissing. you know what part im talking about. like their legs were fully making out. so im counting this as a time they didn’t kiss. 

Episode 12: THEY WERE ALONE WHEN GUN WAS TEACHING TINN GUITAR THINGS, JUST KISS 

Episode 12: i know they kinda kissed after the cute little bike ride and when they took photos, but they could have kinda kissed about four more times. 

Episode 12: see #56 

Episode 12: see #56 

Episode 12: see #56 

Episode 12: umbrella scene??? (there are no original thoughts in this show, they all just steal from soundwin left right and centre) 

Episode 12: SEDUCTIVE WHISPER??? (what did tinn say to gun there, i need to know please and thank you) 

Episode 12: homophobia = scared of gay. thEY SHOULD KISS TO SCARE MEAN HOMOPHOBIC TEACHER OFF! (for all intents and purposes, this is a joke) 

Episode 12: why didn’t we see anything of them practicing the song and tinn perhaps watching? there would’ve been at least one opportunity for them to kiss there (although i understand why they didn’t at prom (cos there’s an audience and also gun is performing and would have to stop singing in order to kiss) so it’s fine that they didn’t there, but they’re underestimating the power of rehearsals) 

Episode 12: music box thingy part 2 

Episode 12: the pool (FOR THE FINAL TIME???) (i really feel like they should’ve kissed at the pool for a number of reasons but that’s a post for another day) (pool, part 8) 

Episode 12: the pool (THEY HAD A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY, OKAY?) 

Episode 12: they lean in for a kiss AGAIN and STILL DONT. TOO MANY TIMES, THIS HAS HAPPENED TOO MANY TIMES, GUYS 

We have a new winner on most times they didnt kiss! Episode 12 had 14 times! (and yeah, there were those four additional times they could have kinda kissed, but even without those it’s still at 10, which is more than the previous high score of 8). So that’s pretty interesting! 

And now for...

All The Times They Have Kissed

Episode 12: THEY KINDA KISSED??? IT WAS ONLY A LITTLE PECK BUT A KISS NONETHELESS SO IM COUNTING IT 

Episode 12: OH MY FREAKING GOODNESS THEY DID IT THEY ACTUALLY FREAKING DID IT 

i was starting to doubt that they ever would kiss but its okay they finally did and im so freaking happy about it vhfbghrbhgrkb i love this show why is it over pls make it not over 

(other times ships havent kissed in this show: soundwin and tiwpor)

[theimpurelily]

If You Could

Word Count: 2 ,598

< Previous | Next > | Table of Contents

“I’m s-sorry.”   

Riftan tightened his hold on Maxi as she sat nestled under his arm beneath one of the oak trees.   

“I told you to stop apologizing, the fault was mine.” he mumbled, enjoying the feeling of her beside him as his back rested against the tree.   

“B-but...you t-truly didn’t tell S-sir G-Gabel?”   

“Is that what he said?”   

“W-well...no I just...h-he knew you w-would...be here.”   

“What did he say to you?” Riftan asked as he rested his cheek against the top of her head.   

“He...he a-asked wh-when you w-would...arrive, I t-told him soon. He th-then a-asked if I’ve h-heard the s-story of h-how you bested...Ludgal or h-how you earned...your n-nickname.”   

“He didn’t say anything else?” Riftan asked as he began to absentmindedly play with her sleeve, his thumb tracing over the tiny stitching decorating the hem.   

He felt Maxi shake her head, making him lift his head up to avoid scratching his face on the tiny jewels decorating her hair.   

What she was saying didn’t sound so far-fetched. Gabel was always looking for an opportunity to spin some story, Riftan just expected the man to have said something that would no doubt make her uncomfortable.   

“Riftan?”   

“Hm?”   

“H-how d-did he know?”   

He hesitated, Riftan wasn’t sure how good of an idea it was to tell the lady Gabel had possibly overheard everything they had done in the hall. Still, he never wanted to lie to her.   

“I got too careless, he overhead some things he shouldn’t have.” He hoped it was vague enough that she wouldn’t fully understand when that carelessness had occurred. He also hoped that with how she was sitting Maxi couldn’t see the blush he could feel spreading across his face.   

“Oh...” her voice grew quiet and for a moment he thought the unpleasant conversation had passed, allowing them to continue enjoying each other's company. That is, until he felt her body jolt before she began to scrabble out of his arms. “W-w-wait!”   

Reluctantly, he let go of her, allowing Maxi to stand above him with a bright red face and tears in her eyes.   

“Th-the...the d-door, was th-that him at th-the d-door?”   

Well...shit.  

Sighing, Riftan moved his hair out of his face before moving to stand up with her.   

“Yes.”   

“And h-he t-t-told your c-commander?”   

He simply nodded.   

“Y-your c-commander kn-kn-knows th-that we...”   

“Yes, he does but I told you, they won’t tell anyone.” he tried to say in a reassuring tone, but his voice sounded a little too irritated to him.   

He watched as Maxi hid her face in her hands while shaking her head.   

“I-I-I...I c-can’t face th-them again.” Her teary voice was muffled by her hands as her panic only seemed to rise.   

Riftan knew it was cruel, but he couldn't help but find her frantic blushing and embarrassment a little endearing.   

Chuckling softly, Riftan gently took her hands away from her face allowing him to lean and place a kiss on her forehead.   

“It might actually be a good thing that they know.”   

Maxi took a step back, looking in complete disbelief at his words.   

“H-how?” she squeaked out.   

Fuck, I want to kiss her.  

Riftan tried to focus on the feeling of her racing heart tapping against his thumb as he continued to hold onto her. It was a decent distraction from how adorable she was acting at the moment.   

“They’re the reason why your maids have left you alone today.”   

Maxi continued to look flushed and anxious, but the tears that were threatening to fall seemed to fade away.   

“R-really? B-but...why?”   

“So, I can see you every day before I leave.” Riftan answered as his thumb began to sweep over the delicate skin of her wrist.   

“Th-that’s....kind of th-them...” Riftan watched as her expression started to fall, he had a feeling why. Unless they kept meeting up after the banquets, he’d only be able to see her three more times.   

Using his hold on her, Riftan slowly pulled her in. Maxi quickly accepted the hug, and as she wrapped her arms around him Riftan could swear his heart felt lighter.   

“Maxi?”   

“Yes?”   

"Is there someone you trust?”   

She was quiet for a moment before he heard a very soft whisper.   

"I t-trust you.”   

Her words made Riftan smile as his whole body warmed up. Squeezing her tight he kissed the crown of her head.   

“Adorable as that answer is, that’s not what I mean.” Looking down at her, he saw her ears start to turn red.   

“Wh-what do you m-mean?”    

“A maid or a servant...really anyone that you can trust completely in the castle.”   

Maxi moved back enough to look up at him, whatever panic or melancholy she had before seemed to have faded away into curiosity.   

Smiling, Riftan brought a hand up to play with her earring, rubbing his thumb over the little amethyst stone.   

“I don’t know when I’ll be back, so I thought we could send letters.” He felt a little foolish saying it out loud but the smile on her face quickly reassured him.   

“R-really?”   

“It would need to be done in secret, which is why we need someone to help you with delivering and receiving letters.”  

Maxi kept smiling as she listened to him, her fingers tracing over the necklace again. “I’ll th-think of...someone. H-how w-would it work?”  

By the time Maxi had to leave for the night they were able to create a rather simple plan. From Riftan’s side of things it was rather easy, the only thing he had to worry about was a nosy mage. He just had to send her a letter with some coins. From there, whoever she chose would pick up the letter from the courier and place it in a leather pouch under a marked rock beneath the tree they’d always met. In Maxi’s case, she would need to somehow inform the one she trusted to take her own letter from beneath the rock along with the coins Riftan had sent to both pocket as their own payment and to pay the courier.  

The more they planned everything out the more excited she seemed, and he’ll admit it put his mind at ease. Letters could never replace the feeling of holding her or seeing her smile, but it was better than being completely cut off from her.  

All they needed now was someone she could trust. 

It was truly amazing how quickly Gabel could spoil his mood. Deep down he knew Gabel was serious in his remarks to teach him how to ‘properly please a woman’ however that didn’t stop Riftan from hoping, nearly praying, that the younger knight was just trying to get a rise out of him.   

Sadly, that didn’t seem to be the case. Almost as soon as Riftan woke up he heard a knock at his door. As soon as he had opened the door Gabel let himself into Riftan’s room with enough confidence that someone could mistake it as his own room.   

Taking in a deep breath, Riftan tried to keep his voice down as he closed the door.  

“Why are you here? Don’t you have maids to pester?”   

Gabel waved away his remark as his eyes scanned the room. “Hebaron offered to help out again today.”   

Riftan notices Gabel's eyes go towards the pressed flower on his nightstand. Before he could get anywhere near it, Riftan intervened, blocking him while Gabel gave him an annoyingly knowing glance.  

“Rather adorable of her. I do hope you have gifted her something as well?”  

Riftan tried to ignore the heat starting to spread across his face. There was nothing Gabel could do that would get Riftan to admit the hours it took for him to find a simple necklace for the lady.  

“What do you want?”  

Gabel frowned as he crossed his arms.  

“Really? No good morning? No, how are you or thank you?”  

Riftan didn’t give Gabel the satisfaction of a reaction of any sorts. After a few seconds of silence Gabel sighed and shrugged.  

“Fine, straight to the point then, no room for fun or flair. I came to make good on my promise to teach you.”  

“I don’t recall you making any promises.”  

“I felt it was implied.”  

Riftan groaned as he ran his hand over his face.  

“I don’t need your help.”  

“Oh, is that so? You know, Vice Commander, in all the years I’ve known you I can seem to recall a single instance where you took a woman to bed.”  

“Why the hell would you notice that?”  

“It’s hard not to notice when nearly every time we stay somewhere a woman tries her best to sleep with you, and I do believe none have succeeded.”  

He wanted to argue against that, but he was right. It was an annoyance that others in the order had pointed out before. 

“I still don’t need any help; I’ve heard and seen enough over the years.”  

Like it or not, Riftan had grown up unwillingly hearing the other men boast about their ‘conquests’ and many would argue with each other on who was superior in pleasing a woman. From what little he had tried, some of that they said seemed to be true. Maxi did seem to like it when he kissed her neck.   

Gabel scoffed, seemingly ignoring the blush that continued to linger on Riftan’s face.  

“From foul mouthed mercenaries?” Gabel clicked his tongue as he shook his head. “Their view of making love is simply hiking up a skirt and taking a woman like a mad fool.”  

Riftan frowned as he thought back to a moment not long after he was allowed to join the Blackhorn Dragon mercenaries. He had been sent out to go buy something from a nearby shop, he couldn't even remember what it was. All he could remember was noticing one of the mercenaries with a woman in the alleyway doing exactly what Gabel had described. He was so shocked at what he was seeing them do in the middle of the day, but he felt like he couldn’t look away and Riftan could still vividly remember the annoyed look on the woman's face.   

Riftan’s once annoyed expression fell for a moment as he suddenly realized something.  

I had almost done that.  

Looking away from Gabel, Riftan remembered his drunken actions toward Maxi the other night and the way she had pushed him away.  

“Oh my, don't tell me that’s what you intended to do. I’d advise against beddin-”  

“Do you take me for a fool? I have no intentions of doing anything that would give her a bastard.” Riftan snapped back as he began to feel disgusted with himself.  

Did she have the same expression as that woman in the alley?  

“I take you for a man who has never played the part of a paramour before.” Gabel quickly explained as he took a step back from Riftan.  

“What did you just call me?”  

“Paramour, an illicit lover. Which is what you are.”  

With the tone he was using, it felt as though he was poking fun at the fact Riftan agreed to become her ‘paramour’, but he honestly felt no shame in it. The label of what he was to her didn’t matter as long as it meant he could hold and kiss her, that he could fall asleep knowing the truth of her feelings, that both had a hold of each other’s hearts.  

"If you don’t leave right now I'm throwing you out the window." Riftan threatened, not wishing for Gabel to continue with his pestering. 

"It's rather strange how shy you are about this." Gabel said with a light chuckle that was quickly cut off when Riftan took a step towards him. 

"Yes, alright, I get the hint." he said while holding his hands up in defense as he made his way to the door. "Just know, you can't escape my advice while we're on the road." 

Riftan picked up his pace towards Gabel who quickly left the room, nearly missing the door as Riftan slammed it shut. This time he could hear something crack in the wood and he knew that if Gabel came to visit again the door might not survive.  

When it was finally nearing the time, he would normally go meet Maxi, Riftan tentatively left his room, keeping a lookout to make sure Gabel wasn't around. It was a little demeaning to feel the need to hide from someone he should see as an ally, but the idea of having someone younger than him try and give him advice on that matter wasn't something he looked forward to. 

Just when Riftan felt he was in the clear he heard Triton calling out to him, causing his shoulders to drop. 

"Ah, Calypse, I see you’ve decided to grace the halls with your presence." 

Riftan turned to watch his commander approach him, judging by the armor and the sweat staining his tunic Riftan could tell the man had just finished sparring. 

"You have Gabel to thank for my lack of presence." Despite the venom in his voice his commander laughed. 

"The lad means well." 

"I'm sure he likes to believe that." Riftan continued to look over his commander, his eyes narrowing when he noticed the older knight wince slightly as he adjusted the straps on his armor. 

“I thought I had advised against you sparing. We can't have you crippling yourself over something trivial." 

Triton huffed while shaking his head. "There's no need to mother me, I'm not some withered old man." 

“We should have the mage cast-.”  

"Lighten up, Calypse, I won't lose my sword arm over some sparing." Triton interrupted while waving away the idea. 

“It is the vice’s job to worry about his commander’s condition.” he grumbled.  

His commander shook his head again. "Alright, I'll go see to a mage if it'll keep you from fretting, but in return I need you to stop sneaking out and attend what few banquets are left." 

“Are the reparation negotiations nearly over?”  

Triton nodded. “After we're done here, we'll have to report back to His Majesty in Drachium. After that, you should be free of any duties for a while.”  

Despite the fact Riftan knew this was happening, a feeling of loss still washed over him. It was strange, a month ago he was looking forward to hearing this news but now...now he had to keep reminding himself of the letters he would get from her. 

"Understood." he said while trying to keep his voice as neutral as possible. 

Seeming to sense the shift in Riftan’s mood his commander placed a hand on his shoulder. 

"I also need you to keep in mind what doors you should be exiting." 

Riftan cleared his throat and nodded, trying his best to continue to act nonchalant despite his commander's teasing. 

Seemingly satisfied, his commander gave his shoulder a light pat before he started to leave. However, Triton only took a few steps away from his vice before turning around. 

"Oh, before I forget. Do be careful with how you indulge yourself at the banquets, I heard too much sugar is bad for your health." 

Riftan’s face became so hot he could have sworn someone had set it on fire as he felt completely dumbfounded by his commander's comment. The older man didn't seem to mind Riftan’s reaction as he continued to walk away but as he turned the corner Riftan could swear Triton started to chuckle. 

Gabel had better make some peace with his life, because Riftan was going to kill the man the next time they sparred.