#i think i would be happy never flying in december ever again

[myreia]

I am not looking forward to calling the airline, but alas... I must call the airline. Sometime.

[chosetherose]

Updated as of 6/30

The Eras Tour *Surprise Songs*

Taylor said her goal is to not repeat each show’s surprise songs so I thought it would be fun to track them as the tour goes on! Black strikethrough is included in the main set list. Purple strikethrough are included in the main set list but have been switched up at some show/s. Blue songs Taylor played but might be repeated due to messing up.

Taylor Swift

Tim McGraw (3/17) • Picture to Burn • Teardrops on My Guitar (5/5) • A Place in This World (4/22) • Cold as You (4/23) • The Outside • Tied Together with a Smile • Stay Beautiful• Should’ve Said No (5/19) • Mary’s Song (Oh My My My) • Our Song (3/24) • I’m Only Me When I’m with You (6/30) • Invisible (5/20) • A Perfectly Good Heart

Fearless

Fearless • Fifteen (5/6) • Love Story • Hey Stephen (5/14) • White Horse (3/25) • You Belong With Me • Breathe• Tell Me Why• You’re Not Sorry (4/21) • The Way I Loved You • Forever & Always (5/13) • The Best Day (5/14) • Change • Jump Then Fall (4/2) • Untouchable • Come In With The Rain • Superstar • The Other Side Of The Door (4/28) • You All Over Me (6/3) • Mr. Perfectly Fine (6/16) • We Were Happy • That’s When • Don’t You • Bye Bye Baby • Today was a fairytale (4/22)

Speak Now

Mine (5/7) • Sparks Fly (5/5) • Back To December • Speak Now (4/13, Taylor restarted part of the song but did not confirm it could be played again) • Dear John (6/24) • Mean (4/15) • The Story Of Us (6/17) • Never Grow Up • Enchanted • Better Than Revenge • Innocent• Haunted (6/9) • Last Kiss • Long Live • Ours (3/31) • If This Was A Movie (6/23) • Superman

Red

State Of Grace (3/18) • Red (5/21) • Treacherous (4/13) • I Knew You Were Trouble • All Too Well • 22 • I Almost Do (6/9) • We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together • Stay Stay Stay • The Last Time (6/16) • Holy Ground (5/27) • Sad Beautiful Tragic (3/31) • The Lucky One (4/2) • Everything Has Changed • Starlight • Begin Again (4/23) • The Moment I Knew (6/4) • Come Back… Be Here (5/12) • Girl At Home • Ronan • Better Man (5/19) • Nothing New • Babe • Message In A Bottle • I Bet You Think About Me (4/30) • Forever Winter • Run • The Very First Night • All Too Well – 10 Minute Version

1989

Welcome To New York (5/28) • Blank Space • Style • Out Of The Woods (5/6, Taylor confirmed it might be played again) • All You Had To Do Was Stay • Shake It Off • I Wish You Would (6/2) • Bad Blood • Wildest Dreams • How You Get The Girl (4/30) • This Love (5/13) • I Know Places • Clean (4/1, Taylor confirmed it might be played again, 5/28) • Wonderland (4/21) • You Are In Love • New Romantics

Reputation

…Ready For It? • End Game • I Did Something Bad • Don’t Blame Me • Delicate • Look What You Made Me Do • So It Goes… • Gorgeous (4/29) • Getaway Car (5/26) • King Of My Heart • Dancing With Our Hands Tied • Dress • This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things • Call It What You Want • New Year’s Day

Lover

I Forgot That You Existed • Cruel Summer • Lover • The Man • The Archer • I Think He Knows (5/21) • Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince • Paper Rings (6/23) • Cornelia Street • Death By A Thousand Cuts (4/1, Taylor confirmed it might be played again) • London Boy • Soon You’ll Get Better • False God (5/27) • You Need To Calm Down • Afterglow • Me! • It’s Nice To Have A Friend • Daylight (6/24) • All of the Girls You’ve Loved Before

Folklore

The 1 (replaced IS multiple shows) • Cardigan • The Last Great American Dynasty • Exile with Bon Iver • My Tears Ricochet • Mirrorball (3/17) • Seven (spoken, 6/17) • August • This Is Me Trying (3/18) • Illicit Affairs • Invisible String (replaced by T1 multiple shows) • Mad Woman (4/15) • Epiphany • Betty • Peace • Hoax • The Lakes (6/2)

Evermore

Willow • Champagne Problems • Gold Rush (5/12) • Tis The Damn Season • Tolerate It • No Body, No Crime • Happiness • Dorothea • Coney Island (4/28) • Ivy • Cowboy Like Me (3/25) • Long Story Short • Marjorie • Closure • Evermore (6/30) • Right Where You Left Me •It’s Time To Go

Midnights

On 4/14 Taylor changed the rule: ALL SONGS ON MIDNIGHTS MAY BE REPEATED. I’m adding the dates to the midnights surprise songs but they will remain in black text since they can be repeated.

Lavender Haze • Maroon (5/26) • Anti-Hero • Snow on the Beach (3/24) • You’re on Your Own, Kid (4/14) • Midnight Rain • Question…? (5/20) • Vigilante Shit • Bejeweled • Labyrinth • Karma • Sweet Nothing • Mastermind • The Great War (4/14) • Bigger Than the Whole Sky • Paris • High Infidelity (4/29) • Glitch • Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve (5/7) • Dear Reader • Hits Different (6/4)

Other

I don’t wanna live forever (6/3)

[cloveroctobers]

DECEMBER PROMPTS 🧊 — 3. MICHAEL “MIKEY” BERZATTO

A/N: I want to attempt to make this a bit lighter but with the way the bear is set up? Happiness is a process. 🥂 Also this takes place BEFORE 7 fishes? Maybe a year or two prior, so thats probably six or seven years ago from now? The timeline isn’t overly important with this show so whatever your brain feels is cool with me! Also decided to do this in headcanon/note form this time around because things are definitely about to get hectic for me. Merry Christmas Eve or Happy Holidays to you all! 🫶🏽 hope its filled with nothing but greatness + all things that are lovely and not chaos.

PROMPTS ARE FROM HERE + I’m using: SCENARIO — 4.) Decorating the tree + DIALOGUE — 2.) “You know what they say, don’t eat yellow snow.”

<- read my previous December anthology prompt here.

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Michael Berzatto always loved cold weather and sure his birthday happened to always fall on a brutal cold day… he always put more effort into everyone else’s.

It’s something he’s always done and maybe it had to do with his childhood where most birthdays his own parents forgot about it, treating it as any other day because that’s simply how they viewed their own and wouldn’t even get him a card at least.

He grew up fast and pushed those terrible feelings as far down as they could go and focused on caring for everyone else.

Lucky for him, he had his younger siblings that always managed to put a smile on his face, showing him that they wouldn’t ever forget

and a shit eating grin would also appear thanks to his best friend Richie who always showed up with packs of beer and encouragement to head out to a strip joint but somehow Tiffany always figured out that plan!

a gallon of warmth poured into his chest when you would call him at midnight or the break of dawn, wanting to be the first to send him well wishes for another year.

You were always something special to Michael.

Which is why on the morning of November 15th, he showed up to your place, just to tell you later that you were going tree hunting while he went down to Chicagoland to get the rest of his hours in.

He heard how bummed out you were about your boyfriend not being in town (yet again) to go get a tree for the place you moved into back in July.

Michael didn’t particularly hate the guy but he also felt like he didnt care enough as much as he should with someone like you.

He was always elsewhere and Michael was just praying that he didn’t ask you to marry him and call it selfish but he didn’t see a glimmer in your eyes when you looked at the guy.

Michael felt like you two were just dating out of convenience—until you both found better, which YOU would but you didn’t seem to see that.

Which of course sparked arguments and the guy walked in on that argument, demanding to know what was going on and you didn’t want to escalate the situation so you sent a warning glance for Michael not to take it there.

He never listened.

A ban from the house was laughable to Michael because who tf did this guy think he was to tell him to stay away from his best friend’s house? He maybe “the man,” of the house but he wasn’t man enough to love you. You have to show you care in a relationship and put in the work and this guy wasn’t it. You were an after thought and that pissed Michael off.

and he didn’t give a shit if the guy was 6’6 and built like a linebacker, it was fair game in mike’s eyes! Michael would say what he felt and he was super protective over you—which you appreciated but not in that moment.

Before hands could ever go flying and out of the respect he has for you, he said his peace and left the home—since thats what you wanted…with the both of you not speaking for a week—which was painful.

And also painful to Richie’s ears because Mikey wouldn’t shut up about it!

You as a topic? Was never on the low.

“Are you finally gonna admit to the audience that you’re sweet on them, Mikey Boy!?” The amusement was clear in Richie’s piercing blues and Michael was tempted to smack it right off.

“Shut your mouth and get back to work, ya bastard!”

Michael knew the guy talked shit about him behind his back but regardless Michael was in your life WAAAY before this guy was even a factor! He wasn’t going anywhere,, unless you told him to but he hoped that never happened.

Your boyfriend didn’t like how you kept Michael around but he knew how to put on a mask too, being a FBI agent and all that, which means he was hardly around anyway so…that gave Michael more time with you in the end, which definitely made your boyfriend more irritated when he bothered to check in from work!

Michael found it funny that your boyfriend thought he was doing something by flying back to Indiana with you to spend (the controversial holiday) thanksgiving with your dad, step-mother, and half-siblings just to disappear again into his work as soon as the both of you returned to chicago.

While he was off on a case, Michael was there taking on the failed promises, which included: tree shopping.

Having a hybrid schedule, working as a publisher and just starting a meeting with a client, you were caught off guard the morning Michael greeted you on your front steps on HIS birthday.

He was all grins and barely in the appropriate wear for the approaching winter but fr! a hoe never gets cold you know? “You asked what i feel like doing for my birthday, right sweetheart? Spending it with you doll face and gettin’ us a tree, how’s that sound?”

You can can barely get any words out due to being on a call but a sweet smile that actually matched your eyes was enough confirmation—although it was on the tip of your tongue to argue, Michael took that to his advantage that you couldn’t in that moment.

Which didn’t mean you wouldn’t hammer him with texts a little later—but Michael sucked at texting so your attempts would probably go unseen anyway.

It was around six, you just got off thirty minutes ago and went to freshen up, ready to text Michael when he’s already at your door, keys in hand, shining teeth of a smile, your favorite sandwich in hand: a wrapped Porchetta, chicken parm, or a caprese sandwich (if you don’t eat meat) ready for you to eat on the go, since the farm closes at eight-thirty and the drives about thirty to forty-five minutes depending on the traffic…

Michael’s got terrible road rage and hates traffic but you’re not the best driver when the sky falls so you have no choice this evening but…he’s at ease with you on the passenger side.

He’s telling you entertaining stories as you eat and when you’re done, he’s asking for your review—although it’s your favorite sandwich so of course it’s going to be highly rated! but he just likes to hear you talk about the things you enjoy

he’s interested in your day since your work days are completely different and he’s not afraid to give his opinions if the author you’re working with sounds like an asshole.

Shopping with you can sometimes take forever but Michael doesn’t seem to mind. If you’re looking for the perfect tree, even if it’s ugly as hell, you’re gonna get the damn tree.

He’s used to artificial trees because the real one his family had after he just turned fifteen, his ma threw a lit cigarette at once, unbeknownst to the rest of the berzatto family, almost burning it to a crisp as she whipped around to yell at a seven year old Sugar about something, so his dad swore off “spending his hard earned money for Donna to ruin,” leaving Michael to stop looking forward to Christmas trees

Yet he was here on his birthday with you, happy to be here and help you find whatever you needed.

“What about that one?” You pointed at what would probably be the eighth one, if Michael thought to keep count.

He can’t help it—

He glances over his shoulders and scowls, “looks like uncle Lee, fucking balding in the middle.”

“Michael!”

“Wha? Am I wrong?! I’m just sayin, sweetheart…if you love that one, I’ll like it.” Michael raised his hands in surrender while you huffed, rolled your eyes and spun on your flats, diving in between a row of fully stocked trees.

Eventually you find a wide white spruce tree that the both you felt strongly about to bring back home

and the man is willing to throw his back out for you, getting it up your steep front steps, not allowing you to help him one bit, which is frustrating for you ofc.

Once positioned in your living room, just the way you want it, Michael wipes the back of his hand against his forehead dramatically.

“What would you like to drink?”

“I’m fine. Just gonna get some air, then when I get back we’ll discuss when you want to decorate it, yeah?”

You shake your head at Michael while he heads back to the front of the house through the screened in entrance before entering November’s air.

When he’s taking longer than expected, you go hunting for him just to flail around on some black ice after stepping down from the last step but manage to somewhat catch yourself on the railing.

Thankful for a bruise rather than a broken tailbone, you curse to yourself as the throbbing pain shoots down your femur.

And surely, Michael fucking berzatto appears from the shadows to assist you, “hey! whatcha doin’ down there?”

“I slipped on some stupid black ice…where were you?”

“You sure it wasn’t the yellow snow?”

“The what?” You exasperate as Michael guides you to your feet.

Michael points at the spot to the right of your front lawn and you scowl as he says, “you know what they say, don’t eat yellow snow!”

He laughs but stops short as you cut your eyes at him, “did you come out here to piss on my lawn when there’s two bathroom’s inside?”

Michael scoffs, “don’t go pointin’ fingers at me because you busted your ass. That ain’t my fault babe and you know I wouldn’t do that! I told you that was Richie’s drunk ass.”

Sighing you rub at your sore thigh, “I still owe him a kick in the ass for that.”

“Yeah you do,” Michael smirks as the both of you move to head back inside, “despite that, it was good house warming.”

You nod as you’re back inside the warmth of your new home and rest against the couch while Michael’s back to analyzing the tree you picked. “Hey, I’ve got you something.”

Michael shakes his head although a twitch of a grin is there,“I told you that you didn’t need to get me anything.”

“Shush,” you held up your hand at the man who raised his brows at you, “it’s nothing crazy but it’s in the fridge.”

He sighs at you but goes to your bright yellow kitchen nonetheless. Michael always gets caught up standing in your kitchen, just imagining all the meals he could get up to in here since it seems so bright and welcoming yet empty.

You were more of a breakfast person which is why he was always down to go to diners because of you, whereas he was more a lunch person because of his old man, hence why Chicagoland was a deli spot but Michael was okay with shifting his ways for you.

When he opens your fridge, he scans through it, easily picking up on what items belongs to your macho boyfriend and scoffs to himself before spotting a medium sized box tucked in the back of the fridge.

“Did you find it, Mikey?” You call out to your friend who latches onto the box, kneeing the fridge closed before making his way back into the living room.

He plops down on the couch next to you, eyeing you while you smile over at him patiently waiting.

“Here goes nothing,” Michael quietly says before pulling the top back to eye the mold of the zuccotto, “…you fucking didn’t.”

“I did,” you nod before explaining, “I thought about making one but I also didn’t want to disappoint you and then I remembered you’ve been wanting to try that bakery that’s here on my side of town, so I made a call and hope you like it.”

Michael swallows the lump in his throat at the gesture. He can’t remember the last time someone’s got him a cake but this wasn’t just some simple task. This was important because this means you listened.

You listened to how he told you that his nonna used to call him, “pumpkin bear,” because he was chunky and the shade of a Orange left in the sunlight fresh out the womb and that she made the best zuccotto he’s ever had and never tried anyone else’s since she’s passed.

Not even his ma could touch his nonna’s but he would never tell the woman that!

“The bakery’s a combined Italian-French place which they don’t really advertise until you’re actually inside but the little elderly lady who made it was the cutest thing and I thought you’d probably trust her.”

“I wanna kiss you on the mouth, you’re so good to me, you have no idea!” Michael pointed at you, voice thick with emotion.

This may seem small to any other but it really meant a lot and you could sense that as Michael gripped your hand to squeeze and press kisses to. “Happy birthday, Mikey.” You whisper.

Michael groans as he pinched the corners of his wet eyes for a moment, “I love you, you know?”

“I love you back,” you smile, “now can we try!?”

“Hell yeah we can but I get first bite this time.”

“I guess…it is your birthday after all.” You wink.

The taste test was so worth it, to the point Michael made it his mission to go meet the elderly woman down at her bakery during one of his breaks from the restaurant.

He shared kind words and got to know Giuseppina or “Josy,” up until the point they actually became friendly with Josy sending her husband Charles over to try what Chicagoland had to offer as well.

He had you to thank for that, reminding him of the good in his life, even what once was.

It isnt until the first week of December when Michael comes around again to decorate your tree.

“What the hell happened?” Michael quizzes you when he spots you with a brace taking up a huge portion of your thigh.

Guess that makes sense why you took so long to get the door.

You sigh, “hello to you too, Mike. Care to come in?”

“Yeah, yeah. Hi.” Michael greets, gripping your hip and pressing a kiss to your cheek before stepping into the too warm house.

You tell him you slipped again and that resulted into a bruised bone, which is less severe than a fracture and something you can heal at home with ice, and meds you wouldn’t be taking—so you’re just taking it easy.

“Why hasn’t inspector gadget put down any salt yet?” Michael commented as he shoved his thin jacket into the small closet tucked in the corner of the living room.

You have your oddly placed fireplace lit and boxes everywhere to dig through.

Sighing you plop back on the couch, “He’s busy but he brought up the decorations from the basement and I can do the salt myself.”

“Oh yeah? Why haven’t you?”

“…it’s cold.”

Michael fans his hands at you, “newsflash babe, we’re in Chicago not Kansas or wherever the hell he’s from and after we’re done tackling this tree, I’m gonna fix it.”

“Mikey—

“Did you hear what I said?”

The look he sent you with his dark eyes made you mold your lips together and cross your arms before you pushed off the couch to head over to a few of the boxes.

Michael does the honors of playing some Motown Christmas music on your tv to fill the tension, but he wouldn’t apologize for looking out for you.

The bare minimum when it comes to your boyfriend doesn’t impress him, not one bit and although you didn’t like and told Michael that you didn’t like him dragging your man, you couldn’t change Michael’s mind about him at all!

He was gonna hurt you and Michael was waiting for the asshole to just rip the band aid off or when you woke up and dumped him yourself.

Michael knew you had it in you and knew you deserved better than to just settle for what looks good on paper.

The smooth deep growl of Marvin Gaye singing, “I want to come home for Christmas,” (I heavily stand on the fact that Marvin Gaye is one of Michael’s favorite singers!) filled your home as the both of you went through the boxes, picking out your decor that brought all sorts of feelings to your frame.

You reminisced about what your life was and if your dad still had any of your old ornaments you made as a child, knowing your mother would have and what your life could be as you took your side of the tree, placing ornaments up as Michael hummed to the music.

The both of you worked in silence which wasn’t the usual although Michael was much louder than you, being quiet wasn’t the norm of your friendship.

And it wasn’t because of what Michael said to you, you weren’t that sensitive—it was you getting in your head about the holidays.

About your dad, step-mom, and siblings deciding not to speed Christmas with you like originally planned because they were going on a cruise and the possibility of your boyfriend traveling to freaking Europe around that time for work made you think about the upcoming loneliness

Yes you had another friend outside of Michael but it was just this odd feeling that you didn’t particularly want to define or gave much thought about until now…

“Hey, stop thinkin’ so hard and just be here with me, huh? Your favorite person on the planet.” Michael calls over the music, after catching you staring up at the length of the tree with one ornament still in your hand.

When your eyes meet his and that famous grin stretched over his features, you roll your eyes once you realized what he said, bringing you back into the spirit and moved around the living room in search of your stool.

Michael holds the stool until your comfortably on it before moving one hand to the small of your back to keep you stable.

When you glance back at him you state, “how do you know?”

“Know what?”

“You’re my favorite person when there’s a billion people in this place?”

“Ah, It’s all over your face! You know how they say heart on your sleeve? Well in your case, it’s on your face.” Michael comments as he holds your stare before you slowly get down to be face to face with him, “and don’t you worry, you’re mine too.” 🥹🥹🥹

You pat his jaw, “damn straight, baby. And don’t you forget it.”

“Never will,” Michael chuckles, “do I get to do the honors of putting up the star?”

You plop down on the couch, digging through what’s left in the box you were working on, “we don’t have a star.”

“…Run that by me again?” Michael turns to you.

You nod, “we wanted to do something…less traditional and it was between either a bow or what he went for…a stag.”

Michael eyes the topper and scowls as he reaches for the cream deer head, “im gonna keep my mouth shut on this one.”

“Thank you.”

“welcome.”

after awhile, Michael finds his way collapsed next to you eyeing the tree as the both of you sip at some cranberry punch you made the other day, eyeing some rosemary you had floating through it.

“It actually turned out pretty, no?” You ask, shoulder to shoulder with the bearded man.

Michael sips from the mason jar and savors the earthy tangy flavor, “best lookin’ tree I’ve ever seen!”

Resting your head against Michael’s shoulder you take in the scenery, feeling a little less alone as Michael’s lips peck your brow, reminding you that it’s best to hold onto what you have, rather than what you don’t. 

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read my final ~5 days of Xmas~ anthology prompt here.

[twc-thoughts-you-didnt-ask-for]

I was looking through the “UB as” posts you have and I was hoping you could do UB as Taylor Swift songs? 🥺👉👈

MY TIME HAS COME

A: Say Don’t Go, I Can See You, Snow On The Beach, All You Had To Do Was Stay, I Wish You Would, Foolish One, Sparks Fly, my tears ricochet, You All Over Me

N: Style, Suburban Legends, Safe & Sound, Timeless, Paris, Begin Again

F: You Belong With Me, Mine, Paper Rings, When Emma Falls In Love, Ours, Cornelia Street, Everything Has Changed, I Think He Knows, Stay Stay Stay

M: Lover, Don’t Blame Me, “Slut!”, Mr. Perfectly Fine, Sweet Nothing, Betty, Afterglow, Call It What You Want, Daylight, gold rush

LT: Cardigan, You’re Losing Me, Wildest Dreams, Delicate, august, Glitch, right where you left me, ivy, Death By A Thousand Cuts, hoax

Bobby: We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, Now That We Don’t Talk, Bad Blood, Back To December, All Too Well, Clean, Champagne Problems, exile, tolerate it, happiness

Verda/Tina: dorothea

[galindathrop]

Eras Tour Setlist and Surprise/Secret Songs (as of February 16, 2024)

Taylor Swift

Tim McGraw - March 17

Picture to Burn - July 14

Teardrops on My Guitar - May 5

A Place in this World - April 22

Cold as You - April 23

The Outside - February 9

Tied Together with a Smile - July 23

Stay Beautiful - November 17

Should’ve Said No - May 19

Mary’s Song

Our Song - March 24 and August 4 (Guitar Surprise song in Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour film)

I’m Only Me When I’m with You - June 30

Invisible - May 20

A Perfectly Good Heart

Fearless (Taylor’s Version)

Fearless

Fifteen - May 6

Love Story

Hey Stephen - May 14

White Horse - March 25

You Belong With Me

Breathe (feat. Colbie Callait) - June 10

Tell Me Why - August 25

You’re Not Sorry - April 21

The Way I Loved You

Forever & Always - May 13

The Best Day - May 14

Change

Jump Then Fall - April 2

Untouchable - November 25

Come In with the Rain - February 10

Superstar

The Other Side of the Door - April 28

Today Was a Fairytale - April 22

You All Over Me (feat. Maureen Morris) - June 3

Mr. Perfectly Fine - June 16

We Were Happy

That’s When (feat. Keith Urban)

Don’t You

Bye Bye Baby

If This Was a Movie - June 23

Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) - Announced May 5th, 2023. Released on July 7th, 2023.

Mine - May 7

Sparks Fly - May 5

Back to December - July 15

Speak Now - April 13

Dear John - June 24

Mean - April 15

The Story of Us - June 17

Never Grow Up - July 7

Enchanted

Better than Revenge - November 12

Innocent - November 24

Haunted - June 9

Last Kiss - July 8

Long Live (added to setlist on July 7th for the release of Speak Now TV. Performed on the same koi fish guitar from the Speak Now Tour) (removed from Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour movie.)

Ours - March 31

Superman - February 9

Electric Touch (featuring Fall Out Boy) - February 8

When Emma Falls in Love - July 7

I Can See You (music video released to concertgoers on July 7 and online on July 8) - August 3

Castles Crumbling (featuring Hayley Williams) - July 28

Foolish One

Timeless - July 14

Red (Taylor’s Version)

State of Grace - March 18

Red - May 21 (Performed on Guitar instead of Piano due to rain damage from May 20), February 16

Treacherous - April 13

I Knew You Were Trouble

22

I Almost Do - June 9

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

Stay Stay Stay - July 29

The Last Time (featuring Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol) - June 16

Holy Ground - May 27 and February 7

Sad Beautiful Tragic - March 31

The Lucky One - April 2

Everything Has Changed (featuring Ed Sheeran) - July 22

Starlight - July 15

Begin Again - April 23

The Moment I Knew - June 4

Come Back… Be Here - May 12

Girl at Home

Ronan

Better Man - May 19

Nothing New (featuring Phoebe Bridgers) (added to the setlist on May 5, only to be performed when Phoebe Bridgers is one of the opening acts.)

Babe

Message in a Bottle - July 23

I Bet You Think About Me (featuring Chris Stapleton) - April 30

Forever Winter

Run (featuring Ed Sheeran)

The Very First Night - November 9

All Too Well (10 Minute Version)

Eyes Open

Safe and Sound - November 25

1989 (Taylor’s Version) - Announced August 8th, 2023. Released October 27, 2023.

Welcome to New York - May 28

Blank Space

Style

Out of the Woods - May 6 and November 11 (mashup w/ Is It Over Now?)

All You Had to Do Was Stay - June 10

Shake It Off

I Wish You Would - June 2

Bad Blood

Wildest Dreams

How You Get the Girl - April 30

This Love - May 13

I Know Places - August 8

Clean - April 1 and May 28

Wonderland - April 21

You Are in Love - August 4

New Romantics - August 9

"Slut!" - November 12

Say Don't Go - November 26

Now That We Don't Talk - November 24

Suburban Legends - November 17

Is It Over Now? - November 11 (mashup w/ Out of the Woods)

Sweeter Than Fiction

Reputation

…Ready for It?

End Game (featuring Ed Sheeran and Future) - November 11

I Did Something Bad

Don’t Blame Me

Delicate

Look What You Made Me Do

So It Goes… - November 20

Gorgeous - April 29

Getaway Car (w/ Jack Antonoff) - May 26

King of My Heart - August 8

Dancing with Our Hands Tied - November 19

Dress - August 23

This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things - July 22

Call It What You Want - July 1

New Year’s Day - August 9

I Don’t Want to Live Forever - June 3

Lover

I Forgot That You Existed - August 24

Cruel Summer

Lover

The Man

The Archer (removed from Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour movie)

I Think He Knows - May 21

Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince

Paper Rings - June 23

Cornelia Street - August 26

Death by a Thousand Cuts - April 1 and August 5

London Boy

Soon You’ll Get Better (featuring The Chicks)

False God - May 27

You Need to Calm Down

Afterglow - August 27

Me! (feat. Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco) - November 20

It’s Nice to Have a Friend

Daylight - June 24

Beautiful Ghosts

Only the Young

All of the Girls You Loved Before - July 29

Folklore

The 1

Cardigan (removed from Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour movie)

The Last Great American Dynasty

Exile (featuring Bon Iver) - August 23

My Tears Ricochet

Mirrorball - March 17

Seven (spoken transition part of setlist) - (w/ Aaron Dessner) June 17

August

This Is Me Trying - March 18

Illicit Affairs

Invisible String

Mad Woman (w/ Aaron Dessner) - April 15

Epiphany

Betty

Peace

Hoax

The Lakes - June 2

Evermore

Willow

Champagne Problems

Gold Rush - May 12

‘Tis the Damn Season

Tolerate It

No Body, No Crime (feat. Haim) (replacing ‘Tis the Damn Season, during the shows where Haim is one of the openers) (removed from Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour movie)

Happiness

Dorothea - July 8

Coney Island (feat. the National) - April 28

Ivy (w/ Aaron Dessner) - July 1

Cowboy Like Me (w/ special guest Marcus Mumford) - March 25

Long Story Short

Marjorie

Closure

Evermore (feat. Bon Iver) - June 30

Right Where You Left Me (w/ Aaron Dessner) - July 28

It’s Time to Go

Midnights - Midnights: The Til Dawn Edition and The Late-Night Edition released on May 26.

Lavender Haze

Maroon - May 26, August 3, and August 27

Anti-Hero

Snow on the Beach (feat. Lana Del Rey) - March 24 and August 25

You’re on Your Own, Kid - April 14, August 5, August 26, February 10 (Piano Surprise song in Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour film)

Midnight Rain

Question…? - May 20

Vigilante Shit

Bejeweled

Labyrinth - November 9

Karma

Sweet Nothing - August 24

Mastermind

The Great War (w/ Aaron Dessner) - April 14

Bigger Than the Whole Sky - November 19

Paris

High Infidelity - April 29

Glitch

Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve (w/ Aaron Dessner) - May 7

Dear Reader - February 7

Hits Different - June 4

Karma (featuring Ice Spice) (Added to the setlist for shows on May 26, 27, and 28. Music video released for concertgoers on May 26 and online on May 27)

You’re Losing Me (From the Vault) - February 16

Other

I Miss You, I’m Sorry (w/ Gracie Abrams) - July 1

[duskspring]

A Hobby and Late Night - Rain/Aurora

Domestic December - Day 17

Summary: Rain and Aurora share a gaming hobby and accidentally stay up til 3 at which point a nice convo happens

Content (do let me know if I forgot anything!): Talks of self discovery, introspection, cuddling

Word count: ~900

“Yes! Get fucked!” Aurora cheered, her arms flying into the air.

For a moment she got to ignore the cramp in her hands, while Rain’s defeat was only worsened by his awareness of his aching back. The two had been fully immersed in the video game they played together all night. Rain had spent most of that time leaning over his own lap, arms resting on his knees, while Aurora hadn’t stopped aggressively clutching her controller in excitement for even a minute.

The water ghoul was happy she enjoyed video games as much as he did. Copia had introduced them to him when he was first summoned and now he got to pass that proverbial torch to her.

He smiled when he saw Aurora yawn, “Tired already? It’s only…” He grabbed his phone to check the time, eye widening in realization. He turned the screen around so she could see, “3am.”

“What?!” Aurora sat up in a hurry, suddenly not as tired. Rain quickly motioned for her to keep it down, causing her to cover her mouth with her hands, “Did we really play that long?”

“Did it really take you that long to beat me?” He teased, referencing how she had wanted to keep playing until she beat him in a match. Unfortunately for her, Rain had much more experience with the levels, hence why it had indeed taken forever.

“You’re rude.” She jokingly pouted, crossing her arms over her chest.

“But you did it eventually. Congratulations.” He held out his hand for a friendly shake, but she harshly high fived him instead before yawning again, “Do you want to go to bed?”

“No, I wanna stay with you a little longer.” Aurora crawled over, snuggling into Rain’s side with her arm around his waist.

“That’s alright,” One of his arms came around her shoulders, “I assume you liked that game?”

She nodded excitedly, “I think this one’s my favorite. No offence to Copia, but a lot of the games he plays aren’t nearly as thrilling.”

Rain nodded, “I get that. But relaxing games can be fun. I think you’d like some cozy games with a lot of customization.”

“Oh, that sounds fun.” She sounded overjoyed, regardless of how sleepy she was, “I love character customization. Making yourself look cool in a game is so much easier than changing stuff in real life.”

“Is there anything you would want to change?”

She shrugged, burying her face a little farther into Rain’s side, “Sometimes I see people in outfits or with styles that look so pretty, but I don’t know if they would be fit for me.”

“That makes sense. I feel the same way sometimes when I see Dew or you. You guys look so cool all the time, but I know if I dressed up like that I wouldn’t be true to myself.”

“But how do you know? Have you ever tried?”

“In the case of Dew, yes. I’ve let him make me over before. It didn’t really work,” Rain smiled at the memory, “But for the most part, I don’t know. Well, I know, but I don’t know how I know. That’s just a matter of knowing yourself.”

Aurora took a second to process the words, “That must be nice. Knowing who you are.”

Rain’s smile softened further, brushing a hand through her colored locks, “You’ll get there. You’re still young, still adjusting to topside culture. One of them, at least. It will come.”

“How long will that take?”

“I don’t know,” Rain laughed lightheartedly, “That’s different for everyone.”

The ghoulette stayed quiet for just long enough that Rain thought she may have fallen asleep, “I like who you are.” She suddenly admitted.

“And who am I to you?” He inquired curiously.

“You’re… Rain. You’re considerate and true to your feelings. You love anything waterrelated, it so obviously makes you super happy. You can be shy, but never hide any part of yourself. I never feel like you’re putting up a front to me. Like, I’m always talking to the real you, if that makes sense.”

Rain nodded along, “Thank you. That’s really kind and you are actually making sense to me. If I had to describe you in return, I’d say joyous. You get so excited about even the smallest things and it brings everyone else’s mood up as well. You don’t try to subvert people’s expectations of you, but you still manage to do so. You’re…” Finding the words proved more difficult than expected, “very unique. Even if I don’t always understand, it's clear that you look at the world and other people in such a way that even if it only makes sense to you, it's still something new. That’s a compliment, by the way.” He looked down at his subject of analysis, not getting any reaction. Looking a little closer, he soon realized she had, at last, fallen asleep.

His smile was loving. He carefully peeled her arm from around him so he could stand up. She whined softly at the loss and before she managed to wake herself again, he picked her up to carry her off to bed.

Looking back down at her one more time, Rain saw someone familiar. It was like he understood everything about her even if he really didn’t. It didn’t matter if Aurora didn’t know exactly who she was yet, he knew she’d get there soon. And he could only hope she’d love herself as much as he did.

[My Main Masterlist | Domestic December Masterlist]

[ang3lv3rm1n]

I know it probably isn't an odd thing per se, but something that I just connected the dots on was the correlation between me getting to fly on a plane and me realizing I'm a therian or other-kin or alter-human. But I didn't really know what the feeling was then. It was this...almost overwhelming feeling of peace and serenity and belonging. Like I was meant to be in the sky, soaring through the clouds. It was such a strong feeling that I wrote a note down on a phone I don't have anymore about how I never wanted to land. I'll continue with more details below the cut, I don't want to take up anyone's dash.

When this happened, was December 2020, I had been experiencing an awful lot of mental health crises and I was flying alone as my first time ever on a plane. I was 15 years old, I had teal hair and stupid looking chunky black glasses. I was tired because I had woken up so early, normally airports are kinda scary but at the time, the closest airport to me was incredibly small. The airport in Cody Wyoming. There weren't very many other people getting on the tiny plane with me, I do remember two of the people being a grandmother and her gran-daughter who was maybe 11? They were both sleepy as well. I think I only remember them because the grandma complimented my mask. It was a grayish periwinkle sort of color and had white silhouettes of bears as the pattern. My mom had gotten it for me earlier in the year from the local pharmacy where one of the employees liked to sew in her spare time and had been making masks with different patterns on them. I felt lonely, being the only one of my family going on the flight because my mom and dad had to work and my Nana was paying for my ticket so I could come see her back in Mississippi for the holiday.

Once the plane arrived, and I had boarded, the sun still hadn't come up yet, and I thought I would just sleep on the plane ride because I anticipated being anxious the entire time. It was the kind of flight where you get on in one place, land in another, and get on another plane, and repeat until you get to your destination. I forget what it's called, but anyways, I got the row all to myself because there were so few people even on the small plane. And after the pre-flight introduction to plane safety and all of that, I was still worried about how I would feel once the plane was off the ground. That was until we actually were flying, and then suddenly the feeling I described earlier hit me. If I remember correctly, I cried a little bit because of how overwhelmingly at peace and how happy I felt. It was something I don't think I had ever felt before, and If I had, I hadn't felt it in a very long time.

I miss it alot. Even running through the airports and sitting around waiting, It was strangely comforting to me. I wish I had the money to fly everywhere, If I had the chance I would just to be in the sky again. To get to see the sunrise perched in the clouds where I'm meant to be.

[alexaatla]

gothcleats as songs from each of the taylor swift (yes that one) album

im so sick in the head about them and i haven’t made a post about them in a while so here ya go

DEBUT-Our Song

starting out with a soft silly one first, also scarys a musician so this makes sense 😽

lyrics: “Our song is the slamming screen door

Sneakin' out late, tapping on your window

When we're on the phone, and you talk real slow

'Cause it's late, and your mama don't know

Our song is the way you laugh

The first date, "Man, I didn't kiss her, and I should have"”

FEARLESS- The Way I Loved You

i know this song is about missing an ex and all, but in the context of gothcleats i want to interpret it like gothcleats in the “betrayal arc”

lyrics: “But I miss screaming and fighting and kissing in the rain

And it's 2 a.m. and I'm cursing your name

So in love that you act insane

And that's the way I loved you”

SPEAK NOW- The Story of Us

imo this is one of the most gothcleats songs of all time, again during the “betrayal arc” and it gives very big “enemies closer” vibes with being so close to each other but not knowing what to say. it’s also very much scarys POV

lyrics: “Oh, I'm scared to see the ending

Why are we pretending this is nothing?

I'd tell you I miss you but I don't know how

I've never heard silence quite this loud

Now I'm standing alone in a crowded room

And we're not speaking and I'm dying to know

Is it killing you like it's killing me? Yeah

I don't know what to say since the twist of fate

When it all broke down

And the story of us looks a lot like a tragedy now”

RED- I Almost Do

ep 25 core and also after the betrayal el oh el

lyrics: “I bet

You think I either moved on or hate you

'Cause each time you reach out there's no reply

I bet

It never ever occurred to you

That I can't say "Hello" to you

And risk another goodbye

And I just wanna tell you

It takes everything in me not to call you

And I wish I could run to you

And I hope you know that every time I don't

I almost do

I almost do

Oh, we made quite a mess, babe

It's probably better off this way

And I confess, babe

In my dreams you're touching my face

And asking me if I wanna try again with you

And I almost do”

1989-Out Of The Woods

this song is being able to make it through something difficult together, which is what gothcleats had been doing this entire fucking time, they just want to be out of the woods

lyrics: “Looking at it now

Last December

(Last December)

We were built to fall apart

Then fall back together

(Back together)

Ooh, your necklace hanging from my neck

The night we couldn't quite forget

When we decided, we decided

To move the furniture so we could dance

Baby, like we stood a chance

Two paper airplanes flying, flying, flying

And I remember thinking

Are we out of the woods yet?”

AND

“Remember when you hit the brakes too soon?

Twenty stitches in a hospital room

When you started crying, baby, I did too

But when the sun came up, I was looking at you

Remember when we couldn't take the heat?

I walked out, I said "I'm setting you free"

But the monsters turned out to be just trees

When the sun came up you were looking at me”

(also “looking at it now/ last december/ we were built to fall apart/ and fall back together” december is i’m pretty sure around when ep 31 with the fireball/ “you can try to kill me but i wont hurt you” scenario would fall timeline wise)

REPUTATION- King Of My Heart

there’s not much reason to this song other than just the vibe reminds me of them and they deserve to be happy 🫶

lyrics: “Salute to me, I'm your American Queen

And you move to me like I'm a Motown beat

And we rule the kingdom inside my room

'Cause all the boys and their expensive cars

With their Range Rovers and their Jaguars

Never took me quite where you do

And all at once, you are the one I have been waiting for

King of my heart, body and soul, ooh whoa”

AND

“Is this the end of all the endings?

My broken bones are mending

With all these nights we're spending

Up on the roof with a school girl crush

Drinking beer out of plastic cups

Say you fancy me, not fancy stuff

Baby, all at once, this is enough”

(honestly another good choice for this would’ve been dress and it might’ve fit better but I LOVE KOMH OKAY)

LOVER-The Archer

while a lot of the songs in lover are very soft and nice, and gothcleats well, isnt, The Archer i think shows scarys hesitancy to become close to link and the other teens, because people have left her continuously in the past. she doesn’t believe people should want to stay with her.

lyrics: “I've been the archer

I've been the prey

Screaming, who could ever leave me, darling?

But who could stay?

(I see right through me, I see right through me)

'Cause they see right through me

They see right through me

They see right through

Can you see right through me?

They see right through

They see right through me

I see right through me

I see right through me

All the king's horses, all the king's men

Couldn't put me together again

'Cause all of my enemies started out friends

Help me hold onto you”

FOLKLORE- exile

link defended scary for a lot of the things she did, despite her telling and proving to him that he shouldn’t have, he did. this song to me is directly after the death of tony pepperoni and realizing what she’s left him with.

lyrics: “And it took you five whole minutes

To pack us up and leave me with it

Holdin' all this love out here in the hall

I think I've seen this film before

And I didn't like the ending

You're not my homeland anymore

So what am I defending now?

You were my town

Now I'm in exile, seein' you out

I think I've seen this film before”

AND

“I can see you starin', honey

Like he's just your understudy

Like you'd get your knuckles bloody for me

Second, third, and hundredth chances

Balancin' on breaking branches

Those eyes add insult to injury”

EVERMORE- right where you left me

wow gothcleats angst goes hard in evermore and folklore. this song shows the moment frozen in time of either link saying “get the fuck out of my house scary”

lyrics: “Help, I'm still at the restaurant

Still sitting in a corner I haunt

Cross-legged in the dim light

They say, "What a sad sight"

I, I swear you could hear a hair pin drop

Right when I felt the moment stop

Glass shattered on the white cloth

Everybody moved on

I, I stayed there

Dust collected on my pinned-up hair

They expected me to find somewhere

Some perspective, but I sat and stared”

AND

“Did you ever hear about the girl who got frozen?

Time went on for everybody else, she won't know it

She's still 23 inside her fantasy

How it was supposed to be

Did you hear about the girl who lives in delusion?

Break-ups happen every day, you don't have to lose it

She's still 23 inside her fantasy

And you're sitting in front of me”

MIDNIGHTS- Midnight Rain

something something scary growing up with a general lack of love in her life while link has felt nothing but something something

lyrics: “My boy was a montage

A slow-motion, love potion

Jumping off things in the ocean

I broke his heart 'cause he was nice

He was sunshine, I was midnight rain

He wanted it comfortable

I wanted that pain

He wanted a bride

I was making my own name

Chasing that fame

He stayed the same

All of me changed like midnight”

honorable mentions!

-dress

-back to december

-you belong with me

-the lucky one (hear me ou-)

in conclusion, i love them and taylor swift, thank you and goodnight

[fear-less]

Taylor Swift song master-list

info: i write fics inspired by Taylor’s songs, i’m planning on making most, if not all, of her songs into fics.

feel free to request for any song:3

——————————————————————————

taylor swift (debut)

tim mcgraw

picture to burn

teardrops on my guitar

a place in this world

cold as you

the outside

tied together with a smile

stay beautiful

should’ve said no

mary’s song - fred weasley x reader

our song

i’m only me when i’m with you

invisble

a perfectly good heart

——————————————————————————

fearless

fearless

fifteen

love story

hey stephen

white horse - sirius black x reader

you belong with me

breathe

tell me why

you’re not sorry

the way i loved you

forever & always

the best day

change

jump then fall - harry potter x reader

untouchable

come in with the rain

superstar

the other side of the door

today was a fairytale

you all over me

mr. perfectly fine

we were happy

that’s when

don’t you

bye bye baby

if this was a movie

——————————————————————————

speak now

mine

sparks fly

back to december

speak now

dear john

mean

the story of us

never grow up

enchanted

better than revenge

innocent

haunted

last kiss

long live

ours

superman

electric touch

when emma falls in love

i can see you

castles crumbling

foolish one

timeless

——————————————————————————

red

state of grace

red

treacherous

i knew you were trouble

all too well

22

i almost do

we are never ever getting back together

stay stay stay

the last time - james potter x reader x regulus black

holy ground

sad beautiful tragic

the lucky one

everything has changed

starlight

begin again

the moment i knew

come back…be here

girl at home

state of grace

better man

nothing new

babe

message in a bottle

i bet you think about me

forever winter

run

the very first night

safe and sound

all too well (10 min ver)

——————————————————————————

1989

welcome to new york

blank space

style

out of the woods

all you had to do was stay

shake it off

i wish you would

bad blood

wildest dreams

how you get the girl

this love

i know places

clean

wonderland

you are in love

new romantics

“slut!”

say don’t go

now that we don’t talk

suburban legends

is it over now?

——————————————————————————

reputation

…ready for it?

end game

i did something bad

don’t blame me

delicate

look what you made me do

so it goes…

gorgeous

getaway car

king of heart

dancing with our hands tied

dress - harry potter x reader

this is why we can’t have nice things

call it what you want

new year’s day

i don’t wanna live forever

——————————————————————————

lover

i forgot that you existed

cruel summer

lover

the man

the archer

i think he knows

miss americana & the heartbreak prince

paper rings

cornelia street

death by a thousand cuts

london boy

soon you’ll get better

false god - harry potter x reader

you need to calm down

afterglow

me!

it’s nice to have a friend

daylight

all of the girls you’ve loved before - james potter

——————————————————————————

folklore

the 1

cardigan

the last great american dynasty

exile

my tears ricochet

mirror ball

seven

august

this is me trying

illicit affairs

invisible string

mad women

epiphany

betty

peace

hoax

the lakes

——————————————————————————

evermore

willow

champagne problems

gold rush

‘tis the damn season

tolerate it

no body, no crime

happiness

dorthea

coney island

ivy

cowboy like me

long story short

closure

evermore

right where you left me

it’s time to go

——————————————————————————

midnights

lavender haze

maroon - fred weasley x reader

anti hero

snow on the beach

you’re on your own, kid

midnight rain

question…?

vigilante shit

bejeweled

labyrinth

karma

sweet nothing

mastermind

the great war

bigger than the whole sky

paris

high infidelity

glitch

would’ve, could’ve, should’ve

dear reader

hits different

you’re losing me

——————————————————————————

the tortured poets department

fortnight

the tortured poets department

my boy only breaks his favorite toys

down bad

so long, london

but daddy i love him

fresh out the slammer

flordia!!!

guilty as sin?

who’s afraid of little old me?

i can fix him (no really i can)

loml

i can do it with a broken heart

the smallest man who ever lived

the alchemy

clara bow

the black dog

imgonnagetyouback

the albatross

chloe or sam or sophia or marcus

how did it end?

so high school

i hate it here

thanK you aImee

i look in peoples windows

the prophecy

cassandra

peter

the bolter

robin

the manuscript

[scheodingers-muppet]

in honor of speak now tv about to drop, im bringing back my stranger things taylor song casting. i wrote a lot of this on my phone after listening to the album so apologizes for grammar errors or anything

mine: ronance, from Nancy's POV. Careless man's careful daughter. Sitting there by the water mirroring the boat scene. You learn my secrets and you figure out why I'm guarded. In the music video, we see the couple fighting when things get tough outside of the relationship, which we've also seen Nancy do, both when she was struggling with Barb and fighting with Jonathan when dealing with sexism from her job.

sparks fly: lumax. Max is the rainstorm, Lucas the house of cards. "I'm on my guard for the rest of the world, but for you, I know it's no good"

back to december: stancy; but just Nancy apologizing for how things ended, not them getting back together. "that night" not just being the Halloween fight but her cheating on him. I think she would feel bad about how things ended and I really want them to talk everything out in season 5. Plz. Also the line, "I miss your tan skin, your sweet smile...how you held me in your arms that September night, the first time you ever saw me cry" Obv with the tan skin and smile, but I hc that after Nancy told Steve what happened to Barb, he held her while she cried

speak now: byler, from Will's pov. Not in a literal wedding sense (though that might make a fun fic...) but more of Mike asking Will for advice about El and Will just finally coming clean. Maybe it doesn't go great and he doubles down with El and it causes some tension or maybe the roles are reversed and Mike comes clean then panics and doubles down and Will is trying to get him back

dear john: Joyce about Lonnie. I hate this man.

mean: El about Angela. Imagine if before the roller skate incident, she confided in Joyce and she told her to just confront her with her words, ya know? Like just call her out for being mean. Then when that doesn't work, she thinks, "well, what would Hopper tell me? Gotta fight back." Makes my heart melt

the story of us: Mike and El, from El’s pov. I just really feel like El would use story tails and romance stories, etc. to compare love to. This song to the letter fight just... ugh.

never grow up: Nancy. First verse to Holly, how she knows what's ahead, both in terms of alternate dimensions and being a teenage girl. She doesn't want her to have to deal with either of the two, just to stay little while she can. Second verse to Mike, seeing him start to become more of an adult and secretly missing her annoying kid brother. (brings more punch to the line “all your little brothers favorite songs”) Third verse takes place after she graduates, moving for school. Her night light mentioned in the verse was her graduation/farewell present from Holly, who says she's a big girl now and doesn't need it.

enchanted: elmax! From Max's POV. Imagine the second verse is them having a sleepover, playing truth or dare. I also love the use of referencing the story tail love metaphor again

better than revenge: stommy; Tommy singing about Nancy. idk it’s the closest I could get.

innocent: Steve and Nancy. First verse is about Nancy (lost your balance on a tight rope, lost your mind trying to get it back. wasn’t it beautiful when you believed in everything and everyone believed in you. , second about Steve. bonus points if you imagine them singing this to each other (not in a romantic way)

haunted: lumax (I’m sorry) Lucas begging for her to come back after her attack. Trying to move on and be happy but he can’t get over her. the chorus too, “somethings gone terribly wrong” “your eye’s gone cold” the bridge too “you’re not gone, you can’t be gone” you can also imagine it as like, she lives but can’t face the party without thinking about what happened too

last kiss: stancy / mike and el (parallel!) I think I’m gonna write up a post about all the parallels I see in the characters and dynamics, but I really love this one. Steve being El and Nancy being Mike. The Wheelers having severe issues with love (specifically saying the word) and hurting those who are head over heel for them. I see this from all of their perspectives, switching based off the lines. first verse is mileven (the plane line, “sit on the floor wearing your clothes” we’ve seen El wear clothes from pretty much everyone in the party) the second verse is stancy from Nancy’s pov (life of the party, “i’m not much for dancing, but for you i did” listing things he did she loved without saying “i love you”) bridge is rapid fire switching. “so I’ll watch your life in pictures like i used to watch you sleep” mike (bylers take a lot of family photos; i can imagine him seeing her in photos will sends) “i feel you forget me like i used to feel you breathe” steve “and i’ll keep up with our old friends just you ask them how you are” el “i hope it’s nice where you are…it’s a beautiful day” nancy (i think she feels bad for how things ended)

long live: the whole party. they deserve to feel like hero’s and royalty after everything they’ve been though. i desperately need to find an edit to this

ours: Steddie. the town hates eddie atm and would probably not take well to king steve dating him. the lines “i love the riddles that you speak” and “any snide remarks from my father about your tattoos will be ignored” i can also see lumax, but this is just such a light hearted song to me so i didn’t want to compare it to the racism we’ve seen be thrown at lucas and his relationship

superman: jopper. i love the idea of joyce hyping him up as her superman. also based on my parents (my dad was a first responder and this song always made me think of them for the “saving the world” aspect) “he’s not all bad like his reputation” i’m ignoring the sad parts and just focusing on the “go be a superhero, i’ll be here when you get back”

electric touch: steddie. eddie’s taylor, steve is patrick. “this could either break my heart or bring it back to life” “got a history of stories ending sadly” (eddie) “everytime i tried for love, it fell apart” (steve)

when emma falls in love: robin. i have no real proof, it just reminds me of her. i love the image of steve saying all of this about her ❤️❤️ (obvs pronouns change and stuff)

i can see you: steddie (it’s a very steddie coded album, leave me alone) from steve’s pov, talking about how he’s always had a crush on eddie and always noticed him but it breaks eddie’s brain fhat king steve has a crush on him

castles crumbling: steve angst time. talking about his “fall from social grace” and how he lost everything, both in terms of reconciling what he lost from being a jerk as king steve and what he lost when he was dethroned

foolish one; byler. “stop checking your mailbox for confessions of love” “it’s delicate but i’ll try my best to seem bulletproof” “maybe someday when we’re older this is something we’ll laugh about” “you haven’t written me or called” “i’ll get your longing glances but she’ll get your ring”

timeless; jopper. soul mates for real

[miraculousmultifan]

stranger things (taylor's version) prompt list

this list contains every taylor swift song and it will be marked by which songs have already been claimed. i'm sorting these prompts by album in chronological order.

since taylor swift has A LOT of songs, the list will be below the cut :D

original post HERE.

taylor swift

tim mcgraw

picture to burn

teardrops on my guitar

a place in this world

cold as you

the outside

tied together with a smile

stay beautiful

should've said no

mary's song (oh my my my)

our song

i'm only me when i'm with you

invisible

a perfectly good heart

fearless

fearless

fifteen

love story

hey stephen

white horse

you belong with me

breathe

tell me why

you're not sorry

the way i loved you

forever & always

the best day

change

jump then fall

untouchable

come in with the rain

superstar

the other side of the door

today was a fairytale

you all over me

mr. perfectly fine

we were happy

that's when

don't you

bye bye baby

speak now

mine

sparks fly

back to december

speak now

dear john

mean

the story of us

never grow up

enchanted

better than revenge

innocent

haunted

last kiss

long live

ours

if this was a movie

superman

electric touch

when emma falls in love

i can see you

castles crumbling

foolish one

timeless

red

state of grace

red

treacherous

i knew you were trouble

all too well

22

i almost do

we are never ever getting back together

stay stay stay

the last time

holy ground

sad beautiful tragic

the lucky one

everything has changed

starlight

begin again

the moment i knew

come back... be here

girl at home

ronan

better man

nothing new

babe

message in a bottle

i bet you think about me

forever winter

run

the very first night

eyes open

safe & sound

1989

welcome to new york

blank space

style

out of the woods

all you had to do was stay

shake it off

i wish you would

bad blood

wildest dreams

how you get the girl

this love

i know places

clean

wonderland

you are in love

new romantics

"slut!"

say don't go

now that we don't talk

suburban legends

is it over now?

reputation

...ready for it?

end game

i did something bad

don't blame me

delicate

look what you made me do

so it goes...

gorgeous

getaway car

king of my heart

dancing with our hands tied

dress

this is why we can't have nice things

call it what you want

new year's day

lover

i forgot that you existed

cruel summer

lover

the man

the archer

i think he knows

miss americana & the heartbreak prince

paper rings

cornelia street

death by a thousand cuts

london boy

soon you'll get better

false god

you need to calm down

afterglow

ME!

it's nice to have a friend

daylight

folklore

the 1

cardigan

the last great american dynasty

exile

my tears ricochet

mirrorball

seven

august

this is me trying

illicit affairs

invisible string

mad woman

epiphany

betty

peace

hoax

the lakes

evermore

willow

champagne problems

gold rush

'tis the damn season

tolerate it

no body, no crime

happiness

dorothea

coney island

ivy

cowboy like me

long story short

marjorie

closure

evermore

right where you left me

it's time to go

midnights

lavender haze

maroon

anti-hero

snow on the beach

you're on your own kid

midnight rain

question...?

vigilante shit

bejeweled

labyrinth

karma

sweet nothing

mastermind

the great war

bigger than the whole sky

paris

high infidelity

glitch

would've, could've, should've

dear reader

hits different

you're losing me

the tortured poets department

fortnight

the tortured poets department

my boy only breaks his favorite toys

down bad

so long, london

but daddy i love him

fresh out the slammer

florida!!!

guilty as sin?

who’s afraid of little old me?

i can fix him (no really i can)

loml

i can do it with a broken heart

the smallest man who ever lived

the alchemy

clara bow

the black dog

imgonnagetyouback

the albatross

chloe or sam or sophia or marcus

how did it end?

so high school

i hate it here

thanK you aIMee

i look in peoples windows

the prophecy

cassandra

peter

the bolter

robin

the manuscript

[itsmyturntobeme]

Surprise Song Tracker

I couldn’t find what I was looking for so here ya go!

Taylor Swift

Tim McGraw

Picture To Burn

Teardrops On My Guitar

A Place In This World

Cold As You

The Outside

Tied Together With A Smile

Stay Beautiful

Should've Said No

Mary's Song (Oh My My My)

Our Song

I'm Only Me When I'm With You

Invisible

A Perfectly Good Heart

Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)

Mine

Sparks Fly

Back To December

Speak Now

Dear John

Mean

The Story Of Us

Never Grow Up

Enchanted

Better Than Revenge

Innocent

Haunted

Last Kiss

Long Live

Ours

If This Was A Movie

Superman

Electric Touch

When Emma Falls in Love

I Can See You

Castles Crumbling

Foolish One

Timeless

1989 (Taylor's Version)

Welcome To New York

Blank Space

Style

Out Of The Woods

All You Had To Do Was Stay

Shake It Off

I Wish You Would

Bad Blood

Wildest Dreams

How You Get The Girl

This Love

I Know Places

Clean x2

Wonderland

You Are In Love

New Romantics

Now That We Don't Talk

Suburban Legends

Slut!

Say Don't Go

Is It Over Now?

Sweeter Than Fiction

Reputation

...Ready For It?

End Game

I Did Something Bad

Don't Blame Me

Delicate

Look What You Made Me Do

So It Goes...

Gorgeous

Getaway Car x2

King Of My Heart

Dancing With Our Hands Tied

Dress

This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things

Call It What You Want

New Year's Day

Lover

I Forgot That You Existed

Cruel Summer

Lover

The Man

The Archer

I Think He Knows

Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince

Paper Rings

Cornelia Street

Death By A Thousand Cuts x2

London Boy

Soon You'll Get Better

False God

You Need To Calm Down

Afterglow

ME!

It's Nice To Have A Friend

Daylight

All of the Girls

folklore

the 1

cardigan

the last great american dynasty

exile

my tears ricochet

mirrorball

seven

august

this is me trying

illicit affairs

invisible string

mad woman

epiphany

betty

peace

hoax

the lakes

evermore

willow

champagne problems

gold rush

'tis the damn season

tolerate it

no body, no crime

happiness

dorothea

coney island

ivy

cowboy like me

long story short

marjorie

closure

evermore

right where you left me

it's time to go

Fearless (Taylor’s Version)

Fearless

Fifteen

Love Story

Hey Stephen

White Horse

You Belong With Me

Breathe

Tell Me Why

You're Not Sorry

The Way I Loved You

Forever & Always

The Best Day

Change

Jump Then Fall

Untouchable

Forever & Always (Piano Version)

Come In With The Rain

Superstar

The Other Side Of The Door 

Today Was A Fairytale 

You All Over Me

Mr. Perfectly Fine

We Were Happy

That's When

Don't You

Bye Bye Baby

Red (Taylor's Version)

State Of Grace

Red x2

Treacherous

I Knew You Were Trouble 

All Too Well 

22

I Almost Do

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

Stay Stay Stay

The Last Time

Holy Ground

Sad Beautiful Tragic

The Lucky One

Everything Has Changed

Starlight

Begin Again

The Moment I Knew

Come Back...Be Here

Girl At Home

Ronan

Better Man

Nothing New

Babe

Message In A Bottle

I Bet You Think About Me

Forever Winter

Run

The Very First Night

All Too Well (10 Minute Version)

Midnights

Lavender Haze

Maroon

Anti-Hero

Snow On The Beach

You're On Your Own, Kid

Midnight Rain

Question...?

Vigilante Shit

Bejeweled

Labyrinth

Karma

Sweet Nothing

Mastermind

Hits Different

The Great War

Bigger Than The Whole Sky

Paris

High Infidelity

Glitch

Would've, Could've, Should've

Dear Reader

You're Losing Me

TTPD

Fortnight The Tortured Poets Department My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys Down Bad So Long, London But Daddy I Love Him Fresh Out The Slammer Florida!!! Guilty As Sin? Who's Afraid Of Little Old Me? I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can) ‎loml I Can Do It With A Broken Heart The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived The Alchemy Clara Bow The Black Dog imgonnagetyouback The Albatross Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus How Did It End? So High School I Hate It Here thanK you aIMee I Look in People's Windows The Prophecy Cassandra Peter The Bolter Robin The Manuscript

OTHER

Beautiful Eyes

Beautiful Ghosts

Carolina

Crazier

Eyes Open

I Don’t Wanna Live Forever

I Heart ?

Only the Young

Safe & Sound

This is What You Came For

[ali-annals]

Chaotic Coffee Zombies- One

Masterlist Chapter Two Chapter Three

Pairing: Timari

Rating: T

CW: Mentioned off-screen character death, Tim is slightly OOC

Taglist (open): @aquilavela @ghostdoodlen @jennifer-rose123 @questioning-blob-of-fog

A/N: Happy birthday to my first bae @aquilavela!! I hope you have a wonderful year<3

~~~~~

“Kaalki, voyage! Divide! Spots off!” Marinette stumbled through the portal into her room and froze.

Oops.

“Young lady, what do you think you’re doing?”

She squared her shoulders and faced her parents. “Surprise?”

“Why didn’t you tell us?” “I couldn’t because…magic. But since I’ve just taken Hawkmoth and Mayura’s Miraculous, I guess now I can? Maman, Papa, I’m Ladybug, hero of Paris.” And Grand Guardian, she added silently, crossing her fingers behind her back.

“That’s why you were- oh, sweetie, if we’d known…” Sabine’s arms wrapped around Marinette, Tom engulfing both of them from the side. “I’m so sorry, honey. But you said you have Hawkmoth’s Miraculous?”

“I’ve settled with him,” Mari said grimly. “I don’t need to be Ladybug anymore.”

“He’s…you didn’t…”

“No, no, he’s still alive. I did punch him several times before I fixed everything, though.”

“As you should’ve,” Sabine nodded proudly. “You know we would have understood if…” she trailed off again, the whole situation making her usually chatty mother at a loss for words. “I’m sorry.”

Tikki flew out from behind Marinette’s back. “It’s not your fault for not knowing, Mme. Cheng! The Miraculous magic does a good job of keeping its wielder’s identity hidden. You should be proud of the- your daughter! She is the best Ladybug I’ve ever worked with!”

Tom and Sabine stared at the kwami in shock.

“Maman, Papa, this is Tikki, my kwami. She’s the ladybug kwami of Order, Creation, and Good Luck.”

~~~

After supper, once some of the shock wore off, Tom and Sabine had a good long talk with Marinette about the past five years. Tears and laughter were freely expressed as they were finally able to be openly emotional.

Luckily, school had just ended three days ago, so Marinette didn’t have to get up early for school. Once Nadja Chamack and Ladybug reported that Hawkmoth and Mayura were finally defeated, most of Paris shut down for the week to vent. The weeks after would be soon enough for celebration.

Mari explained the whole situation with Lila, and how Chloe and Kagami were the only friends she had left.

Now that Hawkmoth was gone, she could freely leave Paris. She still loved the city, but it had taken too much from her, and she needed a change. Tom and Sabine agreed.

“We’ll move to America,” they decided. “Your uncle Jagged is from Gotham; he’ll know good universities for you to attend.”

~~~

Jagged was ecstatic to have Mari closer to his home, and eagerly loaded her up with links and places to check out. He offered to write her letters of recommendation for whatever she wanted, confident in her abilities to pursue her dreams in any field.

A realtor friend of his found a shop with living quarters above it, like their current house, in a good part of town and for a decent price. After some renovations, it would be a dream bakery.

She could attend Gotham Academy for her Grade 12 credits and graduate in December, thanks to the way her French requirements translated to American credits.

It didn’t take the Dupain-Chengs long to pack up, sell the bakery, and fly to Gotham, New Jersey. Not a word was said to her former classmates. Only Chloe knew where Mari was, and she’d never tell. After her apology and joining of Mari’s squad, she was mostly ignored by the others. Chloe and Kagami were saddened to see their best friend leave, but knew a new environment would be more conducive to her healing and growth.

At least they had video calls and texts to keep in contact.

~~~

While the renovations were being completed, the Dupain-Cheng family shacked up at Jagged and Penny’s Gotham mansion. It was nowhere near as large as some of Gotham’s Old Elite family’s mansions, such as Wayne Manor or Drake Manor, but it was definitely sufficient for the five of them (six, counting Fang).

Mari had a lot of fun working with Jagged and Penny on his new album, both on songs and styling. She was recording background vocals for Jagged on a bonus track when her parents stopped by the built-in studio.

“Mari, you sound amazing, sweetie! I can’t wait to hear the rest of your songs! We’re going to the bakery to check on the renovations, and then have a lunch date; we should be back around two. We can bake your birthday cake with you then, if you want?”

“Sure, that sounds great. Have fun!” Mari hugged her parents quickly. “Oh, did you get the lemons for the peel garnish?”

“Oh, no, we didn’t. We’ll pick them up on our way home. Love you!”

“I love you too!”

Months later, she was glad those were the last words they shared.

“Marinette, honey?” 

She glanced up at Penny’s approach, flipping through a catalogue for inspiration for Jagged’s new suit. Why was Penny crying?

“There was a bank robbery. Your parents were helping some kids hide when…I’m so sorry, sweetie.”

Marinette didn’t want to believe it, but some intuition in her gut told her that Penny was telling the truth. She collapsed into her arms, weeping.

~~~

The next morning, Mari emerged early from her room. Though she knew she didn’t have to, she explained anyway. “I’m wearing red, not black, because it was their favourite colour on me, especially after they found out I was Ladybug. Penny, do you think it’s possible for me to have died yesterday as well? And then can I become legally emancipated? I was researching last night…this morning, I guess, and I think I’ve got things figured out. I just want you to check them to make sure they’re sound and y-you approve.”

She would not break down, dammit. She had a life figured out and she needed to follow it now.

Jagged started to speak but Penny cut him off with a warning glare. She’s coping…she’s used to bottling up her feelings…she just needs some time.

Penny took the papers and flipped through them. “This looks legally sound; you’ve put time and effort into planning this. You’re a strong, smart, talented young woman; I don’t know why you shouldn’t be emancipated.

“You do know we’d love to adopt you though, right?” Penny asked carefully. “If you’re worried about being a burden, please don’t be.”

“Yes, I know. I appreciate it, but…not now. I can’t.”

“We understand.” Penny patted her shoulder comfortingly. 

Jagged snapped out of his shock. “You’re welcome to stay here as long as you want, Mari! Pen’s right, we’d love to have you as our daughter officially, but in our hearts it doesn’t matter. We’ll sign anything you want.”

“Thanks, Aunt Penny, Uncle Jagged. I do have a few more papers for you to sign.” A thick file, carefully organized and colour-coded, slid along the breakfast table. Penny figured that Mari hadn’t slept all night; not that she could blame her. “Name change, legal emancipation, property transfer…” she flipped through the tabs. “Most of these we can get filed pretty quickly. Jagged’s friends with a judge here so we can probably get some things moving a bit quicker, too.”

“Great. Thank you.” Mari poured a mug of coffee, gulped it down in four sips, and poured another before leaving the room. Penny shivered, but figured if there was ever a time for overlooking something, it was now.

~~~

Thomas Dupain, Sabine Cheng, and Marinette Dupain-Cheng died on July 8th. On July 9th, Mara Stone was born. 

She bought the partially-renovated bakery and had it finished as a studio/sewing shop, with the top level furnished as MDC’s headquarters.

Mara decided that since she had a new name, future, and school, she’d change everything. Chloe, Kagami, and Penny (and sometimes even Jagged) went on shopping trips, helping her furnish her new living and working quarters and replenish her much-picked-over closet.

For a girl’s date, Kagami and Chloe dragged Mara to a spa, where she was transformed.

Her waist-length blue-black hair was chopped down to a stylish bob, the white-tipped ends just brushing her chin. Her bangs had grown out over the past couple months and now simply added layers to frame her face.

Her closet was now more befitting of a fashion designer, departing from her white, pink, and grey, and containing reds, blacks, blues, and a multitude of colours.

Courtesy of Chloe, she could now walk in heels without tripping, which, when heels became a staple in her wardrobe, added several inches to Mara’s stature.

Jagged and Penny often spent weekends driving to the beach for Marinette to practice swimming and attempt to face her fears from Syren. She was soon swimming like a duck and gained a nice tan for the first time in a while, a light spray of freckles blossoming over her cheeks and shoulders.

For the entire summer, Mara stayed away from anything Ladybug-related, beyond feeding the kwami.

But once the school year was just around the corner, she pulled out the Miracle Box from the depths of her closet. 

She wanted to rotate the kwami, so they could each have turns being out of the box. If the Bats let her, she wanted to join them on their patrols sometimes. Maybe they would introduce her to Wonder Woman, who could introduce her to Hippolyta. 

How to get their attention was the question…

Ideas filled her head as she walked home, her arms full of fabric to work on Jagged’s upcoming tour outfits, as well as hers and Penny’s– plus the spiffing up she wanted to achieve for her Gotham Academy uniform.

“Gimme yer money, lady.” A gun was shoved in her face from the dark alley. 

“Sorry, I spent it all on fabric,” she replied cheerily, nodding at the bolts in her arms, preparing to kick the robber’s gun hand.

Robin swooped down, punching the man into incapacitation.

Plan D it is!

“Oh monsieur, merci beaucoup! Vous m'avez sauvé la vie!” Mara gushed, playing the part of helpless, frightened tourist to perfection. Hugging a shocked Robin and air-kissing his cheeks, she slipped a tracker on his utility belt, underneath a compartment, where she hoped it wouldn’t be immediately found. 

“Ma’am, you shouldn’t be out alone so late.”

“Oui, oui,” she nodded shakily. “I was shopping and ah– how to say– lost the time,” she laughed self-deprecatingly, shrugging her shoulders. “Merci beaucoup.”

With a wave, she headed back in the direction she came from, just in case he decided to follow her. Luckily, he seemed to be called somewhere and left after watching her turn the corner to the more populated Diamond District. 

Once she was sure there was no tail on her, she ducked through the streets and back lanes until she reached Miracle Designs, her shop. She didn’t want to be known as MDC here yet. After she graduated and had time to handle large orders, then she planned to announce her identity.

Mara stored her fabrics on their appropriate shelves, locked up, and portalled back to her room in Stone Manor. Why all the Gotham Elite’s houses were [surname] Manor, she wasn’t sure, but she thought they deserved more creativity if they were going to go to the trouble of naming their houses.

After supper, she helped wash the dishes, then told Jagged and Penny she was transforming and going out for a bit.

Pulling out the receiver for her tracker, she saw that its last signal originated from a house just down the road…Wayne Manor.

Ha! She was right! 

She’d suspected the Waynes were the Bats for a while now. They had excuses, alibis, even Bruce Wayne and Batman in the same place at the same time. The public were convinced there was no way the Bats were the Waynes, except for a handful of hard-core conspiracy theorists.

But as someone who had a secret identity and access to magic, she knew how easy it was to create excuses and body doubles. If the Bats were really as smart as they seemed to be, it would be a piece of cake for them to keep their two personas separate. Especially if they had access to alien tech via the Justice League and were filthy rich, with access to elite tech and disguises.

Martian Manhunter was a shapeshifter, was he not? It would be easy enough for him to impersonate either Bruce or Batman, especially since he worked with the Bats. Trixx had done an excellent job of illusioning Marinette and Ladybug talking to each other before- it wasn’t that hard.

“Kaalki, voyage!”

Mare portalled into the Batcave, internally fangirling just a tiny bit. It is real!!!

She stepped around the corner, hands up. “I wish to speak to Batman.”

“How did you get in here?” Gotham’s Dark Knight asked, hand on a Batarang.

“I made a portal. Have you heard about Paris?” “What about it?”

Mare explained the situation from the past five years, ending with her retirement as Ladybug. By then the entire Batclan had gathered and were listening in shock at what had transpired, things they had no idea about.

“We never heard a word about that.”

“So, which…Miraculous are you using, and what’s your vigilante name?”

“The horse. It creates portals. My name is Mare.” Mara had specifically chosen Mare as her name, since it sounded similar to her civilian name and she could brush off an accidental reply to the wrong name.

“Let’s spar and see how you do,” grunted the Bat. “I’m not putting someone in danger under my mantle.”

Violent coughing sounded from the cluster of Bats behind him, which he ignored.

“You pass,” nodded Batman approvingly. 

Yes! All her training paid off!

“You can join us when you wish, as long as you give us a heads up. Oracle will give you a comm so you can connect to our channels so no mishaps occur.”

“Was that you or your Miraculous?” asked Robin. 

“My Miraculous suits protect my body and give me power-ups and magical abilities, but I have to call upon them to use them. My fighting skills are all me, Bird Boy.”

Robin’s jaw dropped. “Bird Boy?!”

Mara wondered if maybe she shouldn’t possibly insult her new coworkers and boss’s son(?) before she’d even officially joined the team, but her worry was allayed a moment later.

“You even screech like one!” cackled Red Hood, pointing at Robin derisively. The Bats quickly descended into anarchy.

It made a little ache appear in Mara’s heart and she absently rubbed at her chest. She missed her old friends and team at times like these, even if they’d outgrown each other long ago. “Voyage.” In the chaos, she escaped to her room, where she cried into a pillow.

~~~

Miracle Designs was decorated in creams and neutrals, with pops of colour dotted around, creating a rainbow for Mara to live and work in. The kwami had had a hand in decorating and deciding what things would look like, and now everyone was happy with their new living situation.

Gotham Academy was a twelve-minute walk from MD; a nice stroll most days. Penny had completed the enrollment signings and picked up her uniforms the week previous; now the only thing that remained was actually attending the academy.

Occupied with creating the Stones’ tour outfits, revamping her own wardrobe and uniforms, and adapting to life on her own, Mara was far too busy to accommodate commissions at that time. MDC’s website asked for her clients’ patience while she settled in North America, much to one Tim Drake-Wayne’s sadness.

~~~

Mara woke bright and early, having had a good sleep for a change. Still, she needed her coffee. On her first week in Gotham, she discovered a lovely coffee shop that sold an amazing blend of energy– Goth Bean, it was called.

She threw on her uniform and headed down the street to Goth Bean. Luckily, it was on her way to the Academy. She requested her usual order, the barista growing ever more concerned that there were two coffee zombies in this city (or as she called them, combies).

Mara Stone strolled into school unnoticed and slid into an empty seat in her first class. Picking a boy to attempt to befriend–he looked like he needed her coffee more than her– she turned to the tired boy she sat beside. “Macaron? I have some gluten-free ones, if you prefer. I’m Mara Stone, by the way.”

She’d cried all the night before as she made the macarons, the first and last year she made them alone before her first day of school.

“Thanks. Tim Drake.” He took one, sniffing it cautiously. “These smell as good as Alfred’s!”

“Is that a compliment?” she asked teasingly, handing him her coffee.

He looked at it, then her, perplexed.

She shrugged. “I drank half, but you look like you need the remainder more. Don’t worry, it’s not poisoned or whatever. Neither are the cookies, by the way.”

“Thanks.” He still looked at her suspiciously, but chugged the coffee anyway. “And yes, that’s a compliment. Alfred makes the best cookies…I think you should have a bake off. I can judge.”

Marinette snickered, ducking her head when the teacher entered the classroom.

Maybe she could make some new friends after all.

She found herself in classes with Tim all day, except for one period. Compared to Europe’s curriculum, the classes were a breeze (though they would’ve been harder if she hadn’t studied English until she was fluent in it.)

She noticed Tim also whipped through the work, completing most of the homework in class; it turned into a friendly competition. Although, noting the glint in Tim’s eye, she second-guessed the friendly part of the competition.

Their teachers noticed, groaned inwardly, and wondered what they’d done to deserve having Tim Drake in their class, together with the new student, and apparently in academic rivalry.

However, the new girl did keep the Wayne kid from taking over the classes somewhat, so maybe this wasn’t all bad…

The first half of their classes were spent doing the work and quietly heckling each other, the second half mocking the curriculum and planning ways to better teach the school (their hypothetical students would hate them unless they were also certified geniuses).

The other students found Mara nice, especially when she distributed cookies; she was also found terrifying, especially since she got along too well with Tim Drake!

The third day of school found the two coffee addicts pairing up to work on a project. 

“I’d offer to go to my house, but my brothers are…extreme. Can we go to yours, or somewhere like a coffee shop, instead?”

“Sure, my place is fine. Leave now?”

“Sounds good.”

They walked to MD, Mari taking him in the back way so that her designs wouldn’t be seen or disturbed. “This is me!” she said brightly, changing from her kitten heels to her house slippers.

“Nice place,” agreed Tim, looking around. “Is that- do you have two Keurigs?”

“Yep, I need them a lot. Do you want some of my magical energy brew? You look a bit sleepy.”

“Sure; what’s in it?”

“Trade secret,” she winked. “Want to spead the work on the table over there while I make it?”

“Sure. What were you thinking for the format?”

“Wow, this is a magic energy boost! I love coffee,” sighed Tim.

“Thanks, I added a little extra just for you.” It’ll help keep you safer.

~~~

“Whatcha lookin’ at, Timmers?” Jason flopped over his chair, twisting unnaturally to see the screen.

“Move, Jason. You’re heavy. I’m looking up a classmate; she’s new and I need to confirm she isn’t a threat.”

“Boring.” Jason left to find Dick to bug.

[ Mara Stone

07/09/2006 (17)

AFAB

College Francois Dupont  Paris, France

GPA: 4.0

Class President (Raised $30,000 USD via various fundraisers and events)

Note: Parents recently deceased; legally emancipated ]

Hmm…interesting.

~~~

“Hey, Mara. You finished the project?” Tim slid into “his” seat beside her, sliding a to-go cup from Goth Bean across the desk.

“Yep, you?” She gulped the cup in twenty seconds, impressing and worrying Tim.

“Are you okay?”

“Of course! Why not? I was just up late working on some art.”

“Uh huh. Late being another definition of all night?”

“Like you’re one to talk,” she sniffed. “I do it all the time; I’m fine.”

“What type of art?” TIm ignored the truth Mara pointed out.

“An outfit for my uncle. I design clothes for him and my aunt sometimes.”

“Oh cool. So you’re into fashion?”

“Yep. I like to design and make clothes. My ex-friend was a model for his dad actually; it’s kind of funny. I guess birds of a feather flock together.”

Tim looked at her, then back at the board. “Who’s your favourite designer? Mine’s MDC– I dunno if you’ve heard of them– they’re still pretty niche, but they put so much attention to detail into their works. I’ve been trying to commission them forever but they haven’t been open in ages,” he moaned into the desk, missing Mara’s double take and choke on her coffee.

“I don’t have a favourite designer currently, but I do agree with you MDC has some nice work.”

“Nice work? I’m offended on behalf of MDC. They put so much work into all their designs!”

Mara sunk into her seat more and more as Tim defended her alter ego to her face.

Tim’s mental file on Mara gained several more notes.

[ Name: Mara Stone

Age: 17

Birthday: 07/09/2006

Birthplace: Paris, France

Notes: 

Caffeine addict (Insomniac)

Legally emancipated

Ex-friend is a model

Ex-friend’s family is into fashion

Has bad blood with exes

Is into fashion

Is indifferent to MDC! ]

~~~

[enchantedalexia]

Songs Taylor Hasn’t Performed on The Eras Tour *complete edition* *updated each night

Debut

tim mcgraw, picture to burn, teardrops on my guitar, a place in this world, cold as you, the outside, tied together with a smile, stay beautiful, should’ve said no, mary’s song oh my my, our song, i’m only me when i’m with you, invisible, a perfectly good heart

Fearless Taylor’s Version

fearless, fifteen, love story, hey stephen, white horse, you belong with me, breathe, tell me why, you’re not sorry, the way i loved you, forever and always, the best day, change, jump then fall, untouchable, come in with the rain, superstar, the other side of the door, today was a fairytale, you all over me, mr perfectly fine, we were happy, that’s when, don’t you, bye bye baby

Speak Now Taylor’s Version

mine, sparks fly, back to december, speak now, dear john, mean, the story of us, never grow up, enchanted, better than revenge, innocent, haunted, last kiss, long live, ours, superman, electric touch, when emma falls in love, i can see you, castles crumbling, foolish one, timeless

Red Taylor’s Version

state of grace, red, treacherous, i knew you were trouble, all too well, 22, i almost do, we are never ever getting back together, stay stay stay, the last time, holy ground, sad beautiful tragic, the lucky one, everything has changed, starlight, begin again, the moment i knew, come back.. be here, girl at home, ronan, better man, nothing new, babe, message in a bottle, i bet you think about me, forever winter, run, the very first night, all too well 10

1989 Taylor’s Version

welcome to new york, blank space, style, out of the woods, all you had to do was stay, shake it off, i wish you would, bad blood, wildest dreams, how you get the girl, this love, i know places, clean, wonderland, you are in love, new romantics, “slut!”, say don’t go, now that we don’t talk, suburban legends, is it over now?, sweeter than fiction

reputation

ready for it?, end game, i did something bad, don’t blame me, delicate, look what you made me do, so it goes, gorgeous, getaway car, king of my heart, dancing with our hands tied, dress, this is why we can’t have nice things, call it what you want, new year’s day

Lover

i forgot that you existed, cruel summer, lover, the man, the archer, i think he knows, miss americana and the heartbreak prince, paper rings, cornelia street, death by a thousand cuts, london boy, soon you’ll get better, false god, you need to calm down, afterglow, me!, it’s nice to have a friend, daylight

folklore

the 1, cardigan, the last great american dynasty, exile, my tears ricochet, mirrorball, seven, august, this is me trying, illicit affairs, invisible string, mad woman, epiphany, betty, peace, hoax, the lakes

evermore

willow, champagne problems, gold rush, tis the damn season, tolerate it, no body no crime, happiness, dorothea, coney island , ivy, cowboy like me, long story short, majorie, closure, evermore, right where you left me, it’s time to go

Midnights

lavender haze, maroon, anti-hero, snow on the beach, you’re on your own kid, midnight rain, question…?, vigilante shit, bejeweled, labyrinth, karma, sweet nothing, mastermind, the great war, bigger than whole sky, paris, high infidelity, glitch, would’ve could’ve should’ve, dear reader, hits different, karma feat ice spice, you’re losing me

The Tortured Poets Department

fortnight, the tortured poets department, my boy only breaks his favorite toys, down bad, so long london, but daddy i love him, fresh out of the slammer, florida!!!, guilty as sin?, who’s afraid of little old me?, i can fix him (no really i can), loml, i can do it with a broken heart, the smallest man who ever lived, the alchemy, clara bow, the black dog, imgonnagetyouback, the albatross, chloe or sam or sophia or marcus, how did it end?, so high school, i hate it here, thanK you aIMee, i look in people’s windows, the prophecy, cassandra, peter, the bolter, robin, the manuscript

Singles

crazier, this is what you came for, i don’t wanna live forever, christmas tree farm, only the young, renegade, carolina, all of the girls you loved before, if this was a movie, safe and sound, eyes open, us.

Other Artists’ Songs

I Miss You I’m Sorry with Gracie Abrams, Thinking Out Loud with Ed Sheeran, espresso with Sabrina Carpenter, Please Please Please with Sabrina Carpenter

Bold- on the setlist

Italicized- on the setlist for a brief time

Crossed out- surprise song

Crossed out and purple- repeated surprise song

Crossed out and blue- twice repeated surprise song

Crossed out and pink- thrice repeated surprise song

crossed out and green- repeated more than three times surprise song

song in mashup- red

[galindathrop]

Eras Tour Setlist and Surprise/Secret Songs (as of May 12, 2024)

Taylor Swift

Tim McGraw - March 17 and March 9 (Mashup w/ Cowboy Like Me)

Picture to Burn - July 14

Teardrops on My Guitar - May 5 and February 18

A Place in this World - April 22

Cold as You - April 23

The Outside - February 9

Tied Together with a Smile - July 23

Stay Beautiful - November 17

Should’ve Said No - May 19, February 24 (Mashup w/ You're Not Sorry)

Mary’s Song

Our Song - March 24, August 4

I’m Only Me When I’m with You - June 30

Invisible - May 20

A Perfectly Good Heart

Fearless (Taylor’s Version)

Fearless

Fifteen - May 6 and March 7 (Mashup w/ You're On Your Own, Kid)

Love Story

Hey Stephen - May 14 and May 11

White Horse - March 25, February 23 (Mashup w/ Coney Island, w/ Sabrina Carpenter)

You Belong With Me

Breathe (feat. Colbie Callait) - June 10

Tell Me Why - August 25, March 4 (Mashup w/ Foolish One)

You’re Not Sorry - April 21, February 24 (Mashup w/ Should've Said No)

The Way I Loved You

Forever & Always - May 13, February 26 (Mashup w/ Maroon)

The Best Day - May 14

Change

Jump Then Fall - April 2

Untouchable - November 25

Come In with the Rain - February 10

Superstar

The Other Side of the Door - April 28 and February 17 (Mashup w/ Getaway Car and August)

Today Was a Fairytale - April 22

You All Over Me (feat. Maureen Morris) - June 3

Mr. Perfectly Fine - June 16

We Were Happy

That’s When (feat. Keith Urban)

Don’t You

Bye Bye Baby

If This Was a Movie - June 23

Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)

Mine - May 7, March 2 (Mashup w/ Starlight)

Sparks Fly - May 5 and March 8 (Mashup w/ Gold Rush)

Back to December - July 15

Speak Now - April 13

Dear John - June 24

Mean - April 15

The Story of Us - June 17, March 3 (Mashup w/ Long Story Short)

Never Grow Up - July 7

Enchanted

Better than Revenge - November 12

Innocent - November 24

Haunted - June 9, February 25 (Mashup w/ Exile)

Last Kiss - July 8

Long Live (added to 2023 setlist following release of Speak Now Taylor's Version)

Ours - March 31

Superman - February 9

Electric Touch (featuring Fall Out Boy) - February 8

When Emma Falls in Love - July 7

I Can See You (music video released to concertgoers on July 7 and online on July 8) - August 3

Castles Crumbling (featuring Hayley Williams) - July 28

Foolish One - March 4 (Mashup w/ Tell Me Why)

Timeless - July 14

Red (Taylor’s Version)

State of Grace - March 18

Red - May 21 (Performed on Guitar instead of Piano due to rain damage from May 20), February 16

Treacherous - April 13 and May 12 (Mashup w/ The Alchemy)

I Knew You Were Trouble

22

I Almost Do - June 9

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

Stay Stay Stay - July 29

The Last Time (featuring Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol) - June 16

Holy Ground - May 27 and February 7

Sad Beautiful Tragic - March 31

The Lucky One - April 2

Everything Has Changed (featuring Ed Sheeran) - July 22

Starlight - July 15, March 2 (Mashup w/ Mine)

Begin Again - April 23 and May 12 (Mashup w/ Paris)

The Moment I Knew - June 4

Come Back… Be Here - May 12 and February 18 (Mashup w/ Daylight)

Girl at Home

Ronan

Better Man - May 19

Nothing New (featuring Phoebe Bridgers) (added to the setlist on May 5, only to be performed when Phoebe Bridgers is one of the opening acts.)

Babe - March 4 (Mashup w/ Death By A Thousand Cuts)

Message in a Bottle - July 23

I Bet You Think About Me (featuring Chris Stapleton) - April 30

Forever Winter

Run (featuring Ed Sheeran)

The Very First Night - November 9

All Too Well (10 Minute Version)

Eyes Open - February 8

Safe and Sound - November 25

1989 (Taylor’s Version)

Welcome to New York - May 28

Blank Space

Style

Out of the Woods - May 6, November 11 (Mashup w/ Is It Over Now?), and May 10 (Mashup w/ Is It Over Now?)

All You Had to Do Was Stay - June 10

Shake It Off

I Wish You Would - June 2, February 25 (Mashup w/ Is It Over Now?)

Bad Blood

Wildest Dreams

How You Get the Girl - April 30, February 23

This Love - May 13 and March 4 (Mashup w/ Call It What You Want)

I Know Places - August 8

Clean - April 1, May 28. March 3 (Mashup w/ Evermore)

Wonderland - April 21

You Are in Love - August 4

New Romantics - August 9

"Slut!" - November 12 and March 8 (Mashup w/ False God)

Say Don't Go - November 26

Now That We Don't Talk - November 24

Suburban Legends - November 17

Is It Over Now? - November 11 (mashup w/ Out of the Woods), February 25 (Mashup w/ I Wish You Would) and May 10 (Mashup w/ Out of the Woods)

Sweeter Than Fiction

Reputation

…Ready for It?

End Game (featuring Ed Sheeran and Future) - November 11

I Did Something Bad

Don’t Blame Me

Delicate

Look What You Made Me Do

So It Goes… - November 20

Gorgeous - April 29

Getaway Car - May 26 (w/ Jack Antonoff) and February 17 (Mashup with August and The Other Side Of The Door)

King of My Heart - August 8

Dancing with Our Hands Tied - November 19

Dress - August 23, March 2 (Mashup w/ I Don't Want to Live Forever

This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things - July 22

Call It What You Want - July 1 and March 4 (Mashup w/ This Love)

New Year’s Day - August 9, February 24 (Mashup w/ Peace)

I Don’t Want to Live Forever - June 3, March 2 (Mashup w/ Dress)

Lover

I Forgot That You Existed - August 24

Cruel Summer

Lover

The Man

The Archer (2023 Setlist)

I Think He Knows - May 21

Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince

Paper Rings - June 23

Cornelia Street - August 26

Death by a Thousand Cuts - April 1, August 5, and March 7 (Mashup w/ Babe)

London Boy

Soon You’ll Get Better (featuring The Chicks)

False God - May 27 and March 8 (Mashup w/ "Slut!")

You Need to Calm Down

Afterglow - August 27

Me! (feat. Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco) - November 20

It’s Nice to Have a Friend

Daylight - June 24 and February 18 (Mashup w/ Come Back... Be Here)

Beautiful Ghosts

Only the Young

All of the Girls You Loved Before - July 29

Folklore

The 1 (2023 Setlist)

Cardigan

The Last Great American Dynasty

Exile (featuring Bon Iver) - August 23, February 25 (Mashup w/ Haunted)

My Tears Ricochet

Mirrorball - March 17 and March 9 (Mashup w/ Epiphany)

Seven (spoken transition part of setlist) - June 17 (w/ Aaron Dessner)

August - February 17 (Mashup w/ Getaway Car and The Other Side Of The Door)

This Is Me Trying - March 18 and February 17

Illicit Affairs

Invisible String (2023 Setlist)

Mad Woman - April 15 (w/ Aaron Dessner)

Epiphany - March 9 (Mashup w/ Mirrorball)

Betty

Peace - February 24 (Mashup w/ New Years Day)

Hoax

The Lakes - June 2

Evermore

Willow

Champagne Problems

Gold Rush - May 12 and March 8 (Mashup w/ Sparks Fly)

‘Tis the Damn Season (2023 Setlist)

Tolerate It (2023 Setlist)

No Body, No Crime (feat. Haim)

Happiness

Dorothea - July 8

Coney Island (feat. the National) - April 28, February 23 (Mashup w/ White Horse, w/ Sabrina Carpenter)

Ivy - July 1 (w/ Aaron Dessner), February 26 (Mashup w/ Would've, Could've, Should've)

Cowboy Like Me - March 25 (w/ Marcus Mumford) and March 9 (Mashup w/ Tim McGraw)

Long Story Short - March 3 (Mashup w/ The Story of Us)

Marjorie

Closure

Evermore (feat. Bon Iver) - June 30, March 3 (Mashup w/ Clean)

Right Where You Left Me - July 28 (w/ Aaron Dessner)

It’s Time to Go

Midnights

Lavender Haze

Maroon - May 26, August 3, August 27, February 26 (Mashup w/ Forever and Always), May 11

Anti-Hero

Snow on the Beach (feat. Lana Del Rey) - March 24 and August 25

You’re on Your Own, Kid - April 14, August 5, August 26, February 10

Midnight Rain

Question…? - May 20

Vigilante Shit

Bejeweled

Labyrinth - November 9

Karma

Sweet Nothing - August 24

Mastermind

The Great War (w/ Aaron Dessner) - April 14

Bigger Than the Whole Sky - November 19

Paris - May 9 and May 12 (Mashup w/ Begin Again)

High Infidelity - April 29

Glitch

Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve - May 7 (w/ Aaron Dessner), February 26 (Mashup w/ Ivy)

Dear Reader - February 7

Hits Different - June 4

Karma (featuring Ice Spice)

You’re Losing Me (From the Vault) - February 16

The Tortured Poets Department

Fortnight (featuring Post Malone)

The Tortured Poets Department

My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys - May 10

Down Bad

So Long, London

But Daddy I Love Him

Fresh Out the Slammer

Florida!!! (featuring Florence and the Machine)

Guilty as Sin?

Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?

I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)

Loml - May 9

I Can Do It with a Broken Heart

The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived

The Alchemy - May 12 (Mashup w/ Treacherous)

Clara Bow

The Black Dog

Imgonnagetyouback

The Albatross

Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus

How Did It End?

So High School

I Hate It Here

Thank You Aimee

I Look in People's Windows

The Prophecy

Cassandra

Peter

The Bolter

Robin

The Manuscript

[greetingfromthedead]

C64: Journey to December

For more information on the series (tags, CW, etc) click the banner!

Series Rating: 18+ / Explicit

Chapter: 64/84

Words: 1.8k

No particular warnings for this chapter.

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You set out the same afternoon after making sure you have all the supplies you need. Reaching December will take a while, but you get to check out the other villages and towns in the meantime. Maybe someone has more hints about what is going on.

"What do you know about December?" you ask Vash when you're far enough away.

"Well, the ship it's built on got very lucky during the Big Fall; it landed nearly completely parallel, leaving most of it in tact. Most plants and people survived, and it has always been the biggest city since the beginning. It has the strongest military force, bigger even than July; they named themselves the rule of the law, they enforce the decisions of the Seven United Cities Government. They have the largest collection of cosmic weapons; they were able to salvage a lot from their ship after the fall." Vash looks deep in thought as he lists what comes to mind.

"Yeah, I think I heard about all that, but I've never been there myself," you answer.

"I've also heard some rumors that despite the strong military presence, there's an underground organization basically taunting the December forces. I don't know much about them, but I think we will find the Snatchers there, or at least they are connected. If the rumors are true, of course. Who would do something like this..." Vash's sad voice trails off, and you look at him.

"Hey, we'll get to the bottom of this. We will do all that we can. Alright?" You smile at him, hoping to take away at least a tiny piece of his burden.

"Thank you," he says, looking over to you again. "I appreciate you sticking by me."

"You won't get rid of me that easy," you laugh. "I will fight every fight, no matter how bad things may seem."

You travel through a few more villages, and as before, everything seems almost cheery on the surface. The people are kind; the women and elderly are going on with their day, some carrying weapons but nothing unusual. There are fewer men around, and those who are there send suspicious glances your way. The children seem as happy as ever playing catch or ball on the streets. You try to get more information out of the people about the kidnappings, but neither you nor Vash turn up any new and relevant details on how to find the people.

You don't get very far in the hours you move. Darkness has overtaken the land before you find a rocky spot to set up camp at. Things go as you're used to: Vash sets up camp and puts on some food while you settle the birds, give them food and water, take off the gear, and give them some attention. As you work, you look over to Vash; his glasses are pushed up onto his hair as he sets up the little gas burner. The sight of him brings a smile to your lips, even the simplest of things he does with purpose. He can be a bumbling idiot, running around town with tears and snot running down his face, but there is so much more to him, and you're lucky to be able to see it all up close.

Vash senses your gaze and turns to look at you. His eyes narrow in a smile as he gives you a little wave with his prosthetic. You're about to wave back, when your attention returns to the toma, due to Vash's snapping at a little flying worm by your head and then eating it up.

"Good girl!" you praise the bird, giving her another pat. The toma makes little noises at you, and you are reminded how Vash's bird has always liked you a lot. You give her a few more pats before going to Vash.

"And here's my good girl!" He says it with a smile as you sit down beside him. You give his earring an ever so light tug as a mark on him listening in on you. It pulls a laugh from him, and he gives your cheek a kiss. The smell of gunpowder reaches your nose, and while he is always associated with it on top of his regular scent, today it is very strong, reminding you just how desperate the people in this area are.

"I have a feeling we're walking into something even more serious than we might realize," you think out loud as you settle in more comfortably.

"Yeah... human trafficking has always been an awful underlying issue on the planet since the beginning that nobody has been able to truly eradicate, but I have never heard of it being this bad before. Whole villages are being abandoned because of the relentless attacks." His voice is somber as he pokes the stew in the little pot.

"How can the December government let this happen right under their nose?" you ponder.

"They say it simply runs too deep, the underworld is too powerful, and it plainly buys off everyone coming after them, but there might be a more sinister reason for it..."

"You're saying the December government might be connected to it?"

"I hope not."

"Our priority should be to rescue the people and sever the link between the human traffickers; we can't take on the whole of the December underworld. Not without casualties." You know the reality of things, but you're not so sure Vash does. His unwavering moral compass sometimes makes him more reckless than heroic. You know it's a slippery path; if he bites off more than the two of you can chew, then it just means that more people will get hurt.

"But if nobody does anything, it will happen again." His eyes are nailed to the pot.

"I know, but we can't be everywhere at once, and the people who have been kidnapped are traumatized enough, we can't allow anything more to happen to them. One step at a time."

"I know that you're right, but I don't know how to stop," he sighs. "I can't leave anyone in a tight spot."

"You need to realize how many lives you can carry without spilling and operate in the means of that. You can't save the whole world on your own; not even I alone can help you carry that burden. It takes a village. You need to let people help you, but until then, you'll do the greatest good by operating within your means. Still, I know you better than that... I know you will always put yourself on the line first."

"I'm sorry..." he says, leaning his chin onto the knee he has pulled up against his chest.

"You don't need to be sorry for that, Red," you say, leaning your head against his shoulder. "I know you well enough to have accepted it. I'll drag you out if need be."

"Thanks, Sweet Pea." You hear the smile in his voice.

"I'm on your team, Sprout," you say lightly, "whatever it takes. You aren't alone."

He looks over to you, and his eyes reflect a mixture of feelings. Sadness, happiness, guilt, and love are all in his gaze. Vash feels so fortunate to have you; his heart is lighter than ever. You bring peace; he isn't alone anymore; he has someone he can trust with everything; you will have his back; you understand him. You believe in him. But there is fear in him that he might push you too far, that you won't be there forever, and that he will cause you pain.

He takes the little pot from the fire and turns off the burner. Having his hand free again, he straightens his back so he can put his arm around you, the other still resting on his pulled-up knee.

Days pass and the eeriness grows; the villages get more sparse, and every third one is abandoned or has only a few lonely people left—they have been hit by bandits and plunderers, and many homes have been torn apart. The people get more reluctant to talk to you, the closer to December you get. You don't happen upon anything—no ruffians, no kidnappers, no suspicious cars. It makes you feel uneasy, and Vash shares that feeling. Sometimes you stay in abandoned houses, trying to leave them better than you found them, and sometimes you camp out in the desert.

You considered taking the steamer until you discovered that even a Humpback won't go through this area and takes a different path, avoiding the villages and little towns completely. This confirms for you that the governments of November, December, and July are aware of the problem, but try to pretend that there is nothing wrong. It makes you feel sick—the negligence, the disregard for human life.

You reach the next little village after dark. The lights called you there from afar, but when you arrive, you see it has been abandoned just like the rest; only a windmill is left still spinning, producing electricity for lights nobody needs. You get off the bird to take a better look. There is no doubt that it's not just a sleepy village; you hear nothing and see no sign of people. Furniture has been thrown out into the streets; rooms in the houses have been smashed apart and raided for what little was left.

"We should stay the night here, probably; it's very late," Vash comments as he too comes off his bird. "We're just a few days away now. Yet we still haven't found out much more detail about what is going on or where to find them."

"Yeah," you sigh, "I'm surprised. Considering how bad the issue is, how come we haven't seen them or haven't heard about them?"

"I'm not sure, but I hope it means that the people have been safe too; perhaps it means they haven't come anymore," Vash speaks as he checks out the houses, looking for a fitting one.

"I think that might be hopeful thinking. Maybe they've decided this area has become too wary of them and have picked a different direction to go in," you ponder.

"This might very well be, but I hope the news is better." He sounds so sad and disappointed.

Over the sounds of the windmill and Vash's voice, you suddenly pick up a low rumbling. Your head turns, and your eyes start searching for the source. It comes from somewhere far away. Vash notices your distraction and looks at you for a moment before following your gaze to notice the headlights heading towards the village.

"Who do you suppose those belong to?" You ask quietly, as if the car from far away could hear you in some way.

"If they're coming here, then we will find out soon." Vash shrugs and takes your bird from you. "We might want to get them somewhere safe, just in case."

"Yes, you're right," you nod, eyes still trained on the distant lights when Vash walks off with the toma.

Author's Note: I realized too late the error in Studio Orange's promotional material about the cities (intentional on their part or not) and wrote with the understanding that December is rumored to have a dark underworld, but actually it's September. I had gotten too far at that point and fixing it would have been too much work so I left it as is.

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