#i love making and analyzing mixtapes

[resourcds]

songs i love that jayden revri added to his charles playlist

francesca by hozier, the most payneland song to ever payneland

everywhere by fleetwood mac, i consider this a top tier payneland song like it's just so cute and them. specifically view it as the song's narration coming from charles

the run of family line by conan gray -> matilda by harry styles -> seventeen going under by sam fender is peak charles and it is very special to me. hurts a lot, but is very special

seventeen going under by sam fender, song so reflective of his character they had to add it twice so i am too

endless love by luther vandross & mariah carey, this song is so romantic i'm so upset on jayden's behalf that he never got to act payneland endgame

scrawny by wallows, the image of charles chanting "scrawny motherfucker with a cool hairstyle" to himself as some form of affirmations is making me ctfu. ik that's not really the point of the song but eh. also the final chorus is very payneland to me

honorable mentions: good luck babe by chappell roan, there is a light that never goes out by the smiths, break my stride by matthew wilder, and every michael jackson song cuz i love the imagery of charles dancing around the office to mj cds sue me. the whole playlist is amazing btw everyone should check it out

[zvahlne]

hello everyone welcome to uh. welcome to my mixtape.

i posted about sharing/analyzing songs i associate with aphmau characters, and i'm starting off with one of my absolute all-time favorite songs for laurance:)

foreigner's god by hozier!! here is links if you wanna listen while you read: youtube / spotify

and now... i will tell you why... walk with me.... (this is going to be a long walk) (i have a lot to say about this one) (also i haven't gotten to season 2 in my rewatch yet but this is heavily based on how i feel about season 2. so i could be remembering some things wrong and i apologize for that...)

garroth sorry for borrowing you for my laurmau posting but i had to use this gif we're going on a walk please have mercy it's a really good gif

first just to get it out of the way

Screaming the name of a foreigner's god The purest expression of grief

she is irene [surprise pikachu]... i don't know what else to say about this. it is about the horror of falling in love with the divine (especially when you end up on the opposite end of divine through circumstance, for the divine) in our analysis today.

She moved with shameless wonder The perfect creature rarely seen Since some liar broke the thunder When the land was godless and free

"she moved with shameless wonder; the perfect creature rarely seen" he's thinking about aphmauuu... aphmau.... i love this for her. the "shameless wonder" reminds me a lot of early aphmau being absolutely goofy sometimes because jess was still playing it as minecraft ykwim? running around to attack random scorpions and having conversations with her dogs, getting excited over props in the villages she visited... yknow... shameless wonder. the shameless wonder of a gamer......

the second part just very much reminds me of the vibe of early minecraft diaries to me, it's a little hard for me to describe that. "when the land was godless" to me is like. you know aphmau/irene shenanigans. this song in my laurance playlist is a lot about the aphmau/irene shenanigans. i really wish i could explain this one better because it makes me FEEL THINGS but it's like. a vibe thing

Her eyes look sharp and steady Into the empty parts of me But still my heart is heavy With the hate of some other man's beliefs

her eyes.......

sorry what were we talking about

no but seriously i love this part for the specificity of "her eyes", because this is one of my favorite moments (this is from s2 ep 19 "her eyes" for those who aren't as laurmau-rotted as i am). "her eyes look sharp and steady into the empty parts of me" is so. it makes me so. when he comes back from the nether he's changed and he continues to change but she never looks away and that keeps him here. she doesn't turn away from him. she still sees him. but he's still empty. "but still my heart is heavy with the hate of some other man's beliefs" he's still a shadow knight, and he is still losing himself... "some other man" is the shadow lord/shad in this reading

Wondering who I copy Mustering some tender charm

^^^ laurance trying to be Normal all the while he is slowly losing himself... the experience of dying and coming back Wrong..... "wondering who i copy" being him thinking about who he was before he died in the nether. you don't come back from that the same guy unfortunately. you come back Wrong. no matter how hard you try to ignore it

my favorite part now !!!!

She feels no control of her body She feels no safety in my arms I've no language left to say it But all I do is quake to her Breaking if I try convey it The broken love I make to her

she feels no control of her body - both about the circumstances of the werewolf wedding specifically (because i am always there), but also about aphmau/irene stuff again to me

she feels no safety in my arms - laurance wants nothing more than to be aphmau's protector, to keep her safe, to make her feel safe, but how can he like this? how could she feel safe with a monster? is she safe around him? he wants that, he promises that, but is it true? laurance can't imagine she felt very safe around him at the wedding... or when he lost control of himself in scaleswind..... she feels no safety in his arms :(

i've no language left to say it, but all i do is quake to her - he used to bombard her with over-the-top flirtations, but now that he's really fallen for her, he stammers over his words. the weight of it is heavier. he loves her but suddenly that's too much to say. and --

breaking if i try convey it; the broken love i make to her - in his current state, his expression of this love is often twisted and aggressive (see: the werewolf wedding). but it's all he can give her, it's all he has left. their first kiss shouldn't have been what it was. she deserves better than that.

aand.. umm... yeah!! thanks for coming on this walk with me:) not all my lyricposting will be this long, this is just one i had a LOT to say about it and i wanted to put a little extra effort into the first lyricpost... hope you enjoyed !!

[i4oba]

nct dream as… !%# types of dates .. 🥣⋆☄︎. *. ⋆

[non-idol ver.! just so you know eheh]

✰ MARK — drive-in theater

it honestly came to mind pretty randomly, as you two got back from your last exam of the semester, driving mindlessly for about two hours — not because you didn’t know what you want to do, but because you two simply just enjoyed doing nothing??? but so many things at the same???

just listening to the mixtape you made for mark, singing so loud everyone could hear since the windows were rolled down too… you felt a sense of freedom? some kind of… relief from the burdens??? it was a pretty hectic exam season you two had to endure and since it was finally over.. you couldn’t keep your excitement low

looking at each other with love and adoration, exhaustion vanishing in the company of the other one — it honestly should be studied? how easy it is for you two to affect the other???

you stumbled upon the drive-in theater by accident, it wasn’t planned or anything, you just wanted to simply spend your night at mark’s place and call it a day, watch a movie on his laptop while cuddling and stuff

but when you spotted the sign you couldn’t help but exclaim, getting all excited over it, even slapping mark’s upper arm… poor boy winced and just said “hey, no need to kill the driver”

you didn’t even need to convince him honestly, he immediately agreed and there you were… not knowing what was actually screening, blindly finding a good spot you two can park and enjoy the movie

it would’ve slapped if it was some kind of slasher horror from the 80s… but it was casablanca

WHICH IS SO CLICHÉ I KNOW BUT it makes So much sense and honestly, it’s such a big game changer to see it like that. it’s like an opportunity you shouldn’t miss

mark got some popcorn and something to drink, to make the whole atmosphere even more “vibey”, as he said, and you two just.. turned off your minds and watched the movie

discussing it and everything, like FELLAS, that’s the right experience! that’s how you watch a movie!!! YOU GOTTA ANALYZE THE SHIT OUT OF IT!!!!!!! ahah

in the end, when almost everyone drove away from the theater, leaving you two here with like.. only 3 other cars, mark gave a kiss on your lips, as a way of celebrating it all. it was for a fleeting moment only, yet it was so sweet and full of emotions

it was a reward, of some sort.

✰ RENJUN — museum date

there was this new exhibition at the local fine arts museum so… it wasn’t even a question that you two would literally RUN (and get a good use of the student discount ahah, it’s a lifesaver!)

casually choosing some elegant clothes which, of course, had to be matching to a certain extent – people HAVE TO see that you guys are together, plus it would look so good on the pictures

you expected lot more of people since it was the first week of the grand opening but it wasn’t that crowded. Which is a good thing honestly, you hate it when it’s sooo full you cannot even move properly

it was an exhibition of some impressionist works by some of the most renowed painters, it was a must to not only look the best, but to prepare yourself for a long day of strolling around

you usually spend tons of time in museums anyways, but this also as part of a date??? the security would have to kick you out asap.. ahah

renjun immediately reached for your hands to hold, while walking around, looking at the beautiful paintings, talking about whatever came to mind – not just about art itself, topics changed so fast you couldn’t even realize it by the time it did

being in art school meant that renjun can sometimes tell you little fun facts and tips&tricks he had learnt in uni

sometimes it amazes how well informed he is and how he knows so many know-hows.. not like you weren’t aware, you absolutely knew he’s smart AND TALENTED, but still ahah

after a good… 3 hours or so? you two decided to end the date with a quick stop at the museum shop :DDD it’s a must honestly, you gotta buy every magnet and postcard you can… especially of such beautiful paintings???!!! you would be stupid if you left without Anything

so you two bought tons of stuff… even some things you can exchange, as if they were gifts for one another :,) ahhh…

you just have to print out that picture of you two, taken in front of that big painting of mesmerizing flowers: renjun kissing you softly, hands on your waist, eyes closed

✰ JENO — stargazing

you had been planning this for literal days before… you know, getting everything together, like those cool ass lamps in a jar bottle with the led stuff, blankets you bought from a nearby art shop?? which sold basically everything??? ahah

drinks and snacks too… you were honestly So Ready to go stargazing! :D

you were supposed to go to that rather tiny park of the town which is mostly empty. that’s why you decided on going there, avoid people and stuff, just the two of you, looking at the constellations >:( honestly it’s so romantic it makes me Cringe (i crave it)

but in the end, you two decided to stay at yours instead, since your parents left for the weekend anyways, which is just a bonus: it’s the two of you in the backyard with the vast sky full of stars

idyllic??? romantic??? adorable and unforgettable??????

All of the above

at first, you two just sat down on the swing bed your father recently bought at a random flea market he religiously visited every weekend :,)

but then, to use the blanket you brought outside (what a tiresome task ahah), you two laid down on the ground instead

the first constellation you spotted was the big dipper, exclaiming when you noticed it on the sky, gently shoving jeno’s shoulder, who was rather nonchalant at first

he then, of course matched your energy, and got super super excited, especially after noticing the ursa major :D he felt like he accomplished his life goal or something ahah (hes so stupid but in a cute way)

what the cherry on top was is his hands, reaching for yours, fingers intertwining, as your heart warmed up – you looked at him, his beautiful face, and noticed that adorable eyesmile of his

life felt good. you felt at home

✰ HAECHAN — restaurant hop

he fucking hates cooking lmfao he’s all like “yo girl i don’t think we should let Me get near that oven… we might burn up the whole house IJBOL” (he would definitely use ijbol irl)

so you were like…

hyuck, you literally don’t even have to come to the kitchen bro, i will cook… which happens most of the times when you decide to stay at home for dates

but this day!!! to spare you from the tiring task of cooking!!!!!!!! he said that you guys should try out restaurant hopping

you were confused as hell honestly, like wdym you want that, aren’t you a picky mf lmfao

but he said that he’s feeling adventurous and is pretty much lazy to go hiking or anything that a sane person would go for

and he felt hungry so it was like the best choice in his eyes – you were sick of spending most of your nights at his (shared…) apartment so you agreed after like… 5 secs of persuading

you wanted to plan out where you should go and maybe book a table at some restaurant but he was all like “honey, we should be spontaneous, go with the flow…”, so you did???? Ahah

the first restaurant was not even a restaurant, it was just the first street food stall you two stumbled upon, getting something for the both of you

you didn’t want to feel full so early so you chose something light (unlike hyuck who was sure he was “alright” but after like the second stop, he was dying because his stomach was hurting “So Badly”)

you ended the restaurant hop with a donut at one of the bakeries you usually go to – you know, to finish it off with something familiar??? now lemme just say, it was chaotic, because haechan could BARELY finish it and made it your problem, whining like a little girl after every bite

like you told him not to get the biggest, sweetest and greasiest one but he was sooo sure in himself, he said he’s got an extra stomach for desserts

well… was he wrong…….

you spent 1.5 hours there!!!!!! he took so much time LMFAOXJAJX they were closing already and he still hadn’t finished

so you tried to rush him and stuff but he turned his princess mode on ahah

but at least, on the way back to his place, he bought you tulips :) it was such a sweet gesture <3

not as sweet as his donut was…… (he almost threw up the next day cause he was feeling nauseous from the food)

✰ JAEMIN — picnic date

jaemin was so excited :( he literally couldn’t stop talking about it like.. that’s right dude!!!!!! we’re going on a date!!!!!! A PICNIC DATE!!!!!

he would literally live in the kitchen before the occasion so that he can cook&bake tons of things for you to eat :) he’s so… he’s so malewife

all you’re left to deal with is bringing the basket and checkered blanket, every other things are settled! they are in his hands, under his control :D

you two went to the park which is right next to the lake – you wanted to see swans while talking about anything and everything that came to mind (he literally compared your beauty to that of a swan… which made you almost tear up like BOY YOU DID NOT… argghhh)

it was a must to start it off with the most basic and cliché thing of everything: the chocolate covered strawberries, feeding each other all lovey-dovey, tooth rottingly sweet and stuff

everyone was possibly like “okay lemme just kms” when they spotted you two, all up on each other, legs all tangled together, stealing kisses from the other, while giggling so loudly

it was SOO so idyllic, almost like you two escaped from a romance movie, or a painting. it felt… perfect, in a way?

birds singing, the sun shining gently on your skin, while you could hear the laughter of the children running around, clouds in animal shapes

then the sun slowly setting, pinkish hues taking up the sky above, everything becoming quiet as time passes by

he hugs you tightly. tighter than ever, perhaps

✰ CHENLE — karaoke

if two weeks pass by without you and chenle going to a karaoke… Most probably it’s because you broke up or something

like girl ain’t no way you WON’T go to karaoke dates… nuh huh, impossible to even think of that ??? CHENLE, out of all people

that’s the least believable thing like i promise you!

like saturday night are for the gir- KARAOKE!!!!! :P that’s how it always goes, getting ready, putting on some casual clothes, maybe eating something quick before that, and then spending the entire time singing your lungs out

you don’t even have energy by the end of it, like it… seems impossible to even crawl back home :,)

but honestly it’s all worth it, comparing your score and stuff, seeing which one of you sings better

sometimes you just open instagram and do lives too, so that your followers can pick who they liked more

(it’s always chenle’s acc though like SO MANY people follows him, he’s like a celebrity… ahah!)

haechan always comes to watch and roasts the both of you, especially when it can be seen that chenle kisses you here and there

he types “EWWWW GET A ROOM FREAKS” and thinks he’s hilarious lmfao

you always start the date with a quick and energetic song, one that boost your energy up easily and then… honestly it depends on your mood

sometimes you gotta be in your moods and sing romantic ballads to each other, as if it’s a serenade

but then again, moods swing so quickly and you can end up in a rap battle too

you would totally eat him up tbh… and he knows it so well

he finishes the date off with the most cheesiest, lovely romantic song ever… like a confession said yet again, for the hundreth time

✰ JISUNG — amusement park

it wasn’t his idea honestly

it was all you coming up with it, because there was that one roller coaster you’d always been scared to go on

and since you haven’t visited ever since you had jisung… you thought MAYBEEEE (just maybe) it would be better with him

you can at least hold onto him and stuff

he wanted to eat before the ride though… you did not let him, of course, since you didn’t want him to throw up on you AHAH

but like, why did he came there RAVENOUS? duh … you’re gonna say goodbye to your guts on the ride girl what did you expect

but you know, the ride wasn’t even the part you enjoyed the most – it was good, of course, just not that… outstanding? i guess? it was alright… especially because you could hold jisung’s hand so tightly :,) it was honestly so adorable

they should’ve taken pictures of you like you’re sure you would’ve put it on the fridge or something

but after that, you went to the gift shop, to get those silly headbands!!!!! you got one that resembled a cat, and jisung got one with a hamster >:( it was adorbs

you two looked like those IT couples that you can always see in instagram, you know, holding hands, taking silly candid pictures and then eating sooo much food

FINALLY!!! thought jisung probably ahah you got so many sweets it was like you could feel your tooth decaying lmfao

at the end of the day, you two decided to try out the freshly opened photo booth which had been going viral for weeks

it was… an experience to say the least :,) but the pictures came out prettier than ever!!!! except for the one where jisung sneezed and you got all scared because he was Loud loud ahah

but the compensation was a fleeting kiss on your cheek! which was also captured on one of the pictures :)

[dn-hc]

What about how they'd celebrate her birthday

L Lawliet 

He doesn't do birthdays in a conventional sense, but if you're important to him? He absolutely observes it in his own quirky way.

Pretends he forgot, only to surprise her at midnight with her favorite sweets and a quiet celebration just for the two of them.

Plans a day that minimizes social pressure—think private bakery tour or an empty observatory at night.

“I analyzed 47 data points to determine your favorite flavor. I hope I was correct.” (He was.)

Plans something low-key but super thoughtful—like solving a custom mystery game he designed just for her.

His gift? Something custom, like a rare first edition book, or a framed Polaroid of a candid moment he secretly snapped.

Won’t say “Happy Birthday” outright, but his effort speaks volumes. Might give her a small but meaningful gift (like a trinket or charm with a hidden message).

Light Yagami

Everything is immaculate. He researched the best restaurant, made sure her schedule was cleared without her knowing, and rehearsed what he’s going to say.

Definitely buys her something that matches her aesthetic—jewelry, luxury skincare, designer wear, you name it.

His gift might have a hidden message—something like an engraved quote or coordinates to a special place.

“I want this day to be perfect because you deserve nothing less.” And it is, because it’s Light.

But deep down, he gets anxious wondering if she’ll remember he was the one who made it that perfect.

Goes all out. He’s meticulous with planning—reservations at an upscale place, the perfect gift, and he’ll look flawless doing it.

Gives her something elegant and sentimental, possibly with a handwritten letter that’s poetic and heartfelt.

It’s also a little about him showing her (and everyone) how amazing he is as a boyfriend.

Mihael Keehl 

He shows love through action—and he’s not doing subtle. There’s probably a surprise motorcycle ride or rooftop dinner with a city view.

Mello handpicks every detail: from the music playing to the kind of cake she likes (which he won’t admit he taste-tested five versions of).

Gets jealous if anyone else gets her a better gift. “Tch. Whatever, mine’s still the best.”

But he’s soft too—if she hugs him and says it’s the best birthday ever, he’ll melt, mutter something under his breath, and bury his face in her neck.

Might write her a messy, passionate letter but pretend it doesn’t exist—unless she finds it.

Tries to act like he doesn’t care about birthdays, but secretly he’s stressed trying to make it perfect.

Gets her the most badass gift—like a leather jacket or something custom-made.

Might plan something adrenaline-filled like go-kart racing, but also pulls her aside later for something more personal (and probably gives her a whole bar of chocolate just for her).

Mail Jeevas

He knows she doesn’t need a grand gesture, just him being 100% present. That’s rare for him, but she gets it.

Plans a game night where all the games are rigged in her favor (or maybe not… he says it’s fair).

His gift? A mixtape or playlist, a collage of memories, or something handcrafted like a modded game console with inside jokes etched on it.

“Happy b-day, babe. Wanna skip the party and stay in?” And of course, he made her favorite snacks too.

Might act chill but checks 12 times to make sure she’s smiling throughout the day.

Super chill celebration. Think video games, junk food, and cozy vibes.

He probably codes a little mini-game with a birthday theme featuring inside jokes just for her.

Gets her something she mentioned offhandedly like 3 months ago—he remembered, and that’s what makes it special.

Nate River

Doesn’t understand the why of birthdays, but he understands her—so he observes what makes her happy and replicates it, precisely.

Buys her something meaningful, like a jigsaw puzzle that reveals a personal photo once solved, or a miniature of her favorite place.

Might build a small room-sized Rube Goldberg machine that ends with a “Happy Birthday” banner unrolling.

Offers quiet affection—holding her hand for a little too long or letting her sit in his lap while he works.

“If today is important to you, then it is also important to me.” Delivered in his monotone, but deeply sincere.

Makes her a handcrafted gift (like a tiny robot, puzzle box, or something intricate) that took him hours.

The celebration is quiet—just them, with soft conversation and maybe a game of chess. But he’s fully present, which says everything.

Misa Amane 

She starts planning her girlfriend’s birthday a month in advance. Pinterest boards, themed outfits, DIY gifts, the whole thing.

Throws a surprise party and makes sure every single person knows it’s HER girlfriend’s special day.

Writes an overly emotional Instagram post with 15 selfies and captions like “My sunshine! My muse! Happy Birthday my love!!”

Buys her matching jewelry or custom accessories and probably says something like “Now everyone will know we’re soulmates!”

Ends the night with a soft moment, just the two of them, where she tells her how much she’s loved and how grateful she is.

She lives for birthdays and goes all out—not just for her own, but especially for her girlfriend’s.

Organizes a party with decorations, cake, matching outfits, and tons of photos.

Gives a very cute, super sparkly gift and probably writes a song or poem too. Over-the-top, but genuine and full of love.

[underground-archives]

Introduction: What is Underground-Archives?

Underground-Archives is a not for profit, senior capstone project taking the form of an archival music blog that aims to explore and tell the story of alternative hip hop subgenres/cultures from the mid 2010s-present by highlighting emerging genres, artists, and projects that were either pivotal for, or reflective of these particular moments in "the culture."

The author of this blog (me) is a 24 year old African-American Drexel University senior from Silver Spring, Maryland who wishes to remain anonymous under their producer/DJ alias "SagestBans" (stylized "S✩GESTBANS").

The blog will be organized into four main types of posts:

Artist/Producer Spotlights

Track Spotlights

Project Spotlights (for albums, EPs, and mixtapes)

Special Artist Spotlights (interview features "In Conversation With" artists relevant to the project)

Now, when you say the word underground, there is a particular association with that word that is a direct consequence of the streaming model - an artist may be considered “underground,” but have 500k listeners on Spotify. Additionally, the present moment seems to conceive of “underground” as primarily pertaining to rage style rappers, or (to a lesser extent), a handful of artists making PluggnB, that were popularized via that notorious video sharing platform we all know and may or may not love: TikTok. Let’s call this type of stuff the “mainstream underground,” so as to draw a distinction between that usage of the term “underground” and the way I use it on Underground-Archives. 

The “underground” in U-A simply refers to anything non-mainstream in hip-hop, especially within the context of the internet and social media as the new vehicle for the consumption and distribution of music, and how that internet-based nature has influenced the music itself. I also use the term “alternative” because not every hip-hop artist that deviates from the mainstream is underground (think Rico Nasty or Bktherula). 

I hope to analyze, explore, document, and contextualize all the incredible ways in which these artists have pushed the boundaries of hip hop as a genre, and hopefully, some of the broader socio-cultural implications of that as well. 

Ultimately, my goal with this project is to document and tell these stories for us to look back on, and also place them  into the context of the broader music industry, which is known to extract from these more organic and culturally specific moments in music to the point of erasure - while many of these unsung pioneers never got to reap the benefits of their legacy, or worse slip through the cracks. I believe it is of the utmost importance to humanize and empower artists while still engaging with their work thoughtfully and critically. I also believe it is of utmost importance to define and reclaim the narrative in the face  of erasure, because music is always more than just music.

Hip hop as a genre is so significant to and reflective of our culture as Black people in America (and the broader diaspora), and music period is such a powerful vehicle for culture and memory. While "culture vultures" and outsiders attempt to define sampling as lazy or uninspired, for example, we as insiders acknowledge the significance of hip-hop as a genre that sampled and reworked a multitude of significant cultural works - perhaps most notably the soul classics of the 70s - giving them a new life and introducing them to generations beyond. After all, reinvention is in our blood.  

As a DJ and (bedroom) producer, I believe part of our job is also to be a historian - to ensure that we keep telling these stories and acknowledging where we came from, as part of maintaining that memory and sense of identity as a people (especially as a people so constantly accused of “lacking” in culture, when the reality is there isn’t a corner of the globe our culture hasn’t touched). It is for this reason that, though this project is for my senior capstone requirement, I intend to continue contributing to Underground-Archives after I graduate, so stay tuned for more!

(Best believe there are already a number of new posts "in the chamber," so to speak)

-S✩GESTBANS

[Disclaimer: this blog is not an endorsement of featured artists or their beliefs. Part of the challenge of telling the story has been navigating the reality of artists who have engaged in problematic behavior, that makes me hesitant to include them in this telling of the story. Artists with known allegations pertaining to sexual assault have been left out entirely, and I use discernment to decide how/whether I want to discuss artists who have committed other offenses.]

[ap-kinda-lit]

A VegeBul Mixtape 🎶🌟

True Love — P!nk

At the same time, I wanna hug you / I wanna wrap my hands around your neck / You're an asshole but I love you / And you make me so mad, I ask myself / Why I'm still here, or where could I go / You're the only love I've ever known

I Love You, You Imbecile — Pelle Carlburg & Ida Maria

I can live with vanity and puns / And the morning temper runs / I can live with all your downsides / I can live with you

Cold Cold Man — Saint Motel

Oh, my love / I know, I am a cold, cold man / Quite slow to pay you compliments / Or public displayed affections / But baby, don't you go over analyze / No need to theorize / I can put your doubts to rest

For Once In My Life — Stevie Wonder

For once in my life, I won't let sorrow hurt me / Not like it's hurt me before / For once, I have something I know won't desert me / I'm not alone anymore / For once I can say, "This is mine, you can't take it" / As long as I know I have love, I can make it / For once in my life, I have someone who needs me

We’ve Got Love — OK Sweetheart

"I'm sorry" flows, the faucet's broke / But neither of us change / We're past butterflies and goosebumps / We know each other's dirty games / But at the end of the day when I ask you what's wrong / You put a smile on your face as you sing your love songs

Powerful — Major Lazer & Ellie Goulding

Oh my, my, my, what you do to me / Like lighting when I'm swimming in the sea / From the very first time we loved / From the very first time we touched / Walking on wires and power lines / You put your body on top of mine / Every time that you lift me up / To the heavens and stars above

Boom Clap — Charli XCX

You're picture-perfect blue / Sunbathing under the moon / Stars shining as your bones illuminate / First kiss just like a drug / Under your influence / You take me over, you're the magic in my veins / This must be love

Human Touch — Betty Who

Good love is so hard to find / We got it right for a while / Do you get lonely at night? / We don't have to go higher, we don't have to go

Digital Love — Daft Punk

Ooh, I don't know what to do / About this dream and you / We'll make this dream come true / Why don't you play the game? / Why don't you play the game?

Be Mine — Alice Boman

Don't promise me too much / No I'd rather you don't / A promise don't mean much to me no more / Be mine, be mine

Still The One — Orleans

Changing, our love is going gold / Even though we grow old, it grows new / You're still the one that I love to touch / Still the one and I can't get enough / We're still having fun and you're still the one

[mmhcs]

E1610! Miles x Bronx! Reader

A/N: Because I don't know why we haven't thought of this yet! P.S.: I'm not a Brooklyn-native. P.P.S.: I tried my best to make this as gender-netural as possible!

Y'all most definitely argue over which borough is better. Miles, of course, proceeds to list a million and one reasons as to why Brooklyn is better.

He's fascinated by the differences in the way you two speak. He loves it when your "accent" is audible in the way you speak.

Miles tries his best to indoctrinate introduce you to Brooklyn culture. He takes you to hotspots (Coney Island is one of the first that y'all hit up), but mostly sticks to local, Brooklyn-exclusive places (i.e. his favorite pizza spot, some of his favorite places to graffiti, that one small, Black-owned business that he gets some of his favorite clothes from).

Miles most definitely loves the South Bronx better than the North due to its street culture and abundance of unique graffiti. He literally drools when he sees a beautiful mural on the wall of a bodega or deli. He goes inside and asks the owner about the artist, get said artist's name, looks them up so that he remembers, and then proceeds to go back outside and take an abundance of photos of the mural before taking the next ten minutes to study it like a museum exhibit.

If you live in the North Bronx, Miles still finds to things to love. He still goes feral for any street art that he sees, and he'll make an effort for y'all to go out on adventures where you show him and/or discover new places in your area.

If y'all go to the Bronx Zoo, Miles takes a billion pictures in front of the entrance, claiming that he has to because this is an "infamous New York location!"

His favorite Bronx stops on the train are probably Simpson Street and Prospect Avenue.

I feel like Miles's dad, Jeff, and his Uncle Aaron used to spend their adolescent years out and about on the streets of New York. They grew especially fond of the Bronx, leading to them starting to visit the borough regularly and establish friendships and connections. However, Jeff ultimately fell out with this affinity after he started attending police academy. Aaroon kept up with it, though.

^Despite his shock, pain, and grief over his uncle, Miles forced himself to go through his uncle's apartment after his death. There, he found some old-school records and mixtapes, the latter mostly by local, underground artists from across New York. Miles kept them and has them stored somewhere safe in his room (probably his closet).

^^Y'all go through the collection, listening avidly as you study the flow of each of the artists, analyze the album cover, and the artists' styles.

^^^Most of the mixtapes feature Bronx-native artists.

^^^^Miles, refusing to accept this, runs out of his room and into the living room where his parents are sitting. He begins to explain the situation and asks Jeff to tell you that Uncle Aaron loved and represented Brooklyn through-and-through.

^^^^^Jeff laughs, a bit nervously because he's always raised Miles to take pride in where he's from (yes, the borough representation is real, people). He then explains that, yes, while Uncle Aaron loved Brooklyn, he loved the Bronx almost, if not just as much. He loved traveling to and from, made a lot of good friends and connections there. The Bronx is also where a few of his greatest and most memorable "honeys" are from.

^^^^^^Okay, I know that this is supposed to be a Miles Morales headcanon, but: when he wasn't out, working as the Prowler, Aaron was actually "away from a few days" as he says in his voicemail. He would travel to the Bronx to hang out and see friends. He was actually pretty well-known in some parts of the borough.

^^^^^^^Before his death, Aaron was serious relationship with a woman from the Bronx. Despite them seeing each other steadily for a year or four, he didn't tell Miles because he didn't want to introduce to him to someone that he would love, care for, and cherish, only to have it go up in flames. He most definitely gushed about her to Jeff and Rio on the down-low, though.

^^^^^^^^Aaron also thought about moving in with her and even marrying her more than once. Major Jabari x Meadow vibes.

^^^^^^^^^Uncle Aaron looking down at Miles with a smile because he's taking after his uncle.

^^^^^^^^^^"'Dem Bronx folk, man. They'll do that to 'ya."

If You Attend Visions Academy:

If you attend Brooklyn Visions, Miles texts you from the moment that he wakes up in order to make sure that you wake up with enough time to comfortably do your morning routine, get ready, and catch your train(s) with added flexibility in case of train delays.

^He never used to wake up early before, but he doesn't want you to be late. Not that it's a big deal (Miles has been late more times than he can count) but he doesn't want you to have frequent lateness on your record. Plus, the earlier you get there, the more time you two have to talk and prep for the upcoming day.

Often asks if you feel homesick. He can't imagine how it must feel. He only lives a few blocks away and yet he feels so far from home (hehe, get it?).

^^Does his best to make you feel accustomed to Brooklyn. He makes it a point to take you out and show you around so that you develop a sense of familiarity and don't feel out of place or lost.

If someone says that Brooklyn is the better borough, Miles will occasionally chime in with a reason or two as to why the Bronx is superior.

^You owe him a Brooklyn-based adventure after this, though.

^^If y'all are dating, you owe him kisses and cuddle-session in addition to a Brooklyn-based adventure.

Best believe that he's at the train station with you ever Friday and Sunday, helping you lug your suitcase and additional bags to and from Visions.

If You Don't Attend Vision Academy:

Y'all video call regularly to discuss your respective days as well as plan an in-person meet-up.

Y'all often meet-up in Manhattan because neither one wants to give the other the satisfaction of traveling to their respective borough for your meetups.

You two mainly meet up in the expensive, upper-class parts of Manhattan, though because Miles's parents threatened to ground him for two years if he was ever caught hanging around 125th Street.

^Miles takes that threat very seriously because he knows that, as the captain of the NYPD, his father has eyes everywhere.

When y'all get tired of watching the rich, expensive, and privileged go about their daily lives, y'all quite literally spin a wheel to see whose borough you're meeting up at next time.

Miles uses the times that you visit him to show you his life, starting from Brooklyn Middle, to Visions, and then his house.

He uses Brooklyn-exclusive menagerie to subtly flex and persuade you into admitting that Brooklyn is the best borough.

^ "They don't pizza like this in the Bronx, eh, mami?"

One time Miles suggested that you two visit Staten Island.

You looked at him for a moment, confused, because What's Staten Island?

Once you remembered, you gave him another look. He thinks he's so damn funny.

Y'all actually did end up going and had an above average time, surprisingly.

The next time Miles gets on your nerves, though, you threaten to banish him to Staten Island.

^His parents like the threat and start using it, too.

Bonus: "Hey, Miles, how come Brooklyn has a friendly neighborhood Spiderman but the Bronx doesn't?"

"Well, you see..."

A/N: Hi, hope y'all enjoyed! This was all in good fun and we love and support every borough (yes, even Staten Island).

[lieslab]

Omgggg ok hi lie!!! So. New mixtape is out… thoughts? So far Truman is my absolute favorite but I’ll have to listen to it for a bit. So yeah- anyways… thoughts??

(Also love the fics, feel like I should mention that lol)

Hi!! I listened to them all last night when they came out. I just woke up and quickly looked up the English translations because I've been here for like three years and still do not know Korean. They were singing their hearts out and I still have no idea what they are saying at times 😔

I love them!! Each song feels very different. I listen to songs based on whatever I'm feeling and they all have different moods and vibes. I have to add them all to different playlists.

Truman is nice, but I'm a total sucker for Cinema. I've always loved ballads and not to show favoritism, but Seungmin is my favorite Skz vocalist. He has such a soothing voice and when Minho comes in with his soft tone, it felt like being wrapped in a warm blanket on a cold night.

The other songs are amazing in their own ways, but I usually always play music when I'm home. If I'm writing, I'm listening to music. If I'm locked in my room, I'm listening to music. 8/10 times, I'm always listening to soft music. Seungmin falls into that category non-stop. As we are, stars and raindrops, and here always are so good. Plus, Minho's love me or leave me cover and limbo.

I looped Cinema multiple times last night. Fell asleep sitting up while listening to it like an elder. All my worries washed away and I bathed in bliss. It will probably happen again.

All in all, a great mixtape. I love the duo combination. It feels like we've really been treasured lately. Duos now and solo songs on an album before this. They're an idol group and I love them as a group, but I'm so glad they feel content branching out within their group and giving us solo and duo stuff.

It feels like we get to know more about them. It's easy to be vulnerable in lyrics and lose yourself within your passion. Hearing all the individual aspects, understanding what they are putting out, and being able to analyze the words, it's always so interesting, I absolutely adore it!!

And thank you for reading my fics, I'm glad they make you happy!! ☺

[fuckmeyer]

Ok so I follow you because of your amazing analyzing and theories of twilight, but it's gotten to a point I have to consider reading your stories, and besides a Paul lahote story here or there over the years, I haven't really read twilight stories, especially ones that aren't about the Wolfpack.

I'm scared. So I wanted to ask about yours, what is it like?

Is it crazy like full of plot twists and insanity and madness covered into brilliance (the good kind) or crazy in a way that I start liking bella and edward (the terrifying part)?

(If you answer this, please consider the fact it might actually make me reread twilight (the original) and start ranting worse. For both our sanities, is it smart?)

Is it crazy like full of plot twists and insanity and madness covered into brilliance (the good kind) or crazy in a way that I start liking bella and edward (the terrifying part)?

both! liking Bella & Edward is THE biggest plot twist of this saga LOL. i'm not really one to hype my work so bear with me. here's the difference between Twilight & In The Afterlight:

the familiar:

setting. rainy rural PNW vibes

rough plot. girl meets vampire. vampire wants to kill her. love ensues. it starts you off in familiar territory, then slowly peels away as the story progresses. you'll find enough of the "iconic" scenes to keep you oriented in nostalgia, but not so much that you feel chained to the original book.

characters. no OCs. Bella & Edward are somewhat OOC, but their core traits are still intact.

the unfamiliar(ish):

Bella's personality. i think it was @blurry-walker who made this excellent point: we're supposed to like Bella because of how she's described, not by how she acts. Bella is not really selfless, mature, observant, compassionate, intellectual, or self-aware. which would be fine... if that were the author's intention. i've tried making Bella a mix between how she's described & how she acts: selfless, contemplative, & stubborn, with a sense of humor. & i threw in a backstory & hobbies - i.e, drawing, music, reading - so she has a life besides Edward. (she can still act like she's 18 tho. as a treat.)

Edward's personality. no stalking, no anger issues or mood swings, no misogyny, no invalidation of Bella's choices, no militant chastity. just a vampire who's lost his way & startled to discover he is every bit a part of this world as Bella. more humorous, more overwrought/ romantic, more contemplative.

the result is a relationship that's rooted in mutual respect, common interests & values, & genuine companionship. they talk about philosophy, they exchange mixtapes, they tease each other, & have slightly less self-control when it comes to sexual intimacy

James/Victoria plotline

twilight is less fairytale, more gothic horror

deeper thematic discussions (bc i think they're neat! :D). what does it mean to be you? how do you find yourself again when you're lost? what's the secret to keeping your humanity in death?

vampire/Cullen lore. what's the difference between a golden-eyed vampire and a red-eyed one? what are "la tua cantantes" and "mates"? why are the Cullens going to high school? what's the Cullen-Volturi relationship like? who are the Cullens, really? i'm trying to paint them as grayer characters & have their personalities/backstories make sense for who they are.

werewolf lore. i *hate* canon imprinting - how an imprinter loses him/herself to the imprint, how the imprintee can't say no, the fact that they imprint on CHILDREN when the theory behind imprinting is to "find the strongest genes"... NO. i hate it all. i hate that smeyer appropriates the legends of the Quileute tribe & how stereotypes/ tropes of Native people are perpetuated in this series. i especially hate the double-standards Bella puts on the pack vs the coven. justice for the wolfpack or bust

since you mentioned liking the wolfpack (same), the sequel, Come Nightfall (aka New Moon), has way more wolfpack content than the original, & we see a lot more interactions between Jake & Bella. (and Bella & Sam!)

i don't feel it's my place to tell you whether you should read this or even whether it's good. if it helps, this is what other people say:

"This… Was incredible. It was the kind of fanfiction that should be praised along the classics of the fandom, the kind you would want to print and put in the shelf in between Twilight and Life And Death."

"This is, to me, the epitome of great fanfiction--you took the story idea and characters and tweaked them to how you imagine it would be better as well as adding in your own flare, AND you have the story telling ability to back it up."

"You've managed to write something that not only surpasses the source material, but flies so far beyond it in nuance, craftsmanship, raw emotion and SMUT that it travelled through space and time continuum and shows no signs of stopping. Every time I think it can't get better, it does."

"I read both of your books in like 2 days; I couldn’t put them down. This is some of the best writing I’ve ever read on here."

"What a gem of a story. I read it in one sitting, the best canon rewrite I've ever read. Very very clever writing, engaging plot, and the most real Bella and Edward relationship I've ever seen. Everything about it, Bella and Jacob, Sam, Alice and Bella's dynamic, Billy and Bella, everything added so much colour to this story. I can't believe this came from Meyer's twilight and New Moon. Absolutely genius."

[0fft0neverland]

Fuckkkkk I’m on my Mac Miller kick so now I gotta do alllllll the unreleased tracks I love 🥴

“Everyday feel like the best day ever… until EVERY day feels like the best day ever.”

The beat on this is sick asf. His second verseeeee.

This boy was in another dimension when he made this shit… but it’s all true to some extent just presented in art 💀😵‍💫 tbh Mac is the adlib king. I fucking love his goddamn stupid adlibs in all his tracks 🤣

This dude and his damn rhymes and there goes the adlibs again lmao but a trend he’s VERY brutally honest. No wonder all these are unreleased fr because society wouldn’t be ready to handle the demons of man. Rip Mac.

He having funnnnnn, love love Mac’s diverse sounds 😭 love this song. Just gotta moveeeeee 🦗🦟🦗🦟

He was pure 🥹🥺

Annnnnnd there he goes back into space but he spitting his life brutally 💀… ADLIBS. This was baby Mac for sure but he dark & deep man.

Mac had an art of literally dissembling and analyzing himself via music, I believe like nobody else. He was disgustingly self aware, a curse when you’re lost 🥲 use drugs responsibly everyone.. the fucking end.

“Ya, I tried to do a lot of things

Couldn't focus on everything

I think I'm really good at many things

A phone's calling, that's the devil's ring

I'm not gonna answer that phone

I'm ready to go back home

Been on this road for so long, that all I do is sit and make sad songs

What the fuck happened to that nice kid

That you knew when he released that mixtape called K.I.D.S

And everybody thought that he would be so big

Until he lost focus 'cause he got so sick

Of all the bullshit that they always do, tell you what you gotta do

Everybody's watching you, and you just wanna scream an opera

I think I need to see a doctor”

And there’s so many more but I’d be here forever & some aren’t available anymore 😫

[concretebed]

Favourite songs from your top artist?

AWESOME question. my top artist is king krule so i'll give u a long list

1. cementality - for obvious reasons. i've named myself after this song on liek every platform. and this song is so fucking sad. like it's talking about suicide and having worms in your brain basically and it's so somber and i love it i eat it up.

2. the locomotive - i don't have a super. real reason for this being #2 it's just my absolute fav off of the ooz. i interpret it as being scared of change and like taking that step onto the metaphorical train of life

3. emergency blimp - another one from the oooozzzz but i liek this one because the lyrics, again, are relatable. it's about his like. idk mistrust of pills to treat mental issues and how like idk the pills make him feel not great. also there's definitely something about love in here but im not a great critical analyzer so.

4. energy fleets - MAN ALIVE!!!!! this i think is an underrated king krule song. it's so good. i think it's about coming to terms with the fact that maybe youre not who you thought you'd be! but thats ok! youre you! and all your illnesses are you and while that sucks its okay. youre alive.

5. seaforth - okay yesss a little bit cliche to like his first single after a few years of NOTHING but it's WHATEVER i don't care it's so good. i see you, my same eyes. it's so fucking good it's like a lullaby when i have a baby im probably gonna sing it to her

6. out getting ribs - clichè, clichè, clichè (beyoncé reference) who cares it's such a good freaking song. it's timeless and it's awesome and seeing it live was probably one of the best moments of my 2023 i think everyone should listen to that song once even if they never listen to king krule ever after that.

7. turtle neck man - technically not a king krule song but he's the vocals so who cares. i just like this one cuz it scratches a itch in my brain.

8. arise dear brother - this is a song off his mixtape under his real name and it's like so good. idk some people don't like a new place to drown but i think it's SO funky! arise dear brother has this like vibe to it that i fuck with really hard. and i like the lyrics and the beat and whatever makes that clicking noise in the song it's awesome

9. 363N63 - this song is just like sex in my ears sorry i don't really have a reason it's just good

10. seagirl - i LOVE this song because i think king krule needs to do MORE COLLABS WIRH ARTISTS I LIKE. ITS AWESOME. also because this song makes me envision like a fisherman falling in love with a mermaid and he keeps drawing her to prove to people like look she's real and no one believes him but she's like im ur seagirl. whatever thats a very literal interpretation of the song but it's okay

i hope u liked this it was only supposed to be 5 songs but im crazy bout my ginger so

[particular-one]

PLEASE THE NEW DAN HENG WAS SO GOOD 😭 my angst heart loves that the fact he never got to hear reader's last words would haunt him forever. He probably lays awake at night in bed imagining the event all over again and daydreams you dying in his arms instead of by yourself while he got help 😢

You so get me on the Oikawa simping. If you ever decide to release the hottest mixtape on why he's the most dedicated lover then I will stream it 24/7 😤. And mr.tetsurou!! He would never willingly make a fool of himself but once you get some alcohol in him 🥴 all his repressed feelings are about to come out!!!

I can't think of any requests but I see you currently have 8 in your inbox so I'm soooo looking forward to it on top of whatever you have in your drafts! Also I saw that you're closing matchups soon and that you're willing to do additionals so can you do 3 more for me with the info I sent since you already posted mine, please? (Only if you have the time and energy of course!!! I won't be too greedy for your writing and interaction now heheh) for the fandoms.....ummm...argh, this is so hard because I literally am in all those fandoms 😭 If any characters from any of your given fandoms jump out at you then I'll take them but if nobody comes to mind then I'll choose genshin, honkai and you can literally choose the last one for me hdjsks IM SORRY IM SO INDECISIVE 😣 we literally have all the same fandoms so it's so hard for me but I promise I'm not picky and I'll love whatever you write anyways so no stress LOL

I'm sitting in the doorway and just took my shoes off as I write this bc i got the notifs that you posted but i hope youre having a good day/night wherever you are!!💕💖

-🐰

teehee oh that was definitely the intention. i think it just adds to the heartbreak even more that he should have stayed by ur side for your final moments.... oh well! i love to give my comfort characters the biggest hug but simultaneously dump a truckload of angst on them .... whoops. wooHOOO oh yeah. watch me become oikawa's defense lawyer AND brand new pr manager, just going "dw sweetheart i will take care of you".... but in all seriousness, there is just so many layers to him that i really love abt him!! tbh he's probably the first few characters i really invested in analyzing, which is what got me into literary analysis and writing haha. waaa thank you! 🥹 ngl most of the stuff in my inbox are matchup requests but i rlly enjoy writing those anyways. i still have an angst idea that i would like to write out (it's been sitting in my brain since yesterday ngl) but i still have one more final to finish so maybe later this week! oh! but an anon did request for a scenario for kuroo and oikawa based on our convo so! 👀 hopefully i can get that out pretty soon<3 and on the topic of the matchup, definitely, yeah!! i think i did genshin for u already BUT i can always do a second genshin since there's lots of charas if u'd like :> keeping the last fandom a surprise till i post it. thanks for the ask as always and take care of urself! <3

[oxford-garments]

Future - Salute (Purple Reign)

2015 was a significant year in rapper Future's career. He worked on mixtapes Monster (2014), Beast Mode (2015), 56 Nights (2015), a collaboration mixtape with Drake, What a Time to Be Alive (2015), and his studio album DS2 (2015) shifted from introspective ballads to macabre rap numbers about drugs and sex.[10] Analyzed Matthew Ramirez of Spin, Purple Reign continues this antagonist style, but with more restraint to the point where Future sounds stoic and the instrumentals "muted" and "monochrome".[10] A few moments involve Future delivering the style of sad, straightforward lines prominent on Streetz Calling (2011) and Astronaut Status (2012). As he laments on "Never Forget", "I ain’t make my auntie’s funeral I ain’t never forget it / I know she know I love her and I hope she forgive me."

Favourite Tape in History.

Mahé Mauriat

[pancakes4two]

ok here’s a little bit of dramaaaaa. sorry this isn’t the most cohesive blurb, it was hard to find good pics but hopefully you all enjoy regardless!

previous parts from this series can be found here!

yourinstagram

Liked by harrystyles, mitchrowland and 100 others

yourinstagram the making of fine line… not pictured are the countless all nighters pulled & redbulls consumed 😛

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kidharpoon way too many redbulls

harrystyles Fine Line is actually an album about sun, sex, and energy drinks.

jefezoff Hi @ harrystyles never say that to the press ever, please and thanks.

harrysfinsta

Liked by yourfinsta, sarahsfinsta and 10 others

harrysfinsta What does it taste like?

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yourfinsta 🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓 on a summer eveninnnnn

sarahsfinsta Beach bums

yourfinsta

Liked by harrysfinsta, yourbff, and 36 others

yourfinsta always great to have your man stolen by stevie nicks for a few minutes every couple of years!!! i used to play silver springs on my speaker all the time to try and curse him with a bit of stevie magic so it feels very full circle every time i watch them sing together 💗💗💗 🪄🪄🪄#onenightonly #whatwouldstevienicksdo

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harrysfinsta I can’t believe you would openly admit that.

yourfinsta you could be my silver spring……. 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶

harrysfinsta Closing my eyes and covering my ears now.

revealmoi

27,463 likes

View all 700 comments

deuxmoireader Harry Styles

harrystan1 ahhhh harry omg

harryfan2 if this is true love isn’t real wtf

harrystan3 honestly it probably is like fine line is such a sad album. i hope they’re both okay

yourinstagram i normally don’t like to comment on this stuff but it’s hard when your relationship is constantly scrutinized and analyzed under a microscope by so many people. h and i are okay. please remember that not every song he writes is from his own experience. hopefully we can all move on and appreciate the album for its storytelling and lyricism, instead of taking it at surface level to feed gossip headlines. love you all & thank you for caring, but rest assured we are all good! hope everyone is enjoying fine line ❤️

your finsta story:

yourinstagram

Liked by harrystyles, jefezoff and 200 others

yourinstagram i still remember the first time i realized h was going to be a star. our sophomore year, right after he first got his license, we were driving down the freeway coming back from school when all of a sudden we got caught in a thunderstorm. one of those where you don’t really notice it coming, but it rains like hell before stopping just as abruptly as it started. h pulled over at the side of the road and put in a mixtape while we waited for the storm to pass.

i remember sitting there in the car of the boy i was starting to fall in love with, listening to him sing gerry rafferty and fleetwood mac to me and just thinking in that moment that the whole world was going to know his name one day. & today he just won his first grammy.

it’s been such a privilege to love & support him through it all. an even greater privilege to be able to share his beautiful heart with the rest of the world. ❤️

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yourinstagram sorry for being a sap. i’m not good with words either but i’m just so so so happy and proud!!!

jefezoff ❤️

harrystyles Couldn’t have done it without you.

yourmom Congratulations, H!!!!!!

[jonathanbyersphd]

*sighs* because @watchmenanon asked and I said I could.

The difference in the ways that Jonathan and Nancy display their relationship in their respective rooms is very interesting to me

On the one hand we have Jonathan who has two photos of Nancy in his room one of which is right on his nightstand. I really feel like it gets to the level that he shows physical affection with Nancy and how physical affection is normal in the Byers household. Like think about it in s2 he collapsed into her arms when Will was exorcised, he grabs her hand in the grocery store in s3, he picks her up in the driveway in s4. I would go so far as to argue that physical affection is one of his love languages and that makes sense considering Jonathan is our "quiet loner" type, when he can't find the words he can use actions. I know you're like but what does this have to do with the photo of Nancy. I'm getting there.

Our reintroduction for Jonathan and Nancy in s3 is them in Jonathan's bed, and it's heavily implied this has become their normal routine. So imagine if your love language is physical touch. You were waking up to your girlfriend everyday for at least a solid month and then you moved halfway across the country. Of course you're going to want to wake up to her face to make it bearable. You know he can't wake up to her but he can wake up to her (if that makes sense)

Now onto Nancy. Nancy only has Jonathan's poster, his photos and possibly mixtapes and letters around her room. There are no photos of just Jonathan or her and Jonathan. And listen we all know the Wheeler family is fucked up in terms of affection there's no need to rehash that. What I do think we need to analyze is the foundations of Jonathan and Nancy's relationship. All the way back in s1, the arguably one of their most interesting/defining scene in their budding relationship is the hunting store with neither of them say anything but they know what each other are thinking. Similar to the original share the bed sequence, Nancy invites him up he asks about the lights but then they're quiet. To put it simply, I don't think Nancy needs to see Jonathan's face to know he's there. He can be there in these little background details.

I also think that the most important interpretation of these details is how they reflect their separation and their long distance relationship. Nancy is in Hawkins and EVERYTHING is reminding her of Jonathan. Because Hawkins is small and they have known each other since childhood. They've always been circling each other in that sense.

But Jonathan is in Lenora and nothing reminds him of Nancy.

So Nancy has these subtle elements because he's still with her in that sense, where Jonathan needs to put Nancy into Lenora to make life make a little sense

But at the end of the day, Nancy and Jonathan do have these momentos of each other in their rooms. It doesn't matter how small or background it is. They've made an impact on each other, they're still tied together in this narrative like they have been since episode 1. I don't have the coherency to talk about the scars and the shared trauma. But IT'S ABOUT THE SCARS AND THE SHARED TRAUMA

This is long, my bad. And maybe it doesn't make sense but it does in my brain.

TLDR: The decor in Jonathan and Nancy's rooms is reflective of their relationship overall

[softsnzstuff]

Request from @justaddsniffles - Camping scenario with Edissy.

Enjoy 1.1k of sick!Eddie and soft!Chrissy

🤍 Thanks for the prompt, love! -KB

*******************************************************

“Is it a left or a snF right up here?”

The crinkling of the paper map unfolding interrupted the Rock N Roll mixtape playing on the car radio. The strawberry blonde analyzed the map, turning it a few different ways before figuring which was right side up. Her finger traced along the drawn highway until it arrived at the spot labeled “Eddie and Wayne’s Spot” in sharpie.

“It’s going to be a right!”

Chrissy beamed up at her boyfriend who was driving the van to the campsite he and Uncle Wayne used to come to every summer. They’d stopped when Eddie turned about 13, but he remembered them very fondly.

Now he was taking Chrissy, his first love, in early November, when the leaves were bright orange and everything felt warm.

“I think you’re going to really love this place, Chrissy. It was my safe haven as a kihh - kid. H’exxtchEW! Ing’tCHEW! HxshIEW!”

Eddie ducked into his elbow, one hand still on the wheel. Chrissy reached over and patted his thigh.

“Bless you. I’ll love any place that is special to you.”

Eddie veered off to the right, switching from the main road to a dirt trail, gravel crunching beneath the tires. The path wrapped around several bends, moving up and down with the curves of the Earth.

A few minutes later they pulled to a stop. There was a clearing of dirt on the edge of the lake, backed up against a dense wall of trees.

Eddie hopped out of the van and ran around to help Chrissy out, her hiking boots meeting with the slightly damp ground.

“Welcome to Casa de Munson. It’s uh, not much but it feels like home.”

Chrissy pulled him closer to her and placed her other hand on his chest, looking up at him.

“It’s perfect, Eddie.”

Eddie grinned ear to ear, the November flush standing out against the black and grey of his flannel. His eyes darted from Chrissy’s, down to her lips, then back up to her eyes before he leaned in.

Chrissy leaned in too, her eyes closing. She was instead met with her boyfriend quickly turning to the side, and pitching downward into the left collar of his flannel.

“H’ehKSH’iew!! Ik’esshIEW! Ngt’chEW!! snFF”

“Bless you!” She placed a hand on his arm, “Are you feeling okay? You seem extra sneezy today.”

“Yeah, sheesh sorry… snFF, m’bust be m’by allergies.”

---

Eddie spent the afternoon setting up the campsite and showing Chrissy his favorite spots. The climbing tree that Eddie used as a lookout post, the dock where Wayne taught him how to fish, and the rock he fell off of and broke his arm when he was 11.

Chrissy took in every detail of the scenery, images of Eddie as a kid dancing around in her mind. Although he never joined the scouts, Wayne made him learn a few basic skills like starting fires - this particular skill something he showed off as he prepped their campfire for the night.

The flame danced, embers crackling and lighting up the surrounding area. The evening felt perfect: making s’mores, dancing in the moonlight, and Eddie strumming his guitar while she leaned up against him.

“IK’tschEW! TssCH! H’eKTssh!”

“Bless you.”

“Thanks. snF sorry…”

She looked up and kissed his cheek. “Let’s get you to bed.”

---

Chrissy had stepped to the side to brush her teeth. She marched back to the tent, her flannel pajama bottoms ticket into her boots, waffle knit top pulled over her hands.

As she approached the tent, she could see Eddie’s silhouette, illuminated by the small lantern they had brought. Since the tent was thin material she could see and hear him.

“Gk’tschEW! Hih’KSH’iew!! snF snFF- K’isshEW!”

Chrissy unzipped the tent door and climbed in, kneeling next to Eddie with a hand on his back. “Bless-”

“Nohhht doone- H’aeKSSSH! HEH’ih’KSSH!!”

“Aww poor baby.” Chrissy rubbed circles on his back while he sniffled helplessly.

“snRKT, sorry, pollen’d is really getti’g to m’be I guess.”

Chrissy frowned, “Let’s get some rest, maybe that’ll help?”

“Yeah m’baybe.” Eddie cleared his throat and kissed Chrissy on the cheek. “Goodnight.”

They both crawled into their sleeping bags and he clicked the light off. Chrissy had drifted easily into a light sleep, but for Eddie, it was a restless night.

Up until about 2am, he tossed and turned, waking up in a sweat, then freezing from being in sweat soaked clothes.

He’d fallen asleep for a short while, but woke up again a few hours later in the early hours, throat sore and tickly. He felt he couldn’t even get a full breath in without the tickle in his throat making him choke. With his mouth closed, he sat up stifling a cough against his fist, trying not to wake Chrissy.

He coughed for about twenty seconds before it had knocked loose some of the congestion that he felt settling in his sinuses.

‘Oh no’ he thought. If he got into a fit right now, he’d wake Chrissy for sure. He felt the tickle blossom, spreading across the back of his nose.

He inhaled sharply before harshly stifling into his hands, fingers pinching his nose closed.

“H’Nxxt! NxxxT….H’NxxT!” He sniffled thickly, turning to look when he heard Chrissy stirring in her sleeping bag.

“-ddie?” A small murmur.

“Everything’s fiihh H’NgtSSCH! Go back t’bed, Chris… Heh’KSSH! IKT’sssCHEW!”

He coughed wetly into his elbow and sniffed soupily, Chrissy kneeling down in front of him, one hand on his shoulder and on hand to his clammy forehead.

“Hey Eds, I think this might be something more than allergies.” She cooed, handing him his bandana. He blew his nose before responding.

“I snrFF thi’gk you mbight be right.” He rubbed the heel of his palm against his eyes. “Sorry I woke you up.”

She giggled and pulled him into a hug, “This is not the first time your sneezing has woken me up, Eddie Munson.”

He hugged her back, his own laugh distorted from congestion. “You okay with it if we cut this trip short? M’baybe come back another day?”

“Of course! Let’s get you back to 100% first. The real ‘Casa de Munson’ is wherever you are.”

“Have I ever told you I love you?” He asked.

“You may have mentioned it once or twice.”