#MY BABY IS 62 AND ROCKING

[adriheavymetal]

Happy Bday Tom 🥳 👏🎤🎸🎷🎹 ❤❤🙈🔝🎼🎤🎸💜

[v-akarai]

References in Servamp

Arabian mythology

Jinn. Ch. 16

Greek mythology

Elpis. Ch. 75

Moirai. Ch. 108

Pandora. Ch. 130

Pygmalion. Ch. 123

Pandora's Box. Ch. 97

Japanese mythology

Gashadokuro. Ch. 129

Kitsune. Ch. 3

Raijin. Ch. 85

Norse mythology

Baldr. Ch. 39

Bifröst. Ch. 88

Brunhild. Ch. 88

Fimbulwinter. Ch. 40

Freya. Ch. 65

Frey. Ch. 131

Gleipnir. Ch. 101

Hati. Ch. 91, 131

Hod. Ch. 39

Hliðskjálf. Ch. 96

Idunn. Ch. 65

Loki. Ch. 15

Mimir. Ch. 29

Mjölnir. Ch. 53

Ragnarök. Ch. 101, 122, 131

Sigurd. Ch. 101

Thor. Ch. 41

Yggdrasil. Ch. 42

Biblical references

Abel. Ch. 8

Adam. Ch. 128

Boaz and Jachin. Ch. 42

Eden. Ch. 21

Eve. Ch. 1

John the Baptist. Ch. 122

Judith. Ch. 147

Lucifer. Ch. 135

Noah. Ch. 145

Nod. Ch. 29, events

Hinduism

Asura. Ch. 57.5, 89.

Tarot

The Fool - Mahiru. Ch. 50

I. The Magician – Night trio. Ch. 41

II. The High Priestess – Mikuni. Ch. 42

V. The Hierophant - Shuhei. Ch. 77

X. Wheel of Fortune - Junichiro. Ch. 53

XII. The Hanged Man - Tsurugi. Ch. 50

XV. The Devil – Shamrock. Ch. 72

XVI. The Tower - Touma. Ch. 47

XVII. The Star - Iduna. Ch. 73

XVIII. The Moon - Yumikage. Ch. 69

XX. Judgement - Mikuni. Ch. 144

Literary references

 "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" Lewis Carroll. Ch. 3, 4, 7, 19, 98, 122. Misono, Lily, Dodo, Mitsuki, Yamane, Hattori, Mikuni, Bad B and Good B.

"As You Like It" William Shakespeare. Ch. 10, 38.5. Mikuni's spell.

"My Fair Lady" English nursery rhyme. Ch. 10 Mikuni's spell.

"Dracula" Bram Stoker. Ch. 12, 30. Hugh.

"Romeo and Juliet" William Shakespeare. Ch. 23, 34. Hyde, Ophelia.

"Faust" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Ch. 29 Johannes.

"Through the Looking-Glass" Lewis Carroll. Ch. 29, events. Mikuni, Johannes.

"Julius Caesar" William Shakespeare. Ch. 23, 84. Hyde.

"Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" Robert Stevenson. Ch. 23, 37. Hyde, Licht.

"Macbeth" William Shakespeare. Ch. 24, 31. Kuro, Saint Germain, Mahiru.

"Night on the Galactic Railroad" Kenji Miyazawa. Ch. 26, 142. Higan, Tsubaki.

"The Little Prince" Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Ch 30, 67. Kuro, Mahiru, Sloth demon, Gear, probably Jeje.

"Hamlet" William Shakespeare. Ch. 33, 34. Hyde, Ophelia.

"The Phantom of the Opera" Gaston Leroux. Ch. 36 Licht and Hyde technique.

"Peter and Wendy" James Barry. Ch. 44, 56, 74. Tsurugi, Touma, Mahiru.

"Ring a Ring o' Roses" nursery rhyme. Ch. 53 Junichiro's spell.

“Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens” James Barry. Ch. 53, 75. Tsurugi, Touma.

"Death in Venice" Thomas Mann. Ch. 55 Gilbert technique.

"Total Eclipse" a play by Christopher Hampton. Ch. 55 Rayscent's technique.

"The Morning of the Last Farewell" Kenji Miyazawa. Ch. 57.5 Tsubaki.

"Spring and Asura" Kenji Miyazawa. Ch. 57.5 Tsubaki.

"The Catcher in the Rye" Jerome Salinger. Ch. 62 Shuhei.

"Four and Twenty Blackbirds" Agatha Christie. Ch. 62 Shuhei's spell.

"Metamorphosis" Franz Kafka. Ch. 62 Shamrock technique.

“The Nighhawk's Star” Kenji Miyazawa. Ch. 62, 76. Shamrock technique.

"Rock-a-bye Baby" an English lullaby. Ch. 70 Touma's spell.

“Schlafe, mein Prinzchen, schlaf ein” lullaby. Ch. 70 Touma's spell.

"Who Killed Cock Robin" an English nursery rhyme. Ch. 70 Yumikage's spell.

"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" Lyman Frank Baum. Ch. 70, 88. Tsukimitsu brothers’ spells.

"Daddy-Long-Legs" Jean Webster. Ch. 74. Dark Night Trio, Touma.

"King Lear" William Shakespeare. Ch. 86. Hyde.

"The House of the Sleeping Beauties" Yasunari Kawabata. Ch. 86. Iori.

"The Divine Comedy" Dante Alighieri. Ch. 118, 120, 121. Niccolo, Ildio, Gluttony demon.

“A Brute's Love” (人でなしの恋) Edogawa Rampo. Ch. 122 Mikuni, Lily.

"Coppelia" ballet Leo Delibes. Chapter 122 Mikuni, Lily.

"Salome" Oscar Wilde. Ch. 122, 147. Mikuni, Lily.

"Turandot" opera by Giacomo Puccini based on the play by Carlo Gozzi. Ch. 129, 136. Lily.

"The Tempest" William Shakespeare. Ch. 131. Licht and Hyde.

"The Old Man and the Sea" Ernest Hemingway. Ch. 134 Hugh.

"Flowers for Algernon" Daniel Keyes. Ch. 135 Hugh.

"Jane Eyre" Charlotte Brontë. Ch. 136. Hokaze.

"Madama Butterfly" opera by Giacomo Puccini. Ch. 136. Lily.

"Hansel and Gretel" the Brothers Grimm. Ch. 140. Faust and Otogiri.

"Girl Hell" Yumeno Kyusaku. Ch. 147. Mikuni, Noah.

Music

"Für Elise" by Ludwig van Beethoven. Ch. 34

"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" by Johann Sebastian Bach. Ch. 125

Sonata No. 17 "Tempest" by Ludwig van Beethoven. Ch. 131

Movies

"It's a Wonderful Life" (1946). Ch. 131

"Life is Beautiful" (1997). Ch. 131

I believe this list can be expanded. Somewhere I’ve written only chaps when some reference was mentioned for the first time and omitted all further mentions.

Special thanks to hello-vampire-kitty, joydoesathing and passmeabook, because some works wouldn’t be included in the list without their observations.

[coqxettee]

Coquette Winter Gift Guide:

🎀 Gift ideas for yourself or your friends who love the Coquette aesthetic:

Clothes/Fashion:

1. Anything from Brandy Melville (Amara heart lace pyjamas)

2. Bailey bow uggs or normal uggs

3. Ralph Lauren sweaters

4. A ballet wrap

5. Floral pyjama sets, Cami’s & Long sleeve shirts

6. Grandma cardigans

7. A cable knit sweater

8. Legwarmers/pretty tights

9. A pair of cute gloves

10. ANY clothing from “Mymummadeit”

11. ANY clothing from “Favourite child collective”

12. Any clothing from the “Cutey” section on Romwe

13. A dress/anything from “Selkie”

14. Any slogan tee’s / baby tee’s from small businesses and independent brands

15. Victoria secret Pyjamas/Robe

16. Pink puffa coat

17. Tiffany & co earrings or necklace

18. The “Mymummadeit” puffa bag

19. Kate spade heart bag/Vivienne Westwood one or just a heart purse

20. A printed tote bag

21. Ted baker bags/cosmetic bags

22. Any dresses from - Cider, Motel rocks, Pretty little thing, Oh polly

23. A ballet skirt

24. ECOSUSI summer garden romance bags

25. A cape/fur shaul//A glam doll coat

26. Vintage nightgowns/nightwear

27. Cute earmuffs & things to decorate them with

28. Mary Janes & frilly ankle socks

Beauty:

29. Any products from “Glossier”

30. Dior (addict) makeup products (Lip oil’s, Blush, lip balm,

31. Anything from “Flowerknows” “Etude house” “Too faced” or “Charlotte Tilbury” “C beauty mall products”

32. Chanel lipstick

33. A quilted floral coquette makeup bag

34. W7 Tinted kiss lip oil

35. Miss Dior perfume

36. Chanel mamoiselle perfume

37. Any of the Ariana Grande perfumes/body sprays

38. Penhaligons “The favourite”

39. Oriana “Parfums de Marly”

40. Victoria secret body sprays

41. Paul & Joe Cinamoroll collection

Homeware:

42. The Amazon floral bedsheets

43. A heart mirror

44. Love shack fancy homeware items

45. Anything from Paris Hilton’s new cookery line

46. A ballerina/music box jewellery box

47. Pink/Vanilla Yankee candles

48. FreePrints photos to make a wall collage

49. Roccoco style picture frames

50. An angel tray dish

51. Fake flowers

52. Pretty Cushions / A large throw fluffy blanket,

53. Caroline medium jewellery case

54. Fake cake jewellery boxes

55. Tall candles and a candle holder

56. Posters of celebrity’s/artists etc

57. Any pretty art that can be displayed/put into frames

Self care:

58. Spa headbands, and wrist bands (Kylie skin headband)

59. Inn is free skincare products

60. Philosophy shower and skin products

61. Chanel eye patches

62. Mulberry silk eye mask (pink)

63. Look fantastic heartless hair curlers

64. Dior prestige skin products and body lotions

65. Baylis & Harding products

66. Angel tangle brush

67. Charlotte Tilbury skincare gift sets

68. Elasti - cream

69. Embellished claw clips

70. Sol de Janerio body cream

71. Mugs, hand warmers, face masks, lip scrubs

Miscellaneous: ⋆꙳•̩̩͙❅*̩̩͙‧͙ ‧͙*̩̩͙❆ ͙͛ ˚

72. AirPod max

73. Wildflower phone cases & airpod cases

74. A pink waterbottle (Stanley or Lululemon)

75. Lana del rey vinyls

76. Coquette notebooks

77. Dior & Chanel fashion books

78. My year of rest and relaxation

79. The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo

80. Jellycats

⋆꙳•̩̩͙❅*̩̩͙‧͙ ‧͙*̩̩͙❆ ͙͛

I hope this helped you think of some ideas of things you want to ask or get someone for Christmas 🎀✨🎄

Merry Pinkmas coquette doves

⋆꙳•̩̩͙❅*̩̩͙‧͙ ‧͙*̩̩͙❆ ͙͛

[beneathashadytree]

Congratulazioni for 2k!!💙sorry for the italian. I would like to request some smut for sir Crocodile, prompt #26 #43 #62 (you to him) and #52 (he to you) maybe a sub reader too. Thx and take your time, heal soon

OBEDIENT - SIR CROCODILE X READER

Warnings : NSFW obviously, oral sex (m!receiving), deep-throating, throat-fucking, masturbation, Crocodile has a sir kink, cum-swallowing, sub!reader (but they’re rather bold), dom!Crocodile, this is not proofread, reader is gender-neutral!

Genre : actual filth smut

Word count : 1.0K words (oh shit—)

Additional notes : Hi nonnie! Thank you so much for your sweetness, and so sorry for taking so long! I’m sure you’ve seen my reasons for my absences. I’m so glad that you’ve requested for One Piece, seeing as it’s my current hyperfixation, and I scarcely get requests for it 🫣 I was unable to use prompt 43, since it was rather unrelated to the scene. But I hope you enjoy this nonetheless!💗

Prompts : “Take my hand.” “Can you feel what you’ve done to me?” “Don’t stop looking at me while you do it.”

Requests are open for my 2K+ followers event! Check it out <3

Tip jar if you’d like to buy me a Ko-Fi!

Masterlist

It would forever be the epitome of perfection to see them like this: down on their knees as they should always remain, bright eyes glazed over with unabashed want and irrepressible need. The image tugged at something deep inside of him; something that felt even filthier when he couldn’t tear his eyes away from their pink tongue, licking at his weeping tip and making a mess of their mouth already, and their dainty fingers, gripping the base of his cock.

Crocodile was already rock hard, and they hadn’t even taken him inside their warmth yet. He knew they could feel his cock pulsating in their hand, his desire palpable and barely restrained. "Can you feel what you've done to me?" His words only had them swallowing thickly, their anticipation and impatience evident in the way they squeezed their thighs closer and shifted in place.

He couldn’t help the smirk that made its way on his face. After all, how could his ego not love it, seeing them completely devoted to pleasuring him, when they hadn’t even started yet?

“Eager, aren’t we?” His chuckle sounded a little condescending, but they didn’t seem to mind, if the way they began to suckle on his tip was any indication. Crocodile sharply inhaled, cursing under his breath at the feeling he could never tire of. He wanted his cock inside them in any way already.

They pulled away for a second, only to lightly tap his wrist. “Take my hand.”

“Hm?”

Pausing, they reconsidered. “Take my hand, sir. Please.”

“Much better.” He nodded, before indulging them and letting them place his large hand behind their head. “Oh?”

“You can push me as much as you want. I can take it.” The daring look in their eyes was almost too much, and when they took him past the head inside their mouth, he could only groan out.

“Fuck. Do you get better at this every time?” he sardonically chuckled, somehow managing to keep his sanity intact as they swirled their tongue around his length. Their mouth was so warm and wet, all ready and tight around him; just for him. They expertly sucked on him like it was the thing they most looked forward to, eagerly taking inch by inch as fast as they could.

Crocodile clicked his tongue, at his own wit’s end. He wasn’t about to start babying them. With no warnings but that almost-cruel look in his eyes that he knew always made them whimper in bed, he shoved them further down his length, pushing past the restraint of their throat. Their choked whine vibrated around his cock, and he couldn’t help but hiss at the overwhelming feeling.

Within seconds, he was already thrusting down their throat, paying no mind to their jolts and muffled moans. He knew they could take it; knew they liked it, even, when he treated them so harshly. Otherwise, why would they be meeting his thrusts and pressing their nose into the curls at his base? Why would their hand be slipping past the waistband of their underwear and toying with themself with each time he dragged his cock against their broad tongue?

God, he couldn’t help it anymore. Just one scrape of their teeth against him and he was throwing his head back, coat slipping off his shoulders as he did. “Damn minx,” he groaned, hook digging into the wall as he began to lose his composure. They knew just how he liked it, and knew just what to do to have him teetering near the edge so embarrassingly quick.

Before he could start jerking his hips erratically and making a fool of himself, they pulled back with a ‘pop’ and waited for his eyes to meet theirs again. "Don't stop looking at me while you do it.” Their voice was a little scratchy, but their gaze wasn’t any less wanton, nor did their fingers let up from working themself between their thighs. “I like it when you fuck me with your eyes too, sir.”

Incredible.

“It seems I’ve spoiled you a little too much.” But how could he ever refuse a request of theirs, especially one as tempting as this? It certainly wouldn’t do.

Crocodile needed no further encouragement before he was back to tugging at their hair and pushing them down his cock, ignoring their gagging at the start. They knew how to control it, just as well as they knew how to suck his length so feverishly while fondling his balls. It felt like a string was pulled taut over his sanity, threatening to send him collapsing at any second. Shivers went down his spine with every swirl of their tongue, every light scratch that was just enough to make his hook dig deeper into the wall, and the sight of their spit dribbling down their chin while they desperately ground into their free hand.

But nothing—absolutely nothing—compared to how it felt to have their eyes trained on his, begging him to ruin them with their glossy, teary look and with the strangled whimpers around his length. With that look as an incentive, he could only sloppily thrust two, three times, before that thin cord snapped, and he was pumping his thick load down their throat.

His vision blacked out for a few seconds as he rode out that high, his thighs barely keeping him upright. Such a formidable man, reduced to a blundering mess with just their mouth; it was almost laughable. Still, it was all worth it as he pulled out, and they obediently swallowed any remains of his sticky cum without having him tell them to.

A naughty thumb of theirs reached out to catch a stray drop from the corner of their mouth, and he watched them, entranced. “Got to clean up afterwards, sir,” they rasped out, taking his cock in their hand for a second time just to leave kitten licks at his tip, cleaning it of any remains of his cum like the good pet he’d trained them to be.

Really, Crocodile had never known one with a mouth so sinfully delightful.

Taglist : @finch-ya

[naturalbornluvr]

naturalbornluvr hot people list

kinda not really ranked

1. cal gabriel

1. cal robertson in the year 2001

1. my husband

1. my baby daddy

1. daddy

1. the love of my life

1. light of my life fire of my loins

1. the blonde kid from that school shooter movie

2. lana del rey

3. hayden anhedonia

4. andre kreigman

5. christian bale

6. matt dillon

7. lorenzo zurolo

8. jake gyllenhaal

9. liz gillies

10. robbie shapiro

11. robbie hawkins

12. beck from victorious

13. alexander hamilton (the real 1776 one not lin)

14. andre harris

15. eric harris

16. jodi arias

17. ricky kasso

18. peter steele

19. ghostface

20. timothee chalamet (bones and all specifically)

21. weasley twins

22. hermione granger

23. harry potter

24. tom riddle

25. rachel lurie

26. sera promgoer

27. regina george

28. ron weasley

29. robert pattinson

30. mason freeland

31. sodapop curtis

32. everyone from the breakfast club

33. alice cullen

34. rosalie cullen

35. daddylisle cullen

36. dilfy swan

37. the one guy in the hallway in mean girls when cady says i think he’s going to the projection room above the auditorium

38. carl azuz

39. mickey and mallory

40. maya from pll

41. jfk

42. jfk jr

43. jfk jr jr

44. damon albarn

45. ANAKIN SKYWALKER (he should NOT be this low but i don’t wanna change the numbers. takes too long. everyone that should be higher up is going in all caps now)

46. the guy from i believe his unicorns. spencer? i think

47. JESS MARIANO

48. born to die music video boyfriend

49. shades of cool music video boyfriend

50. health ledger

51. chad michael murray

52. a$ap rocky

53. holly would from cool world

54. brad pitt

55. zion from ginny and georgia (young & old)

56. georgia miller

57. tyler the creator

58. KURT COBAIN

59. adam brody

60. megan fox

61. 2000s christina aguilera

62. RODRICK HEFFLEY

63. jeffrey dean morgan

64. charles shaughnessy

65. grown up zack from school of rock (like when he stole the guitars and amp in like 2019)

66. the one guy from school of rock who’s like yo u guys rocked man how old are u guys after the battle of the bands show

67. ned from school of rock

68. jack black

69 mweheheh. both george coopers

70. meemaw

71. meemaws friend played by reba i think

72. alex arnold

73. sid jenkins

74. kurtis conner

75. danny gonzalez

76. drewisgooden

77. kim possible

78. bill scarscard or whatever his last name is

79. GWEN from tdi

80. julia from tdi

81. heather from tdi

82. like all of the girls from tdi. at least half

83. naked guy from gilmore girls

84. taylor momsen

85. the other mother

86. mrs spink

87. coraline’s dad & other dad but not the pumpkin one

88. artyom

89. the babysitter and bones from monster house

90. lightning mcqueen

91. mater

92. angelina jolie

93. evan peters

94. ryan gosling obviously

95. THE DAD FROM INSIDE OUT. more like riley’s dad turn ME inside out. awooooga

96. the 911 operator from zero day when she’s not yapping

97. karina and ronald now from sis vs bro

98. cameron boyce

99. joseph gordon levitt

100. the mom from inside out. same thing i said for her husband

i will be adding on most definitely but 100 is a nice number to stop at 😇🫶

NEVERMIND

101. DADDY oops i mean flynn ryder oops i mean eugene fitzherbert

102. keanu reaves

103. chris mclean

104. playboi carti

105. JOEY SMACK

106. eric from elephant

107. drew starkey

108. that one biker bf from the ride mv

109. my husband’s dad …………..

110. andre’s dad

111. KRISTOFF !!!

112. shang from mulan

113. naveen from princess and the frog

114. MILO JAMES THATCH

115. steve terreberry

116. verryyy cal gabriel coded theatre kid at my school

117. hallway crush 1

118. hallway crush 2

119. hallway crush 3

120. hallway crush 4

121. maxo_xoxo on twitter and his wife lolaloopzy

122. MILA KUNIS

123. melania trump

124. jane fonda

125. fran FOIIINEEEE

126. that one guy who ranks things and uses the high pitched voice filter on tiktok

[poppadom0912]

I’d honestly like to see a part 2 to the #62 prompt request! Maybe later on down the road when they actually get together and how he is with the reader & Riley?

Warnings: Brief mentions of hospitals and illness.

A/N: Oh my gosh, this was submitted like a hundred years ago but here it is. I added a little ✨spice✨ to it because things just can't be straightforward here.

Previous part here

Riley’s third birthday was coming up and you’d been told by several mothers that toddlers never remembered these early birthdays, so there was no need for you to go all out on her birthday party.

Deep down, obviously you knew the first few years of her life would be years she wouldn’t remember but you would. Her baby and toddler years were precious to you and the fact that she was growing up right before your eyes, it was slightly emotional even if she wasn’t your own child.

Her first and second birthday were a little more lowkey in the sense it was the two of you and the rest of intelligence. While it was nice and fun, Riley deserved so much more for her third, especially after the year she’s had.

Riley’s meningitis diagnosis was daunting and for a while, you genuinely thought that was it and Riley wasn’t going to make it. It had been a very long and hard year but your support system grew.

Jay had gone from a friend and colleague to your boyfriend of just under a year. It definitely took him a while to get the guts to ask you out but after that, he made no mistake and for the most of it, it had been smooth sailing.

He had been your biggest rock all throughout Riley’s illness, being with you inside and out of the hospital. Not only did he help you but he was there for Riley and it was safe to say he had the Riley stamp of approval. Jay was the most nervous about your baby sister rejecting him.

The doctors and nurses at Med soon became a staple in your life. Yes, you had been friends with them before but during such a time with Riley, they were the biggest help. So, all throughout the year going in and out the hospital and going through gruelling nights hearing Riley struggle and cry her little heart out, you couldn’t have wished for anything more.

With Riley still in recovery, in the later stages, you were still relatively stressed. It was upon the insistence of Jay and the most wonderful Cindy Hermann that all the party preparation duties were taken off your shoulders.

Currently, the two of you were leaving the hospital after a routine check-up that established Riley to have a clean bill of health. The sheer joy that washed over you, went over Riley and stepping out the hospital you picked her up into your arms, spinning her around and relished in her adorable little giggles. Neither of your happiness could be contained, this was a long time coming.

“What’s got my girls so happy?”

Jay’s sudden appearance didn’t scare you; you were too engrossed in holding Riley as tight as you could. Turning around, your smile widened at your unsuspecting boyfriend.

“She’s perfect Jay. Riley’s all healthy.” Hearing it from the doctor was one thing but to have the words come from your own lips, it felt like a fever dream that you never wanted to wake up from.

“Really? This is amazing, Riley!” Jay’s eyes widened; his initial shock instantly overridden by pure joy. “Riley, look at you go!”

Jay wasted no time in coming forward and enveloping you both in his arms, tightening around you as he rocked side to side. You laughed into his shoulder as Riley squealed in delight from being showered with love.

This exact moment, you wanted to live in it forever.

“I can’t believe it.” Jay said, pulling away slightly so he could look at his girls but still having you both in his arms. “Talk about perfect timing.”

And on that note, making eye contact with Jay, you had a silent conversation with your eyes before you both looked down at the toddler that still sat perched on your hip. “Happy birthday Riley!”

If you didn’t know what lay ahead of you, then this would’ve been the happiest you’ve ever seen Riley but a certain Mrs Hermann and Detective Halstead went above and beyond.

*****

“Shut the front door.” You exclaimed, whipping your head around to stare at the pair incredulously, your swearing alternative not confusing them. “You did all of this in two hours?”

Their smug smiles told you everything you needed to know.

“Riley deserves the world Y/N. We’re more than happy to help give it to her.” Cindy said, pulling you into a side hug and rubbing your arms comfortingly. “Now, all I want you to do is relax. Leave everything to us.”

“But-“

“There’s no point in fighting her, you’ll never win.” Jay shrugged, stepping into your space when the older woman left you go to put the finishing touches on the food.

“Both of you L/N’s deserve everything the world has to offer and more.” Jay started, both his hands gently holding your waist while yours went up to interlock around his neck. “All of this is nothing, trust me.”

Just as you opened your mouth to object, Jay covered your mouth with his hand and raised a brow at you questioningly.

“I love you and Riley a bit too much, so much so it should be studied. I want neither of you to forget, capiche?”

As he said that, you could briefly hear the children laughing to their hearts content in the garden. Since arriving, Riley had obviously been received with open arms and was carried around like she was the queen.

When you tried to get her to calm down, Jay only shrugged his shoulders saying it was what she deserved.

Over the past year, Jay had grown to love Riley like she was his own. He was so attentive and loving and never made a mistake, he was so perfect that if you weren't so utterly infatuated with him, you'd be annoyed.

But Jay was everything you needed and more. He ticked all your boxes and some you didn't even know you had. And for the foreseeable future, you'd keep him here with you and Riley.

And there was no way Riley would object to that notion. In about thirty minutes when she opens her gifts, she was for sure never going to let him go.

You had to be careful and look out for who got the preferred treatment from the toddler. Over your dead body were you going to let Jay become the favourite.

[theprogrockbstheorist]

HAPPY 70th BIRTHDAY GEDDY!!!!

(meme credit to u/rtphokie on reddit)

OH, AND WHAT’S THAT?!?! IT’S ALSO THE 49th ANNIVERSARY OF NEIL PEART JOINING RUSH?!?!

In order to celebrate these wondrous occasions, I have compiled 70 reasons why I love Rush (especially Geddy):

70. They don't have any unlistenable albums. I can put on any Rush album and at the very least enjoy it, which is saying a lot!

69. ANDDDD they have 19 studio albums!!! 167 songs!!!

68. Alex's iconic Hall of Fame induction speech.

67. The movie I Love You, Man. The main plot of that is just two guys geeking out about Rush and then going to see them in concert.

66. The Bb5 in "Cygnus X-1 Book 1: The Voyage". For the record, the other famous Bb5 sung by a male singer in rock is the high note in "Bohemian Rhapsody", sung by Roger Taylor.

65. Geddy's range in general. Say what you will about his voice, but he had range.

64. Their pre-concert videos.

63. "Hey baby it's 7:45 and I need to go to bed soon, let's fuck"- In the Mood. The debut album was something else, man.

62. They wrote songs during soundcheck when they were on tour. This includes songs like "Tom Sawyer" and "Chemistry".

61. They went to a Yes concert while recording Caress of Steel, and almost quit making the album. I, for one, am very glad they didn't!

60. The "rap" in "Roll the Bones". Sit back, relax, get busy with the facts...

59. Gene Simmons thought they weren't into women because they didn't want to party with KISS. True story!

58. They listed their baseball positions in the liner notes for Signals.

57. Neil wrote lyrics to a song using only anagrams. The song is called "Anagram (For Mongo)", and is on the album Presto.

56. They thanked themselves in the liner notes for Hemispheres. Listed as Dirk, Lerxst, and Pratt, ofc!

55. They would challenge themselves to write last-minute songs. Results of this experiment include "Hand Over Fist" from Presto, and "Malignant Narcissism" from Snakes and Arrows.

54. The mere existence of "A Passage to Bangkok". I wonder what their thought process was to put a song about smoking weed around the world after a 20-minute long dystopian prog rock epic...

53. "La Villa Strangiato". Just... everything about it.

52. The kimonos. You know the ones!

51. Their nicknames for each other!! (see above)

50. They had the second-longest stable line up in rock music! The only ones with a longer stable line up was ZZ Top.

49. They had a 40-year career! Even longer if you include pre-Neil and their adventures since the R40 tour.

48. The synth era. I unapologetically love 80s Rush, especially Grace Under Pressure and Power Windows.

47. "The Necromancer" basically being self-insert Tolkien fanfic. I wonder who the "three travelers" are supposed to be... OH WAIT!

46. They're giant nerds. All prog bands are, but they are especially nerdy.

45. Hugh Syme's awesome album covers. He did every single one from Caress of Steel onwards, barring the front cover for Snakes and Arrows.

44. The 7/8 section in "Tom Sawyer". That was my first intermediate bass line! Thanks, Geddy!

43. They're Canadian icons. Unironically, they're the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions "Canada" to me.

42. The horribly cheesy, terrible, but also really funny music video for "Time Stand Still". That song, btw, might be my favorite 80s Rush song, and is probably in my Top 5.

41. The triple-entendre pun of Moving Pictures. They're filming a movie (moving picture) of people moving paintings (moving pictures), while someone is getting moved by the scene (moving...pictures...).

40. They quote the 1812 Overture in the overture for "2112".

39. Geddy taught Les Claypool how to properly play "YYZ".

38. The Permanent Waves era glasses!

37. The opening of "Xanadu".

36. The weird stuff Geddy would have on his side of stage after he stopped using amps. This includes rotisserie chickens, washing machines, dryers, and popcorn machines.

35. "Music by Lee and Lifeson, Lyrics by Peart" on almost every single Rush song.

34. The ending of "Spirit of Radio". OF SALESMEN!!!

33. Their inside jokes. Example: The Bag.

32. They took French classes together, and began announcing their songs in French in Quebec.

31. The progressiveness of Counterparts. What other 40-year old rockstars were talking about healthy relationship boundaries and openly supporting gay people in 1993?

30. Their vaults are practically empty because they scrapped songs that weren't up to their standards. This is why we have no sub-par Rush material!

29. Choosing to end their careers with grace.

28. Ending the last show of their career with "Working Man", the song that got everything started.

27. "Dreamline"--"Learning that we're only immortal / For a limited time".

26. Geddy and Alex inducting Yes into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.

25. Then, of course, Geddy playing "Roundabout" with Yes during their induction! (Unfortunately, he did not play his Rickenbacker :( )

24. No decisions were made regarding the band without it being unanimous.

23. "Closer to the Heart". To me, that song is like a musical representation of their friendship, and it always leaves me with a warm, fuzzy feeling after listening to it.

22. Neil's books. Ghost Rider, in particular helped me get through a rough time earlier this year.

21. Geddy's Big Beautiful Book of Bass. I love that thing, and I am looking forward to his memoir in November!!!

20. That incredible Rickenbacker. I know it hasn't been his main bass since the early 80s but...

19. All their other creative projects. Geddy and Alex have a solo album each, Alex is involved with Envy of None rn, and Neil had his blog.

18. All their other stage interactions.

17. "ATTENTION ALL PLANETS OF THE SOLAR FEDERATION! WE HAVE ASSUMED CONTROL!" -"2112". Just... all of "2112".

16. They got me into prog. I wouldn't have this blog right now if it weren't for Rush.

15. The Lifeson chord. The F#7add11 voicing that you can hear in so many of their songs (it's the opening to "Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres").

14. Neil's drumming. They call him The Professor for a reason!

13. Geddy's bass playing. And his singing. And playing keys. And... yeah, we would be here all day!

12. The Dinner with Rush video. I make daily references to this that no one notices...

11. "The measure of a life / is a measure of love and respect"- "The Garden". The final song on their final album, and possibly the most amazing closer of all time.

10. Their charity work. IIRC, this includes giving away the aforementioned rotisserie chickens, as well as various fundraisers.

9. Their constant strive to improve themselves. Including Geddy working with a vocal coach, Neil working with Freddie Gruber, and of course, disavowing that Ayn Rand shit.

8. They give me something to strive towards, both as a musician and as a person. If I could make records half as good as Rush, and handle the fame with half the grace that they did, I would consider myself well-accomplished.

7. Neil's lyrics inspired me to get back into writing.

6. They inspired me to become a musician, and to pursue a career in music. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have stayed in choir or picked up bass, and I would've never considered a career in audio technology.

5. Their music helped me bond with my dad.

4. Geddy talking about his family's story of survival during the Holocaust. I think that's really important to talk about.

3. Other Rush fans. Well, okay, some of them like to brag about how many concerts they've been to, or tend to be a little gate-keep, but most of them are really chill people.

2. Their music helped me get through the toughest times in my life. Without getting too personal, I even credit them with saving my life on multiple occasions.

However, what I admire about Rush, above all else...

1. Their friendship with each other.

Once again, happy birthday Geddy! Your music has inspired me in so many ways, and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without it.

[supportpunk]

The complete plushie collection! It ended up at an even 90 friends!

The only ones not pictured are one squishmallow I found buried in my closet after this picture was taken and my car buddy Hamburger the forest demon

I also have a whole list of them that I'll put under the cut! Some of the names are very silly :)

1. Big Bear

2. Treasure (Squishmallow cat)

3. Oobleck the elephant

4. Plague Doctor

5. Brighton Bear

6. Big Dog

7. Little Dog

8. Blah the snake

9. Mama Rex

10. Benvolio

11. Vampire Bat

12. Spiderman

13. Pleakley (fish squishmallow)

14. Red Fox (squishmallow)

15. Grogu pillow pet

16. Llama Mama

17. Tiger

18. Puppy trio one

19. Puppy trio two

20. Puppy trio three

21. Elefun (yellow elephant)

22. Taddle Toes the alien

23. Fruity squishmallow (not pictured)

24. Darth Bear-der

25. Clark the supercow

26. Brucie Bear

27. Rico the zomb frog

28. Buffy the rabbit

29. Black Friday Bear

30. Creeper

31. Mona the bearlien

32. BonBon teddy

33. Ferrari the timeless teddy

34. Pawlette the rabbit

35. Melanie the crochet hippo

36. BeeGee the froggie

37. Schlepp the bear

38. Rock lobster the triceratops

39. Sub Zero

40. Dexter dragon

41. Val the cow

42. Hello Kitty squishmallow

43. Miffy

44. Eeyore

45. Piglet

46. Bulbasaur

47. Large lots of love carebear

48. Small lots of love carebear

49. Wish bear

50. Funshine bear

51. Try your best bear

52. Share bear

53. Flat fuck Friday the whale Shark

54. Hammerhead shark

55. Elmo

56. Toothpick the fox

57. Pretty puppy the dog

58. Frank the dog

59. Knuffle bunny

60. Pink puppy

61. Brown puppy

62. Blue puppy

63. Mr. Beaver

64. Rainbow sock monkey

65. Mr. Trooper

66. Mothman

67. Peep

68. Pico the dino

69. Squeaky cow

70. Music box bear

71. Music box triceratops

72. Piggy

73. Raggedy puppy

74. Mushy puppy

75. Monk monk

76. Bunny rattle

77. Bunny lovey

78. Scorch the dragon

79. Luna the wolf

80. Jasmine the rainbow leopard

81. The very hungry caterpillar

82. Smokey Bear

83. Blues clues

84. July beanie baby

85. Fox beanie baby

86. Fawn beanie baby

87. Witch beanie baby

88. Owl squishable 

89. Luna moth squishable

90. Hamburger the forest demon squishable (not pictured)

[schrodingers-romy]

Romy Reads: Wind Breaker

Spoilers for manga chapters 62 through 77 below the cut :)

< prev | next >

-

Umemiya is so excited...such a proud plant dad

-

THEM!!!

(Also nirei is so cute with his tsubaki-chan-san)

[I'm going to be referring to tsubaki with they/them pronouns for now bc I do not know their gender]

-

Thank you to Tsubaki for fulfilling my wish to squash Sakura into a hug thank you for your service 🙏

-

No but the tsubaki backstory with that old couple...the fact that they accepted tsubaki and only wanted them to be happy :') Man I wish those were my grandparents.

-

Wittle pouty blushy baby face sakura

I love this picture sm

-

It's nice to see that nirei is getting trained, even if he only knows how to become a pillbug rn you gotta start somewhere

-

Sakura suffering whenever ppl around him act slightly romantically towards each other is so funny

Imagine being on a date or something at a restaurant and the kid in the next booth just explodes

-

The roppo ichiza seem cool! I wonder if they're going to be reoccurring allies...perhaps they'll help whenever the teased big antagonist shows up

-

TSUBAKI CAN POLE DANCE???

Damn

-

Huh it's interesting how nakamura (roppo ichiza leader) talks about the differences between them and furin. While roppo ichiza is a purely reactionary peacekeepijg gang, bofurin under umemiya is actually 'fixing the leak' so to speak, by giving delinquent kids a support system with morals and people you can trust, so they don't become trouble makers.

-

Ooh new fight and new antagonists...although I've got to say gravel is kind of a shit gang name. Oh nooo not the tiny rocks

-

Shizuka noooo don't sacrifice yourself!! It seems like she came from the same bad area as Gravel, and they're trying to get her to sell her back to some rich creep...

-

Ooh gonna see tsubaki kick some ass I'm excited hehehe

-

Oh man taking that kick from someone wearing high heels had to have hurt so bad

Got to take a break now but I can't wait for more of this

[kabillieu]

Last night, Everclear, Fuel, and Hoobastank performed as part of a tour they do together for military bases all over the U.S. I do not care about Fuel or Hoobastank, but I was really excited to see Everclear. I believe I have mentioned this on here and to everyone including, recently, my hairdresser and neighbor.

My big kid's annual spring school carnival was also last night at the same time. I asked Dominic to verify the lineup, and he was told that Everclear was performing last, so I took big kid to his school event, planning to stay an hour and then join my spouse and baby at the show.

Well, Everclear went first and I missed them. I'd been listening to them all week, mostly their second and third albums, but also some newer stuff I had never bothered to listened to. I was really looking forward to seeing them live.

It was important to take my big kid to his school event because he was looking forward to it. He was especially looking forward to seeing his friend from school, and I always try to support him when he's doing social stuff since that can be an issue for him. It was the right thing to do, he had a good time, but it still smarts to miss Everclear!

I've been thinking for weeks now about why I've been so excited to see a minor alternative rock band that I haven't thought about much since 1997. I listened to their album So Much for the Afterglow a lot, and there were a lot of songs off that album that got radio play, so obviously it's super nostalgic. But also, I taped "Santa Monica" off the the radio when I was 14, back when that's how you got access to music if you couldn't afford to buy it. You would just hang out in your room with the radio on and then haul ass over to your tape player to press record when a song you liked came on. I listened to "Santa Monica" over and over again on my walkman on a road trip with my family to New Orleans that summer. I loved the lyrics, the way it started slow and then picked up, the idea of leaving everything behind. Most of my teenage life I wanted to leave everything behind. Super common stuff for an angsty teenager, but Art Alexakis's songs spoke to that specific yearning. That was the first time I had ever been to New Orleans, and as I walked around the city with my family I thought about how fun it would be to come back in a few years with friends. And then I did. I spent years visiting friends in New Orleans. I spent years hanging out with Brooke and Dale.

In college, Dominic, Brooke, Dale, and I went to see Art Alexakis in Dothan for a solo set. I don't remember much about the music, but I do remember being with my friends. Art Alexakis had an extremely troubled childhood. He grew up in abject poverty. His sibling and girlfriend died very, very young from overdoses. He overdosed and almost died too, and then he cleaned up. All of his best songs have very sad lyrics laid over upbeat guitar, somewhere between post-grunge and pop rock. He has many songs about running away to a better life, about being fatherless, about how much he loves his children, about how things aren't good and maybe never will be.

My friend Dale died from alcohol addiction two years ago. It had been Brooke's idea to take Dale to go see Art Alexakis in Dothan. She kept it a surprise. It must have been a nice show, but I don't remember it. I do remember eating arroz con pollo with my friends beforehand.

Things don't stay the same. They keep changing, but you also have to live fully in a life where bad things have happened to you. That's something that all my favorite Everclear songs know. Art Alexakis is 62 now, and I asked Dominic how he sounded, and he said he sounded 62. I wish I could have gotten to see him. But I needed to be a good parent to my big kid, and that's something that I think Art Alexakis would appreciate.

[bratshaws]

through the hourglass 73.brb x oc

a/n: BOY OH BOY. I was anxious again today but I wanted to post this uwu

pairing: plus size!oc x rooster

warnings: fluff, dad-honorary grandpa- grandaughter being cute combo PART DEUX

goodness gracious (pls read this one to know more what this fic is about!!)

chapter

1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12/13/14/15/16/17/18/19/20/21/22/23/24/

25/26/27/28/29/30/31/32/33/34/35/36/37/38/39/40/41/42/43/44

45/46/47/48/49/50/51/52/53/54/55/56/57/58/59/60/61/62/63/64

/65/66/67/68/69/70/71/72

(pls let me know if you want to be added to the taglist!! )

taglist: @mirandastuckinthe80s @roosterschanelslut @wiipes @lcahwriter @shrimping-for-all @gretagerwigsmuse @frenchtoastix

@lizzie-rdj @fanboyluvr @atarmychick007 @comebacktoearthpls

@peachiicherries @mak-32 @lizziespidiepridie @roosterswifey @ollyoxenfrees @piceous21 @sqrlgrl22 @hofficoffi @lexhalstead3 @lorilane33 @legendarydreamersharkparty @luckyladycreator2

@emilybradshaw @j-6o @louisahale @leobabbyyy @kulicny @winter-run @ktjmac @graciereads @bigpoppajes @taytaylala12

@caitsymichelle13 @becks-things @caatheeriinee07 @dhwanishah09 @jesfreedark @katiemcrae @lilmonstrjedi @hobiismyhopeu @teacupsandtopgun @insominac23

-

Nicole, after ‘hugging’ her father and burping, kept her arms around Rooster’s neck and chin on his shoulder, back rising and falling slowly with every breath she took but she wasn’t asleep yet. In reality she was just resting her face on her father’s shoulder as he rocked her in his arms, Maverick sitting next to them, “She isn’t sleeping.”

Bradley looks back down where Nicole was and smiles, “She takes a while,she likes looking around first and then falling asleep.” he explains, watching as Nicole’s little fist held onto his sleeve, the white fabric crinkling in her grasp, “It’s an habit of hers…isn’t that right,cutie?” Nicole just ‘ah’ed back, dropping her head on his shoulder, still holding his sleeve, “She’s a nice baby.”

“She doesn’t cry much does she?”

“Not really.” Rooster kisses the top of her head, “Only when she really needs to.”

“Must’ve gotten that from Beatrice.”

“I wasn’t that loud.”

“One time I stayed over your parents’ house and I had the pleasure to share walls with your room.” Maverick said in a deadpan voice, “You…were very loud,Rooster.”

Bradley just huffed, sinking a bit in his seat as he held Nicole, his daughter’s eyes slowly falling shut as the sleep was finally taking over, the hand gripping his shirt drops to the side and she sighs one final time as she steps into dreamland. Both him and Mav stare at her sleeping form, long lashes on top of cherub-like cheeks making her look like a little doll, “She’s out.” Rooster whispered, “I’m going to put her down.”

“Do you need a pillow?”

“There’s one in her bag.” both of them were whispering,even if Rooster knew that Nicole rarely woke up because of outside influences when she was asleep. He just holds Nicole up as he watches Pete disappear and reappear with the white pillow in his grasp, “Thanks,Mav.”

 “Don’t mention it..” he shrugs, “Now…here,” he sets the pillow on top of the jacket and Rooster gently sets her down so her head sinks into the foam. Nicole makes a little disgruntled noise but doesn’t wake up, in fact she just sighs softly into the pillow and lets herself fall asleep deeply and unbothered. She squeezes the chicken against her chest, it croaks out in agony but Nicole doesn’t wake up.

Rooster and Maverick stood side by side looking down at the sleeping baby, with the youngest of the two smiling with pure adoration, “...she’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen Mav.”

“She sure is.”

“And the fact she’s mine and Bea’s…it’s…it’s crazy.”

Maverick almost rolled his eyes playfully, “Five minutes passed until you mentioned Bea again, the girl’s ears will be on fire because of you.”

“It’s not my fault I love talking about her,” Rooster muttered, “Or thinking about her, or-”

“Alright,Romeo,we got that.” Pete chuckles, holding up a hand, “Now are you going to help me out?”

“In a minute,” Rooster holds out his phone, “I need to talk to her real quick.” Maverick sighed humorously, shaking his head again and then gestured to the side, meaning he could do that and he wouldn’t mind. Bradley just patted his uncle on the shoulder, giving Nicole one last look before he walked off to the side.

Bea would like to know that Nicole was having fun…and was already asleep. He leans against the wall as he calls Beatrice, seeing that his uncle was keeping an eye on Nicole while still working on the bike for the best of his ability. Rooster hears the phone ring once, then twice and finally he hears that lovely voice say

“Rooster.”

Wait that wasn���t Bea.

“Shells?”

“In the flesh,Chanticleer, what’s crackin’?”

He blinks, “...well,that’s Bea’s phone.’ followed by the positive humming from Shells, “So why are you answering it?”

“Quite simple,Rooster. Bea is busy helping the new girl, she knows the kid…I think her name is uhhh…Jessie?”

Jessie. Oh! The girl from months back, the one that Beatrice said reminded her so much of herself! He was a bit happy that she returned to the bar, he remembers Bea saying how upset she acted when she was still in there, “Ah,okay,is she…too busy now? I kinda wanted to talk to her.”

There’s the obvious sound of something being crunched, followed by Shells’ muffled voice saying “Course you do- BEA!” he jumps, clenching his eyes and pulling the phone away from his ear as Shells’ loud voice made it ring. He blinks to get rid of the shock, not hearing when Shells walks away and hands the phone over to Beatrice.

“Hi,Roos!”

Ah, that was much better.

“Hey,gorgeous.” he coos after his ear stopped hurting, “I’m happy to hear your voice…don’t tell Shells but I think she wants me deaf or something.” Beatrice giggles on the other line, the sound of boxes being moved around following, “She told me about the new girl.”

“Yes!Jessie! She’s doing great so far!”

“You sound happy to see her working there.”

“Oh,well,I can’t help it.” there’s a door closing in the background and he hears wind replacing the sound coming from inside the bar “She’s pretty good too! She needed the job and Penny needed the help…I think she’ll do fine! She’ll be around when me and Shells aren’t, we decided she should start with the calmer days too so she’d be used to it. But she also said she can fill in for us, if there is an emergency or whatnot.”

Beatrice sounded way more excited than he’d expect because of the new girl, “Gorgeous,” he smiles, lowering his voice, “What aren’t you telling me?”

He could hear her breathing hitch and then when she spoke he knew she was smiling, “She said there’s a guy at the bar that kept looking at her every time she came by. And I think she is…excited to meet him again. Well, from what she told me that is…and that’s so romantic Roos! If this guy really likes her, they could be a 2.0 version of us!”

Ah,Beatrice, always the romantic. He couldn’t get enough of her, “Gorgeous you are just so precious.” he chuckles, “Of course you’d like that idea, and I gotta admit, it is pretty interesting to see something like that from the outside.”

“I know!Well I don’t want to be that type of person who just, you know, gets excited because of people dating, I don’t even know if they will date but I just thought it was interesting to mention.”

“It was.” he smiles, “And your precious heart couldn’t take it.”

“Hah, not really…anyway, how are you guys? How’s Mav? How’s Nikki?”

Rooster looks up to where his uncle was, messing with the bike with the wrench between his teeth, “Everything is fine, we are working on the bike right now and Nikki is great. She just had lunch and is sleeping right now.”

“Oh that’s really good! No crying,right?”

“Just once when I tried to get her seat from the car because I didn’t want her to sit on the couch.”

Beatrice was silent for a bit, then replied with a confused and chuckled, “What?”

“Mav has an old couch in here, it has seen better days and I didn’t want Nikki to sit on it, so I thought that bringing her seat from the car would help but she started crying and I couldn’t go.” he could hear her trying to cover her laughter, probably by biting her lip, ‘...are you making fun of me?”

“No! No, no, it’s just,” a snort slips out, “I-It’s really cute!”

Bradley purses his lips, he’s not really annoyed, there’s no way he’d be annoyed at Beatrice but her laughter always made his heart spin, “Cute,huh?”

“Yes,my husband is unbelievably cute.” comes her quick reply, softer, almost whispered as if she didn’t want other people to know about it, “And sweet, and handsome and he has the nicest lips I’ve ever kissed. So maybe I’m a bit biased.”

“Just a bit?”

“Just a bit.” she giggles again, “But I’m glad you,Nikki and Pete are having fun together, I know how much you care about her too. And it’s really heartwarming,Roos. It really is. It makes me happy knowing how safe you want us to be.” 

Oh and he melted on the spot. He chuckles, almost embarrassedly, rubbing the side of his face as he turns around to give his back to Mav, nearing bashfulness, “Baby,” he scolds softly, “You are just too sweet for this world…but thank you. I appreciate hearing that from you…when do you think you leave?’

“Um…maybe around three? We have to wait for some deliveries.”

“Hm…well,I was thinking we could go out tonight. You,me and Nikki. It’d be her first time too.”

‘Oh…I’d love that.” Beatrice’s voice was breathy when she replied, almost dreamily, “Do you have a place in mind?”

“Remember that taco truck we went to after the amusement park?”

“Oh, the one you took me to before we invaded the base? Yes,I remember.”

Rooster’s smirk widened, “It wasn't an invasion. It was just…showing up uninvited,gorgeous.” he spins the wedding ring on his finger with his thumb, seeing the golden band glint under the light, “But yeah, that one.”

“I like that. We just need to uh…restock, before leaving.” she says “You know how fast Nikki goes through bottles.”

“That I do,gorgeous.” he smiles, “It’ll be fun, I know Nikki is too young to eat anything we do but the experience will be important for her.” and he could swear he heard Beatrice’s sigh end with a disbelieved chuckle.

“And we can take her these again when she’s older.”

“We sure can. Maybe she’ll grow to love it just like we do.”

‘I have a feeling she will,” Beatrice hummed while still on the phone,”Oh, I have to go back now,Roos. Call me before you leave?”

“Sure thing,gorgeous. Stay safe,love you.”

“Love you too! Stay safe as well!”

He sighs dreamily when he ends the call, rubbing his face with a hand as he smiles like a boy with a crush. Only Beatrice was able to make him act like a fool in love, “Ahem,” after all, she was his wife and he loved her “Rooster,” and there was nothing else that could-”Bradley.” the pilot’s thoughts cease and he slowly turns to face his uncle, who looks amused and annoyed at the same time, gesturing with the wrench to the motorcycle, “Do you mind?”

“Oh,right, sorry Mav.”

-

By the time Nicole woke up they were done fixing the bike, they did all they could and Rooster told Mav to at least take her to a mechanic so they could give her another check up before he got back on her wheels. His uncle didn’t seem pleased, but he agreed to do so after Rooster’s silent but gentle goading - only using his eyes and eyebrows, a technique he got from Carole. 

Nicole whimpered awake, rubbing her tiny fists against her eyes and inhaling deeply, “Look at her,” Maverick smirks, with his hands on his waist, “Slept through the whole thing, didn’t even care about the noise.”

“I told you she was one of a kind.” Rooster says, approaching his daughter after cleaning his hands, “Hi,hi, Birdie.” Nicole’s light green eyes finally met his and albeit still a little sleepy, she gurgled a laugh, reaching out for him, “Hi Sleeping Beauty, come on,” he picks her up with an exaggerated ‘oof!’ and kisses her warm cheek, “Did you sleep well?” Nicole just looks at him again, her pigtails wonky and some of her hair is coming out.

“She looks like she did,” Maverick says as she stands close to Rooster, smiling at Nicole when she babbles at him, “Yes,I know honey! I know, you slept so nicely!” her cute yawn followed by her dropping her still heavy head on Rooster’s shoulder almost made the two men fall on their knees because of cuteness, “She’s so adorable…hey,do you gotta go yet?”

“Um,” he checks his watch, “Bea will get out at three so I have…half an hour yet, why?”

Maverick just looks at his nephew and then chuckles, “Wait here, there’s something I need to show you.”

“Alright. I’ll fix Nikki’s hair.” 

“You can do that?”

Rooster rolls his eyes as he sits down on the couch with Nicole on his lap, “I watch a lot of tutorials. I’m not going to be a dumb dad that doesn’t know the basics because this is ‘girly stuff.’” Nicole babbles in agreement as her father undoes one of her pigtails and combs his fingers through her hair, “Besides, this is fun…and kinda therapeutic.”

Pete stood by the wall and smiled, but this smile was almost…wistful. There was something that Carole told him when she was pregnant with Bradley, that her son ‘had to know a little bit of everything, he’s not going to refuse to experiment because people consider it ‘girly’,Mav.’ and at the time, he had to admit he didn’t get that back then - different times, different minds after all - but now he could see why.

Rooster had become a strong man, a man with a good heart - with some temperamental issues, sometimes with a pinch of self doubt - but he grew up to be…what his parents wanted to. Well,maybe Carole wasn’t as excited for Bradley to join the Navy and follow Goose’s footsteps, but he had a feeling she was very proud of the man he turned out to be.

Not the pilot, but the man, the father, the husband. And he was sure they’d love Beatrice too and Nicole…and…he was hit once again with that awful feeling of melancholy, the heaviness in his stomach and his heart, the sting behind his eyes. But no, he couldn’t be upset now, not when he had things to do, “Be right back.”

“Alright.” Rooster didn’t even look up from Nicole when his uncle left, too busy trying to make the pigtails similar. He leans back against the couch to have a better look, then tilts his head this way and that to be sure they were aligned, “...nice. Not so bad,if I do say so myself,Nikki.” Nicole had no idea what happened, she was just glad to be involved, giggling at him and then falling back against his stomach.

“Got you.” he smiles,picking his daughter from behind and bringing her up to his face, where he proceeds to kiss those chubby cheeks of hers just so she laughed. “There, you look really nice, mommy is going to be proud of my hair styling skills.” he pats Nicole’s shirt, flicking pieces of dust that naturally cling to one’s clothing but he wasn’t happy with that.

Nicole just tried to grab his hand, her own smaller ones wrapping around his ring finger, right where his wedding band was, “Buh!” and she taps on it, he didn’t know what she wanted but he allowed her to do whatever she’d like. He smiles down at Nicole, who amazingly, manages to spin the wedding ring around his finger much like he did with his thumb whenever his hands weren’t busy.

“Look at that.” Nicole is amazed that it moves, “You saw daddy doing it,didn’t you? Aren’t you just so smart.” 

It was almost scary how quick Nicole caught on to things, how unfazed she was with others and how much she managed to do at such a young age.

“Back.” he hears his uncle call, “Took a while to find it.”

“What took you a while?”

“Well,” Rooster looks up in time to see a small aviator jacket…well, small-ish, it was for toddlers if he was right on the size checking even from afar, with patches. Small patches of cute animals - but especially chickens, of course - on the sleeves, “I saw this a few months back and I bought it but…I didn’t know how to give it to you.”

Rooster furrowed his brows, holding Nicole as he stood to his feet to check the jacket once he’s close enough, “Why were you worried?” He holds the small sleeve and rubs the pink cat patch on it, “It’s adorable,Mav.”

“Hah,well,” his uncle sucks air through his teeth, “I don’t know,I guess I was just holding onto some things from the past and I was a bit worried about giving this as a gift.”

Even without him saying it,Rooster knew why Pete was worried about giving his daughter an aviator jacket. He inhales shakily, then chuckles as Nicole touches the sleeve as well,”Well…I like it.” he says quietly, “And so does she, apparently.” Nicole was rubbing the colorful giraffe patch on the front of her new jacket, widening her eyes as it shifted colors.

Maverick was happy with her response, and his, so he handed the jacket to Rooster before grabbing the baby bag he brought along after his nephew said they should go back home now. “Bye Nikki.” Mav smiles, waving at his grand-niece after Bradley buckles her up, “Oh she’s waving back!” Nicole shakes her arm with the chicken still screaming “Bye, pretty thing, bye! Thanks for joining us today!”

After Rooster closes the passenger door, looking at the folded jacket next to his daughter, he faces Maverick. His uncle just gives him a small smile, a bit confused because of how Rooster is staring at him, “...I really wanted to thank you,Mav…I…” he laughs softly, “...thank you, for being here for me…and for Nikki too.”

“Ah, it’s my pleasure.” even if he sounded nonchalant,Rooster knew he felt more emotional than he showed, “It’s what family is for,right?”

Rooster smiles, his eyes shine with unshed tears “...Yeah,” and he wraps his arms around his uncle, who reciprocates the hug, clapping him on the back. Rooster clenches his eyes with a shaky inhale, trembling a bit, “Thank you for staying.”

“...thank you for letting me stay.”

Both men pull back and try, awkwardly wiping their eyes, “Anyway,I better go. We are going out tonight.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, family outing before Halloween.” Rooster shrugs, still wiping his eyes the best he could, “Nicole’s first time out too.”

Pete smiles, touching his nephew’s shoulder, “You guys have fun,you hear?” Rooster nods, thanking him one last time before he walks to the Bronco driver’s side. He waves at the pilot, then at Nicole - who eagerly waves back-  before stepping back to give them enough space to drive off, watching the car disappear in the distance as he chuckles tiredly and walks back into the garage.

[spnmarchmadness]

LETS GO SPORTS FANS

the official ranks are in. if you want to participate in the bracket contest (its free. the prize will be the valor that comes from a job well done), you can do so here. 

if you just want to make a bracket for funsies, here’s a google sheet with the intial match ups seeded. The full seeding list is below the cut!

1. 5x22: Swan Song 2. 5x08: Changing Channels 3. 6x15: The French Mistake 4. 13x16: ScoobyNatural 5. 3x11: Mystery Spot 6. 2x22: All Hell Breaks Loose: Part 2 7. 4x01: Lazarus Rising 8. 10x05: Fan Fiction 9. 11x04: Baby 10. 11x20: Don't Call Me Shurley 11. 2x20: What Is and What Should Never Be 12. 3x12: Jus in Bello 13. 4x22: Lucifer Rising 14. 8x23: Sacrifice 15. 9x23: Do You Believe in Miracles? 16. 14x13: Lebanon 17. 14x20: Moriah 18. 1x22: Devil's Trap 19. 2x01: In My Time of Dying 20. 3x03: Bad Day at Black Rock 21. 3x16: No Rest for the Wicked 22. 4x18: The Monster at the End of This Book 23. 4x03: In the Beginning 24. 5x10: Abandon All Hope... 25. 5x21: Two Minutes to Midnight 26. 7x10: Death's Door 27. 11x09: O Brother Where Art Thou? 28. 2x15: Tall Tales 29. 2x21: All Hell Breaks Loose: Part 1 30. 4x16: On the Head of a Pin 31. 4x06: Yellow Fever 32. 5x04: The End 33. 6x20: The Man Who Would Be King 34. 8x17: Goodbye Stranger 35. 1x12: Faith 36. 12x10: Lily Sunder Has Some Regrets 37. 5x14: My Bloody Valentine 38. 5x03: Free to Be You and Me 39. 4x20: The Rapture 40. 13x06: Tombstone 41. 14x14: Ouroboros 42. 3x13: Ghostfacers 43. 7x17: The Born-Again Identity 44. 8x11: LARP and the Real Girl 45. 7x20: The Girl with the Dungeons and Dragons Tattoo 46. 15x09: The Trap 47. 12x11: Regarding Dean 48. 6x04: Weekend at Bobby's 49. 12x06: Celebrating the Life of Asa Fox 50. 8x08: Hunteri Heroici 51. 5x16: Dark Side of the Moon 52. 13x05: Advanced Thanatology 53. 1x06: Skin 54. 9x18: Meta Fiction 55. 10x22: The Prisoner 56. 15x18: Despair 57. 14x04: Mint Condition 58. 2x13: Houses of the Holy 59. 9x06: Heaven Can't Wait 60. 15x15: Gimme Shelter 61. 3x08: A Very Supernatural Christmas 62. 10x14: The Executioner's Song 63. 14x10: Nihilism 64. 11x14: The Vessel

[louielle]

// 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒆𝒏𝒗𝒚 //

“harry styles, børns, sirius black, florence welch, david bowie, cate blanchett, mick jagger, gillian anderson, kind of vibes: when i can’t decide if i want to be them or gently embrace them in my arms”

1) 10,000 Emerald Pools - BØRNS

2) All Die Young - Smith Westerns

3) All the Young Dudes - David Bowie

4) All Yours - Widowspeak

5) American Money - BØRNS

6) Androgynous - The Replacements

7) Angel of Small Death Death and the Codeine Scene - Hozier

8) Arabella - Arctic Monkeys

9) Beautiful Glamorous Miserable Illusion - BØRNS

10) Bedroom Hymns - Florence + The Machine

11) Bennie & The Jets - BØRNS

12) Black Dog - Led Zeppelin

13) Bye-bye Darling - BØRNS

14) Call me Cruella - Florence + The Machine

15) The Chain - Fleetwood Mac

16) Changes - David Bowie

17) Choose To Choose - The Black Angels

18) Clouds - BØRNS

19) Cornflakes Girls - Florence + The Machine

20) Dancing Queen - ABBA

21) Dawn Storm - BØRNS

22) Daydreaming - Harry Styles

23) Daylight - Harry Styles

24) Delilah - Florence + The Machine

25) Dimples - The Spencer Davis Group

26) Do I Wanna Know? - Arctic Monkeys

27) Don’t Wake the Dead - Guards

28) Dream Girl Evil - Florence + The Machine

29) Dry My Soul - Amanda Jenssen

30) Eat Your Young - Hozier

31) Electric Love - BØRNS

32) El Jardín - The Black Angels

33) The Emotion - BØRNS

34) Empires Falling - The Black Angels

35) Empty - Goldensuns, Warpaint

36) Faded Heart - BØRNS

37) Ferryboat of the Mind - Clinic

38) Firefly - The Black Angels

39) Fluorescent Adolescent - Arctic Monkeys

40) Four Sticks - Led Zeppelin

41) Gimme Shelter - The Rolling Stones

42) Girl Crush - Harry Styles

43) Girls - Widowspeak

44) Girl With One Eye - Florence + The Machine

45) Go Fuck Yourself - Two Feet

46) Golden - Harry Styles

47) Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy - Queen

48) Grapejuice - Harry Styles

49) Harlem Shuffle - The Rolling Stones

50) Talk - Harry Styles

51) Harsh Realm - Widowspeak

52) Heroes - David Bowie

53) High Time Baby - The Spencer Davis Group

54) Holy Ghost - BØRNS

55) Hunger - Florence + The Machine

56) I Don’t Know Why - Imagine Dragons

57) I Don’t Want You Back - BØRNS

58) I’m A Man - The Spencer Davis Group

59) It Ain’t Easy - David Bowie

60) It’s You - BØRNS

61) It Will Come Back - Hozier

62) I Wanna Be Yours - Arctic Monkeys

63) I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE - Måneskin

64) Jackboot Jump - Hozier

65) Jackie and Wilson - Hozier

66) Jeepster - T. Rex

67) Junk! - BØRNS

68) Just In Case I Love You - BØRNS

69) Killer Queen - Queen

70) King - Florence + The Machine

71) Kiss With A Fist - Florence + The Machine

72) Kiwi - Harry Styles

73) Knee Socks - Arctic Monkeys

74) Lady Grinning Soul - David Bowie

75) Lady Stardust - David Bowie

76) Laura - M83

77) Lights Up - Harry Styles

78) Little Freak - Harry Styles

79) Little Lady - The Walking Who

80) The Louvre - Lorde

81) Lover To Lover - Florence + The Machine

82) Love Runs Out - OneRepublic

83) Make Me Your Queen - Declan McKenna

84) Moonage Daydream - David Bowie

85) Movement - Hozier

86) Never Come Around - La Sera

87) NFWMB - Hozier

88) Nina Cried Power - Hozier

89) No Light, No Light - Florence + The Machine (live version)

90) Only Angel - Harry Styles

91) Only If For A Night - Florence + The Machine

92) Overnight Sensation - BØRNS

93) Past Lives - BØRNS

94) Perfect Places - Lorde

95) Piledriver Waltz - Arctic Monkeys

96) Please Be Mine - Molly Burch

97) Pour Some Sugar On Me - Def Leppard

98) The Prettiest Star - David Bowie

99) Red Desert - 5 Seconds of Summer

100) Resolution of One - Guards

101) Rock Me - One Direction

102) R U Mine? - Arctic Monkeys

103) Sad Face - BØRNS

104) Sedated - Hozier

105) Shake It Out - Florence + The Machine

106) She - Harry Styles

107) Short Change - The Spencer Davis Group

108) Sick Boy Soldier - Palaye Royale

109) Somebody To Love - Queen

110) Someone New - Hozier

111) Spectrum - Florence + The Machine

112) Starman - David Bowie

113) Start Me Up - The Rolling Stones

114) Steal My Girl - One Direction

115) Stoned On You - Jaymes Young

116) Suddenly - BØRNS

117) Sunday Morning - The Velver Underground

118) Sunlight - Hozier

119) Sweet Dreams - BØRNS

120) Sympathy For The Devil - The Rolling Stones

121) Take Care - Florence + The Machine (live version)

122) Time Is On My Side - The Rolling Stones

123) Trophy Queen - Guards

124) Wait - BØRNS

125) We Don’t Care - BØRNS

126) What The Water Gave Me - Florence + The Machine

127) When My Boy Walks Down the Street - The Magnetic Fields

128) Whole Lotta Love - Hozier

129) Wildflower - 5 Seconds of Summer

130) Wipe Out - The Surfaris

131) Woman - Harry Styles

132) You’re Mine - Cobi

133) You’ve Got The Love - Florence + The Machine

[grayson-baller]

Can I request 28, 52, 62, & 91 from the nsfw list and 20 from the kink list with Chuck Taylor

Chuck Taylor -- Headcanon --

《 --- --- --- ☆ --- --- ---》

《 --- --- --- ☆ --- --- ---》

warnings: smut--18+, dom/sub dynamics, sexual punishments, daddy honorific, edging, brief mentions of toys

word count: 542

pairing: fem!reader & chuck taylor

《 --- --- --- ☆ --- --- ---》

masterlist: ++

tags: @shelickedthebeater @legit9thlunaticwarrior @stxrrlightwrites13

《 --- --- --- ☆ --- --- ---》

prompts:

kink list:

20 -- punishment

nsfw list:

28-- “Did I say you could stop?”

52-- “You don’t have permission to come.”

62-- "I’ll be good. I promise.”

91 -- "Go get one of your toys. Let's make this even better."

《 --- --- --- ☆ --- --- ---》

“Again.”

His demand pierced through your quiet bedroom, the only other sound being your heavy breaths and whines

You whimpered at the word, want twisting inside of you. As good as again sounded, you knew it would be the same frustrating ending. You knew you were in for a rough night when you had been caught.

You were laying naked in bed, ass sore and cheeks still pink from the spanking you had already received

Legs spread wide open, giving Chuck the perfect view of your wetness that coated your thighs

He was leaning back in the armchair in the corner of your bedroom, shirtless and in a pair of low-hanging sweats.

“Again.” He growled, voice dropping, reminding you of your predicament. You were here because you didn’t follow his rules, after all.

The hand that was lingering between your thighs was bringing you closer and closer to your high at his demand

Just for it to be ripped away by your own fingertips. At his demand too.

You whimpered, hand slowly moving once more. Fingers working circles around your clit.

“Please,” you begged, wiggling your hips as you moaned. It took mere seconds for you to get close to the edge. When you were met with his silence, your hand stilled

“Did I say you could stop?” You whimpered, movement instantly picking back up as you circled your sensitive clit once more. “Come on, little dove, you know better than that.”

Your eyes fluttered close as you rubbed circles on your clit, whimpers spilling from your lips

“Please,” you begged again, right on the verge of the orgasm he kept denying you. “I am so close. Please.”

“Stop,” Chuck’s voice spoke as you whimpered. “You don’t have permission to come.”

You whimpered at those words, knowing this was all part of the punishment. Edging you and then denying you was a personal favorite of his.

“Please,” you whispered, opening your eyes to look at him. “Please, daddy. I’ll be good. I promise!”

“You weren’t so good when you were touching yourself without permission, were you, little dove?” Chuck said, standing up. He walked over, sitting on the bed beside you. “You weren’t my good little girl then. You were a naughty, disobedient little slut.”

He moved your hands, his own hand sneaking between your legs. He plunged two fingers inside of you, thumb circling your clit.

You whined at the feeling, rocking your hips up to his hand. “Please, daddy. I’m sorry!”

He chuckled, hand still moving between your legs. “I’m sure you are, dove.” He spoke, other hand pushing back some of your sweaty hair. “You close, baby?” He whispered as you eagerly nodded your head, hopeful you got permission this time.

“That’s too bad. If you are allowed to come tonight, it won’t be anytime soon.” He spoke, removing his hand from between your legs. He stood up, pulling his pants down, cock hard. He sat back down in the chair, stroking himself. “Go get one of your toys. Let’s make this even better.”

You gulped, knowing the kind of torturous things he could do—or have you do at his instruction—with a toy from your toybox.

You were going to be in for a long night.

[prapasara]

Ways To Say Congratulations and Celebrate Life

Ways to Say Congratulations

Congratulation Meaning & Examples

Congratulation is the act of congratulating someone.

Examples:

Congratulations, you have a healthy baby boy.

Congratulations, wishing you guys the best life can give you.

I send you my warmest congratulations on your success.

Different Ways to Say Congratulations

1. Respects

2. Fantastic

3. Hats off!

4. Sensational

5. Well done

6. Good job!

7. You rock!

8. Nice going

9. Good show!

10. Good going!

11. Good for you!

12. Good on you!

13. Good one mate!

14. I am impressed

15. Way to go

16. You did it!

17. You’re a genius!

18. You’re the best

19. You’ve got it

20. Pat on the back

21. That’s the way

22. That’s the best ever

23. You did it that time!

24. You make it look easy

25. You really deserved it

26. You did that very well

27. What a good try

28. Many happy returns

29. That is better than ever

30. You’re doing a good job

31. You’re doing beautifully

32. You’re really growing up

33. That’s the way to do it

34. You are very good at that

35. You’re on the right track now

36. You’re really going to town

37. Keep up the good work

38. That’s the right way to do it

39. You have done a great job!

40. You’re getting better every day

41. You’ve just about mastered that

42. Nothing can stop you now

43. That’s the best you’ve ever done

44. Keep working, you’re getting better

45. I’m happy to see you working like that.

Ways to Say Congratulations | Images

Ways to say Congratulations in English | Image 1

Useful Ways to say Congratulations | Image 2

38 Words and Short Phrases That You Can Use To Say “Congratulations”

The following words and short phrases are used by English speakers to say “congratulations”. They are considered synonyms for “congratulations” which means that they mean the same thing as “congratulations”.

Native English speakers will understand that any of the words and phrases that we are about to list below mean “congratulations”, but if you are a new language learner, you might be a little confused about how to use these words and phrases.

Basically, you can either just say one of these words or phrases to express admiration and pride for someone’s accomplishments. You can also, however, add a more specific reason as to why you are offering your “congratulations”.

Congrats!

You did it! 

Bravo!

Hooray!

Cheers!

Three cheers!

Salute.

Impressive!

Awesome.

Amazing!

Attaboy

Attagirl

Fantastic.

Respect.

Props!

High five.

Take a bow.

Hats off to you.

Thumbs up!

You rock!

You rule!

Kudos!

Felicitations.

Compliments.

Here’s to you.

Sensational

Good one.

Good show.

Good job.

Good going.

Good for you.

Keep it up.

Nice job. 

Nice work. 

Nice one.

Nicely done.

Well done.

Good one.

62 Phrases You Can Write Or Say If You Want To Congratulate Someone

While just saying “congratulations” or one of its synonyms is polite enough and appropriate in a variety of situations, there are also several other phrases that are commonly used by English speakers to express pride in someone else’s accomplishments.

The following phrases can also be used to say “congratulations”. They are appropriate in a variety of situations and can be used in written messages  -- like an e-mail or in a gift card.

Most of the phrases here can actually be combined with other words or phrases that are ways to say “congratulations” or even with the word “congratulations” itself.

For example:

I knew you could do it! Congratulations.

Bravo! We are so proud of you.

Congratulations! This calls for a celebration.

You can play around with the different combinations to figure out which will work well for you in a particular situation.  Just in case, however, you should probably run the way you are planning to say “congratulations” with an English speaking friend or with your online native language tutor. 

While there aren’t really combinations of ways to say “congratulations” that are considered rude or offensive, if you are just learning the language, you might put together something that sounds “funny” if you don’t get some help from a native speaker.

So proud of you!

This calls for a celebration!

Congratulations are in order!

I knew you could do it!

Keep up the great work.

I’m happy for you.

I couldn’t be happier for you.

I’m thrilled for you!

It couldn’t happen to a better person.

So pleased for you.

So thrilled for you. 

I commend you.

Way to go.

Way to shine.

You amaze me.

You’re the best.

You’re a genius.

You deserve it.

This is awesome.

I’m impressed.

You really deserved it.

You did that very well.

You get a gold star!

You win the crown!

You take first place!

You got the trophy!

You get the gold medal!

You nailed it.

A standing ovation for you!

A toast in your honor!

You’re doing beautifully.

Nothing can stop you now.

Words can’t express how proud I am.

You’ve earned every bit of the success you’re enjoying.

You deserve a pat on the back.

That’s the way.

That’s the best ever.

You did that very well.

You really did it.

You made it look easy.

You’re on the right track now.

You’re really going to town.

Nothing can stop you now.

You will always remember this day, and so will we.

Wishing you all the best in your new adventure.

Best of luck to you in the future.

I’m excited for you.

I’m proud of you.

I’m wishing you the best.

You have accomplished a lot.

I think you are pretty great.

I always knew that good things would come your way.

Keep being awesome.

My face has a proud smile because of you.

Today, we celebrate you.

We are so inspired by you.

We knew you could do it.

Your future is so bright!

I have so much pride in my heart for you right now.

Great things come from great people.

It’s time to celebrate!

Success like yours can’t be bought.

24 Formal Phrases That Are Ways To Say Congratulations

If you are writing a more formal congratulatory message, like in a work or business e-mail, you should look at the following phrases. These are formal ways to say congratulations.

Congratulations and best wishes.

Heartfelt congratulations to you!

Please accept my warmest congratulations.

Let me offer you my congratulations.

Keep up the good work.

I’m really pleased for you.

You have proven your competence. 

You have gone above and beyond expectations.

Congratulations. No one deserves this more.

Sending you heartfelt congratulations today.

Congratulations on your well-deserved success.

Warmest congratulations on your achievement.

So pleased to see you accomplishing great things!

What an impressive achievement.

Simply overjoyed to hear your good news.

You worked so hard for this. Congratulations.

Sincere congratulations on your hard-earned success.

Congratulations. Your hard work and perseverance have paid off.

Well done! Your hard work and determination have paid off.

Congratulations on achieving such a significant milestone.

I hope you feel proud today and confident in your ability to rise to your next challenge.

I’ve got a feeling this is only the beginning of even more great things to come for you.

I commend you on this latest success, and I look forward to seeing even more great things from you.

I knew you were capable, but I didn’t expect this level of accomplishment.

CR   ::    www.justlearn.com/   ,  https://7esl.com/

[deadcactuswalking]

REVIEWING THE CHARTS: 17/02/2024 (Beyoncé, VULTURES 1)

For a seventh week, Noah Kahan stays strong at #1 with “Stick Season” - but it’s Bey season and Ye season… no, those words don’t rhyme, and welcome back to REVIEWING THE CHARTS!

Rundown

Welp, as always, we start with our notable dropouts, songs exiting the UK Top 75, which is what I cover, after five weeks in the top 75 and a peak in the top 40, and this week, we bid adieu to: “HISS” by Megan Thee Stallion (that was quick), “Gas Me Up (Diligent)” by Skepta, “Feather” by Sabrina Carpenter, “When We Were Young (The Logical Song)” by David Guetta and Kim Petras, “Surround Sound” by JID featuring 21 Savage and Yung Baby Tate, “Northern Attitude” by Noah Kahan, “Runaway” by Ye featuring Pusha T, “Can’t Catch Me Now” by Olivia Rodrigo, “Is it Over Now?” by Taylor Swift, “Black Friday” by Tom Odell, “Agora Hills” by Doja Cat, “My Love Mine All Mine” by Mitski and finally, “Baddadan” by Chase & Status and Bou featuring IRAH, Flowdan, Trigga and Takura. Yeah, bit of a bloodbath here.

You know, we actually have barely any returns or gains as a result of the influx of 13 new songs, so we have some vague post-GRAMMYs impact and that’s kind of all, with it mostly being in our returns - “Coal” by Dylan Gossett at #73 (probably not GRAMMYs), “FE!N” by Travis Scott featuring Playboi Carti at #71 and on a much more positive note, Tracy Chapman’s classic original version of “Fast Car” all the way at #38. It first charted at 1988 and peaked at #5 (when Glenn Madeiros’ schmaltzy “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You” was #1) and then returned in 2011 and peaked at #4, when… “Party Rock Anthem” was #1. This won’t last or peak nearly as high, but it improves the net quality of the chart for the time it’s here. As for the gains, “Anti-Hero” by Taylor Swift at #57 and “Home” by Good Neighbours at #34. Yup.

As for our top five, we see Mr. YG Marley creep in maybe in part to his grandfather’s documentary as “Praise Jah in the Moonlight” is at #5. Then “Lose Control” by Mr. Teddy Swims is at #4, “Beautiful Things” by Mr. Benson Boone is at #3, “Murder on the Dancefloor”by Sophie Ellis-Bextor breaks my gag at #2 and finally, Noah is building his seven-week ark at #1. Now our real stories, of course, are in our influx of new entries, many of which are pretty damn high and have exceedingly more to talk about than I wish they did, so I suppose let’s start rounding those off.

New Entries

#64 - “ONE CALL” - Rich Amiri

Produced by Rio Leyva and Zuko

Now, I am not familiar with Rich Amiri, which is a pretty generic rap name all things considered so for all I know, I’ve listened to his mixtape, but I am familiar with some of his producers. Rio Leyva has credits across a lot of recent pop-rap mainstays like Lil Tecca, The Kid LAROI and even Yeat, and he tends to produce in a style many would say is rage-adjacent… so it makes sense that this is a rage song, with some genuinely wiry, menacing leads in the synths and a dirty, factorial trap skitter. The song’s barely two minutes, so it doesn’t really give Mr. Amiri much time to even finish his one verse, which is full of personality-void Auto-Tune and mindless repetition, but he isn’t exactly derivative of any specific person, it just sounds like he hasn’t figured out his exact voice yet, which is expected with up-and-coming rappers. The content obviously isn’t worth speaking of - it’s just flexing and violence and sex all delivered pretty plainly - but he’s not the worst at it? I don’t know, this is great production but I feel like there are rappers who could make this pop out a bit more. Maybe 454, SoFaygo, someone with a high-pitched squawk to make this feel dynamic? If you still want to go for relentless cool, get Thouxanbanfauni on the remix and this could be a slam dunk.

#62 - “Made for Me” - Muni Long

Produced by Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox and JordanXL

“Hrs and Hrs” is not a song I remember much at all let alone fondly, but the voice behind Muni Long is Priscilla Renea, a very prolific songwriter, so I imagine that with Jermaine Dupri on the boards, there could be some R&B wizardry to make her chances at a second hit much more solidified. As for if I like it or not, well, I can see it being a hit considering the 2000s throwback sound with the classy (yet almost basic-sounding) pianos, even down to the groove and the incessant sound effect that’s a bit distractingly loud in the mix, but by the end of the song, you almost forget it’s there and think it would sound weird if it wasn’t. Even if I generally like this song, I don’t really think it fits the song too much, which is about finding your soulmate and… NOT losing them. There should be some grandiosity to this, especially with that powerful voice and chorus, but it feels a bit lost in its own attempt to be “cool”, which… I don’t know, will it be a theme this episode? Probably not, but the first two songs definitely share the element of just not going far enough with good ideas. This is still a solid tune, though.

#60 - “Dance Alone” - Sia and Kylie Minogue

Produced by Jesse Shatkin and Jim-E Stack

Sia. Kylie. Two pop stars of very, very different prepositions but ultimately in the same niche. I have no hopes for anything Sia does, pretty much, never liked her, but what else would I have to say at this point? Her songs produce so little analysis from me because a lot of the time, it’s just kind of immediately obvious what will happen and what I’ll think. There are painfully basic vocal melodies, very typical disco-house beats, and Sia tries to actually play down the hamming but lets her natural characteristic of her voice end up preventing her from doing so because, well, that’s just how her voice sounds. A “subtle” Sia is just an awkward fit, and she may be trying that on purpose so she doesn’t put off pop listeners, but it just results in her being completely outclassed by Kylie, who eats this up as expected. That little “woo!” in the pre-chorus is to live for, as is the “(dance)” ad-lib in the final chorus, but by the time we’re in the “bridge” (see: the post-chorus again, same phrase repeated ad nauseum), Sia’s clipping in the mix again and nothing sounds like it cares about me caring, so I’m not caring. It’ll go hard in the Mumsnet forum voice chats. Do they have those? They should have those.

#55 - “Birds in the Sky” - NewEra

Produced by Karl Durkan and Ben Williams

Okay, I’ll bite: Who are NewEra? Well, according to Genius, they’re an EDM production duo from Dublin and this track from last year is their only song to appear on streaming, yet it’s released on Warner interesting. Either way, it’s clearly blown the Irish duo up a bit, so there must be some merit and well, the sample - wherever it’s from, I genuinely can’t find it - is about as weirdly mixed as they always are on these piano-led EDM cuts, but it doesn’t stick out too much amidst the more typical trance grooves and very basic, almost preset-sounding drums that lead into a constant anticlimax, leading the pianos and barely impactful drop sound like they’re teasing you into a false sense of confidence that the song is at all moving. It damn well works though, it’s pretty hypnotising, so when I was lulled into the drumless glitching section where the cheap pianos actually build up to a pretty good pounding drop, I was thoroughly immersed. These guys have done something right.

#50 - “Make You Mine” - Madison Beer

Produced by Madison Beer and Leroy Clampitt

Madison Beer is one of those ostensible “pop stars” that don’t exactly make innovative, experimental or often even interesting music but still exist only on the peripheries of the mainstream, many of which eventually get some kind of breakout chart hit, and this might just be Ms. Beer’s… well, if this is supposed to convince me on the personality and character of Madison Beer, I am not impressed at all, she doesn’t sound interested in developing that. If it’s supposed to convince me on her production ability… yeah, I’m hopping on this train. This is incredible. My comment on her vocal performance is not a detracting remark of the song, her emotionally confused, at times static and always intimate vocal take adds a lot of depth to the intense, but more accurately hallucinatory sensuality of the song. There’s a lot of staccato repetition, sure, I mean, it’s deep house, but it’s all a luring act as you can “slip inside her mind” (sure), against the warped synth basses, echoed and fuzzy vocal production, mesmerising synths that are incredibly well panned and mixed - the sound design is immaculate, and that’s not even mentioning the incessant groove or one of the catchiest nonsense hooks in pop of recent years. The drop barely registers as such, it feels like a natural climax that the song just slides into, despite all the little intricacies in both the build-up and the catharsis that transform the song into a fizzling journey of sexy club-pop that goes a lot harder in the details that I expected it to. I mean, the overdubbing of synth leads and curious glitches in the outro - nothing’s going to go exactly “wrong” in this hook-up, but it’s not where either expected to be… and for that night, it’s life-changing. I didn’t think I’d like this as much as I do but oh, my God, please make this a hit. ASAP.

#47 - “Heaven or Hell” - K-Trap

Produced by Nathaniel London, Jester Beats and Godwin Sonzi

Well, K-Trap’s back, this time without Headie One, and I guess this is his song for the ladies. There’s a swash of R&B keys, a Central Cee acoustic guitar - or an *NSYNC acoustic guitar relistening - and an actually interesting choice in making the drill hi-hats and really the rhythm section in general a bit papery, with a bass that feels mixed a bit too low yet still being relatively busy. K-Trap is just rambling misogynistically over all of this, and not just in a typical rap way, it’s a bit distracting and groan-worthy, but his comical delivery of some of this as well as the female spoken interludes kind of explain away his hypocrisy a bit. Not too effectively, of course, but it’s worth pointing out that it’s somewhat of a two-way street. I still find the soft percussion resemblant of sample drill pretty refreshing and enjoyable, I just wish maybe there was a more melodic presence of a rapper on it. Still okay.

#44 - “16 CARRIAGES” - Beyoncé

Produced by Beyoncé, Ink and Dave Hamelin

So, Queen Bey released two country-influenced songs on the Sunday - one’s in the top 10, the ballad is at #44. I will wait until this act two of RENAISSANCE is actually out before making any statements on Beyoncé doing country outside of that I hope she ends up shouting out or giving chances and/or feature spots to other Black women in that field, as a way of propping up that community within an industry that pretty flagrantly prevents that instead of just doing a genre switcheroo because she can and convincing nobody about anything systemic in the meanwhile. Hell, that’s more for me, personally, because I’d like to know a lot more Black country artists, and given that I’m obliged to listen to this album, I mean if you care about the genre, Bey, it’d be cool to point me in some directions. Not that it’s her job, but it would be a worthwhile light to shine especially since Beyoncé is both a hitmaker and a bit of a tastemaker.

As for the first of her country efforts though, this is a pretty heartfelt southern soul track that could almost act as a campfire song if not for Bey just not being in that zone as a singer, but it definitely has the clapped rhythm of one and some compelling lyrics regarding her time touring with Destiny’s Child. Now it’s less smoky than I’d really want a song like this to be, it doesn’t sizzle as much as it stagnates, particularly with that crash into the guitars and church organs that doesn’t really surge the way I so badly wanted it to. I do find the vocals excellent, the narrative interesting and still surprisingly relevant to her as a modern touring act as well, and the rapping is surprisingly well implemented, it feels just like she’s shooting the shit in the middle of her country storytelling song. In that regard, I’d like there to be a lot less grandiosity to the presentation, maybe do without the soaring overdubs or horns, make this more of an explicitly acoustic effort. I know it wouldn’t fit Beyoncé and all her harmonies and belting, as her presence isn’t always fit for minimalism, but she could pull it off. The problem with that would be is it doesn’t emulate the theatrics of a stage performance and the abrupt shock of showbiz being put onto her at an early age, so there’s some great mirroring there that almost makes up for me not being greatly into the actual sound of these tracks. Regardless, it does have me excited for the more solemn moments on this album, but we won’t be covering that until the end.

#37 - “Abracadabra” - Wes Nelson featuring Craig David

Produced by Mike Brainchild and Rndm Beats

CRAIG DAVID?! And it doesn’t appear to be a sample? The crowd says “bo selecta” indeed. Whatever about this Wes Nelson guy, he sounds like an AI amalgamated what every R&B singer has sounded like since the planes hit, or realistically, just Jeremih, but the beat is a rough-around-the-edges 2-step jam with harder bass than you’d think and some blocky space synths. It’s all very rote but it’s also Craig David and man, you can put however many filters on his voice, it’ll still sound like Craig David, and I can’t even seriously critique him anymore. I’m sure he’s a complex, nuanced human being with flaws and feelings but to me, he’s just an unexplainable deity figure. Also, there is a moment during the drop of this song - and the outro - where the beat cuts out for Craig David to say “Bruh”, and I just needed to point this out.

#31 - “Forever” - Noah Kahan

Produced by Noah Kahan and Gabe Simon

The Vermont singer-songwriter has released what appears to be the final deluxe edition of his #1 album Stick Season, subtitled “Forever”, henc ethe name of its sole original song. I’m honestly surprised this didn’t debut higher, but there is a lot debuting above it, and Kahan tends to have sleepers. Speaking of sleepers, I’m not really feeling this one as much. It’s got the wistful acoustics but it’s a lot slower in its pace, especially for its first half, which makes Kahan’s frail, nasal vocal that I’m still not that big on not nearly as ignorable, especially as it punctuates the lyrics so exactly and ends up making the harmonies, especially in the pre-chorus, somewhat haunting, which given the deterministic lovelorn lyricism, doesn’t seem to be the intention? It eventually picks up a nice little bluegrass-esque groove but nothing too far from an average Lumineers track in terms of just lacking bite and punch, whilst forcing Kahan to strain more than he needs to, to sell pretty resonant content.

#18 - “BACK TO ME” - Adolf Hitler and Ty Dolla $ign

Produced by Hitler, Ty Dolla $ign, 88-Keys, Wax Motif, AyoAA, Feez, Nic Nac and James Alex Hau

88-Keys, huh? Now, I’m not saying that Kanye West is Hitler, I’m just doing him a favour and comparing him to his idol. There are a lot of things that he loves about him. In a perfect world, I have the choice to completely ignore this album, especially since two of the debuts from VULTURES 1 (debuted at #2 on this week’s album charts) are considered widely to be the best tracks by both me and a lot of the fans, though I am a sucker for the darker, problematic last quarter that people don’t tend to like that much. I don’t want to admit that, of course, and I’m kind of torn between not feeding into exhaustive discourse by not mentioning any controversy and then feeling bad for not doing so because I’d be supporting his cult of fans who supposedly only care about the music, regardless of how his music is constantly reminding you of his controversies. It’s also not easy when you have two pretty damn good tracks from an album that largely consists of the man embarrassing himself and, well, Ty Dolla $ign, who sounds wonderfully smooth on this track and many others. He stands out particularly well over the punchy breakbeats and bass that entrench the mix. Hitler does embarrass himself as usual, but the minute-and-a-half Auto-Tuned quoting of an old comedy movie that he probably doesn’t even remember the rest of is an almost poetic reflection of where he is as an artist and a man. Oh, and Freddie Gibbs shows up to steal the show so effortlessly with his tightest, rapid flows I think I’ve heard from him in years, some excellent, topical wordplay that feels like it’s what the album wanted to be: playful and effervescent in its hedonism. He steals the show so much in fact that the song just ends after he does, he takes complete ownership. Nice one, Gibbs, do it on someone else’s album, for the love of God.

#17 - “BURN” - Adolf Hitler and Ty Dolla $ign

Produced by Hitler, Azul, Morten “Rissi” Ristorp, Chrishan, The Legendary Traxster and Leon Thomas III

This is just what this guy’s album used to sound like. We have a mid-album reminder that he can still do it, but only for two minutes, and half of that is Ty the Tasmanian Tiger over here carrying the album with his sloppily-mixed but still incredibly passionate and incessantly catchy chorus - I’ve had it in my head for the whole damn week, pretty much - over a very conventional, punchy chipmunk soul beat that lasts less than two minutes and it just ends up on a bittersweet note. The Hitler verse is his most coherent during the whole album, it’s pretty fun, it’s pretty traditional, not worth the attention paid. And neither is…

#12 - “CARNIVAL” - Adolf Hitler and Ty Dolla $ign

Produced by Hitler, TheLabCook, Ojivolta and Digital Nas

Now, thankfully, there really is nothing of value to cover here regardless of how and where you slice it. The song is like 60% Rich the Kid, which should show you how inspired the former GOAT has been lately. Hitler spends most of his verse just being cheaply transgressive for attention, pretty much explaining why I’m not a fan of prominent critics covering this album, dignifying it as more than an ego trip surrounded by yes-men. That’s not to say transgression can’t be art, there’s a lot of discussion to be had about the value of transgressions against the audience. And Hell, maybe a rage song about riding dick featuring Rich the Kid and Playboi Carti warrants that level of analysis, but that’s exactly what Hitler wants me to do here, and I’m not taking instructions from Hitler! I’m not following orders!

#9 - “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” - Beyoncé

Produced by Beyoncé, Killah B and Nathan Ferraro

Alright, this is just fun. I’m sure someone more equipped than me to talk about country than me will have a lot to say about this song, but I just got a kick out of Bey’s sultry voice, as always perfectly layered with energetic ad-libs and riffing, over that acoustic rolick and clearly programmed thumping production and generic country ambiance. You can tell that this isn’t produced by Nashville staples as much as it’s a semi-outsider attempt at fusing country with Beyoncé’s more natural pop and R&B territory, but it doesn’t detract from it being a sick groove about just having a lot of fun on the dancefloor, boogieing with somebody who makes you forget about everything that’s going wrong. That whistling post-chorus with all the traditional fiddle - if I’m getting that correct - in the background is such a cool little moment, especially with the panning that replicates the live hoedown feel. It absolutely feels much more like a costume party than “16 CARRIAGES”, but to be honest, I might prefer this one just because of how easily Bey dresses up in this particular set of clothes. That’s not derogatory either, she literally lists off “hoops, spurs, boots” in that gorgeous outro. I’m actually glad that such a large, potentially problematic but still full of music to discuss ends on such a delightful, carefree note. Love it.

Conclusion

It’s not getting the best, though, Best of the Week is going to… surprisingly enough, Madison Beer for “Make You Mine”, but Bey obviously grabs the Honourable Mention with “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM”. As for the worst, I mean… there is a song with Rich the Kid on this week. “CARNIVAL” is a shoe-in, but given this was actually a pretty great week in terms of overall quality, it’s difficult. I think I want to give it to K-Trap for “Heaven and Hell” but that’s really because it appears as the lazier, less interesting of the songs I wasn’t a fan of. On another day, it probably would have been Sia, but K-Trap doesn’t have a Kylie Minogue feature. Anyway, with all of that chaos out of the way, thank you for reading, rest in peace to country legend Toby Keith, and I’ll see you next week!