#hanging on by: ellie goulding

[thegodsdemise]

I love this. I actually own the art of god of war book; along with the god of war comics. Hope more of these come out OP. 🍻

This comic is drawn from the flashback scene in chapter 6 of Lie By Omission. I really recommend this fanfic

[elfgremlin]

idc what u say. ellie goulding's album halcyon days fucks

[bbtoni]

Joost Klein x reader [reader as no name]

Angst with good end [they were fighting]

Hope you like it!

I slowly walk through the city, light rain falls on the streets.

My legs are taking me where?

Where do I go after what just happened?

After what Joost said to me?

After Joost screamed at me like that?

My arms are heavy, hanging and yet they still want to reach for him.

Having his warm body against mine.

I'm slowly getting my steady breathing back, which had become uneven

I grabbed the keys, which were accidentally his, and left. I went out into the streets in the dark.

Only a few shops give me light, the lanterns flicker

But where do I want to go?

In the forest? Where we had our first of many picnics?

Or would you rather go to the lake? Since we looked at the stars so often, the shooting stars were supposed to fulfill our wishes, did they?

Or should she have ended it like that? Were we always doomed?

Could this just be one argument among many? Where we look back later and think how stupid we were?

Will it ever be the way it was? Will it get worse or better?

Can I ever see his beautiful eyes looking at mine full of love again?

I like the mountain where I so often thought he would propose to me here. But that idea is gone, will it ever come to that?

Will it ever get to the point where I think I would marry this man again?

And yet I want to feel his hands on my arms, his head resting on my shoulder.

How my body rests on his and the silence envelops us, which is so magical that you don't bother to do anything to make the silence go away.

How many times have we looked into the sparkling water and wanted to swim in it?

The first time in the water, I saw his eyes mimic the stars.

The way his eyes look at my body like it's the most beautiful one he's ever had.

But was that really him? Was it the right decision to give him all of me?

Should I have waited? No, I won't go that far. It was right, right to give him what I had to give. Had to give so I know he means it.

Does he know I'm here? My body settles. On the cold ground of the Berger, but what does it matter? The night wasn't cold, it was humid, so a thunderstorm could come at any time.

Or were we the storm? The thunderstorm for us? The storm that had to get rid of everything so that things could continue?

Should we be the thunderstorm?

Steps come behind me but I don't turn around. The steps are heavy and hasty.

Suddenly arms wrap around me that I know too well. I know so well that my head lies on my body and rests for a moment.

"I knew you were here, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry I screamed, I'm sorry I said those things I didn't mean."

'Oh Joost, things happen right?'

I turned my head to him and saw his eyes were glassy. Took my hand to his cheek and rested my forehead on his.

'Nothing we can't solve'

I get a small “right” in response as he sits down.

'Let us shine like the stars, Joost'

[lousypotatoes]

Can we please get Loona x Male Sinner Reader? Thanks for your time!

Oh boy, I'm not the best at writing for male readers, but I'll do my best!! Hope you like it <33

Song Recommendation:

Love Me Like You Do - Ellie Goulding

Part 2

The Intern - Loona x Male Reader

"I swear, I'm gonna shoot myself if Blitz has me get him one more cup of fucking coffee," you grumbled, setting down the plastic cup full of the hot liquid.

"Well, that's what an intern does, Y/N," Moxxie said. "They run errands, get coffee, get lun-"

"I get the point, Mox," you mumbled, running your fingers through your H/C hair. "Did you guys need anything?"

"Nah, we're good," Millie said. "Thanks Y/N!"

"Mhmmm,"

"Y/N!!! WHERE'S MY FUCKING COFFEE?!"

"I'm coming! I'm coming!" you cried out, grabbing the coffee cup, starting to walk towards Blitzo's office.

"You better get in there," Loona joked. "You don't wanna see him without his coffee."

You turned your head, hoping to hide the blush creeping up on your face. "He's not that scary,"

At that moment, Blitzo came out of his office, looking very tired and very angry.

He looked scary.

"Y/N, if you don't give me my coffee right now," he said in a deadly calm voice. "I will rip your dick off and shove it down your throat and out of your ass you FUCKING CUNT LICKING BITCH!!!

You looked over at Loona, smirking at you because she was right.

"Sorry Blitz," you muttered, handing him the coffee cup. "Here's your coffee sir,"

He swiped the coffee cup from your hand and chugged the whole thing.

"Ah! Now that's much better!" Blitzo said, stretching out his limbs, throwing the empty coffee cup at your head. "Now go get me some booze."

"What kind would you like, sir?" you grumbled.

"I don't fucking know, anything to get me drunk off my ass," he said, walking back into is office. "It's a get drunk off my ass kinda day."

"Right away Blitz," you mumbled as he slammed his office door.

"You want me to come with you?" Loona asked.

"Oh-uh" you stuttered. "Only if you want,"

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

"What's Earth like?" Loona said suddenly, as the two of you walked back to I.M.P headquarters.

"A lot better than Hell, that's for sure," you chuckled, swinging the bag filled with beer.

"How did you die?" she asked.

"What's with all the questions, Loona," you joked. "I was driving home drunk one night and t-boned someone."

"Damn," Loona said. "That sucks, I'm sorry."

"It's whatever,"

There was an awkward silence for a moment.

"Why did you decided to intern at I.M.P?"

You had to think about it for a moment.

"I guess I wanted to learn to protect myself against the exterminators," you said. "And what better way to learn than from assassins."

Loona stayed quiet.

"I don't know if I'm gonna stay an intern, though," you said, rubbing your bicep. "I might just check in to that redemption hotel."

"Well if you do," Loona began. "We'll stay in contact, right?"

"Yeah, of course,"

You and Loona awkwardly smiled at each other. Blush creeping onto both of your faces.

"Hey, you wanna get a bite to eat?" Loona asked, pointing to a fast-food place across the street.

"Sure," you said.

"Blitz would throw a fucking hissy fit if he found we were hanging out,"

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

"YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU SAW MY LOONY AND THAT HPV HAVING PRICK LEAVE TOGETHER AND YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT?!?!"

"I-I didn't think anything of it sir-"

"IF THOSE TWO END UP PLAYING TONSIL TENNIS, I SWEAR TO GOD MOX, I WILL FUCK YOU AND YOUR WIFE SO FUCKING HARD THAT YOUR DAD WILL FEEL IT IN HIS MOBSTER BOSS BALLS!!!!"

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

I haven't written for Helluva Boss before, so I hope it's good lol. I also need to rewatch the series. Hopefully we get a new episode soon lmao.

Remember to drink lots of water and stay safe <33

xoxo, Izzy

[l0velylecter]

say yes to me — simon ‘ghost’ riley / f!reader

— “like a barge at sea, in the storm, i stay clear.”

— 'FAITH WILL GET YOU KILLED.’ HE sounded tired, sad even. The mist was starting to crowd you from all sides. Above, snowflakes danced in the light: a choreographed ballet conducted by the gentle wind. You tentatively reached out to brush the masked cheek with your thumb, putting on your best smile even if tears pricked the corners of your eyes.

‘ Well, you've kept me safe. Haven’t you, Simon?’

summary : when his enemies used your history with simon against him, the soldier begins to reflect on your relationship, well, whatever was left of it: even after the divorce, life still finds a way to drag you back into the crossfire, back to him.  pairing : simon ‘ghost’ riley / f! reader fandom : call of duty modern warfare ii rating : m for mature and suggestive themes, minors don’t interact (mdni!), not safe for work (nsfw!) warnings : descriptions of violence, cursing, references to past substance abuse, arguments that may be anxiety inducing to some, anger management issues from simon  tags : angst, hurt and comfort, simon struggling to face his emotions, divorce, reunion after years, scenes with brief descriptions of sex in it, female parts, fab!reader,  told in parts, refrences to his past from the comics, a small headcanon about his (dead) mom  word count : 1.7k song used for inspiration : yes to heaven by lana del rey & my blood by ellie goulding 

01 | Simon rescued you in winter. Sedated by the wind, the city's heartbeat begins to fade; the air — cold with the promise of snow. It distracted you from the fact that you were bleeding, your blouse clinging to the warm and wet wound. It also made hearing harder: past the ringing in your ears, you could hear him shouting, movements rushed as he knelt to haul your body atop his lap. The familiar string of curses erasing any suspicions of his identity.

" Simon." You rasped, smiling even if everything was hurting," My Simon."

" Keep your eyes open." He ordered, " Don't you fucking close them."

He told you to focus on something, anything to keep you awake. So you anchored yourself to how he curled his finger around your shoulders because even if his eyes were stern to save his composure, his grip says otherwise. He has always held onto you as if you were going to slip away, tightly, surely. As if Simon wanted to convince himself that you weren't a dream ready to be ripped away from him by the morning ( but maybe this was the first time he wished otherwise). He'd tap your cheek from time to time. The brief and sharp sting prying your eyes open.

Simon adjusted you across his lap, your body rocking as the helicopter landed roughly. Somewhere along the way, a confession had slipped past your mouth, "I thought...you wouldn't come."

There was a quick flash of anger across his face: fingers twitching and knees tensing beneath you.

" I won't next time."

When you woke up in a hospital bed, a nurse went to alert the doctor, the empty chair by the foot of the bed staring back at you.  02 |  Simon left you in spring. He didn't visit, didn't call, didn't write. You didn't expect him to anyway, carrying on with your life as if you'd never seen him in the first place. The whole thing felt like a hallucination. Seeing Simon again felt like witnessing a premonition of a ghost who should be good as dead to you. Yet your stitches said otherwise, and so did Captain Jonathan Price, his visit an overdue prediction that came true late in May. The bouquet resting against your vase was supposedly an apology for the intrusion — " I was raised proper."

" Let me guess. Simon's angry with me."

Price lowered his cigar, mouth curling downwards, " No. Not at you."

You relaxed against the couch. You wouldn't be so careless to claim that Simon trusted him, but at the very least, you knew he respected the man. You reminisced about the first time you met Price ( even then, he had a cigar hanging from his mouth). He had hauled Ghost past your doorway: bloody, battered, and bruised. That must've been at least seven or eight years ago when you'd just started living with your husband.

Right, you swallowed, catching yourself — when he was your husband.

As if hearing your thoughts, Price sighed, " You weren't on any official records. There was no documentation, no pictures. Nothing. No one knew about you."

" And now?"

" His team suspects, but I doubt there'll be any external witnesses left to ever pull a bloody stupid stunt like that again."

You raised your brow.

" He went after everyone in that warehouse. No survivors. No witnesses."

The image of Simon covered head to toe with blood, eyes furious and lethal, flashed before your eyes. It would make sense why he wouldn't want to rescue you next time because, after his purge, you doubt there would be anyone — anything left to hurt you. He's on leave now. Simon says he wants to be thorough.

You could barely keep it together when gesturing at the flowers, " Tell him I said thank you."

Price asked how you knew it was from Simon — " The staff in the center used to teach classes on flowers. That included gardening, making bouquets, and learning meaning behind them. After...after what they did to him, he wouldn't talk for months. I guess that class was his way of trying to fill in the silence. Daffodils bloom first during spring: new beginnings, sorries. I taught him that. He used to get me them all the time.”

You shook your head, feeling helpless, “He hasn't changed." 03 | Simon’s kisses felt like summer: hot, intense, and angry — his lips burned against your skin. He crowded you against the wall of your apartment, a behemoth of a man even out of his tactical gear, leaving you with barely any space to touch him. 

You whined, begging him to slow down, yet he kissed you with teeth and tongue and urgency. When he cupped your chin roughly with both hands, angling your face under the dim light from the kitchen: peeling back the silhouette to take a good look at you, flushed, panting, and crying.

He growled into your mouth, hoisting you up his waist, " You should've paid more attention. He could have fucking hurt you."

You winced, recalling the events that took place: how the midsummer heat stung your skin as you quickened your pace to get away from the man who had followed you down the block. The moment you pulled your keys out to unlock the door, he had picked up his pace, only to scram the moment Simon appeared behind you. He would have gone after the attacker if you had not gripped his arm for support, overwhelmed: your knees nearly gave out. As if possessed by an irresistible force, the sight of you weakly clinging onto him and on the brink of tears had compelled Simon to undo years of restraint — which would explain why you can taste the frustration in his mouth.

" You'll always protect me. I know it," You managed in between kisses. Briefly, you wondered how long Simon's been looking out for you. Was this what he chose to do on the rare occasions he was off the field? All those times he probably saw you on dates: trying and failing to get over him. All those times you cried about him. All those times you bought yourself daffodils. 

There was something bittersweet at how he seemed to remember the way to the bedroom you used to share, legs finding their way when he was too occupied with you. And you couldn't swallow the tinge of sadness swelling in your chest when you remember every touch, from how he loves to kiss down your back to how he feels inside you; angling you in a way that hits all the right spots. He pistoned in and out of you almost brutally, your body pliant and welcoming under him, blooming at the memory. And when he inserts himself to the hilt, you moaned because you never forgot: how could you forget? It was as if time never passed between the two of you, it was natural, it was instinct, it was like coming home.

When he finally pulled out, leaving you throbbing and empty, you whispered for him to stay — fingers latching onto his when he stood up. And you scrambled to seize the moment he sat back down, breaking down against his chest, words pouring out of your mouth. I missed you. I never wanted you to leave. I still love you. I'll always love you. 

He didn't need to take off the rest of his balaclava for you to know what he was thinking: I don't want to hurt you. Because I will hurt you.

You lay in the dark for a few seconds, five seconds turn to fifteen, turn to thirty, sixty. And when the first rays of sunlight came to wake you gently, Simon was gone. With the bedroom door slightly ajar, the left side of the bed was neat and spotless. Your legs — still warm and wet. 04 | Simon married you in autumn. You remembered how cold it was that day. Even inside the church, the air was frigid, yet still — the silence was only interrupted when the vicar entered. ( The church was not only for privacy, he said, but also for his late mother. Finally, it was a first and rare glimpse into his past. She was baptised here.)

You had nervously glanced at him, smiling lopsidedly with eyes bright and hopeful. Yet Simon remained passive, eyes only wavering when you started reciting their vows. It was the only time Simon had shown any real fear in front of you, and you remembered what you did that day. You had gripped his hand tightly in yours the entire time, kissing each finger before he gave you your ring. 

You explained how the joy of having him carry you up the steps of your home was short-lived, washed under the reality of his pain. There was the temper, the drinking, the insults. The moment arguments got out of control and silent treatments turned too cruel — he started pushing you away, hoping to cut you off to prevent watching you fall apart himself. 

"You underestimated me, Simon. That was the worst part," you finished, ending your story with a weak shrug, " I would've stayed if you had just asked me to. You know I would. I have faith in you, Simon. In us. I still do."

Outside, the shades of yellow and orange swept over the barren ground, except for a few sprouts of daffodils, stubbornly persevering through small miracles. The wind down the mountain slithered past the holes of the old wooden roof as whistles. They ring softly against the silence, echoing down the Rhenish helm. Today would have marked a decade's worth of anniversary, but now it's just become a resting ground for him to haunt — the sight of Simon without a mask, sitting by the pew and staring up at you, a memory you want to burn on the back of your head.

" Faith will get you killed," he sounded tired, sad even. The mist was starting to crowd you from all sides. Above, snowflakes danced in the light: a choreographed ballet conducted by the gentle wind. You tentatively reached out to brush the masked cheek with your thumb, putting on your best smile even if tears pricked the corners of your eyes.

" Well, you've kept me safe. Haven’t you, Simon?"

There was a pause, and you swore the wind held its breath in anticipation with you, waiting, pleading for him to agree at the chance to start again with you. Say yes to me, your fingers whispered, tentatively brushing his hand. Heavy snow is due to arrive early, marking new beginnings: the birth of a new season, the start of his deployment, but to you, a long and terrible winter just ended the moment he kissed each finger to hold your hand.

a/n : zoo wee mama, that took a toll on me. all in one sitting because i am yearning for a domestic life with this man even if i know it will not be easy. fear not simon, i might be senstive and cry the moment someone slightly raise their voice at me, but i am loyal to the bone ( and just delusional enough ). i know this leans more on the reader’s perspective and very ‘read in between the lines’ aka vague, so i hope this style is enjoyable still to read. i personally have to mark this as one of my favorite ficlets / works , cause i love seeing simon suffer. speaking about seeing simon suffer, this is dedicated to : → @flaneurpastel : your support of my angsty simon fics and my work overall in general is something i really cherish, i’ve only briefly had this account but i am so thankful for your support !! and your works are amazing... here’s to more angsty simon fics !  → @gh0stswh0re​ : you are the first page i follow on here and the first account to actually get my ass moving to write about cod : mw ii because your works are jiust *chef’s kiss*, and i’m so excited for your december writing plan... i’m booking front seat ! → everyone who reblogged and liked my angsty simon fics... you guys keep me going mwah x + note on timeline : → the comics talk about simon’s past, he was tortured and needed to go to rehab around 2003-2004 ish, so i assumed he spent a couple years then in therapy / rehab for substance abuse because he needed to cope, and that’s where you met him. marriage happened right after he got revenge on roba and right when he was first employed by 141 ( which probably was why it didn’t work out ) and ever since then it’s just been longing and heartache. and 2022 rolls up, which is cod : mw ii, and i assume this is probably before or after las almas and shadow company !  → feel free to adjust it if it’s better for you or correct me if i’m off or wrong ! 

[imagine-horizons]

Surgeon of Death: Doll Edition IV

Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 3 trafalgar d. law xf!siren warnings: suggestive sexual content, minors dni summary: you were always safe with him, and now, he wonders how safe you would be from his desires. Now Playing: Love Me Like You Do - Ellie Goulding

You had fallen asleep next to Bepo when Law found you and the rest of the crew in one of the local taverns. Your head was resting on your arms on the bar table, and the others scrambled to find an excuse of why you had been dragged out so late into the night. Carefully he picked you up bridal style, and you subconsciously tucked yourself closer against his chest. He carried you back to the Polar Tang without another word, straight to his Captain's quarters and laid you down on his bed. Law settled next to you and gently pushed a strand of hair away from your face, drawing the blankets over you. Never did he think he would be in this position - you reminded him of home, and he was your safe haven, and for the first time he thought about a personal future with someone else. He was so focused on avenging his past, focused on finding the One Piece, that he forgot about what would come after. He became so lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice you wake up.

"Law?" You rarely said his name, and his eyes flickered to you, and he leaned over so he was practically nose to nose with you. In recent weeks, the two of you have gotten closer. The slight brush of the hand against the small of your back, the bump of his chin against the crown of your head and when you leaned in to get his attention, your noses practically touched.

"It's nothing," the Surgeon of Death murmured, gently stroking your cheek. Your eyes fluttered closed as he let his lips ghost across yours teasingly. He let his tongue flicker across, gently wetting your lower lip as your mouth parted slightly. He couldn't help himself and closed the gap between them, drawing a soft sigh from you as he deepened the kiss. His tongue coaxed yours to play with his, and when he pulled away, he could see a thin string that still connected them, your tongue hanging out, panting from the loss of oxygen from their kiss. Your cheeks were flushed, as your bright blue eyes gazed at him in awe and shock.

"You really are a siren, aren't ya?" Law growled. "Tempting your Captain." Your blush deepened as he grasped your chin with two tattooed fingers. He pushed the blanket off of you, and crawled over you, caging you as his legs straddled your hips. He grabbed your hands and moved them above your heaad, as he interlaced your fingers together. A whimper escaped as you rubbed your thighs together, your knee accidentally brushing against him, and a deep groan rose from his chest and emitted from his lips.. "What... do you want your Captain to do?"

"I want - " Your voice trailed off into a whine, as Law leaned down to nip at your collarbone with his teeth. Your next words would send the Captain's mind and heart into a frenzy.

"I... want the Captain to give me orders," you managed to whisper. You watched as Law's eyes immediately darkened, pupils blown wide open to the point where his irises were non-existent.

"Do you trust me?" He asked gently, releasing one of your hands, to cup the side of your face. He couldn't bear to think of even hurting you, which always made him wonder if he really could keep you safe, especially from himself. But you nodded, and nuzzled against his touch.

"Yes," you replied, your eyes hypnotized by Law. He leaned in even closer, and a soft cry escaped as he gently licked the shell of your ear, a smirk on his lips.

"That's my girl."

[notoriousbeb]

Lighthouse Keeper Tweets

Part Three: February 2024 - July 2, 2024

Back to Part One Back to Part Two

Feb. 5, 2024 (barely) 12 a.m.

"'I have been used to consider poetry as the food of love.'"

Now THIS is interesting. First, this is a Jane Austen quote (from Mr. Darcy of Pride and Prejudice [see 11/28 tweet, as well]). In the book, Darcy goes on to say, "Of a fine, stout, healthy love it may. Everything nourishes what is strong already. But if it be only a slight, thin sort of inclination I am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely away." What Darcy is saying here is that he formerly thought pretty words and declarations were enough to sustain a relationship, but he now knows that's not enough. The underlying bond has to be strong first, or it's all for naught. Interesting. Because, my second point about this post is: this is the date of the Grammy's, and the date Taylor announced The Tortured Poets Department.

Feb. 16, 2024 1:30 a.m. BST

"You don't mess with love, you mess with the truth."

These are lyrics from Ellie Goulding's "On My Mind." Someone can't stop thinking about someone!

Feb. 18, 2024 10:45 p.m. BST

"The dirt on my jeans from the mud on the Heath feels like karma to me"

Perhaps someone is starting to realize he fucked up.

Feb. 23, 2024 4:50 p.m. BST "A tangle on the television and the magazine."

These are lyrics from The Arctic Monkey's Teddy Picker. Perhaps, and this is just a guess by me, obviously, but maybe a shot at TK, who was riding around in a rented sportscar, speeding and blowing red lights in Australia while following Taylor on tour?

Feb. 26, 2024 12 a.m. BST

"I've let love be free, and I've let it go. I've let it fade and I've watched it blow."

Sad.

March 20, 2024 5:35 p.m.

"You go back, Jack, do it again, wheel turnin' ' round and 'round"

These are lyrics from Steely Dan's "Do It Again."

March 22, 2024 1:41 a.m.

"One to remember A spill to reflect on High in your bedroom Will you still remember?"

He mentions in his replies that he's "feeling creatively inspired by the people [he's] surrounded with." Perhaps in the studio? A little poem for someone. Reminds me of the "you smoked then ate seven bars of chocolate," line from TTPD song. So, maybe, yeah, she did remember. Gah, these two exhaust me.

March 28, 2024 1:10 a.m. "If you're gonna try and walk on water make sure you wear you comfortable shoes."

These are lyrics from The Arctic Monkey's " Piledriver Waltz. Could be nothing, but it could also be a few things.... Anxiety about the impending TTPD release (thinking about the line "you're gonna shoot me out of a cannon" here). Pics of TK and TS at Nobu that had just popped up where TS looked annoyed as hell. Also there were all those pics of them from their beach vacation. Also, a few minutes before, he'd posted something about the stars, and then deleted it and proceeded to gaslight everyone on his timeline who asked about it. smh.

April 5, 2024 12 a.m. BST

"Would you hear of an old-time sea-fight? Would you learn who won by the light of the moon and stars? List to the yarn, as my grandmother's father the sailor told it to me?"

This is a bit of the Walt Whitman poem "Song of Myself." Has the tell-tale moon and stars, of course. What is he fighting for, I wonder. And who will win?

April 8, 2024 10:35 p.m. BST

"I looked around then for a reason When there wasn't something more to blame it on But, if time makes a difference while we're gone Tell me now, and I won't be hanging on"

These are lyrics from The Eagles' "Train Leaves Here This Morning." Maybe feeling defeated? He's about to leave to go to Japan with TR. When someone mentions in replies that this isn't a happy song (it's not. it's about one of the band members going through a divorce), LK replies: "Or, you could see it as a gateway to happiness. Sometimes the path to joy needs some pruning, and leaving things behind." Then someone else replies, "This is how it has to be though, right?" And LK responds, "I mean... no? Nothing really has to be anything; new things wash up on the shore, seasons pass, gardens flourish and die. Life is ever fluctuating. But also, it's just a great Eagles song." That's some true blue Aquarius shit right there. LOL. Another tidbit from the replies, he likes "Idaho" and "Words" by Gregory Alan Isakov.

April 12, 2024 8:30 p.m. BST / 4:30 a.m. JST

"Take a second, take a minute, take a mile Run the routes, light it up, enjoy the highs"

Probably in Japan?

April 19, 2024 12:31 p.m. BST

"Certified member of The Tortured Poets Department now."

And so it begins, again. Comments in the replies that he's feeling "tortured and poetic." Says he can't pick a favorite track yet.

April 25, 2024 7 p.m. BST

"I won't sit here and wax poetic to try and untangle the way we've crossed each other's firing range"

Sure, Jan. In his replies, he says he's currently inspired by "my life, my fears, my loves, my losses, in no particular order." Also says his current favorite TTPD track, "Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus" "has [his] heart."

April 26, 2024 12:35 a.m. BST

"Love is no more Than the wide blossom which the wind assails, Than the great tide that treads the shifting shore, strewing fresh wreckage gathered in the gales"

Already wrote about this here. My dude here is IN IT. He sarcastically says he's feeling "dazzling," and when asked who he's dancing with he replies, "Myself, my closet skeletons, and my wandering mind!" Cool night, LK. Sounds like a blast!

April 29, 2024 10:55 p.m. BST

"I used your old toothbrush to clean out my keep cup I suppose that's the way things are right now"

A keep up. So, who's toothbrush we talking about here?

April 30, 2024 1:01 a.m. "What are our vices for today?"

I've already posted about how very, very well he's doing.

May 3, 2024 12:30 a.m. "When the garden leaves blow and you jump out your skin once the shock starts to go that's when solitude sets in"

Already posted about this one, too. Tayrry no more?

May 9, 2024 10:40 p.m. BST

"I should think most of my problems are solvable by feeling the sun's warmth and the sparkle of the stars."

He did pop up in a couple spots in London (a cab, dinner and the ballet) the next day with a nice tan! I'd hoped he'd been to Paris, but it was overcast and not very warm there. Maybe he was just laying out in the Heath taking it easy (and maybe texting someone??). In his replies, he seems in quite a good mood and talks about getting high to write. He also replies to a commenter who asked, "Are you watching TTPD livestream from Paris?" LK said, "I had hoped she would come to Eroda. Granted, it would be a lot more intimate than she's used to..." Cheeky, bugger.

May 17, 2024 3:25 p.m. BST

"Would you be angry? At the cruelty of history Fading away the stories we penned For slamming the dot at the end.

Here's how I interpret this: LK is asking the muse, would you be angry at history if it decided this was it for us? If this was where it decided our story ended? In his replies, LK also mentions he’s been doing some “embroidery.” This reminds me of the line in “loml,” “we embroidered the time of when I was away, stitching ‘we were just kids, babe.’” Perhaps LK is musing about memories today. He also says in response to the question “May I ask you what you would change about your past, what do you like about your present and what would you like get in your future?” “I guess there's not much point in thinking about changing the past, and I love the love I have right now, and in the future l'd like to keep that love.” In Haylor news, rumors are that Tayrry has split. Taylor is about to play night one in Stockholm after spending time with TK in Italy and Harry is unseen (rumor is he's out of London doing a photoshoot--perhaps for HS4, I hope!).

May 19, 2024

May 23, 2024

June 5, 2024

June 8, 2024

June 15, 2024

June 16, 2024

June 16, 2024 (2)

June 20, 2024

June 25, 2024

July 2, 2024

[foxes-that-run]

Ed Sheeran on his friendship with Taylor and Harry

I feel like industry friendships when you hang out you post a picture and people know you've hung out. Whereas [Taylor will] come around for dinner, [...] we have catch up calls for like three hours but like no one will know. (To Audacity)

When I lived in Los Angeles, I'm sure Taylor won't mind me telling the story, but we used to have like jam nights at my house. I remember one night it was me for Gavin DeGraw, Ellie Goulding, Taylor and we just had a guitar and we just passed it around playing songs. I really miss doing that, you know, like just songwriters just hanging out and playing tunes. [...] [you] just to feel like you're part of a community. [...] I have long conversations with Taylor about stuff just because I feel like she's one of the only people that actually truly understands where I'm at because she's solo artist she's doing stadiums. (To Zane Lowe)

I've hung out with Taylor more times that I can count and I can count on one hand how many songs we released together you know. So it's a it is a friendship friendship and we just happen to be in the same business. [...] I've known Harry since I was 19 and he was 16. There's like there's something about going through your formative years. It's quite weird, like he's obviously like on top of the world right now. [...] To be where we're at now you know he's on a stadium tour and I'm on a stadium tour. [...] It's the same thing as Taylor [...] I think both of them because they are solo artists and are at this level. You can kind of talk and there's an understanding there that you don't necessarily get from everyone. when I talk to them like it's like a conversation, it's a chat when we when we catch up we catch up. (To the Spout Podcast)

[birdmitosis]

Fanmix-slash-playlist for Slay the Princess! Song list under the cut. There’s 96 songs on this fanmix/playlist, and it’s about 6 and a half hours long.

Some of the songs were not available on Spotify, and they will be linked to on YouTube below. (Some artists have 2 songs on the playlist; aeseaes, The Crane Wives, and Hozier each have 3 because they were just too perfect. Also, some songs are definitely on here because of other people's fanvids or even just suggestions, and I've made note of and credited all of those!) (All fanmixes/playlists are a perpetual WIP.)

aeseaes - All Things Devour

aeseaes - Semantics

aeseaes - Tongues

AG - Terrible Thing

t h e . a i m s - Violence & Blood

Alanis Morissette - Everything (friend suggestion)

Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra - Trout Heart Replica

Amber Run - I Found

The Amazing Devil - The Horror and the Wild

The Amazing Devil - That Unwanted Animal

Andrew Bird - Imitosis

AURORA - Your Blood

Baby Storme - This City is a Graveyard

Band of Horses - No One's Gonna Love You

Beth Crowley - Monster

Blindside - Withering

Bring Me the Horizon - Deathbeds

Camera Obscura - Fifth in Line to the Throne

Chonny Jash - The Soul Eclectic (inspiration)

City and Colour - Little Hell

Coldplay - The Hardest Part

Coldplay - Square One

Collective Soul - The World I Know

The Crane Wives - Curses

The Crane Wives - Hollow Moon (inspiration)

The Crane Wives - Tongues & Teeth

Crystal Castles - Suffocation (inspiration)

David Bowie - Changes

The Echoing Green - Starling

Electric President - Some Crap About the Future

Elizabeth & the Catapult - Do Not Hang Your Head

Elizabeth & the Catapult - My Goodbye

Ellie Goulding - Salt Skin

Eurielle - Hate Me

The Feeling - Mr Grin

Florence + The Machine - Kiss With a Fist

Florence + The Machine - What the Water Gave Me

Forgive Durden - A Dead Person Breathed on Me!

Foxtails Brigade - Long Route

Foxtails Brigade - Nun but the Lost

Ghost and Pals - DEATHBODY

Ghost and Pals - In Iolite

Hannah Fury - Angels & Absinthe

Howie Day - Collide

Hozier - Francesca

Hozier - In the Woods Somewhere

Hozier - Who We Are

Jack Conte - Kitchen Fork (inspiration)

The Jezabels - Hurt Me

Jhariah - Flight of the Crows

Kate Nash - Paris

Kiltro - Softy

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Magenta Mountain

lasah - taixu (inspiration)

Lisa Hannigan - Oh Undone

Little Dragon - Twice

The Lord Dog Bird - The Shedding Path

Ludo - The Horror of Our Love

Madilyn Mei - Knotted Constellations

MGMT - Little Dark Age

Michelle Branch - Everywhere

Mili (feat. KIHOW) - In Hell We Live, Lament

Mirah - You've Gone Away Enough

The Mountain Goats - No Children (inspiration)

The Mountain Goats - Sudden Oak Death

Mr.Kitty - After Dark

múm - Prophecies & Reversed Memories

The Nor'easters - 715 — CRΣΣKS (inspiration)

Olivier Bibeau - Better Run, Better Hide

Passion Pit - Seaweed Song

PEGGY - Villains Aren't Born (They're Made)

Perfectly Human - Bad As

Perfectly Human - Fly Again

Racoon - Took a Hit

Reinaeiry - When the Sun Loves the Moon

Ricky Montgomery - This December

RIProducer - Fruiting Bodies

RIProducer - What Gave It Away?

Sarah Blasko - Bird on a Wire

Satin Puppets - Bad Moon Rising

Seeming - Someday Lily

Sharon Van Etten - It's Not Like

Shayfer James - Boots Worn Through (inspiration)

Sleeping At Last - Mind

Sleeping At Last - Taste

SNAKE POOL - FIGURE IN THE BACKGROUND (inspiration)

Snow Patrol - Open Your Eyes

Solas Composer - He Who Devoured the Dark II

Southwest Statistic - Fairy Tale (friend suggestion)

Stars - He Dreams He's Awake

Subsignal - The Bells of Lyonesse (inspiration)

Sunset Rubdown - For the Pier (and Dead Shimmering)

Talking Heads - And She Was

Trespassers William - I Know

TV on the Radio - Stork & Owl

Woodkid - Ghost Lights

[forthegothicheroine]

Best Fragrantica reviews of (some of) my favorite perfumes, Part II

First installment here

Maison Martin Margiela By the Fireplace

Careful not to be worn by this perfume instead of being you the wearer. Not that it is oh so powerful, but it may be too bold of a statement piece for, ahem, some. Wearing BTF when you don't look the part and don't give it sense will have you smelling borderline unhealthy. Like your organs inside have worn off and darkened (and burned out, I guess). Truly as weird as it sounds. The raw thing smells very exciting. I love it ashy. I don't see myself daring any soon, however. And I don't find that it worked for the men I know either, as they have (and I cringe to say) whiter auras and don't fit the "handling cognac by the fire" thing. So I've yet to see it really work, which I'm sure will be great. It's a lovely perfume.

Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab Bewitched

This is the smell of a witch's brew. She made a special tea for you to drink. You pass out. When you awaken you find yourself in her garden full of poisonous berries, patchouli, weeds, clary sage, and flowers whose petals have been plucked. This is an herbal scent, like walking inside a shop selling only herbs. It's medicinal and like a tea. Not always easy to take in...The smell of sage and musk give it a unisex/masculine quality. I would say that it's more of a guy's type of cologne than a woman's. I would wear it for Halloween with a witch costume or as Morticia Addams. It's really a very engaging scent but it's linear and simple. It's a little green tea and berry. It's got a bite but it's witchy and dark, but not a strong cologne either. For a niche indie frag, not bad.

TokyoMilk Gin & Rosewater

I was in a boutique that carries the Tokyo Milk Curiosite & Bon Bon lines, and I was entranced by this. Florals are not usually my thing, by the way, because I get monster headaches from most of them. Suddenly the salesgirl is RIGHT NEXT TO ME leaning in conspiratorially and says in an awed tone that 'Blake Lively LOVES this one'. OMFG, Blake Lively, you say??!? Like for serious, the real Blake Lively?? OMFG, do you have like, more in the back?!? I'm totally going to buy every bottle you can shove in my basket because BLAKE LIVELY would hang out with me if we ran into each other and then my life could end. Um, not. I almost DIDN'T buy it because of the salesgirls then going into a tizzy about how amazing Blake is. I could not care less, although I'm sure Lively is nice enough. But it did smell cool, so home with me it came, along with the matching lotion.

Serge Lutens La Fille de Berlin

It’s an overwhelming fragrance that smells like the bottom of my grandma’s small square leather purse when we went to mass (her old dried up lipstick💄 the powder compact, the newspaper, the pack of strawberry-ish scented kleenex, the peppermints). It’s vintage, it’s a bit suffocating and I have it printed in my memory 4 ever.

Juliette Has a Gun Magnolia Bliss

Anastasia Steele, no longer a virgin. In her Audi A3, the smell of her new car, first edition books and a new life... That's what comes into mind with this perfume. The night Christian took her for the first time on his helicopter. I can imagine this is exactly what she smelled like that night. With Ellie Goulding's Love me like you do playing in the background. 

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540

I’m too embarrassed and ashamed to wear this in public just in case a fragrantica influencer comes out of a bush and starts pointing & laughing at me in front of everyone

Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille

what all the hot daddies in every lana del rey song smell like

Jo Malone Velvet Rose & Oud

If your family was religious, traditionally Asian, or both, you'll know this scent. This is the scent of a temple. This is the scent of an altar. Personally I can never wear this because smelling this brings back so many memories of burning incenses, visiting funerals, and saying prayers and wishes. My bottle is literally sitting on an altar.

Perfumer's Workshop Tea Rose

Speaking of the devil. This scent is the one with the Prada's shoes.

4160 Tuesdays Doe in the Snow

This is borne on a Christmas Eve, under the moonlight, a baby fawn just out of it's mother's womb. The moon is full light casting blue shadows snow lightly falling delicate flakes each one unique on the nose of the new born... Pure fresh Christmas morning air stillness not a sound blanketed with drifts of snow that is Doe In The Snow... pure white innocence...velvet petals so delicate under the driven snow...I have seen this in a dream... Another love... I get it...

[heycupcake]

Every now and then my brain, completely unprompted, flashes me with visions of the fifth Doctor dancing his hearts out to Lights by Ellie Goulding and I feel a little more at peace with the universe.

Like, just picture him, dramatically swishing his hair and waving his limbs through the dimly lit Tardis corridors.

It's probably been a very stressful day of running from laser guns, aggressive fauna and natural disasters. The crew likely helped preventing the downfall of a civilization, at some point ended up in prison or almost executed. Adric tripped on something and tumbled down a hill, Nyssa fell prey to a telepathic hive mind, Tegan ran a marathon in high heels. Just the usual.

Everyone went straight up to bed. Everyone but the Doctor, who of course never sleeps, and instead has some me time to blow off some steam. He carefully selects the playlist that best fits his mood and starts gliding around, while the Tardis' internal speakers start blasting music, activated by proximity. He enters a random room in the middle of his performance, to find a second hatstand sitting in a corner. Without skipping a beat, he gracefully hangs his panama hat and frock coat, and starts duetting with his newly crafted partner.

[kfans-writerblog]

Call beffore sleep🩷

One night you were home with Jack somereasone you missed him alot and you call him during him on the field he never picks up but when your name shows up he will pick up

Aaron - y/n what's wrong is everything OK why are you up so late hello ??

You - hey ! Yeah Jack and I are fine I just missed you I'm sorry are you busy?

Aaron - yeah I'll call you back at my office

4 hours later

Aaron calls you

Aaron - you still haven't told me why you called me you never call me when I work y/n what's going on ?

You - I just miss you and I want to tell you I love you beffore I sleep

Aaron - hey ill see you in 4

-he hangs up -

You ° 4 as in minutes or hours ?°

When you hear a door open you know he was home so you pretend to fall asleep

He walks in the room and gets changed first

Then he walked up behind you and holds your hand

He whispers " I know your not sleeping "

You turn around "ok you win mister profiler right who said I married such smart man "

Then he kissed you

Then you both got to bed to sleep

You say "good night I love you ! "

He hugs you close "good night love you too"

[choices-february2023]

Prompts

Similar to the November 2022 challenge, many of the prompts in the first two columns are from the National Day Calendar. The third column are songs to inspire.

The fanworks must be posted in February (with late entries accepted through March 7). The works do not have to be posted on the specific day. You want to use the prompt almonds (from the 16th) and post it on February 5, go ahead. Just make sure in the notes or tags to specify the day or the prompt.

As always, if you have any questions, please ask either here or send a message to my main at @lucy-268.

Have fun!

1. Umbrella | Baked Alaska | I'm Still Standing (Elton John)

2. Snow Sculpture | Bubble Gum | Welcome to My Life (Simple Plan)

3. Wear Red | Carrot Cake | Stronger (Kelly Clarkson)

4. Harmony | Homemade Soup | So What (P!nk)

5. Intimate Apparel | Nutella | Believer (Imagine Dragons)

6. Chopsticks | Margarita | About Damn Time (Lizzo)

7. Cards | Fettuccine Alfredo | Miss Me More (Kelsea Ballerini)

8. Counseling | Peanut Butter | House of Memories (Panic! At the Disco)

9. Dream | Bagels | Maybe I'm Amazed (Paul McCartney)

10. Toothache | Brownies | Born This Way (Lady Gaga)

11. Spilled Milk | Peppermint Patty | The Winner Takes it All (Abba)

12. Marriage | Plum Pudding | All of Me (John Legend)

13. Galentine's Day | Cheese | I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor)

14. Valentine's Day | Chocolates | I Honestly Love You (Olivia Newton John)

15. Canada | Gumdrops | Anti-Hero (Taylor Swift)

16. Grouchy | Almonds | Because You Loved Me (Celine Dion)

17. Anthropology | Cabbage | Stand By Me (Ben E. King)

18. Romance | Seafood | Hanging by a Moment (Lifehouse)

19. Condom | Mints | Lights (Ellie Goulding)

20. Red Sock | Cherry Pie | Happier (Marshmello)

21. Mardi Gras | Sticky Bun | The Middle (Jimmy Eat World)

22. Logic | Sweet Potato | Shape of You (Ed Sheeran)

23. Birthday | Banana Bread | I Will Always Love You (Dolly Parton)

24. Bartender | Tortilla Chip | Hello (Adele)

25. Language | Clam Chowder | In My Life (The Beatles)

26. Fairy Tales | Pistachio | In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel)

27. Polar Bear | Strawberry | We All Sleep Alone (Cher)

28. Toothfairy | Chocolate Souffle | And So it Goes (Billy Joel)

Guidelines

[pulchrasilva]

the sun will never go down

Fandom: Roleslaying With Roman

Relationships: Blood Red Song/royono

Characters: Noise, Roman, Youngblood

Summary: After everything, Noise has joined Roman and Youngblood in their travels. It’s not easy being on the run, but the three of them have found paradise together.

Word Count: 2077

Warnings: brief mentions of Youngblood burning Noise, the abuse Noise experienced in the bard college, some jealousy about being outshined and guilt about that jealousy, cursing, minor injury

Notes: written for @polyshipweek for the prompt 'dancing', inspired by this post, title from Stay Awake by Ellie Goulding

AO3 // Masterpost

It had been quite a day. Not an eventful one, but a long one. They'd set out from Elidore early in the morning and it had been a lot of walking since then. Other than a brief, much needed pause to eat around midday, they’d pressed on for most of the day.

The forest floor was uneven, enough that Noise had trouble in their boots.

He groaned as he tripped over yet another tree root, ankle twinging. At the sound, the others stopped just ahead of him.

"We should have gotten you better shoes at Frogtown," Youngblood said when they straightened up.

"I like my boots! I just... like the twisted ankle less."

"I could carry you!" Roman offered.

Noise seriously considered it. Their feet were so sore and there was nothing better than being cradled in Roman's arms. But...

"No, you're already carrying most of our stuff. I'll be fine."

"That's probably for the best," Roman agreed, although that didn't stop him looking disappointed about it.

"It's getting towards evening so we don't need to go much further today," said Youngblood. "Can you make it to the next clearing?"

Noise sighed, relieved. "I can manage that."

When they finally reached a clearing suitable to set up camp in, they were all sweaty and covered in dust from the road.

"Ugh," Noise said as they dropped their bags in an undignified heap. "Finally."

He only hesitated a moment before shrugging off his cape and rolling up his sleeves to expose clammy skin to the cool evening air. Youngblood's eyes snagged on their scar but she didn't say anything.

"That's a great idea," said Roman, already unlacing the top of his jerkin and undoing the first few buttons to expose a sliver of chest that Noise certainly didn't mind having on show.

Youngblood pulled down her hood.

Then they all got to work.

By now, Noise was getting the hang of setting up camp with these two.

It was a far cry from the way it worked on bard expeditions, where Noise had either been made to do the worst of the physical labour or, more recently, been the one dumping tasks on some poor cadet.

Now, setting up camp was a communal effort. The tasks had already been distributed when Noise joined the group, typically Youngblood in charge of building the fire and Roman on dinner duty. Eventually Noise had found himself a place in the established routine, fetching water from the nearest river and choosing the best place to sleep.

By the time the sun was setting and the first stars peeping out behind the diminishing red of the sky, they were done.

It wasn't exactly cosy - Noise was used to far better accommodation than a bed of blankets and a roof made from tree branches and stars. But he could appreciate the simplicity of it, the freedom of sleeping under the open sky. It was nice.

Noise moved towards Youngblood, collecting a couple rations from Roman on his way, and settled down on the log next to her. She glanced at them as they offered her a ration, smiled, and turned her attention back to the fire.

With a quiet hum, a spark caught the little stack of wood she'd gathered, setting it ablaze with blue and purple flame.

Roman gasped in delight as always, the combination of magic, music and pretty colours still novel to him.

However unlike usual, once the task was done and she was seated next to the fire, Youngblood didn't stop singing. The melody continued, light on the breeze and just the right side of eerie.

When Noise glanced up at Roman, he was already grinning at Youngblood, besotted.

And… yeah. That was exactly how Noise felt.

Youngblood rarely used her song anymore – whether to be inconspicuous, or out of guilt for everything that happened between them, or some other complicated mix, they didn't know. But it wasn't healthy for her to keep it inside. Youngblood was born to sing, just as a fish is born to swim and a bird to fly.

It was nice to see her let go for once, using magic as something other than a tool. Magic for its own sake.

She wasn't paying attention to what she was doing, just letting it come to her as it pleased, letting the notes flow into a melody like streams joining to form a river.

Sure, Noise had some difficult feelings about that song, those flames. On bad days, when his head throbbed where his eye should be and the Bard King’s cruel laughter echoed inside their own head, Noise's arm hurt along with their eye. Sometimes it would itch unbearably, like a burn only half healed, and they had to resist the urge to scratch and scratch until the scar came away with his skin.

On those days, just looking at any kind of fire was enough to make them cry.

And even now, when they'd long since abandoned the Bard College, Noise could still find a lingering resentment for Youngblood’s natural born ability which had always outshone whatever hard work Noise put in. And next to it curled a sickening guilt for ever thinking such things about Bloody.

But that was only some days.  Noise was a tiefling, fire generally posed little danger to them – Youngblood’s especially. For most of Noise's life, Youngblood's flames had been a source of wonder to them, magical in a way that ordinary bard spells never were. They were a comfort to Noise, a warmth that was so uniquely Youngblood that it never failed to make him feel safe.

And despite everything, that association was more permanent than the fear.

Embers swirled through the still air, as if riding an imaginary breeze. As they passed, the forest transformed. The dull browns and greys of fallen leaves burst into a cascade of orange and brilliant scarlet. The entire clearing glowed, awash in silver light despite the moon being nowhere in sight.

And yet, just beyond the clearing there was no change. The magical light cast no shadows past the ring of trees, no sign of their presence given away.

Everything contained within a little musical bubble, just for them.

Noise found himself shivering as the magic passed over him. It felt something like falling into the curio cart, but not unpleasantly so.

The curio cart had been like being swallowed by a creature ancient as the earth itself, chilling to the bone. This, however, was diving into a cool lake on a hot day, surrounding yourself with perfectly clear water.

There wasn’t exactly a change to his outfit, but a shift in quality. It was suddenly brighter, bolder, the fabric softer and rippling in a breeze that wasn't there, the jewels glittering even when there was no light to catch.

The sparks of magic brushed over Noise's cheek, warm like a kiss, as they passed him.

They fluttered over to Roman, whose outfit shimmered and changed too. The leather of his jerkin shone bright, the dust and dirt it had collected over these months vanishing like it had been given a much needed polish.

Roman gasped in delight.

The sound made Youngblood look up, and the illusion faltered with her song. "Sorry, I didn't realise I was-"

"Sorry?" Roman laughed, turning on the spot. "This is incredible! Is all magic like this?"

"No," Noise replied before Youngblood could, "Just Youngblood's."

They gave Youngblood a crooked smile with enough affection that she had to duck her head away from the sight.

She's so easily flustered. It was one of Noise's favourite past times.

"Wow..." Roman breathed. "That was beautiful!"

"You hear that, Bloody? You're beautiful,” Noise cooed, nudging her. “You're not gonna stop singing now, are you?"

"Bitch, don't even," Youngblood grumbled.

But she was smiling.

It was more self-conscious now, but the melody soon started up again and the illusion was restored.

The song grew in confidence with each note sung, a crescendo of sound and magic. It made Noise's heart glow with his joy, his admiration, his love.

"Oh, I love music so much, this is so cool!" Overcome by it all, Roman began to bounce forward on his toes.

He stopped in front of Noise and offered them a hand, eyes warm and deep. "C'mon, Noise! Dance with me."

And what could Noise do, when Roman was looking at them like that and Youngblood's music filled their ears, other than take his hand?

Roman still wasn't used to dancing, his movements awkward and clunky, but he more than made up for it in enthusiasm. Noise always enjoyed dancing, but dancing with Roman was different, bright and imperfect and fun.

As they swept across the clearing, spinning, one of them (Noise couldn’t tell who) barked out a laugh of delight. Then they were both grinning and laughing and laughing, adding their own music to Youngblood's.

Exhilarated, Noise looked over to where Youngblood was sitting and-

She was watching them, her eyes shining as they followed them around the clearing, pouring her heart out into this song for them and for herself. When she caught Noise staring, Youngblood smiled a little wider, sang a little louder.

When Noise looked back to Roman, heart in their throat and giddy with it all, they were speaking before they even realised what they wanted.

"You should dip me again," he said, breathless.

"I... don't think I can," Roman replied sheepishly.

"What do you mean?"

"It was an accident last time! I tripped and it just kinda... happened."

That just about broke Noise's brain. "You- what."

He's so fucking stupid.

Roman laughed sheepishly. "Sorry to disappoint."

"Come here, farm boy," Noise grabbed him by the waist, pulled him closer so they were pressed up against each other, and tipped him backwards.

Youngblood whistled. For about two seconds they held the position, Roman looking up at them wide-eyed as he relaxed into their arms.

Then Noise remembered that Roman was nearly six feet of pure muscle while they were basically a twig, and gravity returned.

Roman began to slip from their arms and Noise held him tighter, desperate not to drop him. He flailed and smacked them in the face as he felt himself falling.

"Ah, shit! Fuck-"

Then they were on the floor.

"Oof," Roman groaned as Noise landed on top of him. "That's gonna bruise."

"That was so not my fault," Noise said immediately. "You're so heavy! Why are you so heavy?"

"You two just-" Youngblood cackled. "Your tail stuck up like a scared cat!"

Noise rolled off of Roman so they could direct the full force of their pout at her.

Youngblood only laughed harder.

"You have to admit that was quite funny." Roman nudged him. "Besides, you had a nice pillow to fall on. I'm the one who took all the force."

Noise rolled back around to lay their head on his shoulder. "It's true, you do make a very nice pillow."

Roman grinned, his face so close to theirs, and what could they do but lean up to kiss him?

Noise sighed, content, as they settled across his chest.

"Hey, Youngblood," Roman said above their head. "You gonna stay over there or are you gonna join the cuddle pile?"

"I'm not lying on the floor."

"You don't have to, Bloody," Noise called back, "Roman makes a great pillow."

"I'm happy to be your pillow!"

There was a brief pause, then an unusually soppy expression crossed Youngblood's face. "Well, how could I deny him that?"

So she stood up, the light in the clearing dimming to something intimate as she joined them on Roman's other side. He slipped his arm around her and pulled her closer.

"Hey, moonlight," he whispered.

"Hey sunshine."

Noise could spend their entire life here in this clearing, with them, and never get tired of it. And what a realisation to have.

He could have stayed at the Bard College and been successful. As the First Chair, Noise would have had everything he ever needed, even if not everything he wanted. But by abandoning everything they'd ever known, Noise ended up here. That leap of faith, that incredible impulsive decision, had brought them companionship, safety, warmth.

Noise wrapped their tail around Youngblood's leg. At the touch, she turned that soft look towards him. They blew her a kiss across Roman's chest.

Yeah, Noise thought sleepily as his eyes began to close. We're all gonna have back problems tomorrow.