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vindieselsfacebook-blog · 4 months

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Meaning/references behind every Gilmore Girls episode title - Season 3, Part 1

Hi friends! It's been a minute since my last installment in this little series I've been working on. I'm trying to make a definitive, clear, concise list of the meanings and references behind each episode title. I'm going season-by-season and filling in references when I catch them.

Some titles are quite obvious and literal, but many are clever references that emphasize themes and symbolism happening in the plot or character relationships. I like trying to figure them all out and wanted to share in case I have some wrong or people have caught references I've missed or didn't know writers may have spoken about, etc. ASP has such a deep well of pop culture knowledge, I enjoy mining it.

Masterlist: Season 1 Season 2, Part 1 Season 2, Part 2 Season 3, Part 1 Season 3, Part 2

My notes: - As always, please correct anything I've gotten wrong and share your own insight! - Many of these notes are pulled from and/or learned via annotatedgilmoregirls.com - an absolute icon! I claim no author originality. I'm just the one to compile/edit them. :) - Season 3 marks the first season that pulls literal quotes from episodes for some of the titles. That was never done in S1-2 at all and 5 times in S3!

Season 3, Part 1

Those Lazy, Hazy Crazy Days Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer is a popular song composed by Hans Carste. It was originally written as "Du spielst 'ne tolle Rolle", with German lyrics by Hans Bradtke, and was first recorded under that title in 1962 by Willy Hagara. In 1963, it was recorded by Nat King Cole, with English lyrics written by Charles Tobias on a theme of nostalgia. The song serves as inspiration for and the soundtrack to Taylor’s First Annual Stars Hollow End of Summer Madness Festival. In keeping with the theme of madness, a barbershop quartet sings this song on a sanity-eroding permanent loop at the festival. It is performed by Mick Foster and Tony Allen in the show.

Haunted Leg Lorelai catches a cold and wishes for a more exotic illness. “I mean, I’d like to have a good illness, something different, impressive. Just once I’d like to be able to say, ‘Yeah, I’m not feeling so good, my leg is haunted.’”

Application Anxiety Rory has some reality checks and fears about her college application process as she finally receives her Harvard application. Lorelai uses the phrase when telling Rory about the Harvard alumni visit.

This One's Got Class and the Other One Dyes The title is a reference to a line from a campy classic film trailer for On Her Majesty's Secret Service (a 1969 spy film and the sixth in the James Bond series), introducing Bond’s love interest (Teresa "Tracy" Bond, born Teresa "Tracy" Draco, and also known as the Contessa Teresa di Vicenzo) with the line “Diana Rigg as the Contessa - the different kind of Bond woman. This one’s got class and style.” Tracy is the girl Bond falls in love with and marries (technically he first marries in You Only Live Twice, but as an undercover ploy). She’s the first Bond girl to really show bravery, intelligence, and talent in her own right. She’s also the first to rescue Bond himself. “This one’s got class” has taken on a life of its own as a colloquialism to describe a version of something that’s the best of its kind - a high rating based on grade, quality and perceived worth. Although the title of this episode is ostensibly about the two different plots – Lorelai has to give a talk to a “class” while Lane “dyes” her hair – knowing this context, we know it mostly alludes to Rory seeing herself as the girl with “class”, while in comparison Shane is the one who dyes her hair platinum blonde and engages in PDA, meaning that she isn’t as “classy”. Quite possibly the most literal “not like the other girls” allusion in the show.

Eight O'Clock at the Oasis Midnight at the Oasis is a song written by David Nichtern. It was recorded in 1973 by American folk and blues singer Maria Muldaur for her self-titled album and is her best-known recording. The song is about an offer of a love affair in a fantasy desert location, and is considered to be one of the most sensual songs of the 1970s. It’s the song that plays as an alarm when Rory looks at the clock (reading eight o’clock) at Dwight’s house, which of course he nicknames “The Oasis”.

Take the Deviled Eggs... Sherry pressures Lorelai and Rory to take leftover deviled eggs home after her baby shower. Lorelai rants on the way home: “’Take the deviled eggs!’ How many times did the woman say it? And then her drunken friends hear it and they’re all shouting, ‘Take the deviled eggs!’” Could possibly be referencing other turns of phrase involving taking a kind of food item. “Take the biscuit” is a British idiom meaning to be especially annoying or surprising or to be the worst or best of its kind. Similarly, to “take the cake” means to have ranked first, typically used to describe something that is very surprising, foolish, remarkable, or annoying. Both of these would describe Sherry’s baby shower. Perhaps even “take the mickey” or “take the piss”, British euphemisms for making fun of someone. “Mickey” is slang for “micturate” which means to urinate. Of course, the girls do in fact take the deviled eggs and end up throwing them at Jess’s car.

They Shoot Gilmores, Don't They? The title is a reference to the 1969 psychological drama film, They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?, directed by Sydney Pollack and based on the 1935 novel of the same name by Horace McCoy. Set during The Great Depression, the film focuses on a group of people desperate to win a dance marathon where they are ruthlessly exploited, and stars Jane Fonda, Michael Sarrazin, and Susannah York. The title comes from the fact that race horses are often shot once they break their legs to put them out of their misery. The film was a commercial success, and is regarded as one of the best films of its era. As in the film, this episode is about a dance marathon - although it isn’t nearly as dramatic as the one in the film.

Let the Games Begin The ancient Olympic Games were first opened in 776 BC with the announcement: “Let the games begin!” In this episode, the “game” that’s beginning refers to both Jess and Rory’s new relationship and Rory starting to consider Yale over Harvard. Lorelai says the phrase before Richard and Emily pick them up to visit Yale.

Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving Lorelai and Rory endeavor to attend four different Thanksgiving meals in one day, including Sookie’s which ends up being a deep fried fest thanks to Jackson’s family and the Kims’ which of course has some Korean flair.

That'll Do, Pig During Trix’s visit to the Independence Inn, Emily begins to eat her food very slowly, resenting how quickly Trix wants to rush them along according to her schedule. Lorelai quips: “That’ll do, pig. That’ll do.” which is a quote from Babe, a 1995 comedy-drama film directed by Chris Noonan, produced by George Miller, and written by both, based on the 1983 novel The Sheep-Pig, by Dick King-Smith. In the film, a grateful misty-eyed Farmer Hoggett says this line to the pig Babe after he has, against all odds, won a sheepdog trial, despite not being a dog. One of the most understated last lines in film history, it’s a dignified, restrained way for Lorelai to say Emily is doing very well provoking Trix.

I Solemnly Swear Lorelai is asked to give a deposition in support of Emily’s case against Gerta, her unfairly dismissed German maid. This is where the title presumably comes from, because “I solemnly swear” is how an oath to tell the truth taken in legal contexts begins. Meanwhile, Rory (the current student council vice president) deals with political drama at school between student council president Paris and senior class president Francie. A president’s oath of office also begins with “I solemnly swear.”

#gilmore girls #my gg brainworms #lorelai gilmore #rory gilmore #gilmore girls season 3 #jess mariano #gg episode titles explained

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earlymodernbarbie · 2 years

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What Taylor Swift song would you assign your favorite Tudor ladies?

Ooo yay! I love this question! Ngl I’ve been assigning Taylor songs to Tudor women since I was in middle school, so I’ve had a lot of time to think about this lol.

Catherine of Aragon: middle school me would say Last Kiss (“all that I know is I don’t know how to something you miss”), high school me would say All Too Well (“so casually cruel in the name of being honest”)and adult me would say happiness (“there will be happiness after me, but there was happiness because of me” or “after giving you the best I had, tell me what to give after that?”, my tears ricochet (“ I didn’t have it in myself to go with grace” and “I can go anywhere I want, any where I want, just not home”), hoax (“your faithless loves the only hoax I believe in, don’t want no other shade of blue but you, no other sadness in the world would do”) and tolerate it (“I gave you me temple, my mural, my sky, now I’m begging for footnotes in the story of your life”)

Anne Boleyn: high school me was adamant that Anne’s song was I Knew You Were Trouble. I still agree with that (“and the saddest fear comes creeping in, that you never loved me, or her, or anyone, or anything”????- Anne line for sure) I would also add my tears ricochet to the list (“you had to kill me, but it killed you just the same” crazy on point) I really like Haunted (“you and I walk a fragile line, I have known it all this time, but I never thought I’d live to see it break” also “it’s getting dark and it’s all too quiet and I can’t trust anything now and it’s coming over you likes it’s a all a big mistake”- literally describes the anxiety and fear Anne felt in the last few months of her life) for her as well.

Jane Seymour: Jane is hard because so much of her life in unknown, but I would say Eyes Open (“everybody’s waiting for you to break down, everybody’s watching to see the fall out, even when you’re sleeping, keep your eyes open”) the anxiety she must have felt being married to Henry VIII, especially after he threatened her must have been enormous. I couldn’t imagine it. She had to keep her vigilance up because she would not be safe until she had a son (which she did, but we all know what happens next) Also maybe The Archer? It’s another song about anxiety and the line “I wake in the night, I pace like a ghost, the room is on fire, invisible smoke and all of my heroes die all alone, help me hold on to you” makes me think of her worrying about having a son/ getting the plague/ not pleasing Henry etc.

Anne of Cleves: once again- really hard, not because of her life being unknown, but because her situation was abnormal. She conceded to an annulment, but she didn’t want one. She wanted to be Queen of England and was quite disappointed when Henry chose Catherine Parr over her. Maybe This Love? The other song I’m thinking of is called Long Time Coming and it’s unreleased (“and it was a long time coming, waited half my life just find someone like you, spent a long time finding out love hangs around after you walk out, not knowing it would be a long time going” and “I burned my bridges, had sleepless nights, washed my sins under neon lights and I’m still not over you”) I think The Archer might work for her as well (“help me hold on to you”- Anne wanting to be queen, but watching Henry pull away within weeks). Also not a Taylor song, but I used to doodle her with lyrics from Forget by Marina and the Diamonds. Specifically “I’ve been dancing with the devil, I love that he pretends to care.”

Kathryn Howard: Dear John. No competition. This song could work with any of the men in her life (“dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone, don’t you think I was too young to be messed with? The girl in the dress cried the whole way home”- brutal) She was a baby and Henry, Manox, Culpeper, and Dereham were all grown ass men. Also “all the girls that you’ve run dry, have tires lifeless eyes, cause you burned them out” hits hard thinking about Henry’s first four wives.

Katherine Parr: once again I’m going to bring up The Archer because it’s so perfect for everything. She was the last wife, but she had no way of knowing that. After everything with Stephen Gardiner, I’m sure she lived in fear of Henry turning on her. I would also say Cold As You in relation to how she felt after Henry died (“now that I’m sitting here thinking it through, I’ve never been anywhere cold as you” and “every smile you fake is so condescending counting all the scars you’ve made”) chills.

Mary I: Mad Woman is one that I think of immediately (“now I breathe flames each time I talk, my canons all firing at your yacht, they say move on, but you know I won’t”) it reminds me of how angry she was with her father and Anne Boleyn (Anne being the woman who likes hunting witches in Mary’s mind) Also thinking about “there’s nothing like a mad woman, what a shame she went mad, no one likes a mad woman, you made her like that” as something thought towards Henry when she became queen and the burnings began. Like a “you made me this” kind of thing. I also think Tied Together with a Smile is perfect for teenage/ adult Mary (“ hold on baby you’re losing it, the waters high, you’re jumping into it, letting go and no one knows, that you cry, but you don’t tell anyone, that you might not be the golden one, and you’re tied together with a smile, but you’re coming undone”)

Elizabeth I: I’m going to break down her life and assign different songs for different events because her life was very long and very eventful. So for teenage Elizabeth I could see Dear John as relating to the Seymour incident because she was a child (“all the girls that you’ve run dry have tired lifeless eyes, cause you burned them out, but I took your matches before fire could catch me so don’t look now, I’m shining like fireworks over your sad empty town” also “you are an expert at sorry and keeping lines blurry” and of course “I see it all now that you’re gone, don’t you think I was too young to be messed with? The girl in the dress cried the whole way home”) for life during Edward and Mary’s reigns I could see her with Eyes Open (“even when you’re sleeping-sleeping keep your eyes open”) People watching her to see if she’ll mess up so they could get rid of her. When she first becomes queen I can see Long Live “long live the walls we crashed through, how the kingdom lights shined just for me and you, and long long live that look on your face and bring on all the pretenders one day, we will be remembered”) Towards the end of her life I can see Mad Woman as well. Elizabeth was queen, but she was still a woman and like most women, she began to lose the respect of her court as she aged. Also Nothing New for Elizabeth’s fear of aging (“will you still want me when I’m nothing new?”) and then Long Live again after her death when the Gloriana mythos really began to ramp up. As for her relationship with Dudley I would say Ours is a good song (“and it’s not theirs to speculate if it wrong and your hands are tough, but they are where mine belong in, I’ll fight their doubt and give you faith”) the “them” in question is William Cecil because he did not like Robert and Elizabeth together lol.

Ok so that was a lot longer than I thought it would be. I have a habit of over explaining so I’m sorry for that, but the Tudors and Taylor Swift are my passions so I tend to go off the deep end lol.

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peaky-shelby · 1 year

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BUCKLE UP I HAVE A LOT TO SAY LOL.

I can’t even begin to describe to you how much I loved these parts. The changes between the two of them has been a rollercoaster. Not gunna lie I felt my heart break in the beginning of the chapter at the pool. I completely understand where she’s coming from trying to stop whatever it was between them because she is his coach at the end of the day. I appreciated how he respected her at this point because it’s heartbreaking for the both of them, but I feel like he finally understood her “it was the first time he noticed the sign of fear in her eyes, a woman fearless in most things was standing scared in front of him.” OH MY GOD OUCH?! Hakimi seeing everything and being such a bystander in their story is simultaneously hilarious and painful for him. I’m so proud of Kylian for defending her when she’s not around too. Like it shows how much he respects her and is loving her from a distance. WHICH HE DOES EVEN MORE WHEN HE CALLS THE MEDIC FOR HER. Like props to bestie Neymar seeing that something was wrong, but Kylian doing something about it has my knees weak. It’s the definition of love shown through actions, not words and I feel like that encompasses him so much throughout this chapter. The dinner with them plus Hakimi is one of my favorite things you’ve written. It’s so funny and I feel so bad for Hakimi 😂 it 100% feels like “I’m being forced to go out to dinner with my parents who are bickering the whole time, someone please help me but also thank god these two idiots are not killing each other. God help them they’re so in love with each other but in so much denial” lmao. When I tell you….the game…THE FUCKING GAME BRO. HAD ME SCREAMING LIKE I WAS WATCHING IT LIVE AND TAYLOR WAS RIGHT THERE. Heart officially warmed with them winning and the celebrations. They’re all so happy finally I’ve wanted nothing more for them. The moment Taylor hugged Kylian I knew their walls finally broke with each other. It felt like a sigh of relief that they accepted whatever feelings they had. I just know how much Taylor saying “proud of you” meant to him. As a former athlete myself, I fully admit there is nothing more satisfying and fulfilling than seeing your loved one in a jersey with your name on it and I know Kylian was dying inside when she asked for his jersey. There’s something so intimate of having your name on someones back and I know he was jumping up and down like a teenage girl in his mind over it. I know I’ve said it before, but the way you write the tension between Taylor and Kylian has be weak in the knees. They’re so intimate with their touches and you can just feel the longing between them.

“I think if you asked me to, I would.”

“do you want me to be a good kid?” he smiled.

“yes.” She answered quickly. He moved his face away from hers and placed his lips on the top of her head, speaking on her hair.

“Do you really?” he asked.

She closed her eyes. Falling backwards on him “no.”

He spun her around again; her eyes were still closed. His thumb grazed over her eyelids before his hand cupped her whole face from the back of her neck “then will you stay?”

When I tell you I fucking melted oh my god they're so perfect. Again, the acceptance into each other has just made me so fucking happy. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted for these two. AND THEN 9.1?! OOOOOHHHH GIRL THE SOFTNESS IS BEAUTIFUL. I love their love. And fucking Ann…I don’t have a good feeling at all about her. Her talking to Verratti is giving me anxiety, especially because he’s just coming around to Taylor. Ann is going to fuck it all up somehow and I don’t want to see that at all.

WOW girl I could keep going but I’ve already written a novel about your writing. Just thank you for such a great story. I can’t wait to see what you’ve got coming down the line. ily and i hope you know how much you are appreciated for the work you put into these chapters.

me when i opened my ask box and saw how long this is

Me after reading it:

I don't think you guys understand what it means when you put so much time into reading and writing about my story. I never had such a great response for any of my works before and every time I see Messages like that i start crying like a baby and rereading it like 10 times because my heart ALWAYS melts with appreciation.

I don't know how I can repay you for this or what i can do to make you understand what this means to me. Honestly, I'm in awe and complete shock that you think my silly writings are worth your time, let alone the effort to write this message.

I ADORE you.

Love you to the moon and back.

#newromanticsfic

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traumatisedswiftie · 2 years

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Midnights

Lavender Haze

Oh my god! I love the beat of this song! it seems like its going to be popular for mash-ups. There are some pretty deep lyrics, which I had seen from reviews, but in this they seemed like small snippets of a cry for privacy -- about the line about wife and 1950s, which I’m assuming is in response to the constant engagement rumours

Maroon

Okay, both Maroon and Lavender Haze had amazing beats and I’m obsessed. They're both so powerful. Seriously, we waited a number of years for Taylor to swear, and now we've got the F-word twice in the bridge! Growth!

Anti-Hero

Okay, so I watched the music video before I listened to the album, and I only actually watched it, taking some notice of the lyrics, but only now focussing on them. I had read that Anti-Hero was Taylor’s most critical song, and yeah, I see that, but it also seems like a cry for help. This album really fits with my late night depression and self-critism. Taylor, you may have written the best song for my depression.

Snow On The Beach (feat. Lana Del Ray)

Okay, so I’ve never actually heard Lana’s music, so I wasn't expecting this song to be anything. Oh my god, the casually cursing is so soft that I now hate that I don’t swear. This song is so soft and I just want to dance to it.

You’re On Your Own, Kid

Seriously loving the beats on this album. I actually don’t know what to say about this song, its just sooooo good. I love it. Ive been lonely as hell the past few months so

Midnight Rain

I absolutely love the production on this song. I don’t even know what to write, I’m just vibing.

Question...?

Okay, the opening verse is kinda similar to the Keep Driving (which is one of my favourite Harry Styles songs). Seriously, the casual swearing is so elegant. This chorus is kinda making me sad -- I’m sad okay, my love-life is tragic, and I wish I could relate.

Vigilante Sh*t

She did not hold back on this song! I can imagine this will be amazing performed live -- like a slower version of I Did Something Bad? I saw someone say this is like no body, no crime 2.0 and that is seriously accurate, except not killing the guy. This seriously sounds perfect for a Bond song.

Bejeweled

So we cheered up quite quickly! Again, loving these beats! Another one I imagine will be amazing on tour. I love the vibes of this song. Quite frankly, this song seems like the most cheerful on the album so far.

Labyrinth

This song is so comforting, it feels like the aftermath of Anti-Hero of trying to say its okay and it gets better, you just have to try. I love this song so much. I literally had a shiver along my spine at the first ‘I'm falling in love again’. I love it so much.

It’s 23:41 okay, I haven’t got that many words so I might just be saying ‘I love it’ but I currently only comprehend how amazing these songs are and I can't explain why, just that they are!

Karma

Okay, I was looking forward to Karma and its instantly exceeded my expectations!! The cat line 😂. The vibes!!!

Sweet Nothing

Not gonna lie, I was really looking forward to this song purely because we know it was Taylor and ‘William Bowery’ and they have a pretty good track record of song writing together 😂. It’s so soft and beautiful! They wrote a song that wasn't a sad breakup song that I’m still gonna cry to. I really wish I could relate to this

Mastermind

This is like the opposite of Anti-Hero 😂. Okay, no, we got to the sad bridge. But seriously, it's so upbeat and vibey! I love it!

The Great War

I don't even know what to write about this song, I’m just vibing, but the lyrics are pretty sad. It seems like a sequel to Dancing With Our Hands Tied, except less anxious and fearful, just reminiscing about the anxiety.

Bigger Than The Whole Sky

This song is sad. I was expecting it to be cheery and ‘I love you more than the whole sky’ but its sad in the ‘I loved you more than the whole sky’. Okay, but I’m guessing this leads into Could’ve Should’ve Would’ve, because it is repeated so beautifully over nd over towards the end...

Paris

Oh my god! I was not expecting the start of this song at all! This is a chaotic story but incredible vibes!!! Oh my god this song is amazing!

High Infidelity

Okay this whole album has amazing vibes and sad stories or sad vibes and happy lyrics. Im gonna make a guess and say that April 29th is gonna become another Swiftie day (added to the calendar alongside July 9).

Glitch

I DID NOT NEED CALLING OUT ON THE FIRST LINE! Okay, but the vibes are incredible and I wanna dance along on tour.

Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve

Okay, this is not what I was expecting after the teaser in Bigger Than The Sky...but it’s so much better! I’m so tired I seriously can't write anything other than saying I love this song so much.

It’s 00:13! I am seriously tired and my opinions are now seriously repeated.

Dear Reader

I love this opening! This song seems like it’s advice to a stranger, like a note in a library book, as if giving advice to a younger sibling or cousin...or in the form of a song to millions of people.

Back to Lavender Haze

Okay, I seriously love this album. Every song is incredible and there is not a single skip. I will write more later, but I am tired and I need sleep before I head into London tomorrow - because why not?

Anyway, goodnight,

Bex

💚💛💜❤️💙🖤💖🤍🤎💜

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zazzander · 1 year

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Alternative Reading of High Infidelity

I've seen people guessing that High Infidelity by Taylor Swift is about her own cheating, however, I disagree with this take.

I believe this song is written from the male perspective, as Taylor has done in the past. Many have speculated that Taylor used the male POV to cover up the queer-er themes of her previous albums.

Now Midnights has arguably turned the closet into glass, by many accounts with Question...?, Maroon, and other songs. But I'm not here to say whether or not Taylor Swift is queer or not. What I do know is that she is an ally and that she explores queer themes in her songs.

Another running theme with this album is the speaker's anxieties regarding marriage.

In Lavender Haze, "No deal, the 1950s shit they want from me" and "all they keep asking me is if I'm gonna be your bride | The only kinda girl they see is a one night or a wife".

In Midnight Rain, "He wanted a bride, I was making my own name"

And in the Bejewelled music video, the character Taylor plays rejects a marriage proposal from the prince.

I think these two ideas: queerness and marriage combine in this song. In this song, the speaker (the "husband") is gay but he got married to keep himself in the closet. To hide. He believed this was a good idea at the time, but now he's cheating on his wife with a man and she has found it. His marriage is falling apart and he's being forced out of the closet in the process.

In the song we get these lyrics:

Storm coming Good husband Bad omen Dragged my feet right down the aisle

It's possible that the speaker is the "wife" of this relationship. However, the songs themes are far more solid if the person who hesitated at the wedding was the "good husband".

He was the bad omen.

He was the storm coming.

He dragged his feet down the aisle. In his heart, he knew this marriage would end in disaster. It would hurt them all. But he believed he had to go through with it regardless.

The song continues:

At the house lonely Good money I'd pay if you'd just know me Seemed like the right thing at the time

The speaker thought that getting marriage would be the "right thing". In conservative Christian circles, being gay is considered immoral - the "wrong thing".

I'd pay if you'd just know me. What truth does the speaker hide? Why would they pay if it was revealed? Cheating could lead to the marriage ending - yes - but if that cheating was done because he was gay? In a conservative society? It would be more than just money at stake.

Do I really have to chart the constellations in his eyes? [...] Do I really have to tell you how he brought me back to life?

The speaker says "he" brought them back to life, why? how? We know from this song that the speaker loves their partner - so why does an outsider in the marriage bring them back to life?

With a queer reading, this line is stronger. Being stuck in a comphet marriage has left the "good husband" feeling trapped, dead inside. But allowing himself to be himself? That brought him back from the brink.

You know there's many different ways that you can kill the one you love The slowest way is never loving them enough

In this song, the speaker does love their wife. He married her for a reason. However, he doesn't love her in the way she wants him to - society wants him to. That's why this line hits so hard. Because he feels like he's not enough.

This song draws on the two themes of queerness and marriage in the Midnights album. It's more than just about cheating.

(PS: this song's title also seems to be referring to High Fidelity, the movie, which has a male main character. Of course, in this version, he is not loyal, he doesn't learn how to make her happy. Because he can't. There is not happy ending.)

#gaylor swift #high infidelity #taylor swift theories #midnights analysis

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taylorswiftstylequestions · 1 year

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I think there is a balance between being overly invested and projecting out opinions of what Taylor should be doing and simply caring about her! She’s shared her hopes and dreams with us in the past and they include being married with children someday. I get she may have changed her mind. I support her doing what makes her happy. I don’t think it’s a big deal to wonder what that is and express an opinion or talk about it. LH is just a moment passing by in her thoughts. Do you really think (cont)

Do you really think she’s still messed up waiting for the wound to heal from John Mayer just because she has a new song out about that situation?? Nope!! She’s singing about how she felt then, not now. She’s fine now. Over it. Same with LH. The initial rumors and constant pressure and her desire to be in a dreamy place with no interference. She’s fine now. Thanks Joe when getting an award. Being seen with him under her own terms. Some fans take it too far. But most of us are just wondering.

---

Certainly everything is nuanced and certainly everything carries with it a grain of intent. And that's a tough line to balance. And for the most part I would imagine that fans who listen to her music and who care about her have good intentions - because we care! And are naturally curious and nosy! And are invested in her life! And it's likely the invasive speculation re: "Lavender Haze" is not exclusive to fandom and most certainly extends to/is mostly directed at exhausting headlines. But the point is still the point, isn't it?

I also think this is an overextended interpretation of Midnights. Again - nuance is always key. Some things may indeed be passing thoughts. Some things may be isolated moments from the past that are being reflected on from a safer vantage point. Some things may hit deeper or in a more serious and all-consuming way than others. Some things indeed are very present and current that can keep her up at night. Perhaps not every night. But I think we are all, to some degree, haunted by things from our past. They cross our mind. They bring up old feelings of pain or guilt or shame or anxiety. The human emotional experience is never one thing exclusively. Even in a state of depression, something funny can happen to you or a fond memory with a friend can be born. But that one drop of paint doesn't change the overall colour scheme of the time. And just because one is in a stable place, doesn't mean the feelings and memories of our past lives don't still make us feel something.

Like? Yes. I do think "WCS" hits a present chord. That certainly isn't her every day existence. But it's okay to not be able to fully heal from old wounds and to still feel traumatized by your past pain.

#opinion

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9w1ft · 2 years

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i’m listening to The Archer for the first time in awhile and i’m kind of contemplating..

because sometimes i wonder, if we roll things back and let’s say taylor came out in 2019 and karlie and taylor magically also let go of their men, and if they publicly started being together, and for the sake of it lets also say the pandemic didn’t happen. in this timeline, would they have started a family by 2022?

i only wonder this because, i think about everything that is singularly unique about their circumstance, and taylor’s in particular, where she has probably hundreds of blacklisted stalkers and actual criminals that have tried to break in to her properties, i think about how she said she keeps military dressing (bandages) with her at all time in case she is attacked, i think about that part in miss americana where she had to go up against her father and management and i think about how so many republican fans of hers burned her cds and merch after she took a political stance, i think about every weirdo i’ve ever seen in her comments on twitter or instagram etc and all the weirdos i ran into on TSL, like i’m talking dudes that think they are the reincarnation of christ and taylor is their wife given to them by god (yes there was a person who was like this) or dudes that think she is the antichrist, and i think about even without the closeted angle she has an incredible burden of anxiety, and a drive for perfection, and i think about a handful of other things and just how… how, while yes there were children and parents in both the Lover and The Man music videos, i really wonder if, had taylor come out during lover era, if she would have had the magically positive reception needed for her personally to feel safe and secure enough to start a family. like i think it’s entirely possible that whatever resolve she may have had could have changed upon the reality of being a super public and divisive figure again.

…an age old question that people often ask themselves or one another is “if you could go back and do things differently, would you change anything?” and i think, well at least in my experience, this kind of thought experiment vastly *viscerally* changed for me after my first kid was born. i think about all the tiny moments in my life where if x hadn’t happened, i wouldn’t have met or i wouldn’t have married my partner, i might have done different things or ended up with other people. and for a time in my life it was fun to think about the different me’s i could have been. but now, thinking about it as a parent, every one of these split second decisions that led me to here give me the chills. as humans our children are truly handed to us on gossamer threads that can be broken so easily. as for me, my kid is connected to me because i grabbed a flier from a person on the street one time, or because i summed up the nerves to ask for a phone number, for example. one tiny thing and poof, your kids never happen, or different kids happen. perhaps it depends on the person but… these days i would absolutely not change a thing if it meant i would never meet my kids.

so is life. but, i don’t know and… i apologize for the weirdly sentimental or heavy pondering but, i don’t know, over the past year i have grown to feel a certain similar sentiment about, *gestures broadly*, all this, and that is only to say that, speaking in broad strokes, i often… sometimes i feel like i am beginning to see silver linings, or, possibilities that there is a kind of fulfillment for them that—while not public facing, not something we get to observe—has no real match in a kind of alternate timeline that is often… often held up as the correct thing or the aspirational thing or the desirable thing or the deserved thing and… yeah. i dunno but, i guess i am just trying to see the gains because some days i feel as if this whole situation is seen for how much more awful it is that it should be had they done xyz. i see taylor or karlie go hard with their stuff and while there are external implications at times i have just sort of seen it as them casting a barrier shell over something that they’ve found that is worth protecting. to them. doesn’t mean it’s fair. doesn’t mean it’s just. doesn’t mean it’s interactively fun. but yeah. i tend to imagine that it means they are a little more at ease for forever what reason, and on a micro level, i can respect that and i can feel compelled to leave a light on, so to speak.

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aollosjustlurking · 7 months

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are you ready for more taylor swift x sander sides lyrical analysis? cause i am! today i offer you:

me connecting "the archer" to virgil.

Combat, I'm ready for combat

I say I don't want that, but what if I do?

So imagine we are in a pre-accepting anxiety setting right now. Virgil spends his time with the others being aggressive and combative, but we know he doesn't want that he just feels he has too.

'Cause cruelty wins in the movies

This reminds me of "putting on a dark persona is the best way to get anyone's guard up." He assumes this is the only way he can help Thomas stay safe.

I've got a hundred thrown-out speeches I almost said to you

Y'know when you are mad at a person, or have any general build up of emotion towards someone, and you imagine conversations where you "win" against them? I can picture him thinking of a time where he maybe gets Thomas to take his side? idk

Easy they come, easy they go

I jump from the train, I ride off alone

We know he felt very alone and isolated during this period of time. But i also think of when he "ducked out" or "jumped from the train."

I never grew up, it's getting so old

His main reason for ducking out was the fact he thought he did more damage than good, but we know the animosity he received played a role. So I see the first part of this, "i never grew up", as him criticizing his own methods and the second part, "it's getting so old", as him referring to the insults from the others.

Help me hold onto you

at this point of the song we are now post acceptance, maybe even fitting in. We know the transition from antagonist to protagonist was a little weird, hence the fitting in episode, so him asking for help to be apart of the group would fit here.

I've been the archer

I've been the prey

At this point in the narrative these lines are referring to how he was the antagonist of the story, the "archer", and how he was also the receiver of constant insults and nicknames, the "prey".

Who could ever leave me, darling?

But who could stay?

It has been proven to Virgil that he is necessary for Thomas, but a level of insecurity with his place in the group is still there.

Dark side, I search for your dark side

But what if I'm alright, right, right, right here?

so jump to when he first told Thomas that we was previously a dark side. This specifically make me think about how he was trying to protect Thomas from the other dark sides because he knew how they work. He's searching for them, trying to keep them from Thomas, but he himself is a "dark side".

And I cut off my nose just to spite my face

Then I hate my reflection for years and years

this again sounds similar to how he was beating himself up about the fact he couldn't help keep remus from thomas.

I wake in the night, I pace like a ghost

The room is on fire, invisible smoke

this is literally just a description of anxiety. (i also personally headcanon that since virgil's room exaggerates one's traits and emotions that it would be a terrible place to have a panic attack)

And all of my heroes die all alone

Help me hold onto you

I've been the archer

I've been the prey

I feel the chorus here could either be seen as retrospection of the first chorus, that is to say it's referencing the same things, or it's referencing how he feels now that the dark sides are showing up. He's been the "archer", his pre acceptance days, and now he's the "prey" to new "antagonists".

Screaming, who could ever leave me, darling?

But who could stay?

(I see right through me, I see right through me)

'Cause they see right through me

They see right through me

They see right through

This is in reference to the other sides, both light and dark. The light sides know his history and hence he might think they see right through his new character. The dark sides can probably really see through him because they knew him for so long. Like when Janus showed up in Virgil's room after the phases episode. He can see through, or rather past the growth.

Can you see right through me?

this in reference to Thomas

They see right through

They see right through me

I see right through me

again this is just dripping in anxiety

All the king's horses, all the king's men

Couldn't put me together again

The light sides are trying to pull him into their group (and they have but don't tell him that he's having his little anxious moment) but he doesn't feel like he'll ever fully fit in.

'Cause all of my enemies started out friends

janus and remus

Help me hold onto you

he just desperately wants to protect thomas.

I've been the archer

I've been the prey

Who could ever leave me, darling?

But who could stay?

(I see right through me, I see right through me)

Who could stay?

You could stay

You

I think he knows that at the end of the day things won't go back to the way they were before he was accepted. Things might get bumpy because of the whole dark sides thing but thomas at least sees his value now.

Combat, I'm ready for combat

he's not at a point now where he's willing to "duck out" again. he's going to stay and do his best to protect thomas and the others

#sander sides #virgil sanders #taylor swift #thomas sanders #ts #sander sides and taylor swift are my favorite things #ts lyrical analisis #lover taylor swift #the archer

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justinsaur · 1 year

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When you ask about who is my favorite singer well my only answer will be Taylor swift and Lana del Rey cause this two are the best when writing songs and best in vocals.

This two pop girlies change my life forever, whenever i listen to them i feel safe and my anxiety sometimes goes away and maybe without them I'm not living my own world today.

I sometimes relate to there songs like "anti hero" by Taylor swift cause sometimes i know that I'm the problem and "born to die" by Lana del Rey cause sometimes life is really unfair and that's why the only thing in my mind is to die but there is one guy who really motivates me to live so I keep on living until now.

For me my favorite album that Taylor swift made is "Speak now" cause there are many stories to tell here from "back to December" were she tells the story of her ex that she was the one who is wrong and now wishing that the comeback and she will love it right. There are also one song that I'm obsessed with it's called "enchanted" cause sometimes I use it to manifest about my crush hehe, cause sometimes there are lines in this music that tells you about he is the only one you love and you really want him to be yours so you tell him that he was enchanted to meet you.

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marveldcmistress · 2 years

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Alternative Healing Pt. 3

A/N: Here it is y’all!! Sorry for the wait, life has happened and I think the events in this chapter can sum it up better than I could. If you would like to be tagged, please let me know, and if I missed anyone in the tags PLEASE let me know, I don’t want to leave anyone out! Also, tags in bold are the people dumblr wouldn’t let me tag.

Warnings: Anxiety, cursing, talks of parenting and child bashing (because sometimes children are assholes) and jealous bitches

About two months goes by after that night. It's now the end of January, and the weather can't seem to make up it's mind. One day it's sunny and warm, highs in the 60's. The next it's cold and dry, bitter winds whipping in from the north. You don't really mind, just glad to be getting out of the house.

You had quit your job at the barbeque restaurant a few days after you had dinner with Sy. Shitty management and asshole customers had made you snap one night, causing you to walk out. It wasn't the best decision, as you didn't have a job to back it up, but you know your worth, and could find better. Unfortunately, you definitely weren't prepared for barely anything being available in the job market of your small town. A week later depression kicked in, and it took everything you had just to take a shower and feed the cats.

You chose to see the silver lining in it though. Being broke meant not being able to afford food, but that would only really be a problem if you had an appetite. But hey, a month of not eating regularly dropped you 15 pounds. Go you! Getting a start on that weight loss goal. A month of unemployment lead you to a cafe three blocks down the road to you though, looking for a server, and a guarenteed $9/hr plus tips. You're up at 5 every morning to be there at 6, but it's a five minute walk away, giving you a chance to get some exercise in, helping drop even more weight, but you're looking and feeling good.

Your manager was amazing too, very understanding and the perfect balance between boss and buddy. Your coworker, Tina, is so much fun. Funny and professional, she's slowly become your work-mom. You've also taken up tutoring her daughter, Charlie, after work a few nights a week. Things are looking up for you now, and you can't feel any better about it.

You haven't seen Sy, though you can hear him downstairs some nights, football games on the tv or classic rock playing on the speaker when he's outside working on his truck parked in the back. Part of you feels guilty for actively avoiding him during your depressive episode, but another part keeps telling you it was none of his business. You hardly knew the man, and you would rather die than let someone as perfect as him know just how fucked up you are. It just doesn't help that he's in your dreams almost every night, his bright blue eyes, scruffy beard, and deep voice leaving you waking up wet every morning.

It's a beautiful Monday morning, not too cold, a sure sign it's gonna be one of those nice, warm days. There's a slow breakfast rush that fades into a slow morning, picking up for lunch around 12:30. You spent most of the morning unloading the supply shipment that was dropped off that morning, before helping with prep work and stocking your area.

Country music plays overhead, because of course, it's Oklahoma. The lunch rush is just starting to wind down, everyone having been served their food and customers hardly walking in the door. You're busy putting together an online order when one of your regulars comes in.

“Hi, Wes!” you holler from behind the counter, still focused on getting utensils and condiments in the bag. After getting boxes labeled and the bag tied up and ready to go, you grab your order pad and a pen before walking around the conter and across the restaurant to the high top table that your customer sits at.

“Hi, Miss Taylor. How are you today?” Wes says. He's clearly in his older years, late fifties to early sixties if you were to guess, but still buff, looking like he works out on a daily. He wears jeans, boots, a black t-shirt, and black leather jacket. He has a deep voice, reminding you of the handsome devil living below you, with a similar southern twang, though a little watered down with an midwest drawl.

“I'm just fine, Mr. Wes. How are you?” you smile, setting down some silverware and flashing him your dimples. He's by far one of your favorite regulars, always so polite, and a great conversationalist.

“I'm doing just fine. My son is going to join me today.” he says with a small wink. The past month he's been trying to set you up with his son, who he describes as bull-headed and rough around the edges, but has a good heart. Each time you tell him you are perfectly fine being by yourself, that you don't need a man, even going so far as to make a joke about “taking on yet another disappointing burden”. And each time he just laughs and says “more men need a woman they love put them in their place, sometimes.”

“Well, I will go get another menu and set of silverware, then. What can I get you to drink while you wait?”

“I'll just have a water today, dear.” he says. You give him a wink.

“You got it. Be right back.”

You turn away, ready to go get his drink when one of the secretaries from the chiropractor's office next door walks in. Fuck, this bitch. Normally you wouldn't bother dealing with her shitty attitude, but you're in a good mood today, having puffed your dab pen when you went out with the cooks for a smoke.

You hear the bells of the other door behind you, and without even looking, you greet the customer while going around the counter to take Brittany's order. You hear Wes talking as you put the order in the system, but don't bother to look at who it's with. You see a shadow moving out of your periphial vision, and as you look up to hand the secretary her money, your heart stops dead in your chest.

“Sy?!” you almost yell. He's smiling, obviously amused at your surprise. Brittany looks up from her wallet and turns around, putting on a clearly fake smile, flipping her hair.

“Logan Syverson. I haven't seen you in a minute. Looking great.” Her voice is so sweet it would make anyone sick, and you have trouble hiding your facial expression. Sy's eyes never leave you, though, and his smile gets bigger at your reaction, before barely glancing at the brunette beside him, then immediately coming back to you.

“Been busy. What are you doing here?” he nods to you when he says the question, making it obvious to whom he's addressing.

“Working. What are YOU doing here?” you ask. You finally give him a good look up and down. He's wearing jeans, work boots, and a black t-shirt. His arms are covered in grease, but his hands and wrists are clean. His beard is just as scruffy as you remember, but it's clear he's shaved and kept it tamed. His hair had grown some, maybe two or three inches, not terribly long but enough it's starting to curl at the ends.

“Having lunch with my dad.” he points his thumb behind him at Wes, and that's when it finally hits you. Putting them side by side, you wonder why you didn't see it sooner. Sy looks like his father in so many ways, but the mannerisms are almost identical.

“I'm sorry, how do you know each other?” Brittany interrupts. You both look to her, and it's clear that Sy and yourself forgot she was even there. She's looking between you both, giving him heart eyes and you dirty looks. Sy glances back at you, before turning to her.

“We're neighbors. She lives above me.” Then turns back to you, giving the indidcation he's done with any conversation she might pull him into. She shoots you with one last glare before walking away and out the door. You just roll your eyes, not willing to waste your energy on her jealousy. You turn your attention back to Sy.

“Why don't you join your dad at the table and I will get your guys' drinks. What do you want?” you ask, reaching for two cups before moving to walk back around the counter to get their drinks.

“I'll just have a water.” he says, grabbing a menu from the stack by the register and walking back to the table while you fill both cups with ice and water. You trying to keep your hands from shaking as you walk over to their table, eyes on the floor as you prepare yourself for the whorlwind that Logan Syverson causes on your insides.

“I was just telling Logan here that the special today is fantastic.” Wes said, flashing you the same smile his son throws at you. You just smile.

“It's kinda hard to mess up nachos.” you say. Both men chuckle, and you look down, cheeks getting hot. You pull out your pen and notepad, before taking a deep breath and looking up.

“What can I get you guys?” you ask, deciding the best way to deal with your nerves is to distract yourself with work.

“I want the special, no jalapenos or avocado.” Wes orders. You write it down, before looking up at Sy. His blues pierce into yours, and you lose yourself for just a second, before paying attention to his order.

“I'll have the special too, extra jalapenos.” he says, before giving you his version of a wink, smirking when your face goes red.

“You got it guys. I'll bring that out when it's ready.” you say, before turning around quickly and nearly running away. Get ahold of yourself, woman. You're a grown adult of 23 years of age. You shouldn't be distracted by some guy you've met a couple times.

After putting in the order, you get started on making it, throwing chips onto the baking pan before the meat and beans and cheese. As those bake, you decide to clean off the counter and wipe it down. Pulling out the nachos and finishing the topings, you take out the orders for your crush (you hate to call him that, but essentially that is what he is to you) and his father (again holy shit) with your best service smile.

Sy watches you go, unaware of the stupid, dopey grin on his face. He wasn't really looking forward to lunch with his dad, not having had much sleep the night before and had already gotten into it with his brother. His truck was giving him a hard time during a tune up that morning and his day had really gone to shit when Aika tore up a stuffy toy and left cotton all over his living room. He couldn't be mad at the dog, she was going through an adjustment period to civilian life as well. But he thought fuck it, at least he doesn't have to cook.

When he walked in and saw you at the counter, though, he thought maybe his day hadn't completely gone to hell just yet. He felt a mild panic at seeing Brittany though. He'd had a drunken one night stand a month before his last deployment, and the entire time leading up to him leaving she had called and text so many times he changed his number.

Still, he couldn't be too scared when you were standing right there. The whole two months he hadn't seen you were disappointing for him. The first month he was busy adjusting his life and his schedule, while also starting a side business refurbishing old furniture. He would take Aika out every morning and evening and look up to your apartment, hoping to spot you somewhere. He had wanted to come see you, but didn't want to be a bother.

The second month he just couldn't seem to catch you. He would hear you coming down the stairs in the back early in the morning, but you're always gone by the time he gets to his back door. He hears you at night now, but the footsteps always go quiet around 10.

“Pretty little thing, isn't she?” Sy is snapped back into his reality when his father's voice finally registers in his brain. He turns so quickly his neck pops, audibly. Wes raises his brows, a small smirk coming across his face. Sy smirks right back.

“That's the neighbor I was telling you about.” Sy's smile gets even bigger at his father's falling face. He had mentioned on a few occassions the hippie living in the apartment above him. His father was the time of hippies and classic rock, so while he was still old fashioned, he was open minded.

“That's the neighbor?”

“Yep.”

“I'll be damned.” Wes mumbles, then changes the subject. “How's your day been, Sy?”

“Complete bullshit. Aika is going through some anxiety issues being back and my truck is giving me shit.” he mutters. The older man looks at the younger one beside him, knowing he's not telling the whole truth.

“And how's your brother?”

Sy groans and rolls his eyes. Leave it to his father to bring up his biggest pain in the ass lately.

“Still trying to pretend his wife hasn't stolen his balls.” Wes chuckles at this. Though he and his ex-wife weren't always on the best of terms when it came to being romantic partners, their co-parenting skills were top notch for their generation. So much so that Wes had taken care of Sy's half brother since he was a child and his father had left Sy's mother.

“You'll learn one day, son.” Wes comments, before leaning back in his seat and lets you sit down his lunch. Sy watches you set his food down as well, amused that you refuse to look him in the eye. You looked extra good today, in your blue and green tie-dye shirt and a green bandana around your head. Your make-up is what his niece would describe as “on point” and you were wearing teal and white beaded earrings. You had your hair pulled up in a bun and he had to stop himself from getting hard at the choker around your neck, a turquiose stone sitting in the hollow of your throat and two thin bands holding it in place.

“Thank you, darlin.” he says. You finally look up at him, eyes shining in the sunlight coming in through the windows.

“You're welcome, Sy. Enjoy your lunch, guys.” You give a smile and nod to Wes, before glancing at Sy once more and turning away to go back to work. He watches you walk into the back room, and only when he can't see you anymore does he dig into his lunch.

“So what has he been doing now?” his father asks, not letting this specific topic go. Sy finishes his bite of food, keeping in mind the manners his momma taught him.

“Just the nagging from his wife. I know I told him I'd rather go through him for work but with the way she runs it, it's killing us both. Nothing I do is ever good enough for her and he's tired of hearing it from both ends. Quite frankly I'm about to start looking for another job and place to live.”

Wes nods along as he listens to his son, munching quietly on a chip.

“You knew going into this it was only going to be temporary. Working for family is never easy, let alone family that is difficult to get along with. Have you thought about what you're going to do?” Sy sits quietly for a second.

“There's a few options. Work for the oil refinery here in town, breaking my back out there. There's the Sober Brother's construction, they pay good money but they hire a bunch of idiots. Or I can live off my retirement fund from my discharge, though that's really my worst case scenario option.”

“I'm sure you'll find something. What about your living situation?”

Sy smirks.

“Well you've met one of my neighbors, I can't really complain too much. Though the people that moved in across from me are starting to be a bother, letting their spawns of Satan run around at all hours of the night screaming and shaking the house.”

“You'll figure it out, son. You always do.” Wes winked at Sy, and after conversation turned to football and cars. Sy told his dad what he was doing with his truck, and Wes told his son about the motorcycle he was working on. Soon the baskets were empty and the men were full.

“You should go talk to her before you leave.” Wes's voice was so quiet Sy barely heard him. Barely.

“Right, dad. A girl that peaceful and bright would go great with a messed up jarhead like me.” he mumbles.

“She might just be right amount of light to balance out this darkness in your life, son.” Wes says. Sy looks up, his blue eyes the mirror of his father's, though lacking the wisdom that comes with the experiences of a long life.

“Maybe.” he says. His father claps his shoulder, before getting up and putting on his leather jacket. Sy stands as well, pulling out his wallet and leaving a $20 bill on the table. Wes gives him a look.

“What? I'm not gonna be that jackass that doesn't tip but expects to hit it.” His father just gives a proud smile in response. Both men walk to the counter, the elder of the two pulling out his billfold while you walk back out to the counter.

“Tabbing out?” you ask.

“Yes ma'am. Stuffed ourselves full. Those nachos never fail.” Wes says. You laugh lightly, pulling up his ticket and telling him his total.

“I'm glad you liked them. They're like the fiftieth order I've made today.” Sy perks up at this.

“You made those?” You look up from counting change, making brief eye contact before going back to the money in your hand.

“Yeah, they're pretty easy.” you mumble.

“You never told me you had any culinary skills.” He puts on a light, LIGHT, seductive tone, keeping aware of his father standing next to him. Though his father taught him everything he knows about flirting and pleasing women.

“You never asked.” you said, finally showing him that wit he knew you possessed. He smirked right back, determined to get rid of those nerves of yours. Wes takes this as his cue to leave, taking his change, wishing you a good day and a “see you later” to his son. With the departure of his father, Sy's full attention is now directed on you.

“Haven't seen you around here lately. How've you been?” he asks. It wasn't until then that he realized, for not really knowing you, he's missed your prescence. Just something about your energy soothes him. But then it's like watching a marianette doll being jerked by the strings, because your back goes ramrod straight, and your breath gets shorter, if the way your chest movements have gotten faster are any indidcation. You clear your throat.

“Yeah, I uh.... I've been going through some shit, here lately. Haven't been doing much of anything other than work.” you say.

“When did you start working here?” he asks. He wants to pry, wants to know what kind of shit you've been going through. It's gotta be something, if you're behaving this way. But he knows it's not his business. Yet.

“About a month ago.” you say, walking backwards to the sanitzer bucket, deciding to multitask by cleaning while talking to Sy.

“How's it treating you so far? What happened at the last place?” You raise your brows at his rapid fire questions.

“I quit the last place, got sick of the entire management team and overall shittiness of a corporate chain restaurant. Found this cute little place that actually cares about it's employees. The pay is decent and it's not that far of a walk to work.” you say, keeping your eyes on the counter. You see one of the cooks giving you and Sy the side eye but decide to ignore him.

“You walk to work?” Sy asks. When the weather decides it wants to be cold that day, sometimes it gets to single digits. You must freeze half the time you go to work.

“Yeah, it's only three blocks from here. Plus it's great exercise. I've already lost 10 pounds.” You stand up straight and put your hands on your hips, showing off a slightly slimmer waist than he remembers. Not that it would make you any more or any less beautiful to him. You're still curvy and vivacious, with thighs he would love to die burried in.

“Congrats to you.” he says with a small smirk.

“Why thank you!” you say in a dramatic flourish. He just chuckles lowly.

“What time are you out of here?” he asks. You look at the clock on the wall.

“I get off in another hour or two. Why?” you ask, narrowing your eyes at him. But instead of answering your question, Sy just asks you another.

“What are your plans for tonight?” Now you're really eyeing him.

“Just doing laundry and dishes. Why???” You emphasize your last question heavily. He just gives you a shit eating grin back.

“Wanna have dinner again?” That really catches you off-guard.

“I don't know, Sy. I've got a lot of chores to do, and I gotta be in early tomorrow to cover for a cook.” you say.

“Come on, darlin. We literally live in the same building, I can come up there and cook and help you do your chores and you can still get to bed early enough to be here bright eyed a bushy tailed tomorrow morning.” He's putting on the full charm now, knowing you'll give in. You hesitate a little longer than he expects and just when he's about to say “forget it” you're nodding.

“Okay, but my house is a disaster.” you say, thinking if you gave fair warning he couldn't turn it back on you.

“It wasn't that bad when I fixed your stove.” he says with a wink. You give a light giggle, rolling your eyes.

“I'll see you later, darlin. Don't work too hard, now.” he says, backing away without taking his eyes off you. You wave bye, not being able to bring forth any words. You watch him walk out the door to his truck, and when he's finally out of sight do you turn, only to be scared half to death by Terri and Tina, both watching with stupid smiles on their faces.

“What?” you ask.

“That was Big Sy.” Tina says.

“Big Sy?” you ask.

“He's a small town hero around here, the Army Captain, Wes's boy. Everyone around town knows him. Good man, good lookin.” Terri says.

“I can't believe you were talking to him, Y/n. He's not really much for socializing.” Tina says.

“Tina, that's the hot neighbor I was telling you about.” you say. Soon your coworker is losing her mind.

“You guys would be so cute together!” she almost yells as you were putting up chairs to sweep and mop the floor.

“Yeah, what a great couple we would make. The decorated, hard-ass Army Captain and the pot-smoking, hippie psychologist. It sounds like a bad fan fiction on tumblr.” you say. Tina laughs, continuing to follow behind you with the broom as you lift the chairs onto the tables.

“Look, I know how you feel about men, and your feminist stand point, but Sy is one of those non-toxic masculine men your always raving about. He's strong and sturdy and gruff but he makes you feel safe.” Her sentence ends on a whimsical sigh, only ruined by the disgusted look on your face.

“Right.” the dry tone of your voice pulls her out of the dramatic scene she caused, and her face contorts into a look of stern, motherly determination.

“You'll figure it out, you'll see.” You just roll your eyes and get to finishing your side work.

It's 4:30 when you get home, and Sy thought he was going to lose his mind. You said you got off work at 3:30 but here it was an hour later and you're just now walking up your steps. As soon as he got home, he hit the shower to wash off all the oil and sawdust on his hands and body, before pulling out some freshly washed jeans and a decent shirt. It was no button up, but it wasn't covered in grease stains so it counted as appropriate for the current occasion. He combed out his hair and added extra deodorant and cologne.

He felt like a teenager again, trying his damndest to be respectful, like a gentlmen, but so horny and turned on by you that it was painful. For two months he hadn't seen you in person, but you plagued his dreams. Visions of your face, with pouty lips that spoke his name so sweetly. Eyes that lit up like the sky in the middle of summer, kisses that burned oh so sweetly into his skin. Words whispered between the sheets, sometimes in his truck, sometimes in his bed.

When he wakes it's to disappointment and pain, morning wood making his cock throb with each fast beat of his pulse. Cold showers became a daily routine, with lots of alone time on Pornhub at night. Sometimes he would hear you shift in bed above him and he'd stop, afraid he was being too loud and woke you up.

He waits breathlessly in his room for you to come downstairs to get him. He knows you're still in your apartment by the footsteps in your room above his head. They move around for about 15 minutes, before the smell of marijuana hits his nose and he hears the water for your bath tub fill up above him.

He watches football for another hour before he hears your footsteps again, moving around in your room. Another 15 minutes and finally he hears your back door shut before your heavy steps start coming down the stairs. He shuts off the tv and tries to act like he hasn't been having a heart attack for 3 hours.

He doesn't even give you the chance to knock, opening the door to see you with your fist raised, a shocked look on your face. Your hair is wet and combed around your face, and you're wearing a black tank top, tan cardigan, and black running shorts. You've taken off your make-up and your face is freshly cleaned. The setting sun makes you glow and it's like he's looking at an angel.

“Uh, hi.” You say, hand still in the air. You give him a strange look.

“Hi, sugar.” he says.

“What's with that dopey look on your face? Did you get a contact high? I know my shit is fire but damn, from upstairs?” you ask, taking your hand down and checking his pupils for dialation, and the whites of his eyes for any redness. He notices your eyes are squinted and you're obviously stoned.

“Nah, darlin. Just happy to see you.” he gives you a big, dopey smile. That's what you've turned him into now. A dopehead.

“Right. You ready to come help me fight this monster mess that is my apartment?” you ask, moving towards the stairs again. He follows without hesitation, making sure his door is really shut. He lets you go up first, allowing you to be four steps ahead, as the stairs are steep and he's trying to remain a man and not an animal. Though with your ass in his face the thought of just burrying his face in those cheeks burns into his memory.

“Alright, I've warned you in advance, so don't judge me.” you say before putting your hands on the door knob. He just rolls his eyes before following you in. The sink is full of dishes, just like last time, and the counter is covered in crumbs and seasoning. He looks into the hallway to the livingroom, and stops dead in his tracks.

“What's with all the boxes and totes?” he asks, pointing down the hall. Your body goes stiff again, but this time he's not gonna back down from getting his answer.

“Oh, I'm uh. I'm moving this upcoming weekend.” you mumble. He whips his head to you. His face is twisted in shock and what you could almost describe as pain. Why is he being more emotional about this than you are?

“You're moving?” it's like his world has stopped spinning. He finally finds a woman interesting and has gotten the encouragement from his father to do something about it and you're moving.

“Yeah, a friend of mine and I are getting a two bedroom.” you calmly explain.

“Why?”

“Because your sister-in-law is a cunt and your brother is a snitch.” you say quickly. He raises his brows.

“Sorry. Um, last month there was a plumbing problem with my kitchen sink. When the plumber showed up he was on the phone with your brother, and he said hi to the cats. Your brother overheard, and told Candace. She said I had three days to get rid of them or I was evicted, so I told her I was looking for a new place. Gave an official thirty day notice on New Year's day and I've been working and saving since. I'm trying to be out by Sunday.” you say. You watch Sy take this in. It slowly starts to process what you're saying. He knows exactly what kind of game she's playing.

“Let me guess, she told you it was disrespectful to the other tenants.” he says through gritted teeth.

“Yeah, how'd you know?” you say.

“That's what she told me about my service dog barking at night to wake me out of a nightmare.”

“Oh shit, Sy. I'm so sorry. What a bitch.” you say.

“Right, where as your cats don't make a sound, and she only barks twice to wake me up, but the people across from me can let their little shit-heads run around all damn night screaming and shaking the house.”

“That's what I said! Those little crotch goblins kept me up all night the other day! I was running on like, two hours of sleep, Sy!” you exclaim, trying to lighten the mood some. You both chuckle at your term for the children in your building, before you move to start getting dishes washed. As you worked, you and Sy talked. You washed and he dried and put away. It was a great system, and even better was your small kitchen allowing him to be so close to you.

“You not like kids?” he asks.

“Actually, I love kids. But what I love more is kids that behave, that have a proper discipline in the household so they don't behave like the neighbors kids, terrorizing an entire building of people and animals because they refuse to listen to their parent.” Sy raises his brows even more.

“Proper discipline? Didn't take the hippie to be the one to spank their kids.”

“Oh god no! But there are ways to discipline a child without raising a hand to them, despite what past generations have to say on 'gentle parenting'. I was a daycare teacher for almost five years, and what they teach us and how it's used in the field is so different.” you say as you continue to scrub down plates.

“What do you mean?” he asks. His father never raised a hand to him, but he did have a problem with his temper and the tone of voice he used, especially after a few too many. It never really bothered him though, if anything it prepared him for the army. Seargents are not kind during bootcamp and any trainings after that.

“So, you can tell a child to stop jumping on the couch cushions all you want, they won't listen for long. All that is teaching him is what NOT to do, but also giving no other option. If you tell them to sit on their asses or they will fall off and hurt themselves, showing them what TO do, and reminding them that their safety is important. If they still don't listen after that, and they fall, then that's what's called a natural consequence, and for people like me, fully drives home the lesson of why we don't jump on the couch cushions.”

“But by allowing him to jump on the couch, aren't you showing him that you don't care about his safety?” he says. You smile, having asked the same question during your training sessions.

“If they're really in danger of being seriously hurt, that's when you can physically interfere. But if you know it's only going to be a small bump on the head or something that can be cured with a band-aid and kiss, then it's best to let them learn themselves. Like I said, some of us have to learn the hard, painful way.”

“So all it's really doing is taking out the negative.” He says.

“Kind of. It's more like guidance and direction rather than orders and tyrany.” you said. He pauses and just watches you work for a second. He had felt it earlier, but in this exact moment it really hits him how at peace he feels when he's near you. It's like the soothing warmth of hot coffee running through your body on a cold winter morning.

You can feel his eyes on you for a second longer than you were expecting, and when you turned to look at him, he had a dazed look on his face. You snap your fingers inches away from his face, giggling when some water droplets splatted him in the face from the snap.

“Are you good? You've been out of it all night.” You're starting to get a dopey look on your face. He's so cute when he's confused, and you love it. He looks like a lost puppy dog sometimes, even with the little head tilt they do.

“I'm fine! Just living in the moment with you.” His smile is soft, his whole face is soft. The creases around his eyes show his age, but that just makes him even more attractive to you. You've always had a thing for older men, but keeping it mostly appropriate. His baby blues are now darkening to a deep gray. You can feel the sudden electricity in the air, the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end. It gets hard to breathe again, and you have to force yourself to look away from him. 'FUCKING PULL IT TOGETHER!'

“Right, anyway, I was thinking about pulling out some meat and making burgers and mac and cheese, if that sounds alright with you.” you say, distracting yourself with washing the last of the dishes in the sink.

Sy pulls back, disappointed that yet another moment has gone by where he waited too long to kiss you. He could see when your brain had started overthinking. Your eyes moved quickly between his, before your breathing got heavier and your body tensed. He tried to hide the disappointment in his voice when he answered you.

“Sounds great.”

You work in silence for a few more moments before Sy finally can't stand it anymore. When he goes to start speaking again, he feels a pressure on his ankle and lower calf. He looks down to see Stella, your black cat, rubbing all over him. She's sleek and shiny, kept in good health if her slightly bigger tummy is any indidcation. She looks up at him, her bright green eyes looking right into his soul.

You feel Stella move between your leg and Sy's, and look down to see her giving Sy her big green eyes. You feel more than see Sy put the drying towel on his shoulder before bending down to pick her up.

“Careful with her. She doesn't much like being held.” you say, nervously hovering near your pet and the hulking man beside you. But to your surprise, she cuddles right into his neck, her purrs so strong you can hear them from just a foot away.

“That's so weird. She hardly lets me pick her up, let alone cuddle like that.” Sy smirks.

“I'm just good with pussy.” You throw your head back to laugh. It was a great pun, you'd admit, but the laughter was to also hide how flustered the inneundo made you.

“Shut the fuck up. She probably just thinks you're going to feed her.”

After a second, your feline decides she's had enough and tries to wriggle free. Sy, trying to ignore the claws in his shoulders, bends down to let her go. She sashays away, graceful elegance with attitude and ego rolled into one spoiled animal.

“I've never seen her behave that way with anyone.” Sy just smiles, glad he got the approval of one lady of this house. Animals have always flocked to him, and he to them. But there was always something with cats that intrigued him. The intelligence in their stare, the lethal grace they possessed as predators even while being as domesticated as they are. They're pushy when they want your attention, and make it very well known through pain when they don't. But yet each and every cat has always at least given him a loving rub.

“Where's the other two?” he asks. You start taking out the hamburger, putting it into a bowl before adding seasonings and mixing it all together.

“Probably hiding. Felix doesn't really care for men and Tivahli (tee-vah-lee) is just anti-human.” Sy furrows his brows.

“Tivahli?”

“Yeah. The little gray tabby I have. When I rescued her, she was still so small that the people I got her from thought she was a boy, and so I believed she was a boy. It wasn't until a month ago I picked her up because she was acting weird and felt her hard nipples. Turns out she was in heat, and going through a bit of a rough time.”

“Where did you get her name?” he asks. It sounded so exotic, but the way it flowed from his mouth just felt right.

“Well I had to rename her, and since Stella is named after the Goddess of Night, I kind of wanted to stick with a theme. Google gave me the name of Cleopatra's cat, and I loved it. So now there are two Goddesses and a queen living in this house.” you say, grabbing some of the meat and rolling it into a ball before slapping it back and forth between hands to flatten it into a patty.

The smacking sound from your ministrations reminds Sy of the slapping of hips during a good, back breaking pounding. He has turn to away from you to hide his growing bulge. 'Pull yourself together, jackass.'

The night goes on and you tell Sy about the house you found as you eat dinner. He loves how bright you shine when you get excited, like a those pretty fairy lights you have hanging in your bedroom. He tells you about his day at work and the hell his truck put him through. Once you finish your meal, drowsiness hits you and you're hiding a yawn behind your hand. The sun had long since gone down, and though it was only 7:30, you had been up over 14 hours and worked 10 of them.

“I should probably head out, let you get some sleep.” Sy says, slapping his knee before moving to stand.

“Yeah, I'm exhausted and I gotta be back at 6 tomorrow.” you mumble, moving to stand and follow him out. It's proper manners after all. You follow him to the front door, opening it and stepping out into the hall. Sy turns to face you, and if you weren't so tired, you think you might actually get the nerve to make some kind of move. But it's taking everything in you to keep your eyes open, and Sy isn't about to kiss a woman who is only half awake.

“I guess I will see you around, hopefully.”

“Yeah, I won't be going anywhere until I move.” you say.

“Well if you need any help with that, you just let me know. I got a perfectly good truck. Lots of space in the bed.” He gives his signature double wink.

“I will keep that in mind. Have a good night, Sy.”

“Good night, Y/N.” He takes your hand and kisses the back of it, lingering for a second or two before gently lowering it and stepping down the stairs. You pull your hand to your chest, using your left hand to shut and lock the door and turn lights out as you walk through the house on auto-pilot, mind in a haze at how soft and plump his lips felt against your hand, the red mark from his beard a visual reminder that it wasn't some twisted dream.

*******************************************************************************************

@weallhavedestiny @identity2212 @m07belzen @bloodyinspiredfuck @queenmalhinewahine @rockandrollbuckaroooo @babypink224221 @unnuevosoltransformalarealidad @corvusmorte

#captain syverson x reader #captain syverson #syverson x reader #sy x reader #reader insert #henry cavill #fan fiction

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wheredidthe80sgo · 2 years

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Kate, Anthony and 1989 by Taylor Swift

Alright, so in this post I talked about how Kate and Anthony’s album is 100% reputation, but I also got a request to do some of the other albums so yay! Here we are looking at the masterpiece that is 1989. I’m not going to talk about all of the songs like I did for reputation, but instead I think I’m going to pick specific songs and go into a bit more depth about the lyrics and why I think they fit Kathony (because obviously not every song on 1989 fits with them like reputation- I mean, how do you relate Kathony to Welcome To New York lmao). Anyway, let’s get into it.

So, first of all, I already mentioned in this ask that 1989 and reputation are probably two of the most similar thematically out of all of Taylor’s albums, apart from folklore and evermore of course. Both of them talk about the precariousness of being in a relationship that’s kind of on that precipice of ‘are we going to make it, are we not going to make it’, and I think overall that really is Kathony’s dynamic for majority of their story. However, the two also provide insight into love and lust and all those lovely things, without sounding pretentious, which I feel like is key to Kate and Anthony’s relationship- they love each other without the shiny ornaments attached, just by being wholly themselves.

Out Of The Woods

Okey dokey, we’re starting off with an all-time classic here. OOTW is about Taylor’s relationship with Harry Styles of course, and details a pivotal moment in their relationship, with Taylor questioning if they were ‘out of the woods’ and ‘in the clear’. One of the most important parts of this song is the repetitiveness of the chorus, which contributes to the anxiety felt about being in a relationship, and we all know that Kate and Anthony both feel this anxiety, especially Book!Anthony. The lyric ‘the rest of the world was black and white, but we were in screaming colour’ is reminiscent to Anthony’s ‘just keep looking at me, no one else matters’ in episode 2x08, and really captures that idea of being the centre of someone’s world these two seem to encapsulate. ‘We were built to fall apart then fall back together’ also feels very meaningful- Anthony and Kate both reveal the deepest, most broken parts of themselves to each other and help each other through those experiences and breaking through those fears, taming their demons. And in terms of the OOTW bridge- the accident that is mentioned in there is a very ‘Kate is injured and Anthony is extremely anxious about her’ vibe, and I think the line ‘when you started crying, baby I did too’ speaks volume, especially after that final scene with Anthony and Violet in 2x08. In fact, here is something I saw today that was exactly this and since I have no Swiftie friends to send this to, you can take it.

Wildest Dreams

If you’re thinking ‘oh god, I only associate Wildest Dreams with Saphne now after season 1’ then yeah, me too. HOWEVER, it is very much Kate and Anthony (more so than Saphne) so here we go. Wildest Dreams is about your classic forbidden relationship- ‘let’s get out of this town, drive out of the city, away from the crowds’. Immediately, I’m reminded of Anthony’s line about wanting to run away with Kate, about wanting to be with her, just her, ‘away from the crowds’. And immediately following that line, Kate goes ‘heaven can’t help me know’ and… yeah, we know how that ends. Anthony is, of course, ‘so tall and handsome as hell’, and I suppose he can be ‘so bad, but he does it so well’ (if doing ‘it’ is being a full-blown simp for his beautiful wife, that is). The chorus is something that I feel particularly strong about: ‘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’. Of course, we know that Anthony dreams about Kate (and Kate also daydreams about Anthony), but what is really striking is the ‘red lips and rosy cheeks’. One thing that I love is Kate’s faint blush that’s on her cheeks during the bee scene, and as soon as I went back and read this lyric, that was the first thing I was reminded of. And, as we know, both of them reflect heavily on this moment. The entire song can be summed up in another classic Taylor Swift bridge: memories following you around, remembering each other, remembering the things you were doing which you probably shouldn’t have been doing, seeing each other in your ‘wildest dreams’. So much of Kathony’s story is told through memories: memories of the trauma they’ve faced, their father’s deaths, and then, eventually, memories of each other, which is why this song is incredibly Kathony.

Clean

Clean is not really Kathony for me, but more their own personal journeys that end up intertwined at the end of their story. Clean is about overcoming something, moving on from a challenge in your life and realising that you’re finally ‘clean’. The hidden message for Clean was not just about losing someone but losing yourself, and this is really clear in both Kate and Anthony, and the way they changed after their father’s deaths. Daphne and Violet both mention this change in Anthony, but I think that even though we don’t see it or hear it mentioned, this happened to Kate as well. I’m sure Edwina, being only 10 (I think?) when their father, never really knew Kate as anything other than the strong, responsible older sister, but obviously Kate was a child once too, and after her father’s death she stepped up into that caretaker role as well. In experiencing a loss of someone important to them, Kate and Anthony lost themselves, but in finding each other they find themselves again as well. I also find it ironic that Kate’s accident is what brought the two of them together, after realising that it wasn’t selfish to take what you wanted before it was too late, and that this happened in the rain.

You Are In Love

And finally, the last song in the 1989/Kathony analysis: a personal favourite of mine, You Are In Love. There are a lot of lyrics that I could unpack here, but I don’t really have enough time, so I do recommend going to listen to it if you don’t already know it because the imagery in this song is beautiful. The song basically details the development of a relationship, before eventually realising that you’re in love with this person. One of the most important lyrics of the song is ‘one night he wakes, strange look on his face, pauses then says “you’re my best friend”, and you knew what it was, he is in love’. This is undeniably Kathony, you cannot convince me of it otherwise. In The Viscount Who Loved Me, during the original storm scene, Kate and Anthony recognise each other as friends, and later when they become engaged, Anthony also notes their friendship. Even though Kate and Anthony are the enemies to lovers of the Bridgerton universe, part of what’s so important about their relationship is that they are kindred spirits, and one of the reasons Anthony is so sure they will work is because they did become friends, and remained friends during their marriage. Another lyric that resonates is ‘you can hear it in the silence’. Using silence in film and television to demonstrate deeper meaning is not uncommon, and Anthony and Kate certainly have a lot of moments of silence and tension as well. Every time they’re close together and they don’t have anything else to say, just to be there in each other’s presence, breathing into each other’s mouths, that silence is filled with potential and unresolved feelings, and we all know what it is they’re feeling but they find themselves incapable of articulating that themselves. In the book especially, there is a moment of silence that I personally love, and that’s Anthony’s realisation that he’s in love with Kate before he freaks out and leaves. It’s almost as if he cannot bear to be silent for any point in time because he can’t push those feelings down anymore. It’s a truly beautiful song and everything about it reminds me of Kathony especially.

So there we have it! A couple of my thoughts on Kathony + 1989. I truly enjoy writing these so much, so I think I’ll tackle Lover next and then, if anyone wants it, evermore. Also feel free to talk to me about Kathony or Taylor anytime, I love a good fandom chat.

#this is so long i'm sorry #i could have kept going though i just didn't want it to turn into a full blown novel #bridgerton #bridgerton s2 #anthony bridgerton #kate sharma #kathony #kanthony

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