#and a singer too but you know that wouldn't have been an issue if she was British

[thatscarletflycatcher]

This is the third novel centered on a Squire that I pick that has a main plot line about inheritance (I did dnf The Squire's Daughter before I could tell if that was going to be the case as well), and I'm thinking that if it wasn't that Wives and Daughters came over a decade before these, I would think Gaskell was lampshading the inheritance trope in it.

[shiraishi-kanade]

A lot of An's character arc revolves around other people because at her core she is lonely: alternatively, middle school An Shiraishi was not having that grand of a time and here's why.

An is by no means a person who's shunned by others or has no friends, she isn't lonely by conventional means, but she's lonely in a way that she couldn't find anyone to connect with after Nagi's passing.

Even then, there's a solid chance that that isolation has started before; we can see in An's past that it's not only An's dream alone but also her skill that makes her seem unreachable to others.

Because of who her family is and also because of who An is, she was shoved in this kind of unique position of "If anyone can do it, it's her." An was put on a pedestal by everyone around her. That is also the exact opposite of a situation that Akito (and consecutively Touya) have ended up in, who started our being rejected and pushed down.

Teaming up with An on her terms would have meant admitting you have to meet her at her level. Whether An realized that or not, whether she knew the truth behind Rad Weekend or not, that was just what it was.

An is not prejudiced, though. She really just wanted a team who had the same dream she did. But other people raised the bar for being An's partner even if An herself didn't have any requirements other than having a serious dream.

But that is isolating. Going through that for two years is isolating. If try to find someone special for two years and fail because people either don't take you seriously at all or take you so seriously they can't think of themselves as being good enough for you, that will mess you up in one way or another.

(This also means An's partner was always fated to be someone outside of Vivid Street - someone who didn't know the intricacies and implications of teaming up with An and did that just because they wanted to. In a twisted and ironic way, it was always meant to be Kohane.)

That's why An is constantly walking on eggshells around Kohane. Kohane is her first shot at making a real connection and An wouldn't let go of it easily; but that's also why An keeps messing things up and having messy feelings about Kohane: she is her first try to build that kind of relationship.

This is also in part why she's so hesitant to confront those feelings head on; she doesn't think she's allowed to express them because she doesn't want to hurt Kohane, and because she's already been a bad partner and because she's afraid to lose her. It's a vicious cycle of her past being so lonely she desperately craves a connection but because she's been so lonely she doesn't want how to handle the challenges that inevitably come with that connection.

(It's also about how An thought she had a special connection with Nagi - and she did, but Nagi was an adult with her own issues and problems going on which she just couldn't share with An because their relationship was still that of a mentor and a student. Nagi knew she shouldn't, and didn't, burden An with her feelings. But lack of truly meaningful connection with someone her age affected An later in her life. Kohane is socially awkward on the surface, but An is socially awkward internally. With Kohane, she's experiencing a lot of new feelings she hasn't dealt with before, and she doesn't know how to deal with them. She's the most experienced singer out of the group... But she's the least experienced as far as human relationships go.)

In the end, the confrontation was inevitable from the very beginning, because An needs to start seeing Kohane as someone will agency and will and as someone who can handle An at her worst, too. The fear to lose Kohane and her team if she really expressed what she feels (and it won't be pretty) is holding her back. An doesn't have to always be a perfect partner; she needs to see and understand that Kohane will understand and never leave her even if she isn't.

[strazki]

School Bus Graveyard headcanons no one asked for but will still get 😤

Ashlyn has autism. Honestly pretty much canon at this point, considering what we've seen of her, but still

The whole group took a hot second to adjust, but they are now so accommodating to it

Obviously there's the noise issues, but they also recognize when she needs to be alone, and they don't bother her too much about her being so asocial

I’m projecting but I just love these guys

ANYWAY, on a completely different subject, I think Taylor is actually a really good singer! She's just very shy about it

I also think Aiden can definitely play drumset

Top that off with Tyler canonically playing guitar, all you need to do is give Ben a bass or something and then they're basically just a little band!

I think they would be called the Phantoms or some shit like that

Ashlyn can do backup vocals, and I love my boy Logan but he's giving stage manager vibes a little bit lol

Someone's gotta do it

Taylor and Tyler share their clothes all the time. We already see that they have the same room, which most likely means the same closet, and since the two of them have a relatively similar build (and thus, similar clothing sizes), they just don't really bother separating their clothes (probably why they're matching so often)

Aiden does so much stupid rich kid shit. Not obnoxiously, but just out of a lack of understanding

Probably says some shit to the others like "Wait, your parents didn't get you a car? I know we can't drive yet, but you can still like... take pictures with it."

Bro has no idea he's that rich

The twins absolutely love going over to Ashlyn's place to get self-defense training from Mike and Emma. With their father being gone for a while, and their mom being not all there (for lack of a better description), it's been a long time since they've had a stable parental figure in their lives

Ashlyn's parents are just so nice to them and treat them like their own kids. I just think it's something they needed in their life that they found in an unexpected place :(

Ben loves to paint! He took up art and drawing ever since he lost his voice, and finds painting specifically very calming

He's been working on portraits for each of his friends that are all lying half-finished around his room

Even when he finishes them, though, he probably wouldn't show them for a while because he's quite nervous about it

If he DOES show them, he would definitely give Taylor her's first, because that's who he feels closest to

She cries

I feel like Logan, with working at the flower shop and all that, probably spends a bit of time putting together little bouquets for his friends

Not as like a grand show of affection, but just little gifts to show his appreciation for them being around and caring about him

Probably personalizes them a LOT too. Not only does he coordinate them to match the favorite colors/flowers of the person he's making them for, but he knows all the symbolic meanings behind each flower

Like, for example, I bet he gets yellow roses for Ben to signify friendship, and pink roses for Ashlyn to signify gratitude, that sort of stuff

His love language is gift giving and he's never had friends as close as these guys, leave him alone >:[

Okay that's all I got right now send tweet

[akutasoda]

title - 'you understand mechanical hands are the ruler of everything'

╰➜how does your relationship stand the test of time

dedicated to - robin!

warnings - gn!reader, fluff, slight angst?, sonnet length - 703

a/n: req by the lovely @strryskys <3 hope you're having a good day/night avery!!

when you started dating robin, you would have to be aware of a lot of things - anything ranging from her own status as an intergalactic star to everyday ups and downs. she would be extremely respectful of your privacy and her own, especially in the first stages of the relationship. at first, she would be extremely adamant on keeping your relationship out if the public's prying eyes. robin didn't need everyone knowing about her personal life, as difficult as that may be

and as your relationship progressed, she would ultimately listen to your request about the publicity of the relationship. if you preferred to keep it secret, robin would try her absolute hardest to help hide it from anyone that didn't need to know. but if you didn't mind, she still wouldn't go out of her way to show you off. if people found out, they found out - but she did secretly enjoy people knowing that she only had eyes for you.

a lot of sacrifices would have to be made on your end, some more voluntary than others. for example, she did travel around the cosmos quite often and she would love nothing more than for you to be there alongside her, but if you didn't want to she would respect your choice. instead she would stay with you whenever she could, and any strain that would put on the relationship would be dealt with in due time.

to her, you were always a comfort. someone that was a constant in her life no matter where she went - yes she had other people, namely her brother, but he was always so busy with business in penacony. robin adored having your presence alongside her, someone who helped her forget about any stress from the day and someone she could be herself around.

robin wouldn't have to worry about being robin the singer, no, with you she was just robin. robin who didn't have to worry about public image or anything to do with that, robin who could feel safe and loved. her personal life could often be the only place she could allow herself to let go and she wanted someone that respected this.

your relationship would be entirely a balanced one. if you were willing to put the effort in, so was she. robin needed you to be there and she would always be there for you in turn. she needed you to respect her schedules and lifestyle and she would respect yours, even trying to adapt more towards yours - a part of her was more keen to try and have a lifestyle away from constant spotlights.

however, to nobody's surprise, most of your issues in the relationship would stem from robin's profession. it kept her constantly busy, it was rare for her to always have a full day off regularly - most of the time she would have to make it clear she was taking a day off in advance. fortunately that was an issue that was easily overcome. the real issue came from the prying eyes of the public.

it was something neither of you could control. unfortunately, due to the fact that you were dating robin, someone would find out eventually whether you wanted them to or not - and from there, the news would spread like wildfire. everywhere you went, with robin or not, somebody would ask you about the relationship. the only way you could avoid getting asked questions would be if you went in disguise or robin helped you take security measures.

robin would feel bad about putting you through the unwanted attention of people that got way too interested in her personal life, but you would've been made well aware before you started dating.

however, any issues you two had were easily overcome or managed. as long as you both tried to make it work, it would. time could slip away and the two of you would barely notice as it wouldn't affect your relationship. yes, there would be a time that time would ultimately rip you two apart, but it wouldn't be prematurely.

[dysfunctionalupsidedown]

An Analysis Of "STurn": My Turn

Hello, everyone! This is my first real post/analysis of anything Stranger Things related, so please keep that in mind while reading. I'm sure there are quite a few analyses about this playlist already (I'm definitely late to the party,) but I still wanted to add my two cents.

Feel free to let me know if any information I've provided is incorrect. My main source is Genius.com, which isn't at all the most reliable; even still, it'll help to give a clearer picture of each track's meaning and how the general public (which includes Finn) interprets them. I'm attempting to go by what I think Finn's intentions were.

Also, don't forget that this analysis was done under the assumption that the "STurn" playlist is a somewhat play-by-play outline of how specifically Mike Wheeler's S5 arcs might happen. The playlist could be entirely unrelated to ST5. It could be related to all the characters and arcs in ST5. It could be out of order, or based on vibes -- We really have no way of knowing until the full season comes out.

Finally, I tried my best to keep the analysis somewhat objective and reasonable, and I hope I've at least partly succeeded. This is all in good fun, in the end. Now that I've finished housekeeping, please enjoy my thoughts and feel free to chime in with your ideas in the comments! I'm always open to changing my perspective.

1. Ballad of the Texas King

Let's begin! This song starts with the lyrics, "No one saw / Nothing at all, no law was there to fight / All dressed down / Walkin' out in the California night". I believe this is a more surface-level vibe-setting song, considering where Mike ended in S4. It may also imply that the start of S5 begins where S4 left off. A lot of car imagery is also present throughout, which was a big part of Mike's S4 journey.

There are ideas of being separated as well, with lyrics like "My heart won't beat / 'Til we meet again together". This may allude to Mike's feelings towards the end of S4, having been separated from Hawkins/his family.

2. What You're Doing - Remastered 2009

Genius.com claims this song was written about Paul McCartney's then-rocky relationship at the time. The lyrics make this very clear, so there's really no alternate angle from which I can read. Let me know in the comments if you interpreted it differently.

In specific, the lyrics "You got me running / And there's no fun in it / Why should it be so much to ask of you / What you're doing to me?", "Please stop your lying / You got me crying, girl", and "I've been waiting here for you / Wondering what you're gonna do / And should you need a love that's true / It's me" really intrigue me. This could refer to Mike's relationship.

The song suggests that the partner may be withdrawing in multiple ways, with the singer grieving over it and attempting to prove their love. El may be starting to distance herself, and Mike could be struggling with it. At the end of S4, El was understandably focused on her failure, to the point where she hadn't really spoken to Mike in the days following it.

I don't think it would be surprising if everything was too much and she ends up pushing herself away from him. I wouldn't say it's implying a break-up, but maybe distancing issues.

3. After The Earthquake

Again, it's pretty surface-level in the beginning. There was a devastating earthquake in-universe, which supports the theory that "STurn" connects to ST5 in some way. The song tells a story, though, and I recommend looking up it's inspiration.

Despite the choice seeming surface-level at first, After The Earthquake may be implying more for Mike in ST5. Genius.com's contributors interpret the song's narrative as, "[Molly Rankin applying the] concept of post-catastrophe clarity to a couple that got into a major disagreement before one of them falls into a coma from a car crash... In a metaphorical sense, [the song] could describe a more mild situation in which Rankin must put their conflict on hold because something more important turns up." I don't think it's too far-fetched to say that Finn picked up on this. The idea of a disagreeing couple and coma is also prevalent in ST, but like I said in the beginning, I'm going to try to connect these songs to Mike Wheeler specifically.

Although this may be me reading too deeply into it, the metaphorical meaning of the track pairs pretty well with the implications of What You're Doing. It also fits in well narratively, considering that more important things are happening aside from the drama -- the earthquake being one of them. Mike could be putting all of his current issues (internal-conflict-related, relationship, or otherwise) on hold for the moment. He continues to struggle with suppressing his problems later on in the playlist, as well.

4. Promises I've Made

This song is about mourning a lost or ex-lover. The opening lyrics, "Ever since you have gone, the days don't seem so bright / And I wish I could forget you but I can't / Ever since you have gone, I haven't felt quite right / And I promised I'd forget all that you meant" address this quite directly.

At this point, it's possible that Mike has either been broken up with or the pair have gone their separate ways for some reason. It wouldn't be too crazy to say something like that will occur and he'll grieve it, keeping in mind that one of Mike's main fears is losing El. I just don't know why they'd continue to make it the subject of conflict in S5 (unless it hasn't been fully resolved yet.)

Physical distance between the two also makes sense when considering that Mike is, supposedly, teaming up with other characters next season. Personally, I'm leaning slightly more towards a break-up because of what the previous songs have set up, but, ultimately, it's up to interpretation. It's possible they've just been physically distanced while in a bad spot.

5. Angst In My Pants

This song is about a person attempting to be someone they're not, suppressing who they really are, and it ultimately leading to dissatisfaction. The lyrics, "You can dress nautical / Learn to tie knots / Take lots of Dramamine / Out on your yacht" describe a faux lifestyle one lives that only serves to hurt them in the end: The idea of putting on a self-harming persona. This could be what Mike is going through in S5, and his teased wardrobe change from S4 supports this.

The lyrics, "I hope it doesn't show / It'll go away / It's just a passing phase / It'll go away" and, "I hope it doesn't show / It'll go 'way / Give it a hundred years / It won't go 'way" are particularly fascinating and can have multiple interpretations.

For one, it could be Mike trying to hide his real personality following Eddie's death and the collective panic by acting out a more "normal" and "idealized" life -- painfully repressing his true self in the process. This is supported by the lyrics I first discussed. Hiding and embracing differences is a theme in Stranger Things, and I wouldn't be surprised if this is where they take Mike in S5.

Another interpretation involves the previous lyrics, as well as, "But when you think you made it disappear / It comes again, 'Hello, I'm here'". This sounds more like someone trying and failing to suppress a thought. Coupled with "It's just a passing phase", it appears to be a feeling or belief instead of someone's true personality, although I do believe that's a big part of it, too.

Whatever it may be, Mike is definitely struggling with something at this point. He's pushing it down, hiding it, and hoping "..it doesn't show" and that "It'll go away".

6. The Better Side - Audiotree Live Version

Half way through! This one gave me more of a challenge because there aren't any written lyrics to analyze. From what I can gather, the track is about a person yearning for someone who is a better fit(?) The lyrics that best support this interpretation are, "You're on the better side / You're always the better one for me" and "Don't make me do the falling when I'm drinking of you". Again, if you have any alternate interpretations, please let me know. I'd like to take all ideas into account.

The final lyrics are interesting, "And you're all that I need / I'm not gonna miss you anymore". This can be read as the narrator longing to accept a person into their life and bring them closer. I'm especially interested in the final line because it implies there was something to miss, as if an emotional rift or gap was there.

Mike has come to a realization about something, as shown in Angst In My Pants, and it might partly be about a new thought he's trying to push down, "It'll go away". It's possible the "thought" is about newly developing feelings he isn't ready to accept(?) I don't want to say for certain, though. Nonetheless, it seems like he recognizes this person's importance and "better fit" for him, despite trying to repress it. A fairly surface-level read, but it's the only conclusion I'm able to come to.

Alternatively, it might be about El. The distance apart could be what gets him to solidify how he feels about her. However, Angst In My Pants and multiple songs establishing a separation precede The Better Side. The track is about a better option, as well. Those facts alone make me think of this interpretation as unlikely, so it's not one I personally hold.

7. Don't Ask Me to Explain

Don't Ask Me to Explain is about two people who are afraid to confess their true feelings to one another, so instead they hide them; with one of the two seemingly more uncertain. It's also, from what I've researched, supposedly about two people of the same gender. There's a possibility that this is irrelevant to the track's purpose in the playlist, but I kept it in mind considering the other songs and my personal interpretation. It's also important to note that these "true feelings" could be about a multitude of things.

The lyrics, "How will I ever know you enough to love you / If you're hiding who you are?", "How am I supposed to let it show / When I don't even know?", and, "Besides, I don't want to be the one who's coming out first / I'd really like to but I'm just too shy" support this reading.

I interpreted the last line, "It's so easy to laugh to myself / And pretend that I could love you but I can't" in two different ways. Either it's the narrator doubting their feelings for someone else, or it's the narrator recognizing that they can't let themselves embrace their love for someone, for one reason or another.

As for Mike, his progression makes the most sense to me in the following interpretation. There are multiple and, again, please let me know your ideas in the comments. I narrowed it down to just the one so I don't start nit-picking.

Mike went from a realization, "It's just a passing phase / It'll go away" (Angst In My Pants) to a sort of acceptance, "You're always the better one for me" (The Better Side) to struggling to admit it out loud, "How am I supposed to let it show / When I don't even know?"

An LGBTQ+ or "new love interest" interpretation is what I'm able to gather from this. It could describe Mike falling for 'someone' and not knowing how to be open about it due to fear and doubt; with the other person feeling the same way. It may be a surface-level reading, and I'm sure there are several other ways to interpret the track, but that's what I've been able to conclude thus far.

8. What Do You Want Me To Do?

This one might be the most difficult for me to figure out, but I'm going to try.

The song and the lyrics, "You walked out, took your chance / You turned your back on our romance / You said you found somebody new / You said the change'd do you good" and "You never even gave me a thought / You figured that would be all right / I nevеr had a chance to persuade you / You nеver let me put up a fight" remind me a lot of What You're Doing.

One way to look at it is that it might have the same purpose as What You're Doing -- adding a sort of angsty frustration vibe. I don't know if it would be used to set up a "come crawling back" moment because I don't think that would make sense (especially in Stranger Things), but it's a random possibility I'm throwing out there.

Alternatively, the 'person' that Mike has feelings for could have rejected him for someone else(?) Again, I don't think this would make much narrative sense in Stranger Things, but we don't know what the next season's going to look like.

I'm personally reading it as the former because there are other songs in the playlist used to set the tone. Keeping What You're Doing and Promises I've Made in mind, an additional break-up song is on theme. There's still the possibility of another conflict, though. If anyone else has different thoughts on what the song could be implying, I'd appreciate the input.

9. Substitute - Live

This track is about an idealized version of someone being put in place of their true self. The narrator describes a scenario in which their partner sees a version of them, "I'm a substitute for another guy / I look pretty tall but my heels are high / The simple things you see are all complicated / I look bloody young, but I'm just back-dated, yeah", that is unrealistic and put on, as seen in the lyrics "Substitute your lies for fact / I see right through your plastic mac / I look all white, but my dad was black / My fine-looking suit is really made out of sack" The couple also seem to be having issues with this, or in general, that they're not addressing, "It's a genuine problem, you won't try / To work it out at all, just pass it by, pass it by"

The concept of a guise applies well to Mike, as referenced in Angst In My Pants. A recurring theme of hiding oneself really makes me think Mike is going to completely abandon his interests for a different lifestyle. I believe Finn has also mentioned that Mike wants to be as "normal" as possible, so I can't wait to see where they take that idea. It could also be him realizing how he's been acting, and admitting that this "romanticized" version isn't true to him. I have hope that Mike will eventually learn to embrace his differences and what he enjoys.

While this part is a bit nit-picky, I feel it's fun to mention that the song was inspired by a lyric in The Tracks of My Tears by Smokey Robinson; the lyric being, "Although she may be cute / She's just a substitute". The line following this (which is also referenced in Substitute's Genius.com entry) is, "Because you're the permanent one". Funnily enough, these lyrics also fit into the narrative the playlist is laying out. They remind me a lot of what The Better Side represents.

Out of context, the lines from The Tracks of My Tears may imply that someone is either using another person as a substitute for an ex, or that someone is realizing they've been using their previous partner as a substitute for someone better. Both routes have the potential to happen in ST5. Although, I don't know if the idea of a literal substitute fits with what The Who was going for. The Tracks of My Tears is also not on "STurn", so take this part as a fun fact with a grain of salt on the side.

At the end of the day, we don't know Finn's motivation for adding Substitute, so this is what we'll have to go off of for now. I feel as though the former interpretation, a less literal "substitute," holds the most merit considering the theme of personas.

10. The Rebel Kind

Like The Better Side, I couldn't find any lyrics, so I'm doing it by ear. Though, I'm happy to say that this song is about a desire to embrace differences and rebellion. "We'll be free to run with the rebel kind" and "It's not easy, but I don't mind / I just want to run with the rebel kind" establish that. The track appears to tie into Mike's insecurity struggles throughout the playlist.

The lyric "They call us the rebel kind" hints to the panic brewing at the end of S4. Mike might start to embrace and stand behind his true self at whatever point this is in the season. The line following, "But they don't understand / The things a man must do to prove that he's a man", can be taken in different ways depending on how the lyrics are read.

It could be the narrator's struggle to keep up with societal norms before finally giving in to their truth instead of trying to conform, read as "they call us rebels but don't get how hard it is to for us to keep up." On the other hand, it could be the narrator commenting on how society doesn't understand people like them, and, by embracing their true self, it proves more about who they are than conforming ever would; read as, "you think we're the rebellious ones, but you don't understand that we're more self-secure and strong than you'll ever be."

I can see both of these interpretations working for Mike and his connection to the Party. The progression of insecurity in Angst In My Pants and potential realization of this guise in Substitute is wrapped up by Mike's self-acceptance here. I really hope this is how it plays out in S5.

11. Block Rockin' Beats

There's not much to analyze because this track has one repeated line of lyrics, but it's definitely here to set a tone. The song may have a similar vibe-setting purpose as What Do You Want Me To Do? and Ballad of the Texas King. That's just my theory, though. (A ST5 theoryyy!)

Perhaps this is a climax of sorts where the cast fight the "big bad." The music's tone is intense and sort of aggressive. It's definitely a fun addition to the playlist, whatever the song's purpose in it may be.

12. Just What I Needed

Finally, we have Just What I Needed. I read this song in two different ways.

The first way I interpreted it was as a love song about the narrator not caring about who this person is, and realizing they need them in spite of it all. The lyrics, "It's not the perfume that you wear / It's not the ribbons in your hair / And I don't mind you comin' here / And wastin' all my time", "Cause when you're standin' oh so near / I kinda lose my mind, yeah", and "I needed someone to bleed / Yeah, yeah, so bleed me" support this.

The second possible reading is that the narrator realizes they were/are in a codependent relationship and they still love the person. The lyrics, "I guess you're just what I needed / I needed someone to feed / I guess you're just what I needed / I needed someone to bleed" and "I don't mind you hangin' out / And talkin' in your sleep / It doesn't matter where you've been / As long as it was deep, yeah", could be read as more of a "you're what I needed at the time, but I still love you and want you in my life." With this reading, it's unclear whether or not the love is romantic or platonic. Maybe I'm looking too far into it, but this is what some Genius.com contributors brought up, and it would feel wrong to not include this understanding of the song.

I'm just assuming, since The Rebel Kind seemed to tie up Mike's self-security problem, that this track is supposed to imply a resolution with his romantic issues. Under that impression, there are a few ways we can look at it.

It could be an acceptance for who he has feelings for. He went from mourning a loss in Promises I've Made, noticing something and hoping it goes away in Angst In My Pants, potentially coming to terms with the fact that this person is his "better" choice in The Better Side, wanting to admit a truth but feeling doubtful in Don't Ask Me to Explain, comprehending that he's able to embrace his authentic self in The Rebel Kind, to now admitting, possibly out loud, that this person was "just what [he] needed". That could be far-fetched, but it's just what I picked up on throughout the playlist.

However, it may also pertain to his self-identity struggle that's hinted at throughout (can you tell that I love this part of Mike?) while also tying into his romance issues. He went through a difficult separation with someone in What You're Doing and Promises I've Made, put on a persona and suppressed his true self in Angst In My Pants, realized he couldn't keep it going and needed to address it in Substitute, embraced himself in The Rebel Kind, and now recognizes that the relationship may have been codependent and holding him back from fully dropping the facade: "I guess you're just what I needed" -- in the moment. I don't know if that's too in-depth of a read, but it's a possibility.

While not relevant to the playlist in it's context, it's fun to bring up the fact that Just What I Needed was apparently also the final track listed on the 'official' "Will's Castle Byers Classics" playlist created by Spotify. It's not available anymore, so I can't really say it as a fact. Although, recreations of the playlist have been made long before "STurn" was a thing, and the song was added as the last track as far back as 2018. I suppose that's proof enough that it was at least on the playlist.

Finn listing it as the final track may be a reference to "Will's Castle Byers Classics", but it's also likely that there's no association. That's why I gave the song an equal amount of analysis instead of writing it off as a reference. As to how canon those playlists are, I don't think it particularly matters. It's true that Finn could've seen Just What I Needed in the Will playlist and put it on "STurn", thinking of it as a fun easter egg. There could or could not be implications for that and I'd be remiss to ignore it. I don't know if this rings true for any of the other songs on "STurn" as well -- if they're connected to any other character playlists. Feel free to let me know if they are!

TL;DR

This was really hefty post, and I apologize for that, so here's a summary/recap of what I think S5 may have in store for Mike Wheeler.

Summary:

The season likely starts off at the end of S4, with us seeing Mike react to everything that's happened in Hawkins and reuniting with his family. Tension or unresolved conflicts may be arising in his relationship(s) as well, but he puts it aside to focus on the more important tasks at hand. Either his relationship is put aside with this, or there's an eventual separation that occurs, and he mourns it. After, he tries to maintain normalcy and puts on a guise to appease others. During this time, he may start to have a realization about something that he attempts to repress. He eventually comes to terms with it, though, recognizing that there's someone (maybe something?) better for him. He wants to admit to these true feelings, but he'll struggle with hiding, doubting, and fearing them; thinking he can't allow himself to fully love this person or, at least, admit to whatever feelings or "truth" he possesses. Mike will most likely continue to struggle with mixed feelings and hiding his true personality after this, eventually admitting to not being fully authentic. He'll then accept his true self for what it is. This will lead into a climax, where the main conflict of the show will be resolved. Finally, he'll accept and admit his true feelings, realizing that all he needed to do in the end was be entirely honest with (and about) himself.

In Conclusion

I really want this to be where they take Mike in ST5. It would be such a satisfying thing to watch, especially with how he's acted the past two seasons. I think he deserves to have a self-love/acceptance arc because the show has made it clear he's insecure and inauthentic.

Thank you so much for reading, and I hope you enjoyed! Please let me know your thoughts and interpretations in the comments, as well as if there's anything you think I should add/fix. I'd love to hear what others have to say about "STurn" and it's connections to ST :)!

[theylooklikehumanbeings]

"All you have to worry about is some stupid tape" Tommy Lee x reader x slight! Pamela Anderson (Part 2)

MDNI! warnings for: angst, heartbreak, past abusive boyfriends, Tommy is mean still lol, mentions of forced and regular miscarriages, mentions of Self harm!! please stay safe guys.

Summary: Y/N is filling in as a backup singer for Motley Crue on their upcoming album. Tommy Lee has been pissed lately because their new album isnt going well and on top of that his sex tape with Pamela Anderson has been leaked. Y/N meanwhile is living with an abusive boyfriend so getting this gig with Motley Crue would be able to help them out of their home. However, what happens when homelife is meeting studio life..?

Part one

"Is Tommy here?"

You hadn't even noticed you had been staring at her for so long. It was like she was Americas dream model. Long blonde flowing hair, a nice body, perfect face... You were so lost in your thoughts you hadn't known she was waving a hand in front of your face. "Hello?" You blinked a few times. "uh, yeah... sorry..." you cleared your throat "yeah, hes in the studio..". She let out a relieved sigh "oh thank god, he practically ran out of the house this morning in a bad mood... I'm sorry.. what was your name? I don't think we've met before..." She smiled at you. Smiled. A god send of a smile. One your mother would probably give to you if you handed her a bad drawing and she wanted to make you feel like you were the best artist in the world. God... you didn't deserve someone to smile at you like that... "I'm Y/N.. I'm filling in as a backup singer" you explained to her and held out your hand. She immediately took it and you could feel her long acrylic nails touching your skin as she shook your hand.

"youre a singer? I've always dreamed of being one... I'm Pamela.." She said still smiling at you and introducing herself. 'Well... theres a reason I'm the backup..' you thought to yourself. "yeah I guess so..." you let go of her hand wishing for a slight second you could hold it longer. "I just got lucky I guess..." you said your voice sounding unsure of yourself. Pamelas face seemed to scrunch like she noticed but she didn't say anything. "Well... I better go find Tommy I need to talk to him... it was so nice to meet you though..." she said again smiling at you the sweetest smile. You reluctantly smiled back at her. "It was nice to meet you to..." you said waving as she walked inside. You couldn't help but stare as she walked away. You didn't even know what to think... She was so kind, sweet, pretty... everything you wished you could be...

After awhile of thinking and drowning in your own problems you walked back inside of the studio. You walked to the door but stopped. You noticed in the corner of the studio Tommy and Pamela talking in hushed voices. One part of you told yourself you shouldn't get into their business... The other half was too curious... Carefully, you snuck over and leaned against the wall. Far enough you could hear but far enough back they wouldn't see you. You listened in carefully to what they were talking about.

"Tommy. I can't keep doing this with you... you can't get so pissed youre running off and not telling me where you are going... I'm upset about the tape just as much as you are..."

"Not everything is about that fucking tape, okay? I've got more issues than the tape"

"I know baby but-"

"Listen baby... I need you to stop stressing so much.... this isn't good for you... our baby-"

You decided not to listen after that. It brought back memories... terrible, terrible memories.. You walked into the studio lookign at both Mick and Nikki "I have to go I'm sorry..." Nikki looked at you "hold on, if we just wait for vince a little longer-" You held your hand up "I'm sorry Nikki I need to go... I'll be back on Tuesday..." you said before turning. You felt tears burning in the corners of your eyes as you quickly grabbed your bag. As you walked out you turned to see Pamela and Tommy hugging and caressing each other. Tears ran down your cheeks as you made your way out of there. Life is unfair...

1992

You stared down at the pregancy test with shaking hands... No, No this cannot be happening. You couldn't be pregant.. you were not ready... and most definitely not with him... You held your head as you began to cry. How could this have happened...? How were you supposed to tell him..? Was the baby supposed to grow up in this awful apartment with a horrible father like him...? You stared down at the tiled floor in comtemplation. You couldn't give birth... not now... not ever... You got up shaking still. You walked over to the counter and stared at the whiskey bottle before you....

You stared at the road ahead of you. Dried tears were on your cheeks. Thoughts spiraled throguh your mind. You shouldn't even feel jealous... You shouldn't feel jealous of Pam and Tommy... yet you were. You were jealous they had each other. You were jealous they seemed to have the perfect life. The only thing they were worried about was a stupid fucking tape... You wiped the tears from your eyes as you made it home. Luckily, your boyfriend wasn't home from his job. You made your way inside and closed the door behind you.

You went into the bedroom you unfortanely had to share and got dressed into pajamas. Afterward, you made your way over the couch and laid across it turning it on. Luckily, MTV was on showing off the latest Nu Metal bands that were rising to fame. You were realizing why Tommy was upset. All the bands that started in the 80s were becoming irrelevant to the public. No longer were segments about Motley Crue, Guns n roses, Bon Jovi, etc. They want to report the newest thing. You frowned a bit feeling rather bad.

About an hour or two had passed as you sat there and watched the tv before you heard the landline ring. You looked up intrested. Usually, it was someone calling for your boyfriend. You went over and picked up the phone "Hello, Y/N speaking... If your looking for..." A voice cut you off "Hey, Y/N" You were shocked to hear who was on the other side "Tommy?" you asked recognizing his voice almost instantly. You heard a chuckle over the phone.

"Yeah its me... I just wanted to say I'm sorry... I'm sorry for how I was acting at the studio today... I can tell I upset you..." You stared down at the ground below you. You were both a little shocked Tommy out of all people would call you but more so that he was apologizing. "Oh uh... its alright really... It wasn't really you I'm just... going through some things..." you said trying to play it off and hoping he wasn't going to ask anymore questions on the matter. "Well, I still want to apologize, and to ask if you wanted to come with Pam and I to dinner..." You blinked for a second. Was Tommy Lee asking you to dinner? You were speechless for a moment. "Uh, well um... sure! where?" you asked curiously. "Theres a really nice place downtown I'll give you the address... Pamela would love to see you again..." Those words stuck in your brain. Pamela wanted to see you?

As he told you the address you wrote it down on a sticky note and stuck it in your pocket "okay... okay great, I'll be there!" You said as a genuine smile was on your face. It had been awhile since one of those appeared. Tommy chuckled over the phone "Great we will see you tomorrow" With that the phone hung up. You stared at the ground for awhile. You were in awe. Pamela and Tommy just invited you to dinner. You felt like you wanted to pinch yourself to make sure you weren't dreaming.

Now another problem was approaching. What were you going to wear? sure, you had some mediocre dresses in your closet. But, you were sure they were going to take you somewhere so fancy you could only dream of it being real. You walked into the bedroom and looked in the closet for awhile. After awhile of searching, in the back was a beautiful black dress with a long black lace train. It was your prom dress from a few years back. It would still fit right? To your surprise it did. You stared at yourself in the mirror admiring the dress for awhile. It was so pretty. You remember saving up all your money from whatever job you were working at in high school to buy it. You smiled again seeing yourself however your gaze went down to your arms..

(Masc version skip if you don't wanna read:) You walked to the closet and looked around. You hadn't worn anything very nice in awhile. Knowing, Pam and Tommy however you knew they were probably going to take you to the fanciest resturant you could only dream of going to. After searching for awhile, you reached in the back and found a old suit. It was your suit for prom. You had completely forgot it was in there. It would still fit right? To your surprise, it did. You looked at yourself in the mirror testing out the shirt and the tux. It looked really nice on you. You smiled again seeing yourself in the mirror however, your eyes glanced down and noticed the sleeves of the tux rising up. It exposed your wrist...

Across your arms were gashes and cuts. Some healed, some still fresh. You swallowed and covered on of your wrists. Hopefully tomorrow Pam and Tommy won't notice.

A/N: thank you so much for the support on the first part! I'm sorry this is a bit delayed I was in the hospital with kidney stones. I'm so excited to continue writing for this series though!! with love, mwah mwah mwah

[bubblesandgutz]

Every Record I Own - Day 827: Shellac 1000 Hurts

This is a long and tough one, so I'll spare your timeline and force you to make the jump.

On February 21, 2001, one of my husband's closest friends was murdered by a man named Michael Gargiulo. She was stabbed 47 times.

Not surprisingly, my husband does not share my appreciation for slasher movies. I still feel like an asshole for dragging him to a midnight screening of the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre on my birthday years ago. I was an idiot for not realizing that someone who lost a loved one in a brutal act of violence wouldn't find a film recreating that kind of violence entertaining.

"I don't enjoy the sound of people begging for their lives," he told me after the movie. I can't blame him. Even music with "tortured" vocals tends to get an immediate "can we listen to something else?" from him.

Transgressive art is a weird thing. People will always be drawn towards art that's shocking, forbidden, or taboo, but I also assume most people have a line they don't want crossed. I love Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but I hate Cannibal Holocaust. As far as music goes, I have a much easier time ignoring the cartoonish violence of death metal than I have sitting though music laden with brazen sexism or homophobia in the lyrical department.

Content aside, art gets even trickier when the artist's life comes under scrutiny. Again, I assume most people have a line they won't cross. You might not have an issue listening to Michael Jackson, but you would probably have a major issue listening to an artist who assaulted a member of your family. Or maybe you do have an issue listening to Michael Jackson. Maybe you also have an issue listening to an artist because of their political alignments. And maybe you have an issue with an artist simply because of something they've said in the past. There's no shortage of music out there, so why give your attention and money to assholes? On the other hand, artists are human beings, which means they've inevitably hurt someone in the course of their lifetime, so if we blacklist every artist who's ever done something hurtful, we're eliminating art from our lives. Everyone has a line, but I think any rational individual understands that the line will vary from person to person.

I've been thinking about transgressive art a lot since the passing of Steve Albini. The public overwhelming seems to mourn his loss, but I've seen a few people weigh in online with some valid criticisms: he was in a band called Rapeman; he said some sketchy things about child pornography in a zine back in the '80s; some of his lyrics reflected racist elements of society without taking a clear stance against them. Albini addressed these incidents later in life, acknowledging that though he was not advocating for the kind of behavior he was portraying in his art, the ambiguity that made his songs feel dangerous could also be construed as promoting or celebrating the subject matter.

By the time Albini got around to forming Shellac, he seemed to have shed the dodgiest parts of his confrontational persona. That said, I know a few people who take issue with Shellac's most popular song: 1000 Hurts album opener "Prayer to God." True to the title, the song is a literal prayer to God asking for the Almighty to kill the singer's cheating lover and her partner. It's essentially a murder ballad without the actual murder. Or maybe it's more in line with The Beatles and Elvis singing "I'd rather see you dead, little girl, than to be with another man," except in Albini's case the majority of his ire is aimed at the male lover. It's a visceral song, and while it might feel cathartic for someone who's been betrayed by their romantic partner, it might feel too harrowing for someone who's actually dealt with a potentially dangerous jilted ex.

I played "Prayer to God" for my husband once. He wasn't a fan. To be fair, I don't think Albini's brand of minimalist tone-scrutinizing math rock was ever gonna be his cup of tea, but the lyrics certainly weren't going to help. Consequently, I reserve 1000 Hurts for times when I have the house to myself.

And ultimately, I would hope that his reaction to Shellac would be the kind of response we'd see in people who take issue with Albini. Simply put, it wasn't my husband's cup of tea, but he didn't try to convince me that I shouldn't enjoy it. Yes, Albini dealt with some ugly and uncomfortable themes, and by his own admission he took some of it too far. But his music was both a reflection and a reaction to the things he saw around him. Just as the slasher films of the '80s were a reaction to the era's conservative bent and puritanical attempts at censorship, so were Albini's songs (particularly with Big Black) a rebuttal of that decade's benign soft-rock FM radio staples, PMRC campaigns, and right-wing fundamentalist attempts to whitewash the media.

Much like those slasher films, Big Black has aged with an unexpected patina. Yes, there is something still "dangerous" about it, but that danger seems less rooted in pushing back at "the establishment" and more like it's picking at the wounds of the most vulnerable and injured parts of our society. Given even a minimal amount of context, I'd think the average person could appreciate its attempts to say "no, this world isn't perfect and we're not going to pretend that it is," even if those attempts are admittedly a little ambiguous and sloppy at times. But that kind of context doesn't arrive as a disclaimer on the album packaging, so its reasonable to understand how someone could find Big Black's unflinching first-person villain profiles to be a little problematic.

Consequently, I completely understand why someone would take issue with Big Black's "Jordan Minnesota" or Shellac's "Prayer to God." On the other hand, I want art to be uncomfortable sometimes, even if that unease is unintentional. There's no shortage of art out there that aimed to be progressive but aged to show the inherent biases of its time. Just consider the contingent of people wanting to change the racist language in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I'd argue that sometimes the shortcomings, biases, and outdated perspectives in an artist's work are as much a statement on the times as the actual subject matter.

Everyone has a line. And for a lot of folks, Albini probably crossed it a few times in the course of his career. For me, listening to Big Black or Rapeman or Shellac is like watching Texas Chainsaw Massacre---I don't need Steve Albini to explain his lyrics anymore than I need Tobe Hopper to explain that we shouldn't cut people up with chainsaws and turn them into human barbecue. But Albini also dealt with minor horrors that impacted a far greater percentage of the population, and that's something he had to reconcile and acknowledge later in life. For me, his charity work, fierce advocacy for marginalized people, and willingness to stand up to bullies in public forums offset any of his early artistic missteps, but I also understand that making art about human suffering is always going to elicit pain from people who have endured those particular trials.

Everyone has a line.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

hi! could you possibly share the intercept new report about gay men and their misogyny? i know this isn't really about br politics, and im not even sure if it is in English, but i think it is really important to be shared

I hope it's not too late 😅

-

Gay men and misogyny: no more ignoring this problem

'Don't talk about vaginas around me': for a long time, we ignored the disqualifications of women and the feminine made by gay men. No more.

"If I liked women, I would have become a gynecologist."

"The law of gravity is a crime against women."

“Funny” gay guys, usually white and showing a certain hatred towards females, are a very common social type in contemporary pop culture. The character Felix “Bicha Má” ["Evil Fag"], played by Mateus Solano, from the Brazilian soap opera “Amor à Vida” [Love For Life], is an easy example in Brazilian lands – the sentences that open this text are his. But this sharp-tongued young man who directs much of his bitterness towards women, including friends and relatives, has never only lived on screens: he is a common presence in our daily lives.

"Oh, don't mention a vagina around me, I get all messed up."

"My goodness, this singer was beautiful, but she got old and ugly."

"Get out of here, I don't even like cracks."

I can't say how many times I've heard phrases like that from fellow gay men. For a long time, these ways of disqualifying women – despite the certain discomfort felt by every person who is repeatedly the target of prejudice – were endorsed and reflected by women ourselves. Offenses dressed as “I was just joking” have largely naturalized these forms of disqualification, but the good news is that, in an environment in which feminism has gained ground, what seemed to be just a joke is now named by the right word: misogyny.

This is a delicate subject, since we are talking about people – mostly cisgender gay men – who have been and still are victims of a series of violence, whether at home, at work, on the streets. Perhaps it was precisely this that made us, cisgender or transgender women, leave the discomfort of being made fun of in the background. After all, confronting homophobia in a sexist country like Brazil is no simple task. But if this machismo affects homosexual men, what can we say about its presence in women's daily lives? And what can we also say about the homophobia directed at cis/trans homosexual and bisexual women, especially invisible and also targets of “jokes” by gay men?

“I had a very close gay friend, like a brother. We went out to parties together and often slept in the same bed, at my house or his. Several times, as if he were joking, he said that he was terrified of vaginas, that he was born through a cesarean section so he wouldn't have to go through one. He'd gesture the sign of the Cross and said ‘God forbid’, smiling,” says Adriana Conceição, 47 years old, a telemarketing operator from Recife who, like several other women, took a while to classify the guy's actions with the right word.

Game developer Renata Gomes, also 47 years old, found herself at the center of a virtual outrage after questioning a post by a gay Brazilian film critic living in the United States. In the post, he talked about missing Brazil, since people worked a lot more in the USA. Faced with the possibility of his speech being reductive and stereotypical, he began to treat Renata as “ugly”, “militant”, “frustrated”. Furthermore, several of the critic's friends entered the comments to reiterate the delegitimization of Renata's speech.

Younger people also identify the problem: aware of the issue, Curitiba university student Nicoly Grevetti, aged 24, listened to several people who circulate in LGBTQIA+ spaces about the subject and wrote a text about it. In it, she also identifies how pop and queer cultures, supposedly safer and “modern”, also present misogynistic elements.

One example is the use of the term “fishy”, constantly evoked to define drag queens who closely resemble cisgender women (that is, who have a high degree of “passability”). The expression refers to the smell that these women's vaginas supposedly have. “[Cisgender] women grow up believing that their private parts are disgusting and spend their entire lives using products to reduce their natural odors, which can lead to various diseases. Having female genitalia as something disgusting is so common for this group, that you can find countless reports of women talking about it on the internet,” she wrote. The topic was the subject of discussion in the famous series RuPaul’s Drag Race, generating academic works like this one. Cisgender drag queen Victoria Scone, a former participant in the show, also spoke on the topic.

A few months ago, I experienced a significant episode of this machismo and misogyny that had been attenuated for a long time in relation to gay men. I was in a doctor's office very close to a shopping center in the south of Recife. After the end of the consultation, the dermatologist – homosexual, white, in his late thirties, and anti-Bolsonaro in the last elections – lightly tapped my hand and said: “Okay, now you can go for a walk in the mall.”

Especially on that day, I was rushing to finish presenting a lecture that I would give the following day, online, at the University of Coimbra. Obviously, if I wanted to window shop or spend the afternoon reading celebrity magazines, it wouldn't be a problem (in fact, I love it). The point here was the doctor's obvious intention to fit me into the cliché of the futile and consumerist woman, a sexist and anachronistic way of disqualifying the female gender. Icing on the cake: while I was leaving, the gay boy warned me not to forget to take “the boss” to my next appointment. He was referring to my romantic partner.

If it's feminine, it's smaller

The misogyny present in the practices of part of this population is so evident that it goes beyond the boundaries of gender and occurs between equals: it is common to see it operating even among gay men themselves. Research I carried out in partnership with Professor Ricardo Sabóia, from the Federal University of Pernambuco, analyzed the relationship between body and celebrity on the Grindr app. I was astonished by both the hatred towards what is socially seen as feminine and the extremely high level of normativity, standardization, and even elitism. “'I'm not into effeminate guys” is a constant, as is “I'm not into fat guys”.

In this environment of extremely high value for toned biceps and abs, being masculine – and looking very masculine – is the strongest currency. Thus, men seen as “little women” are disqualified. This is what researcher Carlos Alberto de Carvalho calls “misogynistic heteronormativity”, in which the masculine and masculinities are placed as positive – on the other hand, femininities and the feminine are valued negatively. It is, therefore, an environment of hegemonic masculinity and subaltern masculinities.

The global soap opera “Terra e Paixão” [Land & Passion] currently features an illustration that refers to this scenario, with the character Kelvin (actor Diego Martins), an “effeminate” gay man in love with Ramiro (Amaury Lorenzo), the masculine man, self-declared heterosexual, who desires the other person, but still doesn't know how to deal with the situation. What diminishes the power of the first is precisely its proximity to what is considered “womanly”. But, looking at Grindr, even the desirable “brucutu” [Brazilian slang for a brute and rude man] has his limits: issues such as level of education have weight in the app used mostly by gay and bisexual men, where it is common to read “no illiterates”.

The LGBTQIA+ culture, in which rich and middle-class white homosexual men repeatedly appear to discriminate against other peers from the same community, is a central sociological issue for discussing social inequalities not only in Brazil, but throughout the world. “Queer cultural production has helped to reproduce class distinctions based on the hegemony of representations of middle-class gays”, writes Lisa Henderson in the article “I’m not/I'm not into: circulating meanings in the presentation speeches of the Grindr app”, by Rafael Grohmann. In the same text, Juan Marsiaj summarizes: “Such a strategy can lead to the acceptance of a type of gay (white, middle class), seen as a model of citizen-consumer, and a greater marginalization of all other 'debauches' who do not fit this way. In more Brazilian terms: there is a risk of accepting rich gays and further marginalizing poor queers.”

Discrimination on the part of this part of the queer community was evidenced in a historic episode in the 1970s, in super liberal New York. In June 1973, the Christopher Street Liberation Day Rally took place in the city, a demonstration held in favor of the rights of the queer population – which, at that time, as we will see, in fact was basically limited to white, middle-class gay women and men.

But, among the public, was the activist Sylvia Rivera, a transvestite who in 1971 had created the Revolutionary Action of Street Transvestites, STAR. Rivera had been trying to get on stage for some time, but Jean O’Leary, a lesbian white radical feminist, acted to prevent her from participating. A sample of how, many times, cisgender homosexual/bisexual women also enact the same discrimination as homosexual/bisexual men.

When he finally managed to grab the microphone, Rivera took aim at the hundreds of mostly white gay men and women present. Her speech is a synthesis of the violence experienced by queers who are too effeminate, too poor, too black, or too latine.

“I've tried to speak out here all day for your gay brothers and sisters in jail. They write to me every damn week asking for help – and you don't do a damn thing for them. I lost my job and my apartment for gay liberation… and you guys treat me this way?” she screamed.

The anger had yet another weight and meaning: alongside another important name, the transvestite Marsha P. Johnson, Rivera went down in history as one of the first to face police repression at the New York bar Stonewall Inn, on June 28, 1969. The conflict was the trigger for a fundamental civil movement for human rights – so much so that the date ended up becoming what was then called International LGBT+ Pride Day.

The question remained: how could that engaged audience repudiate the person who, at just 18 years old, spoke out against violence that was not directed just at her? How could they recriminate someone who pulled the trigger that would benefit precisely that white homosexual population?

Rivera and Johnson, who lived in a shelter, were profoundly different from the majority of the public who would return to their comfortable homes after the demonstration. Unlike Rivera, the daughter of a Venezuelan mother and a Puerto Rican father, most had not spent nights in jail or suffered police rape. The activist died homeless, alone, without the care she should have received. Marsha P. Johnson, the decorated, made-up, smiling, super queer transvestite, was murdered and her body thrown into a river.

Thinking historically and humanly about both is a central issue in the debate on hatred of “feminine” and other diverse discriminations present among the LGBTQIA+ population. The right-wing has long opened a war against women, and the rise of red pill assholes is just one of the phenomena of this reality. It still includes names like former federal deputy Daniel Silveira, who broke the plaque with Marielle's name alongside Rodrigo Amorim. [Note from the translator: Marielle Franco was a black bisexual favela-born leftist councilwoman who was assassinated by militias.]

But, as it turns out, misogyny is not exclusive to right-wing radicals and conservatives. And if Sylvia and Marsha were on the front line to guarantee the rights of millions of people, without distinction of creeds, race, genders, and degrees of “femininity”, it is worth asking: when will cisgender gay men, mostly white and middle class, join, with emphasis and strength, debates such as the right to abortion, employment, and wages, issues of life and death for the majority of black Brazilian women? When will the majority of this same group take a stand on the thousands of rapes that mainly victimize girls and teenagers? What collectivities, after all, are we talking about? As Jorge Ben would say in the song Zumbi: I want to see. We're here.

Source, translated by the blogger.

[jennyboom21]

Before Taylor Swift was sparking headlines about "squad goals" or attracting throngs of Hollywood stars to The Eras Tour, she and Dianna Agron were nearly inseparable.

The "Style" singer and "Glee" star became close in 2012 and were quickly identified in the media as "blonde BFFs." However, the following year, Swift and Agron suddenly seemed to lose touch. They haven't been spotted together since 2014.

Keep scrolling to see everything we know about the once-close pair.

They became friends while Swift was working on 'Red'

It's unclear how and when Swift and Agron met. In 2010 and 2011, Swift became friendly with "Glee" stars like Cory Monteith and Chord Overstreet, so it's possible the women were introduced by Agron's castmates. They both attended the 2011 Vanity Fair Oscar Party, but there's no evidence they interacted.

Swift and Agron were spotted in public for the first time on September 4, 2011 at a flea market in Los Angeles. Swift was between shows on the Speak Now World Tour, while Agron had recently wrapped a series of Glee Live! concerts.

By this time, we know that Swift was in the process of creating her fourth album because she had already written "All Too Well."

According to her diary excerpts (released alongside "Lover" in 2019), the beloved song was conceived in February 2011. She decided to name the album "Red" in September 2011.

Dianna Agron and Taylor Swift in 2012.

January 7, 2012: Agron tweeted that Swift looked 'beautiful' on the cover of Vogue

Swift was photographed by Mario Testino for the February 2012 issue of Vogue, for which she was given retro-style bangs. According to a behind-the-scenes video, the photoshoot took place on the eve of her 22nd birthday.

"Taylor looks all kinds of 70's beautiful....and love a hat! Great job," Agron wrote on Twitter, tagging both Vogue and Swift.

March 25, 2012: Swift and Agron went to see 'The Hunger Games' together

A group of fans snapped a photo with Swift and Agron at the theater during the movie's opening weekend.

April 12, 2012: Agron shut down rumors that she was in a 'love triangle' with Swift and Tim Tebow

For some reason, in early 2012, tabloids ran wild with a theory that Agron was dating NFL quarterback Tim Tebow while Swift was harboring a "puppy dog" crush on him.

During an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," Agron quashed the rumors. She clarified that she had a "10-minute chat" with Tebow and hadn't seen him since.

Kimmel also asked her to address her relationship with Swift: "Are you dating her? That would be great."

"Wouldn't that be juicy?" Agron replied, blowing a kiss to the camera and adding, "Hi Taylor."

April 24, 2012: They wore vintage gowns and flower crowns to celebrate Shirley MacLaine's birthday

Swift, who costarred with MacLaine in the 2010 film "Valentine's Day," played dress-up with Agron and two more friends in honor of the actor's 78th birthday. The small group shared photos of the occasion on social media, though most have since been deleted.

"We dressed up full-time fancy and went out in celebration of Shirley MacLaine's birthday," Swift wrote on Twitter, per E! News.

"Had a long day & don't know what to celebrate later…? Because you need a moment to be young? Find your moments," Agron added in her own tweet.

April 28, 2012: Swift celebrated Agron's 26th birthday

Swift wore a tiger costume for Agron's circus-themed birthday party, which she called "the most magical night" on Twitter.

"The blonde BFFs have been spending a lot of time together as of late," E! News wrote.

May 15, 2012: They dined together in Los Angeles

Paparazzi caught Swift and Agron leaving Dominick's, an Italian restaurant in West Hollywood, after a Tuesday night dinner.

July 4, 2012: Swift and Agron spent the holiday in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts

Swift was spotted in the famous East Coast town during Fourth of July weekend, mostly hanging out at the Kennedy compound. She was accompanied by Agron and their friend Claire Kislinger (neé Winter), according to the Boston Herald and Us Weekly.

Kerry Townsend, the granddaughter of Ethel Kennedy, tweeted at the time: "Arrived at my Grandma's house to find her chilling with Taylor Swift and Dianna Agron. I hope I'm this cool when I'm 83!"

October 22, 2012: Swift released 'Red,' which includes a dedication to Agron

Swift is known for leaving coded messages for fans in the liner notes of her album. The secret message for "22" was four names: "Ashley Dianna Claire Selena."

In addition to Agron and Kislinger, these most likely refer to stylist Ashley Avignone and Selena Gomez. The song is about spending a carefree night with friends, though hints of ill-advised romance are sprinkled in: "You look like bad news / I gotta have you."

There could be another reference to Agron in the liner notes for "Everything Has Changed." The song's secret message is "Hyannis Port," where Swift spent some time with green-eyed Conor Kennedy that summer. ("All I've seen since 18 hours ago / Is green eyes and freckles and your smile," Swift sings.)

However, many fans have noticed that "Hyannis Port" is actually misspelled in the liner notes as "Hyiannis Port," which mirrors the spelling of Dianna (who also has green eyes).

The day that "Red" was released, Agron congratulated Swift on Twitter with a screenshot of her phone playing "Everything Has Changed."

December 3, 2012: Swift and Agron both attended the Ripple of Hope gala

Swift and Conor Kennedy reportedly split in October 2012 after a few months of dating. However, later that year, Swift was still honored with the Ripple of Hope Award from the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights.

The annual gala was held at the Mariott Marquis in New York City. According to E! News, Swift had Agron "by her side" throughout the event. She also performed "Starlight," a song from "Red" that was inspired by Ethel and Bobby Kennedy.

"Was a beautiful night last night. The RFK foundation provides help to so many truly deserving," Agron tweeted. "Plus @taylorswift13 was truly lovely."

April 2013: A fake artice, which claimed Swift and Agron were dating, went semi-viral

Shortly after Swift embarked on the Red Tour, a doctored screenshot from a fake tabloid began circulating on Twitter. The headline from Stars Daily, which does not exist, said "Taylor Swift is in a new relationship...but it's not what you expected."

"Country pop singer Taylor Swift has confirmed being in a relationship with Glee star Dianna Agron," the fake article continued. "Lesbi-honest! Right after the rumors were confirmed, the two were spotted out on a dinner date." (The attached photo was from Swift and Agron's dinner at Dominick's in 2012.)

On April 23, 2013, "Skins" actor Dakota Blue Richards tweeted about the rumor: "So apparently Taylor Swift and Dianna Agron are dating. Sorry Brangelina, you just got taken over as the worlds hottest couple."

Neither Swift nor Agron publicly responded to the rumor. But Richards' reaction seemed to increase its virality, and the following day, Agron deleted her Tumblr.

"Thank you friends for following the journey," she wrote in her final post. "But as an old chapter closes, a new chapter begins."

September 4, 2013: Swift, Agron, and other friends went to a Fun. concert

"Modern Family" star Sarah Hyland shared a video from backstage at the Fun. concert, which took place at the Greek in Los Angeles. Swift is featured in the short clip, while Agron is briefly shown standing off to the side.

"Watching @OurNameIsFun live tonight at the Greek was unforgettable," Swift wrote on Twitter, per Taste of Country. "Such incredible musicians and showmen. It was just SO good."

Two days later, Agron also tweeted an inside joke about the concert, tagging Swift.

This seemed to be the last time they intentionally hung out (at least in public).

October 27, 2014: Swift released the deluxe version of '1989,' which includes a breakup song called 'Wonderland'

The lyrics of "Wonderland" clearly reference "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," the 1865 novel by Lewis Carroll. When Swift performed the "1989" deluxe track as a surprise song on The Eras Tour, she said it was a "twisted" take on the fairy tale.

In the song, Swift describes her muse as having green eyes and a "Cheshire Cat smile." She says they "fell down the rabbit hole" and got lost in Wonderland, all without considering the consequences.

"Haven't you heard what becomes of curious minds?" she sings in the pre-chorus, a reference to Alice's observation that "curiosity often leads to trouble."

Swift concludes in the bridge: "In the end, in Wonderland / We both went mad."

Some fans have drawn a connection between "Wonderland" and Agron, who has repeatedly tweeted about her love for Alice.

"I love 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'The Hobbit,'" Agron said in a 2011 interview with Elle. "Those books got me into reading and storytelling — I could escape to a different world."

Indeed, Agron reportedly had a Tumblr, deleted in 2013, that was called "felldowntherabbithole."

She also had a reference to "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" tattooed on her ribcage: "We're all mad here," which is a quote from the Cheshire Cat. Fans noticed that Agron was in the process of removing her tattoo in 2017.

November 23, 2014: They had a brief interaction at the 2014 American Music Awards

Although she spent most of the evening with Karlie Kloss, photographers did catch Swift having a moment with Agron at the 2014 AMAs, where she also performed her single "Blank Space."

This was the last time Swift and Agron were seen together in public. Notably, Agron did not appear among Swift's many celebrity friends in the 2015 "Bad Blood" music video, which seemed to confirm they were no longer close.

October 5, 2019: Agron went to 'SNL' when Swift was the musical guest

Agron was photographed leaving 30 Rock after "Saturday Night Live" finished filming. Swift was that night's musical guest — she performed "False God" and the title track from "Lover" — but there's no evidence she interacted with Agron inside.

May 7, 2023: Agron was asked about rumors that she and Swift were 'in a relationship'

During an interview with Rolling Stone, Agron was asked about her influence on Swift's music, specifically "22."

"Me? Oh, if only! That's more because of a friendship than being the inspiration for the song," she replied. "But I would not be the person to ask about that. I cannot claim that!"

The reporter also asked how Agron felt about being "shipped" with Swift, which he explained as, "You two were made out by the media and some fans to be in a relationship."

In response, Agron described the speculation as "so interesting."

"I… I mean, there have been many stories about my dating life that are so wildly untrue. That's funny," she said.

[starrclownshazbinblog]

I would like some Charlie facts.

Also facts about souls. You made Husk trans; would that mean he has a male soul in a female body, so when he dies, instead of it being female, it should male. He wouldn't have the biological problems of being tansgender. So Husk should need Birth Control pills... or have periods, right?

Let's answer that second part first.

How I have it in my rewrite how you apper in hell depends on two things:

1. Who you are physically and

2. Who you are as a person. Like your character.

Let's use Mimzy as a example. Mimzy is a siren. That's why she has her bird legs. The reason she's a siren is because she is a amazing singer and she lures men into her before she robs them. Let's say that Mimzy was transgender when she was alive. If Mimzy would have gotten top surgery then she would have appeared in hell with that top surgery.

The reason husk still has to deal with periods and things along those lines despite being a boy is because he never had surgery when he was alive. (He couldn't afford it.)

Your soul only has to do with your character. Like if you were a bad person. Your soul can effect your appearance but it's mostly litteraly what you looked like.

Now into Charlie facts!!

☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

Mama's girl. She doesn't have a good relationship with her dad.

Loves pineapple. Will eat it with EVERYTHING.

Doesn't chew her food. She swallows shit whole.

Charlie is navie, but she isn't stupid. She knows these people did bad things and that's why they're here.

Charlie actually has some pretty bad anger issues when people don't do what she wants. Considering Charlie is a litteraly puppet and how she was raised, Charlie has the mentality that she just has to make people do what she wants and things will go smoothly. The others don't agree with this.

Charlie actually has no idea what people look like. Yeah she's seen photos but fashion sense, time period, the photo quality always changes.

Charlie litteraly doesn't have a heart. Again, she is a puppet.

Charlie can be pretty bossy to people. Expectially people she know won't fight her on it.

Charlie is bisexual with a preference towards woman.

Charlie resents most sinners she comes across. She doesn't understand why they would waste their one change to go to heaven. She doesn't really understand that people have diffrent serverities of crimes and or were forced into a life of crime because that's how they were raised (Angel).

Charlie headbutts people to show affection because she's a goat.

Charlie can take off her limbs and rearrange them. She thinks it's fun! Others don't.

Charlie likes milkshakes. Like alot.

Charlie can spit fire.

While Charlie doesn't LIKE killing sinners, she will if she's pushed far enough.

Charlie tries to have a relationship with Lucifer but he's pretty cold and distant. This leads to Charlie being cold and distant right back. It's a never ending cycle.

Charlie decently shows double standards.

Charlie crys alot. She's very emotional.

Charlie doesn't have beauty standards. She likes how she looks and if you don't then you can get bent.

Charlie despite all her flaws is a very loving girlfriend. Maybe too loving sometimes.

Glad someone finally asked about Charlie. I've been waiting on it.

- ⭐️StarClown⭐️

[beeandheroddobsessions]

You Stop My Heart (pt.1)

Pairing: Elvis x Black! Reader

Summary: Y/N L/N age 19, manages to make her way onto the louisiana hayride. Elvis Isn’t the only one who can cause a visceral reaction in the crowd. When he sees her, his heart stops.

Warnings: In future chapters, there will be heavy talk of race issues. Anxiety? 50s!Elvis (yes, i do consider that a warning). Nothing really in this chapeter.

A/N: Y’all don’t even know how im about to drag you through the weeds with this series! Happy reading!

Part 2

November 6, 1954

Nervous isn't the right word to describe how you're feeling right now; your heart is in your ass. It all started as a silly joke between you and your friend Mackenzie, who you dubbed 'Sister Mack' or sometimes just 'Mack.' Sister Mack and her family were the only white people that gave you the time of day.

You had been singing since you could form words. Everyone in the neighborhood was sure to let you know you had the loveliest voice around, and your mama had always been so supportive. She'd encourage you to sing to your heart's content. That's how you met Mack, around fifteen or so. She said she'd never heard someone sound so good.

Mack played the guitar and would often join you whenever you sang, adding an alluring melody to your vocals.

When she introduced you to her family, they were more accepting than you would've thought. 'Ma and pop' treated you like one of their own and supported you just as much as your folks.

Her brother, Greg, a tall, twenty-two-year-old, rambunctious man with fluffy brown hair and striking green eyes, had a love for percussion that you couldn't even begin to understand. He had no rhythm; half the time, he was just making noise on that drumset. Bless him. Eventually, you taught him how to play in time. That's when he joined you and Mack.

Valerie and Angel were Mack's older sisters. A sweet set of twins who absolutely adored you. They were great at harmonizing and loved the style of music you introduced them to. Over the next four years, the five of you managed to make it onto a local radio station. You wanted a heftier challenge though.

So here you all sit, about to shit yourselves. What you were about to do hasn't been done before. A black woman, or any black person for that matter, in a place like this? Unheard of. The strings your and Mack's family had to pull to get your name on the list were the only reason you hadn't hightailed it out of there.

Would you be throttled off the stage? Arrested? You didn't have a clue, but this was your only chance to advance in this business. All the money (and begging) spent to get to this point wouldn't go to waste.

"You guys ready?" Mack asks, "Sister Mack, I-I feel like I'm gon' drop. I-Is it hot in here? I'm burnin' up." You stammer out. She lets out a nervous chuckle, "It's just nerves, Y/N. We're gon' do fine." You nod your head in an attempt to convince yourself that she's right. You had gained a spot on the Louisiana Hayride, now was not the time to get cold feet.

Before your act, there was another. Some white boy in a suit that looked about two times too large; he wore eyeliner, and his hair had been slicked to perfection, save for the few strands that fell in his face. The thin layer of sweat that adorned his browbone and his heavy breathing let you know that he, too, was scared shitless.

The host introduced him as Elvis Presley. This 'Presley' boy expressed gratitude for being here with a painful stutter and a wavering voice. A few snide remarks are made, followed by chuckles here and there. You look away, disinterested, thinking he would be another country singer. You couldn't be more wrong. He starts playing; the song begins slow, his voice low and bouncy. "Oh baby, baby, baby..." You're uninterested again, just like that. But then the tempo shifts to something more upbeat.

You sit up a bit, brows raising and eyes widening as he bellows out, "Well... you may go to college, you may go to school, you may have a pink Cadillac, but don't you be nobody's fool." You don't even hear the rest; all you see is a man wiggling his hips in a way that sets a warm feeling deep in your belly. It feels wrong. Traditionally, people stay seated at these shows, not while he's up there. Women left and right pop up out of their seats, shamelessly forgetting about their boyfriends. Screams start as one and become many, soon filling the room.

His movements are nothing new to you, but his charisma sure is. You look on in amazement. The man in front of you makes your heart flutter, and as you look a little closer, you realize he's just so pretty. You wonder if he'd think the same of you. "Fat chance," You mumble out. Greg, somehow, hears you, "What do ya mean, Y/N?"

You don't want him to know you've been ogling too, "uh...how are we s'posed to top that? It's just a fat chance, is all." Val speaks up, "It ain't a competition, Y/N. Show a lil' gumption, and all eyes will be on you."

You shake your head with a smile, "I don't think gumption will save me this time, Val." Mack chimes in, "worked for that white boy, didn't it?" This makes you laugh, "fair enough, Mack, fair enough." Soon, Elvis finishes his set; he and his crew exit the stage. As they make their way back, he glances at you, eyes widening just a hair.

You don't even notice, too focused on battling your nerves. The host speaks up again, "Woo! Quite a show, huh, ladies? Alright, Well...next, we've got Y/N L/N and the Sound Of The South!"

The first to walk on is Greg, then sister Mack, then Val and Angel. Lastly, you grace the stage. It gets so quiet you could hear a pin drop. As you look out over the crowd, you see a mix of confusion, interest, and disgust. You don't let it phase you. You step up to the mic and take a deep breath.

Alright, here we go.

Taglist: @dumpsterhippie @tacozebra051 @prayerstopresley @pennyroyalcreep @18lkpeters @misspresley @waiting4brucewayne2adoptme @dkayfixates @powerofelvis @presleyenterprise

[shiraishi--kanade]

Oh thing I think would be a good development for An within the story is An figuring out who she is outside of her father’s shadow/Vivid Street.

And I think Mizuki is a good gateway for that.

yes, i know this is basically just me pushing the an and mizuki friendship agenda, but hear me out

Since Mizuki only became friends with An in school and never really been in the Vivid Street community. Mizuki just sees An as An.

Not as “Ken’s Daughter” or as “Vivid Street’s Pride and Joy” but as An Shiraishi. A kindhearted, caring, understanding, and energetic friend.

Sure Mizuki sees An as a great singer (in fact Mizuki even ask An for some singing tips/lessons. It’s really cute.), Mizuki doesn’t just see An as being just that tho. Mizuki see An as a really close friend and the reason why Mizuki can even started to go to school for.

I feel like since An is currently struggling with her valid feelings of her placement in the world and who she is, I think Mizuki would be a good reminder that An is more than singing, more than being the daughter of Ken, more than being the Vivid Streets’ gem.

That An is. An.

And like, it would be really nice for Mizuki to also help An with her struggles when An has also helped Mizuki in the past. (yes, there was the ‘let’s study hard’ event, where Mizuki helped An with studying, but nothing wrong with Mizuki helping An with the more emotional stuff too imo)

Anon you are so incredibly right about everything. It would be good character development for An (and with VBS potentially going global, I hope that's what they have in store for her once her current arc is resolved), a lot of An's issues hinge on her being put in a role and then suddenly getting kicked out of it, metaphorically. Finding out her place in the world that isn't being a singer alone (cough cough that one LUtF quote that haunts my dreams) would be great for An.

Honestly I haven't considered Mizuki for this though! I was mostly thinking about like, Haruka, since An already has the whole "for me you're just you", but Mizuki would be great as well. In addition, I once mentioned to someone (Hoc I think? Hi Hoc if it's you! Might've been just tag chat though) that the message of "it's okay to run away" is something that An would need to hear. Not necessarily follow, but to hear and accept. Failure was never an option for An - not entirely by outside forces, to be fair, she's just that kind of person who hates failing and losing - but I think she needs to realise that failing to do something, or to feel a certain way, or lagging behind her teammates, is not a moral failing. Wanting to give up on something is not a moral failing.

An wouldn't listen to Mizuki because she's one of the most stubborn people on proseka earth but it might help her to stop chewing herself out for her own feelings, in a way. Just. Calm down and actually consider what you're dedicating your life to, An. You already went full force into something that ended up being half-hearted with half the truth hidden from you. Maybe don't do things just because you feel the need to be the bearer of Nagi-san's legacy and consider it's okay to give up and do your own thing for a while. There's only so far following other's dreams will take you.

Will Sega take that route? Doubt it, maybe partially. But this is something I like to think about a lot with Mizuki & An. Them no longer being classmates actually still hurts a bit, as much as I love the current classes.

Thanks for the ask!

[yoongsisbae]

Gangnam Girlfriend: Korea’s #1 Celebrity Dating Show with your Host, International Super Star, Jin! 💕

Welcome to Gangnam Girlfriend! Where Korea’s top eligible singles fight for a chance at love!

You're supposed to be playing the dating game right? Not sneaking off in the middle of the night with the show’s host to watch the stars and talk about all your lost love connections, cuddling under a blanket. And even if the choice is clear, Kim Seokjin can't date you, the reason you joined is because you wanted a public relationship, and Jin could neverrr. Even though he wants to finally settle down! But Hybe wouldn't let him join as a contestant so he took the next best thing instead, our story's beloved host, yet now he's regretting his decision as he watches the girl he is starting to fall for fall for someone else, oh no!

Assistant producers: @daydreamer-writing @yoongii-ah @googiesbun (thank you girlies for helping me try to map this sh!t out ;-;)

***all characters are fictional, not real, made up, fake as fuck, f i c t i o n a l, characters / group names / all made up! don't come for me!!!***

Meet our Castmates!

💙 Leo, Guitarist and Singer

tall and slender, with a rockstar look that makes all his fans swoon

knows how to finger...pick

he's a mysterious quiet type that makes you just want to learn more about him!

But our contestants might have to fight for his attention…

💗 Jenzi from Girl's World

Our youngest contestant! She's adorable uwu

Bubbly and Beautiful

And just bleached her hair!

But does she have a wild streak? You’ll just have to find out!

💙 Siko, Rapper

He is...something else

An underground rapper whose been around the scene and is now trying to make a household name for himself, he has that impressive drive and determination that captures fans’ attention!

He can be pretty blunt, but that's just the hip hop life yo!

He is looking for a girl to elevate him, uplift him, be his Queen and baby girl

Cleans up niceeeee

💗 Sooyoung from Oopsie!

Our elegant beauty

THE Korean Beauty standardTM

The VisualTM member

She's here to prove she's more than just a pretty face!

💙 Alex from Heroes

Leader of his newly debuted group, he is fluent in English and Korean

He's traveled abroad, and knows how to have a good time

BIG HIMBO ENERGY

He is confident in many things, but his Korean is not one of them, oh no!

Will our lady contestants be able to look past the communication issues?

Will they be able to look past his muscles??

Will they want to?!

💗 Shin Bora from T1ME

Soft spoken and shy, awwww!

She’s the group's main dancer, but with those looks she might as well be the visual too!

athletic, with a competitive streak to boot, this girl came to W1N

💙 Suhwan from AXI

Our favorite idol has just come back from military duty and is looking to jump back into the dating game!

Can dance, sing, act, what can't he do?

A seasoned veteran in the entertainment industry, he catches everyone's attention

Calm and collected, the man is on top of his game

He is serious when he says he wants to find love

💗 Yuk Minji from Unpretty Rapstar

She came in third place on her infamous season of Unpretty Rapstar, but here she plans to come up on top!

She knows what she wants and she's gonna get it

She's confident, beautiful, and is willing to fight for love

This hip hop girl has surprises in store for you!

💙 Sangho from Atlaz

His feminine charm makes him stand out from the competition

This idol's long hair, bright eyes and slender face makes girls crush AND envy him

He is reserved at first glance, but is rumored to be a passionate lover, oooooh

💗 Y/N

Shit, are you really the oldest?

And the only foreigner, fuck...

Also, you're single AF

But it's okay, it's OKAY, listen, you're here to make a name for yourself

You're a foreign born actress in the Korean entertainment industry, which you have to admit, causes some type casting...

But that's why you're here! You're going to show the Korean public the real you!

If you can't find love here, you're sure you can convince the audience to love you instead!

Oh god, you really want a boyfriend tho...

💙 Lee, Actor and Model and soon to be idol?

He comes to stir things up!

Wait a minute, you know him!

Lee used to work with you!

But he looks so different now...

He looks so...hot!

Oh my god, why haven't you ever noticed it before?

💙 Kim Namjoon from BTS

Are the rumors true, is Kim Namjoon from BTS going to join our cast?! GASP.

[more cast members to come! 💕]

[mistlekissy]

Centrists are Zionists be fr. If you’re not for Palestine, you’re aiding zionisism and genocide. I love your blog but sometimes I wonder how you can even like Harry given that he represents pretty much everything you rightfully don’t like.

see, i think u gotta be more careful with not making distinctions bc that's similar to the rhetoric ppl use to equal anti-israel = antisemitic and other bs. i think centrism in this case is cowardly and a cop-out without doubt, as well as willfully closing ur eyes to the very clear situation at hand - but some ppl also are more centrist with their positioning bc they have a job to lose for example. in terms of celebs i think 98% of statements and engagements were centrist tbh, as i said it's mostly about PR for these ppl, but then hozier got jumped for being centrist which i didn't get at all. i thought his statement was very pro-palestine, he shared resources, and it's not even the first time he's stood up for palestine either so idk what some ppl are expecting tbh, this is the best u'll get apart from kehlani. florence, who this message was originally about, did share a "violence from both sides is wrong" typa thing at first too but then she signed the artists for ceasefire letter and shared more pro-palestine stuff.

i don't think harry represents everything i don't like but i'm def a more critical fan of him than others bc of my own moral code etc. i know as a woc my views won't always line up with a rich white man - at the same time i also don't look up to celebrities as moral pillars or political figures tho. obvs i wouldn't support someone who's some far-right idiot or whatever but i also don't expect harry to have the exact same values as me and i'm also not like "oh harry posted about supporting koala babies, i'll do that now", like it's insane to me how there was a statistic that [insert percentage here] of young ppl registered to vote bc tswift posted about it, like i don't need a celeb to tell me that, u know what i mean? i think the stan war that some ppl made out of the israel/palestine situation the past few weeks has actually been very crude. for me personally it's more about how these celebs are using their platform rather than my fave singer posting 3 sentences about how killing children isn't right and that's enough activism for the year lol i don't need the validation that i'm "stanning the right person" but it is good for the movement when someone who has millions and millions of ppl following them, some who do look up to them and value their opinion (see: swifties who signed up for voting), bring awareness to the humanitarian emergency and repost important info/voices. especially in this case hollywood voices matter bc it does bother israel a lot, part of their pr has always been to include celebs to spread their propaganda (see: hailee steinfeld taking pictures with the idf). anyway atp i don't expect harry to say anything, at best it would be a very centrist take as well which it pretty much always is when harry dares to say smth (vote with kindness) and it is disappointing bc he has such a die hard fanbase, but i was more worried that he'd say smth very dumb tbh bc so many ppl around him are so openly pro-israel. his activism has always been lackluster at best and again, i'm personally not expecting him to be the spokesperson for every issue in the world or try look for that from him, but idt anyone can be apolitical in this climate and especially not when u built ur whole brand on kindness.

[white-eyed-girl]

My personal top 37 of Eurovision 2023

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

I think I never met the arrival of the Eurovision month in such a bad mood and with my Eurovision energy so completely down the drain but I had already put too much thought into this top not to post it so here we go :''

37) San Marino - This…just kinda makes me uncomfortable :'' I don't know how to better explain it but yeah…not a song I have felt the need to listen to twice

36) Croatia - I was going to be gentler with this song because the message is there and it's nice, but I've been called ignorant for not liking it one time too many :'' Admirable effort, but I can't shake the feeling that this belonged in the 00's (aka my absolute least favourite ESC decade)

35) Romania - I…I don't even know, the way he sings is very aggressive and that wouldn't necessarily bother me, I actually like his confidence, I am just not sure where the whole thing wants to go

34) Azerbaijan - a friend told me that this song sounds ''suspiciously'' unassuming, his theory being that they are trying to prove that sending music from actual azerbaijani composers isn't productive and successful, basically to justify them being Mello recyclers I may or may not be inclined to believe this lol but if true, they'll definitely succeed in their intentions Twins are always a plus though

33) Germany - It's a daring contribution to this contest, maybe even more coming from Germany, but it's a music style that really has to have some special element to it to capture me and with this one I still haven't found it, also the lyrics don't sound harmonious at all

32) Estonia - she's a good singer but the song is the kind of ordinary ballad that passes me by pretty easily

31) Lithuania - the only part of this I find interesting is the two Lithuanian words, and more because they leave me a tiny bit annoyed, it almost feels like they were put there only because it has (thankfully!) become a trend again to have non-English bits in one's song, not because they are organically integrated into it

30) Albania - now, it wouldn't pass through my head to willingly listen to this on repeat, but I'm still kinda thankful because if we didn't have Albania literally no one would make sure to send this kind of rustic ethnic songs to Eurovision, so thank you either way Albania :''

29) Cyprus - pretty regular contribution from them, but the titular refrain is surprisingly catchy which is why it's not lower in my top

28) Greece - I feel like this could grow on me a lot if I gave it the chance but as of now I kinda regularly forget that Greece is competing this year T-T

27) Switzerland - Issok, very big words well sung by a very young mouth I am honestly not sure what his fate will be without juries in the semis

26) Ukraine - of course everything about this is relative, Ukraine has more urgent issues at the moment, but since they participate an opinion is due, and I think this is pretty much subpar compared to the genius they have accustomed us to Also, it pains me to say it as one of the biggest Ukraine-in-Eurovision stans, but if something like last year ever happens again Eurovision is dead to me right there and then

25) Slovenia - I know everyone seems to adore this, for me it's a bit midfield though, I kinda feel like it doesn't end up being as energetic as it tries to be? They sure are enjoying themselves though!

[heartandmindful]

the people i am crying over don't align with the higher version of myself.

i blame myself, and yes i was in the wrong on some occasions but EVERY person i lost took away from me in some way

i thought it was my karma and if it was then clearly it was good karma because everything could've gone much worse,

i'm here crying over people that god removed from my life to protect me like whaaatt

he wasn't my savior, I AM

i am going to save and better myself

and i'm sure his intentions weren't terrible

but friends shouldn't make me feel like that in the first place

they were all shady and fuck em

things haven't changed because i haven't changed

i deserve peace and love in my friendships

i wasn't happy around them

she wouldn't have been enough for me

i deserve more than them and that's it and i'm literally laughing rn bc why was i crying over people who aren't on my level and i'm not saying this in a they're below me way we are all equal, but like

they're just not meant to be, i used to think i was being punished because everyone keeps wishing it on me

time to dissect

the singer : she saw me as beneath her and would belittle me in small ways, she took it as an attack instantly when i tried to communicate my feelings, i allowed her to disrespect me because i knew how much she went through

i was jealous and weirdly obsessed with her because she had that star quality i wanted in myself and because she had the sexual appeal and was comfortable being sexual in the way i wanted to be,

she was extremely unappreciative but she had her good moments and she was there for me

clearly doesn't care that i'm gone for whatever reason, probably a karmic?

she was extremely fun to be around, my need for pleasure i tolerated her

because i couldn't be alone and she was funny, never met anyone like her, she made me feel insecure intentionally and unintentionally

i still believe she's better than me and has what i lack

i used her to teach me things and for fun sigh

us against the world : i saw the pity in his eyes that day but he didn't care enough

he was planning to end it from the start clearly, i forgive him

he wasn't a bad person but i'm mad that he meant more to me than me to him

can't get me attached and dip like wtf

there's a lot he didn't tell me

i was gonna use him at first

what to learn : just like you throw away your friends when a favorite person comes along, the same way he did to you and shows how you need to appreciate the others in your life even though i know you want to only be with your favorite person, stop relying on others to save you, when you give a person that much power you give them the power to hurt you

the friend thief : i still hate her i guenuinely am so maad at her like i basically helped her and she stole him, i'm just jealous she took my fav friend like and then disrespected me constantly after

like shit isn't sweet

i'm just bitter cause the 2man fell through and she didn't try help me feel better

bc if i were her i would've

she pushed me out

what to learn : stop letting people invalidate your feelings, stop seeking male validation and confront your issues with your father bruh, if someone is making you feel like you don't belong or that you're invalid just leave, and they're not a terrible person they just don't have the emotional intelligence to deal with you, you're not too much, stop overextending yourself and letting people cross your boundaries, stop overexplaining and trying to get people to understand you when they've shown they don't, don't waste your energy

the liar : i was a bad friend to him for keeping secrets from him and not keeping my promise to not tell her but lowk i wasn't the one who told her

what to learn : stop letting people who are your so called friends insult you in your face, stop engaging with pathological fucking liars, stop giving effort and love when it's not reciprocated in the same way, no more people who have love hate relationships with you, stop being shady

the fake twin flame : she litterally disappointed you everytime you spoke bruh like, take reality for what it is and not for what it can be, stop looking at potential

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