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notapradagurl7 · 2 months ago

Text

The Right One.

Virgin!Black!FemReader x Neighbor!Mother’s Milk “Marvin” from the Amazon TV show Boys.

Summary: On a late Saturday night with your besties, You weren't the only virgin in your friend group, and thought about losing it to your friend/next-door neighbor Marvin.

Taglist: @lesbiantreehugger @megamindsecretlair @soft-persephone @westside-rot @liatreads @justhornyyme @mypointlessdays @cristallizednmesmerized @satoruya @planetblaque @hoodbarbiesims @amplifiedmoan @avoidthings @judymfmoody @life-in-the-slut-house @keyera-jackson @tryingtograspctrl @afrophoria @sageispunk

Word Count: 4,526k words

A/N: Don’t forget to reblog, comment and like to support your favorite writers! ❤️ another fic from this fine man,😫 p.s. don’t let anyone pressure you into thinking you’re missing out even about losing your v-card, this fic is simply for fictional shit. You don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with.

Warnings: PWP, +18, virginity loss, profanity, soft MM, divorced MM, age gap between the reader in their 30s and MM, dirty talk, praise, fluff, spanking, smut, teddy bear MM, fingering, oral(fem receiving) protected sex, soft dom MM, aftercare,

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You sat on the grey soft couch with your eyes roaming around your friends, they had dazzling smiles, and were drunk laughing along with a variety of hairstyles ranging from curly, straightened, box braided, loced or even their natural hairstyle. They are all clothed in oversized sweatshirts, graphic tees, and loungewear that span the entire spectrum of vibrant colors.

Their hands held wine glasses and pieces of popcorn in their hands, watching a bunch of scary movies, Lola tightly clutched the bright yellow star-shaped pillow with her nails digging into them.

“Damn…why can't there be smart people in horror movies?” You asked in an annoyed tone, shaking your head from side to side.

“It's always the damn thing in these movies..” Zaria scoffed with a giggle.

Suddenly, Zaria went straight to YouTube and played All I Wanted by Paramore, one of her favorite songs. “All I wanted was youuuu…” she sang off-key with a smile.

As the fervent rock music from the 2000s pulsed softly through the spacious room, you sang along to Paramore’s lyrics. Feeling the nostalgia wash over your being, smiling at your friends playing air guitars and using their combs as a microphones.

Your friends, Lola, Zaria and Jayla were talking about their rendezvous and relationships, you were fake laughing at every double entendre and innuendo. You felt left out but sex wasn't a big deal, right?

Your mom always warned you about boys and sex, when you were younger especially when their hormones were raging and they were so immature, you didn't want kids either, her paranoia helped in some ways.

Your mom, that's where it stemmed from. Your fear, your expectations, her concern for you.

The insularity of your mom and being a late bloomer, you being stricter on yourself.

Your friends were buzzing with excitement, each one more eager than the last to share their stories of wild nights and new experiences. You smiled along with them, feeling a mix of warmth and trepidation.

You loved your friends dearly, but the weight of your virginity lay flat on you like a blanket. You avoided the topic at all times but have only been in one relationship, you told him you were on your period. Which grossed him out completely and you broke up.

“Ouu! If you fuck any supe or hero? Villain? Who would it be?”

You thought about one of the Supes, mention of them made your skin crawl. Especially a certain “hero” but only one, Marvin.

“I would fuck Black Noir, without the mask though. I think he has some mask kink, I need him to speak, but I bet that dick is big!” Zaria giggled with her tongue running her lips. Twirling her box braid in her index finger.

You couldn't believe that there were Black Noir dildos being sold in sex stores and they almost sold out, big in size and guaranteed to give you immense pleasure. You thought it was kinda stupid.

The question roamed your mind for a second, Black Noir was black, right? Pursuing your lips at the stereotype targeted for the core audience.

“Oh shit! You've got the dildo too? Girl, you're nasty!”

“I would fuck A Train, he can use that super speed for this, whew!” Jayla exclaimed with a smirk, sipping her glass.

“Didn’t he kill someone with his super speed? Are you sure?” You asked her, raising your brows.

“He’s starting to change for the better right? Eh, I’d still fuck him once Y/N” Jayla smirked, shurgging her shoulders.

“I would fuck Strom from X-Men, she's gorgeous and I always thought her powers were so cool!” You exclaimed with a smile.

Jayla agreed with a nod, “Exactly, I would fuck her too, and Wolverine.” she giggled.

“Soooo..Y/N? When was the last time you got some dick?” Lola asked with a sing-song tone, smirking drunkenly.

You sighed lowly, looking at your empty glass of red wine and placed it on the coaster that rested on the table. They looked at you with concern and confusion.

You were dressed in an oversized tee Jujutsu Kaisen shirt with shorts, and socks on your feet. Your melanated skin and your locs are tied up in a bun with a wine glass in your hand.

“Are you okay girl?” Zaria asked with her lip pouting, tilting her head to the side.

You couldn’t lie to them, they were your friends and were they virgins too? You could be right about that part.

“N-No, I’m not, I never had sex before, it’s dumb, i’m a virgin,” You confessed softly, pursuing your lips.

It was damn near embarrassing to be the only virgin in your friend group, you were entering your early thirties but now you’ve waited long enough.

“Hey, hey, it’s not stupid, I’m a virgin too but I lied so I wouldn't get teased..” Lola mentioned, fiddling with the ends of her sweatshirt.

Zaria nodded in agreement, “You know we wouldn't tease either of you for being virgins, it's okay and we understand. I wish I had waited instead of rushing so early…”

It felt nice to know that you weren't alone in your friend group but maybe losing it right now wouldn't be a bad idea but to who?

“Speaking of losing it, have you thought about Marvin? Your fine-ass neighbor?” Jayla whispered seductively, smirking again.

Was she out of her rabid-ass mind if she suggested that you should fuck your handsome neighbor, he was straightforward and genuine, protective of you, and made you feel safe here. Your personal teddy bear, He worked at a juvenile detention center for kids, helping them along the way.

“Well…have you thought about Marvin?” She asked again, tilting her head to the side.

Of course, you thought about him. Your besties saw that man, with his voice and music tee shirts. You listened to rock music and classical, jazz music that you suggested to him. He liked it and thanked you for it.

He lived next to your house, You’d known him forever, your next-door neighbor and a friend who always seemed to be there for you. He worked at his job as a youth counselor, he cleaned up a lot, including after himself, and gave you tips about

The four of you tiptoed toward the small window with your eyes landing on the buff man walking out of his house, wearing a grey tee shirt and grey sweatpants with Adidas slides on his sock-clad feet. Look at him, casually taking out the trash and grunting as he lifted it, throwing it in the trashcan.

“Oh my god, he's so fine, mm. I love a man with a beard..” You gushed with your cheeks heating up.

Jayla nodded, “Yeah, me too girl, I would never let Marvin shave it off.” She gushed with her cheeks heating up.

Without noticing, Marvin turned his eyes toward the four of you gawking at him like he was a piece of meat, locking eyes with him until you ducked immediately, he chuckled at you and your friends. Walking back inside.

Yup, Marvin knew that you and your besties were staring at him. Now, this was embarrassing.

“Did he see us?” Jayla asked in a confused tone.

“No, he didn't notice us at all,” You said in sarcasm.

Y'all could've sworn y'all saw his thick dick swinging on the right, the fabric of his shirt clung to his muscles perfectly, did he know that he was fine?

“You haven't hopped on that dick yet? Shit, I would've done it tonight!”

You felt your cheeks flush at the mention of Marvin. The thought of him sent a shiver of excitement down your spine. He was everything you admired in a man: strong, kind, and undeniably attractive. But the idea of losing your virginity to your neighbor? It was a whirlwind of emotions you weren't prepared to navigate.

"Marvin?" you echoed, your voice barely above a whisper. "We're neighbors. That’s... a little too close for comfort, don’t you think?"

Jayla leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Girl, please! You know he’s been eyeing you. I’ve seen the way he looks at you when he thinks you’re not paying attention. Plus, he’s a total softie. You’d be in good hands!"

Lola chimed in, her expression earnest. "Honestly, if you’re going to lose it, why not with someone you trust? Marvin seems like the type who would take care of you."

You bit your lip, contemplating their words. Marvin had always been sweet to you, giving you advice when you needed it, helping you with your groceries, and even sharing stories of his day. But could you really cross that line?

It was only a one-time thing, lose your V-card and get the hell out of there, you want to fuck that grown man. You can do this right?

"I don’t know, ladies. It feels...complicated," you admitted, glancing at your friends’ encouraging smiles.

“Complicated? Please! Life is complicated. This is about you and what you want,” Zaria said firmly. “If you feel ready, then go for it. And if anyone can make your first time memorable, it’s Marvin.”

The room buzzed with excitement as they each encouraged you, their enthusiasm infectious. You could feel the urge to leap into something new stirring within you. Maybe this was the push you needed.

“Okay, let’s say I consider it,” you started cautiously. “What do I even say to him? ‘Hey, Marvin, let’s fuck?’”

Your friends erupted into laughter, and you joined in. The humor lightened the mood, but the thought lingered in your mind.

“Just be honest! He’s a grown man. You can keep it casual,” Jayla suggested, winking conspiratorially. “Invite him over, maybe watch a movie, and see where it goes.”

“Or just go straight to the point!” Zaria added with a cheeky grin, making exaggerated gestures. “Nothing wrong with a little confidence!”

Obviously, your friends have met Marvin. He was the way you described him to them, Marvin was glad to meet them.

You took a deep breath, weighing the options. The idea of a casual movie night with Marvin felt both thrilling and terrifying. But what if he said no? What if the whole thing turned awkward?

“Okay, okay. Let’s say I do this. If I invite him over, you guys are leaving, right?” you asked, your voice laced with uncertainty.

“Absolutely! We’ll make ourselves scarce. Just send us a text when you’re ready!” Lola assured you, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

With a mix of fear and exhilaration bubbling in your chest, you decided to take a leap of faith. Maybe the night would go smoothly, and maybe it wouldn’t. But you were tired of living in fear of what could be.

“Alright, I’ll think about it,” you said, your voice steadier than you felt. Your friends cheered, squealing, raising their glasses in a toast to your newfound courage.

“Here’s to new experiences!” Jayla exclaimed, and the clinking of glasses echoed in the room as you smiled.

“Get that dick, girl! Let us know on the details too! Let me know if he’s a moaner” Jayla exclaimed with smirk.

Later that evening, after your friends had left and the house was quiet, you sat on your couch, contemplating your next move. The thought of Marvin stirred something deep inside you, pulling you closer to the edge of bravery. With a deep breath, you grabbed your phone and typed out a message.

“Hey Marvin, do you want to come over and watch a movie sometime? Just us?”

You hit send and felt a rush of adrenaline. Now all you had to do was wait for his response.

“Yeah, I would like that,”

Whew, that wasn't so difficult right? But now you had to be straightforward with him.

Minutes later, you heard the doorbell ring and you rushed toward the door, you opened it and Marvin was there.

“Hey, Marv. Glad that you could make it.”

He stepped through the door with a respectful nod and smile, his head turned to listen to any upcoming warnings. It was silent but he was always aware. You loved that, a gold chain hung around his neck.

Closing and locking the door behind the man, you walked beside him. The cologne lingered on his clothes, his breath had a hint of mint and coffee.

“You know that I love comin’ over to your place for movie night, I missed you,”

Your arms wrapped around his waist with his hand resting on the small of your back, bringing you in close for a warm hug, resting your head on his buff shirt-clad chest.

You anxiously massaged his back muscles; this was the fifth occasion he had visited your home, and the two of you had spent the nights watching films, scoring them from 1 to 10, and discussing each scene.

"I missed you too and you always arrive when I need you, aren't you tired of me yet?” You asked him in a confused tone, the warmth from his body made your clit throb.

Marvin looked down at you, tilting his head. “Hey, Stop saying that, I will never get tired of seeing you,” he reassured kindly, watching your smirk curl up.

“Thank you for reminding me.”

His hand rested on his chest, nodding at you, “You’re ever so welcome..” he said, like you described, a teddy bear.

You led him to the living room, where you had set up the movie on the TV. The atmosphere felt charged with anticipation, both of you aware of the underlying tension.

The movie playing was Roll Bounce, starting off with the main character played by Bow Wow, Xavier skating in the rolling skating rink while 70s music playing in the background.

It was one of your favorite black movies, you preferred black cinema without trauma porn, you enjoyed comedies and mystery thrillers.

a few cushions tossed aside, making space between you and Marvin. He sank into the seat next to you, the warmth from his body radiating made your cheeks heat up.

So you decided to spark a conversation with him about the movie. Your thoughts kept drifting about Marvin but you cleared your throat, making his attention turn to you.

Wondering if he had seen this movie since he was older than you. “Have you ever seen this movie before?” you asked him, your tone was soft yet curious.

Marvin shook his head from side to side, making you gasp softly, he chuckled lightly. “Nah, I'm used to watching so old school movies, in the nineties specifically..” He said with a warm tone, smiling at you.

“What? This is amazing, I have a whole collection of DVDs for my favorite movies, and we can watch Brown Sugar next! It's so good!” You gushed

The way he looked at you when you talked about stuff you liked always made him feel happy,

“Is this movie any good?” Marvin asked, glancing sideways at you, his dark brown eyes sparkling with curiosity.

You nodded, a smile on your face. “Yeah, it’s a classic. It’s about roller-skating and friendships. Very nostalgic.”

He chuckled softly, the sound deep and rich, and you felt your heart flutter. “Sounds like fun. I always wanted to try roller-skating.”

You turned your head towards him, surprised. “Really? I can’t picture you on skates. You seem too cool for that.”

Marvin laughed, shaking his head. “Cool? Nah, man. I’m just a big teddy bear at heart. I’d probably fall flat on my face.”

You smiled, the tension easing just a little. “Well, if you ever need a partner to practice with, I’m game.”

As the movie played on, you found your mind racing with freaky fantasies. This was it. You were here with Marvin, and the thought of crossing that line felt thrilling yet terrifying.

You settled on the couch, you steal glances at Marvin. He looked handsome, his muscles defined even under the loose shirt he wore.

The movie played in the background, but you did not much attention to it. The only sound was the soft music and occasional dialogue, the rest of the room filled with the heavy silence that had you in a chokehold.

Your fingers lightly tugged at the ends of his tee shirt, his head turned from the television and back to you. Genuine concern is etched on his attractive face, and his dark brown eyes sparkling brightly

“Yes, Y/N? What’s wrong?”

Oh, that way he said your name, made your breath hitch, you couldn't waste any moment telling him this.

You looked at him in the eyes softly yet seriously, exhaling through your nose. Relax, you got this, everything will be fine. Nervously fiddling with your fingernails to keep focus.

“I’ve been thinking about losing my V-card and I thought of you, I just want to get it out of the way, that's all” You confessed firmly, biting down on your lips.

His brows raised in surprise, his eyes softened at you, nodding his head in agreement. Marvin's demeanor shifted from surprise to understanding, his gaze unwavering as he processed your words.

“I understand, I appreciate you trusting me with something so important,” Marvin replied, his voice gentle yet tinged with a hint of surprise. “Are you sure about this, sweetheart? I don’t want you to feel pressured or uncomfortable.”

You nodded, meeting his gaze with determination. “I trust you, Marvin. I know you’ll take care of me.”

A warm smile spread across his face, his thumb gently brushing against your cheek. “Then let’s take it slow, okay? I want to make sure you’re comfortable every step of the way.”

“Yes, I would like that. I appreciate this Marv,”

It felt great to have someone you can trust with your body, and treat your body with care, and respect.

With a nod, you leaned in, capturing his lips in a soft yet longing kiss. The taste of him was intoxicating, the feeling of his lips moving against yours sending sparks of desire through your body.

Marvin’s hands found their way to your waist, pulling you closer to him as the kiss deepened. His touch was firm yet gentle, his fingers tracing patterns on your skin that made your heart race.

As the kiss broke, you found yourself breathless, your eyes locked with his. “

He carried you into the bedroom, tossing you onto the bed, both of your clothes littered across the floor, the moonlight peeked through your curtains and gave him an extra large condom, his thick dick hung between his legs

He was thick everywhere, you preferred men with meat on ‘em, and your eyelids grew in shock, what was he going to fit? You hoped so.

“Y-yeah, I'm fine. It’s just my first time seeing a dick, Can I touch it?” You asked innocently, biting down on your lips.

A smile spread across his face as he gently took your wrist, guiding your hand around him. You slid your hand up and down, hearing soft groans escape his lips. Precum dripped from the tip as his dick throbbed before you.

“You're so big.." you mumbled, kissing his tip gently. Licking your lips clean from the essence.

You weren't nervous anymore, your eyes glued to his dick until his index finger lifted your chin. “My eyes are up here babygirl..” he smirked, kissing your lips again.

“Lay down..” He told with a demanding tone.

You lay on your back, gently spreading your legs apart. Marvin’s fingers parted your folds gently, his thumb rubbed your clit in circles, pushing his fingers between your folds, you moaned wildly, pleasure washed over you

“M-Marvin..” his eyes softened at how tight you were around his fingers, a soft moan escaping his lips. Watching your wetness pour out of you.

“You’re so fucking wet, baby,” Marvin murmured, his voice husky with desire. “Are you ready for me?”

You nodded eagerly, your heart pounding. With his thick fingers pumping in and out of you, his thick fingers filled you up. His tongue glided across your clit, “oh..fuck!” you cried out, your finger covering your lips.

Your hands covered your half of your face and mouth with embarrassment, moans escaped your pretty lips and the soft squelching noise

His knuckles brushed across your throbbing clit and brought you over to the edge, your walls tightly clenched around his fingers, “M-Marvin please..” moving your hand out of the way gently, muffled moans from your mouth.

“Don't hold back, let me hear your voice baby..” He teased, pecking your clit twice.

Your hips rolled against his fingers, becoming wetter as your mouth grew wider, unable to keep yourself quiet.

The knots in your stomach grew tighter, your climax washed over you. “Oh fuckkk!” you cried out, your hands gripping the bedsheets for support.

He pulled his fingers out and heard you whine, you pouting your lip and he grinned at you, “No pouting, you'll get what you want..” he teased, bringing his fingers to your lips.

Your hands grabbed his wrist and wrapped your lips around his fingers, your tongue licked your essence clean while you looked up at him, lifting your head for some air after he kissed you passionately.

Thankfully, he is a clean freak and always washes himself squeaky clean, including his hands, nothing is more attractive than a man cleaning up after himself. Even made sure he got tested and wore condoms.

“I'm clean, there's no need to worry..” he reassured you with a kiss on your forehead.

He grabbed the condom and gently tore the wrapper, gradually sliding on his dick, his knees rested on the bed and caught the faint squeak.

Marvin positioned himself between your legs, slowly pushing his dick into you, inch by inch. The stretch was intense, but the pleasure that followed was overwhelming. You gasped softly and whined at the stinging pain.

“It’s okay, i’m right here..” he said softly, kissing your lips to distract from the pain, your legs squirmed and you bite down on your lips, hands balled up in the sheets. Small whimpers fell from your mouth again.

Red nail marks across his tawny brown skin, pushing his hips into you at a gradual pace. “Sss..it hurts..” you whined, pecking his lips again.

“Just breathe, baby. It’ll feel better in a second,” Marvin soothed, his voice low and comforting as he continued to push himself deeper.

There was a mix of pleasure and pain that flooded through you, and you tried to focus on the warmth of his body against yours. Your thumbs swiped over his beard, small groans left his lips, the tightness of your walls clenched around his dick.

The initial discomfort began to fade, replaced by a growing wave of sensation that made your back arch off the bed. “Fuck, Marvin…” you breathed, your voice laced with both pain and pleasure.

“Yeah, just like that. You’re doing so good for me,” he praised, his breath hot against your ear. The way he spoke made your heart race, being this close to him made your pussy clench.

He adjusted his angle, finding the right spot that made you gasp. “There? Is that good? That pussy speaking to me?” he asked, his eyes locked onto yours, searching for any sign of discomfort.

“Yes! Just like that!” you encouraged, newfound confidence surging within you. The feeling intensified with each thrust, and you could feel the tension building again in your core.

“You’re taking me so well..” he praised, The sounds of skin slapping against skin filled the room, mingling with your soft gasps and his deep groans. “You’re so tight, baby. I can’t get enough of you,” he murmured, his voice thick with desire.

“Marvin, I—oh!” you cried out as he hit that sweet spot again, sending jolts of pleasure coursing through your body. His hands gripped a handful of your ass, spanking your asscheek roughly as you moaned loudly, he picked up the pace, feeling more of you clench around him.

You could feel the heat pooling in your belly, as your body responded eagerly to his every thrust. He watched your face scrunched up in pleasure, laying your head on his chest. “It’s so goodd…Marvin..” you croaked softly, eyes rolling back.

“Let it out, Y/N. I want to feel you come around this dick,” he urged, his hands gripping your thighs as he thrust deeper, the tension within you reaching a fever pitch.

With each thrust, you felt yourself teetering on the edge. “I’m gonna cum!” you cried, your nails digging into his arms as you clung to him.

“It's okay sweetheart. I’ve got you,” he encouraged, his voice a low growl as he quickened his pace, the sound of your bodies moving together growing louder.

The tension snapped, and you cried out his name as pleasure washed over yoo. Your walls clamped down around him, essence spilled all over his dick, and you felt his rhythm falter as he pulled out, falling beside you.

You both collapsed onto the bed, breathless and entwined, the world outside fading away. Marvin pressed a soft kiss to your lips, his eyes locked onto you. “Are you okay?” he asked, concern etched into his features as he looked down at you.

“I’m more than okay. That was…incredible,” you admitted, nodding while smile spreading across your lips.

Marvin grinned, his eyes sparkling with warmth. “I’m glad to hear that, Y/N.” he took off the condom and tied the ends, throwing it away in the trashcan.

He picked you up bridal style and carried you into the bathroom, ran a hot bath for you as he sat you down in the tub, watching the male walk into the shower.

Once you finished cleansing yourself, you applied lotion and put on a grey nightgown, going braless and panty-less, feeling rejuvenated. You observed Marvin exit the bathroom, still towel-clad and dry from his shower, then he playfully slapped your ass, causing you to laugh.

You passed Marvin his clothes and boxers, his brows raised in confusion but he grabbed them, hoping that he could spend the night with you, cuddle with you but you only wanted to lose your V-card, it was a one-time thing right?

“I had a great time with you Marv, thank you..” you said with a warm tone, smiling at him.

It saddened him, but he understood the situation; both of you were grown adults, and he didn't want to complicate things or come off as inappropriate.

Following his divorce last year from his ex-wife and the loss of custody of his daughter, he faced difficulties in finding success in dating.

But friendship was still an important to him, "Y-Yeah, i had a great time with you as well, Goodnight,“

After that, he walked out of the bedroom and gets dressed, bids you a farwell and told you to be safe. He walked through the door and closed it behind him, he sighed lowly.

He walked back next door to his house, catching nosey-ass Ms. Parker watching him leave, he rolled his eyes. Making his way toward the front door of his house, unlocking it and stepping inside.

You heard his voice crack slightly, maintaining boundaries with each other was important.

Your phone buzzed from your friends texting you in the group chat and Facetimeing you, you gave them all the details.

Of course, they squealed and cheered you on. You laid on your back and gazed at the ceiling.

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#black!reader #black fanfiction #laz alonso #mm x reader #marvin milk #the boys x black reader #the boys amazon #mother’s milk x black reader #mother’s milk fic #marvin milk fic #black!fem!reader

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honeysuckleharringtons · 4 months ago

Note

any chance you could do Counselors' Lounge for steve please? 🫶🏼💫

hi, love!! i am so so sorry this took so long to get out, work stuff happened and mental health stuff happened but i hope this was worth the wait! it's also not technically workplace but they are working at a summer camp, but if you wanted something else, feel free to leave another ask and i write a new one hehe 🫶🏻💛

"Take Me To The Lake" ~ S. Harrington

Summary: In which Steve's last summer at his childhood summer camp becomes his favorite summer ever.

Pairing: Steve Harrington x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 2,048 (she got a lil wordy oops)

Content Warning: reader and steve are implied to be around 18/19, sexual humor and fade to black smut bc steve is a hoe, light mentions of food, mostly fluff but a lil angsty at times, possibly bad descriptions of volleyball bc it's been a minute since i played, reader from ohio lol, lmk if i missed anything!

Extra Notes: yeah i did name it after a taylor lyric, what about it??

Originally Written: 07/07/2024 through 0718/2024

Beta Read By: @writer-in-theory 🫶🏻❤️

masterlist | summer celebration

“You're going down!” Steve shouted from his side of the sandy volleyball court, hands on his hips to further prove his point.

You simply shook your head. “You wish, pretty boy!” It looked a whole lot like he mouthed something to the effect of ‘Yeah, I do,’ but a children's summer camp wasn't exactly the place to unpack that.

Camp Clearwater was probably your favorite place on Earth, and it was the one place on Earth where you were guaranteed a month of wonderful bliss with your favorite person ever. To say it was your favorite month of all twelve in a year was probably a little biased, but when you were getting to see the one person on the planet you adored more than anyone else, it was hard not to pick favorites.

Steve Harrington had started out just like any other camper in your eyes: for one, your rival, considering you were never on the same team at camp due to gender differences; not to mention, he was someone you only saw that one time of year. But, thanks to raging hormones at the wonderful age of thirteen, a chance game of “spin the bottle” after dark had brought the two of you together and you'd been inseparable ever since. Sure, you were pretty much only guaranteed the month of July together, but after that fateful first kiss, you called each other every night and all but forced your parents to drive you to the other's city every now and again for a date or two.

“Alright, when the whistle blows, the Ladybugs will serve,” the announcer practically yelled through the bullhorn. Your bones rattled with the volume of her shout, but it only added to the excitement coursing through you.

The whistle blew, the ball went up, and Kimmy smacked it right into the back corner of the court. Was it cheating for you to pick your two best players for the championship set? Maybe, but with Kimmy's precise serves and Megan's ability to keep the ball in the air no matter how many times she had to dive or slide, it would feel wrong for anyone else to be on that court.

The girls met in the middle of the court for a high five, clearly proud of the serve. Cheering them on from the sidelines, you yelled, “Good job with the ace, girls!”

The ball went up again, this time a lighter serve that barely made it over the net, taking out the setter of Steve's team. Still, they managed to keep the ball up, even with the weaker of their players being the one to spike the ball back over to your side of the court. It went back and forth a few times, eventually ending when Kimmy's block went out of bounds.

Steve had definitely brought his A Game when training the two boys on his team, seeing as most of the round, both your team and his were neck and neck on points. Before you knew it, the score was twenty-three to twenty-three, and either team needed only two more points to win.

In hindsight, maybe it wasn't the best decision to coach against your boyfriend. Sure, healthy competition was always a good thing in relationships, but it was Steve's last year as a counselor, and you'd hate for him to walk away sad. Although, from the crease forming between his brows, you could tell that he was more stressed than anything right now.

“Come on, guys, you got this!” he shouted from his side of the court, hands clapping loudly in excitement. You couldn't resist doing the same, turning to your own team and cheering them on.

The next point went to the Ladybugs when Megan surprised them with a tip that fell right over the net, giving the guys' team basically no time to bounce back. You were one point away, and the thought of winning the championship—even if it was only just at some summer camp—made your heart rattle inside your rib cage.

Then, the Beetles took the next point with a shocking service ace, keeping their team and the game alive.

Two more points and again, it was anyone's game. Your heart pounded and your hands shook at the exhilaration and thrill that this game was giving you.

The ball went back and forth, back and forth, until you'd forgotten you were a coach, not a spectator. You were just as entranced by the ball as the parents watching from the bleachers were, and you didn't even realize what had happened until all the girls on your team came flooding over to you, all squeals and cheers.

“We did it!” one girl, Britt, screamed as she jumped up and down. Another squealed, apparently incapable of forming words. Megan and Kimmy were all smiles as they did the handshake all the girls in your cabin had started doing toward the beginning of the month.

You couldn't help but be proud of your girls, not just Kimmy and Megan, but each of the girls on your team that had fought for this year's trophy. In a sense, it was your last trophy, since you'd now graduated high school and wouldn't be playing in college. Though, you definitely were coming back to Camp Clearwater every summer you could.

After your celebratory dinner in the dining hall and the most bittersweet of goodbyes as you sent all your new friends back home to their parents, you couldn't help but search for your ‘rival’ coach to see how he was handling things.

You found him back in his cabin, alone since all the campers had already been sent home. Walls that were usually filled with posters of baseball players and favorite movies were now bare, beds that normally housed pre-teens were now vacant, and the boy who usually wore a smile was now sporting a frown, one that displayed what looked like sadness and homesickness.

“Cheer up, pretty boy,” you said, catching his attention, his eyes darting up to meet your figure where you stood in the doorway. “You've always known I'm better than you at volleyball.”

He snickered, his frown slightly disappearing. “You wish.”

You stepped closer to him, shutting the cabin's front door lightly behind yourself. “What was that you mouthed at me today? Yeah, I do?”

Steve rolled his eyes, though his expression displayed joy at your words. “Thought you might not have caught that.”

Your hands met his hair, swiping through the brown strands delicately. “I'm a better lip reader than you thought, Harrington.”

“Yeah, that's not your only specialty with lips though, is it?”

A scoff escaped your lips. “Is that all you think about?”

“Sometimes,” he said, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. “But mostly I just think about how pretty you are and how lucky I am.”

A smile pulled at your own lips, your heart nearly melting at his sweet words. Still, despite his demeanor, you still felt the need to ask, “Are we okay after today? No hard feelings?”

His brows creased. “Why wouldn't we be okay?”

“I did beat you at your very last Beach Bug tournament,” you reminded him, your hands moving down to his own and interlocking your fingers.

“Don't remind me,” he said dramatically, throwing his head back. Then, he met your eyes again, his expression sickeningly sweet. “Seriously though, we're okay.”

You held out your pinky finger, a pout appearing on your face. “You prommy?”

He locked his pinky around yours. “Yes, I prommy,” he replied sarcastically before pulling your hand up to his mouth and kissing the knuckles.

Then he was pulling you onto the bed with him, both your legs and his braiding together as they dangled off the side of the mattress. Steve's hand met your waist as he pulled you into his side while his lips met your head for a soft kiss.

“Weird how this is the last weekend I'll spend in one of these cabins,” he mentioned as his eyes darted from you to the roof.

“Don't remind me,” you parroted his words from before, only this time they were true.

His hand slid down to meet your bare leg, skin sun-kissed from all the time you'd been spending in it lately. You noticed his eyes avoiding yours, and the homesickness that swirled in them. The two of you still had another forty-eight hours before you had to leave each other, and yet he was already longing to be back in your arms.

“I do have some somewhat good news, though.”

Your heart raced at the possibilities, though your brows wrinkled in confusion. “What?”

“Well, I was gonna tell you over the phone when I found out but I thought it would be better to tell you in person. Just in case I don't get the reaction I'm hoping for.”

This only made you more confused. “Why would I be upset over good news?”

By now, the two of you had made your way back to sitting, his legs still dangling from the bed while yours were now pulled underneath yourself. Steve’s eyes were more serious now, his breathing speeding up as he got closer to his confession. “Do you remember how I said I was moving for college?”

“Yeah, your dad was trying to get you into U of Chicago,” you waved your hand as you remembered his words. “Alma Mater crap, right?”

Steve chuckled at your question. “I may have not been entirely sincere about the whole thing.”

He just kept adding to your state of confusion. “What are you talking about?”

Steve took your hands in his, watching as they intertwined once again. “He was trying to get me into UChi… but that's not where I'm going.”

“What are you…”

The next statement had your heart racing just as much as the volleyball match that afternoon. “I got into Bowling Green.”

Your mouth flew open as your arms wrapped around his neck, squeals flying out of your mouth left and right. “You're kidding!”

His head shook against your shoulder where it rested, and you swore you felt a tear slip against your tee shirt. “I know it's not Denison, but-”

“It's here. It's two hours away from me. Not six.” By now, tears were forming in your own eyes, your smile wider than the lake outside of that cabin. You pulled his face away from your shoulder, meeting his gaze again. “Why would I be upset over this?”

Those big brown eyes you loved fell down to the floor, his tears drying up in an instant. “It doesn't mean I can come back here.”

You wiped at a stray drop of water on his cheek, causing him to shiver at the touch. “Why not?”

“My dad made an agreement with me. If I promised him my summers at the firm, I could promise you my weekends during the school year.”

Butterflies shot off in your stomach like fireworks. He may not have been able to give you everything you wanted, but he could give you enough. And that was simply all you needed.

Hands made their way into dark brown, beautiful strands. Lips met skin, the pulse point of his neck to be precise. “Steven,” one kiss, “Otis,” another kiss, on his jaw, “Harrington,” one last kiss, underneath his ear.

“Hmm?” he asked. You could almost hear his eyebrow cocking upward.

Another long kiss, then a small nibble to his earlobe. “I love you.”

“You're insane.”

His tee shirt made a light thump against the floor. “Insane for you.”

Steve looked down at you through dark eyelashes, meeting you with a half smirk. “I take it you're excited about this whole thing?”

“Very,” you nodded, your grin outright showy at this point. “You remember earlier how you said I was going down?”

The man could hardly keep his composure as your hands met the button of his shorts. “You are truly insane.”

“Maybe…” You finally made your way off the bed, sinking to your knees in front of him. “Do you wanna find out how insane I truly am?”

“I've died. I'm in Heaven right now. Or Hell, one of the two.”

“Me too, Stevie,” you said, leaving a kiss on his knee. “Me too.”

-> taglist: @dungeons-are-too-cold @ducky-died-inside @awkotaco24 @liberhoe @princesseddie @corrodedseraphine @manuosorioh @esoltis280 @mochminnie

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likeadevils · 1 year ago

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welcome to swiftie tumblr here’s a style guide

are you afraid of people making judgements about the way your profile looks but you don't know enough about tumblr to tell what people might judge you about? then this post is for you!

this is mostly gonna apply to specifically swiftie tumblr, and even then like. you’re totally free to present yourself however you want, but these are just the dominant cultural norms

URLS

album and song titles are the most sought after

lyrics are also very popular (the shorter the better)

dashes are considered a bit cringe but slight misspellings or adding an s to words are fine

adding your name to your url will make people go 🫵 twitter user 🫵

PROFILE PICTURES

you should have a pfp chosen before you start following people, otherwise people will go “oh fuck a bot” and automatically block you

pictures of yourself will also make people go 🫵 twitter user 🫵

gradient/one color backgrounds behind a picture of taylor are still very common, but plain pictures of taylor are also a vibe

if they have that one particular pale pink-ish with a bit of grain filter people will go 🫵 twitter user 🫵

displaying your pfp in a circle format on your mobile theme is more common but if you have it square people won’t judge you

BACKGROUND IMAGES

there’s lots of acceptable ways to do this but something unique to tumblr is playing with the border between the background and the rest of your blog

a few years ago it was super popular to add a ripped paper effect to the bottom, and that’s still hanging on

a curved border (either a wave or a bowl shape) is also fairly common

making the picture smaller than the borders has started to gain traction (i started noticing it becoming popular like, mid pandemic)

hiding the pfp from your mobile theme to make your background flow more is super common but the color schemes should still compliment each other

MOBILE THEME

you can use this handy dandy tool to make your background/text color match a color in your background/pfp

i’d say white or black backgrounds are still the most common but i’ve found the colored background with white text to be making a strong comeback

there’s not a ton of judgement about this, as long as it all matches

BLOG TITLE

blog titles can really be whatever but in general keep it short (less that one row)

a short lyric, a word, or an emoji are the most common options

DESCRIPTION

i’ve found getting on a computer and going to yoururl.tumblr.com and clicking on the little painting thing on the top right corner to be the best way to edit text but the mobile app works fine too (unless you’re adding links then you have to go on a computer)

in general 2-3 rows are the most common, and ideally it’s not just one big wall of text

general format is name (this is where you link your caard/about page) / age/age range / pronouns in the top row and a (short) lyric you like in the bottom

another popular format is everything being a lyric and adding links to stuff on important words

if you like to make edits/art/some other type of original content feel free to add a link in your description

you can add links (again only on desktop) like this

MISC BLOG SETUP STUFF

if your likes/following are visible (especially if both are visible) people will go 🫵 twitter user 🫵

some people show their most popular posts, some people don’t, to my knowledge there’s no judgement either way

your pinned post can be whatever you want it to be but it’s super common to have it be a short about/navigation page

most people have a tag they use for personal posts (“name speaks/rambles/etc” is probably the most common) but you don’t have to if you don’t want to

INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER PEOPLE

follow for follows are not super common. it happens (if you follow someone people it’s common for that person to check out your blog but not in any way a guarantee) but for the most part being tumblr mutuals is a higher bar to clear than “oh this person follows me.” if you want to get peoples attention i would recommend this method, but even then the person can chose not to follow you without it being an insult to your character

blocking is more common than it is on twitter and not an insult to your character. repeatedly starting shit with other people will cause your followers to block you. if you want to start a fight with someone just block them instead

feel free to reblog old posts and spam like

while the mechanics and terminology are very similar, in terms of the way they are perceived a tumblr like is not equal to a twitter like, a tumblr reply is not equal to a twitter reply, and a reblog is not equivalent to retweet

likes are generally utilized as a little hello or bookmarks

reblogs are closer to twitter likes than anything else

replies have a fairly unique function in tumblr interactions but i think the closest way to describe it is like a semi-public dm to the op— chances are no one else is going to see it but the op (except if you replied through a reblog, then the reblogger will see it, but the reblogger will still likely read your reply as intended for the op)

if you have a comment put it in the tags. you know those old screenshots of tumblr posts that have a million “oh my god this is so funny”s breaking up the content of the post? that’s widely considered not only cringe but a bit rude now, please don't do that

if you like someone’s tags, reblog from them and say “prev tags”. every few weeks you’ll see someone from a different corner of tumblr say “prev tags is dead!” but on swiftie tumblr prev tags has never died and doesn’t show signs of dying in the near future

@-ing taylor in a post (edit: unless it’s a joke, @-ing taylor as a joke is very funny feel free to do that) will make people go 🫵 twitter user 🫵

again you can present yourself however you want, tumblr is the home of cringe, these are just the dominant cultural norms that i’ve noticed on swiftie tumblr specifically

#txt*#please don't yell at me

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1moremilgram-enjoyer · 1 year ago

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MeMe and Control over One's Own Destiny

Alright I've been holding off on talking about Mikoto until Double releases, but I saw he was on a train and my brain went Silly. Don't you understand how crazy the symbolism is?! (<- Mentally unwell)

So now I have to talk about how MeMe handles the concept of destiny and the control the alters have on the system's future, because it's honestly so interesting to me.

CW Murder

Disclaimer: I'm not an expert on DID, feel free to correct me if I get anything wrong

The first big connection between MeMe and the idea of destiny is obviously the recurring theme of tarot cards. These are used for divination, meaning the practice of trying to learn about the future through supernatural means. In other words, they're deeply tied to the concept of destiny, of future events that will come to affect us, and the ways we may influence it. What's important to take away here is that, regardless of whether or not you believe in it, reading tarot cards is a way for people to try to understand their future so they can take try to take control of it.

Once you make this little connection, a lot of the imagery in MeMe starts to get interesting. To give you an example, one of the opening shots is of a bunch of tarot cards all scattered in water.

So, their future is scattered, it's uncertain, it's messy, etc. You get the idea, I don't think I need to elaborate on why Mikoto's life is a bit of a mess.

However, I think there are two scenes which are particularly interesting in this regard. When Aokoto (host) draws a blank card in the first chorus, and when he gathers the cards in the deck at the start of the third chorus.

So first, we can be sure this is Aokoto because the lyrics not only use 'boku', but also express confusion at the situation, which only really fits the host.

Why am I [boku] here? It must be a mistake? Take a good look at me [boku], until you find me The truth will come to reveal itself I won't forgive you if this is happening to me even though I'm right

Why am I [boku] here? It must be a mistake? Take a good look at me [boku], until you find me

(Note: If there is no clarification on which pronoun is used when I put lyrics here, it's because the Japanese doesn't actually use any pronouns)

What's happening here? As stated, the tarot cards are a representation of destiny and their future. By drawing a tarot card, Aokoto is trying to understand his situation and destiny better. And by stacking the deck up neatly, he's trying to take control of his destiny, of his future. The desire to be free and be able to control his life is a very important part of Aokoto's character:

(T1) Q14: What will you be doing in 10 years? M (Ao): I'd like to work independently and make my own design company. That way I'm free to do what I want.

(T1) Q8: What are your reasons for wanting to work for your current job? M (Ao): I work at an advertising company that's at the top of the business world, you know? Just being able to get to that position is something to be proud of. I worked really hard to get hired there, too.

Aokoto places high value on the work he's done, because that shows how committed he is to having control over his life and his job.

(T1) Q12: How do you get to work? M (Ao): I ride a road bike. It's a hobby of mine, and it's good to exercise too. I don't need to worry about missing the train, but that can either be a good or bad thing.

I've seen this answer interpreted a few different ways, but personally I believe what Aokoto's implying is that the freedom of not having to rely on the train is both good and bad. Essentially, he doesn't have to stress about missing it, but there's also no guarantee that he'll get to work in time without the reliability of the train. However, he still prefers the bike, because it gives him more freedom.

... Foreshadowing is a narrative device-

There's also the matter of the tarot spreads which appear in that "blank card" scene. There are two distinct ones:

Now, the whole mess is too complicated to get into here (and I actually am holding off from analysis until we get extra context from Double for that reason), but I believe one of these spreads belongs to Aokoto, and the other belongs to Midokoto (Secret Third gatekeeper alter). Which is which doesn't matter, because the card I want to focus on is the card in the "Hopes and Fears" position (EXTREMELY long story), which is I - The Magician (upright) in both of them. The Magician represents (among a fuckton of other things because tarot cards are frustratingly ambiguous by design) power, potential, basically the ability to achieve your goals. Thus, in the "Hopes and Fears" position, it would mean Aokoto wants to be able to control his life and fulfill his potential, and is afraid he might not be able to.

There is also the "Present" or "Self" card being the reversed XII - The Hanged Man. The Hanged Man upright represents (among other things) patience, the hope that as long as everything continues the same, things will turn out okay. Thus, reversed, it could be read as implying the querent is trying their best to change their situation, but are failing at it.

And this is where we get to the second part of the scenes I pointed out before. Because when Aokoto draws a card by itself, it's a blank card. In other words, no matter how much he wants to, Aokoto doesn't have full control of his future. I mean, obviously, right? He himself can't control his destiny when the other alters are also doing pretty impactful stuff. Depending on what theories you subscribe to, he may have ended up in Milgram without even murdering anyone, which is what I believe.

The same can be seen when he tries to put the deck back together. You might notice the deck there is actually thinner than the other time we see it.

He tries to "fix" or "arrange" his future, but he's "playing with half a deck", he's only half in control of his future. In this metaphor, the other alter(s) would have the rest of the deck, would control the rest of the system's destiny. Does that make sense?

Which gets us to the other alter who does tarot reading.

Notice the red mannequin there? The way 0 - The Fool's pouch of food is now a skull? And you can see this alter, heavily implied to be Orekoto, reads a Celtic cross spread with the Fool in the "querent" or "present" position.

Thus, The Fool represents Orekoto, and he too desires control over their future. That's why he's reading the spread, the same way Aokoto previously tried to draw a card to check his future. And I think it's pretty safe to say Orekoto must have killed or attacked at least one person, which is his way of trying to secure a better future for the system. Protector alter and all that.

[Timelines] Mikoto (Ao): Can you hear me talking like this? If you can hear me, then answer me. Why are you doing such horrible things? Hey. It's your fault things have become like this. ……Answer me!! Mikoto (Ore): Ah, ahhh!! Because, I did it for my/your (Boku's) sake…! Because I/you (Boku-ga) would break apart!!

(Translation by Maristelina)

Plus all the other reasons to believe that.

That spread is a bit odd for many reasons, but one thing we can pretty much be sure of is Orekoto's "Hopes and Fears" are represented by VII - The Chariot.

The Chariot (among other things) represents strength of will and control, basically think of it as a more forceful version of The Magician. Thus, Orekoto also hopes he can take control of their life, though he does it through force, and he fears he might be getting too forceful.

If I could laugh, if I could go back I'd play dead even though I'm alive right? If I could end, if I could stop How long would this dream go on?

Assuming it is Orekoto singing here (no pronouns so), it seems he doesn't want to kill, but sees himself cornered, like he has to kill. If he could stop, he'd "go back and play dead even while alive", he wouldn't kill anymore. But when he feels "boku will fall apart", he tries to save him through any means he can, which is likely murder. The exact reasons are as of yet unknown (someone stalking them, stress, could be a lot of things), but that's the idea.

However, you tarot enthusiast might notice a few interesting differences between this Chariot card and the actual Chariot card. This is important, because the meaning of these cards comes from the images, so when the image differs (apart from stylistic choices obvs), the meaning differs with it.

First important difference: the real Chariot has lions, MeMe's Chariot has bikes. This again relates bikes to the idea of freedom and one's own will.

Foreshadowing is-

Second; MeMe's Chariot has the protagonist swinging around a mace, which the real Chariot just has a wand. I frankly don't think this means anything other than MeMe's Chariot explicitly references murder rather than other, non-physical forms of strength and force.

Third, an important part of the real Chariot is that the man doesn't hold a leash on the lions, he controls them through force of will, apparently. Meanwhile, the mannequin in MeMe's version does hold chains to control the bikes, which again I believe simply implies a more forceful and direct version of the meaning. Orekoto doesn't trust his destiny to guide the system in the right direction as long as they're strong enough, he feels he needs to have more direct control.

And finally, the lions in the real Chariot are fine, but in MeMe's version, one of the bikes is fucking exploding.

So what the hell is up with that? Well, let's keep in mind what I said before. Aokoto also wants control of his life. So I believe in a way these bikes represent Aokoto and Orekoto's actions. One of them Orekoto has direct control over (he controls his own actions, after all), while the other is getting hurt by Orekoto's control. Orekoto may want nothing more than to protect the system, but the way he does it is harmful to Aokoto and destroys the control he wants to have over their life. I mean, it landed them in Milgram (according to some interpretations), and it's not like Aokoto likes the murder.

(T1) Q6: Tell us what you hate. M (Ao): Staying up all night working / reptiles / violence

[Double Preview] Hey now, I [ore] saved you right? So why in the hell are you crying?

(I will use the preview as evidence, watch me)

Temporary CW for abusive relationships and rape (Mono Poisoner)

This idea of "love" that hurts the other is also implied by Mono Poisoner, their Trial 1 cover. Though to be clear, Orekoto is not anywhere near as awful as the protagonist of Mono Poisoner, since he isn't intentionally hurting the rest of the system, and obviously isn't actually abusing the other alter(s).

“She belongs completely, entirely to me!” Kissing, sleeping together, everything beyond that too No one can hope to cut this connection between us

After brandishing that poisonous desire to monopolize and having erased YOU completely, It seems like it can be easily embraced, the entirety of that heart “YOU best not get carried away!”

Taking out the really violent and abusive elements out, this does vaguely fit the idea I'm trying to get across.

Temporary CW over

Anyways, the point is that Orekoto wants control over their life, but is accidentally harming Aokoto by taking away his agency.

There is more symbolism of this ‘drive to control destiny’ in the moon which consistently appears throughout MeMe.

As you can see, it’s in the first quarter phase. This is halfway between the New Moon which represents the beginning of a journey and the Full Moon which represents the end or rebirth, and because of that, it can represent a difficult time where decisions must be made, a point where strength of will is necessary. This again fits both of Aokoto and Orekoto, since they’re both making important decisions for their future. Hence also why the moon is half and half, the future is being decided half by Aokoto, half by Orekoto.

Alternatively, you could read it as only Orekoto making decisions, with the other 'half' being "left in the dark" because Aokoto doesn't know what Ore's doing. That would explain why the moon only shows up in relation to Orekoto in the internal world and the murder scenes.

Heavy speculation incoming (more than before anyways)

But hold on a second. I said before the upright Hanged Man, the card on Mikoto's shirt through most of MeMe, is about patience and not doing anything to change their situation. This is somewhat contradictory to The Fool, which is all about new opportunities and taking new risks (long story), and is obviously contradictory to the reversed Hanged Man because that's how tarot cards work. Because of that, and everything else I've been saying, it feels like the upright Hanged Man doesn't really fit either Aokoto or Orekoto.

Which is why it's so convenient we have a third (plot-relevant, there may be more) alter who does want their life to continue as is, isn't it?

The minus energy that I swallowed Hugged me [boku] Maybe it's okay to try to keep on living Split in half, Make that heart beat

This scene is very clearly connected to the aftermath of a murder, and shows an alter that has accepted the "negative (minus) energy" of violence. However, the use of 'boku' rules out Orekoto as the singer. Thus, we have ourselves our favorite Secret Third Alter, Midokoto. And Midokoto says, filling in the blanks, that ‘maybe it’s okay to keep living [like this]’, as long as they ‘split in half’ to ‘make that heart beat.’

Before we continue, I have to address that yes, I believe Midokoto is represented by the upright Hanged Man, even though he’s the only alter who’s never seen wearing the shirt. Either his back is turned, he’s shirtless, or straight up has a completely different shirt. However, I actually think this makes perfect sense.

It’s widely accepted that if Midokoto exists, he’s likely a gatekeeper alter who co-fronts most of the time, meaning he’s still aware of everything that’s happening even while he isn’t controlling the body (<- simplified version, read more if you’re interested [alter roles] [co-fronting]). Therefore, he’s a constant in Mikoto’s life, and it makes sense for him to always be present in some way as long as any alter is on screen. He’s on the shirt when the other two are there, so when the shirt isn’t there, it’s because the ‘upright Hanged Man’ is the one controlling the body. Does that make sense?

I should note, Mikoto’s version of The Hanged Man includes a bunch of eyes on the background.

Which fits the idea of Midokoto overseeing everything in the others’ lives, and for the inverse in Aokoto’s case could also be interpreted as societal pressure, long story.

Yes, Midokoto's celtic cross spread has the reversed Hanged Man in the middle of The Wheel, but let’s just say that means ‘present’ rather than ‘querent.’ Yes, there’s a Fool portrait in the background of that one scene, I swear there’s an explanation but it’s too long to get into here.

Point is, he’s the one who wants their life to continue as is, and thus the one who fits the idea of ‘patience’ that The Hanged Man (upright) embodies.

But make no mistake. He still has The Magician as his “Hopes and Fears” in the spread which represents him, meaning he does yearn for some control and fears not having the means to achieve it.

However, I believe the type of control he’s looking for is different from the other two. See, while Aokoto wants freedom and control over his life in a more conventional way (good job, free movement, independence), and Orekoto wants control in a ‘no one will stop “I/you” from achieving what “I/you” want’ kinda way (aka safety), Midokoto wants control over the system, not the rest of their life. He wants to keep Aokoto and Orekoto ‘split in half’ because that’s how they can both live as they please, it ‘makes their heart beat.’

That’s why the moon that represents decision-making is split in half. That’s why there’s only two bikes in The Chariot card. That’s why Midokoto never bothers to read a single tarot card. Because the ones deciding where their life moves are Aokoto and Orekoto, all Midokoto does is keep things running smoothly. Though of course, this is all just my interpretation.

In fact, you can even tell based on what we believe each alter to do. Aokoto does the day-to-day work, making sure he has the opportunity to achieve his dream of working independently in the future. Orekoto deals with threats until the system as a whole is safe, which includes throwing away evidence so they don't get arrested. He does a dogshit job at it, yeah, but he's trying.

However, once they get into the apartment, when the external threats have been dealt with, the one who bathes to make sure Aokoto doesn't learn of Orekoto's actions, the one who keeps their lives metaphorically 'split in half', is Midokoto.

Heavy speculation kinda over

So, where were we? I said this was inspired by the Double thumbnail, didn’t I? Well, yes, even if I have very little to say about it in relation to this post. You could say I kinda, uh, went off the rails a bit (<- I am immensely unfunny)

As I said, he’s on a train. And with all the stuff I mentioned before about how bikes are associated with freedom for him and stuff, it makes the imagery of being stuck on a train with the victims (I assume that’s what the mannequins represent, I’ve seen other interpretations) a lot more interesting.

Think about it. When you get on a train, you made the decision to enter it, but you don’t have control over where it goes. And that’s what’s happening here: the alter on screen is in for the ride, and he feels there’s nothing he can do to alter the course. It’s like a railroad.

Aokoto didn’t get on this train. Obviously the scene is metaphorical (otherwise who left their mannequins in the goddamn public train), but we know Aokoto doesn’t use the train. However, he’s on it now, alongside Orekoto who is probably the one fronting here? I assume, given the red light in the background. In my mind it would make sense for the thumbnails to be Aokoto T1 -> Orekoto T2 -> Midokoto T3, but that doesn’t have to be the case.

What I’m trying to convey is the symbolism of the system being stuck in a set path, a set destiny, caused by a decision not made by Aokoto. And if Orekoto is really the one fronting or being represented here, he’s miserable because of the path his actions have landed him on.

If I could break it, if I could change Can I do it, I wonder from when I started to give up

He’s ‘given up’ because he’s accepted he’s ‘on the train’, his path is already set and he can’t change it (“if I could change”). Yes, give me that Orekoto angst!

Anyways, please keep in mind this is all my interpretation of the symbolism and all of this is extremely subjective, especially with how confusing Mikoto's entire story is. I hope you forgive my brainrot at seeing a guy take a train. Take care!

#milgram #milgram theory #mikoto kayano #meme mv #do i tag the alters?#why not #aokoto #orekoto #midokoto

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hitlikehammers · 10 months ago

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hitlikehammers' Hobbit-Birthday Fic-Giving Fest

So you know how Hobbits celebrate their birthdays by giving gifts, rather than receiving them?

WELCOME TO MY HOBBIT-STYLE BIRTHDAY FIC-GIVING PROMPT FEST!!!

wherein YOU prompt ME to write stuff, and to clarify from the outset: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE FOLLOWING ME TO PARTICIPATE. Did you find this at random? Via reblog? Just kinda want a fic but don’t want my babble regularly on your feed? I. DO. NOT. CARE. This is my birthday month (well, soon) and I want to be giving and gregarious and generous and generally positive about writing little gifts so: prompt anyway.

THE RULES

✨ You have THREE (3) choices for prompting

CONCEPT PROMPTS: basically Ao3 tags, or close enough—pick one, give me a little direction if you don’t want me to just write ~anything~, and then you’re all set SONG PROMPTS: pick a song, ideally also pick a lyric from the song, and if you want to give me some short direction for it go ahead; these are the largely-random choice of Spotify on shuffle; it got kinda moody and angsty on me and picked songs I was never huge into and some from legitimately years ago but: the algorithm prevails DIALOGUE PROMPTS: either inspiration or to be included in the fic, I cannot guarantee either way but if you have a STRONG PREFERENCE, you should point that out; and again, if you want to provide a couple words of direction: do so

✨ if I am already writing you a gift fic for something else: THIS IS DIFFERENT (also shorter so even MORE DIFFERENT)—ask again if you want to, you’re more than welcome, honestly it’s more a gift for me because…hobbity-birthday

✨ you have to MESSAGE/ASK ME or COMMENT ON THIS POST with your prompt because I am going to miss it if you reblog or tag or whatever-other-means-of-telling-me that is not a message/ask/comment, and that would be v sad ✨ I will only be writing ONE FIC PER PROMPT, so if you like one? Grab it. If I haven't had time to edit the list (which is likely because timezones and my work schedule) and they get duplicated, I'll reach out to the second claimer for a new prompt.

✨ if you’re not okay with NSWF content, you need to state that in the prompting message; I’m not saying you’re going get NSFW stuff, but if you’re absolutely against it, gotta flag that in advance

✨ because someone asked: if you want to attach one of these to one of my existing fics/‘verses, include that because that’s usually super fun and there are only maybe two fics I wouldn’t try to follow up with a tiny thing on request

✨ the default ship right now is my most currently active one: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson. If you want to prompt a ship that is not Steddie, note that and check if I’m familiar with it here, or take your chances; I’ll message you if it’s not something I write

SO: pick one of the prompt lists above and send it my way so I can start writing you words.

PROMPTS ARE OPEN THROUGH 31 JANUARY 💜

so...y'know. Prompt me. It's my BIRTHDAY 🎉

also if you hate links have all the prompts, here: below

✨

CONCEPT PROMPTS: pick one, a provide a little direction with 2-3 words, up to a sentence

Merperson/Siren AU

Monsterfucking

Wrong Number/Wrong Blind Date AU

Hurt/Comfort

Baked Goods (as in: prompt me with a pastry you’d like to be eating rn)

Secret Relationship

Royalty AU

Established Relationship

Dark AU

Near-Death Experience

Missed Connection AU

Cocktails (as in: prompt me with how your mixologist knows you)

Misunderstandings

Pre-Season 4

Domestic Fluff

Creaturefic

[Character]-Has-Powers

Vampire AU

PWP

Famous AU

Presumed Dead/Emotional Reunions

Soulmate AU

Whump

First Times

Warm Drinks (as in: prompt me using what you order from your barista)

Magic AU

Fluff

Meet Cute/Ugly

Nightmares

Angels/Demons AU

SONG PROMPTS: pick a song, ideally a lyric FROM the song and a word or two for context of your intended prompting

Never Tear Us Apart—INXS

I Will Wait—Mumford & Sons

Any Other World—MIKA

The Days Of The Phoenix—A.F.I.

Manhattan Skyline—a-ha

Jilted Lovers & Broken Hearts—Brandon Flowers

Why Can’t This Be Love—Van Halen

The Navesink Banks—Gaslight Anthem

Holocene—Bon Iver

Wicked Campaign—Modest Mouse

Follow—Brandi Carlile

Jesus Christ—Brand New

Little Talks—Of Monsters and Men

Clever Meals—Tegan and Sara

Will Anybody Ever Love Me?—Sufjan Stevens

A Light On In The Dark—Darlingside

To Build A Home—The Cinematic Orchestra

sever the blight—hemlocke springs

These Things—She Wants Revenge

The Light Behind Your Eyes—My Chemical Romance

Come Undone—Duran Duran

Song For Zula—Phosphorescent

Last Words of a Shooting Star—Mitski

This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)—Talking Heads

Majesty—Madrugada

Fake Empire—The National

A Dustland Fairytale—The Killers

Fast Car—Tracy Chapman

At The Bottom Of Everything—Bright Eyes

The Trapeze Swinger—Iron & Wine

QUOTE PROMPTS: pick one, and if you have a context, I’ll take up to 3 words as direction

“That’s… not what that means.”

”They say when you meet the love of your life, time stops, and that's true.”

“…Why?”

“Now, I’m not going to deny that I was aware of your beauty. But the point is, this has nothing to do with your beauty. As I got to know you, I began to realise that beauty was the least of your qualities. I became fascinated by your goodness. I was drawn in by it.”

“I’ve never felt this way before.”

”So it's not gonna be easy. It's gonna be really hard, and we're gonna have to work at this every day."

“What are you doing?”

“I cannot let you burn me up, nor can I resist you. No mere human can stand in a fire and not be consumed.”

“I assume I deserve this, but can you tell me why you want to kill me this time?”

”We aren't here to make things perfect."

“You meant the world to me. I should have protected you.”

"You're the first boy I ever kissed... and I want you to be the last."

“What? Like it’s hard?”

“Every atom of your flesh is as dear to me as my own: in pain and sickness it would still be dear.”

“Who did this to you?”

“I want to tell you with my remaining strength that I love you. I always have. I'll drift next to you every day as a ghost just to be with you. Even if I was banished to the darkest place, my love will keep me from being a lonely spirit."

“You here to finish me off, sweetheart?”

”When I first saw you, I felt like I knew you, and I couldn't stop seeing my life with you, and building a family together. One that isn't stuck in the pain of the past. It's very pretty."

“You’re worth so much more than me.”

“I’ve never had a moment’s doubt. I love you. I believe in you completely. You are my dearest one.”

“This isn’t going to end well.”

"Truth is, sometimes I miss you so much I can hardly stand it."

“Please! You have to let me make this right.”

“Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”

“You’re a monster.”

“You and I, it’s as though we have been taught to kiss in heaven and sent down to earth together, to see if we know what we were taught.”

“You don’t want this.”

“You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love--I love--I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.”

“Why did you lie?”

”I don't want to sound foolish, but remember love is what brought you here. And if you've trusted love this far, don't panic now. Trust it all the way."

#hitlikehammers v words #hitlikehammers writes #hitlikehammers' hobbit-birthday prompt fest

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louisupdates · 2 years ago

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Louis Tomlinson’s ‘All Of Those Voices’ is a love letter to the people who made his career what it is today – review

DORK

Jessica Goodman | March 27, 2023

What do you do when it’s all over? Not just a badly paraphrased Elton John lyric, this is the question that Louis Tomlinson’s documentary sets out to answer right at the start. More than a story of fighting for success against all odds, ‘All Of Those Voices’ is a love letter to the people who made his career what it is today.

Rewinding the clock from Louis’ triumphant show at London’s O2 Shepherds Bush Empire last December to his televised X-Factor audition in 2010 (after declaring “I hope it doesn’t make any part of this movie” in ‘This Is Us’, this time his audition performance is not shown), the film opens with a rapid-fire rollercoaster of emotions.

We see the immediate success of One Direction at odds with the heartache of not being featured on the band’s early singles, achieving more songwriting credits than any of his bandmates is juxtaposed against not being prepared – or even feeling any sense of closure – when the group took their hiatus. All of this occurs in the space of about ten minutes.

“By the end of it, I knew exactly who I was – in the band,” Louis tells the camera. “There’s no guarantee and there’s no security,” he adds later. “Anything could happen next.”

What happened next is the story this documentary was created to tell. Through loss and love, both personal and professional, this is – as Louis declared when the film release was announced – “my story with you in my own words.”

‘All Of Those Voices’ is a story of love and family – both the kind you grow up with and the kind you find for yourself. If grief is love with nowhere left to go, this documentary is Louis’ way of expressing that. Heartfelt conversations with family at home in Doncaster pay tribute to the life and legacy of the family he’s lost, while humorous conversations to camera on the road honour the family that’s been found along the way.

Family, friends, colleagues, and band are just as crucial to this story as Louis is. Whether they’re offering testament to his character, guiding him through vocal warm-ups turned stage performance therapy sessions (sir, we’re going to need to hear more of those lower registers), or leaning into the camera as if sharing a secret to declare “it were better than one of the One Direction gigs!” of one of Louis’ own headline shows, though all the ups and downs, this documentary is a celebration.

There are sad moments and there are soft moments (find a more adorable moment in any documentary than Louis’ son Freddie drawing his dad’s logo with a stick in the sand, we dare you), but through it all, ‘All Of Those Voices’ is a celebration of the graft, the grit, and the people who make us who we are.

It’s not comprehensive. Louis’ annual Away From Home festival isn’t doesn’t get as much as a mention (given that there’s an entire documentary devoted to the first event, a lack of focus on this makes sense), and breaking his arm twice in the space of a year is also glossed over (though, to be honest, we probably wouldn’t own up to that either).

What this documentary is, is connective. We see the band become a tight unit, celebrating not only the music but the fun they’ve had playing it along the way. Drinking in the bus back lounge and playing a game of odds that results in garish gig attire and on-stage planking and push-ups, the film is a celebration of shared experiences.

As is customary with anything Louis does, his fans play just as important a role as he does. We see fan projects in action, light displays created by the crowd in appreciation of the person in front of them on stage. We also see a fan holding a sign saying ‘I’m 13 but I’m taller than you’.

A particularly heartfelt moment sees a fan read out an essay they wrote convincing their family to agree to them camping out before the show. When they finish, their friends tell them “I love you.” It’s unclear how long they’ve actually known each other, but all of this is what the fandom is all about: sharing enthusiasm, feeling connected, and supporting something you love – and having fun with it.

What’s next is anyone’s guess, but what’s clear is this is only the beginning. With a number-one album in the bank and an arena tour set for later this year, Louis and his fan’s successes seem only set to grow.

“This is all I fucking ever wanted,” Louis tells the camera as the film reaches its conclusion. If it’s not too cheesy to wrap up a review by quoting his own lyrics, then we think it’s fair to say, “we made it.”

#dork magazine #aotv review #louis tomlinson #27 march 2023

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sephirthoughts · 4 months ago

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sliding more snacks into your inbox > A-Z ask game: O(tailored) bc I'd like to put a song in your hands[And Then is Heard No More, Library of Ruina], W, X please!

O - Choose a song, what ship or character does it remind you of?

You chose the song and let me tell you what happened. I accidentally opened it in two windows, asynchronously, offset by almost exactly 42 seconds, and then i didn't shut the second window because it blew my fucking mind. Now I can't stop listening to it like this. 😂 It clashes in a couple places but that just feels appropriately eerie because it's such a weird fucking song. Like if i didn't look at the windows, i couldn't tell you when one ends and it's only the other winding down. I'm pretty sure it only works so well because the vocaloid's cadence and intonation are all so bizarre. Anyway that's where I'M at.

The song SCREAMS Sephiroth/Cloud to me. The lyrics just go right along with their whole story, plus the fact that its weird and kind of disembodied fits their mental states really well.

W - A trope which you are virtually certain to hate in any fandom.

hoooo boy, there are many of these. i stuck with my top two for the sake of not being here all week. also, before i dive in, i wanted to say that if a trope is done really well, i will likely enjoy it anyway, and i LOVE subverted tropes, especially for comedy purposes.

1: Woobified badasses. I really dislike seeing characters who are grown-ass adults who Have Seen Some Shit de-fanged, de-clawed, and behaving like teenaged girls (unless it's forced feminization for BDSM in which case we can talk as FUCK). Anyway, we are all free to play-pretendsies however we like and i'm not offended—it's all fiction—i just don't really want to read it. i don't mean tough-guys having soft moments, i actually LOVE that (give me sephiroth gently carrying a kitty cat to safety before he goes back to finish immolating nibelheim any day). however, oftentimes i see this particular trope happening and it's clearly because the writer has too little scope or empathy, and can't inhabit a character's actual perspective enough to write them in-character. which is perfectly fine, but not for me. i don't demand rigorous adherence to canon (obviously considering every single character i write is trans and/or gay and/or pansexual) but i like the fictional characters i like to at least be recognizable.

2: Pregnancy. Ugh. First of all, it's never done well. Second of all, I am not interested in it whatsoever, even if it was done well. male pregnancy is even more of an ugh. two reasons...three reasons. 1) pregnancy is an eldritch horror beyond my will to contemplate, let alone write or read about in fiction, which i write and read FOR FUN. 2) mpreg is almost guaranteed to be some deeply misogynist shit redirected at male characters (i'm talking to you a/b/o) OR plain ol fetish stuff (which is great have your fun but it's not a fetish i have, so it's not for me). and before anyone says well transmasc people can get pregnant, welcome to reason 3) if it's not omegaverse, it's the transmasc character being made to pop out babies for people's heteronormative family-dynamic fantasies. which sucks. because why must parenting be biological to be valid? why is adoption less worthwhile? why must trans men be forced back into female gender roles to serve as baby machines? i don't speak for everyone on earth and have fun with that if it's your bag but i can't hang with it, so no thank ye. in this house, boypussy is for sexy fun times ONLY.

X- A trope which you are almost certain to love in any fandom.

enemies to lovers enemies to lovers enemies to lovers, or just enemies to enemies who fuck, either way i cannot get enough of hostile sexual tension

sunshine X dark and scary sunshine protector. even better if the dark and scary one is actually protecting everyone else, because the sunshine is secretly a walking apocalypse

our souls are bound together in eternity and i will find you in every universe you stupid bastard

character A: i am unworthy to even think of B so i shall secretly worship them from this respectful distance whilst wasting away from lovesickness because i respect admire and adore them far too much to ever let them know of my disgusting perverse obsession with their angelic self character B: when the hell is A gonna fuck me?

Thank you so much for the ask! Sorry it took so long to get to! I am slowly working through my inbox between family stuff and no-lifing every FF7 game.

#asks #inbox games #abc ship ask game #ff7 #final fantasy 7 #final fantasy #tropes #ship tropes #sefikura #sephiroth #cloud strife #CW: mentioned pregnancy #CW: mentioned mpreg #CW: mentioned a/b/o omegaverse

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holdoncallfailed · 11 months ago

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what was it like seeing blue in person after only ever looking at old photos and videos of them?? was it better or grounding or some other third thing??

aw this is such a lovely question thank you...i've not used the word 'grounding' before in describing it but i think that's exactly right and now i can't think of a better word for it. it was strangely humbling. it was thrillingly bittersweet. it was surreal and i still can't believe it happened at all.

for a couple years at this point (yeesh) i've been working on some long self-indulgent piece of writing about blur s/t that includes a description of the show which i've copied under the cut if you're curious...i think it's the closest i've come to articulating how it felt to be there lol.

What I realized, listening to the echo of that enormous crowd united by a single lyric, was that so much of Blur’s discography is about the inevitable return. And we can start over again repeated like a mantra, the promise of time rather than the threat of it. These songs are forward-thinking even as they remain tethered to the past: this is what might be, not what has been or is guaranteed to occur. The lyrics that get elevated into anthems through repetition are often the ones that revel most indulgently in their own ambivalence. It really, really, really could happen in the mouths of eighty thousand people beneath the spangles of light cast by the giant disco ball that had hovered, inert, above the stadium for the entire concert. It was only during this last song that it came to life and began to rotate, a brief singular moment during which the whole audience shimmered as we sang along with the band.

Here were these strange creatures whom we had spent many weeks and months and years mythologizing and here was the unequivocal fact of their existence as real people onstage before us. On Sunday Gen and I were seated much closer, near enough that we could actually watch the men themselves rather than the monitors that flanked the stage and showed the band at an often uncomfortably close distance through real-time handheld footage. But during the Sunday encore I found that they were still small enough for their silhouettes to affect the appearance of their younger selves if I let my vision blur slightly (which wasn’t difficult, with the tears in my eyes): Dave seated at the back with his careful gaze, Graham to the left in his striped shirt and cuffed jeans, Alex to the right with his long dark fringe, and Damon in the center, as always, wearing a replica of the Fila tracksuit from the 1994 “Girls & Boys” music video, drenched in sweat and grinning like a madman. I could almost convince myself that they were young and lovely again, stupefyingly beautiful as they had once been, but I tried to resist the urge. I wanted to be unable to deny the truth of time’s passage, how it keeps us apart and how it can return us to ourselves.

And Blur were indeed themselves, stubbornly human, though their skin was loosened by gravity, their figures misshapen with age, their voices pitched lower after years of singing and shouting and smoking cigarettes. They were just men, small and strange the way any of us would have been standing on that stage at that distance. We are all of us just people capable of moving and being moved by others. We all get old if we’re given the chance. I think there’s a tremendous humility in realizing that. At one point, midway through the show, Damon began to weep—he is known for sometimes tearing up during Blur’s big ballads, but these were real, shoulder-shaking sobs that brought him to his knees. He stayed like that for what felt like a long time, crouched on the stage by his piano, as the other men looked on, faintly bemused but making no move to either console him or urge him to continue with the show. Then he rose to his feet again, smiling in a watery sort of way, and returned to his bandmates.

Of course, the music was still the music. That guitar like a blade ricocheting through the air, that mutinous bass ebbing and flowing against the melody, those drums, precious and precise, like the sutures of a well-practiced surgeon, holding things in place. A thousand contradictory feelings, a million mixed metaphors, all of them insufficient to describe how it felt to be there in that crowd so suffused with adoration, like none of us—not even the band—could quite believe we were all there experiencing it together.

Gen and I said goodbye to each other as we fought against the undertow of the crowd’s mass exodus from Wembley. This, too, was brief, and perhaps anticlimactic: when she disappeared from view I was once again alone in an unfamiliar city, faced with the arduous task of wending my way through the drunken mob and navigating the metro system. There was little we could say as we parted ways, if we needed to say anything at all. Even without voicing it, I knew we agreed: it was a good show.

#Anonymous #my writing #i guess lol #also when i read 'blue' i was like the derek jarman film??? how did u know i saw that...five years ago...#blur

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vote-gaara · 1 year ago

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This is neither here nor there but I love the idea of gaara being super into music but *solely* to have deep thoughts about the lyrics while almost disregarding the music itself entirely. mcr famous last words 'I am not afraid to keep on living/ I am not afraid to walk this world alone' 🤔 wow just like when I spoke to kankuro. carly rae jepsen call me maybe 'before you came into my life I missed you so bad' 🤔 the depth of yearning for a precious thing missing from your life that you dont even realise you're missing. billy joel piano man 'they're sharing a drink they call loneliness/ but it's better than drinking alone' 🤔 the pain of loneliness leads one to seek companionship in the most unlikely of places. Do you see my vision

Thank you for this ask as it has allowed me to consider aspects of Gaara I would've never thought of.

Mostly, I think Gaara is a little...hmmm....BORING! But then again, I don't think that's true, either. Let me explain:

I don't think that, according to his "default", he has appreciation for things like music, art, fiction or movies. Likely this is the result of how he was raised in isolation, where the feelings conjured by artists eluded him because he couldn't relate to the characters nor appreciate the source the story came from. This habit of disregarding things that weren't "more serious" or "relevant" to his everyday life then carried over to his current self, as since becoming Kazekage, he really has no time to partake in leisure (but very necessary) practices like experiencing art.

Now here's where the complexity of Gaara's character really comes into play:

I believe, wholeheartedly, that Gaara would actually make a FANTASTIC artist, and that he could learn to be moved through art with the right guidance and proding.

Gaara has poor art literacy. He doesn't see a movie or read a book to explore themes; rather he sees them as very objective plot lines such as "first A happened, then B, then C, then it ends."

Basically, Gaara can parse through a story for information but he needs to work on tapping into his empathy for characters that may not exist.

I guarantee that if you get this man into a book club, he would show up to the second or third meeting after reading a few chapters and he would be BLOWN AWAY by what other people had observed; the emotion, the themes, the ambiguity, the subtle things he missed because he wasn't reading the book "correctly."

It would be a borderline religious experience for him, I swear to you.

Even with music, as you suggest. Gaara would see it as "noise" but you get him to really think about what emotion in conjures - what power can be moved through lyrics - and suddenly his mind would be completely and totally blown. Especially if you get him with the symbolism of different instruments. He would suddenly see it as a language that he didn't even know existed (which he would find really cool)!

As I said before, he would probably make a really great artist himself. If you sit him down and you tell him to paint, draw, sculpt, or even write a poem about his life you would get something very moving and powerful. The type of art that brings you to your knees. But alas, he wouldn't really be moved by his own piece, either. Sure, it would be lightly therapeutic for him to have created something from his soul, but it would seem almost mundane to him.

Any art he creates he would see as just being a reflection of his life - or at least how he would see it - and it wouldn't mean anything to him passed "this is what happened to me, and it hurt, but things are better and the world is a better place."

Which begs the question:

Is Gaara really artistically illiterate? Or has he experienced so much in his life that anything that would move the masses, emotionally destroy you or me, simply be too elementary to him?

Either way...I vote that you drag him to concerts and plays, and you share music with him. At the very least, he would (as his current self) appreciate the bonding moment.

#gaara #sing barbie girl gaara #do it #enjoy the bop #kazekage

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witchygirl99 · 2 years ago

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Starting next Wednesday, January 4th, I will be doing Witchy's Wicked Wednesdays (WWW).

What is WWW? Every Wednesday, I will post ~500 words of smut. It has to be smut, with a rating of either M or E. It cannot be more than 500 words, but it can be less. Bonus points for being right-on-the-dot.

Why is WWW? It's a longevity test, of sorts, that I have been tasked with. I will do this until I can no longer.

How is WWW? This is where you come in.

If you would like, please send me an ask or DM with the following:

Pairing + Prompt (+ AU, if inclined)

I'm willing to write the following pairings: InuKag, MirSan, KagKik, KagSan, SessKag, InuKog, Shiouten, KaguKik, SessKagu. If there's a pairing you'd like that's not on here, feel free to submit it anyways, along with a backup in case I'm not comfy with it.

Prompts can be: (a) a word or phrase, (b) lyrics, (c) a line of dialogue, (d) a particular scene and/or (e) a trope. Feel free to add an AU, too. Please know that I generally always write AU, so requests for canon-timeline may be filled more sporadically.

See some additional and important details below for those interested ✨

The No Go List: non-con, incest, pedophilia, torture, humiliation, sadism and masochism, unhappily ever after (willing to do open/ambiguous), and whatever else I find uncomfy that I can't remember at the moment.

I am very chill with a fair amount of kink, so don't feel weird asking if that's your heart's desire. Random examples I pulled my from recent AO3 reads: rough sex, breathplay, D/s, a/b/o, consensual non-consent, somnophilia (sleeping), etc. etc.

Prompts submitted to me will not be answered directly on tumblr. I will post my fills to AO3, but will do my usual "promo post" here. This way, you can fill comfortable in your request (whether you submit it anon or not). If you wish to be "gifted" the prompt on AO3, or mentioned in my notes, let me know and I shall do so!

If you're unsure of anything, feel free to ask (any questions on this I will privately respond to, if not on anon).

Lastly, I can't guarantee I will get to all the prompts, but know that I love and appreciate all of you. Thank you ❤️

#prompt the witch #WWW #witchy's wicked wednesdays

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lickthecowhappy · 11 months ago

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Playlist Analysis: #4 - A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square

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#4. A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square – Vera Lynn

Both.

Overview:

An obvious choice for this playlist. This is my 1941 song. I chose the Vera Lynn version because I just love her style (and I think it has to be the one they heard first), but the Tori Amos version is great as well. If you like it better or prefer it because it’s the one used in the show, please feel free to swap it out if you’re listening to the playlist.

This is their song. First published in 1940, it’s a beautiful song about meeting someone, falling head over heels, spending the night together, and dancing home the next morning. I think that up until Crowley said those immortal words, the audience thought that it was their song on a meta level. The book and season 1 both mention it from a third person point of view with no acknowledgement or reference from the characters. But now we know that it was something the two of them found important together. Did something else happen in 1941? (Chomping at the bit for 1941 part 3!) We know something changed their dynamic between 1941 and 1967. We know Aziraphale did the apology dance in 1941. Maybe this is why Aziraphale specifically suggested they dine at the Ritz someday after giving Crowley the holy water. Why would Crowley have said “No nightingales” if it wasn’t something significant between them? Aziraphale’s wounded reaction to those words confirms its significance. The fact is, Crowley weaponized this song in a riposte to Aziraphale’s reactionary petulance.

Lastly, why was it playing in the Bentley after Aziraphale left? We know the Bentley has been fundamentally changed. It’s no longer Crowley’s car, it’s “Our Car.” I think I remember seeing a quote from Neil along the lines of, “The Bentley would have followed Aziraphale anywhere.” Who was it channeling to play that song? I’ve seen people speculate that Crowley queued it up for their drive to the Ritz, but I don’t buy that. Maybe it was a way of Aziraphale communicating that his heart still sings despite the regrettable things they both said and did. Or maybe it was Crowley’s heart betraying itself – an admission that there is a guarantee that he’ll still be waiting when Aziraphale is ready. Or maybe it’s just the writer wanting to hurt us even more.

Lyrics:

That certain night, the night we met There was magic abroad in the air There were angels dining at the Ritz And a nightingale sang in Berkeley Square

This wasn’t the night they first literally met, but maybe it was the first time they met in a figurative sense: being in the same place emotionally at the same time.

Neil has said that they dine at the Ritz because it was in reference to this song. In the book and season 1, maybe that’s all there was to it. One last clue for anyone who missed all the other indications that their relationship isn’t just platonic. But in season 2, we get the magic show. There was no literal magic in the air because Furfur blocked it, instead all the magic present was of the human variety. Romantic AF.

I may be right, I may be wrong But I’m perfectly willing to swear That when you turned and smiled at me A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square

This sets me up to assume that nothing was spoken in 1941. Nobody confirmed any feelings out loud, due either to the threat they had just confirmed they were under or the habit they were already in, but they both understood how the other felt. "That's what... friends... do." That feeling where you just know the other person feels the same, but can't bring yourself to say it. The willingness to swear an oath that whatever was unspoken by the parties involved was mutual. Maybe sung about by a third party somewhere (The writer? The audience? God?).

The moon that lingered over London Town Poor puzzled moon, he wore a frown How could he know we two were so in love The whole darn world seemed upside down

[Please note that this verse is not present in the Tori Amos version]

Up to this point in the lyrics, the interactions between the characters in the song are meeting and looking. No contact, not even words as far as we know. These two have been trying to keep their fraternization a secret for millennia, after all. Anyone watching couldn’t hear the song being shared by the two hearts, but the two hearts sing anyway. A silent, beautiful, and disorienting duet.

The streets of town were paved with stars It was such a romantic affair And as we kissed and said goodnight A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square

The elation of intense romantic feelings has been described poetically since romance was invented (invented by these two, IMO). The description of streets being paved with stars evokes images of fantasy, dreams, vastness, wonder, possibility. It’s romance in a nutshell. Not to mention evoking the Starmaker, himself. I don’t assume that they kissed in 1941, but at the end of the 1941 segment we get in season 2, everything is so gentle and romantic it doesn’t even need a kiss. A figurative act of intimacy, the bullet catch, was observed by someone who could destroy their "de-facto partnership," thus ending their night of magic.

As dawn came stealing up all gold and blue To interrupt our rendezvous I still remember how you smiled and said “Was that a dream or was it true?”

[Please note that this verse is not present in the Tori Amos version]

What fan doesn’t want to live in the 1941 sequence? The assumption that they hadn’t seen each other since 1862, Crowley showing up out of nowhere and at great personal discomfort to save Aziraphale, a little demonic miracle of his own, the way Aziraphale gazes at him the entire sequence, and Crowley’s unconditional support through the entire thing, despite his obvious concerns. What happened that we didn’t see? Just how long did they spend together? What might have happened if Furfur didn’t show up? And what happened afterward? Their rendezvous was interrupted. They had let their guard down and were reminded of the very real danger they face by getting too close.

Our homeward step was just as light As the tapdancing feet of Astaire And like an echo far away A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square

[Please note that this verse is not present in the Tori Amos version]

This verse, in this context, has two meanings for me. The intended meaning of the lyrics, implying that the parties involved are still high on the emotions of the evening and are lightly and merrily dancing home as Fred Astaire might. But also a much more tragic meaning. Another time one might be described as having light footsteps is when sneaking around. After being caught, despite knowing the proof had been pilfered, they may have redoubled their efforts to appear as enemies. They realize they still have to sneak around to have any time together. That beautiful nightingale’s song is sadly now only an echo in the distance.

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#good omens #aziraphale #crowley #music analysis #brain rot #i spent a normal amount of time on this #therapy for good omens 2 #ineffible husbands #ineffible divorce #good omens meta #good omens s2

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