#or I'll die and then I raise from the ashes like a phoenix

[earlgreytea68]

hi egt

what fob songs scream hiatus to you?

i need to experience emotional ruin real quick

God, there are so many, like, basically allll of Save Rock and Roll feels like them working through the hiatus together (not least because of how it has a higher percentage of Patrick lyrics than usual, probably because of him coming off his solo work). But the hiatus loomed so large for them as this nuclear blast in their relationship, it seems to bleed all through Pete's words (and hence their songs) for years afterward.

And it actually even starts before the hiatus, with the "What a Catch, Donnie" music video, which is the most hiatus-y thing to ever hiatus, Pete going down with his ship while he sends everyone else away to party without him. IT'S ALL SO SYMBOLIC.

And then to title a song on the first Believers Never Die album "From Now On, We Are Enemies." WHAT THE HELL hahahahaha WHAT A CHOICE, PETE WENTZ. (a downward spiral, just a pirouette and I only what what I can't have -- wanting what you can't have is a total hiatus theme for me that shows up a bunch in Pete's lyrics. I have not done an empirical analysis to see if it's a more prevalent theme after the hiatus or not.)

"The Phoenix" has obvious symbolism for their life as a band, raising their career from the ashes, changing themselves up like a remix, wearing their vintage of misery better than everyone else. Also, I love the imagery it has of peace, the "release the doves, surrender love" bit. Waving the white flag and putting down your weapons (in contrast to put on your war paint). But I've always kind of felt like surrender love is one of Pete's deliberate ambiguities: It could be "surrender your love" but it could also be "surrender, love." And Pete doesn't often use "love" as a term of endearment in his lyrics but he called Patrick "love" on stage not too long ago, so, you know, it seems not too outside the realm of possibility to think that these are really lines about reconciliation. It feels like time is running out, so let's surrender and hold tight.

Then there's "Alone Together": I'm outside the door, invite me in so we can go back and play pretend. The image of playing pretend / make-believe with someone also recurs in Pete's poetry, and it's something else I always read as Patrick-coded. Who did he used to "pretend" with for the sake of the shippers? And, of course, starting at the end of the road to ruin sounds like people who have burned everything down but are finding their way back.

I wrote a whole fic about "Where Did the Party Go" :-)

What is there to say about "Miss Missing You" that hasn't already been said? The infamous "hot whiskey eyes" line that honestly can only be about Pete Wentz lol. The imagery of the person you'd take a bullet for being behind the trigger: they have both at separate points in time proclaimed their readiness to take a bullet for the other. The fact that Pete wrote in a poem once before the hiatus I miss you missing me, and this song is I miss missing you. Like, everyone just die over this song.

To me "The Kids Aren't Alright" is a hiatus song in that it's about surviving the hiatus, coming through it, reversing the curse, it's our time now if you want it to be, in the end, I'd do it all again, I think you're my best friend.

"Fourth of July" is another hiatus song for me, the reference to the burned bridges being the light that leads you home is just so hiatus-y. Also, the torture of small talk with someone you used to love just smacks of the hiatus, of how they stopped talking to each other, of how they knew so little about each other and had to start over. This is more wanting what you can't have, too: my favorite what-if, my best I'll-never-know. I said I'd never miss you. I wish I'd known how much you loved me. It's so much, this song lol

Twin Skeleton's: ouch. This song is so painful. This song scrapes over your skin like sandpaper. This song is so angry and bitter. This song is I need a new partner in crime and you shrug. oh my GOD that line kills me every single time. That one and the way Patrick snarls, I could just die laughing on your spiral of shame. This is an angry song, but the anger is born of a depth of emotion and it ends with Patrick promising hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on over and over, and that's what makes it extra-hiatus to me, like, hold on, it all gets better, I'm coming back, hold on, hold on, hold on...

I find the hiatus infects their songs less and less the farther they get away from it, which is good. It's healing. As we've discussed, they've almost forgotten the whole thing even happened, it's been blurred over by the sands of time.

[perspectivestarters]

Perspective's Sentence Starters; Save Rock and Roll by Fall Out Boy (Part I)

THE PHOENIX

"Put on your war paint."

"You are a brick tied to me that's dragging me down."

"I'll burn you to the ground."

"We are the jack-o-lanterns in July

Setting fire to the sky

"Here comes this rising tide."

"Cross walks and crossed hearts and hope to die."

"We can take the world back from the heart-attacked."

"One maniac at a time we will take it back."

"You know time crawls on when you're waiting for the song to start."

"Dance alone to the beat of your heart."

"Doesn't it feel like our time is running out?"

"I'm going to change you like a remix."

"I'll raise you like a phoenix."

"I think it looked a little better on me."

"Make a career out of robbing banks."

""The world is just a teller and we are wearing black masks."

"You broke our spirit."

"The war is won before it's begun."

"Wave the white flag."

MY SONGS KNOW WHAT YOU DID IN THE DARK (LIGHT 'EM UP)

"Be careful making wishes in the dark."

"Can't be sure when they've hit their mark."

"I'm just dreaming of tearing you apart."

"I'm in the details with the devil."

"You know, the world can never get me on my level."

"I just gotta get you out the cage."

"Gonna need a spark to ignite."

"My songs know what you did in the dark."

"Light 'em up."

"I'm on fire."

"Somewhere another pretty vein just died."

"I've got the scars from tomorrow."

"You're the antidote to everything except for me."

"Burn everything you love then burn the ashes."

"My childhood spat back out the monster that you see."

ALONE TOGETHER

"I don't know where you're going, but do you got room for one more troubled soul?"

"I don't know where I'm going."

"I don't think I'm coming home."

"I'll check in tomorrow if I don't wake up dead."

"This is the road to ruin and we're starting at the end."

"Let's be alone together."

"We could stay young forever."

"It's not my fault."

"I'm a maniac."

"It's not funny anymore."

"My heart is like a stallion."

"They love it more when it's broken"

"Do you wanna feel beautiful?"

"I'm outside the door."

"We can go back and play pretend."

"Tonight I'm high as a private jet."

WHERE DID THE PARTY GO

"I'm here to collect your hearts."

"It's the only reason that I sing."

"I don't believe a word you say."

"This is the story of how they met."

"A story that they'll never forget."

"My old aches become new again."

"My old friends become exes again."

"Woah, where did the party go?"

"We're ending it on the phone."

"I'm not gonna go home alone."

"I know I expect too much."

"You know I only wanted fun."

"You got me all fucked up on love."

"I looked for your name on the ouija board."

"You and me are the difference between real love and the love on TV."

"Let's fade away together one dream at a time."

JUST ONE YESTERDAY

"I thought of angels choking on their halos."

"Anything you say can and will be held against you."

"Only say my name, it will be held against you."

"I’d trade all my tomorrows for just one yesterday."

"I know I’m bad news."

"I saved it all for you."

"I want to teach you a lesson in the worst kind of way."

"Letting people down is my thing."

"This town ain’t big enough for two of us."

"I don’t have the right name or the right looks, but I have twice the heart."

"If I spilled my guts, the world would never look at you the same way."

"Now I’m here to give you all of my love, so I can watch your face as I take it all away."

[soymemes]

ACT V: HYMNS WITH THE DEVIL IN CONFESSIONAL (3/3)

lyrical starters/prompts from the dear hunter's album "act v"

"I see you trembling like the Earth is falling from your feet."

"I would be lying if I told you that I didn't know the way that you could fix it all."

"If you're stacking your problems like a pile of bricks, you gotta knock down the wall."

"Do the heavens ever spare the crop when the Winter falls?"

"And so it goes, the lamb will be led to the loam."

"I see a hesitating grimace held above your chin like you haven't thought of this before."

"And though the sentiment keeps you from letting go, you know it's irresistible."

"To hear those voices hush, you must be cold."

"Someone like you would break you and put you in the ground."

"Don't you want to see him fall apart? So you can pick the pieces up and put him back together?"

"Finally building up the perfect pawn?"

"Another shadow lost in the dark."

"For so long have my teeth held my tongue from a venomous voice."

"Hell will open up it's flue, and you will witness what the fire can undo."

"I bare my soul through the flames before me."

"Far from the ash I will be born again, where every debt is repaid."

"Nothing left to keep me out of paradise, as portraits of the past fade away."

"Far too long have I waited to witness the balances bend."

"Far beyond the act I will be whole again, a phoenix out of the flame."

"I'm burying that menace in a memory."

"Do I die as the martyr or miscreant? I'll make the call."

"If one and all who hear my call could lend their ears to me."

"I must admit that the manipulator's fate was resting at my feet."

"All of his intimidation brought me to my knees."

 "Keep this secret safe, or watch your flock devoured by the flame left in my wake."

"I'll burn through you."

"Well, I won't let corruption carry on."

"Come out from the dark and claim your light before you all but fall apart."

"We can keep this wolf far from our flock."

"So raise your voices, torches, rocks and follow me into the night."

"We bring this evil to light."

"You tried to take control but you couldn't with a stolen soul."

"We're coming after you tonight."

"What was the cost? Do I justify the loss?"

"A loss of control would be digging myself a hole."

"I won't carry on living this life that I stole."

"I've been killing myself all along."

"Is there villainy inside of me?"

"In search of worth, have I burned the Earth?"

"There's no passion in being passive."

"For you, I am a killer."

"If I fall into the ocean, send my soul into the sea."

"But what if the silence is broken by the ones you've loved?"

"Will these reflections trouble me? Will I dream my final dream?"

"The silver lining still remains, the sights I've left to see."

"Will you forgive a truly troubled past?"

-------

[donaldtheduckdad]

The two things I need to survive in January... are today and tomorrow.

*deep breath*

Wish me luck, guys.

[disorderlyintentions]

//Hewwo, I finally made character tags for this blog

[winterstorm032802]

A Life

Nora: *after fighting other monsters her Arcane book is tossed to the side* If your here to kill me, then let's just start this fight already

Ascian: Oh no, I'm not here to kill you, I'll hold up on that offer but in fact we're here for something else

Nora: *grits her teeth* What would that be this time?

Ascian: Well Warrior of Light, you've felt things, you've felt a deep care for someone as this someone has to you. A life for a life, someone will die and it won't be you

Nora: *eyes widen* No... No don't do it!

Ascian: *about to go* Better start preparing your goodbyes to the one you care for most...

Nora: No you wouldn't... *glares at the Ascian* You wouldn't dare! *flames begin to pick up and surround her*

Bahamut-Egi and Phoenix-Egi swoop down

Bahamut-Egi: *roars*

Phoenix-Egi: *screeches*

Ascian: Impressive, you don't have your book in your hands and yet you manage to summon two Egis. I wonder how long it will remain here. Well, good luck Warrior *disappears*

Nora: No! No! *yells* Leave him alone! Alphinaud! DON'T TOUCH HIM! *shuts her eyes as the flames grow* DON'T YOU DARE LAY A FINGER ON HIM! ALPHINAUD!!!

Bahamut-Egi: *eyes glow bright as it uses Akh Morn*

Phoenix-Egi: *follows along using Brand of Purgatory*

Nora: I'LL KILL YOU! ALL OF YOU! *breathes heavy as she takes a step forward to the enemies in front* I'll kill you... Every last one of you will die by my hand! *extends her arm out*

.

.

Alphinaud: The Garleans are retreating...

Alisaie: Seems they've realized that they're outmatched

Lyse: I don't think so...

Alisaie: Huh?

Lyse: *points* Over there

The three look to see a giant blue beam followed by flames shoot out of the sky

Alphinaud: That looks like-- Twelve! Nora! *runs*

Alisaie & Lyse: *follows Alphinaud*

.

Nora: *looks at the corpses that remain singed* (What... What did I do?)

Bahamut-Egi & Phoenix-Egi: *stay by Nora*

Nora: *looks to her Egis* (What did I do?)

Alphinaud: Nor-- ! *stops* (By the Twelve...)

Alisaie: What... What did she do?

Lyse: *takes a step back* Her book isn't in her hands, how did she summon her Egi and two!?

Nora: *has some blood on her face* ... *turns to the others and collapses*

Bahamut-Egi & Phoenix-Egi: *disappears*

Alphinaud: *catches Nora* Nora! *begins to heal her* Her Aether is drained beyond... Summoning her Egis without her Arcane book has damaged her, we must get to Y'Shtola and Krile they can heal her better than I could

Alisaie: Twelve... She did this to them, what for?

Lyse: Whatever it was... It made her beyond angry

Alphinaud: We can worry on that later, we must get her to safety

.

.

.

Krile: It's a good thing you brought her here when you did, her Aether is dwindled to ash as of now

Y'Shtola: How in the Seven Hells did she manage to summon her Bahamut-Egi and Phoenix-Egi without her own Arcane book!? At the same time?!

Alphinaud: Something must have angered her or something but what? And how can we mayhaps prevent this? Were this to happen and for us to not be there at the right time, she could've died

Everyone remains silent

Nora: *opens her eyes slowly and mumbles* Don't touch him...

Alphinaud: *stands up* Nora?

Alisaie: She's awake

Nora: *sits up with some struggle* Ah

Krile: Careful now! You drained your Aether to the brim, what in Twelve's name were you thinking?

Y'Shtola: You could've died

Nora: *looks around weary until she spots Alphinaud* You..!

Alphinaud: *blinks* Me?

Nora: *stands up ignoring the pain*

Alphinaud: What are you doing? You must lie back down

Alisaie: He's right

Nora: *walks over to Alphinaud and puts both hands to the sides of his face* Y-You aren't... *tears up as she moves her hands to his shoulders*

Alphinaud: *softly* Nora, what's wrong?

Nora: *shudders* H-He said--- H-He said that someone I harbor a deep care for will die (And the first person my mind went to was you... For that I did something terrible. Another price I must pay for) I got worried is all, my emotions got the better of me

Alisaie: *raises an eyebrow* (It was my Brother wasn't it? You freaked out fearing that my Brother would die and with that you snapped. The one you care deeply for is Alphinaud, not that I'm surprised)

Lyse: *glances at Alisaie* (You suspected the same I believe? Not that it was much of a puzzle to figure out)

Alphinaud: Why don't you lie down for now and then we can all discuss more of this?

Nora: *wipes some tears away* (I almost lost you...) Is anyone hurt? From the fight?

Krile: No dead, luckily, just pained is all but the healing is already in process. Including yours, now get some rest