#Yes this was a wizard of oz reference

[sincerelykarai]

Peter: "Oh shit, it's raining." Looks at Gamora

Gamora: ???

Gamora: "Why are you looking at me?"

Peter: mischievously "it's just that typically witches melt when water gets on their skin."

Gamora internally: I'm gonna kill him, I'm actually going to kill him-

[rapscallion-rumble]

Jack, Mombi, and Tip

[acespeon]

The Wizard of Oz should be retitled High School Never Ends

[stardstschlar]

@iobartach asked: "It smells disgusting in here."

Blowin' in the Wind

That was saying something.

The Joestar's features scrunched up from stoic into a slight scowl as teals took in their surroundings. His head tilts as he raises a hand with a handkerchief within his grasp, covering his nose and mouth to breathe in some fresh air - hopefully.

Before them had been a body, a killing that had taken place over a space of 24hrs. Somewhat fresh, somewhat not, the stand user glanced back at the arachnid, teals speaking volumes. This had to be the work of something much larger than what they were led to believe. Jotaro didn't like one bit of it, and he was certain his companion was of the same mind. 'Good grief.' he thought, 'This couldn't get any worse, could it?' His head tilts as he glances to the other man, a low hum leaving him as the Joestar slowly steps forward.

Something, though, had not seemed...right.

"Dead body left here. Seems like the perfect opportunity to return and finish up the job, don't you think?" His attention shifts focus to Miguel, features schooled into the signature stoic look. There was going to be a lot of work on their hands, the situation looking to be bigger than what was expected initially.

"Don't think we're in Kansas anymore.."

[threeacttragedy]

Entry 17: The One About All the Hot Air

Oh, hey, hey, hey – what is that over there?

No, not that –

That!

Ah, fuck.

Is that what I think it is?

Yeah, yeah, it looks like some sort of hot air balloon.

Ugh, it’s that fucking wannabe Wizard! Get that manipulative shit-fuck outta here!

Seriously, don’t let it set foot on land. It’s not welcome on this side of Oz.

Someone release the flying monkeys! Like, now. Knock it out of the sky.

Wait, I thought the Wizard liked green. This weirdo has a red balloon.

Bitch, I didn’t say it was the Wizard; I said it was a wannabe Wizard.

Oh, no wonder it’s steering that balloon like a fucking clown.

Hell, I don’t even think we need the monkeys. That idiot is going to crash and burn itself straight into the glass walls of the Emerald Palace.

Well, you know what they say when you start throwing stones in a glass house…

It is slightly amusing (and a tad concerning) to me that children are always led to believe that the villain of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” is that bitch of a Witch of the West when the worst character traits are actually portrayed by the Wizard himself. And, by “worst character traits,” I mean that he was a master manipulator who conned an entire city into believing he held some form of great power.

Did you know that in the original story the Emerald City wasn’t really that green? Sure, it was made from green glass and emeralds, but the Wizard required everyone to wear green-colored glasses so that everything appeared greener than it actually was. Weird, that. And, even more weird, people bought it! “Here, put these glasses on and you’ll see everything exactly the way I want you to see it.”

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’m fully aware “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” is a work of fiction, but the idea that people can be easily manipulated – especially by someone with “power” – is not fiction.

That’s what today’s piece of “hot air” is about – fandom manipulation and the power of suggestion. And who better to manipulate an entire fandom than the media? It’s unfortunate that I have to give the media power in this story – and even more unfortunate that I have to give it to rag-mags and social media – but the reality is information is power, regardless of whether it’s misinformation. In fact, MIT Sloan did a study in 2018 demonstrating how false information spreads through social media, namely, Twitter, six times faster than true information. Disturbing, right? I don’t even want to know what the going rate for misinformation is in 2025.

And, of course, since I opened today’s story with a visit to the Land of Oz, we may as well take a day trip over to Australia. Remember how I told you Australia deserved an entry of its own? Well, this is it. No, not really. I did say this was a day trip, not a sleep-over, so it’s not going to be chucked full of shiny bracelets or ways to “keep a good girl down.” It’s just our starting point today.

In my first entry, I briefly described what brought me into this fandom. It was something Luke said – and not really what he said, but how he said it – that left me intrigued. He was being interviewed on the Bowral red carpet by “Gretchen from the Philippines.” Yes, that’s literally how she introduced herself! Could I instead refer to the nice lady by her real name (Gretchen Fullido)? Sure, but “Gretchen from the Philippines” is far more fun. Plus, it sounds kind of whimsical. Any ways, Gretchen (from the Philippines) asked Luke if, “in real life,” he’d support friends-to-lovers. Luke’s response was, well, a bit jumbled, which was what sparked my curiosity because his previous answers that day were, for the most part, articulate: “I would – I would support friends – I feel like it’s not something that – that I have in my li – that I resonate with – that I’ve experienced. But, you know, if my – if my friends wanted to explore a relationship with one their friends, go for it. I’ll support it.”

Something in the way Luke answered that question was like suddenly being able to see the forest for the trees. At that moment, I was convinced Luke had always been in love with Nicola, and everything else that went on during that particular red-carpet event (and thereafter) simply christened the USS Lukola. However, that comment by Luke – and a subsequent one he made in New York – would result in the addition of a lot of trees to our enchanted forest.

Now – I apologize – we need to borrow a hot air balloon, preferably one that can travel through time, and jump forward to November 5, London-time. I promise, we will return to Oz momentarily.

Oh, fuck.

What now?

That ridiculous faux Wizard is right behind us. I thought I told you to send in the monkeys!

Dammit, you said we didn’t need them! I left those fuckers back in Oz.

Well, umm, I think we might need them now.

Why??

Uhh, do you see those four-legged beasts on the ground chasing our balloon?

Oh, you mean those coyote-like creatures?

Yeah, but we’re not in the Americas – and those ain’t coyotes…

Ah, here we are: November 5, Claridge’s, London. This was the evening Nicola attended the Harper’s Bazaar Women of the Year awards. We’re only stopping in real quick to steal a piece of the speech Nicola gave that evening. Okay, got it! Let’s get the fuck out of here!

The part of the speech I wanted to share was this: “I did a six-month press tour for Bridgerton, the show which I love, and I’m so proud of. The amount of inappropriate questions I got asked about my appearance, about my relationship…”

Hold up. Relationship? What relationship?

Did she say “relationship” or “relationships?”

Does it fucking matter?

Well, I guess not. But what does it mean?

I could tell you what I think it means… Wait a hot-air-balloon-minute – where the fuck have you taken us? I told you we needed to go back to April 21, Aussie-time. This looks like Soho in January.

Shit, sorry. Let me fix that. Here we go…

>>> 

Umm, hey, where’s that weird little red Wizard? I swear it was just behind us…

Eh, probably got stuck in Soho, hahaha. Guess it missed its exit.

Do you think that’s a good idea?

Yeah, sure. It’ll be fine…

We’ve returned to April 21, Bowral, Australia. Now, at this point in the timeline, World Tour interviews were already well underway. In fact, the first two parts of EmEdits on YouTube are entirely pre-Australia interviews, making up roughly 6 ½ hours of screen time. I’m not the least bit surprised that “Gretchen from the Philippines” asked Luke what his thoughts were on “real life” friends-to-lovers. The chemistry between Luke and Nicola was hard to ignore.

The Australian red carpet also introduced the hand holding, which – if we took another magical mystery tour over to May 9, Italy – Nicola and Luke agreed was a sign of “love.” I suppose I could buy the excuse that one or both had so much anxiety they needed the other’s hand to remain calm on the red carpet. But, nah, I wouldn’t buy that at all – for one very specific reason. When Luke and Nicola were seen leaving (I believe) the Milton Park Country House on April 23, Luke instinctively reached for Nicola’s hand as they were descending the steps. Why? This reflex by Cool Hand Luke was as natural as a pregnant woman touching her stomach. I ask again – why?

There’s only one answer.

It’s the answer that fits with the Claddagh ring. It’s the answer that fits with the side jaunt to Galway. It’s the answer that fits with their natural chemistry, the hand holding, the canned “shared experience” and “unique relationship” responses, the playful sexual innuendos. It’s the answer that fits with Luke’s “the best foundation for love is friendship” bracelet. It’s the answer that fits with Nicola’s remark about “[t]he amount of inappropriate questions I got asked…about my relationship…” It’s the only fucking answer that makes sense.

But, the real kicker is, why don’t people believe that is the answer?

Why is it so hard to believe that Luke and Nicola could be in a real-life relationship?

That’s easy – because the Man Behind the Curtain told us so.

Who is the Man Behind the Curtain? Well, that’s also easy. It’s collectively the rag-mags and the social media creators on the prowl for a following. It’s the spread of misinformation at its worst and it’s so incredibly easy to do with, say, a pair of green-colored glasses.

Like I said, “…put these glasses on and you’ll see everything exactly the way I want you to see it.”

There was one major plot twist that came out of the World Tour, and you already know what that is. The seed was planted with a New Year’s Eve kiss, fertilized with blurry pictures, a compulsory hallway hug, and copycat photos, and encouraged to grow with a bit of junk news and a lot of social media innuendo. Now, I’m not saying the video and photographic evidence that was presented was fabricated; I’m simply suggesting the narrative that came out that evidence was skewed. The media, namely, social media creators, pushed us to plant Lutonia trees while Luke’s actions (i.e., not acknowledging the existence of Lutonia) told us to “pay no attention to the Man Behind the Curtain.”

Uh, so, what you’re saying is we shouldn’t have left that wannabe Wizard in Soho?

Ah, shit! I forgot about that fucker!

The unfortunate thing about the Lutonia narrative was that it was bolstered by insinuation that Luke would never be interested in Nicola. Now, whether these remarks were deliberately planted, or they were simply seedpods carried away by a storm, they were not overlooked by Lukolas – or Nicola. In fact, Nicola herself brushed upon it in her Harper’s Bazaar speech: “The amount of inappropriate questions I got asked about my appearance…” Yes, I’m referring to the suggestion that Luke preferred “brunettes” over “blondes.” Somehow this narrative was conveniently supported by the existence of – lo and behold! – the brunette “friend of a friend” Antonia, who happened to be slender. Again, whether it was intentional or not, the push by, initially, social media creators (and later gossip rags) to link Luke to Antonia inadvertently called the blonde in our story – Nicola – fat. I refuse to dance around that word because it is exactly what this disgusting narrative implied when it chose to compare Antonia to Nicola. Regardless of whether these gossipmongers “corrected” themselves by replacing “thin” with “brunette” and “fat” with “blonde,” the implication was that Luke would never be interested in Nicola because she had thick blonde hair. This was incredibly upsetting and confusing to many Lukolas because it was contrary to Luke’s behavior towards Nicola throughout the World Tour (and in Bridgerton behind-the-scenes clips).

I decided months ago that Luke was incredibly transparent. And, by that, I mean he’s terrible at keeping secrets. Luke himself admitted his “tell” to this was pulling at his ear – now go watch the World Tour with that information in mind. It’ll give you something to do, at the very least. Luke’s sincerity is also why the blonde versus brunette nonsense just doesn’t take flight for me. Any ways, as I hinted at earlier, Luke’s comments on the Bowral red carpet and his later comments in New York City about friends-to-lovers would – again, unfortunately – give the Man Behind the Curtain ammunition to debunk any real-life relationship between Luke and Nicola. Luke was quickly labeled as being “…dismissive of something ever happening between him and Nicola…” Those are literally the words The Tab used in an article dated May 22 to explain Luke and Nicola’s differing commentary about real-life friends-to-lovers. In fact, the article is titled, “Luke Newton has revealed the reason he’d never date Bridgerton co-star Nicola Coughlan.” Oddly – but not really given the source – Luke never actually said he would never date Nicola. But that fact didn’t stop it from becoming a theme of the World Tour – Luke didn’t believe in friends-to-lovers therefore he would never date Nicola – even though, by the end of the tour, Luke’s stance on this had seemingly changed. That’s not to say the rag-mags misquoted Luke – they didn’t – but the narrative they coiled around his words attempted to shut down the idea that Luke and Nicola would ever date in real life because Luke wasn’t interested. But what Luke was saying was that he believed in love-at-first sight. “I actually don’t think friends-to-lovers is something that happens in my life. If I meet someone, I know immediately.” Now, take that statement with the fact that Luke has repeatedly stated he remembers everything about the moment he met Nicola.

The above examples of gossip and innuendo are simply par for the course. The media manipulates facts all the time – whether it be through social media chatter or rag-mags putting their own spin on ordinary commentary – but this type of manipulation is not what puts the fandom in danger of itself. In fact, most of the gossip and innuendo that took root during the World Tour would have dissipated almost immediately after it ended – if it hadn’t been for Papsmear.

Yeah. That was disastrous.

Come to think of it, it was awfully convenient, too, don’t you think?

Absolutely. And you know what else was convenient? That little wannabe Wizard was –

Oh, yeah, I heard that, too! That clown has been trying to hand out green-colored glasses ever since!

Yep. Tried to give me a pair and I told it to go fuck itself and its little glass cat, too. I mean, they weren’t even name brand glasses. Fake ass, bitch.

All jesting aside, if you haven’t noticed already, I do, on occasion, use my writing to call out the fandom, usually as a whole. I mean, we are in this together, right? Actually, no; we ceased being Collectively Delulu after a few unsavory characters were bitten by the Hunter’s Moon and followed Nicola through the streets of New York and London. There was a major – and rather unexpected – shift in the fandom when the rabid Jakolas appeared from the dark corners of our enchanted forest. And I’m sure you’ve realized at this point in my story that I have one particular – oh, shit, I just realized I don’t even know to which fandom our wannabe Wizard belongs. Ruh-roh. Regardless, that motherfucker is in my peep sight because it is a perfect example of how fandom manipulation has reached a new level of toxicity.

Typically, I don’t care what part of the fandom you’re on. My general attitude is, to each their own. If you’re a Jakola and you find yourself spending an average of 15 minutes each week reading my Lukola blog, I applaud you for peeking outside of the den hole. Best not let Alpha find out, though. It’s all in good fun, right? I often find myself getting a good laugh from Jakola stories, especially when they theorize on the Woman Behind the Curtain. Question, though – did you find her? In all seriousness, if I didn’t consider Jakola and Lutonia perspectives, I would be borderline Conscientiously Stupid, now, wouldn’t I? After all, the desire for knowledge is what ultimately gave our Scarecrow his brain.

However, what I don’t find “in good fun” is when social media creators prey on more than one side of the fandom under phony pretense, namely, that they “just want Nicola to be happy.” Oh, these Cowardly Lions may argue that they’re simply being “neutral” – and, yes, I’m sure some instances of this do exist – however, neutrality does not embrace openly ridiculing one fandom over another, especially on a platform that is touted by its owners as being a “safe space” for everyone. The problem with these so-called “neutral creators” is that they’re only here for social media engagement – the clicks and the giggles – and they defect to the other side when the going gets tough. If you, too, take issue with this kind of creator, be soothed in knowing that when you play two sides, you find yourself with two-times the number of enemies.

What makes these so-called “neutral creators” – actually, let’s just call them the “Defectors” – so poisonous to the fandom is that they are made from the grease drippings found at the bottom of the barrel of the Conscientiously Stupid. The Conscientiously Stupid are one thing – they are the ones using their platforms to spread misinformation because they choose to ignore exculpatory evidence (i.e., they’re headstrong in their beliefs) – but the Defectors are typically the ones creating the misinformation and feeding it to the Conscientiously Stupid and then hanging them out to dry when the information proves to be false. The Conscientiously Stupid who refuse to “lose the battle” then resort to bullying (more so than usual) the Sincerely Ignorant of an opposing fandom. And in defense of their Sincerely Ignorant comrades (or simply because they’re sick and tired of the Conscientiously Stupid preventing anyone from having nice things), the Fact Finders – unceremoniously, I might add – have taken their own place on the battlefield (oh, yes, they are absolutely your tactical commanders). Now, the entire fandom is at war with each other – all because some wannabe Wizard – a Defector – convinced people to look through a pair of shiny, green-colored glasses. More than once.

Is it appropriate – or perhaps a bit catty – to put “ceasefire” here?

Ah, yes, well, uh, we have found ourselves a bit far from Oz at this point, haven’t we?

I suppose – but we are trying to help Dorothy find her way back home, and at least we now have an idea as to how she got lost.

Maybe one day we will get her back to Kansas.

Yeah, maybe.

Oh, silly me! I forgot to sneak in a sly reference to Dorothy’s third companion – the Tin Man! He’s perfect for the end of our story. You know, in the book, the Wizard was just an ordinary man who stumbled into his Ozian existence on a magnificent hot air balloon and took advantage of the power that Emerald citizens bestowed upon him. Yeah, yeah, yeah, the Wizard preyed on the naïve using deception and the power of suggestion and invoked fear in anyone who dared to question his authority –

Uh, where are you going with this?

Give me a minute!

Like I said – shit, where was I? – Oh, yes, the Wizard was just an ordinary man, and ordinary people are flawed. We all make mistakes. This is where our Tin Man comes in as he represents love and empathy. Yes, empathy; the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, to understand and forgive, to take into consideration someone’s redeeming qualities –

You know that Wizard defected in his hot air balloon before taking Dorothy home, right?

Wait, what?

Okay, okay. It was Toto’s fault but the Wizard sure as shit didn’t come back for her!

Hmm, you’d almost think Toto knew the Wizard’s true colors all along…

“Au revoir, Wiz.”

[blackynsupremacy]

YOU AND COOPER

WATCHING WICKED

HEADCANONS

pairing: cooper koch x black!fem!reader

summary: being theater kids, it’s only natural that you and your best friend become absolutely obsessed with the 2024 movie adaptation of wicked.

contains: inspo from the bestie @austeenbootler, platonic relationship, fluff, comedy, swearing, a bit of a self insert, cooper just being the best of besties.

taglist: @greengoblinswifey @thabiddie23 @hopefully-saturn @jkr820 @hoffmansgirl @austeenbootler @niteskysx @sabrinasopposite @thabiddie23 @hnch33rios @xoxoglittergossip @supaprettyg @motherismotheringggg @oscarisaackissmykitty @simply-lovley44 @elitesanjisimp @gxuxhdjdu @venic-bxtch @stargirl-mayaa @miguelspvssy

a/n: i just saw wicked for the second time! can you guys tell i love me some musical theater? if you guys like musicals, tell me some of your favorites in the comments! i love phantom, wicked, hairspray, heathers, grease, hamilton, shrek, and mamma mia. more cooper fics coming soon

• let’s face it, you and cooper koch share many things in common that solidify your friendship.

• but the one thing that binds you together the most is your shared love of broadway musicals.

• you both done musical theater and show choir in high school and college. that’s where some of your greatest memories lie.

• sometimes you got leads, other times, supporting and ensemble roles.

• you and cooper are the typical music theater nerds.

• you’ve got playbills, soundtracks, and various merchandise from your favorite musicals.

• you both would randomly burst into a show-tune when the opportunity serves.

• of course you both know quotes, lines, and choreography.

• one year for halloween, you went as danny and sandy from grease.

• wicked is one of your favorites! you both have seen it live on broadway in 2022.

• you had to see this specific tour because you wanted to see brittney johnson, the first black glinda, in action!

• you and cooper enjoyed yourselves! if you could see it for the first time again, you would.

• you even cried tears of joy because as a black woman who loves musical theater, it was so refreshing to see someone who looks like you starring in roles that weren’t stemmed from a stereotype.

• you firmly believed that when it comes to most roles, the casting should be determined by talent instead of looks.

• “aw, n/n!” cooper would endearingly say, bringing you in for a hug because he knew how important this was to you and he was going to support you every step of the way.

• fast forward to when you hear that wicked would be getting a film adaptation starring ariana and cynthia.

• you saw cynthia’s work in the color purple, so you knew she would absolutely smash it as elphaba vocally, theatrically, and aesthetically.

• you and cooper were counting down the days until the premiere.

• he’d wear pink, you’d wear green.

• when it was a week before the premiere, you both got your nails done to celebrate.

• you got a green full set while cooper got a regular manicure with clear pink polish and tiny green hearts.

• at the l.a. premiere, you were both so excited to be there on the red carpet in your coordinated outfits and accessories.

• your faces practically hurt from smiling out of excitement for so long.

• no matter if you were taking photos or doing interviews, you were both so hyped for it!

• the highlight of your evening was getting a photo with cynthia and ariana.

• girl, you and cooper were going to treasure that night forever.

• the move itself: a masterpiece.

• you knew when released to the general public, it would blow the box office out of the water.

• you and cooper had to contain yourselves from singing along.

• the visuals, the soundtrack, the dialogue, and the subtle reference to the manin story of the wizard of oz was immaculate.

• CYNTHIA AND ARIANA RESPECTIVELY DID THE DAMN THING!

• johnathan bailey as fiyero looked so damn sexy. he had you and cooper swooning during his scenes.

• michelle yeoh served cunt as madame morrible.

• the whole film gave you and cooper chills.

• you’d never be the same.

• after the premiere and after party, you and cooper were tired, but at the same time, still on a high from it all.

• “okay, but can we talk about how adorable gelphie is? you can’t tell me that they’re not in love.” you say sitting on the couch after grabbing you and cooper some drinks.

• “it’s so obvious! like, they need to elope and let me have fiyero.” cooper replied, you agree with his statement by raising your glass and clinking it with his, “that part!”

• you didn’t forget about one more character.

• “okay, coop, hear me out—the wizard could get it lowkey.” you confess and giggle at how well jeff goldblum had aged like fine wine.

• “girl—hold on…” cooper took a pause and a swig of his drink before nodding in agreement, “now that i’m thinking about it, i hear you loud and clear.”

• you stayed up and did karaoke of “popular” with cooper as glinda of course.

• he’s such a diva.

• whether you consider yourself a singer or not, you’re not afraid to hit that “defying gravity” riff.

• at the end of the day, you wouldn’t trade this whole experience for anything as you were dancing through life as just two friends.

• two good friends.

• two best friends.

[sunfirekid]

This wasn't his first rodeo in meeting an anthropomorphic creature. In fact he one on his crew, a red panda mink. Though this was definitely his first time meeting a blue hedgehog, and he didn't know that those even existed. Which where he was from, they probably didn't, but as Sonic, as he introduced himself, shared Hiru was somewhere called Green Hill Zone in....Mobius?

The pirate captain would blink at the revelation, of course certain things like the robots that were destroyed were far more advanced than anything he had seen before, and Sonic's abilities that he witnessed did give him pause but he hadn't explored the whole world so he figured there were things he had just never seen before. However, now, knowing what he did now it kind of made more sense that he was a long way from his home.

"Green Hill Zone of Mobius, huh?" Hiru would repeat as he took in the greenery of the location. "Yeah, ya weren't kidding I'm definitely not in Saskan anymore, Sonic." Hiru would let out a chuckle before continuing. "Saskan was the island I was exploring on before I ended up here. There was this big ring like structure and when I touched it the next thing I knew I was falling from the sky." He pointed up above where the two were standing. "And ya know the rest, I saw ya dealing with those robots and joined in to help." Hiru would look up in the sky and see that there was no ring portal or what have you still in the sky.

He'd look back at Sonic and put his arms behind his head with a grin. "Looks like I'm stuck here until I can find another one of those ring thingies to get me back home. Hopefully Sonic the Hedgehog doesn't mind having Hiru the Human tag along for a little while and show him around?"

{{ L }} Well, Hiru would be one of the few humans that hadn't automatically assumed Sonic was a rat. So points for him. Swiping his index finger under his nose, a chuckle leaving the Blue Blur.

" Yeah, I'm a hedgehog, and you're definitely far from home. " From the sound of it, the other was definitely from a world Sonic hadn't been to before. " Either way, nice to meet ya, Hiru. Name's Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog, and you have found yourself in Green Hill Zone of Mobius. "

[goodbyeyellowbrickcloset]

Midnights in Wonderland: Follow ME! Down The Rabbit Hole

“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn’t. And contrary-wise, what it is, it wouldn’t be, and what it wouldn’t be, it would. You see?” – Alice in Wonderland (1951)

I want to be clear: I didn’t discover this sync. But when I first heard whispers of Midnights in Wonderland nearly two years ago, I knew I had to sit with it, comb through every detail, and try to understand why Taylor Swift would structure an album to align with Alice in Wonderland (1951).

What I found was something more layered than I ever expected.

This is not Dark Side of the Rainbow (The Wizard of Oz + Dark Side of the Moon). This is not about Taylor simply being inspired by Alice in Wonderland. This is about time, disillusionment, queerness, waking up from illusion, and realizing the fantasy isn’t real.

If you want to experience Midnights in Wonderland for yourself, here’s how:

How To Watch Midnights In Wonderland

1. Start the 1951 Alice in Wonderland movie and wait until 3 minutes and 31 seconds in. (31 is 13, backwards).

2. Press play on Midnights (3AM Edition) – in reverse order (starting with “Dear Reader” and working backward to “Lavender Haze”). Midnights in Wonderland Playlist

3. You'll notice track 3 (“Anti-Hero”) and track 8 (“Vigilante Shit”) are switched, the theory here is that we believe Taylor foreshadowed this by flipping the phone upside down in Midnights Mayhem With Me (8/3, of course).

4. The sync will end right before the movie concludes at 1 hour and 13 minutes (1:13, of course).

→ I like to have the volume on for the movie until the music starts and to turn the movie volume back on so you can hear the conclusion to the movie.

What you’ll witness is an eerie, stunning, startlingly perfect alignment of music and visual storytelling.

So the question is—why Alice? Why would Taylor choose to layer Midnights over this particular fantasy? Why not The Wizard of Oz, given how deep her Oz references run? Why this story of a girl lost in nonsense, trying to find her way back to reality?

That’s what we’re about to unpack.

Follow The White Rabbit: What Is Midnights in Wonderland Really Saying?

“If you don’t know where you want to go, then it doesn’t matter which path you take.” – The Cheshire Cat

This theory isn’t just about visual syncs. It’s about what the story of Alice means in contrast to what Midnights is trying to say.

Here’s what I discovered while analyzing this theory—a series of questions I asked myself, followed by my own answers.

1. The Intention Behind The Sync

"Never take advice from someone who's falling apart" - Taylor Swift

Q: If this sync is real, why Alice in Wonderland? Why not The Wizard of Oz itself, given how deep Taylor’s Oz references run? A: Maybe because Dark Side of Oz is already a phenomenon, and she wouldn’t repeat it. Midnights is obsessed with clocks, time, and spirals, which aligns with the Alice in Wonderland narrative.

Q: What is she trying to convey by layering Midnights over this particular film? Is it about disillusionment? Escapism? The loss of childhood wonder? A: I think all of the above. Beginning with Dear Reader sets a very sobering tone to the fantastical journey that we embark on throughout Wonderland. The fact that Taylor refers to the audience of the song as ‘readers’, sure it could be about reading her lyrics, but regardless it's a wonderful way to visually introduce the story of a historic fantasy novel. So, yes, I believe that the layering from there on out explores escapism, loss of childhood wonder, and disillusionment.

Q: Could this be a commentary on looking back at your past self and realizing how naive you once were? (Much like Alice waking up from Wonderland.) A: Totally. In the beginning of the movie, before you start the soundtrack, Alice is hanging out with her cat, listening to her older sister read a book while daydreaming about her own fantasy world. As she starts the journey that leads her to the rabbit hole (into what is ultimately a dream), the music begins and we take the journey throughout the movie and album. As Lavender Haze concluding (remember we are listening to the album backwards), the caterpillar blows a puff of purple smoke into Alice's face and asks, "Who are you?" Alice runs into a spiral haze of purple and then wakes up to her sister saying, "Alice?! Will you kindly pay attention and recite your lesson?" bringing her back to reality. Taylor herself recognizes Midnights is a reflection of sleepless nights, and the visual journey ends with her in the same place she started.

Q: Is this a reflection of how Taylor views her past eras? Has she been living in a Wonderland-like dream state, and now she’s waking up? A: Absolutely. Midnights feels like a retrospective album, with each song revisiting a different chapter of her life—almost like flipping through a dream journal filled with past versions of herself. Tracks like Question...?, You’re On Your Own, Kid, and Karma allude to distinct personal experiences, much like a collection of memories pieced together from her different eras. When paired with Alice in Wonderland, the visual alignment becomes striking. Dear Reader sets the introspective tone as Alice enters the unknown, The Great War plays as the animated flowers sing about memories and growth, and Anti-Hero overlays the Mad Hatter’s chaotic tea party, reinforcing themes of identity struggles and self-perception. These moments suggest that Taylor isn’t just reflecting—she’s exploring the dreamlike nature of her past and whether she’s finally waking up from it.

Q: Dark Side of Oz works because The Wizard of Oz has such an intense emotional journey—does Alice in Wonderland have the same impact, or is this sync meant to show how detached or disoriented Taylor feels in this era?

A: Alice in Wonderland doesn’t follow the same emotional structure as The Wizard of Oz—instead of a clear beginning, middle, and resolution, it’s a series of strange encounters that leave Alice more confused than when she started. Syncing Midnights with Alice in Wonderland feels like an intentional way to mirror that sense of disorientation.

Taylor’s songwriting on Midnights is deeply personal, structured like pages from a diary rather than a linear narrative. The album is full of self-examination, contradictions, and fragmented emotions—just like Alice’s journey through Wonderland. Pairing these introspective lyrics with the chaotic visuals of Alice in Wonderland adds depth to both; it makes Wonderland feel less like a whimsical escape and more like a metaphor for the confusion, loneliness, and exhaustion of adulthood. In this way, Midnights feels like a grown-up’s reflection on the instability of Wonderland—what once felt magical now feels overwhelming, and waking up might be just as painful as the dream itself.

2. Alice As A Stand-In For Taylor

"Who...are...you?" – Caterpillar

Q: Alice follows the White Rabbit into Wonderland—was there a “rabbit hole” moment for Taylor that changed everything for her? A: Taylor’s “rabbit hole” moment seems to be the decision to turn her life into art—to use her personal experiences as the foundation of her songwriting. From the moment she started writing about her own emotions, relationships, and struggles, she set herself on a path where reality and storytelling would always be intertwined.

In Midnights, "Dear Reader" feels like the moment she acknowledges just how deep she’s gone. It’s not just about where she is now—it’s about the entire journey that led her here. She’s addressing the listener (the “reader”) as if we’ve been following the story all along, warning us that she’s reached a place she can’t easily escape from. The narrative and visual storytelling of Alice in Wonderland parallels this perfectly. Just like Alice falls further and further into an unpredictable, surreal world, Taylor’s career has been a continuous descent into deeper layers of meaning, performance, and coded storytelling. The deeper she goes, the harder it becomes to separate reality from the mythos she’s created around herself.

Q: Alice constantly shrinks and grows. Does this reflect Taylor’s experiences in fame—sometimes feeling larger than life, other times feeling small and powerless? A: Absolutely. Taylor has spoken often about the duality of being a global superstar while still feeling deeply human. The Anti-Hero music video directly plays with this idea—Taylor appears as a giant at a small, intimate tea party, struggling to fit into a world that suddenly feels too small for her. It’s a visual metaphor for the way fame has made her larger than life, yet unable to fully belong in ordinary spaces.

In the Midnights in Wonderland sync, Alice’s rapid shrinking and growing mirrors this tension perfectly. The first time Alice shrinks to a tiny size happens during Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve—a song heavy with themes of regret, power imbalance, and vulnerability. The constant fluctuations in size throughout the film reflect Taylor’s own struggle with navigating the extremes of her existence—being idolized and scrutinized, feeling untouchable yet incredibly exposed. The world either makes her feel too big, like an overwhelming force, or too small, like she has no real control. Alice’s disorienting experience in Wonderland serves as a powerful parallel to Taylor’s own battle with identity under the weight of fame.

Q: Alice is lost, trying to navigate a nonsensical world. Is Midnights Taylor’s way of expressing the experience of feeling lost, disoriented, or manipulated by the industry? A: Throughout Midnights, Taylor explores the disillusionment that comes with fame, power, and the entertainment industry’s ever-shifting rules. In the Midnights in Wonderland sync, Alice’s journey mirrors this experience—she trusts figures along the way, only to be misled, trapped, or forced into bizarre situations that make no logical sense. This feels like an allegory for Taylor’s navigation of the music industry, where she’s had to decipher who truly has her best interests at heart and who is simply playing a game.

The Mad Hatter’s tea party is one of the most striking parallels. Alice arrives at what seems to be a lively, welcoming space, but the rules of the conversation keep shifting, and nothing she says is ever quite right. This could represent Taylor’s experience in an industry that expects her to constantly reinvent herself, answer to critics, and adhere to standards that change at the whims of those in power.

The Queen of Hearts scene is another moment that aligns with Taylor’s industry struggles. The Queen changes the rules of the game on a whim, unfairly winning the croquet match and demanding absolute loyalty. She disposes of anyone who doesn’t comply. This could reflect Taylor’s past experiences with executives, critics, or media figures who have manipulated narratives, tried to control her career, or written her off when she didn’t play by their expectations.

Through Midnights, Taylor tells a story of trying to make sense of a world that often feels absurd and unfair—just like Alice, who must navigate Wonderland’s chaos while clinging to her own sense of reality.

Q: The Cheshire Cat is known for leading Alice astray while acting like a guide. Are there figures in Taylor’s life who have done the same? A: The Cheshire Cat is one of the most cryptic figures in Alice in Wonderland, constantly appearing and disappearing, offering guidance that is both enlightening and misleading. In the context of Midnights in Wonderland, this character could symbolize figures in Taylor’s life who have influenced her, whether positively or manipulatively, leaving her questioning what is real and what is an illusion.

One possible interpretation is that the Cheshire Cat represents Taylor’s evolving understanding of her own identity—particularly her queerness. The cat’s distinct color palette aligns with the bi-pride flag, and its tendency to appear at moments of confusion or transition mirrors the way queer identity can feel both liberating and disorienting in a world that demands clear labels. If Taylor has spent years navigating an industry and a society that forces her to compartmentalize her public image and private truth, then the Cheshire Cat’s elusive nature could reflect that inner struggle—the push and pull between visibility and secrecy.

On a broader level, the Cheshire Cat might also represent people in Taylor’s life who have played dual roles as mentors, enablers, or even deceivers. Whether industry figures, former friends, or relationships that left her feeling lost, there’s an undeniable theme in Midnights of being led astray while searching for answers.

As the Cheshire Cat tells Alice: “We’re all mad here.” Perhaps Taylor, like Alice, has spent years trying to make sense of a world that thrives on contradiction, only to realize that sometimes, the only way forward is to embrace the uncertainty.

Q: The Queen of Hearts rules through chaos and irrationality—does Taylor see herself as someone who has to play along with the madness to survive? A: The Queen of Hearts is the ultimate symbol of erratic power—ruling through fear, demanding blind loyalty, and punishing those who step out of line. In Alice in Wonderland, her commands make little sense, yet everyone scrambles to obey, terrified of her infamous “Off with their heads!” decree. This kind of oppressive authority feels eerily familiar when thinking about the power structures in the music industry, where one wrong move can result in an artist being blacklisted, misrepresented, or turned into a villain overnight.

Taylor, like Alice, has had to navigate an industry full of unpredictable rulers—whether they be executives, critics, or even public opinion itself. To survive, she has often had to “play the game,” strategically choosing when to comply and when to push back. But much like Alice in the court scene, there have been moments where Taylor has grown in stature, asserting her influence in ways that challenge the power structures around her. The most obvious example is her Lover-era battle for her masters, where she stood up to the music industry’s own version of the Queen of Hearts and refused to be silenced.

However, just as Alice realizes the Queen's power is ultimately flimsy—built on intimidation rather than real strength—Taylor seems to understand that her true power isn’t in conforming, but in outlasting. By staying in control of her narrative, she continues to grow larger in the industry, becoming an entity even the so-called rulers can’t ignore. The Queen of Hearts thrives on absolute control, but Taylor has proven that she can thrive by doing the opposite—reinventing herself, adapting, and refusing to let anyone dictate her path.

In the end, just as Alice wakes up and leaves Wonderland behind, perhaps Taylor is working toward a future where she no longer has to play along with the madness to survive.

3. Midnights As The Anti-Wonderland

“I can’t go back to yesterday because I was a different person then.” – Alice

Q: Wonderland is a place of nonsense, fantasy, and illusion. Is Midnights an anti-fantasy, the realization of hard truths in the cold light of reality? A: Yes. If Alice in Wonderland represents the whimsical, unpredictable dream-state of Taylor’s past eras—where love, fame, and identity were experienced in larger-than-life, surreal terms—then Midnights is the stark moment of waking up. It’s the cold, quiet hours spent reflecting on everything that once seemed magical, only to realize how distorted and deceptive it might have been.

Unlike past albums that *supposedly* leaned into storytelling and character work (Folklore, Evermore), Midnights is intensely biographical. The emotions are raw, the self-reflection is sharp, and the illusions have shattered. Where Wonderland thrives on the nonsensical—contradictions, paradoxes, and a world where rules change on a whim—Midnights is structured, intentional, and brutally honest. It takes the experiences that once seemed like fairytales and holds them up against reality, forcing Taylor (and the listener) to acknowledge what was real and what was merely a fantasy she wanted to believe in.

A key lyrical choice in Midnights is her frequent use of “you” instead of specific pronouns or names. This technique makes the songs feel personal yet universal, almost like a diary written in code. It mirrors the feeling of waking up from a dream where the details are blurry, but the emotions linger. We don’t always know exactly who she’s talking to—but that’s part of the point. In Wonderland, identities shift, characters contradict themselves, and meanings are fluid. In Midnights, the themes of secrecy, longing, and disillusionment take center stage, but the details remain just out of reach—mirroring Taylor’s own experience of grappling with a reality that doesn’t always match the fantasy she once lived in.

So if Wonderland was the dream, Midnights is the reckoning. It’s the moment of realization that some fantasies were just that—fantasies. But instead of running from the truth, she lingers in it, analyzing every sleepless thought and making peace with the chaos of both the dream and the awakening.

Q: Is Midnights Taylor waking up from the dream of the past—whether that’s fame, a relationship, or her own illusions about life? A: Midnights feels like a reckoning with the illusions Taylor has carried—whether about love, fame, or even her own identity. The album is deeply introspective, filled with moments of clarity that cut through the haze of past experiences. If Wonderland represents the fantasy—the whirlwind of romance, success, and the world she built around her—then Midnights is her stepping back and asking, Was any of it real?

As I've said, “Dear Reader” sets the tone right from the start of the sync, as Alice falls down the rabbit hole. The song itself acts as a cautionary letter to both the listener and Taylor’s younger self, warning that nothing is ever as it seems. It’s a significant opening because it frames the entire journey as one of reflection—looking back on past choices, past relationships, and past personas with a more critical, perhaps even cynical, lens.

Watching Midnights in Wonderland with the tracklist played in reverse order is particularly striking. The final song becomes “Lavender Haze,” where Taylor pleads to stay in the fog of illusion, resisting the pressures of reality. This mirrors Alice’s own journey: after all the chaos and confusion of Wonderland, she finally wakes up to the mundane reality of everyday life. The dream ends, but what comes next?

That’s the lingering question. Midnights doesn’t necessarily resolve the tension—it sits in the space between the dream and the wake-up call, between nostalgia and hard truths. If this album is Taylor coming to terms with what was real and what wasn’t, then the real story lies in what she chooses to do with that knowledge. Does she stay in the Lavender Haze, or does she finally step into a world of screaming color? That’s the question she leaves us with, and only time will tell how she chooses to answer it.

Q: In Alice in Wonderland, time is chaotic, controlled by external forces (The White Rabbit is obsessed with being late). Does this mirror Taylor’s own struggles with time—her career milestones, aging in the public eye, or the pressure to keep moving? A: Absolutely. Time, both as a theme and a source of anxiety, is central to Midnights. Taylor has always been hyper-aware of time—whether it’s the ticking clock of her career, the way the public fixates on her age, or the fleeting nature of relationships. In Alice in Wonderland, the White Rabbit is frantically running, always worried about being late, much like how Taylor has expressed feeling the pressure to evolve, reinvent, and stay ahead in an industry that demands constant motion.

Throughout Midnights in Wonderland, this theme is reinforced visually and musically. In Bigger Than The Whole Sky, which plays during a moment of reflection and loss, the White Rabbit bursts in, disrupting the moment with his panic—just as Taylor often finds herself forced to move forward before she’s ready. This aligns with how she’s spoken about the relentless pace of fame, where there’s rarely a moment to grieve, process, or simply exist.

One of the most significant moments in the sync happens during the tea party scene, where Bejeweled and Anti-Hero play. Here, the chaotic, nonsensical nature of Wonderland reaches a peak, and the clock—representing control, structure, and the passage of time—is destroyed. This feels like a turning point, both in Alice’s journey and in Taylor’s storytelling. If time is shattered, if the rules no longer apply, what happens next?

Taylor has never been one to let time dictate her narrative—she’s constantly rewriting her own story, reclaiming eras, and challenging the expectations placed on her. But Midnights acknowledges the weight of those expectations, the exhaustion of keeping up, and the moments where she just wants to stop the clock entirely. The sync with Alice in Wonderland only reinforces how deeply ingrained this struggle is in her music, her life, and the world she’s built around her.

Q: If Midnights is about sleepless nights and spirals, does that make Wonderland the dream state she’s waking up from? A: Rather than Midnights being the moment of waking up, it feels like the journey through the dream itself—each song a different chapter of a long, disorienting night.

So, what happens when the dream ends? On The Lavender Edition of the album, Taylor includes Hits Different, where she explicitly sings about waking up—unsure if the person at her door is the one she longs for or someone coming to take her away. It’s a jarring shift, a sudden snap back to reality. If Wonderland represents the escapism of Midnights, then Hits Different is the moment Alice opens her eyes and realizes the fantasy is over.

What makes this even more striking is what follows. In The Tortured Poets Department, Taylor trades the rich, whimsical color palette of Midnights for stark black-and-white imagery, positioning herself in an asylum—one of the most extreme visual representations of being trapped in her own mind. If Midnights in Wonderland is her subconscious spinning through illusions, Tortured Poets seems to be the aftermath—where the magic is gone, and she’s left with nothing but cold, harsh reality.

Just as Kansas and Oz exist in striking contrast, so do Midnights and Tortured Poets. It begs the question: is Taylor waking up to clarity, or just a different kind of illusion?

4. The Soundtrack Choice

“It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me At tea time, everybody agrees” – Taylor Swift

Q: Why would Taylor specifically create an auditory sync rather than a visual or lyrical one? A: Before Midnights was released, Taylor hinted it was a “visual album,” but instead of traditional music videos for every song, what if the visuals were hidden in something deeper—like Alice in Wonderland?

An auditory sync makes Midnights an immersive experience, aligning with Taylor’s love of layered storytelling. Alice in Wonderland is all about perception vs. reality, and syncing her album to the film could be a way of making us see Midnights in a whole new way—one that questions time, identity, and illusion, much like Alice’s journey itself.

Q: Does she want us to feel the emotional journey rather than just see it? A: The contrast between Alice in Wonderland’s whimsical, colorful world and Midnights’ raw, introspective lyrics is striking. Taylor has always balanced fantasy and reality in her storytelling, and this sync feels like an extension of that—using Wonderland’s playful visuals to heighten the weight of her sleepless-night confessions. It’s not just about seeing the parallels; it’s about feeling the dissonance between escapism and harsh truth.

Q: Is there something about Midnights that lends itself to being experienced alongside a story of confusion, whimsy, and eeriness? A: Absolutely. While Midnights isn't about Alice in Wonderland, its themes of disorientation, self-reflection, and emotional turbulence align seamlessly with the film’s chaotic, dreamlike world. Taylor masterfully intertwines her personal storytelling with Wonderland’s surrealism, making the sync feel almost inevitable—like she used its whimsical setting as a backdrop to amplify the complexity of her own narrative.

Q: Does the reversed track list + song swaps suggest a deliberate restructuring of the Midnights narrative to better fit Wonderland’s progression? A: Listening to Midnights in reverse order undeniably shifts the storytelling arc, especially with how it begins and ends. Reversing the tracklist mirrors Wonderland’s logic-defying nature, creating a sense of disorientation that aligns with the film’s surreal, dreamlike progression. The choice to swap Anti-Hero and Vigilante Shit suggests an intentional reordering, reinforcing the idea of reality unraveling and shifting perspectives.

Alice’s own words—“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn't”—are spoken just before Dear Reader begins, a song that reads like a warning to question everything. Taylor’s life and career have often been a balancing act between public perception and hidden truths, making this backward sequencing feel like a direct nod to the “two Taylors”—the one the world sees and the one she keeps for herself. As you watch you'll see alllllll the other alignments that show up. It's truly quiet mind blowing.

5. Lyrical Parallels

“Within that world of my own I could listen to a babbling brook And hear a song that I could understand I keep wishing it could be that way Because my world would be a wonderland” – Alice

Q: In a World of My Own is about creating a world where everything makes sense—does Dear Reader contrast this by saying, “Actually, reality is cruel, so stop looking for a fantasy”?

A: Dear Reader is the antithesis of In a World of My Own. Alice dreams of a whimsical place where the world bends to her desires, but Dear Reader warns against that kind of escapism. Taylor’s lyrics feel like a wake-up call, suggesting that what seems idealized or romanticized is often an illusion. The song hints that the comforting, dreamlike version of reality people create for themselves is a performance masking something far more difficult beneath the surface. Wonderland is a fantasy world of talking flowers and friendly creatures, but Taylor’s Midnights rewrites that story into something sharper and more sobering, where the "rabbit hole" might lead somewhere much darker.

Q: The Mad Hatter’s tea party is chaotic and nonsensical—does this align with Karma’s playful but slightly manic tone?

A: While Karma doesn’t play during the tea party scene, the sentiment fits. In the sync, the tea party unfolds to Bejeweled and Anti-Hero, both of which tap into themes of performance and instability. The Mad Hatter’s world operates on erratic, surreal logic—much like Bejeweled, where Taylor sparkles through the chaos, and Anti-Hero, where she confronts her own demons in a theatrical, exaggerated way. The energy of the tea party, with its dizzying conversations and unpredictable shifts, echoes the hyper-aware, slightly unhinged mood that runs through these songs. It’s the moment Alice realizes she’s truly surrounded by nonsense—just as Taylor grapples with the performative, often absurd nature of fame and self-image.

Q: The Queen of Hearts is a tyrant who demands blind loyalty—does Vigilante Shit speak to taking power back from a controlling force?

A: I think so. The Queen of Hearts rules through fear, demanding obedience and using public executions as a spectacle of control. The fact that Vigilante Shit syncs with this moment in the film feels almost too perfect—this is the final confrontation, the moment of rebellion. The Queen, much like oppressive forces in Taylor’s own narrative, holds power by manipulating the game in her favor, making the rules up as she goes. But Alice, much like Taylor in Vigilante Shit, refuses to play along. The upside-down track list theory that led to Vigilante Shit aligning with this scene suggests an intentional mirroring—this is the battle, the moment of taking back agency from someone who thrives on control.

Q: The White Rabbit is obsessed with time running out—does You’re on Your Own, Kid capture that same sense of fleeting opportunity and loneliness?

A: You’re on Your Own, Kid is drenched in the panic of running out of time, a feeling that mirrors the White Rabbit’s desperate urgency. He constantly reminds Alice that she’s late, pulling her deeper into the chaotic world of Wonderland. In the same way, Taylor’s song wrestles with the pressure of fleeting moments—of youth, of relationships, of self-discovery. The song builds with the realization that time doesn’t wait for anyone, that you have to carve your own path even if it means doing it alone. Much like Alice chasing the White Rabbit through Wonderland, Taylor chases something elusive, only to realize that in the end, she’s entirely on her own.

Q: Alice in Wonderland is a trip—both figuratively and literally. Does Midnights explore the comedown from an era of delusion or idealism?

A: Midnights feels like a self-aware reflection on the illusions Taylor has lived through. It’s an album that acknowledges the high of believing in something, only to later recognize its flaws. Alice tumbles into Wonderland expecting adventure, only to face confusion, absurdity, and power struggles. Similarly, Midnights revisits Taylor’s past through a more jaded, self-critical lens. It’s a journey through memory, through idealized pasts that don’t quite hold up upon closer examination. The album arrived at a moment in her career when she was actively revisiting her own mythology—re-recording her albums, performing The Eras Tour, and, perhaps, realizing that the fairy tale wasn’t always what it seemed.

6. Queerness in Wonderland

“Curiouser and curiouser!" – Alice

Q: Alice in Wonderland has been analyzed as a queer-coded text, much like The Wizard of Oz. Is Midnights engaging with that same queer lens?

A: AB-SO-FREAKING-LUTELY. Midnights is deeply queer-coded, just as Alice in Wonderland has long been interpreted through a queer lens. The themes of disorientation, identity struggles, and hidden meaning that run through Alice are strikingly similar to the way Taylor constructs Midnights. Many of the songs on the album carry layers of queer storytelling, particularly when examined in the broader context of her work. The album plays with secrecy, longing, and a sense of having to navigate the world under a carefully curated image—sentiments that resonate heavily with queer experiences. And when you start mapping Midnights onto Alice in Wonderland, the connections become even harder to ignore.

Q: Wonderland is a world where nothing is what it seems, and identity is fluid—does this resonate with Taylor’s own relationship with self-expression and queerness?

A: Without a doubt. Alice in Wonderland thrives on contradictions—things aren’t what they appear, words don’t mean what they should, and identity is constantly shifting. Taylor’s work, especially Midnights, leans into these same themes. She blurs reality and illusion, weaving coded references into her music and public image. The dreamlike quality of Alice mirrors Taylor’s own career—where what we see on the surface may not reflect the truth underneath. There’s a deep longing in Midnights for a reality that’s different from the one she’s been confined to. The sync with Alice in Wonderland only emphasizes the idea that she exists in a world of contradictions, caught between what’s real and what’s a performance.

Q: The phrase “down the rabbit hole” is often used to describe falling into a new way of seeing the world. Did Taylor have a moment where she “woke up” to a new understanding of herself?

A: Taylor’s entire career has been a long journey through the rabbit hole—one where she has hidden, revealed, and rewritten parts of herself through storytelling. If Midnights represents the descent, then every coded Easter egg she’s left behind is part of that journey. And really, what’s more fitting than the idea of Taylor Swift—queen of Easter eggs—laying metaphorical “eggs” throughout her career as she navigates the world? A rabbit hole isn’t just a place you fall into—it’s a maze, full of twists, illusions, and revelations. The day Taylor stops leaving breadcrumbs for us to follow might be the day she finally climbs out of it. But does she even want to leave? Wonderland is full of color, hidden meaning, and magic. Maybe she’s exactly where she wants to be.

7. The Eras Tour Clock + Time Motif

“If you knew Time as well as I do, you wouldn’t talk about wasting it. It’s him!” – The Mad Hatter

Q: The giant ticking clock in the Eras Tour is reminiscent of the White Rabbit’s obsession with time—does this suggest Midnights and Alice in Wonderland are deeply connected?

A: Almost assuredly. The White Rabbit’s frantic anxiety about time slipping away mirrors the way Midnights fixates on late nights, nostalgia, and the haunting passage of time. Taylor’s use of a massive, looming clock in the Eras Tour stage design reinforces this parallel—it’s as if she’s acknowledging that time has always been one of her biggest struggles, both personally and professionally. The ticking clock in Alice in Wonderland isn’t just about running late; it’s about being controlled by time, about feeling like you’re constantly chasing something you may never catch. Midnights shares that same sentiment—reflecting on past moments, lost opportunities, and the relentless forward march of life in the spotlight.

Q: Taylor references time CONSTANTLY in Midnights. Does this parallel Wonderland’s distorted perception of time?

A: Without a doubt. In Alice in Wonderland, time bends, halts, and warps—it’s unreliable, dictated by forces beyond Alice’s control. Midnights operates the same way. The album is non-linear, jumping through past heartbreaks, regrets, and moments of clarity as if Taylor is unstuck in time, revisiting versions of herself that still haunt her. The imagery of clocks, sleepless nights, and “moments that turned into something bigger” all contribute to this sense that she is grappling with time as an illusion—just like Alice. The Eras Tour clock only cements this idea further.

8. If This Was Her Plan, What Comes Next?

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” – Alice

Q: If Taylor deliberately created this sync, what’s her endgame?

A: Taylor has built her career on storytelling, symbolism, and an almost obsessive attention to detail. She knows her audience thrives on unraveling hidden meanings, and this sync feels like another puzzle she’s left for those who are willing to look deeper. If Midnights truly aligns with Alice in Wonderland, then perhaps the next step is not just waking up from the dream but understanding why she needed the dream in the first place. While some theories suggest The Tortured Poets Department might sync with Dead Poets Society, I haven’t analyzed that theory in depth yet. But what I do know is that Alice in Wonderland is a journey into the unknown, and Midnights is Taylor’s most self-reflective album yet—so wherever she’s taking us next, it will likely continue peeling back the layers of performance and illusion she’s been building for years.

Q: Is Midnights her realization era—her breaking free from Wonderland?

A: I think it’s a turning point, but not the end of the journey. Midnights is deeply introspective, but it doesn’t feel like complete liberation—it feels like a reckoning. The album is full of hindsight, regret, and the desire to rewrite history. If Alice in Wonderland represents a dream state, Midnights could be the moment before waking—where you’re half-conscious, aware that you’re dreaming but not quite ready to leave. She’s still tangled in nostalgia, secrets, and the tension between fantasy and reality.

Q: If she’s leaving clues about waking up from the fantasy, what is she waking up to?

A: I think she has shown us that she’s waking up to The Tortured Poets Department. If Midnights was about navigating the disorienting haze of fame, love, and secrecy, Tortured Poets seems to be the stark, raw aftermath. The color has been drained, the whimsical illusions have faded, and she’s confronting the reality that she still isn’t living freely. The shift from Midnights to Tortured Poets feels like going from a surreal, dreamlike place to a stark, clinical reality—almost like waking up in an asylum after falling through the rabbit hole. She’s still dealing with secrecy and heartbreak, still writing about hidden love and longing, but now the magic is gone.

Q: Does this mean The Tortured Poets Department is her post-Wonderland album—more stripped back, raw, and grounded?

A: Yes, but in a way that still feels unresolved. She’s no longer in Wonderland, but she’s not in “screaming color” either. Instead, she’s in black and white. The shift from the whimsical, metaphor-heavy world of Midnights to the grayscale, sterile aesthetic of Tortured Poets suggests she’s still trapped—just in a different way. Instead of navigating the illusions of Wonderland, she’s now sitting with the consequences of waking up. And the question remains: does she want to stay awake, or does she want to dream again?

Conclusion: Are You Ready To Wake Up?

The Midnights in Wonderland sync isn’t just a coincidence. It’s a conversation. A visual, musical, and thematic experiment in how we interpret Taylor’s work.

It’s her Wonderland, but it’s also ours.

So—have you watched the sync? Did anything stand out to you? What are your thoughts on the connections? And more importantly—if Taylor is waking up, what is she waking up to?

Let’s discuss.

(P.S. If you’ve spotted any especially queer-coded moments in the sync, drop them below. I’d love to hear them.) ✨

[sturniolo-rat]

The High Life Part 1

Matt Sturniolo X Stoner!Reader

Part 2

A/N: because I need a babysitter when I’m high and this is generally how it goes.

Contains: fluff💕, daddy k!nk

TW: drug use

In which Matt babysits a high Y/N and she becomes submissive and breedable😏

“Matt, would you still love me if I was a worm?” Y/N asks, looking at him through a cloud of smoke.

He looks up from his game “You’re high as shit, but yes, I would, the fuck”? She’s always asking dumbass questions when she smokes. Matt doesn’t smoke himself, but he likes to be around to watch Y/N. Not only does she look really hot, but she becomes so baby, and he wants to take care of her. 

“Okay, but what would you do?” She looks up at him expectantly, looking for a very specific answer.

He turns in his chair. “I’d put you somewhere safe and find the wizard bastard that did this to you.”

Y/N shakes her head furiously. “No, there’s no wizard. The universe just took my human form back and decided I was actually supposed to be a worm.” She says, pulling the rolling tray onto her lap as she sits on the bed facing him crisscross applesauce.

“Alright, easy.” He claps his hands. I got this.” She pauses grinding her weed to lean in. This time, she’s hoping for a more pleasing answer. “I’m going outside every day, rain or shine, even if it’s a hurricane, and I’m screaming up at the sky and demanding the universe turn you back.”

Wrong again. “Oh, so you only care for my human body and not my worm body?” she says indignantly as she struggles to roll her joint.

He grabs her face and kisses her forehead. “Baby, please, you already know you’d have a 6-foot terrarium in our room” he takes her rolling tray off of her and starts fixing her shitty rolling. “but I know you’d be sad cuz you wouldn’t be able to talk. Hence my screaming at the universe.” He licks the end of the rolling paper and seals the joint up. “It’s all for you, my love.” And he holds the perfectly rolled joint out. He learned to roll for her recently. He can only roll joints thought because blunts are for losers, and Y/N doesn’t fuck with tobacco. 

She takes it from him, completely shocked. “Well,, I guess that’s nice of you?” Referring to his hypothetical screaming and his unhypothetical miracle joint rolling skills. “Since when did you know how to do anything even remotely related to drugs?” 

“Last week. I thought I would help my baby out in all her endeavors.” He cracks a smile, knowing he’s thoroughly impressed her. 

She spaces out for a few seconds, then Says, “Could I come outside sometimes?”

He nods, instantly, knowing that her brain just did a factory reset, and is talking about the worm hypothetical again. “Mhmm, I’d put you in my shirt pocket, and we’d go on dates, and I’d get you plates of dirt to eat.” This was not the answer she was looking for because it was so much better, and just so perfectly Matt.

“You’re amazing.”

He pats her head. “I’ll go get you some snacks and water, Lovie.” He leaves, and Y/N feels so comfy and loved. 

“Get my special cup, please!” she yells to the kitchen. The cup in question is a 40-oz stainless steel tumbler that says Daddy’s Girl. Matt knows she’s in subspace. 

When he comes back to the room, Y/N is all cuddled up in bed with the stuffed shark he won at the fair last month. He’s got her special cup in hand and his arms full of chips. He throws them all on the bed and hands over the cup. “Got your cuppy, Sweetheart.”

“Thank you, Daddy.” he never liked being called Daddy before he met Y/N. She just brings something out in him. When she’s around, he just wants to take care of her in every conceivable way. 

“Anything for you, Baby.” He sits beside her on the bed, and she lies her head on his lap. Matt feeds her chips as they watch Family Guy. It’s amusing watching tv with Y/N when she’s high because she can’t follow the plot story shit. He likes asking her what she thinks is happening and listening to her crazy, convoluted answers. 

Somehow, over the course of a couple of hours Y/N ends up sitting between his legs with her back against his chest. She cranes her neck and stares up at him for a while. His lips look so soft, and she can’t look away. Matt notices this and tries to focus her back on the show. “So, what do you think Brian and Stevie are up to right now?”

“D’know.” She shrugs and continues to look at him.

“Do you need something, baby?” He asks.

“Mhmm,” she said, shaking her head and biting her lip.

Matt knows exactly where she’s going with this. “What do you need,

Love. You have to tell me before I can help you.”

“I need you, Daddy.” with that, she opens up a whole new can of worms.

Smutty part 2

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[weirdworldofwinnie]

I think it's worth mentioning how kind of tragic the character of the Wizard really is at the end of Wicked... Yes, he is an antagonist and made very morally questionable choices, but there are factors worth pointing out that add nuance (I'm referring only to the musical & movie versions, NOT book because he is pretty vile and irredeemable there). Wicked: For Good was on my mind today and I can't wait to see more of Jeff Goldblum's interpretation come November, but for now here's just my opinions and some notes on what I know. Spoilers for Act 2 of Wicked under the cut:

The Wizard, once known as Oscar Diggs, never initially set out to be this grand ruler dictator; his song "Wonderful" tells us as much with how he was accidentally blown in by balloon and how everyone thinking he's wonderful went to his head (literally)

There was great suffering and discord among the people when he showed up, so due to the fact he seemed "magical" to them and they were desperate for a leader, it was almost natural he was the one shooed in to be the godlike savior but he's not a born politician

He enjoys being a showman and thrives off pleasing people. I don't think he ever desired to be the enemy... until he had no choice

HE JUST WANTED TO BE A FATHER. This is reiterated throughout, he always wanted a family of his own but never could settle down

He admits he is lonely in the Emerald Palace

His one semi-companion (and true villain tbh), Madame Morrible, obviously had negative influence over him to some degree, adding to his already classic "power corrupts" cautionary tale

He likely has a longstanding drinking problem to cope (see: the green elixir) as in the musical he offers some to Glinda when she's feeling low

The only known biological daughter he has - Elphaba Thropp, who idolized him since she was a young girl without even knowing him - he doesn't put two and two together to know he's the father. He can't even properly bond to her because of their differences, and ultimately fails to bring her to his side because he won't compromise

The entire Animals issue is what mainly drives her from him, but let's consider where he comes from (not Oz). Animals are widely inferior to humans with many used as pets, entertainment, clothing, meat, etc. Them actually talking and having professions in this other world is frankly bizarre and foreign... Of course he unfortunately decides not to strive for equality on this because he has to retain power

He loses Elphaba for good, finding out she's his own daughter (from a twenty some years ago affair with Melena Thropp who has long since passed and her governor husband and other daughter are dead as well) only after it's too late

He is finally kicked out of Oz due to this revelation and Glinda ordering him away, leaving him alone to go back where he came from, if he can even find the way back in the first place, ultimately failing to stay in Oz - the one place he actually called "home" because he felt desired (even if it that adoration was built on deception).

So did he fuck up? Sure. Is he a liar and snake oil salesman? Definitely. Can he be a stupid coward? Yep. Do we feel sorry for him? Depends on your perspective. But no matter how much you hate the guy, you have to admit there's an element of tragedy, just like much of this story in general. He could have been better, he could have changed, but he didn't. Most importantly, he could have been a real father, but he blew it!

That's really quite sad when you think about it.

[justmeinadaze]

Take It Out On Me Part 20 (Steddie X Plus Size Reader)

Warnings: Daddy Steve/ Sir Eddie and Sub Fem Plus size reader, you aren't going to see a lot those dynamics in this chapter. She does refer to them by their titles occasionally but due to the situation refers to them by their names more than anything. There is SMUT of the fluffy slightly vanilla variety (I know its weird lol), FLUFF, they love each other and they're a family <3.

ANGST, sooooo much angst which if you read the last chapter you were prepared for (or if you know me lol), they do have dinner with his mom and they do talk about their abuse so a domestic abuse and child abuse trigger warning is in effect! They don't go into full details but hitting and bleeding is mentioned. Eddie talks about his abandonment and feeling replaced. There are feels but there is a peaceful resolution :). I wanted that for Eddie <3.

Word Count: 3983

“Baby, relax.”, Steve coos in a gentle tone as he comes up behind you to turn off the sink and collect you in his arms. 

You had been scurrying around the apartment doing busy work while Eddie finished getting ready. Tonight was the dinner with his mom at Wayne’s trailer and you were extremely nervous. 

“I’m trying. I’m just worried about him.”

“I know, honey. Everything’s going to be alright. Thanks to you he’s not doing this alone.”

You sigh as you lean into his embrace and rest your arms over his own. 

“I need you to make sure I don’t get arrested tonight because I swear to God, if she says one rude thing—”

“Ok, Rocky. Chill.”, he chuckles as he kisses your lips. 

“Alright, I’m ready.”, Eddie exhales heavily as he comes out of the bedroom and grabs his jacket. “Let’s get this over with.”

***

“How’s he doin’?”, Wayne asked as you helped him in the kitchen. 

The original plan was to have the meal outside so everyone wouldn’t feel so cramped but as if sensing the mood, a storm slowly creeped into Hawkins and began to pour as soon as you three made it into the trailer. The boys helped set up a table in the living room while you took the opportunity to catch up with Eddie’s uncle. 

“He’s been as okay as he can be. Definitely more clingy which I don’t mind. He had work the other day and asked if I could hang out with him during his shift.”

“Yeah… When he was a boy, after he moved in, he used to carry around this Wizard of Oz book like a safety blanket. I noticed after a while whenever he was nervous or anxious, he would bring it with him wherever he went and read it. I was honestly surprised when he left it here after he moved. Must have found a new thing to comfort him.”, he grinned as he patted your shoulder. 

“Is it still in his room?”

Wayne nodded as you excused yourself to go look, finding it by his dresser, and coming back to slip it in your purse. A knock on the door causes everyone to freeze as his uncle takes one last big breath and heads to open it. 

You quickly place yourself by Eddie’s side as he reaches out to hold your hand.

“Here we go.”

#################

His mother was a lot smaller than you imagined her being but your only frame of reference was the photo you had seen of her in his room with all the Munson’s together. She was a curvy woman and her short black hair accentuated the slight chipmunk plump of her cheeks. Her energy radiated the same softness that Eddie carried but you were still apprehensive especially after what she had done. 

As she entered the trailer and Wayne took her coat, Eddie remained still as his eyes constantly scanned her over. 

“Lynn, this is, um, Eddie’s best friend Steve Harrington.”

“You’re the other boy that had gotten hurt in the fire.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Thank you for saving him.”

Steve just nodded politely as Wayne gestured towards you. “This is their girlfriend, Y/N Y/L/N.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

You followed Steve’s lead, choosing to nod as well without saying a word. 

When she made it to her son, both people were completely unsure on how to proceed. Testing the water, his mom extended her hand for him to shake and his reaction surprised you both as he slightly flinched, taking a step backwards away from her.

“The, uh, food is done. Steven, can you help me bring the last of it to the table here?”

Wayne knew better than to ask you. There was no way you were leaving Eddie’s side now that she was here. Once everything was placed and everyone was seated, his uncle handled the bulk of the conversation, making small talk where he could to cut the tension. 

“I see you’re still a wonderful cook, Wayne.”

“Hm. Thank you. Since I work overnight, I don’t get to cook as much as I’d like but…”

“Yeah, I know what you mean. I was a night nurse for a while after I moved so it was a lot of microwave meals.”

“Oh? So, you, um, became a nurse?”

“I did. I had some experience with healing wounds…so…” Her head hung as her voice trailed off. “Um, how long have you guys been together?”, she asks as gestures towards you.

“A little over three years.”

“Well, that’s nice. Did you know each other in school?” 

When you only nod, Wayne tries to help again. 

“I think Ed told me he met Y/N junior year? Steve we’ve known for a while even though I don’t think you started coming over, son, till middle school.”

“Uh, yes sir. 7th grade I believe. It’s funny to think about since I came over to listen to music and watch movies but our tastes are so different.”

“Oh, the fact that he has some and you don’t?”, you tease as Steve smiles and sticks his tongue out at you.

“What kind of things are you into?”, she asks Eddie. The boy continues to glare at his plate as he moves food around with his fork.

“He’s taken Y/N here to a few concerts like Dio and Poison if I’m not mistaken.”

“My daughter is into heavy metal as well. My husband and I just bought her a drum set and she just…” She trailed off again when she noticed Eddie was finally looking at her. “You’d, um, you’d really get along with her.”

“Yeah? How old is she?”

“She just turned 9.”

“Huh. Sounds like her double digits are going to be WAY better than mine.”, the man sassed as he folded his arms and leaned back in his seat. “Just out of curiosity, how many more are there?”

“I have three with my current husband. My oldest is 9, my other daughter is 6, and my son…is 3.”

“Your oldest is actually 21 but I’m glad you were finally able to have another son. Now you can replace me entirely.”

She flinched at his words as your hand gripped his thigh. 

“I thought about you every day, Eddie.”, she whispered.

“Well, that’s good to know. While I was bleeding on the floor after the violent man you left me with knocked me out, it comforts me to know you didn’t forget about me.”, he growls before abruptly rising to his feet. “I need a minute.”

Nobody moves as he stomps towards his old bedroom and slams the door.

“Maybe this was a bad idea.”

“I mean, what did you expect, Lynn? You never came back for him like you said you would.”

“You told me you would take him, Wayne—”

“Don’t. Don’t push the blame on him.”, you warned. “The truth of the matter is you SAID you were coming back and you never did.”

“You don’t know what it was like…living with Allen…”

“You’re right. I don’t but thanks to you, your child does.”

You stand and Steve promptly trails after you as you carefully open Eddie’s door. Both of you found him sitting on his bed, smoking out the window like he used to when you three lived there. As you climbed in to sit beside him, his hand immediately shot out to stop you. 

“I wouldn’t get too close to me, sweetheart. I’m, uh, not all here.”, he lightly chuckles as his voice cracks.

Squaring your jaw in defiance, you climb in anyway and take his free hand in yours. 

“Like that’s going to stop me. I’m not afraid of you, Edward Munson.”

“You doing alright, dude?”, Steve asked as he sat on the edge of the mattress. 

“I’m, um, trying not to fall apart here. I really want to yell at her but I don’t…I don’t want her to think I’m like my dad.”

“Baby…”, you coo as you run your fingers through his hair. “You’re allowed to be angry. What she did wasn’t ok and you’re allowed to tell her that anyway you feel you need to.”

Eddie softly smiles as he tilts his head to kiss your lips and tosses his cigarette out the window. Taking your hand in his, the three of you leave his bedroom and back to the table where his mom and Wayne were still talking.

“—didn’t leave any kind of formal documentation for me to have him, Lynn. Did you really think Allen was just going to hand him over?”

“Why didn’t you come back?”, Eddie asked as soon as he sat down.

“I-I-I…your father was so aggressive. I couldn’t take it anymore, Eddie. I had to go—”

“I didn’t ask why you left. I asked why you didn’t come back. Even after he was arrested, you stayed away. Not even so much as a fucking postcard.”

She sighed as her eyes fell, trying to find the best way to answer his question. 

“Originally, I wanted to get things ready before you came to live with me. Eddie when I moved, those first few months I was practically making pennies as a waitress living in a studio apartment. I thought you would be better with Wayne. When I finally got settled, I guess that idea remained imprinted in my brain; that you would be happier with your uncle.”

The metalhead folded his arms across his chest as he glared at her. 

“Mom, I would have rather lived with you in a box on the street then anywhere with dad. You have no idea what he put me through.”

“I have some idea.”

“You. Have. No. Idea.”, he snarled. “I was a 10-year-old kid and you were a grown woman who knew what he would do to me if you left. Hell he hit me in front of you all the fucking time!”

“If I could go back in time and make a different decision I would! I don’t know what else I can say!”

“He doesn’t want you to say anything. He wants you to listen and understand.”, you cut in trying to be helpful.

“This is a family matter! I don’t know why you two are even here!”

“BECAUSE SHE IS MY FAMILY!”, Eddie roared causing his mother to lean back. “I love her. If I could marry her right now and give her my last name I would. She’s been there for me and actually sees me for me. To her I’m not ‘that Munson kid’. I’ve always just been Eddie.”

He gestures towards Steve. “This man is my best fucking friend and saved my life. Without him I wouldn’t even fucking be here. I love him like a brother and we take care of each other like we are.”

Eddie points past her towards his uncle. “Wayne took me in when YOU and Allen abandoned me. Even before you disappeared, I only ever felt safe with him. He’s raised me and not only taken care of me but these two as well when their parents abandoned them. Y/N’s lucky. Her parents admitted their mistakes and apologized for them. Steve and I don’t know what that’s fucking like. So, I guess the real point is, if this is a ‘family matter’ then you shouldn’t be here.”

Thunder clapped loudly as the power went out in the trailer.

“Shit. I don’t think anyone is going anywhere tonight. “, Wayne sighed. “Let’s, um, let’s call it a night yeah? Kids why don’t you take Eddie’s bedroom—”

“No. She can take my bedroom and we can sleep out here. If you still have that inflatable mattress.”, the man grumbled. 

***

You guys didn’t even need the mattress. Steve was the only one who was currently on it while you and Eddie were on the couch. He didn’t say much through the rest of the evening, just held you to his chest till you fell as sleep in his arms. As he sat there playing with your hair and gently caressing your legs, through the darkness in the living room he could just barely make out a figure headed for the front door. 

“You should have used my bedroom window. Lord knows I used that a bunch.”, he sighed as he used his lighter to light a candle near him, illuminating his mom’s face. 

“I, uh,…”

“No, no. I get it. I’ll tell them it was family emergency or something.”

Her eyes scanned him over softly as he continued to pet your hair behind your head. 

“She seems like a nice girl. Obviously loves you.”

“Yeah. She’s perfect…to me anyway.” His mother came around and took a seat on the other side of the sofa. “For that first year, I used to be terrified that she would leave me like you did. Now as I get older, sometimes I fear I’ll become like dad. Like there’s some dormant Munson gene that will snap into place at some point. Steve won’t say it out loud but I know he’s worried about the same thing…him becoming a prick like his father.”

“Eddie, you’re nothing like Allen.”

“Then why didn’t you come back for me?”

“Edward Munson, that had nothing to do with you. I swear on my life I never once thought you’d turn into him.”, she sighs as she leans back. “When you were a baby you always looked at me with these expressive eyes like you were taking in every little thing. Even when you got older… the night before I left, you gave me those same eyes but they were sadder. I felt like that was my fault. I brought you into this situation… he was hurting me and I was hurting you.”

“When I settled, I told myself I would send for you. Hell, I would even come and get you myself. When your grandma, my mom, told me Allen was arrested and you were with Wayne… that way you used to look at me flashed through my head. I thought ‘Maybe he’s better off with his uncle.”

“You could have sent me a letter at least or called…”

“I thought this was the best choice, Eddie. I genuinely did. I thought with me and your father out of your life now you can live yours to the fullest. I had no idea Allen had you alone after I left.”

Eddie nodded as he looked away, the gesture causing you to wake. You didn’t move or make any indication when you heard his mother’s voice.

“Eddie, I’m so sorry for what you went through. I really am. I’m not asking you to forgive me but whenever you’re ready I’d love to be a part of your life. Maybe you can come visit me…meet the kids.”

“Do they know about me?”

“Yeah and so does my husband. He’s, um, a bit of nerd but—” They both laugh and your heart explodes for him. “I’ll, um, let you get some sleep.” She pats his leg before standing and heading back towards his room. 

“Are you alright?”, you ask as you caress his face. 

“Hey. How long have you been awake?”

“Not long. What about you, Steve?”

“Jesus, woman. How did you know?”, the man rolls over to turn and face you both making you giggle. 

“I sleep beside you, remember? I know what you look like asleep.”

“Pfft. Yeah, she woke me up when I heard her shoes heading for the door.”

“So, us fucking doesn’t wake you up but my mom’s shoes did?”

“I’m on high alert, Munson. Like you said…” Steve sits up and pulls his knees to his bare chest. “We’re family. I don’t just protect her but you to, man.”

“Thanks, Harrington.”, Eddie smiles. “Yeah, baby, to answer your question. I’m alright.” 

You softly smile back at him when he kisses your forehead. 

“Come on. Let’s lay down.” Sliding off him, you take his hand and lead him down to the inflatable bed.

“You look really sexy in this by the way.”, he playfully whispers as he lightly tugs at the long, oversized shirt Wayne gave you to sleep in. After taking off his own shirt, he slid in beside you and Steve did the same. His uncle had had given them both shorts to sleep but the material was relatively flimsy. Both their cocks pressed against you and you couldn’t help licking your lips at the feeling. 

“Sir?” He answered you with a soft him as he pressed his nose to your cheek. “You can use me right now if you need to. I don’t mind. I know you’ve been through a lot today.” As you whisper your last sentence, his eyes open to look at yours, vaguely making them out in the dark. 

“You’ve already done a lot for me these past few days, sweetheart.”

“I know. I also know that when you both feel out of control…controlling me makes you feel better.” A heavy breath escapes his lips as your nose grazes his. “And you know I definitely don’t mind that.”

“You’d have to be very quiet, baby girl. We also know that when we fuck you rough like that you get loud.”, Steve tuts.

“I can be quiet, Daddy. I promise.”

“I don’t want to be rough. Not like that anyway…”

“Uh oh.” You place your palm on his forehead, feeling his smile stretch against your cheek. “Are you dying?”

Taking a hold of your wrist, he wraps your arm around his neck as his free hand pushes down his shorts to release his cock from their hold and you lift your leg, moaning lightly when he runs his mushroom tip along the fabric of your underwear blocking your core.

“Hey. When we first met you even you admitted sometimes you like it vanilla.”

“If there’s one thing you aren’t, baby, it’s vanilla.”, you cooed, repeating those words he said to you that first night back to him. 

Moving your underwear to the side, you both whimper as he slides into your entrance. His palm took hold of your thigh just below the back of your knee as he held it steady in the air. While he pumped into you at gentle but firm pace, he continually whispered things in your ear in a low, husky tone that had you clenching around him as you turned your head into the sound of his voice. 

“I love you, Y/N, so much. I love that you’re ours, baby. Fuck… not just because of how good this fucking pussy feels but because—mmm—you take care of us to. You love us for us. Tell me that you love me, princess.”

“I love you, Sir. Shit…just like that, baby, please.”

His hair brushes against your face as he shakes his head and thrusts his hips a bit harder into yours causing you to cling to the other boy’s wrist that was occasionally bumping into your side as he stroked his cock while he listened to you moan and whimper.

“Me… sweetheart. Tell me that you love me…please…”

You wished you could see his face better as you gripped his cheek and kissed his lips. Your thumb caressed along his features as you told him what he needed to hear. 

“I love you, Eddie Munson. Yes, baby. I belong to you, Eddie. It’s been a while since I’ve said that but I’ve never forgotten. Mmm! I’m yours. I’ll always be here for you. Always.” 

His breath warmed your face as he picked up his rhythm, hitting that spot inside of you that had you melting into him. Steve reached for your hand, running his tongue along your palm, and placed it around his length that throbbed in your grasp. You kissed his lips as the metalhead lightly bit into the area between your neck and shoulder, grunting when he felt your pussy flutter around him as you came.

Eddie clung to your body chasing his release until you mewled as he warmed your insides. The other boy quickly rose to his knees, stroking his cock till he came on your tummy. 

In the dark, he reached for your hand and both boys guided you into the bathroom. Just like old times, Steve hopped onto the counter while, Eddie got the shower started. Cupping his face in your hands, you leaned forward to tenderly kiss his lips. 

“I love you to, Steve Harrington. I’m yours and I’ll always be here for you.”, you whisper before he smiles and kisses you again. 

#############

“Hey Lynn. Good to see you’re still here.”, Wayne grinned sassily before handing her a cup of coffee.

She offers him a half smile and a polite thank you as she takes the cup from his hands. 

“Definitely a unique situation, huh?”, she asks as she gestures to where you three were sleeping. 

“I think what makes it more unique is that it’s genuine at such a young age. They’ve been really good for each other. When Steven started coming over, that’s when Eddie started getting out of his shell a bit more. Then they met Y/N and everything went up from there.”

“He said her parents were the only one to approve?”

“Not at first but after about a month they came around. Bill on the other hand…”

“Bill was always an asshole.”

“Yeah but I didn’t think he’d stoop so low as to call a young girl a whore who brainwashed his son.” He nodded when her eyes widened. “Oh, yeah. Don’t worry. Her father punched him in the face.”

“Good. Fuck him.” They both chuckled as they drank their beverages. 

After you guys woke up, Wayne made breakfast while casual conversation was made with Eddie telling his mother all things you three had done together like your trip to New York and the prom they had created for you. As the afternoon came to a close, Lynn had to leave and the metalhead walked her to her car while you and Steve hung back. 

“I’ll call you when I land and we can set up a time for you three to come visit.”, she grins.

Without a word, Eddie leans forward to hug her and you smile as you watch her circle her arms around him as she holds him tightly to her tiny frame.

***

“I stole this from your room.”, you announce as you hand the Wizard of Oz book to Eddie who was leaning outside of his window in your apartment smoking. “Your uncle said it was like your security blanket.”

“Shit. Yeah it was. I didn’t even realize I left it.

Steve came up behind you, taking you in his arms and resting his chin on your head as you leaned against him. 

“Why that book?”, he asked.

“It was the first book I remember my mother reading to me. It’s also the first time I remember my dad coming home drunk screaming about some mundane shit. It was nice being able to disappear into a fantasy land for a time. As I got older, I guess it just…made me feel safe.”

His eyes glance towards you both before flipping absently through the pages. 

“When my mom left I would read it to myself especially during those first six months. Allen was, uh, really ruthless.”

Eddie spent the rest of the evening opening up to you and Steve about what happened to him. When he finished, he seemed so much lighter as if a weight had been lifted from his chest. You made him dinner while they both played some fighting game on the expensive console they saved up for.  When we went to bed that night he held you tightly to his side while he played with your hair. 

“Y/N?” You answered with a soft hm to which he responded by tenderly kissing your forehead. “Thank you.”

###########

@manda-panda-monium @sherrylyn628 @eddiesguitarskills

@needylilgal022 @local-stoner-bitch @katethetank @strangerfreak

@sidthedollface2 @justanotheryn @pedropascalslilbaby

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@chelebelletx @perdopascalslilbaby @shayeddie @anaibis

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@siriuslysmoking @raptorbait529 @miarosso @micheledawn1975

@paleidiot @mrsjellymunson

[enbylestat]

Tidings of comfort & joy

Chapters: 12/12 Fandom: The Wicked Years Series - Gregory Maguire Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Elphaba Thropp/Fiyero Tigelaar, Fiyero Tigelaar/Sarima Tigelaar, Elphaba Thropp/Sarima Tigelaar, elphaba thropp/sarima tigelaar/fiyero tigelaar Characters: Elphaba Thropp, Fiyero Tigelaar, Sarima Tigelaar, Galinda Upland, The Wizard (The Wicked Years), Liir (The Wicked Years), Nor "Ilianora" Tigelaar, Manek Tigelaar, Irji Tigelaar Additional Tags: Holidays, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Lurlinemas (The Wicked Years), Domestic Fluff, Fluff and Smut, Character Study, Anarchy, Fascism, Politics, Canon-Typical Violence, Canon-Typical Behavior, polyamorous Fiyero Tigelaar, bisexual Fiyero Tigelaar, Bisexual Elphaba Thropp, Bisexuality, Bisexual Female Character, Bisexual Male Character, Useless Lesbians, lesbian Glinda Upland, Revolution, Inspired by Roleplay/Roleplay Adaptation, Tumblr Roleplay, Inspired by A Christmas Carol, Bisexual Female Character of Color, POV Alternating, Fluff and Hurt/Comfort, POV Third Person, POV Third Person Limited, References to Wicked - Schwartz/Holzman, References to Wicked (The Wicked Years), Song: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Fix-It, Happy Ending, Polyamory, rairpair, Threesome - F/F/M, Canon - Book, Historical References, Allegory, Femslash, Smut, Intersex, Queer Themes, POV Elphaba Thropp, POV Fiyero Tigelaar, POV Sarima Tigelaar, Minor Elphaba Thropp/Galinda Upland, Character Death, Christmas, Christmas Fluff, Religion, Atheism Series: Part 5 of The Wicked Years (enbylestat's version). Summary: Post the violent (and justified) overthrow of Oscar Diggs - the ‘Wonderful’ Wizard of Oz, and the ascension of an extremely reluctant Glinda Upland-Chuffrey, Elphaba Thropp, who is already on the way to the Vinkus makes a life for herself in a way that is on solid ground and one she, Sarima and Fiyero Tigelaar all deserve.

(AU: no one dies / everyone lives, fluff with light smut.)

@creators-club

[fanfics-multifandom]

Soulmate marks were simple things: random thoughts of him or her and your whole body was shining when you met your soulmate.

They can be thoughts of the moment or of the future, some even talked about what their relationship would be like if you were lucky.

Some are born with ones and have more later, others have to wait years for them, but they are always there.

And here comes the problem: Steve was born with one, nothing strange, what was written was the problem.

"God, my soulmate was my father's friend" Okay, it wasn't a problem when he was a kid, it was just on his back. When he was old enough to understand, he saw the problem. He was obviously a pervert. He imagined meeting someone 20 years younger than him in the future (or more, the voice in his head said) and felt disgusted. The other marks didn't help either.

Sometimes simple "oh, wow" and other times insults that mom wouldn't let him say out loud.

He also had things on his body that he didn't understand: "I lost my phone." (perhaps during a move?) "damn tablet" "oh, i'm definitely gay" (happy) and "i'm ironman" (he understood that when he saw the Wizard of Oz, maybe a reference)

and then there was something that condemned him to worse "I have a penis, don't you remember?" oh god her soulmate was a MAN thank god that was hidden in his thigh.

and even worse "I'm 13 and I'm dating a 60 year old" Yes, Steve was definitely the one he was referring to. So it was no surprise to anyone that he signed up for war again and again. Everyone who lost their soulmate or who had incriminating marks on them went to war, like Arnie who signed up because his leg had the marking "we are men, the two of us" on it.

So here he was, with 20 liters of "who knows what" that Howard injected into him, a virile body that he didn't deserve and a plane to his destination.

○●○●○●

Since Tony was a child he knew it would be with someone older than him, or at least I would be with someone who liked children. It could be both, he doesn't know yet.

He was born with a "it's just a boy" on his chest, nothing unusual, until the marks became more obvious at the same time that dad ignored it and mom was on drugs.

Tony saw in hid stomach "I'm a pervert" and "he must be a kid, my soulmate is a f****** kid" and then there was more until it said "am I a pedo?"

"He can't be the son of one of my friends" (howard's friend?)

he showed them to Jarvis and he unfortunately cried and explained adult things to him, when he showed it to Dad he started yelling "oh, of course brat, you're going to mess with one of my friends, aren't you?" while drinking a flask of rum

Later, when he was about 13, he understood it. So he should get used to the "old ones", right?

○●○●○●

Fury was giving orders and the world was a mess because of a guy whose dad didn't hug him enough want to destroy newyork

and then it shined, the Howard's son. He gave his 10 dollars to Fury.

[srovtl]

(in here, a magic that connect hearts) Rutile SSR Card Story Translation

Translator note: This, and all the fifth anniversary card stories, reference each character’s affection story (which can be read here) and I recommend reading them beforehand.

What will you write in the report card - Episode 1

Akira: I'm looking forward to tasting Nero's cake. 

Rutile: Yeah. I'm getting hungry now.

(Crashing sound)

Akira, Rutile: Whoa!?

Akira: I-I just heard a loud noise...

Rutile: It's from outside, right? …..ah.

Bradley: I'm gonna blow your head right off!

Mithra: That is impossible. I'll kill you before that happens.

Looking out the window, Bradley and Mithra were fighting in the air with magical tools in their hands.

Bradley:《Adnopotence》

Mithra:《Arthim》

Gunshots rang out in the blue sky, and a giant ghost-like thing flew around in the sky.

Akira: (It's a familiar sight, but... it's still bad for my heart every time...!)

Meanwhile, gazing up at the same scene, Rutile leisurely smiled.

Rutile: Mister Mithra, you're in high spirits today too. Mister Bradley too.

Akira: Eh... I think that long surpassed the level of high energy?

Rutile: But that's just how Mithra and the Wizards of the North are. It's the same as me being carefree and Master Sage being kind.

Rutile smiled softly, as if watching over his students.

Rutile: Fighting is certainly scary. But if Mister Mithra and the others stopped fighting, wouldn't that be a bit worrying?

Akira: That's...certainly true...

Akira: Wha...?!

The impact shook the magic manor. The two's quarrel had not subsided, but rather became even more heated.

Akira: Snow and White are out, and Oz is away on a mission. We really had to stop them...!

Rutile: You're right. It's about time we called out to them.

Rutile opened the window and leaned out.

Rutile: Mister Mithra, Mister Bradley!

Mithra: Rutile?

Bradley: Ah!? Stay out of the way, you bastard!

Rutile: Sorry for interrupting your fight! Would you like a snack?

Mithra: …….

Mithra: Snacks?

Rutile: Mister Nero baked a cake using a new recipe.

Rutile: We're going to go try it now, and I was wondering if you two would like to join me.

Mithra: …….Now that I think of it, I'm a little hungry.

Bradley: What? Where are you going?!

With Bradley's yelling behind him, Mithra came flying in without a word. He swerved over the window frame and entered the hallway.

Bradley: Hey! ….hah…

Akira: (Ah... Bradley flew away. I guess the fight is over...)

Mithra: What kind of cake is it? Venison?

Rutile: It's an orange cake. Apparently they got a lot of fresh oranges at the market.

Rutile speaks with a cheerful voice, as cheerful as a spring breeze. Even though he has interrupted a northern wizard's fight, he doesn't seem shaken.

Akira: (Rutile is a young and energetic wizard, but maybe because he's a school teacher, he's more aware of these things than his age would suggest.)

Akira: (Come to think of it, I thought something similar when I interviewed him before…)

What will you write in the report card - Episode 2

A few days later, I happened to pop into the lounge...

Chloe: Rutile...

Mitile: nii-sama...

Chloe, Mitile: We're sorry!

Rutile: ……

Akira: (Huh? Chloe and Mitile are apologizing profusely to Rutile...?)

Akira: Umm, you three. Did something happen?

Chloe: Master Sage! You see, we were messing around and knocked over a glass...

Mitile: We spilled juice on the picture nii-sama was drawing...

When I looked at Rutile's hands, I saw orange splashes splashing all over the corner of the picture he was working on.

Chloe: I'm so sorry!

Mitile: I'm sorry, nii-sama!

As the two of them apologized profusely, Rutile frowned dramatically.

Rutile: I'm soo angry. You two are going to be punished.

Rutile: As a punishment... you have to draw with me!

Chloe, Mitile: ….!

Rutile: Now, bring the tools from my room. And two glasses of juice. One for the one you spilled, and one for Master Sage.

Mitile: Yes! Of course!

Chloe: I'm off now!

Rutile: Have a nice trip!

Rutile sent them off with a smile as they hurriedly left.

Akira: ...Um, Rutile. You're not actually angry, are you?

Rutile: Yeah. Not at all.

Akira: Then why did you punish them?

Rutile: I don't mind a stain this small, but Mitile and Chloe will probably be bothered by it.

Rutile: They're both kind, but when they're depressed, they tend to hold it in, so I thought it would be better for them to be properly punished so they could move on with a clear mind.

Akira: (It was a way of dealing with them that suited their personalities... He's really a teacher after all.)

Rutile: They were apologizing profusely, but I'm happy about this stain.

Rutile: The fact that they messed around and screwed up was proof that they had become close.

Looking down at the painting, Rutile smiled, embracing it. The way he looked at the newly formed stain was endlessly warm, like the sunlight.

But his clear eyes were not only kind, but also intelligent and fair.

Akira: (...I wonder what the magic manor looks like from Rutile's point of view.)

Akira: (I'd like to know how the magic manor looks through Rutile's eyes, like having a teacher write a report card.)

Akira: (I was also thinking about updating the contents of the sage's manual a bit…)

Akira: Rutile, I have a request.

Akira: I'd like to interview you again to write in the sage's manual. Is that okay?

Rutile: An interview? Of course, I'd be happy to.

Rutile: : How about tonight? I'll be waiting for you in my room.

What will you write in the report card - Episode 3

Rutile: Here you go. It's my favorite tea these days.

Akira: Thank you. Wow, what a nice smell...

Rutile: Hehe. It was like this in the last interview too.

Akira: That brings back memories. Even back then, I was really impressed by Rutile's kindness and strength.

Akira: It's been a while since then, and the Magic manor has changed a little, hasn't it?

Akira: That's why I wanted to know what Rutile thinks about the current manor.

Akira: In my world, there is a "report card" where teachers would give comments about your daily life, so that's how it feels...

Rutile: I see, that's the teacher's role. Well, I'll have to do my best!

Rutile: About the current magic manor...Hmmm...

Rutile: …………………..

Akira: ...Rutile? S-sorry, it's hard to answer right away.

Rutile: Ah. No, it's not that.

Rutile: I just thought about it a lot, and in the end, I think it comes down to "love".

Rutile shook his bright, sun-colored hair and laughed, as if ticklish.

Rutile: There are all kinds of people at the magic manor, so there are fights, people getting too excited, and all kinds of things happen every day.

Rutile: It's \the manor is always being turned upside down, it's always messy and disorganized, and things aren't going well...

Rutile: But that's why I cherish the time I spend here, and I love everyone who has shared that time with me.

Akira: Rutile...

My heart feels warm.

A lot has happened since I came here. We've clashed, stumbled, been hurt, helped each other, shared...

It felt like everything, all of it, made me smile. All of it was what we needed.

Akira: ….Thank you for your wonderful answer. I feel the same way as Rutile.

Rutile: Really? I'm so happy!

Rutile: But, since I'm here, I'd like to hear it in your own words, Master Sage.

Rutile: Master Sage, what do you think about the current state of the magic manor?

Looking at me with excited jade eyes, I think and try to find the words.

Akira: Ummm… There are many difficult things, but I love you all, even with all that.

Akira: ...And I hope that everyone who chose to remain here as a sage's wizard feels the same way...

Akira: That's why I was so happy when Rutile said that to me earlier.

Rutile: Master Sage...

Rutile smiled slowly, dazzlingly, and took my hand.

Rutile: I'll say it again and again. I love this place, all of you, Master Sage.

Rutile: Please write that in your report card in the sage's manual.

Akira: ...Yes, I'll write it down!

I nodded vigorously and shook Rutile's hand.

I hope that we will continue to make many more wonderful memories, like a stain on a painting.

I can only say because it’s now - Card Episode

Akira: Rutile, thank you for answering the interview for the sage's manual the other day.

Akira: It's not really a continuation of what we did back then, but is there anything you can tell me because it's now?

Rutile: Hmm. I say what I think right away, so I can't really think of anything.

Rutile: Oh, that's right. On the other hand, is there anything you would like to say, Master Sage? Something you can say to me because it's now.

Akira: Huh? Hmm, let's see… it's not  really because it's now but...

Akira: When I first met you, I thought you were a fragile type based on your overall vibe.

Rutile: Huh! Really? I've never been told that in my hometown. Maybe it's because we've all known each other since we were little?

Rutile: ...But I guess I'm fragile...

Rutile: ...Nice to meet you, Master Sage.

Akira: Oh! That was exactly the image I had in mind!

Rutile: Really? I was making an impression of Heath just now. I'll keep it up.

Rutile: My favorite thing is rain!

Rutile: Oh no. I'm too energetic.

Rutile: Something more like, pretty and gentle... Elegant, Rain…

Rutile: What do you think, Master Sage?

Akira: Perfect! ephemeral!

Rutile: Yay! I got the Sage's "ephemeral"!

Akira: (Contrary to my first impression, I really like how energetic and easy going he is…)

Homescreen voiceline

Promises are chains that can restrict our lives, but at the same time, I want to believe that they can be something that enriches our lives. I will do my best to make that a believable reality.

[pineapplehazard]

8x04 spoilers!!

Aaaaah i loved it, the whole thing!! I missed the silly interventions!!!!

- Henren : I'm so glad that Mara can finally go home to her moms and her brother!!!! (yes I saw the promo for ep5, but I'm gonna live in denial until next week (: ). Though I gotta say, why did they go outside with Madney and Mara that was such a stupid move 😐 (sorry).

- Gerrard: i do not consider this a redemption arc but shit, without him we wouldn't be where we are. I'm mad that he got an ending that is also satisfying for him, he SO doesn't deserves it!!!eurgh. The real reason everyone (mostly) is back where they belong is thanks to Bobby manipulating him but still, Gerrard shouldn't have a ending that he is pleased with eurgh.

Also how could Bobby do that to Brad? 😔💔 *sad british noises in the background*

- Buck : you perfect, intelligent man that you are giving Bobby a scare with the 'Little buddy' part of your bobby-therapy-session.....

- Chimney : looked so great, is so great, I love chimney, and it shouldn't but him with the gun did it for me!!

- Bobby and Athena : love that they're gonna rebuild, they could have had this idea around three months before though cause now they're gonna stay in that apartment for a little while longer... Also, I love Bobby being in love with Athena (and Athena with Bobby), they're adorable I love them

- Edmundo Diaz : first, I will never agree with Bobby on that mustache, I really really really appreciate it,, SO MUCH

Second, the angst is coming can you all feel it? I mean it's here already but a mountain of angst is building. Everyone's problems got resolved this episode, except for Eddie's one (and they couldn't resolve it so soon so that's normal but) meaning that at the end of the day, while The Wilsons and Hans were celebrating, and Athena and Bobby finally solved their house problem, (and Buck was... Idk ? Free of Gerrard? Can't really think of something here), and Wes and his father reunited.... Eddie went home and it was still just an empty house, because Chris is still in Texas and barely talking to him

So what if my heart broke when Wes called him Dad? Cause that's maybe the first time he's heard someone calling him that in a while...

On another note, I was worried he would go full Maddie-stalking-style with Wes' dad at first, maybe that's just because my brain loves finding parallels between Eddie and Maddie... Anyway, the whole talk with the dad about absent fathers, stupid masculinity stuff, and all. That was great.

'Masks' PROMO SPOILERS (i'm gonna try to stay evasive)

CAN'T WE LET THEM HAVE PEACE FOR AT LEAST ONE EPISODE??? ONE?? THAT'S SO F UP!!

Also I know it makes sense for ep4 to be 'No Place Like Home' but when next episode you have characters dressed like the Wizard of Oz's characters... Idk it feels like a miss, it doesn't sit well in my mind🤷‍♀️

If a 'friend od Dorothy' reference is made somehow throughout the episode I might combust

Also it feels weird that we got the synopsis so long before the airing and the synopsis focused a lot on Buck, when clearly the promo shows where focus might actually be... Bc when we have storyline like the one shown in the promo, usually you don't have to much time to put another character's storyline in focus in it. So Buck was probably to throw us, and he's just gonna be like believing there's ghosts or something like that...

Can't wait to know more about ep6 too!! The release date, stuff like that, I'm hyped!!