#wildest dreams tv came out BEFORE red tv

[trains-off-the-tracks]

in ten years swifties will ask if you were a speak now tv clown or a 1989 tv clown

[finnickodaiir]

I mean anything that isn't more M*dnights, but bestie you have a re-recorded album coming out in less than a month

[wardenparker]

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Dating Your Ex - ch 3

Marcus Pike x female reader Co-written with @absurdthirst

When Marcus unexpectedly runs into his ex-wife he is plunged into a world of complications where rekindled attraction and deep-seated insecurities reign. Unfortunately for him, it is also a world where his ex-wife is not the only ‘ex’ around, as a new case crosses his desk that will require all hands on deck. ✨💖Inspired by and based upon absurdthirst’s Tequila💖✨

Rating: E for Explicit! Word Count: 9.2k Warnings: **Blanket warnings for this series include: divorce, break ups, collegiate Greek life, underage drinking, food/alcohol consumption.** Biting, oral sex (f receiving), protected sex, vaginal sex, dirty talk, rough sex, choking, and a huge helping of fluffy feels. Summary: The end of your night with Marcus goes much differently than either of you expected. Notes: Reader is described as having pubic hair. I make no apologies or excuses for this chapter. It is blissful filth and I love it. Obviously the gif choice in no way represents reader physically, it’s just fun to look at. 💖✨

Ch 1 ~ Ch 2

From underground parking to the elevator to the fifth-floor hallway of your building, you and Marcus are relatively quiet. It’s not until you open your front door that you open your mouth again. “Sorry it’s messy,” you mumble. “I wasn’t expecting to have company.”

Marcus grins. When you two lived together you called yourself ‘artistically messy’. It was mostly Marcus that kept the small apartment clean, his own ‘nice nasty’ tendencies as his grandma would call them, came out to play. “Don’t worry about it, sweetheart. I’m sure you weren’t expecting your ex-husband.”

“Not even in my wildest dreams,” you admit, setting your purse on the table beside the door and locking the door behind the two of you as he steps inside.

He hums, shucking the suit jacket again and folding it over his arm. “Don’t worry, I’m not judging you.”

“Living room straight ahead, kitchen to the right, bathroom and everything else to the left.” The second bedroom is now an office that has a pull out couch in case anyone you know needs a place to crash. But for now, you’re headed for the kitchen. “Coffee with your cheesecake or something else?”

“Coffee is good, unless…” he pauses and shakes his head. Continuing to drink wouldn’t be a good idea. It’s not like you invited him back for a nightcap. This isn’t a date, no matter how much he might wistfully hope. That time was long past.

“Unless lives in the corner of the living room.” The large wood and brass bar cabinet you hauled here from your last place stands guard against the far wall of the living room on the other side of the little bistro table where you eat your breakfast every morning. “Pour whatever you want, but pour two.” It’s just…a kind of comforting you didn’t expect, to have him nearby and so willing to spend his time with you. You could almost trick yourself into believing that not so much had changed between you.

“Okay.” Marcus puts his jacket down and walks over the bar, interested to see that like him, there’s no tequila. He picks up a bottle of red wine and looks at the label with interest. It seems that you have a good bottle here. “How about wine?” He calls towards the kitchen.

“That will work!” You call back, pulling the small cherry cheesecake you made out of the fridge. Plates and forks and a knife come out of their hiding places in your kitchen and you cut two reasonably sized slices. If he wants more, you’ll gladly let him have it. “Want to sit on the couch or at the table?”

"Wherever you want." Marcus wants you to be comfortable first and foremost, but he does want to sit next to you. He finds the corkscrew and opens the bottle before pouring two glasses.

“Couch.” Appearing in the archway between the kitchen and living room a second later with two plates in hand, you nod toward the big plush sofa that faces your tv and smile. He looks good puttering around your apartment. Almost like he’s supposed to be here.

There's something intimate about the way you've kicked off your heels and you are bringing over the plates to the couch in your bare feet. It makes him wish for those days that you wandered around the apartment you shared with nothing but your panties and a tank top on. Or when you would wear his fraternity sweatshirt and socks. He loved that look.

“So it’s cherry chocolate.” Setting the plates down on the coffee table, you slip out of your own suit jacket to sit down beside him. It’s nearly intimate, and twists like guilt in your gut. “I’m going to test out a pumpkin spice version with gingerbread crust for Thanksgiving this year. Leah’s husband loves pumpkin spice.”

His head cocks slightly as he thinks about that. "It would be fantastic." He's always been a sucker for gingerbread cookies. Soft, chewy gingerbread, not the hard shit they tried to pass off as gingerbread.

“Volunteering to be my taste tester?” The two of you sit side by side, mostly facing each other, as you start in on your dessert.

You want him to be around, to come around again. Marcus pauses with his fork halfway to his mouth before he nods. "Yeah, I guess I am." He tells you with a grin. "I'll make sure to put in extra time at the gym."

The gym. You nearly sigh, burying the sound in taking a sip of wine. Marcus at the gym had been a thing to admire when he was younger - an absolute snack, you had called him unapologetically and teasingly bitten his arm or shoulder to make him laugh. But Marcus now is a whole goddamn three course meal. Stop ogling your ex-husband, you moron. “So what does Marcus Pike do on the weekends these days?” You ask, desperate to change the subject.

Marcus chuckles and shakes his head. “Would you be terribly disappointed to learn that I enjoy sleeping in, sometimes going to the farmer’s market they set up over on Dupont Circle? Or walk around the Mall? Find a new restaurant?” He shrugs. “I’m old and boring now.”

“It’s not like I’m partying until 3am and going to work at 6 anymore,” you laugh, shrugging a little. You would never survive Greek life and a waitressing job these days. Never. “The highlights of my weekend are live bands at Parlor on Fridays and trivia brunches with the girls from the office on Sunday. Except…” Flashing him a grin, you chuckle a little. The little things in life mean a lot more now. “I go to the Palisades farmer’s market when I can drag myself out of bed on Saturdays.”

"It sounds like you have a routine." He approves of it, nodding and reaching for his wine glass. "Nothing like being able to spend a few hours in bed just relaxing. Even worth missing the farmer's market."

“I’d rather spend a couple of hours in bed for other reasons.” It’s out of your mouth before you can stop yourself, and the look of absolute mortification on your face a second later in unmistakable. What the hell did you just go and say a thing like that for?!

He nearly chokes on his wine but he manages to swallow it. Bringing the cup down and setting it on the coffee table along with his cheesecake. "I remember." He promises you, eyes darkening when he thinks about the weekends where you wouldn't leave the bed unless it was to finally try to rehydrate or eat something quickly. There's enough alcohol in his system to make him feel like he had that first time he saw you. He inches closer to you, his hand along the back of the sofa and he leans in slightly. "Is that why I'm here?" He asks, eyes dropping down to your lips and then back up to meet your gaze.

Jesus Christ - it wasn’t before but it definitely fucking is now. With your throat running so dry that you can barely swallow and Marcus looking at you like that you feel like you’re about to implode where you sit, just praying to whatever is out there that this doesn’t completely backfire on both of you. “D-do you want it to be?”

Marcus flashes you a grin, small but powerful. "I have to admit something, sweetheart." He bites his lip and leans in a little closer. "I've never wanted something more."

He’s always felt like wildfire under your fingertips, and your hand hovers over his forearm on the back of the couch for just a second while you force yourself to breathe. You’ve both been drinking and it’s been a weird week and you don’t want to do this unless he’s fully aware of what he’s saying. “Marc…” Despite your commitment to not leaping forward and straddling his lap, you have definitely leaned in and you can hear your own breathing quicken. “Are you drunk?”

"No." He knows he's not. He's had two whiskey's and a shot during the nearly two hours at the restaurant and now the couple of sips of wine here. He wonders if you are regretting bringing him to your apartment and are trying to pump the brakes on this. "I could pass a field sobriety test with flying colors." He swallows, wondering if he should back off. You aren't the carefree teenager that he met so many years ago and there is history between you. Still he doesn't move back, just stares at you while he waits for you to say something.

“Neither am I.” When you put your hand down, connecting skin to skin for the first time in thirteen years, it’s more than wildfire. It’s a fucking volcano. And before you can even blink, you’re pressing into his space to crush your lips against his like it’s Welcome Night at Kappa Sigma all over again.

You taste like red wine and cherry cheesecake but it's the best taste in the world. The second you make the move, Marcus is wrapping his arms around you, pulling you closer and opening up so he can dip inside your mouth to taste you better.

The few seconds it takes for him to haul you against him are the same ones you need to plant your knees on either side of his hips, letting the kiss deepen without hesitation. Marcus has a place in your heart that will never fade, you have accepted that, but you never thought with any kind of realism that he would ever forgive you even if you did see him again. This? His enormous hands spread over your sides and your arms around his neck as you brazenly lick into each other’s eager mouths? Is better than you could ever have dreamt.

It's like time has faded away and he's back in his early twenties with you. The way you feel against him is like a magical balm to the hurt and heartaches he's had over the past decade. His tongue slides against yours with a needy moan and he doesn't hesitate to slide a hand down your back and squeeze your ass just like he had a million times before when you were in his lap.

Too much and not enough all at once, you’re sure this is just a dream you’ll wake up from any second. But it’s too good. Your daydreams never let Marcus be this solid underneath you. They don’t quite capture the way his fingertips dig into your when he grips your side or squeezes your ass. Your imagination has never quite been able to replicate the exact tremor of Marcus’s moan as it vibrates through your body. It’s so perfect you could just break right down and cry from relief and joy — and you might later on, but right now your focus is entirely on him.

He's dreamed of kissing your skin a million times during those nights when your memory haunts him. He had tried to banish you from his thoughts but his subconscious betrayed him. Now though, he breaks away from your lips and hungrily trials kisses down your jaw and along your neck, determined to cover every inch of your skin with his lips and then do it all over again.

The best decision you’ve ever made in your life was putting on a button down shirt this morning. Well, second best. Second after bringing Marcus home with you tonight. There’s no one quite like him, in absolutely any way, and when you whimper into the crook of his neck you can feel him grip you just a little bit tighter.

It’s addictive, like being drunk on you. His fingers tearing at the little seed pearl buttons of your blouse, probably ripping some off but he doesn’t care. Frantic to feel more of you, kiss more of you, as if he’s on a time limit for gorging himself on you.

"Marc." There's no use denying it, you'd let him have you right on your goddamn sofa if that's what he wanted tonight. Your hands tearing at his shirt to untuck it from his pants are proof.

He fucking loves when you whine his name like that. Pulling open your shirt to expose the lacy bra, he groans and dips his head, kissing along your sternum and over the swells of your breasts.

Trying to tear him away from you long enough to get his own shirt off is nearly impossible, just because he refuses to detach from your skin for longer than anything but a breath. "Fuck, Marc," you toss away your own shirt when he won't let you undress him, and reach behind you to unclasp your bra and reject that as well. If tonight is the only time you get to be with him like this again, you don't want to hold anything back.

Marcus groans, immediately kisses down the slope of your breast so he can take your nipple in his mouth. Biting down on it before laving it with his tongue and tugging on it with the hot suction of his mouth.

"Fuck," you pant the word again, never taking your eyes off the gorgeous sight of him exploring your skin. It's like a time machine has rolled you both back fifteen years and everything is good again as you drag the fingers of one hand through his hair. "Baby..." It takes a second, but you finally manage to drag his eyes up to yours. "Do you want to move this down the hall?"

The way his cock twitches under you should give you the answer that you want, he’s already hard and aching to sink into you again. “Yes.” He rasps out, fingers digging into your hips as he lifts his hips so you can feel every inch of his interest.

Diving into a deep kiss is grounding for you. The rest of your body may be impatient - hips rolling down to meet Marcus’s and skin that is on fire everywhere he has touched - but your heart knows that this is so much more than sex for you. If it isn’t for him then you’ll have to live with that, but Marcus Pike has never been a Love Em And Leave Em sort of man. You carefully step back, climbing out of his lap but making no moves to retrieve your clothes or tidy up. That can wait. The only thing in the world that matters right now is the way Marcus accepts your outstretched hand as he gets up. He clings to you as much as you do to him, and for a moment you can pretend that this is just the first of many nights to come.

There is no universe in which Marcus wouldn’t go with you. Not when this is what he’s wanted, unknowingly, since he saw you sitting in that office. He’s always wanted you, whether he will admit it or not. Searching for you in the women he’s been with since you. Getting up, he kisses the back of your hand. “Show me the way, sweetheart.”

It could have been frantic - clothing tossed aside along the hallway that leads to your bedroom - but it’s surprisingly calm. With his hand in yours you flip off the few lights on in the apartment and only turn on the lamp beside your bed once you get there. But there’s a sort of muscle memory at play, or at least it feels that way, when you put your arms around him next to your bed and angle your head up to ask for a kiss while you start to undress him.

Marcus groans, the scent that fills your bedroom has change but the underlying scent of you is still there. That musky aroma that he could recognize anywhere that just screams you. His kiss is gentle, giving you yet another chance to change your mind.

Just a minute is all you need. All it takes to have the layers of the day stripped away so that the two of you are just you. Bare again for the three thousandth time, pouring your hearts into a kiss so tender it can only be described in one word that you refuse to say. You’re not going to ruin this by presuming anything. You nudge Marcus backward, his legs hitting the edge of your bed with a dull thump, and you giggle softly at the sound. “I missed you.” Those are the words you go with, whispered in the moonlight after you shut off the lamp you needed only for a second.

He huffs slightly, pulling you close and slotting his mouth against your while he rolls the two of you around in the bed, pinning you under him. It’s probably the most understated thing you can say. “Missed you too.” He answers, starting his exploration of you all over again now that he has you spread out.

Marcus was never weak by any means but something about how broad he is now makes him feel stronger, and if it’s an illusion you don’t care for a second. The feeling of his hands and lips and tongue trailing down your body is far more intoxicating than anything you drank tonight, pulling whimpers and moans from you that fill the cool night air with a kind of unexpected enchantment. Well, if it is, this is a magic spell you’ll happily fall under all over again.

A kiss here, a nip of his teeth there. The closer Marcus gets to his destination the more ravenous he’s becoming. It should be infuriating that you cloud his mind, that you so easily take over his senses and make everyone else pale in comparison. He should be furious because you will hurt him again. Instead he’s determined. Determined to show you why leaving was a mistake. To make you feel him for days when he’s done with you.

If you only say his name for the entire time he’s in your bed it still won’t be enough. The noises that drip from your lips start somewhere in your chest and seem to just bubble over, punctuated only by “Marcus” and “Baby” and plaintive additions of “Oh fuck” as he settles in the valley of your thighs to place kisses everywhere but where you want him most. In his most playful moods he used to make you wait like this, lingering on the edge of madness while you begged for him, but tonight there’s a thoroughness to it that almost feels desperate. Determined. Like he’s afraid you’ll only let him in once so he’s going to make sure it’s goddamn worth it.

You’ve grown out your hair. He remembers when you were adamant that you were waxed or shaved before he would be allowed to put his mouth on you. Huffing when you would pull yourself out of his arms and leave him with a hard cock while you jumped in the shower to scrape the hair from your vagina like it was offensive. He could never convince you he didn’t care but now he presses his nose against the springy curls and inhales your scent, groaning and latching onto your clit to suck it into his mouth.

“I’m not wasting time tonight,” you huff, thinking the same thing he is. Even now you’d rather be clean for a partner, but you refuse to waste even a second tonight. For the split second before he wraps his lips around your swollen nub you almost think he’s going to tease you about it, but his focus is elsewhere. It’s on making you gasp, keening into the moonlight when he moans into your dripping pussy

He sucks on your clit before he flicks his tongue against it, dragging it up and down the sensitive folds of your pussy. Thick fingers spreading your lips wide as he plunges his tongue into your soaked walls.

“Fuck, Marc—” When his tongue curls up he takes your entire back with it, arching you off the bed and making you cry out in that way that only Marcus can. For all the lovers you’ve taken to bed over the years, no one ever learned your body the way he did. No one ever melted into you the same way. No one was ever as good as Marcus - to you or for you.

He loves the way you sound, the way you cry out his name. Curling and flicking his tongue up into your fluttering walls and pushing as deep as he can with his nose pushing against your clit.

The things he can do with that mouth are so good they should be criminal, and your fingers tugging sharply in his hair are pure encouragement. You’re eighteen and inexperienced all over again, chasing that first explosive orgasm together in his tiny bed at the frat house — and it’s amazing. The molten slick that pours from your slit was addictive so many years ago and he’s delighted to find that it’s still the case. Groaning and determined to make you cum before the next minute passes on the nightstand clock.

Blissfully unaware of the challenge he has set for himself, all you know is that the coil of pleasure tightening inside you is firmly wrapped around Marcus’s fingers and if he pulls just right it will snap and scatter you in a thousand pieces right there underneath him. His fingers take over for his tongue, sinking three into you and curling them up while he sucks your clit back into his mouth. Eyes fixed on you while he waits for the ticking time bomb to explode.

The cry that he pulls from you is so loud you couldn’t stop it if you tried - and tonight you are definitely not trying to be silent. Marcus should know exactly how devastating his fingers and mouth are to the few threads left holding you together, and the way that he snaps the connection on each of those threads is enough to have you moaning his name into the cool autumn night. The first orgasm you’ve had in months at someone else’s hands was always going to be fantastic, but Marcus can pull orgasms out of you like it’s as easy as breathing.

He's greedy, wanting more. Needing more. It's been so long since he's felt your pussy clench around his fingers, tasted your cum on his tongue. He's drunk now, drunk on you and he moans into your flesh while he works you through the peak and pushes you towards another with his fingers buried knuckle deep in your walls.

The buildup is enough to have you clawing at the sheets with one hand and scraping Marcus’s scalp with the other, and you know that the old couple above you keeps their windows open at night and is hearing all of this but you just can’t yourself to care when he’s wrenching that second beautiful orgasm out of you almost effortlessly. Only when you soak his fingers for the second time does he pull them out of you. Replacing them with his tongue and lapping up every drop your have to give him, slurping your release down like it's the finest wine.

“Fucking hell, Marc,” you whimper when overstimulation hits, but you’ll be damned if you’re going to make him stop for any reason. You’d rather be overstimulated and full of him than ever be without him again.

When he pulls back, he smacks his lips with a slight smirk on his face. "Missed doing that." He coos, kissing your inner thigh and sucking on your skin harshly. He wants to break the capillaries under your skin and leave a mark for you feel when you get dressed over the next few days.

“You’re so much better at eating pussy than like… anyone.” It makes you laugh, breathless and joyful, and you thump backward on your own pillow with a grin.

"You broke me in." He reminds you. It wasn't that he hadn't had girlfriends before you, he hadn't been a virgin. But you had been his wife, and he had taken making sure you were completely satisfied very seriously. "My skills were tailored to your pussy." He winks and kisses up your hip, dipping his tongue into your belly button before he shuffles to the side and looks down at you fondly.

“Just like my blow job skills are tailored to you.” It’s beyond your restraint not to kiss him, pulling him in and urging him to crowd you into the mattress.

"God I loved your blow jobs." He groans into your mouth playfully. He's not joking but he grins at you as he kiss you again, and shifts to his elbows as your legs fall open for him to slot himself between.

“You can have as many as you want.” It’s a promise, and from now on you’re keeping every single promise you make to him come hell or high water. “But right now I need to feel you, baby.”

He groans, the promise of your mouth around his cock is almost perfect but he closes his eyes. Knowing that it might not be anything more than your mouthy, post-orgasmic mouth running. Instead he kisses your forehead and pulls away. "Need a condom." He grunts, knowing that he has been safe but he's also slept with someone else less than a week ago.

“Nightstand.” His arms are longer than yours and he reaches the lone drawer in your nightstand much more easily than you would from the center of your bed. The flash of disappointment in not getting to feel his bare cock is worth it to be safe but you’re going to very nicely ask him to get tested again asap so he can go without. He’s perfect on his own.

He opens the drawer with a pang of slight jealousy. Wondering how many men have opened this same drawer, but he shoves the feeling down. It's not his place to feel possessive over your sex life after he was no longer your husband. Instead of dwelling on it, he grabs a foil packet and kneels between your thighs, ripping it open and concentrating on rolling it down his length.

His concentration gives you a moment to just be. Just absorb what is happening for all the magic that it actually holds. The coincidences and little accidents that led up to having him here - in your bed - so many years after it should have been made impossible. When he finally looks back up at you from the cradle between your legs, you feel so light you could nearly cry. “God you’re even more handsome somehow…” you murmur, leaving a dusting of kisses across his face that ends at his lone dimple. That boyish mark of good looks that he’ll carry forever was always one of your favourite little things.

It's impossible not to preen when your ex-wife compliments you like that. Marcus hums and reaches out to caress your breast, sliding his hand down to push under your back while he takes himself in hand. "You look like you did the day I met you." He tells you, believing every word of it. You are still gorgeously youthful.

It’s impossibly sweet - Marcus level sweet - but you still chuckle just a little and shake your head. “If you say so, baby.” He has improved with age, without a doubt, and for just a second as he leans down over you and you feel the blunt head of his cock at the entrance to your pussy, you let yourself imagine again what growing old with him could be like.

It's sad the way he reacts to you calling him baby. The quiver of his skin, shuddering under your fingertips as he pushes the first inch of him inside your pussy for the first time in nearly twelve years. "Fuck." He pants out, his hand letting go of his hand and bracing his weight beside your body as his hips roll forward as steadily as he can muster.

“Goddamn.” You’re panting, legs hitching up on hips as he slowly buries himself inside you. It’s just sex, you would have told yourself with anyone else. Just sex. Not a fucking spiritual experience. But this is Marcus — and sex with Marcus has always been as close to heaven as anyone in earth could ever hope to get.

"Still so–so dirty in bed." He huffs, groaning when he is buried to the root inside you. Your mouth was always filthy in bed and he loved it.

“‘M out of practice,” you admit, carefully choosing a place to nip and suck on on his shoulder that will be easily covered by his clothes.

"Impossible." Marcus huffs, leaning down and groaning in your ear as he starts to pull his hips back. "Are the men in D.C. blind? They should–should be lining up to feel this–this perfect pussy." He twitches when he slides back into you smoothly and bottoms out again.

“Turns out I’m picky.” Even with him inside you, you feel the heat of embarrassment in your cheeks when you softly press your lips to his. “None of them were as good as my husband.”

He growls, the next thrust nothing but a sharp snap of his hips. Feeling possessive and wanting to completely claim you. Make sure you remember why no one was as good as he was.

“Fuck!” It takes you off guard when he doubles down, but you end up with your eyes practically rolling back in your head as you hold onto him for dear life.

His pace is rougher than it was when you were together. More confident and self assured as he continuously snaps his hips forward and fills you again and again. Grunting and hissing through his teeth as he sets a harsh tempo.

Each time the headboard hits the wall you want to add another curse to the list, every filthy thought piling up in your head until they're spilling out of your mouth with reckless abandon. If Marcus misses your filthy mouth then you're going to give it to him, letting out a torrent of curses and praises and encouragements that would make anyone blush.

It's loud, fuck it's loud, and Marcus half expects someone to start beating on the wall. Not that he gives a fuck. He would just fuck you even harder if someone started complaining. Obsessed with the way that you are keening for him, your body bucking every time his hips slam into yours. "Fuuuuuuck baby."

Cumming this time is like an out of body experience. The fully realized home porno that the two of you have become tonight is on par with the some of the neediest, most demanding nights you have ever had together and if your voice is hoarse tomorrow then it is a badge of honour that you will wear proudly. Marcus is battering your g-spot like it's a punching bag at the gym and your cries turn silent as you clench down on him and grip his shoulders tightly in the throes of that third orgasm.

He hisses, sliding his hand around your throat and presses his thumb around your windpipe, watching your eyes widen while he grabs your leg with his other hand and pushes it back. Changing the angle and groaning when you manage to get even wetter.

This is new, is the first thought in your head, but at the same time it's so gloriously dirty that when you whimper it's pure pleasure. You're split open with his cock spearing into you at a pace that has him sweating, and all you can really do is continue giving him extremely vocal approval as he keeps you pinned to the mattress with your tits bouncing on every thrust.

His hand looks good against your neck, adjusting the pressure of his thumb with the thrust of his cock. Making sure that he is shredding up into you as hard as he can push his hips. "Fuck baby, you're–you're so good."

Your responding groan is entirely meant to tell him that he is the good one, and you whimper when his hips stutter and his rhythm starts to falter. Marcus is a goddamn work of art when he cums, and you can't wait to see that masterpiece in real life again.

His mouth drops open and he lets out a low groan of your name. Pushing deep one last, desperate thrust, Marcus falls over the edge. Panting as his cock throbs, filling the condom as he hovers over you, trembling in pleasure.

Your arms wrap around him without hesitation, offering him the place cradled against your chest to lay himself down and find his breath back. "Choking, huh?" You giggle, grinning at him unrepentantly.

"You didn't like it?" He asks, twisting his head and looking up at you with a skeptical look. "It felt like you liked it from the way that you clamped down on my cock."

"No, I loved it." It's not like you're going to deny it. That would be both useless and a little dumb at this point. "I just didn't expect it. You've picked up a few new tricks."

He hums, reaching down and gripping the base of the condom so he can pull out of you. "Twelve years will do that." He shuffles off the bed and moves towards the bathroom so he can dispose of the condom and grab you a washrag.

He's right, of course, but it stings. It's a blessing that he's walked off for a second and doesn't see the unmistakable way your face falls. It gives you time to recompose yourself before he comes back. You have no one to blame but yourself, so you can't exactly get upset with him for pointing out the truth.

Even if the comment hadn't meant to highlight how long you had been apart, Marcus still takes a moment in the bathroom. Wishing you weren't so glib about everything. He wonders if this is some kind of wish fulfillment for you. Sleep with the ex for old time's sake. He wets a washcloth and brings it back so he can clean you up. Or let you do it if you want. You had always decided after the fact and so he offers it to you first.

"Would you...?" He always preferred to do it himself. That gentlemanly streak extending even to post-sex clean up. For you it was simply something practical that had to get done, but for Marcus aftercare was something that he always took very seriously. Could you do it yourself in under five seconds? Of course. But Marcus has a way of making things mean more just by being there for them.

"Of course." He is happy that you are letting him do this. Those last few months before you asked for a divorce you would disappear into the bathroom right after sex. It had made him feel like he was doing something wrong, which apparently he had been. You spread your legs wider and he kneels back on the bed and gently slides the cloth over your folds so he can clean you up.

You're both quiet, and the awkwardness seeping into the air between you is nearly making you feel sick by the time he tosses the messy cloth into your laundry basket across the room. Shifting over, you move the blanket down to offer him a place in bed beside you and swallow the fear that he might want to leave. That this might have been one time only and he was done now that he had gotten closure or whatever it was he was seeking in your bed.

He pauses for a moment, wondering if you are genuinely offering for him to climb back in the bed with you or just being nice because you think that you should. He looks from the spot to where you are watching him and he thinks he sees apprehension in your eyes, whether it's for him to stay or for him to go, he doesn't know. But it makes him move toward the bed to slip under the covers beside you.

Despite the fact that he was inside of you less than five minutes ago, you still hesitate before inching closer to him. You can't tell if he actually wants to stay or if he's being nice, and the idea that he might not be there in the morning is so devastating that you have to make yourself stop and breathe so you don't break out into anxious tears. "W–we should talk about it?" It's more of a question than a statement, and you hate yourself a little for not being more confident about all of this. But how can you, when he would be completely within his rights to just walk out on you like you walked out on him?

"If you want." Marcus is hesitant because he doesn't want to hear that this was some sort of itch for you to scratch. That it was just a good time. He opens his arms and invites you to curl into him. Needing the comfort of you close to him before you break his heart again.

"Do you not want to talk?" It makes the fear seize in your heart in a very real way, but you still go to him like a magnet.

"Not if it's going to–" He breaks off what he was going to say and sighs. "We need to." He agrees softly, knowing that it would be cowardly to not talk about it. You were both adults and he knew that he could get hurt when he came home with you tonight.

"I–" Reminding yourself to breathe - to be honest - you exhale slowly and find his eyes in the moonlight. "I don't want this to just be a one time thing. Or a meaningless thing. But if this was just...closure for you, or whatever...I'll respect that." It would break your heart, but you would never force him to be with you. That might actually be worse than having him walk away.

Through lots and lots of therapy over the past year, Marcus has learned that he can’t just jump in. He tries to curb the instinct now, taking a moment to absorb your words and make sure he understands. Relief floods his entire system, happy that you feel that way. “And what exactly is it that you do want?” He asks, making sure that his arm is curled around your shoulders, his fingers stroking your skin softly.

"Not more than will make you happy." The answer is him. You want him back, but if he doesn't want to be with you again you aren't going to make him. After all, twelve years is a long fucking time to be apart and he might want different things in a partner now.

“That’s not an answer.” He hums, aware that you are seemingly walking on eggshells around him right now and he doesn’t like it. Deflection and refusing to be honest is what landed you here where you are.

You sigh softly, squeezing your eyes shut before opening them again to find him studying you carefully. "I am afraid to ask whether or not you would want to keep seeing me," you admit, letting your head hit the pillow again softly. "Because I don't think I deserve a second chance even though I want one."

It’s what he needs to hear, turning on his side and reaching up to cup your cheek and gently swipe his thumb over your cheek bone. “Do you think I would have gone home with you if I didn’t want to see you again?” He asks softly, wanting to make sure you know that he’s not that type of man.

"I hoped not." That, at least, you can admit freely. The warmth of his calloused hand on your face makes you shiver slightly, but not at all in a bad way. It's more like...disbelief. "But I would have deserved it if you decided to walk out on me after we were finished."

“I didn’t want the divorce.” He admits, although he’s sure you know that. He hadn’t fought you on it, but he also hadn’t been happy about it. “I wanted to spend my life with you.”

You nod, eyes falling shut again momentarily as you swallow down years and years of guilt. You know he didn't want the divorce, but when he didn't fight you, you tricked yourself into believing that you were freeing him to find a better life. That he must have known a better life was possible, since he didn't protest. "I'm so, so sorry." The words nearly break you, tears brimming in your eyes and the tightening in your chest making it hard to take a breath for longer than you're proud of. "It was my fault. All of it."

“Stop.” Marcus chides you softly, shaking his head and urging your chin up slightly where it’s fallen. “Baby– look at me.”

The thing that mostly gets you to comply is hearing him call you baby, feeling like you don't deserve even that small amount of affection. But you wipe the tears from under your eyes fiercely, forcing yourself to look up.

He sighs softly, hating the tears that are in your eyes. “I loved you enough to let you go.” He murmurs quietly, his thumb moving down and he rubs it over your lips. “You told me that your future wasn’t yours with me, so I knew that you had to do what you needed to alone. That if I tried to force you to stay, you would hate me for it. So I said yes when you asked for a divorce.” The words had been like a knife to his heart, but he had realized what they meant later on.

"I was an idiot." When he opens his mouth to protest you shake your head, insisting that he let you elaborate. "I should have talked to you. Had the tough conversations instead of thinking that compromise didn't exist. So it was my fault. It just took a hell of a lot of therapy to realize where I went wrong."

“And I should have known that maybe you weren’t ready to plan out every detail of our lives.” He chuckles. “Lots of therapy for me too.” He bites his lip. “I would have gone with you.” He confesses. “If you had told me what you needed, what you wanted, I would have gone with you.”

"I didn't really know, though." It's your own confession. That even if he had given you the reins to choose what direction your future was going to go in, you wouldn't have known where to lead him. "I changed my focus at George Washington twice before settling on my masters and then the Sorbonne happened because one of my professors was taking her sabbatical in France and knew of a spot in the program there. It was a whirlwind. And you..." Your eyes search his face, seeing the softness there that makes your heart ache. "The FBI, baby? If you had come to France with me you never would have found such an amazing career."

“So I would have learned to speak French instead of using handcuffs.” It’s all reflective now, the past is just that– the past. But he needs you to know that he would have given everything up for you.

"I'm sorry." It's quieter this time, more ashamed, but you know you can't change what you did. "If I could take it back, I would."

“I don’t want you to be sorry.” Marcus rushes out, leaning in and pressing his forehead against yours. “Please don’t beat yourself up. I just–I’ve realized something that I knew but I couldn’t acknowledge until I saw you again.”

"You have?" If he can hear your heartbeat speed up, he doesn't show it. But you can't possibly believe that the blood pounding in your ears isn't loud enough for him to hear.

“Yeah.” He flashes you a soft smile, opening his eyes and pulling back so he can look at you fully. “I never stopped loving you, sweetheart.” He confesses. “You’re it for me.”

For a second you swear your heart has stopped beating all together, until it feels like all the blood that was just pounding in your ears has rushed to your face to fill your cheeks and all the air leaves your lungs all at once in a sound like a strangled, disbelieving gasp. The tears are next - hot, grateful, ecstatic, and still disbelieving. But in the last milliseconds of that second where you seem to react to everything all at once, you’re pressing into his space to kiss him over and over and over again. Ten thousand tiny little kisses that bleed into one long one as you cling to him and desperately try to stop shaking in his arms because you can’t believe you could ever be so lucky as to have another chance with him. “I love you.” The words have been stuck in your throat for god only knows how long but they tumble out now, against his lips. “I love you so much, Marcus. I swear I’ll make it all right this time if you let me.”

Marcus sighs in relief, in disbelief and hope, his arms becoming steel bands around you as he happily takes the kisses and refuses to let your mouth pull back more than a fraction of an inch. You love him. That cycles through his mind on a loop and he wonders how the hell it took twelve years to get back to this moment.

It takes longer than you’re proud of to recompose yourself, but when you do it’s like the heavy weight that you’ve been carrying on your shoulders for years is finally starting to dissipate. “I know it’s not as easy as a magical fix,” you tell him, words still muffled by his skin as he keeps you close. “But we’re not kids anymore. I think if we try, we can do it.”

"I think we should take it slow." Marcus admits, rolling his eyes at himself since within forty-eight hours of seeing you again, he's back in bed with you. "Slow for us, I guess." He huffs, conceding that it's better than the first time you met. You had slept together that very first night and that had just been it. There hadn't been anyone else for him until well after you had driven off into the sunset, your wedding band laying on the kitchen counter with your house key.

“What’s that?” You joke, unable to resist even though you’re already nodding in agreement. “I’m not saying let’s go get remarried tomorrow. Or even at all, if you don’t want to. I just…” Sighing in his arms again feels like a gift. “Slow is good. We just have to stick to it.”

"You still have my last name." He's slightly smug about that. Every time he's almost typed your name into the FBI database, it's been with your maiden name. He had incorrectly assumed that you would go back to it after you got settled. You had even petitioned in the divorce to change your name.

“Yeah…” It’s not like you can deny it. It’s a fact, right there on paper. “I decided that even though I wasn’t running around broadcasting being divorced, I wasn’t going to pretend like it didn’t happen.”

"I like that." He admits, nose brushing against your cheek as he leaves another kiss against your skin. "Always liked you having my last name." He had been so fucking proud when you had changed your school ID, your license and social security number to Pike. It might be slightly caveman-ish, but he was human after all.

"So I guess..." You crack a grin, fingers brushing along his jaw and feeling light for the first time in ages. "Do you want to go out on a real date tomorrow? Something a little more intentional than us randomly ending up in the same bar for dinner?"

“I think we should.” Marcus agrees with a grin of his own. “We’ve changed a lot over the past decade and I–I want to make sure that it’s not nostalgia for either of us.”

"That's fair." Leaning forward lets you leave a kiss on his nose and you grin. "Maybe we can do something that we've never done before?"

“Hmmmm do you have something in mind?” The idea of even leaving this bed isn’t one that Marcus wants but he knows he can’t just stay in bed with you.

"I'm sure we can come up with something." The only thought in your mind right now is him and it's clouding everything else, but you would be lying if you said that you minded too much. The fact that he's here with you and wants to stay is still overwhelming in the best way.

Marcus shoots you a grin and then chuckles. “Jesus, I cannot believe that we are here right now.” He sighs, leaning back and closing his eyes as his hand drifts up and down your back.

"It's a little surreal, right?" Lying back in his arms is fully surreal, not just a little, but you wouldn't trade it for the world. "I'm still waiting for somebody to come bang on the door and yell at us for fucking too loud."

He snorts, his chest jostling you slightly. “Let them.” He grins and slides his hand down to your ass. “I’ll just make sure you’re louder the next time.”

"I fully believe you will." It wouldn't be the first time he'd taken a comment as a challenge, although he'd been nineteen then and much more competitive.

Marcus sighs softly, his hand sliding back up and he pulls you closer, smiling at you. “Hi.” He hums goofily.

"Hi," you hum right back, placing kisses on his nose and lips as you grin at him.

“Have to admit, this is not where I saw my Friday night going.” Marcus jokes. “I imagined drowning myself in too many whiskeys and wallowing in the fact that you still look so fucking good.”

"I felt like I was going to die when you walked into my office." Now, with him beside you and things looking so much brighter than they did even a few hours ago, you can laugh about it. "Of all the different ways I ever dreamt of seeing you again, dating one of my team members was not on the list."

“God.” His own awkward laugh answers yours and he swipes his free hand down his face. “All I could think about was the fact that I had seen both of you naked. And honestly? Wonder how the hell she didn’t make the connection in last names before. It’s not like Pike is common.”

"It's not that uncommon, though." You shrug slightly but still laugh. "Maybe her hometown has four different Pike families? Who knows."

“And was it just me, or did you want to melt like the Wicked Witch when she asked if we were siblings?” Marcus asks, rolling his eyes in pure embarrassment.

"I'm going to want to melt on Sunday when I tell her we're seeing each other again." It might end up being an incredibly uncomfortable conversation, but you would rather have it outside of work, and Sunday brunch trivia is the next time you'll see Silvia.

“You can wait if you want.” Marcus offers, not wanting to put you into an awkward position with your friend and employee. “If it makes it easier for you.”

"I feel like it could get complicated if I wait," you admit. "It would seem like we're hiding it from her, and I don't–I don't want to hide this at all. I'm proud that you would even consider giving me a second chance."

“Why wouldn’t I?” He asks you softly, “I wanted to be with you for the rest of my life since I was nineteen.”

Not wanting to cry again - even happy tears - you tuck yourself in even closer to his side and exhale deeply. "I knew we said slow, but I want you to know that that's where my mind is, Marc. The rest of our lives. Just like we always said."

He gets emotional himself, closing his eyes for a moment so he can compose himself and not bawl like a baby. Although his hold on you turns ironclad for a moment before he relaxes it. “I-I like the sound of that.” He manages after he’s opened his eyes again.

"There's plenty to talk about. Things to work through. But..." You blow out a sigh and manage an honest smile in the light of the moon. "But I have literally dreamed of having a chance to make things right with you more times than I can count."

“We don’t have to work out all the details tonight.” He kisses your forehead and smiles at the irony. He would have wanted to plan everything out years ago. “I just want to be with you.”

"We should try to get some sleep." Now that things are a little more secure, the fear of waking up and finding him gone has completely left your mind. Replaced by wanting to spend the weekend together and start to rekindle the relationship that you've been missing for over a decade.

“We should, but–” He shuffles slightly and gently moves out from under you. “I’m going to go get us some water.” He tells you, not wanting you to think he’s changing his mind. “That way we don’t have to worry about getting it in the middle of the night.”

"There's glasses in the cabinet next to the refrigerator." Your kitchen cabinets might be the only thing in the entire apartment that stay consistently organized, and the idea of Marcus puttering around your space freely makes you smile broadly all over again.

Marcus smirks and there is a slight leer to his gaze as he rakes it over your body. “Go pee, sweetheart. I know you have to.” He orders before he walks out of the room, still naked and comfortable with it.

Five minutes later you're both crawling back in bed, glasses of water sitting ready on your nightstand after both taking a few painkillers to preempt any small hangover you might have in the morning. After all, you did have a bit to drink even if neither of you was actually drunk. You settle into his side again and sigh as you both wrap your arms around each other, ready to drift off to sleep. It's more than comfortable. It's like coming home.

“I love you.” He murmurs into your hair, kissing your head and closing his eyes. If this is a dream, a drunken fantasy, then he doesn’t want to wake up.

"I love you, too." It's gentle, and almost ethereal, and all you can do is trust that it's real, because you're drifting off quickly in the comfort of his arms.

------  Master Tags: @pixiedurango @chattychell @winter-fox-queen @lady-himbo @artsymaddie @princess76179 @paintballkid711 @missminkylove @pedrosbrat @ew-erin @sarahjkl82-blog @sharkbait77 @justanotherblonde23 @lv7867 @recklesswit @mylittlesenaar @f0rever15elf @gallowsjoker @steeevienicks @athalien @sherala007 @skvatnavle @thatpinkshirt @jaime1110 @girlimjusttryingtoreadfanfics @goodgriefitsawildworld @greeneyedblondie44 @katheriner1999 @littlemousedroid @harriedandharassed @churchill356 @ajathegreats-blog @hardc0rehaylz @beardsanddetectives @kirsteng42 @ladykatakuri @adancedivasmom @madiebear

tCIGtDYE: @missmarmaladeth  @afro-hispwriter  @rosmarinus @mythrielofsolitude @jxvipike @avaleineandafryingpan @hnt-escape @supernaturalgirl20 @scorpio-marionette @bobafvcker @midnightevermore @dinoflower   @pearl-aqua-tears @itsbaehyungbitch   @pepperminticedcoffee @anticipayosbot @girlofchaos @speedynana @loveslide @noisynaia @just-here-for-the-moment @goodgriefitsawildworld @curiouskeyboard @iarellanouus @mymistery09-blog @seasonschange-butpeopledont @thenightdreamsballad @pondsofravenclaw  @sherlock221b114679797 @pimmyxyone @theredwritingwitch @ghostinhours @timpletance @strawberryjamcheesecake @amb11 @a-little-shade-of-kiki @wildemaven @tuquoquebrute @supernaturalgirl @ellenmunn @iceclaw101 @toxicfrankenstein @catsandgeekyandnerd @missmarmaladeth   @theincredibleinkspitter @agiroflee98 @lyonessofnarnia @we-could-have-been @totostits @scorpio-marionette @kikis-writing-world @trappistmonksofthefuture @danichz  @88dragon06  @scorpionerd   myrealmofchaos @movievillainess721 @firekissed13 @qseomik    @acollectionofcells1 @captain-of-my-game1992 @alician87 @lovesbiggerthanpride @justgonewild @hiyorinatsuki   @pinkrosethorne @apocalypticwafflekitten @groovycass @rebel-fanfare    @d0cthunder @gooddaykate @purplerain04 @astridflowers @purplerain04 @frasmotic

My Masterlist!  

[lipslikethegardensofbabylon]

now that i’ve had sufficient time to digest it i’m going to share my (spoiler) eras tour thoughts:

- lover set

lover and rep were my favorite sets. the opening is artistic and so beautiful, screaming cruel summer was a religious experience, the archer brought me tears, i loved hearing lover live even if it pains her to sing it :( the man was honestly never my top on the album neither was yntcd but they were fun to dance and sing to. plus the lover outfits are all GOD TIER i’ll fight people on this

- fearless set

when she sang ybwm i literally blacked out and ascended i don’t remember a thing but i was told later that the whole stadium was shaking. that’s how many people were jumping. this was in the 100s and 200s. and yes i did the double clap

- evermore set

ttds is one of my favorite and most beautiful songs. she had so much fun performing champagne problems and i love a piano moment. tolerate it didn’t do it for me but that’s never been my fave. marjorie made me cry so hard. our show was the first that did the lights and i loved taylor’s reaction

- reputation set

literally all of it was so good i wouldn’t change a thing except to add even more songs. lwymmd was always that bitch and the performance reminds me of the height of the mv like both are filled with so much imagery i’m still thinking about it

- speak now set

i love you baby but enchanted was never a fave off of speak now but i’m glad everyone else loves her so much

- red set

this was a fun set but as much as i loooove red/red tv this set was just okay for me. i think it’s bc i’ve seen so much red content and listened to that album soo much idk it just wasn’t a top one for me. i think if she played ones i loved (holy ground, state of grace, treacherous, better man etc) instead of the hits i’d feel differently. her performance of atw was show stopping though

- folklore set

mtr was beautiful and chilling how much heart she puts into it. i feel kind of similar vibes with the red set where if she’d played my faves (i’m looking at you mirrorball) i’d feel differently but it wasn’t one of my faves. but the folklore dresses are all serves

- 1989 set

wildest dreams live was soooo good and i heard mixed reviews re: shake it off but considering this was like 2~ hours into dancing it awakened something in me and i shook, my friends. bad blood was SO GOOD like SO GOOD but she’s always been a fave. the beginning of the set was cute too bc my love went to the bathroom and came back when it was starting and actually had gone to the merch line and bought me a tee shirt lol

- midnights set

i was honestly tired by this point lol. vigilante shit was just such a moment i was torn between wanted to record the whole thing and wanted to drink that tall blonde glass of water with my eyeballs. i still love that hard sit she does. i wish maroon was on the setlist but i know we cannot have everything. i loved bejeweled but the visuals for it were kind of creepy with the actual diamond eyes. it kinda reminded me of rep

- my surprise songs:

guitar: the other side of the door, high infidelity. i honestly have never really listened to tosod but it was so fun watching her sing it, and high infidelity was soooo fun to hear live on april 29th lol

piano: coney island, gorgeous. coney island was coincidentally a song i’d been singing a lot to myself but the piano performance of it was beautiful. i also felt v special that we got the first reputation song AND it was gorgeous AND it was on piano like literally dayd before i’d texted my friend how gorgeous on piano would be so pretty but what i didn’t realize was how fun it’d be lol

bonus: we also got the cat joke and when our show ended it was raining outside so everything was perf <3

[metyouattherighttime]

my favorite taylor swift songs over the years / me as a swiftie over the years

~2015: literally never listened to music LMAO didnt even know about the existence of taylor swift

2016: my dad had the red album on apple music so i knew “i knew you were trouble” “22” “we are never ever getting back together” yk. the popular ones.

2017: not knowing wtf was going on with taylor, blasting “shake it off” in the car and singing along because it was on a “thats what i call music” cd

2018: went to the rep tour literally glendale night 1… i basically only knew her popular songs then and i was in the nosebleeds but i wish i had known the songs.. “gorgeous” became my fav. got a spotify account around this time and watched the rep mvs

2019: listened to some of taylors music on spotify (back when u didnt need premium) “welcome to new york” was my fav. i did see that lover came out and i saw part of the man mv on tv

2020: ashamed to admit but this was my gacha phase peak. “i knew u were trouble” is back on the charts but “wtny” stays on top. saw part of the cardigan mv on tv but other than that I HAD NO IDEA FOLKLORE AND EVERMORE EXISTED

2021: FEARLESS TV CAME OUT ON MY BDAY AND I HAD NO IDEA. BIGGEST REGRET OF MY LIFE

red tv comes out. this is my tiktok music era so i hear all too well 10min ver and its stuck in my head. i think wtny was still my fav LOL

2022: ive had her on my radar since red tv so i was excited for midnights! i started listening to her music little by little. i listened to midnights the moment i got home from school that day (i had exams or sm) and i immediately fell in love (especially yoyok, the great war, and dear reader/ literally the holy trio) then i started listening to a bunch of taylor songs and her music was all i listened to LOL yoyok was my fav! (honorable mentions: yail and wildest dreams)

2023: spent 70% of my time listening to music on taylor and the other 30% on gracie abrams… yoyok still remains my fav but i listened to all her albums front to back, loved all of them. and in the summer i got tickets to the eras tour! (listened to speak now tv and 1989 tv the day it came out obvi)

2024: absolutely flabbergasted when she announce ttpd like two days before my show. had the time of my life at the eras tour and died dead when she sang dear reader and holy ground (which im embarrassed to say i didnt know much of the lyrics to) my fav remains yoyok! (honorable mentions; yail, whos afraid of little old me?, long live)

[bmodiwrites]

Eddie Munson is a successful story board artist working in an office building. One night, drawing late, Eddie is interrupted by the new custodian. Never in his wildest dreams does Eddie ever think he'll befriend someone at work but here he is, getting swept up by cuteness and a detached attitude. As things progress, Eddie wonders why Steve never talks about himself or why he's never seen the man's home. He'll soon find out there's so much more to a person than the navy blue jumpsuit they wear to work everyday.

Or, an excuse to write janitor!Steve

He's about to pick the red pencil back up when the creak of his already open door startles him. It’s well past the time at night where anyone else is usually in the building. Eddie likes to close his door until everyone leaves so he’s got the space to himself. Now, he’s drawing in ambient light with nothing to disturb him – except, he guesses, for a gorgeous man dragging along a cleaning cart. 

For a lingering moment, Eddie knows the man hasn’t seen him yet. He’s got headphones covering his ears and his head bobs to the beat. Strong hands are already reaching for the tools he’ll need to clean the floor before clearing out Eddie’s trash. This guy is new because no one ever took the time to sweep up the pencil shavings under Eddie’s desk. Lately, he’s been coming back to the office to a clean space. Now, he knows who the culprit is. 

Since the guy still isn’t reacting to Eddie’s presence, brown eyes greedily take in their fill. Though the headphones push it down, the janitor has gorgeous hair. It’s thick and dirty blonde. Eddie thinks about the potential for amazing hairstyles and almost swoons. As his eyes roam a little further, Eddie notices wide wire-framed glasses pushed up an angular nose. They enhance hazel eyes that are now looking at him with a mix of panic and surprise. 

“Oh damn, I’m so sorry. No one is ever here, I didn’t even think to knock. I’ll uh – I’ll come back later.” The words are out of the new janitors mouth so fast that Eddie’s head spins. Though, he’s quick to put it on right in hopes of keeping this mouthwatering stranger in the room. 

“Hey, it’s alright. I should be thanking you. You’re the first cleaner to ever pick up my pencil shavings. It’s awesome, man. I appreciate it.” Eddie finishes his thanks with a soft smile. It should be enough, saying something sweet before moving on. Yet, it’s not. Eddie feels compelled to keep talking. “Are you new?” 

The guy looks incredibly uncomfortable for a second before nodding. It’s brief and coarse but it’s a reaction – one that Eddie wasn’t all that sure he was going to get. Happy with that small crumb, Eddie’s smile widens. 

“Cool, you’ll like it here. I’ve been working behind this desk since college. Loved every second of it.” 

His comment is met with silence that lingers so long Eddie thinks his new friend is done with the conversation. He’s about to grab at his pencil again when that deep voice sounds off. 

“Maybe you’re right. It’s really quiet. I like that.” The man pauses for a second, takes Eddie in. His hazel eyes roam over Eddie’s face and down until he sees the drawing on the desk. For an instant, those eyes widen, but the moment is gone long before Eddie can process it.

“I’ll let you get back to your work, Mr. Munson. Sorry again about the interruption.” 

Shrinking back at the name, Eddie calls out immediately – “It’s Eddie. Please, call me Eddie.” 

Though the man doesn’t verbally respond or outwardly acknowledge Eddie’s request, there’s a short little nod before the squeaking of the cart sounds again and the enigma of a man is gone as quickly as he came. 

Over the next couple of weeks, Eddie changes his routine in hope of bumping into their new custodian again. He walks the halls every couple of hours during the day to see if the man works while the rest of his crew does, but never finds him. He then stays a little later, lingering in his office until the call of food or a television show or plain boredom has him collecting his bags to head off for the night. 

Eventually, Eddie’s enigma makes another appearance. This time, though, Eddie is not prepared for him. He’s been curled up into the sanctuary of his arm, napping soundly, since his last meeting. They ripped apart his drawing and asked for something completely different than what Eddie had been picturing. The game isn’t even out yet and Eddie is over it. The headache that sets in kicks his ass, making the call of the flat of his desk so very enticing. He doesn’t know he’s fallen asleep until the door kicks open and he’s blinking awake. 

“Shit, I did it again. I’ve been saving your office for last every day, trying not to disturb you on your late nights. Sorry, Mr. – Eddie. I don’t mean to disturb you.” 

Sitting up a little straighter in his chair, Eddie stops him before he can go. “Wait! You don’t have to do that. I don’t mind the interruption. It’s probably needed. I’m spending way too much time here, anyway.” 

Read the rest at on AO3!!!

[clowningismyboyfriend]

Is Taylor Swift announcing something MAJOR (again) at this years MTV VMAS?! 9/12…. 12/9 🤡🌌

Hi!

Welcome to the second post on my blog!

I figured the first had to be some kind of intro, I couldn’t just come waltzing in all clowned up, spitting my theories and rationalising whilst being irrational. That would be rude of me 😂

But I promised the juice so here is what’s been squeezin’.

In my last video on Tik Tok, I was happily headed off towards the direction of the ultimate clown missions of them all: The Karma “missing” album/era theory.

Thoughtfully shared below for your convenience!

In the relatively short time it’s been since I went from “Standard Swiftie” to full blown “Tay-Spiracy Theorist”, this missing album theory has been both the wildest AND most persistent Ive stumbled across.

The majority of the supporting clues do seem difficult to completely disprove or deny..

Deep in my clowning process of compiling all the piles, I think it was the 112 days theory that I’d JUUUSST started to unpack- I still haven’t wrapped my head around this 112 day theory but it certainly sounds juicy off the top of my head and I’m keen to go take a look later on-

BUT I GOT SIDETRACKED.

When reminded about the calculation of days between and months between, I cross checked my SwiftMath number crunching notes section if you will, where I had carefully and lovingly been documenting what was not immediately apparent to me.

(Sidenote: Although it’s mostly irrelevant now, there’s definitely some interesting SwiftMath on my first video where I somewhat incorrectly predict the release date for 1989- TV.)

So- I noticed that with all of the the Taylor’s Version albums, the re-release dates vs original release dates have been consecutively following a 12 year/9 year pattern- Check it out:

OR= Originally Released

ANN= Announcement date for Taylor’s Version

TV RD= Taylor’s Version release date

1.Fearless- OR- 11/11/2008- ANN- 11/02/21- TV RD- 9/04/21

Release Days apart- 4,532- 12 years, 4 months, 29 days

2.Red- OR- 22/10/2012- ANN- 18/06/21- TV RD- 19/11/21

Release Days apart- 3,315 - 9 years, 0 months and 28 days

3.Speak Now- OR- 25/10/2010- ANN- 5/5/23- TV RD- 7/7/23

Release Days apart- 4,638 - 12 years, 8 months and 12 days

4.1989-OR- 27/10/14- ANN- 9/8/23- TV RD- 27/10/23

Release Days apart- 3,287- 9 years, 0 months and 0 days

I figured ok surely I’m onto a clue here.. although my number crunching in my first video was somewhat skewed to an extent when it came to the upcoming release date of 1989 itself, ever since the announcement of 1989 TV, that repetition of 12 years and 9 years just seemed more than coincidental, although I’ve been proven wrong before with stuff like this.

I tried at first to apply it to the remaining two albums (Reputation and Self Titled) to absolutely no avail.. surely she wouldn’t be waiting that long to re-release Reputation (either 12 years or 9 years would mean 2029 or 2026) and the 12 year period meant that Debut would have had to be re-released before she even officially announced she would be re-recording.

So it was back to the drawing board but this time I was properly stuck and couldn’t move past it. It felt like I was taking a math test unprepared, but knowing I had learnt the formulas so why couldn’t I just figure it out?! Or better yet, your know those dreams when you try and punch something or someone and just can’t quite connect, like your hand is made of lead??

I was a Swiftie on a clue hunting mission with what felt like writers/hunters block. Easter Egg Block, if you will.

Until..

When doing my bit in casting my daily votes for this years MTV VMAS for Taylors 8 nominations (at the time she had 8.. it’s now up to 11 nominations and don’t think I am ignoring the significance of this number, I just delve deeper into it down further)

I was speculating on this Insta post by @taylornation .. I become sort of fixated on how it referenced her announcement of Midnights at last years VMAS.

… Then I realised the date of the upcoming VMA’s.

September 12th. 12/9. 12…9 🤡🤡🤡

….. WHAT?

So. Announcing a new album would be cliched for her at this point, I mean that’s what she did last year, but what if she’s announcing Reputation or Self-Titled?

Given all the Reputation TV eggs and theories based on so much solid evidence that is already out there, it makes sense.

Although becoming familiar with how Taylor operates (figuratively speaking) I wouldn’t put it past her if she comes out of left field and announces something like Self Titled TV to throw us all off our tracks..

Then again, thinking about the controversial VMAS back in 2009:

When Kanye West pulled this stunt, it was essentially the catalyst for the Reputation album as a whole, because without this first shot being fired by Kanye, there would not have been the ensuing on-again off-again beef between them.

So, I guess it would make sense that if there is any sort of announcement at the 2023 MTV VMAS, it fits that it would be the release date for Reputation- Taylor’s Version, or the release date for Self Titled.. or both?

Or what if it’s something completely different? Let’s take a look at some #SwiftMath!

🫶🏽 2009 was 14 years ago. 1 + 4 = 5.. 5th Taylor’s Version announcement?

🫶🏽 Taylor also currently holds an impressive record of 14 VMAS won overall…

🫶🏽 Taylor is currently the most nominated of the show, with an impressive 11 nominations.. 11 as in TS11?! Nah surely not, that would be too much of a coincidence.

.. But switching things up last minute isn’t a new concept for Taylor…

I mean, look at the VMA’s is when she announced the impending relapse date of Midnights like I mentioned earlier. Firstly, the scheduled date for release was on Kim Kardashians birthday, so you just know that it was bound to generate conversation. But curiously enough, she stated during the announcement that telling everyone that night depended on whether or not she won, so you know she had a back up plan in place.

Circling back to my original quest for Karma as a missing album and/or the next album.. here’s some of what I discovered amongst many more theories that are out there.

All signs and clues definitely keep pointing to Karma..

Whether it be the concept of Karma overall and how it has aptly applied to her major success of Re-recording her masters, or if it is being celebrated in the wake of some of her other big enemies suffering in many ways in their personal lives- including with their reputation! Think Scooter Braun and his divorce and FBI dramas.. Kanye and, well.. Basically take your pick with that hot mess and all his situations.

Although it certainly wasn’t the first, an intriguing clue is when Taylor starts laughing hysterically when announcing “Karma” for the Midnights Mayhem track listing announcement. The caption for this post on her Tik Tok also reads “been excited to announce this one”. It’s like she’s teasing something to do with Karma, outside of the fact that it’s a track title.. She notably also uses a galaxy (🌌) emoji.. We now know that the the emoji could have been a clue for the cosmic, celestial and mythological themes that featured throughout the video. These themes and associated imagery, clueing constellations, stars and planets have become more prominently featured over the last 2-3 eras. Definitely something to consider as a new topic of investigation.. from a brief scan online, there’s definitely theories brewing amongst the Swifties!

I do feel the need to point out the astronaut/moon man reference and connection with MTV here though, but again. This could be coincidental!

Another big clue that lies in the Karma music video is the reference to a Gold Taylor seemingly portraying the Greek Goddess of divine retribution and revenge, Nemisis. Gold Taylor is on a pedestal, which contains the Roman numerals that make up the year of her birth:

If the year of her birth in Roman numerals was an easter egg, as it’s officially since been confirmed that 1989 is out next, it definitely seems like there was duality with the reference; a multi-faceted hint.

1989 was and is her album of rebirth as it was symbolistic of her complete transition from country to pop. Karma is a central concept to the religious belief of rebirth…

So what can we possibly make of all these Karma hints and clues that have been popping up since at least 2016? For example, Taylor’s Vogue interview in which she states “Karma is real” with a capitalised K.

In my last video, at the time of uploading, when you entered in the URL for karmaonthewall.com, this website was redirecting to Taylor’s webpage with the first/previous pathway being “it happens after midnights”. The current redirect pathway now states “TS11”.. Taylor Swift 11, her potentially upcoming eleventh studio album?

For reference: “Karma on the wall” Stems from the theory in general that Karma was/is a missing album/era that was supposed to be released instead of Reputation based on a scene showing all her “lost” albums graffitied on the wall, with Karma on there (twice) next to a “missing” sign from “The Man” music video- Lover era

On one of the pillars in this scene, with visibility beginning at exactly 13 seconds into the video, you can see the graffitied word “Karma” in the same style as the “Karma” on the wall.

All the titles of her albums that were caught up in the masters controversy are graffitied on a wall, with a “missing” sign.. Karma is graffitied twice, Karma is in orange (rumoured to be or to have been the era colour) but also in black, which is the actual era colour for Reputation.

Sidenote: Interestingly, you can also see that 1989 is up there twice- When I first recognised this and thought about some other key clues, particularly in The Man video, it had me backflipping and cartwheeling into a spiral over this whole other theory my overthinking brain came up with.. Taylor, at the age of 22, started to receive all kinds of negative press about her dating life; the Karma album might have been something she wanted to release as a concept instead of Red, having had enough of dealing with the but was perhaps thwarted by Big Machine as a precaution given her bad press, the ongoing Kanye incident and so on. There’s so many little clues that seem to allude to this in “The Man” but I’ve had to put a pin in all that for now because that would be too wild to contemplate.. Wouldn’t it??…

..Back to Karma. As a concept, Karma is based on cause and effect. Good intentions/deeds means good karma and therefore happier rebirths. If the cycle of rebirth in these theories are what we are being directed to, did the orange colour graffiti signify fire and burning and the black colour graffiti represent ashes? I mean- this is hitting me right now as I type this, was it actually a possibility that Karma was supposed to come BEFORE Reputation, not in place of? Was it supposed to go 1989- Karma- Reputation?

What if she was on an entirely different trajectory with her albums and planned concepts, we all know she loves to plan sometimes years in advance.. but what if the entire Kanye/Kim controversy surrounding dishonest and partially leaked audio/video footage and the subsequent #TaylorSwiftIsCancelledParty caused her to change up everything?

The biggest hint at this definitely comes through in her lyrics from the Midnights Til Dawn vault track “You’re Losing Me”:

“Do I throw out everything we built or keep it? / I’m getting tired even for a phoenix / Always rising from the ashes”

A Phoenix is Gold. Taylor on the pedastal- Gold. A Phoenix is representative of rebirth, never ending life.

IS SHE SINGING ABOUT KARMA THE ALBUM?

There was speculation that this song was in reference to her and Joe Alwyns alleged breakup. But I mean, everyone will always try and tie a Taylor song to a boy or a breakup. I genuinely think Taylor is smarter than that, I mean she’s actually spoken on the record about this subject before and she certainly has a duality to the meaning of her songs.. I don’t always hear the boy and girl aspect of a song, and when I read the lyrics/listen to “You’re losing me” I’m even more certain it could be alluding to Karma.

“You’re losing me” was part of the ‘Til Dawn remixes, and Taylor announced that the album would only be available for purchase in person at the East Rutherford, New Jersey portion the US leg of the tour but this song wouldn’t be released for streaming.. It was also at these same shows that Taylor and Ice Spice performed their remixed version of “Karma”.. and debuted their music video! It was actually after these shows that Karma was added as the 44th and final track of the tour.

Okkk so before I continue any further, I need to bring up the other URL- In my last video, the url notalotgoingonatthemoment.com redirected to Taylor Swifts webpage with the added pathway of “theywouldntmedoitkarma”. Seemingly missing a word, maybe as obvious as “let” but maybe not…

For reference: “Not a lot going on at the moment” is a well known, now multi-faceted Taylor expression that appears to have originated from a slogan on a shirt she wore for the “22” music video during the Red era…

The most obvious fitting word be “let”. What if LET stands for Lost Eras Title.. Which the theories all refer to as Karma? Another fit would be Last Eras Track. This has the extra layer of being both the last track played on the Eras Tour set list, plus it fits with the speculation that Karma the song signifies the end of the Midnights era overall.

It could even stand for Last Eras Tour- Will she announce something major on the very last tour date? Could it be that her Karmic rebirth overall will be complete as she coincides the tour with the final re-releases of her albums?

If so, I hope she will be taking us down a completely different way of doing things as we know it, because evidently she is the epitome of genius levels of cleverness, with the perfect amount of class and sass.

I worry that based on Surely she would not be settling into reTAYermen anytime soon, I mean at the bare minimum I couldn’t imagine her never completing a 13th album for example. (Oh my gosh that ALBUM and the delivery going to be one for the books)

She’s made lots of comments and dropped lots of hints in interviews about how she feels like she’s considered too old for the industry in terms of being a pop star.. it does seem so ridiculous though considering she’s certainly at her peak in her career right now!

Although it���s somewhat going off tangent ever so slightly.. Let’s talk about the burning Lover house.

The Lover house that is portrayed as burning down during the Eras Tour- being symbolic of rising from the ashes and rebirth, this ties in with the karma theme Hindi Moksa and burning bad karma to purify..

But does this mean a new house? What will emerge from the ashes of the Lover house, to be rebirthed?

I have a theory on all of that.. I reckon She’s going back to an ex. But we shall see. I’ll not be saying another word…

Theories aren’t for me to speculate on when it comes to relationships.

That remains her privacy and I will always respect whatever she chooses to share with us or not!

❤️

So.. Taking into consideration all of this, plus the bonus below little quick and curious Google..

.. It’s safe to say no matter what happens at the VMAS, we are definitely headed in a fresh and brand new direction! Because no matter what @taylorswift does-She is absolutely golden.

I do have to say though that it can be a constant battle reminding myself that with Taylor… Anything can and will literally go. It’s been speculated that she reads all our theories and has literally implemented some before so that’s pretty cool! Generating and regenerating conversations by furthering the idealisms that we, as fans, have put out there ourselves.. Well, that’s just straight up Karmic and the best representation of the cycle of rebirth indeed.

If she is, it’s honestly the most genius marketing strategy I’ve ever seen. It’s not an approach that’s ever been adopted by a singer/song writer and I think it’s a major key contributing to her ongoing success and so think she does too- Hence why she is always so genuinely, down to earth humbled and grateful for us fans.

#Swifties of #Swiftnation and #Taylornation…

I hope you all voted for our girl!! 11 nominees… I could cry for her!

✨I hope she releases a super exclusive, mega detailed all access passes behind the scenes tour about The Eras Era… Manifesting this as the announcement✨

Please feel free to add and share and comment and discuss with me!

Until then,

.. I’m in exhile seeing you out..

Dani

Xx

[edens-pen]

you have any taylor swift songs to recommend me or that remind you of me :))) trying to get into her, i listened to 1989 when it first came out and yk ofc some singles and such from her butttt yk

okay for you !!

i would say (me being annoying under the cut)

speak now - innocent / the story of us / last kiss / enchanted

red (tv) - treacherous / begin again / all too well (10 minute version)

1989 - wildest dreams / clean / you are in love

reputation - dancing with our hands tied / new year's day / call it what you want / getaway car / delicate

lover - THE ARCHER / cruel summer / death by a thousand cuts / daylight

folklore - my tears ricochet / hoax / the lakes / cardigan

evermore - willow / tolerate it / marjorie / ivy / tis damn season

midnights - midnight rain/ mastermind / you're on your own kid / sweet nothing

i think some of these i relate to you on a more lyrical level (the archer, you're on your own kid, the lakes, tolerate it, clean) as far as how beautiful i think the songs are written and how i think you might relate to them

the archer - the mortifying ordeal of being known, and knowing yourself ? like the propensity to ruin things before they're ruined naturally, but also having something so precious that you can't stand yourself for trying to destroy it

YOYOK - we've had many conversations about this song inadvertently (growing up, becoming independent, coming of age, who are you?) and this song encapsulates that so much, of just trying something—anything—until you figure out what works

the lakes - this is one of the most beautifully written songs ever idk i think you would appreciate the word choice

tolerate it - probably one the best written songs on evermore, makes me super emotional, this kind of dismissal and belittling of love in ballad form omg

clean - something we indirectly talk about (protecting/being protected + being able to walk away/move on) and the acknowledgment that no matter how far you walk away, it doesn't mean that you don't want to go back

and some of them (delicate, willow, my tears ricochet, enchanted) to me are just a little more fun, but the overall message of belonging somewhere, having someone/something just to yourself still persists

delicate - this song is so possessive omg, but you can tell it comes from a place of fear, which you never usually hear in music,

willow - this is literally a love song but it's so intimately written and sung that i cannot imagine you not thinking of your partner

my tears ricochet - THIS SONG OMFG, i need to know what you think immediately, i think so heavily of my family, and i need to know if you think the same

enchanted - this again, is a love song, but it's so desperate, it's so "love at first sight", this song makes me want to uhaul so badly omg i can't listen to it too much

and of course there are a few that i think you might like !!!

i actually put them all in a spotify playlist, and i can send you the link if you'd like :) <3

[escapism-central]

So after watching the Bejewelled video once or twice, these are the Easter eggs I’ve found.

The next single is going to be lavender haze, because the third floor elevator button Taylor presses is Lavender.

There’s also a double reference to all her previous albums in the colours of the floors- first is green for debut, second is yellow for fearless, third is purple for speak now, fourth is red for RED, and fifth is blue for 1989, which is the floor she gets off on and meets the Fair Goddess

Theres also referencing towards the Wildest Dreams music video when Taylor gets off in the 1989 floor, because she looks similar to the scene in the mv where she goes to watch the movie they made.

While on the third floor, Taylor is dressed in a midnight blue coat, and when she takes it off, she’s covered in jewels colour-coded for her previous albums; she also wears a necklace with each jewel (album) on it- this is also a reference to my tears ricochet, when Taylor sings “you wear the same jewels that I gave you as you bury me”, but Taylor’s the one wearing the jewels now, which references her re-recording her masters

Taylor’s also wearing purple/lavender earrings when she gets back in the elevator, and poses similar to when she performed at the VMAs for the first time after news of her masters being sold came out- so my guess is, we’re getting Speak Now TV next

Considering Taylor also got off on the 1989 (fifth) floor, we might get 1989 TV after Speak Now TV

Taylor also looks a lot like she did in the Ready For It? mv when she’s first in the elevator, so we might also be getting reputation TV after 1989 TV or before Speak Now TV

When Taylor gets off at the 13th floor and performs in the talent show, she’s wearing a midnight blue ¿bikini? encrusted with jewels colour-coded to the theme of her previous albums. So maybe we’ll get all the re-recordings after Midnights?

Lastly, when Taylor’s in the castle she won, it’s being crumbled by dragons, which might be a reference to call it what you want - “my castle crumbled overnight” and reputation TV in general

I’m guessing there’s a lot more to the castle and the moon and stars in the last scene of the mv, but I can’t quite figure out what they are yet

Hoping I’ll find out more Easter eggs as I watch the video again

@taylorswift @taylornation

[selenastaylors]

i think its funny how red tv didnt have a single before or even after the announcement until the album came out but we have wildest dreams tv and this love tv with no album announcement shes really funny for that tbh

[elles-writing]

Enchanted - Fili x fem!reader - Cinderella AU

A/N: I recently seen there was Cinderella (2015) in TV, my favourite Cinderella story! (But they are all kind of smashed together, so🤷‍♀️)

This is mainly for lovely @guardianofrivendell , I hope you will like it!

(Also, c'mon. Kili wouldn't even come here.)

This is different style from what I am writing - this is more a fairytale-telling style, but I tried. I'm quite happy quite the result, so I hope you will like it too!

Once upon a time, there was a lovely, beautiful maiden, named Y/N. Though her life wasn't a fairy tale at first glance, sometimes things change the way it seems like one.

There wasn't a time when Y/N didn't thought about her old life, and when did it changed. But she remembered her mother's last words.

The two things that you truly need in your life, are courage and kindness. Remember that, my dear.

Life with her two step-sisters, who argued almost all the time (except for when there were trying to provoke Y/N), and the evil woman who married her kind and selfless father, was, well, interesting, to say at least. It wasn't very exciting, either - her life was constant routine of doing all the chores, and then falling asleep in her little room.

She dreamed of magic, that would make life exciting, and every night, when she looked up for the stars, she would think about a prince, who would run away with her and never come back.

Little did she knew, her life was about to go into a different direction very, very soon.

The day they got the invitations, her sisters were excstatic. One of them told Y/N to prepare them dresses, along for their mother. Y/N thought it was one of birthday partiest of their many friends, and didn't thought much of it. She spended the whole day by sewing and measuring, cutting and measuring once again.

However, when she decided to take a stroll in the evening void of darkness, soft light was coming out of the post box. She curiously stepped closer, and opened it. Her eyes widened when she noticed envelope in heavy, good quality paper. The name and adress on the letter was in beautiful calligraphy, perfect, as if it was made by...

Y/N shook her head. Don't be naive. But the tiny little spark of hope and child-like wonder in her believed it was something magical about it.

She opened the envelope, and took out an...invitation? She curiously red futher, and her eyes widened. It was an invitation for a ball!

With greatest joy, we are happy to announce that prince Fili is ready to find a wife. In occasion of Prince's birthday, there will be thrown celebration, where is invited every daughter of our beautiful kingdom, who is interested in being Prince's wife.

There was also a date and time. Y/N couldn't believe it. She got her invitation. A dreamy smile stretched across her lips, and she started to dance.

She hid her invitation in the pocket of her dress, and quickly hidded it into the back of her drawer.

When the day of the celebration came up, she realized she forgot to make her own dress. She worked on her sisters' and mother's dresses she didn't got enough time to work on her own.

They left, and she was there alone, in the big house. It used to be place full of joy, but now it was empty and sad. Y/N looked around for some dress she could use or alter, but she wasn't that lucky.

She sat to the garden, and her good friends - three cats, who stayed there, and sometimes slept in her room - came with loud meowing.

As if they could talk. It sounds like they are mad, Y/N thought. One of the cats - black cat with golden orbs - studied her face, as if she wanted to give her piece of her mind. But, instead, she started cleaning her paw.

"No, of course not. They aren't home? Oh, as if that - alright, I won't swear, but that woman living here and making her her maid-" Y/N frowned and stood up, carefully walking into the direction of the voice. She found an old woman, talking to little mouse.

"Good evening, c-can I help you?" The woman turned to her.

"Oh, do you happen to have a piece of bread and some milk, dear?" Y/N nodded, remembering the leftovers from dinner.

"Oh, of course we have. I'll be back in a moment," she said. She knew the woman from somewhere - but where did she knew her from?

When she came back, she gave the piece of bread and cup of milk to her. The old woman thanked her, and ate it as if it would be the most delicious thing she have ever eaten.

"What is happening, Y/N? Why that long face?" Y/N looked up on her, and sighed.

"Do you know about the ball, in palace today?" The woman nodded, and Y/N sighed.

"Well, I got an invitation, but...I don't have any decent dress." The woman let out a humming, deeply in thought.

"Well, perhaps I could help you out," she said. Y/N frowned.

"How?" The woman jumped up.

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself, my dear. Let me just-" she stood up and all of sudden, there were tiny little sparks, then falling down as a sparkling dust.

Stardust, Y/N thought.

A young woman stood there, in simple dress with flowing skirt, a wand in her hand, and happy smile on her lips.

"I'm your fairy godmother," she introduced herself. Y/N blinked.

"But they don't exist. It's all just a fairytale," she said. Her fairy godmother furrowed her brows.

"Oh, dear! What are you teaching you these days, tsk," she let out and looked around.

"Do you happen to have, uhm, pumpkins?"

"Oh, uhm, yes, we do, over there-" She pointed to the corner of the garden, where a few pumpkins grew. Her fairy gotmother walked there and curiously eyed each one of them. Then, she took one of them.

"This one will do!" Before Y/N could argue, her fairy godmother tapped the pumpkin by the tip of her wand, and stepped aside.

Y/N's eyes widened, as there wasn't a pumpkin anymore, but a beautiful coach instead. Her fairy godmother looked around once again, and spotted the three cats.

"We also need horses, and stagecoach man..." The cats wanted to run away, but it was too late. All of sudden, there were standing three horses. Y/N runned to them.

"James! Oh, look at you!" She turned to face her fairy godmother, wonder in her face.

"How did you-you really are my fairy godmother," Y/N sighed out. Her godmother proudly smiled, and pointed towards a lizard, sitting on edge of fountaine.

"Well, now we also need...lackey!" She looked around, and spotted a bird, who was eating some tiny bits of leftover bread.

"Now, let's go, my friends, we don't have much time left!" She said with a proud smile on her face.

"Let's go dear! It's going to be really fun, I've heard they have chocolate cakes and-" Y/N catched her hand.

"I would love to, but-my dress, it's-" her fairy godmother turned to her and nodded with serious expression.

"Oh, you're right! Hm, yeah, this could work," she said and the tip of her wand created glittering ribbon in the air as she moved her hand. Little sparks danced across her dress, hair and face, and soon, she had dress she would never imagine even in her wildest dreams. Y/N gasped.

"They are beautiful! How did you-how can I thank you?" Her fairy godmother smiled and tapped the tip of her nose by her wand. Little sparkles fell across Y/N's face, and she let out a giggle.

"You, my dear, will have fun. Thanks to this, your mother and sisters won't recognize you," Her smile became a frown as she looked down.

"What about the shoes? You can't wear these!" Y/N looked down and blushed.

"Well, um, alright, but please no heals, I can't walk in them," the girl admitted rather shyly. The godmother thought about it for a moment, and told Y/N to close her eyes. When she was done, she said she can open them. Y/N gasped - they weren't shoes on heals, they were simple and comfortable, but lovely to look at.

"Now, if anyone asks you your name, tell them you're Cinderella. And remember - the spell will wear off exactly at midnight. Then, everything is going to be just like before." She explained carefully while they walked to the coach. When Y/N stepped inside, she noticed the details. It was surely the most gorgeous coach she've ever seen. She looked out of the window and waved farawell to her fairy godmother. The answer were just tiny little sparks.

When she arrived, there was a music playing already, and she could tell the celebration was in full swing. She peeked inside by the corner of one window, and noticed the Prince - he talked to his brother and seemed rather bored and terrified. Y/N giggled at that thought of the Prince being terrified of dancing with all those women and girls, trying to figure out who will be his future wife.

Prince Fili was rather nervous. He wasn't sure if he should be really there - but as much as he wished to be with his horse on a ride through forests and meadows, he also knew he was doing a favour to both the kingdom, and perhaps himself too. His brother found a lady he was happy with on similar celebration, though the other part of the story was she was the only one, who wasn't falling to his feet after he winked at her and said something flirtatious. Now, he was trying to calm Fili down. Or tried, at least.

"Look, Fee, all those ladies are here, so don't worry. There is a big chance you will find one that will like you for you, and you'll like her too."

"Or not. How did you made it last time?" Kili's face scrunched.

"Well, um, tripping over your feet after you've been trying to flirt with her whole evening, and pouring red wine on her light dress isn't the best way to start a courting, if you ask me." Fili chuckled.

"But it worked out."

"Now I'm not sure which one of you is the older one," their mother said and they both turned to her.

"Fili, dear, don't be nervous. Just be yourself. There is no reason to worry. And you," she turned to Kili,

"Try to not walk while you drink wine," Fili chuckled and Kili rolled his eyes.

"Now, the celebration will start soon, so remember what I said," she added and disappeared into crowd to talk to some of the ladies and their mothers personally.

Y/N walked through the palace, and nobody asked her for her name. Everyone was in awe - who was she? Who was the gorgeous princess?

When she walked in, she was making sure she won't trip over her feet. The whole room went quiet, the musicians stopped playing - and one question filled the air.

'Who is she?'

The Prince turned his attention to where everyone looked - and he realized all those surprised gasps and looks of awe were right.

A beautiful maiden, a young woman perhaps, he couldn't tell, stood there, with soft silver - golden dust on her nose and cheeks, creating sparkling freckles, her hair in soft waves falling over her shoulders, her dress looking as if they were made of stardust itself. Her hands were covered in long white gloves, up over her elbows, with little silver flowers around the edge, and soft smile was spreaded across her face. She started slowly walking down the few stairs, hoping she wouldn't trip over her dress.

She was almost there...

It was all quick - she was suddenly falling down, but instead of meeting the floor, she was met with a pair of strong arms, and deep chuckle above her.

"Careful here. The stairs are tricky," He helped her to stand up and her cheeks burned.

"Prince Fili," She said. A smile spreaded across his face.

"At your service, m'lady," He softly kissed the top of her hand, while looking his blue eyes, deep into her eyes.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Prince Fili," she said with pinkish cheeks. Perhaps the magic gave her courage to say something?

He smiled.

"The pleasure is all mine, my lady. May I ask you for a dance?" She nodded and soon, they were dancing across the dance floor. The music was playing again, and other pairs joined them soon.

"Your dance skills are excellent, my lady."

"You aren't bad yourself," her eyes widened at her sudden courage, but he only laughed.

"Have we met before? I'm sure I'd remembered as good dancer as you, my lady."

"I don't think so, my lord." Fili looked down at her. She was just turning around, as it was another step in the dance.

"Would you tell me your name, m'lady?" He blurted out. He wanted to talk to her whole night. He wasn't interested in all those other women and girls - especially now, when there was her, who he could actually talk to.

"You may call me Cinderella," she said. Fili thought about it. He've never heard this name before, but it was nice to finally adress her properly.

"Well, in that case, lady Cinderella - would you like to slip out to the gardens, so we could talk more in private?" He was waiting for her answer, and when she nodded and said,

"I'd love to, my prince," He breathed out in relief.

"Call me Fili, please," He said, and when they were near the glass doors, leading to gardens, they slipped out without anyone noticing.

They walked through the gardens, and talked about the ball, Fili's life and what not. When they walked around daisies, Y/N carefully picked one up. Fili's eyebrow rose in curiousity.

"There are many other flowers you can pick in the garden, my lady," She shrughed her shoulders.

"I like daisies. They are beautiful, and yet delicate and simple. They may seem ordinary, but I love them," He hummed in response and picked one too.

"May I?" He asked. Y/N nodded, curious what he was about to do. Fili placed the daisy to her hair behind her ear.

"Done," He smiled. He took her hands into his, and she gave him a curious look.

"Can we dance? Just us two, without etiquette," he shrugged his shoulders to make it seem more casual.

"I'd love to," was her answer.

They silently danced for a while, when Y/N frowned.

"Sorry, I just stepped on your toes-"

"It's okay, I actually happened to step on, uhm, all those ladies' toes and..." He looked away with embarassed face and Y/N giggled. Fili gave her a dreamy smile.

"My lady," he said and interwined their hands. Y/N hummed.

"You've been my best company through the whole celebration. I know this may be a bit too fast, but-" A sudden clock strucking sound caught Y/N's attention.

First.

"I-I'm very sorry, Pri-Fili. I've had an amazing time with you, but I have to leave now," She muttered before running through the gardens and around the castle.

Second.

One of her shoes slipped down, but she didn't got the time to take it back. She kept running.

Third.

Her dress were getting lighter and shorter, she noticed soft sparkles in the air around her.

Fourth.

She quickly came into the coach, and they barely made it through gates, before they were closed.

Fifth.

The lizard and little bird were now inside of the coach, the bird flying away.

Sixth.

It's been a short while, before the coach was getting smaller, and Y/N noticed soft smell of freshly cutted pumpkin.

Seventh.

She looked out of the little window. The night was bright, the moon was full, too.

Eight.

Her dress were almost back to how they looked like before, the sparkling dust was out of her hair and away from her face.

Nineth.

Her glowes were away, and the pumpkin crushed. Y/N and the lizard fell down to the ground, where were two cats, but still one horse. Y/N sat up and took all of them with her.

Tenth.

Y/N could see the roof of the house she was coming back to.

Eleventh.

The horse was smaller and smaller, and then he stopped - and Y/N quickly placed them all down, when the horse was a cat again. James.

Twelveth.

And everything was the way it was before. Except for...

Y/N looked down and picked up the shoe. The only thing that stayed the way it was.

The following days, Y/N couldn't stop thinking about the prince. Sure, he was kind and handsome - and that was probably enough for him to stay in her head ever since. But there was something else, which made her sad. He didn't knew her real name.

In palace, Fili was going through all the adresses, just to find out there was nobody with the name 'Cinderella'. He looked up when someone entered the door. It was his younger brother, Kili, who was more likely to catch attention of many maidens, also thanks to his shameless flirting and straight-forward attitude. But he was already courting now, the lady had both sharp tongue and mind, and soft heart. Fili was watching his brother, because he usually didn't had this expression on his face.

"What happened, Kee?" Fili asked. Kili looked over the table, full of mess.

"I will help you to find her," He said.

"I've got an idea." Fili's brows furrowed. This was never a good sign. Kili noticed his expression, and sighed. Fili could tell something was troubling him.

"I know it may be stupid, but what if we would just let all the ladies to try on the shoe?" Fili's eyes widened.

"Kili-"

"Nah, I know it was stupid, sorry Fee-"

"That is the best idea you've ever had!" Kili's eyes widened.

"Wait, what?!" Fili hugged his brother, but soon both their faces scrunched.

"That will take a while," Kili muttered and Fili nodded.

"I will start sooner then. We need to find her!" Fili said and started ordering to get his horse ready.

He won't give up.

It took days, and no maiden fitted the shoe on so far. It was as if the shoe itself was either becoming too big, or too small, so it wouldn't fit. But Fili was determined to find the woman of his heart.

Y/N was living her normal life, back in her old routine. Her mother and sisters would complain about the woman who danced with the prince, that she had him for whole evening and neither of her sisters got to dance with him. She smiled when they couldn't see her.

When after a few weeks Fili found the last house, he had a little spark of hope left. She could be there, but also not.

When they entered the house, two young women were right there. Fili didn't thought much of them, but he let them to try the shoe on. It didn't fitted to any of them, and they were about to leave, when he noticed a person hiding behind the corner.

"Come out, don't be shy," he smiled. When she stepped out, his surprise grew.

"Try the shoe on, m'lady," he said. The young woman nodded, and, surprise surprise, it fitted perfectly!

"So, lady Cinderella," He smiled.

"I'm-my name is Y/N, my lord," She looked down, but he softly lifted up her chin, so she would look at him.

"Only Fili, Y/N. For you always Fili," He stood up, and they stepped out, hand by hand. Y/N could hear her sisters and mother to yell, how was it possible - but it felt like it was far, far away.

Fili and Y/N came back to the castle, where they had beautiful wedding. When the time came up, they ruled the kingdom with kindness and justice. The people of the kingdom couldn't wish for better King and Queen.

And that all thanks to kindness and courage of heart, but also some sprinkles of magic...

[corneliaavenue]

What is Taylor Swift TV? Like I see posts about Red TV and stuff like that, can you explain what it is if you know what I’m talking about haha thanks 🥰

Absolutely!

So for Taylor's first 6 albums, she worked under a record company of Big Machine Records. In between her 6th and 7th album she switched Record Labels. Before she switched, she was working with her old label (Big Machine) about possibly buying the master's to her songs so she could own them. A Master is the original song recording. So as songwriter, Taylor owns the lyrics and musical composition, but doesn't own the song. So it is like she wrote a recipe for a pie, but doesn't own the pie. Big Machine did not offer Taylor the master's to her songs.

They then sold Taylor's masters to Scooter Braun. Scooter worked for or still currently works for Kanye and Justin Bieber, and does not really like Taylor. We do not know a lot about what the history between Scooter Braun and Taylor Swift is, but it's not good history. So Taylor was upset that a) she does not own her masters and did not get the opportunity to buy them and b) her master's are owned by someone she does not personally like.

So she is rerecording all of her old music!

TV stands for Taylor's Version and that is the version of the album that she owns! Taylor has rerecorded 2 albums so far: Fearless and Red, with two singles from 1989 released: Wildest Dreams and This Love (which came out last week)

tldr: TV stands for Taylor's Version, the version of an original song that Taylor owns

[sweettea-and-godsgraces]

1989 (Taylor's Version) thread:

What we know:

-Rolling Stones blue photoshoot has 6 words which would be June

-77 letters out of place in Hey Stephen lyric video

-77 days after April 9th is Friday June 25

-6/25=13

-42 letters shifted up

-42 days after April 9th is Friday May 21

-5/21/2021=13

-35 letters shifted down

-35 days after April 9th is Friday May 14

-5/14/21=13

-Midsommar is June 20-June 26

-Taylor posted a photo in a bear costume and wore a flower dress to the Grammys which both resemble Midsommar

-Talked to Stephen Colbert about Hey Stephen on the 13th

-National Pizza Day is February 9

-Style was released February 9

-National Pizza Party Day is May 21

-1989 secret sessions were referred to as pizza parties

-National Pepperoni Pizza Day is September 20

-1989 secret sessions were first held on September 20

-5 pieces of pepperoni on the pizza

-1989 is the 5th album

-bird on the collage is similar to bird on 1989 shirt

-Taylor posted a picture with Haim and pizza on February 19

-She captioned it "the mood board" which she also referred to her collage of Stephen Colbert as a mood board (which also had pizza)

-Style was recorded on February 19

-Stephen Colbert's Ben & Jerry's ice cream is in the collage. It was originally released on February 13

-The style music video premiered on February 13

-12 stars

-8 hearts

-8 of hearts means success in love

-The flag of Europe has 12 golden stars and was adopted on December 9

-Stephen Colbert dressed up as Legolas on December 9

-Legolas is played by Orlando Bloom which is Katy Perry's husband

-Legolas and Gandalf are in the collage

-Taylor bought her New York apartment from the Lord of the Rings director

-NYC=1989

-bike photo of Stephen colbert from GQ is on the collage

-Taylor did an interview with GQ during 1989 era

-no this is a pizza sound like no this is becky

-no this is becky was during 1989 era

-old picture of stephen colbert on mood board is from 1989

-she mentioned his social security number as 33035

-33035=14=May 14th

-You Need to Calm Down is the 14th track = May 14th

-Katy Perry was in You Need to Calm Down music video (1989 vault song?)

-Dark Visions by Stephen King came out in 1989

-Stephen Colbert's birthday is May 13th

-513 address=May 13th

-She says she can't call the song Stephen or it would be too obvious which is a nod to Style which is about Harry Styles

-Stephen talked about the Squad which was popular during 1989 era and Bad Blood music video

-Bad Blood was about Katy Perry

-44 years 179 days before April 13 was October 27

-1989 came out October 27

-4 4 1 7 9 =25=June 25

-1989 came out in 2014 when Taylor turned 25

-TS is re-recording her first five albums in order of F1RST: Fearless, 1989, Red, Speak Now, Taylor Swift

-She picked up the phone because the old taylor was calling her

-She is wearing a cardigan because she is coming out of the woods (folklore/evermore) and into re-recording era

-5'11"=November 5 which is a Friday

-Spirit Untamed is released 6/4/21=13

-In some countries Spirit Untamed is released on May 20th so Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version) would have to be released before then.

-Wildest Dreams is the soundtrack for Spirit which has 13 letters

-Luminescent=neon lights=1989

-April 13 is National Scrabble Day

-Scrabble posted about Taylor on twitter on April 13

-Luminescent in scrabble can make 523 words and is 15 points

-5/23/21=14

-The Shining was mentioned and was released on May 23

-On Instagram she posted a picture of her and her mom playing scrabble on 10/21/18. The 21ST!!

-1+0+2+1+1+8=13. 10+2+1=13.

-15 days from the interview is April 29

-the clock in the Cowboy Like Me lyric video is at 4:30=Friday April 30. It could also be interpreted to be pointing to 6 and 4.

-Spirit Untamed is released 6/4

-the all knower posted a photo on April 1 with a fake TS album and track list with a clue about a 1989 single release date

-the words twenty and june were part of the track list

-the shifted letters in the Hey Stephen lyric video minus "light" because it is the only full word shifted up is 72 letters

-72 days from April 9 is June 20

-6/20/2021=13

-5 1 1 and 3 3 0 3 5 add to 30

-30 days after April 13 is May 13

-the pizza on the mood board is New York style which is not to Welcome to New York and Style

-Stephen Colbert was 44 when she wrote Hey Stephen

-44 days after the interview is Friday May 28

-Taylor mentioned 1989 and Shake It Off in the interview

-She said she stayed up for 3 days making the vision board

-Hey Stephen is 4 minutes and 13 seconds long = April 13

-3 days after April 13 is Friday April 16

-She typically announces stuff on Thursdays and releases on Fridays

-Thursday April 15 =4/15/21=13

-She said in the interview "I came here to have a good time"

-The meme "I came here to have a good time but honestly I'm feeling attacked right now" was popular in 2014 during 1989 era

-Taylor seemed stalker-ish in her interview which is a nod to Blank Space

-Taylor mentioned Stephen Colbert on Law and Order

-His episode aired on 3/14/04=21=May 21

-She says "Hey Stephen I love you on TV"

-TV is an abbreviation for Taylor's Version

-The Stand by Stephen King was mentioned

-it is about a virus that almost kills the entire world population (lol)

-The book has 823 pages

-8+2+3=13

-Stephen King's birthday is September 21

-Taylor did a cover in 2018 of the song "September" where she changed the lyric from "the 21st night of September" to "the 28th night of September"

-this is speculated as a nod to her anniversary with Joe

-She mention Stephen Colbert waiting tables in 1989 at the restaurant Scoozi’s in Chicago.

-Their address is 410 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654.

-4+1+0=5. 6+0+6+5+4=21

-The line “waiting tables” is at 0:21 seconds on Mine.

-You All Over Me and Clean have very similar themes.

-Clean is from 1989 and is track 13.

-You All Over Me is track 21.

-The length of the YAOM is 3:41 which adds to 8.

-8 weeks from March 26 (YAOM release date) is May 21.

What this means:

-1989 TAYLORS VERSION IS COMING

-Style, Shake It Off, Blank Space, Welcome to New York, Out of the Woods, Wildest Dreams and Bad Blood are potential singles

-Dates to remember: April 15/16, April 29/30, May 13/14, May 21, May 28, June 4, June 20, June 25

@taylorswift @taylornation

[jaskierswolf]

Happy Birthday to my dearest Disney Spouse @dani-dandelino! You’ve been such a rock for me and I absolutely adore you ❤️ I hope you enjoy this little modern Jaskilion AU that I wrote for you! 🥰

Thank you @funkylittlebard for beta-ing!

____________

The thunder rumbled outside the window, the rain hammering down on the pavement as headlights flashed intermittently. Storms had never been Dandelion’s favourite so Jaskier had insisted they build a pillow fort as a distraction. That was how Dandelion found himself caught under a mess of couch cushions and blankets, his head in Jaskier’s lap. There were fake tea lights stationed around the cramped space, lighting up the den with flickering orange light, fairy lighting pinned into the cushions above their head. It was cosy, made even cosier by their matching onesies. Jaskier had a tiger, and Dandelion had been forced into a lion version. Normally, he preferred to wear something a little more refined and he’d never really seen the appeal of onesies, but Jaskier had pouted at him and he’d been putty in his hands, and he had to admit that it was comfy.

The fort had been a good idea.  He could barely make out Jaskier’s face in the dark, but he could see enough to know that his boyfriend was smiling down at him.

“Sweetheart?”  

Jaskier’s hands didn’t stop running through his scalp, and his boyfriend hummed under his breath. The same song that had been playing at the restaurant where they had their first date. Dandelion wondered whether his boyfriend remembered.

“I love you, dearest.”

“I love you too, dear heart,” Jaskier replied, a soft happy sigh to his voice.  “Did I tell you about the incident at the dog park today?”

Dandelion smiled, Jaskier had told him twice already, but he knew that the actor was trying to distract him from the storm, so he shook his head. “You know, I don’t believe you have?”

Jaskier cackled. “It was fucking brilliant, I was out walking Roach, because Geralt’s out of town on for an interview, and Valdo bloody Marx just strolls up to be with that rat that he calls a dog…”

Dandelion closed his eyes, focusing on the soft tenor of Jaskier’s voice, listening to every cadence, every hitch in his breath. He knew the words by heart at this point, but Jaskier’s voice soothed him. It washed over him like waves lapping at the sand, constant and ever-changing. The heat of the sunrays against his skin, warming his soul right down to the tips of his toes. Dandelion would be able to pick out Jaskier’s voice from even the largest of crowds. He was so attuned to the melodic tenor that had become the soundtrack to his life, that Dandelion could hear Jaskier long before his boyfriend came into sight.

The actor was a natural-born storyteller, they’d often joked that the brunet had to sit on his hands to stop himself from waving them around like he was trying to land a plane. He was funny, flirty and brilliant. Dandelion was completely smitten. They’d met on set, as most people in the industry did. Dandelion was the writer and showrunner for a rather delightful show about monsters and monster slayers, heroics and heartbreak. Jaskier was playing a charming young bardling and Geralt, his witcher friend and love of his life.

Dandelion had been completely blown away by the natural chemistry between Geralt and Jaskier, but once they’d wrapped Jaskier had texted him out of the blue and asked if he’d like to get dinner. Apparently, he’d been pining over Dandelion since day one, and when Dandelion had assumed he was laughing with Geralt over some flirty inside joke, Geralt had actually been teasing Jaskier about his crush.

The blushes had all been for him.

That had been three seasons ago and now they were living together in their studio flat in London. It was a luxury that Dandelion had never expected when he started writing as a child and later on as a teen starting to write, some honestly questionable, fan fiction… and now here he was, a showrunner and lead writer on his very own TV show with his cute actor boyfriend.

It was beyond his wildest dreams.

“Lion?” Jaskier’s hand brushed against his forehead, sweeping the hair from his face. “Are you even listening to me?”

Dandelion grinned sheepishly and repeated back a random part of the story, but by Jaskier’s pout he knew he’d gotten it wrong. “I’m sorry, darling, I was just so lost in thought about your beauty and your voice is so ethereal, so radiant, so….”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Flattery will get you everywhere,” Jaskier giggled. “Ooh shall we watch a movie?”

Dandelion rolled over and sat up so he was pressed against Jaskier’s side. Jaskier giggled and wrapped his arm around Dandelion’s shoulder. He was always astounded by how strong the actor was under the puffy costumes he wore on set, with arms almost as muscular as Geralt’s, broad shoulders and thick thighs. God, he was so weak. Dandelion himself was tall, taller than both Geralt and Jaskier, but he was slender like the flower he named himself after.

“The Lion King?” he asked, trying his best to sound pathetic and whiny so that Jaskier would give in. His boyfriend preferred The Little Mermaid, but it was stormy and Dandelion was stressed so really they should get to watch his favourite film.

“Hmm,” Jaskier replied, sounding a little too much like Geralt for Dandelion’s liking. It was a rather annoying habit that Jaskier had picked up having spent so much time on set with his co-star, honestly without Dandelion’s smooth words in his mouth, Jaskier was a bit of a mess.

“Oh come on, Jask, my darling, light of my life and—”

“I’m not pretending to lift you up like Simba.”

Dandelion grinned and launched himself at his boyfriend, knocking them both to the ground. “Pinned ya!” Dandelion giggled, rubbing his nose against Jaskier’s.

Jaskier made a show of rolling his eyes but pulled Dandelion into a kiss. It was nothing they hadn’t done before but it still had his heart racing and the world seemed to spin.

The world really did seem to spin as Jaskier flipped them over, knocking the electric tea lights flying and one of the blankets of the roof caved in around his boyfriend’s shoulders. Dandelion giggled and took advantage of Jaskier’s distraction as he tried to free himself from his blanket cage. Their positions were flipped again and Dandelion pressed a kiss to Jaskier’s forehead.

“Pinned ya, again,” he said, trying to mimic Nala as best he could. He even gave Jaskier his best doe eyes.

His boyfriend pouted up at him, bottom lip quivering, fringe knocked almost completely off his forehead, so Dandelion really couldn’t help pressing another kiss there. It was just so large.

“Stop it,” Jaskier grumbled and swatted him out of the way so he could mess with his fringe.

“Never, sweetheart. I love you.”

“I love you too, dear heart.”

“Do you love me enough to watch The Lion King?” Dandelion teased, brushing a thumb along Jaskier’s cheek. “My gorgeous, beautiful boyfriend.”

“I love you enough to watch nothing but The Lion King for the rest of my life, darling.”

Dandelion’s breath caught in his throat. The rest of life was a long time… that was, well that was a big commitment and… “That almost sounds like a proposal.”

“Ah, umm, well..” Jaskier stammered, his face flushed a deep red, dipping down beneath the zip of his tiger onesie into the thick chest hair that was only just visible.

Dandelion pulled back, sitting on his ankles, still straddling his boyfriend’s waist. “Jaskier…”

“No. No, no, no… it’s not. I wouldn’t….”

“Oh.”

“No! I mean… not like that, umm… I. Well, I had a plan?”

Dandelion felt his eyes go wide as his entire world stopped, narrowing down to just this wonderful idiot beneath him. “A plan?” he squeaked.

Jaskier stammered and stumbled over some nonsensical words until Dandelion leaned down to kiss him, hands cupping Jaskier’s face, brushing along the line of stubble that was starting to grow. His boyfriend melted into the kiss and hummed happily, fingers landing on Dandelion’s thighs.

“I love you, my dear,” Dandelion whispered against Jaskier’s lips, “and I would watch nothing but The Little Mermaid with you for the rest of my life…. if you asked.”

Jaskier scoffed. “You wouldn’t.”

Dandelion cocked his head. “Metaphorically speaking.”

“Oh… Oh… Oh shit, fucking cock. Wait here!” Jaskier all but shoved him off of him, and Dandelion went flying into the remaining cushions and blankets, knocking their pillow fort to ruins.

Dandelion was left, stunned, in the middle of the living room. He shielded his eyes from the sudden bright lights, having adjusted to the dark of the pillow fort. The room suddenly felt very dark and very empty. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, twirling the ends between his fingers. “What the fuck just happened?”

Jaskier was clattering about in their bedroom, a familiar stream of curses followed his boyfriend. It was usually endearing but there was an anxiety in Dandelion’s chest that seemed to weigh him down, taking away the colour that usually filled his life. He groaned and buried his face in his hands.

He’d ruined everything. Jaskier was packing his suitcase. He was probably already calling a cab, maybe booking a room at a hotel.

A loud clash of thunder made the building shake and Dandelion squeaked, throwing a blanket over his head. “Fucking, bloody storms, fuck!”

A hand on his shoulder startled him. He felt Jaskier’s legs wrapped around him and suddenly there was a second person under the blanket. Blue eyes lit up in the glow from Jaskier’s phone torch.

“Hey?”

Dandelion swallowed. “Sorry.”

“I just had to find something, I couldn’t do this without it.”

Dandelion chewed at his lips and pressed his forehead to Jaskier’s, breathing in the honied chamomile scent of his shampoo. He’d been overdramatic again. He should have known, but sometimes it wasn’t always easy.

“Dandelion, I. Umm… well I never learnt the speech I had prepared, but… will you watch only The Lion King with me for the rest of my life?” Jaskier whispered, his voice cracking at the end, and Dandelion felt a tear trickle down his cheek, only then realising that he was crying.

Even in the dark under the blanket Dandelion could see the open ring box in Jaskier’s hands. He wasn’t kneeling on one knee, legs still around Dandelion’s back as they sat opposite each other in the ruins of their blanket fort.

“Only if I can watch The Little Mermaid with you?”

“Metaphorically speaking?”

Dandelion laughed, a sobbing mess of a laugh, and he pulled Jaskier into a kiss, wrapping his arms around Jaskier’s neck. “Yes, you stupid idiotic fool. Bloody hell.. Yes.”

“God, I love you,” Jaskier whined and crashed their lips together once more.

[liss-99]

saphne + wildest dreams ❤️❤️❤️❤️

aha, the saphne sex song ;) I can’t believe it took this long for someone to request this! I hope you enjoy it <3

“Let’s get out of this town, drive out of the city, away from the crowds,” he said, his breath bated with anticipation. His lips were in her neck, close to her ear, whispering taunts of desire. 

Daphne tried to steady her breath as Simon’s hands roamed all over her body, the early morning light seeping into the room. She thought to herself that not even heaven could help her now; nothing lasted forever, but this was going to take her down. 

Simon was so tall and handsome as hell. He was bad, but he did it so well. Feeling his touch on her smooth skin, Daphne could see the end as it began. 

They were starring in an up-and-coming TV show, the romantic leads in a regency set romantic drama. On-screen, they played enemies, but in real life, they were lovers. As far as they knew, no one else on the cast or crew knew about them. Simon was a playboy, never admitting to who he was dating, evading the press but keeping them intrigued like all the bad boys did. He was known for illicit affairs with his co-stars, only to leave them when the project was over. Daphne knew she was just another in a string of bedpost notches. 

As they laid there drinking each other in, Daphne thought about her response to his request. She would let him take her away for the weekend, to his cottage in the north she suspected, where they’d be away from prying eyes and gossips, but only on one condition. 

Softly, she turned to face him, placing a chaste, teasing kiss on his lips. 

“Say you’ll remember me standing in a nice dress, staring at the sunset, babe.”

He looked at her incredulously but raised his eyebrows at her to continue. 

“Picture my red lips and rosy cheeks, say you’ll see me again, even if it’s just in your wildest dreams,” she said huskily. 

“Daphne, I could never forget you,” he growled into her mouth. 

They went on like this, meeting in secret, whispering sweet nothings to each other. Weekends hidden away, romps in their trailers between scenes, whenever and wherever. 

“No one has to know what we do,” she whispered to him one night. His hands were in her hair and his clothes scattered around her room. His voice was a familiar sound to her now, his moans and gasps, his whispers and breaths. 

She knew nothing lasts forever, but this was getting good now. She would not dare call it love, but to her, it was not just sex. 

Their last day of shooting came quickly, and in their final scene together, their characters, once sworn enemies, now confessing their love. She knew Simon was leaving that night for his new project, and that his character wouldn’t be coming back for Season 2. Before what was about to be their very last kiss, Daphne made one final request to him, repeating the words she’d said when they first slept together. 

“Say you’ll remember me standing in a nice dress staring at the sunset, babe. Red lips and rosy cheeks, say you’ll see me again even if it’s just in your wildest dreams,” she whispered to him before the take. The serious look in his eyes gave her his answer. 

When she saw his car take him away that night, after they’d wrapped and said their public goodbyes, she knew he would not forget her. He’d see her, in hindsight, tangled up with him all night, burning it down. Someday, this day, the day he left her, their memories would follow him around. 

Watching the car drive off, standing there in a nice dress staring off into the sunset, her lips red and cheeks rosy, Daphne knew Simon would see her again, even if it was just pretend. 

Taylor Swift Bridgerton One-Shots

[fmdtaeyong]

like a rockstar : taeyong marketing breakdown

a headcanon & playlist on how titan’s taeyong is marketed as a product and brand.

headcanon

word count: 491 words, not counting the tvtropes quote.

a successful celebrity can’t exist without marketing. some celebrities are all marketing. ash, for one, wouldn’t be where he is today without bc entertainment’s well-oiled marketing machine painting him in a desirable light and smoothing out his rough edges into something shiny.

the image the name taeyong provokes now isn’t quite the one it would have provoked a few years ago. the role of maknae burdened ash’s image for years. a sense of brightness is expected of any idol, but the youngest of a group is expected to show it, even in a group like titan that has never been about bright concepts. whether that means being babied by the older members or having a certain underlying innocence to him.

when he went solo was when his image gravitated further away from being dictated by his place within a group. as he earned recognition for his own name (or rather, his own stage name) and got attention from a new crowd, he was able to pave a path that painted with the brush of an artist, a little less bound by preconceived notions about his role in titan. when the scandals stamped to his name went from fumbling over formalities and dating a well-loved actress to controversies less easily painted as endearing that came at the same time he began to present himself differently visually, bc had to bank on the leeway of an artist tinge to his image saving him.

ash has never been marketed as an ideal boyfriend. titan has that covered in the group already and an outed relationship before he’d begun to make a name for himself individually prevented that from being a rational path. some fans still fall into the trap of babying him, but overall, taeyong is now known as the more serious and reserved type. satisfactory fanservice is a non-starter, so they make their own fantasies out of his mystery and “edginess” and a brooding stage persona. bc has done damage control where they’ve had to and let his music and fan projections paint the rest.

out of all of the classic boy band member tropes, ash would solidly be considered a purveyor of the bad boy / rebel trope within titan and out of it for that matter. to quote tvtropes:

“the one with a rougher edge to him. he's the one wearing the black shirt and jeans or leather jacket in those videos where they're not all wearing matching clothes. if he's really edgy, he may also have a tattoo. put in to cater to those girls who want bad boys.”

 bc read the first two paragraphs of the tv tropes page for all girls want bad boys and said ‘yeah, this should work’. the bad boy / rebel angle tends to get played up within fandom a lot more than among more casual listeners to his music, who get a heavier dose of the ~artist~ part of his image since that’s meant to appeal to them more anyway.

ash has very purposefully been trying to lean more into the artist aspect of his image lately because he isn’t a fan of being painted as some kind of bad boy fantasy when he doesn’t consider that an accurate representation of him at all.

playlist

this playlist gives a semi-chronological cataloging of the image associated with taeyong since around 2016/2017. some parts of his image have remained consistent, while others have changed either by purposeful marketing, unavoidable consequences of media discussion around him, or simply altered fan narratives for him. some parts of this are less about how he’s marketed and more about very one-dimensional fan narratives crafted around him, but overall it gives an idea of the feeling associated with him as a product and brand. (some of these songs were used in image playlists on ash’s previous blog, but i made sure at least seven of these are new. i wanted to include ones i’d used before as well for a comprehensive look on his new blog since some aspects of his image have changed.)

this honestly also doubles as a list of the songs you’d find the most results for if you looked up taeyong fan edits.

i. death of a bachelor | i’m cutting my mind off, feels like my heart is going to burst / alone at a table for two, and i just wanna be served / and when you think of me, am i the best you've ever had?

ii. daydreamer | a jaw dropper / looks good when he walks / is the subject of their talk / he would be hard to chase / but good to catch / and he could change the world / with his hands behind his back, oh

iii. wildest dreams | he's so tall and handsome as hell / he's so bad, but he does it so well / i can see the end as it begins

iv. style | cause you got that james dean daydream look in your eye / and i got that red lip classic thing that you like / and when we go crashing down, we come back every time / cause we never go out of style, we never go out of style / you got that long hair, slicked back, white t-shirt / and i got that good girl faith and a tight little skirt

v. crazy beautiful | and he picks you up / and he sets you down / and that's the way / he thinks and he walks and he plays around downtown / but the truth is, he's still got a scar / as plain as others / to get his way to a scarlet heart

vi. ready for it...? | knew he was a killer first time that I saw him / wondered how many girls he had loved and left haunted / [...] / some boys are tryin' too hard, he don't try at all though / younger than my exes, but he act like such a man, so

vii. radio | now my life is sweet like cinnamon / like a fuckin' dream i'm livin' in / baby, love me 'cause i'm playing on the radio / how do you like me now?

viii. like i would | he, won't touch you like i do / he, won't love you like i would / he don't know your body / he don't do you right / he won't love you like i would / love you like i would, like i would

ix. i wanna be yours | secrets i have held in my heart / are harder to hide than i thought / maybe i just wanna be yours / i wanna be yours

x. strange love | they think i'm insane, they think my lover is strange / but i don't have to fucking tell them anything, anything / and i'm gonna write it all down, and i'm gonna sing it on stage / but i don't have to fucking tell you anything, anything

xi. my oh my | yeah, a little bit older, a black leather jacket / a bad reputation, insatiable habits / he was onto me, one look and i couldn't breathe, yeah / i said, if he kissed me, i might let it happen

xii. bad reputation | i don't give a damn 'bout my reputation / never been afraid of any deviation / and i don't really care if you think i'm strange / i ain't gonna change

xiii. starboy | i'm tryna put you in the worst mood, ah / p1 cleaner than your church shoes, ah / milli point two just to hurt you, ah / all red lamb' just to tease you, ah / none of these toys on lease too, ah / made your whole year in a week too, yah / main bitch out of your league too, ah / side bitch out of your league too, ah / [...] / look what you’ve done / i’m a motherfuckin' starboy

xiv. into it | i'm just fucking lucky i was born with it / a hundred million people couldn't deal with this

xv. like a rockstar | put me in designer then put me in the dirt / keep my legacy alive like a rockstar / lifestyle, on the edge, can be unforgiving / see i worship the dead, they worship the living, yeah