#another banger from katie

[lvnleah]

omg foxy fic for u! team night out where y/n let’s foxy drink so y/n can drive her back to their house later on and stuff since y/n prefers not to drink, when foxy is drunk she’s all over y/n and practically pulls her into her lap in the booth with teases from the team. just a funny cute fic, maybe foxy gets on karaoke and sings a love song and declares her love for y/n infront of the whole club. y/n takes her home and does her skin care routine since she’s too drunk to do it and looks after her .. feel like because she’s quite quiet she’d be a chaotic drunk

drunken love | emily fox

emily fic after the absolute banger she scored today!

A team night out always promised chaos. You weren’t much of a drinker, which meant you got the all-important job of being the responsible one. And given Emily’s growing tendency to cling to you like a magnet when drunk, it was a good thing, too.

She was three drinks in, giggling at absolutely nothing and staring at you like you’d hung the stars in the sky.

“Babe,” she slurred, resting her chin on your shoulder. “You are too beautiful for me.”

Before you could respond, her bottom lip wobbled.

Oh, no.

“Babe, don’t cry,” you whispered, cupping her face before it turned into a full-blown scene.

“I just love you so much,” she sniffled, her arms locking around your waist in a death grip.

Across the table, Leah and Katie burst out laughing.

“She’s a mess,” Lotte said, shaking her head.

“She’s your mess,” Alessia added, giving you a knowing grin. 

You sighed dramatically. “Unfortunately.”

Emily gasped like you’d just broken her heart.

“You don’t mean that,” she whispered.

“I don’t,” you reassured her, rubbing her back.

Seemingly satisfied, she nuzzled into your neck. “Good ‘cause I’d die without you.”

That earned another round of laughter from the table. Emily was normally a quiet, steady presence, quick-witted but never one to be the loudest in the room. But drunk Emily? Oh, drunk Emily was a romantic, dramatic, clingy mess.

And the team loved every second of it.

A server passed by, placing another round of drinks on the table, and Emily perked up immediately.

“Shots?” she asked hopefully. “Let’s do some shots!”

“No shots,” you said, pulling her back down before she could make a break for it.

“But I love shots,” she pouted.

“I know, babe. But you love me more, right?”

Her expression turned serious as she considered that. Then, with all the conviction in the world, she nodded.

“Yeah,” she said, snuggling into you again. “Love you wayyy more.”

Katie pretended to wipe a tear, just as drunk as Emily, “Beautiful, absolutely beautiful Foxy.”

You rolled your eyes.

Emily hummed, seemingly lost in her world. “Can you be my girlfriend?” she mumbled suddenly.

You blinked. “I already am.”

“Oh,” she said, as if this was brand-new information. Then, she grinned. “Lucky me! Did you guys know she was my girlfriend?” She said, turning to her teammates.  

Lotte choked on her drink.

Before you could even process that, Beth clapped her hands.

“Alright, time for karaoke.”

You immediately tensed, and Emily immediately lit up.

“Me! I wanna go!” she cheered, raising her hand like a kid in class.

“Oh no,” you muttered. “Babe, maybe we just sit this one out—”

“Absolutely not,” Leah interrupted. “She’s gotta do it now.”

With the entire table cheering her on, Emily stumbled up to the tiny stage, grabbing the mic with the confidence of a woman who had absolutely no business being that drunk in public.

“This one’s for my girlfriend,” she announced dramatically, pointing directly at you.

Your stomach dropped.

“Oh, God.”

The team erupted into cheers. Emily squinted at the screen, clearly struggling to focus, before grinning.

The intro music started.

You recognized it immediately.

It was “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston.

Before you could even attempt to stop this disaster, Emily launched into it with the passion of someone performing for thousands, completely off-key, swaying like she might fall over at any second.

The team was losing their minds.

Katie was doubled over, Leah had tears in her eyes, and Alessia was recording every second of it. Meanwhile, you were sinking lower and lower into your seat, face buried in your hands.

When Emily hit the chorus, she dramatically reached out toward you like this was a tragic movie scene.

“I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOUUUUUUUUU!”

You were going to die. You could feel your soul physically leaving your body.

“She is SO gone,” Leah wheezed, wiping tears from her face.

“She’s in love,” Lotte corrected, shaking her head in awe. “That’s pure, unfiltered love.”

Somehow, Emily made it through the entire song, taking a deep bow at the end. As the whole bar cheered, you wanted to crawl into a hole.

Emily stumbled back toward you, flopping into the booth with the biggest grin.

“Did you like it?” she asked sweetly, beaming at you like a proud puppy.

“I—yeah, babe. It was… something.”

She sighed dreamily, tucking her head into your shoulder. “You’re my muse.”

Lotte snorted so hard she almost choked. You had to get her home. 

“I think we’re calling it a night,” you announced, standing up and helping Emily to her feet. “Let’s get you home.”

“Oh, mine or yours?” she asked innocently.

“Ours,” you corrected, throwing an arm around her waist to steady her.

Emily gasped like you’d just proposed. “Oh, wow.”

The car ride was an adventure in itself. Emily had insisted on DJing, which mostly meant playing love songs at full volume and dramatically serenading you, often reaching across to grab your hand or trace hearts on your arm.

At a red light, she turned to you with the softest expression.

“You’re perfect,” she whispered, like it was the biggest secret in the world.

You glanced at her, shaking your head fondly. “Thank you, baby but you’re drunk.”

“I’m drunk and in love,” she corrected, squeezing your hand.

You laughed. “I know.”

When you finally pulled into your driveway, Emily stretched her arms above her head, a lazy smile on her face.

“We made it,” she said proudly. “You’re such a good driver!”

“Yep. Let’s get you inside before you fall asleep in the car.”

She huffed but let you help her out. Once inside, she flopped onto the couch with zero grace, arms spread like a starfish.

“Babe, bed,” you reminded her. “Let’s get you to bed, yeah?”

“But the couch is nice,” she murmured, already half-asleep.

You crouched beside her, brushing hair from her face. “Come on, I’ll even do your skincare for you.”

That got her attention. Her eyes fluttered open, sparkling with mischief.

“You’d do that for me?”

You smiled. “Always.”

Emily reached out, poking your cheek. “You’re the best.”

With some effort, you got her to the bathroom, where she sat on the closed toilet lid, watching you with the softest look as you carefully wiped off her makeup.

“Nobody’s ever done this for me before,” she mumbled.

You kissed her forehead. “Get used to it.”

She sighed happily, closing her eyes as you applied her moisturizer. Once she was all set, you helped her change into one of your oversized hoodies and led her to bed. As soon as she hit the mattress, she pulled you down with her, snuggling into your chest.

“I’m gonna marry you,” she murmured sleepily.

Your heart squeezed. “Yeah?”

“Mhm.”

You smiled into her hair. “Ask me again when you’re sober.”

Emily hummed, already halfway asleep, “I’m planning on doing it soon, just need a ring!”

[e-vay]

I have some song suggestions for your sonamy playlist, if you are open to listen to some! ^^

Everyone has their own taste and preferences of course, but these tracks always made me think of them in one way or another :

You’re still the one - Alex melton (this is a cover so the original by Shania Twain obviously works too lol I just prefer this cover, it’s more my genre )

Unconditionally - Katy Perry

Jet lag - simple plan ft Natasha bedingfield (Vibe of when missions or something causes them to separate for extended periods of time~ )

Your guardian angel - red jumpsuit apparatus (😭 I’m sure you know this one already but gawd damn , if that ain’t sonic fully willing to sacrifice himself for her, on his potential death bed confessing his love… )

If it kills me -From the Casa Nova Sessions - Jason Mraz **MUST BE the casa Nova sessions version, trust me, it’s so much more emotional **(This one …. Uggh this one is everything.. I have so many fic ideas birthed from this swirling around in my brain 😩)

Hungry Heart ft. Hayley Kiyoko - Steve Aoki

Million bucks - smallpools

Come on get higher - Matt nathanson

Anyways , no pressure at all if you don’t want to take a listen, only if you want to :) have a good day!

I'm sorry-

You're gonna come into MY HOUSE, suggest a bunch of BANGERS for my PLAYLIST, hint that you have SONAMY FIC IDEAS THAT YOU'RE TEMPTED TO WRITE, and then you're gonna stay ANONYMOUS ON ME?!

You heartbreaker!

Jokes aside, these songs were super great and most were totally my style of music! I had heard a few of these but forgot about them so those were a fantastic rush of nostalgia. Thank you for sharing and I hope one day you write the story/stories you were thinking and that I get to read them!

[flemingsgirl]

We got this pt. 3

Masterlist

As the month flew by, Viv takes big steps in her recovery and forward her being able to play again. With you along the hard and long way, she found strength to keep going, staying positive. Always keeping her occupied, she visits your games, or you stay with her on the straps as Arsenal was playing. Marking the month after her surgery, you guys went on several dates, in restaurants, museums, or casual strolls around parks. You two decide to take the next step and decide to level your relationship to girlfriends.

"I’m heading to an appointment, but afterwards I’m all yours.”

"What kind of?"

"Nothing bad, just with the manager."

"Okay, liefje. See you soon. Any wishes for lunch?”

"Anything you make tastes delicious, surprise me.”

"All right, doing my best."

"You are the best,” you click your tongue.

"Such a charmer.”

"I’ve got so much more. Maybe I’ll show you later but now I gotta go see you. "

"I keep my eyes open.” You can hear her smile through the phone, how she squeezes her eyes shut and her lips turning up, so her dimples are visible.

Beth and Katie came over for some company they’re looking forward to see you 😊

Over the months Beth was a true friend to Vivianne as she understood her in every situation and could help with emotions different to how you could help her, saying sweet nothings and motivational, showing her the bright side, the positive, keep her going. Katie being Viv’s biggest fan and number one supporter, she was there every step as well cheering as the next milestone was reached.

You ring the bell, and second after, you were greeted by a brunette woman, “Y/N’s here!” Katie shouts back into the house.

"You expecting someone else?” You step next to Viv at the kitchen island where she sits on the bar stool and sling an arm around her back, kissing her cheek, “your other girlfriend?”

"No, no, the girl ordered us food.”

"I’m not even getting your delicious food?” You turn towards the guests. “Thank you guys.”

"Cry me a river,” Katie smirks.

"So what happened at your appointment?”

"Thank you Viv great question,” you face Beth. “Didn’t know I’d only get you in a trio.”

“They asked where you were I told them,” a laughter escape her lips and you shake your head chuckling, pecking her lips. Beth and Katie made vomiting sounds in union.

"Not a big deal, just some adjustments on my contract, my vision for the future.”

"Your big dreams,” Viv remarks, bringing her arms around your waist and pulling you closer, kissing your neck.

It was difficult to get into the building of Arsenal without any of her teammates noticing. You had everything planned. Todays the day Viv has her first training on the field, another big step in her recovery. Changing into your kit, you rub your palms on your shorts, taking a shaky breath. You step out of the room. As you arrive at the pitch, the team is standing in a big circle, chatting about their last days, laughing and enjoying. Your girlfriend soon sets her feet on the grass as well, all cheering her up as she begins to run her tracks. Taking further steps to the group, Katie is the first to catch you, and she runs off to you. “Y/N!” throwing her arms around you and jumping against you. You caught the Irish woman and your stability before falling over.

"Wouldn’t believe you’d be this excited to see me,” you laugh against her shoulder.

A hand rests on your shoulder and Katie gets down on the ground again. “What are you doing here?” she observes you from head to toe. “In Arsenal clothes that aren’t mine?”

"Surprise,” you open your arms, shaking your hands. “If you don’t wanna, I can leave.”

"No, it is indeed a surprise but wonderful,” she lays her arms around your neck and pulls you closer.

"We probably should get going.”

"I understand,” she huffs.

"We’ll cuddle after training gorgeous,” you wink at her before leaving for your first session.

It’s the 22th of October you made it in the staring line on the right wing, it was an intense game with two scored bangers from Katie McCabe. You made important sprints and crosses helped the defense and had a few chances yourself, but they were blocked in any way.

You groaned on your latest chance in the additional minute, but the resentment was out of your body as you’ve made your way back in your half and saw Viv stand at the sideline. In the short sequence, you could lay an eye on her she struggled with tears, her lips pressed together, one dimple showing. She was subbed in, and on the next attack, she was involved. Getting a cross from you, the goalkeeper stopped her shoot. You made my way over to her, and you two high fived. “Good idea, keeper sucks.”

"The cross was amazing, do another.” You hold her your thumb up and jog back into position.

The final whistle blows, and you run towards Vivianne, jumping on her back and sling your arms around her neck. Your head rests on hers. She piggybacks you around the pitch as she hugs the other plays. Then she lets you down, “now give me a proper celebration.” You take her face in your hands and pull her closer, connecting your lips. She drapes her hands on your waist, and after you pull apart, you embrace her as tight as you possible could.

“I’m so proud of you.” Your girlfriend doesn’t move an inch. Her mouth fell apart, and her eyes wide open. “You're not happy you're back?” You snip your fingers in front of her face. “Vivianne? Are you okay?” A hand on each side of her upper arms, you slightly shake her. “Youre scaring me.”

"You just kissed me.

"I mean you're my girlfriend.

"But.. but were still in the stadium,” she stutters, and your eyes widen as well.

"Shit.. shit.. I'm sorry if you didn’t .. that wasn’t what we wanted,” you clap your hands over your mouth.

"It's all right, liefje. It's fine.” She kisses you again.

[musicalcastingideas]

Dropout Does The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals

So my theory about overlap of Dropout and Team Starkid seems to be accurate, and people seemed to like my Dropout does Nerdy Prudes Must Die post, so I'm back for another. Same method and criteria as my previous post, you can go see that if you want to know what they are. Also, I have previously done a similar list with Internet Personalities that included a handful of Dropout people, but I'm gonna try to make this one different.

Also spoilers for potentially anything in the Hatchetfield verse

Paul: Ross Bryant

Ross is a great straight man (in the comedy sense, I don't know his sexuality) while being very funny in his own right, and I think, while Paul has a lot of his own funny moments, it's very important that his character is also the more normal guy reacting to the madness around him. Also, he would slay the Jekyll and Hyde homage that is Let it Out.

Emma : Siobhan Thompson

I think one of the essential parts of Emma's character is an underlying exhaustion with the world, and that is very Adaine Abernant and Ruby Rocks, so I think Siobhan would embody that very well.

Charlotte: Vic Michaelis

I don't think I've ever heard them do a transatlantic accent before, but I just have this gut feeling they'd be so good at it.

Ted: Ify Nwadiwe

While I do genuinely think Ify would be great in the part, if I'm being fully honest, this casting is because I (despite my better judgment) find Ted Spankoffski hot, so casting arguably the hottest man in Dropout in this part makes me seem less damaged for being attracted to the self-proclaimed sleazeball. Also him and Vic seem like they would be great playing off each other.

Bill: Brian "Murph" Murphy

He just has "refuses to drink during the apocalypse so he can be the DD" energy.

Mr Davidson: Brian David Gilbert

Since I'm splitting up all the parts, this basically turns Mr Davidson into a Princess Track where the actor just shows up, sings about desire and being choked while he jerks off, but laments how he can never achieve his dreams, and then pretty much leaves, and I don't know why, but that seems right up BDG's alley.

Melissa: Lisa Gilroy

Lisa Gilroy seems nice, but also kinda scares me, and those are the correct vibes for Melissa (#heymelissacore)

Sam: Jacob Wysoki

My only concern about this casting is that he'd go SO HARD in You Tied Up My Heart that he would keep breaking the handcuffs and/or chair, but that's fine, it would be worth it.

Nora: Katie Marovitch

The "Decaf?" parts of Cup of Roasted Coffee already sounds a bit like her TBH.

Zoey: Rehka Shankar

I feel like Zoey is such an underrated, funny side character in the show (I know she's a very small part, but like every line she has is a banger) and I feel like Rehka is a very underrated performer, so this is a good match.

Greenpeace Girl: Persephone Valentine

Making up the Save the Sea Turtles campaign is such a Sam Nightengale move, and also she would eat up Lah Dee Dah Dah Day.

Alice: Surena Marie

She's got a bit of a baby face (I thought she was like 25) and I think she would handle the change from Alice to Hivemind Alice really well.

Deb: Emily Axford

I'm definitely not just casting this because I want Emily to be my protective and caring girlfriend...

Professor Hidgens: Josh Ruben

I don't have an explanation for this one, this is vibes alone.

General MacNamara: Brennan Lee Mulligan

"Wear a Watch" and a song highlighting how the hivemind is essentially fascist and using the military to destroy any resistance to their regime is so Brennan core.

Homeless Man: Ally Beardlsey

I just feel like this is the part they'd want.

Dan Reynolds: Lou Wilson

Icons play Icons.

Donna: Aabria Iyengar

Icons play Icons

Hard Cuts:

Jacob Wysoki as Ted

Mike Trapp as Paul

Emily Axford as Emma

Jess Ross as Charlotte

Lily Du as Zoey

Grant O'Brien as Professor Hidgens

Grant O'Brien as Ted

Ally Beardlsey as Ted

[bogusbyron]

Notes from 24th august matinee. Sorry this is 2 weeks late ive been busy . Heres the cast to keep in mind when reading

Note: if you want examples of certain line deliveries let me know, ill send a snippet from the audio

1) as SOON as the lights came up i was RAKING the ensemble for harry lake  and there he was

2) jordan as tall and commanding in his presence as ever. Spoke "ticket" VERRRRRY fast. Strong "law" on Meaning of the law. Harsh "yes" , on Yes, 24601, and obviously on Javert when he tells Valjean his name. Also held onto the yellow slip which uhhhhh classic

3) Valjean harsh-growl on "lord" in "lord forgive them"

4) Harry lake was hangin out by the stairs in the parole scene. He was also the one to throw the bag at Valjean. Lmfao

5) understudy bishop again! As last time, quite stern rather than gentle like Adam Pearce

6) Valjean spitting "good" in Done a bit of good.

7) bishop harsh on "that is right", as well as Quite loud and harsh on "passion", then quiet on the next line

8) valjean sobbing when bishop hands him his bag back :-((

9) during valjean's soliloquy, slight pause for stolen time after "so far" in Fallen so far, growled "if theres another", entire "gave me a number and murdered valjean" was spoken. "Soul" in Touched my soul verrrry upset-like . Growled "hate" in Hate the world. He also wiped his face on "i'll be back". He was doing a lot of sniffling from this point in the song as well which i liked . Voice crack on "soul" on Touched my soul which i fw. Pause on Reaching like "Reach. Ing". Upset on "Reaching but I fall", and a VERY strong final note.

10) At the end of the day as per an absolute banger - tom hext is the MOST visible ensemble member during this number, its great . Harry was being elusive but I ended up spotting him with tom in the factory . On the topic of Tom, he apparently did the hugest bitchiest eye roll ever when fantine says "and i pay for the child, what's the matter with that?" Which is so funny

11) katie hall AS USUALLLL TEARING UP DA STAGE🗣🗣🗣 delectable performance , lovely little suspended pause on "Life...... worth living". More goosebumps than usual too ohmy god this song is so good live. Also some sobbing between "autumn came" and "still i dream" .... HOLY SCHMOLY what a voice

12) tom and harry were the 2nd and third dudes at the start of lovely ladies . Not important but it is to me . As usual harry gets his arse slapped after "take all year" as he stumbles offstage LMFAOOO

13) for some reason i thought the foreman and the pimp were played by the same guy , only realised they werent when they BOTH came onstage. For context they look identical . Long hair with a beard. How was i supposed to know

14) fantine stumbles a bit after belting "already dead" . Also lots of weeping again for the bambatabois sequence :-( (also like last time he was like a screaming toddler)

15) javert low on "monsieur" in Rest assured, Monsieur . Which i liked

16) HEARTBREAKING "no" as fantine reaches for javert and he steps away before "i have heard such protestations" UUGHHHH

17) YOUPIEE! Breaking: My Ship Touched Each Other. Valjean puts a hand on Javert's shoulder to hold him back from Fantine .

18) hm, gayest cart scene ive seen so far . First we got the classic extended bicep touch as they make eye contact ("a memory stirs"). Javert harsh delivery on "broke" in Broke his parole. Half spoken "Of course" in Of course he now denies it. Harsh on "he couldnt run forever". Back to the gay shit, he walks RIGHT up to valjean, then once theyre basically cock to cock he glances down at his tits, then back up in time to push his face into valjean's for "this time there is no mistake", making sure to spit that T in mistake. Im taking they were inches away from each other. Insane.

19) milan was kinda looking down for Who Am I and all i could think about were how good his brows looked from this angle . Only note i took for who am i , other than mentioning how javert took his cravat after he takes it off in the courtroom. You can hear on the audio i took me saying "he's gonna sniff that tonight"

20) katie hall as always unreal as mentioned but shes seriously so good during this scene, her notes are still so strong despite being also so convincingly frail, duuude. Insane. Her and milan are such a heartbreaking duo its FAB

21) confrontation SWEEP🗣 valjean's spoken "listen to me". Javert kinda snaps "you must" very suddenly which is hilarious . Additional note but jordan's figure works so well for the confrontation and javert in general, or at least the way i view him so is it any wonder im so fond of him . Dude's hench . Makes him all the more imposing in all of javert's layers and coats .. delectable. All that grunting and groaning during the fight though Also his mouth wipe after he gets strangled Helloooo get out. At this point i wrote "shit punch" cause valjean's last punch at the end of the scene kinda sucked .

22) i forgot the actress but little cosette is sooo sweet shes lovely bless. Castle on a cloud is underrated i love that song .

23) 6th time seeing the show, 2nd tjme seeing luke thenardier.😭😭😭😭😭😭 LMFAOOOO tom sweep anyway

24) i like that Tall Jean (aka Willy Wonka as jordan told me he's called) is clearly an important character cause they still have him even when Jordan isnr ensemble, same fit and everything just with a diff waistcoat. Like hey Fake Jean. If youre reading this and dont know who this is you're a fake fan.

25) i like luke's french accent on "best inkeeper in down" .. mix it up a bit.

26) the gentleman guest cackling like a madman when both thenardiers flash him at the start of the song LMFAOAO

27) tom plays the blind guy if you didnt know. Anyway harry like, crawls? Up the stairs at the back of the set and when he gets to the top hes faced with a woman lifting her skirt in front of him . He then proceeds to stand up and play bongos on her boobs.?? Then later Fake Jean passes him a drink so thats nice

28) thenardier shouting "window shut"

29) here i wrote "jordan should play all the roles" who cheered

30) UGGHHHH valjean taking cosette's hands when asking her name in the forest scene brugh

31) luke is great as thenardier but i prefer the way Tom does the "i will pay" gag , cause luke just sorta jolts awake but tom does a whole snort which works better cause it draws more attention WHATEVERRR.

32) thenardier puttinf his leg up on the table when hes trying to impress valjean?? 😭😭😭😭

33) dude how is this show gonna cope w/o Claire Machin when the cast changes shes seriously so good . When the thenardiers are stood together to the side after valjean sits down at the table she like keeps gesturing as if telling thenardier to speak properly which is so funny . (As a guy with a regional english accent this was #felt.). She also fixes his cravat and then he taps her nose which was fire. However luke did fuck up  and said "shared each bone" twice OOPS oh well. He makes up for it with his classic shoulder touch-clap-stamp instead of doing the christian cross

34) valjean as last time grabbing thenardier's lapels to intimidate him before he leaves LOL

35) Will as marius i noticed moves around a LOT . ADHD who

36) harry as one of the policemen  who accompany javert in The Robbery YAY❤

37) for javert's bit in the Robbery - harsh on "hunted", growled "jean valjean". YUM! Plus spitting "feet" at thenardier. Very strong for the whole thing in general which i love to see of course

38) STARS INFLECTION, unfortunately nothing too interesting to note - not a bad thing cause Jordan's voice is gorgeous it just makes for Boring note readingLOL. Anyway..... Harsh start ("there, out in the darkness"). Very toothy (snarling expression) which i love to see thankyou jordan. Smile on first "stars", little smile on "counted" on Scarce to be counted. Held out arms a bit on "darkness" in Filling the darkness, then soft on "and light" which was luurvely. Had his arms out from "place in the sky" to "and your aim". The 2nd crescendo was VERY strong.. just wow ... additionally , Jordan was pointin riiiight at us at the end and he was thrilled to hear this when we met him stage door LMFAOA

39) Looked like marius almost walked into a beam when he enters the stage after Stars.  He also does a little giggle when he leaves . That whole scene he did not stop moving , girl slow DOWN

40) fake Gérard - he has the halfmoon glasses but wore a red coat instead of the greyish-blue one

41) Marius is so hype to be in love its so good, like hes a boy who's read romances all his life and hes finally like , able to experience it himself. Its so good. Hes thrilled. Grantaire gives him a kiss on the cheek❤

42) When marius, on the stairs, opens his arms a bit when he sings "burst of light", grantaire does the same while watching him from the floor. So good

43) when the students all gather round to listen to enjolras, grantaire like, drags him away from the crowd LMFOAA at the start of do you hear the people sing

44) noticed harry picking up and spinning one of the women as he exits after dyhtps. Also at this point i wrote "too many fair-haired white boys in this damn musical"

45) Cosette did a little swoop up into a high note on "love" in Do people really fall in love so fast. I love phoebe's voice!

46) Marius VERY excited on "music OFANgels" which was funny. Soft, near whisper on following "in my life". He did a little spin on "that is new, that is free". Bro does not stop. Also he does a really nice accent i cant quite place properly but it works for his marius i think.

47) He LOBS the stone at the window as compared to the other two mariuses ive seen who just kinda ... toss it. Hes so awkward though. And here i wrote "he feels mature but in the coddled autistic boy way. I fw him" that about sums it up

48) amena soft on "dagger in me" which she usually doesnt do . Interesting !

49) also for some reason there was like too long a pause after heart full of love like nobody clapped. Lmfao?

50) claquesous being used as a step stool again by thenardier during the attack on rue plumet. Always hysterical

51) Didn't hold the final "somebody's here" which i dont think ive ever heard. Strange! But regardless. Will callan has quite a unique voice which i WAS fond of , i liked him a lot .

52) STILL NO JAVERT BAKER BOY FOR ONE DAY MORE👎 anyway he was harsh on "wet" in They will wet themselves with blood. So, yay!

ACT 2

53) baker boy. Cheered

54) milan's "bitch expression" as i referred to it returns when he reads Now that i knlw

55) there were so many minor backstage noises . Btw like urm someones in trouble lmfoaa

56) AMENA BLOWING ME AWAY AS USUALLLLL gooooosebumps . What a voice god shes awesome

57) loudhailer harsh on "you" and short on "this"  for You at the barricade listen to this

58) djavanjolras being taller than jordanvert will never not be funny. Hes the only one bruh

59) javert's smile just FALLING when gavroche shouts LIAR is so fucking funny

60) Will callan's voice was SOOOOOOO good for A Little Fall of Rain ohhmy god its like , gentle , smooth. Delectable. He hit that shit And the heartstrings, amen. Great combo of like, disbelief and almost defeat which was heartbreaking okhhhmy gah.

61) Grantaire stopping enjolras from going to Marius after eponine dies

62) grantaire sits down and talks to javert after javert is brought out to sit on the bench which i think is hilarious . Like they were just chatting

63) valjean's gun didnt go off when he shoots the sniper in the first attack😭😭😭😭

64) javert harsh on "upside-down" in The world is upside-down

65) BARRICADE SCEEEEEENE we were fed. Javert shoved to his knees. Pause "between once a thief. Forever a thief." Harsh, growl on "if you let me go beware, you'll still answer to javert". Lapel grab AS PERRRRRR but thistime javert was struggling a bit and kept jerking away to break free . He put his hand on his chest when valjean let go. He took a couple steps towards valjean before he says "go" which was CRAZY

66) the "pretty girls" line in Drink With Me was harry 😁😁

67) grantaire and gavroche's hug after grantaires verse is always fire

68) milan very soft on all the "him"s during bring him home. VERY strong on the crescendo though as usual .. wowzers

69) 2nd attack - grantaire kinda collapses onto a barrel instead of fighting, facing the audience the whole time. After gavroche's death when he takes his body hes sniffling the whole time WHATEVERRR RR BRUH

70) enjoltaire was fed too . Hug and forehead touch before the final attack .

71) HIGHLY inconvenient death pose for grantaire . Kinda sat on the barricade and his coat mustve caught as he slid down cause itbwas basically halfway off up his arms as he kinda hung from a plank or something LMFOAAOAO

72) javert looking genuinely quite distressed over gavroche's body which is crazy  mane fuck off jordan with your expressions

73) thenardier playing with the body's arm kinda shaking it after first verse of Dog Eat Dog. Harsh on "kill" in Where they kill for the bones in the street. Where tomarsier steps on marius' arse like a stool  during the song's climax luke steps over him instead

74) Javert heavy breathing when he sees Valjean in the sewers . Harsh on "talks of justice". More heavy breathing before the soliloquy. Also put his gun down and clenches his fist on "take him, valjean"

75) as with stars, inflection was typical so nothing to note. jordan's expressions were EVERYWHEEEERE during the soliloquy and i love it . Eyes bulge and eyebrows up on "flick of his knife", which was delightfully harsh. Almost worried on "vengence was his". Harsh on "debt" in debt of a thief, almost shout on "damned" in damned if i yield. Arms out on "i am the law". Harsh on "valjean" and "or" but sings "Javert". 2nd verse hes CLUTCHING that parapet  which was crazyyyy this man is going mental for SURE. Desperate "to hold dominion" and "it was his right". Growled "can this man". VERY strong "reprieved" by the way, holy shit. Desperate as usual on "and must i now begin to doubt". Points to the sky on "heaven" In is he from heaven or from hell. Yells "killed me" in This man has killed me. Shaky, almost sobbing breaths as he steps onto the bridge. Growls "jean valjean". Additional note, i noticed it looked as if he was muttering to himself a little towards the end before the lights fade to black . Which like , mane fuck of whagever bro

76) Very nice limp on Marius. Weird comment i just liked it. Thank god  post barricade marius limp

77) Quick start on "theres a grief". Small, humourless laugh after "talked of revolution". Held "tomorrow" in Tomorrow never came for a bit longer than usual. He hit that shit on the first crescendo though HOLY moly, what a voice . Harsh on "faces" and "shadows", VERY angry on "don't ask me", and remains harsh on "what your sacrifice was for".

78) He Does wipe his tears! (Cosette entrance). (Bonus note from mossy hi: marius tries to sit down, cosette attempts to help him but he refuses and struggles to continue instead) Also for thst whole scene he was kinda facing away from cosette with a very upset expression which made me ughhhhhh:-((((. Seemed better when he looked back at cosette though YAY

79) valjean kinda hunched as he walks off after the confession. Tiny inconsequential note but i liked it

80) i love watching the ensemble for this scene SO much its so good . Tom hext with his wild hair gelled back is great, obviously And apparently was staring at thenardier's arse for most of it . Generally just a fun watch the whole scene i highly recommend

81) marius pulls thenardier by the shoulder when he tells him to go away lmfao. Also there was a dude in the back clapping when he punched thenardier and is like "whaat?" when nobody else claps with him LMFAO

82) Luke does his usual coy wave @ the lord at the start of beggars at the feast

83) i really recommend looking at everyone dancing offstage at the end of beggars - harry did a little hip wiggle dance . A few do variations of a conga line dance . Djavan"s servant character usually kicks his legs up as he wheels the table offstage . SO much fun (additional nlte: djavan's character in that scene in my top 3 ensemble characters)

84) gentle yet gorgeous climb from milan for the Epilogue . Nods on "Bring. Me. Home" URGHHHHHHH....... AND he rests his face in cosette's hair and doesnt move until "i'll obey". Nods at cosette on "i will try" who nods back. MANE FJCK OFF

85) very cozy hug between valjean and the bishop . Faces in shoulders and everything . AS USUAL HARMONY ATTHE END INSAAAAANE they are, as i wrote on my notebook, nut-busting

[trobedgirldads]

Hey, I'm working on my Cooliver fic. Do you have a list of episodes that are best to rewatch to get their personalities and dynamics?

okay first of all i’m honored that you thought to ask me. second of all, i’m sorry i took forever to reply but i realized i didn’t have a list so i put one together lol

the otto motto (s1 e18) is the first time the idea of oliver being gay is mentioned

the walk (s1 e 20) is sooo important for cooper. first time we see his real personality instead of just his cool kid facade. also iirc this is the first appearance of “move on to your next point”

boo-who? (s2 e5) is pretty good for early oliver. it’s got his sass, some insecurities, a touch of scheming and ofc his iconic scream. cooper’s not in it tho.

blondetourage (s2 e11) is so iconic for them. the sneakers, the phone scheme. “i’m already riding bitch on your vespa.”

all coupled up (s2 e17) is their first big fight, so if you’re writing a fight/argument this is a good one. also some good cooper & katie moments.

it’s hard to say goodbye (s2 e19) is another one without cooper, but if you’re writing sad oliver this is such a good reference; he’s really well written and acted in this episode. the cgi tears take me out tho 😭😭

here we go again (s3 e2) has them work through conflicts and like resolve a fight without intervention from katie/greg. i love them <3. absolutely banger episode for each of them individually, and them as a duo.

enemies: an otto story (s3 e4) has a good oliver scheme, and he gets cooper in on it. cooper talking about tagging along to boarding school with him makes me feel things.

trust me (s3 e5) is the absolutely iconic scooby-doo halloween costumes/making out practice episode that every cooliver writer has written about. i think it’s the first time cooper is seriously brought into the whole “oliver might be gay” bit, but i might be wrong about that (i know cooper’s mentioned the first time it’s ever brought up, but i think this is the first time he really seems like a piece of the puzzle)

body image (s3 e6) again, no cooper, but very good for insecure oliver

mo’ money, mo’ problems (s3 e13) is also so iconic in my brain. idk how genuinely important it is to either of their development, but it means a lot to me. i can’t remember who it was, but someone on here posted a really good analysis of cooper in this episode and how he’s lying to try to get oliver to not go to the party, which could be useful depending what you’re writing. also this is the first time cooper calls katie and greg mom and dad :(

insta-friends (s3 e16) is another big fight for them, and also some serious cooper daddy/mommy issues. this one isn’t super helpful for individual oliver, but it’s great for individual cooper and their dynamic when they’re mad at each other

field trippin’ (s3 e20) is a much sillier, fluffier episode than a lot of what i have on this list. silly lil scheme gone wrong. cooper’s really only in the first like half of this one tho

a mom’s parade (s3 e22) ok so hot take i don’t really like this episode that much… you can do you is very queer coded tho so it’s going on the list lol

girls’ night out (s4 e6) is just so awesome. oliver’s really sweet towards the end, and it’s bcuz of cooper. cooliver/triplor double date mention!!! tiny touch of cooper angst. greg implying that cooper holds a similar role in the family to trip. just all of it is so perfectly cooliver. this is one of their best episodes imo

hip to be square (s4 e9) is the i love you episode!!!!!!!!!!!! them fighting and then saying they love each other!!!!!!!!!!! so interesting for their dynamic!!!

a very english scandal (s4 e14) is the one where the whole school thinks oliver is gay. the one time cooper denies being oliver’s boyfriend. overall very gay episode.

all is fair in love and war reenactment (s4 e17) is a good one for them supporting each other, but not enabling each other’s shitty behavior. really good for their dynamic, and cooper’s got some good layers in this episode

senior prank (s4 e18) ohhhhh they’re such big brothers in this one i love it so much. if you wanna write them as parents this might be a decent reference. also, not cooliver related but franklin is just so iconic in this.

vacation! (s4 e19) i’ve said it before and ill say it again: this episode feels more like a cooliver fic than an actual episode. so good for both of them as individuals, their dynamic as a couple, and how cooper fits into the otto family as a whole.

prom (s4 e20) is another one that i think is good for oliver as an individual and their relationship as a pair. also big brother cooper crumbs!! (they’re very small but they’re there and they’re important to me 😌)

graduation (s5 e1) is ofc so good if you’re writing some angst. seeing how they deal with issues involving them that seem out of their control. also more cooper fitting into the family as a whole <3

psych (s5 e2) is really good for later-seasons oliver and his need for validation. also supportive bf cooper :)

coupling (s5 e3) is the episode i show ppl if i want to get them into the show bcuz it gives such a good overview of all of the characters and their relationships with each other. more cooliver fighting if you need references for that. the couple coding in this episode is so intense.

kids these days (s5 e5) is sooooo good for their dynamic bcuz it really shows how they support each other without enabling each other. i love cooper so much in this episode. “our family” <3

mother’s little helper (s5 e6) is pretty good. shows off that no matter how much they’ve grown, they’re still just dumb teenage boys.

encourage, discourage (s5 e8) is soooo good for cooper fitting into the family as a whole.

the heist (s5 e9) chef cooper origin!!!!! oliver being a supportive bf!!! i love them!!!

getting frank with the ottos (s5 e10) is a big turning point in their relationship. once again, supportive bf oliver!! they’re so cute.

the election (s5 e13) i feel like their dynamic is a little bit weird in this episode (oliver’s like weirdly chill abt once again being confronted w the idea of cooper moving, but ig it’s bcuz he has his own stuff going on) but it’s so good for sad cooper/daddy issues cooper. this is definitely a huge one for cooper angst references

okok so this is a really big list. obvs i don’t know what the plot of your fic is or when it’s set, so some of these might be much more helpful than others depending what you’re writing. these are just my suggestions of the ones that stand out as important for them as individuals and as a duo. hope this is helpful!!!! i’m excited to read your fic if/when you post it :)

[eurovision-revisited]

Eurovision 2005 - Number 64 - Katie Price - "Not Just Anybody"

Back to the music and... wait! What's this?! Katie Price at number 64?! Have I gone mad?

Well possibly. For those who aren't in the UK, Katie Price is best known as a glamour model and TV personality. She features in tabloid gossip columns on a regular basis and has lived a life bounding from one extreme incident to another including driving bans, being sexually abused by a number of different men, she's been carjacked, gone bankrupt, been treated for cancer, and been placed under a restraining order. She's been keeping gossip columnists in work for decades.

What she isn't, even in her own words, is a singer. Regarding a later single release she is quoted as saying

I'm not a singer, this is just something that I'm doing for fun. It's not like I'm worried about getting a chart position or number one, this is purely for fun. Whether people like it or not, I'm doing it.

That brings us to Making Your Mind Up 2005 and Not Just Anybody. In 2005 the BBC was in a fairly desperate position. 2003 had been a disaster, and while the UK had scored points in 2004, they hadn't scored nearly as many as they had expected to. Nobody serious in the UKs very successful music industry wanted anything to do with Eurovision. There was also the growing belief in the news media and among the general population that Europe had a grudge against the UK. Who on Earth would enter a competition under these circumstances? Why not Katie Price?

Behind the scenes, there were some people prepared to participate in this stunt. Not Just Anybody was written by some relatively big names. There's Deni Lew who had written for Katie's boyfriend and soon to be husband Peter Andre, who had actually had three UK number one singles. There's Nicky Martin, who'd been song-writing in the UK music industry for decades. There's also Pete Glenister who has worked with a whole host of names including Alison Moyet, Kirsty MacColl and Johnny Marr.

Following the prevailing trend of ethno-girl bops after both Türkiye and Ukraine's wins, it's got the Turkish swirling strings, and uses some interesting chord sequences. It swirls and sways matching the lyrics which are all about seduction. It's a heady mix of intoxicating synths and a vocal line that traces a curving pathway above the excitable, uncontrollably besotted instrumental.

And it's sung almost entirely flat. Very flat.

Katie is definitely not a singer. The choreography is weird and clunky, and she's not seductive - even if she thinks she is. The mismatch between her ability as a singer and actress, and the qualities of the team behind the songs are are startling. Then there's the pink catsuit. The entire thing has repeat of 2003 written all over it. It's a car crash.

It came second. It even won the Internet portion of the voting. Luckily for the UK and the BBC, both the SMS vote and the televote had it firmly behind the winner in second place, but still second place! This more than anything sums up the UK public's attitude to Eurovision in 2005. The fact that the BBC didn't use any jury for this competition is itself an indication that the light entertainment department responsible for this show were either just giving up themselves, and had opted to roll with it, or that they had badly misjudged what the public would vote for.

The thing is that, awful as this performance is, I got the song itself stuck in my head for days. It's one of the single most earworm infested tunes of the year and in other hands, this could have been a banger. It's good song-writing clearly taking aim squarely for the Eurovision-meta circa 2005. Not a winner, no, but not embarrassing either. It's so catchy that it managed to battle it's way through the bracket to this level - despite the singing.

Or maybe even because of the singing? There's something intoxicating (maybe even intoxicated) about the quality of Katie's singing that fits exactly with the theme of the song. Ignoring the visual and listening to the song, there's also a sense of desperation to Katie's voice. Pleading almost. It sounds sad. From a place of genuine despair. It's completely undercut by the visuals and by the actual plea for votes at the end, but I can't ignore that this is someone begging to be loved by whoever the song is about, but most of all by the public. It's not intended, but the whole thing resembles an auditory bruise spreading from a point of impact in Katie's past.

Maybe I'm reading too much into it - but this song is one of those that deserves thorough analysis from a UK Eurovision history perspective at least.

After this adventure, Katie Price did try to release a couple of other singles, but her career has continued largely at a break-neck pace of tragedy, controversy, and scandal. She hasn't tried to enter Eurovision again.

[shikariix]

Battle royale, I want you to pick a song for ALL of your OC's. >:3c

YES BLESS YOU THANKS I LOVE THIS

Emily Come To The Beach by Winnetka Bowling League

Okay first of all. BANGER. I love the vibes of Winnetka Bowling League so much, their other favorite of mine is CVS which is just soo freaking soft. But to bring it back to Emily: she loves the beach!! that's it that's the reason! She loves to sunbathe and swim and play games and DIG HOLES (though she doesn't do that anymore (unless there's a kid with her who needs help)). She's a beach girl through and through and I love that for her ✌️

Rahat Into The Unknown by Panic! At The Disco

Lmao okay well. To give context (which I know you already have), he has the ability to talk to spirits (much like Klaus from The Umbrella Academy), but he's spent most of his life resenting that ability, and trying not to listen to it. He never wanted to be weird or different (Hm. This feels like a study of myself. Let's not unpack that), so he finds ways to suppress it for as long as possible, but fact is that he has a calling and a GIFT and he will learn to love that eventually. And untill then it will remain as an annoying ringing in his ear that keeps him awake at night :)

Anna Hey Look Ma, I Made It by Panic! At The Disco

We're doing a Panic edition today huh? Anna absolutely adored her mom, but she sadly passed away when she was just a child. She had a hard time in school too, being extremely anxious about everything, so when she finally graduates (which is a thing I was planning but still haven't properly written), she thinks of just how proud her mom would be of her. I think she does a lot of things with her mom in the back of her mind, hoping she would be happy.

Sara Alibis by Marianas Trench

For Sara, this song represents how she feels like she never accomplishes enough, how she's always trying to strive for more and just reaching short. "I'm half the man I wanted to be" always strikes a specific chord with me. I also think this song fits the idea that Sara might be autistic - feeling like she can't relate to the world around her, always wearing a mask (an alibi) when interacting with others, well-meant words coming out wrong. There's more to that theory but that's not why the song is in her playlist haha. I feel like the critique her parents always had have left her feeling very small (Feeling Small also happens to be another Marianas Trench song lmao) and this song encapsulates her struggle with knowing she wants to be more but having a very hard time getting there.

Katy Caffeine from the RWBY soundtrack

I know I said this before on this list but this one is SUCH A BANGER. And it was one of the first songs in Katy's playlist! She's an energetic teen with an attitude and she's NOT afraid to take you out! As a pokemon trainer she will jump headfirst into any battle and she is 10000% the type of trainer to lock eyes with you and not let you walk away without a battle.

Gabriella Headphones by WALK THE MOON

I really do see this song as another tossing yourself into danger kind of vibe, but it's also about the resilience of being able to withstand it. Taking a beating, not just getting it. Gabriella's been kidnapped and tortured for years and she never broke.

But also unrelated to that, the line "I wanna open my heart, but you won't open the door" relates perfectly to how she had to wear down her wife before they actually got together and eventually married. Angela was originally scared because she knew her lifespan would be shorter than Gabi's and she didn't want to break her heart, but Gabi was more than ready to take that beating. Or at least she thought.

Tiffany Grow Up by Olly Murs

In this case, Tiffany is the you-person that is being sung about; someone more interested in herself than anything else. The whole idea of 'I wrote this song to critique you but you just play it like it's your jam' suits her SO WELL and it's so amusing to me. I definitely think there's a layer of immaturity and insecurity underneath her Popular Girl Act that some people can see through. She would never admit it though. I doubt she herself even realizes.

[wallpaper-inside-my-heart]

💛Smoshblr December Asks Day 21💙

Top 3 tropes in media/fanfic

So in terms of general concepts/tropes I enjoy in all media, there def any iteration of (Enemies/Rivals to) Friends to Lovers; then Found Family <3 and hurt/comfort -> especially in combo with one of the other two tropes!

When in comes to which types of fanfics I specifically seek out most of the time:

(putting these answers and the fanfic recs under the cut, cause this is once again getting way longer than I intended)

I know this is super unpopular, but I love well done miscommunication in fanfics! Hate it in most movies tho!!

-> also what I think constitutes “good” miscommunication basically boils down to “ is the miscommunication plot or character motivated?” cause in a lot of media the miscommunication feels forced and only meant to prolong or escalate the story

-> but if the miscommunication happens bc the characters are, for example, insecure about sharing certain info/feelings it is way more captivating and relatable (to me)

-> so this is ofc directly related to (Mutual) Pining <3 (plus also connected to another fave of mine: Memory Loss/Amnesia & also secret identity)

2. Forced proximity!!

-> I’m counting both sharing a bed and stuff like fake relationship under this umbrella

-> I just love when characters are forced to interact with each other in a different and typically more intimate way than they usually do! (and what it reveals about themselves and their relationship to eachother!)

3. Fix-it fanfics

-> I actually love original stories that have tragic endings! But there are many ways a story can end in a disappointing way and make me immeditaly turn to what all the wonderful fanfic authors have come up with in order to clean up the mess!

I have way too many favourite fanfics tbh... SO I'm actually gonna do both general and smosh ones I enjoyed a lot recently!

Multifandom (I am a huge podfic girlie, so I'm gonna give them a shoutout here!)

Harry Hart and the Honey Pot: An Indiana Jones Adventure - reena_jenkins, samanthahirr - Kingsman (Movies) [Archive of Our Own] -> I love me a good movie based AU from time to time and the kingsman fandom has so many great writers!

2. [podfic] tomorrow will always and forever now be today (tomorrow is our always and forever) - Matriaya - 9-1-1 (TV) [Archive of Our Own] -> this fic changed me as a person istg; like it is such an incredibly well done take on the timeloop trope, I'm-

3. Be My Savior - Chapter 1 - jessebee - Supernatural [Archive of Our Own] -> this is me coming out as lowkey more of a Sabriel than Destiel fan 🙈 Like ofc Destiel have the better canon story, and I do love them very much; However Sabriel fanfics captured my heart when I was a teenager and are still hanging on by a thread! (also I can still make myself cry instantly via a headcanon I created for them ages ago and that's gotta count for smth 😹)

Smosh Fanfics &lt;3

In general of course any and all fics by Katie @jovenshires 🩷🩵 (love you and your writing to death istg🫶) but having to choose one for this, I'm gonna go with right where you left me - jovenshires (imdeansgirl) - Smosh [Archive of Our Own]

2. doing something like this right on the first try - halfwheeze - Smosh [Archive of Our Own] my most recent bookmark and 100% my fave fic I've read these past few weeks! But Mer 🖤💜@tommybowefuneralattendee has so many banger fanfics, it was super hard to choose! <3 But this fic made me truly ship nintendogs, so it deserves this mention

3. I abstained from choosing any of the amazing spommy fics by the lovely ppl I mentioned above, bc I might have spommy brainworms 24/7, but I cannot lose my multishipper rep! 😹🙈 But here is one of my other fave spommy fics from a different author! maybe my animals live in your zoo - creepysounds - Smosh [Archive of Our Own] edit: by the lovely @tommybones 🫶

[agentmmayy]

march + april rotation

it’s gonna be...... may finally posting the march + april rotation playlist. combining these two months since most of the music i listened to in march was off the previous rotation list!

flowers in my hair - calista garcia: sweet, slow, and syrupy. i love this song and how it feels like a breath of fresh air. it’s achingly romantic and has got me singing along and twirling my hair and kicking my feet. though, at the same time it’s so intimate i feel like i’m intruding 

back for more - nia hendricks: the usual type of slow groove beat i adore that makes me want to dance around with the love of my life. it’s just as sweet as the previous one but it feels... lonely. mournful. i’d be dancing but with a ghost

bodybag - charlotte lawrence: this song is so *clenches fist* i am obsessed with how the body bag fills in for the other person in the relationship and holds her when they can’t or refuse to! the relationship is already dead! she’s holding on! in that liminal space between resurrection and burial! also the vocals in this are insane. my favorite part is ‘she’s at the bowery bar, showed you her paper heart’ and then ‘help me hurt and then i’ll come back’ YEOW

gasp of air - lisa curtis: THIS SONG MAKES ME WANT TO SING AND SCREAM ALONG AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS!!!!!!!!! and then the lyrics slapped me across the face. ‘but i’ll stay and such ‘cause i think it’s love enough’ ‘i’m yours enough that i come back’ ‘some water if i’m lucky but i would never ask that much’ ‘what kind of person needs to breathe A HEALTHY ONE I’M SURE BUT THAT’S NOT ME’?????????? 

nothing left to give - BAILEN: ‘i wanna live i’m sick of just trying to survive’ *looks into the camera* anyway. obsessed with this band and how weird this song sounds 

kilimanjaro - dolores forever: this song and the next have me asking how songs can be this good. like. is it crack? is that what they put in these?? the music and the vocals are EVERYTHING it’s unlike anything i’ve heard recently and i’m digging it. then the harmonies?? and the lyrics???? ‘a thousand shards of glass from your silver tongue got me like a shot gun’ the way ‘i was young. you were pure ice and snow’ IS SUNG?????? WTF

labour - paris paloma: this has been my hype song for the past few weeks. the intensity of it still continues to blow my mind. it’s unapologetic and awful. it’s incredible. i felt every lyric in my gut. i don’t want to over explain it since i can’t do the song justice but it’s so brutally honest in describing and dismantling traditional roles placed upon women and girls. the entirety of it is like poking at a wound that never closes, a wound that’s been gaping and bleeding for centuries and it makes me so angry. the visceral reaction i had to the lyric ‘if we had a daughter’ girl i- ouuuuugh. i got sick to my stomach. i was screaming crying throwing up etc etc. anyway this song is a masterpiece. still haven’t recovered from it. also it’s a fucking bop. 

bad blood - trousdale: another banger for the books!! trousdale always delivers these perfect harmonies and this time it’s a fantastic, bitter song but that’s not the only element! there’s indifference and confusion and acceptance! there’s healing! and the repetition of anyway *patcha holding earbuds meme* perfection

all the love - katie gregson-macleod: katie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! how am i supposed to live laugh love in these conditions!!!!!!!! this one is SO SAD. i ache each time i listen to it. it doesn’t apply to romantic love but all other types of love and what happens when you lose it and how you deal with that loss. the grief is so thick it’s almost suffocating but as always the way she sings is enough for it to not be overwhelming. every lyric hits but the combination of her voice with ‘but i’d rather do that in bed alone’ is my favorite  

BONUS: here are a few stray songs that didn’t quite fit in the narrative but i wanted to share them anyway :)

far and wide - WILDES: doesn’t quite fit the narrative, but it’s a good follow up to all the love. it’s toned down more and easier to get lost in, but still woven with the running strand of grief that makes it sorrowful. once again, back at it with the yearning 

ava - famy: this song had me by the throat the first time i heard it in teen wolf and it still does. chewing glass over the switch between ‘this world is primal’ + ‘this world is rabid’ to ‘this world is pure’ + ‘this world is learning’  and ‘my conscious burning, my beastly flaw’ 

[imnotgoinganywhereok]

Are you also annoyed that all photo posts display as text posts ever since tumblr changed the post creator? I looked at my posts I've made since the start of Serafin's independent life and they horribly degraded in quality, at least in comparison to the older posts. That's so weird!! I researched and it's because of the new system's format, and there's no workaround for this issue. This low key sucks, ngl :^(

Welcome to another Owl update!! As I mentioned in my last post, it was time for Baltazar to create and procreate. Here are the results!! Firstly, I'd like to introduce a new Servo that Baltazar built: Mirage Owl. (Yeah, he's totally not named after the Transformer from Rise of the Beasts which was a total banger movie). His randomised traits are: Cheerful, Family-oriented, and Music Lover. At first, Bal made him only for Dominika so she can have someone to talk to when... Bal doesn't want to talk to her. (×-×) I wonder if him getting a Public Enemy aspiration will cause the household new troubles...

After a week or so, Mirage received a different job: being a 24/7 nanny for Baltazar's new children!! Four more beans in the house, making the current household's size 7 out of 8 now. Introducing generation 18: Izar, Kari, Jupiter, and Juno Owls!! They're technically the same age because all four are science babies. I finally got to use this impregnation method and I must say it's verrrrry convenient - especially for someone like Baltazar who doesn't like the whole pregnancy mumbo-jumbo. Here's info about the children, by age:

Izar Owl - his other father is Ramon Briscoe (a spellcaster), and the child is a spellcaster by birth. He's incredibly similar to Ramon in most aspects, but got pointy ears from Baltazar (can't help alien genes). His name means a "star," there's also a binary star in the northern constellation of Boötes named Izar!!

Kari Owl - her mother is Katy Boles (human), the child turned out half-alien. Of course she got green skin (´×ω×`). But the hair and eyes colours are clearly like Katy's, so it seems she mixed well. Her name comes from one of Saturn's moons of the same name. Also means "blessed" from Greek name Makários.

Jupiter Owl - his mother is Pearl Pink (another alien). His skin is purple like his mother's, ears are pointy. He's named after one of the planets in our Solar System of the same name. Also references Roman god of light, the sky, and the weather.

Juno Owl - her mother is Pearl Pink (another alien). Her skin is purple like her mother's, ears are pointy. She's named after a NASA space probe orbiting around Jupiter. Also references Roman goddess of marriage and the queen of heavens.

Phew, that was a long one!! Time flies and it doesn't stop, meanwhile I'm just trying to make it until the end of the week. Living is such a chore, I can feel my time slipping through my fingers!! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this post. These children were actually born on 4th of September, and I didn't play Sims 4 too much lately. A lot has happened since that time. Wish me luck and strength so I don't go crazy over here!! (╥◡╥) Be safe and happy Simming!!

[artsy-book]

top five songs atm? and of all time?

oh yippee I love talking about music!! :D

top 5 atm:

1. Everything Machin by Half•Alive - OKAY THIS SONG IS SUCH A BANGER!!! stole this song from shep's dbhc etho playlist and I absolutely love it ^-^ I love just sitting and listening to it, especially when the music starts to really swell :)

2. Boom by Derivakat - this song is SOOOO FUN TO SING!!!! and I mean can I really talk about music without talking about derivakat hehe ^-^ but I LOVE the steady like "boom boom boom" in the instruments so much! really makes me want to dance and sing whenever I listen to it!!

3. Little Fortune by Katie Lynne Sharbaugh - okay I found this song one day while scrolling through shorts on youtube and it was stuck in my head and I spent like way too long trying to find this song again! It just sounds so fun and magical to me <33 and I absolutely love how pretty her voice sounds ^-^

4. DOA by Olen - stole this one from shep as well hehe <33 but oooooh this song is so good and just resonates within me soooo much! Also again just a banger to sing along to! ^-^

5. Clarity by God Complex - okay I like the original version of clarity but OMG I LOVE THIS VERSION!!! <3333 I love how big it sounds and all their voices sound so good together! and AGAIN I love the like swelling of the music so so much!! :D

top 5 all time:

1. Little Willy by Sweet - this was MY song growing up!! anytime I was going somewhere with my dad in his truck i asked for this song! I can still sing this song off the top of my head. it's just so fun to sing :D 5 year old me picked a goodie hehe

2. Big Girls Don't Cry by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - this was another song I claimed as mine when I was little :) I love the sound of the singing so much it scratches my brain just right!

3. Cadillac Ranch by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - this is another one I used to ask for all the time when riding in my dad's truck :D little me didn't know what a cadillac looked like but I had to have the car from the song! love the imagine of the cadillac the sing builds in my mind so much

4. Little Bird by Annie Lennox - THIS SONG IS SO SO FUN TO SING ALONG TO!! another song I grew up with ^-^ my mom would play this in the vehicle for us like 2 or 3 times in a row just so we could sing it again and again :D and the beat and her singing and just the overall vibe of the song are so so good I love this song so much <3333

5. Lost In Space by Derivakat - I think of all of derivakat's music this song will remain my most favourite. I love the whole composition and her voice (obviously lmaoo but still) and the music video is so so cool, and its frickin space!! I love space!!! But I think a large part of why it's one of my all time favorites is bc I went and associated it with my irl best friend that I've had longer than I can remember <333

top 5 ask game :D

[catgirlneomatrix]

8 and 15 from ur ask thing

8 - what musical artists have you most felt connected to over your lifetime?

I don’t really know. I feel like I’m still figuring out my taste in music tbh. My family was really late to getting music streaming, and I didn’t have many friends as a kid, so my music was pretty much limited to whatever my mom happened to download until like my sophomore year of high school. For years I had like 3 now that’s what I call musics (47,48, and 52), a handful of musical soundtracks, the 500 days of summer soundtrack (I have never seen that movie), and the occasional Taylor Swift or Katy Perry CD to listen to, and that’s it. Let me tell you the Hamilton soundtrack is what got me through middle school. In late high school, I got deep into TikTok and ended up fixated on Lemon Demon and Will Wood during my incredibly cringe, but incredibly free era. More recently Mitski and The Front Bottoms got me through The Horrors™. 

15 - five most influential books over your lifetime.

I’ve got a bad memory when it comes to books i’ve read, but I’m looking at my bookshelf rn, which is mostly stuff from my childhood, and that is definitely influencing this list.

1- Zita the Space Girl

It was my favorite graphic novel as a kid, and graphic novels are what got me into reading. I would read everything and anything my library had in the graphic novel section

2- The Lost Track of Time

I probably got this at a scholastic book fair in mid to late elementary school, but I was absolutely obsessed with it for years. It changed my brain chemistry i think.

3- I am Princess x

Another scholastic book fair banger that I reread for years. This one is about a girl who made comics with her best friend as a kid. Years after her best friend supposedly died in a car crash, she realizes that there is a popular web comic about the character they made together, and she has to solve clues in the comic to find her friend. 

4- Damsel

Traumatizing. I got this book from a raffle when I was 12 or 13, and it should have some trigger warnings cause dam. It looks like a standard y/a fantasy romance from the outside, but the male lead is incredibly abusive (the point of the book, but again, not mentioned on the blurb on the back). Let’s just say the words “king’s yard” were used multiple times. It is a genuinely good book, but I wish it was labeled better.

5-Wings of Fire

On a lighter note, me and my highschool best friend bonded over this series. I was  definitely out of the target demographic when I read it, but me and my friend used to talk about it on the way to class every day.

Honorable mention for Dreadnaught (one of the first queer books I read as a kid, about a trans woman superhero)

[vmonteiro23a]

UNDER THE RADAR: Yard Act share video ft Katy J Pearson and David Thewlis.

UNDER THE RADAR: Yard Act share video ft Katy J Pearson and David Thewlis. “Yard Act have shared another banger from their anticipated second album, Where’s My Utopia? “When the Laughter Stops” features Katy J Pearson trading lines with band frontman James Smith over a slinky, hooky, disco-post-punk groove. Where’s My Utopia? is out March 1 .” .brooklyn vegan

[superbattrash]

12, 14, 30 for the music ask :3

HIIIIIII EVYNNNNNN <3333 (lord, I need emojis on my laptop, this is getting embarrassing. just. Imagine all the loving emojis here)

12. A song from your preteen years

I was gonna go with I Kissed A Girl by Katy Perry but but but I don't think it counts as my preteen years (yeah, I know, misha is old), so let's go wiiitthhhhh... Numb by Linkin Park. Still a banger fr. Also I was 10, so that counts as preteen, yes?

14. A song that you would love played at your wedding

Is this a roundabout way of asking me to marry you? Cos don't u dare think I won't say yes. If you agree to this song, obvi >:3 Ummmm. God, I have way too many stupid songs but let's try a softer one: You'll Be In My Heart by Phil Collins. I would love an entire Disney themed playlist but from movies pre 2008, lol.

30. A song that reminds you of yourself

Ohhh another one, um. Let's seeee... ah. Simple Man by Jason Manns and Jensen Ackles. It just. It's a good song, okay, it makes me feel things.

[romione-trope-fest]

I Want You Back

Our first fic today is a lovely Fake Dating from @voldemorts-tap-shoes that's perfectly packed with tension! Enjoy!

-----------------------------

Fic Title - I Want You Back Author Name - voldemorts-tap-shoes/smjl Selected Trope - Fake Dating Brief Summary - Ron and Hermione hatch a plan to make their exes jealous and end up with more than they bargained for. Word Count - 4487 Rating - T Any Trigger Warnings - none

***

The Leaky Cauldron is packed tonight, and Ron wishes he was enjoying the boisterous atmosphere. There’s plenty to celebrate—England’s just won the Quidditch World Cup, thanks in no small part to his sister, and the party promises to be a banger.

Unfortunately for Ron, the victory has been overshadowed by the fact that his ex, Romilda, is currently wrapped around that git McLaggen like the Giant Squid.

“Will you forget about her?” He doesn’t even realize he’s staring at them until his twin brothers flank him at the bar and order another round for the three of them.

“What if she was the one?” Ron laments, and Fred and George roll their eyes in tandem.

“Bullshit,” Fred says. ��She was your Hogwarts girlfriend. Those things don’t last.”

Ron raises an eyebrow at him as he takes a long swig of his drink. “So you and Katie Bell are…what, exactly?”

“Purely physical. Doesn’t count.”

I shouldn’t have asked.

“Besides, if you have to ask what if she’s the one…I’ll give you a hint. She’s not.”

“You need to get over her,” George agrees, his eyes scanning the crowded pub. “And I think I know just the remedy.”

“I don’t need to get over her,” Ron retorts. “I need to get her back.”

“After she’s been with McLaggen?” Fred grimaces. “Make sure you see a healer to get tested after.”

“Oh, fuck off.” Ron slides off his stool, ready to be anywhere but with his two unhelpful brothers. Of course, they won’t let him go that easily.

“Okay, fine, get her back.” George rolls his eyes. “In the meantime, she seems a bit, shall we say, preoccupied? So let’s find you someone to occupy your time with, too.”

Fred nods eagerly. “Katie brought friends.”

“Look, I appreciate your concern—“ That was a lie on both counts; the twins were not concerned, and Ron definitely did not appreciate their meddling. “—but a random shag is not going to make me feel any better about Romilda dumping me.”

“Remind me to get you the adult version of 12 Ways, then.” 

Ron glares at George, his ears reddening. “I don’t need any help ‘charming’ witches,” he replies through gritted teeth. “What I need is to fix things with Romilda.”

“Ah, and there’s the rub,” Fred says, the grin stretching across his face as George chimes in.

“Taking one of Katie’s friends home will kill two birds with one bludger, little bro.”

Ron glances between the two of them. “What’re you on about?”

“You know the expression ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’?” Fred asks.

“Sure,” Ron nods, “but what’s that got to do—”

“Jealousy,” George cuts him off.

“Makes the heart grow fonder faster,” the twins finish in unison.

Ron frowns as he takes another sip of his drink, pondering their twisted proverb. “I hate when you two do that.”

“Just think about it,” Fred says before the two of them disappear into the crowd.

Ron’s really never considered himself a one-night-stand kind of guy, though admittedly he’s only ever been with Romilda, and he’s not keen on the idea of using a girl just to get over another one. He supposes, though, as long as he’s clear with his intentions…they would both be consenting adults…

Of course, since he was with his only girlfriend since sixth year, he also has no idea how to go about picking up a girl in a pub, even if he decides to go for it. The night is young, though; he has time to figure it out.

Before he can give much thought to the idea, a thin hand grabs onto his arm. “Buy me a drink?”

His best friend is tugging him toward the bar before he even has a chance to respond. “Hermione, it’s an open bar,” he says with a laugh, allowing her to pull him along.

“Even better.” She grins up at him, and her smile is infectious as she plops onto the same stool Ron occupied only a few minutes ago. She orders two exploding lemonades and slides one over to him. “Drink up. You look like you could use it.”

“Am I that pathetic?” Ron asks, though he takes the drink gratefully.

“No, but I saw Romilda and McLagg-git.” Ron cracks a smile at her use of the nickname she had coined for Cormac after their one disastrous date in sixth year. “Besides, I feel your pain.” Her eyes flicker pointedly to a corner of the room where her own recent ex-boyfriend has one hand on a pint and the other on the arse of a blonde in a too-short skirt.

“What a tosser,” Ron groans, his anger on Hermione’s behalf surpassing even what he feels for himself. “Why doesn’t he just go back to Bulgaria?”

Hermione stirs her drink with a finger, causing a fresh round of steam to rise from the surface. “You know he’s taken a position on the coaching staff at Ballycastle. There’s so many more Quidditch opportunities for him here than back home.” She slips her finger between her lips, sucking the remnants of the sugary drink from her skin and veering Ron’s brain into forbidden territory. For a moment, he forgets all about Romilda as he imagines his own lips on Hermione’s finger, or better yet, her lips around—

She’s your best friend, you wanker. Stop it.

It’s not that he’s never imagined Hermione in that way; more so that he never allowed himself to. As his best friend, she’s off-limits romantically, and it’s not like she would ever feel that way about him, anyway.

“You don’t have to defend him, you know,” Ron says, returning to the subject at hand. “He’s a fucking prick.”

“Yes, well…” Hermione trails off, not disagreeing with him though he knows she would never put it so crassly. “I’m sorry about Romilda.”

“Yeah, you’re the only one, I reckon,” Ron replies with a snort. In response to the quizzical lift of Hermione’s eyebrows, he continues, “Fred and George told me to get over her and shag one of Katie’s friends.”

“Don’t abandon such an endeavor on my account,” Hermione teases, and Ron shakes his head.

“Nah. Not my style.” Hermione nods her head in agreement. “Anyway, when I told them I just wanted her back, they said I ought to go on and do it anyway, to make her jealous.”

Contrary to everything he knows about her, Hermione considers this with a thoughtful hmm. “That’s an idea.”

Ron gapes at her. “You’re not serious?”

“No, not about you having a revenge shag with one of Katie’s friends.” Hermione rolls her eyes. “But I know how you can make her jealous.”

“How?”

Hermione leans closer to him, letting her fingers trail up his arm until they land in his hair, tangling in the ginger locks at the base of his scalp. The look she’s giving him has all of his blood rushing south as she whispers, “Me.”

Ron gulps. “You want me to have a revenge shag with you?”

She throws her head back with an exaggerated, flirtatious laugh. “Oh, Ron, you’re so funny!” Her cheeks flush, though, before she leans in again. She gets so close this time that her lips brush his earlobe, and her other hand lands on his thigh. “No, silly. But we can pretend. We’re friends, so you don’t have to worry about leading me on. Besides, I wouldn’t mind letting Viktor see what he’s missing, too. Your sister gave me similar advice, but it’s not exactly my style, either. This is a much better option for both of us.”

She makes a good point, and if he can help her out with Viktor, he knows he will. Ron slips his arm around her waist to pull her closer, playing along. “So you want to pretend there’s something going on between us?”

He feels the slight shrug of Hermione’s shoulder. “If you want,” she replies, keeping her voice low. “She’s looking at us right now.”

Ron resists the urge to turn around and see for himself, instead focusing on where he last saw Hermione’s ex. “So is Viktor.”

Hermione pulls back just far enough to meet his gaze, and her deep brown eyes are so dark they’re almost black. “Then we agree?”

He’s not sure how far she intends to go to pretend they’re involved, but he’s willing to find out. “Yeah. I’m in.”

What could possibly go wrong?

***

The night had started out normally enough, Hermione sharing a table with Ginny at the Leaky as they celebrated England’s World Cup victory. But then Viktor had shown up—unsurprising considering his involvement in the Quidditch world—and Hermione’s mood soured considerably. Ginny, three drinks in, had offered some unconventional advice on dealing with the appearance of her ex.

“Oh sure. What could possibly go wrong with that plan?” Hermione rolled her eyes at Ginny, who knocked back another shot of firewhiskey.

“I’m just saying. The best way to get over one guy is to get under another one.”

“And you know this from your vast array of experience?” Hermione asked sarcastically, looking pointedly at Ginny’s only serious boyfriend, who was making his way back to their table levitating a round of drinks. Ginny and Harry had been inseparable since Hogwarts, with no signs of slowing down.

“What? I read Witch Weekly,” Ginny retorted in her own defense.

“What did I miss?” Harry asked as he passed the drinks around.

“Hermione’s going to have a one-night-stand to get over Viktor.”

“Ginny’s off her rocker, actually.” Hermione took a healthy swig of her drink as she glared at her best female friend.

“Well, that’s nothing new.” Harry leaned over to kiss Ginny’s cheek, but she turned her head to meet his lips, and the two of them quickly got lost in a full-on snog.

“And, on that note…” Hermione removed herself from the high-top table without any notice from her friends.

She scanned the crowd looking for someone else to talk to, but her gaze kept drifting back to Viktor and that bimbo hanging off his arm. She knows she’s better off without him, but the breakup still stings.

As she squeezed past other revelers in the direction of the bar—she left her drink at the table in her haste to get away from her amorous friends—she spotted Ron’s ginger hair above the crowd and made her way toward him. He didn’t seem to have noticed her, so she grabbed his arm before he could disappear. “Buy me a drink?” she asked, practically yelling to be heard over the noise of the pub.

Then somehow, in the intervening five minutes since she dragged Ron to the bar, she has one hand on his leg and the other in his hair, and she’s just suggested to him that they pretend to be a couple to make their exes jealous.

And he said yes.

She’s not sure what’s come over her, though it’s safe to assume the alcohol already buzzing through her system is the culprit behind her actions. Besides, Ginny did say that this would be the best way to get over Viktor, though she probably didn’t intend for Hermione to run off and shag her brother. Not that they’re going to take this charade that far…not that she wouldn’t if he wanted to…

Stop it. You’re being ridiculous. He’s your best friend.

Hermione puts her lips to his ear again. “We should probably set some boundaries, don’t you think?” she whispers.

Ron immediately pulls his hand away from her. “Oh, shit, sorry. Yeah. Boundaries.”

Hermione snickers and replaces his hand, lower on her back this time so that it’s almost on her bum. “Ron, if you had done anything wrong, I would’ve already hexed you.”

He laughs, a low rumble against her cheek. “Okay. Fair enough. So hugging is okay.”

“And I think some…vaguely suggestive contact would be allowable, given the circumstances.” Both of their gazes drift down to her hand on his thigh, in a spot that’s well past friendly and teetering on inappropriate. “Is this okay?”

“I’m good with it. You good?"

“I’m good.”

Ron tilts his head, nuzzling his nose against her temple. “And…just in case it comes up…if we had to snog…”

“Well, that would certainly be convincing,” Hermione says with a laugh, hoping he can’t feel the way her heart is suddenly pounding at the suggestion. “But I suppose…if we had to…” Over Ron’s shoulder, she spies Romilda watching them again, and she turns her head to place a kiss on Ron’s cheek. “I would be amenable to that.”

“So…do we actually have boundaries?”

“Let’s just agree we’ll let the other know if there’s an issue.” She knows how far she would let Ron take things, but she definitely doesn’t want to push him too far. After all, he’s a lot more torn up about his recent breakup than she is hers, and the last thing she wants is to be the rebound his brothers meant for him to have with one of Katie’s friends.

“Agreed.”

“Good.” Hermione disentangles herself from Ron but slides her stool closer to his, and he keeps his arm loosely around her back. “This is going to be fun.”

***

As it turns out, spending the evening with Hermione is the perfect antidote to Ron’s lackluster mood. They talk, they laugh, they drink…it’s fun and easy and surprisingly takes almost no effort to pretend that they’re something more than friends.

It’s been a while since he spotted Romilda, and he’s beginning to wonder if she left with McLaggen—though the idea doesn’t bother him like he thought it would—when she suddenly appears at his side at the bar, squishing in beside him to order a drink as if he’s not even there. As she takes her drink, she makes an exaggerated gesture of surprise as she looks at him and Hermione. “Oh, hi Ron,” she coos. “It’s good to see you.”

Hermione slides her arm around his shoulder and leans over him to talk to Romilda. “Great party, isn’t it?” she asks in a falsely cheery tone. “Where’s Cormac?”

Romilda ignores Hermione completely. She bounces from one foot to the other and says to Ron, “I love this song. Want to dance?”

So their plan is working. But Ron isn’t going to give in that easily. “That’s a great idea,” he says with a grin before turning to his best friend. “Come and dance?”

Hermione takes his hand eagerly and allows him to lead her to the dance floor, both of them chuckling at the gobsmacked look on Romilda’s face. Ron has never been any good at dancing, but Hermione doesn’t seem to mind as they bounce around the floor to the upbeat music. When the song ends, an equally buoyant number takes its place, but Ron pulls Hermione in close, swaying slowly in complete contradiction to the music.

“Thanks for doing this for me,” he murmurs.

He feels Hermione’s answering nod against his shoulder. “What are friends for?” she returns. “Even though I think Fred and George may be right.”

Ron pulls back slightly to look at Hermione. “What do you mean?”

“Bugger, I’ve had too much to drink.” Hermione shakes her head as if ridding it of nargles. “Don’t be mad, but…I just don’t know if she’s right for you.”

“Then why are you helping me?”

“Because it’s important to you. And if she makes you happy, then that makes me happy.”

Hermione’s words surprise him. Not just the notion that she doesn’t believe in his relationship, but the fact that she’s willing to go to such lengths for him despite her skepticism, and his heart swells with affection for his best friend.

“Ron, I—“

But whatever she intended to say gets silenced by his lips on hers. He’s acting on impulse—this is Hermione, kissing is just not something they do, although he’s really starting to think they should—and he’s certain she’s going to hex him until she rocks up on her toes to get closer, locking her arms around his neck as she opens her mouth beneath his. He lets the taste of her overwhelm his senses and tangles his fingers in her hair, relishing in the softness of her curls. As much as she complains about the unruliness of her hair, he was expecting it to be stiff or brittle; instead, he feels like he could lose himself in it.

He doesn’t get a chance to test how long he’s allowed to snog Hermione as another drunk couple stumbles into them on the dance floor, breaking their kiss. Hermione meets his gaze with wide eyes and flushed cheeks.

“Viktor was watching us,” Ron blurts before she has a chance to tell him off for his actions.

“What?” Hermione looks dazed for a moment before coming back to herself. “Oh, right. Good thinking.” She smoothes down the skirt of her dress and averts her eyes. “I’m going to run to the loo.”

Shit. Now you’ve done it.

“You okay? Want me to come with you?”

“No, I’m fine, really.” She places her hand on his arm for a brief moment. “Too many drinks, that’s all. I’ll be right back.”

She disappears into the crowd before he has a chance to say anything further, and Ron runs his hands through his hair. He should’ve never gone along with her plan, and he definitely shouldn’t have kissed her just now, and—

“So.” As he turns to retreat to the bar, Ron finds himself face-to-face with Viktor Krum. Krum probably intimidates most people with his Quidditch muscles and his ever-present scowl, but Ron’s got nearly a full head on him, and he’s always thought he was kind of a dick. “You and Hermione?”

Well, he may have effectively ruined their friendship, but at least their plan is working.

“Yeah, what about it?” Ron retorts. He moves to brush past Krum, but the older man steps to the side, impeding his path. “Look, fuck off, okay? Hermione is better off without you.”

“And she is better with you?” Krum punctuates his sentence with a mocking laugh.

“Yeah.” Ron draws himself to his full height. “She is.” It feels good to say it out loud, even if it’s pretend. He would be good for Hermione; he always has been.

He takes another step, and this time Krum lets him pass. The encounter should have been over, until Krum calls after him, “Hope you enjoy my sloppy seconds.”

For the second time in hardly as many minutes, Ron lets himself act before he thinks, but this time, the result is Krum hunched over clutching his broken nose and Ron shaking out his hand from the blow. “Don’t you ever talk about Hermione that way again,” Ron growls. Krum pulls out his wand and fixes his own nose, though there’s still a satisfying trickle of blood dripping from one nostril. “Are we clear?”

“Fuck you,” Krum spits back.

“Good. Sorted.” Ron turns and resumes his trek back to the bar while Krum slinks off in the other direction.

This night just keeps getting weirder and weirder.

***

Hermione pushes through the crowd, leaving Ron’s bewildered face behind her, until she reaches the restroom, finding it blissfully empty. He kissed her. He kissed her.

They talked about it. She knew this was a possibility. But the hypothetical is a far cry from the glorious feel of Ron’s lips on hers, his hands in her hair. It felt so tantalizingly real. But it was just for show. Viktor was looking, he said. Of course he doesn’t have feelings for her. The idea is ridiculous.

Hermione makes her way to the sink and splashes cold water on her face, grateful for the fact that her subtle glamour charms aren’t susceptible to the liquid assault the way muggle makeup would be.

As she reaches for a towel to dry her face, the door swings open and hits the opposite wall with a bang. Romilda slams the door behind her and adds a locking charm. Hermione resists the urge to roll her eyes; as if she couldn’t undo Romilda’s spell with a flick of her own wand. Instead, she forces herself to put her game face on. It’s for Ron.

“How long have you been sleeping with my boyfriend?” Romilda demands, and this time, Hermione doesn’t hold back an eye roll.

“Ex-boyfriend, you mean,” Hermione corrects her. “Nothing happened between us while you were together, so it’s really none of your business.”

Romilda scoffs, the sound almost maniacal. “Oh, don’t patronize me, Hermione. You don’t think I see the way you look at him? The way he looks at you?”

“Don’t be silly,” Hermione says, though her mind is racing with Romilda’s words. “We’ve only been just friends until recently.”

Romilda shakes her head, tears filling her eyes. Honestly, Hermione can’t imagine what she’s so upset about considering she’s been snogging Cormac all night right under Ron’s nose. “I shouldn’t be surprised. It’s always been you, hasn’t it?”

“What are you—“ But before Hermione can formulate a proper rebuttal, Romilda turns for the door. She yanks at the handle, forgetting her own locking charm at first before muttering an Alohomora and slipping out of the loo.

Hermione sighs and braces her hands on the sink. She should’ve known better than to play this game with Ron. It’s only complicated things between them, and between him and Romilda if he really wants to get back together with her.

But…does he?

She thought she knew, but Romilda’s accusations have her second guessing Ron’s feelings. Every innocent touch between them over the years, every insignificant conversation that might have meant more in a different light…she’s never let herself properly examine any of it before out of fear of ruining their friendship. But they’ve snogged now—quite enjoyably, as a matter of fact—so how much more awkward could things get?

In any case, Ron’s going to start worrying about her if she doesn’t come back soon, so she steels herself to face him. With one more quick check of her appearance in the mirror, Hermione follows Romilda’s path back out into the pub.

Hermione finds Ron at the bar nursing a butterbeer and his right hand. “What happened?” she exclaims, sliding onto the stool next to him and pulling his hand into hers. His knuckles display a telltale blotchy pattern of bruising, and she glances around the pub looking for anyone with a matching injury. Her eyes land on Viktor, who looks fine other than the thin crust of blood around his nostrils. “You didn’t,” she says in disbelief.

“He deserved it, trust me.” Ron sends a dark glare at her ex, and Hermione sighs.

She should be angry with him, but she actually finds it endearing that he defended her against…whatever Viktor said or did. Ron wouldn’t have decked him without a good reason. She had every intention of telling Ron she was getting tired and going home, and while that still sounds like a brilliant plan, maybe she doesn’t have to go alone.

“Do you want to get out of here?”

Ron smirks at her. “Reckon we’ve done enough damage for one night?”

“Yes, I think so.” Hermione hops off her stool and takes Ron’s uninjured hand to pull him along. “Besides,” she adds, “leaving together will really sell us as a couple, don’t you think?”

“Oh.” He stops abruptly and she turns to face him. He replaces his confused expression with a smile almost before she can register what it might mean. “Yeah, of course. Floo, then?”

Hermione nods and lets him lead her to the back of the pub where they join the short queue for the Floo. “My place?” she asks as they step forward. “I think I have some bruise paste for your hand.”

“Okay, sure.” Hermione steps into the Floo first, and Ron follows, both of them dusting off in her living room as an awkward silence stretches between them. Now that they are no longer pretending to be together, Hermione isn’t sure what to do or say.

“I’ll go get the paste,” she offers after a stretch of silence, turning away from Ron’s penetrating blue eyes.

“Hermione, wait.” She stops halfway across the room and turns to face him.

“The bruising will set in if you don’t treat it right away.”

“It’s fine.” Ron takes a seat on her couch and looks at her expectantly. After a moment’s hesitation, she joins him but leaves plenty of respectable space between them. “Thanks for tonight.”

Hermione shrugs in return. “We helped each other out.”

“Yeah. We always do, don’t we?” He looks down at his hands, and she waits for him to speak again as she senses he has more to say. “But I er…enjoyed it, actually. It was fun.”

Her heart threatens to pound out of her chest as she studies his profile. “I had fun, too.” She scoots a tentative inch closer to him. “Do you think our plan worked?”

Ron holds up his bruised hand with a smirk. “Yeah, I reckon so. But honestly, I don’t really care.” He finally turns to face her, and his gaze is so intense that she has to force herself not to break eye contact. “Hermione, that kiss…it wasn’t like that with Romilda.”

“I wouldn’t know,” she jokes, a half-hearted attempt to deflect from a conversation that’s probably years overdue.

“Will you just—” He cuts himself off with a groan, tugging at the ends of his hair and making it stand on end. “Bloody hell, Hermione. Tell me this is real. Tell me I’m not the only one who felt something tonight.”

It takes her a moment too long to find her voice, and Ron takes her silence as disagreement, rising from the sofa and heading for the fireplace. “Nevermind, it’s fine. I’ll see you later.”

He reaches for the jar on her mantle, and she springs to her feet, knocking the Floo powder from his hand and making a terrible mess on her floor that she can’t be bothered with right now. “It wasn’t just you.”

She doesn’t wait for him to respond before launching herself at him, but she can feel the smile on his lips as she kisses him, validating her impulsive move. His arms wrap around her, lifting her off her feet as he returns her embrace. When they pull apart, both breathing heavily, they share a chuckle.

“We should’ve done this ages ago,” Ron says as he sets her back on her feet but doesn’t remove his arms. “I guess there’s a good reason why they call you the brightest witch of our age.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, this was your idea. Bloody brilliant, you are.”

Hermione shrugs. “We’d have come to our senses eventually.”

“That’s true. I’m pretty irresistible.”

She rolls her eyes but as he leans in to capture her lips again, she can’t help but think, he’s right about that.