#if you’re reading this it’s too late

[zinphandel]

If you’re reading this it’s too late - Drake

heyyyy guys! welcome to the FINAL episode of dan howell’s albums of the year listen through and rating with kate @zinphandel : 2015 edition! (i really need to think of a catchier name) today album is…

Initial thoughts?

girlsssss i’m not gonna lie i am not looking forward to this. i am NOT a drake warrior. his kind of over commercialised hip hop of some of least favourite and drake would never be an artist i listen too out of choice. However, all of dan’s choices so far have been good so im hoping this one is a pleasant surprise!!! Having drake on his favourite albums of the year list is the straightest thing dan has ever done.

Is this a first time full album listen through?

Yes, although i know some drake songs, and as this was released in 2015, which was prime drake era (i don’t like him but you have to admit the hold he had on rap music circa 2013-2018 was unmatched). I don’t really know much about this album at allllll so im going in pretty blind to be honest! Let’s get into this listen through!!!

Listen through:

• right girls gays and theys let’s into this! at 17 songs and 1hr 8mins this is a loooooooong one

•track 1: legend, i’m enjoying the beat, fun lyrics, sounds like every basic song from the mid 2010s (not surprising, drake is very much the blueprint) as album openers go, i think it’s a great intro into the album

• okay track 2 is ‘energy’ which i am familiar with. enjoying this one much more! i can tell why 15 year old white boys went crazy over this in 2015.

• okayyyyy lol maybe i am much more familiar with this album than i thought whoops i kinda vaguely know quite a few of the tracks

• the drop in know yourself is chefs kisssss

• although this is reallllllly not my type of music i can appreciate that this does what it sets out to really well!

• i’m unsure how well this mixtape has aged. i feel it would have hit better listening on release but nearly 10 years later it feeeeeeels dated

• ngl im bored quite a few tracks sound repetitive and the minimal production is not my favourite especially when his lyrics are kinda mid and not that interesting, im hoping it improves as the album progresses as we are not even halfway through

• this could have been a 45 minute 10 track mixtape and would have been much more enjoyable in myyyyyy opinion

• this is not a party album, it’s quite depressing and lonely (A Theme I Have Spotted In The Albums Dan Has Picked So Far,,,,,.)

• drake complains and whines a lot on this album it’s definitely a sad boy album (hi dan!!!)

• thank GOD we’ve reached some features on the album (PARTYNEXTDOOR) it really breathes some life back into the songs, and the production seems to be ramping up as well which i’m enjoying

• lil wayne feature always improves a song!!!

• really enjoying 6 man, much more interesting sonically than the rest of the album so far

• ngl guys it’s dragging now i can’t wait for this album to be over it’s far to long the man needs an EDITOR!!

• and he’s pulled it back with the album closer. 6pm in new york is great!!! much more what i was expecting from the album

Favourite song(s)

star67, 6 man, 6pm in new york

Least favourite song?

no tellin’

Would i listen again?

probably not i’m not gonna lie, drake just really isn’t for me and listening to this record proved that to me, and if i WAS gonna listen to drake, it would defo be his more upbeat hype stuff

Do i recommend?

not personally but it is a fantastic time capsule of 2015 commercial rap if you are feeling particularly nostalgic

What would I rank it out of 10?

5/10

well that’s 2015 DONE!!! i hope you guys enjoyed :) i will be back very shortly to start on 2016s list!!!

I have created a playlist with my favourites from each album, which you can listen to here

OR

read my other reviews from 2015 here

[kawaiecheeks]

Life update: I bought a new car, after I saved it onto my Pinterest board. I kept telling myself I want it and achieved it. You can do anything you put your mind to as long as you’ve done the work, and are being true to yourself. Everything has been falling into place as needed. I got some more manifestations coming, taking it one day at a time. ❤️

[emmsplaylist]

Jungle by Drake

[nooodlesartstyle]

close enough welcome back @kaylasartwork 🔥

[lucraven]

please tell me you’re still into fear and hunger 😭😭

you’re probably my favorite funger artist 🥺 no pressure if you’re not though!

AHHHHH yes I am!!! Dungeon Meshi has obviously been taking over my brain but I’ve been getting back into funger! Also thank you so much for the kind words they mean very much to me 🥺❤️❤️❤️

Enjoy some sillies

[hplonesomeart]

You know I had to do my own rendition of this eventually. It’s just too good to pass up :))

Attached is just the still image version (not gif) and then some behind-the-scenes initial sketch without puzzle pattern. Also the car had a nose for some reason…glad that I went back to the actual reference material to change it because the Puzzlemobile ain’t got one <<

[probablygayattorneys]

Sometimes I get confused about what video games Lani Minella has been in it.

[aheathen-conceivably]

Understood! I was wondering if it was going to be similar to a discord group where there's a bunch of different channels, I don't think that's possible for tumblr communities though. But thank you for answering my question! Strictly the babes!

Oh that would be neat and I actually had a similiar thought when I read your first ask! But it’s more like a sort of “private” Tumblr dash? If that makes sense? So there’s not different sections for different convos the way there are channels in a discord server. It seems to be more like a shared dash centered around a specific interest that people in that community can look at separate from their main feed. I think it’s quite cool because I’m a member of a few different sims story communities now and you can sort of “check in” on them one by one? And while I love seeing all of that content on the main dash too, it’s nice to have that space where you know everyone is looking at the same feed and is there for a shared interest too.

It sort of gives a more “sitting around a bonfire together” than just scrolling the main dash, if you catch my vibe! It’s definitely a new feature for me too so I’m just feeling out how exactly it works with all of yall ♥️

[whitegownsandflowercrowns]

There is one (1) good thing about HBO only giving the writers 8 episodes instead of 10 for this season and that is that it gives them time to mull over the importance of Nettles and to add her to the show.

[allieinarden]

I always assumed the Brain Slugs were a much bigger presence in Futurama and that there was a story arc about defeating them or something but nope two appearances in season two and that's IT

(also "thank you it was cold on the floor" is SUCH a great line read from Phil LaMarr)

Apparently they thought of having the brain slug attached to Hermes for the entire season but ultimately didn’t want Hermes, the character, out of commission for that long because they felt his normal self was funnier than the brain slug-infected version. So yeah, they were supposed to play a larger role in the show than they did.

[twentyfivemiceinatrenchcoat]

Hehe ur response to my prev ask was soooo cute :3 but I was reading through your fics and I reread the one where u dress up in the frilly maid dress for satoru and he literally falls to his knees like the LOSER he is and. It made me think…. I feel like stsg in general think ur beautiful like. All the time. Staring at u 24/7 with heart eyes like 😍😍😍”damn my bae so gorgeous” (satoru in particular……. Like you’ll be out at a cafe or something and while you’re ordering drinks he stares at you from the table twirling his hair and winking like a highschool girl flirting with her crush >_< he’s sooo silly i adore him) but why is it my first instinct to say that they would both absolutely adore you most when you’ve just woken up like… messy hair, still half asleep, a little drowsy YKKKK???? it’s such a domestic thing, to be able to see someone you love when they’re just themselves,,, not attempting to be presentable or anything… I feel like they would both be soo soft for it :( satoru is just grinning and he wants to make fun of you for being sleepy soooo bad but he thinks you look so cute and he just wants to squish your cheeks 😞😞😞 and sugu does not have such restraint. Makes a teasing little quip in his deep morning voice abt his sweet baby being sleepy……… (don’t be fooled. He wants to squish your cheeks just as bad and coo at you like you’re some sort of newborn kitten 😞😞 Trust in me believe in me I know!!!! I see the truth.) is it just an equally shared need between sugu lovers to see this man in the kitchen in the morning making breakfast like the househusband he is while teasing u for being all tired n huffy… yeah…. Maybe….. oh ok…… —stsg anon !!

RAHHHHHHHHH HOW DO YOU KEEP HITTING ALL MY WEAK POINTS WHAT SORCERY IS THIS 😭😭 stsg anon …. our lord & savior …….

STSG AND THEIR EEPY LITTLE BABYYYYYY no bc i agree SO much i don’t think there’s anything more pure and domestic and loving and soft than seeing your lover all sleepy and disheveled…. and being like Wow I Am In Love With You . AND THAT’S SOOO STSG CODED THEY’RE BOTH LOVESICK LOSERS TRUST‼️‼️‼️

i was sleepy when reading this btw you rlly made my whole morning 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 SUGU W HIS DEEP GROGGY MORNING VOICE CALLING YOU HIS SLEEPY LITTLE BABY PSVDKDBFKBFKFBFJ (SOUND OF STATIC) you rlly want me to go insane huh….. HE WOULDDDD he would be so teasing but in such a sweet way T—T oh is his baby still sleepy? need a longer nap ?? it’s ok, you can just cling to his back and get comfy while he makes you breakfast :3 <- cue incessant cooing until you’re coherent enough to tell him to cut it out . he’s suchhh a sap.

AND TORU OUR LOVERBOYYYY he wants to squish your cheeks :cccc sniffle . wants to tease you soooo badly but gets cuteness aggression instead. the type to wake you up by biting your cheeks and you’re all confused ??? like whyyy are you drooling all over me 🤨🤨 and he can’t even explain himself bc you’re so cute you literally fried his brain. sugu has to pry him off you i fear …… but would you really want him to . when your toru is equally eepy and cute and just wants to coddle you... would you really do that to him ….. ☹️☹️☹️ cuties .

is it just an equally shared need between sugu lovers to see this man in the kitchen in the morning making breakfast like the househusband he is while teasing u for being all tired n huffy… yeah…. Maybe….. oh ok……

PAGSJPAHSH PLEASEE THIS MADE ME LAUGH…. SO TRUE !!!! all suguru stans want to see him in an apron :3 engulfed by the morning sunshine :33 he’s just sooooo househusband coded……… makes you breakfast every single day. he’s so serious abt it <3333

[starryserenade]

Mickey and Minnie: Firebird

Description: A short mice drabble based on a concept @thebigpalooka and I had discussed. She was largely responsible for the second set of dialogue after their meeting...and it broke my heart in the best way, so of course I had to use it here.

Setting is a Firebird sort of situation, inspired by both the ballet and the Fantasia segment, and whatever else we wanted to throw in. Minnie is the Firebird--the protector of the forest--and Mickey is a heroic prince who saved her once upon a time. This bit here occurs near the end of the story we'd set up <3

AO3

~~~~

He saw her in every precious gleam of nature. In the fiery sunsets of summer, the colors of autumn, the chill of winter, the rosebuds of spring. Her touch, her breath of beauty and passion lay upon it all. A kiss, gentle and sweet. Sometimes, he liked to imagine it was for him–when the wind would tousle his fur and leave him laughing, clinging to his cloak, or a star would streak across the sky and leave a trail so bright he was sure it was her weaving pathways he might one day be able to follow. 

It didn’t dull the ache, though, when such signs departed from view and he was left to return to his chambers alone. He left the window open each night, so that dreams of her might be carried along with the breeze. And he did dream of her, almost every time he closed his eyes. Sometimes those dreams were warm and loving, and she’d be there before him again, as radiant as ever, smiling and holding out her arms so he might sweep her away. Other nights he’d watch her as she left him, as he had all that time ago–when the color had returned to her body and the light to her eyes, blossoming as though she herself had been a flower all along. Mickey had carried her then, as she’d asked him to, and he had never been able to forget the breath she’d taken after those first few steps, when she’d seen the place where her tears had fallen. Where life was beginning to return to the scorched earth. 

Some days he regretted not having said a word. But he’d seen her whole spirit return to her then, and when she’d lifted her hands to the sky she had been filled with such vigor and strength, he knew he could never have held her back. Not even to say goodbye. 

He turned his hand over, recalling the feeling as she’d leapt from his fingertips with a step lighter than any bird could have managed. She had seemed an angel then, and that was his last memory of her. Of a girl like a faerie, rising into the clouds, showering all the earth with life and color. 

There had been a part of him…well, far more than a part of him...that had hoped she might have returned. That they might have… Ah, it was pointless to dream of those things. She was an ethereal being. She was the essence of hope and nature and rebirth itself, a creature of magic with a wild and fiery spirit that was never meant to be tamed. 

And…Mickey loved her. He always would, and he knew he’d never be able to claim otherwise, not now. Not having seen her smile, or felt her touch, or seen the kindness and fear in her eyes. Though he hoped the fear was gone now, as it had been when she left him. That was all he could ever wish for, that wherever she was, she was free, and she was happy. 

But he never did stop looking, with those cheerful eyes of his that seemed always touched with sadness. He was looking now, as he brought that hand to his lips and drew in a shaky breath, leaning out over the balcony. His crown and robes had long since been abandoned, tossed haphazardly on the bed with the setting of the sun. He’d put them away later, but for now he wanted to watch. It was a special night, after all, with the light of the full moon already clipped by shadow. Just like it had been on the night he’d first seen her, so very long ago.

He stretched out his arms, letting out a little squeak, and blinked sleepily, with no intention of retiring anytime soon. The night was cool, and stars twinkled brightly, and the forest felt like it was calling to him again, stretching out past the fields that flanked the castle. Mickey grinned. 

He left a note for Donald, just in case, though he doubted his friend would wonder where he’d gone. If you were close to Mickey, you knew he loved the forest. Knew that if he wasn’t here when you called, he was out among the rustling leaves and the river, traipsing through underbrush looking for something he never seemed able to find. But it brought him joy, and he’d always return with a bit more life in his eyes, so no one said a thing…though his closest friends could always see the longing in his gaze. It never did stop growing. 

His horse whinnied as he urged it onward, that wild feeling settling in his chest as those hooves trotted over the drawbridge, then burst into a gallop the moment they touched the grass.  He’d chosen a plain brown cloak, and it fluttered behind him now, catching the wind in dramatic fashion. Mickey hollered, cherishing these moments of freedom. They came so rarely now, with all there was to do as king. But this…it was like things used to be. Almost.

The forest grew nearer, dusted with moonlight that graced the autumn leaves. He could almost hear them now, as the wind picked up and swept through the branches, and he watched the trees with growing anticipation. His heart swelled. So many memories were held within their grasp, under their canopy. Even the border of the forest, where the fields met with a wilder expanse, held an essence of–

He blinked, as a flurry of leaves were tossed into the air and fluttered about, just outside the forest. They glittered and for a moment, just a moment, he could have sworn the moonlight that passed through them had settled on a familiar form.  

The world froze, and Mickey held his breath, his eyes growing wide. He hardly dared to believe it, and yet…

Hope is terribly convincing. 

When they settled on the ground, the form was gone. But Mickey didn’t care. It was exactly how it had happened before, exactly how he’d seen her that very first time. A very wild look came into his eyes and he cried out, urging his steed to go even faster than it was before. Years of pent up loneliness and heartache fueled him now, filled him with a desperation beyond compare. 

The moment his steed reared up as they reached the trees, Mickey leapt off and hit the ground running, stumbling over himself and gathering his footing just in time to keep pace. He could see a light blazing ahead, gleaming, darting from place to place and growing smaller with every moment that passed. He raced after it with all he had. Branches and thorns tore at his clothing, ripped through his tunic and bloodied his skin, but he hardly felt it.  He could only think of her, of any faint possibility that he might see her one last time, might even get to hold her in his arms.

The more he ran, the more his lungs burned and his vision blurred through the tears that lingered in his eyes. He needed her. He needed her. He needed her.  

He burst into a clearing flooded with the last threads of moonlight, and all at once, that fiery light vanished. Mickey stopped, gasping for air, his eyes darting wildly across every corner, to every branch and shadow.  His chest was heaving, his whole outfit tattered, and his fur matted with dirt and blood. Those breaths faltered then, hitched in his throat, left him trembling. 

He’d been so certain. So sure…so…

Foolish.

His legs gave out from under him, as he glanced at his surroundings. It was his memories that had led him here, he realized with a sharp jab of pain in his chest. The ground still held a faint layer of ash and soot, and the trees nearby were blackened by some past flame–a fire he remembered all too well. 

Right at the center of it all stood the reminder of what had happened here. A beautiful tree in everlasting bloom stood swaying in the gentle breeze of night. Its petals seemed to radiate with a glow of their own as the moonlight graced their surface. It was lovely. Enchanting. 

Mickey dug his fingers into the dirt at the sight of it all.

Up until now, he’d thought himself perfectly fine. Or something like it. Thought he’d been strong enough to move on without her here, or at least able to manage. And maybe, deep inside, he was. But in this moment, sitting face to face with evidence of their farewell, he felt for certain he’d been wrong. That loneliness and longing and heartache came crashing in all at once and though he didn’t cry–didn’t have the strength to–he drew in a shaky breath and buried his face in his hands.

“I miss you so much…” 

He sat like that for a while, shuddering with emotion, unable and unwilling to move, or even lift his head. The moonlight grew fainter, shadowed, and tinged with a fiery red that he didn’t see. But the whole forest thrummed in its wake, those autumn colors sparking to life like tongues of flame. And the tree before him–-those milky-white petals–-began to stir with the wind. 

It began gently, like a whisper, then began to grow into something greater. Soon, the blossoms were swept up in the whirlwind, now dyed with the same crimson that had flooded the rest of the forest–only brighter. As the wind rose and the sound grew and those petals released a blazing burst of light, Mickey finally lifted his eyes.

Before them, untouched by the howling wind, fluttered a single scarlet feather. Mickey’s lips parted breathlessly, and he stretched out his hand.

In the moment it graced his skin, the cyclone of petals blazed so bright that Mickey cried out and had to lift his hand to shield his eyes. But through the gaps in his fingers, he watched as he always had, though now there was something else in his stare. Tentative, cautious hope, and an ever-growing sense of disbelief.

The petals were no longer petals, but real tongues of fire. Those snaking flames came together like wings, formed the shape of a grand bird in their midst. It stretched above the mass of fire, arching over the tree with great, roaring feathers as it lifted its neck, craned its beak towards the sky. It beat its wings once, then lowered its gaze towards Mickey.

Their eyes met, and in the next second, the flames gathered again, spiraled upwards until the bird was gone. Mickey reached out, utterly terrified the flames would vanish entirely, and he’d be left alone all over again.

But as they shrank, they dimmed, and took shape, and ribboned around themselves. And when they had settled, they released a final flare of bright light.

Mickey drew in a breath. 

She was there, in a shower of sparks and lingering embers. Her body was wrapped in those ribbons of fire, only now pieces of them returned to their flowery state, formed a glittering bodice, even as the rest of the flames wound about her hips and fell to the ground, trailing behind her in beautiful ribbons of golden light. Her arms were arched over her head, as the Firebird’s wings had been only moments ago, and a curtain of sparks fell down from them like magic. As the wind died down, she swayed lightly, and brought her hands down, drawing in a shuddering breath as her eyes fluttered open. 

They landed on Mickey, and filled with tears.

Her lips formed his name, though no sound emerged. Before the last lingering petals had even fallen to the earth, Mickey had leapt up and stretched out his arms and she was there, flinging herself into them, wrapping her arms around him as he gathered her up and buried his face in her neck, nestling into her hair with shallow, shuddering breaths. She smelled like autumn–like every lovely part about it that had ever reminded him of her. Like crisp leaves and apples, all tinged with the lingering scent of fire–warm and full of comfort.

He squeezed her tighter, and she whimpered, nuzzling into him. Mickey was overcome. He dropped again to the ground, brought her in closer, and rocked her back and forth in his arms as she clung to him, and he to her, terrified that if he let his grip on her falter for even a moment, she would vanish again and be lost to him forever. 

“Oh, Mickey…” she gasped through tears at last, her face still buried in his chest. “I waited for you. I never stopped waiting. I missed you so, so much. And I know you couldn’t see me, but I just kept trying to tell you, trying to tell you how sorry I was that I had to leave and I–”

“Shh,” he hushed her then, and nuzzled against her cheek. “Ya came back…” he murmured, his voice breaking. “Ya came back to me…”

Minnie was silent for a moment, just drew in a shaky breath and clung to him, utterly helpless. Mickey drew away for only a moment, catching the look in her eyes. Then a faint gleam of fire sparked in his own, and he leaned down into her, slowly, gently, caressing her collar with his fingers before leaving a kiss where his hand had been. She shuddered, and he traveled up her neck, endlessly soft as his lips pressed against her skin. When they reached her mouth, he hovered there, and opened his eyes to look at her. There was love in that stare, desperate and pleading. It was Minnie who satisfied his unspoken request, leaned in and met his parted lips with her own. 

She flared, glowed, fire again swirling about her. Only this time, it leapt to Mickey too, though he felt nothing but the warmth of her mouth, and her heart beating against him. He hardly noticed how he himself glowed alongside her now, was caught up in the deep, pulsing magic that radiated from them both as they sat locked together, wholly unwilling to let go. 

When they parted, breathless and flushed, they leaned their heads against each other, nuzzled their noses as close as they could. Mickey was trembling even more than Minnie, and for once, she thought she saw tears falling from his eyes.

“How…” he breathed, and swallowed, as if he could hardly bring himself to ask. “How long can y’stay this time?”

Mickey couldn’t look at her, his heart pounding against his ribs as he waited for her answer. Would it be weeks, days…minutes? This gift was already more than he could have ever hoped for, ever asked of her. She’d come back to say goodbye…but…oh, he would cling to her as long as he could.

He felt her flinch and thought that confirmed his worst suspicions. She’d be gone soon, swept up in the wind to fulfill her role. To return to her life of freedom. It was a wonderful thing, he told himself, and yet he braced himself, trying not to think about what it would be like to journey back to the castle without her in his arms.

“Mickey…” she murmured, and seemed to shiver. “How..how long would you want me to stay…if…if you could choose?”

He tried not to laugh, but he did. It was a sad sound, choked and garbled with tears.  The answer was obvious, surely, though he almost felt guilty saying it out loud. If she had but minutes to give, wouldn’t it be cruel to suggest he wanted anything more? Wouldn’t it be selfish?

But she looked up at him with those beautiful brown eyes–as deep and dark as the tallest redwood tree– and he knew he couldn’t lie to her. 

“Awe, Minnie,” he whimpered, and ran his hands through her hair, before burying his face in it once again, knowing he was wetting it with his tears. “I’d stay with ya forever if I could…I wish more than anythin’ you could stay…”

Minnie let out a tiny gasp, and then sniffed. Then she stroked the fur on his neck, as tenderly as she could manage. “Then…I will,” she breathed, a little break making its way into her voice too now. “I’ll stay with you, Mickey. I’ll stay with you, now and…and forever!”

It took Mickey a moment to hear her, having been so sure he was preparing to say goodbye. But when her words finally registered, he froze, and then drew in a deep, gasping breath, and pulled back to look at her. Tears were streaming down her face, but Mickey’s ceased suddenly, a final droplet lingering in the corner of his eye as his whole face filled with disbelief.

“Ya…ya will…I mean, forever?? Min, are you…can you…is that…”

She was nodding, just nodding over and over again, and taking in his growing happiness with every moment. His lips began to curl, a light filled his eyes, and before she knew it, he had pounced on her, rolling her over on top of him and beaming up at her with sheer love and relief. Minnie laughed endlessly, her giggles scattered with tears, but they were happy now. So, so happy, like nothing she’d ever felt in her whole life. 

“Aw, Minnie,” he breathed, still smiling, and lifted his fingers to her cheek, wiping away some of those tears with the back of his hand, then pressing his palm against her skin. He’d been about to say…something. But before he could finish, Minnie leaned in and had stifled his words once again, taking in the taste of his lips with every trembling moment.

When she pulled away, his eyes were clouded with bliss, but he licked his lips and managed to finish anyway, knowing even then that he had only seconds to speak. But it wasn’t for a farewell…it was for love, and that was all that mattered now. 

That’s all he needed to say. 

“Minnie…” She leaned in, lips hovering just a breath above his mouth, ready to meet him again the moment he’d finished.

“Hm?”

“I love you.”

The moon shone down on them both and flowers sprouted where they lay, unfolded their blossoms across the whole of the forest. Minnie wondered if Mickey knew that this was his doing, that those simple words sparked such life in her soul. Prompted such gentle, blissful magic.

She laughed softly, and smiled. If he didn’t know, she would show him now. Would imprint her gratitude on every part of his being. And if he still needed convincing, then she’d do it all over again.

They had forever after all.

[littleplantfreak]

why does em get special privileges? I want to read about drugging ghostface ume too

🤭 she’s my beta reader most of the time so she can have the privilege for her hard work lol. It’s a slight continuation(?) of a piece im doing for sam’s event that I’m hopefully almost done with. The perfectionist in me keeps rewriting it tbh.

I’m back and forth as to whether I should include it with the story or post it separately because of how I ended the fic (or even posting it at all) but if you really wanna read it nonnie i will post it when im done with the whole thing 🫡✨

[eddieb-archive]

Golbetty is honestly a lot of fun to draw!