#cornelia guest

[fayegonnaslay]

Warhol Portraits

Liza Minnelli, 1979.

Lana Turner, 1985.

Debbie Harry, 1980.

Jane Fonda, 1982.

Cornelia Guest, 1983.

Brigitte Bardot, 1974.

Red Jackie, 1964.

Lee Radziwill, 1972.

[twixnmix]

Andy Warhol and Cornelia Guest during a fashion show by Francesco Scavullo to benefit St. Joseph's Church in New York City on June 3, 1985.

Photos by Ron Galella

[omg-hellgirl]

Any truth to the actress Rae Dawn chong (Tommy Chong's daughter) hooking up with Mick Jagger when she was only 15? She said it was consensual but does one miss that. maybe Mick had a thing for young teenage girls like other rockers then?

So, about Rae, I only had contact with two biographies of Mick. Jagger Unauthorized (1993) and Mick: The Wild Life and Mad Genius of Jagger (2012) both by Christopher P Andersen. In Jagger Unauthorized she denies having sexual relations with Mick saying: "Sex is the nature of both Mick's and my personalities," admitted Chong, "but we were never romantically or sexually involved."

In the 2012 biography there is only a small mention of her and nothing relevant. There may be details somewhere that I haven't read, but a few years ago she admitted to sleeping with Mick when she was 15. She said he didn't force her into anything, but he didn't ask her age. She also does not place herself as a victim, classifying the 70s as a different time. I don't know more about them two specifically, but I don't think she's lying.

About Mick hanging out with teenagers...it's mentioned often. To name a few, Natasha Fraser (daughter of Antonia Fraser), Nenna Eberstadt (she was 16), Cornelia Guest (she was 18), Gwynne Rivers (she was also 18) and Mackenzie Phillis, daughter of John Phillips from The Mamas and the Papas. This Mackenzie says she also had an incestuous relationship with her father, and I don't know the details of that story, so I'm not saying I believe it or not, but it's good to tread carefully on the things she says about Mick.

In short, Mick has had a lot of sexual contact with teenagers since becoming a rockstar. And while we can't be sure if he actively pursued them for this reason, I think it's safe to say he didn't care about age (to be fair, none of them cared). Although, according to Mick: The Wild Life and Mad Genius of Jagger, Jerry:

was convinced that he was flaunting his affairs with ever-younger women in a calculated effort to humiliate her.

[characterswithanimalnamesfight]

A few characters I expected to be submitted haven't been so here they are some kind of preview. This poll will have no incidence on the rest of the competition

[haechannabelle]

i have sparkly nails !! also i got this spiky accupressure ring and it’s suuuch a good stim i recommend for my fellow sensory issues havers

[ladderswithoutpools]

Mrs & Mrs Strata

I know I say every couple is my favourite but this time I mean it.

[gaveyouigaveyoui]

love this @theone

[luvrinne]

୭ SOME BOOKS THAT RORY GILMORE READ ׂ  𓈒

— 1984 by Orwell George

nineteen eighty-four by George Orwell is a dystopian novel that portrays a totalitarian society where personal freedom is non-existent. It warns against the dangers of totalitarian power, surveillance, propaganda, and thought control, in a powerful critique of modern society.

— atonement by Ian McEwan

atonement by Ian McEwan is a gripping novel that delves into the complexities of guilt, redemption, and the power of storytelling. Set in England during World War II, it follows the lives of three characters whose fates become intertwined after a tragic misunderstanding.

— the bell jar by Sylvia Plath

the bell jar details the life of Esther Greenwood, a college student who dreams of becoming a poet. She is selected for a month-long summer internship as a guest editor of Ladies' Day magazine, but her time in New York City is unfulfilling as she struggles with issues of identity and societal norms.

— christine by Stephen King

christine tells the story of a car apparently possessed by malevolent supernatural forces. A love triangle involving 17-year-old misfit Arnie Cunningham, his new girlfriend and a haunted 1958 Plymouth Fury. Dubbed Christine by her previous owner, Arnie's first car is jealous, possessive and deadly.

— the virgin suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

the story, which is set in Grosse Pointe, Michigan during the 1970s, centers on the lives of five doomed sisters, the Lisbon girls. The novel is written in first person plural from the perspective of an anonymous group of teenage boys who struggle to find an explanation for the Lisbons' deaths.

— to kill a mockingbird by Harper Lee

to kill a mockingbird is a coming-of-age story about a girl named Scout. Scout and her brother Jem try to understand and relate to their father, Atticus, who is a lawyer charged with defending a Black man falsely accused of raping a white woman.

— sybil by Flora Rheta Schereiber

sybil is a gripping true story about a woman with multiple personality disorder. Written by Flora Rheta Schreiber, the book delves into the life of Sybil Dorsett and her 16 distinct personalities, as well as the therapy sessions with her psychiatrist, Dr. Cornelia B. Wilbur.

— pride and prejudice by Jane Austen

pride and prejudice follows the turbulent relationship between Elizabeth Bennet, the daughter of a country gentleman, and Fitzwilliam Darcy, a rich aristocratic landowner. They must overcome the titular sins of pride and prejudice in order to fall in love and marry.

@ luvrinne

[ahappydnp]

philm club rewatch #1

phil 7/21/12

detailed timestamp notes below the cut but my overall summary thoughts are

you could tell phil was still getting into the groove of liveshows so it's a little awkward and slow going in the first 15 minutes are so with lots of shoutouts and showing the camera random things. liveshows got sooo much better after just a year or so it's fascinating to watch them getting comfortable

mind boggling to think back to a time they were willing to show up to fan meetups and then made a point to state publicly why they weren't there AND share their location so openly constantly (obviously they were about to move but STILL they showed the outside of their flat So Much back then)

the juxtaposition of how naturally comfortable they were with each other (stealing hats, sharing food, having their little jokes and songs) vs. them remembering the chat and having to recalibrate (i don't want to procreate with you)

i'm gonna be sooooo real i still spent the entire hour kicking my legs and twirling my hair and having to pause to compose myself because that's my phil like that was my guy and it brought back all those giddy feelings :3

i love them both so dearly and i love that era despite the bad rep it gets in fandom now because it was also so exciting and new but they were growing up together and taking on the world like 2012 WAS dnp vs. the world and dnp won <3333

0:28- agrees to marry a girl and a boy

1:38- final broadcast from manchester!! moving to london

2:40- stressed bc logistics for moving (he’s trying to be a grown up). interesting that he is taking the reigns on coordinating and not dan 

6:27- PIGEON NOISE MY BELOVED

8:50- phil refers to processed ingredients as “skanky stuff”. sure. 

11:59- he's gonna put lion in his backpack during the move 😭😭 he doesn’t want to lose him

15:01- dan jumpscare popping into defending phil for not showing up to a meet up 

16:21- dan gives him an A star….girl

21:30- american phil i haaaaate it i hate it i hate it

21:57- “everyone just says awkward for everything now” okay this but now everyone says “help??” in the replies of every tweet WHAT DOES IT MEAN???

22:35- cornelia playing harpsichord at phil’s parents 

24:42- phil attempts a guest broadcast with a fan and he’s being so cute despite the horrors

28:42- they’re going to see muse again 😭😭 

30ish- fanfiction segment i love his brain

33:55- dan gets caught playing gw2 and not packing asdfghjl. omg their apartment is a mess they stress me out 

34:39- the way they used to show off their exact locations was truly a time like girl internet safety!!

35:21- he still wants to call his children jack and emily (cuts quickly to mo and slyvester lester joke and i won’t think too hard about what that means with this also being the era of dan being SO deadset on having 2 or 3 children like god they were just babies with dreams)

37:14- phil thinks max the guest is australian and has The Biggest Grin phil you slag ilysm and now he’s promoting him hard lmao

39:57- drawing game. he went too fast i couldn’t keep up so i stopped. unfortunate slur from the chat. 

44:38- had to check his tumblr archive to see the kstew gif he mentioned and found a mv a fan did of the manchester flat to i will always love you phil reblogged (phannies never change)

45:27- sneak peak of the “new” apartment WHAT IF I SOBBED!!!! the first london flat…god they had no idea what’s coming and all the things that will happen in that house ;___; living with danisnotonfire who is through that wall and Not Packing (married babies)

46:24- NEW I LOVE YOU FOR THE ILY SPREASHEET FUCK YEAH!!!

46:41- he’s getting a bit annoyed at the go get dan comments and it’s such a specific shift in vibes which makes sense because this was younow and god knows what that chat was also saying 

48:57- omg it’s danisnotonfire! what are you doing here get out of my house (you’re the same person dot gif) also sooo funny they already had their sides™️

50:36- that iconic dan hair push up and swoop is simultaneously the most comforting/nostalgic and single most anxiety inducing motion of all time

52ish- they’re sooo low energy in this one but it’s still comforting 

53:35- these two…

57:52- phil putting things on dans head because of course he does and taking dans thing because of course he does

58:00- i am not immune to phil in the trapper hat. 

58:24- them seeing all the screenshots and immediately making jokes (fun little note for those who don’t know is younow would have a pop up everytime someone took a snapshot so they knew every time they were being archived which had to have been a specific kind of hell and also what a shit feature??) their skin molecules are touching 

1:01:48- quite possibly the single most controversial shirt dan has ever owned. people haaaatedddd it for years (now im just soft bc its nostalgic)

1:04:06- dan and alexander mcqueen 4ever truly lmao also phil immediately having an opinion on the one he liked dan in better 

1:04:44- "dan played it on repeat all yesterday" “whenever i get sad i listen to it” :(( dan

1:05:15- dans fashion opinions haven’t changed and also the start of them being So conscious of revealing what they spend their money on because fans “didn’t like” when they spent a lot of money on things

1:05:46- we made it an hour before they read a gay comment but he’s handling it better than usual. phil saying “ don’t go there”

1:08:05- dan is STILL yapping about the hat god i love him he simply must elucidate 

1:09:29- aweeee a fanboy <333 he’s their love child (except dan reminds phil they’re not down to procreate with each other)

1:10:24- i love that phil has always thrown a random question at people to ease the tension like it’s suuuch a phil thing to ask what your worst fear is when you’re feeling awkward 

[bayoubashsims]

The Goth-Crumplebottom Family Wedding, 1927

In the fall of 1927, two of SimCity's oldest families were joined together in holy matrimony with the marriage of Gunther and Cornelia Goth. The union of these two powerful families signify a new era for the clan, with talks of philantrophical endeavors and the development of new towns under the Goth Enterprises and the Crumplebottom Foundation.

The dashing groom, Gunther Goth (27), is a land developer for the family company, while the beautiful bride, Cornelia Crumplebottom (25), is the heiress of the Crumplebottom canned prunes. The event was held in the town of Moonlight Falls, where both families reside.

The colors purple and violet dotted the event whether in the roses that decorated the party or in the outfits of the attendants. The wedding reception was held later that evening, where many of the local families of Moonlight Falls attended as well as SimCity's other influential families, such as the Landgrabbs and the Capps.

See guest list

The wedding was attended by (clockwise):

The Groom's Side

Victor Goth (58): The father of the groom, the President of Goth Enterprises

Samuel Goth (55): The brother of Victor Goth, the Vice President of Goth Enterprises, and Best Man

Frida Goth (33): The elder sister of the groom

Minerva Goth (82): The paternal grandmother of the groom, advisor and silent partner of Goth Enterprises, from Midnight Hollow

Gretle Goth (55): The mother of the groom and the chatelaine of Abundant Richness, the family estate

The Bride's Side

Agatha Crumplebottom (18): A cousin of the family from Henford-on-Bagley and Bridesmaid

Agnes Crumplebottom (18): The younger sister of the bride and Bridesmaid

Simon Crumplebottom (57): The father of the bride and the President of the Crumplebottom Canned Prunes Company

Beatrice Crumplebottom (23): A cousin of the family and ward of the Crumplebottoms and Bridesmaid

Belinda Crumplebottom (16): A cousin of the family and ward of the Crumplebottoms

Bianca Crumplebottom (9): A cousin of the family and ward of the Crumplebottoms

Elmira Clamp (32): A cousin and former ward of the Crumplebottoms and a librarian

Ian Arneson (7): A cousin of the family and ward of Elmira Clamp

Prudence Crumplebottom (56): The mother of the bride, the head of the Crumplebottom Foundation

The Servers

BACK ROW

Hilda Almeria (Maid of the Goths)

Nurse Dorothea Danvers (Nurse of Minerva Goth)

Xiao Zheng (Butler of the Goths)

James Higgins (Footman of the Goths) FRONT ROW

Yvette Fouchier (Maid of the Crumplebottoms)

Nanny Tempeste Tilani (Cook of the Crumplebottoms)

Amsel Gough (Butler of the Crumplebottoms)

Alfred (Footman of the Crumplebottoms)

[senditcolton]

I Hope I Never Lose You

that's the kind of heartbreak time could never mend...

summary: Prince Andrei's older brother Evgeni has returned from his naval voyage and a royal ball is thrown in his honor. you don't plan to attend... but Andrei has different plans. song inspo: cornelia street (cover) by relaxing piano covers word count: 4.5k warnings: none, just pure romance

In all the months of your investiture, the castle had never felt this alive. Usually, a ball brought in a large amount of excitement – the promise of music, food, and dancing, all which made for a palpable atmosphere. But this evening was different.

Although, if one took into consideration the fact that Carolyna’s eldest prince had returned from his year-long voyage at sea, the enthusiasm that seemed to bleed from the palace walls was completely understandable.

You had spent most of your day dodging other servants running down the hallways, arms filled with bundles cloth napkins and boxes of candles. Part of you was thankful that you were not requested to paint during the ball itself, the new portrait of Prince Evgeny deemed enough. You told yourself that you more than content to stay in your bedchambers all night sketching or reading.

However, there was a slight longing to be in attendance. To be able to see the ballroom aglow with golden candlelight, the swirl of color from the ballgowns, and feel the joy radiating from the guests at the return of their Prince.

You also wanted to see Andrei’s face when he was reunited with his brother. If you had been charged with painting anything that night, that was the moment that you would’ve captured.

Wiping your paint-stained hands off on the cloth hanging from the easel, you glance at the clock. The doors had just opened for the ball – you could hear the chatter of guests and the distant sound of trumpets wafting down the halls, sneaking into your enclosed studio. You sigh, taking in your current work in progress, debating whether you should stay here for the night or come back later.

Eventually, you decide leaving was the best option: go back to your bedchamber for a nap and some food before returning. Maybe later, when the ball is in full swing and hectic, Andrei could sneak away and visit you. It is a hope that you know is far-fetched, at least for tonight. Andrei loved and missed his brother more than anything. He wouldn’t leave in the middle of the celebration thrown specifically for Evgeny.

Still, one could dream.

As you sneak down the halls, avoiding the arrival of the guests, your mind toys with the fantasy of Andrei slipping through your studio door. He would look so handsome in his regalia, the medals hanging from his chest.

You wish that you could see him tonight.

That is the dream you hold onto as you push through the doors to the servants’ quarters – a dream that is quickly interrupted by a shriek of your name falling from the lips of one of your closest friends. You barely have a chance to turn around before Svetlana is barging into you, her calloused fingers digging into your upper arms.

“You are never going to believe this,” the younger girl yells, pulling you through the common area towards your bedchamber, despite your attempts to reign her in.

“Lana, slow down. What is going on?”

“You’ll see,” she replies, continuing to drag you down the hallway. A few curious glances are tossed in your direction as well as jealous looks cast at you from some of the other girls. You are uncertain where their anger is coming and why it is directed at you from until Svetlana stops in front of your room.

“Look!” she declares, swinging your door open and your jaw drops when you see the embroidered fabric laying on your bed.

You walk in, your eyes dancing over the ballgown splayed over the sheets. It is beautiful; the stark white contrasting beautifully with the velvet overlay, shimmering in your favorite color. The metallic floral embroidery dances across the fabric, trailing up from the trim of the skirt and the long sleeves to transform into a full garden on the bodice.

“I mean, I was helping the master seamstress embroider those flowers but I honestly thought this was for the Queen or one of the other ladies of the court but it was made for you?! That’s insane! The Prince’s personal guard dropped it off earlier today and I had to, like, stand watch outside your door to stop the other girls for obvious reasons and - ”

“Wait,” you say, interrupting Lana’s ranting. “The Prince’s personal guard?”

“Yeah! What’s his name?” Lana says, her eyebrows furrowing. “Pasha? Petrov?”

“Pyotr,” you whisper, your hands running over the gown’s material.

“Pyotr! That’s it.” Lana says, walking over to stand behind you. “Why did you get a dress?”

“I guess my attendance is wanted at the ball.”

“But you’re clearly not painting. Or at least you shouldn’t be in a gown this fine.”

“I don’t know,” you say, the words not a total lie. The information that Pytor delivered this stunning gown had you guessing that it was Andrei extended the invitation. But that was still merely a hunch. “Perhaps they want to have me there when Prince Evgeny’s portrait is presented.”

“Well, maybe I should’ve gotten into painting instead of sewing,” Lana teases as she playfully jostles your shoulder. Your eyes finally tear away from the gown, meeting with her sparkling hazel ones.

“Can you help me put it on?”

“Of course! We have to be fast; the ball has already started!”

Lana flies into a flurry, locking the door and turning to you. Her voice is a comforting metronome and you follow her instructions as she helps you into the dress. You are thankful she was there; not just because she was a seamstress and knew how to properly lace you into the gown but because her excited buzzing made the storm of anxiety in your mind quiet.

This had to be a dream, one that you were surely going to wake from at any moment. Your job as a painter was to be out of sight. The only knowledge of your existence to anyone outside of the royal family and the other servants were the painted canvases hanging on the castle walls. But now, here you were, wearing a gown that you couldn’t hope to possess even in your wildest fantasies.

Once you were fully dressed, Lana moves to your hair, retying it into a more elegant updo than the pulled back hairstyle it was placed in earlier. She doesn’t stop there, adding a tiny pat of butter to your face, smoothing your eyebrows and moisturizing your skin. She even manages to paint a bit of color onto your cheeks and lips with a piece of beetroot.

“You’re lucky that it was beets instead of radishes tonight,” she teases with a wink.

“Thank you, Lana. I could’ve never done this without you.”

“Well, maybe you could tell the royal family that the seamstresses should get an invite too. Considering their finery wouldn’t exist without us,” she quips as she smears the honey onto your lips, the gloss reflecting the light from the small candle on your bedside table.

“I’ll make sure to pass on the message,” you reply, your tone light but the words sincere. Lana didn’t know that you had the ear of the Crown Prince, one of the few men who could make that happen.

“You better,” she grins, stepping away. Her eyes rove over your face and body, admiring her handiwork before turning to look at you fully. “Perfect. You look absolutely beautiful.”

“Really?”

“Yes, you do. You’ll be the belle of the ball. All the other maidens will burn with jealousy. Trust me.”   

“I kind of have to considering we have no mirrors.”

“Would I ever steer you wrong?” Lana laughs, extending her hand to help lift you off the bed. “Now, come on! We’ve got to get you to the ballroom quick, before the entire party is over.”

You are ushered you out of your personal quarters and through the common room, Svetlana trailing behind you, holding up the hem your skirt to not sully the fine material. Her vocal haste pushes you to quickly jog down the halls towards the ballroom, your combined giggles bouncing off the vaulted ceilings. You finally stop at the closed double doors, the chatter of guests and the faint strains of music just on the other side. A deep breath rushes through you as you stare at the oak, your heartrate increasing.

“I still don’t understand. I’m just a painter,” you whisper but the words echo off the quiet hallways onto Lana’s ears. She finishes laying out your skirt before moving to stand next to you, gently taking a hold of your hand and squeezing.

“And yet, here you are in a beautiful gown about to enter a ball at the express invitation of the palace,” she says, her own voice dreamy. “Enjoy it.”

There is no hesitance as you turn to Lana, throwing your arms around her and pulling her into a hug. A whispered thank you is the last words you exchange before she is disappearing back down the hallways and out of sight. You take one last deep breath, steeling yourself before you knock gently on the door.

With an ease and elegance that has you momentarily faltering, the door swings open. You slowly walk over the threshold, your eyes dancing over the crowd. A few curious eyes are directed your way, drawn by the movement, but you simply breathe, walking down the first flight of steps to the landing of the grand staircase. Standing there is Dmitry, the royal caller and you catch his eye. He smiles at you before clearing his throat, his resounding voice pulling the remaining guest’s attention as he announces your presence.

You look towards the King and Queen, sitting on the raised dais and extend them a deep curtsy before rising, meeting Queen Elena smile with your own before turning your attention to the crowd. Your eyes scan over the sea of faces until they meet the dark brown irises that you were searching for.

Andrei is standing there, in his royal blue regalia, looking as handsome as you had imagined him. And he is looking at you like you hung the very stars in the sky.

The heat rises in your cheeks under his heavy stare, your head ducking down as you descend the remaining stairs. You weave through the crowd, feeling the eyes on you and hearing the hushed whispers of other guests. But you find that the attention slips off you, like water off a duck’s wing. Your mind is only on Andrei. It seems as if his mind is on you as well because in what feels like mere moments, he is there standing in front of you.

“Your Radiance,” you say, curtsying to him.

“My lady,” he replies, returning your curtsy with a bow. There is a brief moment of silence between the two of you, where you just look at each other. “I see you got my invitation,” he whispers softly for only you to hear.

“It wasn’t your most subtle work,” you tease, a small smile playing on your lips. It is a smile that Andrei returns before clearing his throat, his posture straightening as he speaks.

“Come. There is someone I want you to meet.”

He extends his arm to you, an invitation that you gladly take before he is guiding you across the marble floor. You try to remain confident even though the stares have increased due to your presence on the prince’s arm. Andrei seems unaffected, pushing through the crowd with an ease that was proffered to him as the Crown Prince. He doesn’t halt your journey until he has stopped in front of another gentleman wearing the greys and greens of the Carolyna naval uniform.

“This is Prince Evgeny Svechnikov. My brother,” Andrei says, before offering your name and title to Evgeny.

“An honor to meet you, Your Radiance,” you say, extending Evgeny another deep curtsy. He takes your hand, placing a small kiss on your knuckles before meeting your eye with a small grin.

“It’s just Your Honor now,” Evgeny explains, his teasing grin jumping back to Andrei. “I’m not a prince, simply a lieutenant in the Royal Navy. Drei knows this but likes to pretend I didn’t abdicate.”

“You’re still a Prince of Carolyna, whether or not you have the official title,” Andrei quips back, jostling his brother on the shoulder.

“Regardless, it is still a pleasure to meet you,” you say, your voice still formal. “I hope your time at sea wasn’t too difficult.”

“A lot of fresh air and plenty of time to think. Easier being in the Navy when your country is at peace,” he replies. “So, you are the royal portrait artist that Andrei has filled pages of letters with.”

“I suppose so,” you stutter, looking back at Andrei with a raised eyebrow. The flush on his cheeks surprises you at first but soon his embarrassment relaxes you, the urge to tease him goading you on. “Pages, you say?”

“Oh yes. Every time the ship made port, there was a letter waiting for me filled with praise about the new painter that was teaching my brother to get in touch with his creative side. I must admire your tenacity, seeing as the Drei I know gets frustrated when he doesn’t perfect a skill in the first attempt.”

Evgeny’s lighthearted quips makes you relax, the smile on your lips growing wider.

“He’s been doing better. Has only broken three brushes in frustration this past week.”

The laughter that falls from Evgeny’s lips is similar to Andrei’s yet unique in its own right, filling the air as he claps his brother on the back of the shoulder. Your own giggle follows as you see Andrei’s blush deepen, his head shaking.

“Why must you turn everything into a joke at my expense, Geno?” he asks, the loving tone betraying the anger the words could portray.

“Because it’s so easy to get you riled, little brother,” Evgeny replies, playfully wresting Andrei under his arm, mussing his slicked back hair. Andrei manages to wriggle his way free, his hands smoothing his uniform and pushing back his hair before politely nodding to the few guests who took an interest in the brief commotion. It is only when their eyes turn away does Andrei jab his elbow into his brother’s side as a small payback.

There is an indescribable feeling in your chest as you watch Andrei interact with his brother. It was abundantly clear how much he loved Evgeny. His smile seemed brighter, his laughter came easier, and it felt as if he was more settled into his own body.

The conversation between the three of your flows, various topics flitting in and out like the moths in the garden. A glass of champagne had been placed in your hand and was refilled more times than you cared to admit. It felt like hours of talking before Andrei was summoned away to perform his other princely duties, mingling and brushing elbows with other dignitaries. His departure leaves you and Geno alone on the side of the ballroom. Your body turns to face the crowd, eyes taking in the couples dancing, the beautiful music lifting over the noise of the crowd. You take a sip of your champagne, a pleasant buzz running through your body.

“So,” Evgeny speaks, breaking the silence. “How long have you and Drei been in love?”

The unexpected question has you choking on the sparkling liquid, your glass quickly pulled away from your lips as you compose yourself. Once you’ve gotten a hold of your bearings, you look towards Evgeny who is smirking down at you, his own champagne flute pressed to his lips, an eyebrow quirked as if waiting for an answer.

Your eyes quickly dart around the ballroom, making sure that there was no prying attention on the conversation you shared with the eldest prince. In a room full of eyes and ears, keeping the secret of your and Andrei’s relationship was paramount. Once you were satisfied, you shoot a quick glance back to Evgeny before keeping your attention forward to not arouse suspicions.

“Did Andrei tell you?” you ask, the prior mention of you being the starring subject in Andrei’s numerous letters filling your mind.

“No, he never said a word,” Evgeny replies. “But I know my brother. The way he looks at you… it’s more than just simple admiration for the painter who is giving him lessons.”

You could blame the alcohol for the warmth that radiates from your chest down to your toes. But if you did, it would be a lie. It is Evgeny’s words, his quiet assurance that Andrei is telling the truth when he says that he loves you. That confirmation coming from someone who knows Andrei best and could figure out your shared secret within only a few minutes of meeting you sets off a blaze in your heart. You breathe deeply, reigning in your emotions as you look out across the ballroom. Your eyes easily find Andrei, his blue uniform stark against a sea of red, white, and black gowns and suits. He is conversing with what appears to be other generals, his stature strong and regal.

“May I ask you a question, Prince Evgeny,” you inquire, turning your attention back to his brother.

“Please, you can call me Geno,” he replies, that easy smile on his face. “And yes, of course.”

“Why did you abdicate? You’re the eldest son of the King so the Crown was yours by right. Why give it up?”

“To be honest, I was never very good at it. Bureaucracy,” Evgeny laughs. “Plus, it never appealed to me: sitting in rooms filled with papers, giving commands to people I never met, having every self-interested bastard whispering their ideas in my ear and having to sift through the shit to find what best served the country. I much prefer the Navy where I know and trust the men by my side, where I can feel the work I’m doing, knowing for certain that my actions are helping the country I love.”

You let his words sink in, your eyes trailing back to Andrei. The way Evgeny describes the role of King weighs on you, the pressure of such a demanding job feeding your concern for the man you loved.

“I wouldn’t worry about Drei though,” Evgeny continues as if he can sense your apprehension. “He’s everything I’m not: driven but not demanding, loyal but not blindly so, commanding while still remaining respectful. That’s a rare combination of qualities to have. Plus, he’s devoted to the people of Carolyna. I know that he will always have their best interests at heart.”

Your heart swells again at the description Evgeny gives to his brother, the pride in his voice clear. Your eyes stayed locked onto Andrei, watching as he concludes his conversation before turning his own gaze around the room. It seems instantaneous, the way they lock onto yours and your heart pounds as he starts to make his way back to you.

“Andrei loves the people,” Evgeny’s voice sounds again. There is a brief pause, your eyes still locked onto Andrei’s. You slightly jump when you feel Evgeny’s warm breath next to your ear, his words hushed and he whispers to you. “He loves you. And if there is one thing I know for certain about my brother, it is that he fights for those he loves.”

Your head turns quickly, looking back towards Evgeny, that now familiar grin on his face. He takes your hand, bowing as he places a polite kiss on your knuckles. An instant later, he is gone, vanishing into the crowd around you. You turn your head back, only to come face to face with Andrei. He shoots you that crooked grin before glancing around, no doubt looking for his brother.

“What was Geno whispering to you about?” he asks. “Talking about me again?”

“Only good things, I promise,” you reply, keeping your voice light and teasing as to not betray the emotions brought on by Evgeny’s hushed declaration.

“Lucky I trust you,” Andrei says, his smile never leaving his lips.

You simply return the smile, your head ducking down in shyness under the weight of his gaze. Around you, you can hear the music slowing, reaching its soft crescendo before the guests applaud. Your eyes glance up again, connecting to Andrei’s gaze once more. He has an indecipherable look on his face, as if he was having an internal debate with himself.

The feeling of his hand on yours startles you, but you allow him to gently remove the glass from your grip, placing it on the tray of one of the passing servers before returning his attention to you. Andrei extends his hand, his palm upwards.

“Dance with me.”

The words are a gentle demand, tinged with hope. You want to keep staring in his eyes but the weight of others looks tugs at your focus, your own eyes darting around the room filled with high-ranking individuals and many an eligible maiden.

“I don’t think we should,” you whisper, your gaze turning back to him.

You wish you didn’t notice the hurt flicker across Andrei’s face at your response. His hand curls in on itself before disappearing behind his back, a sigh lifting his shoulders. Andrei gives you a polite bow – a silent agreement – and you can tell that he is about to turn away.

“But perhaps,” you speak again, stopping him in his tracks and pulling his gaze back to you. “Perhaps I was lost. Confused. Maybe had a few too many drinks.”

Andrei’s laugh rumbles through his chest at your words, a laugh that you share before looking up at him, your eyes wide and earnest.

“And perhaps you were a gentleman and saved me before I made a fool of myself. Made sure I was alright.”

The smile that Andrei gives you is intoxicating, his eyes shining with the same desire that was surely reflected in yours. His hand extends again and this time, your reaches out towards him. There is still a brief hesitancy, made clear by the pause and slight curl of your fingers. But is a miniscule moment, one that passes when you find that last sliver of courage and slip your hand into his. Andrei’s fingers close around yours, his thumb brushing over your knuckles as a silent comfort before he leads you out onto the dance floor.

The candlelight reflects off the embroidery on your gown as Andrei pulls you to the center of the marble floor, spinning you to face him, the velvet hem brushing against the stone. He reaches out, placing his free hand on the small of your back and you follow his lead, your own hand landing delicately on his bicep, feeling the strength of the muscle underneath the fabric. A gasp escapes you as he pulls you closer to him, your bodies almost touching. You can’t stop the way your eyes bounce around the ballroom, the stares of the other guests now impossible to ignore.

“Everyone is looking at us,” you whisper, feeling the heat race up the back of your neck, your heart fluttering in your chest like a newly captured bird.

“Just keep your eyes on me,” Andrei murmurs.

You are helpless to follow his directions, your gaze jumping up to lock with his. The instant they connect, your heartbeat stills. Andrei is staring at you with pure devotion and admiration. It was as if you were the finest painting in any gallery, like you were the most beautiful sculpture in the world.

In his eyes, you were no longer the artist. You were beauty animated. You were art itself.

“Just me,” he says again.

You swallow back the tidal wave of emotions that threaten to spill over, blinking before giving Andrei a subtle nod of your head and offering him a timid smile.

Andrei’s chest lifts in a deep breath, an action you copy before relaxing into his hold. You can hear the music begin and it is another moment before Andrei starts to move. It is slow, measured, and you just keep your gaze aligned with Andrei’s as he leads you around the dance floor, falling into the ebb and flow of the melody bouncing off the candelabras above you.

The two of you continue to dance, your dress flowing around you as Andrei keeps you secure in his hold. The curious and somewhat judgmental stares that you were previously acutely aware of fade away the longer you are in Andrei’s grasp. Soon, it feels as if the two of you are alone in the ballroom.

“I love you,” Andrei whispers. The declaration cuts through you, piercing you deep. “I know that we aren’t supposed to be together; by law or rule or general propriety. But I don’t care. I will not give up on you. On us.” He sighs, his eyes softening with melancholy. “That is, not unless you tell me to.”

“Never,” you say, your grip tightening on him as you step closer, close enough to feel his breath fanning across your cheeks. He smiles, your own fierce promise fueling his words.

“You are the love of my life,” he vows. “And I know that if I ever had to live without you – if our connection was severed by distance or by time, my heart would shatter, never to be mended again.”

Andrei’s words have captured you, enveloping you in his pure love and devotion. You are acutely aware of the warmth of his hand in yours, the feeling of his hand slowly rising from the small of your back. His fingertips gently brush against the bare skin between your shoulder blades, pushing a gasp from you at the sparks that his touch brings.

“At least, not until you returned to me,” Andrei murmurs, those dark brown irises staring into your very soul, reading you plain and leaving you bare. “That is what our love is: eternal.”

“Timeless,” you reply, a smile tugging at the corner of your mouth, one which Andrei returns.

“Yes. Timeless.”

His fingers dance over your exposed skin once more before his hands fall away from you. The departure of his touch throws you back to the present moment, the cacophony of applause from the guests hitting your eardrums. Andrei bows to you, your hand still in his. You follow suit, bending in a deep curtsy before lifting yourself slowly, looking back to him.

You find that his gaze is already glued to your frame and you watch with breathless anticipation as he brings your hand up to his lips, pressing a kiss onto your hand. Directly over the spot where the makeshift ring he gifted to you all those months ago sat.

A subtle indication of the promise that he made to you, one that he intended to keep. The promise of a love that was enduring, constant, unending.

A love that would last forever. 

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[a-den-of-demons]

@heroes-den Trevor raised a brow as he looked his 'guest' in the eyes. "So, care to tell me why you need another bodyguard when someone in your position has enough men to fill an army at your beck and call?" The tiefling said as he eyed the obvious noblewoman from across the table at the inn he'd been resting at between jobs.

"Because you are a skilled warrior, and I need someone that I can trust. You have a good reputation, and are known for your skill with weapons." Cornelia was blunt, looking him in the eye.

[thestalwartheart]

007 Fest 2024 Masterpost

It's 11:59pm here on the 31st of July, and I'm signing off from Fest 2024 feeling like this:

Fics

toothpaste a cup runneth over the wait the quiet whisper i can't get no the hour before tea he's a little bit

Misc

Moodboard: TEXAS HOLD 'EM (00Leiter) Moodboard and ficlet: A little bit Alexis Bond Poem: first impressions

RADI00Q: 31 Songs for Bond and Q

A full playlist of every song featured this month is available on Spotify (thanks @eleanor-is-fine!) and YouTube.

Want to relive the moodboards? Here they are:

Song 1: Good Luck, Babe - Chappell Roan Song 2: Will We Talk? - Sam Fender Song 3: I Saw - Young Fathers Song 4: This Is The Last Time - The National Song 5: Everything - MUNA Song 6: Little Red Corvette - Prince Song 7: I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You - Tom Waits Song 8: Blue Monday - New Order Song 9: Love Calls You By Your Name - Leonard Cohen Song 10: Catherine Wheel - The Whitlams (covered by Megan Washington and the SSO) Song 11: Pale Blue Eyes - The Velvet Underground Song 12: England - The National Song 13: Phobia - Nothing But Thieves Song 14: Sunday Best - Megan Washington Song 15: You Are In Love - Taylor Swift Song 16: I Touch Myself - The Divinyls Song 17: The Heart Is A Muscle - Gang of Youths Song 18: Want Me - Baby Queen Song 19: Mystery of Love - Sufjan Stevens Song 20: Do I Wanna Know - Arctic Monkeys Song 21: Call Your Girlfriend - Robyn Song 22: I Wish I Was Sober - Frightened Rabbit Song 23: The Walls Are Way Too Thin - Holly Humberstone Song 24: How Soon Is Now? - The Smiths Song 25: Ocean Blue - Kita Alexander Song 26: Maybe You Know - Holy Holy Song 27: Writer - Paolo Nutini Song 28: A Sunday Kind of Love - Etta James Song 29: Linger - The Cranberries Song 30: Overcome - Nothing But Thieves Bonus song: Tears For Fun - Griff Song 31: 'Til Forever Falls Apart - Ashe & FINNEAS

--- GUEST SPOTS ---

Voice In My Throat - Pearl and the Beard Nothing's Gonna Hurt You Baby - Cigarettes After Sex It Had To Be You - Frank Sinatra Wildest Dreams - Taylor Swift Shameful Company - Rainbow Kitten Surprise Splinter - MYRNE & salem ilese Please Please Please - Sabrina Carpenter Drive You Home - Garbage Hold Me Closer - Cornelia Jakobs The Ocean - Dar Williams Starlings - Elbow Talk - Hozier

I am genuinely so thankful to everyone who hyped up and supported me this month. You’re all angels.

And if your song didn’t make it to RADI00Q this month: I’m so so sorry! There were a few I didn’t have the spoons to get around to. But stay tuned - August and September might bring a few surprises 😘

[zethsdumpster]

Everything around him burnt and prickled at his skin like a thousand suns, yet, somehow, the hands tenderly cradling his face ran hotter than everything else, their touch like molten lava, scorching his skin and sealing his screams deep in his mind.

He was agonising. He didn't know how he knew but he was sure; the afterlife felt far away but he was certain that his body would be unable to withstand this pain for much longer. 

Until he was plunged into ice and the shock forced his eyes open.

His body twisted in itself and he doubled on his side as he coughed out mouthfuls of salty sea water. 

A hand ran over his back soothingly, helping get it all out and calming the instinctual screams of his hind mind.

He panted, slowly regulating his breath and stretching his limbs on the floor, laying on his back. 

Deuce kneeled by his side, sighing in relief when he noticed he was conscious and well. Kotatsu headbutted his hand before laying softly on top of him. Looking around he found Wallace running a towel over his head, talking to Saber; Mihar watching from a half opened window and Banshee and Cornelia standing at the sides of a draped, wet figure sitting with it's hands on its knees, with Skull crouched almost in front of it.

Cold crystal blue eyes glared at him.

The eyes were familiar but the coldness in that gaze was not.

He turned around to sit, Kotatsu chirped in protest but made way for him.

The disheveled redhead's frown deepened.

“Hey,” his voice came out raspy after his coughing fit “Are you-?”

“Are you stupid?” 

There were the clicks of several guns ready to fire.

He laughed - he didn't know why he was laughing - “Is that really what you want to say right now?”

Beside him, Deuce sighed, defeated.

“It's a fair question,” the redhead's mouth twisted downward - a part of his mind told him it was a new look on that face, the other giggled at the familiar sight - “What kind of devil fruit user jumps into the water to save someone?”

“In my defense, I haven´t been an user for *that* long, and, well, I guess it became a bit of a reflex after jumping into so many times to rescue my little brother”

“I'm not your little brother”

He shrugged “Anyway, are you not going to dry yourself? The wind is pretty chilly and you're completely soaked, aren't you cold?” 

“My core runs hot, I'm more resistant to the cold that others” 

He shared a look with Deuce, who clicked his tongue, got up and walked away to get some towels. 

“Right, but back to the other thing, before you interrupted me-” he said with good humour, the redhead huffed “Are you alright? Those guys got you pretty bad”

And he looked roughed up, messy and dirty all over, his uniform torn, boot broken and gloves missing, his shattered sunglasses laid at his feet.

“They only caught me by surprise, and most of the damage was done by you…”

“I guess that makes sense, you're pretty resilient after all,” he didn't know why he knew that, he was sure they had never fought before - but his body disagreed, his muscles remembered the feeling of their numerous clashes - “so, I guess you're going to stay for now, right?”

Deuce returned, he threw a towel at the red head and gave the other to his captain.

“Won't that be dangerous?” Asked Wallace, now dry and with a change of clothes.

“I mean,” he mused, “What can he do? He's injured, weaponless and we're stronger than him”

“Don't be so cocky, Portgas”

“Well, you still haven't managed to defeat and capture me so I think I'm safe to say that I'm stronger.” He chuckled.

The redhead pouted.

A strangely cute - and familiar and strange - expression that caught him off guard.

“I'll ready a space for our guest,” said Banshee, turning to leave her post next to the redhead.

“Yes, thank you, Ma'am” he nodded at the retreating woman then turned back to appraise their surprise guest, who, noticing that, flushed a pretty pink “Yeah, I think my clothes will fit you,” 

“I don't -”

“What? Do you carry spare clothes hidden somewhere?” said Cornelia with a hint of mockery “Just calm down and accept Cap’s kindness.” 

The redhead had an indignant look on his face, clearly unhappy but without many options to choose from.

He laughed, he got on his feet and finished half-drying his head “Right, we gotta shower if we don't want to get sick, come Red”

“*What?* Portgas! I am not-”

He found himself smiling at the redhead's surprising - but it wasn't surprising, he knew how shy he could actually be - shyness and his crew's guffaws.

He found himself looking forward sailing together for whatever short while - but part of his mind kept screaming, they had been sailing together since the beginning -

ANYWAY SO I HAVE AN ACECHIJI ANGSTY TIME LOOP AU

K, soooooo

Basically

Ichiji is trapped in a loop, from when Ace sets sail to become a pirate, to whenever Ichiji dies. So he's trapped trying and failing to save Ace's life.

The constants in the loops are: Ichiji meeting Ace during missions, joining the spades and later Whitebeard, and Judge (one way or another) getting in the way of him saving Ace, Judge dragging him to Germa after Marineford.

HOWEVER

This, ofc, has a happy ending.

In the last loop, after having tried pretty much everything, he finally gives in to his last option.

So he calls Sanji.

He has grown to understand/respect Sanji after meeting and interacting with him in several loops.

Later, he runs away from Germa (with his siblings' help) and, injured, arrives at the Baratie, where he stays until Ace and his still small crew arrive (he's afraid of going with Ace and suffering that heartbreak again, but, with a little push from Sanji and Zeff - and their other siblings with whom they kept touch as much as possible -).

He finally succeeds at saving Ace, and Ace is wracked by bad fevers as he starts remembering all the other loops uwu

There´s also some comedy bit with Sanji since, because of everything that happened with Ichiji, is now in touch with his other siblings thanks to Germa´s tech and some signal jammers and whatever else, so, sometimes while on the Merry and later the Sunny, they recieve calls from strangers (024) demanding to speak with Sanji (also exchanges letters with them and Ichiji) and noone explains nothing about the strangers and their relationship to Sanji to the crew.

[anotherhumaninthisworld]

People being kept out of the Duplay house compilation

…It was necessary, in order to reach the eminent guest deigning to inhabit this humble little hole of a place, to pass through a long alley flanked with planks stacked there, the owner's stock-in-trade. This alley led to a little yard from seven to eight feet square, likewise full of planks. A little wooden staircase led to a room on the first floor. Prior to ascending it we perceived in the yard the daughter of the carpenter Duplay, the owner of the house. This girl allowed no one to take her place in ministering to Robespierre's needs. As women of this class in those days freely espoused the political ideas then prevalent, and as in her case they were of a most pronounced nature, Danton had surnamed Cornelie Copeau "the Cornelia who is not the mother of the Gracchi." Cornelie seemed to be finishing spreading linen to dry in the yard; in her hand were a pair of striped cotton stockings, in fashion at the time, and which were certainly similar to those we daily saw encasing the legs of Robespierre on his visits to the Convention. Opposite her sat Mother Duplay between a pail and a saladbasket, busily engaged in picking salad herbs. Two men in military garb, standing close to her in a respectful attitude, seemed to be taking part in the duties of the household, obligingly picking herbs, in order to be free to chat more unrestrainedly under the shelter of this familiar occupation. These two men, since famous in their respective positions, were, the one General Danican, who since then, on the 13th Vendemiaire, became impressed with the idea that he was a Royalist, and who perhaps still retains the belief because he is one of England's pensioners; the other was General, later on Marshal, Brune. Freron and I told Cornelie Copeau that we had called to see Robespierre. She began by informing us that he was not in the house, then asked whether he was expecting our visit. Fréron, who was familiar with the premises, advanced towards the staircase, while Mother Duplay shook her head in a negative fashion at her daughter. Both generals, smilingly enjoying what was passing through the two women's minds, told us plainly by their looks that he was at home, and to the women that he was not. Cornelie Copeau, on seeing that Freron, persisting in his purpose, had his foot on the third step, placed herself in front of him, exclaiming: ”Well, then, I will apprise him of your presence," and, tripping upstairs, she again called out, "It’s Fréron and his friend, whose name I do not know." Fréron thereupon said, "It’s Barras and Freron," as if announcing himself, entering the while Robespierre's room, the door of which had been opened by Cornelie Copeau, we following her closely.  Memoirs of Barras: member of the Directorate (1899) page 167-169, regarding a meeting he and Fréron tried to have with Robespierre following their return from Marseilles in March 1794.

Very little time before the cathostraphy where Camille Desmoulins was victim, Joseph Planche, the humanist, the old rhetorics professor at the Bourbon college, who was strongly tied to him, met him in the hooks around Rue de Tournon. Camille was concerned, and told him: ”I’m lost. I went to see Robespierre, and he refused to see me.” Historie de Robespierre et du coup d’état du 9 thermidor (1865) by Ernest Hame. According to J.M Thompson’s Robespierre (1935), Hamel obtained this anecdote from a friend of a friend of the mentioned Planche.

”…Try to see Maximilien, [said Charlotte Robespierre], you will be content; he was very glad that our younger brother saw you at Melun. On this occasion he spoke with interest of the exercises of your pupils and of the attention you had in entrusting him with presiding over them. I won’t introduce you to him, I would not succeed; I even advise you not to speak to him about me. You will be told he is out, don't believe it, insist on your visit.” The Robespierre family was housed on rue Saint-Honoré, near the Assomption chapel, the sister and younger brother at the front, the older brother at the back of the courtyard. Gaillard went to Maximilien’s apartment; a young man, looking at him with the most insolent air, said to him, barely having opened the door: “The representative isn’t home…” “He may not be there for those who come to talk to him about business, but that is not my doing; I will talk to him about his family that I know a lot, you have seen me come out of his sister's apartment who is involved in state affairs no more than I am... Bring my name to the representative, he will receive me, I’m sure of it.” The fellow did not dare refuse to carry a paper on which Gaillard had taken care to indicate himself in such a way as to be recognized, he immediately came back and gave the visitor his paper saying: “The representative does not know you,” and the door was violently slammed shut!… . The insolence of this brazen man whom Gaillard knew to be the secretary of Robespierre, son of Duplay, to whom the sister attributed the excesses of her brother, the sorrow he felt at losing the hope of saving the judges of Melun and to ensure his personal rest, all these thoughts made him very angry; he calls the young man a liar, insolent, he accuses him of deceiving Robespierre and of increasing the number of his enemies every day, all this in the loudest voice with the intention of being heard by Maximilien and lure him to one of the windows where, surely, he would have recognized him. New disappointment, no one appears and Gaillard goes back to tell Mlle Robespierre about his misadventure. “I prepared you for it, she told him. ”No one can approach my brother unless he is a friend of those Duplays, with whom we are lodging; these wretches have neither intelligence nor education, explain to me their ascendancy over Maximilien. […]” La Révolution, la Terreur, le Directoire 1791-1799: d’après les mémoires de Gaillard (1908) page 264-265. This anecdote gets described as taking place somewhere in May 1794.

4 prairial, year 2 of the French Republic, one and indivisible Nine o’clock in the evening a young girl presented herself at the house of citizen Duplaix [sic], asking to see Robespierre and saying that she had been looking for him for three hours. At the response made by citoyenne Duplaix [sic], the eldest daughter, that Robespierre wasn’t there, this young woman said that it was very surprising he was not at his house and showed a lot of impertinence and humor by saying that he was a public official and made to respond to all those who could come to his house; these threats obliged us to take her to the Committee of General Security. Signed: Chatelet. Note written by an agent May 23 1794. The ”young girl” in question is Cécile Renault. Cited in Histoire du tribunal révolutionnaire de Paris: avec le journal de ses actes (1881) by Henri Wallon, volume 4, page 5.

Those whom fate did not lead to the Duplay family presume that it was enough to be introduced to them to see Robespierre: they are wrong; I appeal to the testimony of all his former friends; not one could reach him: the entrance to his residence, similar to Tartarus, was constantly guarded by Cerberians who overshadowed everything... You, whom terror has compressed for so long, have you understood it well? No: to feel its full weight, compelling circumstances would often have had to drag you into its temple, where the sinister look of a Chalabre was sometimes equivalent to a death sentence; where once suspected your loss was sworn, which you accelerated even by no longer going there.  À Maximilien Robespierre aux Enfers (1794) by Paul-Auguste Taschereau-Fargues, page 11.

A young and pretty person aged 17 to 18, accompanied by her aunt, arrives one morning, by carriage, at Robespierre's door, to ask for her father's liberation. These two women speak to Mother Duplay, who they ask if Robespierre is avaliable. “No,” this she-cat replies abruptly. This initial reception intimidated the young person so much that, without daring to open her mouth, she sadly returned to her carriage. As she was about to climb into it, she said to herself that the way in which she had been received was perhaps the result of a lack of formality towards this woman whom, due to her dirty and disgusting attire, she took for the servant of the house. She therefore returns, the 25 livres assignat in hand, to try to make the female dragon yield. Femme Duplay eagerly runs to meet her, and, grabbing her by the arm, says to her: “Now that you are alone, you can go up. Citizen Robespierre really likes young people your age.” This innocent girl got so disturbed that she immediately went back to her aunt, whom she told, completely frightened, about her adventure. Notes et souvenirs de Courtois de l’Aube, député à la Convention nationale, cited in La Révolution française: revue d’histoire moderne et contemporaine (1887), volume 12, page 929-930.

[nsuri20]

Ranking Taylor Swift's Surprise Song Combos (International Edition)

Here it is: the final ranking of the International surprise song combos. As a reminder, this is ranking the COMBINATION of all songs played on both guitar and piano together for any given night. In other words, each night of tour only gets 1 spot. Please also keep in mind, I am not taking into consideration the circumstances of the songs - for example when "bigger than the whole sky" was played, "I'll be 87, you'll be 89" line, crazier, hoax or peace being played for the first (and only?) time that I was personally waiting for, Paris in Paris, So Long, London in London, special guest appearances like Ed and Gracie etc. I am simply ranking the combination of all songs played based on how much I liked them.

I'll be posting a cumulative list that combines the US and International lists later on but for now, here is the list! The winning city is: Vancouver! Long Live x New Year's Day x The Manuscript was way too much for me to take. Even though we aren't factoring in closing night vibes, this combination mixed with a song from Debut on guitar was pushed it into the top spot. I'll always have a soft spot for OG Taylor 💚

In 2nd place is Sydney N1 with Should've Said No x You're Not Sorry & New Year's Day x peace. Both combos are devastatingly good and peace has one of what I consider to be Taylor's most heart wrenching lines: "All these people think love's for show, but I would die for you in secret"

In 3rd place is Melbourne N1 with Red & You're Losing Me. I'd love to hear You're Losing Me live one day and Red is another great choice. There was also something so simple and pleasing about getting to hear full songs without the mashups so I think that bumped this one up for me as well.

My show (Warsaw n3) ALMOST cracked the top 10. It came in at #11 with Today Was a Fairytale x I Think He Knows & The Black Dog x exile which i was thrilled to be able to get to hear in person. Out of 87 shows, being #11 is very high. I'm so grateful I was able to be there.

If you can't already tell, I have a thing for nostalgia with a lot of these songs and I have a thing for the really sad, slow songs - they really make you feel some type of way. Anyway, here is the full list:

A Place In This World x New Romantics & Long Live x New Year's Day x The Manuscript

Should've Said No x You're Not Sorry & New Year's Day x peace

Red & You're Losing Me

Come In With The Rain & You're On Your Own, Kid

Cornelia Street & You're On Your Own, Kid

Change x Long Live & The Archer x You're on Your Own Kid

State of Grace x You're on Your Own, Kid & Sweet Nothing x hoax

Come Back...Be Here x Daylight & Teardrops on my Guitar

Tim McGraw x cowboy like me & mirrorball x epiphany

The Prophecy x long story short & Fifteen x You're on Your Own, Kid

Today Was a Fairytale x I Think He Knows & The Black Dog x exile

Sparks Fly x Message in a Bottle & You're Losing Me x How Did It End?

Death by a Thousand Cuts x Babe & Fifteen x You're on Your Own, Kid

Paris & loml

Our Song x Jump then Fall & King of My Heart

Haunted x Wonderland & Never Grow Up x The Best Day

How You Get The Girl & White Horse x coney island

Would've, Could've, Should've x ivy & Forever & Always x Maroon

The Tortured Poets Department x Now That We Don't Talk & You're On Your Own, Kid x Long Live

Teardrops on my Guitar x The Last Time & We Were Happy x happiness

the 1 x Wonderland & I Almost Do x The Moment I Knew

I Don't Wanna Live Forever x Mine & evermore x Peter

Hey Stephen & Maroon

Clara Bow x The Lucky One & You're On Your Own, Kid

Afterglow & Maroon

Tell Me Why & Snow on the Beach

The Albatross x Dancing with Our Hands Tied & This Love x Ours

Getaway Car x august x The Other Side of the Door & this is me trying

long story short x The Story of Us & Clean x evermore

Carolina x no body, no crime & The Manuscript x Red

us. x Out Of The Woods & You're On Your Own, Kid x long story short

I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can) x I Can See You & Maroon x Red

I Can See You x Mine & Cornelia Street x Maroon

Message in a Bottle x How You Get The Girl x New Romantics & How Did It End?

I Don't Wanna Live Forever x imgonnagetyouback & Don't You x loml

Stay Beautiful & Suburban Legends

Come Back..Be Here x The Way I Loved You x The Other Side of the Door & Fresh Out The Slammer x High Infidelity

Safe & Sound & Untouchable

Is It Over Now? x I Wish You Would & Haunted x exile

Foolish One x Tell Me Why & This Love x Call It What You Want

Guilty as Sin? x Untouchable & The Archer x Question...?

Mine x Starlight & I Don't Wanna Live Forever x Dress

Hits Different x Death by a Thousand Cuts & The Black Dog x Come Back...Be Here x Maroon

Sparks Fly x gold rush & False God x Slut!

I Forgot That You Existed x This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things & I Hate It Here x the lakes

This Is What You Came For x gold rush & The Great War x You're Losing Me

It's Nice to Have a Friend x dorothea & Haunted x exile

right where you left me x All You Had to Do Was Stay & Last Kiss x Sad Beautiful Tragic

Speak Now x Hey Stephen & this is me trying x Labyrinth

imgonnagetyouback x Dress & You Are In Love x cowboy like me

London Boy & Dear John x Sad Beautiful Tragic

Mr. Perfectly Fine x Better Than Revenge & State of Grace x Labyrinth

I Forgot That You Existed & Sweet Nothing

Sparks Fly x I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can) & I Look in People's Windows x Snow on the Beach

Is It Over Now? x Out Of The Woods & My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys

Sweeter Than Fiction x Holy Ground & Mary's Song x So High School x Everything Has Changed

Would've, Could've, Should've x I Know Places & tis the damn season x Daylight

Mr. Perfectly Fine x Red & Getaway Car x Out of the Woods

Fresh Out The Slammer x You Are in Love & ivy x Call It What You Want

The Very First Night & Labryinth

The Bolter x Getaway Car & All of the Girls You Loved Before x Crazier

closure x A Perfectly Good Heart & Robin x Never Grow Up

Death by a Thousand Cuts x Getaway Car & So Long, London

Paper Rings x Stay Stay Stay & Better Man x it's time to go

Clara Bow x mirrorball & New Year's Day x Suburban Legends

Superstar x invisible string & Slut! x False God

My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys x This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things & False God x 'tis the damn season

us. & Out of the Woods x Is It Over Now? x Clean

Better Than Revenge & Slut!

Is It Over Now? x Out Of The Woods & End Game

Dear Reader & Holy Ground

Superman & The Outside

I Love You, I'm Sorry x Last Kiss & The Tortured Poets Department x Maroon

Guilty as Sin? & Say Don't Go x Welcome to New York x Clean

I Did Something Bad & My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys x coney island

Now That We Don't Talk & Innocent

The Alchemy x Treacherous & Begin Again x Paris

Ours x the last great american dynasty & Cassandra x mad woman x I Did Something Bad

Glitch x Everything Has Changed & Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus

Run x the last great american dynasty & Dear Reader x Nothing New

Everything Has Changed x End Game x Thinking Out Loud & King of My Heart x The Alchemy

thanK you aIMee x Mean & Castles Crumbling

Eyes Open & Electric Touch

Dancing with Our Hands Tied & Bigger Than The Whole Sky

I Think He Knows x Gorgeous & Peter

Say Don't Go & it's time to go

ME! & So It Goes…

That's it for international! Tell me what you think in the comments (but remember this is MY list). What songs did your city/night get? Full consolidated list coming soon!

Tay - none of these combos or songs are bad, we all just have our preferences! Did you have a fav to play or should we just assume it was YOYOK or Maroon based on stats? lol

xx n