#ely's ever-changing playlist

[oneroomjestershow]

I thought so hard about sharing the playlist that i just found out i actually didn't do shit so here it is

i don't recommend clicking play here because i just blasted my ears off that was too loud 👎👎👎

sketch for an illustration i want to make for the Eli playlist i did

[fluentmoviequoter]

Better Off Without Me

Also inspired by the ideas of @astroherogirl!!

Pairing: Victor Vale x fem!reader

Summary: Victor is reluctant to be loved, and when Angie takes your place beside him, the distance between you becomes too great to cross.

Warnings: spoilers for Vicious, mentions/depictions of insecurity, angst

Word Count: 1.5k+ words

A/N: Title from better of without me by Matt Hansen (Spotify link). Could I add this to my Vic playlist? The meaning, yes, but the sound makes me second guess it.

Picture from Pinterest

Victor Vale’s presence pushes people away. Like fighting against a current, walking into a hurricane, you get close to him, no matter what it takes.

“Hi,” you greet, sitting across from Victor in the oversized cafeteria of Lockland. “How are you? Finally get some sleep?”

He shakes his head, and you slide his favorite coffee across the table to him. He looks up at you, then back to the cup.

“I believe this is when most people say, ‘thank you.’ But, since you’re cute, I’ll just assume you thought it.”

You’re convinced that Victor only lets you spend so much time with him because you are one of the few people he knows. You’ve met Eli, but he is the only other person Victor is ever seen with. Whether it’s intentional or not, Victor is the opposite of inviting. You are convinced that getting to know him, the real him hidden beneath layers of scars and more bark than bite (though he does have plenty of bite, too).

“Have you considered my offer?” you ask.

Victor turns the page in his notebook, reviewing a diagram as he replies, “About ‘testing a hypothesis about the effects of hugging’? Yeah, I think you need to find a different guinea pig.”

Sighing, you say, “I guess I’ll have to find a new approach. If I said the hug was for me, not you, would you agree?”

“No.”

You smile at Victor, focused and annoyed, exactly how you like him.

✯✯✯✯✯

Entering the cafeteria with an idea to trick Victor into giving you a hug (asking if he can point to the muscles connecting your posterior and anterior chains, then hugging him when he reaches under your arm), you expect to find him sitting alone or with Eli.

So, you freeze when you see a girl sitting beside him, running her fingers through his blond hair. Your mind begins racing, wondering how long Victor has been with the girl at his side and why he let you treat him as you did if he was in a relationship.

Standing out of sight, you continue watching, quickly convinced there is more to this girl than meets the eye. She looks at Eli more than Victor, even when she’s answering Victor or touching his shoulders. 

Worse, you think, is Victor’s bittersweet gaze. Like he’s in love but isn’t convinced that he can be. You’ve known since meeting him that Victor was going to be tough to love, to show that he was deserving of receiving it and capable of giving it to the right person. Now, someone else is getting to show him that. Witnessing their open touches, the give and take that you so desperately crave, breaks your heart, but at the same time, Victor seems happy. You want Victor to experience happiness more than anything, so you will let him enjoy the love and presence of the woman who seems better equipped to show him.

✯✯✯✯✯

Angie Knight is the woman in the cafeteria. Learning her name makes you feel worse, able to compare yourself more easily to her when you have something to call her other than ‘Victor’s.’ She seems to be better than you for Victor and the position by his side. You realize you could never be enough for Victor, and he will never choose you over Angie.

With no chance of completing your mission, of showing Victor that you really care about him, you stop visiting him. Each moment without him changes you. Your happy, soft demeanor grows sad and disinterested. As Victor learns to love, you begin to understand his starting place, a life with no acquaintances willing to show you that they care.

Sitting in the library, reviewing your notes before a lecture, you don’t look up when someone sits in the seat beside you.

“What happened?” Victor asks.

Glancing up, you’re shocked at how close he is, leaning in like he needs your answer. He’s just as pretty as you remember, and the fact that he noticed something changed makes losing him hurt worse.

“Lots has happened. Couple World Wars, bunch of books have been written-“

“You know what I mean,” Victor snaps quietly. “Why’d you disappear?”

“Just been busy. Hard classes, you know? How have you been?”

“I’ve been okay.” Victor’s brows are pinched, either confused or concerned; you never had a chance to learn the difference, and he doesn’t let his emotions show in front of just anyone.

“Good. Been hanging out with Eli and Angie while I’ve been slaving over textbooks?” You hope it sounds like a joke, but it strains your broken heart to say it.

“Yeah. It’s a little quiet without your hug questions though.”

Victor tilts his head, and you realize just how happy he seems. He’s talking more openly than ever before, and knowing that Angie got him here instills a fear in your heart that no one will ever choose you, that there will always be an Angie swooping in before you make any real progress.

“Well, I’m glad you’re happy,” you say. “Hopefully I’ll have more time soon.”

Victor nods, and when you look back to your textbook, you hope this isn’t the last time you see him.

✯✯✯✯✯

“They found a body in the lab,” someone whispers as you walk through the hallway.

“Who?” a second voice inquires.

“I heard it was a teacher.”

“No, it was a student, one of the assistants – Angie something.”

Hearing her name and learning that she could be dead, you rush to Victor’s room, pounding on his door and growing worried when he doesn’t answer. It takes several trips back and forth between his building and the lab next door to the crime scene to find him. It’s dark, no lights on this sidewalk, so you can see why he chose it.

“Vic,” you call. “Are you okay? Is it true, that Angie’s… gone?”

Victor doesn’t answer, staring straight ahead as he leans against a tree. You reach out, brushing your hand over his shoulder.

“I’m here, if you want to talk. I know she meant a lot to you, but I-“

✯✯✯✯✯

Victor can’t accept your soft touches and kindness right now. Last you knew, he was in love with Angie, and you didn’t know about her betrayal or the role Eli played in it. In the big picture, you know very little about Victor. When you offer to be there for him, an image of you dying the same way as Angie flashes through his mind, and he knows he has to push you away to keep you safe.

“No!” he replies harshly, moving away from you and the tree. “I don’t need a shoulder to cry on or your constant questions. I need time, and space, and I need Angie back!”

“Vic, I’m sorry,” you whisper, understanding his anger.

“That doesn’t matter,” he says, his voice dropping and evening out. “You don’t matter. Angie did, and she’s gone. Eli said he was here for me, too, and look where that got us.”

You can’t speak, your mind stuck on Victor’s claim that you don’t matter. He is voicing your deepest insecurities, that he doesn’t want you, and you can’t do anything but listen.

“You tried to convince me to pick you, and I didn’t. What more do you need?”

Wiping a tear that leaked out despite your efforts not to show him how he’s affecting you, you answer, “Not a thing, Victor. Not a single thing. I hope you are better off without me, if that’s what you want.”

You turn away but freeze when Victor adds, “It could have been different.”

“Yeah, it could have. And I shouldn’t, but I’ll always be close. If you change your mind.”

Victor doesn’t speak, opting to watch you disappear down the sidewalk. He decides to visit Eli next and watch another life slip through his fingers, hoping it isn’t his own.

✯✯✯✯✯

✯✯✯✯✯

2 Years Later

Victor has a lot of time to think in prison. Endless time, it seems. He spends sleepless nights wondering what he could have done differently. Imagining different choices with you and Angie, there are hundreds of outcomes in which Angie lives, and you stay close to Victor. Slowly, Angie fades out of the memories and the questions. After two years, Victor’s thoughts are solely on you. The night that you left seems to haunt him, and the space between you will never be closed, which hurts worse than any physical pain Victor could inflict on himself.

✯✯✯✯✯

In a small house near Lockland, you think about Victor again. Although, the truth is that you rarely stop thinking about him. The 22-year-old version of him lives in your mind, and you often think about the last time you saw him in the library when he gave you a sliver of the attention you craved.

You can’t help but wonder if you could have changed the outcome of your relationship with Victor. Asking yourself if pushing back against Victor would have kept him within reach, you regret giving him so much space that the gap seems impossible to close.

✯✯✯✯✯

Miles away from each another, you and Victor fall asleep with the same thoughts: one another and that you made a mistake that can’t be fixed.

[emojellyace08]

Lookism Random Headcannons (Because why not?)

Read the recent chapter recently and I am excited about the King of Soul's entrance (if ever)

Daniel watches anime since he thinks it's more entertaining than dramas. At some point he also wanted to become a manga artist but quickly gave up on it. His favorite is probably the classics (Naruto, One Piece, One Punch Man, DBZ, and he also likes the recent ones.)

Zack and Johan used to watch WWE matches together while Mira scolds them that they scream too loud when they're watching Royal Rumble lmao.

Undertaker was Johan's favorite WWE wrestler but thinking about it makes Johan embarrassed since he doesn't want to be seen as an edge lord or "emo or a goth" lol. Zack Lee's favorites are probably Edge, Brock Lesnar, and Randy Orton (idk I watch a little bit of WWE in my free time don't blame me).

Since Jay lived mostly alone in his apartment for who knows how long, he was thought by his butler to cook his own food since he doesn't really want to depend on them fully and make them exhausted. (Plus he's mostly bored, so why not cook and bake?) He almost burned his apartment once trying to fry an egg at first.

Hudson might not admit it but he also binges anime like Daniel. He believes that Makima sucks and the ones who defends her are simps (I mean she's a well written antagonist but her personality is a no).

Goo Kim = Cat Girl/ Cat Boy enthusiast (likes wearing low-budgeted cosplays A LOT for his own entertainment).

Goo Kim had stolen Gun's credit cards for his own shopping spree. Not once, not twice, but MANY TIMES.

Samuel might not admit it but he actually likes Jake and Big Deal. He just keeps denying it because of his ego issues.

Jerry had once owned a winter dwarf pet hamster. He properly took care for it for like 2 years and named her Bisky. But since hamsters have short lifespans, it died later on and he cried and didn't sleep well the following days since he missed her deeply. The shrine of it is still staying still on his backyard and he mostly replaces the flowers everyday or i he's not busy to pay tribute to her.

Daniel wanted to learn how to play the guitar or a ukulele but since his mom was struggling with their budget he cannot ask her to buy him one.

Jay can play drums (and teaches Daniel when having sleep overs!)

Mary can play bass and a little bit of guitar. And she secretly listens to rock, metal, and the alternative style of music since she doesn't want to be teased as emo by Vin the asshole lmao.

Avril Lavigne is the reason why Mary dyed her hair blonde you can't change my mind (not forcing you but listen to her music IT'S SO GOOD). She would like to have a friend (if not a girl friend not a girlfriend) who shares the same music taste with her to start a band.

Zack and Vin Jin used to bully kids on Roblox to boost their ego (Zack stopped because of his character development but probably Vin still does it lol).

Younger Kouji had once ate lots of candies and sweets to be "smart like L" from Death Note but almost got diabetes.

Gun and DG wears lip balms to keep their lips plump and smooth. DG had once teased Gun about being a model while Gun just smirks about it.

Mira SECRETLY LIKES Ayesha Erotica's music because of the edits on TikTok but since it's mostly explicit she's refraining to add her compositions on her Spotify playlists.

Since Vasco is mostly hardworking, there are times that he passes the exams (with the help of Jace and other Burn Knuckle members). But he just cannot push himself more to pass the Mathematics exams.

Eli had once tried to kiss Warren after their fight because of his innocence and curiosity before all the Hostel Drama. (I personally don't ship them but I just feel like it's something past Eli would do). They both cringe when they both remember it.

Doo Lee was once a Twitter influencer but because of his past dramas he was cancelled in social media.

Jibeom accidentally smashed Jihan's face when they were little when they are trying to imitate WWE stunts. Jichang was surprised to see his little brother's teeth getting cracked and falling off and he just didn't cried (it was Jibeom who shed tears because of guilt lol).

Crystal is a big fan of "vintage-core" or everything around the older eras because she believes that it doesn't only represents the beauty and evolution of human pop-culture but it also represents history. She always won on auctions to buy antique stuff and mostly donate it on museums to preserve it's structure while she kept some on her room. She almost got canceled by bidding on an authentic Marilyn Monroe's lipstick but she later on posted on Twitter that she donated it on a museum (which is not a fake news).

Gun doesn't eat too much fast-food products because he believes it's unhealthy and has chemicals to make the customers' crave for more (Goo teases him about this by dramatically eating an order of a large McDonald's French Fries in front of his annoyed face).

Ryuhei never kissed a woman in his life because of his nervousness. He secretly was weirded out by it so he lies that he had slept with many women to not be bullied by other people.

Vasco doesn't know how to properly wear a watch and a belt (ngl same I'm that stupid). He also doesn't know how to tie his shoe lace.

Jace prefers dark-chocolate rather than milk or white chocolate. Because he believes that since it has more cocoa content it can boost more of his energy and sharpen his mind and focus especially when taking his exams and quizzes.

Sally's favorite color was purple as she planned to dye her hair with her color of choice with a mix of indigo. But since she's afraid that it won't suit her, she changed her plans and went on to dye her hair with strawberry pink. She didn't expected it to look magnificent on her since Warren complimented her, so after that her favorite color was switched to baby or strawberry pink.

Mitsuki thinks that K-Pop music is cringe but she secretly has BTS, Twice, and Blackpink on her Spotify playlists. Ryuhei found out about this and she was pissed off up until this day lol.

Doo Lee once had a girlfriend who uses him for the money. She later on cheated with a new "handsome and charming" guy and when Doo found out he was FURIOUS. He later on was captured on camera beating the dude and when people found out he was canceled again on social media (pretty privileges never ends). He later on begged Daniel and Duke to make an apology video for him which looks so weird and scripted since Doo was pushing them. But luckily the drama heated down.

Magami Kenta's favorite vape flavors are watermelon, strawberry, and coffee.

Joy is very talented and skilled with nail art and she sells her products in a decent price even if it's REALLY DETAILED and well-crafted.

Sinu Han is a COMIC BOY FAN. Whether it's DC Comics, Marvel Comics, or even manga he's going to buy it. He later on posted on Twitter about how Gojo shouldn't have died since he relates to him so much (he was later on bullied by Samuel that he sounds like a weeb lmao).

[rottenrewards]

( NICK ROBINSON .  MALE .  HE/HIM )  - the  chicago  resident , ELLIOT WEAVER ,  was  heard  blaring  END OF BEGINNING / DJO  this  morning  .  the  TWENTY-NINE  year  old  is  a  lottery winner   in  the  city  &  has  lived  the EAST  tower  for  TWO MONTHS .  since  being  here  ,  they  have  been  told  to  be  GLUM  ,  but  also  GENEROUS ,  i  guess  we'll  find  out  soon  !   [  MAD, 27, THEY/THEM, PST  ]

Name: Elliot Timothy Weaver Nicknames: Eli, Ellie, E.T. Age: 29 Birthday: October 15th, 1994 FC: Nick Robinson Gender: Male Pronouns: He/Him/His Sexuality: Bisexual Height: 5′11 Blood Type: A+ Build: Medium Vices: Cannabis, Alcohol, Cigarettes Favorite Colors: Red & Orange

History

Elliot grew up entirely average. Greatness wasn't in store for the middle Weaver child. His older brother was a football star and his younger sister was a pageant queen and as a result his parents attention was usually used up in pursuing his siblings dreams. Elliot never minded much. His nose was typically buried in a book as he was dragged along for support to his siblings endeavors. As he grew up the more Eli branched out on his own. He found himself friends with the band geeks and nerds more than the popular crowd his family was drawn to. He was never prom royalty but he also never wanted to be and he was entirely content. He had a girlfriend whom he loved and friends who he could depend on, what more could he ask for? When Elliot graduated high school he decided to stick around in Amarillo. The town might be small but it was his home and after a few years at the local community college he got a job in auto insurance. He was still with the same girl from high school who he proposed to at the age of twenty-six after being together for ten years. Life was good for Eli and he saw his whole future ahead of. Marriage, a couple of kids running around, and a small house he'd call home, maybe even a white picket fence. All of that changed one fateful afternoon in August of 2023. Elliot came home on his lunch break only to catch his fiance with another man. He was heartbroken and the simple life he'd had planned for himself was ruined. The engagement was off then and there and Eli quickly spun downward.  Life had gone to shit. His fiance moved out (and in with the guy she'd been cheating with) and Elliot spent most nights drinking and wallowing in self pity. Things couldn't have gotten any worse and miraculous it didn't. Almost two months after his break up Elliot's life would change again. He was never much of a gambler but one night when buying cigarettes he decided to purchase a lottery ticket from the gas station. Never in Eli's wildest dreams did he expect to actually win but he did. 16.8 million dollars to be exact. His life changed overnight once again. His achievement became the biggest story to hit Amarillo history in the last 20 years and it seemed everyone who'd ever known Elliot was coming out of the woodwork including his ex.  Everyone put a bad taste in his mouth and after he'd been coerced into giving away nearly a million dollars to various different people in a very short period of time Elliot went into hiding. He could no longer trust the people closest to him as they all seemed to turn green with envy or fat with greed. His new found wealth made him incredibly lonely and forced him to outgrow his town he'd once called home. Elliot settled on Chicago because he'd always wanted to visit the city and wanted a complete change of pace and be somewhere he could blend in.

Headcanons

Elliot's life is a mess. He's still recovering from his recent breakup over the summer and now that he's a millionaire he really doesn't know how to act. One minute he's celebrating and the next he's crying because his Spotify Wrapped playlist reminds him of home.

He is the embodiment of the meme "If I ever win the lottery I won't tell anybody but there will be signs". He doesn't boast about his wealth but he's definitely treating himself and is very generous with his money. He has been known to give 50% to 100% tips at businesses around town.

He's stopped doing laundry all together. Now he simply donates his clothes and buys new ones when he needs them. Laundry has always been his least favorite chore and now that he doesn't have to clean his clothes he won't.

He spontaneously drops twenty dollar bills around just to brighten people's days.

There's always a pile of packages waiting for him at his mailbox. Half the time he doesn't know what he's ordered because he's developed a late night spending habit whenever he can't sleep.

[rainhadaenerys]

My personal Daenerys playlist

Here's my personal playlist for Daenerys:

No Going Back by Nite Lies

Come Alive by Ely Eira

Believer by Imagine Dragons

Towards The Sun by Rihanna

This is our time by Hidden Citizens

Hero by Skillet

Kings by Tribe Society

Born ready by Zayde Wolf

I'd love to change the world by Ten Years After

Runs in The Family by Amanda Palmer

The cost of the crown by Mercedes Lackey

No Calm Before The Storm by Atalia

Afraid by The Neighbourhood

Stronger Than Ever by Raleigh Ritchie (Jacob Anderson)

Warpath by Hidden Citizens

Warriors by Imagine Dragons

Mother of flame by Miracle of sound

Heroes by Zayde Wolf

Battlefield by Svrcina

Legends never die Ft. Against the Current

This is war by 30 seconds to mars

Paradise by Coldplay

Journey (Ready To Fly) by Natasha Blume

Calls Me Home by Shannon LaBrie

PS.: I don't think every single part of all the lyrics fit Dany perfectly, but overall they fit Dany. For example, in "The cost of the crown" by Mercedes Lackey, she says she was schooled and bred for the crown and only thought of the rights she would have with the crown, which obviously doesn't fit Dany, but the rest of the song fits Dany's mindset as a queen perfectly. In "Stronger Than Ever" by Raleigh Ritchie, he says that he doesn't watch the news and can't be arsed with college, which obviously doesn't fit Dany, who does care about learning and gaining knowledge, but the part about falling short on knowledge matches Dany's feelings of not knowing what to do with the situation in Meereen, and the rest of the song describes well many of Dany's struggles. "Runs in The Family" by Amanda Palmer is mostly a reflection of Dany's fears of having "the taint", which doesn't mean I think the Targaryen family actually has genetic "madness". And so on.

[yukisdomain]

Fic Writer Q & A!

Tagged by @cursedvibes Thanks 😊

How many wips do you have currently?

Too many ideas, but as for WIPs I have one fanfiction based on Arthurian legends and BBC's Merlin, and let's say 3 original works that have been untouched for awhile. I have more but I have somewhat of an outline written for them, not actual chapters.

Which one are you finding the hardest to finish?

Honestly, everything is, sadly. For some reason my brain will come up with later events and I struggle with how to get to those later events because nothing ever seems good enough. But let's say my original work, "Eli" because it's been the longest since I've come up with the idea.

What does it usually look like when inspiration strikes for you?

Inspiration usually strikes me in the middle of the night. I'd either write the ideas down somewhere, although I prefer writing them in my notebook (depends on how tired/lazy i am and do I feel like getting out of bed), or actually write the entire scene because I wouldn't be able to sleep otherwise.

Do you curate playlists for each fic or is your process different?

I don't create playlists for every fic (at least I haven't for now). Instead, I have one playlist called "For Stories" where I keep literally everything that inspires me even a little bit, or if it reminds me of something I'm writing (sometimes it can just be an ambiental asmr). When I'm not sure what to write next I put the playlist on shuffle and try to write a scene based on the music/ambiental sounds that come up

Flow of time is also on my playlist @cursedvibes hahah

Do you go balls to the wall and write as you go or are you more organized?

I have major events planned, as well as characters' psychological profiles and how their world works. However, I don't create characters to fit the plot if there is plot to begin with.

For example, I have a world, I have a major event in it that starts the whole mess and I have the characters. Then I let the characters "decide" what will happen next based on their reaction to the inciting incident and how they will push through until the next major event takes place. Many times I had to change the details i planned beforehand given they wouldn't make sense based on the character's personality. Sometimes I can't even guarantee who or what will win - whatever makes the most sense (based on the setup), that's my moto.

Although, given that I have to plan through the characters as well (if some of them are sneaky little masterminds) I do love to have plot twists in my story. I love surprising my proofread-er, who I'm tagging to do this Q&A:

@lovenonymously

Also tagging @hxhhasmysoul

[fatefulfortune]

Welcome to Aurora Bay @aurorabayaesthetic, [ELLIOT WEAVER] ! I couldn’t help but notice you look an awful lot like [NICK ROBINSON]. You must be the [TWENTY-NINE] year old [LOTTERY WINNER]. Word is you’re [GENEROUS] but can also be a bit [GLUM] and your favorite song is [END OF BEGINNING BY DJO]. I also heard you’ll be staying in [AURORA BAY DRIVE]. I’m sure you’ll love it!

Name: Elliot Timothy Weaver Nicknames: Eli (preferred name), Ellie, E.T. Age: 29 Birthday: October 15th, 1994 FC: Nick Robinson Gender: Male Pronouns: He/Him/His Sexuality: Bisexual Height: 6'1 Blood Type: A+ Build: Medium Vices: Cannabis, Alcohol, Cigarettes Favorite Colors: Red & Orange

History

Elliot grew up entirely average. Greatness wasn't in store for the middle Weaver child. His older brother was a football star and his younger sister was a pageant queen and as a result his parents attention was usually used up in pursuing his siblings dreams. Elliot never minded much. His nose was typically buried in a book as he was dragged along for support to his siblings endeavors. As he grew up the more Eli branched out on his own. He found himself friends with the band geeks and nerds more than the popular crowd his family was drawn to. He was never prom royalty but he also never wanted to be and he was entirely content. He had a girlfriend whom he loved and friends who he could depend on, what more could he ask for? When Elliot graduated high school he decided to stick around in Amarillo. The town might be small but it was his home and after a few years at the local community college he got a job in auto insurance. He was still with the same girl from high school who he proposed to at the age of twenty-six after being together for ten years. Life was good for Eli and he saw his whole future ahead of. Marriage, a couple of kids running around, and a small house he'd call home, maybe even a white picket fence. All of that changed one fateful afternoon in August of 2023. Elliot came home on his lunch break only to catch his fiance with another man. He was heartbroken and the simple life he'd had planned for himself was ruined. The engagement was off then and there and Eli quickly spun downward.  Life had gone to shit. His fiance moved out (and in with the guy she'd been cheating with) and Elliot spent most nights drinking and wallowing in self pity. Things couldn't have gotten any worse and miraculous it didn't. Almost two months after his break up Elliot's life would change again. He was never much of a gambler but one night when buying cigarettes he decided to purchase a lottery ticket from the gas station. Never in Eli's wildest dreams did he expect to actually win but he did. 16.8 million dollars to be exact. His life changed overnight once again. His achievement became the biggest story to hit Amarillo history in the last 20 years and it seemed everyone who'd ever known Elliot was coming out of the woodwork including his ex.  Everyone put a bad taste in his mouth and after he'd been coerced into giving away nearly a million dollars to various different people in a very short period of time Elliot went into hiding. He could no longer trust the people closest to him as they all seemed to turn green with envy or fat with greed. His new found wealth made him incredibly lonely and forced him to outgrow his town he'd once called home. Instead Elliot decided to travel until he figured out where he wanted to call home next. That was how he wound up in Aurora Bay. He'd always heard the weather was nice in southern California and he figured it was as good a place as any to relocate for the time being.

Headcanons

Elliot's life is a mess. He's still recovering from his recent breakup over the summer and now that he's a millionaire he really doesn't know how to act. One minute he's celebrating and the next he's crying because his Spotify Wrapped playlist reminds him of home.

He is the embodiment of the meme "If I ever win the lottery I won't tell anybody but there will be signs". He doesn't boast about his wealth but he's definitely treating himself and is very generous with his money. He has been known to give 50% to 100% tips at businesses around town.

He's stopped doing laundry all together. Now he simply donates his clothes and buys new ones when he needs them. Laundry has always been his least favorite chore and now that he doesn't have to clean his clothes he won't.

He spontaneously drops twenty dollar bills around just to brighten people's days.

There's always a pile of packages waiting for him at his mailbox. Half the time he doesn't know what he's ordered because he's developed a late night spending habit whenever he can't sleep.

Elliot moved into a "small" mansion off Aurora Bay Drive. He's still furnishing it and frankly doesn't know what to do with all the rooms the home has to offer. It's slowly but turning into the ultimate bachelor pad while he saves at least one bedroom to be used as a guest room whenever his family comes to visit.

[choicesficwriterscreations]

MC of the Month: Kiera Tomoe

Please welcome our second MC of the month! Each month, we will highlight one MC or OC that is currently on our Meet my MC / OC List. The MC / OC is selected randomly on the Wheel of Names, and eligibility requirements can be found here. We accept MC / OC profiles on an ongoing basis. Please feel free to send yours in!

This month's MC of the month is...

@julia-highstorms ' s Kiera Tomoe

Learn more about KIera and her creator, Julia, below.

In your words, tell us what you like most about your MC. Although I have written Rei (OPH MC) for a few years now, Kiera is the first MC I have created with an actual backstory and personality defined before I started writing. And this made me very fond of her, as she feels like the most realistic character I've ever created, along with Eli.

2. Do you feel your MC is like you at all? How are you alike or different? Apart from killing zombies, Kiera's personality is similar to mine: we're both pragmatic. Kiera prefers a hands-on approach rather than wasting time theorizing, so she usually makes decisions fast and firmly, not thinking twice (just like me lol). We share the same MBTI, ISFP. Kiera is also demiromantic, like me.

3. What is most important to your MC? What is their motivation in life?

Considering the situation they're living in - an apocalyptic world -Kiera's motivation isn't different from the others around her: surviving. After she meets the others and they founded the colony, as their leader, she also does everything within her willpower to make Olympus strive. And who knows, maybe find a cure, like they could do with Eli.

4. What are their biggest pet peeves? Dirk is her pet peeve 😂 seriously though, people who are excessively negative or who are always whining but don't help are what annoys her the most. So, Dirk.

5. If your MC could change one thing - anything - what would it be? Not live in an apocalyptic world lol 

6. What is your MC’s favorite song? At the Tower, they were forbidden to get access to music, books, and anything related to the "old world" from before the outbreak. So her favorite song would be the only melody Eli knows how to play on the guitar.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your MC: if you'd like to know more about Kiera, access the Character Profile + Playlist I have created about her.

Thank you for sharing Kiera with us, Julia! You can all learn more about Kiera Tomoe here.

[starglaee]

Cobra Kai and Cold Hearted (my fanfic on Wattpad) characters and plotlines as folklore songs. Cold Hearted spoilers below. Feel free to add your own thoughts and opinions!

Tag list: @secretsandwritings-blog

-

the 1

Cobra Kai: Lawrusso. Easily. Every time I listen to this song I can’t help thinking of them: “ And if my wishes came true, it would’ve been you. In my defense, I have none for never leaving well enough alone. But it would’ve been fun if you would’ve been the one.”

Cold Hearted: Elion and how I feel from writing them: “I persist and resist the temptation to ask you if one thing had been different would everything be different today?”

-

cardigan

Cold Hearted: No matter what happens, Robby is there for Zion. They know each other, they trust each other, and confide in each other. This is especially true post season 3. There’s no other couple in the show or my book that really fits this song like them: “When you are young they assume you know nothing. But I knew you.”

-

the last great american dynasty

Cobra Kai: Tbh this song gives me Sensei Kim Da-Eun vibes. While I’m still waiting to see what they do in season 6 with her character, I think she fits the depiction of a badass woman coming to town and turning it upside down: “There goes the loudest woman this town has ever seen. I had a marvelous time ruining everything.”

-

exile

CH: This is the title of my playlist for Elion (Eli and Zion). The angst fits them so perfectly. Also, the mentions of violence and clear jealousy illustrates these two in season 2 and 3 in a way no other song I’ve found can. Taylor’s writing makes me so happy, and Bon Iver’s voice makes it that much more heartbreaking: “I can see you standing, honey, like he’s just your understudy. Like you’d get your knuckles bloody for me.”

-

my tears ricochet

CK: This very much applies to Johnny and Kreese. Kreese made Cobra Kai a safe space for Johnny in his childhood only to abuse him and shut him out. Johnny grew but brought back Cobra Kai then Kreese tries to join again. Once he did, he stole it from Johnny. I have too many quotes for this one so here’s a few: “And if I’m dead to you, why are you at the wake? Cursing my name wishing I stayed…” and “And I can go anywhere I want, anywhere I want, just not home.”

CH: Zion and Terry and Kreese are exemplified beautifully in this song, too. Like Johnny, they used her for their own gain while mentally abusing her in the process: “And you’re the hero flying around saving face.” and “‘Cause when I’d fight you used to tell me I was brave.

-

mirrorball

CK: Samantha LaRusso is a mirrorball. In season 1, she did anything to fit in and be popular like endure what Yasmine and Moon said to her and her former friends and classmates. In season 2, we get a glimpse of her changing herself to be with Robby and try to push Miguel and her feelings - both anger and love - away. In season 3, she’s masking her PTSD. In season 4, she does all she can to be the Bonsai Badass for her dad and the Miyagi legacy. In season 5, she finally breaks down for Miguel and says she can’t do karate anymore until she really knows who she is and overcomes all the mental obstacles still waiting for her. She also lets Daniel and Chozen in over the course of the show, letting the mirrorball crack more and more. (I love the exploration of her PTSD, if you can’t tell): “The masquerade revelers drunk as they watch my shattered edges glisten.”

-

seven

CH: Tbh I think this only fits Jess and Zion since we don’t know a lot about anyone’s childhood except Anthony and Johnny, but they don’t have any friends that would fit this song. Jess knows from an early age that Zion’s mom is bad, though they can’t put their finger on it. It’s such a sweet and haunting song about childhood that only they can really express: “Your dad is always mad and that must be why. And I think you should come live with me and we can be pirates then you won’t have to cry.”

-

august

CK: This is an accurate song for SamRobby. The summer romance, the angst with the Miguel of it all, and the whispers of hiding it from Sam’s parents: “‘Cause you were never mine.”

CH: This song heavily inspired the prequel chapters with Zobby (Zion and Robby): “August slipped away into a moment in time.”

-

this is me trying

CK: Johnny’s relationship with Robby is beautifully detailed in this song. It’s about overcoming alcohol and peaking too soon. Johnny won 2 AVTs in high school before losing to LaRusso. After that, he let it and his trust issues overtake him and thus drive Robby out of his life. When he finally gets his act together, it’s for Miguel. But he keeps trying for Robby at the end of season 4 when he tells Robby they’ll save Kenny together (though I still wish Johnny would prioritize Robby over Miguel more and actually help him rather than depend on Robby helping him but that’s another rant): “At least I’m trying.”

CH: This is also about Zion in season 5 to everyone she loves while she does all she can to recover from the addiction: “Pouring my heart out to a stranger, but I didn’t pour the whiskey. I just wanted you to know that this is me trying.”

-

illicit affairs

CK: Samiguel, duh. It’s not as beautiful of a story as Taylor describes because it’s just them kissing at a party while actively having their respective partners: “It’s born from just one single glance, but it dies and it dies and it dies a million little times.”

-

invisible string

CK: This may be a weird take in a non-romantic way, but the invisible string is for Julie Pierce and Daniel. The string is actually Mr. Miyagi. But regardless I think this is a cute way to think about it, like karate has bonded them even if they don’t know it yet. (This is also my official prayer and plea and whatever that Hilary Swank will be in season 6. I guess we’ll see): “Isn’t it just so pretty to think that all along there was some invisible string tying you to me.”

-

mad woman

CK: aka Tory. The woman is always mad as hell (/lh). She’s always called crazy and manipulated by some old Cobra Kai war veteran. Just give her a break, man: “Every time you call me crazy I get more crazy.”

CH: Yeah, it’s the same with Zion tbh. But I also pose the idea of it being Zion’s pov on the Demetri rivalry. He calls her crazy, initially had Yasmine on his side, and she reacts the only way she knows: “What did you think I’d say to that? Does a scorpion sting when fighting back? They strike to kill, and you know I will.”

-

epiphany

CK: Is it weird to give this song to Silver? (I guess it also applies to Kreese.) He’s a war veteran with very obvious and untreated PTSD that he uses to mold an ideal version of the world for himself where Cobra Kai rules and he doesn’t have to answer for his heinous and violent actions. He also hid away from the karate world after the AVT in ‘85 with his money, business, and rich friends, which was where we found him at the beginning of season 4. He even repressed those memories until Kreese brought them out, thus also bringing out the monster: “Just one single glimpse of relief to make some sense of what you’ve seen.”

-

betty

CK: This song is a poor apology, kind of like what Miguel gave to Tory. It reminds me of that scene in season 3 when Miguel is at Tory’s work accidentally and they talk and she calls him out on just wanting Sam back (despite that being her initial suggestion for the relationship anyway (also another topic for another time)): “I thought of you all summer long.”

-

peace

CK: Daniel’s song for Amanda. She’s such a catch, amazing wife, fabulous mother, and whatever. But Daniel can’t stop the karate villains from his past from emerging or from engaging with them. He may never “give her peace,” but he tries to be upfront about it. In season 5 she really snapped when rival after rival showed up and how Terry manipulated and divided them, but after he got hurt and she talked to Jessica it seemed better. And at the end of season 5 she gets it. So I feel like this song was a conversation at some point offscreen, and it helped their marriage significantly: “I’d give you my sunshine, give you my best, but the rain is always gonna come if you’re standing with me.”

CH: Zion to Robby. Rumor after rumor, fight after fight, manipulation after manipulation, and breakup after breakup. He’s still there for her. Like Daniel, she’s desperate to get her partner to know that she does all she can for him despite the drama the real world brings in. She acknowledges her trauma, and Robby acknowledges his. Because of this it’s a bit healthier than the song depicts where Taylor’s lover is on a pedestal in comparison to her. Let’s just say Robby lets her bejeweled (iykyk): “All these people think love’s for show, but I would die for you in secret.”

-

hoax

CK: I kind of feel like this is Robby’s song for his mom. He loves her and is so protective of her, but she keeps choosing alcohol (and drugs?) and men over him. Even though she makes him sad, she’s the person he goes to after kicking Miguel. Even though she’s not the best mom, she’s all he has. He let her do whatever just to keep his mom around: “Don’t want to know other shade of blue but you. No other sadness in the world would do.”

-

the lakes

CK: This one is for Miguel. He suffered in silence during season 4, doing what Johnny asked and supporting him when he was the one who needed that. He wanted to run away to Mexico because he felt he didn’t belong in karate anymore (and because of his dad but for these purposes it’s just because of karate): “What should be over burrowed under my skin in heart-stopping waves of hurt.”

CH: This one is also for Zion, the girl who always fantasizes about running away and finding a better reality than the Valley, especially with Robby: “I don’t belong, and my beloved neither do you.”

-

Fun fact: my Zobby playlist is called My Beloved. I’ll share the songs if you’re interested. It’s a long list, though.

Let me know your thoughts on this if you have any! Please remember this is just my take on things.

It’s fun to do these, so feel free to request more things. I’m most familiar with Taylor’s music, but I’m open to listening to new music or doing non-Taylor related content.

[rokhal]

ANGR fanfic: Up Close

Tears running down my face 'Til he looks back and turns it up all the way / And then I feel, I feel a song holdin' me tight I think a drivеr might've saved my night

Robbie’s niche musical taste saves a life.

Warning for suicide attempt, non-graphic, subtextual.

(Inspired by A Driver Saved My Night (up close) which was playing at the gym, and which I mis-heard as A Driver Saved My Life, and which does not at any point appear in this fanfic. And inspired by the Colorado Street Bridge in LA, which is very beautiful and, uh, has very high fences to keep people from jumping off.)

Two-fifteen on a Sunday morning; the bars were closing, the amateur clubbers were heading home, and the locals with ties to some after-hours scene were heading to private parties in garages and basements to keep the music and tequila flowing. Robbie didn’t go to parties anymore, but his rideshare gig had opened his eyes to a far broader range of music and hedonism than he’d ever explored as a rebellious fifteen-year-old. Five years was a lifetime ago.

Robbie was in Pasadena. This was a problem because he had work in the morning and Pasadena was anywhere between twenty minutes and two hours from Hillrock Heights, depending on traffic and construction. But the Uber app had been considerate enough to actually book him a pax heading toward home, so he was trying to stay awake enough not to crash into a pylon or lose control of his body and let Eli strangle the pax as they meandered through roomy suburbs lit by brand-new LED streetlights.

“You can play your music,” the pax grumbled as she pressed her damp face into the Charger’s window. She was about Robbie’s age, wearing a designer sweatsuit and missing a shoe. She’d been waiting alone on a street corner by the bar for him to pick her up, no one watching her back as she verified that he was the driver who’d matched her in the app, which for a woman meant that she either had bad friends or no friends.

Robbie’s music was an acquired taste. Eli had suggested Robbie add his current selection to his playlist, not knowing what it was, and now Robbie played it at full volume whenever he wanted Eli to shut up. It was titled Fuck Your Punk Rock, and was the most punk-rock thing Robbie had ever heard. “You sure?” he checked, reaching for his phone.

“I’m done being an inconvenience,” the pax spat. “Sure.”

Robbie woke his phone up and un-paused Fuck Your Punk Rock. A scream of metallic rage thundered through the Charger, and the pax jolted away from the window.

The pax stared at Robbie’s phone, followed the cable to the tape deck and back again as though to confirm nothing was broken. The current track was mainly static and electronic glitches, but there was a swelling undercurrent of clangs and creaks, and faintly an angry human voice. “You like that?” she asked.

Robbie shrugged. Listening to it at full volume felt a little like being the Rider, and it soothed the frustration that built whenever he spent too long without changing.

They drove on. The pax didn’t start crying on his window again, and instead curled down over her knees, her seatbelt sinking into the fold of her hips as she buried her face in her hands and rocked slightly back and forth. Robbie was...concerned. She definitely wasn’t sober, but she didn’t seem intoxicated enough to be this out of control. As they pulled away from a stop sign, she let out a rising, wordless yell.

I can make it stop, Eli offered.

Robbie twisted the volume knob a little higher. The static pops strained the Charger’s speaker-cones. The pax got louder to match it. By the end of the block, she ran out of air, but she just inhaled and then slowly built into another yell.

At least she hadn’t tried to stab him yet.

Ten minutes of yelling, and they reached the pax’s destination of 529 W Colorado Boulevard which turned out to be just the middle of a two-lane road. On a bridge over the dark arroyo, a tall bridge, with a great view of the sleepy night-time streets and sparse roads that lit up the distant hills. There was nowhere safe to park. “Is this the right address?” Robbie checked.

The bridge had eight-foot chainlink fence on each side, just inside the pedestrian railing. Pasadena really did not want anyone falling off, though there was nothing to stop idiots trying to climb the fences.

There was no one coming behind him, so Robbie dropped the Charger to first gear and rumbled along at its parking-lot pace. “Hey, uh.” He checked the trip on his phone, paused the album. “Lacey. We’re at the destination but there’s nothing here.”

The pax slowly lifted her head from her hands and stared out into the night, the soft glow of street-lamps on roofs and bushes, the deep black of the arroyo below. “They fenced it off,” she said.

The fence probably spoiled the view in the daytime; the bridge was a nice old-fashioned one, with sculpted concrete railings made to look like stone, a little too short by modern standards. “It’s a safety hazard,” Robbie remarked.

Robbie. I don’t see no reason to get in her way. Understand? We can help. It’d be a favor to her.

What?

“What were you playing?” the pax asked, pointing at his phone.

“Uh, cut-up noise,” Robbie explained. “It’s by Sickness.”

“Sickness.” The pax pulled out her phone, made a note on it. “I wanna listen to that again.”

The Charger rolled slowly over the void below, street-lamps in their path shining on the fence to either side of them. “I think there might be a safe place to stop on the other side,” Robbie offered.

“Can you put the noise back on?”

Robbie un-paused Fuck Your Punk Rock, then hurriedly skipped the track with the sampled helicopter noise. He had to be in a particular mood for that one. The pax leaned back against the headrest and growled at the ceiling, then screamed. Robbie realized that she was singing along. He joined in, accidentally opened the throttle in time with his breath and launched the Charger from ten to forty miles an hour. They reached the other side of the arroyo and he parked. “Okay,” he yelled over the noise and the engine. “Here you go.”

“Can I change my trip?” the pax rasped. She’d apparently yelled too hard.

Robbie shrugged. Hopefully she’d still be traveling vaguely South. He watched for the new destination to pop up in the app: West. Close enough.

“I like your music,” she continued as they headed off again.

Robbie raised one eyebrow. “Really?”

“It sounds like inside my head.”

It would be a mercy, Eli insisted. Robbie grimaced in sympathy, then held out his free hand to bump fists with the pax. “Rock on.”

[thecollectionsof]

Multiples of 7 that you haven't already done <3

hi eli !!! sorry it's late!! thanks for sending some in <3

7. Post a snippet from a wip.

here's a summary of one!

It’s been two months since her boyfriend left her, and Gigi still misses him more than she ever thought possible. It’s not like it’s her fault, or so she justifies to herself—she had thought that she was going to marry Michael one day, as long as her coming out as trans went well. But before she even got the chance, he was gone. He left with nothing but a note, or so she thinks, but when she comes back to what used to be their apartment to find a stack of postcards from around Mexico, she decides that there just may be more going on than she ever expected.

14. What is your favorite location and position to write in?

at the local library by the computers (but using my own laptop), in one of those fun little spinny chairs :)

21. Do you prefer writing chaptered fics or one-shots?

oooh oneshots, definitely. i love pressing the post button so i love just writing something and then finishing it not long after <3

28. What area of writing do you want to improve in?

god so many?? i think the biggest thing is pacing, i'm absolute shit at pacing. i just get frustrated and want to be done :p but i also want to work on when and where to use descriptions, like i'm having an issue where a few fics don't have much dialogue and i'm struggling to keep tension and interest without it, if that makes sense? i don't know, a lot of areas.

42. What’s your favorite title that you’ve come up with?

leave the light on :) it was actually supposed to be leave the lamp on, based on a spotify playlist, but i messed it up (i still like it so it's ok <3)

49. What fic of yours would you say is the best introduction to you as a writer?

i had to hold off on answering this until posting it but i think that confessing like penguins do has a lot of voice and personality (and also is a small fic with a kinda mundane premise that’s also friends to lovers. which is very my type of fic)

56. Are there any fics that you would change or rewrite if given the chance?

oh definitely! some of my earlier fics just feel a bit immature, like i'd want to add a few more lines and change them to feel more practiced. but i was new to writing then, so it makes sense!! i'd also change crystal's commenting, i think that it's one of my least favorite fics i've written. even if i think it would actually be my worst nightmare, it feels almost self insert or like. i was hoping that would happen? to me? which leaves a bad taste in my mouth. i just think it wasn't very well written or thought out, so that's one that i'd have to change a lot more or just scrap altogether :p

63. What was the hardest part of writing [insert fic]?

i'm gonna just do the thing that's being the hardest to write in lots of my fics right now: ANGST. aaaahhhhh it's so hard !!!!! i want them to be happy and in love but "angst makes the fluff more impactful and keeps the story interesting" or whatever

70. Are you subscribed to any writers on AO3?

yeah!! @gggoode of course, and @junosjukebox, @hannahlovesdance07, @goodemethyd, @sweetestberryofthebunch, @lady-assnali, and there are definitely more that i'm not remembering right now </3

77. Why do you enjoy writing fanfiction?

i love storytelling, and i love hopefully making people happy with my stories !!! also i’m such a reader so i’m happy that i get to be a writer and provide stories like the ones i love <3

[anakinskywalkerog]

hi olii!!! i feel like i havent popped in to say hello in ages, how are you? what do you think of my new icon? :D

i have been lurking on My Very Soul and i now remember the song i felt really represented anakin and (y/n) - Call You Mine by Bebe Rexha and the Chainsmokers (i think? i just remember the name of the song)

btw, i felt like i should share, but i made an anakin playlist! i keep adding more when i feel like it. i think some midnights belongs on here, so, soon!

i hope you dont mind me ranting to you about everything lmaoo, i cant wait for you to reply back *sheepish grin*

on the sw side: stoked for the ahsoka series soon! i made a new sw friend, she's awesome! we vibe to the prequels, and anakin, and the mandalorian! her leavers shirt was the anakin vs obi wan battle!

on the me side: things have been good! everything has picked up and got better since the whole diary fiasco, despite what i thought! i even made up with the girl who i said some awful thngs about. she's a swiftie, so it's easy XD (also she is machete's gf's bestie). she told me she got eras tour tickets, im so happy for her! her lit exam was literally on speak now tv. legend. i'm glad we're not fighting anymore. i made new friends, kept some of the old ones. if i could go back... i dont think i would change a single thing :") our finals are over, we're officially out for the summer (prom was amazing) ive been really really happy, and i hope you are, too ❤

on the sad beautiful tragic love life of sythe side: well, maybe not so sad or tragic, because... *drum roll* i have a boyfriend now! he is neither machete boy, or cranberry hehe. he's perfect and i adore him :D let's call him eli, but he sends me good morning messages, and has adorable nicknames for me, and makes me feel amazing ✨

it seems like machete and i have just magically cleared stuff up between us? he certainly doesnt seem to harbour any resentment towards me, or anything. we talk rarely when cranberry's with us, sort of like a mediator ? (cranberry is the unfortunate and accidental middleman lol, literally) although we do most of the talking without cranberry, sort of ignoring cranberry being there. we even have a snapstreak going. i've made peace with [the idea of] his girlfriend (she turns up in his snaps but it doesnt bother me anymore!) ; i found her tiktok and spotify a while back (not that i was looking for it). she has a playlist for machete with a bunch of swiftie songs too haha. it's different from mine. i think mine got really crazy because its sort of a mix between him and some other people, too, plus some songs are just there because i like them lmao

cranberry also has a girlfriend too now, i'm friends with her, but we're not close. it was sort of rocky between us for a while, and some weird stuff and some not cool stuff happened, but we stayed friends :) if i'm being honest, she's not the first person i would ship with him, but if he's happy, i'm happy!

another friend i might have dated is still around haha. let's call him han solo, because thats who he reminds me of. he's also cranberry's best friend! (he and cranberry insisted i write a fanfic for them hehe it was hilarious and caused chaos but everything's good!) he probably knows about eli by now. my friend, let's call her luna, is the captain of the sythe x han ship, but eli exists, and she knows it. but, she'll always ship me and han, i guess. he's nice, too. we only became friends in the period after everything with mchete and cranberry, so i don't think you've ever heard of him? but we had a blast towards the end of the year. we might even go to school together next year? i don't particularly want to make major life decisions over a guy who isn't even my boyfriend, but if we do, i would be really happy :)

all in all, i suppose it is a lovely end to a chaotic but perfect year ❤ i hope everyone gets all the love they deserve and live up to their full potential! it's made me realize that life is full of ups and downs, highs and lows, heartbreaks and falling in love, but in the end, everything always works out! i don't believe in luck, just hard work 💪

lots of love,

sythe x

hi sythe omg sorry I missed this!!! good to hear from you ❤️ new icon is very cute

omg I’m so happy your life is going so well!! happy for u that you found a nice bf who and that you are getting along with those girls. hopefully some of your good luck will rub off on me 🤦‍♀️ glad to know there’s still a bit of intrigue with this han guy. but you should definitely not make life decisions for a guy…there will be plenty more guys 😂 trust me. but eli sounds super sweet

thank you for sharing your playlist and also, I am SO excited for the Ahsoka series!! also glad you made a star wars friend!

my life has been a bit of a mess this summer haha but such is LIFE sometimes we are chaotic girls and I am just weathering until the storm passes currently

check in again soon! ❤️

[jules-has-notes]

collaboration spotlight — Disney Playlist Sessions — Newsies

Continuing the celebration of Disney On Broadway's 20th anniversary, VoicePlay's talented arrangers put together a handful of songs for the North American touring cast of Newsies. These reimagined tunes span and mix genres in the guys' expect-the-unexpected fashion, and the talented cast members perform them beautifully.

These videos were filmed at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas during the week when the tour was performing there.

.

This song was a huge hit in 2015, and its exhuberent melody is a fantastic match for a group of young musical theater professionals. This is the most straightforward arrangement of the batch, but that doesn't make it any less fun.

Details:

title: Shut Up and Dance

performers: Dan DeLuca & the touring cast of Newsies

original performers: Walk the Moon

written by: Ben Berger, Eli Maiman, Ryan McMahon, Nicholas Petricca, Kevin Ray, & Sean Waugaman

arranged by: Layne Stein & Geoff Castellucci

release date: 26 March 2015

My favorite bits:

the rhythm being provided entirely by spoon playing, tap dancing, and a guy with a wooden box

those simple, solid backing harmonies

a quintuple pirouette in tap shoes, very impressive

Dan's flip up into falsetto during his quiet solo after the dance break

Trivia:

VoicePlay also arranged a portion of this song for themselves as part of their "Aca Top 10 – Summer Hits 2015" countdown.

.

Turning a classic wistful Disney ballad into a romantic duet could be a fairly simple task, so the VoicePlay boys decided to include a little twist. With the addition of a slightly faster, more jazzy rhythm, these actors made it endearingly flirty.

Details:

title: A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes

performers: Dan DeLuca & Stephanie Styles

original performer: Ilene Woods as Cinderella in Disney's Cinderella (1950)

written by: Mack David, Al Hoffman & Jerry Livingston

arranged by: Layne Stein & Geoff Castellucci

release date: 2 April 2015

My favorite bits:

the swingy beat and surfer movie instrumentation

the little harmonizing moments as they pass the melody back and forth

Stephanie's incredible vibrato

Trivia:

VoicePlay had previously recorded a portion of this song as the opening segment of the Pumpkins, Poppins, and Sorcerers medley on their 2012 album of Disney music, "Once Upon an Ever After".

.

Within the show, this song is a rousing anthem for the newsies. This version adds a more feminine touch and a groovy beat that stands on its own.

Details:

title: Seize the Day

performers: Angela Grovey & the touring cast of Newsies

original performers: the cast of Newsies (2012)

written by: Alan Menken & Jack Feldman

arranged by: Layne Stein & Geoff Castellucci

release date: 9 April 2015

My favorite bits:

Angela building from soft and breathy to a big, bold belt

love a good bell chord, especially on a lyric like ♫ "one" ♫

the boys' synchronized scoops after the key change

and a bit of funky bass to round things out

Trivia:

VoicePlay included a brief excerpt of this song in their "aca-Disney" medley that they recorded as part of the kickoff to Disney On Broadway's 20th anniversary celebration.

.

The best mashups have a unifying theme, and this one definitely follows that rule, interweaving two hopeful, defiant songs by downtrodden residents of the Big Apple.

Details:

title: King of New York mashup

performers: Jacob Kemp & the touring cast of Newsies

original songs / performers: "King of New York" by the Broadway cast of Newsies (2012); "Why Should I Worry" by Billy Joel as Dodger in Oliver & Company (1988)

written by: "King of New York" by Alan Menken & Jack Feldman; "Why Should I Worry" by Dan Hartman & Charlie Midnight

arranged by: Layne Stein & Geoff Castellucci

release date: 16 April 2015

My favorite bits:

Jacob staying in that distinctive theatrical accent while singing

DeMarius's gritty high notes

those crunchy harmonies on ♫ "Why should I worry?" ♫

Trivia:

Like regular VoicePlay collaborator Deejay Young, DeMarius Copes went on to be a longtime member of the touring cast for Hamilton, with the Philip tour ensemble.

.

Extra:

As a bonus video for this series, castmember Zachary Sayle, who played Crutchie on the tour, recorded a performance of a song newly added to the show, "Letter from the Refuge".

[elysiumwaits]

Ely’s Ever-Changing Playlist - Sat. Aug 31st

You can find the playlist on Spotify right here. The Ever-Changing Playlist is best listened to on Shuffle Mode. I plan on updating this playlist every Saturday, and rotating songs out and in with new releases and whatever’s caught my fancy this week.

Feel free to send me music you like, I’m always open to new songs to listen to and I like literally every genre except death metal and polka. (I’m also not a big fan of musical theater, tbh). But like seriously, fuck polka.

This first playlist is a pretty eclectic mix of new releases and not-so-new releases, in a variety of genres. Probably a little heavy on the rock, to be honest, but that’s the mood I’m in this week. You’ll get whiplash, though, ‘cause there’s some good country and pop on here too.

Song list and comments are under the cut!

Scrawny by Wallows - I love self-deprecating but somehow still kind of cocky rock (like Polaroid by Imagine Dragons). They also have that bedroom rock kind of vibe that I love. Plus I love the line “I’m a scrawny motherfucker with a cool hairstyle” and hardcore relate to the line “I say the wrong shit at the right time.”

Wild Roses by Of Monsters and Men - I honestly didn’t know how to feel about the new album for a couple of weeks. They’ve definitely gone for a more pop vibe to their songs - Alligator was catchy but it seems like a lot of the songs on their Fever Dream album just don’t have the same lyrical depth as songs like King and Lionheart or Wolves Without Teeth or Little Talks. It’s a good song - catchy, like I said - but honestly I was hoping for better when I heard a new album was coming out.

Blame It On my Youth by Blink-182 - This may actually be my most highly-anticipated release this year. For one thing, Blame It On My Youth actually sounds like Blink-182, like you could follow it with All the Small Things and there’d be no real musical shift. Which is honestly amazing, considering how much they’ve been through as a band, and of course, the lineup changes. Hoppus still sounds like Hoppus, though, and the music is still that glorious “fuck you, watch this” guitar that kickstarted the whole early 2000s guitar rock (you wouldn’t have FOB without Blink-182, and you can tell in the early FOB albums). I love to see Nine come out on September 20th - Blink-182 is a legendary band in the punk genre and hearing this song felt like coming home. “I was bored to death, so I started a band/ Cut my teeth on the Safety Dance, my attention span never stood a chance.”

Love All Night (Work All Day) by Yola - You know those gentle 70s rock/soul songs? Vaguely influenced by country, definitely influenced by R&B, leave you with a feeling of home and comfort while also kind of inspiring you to go out and work on some social change? It’s definitely got a Memphis rock vibe, but it also really made me want to listen to The Temptations and Creedence Clearwater Revival. The best part about it is that this album came out this year.

Circles by Post Malone - I’m actually a huge Post Malone fan, because I’m a huge Fleetwood Mac fan. You might be wondering how those two things add up. Post Malone cites one of his major influences to be Stevie Nicks, and in fact his vocal (when he sings, instead of rapping) draws a lot from Stevie’s unique vibrato and slurring of the words. Circles captures this beautifully, but if you really want the best that Post Malone has to offer (in the singing department, I’ll fight people over how good Wow. is), you really need to check out his remix and mashup of Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams from his August 26th mixtape. Check it out here. The unfortunate thing is that it can only be found on Youtube or the mixtape app DatPiff.

Drive by The Cars - So this is on the list because Tim McGraw put out a cover, and I usually like Tim McGraw, but Drive is not a song you can make a country cover out of. You can’t do it. Listen to this one instead of the Tim McGraw version, and if you’re really wanting a Tim McGraw fix, Neon Church is good.

Refugee by Melissa Etheridge - Speaking of covers, this is my girl Melissa’s cover of Tom Petty and the Heartbreaker’s Refugee, and frankly, I like it more. She goes hard, is the thing, sings every word like she fuckin’ well means it. That’s the thing about Melissa Etheridge, she is passionate about her music. This cover was released on her greatest hits album in 2005 - fun fact, this album included four new songs total, including I Run for Life, written for others, like Melissa, who have gone through breast cancer. It’s a damn good album, I had to recently buy a new hard copy because I wore the first CD out.

Mornin’s Gonna Come by Brent Cobb - I actually don’t know why this hit the Apple playlists this week, considering it was released on the album Providence Canyon back in 2018. It’s a pretty southern-rock style song, despite the country label, and sounds like a party song right up until you’re listening to the lyrics. Turns out it’s about the fact that everything done in the dark will eventually come to light, whether that’s a hangover or something deeper.

Soon You’ll Get Better by Taylor Swift feat. Dixie Chicks - Okay, listen. I love this song. Hearing Natalie come in on the vocals in the background for the first time since 2006 made me bawl. The Dixie Chicks were the main music of my childhood, I grew up with Wide Open Spaces and Fly. Add in the poignant lyrics about watching someone struggle through illness - Taylor opens up in an article that it’s about her parents’ battles with cancer, but we all take something away from music we listen to and it made me cry because I relate to it from a mental and chronic illness standpoint. 

60 & Punk by Death Cab for Cutie - So, Death Cab actually has a new EP coming out and the new single on it Kids in 99 is pretty good, but I’m still stuck on their album Thank You for Today. I don’t know if it was my stint in the Pacific Northwest that kickstarted my Death Cab love, or if I’m just naturally drawn to their music, but I would argue that Thank You for Today may be their best album. 60 & Punk is sad, honestly, about watching your heroes grow old and give into the world around them. But it’s good.

Reaper Man by Mother Mother - Mother Mother is one of my favorite bands, and Reaper Man is right up there in my self-deprecating-but-cocky genre. Released in 2014, and a staple on my playlists since. 

Head Above Water by Avril Lavigne feat. Travis Clark (of We The Kings) - Okay, raise your hand if you can still sing Complicated or Sk8er Boi from memory, because I sure as hell can. I can also do Check Yes Juliet from memory, because I grabbed it off the free iTunes download back in the day before it ever blew up - I’m a hipster. Anyway, Avril’s surfaced with a frankly marvelous album about growing up, getting divorced, and dealing with the devastating effects of Lyme disease. This is a bonus single - you can find her solo version on the album also titled Head Above Water. 

Hollow by Barns Courtney - There’s really no deep meaning to this one for me, I just really love Barns Courtney and haven’t found something they’ve put out that I didn’t like yet. Catchy and rock and pop, this song makes me want to dance.

Summer Girl by Haim - Everyone I knew back in 2013, in my little pocket of rural America, turned their noses up at Haim. I was like, “Oh my god, they’re amazing!” and my coworkers are like “Why does she sing like that?” It was weird to me because The Wire was named one of the best songs of the year, hit charts all over the place - weird. Anyway, Summer Girl has a super lowkey acoustic vibe, and I love it.

Far From Born Again by Alex Cameron - So Alex Cameron is pretty hit or miss for me - I either hate what he puts out, or I obsess over it. Far From Born Again is an obsess-song, because it’s honest-to-god the best sex worker song I’ve ever heard. Every time a “positive” sex worker song comes out, it’s always something like Porn Star Dancing or Shakin’ Hands or Pay Me. The worker is always over-sexualized and vilified in some way or another, and frankly, it’s exhausting. I like Far From Born Again because it’s super realistic to my experiences - lines like “It ain’t your goddamn business if she does it for pay” and “pays bills while you all still text jerks” and “she’s a woman earning more than a man” - puts the focus where it should be. She’s not some over-sexed nympho doing it for the thrill of it, it’s a job that she’s good at. 

Don’t Call It Love by Quiet Riot - So, literally everyone has heard Cum On Feel the Noize or Metal Health. It’s interesting to see Quiet Riot pop on charts again, especially considering that they haven’t had a founding member of the band in the lineup since 2010. That said, the members currently do include Banali and Wright, who were in the band at the height of Quiet Riot’s success in the mid 80s. Current vocals are done by James Durbin, as the vocalist Kevin DuBrow passed in 2007. Quiet Riot as we know it was revived mostly to celebrate the memory of DuBrow, actually, and on the insistence of DuBrow’s mother.

Last Day Under the Sun by Volbeat - I just really fuckin’ love Volbeat. That unique mix of hard rock and rockabilly, mixed with my frankly inappropriate feelings for Michael Poulson’s voice, gets me every time. I was drawn in by Lola Montez and here we are today.

All Apologies - Live & Loud by Nirvana - So this live album was actually released in 2013, and just popped up on my feed because it was just put onto Apple Music, which is where I get all my music from. You can also watch the whole concert for free, which I can’t bring myself to do yet. Nirvana is my favorite band of all time - literally of all time - and All Apologies has the ability to bring me to tears. I actually have “All in All is All We Are” tattooed on my back. Vinyl is coming out, concert is up, go live your grunge baby dreams with me.

Black Hole Sun (Live from The Artists’ Den) by Soundgarden - So this is a recent release of their 2013 Artist’s Den concert. It’s a bittersweet release for the band, who decided earlier this year to disband after the death of Chris Cornell, following their only concert without him. They chose to release the live album because they remember how much fun Chris had that night, according to a Spin article. Of the major original Seattle grunge bands, that means that only a few remain - Alice in Chains lost Layne Staley, Nirvana lost Kurt Cobain, and Soundgarden lost Chris Cornell. Pearl Jam is still going strong, though. (Technically Alice in Chains is still active, but DuVall has nothing on Staley). 

Can You Feel It? by White Eskimo - Okay, so following all that rock trivia, I was absolutely floored when I found out that White Eskimo had recent music... because I only know them as the band that Harry Styles was in before One Direction. Anyway, it’s a pretty catchy pop-punk song, I dig it. I love that the first actual info I found about them, with current news, was on the Harry Styles wiki. 

Lullaby by Kalie Shorr - Here’s that whiplash again, how about some country? Brand new country, even. I have a bone to pick with country lately about how it all sounds like pop with exaggerated accents and how that pisses me off, but I like the acoustic vibe Kalie Shorr has going on. It’s that good old country song about loving someone you shouldn’t and then letting them go. She honestly reminds me a lot of Sunny Sweeney.

Tennessee Whiskey (Live from City Winery Nashville) by Sara Evans and Olivia Barker - This is a classic country song, written for a half-drunk slow dance with your sweetie at the dive bar (which is honestly the best way to hear it, not gonna lie). The best version is the without a doubt Chris Stapleton’s cover, and this cover is a cover of that cover, but if you want to go back, it was originally recorded by country great David Allan Coe - of “You Never Even Called Me By My Name” fame if you do the bar circuit like I do. It was also recorded by George Jones in the 80s, and then a bunch of other people. There’s a reason Sara Evans is a modern country great.

The Chain (from The Kitchen) by the Highwomen - I got a lot of bones to pick with the Highwomen - I don’t like them and I’m not afraid to say it. I think it comes from the fact that The Highwaymen was created by the pioneers of outlaw country, who were pretty much on the outskirts of country music due to their lifestyles and other factors. The Highwomen have good sound and good writing, but they’re all pretty mainstream, and they should have chosen a different name. Anyway. This is a good country cover. 

The Daughters by Little Big Town - I like this song because it tackles a lot of issues still prevalent in societies in country and rural areas, primarily feminism. A lot of people don’t realize that out here in the sticks, the gender norms are alive and well - if you don’t have a kid by 21 and you’re a girl, you’re out of the norm and you’re gonna die alone. You get a lot of women who get married young, then spend their lives cooking and cleaning and never thinking about anything more because this is all they know, this is what their mothers did. The song goes over the delicate balance a woman plays down here - you have to be strong but not too strong, and you have to “know your place.”

The Louvre by Lorde - I wasn’t a fan of Lorde’s second album at first, because I was very much stuck in the sound of the first. It’s growing on me. 

Remember the Name by Ed Sheeran, Eminem, and 50 Cent - So I’m a big fan of Ed Sheeran, and my mom loves Eminem and 50 Cent. I like some Eminem, and some 50 Cent, but overall I’m not a fan of rap. What I like about this song is that it sounds like an early Eminem a la “The Real Slim Shady” so it’s catchy and easy for my audio processing issues to follow. I also just dig cocky songs.

20 Something by SZA - I started listening to SZA when my brother sent me the DJ Khaled song Just Us that featured her vocal. I love her voice and lyrics, and also the fact that my little bro relates so much to a lot of her music that it sometimes makes him cry (apparently Just Us made him cry). 20 Something is my favorite off her debut album - I mean, everyone I know is a 20-something right now, and the lyrics hit home.

[kiwixlime]

Between You and I - Part Seven

Recommended listening - Tear You Apart by She Wants Revenge.

This is my 100th post! I was saving it for an update, so here we go! It's a little longer, coming it at around 5k words, but I was trying to build up some story line, too, lol. Anyway! Enjoy this chapter because man the next one is gonna be a mess. As always, thank you so much for reading. I love and appreciate u all. PS - I literally don't remember what I write so if I repeat things, I am super sorry. But I just get an idea and spend a couple days writing with the flow. So I never go back and reread things. Sorry!

And about the song. It just came on one of my playlists and I was like, hm. This works. 18+ Minors DNI

You sit in the passenger seat of Joel’s truck, the visor down with the mirror angled at your face. He watches with interest as you apply a bold coat of red lipstick to your lips, sticking your finger between them and pulling it out with a pop. His face twitches at the action. He should not find that so attractive. 

But you look good tonight. You look good every night, but rather than wait and get dressed at the club, you took your time and got ready at Joel’s place. He’s had to watch you float around in your skimpy outfit for an hour with you telling him no touching. It’s part of why you had to do your makeup in his car. You couldn’t risk him messing it up with his aroused kisses. 

You saved the lipstick for last, swiping your eyelids with champagne glitter complimented by thick black liner and false lashes. The lashes were a surprise for Joel, who could not get over the fact that they were, in fact, fake. And yes, you put them on top of your own. A wild concept for the man, but it was endearing. 

“God damn,” Joel mutters, his eyes still fixated on you. You stop fucking with the ringlets in your hair and glance over at him. Suddenly, you feel very self-conscious. 

“What?” You frown, looking down at your outfit. Tonight’s getup consists of a black bustier corset and skirt accented by red ribbon and lace detail. It’s not your favorite costume, but it accentuates your curves and pushes your breasts up, showing them off. You look hot. At least, you thought you did until Joel spoke. “Do I look okay?” You question him with a soft voice. 

“In that ensemble?” Joel snorts, flicking his eyes over your frame, burning every part of you into his brain. Under the dim parking lot lights, you are seductive, almost mythical. He thinks if he reaches out to touch you, you might just disappear. “You look like every teenage boy’s wet dream,” he blurts. 

“You say the sweetest things to me, Joel Miller,” you tease, glimpsing back at yourself in the mirror. After adding some setting spray, you’re good to go. Even if there were issues with your makeup, you have no time to make changes. You’re already running late. “Come on, let’s go,” you groan as you open the door. 

Tonight, Joel has decided to join you at the club. You were complaining earlier about how much you didn’t want to go, and Joel being the perfect man he is, said he’d tag along. His reasoning was that if you saw him waiting for you in the audience, the night would pass by quickly, and you'd be with him the second your shift was done. You’re not sure about that, but you love the thought. 

Ever since you went on your date with him, he’s been more delicate with you. His touches are gentle and affectionate. The words he speaks are wrapped in compassion. And the way he fucks you, well, it’s tender. It’s loving. You don’t want to get ahead of yourself, but his newfound passion torches those embers within you. He’s clingy, in a good way. And his actions are much like yours. Filled with love. 

But no, you don’t want to get ahead of yourself. 

“I’ll sit you in the VIP section,” you tell him when you enter the familiar building. The sequined walls welcome you back, and the lights have already dimmed to a cool violet shade. You greet Eli at the ticket counter and get Joel checked in, slipping a shiny gold wristband past his watch. Your stomach churns, knowing that it was a gift from Sarah. Oh, if only she knew what you were up to now. You swallow the lump in your throat and put a smile on your face, taking Joel’s hand. “The VIP tables have the best view in the house. So, I expect excellent tips,” you jibe. 

“I have to tip you now?” He laughs, following your lead through the club. “Isn’t that prostitution?” You don’t turn around, but he can hear you huff at his joke, and his smile widens. He keeps up as you weave through smaller tables until you reach a bigger raised platform. Velvet ropes drape around the location, and you unhook one, ushering Joel up. 

“Enjoy the show tonight, Mr. Miller,” you flirt, leaning over the cords. You swear you can see him blush a little as he relaxes back onto the velour loveseat. You step away for a second before returning, biting your lip. “And yes, you have to tip me. But… I didn’t say how,” you whisper suggestively, shooting him a wink before jumping down from the platform and sauntering away. 

His eyes stay glued to you until you vanish behind the purple curtain. Once you are out of sight, Joel exhales through his nose as worry seeps through his bloodstream. The hold you have over him is concerning, and he knows it. Truth be told, you have him hypnotized. And it’s not just your looks, or your youth, or your enthusiasm to do whatever he wants. You are extraordinary. It’s as simple as that. He could live a thousand lifetimes and never meet another soul like you. 

He’s not a big believer in things like fate. But that day you bumped into him changed his course in life for sure. How can he not thank the planets for aligning at just the right moment to bring you to him? 

Sarah would say it's destiny. 

But he can’t think about Sarah. He’s so afraid of her finding out this secret. But the problem is, he wants to tell her. He wants to tell her everything because he’s so intensely connected to you, he doesn’t want to hide it. Sarah is the most important person in his world, and her feelings come first. He wants her to accept his relationship with you because if it comes down to it and he has to choose…

He’d have to say goodbye to you. 

Lost in thought, Joel doesn’t realize he’s not alone anymore. Your coworker, Daphne, is standing beside him with a knowing grin on her face as she stares the man down. It’s only when she clicks her tongue that he snaps out of his daze, embarrassed. 

“Hey, I don’t blame you,” she says, comforting him. “Our girl looks good tonight.” 

“Yeah,” Joel nods in agreement. “She sure does. Did you need something?” He asks awkwardly, wondering how long she had been standing there before knocking him out of his fog. 

“Just to take your drink order,” she says cheerily. “What can I get you?” 

“Oh,” he frowns, darting around the room for you like a lost puppy. 

Daphne must notice because she laughs and snaps her fingers in his face. “She’s behind the bar. I’ll send her back with your drink. Just tell me what you want.” 

“Sorry,” he apologizes shyly and orders a scotch, thanking Daphne as she walks away. His eyes fall on the bar, and sure enough, there you are, mixing a cocktail. He smiles out of instinct, and you return it, sending him a little wave as well. 

Daphne stops in front of the bar, and he watches the two of you talk. She must say something witty, probably making fun of him, because your head falls back as you let out a laugh with your friend joining in after. Great, he thinks. Made a killer first impression on the people in your life. 

“Okay, for starters, that man is gorgeous and I hate you,” Daphne declares, leaning over the bar top, giving you Joel's order. You can’t help but laugh at her comment, agreeing with her. She glances back at him and then smiles brightly at you. “And secondly, he is so in love with you, it makes me sick.” 

“Daphne!” You chirp, standing straight in alert and almost dropping a bottle of alcohol in the process. “Don’t say that,” you whisper. “He is not.” 

“Oh, please,” she scoffs and turns around, deliberately pointing to Joel who's sitting there staring at his hands. “I know I’m kind of challenged in the male emotions department,” she admits, making you chuckle. “But I know love when I see it. And cupcake, that man is in love with you.” 

You glare at her while you get together Joel’s drink, cheeks burning crimson all the way to the tips of your ears. She really said that. And now you can’t get the thought out of your head. 

But she doesn’t know what she’s talking about. She already admitted she’s bad at reading guys. She obviously has this one wrong. Obviously. Without saying another word, you grab your tray and make your way over to where Joel sits, leaving Daphne and her silly accusations behind. 

Joel fidgets while he waits for his booze. For whatever reason, he's feeling nervous tonight. This is your territory. This is your life. And you’re welcoming him in, letting him be a part of it. He's seen you dance before, once with Tommy, but this is so different. It’s intimate in a unique way, and he just wants to make you proud to be with him. 

“Your drink, sir,” your sweet voice says as you return to him, holding out a glass and a cocktail napkin. He mumbles his thank you, swiping the drink from your hands and downing it quickly. You stand by with wide eyes, shocked by his restlessness. Once he’s done, he gasps and sets the glass down thoughtfully. “You good, babe?” You ask him, practically feeling the panic that branches off him. 

“I’m anxious,” he admits, wiping his sweaty palms against his jeans. “I’m like, really fuckin’ anxious.” Okay, maybe Daphne is on the right track with this whole love thing. But…you can’t be sure. Don’t read into it. 

“Aw,” you coo, reaching forward for his hand. He lets you take it, lacing your fingers and giving him a reassuring squeeze. “Why?” 

“I have no idea, sweetheart,” he says. “This all feels really personal.” 

“Joel,” you say flatly, attempting to hide your mischievous smile. “You’ve seen me naked. Pretty sure that’s more personal than this.” 

“I know! How crazy is that!” He all but shouts, a wild look in his eyes. 

“Okay,” you giggle, dropping your hand from his. God, he's cute. “Can I get you a refill?” 

“I’m okay,” he assures you with a warm smile. “Go do your thing. I’ll be fine.” He nods as you stand there, sizing him up. You still have some questions, but he seems to be calmer now. So you leave him there, needing to attend to other customers. 

If only Joel knew how quickly things would change the second you left.  

You make your way to a table across from him, socializing with other patrons, taking their orders as you flip your hair over your shoulder, leaning down just close enough so some dick with a baseball cap gets an eyeful of your tits. It’s over the top flirtation, but the guys don’t care as long as you’re paying attention to them. They eat that shit up. 

Joel’s man enough to admit he feels jealous of the way these guys watch you. He doesn’t like when they flirt with you, and he certainly hates when you tease back. But it’s a part of the job. He understands this. If anything, it gives him a moment to take a step back and dial down the overly possessive thoughts swimming in his mind. He doesn’t own you. Yeah, you tease each other about it during sex. But you are your own person. He would never be that guy. Unless he's railing you. 

But he does have to fight down the urge to knock in their teeth when they check out your ass. Not that he can blame them. Anyone with a sense of sight would be floored by you. 

So he gets it. He does. And these men, they’re mostly respectful because even though you and every other performer in here are dressed like pinup girls, it’s a well-established joint with a good reputation. The audience comprehends that, so they keep their hands to themselves and their comments just above skeevy. 

Every once in a while, a rowdy client comes through. But that’s when security steps in and gives them the boot so as not to ruin the night for anyone else. You’ve told Joel that those nights are few and far between. And that it’s been a while since an incident occurred. 

So when you traipse past the VIP section to a table a few rows ahead of him, everything kind of moves in slow motion as a guy in a suit guides his hand to slap your ass. It takes a few seconds for Joel to wrap his head around the act before his protectiveness kicks into drive. He stands, rage ticking through him, ready to lunge at a notice. He’s halfway over the obstruction of velvet ropes when he hears your voice. 

“Excuse me, sir!” You scold, your tone reaching a decibel Joel’s never heard. It garners the attention of surrounding tables, all watching in anticipation. “Touch me again and I’ll have you thrown out,” you snap. 

“Like you have the power to do that,” douchebag in a suit slurs. You brush him off as a drunk idiot, not worth your time until he opens his mouth again and grabs your wrist. “Stupid slut.” 

Joel hears those vile words drip from that man’s mouth, and all he can see is red. His fists are ready for destruction. But before he can do anything to defend your honor, you’re yelling again. 

“Eduardo!” You call out, tearing yourself away from the man's aggressive hold. He has the nerve to smirk, totally unfazed by your temper. 

In seconds a tall, broad man approaches the chaos. He’s dressed in black from head to toe, hair slicked back, not a strand out of place, rigidity in his face. His muscles bulge as he crosses his arms, and his chunky army boots thunder against the floor as he makes his way to you, standing by your side. “Something wrong?” His deep voice asks, and the smirk on the pervert’s face falls.  

“This creep won’t stop touching me,” you huff, singling out the dickhead who grabbed you. 

Eduardo’s face hardens, and he captures the guy by the suit collar, yanking him from the chair he’d been occupying. The man wiggles in Eduardo’s hold, panic setting in that his drunk mind can’t understand. “No touching the performers,” Eduardo says harshly. 

“Performers?” The stranger chortles, spitting when he looks at you. “She’s basically a stripper.”

You roll your eyes and walk away from the altercation, as it's beneath you. Eduardo will override the guy’s last warning and have him kicked from the club any second. You’re done with that.

Footsteps come up behind you, and you know it’s Joel, coming to check on you. You have to admit, it would’ve been hot to see him in action. But if he dared to try, he’d be removed from the premises for beating that guy to a pulp. 

“Are you okay?” Joel asks, tugging on your hand affectionately. His spicy cologne fills your senses as he draws you close, examining your face for any type of distress. His warm hazel eyes look you over, and you swear, you’ve never felt so adored. 

“I’m fine,” you hum, leaning into his touch. The pad of his thumb skims over your jaw, down the side of your neck where you’re sporting faded bruises. His touch is mild as he outlines the mark he left and goosebumps raise over your arms. You tilt your head up and stand on your tiptoes to leave a faint kiss on his cheek. “Just settle in, relax. I’ll send Daphne over with another drink.” 

“Are you sure?” He asks, still concerned for your well-being. 

“I am,” you insist, motioning for him to return to his seating area. “I have to get back to work. Go, enjoy the show.” 

Joel (hesitantly) does as you say, going back to his area. He thinks about what just happened and how enraged he was, ready to annihilate that guy if needed. He’s always been the protective type, but this was startling. He saw you in danger, and it terrified him. He realizes now just how much he would do anything for you. Anything at all. 

Daphne comes around with another scotch, pulling him from his revelation. He thanks her, slowly sipping this one and enjoying the smooth taste as it travels down his throat. “You’re a good guy, Joel,” she states, catching him by surprise. “You’re the kind of guy she deserves.” 

A smile tugs on his lips, his insides twisting with a pleasant feeling. He likes that. A guy you deserve. It briefly makes him wonder about the guys you’ve had in your past. But that’s unnecessary suffering. 

The night goes on, and much to Joel’s dismay, a young group of men have decided that you are their favorite worker this evening. They toy with you and constantly call you back to their table. You put on a facade and flirt back, just for tips. But it makes Joel uncomfortable. He sees the way they look at you. The way they whisper amongst themselves when you walk away. 

He notices how easy it is for you to talk with them. And when it’s your turn to perform, they’re the loudest ones in the room. You smile, and Joel knows it’s your job to be friendly, but with those guys, it comes so effortlessly. He doesn’t like this jealous feeling festering inside of him. It’s rare and unpleasant. 

When the night is over, you hurry off the stage and head towards the back to change into the comfortable sundress you brought with you. Joel gets a text from you that says you’ll be out in a few minutes, so he waits by the door, chatting with Eli from earlier. He sees the rambunctious group of guys from before also waiting, probably for you. Fire burns through Joel’s veins when he hears them talking about you as if you’ll follow them home for some gangbang. No, that’s too much. He gives up and decides to wait outside instead. 

He waits for you in his truck, radio on in the background. He sings along to the song, tapping his fingers against the steering wheel in time with the melody. He’s carried away, lost in the music, he doesn’t hear you open the door. You slide into your seat with a big smile on your face. And he cringes at what could have you so bubbly. Was it those guys? Wow, okay. He’s acting pathetic. And a little bit like a psychopath. 

“Hey, why did you leave?” You question as you lean over for a kiss. His lips aren’t responsive, so you pull back, pouting. 

“Thought I’d give you some time,” he says coldly, and he knows that he sounds like an asshole, regretting his tone as soon as he opens his mouth. Get it together, old man. 

“Does this have anything to do with those boys?” You smirk, mocking him. Oh, so you saw them. “You have nothing to worry about,” you tell him, leaning over the center console again. You plant a sloppy kiss on his cheek, giggling as you pull back. 

“Hmph,” he grunts, pouting like a little kid. This is new. It’s kind of charming, if you’re being honest. 

“You know that this job comes with people who want to sleep with me,” you point out ruthlessly. “And maybe I’ll play along, let them wonder, but it’s all for show. You know you’re the only one who gets to fuck me.” Your voice drops an octave, your hand inching up his thigh. 

“You sure about that?” He asks, watching your delicate hand grip his jeans. 

“Of course,” you purr, dipping your fingers between his legs, scaling up his inner thigh until you reach the front of his jeans. You cup him in your hand, and he bites back a gasp. 

“That’s right,” he sighs and slants over, grabbing you by the hair and crushing his lips to yours. He’s dominant, holding you tightly in place, his lips molding with yours. His teeth scrape against your bottom lip, harshly tugging it into his mouth. His kiss is selfish, smothering you while his fingers wrap around the loose curls of your hair and pull. You can hardly breathe as he slips his tongue into your mouth, massaging it against your own. Your fingers curve on his chest, breathing through your nose until you feel like you’re going to pass out. He only lets up when you whimper against his bruising kiss. 

“Joel,” you wheeze, sliding your hand up his chest. 

“You good?” He asks, breathing heavily alongside you. Still catching your breath you nod, and he accepts that before kissing you again. His hand grasps the back of your neck, dragging you into him as his lips slot with yours, his tongue fiercely flicking inside your mouth. His other hand fucks with his seat, pulling the lever so it slides back. Your lips break apart from his, but he wastes no time tugging you on top of him. It’s a struggle to get into position, the wheel digging into your back and your head brushing against the roof, but you eventually do, settling your thighs over his. 

His greedy hands sweep up the length of your curves, starting at your thighs, up your sides, dropping back down to grab your ass. You wiggle against him, attaching your lips to his neck, piercing his skin with your teeth until you feel him groan against your mouth, low rumbles in his throat. His hands make their way back to your thighs, drifting upwards, under your dress. He bunches the fabric between his fingers, hiking the material up, exposing your panties. 

“You look so good in blue,” he murmurs, letting his fingers swipe up the front of your core, pressing against the soaked cotton. He rubs you through the soft material, watching your perfect body writhe on top of him. Your head falls back as he presses a knuckle to your clothed cunt, extracting a heavenly moan from your lips. 

“Oh, yes,” you say quietly, so low he almost misses it, but he catches the silky sound and pushes your panties to the side, sinking one finger past your slick entrance, then another. You quickly undo his jeans, eagerly pulling out his dick and taking it in your hands. His mouth claims yours again, sucking on your tongue while his fingers pump into your pussy faster. You try to match his pace, squeezing him harder, panting into each other’s mouths as he fucks you with his hand. But your grip on him falters when you feel him hit that delicious spot inside you. “Oh, god, Joel! Right there,” you beg, grinding against his fingers. 

“Touch me,” he demands in return, and you shiver at his tone. You comply, getting yourself together enough to jerk him off. You stroke his cock faster, paying special attention to his red, leaking tip, dipping into the slit with your thumb while your other hand works his base. In the dingy light, you can see his precum shining along his dick. And you crave to have him in your mouth. But Joel has other plans. 

He rips - literally rips - your panties off, revealing your needy pussy to him. You gasp in surprise, titillated when his rough finger drags through your folds. “Mr. Miller,” you whimper, pushing back on him. 

He chuckles darkly and taps your hips. You know what he wants, propping yourself up a bit so he can easily guide his cock into you. You sink down on him, groaning at his thickness as you feel every inch of his hardness brush against your walls. You start off fast, desperate even, rocking on top of him. This isn’t fun, playful sex; it's not even sweet, passionate lovemaking. It’s a quick, dirty fuck to show you who you belong to. 

“That’s it, baby,” he growls, “ride my cock.” He has a death grip on your hips, yanking you onto him, fucking you so deep you can practically feel him in your guts. “Look so good on top of me,” he whispers, keening his fingers into your creamy skin. He barely moves, staying almost still, making you do all the work. You bounce on him, gasping with each roll of your hips as he penetrates your sweet spot over and over. He reaches up to pull down the straps of your dress, letting your tits spill out in front of him. He grabs them in his hands, tweaking one nipple while he sucks on the other. You’re in bliss, that blinding gush of euphoria blanketing over you. 

“Fuck, Joel,” you moan loudly, grabbing at the back of his neck. You ride him faster, stabbing your nails into his skin, little crescents marking his neck. “Baby, I l-love…your cock.” You curse your tongue for almost letting your true words slip - I love you. I love you. I love you. 

“Of course you do,” he mumbles, finally moving and thrusting up into you, making your body rattle against him. “Who do you belong to?” He snarls, his hand shooting up to grasp your throat. His hold is tight, clutching at your trachea, stimulating all your senses until your mind becomes murky. He forces your head to stay up, looking into your lidded eyes. “Say it,” he orders. 

“Y-you, Mr. Miller,” you gasp, voice splintering. “I’m yours.” He gives your throat one final squeeze before moving his hands into your hair. Joel twirls your silky strands around his hand and tugs hard, shooting sharp sensations along your scalp. But he wants you where he wants you, head curling back with your pretty neck exposed so he can bite and suck wherever he pleases. You don’t know if it’s the possessive words he mutters in your ear or the rough way he handles your body, but it’s the hottest sex you’ve ever had. With anyone. 

“Good girl, such a good girl,” he moans, bucking into your cunt hard and fast, astonished at how you clench around his cock. You're so tight and warm, wet and perfect, he could fucking live between your legs. And you can barely get a word out, only pathetic whimpers with your mind consumed by desire. “This sweet little pussy belongs to me, doesn’t it?” He smirks.  

“God, yes,” you manage to choke out, your thighs quivering against his. He impales you hard, watching as you collapse on top of him and bury your face in his shoulder. His strong arms wrap around you, holding you in place as he jerks up into you. He's scalding against you, heating your entire body with delight. 

“Yeah, no one else can fuck you like I can,” he grunts, snapping his hips quick, making your worn out body jolt. He's not asking you questions anymore, he's telling you truths. “Those pathetic boys your age,” he scoffs as if the thought of them near you disgusts him. “They don't know how to please a girl like you.” His breath is searing in your ear, blowing against your cheek. "Girl like you deserves to be fucked right." 

He’s right, he’s so right. He’s right about all the things - about everything. Joel Miller is so deep inside you, fucking you to the brink that your brain becomes fried. Whatever he says, you agree with it. He is right. You can’t think about anything else except how wonderful he feels buried into your tight heat. You can't even remember what day it is. Christ, what’s your name again? 

“I’m gonna cum,” you breathe, shaking on top of him. Your hair is drenched with sweat, adhering to the sides of your face. And your breathing is rapid like you cannot take anymore.  

“Not until I say so,” Joel demands, and you cry out in both pleasure and frustration. “You’ll cum when I want you to. Got it?" He asks and you nod. "And I want to hear my name come from these beautiful lips. I want you to fucking scream it." 

“O-okay,” you agree, your pussy gripping his cock, welcoming him, taking everything he has to give you. Even if you feel like you're going to crumble. 

He uses what little energy he has left to fuck you into oblivion. You can feel his dick twitch inside you, and you brace weak hands on his shoulders, trying to roll your hips as he cums. He shoots deep into your overly sensitive pussy with his seed, fucking you through his climax, painting your walls with his cum. Just the thought of him inside of you brings you closer. And you can’t hold on much longer. 

“Mr. Miller, please,” you mewl, biting hard on your lip. “I n-need to cum.” 

“You think you deserve it?” He rasps, his hand coming up and grabbing your chin, forcing you to glance down at him. "Does my girl deserve to cum?" 

“Uh huh,” you sigh, releasing your lip from your teeth. Joel's fingers tip your chin, pulling you close so he can kiss you. It's sloppy, full of teeth and tongues, but it feels so good. 

“I think so, too,” he grins, showing his first sign of mischievousness since you started fucking. “Go ahead, baby. Cum, let me see you.” 

“Joel, fuck, Joel,” you moan his name like he asked, reaching up to grab at the roof of his truck, scratching your nails against the material for something, anything, to hold on to. Your orgasm hits you hard. Joel can feel your body trembling on top of him as you release, a sense of pride bubbling up inside. 

You're both panting, sticky, sweaty by the time you've come down from your rush. The windows have fogged, the scent of you and Joel lingers in the air, and you feel dirty. But in the best way. Your eyes meet his, and your heart thumps with affection. You love him so much. 

He can feel your heart pounding, knowing his is going just as strong. And all of the puzzle pieces come together to paint an obvious picture before him. Those feelings, the overwhelming emotions that took over him tonight. There's a reason for that. 

He loves you, too. 

Masterlist

[to-be-a-dreamer]

7 -Elliot

We're not gonna talk about how long it's been since I posted the original prompt for this ask game, just accept it. Also, since it's been a while, I've added new songs to my liked songs playlist, so if I ever talked to you about what song you got, it has since changed.

Eli didn't give me a character but, unsurprisingly, he wants Finch.

7 is Smokey Eyes by Lincoln!

This song is about leaving behind the people and things you love and being forced into a new environment, specifically college. It's about desperately holding onto the things you used to have, like old friends, in an attempt to make the transition easier. And while the speaker is going through all this, their ex-partner has more or less left them behind; they're perfectly happy with their new life and are thriving at their own university.

What I'm thinking for the actual fic is Finch going off to college and, for whatever reason, none of his friends from high school ended up going to the same university as him. Not for any malicious reason, that's just how it worked out. He was fine with it at first. He was happy for all his friends who got into their first or second choice universities and only a little disappointed that none of them seemed to have the same dreams for the future as him. And a bit more disappointed when he found out all of his friends were going to the same university as at least one other person in their group, and that he would be the only one going at it alone. He had always known he was a bit of a black sheep within his friend group when it came to personal interests, but it had never bothered him before.

It wasn't until Finch started searching the incoming freshmen's Facebook page for a roommate that he realized he hadn't had to make a new friend since elementary school. He'd met all of his friends through other friends or forced proximity in group projects. Did he even know how to do it?

The fic would start with a chapter or two about Finch going through his first semester at college without really making any new friends, despite his best efforts. He joins clubs that interest him, talks to his classmates, and invites his randomly-assigned roommate to go with him to campus events. And while he makes a lot of friendly acquaintances that he waves at in passing or has short conversations with before class, Finch finds himself finishing the fall semester pretty lonely. He can't even think of a single person that he'll miss seeing over the break.

It doesn't help that his high school friend group hardly talks anymore. Most of them expanded their little pairs into groups at their new colleges and only message the group chat to send pictures or tell funny stories. They hang out a couple times over Christmas break and Finch spent the entire time jealously listening to all of them swap fun college stories and tell each other about all the new friends they made.

When the spring semester begins, Finch isn't very optimistic. He didn't make a single friend in the first four months of school, so why would the new year be any different?

Well, the new year is different because he has a class with the very loud and very persistent Racetrack Higgins. They share a table in chemistry lab and we would follow the development of their friendship, which begins with very limited conversation in lab. Finch is unintentionally very guarded, subconsciously believing that the reason he hasn't made any friends is that there's something wrong with him.

But, eventually, they start having actual conversations while they work and then start going to the dining hall together for lunch after class. Chem lab is only on Wednesdays but it quickly becomes the highlight of Finch's week. He feels kind of dumb for being so excited about something so simple, but it's basically the only consistent human interaction he has and he does genuinely enjoy talking to Race.

And I don't want to ramble for too long but you can probably guess how it goes anyways. Race ends up introducing Finch to Albert and their other friends and Finch starts enjoying college more, his mental health improves (he hadn't even realized it had gotten bad in the first place), and his grades even get a bit better. All of his life problems aren't magically solved because he made some friends, but life problems are a whole lot easier to face when you have someone in your corner.

There would probably be some other main conflict within the story for a more substantial plot, but Finch's adjusting to college and learning how to enjoy it would be a major part of it.

So yeah, the fic is basically just about finding your place and learning that it's okay to hold onto past memories, as long as you don't let that stop you from making new ones. I don't really know if I've explained it very well so far, but one of the major reasons Finch wasn't able to make actual friends at first is because he was kind of "stuck" in high school. He missed the way things were and didn't want to let that go, but all of his old friends had already started to move on to the next stage of their lives. He also sort of hid away in his dorm room because he was afraid other people would hate him so he subconsciously decided to not even try. Maybe it would have been better if one of his old friends went to the same college as him, maybe it would have been worse, who knows? But Finch has to learn that even though change is scary, and facing new experiences by yourself is hard, he can do it and everyone else is going through the same thing. It's just easier to go through it with someone else.