#i will not shut up about this song

[definitelynotdamiano]

Damiano's instagram, 10.02.2025

Call me when he breaks your heart Next Summer 🌻

[jupitercl0uds]

hey gurl wanna listen to a love song as i drive you through this road notorious for crashes???😍

[kaleidoscopiccc]

oh you hate musicals? oh so youre allergic to all fun and whimsy then? youre against all joy and giddiness brought in front of you huh? you just hate any and all happiness and silly times dont you?

[eeviaylxix]

achilles: so you're telling me... you didn't go on a rage-induced murder spree after your boyfriend died in battle?

hamilton: ...no?

achilles:

hamilton: are you okay??

[slothxio]

Mr. Jayce “I love my wives” Talis

[rasb7rry]

love you till the day that I die ♡

[fellkyd]

Would you fall in love with me again

If you knew all I've done?

The things I can't undo

I am not the man you knew

I know that you've been waiting, waiting

I will fall in love with you over and over again

I don't care how, where, or when

No matter how long it's been, you're mine

Don't tell me you're not the same person

You're always my husband and I've been waiting, waiting

[thespianwordnerd]

"We need more queer period dramas-" "we need more shows about lesbians that aren't in their teens or early twenties-" "we need more queer shows with happy endings-" "we need more well written sapphic shows with a plot-" "we need more queer shows with an overall funny and joyful tone-" "we need sapphic shows with better acting and directing-" "we need more shows about lesser known queer historical figures-" "we need more sapphic shows that really feel like they're made for sapphics-" Gentleman Jack. The show you're looking for is Gentleman Jack.

[rin-sith]

I love. LOVE. Get In the Water

It's one of the objectively best songs in the musical; I will die on this hill.

Poseidon was always, despite being pretty much the main antagonist of EPIC, a really underdeveloped character in my opinion. He just needed a little more nuance, and the fact that one (+ kind of one more) song managed to add so much to his characterization pretty much exclusively through subtext and implications is incredibly impressive writing. Because it did!

At the start, he's yet again playing games with Odysseus, the way he did in Ruthlessness. In both songs, he could kill him easily at any point, yet he chooses not to for the sake of playing games. In Ruthlessness, this becomes his own hubris as it leads to Odysseus escaping.

If you listen closely, at the start of GITW he already sounds slightly different. He's still trying to keep up this "God of Ruthlessness" front that he's so proud of, but he's no longer more or less carefree the way he was in Ruthlessness. He's been obsessing over this feud for ten years, and even if he would never admit it, it's actually clear just from his voice that he really is tired of it too. Not in the sense of it emotionally draining him the way it probably does Odysseus, but in the sense that it's a bother, a loose end in his life, a book that he finally wants to slam shut.

But he still has a reputation to uphold, and he still cannot close this book until Odysseus is dead, so he keeps up the game. Instead of just killing him, he's taunting him to kill himself. He might associate the idea of just striking him down with a sort of loss, like then he'd have to get his hands dirty. Then he's rambling about killing his people, his family. He's provoking Odysseus on purpose, likely trying to get him to snap back, to hate and fear him the way that Poseidon would think any mortal who has consumed this much of his time should. In his eyes, Odysseus deserves nothing less than to curse him with his last breath as his "darkest moment," the god who became the bane of his life.

And Odysseus replies, of all things, with ... sympathy.

Honestly, I don't blame Poseidon for being speechless for three full seconds. He literally just threatened to gauge Telemachus' eyes out the way Odysseus did with Polyphemus, and this absolute madlad of a man replies with an acknowledgment that he (might have) caused Poseidon pain too.

Now, I don't really think Poseidon was particularly hurt over Polyphemus' loss, or hurting in any way in that moment (if he were, I highly doubt he'd still be playing games, and he would've mentioned his son as opposed to speaking about his reputation.) But just the fact that Odysseus acknowledges that he might be hurting too is probably something Poseidon hasn't heard in ... who knows how long? His family is the Olympians. I don't think I have to say more.

It's actually more of a genuine apology than Odysseus' explanation in Ruthlessness ... (even though that was also a perfectly fine apology by Greek standards, as far as I'm aware.) Now he doesn't say "sorry" because he's still not sorry for hurting Polyphemus, since he still needed to do that in order to escape. But he expresses regret over the pain he caused in a more genuine way than ever.

I am convinced that Poseidon is utterly unfamiliar with sympathy or mercy. He's lived by his "Ruthlessness is mercy" motto for centuries, and he doesn't know anything else. No one would try to teach him something different. The other gods all live by this logic, even if he's the most vocal about it considering he seems to have made it his whole personality. Mortals wouldn't dare to question Poseidon in the first place. And barely anyone would be willing to treat someone with kindness who is in turn treating everyone around them with ruthlessness.

It's very likely that Poseidon hasn't encountered anyone like this until Odysseus. Ruthlessness is simply how he treats people and also how he expects to be treated back. The fact that Odysseus doesn't, the fact that instead of hating, fearing, or cursing him, he acknowledges that they have both hurt each other and that it doesn't lead anywhere to still pursue vengeance, must have triggered Poseidon in an unprecedented way.

To him, this was probably the most outrageous thing Odysseus could have said in that moment. And it throws him off so much that he is genuinely speechless, and then simply replies, "I can't." ... his most genuine-sounding line in the whole musical.

I cannot stress enough how much it threw me off to hear this line; in the best way imaginable, it doesn't sound like Poseidon. It sounds almost vulnerable. Almost human. Because he is genuinely at a loss so much that he forgets to put up his "wrathful god" facade for just one second. Standing ovation to Steven Rodriguez for his whole performance, but especially this part.

And then Odysseus goes all out to say something even more outrageous: "Maybe you could learn to forgive?"

... Which is when Poseidon snaps.

Kind of understandable, honestly. There's this mortal whom he has likely fantasized about seeing pleading, hate-filled, and terrified, cowering before him for ten years now ... telling him that he ought to learn something. Even hijacking his own motif and his instrument in order to turn it on its head, "defile" it if you will.

This f*cking mortal pr*ck took his own "Ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves" catchphrase and turned it into forgiveness ... Of course, Poseidon is no longer hesitating; of course, he is no longer concerned with getting his hands dirty or not. He yells "DIE!" and unleashes his ultimate move (which is really overkill for simply killing a mortal if you think about it) ... But he does it anyway because this time he genuinely means it.

... That, and I am also convinced he jumps to that in order to simply shut Odysseus up, fearing what he might do or think if he lets him go on. Because you cannot tell me that Odysseus didn't actually reach him for just one moment. He was far too thrown off guard, far too vulnerable in that one second. That moment of kindness did something to him, and he hated it. He also probably didn't trust himself to be able to keep listening to Odysseus speak like that. So, he abandons his (still very technically feasible!) blackmail/intimidation and just straight-up kills him.

This simple exchange (my favorite moment in the whole musical, actually) tells us so much about both of these characters that it makes me want to skitter and squeal in excitement.

Here is Odysseus—the very same one whom Poseidon specifically tried to teach ruthlessness—becoming the first person in a long time to offer him sympathy despite how Poseidon himself showed him nothing but ruthlessness. And then one song later, here is Odysseus showing him the consequences of not accepting said sympathy.

Six Hundred Strike and what Odysseus does to Poseidon would've not hit the same, in my opinion, if he hadn't made this offer, if he hadn't given Poseidon this way out, even if no one watching genuinely expected it to work (probably not even Odysseus himself.)

Six Hundred Strike is not Odysseus exacting vengeance If GITW proved anything about Odysseus, it's that he does not want vengeance. He wants all of the hatred and pain to be over, to the point where he is willing to let go of, and I am inclined to say forgive Poseidon for what he's done to him. Six Hundred Strike is simply Odysseus teaching him this lesson that Poseidon couldn't have learned in any other way, because he has proven in GITW that he genuinely does not speak any language besides that of ruthlessness (more on that in this essay!)

It's just the perfect representation of how Odysseus has now finally learned the balance between mercy and ruthlessness, which seems to be the core theme of the musical: Both have their time and place; one simply has to be willing to act in both ways and know when to use either. No one extreme is the solution. I am genuinely exhilarated that Odysseus finally seemed to have figured out that it's been both all along.

[d0rianw1lde]

Yes, Steve’s currently three cars behind Eddie’s van, following him down a long stretch of dark road on a Friday night. But he swears, it’s for a good reason!

Because what could possibly be the reason that Eddie could never answer his phone on Friday nights? Why they could never be together Friday nights? Why he always seemed so elusive when answering Steve’s questions to him. “Can’t. ‘M just busy.”

“Busy doing what?” Steve would ask.

“Stuff.”

Stuff. Right. Steve’s got the wheel in a white-knuckle grip as they travel down past the city. His heart spikes each time a billboard pops up for a club, or adult stores, or even the closest gas station. Because anything could be true in this moment- any fear Steve has for Eddie’s true intentions could come true in just a few moments.

Eddie’s van finally exits the highway, and Steve tails behind, a bit confused when he zips past the busy city and travels farther, hopping onto a dirt road with a winding path. Further, and further still, until they approach-

A barn? Eddie’s van nestles at the end of a long stretch of cars in the parking lot, and Steve watches as he hops out, a new swagger in his step as he rests his hand on his cuff belt buckle and approaches the doors. He slips in, and with Steve’s coast finally clear, he parks. He waits for a few moments, tapping nervously against the wheel. He takes a deep breath, prepares himself, and makes his way toward the doors.

God, there could be anything behind there- what if the town was right all along, and Eddie had been the leader of some massive cult, and he’s fallen for the trap? What if this was a weird sex thing, and he’d secretly been hooking up with tons of people all at once in a ..barn. Or something.

But Steve can feel a thumping from the ground- melodic, rhythmic. Music is blaring inside.

Music?

He approaches the door, presses against it, and swings it open.

Well, Steve didn’t truly know what he expected to find that night. He expected a bombshell piece of information, and a blowout fight, maybe. Maybe expected to find betrayal laid out at his feet after hours of driving,

But this? This wasn’t on the list.

In a million years, Steve would have never guessed that behind this door was Eddie ‘Metal Forever’ Munson, situated in the center of a large dance floor among a crowd of people dressed in various hues of flannel and tacky cowboy boots, moving in time with the loudest country music Steve’s ever had the (dis?)pleasure of hearing.

And never in a million years did Steve consider that this image could be hot.

Because there, moving in time to a song Steve couldn’t even really begin to point out, in a cropped motorhead muscle-tee, the best-fitting jeans Steve had ever seen, and his damn bandana hanging out of his back pocket was his boyfriend, smiling as he danced alongside a few older women, who both take a moment to appreciate Eddie’s assets.

And he knows every move- god, how long had he been doing this? Steve has to remind himself to shut his mouth and hide before Eddie could see him, but when the patrons all make their quarter turn, they’re all facing Steve, and Eddie’s eyes dart to meet his. There’s a moment of surprise written across his face, before he eventually smugly smiles and throws Steve a wink, giving him a good show as he digs his heel into the dancefloor, spins, and makes sure to slow it down just a tad to give Steve the show he so eagerly came to see.

And Steve wants to leave- he turns on his own heel to quickly exit the barn, but he’s stopped as he goes to push against the door by a hand grabbing his wrists, the familiar cold rings soothing his nerves for a moment before he realizes he’s been caught. Red handed.

“Nuh uh-“ Eddie says, spinning Steve around. “No, you wanna spy? Now you gotta dance.”

[arsenicflame]

Keeps me awake still now Retracing what happened

TO RAGE - DAUGHTER

[wishchip106]

i have the urge to throw him across the room but also to tuck him into bed

my lil skrunkly 😿

[ivanttakethis]

Ah yes, another reminder that Ivan suffered from the beginning of his life to the very end of it and was never loved and always felt alone and never felt worthy of anything cAN WE PLEASE TAKE A BREAK DEAR GOD

[bxsmxx]

clancy save me clancy save me clancy save me clancy save me clancy save me clancy save me clancy save me clancy save me clancy save me clancy save me clancy save me clancy save me

[safirefire]

i'm never getting over lorna wu and her being unable to break the generational curse on her family or connect with her daughter then becoming a famous singer and weaving a spell into her most famous song (lorna's version) so that everytime someone sings it her daughter will be protected

[achillesuwu]

I know I have already said it (but it’s another part of the song ok!!) BUT « Would you fall in love with me again » WOULD GO SO HARD AS A POST-MAGIC REVEAL AU 🤧

Arthur who accepted Merlin magic but like he doesn’t know everything right ? Imagine an au where he survives his wound (after confessing his love for him). Merlin bring him back to Camelot, after a day of bed rest Arthur becomes fed up with the way Merlin seems to avoid looking at him and ask him to sit on the chair next to his bed. And then Merlin tells him this, looking guiltily at his hands :

« I am not the man you fell in love with

I am not the man you once adored

I am not [a] kind and gentle [man]

And I am not the love you knew before

Would you fall in love with me again

If you knew all I've done?

The things I cannot change

Would you love me all the same? »

And Arthur wants to know, not because he would love him any less but because he wants to finally shear Merlin’s burden « What kinds of things did you do? »

« Left a trail of red on every [land]

As I traded friends like objects I could use

Hurt more lives than I can count on my hands

But all of that was to keep me close to you

So tell me

Would you fall in love with me again

If you knew all I've done?

The things I can't undo

I'm not the man you knew »

And Arthur angrily replying this :

« I will fall in love with you

Over and over again

I don't care how, where, or when

[…]

Don't tell me you're not the same person

[You'll always be my love] »