#they’re all bops though I stand by it

[bicycles-bees-bisexuals]

My Spotify wrapped just diagnosed me with depression

[teapartyprincess4two]

your writing is sooo good! i NEED a johnnie smut omg please write one💞

Monster- J. Guilbert

pairing: Extrovert!reader x Shy!Johnnie

classification: SMUT w/ a plot

inspiration: request^^, Monster by Lady Gaga

warnings: 18+, MDNI, literal sex, use of y/n, dom!Johnnie (kinda), “slut,” alcohol use, slight cursing, Jake and Tara are dating in this

summary: Tara plays matchmaker, earning Johnnie the night of his life with you in a bar restroom.

—

Johnnie’s been watching you all night, but he’s waiting for the alcohol to settle into his bloodstream before he finally walks up to you. You sit at the bar in a black, backless dress that allows a few of your tattoos to peak through. Bouncy curls are swept onto your shoulder, framing one side of your face as you chat with the bartender.

“Gonna keep staring or are you finally gonna make a move?” Jake nudges Johnnie’s shoulder.

Nights out like this are common for the pair, especially when living a fast paced life in the city of Los Angeles. When they’re not filming or editing, they’re usually out getting drunk, and they’ve managed to creat regular rotation of bars.

Today they find themselves at the Magic 8 Ball, the least crowded bar in L.A on a Friday night. No matter what unfamiliar faces that fill this place, though, yours is always constant. Every Friday, without fail, you saunter in and take a seat at the bar.

Johnnie can tell, just from watching you, that you’re an extrovert. You never seem to stay at the bar, you always wander onto the dance floor and lure a random stranger in for a quick bop around the room.

That’s what intimidates him, because as an introvert he’s not sure he’ll be able to keep up.

“I’m not staring,” Johnnie quips quickly, taking a swig of whatever alcoholic mixture swirls in his glass. He hisses as the liquid goes down.

If it were just Jake and Johnnie, the conversation would’ve died there. But tonight Tara joined them and she isn’t so adamant on letting the topic go.

“You should invite her to sit with us! You never know what could happen,” she prods teasing fingers into Johnnie’s sides, “plus she looks nice! I need a girlfriend to hang out with!”

“Johnnie needs a girlfriend, Tara. Not you,” Jake jokes. Johnnie rolls is eyes, scooting away from Tara as her fingers continue digging into his sides.

“I’ve had a girlfriend,” Johnnie replies, eyes darting back to where you sit at the bar.

“Yeah, had,” Jake says.

“It’s just hard to—“

“ALRIGHT! Enough!” Tara interrupts Johnnie mid sentence, slamming her hands onto the table as she stands up. “If you won’t make a move, I will,” she says, shimmying out of the booth.

Johnnie’s eyes are blown open in shock. He tries grabbing Tara before she can get too far, but she’s small and sneaky.

“That’s one way to do it,” Jake laughs, watching in amusement as his girlfriend does what his best friend doesn’t have the balls to do.

Johnnie, on the other hand, watches in horror.

There you are, sipping on your drink and chatting with the bartender, blissfully unaware of Tara’s approaching figure.

Tara sits at the bar, taking the seat directly next to yours. She interrupts your conversation with the bartender to order two drinks, one for you and one for her, before swiftly turning her attention to you with a warm smile.

Johnnie can’t bear to watch, but he also can’t look away.

You seem to like Tara, because you’re quick to engage in conversation with her. In the matter of seconds Tara has managed to learn your name, your favorite drink, and even your favorite song (it’s the one that plays over the club speakers).

“Oh God they’re coming,” Johnnie whisper shouts, trying to look casual. Tara’s arm is looped with yours as she leads you to their table, an accomplished look painting her face.

“What the fuck do I do? What the fuck do I do?! Fuck!”

“Just act casual. Don’t be weird— Oh fuck! Just shut up!” for some reason Jake finds himself just as nervous as Johnnie. Maybe he was just being empathetic, but they both scramble to get themselves together.

“Don’t be weird? What the fuck does that—”

Johnnie can’t seem to catch a break, because as soon as Tara reaches the booth she’s interrupting him. “Guys. This is Y/n, my new friend,” she gestures towards you, “Y/n, this is my boyfriend Jake and this is our friend Johnnie.”

The moment Tara says your name it’s engraved in Johnnie’s mind. He’s already in love.

Your smile is so big it could light up the room. You extend a hand to the two, immediately introducing yourself and falling into the booth next to Johnnie.

His heart is pounding and his ears are red hot with embarrassment.

“Well, while you two get acquainted, Jake and I are gonna go get drunk,” Tara says, pulling Jake out of the booth before he can get any more comfortable than he already is. She shoots Johnnie a wink before sending you a small wave, leading a confused Jake into the crowd of people.

“She’s nice. I like her,” you comment, watching until the couple disappears. “She’s… something,” Johnnie coughs, he’s so unbelievably awkward.

You chuckle, mostly because you think he’s cute and you find his fiddly personality amusing.

“Johnnie, huh? I had a friend named Johnnie once,” you say, attempting to make conversation. Your manicured nails tap against you glass cup, silver hoop earrings reflecting the strobing lights as you try catching his gaze.

“Bet he didn’t look like this though,” Johnnie replies, clearly referring to his all black attire.

“Hmmm, no. He definitely didn’t,” you giggle. You take a sip from your drink, a lipstick stain remaining once you place the cup back onto the table. Johnnie wonders what it’d feel like to kiss you.

“You’re much cuter,” you continue. Johnnie can’t tell if he’s dreaming, were you actually flirting with him?

Maybe it’s the surge of confidence your compliment gives him, or maybe the alcohol finally kicked in, but Johnnie suddenly finds himself being flirtatious.

“So do you flirt with all the Johnnies you know?”

He’s surprised at how fast you quip back, “Nope. Just the cute ones.”

You’ve subconsciously leaned closer to him, your faces dangerously close.

“Okay, so we’ve established that I’m cute,” he smirks. “What else am I?”

You giggle, a sound that Johnnie swears he can listen to for forever.

“Well clearly you’re not shy anymore,” your finger traces the rim of your drink. A drunk smile and sultry eyes lure him in, pulling him close enough for his lip rings to press against your skin.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he murmurs, a wandering hand finding your thigh. You shiver at the sensation. His fingers were ice cold, but they still managed to ignite a fire deep within your core.

“Like this?” you tease, batting your eyelashes.

You never made it a habit of sleeping with strangers, but Johnnie was the sheep in wolves clothing that played innocent until you were close enough to bite.

“I warned you,” his breath fans against your lips one last time before he’s capturing your lips in a heated kiss. It’s the first kiss Johnnie’s had in years which makes it that much more exciting.

Your plump lips chase his as your arms wrap around his neck, pulling him closer to you. The club is loud, but you’re so immersed in the man in front of you that you forget you’re not the only two people in the room and lose all control.

Johnnie’s hands find your waist, tugging until you’re straddling his lap. He pulls away breathlessly, silently thanking Tara for working her magic once he sees you on top of him.

Your dress rides up slightly, revealing more of your backside than you’d like. The sight earns you a few whistles from bystanders, breaking you from your lustful daze. “Oh shit,” you squeak, trying to scramble off of Johnnie, but his grip is firm enough to keep you in place.

An animalistic, monster-like need has overtaken him and he’s willing to sacrifice his self image to fuck you in front of all these strangers. But he simultaneously doesn’t want anyone else to see you, to enjoy you, the way he’s about to.

“Restroom. Now,” he growls, pinching the soft skin of your ass. You squeal in excitement, allowing the desires of your flesh to cloud your judgement as you hop off of him and wiggle your way out of the booth. You adjust your dress as you wait for Johnnie to follow before taking his hand in yours and leading him towards the restroom. He makes a mental note to let this be the only time you lead him tonight.

Everyone’s watching, yet you can’t find it in you to feel embarrassed. If anything it excites you more.

You find the restroom quickly, a wave of gratitude washing over you when you realize it’s a single stall. This means you can be as loud as you want, and from the look in Johnnie’s eyes, you can tell you’ll also need the extra room.

He’s quick to lock the door and immediately engulfs your face in his hands, bringing you in for the second heated kiss of the night. Johnnie’s eager and it shows in the way he swipes his tongue across your bottom lip.

His left hand remains on your face while the other travels down to your ass, squeezing firmly against the material of your dress. A moan escapes your lips, providing him the perfect opportunity to slip his tongue into your mouth. He tastes surprisingly sweet, like pomegranate and pineapple.

He leads you to the sink counter, your bodies bouncing back slightly when they hit the cold marble. “Up,” he commands.

You hop onto the counter, giving him enough room to fit between your legs. Johnnie’s erection presses against your inner thigh, but he gives you no time to comment on it before his lips are back on yours.

Johnnie’s hand’s find your boobs, massaging your mounds slowly as he deepens the kiss. “More,” you murmur against the kiss, wrapping your legs around his waist to pull him in closer to you. He smirks against your mouth at your neediness.

“So needy.” He pulls your head back, providing him with perfect access to your neck. Sloppy, open mouth kisses trail from your jawline down to your exposed collarbone. Each one gives you goosebumps.

“Fuck me please,” you whimper, feeling your panties become more soaked by the second. “So polite,” he teases, sucking on your skin until it bruises.

The rough material of his jeans comes in contact with your clothed pussy. He dry humps you just to hear the strained moans that escape your lips.

Finally, when you rut back, he decides he’s teased you enough. Your dress is bunched up around your waist, exposing the wet underwear that he pushes to the side.

“So fucking sexy,” he grunts, kneeling in front of you to get a better view. He’s in love. What he wants to do is eat you out, but there’s no time for that in a club as crowded as this. Especially not when there’s only one restroom.

You watch in awe as he presses a quick kiss on your bundle of nerves, immediately licking his lips right after. “Yummy,” he chuckles, bringing you in for another hungry kiss.

Your hands find his belt, unbuckling it with fervor and tugging at his belt loop to bring him back in to you. He gets the message and helps you in unbuttoning his skin-tight jeans. Your forehead is flush against his as you watch his dick spring up, it bobs back and forth as you take in the sheer size.

“Holy fuck,” your voice is full of exasperation. How was that meant to fit inside of you?

Maybe it’s because he hasn’t done this in a long time, but Johnnie suddenly feels self conscious. He hides his face in your neck before you can notice how red it becomes, but you’re quick to push his shoulders back.

“Hey, don’t be embarrassed. Where’d that monster go?” you place a gentle kiss on the corner of his mouth. His dick twitches and cries precum at the reassurance.

He pulls you back in for a kiss, feeling confident once again. He lines himself up tentatively with your entrance, rubbing the tip along your folds before slowly pushing himself in.

Your eyes are screwed shut, small tears forming at the corners as you struggle to adjust to the stretch. “Fuck Johnnie, wait,” you say, pushing against his stomach slightly. Suddenly you’re not sure you want him to fuck you dumb, his size alone was enough to have you seeing stars.

Your words fall on deaf ears, though, and before you know it he’s pushed himself all the way in. You gasp, throwing your head back against the bathroom mirror. Your pussy clenches around him as you try to hold him in place knowing the longer you keep him there, the more time you’ll have to adjust.

It’s no use though, because he begins thrusting into you at a relentless, unforgiving pace. The pain is quickly replaced with pleasure, the tip of his penis kissing your cervix every time his hips slam into yours.

“Fuck you’re so tight,” he grunts, strong hands gripping your waist so he can fuck into you even faster. You whimper at the sensation, his fingers were sure to leave bruises.

“Just like that, Johnnie. So good,” you egg him on, holding onto his neck for support. He hasn’t slowed his pace, instead moving one hand from your hips down to your throbbing clit.

Your legs instinctively push together, but his body moves them back into their previous position as he continues. “Such a slut,” he purrs, watching the euphoric look that paints your face when he rubs his thumb against your sensitive nub.

“Yes! Such a slut,” you’re drunk on dick, babbling whatever will get you closer to your pending release.

“My slut?” he asks, using the hand that was previously gripping your waist to take a firm hold of your face. Your eyes lock with his, taking notice of the way lust clouds his pupils. “All yours,” you whisper.

He smirks, leaning down to kiss you. Your tongues collide in a heated mixture of moans and whimpers. All the while he continues pounding into you and rubbing circles on your clit.

One particularly hard thrust has you dumb, a string of curse words and chants of his name being the only thing you can manage to say. “C’mon baby, c’mon,” he growls, sloppily kissing you as he feels his climax approaching.

“Johnnie!”

Your walls flutter around him, your entire body trembling as your orgasm washes over you.

Your hair falls in front of your face and you find yourself holding Johnnie’s wrist, pushing his hand away as it continues working on your clit. “Almost there,” he moans, pulling his hand away to focus his attention on fucking you.

You’re sensitive. You’re whimpering. You’re so fucked out that it’s overstimulating.

“Cum for me, handsome,” you moan, still coming down from your own high. He continues rutting his hips into you, chasing his release until finally it washes over him.

Hot spurts of cum paint your insides, lazy hips rolling against you. He’s panting from above you, hands falling from your body and latching onto the counter for support.

“Fuck that was… that was amazing,” Johnnie says, pulling out of you reluctantly.

He knows the sooner he pulls out and you two get dressed, the quicker you’ll become strangers. And that’s terrifying.

“You were amazing,” you reply, using your finger to pull his pensive gaze back towards you by his chin.

“Don’t tell me it’s a one and done,” you pout, “I was hoping to have more moments like that.”

Johnnie still stands between your legs, his limp dick resting on your exposed thighs. He lights up at your suggestion. His hands have opted for a much softer hold on your hips, thumbs massaging your skin. He knows he was rough, but he couldn’t help it.

“I mean— I’d like to— we could— fuck I’m so bad at this,” he stutters, suddenly reverting back to his natural, awkward state.

“You’re cute,” you giggle, pecking his nose and hopping off the counter. His ears flush red again.

“How about we get cleaned up and then we’ll worry about the rest later, yeah?”

“Yeah,” a big goofy smile adorns his face. His rosy cheeks make you wanna pinch him and gush over how cute he looks.

“Weren’t you just fucking my brains out a second ago?” you tease, only making him more flustered.

“I’m shy, I can’t help it.”

“Not that shy apparently,” you pull him in for one more kiss.

—

MASTERLIST

a/n: Tara the goat, the best wingwoman ever!

I locked in. Thank you for ur kind words bby, I LUV U!

Enjoy 🎱😜 - L.A.M.B👼🏻💗

—

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[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Frisky Friday thot?

You've caught the attention of not one gorgeous blonde, but two at one of Stark's parties. Each charming in their own way, they make room for you to sit between them and offer you a drink. One drink won't hurt.

Right?

Just a Drop

“You are such a buzzkill," Mandy snaps as she untangles the thin strap of her bag. "I'm tryna do something here and you keep whining that you're all alone--" 

You reel at your friend's harshness. She asked you to come. She even said she needed the moral support. After all, how could she go alone to one of Stark's infamous parties. She's so nervous, don't you know? 

"Sorry, but I don't know anyone but you--" 

"It's a party. Get out there," she retorts and pulls out her mirror compact. She checks her lips and flicks her lashes. "Now, if I keep Tony waiting, he's going to find someone else. So go. Plenty of people to mingle with." 

You sniff back your reticence and the sting of her tone. You nod and she spins on her heel and stomps back through the door. You contemplate leaving. Would she notice? Well, if she realises you ditched her, you would have zero friend in the city. 

You look down at yourself. You even let her dress you. The sweater is blush pink with sequins on it, but she was frustrated that it was so baggy. She paired it with a skirt even though it’s cold. She couldn’t lend you any of her clothes because they wouldn’t fit. The one thing she did give you from your wardrobe were the shoes. Heeled booties that make you teeter. 

You make yourself go back into the room. The voices hit you like a sonic wave. Everyone is so cheery and excited to see each other. It’s crowded and chaotic and you have no place there. It’s no different than you’ve felt your whole time in the city. Lost and alone. 

You set to wandering around. You’ll pace away the time until Mandy releases you from this purgatory. You shrink away from the woman you know to be Natasha Romanov. You tried to say hi but she looked at you as if she would swat you away like a gnat. Then there’s the men she’s with; they’re hulking, mean looking figures. 

You fold your arms and try to will yourself into invisibility. Certainly, given a number of your company, that can’t be entirely impossible. You pass behind the couch and something knocks against your elbow as you walk along the leather. 

You recoil and turn to rub your elbow as you watch the man touch his blond hair. Oh no. As he leaned back, you must have bopped him. You cradle your arm and cringe. 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to,” you say as his blue eyes find you. It’s Thor. The god of thunder. He was one that Mandy was sure to point out; a backup plan, she proclaimed. “I didn’t see you.’ 

“Not to worry, lady. My own fault. I was being rowdy and did not think before I threw myself back,” he drops his hands. “I should be honoured to be battered by a woman so enchanting.” 

You blink. You’re not sure if he’s mocking you. Sometimes Mandy’s compliments turn out not to be. The man beside him glances back too. Oh, Steve Rogers. 

“Hey, you seem lonely,” he says, “who’d you come with?” 

“Oh, uh,” you look around. You don’t see Mandy. “A friend.” 

“A friend?” He echoes. 

“Yeah, but I don’t know where they went...” you trail off. 

“How improper of us, Rogers,” Thor reaches over to muss Steve’s hair before he stands. He turns and faces you over the couch, “my lady, I present to you Steve Rogers of Brookland.” 

“Brooklyn--” Steve corrects. 

“And it is I, Prince Thor of Asgard,” he touches his own chest as he booms, “would you do us the honour of joining us for a drink?” 

“Oh, a drink?” You squeak in surprise. “I hate to impose--” 

“Impose? We could use the company,” he assures you and waves you around. “Rogers, make room, you lump.” 

“Lump?” Steve mutters, though there’s a lilt of humour in his voice. 

You hesitate, swaying, then come around the long leather sofa. You don’t want to be rude. Especially to them. And it’s exactly what Mandy told you to do; mingle. 

Steve stands as you approach and gestures you down to the cushion between them. Thor remains on his feet as the other man sits with you. You peek over at the captain then up at the prince. 

“I’ll fetch us a round,” Thor declares. “I shall be fleet.” 

He turns and struts off. You stare after him and twiddle your fingers nervously. Your eyes skitter around. What do you say? 

“Not a big fan myself but Tony loves these things,” Steve says.  

“Oh, yeah, I’ve never... I don’t go to many parties.” 

“Well, you’re not missing out on much. I always end up dragging out the punchiest moron in the room. Unfortunately, that’s often my buddy.” He points and you follow it to the dark-haired man with Natasha; Bucky Barnes. 

“Oh, right,” you murmur. “That’s... too bad.” 

“He doesn’t even have a good excuse. They don’t serve anything he can get drunk on,” he snorts. 

Thor returns, giving you a start. He sets down three glasses on the low glass table across from you. “My lady,” he says and turns to sit, his weight shifting the couch. “The bar man says it is something fizzy. I can’t be certain,” he explains. “Rogers,” he turns to look at his cohort, “I’ve brought some of my home brew...” 

“Of course you did,” Steve scoffs. 

Thor reaches under his jacket and slips out a small flask. It’s gold and round, with elaborate patterning in it. He twists the cap and you feel a tug on your sweater.  

“I like this, it’s pretty,” Steve says. 

“Oh, uh, thanks.” 

“Yes, very becoming,” Thor adds as he pours into one glass, “and for you, Rogers.” He trickles more into another.  

You turn and look at the clear, bubbly drinks. Thor tucks away the flask and grabs two. He hands one to you. Rogers reaches for the third. 

“Thank you,” you accept the cold glass. 

“Skol,” Thor raises his glass. 

“Cheers,” Steve mirrors him. 

You look between them, feeling smaller as you feel their body heat brewing. You just lift your glass higher to let them clink it. You follow their lead, drinking when they do, though you nearly cough it back up. 

“Oh, bubbly,” you cover your mouth. Strong, you think. You don’t have the highest tolerance. 

“How long have you been in New York?” Steve asks, catching you off guard.  

“Oh, just about...” you tally in your head, “one year now.” 

“Wow, newbie,” he comments. You take another drink, just for something to do. 

“As am I,” Thor adds. “I do miss home but I like your planet too.” 

You nod and sip again. 

“Have you been to this place, Central Park?” Thor asks. “I was lost for a whole day.” 

“Imagine that, a whole god, lost,” Steve laughs. 

“Eh, I was off duty,” Thor argues. 

They banter back and forth and you’re all too happy to fade into the leather. You slurp tentatively. Mandy is still elusive. You suppose she managed to snare her game but what about you? 

As your eyes flit around the room, it seems to rock. You lurch forward in a sudden bout of dizziness and lean forward to put the glass down. You miss the table but the glass is caught from underneath. Thor takes it and puts it on the table. The ice hits the glass. You drank it all without realising. 

“Thirsty,” he remarks as you slouch forward. He pushes you back and Steve help eases you against the cushion, “are you feeling it?” 

“How much did you put in hers?” Steve hisses. 

“Just a drop,” Thor assures, “never worry, Rogers, I know as I am doing.” He pets your forehead as your head falls back under its own weight. You blink at the ceiling as your body slackens. “My lady, never fret. We are heroes, we will take good care of you.” 

[shineon3]

Winter Warmers, Day 7

Prompt: Omegaverse & Blanket Fort / Word Count: 744 (somehow this ended up absolutely sfw?)

Daniel stops in his tracks, hand on the door handle. The hall, and probably the rest of the house too, looks and smells like Christmas threw up inside, despite it only being the beginning of December. He takes a deep breath, and, somehow, the smells don’t assault his usually sensitive nose. He smiles softly, making his way around the different boxes of ornaments and other miscellaneous holiday related things until he’s standing in the kitchen, leaning against the doorframe.

Inside, Max is busying himself with drying some dishes, foot impatiently tapping against the tiled floor as he does so. The warm, rich smell of lasagna fills the kitchen, almost overpowering Max’s soft scent of cinnamon and freshly baked pastries. Daniel can't believe he's lucky enough to have this, to have his mate, his Maxy, comfortable enough in his farm, their farm now, to be unapologetically himself. He watches as the blonde bops around to a rhythm, pulling out the lasagna from the oven and setting it on the counter to cool down. Daniel gets lost admiring his mate as he moves around the kitchen, effortlessly graceful and adorably domestic, and he ends up zoning out, relaxing against the doorframe, his instincts soothed by having Max around. 

“How long are you gonna stare at me for?”

He tunes back in to find the blonde staring at him, a soft smile on his lips. Instead of replying, Daniel just takes a step forwards, wrapping his arms around his lovely mate. Max immediately relaxes in his embrace, nosing at the crook of his neck, carefully scenting him and purring softly.

“You decorated the house.”

In his arms, Max hums, nuzzling further in the crook of Daniel’s neck.

“You like it?”

“I do,” The aussie pulls back slightly, pressing a kiss to the blonde's forehead. “D'you need some help with the boxes in the hall?” 

“No, don't worry.” 

Max chuckles softly, shaking his head. He pulls away from the older’s embrace, grinning, and guides Daniel to the living room. The brunette had only seen it in passing when he had come back home, but he wasn't surprised to find it full of Christmas decorations. It wasn't suffocating, though, the decorations creating a cozy, homey atmosphere. Daniel’s attention, however, was immediately drawn to the pile of blankets haphazardly thrown onto the couch. He’s pulled out of his thoughts by his mate's hesitant voice.

“I thought we could build a pillow fort maybe…? I have never done it before, but I read about it and it sounded fun, so-”

“I would love to, baby.” 

Max beams up at him, and Daniel can't help but kiss him.

They decide to eat lunch first, and Daniel makes sure to shower his darling with praise. Max often felt insecure about his abilities, especially “traditional” omega skills, and the brunette always makes sure to reassure him, tell him how good he’s doing. Afterwards, they get started on the pillow fort. They first watch an instructional video, when Daniel admits he doesn’t actually know how to build one and pouts when Max giggles.

They work slowly, both because they’re not sure of what they’re doing and they want to take their time, and because they keep interrupting each other with kisses and random pillow fights. In the end, the fort looks slightly wonky, in a cute, homemade way. He and Max had gone all out, stuffing the fort/nest with blankets, pillows and some clothes that held both of their scents, as well as hanging fairy lights around. It’s silly, it’s cozy, and it is most certainly a perfect mix of them, a perfect blend of Max and Daniel.

They end up spending their evening huddled inside the pillow fort, cuddling together while they watch Christmas movies and drink homemade hot chocolate. Daniel hums softly, arms wrapping tighter around Max’s waist, and noses at the blonde’s scent gland. He rumbles, pleased, at the sight of his bite, his claim on his mate, especially when Max tilts his head to the side, offering himself to the brunette, and Daniel can’t resist the temptation, sinking his teeth into his mate’s neck to renew their bond.

In his arms, Max purrs loudly, relaxing completely, the rush of dopamine buzzing in the bond. Daniel peppers the crook of his neck with kisses, smiling softly.

“Love you, angel.” 

Max shifts in his embrace, mumbling sleepily against him. 

“Love you too…”

Daniel is the luckiest man alive, he’s sure of it.

[onetimetwotimesthreetimess]

For the prompt: malec adjusting after qoaad when Alec is the consul

“Sweetheart, it’s okay,” Magnus says softly, gently carding his fingers through Alec’s hair. He’s currently wrapped up under a plethora of blankets.

“It’s not.”

“Are you planning to come out of the blankets ever again?” Magnus says, amusement laced with his voice.

“No. It’s my temple of shame. I’m going to stay here now. You can go find yourself another husband.”

He can feel the vibrations from Magnus’s laughter through the blankets and pouts. There’s some shuffling then, few blankets removed from top of him as Magnus makes space for himself next to him.

Alec can feel the warmth on his face already from the warlock’s breath.

Magnus touches his face and he leans into the touch.

“Hi.”

He opens his eyes, to meet Magnus’s golden-green ones.

For a second, Alec forgets everything else and focuses on how pretty his eyes are.

Magnus taps his forehead twice to bring him out of his stupor and he groans in response. He shifts closer to Magnus and hides his face against his chest.

“I can’t hear you, love,” Magnus replies as Alec mumbles something against his chest.

“I’m a bad father,” he pulls back slightly, a huge pout on his face.

Magnus cups his face with both his hands and kisses his mouth softly. “You are not.”

“I am.”

“You’re not.”

“Your children believe so,” he retorts.

“My children?” Magnus raises an eyebrow in amusement.

“Yes. They hate me now so they’re your kids. You can keep their full custody.”

Magnus shakes his head fondly, gently caressing his face. “You are so dramatic. And so are those two demons.”

“Don’t talk shit about my kids,” Alec warns.

A low chuckle erupts Magnus’s mouth. “Idiot.”

Magnus drags his fingers across Alec’s back, before putting them inside his shirt and traces random patterns.

Alec’s quite okay spending an eternity here, not that he will ever have an eternity with Magnus but never mind—that’s a problem for another day.

“Do you think so too?” He asks, knowing Magnus’s answer but still needing to hear it.

“Think what?”

He sighs before removing the seven blankets as he sits up. Alec runs his fingers through his hair in frustration, leaning his head against the back of the wall. Magnus comes out from under within a few seconds.

He doesn’t push Alec at all. Gives him all the time in the world to voice his thoughts.

“Do you think I’m a bad husband too?” He asks, even if a little petulantly.

But it’s Magnus and if Alec can act petulant infront of anyone just because he wants to, it’s Magnus.

Magnus bops his nose. “I don’t think so. You are my favorite husband.”

It makes him smile.

“I am your only husband.”

“Hmm.”

Alec huffs. “How would you even know though? 400 or 800 or 1500 years, whatever age you’re choosing to be today and you’ve been married once. Your experience is of 4 months. The bar is in hell for you, Magnus.”

Magnus snorts, inches closer to him, crossing his legs, half lying on top of Alec.

“I think I have seen enough marriages in the world to know that you,” Magnus pokes his finger across Alec’s chest, “are quite nailing it.”

The thing about Magnus is that, when he speaks, when he tells you something, it doesn’t matter who you are or what you are—you believe him.

Right now, Alec doesn’t want to believe him.

He scoffs, irritation seeping his voice as he crosses the bed and stands up, throwing his hands in the air. “Really? Because everything in the past few months suggest otherwise. That I’m failing colossally.”

The amusement disappears from Magnus’s face, replaced with concern now. “Alexander, you’re not failing at anything.”

“You wouldn’t feel that way if Max and Rafe had said all of that about you.”

“They’re kids, love.”

“I quite remember the trauma my parents left me with as a child.”

Alec remembers all of that as clear as a day. Even if amends have been made. Even if Alec’s dad isn’t here anymore and he tries to not hold grudges. But there are things Alec can’t quite forget. Even if he’s forgiven his parents for them.

Absence is one of those.

He never wants his kids to feel that.

Magnus stands up from the bed and stands in front of him. “You’re spiraling.”

“I should.”

“All of this is new for all of us. It’s okay if you are not perfect at this,” Magnus assures him.

“They think I don’t have time for them.”

It had been a small thing.

No matter how busy Alec and Magnus are, weekends are for his family. Especially Saturday nights and Sunday mornings.

They had plans to take the boys to the Miami Seaquarium since Rafe had recently become obsessed with dolphins and wanted to see them. The plans been set for weeks now.

But something had come up at the last minute, another crisis that he’d need to deal with. He had to tell the boys that he couldn’t make it and they had not taken it lightly.

Max and Rafe don’t usually complain a lot when one of them has to leave due to their work. They can usually be bribed with food, toys and a hundred kisses and hugs.

And yet, they’d been pissed at Alec—told him that he doesn’t have time for them these days. Didn’t even say goodbye to him when Magnus took them through the portal, an apologetic smile on his face.

That had kind of hurt. Then as Magnus would like to call it—he had spiralled.

“They were disappointed today but they won’t hold this one thing against you,” Magnus says tenderly.

“I know they are,” he replies. “And you can be too.”

“I’m not disappointed, darling.”

It’s difficult when you spend so many years of your life having every single action of yours being measured in terms of its success and failures—the disappointment it can lead to for other people.

It’s worse when you realise that it’s not how it’s supposed to be.

When you are met with nothing but understanding and gentleness at your shortcomings.

Sometimes, Alec’s still not used to it.

“Why are you being so nice about it?” He says, not wanting to start a fight but needing it anyways.

“You don’t want me to be nice to you?” Magnus asks. “Because I like being nice to you. It’s not a hardship.”

There’s nothing but unconditional love on Magnus’s face.

It’s jarring some days that all of that is for him.

He drops the defensive stance and relaxes. “I don’t want to fight.”

“I know.”

“I’ve had a horrible day,” he admits. “And, I need you.”

It’s not just what the kids said. But the past few months have been exhausting and as much change Alec can bring, it’s still a hard battle every single day. It’s been tiring to no end.

“I’m here, Alexander,” Magnus exhales. He places his hand on Alec’s cheek, other tugging him closer by the waist.

“We never went on our honeymoon because I was so busy with work.”

“But, you did let me kidnap you for a few days for a short honeymoon. Remember?” The words bring an instant smile to his face. Magnus had colluded with his siblings to kidnap Alec for a few days.

“That was nice. We had fun,” he replies.

Magnus tilts his head, a small smirk on his face. “We had more than just fun.”

Alec chuckles breathlessly.

“And have you forgotten the part where you changed the law just to get married to me?”

“Meh.”

“Max and Rafe hate me,” he whines again.

“They don’t hate you. They’re just mad. You tell them a bedtime story and a cup of ice cream and they would be all yours,” Magnus assures him.

“That seems manipulative.”

“Well. They are quite easily bought.”

“They are,” he snorts.

“Are we feeling better now?” Magnus leans their foreheads together, their bodies flushed against each other.

It doesn’t quite feel real to him sometimes that Magnus uses ‘we’ not just as a phrase but, because it does affect him as well when Alec is feeling sad.

“Yeah.”

“One more thing.”

He pulls back, raising an eyebrow.

“You could not fail at being an amazing husband if you tried. You are everything I could never dream for myself, Alexander,” Magnus breathes against his mouth.

“I’m your favorite husband?” He says with a grin.

“Out of the ones you know of, you absolutely are,” Magnus grins back.

He throws his head back in laughter. “What happened to being nice to me?”

[in1-nutshell]

Hi I was wondering if you could please do tfp with a female Hispanic teen!reader who’s an energetic girl and when she’s mad she’ll curse in her mother tongue and the bots and/or the kids make her mad one day and she’s just yelling at them in Spanish and they’re just standing there like “what tf did u say? 🧍”

Another curser Buddy, lets go! Since you did not specify which characters you wanted, I chose them at random.

Hope you enjoy!

Human Buddy who's Hispanic and likes to curse in her mother's tongue with Ratchet, Bumblebee, and Smokescreen

SFW, Mention of cursing, Platonic, Human reader

TFP

Buddy didn’t normally curse. She tried not to, especially in front of Raf. But sometimes the temptations were too great to keep her mouth shut, especially since most of the cursing came out in Spanish rather than English.

In a way, it was a blessing that almost no one understood what she was saying, but at the same time a curse because no one knew what she was saying.

Ratchet

Buddy had stubbed her toe on the corner of the coach when Ratchet first heard it.

She let a string of colorful words out of her mouth which caused Raf to immediately cover his ears a bit.

Miko and Jack looked at her in with wide eyes. Even though they didn’t know what Buddy was saying, they could tell she was defiantly cursing up a storm.

Ratchet doesn’t get what the problem is. He assumes that Buddy is talking gibberish.

It isn’t until Buddy stops and apologizes for cursing loudly, especially to Raf, then it clicks.

Ratchet secretly downloads the language into his processor to get a further understanding of what Buddy and Raf are saying.

Did he tell anyone? No, not that he knows.

Buddy starting to curse.

“Watch your mouth! There are children here.”--Ratchet

“Sorry Raf. Sorry Bumblebee.”--Buddy

“It’s okay.”--Raf

“Bep? (What?)”--Bumblebee

“How did you know Buddy was cursing?”--Miko

“That is for me to know and for you to find out.”--Ratchet

“Oh, I’ll find out all right.”--Miko

Spoiler, Miko found out. And holds this newfound information for later when its blackmailing time.

Bumblebee

Bee to a degree has some knowledge about the language thanks to Raf.

It’s rather impressive considering that he hasn’t downloaded the language yet. He plans on doing it on Raf’s birthday as a surprise.

When Buddy accidentally wacked herself in the eye opening a pickle jar, he has enough knowledge to know Buddy is swearing and goes to cover Raf’s ears. Buddy does apologize to the both for the sudden outburst.

“Beep! Bep bop! (Shhh! Buddy! Raf and Smokescreen are around!)”--Bumblebee

“What?”--Smokescreen

“Sorry!”--Buddy

“It’s okay.”--Raf

“Beep boop boop bop (Next time try doing it under your breath, that way they can’t hear you.)”--Bumblebee

“Oh! Okay, thanks Bee!”--Buddy

Smokescreen

He doesn’t get it.

When Buddy missed the last step of the stairs and started cursing, he thought that they were just making a funny noise as a response to falling.

Like a chew toy.

Smokescreen finds the noise so funny he starts laughing.

Buddy starts cursing.

Smokescreen just laughing at the noise.

Buddy starts cursing at him.

“Should we stop him?”--Raf

“Nah.”--Miko

He thinks that she is just trying to make him laugh more. Buddy is such a considerate friend, even as her face was starting to get red.

Raf tries to explain to Smokescreen that Buddy was cursing, but Miko stopped him wanting to see the chaos go down when he’d start repeating the sounds in front of Ratchet.

[wolfeyedwitch]

Hand stomp for Icarus?

With Bloody Outstretched Hands, Part 12: Hand Stomp

Thank you for your patience! Have Luke having a bad day.

CW: hand whump, prejudice against fictional group (superpowers), prejudice-motivated violence

Masterlist

---

Luke was halfway through his PT exercises when Zera came into the gym like a stormcloud. He watched as they all but stomped their way over to the wall of gear while they roughly tugged off their mask. Zera ran one hand through their bright blue hair before donning a pair of boxing gloves, stalking to one of the punching bags, and beginning to attack it like it had insulted their entire family.

Luke finished his set of exercises in a state of bewildered concern. This was far from the younger hero’s normal behavior. Usually Zera was almost disgustingly peppy while in the gym. A normal day would see them bopping their head along to whatever catchy tune they had blaring in their earbuds, enthusiastically running through one of the simulations the gym had to test their teleportation skills. A bad day would have them going through weapon forms at half-speed to ensure they got everything right. Luke wasn’t sure what it would take to get his coworker in this state, and he was almost afraid to ask.

Well. He didn’t become a hero out of an abundance of self-preservation instinct. 

“What’s got you all riled up?” he asked when Zera finally stripped off one glove to grab a water bottle. “Toss me one, too?”

They took a second bottle from the fridge and lobbed it underhand across the gym. Luke caught it in both hands. Nice; the PT was really paying off. A few months back he wouldn’t have had the dexterity or coordination to make that catch.

Zera gave a smile at whatever triumphant face Luke couldn’t help but make. Then they shook their head with a grimace. “It’s Bailey,” they said, setting down their water bottle and pushing their now-sweaty hair out of their face.

It was Luke’s turn to grimace. He understood why they were keeping the villain at their med bay, but that didn’t mean he had to like it. “Are they giving you trouble?”

Zera shook their head. “No, they’re eager to tell us everything they can. Maeve is probably going to have to call the interview, because I’d bet dollars to donuts that they’d push themself way too hard trying to give us info.”

“And end up paying for it sooner rather than later,” Luke said with a nod. Concussions were a bitch, even with a healer’s help. “So they aren’t being stubborn. What’s the problem?”

Zera frowned even harder. “The problem is that this whole thing is incredibly fucked up, Luke. I knew we had PR issues, after Marcus and his apprentice, but apparently the way the villains tell it is even worse. Slipknot was apparently using the threat of us as the stick to keep Bailey in line.”

“What was the carrot, then?” he asked, coming to stand next to the younger hero.

They shrugged. “A place to belong, someone helping them out after their parents died, a chance at making a difference in the world. Take your pick.”

It was Luke’s turn to frown. 

Zera noticed. “What?”

He hesitated. Zera was a good hero, but they were still pretty young, with the naivete that came with it. 

“What? You’ve got that face again. Come on, out with it, boomer,” Zera teased.

Luke shook his head with a huff of laughter. They were right to tease; he wasn’t that much older than they were, though he felt plenty ancient on days his injuries acted up. That didn’t change the difference in experience, though. Zera still had an optimism he’d lost somewhere between his first year as a hero and his extended stay in the ICU after his attack. 

“Just…” he started, trying to get his thoughts in order. “I dunno. I can’t shake the feeling that we’re missing something. This all feels…” He broke off, unable to properly articulate it. 

Zera was already shaking their head. “Hell if I know. But they seem genuine enough. They aren’t trying to downplay anything they’ve done. If anything, they seem like they’re taking on too much accountability.”

He hummed noncommittally in response, but Zera’s words stuck with him as he headed out, leaving them to their workout. That was exactly what it was that had been bothering him. Bailey seemed guilty. They seemed like their conscience was weighing them down like Atlas.

On the one hand, that could have been any number of things. It was looking more and more like whatever relationship Bailey had with Slipknot had been abusive, and guilt was a common response in abuse victims. It could have just been the fact that Bailey had a conscience.

On the other hand… 

He was probably overthinking it. He should talk with his therapist, honestly. This was the exact kind of thing that Heroes League had therapists on staff to deal with. 

On the other hand, why would a supposedly small-time villain be so guilty? Because maybe they weren’t nearly as small-time as they seemed. Some small, unkind part of Luke couldn’t help but think that Bailey had to have done something to be feeling this guilty about. Just because they didn’t know what it was, didn’t mean it didn’t happen. 

The thoughts kept racing through his head like hamsters on a wheel, squeaky and annoying and going absolutely nowhere. They pestered him the rest of the day, no matter how he tried to ignore them. They were still there when he finally managed to get his insomniac ass in bed for the night.

Luke was no stranger to nightmares. He’d been an insomniac long before his injuries, but after? It seemed like any time he managed to steal a few minutes of sleep, some fucked-up nonsense was playing on the movie screen on the back of his eyelids. 

This dream seemed to follow the same recipe as most of them: take one soda of bad memories, add one mentos of dream logic, and shake vigorously. He was a kid, running over rooftops to escape from bullies. The next moment, he was flying over the city looking for a suspect for the Heroes League. He caught them; they caught him. 

The suspect held him over the edge of the roof—no, that was the kids. They caught him; he hadn’t run fast enough. 

Awww, are you scared, you little freak? You should be. Don’t you know we don’t want mutts like you around here?

(I thought you guys had rules about dangling people off buildings?)

He squirmed against the grip of the older boys, the ones who were always first with an insult or cruel “prank” against the kid who didn’t have enough control of his powers to keep from outing himself.

Why don’t you just float away? Get lost! 

Hands shoved him forward and pulled him back. He was falling—backwards? No, forwards, towards the edge of the roof. His hands barely came up in time to break his fall. 

You freaks are ruining the world for normal people! You can’t just run around flaunting what kind of mutant you are and expect us to sit back and let it happen!

(You can’t just ruin people’s lives and expect no repercussions!)

Someone, or maybe multiple, was kicking him. His weight shifted awkwardly on the edge of the roof. No, no, nonono, he was going to fall!

Cheering sounded in his ears, cruel and expectant. 

His legs went over the edge, torso slamming painfully into the side of the building. Now he was just holding on, and his hands were already starting to hurt. 

His fingers went from dull ache to sharp, hot agony in an instant. He opened his mouth to scream— (he… tried to? Was there something over his mouth?) but in true dream fashion, nothing happened. 

He looked up to see one of the bullies with a boot on his hand. The older boy gave an ugly grin and started to grind his heel into Luke’s fingers.

The cheering got even louder. 

Get him! Make him scream!

He looked down at the boot again. But wait, that wasn’t a kid’s shoe. 

That was a combat boot. Charcoal gray, and… familiar.

Luke looked up. 

It wasn’t his childhood bullies standing over him. This figure wore a red and gray outfit, menacing and eye-catching. 

Poppet scowled down at him and shoved their boot forward. Luke’s hand tore on the rough cement of the rooftop, before encountering nothing but air. 

He woke up before he hit the ground.

---

Dun dun dun! He's starting to remember!

Small text in parentheses is from Sadistic Choice.

Taglist:

@heathenville @nonbinary-disaster @kim-poce @whump-world @dolls-circus

@pickleking8 @ghostfacepepper @cupcakes-and-pain @badluck990 @mylifeisonthebookshelf

@pumpkin-spice-whump @deluxewhump @extemporary-whump @whumpwillow @multiple-characters1-acct

@sunflower1000 @fleur-alise @equestrianwritingsstuff @scp-1296 @livingforthewhump

@thingsthatgo-whump-inthenight @suspicious-whumping-egg @kaiwewi @lelly-belly

@neuro-whump @newbornwhumperfly @whumpthisway @whumpcreations @wicked-whump

@heart4brains @myhusbandsasemni @how-to-be-a-hero @kixngiggles @kurochan

@whumpsday @extrabitterbrain @pattonvirglsanders @neverthelass @we-write-as-one

@elrysdoesstuff @whumperflies-and-roses @ha-ha-one @whatwhumpcomments @ramadiiiisme

@towerlesskey @emmanemanemm @pigeonwhumps @whumpycries

[the-s1lly-corner]

can u do tadc cast (or probably just a few bc this prompt isn’t very creative) x a reader who looks like the player from animal crossing? ball hands,,, maybe weirdly good at crafting things,, gets stung by bees sometimes mayhaps. Maybe they speak animalese and nobody ever knows what they’re saying LMAO

TADC cast x reader whos like an animal crossing player!

depending on what time it is when i finish writing this, i think imma take a short break to stretch my legs and make something YAHOO!! hope you enjoy this anon!! this reminds me, i cleared out my island by making it totally flat... but i never actually... got to decorating it... huh.... commitment is scary, guys

CAINE:

i think as a funny haha gag thing, how funny would it be if he could actually understand you. like you cant talk, and the noise youre limited to is to your "emotes", but somehow someway for some reason, caine can understand you... genuinely impressed by your crafting and even sometimes asks you to make random things just to see if you can make it! expect some really odd and random requests! not at all phased that you can pick things up with your weird orb hands, hes used to the digital world and its weirdness... thinks...

POMNI:

hey at least theres someone the same height as her in this place...!/hj

tries hard to understand your funky emotes and body language but shes at a loss... i mean at least you can still pick stuff up and try to write, so at theres some method of commutating asides from simply trying to learn how to read you! though, she is a bit unnerved by your silence and how your face is mostly stagnant when you arent.... emoting.. a static smile can get a little unnerving when youre standing next to the person and understand thats its a real person.. you know?

a little confused on how you can just pull things out from thin air, but does admit that it can be useful... has probably tried to ask you to make an exit out of desperation because hey if anyone can make one it would be you so whats the harm in trying (my girl is losing it)

RAGATHA:

i think you guys bond over the crafting; since ragatha makes stuff too, like pillows and clothing and plushies and the like! sure you guys may not be making the exact same things, but you both create and thats enough to bring you two together! doesnt mind that you cant talk, in fact i think after the chaos of a day in the digital circus she embraces the calmness around you... scolds you for constantly being stung by bees, though... though she tries not to be too mean or harsh since its not like youre trying to get stung on purpose... but please just be careful... she worries about you, afterall!

honestly ragatha doesnt have individual fingers, so the fact you can function with balls hands doesnt phase her

JAX:

really touching on the fact you have an inventory that you can hide stuff in i think he would slide you things to hide for him; especially its hes going a "imma do something to someone as a prank then run and use you to hide the evidence" ... you know usual jax antics where he tries to get the reader to help him with his trickery. whether or not you actually aid him is totally up to you. probably makes fun of your short height and the fact youre always getting stung. probably points and laughs when he watches you run around while literally being chased by a swarm. promptly screams when you make a run towards him, thus bringing the bees to him. you have probably bopped him with your net after he says something particularly not-nice, me thinks... or maybe you just dont like him and youre constantly bopping him, i mean i do enjoy it when the reader doesnt like a character but you can easily ignore this little aside if you want this to be a friendship or romance!

KINGER:

OOOOO imagine you come with the basic ring/inventory of tools (net, shovel, watering can, fishing rod, ect) and you can just pull it out of no where.... oooooouuugh imagine taking your net out around him and (wordlessly) offering to go look for bugs with him,.. kind of panics when you get stung by the digital bees; probably helps you patch up... honestly i think given that kinger is all about bugs, i think its a safe bet he would know how to treat bites and stings... so hes your man if youre really bad about avoiding bees and the like! can see tropes that trope where like "whats that? little timmys stuck in the well?? (but thats not what you said/meant)" because youre like emoting and trying to direct his attention somewhere but he gets it. so totally wrong and commits to it before you can stop him. i just think thats funny

ZOOBLE:

thinks youre... odd. though... imagine you can change up your style and appearance by simple interacting with a mirror and wardrobe. i think they would think thats cool, that you can just... do that... zooble has to rip their body parts off (sounds way worse than it actually is, LMAO). probably gives you this look when you walk into the tent to show that once again, youve been attacked by a swarm of bees.... how do they always only sting your left eye...? is that just how your digital body shows the injury, or do they just... no nevermind, theyre just going to give out a sigh before taking you to caine or kinger for medicine. definitely gets onto you for constantly messing with the digital bees, though...

GANGLE:

honestly between all the characters i can easily see her being an animal crossing fan... and while she may not remember all of her old life, i like to think that subconsciously she would recognize you for what your digital body is intimidating... bonus if in the real world animal crossing was her comfort, so naturally, she instinctively finds comfort in you even if she cant totally pin point it... though, she has trouble understanding you outside of your emotes... but even then when you do an angry stamp or shed tears she cant quite pinpoint why youre upset... oooo please make her an art easel! i think that would be a great gift for her and she will be absolutely over the moon!

[dynasty889]

Wisdom Saga Ranking

Okay, so first off I literally had to sing to keep myself awake during the livestream (started getting tired around the Circe Saga). I still have mixed feelings about this saga but over all I like it.

1. Little Wolf - This is probably my favorite. I loved the animatic for it!! (I think it was based on Mortal Kombat, sorry not the biggest video game geek). I loved the way Athena was reintroduced into EPIC. And also so relatable. You get a great power up but you still lose to the boss.

2. Legendary - The animatic and Argos lmao! 🤣 Anyway, this song turned pretty dark during the suitors’ verse. You can definitely already tell they’re planning to take the throne and Penelope by force. It’s a total bop lmao.

3. We’ll Be Fine - I did hear the lyric changes and I am a little sad Telemachus might not have gone to Pylos and Sparta (like he does in the Odyssey). I love Teagan’s singing in this song but I feel like it ended kind of abruptly.

Uhhh I don’t know where to rank Love in Paradise and God Games.

Love in Paradise: As a story, this song works. As a song just to listen, maybe not as much. I always thought the time dive would be in the middle of the song. I guess not? Gigi’s animatic for the song definitely makes Calypso very adorkable. Im pretty neutral about Calypso’s characterization in EPIC because I think it’s important we establish that Odyssey!Calypso is not the same as EPIC!Calypso (because it’s an adaptation duh). It almost seems to be implied that even though Odysseus was spared in Thunder Bringer, Zeus still punished him by stranding him. Like, it seems that Calypso might almost be influenced by Zeus? I’m not sure how to explain it, but like I’m trying to say Zeus played a hand in Odysseus’ seven year stay on Ogygia (which is why he’s so mad at the end of God Games.) I’m also very glad we still get to see how seven years with a woman he didn’t want messed up Odysseus. I know he’s also got trauma from other stuff, but it’s still good to see that he is barely clinging to sanity because of Calypso. Also, those notes Odysseus sings right before he calls out to Athena. It almost sounds like he’s saying “home” (that’s how I’ve been singing it anyway)

God Games: I think this song is so fucking cool. But it suffers from some of the choices of the gods featured in this song. I will stand by the fact that Apollo didn’t need to be in this song. He’s like the boss that’s way too easy, even for beginning players. Hephaestus’ reason made a little more sense. Also bonus points for being voiced by Jay’s dad. Aphrodite and Ares felt like the actual first boss fight. Their verses were longer and while their reasons may still be a little iffy, we got to see some hesitation from the gods. Hera’s verse was pretty cool just cause of how groovy it is, but she also seemed to be convinced a little too easy. I don’t know. Zeus…oh my god. Jay needs to bring Luke for one more song. He was so badass in that song! Also:

Ares(? I don’t know which god said): “Is she (Athena) dead?”

Also the previous song: “Goddesses can’t die.”

I loved the instrumental and the animatic that went along with it. It really reminds me of the Thunder Saga trailer and that little melody at the end of Thunder Bringer.

Also, Gwendy’s animatic for the end of God Games is just so fucking amazing. It literally looks like an anime. I need EPIC: The Anime after all of these animatics. Jay did so much for the Wisdom Saga and I love it.

[darkwing-katy]

I…can live with that, I guess? Thoughts on Evil’s final episode under the cut (aka SPOILERS)

-I’m sad in general that this show is ending and it will take me forever to recover from this show in the best way

-I guess my dream where I shoved Leland into a bathroom to keep him alive kinda worked???

-the main trio reliving their cases as they burn them was fucking adorable

-I’m gonna miss those girls so much

-the fuck are we gonna do about Lexis???? She seemed normal this season but, like, she had fangs and a tail and was born from a place tainted with demonic stuff. I wanna know how that resolves.

-okay so I guess since Timmy was baptized he can’t be the Antichrist? They were just gonna pivot and make another one? That’s fun.

-the sheer bureaucracy of the online meeting of the 60 had me cackling. “Norm. You’re muted.”

-NORM. IT’S THE BUTTON SHAPED LOKE A LOZENGE poor Leland has to deal with so much shit with these incompetent demons

-“you’ve protected Kristen for four years, Leland.” Uhm. What? He’s been protecting her? Why????? I NEED MORE OF THIS EXPLAINED TO ME????? It can’t just be the whole mother of the Antichrist thing, right???? THERE’S MORE TO IT.

-all things considered, I firmly believe Leland would not have actually killed Timothy. I dunno why; I can’t explain it. But I don’t think he’d do it. Not after that nice little drop of David’s goodness in him.

-Leland putting in earphones while creeping into the house to murder Kristen?? And singing and bopping along in the basement? Iconic. Iconic and adorable. I love him. I have a problem, I know.

-I WAS TRYING NOT TO FREAK OUT WHEN SHE CAME AT HIM WITH THE CORD (“oh shit, guess the bathroom didn’t work after all” was what I told my husband)

-but also the hilarious irony of Kristen strangling him with a red cord like that when that’s how Michael Emerson’s character kills John Locke in LOST???? Like I was stressing but also giggling like a psycho

-the reveal of the meaning behind the countdown was so on point for this show. This fucking show. (What about the bricks, though? Why did they want people to remove the bricks in Kristen’s basement?????)

-DAVID I DON’T THINK LOCKING HIM IN A CABINET IS ANY BETTER THAN STRANGULATION WITH A CORD???? IS HE JUST GONNA ROT IN THERE????

-(okay but all things aside, Leland technically didn’t die on screen and I love to imagine that he was released somehow) (o shit did I just come up with another fic idea????)

-FENNA!!!!!! FENNAAAAAAA!!!! THAT LIL SHOULDER BUMP!!!!!!!

-Kristen’s Dutch counterpart convincing her to move???? Wonderful

-Kristen and David in Rome??? With the girls and Timmy? And cool Italian sunglasses? Wonderful. 10/10. They get to be together but David doesn’t have to choose between her and God. Sure, there’s still sexual tension, but, they’re TOGETHER and not all meaningful relationships have sex as an active component

-BEN SHOULD HAVE GONE WITH THEM AND I STAND BY THIS

-THAT ENDING???? And the fact that Katja decided that was how Kristen should react on the fucking day of filming???? 10/10 no notes, only undeniable curiosity as to what would happen if we miraculously got a season 5

-that cliffhanger is satisfying but also I need a season five. And six. And seven eight nine.

Anywho. That’s, uh, about where I am right now. I’m extremely sad. I ate sushi and ice cream and it helped until it didn’t. I’m gonna continue rewatching the whole dang thing. I’m gonna finish rewriting my Leland fic. I might actually make the shirt I was joking about in an earlier post. Hell, I think the idea of a circle skirt with the map of the different demonic sigils would be amazing. And then I’m probably gonna wanna write more fanfic because I’m still in denial that it’s actually over.

But hey! In my head, Leland is not dead! That’s a win!!! Good job, Dream Kate! You sorta succeeded in protecting your favorite character!

[manygeese]

mega projecting rn, this is

PERCY JACKSON CHARACTERS AS SONGS FROM MY PLAYLIST

aka what I think they would do for karaoke, what’s they like, and what song is them coded

PERCY

What he’d do karaoke to: Beyond the Sea by Bobby Darin. Son of Poseidon thinks water songs are funny.

What song he’d like the most: either Angry Young Man or Allentown, both by Billy Joel. Hard hitting lyrics and instrumentals to match.

What song he has the vibes of: Kodachrome by Paul Simon. Silly, jaunty, but kind of soothing at the same time. Reminds you of your childhood, almost.

ANNABETH

What she’d do karaoke to: Stand by Me by Ben E. King. She’s a romantic lady, what can I say? She’d totally be winking at Percy when she sings the chorus.

What song she’d like the most: Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) by Christopher Cross. She has classical vibes and this is the closest thing to classical as I have on my playlist. Also, I feel like she’d love jazz and this is jazz-adjacent.

What song she has the vibes of: She’s Always A Woman by Billy Joel. Sentimental, cool, but still oozing with emotion.

JASON

What he’d do karaoke to: Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler. Boy puts on a performance.

What song he’d like the most: My Way by Frank Sinatra. He feels good about himself and all the stuff he’s been through while listening to it.

What song he has the vibes of: Out of Touch by Daryl Hall & John Oates. Edgy, cool, and a bop.

PIPER

What she’d do karaoke to: Lovefool by The Cardigans. Daughter of Aphrodite thinks love songs are funny. She’s a really good singer though, so she can choose any song and still knock everybody’s socks off.

What song she’d like the most: Yesterday by the Beatles. I think she’d like sad songs (not breakup songs, more like “wallowing in self pity, wondering what happened to us” songs).

What song she has the vibes of: Thank You For the Music by ABBA. Self worth problems, putting all your value in one ability? Piper coded.

LEO

What he’d do karaoke to: Let’s Hear It for the Boy by Deniece Williams or Thank God I’m A Country Boy by John Denver. The first because he’s some sort of LGBT+ and thinks it’s funny, the second because he’s Texan and thinks it’s funny. Also Fernando by ABBA.

What song he’d like the most: Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham! He identifies with it. Also he loves the dorky Just Dance for it.

What song he has the vibes of: Telephone Line by Electric Light Orchestra. Hopeless romantic vibes right there.

HAZEL

What she’d do karaoke to: Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra. She’d eat any jazz song up, really, but this one’s got her name written all over it.

What song she’d like the most: Bad, Bad Leroy Brown by Jim Croce. It’s got that school house rock vibe that you know she’d love. And also, bar fights! Yay!

What song she has the vibes of: Put Your Records On by Corinne Bailey Rae. Happy, sends a message, gives off sunny day and Hazel vibes.

FRANK

What he’d do karaoke to: Delilah by Tom Jones. He’s belting this shit in the shower at 3 AM.

What song he’d like the most: Oh, What A Beautiful Morning by Gordon Macrae from the musical Oklahoma. He’s embarrassed to admit it, but this boy loves old Roger’s and Hammerstein musicals (The Music Man, Carousel, etc.) that go on for too long and have unnecessary songs. He thinks they’re pretty.

What song he has the vibes of: Everybody Loves Somebody by Dean Martin. Gentle giant vibes.

NICO

What he’d do karaoke to: So Long, Mom (A Song for World War III) by Tom Lehrer. He’s a sucker for old satirical songs and loves watching his friends react as he sings them.

What song he’d like the most: The Vatican Rag by Tom Lehrer. Again, because he likes satirical songs. He cried laughing the first time he heard it, having grown up in the Catholic Church (of Italy, no less).

What song he has the vibes of: Carry on Wayward Son by Kansas. Stark contrast from the earlier songs but it’s just… so Nico coded. The type of stuff you can head bang but also perform ballet to.

REYNA

What she’d do karaoke to: We Didn’t Start the Fire by Billy Joel. She memorized the whole thing and likes flexing on everybody else about it because they don’t have the guts nor the dedication.

What song she’d like the most: Fame by Irene Cara. She unwinds to this in her room after a long day. She also totally does embarrassing dances to it.

What song she has the vibes of: Leningrad by Billy Joel. A song about war, seemingly endless cycles of violence, but small victories and reconciliation.

[1mnobodywhoareyou]

I don't wanna miss a thing

on ao3, Rated G - read it how you'd like, platonic or romantic rulie/peterpatterlina

Julie walks into the studio to the sound of Aerosmith blasting through the speakers. She laughs to herself, ever conflicted by the way her boys share her dad’s music taste but loving the nostalgia offered by dad rock.

What does surprise Julie is that the studio is nearly empty with Reggie hanging out alone sifting through a pile of CDs. He’s seldom the one seeking solitude, opting more often than not to hang out with Ray or Carlos inside. 

“What’d you find?” she asks, making him jump in surprise. Julie giggles as a blush makes its way up his face.

He looks down at the pile in front of him and then back up at her, “Found some unmarked CDs in the loft. Thought I’d see what was on ‘em.” He smiles before continuing, “Haven’t been disappointed yet.”

Julie laughs as she settles in next to him, “No, I don’t imagine so.”

She leans into Reggie and he wraps his arm around her shoulders while they listen in silence for a moment. 

“You probably know Aerosmith?” she asks as she tilts her head up to look at him.

“Of course, not this one though,” he replies, smiling down at her and planting a kiss on her forehead. 

“I think you probably found Dad’s sappy collection. He made these CDs for Mami all the time when we were little. Probably have a tape collection hiding somewhere too.”

Just then, the song changes and Reggie’s eyes light up. “I know this one!” he cheers as he jumps up, dislodging Julie from his side. “Dance with me?” he asks, extending his hand out to her.

Julie sits herself back up and sends him a confused look, “You know how to dance?”

“Yeah!” Reggie enthuses as if it should be obvious and then his voice softens, “Mom was a big fan of swing. Some of our good times were dancing in the kitchen together. The boys never let me throw them around though.”

Julie laughs, “I’d pay good money to see that.”

He curls his fingers at her impatiently, “C’mon, dance with me!”

Julie sighs and stands up, taking his hand and letting him lead her around the space. 

They carefully navigate around the furniture until Reggie gets frustrated and stops them to move the coffee table to the edge of the studio and takes her hand again. 

He’s a bit rusty and Julie has never swing danced before but she does alright at following his lead, letting him spin her around and dip her at his whimsy, giggling as he does so. They only run into each other and she only steps on his toes a handful of times.

“I want to bop with you baby, all night long I want to be-bop with you baby till the break of dawn I want to bop with you baby all night I want to bop with you baby all night long” Reggie sings as they dance, halfway out of breath due to how quickly they’re moving.

They slow down as the song ends and when it transitions into the next one, he pulls her close into his chest, slow dancing to the new songs.

“I don’t know this one,” Reggie whispers into her hair.

Julie smiles up at him, “I do.”

She starts to sing along as they circle the space, “I’ll be your crying shoulder I'll be love's suicide And I'll be better when I'm older I'll be the greatest fan of your life.”

“It’s beautiful,” he says, holding her close. 

Julie rests her head on his shoulder as she agrees, “Yeah. It is.”

They dance in silence for another verse and are interrupted when Luke poofs into the studio.

“Dancing without me?” he asks with a pout that they can hear.

Reggie and Julie both let out soft chuckles before opening their arms to him.

“Come dance with us,” Julie offers and he immediately settles in between them as they finish out the song.

“You should let Reggie dance with you,” Julie tells Luke as they pull apart.

Luke looks between them with wide eyes. “I’d love to dance with you, Reg,” he says.

“You’d swing dance with me?” Reggie asks, skepticism lacing his voice.

“I didn’t know I could,” Luke mutters and Reggie sighs. 

“I spent years trying to get you to dance with me.”

“Yeah, but…” Luke tries to explain as he gestures between himself and Reggie. 

“You deserve to be spun around and dipped too, Luke,” Julie smiles at him.

“What if he drops me?” Luke wonders, voice barely above a whisper.

“Then you fall,” Julie whispers back, placing Luke’s hand in Reggie’s. “You’ll survive.”

“Also, trust me,” Reggie adds with a grin of his own. 

Reggie is relieved when the next song is another quick one that they can swing to though it’s another he doesn’t recognize. It doesn’t take him long to find the beat and Julie’s enjoying watching the two of them twirl around the space. 

She muffles a laugh into her hand as Luke stumbles around, doing his best to keep the pace that Reggie’s setting.

Reggie decides to slow them to half time to get Luke used to the movement but also following. 

Julie can’t help but sway and sing along as they find their groove and Luke sends love stricken looks her way as she does. 

“I'm lookin' for a whole lot more Than a one night rodeo What can I do To prove to you I'm layin' it on the line I'll even get down on my knees.”

Reggie shakes Luke and gives him a pointed look when he gets his attention back, “If you pay attention, I’m less likely to drop you.”

“But Julie,” Luke whispers to him.

“I know. You can look at her after. I’m gonna dip you now.”

“Don’t drop me!” Luke exclaims and Reggie glares at him.

“Trust me,” Reggie utters out between clenched teeth before sending Luke out for another spin and then pulling him back and dipping him.

When he’s pulled back up to standing, Luke lets out the breath that he’d been holding. 

“Fun, right?” Julie asks as she appears at their side. 

Luke’s eyes are bright as he turns to her, a little bit breathless, “Yeah. We should do that more.” He reaches out for Reggie and puts his arm around his shoulders, pulling Reggie into his side. “Thanks, Reg. We should teach Alex and Willie.”

Julie’s eyes widen in excitement, “Yeah! We should. Good idea, Luke!”

Reggie’s face falls into a pout and Julie immediately notices. 

“What’s wrong?” she asks. 

“Odd numbers,” he explains.

“Oh. Well we can get Flynn. And Carrie. But that’s odd again. We can take turns! We’ll figure it out. There will be no Reggie-Wheeling on my watch! I promise,” Julie assures him and Reggie directs a small smile her way. 

“Thanks, Jules,” Reggie says as he pulls her between him and Luke and they wrap her into a hug, both planting kisses to the top of her head before smiling at each other over her. 

[auntiejohn]

I LOVE YOU IMMENSELY JESS AHHHHHHHHHH CONTRATS ON THAT 500 ITS SO WELL DESERVED

SEEING YOUR POSTS ON MY DASH MAKES ME SMILE CAUSE EVERYTIME IM LIKE "yay thats my mutual jess i love her sm!" and my day is IMMEDIATELY BETTER.

May i request from thou a 🐚 and a 🪐?

Some facts about me:

THIS IS GONNA BE A LONG LIST IM SORRY

-my favorite colors are blue purple and pink and i just happen to be a ROCKIN BISEXUAL

-favorite band is fall out boy but mitski, AURORA and Laufey are my favorite artists

-I have a notes app of songs that continuously make me cry

-my favorite Greek goddess is either Artemis or Hestia

-i own about a million stuffed animals

-I physically cannot choose between two things. I have two everything. Bilingual, bi and ace (two flags) etc you get the point. For some reason the number 2 is just really me.

-the entire gaang from ATLA is my personality but just split up into different people

-lancey lance from vld is literally me except i cannot (and do not) flirt to save my life and I’m not funny 😭

-i wanna go to med school and be an ER doctor! (Or physician, whatever you prefer calling it)

-Also wanna be a biomedical engineer and do some research w that

-I wanna learn how to speak Russian, Greek, Mandarin, and ASL

-I have a LOT of hobbies (this is a non comprehensive list cause its a LOT); i play instruments, kinda know how to sew, and wanna start learning either fencing or boxing this year

-say what you will but ANDREW IS LIT MY FAVORITE and Neil is my second fave (from aftg if you haven’t read it you so should!!) I love all the characters though they’re amazing

-I lit live under a rock and don’t know like anything until it becomes old (like i still dont know what hawk tuah is??)

-CLASSICAL MUSIC IS A BOP. My favorite composer is saint-saëns but Bach is amazing and i love everything about his pieces

-i cannot dress for shit bro, my style is so very bad. I’ve been wearing the same four pairs of jeans for like three years

-i have curly hair (around 3-b?) but have exactly 4 pieces of pretty much straight hair. Thanks mom.

-have horrible taste in men (the guy i like is actually cute guys he’s just an acquired taste i promise!) and I just seem to only fall for straight girls. wtf guys

-i slip into a British accent all the time. Like i cant stop i even do it in school its become a problem.

-most likely ADHD bc wtf is memory and object permanence but not diagnosed cause fuck therapy (BUT YOU ALL SHOULD GET THERAPY FR!! ITS GOOD FOR YOU!)

-i am a hopeless romantic to my very CORE. I just want someone to love and shower all my affection with (hence the laufey obsession)

I know this is SO LONG but I hope i gave you enough to work with!! And again CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU MY POOKIE WOOKIE

LOVE YOU JESS!!!!

STOP CORI ILYSM YOURE SUCH A SWEETHEART JUST MADE MY DAY

500 followers event

｡⁠.ﾟ⁠+⁠ 🐚 - ok so like I wanna say remus or sirius but they're both pretty different I feel like so like a wolfstar love child or something

｡⁠.ﾟ⁠+⁠ 🪐 - moodboardd!!!

omg ok so I always see people talking about aftg but I have literally no idea what it stands for so PLEASE lmk

[loopspoop]

Well, I’ll be damned! It’s a short, sweet Chapter 16!! My lovely friend @funnymonkeythief suggested a self care chapter and (while it isn’t a spa chapter) the gang gets to be cute before I damage them to the brink of destruction!

“Look what I found!” Lupin smiled, pulling a portable radio out of a box on the kitchen table.

It had been about three days and they were all trying to take it a bit easier. Jigen was at the stove, cooking up a hell of a storm while the rest of them sat along the table. Fujiko was putting Goemon’s hair up while the samurai and inspector looked through some store bought seed packets and some flowers from outside together.

“A radio?” Zenigata glanced over, raising an eyebrow. They had the TV though?

“Ah, ah! The radio.” The thief smiled, turning the station dial carefully before picking up a station from Tokyo.

“How the hell did you manage that-?” Zenigata’s eyes widened a bit, looking at the radio incredulously.

“There was a time we had to use this place for long stints, so Lu programmed the thing to pick up stations worldwide.” Jigen shrugged, chopping some vegetables.

“Makes it easy to know when you’re after us.” Lupin winked, smiling as he placed the radio down on the table.

The inspector huffed, glancing away as blush crept into his cheeks. Whatever… He pulled the radio over, examining it quietly as Fujiko sat down beside them.

“It would be nice if we had a pool out here. We could swim while we listened to this.” She smiled softly, glancing at Lupin playfully.

“A good distraction for them while you and I go to the deep end~” Lupin giggled, smiling at her.

“Get a room.” Jigen bopped Lupin over the head with a rolled up newspaper, leaning against the counter as he let the food cook.

“Don’t flirt in front of my onigiri.” Goemon pouted a bit, glancing between them.

“Sorry, Goe.” Lupin laughed a bit, rubbing the top of his head where Jigen had smacked him.

The group continued to discuss their plans for the house, Goemon occasionally slipping hand woven flower rings and crowns onto the group throughout the conversation.

“A chicken coop sounds nice too.” Jigen glanced over. “Fresh eggs would save us money.”

“They’re easy to build, pools too.” Goemon glanced at Fujiko as he smiled softly.

“Yes! Oh, and a gazebo! It would be so pretty.” Fujiko gushed, smiling happily. “And it would be so nice to sit in the shade and read a book.”

“Who would make sure everything was taken care of once you all left?” Zenigata raised an eyebrow.

“I do have neighbors, yknow?” Lupin cocked an eyebrow, looking over at him.

“Ones that like you?” Zenigata asked, eyes widening in fake surprise.

“I’m wounded, Pops!” Lupin gasped, mock offended as the others laughed at him.

After some minutes, Fujiko grabbed the radio, turning the dial a few times before she found some trendy American station that was playing current hits. She smiled, turning the volume up as she jumped out of her chair. The others watched, amused, as she danced her way over to Jigen and grabbed his hands.

“Hey-“ Jigen hesitated, glancing at the group around the table.

“What, too much of a sourpuss to dance with me?” Fujiko teased, looking up at him playfully.

“Oh, what the hell…” Jigen mumbled after a moments hesitated, smirking as he danced with her.

Lupin laughed, watching them happily as he glanced at Goemon and Zenigata. The samurai was tapping his foot, watching Jigen and Fujiko with a small smile while Zenigata laughed softly and watched them fondly. The thief smirked, standing as he bowed and held his hand out to the inspector. The older man hesitated, face going red as he stumbled over his words.

“Jeez, Pops, I’m asking you to dance, not commit treason.” Lupin laughed softly. “We are on a truce, right?”

“…right..” Zenigata nodded hesitantly, standing as he took the smaller man’s hand in his own.

Lupin laughed, pulling him over by Fujiko and Jigen as the group danced together. Given everything that had happened, he hadn’t expected to be feeling so…good. But being together with his gang of partners, of family…it really helped him feel like nothing had even happened. Looking up, he beamed at the inspectors smiling face as the older man laughed and spun him around. This was living.

When the song eventually ended and the station cut to commercials, the group was out of breath and Goemon was enjoying his onigiri he managed to snag while nobody was looking. Fujiko laughed, kissing Jigen on the cheek as the gunman smirked and lit up a cigarette. Lupin laughed, hands on Zenigata’s broad chest as he shook his head.

“It’s been a while since I’ve done that.” Lupin smiled softly, glancing up at him.

“You’re definitely a lot better than I’d give you credit for.” Zenigata teased a bit, smiling down at him.

“Aw, Pops, you flatter me~!” Lupin winked, pulling him closer as he laughed.

“Jesus, Lu, give him a break or you’re gonna break him.” Jigen called over to him, laughing around his cigarette as he jerked a thumb at the inspectors red face.

“Kidding, kidding.” Lupin smiled, pulling back as he sat down and crossed his legs. “Or am I~?”

“Lupin-!” Zenigata sputtered, blushing more as the group laughed.

~~~~

From the attic, a shadowed figure worked with some machinery. Turning dials and knobs, crossing wires and pushing buttons, it wasn’t long before they managed to hack a barely used broadcast channel in the area. Perfect! Soon they would be able to begin their operations and nobody would be able to stand against the organization and Lupin the Third.

[dustedmagazine]

Nightshift — Homosapien (Trouble in Mind)

Photo by Brian Carroll

“Together We Roll,” from Nightshifts second full-length ambles into view like a slacker’s call to arms, its guitar cadence rhythmically insistent but lackadaisical, its rallying chorus emphatic but also sliding off into anomie. The beat swaggers, swaying from wide to side. The words advocate for action in a sing-song metronomic cadence, bassist Rob Doig urging, “Stand up tall/together we roll/elevated language and prose.” And yet, like the other songs, it has a sleepy not quite real air. It’s a battle cry that’s on the verge of a nap and a crisper, more rock-band-ish iteration of Nightshift’s dreamy, surreal punk.

Nightshift’s last album, Zöe came out in 2021, in the midst of the pandemic, the product of lockdown and remote collaboration. It was driftier and less angular than the previous cassette debut; in my review I wrote, “Where before you might have thought about Shopping or the Fire Engines first, now, with Zöe, you grasp for reference points like High Places, White Magic and Good Fuck. It is hardly a punk album at all on some levels, and yet it also is, just gauzier and more inferential.”  Since then the band’s drummer, Chris White, has switched to guitar and Rob Alexander of Tarantula and Radio Banter has slipped behind the kit. Eothen Stearn — a big part of the band’s soft-focus dreaminess — continues to sing and play keys and some percussion, with Doig is again on bass and occasional vocals.  

The big change, though, is that they’re all in the room recording together. The sound is far more immediate and electric than before. The double-timed one-two surge of “Crush,” for instance, has a tactile prickliness, a top-speed everybody-hold-on giddiness like a rollercoaster going around a sharp curve. “Come and sit beside me, metabolize me,” cajoles Stearn, in a rich fluttery tone with some sex in it, and it’s far more visceral than anything on Zöe. Likewise “Your Good Self” yelps and roars and pummels, a furious drum solo breaking out amid blasts of errant trombone mid-cut, Stearn coming in to close with a “ba-da-ba-da-bop,” syncopated bleat of vocal sound, like ESG in the 1980s.

There is also a fair amount of slow, psychedelic swirl in the post-apocalyptic “Mellow Baby,” and in equally enveloping “Cut.” Yet even these tracks seem more present, more fleshy, more in-your-face than the music from the last album. “SUV,” the disc’s gentle pop song about multiple lovers, follows a loose, twanging groove of guitars and tootling keyboards. Yet even as relaxed and in-the-pocket as it is, there’s an unmistakable life and collaborative energy to it. COVID forced all kinds of compromises, and lots of bands, including Nightshift, made excellent music despite them. But there’s really nothing like a band all in the same room and making noise, is there?  

Jennifer Kelly

[likeadevils]

rank Lover for Lover anniversary?

ooooh boy alright let’s go

cruel summer: (this will be a long personal tangent btw) i remember when loverfest was going to happen and i didn’t have a car or money or anything so i didn’t even try for tickets and i was like. well it’s not a single so this might be the only tour she every plays it on and i was just kinda resolved to never listen to it live. and then eras tour rolls around and everyone is getting tickets to opening night and the biggest part of fomo for me is like. i just want to scream this song with my friends and i was like idk i hope at least a few of them think of me when they scream my url and then i luck into basically face value tickets the week before and im prayyyyyying its on the setlist AND THEN BOOM ITS ONE OF THE FIRST SONGS. NAD AFTER FIVE YEARS I GET TO BE AMONG THE FIRST PEOPLE TO HEAR THE SONG LIVE. and i was CRYINGGGGGGGG

the archer: genuinely made me the person i am today for reasons i can not express without getting way to personal. you might be going, claire, if it’s so important to you, why is it #2? and look man. taylor screaming out he looks up grinning like a devil is just that satisfying

lover: i love this song i listen to it all the time it restored my faith in taylor swift etc etc. now if i can rant about track listing for a minute. this should’ve gone after the archer like the archer leaves you with this note of unfulfillment and uncertainty and the beat never drops and then what does lover start with? this deep reassuring thrum of a bass. it allows the archer to have its artistic integrity and make its point about anxiety never fully dissipating and then BOOM they’re choosing to build a life with each other and she’s being vulnerable and the transition between the two enhances both songs

cornelia street: LIKE THATS HOW YOU TAKE A SPECIFIC AND MAKE IT UNIVERSAL LIKE!!! that one interview where’s she’s explaining the concept of the song and the interviewer goes “oh, that’s me with this bar. if my wife left me i’d never be able to go into that bar again” LIKE HELLO. ALSO THE CITY OF LOVER VERSION?????

daylight: like cmon now LIKE CMON NOW

soon you’ll get better: its a really good song it means a lot to me i think its expertly described

paper rings: on my first listen i could not stand this song and i can not tell you why it’s so fun and well made. apologies to paper rings 2019 claire wasn’t ready for you

inthaf: no because the speaker loses both of her gloves so the lover gives her one so they’re both a little cold and a little warm and neither of them are alone. like shut the fuck up

afterglow: THOSE DRUMS

ithk: so when lover came out i would take the bus everywhere and to get from one bus to the other i would have to walk through this big empty field with an abandoned parking lot in it and like no one was around so i would strut and dance and sing along to music and ithk was a favorite for my empty field time.

maathp: one of my first listen favorites! it’s fallen over the years but i still think the core of it— americas sweetheart falling from grace alongside america’s self mythology— is a really cool concept

false god: over the course of my first and second listens i ate half a jar of peanut butter with a spoon and i don’t remember exactly what point i started but i think it was this song

dbatc: i used to HATE the production of this song and over the years it’s risen but i must admit i’m still avoidant of it

london boy: it’s a bop but i am irish. american but still

yntcd: the step up of the oh-oh Oh-Oh- OH-OH OH-OH ᴼᴴ⁻ᴼᴴ is solidddd. also it’s cheesy and all and it’s not like i thought she was homophobic but it did mean a lot to me to hear taylor swift be so publicly okay with gay people

iftye: i listened to this while driving with the windows down to the beach once and you know what. song of all time in that moment

me: it’s fun! i don’t hate it! not my favorite though. obviously

the man: so to be fair this song was never going to live up to the killers song with the same title that i was Obsessed with in 2019 BUT it’s also just like. like it has some amazing lines and i connect with some of the sentiment but i like. idk i just don’t dream of being the oppressor yknow