#Safe & Sound (Feat. Joy Williams and John Paul White) (Taylor's Version)

[taylornation]

Don’t close your eyes just yet – Taylor just released four new songs to celebrate the start of Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour! ✨

[rachelelizabeth1324]

heyyyy taylor and team… i’m giving u guys my therapy bill at this point :)

[milliesfishes]

౨ৎ꣑ৎEpilogue: Undoubtable౨ৎ꣑ৎ

[fem reader] contains: angst, pregnancy, difficult birth pairing: billy the kid x fem reader summary: epilogue to 'Impossible' and 'Inscrutable' author’s note: this series has been an emotional journey and y'all have been more than supportive. thank you for reading this story and loving it as much as I do <3 Pinterest Board Spotify Playlist

The hum of the forest was the epitome of calm.

It was never loud, of course, but it was noisy in a quiet way, the steady lilt of birds and creatures likewise creating an overall pleasing sound. Sometimes the wind rustled the leaves, and when it rained it was peaceful.

On days like today, when the sun was peeking through the leaves and casting shadows on the soft earth, it was heaven. Your mind was at ease as you sat on the porch and let yourself breathe. The air was cool despite the state of the sky, and so you had a blanket wrapped around you as you sat cozied up directly in the path of the sunshine.

It was nearly nightfall, and you wanted to get as much warmth as possible from this beautiful day, since it was sure to rain tomorrow. These kinds of fair-weather gaps were exactly that: gaps. You didn't know when the next one would come, and so you soaked up the light when it came.

Your ears tuned in to the crunch of footsteps, and when you looked out into the distance you saw Billy lumbering over with a stack of fresh cut wood. He set it by the porch steps and climbed up to meet you, greeting you with a kiss and kneeling at your side, his hand finding yours. The other hand adjusted the blanket around you, pulling it snugly over your shoulders.

"Hey baby," he murmured, his voice low and affectionate. "Ya warm enough?"

Nodding gently, you squeezed his hand and slid from your chair to wrap your arms around his neck. The blanket fell around your waist as you cuddled up against him quietly.

Billy didn't question it, just slid one arm over your back and the other to the back of your head, holding you there so comfortably that you sighed. His body rocked back and forth subtly, soothing you even though there was nothing to be soothed from. This was perfect. He was perfect.

His chin rested on the part in your hair. "You hungry?"

"Mhm," you smiled, nuzzling your head against his chest.

"Alright." Billy stood, bringing you with him and rewrapping the blanket around your shoulders. "How 'bout I make us somethin' tonight, hm?"

Normally you would have said yes. He was being sweet, and you could tell today was one of those days when he particularly felt like spoiling you. But you had something on your mind.

"I already started something," you smiled, and he kissed your forehead.

"You're an angel Daisy." He slid his arm around you and led you back inside. "M' girl workin' hard f'me."

"You work plenty hard for me all day," you responded as you went into the kitchen, checking on the stove. Soup was just about done. You'd stepped outside while it simmered, knowing a watched pot never boiled. "This is the least I can do."

"You're gonna turn me into a kept man," Billy chuckled, leaning over your shoulder and taking a whiff of the soup. "Ohh, this one's my favorite honey."

"I know," you said casually, reaching for bowls to ladle it into. "Go sit. I'll bring it to you."

"Can't let my girl be carryin' her own dinner," Billy reached for the bowls as you served up the soup.

"Go sit." You leaned up and kissed his cheek so he would. Though it was silly, you didn't want to ask for anything from him. Not yet.

As expected, he ate every bite in front of him and asked for seconds, which you happily provided him with. You wanted to make sure he was fed before you told him what you'd been thinking about.

When he was done, he reached over to squeeze your hand. "Thank you, baby. That was so good."

You smiled, squeezing his hand back. "Billy."

He recognized that look in your eye and nodded, sitting up straighter. When he'd come in the house, he'd taken off his hat, and so you could see his eyes clearly now. The sight of them comforted you.

"Billy," you started, giving his hand another squeeze. "I've been thinking about something. And I...I think it could be a really good thing for us."

"Tell me, angel," his chin lowered so you were at eye level. "I'm all ears."

He wasn't going to like this. "I want to try for another baby."

You could hear the creak of the roof, the birds singing their final notes before the sun hid behind the hills. The only silence was between the two of you. Billy's lips parted slightly in surprise. His eyes were cast on the wood of the table in front of you, and he seemed to be thinking.

Finally, he looked back up, shaking his head. "No."

"Billy just hear me out-" you tried, standing as he did. He picked up both your bowl and his, bringing them over to the counter. His hands found the edges and gripped them as you plead your case, head bowed, expression solemn. "-I know what you're thinking-"

"Daisy..." he turned around to look at you, and you saw he was slightly taken aback by your pleading eyes and desperate stance. Billy's face softened just a tad and then he stepped forward, his hand finding the nape of your neck and pushing your head forward to his lips, which found your forehead. "Daisy. No."

Your face fell. He sighed and looked down for a second. When he met your eyes again, Billy said, "Why don'tcha go on and get ready for bed? I'll clean up here and meetcha there in a minute."

It was hard to do anything but stare at him. He was trying to distract you and it wasn't working. Seeing this, Billy's hands cradled your cheeks, and he kissed your nose, nudging it with his. "Go on now. I'll be along."

Feeling dejected and slightly embarrassed, you obeyed.

When he came in from the kitchen you were in your nightdress, sitting on the edge of the bed with your knees tucked under you and brushing your hair, eyes fixed on the ground.

The sounds of him undressing were heard, and you felt the mattress dip as he settled next to you. There was a hand on your shoulder, but you didn't turn.

He swept your hair behind your shoulder, running his fingers through the freshly brushed strands. Billy loved playing with your hair. He always had. You turned to look at him, hopeful that maybe this time he would listen.

Seeing what you were about to do, Billy spoke. "I'm sorry Daisy. I didn't respond the way I should've in there." He thumbed your cheek as he muttered, "But...you have to understand why I think it's a bad idea."

"I know," you said softly, searching his eyes. "But that was different."

He let out a frustrated sigh, hanging his head for a moment. "Daisy I almost lost ya. Ain't goin' through that 'gain."

"There was a war going on," you protested. "So many things were different than they are now. "And Joe had just-" your breath hitched, and you looked away. No matter how much time passed, the sting of your brother's death still felt brand new.

Billy looked pained over it too. It'd been just as hard a hit for him; losing his best friend. But he continued. "You were havin' problems long before that. Rosie was takin' such a toll on you, honey. I woulda worried the same even if everythin' with the fire hadn't happened."

"We were kids, Billy," you insisted, squeezing his hand. "It was such a stressful situation."

"We ain't older by much," he looked down at your hands. "'sides, the older ya get the more dangerous it's gonna be."

"So we should try now while it's not dangerous," you tried.

"I'm worried it already is dangerous, sweetheart," Billy looked so sincere that you fell silent. The quiet was burning, the energy from the argument still palpable in the air. He hesitated before continuing. "We have each other. We're alive. And we're safe. Can't we just count what we've got and be content with that?"

His words made you feel guilty. Why couldn't you be happy with what you had? No, you were happy. All the pain of the past had settled into dust, even if it was kicked up every now and then. Every day you woke up and thanked your lucky stars that he was next to you, safe and sound.

But you couldn't ignore that undeniable yearning inside you. That hole Rosie had left in you could never be filled. You would always miss your baby girl. But it could be eased.

"I don't want you to think I'm not happy," you started quietly, meeting his eyes again. "I'm so, so happy. Every day I see you beside me alive and breathing is a treasure. It feels like a dream being just the two of us out here. There's no war and no bounty hanging over our heads."

Billy nodded, sensing you had more to say and staying silent.

"But a baby could be such a good thing," you smiled softly as you said it. "When I think of Rosie, and how happy I was to have her even for a minute...I know you felt it too."

He had a faraway look in his eye, and you knew he was remembering. "I know, Daisy."

Then he wrapped his arms around your waist, burying his face in your neck. One hand came to the strap of your chemise, sliding under it and letting one finger roam up and down the skin there. You ran your fingers through his hair as he murmured, "We've spent half our lives wanting to be together like this. I don't wanna put that at risk for anything. Not even a baby."

You nodded, finally truly understanding his stance. He'd lost so many people he loved in his life. You were all he had left now. And truthfully, he was all you had too. So, with that in mind, you kissed his hair. "You're right."

He lifted his head. "I am?"

Nodding again, you gave him a little smile. "I love you. I'm so happy being here with you after everything...I think you're right. It was a reckless idea."

Billy nudged his nose against your forehead and gave it a kiss. He held his lips there for a moment. "Thank ya, baby." Wrapping his arm around you, he pulled you down to rest against him, burying his face in your hair. "Thank ya for lettin' me keep you."

That night you thought your dreams would hold cradles and babies, but they didn't. It was funny how the day before you'd wanted it so, so bad, but now that need was gone. You would have liked a baby, really, but Billy's words stuck with you.

No more losing each other.

You kept that mindset until one day when Billy was hugging you and you realized your breasts were more tender than usual.

Oh.

That had been one of the first signs when you'd figured out you were having Rosie. And the second you realized that was when you knew. It was a tiny, resolute feeling within you to match the tiny, resolute life inside you. When you missed your monthly it only confirmed it.

Nervous to tell Billy, you held off for about a week. But it built up inside you and exactly seven days after you'd realized, when you were in bed one evening with him, skin against skin, you blurted it out.

He'd looked down at you, his lips parted in surprise. But when he saw how joyful you were, how excited, his face softened, and he pulled you impossibly closer, kissing all over your face.

"It was meant to be," you whispered in the dark as you laid with your head on his shoulder. One of his hands was covering your flat tummy in a protective way.

Billy kissed your temple in response. "It was."

Your pregnancy went by quickly. With Rosie, you hadn't thought it possible for Billy to get more vigilant, but apparently you hadn't seen anything.

This baby weakened you more than Rosie had much to Billy's worry. You were bedridden for much of the second half of the pregnancy. Your husband wouldn't let you lift a single finger, and it only made you love him more. He was so determined to make this work.

When your appetite was gone, he spoon fed you soup. When your body was sore and achy he offered his hands, his arms; any of his warm body to soothe the pain. In those few moments when you cried to him that you were scared, he held you tight, telling you how strong you were, and that everything was going to be okay.

In a moment of weakness, you agreed with him that this was going to be your last baby. It had been a miracle to get this one, and you weren't going to push your body further than it could take.

Giving birth was an arduous process just like you remembered. You lived too far out of town to get to a midwife in time, and so Billy propped you up with his body, his hand squeezed between yours as he helped you breathe through the pain.

He was frightened, you could tell. And you would have been lying if you said you weren't too. The events of Rosie's coming into the world had haunted you ever since you'd found out about this baby. But Billy was here. And he'd never not be here. That eased you through the rippling cramps more than anything.

Luckily your body's natural instincts took over, and just as the sun set, you had a baby girl. And she was healthy, crying as Billy handed you to her. You laid the baby against your chest, tears falling down your cheeks as you looked at her, at her tiny body, her little fingers and toes. She was beautiful.

"You're amazing," Billy readjusted himself behind you after he'd carefully changed the bedsheets, making sure not to disturb his wife and child. He kissed your hair. "And you're feelin' alright?"

"Just tired," you whispered, unable to take your eyes off your baby. She was sleeping so peacefully in your arms, swaddled in a blanket.

He reached over to rest his hand on the baby's head, smoothing her gently. She had a smattering of dark hair just like Billy's. And you knew most babies were born with blue eyes, but you'd bet money that hers would stay that way. Just like her daddy's.

"Lookit her cheeks," you could hear the smile in his voice. "Like two little cherries." Billy ran a gentle finger down one of them. "Hi, Cherry."

"Charlotte," you reminded him, and he kissed your temple.

"Don't see why she can't have a nickname," he smiled. "I'm real good at those. Gave her mama the best one."

You smiled, leaning back against his chest. "Now's a good time to give one to her. Didn't get mine until I was nine."

"That's nine too many years without it." Billy mock shook his head in disappointment. "Shoulda been there when you popped out."

Laughing lightly, you rested your body fully against his, still watching little Cherry. Billy kept a safe arm around you, his smile tired but elated.

"You've given me everything, Daisy," he said softly, careful not to wake the baby. "You've given me everything I never thought I could have."

Billy dipped his head to kiss you softly, and you looked at him lovingly when your lips parted. "I love you, Billy. Today, tomorrow, forever."

He let out a quiet, happy laugh, his hand at that spot on the back of your head. "My Daisy..." his lips claimed yours again for just a second. "It's you and me, my love."

Your eyes sparkled. "It's you and me."

Previous part

[cinnamongorll]

a fragile line - chapter 24

read on ao3! (117k words) | previous chapter | next chapter | masterlist

Pairing: Joel Miller x Female OC

Tags: extreme slow burn, age gap, older man/younger woman, protective joel, jealous joel, hurt/comfort, pov third person, mutual pining, angst, sexual tension, friends to lovers, canon-typical violence, feral joel, parental abuse, eventual smut.

Series synopsis: three years ago, Juliet escaped her father's religious survivor camp, ending up in the Boston QZ. Juliet created a life for herself in Boston, desperate to forget the trauma of her upbringing. One day, Juliet arrives home to find a mysterious letter which forces her to return to her home town. Juliet can't travel the harsh post-apocalyptic landscape alone, so she enlists the help of the grumpy and, at times, frightening man she works alongside: Joel Miller.

Word count: 4.9k

Chapter 24: 'Safe and Sound'

Juliet's POV:

“Horses” 

The word left Juliet’s mouth in a strangled whisper, and it would have been lost in the wind if Joel hadn’t been standing so close. His head shot up, instantly recognising the shapes moving rapidly towards them.

“Get behind me,” he roared, gripping her arm and twisting Juliet behind him. It all happened so fast, she didn’t even have time to argue. Joel’s protectiveness was ingrained within him, whether Juliet liked it or not. 

To her right, Ethan started to pull out his gun but Juliet shook her head. This time, Ethan listened to her quiet warning and slowly released the gun back into his pocket. He held her frantic gaze for another couple moments before facing forward again. 

Within seconds, they were surrounded. Joel started to move in different directions, desperately  trying to pull Juliet out of the way. But the horses, and the people on them, covered every escape angle. They were trapped. 

Ethan stumbled closer to her as the horses continued to herd them together. Juliet’s head whipped around, her hair flying around her face. Her heart was thumping against her chest, terror sparked in every vein. She wanted to pull Joel behind her, to protect him instead. But there was no time. 

“We ain’t lookin’ for any trouble,” Joel called when the horses stopped moving, and the men upon them pulled out their guns. Slowly, he released Juliet’s arm and raised his hands in front of him. Juliet did the same, with Ethan following their movements. 

“We’re just passin’ through,” Joel continued, keeping his voice clear and steady. 

“Drop the guns!” one of the men shouted back. 

Ethan scrambled for the gun in his pocket and Juliet cringed, terrified that they would read his quick movements as a threat. Carefully, Joel slid the gun out of his back pocket and bent to the ground, placing it on the grass with one hand still raised. Joel was obviously familiar with this kind of situation.

They didn’t ask for her gun. Sexist, fucks, Juliet thought. 

But she wasn’t ignored. One of the men spotted her, his eyes narrowing. “You,” he barked, gesturing with the gun in his hand. “Take five steps back.”

Joel stiffened and Juliet stopped breathing. If she moved, what were they going to do to Joel? He didn’t dare turn around, but Juliet noticed his body start to angle towards her. She stared at the back of his head, watching as the breeze rustled through his hair and tried to calm her racing heart. 

“How ‘bout we just talk this through?” Joel reasoned, raising his voice.

“How ‘bout you shut the fuck up?” the man instantly replied, impatience coating his words. Juliet could feel a pulse of anger building under her skin, but she knew when it was time to back down. 

“Okay, easy,” she relented, stepping backwards away from Joel and closer to Ethan.

Joel’s head whipped around. His eyes were wide and blazing. Juliet just nodded, letting him know she was okay, that they would get through this. They had done it before, together. They would do it again. 

“You been near infected?” the man demanded, tightening his hand around his gun. 

“There’s no infected out here,” Joel ground out when his stare returned forward. Juliet could hear the deep frustration in his voice; the crushing fear of not knowing how to get out of a situation. Juliet played a million scenarios over and over in her head, trying to figure out who to shoot but there were so many of them. 

“The hell there ain’t,” argued the assumed leader of the group. 

As Juliet shifted her stance, the wind attacked again. This time, the gust blew against her open jacket, lifting the flannel shirt beneath it. The cold wind was biting and her skin instantly pebbled. But that wasn’t what caused a chill of horror to spread across her body. 

The man on the horse closest to her perked up, lifting his gun higher. “This one’s injured!,” he called, alarm shining on his face. His horse responded to his panic, rearing up with a strangled whine. 

Juliet dropped her hands to hover over her stomach, where the thick bandage, once hidden behind her flannel, was now exposed. She didn’t dare touch it, though. She didn’t dare draw more attention to it. Instead, Juliet bit down on the inside of her cheek and steeled herself for a fight. If they thought she was infected, none of them were getting out of here alive. 

There must have been at least ten men, saddled on horses, surrounding them, and every one of them turned their weapons on her. Blood rushed in Juliet’s ears, drowning out the sound of her ragged breaths. 

“Wait,” Joel bellowed, raising his hands higher. Juliet wasn’t sure, but it looked like there was a slight tremble to his fingers. “There’s no infection,” he insisted, his voice desperate. “Just a burn.”

Despite her terror, Juliet flinched at the reminder. 

Beside her, Ethan was frozen, staring at Juliet’s stomach with an open mouth. Juliet squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the bullet which would finally end her life. But it didn’t come. Instead, she heard the strange, sudden sound of barking and growling. Blinking rapidly, her eyes settled on a dog being led by one of the men. 

“If you’ve been infected, he will smell it and he will rip you up,” cautioned the man, still aiming his gun towards Juliet. “Last chance for a bullet,” he taunted.

Juliet wasn’t infected but it didn’t stop the instinct to run from gripping her mind. But she didn’t. She steadied her feet, raised her hands in front of her again and let her eyes fall closed. Maybe if they realised she wasn’t infected they would let them go. There was no land to fight over, they had just been passing through. Juliet repeated those thoughts over and over again as the dog drew closer. Its snarl was vicious and bloodthirsty, she could imagine its teeth ripping into her skin, damaging her already frail body beyond repair. 

Seconds passed. 

The snarls stopped.

Juliet opened her eyes, slowly with intense caution, and looked down. At her feet sat the dog, completely changed from the ferocious beast she had built up in her mind. It looked up at her with big brown eyes, panting softly. Juliet let out a shaky breath and looked to Joel. 

The horror hadn’t left his face. 

“You just bought yourself ten more seconds,” the leader reluctantly announced, shifting to lower his gun slightly. “What are you doin’ out here?” 

Joel turned back around. His anger was showing now, Juliet could tell in the way he titled his head and adjusted his stance. “I’m just lookin’ for my brother,” he answered in a cold, dark voice. “That’s all, nothin’ more.” 

Ethan was the first to notice when a horse, and its rider, from the back of the group moved forward. His hand went to his pocket, hovering over his gun. Juliet caught his eye, before focusing on the new threat. 

But this rider was different. It was a woman. She had dark skin and dark hair, almost hidden behind a scarf raised above her mouth and a hat similar to the ones worn by the men. As she made her way to the front of the group, the rest of the men sat up straighter, following her with their eyes. Juliet had been wrong… this was their leader. 

Juliet stood up straighter herself, adjusting her shoulders and holding her breath again. The inside of her cheek had started bleeding with the force of her bite, but she swallowed it down, letting the hot metallic taste ground her. 

When she reached the front, the rider focused entirely on Joel. Even from beneath the rim of the hat, Juliet noticed the way her eyes scanned Joel up and down. “What’s your name?” she demanded. 

“Joel,” he replied after a moment, confusion bleeding into his tone. 

The woman’s eyes widened, and she turned behind her towards the rest of her men, nodding slowly. The men instantly lowered their guns. 

Juliet gasped in surprise, her eyes shooting to Ethan. He looked at her in shock, eyebrows raised as his eyes darted between Juliet and the woman on the horse. 

As Joel lowered his hands, Juliet realised what was happening. 

She knew his brother. She knew Tommy. 

…………………………………………..

Juliet rode into Jackson with her arms wrapped tight around Joel and her fingers curled around the front of his shirt. 

They shared a horse, surrounded by the men and the woman they found was called Maria. Ethan was behind them on his own horse. Juliet tried to share with one of the other men but Joel just grunted, wrapped his strong hands around her waist and lifted her onto his horse, careful to avoid brushing against her still healing wound. 

As they journeyed closer to the town where Tommy apparently lived, Juliet leaned closer into Joel until her face was flush with his back. Despite the chill, Joel was a furnace and Juliet allowed herself to sink into the comfort of their close proximity. The shock of knowing that Tommy was truly alive, and not just a symbol of Joel’s hope, was overwhelming.

Juliet tried not to let her fear paralyse her, but they were headed into an unknown situation with unknown people who had unknown motivations. As they closed in on Jackson and the sight of the tall, forboarding fence came into view, Juliet felt her skin begin to crawl. Her fingers curled tighter around Joel’s shirt and she pressed her face deeper into his back.

She didn’t want to hide or bury her head in the sand. This wasn’t her father’s community. Juliet knew that. But the fence looked so similar, and the dread that settled deep in her gut felt so familiar. 

Joel must have felt her body’s response to their surroundings as he turned his head to the side, and brushed the side of his jaw against the top of her head, the best he could while riding the horse. Juliet would have smiled and her heart would have skipped a beat if she were anywhere else, or anyone else, but his touch still helped to ground her. Joel was with her. They would be okay. Everything was okay. 

Juliet kept her head pressed against Joel’s back as the gate opened with several shouted orders and their group gradually entered the town. Juliet expected Jackson to be cloaked by a heavy silence where the only sounds that dared reach above a whisper were old windchimes and the cries of hungry babies. In her father’s community, no one was vocal in their joy, not that there was any joy to be felt in those dark, ghostly streets. 

But in Jackson, there was laughter. 

Juliet opened her eyes and pulled back from Joel’s warmth, blinking slowly. Surely she imagined the sound. Laughter was rare in this world, so rare in fact that she couldn’t remember the last time a laugh left her own mouth. But sure enough, when Juliet’s eyesight cleared, she looked around and saw children outside wooden buildings, huddled in warm coats with pink rosy cheeks and bright smiles to match their giggles. 

Juliet’s clenched fingers loosened as shock coursed through her. Her brain couldn’t keep up with the wonders she witnessed - couples walked by holding hands, staring up at their group, waving to the man who almost shot her only an hour ago. No one had a haunted look on their face, no one had dark purple circles under their eyes, no one cringed when they heard the horses approach. They did stare, however, at Juliet, Joel and Ethan, but not out of fear. Rather, the residents looked surprised, and intrigued. Some even smiled at Juliet as they passed. Juliet was too shocked to return the gesture, she wasn’t even sure if she could anymore. 

As they made their way down what appeared to be the main street, Juliet sat up straighter and turned her head back and forth to take everything in. There were so many people and everyone had a job and a goal, there were little projects going on everywhere she looked. Some men piled firewood, some cut the firewood. There were groups of children being led by what appeared to be a teacher. Juliet had been too young to experience it, but from the books she’d read, this must have been what the old world was like. 

Moments later Joel pulled the reins on the horse, halting it immediately. Juliet’s eyes shot to the back of his head, then whipped around them to search for danger, for whatever had spooked him. But after an achingly long second, she realised that he was entirely transfixed on someone across the street, standing on a platform held up by scaffolding…

“Tommy!” 

Joel’s call was almost frenzied. His hands were cupped around his mouth as he released his brother’s name, numbly claiming his attention like a man in a trance. Before Juliet could react, Tommy turned and Joel slid off the horse, hitting the ground with a thump. But Joel wasn’t caring, he just started jogging; his steps were off balance and frantic until he reached his brother and captured him in a bear hug. 

Juliet’s mouth dropped open. Joel’s show of affection was sudden, intense and completely unrestrained. From her view on the horse, she swore he was shaking. The brothers gripped each other with a desperation she felt she had to look away from. It was too intimate, too personal for her to witness. From just one interaction, Juliet could tell how deep their bond ran; how thick their shared blood flowed. 

She glanced at Ethan, who had stopped his horse beside her own. He watched Joel and Tommy with an unguarded, wistful expression. Juliet felt her eyes begin to fill with tears as she glanced back at the embracing men. There wasn’t much to celebrate anymore, but this reunion was a glimmer of light in a sea of darkness. He’s done it. Joel had really done it. He’d found his brother, against all odds. 

“What the fuck you doin’ here?” Tommy asked when they pulled apart, a huge grin splitting his face. He had an accent like Joel, thick in a warm southern drawl. 

Joel released a weighted breath, his hands were still gripping his brother’s shoulders. “I came here to save you,” he answered with a laugh while looking around, as though realising how unnecessary his concern was. 

Juliet watched this interaction with the hit of a smile approaching her mouth and tears glistening in her eyes. As the brothers leaned in for another hug, Juliet found Ethan’s eyes again. He smiled at her. It was a small smile, nervous but hopeful. As a tear rolled down her cheek, Juliet allowed her mouth to curve in response, matching his gentle gesture with one of her own. They still hadn’t spoken of the words they had thrown like daggers at each other only the night before, but their matching smiles called a truce. 

As they sat on their horses, watching Joel and Tommy embrace, Juliet wondered if maybe there was still space for joy in the world. Maybe here in Jackson, she would find it.

……………………………………………

Getting off the horse was harder than getting on. For starters, Joel was preoccupied, so Juliet had no one to lift her down. And the strain of their bumpy ride had aggravated her wound, sending sharp bolts of pain across her entire stomach. Juliet groaned under her breath as she attempted to twist her body, holding tight to the saddle. 

She had one leg off the horse when Joel caught her.

His hands wrapped around her ribs, pulling her back down against his chest as he eased her other leg off the saddle. Juliet’s body electrified as it slid down the front of Joel’s. When her feet were planted firmly on the ground, a flush had consumed her entire face. It was maddening how comfortable Joel now was with touching Juliet. Where, for years working beside each other, Joel would flinch back anytime she drew near. Now, he struggled to step away from her. 

Juliet blew out a breath and turned, separating herself from Joel. She looked up at him, marking the openness of his expression and the way his eyes widened as he let his gaze drift down to his hands which still hovered around her waist. Joel released a long breath and straightened, turning his head just as Tommy and Ethan approached. 

Juliet quickly took another step back, widening the gap between herself and Joel, and willed her burning cheeks to cool. 

“Who’s this?” Tommy asked as he stopped beside Joel, gesturing towards Juliet with a tilt of his head.

Now that he was close, Juliet could finally get a good look at him. His hair was longer than Joel’s and darker, almost devoid of any grey hairs. Tommy was obviously younger but he held himself with an authority which expanded beyond his years. 

Juliet looked to Joel and then to Tommy, waiting for an introduction. But Joel looked speechless, his lips had parted and the muscles in his throat moved as though he was desperately attempting to speak but just couldn’t. 

When Joel continued to say nothing, Juliet stepped forward and reached a hand towards Tommy. “Juliet,” she said. Tommy blinked, staring down at her hand, before grasping it firmly with his own. “And that’s Ethan,” she continued, pointing behind Tommy once they let go. Tommy turned, greeting Ethan with a nod and a tight smile. 

“Well, you’ve been busy,” Tommy marvelled, eyeing Joel. 

Joel’s stare had locked on Juliet again. At the sound of Tommy’s voice, he shifted his stance and curled his hands into fist. Gone was the joyous reunion, gone was Joel’s soft side. His cold stare and tense features had returned. 

“She needs a medic,” Joel muttered in a low voice and Juliet stiffened, her eyes cutting to his vacant face. She was injured, yes. But her burn was healing fine, she didn’t need anyone to look at it. 

“Joel -” she attempted to interrupt, but his hand snatched her wrist, sealing her protest back within her. Juliet gasped as her eyes instantly caught sight of his scarred fingers curled lightly around the sleeve of her jacket.  

Tommy followed her gaze, focusing on his brother’s hand with raised eyebrows before he cleared his throat and nodded at Joel. 

“We can do that. Follow me,” he said with a hint of confusion in his voice as he turned and began to head along the main street. Ethan walked beside him, already attacking Tommy with questions about the town. 

Joel’s fingers slid from her arm and he gestured for her to follow the men, but Juliet held her ground, staring up at Joel with a furrowed brow. “Why’d you do that?” she hissed.

Joel rolled his eyes and began walking, running a hand over the bottom of his face. Juliet released a frustrated groan and rushed to catch up the best she could.

“I’m fine, I don’t need anyone poking and prodding at me,” she continued as they walked together. 

After a long moment, Joel sighed. “You’re not fine,” he maintained. 

“But -” 

“I don’t wanna hear it. You’re gettin’ that burn looked at and that’s the end of it,” he ground out slowly, with such force to his voice that Juliet struggled to come up with another argument. 

Instead, she resigned herself to silence; admitting defeat. She knew that Joel was just being protective and she didn’t resent that. But the thought of someone seeing what her father had done to her… a cold sweat broke out along the back of her neck as she swallowed rough. 

………………………………

The medic’s office was a small wooden building near the end of the main street, before the town descended into rows and rows of houses. They had passed a bar on their way and what looked to be some sort of community centre. With each building they passed, Juliet’s mind flashed back to her father’s town and the memories still housed in her mind of her own experiences in such similar buildings. But they weren’t similar. Not really. When they had passed the bar, there weren't just stone-faced old men who licked their lips as she passed, as though she was some sweet, illicit treat that they could never touch. No, in Jackson’s bar there was singing. As they walked by, she looked in and saw a group of men and women huddled close, gripping their glasses and singing some old country song. 

Another wistful smile grew on her face at the sight. Until they reached the medic’s office. Then her smile twisted, darkening until all that remained was a scowl.

As Joel pushed through the door, a rush of heat from the fireplace in the corner hit Juliet in the face, worsening her already burning body. Her fingers began to tremble and she had to push them against her trousers to stop the shake. Then Joel closed the door behind her, sealing them in. 

“Charlotte!” Tommy called, as he rubbed his hands together over the fire. 

Juliet nearly flinched at the sound but calmed when she felt Joel’s presence behind her. A long breath released from between her teeth as she clenched her jaw. 

The room was fashioned into a waiting space, with multiple arm chairs dotted around. Ethan fell into one of them, sighing as his body relaxed beside the fire. Juliet almost laughed at the sight. Ethan always was the confident one. Despite spending his entire life in one town, Juliet was unsurprised that he adapted so quickly to another. 

“Tommy? That you?” a sweet voice replied from one of the back rooms and a woman appeared. She was young, around Juliet’s age or maybe a little older. She was tall, too, with long blonde hair gathered in a tight bun at the top of her head. She wore a long grey cardigan which she wrapped around herself as she stepped into the waiting room. “Thought I heard your voice,” she laughed, then her eyes widened at the sight of three strangers filling the room. “Wanna introduce me?” 

Tommy chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest as he nodded to Joel. “This here’s my brother, Joel,” he said, his voice still coated in shock, as though he was still processing the fact that his brother actually stood in front of him. Charlotte’s eyebrows shot up and her mouth opened in a silent gasp. 

“Juliet and Ethan,” Tommy added after a moment. Ethan lifted his chin towards Charlotte and Juliet gave a small wave. She felt awkward, Juliet couldn’t remember the last time she introduced herself to someone who wasn’t actively trying to kill her. 

“Charlotte’s an excellent doctor. She’ll sort you out,” Tommy said softly to Juliet, smiling gently. Juliet swallowed and steeled herself. Maybe Charlotte wouldn’t ask questions, maybe she’d just clean her burn and leave Juliet without reopening the aching wound in her soul. “Doctor’s assistant,” Charlotte corrected with a good-natured eye roll, then started walking backwards, turning towards one of the backrooms. “This way!” she called behind her in a far too chipper voice.

Juliet blew out a breath, rolled her shoulders and followed after her without so much as looking at the hulking man behind her. 

………………………………………………………

Juliet lay on a low table, padded with a thick blanket. But she could barely feel the fabric beneath her. Joel’s jacket and her flannel shirt lay on a chair in the corner of the room, leaving her top half exposed as she shivered on the examination table. The heat from the fire didn’t quite reach the room she was in and goosebumps formed over her skin.

After she had rubbed something on her hands, Charlotte walked over carefully, as though she knew not to make sudden movements lest she risk startling Juliet.

“Relax,” she soothed. “Just gonna take a look at this,” Charlotte explained in a quiet voice as her fingers reached for the stained bandage covering the majority of Juliet’s stomach.

Juliet’s muscles locked up and she drew in a sharp breath, but Charlotte still hooked her fingers under the bandage and pulled, carefully releasing the adhesive. Then there was silence.

Juliet squeezed her eyes shut tight. Shame fell over her like a dark veil. She didn’t dare take another breath. Juliet just waited for Charlotte to cover her burn or run out the room in disgust. But neither happened. Instead, Juliet listened as the doctor’s assistant tugged over a chair and sat down beside Juliet’s shivering body.

What had happened to her bravery? Juliet could take down men twice her size but couldn’t handle her wound being looked at? She wanted to shake herself. 

“You know,” Charlotte said, interrupting Juliet’s racing thoughts. 

Juliet blinked, opening her eyes to stare at the white ceiling. She didn’t have it in her to meet the woman’s eyes just yet. 

“When I got to Jackson, I couldn’t speak.”

Surprise shot through her. Charlotte seemed so energetic and confident, she struggled to imagine a more timid, mute version of her.

“I had seen too much when I was too young and I wasn’t able to talk about it. So, I just stopped talking altogether,” she continued, her voice cracking on the last word. “It hurt too much, to try to describe what had happened to me. And I didn’t think I’d ever find the words.”

Juliet listened intently, hanging onto every word as the goosebumps began to fade from her skin. 

“Then I met Doc, and I found out I had a knack for medicine,” she said with a laugh. “I thought that maybe if I could help other people like me, people who’ve seen things too dark to talk about, then maybe I wouldn’t feel so shit about myself,” she explained, looking down.  

Charlotte let her words hang in the air before she continued. 

“So I’m not gonna ask you about the brand on your stomach, or the bullet wound on your shoulder. Because I know you’re not ready to talk about it,” Charlotte added. Her voice was firmer now, more purposeful. 

“But when you are, know that I’ll be here to listen,” she declared, then stood, pushing back the chair and moving over to a table against the wall lined with various jars and boxes.

Juliet hadn’t realised that she’d started crying, dripping warm tears onto the blanket around her face. Her cheeks burned but her embarrassment had eased. Rather, she felt like a spotlight had been placed over her deepest, darkest fears and insecurities and Charlotte was inspecting them with a microscope.

But she wasn’t afraid anymore. Juliet knew that she wasn’t ready to talk about what had happened to her. 

Like Charlotte, she just didn’t have the words yet. 

Juliet cleared her throat and inhaled a deep breath and, as the air rushed from her lungs, she felt her anxiety dissipate.

“Thank you,” she whispered. 

Charlotte just nodded with a small smile when she walked back into view, a fresh bandage in her hand. 

……………………………………………

When Charlotte had finished and Juliet had changed back into her clothes, carefully pulling on Joel’s jacket and inhaling that smoky pine scent, she headed to the door. Juliet turned, nodding at Charlotte before gripping the handle and opening the heavy wooden door.

Without looking, Juliet stepped through the entryway and into a hard wall. Her hands instantly reached up in front of her, shielding her face from crushing against it.

But it wasn’t a wall.

“Joel?” she murmured when she realised what had happened, blinking up at him as she tried to take a step backwards. Joel was faster, though. Before she could move, Joel had circled his hands around her upper arms and tilted her body back until he could see her face. 

His eyes were black as they scanned every inch of her expression. What he was searching for, she didn’t know. But her skin burned all the same. 

Then his hand reached up and his rough thumb brushed against her cheek, wiping away the single tear that remained on her skin. The line in between Joel’s eyebrows deepend and Juliet watched as his jaw clenched.

The look in his eyes plunged Juliet back to that night at the gas station, when the rain had poured down around them but all Juliet could focus on was the heat from Joel’s fingers as they caressed her face. 

God, that felt like years ago. Joel had looked so angry back then, so full of rage and resentment towards her. But now, she realised that his dark look was hiding his terror. He had been worried about her. 

Warmth spread around her body when she finished reading the expression on his face. Juliet would have to get used to his deep-rooted protectiveness. 

She wondered what would happen to them if they ended up staying in Jackson, where threats were limited. What would happen to that fire that simmered between her and Joel? Would it burn out or spread until it costumed everything in its wake? 

As she traced the lines on Joel’s face with her frenzied gaze, and watched as his throat moved in response, Juliet realised she already had her answer.

______________________

@amyispxnk @shotgun-shelby @http-paprika @weeping-werewolf

[do-it-for-the-fandom]

12. "Close your eyes." for the gentle prompt please

Distress.

Set early season 7.

She knew all too well that the nights would be the worst part. When it was dark and still and quiet; that's when the depth of his trauma would reveal itself.

He'd spend his nights tossing and turning as he fought the demons of his mind, the flashes of repressed memories that he couldn't quite decipher.

Don't wake me, he had requested after that very first night. I need to remember.

She had tried to respect his wishes, tried to leave him be so that he could work through whatever it was his subconscious was trying to tell him; but his pained whimpers and quiet cries were too much for her to ignore.

Not even the darkness of the night could hide the anguish that had embedded itself deep in the furrow of his brow, the tight line of his lips.

"Rick," she whispered, flattened her palm against his cheek. His skin was warm, slick with sweat. "Rick," she repeated just a little bit louder.

"No," he murmured, turning his face away from her. His hand found her, wrapped itself tightly around her wrist. "Please, don't hurt her," he pleaded. "Don't hurt- No, Kate!"

She repeated his name once more, her voice firm and loud enough to pull him from his restless sleep.

His eyes shot open and he searched for something familiar - something that would ground him, reinforce reality - until they finally landed on her.

"W-why?" He choked on the question, his throat dry and tight from panic. "I told you not to wake me."

"I'm sorry, Castle. I just-"

"Just what?" he barked angrily, pulling himself into a sitting position and turning away from her ever-so-slightly.

She knew his anger wasn't because of her - he was frustrated, growing more and more desperate with each passing day - but he wasn't the only one who was sleep deprived, wasn't the only one hurting and confused. The all too familiar weight of sorrow sat heavy in her chest and she could feel the slight sting of tears forming in her eyes.

She lowered her head, let the tears fall. "Sorry."

"You just- you don't get it." His voice was softer, apologetic, but his frustration hadn't eased. It never eased. "You don't know what it's like to know that everyone thinks you're a liar, to know that - until I get my memory back and can start to finally figure out what the hell happened to me - there is nothing I can do to change that. I'm sick of pretending I don't see the doubt in everyone's eyes when they talk to me."

"No doubt in my eyes," she reminded him.

Regret coiled in his stomach, stiffened in his shoulders as he turned around to face her again. Moonlight reflected in the pool of tears in her eyes, the streaks of moisture that stained her cheeks.

"That's not-"

That's not what he meant. He knew that she believed him - despite the evidence, despite the many reasons she had to not believe - and he was incredibly grateful for that, for her strength, for her constant support.

He reached out and took her hand in his. "You deserve answers, too."

"I'll get answers," she assured him with a confidence he envied. "We both will. But this isn't the way to get them, Rick. You're torturing yourself and getting nowhere. We need a new plan."

He nodded. She was right; he couldn't keep doing this.

"I don't know what else I can do," he confessed quietly.

Kate leant back against her pillows, tapped her hand to her chest: a silent request he was familiar with. When he shuffled toward her and rested his cheek to her chest, she cradled him closer to her body. One hand traced delicately up and down the arm that draped over her stomach while the other massaged through his hair.

"Just... close your eyes." She pressed her lips to the top of his head, lingered as she inhaled the scent of shampoo from his hair. "Know that I am right here," she whispered. "I'm with you, through all of this."

[baenakinskywalker]

hello, feyre darling. ✨

call it what you want - taylor swift / dizzy - the goo goo dolls / chateau lobby #4 (in c for two virgins) - father john misty / turning page - sleeping at last / come what may - nicole kidman, ewan mcgreggor / city of stars - ryan gosling / safe & sound (feat. joy williams and john paul white) (taylor's version) - taylor swift / labyrinth - taylor swift / untouchable (taylor's version) - taylor swift / i wanna be yours - arctic monkeys / work song - hozier / dinner & diatribes - hozier / ivy - taylor swift / you are in love (taylor's version) - taylor swift / every little thing she does is magic - sleeping at last / someone who loves me - sara bareilles / the archer - taylor swift / world spins madly on - the weepies / nfwmb - hozier / half-life - duncan sheik / one line - pj harvey / heaven is - kacey musgraves

[kaitlinj16]

The McCall Pack | Safe & Sound

Teen Wolf (2011-2017)

❤❤❤

[jwonsoon]

enhypen as taylor swift songs ˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚

☾ a/n: i've been listening to a lot of taylor swift recently and maybe i'm crazy but every song somehow reminds me of enhypen. i've been thinking about them non stop so i made a part two of the post ☼ made since you guys liked that one. this might be kinda all over the place but i hope you enjoy !

JUNGWON

cardigan "When I felt like I was an old cardigan, under someone's bed, you put me on and said I was your favorite"

comfort. he's my perpetual comfort. on days when i feel like i'm doing nothing right, on days when i feel hopeless, he's always there to spark that 1% within me that wants to keep trying. his continuous effort to communicate with engenes despite his busy schedule shows me that the care he holds for us is something so genuine. he reassures me and gives me reasons to love myself. he will see you crying, sit down next to you and patiently wait and listen. comforting you by holding your hand and wiping your tears. he's always there to make your life feel worth living again. jungwon will never leave you hanging or feeling like you aren't enough; you're always enough for him. a/n my jungwonie i love you

JAKE

safe & sound "You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now"

jake to me embodies emotional protection. he's the type to hold you gently while you cry into his arms, rubbing your back telling you it's going to be okay. no matter what happens he's right there by your side the whole time. the reason i picked this song is because i can imagine jake staying up all night with you when you're overwhelmingly anxious. even if his head keeps jerking back and forth because of how tired he is, he'll make sure you fall asleep first so that he can sleep knowing you're alright.

JAY

right where you left me "You left me no choice but to stay here forever"

angsty, i know. there's two reasons why i think this song perfectly captures him. one being, his loyalty. no matter what happens he'll stay by your side. there are time when it's hard to keep going and there's a back and forth struggle but jay will be consistent and check in on you. he will sit by you and wait for you to feel better, his patience has no end when it comes to those he cares about and it's his most charming quality among many others. i also just think he's so "first love" coded. you are never getting over jay! no matter how hard you try! - but don't worry because he's waiting for you to come back too...

NIKI

paper rings "I like shiny things, but I'd marry you with paper rings"

thats bestie!!! riki symbolizes happy young love for me. best friends to lovers type. his teasing flirty manner would always make you giggle. knowing how artsy he is he would definitely make you some goofy paper ring and "propose" to you, leaving you a flustered mess. i just think this song is so upbeat and pretty and incapsulates niki's playfulness perfectly. a/n i love him so much i'm going to rip my walls out.

HEESEUNG

gorgeous "You're so gorgeous, I can't say anything to your face"

i mean... do i even have to explain? heeseung's charm is irresistible. no matter how much his constant teasing would annoy you, when you look up and see his face all of it melts away. he's so hallway crush coded, he would make you feel all giddy inside simply because of a passing head nod or just a slight smile. don't even get me started on his perfect laugh and smile! i can write a 4000 word essay on it. anywho, it's self explanatory. heeseung = gorgeous!

SUNOO

invisible string And isn't it just so pretty to think, all along there was some, Invisible string, Tying you to me?

sunoo is destiny. i remember watching iland and from the very beginning my eyes were hooked onto him. and now, here i am, three years later writing this. his comforting smile and how he gives so much love to those around him helps me recognize how genuinely kind of a person he is. he's someone you want to keep close. no matter what happens sunoo will always find a way to provide you with solace and light on the darker days. he's pretty, the concept of soulmates is pretty, he is such a person destined to be loved and cared for deeply. no one ever hurt him please.

SUNGHOON

the way i loved you "So in love that you act insane and that's the way I loved you"

now, let me preface this by saying, i don't think sunghoon is toxic... this is just to feed my angst loving delusions. sunghoon is the one the got away. he's the one who you cared for so deeply but it was right person wrong time. despite how much he pushed to keep your relationship intact it was hard for him. he didn't want to fight you, he wanted to fight for you. sunghoon is the type to not let you leave until you figure it out with him. he'll sit with you even if you yell at him and just listen to you. he's cares about you so deeply that you can't help but constantly think about him even when he isn't there. - because he is also constantly thinking about you.

[meep-moops-stuff]

“You and I’ll be safe and sound” - Master List

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

[winniethewife]

Let's Do This One Last Time. (Peter B Parker x reader)

You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now

Words: 976

A/N: So this story is just gonna jump around as inspiration hits. No particular order or whatever just, enjoy the Peter B.

After a mission gone wrong where she had gotten abducted by some no good guy trying to get at Spiderman. She was really sick, they had done some pretty terrible stuff to her. She spent most of the time curled up in bed, the fever comes and goes. He didn’t want to leave her for even a minute but when Miguel had called multiple times trying to get information on the mission he decided to go into HQ for just a bit. When Peter came back from HQ to find that she had managed to get out on the couch before falling asleep there. She was wearing just his T-shirt and her hair is a mess.

Peter slowly approached her, as she slept on the couch. He didn’t wake her though as he sat down next to her. It hurt him to see her in this state. He knows how energetic and cheerful she was Normal. Now, she just looked tired and exhausted. Peter placed a gentle hand on her head, and brushed his fingers through her hair to try and comfort her.

“Babe…” Peter said. He wanted her to know he was there with her, that he wasn’t going to leave her alone to go through this on her own.

“Peter??” She mumbles slightly waking up. Her eyes flutter open and she smiles at him. Hey...it was obvious that the withdrawal was still taking a toll on her but she was starting to feel better. There was a sparkle in her eyes again. She reaches to hold his hand to her face, nuzzling into it as she takes in his scent.

 “H-Hey Baby.”, Peter said as he saw her smile at him. He was so happy to see her smiling again, and to see his girl back. Peter’s eyes lit up as she nuzzled his hand into her face, and he let out a small chuckle as she did.

“You missed me, huh Babe?” Peter cooed softly.

“Mhm....”she hums affirmatively as she tries to focus on his face, still on the edge of sleep. Her sweet smile is still lingering on her lips. Her eyes drift to his lips where there's a bruise from the fight he got into earlier in the day. She reaches out and her thumb grazes over the bruise. Concern on her face “You got hurt...”

 “Hm?” Peter followed where her eyes were going, towards the bruise on his face. Peter hadn’t even noticed he was injured. He was too busy making sure Ruby was alright to pay attention to himself. “Huh, I guess I did get hurt. Didn’t even realize it. Don’t worry about me.” Peter reassured her, as he brushed his fingers across her face. She was here, safe… that was all that mattered right now.

 “Stay with me?” She asks with a slight pout as she gently drags her fingers along his jaw

 “Yes. Of course, I’m not going anywhere.” Peter said, as he gently pulled her close to him. He was glad she was beginning to regain her good health and color. He just wanted to be there for her right now. And if that meant cuddles, he was more than happy to.

As they cuddle on the couch she rests her head on his chest she is fussing with his hand. She did this while they watched TV and just spent time together. She was just quiet, enjoying his company. It was the first time since he had brought her back that she hadn't felt sick and was awake. Peter didn’t say a word. He was too focused on her. A smile was firmly on Peter’s face as she continued to play with his hands. Eventually he spoke up.

“You alright? Been pretty quiet.” Peter asked. The effects of the torture she had endured starting to fade and Peter wasn’t going to let her deny that. Peter moved slightly his hand under her chin, and gently tilted her head up so that she was looking at him again. She blushes slightly. He smiles at her, all this time and sometimes she still acts like they’re still in high school. “You look so cute when you blush….”

She stares into his brown eyes, her eyes glistened with tears. She leans closer in as their foreheads touch. “Peter... I...wanna be yours...for as long as you would have me, forever if you wanted...but...” She’s haunted by it. All the things that happened to her when she had been taken, it made her afraid of her emotions, afraid of her empathic powers. She closes her eyes. “I don't know...”

“And what if I want you to be mine? What if I want that same thing, huh? Just the two of us for as long as we want?” He let her feel his hand tighten against her cheek, holding her face gently. She was having the hardest time believing that he honestly would want her, but the acceptance was enough for now.

“I don't deserve this Peter... I don't deserve you. I don't deserve to be happy.” She mumbles as tears run down her face. Peter felt his heart break hearing her say that she didn’t deserve him.

“Baby….” Peter said softly. He brushed the tears from her cheeks.

“You do deserve me. You do deserve to be happy.” Peter said. “I won’t go back on what I said. You are mine Hun, and I’m yours. I’ll always be there for you, no matter what.” She closes her eyes tight and burrows her face into his chest. For the first time in a long time she feels...safe. Like nothing can hurt her right now. She's still scared... She sobs quietly into his chest. Peter felt her hug him tightly, as he was brought closer to her.

 “I’m never going to let anything happen to you. You’re safe with me….” Peter whispered.

~

Masterlist

[17-noodlebird]

put 5 songs you listen to, post it, then send this ask to 10 of your favorite followers :]

I have a weird variety to my music tastes, but here they are!

@arandomnerd810

@luckycloverforducks

@tboom10

@duckoflockston

@pinkpkmntrainer

@pannyprainer

@ask-the-supers

@jezabatlovesbats

@ragatha-figurine-hoarder

@funky-frankie

These are 10 of the 27 (as of writing this) followers I have, some of which I follow back! ^_^

[taylornation]

Oh, you’re keeping count? Us too. 1 more day.

But meet us at midnight for FOUR NEW SONGS! 🕰 Eyes Open (Taylor’s Version) Safe & Sound (Feat. Joy Williams and John Paul White) (Taylor’s Version) If This Was A Movie (Taylor’s Version) All Of The Girls You Loved Before

[conanssummerchild]

stranger things characters as taylor swift albums

i saw someone make a post abt this and i decided to make my own lol. ngl it was really hard to decide and im not even sure i agree with myself, if u think smth else feel free to tell me!

Dustin Henderson as Debut

To me Debut is about youth and first loves and messing up and the lessons you learn, its about feeling like an outsider but also about being with the people you love, those who you dont feel whole without. I think that that matches well with Dustin's character, he's energetic and excited to learn and experience things, he cares for his friends deeply but can feel left out sometimes.

El Hopper as Fearless

I think Fearless is about new beginnings and second chances, about being young and in love, wishing for your fairytale ending and being dissapointed when real life isn't like a movie. It's about highschool and being brave, it's about family, found and otherwise. It's about being fifteen. El is such a pure character, she's brave and willing to stand up when she has to, but wanting to be more than that, trying to be a teenager, making the best of something bad.

Will Byers as Speak Now

Speak Now is an album about growing up but never wanting to, it's about trying to hold onto your childhood, about whimsical fantasies, about foolishness and the broken hearts that come with it, about loving and fighting and making up and hoping those special moments in your life are long lived. Speak Now is about innocence and the loss of it. Will isn't ready to move on and grow up the way his friends seem to be, he wishes that things could be how they used to because it was so much better back then, he loves bravely and says what's on his mind, but keeps some things quietly locked away, afraid.

Robin Buckley as Red

Red is kind of a lonely album, that of a people person who never has her own people in the end. It's a coming of age album about the realities of growing up and being forgotten, it's full of heartbreak and fear of rejection, it's a catchy melody with sad lyrics, but it is filled to the brim with burning red love and passion too. From the moment Robin was introduced she was clever and snarky, passionate and confident and lovable. Behind that she was a deep character, a brave one, she is undeniably, iconically her.

I KNOW this song isnt originally from red but i like it :(

Steve Harrington as 1989

If you asked me I'd say that 1989 is about partying and being young and having fun and being in love. It's about petty grudges and and love that feels all-encompassing, but is really just suffocating, it's about what people say about you and who you really are. It's about moving on and being clean and starting anew despite the strangers talking about what's not theirs to talk about. Steve is a character that has constantly bettered himself, constantly having to prove that he isn't the same person he was. He's fallen in love and had to fall out of it time and time again.

Nancy Wheeler as reputation

reputation is about revenge and also karma, it's about killing the old you but not forgetting her, it's about new loves and not letting yourself get pushed around, it's about how delicate life and love can be. It pushes the boundries of cold and seeming like you dont care. But you do. Nancy is an interesting character to say the least, she's brave and strong and she struggles with showing her emotions and care, sometimes hurting people because of it, but she tries.

Lucas Sinclair as Lover

Lover is warm and comforting like the sun coming out after a dark day. It's about doing your best to overcome hardships, it's about who you are because of them, not despite them. It's about letting go, letting yourself forget instead of holding on tight to the hurt, turning a fresh page instead of trying to change an already used up one. It's about love. Lucas is so kind and caring, he wants the best for everyone he loves and he loves so purely, he's a character who has been hurt repeatedly but has stayed strong. He's a lover, both romantically and platonically.

Mike Wheeler as folklore

folklore is a cold winter that seems to go on forever with no relief. It's sitting in a vast field of snow without a jacket by your own choice, it's about constantly trying and failing and everyone around you chastising you for not being better. It's about pulling up to the lookout and screaming into the emptiness to give you a reason for your pain. It's about failing in love and messing up with the one. Other people's pain seems to seep into you and you keep the burden of it. folklore is suffocating despair and the love you can only wish for but never have. Mike is the only one who I knew what album I was going to asign him from the start, he's a sad, lonely character who tries to help everyone but himself. His pain is invisible to those around him because he keeps it close and hidden, he lashes out and digs himself further into a hole he cannot get out of on his own.

Max Mayfield as evermore

evermore is the coldest autumn, the trees obscure your view but you've long since stopped trying to reach for the fading sun. The rain falls but you can only sometimes feel it, you try to pretend it's fine this way, yet you keep venturing deeper into the thick forest. The truth is you are stuck, and as much as you pretend you're not it won't stop the mud from sticking to your soles and trying to pull you in as you reject the branches reaching for you. evermore is what happens when love can't overcome all. Max is sarcastic and fun, but there's always that overlying fear and anger that she eventually falls into, she's hurt and she can't move on from the things that have happened to her.

Jonathan Byers as Midnights

Midnights is an album of staying awake at night, all alone in the haze you thought fit two. The things you've seen and done haunt you, they make you lose sleep, all you've lost and gained, all you never had to begin with and never will. It's simple really, you're on your own. Jonathan is a loner, he's lost so much and matured too much for his age. He never had relief from his responsibilities, always needing to be present. It's a tiring life to live.

[ethan-nestor-owns-my-heart]

Safe & Sound (Taylor’s Version) is about them:

[txswiftie]

Eyes Open (Taylor’s Version)

AND

Safe & Sound (Feat. Joy Williams and John Paul White) (Taylor’s Version)

AND

If This Was A Movie (Taylor’s Version)

AND

All Of The Girls You Loved Before

AND

Tour starts TOMORROW.

I need a moment (a couple of years) to process this.