#he would hate taylor and everything she represents

[tuxedomax]

max would dance circles around taylor swift in regards to cat knowledge and i love it

redbullracing: putting Max's knowledge of cat breeds to the test!

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Stephen Robinson at Public Notice:

Nancy Mace made headlines in recent weeks with her ugly, transphobic attacks on Democratic Rep.-elect Sarah McBride. Her attention-seeking stunts, such as performatively tearing down transgender flags while on camera, represent new lows in what has been a years-long chase for that next sweet cable news hit.

Before McBride was even sworn into office, Mace introduced a resolution that would ban transgender women from women’s restrooms at the US Capitol. Mace openly admitted that McBride was the specific target of her resolution even though she never planned to use multi-stall bathrooms at the Capitol in the first place. Mace didn’t even bother addressing her concerns directly with McBride before exploiting her identity for her latest 15 minutes of fame. Mace’s bigoted actions and rhetoric have little to do with any actual ideology. Indeed, in the distant past of just last year, she described herself as “pro-transgender rights.” She stated in a 2023 interview, “If they wanna take on a different pronoun or a different gender identity or grow their hair out, or wear a dress or wear pants, or do those things as a minor — those are all things that I think most people would support. Be who you want to be, but don’t make permanent changes as a child. They may decide as an adult, ‘Hey, instead of being Johnny, I want to be Jill’ — that’s OK. But let them figure that out and make that decision when they can consent.”

This is a stark departure from Mace’s current position — she’s referred to trans people as “mentally ill” during her recent flood of bigoted posts on social media — but it’s not inexplicable. Mainstream Republicans have escalated their attacks against trans people over the past few years. During the 2024 GOP primary, for instance, Nikki Haley framed her opposition to trans equality as “the women’s rights issue of our time” and called Dylan Mulvaney “a guy, dressed up like a girl, making fun of women.” Trump, for his part, made crude transphobia a cornerstone of his 2024 campaign — a contrast with his first presidential run, when he actually said trans people should be able to use whatever bathroom they want. At a glance, it seems as if Mace simply hopped on a hateful bandwagon. But a closer examination of her congressional career reveals that she has no true political position beyond her own ambition.

“National Nancy”

In 2020, Mace defeated Democratic incumbent Joe Cunningham in South Carolina’s first district by less than 6,000 votes. (Republicans have since redrawn the district to make it solidly Republican, which involved removing thousands of Black voters.) For a moment, it looked as if Mace would serve as a centrist alternative to incoming far-right representatives like Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene, both of whom promoted Trump’s lies about the 2020 election.

Mace was not one of the 147 Republican House members who voted to reject Trump’s loss. In fact, she was the only Republican House member from South Carolina who voted to certify Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory. She told NPR's Steve Inskeep on January 7 that “when you read the Constitution, Article II, Section 1, Clause 2 explicitly states, in black and white, that Congress's role here is merely to count the votes of the Electoral College.” “Everything that he’s worked for — his entire legacy — was wiped out yesterday,” she said at the time. She told Meet the Press that Trump put “all our lives at risk.” That was during the brief period when it seemed as though Republicans might finally break with Trump, and Mace swiftly positioned herself as the face of the brave new post-MAGA order. “I want to be a new voice for the Republican Party, and that’s one of the reasons I’ve spoken out so strongly against the president, against these QAnon conspiracy theorists that led us in a constitutional crisis,” she told Meet the Press. “It’s just wrong, and we’ve got to put a stop to it.”

[...]

Mace folds to Trumpism

Mace’s public feud with Greene eventually caused then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy to intervene, but it was the party’s true leader who threatened to end Mace’s career before it really got going. As Godfrey observed, Mace’s actual “position in the GOP ecosystem” was hard to nail down. She didn’t please the bigot wing of the party with her (at the time) tolerant positions on LGBTQ issues. She provoked her diehard MAGA peers while trying to remain on Trump’s good side. She didn’t vote to impeach him after the insurrection, nor did she support the January 6 Committee. But she did vote to hold former Trump adviser Stephen Bannon in contempt of Congress.

Although outspoken Trump foe Liz Cheney held a fundraising event for Mace in April 2021, Mace voted to remove her as GOP conference chair a few weeks later. “Any disagreements we have with each other within our Party should be discussed internally, and not dragged out into public for all to see,” she said in a statement. This explanation was transparently hypocritical — not just because of her later feuds with Boebert and Greene but because Trump himself doesn’t follow Ronald Reagan’s supposed 11th Commandment about never criticizing other Republicans. MAGA only obeys a single commandment — thou shalt have no other gods but Trump. Trump didn’t forget Mace’s public criticism of him after January 6. He endorsed her 2022 primary challenger, Katie Arrington. Trump outright trashed Mace, calling her “disloyal,” “crazy,” and a “terrible person who has no idea what she’s doing.” At a 2022 rally, he even encouraged the crowd to boo the very mention of her name. (Watch below.)

[...] In a January 2023 Semafor article headlined, “America's Next Top Moderate: Which House Republican wants the title?” Mace was listed as one of the "five members who’ve taken on the role of quasi-spokespeople for the Mod Squad” — a group billed as a contrast to the extremist Freedom Caucus, which had thrown the House into chaos over McCarthy’s protracted speakership bid. But by October, Mace had joined Matt Gaetz and other far-right Republicans in their successful bid to oust McCarthy. As Republicans scrambled to replace McCarthy, Mace showed up for a conference meeting wearing a white t-shirt with a red “A” on the front. She told CNN’s Anna Grayer, “I’m wearing the scarlet letter after the week that I just had, last week, being a woman up here and being demonized for my vote and for my voice.” Mace consistently plays the victim in this cynical way. During a memorably disastrous interview earlier this year on ABC, she absurdly accused George Stephanopoulos of “shaming” her as a rape victim because he dared ask how she could support Donald Trump, an adjudicated rapist. 

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) is all about Nancy Mace, nothing more.

[xixovart]

mali’s hcs for aquaman’s doppelgänger i think (percy. it’s percy.)

love my og homie

i'm coming in hard and strong (that's what she said) and saying that percy would NOT love taylor swift!!!! percy is an edgy teenage SKATER BOY!!!!!! he listens to d4vd tame impala childish gambino arctic monkeys and the neighbourhood!!!!! stop the percy swiftie allegations!!!

i know this is basically canon in the show but percy, like nico, was an absolute pain in the ass for sally. this kid would draw all over. everything. do not give a six year old percy a marker he will draw on your fancy white couch. or eat it. could be either.

sally having to fight for her LIFE to get a nine year old percy to wake up for school. “mom i can't go to school im sick” “you just accidentally kicked me in the face with the strength of a motivated horse you liar”

honestly she was so done with his bs. 5th grade for percy was an ERA.

“percy no you cannot put your hand in a blender.” 

“percy we do not eat rocks.”

“percy get up from the floor, we are at the supermarket. no you cannot have a fruit roll up.”

“percy it’s three in the morning why would you want to go to the zoo.” “to see the penguins ☹️”

korra coded

reminder that he’s canonically a skater i’ll never get over this.

he loves band shirts and has a bunch of posters all around his dorm

i think he likes the rain, even though it’s zeus’ domain. it just calms him down. (im projecting)

reminder that percy isn’t dumb he’s just chaotic

percabeth skating dates i'm hyperventilating 

he really hated third grade. when asked about it he will say “the chaos and the mind games…” and not elaborate 

percy “grover is my wife” jackson

percy was actually pretty quiet in school. he wasn’t usually a class clown, he’s just the quiet disabled kid who got crappy grades (and was absolutely stunning i should mention)

captain of the school swim team <3

really likes 7/11??? for some reason?

the second he got his licence (and a car) he would nEVER stop driving. after tartarus, he would space out and disassociate, and he often had panic attacks. driving with no destination helps him calm down.  (IM PROJECTING)

estelle absolutely adores her brother. like never leaves his side. she would cling to his leg whenever he had to leave and she would BEG to come along whenever percy and annabeth went on a date

he eats a LOT. like so much.

he got used to using military time after his training with lupa and his time at camp jupiter :)

“you are just a boy, you are no man, and nobody you know will understand.” except it’s about percy in the original series, who was so heavily relied on to be a hero that he lost his sense of self. we as a fandom joke about this so much but percy lost his innocence for the people who ruined his and his loved ones’ lives. he sacrificed his humanity because of the gods’ blatant abuse and ignorance of their children. he is a child for the entirety of the original series, a child who has gone through so much and so rarely gets a break. even when he’s in school, when he’s not at camp and doesn’t have to worry about olympus, he still fucking does. he still never rests easily because the world’s fate hinges on HIM. not zeus, not his father, him. the scene with atlas was so significant because it represents so much. in a literal sense, percy, annabeth, and luke—the three who carried atlas’ burden—had the fate of the world on their shoulders. one shrug and the world could collapse. what most of the fandom fails to see is that the second percy was claimed, his childhood ended.

[jayy-beeee]

I feel like I should share that my latest project has been deciding what Taylor Swift albums SPOP characters are, and writing down what lyrics from each song best represent those characters. This is just a brief summation of my findings:

🦋Debut for Sea Hawk: I have a feeling that were it a genre in Etheria, Sea Hawk would quite enjoy country. He’s quite the dramatic and spends most of his time pining or causing chaos. Also he sets boats on fire a lot, and that feels fitting with the slight chaos energy of young Taylor. Best fitting songs are A Place In This World, Invisible, and I’m Only Me When I’m With You. I also included Paper Rings.

🫶Fearless for Perfuma: I gave this to Swift Wind for a while, then realized only like maybe five songs at most fit. Also, I like Perfuma a lot more. I feel like there’s a lot of confidence and bravery in Fearless, and that feels like it fits Perfuma and especially confidence she instilled in Scorpia. Most fitting songs are Fearless, Change, and Today Was A Fairytale. I also added the lakes.

☂️Speak Now for Glimmer: Obviously of course! She’s sparkly, dramatic, petulant and literally a princess! There’s a lot of love and care as well as a lot of fear and hurt within Speak Now. Aesthetically, lyrically, and sonically the album is so very Glimmer! Best fitting songs are Back to December, Innocent, Long Live, and Castles Crumbling. I also included Bejeweled.

🧣Red for Hordak: Okay, maybe a hot take. The opening track has the lyrics “you come around and the armor falls” and “you’re my Achilles heel” which to me couldn’t be more perfect! Also the obvious self worth issues and the fact that he’s pretty clearly in breakup mentality all of season 4. Best fitting songs are State of Grace, Treacherous, and The Last Time. I also added You Are In Love, The Great War, Guilty as Sin, loml, and I Hate It Here.

🗽1989 for Adora: Again has some pretty huge self worth issues. Also just have a feeling she’d be a synth pop girl! It’s also an album about finding worth in spending time with friends, back and forths, and features a rekindled love! Best fitting songs are I Wish You Would, Bad Blood, and Wonderland. I also included The Lucky One, Nothing New and Clara Bow. Also new addition to this post: I added Safe & Sound and Eyes Open. She’s the main character so she gets lots of extra songs.

📰reputation for Catra: Who else of course? There are a few playlists for characters made by one of the show creators, and Catras fittingly has Look What You Made Me Do on this playlist. Fits well too with both the villainous character Taylor plays throughout the album, but also with themes of finding love during her darkest times. Best fitting songs are I Did Something Bad, Look What You Made Me Do, and Dancing With Our Hands Tied. I also included Who’s Afraid Of Little Old Me and imgonnagetyouback.

💘Lover for Bow: He quite literally wears a heart on his chest, and seems to really love everything that makes Lover! He really values those close to him, and while he’s anxious often he’s able to grow a lot as a person and work past it all. Best fitting songs are The Archer (of course), Death By A Thousand Cuts, and It’s Nice To Have A Friend. Also by reminder of it being in his official playlist, I included New Years Day. Long Live would also fit, but I feel it fits the entire best friend squad, so it can stay with Glimmer.

🪩folklore for Angella: This album was the hardest choice. Angella is clearly a very anxious woman with the weight of the entire world on her shoulders. She has so much to be angry and sad for. She’s also quite fairy like. Best fitting songs are my tears ricochet, this is me trying, and peace.

🌲evermore for Micah: I think most of all evermore is an album about mourning loss. Micah has both had to be mourned, and himself has lost so much. It also felt fitting given the fact that Micah is a sorcerer. Best fitting songs are gold rush, long story short, and evermore.

🕛Midnights for Entrapta: Could be a sort of hot take, but for me as an autistic and very anxious person, Midnights resonated with me a lot, so I feel it could resonate with her. Entrapta definitely seems to be quite a sleepless person. She’s also subject to a lot of completely unfair scrutiny by people in her life. Best fitting songs are Anti-Hero, Mastermind, and Hits Different. I also added I Can See You, Renegade, Down Bad, and But Daddy I Love Him (gonna have to read what I wrote for an explanation on that)

🖋️The Tortured Poets Department for Scorpia: I know it sounds crazy, I very much do, so hear me out. Scorpia is incredibly loyal and also a terminal people pleaser. In the end, that got her so very hurt when she finally reached the conclusion that someone she deeply cared for had not been a good friend to her. She in the end found people who loved her dearly, and helped her find the good in the world again. I don’t think at all that’s the overarching theme of TTPD as a whole, but a very good amount of song lyrics can be applied to Scorpia. Best fitting songs I found were My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys, So Long London, and Peter. I also included You’re Losing Me.

Any added songs are justified by the fact that I Can Do Whatever I Want Forever. Once I actually have these done I’ll probably post them and include links on this post. Some are done, but I’m still working on Debut, Fearless, Evermore, and TTPD. So far I’ve only sent these to some of my friends who enjoy my ramblings and writings on my special interests.

[mariacallous]

Nancy Mace made headlines in recent weeks with her ugly, transphobic attacks on Democratic Rep.-elect Sarah McBride. Her attention-seeking stunts, such as performatively tearing down transgender flags while on camera, represent new lows in what has been a years-long chase for that next sweet cable news hit.

Before McBride was even sworn into office, Mace introduced a resolution that would ban transgender women from women’s restrooms at the US Capitol. Mace openly admitted that McBride was the specific target of her resolution even though she never planned to use multi-stall bathrooms at the Capitol in the first place. Mace didn’t even bother addressing her concerns directly with McBride before exploiting her identity for her latest 15 minutes of fame.

Mace’s bigoted actions and rhetoric have little to do with any actual ideology. Indeed, in the distant past of just last year, she described herself as “pro-transgender rights.” She stated in a 2023 interview, “If they wanna take on a different pronoun or a different gender identity or grow their hair out, or wear a dress or wear pants, or do those things as a minor — those are all things that I think most people would support. Be who you want to be, but don’t make permanent changes as a child. They may decide as an adult, ‘Hey, instead of being Johnny, I want to be Jill’ — that’s OK. But let them figure that out and make that decision when they can consent.”

This is a stark departure from Mace’s current position — she’s referred to trans people as “mentally ill” during her recent flood of bigoted posts on social media — but it’s not inexplicable. Mainstream Republicans have escalated their attacks against trans people over the past few years.

During the 2024 GOP primary, for instance, Nikki Haley framed her opposition to trans equality as “the women’s rights issue of our time” and called Dylan Mulvaney “a guy, dressed up like a girl, making fun of women.” Trump, for his part, made crude transphobia a cornerstone of his 2024 campaign — a contrast with his first presidential run, when he actually said trans people should be able to use whatever bathroom they want.

At a glance, it seems as if Mace simply hopped on a hateful bandwagon. But a closer examination of her congressional career reveals that she has no true political position beyond her own ambition.

“National Nancy”

In 2020, Mace defeated Democratic incumbent Joe Cunningham in South Carolina’s first district by less than 6,000 votes. (Republicans have since redrawn the district to make it solidly Republican, which involved removing thousands of Black voters.) For a moment, it looked as if Mace would serve as a centrist alternative to incoming far-right representatives like Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene, both of whom promoted Trump’s lies about the 2020 election.

Mace was not one of the 147 Republican House members who voted to reject Trump’s loss. In fact, she was the only Republican House member from South Carolina who voted to certify Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory. She told NPR's Steve Inskeep on January 7 that “when you read the Constitution, Article II, Section 1, Clause 2 explicitly states, in black and white, that Congress's role here is merely to count the votes of the Electoral College.”

“Everything that he’s worked for — his entire legacy — was wiped out yesterday,” she said at the time. She told Meet the Press that Trump put “all our lives at risk.”

That was during the brief period when it seemed as though Republicans might finally break with Trump, and Mace swiftly positioned herself as the face of the brave new post-MAGA order.

“I want to be a new voice for the Republican Party, and that’s one of the reasons I’ve spoken out so strongly against the president, against these QAnon conspiracy theorists that led us in a constitutional crisis,” she told Meet the Press. “It’s just wrong, and we’ve got to put a stop to it.”

The Daily Beast obtained Mace’s 2021 strategy memo that presented her as “THE freshman thought leader on federal issues.” She was so obsessed with raising her profile that she even dubbed herself “NATIONAL NANCY.” She tasked her staff with “winning (Mace) as much exposure as possible.” This led one former senior aide to wonder, “Are we in a PR firm, or working for a member of Congress?”

Mace’s communications team was required to book her on a national TV outlet “between one and three times per day — a staggering nine times per week, at a minimum, according to former staffers who had seen past handbooks — and on local TV channels at least six times per week,” the Daily Beast reported.

She’d often tailor her positions and entire persona depending on where she was booked. In an especially egregious example from November 2021, Mace praised vaccines during a CNN interview but promoted “natural immunity” on Fox News, both on the same day. Even Fox News took notice of Mace’s pandering and grilled her about it during a subsequent interview. (Watch below.)

Mace sought out publicity in bizarre ways. Former staffers claim that during the January 6 Capitol attack, she pitched the idea that she’d confront the MAGA mob with the goal of getting punched in the face so her battered image could propel her to prominence. (Saner heads ultimately prevailed.)

Meanwhile, Mace learned the lesson that publicly beefing with prominent Dems is a good way to get attention and money. As Trump was reestablishing his dominance over the GOP in the the winter of 2021, Mace picked a fight with AOC, cynically accusing her of lying about her traumatic experiences on January 6.

Mace tweeted, “I’m two doors down from aoc and no insurrectionists stormed our hallway” — a claim AOC never actually made. AOC pushed back, but Mace pivoted to hitting up her email list for cash and portraying herself as a victim: “[AOC can] pressure me all she wants, but I've never backed down, and I won't start now."

A few months later, Mace claimed that her house on Daniel Island, an affluent Charleston suburb, was vandalized with antifa symbols and profanity. Before police even charged anyone, Mace had already starting blaming the “the radical left” in her fundraising appeals. (Mace has also shamelessly fundraised off her attacks on Rep. McBride.)

Mace has contempt for anyone she thinks hogs the spotlight she craves, including far-right Republicans like Greene and Boebert. During a late 2021 hit on CNN, Mace condemned Boebert’s Islamophobic remarks about Ilhan Omar. Greene fired back by tweeting that Mace “is the trash in the GOP Conference. Never attacked by Democrats or RINO’s (same thing) because she is not conservative, she’s pro-abort. Mace you can back up off of [Boebert] or just go hang with your real gal pals, the Jihad Squad. Your [sic] out of your league.”

In response, Mace — without a trace of irony — dismissed Greene as an attention-seeking phony, a “grifter of the first order.”

“If you say something that's crazy, you say something extreme, you're going to raise money,” she told reporters. “And that is the only reason that she does that … she does it to raise money. She takes advantage of vulnerable Americans and vulnerable conservatives and makes promises she cannot keep.” (Watch below.)

In December 2021, Elaine Godfrey at The Atlantic wrote a profile on Mace headlined, “The Republican Congresswoman Taking on Lauren Boebert.” The piece asked, “Why is a South Carolina Republican policing her party’s far-right flank?”

But Mace’s faux-moderate branding wouldn’t last long.

Mace folds to Trumpism

Mace’s public feud with Greene eventually caused then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy to intervene, but it was the party’s true leader who threatened to end Mace’s career before it really got going.

As Godfrey observed, Mace’s actual “position in the GOP ecosystem” was hard to nail down. She didn’t please the bigot wing of the party with her (at the time) tolerant positions on LGBTQ issues. She provoked her diehard MAGA peers while trying to remain on Trump’s good side. She didn’t vote to impeach him after the insurrection, nor did she support the January 6 Committee. But she did vote to hold former Trump adviser Stephen Bannon in contempt of Congress.

Although outspoken Trump foe Liz Cheney held a fundraising event for Mace in April 2021, Mace voted to remove her as GOP conference chair a few weeks later.

“Any disagreements we have with each other within our Party should be discussed internally, and not dragged out into public for all to see,” she said in a statement.

This explanation was transparently hypocritical — not just because of her later feuds with Boebert and Greene but because Trump himself doesn’t follow Ronald Reagan’s supposed 11th Commandment about never criticizing other Republicans. MAGA only obeys a single commandment — thou shalt have no other gods but Trump.

Trump didn’t forget Mace’s public criticism of him after January 6. He endorsed her 2022 primary challenger, Katie Arrington. Trump outright trashed Mace, calling her “disloyal,” “crazy,” and a “terrible person who has no idea what she’s doing.” At a 2022 rally, he even encouraged the crowd to boo the very mention of her name. (Watch below.)

Instead of standing up for herself, Mace immediately shifted into debasement mode. She recorded a humiliating video of herself standing outside Trump Tower, where she asserted her MAGA bonafides and kissed up to dear leader, saying “I believe in putting America first.”

Trump mocked her groveling performance, saying “it was untruthful just like everything else she does.”

But there was an upside — Trump targeting Mace helped her comms team meet their quotas. This included an extensive profile in Mace’s hometown newspaper, The State. When she managed to defeat Arrington, she received more fawning coverage in the press, and she boasted on CNN that she was "one of the only Republicans in the House who defeated the former president in a primary last year." Even the New York Times bought her act with a puffy profile written by Annie Karni, who apparently interviewed Mace over margaritas.

Emboldened by her victory, Mace further promoted her fabricated outsider image.

“I am a Republican, but I am a caucus of one,” Mace told Vanity Fair in a March 2023 profile headlined, “Welcome To Nancy Mace’s Island, Where She Gives ‘Zero F-cks.’”

“It’s been a very lonely start to the year. I represent a district of islands, but I literally feel up here on the Hill that I am living on an island alone. And it is very lonely,” Mace said, vowing to “rein in some of the craziness that is happening.”

In a January 2023 Semafor article headlined, “America's Next Top Moderate: Which House Republican wants the title?” Mace was listed as one of the "five members who’ve taken on the role of quasi-spokespeople for the Mod Squad” — a group billed as a contrast to the extremist Freedom Caucus, which had thrown the House into chaos over McCarthy’s protracted speakership bid. But by October, Mace had joined Matt Gaetz and other far-right Republicans in their successful bid to oust McCarthy.

As Republicans scrambled to replace McCarthy, Mace showed up for a conference meeting wearing a white t-shirt with a red “A” on the front. She told CNN’s Anna Grayer, “I’m wearing the scarlet letter after the week that I just had, last week, being a woman up here and being demonized for my vote and for my voice.”

Mace consistently plays the victim in this cynical way. During a memorably disastrous interview earlier this year on ABC, she absurdly accused George Stephanopoulos of “shaming” her as a rape victim because he dared ask how she could support Donald Trump, an adjudicated rapist. (Watch below.)

In recent weeks, as Mace has viciously attacked McBride, she’s turned reality upside down by proclaiming that she won’t be “bullied into submission” while sending out fundraising messages bragging that “the Trans Mob wants to k*ll me but I FOUGHT BACK and WON.”

Last June, after surviving a McCarthy-backed primary challenge, Mace declared, “I hope I drive Kevin McCarthy crazy.” She’s branded herself as an anti-establishment maverick, when she’s actually an egocentric chaos agent.

The Daily Show roasted Mace’s transphobia last month, but the show had previously fallen for her PR offensive when she was booked for an interview in October 2023. She’d billed herself as “not your typical Republican,” which is probably true but not in a positive way.

Three years after Mace was willing to take a punch to the face to brand herself as fully anti-Trump, she demonstrated the opportunistic disloyalty Trump correctly identified by going all in for his third presidential bid.

"I don’t see eye to eye perfectly with any candidate. And until now I’ve stayed out of it. But the time has come to unite behind our nominee," she said in a post on X. "To be honest, it’s been a complete shit show since he left the White House."

Mace actually believed she had a shot to become Trump’s running mate, but Trump had no reason to trust her. Even if he’s no longer attacking her at rallies, she’s proven that she prioritizes her personal brand more than loyalty to him or anything else.

AOC recently posted on Bluesky that when she privately confronted Mace about the lies she told about her and January 6, Mace responded glibly, “Whatever. You know it’s a game, just points on the board.” It’s a deeply cynical view of public service, and now that Mace has chosen to “score points” through shameful attacks on a vulnerable group, the only question that remains is how much lower she can go.

[anxiouspotatorants]

@stellaluna33​ be careful what you wish for.... Now let’s start off with a far too long list of Eurovision headcanons I have for Gilmore Girls.

While Richard and Emily did technically come across Eurovision (or at least national selection season) in the first half of the 80s (thank you @thatscarletflycatcher​ for that amazing headcanon) Lorelai herself wasn’t introduced to the world’s best singing concert until she met Michel. Michel told Lorelai about that time Celine Dion participated and won for Switzerland, which Lorelai then had to find proof of. Soon enough she catches her first taping of Eurovision (maybe 98 with Dana International) and she’s been obsessed ever since.

Lorelai loves everything at first, but over the years she grows a special kind of love for the truly tacky Eurovision entries. The more glitter and nonsensical english lyrics the better. 

Rory is obviously brought into this in her early teens and bonds with her mom over it. She does love a good tacky entry as well, but what really made Rory come back for the competition every year is all the political gossip and drama that seeps into each year. The voting results announcements is when Rory inches closer to the screen.

It’s not enough for Lorelai to enjoy this by herself with Rory. She shares her opinions with Michel (who hates it), makes a whole themed yearly event of it with Sookie, spreads the gospel of Eurovision to Miss Patty and Babette, and tries at least once to convince Taylor to make Eurovision week an offical town holiday or at least an event. Taylor will not approve of this anti-American nonsense. That is his loss.

Of course Luke is forced to sit through this every single year. And no he does not like it. He gets angry about the hypocrisy of all the “peace and love”-songs sung by artists representing countries that do not have peace and love in their policies, is intimidated by all the glitter, and could really do without the akward hosts. He will admittedly enjoy the odd dad-rock entry that comes every year, but keep it to himself since everyone else roasts them.

Since Michel is the one who introduced everyone to Eurovision (well, he introduced Lorelai who introduced everyone, but it wouldn’t have happened without him) and since he’s the only actual European around, Michel feels very protective and possessive of it. He will let Rory bait him into talking about how he as a Frenchman views other European countries (it gets stereotypical), and he will at the same time tear a hole into anyone who scoffs at ‘ethnic’ or non-English songs. 

Like his uncle, Jess is not a Eurovision fan and would really like to skip watching this, if only to avoid the crowds that Lorelai gathers for the event. He does like it when audience members sneak up on stage or something goes really wrong. Teenage Jess could stay away because of how things were going around that time of year, but adult Jess who visits multiple times a year for Doula and Luke and has to remain on civil terms with Lorelai cannot escape. And yeah, it might bring Rory joy to watch him awkwardly sandwiched between TJ and Luke watching Verka Serduchka scream numbers in German.

Lane loves Eurovision. She loves the showmanship, loves the variety of musical entries, loves being introduced to country-specific genres. When the internet community around Eurovision grows, she starts finding updates (and eventually streams) of the national selections around Europe and starts watching them as well. For Lane, Eurovision-season starts in December the year before.

Paris doesn’t really get Eurovision at first (noting the same hypocricy issue as Luke), but with time she starts to let loose and enjoy the circus for what it is. She tends to change what genre she prefers every couple of years, but she’s a loyal Portugal-supporter and likes pretending to be as above everyone else as Michel simply because she can speak Portuguese.

Dean never really got Eurovision, but would be fine watching it as long as he was spending time with Rory. Logan tried to convince Rory to get tickets with him and just head on over to Europe once for a finale, but to Rory that would be a betrayal against her tradition with Lorelai and the town. Either they all go or none of them go.

Richard and Emily are appalled by how tacky the whole event is, but they will watch it in the privacy of their home because it’s become a guilty pleasure. They tend to prefer French entries when the French aren’t sending songs like “Moustache”.

Lane has tried to get Hep Alien to add at least one Eurovision song to one of their setlists. She tends to try with safe rock songs like “We Could Be The Same” by maNga or “Something Better” by Softengine, but really she would love to do something hilarous and out of the box for their band, like “Secret Combination” or a Johnny Logan song.

Oh, but Jess liked “Viszlat Nyar” by AWS. He didn’t expect something like that to show up on Eurovision. It was nice.

Rory really enjoys that semi-indie music thing that’s been going on in Belgium and the Netherlands lately. Think “City Lights” by Blanche and “De Diepte” by S10.

Michel’s the kind of Eurovision-fan who prefers divas singing ballads or dancing girls with a whole crew on stage. 

Babette and Miss Patty will cheer for any entry with skimpy outfits, particularly shirtless men. “OPA” in 2010 was a moment for everyone: a fun one for the two of them and traumatizing for everyone else.

Miss Patty makes a whole separate drink for Eurovision. It has edible glitter in it.

Nobody in town seems to know what to make of Australia being in the competition. People like Lorelai and Sookie and Liz don’t mind, while people like Taylor find it categorically wrong that a European song contest has a country from the other side of the globe participate. But nobody even jokes about the US joining. Michel has made sure of that.

Lorelai’s all time favourite entry is Ukraine in 2004. Michel’s favourite is Switzerland in 1988 because of course.

Sookie uses Eurovision week as an excuse to experiment with different European cousines. At first she would do dishes from the host country, but nowadays she will occasionally switch to the country she’s rooting the most for that year or a country that hasn’t had a win in ages.

Michel still has access to voting, and when people catch wind of this it becomes a nightmare for him. Everyone wants to use Michel to vote for their favourite entry, but he refuses to do it for free, and refuses to blow up his phone credit for them. Eventually he gives the entire town 10 votes that they can bid on or agree on together, but either way Michel is getting compensation for this.

[thomasshelbydrabbles]

The Spy (6/?)

Pairing: Tommy Shelby x Adeline Taylor (OC)

Warnings: period typical sexism, series typical violence, period typical views of PTSD, period typical racism, blood and gore, angst, sexual situations, infertility, loss of child

Summary: Adeline and Tommy talk for the first time in two years.

**Note: This is a series, so you should read The School Teacher and The Messenger first if you want to understand everything.*

Word Count: 2975

Author’s Note: And here it is!! Let me know if you’d like to be added to the tag list.

Birmingham, 1924

“You claimed she was Thomas Shelby’s woman!” 

Adeline rolled her eyes as the men around her continued to bicker. They’d been arguing over her status as a usable whore for Tommy since they’d left the prison. It wasn’t exactly the reunion she’d envisioned, but seeing him was worth the bruise she felt blooming across her face. The way he’d looked at her though, that hurt more than she expected. Part of her wondered if his reaction had been calculated, designed to cause the infighting occurring right this moment. She clung to that thought because the alternative might destroy her. 

“Oh do shut up,” Adeline snapped, pinching the bridge of her nose. “He was hardly going to fall to pieces at the sight of me with a bruise on my face.” 

“Rather bold for a woman who lost her fiancé today,” Father Hughes informed her, sneer on his face. 

“You assume I’ve lost a fiancé. No way of knowing for sure so long as you keep me locked away here, pulled out only when you need a visual presentation of your leverage. No way a man like Thomas Shelby would allow himself to be pressured in such a way.”

“You cannot be suggesting we simply allow you to do as you please.” 

Adeline smiled. “That’s exactly what I’m suggesting. Not that I have much faith - ” she paused, “Sorry, not much for religion myself. You’ll understand why I don’t think you’ll take the wiser course here and allow me to return to the family.” 

“We can’t do that,” Sidney informed her. “We’ll stick to the plan. As Father Hughes pointed out, we’ve a higher power to account to in this endeavor.”

Adeline snickered. “And that’s worked out so well for you thus far. Good to see you continue to bet on the wrong horse.”

“There will come a time when you are no longer of use to the men of Section D.” 

“A day we all look forward to, I’m sure,” Adeline interrupted. “And of course, you’ve got grand designs about how I’ll suffer before I die. Perhaps you imagine I’ll beg you to offer me last rights so you can save my soul from eternal damnation. Sadly for us all, you can’t be rid of me yet.” 

“You can’t be sure he’ll even take you back,” Sidney reasoned.

“Aye. I can’t be sure. But, you’re whole plan - the plan dreamed up by the illustrious members of Section D hinges on Thomas Shelby giving a damn about my life.”

“He’ll see you alive and well at the Shelby family fundraiser this weekend. You’ll attend with Sidney, as planned. A representative of Section D will make himself know to Mr. Shelby, and detail exactly what he is to do next. Of course, the Grand Duchess will also be present at the fundraiser. Her uncle insists on her presence.” 

She hated the slimy, smug grin on Father Hughes’ face. The jealousy she felt bubble up in her gut she hated even more. If he truly had given up on her, the Grand Duchess’ parted thighs just might be enticement enough for Tommy.

“She is to be the direct contact between Thomas Shelby and our Russian friends. You - ” Father Hughes pointed at Adeline, “Are to remain just out of reach. Seen often enough to keep him interested, but far enough from him that he cannot pull you once more to his side.” 

“A slow torture,” Adeline murmured. “I wouldn't have believed such a pious, virtuous man of the cloth capable of something so insidious. But to hear it from your own lips. I’m impressed.”  

“Let’s not lose focus,” Sidney said, once more trying to maintain the peace. 

Adeline wanted to laugh at the irony of that. A man more apt to start a war because he was bored trying to mediate conflict. 

“I think Mr. Shelby is still very much enamored with our girl.” 

Adeline slanted a look at him, bristling at the use of our. 

“The fundraiser is for the Shelby Foundation, which supports the local school. The very school where you used to teach, if I’m not mistaken. Such overtures don’t speak to a man ready to sever his relationship with his wayward fiancée.”

“Wayward?” Adeline asked.

Sidney shrugged a shoulder. “Your neither missing nor dead. Everyone who’s worked with you understands how difficult you can be. Wayward is a rather apt description, don’t you think?” 

“Indeed,” Father Hughes agreed.

“A more agreeable woman wouldn’t be able to accomplish the tasks you have set forth.”

“Agreed,” Sidney said with an amiable smile. 

He poured a measure of whiskey and handed it to Adeline. Skeptical of his sudden good humor, she took the glass. 

“We’ll go shopping for a pretty dress for you to wear. Can’t have Thomas Shelby forgetting himself, thinking he has any sort of advantage or space to maneuver. We must constantly show him what his own waywardness is endangering.” 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For a grown ass woman, Adeline spent much of her time sneaking into and out of various places. She’d been forbidden from leaving the guest house, but she’d think less of Sidney if he thought for a single moment she’d abide such a ridiculous rule. Not when she was here, in Birmingham. As instructed, she’d gone and bought a dress. While the savvy operative in her wanted to find something homely to wear just to spite Sidney, the woman desperately in love with a man she wanted to have captivated by her won out and she purchased a dress specifically designed to make Thomas Shelby want nothing more than to tear it from her body.

Glancing around his room, she noted how little had changed. Her coat, wet along the bottom from the lingering puddles that seemed to always occupy Birmingham streets hung on the back of the door. Her shoes, soaked through, lay in a haphazard way near the door. Knees tucked up to her chin, Adeline sat waiting. On the bedside table, the last of her cigarette lay burning down to nothing in the tray, small wisp of smoke curling up towards the ceiling. 

She heard footfalls on the steps, heard them move closer to the door. When the door began to creak open, Adeline felt her heart stop. Setting this meeting up, moving all the pieces, making promises - how easy that had been compared to this moment. Too many possibilities swam through her head. 

The door opened. Tommy stood in the doorway, shadows from the twilight casting his features in stark relief. He stood there as a statue, only the smallest movements convinced her that he was even breathing. Their eyes locked. 

“What the fuck are you doin’ here?”

She wanted to smile at the familiarity of the whole scenario. This space - his old room on Watery Lane held so many precious memories for her. Their first kiss.  

“Last time you snuck into me bed you had a message for me.”

“Aye.” 

Tommy nodded. He pulled a cigarette from his pocket. “Go on. Give me the message then get the fuck out.” 

“I don’t have a message, Tommy. I snuck into your bed to see you.”

He took a long drag from his cigarette, eyes distant, unfocused. “I dreamed this,” he whispered. “After the Darby. Every night.” 

“Tommy - ”

“And each morning,” he continued as he stepped into the room. “I’d wake up alone. Your spot on the bed cold and empty.” 

The anguish in his eyes destroyed her, tore through her like someone was peeling the skin from her back strip by strip. She wanted to turn her face away, to hide from his gaze; it would be easy to play the coward.  

“What would you like me to say, Tommy?”

Instead of answering, he threw the door closed. The sound of it echoed through the quiet of the house. She flinched at the noise. Her movement drew his focus back to her. 

“I don’t know, Miss Taylor. After two years, what is there to say, eh?”

Another flinch. She clutched her left hand to her chest, the fingers from her right hand nervously twisting the engagement ring around her finger. 

Tommy let out a humorless chuckle. He pointed to her, that same bitter smile she’d seen in the prison once more on his face. 

“Were you ever mine?”

An aborted, wounded sound escaped her lips. Yet, Sidney’s voice echoed in her mind. You were mine first…Shaking those thoughts from her head she met Tommy’s gaze. 

“You fuckin’ bastard, how can you ask me that?”

Again, Sidney’s voice mocked her, You’ve worn his ring, played virgin for the two years you’ve been apart... 

“Answer the question.” 

Adeline grit her teeth. “I never stopped being yours.”

She watched his expression. Saw how he worked to shut her out, to hold his anger tightly around him as protection. He might be able to do it. She’d always known there was a possibility…a version of this reunion where he didn’t - wouldn’t forgive her. Worst of all, she couldn't find it in herself to blame him for it. Were their roles reversed, she’d not be forgiving either. Didn’t change the fact that he still held what remained of her heart in the palm of his hand, just as surely as Sidney held her life in the palm of his. Damn them both. 

He remained silent, just stood there and smoked his cigarette. Adeline stood from the bed, closed some of the distance between them.

“When you were laying in your bed, dreamin’ ‘bout me did you imagine it was my choice to be taken from your side, hm?” 

“One moment you were there. The next you allowed them to fuckin’ drag you away.” Tommy glanced away. He tossed his spent cigarette on the floor and ground it beneath his foot. Adeline wanted to scold him for it, but didn’t. He met her gaze once again. 

“Aye.” 

“Fuckin’ Alfie knocked Arthur unconscious, nearly shot me to keep us from runnin’ after you. We outnumbered them. Would have been simple enough for you to break the hold they had on you. Only one conclusion, Miss Taylor - you wanted to leave with them.” 

“Call me Miss Taylor in that tone one more time and I swear to Christ I’ll cut your fuckin’ tongue out.” 

“Why?”

Adeline forced herself to take a deep breath. She met Tommy’s steady gaze, felt the burn of the ice in his blue eyes. Had attempting to protect him from her past brought them here? Perhaps. He deserved to know everything. 

“Momento Mori.”

Reaching forward, Adeline pulled the pack of cigarettes from Tommy’s pocket. Allowing the smoke to fortify her, she began to pace in a small little line a foot away from where Tommy stood. 

“I thought he was dead. Alfie, too. I thought I was safe, but I should have known better. Memento Mori was our code during the war. Sidney - George, whatever he wants to bloody well call himself, used that phrase when the situation became too dangerous to stay. Those men who came in, the ones who grabbed me, whispered that phrase in my ear. No one needed to die. If I’d fought, if I even hesitated, everyone in that room would have been dead. Better you alive and hating me than dead and loving me.”

“Still makin’ my decisions for me.” 

Adeline shook her head. “You bloody stubborn bastard. Even with everything I’ve told you. Everything you’ve seen, you still don’t understand how dangerous this is. I’ll not apologize for saving you. I’ll never apologize for protecting you, for keeping you safe.”

“And there it is,” Tommy nodded to himself. “The woman I love, my fiancée, doesn't trust me to protect the family. To protect her.”

Adeline scoffed. “Trust you?” 

With a shake of her head, she turned away from him. She took a long drag from the cigarette. Whirling back to face him, she jabbed her finger against his chest. 

“The second you got sober enough to have a coherent thought you went to fucking Churchill and made yourself a Devil’s bargain.” 

Tommy’s eyes narrowed as he took a step back. 

“And how would you know that, eh?”

She’d never thought about how she’d answer that question. Part of her never thought she’d have the opportunity. She’d convinced herself that Sidney would kill her when he was done with her. As she’d told Campbell years ago, women like her were guaranteed one thing in life and that was to die bloody, wrung out - useless. That’d be her tombstone: Here Lies Arke: Useless.

He deserved to know. Even if he hated her for it. It’d been many years since she’d been this desperate to lie to someone. She knew the likelihood of him forgiving her was slim, had known that all along. Yet standing here in his room, facing the reality of it? Nothing felt worse. Squaring her shoulders, she looked up at him. 

“About six months after Sidney took me, I figured out a way to get word out that I was alive. I hadn’t managed to find a way to come home. I couldn’t. Not while Sidney breathed. That was my mistake the first time. Instead of verifying for myself, I believed rumors and reports about his death. Allowed my joy at his demise to cloud my judgment. Not again. Not ever again. I sent word through the IRA to Alfie, to Isaiah - ”

She paused at his startled hiss of breath. She knew that dark look in his eye. 

“You’ll leave that boy alone, Thomas Shelby. It’s me you're angry with, and rightly so. I couldn’t risk direct or indirect contact with you. Sidney had his people everywhere, and I knew if he caught even a hint that I had reached out to you…well, you’d all be dead. Anyone with the last name Shelby. Anyone associated with the Peaky Blinders. All dead. You’ll scoff. Tell me there’s no way that would happen because Thomas fucking Shelby rules the whole world, and no one would dare cross him. And that’s why I couldn't risk it. You’re not invincible. Men like Sidney are too well connected, too political. I knew Alfie would keep you in the dark. Took a bit of a wager on Isaiah, but he’s a good lad. Knows good sense.”

Adeline threw her spent cigarette on the floor, ignoring the way her hands shook. 

“Didn’t expect Michael and Isaiah to show up. They’re the ones who told me about what you’d done, about your foolishness. Good boys. Of course, Alfie’s the one who helped them track me down. Meddling Jewish fool. After that, I couldn’t allow them to risk in person contact. We relied on carefully coded notes with minimal details about anything personal or important. Then we were in France, and Russia because of course Alfie was fucking right, as usual and Sidney is Russian, so he’s involved in this whole mess of Reds and Whites, then I learn that you’ve gone to Churchill and gotten yourself involved in the Russian’s bloody mess. Now they’re using me as a pawn to make sure you stay in line and do exactly as you're told.”

Tommy nodded, the movements abrupt. He raked a hand through his hair before locking his eyes with hers. Adeline’s breath caught. They were so blue, and they still held her as captive as they always had. She’d missed him so much it hurt, and standing here this close…she missed him all the more. Oh how she’d feared this day. The day when it was all too much. When he found the transgression he couldn’t, wouldn’t forgive. Worst of all, she couldn’t even blame him.    

“Two years,” Tommy began, voice low, carefully controlled. “You’ve known everythin’ I’ve been doin’ for two years, and not a single word to me.” 

Adeline wanted to shake him. Everything she’d told him, and that’s what he focused on. As though she could forget the time. As though she hadn’t died each day since they’d been apart.  

“I spent two years worryin’ about you. Not knowin’ if you were alive, or - ”

Tommy clenched his hand into a fist, grit his teeth.

“Two fuckin’ years!”

She startled at the volume of his voice. Her own eyes narrowed. She took a step closer to him. 

“Aye,” Adeline screamed back. “745 fuckin’ days!” 

Staring at him, her chest heaved. Tommy stared back; his blue eyes piercing.

“745 days,” she whispered. 

She fought back the tears that threatened to stream down her face. Not that she minded the thought of crying in front of him, not anymore, but she feared if she gave in now, if she allowed even one tear to fall, she’d never stop.

“Might be 746 by now,” Adeline noted absently, eyes peering out the window into the darkness. 

Looking back at Tommy was a mistake. She’d not seen him look so defeated. Anger spent, at least for now, he appeared to her…un-moored. Like a boat adrift in the Cut, loose, but dangerously close to crashing against the bank. Floundering now that the reality of her standing in front of him settled around his shoulders. It was as though he finally believed she stood before him, not some specter he’d conjured in his dreams. She understood the feeling. Seeing him in that prison cell…feeling his eyes on her - nothing could have prepared her for that moment. 

Tommy closed the distance between them, his fingers gently traced the edges of the bruise on her face. Leaning into his touch, she bit back the sound of pain that wanted to escape her lips. She’d not allow him to end this connection over something so trivial as pain. The bruise, like all the ones before, would heal. Tommy touching her as though she mattered to him - that she needed like oxygen. 

“Tell me how to fix us,” Adeline begged, voice a whisper.

Part 7

Master List

Tag List: @stevie75  @muhahaha303  @highgardenrosexx @dolllol2405 

[inky-snowdrop]

The Kooplings (+ Bowser Jr.) In Real Life

Note: All the Kooplings were adopted by Bowser, not necessarily in the order thats presented below

I used this Picrew to show what the Kooplings would look like as human, and I created the aesthetics to represent the general idea of their personalities (I did not create the Picrew fyi)

These are not canonically accurate lol

Iggy Koopa

Age: 25-ish

Adopted: 16-17

BIG mentally unstable, oldest sibling energy

Has had a few brushes with the law over stupid stuff (public disturbances)

Pretty much checked out of the family since turning 18... No one can keep tabs on him

Favorite Song: DESCENT by ZAND

Morton Koopa Jr.

Age: 23

Adopted: 16

Roy is Morton's fraternal twin; Morton is older by five minutes

Has taken care of his siblings when Bowser wasn't able to; Really stepped into oldest child responsibilities

EXTREMELY PROTECTIVE; Has taken self defense classes to further protect his siblings

Favorite Song: Rich Spirit by Kendrick Lamar

Roy Koopa

Age: 23

Adopted: 16

Fraternal twins with Morton

The flashiest of the siblings; Genuinely cares about the way people perceive him

High. Risk. Behaviors. If it's dangerous, you better believe Roy has tried it at least once (death wish)

Favorite Song: First Person Shooter by Drake, J.Cole

Ludwig Von Koopa

Age: 18

Adopted: 17

The least sociable of the Kooplings, often deemed as rude or snobbish by his siblings; Has a seriously difficult time trusting people

Practices witchcraft, focusing on weather and aura magic

Has had at least three different foster families before being adopted

Favorite Song: Moonlite by Nicole Dollananger

Wendy O. Koopa

Age: 16

Adopted: 11

The 💖👑 PRINCESS 👑💖

She takes nothing from no one; If you say something out of line about her or her siblings, she WILL ruin your day

Is talented in lots of sports, including ice skating and competitive swimming

Favorite Song: Bundles 2 by Kayla Nicole, Taylor Girlz, Flo Milli

Larry Koopa

Age: 14

Adopted: 14

The chill™️ Koopling; It takes A LOT to upset him

Really into art (likes to take photos and paint)

Takes time out of his day to hang out with his siblings individually

Favorite Song: Sunroof by Nicky Youre, dazy

Bowser Jr.

Age: 6

Bowser Jr. is a huge brat; He acts out in order to get attention from his Dad

VERY UPSET that he is no longer the youngest of the family

Likes scary things, like clowns; Scaring his siblings and Dad's subjects is a funny game for him

Doesn't totally hate Wendy, but she's the only sibling that he likes

Favorite Song: Come on Out by Chandler Kinney

Izzy Koopa

Age: 5

Adopted: 2

Izzy was enrolled into gymnastics when Bowser first adopted him and has loved it ever since

His favorite movie is Alice In Wonderland because he likes how colorful and crazy everything is

Spends most of his time playing with his toy balls and slime

Favorite Song: The Mad Tea Party / The Unbirthday Song / Twinkle Twinkle / Clean Cup Move Down / Mad Watch by Kathryn Beaumont

[queerfables]

911 season 5 part 1 liveblog

5x01

Okay, dramatic opening image!!

Love it

What's this walking dead shit

Omg emus??

Oh jeeze what else is loose here

A fucking GIRAFFE ok I'm obsessed

This is a GREAT fucking opening

LMFAO I appear to have accidentally downloaded the Spanish dub

Ok an hour later that mix up is not as funny as it was but we are back baby

Take two

Btw I don't think I've mentioned it yet but I love the show's score

Little baaaaaaaby

What the hell is wrong with the human brain that at the moments when you need it to be functioning the most, like when you have a new kid for example, there's a solid chance it just breaks

It's Mad About Depression hours I guess

The fact that Eddie is so stubbornly insisting that meeting his girlfriend's family isn't a big deal

Idk I guess Eddie's love interests so far just haven't grabbed me. His type is bland willowy ladies and I would like to see some sparks.

911 is being flooded with calls?

Oh shit this is bad

This really does not seem like a glitch to me

Haha oh it's kind of fun to see Taylor and Buck getting a little spicy. I've been thinking about how this show doesn't really do much sexiness and it's not like it needs it but I also sometimes think it doesn't have to be quite as sanitised as it is.

(I may or may not have been thinking this in the context of, it would be fun to see some hot and heavy Buck/Eddie makeouts. They're both very attractive people, sue me)

(But Taylor is also very attractive and I'm down with Buck/Taylor make-outs)

Ok the fact that she was seducing Buck to get access to his phone just makes it hotter. Hi Taylor just a heads up if things with Buck don't work out I am available.

(Also will someone write me Buck/Eddie/Taylor because for real I would be into that)

Yeah ransomware makes way more sense

What the fuck how does the rapist have a giggly female fanclub?? That does not seem plausible to me.

T____T Christopher is so cute trying on suits

Oh no Eddie did not like Ana being referred to as Christopher's mum

That looks like a panic attack to me

"I don't panic" shut up and take the damn pamphlet Eddie. I hate to break it to you but you are still a human being.

Oh Athena, honey

Harry taking care of his mum is so soft

I'm sorry but as a former legal transcriptionist, self-reps are never this calm and collected. they are constantly being pulled up by the judge on things they're not allowed to say and getting off track (it's a little bit funny). It's pretty implausible, under the circumstances, that he would be allowed to represent himself in the first place - and that is for his own protection.

Oh the idiot defendant decided to make a break for it in the chaos while maintaining his innocence? That sounds more like the self reps I'm familiar with

Crying with laughter over how a digital attack is somehow making an analogue clock go haywire

Oh Buck gets bitchy when Eddie hides things from him

On top of everything else, now there's a blackout?

This is officially beyond my ability to suspend disbelief.

Still, I am having a good time. I love when shows go big and get stupid with it.

No!! Not Athena's detective friend!!

5x02

Jesus Christ Bobby that was very heroic but you know that if you die Athena will KILL you right?

Oh fuck Athena's friend didn't die I'm so relieved

I really thought he was gone

Fire Marshall Buck, my delight!

Man Eddie is never gonna beat the gay allegations if he keeps having panic attacks every time someone thinks things are more serious with Ana than they are

(I'm being a little flippant of course I know there are other reasons for that to feel Fraught)

(I just can't help but think about how much of his relationship with Shannon felt like someone checking the boxes he's supposed to check. To me, at least.)

Ok but when do the animals come back

Oh my god Eddie is so FOND listening to Buck talk about the animals at the zoo and why they should be panicking

Buck on "animal control" is hilarious

LOL at Hen and Bobby being menaced by alpacas

"Clever girl" HEE

T_T oh I know this is deliberate weepy feelgood bait but the neighbourhood coming together to help the little boy on the ventilator still gets me

Aw Buck is so worried about Eddie's hypothetical heart attack

"Suddenly it became a ready-made family and I don't know if I'm ready for that"

LOL Eddie is going to "stick it out" with Ana because she is, and I quote, "the first woman I've wanted to spend this much time with since Shannon." My guy you spent most of your marriage to Shannon in Afghanistan.

Eddie taking a nap to avoid a big life conversation feels very relatable lol

I'm glad Chimney is talking to Hen about Maddie having post-partum. He needs support too.

Oh jeeze that's so scary, falling asleep with the baby in the bath. I fell asleep holding the baby once, just for a split second while sitting up in bed, and dropped him onto the floor. I don't think I have ever felt worse. But he was fine and Maddie's baby is also fine.

D: the attacker is at Athena's house. Oh that feels horrible. Even just knowing he'd been there. I would have to move.

Harry oh no!!!

This horrible worm of a person with Harry in his car boot. I will fight him.

Jesus Christ ANOTHER cliffhanger? But I really have to sleep this is terrible

Stay tuned I guess T_T

[arinninjagosleftovers]

Okay I have a LOT of thoughts. I finished all of the teens as cats (just the pcs) and will be explaining most of my thoughts i had during designing them. Idk how many other people in the dndads fandom used to be warrior cats kids but if you were, this post is made for you specifically.

Remember these are very stylized cats and their genetics will not work like real cat’s genetics do. As long as you keep that in mind we cool. Also all of the teens are apprentices and this is gonna be a long post so buckle in

Ok so Scary was arguably the easiest design for me, I struggled a bit with the stripes but I ended up really liking how they turned out. A lot of her fur look very sharp and pointy but actually have rounded edges bc she tries really hard to be edgy lol

I considered giving her black fur and markings but I liked the idea of her being a very muted brown so it looked like she has that type of fur, but really doesn’t. The skull stripes are just for fun, and the purple eye is a nod to how common she is designed with purple, and also the mix of love and fear. The marking over her eye is to represent eyeshadow if that makes sense?

I imagine her being in Riverclan, I was thinking Shadowclan at first but I really like the idea of this edgy and brooding teenager knowing Shadowclan is just that, but she’s not in that clan. Also, Riverclan is surrounded by water and guess which family is connected to water? That’s right, the Stamplers. Even though she is in Riverclan, she’s not originally from the clans. She and her mother were traveling loners and came across the clans, and Veronica met a Riverclan cat and decided they should join. Scary and Terry (still trying to come up with a warrior name) used to have the same name but Scary hated that so she changed hers to Scary.

Lincoln was a bit more difficult and I wasn’t sure really what to do with him? But I knew I wanted his fur to be brown and if he was just standing he’d be very tall and kinda lanky. He has the shortest fur out of everyone and is easily the fastest, and the only one who can keep up is Scary. Most of the stripes are nods to the fact he is a soccer player. The face stripes being face paint, the hind legs being socks and those leg shields soccer players wear that I have no idea what they’re called in english. The tail is also kinda like the socks I guess? Yeah. It’s what inspired the leg ones at least. The eyes are different colors because I liked the idea of including something to represent yellow and red cards. The red one is actually just a really bright amber that looks red.

He is in windclan, but was found by Grant and Marco as a kit on the edge of the territory. He was barely one moon and they very quickly decided they need to take care of him, but they couldn’t stay in the clan to do so. So, the two left their respective clans and raised him, but when he was older (still apprentice age) they let him join Windclan. So now he’s there. As for his name? I have not figured one out. At least not a prefix, but I think it would be really funny if his future suffix is kick

Taylor…. Taylor was such a struggle oh my god. Everything but the pose at least. I wanted to include black because I thought it’d fit him more?? But I didn’t know what to do for markings or if I should’ve even included markins and for a while I was considering making him a black and white cat but I didn’t like how that looked. Then I tried making him an albino cat because I gave him redish eyes (hinting at his demon heritage in canon) but I was like no. This is not Taylor. so I made him a fully black cat which I think is the look I like best?? Yeah.. Now for the markings. The biggest one is there because I wanted to include his jacket, and the ones on the hind legs are for boots and the tail one is just to blend it all in. The ears and head fur is kinda like his hair.

Okay so he’s in Thunderclan bc he should get to have his main character syndrome still and Thunderclan is my least favourite clan (mostly a joke) and I think all of the other Close-Foster-Freeman are also in Thunderclan, or at least they were before they died or left. Idk his family is so weird because of the whole timeline shift and I have no clue how to make that happen in a warriors au. So. Some help would be appreciated. His name is Bay because it sounds like Tay which.. Taylor. Yeah. I could go with his warrior name being Bayswift but. I think that is a bit on the nose?? Another option his having his suffix being infront of his prefix and then it could be Rapidbay

Normal was. Not really a struggle? Mostly with his body markings. I knew I wanted him to have an undertone of blue because of Teeny and blue being Love. Also why his eyes are very bright blue. The head markings were the easiest because it looks like he has a mask or helmet of some sort, and he has a lot more rounded features than everyone else. the body markings are also kind of like he’s wearing something? If that makes any sense at all. I also think he would look more like Rebecca than Lark and Sparrow, at least color wise, because then nobody would know who is actually his dad. And even if he did look like them, they are identical. Idk I just think it would be interesting if Hero looked like Lark and Sparrow and Normal like Rebecca because of the whole chosen thing and all. They are from different litters btw, but they were both the only ones from their respective litters.

Now if you’ve been keeping track you’d know he is in Shadowclan, and that is because opposite from Scary I think the idea of him being in this dark and brooding clan is hilarious because he is soo cheery and happy all the time and almost all of the cats in the clan dislike it. His mentor is (was) Tony Pepperoni. He is the only one with a mentor so far. I think he’s not really considered a part of the clan, because both Lark and Sparrow were originally born in Windclan and switched to Shadowclan, Sparrow for Rebecca and Lark for Sparrow. I think Rebecca would’ve joined the clan when she was a fully grown cat but still considered young in warriors terms, so around 20 moons which in real life is almost 2 years. So, he’s only a fourth clan cat. Now for his name I am not sure (again) but I think his suffix would be mask and his prefix.. maybe I’ll just google the most basic warrior cats prefix and take that one

[thegreatimpersonator]

Thank you so much for being okay with it, I know how draining this topic can be. I recently saw a post that said "you shouldn't stop being friends with someone just because they did something wrong but actually tell them that they were being wrong because that's just how they're gonna realise it" and I really think that fits with me and taylor. I know she's not my friend but she has had this force in my life for so many years that I basically see her as my friend. That might sound parasocial but I really am not parasocial. I'm not one of the people who are obsessed with her you know speculating on every aspect of her life and thinking you know her so well. What I mean when I say I see her as a friend is that I say stuff like "I love her". Now with the whole stuff that happened this year (m*tty) I wasn't proud of her, I was pretty mad and disappointed. But then there was this "I'm sure she doesn't mean it that way! I'm sure she isn't a bad person! She has done bad decisions but she isn't evil just because she was near that guy doesn't mean she is okay with everything he represents" and I know these thoughts don't justify what she did. But now again I always ask myself if she really did such a bad crime? I know she did something problematic but does that automatically mean she hates pocs, muslims, jews, lgbtq etc people? And I always think the answer to that question is no because she for sure is immature and a white feminist but a people hater? I wouldn't say that. And this is where I don't know what to feel about her because I don't want to hate her or unstan her for that one month nonsense and I probably won't but these thoughts always come up in my head. It's mostly because of the fact that she had such a big impact on my life and she's known for being one of the kindest celebrities so it'd beweird to think that that was always a lie. And now back to the quote I mentioned up there. I really think it represents my "relationship" with taylor cause sure she's not a real friend she doesn't know me and I don't know her but in this case if we say she'd be my friend I shouldn't just stop being friends with her which means unstanning her but actually tell her she's being wrong for her to be better next time. And I know holding her accountable doesn't make a difference in her life unless it's just the minority who does it but at least I have a great feeling that I'm able to hold people accountable that I really like. Look I'm 20 years old and without sounding parasocial I really do lover taylor. I wish she'd understand she did something wrong and apologise for it but at the same time if almlsy no one tells her that she's not gonna find that out. I know she's a grown adult who should be able to see what's right and wrong but I have such a weak spot for her that I would just be worried for her no matter what she did. For example this whole overexposure of her life right now. I know she knows what she's doing but I just can't stop myself from being worried for her because I don't want her to get hurt in any sense.

I could talk about this forever but I will stop here otherwise you're going to freak out. But I just want to know if I'm being unreasonable or if my worries are justified

I completely understand what you mean. I think that whole situation with M*tty really was the breaking point for a lot of people, a lot of people finally saw her as the performative person she can be. Her getting on a stage and calling herself an ally all while dating someone who says slurs and spews hate speech was truly insane to me and a lot of others.

I agree with what you said about how her having whatever that moment was with him doesn’t mean she meant any direct harm to those groups, it’s not even comparable to what he does, but it is still inexcusable and hurtful. And that’s where the complex and conflicting feelings come in.

If you love something you want it to grow and better itself, whether it’s people or whatever else, we have no idea who Taylor truly is as a person, but we love what we believe the concept of Taylor is and we care. I dont think it’s a dangerous thing to be that level of parasocial, she’s told us for over a decade that she cares about us and we’ve done things as a collective that show we care about her. It’s not strange at all to want to her to better herself in these aspects of being a better person.

I think it all comes down to being a responsible, mature consumer of media and fandom. No one is going to be perfect and spotless in the eyes of everyone, but particularly celebrities bring it to a very problematic level. Celebrities are public figures and their actions have such stronger affects than the average person, plus whatever they present publicly is what they are okay with being in their life, so Taylor showed she was okay with that man’s terrible behavior. I think to remember that and acknowledge that she is very much a white feminist who does not stand up for others and can be very hypocritical at times is a really healthy mindset to have, acknowledge she definitely has her flaws and not see her as a perfect god, not give her the benefit of the doubt when that just means turning a blind eye to her harmful actions and making up excuses for her. No human being is immune to criticism.

As long as you can acknowledge all of her flaws and not be one of those fans who defends her at every turn and ignored the red flags she has constantly waved in the air then it’s perfectly fine to remain a fan. It’s still completely reasonable to have empathy for her and be worried about her well being or what might happen in the future due to this insane over exposure that’s happening. You don't wanna see someone who might have helped you through so many rough times go through one themselves. It’s complicated and that’s perfectly fine, one day you can love her and others she can do some things to piss you off, there can be mixed emotions.

[willow-lark]

ok but 'You Belong With Me' is such a byler-coded song. it fits so good

nonnie. nonnie. thank you for this ask. however. i don't think you understand the tirade you're about to launch me on. thank you for presenting me with this hallowed opportunity. i know many bylers who listen to taylor swift a lot more than i do have talked about their thoughts a lot more in depth than i ever could, but i present to you, what became an overly-long analysis, in no particular order:

lark's top ten byler-coded taylor swift songs 🫡💕🤩

You Belong With Me

um?? hello??? "You're on the phone with your girlfriend, she's upset/She's going off about something that you said/'Cause she doesn't get your humor like I do/I'm in my room, it's a typical Tuesday night/I'm listening to the kind of music she doesn't like/And she'll never know your story like I do.../If you could see that I'm the one who understands you/Been here all along, so why can't you see?/You belong with me" will byers wrote this song. he wrote this song. like what???? AND IT WORKS BOTH WAYS. this is theee jealous mike wheeler song. ever. i wrote a mike pov fic last year & i had this song on repeat the entire time i was writing.

2. I Wish You Would

"You're thinking that I hate you now/'Cause you still don't know what I never said/I wish you would come back/Wish I never hung up the phone like I did, I wish you knew that/I'll never forget you as long as I live/And I wish you were right here/Right now, it's all good/I wish you would.../I wish we could go back/And remember what we were fighting for/And I wish you knew that I miss you too much to be mad anymore" LIKE WHAT??? this is the song that was playing when mike & will were having their little fight in the roller rink btw. this is the song that represents the 6 months they didn’t speak to each other. they miss each other so fucking much. augh. them.

3. Paper Rings

"I like shiny things, but I'd marry you with paper rings/Uh huh, that's right/Darling, you're the one I want, and/I hate accidents except when we went from friends to this/In paper rings, in picture frames, in dirty dreams/Oh, you're the one I want/I want to drive away with you/I want your complications too/I want your dreary Mondays/Wrap your arms around me, baby boy" like r u kidding me. this is the byler fluff anthem. i am forever and always an angst girly but AUGH. THEY ARE SO IN LOVEEEEEEE. adorable. they love each other so much. literally make me squee. augh. mwah

4. Seven

"I think your house is haunted/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/Or hide in the closet/And just like a folk song/Our love will be passed on.../Cross my heart won't tell no other/And though I can't recall your face/I still got love for you/Pack your dolls and a sweater/We'll move to India forever/Passed down like folk songs/Our love lasts so long" mike wheeler wrote this song. sorry. it perfectly encapsulates byler's feeling of haunted or lost childhood friends, who always stay with you, and you wish they were still in your life. it fits them so well.

5. This Love

"Your kiss, my cheek/I watched you leave/Your smile, my ghost/I fell to my knees/When you're young, you just run/But you come back to what you need/This love is good/This love is bad/This love is alive/Back from the dead/These hands had to let it go free and/This love came back to me" this song just screams s4 to me, like their relationship fell to shambles and everything broke apart s3-s4, but byler can't help but always find their way back to each other. and that's not even including the "back from the dead" implications COUGH COUGH ZOMBIE BOY

6. You Are in Love

"One look, dark room/Meant just for you/Time moved too fast/You play it back/Buttons on a coat/Lighthearted joke/No proof, not much/But you saw enough/...You can hear it in the silence.../You can feel it on the way home.../You can see it with the lights out.../You are in love/True love/...You keep his shirt/He keeps his word/And for once you let go/Of your fears and your ghosts/...You kiss on sidewalks/You fight, then you talk/One night he wakes/Strange look on his face/Pauses, then says/"You're my best friend"/And you knew what it was/He is in love" ok that's a long set of lyrics but i'm SORRY??????? this song is literally will and mike's love story. they're dancing back and forth with each other, but they're certain there's something deeper there. and it doesn't even need to be said between them.

7. You're On You're Own, Kid

"Summer went away/Still, the yearning stays/I play it cool with the best of them/I wait patiently/He's gonna notice me/It's okay, we're the best of friends/...I didn't choose this town/I dream of getting out/There's just one who could make me stay/All my days/From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes/I waited ages to see you there/I search the party of better bodies/Just to learn that you never cared/You're on your own, kid/You always have been" when i tell u my jaw DROPPED TO THE FLOOR when i heard it for the first time. this is the most will byers-coded song i've ever heard in my entire life. GOD. the angst???? this is HIS ANTHEM i'm telling you.

8. Message in a Bottle

"I know that you like me/And it's kinda frightening/Standing here waiting/And I became hypnotized/By freckles and bright eyes/Tongue-tied/But now, you're so far away, and I'm down/Feeling like a face in the crowd/I'm reaching for you, terrified/'Cause you could be the one that I love/I could be the one that you dream of/A message in a bottle is all I can do/Standing here, hoping it gets to you" ok what if i said the "message in a bottle" was the painting. what if i said that. this song goes both ways for both their povs but like??? another s3-s4 anthem. there's a tension between them that scares them so they try to insinuate it as best they can!!

9. All Too Well (10 Minute Version)

"I can picture it after all these days/And I know it's long gone, and that magic's not here no more.And I might be okay, but I'm not fine at all.../And I was thinking on the drive down, any time now/He's gonna say it's love, you never called it what it was.../And there we are again when nobody had to know/You kept me like a secret, but I kept you like an oath/Sacred prayer, and we'd swear/To remember it all too well, yeah/Well, maybe we got lost in translation/Maybe I asked for too much/But maybe this thing was a masterpiece 'til you tore it all up/Running scared, I was there/I remember it all too well/And you call me up again just to break me like a promise/So casually cruel in the name of being honest/I'm a crumpled up piece of paper lying here" ok that's another long set of lyrics. i'm sorry. but I MAINTAIN that willel would have had this song on BLAST ON REPEAT the entire drive back to hawkins in s4 if it existed in 1986. they need the catharsis. they r going Through it. the ANGST. no one is having a good time right now. every time i write a byler angst fic (which is. often) i put this song on repeat.

10. Haunted

"You and I walk a fragile line/I have known it all this time/But I never thought I'd live to see it break/It's getting dark and it's all too quiet/And I can't trust anything now/And it's coming over you like it's all a big mistake/Oh, I'm holding my breath/Won't lose you again/Something's made your eyes go cold/Come on, come on, don't leave me like this/I thought I had you figured out/Something's gone terribly wrong.../Stood there and watched you walk away/From everything we had/But I still mean every word I said to you" the angst in this song goes all the way back to season 2. oh my god. the two of them r so incredibly dramatic. like will being possessed??? oh my god. OH MY GOD.

/end rant. nonnie, i am sorry this took me so long to answer & i'm sorry i derailed the whole thing to go on a tangent about taylor swift. if anyone has any byler song recs plsssss tell me them. i need to start talking about byler & music more. mwah 💖🫶

[blorboanalyzer]

To sidetrack from your answer, hijack your post, and piss off almost anyone that likes Worm;

I feel most people have that level of disconnect from Worm.

Worm is about a broken teenager in a broken world doing stupid shit and thinking stupider shit. Fucked up things happen to her and around her, and she kinda has to try to cope. She doesn't have the right answer to anything, and she never will, and neither will anyone else, the world is a fucked up place and it's impossible to get anything right, but if everyone works together we can barely survive.

A lot of people read Worm and surmise that the opinions of Taylor must be the opinions of the author, for better or worse. My thought on this is that it doesn't matter, I don't see her as a paragon of perfect human judgement and I don't think anyone should, but I also think that it's unreasonable to judge an author for making a damaged main character.

To me, Worm represents, to an extent, how ostracization, trauma, and an incomplete upbringing can damage your ability to make the right choices, how survival above all else can bring so much damage to all around us. It represents the damage we can have done to us or do to ourselves if we don't get help with dealing with our trauma, as well as the damage we inflict upon others.

The very easy face value interpretation of the powers, symbolically, is that they are a representation of the issues that people face in society. It's obvious, I know, but I feel like some people don't appreciate how that impacts the symbolism of using the powers to hurt others, or the symbolism of people gaining power and immediately using it to their own benefit and the loss of others.

People shit on Taylor for thinking drug use is bad, but, surprise, not only is there a sliver of truth hidden in there, but also there doesn't have to be, it can be a symbol of how children are taught to think by their schools and neighborhoods.

People also criticize her for things that are more difficult to make a solid judgement on. For making bad calls about who to save or how to do it. For taking so long to go to the authorities, or for going to them at all. For striving for power at the cost of too much, for not striving hard enough.

Through it all I think I would say every character just.... Is damaged, broken, needs help... And no one gets treatment early enough or in a reasonable fashion. We're dealing with the American healthcare system, we're dealing with society's refusal to take mental health seriously, and we're dealing with how that causes the gradual rot of the system.

The entire world of Worm is that nuanced, and not everything is explained well from the perspective of a broken teenage girl dealing with way too much. And yet what people get from it is... "The author hates women because he accurately shows that women are marginalized" "the author hates drugs because there's a person in there who is an example of what happens when someone slides past normal drug use" "the author hates Jews because he didn't go on a 10 page monologue about what precisely is wrong about the Nazis and instead just stopped with 'the Nazis are bad guys, duh' and nothing else except for the subtextual elements about mob mentality and the frailty of the human psyche in response to threats!"

In the end, I think the ultimate takeaway of Worm should be: go to fuckin therapy, yea you, even if you think you don't need to, especially if you don't think you need to.

Habe you ever had a "did we even play the same game?" moment with someone?

My favorite game ever used to be Metal Gear Solid 4, it’s still up there in my top favorites, and this time at a party I met a guy that said he didn’t like MGS4 because he felt like it ruined Snake as a character and that it misrepresented him. I asked if he could elaborate and his response was that they took this Rambo dude, this super manly war hero and emasculated him into a weak old man.

I need you to understand that Solid Snake was without exaggeration fundamental in my growth as a person: I am from a latino country, grew up in what’s widely considered the wrong side of the tracks in the middle of nowhere, being macho, manly, tough was incredibly important to me, because that’s how it was in there, and Snake (plus “The Knight In Rusty Armor” by Robert Fisher) basically made me question all of what I’d grown up thinking up until then, because Snake isn’t a badass because grrr manly beef jerky I kill and swear, he is this incredibly solemn guy who hates what he can do, but is the only one that can do it, and if he doesn’t do it, then nuclear war happens, or worse. There’s a whole angle of expectation as a narrative arc in regards to Snake: Meryl expected a glorious, boisterous war hero, Otacon expected a grizzled, badass action hero, Liquid expected Himself But Better In Every Way, Ocelot expected a tool and nothing else, Naomi expected a callous and cold killer… And they were all wrong, he is, ultimately, an exhausted man that cannot stop no matter how much he wants to stop, because if he does, the world might likely go up in literal flames.

So to hear this self-proclaimed superfan of Snake say this just made me skip anger and go all the way to pity. In-universe, those in the know of Snake worship him as an actual God of War, and it’s a common thing that gets addressed in-universe: The whole point of MGS2 is that Raiden could never have won if he tried to be Snake, because you don’t want to be Snake. Snake hates being Snake. Snake isn’t manly because he beat a tank on foot one on one, Snake is admirable because he does the right thing, even if he’s breaking down molecule by molecule as he goes and he wants nothing more than to fuck off and raise dogs in the arctic, but keeps on going anyways because he can do something about it. The most important message he imparts on Raiden and Meryl is Don’t Be Me; Create A World Where Snake Doesn’t Need To Exist.

I felt pity because if you feel like MGS4 misrepresented Snake, then you really and explicitly are exactly the kind of fodder PMC nobody that feeds the proxy wars in MGS4. I think only by skipping every cutscene you can come out thinking that way. The only thing super about him was ficial.

[thesinglesjukebox]

JUNG KOOK FT. LATTO - "SEVEN"

Met her on a Monday. Took her for some blurbs on Tuesday...

[5.78]

Alex Clifton: Fits in the grand tradition of debut solo singles that proudly declare "I was in a boyband, but now I am an ADULT MAN who FUCKS." Which, to be clear, is not inherently bad, and I do not envy anyone who has to make this transition, but it's a bit predictable. Jung Kook's vocal performance is winsome, and he sounds good, but half the chorus just listing out the days of the week sounds lazy, and the rap portion doesn't add a Latto. Did you just groan because that pun was too obvious? Awesome, now you know how I felt after I heard this. [5]

Wayne Weizhen Zhang: Jung Kook promising to "fuck you right," "Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday," "seven days a week, every hour, every minute, every second" sounds like an exhausting proposition. Why make sex sound like a sweatshop? "Seven" gives Zayn "Pillowtalk" levels of desperation in trying to let us know he has had S-E-X. Except at least "Pillowtalk" didn't sound like a Kidz Bop track. [2]

Jacob Sujin Kuppermann: The kind of goofily horny R&B-pop crossover single that I thought had gone completely extinct from the charts -- it's charming to see it return in a sleek, hyper-streaming optimized form that still manages to retain enough ridiculous notes to stick out. When Jung Kook goes through the days of the week (one of my favorite dumb as rocks songwriting tropes) in order to emphasize that he'll be "[Loving and/or Fucking] you right" you believe him, because who would declare that without a deep well of sincerity informing it. Even a guest verse from noted fraudulent radio figure Latto works -- she's best in small doses, anyways, and the '00s pop hit cosplay wouldn't be complete with a clumsy guest verse that's 20% more overt than the rest of the song, anyways. Am I perhaps overrating this just so I can give it a [7]? Sure, yeah, why not -- but this song has genuinely grown on me, too. [7]

Taylor Alatorre: Both the clean and the explicit versions of the chorus sound wrong somehow -- the former like it's been sanitized by bureaucratic fiat, the latter like it's trying to prove an uncomfortable point to me. So they end up canceling each other out, and what was intended as an ode to persistence in love(making) instead becomes a breezy devotional to the circular nature of time. I considered awarding a bonus point because my mom really likes it, but then I would've had to do the same for the Beatles song because of my dad. [6]

Michelle Myers: Self-consciousness is the enemy of great art, and Jung Kook has had the eyes of the world on him since adolescence. In its attempt to be everything to everyone, this song ends up sounding like nothing. [3]

Joshua Minsoo Kim: BTS ruined K-pop. And really, I would be saying the same for any group that catapulted the genre to unprecedented levels of international success. The most noxious repercussion is that K-pop's adventurousness is now of a different sort; with more eyes on every major K-pop act, and the possibility of Western success always within reach, the genre-blending and scrappiness that I loved in years past is now tempered if not nonexistent. I should hate Jung Kook's take on Craig David-era 2-step -- where's the jarring modulation that made f(x)'s "4 Walls" a delight, or the distinctly Korean pathos that made SHINee's "Prism" an emotive scorcher? And yet, it does offer something to a Korean American like me that I've never heard from any other K-pop song: its marketing mirrors my dual realities. The music video is my public-facing side, showing prudence and decorum when in front of my parents, or whenever I'm forced to represent Asian America; the explicit version is what everyone else gets to see. In a different timeline, EXO would've released a "Call Me Daddy" version to American audiences. Close enough. [6]

Claire Biddles: I don't listen to K-pop because I'm scared: I have seen what it has done to others and I don't have the capacity in my life, hindbrain or bank account for the havoc it could wreak. Just the other week, my friend posted on Instagram stories that she had spent upwards of $50 on a Korean magazine because it had someone from BTS on the cover -- I already have plenty of boys I have to budget import magazine money for without factoring in an entire untapped musical genre. I must be on cognitive autopilot when I add this track to my innocent little 'TSJ amnesty' Spotify playlist; when I pop the playlist on shuffle over the weekend when I go out to run some errands; when I absent-mindedly put it to the beginning again because its catchiness is undeniable. It's only when I go to put it on repeat to save my efforts that I realise... Jung Kook... haven't I heard that name before? And that album cover, the seductive greens and golds, the mesh shirt... the unmistakable, nay eternal, image of the edgiest member of the boyband striking out solo... a vision recurring throughout my life, on and off for 30 years like a tattooed, floppy-haired holy resurrection. Wait a second... does he have a lip ring?? I'm opening tabs rapidly, the song still repeating, the details of his multiple piercings revealing themselves to me like so many shots to the heart. I open Instagram to message my friend with the $50 Korean magazine. Does she know him? Does she know? But of course, how could I be so foolish! It's the same someone from BTS! This vision, this 2006 emo prince singing an anxious J*stin T*mberlake version of "7 Days"! Wait -- he has rubbish tattoos?? A whole sleeve of them?? I have so much to learn and it feels like no time to find out. Somewhere, some supernatural someone is rolling their eyes, laughing at my folly -- the ultimate mark for this little demon and I thought I could just avoid him with my weak mortal scheming? [8]

Crystal Leww: I would let Jung Kook call me noona. [7]

Katherine St Asaph: The UK garage revival arrived fast; I feel like I've heard like three attempts in the past few months alone to remake Craig David's "7 Days." While it is very funny to witness Melody Maker eat even more shit at exponential pace, at some point this sound will start sounding boring. That point has not yet arrived. [7]

Michael Hong: Three things stunt this cute little 2-step number: 1) the syllabic phrasing can be awkward (also did you really need the devotion line twice); 2) Latto upstages Jung Kook just by biting down on the word "cheatin'," but we'll blame that on "Seven" not being in his native language; and 3) the chorus' overenthusiasm tempers any of the song's sexiness. [5]

Brad Shoup: Fantastically desperate and horny 2-step. It turns out the second step is "contract a UTI". Latto is playful where Jung Kook is plaintive, and her feature ends up as a tribute to another pop song about infinite intercourse: Ludacris's "What's Your Fantasy?" [7]

Nortey Dowuona: The acoustic cover version guitar lick that girds this song surprisingly does not actually change throughout the song. It's just pushed further and further into the back of the mix, removed for a little drum bit, then loops continuously in the back. The rest of the song continues, adding synth chords and bass, until the Latto verse appears and comfortably skips alongside the drums, a seemingly perfect addition that is gone so quickly that once the guitar lick appears in the final chorus, it feels more comforting that if you couldn't handle the intrusion, here's the stabilizing element in the rest of the song to scoop you up and send you off! [6]

Ian Mathers: Just to go behind the curtain a bit, when we all reconvened at the palatial Singles Jukebox estate to discuss a possible amnesty, "Seven" was easily the song I heard the most from my colleagues as something we needed to cover where I had so not heard of it I had to look it up to even find out who the artist was. Since my colleagues are, to a person, savvy and discerning music appreciators, I fully expected such a groundswell of support to signal something that would knock my socks off. I am sorry to report that, no doubt due to a flaw in my own character, the only things I truly enjoyed about the song were (in ascending order) 3. the percussion track 2. Latto's whole thing 1. just how relentlessly and catastrophically over it the girlfriend actress in the video is (until the end... you wish they could have committed to the bit; probably bad for the brand). But hey, the part where he opens the coffin is probably the hardest I've laughed at a music video all year, that's good for an extra point. [6]

Aaron Bergstrom: As far as spotlight stealing goes, it's not quite Nicki's verse on "Monster," but for these three minutes Latto is a kinetic revelation and Jung Kook is just some guy who won't stop listing the days of the week. [5]

Anna Suiter: When I first saw the name of Jung Kook's single "Seven", I assumed that it was be a follow-up to "Begin", his solo on the Wings album in 2016. Unlike the rest of the band's solos, he had no writing credit on it, and the lyrics weren't really about him either. With Jung Kook about to go to the army, I assumed that this would be sentimental, another ode to how much he appreciated the rest of group. "Seven" is all about Jung Kook, Latto, and whoever he's talking to, though, and that's way better. [8]

Kayla Beardslee: 1) This is one of the more significant data points in the current UK garage revival. Tonally, it leans less heart-eyes crush a la NewJeans and more by-the-numbers fuckboi. (Which are numbers that we should probably be trying to bring down.) 2) Yes, Jung Kook wants everyone to know that he fucks, and I'm sure it would make this song more interesting if I cared, but, like, I don't. Are there people who prefer Enrique's "Tonight I'm Fucking You" version? 3) This solo debut (not just "Seven," but the whole album) is a very convincing turn at the role of Anglosphere main pop boy, down to the names in the credits. The thing is, I go to K-pop to escape the Anglosphere pop boys. I don't want more Biebers or Puths or Mendeses, though they have their place in the pop ecosystem; what I want is to see the guys putting in some effort to be weird and bold and not just palatable. (3a) Obviously, "Standing Next to You" is glorious '80s cheese with exactly the kind of theatrics I love, no notes -- except that yeah, Jung Kook's trying hard to convince you that he, cough, loves in that song too, but there it's so dramatic that it loops back around to being fun.) 4) Even if this is exactly the song and album that Jung Kook wanted to make, I don't hear a lot of passion in it, which makes for a tough sell considering "Seven" is a track about desire and devotion. Mostly what I hear is the careful weighing of image-crafting and marketability (which most big pop singles have, but some disguise better than others). 5) Hybe is so greedy for interested in the American market that none of this should come as a surprise. At the end of the day, Hybe is a business first and music producer second, and the commercial stakes were very high for a widely anticipated release from a member of its flagship act. 6) Latto's verse comes dangerously close to eating Jung Kook up, which would have been bad for his big popstar debut moment. 7) Why was this not the only pop single this year whose hook was literally just naming the days of the week? Stop it! You're better than that! 8) Jung Kook sounds like he's being possessed by Adam Levine on the hook, which works more against the score than anything else I've said. 9) This is a perfectly fine song! I casually enjoy it! But it's more of a means to an end than anything else. [6]

Anna Katrina Lockwood: All the Craig David quips in the world won't disguise the fact that this song just isn't that interesting. It's a perfectly serviceable pop song, elevated by Jungkook's weaponized charisma -- but it doesn't sound or feel like K-pop, and the only thing that's really notable about it is the hilarious explicit lyric. There's nothing wrong with making forms of pop music other than K-pop, of course, but as a fan of the genre, I have to say it's a little disheartening that the main K-pop dude isn't really making K-pop right now. Also, seven days a week? Who's got the energy for that?! [5]

Jonathan Bradley: That sounds exhausting, Jung Kook. [5]

[Read, comment and vote on The Singles Jukebox ]

[resmarted]

i hope taylor and travis are a real couple and she and ice spice are real friends. her lyrics are the realest shit ever she literally has four songs to her name but that one that's like, if he smart he gonna act like a fan, like yes bitch. taylor doesn't need dudes that want to be lowkey serious successes who hide her in their back pocket from the world. that guy joe represents everything i hate in men and their relationships to successful women. god forbid you can't handle the threat of being outshined. i'll take a starry eyed goofy ass looking storm trooper like kelce who isn't ashamed or embarrassed by how hot his girl is over another dork that takes himself too seriously and is used to owning women as accessories and trophies rather than seeing them as anything other than objects. like you think it would be different too but i guess athlete era means having someone around who is actually a team player and not just some dork seeking fantasy validation for being a heart throb? i'm down to bring back this type of toxic masculinity goodbye nerdy pale pseudo shy guys.

[anthonybialy]

United Front and Back

A lack of internal criticism sadly isn’t as popular as giving up on printing money.  You never hear liberals condemn any of their own, whether it be failed policies or shady allies.  It’s the only discipline displayed.  I wish talking points fans could be as fervent while running a corporation, as they could create things customers want enough to buy.  Practitioners might be able to run a commercial enterprise if they could balance a payroll the way they ensure creepy unanimity.

Make sure you’re on a side willing to tell dirtbags ostensibly on their side to get lost.  Grudgingly accept their contempt for increasingly unfathomable debt without pretending they’re delightful individuals.

The naturally and delightfully suspicious already loathe politicians on principle.  They hold office, after all.  Foes of compliance scowl at candidates reluctantly backed as the less worse option should get extra scrutiny for verification.  The elected can claim to be undermining the system from the inside.  But they’re still collecting paychecks, which makes their claims of sabotage worth scrutinizing.

Being loathed for the wrong reasons is the abnormal normal from Joe Biden’s defenders who can’t understand why everyone seems so bummed.  Woke purveyors are calmly conditioned to treat anyone not on their team as minions of Hell’s supervisor paired with wannabe residents of Germany at its naughtiest.  Hating everyone and everything else connected to thinking differently is how to spread love.  Issuing welts to the other dodgeball team during gym class is school lesson that sticks.  Sports are icky savage meritocracies.

Democrats don’t grasp what to criticize just to be consistent.  Venomous seething furthers their type of goals.  Focusing on their opinions of individual personalities instead of ideas is a natural outcome in its way.  Mocking Scott Baio’s post-Charles in Charge career is easier than explaining why your money is better spent by Biden.

It’s always disappointing when Republicans halfheartedly copy whatever Democrats endorse lustily, from unfathomable spending and dole pittances to a refusal to criticize anyone tangentially affiliated.  Renounce from within instead of remaining partners with those who aren't.  Trumpology lieutenants show how much they loathe the other faction by acting as stringently.  Sean Hannity’s heart remains broken, while Kimberly Guilfoyle remedied that problem by marrying into her political dream.  All-time sellout Ann Coulter is undefeated in a way.

Some representatives who have backed things I back still shouldn’t be standing in for unfortunate districts.  I would change subway cars if Marjorie Taylor Greene started reading her tweets in mine.  And I wish I could get a restraining order against Matt Gaetz just in case.  Meanwhile, George Santos showed Jon Lovitz predicted the future.

The all-time example won’t go away.  A longtime Democrat who often acted as such provides equivalence.  Donald Trump leads a dwindling yet annoying faction that claims to adhere to the rulebook.  But nobody ever played his board game.  It’s easy for principled members of his ostensible party to oppose a comeback worse than Subway rehiring Jared because he’s an all-time dirtbag who dreams of again using federal power like a strongman to compensate for not being a strong man.

Persistent fans of the area cast in darkness by the Iron Curtain get deserved heroes.  A more objective analyst might want to point out that, say, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was the sort of bartender who’d complain when she finally got around to serving you a rum and Coke made with vodka and orange juice, Bernie Sanders likes the wrong directional Korea, or Rambo isn’t Richard Blumenthal’s life story any more than Elizabeth Warren tweets from a longhouse.  Lunatic ravers create a quandary when you need their votes.

The concepts are their problem.  Liberals should really be decrying their ideology, what with the way it punishes people for earning and behaving.  There may be kinder ways of reaching equality than making everyone poor.  At least having no money distracts from international chaos spurred by presuming America makes everyone hate us by being mean.

The most zealous fans never criticize their own team.  I didn’t say cheering was healthy.  Rabid followers flaunt unity in the wrong way.  Noticing who’s getting a little Khmer Rouge-y or taking corruption beyond typical cartoonish levels might prevent implementing coerced joy.  Dissent ruins collective dreams.  They may not be yours, but personal identity is presently out of vogue.  Enthusiastic enrollees are not big into deviating from unity.

Defending everyone wearing the same insignia is a byproduct of commitment to delusion.  We cope with a rather zealous show side who feels they’re saving kids from being hunted by bloodthirsty NRA executives, the poor from being dumped out of wheelchairs into snowbanks by heartless health care executives, and the planet itself from greedy capitalists who are in favor of a climate-controlled civilization.  The occasional fundamental fib or personal phoniness means nothing relative to the true cause.

The cultish quality of the hive’s beliefs conforms to communal identity.  Our leviathan’s lovers are not interested in individual achievements, what with punishing success, wishing guns could be prosecuted for crimes, and scoffing at rights confiscated in order to not stop a virus.  The most ardent adherents maintain government can cure all ills, including medical ones.  I double-checked and they’re referring to this government.  Don’t laugh.  Actually, go ahead.

It’s natural in a sick way to conclude politicians who want to impose sweet order must be legends.  Deranged believers don’t distance themselves from purveyors of glorious mandatory cooperation.  Policing one’s own is too reminiscent of law enforcement for Democrats to embrace.